New Delhi: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Thursday (March 4) congratulated 12 Indian Institutions on securing a position in the top 100 in the QS Subject Rankings for the year 2021. While unveiling QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021, the Union Minister said: "Over the last few years, the Government's continuous focus on improvement and reform in Indian higher education has resulted in significant improvement in the representation of Indian institutions in globally acclaimed and reputed rankings like QS." "These rankings and ratings have fostered healthy competition amongst Indian Institutions motivating them towards global excellence. 12 Indian institutions have made it to the top 100 of the world, including IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IISC Bangalore, IIT Guwahati, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, JNU, Anna University, University of Delhi and O.P. Jindal University," Pokhriyal said. "Amongst these top 100 ranked institutions, IIT Madras has been ranked 30th in the world for Petroleum Engineering, IIT Bombay has been ranked 41st and IIT Kharagpur has been ranked 44th in the world for Minerals and Mining Engineering, and the University of Delhi has been ranked 50th in the world for Development Studies," read the press release by the Union Ministry of Education. The Union Minister said that India's higher education system plays a vital role in driving the nation's competitiveness. Today, India is a leading nation with the highest number of higher education institutions across the globe with significant progress in the last few years in terms of enrolment in higher education which now stands at 37.4 million. He also highlighted the achievements of the Government in addressing the gender gap in higher education, wherein now women constitute 48.6 percent of the total enrollment. Pokhriyal said new reforms have been brought through National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the Indian Education system under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking on NEP, he said it stresses transforming Indian Higher Education into a knowledge superpower in the 21st century. "It also has a forward-looking vision for holistic and multidisciplinary education, eliminating the rigid separation of streams. It paves the way towards internationalisation of education and encourages top world-ranked universities to open campuses in India. The future roadmap for the implementation of the policy needs the active participation of all stakeholders," he added. Live TV If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. A new Smart lightbulb in the market has an intriguing feature. The Lifx Clean is a fully functional, color-changing lightbulb that claims it can disinfect surfaces and the air around it. The product was first announced in August 2020, and it costs around $69.99, the Lifx Clean is now available to be shipped to customers in the United States, and the company is planning for wider availability this year. Lifx Clean Smart lightbulb Lifx has numerous scientific studies, and it also has its own lab tests to support its claim that it is the "first antibacterial germicidal smart light" in the world. But can it work in the average home? The company announced the lightbulb in 2020, a year in which people were encouraged to keep their surroundings clean. David McLauchlan, the CEO of Lifx, said that the company started having early discussions about creating a product like the Lifx Clean in March 2020, which was the same month that COVID-19 started spreading around the world. Also Read: Antibacterial Wipes Don't Kill Germs, They Spread Harmful Bacteria, Doctors Say At the time, alcohol companies were making hand sanitizers, and clothing companies were making facial masks, and McLauchlan stated that their team wanted to make lights equipped with the technology to disinfect, according to The Verge. McLauchlan's technology is a specific kind of blue light with a wavelength of 405nm. The HEV or high-energy visible light has been shown across numerous studies to inactivate or kill a range of bacteria including E. coli, salmonella, and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA in lab-based studies. Lifx Clean technology The Lifx Clean incorporated the technology used in hospitals. Studies show that the blue lights reduced the number of bacteria on surfaces in hospital units. The Lifx Clean also uses an array of eight 405nm LED lights, which is the same as the standard red, green, and blue diodes that you find in the company's other bulbs. The array also has a typical diffuser placed over it, which means it looks identical to a standard Lifx bulb. The blue light is different from another light-cleaning technology that has become very popular during the height of the pandemic: UV light. In comparison, the HEV light that Lifx Clean uses does not have the same UV light issues. HEV light comes with its own disadvantages, though, most notably, the light's effect on bacteria has not been studied as much as UV light's effect. Much of the studies and research done have focused mainly on its ability to kill bacteria, and there is less evidence to suggest that it is effective against different viruses, like COVID-19. Lifx Clean has pointed this out. In its announcement in 2020, the company stated that it does not claim to be effective in thoroughly cleaning surfaces of viruses, including COVID-19. The company wants the public to understand that they are not selling the lightbulb as a coronavirus killer. The Lifx Clean is more of an antibacterial lightbulb and not an antiviral. Bacterial infections can create very serious complications for those who get sick because of the virus, so although it can't eliminate viruses on surfaces, it can still make it clean. This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sieeka Khan 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise CBC Despite the storied history of both clubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens to face off in Game 7 for just the second time in 16 playoff series (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET). The winner advances to battle the Winnipeg Jets in the next round of the postseason. Here's a look at some of the storylines: The history The tribal loyalties of the two clubs have been well established on and off the ice, the latter perhaps most famously in Roch Carrier's children's book The Sweater, which was then animated by the National Film Board of Canada. The playoff matchup pits the two NHL clubs with the most championships in league history. The Canadiens as a franchise have won 24 Stanley Cups, while the Maple Leafs hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup on 13 occasions. But that history, in a modern context, can mislead. Toronto famously hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1967, so any Leafs fan under the age of, say, 54, likely has no memory of their club being the NHL champs. While a 54-year-old Habs fan can laugh gleefully at that, given the fact their club has won 11 Stanley Cups since 1967, the Canadiens themselves are in a franchise-long 27-years-and counting championship drought. Such are the the perils of playing in a league that has 30-plus clubs, not just six. WATCH | How the Leafs-Habs playoff rivalry came to be: The Canadiens have won eight of 15 playoff meetings between the clubs historically. A couple of generations of NHL players have come and gone since the last meeting in 1979, when little-used Cam Connor, with the only playoff goal he ever scored for Montreal, helping to sink the dagger in for Leafs fans then with a key overtime winner. The two clubs last faced off in a Game 7 in a playoff series in 1964. The Leafs won that one, and then went on to beat Detroit for the Cup. The stakes The winner of this series advances to the North Division final and takes on the Winnipeg Jets, idle since May 24 after a sweep of the Edmonton Oilers. Either Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe or Canadiens bench boss Dominique Ducharme will celebrate their first-ever NHL playoff series win on Monday night. "We're confident. We're going to Toronto to head to Winnipeg," Ducharme said on Sunday. WATCH | Canadiens tie playoff series with Quebec reopening: Montreal has good reason to be confident, or at least feel like they have nothing to lose. The Canadiens overcame a coaching change in February, shrugged off a dispirited Game 4 defeat that represented their eighth loss in their last nine games at that point, and then survived the late rallies by Toronto in the fifth and sixth games. The Leafs, meanwhile, are dealing with the metaphorical monkey on the back, and not just because they finished with 18 more points than the Habs in the regular season. Toronto last won a playoff series in 2004. To put that time span in context, in 2004, Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber was a teen winning a Memorial Cup with Kelowna Rockets and Leafs forward Auston Matthews was not yet seven years old, starting his ascension through the Arizona minor hockey system. John Tortorella lifted the Stanley Cup that season with Tampa Bay, the fourth-last NHL team he's coached. But despite the relative youth of the Toronto club, one veteran sports wag in the city has written that Game 7 is nothing less than the stage for Matthews and Mitch Marner to "salvage their reputations." The fans The game on Saturday at Bell Centre in Montreal saw fans in a major Canadian sports venue for the first time since before the pandemic in early 2020. Quebec officials signed off on a scenario in which 2,500 fans were allowed into the 21,000-plus capacity building. On Monday morning, the Ontario government announced that 550 fully vaccinated frontline health-care workers would be able to attend Game 7 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. "This small token of appreciation doesn't measure up to the sacrifices they've made during COVID-19, but it is an opportunity for us to recognize their heroic efforts to keep each and every one of us safe," said Premier Doug Ford in a statement. How we got here The last two games have offered a cavalcade of emotions for fans of both clubs. Toronto had been one shot away from eliminating the Canadiens and advancing to the second round of the playoffs in each game, but it's also true that Montreal outplayed the Leafs for long stretches in both of those contests. Leafs fans feared the worst given their recent franchise history when captain John Tavares suffered head and knee injuries early in Game 1 in a scary incident and was hospitalized. The Leafs did well to keep their composure after that, but Habs goalie Carey Price was, in the words of teammate Josh Anderson, "an absolute wall" in a 2-1 Montreal win. WATCH | Kotkaniemi propels Habs to OT victory over Leafs in Game 6: Toronto's William Nylander scored in the first four games of the series and the rest of the Maple Leafs rallied in Tavares's absence as the Ontario club took a 3-1 series lead. The Canadiens controlled the play for much of Game 5 but coughed up a three-goal lead to lead to overtime. Two Toronto players then made mistakes on the same play, with Nick Suzuki converting on the rare overtime 2-on-0 to give the Habs new life in the series. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell makes a save on Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson in their contest May 20. Campbell will be starting in the first playoff Game 7 of his career. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press) Game 6 was more competitive, but Montreal again neutralized Toronto for much of the game, with Price stopping anything coming his way. The Canadiens scored two in the third period, but Toronto then matched that. Toronto appeared to be carrying the play for the most part in overtime, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi snapped a shot past Leafs goalie Jack Campbell to force Game 7. Who to watch in Game 7 Matthews rallied the troops in the wake of the Tavares injury with a four-point effort in the Game 2 victory for Toronto. He's tallied just one assist in the subsequent four games. To call him a disappointment would be a stretch he's fired 20 shots on net in the last four and won more faceoffs than he lost but players of his calibre are asked to produce in moments like this. Fans watch the warmup before Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at Bell Centre. Quebec's easing of COVID-19 restrictions saw 2,500 mostly partisan fans to attend in the building for the first time in 14 months. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) Obviously the play between the pipes will be critical. Price and Campbell have both impressed in the series, but there's a disparity in big game experience. The Montreal goalie has played a trio of elimination games in the NHL playoffs in addition to a wealth of big international contests, while Campbell is starting his first Game 7 in the NHL postseason. Price has allowed just one first-period goal in the series thus far. Then there's the Toronto blue line. It's unclear if the banged-up Jake Muzzin is good to go, so how he'll look if he suits up or how the Leafs pairings will be configured in his absence will be of note. The future The NHL hasn't set a date for Game 1 of the North final, but the league has wasted little time in getting the postseason rounds rolling. The Vegas Golden Knights, for example, played Colorado on Sunday in their second-round opener after just one full day off following a seven-game first-round victory. Toronto won six of 10 games during this regular season against Winnipeg, while Montreal lost six of nine against the Jets. Winnipeg, in both incarnations of the Jets, has never faced Montreal or Toronto in the postseason. The reconfiguration of divisions this season due to COVID-19 guarantees a Canadian team will be among the final four teams competing for the Stanley Cup, for the first time since the Jets reached that stage in 2018. A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since the 1992-1993 run of the Canadiens. Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock speaks to labor organizers and the media outside a labor union's offices in Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 5. Reuters-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul After the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) issued a limited 10-year exclusion order prohibiting SK Innovation (SKI) from importing some batteries into the United States, a U.S. government official said its transportation department will analyze the impact of the decision. Deputy Transportation secretary nominee Polly Trottenberg said at a hearing that the department would analyze the USITC's Feb. 10 ruling siding with LGES in its accusation that SKI misappropriated LGES' intellectual property related to electric vehicle (EV) battery technology. "I certainly commit to that and I know the department is already aware of the issue at this (SKI's Georgia manufacturing) plant and I think starting to look into the issues," Trottenberg said in response to a question by U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, Thursday (KST). Warnock, who is serving as the junior U.S. senator for the state of Georgia, said the USITC's ruling "seriously threatens" the viability of SKI's $2.6 billion Georgia battery plant, currently under construction with plans to employ 2,600 workers. U.S. President Joe Biden has 60 days to review the USITC ruling and could alter or block it. As a last-minute effort, SKI said it will do its best to correct the USITC decision through the presidential review. The USITC did allow two of SKI's top customers Ford and Volkswagen (VW) to continue their business as the agency gave Ford four years to find a new domestic supplier and VW two years to do the same for its U.S. operations. Ford CEO Jim Farley went on Twitter after the USITC ruling urging the two Korean battery manufacturers to come to a "voluntary settlement" which he said would be "ultimately in the best interest of U.S. manufacturers and workers." Legal representatives at LGES and SKI are said to be involved in an initial stage of settlement talks, but the talks have so far seen little progress as SKI was unwilling to accept LGES' request for compensation in the billions of dollars as a prerequisite to closing the case. Biden committed to replace the U.S. government's fleet of 650,000 vehicles with EVs in accordance with his signature policy initiatives focusing on green growth. SKI plans to invest $5 billion by 2025 in its Georgia manufacturing plants and to increase the number of workers there to 6,000. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 21:26:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Indian cities of Bengaluru (capital city of southern state of Karnataka) and Pune (in southwestern state of Maharashtra) topped the list of best cities in the country in over-a-million-population category. The final rankings of Ease of Living Index (EoLI) 2020 and the Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020 were announced by the Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday. According to the rankings, Shimla (the capital city of northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh) was the best for living in the less-than-a-million-population category. It was followed by Bhubaneshwar (the capital city of eastern state of Odisha). The indices represent an attempt to gauge the performance of cities across India on various parameters of urban living. The Ease of Living Index encapsulates the outcome indicators while the Municipal Performance Index captures the enabling input parameters, said an official statement issued by the federal government. These indices provide a holistic assessment of cities based on their efforts to cultivate better quality of life, create infrastructure, and address challenges of urbanization. Learnings gathered from these indices can help the government identify gaps, tap into potential opportunities, and increase efficiency in local governance to improve lives of citizens and fulfil broader development outcomes. The framework for these assessments were prepared by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs along with the Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner. Enditem A bipartisan group of two powerful American Senators on Wednesday urged the President Joe Biden administration to implement the H-1B visa programme reforms issued by the Donald Trump government in January, under which the visas were to be issued on the criteria of wages and not by a computerised draw of lots. In a notification issue on January 8, the Trump administration had sought to issue H-1B visas to employers offering the highest wages in the area of employment before being allocated to other petitioners. Five weeks later, the Biden administration on February 4, announced a delay in the effective date of the H-1B selection rule from March 9 to December 31, 2021. The Department of Homeland Security has announced going back to the lottery system. "We were disappointed to learn of this delay, as the H-1B visa programme is greatly in need of reform, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee said in a letter to the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The practical effect of this delay is that outsourcing companies will continue to game the lottery system and secure thousands of new H-1B visas for financial year 2022 since the H-1B filing season begins in a few weeks. This will facilitate these companies' efforts to continue outsourcing American jobs, they wrote. We believe the H-1B visa programme must be reformed to stop abuse. Implementing a reasonable allocation of visas as the H-1B selection rule would do is a meaningful step toward reform to protect American workers. We urge you to expeditiously implement the rule, the two Senators said. According to a May 4, 2020 analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, a majority of H-1B employers use the visa programme to pay migrant workers below-market wages, and half of the top 30 H-1B employers use an outsourcing business model, they said. This is simply unacceptable and does not reflect how Congress intended the H-1B programme to work. While Congress should pass legislation to overhaul the H-1B visa program, DHS and the Department of Labor should use their robust regulatory authority to reform the H-1B program to protect American workers from displacement and migrant workers from exploitation, the Senators wrote. Observing that establishing an equitable distribution of new visas is a key starting point to ensuring that the H-1B visa program is not used to lower wages and displace American workers, they said that the annual H-1B visa lottery has been abused for years by outsourcing companies. Employers offering high wages to international graduates of American universities often lose out in the H-1B lottery, while thousands of new H-1B visas are issued each year to outsourcing companies offering below-market wages and seeking to offshore American jobs, they wrote. Durbin and Grassley said that the H-1B selection rule is a reasonable regulatory reform that will improve the H-1B visa program for American and immigrant workers, and American employers. We disagree with the decision to institute a lengthy delay to the effective date of the H-1B selection rule, and we urge DHS to retain and implement the rule as soon as possible ideally before the upcoming April 2021 lottery so that outsourcing companies cannot continue to game the system at the expense of American workers, as they have done for far too long, they wrote. In January, the then President Donald Trump had extended the ban on issuing of new H-1B visas till March 31 arguing that the country is having a very high unemployment rate and the US cannot afford to have more foreign workers. Indian IT professionals, most of whom are highly skilled and come to the US mainly on the H-1B work visas, are the worst sufferers of the current immigration system which imposes a seven per cent per country quota on allotment of the coveted Green Card or permanent legal residency. The H-1B visa, the most sought after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Also read: Biden administration undecided on reversing Trump-era H-1B visa ban Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, speaks to the media at a press conference to announce the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell on July 02, 2020 in New York. The brother of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has said the family is convinced she will be acquitted, adding that she is being subjected to brutal and degrading conditions. Maxwell is in a US prison, awaiting trial on charges that she recruited three teenage girls for financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse between 1994 and 1997. Ian Maxwell said the American justice system which he described as bizarre and cruel must grant bail to his much loved sister, adding that her family is solidly behind her. She is being held without bail on the grounds that she remains a flight risk and has not been fully forthcoming about her finances. Ghislaine Maxwell (Jim James/PA) Mr Maxwell told the Daily Telegraph: On evidence that can be shown to be false given just a little exploration and digging, Ghislaine has been accused of being a procurer and a heartless woman, and far more besides. In fact, she is none of these things. He added: The sustained brutal, degrading and wholly unnecessary conditions of my sisters solitary imprisonment are a disgrace to any civilised democracy. Mr Maxwell said his sister has 10 cameras trained on her 24 hours a day and guards observing her all the time. He told the newspaper that his sister, her family and her friends have done everything they can to reassure the court that she will stay in America if she is released on bail. She and we have all put everything at risk to support her and we have managed to pull together 28.5 million dollars a huge sum, especially when compared with others who have been released on bail for far lesser sums, said Mr Maxwell. He added: We are convinced she will be acquitted and we just hope and believe that the American justice system must grant her much less onerous conditions of detention and finally, and soon, bail. Epstein killed himself in jail in New York while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Poh Ling Yeow announced her shock split from her husband Jonathan Bennett last month after six years of marriage. And now the MasterChef star is getting through the breakup by putting on a brave face and returning to work. On Sunday, the 48-year-old was spotted selling her famous desserts at her Jamface market stall in Adelaide, alongside her best friend Sarah, who is married to her first husband Matt Phipps. Inside Poh Ling Yeow's bizarre love square: MasterChef star's ex-husband and his new wife support her as she returns to work - following her split from her second husband At times Poh looked tense as she chatted to the pair while making her delicious treats as the shoppers lined up. She looked stylish in a pair of tiny black shorts and a green jumper. Poh was all glammed up for the occasion and wore makeup, including red lipstick and light foundation. The 48-year-old swept her dark locks back into a ponytail as she cooked up a storm. Supportive: On Sunday, the 48-year-old was spotted selling her famous desserts at her Jamface market stall in Adelaide, alongside her best friend Sarah, who is married to her first husband Matt Phipps It appears Matt has stepped in to work for Jonathan, who was noticeably absent from the markets. Poh split from Matt in 1999, but the acclaimed chef has remained close friends with her ex, who is a co-owner of Jamface. In 2018, Jonathon admitted Poh and Matt's relationship was something that used to make him feel 'jealous'. 'It was something we all had to work on essentially,' Jono told Woman's Day. 'I know it's very human to be jealous, but it doesn't make it right. 'There's a lot of history [between Poh and Matt], so it's not something that can be taken away. It's not something that should be.' Stylish: The 48-year-old looked stylish in a pair of tiny black shorts and a green jumper Last month, Poh announced she had split from her second husband Jonathan after six years of marriage, and 12 years together in total. Speaking to The Weekend Australian magazine, she said: '2021 is about me doing the things I love and remembering who I am without another person. [Husband] Jono and I broke up.' 'But Jono and I still work together and are the best of friends,' she said. Poh became a household name after appearing on MasterChef season one in 2009. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court welcomes a new judge this month. Joshua J. Sanchez will take the bench on March 15 after being appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. He fills the vacancy created when Judge Courtney Weaks was elected to the 2nd Judicial District Court last year. Metro Court spokeswoman Camille Baca said Sanchez previously worked at the Law Offices of Michael S. Sanchez for almost 15 years where he specialized in criminal, juvenile, domestic relations, civil and probate law. She said, since 2007, Sanchez was contracted with the Law Offices of the Public Defender and worked thousands of misdemeanor, felony and juvenile cases. Judge Sanchez knows what its like to handle a large caseload, making him a great fit for the Metropolitan Court, Chief Judge Maria I. Dominguez said in a news release. As the busiest court in the state, our judges are assigned an average of three to four thousand new cases each year. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Sanchez graduated with a bachelors degree in political science from the University of New Mexico before attending law school there. He served as a clerk for the 2nd Judicial District Court and the 13th Judicial District Court in Los Lunas while attending law school. In his free time, Judge Sanchez enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, taking in a L.A. Dodgers game and snowboarding atop New Mexicos grandest mountain peaks, the release says. New Delhi, March 4 : Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram on Thursday released a new set of stickers ahead of the International Women's Day 2021 -- celebrated on March 8. The photo-sharing platform said that the new stickers stand in solidarity with frontline workers, mothers and communities that support women. These stickers stand in solidarity with frontline workers who assumed so much responsibility through the pandemic, with mothers, those among the limb disability community, with elderly Asian women who faced racism, and all the communities of support that have sparked joy in the lives of women all over the world, the company said in a statement. The stickers were designed by five artists to bring to life the experiences of disabled women, healthcare workers, motherhood, queer/trans women and more. Users can also add these new stickers illustrated by diverse women around the world in their own stories. Last month, social media giants Facebook and Instagram released stickers, AR effects and filters to celebrate the Lunar New Year. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The HSE and a US laboratory have told the High Court they deeply regret the pain, suffering and incalculable loss experienced by the family of a 40 year old woman who died of cervical cancer. Aoife Mitchell Creaven had to have a termination at 20 weeks of her much-wanted IVF pregnancy after she discovered she had terminal cervical cancer. Three years after her death in 2015, her family were told of a CervicalCheck audit of her 2011 smear test taken under the national screening programme showed a change in the interpretation from the original result of no abnormalities detected. Her husband sued for nervous shock over his wifes death and the alleged misinterpretation of her 2011 smear slide. His action included a claim for the costs of future surrogacy. The court heard he hopes to use the couples frozen embryos to fulfill his deceaseds wife wish for a child through surrogacy. The case opened on Wednesday and it was settled today. In a statement to the court as the settlement was announced, the HSE and US laboratory CPL acknowledged that this is a uniquely tragic case which has had the most devastating consequences for Aoife, her husband Padraig Creaven, and for Aoifes family. It added: We deeply regret the pain, suffering and incalculable loss experienced by Aoife, Padraic and her family. The HSE also said it reiterates its sincere and unreserved apology to Mr Creaven for the failure by the CervicalCheck programme to communicate in a timely and appropriate way the results of an audit that indicated a change in the interpretation of his wifes smear taken on August 8,2011. Noting the settlement Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy said she would like to extend her sympathy and condolences to Mr Creaven and the Mitchell family. The judge said the court was particularly struck by the opening of the case where it was stated that Mrs Marcella Mitchell had travelled to London with her daughter Aoife for the termination. The judge said one can only imagine how horrendous that was for the mother and daughter. Outside court, Mr Creaven from Menlo, Galway, said he was happy to have got an acknowledgement from the HSE and CPL. "I feel that I have some small bit of justice for Aoife," he said. He added: "I hope going forward that more women wont have to lose their lives before the system changes." He wanted to acknowledge Aoifes family for all the help and support and of him and his late wife "through an unimaginably difficult time." The details of the settlement are confidential. His case against the HSE, three laboratories and a hospital centred on the alleged misinterpretation of the womans cervical smear sample in 2011 taken under the CervicalCheck national screening programme. The court heard the couple had been "deliriously happy" when the IVF treatment was successful after several unsuccessful attempts. It was short lived however and Ms Mitchell Creaven found out she had terminal cervical cancer after discovering a lump on her neck in January 2014. She and her husband had the most extraordinary and difficult dilemma and the necessary course of action was to terminate the pregnancy, the family's counsel said. Because such terminations were illegal at the time, the couple decided they would have to look outside of Ireland. Ms Mitchell Creaven along with her mother went to London in mid March 2014 and the termination took place. After that the couple tried to find anything to prolong Aoifes life but she died in 2015. Mr Creaven, on behalf of himself and Aoifes family, sued the HSE and three laboratories , Sonic Healthcare (Ireland) Ltd with offices at Sandyford Business Park, Dublin ; MedLab Pathology Ltd also of Sandyford Business Park and US laboratory Clinical Pathology Laboratories Incorporated (CPL) of Austin, Texas. He also sued the Coombe Hospital in Dublin. It was claimed against the HSE and the three laboratories there was a failure to report that the smear slide of 2011 was abnormal and Ms Mitchell Creaven was allegedly deprived of the opportunity of timely and effective investigation and management of her condition. It was claimed against the hospital it concealed or failed to advise the Mitchell Creavens in a timely manner the result of a review of her 2011 smear slide . All the claims were denied. Israeli doctors are ready to cooperate with Ukraine in the issue of treating children The Embassy Israeli doctors are ready to establish contact and cooperation with Ukrainian specialized institutions for the treatment of children. This was stated during the meeting of H.E. Mr. Yevhen Korniychuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Israel with the director of the Schneider Children's Medical Center Euphrates Bron Harlev, the Embassy reports at Facebook. The Ambassador of Ukraine got acquainted with the most modern technologies used to treat a wide range of diseases and pathologies that can affect a child from birth to adulthood. The Israeli side expressed interest in establishing contacts and developing cooperation with specialized institutions in Ukraine, - the statement says. During the meeting it was also discussed the prospects for organizing short-term and long-term internships for Ukrainian doctors online / offline. The meeting took place on the initiative and with the participation of Israeli diplomat, Ambassador Mikhail Brodsky. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday announced a new 'Human Rights Action Plan' to elevate the standards of rights and freedoms in the country. The action plan, which includes nine key goals, will be implemented over the course of two years, Erdogan said. The plan will see certain legislative amendments that are expected to raise the standards of rights and freedoms in Turkey. This comes as Ankara seeks to mend its ties with Western allies, who have been critical of Turkey's deteriorating human rights. Read: Turkey: Erdogan Announces New Reforms To Improve Human Rights Situation; Critics Skeptical 50 targets, 393 actions The plan will have 50 targets and more than 390 actions that will touch upon some of the issues related to human rights. The new Human Rights Action Plan will allow setting-up of a Human Right Monitoring Commission for penal institutions, revision of judicial control measures with rights and freedom-based approach, new arrest procedures, review of legislation on personal freedom and security, tackling of online harassment and cybercrime. The plan will also accelerate harmonisation with the European Union. Read: Turkey's Erdogan Aims To 'strengthen' Relationship With Joe Biden Administration According to Anadolu news agency, lawyers will be appointed to look into violent crimes committed against women. The plan will also allow the strengthening of defence by boosting the right to defence. Victims of human rights violations will be allowed to submit an application to the Human Rights Compensation Commission without the need of submitting another individual application to the constitutional court. Read: 'Show The Same Goodwill': Turkey's Erdogan 'ready To Put Relations Back On Track' With EU "The action plan we will explain today is an example of our will for change and reform that continues and will continue," Erdogan was quoted as saying by Anadolu news agency. Turkey is seeking to join the European Union, an effort that has been jeopardised over the past decade because of the country's steeping human rights records. However, with the latest reforms, Turkey will be hoping to get a place in the 27-member bloc. Read: Turkey President Erdogan Condemns 'LGBT Youth', Accuses Them Of 'vandalism' (Natural News) A new Gallup poll shows that Chinas favorability rating among Americans dropped to a record low of 20 percent, a 13-percentage point drop from last year. China is known around the country for perpetuating genocide against the Uyghurs and for targeting the United States with information and economic warfare so the low rating didnt exactly come as a surprise. Last years 33 percent favorability rating was tied with the 1997 and 2000 readings as the second-lowest on record dating back to 1979. The third lowest was the 34 percent favorability rating in August 1989 following the Chinese governments crackdown on protestors in Tiananmen Square. The highest recorded favorability rating of China was 72 percent, which came in the months before the Tiananmen Square incident. Favorability of China has only been at the majority level two other times in 1979 at 64 percent and 2018 at 53 percent. Last years Gallup poll was held from Feb. 3 to 18, just after the coronavirus first spread in China but before it became a worldwide pandemic. It marked an eight-point dip from 2019. Partisan ratings of China have declined from last year. This years poll showed that only 10 percent of Republicans, 22 percent of independents and 27 percent of Democrats have a favorable opinion of China. The numbers marked a downward shift of 13, 17 and eight points, respectively. The latest ratings were recorded mostly after President Joe Biden announced on Feb. 7 that he is prepared to compete with China, but that his approach would be different from his predecessors. Gallup poll coincides with reports of increased hate crimes against Asian Americans The findings coincide with the reports of increased hate crimes against Asian Americans across the country. Hate-fueled attacks on Asian Americans spiked across major U.S. cities last year. The alarming trend has continued into this year, experts say. According to reports, there were 122 incidents of anti-Asian American hate crimes in 16 of the countrys most populous cities in 2020 an increase of almost 150 percent over the previous year. (Related: New Yorkers protest white supremacy over rising trend of black-on-Asian violence.) Biden hopes to resolve the issue by signing a memorandum condemning the surge of anti-Asian racism in the country during the coronavirus pandemic. He is also directing the Department of Justice to make more concerted efforts to address hate crimes and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric has put Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons, families, communities and businesses at risk, the memorandum said. The memorandum was part of a series of executive orders regarding racial equity and civil rights signed by Biden. The federal government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin, the memorandum said. Such statements have stoked unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to increasing rates of bullying, harassment and hate crimes against AAPI persons. According to the memorandum, the pandemic response from federal health authorities should demonstrate cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity towards AAPIs. Russias favorability rating drops to record low, Palestinian Authoritys rises to record high The Gallup poll provides an annual update on Americans views of 18 major world countries. Americans gave the most favorable views on traditional allies, such as Canada and Great Britain, and the least favorable opinions on nations often at odds with the U.S. on the global stage, such as Iran and North Korea. Aside from China, there were noticeable changes in the favorability opinions of two other nations. The overall favorability rating of Russia has dropped six points to a new low of 22 percent while that of the Palestinian Authority rose to a new high of 30 percent. The poll showed that 25 percent of Republicans, 24 percent of independents and 16 percent of Democrats have favorable views of Russia. Since last year, Russias image has declined by 12 points among independents (from 36 percent) while the views of Republicans and Democrats were unchanged. Some linked the decline to a widespread cyber-attack in the U.S. attributed to Russia by the U.S. intelligence community. Meanwhile, Democrats (38 percent) were twice as likely as Republicans (19 percent) to view the Palestinian Authority favorably while 30 percent of independents held a favorable opinion of the Palestinian governing body. Most of the increase in the past year has come from Republicans, only nine percent of whom viewed the Palestinian Authority favorably last year. Follow CommunistChina.news for more on how the current administration is looking to deal with China. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com VOAnews.com PNA.gov.ph Gallup.com For restaurants and bars that survived nearly a year of COVID-19 restrictions and three months of Pacific Northwest winter, March brings what looks like a light at the end of a long tunnel. Last month, falling infection rates led Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to allow metro-area restaurants to reopen their dining rooms at 25% capacity. Two weeks later, restrictions eased even further in Clackamas and Washington counties; Multnomah County is on track to join its neighbors in the moderate risk category next week, allowing up to 50% capacity indoors. Meanwhile, recent sunny weather has flirted with 60 degrees. Despite all that, some Portland restaurants say they have no plans to open their dining rooms to customers right now, preferring to wait to see if cases continue to fall, or even until restaurant workers have access to the vaccine this spring. And restaurants that have reopened their dining rooms -- or emerged from hibernation -- say some customers are still leaning toward dining outside. In other words, outdoor dining -- whether in cabanas, igloos or even yurts -- isnt going anywhere as we continue to live with COVID. And experts say thats probably for the best. This is an airborne infectious disease, and it has been the whole time, said Richard Corsi, an air quality expert and the dean of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University, so what we have to worry about is inhaled dose. According to Corsi, that dose is a factor of our breathing rate, the concentration of virus in the air and the amount of time we spend surrounded by it. Given that equation, dining rooms represent an opportunity for the disease to spread: Customers must take their masks off to eat and drink, socializing can cause a meal to stretch to 90 minutes or more, and busy restaurants tend to be noisier, meaning potential infectors shouting to be heard can spread more viral particles throughout the air. Beyond wearing a mask and distancing yourself from others, the best way to decrease your risk of catching COVID-19 is to limit the amount of time you are exposed to it, Corsi said. Grabbing takeout remains the gold standard, both for customers and staff, followed by eating outdoors -- truly outdoors, rather than in fully enclosed tents. Restaurants that do reopen their dining rooms should consider keeping windows and doors open, adding HEPA and UVGI filters (Corsi is more skeptical of ionization filters, pending more peer-reviewed research), and encouraging customers to wait outside for their tables or even until their food is ready. Keep capacity as low as possible and try to use time to your advantage, Corsi recommended. If people come in when their meal is ready, and arent sitting around for a long time, you can reduce the amount of time youre in a restaurant from 90 to 45 minutes. That lowers your inhalation dose by a factor of two. And the lower the dose, the better the outcomes are, even if you do get sick. Corsi also suggests something that will be music to the ears of many readers -- lowering the volume on restaurant sound systems. The new restaurateur etiquette is not to have music, Corsi said. Uncharted territory Gregory Gourdet's Kanns yurt village set up at The Redd parking lot, 831 S.E. Salmon St.Mark Graves/The Oregonian At Kann Winter Village, a pop-up version of the upcoming Haitian restaurant from Top Chef finalist Gregory Gourdet, diners eat in the warmth and comfort of their own private yurts (see review: Gregory Gourdet sets magical scene with Haitian dishes served in yurts at Kann Winter Village). The restaurant, which will continue this spring, was created with local, state and federal health guidelines in mind. When you book a reservation, youll see a page listing Kanns safety measures copied from the Centers for Disease Control. For Gourdet, opening an all-yurt restaurant in the middle of a pandemic -- even a temporary one -- meant entering uncharted territory. Though the restaurant got the green light to open from Multnomah County, shifting state guidelines led to a postponed opening in December and rescheduled reservations in February, after the state briefly declared that private dining pods must be limited to four people each (some of Kanns yurts can hold up to eight). Were just rolling with it, doing the best that we can, Gourdet said. We understand that things are going to keep changing, but thats just part of the layers of opening a restaurant right now. During our visit last month, our yurt was waited on by Christina Sirimanivong, a server who previously worked with Gourdet when he was at downtown Portlands Departure. For Sirimanivong, joining the team at Kann was an opportunity to continue working for someone whose message and food resonates strongly with her. Still, after dealing with some diners who refused to follow the mask policy at Departure, she had concerns about returning to work at Kann. I definitely had my hesitations in the beginning, said Sirimanivong. We still have good diners and bad diners, bad diners who still want wines poured right next to them, people who still want regular fine dining, even though fine dining doesnt exist anymore. Those concerns were alleviated in part by an early get-together and discussion of Kanns service style and approach to running a pandemic-time restaurant, including those temperature checks and socially distanced yurts, an information-rich menu that helps guide customers through their meal and weekly COVID testing for staff provided by the restaurant. Customers who would prefer the least possible interaction with staff can ask for their food and drink to be dropped off on a table outside. The greeting is completely different, Sirimanivong said. The way we approach people. Its not as open. Its more like, These are the steps, this is what were going to be doing, and in between the service, well be dropping off dishes at the edge of the table. Youre not getting to know your guests on a personal level. Still, Sirimanivong says shes seeing a huge demand for people to return to restaurants, with friends at other restaurants reporting summertime sales happening in early March. Right now theres still this pent-up demand, Sirimanivong said. People in the industry are social butterflies. We love to create experiences for diners, and we want to make money. Dont tell me that you dont want to go out to a cocktail bar and get a nice Negroni. We all want restaurants to reopen. Room service? Cheryl's on 12th, located at 1135 S.W. Washington St., is using small greenhouses for outdoor seating.Mark Graves/The Oregonian Cheryl and Ed Casey reopened indoor dining at Cheryls on 12th on Feb. 12, the first day Portland-area restaurants were allowed to do so in nearly three months. During the first two weeks, most people chose to eat in the dozen private dining greenhouses that took over several parking spots outside the downtown Portland restaurant last year. Those polycarbonate greenhouses, which can be opened at the top to increase ventilation between groups, helped the downtown Portland business limp through the fall and winter and mitigate losses, Ed Casey said. Its a format that allows diners to feel secure and have their own private airspace with their own party, Ed Casey said. Cheryls on 12th also reached out to a half dozen nearby hotels that could no longer afford to run their own restaurants, offering to provide room service through the winter and beyond. Theyve also delivered meals around town to be eaten during office Zoom meetings. Nonetheless, business is only at about 30% of what it was last year. A big reason we stayed open last year is because weve had nine or 10 employees who werent able to get any benefits, so we wanted to make sure they stayed working, and we wanted to keep them for the longer haul, Ed Casey said. Recently, the Caseys have noticed more customers willing to dine indoors. Theres more demand for restaurateuring as usual, Ed Casey said. Hopefully the counts keep going down and they can open things up even more. Nam Kaewborworn, general manager at Thai Bloom, says shes noticed a demographic split in terms of where customers will sit at the Thai chains Beaverton restaurant, which has room for 49 people indoors, including staff, and more than 30 more at heated tables outside. In terms of age, the high risk group still prefers to sit outside, Kaewborworn said. Many of our regulars tell me, After I get my two shots of vaccine I will sit inside, for now Ill sit outside under the heater. The great propane hunt Cabanas line the patio at OK Omens, 1758 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.Courtesy of OK Omens For Brent Braun, the trickiest aspect of setting up the winter patio at OK Omens, the Southeast Portland restaurant where he is the wine director and a partner, was finding propane. The restaurant had purchased some inexpensive cabanas online back in September, thinking that while they might not last very long, we might not last very long either, Braun said. But as the weather began to cool, OK Omens entered a zero-sum game, competing against hundreds of other Portland-area restaurants and bars for a limited supply of propane canisters needed to blunt the chill of the great outdoors. At first we used these 16-ounce cans, Braun said. When those got snatched we got the bigger ones, then someone went and grabbed a 30-pound tank and the little hose and the heater it was hooked up to (while) someone was there with a reservation. Its awful. Youre already struggling, then you go out to seat someone and youre like, Wheres the heater? According to Braun, the great propane shortage ended with Browns November dining freeze. Everything changed then, Braun said. Because nobody reopened. With better patio weather on the horizon, OK Omens isnt planning to invite diners back indoors until staff have access to the vaccine, Braun said. Currently, Oregon plans to open vaccinations to frontline workers such as restaurant staff on May 1. After that, major decisions around reopening will come down to the comfort level of staff; for now, the former Cafe Castagna dining room is operating as a retail wine shop. We deeply value the people that are working here to build this back up during COVID, especially when they were still eligible for unemployment, Braun said. Imagine if one of them came back and you forced them into a situation where they felt uncomfortable and then they died because we needed them to wait tables? Thats just the worst thing you could ever think of. Corsi, the PSU Dean, said he and his wife loved eating out before the pandemic, sometimes visiting favorite restaurants two or three times a week. For the past year, theyve limited themselves to takeout and the occasional food cart meal eaten outdoors at a cart pod picnic table. Thats unlikely to change soon. The best-case scenario is we get a huge fraction of the population vaccinated, and we start to starve the virus of its hosts, Corsi said. I dont think were getting rid of this thing for many years, but if we can control it to the point where deaths are similar to influenza season, but integrated through the year, if we can get it down to where risks are so low I think the best-case scenario is we might be there in the fall. And then I wont go out to eat for three or four months, Corsi continued. And Ill probably still wear a mask. -- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell Broadway's Music Box Theatre, La MaMa, Park Avenue Armory, St Ann's Warehouse, and the Apollo Theatre are among what are being described as "Flex Venues" that will reopen from 2 April to host performances as part of the NY PopsUp series which we previously covered here. NY PopsUp, the new festival of pop-up events overseen by producers Scott Rudin and Jane Rosenthal, was established to help revitalise the spirit and emotional well-being of New York citizens through the energy of live performance set over 100 days throughout New York City and State. The New York State Department of Health and NY PopsUp are collaborating with Broadway theatre operators to create specific safety plans for each participating building, in advance of April's first performances. This thorough process will serve as Broadway's own pilot program that will increase audience size over time as the US Department of Health allows, and will put select protocols into action as New York prepares for Broadway's complete re-opening. Flex venues are established performance spaces that are able to be adapted for social distancing guidelines. At the moment, these audiences will be relatively small: attendee capacity of any performance must be limited to the lesser of 33 per cent of the maximum occupancy for the particular area or 50 people; exclusive of performers, crew, and other staff who are necessary for the event. From 2 April 2021, the number of attendees may exceed the social gathering limit of 50 people, up to a maximum of 150 attendees, within a 33 per cent maximum occupancy limit for the particular area so long as all attendees receive an appropriate negative Covid test result prior to the event. It's small steps for the New York community, but bodes well for the coming months as shows on both sides of the Atlantic look to reopening. Syracuse, N.Y. -- More than 4,000 appointments were still available this afternoon for the new, one-shot Covid-19 vaccine at the New York state fairgrounds. Signup appointments for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine opened at 8 a.m. today. For now, appointments are available from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday morning through Tuesday morning. The signup process has a few bugs, which well explain below. The big advantage to the Johnson & Johnson shot, marketed under the name Janssen, is that its one-and-done. The other vaccines on the market, made by Moderna and Pfizer, each require two shots. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is slightly less effective, but experts say it offers strong protection against getting sick from the coronavirus. In addition, you can get the Janssen shot a lot sooner at the fairgrounds. There are no appointments available until April 2 for the other vaccine offered there, made by Pfizer. That one is offered from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Doctors say the best vaccine is the first one you can get. They have all been demonstrated to be safe and they all have a significant amount of efficacy, said Dr. Stephen Thomas, chief of the infectious disease division at Upstate Medical University. You still have to fall into one of the eligible categories to get any of the vaccines. Those categories include first responders, corrections and healthcare workers, anyone over 65, and anyone with an underlying condition such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. Signing up for the Janssen shot is a little tricky. After logging into the states signup website and entering basic information like your birthday and ZIP code, youll click on the dark blue Locate Providers box. There are two scheduling links at the fair; neither of them indicates which one is for Johnson & Johnson. You have to click on the second schedule your appointment link, the one with the overnight appointment times. To sign up for the one-shot Johnson & Johnson shot at the fairgrounds, be sure to click on the second "schedule your appointment" link, beneath the "10:00PM - 6:00AM" banner. The list of appointment times that pops up is a little counterintuitive. It begins with appointments from 12:01 to 6 a.m., then jumps abruptly to slots from 10 p.m. to midnight. The state Department of Health decided to schedule all Janssen vaccine appointments at night to avoid any confusion about what vaccine people will receive when they show up. Appointments for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the state fairgrounds are listed by calendar day, so they start just after midnight and go through 6 a.m. before jumping to the late-night slots. (Red line added for emphasis.) Here are the time slots now available for the Janssen shots. Theyre being snapped up steadily; from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today, the number of open slots dropped from about 6,500 to 4,100. Sunday, March 7: 12:01 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Monday, March 8: 12:15 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., and 10:30 p.m. to midnight. Tuesday, March 9: 12:15 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this week that the overnight shift is likely temporary, and there could be a gap in the availability of the Johnson & Johnson until the state receives more doses. READ MORE Third Covid vaccine available soon in CNY: What you need to know about each Covid vaccine site at NY State Fairgrounds to run 24 hours a day, add thousands of appointments Biden vows enough Covid-19 vaccine for all US adults by end of May Onondaga Countys vaccine supply more than triples this week China has accused Australia of failing to stop anti-Asian discrimination after a survey showed a rise in racist attacks and threats since the Covid pandemic started. A Lowy Institute survey on Wednesday found one in five Chinese-Australians claim to have been attacked or physically threatened. Australia's relationship with China soured after Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid, which spread out of Wuhan in late 2019. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was 'deeply concerned' and called on Australians to 'own up' to the racial divide. 'For quite some time, there has been continuous discrimination in Australia against people of Asian origins, including overseas Chinese, which poses serious threats to the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Australia,' he said. A Lowy Institute survey found one in five Chinese-Australians claim to have been attacked or threatened. Pictured: People in face masks in Sydney Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he is 'deeply concerned' and called on Australians to 'own up' to racist tendencies. Pictured: Woman in a face mask in Sydney KEY FINDINGS FROM SURVEY OF MORE THAN 1,000 CHINESE-AUSTRALIANS * 37 per cent have been treated negatively because of their heritage in the past 12 months and 18 per cent have been physically threatened or attacked * About 50 per cent said Australian politicians and journalists give foreign interference 'too much attention' but 39 per cent said the public gives foreign interference 'too little attention' * 75 per cent have no contact with Chinese community organisations * 71 per cent feel a great or moderate sense of belonging to Australia and 65 per cent feel a sense of belonging to China * 43 per cent are more favourable towards the Chinese system of governance after the COVID-19 pandemic * 36 per cent believe democracy is the highest form of governance * 84 per cent use social media giant WeChat for Chinese-language news and 74 per cent read Beijing-controlled outlets Xinhua and People's Daily * 50 per cent say Australian media reporting on China is too negative SOURCE: THE LOWY INSTITUTE Advertisement 'The Chinese government previously issued a travel advisory and an alert for Chinese students going to study in Australia, hoping that Chinese citizens in Australia will take precautions for their own safety. 'At the same time, we hope that the Australian side will own up to the problem, make their people better citizens, solve the problems of racism and discrimination at home and safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Australia.' Last June Chinese authorities urged its students and other citizens not to travel to Australia due to a rise in racist attacks. Dr Haiqing Yu from RMIT University said it's obvious there has been a spike in racially motivated attacks and discriminatory rhetoric. 'There are increasing cases of racism against Chinese and Asians in Australia, during the Covid-19 outbreak but also before that,' she told the ABC. Wang Xining, China's Deputy Head of Mission in Australia, said Australia makes it hard for the communist to befriend. 'It seems that being friendly to China, to be a friend of China becomes a sin and mistake in Australia,' he said. 'While, to take a stern face against Chinese would be the legislate stance by a patriotic Australian. Only in that way could the Australian politician win the heart of Australian population.' Last month Australia was accused of being a part of 'US-centered, racist, and mafia-styled community' due to its intelligence ties with the likes of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Australia is part of Five Eyes, a long running intelligence alliance with the three nations as well as New Zealand. Wang Xining, China's Deputy Head of Mission in Australia, said Australia makes it hard for the communist to befriend Australia's relationship with China soured after Scott Morrison (pictured with President Xi Jinping) called for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid The alliance was described as 'a fake international community with an axis of white supremacy' in the Chinese government-controlled Global Times newspaper. 'They have formed a US-centred, racist, and mafia-styled community, willfully and arrogantly provoking China and trying to consolidate their hegemony as all gangsters do,' the scathing editorial states. 'They are becoming a racist axis aimed at stifling the development rights of 1.4 billion Chinese.' Five Eyes had been transformed from the intelligence-sharing mechanism into a 'political clique', the piece continued. 'Global diplomacy in the 21st century must not be hijacked by a fake international community with an axis of white supremacy,' they wrote. 'We cannot allow their selfishness to masquerade as the common morality of the world, and they cannot set the agenda of mankind.' The article concludes: 'What they want is sham multilateralism, and what they actually pursue is hooliganism in their own interest circle.' Australia has been accused of being a part of 'US-centered, racist, and mafia-styled community' in the Chinese government-controlled Global Times newspaper. Pictured: President Xi Jinping Last June Chinese authorities urged its students and other citizens not to travel to Australia due to a rise in racist attacks. Pictured: Chinese tourists in Sydney China retaliated to Mr Morrison's calls for an inquiry by relentlessly targeting Australia in an increasingly aggressive and belligerent campaign of economic sanctions and blockades Beijing. The communist nation imposed a litany of unofficial bans and arbitrary tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Australia exports after Canberra called for the inquiry. Six of Australia's top beef distributors were hit with blanket bans along with cotton, timbre, seafood and coal producers. The wine industry Down Under was hit with a crippling 212 per cent tariff - contravening the two nation's 2015 Free Trade agreement - while barely growers also had an 80 per cent barrier slapped on exports. Australia is now preparing to take legal action against China at a World Trade Organisation tribunal, but the process to have the tariffs removed could take several years. Black Doctors Launch New Healthcare App Finding healthcare assistance is now a lot easier, thanks to the Black Doctor 247 App. The new Internet resource aims to reduce health disparities in the Black community. According to Dr. Bill Releford, the app was developed by a coalition of Black medical professionals in response to the COVID-19 crisis, which has devastated African Americans and Latino communities. With Black Doctor 247, any person in the United States can access a Black doctor. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and illuminated long-standing health disparities in the Black community. Complications from cardiovascular disease such as diabetic wounds and subsequent amputation are on this rise. The driving force behind this is that people are sheltering in place and unable to reach their doctors in a timely fashion, explained Releford. ADVERTISEMENT The BlackDoctor247 App brings the doctor to the patient by leveraging the power of technology. Essentially, we are bringing the solution to the problem. With our technology, we are able to make an assessment of the patients medical condition without the patient leaving home, he said. Several barbershop events are planned in the Greater L.A. area where clients can virtually visit a Black doctor, right inside of the barbershop, using the BlackDoctor247 app and technology. Also, Releford said that the Black Doctor 247 app connects several campaigns including The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, Black Limbs Matter and The Black Beauty Salon Health Initiative. Releford has practiced as a podiatric surgeon specializing in amputation prevention and wound care for nearly 35 years.He is also an associate professor at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science. Since he founded the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program in 2006, the initiative has screened more than 30,000 African American men for diabetes and high blood pressure in over 750 Black-owned barbershops across the nation. The Black Doctor 247 builds upon the existing efforts of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, which is the only national barbershop-based health advocacy organization in the country. Our mission is to screen and educate over one million men by the year 2025, added Releford, who was recognized for his campaign in 2011 by former President Barack Obama. To learn more about the app, visit BlackDoctor247.com. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The family of Ghislaine Maxwell have broken their silence, insisting she is innocent while labelling the US legal system bizarre and cruel. Ian Maxwell told The Daily Telegraph his sister was being subjected to brutal and degrading treatment and called for her release from jail while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges. In an impassioned defence of his sister, Mr Maxwell (64) said: On evidence that can be shown to be false given just a little exploration and digging, Ghislaine has been accused of being a procurer and a heartless woman, and far more besides. In fact, she is none of these things. He urged that she be freed from prison. Ms Maxwell (59) a close friend of Prince Andrew, is languishing in a detention centre in Brooklyn after being arrested by the FBI last July. She is due to go on trial later this year for offences relating to her association with her one-time boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted paedophile, who killed himself in a New York jail in 2019. Ms Maxwell remains on round-the-clock suicide watch, and applications for bail, which include a $28.5m (23.5m) surety and a pledge to give up both her British and French citizenships, have so far been denied. Mr Maxwell described his sisters treatment as a disgrace to any civilised democracy. He said her decision to renounce her citizenships in an attempt to persuade US authorities she is not a flight risk had caused her immense distress. The Maxwell family launched a campaign they called Operation Get Ghislaine Out following her arrest last July at a secluded home in New Hampshire. She is accused of helping Epstein to groom and abuse girls as young as 14 between 1994 and 1997, when she was in an intimate relationship with him. She is also charged with perjury in relation to sworn testimony in 2016 that she had not trafficked Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an American who has claimed she was forced to sleep with Britains Prince Andrew when she was 17, an allegation vehemently denied by Prince Andrew Mr Maxwell said: To anyone familiar with the British system of law, the American system is simply bizarre, quite frankly, cruel. My sister is held in the most appalling conditions and subjected to brutal and unusual treatment and yet she is a pretrial detainee. This means she is innocent and she is entitled to the presumption of innocence. The sustained brutal, degrading and wholly unnecessary conditions of my sisters solitary imprisonment are a disgrace to any civilised democracy. He said Ms Maxwell was being kept in a cell measuring just 6ft by 9ft that includes a concrete bed and a toilet. He added: She has 10 cameras trained on her, including one mobile camera, 24/7. Four guards observe her all the time and presumably another is looking at the camera feeds. She is not allowed in the corners of her cell. She is not allowed within 2.5ft of the cell door. These conditions, which Ghislaine has now endured for close on 250 days, are depriving her of her health and, critically, the ability meaningfully to prepare her defence. This is simply wrong. He said it was vital for her health and well-being to get her out of jail, adding she has lost close to 20lb in weight. Her hair is falling out and she is losing the ability to concentrate, which is impairing the time she can devote to studying the two million pages of prosecution documentation, he said. Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Oral involvement in 122 COVID-19 survivors, hospitalized and followed up at a single referral visit after a median 104 days from hospital discharge, has been studied by the team of researchers at the Universita Vita Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. The researchers found that oral manifestations, specifically salivary gland ectasia, were unexpectedly common being detectable in 83.9% and 43% of COVID-19 survivors, respectively. Salivary glands were defined as being ectasic when they appeared swollen, with a patent duct, and no pus leaking. Salivary gland ectasia reflected the hyperinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2, as demonstrated by the significant relationship with C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at hospital admission, and with the use of antibiotics during acute disease. Residual damage of the oral cavity persists in the vast majority of the more severely affected COVID-19 patients far beyond clinical recovery. Read More.. "This retrospective and prospective cohort study of COVID-19 survivors revealed that residual damage of the oral cavity persists in the vast majority of the more severely affected patients far beyond clinical recovery," said JDR Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Jakubovics, Newcastle University, England. "This suggests that the oral cavity represents a preferential target for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further studies are needed to clarify the connection between SARS-CoV-2 infection and oral disorders." Source: Eurekalert Both LDH levels and antibiotic administration survived as independent predictors of salivary gland ectasia in a multivariable analysis. Temporomandibular joint abnormalities, facial pain and masticatory muscle weakness were also common."This retrospective and prospective cohort study of COVID-19 survivors revealed that residual damage of the oral cavity persists in the vast majority of the more severely affected patients far beyond clinical recovery," said JDR Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Jakubovics, Newcastle University, England."This suggests that the oral cavity represents a preferential target for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further studies are needed to clarify the connection between SARS-CoV-2 infection and oral disorders."Source: Eurekalert Salivary gland ectasia reflected the hyperinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2, as demonstrated by the significant relationship with C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at hospital admission, and with the use of antibiotics during acute disease. Recommended Reading COVID-19 Vaccination in India: Issues and Challenges India's COVID-19 vaccination program has been launched. It currently uses the vaccines Covishield and Covaxin. There are some issues and challenges that need to be overcome in order to vaccinate all Indians. READ MORE Coronavirus Coronaviruses infect animals, humans, and birds. Human coronaviruses, such as SARS, MERS, and 2019-nCoV cause respiratory distress and even death. The S protein is the infectious agent of the virus. READ MORE Dental Check-Up It is commonly recommended that you visit the dentist twice a year to clean your teeth and gums and also do the basic checkups. READ MORE Indian Namaste the Preferred Greeting over Conventional Handshake COVID-19 pandemic is causing changes in how we greet each other. The traditional Indian way of greeting with folded hands (Namaste) is now being preferred over handshake. Namaste has more to it than just being a greetings, read to find out READ MORE Side Effects of Drugs that Affect Your Teeth and Gums Medications can affect oral health. Some drug-induced adverse effects are tooth decay, and swelling of gums. The dentist must diagnose and treat the conditions on a case-by-case basis. READ MORE Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Children across China participated in various themed activities, including sports challenges and parent-child games, over the last few days to celebrate the International Childrens Day, which falls on Tuesday this year. China established the day in 1949 and made it a full-day holiday for children under 14 in 1956 as an occasion to celebrate the spirit of youth Jun 01, 2021 05:38 PM As if nature didn't have enough weather events to worry about, researchers have found a "space hurricane" that happened over the upper atmosphere of the earth for the very first time in history. Space scientist, Mike Lockwood from the University of Reading made it known in a released statement quoting: "If not now, it was not certain that there is the existence of space plasma hurricanes, so to prove that they really exist with such a striking inspection is unbelievable." Space hurricanes do not exist only, but scientists presume that they could be more quite common inside the solar system and outside. Magnetic Fields and Plasma in the Planet's Atmosphere Nevertheless, this one happened back in August 2014, but the observations documented by satellites were only shown recently. With the new research, researchers were able to come up with a 3D image of the 1,000 km-wide whirling mass of plasma that showered electrons instead of showering water some hundred kilometers past the North Pole. According to Lockwood, "Tropical storms are connected with immense amounts of energy, and these space hurricanes must be developed by strange large and speedy transfer of solar wind energy and rained particles into the upper atmosphere of the earth. Magnetic fields and Plasma in the planet's atmosphere exist all over the universe, so the studies advise space hurricanes should be a popular phenomenon." Read More: 2020 Disasters: Hurricanes, Heatwaves, Wildfires, and Drought, Cost US $16 Billion Communication Systems As stated by the researchers, the space hurricane stayed for close to eight hours before it started to break down, and while it does not result in flooding like hurricanes in the lower atmosphere of the earth, researchers said it could expand drag in satellite and cause interruptions in communications of high-frequency radio and even result to flaws in a location beyond the horizon radar, communication systems, and satellite navigation. Researchers who observe the space hurricane as a popular phenomenon concluded that the process may also be crucial for the relationship throughout the universe between other solar systems and interstellar winds. Furthermore, there is so much that is not known about these space hurricanes and other space hurricanes, which researchers have not yet discovered in the upper atmospheres of the rest of the planets, though hurricanes have been viewed at lower atmospheric levels. Hurricanes happen in the lower atmosphere of the earth above warm bodies of water. Moist air increases when warm, thereby creating a low-pressure area beside the surface that sips in the surrounding air, leading to extremely strong winds and constituting clouds that result in heavy rain. Hurricanes Detected in Other Planets Hurricanes have also been detected in the lower atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars while big solar tornadoes have been discovered in the atmosphere of the Sun. Furthermore, the presence of space hurricanes in the planet's upper atmosphere has not been seen before. The team of researchers from China, the United State of America, the United Kingdom, and Norway used observations made by four satellites of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and a 3D magnetosphere modeling to create the image. Their research was released in Nature Communications. Related Article: Mitigating Impacts of Storms and Hurricanes on Water Access and Water Supply Through Solar Power, Water Pump Systems, and Desalination For more news, updates about space hurricanes and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! BOSTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ("Blue Cross") today announced it will join Blue Cross companies across the country, along with members of America's Health Insurance Plans, in helping to vaccinate 2 million seniors living in the most vulnerable communities. The Vaccine Community Connectors pilot initiative will focus initially on those 65 and over and will expand as vaccine supply grows and becomes more widely available. The joint initiative was highlighted during a White House COVID-19 Taskforce briefing on Wednesday. "This is an extension of our commitment to doing everything we can to help end this pandemic," said Andrew Dreyfus, Blue Cross' president and CEO. "We want to increase vaccination rates among our members as quickly and equitably as possible to help achieve herd immunity." "Improving health equity means setting important goals, removing barriers to better care, and meeting people where they are," said Tonya Adams, national spokesperson for the Vaccine Community Connectors program and chief customer experience officer at Regence BlueCross BlueShield. "This is a seminal moment in America. We look forward to working with all partners across the public and private sectors to provide millions of seniors with an equal opportunity for protection from this virus." Identifying vulnerable communities As part of the Vaccine Community Connectors pilot initiative, Blue Cross and other participating health plans will focus on their respective members and the communities they serve, identifying members who are vulnerable to COVID-19 and who live in areas where vaccination rates are most inequitable. Blue Cross will use its member data and advanced analytics and rely on a number of methods to help identify the most vulnerable communities and members. Socioeconomic data will be paired with other information such as vaccination histories and the prevalence of chronic conditions to improve accuracy and efficiency in identifying those most at risk. As vaccine supplies expand and appointments are made available, Blue Cross will contact members who are eligible to get a vaccine through multiple channels to alert them of their eligibility, answer questions about registration and scheduling options, help address any barriers, send reminders when and if a second shot is required, and track progress to ensure that vaccines are getting to those who need them most. Blue Cross will also continue to work with community partners to educate members on the safety, efficacy, and value of COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine transportation initiative Today's news follows Blue Cross' announcement in February that it will contribute $1 million to fund tens of thousands of free rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state to support community health centers, underserved communities, and vulnerable populations. The program will launch this month in coordination with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which will assist in identifying participating community health centers. Blue Cross and its Foundation have invested approximately $12 million in the community via financial contributions, pro bono, and in-kind contributions during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information on how Blue Cross is supporting its members during the COVID-19 public health emergency, visit the company's Coronavirus Resource Center. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.BlueLinks for Employers SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Infection indices are rising dramatically, national chief medical officer Cecilia Muller told a press conference on Wednesday. She said the number of patients relying on ventilators is increasing to an extraordinary extent, and more young people are catching the disease. There are many people in their forties whose health suddenly deteriorates, she stressed. Further restrictions will only enter into force if that is inevitable, but more decisions will be reached at Wednesdays cabinet meeting, she said. Muller said Hungary finally has enough vaccines to implement the real vaccination campaign that we would like in order to broaden individual protection as quickly as possible. In the coming days enough Chinese vaccines to inoculate 250,000 people will be at the disposal of family doctors, who will also receive Moderna vaccines (she gave no precise figure). The inoculation of the elderly continues with 114,000 Pfizer vaccines at hospital vaccination points. From Thursday a new chapter opens in the vaccination campaign as preparations are made to inoculate 74,000 chronically ill patients aged 18-60 on the weekend. They will be notified in text messages when to be inoculated from available AstraZeneca vaccines and at which vaccination point. Muller asked those affected to watch their phones from Thursday and to arrive on time and be ready for paperwork to be done in advance. The plan is that all 74,000 people contacted by text message will be inoculated on Saturday and Sunday. Ehet and Ehmet Sulaiman are believed to have been targeted as part of an intimidation campaign. Two brothers of RFAs Uyghur Service editor Eset Sulaiman have been confirmed detained by authorities in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), with other relatives believed held as part of what is seen as an intimidation campaign aimed at preventing him from reporting on rights abuses. Sulaimans older brother Ehet, the 57-year-old director of the Tengritagh Township Teaching District in Kumul (in Chinese, Hami) prefecture, and his younger brother Ehmet, the 39-year-old head of Kumuls Tengritagh township, have both been detained since 2018, RFA recently learned after interviewing several local officials. The two men, and at least five of Sulaimans cousins, went missing after authorities in the XUAR launched a campaign of mass extralegal incarceration that has seen up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities detained in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017. Chinese officials have said the camps are centers for vocational training, but reporting by RFA and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in cramped and unsanitary conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatmentincluding systematic rapeand political indoctrination. RFA recently spoke with Ablet Semet, a researcher based in Germany, who met with Ehet on several occasions beginning in 2007 while visiting Kumul prefecture, where the graduate of Xinjiang Normal University was considered a leading educator. According to Semet, Ehets office oversaw a junior high school and several elementary schools, and had branches in Kumul city, as well as Tengritagh township. Semet said that he had recently received information about the disappearance of Eheta father of two and grandfather of one with whom Sulaiman last spoke in 2017as well as his brother Ehmet and several of their family members through sources in the XUAR capital Urumqi and in Kumul. When I heard the news that [Ehet] had disappeared for no reason around 2017, I was very angry and upset, Semet said, noting that Ehet had worked as the director of the Tengritagh teaching district since 1986. RFA contacted a Han Chinese staff member at the Kumul branch of the Tengritagh Township Teaching District who initially said there was nobody by the name of Ehet Sulaiman working there. But when pressed for information about who from the office had been arrested or detained, he confirmed that Ehet had been. He claimed not to know when Ehet was arrested and referred further questions to the Tengritagh Police Station. When asked whether Ehet is currently serving as the director of the townships teaching district, an employee at the Tengritagh Police Station responded that he was unsure because they dont tell us about people theyve taken away. The employee said Ehet was arrested in 2018, at which point he was removed from his post, but was unaware of whether he was ever put on trial. National security has taken him away, he said. We dont know how things have gone. How could we know? RFA was unable to confirm whether Ehet is currently being held in an internment camp or in prison. Younger brother RFA also spoke with authorities to determine the situation of Sulaimans younger brother Ehmet, a graduate of the Xinjiang Education Institute who previously served as the deputy head of Kumuls Gherbiytagh township and later oversaw Tengritagh. Ehmet and five of his cousinsall of whom had been reported missing since 2017. An employee with the Kumul Party Committee claimed to have no knowledge of Ehmet, but a staffer at the Tengritagh Police Station confirmed that he was gone and had been replaced by a woman named Sharapat. I dont know how long hes been sentenced for, he said, adding that his case was a matter of national security. They said they suddenly took him away. But where they took him, why they took him, those are matters they wont reveal, so we dont know. The regional level knows, national security [knows], thats it. No one else knows. When asked why Ehmet had been targeted and whether it had to do with Sulaimans work with RFA, the staffer replied, we cant ask [questions like] that. I have to tell you: deputies and secretaries know about these matters. Not a single other person knows the reason [for these detentions], he said. Efforts to reach Sharapat, the new head of Tengritagh township, for comment on Ehmets case went unanswered. Ehmet Sulaiman in an undated photo. RFA Five cousins Ablet also told RFA that Sulaimans cousins Jelil Osman, 58; Muhammad Osman, 49; Eli Ablelim, 42; Abaljan Ablelim, 40; and Adil Ablelim, 35; had been arrested after going missing in 2017. He claimed that the latter four were sentenced in closed trials to 17 years in prison for acts of religious extremism. Jelil previously served as deputy director of the municipal government office in Kumul, head of the prefectural Bureau of Animal Husbandry, and later as director of the Kumul prefectural arts ensemble. RFA called several offices to inquire about Jelils situation, but was unable to obtain any information, while a representative at the arts ensemble where he used to work claimed that he had never heard of the man. Muhammad, who graduated from Xian Medical University in the early 1990s, worked as a chief physician of the Kumul Prefecture No. 1 Hospital for several years. In 2012, he spent six months studying and working at a hospital in Hamburg, Germany. A representative from the Kumul city Public Security Bureau (PSB) declined to comment on the cases of either Jelil or Muhammad over the phone, stating that they do not live under his jurisdiction. While none of the relevant officials RFA spoke to confirmed the detentions of Eli, Ablajan, or Adil, they did nothing to refute the claim. A security officer in Kumuls Qizilyar township said he had heard that they were taken into custody, without elaborating. Targeted despite precautions According to Ablet, Sulaimans brothers in Kumul were placed under strict surveillance in 2011-12 and the two were subsequently very cautious when speaking about him, likely for the reason that he lived abroad and worked for RFA. At the time, I could sense that the two brothers lived very carefully, so much so that they didnt even mention that they had a brother who was living outside [the XUAR], he said. This was especially true of Ehemetjan, the younger brotherthe fact that he never introduced himself as Esets younger brother surprised me even after we spent several days together and even though he knew that I was close friends with [Eset]. Ablet pointed out that the level of caution the brothers employed ultimately did very little to help Ehmet and his family members to live in safety. I cant possibly believe that their detention was unrelated to them being the relatives of an intellectual like Eset, who is so respected and influential in the homeland, he said. Sulaimans family members are among more than 50 relatives of RFAs Uyghur Service staff who have been confirmed held in some form of Chinese state detention, alongside the millions either in the camps or sentenced to prison for crimes often for activities deemed religious extremist by authorities. Authorities have regularly said they do not know or refuse to comment when questioned over the whereabouts of RFA reporters missing relatives. While Chinese authorities claimed to have shut down all of the regions camps in 2019 and graduated all students, tens of thousands of members of the Uyghur diaspora have been unable to speak with or, in many cases, learn the whereabouts of their loved ones. Reported by Shohret Hoshur. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In an effort to boost Indias tech start-up ecosystem, the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), has announced Deep Tech Club (DTC) 2.0; the second edition for its DeepTech Mentoring program, an initiative to nurture and promote Indian DeepTech products solving global problems. DTC finds world-changing start-ups that are enabled by AI, ML, AR, VR, IoT, Robotics, Blockchain, NLP, and similar technologies. The central focus of the DTC program is to act as a catalyst in empowering pioneers in India-based deep technology startups and connect them with industry leaders, investors, academia, researchers, and government regulators to establish a global deep tech ecosystem impacting physical and digital transformation. With the vision of enabling Indias digital & social transformation and empowerment through innovation in deeptech and making India a World Leader in Deep Tech products, NASSCOM DTC 2.0 is a 3-stage program pioneered towards scaling the impact to over 1000 Indian DeepTech Companies. To achieve this, in its first stage NASSCOM DTC has formed exclusive partnerships on the global front with Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR), Japan and Dallas VC, USA. On the domestic front, NASSCOM has partnered with industry and academia leaders including Intel, Cisco Launchpad, NetApp, IIT-Kanpur, Sine (IIT-B), T-Hub and ZINNOV. The program aims to drastically increase the number of partnerships in stage 2 accelerating the growth of the Indian DeepTech ecosystem. Talking about the launch of DTC 2.0, Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, said, With the advent of hyper-digitalization in the next normal, we expect a higher integration of AI, ML, AR, VR, IoT, Robotics, Blockchain, NLP and similar technologies. The start-up ecosystem of our country is strong and robust and is already ahead in solving many global challenges. In this era of digital, it is essential for these start-ups to continue to digitalize and integrate deep technologies in order to constantly evolve and be globally competitive. We hope through this second part of DTC we catalyze empowering pioneers in India and connect them with industry leaders, investors, academia, researchers, and government regulators to establish a global deep tech ecosystem that brings a physical and digital transformation. As of 2020, more than 2,100 Indian startups have adopted deep technologies, up from 1,600 in 2019. There has been a spurt in deep tech startups funding, as investor interest in niche products and platforms has increased significantly, resulting in over 14% of the total Startup investments in deep-tech ventures in 2020 which is 11% higher than in 2019. Up to 87% of these investments were in AI/ML startups in 2020. The NASSCOM and ZINNOV study highlights that deeptech will continue to grow at a CAGR of 40-45% in 2021. Driving an impact-driven agenda in its first edition of four cohorts of 78 companies with a 7% acceptance ratio, and through 1150+ Hrs personalized mentoring, 2000+ industry connects via 6 DeepTech Confluences, DTC inspired corporate and Investor led accelerators to focus on deep tech; building first of its kind support mechanism for deep tech companies (Mentoring coupled with Enterprise and Investor connect). Over the years DTC has helped companies raise $70 million and has brought the deep tech Startup companies from the lab to market-ready global ground. NASSCOM has always focused on cutting-edge technological advances with DeepTech Club focusing on and involving Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), AR/VR, Robotics, Blockchain, NLP, and similar technologies. DTC offers mentoring, nurturing, and thriving opportunities to its member companies and trains them to be more innovative, robust, and agile. The Startup companies at DTC have experienced strategic transformation through industry-led confluences, conferences, and networking events with the presence of global partners and leaders. Speaking on the launch, Anupam Saronwala, lead- DeepTech Club, Ex Director at IBM Research said, Deeptech ecosystem will play a critical role in marching towards trillion dollar digital economy. Having a strong and robust ecosystem comprising of academia, incubators/accelerators and enterprises will be absolutely critical. NASSCOM Deeptech Club 2.0 aims to achieve and am very happy to be part of the club and for 2.0 launch with our key partners! NASSCOM DeepTech Club started when no program or efforts was being made in India to create, support, and sustain the development of DeepTech Ecosystem and it will continue to support emerging technology start-ups and provide a platform to promising deep-tech startups to explore, innovate, scale and solve for challenges of the future. In the last six months, federal law enforcement seized over 18 pounds of methamphetamine and 614 grams of marijuana in mail packages intended for drug distribution on the island. Multiple search warrants executed by the U.S. Postal Service and other federal law enforcement agencies were filed with the District Court of Guam on Wednesday. The most recent seizures occurred in February. On Feb. 17, 355 grams of meth was seized in a package sent from Chula Vista, California, to a home along Chalan La Chance in Yigo. The drugs were hidden in vacuum-sealed bags that were wrapped in bubble wrap, water filters and plastic cling wrap. Federal authorities also seized 885 grams of meth they found hidden in powdered donuts and U.S. Postal Service holiday envelopes in a package sent from San Diego, California, to a mailbox in Dededo. On Feb. 16, 447 grams of meth was seized in a package that contained Hot Wheels cars, bubble wrap, brown paper, carbon paper and vacuum-sealed bags. The parcel was sent from Silverdale, Washington, and was addressed to a mailbox in Agat. In December, postal inspectors and Homeland Security Investigations seized two parcels. On Dec. 22, 2020, 226 grams of meth was seized from a parcel intended for a residence in Mangilao. Authorities found the drugs hidden in the package that also contained word-search books, crayons, highlighters, mechanical pencils, coloring books and two clocks. On Dec. 9, authorities discovered over 4 pounds, or 1,852 grams, of meth in a package listed as containing autobody parts. Instead, investigators found a white box with vacuum-sealed bags, paper towels and brown paper. The parcel was addressed to an individual at a vehicle audio shop in Hagatna and the sender put an address in Utah. Four separate packages were seized in a single day in November. Over 5 pounds of meth was seized on Nov. 17, hidden in a package that contained shop rags, carbon paper, bubble wrap and ceramic plates. A total of 2,390 grams of the drug was seized. The parcel was shipped from Spring, Texas, to a mailbox in Tamuning. The same day, 153 grams of meth was found concealed in a Brita replacement water filter with newspaper, carbon paper and charcoal. The package was sent from Las Vegas, Nevada, and was intended for a home along Rosita Lane in Dededo. Authorities also discovered 887 grams of meth in a package addressed to a home along Chandiha Street in Dededo. The meth was hidden in bubble wrap and plastic plates, and was sent from an individual in Spring, Texas. Another 999 grams of meth was hidden in a coffee maker sent from Spring to a home along Chalan Biranka in Talofofo. On Sept. 17, authorities seized 614 grams of marijuana they discovered in a package sent from California to a Tamuning mailbox. There are no public records that criminal charges have been filed against any defendants in the various drug seizures. After winning four out of five municipal seats in Delhi's civic bodies' bypolls on Wednesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked MCD ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) which failed to secure even a single seat. The AAP slammed the BJP saying that the people of Delhi were fed up with rampant corruption in civic agencies in the city under its 15 years rule. AAP leader Durgesh Pathak, who was in-charge for MCD bypolls said that by supporting the AAP, the people of the city have shown that the BJP has lost its ground in Delhi and they do not trust the BJP leaders anymore. Addressing the party workers after the results, Pathak said, "AAP's biggest victory of this by-election is that the BJP that have been in power in all the three civic bodies for last 15 years got zero seats. I would like to first extend my gratitude to every AAP worker, who worked hard and delivered a better result. I would also thank all senior party leaders because of whom we could achieve such massive support from the people in the city." People of Delhi had given BJP massive support for the last 15 years, however, it failed to ensure better civic services, he said. He alleged that the BJP instead destroyed municipal corporations of Delhi. "Even as the financial conditions of civic bodies have deteriorated, the income of the BJP councillors and the party has increased. MCD's primary work was to ensure a clean city, but there is not one street in Delhi that can be said to be clean," Pathak added. He further slammed the BJP saying that all the three municipal corporations have been categorised in very poor rank in a survey conducted in 48 cities for cleanliness. "MCD employees have been protesting for the last several months for their dues. Whenever we questioned the BJP ruled MCD over non-payment of salaries they say that they do not have money. Yet, they have the money to put up hoardings worth Rs 13,000 crore. This behaviour by the party generated feelings of animosity among the people of Delhi," Pathak added. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise (CNN) Las Vegas Sands Corp., the upscale resort and casino company founded by the late Sheldon Adelson, is leaving its namesake city and selling its two Nevada properties in a $6.25 billion deal. Apollo Global Management and Vici Properties are partnering to buy the Venetian, a 7,000 room resort on the Las Vegas Strip, and the nearby Sands Expo and Convention Center. Apollo is paying $2.25 billion for Venetian's operating company and Vici is buying the land and real estate assets for the remaining $4 billion. Apollo, a private equity firm, said the purchase is a major bet on Las Vegas, which has seen its tourism numbers and conference business drastically decline over the past year because of the pandemic. "This investment also underscores our conviction in a strong recovery for Las Vegas as vaccines usher in a reopening of leisure and travel in the United States and across the world," it said. Las Vegas Sands is shortening its name to Sands as a result of leaving Las Vegas. In a press release, Adelson's company said the change is "bittersweet" and will help it focus on faster growing markets, such as Asia. "The Venetian changed the face of future casino development and cemented Sheldon Adelson's legacy as one of the most influential people in the history of the gaming and hospitality industry," said Sands CEO Robert Goldstein. The upscale resort opened in 1999, helping it morph into the world's largest casino company. There were multiple reports that Adelson was considering selling his Las Vegas properties prior to his January death. Sands' US properties accounted for just over 13% of its revenue in 2019, with its glitzy properties in Singapore and Macau becoming the major money makers. Sands shares spiked nearly 3% in premarket trading. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Leaving Las Vegas: Sands is selling its casinos in a $6.25 billion deal." Some of the harness racing horsemen in the backstretch at Pompano Park Wednesday morning (March 3) received a pleasant visit from representatives of the Florida Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. Chapter president Steve Wolf and chapter national director and treasurer Thomas H. Hicks were visiting certain stables and presenting awards from last season that were not given out due to the pandemic. We held off hoping we could do a presentation event, said Steve Wolf, That did not work out and Tom Hicks said lets go to the backstretch and start giving out the trophies and I agreed. Being honoured with their plaques were trainers John Hallett, as the Dan Gawlas Good Guy Award winner; Mike Murphy and longtime blacksmith Phil Cable, who each earned Lifetime Achievement Awards. The Caretaker of the Year award went to Joe Kroll, who had since passed away. Trainer Jim McDonald accepted the award for Joes wife, Shawna. The Florida Chapter of USHWA will be traveling to Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village in Delray Beach Saturday morning. At "The Deck", members will be presenting awards including Florida Harness Racing Hall of Fame induction trophies to Tony Alagna, Frank Antonacci and Tom Merriman. Presidents Awards will be presented to Myron Bell, Eric Cherry and Maurice Chodash and Peter Wrenn will receive his Stanley Dancer Award. You can follow the Florida Chapter of USHWA via their website or on Facebook. (USHWA / Florida Chapter) In our 17 years in business, NMA has had the opportunity to provide great jobs around the country; and we look forward to creating even more opportunities here in Las Vegas. Heather Altepeter, CEO, National Merchants Association National Merchants Association (NMA), a leading merchant services provider and business advocacy group, is pleased to announce a move to the Las Vegas area, representing an array of job opportunities for citizens in the region. In business since 2004, NMA is a three-time winner of the Inc. 5000 award for the fastest-growing private companies in the US, and has received numerous payments industry awards for excellence. In addition to senior and middle management positions, NMA is bringing many entry-level jobs in Las Vegas which do not require previous experience in the payments industry, and which can be a great step on the career ladder for locals. The payments industry continues to grow at an astounding rate. Digital transactions accounted for $3.7 trillion in 2019. Experts project the numbers will climb to $12 trillion by 2025. That growth, combined with NMA's continued focus on growth and employee loyalty, means a job at NMA represents the opportunity to start a long and successful career in today's fastest-growing industry. Examples of some of the open positions at NMA include: AP/AR/Collections Specialist; Merchant Account Quality Control (QC) Analyst; Merchant Account Risk Analyst; Senior Analyst of Risk & Underwriting; Merchant Account Underwriter; and Underwriting Manager. All positions are now accepting applications at http://workatnma.com. Were excited to join the Las Vegas business community, and we appreciate Nevadas business-friendly environment, said Heather Altepeter, CEO of NMA. In our 17 years in business, NMA has had the opportunity to provide great jobs around the country; and we look forward to creating even more opportunities here in Las Vegas. With the recognition that the Las Vegas area has been hit hard by the reduction in tourism due to COVID, NMA is focusing on creating new job opportunities in the area, as well as providing a business stimulus plan to help local merchants. As an employer, NMA offers flexible scheduling, work-from-home opportunities, solid pay, and excellent employee benefits. As we emerge from the pandemic, NMA is also proud to be continuing its 2021 Stimulus Plan, which provides brick-and-mortar businesses with three months of free credit card processing as well as a free contactless payment terminal, to help these businesses protect their cash flow during these challenging times. As a local company that understands the area and the challenges businesses are facing, NMA is excited to welcome local Las Vegas businesses as clients. NMA has always been the merchant account that Works For You, and we take that motto seriously in serving both our clients and our employees, said Altepeter. Were committed to being an excellent partner to the city of Las Vegas, and supporting the quality businesses and people that make this city great. Candidates interested in applying for a role are encouraged to visit http://workatnma.com to see details on the open positions, as well as news about upcoming open houses and recruitment events in the community. Businesses interested in NMA's stimulus plan can get more information by visiting https://www.nationalmerchants.com/get-started or call (844) 270-8419 for more information. About National Merchants Association National Merchants Association (NMA) is the only merchant advocacy group and payment processor that Works For You. NMA's continued dedication to eliminating unnecessary and unreasonable fees combined with a unique and personalized payment processing experience have helped position NMA at the forefront of the industry. With in-house underwriting and risk management, combined with top-quality service teams who are available around-the-clock, NMA focuses on providing secure, durable, and profitable payment systems to small and growing businesses. As payment experts specializing in high-risk, brick-and-mortar, and ecommerce sales, NMA is able to meet a business' needs with the knowledge, flexibility, and tailored solutions they need to thrive. To learn more about NMAs merchant services and credit card processing, visit nationalmerchants.com today. 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 Moderna Covid-19 vaccine is causing a small percentage of people to develop patches of inflamed skin and rashes around the injection site, up to 11 days after vaccination. Doctors from the US have penned an article outlining the unusual dermatological reaction to the jab. They report at least 12 incidents of patients presenting with large, red patches of skin which can be raised, itchy or painful. The experts believe the skin rashes are caused by a delayed allergic immune response that is commonly seen in drug reactions. Doctors report at least 12 incidents of patients presenting with large, red patches of skin which can be raised, itchy or painful A group of 11 doctors wrote a letter to the prestigious journal the New England Journal of Medicine with their observations HOW DOES MODERNA'S VACCINE WORK? The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA jab similar in design to that made by Pfizer and BioNTech. It includes a tiny piece of coronavirus genetic material, called mRNA, which inserts itself into cells and tricks them into making a copy of Covid's spike protein. This mechanism activates the immune system which learns how to fight off the virus while only actually fending off its own cells adorned with a SARS-CoV-2 disguise. As a result, the majority of side-effects are not from a mild case of the coronavirus but due to the body's own reaction and the immune system working. Advertisement A group of 11 doctors have written a letter to the prestigious journal the New England Journal of Medicine with their observations on 12 patients who experienced a rash from the jab. All were treated and resolved, taking an average of six days to clear up. All 12 were encouraged to get their second jab, and did so, completing their immunisation against Covid-19. Three patients had the same reaction after their second dose, while three had a reaction of lesser severity. Half the cohort had no reaction after their follow-up. 'Whether you've experienced a rash at the injection site right away or this delayed skin reaction, neither condition should prevent you from getting the second dose of the vaccine,' says Dr Kimberly Blumenthal, lead author of the letter from Massachusetts General Hospital. 'Our immediate goal is to make physicians and other care providers aware of this possible delayed reaction, so they are not alarmed, but instead well-informed and equipped to advise their patients accordingly.' The experts believe the skin rashes are caused by a delayed allergic immune response that is commonly seen in drug reactions. Dr Esther Freeman, director of Global Health Dermatology at MGH and co-author of the NEJM letter, explained: 'For most people who are experiencing this, we believe it's tied to the body's immune system going to work. All 12 patients in the letter to the NEJM were treated for their rash and the problem was resolved, taking an average of six days to clear up 'Overall, this data is reassuring and should not discourage people from getting the vaccine.' The researchers caution that the rashes should not be confused for skin infections. 'Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity could be confused - by clinicians and patients alike - with a skin infection,' says letter co-author Dr Erica Shenoy. 'These types of reactions, however, are not infectious and thus should not be treated with antibiotics.' All 12 patients with rashes were encouraged to get their second jab, and did so, completing their immunisation against Covid-19 The letter to the NEJM included case studies of 12 patients who experienced a rash from the jab. Three patients had the same reaction after their second dose, while three had a reaction of lesser severity The experts believe the skin rashes are caused by a delayed allergic immune response that is commonly seen in drug reactions Dr Adil Sheraz, Consultant Dermatologist & British Skin Foundation spokesperson, told MailOnline: 'Adverse cutaneous (skin) reactions are quite typical for a variety of vaccines. 'For the more recognised traditional vaccines (such as MMR or BCG) these tend to occur a few hours to a few days later and can result in local tenderness, erythema (redness) and swelling at the site. 'This study looked at 12 patients (out of 30,420) who developed a delayed reaction. 'The reaction occurred anywhere between day four and day 11 after the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. Moderna's vaccine which caused the rashes has been approved by drug regulators in the US, UK and EU for emergency approval and is being administered in the US and EU while the UK is scheduled to received its first doses of the US-made vaccine in the coming weeks The researchers caution that the rashes should not be confused for skin infections. 'Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity could be confused - by clinicians and patients alike - with a skin infection,' says letter co-author Dr Erica Shenoy A recent study on phase 3 clinical data from Moderna's trials revealed immediate reactions around the injection site occurred in 84.2 per cent of people. A much smaller percentage of people (0.8 per cent) had a delayed reaction, developing a rash more than a week after inoculation 'The symptoms were of localised pain, itching, redness and induration. This settled to a week after the initial symptoms. 'The reaction is not an infection and can be treated with topical steroids and antihistamines. 'This reaction should not prevent patients from receiving the second dose of the vaccine, and in fact the trial showed that the same patients either had no reaction or a smaller reaction after the second dose.' The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA jab similar in design to that made by Pfizer and BioNTech. It includes a tiny piece of coronavirus genetic material, called mRNA, which inserts itself into cells and tricks them into making a copy of Covid's spike protein. This mechanism activates the immune system which learns how to fight off the virus while only actually fending off its own cells adorned with a SARS-CoV-2 disguise. As a result, the majority of side-effects are not from a mild case of the coronavirus but due to the body's own reaction and the immune system working. Moderna's vaccine has been approved by drug regulators in the US, UK and EU for emergency approval and is being administered in the US and EU while the UK is scheduled to received its first doses of the US-made vaccine in the coming weeks. Moderna and Pfizer's mRNA vaccines are the first of their kind to ever receive approval for use in humans. A recent study on phase 3 clinical data from Moderna's trials revealed immediate reactions around the injection site occurred in 84.2 per cent of people. A much smaller percentage of people (0.8 per cent) had a delayed reaction, developing a rash more than a week after inoculation. But details on these reactions were sparse, with no clarifying information. A priest has been arrested for allegedly carrying out a string of armed robberies in Brazil. Catholic clergyman Elizeu Moreira, 27, is accused of carrying out robberies at two supermarkets and a pharmacy within the span of an hour on Tuesday in Passo Fundo, in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Security video from one of the supermarkets shows the moment a man points a fake gun at a cashier and forces her to hand over money from the register. The footage shows the man placing an item on the counter and retrieving money from his wallet to pay, before suddenly pulling out the plastic pistol. Elizeu Moreira, a 27-year-old priest, appears on surveillance video using a fake gun to rob a supermarket Tuesday in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, police say Father Elizeu Moreira reportedly told the Civil Police he committed the string of robberies out of madness Father Elizeu Moreira was just days from completing his 18th month of ordination before he was arrested Tuesday in Passo Fundo, Brazil, for allegedly robbing two supermarkets and a pharmacy The frightened woman then opened the register and handed over all of the cash before the man picks up a shopping bag and walked out of the supermarket. According to the Rio Grande do Sul Military Brigade, Father Moreira was apprehended later in the evening at a checkpoint while he was driving a vehicle that belonged to the Archdiocese of Passo Fondo. Authorities seized $116 of the $249 the priest had allegedly stolen, as well as a fake gun. Father Moreira was just a couple of days shy of marking his 18th month of ordination. Police chief Diogo Ferreira said Moreira confessed to the Civil Police, and said that the robberies were sparked by madness. Father Elizeu Moreira aims a plastic gun during the alleged robbery of a supermarket Gun, cash, hat and bag seized from Father Elizeu Moreira after he was arrested by members of the Rio Grande do Sul Military Brigade Father Moreira has been temporarily suspended from his duties at the Santa Terezinha Church 'We don't know if he owed any debt,' Ferreira said. 'He was totally calm. It seemed he didn't realize what he did and that he was in the world of the moon. The toy gun he used must not weigh 10 grams (0.35 ounces). It is plastic and hollow.' Father Moreira appeared before a court judge Wednesday and was placed in pretrial detention. Maura da Silva, who is representing the priest, said he was receiving a psychiatric assessment and that he had not taken his medication for three weeks, according to Brazilian online portal Gauchazh reported. Father Moreira has been temporarily removed from his duties at Santa Terezinha Church. Passo Fondo Archbishop Dom Weber said: 'The most shocked of all is me, who accompanied the training of these young people. 'He was newly ordained. A person who was doing well in his jobs and suddenly an act like this happens. It is shocking. It is sad. It is very painful.' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) Cebu Air Inc. (CEB), operator of low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, has secured a 10-year term loan facility worth billions of pesos to finance its operations deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a disclosure, CEB said it inked a 16-billion loan deal on Friday with state-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines. Other lenders in the term loan facility include Asia United Bank Corporation, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, and Union Bank of the Philippines. We at JG Summit and Cebu Pacific are grateful for the confidence of the Philippine banking community, given the participation by both the government owned financial institutions and the private sector commercial banks in this landmark syndicated loan facility," CEB President and CEO Lance Gokongwei was quoted as saying in the regulatory filing. "Cebu Pacific remains focused on its business transformation to reduce its unit cost so as to continue to offer affordable flights and remain as our countrys airline for every Juan," he added. The fresh funds are on top of Cebu Pacific's planned stock rights offer, which aims to raise up to P12.5 billion. READ: PAL, Cebu Pacific seen to survive COVID-19 bankruptcy fears According to CEB, the proceeds of the loan would finance its capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. The new capital will also help soften the impact of fuel price and foreign exchange rate volatility. Cebu Pacific currently operates 23% of its pre-pandemic network with 32 domestic destinations, Cebu Air Vice President for Marketing and Customer Service Candice Iyog said. For January to September 2020, Cebu Air widened its losses to 5.54 billion. Shares in Cebu Air went up 1.01% or 45 centavos to close at 45 each on Friday. If youre looking for fast laughs, Netflix is experimenting with a new way to introduce you to comedy content. In fact, the company took to its official blog today to announce a new feature fittingly dubbed Fast Laughs to iOS, with plans to release on Android soon. What are Fast Laughs from Netflix? Now, the branding here effectively gives away exactly what this new feature is. Fast Laughs is a short-clip feature from Netflix, which delivers up funny content from across its selection of available content. Regardless of whether thats a series animated or otherwise or a movie. Of course, clips from stand-up comedy sessions will be making an appearance here too. The goal, Netflix says, is to give users something to laugh about. But it also wants to provide an easy way for viewers to both rediscover old favorites and to stumble across new ones in the genre. Advertisement To that end, Fast Laughs has been added as a button on the main navigation bar. Tapping on the smiley-face-shaped icon starts a run of clips from across the board. Clips just keep going too, so once one stops, another starts. And from those clips, users can choose to add shows or movies to their watch list. Or to play the entire thing immediately. Probably shouldnt let your kids watch this For the time being, iOS users are the only ones who will see the new icon. And thats limited further still to select countries. Android is in the works and should arrive soon but theres no timeline in place for that. Regardless of which platform users choose though, Netflix does point out that this content isnt going to be appropriate for all audiences. Thats hardly surprising since some of the best comedy on Netflix is definitely geared towards older audiences. But is something to bear in mind when checking this new feature out. Advertisement Now, this does mean that the current plan is to release first on apps only. With luck, the feature will hopefully find its way to other top streaming platforms, so users can catch a quick laugh no matter where they watch. But the company hasnt said anything on the matter for the time being. [March 04, 2021] RingCentral Named a Leader in Two IDC MarketScape UCaaS Reports for Enterprise and SMB Segments RingCentral, Inc. (NYSE:RNG), a leading provider of global enterprise cloud communications, video meetings, collaboration, and contact center solutions, today announced that it has been recognized as a Leader in two IDC (News - Alert) MarketScape reports for UCaaS Enterprise and small and medium-sized business (SMB) market segments. The Enterprise report evaluates 19 different vendors that sell to organizations with 1000 or more employees, while the SMB report evaluates 15 different vendors that sell to organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees. In both reports, RingCentral (News - Alert) was named a Leader. The two new IDC MarketScape reports are: - IDC MarketScape: Worldwide UCaaS Service Providers for Enterprise 2021 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US47452521, February 2021) and - IDC MarketScape: Worldwide UCaaS Service Providers for SMB 2021 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US47452421, February 2021) IDC estimates that worldwide UCaaS service provider revenue, including Over the Top (OTT) providers, will reach $16.1 billion in 2024 in its Worldwide UCaaS Service Provider Forecast, 2020-2024 (Doc #US46763020, Aug 2020). As businesses look for ways to empower employees to communicate easily, share information, and meet as needed with colleagues, customers, and partners, opportunities to use UCaaS solutions expand around the world. "Enterprises should consider RingCentral when they need a UCaaS platform that has an emphasis on security and reliability and has been integrated across a broad portfolio of unified communications and collaboration solution elements with access to a platform that comes with numerous integrations to enterprise software and services," said Denise Lund, research director, Worldwide Telecom and Unified Communications (News - Alert) at IDC. "RingCentral offers SMBs a good value with its RingCentral Office solution, but the company has also made asignificant investment in its free video conferencing and team messaging solution with RingCentral Glip, to address the entry point barrier for any business to easily start their journey to a full cloud communications solution." The 2021 IDC MarketScape Reports for Enterprise and SMB highlight a number of key strengths for RingCentral in each segment, but the commonality between the two reports include: Mobility: RingCentral has built its UCaaS solution with mobile as a major use case, an approach that allows it to be considered by organizations that have communications and collaboration needs for employees that have broad roles and may work outside of a set office environment. RingCentral has built its UCaaS solution with mobile as a major use case, an approach that allows it to be considered by organizations that have communications and collaboration needs for employees that have broad roles and may work outside of a set office environment. Reliability and Security: RingCentral has a UCaaS platform that places an emphasis on reliability and security, with compliance on major standards (i.e., HIPAA and FINRA) that are important to its customers. RingCentral has a UCaaS platform that places an emphasis on reliability and security, with compliance on major standards (i.e., HIPAA and FINRA) that are important to its customers. Integration capabilities: RingCentral offers a broad portfolio of unified communications and collaboration solution elements with access to a platform that comes with various integrations to enterprise software and services. Carson Hostetter, senior vice president of Worldwide Field Sales at RingCentral said, "We're observing a major shift in how we work, how we communicate, and how we collaborate. RingCentral is helping Enterprise organizations support their workforce to work from anywhere with secure, reliable cloud-based communications. We're proud to be recognized by the IDC MarketScape report as a Leader in UCaaS. The combination of an enterprise-ready platform that easily integrates with existing enterprise applications and adds capabilities such as team messaging, video meetings, and a cloud phone system is exactly what large organizations need to help their people work productively from anywhere." Faiza Hughell, senior vice president for Small to Medium Business at RingCentral said, "Small and medium-sized businesses are at the heart of every economy in the world. Enabling those organizations to support their people working from anywhere with the same capabilities as larger firms is our business. We support them as their needs change and as they expand their business. We are thrilled that the IDC MarketScape report recognizes our capabilities and our commitment to giving these organizations the very best communications capabilities." Results are based on the 2021 IDC MarketScape UCaaS reports. For more information on the Enterprise report, please view this complimentary excerpt. For more information on the SMB report, please view this complimentary excerpt. About RingCentral RingCentral, Inc. (NYSE: RNG) is a leading provider of business cloud communications and contact center solutions based on its powerful Message Video Phone (News - Alert) ?(MVP) platform. More flexible and cost effective than legacy on-premise PBX and video conferencing systems that it replaces, RingCentral empowers modern mobile and distributed workforces to communicate, collaborate, and connect via any mode, any device, and any location. RingCentral offers three key products in its portfolio including RingCentral Office, a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform including team messaging, video meetings, and a cloud phone system, Glip??the company's free video meetings solution with team messaging that enables Smart Video Meetings, and RingCentral cloud Contact Center?solutions. RingCentral's open platform integrates with leading third party business applications and enables customers to easily customize business workflows. RingCentral is headquartered in Belmont, California, and has offices around the world. 2021 RingCentral, Inc. All rights reserved. RingCentral, Message Video Phone,??MVP, RingCentral Office, Glip, Smart Video Meetings, and the RingCentral logo are trademarks of RingCentral, Inc. About IDC MarketScape About IDC MarketScape: IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005186/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ADVERTISEMENT Nigeria on Wednesday recorded 16 deaths from COVID-19 as the country ramps up plans to commence vaccination after taking delivery of four million Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 jabs on Tuesday. The fatality toll in the country has relatively been high though daily infections seem to be declining. Wednesdays death tally raised the fatality toll in the past three days to 32 in total. With the latest figure, the total fatality toll in the country is now 1,939, according to an update published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Wednesday night. According to the NCDC, 464 new COVID-19 cases were found in 22 states on Wednesday. The figure is slightly lower than the 479 infections on Tuesday. In the past 12 days, daily infection figures have been hovering between 300 and 600 after weeks of high numbers. Nigeria recorded its lowest daily figure for new coronavirus infections in about six months with the 240 new cases reported on Sunday. The total number of cases in the country is now 156,963. While it is hoped that the decline will make the beginning of the end of the outbreak, health experts believe the official data under-reports both infections and deaths because of the countrys limited testing capacity. Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, has so far conducted 1.54 million tests, less than one per cent of the countrys 200 million population. Specifics The 464 new cases were reported from 22 states- Lagos (131), Kaduna (69), Akwa Ibom (33), Imo (31), Katsina (30), Kano (26), Ondo (23), Yobe (20), FCT (18), Ogun (13), Rivers (12), Kebbi (11), Ekiti (9), Osun (6), Oyo (6), Borno (5), Gombe (5), Plateau (5), Edo (4), Abia (3), Delta (3) and Zamfara (1). Lagos had the highest daily figure on Wednesday with 131 new cases to extend its lead as the most impacted city in Nigeria. Over 55,000 infections, nearly a third of Nigerias total cases, and over 400 deaths have been recorded in Lagos. More than two-third of the over 156,000 people infected by COVID-19 in Nigeria have recovered after treatment. According to NCDC data published Monday night, a total of 135,831 have recovered after treatment. Meanwhile, over 20,000 infections are still active in the country. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Turkey has not recognized and will not recognize Russia's illegal occupation of the Crimean peninsula, just as it has never accepted and will not accept the restrictions on the rights and freedoms of Crimean Tatars on the peninsula. "The biggest clear message we have declared up to this day and continue to do so is our full support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not recognize now and will not recognize in the future the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. We always see our close friend and strategic partner Ukraine as a modern and prosperous country, whose territorial integrity is ensured," Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop said in an interview with Ukrinform on the eve of his official visit to Ukraine. He also stressed that Turkey would continue to support the efforts of the leadership and people of Ukraine in developing and strengthening the country. "Turkey has always supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, of which Crimea and Donbas are integral components, and its political unity. We seek to strengthen this support in the future. Undoubtedly, the care we provide to the fraternal Crimean Tatar people is part of it," the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey said. The Turkish politician stressed that Turkey would continue to support the Crimean Tatars. Sentop added that Turkey had never accepted and would not accept the relocation of Crimean Tatars and the restriction on their rights and freedoms. As reported, the visit of the Turkish delegation led by Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop will take place on March 5-6 at the invitation of Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov. The program of the visit includes meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, representatives of business and the diaspora. ol HOLTVILLE, Calif. (AP) The Border Patrol says 13 people killed in a Southern California crash were among more than 40 migrants who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into the border fence with Mexico. Authorities say surveillance video showed a Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban drive through the opening Tuesday. RELATED: More than a dozen dead in crash involving SUV and semitruck in California near US-Mexico border It's believed they were part of a migrant smuggling operation. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody. The Expedition crammed with 25 people slammed into a tractor-trailer a short time later. Thirteen were killed, and others were injured. 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. Vice President Mike Pence walks to the West Wing of the White House after addressing staff on the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in the White House complex, on Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Pence Breaks Silence on Election Integrity But Ignores His Role in Events of Jan. 6 News Analysis After more than a month, Mike Pence broke his silence on the events of Jan. 6, stating that I share the concerns of millions of Americans about the integrity of the 2020 election. Pences comments came from a March 3, 2021, op-ed for the Daily Signal in which Pence expressed concerns over the integrity of the 2020 presidential election and argued against the passage of H.R. 1, a Democrat-backed bill known as the For the People Act, which essentially federalizes national elections, in part through the restriction and elimination of voter identity verification procedures. Pence noted that the 2020 election was marked by significant voting irregularities and numerous instances of officials setting aside state election law. Indeed, a number of states enacted sweeping changes to election laws that unconstitutionally bypassed state legislators in favor of changes ordered by governors and secretaries of state. As Pence correctly observed, under the Constitution, elections are governed at the state level. Looking back to the days leading up to his certification of electoral votes, Pence said that he had pledged to ensure that all objections properly raised during the electoral count process would be given a full hearing before Congress and the American people, but admitted that his promise remained unfulfilled, claiming, The tragic events of Jan. 6the most significant being the loss of life and violence at our nations capitalalso deprived the American people of a substantive discussion in Congress about election integrity in America. Although President Donald Trump has received blame for events on Jan 6, the role of Pence in the period leading up to the Capitol breach has remained largely undiscussed. Pence, who was fairly active in post-election events, attended several rallies and gave several speeches discussing or looking toward the Jan. 6 official counting of electoral votes. On Dec. 22, 2020, Pence spoke at a Turning Point USA event in West Palm Beach where he told the crowd that as our election contest continues, Ill make you a promise. Were going to keep fighting until every legal vote is counted. Were going to keep fighting until every illegal vote is thrown out. were going to win Georgia, were going to save America, and well never stop fighting to make America great again. You watch. Two days prior to the events at the Capitol, during an impassioned speech on Monday, Jan. 4, Pence urged Georgia Republicans to vote for Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler while reassuring the enthusiastic crowd that he stands with President Donald Trump. Pence continued, telling the cheering crowd, Weve all got out doubts about the last election. I want to assure you, I share the concerns of millions of Americans about voting irregularities. And I promise you, come this Wednesday, well have our day in Congress. Well hear the objections. Well hear the evidence. On the morning of Jan. 5, Trump sent a tweet stating that The Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors. That afternoon, The New York Times ran a story alleging that Pence had told Trump at lunch that day that he did not believe he had the power to block congressional certification of Joseph R. Biden Jr.s victory. That evening, following publication of the story by the NY Times, Trump issued a statement claiming Pence had never said that. Trump continued, declaring, The vice president and I are in total agreement that the vice president has the power to act. In his statement, Trump said that Pence had several options under the U.S. Constitution. He can decertify the results or send them back to the states for change and certification. He can also decertify the illegal and corrupt results and send them to the House of Representatives for the one vote for one state tabulation. Neither Pence nor his office made any statement refuting the Presidents claim or restating Pences positionuntil the following day when Trump was nearly finished giving his Capitol speech, which began at noon on Jan. 6. At 12:53 on the day of the election, Pences office released a letter to members of Congress stating his position on electoral certification for the first time publicly, saying, I do not believe that the Founders of our country intended to invest the Vice President with unilateral authority to decide which electoral votes should be counted during the Joint Session of Congress. Pence noted: I will do my duty to ensure that these concerns receive a fair and open hearing in the Congress of the United States. Objections will be heard, evidence will be presented, and the elected representatives of the American people will make their decision. Pence wrote that those who suggest that raising objections under the Electoral Count Act is improper or undemocratic ignore more than 130 years of history, and fail to acknowledge that Democrats raised objections in Congress each of the last three times that a Republican candidate for President prevailed. In the letter, Pence also claimed his adherence to the Electoral Count Act, a controversial and likely unconstitutional provision that violates the Electors Clause and the Twelfth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Although various interpretations of the Constitution exist, Pences position that he did not have unilateral authority to decide which electoral votes should be counted avoided setting a problematic precedent and was not an unreasonable position in and of itself. But Pences failure to clarify his position until Trump was near the end of his speech on Jan. 6th was an issue. To make matters potentially more inflammatory, Pence also sent his statement out broadly in a tweet at 1:02 EST, exactly 10 minutes before Trump wrapped up his speech before a huge crowd of tens of thousands of people. Pences statement was first released at 12:53 p.m. Four minutes later, individuals began jumping fencing located at 1st Street and at 12:58 p.m. a crowd broke through fencing near the Peace Monument. At 1:02 p.m., fencing on the Capitol steps was breached. At this exact moment, Pences statement, this time via a tweet, was sent again. At 1:06 pm the joint session of Congress convened to count the electoral votes. At 1:12 pm Trump finished his speech at The Ellipse. The situation at the Capitol continued to rapidly deteriorate and at 2:08 p.m. the Capitol was placed on lockdown. Between 2:11 and 2:18 p.m. the Capitol building was breached and at 2:18 p.m. the House called a recess during its debates over objections to the electoral votes from Arizona. At 2:24, Trump sent a tweet stating that 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! Two minutes later, at 2:26 pm, the Senate called a recess over an objection to the electoral votes from Arizona. Somewhere in this timeframe, Trump mistakenly called Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) in an attempt to speak with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) with regard to certifying the election. Trumps conversation with Tuberville, who was handed the phone by Lee, lasted five to 10 minutes. Tuberville later stated that he told Trump at the end of the conversation, Mr. President, they just took the vice president out, Ive got to go. Lee, who was standing nearby, said that 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. At 2:38, President Trump sent out a tweet calling for peace in the Capitol, asking that everyone Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful! By roughly 5:00 p.m., relative order was restored in the Capitol allowing the Senate to resume its proceedings at 8:06 p.m. and at 3:42 a.m. on Jan. 7, Pence certified the election results. Pence declared Biden the President-Elect with no further objections to the election results being heard. Following the certification of votes, Pence shared an elbow bump with speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Notably, Pence later said nothing in defense of conservative congressmen such as Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) when they were being demonized in the media for raising constitutional objections to the electoral votessomething that Democrats have done three times in the last two decades. On Jan. 19, Pence sent out a tweet noting that it had been his privilege to serve as your Vice President these past four years, it has been the greatest honor of my life. On behalf of our Wonderful Second Lady, Karen Pence, and our entire Family, Thank You and God Bless America. No mention of Trump or his family was made nor was Trump included in any of the four pictures that Pence sent in the tweet. Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented a 65 billion budget yesterday for the Conservative government funnelling a vast tranche of money into the coffers of big business. It was trailed that Sunak would extend the jobs furlough scheme, under which around 11 million workers whose companies are unable to operate during pandemic lockdown have received up to 80 percent of their wages paid by the state. At the end of January, it was still supporting 4.7 million workers. But even with the scheme in place, Sunak was forced to acknowledge that since last March, over 700,000 people have lost their jobs. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leaves No 11 Downing Street for the House of Commons to deliver the 2021 Budget. 03/03/2021. London, United Kingdom. (credit: Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street-FlickR) The governments herd immunity policy has led to at least 135,000 dying in the pandemic, and the presence of several highly contagious variants of the virus in Britain. But for the ruling class the continued flow of profits is all that counts. The Tories have laid out a roadmap to reopen the entire economy by June 21, with all schools open from next week. Knowing that, in Prime Minister Boris Johnsons own words, this will result in more infections, more hospitalisations and more deaths, the government fears an explosion of social and political opposition. In an effort to prevent this the furlough scheme is being extended until Octoberat a cost of around 20 billion. But beginning in July, immediately after the economy is fully opened, furlough support will be cut each month with employers expected to pay 10 percent towards the hours their staff work, increasing to 20 percent in August and September when the scheme will end. Sunak also announced the continuation of the 20 a week increase to the Universal Credit welfare benefit, claimed by millions of unemployed workers during the pandemic, for another six months. More than double this amount was handed over to big business, bringing total government spending on the crisis to more than 400 billion. Sunak said that since the start of the pandemic, Our economy has shrunk by 10 percentthe largest fall in over 300 years. Our borrowing is the highest it has been outside of wartime. Its going to take this countryand the whole worlda long time to recover from this extraordinary economic situation. But we will recover. The recovery he refers to is in the profits of corporations and the fortunes of the super-rich, to be paid for out of the hides of the working class. Sunak explained, The government is providing businesses with over 100 billion of support to get through this pandemic, adding, so it is fair and necessary to ask them to contribute to our recovery. This contribution amounted to a Corporation Tax increase from 19 percent to 25 percent to be introduced in two years time, in 2023, which the government stressed will remain the lowest rate in the G7. While the Corporation Tax increase was given all the headlines, a massive Super Deduction 25 billion two-year tax break scheme for business was rolled out immediately that cancels this increase out. This allows large corporations to invest in plant and machinery and reduce their taxable profits by 130 percent of the cost, said Sunak. Under the existing rules, a construction firm buying 10 million of new equipment could reduce their taxable income, in the year they invest, by just 2.6 million. With the Super Deduction, they can now reduce it by 13 million. Sky News economic editor Ed Conway described the super-deduction boon to business as pretty extraordinary. Ive never heard of anything like this certainly being used in the UK The cost more than outweighs the cost coming back from Corporation Tax increases. In another giveaway described by Sunak as a 6 billion tax cut for business, the holiday for business rates will continue until the end of June and will be cut by two-thirds for the rest of the year. For eligible retail, leisure or hospitality businesses with a rateable value below 51,000 they would over the next financial year, pay no business rates whatsoever. Another 5 billion in new grants for businesses was announced for when they reopen from next month. The ruling elite were assured that the state coffers would always be available to them, with Sunak promising if further action is needed as the situation evolvesI hope the whole House knows, I will not hesitate to act. The budget confirmed that the ruling elite is hell-bent on a class war agenda post-Brexit to finish the Thatcher Revolution. Describing the budget as The first in almost fifty years outside the European Union, Sunak announced eight new Freeports which are special economic zones with different rules to make it easier and cheaper to do business. Theyre well-established internationally, but were taking a unique approach. Britains Freeports would have Simpler planningto allow businesses to build; Infrastructure fundingto improve transport links; Cheaper customswith favourable tariffs, VAT or duties; And lower taxeswith tax breaks to encourage construction, private investment and job creation. Among the Freeports announces were ones on the Thames in London, East Midlands Airport and another covering the entire Liverpool City Region in the northwest of England. Tax breaks for corporations are to be paid for with stealth taxes on workers wages. Sunak announced a freeze to the threshold for income tax for the lowest paid until 2026, after a small rise this April. The lowest paid start paying 20 percent income tax from when they earn 12,500 a year. The freeze will cost workers 2 billion next year and 8 billion a year within five years. New changes mean that by 2026, a million more workers will be in the higher rate of tax, and 1.3 million more who are currently outside of the tax system will be paying the basic rate. Sunak announced an increase of just 2.2 percent in the National Living Wage, with the Daily Mirror noting, It equates to a pay rise of just 19p an hour for basic-rate workersthe majority of whom have already taken a 20 percent hit over the past year due to mandatory furlough. There is not a scintilla of difference between the pro-business policies of the Tories and the Labour Party. Responding to the chancellor, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted, Our economy is still shut and our businesses are on life support, so it is right that corporation tax is not rising this year or next. Starmer grotesquely compared the the millions of key workers who are having their pay frozen, and the families paying more in council tax and the millions of people who are out of work or worried about losing their job to businesses being swamped by debt. In anticipation of the budget, on February 18, Starmer delivered a grandiosely titled speech, A new chapter for Britain, insisting that the government not increase tax on business, including Corporation Tax, at a time when Sunak was hinting at a rise. Leading Blairite Alan Johnson in a Guardian op-ed this week boasted, With enterprises struggling, the Conservatives have lost their trust. Labour can now be the party of business. There are those on the far left who think its the duty of the party to impose tough taxes on business, and they recoil at the thought of Labour opposing Tory proposals to increase corporation tax, he wrote. But Labour opposing a Corporation Tax increase was smart politics. It was only the political embarrassment caused by Starmers initiative that forced a recalibration, with Labour backing the delayed Corporation Tax increase and Starmer maintaining his stance of constructive opposition to the Tories. But had Shadow Chancellor Annelise Dodds delivered a Labour budget it would have likely been more right-wing and anti-working class than that offered up by the multi-millionaire Sunak. ADVERTISEMENT The police in Lagos have arrested a man at the Surulere area of the state for allegedly unleashing his dogs on police officers, and causing one of them injuries. According to the police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, the suspect, Adeyemi Abayomi, unleashed his dogs to attack the officers who were invited by the houseowner following complaints of his illegal occupancy. Mr Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, said a female officer was injured in the process and is being treated in a hospital. Adeyemi Abayomi, m, of No 115, Itire Road, Surulere, unleashed his dogs to attack police operatives on invitation in his compound where the gods were released and ordered to bite woman inspector Atim Umoh and caused her bodily injuries. The incident occurred on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021 at about 1130am when one madam Nneka Regina, f, of No 103, Lagos Street, Ebutte Meta, went to Surulere Division to complain against the criminal attitude of the suspect for illegally occupying her property at No 115 Itire Road, Surulere and threats to life. The police operatives attached to Surulere Division were sent to invite the suspect before he ordered his dogs to attack them, the police said. Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, said the Command would not tolerate attacks on its officers by individuals and groups while discharging their legitimate duties. Mr Odumosu directed that the dogs of the suspect be picked up by the Police Dog Section (K-9) for further action, while the suspect has been transferred to the State CID for investigation, and prosecution. The police spokesperson said the police medical team would monitor the treatment and health condition of the female officer who is undergoing treatment. Arrested for assault In another operation, the police arrested two suspects, Lious Nwodi and Ismaila Salisu, for assaulting two officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Wednesday. According to the police spokesperson, the incident happened at Ogunlana Street, Surulere, in which the LASTMA officials, Ganiya Ajose and Adeyemi Lanre, were beaten by the suspects. The duo had disobeyed hand signals at the point and sped off but were forced to a halt when their Highlander SUV with Reg. NO AAA 450 DD had a punctured tyre. They were accosted by the officials but the duo beat up the LASTMA Officials, the police said. Mr Adejobi said the suspects have been arraigned before a Magistrates Court in Surulere for conspiracy, assault on public servants, and malicious damage. Health Minister Brad Hazzard has supported calls from the Premier to start moving beyond measuring daily coronavirus case numbers, saying the metric would be a bit redundant once vaccine coverage is widespread. The comments come as NSW Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce described the daily case numbers as a crude metric that was causing border closures. Ahead of Fridays national cabinet meeting, Premier Gladys Berejiklian told The Australian the nation needed to think very differently moving forward about how we measure our success in the pandemic. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard believes we will reach a point where daily numbers updates are a bit redundant. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Asked about the comments at a budget estimates inquiry on Thursday, Mr Hazzard said he was not aware of the comments, but he agreed with whatever she said. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Grace Tame speaks at the National Press Club on in Canberra, Australia on March 03, 2021. Tame, named Australian of the Year for her advocacy work for sexual assault survivors (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Australian of the Year Calls For Education and Awareness Campaigns to Combat Child Sexual Predation Australian of Year Grace Tame has used her first public address to call for young Australians to be educated on how to recognise the stages of sexual grooming and psychological manipulation to protect themselves from child sexual predators in the community. Speaking at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Tame said that the silence surrounding child sexual predation in the community allows perpetrators to operate. Child sexual abuse remains ubiquitous in our society because while predators retain the power to get exactly what they want, Tame said. The innocent survivors and bystanders alike are burdened by the shame induced silence. This, Tame said, could be rectified if Australians became open to listening to survivors creating awareness, and openly educating the society. Grooming, its a concept that makes us wince and shudder, and as such, we rarely hear about it. To the benefit of perpetrators, Tame said. This must stop. Our discomfort, our fear and resulting ignorance needs to stop giving perpetrators the protection, power, and confidence that allows them to operate. Tame then outlined that she believed everyone should be made aware of what has been identified as the six phases of grooming which she described as: Targeting or Identifying a Vulnerable Individual Gaining the Trust of the Target Filling the Need of the Target Isolating the Target from Friends and Family Sexualisation of the Target by gradually introducing information that normalising sexual behaviour Maintaining Control via Threats and Physical Intimidation CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA MARCH 03: Grace Tame speaks at the National Press Club on March 03, 2021, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Tame was repeatedly assaulted by her 58-year-old teacher when she was fifteen. She has been advocating for the survivors of sexual assault since finding out it was illegal for her to speak publically under the Tasmanian Evidence Act that barred sexual assault victims from identifying themselves. A prominent advocate for the #LetHerSpeak campaign, which helped reshape the Tasmanian Evidence Act to allow victims to speak out in their name Tame also made pointed remarks about the media representation of sexual assaults. Listening to survivors is one thingrepeatedly expecting people to relive their trauma on your terms, without our consent, without prior warning, is another, she said. Its sensationalism. Its a commodification of our pain. Its exploitation. Its the same abuse. Grant us the respect and patience to share them on our terms rather than barking instructions like: Take us back to your darkest moment and Tell us about being raped, she said. According to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfares report in 2020, almost two million Australian adults had experienced at least one sexual assault since the age of 15. The report also noted that the rates of sexual assault victimisation recorded by police for Australians aged 15 and over climbed by more than 30 per cent between 2010 and 2018. While most victims seek help from friends, family members and health professionals, only a small number reported the abuse to the police. Typical reasons included victims deciding to deal with it themselves, not regarding the incident as a serious offence, or feeling ashamed or embarrassed about the incident, the report said. SAN CARLOS, Calif. and WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer (GO2 Foundation) announced its leadership in the launch of an important multi-institutional study to determine how to improve the participation of Black communities in lung cancer clinical trials. While participation in clinical trials by all cancer patients in the U.S. is extremely low, at about 8 percent1, participation is even lower among racial and ethnic minority groups. Of the small percentage of patients who join clinical trials, only about 6 percent are Black, 3 percent are Asian American, and 2 percent are Hispanic2. The study, Studying Trial Determinants of Success (STRIDES), is being conducted in partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, funded by grants awarded to GO2 Foundation from Genentech and Bristol Myers Squibb. "Because of the lack of diversity in lung cancer clinical trials, it can be difficult to fully understand new ways of treating cancer across all patients," Laurie Fenton Ambrose, co-founder, president and CEO of GO2 Foundation said. "STRIDES will help us address the ongoing healthcare disparities that have kept patients in racial and ethnic groups out of the process of developing new treatments and allow us to work toward better outcomes." STRIDES will focus on obtaining better understanding of the barriers to clinical trial participation among Black patients in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. Initially, the project will survey and interview a range of people who play a role in the clinical trial process, from patients to research staff to doctors, to find out what contributes to decreased clinical trial participation among Black patients in these areas. The second part of the project will use those lessons learned to select and pilot different evidence-based initiatives to increase the participation of Black patients in clinical trials. The rate of lung cancer in Black men is approximately 30 percent higher than white men, and Black men and women are both more likely to develop and die from lung cancer than any other racial group. And while the lung cancer rate among Black women is nearly equal to white women, Black women smoke fewer cigarettes3. "Because the Black community is disproportionately impacted by lung cancer, it is ever more imperative that we understand how best to effectively treat their cancer and increasing their participation in clinical trials will be critical to that effort," Ambrose said. Several researchers and institutions have partnered with GO2 Foundation on the STRIDES study design and implementation. The study team comprises a multi-disciplinary group of investigators from all four institutions and the academic partners are also providing key resources and facilities at their respective institutions. The research partners weighed in on the importance of STRIDES in identifying barriers to clinical trial representation and how increasing participation can lead to better outcomes for lung cancer patients: "The power of this four-way partnership among GO2 Foundation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University is unique. It brings the patient-facing expertise of GO2 Foundation together with a multi-disciplinary team of leading researchers in medical oncology, community engagement, and health disparities," said Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine, Ingram Associate Professor of Cancer Research, co-leader of the Translational Research and Interventional Oncology Research Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and chair of GO2 Foundation's Scientific Leadership Board. "The STRIDES partnership also enables access to three distinct catchment areas in the South with diverse populations, which will allow us to identify strategies both common between and unique to the individual communities." "Diverse representation in clinical trials is essential to find treatments that are effective for all populations including people from various racial, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds," said Monica L. Baskin, PhD, associate director for outreach and engagement, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham. "Good representation in trials also allows researchers to better understand patterns of difference in health and sickness based on backgrounds and behaviors that may provide more effective treatment and/or prevention. " "Inclusion of a diverse population of patients in clinical trials will ensure access to novel therapies that may likely be among the newly approved therapies," said Nagla Abdel Karim, MD, professor, medical director, Georgia Cancer Center Clinical Trials Program, Augusta University. "In addition, when treating the diverse patient population with standard of care options, the knowledge of efficacy and toxicity will not be complete, unless there were adequate contribution of everyone within those studies." STRIDES is part of GO2 Foundation's ongoing commitment to better understanding lung cancer across all patient groups so that lung cancer can be treated in a more targeted, individualized, and effective manner. This study is on a two-year grant and will be complete at the end of 2022. To learn more about STRIDES visit https://go2foundation.org/research/our-research-studies/strides/. About GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Founded by patients and survivors, GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer transforms survivorship as the world's leading organization dedicated to saving, extending, and improving the lives of those vulnerable, at risk, and diagnosed with lung cancer. We work to change the reality of living with lung cancer by ending stigma, increasing public and private research funding, and ensuring access to care. 1 Unger et al., JNCI, 2019 2 Kwiatkowski et al., Cancer, 2013 3 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/resource-library/lung-cancer-fact-sheet SOURCE GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Health is now reporting 6,602 coronavirus deaths to nursing home patients - 860 fewer than it said a week ago - after abandoning efforts for a more timely reporting system that had been in place since near the onset of the virus. Wednesday evenings weekly update for long-term care facilities was the first since state health Director Stephanie McCloud announced Monday that the department was changing the way it would report deaths from the method established under then-director Dr. Amy Acton. The change removed several previously reported deaths from the totals - deaths that had been based on reports filed by hospitals, local health districts and others. Instead, all death reporting now will await confirmations from the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC check previously had been step two in a reconciliation process. Death reporting from the CDC can be delayed one to six months. The death total for nursing homes had reached 7,462 a week ago, before being reduced this week. Most of those cases will likely be added back later once the paperwork clears the CDC. Separately, the health department reported 733 current cases involving patients of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. This continues a trend down. There were 3,785 cases at the beginning of January and 1,501 the first week of February. Current cases are defined as those active during the seven-day period ending Tuesday. The health department reported 520 current cases involving long-term care staff. The state began tracking nursing home cases by facility on April 15. There have been 48,627 patient cases and 34,209 staff cases since then. The health department each week releases updates on deaths by county and cases by facility for the long-term care centers. No information is released regarding the number of deaths by facility. Facility-by-facility case details can be found below. If you are having trouble viewing the list, use this link instead. Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral. Previous stories How much coronavirus is left in your ZIP code? See details for every Ohio ZIP Heres whats in the latest COVID-19 relief bill, including $5,600 in stimulus payments for a family of 4 - Thats Rich! Ohio Department of Health will slow process of coronavirus death reporting to rely on CDC verifications Logic aside, pandemic unemployment checks are taxable, unlike stimulus payments - Thats Rich! Q&A Ohio coronavirus alert map improves for first time in weeks; 4 counties downgraded from red alert to orange Egyptian, Jordanian, and Palestinian foreign ministers have agreed to press on with efforts to create the opportune environment to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, calling for effective engagement by the international parties in the peace process. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Al-Malki a consultative tripartite meeting in the Egyptian capital of Cairo earlier on Wednesday, where they tackled the Palestinian cause and ways to resume negotiations to establish an independent Palestinian state. The three officials also agreed to coordinate to reach a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace that guarantees the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the borders of June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Egypt and Jordan have been in talks with several Western parties to push forward the peace process. Cairo and Amman have been coordinating at the quartet level with Germany and France, and at the tripartite level with Palestine. During todays meeting, the ministers stressed the necessity to build on the momentum achieved over the last period to make headway in the peace process, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement. In February 2020, Egypt, along with Jordan, France, and Germany, formed the quartet committee, with the aim of reviving the halted negotiations. The quartet committee has so far held four meetings, the latest of which was hosted by Cairo last 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. An anticipated meeting is expected in Paris this year. Hafez added that the FMs praised the outcomes of Februarys emergency meeting, held by the Arab League (AL) in Cairo, where the Arab foreign ministers reaffirmed that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state will remain the Arab worlds central and fair cause. AL Secretary-General Ahmed Abu El-Gheit said the AL meeting restored a full consensus over the Palestinian cause with the blessing of Palestine. The statement added Shoukry, Safadi, and Al-Malki called, during the meeting, for ceasing all Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The settlement activities undermine the chances of reaching a two-state solution; moreover, they represent a violation of international legitimacy and international law resolutions, the ministers stressed. Shoukry also voiced Cairos support for all exerted efforts by the Palestinian leadership to render the Palestinian dialogue successful. He also hoped that the upcoming elections would contribute to end intra-Palestinian division. According to an announcement by the office of the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in early February, legislative elections would be held on 22 May, followed by presidential elections on 31 July. Egypt hosted two-day talks dubbed the National Palestinian Dialogue in February, which brought together various Palestinian factions with the aim of ending inter-Palestinian differences and guarantee 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. Short link: MONTREAL, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier (TSX: BBD.B) today will host its virtual Investor Day, during which the company's leadership team will provide its 2025 financial targets and market outlook, as well as highlight progress on the company's actions to drive earnings growth and cash generation. These actions include capturing the value associated with progressing through the Global 7500 aircraft's learning curve; delivering on the previously announced productivity and profitability initiative; executing on the company's aftermarket growth strategy and deleveraging its balance sheet. Presenters at Investor Day will include: Eric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer; Bart Demosky, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer; and Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President for Services, Support, and Corporate Strategy. Market Outlook and 2025 Financial Targets 1 Bombardier expects business jet deliveries to begin a gradual recovery this year. While the company estimates that it will take several years for the market to return to 2019 delivery levels, Bombardier is well positioned in the faster growing large and medium aircraft segments with its Global and Challenger aircraft families. As a result of its past investments, Bombardier is poised to deliver solid financial performance, highlighted by strong earnings growth over the next five years. The company also expects to turn free-cash-flow positive next year and generate more than $500 million in 20252. Specific 2025 financial targets include: Bombardier 2025 Targets Total Revenues ~$7.5 billion Adjusted EBITDA2 ~$1.5 billion Adjusted EBITDA margin2 ~20% Free-cash-flow2 >$500 million Year-end net leverage ~3x The company's outlook assumes the continued successful roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, a gradual lifting of international border restrictions and a continued economic recovery. This conservative outlook does not include the potential positive impact from the surge of new customers to private air travel following the onset of the global pandemic. Balance Sheet Deleveraging During the Investor Day presentations, the company will provide further details on its debt management strategy. Under its strategy, Bombardier intends to deploy the proceeds from the sale of Bombardier Transportation, prioritizing the pay down of near-term maturities with a focus on 2021 and 2022 tranches. The company is also considering various options to address other debt maturities in an opportunistic manner. The focus will be on clearing a minimum three-year maturity runway, providing the Company a clear path to execute its strategy. Aftermarket Expansion With respect to its aftermarket growth strategy, Bombardier will describe how past investments in expanding its worldwide services network and capabilities position the company to capture a greater share of a growing market and further diversify its overall revenues with more resilient and profitable aftermarket revenues. Specifically, the company expects to diversify its revenue mix by growing aftermarket services from ~18% of its revenues in 2020 to ~27% of its revenues by 20253. Global 7500 Learning Curve The company will also provide a program update on its flagship Global 7500 aircraft and explain that 2021 marks a significant milestone for the program as it transitions from negatively impacting earnings to being the biggest EBITDA contributor over the next five years. The company is nearing its 50thGlobal 7500 jet delivery and expects to achieve a 20% reduction in unit cost between the 50th and 100th delivery3. Productivity and Profitability Initiative Finally, during Investor Day, Bombardier will provide an update on its productivity and profitability initiative announced last month. The overall goal of this initiative is to make the company more efficient, agile and capable of delivering stronger financial performance under current market conditions, while also establishing a lower cost base for growth once the market recovers. Importantly, the company expects to achieve $400 million in recurring savings by 20233 through labor productivity improvements, reduced corporate costs and indirect spending, and by optimizing its manufacturing footprint. Webcast Details Bombardier's Investor Day will begin at 9:00 a.m. About Bombardier Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of approximately 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals. News and information is available at bombardier.comor follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. Bombardier, Challenger, Global and Global 7500 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. (1) This section includes a range of forward-looking statements. See the forward-looking statements disclaimer at the end of this press release as well as the guidance and forward-looking statements section in the Overview section in the MD&A of the Corporation's financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, for details regarding the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based. (2) Non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the Non-GAAP financial measures and Liquidity and capital resources sections in the MD&A of the Corporation's financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for definitions of these metrics and the Analysis of results section thereafter for reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measures. (3) See the forward-looking statements disclaimer in the Overview section in the MD&A of the Corporation's financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, for details regarding the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based. For Information Jessica McDonald Advisor, Media Relations and Public Affairs Bombardier +1 514 861 9481 Francis Richer de La Fleche Vice President, Financial Planning and Investor Relations Bombardier +1 514 855 5001 x13228 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release includes forward-looking statements, which may involve, but are not limited to: statements with respect to the Corporation's objectives, anticipations and outlook or guidance in respect of various financial and global metrics and sources of contribution thereto, targets, goals, priorities, market and strategies, financial position, financial performance, market position, capabilities, competitive strengths, credit ratings, beliefs, prospects, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions; general economic and business outlook, prospects and trends of an industry; customer value; expected demand for products and services; growth strategy; product development, including projected design, characteristics, capacity or performance; expected or scheduled entry-into-service of products and services, orders, deliveries, testing, lead times, certifications and execution of orders in general; competitive position; expectations regarding revenue and backlog mix; the expected impact of the legislative and regulatory environment and legal proceedings; strength of capital profile and balance sheet, creditworthiness, available liquidities and capital resources, expected financial requirements, and ongoing review of strategic and financial alternatives; the introduction of, productivity enhancements, operational efficiencies, cost reduction and restructuring initiatives, and anticipated costs, intended benefits and timing thereof; the anticipated business transition to growth cycle and cash generation; expectations, objectives and strategies regarding debt repayment, refinancing of maturities and interest cost reduction; expectations regarding availability of government assistance programs, compliance with restrictive debt covenants; expectations regarding the declaration and payment of dividends on the Corporation's preferred shares; intentions and objectives for the Corporations' programs, assets and operations; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the foregoing and the effectiveness of plans and measures the Corporation has implemented in response thereto; and expectations regarding gradual market and economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As it relates to the sale of the Transportation business to Alstom, this press release also contains forward-looking statements with respect to the benefits of such transaction, the use of the proceeds derived from the transaction and its impact on the Corporation's outlook, guidance and targets, operations, infrastructure, opportunities, financial condition, business plan and overall strategy. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "shall", "can", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "anticipate", "plan", "foresee", "believe", "continue", "maintain" or "align", the negative of these terms, variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are presented for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding certain key elements of the Corporation's current objectives, strategic priorities, expectations, outlook and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of the Corporation's business and anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. By their nature, forward-looking statements require the Corporation to make assumptions and are subject to important known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Corporation's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecast results set forth in forward-looking statements. While the Corporation considers these assumptions to be reasonable and appropriate based on information currently available, there is risk that they may not be accurate. Assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release include the following material assumptions: deployment of the proceeds from the sale of the Transportation business to Alstom on terms allowing the Corporation, when combined to other financing sources and free cash flow generation, to repay or otherwise manage its various maturities for the next three years;growth of the business aviation market and increase of the Corporation's share of such market; proper identification of recurring cost savings and executing on our cost reduction plan; optimization of our real estate portfolio, including through the sale or other transaction in respect of real estate assets on favorable terms; and access to working capital facilities on market terms. For additional information, including with respect to other assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release, refer to the Guidance and forward-looking statements section in the MD&A which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Given the impact of the changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the related response from the Corporation, governments (federal, provincial and municipal), regulatory authorities, businesses, suppliers, customers, counterparties and third-party service providers, there is inherently more uncertainty associated with the Corporation's assumptions as compared to prior years. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks associated with general economic conditions, risks associated with the Corporation's business environment. Any one or more of the foregoing factors may be exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and may have a significantly more severe impact on the Corporation's business, results of operations and financial condition than in the absence of such outbreak. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic conditions and financial markets and the resulting impact on the Corporation's business, operations, capital resources, liquidity, financial condition, margins, prospects and results; uncertainty regarding the magnitude and length of economic disruption as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting effects on the demand environment for our products and services; uncertainty regarding market and economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic; emergency measures and restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments and financial institutions; disruptions to global supply chain, customers, workforce, counterparties and third-party service providers; further disruptions to operations, orders and deliveries; technology, privacy, cyber security and reputational risks; and other unforeseen adverse events. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future growth, results and performance is not exhaustive and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Corporation or that the Corporation presently believes are not material could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Corporation's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth herein reflect the Corporation's expectations as at the date of this press release and are subject to change after such date. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation expressly disclaims any intention, and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Workers at a company in Ho Chi Minh City leave their factory after a working day in April, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. The labor ministry has rejected a proposal to hike minimum wages this year, saying the economy has yet to recover from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also rejected a demand to make the raise on July 7 every year instead of January 1. Both were proposed by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor at a meeting with the government late last year. In a statement the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said now is not the right time for a wage hike since the pandemic had a severe impact on the economy last year and many companies are still facing difficulties. "More than 101,700 businesses have either temporarily suspended operations or shut down and are waiting to complete dissolution procedures, almost 14 percent more than in 2019." The unemployment rate was 2.48 percent, a 10-year high, while the average income of workers stayed at VND6.62 million ($290) per month, marginally down from the previous year, it said. Currently the monthly minimum wage is divided into four levels, depending on region: VND4.42 million ($191.52) for region 1, VND3.92 million for region 2, VND3.42 million for region 3, and VND3.07 million for region 4. Last year they were hiked by an average 5.5 percent. The figures reflect the cost of living in each area. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are in region 1, while rural areas are in region 4. The ministry said even if the rates are kept unchanged in 2021 workers "could manage a minimum standard of living". Covid-19 continues to rage around the world and it is not possible to say when it would end or predict the extent of its impact on Vietnams socio-economic development this year, it said. "Therefore, the minimum wage should not be increased for now to help businesses recover and ensure workers keep their jobs." Earlier the National Wage Council, which advises the government on the minimum wages, had said the rates should remain unchanged this year. The minimum wage rates act as a basis for businesses in the formal sector to negotiate salaries with employees. They are arrived at by multiplying the minimum rates with a coefficient determined by an employees qualification and experience. As for moving the date for amending the minimum wage annually from January 1 to July 1, the ministry said in most countries it coincides with the start of the fiscal year. Vietnam's fiscal year starts on January 1 and so it makes sense to keep it unchanged, it added. Nice Guys: Experiences of a Prison Chaplain: an enthralling tome that teaches the readers how to open their hearts to other people and understand one anothers situation and problems. Nice Guys: Experiences of a Prison Chaplain is the creation of published author Chaplain D. A. VanBebber (Ret), a man who spent thirteen years in the US Naval Reserve on active duty. He also entered Southwest Baptist College where he received a BA degree. Chaplain D. A. VanBebber (Ret) writes, Having served churches for thirteen years as a pastor and having completed five quarters of clinical pastoral education (CPE), I was able to use those experiences to relate to inmates in a helpful way. The one big difference is, in many instances, church members have not been caught by the law or put themselves in a position to be of interest to the law as a result of their choices/actions. To former church members, CPE supervisors, CPE peers for helping to mold me for prison ministry, I say thank you! Because of their patience and encouragement, I became a better listener, empathizing more than sympathizing, listening to their pain, frustration, etc., rather than trying to fix them. In listening, by giving my full attention, looking at the person in the eye while one is talking, and giving occasional feedback as to what I perceived the individual is feeling. Sometimes the feeling feedback was accurate, and sometimes it was not. Hopefully, the individual felt he had been listened to and heard. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Chaplain D. A. VanBebber (Ret)s new book provides a story filled with life-changing lessons that will show readers the beauty in sympathizing and listening to other peoples tribulations. View a synopsis of Nice Guys: Experiences of a Prison Chaplain on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Nice Guys: Experiences of a Prison Chaplain at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Nice Guys: Experiences of a Prison Chaplain, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. With this initial order, Nextleaf said its Rapid concentrate becomes one of BevCanna's preferred ingredients, available for use in both their brands and their partner brands BevCanna has a sales and distribution network of over 3,000 points of retail and online across Canada Nextleaf Solutions Ltd ( ) ( ) (FRA:L0MA) announced Thursday the initial order of its Rapid Emulsion Technology by OILS THC and CBD to cannabis-infused beverage manufacturer BevCanna Enterprises Inc ( ) (QTCQB:BVNNF) (FRA:7BC). With this initial order, Nextleaf said its Rapid concentrate becomes one of BevCanna's preferred ingredients, available for use in both their brands and their partner brands. Rapid is Nextleaf's patent-pending delivery technology. BevCanna develops and manufactures a range of cannabis-infused beverages for both in-house brands and white-label clients, and is the exclusive Canadian licensee for the award-winning, No.1 selling brand in the US -- Keef Brands. Additionally, via its wholly-owned subsidiary Naturo Group's TRACE plant-based mineral beverages and supplements, BevCanna has a sales and distribution network of over 3,000 points of retail and online across Canada. Nextleaf said it anticipates that in addition to BevCanna's licensed points of distribution, BevCanna will eventually distribute cannabinoid beverages through their existing traditional retail channels should Health Canada regulate the sale of CBD products under the new proposed Cannabis Health Product category. "Nextleaf and BevCanna have a long-standing relationship, and our inaugural order of Rapid reflects nearly two years of working together," said Nextleaf CEO Paul Pedersen in a statement. "With a predictable onset and offset time, Rapid Emulsion Technology by OILS provides a significant differentiator for BevCanna to develop a wide range of infused beverages." Made with Nextleaf's high purity cannabis distillate, the company said that Rapid's unique structure and composition allows the final ingredient to achieve optical transparency with neutral characteristics ideal for formulating. Ten years of prior R&D has resulted in a patent-pending emulsion technology adapted to cannabinoids to deliver rapid onset of THC and CBD. Nextleaf also said Rapid extends its capabilities along the value-added product spectrum. Complementing the company's demonstrated excellence in producing high-purity distillate, Rapid solves an industry need for cannabis-infused products with predictable and reliable outcomes. BevCanna owns and operates one of the highest-capacity cannabis beverage manufacturing facilities in Canada, located near Osoyoos, British Colombia, which was granted a Standard Processing Licence by Health Canada on February 12, 2021. Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham Workers wearing protective gear are seen in the compounds of The Jade Boutique Hotel, where members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic are due to complete their quarantine, in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Updates on CCP Virus: Reporter to Sue Gov. Whitmer Over Nursing Home Death Data A legal foundation in Michigan is preparing to file a lawsuit on behalf of a reporter against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over the release of comprehensive COVID-19 nursing home death data. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charlie LeDuff wrote in a recent tweet: We are preparing a lawsuit against Gov. Whitmer of Michigan. She refuses to turn over COVID death data and accurate nursing home numbers to the public. All the way to the Supreme Court, Madam. Thanks to the [Mackinac Center Legal Foundation], who has agreed to take our case. Connecticut to Ease Some CCP Virus Restrictions but Not Going to Be Like Mississippi and Texas Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced plans on Thursday to ease some of the states restrictions related to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus but said Connecticut wont be like Mississippi or Texas. According to Lamonts plans, from March 19, Connecticut is lifting capacity limits for most venues like retail, libraries, personal services, indoor recreation, gyms/fitness centers, museums, aquariums, and zoos, offices, and houses of worship. Theaters will remain limited to 50 percent capacity and restaurants can have no more than eight persons per table with doors to close at 11 p.m. Masks, social distancing, and cleaning protocols also remain in place. WHO Wont Release Interim Report on Virus Origins The World Health Organization team that announced in February it was extremely unlikely that COVID-19 could have accidentally leaked from a Wuhan lab has scrapped previously announced plans to release an interim report on its findings. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said on Feb. 10 that the report would be released in coming days. But the teams lead researcher, Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that it will not release an interim report and will instead publish a comprehensive report that in coming weeks and will include key findings. By definition, a summary report does not have all the details, Embarek said. McDonalds to Keep Dining Rooms Closed in Texas, Mississippi McDonalds Corp will keep dining rooms in its Texas and Mississippi restaurants closed, even as the two U.S. states lifted coronavirus curbs allowing businesses to reopen at full capacity. The fast-food chain told Reuters on Thursday it was not planning to make any changes to its COVID-19 protocols right away. The decline in the new number of daily COVID-19 cases and the rollout of vaccines prompted state and local governments to ease business restrictions in recent weeks, reopening movie theaters at limited capacity and resuming indoor dining in some parts of the country. US Travel Demand Remains Low U.S. travel demand remains low, with just 12 percent planning a spring break trip this year, the industry said Thursday. The industry has been devastated over the last year by the collapse in travel demand because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, which causes the disease COVID-19. The U.S. Travel Association said polling it commissioned suggested Americans remain wary about travel and said it is far from clear when demand for travel will rebound on its own. The industry again urged new tax credits to encourage leisure and business travel. Listen to Health Experts on Masks: Biden The White House says President Joe Biden was expressing frustration after Republican governors lifted mask mandates, saying they were acting like Neanderthals. Press secretary Jen Psaki says Biden will continue to make outreach to governors who disagree with him, adding that Biden asked Americans to diligently wear masks for his first 100 days in office. Ottawa Extends Wage and Rent Subsidies, Lockdown Support Through June Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government will extend three CCP virus support programs until June to continue support for Canadian jobs and businesses through the government-mandated shutdowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, and Lockdown support will be extended from March 14 to June 5, with the current rate structures remaining the same. Brazil Health Officials Urge Nationwide Lockdowns Brazilian health officials are urging nationwide lockdowns and curfews because hospitals are running short of intensive-care unit beds as the CCP virus claims more than 1,000 lives each day in the country. The return of the pandemic in several states is making their private and their public assistance networks collapse and has brought imminent risk of spreading it to all regions of Brazil, Brazils National Council of Health Secretaries said Monday in an open letter, adding that the nation is experiencing its worst moment since the pandemic began. Man Develops Fever and Rashes Following China-Made Vaccine A woman in China said her husband developed serious adverse reactions after receiving a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine, including prolonged high fever and extensive rashes. Doctors said they cannot rule out the possibility that his symptoms were related to the vaccine. The woman, who is from Beijing and whose surname is Zhang, described her husbands story in a March 1 post on Chinas mini-blogging platform Weibo. Germany Agrees Easing Curbs, More Testing Chancellor Angela Merkel and German state leaders have agreed to a phased easing of CCP virus curbs, along with an emergency brake to let authorities reimpose restrictions if case numbers spike again. With elections looming, Merkel and the regional leaders have faced growing pressure to set out plans to restore normal activities after four months of lockdown. Daily cases in the EU nation are creeping up again and about 5 percent of the population received a first vaccine shot. EU Cases up 9 percent in Significant Shift CCP virus cases rose 9 percent last week over a 53-country region of Europe, snapping a six-week run of declines, the World Health Organization said Thursday as its European chief insisted that countries need to get back to the basics. Dr. Hans Kluge says more than 1 million cases were tallied over the last week in the region. He said the resurgence was particularly noticeable in central and eastern Europe, but some Western European countries saw increases as well. Hong Kong Woman Jailed for Breaching Quarantine Requirements Hong Kongs government says a court has sentenced a woman to 10 days in jail for breaching CCP virus quarantine requirements. A news release Thursday said the 61-year-old, who wasnt further identified, had been ordered to quarantine at home for 14 days last June. However, she left the place of quarantine on June 26 without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorized officer, the news release said. A total of 115 people in Hong Kong have been convicted for violating quarantine rules and received fines and sentences of up to 14 days. Tom Ozimek, Gary Du, Isaac Teo, Frank Yue, The Daily Caller, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report. A century ago, the civic leaders of Berkeley, California, pioneered what would become one of Americas most enduring systems of racial inequity a soft apartheid of zoning. In 1916, the city that is now a byword for progressivism became one of the first in the country to set aside large tracts of its land for single-family homes. Berkeleys purpose was openly racist; as a real estate magazine of the era explained, excluding apartments and other densely populated residences was part of an effort to protect the wealthy white residents of Berkeley from an invasion of Negroes and Asiatics. In the decades that followed, Berkeleys restrictive zoning would be adopted by cities across California and the nation. Combined with other forms of discrimination in real estate including redlining, which restricted access to loans for homes in nonwhite areas, another practice that shaped Berkeleys growth zoning limits cemented racism into Americas urban landscape. Last week, Berkeley finally took a step in a new direction. The City Council adopted a measure that acknowledges the racist history of single-family zoning and begins a process to eliminate the restriction by 2022. It is a very baby step: Berkeleys measure is mainly symbolic, putting off for the future the tough business of actually rezoning the city. Still, as I watched a parade of Berkeley residents call in to denounce restrictionist zoning during last weeks livestreamed City Council meeting, I experienced a sensation I dont think Ive ever felt while contemplating housing in California the giddy thrill of optimism. It wasnt long ago that Berkeley could be counted on to reflexively oppose even the most moderate plans for building more housing. Californias wealthy liberals often fail to practice the sort of inclusion they loudly preach. Last year, as in the year before and the year before that, high-profile bills to legalize the construction of more duplexes and apartments died in the State Legislature, which, like the rest of Californias politics, is dominated by Democrats. But something new is happening in California. After a year of plague and fire, in which the precarious unsustainability of life here grew unmistakable, there is an emerging political urgency about addressing our biggest problems, especially the housing and homelessness crisis. The stalemate among developers, NIMBYs, tenants groups and captured politicians that has forever stymied Californias urban politics might be abating; in its place, a pragmatic, humane and rational view toward housing, homelessness, inequality and other pressing urban problems may be dawning. As in Berkeley, a lot of the evidence for this new dynamic is in small, incremental measures; you might have to squint to see any real progress yet. The City Council in Sacramento voted to end single-family-only zoning, and San Jose and South San Francisco are considering it. (California lags behind other places in the nation Minneapolis voted to end single-family restrictions in 2018, and the state of Oregon effectively did so in 2019.) In Palo Alto, the Silicon Valley bastion of rich lefty exclusion, the City Council voted last year to open Foothills Park a secluded paradise long accessible only to Palo Alto residents to everyone. There has also been some promising progress on homelessness. Project Homekey, a state program to provide emergency housing during the pandemic, showed how much can be done on the issue when there is political will. By streamlining approvals and funding processes to use up federal coronavirus relief funds by the end of 2020, state and county officials were able to purchase 6,000 new housing units that homeless people could immediately make their home, far more than many thought possible. (Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing to continue funding the program beyond the pandemic.) These successes wont fix Californias housing crisis overnight, but they reveal a new political reality, reflecting a yearslong uprising against NIMBYs who once dominated many California cities. Shouting No! to all new building is no longer the safest political choice. In Berkeley, for instance, the councils new openness to density is the consequence of a defeat in the November election of an incumbent who had been more skeptical of new housing. Terry Taplin, a 32-year-old poet and community organizer, won Berkeleys District 2 City Council seat by promising to focus on sustainable development and transportation options more housing, denser housing, more options for walking and biking in place of cars, and a view of development that attempts to redress historical racial inequities. If Berkeley was the leader in exclusionary zoning and racist housing policies, we should also lead the nation in the redressal of those policies, Taplin told me. He outlined a full slate of reforms for housing in the city a plan to facilitate affordable housing across Berkeley, a pilot program to study public housing, a plan for new protections for tenants. Were having a real renaissance in progressive housing policies, he said. Perhaps one reason Taplin won is that he defies traditional housing-politics caricatures. Many housing battles in California break along familiar fault lines the NIMBYs who want nothing to change versus the YIMBYs who are easily pilloried as shills for developers and antagonistic toward tenants rights. Taplin breaks free from these binaries. He believes that Berkeley needs more development, more robust protections for tenants, and more services for homeless and low-income residents a kind of all-of-the-above plan to address the housing shortage. He also sees density and sustainability not just through an economic lens, but also a means to racial justice. Taplin is among a new generation of urban lawmakers elected in November who talk about housing and homelessness as complex, multilayered crises that connect many of Californias biggest challenges our unequal economic growth, our vulnerability to climate disasters, our unsustainable car-dominated urban culture and the entrenched racial divisions that still dominate much of life here. Among these is the new mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, a Democrat whose opponent, Barbara Bry, echoed Trumpist fear-mongering about density killing the suburbs. Theyre coming for our homes, Bry warned in a campaign email. Another is Nithya Raman, an urban planner who won a City Council seat in notoriously NIMBY Los Angeles by putting racial justice and equity at the center of her campaign. One of Ramans big ideas was to decriminalize homelessness, to address it through housing policy, addiction care and mental health services rather than arresting people for drug offenses and crimes tied to mental illnesses and rootlessness. Raman also promised to allow affordable housing plans to be approved within 90 days almost light speed by big-city standards. I have been down on California for some time; as the fires, smoke, virus and blackouts bore down on us last summer and fall, I worried that we were stuck in a spiral of failure. But the emerging political landscape in California has given me a bit of hope. For the first time in a long time, or perhaps ever, it really feels as if voters are attuned to the catastrophes befalling our state and are ready to accept big changes in our way of life to address them. At long last and hopefully not too late. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Bethlehems new police chief has reorganized the 154-member department for the first time in more than two decades to put more of a focus on community policing. Chief Michelle Kott revealed the new departmental structure Tuesday night during a Bethlehem City Council public safety committee meeting. The largest change is the creation of a new community services unit within the department focused on getting more officers interacting with the public. The creation of this division reorganizes non-patrol functions into a focused team of officers who have the time, flexibility and ability to investigate crime and interact with the community beyond the scope of the patrol division, Kott said. The police force will now be divided up into three groups: the patrol division, support services and the police administration. The support services division is broken down into three units each led by a lieutenant: the new community services unit, criminal investigations and traffic and school safety. The Bethlehem Police Department just reorganized with a focus on community policing.Courtesy Bethlehem Police Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said the changes would go into into effect immediately. Kott was named the departments first female chief in October, taking the helm after Mark DiLuzio retired in the aftermath of re-posting an offensive Facebook post. Her appointment came amid growing calls from some in the community for the city to rethink policing. Over the summer, some council members pushed for the city to tackle systemic racism and for the department to better engage the community. Council opted to give Kott some time to develop a reorganization plan after taking the helm in the fall. The departmental overhaul aims to foster a holistic approach to policing, Kott said. Were trying to mesh to things that we do really, really well. In the past, we did a good job of community policing and getting out into the communities walking, biking, forming those partnerships and those relationships, Kott said. We also do a very good job of responding to calls for service, and being proactive and enforcement. And its important to marry those two. She relied on a healthcare analogy to explain the philosophy. If someone needs emergency medical care, they go to an emergency room. The patrol division is like that ER staff, triaging an emergency and moving on to the next crisis, Kott said. An emergency room patient might then need specialized care from a cardiologist or orthopedic surgeon. Thats where the newly formed community support services steps in, connecting folks with community resources, responding to qualify of life concerns and building trust with residents. Bethlehem is currently piloting having a social worker from the Bethlehem Health Bureau working with a patrol platoon. Kott wants that interaction to expand across the department, she said. The department currently has six officers at the rank of lieutenant and the reorganizations adds a seventh by converting an officer position, Kott said. The new position is budget neutral in 2021 due to vacancies, but is expected to cost an additional $13,000 annually. The new community services unit brings together the Bethlehem Housing Authority officers and community resource officers in the north and Southside. The unit will oversee the activities of officers assigned to specific targeted areas of the city, whose community stands to benefit the most from more direct and consistent interaction with the community resource officer, Kott said. The new community services lieutenant will oversee those officers, coordinate cops assigned to community events and use Community Development Block Grant funding to assign officers to foot and bike patrols in specific neighborhoods. Currently, there is one community officer on the northside and one working with a Lehigh University officer in the Southside. These units will be expanded when personnel allows, Kott said, noting several officers are on military deployments and others are out for long-term injury. Councilman Michael Colon, who chairs the public safety committee, said it is important to get the right person in those community roles, someone who can make connections that have a real world impact. Councilwoman Olga Negron questioned why the patrol division would not be integrated with the community services division. I think it is so important for patrol men and woman that are out there in the community to be community police officers, Negron said. They are the first contact with our community. Probably in the worst moments. The police chief agreed with Negron and explained that patrol officers will pair up with community offers to go to events and build bonds with residents. We want those (community) officers to model that behavior to our patrol officers, which through retirements is getting younger, and be able to give those younger patrol officers the ability to go out and engage in community policing activities with these officers (who have built a community rapport), Kott explained. ...Because I believe that trust is so incredibly important. Resident Ed Gallagher called into the meeting to ask what the departments current brand of community policing is and how this new policing philosophy differs. I see a confusion there, Gallagher said. He requested that city council hold another public safety committee meeting this spring as we approach the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, who died after being pinned to the ground under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer for more than nine minutes. Gallagher would like to hear about the internal analysis Floyds death spurred in the department. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a sweeping police overhaul measure that bans chokeholds, ends racial and religious profiling and creates a national police misconduct database among other things. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. New Delhi, March 4 : With SEBI issuing showcause notices to Franklin Templeton Asset Management Company (AMC), and its key managerial employees and trustees over alleged fraud and unfair trade, a spokesperson of the company said that none of the key persons have redeemed any units post the trustees taking the in-principle decision to wind-up six debt mutual fund schemes in April last year. In a detailed response to the showcause notice issued by SEBI, the company said, "We believe it would be inappropriate to comment further on speculation and request the investors not to draw conclusions based on conjecture." The schemes under winding up continue to have significant investment from the employees and management of Franklin Templeton and all redemption applications submitted by the unit-holders until April 23, 2020 were processed in the normal course of business, as per the spokesperson. "Our interests remain aligned with those of our investors. None of the key persons have redeemed any units post the trustees taking the in-principle decision to wind-up the schemes," said the company. As per the fund house, its focus remains on returning monies to the unit-holders at the earliest, by supporting the SBI Mutual Fund management in the monetisation process. The schemes have already distributed Rs 9,122 crore to the investors and have accrued another Rs 1,180 crore in cash as on February 26, 2021. The capital market regulator issued the show-cause notices as the audit directed by SEBI after the fund house discontinued six debt mutual fund schemes in April 2020 showed breach of code of conduct. SEBI also asked Franklin Templeton India as to why action should not be taken against the company for not carrying out its fiduciary duties towards the investors and for lapses in the risk-management process. The notices have been served to key managerial employees comprising Vivek Kudva, head of Asia Pacific (APAC) for Franklin Templeton, his mother, and his wife Roopa Kudva, MD, Omidyar Network India. Further, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a case of money laundering against Franklin Templeton and its senior officials. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. After George Floyd was killed while in Minneapolis police custody, the U.S. House rushed to pass legislation to ban chokeholds, stop racial profiling, outlaw no-knock warrants, limit the use of deadly force and reduce the legal immunity police officers now enjoy. The bill, drafted by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus and backed by 138 civil rights organizations, was approved by the House last June largely along party lines, but Senate Republicans refused to take it up. They instead offered a weaker alternative opposed by civil rights groups. That bill didnt have enough support to pass the Senate. But as the House on Wednesday voted again to approve the legislation named in Floyds memory, Booker already was working with the lone Black Republican senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and others to try to find common ground. I believe comprehensive policing reform is an issue that has and will attract bipartisan support, Booker said after the vote. We will work to continue building a diverse coalition of support behind these reform efforts and advance policing reform through the Senate. The time for action is now. Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., the former Black Caucus chair, said more intense discussions with senators will follow Wednesdays vote. I am confident we will be able to have a bipartisan bill in the Senate, Bass said at press conference before the House vote. The bill passed largely along party lines, 220-212. New Jerseys delegation split along the partisan divide, with all 10 House Democrats voting yes and both Republicans voting no. Hopefully, this bill will close an ugly chapter in American history, said Rep. Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist. For too long, many Americans were considered dangerous and violent simply because of the color of their skin. Chokeholds are the 21st centurys version of legalized lynching. The most controversial section would reduce the legal immunity for police actions, including those that result in the deaths of unarmed Blacks. Floyd died after an officer pressed his knee against his neck for more than eight minutes. The measure also would set up a national database to track use-of-force incidents, create national standards for police departments, require bias training and change the standard for using deadly force to necessary rather than reasonable. And it would restrict the transfer of military equipment to local police departments. President Barack Obama announced such a policy during his 2015 trip to Camden but President Donald Trump revoked it during his first year in office. While some of the Black Lives Matter protesters called for defunding the police, House Democrats rejected that slogan. Republicans, including Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., successfully made that a major campaign issue as the party took back several Democratic-held seats when they were projected to lose several additional races. During Wednesdays floor debate, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., responded to almost every Republican speaker by saying, No matter how many times the other side says it defunds the police, it doesnt make it true. But House GOP members continued to pummel Democrats over the issue. The reckless defund the police rhetoric behind this legislation is forcing police to retreat and to leave the vulnerable at the mercy of those who prey upon them. said Rep Dan Bishop, R-N.C. You should run from that rhetoric. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant. Disgraced ex-DUP mayor Thomas Hogg has been convicted of trying to get a boy aged under 16 to engage in sexual activity. The former Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough councillor had denied the offence but was found guilty following a contest hearing at Belfast Magistrates Court last week. The case followed the politicians arrest at a dance music festival in Newtownabbey organised by the council of which he was a leading member. Hogg was charged with inciting a 14-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity on September 28, 2019. The 32-year-old had also been accused of a further charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and of sexual communication with a child. But these were withdrawn during a hearing of the case in December 2019, in one of the many adjournments before the matter was dealt with last week. Hogg, of Brae Hill Park in the Ballysillan area of north Belfast, is due before the same court on March 12 when he will be sentenced. Hogg quit the DUP and resigned his seat on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council not long after Sunday Life revealed he had been charged with child sex offences. He was arrested at the V36 music festival in Newtownabbey with witnesses saying threats were shouted at him as he was lead away by cops. The once rising star in the DUP later fled his north Belfast home after a death threat was delivered by the South East Antrim UDA. He is no stranger to the magistrates courts having previously been convicted of drink-driving in May 2018. Hogg was handed a 12-month driving ban and a fine after admitting drink-driving in Belfast. The conviction saw him suspended as a councillor for five months, and also suspended by the DUP for eight months over the matter. Hogg grew up in Fermanagh before moving to Belfast to study at Queens University. It was during that period that he took on a more prominent role in the DUP and was brought under the wing of North Belfast DUP MP and fellow Fermanagh man, Nigel Dodds. Having as served Newtownabbey mayor on two occasions, including as the first mayor of the amalgamated super council, Hogg was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 2016 for services to local government. After receiving the gong, he said: This is not something I ever contemplated or imagined. Between his terms as mayor, Hogg spent four months on tour in Afghanistan with the Royal Irish Reserves (RIR) and has previously indicated he may be affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result. Until his arrest he also worked closely with the DUPs North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley. (Natural News) Texas Republican Attorney General suggested that big tech firms need to be regulated much like how the government treats utility or phone companies. In a Feb. 27 interview with The Epoch Timess Crossroads, Attorney General Ken Paxton said that big tech companies like Facebook, Twitter, Google and Amazon control their entire platforms and have free rein to decide who gets to use those platforms and who gets canceled and is forced to leave them. And so there is no other choice other than to regulate these companies, he said, suggesting that they need to be treated like a utility company. (Related: TX AG Ken Paxton: Key to stopping Googles censorship is breaking its advertising monopoly.) [Big tech firms] have to provide power to everybody, because youre the only choice, said Paxton. Normally, Id say a private company can do what they want, and consumers have choices. But with regards to social media companies, Paxton said consumers dont have any choice since they dont have serious competition. And so we have to regulate that and make sure that free speech is not being controlled by a few very wealthy tech people. By referring to big tech companies as public utilities, Paxton is implying that they are a public need and as a result, they should be controlled by the government. The campaign to get the federal government to regulate big tech companies has been growing stronger in recent years. This movement has been led largely by conservatives like former President Donald Trump, who has argued for Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 to be repealed or amended. Texas legislators already working on bills to combat big tech censorship In early February, State Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Republican from Mineola, East Texas, introduced a number of bills to the legislature. Among these was a bill aimed at addressing how Texans could respond when they are banned from social media websites. In an interview with Inside Texas Politics on ABCs Dallas affiliate WFAA, Hughes explained his anti-deplatforming legislation. He said it would give Texans an avenue to fight back when big tech companies use their terms of service as a weapon to keep people they dislike off their websites, notably people who express conservative-leaning opinions. Federal law does allow us to regulate these companies, explained Hughes. And so, the bill were getting ready to file will say that if a company discriminates against you, if the platform blocks or kicks you off based on your viewpoint, based on your politics or religion, based on viewpoint discrimination, it will give you a way to get back online. The state senator said his bill will provide Texans with a legal option they can pursue rather than depending on the appeals process of the websites. These currently do not give Texans a lot of power in the process of retrieving their social media accounts. What we would like to do is to give any Texan whos being discriminated against, the option to bring an action, he said. We think that will get Facebooks attention, get Twitters attention, and cause them to start treating Texans fairly. A similar bill to curb the power of big tech was brought before the Texas State Senate in 2019. While it passed in the State Senate, it failed to get enough support from the State House despite the fact that both chambers of the legislature were controlled by Republicans. Texas faces difficult road ahead in battle against big tech Texas has a huge mountain to climb in its fight against big techs overwhelming ability to crush free speech. This is according to author and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Texass heart is in the right place, explained Ramaswamy during an appearance on Fox News Fox and Friends. But theres one particular issue, which is that the way that Section 230 is structured thats a federal law is that it says explicitly that youre preempting or overriding any liability that these companies might face in state courts. So, their hearts in the right place. But, in order to really deliver the right solution here, this has to be done at the federal level, he added. Ramaswamy believes that passing state legislature is not enough, and the Civil Rights Act also needs to be amended to prohibit political discrimination. This would prevent conservatives from being booted en masse from social media platforms. Just like how theres no religious discrimination or discrimination on the basis of national origin, said Ramaswamy. The entrepreneur also believes a lot more work needs to be done to remove the power big tech companies were able to gain thanks to the way Section 230 was worded. We need to amend Section 230 itself to say that political censorship is off the table, or take this to federal court As I argued on the show in the past, saying that these companies are actually bound by the First Amendment based on case law. I like where [Texass] heart is at, but its going to be a very difficult argument because its just one state trying to override a federal statute. Learn more about the ongoing battle to prevent big tech from discriminating against conservative voices online by reading the latest articles at TechGiants.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WFAA.com DallasObserver.com FoxNews.com Irish trainer has been banned from racing in Britain THE horse racing community was left shocked this week after an image emerged on social media of Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse. The 43-year-old, who is licensed in Ireland, issued an apology on Monday. Since then, the British Horseracing Authority has banned Elliott from racing horses in Britain until the investigation with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has concluded. The incident comes less than two weeks before the Cheltenham Festival, where Elliott was expected to have a strong line-up in the star-studded event. It also comes just a month before the Grand National at Aintree. Trainer Jo Davis, who is based in Highworth, was upset to see the photo on social media and was quick to explain how the well-being and safety of horses is paramount for the sport. She said: I found the photo distasteful and upsetting and want the general public to know that its not how we view horses. Our horses are our family and every one of them has their own personality. We try really hard to show how much the horses are cared for and we do every little thing to make sure theyre looked after. We have to get on with it and do the best for our horses and we need to keep proving that the horses are our world. I get up at 5am every morning for feeding, galloping, home schooling and sorting out runners and entries, but the most important thing is the horse. Davis explained how it was a huge error of judgement from Elliott and racing needs to talk about the positives in the sport. She said: I think racing desperately needs to shout about the care and welfare about the horses because we do everything we can to look after them. Its hard because us smaller trainers work so hard to promote horse welfare and I dont know what the general consensus is, but it was a stupid thing to do. Meanwhile Lambourn trainer Jamie Snowden added: The picture is horrid, and in no way a reflection of how racehorses are looked after, as respect for horses is a fundamental value of our sport, and our horses are given the utmost care, attention and love. Harry Whittington, who trains from his Sparsholt yard, said: My initial reaction when I saw the image on social media on Saturday night was total shock, and my first thought was - I hope its fake! And if its not its utterly wrong. Unfortunately this is likely to have a far reaching impact on the sport for some time and I think I speak for the rest of the racing community in feeling totally let down. I think it is important to get on top of this as soon as possible and there should be no delay, Whittington said. Gordon Elliot has admitted to it and the authorities need to swiftly decide an appropriate punishment. Whittington explained how the horse welfare is the most important thing and believes racing needs to remain united. Racing and, more importantly, horses have brought the most incredible joy to my life, to my family and the team I work with. So that we can look forwards and not back, there is a positive opportunity here to bring horse welfare right to the forefront of the sport, more than ever before, and racing should unite in their response to this issue by doing just that. Racing was thrown into more controversy as amateur Irish jockey Rob James was filmed sitting on a dead horse. James, who rode the Elliott-trained Milan Native to victory at the Cheltenham Festival last year, said he was heartbroken at the damage he had caused. The fallout continues for Elliott, who has lost sponsorship deals with the likes of Betfair and eCOMM Merchant Solutions. Elsewhere, Newmarket-based Cheveley Park Stud moved eight Elliott-trained horses to the yards of Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins, including Festival favourite Envoi Allen. Multiple leaks over the past couple of months have revealed quite a lot about Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 and the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. And while people still wait for an official announcement, someone in Samsung's camp seems to have jumped the gun and listed the two unannounced phones on its 's official security updates website. Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 Leaked by Samsung According to Android Headlines, Samsung has officially scheduled the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 and the Galaxy A52 5G to receive monthly security updates. Interestingly, apart from the Galaxy A50, no other Galaxy A Series flagship receives security monthly updates. The Galaxy A50 is an enterprise model, so it is an understandable move for the South Korean-based company to give it special care. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 was reported to be temporarily removed from the list of receiving monthly updates, but now it is back on it. The handheld makes it into the list as an Enterprise model, just like its predecessors. So it is not very surprising that it will receive monthly security updates. Pocketnow reports that Samsung does not have a particularly stellar record of preventing its upcoming products from leaking on the internet. But occasionally, the company finds itself doing an oopsie or two. Interestingly enough, both names of Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G have been unveiled to their official page for phones that will receive monthly security updates. Still, at the last second, the company removed them from its database. Also Read: Samsung Reveals First A-Series with 30-Day Security Updates; Galaxy A52 5G vs. A51 5G-- Which is Better? However, there have been leakers getting screenshots from Samsung's security site and spreading the news to the web, suggesting that a mistake was made on Samsung's part. Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 Specs and Features An official release date for the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 has not been confirmed yet, but there have been leaks floating around the web about the handheld's specifications and features. First published by Winfuture.de, the German blog reports that the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 will have a 5.3-inch display with a screen resolution of 1480 x 720, which translates into a 16:9 ratio and protected by the Gorilla Glass 6. The Xcover 5 might be one of the Android phones being released to feature small displays. Do not expect a tiny form factor, as the images show that the phone has pretty thick bezels. The site also stated that the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 would be powered by the Exynos 850 processor. The octa-core processor has a clock speed of 2.0GHz and is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. Meanwhile, the single-camera setup at the back is a 16MP f/1.8 camera with a red ring around it, and two LEDs for flash positioned directly underneath. The selfie camera is a 5MP sensor with an f/1.2 aperture. Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 will be a 4G variant and will have two spaces for nano-SIM cards, and both can be set to 4G. The phone also has Bluetooth 5.0, support for 5GHz Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, USB-C, and an audio jack. The handheld features an IP68 waterproof rating and is MIL-STD 810G certified. The Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 features a 3,000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging and will run Android 11 with Graphite Black color out of the box. (Report by Gizmochina) Related Article: Samsung A32 4G: First Released Budget Phone With 90Hz AMOLED Display Feature & 64MP Camera This article is owned by Tech Times Written by: Luis Smith 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LendingUSA, a leading point-of-sale fintech company, today announced the hire of Adam Contino as its new Chief Financial Officer. Adam joins LendingUSA at a critical time in the company's expansion, including the recent news of the closing of a new funding commitment of $200 million from Atalaya Capital Management. Adam will report to CEO Camilo Concha, and will be responsible for capital planning and sourcing, investor relations, M&A evaluation, financial planning and analysis, accounting and treasury. LendingUSA He joins as the company bids farewell to Ron Oertell, a valued member of the LendingUSA team. "As I transition to the next step in my career, I'm grateful for my experience at LendingUSA, and I'm extremely proud of what we've accomplished together in building this company to new heights," says Ron Oertell. "We are so grateful to Ron for his time and dedication in helping to build LendingUSA up to this point and leaving us in a great place, and we're thankful that he has chosen to oversee a smooth transition before the start of his next professional challenge in life," says Camilo Concha, Founder & CEO of LendingUSA. "As we enter this new stage of growth for LendingUSA, we couldn't be more excited to welcome Adam, and we look forward to achieving even bigger goals together." Adam is a proven financial services veteran with over 30 years of experience leading transformation and growth initiatives and optimizing performance. Most recently, Adam served as EVP and CFO of Security National Automotive Acceptance Company (SNAAC), a nationwide consumer lending company where Adam was instrumental in the development and execution of strategic initiatives, including sophisticated capital markets solutions. Prior to SNAAC, Adam served as COO of Navian Capital, an award-winning fintech company focused on structured products, and in various leadership roles at Fifth Third Bank. Adam has extensive management consulting experience at Deloitte and Arthur Andersen focused on developing effective financial solutions to maximize revenue, control risk and drive operational efficiencies. "I'm excited to join such a resilient, talented, and innovative team to help achieve its growth initiatives," said Adam Contino, Chief Financial Officer of LendingUSA. About LendingUSA LendingUSA is an award-winning point-of-sale fintech company that offers merchants a seamless financing solution with access to loan decisions in seconds, promotional financing terms, and low monthly payment options for its customers across various niche markets. Founded in 2015, LendingUSA has enrolled over 10,000 merchants nationwide and has processed over $2 billion in borrower loan requests. LendingUSA is committed to creating the best financing experience available through its proprietary point-of-sale lending solution. The company boasts a consumer rating of 4.8 out of five stars on BirdEye. All loans are made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey state-chartered bank, Member FDIC. Press Contact Amanda Krebs, Marketing Manager [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE LendingUSA The academic standards of Urdu-speaking population will not improve unless they have Urdu philosophers. Representational Image/AFP HYDERABAD: Distinguished fellow for research and information system for developing countries, Prof. Amitabh Kundu, said that in the global index, countries are ranked on the basis of development in addition to equality. India's rank could have been better than Bangladesh, but it went down due to lack of equality. He expressed these views at a roundtable discussion "Education Policy Round Table: Education Quality, NEP & Marginalized Population" at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). Prof. Kundu said equality in income, health and education is inevitable for public equality. He gave detailed data about the income, health and education indicators of Muslims and compared it with other reserved categories. Muslims lag behind in availing public health services, he pointed out. Prof. Abdul Shaban, School of Development Studies, TISS, Mumbai opined that the academic standards of Urdu-speaking population will not improve unless they have Urdu philosophers. Attention should be paid to the curriculum. State patronage and market viability play crucial roles in the development of any language, he pointed out. Prof. S M Rahmatullah said that Indian constitution is the best as it gives importance to equality. If we are not doing better at different levels we are only responsible for such a situation, he said. He said the National Education Policy has focused on multi-disciplinary education and skills. He advised teachers to be well prepared for the classroom. Prof. Siddiqui Mohammed Mahmood called the success of the education system, reflected a countrys success. Moderator of the programme, Prof. Amir Ullah said that the budget for minorities should be used to offer scholarships and build infrastructure for them. WASHINGTON (AP) Law enforcement is on high alert around the U.S. Capitol after intelligence uncovered a "possible plot" by a militia group to storm it again. The threat appears to be connected to a far-right conspiracy theory promoted by QAnon supporters that Donald Trump will rise again to power on March 4, the original Inauguration Day under the U.S. Constitution. Online chatter identified by authorities included discussions among members of the anti-government militia group the Three Percenters concerning possible plots against the Capitol on Thursday. That's according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Members of the Three Percenters were among the extremists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. HIGHLIGHTS 10 holes +4,000m of drilling completed since the beginning of 2021 Targeting FLEM and DHEM conductors identified in 2020 EM campaign Drilling confirmed the presence of a mineralized horizon below A Zone with strong visual mineralization intersected approximately 150m below the existing resource This target is approximately 2km along strike from D Zone that previously intersected Nisto Trend (3.8m at 8.5g/t gold discovery hole) Strong off-hole DHEM conductors to be further tested represents a new exciting growth opportunity Drilling EM conductors at NW Zone returned strong mineralization with multiple visible gold grains over 3.0m Confirms presence of additional new discoveries 600m north of the current resource Heterogeneity test on coarse gold underway with systematic sampling of core, historical and current, under supervision from world expert +4,000 samples being shipped to Australia for systematic re-analysis by PhotonAssay TM as technology not yet commercially available in North America FLEM loops G & H extending the mineralized trend 3km to the ESE completed awaiting processing and modelling Second drill rig and crew mobilizing to site this month to accelerate 50,000m drill program in 2021 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) (the Company or Benz) is pleased to release an exploration update from its drilling and EM programs at its Eastmain Gold Project (Project). Figure 1. Visible gold circled in red from core drilled at NW Zone (hole EM21-146) 600m NW of the existing resource To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/76044_e6a3803ea4f96bb4_001full.jpg 10 holes have been drilled to date, targeting EM conductors defined during the FLEM and DHEM campaigns of 2020. Drilling has been focussed on untested conductors at NW Zone and Hillhouse as well as testing the extent of the newly discovered mineralized horizon below A Zone. All holes drilled in 2021 encountered the expected geology and identified mineralization in positions compatible with the modelled conductors. 9 holes have been probed with DHEM awaiting processing and modelling. CEO, Xavier Braud, commented: "The adoption of new technology and techniques at the Eastmain Gold Project continues in 2021 where it left off in 2020. Electromagnetics is proving to be an extremely effective direct targeting tool with all holes drilled to date returning visual mineralization with quartz, carbonate, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and, in some instances, visible gold grains. We have now confirmed the presence of a mineralized horizon below A Zone, some 2km from where the Nisto Trend was first intersected at D Zone. DHEM and further drilling will help define the lateral extent of this mineralization. All samples from mineralized intervals submitted for analysis this year are being assayed using 1,000gr metal screen fire assays to try and minimize the influence of nugget effect. We have also embarked on an ambitious heterogeneity test which will characterize the amount and influence of coarse gold in the system and will ultimately help with optimization of assay method and might even provide material for an upgrade of the current resource estimate." The reader is warned the presence of visible gold and other indicators in core does not assure high assay results when processed at a laboratory. Figure 2: January drilling over simplified geology, VTEM, FLEM and DHEM conductors To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/76044_e6a3803ea4f96bb4_002full.jpg Figure 3: Quartz-sulphide mineralization drillhole EM21-146 - NW Zone (for reference, core diameter 47.3mm) To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/76044_e6a3803ea4f96bb4_003full.jpg Figure 4: Visible gold in quartz-pyrrhotite-pyrite-sphalerite veins EM21-146 - NW Zone (for reference, core diameter 47.3mm) To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/76044_e6a3803ea4f96bb4_004full.jpg Figure 5: Visible gold in Quartz carbonate pyrrhotite pyrite sphalerite vein EM21-146 - NW Zone (for reference, core diameter 47.3mm) To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/76044_e6a3803ea4f96bb4_005full.jpg Continued success of the exploration methodology confirmed by ongoing drilling Benz identified the potential to target gold mineralization at Eastmain via EM. This technique is not commonly used to directly target gold mineralization, however, the high pyrrhotite content of the mineralization at Eastmain enables the team to directly target mineralization by using a combination of ground and DHEM surveys (techniques that have been successfully used by ASX listed explorer Bellevue Gold Limited at its namesake gold project) in combination with the historical database. To date, EM surveys have led to three new greenfield discoveries and two brownfield discoveries : Nisto Trend The Nisto Trend is a sub-parallel mineralized trend approximately 150-200m deeper than the existing mine trend identified in the D Zone that could also be the equivalent of the mineralized horizon below A Zone. The Nisto Trend was first intersected in D Zone (3.8m at 8.5g/t gold). At A Zone, situated approximately 2km from D Zone, the mineralization has been intersected by holes EM21-143 and 151 at about 200m deeper than the mine horizon. Both holes hit sulphide rich mineralization (pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite) as veins and stringers in an altered ultramafic at the contact with a conglomerate. DHEM showed strong in-hole and off-hole conductors at EM21-143 and strong off-hole conductors at EM21-151. The strength of the in-hole EM response in hole EM21-143 masked the potential extent of mineralization and needs further drilling to determine its strike extent. Kotak Trend The Kotak Trend is a second new trend 800m due east of the Eastmain mine characterized with quartz, carbonate, sulphide veins in a strongly altered carbonate, quartz and tourmaline zone with an intersect of 5.0m at 8.3g/t gold from 529.8m including 3.0m at 13.7g/t gold from 531.8m. Continuous mineralization at NW Zone FLEM AND DHEM conductors pointed to an undrilled area located between historical drillholes approximately 600m along strike of the current resource. 2021 drilling found continuity of mineralization between drillholes. 4 shallow holes were drilled in the area. EM21-146 encountered a pyrrhotite-sphalerite-pyrite rich stringer zone, with visible gold associated with pyrrhotite sphalerite and quartz veins. EM21-145 encountered a similar stringer zone, but no visible gold was observed. EM21-147 and 148 tested DHEM plates for up-dip potential and hit the margins of this system with quartz-sulphide stringers intersected. Resource Extensions Down Dip Down plunge extensions of the known mineralization at A Zone (in current resource) and D Zone (not in current resource) have been identified. EM21-152 was drilled to test DHEM modelled plates in the extension of A Zone mineralization. The hole hit two sulphide rich horizons, one representing the "Mine Trend" and the other, a deeper sulphide rich intercept that may correlate with the Nisto Trend. Drilling in 2021 will also target down plunge extensions to B and C Zones using DHEM modelled conductive plates resulting from Benz's surveying of historical holes in this area. Mine Trend Extensions A new mineralized zone 1.8km along strike of the known resource on the Mine Trend with 5.4m at 3.2g/t gold from 139.6m including 1.4m at 7.2g/t gold from 139.6m and including 1.0m at 4.3g/t gold from 143.0m (EM20-142). All drillholes are systematically surveyed by DHEM, refining the location of the strongly mineralized shoots within the system. Heterogeneity Test - Coarse Gold Mineralization Influence Benz has approached world class specialist consultants to work with Dr Marat Abzalov on designing and implementing a heterogeneity test. The test will identify the repartition of various gold grains sizes in the system and the consequences of the presence of coarse nuggetty gold on assay results. The study will use newly drilled core as well as historical drill core from the Eastmain Project. Results of the study will include: characterization of gold grains fractions and repartition effect of comminution on coarse gold grains optimization of assay method to be used for future analysis potential improvements in the controls on grade repartition within the existing resource The results will assist Benz in identifying the optimal assay technique to most accurately identify gold grade as well as quantifying the influence of coarse gold on the mineralization and its effect on the existing resource model. Coarse Gold Treatment - PhotonAssays - Screen Fire Assays For the duration of the drill program, mineralized samples submitted to the Actlab Laboratory in Ste-Germaine-Boule, Quebec, will be analysed by metal sieves (also known as screen fire assays) in order to offset as much as possible the effect of nuggetty gold on the assay values. Pending the results of the heterogeneity study, the Company is of the view that screen fire assays will provide the most accurate assay methodology currently available to it. Benz is also in the process of sending all of the laboratory rejects (crushed half core unused for analysis) to Australia for assay using PhotonAssayTM. Photon is a high energy X-Ray fluorescence assay method. This technology has been proven to excel at processing samples with nuggetty gold and is being extensively used by major gold companies in Australia. However, the technology is not yet available commercially in Canada and, until so, Benz will ship rejects on a regular basis to duplicate fire and screen fire assays results with this method. Surface EM generating additional targets Loops G and H have been recently surveyed via FLEM. Those loops extend the EM surveys along strike from the three mineralized trends all the way to the Project's south-eastern boundary, approximately 3km from existing identified mineralization. Benz is currently waiting for processing and modelling of the data prior to follow up programs. Figure 6: FLEM Loops G and H location plan with regards to the Eastmain Project To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/76044_e6a3803ea4f96bb4_006full.jpg Eastmain Gold Deposit The Eastmain Gold Project, situated on the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada, currently hosts a NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) compliant resource of 376,000oz at 7.9gpt gold (Indicated: 236,500oz at 8.2gtp gold, Inferred: 139,300oz at 7.5gtp gold). The existing gold mineralization is associated with 15-20% semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite in highly deformed and altered rocks making it amenable to detection using electromagnetic techniques. Multiple gold occurrences have been identified by previous explorers over a 10km long zone along strike from the Eastmain Mine with very limited but highly encouraging testing outside the existing resource area. This press release was prepared under supervision and approved by Dr. Danielle Giovenazzo, P.Geo, acting as Benz's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. Unless otherwise specified, all of the intervals reported are in core length. Although our core angles are good, it is not possible to give accurate true thickness for these intercepts at the moment. Because of the presence of visible gold, BENZ will be using a 1000gr metal sieve (code1A4-1000) for mineralized samples. About Benz Mining Corp. Benz Mining Corp. brings together an experienced team of geoscientists and finance professionals with a focused strategy to acquire and develop mineral projects with an emphasis on safe, low risk jurisdictions favourable to mining development. Benz is earning a 100% interest in the former producing high grade Eastmain gold mine, Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East projects in Quebec. The Eastmain Gold Project is situated within the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada and currently hosts a NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) compliant resource of 376,000oz at 7.9gpt gold. The existing gold mineralization is associated with 15-20% semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite making it amenable to detection by electromagnetics. Several gold mineralization occurrences have been identified by previous explorers over a 10km long zone along strike from the Eastmain Mine with very limited testing outside the existing resource area. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benz Mining Corp. Xavier Braud, CEO For more information please contact: Paul Fowler Head of Corporate Development (Canada) Benz Mining Corp. Telephone: +1 416 356 8165 Email: info@benzmining.com Xavier Braud CEO, Head of Corporate Development (Aus) Benz Mining Corp. Telephone +61 423 237 659 Email: info@benzmining.com Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. Competent Person's Statements: The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information and supporting information compiled by Mr Xavier Braud, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG membership ID:6963). Mr Braud is a consultant to the Company and has sufficient experience in the style of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and qualifies as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code). Mr Braud holds securities in Benz Mining Corp and consents to the inclusion of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which they appear. The information in this announcement that relates to the Inferred Mineral Resource was first reported under the JORC Code by the Company in its prospectus released to the ASX on 21 December 2020. The information in this announcement that relates to exploration results was first reported to the ASX on 13 January and 11 February 2021. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements and confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Resource estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements. Appendix 1: JORC Tables Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data (Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.) Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. NQ size core drilling Core cut in two equal halves with one half submitted for assays Core length for individual samples was based on geological observations No samples of less than 30cm (0.3m) in length Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). Triple tube NQ core drilling. Hole depths vary between 100m and 777m Core is oriented using downhole orientation tool Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Core recoveries are measured by comparing the length of core recovered against the length of drill rods used and recorded by the drilling contractor. For the sampled intervals the core is cut in half and half of the core was sent for assays Length of core sampled for individual assays is determined by the logging geologist following geological/mineralisation boundaries. To ensure representativity, no intervals shorter than 30cm are sampled. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. All core was logged for Lithology Alteration Mineralisation Mineral species abundance Veining Structures Both qualitative and quantitative logging was conducted 100% of the core drilled has been logged Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Half core sampled Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. All samples were submitted for Gold assay by Fire assay and AA (Atomic Absorption) of a 50g pulverized sample with gravimetic determination if >10 g/t. If gold grains of a size larger than the grind size are present, the method can be considered partial. At this stage, no studies have been conducted on the repartition and size of the gold grains in the system, however visual observations of gold grains larger than 0.5mm suggest that the method should be considered partial at this stage Heterogeneity test will start shortly Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. No twinning of holes at this stage All sampling protocols have been peer reviewed and all data is stored appropriately No adjustments to assay data have taken place. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. All drillhole locations have been surveyed by handheld GPS with a typical accuracy of +/-4m Downhole surveys were conducted using a Reflex Multishot Gyro. Grid: UTM NAD83 Zone 18N Topographic control is cross-checked with a 2013 LIDAR survey Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied. Not applicable Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Drilling targets newly identified areas in the geological system. All drilling is oriented towards the SW. As mineralisation at the project is seemingly dipping toward the NE the orientation of sampling should not introduce a bias in the samples. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. All samples are cut and prepared on site by company employees and contractors. Samples bags were sealed and transported to the laboratory directly from the sampling site by contractors Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. The company is constantly reviewing its sampling and assaying policies. No external audit has been conducted at this stage. Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results (Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.) Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Eastmain Mine Project comprises 152 contiguous mining claims each with an area of approximately 52.7 ha covering a total of 8,014.36 ha plus one industrial lease permit that are owned by Eastmain Mines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fury Gold Mines. The claims are numbered 1133433 to 1133583 consecutively plus claim 104458 (Figure 4.2). All of the claims are located within NTS sheet 33A 08. The former Mine Lease BM 817 was issued on January 10, 1995 and expired in 2015 after a 20-year term. This former Mine Lease was converted to Industrial Lease 00184710000 on September 1, 2015 and contains all normal surface rights. The former mineral rights for BM 817 are now included in the expanded Claims 1133523, 1133524, 1133525, 1133505, 1133506 and 1133507. The claims are 100% held by Fury Gold Mines subject to certain net smelter royalties ("NSR"). On August 9, 2019, Benz Mining Corp. announced that it has entered into an option agreement with Eastmain Resources Inc. (now Fury Gold Mines) to acquire a 100% interest in the former producing Eastmain Gold Project located in James Bay District, Quebec, for CAD $5,000,000. Eastmain Resources would retain a 2% Net Smelter Return royalty in respect of the Project. Benz may, at any time, purchase one half of the NSR Royalty, thereby reducing the NSR Royalty to a 1% net smelter returns royalty, for $1,500,000. The Eastmain Mine, as defined by the perimeter of a historic mining lease, is subject to a production royalty net smelter return ("NSR") of 2.3% through production of the next 250,000 oz produced and 2% thereafter. A package of claims surrounding the mine precinct is subject to a production royalty (NSR) of 2% in favour of Goldcorp as a result of their succession to Placer Dome in an agreement dated December 30, 1988 between Placer Dome, MSV Resources Inc. and Northgate Exploration Limited. The 152 claims that form the Eastmain Mine Property are all in good standing with an active status. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. 1930s & 1940s - Prospecting of gossans 1950s & 1960s - Riocanex - Exploration of the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt Mid 1960s - Fort George - Diamond drilling of a gossan zone 1696 - Canex Aerial Exploration Ltd & Placer Dvelopment Ltd - Airborne magnetic and EM surveys with ground geophysics follow up. 1970 - Placer Development Ltd - Seven holes testing an EM anomaly. Discovery of A Zone with 1.5m @ 13.71g/t Au 1974 - Nordore - Aerodat airborne AEM survey and Ground geophysics. 3 holes returned anomalous gold values adjacent to B Zone 1974 - Inco Uranerz - Airborne geophysical survey over the whole greenstone belt. 1981 & 1982 - Placer - Airborne and ground EM, ground magnetics. Drilling of EM anomalies discovered B zone and C zone. 1983 to 1985 - Placer - Airborne and ground EM, downhole PEM, 91 holes over A B and C zones. 1986 - Placer - 25 holes into A B and C zones 1987 &1988 - Placer Dome / MSV JV - Drilling of A, B and C zones 1988 to 1994 - MSV Resources - Drilling, surface sampling, trenching, regional exploration, Seismic refraction over ABC Zones, 1994 & 1995 - MSV Resources - Mining of 118,356t at 10.58g/t Au and 0.3%Cu, processed at Copper Rand plant in Chibougamau, 40,000oz recovered 1997 - MSV Resources- Exploration, mapping, prospecting, trenching. 2004 - Campbell Resources - M&I resource calculation for Eastmain Mine. 2005-2007 - Eastmain Resources - Purchase of the project from Campbell Resources, VTEM, Prospecting, regional exploration. 2007-2019 - Eastmain Resources - Sporadic drilling, regional exploration, mapping, sampling, trenching. Surface geochemistry (soils) Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. In the Eastmain Gold Deposit, gold mineralization occurs in quartz veins with associated massive to semi-massive sulphide lenses/ veins and silicified zones associated with a deformation corridor. The mineralized zones are 3 m to 10 m thick and contained in a strongly deformed and altered assemblage (Mine series) consisting of felsic, mafic and ultramafic rocks. Mineralized quartz veins and lenses show a variable thickness between 10 cm and 13 m, and sulphide contents average 15% to 20% in the mineralized quartz veins and sulphide lenses. In order of decreasing abundance, sulphides consist of pyrrhotite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite, with minor sphalerite, magnetite and molybdenite. Visible gold occurs in the mineralized quartz veins as small (<1 mm) grains associated with quartz and (or) sulphides in the A, B and C Zones. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. See tables in Annexure 1 Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Length weighting averages were produced using a 0.2g/t cut off and allowing for 1m internal dilution. No top cuts applied. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg 'down hole length, true width not known'). The exact geometry of the system is still not completely known. Drillhole orientation and known structural setting suggest that drillholes intersected mineralisation close to perpendicularly meaning that downhole intervals are believed to be close to true width/thickness Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. See figures in the body of text Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. All half core assays results available to the company have been released. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Abitibi Geophysics conducted a 109 line km Fixed Loop Time-Domain Electromagnetics survey on the Eastmain Property. The FLEM (TDEM) survey identified 12 first order conductors modelled as thin plates through Maxwell modelling. Benz conducted systematic BHEM of each hole drilled as well as BHEM surveying of historical holes. BHEM identified numerous in-hole and off-hole conductors coincident or not with drilled mineralization. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Benz Mining is currently conducting a 50,000m drilling campaign which started in January 2021 This drilling is conducted alongside regional FLEM surveys (TMC Geophysics) All new holes will be surveyed by BHEM as well as a selection of historical holes. Appendix 2: Drilling data Table 1: Drillhole collar Hole ID UTMx_East (m) UTMy_North (m) Elevation (m) Total Depth (m) Azimuth () Dip ()* EM21-146 698280 5799265 490 297 215 -60 *Down dip is negative To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76044 New Delhi, March 4 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the crucial Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting of the BJP to discuss the names of party candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam. Modi is also expected to attend the CEC meeting at the party headquarters here on Thursday evening along with Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda and other senior leaders. The CEC is a body that decides who the candidates will be for the different constituencies in the poll-bound states. It has been learnt that the BJP leaders will go into a huddle to finalise the first list of candidates for 60 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal that will go to the polls in the first two phases. The first two phases of polling in Assam and West Bengal will be held on March 27 and April 1. The elections in West Bengal, poised to be a stiff contest between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, will be held in eight phases, beginning with 30 seats on March 27. The votes will be counted on May 2. According to sources, the CEC is likely to discuss the party candidates for 86 seats in Assam where polls will be held in the first two phases. The third and final phase of polling in Assam will be held on April 6. The results will be out on May 2. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Rwanda has received its first batch of Covid-19 vaccine doses from the UN-backed Covax distribution initiative which it will use to immunise people identified as priority risk groups. The country received 240,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and with a further 102,960 doses of Pfizer vaccine expected to arrive later in the day, according to the health ministry. Doses of the two vaccines would be used to immunize a total of 171,480 from Friday, the ministry said. Rwanda expects to receive a total of 1,098,960 doses of both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. Our target is to vaccinate 30% of our population by the end of 2021, and 60% by the end of 2022," Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said. Rwanda has reported more than 19,000 cases of Covid-19 and 265 death. Last month, the country started vaccinating high risks groups using the Pfizer vaccine acquired through international partnerships in limited quantities, the health ministry said. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As rural hospitals everywhere struggle to keep their doors open, something unusual is happening in Williamsburg County: They're getting a new hospital. Two aging facilities, one each in Kingstree and Lake City, will close when the Medical University of South Carolina opens its 25-bed, $39 million hospital, which the Charleston system expects to do in November 2022. The project broke ground in January, a bookend to a long process of finding a solution to the problem of the declining number of patient visits at each hospital, exacerbated in Kingstree at the Williamsburg Regional Hospital by the 1,000-year flood in 2015. High waters damaged the building, and mold and asbestos issues followed, rendering the hospital unusable. Its staff have been working out of trailer-like structures since the flood, which function as a full-service hospital but are meant to be temporary. Even as Williamsburg County and its nearby communities continue to depend on the two hospitals' staffs, everyone seems to agree a new facility is needed. When Richard Allen Scott Jr.'s mother had to be admitted to the Williamsburg Regional Hospital with shortness of breath just weeks ago, his first instinct was to find a way to transfer her as quickly as possible. He worried the small facility wouldn't be able to provide her what she needed. Scott, who owns a salon in Hemingway, couldn't find another spot. All nearby hospitals were full. He said the care his mother received ended up being "exceptional." He still thinks MUSC's arrival in nearby Cades will engender trust among community members in their hospital. Scott said locals deserve a modern setting where they can go in an emergency with no second thoughts. "As a native of Williamsburg County, I just feel like it's much needed. We really need the new facility," Scott said. "It would put certain things within reach." End of an era At the Williamsburg Regional Hospital's opening in 1965, Frances Clowney remembers "a grand affair" where they served cake squares and green punch "that was popular in the '60s," she said. Clowney was just 7 years old. In 1986, Clowney's 38-year-old husband Eddie was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night with a massive heart attack. He survived, but his heart was damaged, and in the winter of 2015 it failed. Eddie Clowney was put on hospice care and died at the hospital, in accordance with his wishes, Clowney wrote in a letter of support for MUSC's new hospital. Two weeks later, the hospital suspended operations because of the effects of the flood. Clowney was devastated. "I thought I would die I felt like I left a piece of him there," she wrote. Clowney became a fierce advocate for the hospital and is now its foundation's director. She said there is nothing like looking up from your hospital bed and seeing a familiar face. "You feel like you're in good hands because you know you know this person," she said. "You know you know these people from church. You know these people on the streets. You know these people through a friend." She said she sees the new MUSC hospital as payback for what Williamsburg Regional has done for its community over the years. In its plans for the new hospital, MUSC officials wrote they will staff the facility by offering jobs to people who work at the two hospitals that are closing. Neither the Lake City Community Hospital nor the Williamsburg Regional Hospital has been treating enough patients to make business sense for years, according to a Post and Courier analysis of the hospitals' annual reports to the federal government. Both hospitals' occupancy has been below South Carolina's average since 2015. But these aren't problems unique to Lake City and Kingstree. Rural hospitals across the state and the country have struggled to stay open for decades as rural populations have declined and patient admissions have dropped. In South Carolina alone, four rural hospitals have closed in the past 10 years. Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email Sign Up! The rural hospital problem Low occupancy, as well as the older and lower-income populations in rural areas that depend more on Medicaid and Medicare for insurance, tend to be harbingers of a hospital's closing, said Graham Adams, CEO of the S.C. Office of Rural Health. Those were some of the factors leading to the closing of hospitals in Fairfield, Marlboro, Barnwell and Bamberg counties in recent years. Those pressures have been present for years, even in Williamsburg County, South Carolina's 15th-smallest in population size. In fact, Adams remembers conversations about the two hospitals' need for a new owner dating back before 2000. COVID-19 has only added to rural hospitals' concerns statewide, Adams said. "It has really put a strain on some facilities that were struggling quite a bit already," he said. "Coming up with a solution that is tailor-made to these kinds of facilities in the Southeast is really what is required." The Southeast has borne the brunt of rural hospital closures, and it's those states where the most hospitals are still facing risk of closure, according to an analysis by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. The research notes eight South Carolina hospitals are "vulnerable," but doesn't note which ones. Unfortunately, once a rural hospital closes, physicians' offices and other health care services tend to fall away as well, Adams added. Patrick Pinckney, whose consultancy works in local education, is a member of the Lake City Community Hospital's board. Pinckney said the Lake City hospital has been facing many of the same pressures all rural hospitals have, and it has been tough to find ways to keep it open, making the agreement with MUSC a "no-brainer." The Lake City facility is old, and Pinckney said leaders know it may cost more to upgrade it than it would to build a new hospital. "The mere fact that this hospital has survived this long really is a miracle within itself," he said. "It's a testament to the operations management and everybody who's been been in there working hard and making sacrifices." Pinckney said hopes are high that MUSC's status as a teaching hospital will also bring new and much-needed talent into Williamsburg County. Keeping the hospital local will also mean residents not only have emergency care nearby, but follow-up appointments are accessible without having to travel outside the county. Making it work at MUSC The hospital will have 25 beds, smaller than the combination of the Lake City and Kingstree hospitals. It will sit on donated land that splits the distance between the two aging facilities. It will sport the MUSC Health name and be a part of the Charleston system's Florence division. In its application to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to build the new hospital, MUSC officials wrote that the area was "facing the loss of its two community hospitals," and the Williamsburg County project is in line with the organization's mission of providing health care to the entire state. But MUSC's mission aside, the numbers had to work out for the health system to decide to build. MUSC didn't come up with the idea. Columbia-based Palmetto Health, which has since merged with Greenville Health System to become Prisma Health, had similar plans that fell through. It's not the first time MUSC has invested in the rural health business in recent years. In 2019, it closed on a deal to buy four hospitals across the state from the chain Community Health Systems, one each in Florence, Lancaster, Marion and Chester counties. Community Health Systems, a publicly traded company, was divesting hospitals that didn't make financial sense. Dr. Pat Cawley, CEO of MUSC Health, explained that telehealth health care delivered virtually is a big part of the equation. Specialists in one of MUSC's hubs will be able to see patients in Cades, even at a distance. For example, even complicated conditions like a stroke, where time is of the essence, can be treated using telehealth. As plans were developed, Cawley said it became clear the best solution would be to close the two aging hospitals to make way for a new one. "The more we looked at it, the more we thought 'This would work much better if these communities came together,'" Cawley said. "In this way, we were able to have a new hospital to service both communities." Cawley said it is clear people feel good about the plan. Ultimately, the new facility's success hinges on how locals perceive it. "If the community believes in the hospital, then that hospital will thrive," Cawley said. The family of a Lebanon, Mo., police officer who died of COVID-19 has been denied workers compensation, city officials said. Officer Kendle Blackburn died Dec. 28 after a long battle with the virus. A release from Gov. Mike Parsons office at the time said Blackburn contracted the virus while on duty in November. Lebanon officials were told last week that the citys workers compensation insurance provider, Missouri Employers Mutual, determined Blackburns COVID-19 exposure and death is not compensable under workers compensation, The Springfield News-Leader reported. Police Chief Byran Arnold said the decision seems to violate an emergency rule Parson signed in April last year that allows first responders to receive workers compensation if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or if they are quarantined because of it. The rule assumes the first responder contracted the virus while on duty. Previously, employees were required to prove they got sick or injured while at work. Arnold also cited the Safeguarding Americas First Responders Act, signed by former President Donald Trump in August, as another guarantee that first responders are protected if they contract COVID-19. COVID-19 was spreading throughout the community, but (Blackburn) was out there doing his duty every day, Arnold said. Personally, I am very disappointed in that decision. It doesnt make any sense to me. Revee White, director of marketing for Missouri Employers Mutual, said she could not comment on individual claims. She said the company is using the same claims management approach to address the coronavirus as it has used for decades. Nearly all virus-related claims received by the company have been compensated unless the COVID test was negative, the person was not a first responder or there was clear and convincing evidence of exposure outside of work, she said. White said Missouris presumption order does not mean all first responder claims must be automatically accepted and the company has an obligation to investigate each claim. Lebanon Mayor Jared Carr and state Rep. Jeff Knight, who represents Lebanon, both said Missouri Employers Mutual should reverse the decision. Lebanon officials said they would continue working to ensure Blackburns family receives compensation. State health officials reported 13 new COVID-19 related deaths on March 2, bringing the state total to 7,932 since the pandemic began. Another 266 confirmed cases were reported, for a total of 478,482. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation Missouri (Newser) There are scatterings of stories about long-lost siblings meeting after completing DNA testing kits. But one such story is especially amazing because, as the Washington Post reports, the two women who discovered they were sisters were already great friends. Cassandra Madison and Julia Tinetti developed a close relationship while working at the same bar in New Haven, Conn., beginning in 2013. "People started to confuse us," asking, "'Are you sure you're not sisters?'" Madison tells the Post. The women not only look alike but have similar personalities, as well as tattoos of the Dominican Republic's flag. It was that discovery that led the women to dig into their shared history: Both grew up in ConnecticutTinetti, 31, in New Haven and Madison, 32, 10 miles away in Ansoniabut were adopted from the Dominican Republic as infants. story continues below Their adoption papers, showing different surnames and birthplaces, suggested this was a coincidence. In January, however, the women learned Tinetti's paperwork had been switched with that of Molly Sapadin, Tinetti's best friend who was adopted from the DR on the same day, per the Post. Adoption records showed Sapadin and Madison had the same birth mother, but DNA tests showed they were cousins. Tinetti's DNA test results finally confirmed the "very big mistake": that "my best friend is actually my cousin," Sapadin saysmeaning Tinetti and Madison are actually sisters. "This is the type of thing you see on TV," Tinetti tells People. The sisters have now connected with family in the DR, whom they plan to visit next month. Their birth father tells the Post his daughters were put up for adoption amid financial hardships tied to the ill health of another child, but "I prayed for this day to come." (A teacher and student found out they were sisters.) Hill County To Receive Expanded Mental Health Services For Youth Hill County youth and families are benefiting from a new grant that expands access to mental health services to young people in rural areas. The Heart of Texas Region MHMR and Klaras Center for Families recently received the "To Infinity and Beyond" grant, which will help provide services through Our Community Our Future (OCOF) in the Heart of Texas Region. The grant will reduce barriers that rural families often face when seeking mental health services for youth, including transportation. "It provides mental health services directly to our community without our residents having to go to Waco to access those services," said Hill County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Tina Lincoln. Lincoln said that counselors will be specifically assigned to Hill County to assist local youth with the new funding. In the past, Hill County youth have been served at the regional level. Another expanded service will be the Transition Age Youth (TAY) program, specifically geared towards young adults ages 18-22. The program focuses on young adults who are experiencing a major life transition and also have a desire to pursue educational and/or occupational goals. Lincoln said that the program can assist those who may be struggling to transition into adulthood and can help provide support, job training and skills training. A licensed chemical dependency counselor is also available to Hill County young people struggling with substance abuse. MHMR data shows that rural youth are more likely to be at high risk of problems associated with transitioning into adulthood and have unique needs that need to be individually addressed, including access to care. Transportation barriers have shown to be an impediment to health care access in rural communities, according to the data, and often lead to missed health appointments and over-utilization of the emergency room. Because of their difficulty accessing care, rural children are at a higher risk of complicated behavioral health conditions. Creating a highly functioning coordinating care system is a way to combat these issues and meet the needs of rural youth. OCOF is a local committee comprised of community partners that serve children and adolescents in the region. These partners include, but are not limited to, local juvenile justice providers, Child Protective Services, school district representatives and other child-serving agencies. The goal of the committee is to identify the existing needs of children and adolescents, identify resources, pool resources and seek resources where available to meet those needs. Children and teens can be referred to Klaras Center for Families by school districts, or call 254-752-7889 to speak with an intake specialist who will conduct a phone screening. Anyone whose child is in a crisis situation may call the Klaras Center For Families 24-hour Crisis Hotline at 1-866-752-3451 for assistance. ADVERTISEMENT An Istanbul court, on Thursday, resumed a hearing in a trial focusing on the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Mr Khashoggi was allegedly murdered inside Riyadhs consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. He was getting papers to marry his Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting outside. Ms Cengiz was present in court. The 26 Saudi defendants are being tried in absentia. The trial opened in July. Saudi Arabia refused to extradite the suspects, who included Ahmed al-Asiri, ex-deputy chief of Saudi intelligence and Saud al-Qahtani, a former adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mr Khashoggi was strangled to death and his body dismembered, according to the Turkish indictment. The remains of the Washington Post columnist, who was once close to the royal family but became a vocal critic of the crown prince, were never found. Earlier, a declassified report from the U.S. Director of National Intelligence said the crown prince approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi. The report disputed Saudis claims that his death was caused during a rogue operation. Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, who investigated Mr Khashoggis death, concluded in her report that his murder was likely an extrajudicial execution. it also concluded that it was enforced disappearance and possibly an act of torture for which the state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible. (NAN) Will Prioritize Hiring Local Residents; Seeks to Positively Effect Change in Cornerstone South Side Community Discover today announced plans to open a new Chicago-based customer care center in Chicagos Chatham neighborhood. Located at 86th Street and Cottage Grove, the center, once fully operational, will provide nearly 1,000 full-time jobs to neighborhood and area residents. Most of the positions will be for customer care representatives with a starting hourly wage of $17.25. Full-time employees will receive Discovers full benefits package, which includes health insurance, a 401k plan, eligibility for 20 days minimum of paid time off, a focus on career development, and the opportunity to receive a free college education effective upon the first day of employment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005753/en/ The 100,000+ square foot customer care center will offer more than 500 parking spots and is conveniently located within a short distance to the 87th St. Red Line Stop, Metras 87th St. Station, and major bus routes, which will make the site accessible for commuting employees and vendors. Renovation plans also include up to 5,000 square feet of internal/external use space adjacent to the customer care center that will be available for use by community based organizations. Discover plans to seek community input on utilization of that space. "Discover and its employees are committed to helping people achieve brighter financial futures, which we can best achieve in Chicago by bringing jobs to the area and having direct and long-term involvement with the city," said Roger Hochschild, CEO and President of Discover. "We fully support Mayor Lightfoots call to action for Chicago companies to bring quality jobs directly to communities that need them. Discover recognizes that traditional corporate site selection has contributed to issues of unequal opportunity in our society, and we want to be part of the solution. We hope our commitment to Chatham will serve as a springboard for further economic development in the area; and were excited to work with residents and community leaders and add to our award-winning customer service team." Story continues Discover is working with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoots office, city Aldermen and neighborhood leaders on plans for the center. Opening the new site supports Lightfoots INVEST South/West community improvement initiative and will offer job opportunities and economic development beyond Chatham to residents of INVEST South/West neighborhoods Roseland, Pullman, Auburn Gresham, South Shore and South Chicago. Discovers investment on the South Side also fully supports the Together We Rise: For an Equitable and Just Recovery initiative to help ensure a fair and equitable recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover is prioritizing hiring local talent and has committed to employing minority-owned businesses in the renovations and operation of the center. The center will be led by Juatise Gathings, who grew up in the Roseland community and has worked in three of Discovers customer care centers during her nearly 10 years with the company. Her local roots, experience, and expertise make her well suited for the role. "Expanding equity and opportunity across Chicago is possible thanks to the investment and support of corporate partners like Discover," said Mayor Lightfoot. "More than just creating new jobs, this center represents the latest step in our citywide mission to unlock the huge swaths of talent in neighborhoods like Chatham through bold initiatives such as INVEST South/West, which will strengthen both our communities and companies, and fuel Chicagos economy for decades to come." Headquartered in Riverwoods, Discover has called the Chicago area home for more than 30 years and employs more than 18,000 people-- 5,000 of whom are in the city and suburbs. The company opened a satellite office downtown three years ago, which houses nearly 300 permanent positions and serves as a tech hub for the organization. Discover consistently has been ranked as a Top Place to Work by the Chicago Tribune. The planned Chatham customer care center not only highlights Discovers commitment to bringing jobs to cornerstone communities, but also further demonstrates its commitment to providing U.S. jobs. Once the center is operational, these jobs will be a part of the award-winning 100 percent U.S.-based customer service Discover offers across the country 24/7. "Discovers commitment to Chatham, and the hundreds it will employ from it and the neighboring communities, is an important example of the type of transformative, inclusive investment that can create jobs and opportunities for all Chicagoans," said Michael Fassnacht, Interim President & CEO, World Business Chicago. Discover is working with DL3 Realty and together theyre repositioning the former big box retail facility and have committed to build a state-of-the-art customer care center. Extending beyond just investment of dollars, this relationship is another example of DL3 Realtys commitment to its Venture Development investment model that promotes equitable revitalization of urban neighborhoods. "Target Corporation sold the vacant site to us because they knew that we had the patience and resolve to responsibly hold this property until a community-focused redevelopment plan could be realized," said Leon I. Walker, Managing Partner of DL3 Realty. "Discovers commitment to Chatham will encourage other corporate stakeholders to seek out opportunities to invest in the neighborhoods so that we can extend opportunity and equity to all Chicagoans." "Chatham extends a warm welcome to Discover and Im happy theyre investing in our community and adding nearly 1,000 jobs over the next four years," said 6th Ward Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer. "Im excited that Discovers move to Chatham may spur economic development and appreciate their commitment to have minority owned contractors working on this center. Appreciation also goes to Leon Walker for leading this project that can be central to the sustainability of Chatham." Discover will soon be posting nearly 20 leadership job opportunities, followed by customer service agent job opportunities in April, with plans to hire a first class of 15 agents who will start in June. These positions will be housed at the Chatham facility in a temporary space until the full facility is open by the end of 2021. Discover hopes to hire and train additional classes of 15 agents every three weeks and employ more than 150 agents this year with the eventual goal of filling nearly 1,000 positions over the next four years. While Discovers intent is to have employees in the Center start off working in-person, they are prepared to offer a work from home option if necessary and have processes in place should the COVID-19 pandemic continue to threaten the health and safety of employees. The customer care center is expected to receive millions of customer service calls per year once fully operational. Individuals and organizations wanting to learn more about Discover and job opportunities for their new Chatham facility can visit www.discover.com/shinebright. Discover has partnered with Skills for Chicagolands Future in planning this customer care center and will continue to work with Skills and community-based organizations serving the south side on recruitment efforts with an expressed intention to primarily hire residents of south side neighborhoods. "These are great jobs coming to Chicago and this is a big win for south side residents. Discovers commitment to not just opening a customer care center in Chatham but hiring locally is a testament to their passion for creating brighter futures and driving change," said Marie Trzupek Lynch, President and CEO of Skills for Chicagolands Future. "It has been exciting to support Discover along the way as they turned this concept into a reality, and were thrilled to continue that support now through hiring efforts focused on south side residents." About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most trusted brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company. About DL3 Realty DL3 Realty (DL3) is a full-service real estate development and advisory firm that employs its nationally recognized Venture Development model to transform historically disinvested communities with high-impact commercial developments and affordable housing projects targeting working families. Leon I. Walker, Managing Partner of the firm, has spent the past 20 years acquiring, developing, leasing, and advising partners in the development of prominent commercial projects designed to revitalize Chicagos neighborhoods with high quality education programs, medical office buildings and grocery anchored shopping centers. Over the past five years, DL3s projects have generated more than 2,000 local jobs, and DL3 is working with Americas leading corporations to invest and create 10,000 new jobs in Chicagos neighborhoods by 2030. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005753/en/ Contacts Matthew Towson matthewtowson@discover.com Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access By Yi Whan-woo The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Korea will host an online seminar, March 11, to discuss how Canada can capitalize on its citizens abroad to help project the country's influence worldwide. The chamber said it will invite Canadian Ambassador to Korea Michael Danagher and John Stackhouse, the author of "Planet Canada: How Our Expats Are Shaping the Future," who is also vice president of the Royal Bank of Canada. John Stackhouse, the author of "Planet Canada: How Our Expats Are Shaping the Future," will join an online seminar to be hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, March 11. Courtesy of Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Korea London: Buckingham Palace has vowed to hold an investigation into bombshell claims that the Duchess of Sussex bullied young staff before she and Prince Harry split from the royal family, as a backlash towards the pair builds in Britain. The Queens household spent much of Wednesday in crisis mode after The Times newspaper reported that the couples well-regarded communications chief filed a bullying complaint against Meghan in the months after her marriage to Harry in 2018. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex split from the royal family in 2020 and have recorded a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. Credit:AP The story, which has caused a sensation in the UK ahead of the screening of a tell-all interview by Oprah Winfrey with Harry and Meghan on Sunday (Monday AEDT), also contained damaging allegations that more effort was put into making the complaint go away than dealing with the substance of it. In a highly unusual statement, Buckingham Palace said: We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. SINGAPORE, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meta in Singapore is the recipient of the 2021 American Express One To Watch Award. Selected by the organisers of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, in collaboration with its regional experts, the American Express One To Watch Award is presented to a restaurant that is outside the main Asia's 50 Best list but is identified as the rising star of the region. Opened in 2016 by South Korean-born chef Sun Kim, Meta - a shortening of metamorphosis - celebrates authentic Asian flavours and high-end European cooking techniques. The progressive menu reflects Kim's cultural upbringing, travels and influences. His interest in cooking began as a teenager while working in his mother's restaurant in Seoul and, in 2011, he travelled to Australia to enroll at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney. Feeling a strong affinity with chef Tetsuya Wakuda's philosophy upon reading one of his books, Kim secured a job at iconic Tetsuya's in Sydney, where he worked under the tutelage of the culinary legend. In 2014, he was seconded to Wakuda's award-winning Waku Ghin in Singapore, eventually calling the city-state his home. Since Meta's launch, Kim's culinary style has evolved and matured, drawing increased inspiration from his Korean heritage, alongside the delicate artistry of Japanese cuisine and his education in Western cooking techniques. Admired for its technical expertise and creative flair, Meta's menu distinguishes itself with subtle flavours, elegant presentations and inspired combinations of seasonal ingredients, as evident in Chef Kim's Kinmedai dish, featuring foie gras, shimeji mushroom and black truffle. Having relocated to an airier location at 1 Keong Saik Road in October 2018, the restaurant features low tables and a cosy four-seat counter, creating an intimate atmosphere. William Drew, Director of Content at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "While Meta honours Chef Kim's Korean heritage and the traditional dishes of his childhood, the menu boldly integrates elements of Japanese and French cuisines. Chef Kim's progressive cooking techniques and creative execution, combined with a serene dining experience, make Meta a worthy winner of the American Express One To Watch Award 2021." Responding to the honour, chef Kim says: "I am very humbled and honoured to receive this award from Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. I couldn't have achieved this without the support and hard work of the Meta team." Chris Cracchiolo, Senior Vice President of Global Membership Rewards & Loyalty Benefits at American Express, says: "American Express is proud to support this award, which champions innovation, ingenuity and excellence in dining. We are honoured to present this award to the team at Meta, who have created a one-of-kind dining experience that combines Chef Kim's passion for Korean, Japanese and French cuisines." Meta joins a prestigious line-up of recent One To Watch award winners including Masque in Mumbai (2020), JL Studio in Taichung (2019), Toyo Eatery in Manila (2018), TocToc in Seoul (2017) and Florilege in Tokyo (2016). Chef Kim's achievements will be celebrated as part of the online ceremony for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2021 on 25 March, from 4.30pm HK/SG (5.30pm JPN), which will be broadcast to a global audience via Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Facebook and the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel. How the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled The annual list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants is created from the votes of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and regional culinary experts, with a 50/50 gender balance. 50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. For more details on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants voting process, visit: https://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/voting/the-voting-system. Essence of Asia 2021 marks the launch of the Essence of Asia collection in parallel to this year's list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. Unveiled on Tuesday, 16 March, the Essence of Asia collection recognises establishments that represent the spirit of Asian gastronomy. This unranked collection turns the spotlight on restaurants that have had a positive impact on their communities and local cuisine, whether during the recent crisis or over a sustained period. Integral to Asia's culinary ecosystem, these casual restaurants preserve culinary traditions, honour authentic flavours and provide a vital link to their communities. 50 Best for Recovery 2021: Opportunity for Change The 50 Best organisation will reinforce its commitment to supporting and promoting restaurants and bars across the world through its 50 Best for Recovery 2021 programme. This year also brings opportunities for positive change as the sector rebuilds and remodels itself with a greater focus on inclusivity and long-term sustainability. 50 Best will use its global platform to highlight even more great restaurants and bars worldwide - through its 50 Best lists, special awards, unranked collections and content series - as well as showcase individuals shaping the future of gastronomy through its new 50 Next list, which will debut later this year. 50 Best will take the opportunity in 2021 and beyond to amplify diverse voices and positive messages, foster progressive discussion and cross-border collaboration, and encourage greater gastronomic discovery and exploration. Notes to Editors: William Reed Business Media The Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is published by William Reed Business Media, which also publishes The World's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2002, and Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in September 2013, as well as The World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's 50 Best Bars. William Reed Business Media is entirely responsible for the organisation of the awards, the voting system and the list. Award sponsor: American Express American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. American Express, along with restaurant reservation platform Resy, are trusted sources for diners and connect the best restaurants and guests at global digital scale. Main sponsor: S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors and official water partners of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being. Other partners: Inedit Damm - Official Beer Partner and sponsor of Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award Gin Mare - Official Premium Gin Partner and sponsor of Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award Beronia - Official Wine Partner and sponsor of the Beronia Highest Climber Award Cinco Jotas - Official Iberico Ham Partner and sponsor of Asia's Best Female Chef Award Flor de Cana - Official Rum Partner and sponsor of the Flor de Cana Sustainable Restaurant Award Aspire Lifestyles - Official Concierge Partner and sponsor of Highest New Entry Award Asia's 50 Best Restaurants - social media Follow on Twitter: @The Worlds50Best Asias50Best Follow on Instagram: @TheWorlds50Best Become a Facebook fan: https://www.facebook.com/Asias50BestRestaurants Subscribe to 50 Best Restaurants TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/worlds50best The awards ceremony will be streamed live on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Facebook page and the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel on 25 March from 4.30pm HK/SG (5.30pm JPN). This release is also available in the following languages: English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. The official language of the press office is English. Note to media: To register for and access the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants online media centre, please visithttps://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/media-centre-registration.html For press enquiries, please contact CatchOn, A Finn Partners Company, Email: asias50best@finnpartners.com, Telephone: +852 2566 8988 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449677/Meta___Chef_Sun_Kim.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1441574/Asias50Best_Logo.jpg A shake-up of London's listing rules was proposed this week. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will have to strike a balance between attracting new companies to London and protecting investors Proposed changes to Londons listing rules announced this week have played a vital part in persuading to list in London. intends to use a time-limited dual-class share structure to ensure its founder, Will Shu, retains control of the company when it goes public. said the dual-class share structure would give Shu the stability to take decisions to enable the company to execute on its long-term strategic vision in order to create long-term shareholder value. The dual-class structure would be in place for three years, which is actually a shorter duration than would be allowed should the City adopt recommendations on listings rules published this week by Lord Hill, the former European Union commissioner. Proposed changes to London's listing rules Lord Hill was asked to lead a review of Londons listing rules and he made the case for changes to be made, saying that although the Official List has historically been globally recognised as a mark of quality for companies, between 2015 and 2020 it accounted for just one in 20 of flotations globally. The number of listed companies in the UK has fallen by about 40% from its peak in 2008 while since Brexit was finalised, there has been increased concern about Amsterdam and other European financial centres siphoning off business from London. Lord Hill also highlighted that the constituents of the FTSE 100 are overwhelmingly representative of the old economy, with technology giants decidedly thin on the ground. As such, Deliveroo, if it achieves its presumed market capitalisation of 7bn or 8bn, would be a shoo-in for inclusion in the FTSE 100 but only if the rules are changed. ( ), with a market capitalisation of 6.9bn, has been excluded from the FTSE 100 because of its dual-class share structure and the same exclusion would apply to Deliveroo. There is reportedly a host of other technology companies looking to go public and London would dearly love them to choose to list here but the Citys distaste for dual-class shares, where the founders control a majority of the voting rights but not necessarily a majority of the shares, has proved a deterrent to technology companies, whose founders tend to be keen on keeping their hands on the tiller. Hill recommended that companies with dual-class share structures should be allowed to list on the premium listing segment of London but stipulated that the A shares and B shares should be merged after a maximum of five years. Lord Hill also proposed that the super-power of the B shares should only be used in votes relating to the composition of the board and to block changes in ownership of the company. Another recommendation of the report was that the free float requirement, which is essentially the percentage of shares that are not held by committed long-term shareholders, be reduced to 15%. Perhaps most controversially, Lord Hills report recommended loosening restrictions on special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), often referred to as blank cheque shell companies. Race to the bottom As one might expect, some are in favour of the proposed changes while others warn of a dangerous dilution of Londons reputation as a highly-regulated financial centre. Allowing SPACs doesnt seem like a battle worth having even if past experience of shell companies, their closest equivalent in the UK, is that they tend to attract chancers and abstract wealth from shareholders. Provided there is proper disclosure, caveat emptor ought to apply, suggested Ivan Sedgwick, the investments director at LGB & Co. Calls upon the FCA [Financial Conduct Authority] to loosen listing regulations, especially for SPACs, should be treated with caution, declared Russ Mould, the investment director at AJ Bell. SPAC deals may be booming in the USA right now, but fear of missing out (FOMO) is just about the worst possible reason for making any investment decision. To let this emotion drive a change in the rules with regards to SPACs in particular would potentially expose investors to greater danger and the risk of portfolio losses. Yes, the rules may make it easier for the entrepreneur to raise capital but is what is good for the seller, necessarily good for the buyer? Mould asked. Catherine McGuinness, the Policy Chair of the City of London Corporation, welcomed the recommendations in Lord Hills review. We need to do more to attract IPOs, especially from entrepreneurial and fast-growing sectors such as tech while, of course, maintaining high standards of governance and transparency, she said. We are facing increasing competition in attracting fintechs, and technology companies more generally, to list. Ensuring that as many of these firms stay in the UK is vital for our fintech sector and for our economy. More than a third of privately funded UK fintechs expect to undertake an IPO in the next five years and are currently considering their options for listing. It is vital that we ensure that listing in London is an attractive option for these companies, she added. Certainly Rishi Sunak, who began his City career at , seems inclined to accept Lord Hills recommendations and has promised to act quickly on the proposals. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Dale Weidmayers love of farming guided his principles as he served Washtenaw Countys Freedom Township for 44 years. Weidmayer, a fourth-generation dairy farmer who spent more than half his life working as a trustee and supervisor for the township west of Ann Arbor, died Friday, Feb. 26. He was 76. Weidmayer learned farming from his father, Erwin, and would later pass on all he knew to his sons. Working on the farm throughout his early years strengthened Weidmayers resolve for keeping agriculture at the forefront of the townships priorities, son Keith Weidmayer, said. Part of his commitment to the people here is that he wanted to make sure this area stayed as agricultural as possible, Keith Weidmayer said. Weidmayer was known as an old-school farmer who got things done, from picking up the phone to answer questions from residents and visitors, to changing the lights underneath a flag pole, Keith Weidmayer said. Weidmayer was an involved member of St. Johns Lutheran Church of Bridgewater, the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau and the Farmers-A-Go-Go group, as well as a supporter of 4-H, according to his obituary. Summer fairs and carnivals across Washtenaw County were among the places Weidmayer would frequent with his kids, son Kevin Weidmayer said. Itd be Chelsea this week, Dexter, Saline and Manchester the next, and wed always want to go to the fair, Kevin Weidmayer said. He always wanted to go, too, but you had to make sure you had part of your work done around the farm before you could go. Everyone was just sort of expected to help out around the property we did, and youd better have had a pretty good reason if you didnt. Weidmayer attended Manchester schools, where he built a community of lifelong friends and developed a dedication to the area, his family said. Freedom Township Trustee Dennis Huehl and his family knew the Weidmayers well, as Huehls mother taught Weidmayer in grade school before the two became good friends and colleagues within the township government. As the farming community gets thinner and thinner, the people you call neighbors gets branched out and even though were probably three miles apart, Id still consider him my neighbor, Huehl said. Hes always been good natured, wasnt necessarily happy-go-lucky, but he always had that chipper attitude to him. Weidmayer subscribed to a way of caring for people within his community thats become a relic of the past, Huel said. Just that old neighborhood mentality where if your neighbor needed something youd go and bring it, or if someone needed help, youd go out and help them, Huehl said. Weidmayer passed on technology like email and text messaging in favor of handwritten notes and face-to-face meetings, Huehl said. Toward the end of his life, he enjoyed playing euchre and spending time with his grandchildren, his family said. I dont think he ever once sent a text message, and probably didnt want all that getting in the way of the kids, the farm and his family, which he loved, Huehl said. Weidmayer was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, in 1983. He is survived by his wife Susan Fritts (Holliker); children Kevin Weidmayer of Reading, Keith Weidmayer of Ann Arbor, Kyle Weidmayer of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Karla Shankland of Clinton and Jim Fritts of Waterville, Ohio; sister Betty Weidmayer of Ann Arbor and 13 grandchildren. Funeral services have taken place. Memorial contributions in Weidmayers name may be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church of Bridgewater or to the Diuble Family Vision Foundation. Read Weidmayers full obituary here. READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Its time to vote for Ann Arbor areas Best Fish Fry 2021 Young Citizen of the Year applications now open EPA answers lingering questions about possible Superfund cleanup in Ann Arbor AUSTIN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The new Austin Marriott Downtown opens today, steps away from the most popular downtown tourist attractions, bars and restaurants. The hotel represents the newest design vision for Marriott Hotels, the signature brand of Marriott International, where spaces and amenities are crafted to allow guests to achieve moments of creative brilliance. The 31-story stylishly-designed tower fits seamlessly into the Austin skyline and speaks to the needs of today's modern traveler, including hand-crafted food and beverage offerings, advanced health and safety features, and plenty of outdoor and socially distant options for connecting with others. Guests will feel a sense of place the moment they walk in the door, whether they're in town for a staycation, weekend getaway, business trip, meeting or convention. The hotel's design is inspired by its home city, with limestone and Texas Cedar native to central Texas used throughout the hotel. Guest rooms start on level seven to maximize views of Lady Bird Lake, the University of Texas campus, the city skyline, and in the distance, Texas Hill Country. Of the 613 guest rooms the hotel offers 25 luxurious suites. The reimagined rooms offer a spacious and elevated look complete with tailored solutions that are as inventive as its guests. Based on consumer insights, locally-inspired accents offer a sense of place, and the work surface provides flexibility to freely move and use technology wherever the guest desires. Deluxe walk-in showers and spa-like lighting complete the relaxed experience throughout the room. Hand-Crafted Food and Drinks From top to bottom, Austin Marriott Downtown's restaurants and bars are sure to be new local favorites. Zanzibar. Seven stories up and a world away. Zanzibar ( www.ZanzibarATX.com ), a lush tropical rooftop terrace and pool oasis with stunning views of downtown, opened before the hotel in September 2020. It quickly became a popular spot among Austin locals and travelers alike, known as a socially distant outdoor rooftop where guests can escape the everyday with modern tiki cocktails. It features its own street-level elevator access on San Jacinto Boulevard to transport you seven stories up and a world away. Zanzibar's menu features modern tiki cocktails and island-inspired small plates. Specialty drinks are influenced with exotic spices grown right in Zanzibar, including cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and clove. Zanzibar is known as 'spice island' and was once the largest exporter of spices in the world so the drink and food menus reflect Zanzibar's unique sense of place and flavors. Corinne Restaurant. Honest food + drink. Featuring one of the largest outdoor patios on West Cesar Chavez Street, Corinne ( www.CorinneATX.com ) is an honest and fresh neighborhood dining and cocktail spot serving authentic regional classics and American comfort food with an emphasis on signature rotisserie dishes. Featured dishes include Rotisserie Chicken dusted with mustard, thyme and lemon, Truffled Bucatini and Wagyu Beef Tartare. This is the second Corinne location following the first that opened in Denver in 2017. The Lobbyist. The Lobbyist is not only a clever nod to Austin's history as a capital city, but it will also provide locals and hotel guests alike with a place to pause and reset or reach for a nightcap as they plan their next adventure. With a grand staircase entry, The Lobbyist is a two-story cocktail bar with a mezzanine level overlooking the entire hotel lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows to the outside. Loaf + Vine. Loaf + Vine is a modern urban grocer with a broad selection of quick and freshly made meals, grab-and-go options, fresh bakery goods, and cold drinks and coffee beverages. Available daily is everything from fine wines and craft beer to artisanal local favorites. 60,000 Square Feet of Meeting Flexibility Meeting planners have a lot to celebrate about with Austin Marriott Downtown's Next Gen Meeting Space that is tailored around any needs from socially distanced setups to large gathering options. The hotel offers an 18,000 square foot exhibit hall filled with light thanks to a 204-foot wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as two 14,000 square foot ballrooms. The hotel follows all of Marriott International's Connect with Confidence best practices for meetings and events. "This hotel is where Austin's individuality meets the spirit of Texas," said David Meisner, General Manager of the Austin Marriott Downtown. "With our state-of-the-art meetings facilities, wide selection of food and beverage outlets and thoughtfully-appointed guestrooms guests can reach their full creative potential. We are ready to be the first to safely welcome so many back to this great city as travel regains its footing." "At Marriott Hotels, we want our guests to experience forward-thinking, aesthetically pleasing spaces that help foster their inventive nature and allow them to get into their best headspace for success," said Manny Rappenecker, Vice President, Marriott Hotels. "We are so excited to extend the footprint of our brand in Austin, a city known for its innovative and creative spirit. We hope guests at Austin Marriott Downtown will be able to free themselves of distractions when they step into our hotel, allowing them to focus solely on being the best they can be." Austin Marriott Downtown offers a completely touchless check-in and check-out experience, as well as elevator and in-room television controls using a personal smartphone. Austin Marriott Downtown is following Marriott International's Commitment to Clean protocols , created in partnership with leading experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations. These protocols include mandated mask wearing for all guests and associates within the hotel, and the use of disinfectants recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to sanitize surfaces in the hotels. The hotel is running a Grand Opening Offer where guests can enjoy 15 percent off their guest room and two complimentary celebratory cocktails through May 30. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals/details/AUSMD-austin-marriott-downtown/OFF-10861 The Austin Marriott Downtown is owned and operated by White Lodging. White Lodging currently owns and/or manages more than 4,000 guest rooms and 10 restaurants and bars in downtown Austin, including the Moxy Austin-University, which opened in January 2021 as the only one of its brand in Texas. About White Lodging White Lodging, established in 1985, is one of the leading ownership, development, and management companies in America. An innovative trendsetter, the organization's portfolio includes convention, urban lifestyle, and suburban select hotels with more than $1 billion in managed revenue. White Lodging operates approximately 90 premium hotels, 40 restaurants and 30 brands. Success knows no boundaries at White Lodging, where associates and leadership have consistently earned superior guest satisfaction scores, top market share and industry-leading profit margins while recruiting the best, brightest, and most passionate professionals in every discipline. White Lodging is a proud winner of the Gallup Great Workplace Award. For more information about White Lodging, visit www.whitelodging.com , or connect on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn and Instagram . About Marriott Hotels With over 580 hotels and resorts in over 60 countries and territories around the world, Marriott Hotels is evolving travel through every aspect of the guest's stay, helping to relax, clear minds, stimulate new ideas and anticipate travelers' needs, leaving them inspired to reach their full potential. Boldly transforming itself for mobile and global travelers who blend work and play, Marriott leads the industry with innovations, including the Greatroom lobby and Mobile Guest Services that elevate style & design and technology. To learn more, visit www.MarriottHotels.com . Stay connected to Marriott Hotels on Facebook , @marriott on Twitter and @marriotthotels on Instagram . Marriott Hotels is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com . SOURCE Marriott International, Inc. Lawton, OK (73501) Today Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High near 75F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 57F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below 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. 7 day print subscribers enjoy unlimited access to yakimaherald.com Enter the LAST NAME and the 7 DIGIT phone number on your print subscription account to connect your print subscription to your yakimaherald.com account. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 07:58:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday criticized Republican governors in southern states of Texas and Mississippi over their decisions to reverse mask mandates and other COVID-19 safety policies, calling these actions "Neanderthal thinking." "I think it's a big mistake. Look, I hope everybody's realized by now, these masks make a difference. We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we're able to get vaccines in people's arms," Biden told reporters from the White House. "The last thing -- the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything's fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters," said the president. Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of a fourth resurgence in coronavirus cases earlier this week, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said on Tuesday that all state regulations would be lifted starting on Wednesday. "Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules. Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time!" he tweeted. Also on Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his state would revoke all state-imposed coronavirus regulations starting on March 10, citing lower case counts and the surge of vaccine accessibility. Enditem Protesters lie on the ground after police open fire to disperse an anti-coup protest in Mandalay By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) - Myanmar's military says it is ready to withstand sanctions and isolation after its Feb. 1 coup, a top United Nations official said on Wednesday as she urged countries to "take very strong measures" to restore democracy in the Southeast Asian nation. U.N. special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said 38 people died on Wednesday - the most violent day since the coup - as the military quelled protests. Schraner Burgener is due to brief the U.N. Security Council on Friday. Myanmar has been in chaos since the army seized power and detained elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her National League for Democracy (NLD) leadership. The NLD won an election in November in a landslide, which the military said was fraudulent. The election commission said the vote was fair. Schraner Burgener said that in conversations with Myanmar's deputy military chief Soe Win, she had warned him that the military was likely to face strong measures from some countries and isolation in retaliation for the coup. "The answer was: 'We are used to sanctions, and we survived'," she told reporters in New York. "When I also warned they will go in an isolation, the answer was: 'We have to learn to walk with only few friends'." Western countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and the European Union, have implemented or are considering targeted sanctions to squeeze the military and its business allies. The 15-member U.N. Security Council has voiced concern over the state of emergency, but stopped short of condemning the coup last month because of opposition by Russia and China, who view the developments as internal affairs of Myanmar. Any action by the council beyond a statement is unlikely, diplomats say. "I hope that they recognize that it's not only an internal affair, it hits the stability of the region," Schraner Burgener said of China and Russia. Story continues She said Soe Win told her that "after a year they want to have another election." Schraner Burgener last spoke with him on Feb. 15 and is now communicating with the military in writing. "Clearly, in my view, the tactic was now to investigate NLD people to put them in prison," she said. "At the end the NLD will be banned and then they have a new election, where they want to win, and then that they can continue to be in power." Schraner Burgener said she believes the military is "very surprised" by the protests against the coup. "Today we have young people who lived in freedom for 10 years, they have social media, and they are well organized and very determined," she said. "They don't want to go back in a dictatorship and in isolation." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool) Steve Huffman added: Obviously, there's a lot of risk there. But I think everybody goes in that situation-aware of that risk. Reddit chief executive Steve Huffman said he was sympathetic ideologically with the rebel investors allied to the controversial WallStreetBets subreddit that launched a spectacular market assault on the hedge funds shorting American retailer ( ). In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC, he also admitted he was late to spot the mania around stock in the retailer, which drove the price from just over US$17 at the start of the year to an intra-day high of around US$500. Asked whether he was sympathetic ideologically with what WSB did, Huffman told the Beeb: Yes, because I think if you've got one transaction where one group has taken an extreme position and then another group can see that opportunity that maybe they've overextended themselves. He added: Obviously, there's a lot of risk there. But I think everybody goes in that situation-aware of that risk. Huffman described the whole episode as an intriguing story from start to finish, even the pressure to block WSB, which Reddit resisted. And when the BBC interview styled the encounter between the hedge funds and WSB as a David versus Goliath face-off, he didnt disagree. Huffman told the British broadcaster: Oh, absolutely, because, you know, institutional investors have so much. There's so many more resources in terms of knowledge, relationships, the ability to execute large trades. No individual could have done this. Although hedge funds wage war on each other all the time, we never see it. And so, to see a group of individuals kind of band together against some really well-resourced institutions, I think that's an intriguing story from any angle. Credit: Stanford University The last decade was a pivotal one for the AI industry, and 2020 saw AI substantially increase its impact on the world despite the chaos brought about by the COVID pandemic: Technologists made significant strides in massive language and generative models; the United States witnessed its first drop in AI hiring everpointing to a maturation of the industrywhile hiring around the world increased; more dollars flowed to government use of AI than ever before, while colleges and universities offered students double the AI courses from a few years ago. These are just some of the findings from the 2021 AI Index, an annual study of AI impact and progress developed by an interdisciplinary team at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) in partnership with organizations from industry, academia, and government. "The impact of AI this past year was both societal and economic, driven by the increasingly rapid progress of the technology itself," said AI Index co-chair Jack Clark. "With the AI Index, we can actually measure and evaluate the changes, enabling leaders and decision makers to take meaningful action to advance AI responsibly and ethically with humans in mind." The 2021 AI Index is one of the most comprehensive reports about AI to date, analyzing and distilling patterns about AI's impact on everything from national economies to job growth to the analysis of technical progress within AI research itself, and analysis of the diversity (or lack of) among the people who create AI systems. The new index shows that, in 2020: Private investment in AI substantially increaseddespite the COVID crisis negatively impacting the economy in other ways. China surpassed the U.S. in significant scholarly work. Chinese-affiliated scholars were cited in more peer-reviewed journals than any other country's scholars, indicating China's AI research has increased in quality and quantity. However, the United States has consistently (and significantly) more cited AI conference papers than China over the last decade. Synthetic media, colloquially known as deepfakes, are on the rise, with breakthroughs in the generation of synthetic text, imagery, and video demonstrating the progress of AI but also highlighting the potential for unethical or dangerous use. Ethical challenges of AI applications have become a bigger focus for the AI community, with a significant increase in papers mentioning ethics and related keywords between 2015 and 2020. Diversity in AI is lowin 2019, 45% of new AI Ph.D. graduates who stayed in the United States were white, while 2.5% were African American and 3.2% were Hispanic. AI researchers are forming more affinity groups to try to improve diversity in the field, and these groups are seeing significant growth in their membership and impact: Black in AI members had twice the number of papers accepted at NeurIPS in 2019 compared to 2017, and participation at workshops held by the Women in Machine Learning Group has grown from under 200 participants in 2014 to more than 900 in 2020. Since Canada published a national AI strategy in 2017, other nations have followed, with more than 30 countries committing to national AI strategies by 2020. More AI Ph.D.s took jobs in private industry rather than academia, and professors continued to leave higher education for roles in corporations. Corporations have come to dominate the tools that AI researchers use, with corporate-backed software libraries (Google's TensorFlow and Keras, and Facebook's PyTorch) becoming the most popular frameworks on GitHub. Government interest in AI continues to be significant, with the U.S. government spending billions of dollars across civil and non-civil uses of AI. AI has been mentioned three times more in this Congress than in the previous one. Along with telling what happened in 2020, the index also highlights what researchers don't yet know about AI development and deployment. While assembling this report, the authors found a few areas where data sources are lacking or aren'tyetcomprehensive. For instance: Most government spending data is inconsistently structured and frequently untrustworthy; AI ethics as a field has made various qualitative advances but it's challenging to quantify these or model them over time; and data relating to diversity in AIespecially about the makeup of people at universities and companiesis relatively scarce. "It's clear from the data that, in 2020, AI started to have a more significant impact on the world, while the technology continued to evolve very rapidly," Clark said. "Making this report has also highlighted for us the need for governments to invest more in gathering data about AI, and for researchers to develop new, harder tests for contemporary AI systems. Our bibliometric analysis shows that the United States and China have become peer nations with one another on AI development, when analyzed through a variety of dimensions." AI Index steering committee member Barbara Grosz added, "It's encouraging to see in this year's AI Index report an increased commitment to examining matters of diversity in the field. The report makes evident, however, the lack of data available from academic institutions, scientific societies, and industry about the diversity of the AI research and industry communitiesof students, scientists, and AI professionals. Diversifying the field is essential if it is to yield systems that work for all of society, and success requires that the research community and industry collect and analyze data that tracks progress." More information: 2021 AI Index: 2021 AI Index: hai.stanford.edu/research/ai-index-2021 TAMPA, Fla., March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the oldest and largest fully independent kidney patient organization in the nation, announced Kidneys Quest Foundation as the recipient of its 2021 Jenny Kitsen Patient Safety Award. AAKP works in close collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on patient safety programs designed to protect the best interests of patient consumers and to improve medical staff and facility practices and care outcomes. As longtime advocates for patient care choice and health consumer rights, AAKP's Patient Safety Award targets funds to programs that, from a patient viewpoint, incorporate novel efforts to improve safety through innovations in health systems management and education. Kidneys Quest Foundation will use the grant for their 2021 Kidney Disease Impact Healthcare Conference focused on Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) during and after COVID-19. The conference is targeted toward kidney patients, families and caregivers, and healthcare professionals, and will provide information on clinical breakthroughs and healthcare issues from leading doctors, specialists, researchers, and professionals studying DKD. The virtual event takes place Tuesday, March 9, 2021, and registration information can be found at https://kidneysquestfoundation.org/2021-kidney-disease-impact-conference/. "Kidneys Quest Foundation has a tremendous record of educating people about kidney diseases throughout Central and Southern California and well beyond. They were selected for this national AAKP award based on the unique merits of their upcoming virtual international healthcare event that features timely sessions on diabetic kidney disease amidst the coronavirus pandemic. AAKP is steadfast in our support for inclusive virtual educational programs and it is an honor to recognize Kidneys Quest Foundation for their creative use of technology to empower patients and professionals on how to safely manage kidney treatments during this challenging period," stated Richard Knight, President of AAKP, former in-center hemodialysis patient, and current transplant recipient. "I am honored to receive this AAKP award and so incredibly grateful of my entire team at Kidneys Quest Foundation," said President Carolyn Urquidez. "Our vision is being that resource-link in the heart of the renal community. We are in this together." AAKP's Chair of Policy and Global Affairs Paul T. Conway stated, "Since 2019, AAKP has conducted the largest patient-led virtual global conferences on innovations in kidney treatment and the Kidneys Quest Foundation virtual international event exceeds our high standards for patient-centered kidney disease and safety education. Diabetic kidney disease is a top issue for AAKP because it is extremely burdensome for patients and their families, and the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated patient concerns about safety and ongoing treatments. Kidneys Quest Foundation has wisely targeted their resources to fulfill an immediate need within the renal community and the role as a resource-link is highly commendable." Conway is a former home dialysis patient and current transplant recipient who serves as AAKP's Liason to the CDC's Health Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, (HICPAC). HICPAC is a Federal Advisory Committee appointed to provide advice and guidance to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC regarding infection control practices and strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and related events in care settings. AAKP highlighted diabetic kidney disease as a priority issue throughout 2020 in all national virtual events and joined Dr. Susan Quaggin, President of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), Director of the Feinberg Cardiovascular & Renal Research Institute, and Chief of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Medicine at Northwestern University, in an ASN-Diabetic Kidney Disease Collaborative webinar entitled "Management of Diabetes and Kidney Disease Through COVID-19" (Recording). Dr. Quaggin also provided the keynote presentation "Diabetic Kidney Disease: News You Should Know" (Watch OnDemand) at the 2020 AAKP National Patient Meeting. AAKP 2020 national virtual event recordings are available online free of charge, including AAKP's Global Summit, hosted in partnership with The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the AAKP Policy Summit, and the AAKP National Patient Meeting. All 2021 events will be hosted virtually, free of charge. AAKP's endowed safety award was created in 2014 by the Board of Directors of the former kidney Network of New England to continue the network's safety initiatives led by Ms. Jenny Kitsen, a former member of the AAKP Board of Directors. Among the organizations eligible to apply for the Patient Safety Award are public institutions, government agencies, as well as 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations. Prior recipients include The Forum of ESRD Networks, the American Nephrology Nurses Association, the Renal Physicians Association, Satellite Healthcare, and the CDC Making Dialysis Safer Coalition. A complete list of award recipients can be viewed at https://aakp.org/programs-and-events/jenny-kitsen-patient-safety-grant/. AAKP has a long history of promoting patient safety and infection control efforts through its Patient Safety Award program and close collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AAKP awarded its prestigious National Public Service Award to Dr. Priti Patel, former Dialysis Activity Leader within the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion of the CDC (January 2017 aakpRENALIFE article feature Dr. Priti Patel) and was a founding partner of the CDC Making Dialysis Safer Coalition in 2016. The CDC and AAKP co-branded Conversation Starter to Prevent Infections in Dialysis Patients , which provides guidance for patients and family members to initiate a discussion with dialysis facility staff about steps the facility takes to prevent infections. AAKP also produced the 2017 HealthLine webinar Making Dialysis Safer for Patients. Founded in 1969, AAKP is the largest and oldest fully independent kidney patient organization in America. Governed by a patient-majority Board, AAKP conducts national education programs designed to better inform kidney patients, care partners, and policymakers about the true impacts of kidney disease, prevention efforts, and treatment methods. AAKP executes a national advocacy strategy in conjunction with allied kidney organizations designed to insert the patient voice into proposed policies, research efforts, and care deliberations before the Executive Branch and the U.S. Congress. Follow AAKP on social media at: Facebook: @kidneypatient; Twitter and Instagram: @kidneypatients. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jennifer Duplessie Marketing and Communications Manager (813) 400-2394 [email protected] SOURCE American Association of Kidney Patients No mask in Texas okayed by Governor Greg Abbott, followed by the state of Mississippi, was described by President Joe Biden as "Neanderthal thinking" as he expressed his frustrations on the states' decisions. On Tuesday, Greg Abbott issued an order ending requirements for masks and allowing businesses to operate at full capacity. Figures of daily COVID-19 cases in Texas, along with the coronavirus-related hospitalization and death tolls, had significantly reduced amid efforts of the state in the vaccination. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued a similar order as COVID-19 cases also significantly decreased in the state. Both governors argued that since COVID-19 cases have fallen, the public should be able to make their own decisions about safety. Biden's statement comes only a few days after he visited Texas and met Greg Abbott in Houston to talk about federal aid to help the state recover from the winter storm and increase vaccinations in the state. RELATED ARTICLE: No Mask: Texas and Mississippi Plan to Lift COVID-19 Restrictions Pres. Biden on No Mask in Texas and Mississippi Pres. Biden said the states of Texas and Mississippi are committing a grave mistake in allowing their people not to wear masks amidst the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, OPB reported. Medical experts have already proven the difference and security of wearing a face mask during this time of the pandemic. "I think it's a big mistake... The last thing - the last thing - we need is the Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything's fine, take off your mask. Forget it. It still matters," Biden told reporters on Wednesday. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, wearing masks is important since it acts as a barrier to protect oneself and others against contracting the virus. But wearing masks does not equate to physical distancing. That is why the agency reiterated to stay six-feet apart even if you are wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Since taking office in January, Voice of America noted that Pres. Biden had highlighted the importance of wearing masks and physical distancing. Even with the COVID-19 vaccines rolling across the states, medical experts still emphasized the importance of wearing masks and social distancing as reinfection might occur. Sympathies on No Mask in Texas Currently, the United States is keeping an eye on several coronavirus variants. CDC noted that surveillance on the mutation of the virus could help discover how variants may affect the transmission of the notorious virus and respond to COVID-19 by developing the vaccine, which is designed to eliminate the original strand of the virus. if yall are mad about the no mask mandate in texas, go get a covid vaccine. believe it or not, there once was a life without face masks. Brunette Bitch :) (@trashlynnmarie) March 3, 2021 The Texas mandate to continue the public's daily activity without masks has garnered different reactions from netizens. Twitter user @trashlynmarie said, "If y'all are mad about the 'no mask mandate' in Texas go get a COVID vaccine. Believe it or not there was once life without masks." Another user has rebutted, saying that the vaccine is not available for everyone yet. i really have no words for Abbott lol.... he lifts the mask mandate and opens texas 100% but draws the line at Biden releasing immigrants because they are going to expose Texans with Covid. pic.twitter.com/UE4cEkwMbQ not humanspec (@humanspecc) March 3, 2021 Kathy Hochul, the Lieutenant Governor of New York State, echoed Pres. Biden's stand, saying that "It's a no for me." Meanwhile, @humanspecc tweeted that she "really have no words for Abbott... he lifts the mask mandate and opens Texas 100% but draws the line at Biden releasing immigrants because they are going to 'expose' Texans with COVID." For her part, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the CDC, said on Wednesday that this is not the right time to end all COVID-19 restrictions. READ ALSO: 'No Mask Allowed': A Ruling this Texas Bar is Currently Implementing WATCH: Pres. Biden says lifting mask mandate was 'big mistake' - From ABC13 Houston A little girl from Cork is hoping to get pioneering surgery in the UK next month which could change her life. Allegra Murphy, 5, from Crosshaven, described as "a real character and fiercely independent", has spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy. She is unable to stand or walk on her own due to extreme tightness, known as spasticity, in her little legs, caused by abnormal messages coming from her sensory nerves. She uses a walking frame to get around and a wheelchair for longer distances. Her parents, Neville and Laura Murphy, discovered a pioneering surgery, called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) for Ali's condition, and first went to speak to surgeons about it three years ago. Ali has an appointment for surgery next month with consultant neurosurgeon John Goodden at Leeds Children's Hospital. Picture:Dan Linehan Now, Allegra, known affectionately as Ali, has an appointment for SDR this April with consultant neurosurgeon John Goodden at Leeds Children's Hospital and her family are fundraising to help cover the 80,000 the procedure and rehabilitation will cost. They have raised over 50,000 so far. The surgery will remove the spasticity in Ali's muscles making it easier for her to move and easing her pain. Dr Godden has helped some 100 children walk. He studied SDR surgery in the US before first bringing it back to the UK in 2010. The surgery involves cutting or removing tiny nerves in the spine that cause tight, stiff muscles allowing children who rely on wheelchairs and frames to walk. The pandemic has delayed assessments at the Leeds hospital and her surgery, scheduled for January was also delayed. But now the family is hopeful that their new April date for surgery will work out. "When you have the appointment you have to try to go for it," Neville said. "There's a sweet spot when these operations work, the younger the better really. "We've done a lot of research into this. Surgeons in the UK and the US both said that Ali was a good candidate for this surgery. "It's been a very considered approach. The doctors in Leeds have been working with us, our doctors here, Ali's physio, Enable Ireland, on this. The surgery date has come up quickly but we've been working on this for years. She may never play hockey for Ireland or run marathons, but with the surgery, she may be able to walk from her bedroom to the bathroom, or from the car to the school gate unaided. It could give her a chance at independence. And the surgery is also likely to alleviate a lot of Ali's pain. Ahead of surgery, she trialled a treatment at the South Infirmary in Cork where botulinum toxin, known as Botox, was injected into her leg to relax the muscles and mimic the effect of the surgery. "Ali slept well for the first time ever after that first treatment," Neville said. "She had never slept well, she must have been in a lot of pain with muscle spams." Despite her physical challenges, Ali is "feisty and fiercely independent" Neville said. She insists on making her own way into school, where she recently started junior infants, and on her second day in school, insisted on leaving her wheelchair behind. "She is such a character. She has her own individual sense of style and she likes Nespresso coffee already! "She's really good fun. "She's very unaware of her limitations. She talks about being a ballerina and doing gymnastics." Neville Murphy and his daughter Ali. The operation has saved other children from pain and having to rely on a wheelchair. Picture: Dan Linehan While the surgery is covered by the NHS in the UK, the Murphy's have to find the 80,000 it will cost for the procedure and rehabilitation care for little Ali. Neville said that he has been humbled by people's support for their daughter and the experience has taught him to never be too proud to ask for help. "All the traditional avenues for fundraising are gone with Covid but the community has been amazing. "The response has been really touching. "Even in the middle of a pandemic, when a little girl needs help, everyone steps up." Donations can be made on gofundme. 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. Eighteen days before the 2020 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was canceled, a Houston-area man felt sick. The 73-year-old man, who requested to remain anonymous because he fears public backlash against his family, said he researched high coronavirus-risk areas before traveling to Egypt for a 10-day cruise on the Nile River in mid-February. All the resources said Egypt was a very low-risk area; (the virus) looked like it was isolated and locked in China, he said. When he couldnt shake a fever and shortness of breath the last week of February, he went to an urgent care facility in Fort Bend County, where his nose and throat were swabbed. At this point, COVID-19 tests werent being mass-produced, and health care workers had no reason to believe the man had contracted the new virus. He was prescribed Tamiflu and told to rest for a week. His symptoms continued to rage. So in early March, he checked in to CHI St. Lukes Health-Sugar Land for what would become an 18-day stay. On March 4, 2020, test results revealed that this man was the Houston areas first confirmed case of COVID-19. On HoustonChronicle.com: Abbott's COVID rollbacks were 'like PTSD' for Houston doctors, health experts One look at the patients CAT scan and the patients pulmonologist, Dr. Manpreet Mangat, knew it was coronavirus, largely because she had never seen anything like it before. Immediately, it was about how do we treat him, and how do we protect everyone around him? Mangat said. Since he was our first case, we were all very nervous. The year since has been a time of discovery, heartbreak and medical breakthroughs. In the 365 days since, the virus has spawned a number of variant strains, evolving into an increasingly dangerous and contagious threat, even as record-fast vaccination efforts ramp up both locally and across the globe. For that first patient from Fort Bend County, Mangat limited her team to three doctors, including herself and an infectious disease specialist, and only a few nurses. We formed a very close group with him, and one nurse took care of him all the time, she said. Mangat joined a global WhatsApp group of physicians. Everyone shared what they were learning about the virus, how to treat patients and what worked in real time. Hospital workers have learned so much in such a short period of time, she said. For the first few months, severe cases were treated similarly intubation and ventilators but Mangat said they learned that strategy should be reserved for critical situations. Mangats team avoided intubating the first patient, even though his oxygen numbers rose and fell several times a day. But, she said, this was a good way to monitor his progress and decide whether he would need supplemental oxygen once he returned home, which he did for a month afterward. We were all humbled by this disease, there were a lot of things we learned in that aspect, Mangat said. We got closer to our families and realized what was important. From day one, health care workers, first responders, firefighters and paramedics put on their masks, donned personal protective equipment, washed their hands and went to work for everyone who needed them, said Memorial Hermann president and CEO Dr. David Callender. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston is first city to record all major COVID strains, new study finds In the beginning, many of his team members isolated themselves because they were scared to infect family members or friends, Callender said. If there were two adults in the home, one stayed and took care of the family while the other spent time on elaborate routines of removing clothes, bagging them and washing them separately, he added. Our people are under incredible stress by taking care of patients and, at the same time, taking care of their family members, friends and those close to them, Callender said. We learned, over the course of time, that there was a little less risk than we initially thought, but all that was appropriate in terms of protecting families when dealing with COVID-19 patients on a daily basis. Being away from his wife of 46 years was the hardest part of his hospitalization, the Fort Bend County man said. The couple share one adult daughter, who lives in Austin with her husband; they havent seen her in a year. After 14 days in her own quarantine, the patients wife was allowed to visit him at St. Lukes. She showed up at the front of the observation window, and that was my most joyful moment of this whole time, he said. We picked up the phone and talked. She didnt get sick; maybe she was asymptomatic. Still, the challenges kept coming. Callender knew Houston was going to be hit by the coronavirus. He just didnt know how hard. We looked at our existing pandemic plans and thought about how we would use them, but those plans were based on an influenza pandemic, Callender said. As we started to see the number of patients and hospitalizations climb in the initial surge, it became apparent this is not influenza, and we have to learn to manage this differently. Health care workers didnt know the disease, they were working with a dearth of knowledge and were making educated guesses, Callender added. Like Mangat, Callenders team of doctors communicated broadly across the hospital system to find answers, even if they were only temporary ones. What are you seeing? What did you learn from that one patient? What works best in these situations? We recorded the new knowledge, used it and shared it with others, he said. Unequal effects By summer, coronavirus affected all aspects of American life from schools to shopping to sports. But it hasnt hurt every community equally. Because Black and Latino populations disproportionately work in restaurants, retail and other industries deemed essential, the two groups are more likely to contract the virus and die from it, according to a January report conducted by Episcopal Health Foundation, a Houston nonprofit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2020 that Black and Latino communities are three times more likely to develop severe COVID-19, be hospitalized and die from it compared to white people who contract the virus. In 2020, mental health care workers noticed an increase in psychiatric distress among their patients. On HoustonChronicle.com: COVID-19 vaccine registrations spike as Texas rolls back restrictions Peoples understanding and approach to mental health changed during the pandemic, said Dr. Jeff Temple, a professor and researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Students went home for spring break in March and didnt return for the remainder of the school year. Children may be socially and developmentally stunted for a time after the pandemic passes, Temple said. Time does keep going, and for us, were less affected by time because weve reached most developmental milestones, Temple, a licensed psychologist, said. But for 12-, 15-, 18-year-olds, this is a time of critical milestones in developing autonomy. Hanging out with friends without your parents, going on dates those things have been severely interrupted. This year has changed the way people interact with their phones, their computers and each other, he said. He hesitates to use the word obsession when it comes to social media use. Socialization options have been eliminated in many places, Temple said, and for months, people could only log in and zone out. The pandemic reminded us that we are social beings. We do need interaction with people, but I think were going to have to learn how to be social beings again, he said. Were out of practice; weve gotten used to this introversion. But I dont think its going to be lasting, but it wont be overnight though. What he learned Now that he and his wife are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Fort Bend patient feels a little more at ease on evening walks in his neighborhood. He plans on visiting his daughter in the coming months, once shes vaccinated. A year after being released, he misses his doctors and nurses at CHI St. Lukes. He still calls them his angels forever, a term he used in the pandemics early days that was repeated in a press briefing by former President Donald Trump. Everyone mentioned the hospitals are a nightmare, but when I was there, they treated me so nicely, he said. I was so touched at one nurse; they knew I was about to leave so she came back to say goodbye. One even removed her face shield and dropped her hair down and said my name is so-and-so, and I came from Mexico. It was so nice and so touching, I miss every one of them. I dont think I would have received better treatment from anywhere. The last year has taught him one thing above anything else: Take the time to say I love you. While in the hospital, he was contacted by an old friend that he made when he first immigrated to the U.S. She was living in another state, and they hadnt talked in decades. They were able to catch up briefly, but he said they lost touch again. Then she passed away from COVID-19 in an assisted living facility. He regrets not talking to her more often. If you have someone you love or you want to see or visit, do that whenever you can, he said. Follow your heart. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Man accused of attack against policeman at illegal rally to wait for trial in detention The press service of Moscow's Presnensky District Court 14:13 04/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 4 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Thursday upheld detention of Pavel Green-Romanov, a defendant in a case over assault on a National Guard officer at an unauthorized rally, until April 2, the courts press service told RAPSI. His case has already reached Moscows Meshchansky District Court. According to investigators, the defendant used pepper spray against a National Guard officer in central Moscow on January 31. Green-Romanov pled guilty in full. Unauthorized rallies in support of Navalny were held in Moscow and other Russian cities in late January and early February. Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah says the witness statements of the petitioner, Dr. Michael Kpessa-Whyte and Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo in the Supreme Court election petition is a mere "fanciful tale". The Supreme Court today, March 4, delivered its final verdict on the election petition filed by former President John Dramani Mahama challenging the 2020 Presidential election. The issues under determination in the court are "whether or not the petition discloses any cause of action, whether or not based on the data contained in the declaration of the 1st Respondent (EC), no candidate obtained more than 50% of the valid votes cast as required by article 63 (3) of the 1992 constitution, whether or not the 2nd respondent [Nana Akufo-Addo] still met the Article 63(3) of the 1992 threshold by the exclusion or inclusion of the Techiman South constituency presidential election results, whether or not the declaration by the first respondent (EC) on December 9 of the presidential election conducted on December 7 was in violation of Article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution and whether or not the alleged vote padding and other errors complained of by the petitioner affected the outcome of the presidential election results of 2020''. Reading the judgement before the court, the Chief Justice noted that the above mentioned witnesses of the former President telling the court that they were both instructed by the Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Jean Mensa to deliver a message to the petitioner prior to the declaration of the election results doesn't sound well. He stated that the two witnesses were on a specific assignment at the election strongroom and so shouldn't have abandoned their tasks. He emphasized that their testimonies didnt carry weight and that they have to blame themselves for abandoning their post. As for the other two witnesses, that is Petitioners Witness PW2 and 3; Dr Kpessa-Whyte and Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, the little said about their testimonies relative to the issues at stake, the better. They recounted the fanciful tale of how the Chairperson refused to heed their complaints on some irregularities they noticed on some of the collation forms which came from the regions. We describe this evidence as fanciful because, despite this alleged protest, they went ahead to verify and certify 13 of 16 regional collation sheets, Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah said. The court found their testimonies unworthy of consideration. In fact, regarding the testimonies of PW2 and PW3, if their evidence is to be believed then they had to blame themselves for abandoning their post at the national collation centre at the time the verification and certification of the results were ongoing and PW3 had then verified and certified the regional collation results out of the 16 . . . the testimonies would have carried some little weight if the purpose of the petition was to change entries made on the collation forms or summary sheets but that is not the case. Their testimonies were therefore of no relevance to the said issues set out for determination and so we find them unworthy for consideration whatsoever, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah said while delivering the judgement of the Supreme Court. His Lordship Anin Yeboah also called the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who appeared as witness for the petitioner as the "star witness" of the petitioner's case. Therefore, Mr. Asiedu Nketia saying the petitioner is in court to challenge the declaration by the Electoral Commissioner and not the elections itself is what the court is going by. Out of the three witnesses [the petitioner called], the one whose testimony appeared to have relevance to the issue as stake was Johnson Asiedu Nketia (PW1). He was in fact the star witness of the petitioner. His testimony vividly explained the reason the petitioner is in court. While the testimony of PW1 [Johnson Asiedu Nketia] was emphatic, the testimonies of PW2 [Dr Kpessa Whyte] and 3 [Rojo Nunoo] were in respect of alleged irregularities in the figures or data on some of the collation forms that they sighted in the strong room but after which they ultimately signed or certified. Notwithstanding all these allegations of misunderstandings with the staff of the 1st Respondent in the strong room and the fact that they were absent during the declaration they did not give any indication as to how these happenings affected the final results announced by the 1st Respondent, Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah said while addressing Mr. Mahamas petition on Thursday. The Chief Justice further added that the witness statements backing the petitioner's case don't hold, explaining that the NDC officials were not the only people in the election strongroom but other party agents were also there. He held that whatever happened in the strongroom would have equally been witnessed by the agents of the various political parties and so wondered why Dr. Kpessa-Whyte and Rojo Mettle-Nunoo didn't bring their claims to the attention of the other party agents for them to be witnesses to the alleged misconduct of Mrs. Jean Mensa. Watch video below Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Credit: CC0 Public Domain A UCLA study published today found that the 2020 federal stimulus program that offered forgivable loans to small businesses affected by the pandemic might have widened economic disparities. The study, by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, examined data for California congressional districts, and the authors assert that aid largely failed to reach the districts with the greatest need. The California districts with the lowest average household incomes and highest proportions of people of color received the lowest amounts of support through the Paycheck Protection Program, the study found. The 10 districts that received the least funding have a median household income of a little over $66,000, and people of color make up 66% of their populations. By comparison, the 10 districts that received the most paycheck protection funds have a median household income over $108,000, and a smaller proportion of residents of color, 53%. In fact, although a plurality of Californians are Latino, none of the 14 districts with majority-Latino populations were among the top 10 districts in terms of receiving paycheck protection funds. According to the authors, the fact that more stimulus aid went to districts with economic bases that were stronger to begin with will only exacerbate pre-pandemic economic inequalities that have made communities of color more vulnerable to economic shocks. As the Biden administration and Congress discuss ongoing federal recovery efforts, fixing the inequities of previous stimulus efforts should be a priority, said Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, research director at the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and a co-author of the report. "The pandemic has devastated communities of color, which have lost jobs and income at disproportionate rates, with scant support from the federal government," Dominguez-Villegas said. "In order to emerge from the pandemic and into the recovery without greater inequality, we need action now to uplift the people who need help the most." A previous study by the two research centers produced similar findings about the racial inequities of the Paycheck Protection Program. By presenting data at the congressional district level, the new report should give policymakers an even clearer picture of the winners and losers created by previous stimulus efforts, said Silvia Gonzalez, a staff researcher at the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and a co-author of the report. And although the report focuses on California, it should help officials in other states understand the importance of equity and racial justice in upcoming federal efforts, the authors write. "Neighborhoods across the nation will emerge from the pandemic with fewer community-serving businesses and lost jobs that may not be recovered if they do not get immediate financial support," Gonzalez said. "Our congressional leaders must ask themselves whose paychecks need the most protection and prioritize small entrepreneurs who otherwise stand to lose it all during this crisis." The report recommends that future stimulus efforts provide targeted support for minority-owned businesses and provide detailed data to specifically track how the new efforts influence racial and income inequality. It also recommends that some of the relief funds be invested in outreach campaigns to ensure that business owners are aware of the funding programs and understand how to submit funding applications. Explore further Federal stimulus assistance has widened disparities between whites and minorities I was aware of a rumour, he said. But no one has ever put the specifics of an allegation to me from the media. From the media. That is very careful. What we know now is that Porter did not have to wait for the media. To labour the point because it is so fundamental he could have asked for the allegations on that Wednesday night last week. Porter did not have to see the document to deny the rape, of course. His denial is emphatic and complete: It just did not happen. It is wrong for his accusers to gloss over his denial as if it means nothing as if his press conference was mere performance. There is a good case for cynicism in politics, but it should take more than cynicism to convict a politician in the dubious court of public opinion. However, it was Porter, and nobody else, who complained that he had not seen the allegations. Loading Only now do we know why NSW Police did not interview Porter and put the claim to him after the woman came forward in February last year. She never signed a formal statement and she withdrew the claim in an email on June 23. The woman very clearly articulated in that email that she did not want to proceed with the complaint, the police said. She took her life in Adelaide on June 24. This did not stop Porter from reading the allegations and responding when he had the chance in that meeting with Morrison about the worst accusation ever made against a federal minister. (Thomas Ley, politician and murderer, never made it to the federal frontbench.) Nobody can be faulted for referring a claim to the AFP. No doubt it was a safe political move to avoid reading the document. All too often, the golden rule is to make sure you do not know something. But it could be dangerous to his credibility. Australians are being asked to make a judgment on whether they trust Porter when he tells them he is innocent. So they might have a common-sense question: Wouldnt you want to read the allegations against you? Remember, too, the same letter and document went directly to the Prime Ministers Office in Canberra two days later, on the Friday. Again, Morrison did not read it. He did not arrange for Porter to read it. (This is not the 1920s. Politicians have photocopiers. They have fax machines.) Everything comes down to trust. One of the womans friends, Dhanya Mani, says Porter and Morrison should have read her friends words. She wants an inquiry to pursue what the police did not. The problem with that call is that an inquiry would break with the obvious federal precedent. Bill Shorten was able to draw a line under a rape allegation when Victorian police closed their investigation in 2014. Most of the media dropped the matter. One difference is that Shorten was interviewed by police in response to a formal statement. This did not happen with Porter. Is the contrast enough to justify an entire inquiry? Or is it an excuse for politicians and journalists to throw Porter in the dock when they did not do the same to Shorten? Loading There is another precedent. Former NSW Labor premier Neville Wran stepped aside in 1983 when accused of interfering in a trial. He was exonerated by a royal commission two months later. In that case, however, there was no police strike force: the inquiry did not duplicate an investigation. And the commission could go to witnesses about events that were only six years old. The next step is the South Australian coroners decision. The womans family wants an inquiry of some sort into what led to her death, so the grounds for an inquest are strong. But those who want a wider inquiry into the claim of rape in 1988 will have to make a stronger case. Do they merely want a lower burden of proof so they can convict on unsworn statement? This is about whether Porter is a fit and proper person to hold his job. So the forum that counts most is the Parliament. That is where the government must defend its minister and convince Australians he is innocent. Morrison makes no such declaration. Asked on Thursday whether he believed Porter, he dodged: My judgement is based on the report of the police. He did not say what that judgment was. Australians saw the same evasion when Morrison was asked on Monday whether he believed his cabinet minister, who was not named at that time. That is a matter for police, he said. It is all very lawyerly just like that meeting on Wednesday of last week. If Morrison believes Porter, he should say so. If he does not, he should ask him to resign. You might call that common sense. National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732. Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au) and beyondblue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au). First Minister Arlene Foster broke down as she paid tribute to former DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt who died aged 69 following a long illness. Mr Spratt stepped down as an Assembly Member in 2015 following a lengthy and very public battle with bowel cancer. The former Police Federation chairman had represented South Belfast since 2007. Speaking at Thursdays Covid-19 press conference, an emotional Mrs Foster passed on her condolences to Mr Spratts family. When devolution returned to Northern Ireland in 2007 after the St Andrews Agreement, I sat beside Jimmy in that now famous photograph in the long gallery when Dr Paisley sat down with the leadership of Sinn Fein for the first time, she said. I mention that because Jimmy, like me, believed very much in building a shared future so he wanted everyone here to feel at home in Northern Ireland and he wanted to make devolution work. He never shied away from the challenge of trying to keep Northern Ireland moving in the right direction and I just want to acknowledge that today. I will miss him and his quiet determined support but it was comforting for me, and indeed for my DUP colleagues, that the comments from other ministers at todays Executive meeting reflected Jimmys qualities and the contribution he made here to Northern Ireland. On his illness, which was diagnosed in 2011, Mr Spratt previously warned people are dying of "embarrassment" rather than coming forward for treatment. A former police officer who became chair of the rank-and-file Police Federation for several years, Mr Spratt was elected to the former Castlereagh Borough Council in 2005before entering the Stormont Assembly two years later. Before entering politics, he joined the RUC in 1972 where he remained for 30 years. His son, Cllr Gareth Spratt represents the Balmoral DEA on Belfast City Council. Among those paying tribute today were DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster who said Mr Spratt had dedicated much of his life to trying to move Northern Ireland forward. Mrs Foster said: "I talked with Jimmy after his last consultation when the news was not good, and we recognised it may be one of our last conversations. Yet in the face of such news, Jimmy spoke so touchingly about the tough days ahead for his family rather than him. His focus was on Lynda (his wife) and the children. "Jimmy believed in peace making. He believed in building a shared future so everyone who lived here could feel at home. He wanted to make devolution work. He recognised that to get there would involve heavy lifting and tough conversations, but he never shied away from the challenge. Indeed, even in our final conversation Jimmy was unstinting in his support and encouragement to keep Northern Ireland moving in the right direction. "The Spratt family will be in our prayers as they mourn his passing." Ulster Unionist Party chair, Danny Kennedy, who worked with Mr Spratt on many Assembly committees, added: He was a dedicated public representative having had a long and successful career in poIicing beforehand. I liked and respected him and offer my sincere sympathy to his wife, sons and family circle at this sad and difficult time. I am sorry to hear of the death of Jimmy Spratt, who of course served South Belfast. My sincere condolences to Linda and his family and friends. I hope they draw some comfort from the admirable dignity with which he handled his illness. Paula Bradshaw MLA (@PaulaJaneB) March 4, 2021 Education Minister Peter Weir tweeted: "Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jimmy Spratt. Jimmy gave great service to the people of Northern Ireland as a police officer and then a public rep. I worked alongside Jimmy in the Assembly, Police Board, NILGA and SEELB. Thoughts and prayers with Lynda and the family." The Chief Constable Simon Byrne wrote: "My sincere condolences to the family of the late Jimmy Spratt RIP. Jimmy made a considerable and important contribution to policing in Northern Ireland as a Police Officer, MLA, Chair of @PoliceFedforNI and member of @NIPolicingBoard." Our Chair has recorded condolences on the passing of former Board Member Jimmy Spratt. He was a political rep on the Board for 4 years & as a former officer a passionate voice on policing issues, particularly around officer welfare. Thoughts are with his family & friends. NI Policing Board (@NIPolicingBoard) March 4, 2021 A spokesperson for the Police Federation for Northern Ireland added: "Deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of our former Chairman. Jimmy was Chair of @PoliceFedforNI between 2001-2002 and our thoughts and prayers are with Linda and his entire family circle. " Last November he accused his ex-DUP colleague Sammy Wilson of "irresponsible" criticism of Dr Tom Black after the senior medic called for tougher coronavirus restrictions. The GP, chairman of the BMA in Northern Ireland, had suggested in a BBC interview that reopening the hospitality industry here would be "an act of careless vandalism". But East Antrim MP Mr Wilson said of Executive ministers: "I hope that they ignore him and I hope they ignore his one-sided view of what the needs of society are and take a balanced approach." Hitting back at the comments, Mr Spratt said: "I think it's irresponsible to criticise somebody at the coal face of the medical profession and the medical profession in general, with the warnings they've been giving us." GOVERNMENTS plans to reopen schools in two weeks might hit a snag after teachers unions yesterday declared that their members would not report for duty until their salaries and working conditions are improved. Cabinet on Tuesday announced a phased reopening of schools after a lengthy COVID-19-induced break, with examination classes supposed to report for lessons on March 15, while the rest of the classes will open a week later. Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure told NewsDay that as long as government failed to meet teachers grievances, there would be massive failure by teachers to return to work due to incapacitation. Teachers are demanding a basic salary of US$520 or its equivalent in local currency, but government insists that it has no capacity to pay in foreign currency or the equivalent in local currency. It is very unfortunate and tragic that the government of Zimbabwe is opening up schools without capacitating the teachers who ordinarily teach there. The teachers will neither be able to show up for duty nor pay the school fees for their own children. Government is acting like the proverbial fool who repeats the same mistake and expects different results. The crisis of September 28 will haunt us, Masaraure said. He said government should ensure voluntary vaccination of teachers and mandatory testing of all participants in the physical school ecosystem to ensure adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said currently, teachers salaries ranged from $14 000 to $19 000, a situation which rendered them incapacitated. Zhou accused government of reneging on its November 2020 promise to pay them US$520 or its equivalent by July 2021. The message from President Mnangagwa was clear and loud that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education must prepare to open schools in line with WHO [World Health Organisation] regulations. Indeed, the timelines would have been sound if government was preoccupied with the urgent resolution of the welfare of teachers and prioritisation of health and safety of teachers and pupils, he said. As teachers who are nearer the schools and classrooms, we want to tell Mnangagwa that teachers will not be able to report for work on March 15, 2021 as they are grossly incapacitated. There is no need for the State to be inconsiderate by giving teachers an impossible mission of opening schools on March 15. Zhou accused the civil servants negotiating body, Apex Council, of failing to represent government workers. He said the National Joint Negotiating Forum and Apex Council could not serve the interests of civil servants and teachers as they did not have the interests of civil servants at heart. But Apex Council president Cecilia Alexander dismissed the claims, saying teachers were the most represented in the Apex Council. The few individuals who criticise the Apex Council are those betraying the workers struggle. They are not giving any service, Alexander said. Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said schools would open as planned. The ministry has come up with catch-up strategies that will see all continuing classes starting with 2020 work. Syllabi have been compressed to enable accelerated coverage. Both primary and secondary levels have three levels of accelerated compressed syllabus each. This will result in work being covered in much shorter time, he said. Newsday China's top legislature and political advisory body will start annual sessions this week, returning to their traditional March schedule after last year's events were postponed to May due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As the year 2021 marks the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the world will watch how China, with the elimination of absolute poverty just declared, charts its course toward fully building a modern socialist country. The fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open on Friday, a day after the opening of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). In addition to hearing the annual work reports of the government, top legislature, top court and top procuratorate, lawmakers will also review a blueprint for China's development in the next five to 15 years -- the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the long-range objectives through the year 2035. The following are some of the issues expected to be high on the agenda of the two sessions. Economic development goals Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the only major economy in the world to register positive growth in 2020, with its GDP expanding 2.3 percent to hit 101.6 trillion yuan (about 15.7 trillion U.S. dollars) in the year. On Friday when the government work report is delivered to the NPC for deliberation, this year's development goals will be closely watched. Last year, no specific GDP growth figure was set in the government work report due to the uncertainty brought by COVID-19 and the world economic and trade environment. Zhang Liqun, a research fellow with the Development Research Center of the State Council, said China's economy is resilient, has potential and will maintain sustained growth in 2021. But he said the primary goal of economic development is not to seek a nice-looking GDP figure but to raise the quality of the growth and ensure people's well-being. Major development targets listed in the 14th Five-Year Plan, including economic growth, newly created jobs in urban areas, major projects, as well as pollution control will also draw attention. Dual circulation China's "dual circulation" development paradigm, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay, is expected to be another hot topic during the two sessions. The 14th Five-Year Plan will further clarify how China will implement the dual circulation strategy and achieve high-quality development. Unleashing domestic demand is crucial to driving China's growth, but this new development paradigm does not mean China will backpedal on its opening-up, officials and experts have said. Dual circulation is seen as a strategic and win-win choice for China to reshape its international cooperation and new competitive edge, said Justin Yifu Lin, former World Bank chief economist and honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University. Sci-tech innovation Chinese authorities have said the country will uphold the central role of innovation in its modernization drive and implement an innovation-driven strategy for the next five to 15 years. It will strategically underpin its national development with self-reliance in science and technology. "We still face challenges including a complex international environment, and there is still a supply gap in the overall innovation capacity," said Xue Lan, a professor from Tsinghua University. Xue said the country's high-quality development must rely on sci-tech innovation. National legislators and political advisors, many of whom are scientists and Big Tech executives, are expected to discuss the ways to build China's sci-tech strength and create an enabling environment for innovation. Green development A complete economic and societal shift to cleaner energy and fewer polluting emissions conforms to the people's expectations for high-quality development. Last year, China announced that it would strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To that end, carbon emission control has been included in China's top policy priorities for 2021. In January, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu said the country has begun formulating an action plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and will accelerate the transformation toward green and low-carbon development across China's society over the next 10 years. Wu Gang, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and chairman of Xinjiang Goldwind Sci & Tech Co., Ltd., said he had submitted proposals on achieving carbon neutrality and would discuss with fellow political advisors about building a clean and diversified energy supply system. Legislation As the highest organ of state power, the NPC exercises various functions and powers including enacting and amending basic laws. In 2019, the NPC session adopted the Foreign Investment Law. Last year, the milestone Civil Code was adopted. The upcoming session will see lawmakers deliberate draft amendments to the organic law and procedural rules of the NPC, which deal with the operations of the country's top legislature. According to sources from the top legislature, the draft amendments assimilate effective practices in legislative processes, such as making NPC sessions more open and efficient. 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is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise MASON CITY, Iowa A North Iowa furniture store is joining a multi-state effort to feed the hungry. Ashley HomeStore in Mason City is offering a 10% discount on in-store purchases for any $20 contribution or 10 non-perishable food items donated through March 29. Together, we can make a positive difference in our communities. Right now, more than ever, local food shelves need our help, says Mark Millage, Director of Community Relations for Furniture Mart USA. Many families continue to struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity shouldnt have to be one of their worries. Furniture Mart USA says its 2020 Hunger Campaign was cut short due to the pandemic and the 2021 edition is the first to involve stores outside Minnesota. At the heart of our family-owned business is a strong sense of service and philanthropy, says Millage. Our 2019 campaign raised more than $55,000 in relief, so we know that our customers strongly believe like we do in this important cause. They want to help their neighbors in this time of great need. A campaign like this truly is a win/win for everybody! Donations to the Ashley HomeStore in Mason City will go toward the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank. Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is threatening to force Senate clerks to read through the entire 600-700 page $1.9 trillion coronavirus package and offer a series of amendments in order to stall Joe Biden's signature legislation. Johnson issued the threat online and in a radio interview, blasting a proposal that enjoys broad popularity in opinion polls. It passed the House 219-212 this weekend on a mostly party line vote, with all Republicans voting against it. 'I'm going to make the Senate clerk read the Democrats $1.9 trillion bill. All several hundred pages of it,' Johnson tweeted. Sen. Ron Johnson said he will force Senate clerks to read the coronavirus bill aloud, and that it could delay the bill by up to 10 hours 'Then Im going to offer amendments. Many amendments. We need to highlight the abuse. This is not a COVID relief bill. It's a boondoggle for Democrats,' he said. The process will 'probably take about 10 hours,' he told Wisconsin radio station WISN. He drove home the point point on the Senate floor. 'My suggestion: At least, while were considering this, lets have a debate. Lets have a discussion. Lets consider the amendments. Lets not do this in 20, 24, 30 hours. Lets take the time to seriously consider what we are doing to our children,' he said. The move comes as Biden continues to try to appeal to Republicans to back the package, after tweaking provisions on income groups that get $1,400 checks in order to assuage centrist Democrats. Johnson, who has infuriated Democrats by promoting conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6th Capitol riot, said he would 'lead the effort to resist' the legislation. The bill contains several provisions that have made it popular in opinion polls, even while attracting virtually no Republican support in Congress. It includes an extension of unemployment benefits and a supplemental unemployment benefit of $400 per week, an expanded child tax credit of up to $3,600, and more than $300 billion for state and local governments. President Joe Biden called on Democrats and pass the coronavirus relief bill Sen. Ron Johnson said he would make clerks read the bill, which would stall it for hours The final package could clear Congress without any Republican votes President Biden pitched the plan in a virtual speech to House Democrats holding their annual issues conference. 'Staying unified as we complete this process to pass the American Rescue Plan wont just make a difference in our fight against COVID-19 and our efforts to rebuild the economy, it will also show the American people we are capable of coming together for what matters most to them,' he said. 'They have lost faith in government. This is a time to reestablish that faith.' 'It's good policy and it's good politics,' he said of the package. 'And I'm not sure we've ever seen something that is needed as badly as the American Rescue Plan that was as broadly popular. 'We've never had anything this urgent and this ambitious that was so widely embraced. If we deliver on this it also builds momentum. It builds real enthusiasm as well. ... this will make everything more possible to get it done. That's why starting off this victory is so important because it's so consequential to their lives,' he said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted what he called a 'partisan bill' on the floor Wednesday. He complained that education funds would go out over a period of years, and funds to boost rural agriculture would come out at a 'slow drip.' 'Doesn't sound very urgent to me,' he said. He also complained about adding money to the debt, although previous coronavirus bills also also contained 'emergency' spending. He called it a 'runaway government bailout' and called it a 'smorgasbord of borrowed money.' Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) pointed to broad Democratic support for a series of coronavirus packages under President Trump. 'Every Democrat voted for the proposed CARES Act that was engineered by the Trump administration. Party was pushed aside,' he said. Democrats also backed the coronavirus bill in December. He said the lack of GOP cooperation had forced Democrats to use a reconciliation procedure and rely on every Democrat to back it. ''It's not a pretty seen. But it's long overdue,' he said. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below INDIANAPOLIS (AP) About 9% of Indiana residents have now been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as state officials continue facing calls to make the vaccine shots available to all teachers. Related: COVID-19 Vaccines Information The state health department expanded vaccine eligibility Tuesday to include those ages 55-59 along with an increase in the vaccine supply coming to Indiana. The department said Wednesday that about 600,000 people are considered fully vaccinated since the shots began in mid-December. Gov. Eric Holcomb and state health officials have stuck with a plan for distributing shots based on age groups, saying that protects those most vulnerable to severe illnesses and deaths. Holcomb is holding his weekly briefing Wednesday afternoon and will likely be asked about President Joe Bidens call for states to make vaccinating teachers a priority. Teacher unions in Indiana have called for teacher vaccine eligibility like many other states because of the exposure risk from daily interaction with students. Indianas rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have continued their sharp declines from Decembers peaks. The states 648 coronavirus-related deaths reported so far for February are about one-fifth of the 3,009 recorded during December, Indianas deadliest month during the pandemic. Washington, March 4 : With a third Covid-19 vaccine now authorized for emergency use, US states are ramping up vaccination efforts to curb coronavirus transmission and the spread of variants. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. A day later, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the vaccine to be administered for Americans 18 years of age and older. It is the third Covid-19 vaccine and the first single-dose vaccine authorized in the United States. The first doses of the Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine were administered Tuesday as initial shipments reached states and vaccination sites. The other two vaccines available in the country are developed by American drugmaker Pfizer in partnership with German company BioNTech, and by American drugmaker Moderna, respectively. US President Joe Biden said Tuesday the United States would have enough Covid-19 vaccine doses for every adult American by the end of May, which would dramatically accelerate his timeline previously set for the end of July. Biden announced that Johnson & Johnson will partner with Merck to help accelerate its vaccine production. He hailed the partnership as a way to quickly jumpstart the sluggish vaccine production, likening it to cooperation between corporations during World War II. Biden also announced he was directing states to prioritize teachers in their vaccine distribution plans in a bid to reopen schools. While the country are accelerating vaccine efforts, some states, including Texas and Mississippi, plan to drop mask mandates and reopen all businesses at 100 per cent capacity. Biden on Wednesday called it a "big mistake" for states to end mask mandates. Health experts have cautioned against states reopening too quickly. The baseline level of coronavirus cases needs to fall further before the country can confidently resume normal activities, even as the vaccine rollout accelerates, said Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert. Fauci noted that in past periods of the pandemic, "when we started to pull back prematurely, we saw the rebound. We definitely don't want that to happen." Experts are also concerned about some worrisome variants that are in places like California and New York. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the variants appear to spread more easily and are contributing to a large fraction of current infections in those areas, adding urgency to the situation. The variant in California, known as B.1.427/B.1.429, spreads more easily than its predecessors and is now dominant in the state, according to scientists at University of California, San Francisco. In laboratory tests, it was shown to be less vulnerable to antibodies generated by Covid-19 vaccines or by prior infections, according to researchers. The United States has recorded over 28.77 million cases with more than 518,900 related deaths as of Wednesday evening, according to the real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) EDWARDSVILLE Metro-East Lutheran High Schools theatre department this weekend will release its virtual performances of Zoomin Around the World in 90 Minutes: A Musical Review. The show, which MELHS students recorded remotely via Zoom, depicts the adventures of two sisters who are flight attendants and embark on the journey of a lifetime, traveling the world and enjoying musical performances from all corners of the planet. Three streaming performances are planned Friday, March 5, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 7, at 2 p.m. The original production was written by MELHS seniors, Marissa Lowe and Tess Rosentreter. The review includes musical numbers from shows such as White Christmas, Evita, Aladdin and Lion King. MELHS students began rehearsing the production in the fall, initially planning to perform it on stage and livestream it to audience members. However, as COVID-19 cases began to increase in the region, MELHS which has had in-person instruction five days a week all year temporarily suspended all after-school activities, including theatre rehearsals. Instead of giving up on performing, the MELHS theatre department came up with a plan to take the entire performance virtual, with each student performing individually from his or her home and interacting only via Zoom. I credit a lot of the creative and artistic choices for this performance to the students at MELHS, said Judy Brown, director and choreographer of the musical review. They were just as committed to making this happen as I was. We have some very dedicated students at the school, and they really took ownership of this project, despite the difficulties. Brown said the unusual circumstances surrounding the production of the musical review pushed students to new levels of creativity and challenged them to learn new skills to make the production a reality. For example, performers individually recorded their musical numbers, then the students worked with Brown and Director Melia Adams to edit the voices together with a backing track. These kids learned some amazing technical editing skills, Brown said. In addition, they really learned a lot about self confidence. To perform by themselves in front of a camera required real independence and confidence, which is a valuable skill for anyone to develop. Lowe, who has been involved in theatrical productions at MELHS since she was in elementary school and auditioned for childrens roles in plays at the high school, said this experience expanded her creative horizons. It was different than anything Ive done before, Lowe said. I learned the creative process of theater, not just memorizing lines and acting. To purchase tickets for Zoomin Around the World, visit https://www.onthestage.com/show/metro-east-lutheran-high-school/around-the-world-in-90-minutes-a-musical-review-50810/. Metro-East Lutheran High School (MELHS) has been providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment for more than 40 years. For more information about Metro-East Lutheran High School go to www.melhs.org. In the bleak landscape of dull blue and gray in Pocheon, a town near South Korea's ultra-modern capital, hundreds of migrant workers from across Asia toil in harsh conditions, unprotected by labor laws while doing the hardest, lowest-paid farm work most Koreans avoid. The death of a 31-year-old Cambodian woman worker at one of the farms in December has revived decades-long criticism over South Korean exploitation of some of the poorest, most vulnerable people in Asia. Officials have promised reforms, but it's unclear what will change, as meanwhile thousands suffer in silence. On a chilly February afternoon, scattered groups of workers wearing bandanas and conical hats appeared and disappeared among hundreds of translucent tunnel-shaped greenhouses each about 100 yards long harvesting spinach, lettuce and other winter greens and stacking them high in boxes. Rev. Kim Dal-sung, a pastor and outspoken advocate for migrant workers' rights, is an unwelcome visitor at the farms in Pocheon, especially after the Cambodian woman, Nuon Sokkheng, was found dead on Dec. 20 inside a poorly heated, squalid shelter at one of the farms. Her death, and those of many others, highlight the often cruel conditions facing migrant workers who have little recourse against their bosses. There are around 20,000 Asian migrant workers legally working on South Korean farms, mostly from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal. They were brought in under its Employment Permit System. Reflecting a broader immigration policy designed to keep out undocumented immigrants, it makes it extremely difficult for workers to leave their employers, even when they are grossly overworked or abused. South Korean farmers, too, are suffering. The industry is in decline, hurt by decades of labor shortages and increasing foreign competition. They get by importing labor to work long hours for low pay. Activists and workers say migrant workers in Pocheon work 10 to 15 hours a day, with only two Saturdays off per month. They earn around $1,300-$1,600 per month, well below the legal minimum wage their contracts are supposed to ensure. Rising before sunrise, they crouch or bend for hours as they work their way through the huge plastic tunnels at each farm, planting, weeding, picking and thinning crops. The workers often are crammed in shipping containers or flimsy, poorly ventilated huts, like the one where Sokkheng was found dead. A Nepalese farm worker, who asked that his name not be used because he feared reprisals from his employer, said he was considering running away to find factory work as an undocumented migrant after five years of working for a farmer who he said was abusive and occasionally violent. "At least I'll get more days off," said the worker, who slipped out to a coffee shop outside the farm one evening for an interview. He complained of excruciating back and shoulder pain, likening the situation to slavery. Just 10% of the migrant workers brought to South Korea under its Employment Permit System, or EPS, work on farms. About eight in 10 EPS workers toil in factories, while the rest work in construction, fisheries and service industry jobs. The Labor Ministry told a lawmaker in October that 90-114 EPS workers died each year from 2017 to 2019. Three Cambodian workers who were interviewed at a Pocheon farm but didn't want to be named complained about the grueling work, South Korea's bitterly cold winter and harassment by their employer, who calls them "dogs." They said they persevere because the wages are still higher than what they can earn in Cambodia, giving them chance to escape poverty. After Sokkeng's death, the Labor Ministry said it would revise regulations to disqualify farms that provide only shipping containers as shelter from hiring workers through the EPS. However, Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap backtracked after farm owners protested. The farmers insist it's unfair to have to improve conditions for their workers due to insufficient labor resources. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Cairo, March 5 : Egypt started vaccinating elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against Covid-19, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centres to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shots of the anti-coronavirus vaccine, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. Madbouly stressed that the state is carrying out the vaccination process in a scientific manner, starting with testing the vaccines through the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) until their distribution according to priorities. He noted that the Health Ministry has launched a website to register citizens who would like to be vaccinated, adding that the government will work on increasing the number of recipients of the vaccines. Meanwhile, those who cannot access the website could apply for vaccination at the nearest hospital. In late January, Egypt started vaccinating medical staff of government hospitals with Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, which was the first to be approved by the EDA that recently approved Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines. For her part, the Egyptian health minister said that the ministry specified 40 vaccination centres that will be eventually increased with the inflow of vaccine doses to Egypt. Egypt has so far confirmed a total of 184,168 Covid-19 cases, including 10,822 deaths and 142,155 recoveries. The screening committees of the Congress continued their meetings on Thursday to shortlist candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The West Bengal Screening committee headed by J.P. Agarwal met on Wednesday to discuss the names of the candidates. Party's state in-charge Jitin Prasada said, "The process of shortlisting will be completed soon." Assam screening committee chairman Prithviraj Chavan is in Guwahati to meet the other members. He said, "I arrived in Guwahati yesterday. And immediately chaired the first meeting of the Screening Committee for finalising the Congress candidates for Assembly polls." The other screening committees of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are also expected to finalise candidates this week. The Central Election Committee of the Congress is expected to give a final nod soon, said sources. The Central Election Committee headed by Sonia Gandhi is the final authority to select party candidates for the Assembly, Legislative Council and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha polls. However, there is no clarity in Tamil Nadu as to how many seats the Congress is going to contest in alliance with the DMK. Sources say the Congress expects more than 50 seats but the DMK is not ready to give more than 25. Last time the Congress contested 41 but could not cross the double digit in the results. The elections to the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the 30-member Puducherry Assembly and the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 6, while polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on March 27, April 1 and April 6. The 294-member West Bengal Assembly will go to the polls in eight phases on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. Iraqs southern city of Nasiriyah recently the site of large anti-government protests has largely escaped the attention of the international media, but that is about to change. The visit later this week by Pope Francis to the place revered as the birthplace of Abraham, just outside the city limits at the site of the ancient city of Ur, is likely to attract worldwide attention. Last week, protests again engulfed Nasiriyah with tragic consequences, as five protesters were killed and dozens injured. Demonstrations against poor public services and corruption have rocked the city intermittently since October 2019. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi immediately dismissed Governor Nadhim al-Waili for failing to prevent the violence. On Feb. 26, Kadhimi appointed Gen. Abdul Ghani al-Asadi, who is serving as the head of the national security agency, as acting governor. Asadi, who is from Nasiriyah, is an influential figure among the tribal community and the province in general. Asadi was instructed to listen to the publics demands, ease tension between security forces and the protesters and reach a permanent resolution for the province's administration. He is leading an investigative committee formed by the prime minister to look into the recent excesses on the part of the security forces. Similar previous committees in Basra and Baghdad have led to the arrest of security forces who targeted protesters. Last month the government arrested four militants involved in abducting and killing protesters. Asadi has been instructed to start a process of transition toward a permanent governing structure, agreed with protesters and local leaders, according to a source who spoke to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity. In a statement, Kadhimi reiterated his previous instructions to the security forces to not use live munitions under any circumstances. The current government has undertaken several training programs for security forces to enhance their capacity to peacefully deal with protests, a high-ranking official told Al-Monitor. On Feb. 27, protest leaders in Nasiriyah announced a list of demands for the new acting governor, including revealing the party that ordered security forces to fire on demonstrators, the dismissal of the chief of police and an investigation into the former governor. They gave Asadi three days to meet their demands and have halted protests until after the popes visit to the city. As the three days end tonight, there are no signs that a new escalation is brewing in the province. Instead, it seems the province is busy preparing for the pope's visit, which is a historic event for Iraq, particularly Nasiriyah. Nasiriyah is more than a biblically significant place. The city plays a significant part in Iraqs modern history. It was an important transportation hub along the Euphrates River during the Ottoman period. Many of Iraqs artists, intellectuals and politicians have come from Nasiriyah. It has a rich political history: The Iraqi Communist Party was founded in the city; its the birthplace of Iraqi Baath Party founder Fuad al-Rikabi and many of the partys early leaders were from the city and the Islamic Dawa Party was formed there as well. When Baghdads Tishreen protest movement began in October 2019, it quickly spread to Nasiriyah, and some of the fiercest clashes between protesters and security forces occurred there. Nasiriyahs politics are linked to Baghdads politics, and what happens in Nasiriyah has ramifications in Baghdad and across the nation. Kadhimi was appointed prime minister in May 2020 amid a serious political crisis and economic hardship and after the resignation of his predecessor Adel Abdul Mahdi following brutal suppression of the protests in 2019 by elements of the security forces. Kadhimi was able to open dialogue with the protesters, leading to the end of the protests in many cities including Baghdad. Kadhimis approach was validated when widespread demonstrations in October 2020 to mark the one-year anniversary of the Tishreen revolution were mostly peaceful, with protesters and security forces showing remarkable restraint. Now, in Nasiriyah, Kadhimi faces a serious challenge. On the eve of the first visit by the leader of the worlds Catholic Christians to Iraq, tension has risen significantly in the city. Public services such as power and clean water are limited at best in Nasiriyah as is the case in much of Iraq. Meanwhile, the entire nation is suffering from an unemployment crisis, with at least 500,000 young people entering the job market each year, almost all of whom face little chance of finding employment. Amid this situation, Iraqs youth no longer have much hope for the future. Hard-line militia groups looking to disrupt the popes visit have also continued to agitate and while security forces are under strict instructions to avoid the use of lethal force, it seems some extremist groups would like to see violence embarrass the government while the worlds eyes are on Iraq. Kadhimis administration has worked quickly to calm the situation. Approximately $100 million has been allocated by Baghdad to boost public services and address unemployment in the city and across the province. Kadhimi and Asadi have begun a consultation process with local civil society groups to calm the situation and choose a new governor who will enjoy wide community acceptance. While the governments first steps have shown some positive results, the popes visit could be a first test of how long calm will remain in this crucial province. Lucknow, March 4 : Uttar Pradesh is preparing to celebrate an eco-friendly Holi this year. And for the same, herbal gulal is being prepared from flowers used for prayers in a temple. For this, herbal gulal made of flowers from many iconic temples, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Mata Vindvasini temple, will be used to anoint citizens on their forehead on the occasion of Holi. The initiative has been made possible by women's self-help groups under the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission. In 32 districts, self-help groups are busy preparing herbal colours. In particular, it is being done in a big manner by self-help groups even in iconic temples such as Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple, Lucknow's Khatu Shyam temple and the Devi Patan temple in Shravasti. Mission director Yogesh Kumar said that herbal colours and gulal are being prepared from flowers in temples so that people are protected from pollution and the atmosphere is also purified in the process. "Women have been given training for this. This type of gulal will not be harmul. Secondly, it will also provide employment to a large number of women," adds Kumar. The mission's project manager Acharya Shekhar said that a target of Rs. 5 to 10 lakh has been set for each district. The flowers will also be sold online on Flipkart and Amazon, along with major markets of all the blocks of the state. The mission aims to provide employment to more and more women. Savita Devi, Secretary, Ganga Group Mirzapur said that the flowers emanating from temples must not become part of everyday garbage. "Nor do they contaminate the river. Flowers are collected from the temples and dried. The colour is boiled in warm water. After that, it is prepared by mixing the petals of the flower with arrowroot. One kilo arrowroot is prepared at a cost of Rs. 50 and is sold comfortably at Rs. 140-150 through markets and stalls . The use of chemical dyes in Holi colours can have a detrimental effect on the human body, says MH Usmani, senior dermatologist at Balrampur Hospital. "Chemicals found in colour can even lead to skin cancer. Copper sulphate can cause eye allergies. On Holi, one must use natural colours to protect the environment as well as one's health." Latest updates on Holi Festival 2021 We dont need the drama or the hypocrisy. The growing army of rebels in Gandujes cabinet is a reflection of where the governors heart really is; a true gauge of what he thinks of Buhari and Buharis presidency. He should come to terms with his own hypocrisy and save himself the misery of crooked courtesies. Theres a model for managing rebels in government that the American political drama, Designated Survivor, teaches so well. In one of the episodes, after the horrific death of President Richmond, his speech writer, Seth Wright, had a chance meeting with the incoming president, Tom Kirkman, in the toilet. In a soliloquy which wafted over the toilet partition, Wright said the U.S. would regret Kirkmans candidacy because he was incompetent and unfit for office. How can a man on the verge of punitive redeployment suddenly become president? He didnt know that Kirkman, who was in the next toilet recovering from the shock of the news of his unexpected promotion, was listening. When both men came out and met at the wash-hand stand, Wright almost fainted. No need, Kirkman told him. Wright was not going to be a speechwriter in the White House anymore, Kirkman said. His rebellion just got him promoted as the press secretary to the incoming president! Sometimes, the best way to manage a rebel is to keep him in your corner. Unlike in political drama, however, life can be messy sometimes. And the difference between Kirkman and Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, is not just a matter of drama, culture or taste; its that the latter surpasses many politicians, including Kirkman, in making his own mess. Ganduje was in the news again last week for sacking his special adviser on media, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, the latest rebel in his cabinet. One way to explain the sacking of the media aide is to assume that theres probably no Nigerian governor with as many independent-minded personal aides as the governor. Ganduje wants us to believe that he is managing a crisis of independent-mindedness. It would also appear that for every rebel that has gone publicly against the grain of his government in recent times, there are probably two or three more still in the closet. First, there was the former commissioner for works and infrastructure, Muazu Magaji, who filed a Facebook post last year accusing those mourning President Muhammadu Buharis former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, of shedding crocodile tears. And now, Tanko Yakasai, has called on Buhari to resign for failing to secure the country. The state government later issued a long-winding explanation. Unlike the first time when Yakasai received a slap on the wrist for criticising Buharis handling of #EndSars, this time, Ganduje wielded the big stick. On the face of it, theres nothing unusual about what Yakasai said. In the last three weeks, hundreds of persons, including students and commuters, have been kidnapped and scores are still being held, making what happened under President Goodluck Jonathan look like childs play. Jonathans poor handling of the security situation was one of the main reasons that he lost re-election. At the time, Buhari and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) asked Jonathan to resign for failing to secure the country. And they were right. Now, on Buharis watch, governors of the North-East are so exasperated about the security situation that one of them, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, is openly canvassing the recruitment of mercenaries, something Jonathan could only do in secret. It cant be wrong that Yakasai is giving the president a taste of his own medicine, except if its not the medicine but the face of the doctor that is the problem. But thats just one way to explain it. The other way, which strips Gandujes actions of its drama and politics, is to see the governor for who he truly is: A hypocrite who has surrounded himself with birds of a feather. A man adept at making his own mess, yet believing no one is watching. Or maybe he doesnt care. Its improbable that Ganduje will have that many in the anti-Buhari collective in his cabinet if it is not truly a reflection of what the governor really thinks of Buhari. I should not be mistaken. Theres nothing wrong with what Yakasai said about the presidents baffling and perplexing kid-gloves handling of the current security crisis. ADVERTISEMENT And I think its ridiculous that Yakasai was invited and detained by the Kano branch of the state security service for calling out the president. I said worse in a recent column in which I accused the president of sleeping on the wheels. Free speech may be inconvenient, but its not a crime. Theres no need to fake an outrage in public only to settle the rebels handsomely behind closed doors. Instead of shortchanging the public as he so often does, Ganduje should let the Yakasais of Kano be. My problem with Ganduje is pretending that he is embarrassed by what his aides are saying, and yet he indulges them privately. Whats the point? Its not a crime that the blood of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his original kinsmen, still runs in his vein. The crime is hiding behind a finger and faking outrage in the daytime only to make U-turn at night. What was the point, for example, in sacking Magaji for the post about Abba Kyari, only to rehabilitate the same fellow in a parastatal under the same government on juicier contract terms? And whos to say we have heard the last word on Yakasai? Kano has a history of progressive politics that does not need Gandujes hypocrisy to authenticate. It is one place where the lion and the lamb have co-existed for decades without retribution. Aminu Kano was from a feudalistic background and a line of Islamic clerics, yet he challenged the prevailing order and attacked the ruling elite without pretensions or apology. He would not be the man we respect and extol today if all he ever wanted was to have his cake and eat it, something which Ganduje has become an expert at doing. In the Second Republic, Lili Gabari and Sadi Gabari, two prominent politicians and blood brothers, broke ranks one following Abubakar Rimi, and the other following Aminu Kano without anyone calling for their heads. Kano is littered with families, including the Jibrils, the Mohammeds and God knows who else, where individuals with different political views belong to different parties and still coexist But as we saw in the face-off between Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the governor, Gandujes Kano is no longer what it once was. It has become a place where a governor who doesnt know his enemies begins his search by looking for people who disagree with him, however remotely. We dont need the drama or the hypocrisy. The growing army of rebels in Gandujes cabinet is a reflection of where the governors heart really is; a true gauge of what he thinks of Buhari and Buharis presidency. He should come to terms with his own hypocrisy and save himself the misery of crooked courtesies. Theres no need to fake an outrage in public only to settle the rebels handsomely behind closed doors. Instead of shortchanging the public as he so often does, Ganduje should let the Yakasais of Kano be. Azu Ishiekwene editor-in-chief of LEADERSHIP. Angels San Francisco Gay Mens Chorus (SFGMC) presents Angels, a virtual musical event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the worlds first AIDS requiem, When We No Longer Touch, on Thursday, March 11, at 6 p.m. on SFGMC TV, the free online platform. When We No Longer Touch was the worlds first requiem dedicated to those lost to AIDS, Those of us now living through the second pandemic of our lives know on an even deeper level that we are surrounded by angels, said Dr. Timothy Seelig, artistic director of the SFGMC. The losses are unimaginable. There is no doubt they continue to give us the strength to carry on in their memory. This extraordinary work has proved itself to be timeless. Having been performed all over the world, it still brings a very personal message to each listener. Investigators are searching for four pieces of expensive artwork that are missing from the Dover Heights home of accused fraudster Melissa Caddick. After investigators went through Ms Caddicks home and contents insurance policy, which listed her extensive jewellery collection and 19 pieces of artwork, they noticed that four pieces were missing. Melissa Caddick and her husband Anthony Koletti sitting in front of Diver, one of the artworks which is missing. Two works by Israeli artist David Gerstein are missing, including Exotic Birds, a brightly-coloured metal wall sculpture. Also unaccounted for are two works by Australian artist Adrian Lockhart. One was Diver, which was hanging in the upstairs dining area of Ms Caddicks Dover Heights home, and the other was titled Washing off the sand. Canturi jewellers in Sydneys Castlereagh Street had $100,000 worth of jewellery, including a diamond necklace, which Ms Caddick had paid for but had not collected when she disappeared in the early hours of Thursday, November 12. General Motors is exploring building a second U.S. battery cell manufacturing plant with its joint-venture partner, Seoul, South Korea-based LG Chem. If the plant moves forward, it would be the latest in a series of investments aimed at building out the auto giants portfolio of electric vehicles. The companys joint venture with LG, Ultium Cells LLC, is already at work constructing a $2.3 billion battery cell manufacturing facility in Lordstown, Ohio. The companies hope to have a decision on the factory in the first half of 2021, GM spokesman Dan Flores told TechCrunch. He declined to specify possible locations for the site, but Tennessee is high on the list, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal. GM has set ambitious targets for decarbonizing its operations and pledged steep investments to get there. Through 2025 alone the company said it would bring to the global market 30 EV models across its brands and spend $27 billion on electrification and automated technology a 35% increase from 2020 spending. By the mid-2030s, GM said its fleet will be all-EV. Clearly, with our commitment to an all-electric future, we will need a lot of battery cells, Flores said. He declined to comment on the ongoing shortage of battery cells, which has affected EV manufacturers Tesla and Nikola. President Joe Biden issued an executive order at the end of February instructing federal agencies to identify risks in the supply chains for batteries, semiconductors and other critical items, including where supply chains are dependent on competitor nations. GM CEO Mary Barra said in a virtual investor presentation last week that the battery shortage is one reason the company is investing in its own battery cell manufacturing. She alluded to plans to grow the companys battery cell manufacturing operations but did not go into specifics. Theres more coming than weve announced already, she said. Story continues Early Stage is the premier "how-to" event for startup entrepreneurs and investors. Youll hear firsthand how some of the most successful founders and VCs build their businesses, raise money and manage their portfolios. Well cover every aspect of company building: Fundraising, recruiting, sales, product-market fit, PR, marketing and brand building. Each session also has audience participation built-in -- theres ample time included for audience questions and discussion. 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John Moorlach speaks in opposition to a measure that would increase California's minimum wage in Sacramento, Calif., on March 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Orange County Board Candidates Weigh In on Unfunded Pensions Several candidates running in the upcoming March 9 special election for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors say that reducing unfunded public employee pension liabilities should be a top priority for cities throughout the county. John Moorlach, Kevin Muldoon, and Janet Rappaport all agree that unfunded public pensions in the county, where many civic entities dont currently have sufficient assets to pay for retiree benefits and are forced to borrow to make up the difference, continue to swallow huge portions of county and city funding. Based on the latest available data, in 2018, public employee pension debt for each Orange County, California, household was $31,438, according to Pensiontracker.org. Rappaport, a lawyer from Corona del Mar, told The Epoch Times that unfunded pensions are a countywide problem, regardless of a voters political party. We are all from Orange County, and we all sink or swim together, Rappaport said. She said party politics dont belong in local government, and would prefer not to see Orange County cities divided into red and blue camps. Im dismayed and disappointed that we are colorizing our county like this. The only color in Orange County should be orange, she said. Im running as a nonpartisan and for a nonpartisan seat, and I firmly believe that this is the only way municipal politics should run. Rappaport cited a 2014 Orange County Grand Jury report that looked at pension liabilities. The report concluded that budget transparency was critically needed. The 20132014 Grand Jury is very concerned that although cities have somewhat improved the transparency of their budgets, members of the public of Orange County cities will still find it difficult or impossible to understand the current and changing impacts of unfunded pension liabilities on their city budget, the report stated. The report specifically noted a special concern about the lack of traceability of unfunded pension liabilities for certain agenciesincluding the Orange County Employees Retirement System, the Orange County Sheriffs Department, and the Orange County Fire Authorityto the budgets of cities that outsource to them. It was impossible even to know the extent of these unfunded accrued liabilities due to inadequate reporting, said Rappaport, an attorney specializing in international business, tax, and finance. Obviously, oversight and full disclosure on these budgetary matters should be in place, and would probably lead to a greater understanding of how these issues can be solved. Aggressive budget-balancing, using surplus funds to pay down liabilities, spending cutbacks to local services, increasing revenue, and getting employees to pay a larger portion of their own pension contributions are some of the possible solutions, Rappaport said. These pension liabilities are going to severely impact the budget going forward. Even as tax revenues come back, those are going to be largely impacted and used to pay these liabilities. So what that means is belt-tightening by all the parties at the table, and that means the employees and the taxpayers. Thats it, she said. The county doesnt have an unlimited bucket of funds. Its finite, she said. Rappaport said shes a fiscal conservative, and shes registered as a Democrat. But with a third of the voters in Orange County listed as No Party Preference (NPP), its clear many Democrats and Republicans are disaffected at this point, and not really happy to participate in party politics, she said. I dont think that political party agendas are relevant or important at this level. I think what is important is the residents and the voters having a voice at the table. Past Experience Former Orange County supervisor and state Sen. John Moorlach is no stranger to controversy when it comes to negotiating public employee pensions. Over the years, hes become accustomed to resistance from labor unions and attack ads, he said, and is now facing them again. Moorlach told The Epoch Times that he significantly reduced unfunded pensions during his previous eight-year stint as supervisor, from 2006 to 2014. But his stance alienated some agencies, including the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA)the largest public-sector union in the county. When I was supervisor the last time, I worked really closely with OCEA. We renegotiated their retiree medical plan, which affected retirees more than current employees, Moorlach said. We were able to reduce the unfunded liability by $1 billion. It went from $1.4 billion to $400 million, a 71 percent reduction in the liability. He suggested a reduction of employer contributions at the time, he said, which upset some OCEA members. I also had them pay their portion, and not have the employer pay their portion which was occurring for years. But because these costs were getting so high, the employees should appreciate what they have, he said. So I just did a lot of things there the last time. Im not so sure that theres a whole lot left to do, but obviously they still remember that I was a pretty tough negotiator. Moorlach suggested that if California Gov. Gavin Newsom could negotiate something like that with his unions statewide, it would clear up tens of millions of dollars in funding to do things like pay for schools and prisons. The negotiating process left some members of OCEA unhappy. When OCEA discovered that Moorlach, a Republican, was once again running for a seat on the board, the union released a political ad accusing him of smearing the character of a sexual assault survivor to protect a political ally. Moorlach noted that even though it is the campaign season, OCEA have kind of taken it to a different level. I served as a supervisor for eight years. I got a lot done, and they dont want me back, Moorlach said. They have embellished some things that have some sort of truth and facts but thats the way this game works. This is not bean bag. OCEA President Lezlee Neebe wrote an open letter to union members on Feb. 5, saying that OCEA Stewards, Board members or staff will never tell you how to vote. However, the letter goes on to say that OCEA opposes Moorlach and supports candidate Katrina Foley, a Democrat. Former Supervisor and defeated former State Senator John Moorlach wants his old District 2 seat back and we cant let him have it. Moorlachs persistent attacks on your pensions is a wedge issue he uses to turn the public against its own workers, the letter stated. We endorse Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley, who has stood by our members side for the past decade. She has fought tirelessly to restore takeaways imposed by City Council members allied with John Moorlach. Moorlach also challenged the legality of giving benefits to employees retroactive to the date of hire and sued the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, another organization opposed to his candidacy. An Aggressive Plan Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon told The Epoch Times that his city has taken an aggressive approach to pay down its pension liabilities by 2036. Muldoon was elected to Newport Beach City Council in 2014. At the time, the citys debt load was the highest per capita in the county, or close, he said. Muldoon pegged his citys debt at about $300 million, plus another $240 million for the Newport Beach Civic Center. Unfunded pension liabilities were a big part of it, he said. Unfortunately, we cant pay off the Civic Center early. There are prepayment penalties, he said. So thats why were on a 15-year aggressive plan for the pensionsbecause we can pay that down sooner. Muldoons council campaign hinges on getting the citys spending and debt under control, and hes fought to make sure the city pays above and beyond the minimum CalPERS [California Public Employees Retirement System] payment every year. When I was first elected to City Council, my colleagues and I made changes to more aggressively pay down the unfunded pension liabilities inherited from prior councils, Muldoon said. Our current plan puts us on track to have it paid down by 2036, making our debt policy payment plan one of the most aggressive cities in the county. Newport Beach is coping well due to disciplined spending and steady property tax revenue. The Epoch Times attempted to contact Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley and Fountain Valley Mayor Michael Vo for their comments, but neither campaign responded prior to publication. A patchwork of retirement income Pensions pay out a defined amount each month until an employee dies, which is why they are called defined benefit plans. Your payout typically depends on your salary over time, and how long you worked with the company. Pensions are becoming increasingly rare among private employers, however: Only 14 percent of Fortune 500 companies offered a pension plan to new hires in 2019, down from 59 percent in 1998. Increasingly, Americans have had to rely on defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) plans, for retirement income. The payout from these plans depends on how much you (and often your employer) contribute, as well as the investment returns in the plan. In most defined contribution plans, distributions are taxed as ordinary income by the federal government, but taxation varies from state to state. Of the 14 states that won't tax your pension, two states Alabama and Hawaii will tax your income from defined contribution plans such as 401(k)s. Finally, there's Social Security income. The federal government can tax some Social Security benefits, depending on your income. You'll be taxed on: up to 50 percent of your benefits if your income is $25,000 to $34,000 for an individual or $32,000 to $44,000 for a married couple filing jointly. up to 85 percent of your benefits if your income is more than $34,000 (individual) or $44,000 (couple). And 13 states Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia can tax all or part of your Social Security benefits. Taxes aren't everything States need money to pay for roads, services and education, and if they don't tax retirement benefits, they will find the money elsewhere typically in property or sales taxes. And there are other considerations, too. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank, rates Alaska as one of the most tax-friendly states to live in. Your decision to move to Alaska should also take into account your fondness for cold winters and bears. 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. Schraner Burgener said she is in daily contact with Suu Kyi and the committee that represents NLD legislators, known as the CRPH. The envoy last spoke with Deputy Military Chief Soe Win on Feb. 15 but said she sent him a long letter on Sunday. She has not received a direct response but said the military sends her some information every day. Myanmar has been mired in chaos and violence for one month, since the military's overthrow of the civilian government and the detentions of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other high-ranking officials of her National League for Democracy (NLD) Party. Schraner Burgener said she was very disturbed by videos circulating of police shooting a protester at close range and another of police beating an unarmed medical crew who did not resist arrest. "From the video clips, I asked some weapons experts to verify to me, it's not clear, but it seems that the police used weapons like 9-millimeter submachine guns -- live ammunition," she said. Security forces used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds, with witnesses saying live ammunition was also used against the protesters. Several people were reportedly injured, among them reporter Htet Aung Khant with VOA's Burmese Service, who was hit by rubber bullets under his arm as he covered the protests. Reuters news agency said at least nine people have been killed, including five people in the central town of Monywa, quoting witnesses and media reports. Both Reuters and The Associated Press say a teenage boy was killed in the central city of Myingyan. Meanwhile, Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP) said at least two people have been killed in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city. AFP also reported four other deaths in the Sagaing region. The UN special envoy for Myanmar says at least 38 people were killed across the country Wednesday during another day of demonstrations against the military junta. "Today, it was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the first of February," Christine Schraner Burgener told reporters in a video call from Switzerland. New Elections The military has claimed widespread fraud in last November's election, which the NLD won in a landslide. Myanmar's electoral commission has denied the claims. Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing declared a one-year state of emergency and said new elections will be held to bring about a "true and disciplined democracy." But he has not said when the vote would be held. Schraner Burgener said Soe Win told her those elections would happen in one year. "He said that it is due to the constitution," she said. "We talked also to constitutional experts, and they said it doesn't have to be one year. But clearly, I think that was the real plan of the army." Schraner Burgener expressed concern that the military would conduct sham investigations of the NLD that would lead to their being banned and then the army would illegitimately win the election and stay in power. But she said while this strategy may have worked in the past, it will not work now. "But today, we have young people who lived in freedom for 10 years. They have social media, and they are well-organized and very determined. They don't want to go back in a dictatorship and in isolation," she said. "So, I think the army is surprised, and maybe we have to help them come out of this situation." Escalation Fears Schraner Burgener said the situation could escalate. She pointed to the declaration by 10 of the 21 armed ethnic groups in Myanmar that they would fight back if the army attacks civilians in their regions. "If both sides use violence, then we have a situation of a real war in Myanmar, which is in nobody's interest," the UN envoy said. She will brief the UN Security Council Friday in a closed-door meeting. She last briefed them February 2 at the first and only discussion on the situation. She told reporters she is still pressing the military to allow her to visit Myanmar, where she has an office and has spent a great deal of time during the three years she has held her mandate. Myanmar's UN Ambassador In a separate development, Tin Maung Naing, who was appointed Sunday as Myanmar's charge d'affaires at the United Nations by the military regime, has reportedly resigned, according to a post on his Facebook page. A United Nations spokesperson said they are aware of the reports but had received no official communication. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun was fired by the junta after denouncing the coup at a meeting of the UN General Assembly on Friday. He said he is still the ambassador because he was appointed by the democratically elected president. The matter has now gone to the nine-member UN credentials committee for review. TORONTO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Locke Bio, a new digital health company, today announced the formation of a telemedicine and telepharmacy platform for enterprises to easily and efficiently launch their DTC prescription brands with patients, providers and pharmacists. The service is tapping into the growing expansion of DTC prescription categories, and consumers' desire to have their medical conditions diagnosed and treated via telehealth. The company has raised an undisclosed round from investors that include Origins Pharmacy, Metro Drugs, Mapleview Medical Pharmacy, 10xCapital, IKJ Capital and Empros Capital. "Locke Bio is proud to be the first end-to-end solution for prescription-based DTC brands providing pharmaceutical products an immediate market opportunity," said Cathy Tie, founder of Locke Bio. "What would normally take companies millions of dollars and 9 to 12 months to build, is ready now. It's literally as easy as setting up a Shopify store, in fact we like to think of ourselves as the Shopify for pharma." With Locke Bio's plug-and-play solution, enterprises like pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy networks can rapidly launch telemedicine and online pharmacy services in weeks rather than months, at a fraction of the cost of traditional efforts. Locke Bio's solution comes complete with customizable intakes, video consultations, electronic medical record keeping and a built-in pharmacy network in the U.S. and Canada ready to dispense. Locke Bio's platform can cater to a large number of medical conditions, such as mens' and womens' health, mental health, and chronic diseases. The platform also allows companies to take payments from customers with an integrated online payment system, and provides analytics to understand user behavior with integrated analytics. Locke Bio's proprietary software infrastructure gives companies the ability to get patients' prescriptions dispensed and delivered through licensed pharmacies across the US & Canada. Locke Bio's solution also provides pharmaceutical brands industry grade patient safety and is fully HIPAA/PIPEDA/PHIPA compliant, LegitScript certification ready, with the ability to advertise on Google and Facebook. "Like the digital distribution opportunity that Amazon and Shopify identified in the 2000's, digital health allows for re-imagination of all traditional healthcare transactions," said Cathy Tie." Just as the democratization of tools to set up e-commerce stores became widely popular to consumers and enterprises alike, we think that now is the right time to democratize these tools for the healthcare industry." With this announcement, Locke Bio is changing the landscape of the old pharmaceutical supply chain model, and is taking advantage of the digital health trend which has seen more than 1000 full-stack digital health companies launch in the last three years. "Our solution offers one software to seamlessly and cost-effectively connect patient, provider and pharmacist with a trusted and proven platform," adds Cathy Tie. "We believe that this disruptive model, which brings diagnosis and treatment delivery, purchasing and consumer analytics into one end-to-end solution is the future of DTC pharma." For more information about Locke Bio, please visit www.lockebio.com . About Locke Bio Locke Bio is a digital healthcare company dedicated to helping any enterprise launch a fully integrated, branded digital health service that includes patient intake, telemedicine consultations, EMR, payment, user behavior analytics and a North American pharmacy network. Now, direct-to-consumer prescription brands can go to market without the costly, time-consuming and onerous work of reinventing the wheel. Visit http://www.lockebio.com for a demo. SOURCE Locke Bio The aim is to complete the acquisition of these assets in 2021 and, based on a positive assessment, to increase mineral resources and potentially increase project life-of-mine. ( ) ( ) has signed an option agreement to acquire six granted mineral leases containing more than 30 lithium pegmatite targets adjacent to its 100%-owned Finniss Lithium Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory. The aim is to complete the acquisition of these assets in 2021 and, based on a positive assessment, to increase mineral resources and potentially increase Finniss project life-of-mine. This plan would also support future lithium production capacity increases and downstream processing. Potential to accelerate resource expansion Core Lithium managing director Stephen Biggins said it was a significant milestone in the companys history. This new acquisition of multiple pegmatite mines adjacent to the Finniss Lithium Project has the potential to significantly accelerate Cores resource expansion plans. The expected increases in resources from this deal and our well-funded resource drill programs at Finniss this year should provide a strong platform for extending and expanding production of lithium from the project as lithium prices increase. Spodumene and lithium chemical prices have increased over 50% from lows in 2020, and as Australias most advanced lithium developer, Core is right at the front of the line of new lithium production in Australia. History of tin and tantalum mining These granted mining leases all have a history of tin and tantalum mining from pegmatites with similar chemistry as the high-grade spodumene pegmatites on Cores adjacent Finniss Lithium Project tenements. The Leviathan and Annie groups of pegmatites, which are the subject of the transaction, were discovered in the 1880s and then mined for tin and tantalum intermittently for more than 100 years. Lease details The granted mining leases, subject of an Option Deed, include over 30 pegmatites mined previously for tin and tantalum, including: Centurion Pegmatite 43 metres downhole spodumene pegmatite drill intersection and over 270 metres long; and Assays over 1% lithium oxide within 25 metres of the surface Leviathan Pegmatite Three pegmatites 30-40 metres total width and 350 metres long. Northern Reward Pegmatite Strike length of 800 metres and up to 18 metres true width. Bilatos Pegmatite Large footprint of 300 metres x 100 metres - but has not yet been drill tested. Building on this previous pegmatite mining and drilling information, Core will be the first company to explore and drill these prospective, lithium-rich pegmatite systems for economic spodumene lithium mineralisation. Terms of agreement Core Lithium, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Bynoe Lithium Pty Ltd, has entered into a Call Option Deed with Outback Metals Proprietary Ltd and Victory Polymetallic Pty Ltd to potentially acquire the six mineral leases. Under the terms of the option, Bynoe will pay Outback and Victory $500,000 cash for the option to acquire the Mineral Titles. Bynoe has until December 31, 2021, to exercise its call option and may extend that date by three months until March 31, 2022, and a further three months until June 30, 2022, subject to paying $250,000 cash for each extension. During the Call Option period: Bynoe is granted an exclusive irrevocable licence and right to access and conduct exploration and land access assessment activities on the Mineral Titles at its own cost and risk; and title to the Mineral Titles remains with Outback and Victory. Party to call option deed Australia New Zealand Resources Corporation Pty Ltd, owns the land underlying two of the mineral titles and is also a party to the call option deed and agrees to enter into a covenant on exercise of the call option. Bynoe must pay $25,000 per annum to the landowners as compensation and is to provide an additional $50,000 on signing the call option deed in the form of cash or a bank guarantee as a security deposit for rehabilitation liabilities. Completion of call option If Bynoe (or its nominee) exercises and completes the call option transaction, the $50,000 will be returned or netted off the purchase price. The landowner cannot deal with the underlying freehold during the call option period unless the third party taking an interest agrees to be bound by the terms of the call option, including the requirement to enter into the covenant. Bynoe can withdraw from the arrangement at any time and the call option will terminate at the end of the call option period if it has not been exercised. Exercise of option If Bynoe exercises the option, subject to securing the appropriate authorisations, it must pay: $5 million to Outback and Victory, with $1.5 million to be paid in cash and the balance of $3.5 million to be paid in cash or CXO shares, at Cores discretion (subject to any shareholder approval otherwise the balance of consideration will be cash). Any shares will be subject to a four-month and 14-day escrow period. Contingent consideration will also be payable of $500,000 to the Outback and Victory ($150,000 in cash and $350,000 in cash or CXO shares, at Cores discretion, for each 1 million tonne JORC resource Bynoe discovers, capped at an aggregate amount of $5 million. Any shares will be subject to a three-month and 14-day escrow period. Completion is conditional on Bynoe securing ministerial approval within six months after the call option exercise date. If ministerial approval is not obtained, then Bynoe can elect to terminate and the consideration will not become payable. If the call option is exercised, the landowners must enter into a Covenant in Gross with Bynoe, which runs with and binds that part of the land which underlies the two Mineral Titles. Under the terms of the covenant, the landowners agree to give Bynoe a right of first refusal to purchase the underlying land if the landowner intends to sell the land, and otherwise undertakes to ensure any third-party purchaser is bound by the covenant. Under the covenant Bynoe agrees to pay compensation to the landowner in full and final satisfaction for any damage, disturbance, and loss of access to the land including as compensation under the Mineral Titles Act: $500 per hectare per annum to the Landowner, for any part of the landowner's underlying land that is subject to the Mineral Titles. Bynoe must pay this compensation until the mine development date and reaching a final investment decision; or it purchases the underlying land from the landowner). No compensation will be payable if Bynoe does not undertake mining activities on the affected Mineral Titles in any 12-month period. $1,900,000 (Indexed using Darwin CPI) to the landowner, on the Mine Development Date. Core guarantees the financial obligations of Bynoe under the call option deed and the covenant. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A recently filed lawsuit alleges that the Governors Office and other state agencies are withholding public records to protect the alleged abusive behavior of a state employee. The lawsuit, filed in state District Court by journalist Bruce Wetherbee of the news site The Candle, is demanding public records relating to the employee and damages in a case brought against the Human Rights Bureau of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, the New Mexico Workers Compensation Administration and the Office of the Governor. The allegations are entirely baseless, nor does the governor play any role in either the process of hiring agency employees at this level or locating public records, Nora Meyers Sackett, press secretary for the governor, said via email. We decline to comment further on any pending litigation. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Wetherbee said he filed the lawsuit to get the agencies to produce the documents he contends are wrongfully being withheld documents that he alleges show abuse committed by Kenneth Owens, who is acting deputy director of the Workers Compensation Administration. Owens declined to comment for this story. I did not want to file a lawsuit, but I finally said, You know what? This is getting ridiculous, Wetherbee said in a phone interview Tuesday. Somebodys got to air this out, and their feet need to be held to the fire on this issue. Wetherbee filed several public record requests between August 2020 and January 2021 for information regarding potential favored treatment of certain employees, including pay raises, during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the lawsuit. The main crux of the lawsuit centers on documents surrounding Owens, who previously worked as an assistant attorney general under Gary King. Wetherbee said he was investigating claims surrounding Owens behavior toward female employees and allegations that he was promoted in place of more qualified women. In 2015, Owens was at the center of another lawsuit in which he allegedly harassed female nonprofit workers online under the name Mr. Smooth while working for the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office, according to previous reporting. This is about women who, my reporting indicates, were passed over for men who are less qualified, Wetherbee said. Its sex discrimination, its not supposed to happen anymore. To date, Wetherbee says, he hasnt received the Human Rights Bureau complaints against Owens that the department acknowledged existed. The agencies listed in the lawsuit withheld some of the documents requested by Wetherbee, arguing that some of the documents werent public records, according to the lawsuit. We believe theyre holding it back because the administration is embarrassed by this situation. They were hoping because were a little publication that maybe this would all blow over, and it would go away, Wetherbee said. But were still digging in, were gonna keep pushing on this issue. ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian Army has said most of its officials who were missing from the battlefield and subsequently declared wanted have returned to their various units. The army spokesperson, Mohammed Yerima, a brigadier general, stated this in a statement on Thursday. PREMIUM TIMES had published a full list of men of the Nigerian Army who were declared wanted. A total of 12 officers and 89 soldiers were declared wanted for deserting the warfront in Borno State. The army authorities also froze the banks accounts of the affected personnel. Military sources told PREMIUM TIMES the soldiers absconded from duty after insurgents attacked their camps in Marte and Dikwa Local Government Areas of Borno State, leaving scores of their colleagues dead. But according to the statement by the Army, most of the affected persons are now back to base. It also said an internal administrative error may have been exploited by subversive elements to spread falsehood. For the records, in the fog of war, it is a routine that head count is conducted to determine the number of men and equipment holding aftermath of military offensive, it said. Unfortunately, an internal correspondence that was originated by the formation was not properly done. It was later discovered that a good number of those affected rejoined their respective units and are currently part of the ongoing clearance operations. Read full statement: TROOPS DESERTION STORY NOT TRUE The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a publication in a section of the media alleging that over a 100 Nigerian troops were reported to have absconded after Boko Haram attacks on Marte and Dikwa. This publication is false, unfounded and an attempt to malign the image and character of the Nigerian Army. For the records, in the fog of war, it is a routine that head count is conducted to determine the number of men and equipment holding aftermath of military offensive. Unfortunately, an internal correspondence that was originated by the formation was not properly done. It was later discovered that a good number of those affected rejoined their respective units and are currently part of the ongoing clearance operations. Members of the general public are please advised to disregard the story as the subversive intent of the promoters are targeted at dampening the morale and fighting efficiency of our troops. We continually solicit especially the much needed public support in the fight against Boko Haram. The Nigerian Army wishes to reassure the general public that troops are in high spirit and currently clearing areas infiltrated by Boko Haram terrorists/ISWAP. It is on record that the troops fought to defend the Internally Displaced Persons Camp and United Nations Humanitarian Hub in Dikwa. It is pertinent to also note that normalcy has returned to Dikwa and its environs. MOHAMMED YERIMA Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations 4 March 2021. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 59F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. A view of the Confucius Institute building on the Troy University campus in Troy, Ala., on March 16, 2018. (Kreeder13 via Wikimedia Commons) Senate Passes Bill to Counter Threats Posed by Confucius Institutes on US Campuses The Senate on March 4 passed a bill that aims to rid U.S. college and university campuses of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence through Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes. The legislation, which passed by unanimous consent, would force universities that host Confucius Institutes to take full control of the centers, including what it teaches and who it hires, or lose federal funding. The bill, dubbed the CONFUCIUS Act, was also passed by unanimous consent during last years Senate session. Confucius Institutes, billed as Chinese language and culture centers, are funded and overseen by a department within Chinas central government. They have attracted growing criticism in recent years over their role in stifling free speech and promoting Beijings propaganda on college campuses. These institutes run by the authoritarian government of China will not allow the free exchange of ideas, John Kennedy (R-La.), the measures sponsor, said on the Senate floor on March 4. They will not allow anyone to talk about the Uyghurs or the people of Tibet or Hong Kong or what happened in Tiananmen Square. Kennedy, in a separate statement, described the institutes as propaganda centers that threaten academic liberty and free speech without shame. Too many American schools are falling victim to the political con every day. The bill would also require Confucius Institutes to protect academic freedom and ban the application of any foreign law on the campus. In recent years, a spate of Confucius Institutes has closed across the United States amid rising scrutiny from lawmakers and advocates. As of February, there were 55 Confucius Institutes stationed across American universities, with 64 that had closed or were in the process of closing, according to the National Association of Scholars. Last year, the Trump administration designated the Washington-based Confucius Institute U.S. Center as a foreign mission. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at the time that the measure was a recognition of the centers role in advancing Beijings global propaganda and malign influence campaign on U.S. campuses. From 2006 to 2019, the Chinese regime poured more than $158 million to about 100 U.S. universities through Confucius Institutes, according to a 2019 U.S. Senate subcommittee on investigations report (pdf). Last month, a U.S. official publicly called for American students to learn the Chinese language and history from Taiwan instead of at the Confucius Institutes. Learning Mandarin from Taiwanese teachers means learning Mandarin in an environment free from censorship or coercion, said William Brent Christensen, the Taipei office director of the American Institute in Taiwan, in an interview with Japanese media Nikkei Asia in early February. The institute is the de facto U.S. Embassy in Taiwan. The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine is developing a specialized state platform for deploying registries, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. According to him, the Ministry of Digital Transformation continues to work on the protection of personal data of citizens of Ukraine in terms of the formation of a policy for the functioning of state registers, tightening the basic requirements for their work. "We are developing a separate specialized government platform for deploying registries. We are creating our own platform based on open technologies so that there is no dependence on the developer. And so that registries can be maintained both internally and by external developers," Fedorov said. According to him, when the work on the platform is completed, it will be possible to gradually transfer all Ukrainian registers to it. "Its meaning is not only in maximum security and ordering of data. Within this platform, it will be possible to create a basic registry, literally, in a few clicks. This is, in fact, a registry constructor that immediately provides analytics tools. Naturally, everything is based on electronic keys. 'Official's account' will also be available," he said. Fedorov says that many countries will want to use such a product, so the system is being developed to the fullest extent possible, even "for export, in some way." "We plan to finish the platform itself at the end of this year, start gradually creating and transferring basic registries to it. And it will also save a lot of money for the budget, because in Ukraine, before the creation of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, a lot of people earned just on the creation of registers and their support," Deputy Prime Minister said. A North Carolina couple are still on the run six weeks after the wife allegedly shot a co-worker dead following an argument over tables. The United States Marshals Service (USMS) has offered a $10,000 reward for any information that will lead to the eventual capture of Eric and Tangela Parker. Tangela Parker is wanted for the first degree murder of Phelifia Michelle Marlow, 51, while Eric Parker is wanted for accessory after-the-fact to first degree murder, authorities say. The saga started in January when Tangela Parker and Marlow got into a fight over tables while working at furniture factory TCS Designs in Hickory, North Carolina. Marlow filed a complaint with management and claimed Tangela Parker had screamed at her, Marlow's husband Justin Marlow told WSOC-TV. Management sent Parker home for three days but she allegedly returned to work at 2.30pm on January 13 and shot Marlow dead, before fleeing with her husband. The United States Marshals Service (USMS) has offered a $10,000 reward for any information that will lead to the eventual capture of Eric and Tangela Parker Tangela Parker is alleged to have shot and killed her coworker Phelifia Michelle Marlow, left, after an argument over tables Police believe that the couple may be hiding out near the North Carolina-Tennessee border, FOX46 reports. U.S. Marshal Deputy Commander Brian Alfano said: 'I think theres a good chance theyre somewhere in the mountain area maybe even closer to the border between Tennessee or North Carolina side but I think there is definitely a possibility that they are still in this area.' According to a release from the USMS, the couple are considered 'armed and dangerous.' They were last seen driving a beige 2019 Honda CRV that has a North Carolina license plate with the tag FAM-5669. Justin Marlow has asked that the Parkers turn themselves in to police, the outlet reported. 'My wife was a loving, caring, strong, faithful woman and always seeing the best in everybody. Always look on the positive side no matter how bad things was,' Marlow said. Tangela Parker and her husband Eric Parker pictured. The couple are wanted in connection to the the murder of Tangela's coworker Local authorities said that Tangela Parker is wanted for the first degree murder while Eric Parker is wanted for accessory after-the-fact to first degree murder. They were last seen driving a beige 2019 Honda CRV that has a North Carolina license plate with the tag FAM-5669 Sue Carpenter, a former coworker and friend of Marlow's, told DailyMail.com that Marlow had previously suffered huge losses 'but always came out stronger.' '[Michelle] has always been a very dedicated person in everything she did and most importantly in raising her daughter Makayla,' Carpenter said. 'She had a very positive attitude and forever gave people the benefit of the doubt, never gossiping or hurting anyone.' Friends and family took to Facebook to mourn the loss in comments made to the Facebook post from Hickory police seeking help in tracking the suspects. 'It's so SAD. Michelle was a very sweet & loving person. She would do anything for anybody. I LOVE YOU MICHELLE,' one friend wrote. The shooting happened at TCS Designs, a furniture factory where Parker and Marlow worked Another wrote: 'I loved her so much. I am so very sorry. I hope that lady rots in hell.' One woman said she grew up with Tangela Parker and described her family as 'church-going people'. Workers at TCS Designs said they heard at least two shots and that the furniture plant went on lockdown. A representative for TCS Designs said the company had 'no comment to provide at this time.' Nepals prime minister, facing growing protests against him, gathered his supporters in a rally in the capital on Friday in an attempt to show he still has support. Tens of thousands of people waving red Communist flags gathered at the heart of Kathmandu cheering and chanting slogans in support of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. We love K.P. Oli. Oli is our hero. Oli for the prime minister for the next 10 years, the crowd chanted. A splinter faction of Oli's governing Nepal Communist Party and opposition parties have been holding protests against him since he decided to dissolve Parliament on Dec. 20 and hold new elections on April 30 and May 10.The splinter faction led a nationwide general strike on Thursday, shutting down schools, markets and transportation. Both Oli and the splinter group claim to control the Nepal Communist Party and the issue is being disputed at the Election Commission. The splinter faction even announced that it had ousted Oli from the party at a meeting last month.Oli became prime minister after the party won elections three years ago. His party and the party of former Maoist rebels had earlier merged to form a unified Communist party. Tensions, however, have grown between Oli and the leader of the former rebels, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also co-chair of the party. The two had previously agreed that they would split the five-year prime ministers term between them, but Oli has refused to allow Dahal to take over.The opposition has also accused Olis government of corruption, and his administration has faced criticism over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Reperio Health Preventative wellness startup Reperio Health announced its seed capital raise of $6 million. The Portland-based venture will offer wellness kits containing sensors for an at-home health assessment and biometric screening that provides comprehensive results immediately. The FDA-approved sensors in the Reperio kit include a blood test to measure levels of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and glucose, in addition to tests for blood pressure, resting heart rate, Body Mass Index and Relative Fat Mass. In addition to its initial launch into the employer market, Reperio's at-home health assessments will be made available to health plans, retirement facilities, fitness and nutrition practitioners and directly to individuals. Reperio's seed round was co-led by Caduceus Capital Partners in Nashville, Tennessee, and Rogue Venture Partners in Portland, with additional investment from Liquid 2 Ventures and G Ventures, both out of the San Francisco Bay Area. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... LAS CRUCES As Texas prepares to rescind almost all measures in place to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima is asking New Mexicos governor to reopen indoor dining at local restaurants next week as a means to dissuade residents from traveling across the border to El Paso. The New Mexico governors office, through its press secretary, said his proposal is a non-starter. On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said most coronavirus restrictions in the state would be lifted March 10 to open Texas 100%, eliminating business occupancy restrictions and removing the statewide mask mandate. Texas counties could implement COVID-19 mitigation strategies if hospitalizations increase above 15 percent of the areas bed capacity for seven consecutive days, Abbott said. Businesses can also impose their own capacity and masking guidelines, but nothing is required. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Health officials have advised against a full reopening, saying that more contagious coronavirus variants and lack of sufficient vaccinations increase the risk of more infections and hospitalizations. Mayor: El Paso visits could be tempting With Texas poised to open up, the Las Cruces mayor is worried about locals traveling to El Paso. He said Abbott was acting like the pandemic is over. On Wednesday, Miyagishima said he was asking New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to grant Dona Ana County an exemption to allow indoor dining when the state next updates its Red to Green reopening map. If (Lujan Grisham) doesnt allow restaurants to open at all here, the mayor said, residents, certain ones, are going to be tempted to go to El Paso that could, theoretically, be asymptomatic possibly taking the virus with them to El Paso and vice versa, possibly bringing it back. For subscribers: Red to Yellow and back again: Dona Ana County case averages and test positivity, explained Dona Ana County businesses must currently operate under Red-level restrictions in accordance with the states Red to Green framework, the strictest level. Just last week, the county learned it would need to reimpose Red-level restrictions after operating under Yellow-level guidelines for the previous two weeks. The states framework paints a county Yellow when one of two criteria is met for the previous 14 days: either test positivity falls to 5 percent or lower, or new COVID-19 cases stay at or below 8 cases per 100,000 people. With the reentry into Red, Dona Ana County restaurants were once again disallowed from hosting indoor dining, along with other reenacted restrictions. Miyagishima said hes hopeful the county will become Yellow when the state updates its county-by-county map March 10. But if the county remains Red, hes come up with two possible plans to present the governor. His Plan A is to ask Lujan Grisham to grant an exemption to allow Dona Ana County restaurants to operate according to Yellow-level rules on March 10 regardless of next weeks update as long as the countys rolling seven-day daily case average is 100 or lower. His backup plan, Plan B as he called it, is to request that the governor allow indoor dining at 25 percent capacity for residents who have received the initial dose of their vaccine if the county remains Red next Wednesday. Under Yellow-level restrictions, indoor dining would be allowed at 33 percent capacity. In a statement, Press Secretary Nora Meyers Sackett said the governors office would not consider Miyagishimas proposal, questioned its epidemiological basis and said there already exists a straightforward way for Dona Ana County to loosen restrictions mitigating virus spread. The red-yellow-green framework is not in place for the fun of it, and is not something the state operates lightly, Meyers Sackett wrote, later adding The state is not going to enact special exemptions upon the request of local officials that would be in direct conflict with public health best practices and the data framework all other counties in the state are operating under. The mayors initial Plan A was to ask Lujan Grisham to allow local businesses to expand capacity on March 10 if the county goes Yellow despite that already being allowed under the states framework. After the Sun-News informed him of the existing provision, Miyagishima tweaked Plan A to its existing version. County vaccine resolution planned Meanwhile, on the Dona Ana County Commission, Chair Manny Sanchez of District 5 feels a greater sense of urgency in requesting the county receive a greater allocation of vaccines from the state. Sanchez who just recently spent 10 days in isolation following a positive COVID-19 test and experiencing mild symptoms said he asked for a resolution to be voted on at the commission meeting March 9 which would request a larger share of the states vaccine distribution. By March 2, the county was ranked 30th out of 33 counties for percent of people who have received the first vaccine dosage, according to New Mexico Department of Health data. The total number of people given the first dose fell far below Bernalillo County, the only county with a higher population than Dona Ana. Related: Dona Ana one of 10 New Mexico counties to receive Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19 The issue of disproportionate vaccine allocation in Dona Ana County has been an ongoing concern. While concerned about the Texas governors actions, Sanchez said the commission was very limited in what it could do. Abbotts new order only makes it more imperative in Sanchezs view to get more locals vaccinated. To me, its a big concern, Commission Vice Chair Diana Murillo-Trujillo said about Abbotts order. Thats going to affect us here our cases are going to increase. She didnt have any further action planned at the moment but said it would be discussed during Tuesdays commission meeting. Michael McDevitt is a city and county government reporter for the Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter. Others are reading: Meet the NMSU ag business major who earned a golden ticket on American Idol Dona Ana County detention officer sues over COVID-19 vaccine mandate Man charged with 2019 vehicular homicide of Anthony teen pleads guilty to multiple charges New Mexico debates longer school year mandate, virus make-up This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces mayor, county commission chair plan actions in wake of Texas reopenings ___ (c)2021 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Burma Myanmars NLD Rejects Militarys Call for Proportional Representation Election System A voter in the 2020 general election. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe National League for Democracy (NLD) and ethnic political parties that won seats in the 2020 general election said they are against the proportional representation (PR) system proposed by Myanmars military regime, which seized power in a coup last month. Central Executive Committee member Daw Khin San Hlaing of the NLD, which won over 83 percent of votes in the Nov. 8 election, said: People are not ready to exercise PR. As long as the military is in the Parliament and the Constitution remains unchanged, we dont support switching to PR. The military-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has asked the political parties to provide their input on ways to replace the First Past the Post System (FPTP) with the PR system, citing the calls for a switch to PR at a recent meeting of 51 political parties. The meeting was boycotted by major parties including the NLD. Myanmar is not yet ready for PR. It was proposed at the first Parliament under [the U Thein Sein government] to switch to PR. The Parliament turned down the proposal, said Daw Khin San Hlaing. Major Shan State-based party the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), which won 15 seats in the Union Parliament and 27 seats in the Shan State Parliament, said it would not reply to the UECs request for input on PR. We didnt attend the UEC meeting as we dont recognize the military council. And we have no reason to reply to their PR proposal, said general secretary Sai Leik of the SNLD. The Taang National Party (TNP), a popular party among ethnic Taang people, said it would not accept PR, though it has not received the UECs invitation for input on a PR system. The PR system is not yet appropriate in ethnic regions. There are many illiterate voters in Myanmar. If PR is to be practiced, it is important that correct choices are made. As they cant even read the names, there can be many mistakes, said TNP chairman Aik Mone. The representation of ethnic parties in the Parliament could be affected by a move to PR, said Aik Mone. There are over 20 democracies that exercise PR around the world, but the system is different from one country to another. In FPTP, which is practiced in Myanmar, the candidates who win a majority of votes are elected lawmakers. Under the PR, parties receive Parliamentary seats proportional to the percentage of votes they win in an election. Though PR can prevent the one-party authoritarianism which is otherwise allowed by FPTP, it has its own disadvantages, such as negative impacts on representation of ethnicity-based political parties in the Parliament, as Parliamentary seats are shared according to percentage of total votes. Myanmars military holds 25 percent of the seats in national and sub-national legislatures under the 2008 Constitution, and only 75 percent are elected seats. Political analysts say democratic forces will lose strength in Parliament under PR, as around 30 political parties out of some 90 political parties in Myanmar are believed to be the militarys allies. A politician who contested the 2020 general election said on condition of anonymity: They originally have 25 percent. If PR is practiced, for example, the Union Solidarity and Development Party [USDP], due to the support of the military and military sympathizers, may win the second largest number of seats after the NLD. Even if people dont vote for the party, it will still have seats in the Parliament because of the percentage of votes it wins in the election. And PR is very complicated. There are problems even in the current [FPTP] system. I view [the plan to switch to PR] as a political trick. The Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP), which won five seats in the Union Parliament and three seats in Kayah State said PR is not appropriate for Myanmar. KySDP general secretary Theh Reh said, We have not received the UEC letter. I dont think PR will work as there are problems with ethnic majority and minorities. The idea was proposed in Parliament in 2014 under President U Thein Seins government. The Upper House approved the switch, but the Lower House voted it down. The NLD at the time also opposed the PR, and all the NLD representatives resigned from a Parliamentary PR preparation commission. Detained NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has also said that PR is not appropriate for Myanmar given her situation. The NLD has also explained the pros and cons of PR to citizens in some regions and states. A total of 51 parties including the militarys proxy USDP, its allies and ethnic parties attended the meeting with the military-appointed UEC, and 38 major parties including the NLD and SNLD boycotted the meeting. You may also like these stories: Another Bloody Day in Myanmar: At Least 28 Protesters Slain by Military 115 Information Ministry Staff Refuse to Work for Myanmar Junta Myanmar Regimes Appointed Envoy to UN Resigns Despite Promotion 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 organisation representing the views of loyalist paramilitary groups has told Boris Johnson that they are withdrawing their support for the Good Friday Agreement until the Irish Sea border is removed. The letter to the Prime Minister from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) will raise fears about the future of the loyalist ceasefire. It claimed that the basis on which the paramilitaries committed to end violence in 1994 had been undermined. The LCC is an umbrella organisation representing the views of groups including the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando. The two-page letter from its chairman David Campbell calls on the Prime Minister to trigger Article 16. Mr Campbell said that he had been "instructed to write in similar terms to the Irish Taoiseach". Arlene Foster, Michelle O'Neill, European Commission vice-president Maros Sefkovic and the US consul-general are copied into the correspondence. Mr Campbell told the Prime Minister: "The protocol gives effect to the Irish nationalist position at the expense of the unionist position. This renders it in variance with the Agreement it purports to uphold and undermines the basis on which the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) agreed their 1994 ceasefire and subsequent support for the Belfast Agreement. "The LCC leadership is determined that unionist opposition to the protocol should be peaceful and democratic. However, please do not underestimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family. "The only time I can remember such unanimity of opposition was following the imposition of the Anglo-lrish Agreement in 1985." He continued: "Accordingly, I have been instructed to advise you that the loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement and its institutions until our rights under the Agreement are restored and the protocol is amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the UK. "If the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the Agreement then it will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the Agreement." He rounded on EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier for "repeatedly (refusing) to meet with our representatives, who were signatories to the Belfast Agreement, even though we pointed out the one-sided and disingenuous representations being made to him from republicans and the Irish Government". He was scathing of Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who did meet the LCC but "chose to ignore" its views. "Indeed, his actions and remarks served to heighten tensions in Northern Ireland throughout the negotiations and he is responsible for destroying the positive relationships with the Irish Government built up over the past 20 years," the letter stated. Mr Campbell said he wished to "place on record the unanimous opposition of all the groups that are represented by the LCC to the protocol and our determination that it should be replaced". Expand Close LCCs David Campbell / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp LCCs David Campbell He stressed that the organisation's concerns were "much more fundamental" than the trade disruption caused by the protocol. The LCC told the Prime Minister that "no consent" had been sought for the protocol from the people of Northern Ireland, "and our political representatives are unanimous in their opposition to it". The organisation said it understood nationalist arguments that there must be no hard border in Ireland. "Equally, it should be self-evident that there should be no hard border, either physical or regulatory, between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK," it added. The LCC told the Prime Minister that it was "prepared to play a meaningful role in seeking a workable solution". "However, a starting point has to be the acceptance that a hard border on the island of Ireland, or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, has no cross-community support here and is therefore untenable. "It must be patently obvious to you that the triggers detailed in Article 16 of the protocol, ie the extreme economic and societal difficulties, now pertain and must be acted upon without further delay." Expand Close Threat: Graffiti targeting Michael Gove / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Threat: Graffiti targeting Michael Gove The announcement came after graffiti threatening Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove appeared in a loyalist area of south Belfast. DUP MLA Christopher Stalford said those responsible for spraying the minister's name, address and a threatening message saying 'we don't forget, we don't forgive' across a series of hoardings should be ashamed. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. H-E-B President Scott McClelland has the explanation why the store won't require customers to wear masks in light of Gov. Greg Abbott's Tuesday announcement. While it has the power to require customers to wear masks before entering, McClelland said H-E-B won't take that step in part because of belligerent customers who have caused nearly 2,000 in-store incidents surrounding masks at Houston stores alone. WEAR EVERYWHERE: Here's where you're still required to wear a mask in Houston If a customer walks into the store without a mask, a worker will ask them to put one on, McClelland said. If they don't have one, they will be offered a mask. If they still refuse to put one on, McClelland said "we are not going to escalate." Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer "What's important to me is, I've got to ensure for the physical safety of both my employees and customers in the store," McClelland said. "That's what we have been doing, and frankly it's the same thing we'll continue to do." McCelland cited the use of Plexiglass barriers in checkout lines and increased social distancing as ways to keep workers safe as more customers are expected to not wear masks. He also said customers could be metered at the door if there are too many people in the store. Early in the pandemic, H-E-B joined other Houston grocery stores and retailers who would not enforce local mask mandates, such as the one signed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Several retailers said the orders were up to individual to comply, not businesses to enforce. Zoom / Jay R. Jordan McClelland urged anyone who comes to H-E-B to wear a mask, calling it the "kind, considerate and empathetic thing to do." "Of all the issues we have dealt with over the course of the last year, masks are the most polarizing," McClelland said. "In part, because they were used as a political weapon and in part because, frankly, people don't like wearing masks. I don't like wearing a mask, but I do know it's my part in terms of what it is I need to do. I also know that after 10 months, I've become accustomed to wearing them. While it's not my favorite thing to do, I'm certainly willing to make that sacrifice not just for the good of me but for the good of other people." He acknowledged that fewer people will wear masks inside H-E-B (and any other grocery store, for that matter). But the importance of wearing a mask, which is still recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, remains paramount as cases show a steady decline. As of Wednesday, the Houston regional positivity rate fell to 8.65 percent, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. More than 3.9 million Texans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. "We still have a long way to go," McClelland said. "People need to use good common sense and practice safety." Editor's Note: The following is an opinion piece. In a statement on Wednesday evening, President Biden criticized Governor Abbots decision to end mask mandates, calling it to be a big mistake and Neanderthal thinking in the face of CDC warnings about easing restrictions with developing coronavirus strains. While the move is undoubtedly inhumane, drawing to mind a few choice words, the issue arises with Bidens unforgivable, tragic comparison. To liken the governor's thought process to the extinct hominid is a grave insult to Neanderthal intelligence. Contrary to Bidens words, they werent really the type to make moronic public health decisions on a state level. Instead, they were our particularly bright, beautiful brethren who in the end just couldnt hack it. They met a very empathetic end. Many of us can even trace our lineage back to these robust, big-boned, wide-ribbed, pleistocene epoch grandmas. With knowledge of the microbiome, they most certainly would have cut some lovely animal hide masks for their grandkids, using relatively advanced stone tools. RELATED: Biden says Texas made 'big mistake' by lifting mask mandate, suggests 'Neanderthal thinking' Despite common misconceptions, Fred H. Smith, a physical anthropologist at Loyola University in Chicago, cited them to be highly intelligent, able to adapt to a variety of ecological zones, and capable of developing high functioning tools to help them do so. They were quite accomplished. I double majored in anthropology, therefore like Smith, I am also an expert (in drawing little monkeys in the margins of my notebooks). Below is a study in Neanderthal thinking. They likely performed burial rituals There are several recorded instances where archaeologists have determined that Neanderthals sometimes buried their dead. This is significant because it indicates the capacity for spiritual belief, a trait that was previously thought to be strictly in the homo sapien cache. In the 1950s and '60s Shanidar cave in northern Iraq was excavated, booning the discovery of Neanderthal remains dusted in flower pollen, suggesting a loved one laid to rest with passion and a fist full of flowers. In later years, using more advanced methods, scientists determined that the Neanderthals in the cave were indeed buried, after analyzing sediment changes around the bones that indicated digging. READ MORE: Mask on: Restaurants and shops in San Antonio that are keeping mask requirements When archaeologists discovered Neanderthal remains in La Chapelle-aux-Saints cave in southwestern France, they were similarly deemed to be products of authentic burials. Like Shanidar, this was confirmed with tighter methodology years later. There are still more examples, lurking in internet scientific journals. Compassion, empathy dont seem to align with Abbotts new executive order. Their tools were pretty good Neanderthals werent just banging each other over the head with rocks like the The Three Stooges or The Sopranos, I mean they probably were, but they also crafted pretty advanced stone tools called Mousterian tools. The tools didnt really evolve that much during their run on earth, between 130,000 and 40,000 years ago, but they still helped Neanderthals effectively hunt and prepare food. They were probably caring individuals Archaeologists have found Neanderthals to be a pretty rough and tumble sort of group. Bone analysis of remains have revealed many Neanderthal individuals to have suffered traumatic or even disabling injuries, then living to see the sun years after the blow was delivered. Given this observation, paleoanthropologists have postulated that the concept of caring for one another had to have existed in Neanderthal society, otherwise those individuals wouldnt have survived. Maybe Neanderthals werent Mother Teresa, or even quite Einsteins of their day, but they certainly werent thinking like Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Camille Sauers is a freelance writer based in San Antonio. Find her on Twitter @camillesaccount. Send her emails to camillefrancissauers@gmail.com. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fayetteville, Arkansas based start-up Natural Way Food Group has secured $1 million to accelerate their continued growth. The capital raise was led by Tusk Private Investment, a private investment firm with offices in Dallas and Northwest Arkansas focused on investing in and supporting top-tier operators in high-growth businesses. Natural Way Food Group manufactures, sells, and distributes clean, sustainable nut butter products that are currently sold by Amazon and in select Walmart, Whole Foods, Safeway/Albertsons, Sprouts, Central Market, and Harps stores. The company was founded in 2017 by brothers Austin and Quinn Simkins armed with a family peanut butter recipe and a passion for health and sustainability. The Natural Way brand offers the first and only nut butters on the market today made with olive oil, a healthier and more sustainable alternative to palm oil, which currently dominates the shelves and can be devastating to the environment. "This capital raise will allow Natural Way Food Group to invest in all facets of our business," says co-founder Austin Simkins. "We feel great about our current product portfolio and retailer partnerships. We are excited to be able to expand distribution and deliver more healthy and sustainable products to market. We are also focused on investing in people, filling important positions and expanding our already great team." Tusk Managing Partner, Aaron Pierce commented "Natural Way is truly representative of the type of businesses we're looking to invest in and partner with," added Aaron Pierce. "Founders, Austin and Quinn Simkins, have developed a category leading product that tastes exceptional and is both healthier for you and better for the environment. The unique combination of talented founders of a well-run family business, doubling revenues annually with a superior product, in a growing category segment is rare to find and we're excited to grow Natural Way and support their continued expansion over the coming years." About Natural Way Natural Way Food Group was founded in 2017 by Austin and Quinn Simkins located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Natural Way is the only brand of nut butter that uses olive oil instead of palm oil or hydrogenated oils. Natural Way prides itself on being a healthy brand that promotes sustainability through the use of sustainable ingredients and responsible sourcing of input goods to provide the customer with the best quality product. For more information, visit www.naturalwayfoodgroup.com, or email Austin Simkins at [email protected]. About Tusk Private Investment Tusk Private Investment is a private investment firm with offices in Dallas, Texas and Northwest Arkansas, focused on investing in, acquiring, and scaling privately held operating businesses. Tusk provides both patient and flexible capital while equipping teams with the resources required to take their company to new heights. Tusk considers both majority control and minority growth capital transactions in a variety of industries including e-commerce, consumer package goods, business and home services with a focus on the Heartland of the United States. For more information, visit www.tuskinvestment.com. SOURCE Natural Way Food Group Related Links https://www.naturalwayfoodgroup.com By Keith Burbank Bay City News Opponents of a solar project in the North Livermore Valley are ready to sue if the county approves the project Thursday morning. Alameda County supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at 1221 Oak St. to consider the Aramis Renewable Energy Project which will generate up to 100 megawatts of power and store energy in five acres of batteries. Solar panels will sit on about 350 acres in an agricultural district located partly at 1815 Manning Road and 4400 North Livermore Ave. and on two other parcels nearby. "If they (supervisors) do approve it, we are prepared to sue," said Chris O'Brien with Save North Livermore Valley. O'Brien said his group believes an approval of the project will violate California zoning laws and the law under voter-approved Measure D, which is meant in part to protect agricultural land and prevent urban sprawl. In a letter Wednesday to the supervisors, Robert Girard and Richard Schneider, the authors of Measure D, said the project "is inconsistent with the provisions" of the measure. Measure D amended elements of the county's General Plan and actions opposed to Measure D must be approved by voters, O'Brien said. He said the land on which the solar project will be built is agricultural land where about 100 head of cattle graze. Hay is also grown on the land slated for the project. O'Brien said his group is not opposed to solar energy, but does oppose the process used to move the project toward construction. For about 10 years, county officials have started and stopped preparing a solar development policy. They most recently started again in 2019 and have not completed it. "In our view it's just inappropriate planning," O'Brien said of the Aramis project. He said Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties have developed policies to determine the best place for solar. In a letter to the director of the Alameda County Community Development Agency, dated for the day of the vote, City of Livermore officials argued for the development and adoption of solar policies in the county. Intersect Power, which is the company behind the project, said the project will provide 400 living wage, union jobs and will annually generate enough power for 25,000 homes. Like Save North Livermore Valley, Friends of Livermore and Friends of Open Space and Vineyards are opposed to the project. Intersect Power did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon. Newly elected Supervisor David Haubert, whose district includes the project area, was unavailable to comment Wednesday afternoon. 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. One of the most powerful moments of President Joe Biden's inaugural address came when he offered his list of "the common objects we love that define us as Americans." He named seven of them. The first six were opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect and honor. Only the final one merited elaboration: truth. "Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson," the newly sworn-in president said. "There is truth and there are lies. Lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation to defend the truth and to defeat the lies." Make no mistake, we as a nation and as a global community are in a fierce battle to protect the value of truth. It's so vital to protect the sanctity of a set of facts that all sides recognize, even while disagreeing about what they mean. (CNN) The director of the US Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday said she hopes people will decide to individually "do the right thing" about distancing and wearing masks, even in states moving to eliminate restrictions against the CDC's recommendations. "I think we at the CDC have been very clear that now is not the time to release all restrictions," Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing. Walensky's comments come after governors of Texas and Mississippi said they were lifting mask mandates and allowing businesses to open at full capacity, starting now or within days. President Joe Biden sharply criticized states lifting Covid restrictions Wednesday, saying he thought it was a "big mistake" and that "these masks" make a difference. "We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we're able to get vaccines in people's arms," Biden said. "The last thing -- the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything's fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters." Public health leaders across the US have urged states to wait at least for far more inoculations and lower cases levels before easing safety measures, pointing to an increasing spread of more-transmissible coronavirus variants that could spark another surge in cases. Walensky said she "would still encourage individuals to wear masks to do the right thing to protect their health." "Every individual ... is empowered to do the right thing here, regardless of what the states decide for personal health, for public health, for their health, and their loved ones and communities," she said. Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday "it is really risky" to lift mask mandates and restrictions. "That is a dangerous sign, because when that has happened in the past, when you pull back on measures of public health, invariably you've seen a surge back up," said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "So we really don't want to claim premature victory." Texas drops mask mandate, allows 100% capacity in businesses With less than 7% of residents in his state fully vaccinated, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday lifting a statewide mask mandate and allowing businesses to operate at 100% capacity, effective March 10. "It is clear from the recoveries, the vaccinations, the reduced hospitalizations, and the safe practices that Texans are using, that state mandates are no longer needed. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans," Abbott's Press Secretary Renae Eze told CNN in a statement. "The Governor's focus has been, and always will be, protecting the lives and livelihoods of Texans." The governor said county leaders may opt to use mitigation strategies if regional COVID-19 hospitalizations rise above 15% of bed capacity for seven days straight. But they cannot impose jail time for people who don't follow COVID-19 orders, nor can residents be penalized for not wearing masks, he said. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Wednesday that local school boards can determine whether the mask policy should be in their area. It also said the public school system's current practices on mask-wearing can continue unchanged. In Houston, the chief of staff of the United Memorial Medical Center, said he told his staff to prepare for surges in patients because of the vanishing rules. "If we open the state on the 10th, I'm telling you, before the end of March, we're going to have problems," Dr. Joseph Varon told CNN's "New Day" Wednesday. Austin Mayor Steve Adler said he was "dumbfounded" by the governor's announcement and pleaded with residents to "act like we do have a mask mandate, for people to continue to wear it, for businesses to continue to require it." In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves said starting Wednesday the state would lift its county mask mandates and allow businesses to operate at full capacity. "Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time," Reeves wrote about his decision on Twitter. Mayors of some cities, including Jackson and Greenville, said they will keep enforcing citywide mask mandates. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also announced revisions to public health orders Tuesday, including dropping a 300-person limit for events at banquet centers. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled a series of eased restrictions taking effect Friday, including expanded capacity for restaurants, retail, gyms, stadiums and other facilities. And in Louisiana, the majority of businesses -- including restaurants and salons -- will be allowed to operate at 75% capacity starting Wednesday, while religious services will no longer have capacity limits, the governor said. Thirteen states are now without statewide mask mandates. Testing demand is dropping Although COVID-19 case levels in the US are well below a January peak, health experts have given a few points of caution about the decline. The US averaged more than 65,400 new cases a day over the last week, far below a peak average of more than 249,700 day reached on January 8. But the rate of decline has recently slowed -- the average was just above 70,000 a week ago, according to Johns Hopkins University data. And the current case average is still high in context -- it's very close to the highest average of last summer, which was around 67,030 on July 20. Also, fewer people appear to be getting tested, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the week that ended Monday, the US recorded an average of about 1.5 million Covid-19 tests daily, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project. That's about 26% fewer than the average in mid-January, when the US saw a seven-day average of more than 2 million tests reported. "Widespread testing must continue in order to defeat the pandemic," Dr. Greta Massetti, from the CDC, told CNN Tuesday. "It will take many months for all Americans to have the opportunity to receive one of the vaccines available." "In the meantime, it's essential that people continue to take preventive measures." On the vaccination side, a federal official told CNN that the CDC won't advise vaccinated Americans that they can go back to life as it was 2019. The agency will release guidelines when they are finalized later this week. "It's not that simple because not everybody has been vaccinated, and we haven't reached the point where there is population-level immunity where we can give broad advice like that," according to the Biden administration official. "It's not possible yet to say, 'Yeah, you're vaccinated, so everything is hunky dory." The CDC official confirmed that a Politico article accurately characterized the guidelines as recommending that fully vaccinated people limit their social interactions to small home gatherings with other fully vaccinated people. The guidelines also say fully vaccinated people should continue to wear masks in public and practice social distancing. The agency will also give guidance for travel. The guidelines won't be prescriptive about what vaccinated people can and cannot do in all circumstances, according to the administration official. For example, it won't say vaccinated people can or cannot go to specific places or business establishments. "It's impossible to get to that level of detail -- we can't predict every situation that human beings will be in," the Biden official said. "What we can do is give principles for people to think through. It will give people the means to think through it and then they can choose what level of risk they wish to take." Inoculations with Johnson & Johnson vaccine ramp up More than 51.7 million people in the US have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to CDC data. More than 26.1 million -- about 7.9% of the US population -- have received two doses. While vaccines will be available for all US adults by the end of May, teenagers will still have to wait until the fall, Fauci said. Vaccines for children younger than 13 most likely won't be available until early next year, "more likely the first quarter of 2022," Fauci said Wednesday. On Wednesday, more US vaccine sites began offering the recently authorized one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Before this week, the only COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the US -- from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna -- have been two-dose products. Among the locations offering the J&J vaccine Wednesday was a Federal Emergency Management Agency-run site at Miami Dade College. At that site, people can arrive without registering beforehand and can choose -- as supplies allow, on a first-come, first-serve basis -- which company's vaccine to receive. The site intends to offer 500 J&J shots and 2,500 Pfizer shots per day. On Tuesday, a vaccination site in Columbus, Ohio, became one of the first places to administer the J&J vaccine outside a clinical trial. The introduction of a third vaccine is expected to help boost the country's daily inoculation rate. While there has been mostly good news with the J&J vaccine, some Catholic bishops are discouraging church members from getting the J&J vaccine. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with six other dioceses across the US, released statements expressing "moral concerns" over the shot because of its use of lab-grown cells that descend from cells taken in the 1980s from the tissue of aborted fetuses. President Joe Biden announced Tuesday the US will have enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for every adult American by the end of May -- speeding up the timeline of the administration's previous goal by two months. His remarks came as the President announced a partnership in which pharmaceutical company Merck will help Johnson & Johnson produce the latter's vaccine -- with an expectation that this will yield a faster overall production. Governors across the country have said the introduction of the J&J vaccines to the US market will help ramp up vaccinations, and some have announced expanded eligibility guidelines as a result of the added supply. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced that starting Wednesday, all frontline essential workers in Group 3 are eligible to make vaccine appointments, noting that the state also plans to make residents with comorbidities in Group 4 eligible later this month. North Carolina has created the groups to set vaccine priorities and is already vaccinating Groups 1 and 2, which include health care workers, long-term care staff and residents, and older adults. "The third vaccine and improving vaccine supply will help us get more people vaccinated more quickly," the governor said. "But as we've said before, we still don't have enough vaccines. You may have to wait for an appointment even if today's action means you are eligible to get vaccinated." For Americans who have already received a first dose, Johnson & Johnson's vaccine should not replace second doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines except in "exceptional situations," the CDC warned. "The Covid-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, and the safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series has not been evaluated," Dr. Sarah Mbaeyi, CDC medical officer, said Tuesday. "We don't want people to just start mixing and matching with whatever is easiest to get." This story was first published on CNN.com, "CDC director urges people to keep masking and distancing 'regardless of what states decide'." General Assignment Reporter Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012. The largest and oldest power cooperative in Texas is filing for bankruptcy protection, citing Februarys winter storm that left millions without power, and it is unlikely to be the last utility to seek shelter in the courts. Brazos Electric Power Cooperative serves distributors that supply electricity to more than 1.5 million Texans in 68 counties from the Panhandle to Houston. Brazos said it was a financially robust, stable company before the Arctic freeze that hit Texas in mid-February. It said it received excessively high invoices from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates the state power grid, for collateral and the cost of electric service. The invoices were required to be paid within days. As a cooperative, Brazos costs are passed through to its members and retail consumers served by its members. Brazos decided that it wont pass on the ERCOT costs to its members or the consumers, so it filed for Chapter 11 protection, which indicates that the company plans to reorganize its debts rather than liquidate. Let me emphasize that this action by Brazos Electric was necessary to protect its member cooperatives and their more than 1.5 million retail members from unaffordable electric bills as we continue to provide electric service throughout the court-supervised process, Clifton Karnei, executive vice president and general manager of Brazos, said in a statement. There could be more. Ed Hirs, who teaches energy economics at the University of Houston, is sure there will be more power company bankruptcies. He cited estimates by BloombergNEF that Texans will pay $50 billion for electricity the week of Feb. 14 compared with $4.2 billion the previous week. Hirs said the difference will be paid in higher electric rates or borne by taxpayers. Already, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, and both Republican and Democratic legislators have promised to help Texans facing huge bills. The consumer and the taxpayer are pretty much one and the same, Hirs said. Whether it comes out of your left pocket or out of your right pocket, its coming out of your pocket. Some consumers have already received February bills in the thousands of dollars. Most if not all of them had plans tied to the wholesale price of energy, which skyrocketed when the states main electric grid lost 48% of its power while demand soared to heat homes as temperatures plunged into the single digits. The Brazos bankruptcy filing came the same day that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that he is suing Griddy, a company that sold wholesale-rate plans, for passing along massive bills to its customers. The lawsuit accuses Griddy of violating a state law against deceptive trade practices, and it seeks refunds for customers. ERCOT has shifted about 10,000 Griddy customers to other utilities, which the company said effectively shut it down. We have always been transparent and customer-centric at every step, Griddy said in a statement. We wanted to continue the fight for our members to get relief and that hasnt changed. When a polar vortex reached Texas in February, much of the states power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. Millions huddled in frigid homes. Others fled for safety. The state, long suspicious of regulation and outsiders, was left to seek aid from the federal government and humanitarian groups to help its 29 million people. Now utilities involved in the grid face growing financial risks. Brazos was one of six electric cooperatives that were put on watch last Friday for possible credit-rating downgrades by Standard & Poors. Although S&P judged each companys debt to be investment-grade, it warned of pressure to raise rates and the potential for more regulation. The others on S&Ps radar: Brownsville, at the southern tip of Texas on the Mexican border; Garland Power & Light in the Dallas suburbs; Georgetown, an Austin suburb; Golden Spread Electric Cooperative in the Panhandle; and the Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages hydroelectric, natural gas and coal-fired power plants across more than 70 Texas counties. S&P also slapped a credit watch on San Antonios public electric and gas systems, saying that the higher cost of providing electricity and natural gas during the freeze week will add to the utilitys debt, put pressure on its ability to set rates, and potentially weaken its financial performance. Not all energy companies in Texas are suffering because of the freeze. While many Texans were still without power on Feb. 17, Roland Burns, the president and chief financial officer of Comstock Resources Inc., was telling analysts that the natural gas company was profiting nicely from the spike in prices, which started even before the Arctic weather arrived. Obviously this week is like hitting the jackpot as some of these incredible prices, I mean frankly we were able to get super-premium prices, Burns said. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Texas Newer models with a high "climate sensitivity" - meaning they predict much greater global warming from the same levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide as other models - do not provide a plausible scenario of Earth's future climate according to researchers from Princeton University and the University of Miami. According to the researchers, these models exaggerate the global cooling effect caused by cloud-aerosol interactions, implying that clouds will mitigate greenhouse-gas-induced warming much more than climate records show, according to the researchers, who published their findings in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Related Article: UK Sets to Invest Over $1 Billion for Science Accuracy and Consistency Instead, the researchers discovered that models with lower climate sensitivity are more consistent with observed temperature differences between the northern and southern hemispheres and, as a result, are more accurate depictions of projected climate change than newer models. The Carbon Mitigation Initiative (CMI), based at Princeton's High Meadows Environmental Institute, helped fund the research (HMEI). According to co-author Gabriel Vecchi, a Princeton professor of geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute and principal investigator in CMI, these findings could significantly impact climate-change policy. Models with higher climate sensitivity predict greater warming from greenhouse gas emissions, as well as more dire - and imminent - consequences like more extreme sea-level rise and heatwaves. Conditions High-climate-sensitivity models predict a 2 to 6 degree Celsius increase in global average temperature under current carbon dioxide levels. To avoid catastrophic consequences, scientists agree that the increase should be kept below 2 degrees. The Paris Agreement of 2016 set a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius for global warming. "Clearly, a higher climate sensitivity necessitates much more aggressive carbon mitigation," Vecchi said. "To meet the Paris Agreement's goals of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, society would need to drastically reduce carbon emissions. Reducing the uncertainty in climate sensitivity allows us to develop a more reliable and accurate climate change strategy." The researchers discovered that both high and low climate-sensitivity models accurately predicted global temperatures during the twentieth century. On the other hand, the higher-sensitivity models include a stronger cooling effect from aerosol-cloud interaction, which balances out the increased warming from greenhouse gases. Furthermore, the models predict that aerosol emissions will be concentrated in the northern hemisphere, which contradicts observations. Findings "Our findings remind us to be careful when interpreting model effects, even though the models correctly reflect past global warming," said first author Chenggong Wang, a Ph.D. nominee in Princeton's Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. "We prove that the global trend obscures crucial data about climate shift trends." In addition to the main findings, the study sheds light on how clouds can moderate warming on large and small scales in models and the real world. Scientists at Princeton and other universities have recently focused on the impact of clouds on climate change. Two papers by Amilcare Porporato, a member of the CMI leadership team and Princeton's Thomas J. Wu '94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, reported on the future effect of heat-induced clouds on solar power and how climate models underestimate the cooling effect of the daily cloud cycle. ALSO READ: Who is Gina McCarthy? Meet The Woman Behind POTUS Biden's Climate Agenda For more news update about Climate Change and similar topics, don't forget to follow Nature World News! The UK has launched a probe into suspected anti-competitive behavior in regard to Apples App Store, the latest in a series of investigations of the company. Whats the problem? That an investigation has been announced is not the same as declaring guilt. The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) explains: No decision has yet been made on whether Apple is breaking the law. The CMAs investigation will consider whether Apple has a dominant position in connection with the distribution of apps on Apple devices in the UK and, if so, whether Apple imposes unfair or anti-competitive terms on developers using the App Store, ultimately resulting in users having less choice or paying higher prices for apps and add-ons, the agency said. The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says its enquiry follows complaints from several developers who claim Apples conditions are unfair and break competition law. Theyre unhappy because apps must be approved by Apple and developers must agree to certain terms to do business on the platform the company has built. The CMA is also questioning the commission Apple charges developers of up to 30% for sales on its store. What they said In a statement, CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said: Millions of us use apps every day to check the weather, play a game or order a takeaway. So, complaints that Apple is using its market position to set terms which are unfair or may restrict competition and choice potentially causing customers to lose out when buying and using apps warrant careful scrutiny. The European Commission currently has four open antitrust probes into Apple, including three investigations into the App Store. What happens next? The investigative process is quite formal. Investigators are now equipped with formal information-gathering powers to equip the probe. This initial inquiry is expected to extend into September and will include requests for written information, interviews, and possibly even investigators searching Apples premises to get information. In the event sufficient evidence of an infringement is found, the CMA will set out its provisional findings, with evidence, and propose both remedial action and penalties. Apple then gets the right to reply, after which a final decision will be reached with a right of appeal. Its a lengthy process. What might Apple think? Apple CEO Tim Cook has discussed scrutiny and big tech to the extent that I think he sees scrutiny coming. He recently told shareholders, scrutiny is always fair," but argued that Apple does not dominate in any industry in which it works. Its important to note that whatever decisions regulators reach will also impact the companys competitors, crafting a level playing field within which to do business. The company is also clear that it is built on the marriage between hardware and software: The kind of things that we love to work on are those where theres a requirement for hardware software and services to come together because we believe that the magic really occurs at that intersection, Cook said during the most recent financial call. To my mind, Apple will argue that its platform is a unique invention that belongs to, and is made by, a company that consists of both hardware and software. Among other positions it will take, it will likely argue: It is not the biggest phone maker, tablet maker or computer maker in its markets. There are alternative platforms developers can choose. Side loading of apps may damage customer security and the customer experience. It has recently moved to change its App Store fees. Its models have enabled businesses across the globe. App Store developers have earned more than $155 billion in App Store sales since 2008. It is not unique in offering platform-focused App Stores. Most such stores take around the same commission. And it doesn't demand exclusivity. What Apple says Apples most recent Form 10-k regulatory report has plenty of sections concerning regulation, including the following statement: The technology industry, including, in some instances, the Company, is subject to intense media, political and regulatory scrutiny, which exposes the Company to government investigations, legal actions and penalties. For example, the Company is subject to antitrust investigations in various jurisdictions around the world, which can result in legal proceedings and claims against the Company that could, individually or in the aggregate, have a materially adverse impact on the Companys financial condition and operating results. In addition, if enacted, legislative and other proposals to further regulate technology companies could result in changes to the Companys business, including requiring the Company to modify its product and service offerings, limiting the Companys ability to invest in strategic acquisitions, or affecting the Companys business relationships with other technology companies, and could have a materially adverse impact on the Companys financial condition and operating results. Further, the Companys business partners are or may become subject to litigation that, if resolved against them, could affect the Companys relationships with these business partners and have a materially adverse impact on the Companys financial condition and operating results. There can be no assurance that the Companys business will not be materially adversely affected, individually or in the aggregate, by the outcomes of such investigations, litigation or changes to laws and regulations in the future. What might happen So, whats the likely outcome? Governments tend to be 10 steps behind reality, and in the case of Big Tech they seek high profile targets which will make them seem to be acting tough. Apple is one of the highest profile targets. I suspect the inquiries will coalesce around setting arbitrary limits to App Store fees. I can also imagine a compromise around some form of sandbox in which third-party application installs may be suggested, but I expect Apple to prevail in insisting on the right to protect platform security particularly in a digital age characterized by state-sponsored cyberattacks. Personally, I think Apple has a stronger argument in terms of how it invests in enabling third-party developers on its platform by providing the APIs and tools they use to create software than developers have to demand such access. If Apple didnt make these platforms, they wouldnt exist. If it has any form of monopoly, it is over its own intellectual product and should have a right to decide what products get stored in that space. Governments seek ways to punish high profile Big Tech names that dont actually involve raising tax rates against billionaires, so its not impossible for things to go awry. Its easier to make life hard for Apple than it is to fight the climate crisis or protect people against hunger or the COVID-19 pandemic, after all. Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. Dhaka, Mar 4 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned visit to Dhaka later this month will surely be a 'very memorable' one, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, as he described India's strategic ties with Bangladesh a truly '360 degree partnership'. Jaishankar arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh later this month to participate in the celebrations of 50th anniversary of Bangladeshs Independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations. After holding comprehensive discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart A K Abdul Momen, Jaishankar said Bangladesh was central to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and increasingly relevant to the country's 'Act East Policy'. 'We are working to prepare for the planned visit of our Prime Minister. It will surely be a very memorable visit: if I recall right it would be his first visit outside India since the coronavirus pandemic and his second as Prime Minister to Bangladesh,' he told reporters at a joint press conference along with Momen. 'Many of you would remember his (Modi's) last visit (here), that was something very transformational in our relationship,' he said. Prime Minister Modi is likely to pay a two day visit to Dhaka from March 26 to Bangladesh to participate in a series of events. Jaishankar acknowledged that it was a 'very special year' for the people of Bangladesh when both countries mark the Mujib Barsho, 50 years of Bangladesh's Liberation and 50 years of India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. 'May all your dreams come true and I can assure you that India will always be there by your side, as a reliable friend,' he said. 'Our relationship is so broad & our comfort level so high that there is no domain today that is left untouched. It is a truly a 360 degree partnership,' he tweeted. Story continues 'Our relations actually transcend even our strategic partnership, and I believe that our bonding is central to the realisation of a dream of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Asia,' he said. It is in pursuit of this vision that both sides have made remarkable progress in the relationship, especially since Prime Minister Modis assumption of office in May 2014, Jaishankar said. The significance of India's ties with Bangladesh lies in its centrality, for India's Neighbourhood First policy and Dhaka's growing relevance for India's Act East Policy, he said. 'We see Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued partner not only in South Asia but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Every outcome and achievement in our relationship resonates through this region. It is no secret that we cite it to others as an example for emulation,' he said. During his meeting with Momen, Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions on ways to take forward the bilateral relations. 'We are working so hard to expand our relationship to whole dimensions, ranging from security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people to people ties ensuring development of our shared resources,' Jaishankar, who is expected to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told reporters. 'Our comfort levels are now so high that we have shown that there is no issue that we cannot discuss and resolve through amicable dialogue,' he said. Momen said the two countries have committed to continue to work together to take 'our bilateral relations to newer heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Hasina.' Jaishankar said that his visit is also a statement of solidarity in 'our shared' fight against the COVID pandemic. In January, India sent over 20 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine as a gift to Bangladesh. 'The pandemic has actually provided an opportunity to reaffirm our friendship. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Made in India vaccines. Also among the friendship our largest gift of vaccines of 2 million, which is really appropriate that it is to Bangladesh,' he said. Speaking on the long-pending deal on the sharing of Teesta waters, Jaishankar said, 'We did discuss it and you know we would have a meeting of our water resources secretaries very soon. He said India had already in principle agreed to sign the agreement but its internal problems barred New Delhi to ink it yet. 'We did discuss it and you know we would have a meeting of our water resources secretaries very soon. I am sure they will discuss it further. You know the Government of India's position, that has not changed,' he said. Momen said his meeting with Jaishankar focused on possible ways to materialise 'our commitments and how to prioritise and accommodate each others priorities in a mutually beneficial manner. Replying to a question on the killings of Bangladeshis allegedly by the Border Security Force along the border, a major irritant in bilateral relations, Jaishankar said, We have talked about it. Many of the deaths take place inside India. Every death is regrettable. The deaths occurred due to the crimes along the border, he said, expressing optimism that it could be stopped by the joint efforts of both the countries. 'But the problem is because of crime. So our shared objective should be there will be 'no crime, no death' on the border. I am sure if we can get it right -- no crime, no death -- we can together address the problem effectively,' he added. PTI AR RS AKJ AKJ The logo of US social network Twitter displayed on the screen of a smartphone and a tablet in Toulouse, southern France, on Oct. 26, 2020. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images) Twitter to Use Strike System to Take Down What They Consider COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation Twitter announced on Monday it will put warnings on posts that contain what the platform considers to be misleading information about the CCP virus vaccines, as well as put into practice a strike system that would see users who repeatedly break their rules banned. The enforcement would be monitored by humans who define what misinformation is, who are then assisted by computers through machine learning. Labels will first be applied by our team members when they determine content violates our policy, Twitter said in a statement about the new rules. Those assessments will be used to further inform our automated tools and to advance our proactive capacity to identify and label similar content across the service. The labels may link to content curated by Twitter, explaining that the company is aiming to uphold high standards of accuracy, impartiality and fairness in our curation. One strike in the system would result in no account-level action, but a 12-hour lockout would come as a consequence for two strikes, another 12 hours for three strikes, a seven-day lockout for four strikes, and a permanent suspension for more than five strikes, the platform said. The social media platform stated that with this system, they aspire to educate people on why certain content breaks our rules so they have the opportunity to further consider their behavior and their impact on the public conversation. Prior to the declaration of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak as a global pandemic, Twitter had been distributing health-related information and removing demonstrably false or misleading content about the virus that had the highest risk of causing harm, according to Reuters. After their CCP virus guidelines were established, Twitter said they removed over 8,400 posts and challenged over 11 million accounts. Now, with people looking for trustworthy information on the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines, Twitter said it would expand its guidance. Twitters top person in charge of UK public policy, Katy Minshall, acknowledged the role that Twitter has played in distributing reliable information on public health. We continue to work with health authorities around the worldincluding (Britains health service) the NHSto ensure high visibility access to trusted and accurate public health information on our service, including about COVID-19 vaccines, she said. Today we will begin applying labels to tweets that may contain misleading information about COVID-19 vaccines, in addition to our continued efforts to remove the most harmful COVID-19 misleading information from the service. In January, Twitter introduced a community-based approach to misinformation, as it works to develop a system where the general user will be able to add a note and report on different posts, specifying their opinion if they find something wrong with what other people write. We apply labels and add context to Tweets, but we dont want to limit efforts to circumstances where something breaks our rules or receives widespread public attention. We also want to broaden the range of voices that are part of tackling this problem, and we believe a community-driven approach can help, read a Jan. 25 statement released by the company. Today were introducing @Birdwatch, a community-driven approach to addressing misleading information. And we want your help. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/aYJILZ7iKB Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) January 25, 2021 The name of the pilot system is birdwatch. Approved contributors will add notes that are viewable to the public on posts they believe are misleading. Birdwatch is in a testing phase, so the notes are visible on a different web address for now. Twitter says that the data will be publicly downloadable in TSV files. We hope this will enable experts, researchers, and the public to analyze or audit Birdwatch, identifying opportunities or flaws that can help us more quickly build an effective community-driven solution, the tech giants web reads. We know this might be messy and have problems at times, but we believe this is a model worth trying. Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies at a Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees Joint Hearing in Washington on April 10, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Montana Lawmakers Seek to Protect Citizens From Extreme Political Biases of Big Tech Montana lawmakers and policymakers took their first big shot at Big Tech in what supporters described as an effort to stop and punish censorship and discrimination against social-media users. The first shot missed, but not by much. And if officials who spoke with The Epoch Times are right, the states war against what many legislators view as abuse by Silicon Valley is just getting started. On March 2, the Montana House of Representatives nearly passed a bill that would have allowed the state to regulate social-media infringements on freedom of speech. The measure failed by one vote. Under the legislation, known as House Bill 573, companies such as Facebook and YouTube would have been subjected to oversight and scrutiny by the Montana Public Service Commission. Multiple commissioners, elected to regulate utilities and other interests, expressed support for the effort. Lawmakers also stressed the significance of the plan, describing the bill as a necessary measure to protect the rights of Montanans from unaccountable corporate giants with what a number of legislators described as extreme political biases. Our collective effort was to ensure that the people in Montana were not subjected to any stripping of their fundamental First, Fourth and 14th amendment rights, State Representative Brad Tschida, who sponsored the bill, told The Epoch Times. In particular, he pointed the finger at YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter as among the worst Big Tech companies when it comes to violating the rights of his constituents and the people of his state. Even the president of the United States was banned, meaning nobody is safe without action to stop the abuses, as several lawmakers warned. Unfortunately, liberal oligarchs within the Republican caucus in Montana saw fit to put their personal ambitions and desires ahead of the rights and well-being of their constituents, added Tschida, who is seeking an available state senate seat and vowed that the fight would go on in the next session. Policymakers also told The Epoch Times that the Montana Senate could take up the legislation, under certain circumstances, potentially setting up another vote in the House. A Republican state senator who spoke to The Epoch Times by phone expressed interest in carrying the bill if possible, but said it would need to meet certain criteria before being filed this late in the session. Consistent With Federal Law One of the architects of the legislation, legal expert Martin Lynch who runs a legal services firm, argued that HB573 was better than the bills being pursued in Florida and Texas on the subject. That is because the bill restores fundamental rights and liberties in a manner consistent with Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act (CDA), which sets certain limits on what states can do. HB573 would have provided a clear path to due process and equal protection, Lynch told The Epoch Times, noting that this would be allowed under CDA. But some Montana legislators do not take their oath to the Constitution seriously. Calling for the people of Montana to clean house, Lynch said there could be no more important standard than free speech by which to hold elected officials accountable. Our rights, including free speech, come from God, and the Constitution protects that, as well as our due process rights, he said, expressing disappointment that the bill did not succeed this time around. Lawyers and politicians need to understand that. Critics of the bill in the legislature expressed concerns about the unknown fiscal impact it might have, as well as worries about more government intrusion into the private sector. Representative Llew Jones, a Republican who was instrumental in securing enough Republican votes to defeat the bill, did not return voice messages or emails seeking comment by press time. The legislation would have expanded the Montana Public Service Commissions authority to include jurisdiction over what the bill described as access software providers, which would include the social-media giants. The Public Service Commission, funded by industry and made up of five elected commissioners representing districts, already regulates public utilities, railroads, energy companies, and other key industries. Among other elements, the bill would have prohibited unreasonable censorship by social-media companies. Access software providers may not censor based on the political nature of content, the bill states. Under the measure, which is already being considered in other state capitols, alleged victims of censorship and other perceived violations of individual rights would be allowed to file a complaint with the Public Service Commission. If the dispute cannot be resolved in another manner, the Commission would get involved and issue a final order in each case. Both parties would be able to appeal the ruling in state court. If the social-media company refuses to comply with the Commissions ruling, it would be subject to hefty fines, potentially reaching into the millions of dollars. Discrimination and Bigotry One of the Public Service Commissioners who rallied behind the bill, Randall Randy Pinocci of District 1, was outraged that some RINO Republicans joined Democrats to kill the bill by a single vote. However, he said this was just the first battle in a war against discrimination and bigotry by Big Tech that will rage on for years to come, and will eventually go national. This bill was not just introduced to help Montana, Commissioner Pinocci told The Epoch Times, citing the social-media ban on Trump. This bill was introduced to help lead the nation in stopping the most outrageous examples of discrimination Ive seen in my lifetime. Every day, Democrats are screaming about discrimination, Pinocci continued. But when outrageous discrimination benefits the Democrat Party, apparently they have no interest in stopping it, he said. The firebrand commissioner also said the states Public Service Commission had a perfect track record when it comes to protecting people from discrimination by the industries it regulates. I never heard of a Republican not getting electricity or a Democrat not getting natural gas service, he said. I regulate taxicab service in Montana and I never had a complaint about a Native American or African-American being refused taxicab service. If this bill passed and we were able to regulate social-media companies like other utilities, Im sure the discrimination demonstrated by the CEO of Twitter and the clear discrimination used by Facebook would be nonexistent, added Pinocci, noting that if they continued they would pay millions in fines. Pinocci, a former lawmaker with a record of taking on what he describes as big government, pointed out that every legislator and Public Service commissioner swears an oath to protect the Constitution and the rights of their constituents. But Twitter and Facebook did not swear that oath of office, he observed. To say Facebook and Twitter can continue to use discrimination is like telling the bus company that they can force African-Americans to sit at the back of the bus, Pinocci continued. Actually, what Twitter has done is to say Republicans cant ride the bus at all. Calling on the CEO of Twitter to resign immediately, and on Facebook to immediately stop discriminating based on Americans political and religious views, Pinocci promised to fight for the bill as long as it takes even if it does not pass until the next session. Public Service Commissioner Tony ODonnell in District 2 argued that self-government in America depends on reining in the abuses by social-media companies. The entirety of the bedrock of our experiment in representative government is a well informed electorate and its absolute necessity is free exchange of ideas, ODonnell explained. Without this, all is lost. If not Montana, then who? If not now, when? he added, urging lawmakers to act. Prominent voices in the state such as James White, editor of the conservative-leaning Montana Daily Gazette, described the legislation as arguably the most important bill introduced in the legislature in recent memory. The Montana bill comes as multiple states consider legislation and other policy measures to rein in perceived censorship, discrimination, and political interference by the powerful technology companies. YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter were all contacted by The Epoch Times with a request for comment about the bill. None responded by press time. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Dr. Christian Dennys-McClure Twitter Dr. Christian Dennys-McClure has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cameroon, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said Thursday. The press release adds that Dennys-McClure will also serve as Her Majestys non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. "@UKinCameroon is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christian Dennys McClure as British High Commissioner to Cameroon and non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Join us to welcome @ChrisDennysUK," the British High Commission in Yaounde said in a tweet. The new British High Commissioner succeeds Rowan Laxton with effect from April 2021. Until his appointment Thursday, March 4, 2021, Christian Dennys-McClure was serving in the Cabinet Secretariat as Head of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Joint Funds Unit, a post he has held since 2017. From 2016 to 2017, he served in the National Security Secretariat as Deputy Head of CSSF. From 2015 to 2016, he was CSSF Conflict Advisor in charge of Security and Justice. Christian Dennys was a Conflict and Stabilisation Advisor at the UK's Stabilisation Unit from 2013 to 2015. He has a PhD in stability and stabilisation from Cranfield University/UK Defence Academy. He is the author of the book, Military Intervention, Stabilisation and Peace: The search for stability (Cass Military Studies). The new British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cameroon and Her Majestys non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea is married and has two children. The expert in conflict and stabilisation is expected to help Cameroon in its search for peace in the minority English-speaking regions enveloped by conflict since 2016. Cameroons state forces have been battling to dislodge armed separatists who pitched their tents in the North West and South West Regions since Anglophone protests transformed into an armed conflict in 2017. Corporate demands by Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers led to protests in November 2016. The street demonstrations later morphed into ongoing running gun battles between state forces and armed separatist fighters in the predominantly English-speaking regions, leading to untold destruction of human lives, their habitats, and livelihoods. Tit-for-tat killings, kidnappings, arsons, maiming and outright terror have become part of daily lives in some parts of the English-speaking regions. French group strengthens position in Lebanon, where it handles more than 50% of the countrys deepsea container traffic, and at Spains Algeciras CMA CGM has moved to strengthen its position as a terminal operator in the Mediterranean with the purchase of all shares in Gulftainer Lebanon, the operator of the main container terminal in the port of Tripoli, and a separate deal to buy a near 50% stake in Spains Total Terminal International Algeciras. The Lebanon deal is its third fresh port venture in the Mediterranean this year, having also reached an agreement with the Egyptian government to manage and operate a new multipurpose facility in the port of Alexandria. CMA CGM already has a strong presence in Lebanon, handling more than 50% of total traffic at its two major ports, Beirut and Tripoli. In Tripoli, it handles more than 80% of deepsea volumes through its five weekly services, including both a direct link to China and connections to Arab markets. CMA CGM expects to welcome nearly 240 vessels from its fleet to Tripoli in 2021. No financial details of the transaction with Gulftainer were given. In a statement, the Marseilles-based company said that the acquisition aligns the group closer to its Lebanese importing and exporting customers, while strengthening its port presence both through its maritime and port activities and its logistics expertise with its subsidiary CEVA Logistics. CMA CGM has strong ties to the country, with its founder, the late Jacques Saade, of Lebanese descent. His shipping empire began more than four decades ago with one ship, four employees and a single maritime link between Beirut, Latakia, Livorno and Marseilles. His son Rodolphe Saade, the groups chief executive, was born in Lebanon. The United Arab Emirates-based port operator Gulftainer won a 25-year concession to build and operate the Tripoli box terminal, which has a capacity of around 400,000 teu, in 2013. Algeciras deal CMA CGM has also further expanded its Mediterranean port presence with a deal to buy a stake in Spains Total Terminal International Algeciras. TTIA was formerly part of the now defunct Hanjin Shippings port portfolio before it was acquired by fellow South Korean carrier Hyundai Merchant Marine in 2017. The news comes after the French container shipping giant said it had bought a stake in Spains Total Terminal International Algeciras from South Korean carrier Hyundai Merchant Marine. CMA CGM has taken a 50% minus one share in the Spanish facility, one of two terminals in Algeciras alongside Maersks APM Terminals amply named APMT Algeciras. HMM had been looking for an investor in TTIA in a bid to inject liquidity in a terminal that has been slowly haemorrhaging money since its takeover. The hope for HMM will be that CMA CGMs clout and the promise of additional volumes will turn the terminals fortunes around. TTIA boasts an annual capacity of around 1.7m teu. And with its 850-metre long quay and 18 m draught at berth can handle the worlds largest containerships. Algeciras is the Mediterraneans third-busiest container port behind Piraeus and domestic rival Valencia. CMA CGM said the move strengthens its foothold in the Strait of Gibraltar, which sits at the crossroads of trade between Asia, Mediterranean and Northern Europe, while dovetailing well with its position held via Terminal Link, its port venture with China Merchant Holdings, in Tangiers, Morocco. In the Mediterranean, CMA CGM also has port interests at Marseille-Fos, Malta and Thessaloniki. With the groups investment in TTIA its terminal capacities in the region total more than 7m teu. Alexandria was added to this list in late January, when CMA CGM chief executive Rodolphe Saade signed off a long-term partnership with Egyptian authorities for the operation and management of Pier 55. The terminal will have a capacity of around 1.5m teu and is expected to welcome the first vessel to its docks in 2022. CMA CGM did not disclose the purchase price of its stake in TTIA. This article was originally published in Lloyds List. Image: Shutterstock.com New York Citys Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, with the collaboration of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), is now actively preparing to open high schools for face-to-face instruction in the largest school district in the US. The new Chancellor of Schools, Meisha Porter, recently pledged, I promise well do everything to reopen schools, starting with high schools. Under conditions in which the New York B.1.526 variant of COVID-19 is spreading largely undetected throughout the city, the drive to reopen all schools will escalate the deadly conditions confronting educators and the entire working class. A student checks her paperwork with her mother before entering Meyer Levin Middle School, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) On March 1, UFT president Michael Mulgrew told a meeting of the unions Executive Board, We are in conversations about high school openings. We have a formula and know how many people we need. The drive to reopen high schools takes place immediately after the unsafe return of over 62,000 middle school students last week, after their teachers returned to schools across the city. The situation is dangerous and the threat of death to educators, students and their families is real and growing every day. There are presently 164 buildings closed because of COVID-19 cases discovered among students and staff school across multiple classrooms in just the last week. Over the last seven days in February, the city recorded 26,657 new cases of COVID-19 in the city. Even the inadequate testing of the Department of Education has revealed that at least 992 students and staff have been diagnosed with the disease in the last two weeks. The new strains of the virus that have spread around the world in the last five months are making the situation even more deadly. The Brazilian P1 variant, which has infected tens of thousands and killed thousands in recent weeks in the city of Manaus, a previous hotspot of the disease in mid-2020, has now been detected on the East Coast of the US. This strain has been noted for reinfecting people who have already had COVID-19. The South African variant, the most vaccine-resistant, has been recorded in both New York and Massachusetts. Along with the reopening of college campuses across the country, especially in New England, the conditions exist for this variant to spread rapidly. The opening of schools under these circumstances is part of a concerted plan by the Biden administration, which is being spearheaded by the Democratic Party nationally, to get parents back to work so that profits can continue to flow to major corporations. In this process, the unions have played the most critical role. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten recently told the New York Times that she now spends 15 hours per day on the phone with the White House, the CDC, local mayors and union heads orchestrating the national campaign to reopen schools. Last month, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) signed an agreement with the administration of Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot to open schools despite widespread opposition from Chicago teachers. 37,000 students returned to classrooms this Monday, with more slated to return throughout this month. Heading up this policy was the leadership of the CTU, the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE), some of whose leadership is aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). In New York, where the UFT has attempted to paralyze the ability of educators to shut down schools since March 2020, the opposition caucus affiliated with the CTU, the Movement of Rank-and File Educators (MORE), has now issued a set of conditions by which they will endorse the reopening of New York City schools. Every educator knows that the UFTs pledges to open schools safely are worthless, and that such an endeavor defies basic scientific principles of airborne viral transmission. To suggest that the UFT and MOREs limited measures can protect educators is a total lie. The only safe solution open to educators is to organize a general strike across the city with the aim of shutting down schools and non-essential businesses until the population is vaccinated. As part of this campaign, the New York City Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee demands: Full income support for parents while they stay at home with their children. The hiring of thousands of educators and full funding for adequate computer equipment and infrastructure to facilitate remote learning. Full income support for non-essential workers and the unemployed. Mass hiring of healthcare workers and the expansion of medical facilities. Maximum safety conditions for essential workers, including logistics and transit workers, to be determined by their own rank-and-file safety committees. The vehicle for accomplishing such demands are rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the corporatist unions and democratically controlled by workers themselves. We call on educators, parents and all workers in the tri-state area to immediately begin building such committees independent of the capitalist political parties and the trade unions. Our educator brothers and sisters in Chicago, Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, and Michigan have formed committees like ours, and committees have been built in auto plants and Amazon facilities across the US and globally. Just as the pandemic is a global phenomenon, so must educators and all workers unite on a global basis. Our strength lies in common goals and action with workers in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Turkey and other countries who have formed their own independent action committees to halt the spread of COVID-19. The conditions exist for a rapid development of working class opposition to the conditions of illness, death, mass unemployment and economic dislocation and structural collapse, as was particularly evidenced in Texas in the last two weeks. The critical task is to build new organizations to channel this opposition into a powerful, broad-based movement of the entire working class, which our committees are fighting to develop. We urge all New York City educators, parents and students to join and build this committee today to stop the pandemic and save lives! NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Opting for shared mobility is way more cost-effective than buying an automobile and then maintaining it throughout its lifetime. This is why the Indian shared mobility market will witness a massive 56.8% CAGR between 2020 and 2025. At this rate, the revenue generated from the provision of such services across the country is expected to increase from $1,025.8 million in 2019 to $3,952.8 million by 2025, according to P&S Intelligence. Key Findings of India Shared Mobility Market Ride-hailing services remain ever popular Urban road congestion major factor impelling people to share vehicles Shared mobility services in India presently used most for occasional commuting presently used most for occasional commuting Use of shared mobility services by corporates to witness rapid rise Electric and autonomous vehicles in sharing fleets could offer market players lucrative opportunities Service providers focusing on raising funding for service launch and expansion Cost-effectiveness is a key driver for the Indian shared mobility market as most people living in cities still are not too wealthy, therefore cannot afford to purchase vehicles. By sharing an automobile, people do not have to pay for the vehicle and fuel cost, regular repairs and maintenance, insurance, and parking, as all such expenses are borne by the service provider. Users only need to pay on the basis of the journey distance and time. Request to get the sample copy this report @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/india-shared-mobility-market/report-sample Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian shared mobility market has been dealt a severe blow. Due to the lockdown and movement restrictions imposed in the country last year, offices and manufacturing plants were shut down. This led to a mass exodus of working-class people back to their hometowns, thereby reducing the demand for transportation services massively. Similarly, seeing the decrease, many of the drivers of shared vehicles also went home, so the market players in many places didn't have enough resources to offer the services. In the coming years, the ride-hailing category is expected to witness the fastest growth in the Indian shared mobility market, on the basis of service type. The millennials in big cities are rapidly shifting from conventional mobility options, such as buses and autorickshaws, to ride-hailing services, as these services are integrated with advanced technologies and offer the advantage of no crowding. Browse report overview with detailed TOC on India Shared Mobility Market Research Report: By Service Type (Two-Wheeler Sharing, Ride Sharing, Ride Hailing, Car Rental, Carsharing, Bus/Shuttle Service), Vehicle Type (Two-Wheelers, Cars, Buses/Vans), Commuting Pattern (Daily Commuting, Last-Mile Connectivity, Occasional Commuting), End Use (Personal, Business), Region (East, West, North, South) Competitive Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2025 @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/india-shared-mobility-market The cars category, under the vehicle type segment of the Indian shared mobility market, held the largest share in the past. Compared to two-wheeler sharing and bus/van shuttle services, car rental and ride-hailing services saw the earlier introduction in the country. In the near future, the highest CAGR in the Indian shared mobility market, of 60.3%, is predicted to be seen in the daily commuting category, based on commuting pattern. The demand for shared mobility services for daily commuting is rising among young professionals and college-goers. Personal will be the larger bifurcation in the Indian shared mobility market in the years to come, under segmentation by end use. Presently, such services are majorly used by people for visiting someone, traveling to the office or college, buying groceries, and leisure purposes, such as going to shopping malls, bars, stadia, and restaurants. Make enquiry about this report @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=india-shared-mobility-market Currently, players in the Indian shared mobility market prosper the most in the southern part of the country. All major cities in South India, including Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam, have a strong network of service providers. The market is expected to grow the fastest in the eastern region of the country in the near future because of the rising demand for such services in Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha. Major companies operating in the Indian shared mobility market are ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Ola), Uber Technologies Inc., Comuto SA, Meru Mobility Tech Pvt. Ltd., Zoomcar India Pvt. Ltd., Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd., Roppen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd., Mega Cabs Pvt. Ltd., Vogo Automotive Pvt. Ltd. (Vogo), Yulu Bikes Pvt. Ltd., and Wicked Ride Adventure Services Pvt. Ltd. (Bounce). Browse More Reports India Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market The Indian electric scooter and motorcycle market would reach a sales volume of 1,080.5 thousand by the end of 2025, exhibiting a CAGR of 57.9%between 2020 and 2025. Due to the rising pollution and the increasing provision of financial incentives by the government, the sales of electric scooters and motorcycles are booming in India. https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/india-electric-scooter-and-motorcycle-market Mobility as a Service Market A major trend in the mobility as a service market is the adoption of electric vehicles for sharing purposes. Concerned at the high pollution levels and fossil fuel prices, the government of various nations are formulating policies and offering incentives to encourage the usage of electric vehicles in sharing fleets. https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/maas-market About P&S Intelligence P&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness. Contact: Prajneesh Kumar P&S Intelligence Contact: +1-347-960-6455 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com SOURCE P&S Intelligence DUSSELDORF, Germany, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The US has lost its status as the place foreigners would most like to work, with Canada now regarded as the top destination, according to a new study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Network. The study shows that the pandemic has had a major impact on people's attitudes toward work abroad, reducing their interest generally and inclining them toward countries that have done the best job of containing the coronavirus. A report based on the study is being released today. Decoding Global Talent, Onsite and Virtual is the third core publication based on BCG and The Network's ongoing research into worker mobility and worker preferences. Only about 50% of people are willing to move to another country for work, according to this year's survey, which included almost 209,000 participants in 190 countries. That's down from a 64% willingness level in 2014 and 57% in 2018. The lower willingness to relocate was expressed by respondents in nearly every country in the world. "Restrictive immigration policies have already weakened the mobility trend," said Rainer Strack, one of the authors of the study and a senior partner at BCG. "COVID is a new variable that is making people cautious about considering international relocation. And with the rise of remote working, many may feel that they can further their careers virtually, without needing to move at all." Almost all of the countries that moved up in the top ten rankings have a relatively low incidence of COVID-19 cases. That includes Canada, Australia (now number three among global work destinations), and Japan (now number six). In addition, two Asia-Pacific countries that have won praise for their public health responseSingapore and New Zealandappear on the list for the first time. Concerns over the coronavirus response in Europe contributed to a decline for many previously popular destinations. Germany and France each fell two places in the rankings. Italy and Spain fell off the top ten list altogether. Attitudes toward the world's most famous cities likewise reflect their countries' coronavirus responses. New York, Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid are now considered much less attractive as work destinations than they were in 2018. Tokyo and Singapore have increased in attractiveness, as have Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in the likewise less-hard-hit United Arab Emirates. A New Kind of Mobility While there is less willingness now to pull up stakes and move to a foreign country, the survey shows a high level of enthusiasm for the model of staying in one's home country while working for a foreign employer. Fifty-seven percent of people say they are willing to do this, and when remote international work is the question, the US switches places with Canada and is again number one. The overall openness to virtual work is especially high among people in the information technology and digital fields. Seventy-one percent of people with digital or analytics backgrounds said they would be willing to work for a company with no physical presence in their own country. So did 67% of people with IT and technology backgrounds. Among people with master's degrees or above, the willingness quotient was likewise high: about 62%. "Hiring people from other countries is not a new practice for employers," said Pierre Antebi, a comanaging director of The Network and one of the report's authors. "But the trend of remote working makes it possible to do it on a broader scale and expand the available talent pool. There's also an upside for workers, who can advance their careers without uprooting their lives." The report describes the challenges companies face in offering remote international employmentincluding cultural integration and the securing of visasand highlights some early solutions. The data gathered for Decoding Global Talent, Onsite and Virtual provides insights into worker attitudes by gender, age, education level, level of digital skills, and position in the job hierarchy. This data will be at the core of two more reports that BCG and The Network will publish in the coming months as part of this year's research. The second report will focus on new work models in the wake of COVID-19, and the third will explore changes in people's career prospects and expectations. A copy of the first report can be downloaded here; an online summary of the report will be here. To arrange an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or [email protected]. About Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we help clients with total transformationinspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact. To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting along with technology and design, corporate and digital venturesand business purpose. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, generating results that allow our clients to thrive. About The Network The Network is a global alliance of more than 60 leading recruitment websites, committed to finding the best talent in over 130 countries. Founded in 2002, The Network has become the global leader in online recruitment, serving more than 2,000 global corporations. We offer these corporations a single point of contact in their home countries, and allow them to work in a single currency and with a single contractwhile giving them access to a global workforce. The recruitment websites in The Network attract almost 200 million unique visitors each month. For more information, please visit www.the-network.com. SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Related Links www.bcg.com Letty Vermeulen, Founder of Aspire Los Angeles Side provides amazing back-end operations, marketing, business management, and the best tools in the industry, while Aspire focuses on providing clients with the personalized service were known for. Aspire Los Angeles today announced its partnership with Side, the only real estate brokerage that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to transform them into boutique brands and businesses. The partnership will ensure that Aspire Los Angeles, a diverse team that prioritizes people and communities, is powered by the most advanced platform in the industry. Aspire Los Angeles was founded in 2017 by Letty Vermeulen, after over a decade as a top producer and agent mentor at one of the nations leading brokerages. Aspire is known for its boutique service and has become the go-to firm for those buying and selling historic and architectural LA properties. The team is made up of highly committed, expert real estate professionals with diverse backgrounds who care, collaborate, and get the best results for clients. Aspire serves Central Los Angeles but specializes in Jefferson Park, West Adams, Leimert Park, Mid-City, and South LA. Partnering with Side will ensure Aspire Los Angeles remains at the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while allowing its agents to continue delivering premium services to their clients. Aspire Los Angeles agents are fully supported by a one-of-a-kind premium brokerage platform, which provides transaction management, property marketing, lead generation, business growth opportunities, vendor management, and infrastructure solutions. I decided to partner with Side so that Aspire could offer clients and agents the best of both worlds, said Vermeulen. Side provides amazing back-end operations, marketing, business management, and the best tools in the industry, while Aspire focuses on providing clients with the personalized service were known for. Side is led by experienced industry professionals and world-class engineers who develop technology designed to improve agent productivity and enhance the client experience. Based on its belief that homeownership is a fundamental human right, Side is on a mission to improve the public good by providing top-performing real estate agents, teams, and indie brokerages with the best system, support, service, experience, and results. About Aspire Los Angeles Since 2017, Aspire Los Angeles has been fulfilling its clients unique desires and providing personalized care that helps them realize their goals. Whether selling a property above asking or finding a hidden architectural gem, Aspire delivers superior results. The agents create a collaborative, educational environment for buyers and sellers and partner with professionals who share their values. The multilingual, diverse team lives in, works in, and loves Los Angeles and prioritizes giving back to the communities it serves. To learn more, visit http://www.aspirelosangeles.com. About Side Side transforms high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages into successful businesses and boutique brands that are 100% agent-owned. Side exclusively partners with the best agents, empowering them with proprietary technology and a premier support team so they can be more productive, grow their business, and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://www.sideinc.com. In 2001, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1528, which codifies the eligibility of certain undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at Texas public colleges and universities. So, each year, prospective A&M-SA students who are not eligible for federal financial aid apply for state and university assistance through the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). However, unlike the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), applying for TASFA requires the student to download, print, complete, and submit an eight-page paper application. For both A&M-SA and its undocumented students, filing the TASFA has been a cumbersome and inefficient process. The Regent Access e-TASFA solution will help expedite financial aid awards for these students by providing an intuitive, web-based application like that of the FAFSA in both English and Spanish. The e-TASFA also will improve operational efficiency by minimizing the time and resources required to process state financial aid applications by enabling the seamless upload of these applications into the university's ERP solution. By providing the e-TASFA, A&M-SA will help put its undocumented students one step closer to attaining higher education degrees. "The e-TASFA will enable us to better serve this vital community so that we can prepare them for rewarding careers, responsible global citizenship and lifelong learning," said Phillip Rodgers, Director of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships at A&M-SA. "Regent Education is proud to provide a financial aid automation solution that eases the application and awarding processes for both A&M-SA students and staff. We are excited about the alignment of our mission to empower aspiring students and the institutions who serve them with A&M-SA's desire for process efficiencies and access for undocumented students," said Jim Hermens, CEO of Regent Education. About Texas A&M-San Antonio Established as a standalone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in South San Antonio, A&M-SA is a Military Embracing institution offering more than 40 undergraduate programs and 14 graduate programs to 6,700 students. The university is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. A&M-SA holds the HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) designation. Military Times ranks the university No. 35 in the nation for Best for Vets: Colleges. Visit https://www.tamusa.edu/ for more information. About Regent Education Regent Education is a leading provider of SaaS solutions that simplify the financial aid process for higher education institutions offering traditional and nontraditional enrollment models. Regent offers a suite of solutions encompassing the automation of financial aid management, verification processes, student financial planning, and state financial aid application. Regent's financial aid management solutions offer institutions an unprecedented ability to automate the financial aid process to increase efficiency, mitigate compliance risks, expand enrollment, improve the student experience, and enhance financial management and financial aid lifecycle visibility. For more information, visit https://regenteducation.com/. Contact Regent Education Diane Eves, Marketing Director (301) 662-5592 or [email protected] SOURCE Regent Education Related Links http://regenteducation.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. 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. Strategizing The Moves For The Next Decade? See Through Sample Of Injectable Drug Delivery Market Report! https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/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 N.V. 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. Starting With The New Decade On A Diligent Note In The Injectable Drug Delivery Market? https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/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. How About Obtaining Insights About The Region To Enter Concerning The Injectable Drug Delivery Market? Press The Purchase Now Button To Have Our Injectable Drug Delivery Market Report! https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/3774 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. About Us: - CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, today awarded 32 local organizations from Maine to Florida nearly $5 million through its 15th Annual Housing for Everyone grant competition. The Housing for Everyone program has awarded more than $32 million in grants to over 500 community organizations since 2005. The 2020 competition focused on supporting organizations that provide direct rent relief and supportive services to individuals hit hardest by the pandemic. To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Housing for Everyone, the TD Charitable Foundation increased the total amount of grants to be awarded by 30%, from $3.75 million to $4.9 million. Grants ranging from $125,000 - $250,000 were awarded to organizations working to help COVID-impacted households remain in safe, affordable rental units. "The economic instability created by the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges faced by many renters, a large percentage of whom have experienced job loss and lack healthcare insurance," said Paige Carlson-Heim, Director of the TD Charitable Foundation. "It's estimated that up to 34 million people who rent are at risk of losing their homes when eviction moratoriums and other renter protections expire. The TD Charitable Foundation is proud to support this year's Housing for Everyone grant recipients as they play a key role in helping to combat this statistic in their local communities." The 2020 Housing for Everyone grant winners include the following organizations across 15 states: Connecticut : Partnership for Strong Communities Delaware : Ministry of Caring District of Columbia : National Housing Trust Florida : Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami Community Loan Fund of New Jersey Homeless Emergency Project Jewish Family & Community Services Neighborhood Renaissance United Way of Broward County Maine : York County Community Action Corporation Massachusetts : Caritas Communities Center for Human Development Neighborhood of Affordable Housing New Hampshire : Front Door Agency Manchester Neighborhood Housing Services Neighborhood Housing Services New Jersey : Family Promise of Bergen County Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties HomeFront Homeless Solutions Saint Joseph's Carpenter Society Carpenter Society New York : Community Development Corporation of Long Island Hudson River Housing New Destiny Housing Corporation IMPACCT Brooklyn (Pratt Area Community Council) Services for the UnderServed North Carolina : Asheville Buncombe County Community Christian Ministries Pennsylvania : ACHIEVEability Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation South Carolina : Community Works Rhode Island : Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation Vermont : Windham and Windsor Housing Trust and Windsor Housing Trust Virginia : Wesley Housing The Housing for Everyone grants directly align with the TD Ready Commitment, the bank's corporate citizenship program. The TD Ready Commitment seeks to help people feel more confident, not just about their finances, but about their future. It is driven by a central belief that together we can help build inclusive futures where everyone has the opportunity to succeed in a changing world. As part of the TD Ready Commitment, TD targets $775 million in total by 2030 toward community giving in four areas critical to building an inclusive tomorrow Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. For more, visit: https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/. About the TD Charitable Foundation The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $254 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation is available at https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding-opportunities/ About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US. TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. SOURCE TD Charitable Foundation Related Links https://www.td.com The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The partnership will add speed, security and safety with contact-less authentications Samsung Electronics' System LSI Business, Mastercard, Samsung Card, have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a biometric card that features a built-in fingerprint scanner to authorize transactions securely at in-store payment terminals. Through this strategic collaboration, the companies aim to provide faster and more secure payment experiences. The biometric authentication capability allows safer interactions with reduced physical contact points by eliminating the need to enter a PIN on a keypad. It also adds an extra layer of security to currently available credit cards by verifying the cardholder's identity via a unique fingerprint. The biometric cards will adopt a new security chipset from Samsung's System LSI Business that integrates several key discrete chips, streamlining the overall component design and enabling more efficient development. These cards can be used at any Mastercard chip terminal or point of sale (POS) terminal. "Drawing from our strong security solution background in various applications such as passports, credit cards and mobile devices, we will work with Mastercard and Samsung Card to create an environment where consumers can use payment card services with an added peace of mind," said Harry Cho, vice president of at Samsung Electronics. "As consumers embrace the safety and convenience of contactless payments, Mastercard will leverage its cybersecurity and intelligence expertise and global payments network in this three-way partnership to enhance cardholder security with a biometric solution supporting fast, frictionless payment experiences that are protected at every point," said Karthik Ramanathan,Senior Vice President, Cyber Intelligence Solutions, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. "This biometric card is an example of Samsung Card's efforts to deliver innovative and convenient solutions to consumers," said Hanjoo Yoon, Vice President, Planning Communication, Samsung Card. Samsung Card will lead the roll out in South Korea, with plans to introduce the biometric card later this year. The adoption of the solution will be a gradual process, starting from corporate credit cards that have more frequent international transactions. "We have big data expertise, and have set the standard in domestic market for digital transformation and fraud detection system (FDS). Leveraging these experiences, we will deliver a powerful solution to enhance payment experiences in close partnership with Samsung Electronics and Mastercard," said Hanjoo Yoon. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com. About Mastercard (NYSE: MA) www.mastercard.com Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. About Samsung Card Samsung Card is a leading credit card company in South Korea. We strive to deliver convenient and innovative payment experience by leveraging expertise in IT and data analysis. Our offerings continuously expand outside of credit cards, from personalized financial service to online shopping mall, as we aim to transform the payment process to be enjoyable and effortless. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005394/en/ Contacts: Ujeong Jahnke Samsung Semiconductor Europe GmbH Tel. +49(0)89-45578-1000 Email: sseg.comm@samsung.com Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021: PM Modi to interact with students, here's how to register India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's annual interaction with students ''Pariksha Pe Charcha'' will be held online in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The interaction with students from classes 9 to 12 ahead of their exams will be held in March. "As our brave #ExamWarriors start padding up for their exams, ''Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021'' returns, this time fully online and open to students all over the world. Come, let us appear for the exams with a smile and without stress! #PPC2021," the prime minister tweeted. "On popular demand, ''Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021'' will also include parents and teachers. It'll be a fun filled discussion on an otherwise serious subject. I call upon my student friends, their amazing parents and hardworking teachers to take part in #PPC2021 in large numbers," he said. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said the registration process of the fourth edition of the interaction has started. Questions related to dealing with examination stress from school students of classes 9 to 12 will be invited through the ''MyGov'' platform and selected questions will feature in the programme, he said. Film inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon "I feel happy to share that the interaction every student was waiting for is back! Get ready to smile your way through exams with PM @narendramodi in #ParikshaPeCharcha2021," Nishank said in a tweet. "In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the interaction will be conducted online," he said in another tweet. The registration for the programme began on Thursday and it will conclude on March 14. Students who will get to ask questions will be selected through a competition. The first edition of the prime minister''s interaction programme with school and college students ''Pariksha Pe Charcha 1.0'' was held at the Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018. "There are different topics assigned for students, parents and teachers in the contest. The applicants can also pose their questions on this platform. The selected participants will be participating in the programme online from their respective state and UT headquarters and will be presented with a special PPC kit (Pariksha Pe Charcha kit)," Nishank said. Here are the steps to register in 'Pariksha Pe Charcha Contest 2021': Go to the official website innocateindia.mygovin. Click on the 'Participate Now' button Fill in your details to register For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 18:17 [IST] Mack Major Makes a Difference in Real Estate and Economic Development Mack Major has always exhibited a knack for entrepreneurism. It was not because of a need for money but mostly for an outlet from his rigid engineering career. About 20 years ago, Major said he turned to his home improvement hobby, where he has found success even as he continued his journey up the corporate ladder. ADVERTISEMENT There was a friend who inherited property from their grandparents. There were back taxes, and the house was a little bit dilapidated, Major recalled. I loaned them some money that I had saved working during the summer as an intern because he wanted to keep the property in the family. In short, Majors friend realized an inability to afford the home and asked him to take the property. So, I fixed it up and did about $7,000 to $8,000 in repairs and put a tenant in there, and six months later, I sold it for $52,000, Major exclaimed. He was just 22 and on his way to a real estate career with flipping homes at the center of his business. Major is the principal at House Tur Investments, LLC, where he proudly advocates for investors. His lending team supports a family of investors to ensure and protect their financial integrity. Major said the mission of House Tur Investments, LLC, is to alleviate investors concerns with the loan process so they can focus efforts on real estate investment properties. ADVERTISEMENT The company leads its investors through the acquisitions process to the sale of the property. Major insists his journey wasnt comfortable, particularly for an African American. The 22-year-old guy straight out of college, Major, almost incredulously, recounted. I was just starting, and I had loans. I was stressed, Major admitted. Major continued: I was always worried that corporate America could snatch me, being a Black individual, at any point. With that, Major noted that he always endeavored to have a backup plan. I always wanted to have a secondary income, even though I was working my corporate America job and being an engineer, I just felt like I needed to be able to do that for sustainability, Major stated. He offered that he used money and credit that hed obtained from his day job and parlayed that into purchasing more properties. It wasnt just about my future, but those neighborhoods in those people that were surrounded because you have one or two blighted properties on that block, Major said. They were crime-infested, drug-infested, so rehabbing homes helped lift neighborhoods. Today, Major thrives in purchasing distressed assets, working with homeowners in foreclosure and bankruptcy. Real estate is my life, and I enjoy meeting new people and embracing the challenge of finding solutions that positively change lives, Major proclaimed. He hasnt stopped there. Hes also the owner and partner of Gayanga Company, a consulting, engineering, and construction firm with offices in Houston, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan. We specialize in project management and construction with an emphasis in commercial and residential demolition, water and sewer works, and commercial and residential building and restoration, Major said. NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. concluded, Throughout Black History Month 2021, the NNPA has focused on the continued excellence, high achievement, and success of African Americans in all endeavors of life including business and economic development. Mack Majors outstanding career in real estate development exhibits the tremendous overall economic progress that results from hard work and service to Black families, businesses and communities across America. For those aspiring to flip houses, Major offers sage advice. You have to have a network of people around you to help you become successful, Major deduced. You have to get to know the city officials where you are, get permits, contractors and suppliers. Its a lot of work, and you have to find people who believe in you to loan you the money. Educate yourself, and I went out a got a builders license so I could really understand the trade. I knew what I was paying for, like if someone said you need a new roof or you need to redo the plumbing, you dont overspend. Finally, Major cautioned about those individuals who might choose to work with you. A lot of [problems] came from the people that I employed, Major said. I tried to employ friends, family, and people close to me because I wanted all of us to come up together. That didnt go too well. Majors next mission is to develop business incubators in cities like Detroit, where hes working with returning citizens and veterans. I want these people who are returning not only to have a place to live but to learn trades and how to build, Major assured. My wife is a Navy veteran and a doctor now. But, when she came back from Iraq and Afghanistan, many women were mistreated, sexually assaulted, and harassed. So, I want to allow women an opportunity to live in communities and feel like they are nurtured and developed and offer counseling and work in the community. I am trying to partner with different organizations to really help people. Even while I might be earning money, I believe I can do it and help people at the same time. The Georgian government will start the process of selecting a new potential investor for the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project in the near future, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said. According to Garibashvili, the government had postponed terms for the Anaklia Development Consortium, the state-tender winner to build the deep-sea port in Anaklia, western Georgia, to fulfill its obligations, however despite repeated deferrals, the investor could not fulfill the obligations which led the government to cancel the agreement with the consortium. "In addition, the government handed over to the investor an investment area worth 58 million GEL. We have also undertaken the obligation of the construction of a road and railway connecting the port, and the Roads Department has already prepared this project. In addition, the Partnership Fund was prepared to provide a subordinated loan of $100 million to the investor on the condition that the investor would be able to meet the obligation," the PM said. The deadline for obtaining the funding has been postponed six times, Agenda.ge reported. The consortium has been unable to obtain the needed $400 million in loans from international financial institutions and $120 million from potential investors by the official expiration of the term limits at the end of 2019. The Anaklia Development Consortium won a state tender to construct the port and signed a deal with the government in 2016 with TBC Holding as its principal partner, but has faced problems in attracting the $2.5 billion in funds needed to construct the port. Construction of Anaklia Deep Sea Port started in 2017. The automotive wiring harness market size is predicted to be worth around US$ 79 billion by 2027, growing with a CAGR of 4.6% over forecast period 2020 to 2030. OTTAWA, March 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precedence Research, Recently Published Report on Automotive Wiring Harness Market (By Type: Engine Harness, HVAC Wiring Harness, Chassis Wiring Harness, Body & Lighting Harness, Dashboard/Cabin Harness, Others; By Material: Metallic and Optical Fiber; By Propulsion Type: Electric Vehicle and IC Engine Vehicle; By Transmission Type: Electric Wiring and Data Transmission; By Vehicle Type: Commercial Vehicle and Passenger Vehicle; By Sales Channel: OEM and Aftermarket) - Global Market Size, Trends Analysis, Segment Forecasts, Regional Outlook 2020 - 2027. Wire harnesses combine wiring of several electronic and electrical devices into a single system. Thus, they benefit in signal transmission and powering up of many electrical and electronic devices. Automotive wire harnesses utilize a range of wire harnesses for the finest possible performance. They are employed to set up electrical circuits in automobiles and are intended to operate in extreme conditions efficiently. They are utilized in two wheelers, cars, three wheelers, commercial vehicles and utility vehicles. Harnesses are manufactured according the geometrical and electrical needs of automobiles, and then implanted in the engine, body, and chassis of that particular vehicles. Body wiring harnesses are implanted in door locks, dashboards, interior electrical components and power windows. Engine wiring harnesses are embedded inside lock breaking systems, fuel injection systems, cruise control systems, speed sensors. Chassis wiring consists of the main, rear and front harnesses. Get the Sample Pages of Report for More Understanding@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1008 Growth Factors Escalating GDP and continuous technological advancements are prime influences stimulating the demand for automotive wiring harness worldwide. Adoption of electric cars such as mild hybrids is expected to grow substantially around the world during coming few years. This will indirectly spur the demand for high voltage wiring harness. Additionally, numerous government regulations and norms executed for vehicle safety are projected to lift the demand for automotive wiring harness. Safety regulations are considered to propel installation of safety devices in vehicles that require substantial usage of body wiring harness. Demand for automotive wiring harnesses is directly proportionate to augmented manufacturing of different types of vehicles. Elevated disposable income, improved government initiatives including Make in India, and prevalent low labor cost in countries such India and China have augmented light commercial vehicles and of passenger cars manufacturing in different developing nations. This results in substantial demand for automotive wiring harnesses in these economies. Report Highlights At present, automotive wiring harness market is concentrated on technology advancements including Ethernet cables and heat insulated wires. OEMs are stressing on the advanced automotive wiring harnesses development and to improve vehicles performance at finest level and to guarantee appropriate functioning of all electronic devices tailored in vehicles. Globally, sale of higher voltage wires is projected to surge due to augmentation in the need for electric vehicles. Mild hybrid and 48V vehicles are estimated to achieve acceptance that offers lucrative prospect for the automotive wiring harness market. Geographically, Asia Pacific emerged as extremely potential market for automotive wiring harness on account of prevailing awareness for incorporation of navigation and safety devices in vehicles those needs body wiring harness and different other kinds of wiring harness. Get Customization on this Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/customization/1008 Regional Snapshots Rising disposable income and augmented GDP in Asian economies is fuelling the growth of automotive market in this region. This supports the sale of automotive wiring harness, as current vehicles necessitate safety features and cutting-edge electronic devices. This will in turn pushes the sale for wires and cables to be employed in vehicles. In Asia Pacific, India has emerged asprime market for light vehicles followed by China. Additionally, favorable government norms executed for vehicle safety are anticipated to increase the demand for automotive wiring harness.Further, elevated automobile production, invention in terms of drive technologies, and flourishing acceptance of electric vehicles are expected to stimulate demand for automotive wiring harness in Europe. Escalating manufacturing facilities in Middle East and Africa, on account of low-cost labor force, is a vital factor urging the growth of automotive industry in regional market. Related Reports Automotive Electronics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends Analysis, Regional Outlook and Forecasts, 2021 - 2030 - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends Analysis, Regional Outlook and Forecasts, 2021 - 2030 Automotive Aftermarket - Global Market Size, Trends Analysis, Segment Forecasts, Regional Outlook 2020 2027 - Global Market Size, Trends Analysis, Segment Forecasts, Regional Outlook 2020 2027 Automotive Logistics Market - Global Market Size, Trends Analysis, Segment Forecasts, Regional Outlook 2020 - 2027 Key Players & Strategies Several players involved in the automotive wiring harness market are progressively concentrating on the design facets of the harness in accordance with electrical and geometrical necessities of a vehicle. The design of automotive wire harnesses is kept in the central database in order to rationalize the designing process in the near future. Some players such as Yazaki are adopting strategies of partnerships and expansions to preserve their prominent position in the automotive wiring harness market. Similarly, a Sumitomo electric industry is looking forward with partnerships as the crucial strategy to endure its position in the market. The expansion strategy by key companies in emergent economies is projected to propel demand for automotive wiring harness. For example, MothersonSumi Systems, the flagship company of SamvardhanMotherson Group, is anticipated to unveil3 production facilities by 2020. The 2 new plants are situated in Madhya Pradesh (India). One of the plants at Pithampur will produce wires, a process of backward integration, and the other will fabricate wiring harness. The third plant is to be located in Chennai (India) for the purpose of other auto parts. Buy this Premium Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/checkout/1008 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact at sales@precedenceresearch.com | +1 774 402 6168 About Us Precedence Research is a worldwide market research and consulting organization. We give unmatched nature of offering to our customers present all around the globe across industry verticals. Precedence Research has expertise in giving deep-dive market insight along with market intelligence to our customers spread crosswise over various undertakings. We are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semi-conductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures present globally. For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/precedence-research/ https://www.facebook.com/precedenceresearch/ https://twitter.com/Precedence_R Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Aug. 24, 2020. (Tom Williams/Pool/Getty Images) House Rejects Effort to Lower Federal Voting Age to 16 The House of Representatives on March 3 voted down a proposal to lower the federal voting age. Rep. Ayanna Pressleys (D-Mass.) amendment to H.R. 1 would have lowered the minimum voting age to 16 from 18. Before the vote, Pressley on the House floor told colleagues that her proposal would enfranchise young Americans to help shape and form policies that will set the course for our future, from police violence to immigration reform to climate change. But representatives voted 302125 against the measure, with 93 Democrats joining 209 Republicans in rejecting it. Four lawmakers, two from each party, didnt vote. The amendment (pdf) says that a state may not refuse to permit an individual to register to vote or vote in an election for Federal office held in the State on the grounds of the individuals age if the individual will be at least 16 years of age on the date of the election. The same proposal was introduced in the previous Congress and was rejected. Pressleys effort failed 126305 in 2019. At the time, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) told colleagues he believed there might be a constitutional issue with the amendment. He said he was voting against it for that reason. And also Im of the opinion that we shouldnt arbitrarily lower the voting age just because right now I believe democrats think theyll gain more votes, he said. To be so brash and possibly unconstitutional to decide to try to lower the voting age only for political reasons is something that I dont think this institution should be doing. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) speaks in Washington on Jan. 9, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote in local elections in some municipalities. Some states, including Massachusetts, let them pre-register to vote in federal elections. Pressley, in introducing the amendment originally two years ago, said it would allow our youth to have a seat at the table of democracy. In 2018, nearly 2 million young people between the ages of 16 and 17 were employed, contributing to the labor force and to their local economy through paying taxes, she said. Congress lowered the voting age to 18 from 21 in an amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1970. The Supreme Court upheld the legislation in a 54 vote. But a constitutional amendment was still required. State legislatures ratified the amendment in 1971. H.R. 1, which primarily deals with elections, was passed by the House late March 3 in a mostly partisan vote. Every Republican voted against the bill, along with Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). The bill is widely considered unlikely to pass the Senate, where it would need support from 10 Republicans. Democrats and Republicans in Congress are taking aim at a controversial law that shields internet platforms including Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. from lawsuits over content posted by users. The measure just 26 words known as Section 230 now faces its biggest reckoning since it was included in the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Calls to revise it grew in the months before the November election and intensified after the deadly attack on Congress by then-President Donald Trumps loyalists. No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Trump and his GOP allies claim Section 230 gives companies leeway to censor conservative speech, an assertion he repeated on Sunday at a right-wing gathering in Florida. Democrats accuse the same Internet platforms of failing to curb misinformation and hate speech, arguing that Trumps posts on election fraud fueled the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Even some on Wall Street are pointing fingers at the shield after market turbulence caused by a horde of retail investors using online chat forums targeted stocks like GameStop Corp. While industry lobbyists have urged a cautious approach, a House panel has already summoned the chief executive officers of Facebook, Alphabet Inc.s Google and Twitter to testify at a March 25 virtual hearing on misinformation and disinformation on their platforms. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called for more regulation of the internet and said hes open to reforming Section 230. Play Video Still, even with Democrats controlling Congress, any bill would need bipartisan support in the Senate to clear the 60 vote threshold to advance legislation. That means lawmakers will need to negotiate and compromise at a time when they have been deeply divided. New measures to redraw Section 230 are expected in the coming weeks. Heres a guide to the proposals on the table: Hate Speech and Civil Rights SAFE TECH ACT: The Safeguarding Against Fraud, Exploitation, Threats, Extremism and Consumer Health (SAFE TECH) Act was the first Section 230 bill introduced in the Senate this year. Released on Feb. 5 by Democratic Senators Mark Warner of Virginia, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the bill has no Republican support to date. HIGHLIGHTS: The legislation would hold tech companies liable for content falling within four categories: civil rights, international human rights, antitrust and stalking, harassment or intimidation. It would clarify that companies can be held liable for wrongful death actions, meaning families could sue platforms that may have contributed to a persons death. The measure would dramatically change the underlying law to limit companies liability protections by treating them as a publisher of any paid content on their platforms. That includes advertising that generates rich profits for Google, Twitter and Facebook. It narrows the liability provision to cover only third-party speech, instead of the catchall term information in the original law. It would also allow victims to seek court orders when a company fails to address material thats likely to cause irreparable harm. SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION: The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Anti-Defamation League have backed the bill. NetChoice, which represents large tech companies like Facebook and Google, opposes the bill, saying it guts Section 230. Not only would the bill chill free speech on the internet, it would also revoke Section 230 protections for all e-commerce marketplaces such as Etsy Inc., said Carl Szabo, the groups vice president and general counsel, in a statement. Small sellers across the country would lose access to customers all over the world at a time when entrepreneurs need that access most. WHATS NEXT: Representative Yvette Clarke, a Democrat from New York, is working on a more narrowly focused bill known as the Civil Rights Modernization Act. That would amend Section 230 to ensure federal civil rights laws apply to tech companies targeted advertisements in an effort to stop the spread of hate speech online. Clarke said in an interview she wants to uncover how the platforms promote civil rights violations and ensure they curb hate speech so it doesnt get to the point of harm to the American people or American institutions. She plans to introduce the measure in several weeks. Democratic Representatives Anna Eshoo of California and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey are planning to reintroduce the Protecting Americans from Dangerous Algorithms Act. The bill would remove a platforms liability shield if its algorithm is used to amplify or recommend content that incites hate speech, violence or acts of terrorism. These companies have shown they wont do the right thing on their own, Eshoo told Bloomberg. Content Moderation and Consumer Rights PACT ACT: The bipartisan Platform Accountability and Consumer Transparency (PACT) Act was introduced in the Senate in June 2020. Senator Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, and Senator John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, cosponsored the bill. HIGHLIGHTS: It would require large online platforms to remove content within 24 hours if notified of a court determination that the content is illegal. Companies would be required to issue quarterly reports, including data on content thats been removed, demonetized, or deprioritized. It would also allow consumers to appeal content-moderation decisions. The legislation would allow the U.S. Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to pursue civil lawsuits for online activity. SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION: The measure is supported by the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, which works to combat illegal online pharmacies. NetChoice and digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation oppose the bill. The Internet Association, which represents companies including Amazon.com Inc., Google and Facebook, said it appreciates the bills effort to promote transparency and accountability in content moderation, but raised concerns about the broad reporting requirements and said the measure should be narrowed to exclude smaller internet companies. The group said the highly detailed requirements would be extremely burdensome. WHATS NEXT: The PACT ACT is expected to be reintroduced this month, according to a person familiar with the matter. In the House, Representative Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat from Illinois, is expected to introduce the Online Consumer Protection Act within weeks. As chair of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee overseeing consumer protection issues, Schakowsky would lead any effort to reform how Section 230 impacts consumer safety. Her measure, which was circulated in draft form last year, would remove liability protections if platforms violate their terms of service and allow for FTC enforcement and consumer lawsuits. The bill would require social media companies and online marketplaces to create consumer protection policies that define whether content can be blocked, removed, or modified. The policy would also need to describe how a user will be notified if content is being removed and how to appeal a removal. Schakowsky said her bill would ensure that consumer rights in the physical world extend to the virtual world. Read More: Big Techs Terms of Service Scrutinized Under Democrats Plan Child Exploitation EARN IT ACT: The bipartisan Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (EARN IT) Act was introduced in the Senate in March 2020, and was advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senators Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, introduced the bill last year. HIGHLIGHTS: It would allow for state civil and criminal lawsuits as well as federal civil lawsuits if companies advertise, promote, present, distribute or solicit child sexual abuse material. The legislation would also establish a National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention that would create voluntary best practices for the industry. An amendment last Congress removed the original language that conditioned the liability protection on companies enacting the best practices. SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION: The bill is supported by sex trafficking survivor groups including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. The Internet Association said it supports the goal of ending child exploitation online, but said the bill would create a harmful lack of coherence with state laws and said it plans to work with lawmakers on improvements to the bill. WHATS NEXT: The bill is expected to be reintroduced this Congress, according to a Blumenthal spokesperson. Senator Dick Durbin, from Illinois, has backed the bill. As the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Durbin could shepherd it this Congress. Industry Opposition The Internet Association said that Section 230 strikes a careful balance between protecting companies from lawsuits and encouraging them to proactively remove hate and extremist speech online. Removing the protections would create a disincentive for companies to moderate any content for fear of being sued, the group says. The group also says legislation often cant keep up with the evolving nature of the internet, and that onerous legal requirements could run startups out of business. Imposing overly prescriptive and burdensome requirements through legislation or regulations will negatively impact the internet ecosystem, the trade group told Congress in testimony last year. Still, many of the companies recognize that some change to the measure is inevitable and are prepared to work with lawmakers to help hammer out proposals also in the interest of avoiding more draconian measures. Top Photo: Cutouts of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg are displayed on the South East lawn of the Capitol. Bloomberg photo. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. The "Come North" initiative sets out a plan for population growth in Northern Ontario. Ontarios Northern Regions look to make their communities more welcoming Ontarios Northern Regions look to make their communities more welcoming The "Come North" initiative sets out a plan for population growth in Northern Ontario. Ontarios Northern Regions look to make their communities more welcoming The "Come North" initiative sets out a plan for population growth in Northern Ontario. Ontarios Northern Regions look to make their communities more welcoming The "Come North" initiative sets out a plan for population growth in Northern Ontario. Mohanad Moetaz Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Communities in rural and northern Ontario came together to lay out short and long-term plans to grow their population. This includes the Come North 10-point action plan released in January 2021. Northern Ontario is facing labour shortages as well as an aging and declining population. For this reason, more than 300 people representing over 100 organizations came together for two conferences in February 2020 to address northern Ontarios population issue. They discussed how to make their communities more welcoming to immigrants and other Canadians. The two conferences were held in Temiskaming Shores and Thunder Bay. The communities identified that they must work together, develop a plan and a brand as well as update the plan every year. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Assessment One main point in the action plan includes focusing on becoming more welcoming to newcomers as well as current residents in the communities. Another point focuses on combatting racism; those who combat racism and those who promote immigration need to work together with newcomers to minimize racism and promote reconciliation with Indigenous people. These conferences were held pre-pandemic. The effects of the pandemic only amplified the need for addressing the population issue and welcoming more immigrants to help with economic recovery. Immigrate to rural communities in Ontario If you are interested in immigrating to rural communities in Ontario, there are two pathways you may wish to consider: immigrating through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) or through the Rural and Northern Immigration Program (RNIP). Ontario recently invited 1,186 Express Entry candidates in the first Tech Draw of 2021 through the OINP. The OINP allows skilled workers, international students and other foreign individuals to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence in Ontario. It also has a Regional Immigration Pilot that focuses on increasing immigration to rural communities in Ontario. The pilot works under the OINPs Employer Job Offer streams. To qualify for one of these streams, you will need to have a full-time job offer from an employer in one of the eligible communities. A total of 150 nominations are available for 2021. The RNIP is a federal immigration program that works with small and remote communities across Canada. There are currently 11 communities participating in the RNIP, five of which are in Ontario: North Bay Sudbury Timmins Sault Ste. Marie Thunder Bay If you wish to immigrate to one of the eligible communities, you must receive a recommendation from one of the communities. You must also have either graduated from a post-secondary institution in the community, or have one year of continuous work experience in the past three years. In addition, you must have a job offer from an employer in the community, meet language requirements and have enough money to settle and support yourself and your family. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Assessment CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work 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is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Boston, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Cambodian dog meat trade has received another blow: A dog slaughterhouse in Skun Province, estimated to have killed over one million dogs since it opened, was closed by FOUR PAWS today. The global animal welfare organization also rescued all 16 dogs onsite, dismantled cages and demolished the drowning tanks. The slaughterhouse was considered a key supplier of dog meat in the region. Since opening the facility in 1995, the owner claimed to have drowned up to 200 dogs per day and supplied raw meat to dog meat restaurants in and around Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh. FOUR PAWS took the rescued dogs to their local partner and is now preparing them for adoption. In Cambodia, an estimated three million dogs, many of which are stolen pets, are killed for their meat every year. FOUR PAWS warns not only of rampant animal cruelty, but also of the risks to public health. As part of its investigations into the dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia, FOUR PAWS has discovered several high-volume slaughterhouses and hundreds of dog meat restaurants across Cambodia, most of them located in Phnom Penh. FOUR PAWS became aware of this particular slaughterhouse in the city of Skun last year and was able to rescue only a few animals at that time. More recently, the local team has visited with the owner several times after he eventually reached out for assistance to get out of the trade. The slaughterhouse was by far one of the most shocking facilities our team had ever visited. When we discovered the two elevated, cement water tanks, it was immediately clear to us that this slaughterhouse was designed for mass killing. Over the past 25 years, more than one million dogs have been drowned at the facility. The practice of drowning dogs causes immense pain and suffering and fails to conform to any international standards of humane euthanasia. The 16 dogs we found on-site were the last survivors of this horrific, antiquated practice, that has no place in modern society, reports Dr. Katherine Polak, veterinarian and Head of FOUR PAWS Stray Animal Care in Southeast Asia. The former owner of the slaughterhouse has contractually assured FOUR PAWS and the local government that he will never again be involved in the dog meat trade. FOUR PAWS is facilitating his livelihood conversion from slaughterhouse to a general goods shop and construction business. It was a busy week for FOUR PAWS. These 16 rescued dogs join the 61 dogs FOUR PAWS took into its care on February 21. The Siem Reap Provincial Department of Agriculture found the animals crammed into six small cages in a minibus travelling through the province, en route to slaughterhouses hours away. Although the trade in dog meat has officially been banned in Siem Reap since July 2020, it was the first time that dogs had been confiscated by the government in Cambodia. Together with its local partners Animal Rescue Cambodia in Phnom Penh and Paw Patrol Cambodia in Siem Reap, FOUR PAWS is providing medical care and preparing the 77 dogs for adoption. To put a sustainable end to the dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia, FOUR PAWS has launched a campaign on an international and national level in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Over one million people worldwide have already signed the petition to end the cruel trade. Through educational work and cooperation with the responsible authorities and tourism associations, the aim is to persuade governments to introduce strict animal welfare laws banning the brutal trade. In addition, FOUR PAWS supports local animal welfare organisations and communities with humane and sustainable dog and cat population management programs. FOUR PAWS is also part of the animal welfare coalitions DMFI (Dog Meat Free Indonesia) and ACPA (Asia Canine Protection Alliance), which lobby against the trade in Southeast Asia. Attachments When you hear the word evil, what immediately comes to your mind? Images of someone in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork? The promo for a newly released film, or perhaps a horror novel, promising a tale of unspeakable evil? A recent news report about some heinous crime? Back in 1966, author Truman Capote became a literary sensation with his self-described non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood, about the 1959 murders of four members of a Kansas family. The fact his work centered around actual, horrific events, not the result of a vivid imagination, made it even more disturbing and riveting. My friend Sondra Umberger has recently published a trilogy of novels, UnraveledRewoven. Similar to In Cold Blood, theyre based on true events. Since shes a Christian counselor, not a professional writer, it would be unfair to compare Umbergers writing with Capotes book. However, the story she unfolds is as compelling, alarming and frightening. Her novels revolve around four characters: Catherine, a young woman plagued by recurring nightmares she cant explain; Marion, a Christian counselor who helps Catherine dig deeply into repressed memories to uncover the root of the nightmares horrific secrets of her lost years; Catie, Catherines nickname from childhood, when she became the victim of evil beyond imagining; and Hunter, the dashing church leader who becomes Catherines husband, bringing a terrible secret of his own into the relationship. Topics explored in UnraveledRewoven are not the stuff of casual dinner conversations. But theyre real issues, far more pervasive in our society, and the world, than most of us could ever fathom: child abuse, mental cruelty, satanic ritual abuse, pornography addiction, human trafficking. If this three-book saga were the product of the dark imaginings of horror meisters like Stephen King, Anne Rice, H.P. Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe, it would be troubling enough. But this fictionalized account, fashioned from true, traumatic events experienced by real people, shatters ones complacency, along with the notion that our world is inhabited by people who are all basically good. Writing in an unusual braided style, Umberger has interwoven the stories of the four main characters in a manner thats at first unexpected, then captivating. She deftly shifts from one to another, weaving them tightly and inseparably together like strands of someones braided hair. Slowly, with the help of Marion and others, Catherine begins to recover erased memories of her childhood years between the ages of 6 and 9, forging a path toward recovery and healing. She also must deal with discovering Hunter is addicted to pornography, a vice he initially denies, but eventually acknowledges as he initiates a process for finding freedom and release from its evil grip. It might be inaccurate to describe the trilogys climax as a happy ending, but it does underscore the redemptive and healing powers of Jesus Christ, how pain from the past and besetting sins of the present need not be permanent. And how God can still use evil deeds in accomplishing His ultimate purposes. As the reader emerges from this sinister story line, the question arises: If the realm of the demonic can have such impact on the lives of just the handful of people described, whats the extent of evil that infests every area of life? As we painfully observe the chaos around us, what sinister forces are working behind the curtain? In the Old Testament book of Job, the afflicted main character bemoans, Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness (Job 30:26). And in 1 Peter 5:8, the apostle warns, Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Evil can manifest itself at any moment, in many ways. Jesus Christ confronted and challenged evil in myriad forms during His earthly ministry being tempted directly by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4); casting out demons on many occasions; and facing evil opposition from disbelieving religious leaders fearful of His influence, which led to His crucifixion. Our culture seeks to dismiss or minimize the actual presence of evil, but the Scriptures speak much of its insidious power. Archibald G. Brown, a minister and associate of Charles Spurgeon, stated, The existence of the devil is so clearly taught in the Bible that to doubt it is to doubt the Bible itself. Its been observed, The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didnt exist. At the same time, we need a balanced perspective. In his cleverly satirical novel, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote, There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves (the devils) are equally pleased by both errors. We must be vigilantly aware of the presence of evil and oppose it in every way we can, but should focus even more on becoming agents for Gods good. John Newton, a one-time slave trader whose conversion inspired his hymn, Amazing Grace, commented, Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way to escape from it, and with this I begin and end. In James 4:7 we find this admonition: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Similarly, the psalmist urges us to Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14). This battle between good and evil has existed since the first days of creation, and its one we can never win in our own strength. As Ephesians 6:12 declares, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. The passage proceeds to describe the full armor of God the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-18). Its notable that most of these items are defensive in nature; only the Word of God the sword of the Spirit is used in taking the offensive. One additional piece of armor, prayer, must not be overlooked or underestimated. The esteemed apostle Paul knew this well, writing in the next verse, Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Jesus, after delivering a boy from demon possession, explained to His incredulous disciples, This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer (Mark 9:29). At times this spiritual battle seems overwhelming, tempting us to fall into despair. But the Lords victory has already been won. In Revelation 20:10 we read, And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. * * * Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise "We recognize the impact of COVID and remote learning on student literacy and want to give educators a turnkey way to support young readers," said Felix Lloyd, Zoobean Co-Founder. "The Level Up reading challenge is a great way to keep students motivated, engaged and reading throughout the summer and we are excited to partner with Thorndike and Mark Cuban who share our vision and commitment to helping students achieve their reading goals." Students can choose to read books from any genre or format to participate. Large print books will be among the formats featured in the challenge, which studies show improve reading speed, boost reading comprehension and work especially well with readers who are below their grade level. In order for books read to count toward the challenge, readers must track their reading progress using the Beanstack app. Students can access the app via web or mobile to log their reading, earn virtual badges, track stats, engage with friends and discover their next favorite book. Additionally, parents can download the app and link directly to their child's school. "Schools and parents are always searching for ways to better engage with students during the summer," said Mark Cuban, billionaire investor and Shark Tank personality. "The Level Up reading challenge is a great way to keep students reading, even when they're not in the classroom." Winning schools will be determined by the most amount of time their students spent reading. Cash prizes are being provided by Mark Cuban with Thorndike Press awarding prize packs of large print book collections to winning schools as well as a virtual visit from Newbery award-winning author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Prizes include: Grand Prize: $5,000 and $1,000 of large print books and a virtual author chat with the school. and of large print books and a virtual author chat with the school. Second Place: $2,500 and $500 of large print books. and of large print books. Four (4) Runner Ups: $2,500 and $250 of large print books. "During the summer, many students lose up to two months of learning, and with the disruption COVID has caused, reading programs are even more critical," said Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager at Gale. "Public libraries have seen great success in retaining and building literacy skills through summer reading programs. The Level Up challenge gives schools an amazing opportunity to support student literacy this summer and we are thrilled to partner with Beanstack and Mark Cuban to make it happen." Gale and Beanstack will host a live webinar on the Level Up Summer 2021 Reading Challenge on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 3pm ET/12pm PT. To register, visit the webinar registration page. For more information about the 2021 Level Up Summer Reading Challenge, visit the challenge webpage. About Zoobean Zoobean, Inc. is the creator of apps and retail products that help people achieve reading goals by tracking reading and participating in reading challenges. The company's flagship product, Beanstack, helps public libraries and school districts create, manage and measure reading challenges. A sister product, Beanbright, offers school buildings a free, streamlined, out-of-the-box version of the reading challenge service. Most recently, the company has introduced Badge Books, which are sticker books that work hand in hand with the free Beanstack mobile app. Zoobean's investors include Kapor Capital, Mark Cuban, RevUp Capital, the AT&T Aspire Accelerator, and Amazon's Alexa Fund. Its founders were previously Washington D.C.'s teacher of the year and Google's first head of K-12 education outreach. About Thorndike Press As the leading large print publisher, Thorndike Press from Gale, a Cengage company, helps readers of all ages enjoy books. Publishing unabridged reprints in large print format for middle grade and young adult readers started in 1999 and our catalog of more than 600 titles grows monthly with high-interest fiction and nonfiction books, including contemporary classics, award-winners and bestsellers. Our commitment to producing high quality, 100% guaranteed large print books supports young readers as they develop the skills necessary to become successful, confident, lifelong readers. Follow Thorndike Press on: About Cengage and Gale Cengage, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. The company currently serves the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, a Cengage company, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 60 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com. Follow Gale on: Media Contact: Kayla Siefker, Gale, a Cengage company 248-915-9624 [email protected] SOURCE Gale, a Cengage company Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Texas made a "big mistake" by removing its statewide mask mandate and suggested the decision reflected "Neanderthal thinking." The comments by the Democratic president came a day after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was not only ending the mask requirement but also allowing businesses to reopen at full capacity. A small fraction of Texans have been fully vaccinated, and while coronavirus numbers have been generally declining in the state, they remain substantial. "Texas I think it's a big mistake," Biden said at the White House. "We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because the way in which are are able to get vaccines in people's arms. The last thing the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking in the meantime." HOUSTON LEADERS RESPOND: Hidalgo, Turner lambast Abbott for lifting mask order Biden's administration has urged states not to let up on restrictions as vaccinations pick up. Rochelle Walensky, Biden's director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reiterated that earlier Wednesday during a White House coronavirus briefing when asked about Abbott's announcement. "I think we at the CDC have been very clear that now is not the time to release all restrictions," Walensky said. Asked about the Texas news a short time later, White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not directly address Abbott's actions but said "the entire country has paid the price for political leaders who ignored the science when it comes to the pandemic." Abbott's announcement came four days after he joined Biden for a tour of Houston that was partly about the state's vaccination efforts. In remarks at the end of the trip, Biden stressed it was "not the time to relax" practices to curb the spread of the virus. "We have to keep washing our hands, staying socially distanced," Biden said. "And for Gods sake, wear your mask." H-E-B RESPONDS: H-E-B won't mandate for masks for shoppers, but urges customers to wear them But while federal leaders denounced Abbott's actions, Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, told a panel of state House members Wednesday afternoon that he and Abbott were on the same page about COVID-19 prevention recommendations. Hellerstedt said the governor did not lift restrictions in an attempt to diminish safety. I think the difference is, should you wear a mask? The answer is absolutely yes, Hellerstedt told the House Public Health Committee. Does the governor want folks to wear a mask and to take their own personal responsibility to do it? The answer I believe is yes. Hellerstedt was also asked whether Abbott consulted with him before Tuesday's action. The commissioner said that he spoke with the governors team beforehand, but the governor himself did not have a conversation with Hellerstedt ahead of the announcement. Cassi Pollock contributed reporting. Sarasota-Manatee Campus Bulls Unite Day In light of continuing concerns about COVID-19 (coronavirus), the University of South Florida has made the decision to cancel upcoming campus tours, housing tours, and events. We apologize for the inconvenience. For the latest updates on how USF is responding to the coronavirus threat, please visit: usf.edu BULLS UNITE DAY 2022 The March 6, 2021, Bulls Unite Day is the only date that this event will be held for the Sarasota-Manatee campus in 2021. Please stay tuned for information about the spring 2022 Bulls Unite Day. We will provide more details on this page when they become available. Please contact paigekelleyd@usf.edu if you have any questions. NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced FCR Immobilien AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: FC9;OTCQX: FCRIF), a real estate company headquartered in Munich, Germany, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. FCR Immobilien AG begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "FCRIF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. Trading on the OTCQX Market offers companies efficient, cost-effective access to the U.S. capital markets. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. "FCR has grown very strongly and profitably since it was founded in 2014. We are now one of the leading retail real estate companies in Germany. And we want to keep growing. For this reason, I am extremely pleased that FCR can now benefit from new investors and the large network via the OTCQX Market. I am sure that FCR can offer sustainable, attractive added value for return-oriented investors," said Falk Raudies, Founder and CEO of FCR Immobilien AG. B. Riley Securities, Inc. acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor. About FCR Immobilien AG The dynamically and profitably growing FCR Immobilien AG is a specialized portfolio holder for retail properties in Germany. The focus is on retail stores for daily needs in promising secondary locations which, thanks to their location, offer above-average potential returns. The portfolio of FCR Immobilien AG currently consists of around 90 properties, and the market value is over 300 million. FCR is a pioneer in digitization and artificial intelligence and is therefore one of the most innovative real estate companies in Germany. (www.fcr-immobilien.de) About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed Media Contact: OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected] SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc. Related Links http://www.otcmarkets.com Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID CIC Order Protects Erring PIO from Penalty! We have rarely heard of any recoveries of penalties slammed on public information officers (PIOs), but this one surely takes the cake! Neeraj Kumar Gupta, the central information commissioner, in an order dated 19 February 2021, states, If the Central Information Commission (CIC) starts imposing penalty on the PIOs in every other case, without any justification, it would instil a sense of constant apprehension in those functioning as PIOs in the public authorities, and would put undue pressure on them. "They would not be able to fulfil their statutory duties under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with an independent mind and with objectivity. Mr Gupta further warns, Such consequences would not auger well for the future development and growth of the regime that the RTI Act seeks to bring in, and may lead to skewed and imbalanced decisions by the PIOs, appellate authorities and the CIC. It may even lead to unreasonable and absurd orders and bring the institutions created by the RTI Act in disrepute. Really? So, what was the issue on which he decided to give a long rope to the central public information officer (CPIO)? Against the background of media reports in 2019 that SBI Sold Over Rs5,851 Crore worth of Electoral Bonds (EBs) in 10 Months, Delhi-based RTI activist, Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd) filed an application to the CPIO of the department of economic affairs (DEA). He sought information on: Phase-wise and denomination-wise information (mentioned below or as available) in respect of electoral bonds (EBs) sold mentioning the amounts in rupees: (a) Sale and EBs start date. (b) Sale and EBs end date. (c) Redemption of EBs end date. (d) Denomination-wise (i) Number of EBs sold with (ii) Amount in rupees. (e) Denomination-wise (i) EBs redeemed with amount in rupees. (f) Denomination-wise; amount-wise, funds transferred to PMNRF. (g) Complete process / steps of how and who (public authority) transfers funds to PMNRF. (h) Redeemed percentage. The CPIO of the DEA denied information stating that it does not have the information readily available and that the State Bank of India which is also a public authority would have it. However, Cmde Batra filed a complaint to the CIC, stating that he had reason to believe that the CPIO has withheld large amounts of information requested that is, indeed, available with the DEA. He argues, Large amounts of information on this matter has been provided by the DEA in a Counter Affidavit dated 1 April 2019 in the Supreme Court Case WP(C) 880/2017, in the matter of ADR Vs Union of India and Others. In his complaint to the CIC, Cmde Batra appealed for imposing a penalty and appropriate action on the CPIO under Section 20 (1) and Section 20 (2) of the RTI Act. CIC Mr Gupta relied upon the ruling of the Delhi High Court in WP(C) 11271/2009 Registrar of Companies & Ors v. Dharmendra Kumar Garg & Anr delivered on 1 June 2012). This High Court order says that penalising PIOs for every small reason would be counterproductive to their functioning. Says Cmde Batra, Electoral Bonds Scheme-2018 has been established, governed and managed by the government and is not a private agency nor does it fall under the Companies Act. "Despite that the government has not placed details of any sale or related data of EBs in the public domain. However, when the CPIO of the Department of Economic Affairs denied having any information, his lie was exposed. That is because all the data that I asked for is given in the form of an affidavit and submitted to the Supreme Court. Despite me bringing this to the notice of the CIC to buttress my arguments, the CIC has protected the CPIO. The CICs said decision needs to be analysed by experts. Lately, there is lot of compassion for the PIOs who are denying information, right, left and centre on flimsy grounds and callousness toward thousands of citizens who are invoking the RTI for information in the public domain for transparency and accountability! Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Hundreds of thousands of social care staff in England have not yet received a coronavirus vaccine, figures suggest. Some 59.2% of staff in care homes for adults aged under 65 and working for providers of home care registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, NHS England said. For social care staff working in other settings in England, including non-registered providers, the figure is 57.5%. The estimates are based on figures reported by 94% of registered younger adult care home providers, 81% of registered domiciliary care providers and 149 local authorities up to February 28. This total may include some staff who cannot currently be vaccinated for valid medical reasons and staff whose vaccination status is currently unknown. There may also be a time lag in vaccinations being reported, NHS England said. This works out at 444,683 social care staff in these settings who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccination has not yet been reported. Frontline health and social care staff were included in group two of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), with elderly care home residents and their carers in group one. The Government said it had offered the vaccine to everyone in the top four groups by mid-February. (PA Graphics) The latest weekly data also shows that 93.8% of eligible residents in older adult care homes in England had received the jab by February 28. Residents are classed as eligible for the vaccine if they have not had Covid-19 in the previous 28 days. The equivalent figure for staff of older care homes is 72.9%. Some 57.9% of eligible staff of older care homes in London are estimated to have received their first jab. London also lags behind other regions in England in terms of how many people aged 65 and over have received a vaccine. Overall, an estimated 93.6% of people aged 65 and over in England have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Regional estimates range from 84.7% for London to 95.9% for south-west England. Colin Angel, policy director at the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), said: The homecare workforce are dispersed, working out in the community, often some distance from their employers premises. This is very different to staff in residential care, who could be vaccinated at the same time as the residents of the care home where they work. He said that after a slow start in parts of the country, the opening of the national booking service for social care workers last month has significantly improved the availability of places where homecare workers can get vaccinated, adding rapid take-up is far more successful when care workers can get their jab at a time and place that fits around their working hours. Mr Angel said: There are a proportion of care workers, just as there are in the general population, who have been initially hesitant about receiving the vaccine. Good conversations between employers and their staff, and the enthusiasm for vaccination amongst their peers, is having a positive impact. EUGENE, Ore. -- With the emergency-use authorization of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine, three types of shots are now on the market battling COVID-19. While each has its benefits and drawbacks, health experts say that now is not the time to be picky about which one you receive. Oregon Medical Group Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stacy Chance said that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a welcome addition to the Pfizer and Moderna shots. The new option requires just one dose and regular refrigeration, avoiding the logistical issues that come with distributing the other shots while also boosting overall availability. "The new Johnson & Johnson vaccine is gonna be a great addition to what we've got. The Moderna and Pfizer have gotten us a long way," he said. "The added benefit to this vaccine is that it's only a single dose. So it's a lot easier to schedule and to give and you get protection a bit earlier." Chance recommended eligible Oregonians ignore the urge to refuse one brand of the coronavirus vaccine if offered in favor of another. "Sometimes people want to be really smart shoppers and figure out what's the best one. Our recommendation will be to get the first one you are offered -- to not be picky amongst the three," he said. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is 72% effective, compared to Pfizer and Moderna's 95% and 94.1%, respectively. However, Chance said that the vaccines are hard to compare head to head due to how and when they were tested. The rise of new coronavirus variants and testing methodology also lend to the comparison challenge. That means that when you become eligible, any type of protection from the virus is good protection. "If it were offered to me or my family, I wouldn't hesitate to take any of the three," said Dr. Chance. PRESS RELEASE The Samaritans Purse Douglas DC-8, which has flown medical personnel and other relief workers, as well as tons of food, medicine, and supplies to aid victims of natural disasters, war, famine, and other emergencies around the globe, will be featured at the worlds largest fly-in convention in 2021 as part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The DC-8 jet aircraft will be part of a salute to humanitarian aviation at the 68th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Associations annual fly-in convention on July 26-August 1 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Aviation is regularly used as the first response to areas around the world that have been hard hit by natural disasters or other calamities, and we are featuring some of those humanitarian outreach efforts this year at Oshkosh, said Rick Larsen, EAAs vice president of communities and member programming, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. The teams who operate and supply the Samaritans Purse DC-8 have a unique story to tell of their efforts to bring relief to dozens of stricken areas over the past five years. We welcome them to Oshkosh as we highlight the good aviation provides around the world. In 2020, Samaritans Purse was among the first aid organizations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it delivered 38 tons of medical relief supplies, including an Emergency Field Hospital, to Italy during the most dire days of the pandemic in that country. Missions last year also included trips to aid families in Armenia who fled conflict, hurricane victims in Honduras, and families in Lebanon impacted by a deadly explosion. The DC-8 was first deployed in 2016 and is configured to carry up to 84,000 pounds of cargo and 32 passengers. It significantly increased the organizations capacity to respond immediately to crises around the world as part of the 23-aircraft fleet (including two helicopters) in the Samaritans Purse aviation division. When disasters strike anywhere in the world, getting relief supplies and disaster response specialists to the site as soon as possible is absolutely essential, said Franklin Graham, pilot and president of Samaritans Purse. The DC-8 allows us to respond at a moments notice and bring life-saving relief in Jesus Name. We want to share how aviation is critical in the aftermath of a disaster, and there is no better place to do that than at Oshkosh. The Samaritans Purse DC-8 is scheduled to be at AirVenture from Monday to Wednesday, July 26-28. El presidente @FSagasti cumplira una agenda de actividades en la region San Martin. A su llegada a la provincia de Rioja, lidero la entrega de equipamiento medico que sera distribuido al personal de salud de dicha region. #AccionesEnLasRegiones pic.twitter.com/aV2mOvtXJd Como parte de su agenda de trabajo en Rioja, el presidente @FSagasti superviso la granja ganadera de Calzada, que impulsa el sector ganadero en San Martin y cuenta con experiencias productivas con alta tecnologia, que sirve de ejemplo para replicarlo en otras provincias. pic.twitter.com/ZrRmrpU183 The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below ROCK SPRINGS (Wyoming News Exchange) The wife of Green Rivers former fire chief was sentenced to prison Tuesday morning for embezzling funds from the Green River Fire Department Foundation in 2019. Sweetwater County District Court Judge Suzannah Robinson sentenced Stephanie Nomis to two to six years in the Wyoming Womens Center or other correctional facility for felony theft. She was given credit for 114 days served on the original charge and bond revocation. Nomis was also ordered to pay restitution of the $42,178.25 she took from the fund in addition to court costs. Stephanie N... Families are spending more than $100 on childrens EpiPens that only last four months as the coronavirus pandemic exacerbates supply chain issues. Parents, who are often forced to buy two or three devices to cover their needs, normally buy EpiPen Jrs with a lifespan of 18 months, but are now scrambling to find devices with a shelf life beyond July. Katherine Sanchez with her son Caspian, who is allergic to eggs. Credit:Justin McManus Chemists were unable to source adrenaline autoinjectors with a longer shelf life and said they often didnt even know the expiry date of the devices until they arrived. Pharmacy Guild of Australia national vice-president Anthony Tassone said his pharmacy was unable to find EpiPen Jrs which inject adrenaline into children with allergies who experience anaphylactic reactions with an expiry date beyond July. It was Mursal Wahidis dream job, landed right after finishing her studies in journalism - working at a local TV station in her home city in eastern Afghanistan. This week, the 21-year-old left the office for the day and walked home. She only made it a few steps. A gunman shot her point blank in the head and chest. She died instantly. At around the same time, two of her co-workers, 21-year-old Sadia Sadat and 20-year-old Shahnaz Raufi, left work together, jumping into an auto rickshaw. When they got out close to their homes, gunmen in another rickshaw that had been following them opened fire, killing both women and wounding two passers-by. The coordinated killings of the three women were the latest in a bloody campaign against journalists in Afghanistan, a country that was already considered one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. In just the last six months, 15 journalists and media workers have been killed in a series of targeted killings. The killings have spread fear among Afghanistans journalist community, prompting some to stop working or flee or self-censor to avoid angering militants or government officials, who have threatened journalists reporting on killings of civilians by government forces. The fear is even worse because the perpetrators remain mysterious, a sign of the countrys fracturing security situation even as peace negotiations try to gain a foothold. Judges, lawyers and activists have also been targeted in a wave of assassinations since Washington signed a peace deal with the Taliban a year ago. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, including Tuesdays slaying of the three women. But many others have gone unclaimed. The government blames most on the Taliban, trying to undermine the groups support among Afghans. The Taliban deny any role and blame the government for the slayings, saying it wants to undermine the peace process. Zabiullah Doorandish, who works for a local TV channel in Kabul and is a father of two, said false information flying around, including from the government, only fuels speculation. Doorandish, who often covers corruption, violence and human rights violations, was targeted by a roadside bomb attack in May. He survived, but two colleagues were killed. Now hes afraid every time he steps out of the house, he said. He said he gets death threats, some claiming to be from the Taliban, but others unknown. The threats, he said, prompted him to put aside for now a documentary he was preparing about the killings of journalists. On Wednesday, funerals were held for the three women, who worked for Enikass Radio and TV in the city of Jalalabad. They dubbed popular and often emotion-laden dramas from Turkey and India into Afghanistans local languages of Dari and Pashtu. In December, IS claimed the killing of another female employee at the station, Malala Maiwand. Wahidis father said he had implored her to quit her job after Maiwands killing, but she refused, fiercely loving her work. Journalism was her lifes dream, she studied and was living her dream, Wahidullah Khogyani told The Associated Press. He said he did not think that she had received any threats - but if she did, she was hiding it. The aftermath of the killing underscored the governments credibility problem. Afghan officials claimed they arrested the killer of the three, identifying him as Qari Baser and insisting he was a Taliban. Police did not explain how the man could have carried out two near simultaneous attacks so far apart. Hours after the killings, the Islamic State group said it killed the women because they worked for one of the media stations loyal to the apostate Afghan government. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the group had any role. Afghanistan has over 2,000 officially registered media outlets. Violence against journalists was up 26% in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee, which recorded 132 threats and acts of violence against journalists and media workers last year. Attacks against the media have been countrywide. Last month in northern Afghanistan, the former head of a journalist association was killed and in western Ghor province a journalist and his family was killed. Early this year, an angry mob ransacked Radio Zohra, a local radio station in northern Afghanistan, after a mosque imam incited the attackers, claiming the stations music interfered with prayers. The stations equipment was damaged, and it had to halt broadcasting. One female TV presenter told the AP she fled her home after receiving death threats by phone from a person claiming to be from the Taliban. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the caller had no connection to the insurgent group and the Taliban had no issue with the work she was doing. "The biggest impact this situation can have on female journalists is that their families would be terrified, and the path would get narrow for women, because none of the families will allow their daughters to work in the media," said the presenter. She spoke on condition she not be named or her hometown or current location identified to protect her security. She also criticized the government, saying her pleas for help have gone unanswered. They just tell her to be careful. Mohammad Naweed, a journalist who is now in hiding, said no side can be trusted. "The government has failed in providing security for all the people, especially for media and civil rights activists," he said. Latif Mahmood, the director of the government media and information center, said the government is working for the safety of journalists and media workers and insisted officials provide accurate information. He blamed the Taliban for most of the attacks. The head of the journalist safety committee, Najeeb Sharifi, said he expected killings to continue until a final peace agreement is reached. If violence continues at this level, we face the risk of losing media and press freedom, which is one of the greatest achievements of the past two decades in Afghanistan." (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Things are about to get a lot tougher for Marty and Wendy Byrde. While the couple at the center of Ozark may have swayed Omar Navarro to their side, the partnership between the competitive Darlene Snell and all-knowing Ruth Langmore poses a big threat to their operation. Having worked closely with the Byrdes, Ruth has the knowledge and skill that Darlene needs to finally overtake her rivals. However, theres a new cast member coming to Ozark that could tip the scales in Marty and Wendys favor. Jason Bateman and Laura Linney on Ozark | Netflix The Byrdes had a falling out with Ruth in season 3 Since the earlier days of Ozark, Ruth has been a huge asset to Marty and Wendy, helping them establish, maintain, and grow their businesses. But by season 3, shed grown tired of being undervalued and disrespected. It was one thing when they failed to retaliate against Frank Cosgrove Jr. for attacking her, but when they allowed the murder of her boyfriend Ben, she ended her relationship with them seemingly for good. After the explosive confrontation, Ruth turned to Darlene, whos been slowly rebuilding the drug business the Byrdes ruined early in the series. RELATED: Ozark: This Is Ruths Biggest Regret According to Julia Garner Ruth will be in fierce opposition to the Byrdes in season 4 Offering some insight into season 4 which is also the final one showrunner Chris Mundy said in a panel hosted by Deadline that it will dive deeper into the relationships between both sides. Really, I mean, I think for all of it, Marty and Wendy for the first time are going to be firmly on the same page. Ruths going to sort of be in firm opposition to them, everyones got to figure out what they want their life to be. For the first time, I think people are going to get to make some choices and not just be reactive to the craziness, thats around them, Mundy continued. And so, we feel like the end of the show has been built in. But hopefully, its something that as youre experiencing it, youre continually surprised. They're going to go out with a bang. Ozark will be back with an expanded 14-episode final season. pic.twitter.com/otIoUeTXyH Netflix (@netflix) June 30, 2020 RELATED: Ozark Season 4: Release Date, Storylines, and Everything Else We Know A new character will reportedly be introduced in season 4 Per Deadline, Bruce Davison of X-Men will join the show as Randall Schafer, a powerful retired Illinois U.S. Senator who is accustomed to doing things his way. He is not always easy to win over but for the right price. Though theres no official word that hell become a friend of the Byrde family, based on his character description, it sounds to us like he could be a big benefit to them. You can find out what happens for certain when Ozark comes back on. Theres no official release date at the time of this writing, but it is expected to air sometime between later in 2021 and early 2022. Stay tuned to us for more details as they become available. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE With many New Mexicans working remotely and attending classes from home during the coronavirus pandemic, New Mexicos broadband system has been put to the test. And despite attempts in recent years to improve broadband connectivity, the state still lags behind most of the nation. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ During a largely remote 60-day legislative session that has been slowed at times by technical issues, lawmakers are trying to patch together a plan to improve connectivity. The approach includes $133 million in total proposed state spending on broadband expansion a figure that includes funding for local broadband companies and a bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday that would create a centralized state broadband office. This is the future its the connection for everything, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said during Wednesdays floor debate. Wirth compared the effort to expand broadband systems to the drive to provide electricity during the 20th century, while lauding the efforts of some rural electrical co-ops to build broadband infrastructure. But the push to improve New Mexicos broadband connectivity has also revealed different approaches. Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, expressed concern Wednesday about high vacancy rates in the state agency that currently oversees a broad range of technology issues. He also said the state will miss out on large amounts of federal matching dollars for broadband infrastructure unless it crafts a statewide connectivity plan. Broadband will never happen until that plan is put into place, Munoz said. The measure approved Wednesday, Senate Bill 93, would address that issue by establishing a new state office and an attached oversight council to create a broadband plan and negotiate rights of way with local governments. Theres no plan at the moment, and thats the key No. 1 function of this office, said the bills sponsor, Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque. The bill approved by a 33-6 vote on Wednesday that now goes to the House initially included a $950,000 appropriation, but that funding was removed in a Senate committee. While backers of the measure say current state workers could be used to staff the office, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams office expressed concern about the stripped-out funding. We are supportive of the legislation, though we encourage legislators to ensure it includes an accompanying appropriation in order to be effective, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said Wednesday. The administration is ready to execute on key broadband projects statewide ensuring the funding to do so from the appropriating branch would be the necessary first step, she said. Rural areas lack access Statewide, more than 20% of students in public schools about 66,200 live in households without internet subscriptions, according a Legislative Finance Committee report released last year. And about 1,100 students live outside the reach of cellphone or broadband service, even if their parents could afford it, the report said. Those challenges were highlighted during Wednesdays debate, with Sen. Liz Stefanics, D-Cerrillos, citing parents driving their children to internet hot spots so they could complete schoolwork from inside the car. The issues in the rural areas of the state really need to be addressed, Stefanics said. The $133 million in proposed state funding in this years session includes $70 million for broadband expansion thats included in a supplemental spending bill, according to the Senate Finance Committee. In addition, $5 million would be appropriated for tribal broadband projects, and $10 million would be earmarked for New Mexico-based broadband companies. The remaining funds would be targeted at home broadband connectivity and local planning, among other purposes. If the funding is fully approved, the state dollars could yield more than $1 billion in funding from federal and private sources, Munoz said. NM 49th in nation Nationwide, New Mexico is only the 49th-best-connected state in the country, according to BroadbandNow, a broadband availability website. While average download speeds are fast in parts of the state such as Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Clovis, access to high-speed internet is lacking in many parts of New Mexico. In addition to the new state office, several other broadband-related proposals have been introduced during the 60-day legislative session. That includes measures creating a new state government position to focus on rural equity issues and expanding the states Rural Telecommunications Act to allow newly created providers to benefit from a state fund. The session ends March 20. Though educators in Massachusetts have gotten the green light for COVID-19 vaccinations, it is unlikely that many teachers and school staff in Worcester will be vaccinated before hybrid learning starts this month. Worcester students with the highest needs and New Citizens Program students start learning in-person four days a week on March 15, two weeks before all other students who are partaking in the hybrid model are slated to return to classrooms two days a week. Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that K-12 employees, early childcare and school staff are eligible March 11 to make an appointment to get the vaccine. That news was considered a victory in the education community, though it may be weeks before many school employees can get a shot. I think this is a huge victory for students, school employees and the whole community, said Roger Nugent, the president of the Educational Association of Worcester. Bakers announcement Wednesday followed a call from President Joe Biden on Tuesday for states to prioritize the vaccination of educators. President Biden even understands that educators are essential employees and we hope that Governor Baker works with the government to ensure a quick, smooth and equitable rollout of the vaccines for all educators, Nugent said. This is an encouraging step, made possible by educators and advocacy, and the president listening to us when Governor Baker would not. Though, Nugent, like others in the education community, are concerned about how long it may take for school staff to get an appointment to be inoculated. Many other people eligible for the vaccine in Phase 2 of the states plan, including people 65 and older and residents with at least two co-morbidities, still have not been able to secure appointments. There are about 400,000 K-12 educators, child care workers and K-12 school staff in Massachusetts, officials said. The state estimates it will take a month for all eligible individuals to secure a first appointment based on the current vaccine supply. Nugent said he hopes to work with the school district and the city to make a plan for educators to get the shot. I hope that we can have a conversation with administration to see if we can get something rolling together, Nugent said. Additionally, the states COVID-19 Command Center plans to designate specific days at the states seven mass vaccination sites for educators to get vaccinated. Though educators are not yet able to get vaccinated at state sites, CVS early Wednesday listed K-12 teachers, daycare and preschool staff in Massachusetts as eligible for the vaccine. A CVS spokesman said the company was aligning with updated Federal Retail Pharmacy Program guidelines by making appointments to educators. Related Content: Los Angeles, March 4 : Hollywood star Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh Kelley were eager to welcome a fourth child in the family last year but the pandemic changed their priorities. "I have completely changed my mind. I am very content with my three!" the 42-year-old actress told Parent magazine, as reported by Hello! The actress also opened up about her two adopted daughters, Nancy, 12 and Adelaide, 8, and how she and her husband have been honest with both of them about their biological mothers. "We have said to them, 'this is your story. We don't have any information about your biological fathers, but we do have a bit about your biological mothers. If you guys want to talk more about them, you can have as much or as little information as you want. Tell us what you're comfortable with knowing'," she said. She also revealed that their oldest daughter wasn't given a phone, which has not got down well with the kids. "I know she thinks I'm being a tyrant, but I worry about the effect of social media on kids her age. I watched 'The Social Dilemma'. So I'm like, 'go ahead and hate me. I'm trying to save you!" she said. (Adds comment from friend, prime minister, rights watchdog) By Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith SEOUL, March 4 (Reuters) - The death of South Korea's first known transgender soldier, who was discharged last year for undergoing gender reassignment surgery, sparked calls from advocacy groups and activists for better protections and acknowledgement of transgender residents. Byun Hui-su, 23, who was a staff sergeant before being discharged, was found dead by emergency officials at her home in the city of Cheongju, south of Seoul, on Wednesday. "Byun's death resonated even more with the public because the military and this society refused to acknowledge the change," Rainbow Action Against Sexual-Minority Discrimination of Korea, an umbrella association of group of 40 sexual minority groups, said in a statement. Byun's bravery in coming forward had inspired and empowered others, the group said. A woman who said she had been Byun's friend since they attended a military high school together seven years ago, told Reuters that Feb. 28 would have been Byun's last day in the military if she had been allowed to stay in service. "She was destined to be a soldier. A military nerd, she was so knowledgeable about all things military, not just Korean troops but those in other countries, and worked so hard to restart her service," said Kim, requesting only her surname be given due to privacy issues. Kim said Byun had been jobless as all her applications were rejected since she went public when the military discharged her last year after having the operation in Thailand. Byun sued the Army, saying she still hoped to continue her service, and the first hearing had been set for April. I want to show everyone that I can also be one of the great soldiers who protect this country, Byun said at the time, breaking down in tears as she described her decision to undergo surgery and the subsequent clash with the military. Story continues An initial military comment that it was not in a position to say anything regarding the news of the death of a civilian drew swift criticism on social media, and on Thursday a spokesperson offered official condolences, calling Byun's death "unfortunate." The official said, however, that the military had still not had any detailed discussion on its policies toward transgender soldiers. The case triggered debate in South Korea's LBGT community over how transgender members of the military are treated in a country that requires all able-bodied men to serve for around two years. Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun offered condolences when asked at a regular briefing about any plans for institutional changes regarding military service for transgenders, but said further discussions were needed. The National Human Rights Commission issued a statement honouring Byun's "fight against deep-rooted discrimination and hatred", and vowing efforts to improve the system. (Reporting by Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) This is Money columnist Steve Webb says: ' 'Repayments of 3billion over the next five years imply huge numbers of women have been shortchanged' The cost of fixing underpaid womens state pensions will be 3billion it has been revealed and people wouldnt be getting that money without the work of This is Moneys journalist Tanya Jefferies and columnist Steve Webb. The 3billion figure slipped out among all the others packed into the Office for Budget Responsibilitys Budget report yesterday. It highlights a colossal short-changing of state pensioners and I would urge our readers to check their pensions, if they are of an age to be affected, or encourage relatives or friends to look at theirs. Over the past year, we have revealed case after case where people were owed back payments that in some instances ran into tens of thousands of pounds and will get a better state pension from now on. Former Pensions Minister Steve and Tanya work tirelessly on his weekly pension column and it was a reader question to this early last year that first flagged the issue. A husband wrote in explaining that his wife had discovered she was only getting 39 per cent of his state pension when she should be getting 60 per cent, and had been told by the DWP that they could only backdate her payments by 12 months: he asked if this was right? Steve explained that married women who retired on small state pensions before April 2016 should get an uplift to 60 per cent of their husband's payments once he reached retirement age. Since 2008, the increases are supposed to be automatic, but before that women had to apply to get the full sum they were due or they could be underpaid. Steve added: Given that the onus was on the individual to claim an uplift prior to March 2008, this makes me think that there could be quite a few more married women in the same position as your wife. His suspicion turned out to be right and as Steve and Tanya widened their investigation they found lots more cases of women being underpaid state pension. A few months later, we revealed that two other women who contacted us had received 9,000 and 5,000 in state pension payments they missed out on over years of being underpaid - and highlighted that many more retired women could be in line for payouts worth thousands. As Steve and Tanya widened their investigation they found lots more cases of women being underpaid state pension Steve and Tanya pushed the DWP for answers as to how this had happened, whether the error was widespread, and what it was doing to help women underpaid state pension. Those answers were not easy to come by - although we did uncover that a probe was taking place - and it is still not clear exactly how the blunders that led to this situation took place. The current Pensions Minister Guy Opperman recently explained that many elderly women lost out on state pension because junior civil servants failed to manually update their individual records during past decades. He told MPs it was a 'significant legacy issue', with hundreds of civil servants now working to sort it out. Are YOU being underpaid state pension? If you think you have been underpaid state pension, Steve Webb's firm LCP has launched an online tool to help older married women work out if they are being paid correctly. Find out more here. But Webb stresses that the website is simply designed as a useful tool, and anyone with any doubt about the amount of pension they are receiving should contact the Department for Work and Pensions. If you are a widow and think you have been underpaid, find out more here. Readers can contact Steve Webb at pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk. Please put DWP CLAIMS in the subject line and include your own and your husband's date of birth (and death if you are a widow), how much you both receive in state pension and a contact telephone number. But apologies in advance, we cannot reply to everyone and you should always prioritise contacting the DWP using the details above. In some cases, underpayments have been astonishingly big. Last summer, we reported on a widow who got back 115,000. There is also an indication that while all married women with lower state pensions could be affected, widows may be at particular risk of having suffered underpayments. Of course, an issue like this doesnt just stay with one publication. Steve has campaigned on it in his job at pension consultancy Lane, Clark & Peacock and the story has been covered and investigated throughout the financial press. But when that 3billion figure emerged yesterday, it marked a real victory for This is Moneys journalism and for Steve and Tanyas tenacity and hard work on a campaign to help people out. The best bit about it though is the difference the huge sum will make once it is divided up: 3billion is a number so large it feels meaningless, the thousands of pounds in back payments and extra money in pension payments from now on for women affected wont be. New Delhi, March 4 : Filmmaker Paul WS Anderson and his wife, Hollywood star Milla Jovovich, have collaborated several times on his films, notably the "Resident Evil" franchise, but it was their latest release "Monster Hunter" that tested the actress's patience. She told him "this is the worst thing" he had ever done to her, claimed Anderson. "Her commitment is always surprising. She always really gives her all to every movie she makes and this movie was a harder movie to make from the others we have done. Just because of the technical challenges that it threw up.I wanted to shoot in real landscapes and the landscapes I chose were in the middle of nowhere!" he recalled, speaking to IANS. The film is their fifth collaboration. "The entire cast crew would be sleeping in tents and during the day the temperature would get upto 50 degrees and during the night freezing cold below 0. Big storms would come up and threaten to wipe away all the tents we would be living in," he added. "It was a hard shoot physically and at one point Milla came up to me and said 'You know I think this is the worst thing you have ever done to me' which I kind of took as a badge of honour that I finally kind of I done something terrible to her but she kind of loved it because her as an actor what it did was that it immersed her in this world," he said. He says that "Monster Hunter", which released in the US in December 2020, is about discovering a new world and fighting for survival. The film also stars Tony Jaa, Tip "T. I." Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta, Josh Helman, Jin Au-Yeung, and Ron Perlman along with Jovovich. "For all of these actors they actually even though it was difficult they loved it much more than just acting in front of the green screen because these challenges and these real landscapes brought the world to life for them so they actually felt that they crossed over into the Monster Hunter world and I think that their performances really benefited from that," he said. The director feels the look of the movie benefited from it as they have created a very realistic looking other world. How did "Monster Hunter" challenge Anderson as a filmmaker, compared to other films he has made before? "Going to these landscapes and shooting for real was something I have never really done before because I have done a lot of movies in studios and cities. Think about aResident Evil', it is a very urban franchise. You are in a lot of industrial dereliction, you tend to be based in cities. This time I had really gone out and did a landscape picture where you are in these vast landscapes," Anderson said. He had very limited lighting. "So, you start shooting when the sun goes up and you stop shooting when the sun goes down. Having to plan your entire day with the pathway of the sun and kind of shoot in these wild locations was an adventure and really different for me. It tested me as a filmmaker but it was very exciting. I think it produced a very unique look for the film," he said. "Monster Hunter" will be premiering on &flix in May. (Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durga.c@ians.in) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Migrant workers work in a fishery in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, Feb. 2. / Korea Times file By Lee Hyo-jin Migrant workers here are concerned that they might be excluded from the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program or pushed back on the priority list, saying that the government's coronavirus-related measures so far have not been equally applied to them. Prior to the vaccine rollout, the government said that foreign nationals who have stayed in the country for over three months, including undocumented migrants, will be provided with the vaccine under the same order and procedures applied to Korean nationals. But limited information on vaccination schedules have left migrant workers wondering when their turn will come. Many of these workers are concerned that they might be lose their eligibility at the last minute, considering the government's inconsistent coronavirus-related policies for migrants. "As we haven't been told anything from the authorities yet, many workers are quite confused and concerned when they will actually be able to get vaccinated," said Shekh al Mamun, a senior member of the migrant workers union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. The government should give specific details and actively discuss the vaccination plan with migrants' groups in order to ease their concerns, he said. According to him, foreign workers have already experienced discrimination and exclusion from state COVID-19 support measures such as the mask distribution and disaster relief funding programs. The public mask distribution plan, which was implemented while the country was struggling with a shortage of face masks in March last year, limited purchases to subscribers to the national health insurance program, leaving thousands of migrant workers on the sidelines. Many foreign workers were excluded from disaster relief funds offered by the central and local governments as beneficiaries were limited to permanent residents, expatriates with registration cards and marriage migrants. Migrants and local activists protest in front of Cheong Wa Dae, central Seoul, urging the government to provide disaster relief funds equitably to foreign residents, May 7, 2020. Yonhap COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Fortitude Gold (OTCQB:FRTT) (the "Company") today announced that its common stock was approved for quotation on the OTC Markets Group, Inc.'s OTCQB Venture Market (the "OTCQB"). The Company's common shares will continue to trade under the symbol "FRTT". Trading on the OTCQB is expected to be effective on March 5, 2021. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. For more information on Fortitude Gold, please visit www.fortitudegold.com. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for Fortitude Gold on https://otcmarkets.com. About Fortitude Gold Corp.: Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins and strong returns on capital. The Company strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial future dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, with the Isabella Pearl gold mine in current production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding Fortitude Gold Corporation's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Fortitude Gold Corporation on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, the scope, duration, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mining operations, Company employees, and supply chains as well as the scope, duration and impact of government action aimed at mitigating the pandemic may cause future actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. CONTACT: Greg Patterson 719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com www.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633612/Fortitude-Gold-Announces-Uplisting-to-OTCQB-Market 2021-03-04 Maeci The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, attends the presentation event of italiana, the new Foreign Ministry portal (italiana.esteri.it) for the promotion of Italian language, culture and creativity in the world. BISHKEK -- Activist Altyn Kapalova says she broke patriarchic norms in Kyrgyzstan by giving her three children "middle names" that derive from her own first name. The matronymics on the childrens new birth certificates replaced the traditional patronymics that originated from their fathers first names. Kapalova, 37, also gave her children -- who are 5, 10, and 15 years old -- her surname. Like many former Soviet republics, Kyrgyzstan has largely kept the tradition of Russian-style patronymics. It is a combination of the fathers first name with suffixes -ovich or -evich for men and -ovna and -evna for women and is presented as a middle name would be in many Western countries. But the Central Asian countrys Civil Registry Office is unhappy with her actions and is suing the single mother for breaking the law. Kapalova says the biological fathers of her children have been absent from the childrens lives and havent given the children any money or a minute of their time." She adds that they only created problems by refusing to sign all kinds of parental-consent forms. On January 19, Kapalova shared the photos of her childrens new birth certificates on her Facebook account. Its a small victory of feminism over patriarchy, wrote Kapalova, who is known in Kyrgyzstan as the author of childrens books and an outspoken campaigner for womens and childrens rights. Registry Office officials only found out about the unprecedented name changes after Kapalova took to social media to announce her victory and the feeling of happiness and freedom. Kapalova says she fought a lengthy legal battle with her former partners for full parental rights of the children before she changed their names. The next step, she said, is to get travel documents, to save some money, and go traveling with the kids once the pandemic is over. But standing in her way is the Civil Registry Office that argues Kyrgyz laws dont allow matronymics to be used. There is no provision in the law to give children matronymics. Children can only get patronymics that derive from the first name of the biological father, or adoptive father, or stepfather, Galiya Amanova, the deputy head of the agency, told the 24kg news agency. Amanova explained that legally depriving the father of parental rights cant become the basis to register a child with a matronymic. Asked how Kapalovas children could have received new IDs with matronymics and her family name, Amanova said it was due to errors by a Registry Office employee in Bishkek. Support From Friends And Family Kapalova told RFE/RL that before applying for the name changes she discussed everything thoroughly with her children. She says she also got the full support of her friends and relatives. My children didnt understand why they were carrying the surnames and patronymics of people they dont know, she adds. Kapalova says her actions are more about gender equality than feminism and hopes it will pave the way for other women in her situation to have a choice in choosing their childrens family names. Our government has signed international treaties and has pledged to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. But its now suing me because my children use my name, Kapalova told RFE/RL. It shows that the patriarchic agenda is important for the government. In Kyrgyzstan, a predominantly Muslim nation of some 6.5 million, the law provides for equal rights for women and men. Women study, work, and participate in politics. The country even made history by having a female president. But violence against women -- primarily domestic abuse -- remains commonplace in the male-dominated society. Kapalovas Facebook posts about the name change and upcoming legal battle with the Registry Office have attracted hundreds of messages of support. This is a victory and inspiration for many other women who encounter similar problems, wrote Facebook user Ainura Cholponkulova. Its all very fair. Great precedent, commented Alma Karsymbek. I will do the same, wrote Cholpon Arkabaeva. Dozens of people also gathered near a Bishkek court to support Kapalova on February 25 when a hearing on her case was set to take place. But the trial was postponed until March 4 -- upon which it was postponed a second time. Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service and Current Time A former police chief in Maryland is facing more than a dozen attempted murder charges after it was alleged that he had targeted his enemies with arson on at least 12 occasions over the last decade. David M Crawford, the police chief of Laurel, Maryland, was arrested and charged on Wednesday. The arson attempts reportedly began in 2011, with the most recent occurring late last year. The fires took place in Prince George's, Howard, Frederick, Montgomery and Charles counties. Police only uncovered the link between the 12 arsons following the most recent fire, which happened in Clarksburg last November. A surveillance video of the last video caught the image of someone running around in the middle of the night dumping an accelerant onto the ground outside a person's property. Investigators believe the individual in the video is Mr Crawford. "The break in the case came shortly after the last known fire in 2020 when a link between the victims was discovered and that eventually led investigators and detectives to Crawford," Prince George County Fire/EMS Department said in a statement. "Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the structures and vehicles that Crawford intentionally set on fire were connected to victims with whom he had previous disagreements." After obtaining a search warrant, police searched Mr Crawford's home and allegedly found a list of his victims, which corresponded with the individuals whose houses had been burned. Among Mr Crawford's alleged enemies were another former Laurel police chief, two former police officers, two relatives, and two of his former doctors. Mr Crawford resigned in 2010, and allegedly carried out his first arson less than a year later. Fire officials claimed the tactics used between the various arson sites were similar. The arsonist exhibited a similar pattern of behaviour using gallon jugs filled with gasoline and a stick wrapped in cloth to set the fires. Also there was a similar, but very generic vehicle description, a silver sedan, in several of the cases, the Prince Georges County Fire Department said in a statement. In Prince George's County, Mr Crawford is facing four counts of first-degree attempted murder, four counts of second-degree attempted murder, one count of first-degree arson, six counts of first-degree malicious burning and five counts of second-degree arson. In Montgomery County, he's facing three counts of first-degree arson, three counts of first-degree malicious burning, and one count of second-degree arson, and in Frederick County he's facing a single count of first-degree arson, a single count of second-degree arson, and a single count of first-degree malicious burning. In Howard County, Mr Crawford is facing eight counts of first-degree attempted murder, eight counts of second-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree malicious burning, two counts of first-degree arson, two counts of second-degree arson, one count of second-degree malicious burning and numerous counts of malicious destruction. FILE PHOTO: Bottles of single malt scotch whisky The Glenlivet, part of the Pernod Ricard group, are pictured in a shop near Lausanne By William James and Andrea Shalal LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday agreed to a four-month suspension of retaliatory tariffs imposed on British goods such as Scotch whisky over a long-running aircraft subsidy row, with both sides pledging to use the time to resolve the dispute. The U.S. administration under former President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Scotch whisky and other European Union food, wine and spirits, which the industry says have put its future at risk. The multi-billion dollar tit-for-tat tariff battle involving the United States, the European Union and Britain relates to a long-running row over state subsidies for planemakers Airbus and Boeing. Britain is party to the dispute as a former member of the EU and maker of key Airbus components. "The United Kingdom and the United States are undertaking a four-month tariff suspension to ease the burden on industry and take a bold, joint step towards resolving the longest running disputes at the World Trade Organization," a joint statement said. "This will allow time to focus on negotiating a balanced settlement to the disputes, and begin seriously addressing the challenges posed by new entrants to the civil aviation market from non-market economies, such as China." White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the decision would give both sides time to work out a solution. "It was meant to de-escalate the issue and create space for a negotiated settlement to the Airbus and Boeing disputes," she told a White House briefing. The tariff truce is separate from broader U.S.-UK talks on a post-Brexit trade agreement, but sends a positive signal about those discussions. Psaki declined to say if the U.S.-UK tariff deal foreshadowed a similar truce with Brussels. Britain and the United States were hoping to reach a trade deal before the expiration of fast-track trade promotion authority granted to the U.S. federal government by Congress in July. To hit that deadline, U.S. trade officials would have to notify Congress about a likely trade deal sometime in April. Story continues 'LOSE-LOSE' TARIFFS Airbus spokesman Clay McConnell welcomed the suspension of what he called "lose-lose tariffs" and said the company supports all efforts to reach an agreement. U.S. planemaker Boeing said: "A negotiated settlement will allow the industry to move forward with a genuinely global level playing field for aviation." Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker and Talisker whisky, said a permanent solution would help safeguard thousands of jobs across Scotland and the rest of Britain. The agreement to lift tariffs is temporary and applies only to UK goods. U.S. tariffs will continue to apply to EU goods, according to a U.S. administration official. A British official described it as a "real win" which justified a British decision to diverge from EU policy after Brexit and ditch tariffs in hopes of reaching an agreement with the Trump administration before it left office. At the time, the EU questioned whether Britain had the legal right to keep those tariffs in place after leaving the bloc. "I am delighted to say that our American allies under their new President and his hard-working staff at the U.S. Trade Representative - have embraced our move to seek a fair settlement," she said. U.S. President Joe Biden's top trade nominee, Katherine Tai, is headed to confirmation by the full Senate next week. She told the Senate Finance Committee last month that Washington had completed four rounds of negotiations with Britain since announcing the start of talks. She said she would make it a priority to resolve the aircraft subsidy dispute. Tai, asked if she would prioritise an agreement with Britain, told the committee in written responses to questions released this week that Britain was "an important trading partner and ally". The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States welcomed Thursday's decision but said it was disappointed that British tariffs on U.S. whiskey relating to a separate dispute over steel were still being applied. (Reporting by William James in London, Andrea Shalal in Washington and Aakriti Bhalla and Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; editing by Paul Sandle, Jason Neely, Toby Chopra and Sonya Hepinstall) Scott Morrison has delivered an emotional message to the family of Christian Porter's accuser who took her own life last year and backed the attorney-general to continue in his role. Mr Porter outed himself as the cabinet minister accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in 1988 to categorically deny the accusation and insist he will not stand down. Speaking at a battery factory in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, Mr Morrison said the events were 'harrowing' and expressed sympathy for the woman's family. Scott Morrison (pictured today) has delivered an emotional message to the family of Christian Porter's accuser who took her own life last year 'And for the family of the woman at the centre of these issues, as the Attorney-General commenced his remarks yesterday, my heart can only break for anyone who has lost a child... and the issues surrounding that and the way that this matter is now being addressed in the public domain. 'This must be a harrowing time for her friends and for her family. And I don't want to do anything that would seek to add any further difficulty for them,' he said. The woman's family has declined to speak out, with their lawyer saying: 'They continue to experience considerable grief arising from their loss.' Labor, the Greens and the woman's lawyer have called for an independent inquiry into the allegations after police closed their investigation due to lack of evidence. But the prime minister said the police was the only appropriate body to investigate such serious claims. 'There is no other alternative for a Prime Minister than the rule of law. There's not another process,' he said. Asked if he believed Mr Porter's denial, Mr Morrison said: 'Look, my judgement is based on the report of the police. 'They are the competent and authorised authorities to make the judgements about any such allegations. And they have made their conclusions.' Referring to discredited rape allegations against former Labor leader Bill Shorten in 2014, he added: 'As people have said in similar occasions in the past - that's where the matter rests.' In an impassioned defence of Australia's legal system, Mr Morrison said: 'The rule of law is essential for liberal democracies. And we weaken it at our great peril. 'It can be hard at times. And I understand, particularly under these circumstances, it can be hard to understand just how important that principle is in how we deal with these, the most sensitive and the most traumatic and the most personal of issues. 'But we must reflect on that principle, because it is that principle that underpins our democracy itself. The presumption of innocence. The investigation of allegations involving criminal activity by competent and authorised bodies - that is, the police.' Tearful: Christian Porter has outed himself as the cabinet minister accused of rape to categorically deny the accusation and has insist he will not stand down 'That is our rule of law. It is something that every single citizen of this country depends upon - and that is the principle upon which I seek to support to ensure the good governance of our country,' Mr Morrison said. The prime minister said there was 'no suggestion' of the attorney general resigning and that he's looking forward to getting back to work after mental health leave. In an extraordinary press briefing in Perth on Wednesday, a shattered and tearful Mr Porter said he had been subjected to a trial by media and has asked the Prime Minister to take some time off as a result of the accusation. The 50-year-old former public prosecutor confirmed he attended a debating competition at Sydney University with his accuser when he was 17 and she was 16, but categorically denied ever sleeping with the woman who has since taken her own life. 'The things that have been claimed to happen did not happen,' he said through tears in the emotional conference. 'I did not sleep with the [alleged] victim. We didn't have anything of that nature happen between us,' he added. By unveiling himself, Mr Porter ended six days of speculation over the accused's identity after the woman's allegation was published in the media without naming the cabinet minister. Mr Porter admitted that he can't remember every single detail of the night in question but insisted that he would not have forgotten having sex with someone. 'The things I have read did not happen. And to suggest that they could be forgotten is ridiculous, they just never happened,' he said. The woman, who struggled with her mental health for years, told police about her allegation in February last year but took her own life in June. Detectives closed their investigation on Tuesday due to a lack of evidence. The accuser's allegation became public last week after Prime Minster Scott Morrison received a letter from a mystery sender which included a statement the woman had prepared for her lawyers in 2019. A Louth criminal with 40 previous convictions has appealed the severity of his sentence for burning out a stolen car, in what a judge has described as "mysterious" circumstances. Paul Crosby (25) of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth was under surveillance by the Emergency Response Unit who watched as he and two others jump-started the stolen Volkswagen Polo, drove it to a field and set it on fire. He pleaded guilty to arson and a judge at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment with the final six months suspended. At a sentence hearing in April 2020 Detective Garda Seamus Nolan told Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court that Crosby was being watched by the Emergency Response Unit when, on May 10, 2019, he was seen with two other men trying to jump-start the stolen car at an industrial estate in Drogheda. The car had been reported stolen from Dublin and had been fitted with stolen plates and tax and insurance discs. When the three men got the car started they drove to a field in the Yellowbatter area of the town. The two other men, driving a BMW, left and returned with a can of petrol. One of them, not Crosby, doused the car and set it on fire. The Volkswagen, which was said to have been worth e10,000, was a write-off. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years in prison but reduced that due to Crosby's early guilty plea. The court also heard that Crosby had 40 previous convictions: 31 for road traffic offences, four for theft, three for drug-related offences and two for criminal damage. He was also acquitted of attempted murder following a trial in February 2019. He had been accused of the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, on November 10, 2016. Mr Boyle was stabbed 28 times and forced into the boot of a car that was then pushed into a canal. He escaped from the car and swam to the canal bank where a passing taxi driver called the emergency services. Crosby denied any involvement and a Central Criminal Court jury took just 43 minutes to find him not (NOT) guilty of attempted murder. At the Court of Appeal today, Thursday March 4th Lily Buckley BL for Crosby said the headline sentence of seven years for arson was too severe. She said the main concern in arson cases is the danger posed to others when fires get out of control. That did not feature in this case, she said, as the car was set on fire in a field away from houses and people. She also argued that her client's guilty plea was particularly helpful given that his trial would have been delayed indefinitely as the courts are not holding jury trials during lockdown. She said the sentencing judge put too much emphasis on the idea that it was a planned operation. Ms Buckley pointed out that Crosby and his alleged accomplices didn't even have petrol to light the fire when they first brought the car to the field, suggesting it wasn't particularly well-planned. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said people who burn out cars usually do so to destroy forensic evidence relating to a robbery or shooting, or out of hostility towards the car owner, or as an act of mindless vandalism. "It's hard to see where this one fits into the picture," he said, adding: "It is slightly mysterious, a car stolen in Dublin, turning up in Drogheda, parked in a car park until the battery went flat, jump started and then brought to a field to be burned out. What is it all about?" Ms Buckley pointed out that the sentencing judge had described the fire as "sinister" but didn't speculate beyond that. Kevin Segrave SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions said the involvement of the emergency response unit meant the judge was "entitled to infer something sinister." He added, however, that there is no more evidence and therefore he would "leave it at that". Mr Justice Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved judgement. LAS VEGAS, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rare cancers account for approximately 22% of all the diagnosed cancer cases. The US National Cancer Institute defines rare cancers as those with an incidence of less than 15 cases per 100 000 per year. However, these cases are not confined to one or the other particular geography, but are disproportionately spread across the world. Many rare human cancers are not curable, and have limited number of treatment options. Rare cancers are more difficult to diagnose and are often misdiagnosed. Rarity of the cancers further complicates the running of clinical trials. Lack of clinical expertise, research, and funding are other barriers in the Rare cancer market. Therefore, the Rare cancer market calls for continued efforts to speed up the process of drug development. Strategies to enroll patients in cohorts, meta-analyzing of studies, patient evaluation, acknowledging the burden rare cancer poses, innovative approaches to develop therapies, and a go-ahead attitude from pharma players as well as international support organizations shall help DelveInsight has recently launched several Rare disease market reports with a special focus on Rare cancers. Some of the key highlights from a few of the published rare cancers reports are as follows: Soft Tissue Sarcoma Market Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) is a rare and heterogeneous group of tumors that account for less than one percent of all adult malignancies. It originates from connective tissue such as muscles, nerves, tendons, blood vessels, fatty and fibrous tissues. The majority of the soft tissue sarcomas cases occur in the lower extremities, making this the commonest site. Other locations are the trunk, the retroperitoneum, and the head and neck. They can be classified based on cell-type, nature of malignancy, and disease's clinical course. As per the data by the WHO, there are 50+ identified histologic subtypes of STSs. According to DelveInsight, the total incident population of STS (including GIST Cases in the US) in the 7MM (the US, EU5 (the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France) and Japan) was 41,787 in 2020. Among all the seven major markets, the United States accounts for the highest number of cases of STS. Males accounted for most of the STS cases as compared to females. Soft tissue sarcoma have various subtypes. It was observed that in the United States and European countries, liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma were the most incident subtypes of STS, which contributed to the majority of the cases. Whereas in Japan, subtypes, fibroblastic sarcomas and liposarcoma were more common. The Soft tissue sarcoma treatment landscape is dependent on surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and antiangiogenesis drugs, or a combination of these therapies. The treatment option for patients with advanced STS has historically been limited. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the mainstay of the STS treatment market. Active drugs include doxorubicin, ifosfamide, gemcitabine, taxanes, and several others; these may be either administered as single agents or in combination regimens. The most commonly used regimen is the combination of doxorubicin and ifosfamide. The US FDA-approved drugs comprise Votrient (pazopanib), Yondelis (trabectedin), Lartruvo (olaratumab), Vitrakvi (larotrectinib), Rozlytrek (Entrectinib), and others. However, the histology-driven approach remains the mainstay for the treatment of advanced unresectable or metastatic STSs. There is an urgency for new therapies with improved efficacy and fewer side effects. Several companies are developing combination approaches, targeting the multiple molecular pathways and mechanisms with special attention to antagonistic antibodies, TK inhibitors, and inhibitors of downstream molecules of the PI3K, MAPK, and mTOR pathways. Several pharmaceutical companies like Blueprint Medicines Corporation, Advenchen Laboratories/Jiangsu Chia-Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Philogen, GlaxoSmithKline, Epizyme, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Aadi Bioscience, Sierra Oncology, Nanobiotix, Taiho Oncology, Arog Pharmaceuticals, and Merck are developing novel therapies in the Soft tissue sarcoma market. DelveInisght expects an increase in the Soft tissue sarcoma market size during the study period, 20172030 at a CAGR of 6.47% in the 7MM. Among all the emerging therapies, Fibromun is going to get launched for first line STS in the forecasted period (2021-2030). While, among all the second or higher line of therapies, it is anticipated that the highest market is expected to be captured by AL3818 (anlotinib) by 2030. Few second-line emerging therapies includes, Vigil in combination with irinotecan and temozolomide, AL3818, GSK 3377794, Tazemetostat, Abemaciclib, Pembrolizumab, Crizotinib, and ABI-009. Key Soft Tissue Sarcoma Pipeline Therapies Selinexor (KPT-330): Karyopharm Therapeutics Ripretinib (DCC-2618): Deciphera Pharmaceuticals GSK3377794: GlaxoSmithKline BA3021: BioAtla Tazemetostat: Epizyme Get in touch for comprehensive market trends @ Soft Tissue Sarcoma Market Synovial sarcoma (SyS) Market Synovial sarcoma (SyS) is a rare subtype of soft tissue sarcoma. It originates from different types of soft tissue, such as muscle or ligaments. It accounts for 510% of soft-tissue tumors. The symptoms of Synovial sarcoma depend on the location of the tumor. As per DelveInsight epidemiological analysis, Synovial sarcoma incidence in the 7MM was estimated to be 1,610 in 2020, which is expected to further rise in the coming decade. The primary goal of Synovial sarcoma treatment is to remove the entire tumor with clear margins. To completely remove the residual cancerous cells, radiotherapy may also be used, either before or after surgery. In advanced or metastatic disease, chemotherapy (typically Doxorubicin and/or Ifosfamide) is recommended. DelveInsight's analysts estimate that the market is expected to show positive growth, primarily attributed to increased prevalence and expected launch of novel therapies. Some of the key pharmaceutical companies taking charge in the Synovial sarcoma market are Advenchen Laboratories, Adaptimmune Therapeutics, and others during the forecast period (20182030). Furthermore, besides these, an increase in incidence, the discovery of multiple biomarkers, and vast research in the domain is expected to inflate the market size at a modest hike with a CAGR of 19.14% in the Synovial sarcoma market share in the 7mm for the forecast period 2021-30. Key Synovial Sarcoma Pipeline Therapies AL 3818: Advenchen Laboratories ADP-A2M4: Adaptimmune Therapeutics GSK3377794: GlaxoSmithKline Get in touch for a holistic view of the Synovial Sarcoma Market Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) Market Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a heterogeneous malignant neoplasm with epithelial cell origin of the biliary duct and histologic and biochemical features of cholangiocyte differentiation. It may arise from any portion of the bile duct i.e., from terminal ductules (canals of Hering) to the ampulla of Vater, as well as at the peribiliary glands (intramural and extramural) and sometimes from the gallbladder. Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare disorder, and as per DelveInsight's epidemiological analysis, total CCA incidence was recorded to be approximately 73,442 in 2020 in the 7MM. Further, the analysts believe that Cholangiocarcinoma incidence is expected to increase further during the study period 2018-30. At present, the CCA treatment market is dominated by surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy. For advanced and metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma cases, systemic chemotherapy is the only available option. Surgical treatments are the only potentially curative therapeutic options for all the subtypes of CCA. Improvements in molecular understanding have led to the development of targeted therapies. Last year, Incyte corporation received approval for its pemigatinib as the first targeted therapy for adults with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. There is no established second-line systemic therapy that can be given following the progression after first-line treatment although chemotherapeutic agents either in monotherapy or in combination are used. Besides lack of standard treatment, the majority of CCA patients are diagnosed with late-stage disease, and nearly more than one-fourth of patients considered resectable are found to be unresectable during explorative laparotomy. The CCA market also witnesses higher cases of recurrence of tumor. Besides, classification of Cholangiocarcinoma makes it difficult to quantify the true incidence of this highly aggressive malignancy. To combat the unmet needs, the treatment modalities are focusing more towards a personalized approach, targeting FGFR gene fusions and somatic mutations in IDH 1/2 in iCCA, PRKACA or PRKACB gene fusions in pCCA, and ELF3 mutations in dCCA/ampullary carcinoma. Several pharmaceutical companies and biotech players are investigating novel therapeutic agents to fuel the Cholangiocarcinoma market size growth in the coming decade. DelveInsight estimates optimal growth of the Cholangiocarcinoma market size in the coming years for the forecast period 2021-30 at a CAGR of 12.71% in the 7MM owing to a better understanding of the molecular pathway of cancer through whole-genome analysis, identified multiple actionable mutations, development of targeted agents with promising results in early clinical trials, increasing incidence, better funding and a newly-shifted focus towards rare disease domain. Key Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Therapies Ivosidenib: Agios Pharmaceuticals Durvalumab: AstraZeneca M7824: Merck/EMD Serono Infigratinib: QED Therapeutics Nucana: Acelarin Telotristat ethyl: Lexicon Pharmaceutical Know more about in touch for a holistic view of the Cholangiocarcinoma Market Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Market Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a rare tumor that occurs mostly in adults. It is a grade IV glioma, and according to the WHO 2007 classification, it is the most common and lethal type of primary malignancy of the central nervous system. GBMs can be classified into primary and secondary GBMs. While Primary GBM occurs de novo without evidence of a less malignant precursor, Secondary GBM develops from initially low-grade diffuse astrocytoma (WHO grade II diffuse astrocytoma) or anaplastic astrocytoma (Grade III). In 2020, DelveInsight estimated an occurrence of approximately 29,440 incident cases of GBM and suspects a modest increase in the same in the coming decade. The mainstay of treatment for GBM patients is surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery is performed to achieve "maximal safe resection," or removing as much of the tumor as possible without causing lasting neurological damage. However, it is difficult to get rid of all of the cancerous cells therefore, residual cancer cells are targeted with additional treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy with the drug temozolomide is the current standard of treatment for GBM. Additionally, Bevacizumab is typically used as a second-line treatment for recurrent glioblastomas. It is seen that Lomustine may help improve the efficacy of bevacizumab when both the medications are administered at the same time. However, despite the availability of multidisciplinary treatments, the median overall survival for patients with GBM is only 14.6 months. This may be attributed to its high degree of intra tumor heterogeneity due to which radical tumor resection is not often curative. Besides these, poor prognosis, limited treatment options, resistance to drugs, inability of therapies to cross BBB (blood-brain-barrier), and a high mortality rate are some other unmet needs. Nevertheless, advancements in medical science have paved the way for better understanding and thus, development of better therapies. The expected launch of potential therapies in the forecast period 2021-30 is expected to pace up the growth of the GBM market size. The GBM market is expected to experience an influx of the significant positive shift owing to the positive outcomes of the several products during the developmental stage by key players such as Bayer, Diffusion Pharmaceuticals, VBL Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, DNAtrix, DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Oncoceutics, KaryoPharm, VBI Vaccines, Kazia Therapeutics, Aivita Biomedical, Medicenna Therapeutics, Immunomic Therapeutics, and Inovio Pharmaceuticals. DelveInsight anticipates a positive growth of the Glioblastoma Multiforme market size at a CAGR of 12.9% during the forecast period 2021-30, within the 7MM. Key Glioblastoma Multiforme Pipeline Therapies Ofranergene obadenovec: VBL Therapeutics Trans Sodium Crocetinate: Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Regorafenib: Bayer Durvalumab: Astrazeneca DNX-2401: DNAtrix ONC201: Oncoceutics Selinexor (KPT-330): Karyopharm Therapeutics Paxalisib (GDC-0084): Kazia Therapeutics AV-GBM-1: Aivita Biomedical VBI-1901: VBI Vaccines MDNA55: Medicenna Therapeutics VAL-083 (Dianhydrogalactitol): DelMar Pharmaceuticals pp65-shLAMP DC with GM-CSF (ITI-1000): Immunomic Therapeutics Ad-RTS-hIL-12 + Veledimex: Ziopharm Out of the above-mentioned emerging therapies, several key players are targeting newly diagnosed GBM patient pools, thereby targeting to enter the first line treatment market. These key players include Diffusion Pharmaceuticals, Astrazeneca, DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Kazia Therapeutics, Aivita Biomedical, Immunomic Therapeutics, Inovio Pharmaceuticals and Bayer. This clearly represents high competition among the pipeline therapies targeting first line treatment patterns. Furthermore, certain key players are also targeting specific mutations among the GBM patient pool such as unmethylated MGMT GBM, H3 K27M-mutant Glioma and others. The approval of such mutation targeting therapies may be able to enhance the treatment regimen of patients suffering from GBM in the forecast period. For more insights, visit Glioblastoma Multiforme Market Multiple Myeloma Market Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. It is a heterogenous hematological malignancy. It is a cancer that originates from bone marrow resulting in bone fractures (osteolysis) due to an increase in osteoclastic and decreased osteoblastic activity. However, rare, it is the second most commonly diagnosed blood cancer, after non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in the United States. It shows a higher predisposition of males than females. As per DelveInsight, the total Multiple Myeloma incident cases in 2020 were estimated to be 91,520 in the 8MM (7MM + China). The present treatment landscape for Multiple myeloma comprises chemotherapies in conjunction with proteasome inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, corticosteroids, and bone marrow transplantation. Chemo drugs used to treat multiple myeloma include Melphalan, Vincristine (Oncovin), Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), Etoposide (VP-16), Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), among others. Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone and prednisone, are an important part of the treatment of multiple myeloma. Until now, the conventional treatment for multiple myeloma includes therapy with immunomodulatory drugs such as Revlimid and Thalomid, proteasome inhibitors (which block the action of protein-degrading structures in cells) such as Velcade and Kyprolis, anti-CD38 antibodies such as Darzalex, and autologous stem cell transplant. Patients who fail to respond to these approaches need better treatments. However, heterogeneity of the tumor, lack of proper knowledge of etiology, side effects of the present therapies and cost-burden are the major constraints in the MM market. Therefore, many companies came up with their own CAR-T products for multiple myeloma including BMS, Janssen and many more. No doubt, over the time, several advancements have been made. Expected entry of novel therapeutic agents coupled with intensified R&D has helped in gaining a better picture of the tumor and thus facilitating the development of novel therapies. DelveInsight estimates a surge in the Multiple Myeloma market size at a CAGR of 2.1% during the forecast period 2021-30 in the 8MM. Launch of BCMA-targeting therapies along with increasing MM incidence is expected to garner much revenue and attention of pharmaceutical stakeholders to explore the domain. 2021 is going to mark itself as the first year with the expected approvals of the two Chimerican antigen receptor therapies (CAR-Ts), idecabtagene vicleucel (Ide-cel; Bristol Myers Squibb) and ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; Janssen) for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Therefore, these CAR-Ts in the multiple relapsed/refractory patient who at this point does not have great options may represent the best ways of getting a response or the highest chances of getting a response in that patient. The infusion of CAR-T cells is based on the fact that there is no typical planned maintenance therapy required. This means that the patients can enjoy a treatment-free, disease-free period, where they can restore their health to a point that even if they do relapse after about a year or so, and they can restart the treatment. One can look back and observe the evolution in the field of cell therapies. Until a decade ago, where no CAR-Ts were approved, the US FDA now estimated that in 2019 that it had received more than 200 investigational new drug applications per year for cell and gene therapies, and by 2025, it expects to have accelerated to 10 to 20 cell and gene therapy approvals per year. Key pharmaceutical companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AbbVie, Roche, Janssen Research & Development, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Pfizer, Takeda, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Abbvie, and others are dynamically aspiring to bring novel, standard and effective treatment regimens in the Multiple Myeloma market. Key Multiple Myeloma Pipeline Therapies Idecabtage ne vicleucel: Bristol-Myers Squibb/Bluebird bio Venetoclax: AbbVie and Genentech JNJ-68284528: Janssen and Legend Biotech Melflufen: Oncopeptides AB Keytruda: Merck Sharp & Dohme Cetrelimab: Janssen REGN5458: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Iberdomide: Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene NY-ESO-1 C259 T Cells: Adaptimmune Therapeutics /GlaxoSmithKline /Merck Braftovi: Pfizer (Array Biopharma) Felzartamab (MOR202): MorphoSys AG/I-Mab Biopharma JCARH125: Juno Therapeutics (BMS) Chidamide (Epidaza): Chipscreen Biosciences Got queries? Reach out to us @ Multiple Myeloma Market DelveInsight offers the most comprehensive healthcare data, market insights and customized solutions gained with the help of integrated tools and primary and secondary resources to help its clients traverse strategically engaged in Rare disease market. DelveInsight is offering flat 20% discount on all of its Market insights reports focusing on Rare diseases. Use Code 'Rare20' to avail. Reach out to us @ Rare disease market insights Related Reports Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Market DelveInsight's "Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Advanced Liver Cancer Market DelveInsight's "Advanced Liver Cancer Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Advanced Melanoma Market DelveInsight's "Advanced Melanoma Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market DelveInsight's "Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Market DelveInsight's "Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Acute Myeloid Leukemia Market DelveInsight's "Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Anal Cancer Market DelveInsight's "Anal Cancer - Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. B Cell Lymphomas Market DelveInsight's "B-Cell Lymphomas Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Basal Cell Carcinoma Market DelveInsight's "Basal Cell Carcinoma (Basal Cell Epithelioma) Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. Bladder Cancer Market DelveInsight's "Bladder cancer Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2030" report. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports Pharma companies by providing end-to-end comprehensive solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve . DelveInsight's strategic consultants have vast experience in the Rare disease domain. The standard and ad-hoc projects are done on the basis of in-depth primary as well as secondary research providing clients real world data and accurate insights. Feel free to submit your business problems and get a proposal here Contact Us Shruti Thakur [email protected] +1(919)321-6187 www.delveinsight.com SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP Exactly one year after the announcement of its first positive test, New Jersey has reported 712,585 total confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 23,491 confirmed and probable deaths related to the illness. Thats after Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday reported another 2,605 positive COVID-19 tests and 42 additional confirmed deaths as the state continues to cope with a pandemic that has overhauled daily life for millions of residents through stay-at-home orders, business closings, mask mandates, and an ever-present cloud of uncertainty. Murphy announced New Jerseys latest figures via social media Thursday. He did not hold a public briefing, though he did address the one-year anniversary of the pandemic at his briefing Wednesday in Trenton, where he thanked residents for their help and patience. Through it all, our fight has been about one thing and one thing only to save every life we possibly can, the governor said. No member of our New Jersey family is disposable. We have always known this in word, but you have proven it through your deeds. New Jersey, an early epicenter of the crisis, still has the highest coronavirus death rate per capita in the country, with 262 deaths per 100,000 people. And the crisis isnt over. Though the second wave of the pandemic has waned in recent weeks, state officials warned Wednesday that cases have begun to increase again in New Jersey. That dovetails with the announcement that two more COVID-19 variants have been identified in the state. The states seven-day average for new confirmed cases is 2,859 as of Thursday. Thats up 14% from a week ago, but still down 16% from a month ago. The statewide rate of transmission increased to 1.01 on Thursday, up from 0.99 a day earlier and the first time it has been above the critical marks of 1 since Jan. 23. When the transmission rate is above 1, it means the outbreak is expanding. The silver lining is New Jerseys ongoing but slow-moving vaccination effort. Officials said the state will still be hampered by low supply over the next few weeks, with appointments still hard to secure. But Murphy said Wednesday supply from the federal government should explode by early April and the state should be in a better place by Memorial Day. Keep the faith, folks, he said. Its been one of hell of a year. There have been about 2.26 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in New Jersey as of Thursday morning, according to state data. That includes about 1.5 million first doses and 760,000 second doses. Thats out of more than 2.78 million doses the state has received, according to a running tally by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The states goal is to vaccinate 70% of its adult population about 4.7 million people within the next few months. On Monday, the state announced it was greatly expanding eligibility for the vaccine over the next four weeks, including teachers on March 15 and various other essential workers on March 29. The state also quietly announced it will add 11 medical conditions that currently make people aged 16 to 64 eligible, including asthma, high blood pressure, and a body mass index that qualifies them as overweight. That takes effect March 15. In all, New Jersey has now reported 712,585 confirmed coronavirus cases out of more than 10.8 million PCR tests in nearly one year since the state reported its first case March 4, 2020. There have also been 90,084 positive antigen tests. Those cases are considered probable, and health officials have warned that positive antigen tests could overlap with the confirmed PCR tests because they are sometimes given in tandem. The state of 9 million people has reported 23,491 residents have died from complications related to COVID-19, including 21,094 confirmed deaths and 2,397 fatalities considered probable. The probable fatalities, which are revised weekly, increased Wednesday by 66 deaths. Murphy noted Wednesday the overwhelming number of residents who tested positive have survived but stressed that relief is tempered by the fact that theres always someone waiting to take their hospital bed, and there are more who are dying. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES (sorted by most new) Bergen County: 70,177 confirmed cases (297 new), 2,345 confirmed deaths (284 probable) Monmouth County: 52,578 confirmed cases (255 new), 1,296 confirmed deaths (125 probable) Ocean County: 52,861 confirmed cases (251 new), 1,760 confirmed deaths (127 probable) Essex County: 68,424 confirmed cases (238 new), 2,420 confirmed deaths (275 probable) Hudson County: 64,587 confirmed cases (223 new), 1,836 confirmed deaths (185 probable) Middlesex County: 68,573 confirmed cases (217 new), 1,886 confirmed deaths (235 probable) Union County: 49,684 confirmed cases (147 new), 1,577 confirmed deaths (205 probable) Morris County: 32,713 confirmed cases (143 new), 903 confirmed deaths (224 probable) Passaic County: 52,757 confirmed cases (133 new), 1,528 confirmed deaths (179 probable) Burlington County: 31,265 confirmed cases (98 new), 693 confirmed deaths (57 probable) Camden County: 39,828 confirmed cases (94 new), 1,079 confirmed deaths (91 probable) Atlantic County: 19,992 confirmed cases (77 new), 549 confirmed deaths (28 probable) Mercer County: 26,475 confirmed cases (72 new), 843 confirmed deaths (41 probable) Somerset County: 18,982 confirmed cases (68 new), 684 confirmed deaths (103 probable) Gloucester County: 21,309 confirmed cases (66 new), 521 confirmed deaths (30 probable) Hunterdon County: 6,440 confirmed cases (37 new), 109 confirmed deaths (54 probable) Warren County: 6,474 confirmed cases (31 new), 198 confirmed deaths (22 probable) Sussex County: 8,079 confirmed cases (28 new), 211 confirmed deaths (64 probable) Cumberland County: 12,282 confirmed cases (20 new), 345 confirmed deaths (29 probable) Cape May County: 3,747 confirmed cases (12 new), 157 confirmed deaths (27 probable) Salem County: 4,280 confirmed cases (9 new), 154 confirmed deaths (12 probable) HOSPITALIZATIONS There were 1,900 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across 70 of New Jerseys 71 hospitals as of Wednesday night 21 fewer than the previous night, according to the states dashboard. One hospital did not report data Wednesday. That included 376 in critical or intensive care (27 fewer than the previous night), with 214 on ventilators (29 fewer). There were also 256 COVID-19 patients discharged Wednesday. Hospitalizations peaked at more than 8,000 patients during the first wave of the pandemic in April. SCHOOL CASES New Jersey has reported 152 in-school coronavirus outbreaks, which have resulted in 737 cases among students, teachers and school staff this academic year, according to the states dashboard. The state defines school outbreaks as cases where contact tracers determined two or more students or school staff caught or transmitted COVID-19 in the classroom or during academic activities at school.Those numbers do not include students or staff believed to have been infected outside school or cases that cant be confirmed as in-school outbreaks. There are about 1.4 million public school students and teachers across the state, though teaching methods amid the outbreak have varied, with some schools teaching in-person, some using a hybrid format and others remaining all-remote. Murphy said Monday that with teachers soon eligible to get the vaccine, officials are fully expecting schools across New Jersey to return for in-person learning safely and responsibly when the next school year starts in September, if not sooner. AGE BREAKDOWN Broken down by age, those 30 to 49 years old make up the largest percentage of New Jersey residents who have caught the virus (31%), followed by those 50-64 (23.2%), 18-29 (19.5%), 65-79 (10.9%), 5-17 (8.5%), 80 and older (5%), and 0-4 (1.7%). On average, the virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with preexisting conditions. Nearly half the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents 80 and older (47.25%), followed by those 65-79 (32.76%), 50-64 (15.58%), 30-49 (4.02%), 18-29 (0.37%), 5-17 (0%), and 0-4 (0.02%). At least 7,923 of the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. There are currently active outbreaks at 309 facilities, resulting in 6,099 active cases among residents and 6,214 among staffers. GLOBAL NUMBERS As of Thursday afternoon, there have been about 115.4 million positive COVID-19 tests across the world, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. About 2.56 million people have died from coronavirus-related complications. The U.S. has reported the most cases, at about 28.8 million, and the most deaths, at about 518,400. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Migrants Photographed Wearing Biden, Please Let Us In T-Shirts at US-Mexico Border A large number of migrants seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border have been photographed wearing T-shirts and holding banners that bear slogans calling on President Joe Biden to let them enter the country. Biden, please let us in! read the white T-shirts, worn by migrants from Central America and elsewhere at the San Ysidro crossing port in Tijuana, California. A number of photographs were captured by news wire service Reuters. The numbers of children and families arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border have risen in recent months and Biden, who took office on Jan. 20, has faced criticism from former President Donald Trump and others for rolling back hardline border policies, such as requiring asylum seekers to wait for their application to be processed outside the country. Biden has also undone several Trump-era border security measures, including temporarily suspending deportations of illegal aliens, reversing Trumps ban on travel from terror-prone countries, halting the remaining construction of the border wall, and issuing a sweeping immigration package to Congress that offers a legalization pathway to an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country. The president has also pledged to bring in 25,000 asylum-seekers who are waiting in Mexico for their immigration case to be adjudicated under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program. Critics of the Biden administration say these rollbacks, along with new rules, are driving the increase in illegal border crossings. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, however, has argued that the United States is not experiencing a crisis at the border, instead calling the situation a challenge that we are managing. When asked by a reporter this week whether there is a crisis at the border, Biden said: No, well be able to handle it. The group of migrants, at one point, knelt down as part of a demonstration, imploring the president to allow them to enter the country, according to news website Chapines USA. Men, women, and children were photographed taking part in the effort, as border patrol agents stood guard. It isnt clear where the T-shirts or banners came from, or who organized or funded the demonstration. T-shirts and apparel with the same slogan are currently for sale on a number of online websites. The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House for comment. Progressive Democrats hope that Biden will take less of a hardline approach to the nations immigration policies than his predecessor. But Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats last week expressed frustration with the administration after it reopened a Trump-era shelter facility that was criticized at the time for not being licensed to care for children. This is not okay, never has been okay, never will be okayno matter the administration or party, the second-term congresswoman said on Twitter, referring to a facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, that was used briefly in 2019, and now has the capacity for approximately 700 children, according to the DHS. Our fraught, unjust immigration system will not transform after only two months into the Biden administration, she added. Thats why bold reimagination is so [important]. Charlotte Cuthbertson and Reuters contributed to this report. US Sentencing Commission issues big new report on "Federal Armed Career Criminals: Prevalence, Patterns, and Pathways" | Main | Lots of SCOTUS talk and debate over the "categorial approach" and ACCA proof burdens in immigration decision March 4, 2021 Making the case for repealing AEDPA ... and a reminder that "Joe Biden was one of the most vocal critics of the AEDPAs habeas provisions" I have lately been giving thought to the need for Congress to give more attention to the need to reform the ever-ugly and ever-litigated Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). But Radley Balko has this new Washington Post piece, headlined "Its time to repeal the worst criminal justice law of the past 30 years," effectively reminding us that another lousy and clumsy piece of federal legislation (also starting with an A) should be getting a lot more attention. Here are excerpts, ending with a useful reminder of an important bit of history: Under our system, when a state violates the constitutional protections of a fair trial, the federal courts are required to intervene. The right to judicial review of an unlawful detention, also known as the writ of habeas corpus, is enshrined in the Constitution and dates back to 13th-century England. But in 1996 Congress took a chisel to habeas corpus with the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA). Attorneys who represent people challenging their convictions, such as Mississippis Humphreys McGee, say the AEDPA and the Supreme Court rulings that followed have suffocated federal review. Its been a 25-year thicket of real through-the-looking-glass s---," McGee says. And the laws repeal or reform is long overdue. The AEDPA came several years after a spike in crime that began in the early 1980s and peaked around 1991. By the time the AEDPA became law, crime rates were in the first few years of a 20-year free fall. But the two major parties were in a frenzied competition over who could look toughest on suspected criminals. The bill also came shortly after the Newt Gingrich-led Republican Revolution, a movement built on law-and-order rhetoric and promises to devolve more power to the states. At the same time, though, early DNA testing had begun to show the criminal justice system was far more fallible than commonly thought. The technology was young by the end of 1995, DNA had exonerated just 37 people. But even then, those cases raised questions about the reliability of forensic evidence and eyewitness testimony, and the behavior of police and prosecutors . Innocence Projects sprang up around the country, and law schools established clinics to seek out other bad cases. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, in the 213 years before the first DNA exoneration in 1989, the United States saw a total of 418 exonerations. In the 32 years since, there have been 2,733. Yet at the same time DNA should have forced us to confront the shortcomings of the criminal justice system, the AEDPA all but slammed the federal courthouse door closed on the wrongly convicted. The AEDPAs most destructive provision is arguably its deference to state courts. Previously, a federal court could review constitutional claims without considering state courts previous rulings. The AEDPA requires federal judges to defer to state courts even when they believe those courts are wrong. In fact, the Supreme Court has essentially ruled that, to be overturned, a state court ruling must be so unreasonable that its judges are unfit to sit on the bench. Even on the rare occasion a federal court might make that finding, the AEDPA also imposes a gantlet of deadlines and procedural barriers. The law is so complicated, even seasoned post-conviction attorneys say theyre often flummoxed by it. This, they say, is by design. The goal of AEDPA is to avoid adjudicating these cases on their merits, says McGee. The law is loaded with tripwires that let federal judges throw out claims without bothering to consider them.... AEDPA abdicated constitutional rights to the states just as states were requiring more deference to their lower courts, says Richard Bourke, a post-conviction attorney in New Orleans. So you get this quantum of deference that grows exponentially at each level, to the point where constitutional rights are now mostly in the hands of elected, low-level circuit court judges. And theres one additional layer of iniquity: Except in death penalty cases, indigent defendants lose their right to an attorney once in post-conviction. So just when the wrongly convicted are most likely to discover evidence that could free them, they not only face a procedural minefield even a seasoned lawyer would struggle to navigate, nearly all of them also face it alone. Consequently, for every AEDPA injustice exposed by post-conviction lawyers, countless others may never be known. In a series of columns over the next several months, Ill look at how the AEDPA was passed, how it works in the real world, the injustices it has wrought and what we can do to fix it. The good news is that much of this can be fixed. Congress could repeal or reform the AEDPA tomorrow. And for all the criticism of his criminal justice record most of it justified Joe Biden was one of the most vocal critics of the AEDPAs habeas provisions. The then-senator warned of dire consequences if those provisions passed. History has proved him right. March 4, 2021 at 09:55 AM | Permalink Comments I think the summary of the history is debatable. Prior to the 1930s and the incorporation of the Bill of Rights against the states, federal habeas review was very limited. And the requirement for federal courts to intervene is not in the Constitution. On the civil side, normally if a case was heard in state courts, the only federal court that can review federal constitutional issues is the Supreme Court. While its called habeas corpus, most of Chapter 154 is not the common law writ of habeas corpus enshrined in the Constitution. Instead, it is a special form of collateral review. In the years prior to AEDPA, there was a big conflict about who should get to resolve constitutional issues for state courts that have not been resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court. State courts took the position that the Constitution does not make state courts inferior to lower federal courts, and that they had the same power to resolve constitutional issues as federal trial or appellate courts. AEDPA requires that there be something more than a disagreement between federal and state judges about the proper way to interpret the Constitution. AEDPA also, to some extent, recognizes what most appellate practitioners know -- that the result of a case on appeal can depend on the luck of the draw as to the judges that sit on the panel. Courts rarely grant en banc review and state supreme courts and the U.S. Supreme Court only take a small number of cases. When multiple judges have previously reviewed a case in good faith and found no problems, a 2-1 split of opinion about the right interpretation of the Constitution in front of the three most pro-defendant judges in a circuit should not be enough to get relief. To use my own circuit as an example, while today it is a relatively conservative court, back in the 80s and early 90s, the circuit had a reputation for very closely scrutinizing closing arguments in capital cases. There were several cases in which they reversed death sentences for closing arguments using a standard that was much less forgiving than the standard that the U.S. Supreme Court was using. By expressly requiring the lower federal courts to tie their grant of relief to the standard created by the U.S. Supreme Court, AEDPA put an end to this failure to follow governing precedent. And, of course, habeas is a one-way ratchet. If a state court is erroneously interpreting the Constitution to give more protections to criminal defendants than it should, then habeas never comes into play. It is only when a state court is narrowly interpreting the Constitution that habeas is a possibility. Posted by: tmm | Mar 4, 2021 12:37:28 PM A 2-1 split by the best panel a defendant can find would likely get reversed by the US Supreme Court anyway. Instead, you have a system stacked against defendants in which there is little chance to create badly needed pro-defendant precedent, and cases in which defendants lose on AEDPA grounds are routinely cited as precedent by courts that are supposedly tasked with reviewing the issue de novo. When combined with the reality (as shown by many studies) that elected judges are very much affected by the enormous pressure for them not to rule in favor of an unpopular defendant, the need for federal de novo review is very strong. There is case after case where a defendant is denied a fair trial, but because the exact circumstances were never addressed by a Supreme Court decision on materially indistinguishable facts, they are condemned to stay in prison for very long periods of time. And in many cases it is not the case that "multiple judges have previously reviewed a case in good faith and found no problems", on both prongs. The indisputable pressure of judicial elections undermines the good faith prong, and in many cases problems are found but the defendant still loses on the judges' own sense of harmless error, or on other impediments, even though the court agrees the trial or police procedure should have been conducted differently and had that happened who knows how the trial would have developed. Furthermore, as a case moves through the system, the defendant faces an ever growing burden as the court first views the evidence in the light most favorable to the guilty verdict, then grants strong deference to the district or trial courts, reversing only for abuse of discretion, clear error, or the like. By the time the case gets to Federal Court, you're likely to hear rhetoric about the large number of judges that "found no problem", but that falsely implies that they all reviewed everything de novo. If the interrogation or trial had been conducted properly, there may never have been a guilty verdict to receive deference in the first place, and so it goes on. It really shouldn't be too much to ask that if a government wants to deprive someone of his or her freedom and saddle him or her with a life-long criminal record, that it be put to the burden of defending its case at each level with far less deference than it receives currently. In addition to the extraordinarily cruel obstacles of deference the law puts in the way of a defendant getting a clean ruling on the merits, and on the horrible anti-defendant skew it creates in the case-law, the time limits and ban on successive petitions are barbaric when it comes to non-capital cases. There is simply no incentive for a non-capital defendant to purposely withhold potentially winning arguments to getting out of prison, and no justification whatsoever for preventing him or her from raising a colorable new argument in successive petitions, regardless of whether it could have been raised before. Any claim raised that stale memories or witnesses make a late claim unfair can and should be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis using a balancing test fair to both sides. It will be the rare case where a non-capital defendant purposely delayed a habeas claim in order to gain some tactical advantage, and the state has no valid interest in denying him or her an opportunity to receive an adjudication of the claim on the merits. Posted by: Poirot | Mar 4, 2021 9:03:38 PM You say there is no justification for requiring the claim to be brought on the first petition, yet I can think of one with little effort. Why should the state have to continually dredge through old case files to answer the latest motion? As tmm says constitutional habeas is a very limited thing. Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Mar 5, 2021 7:11:20 PM High minded stuff. In fact the reason most habeas petitions are denied is that they are filed by pro se petitioners who aren't aware of AEDPA's (difficult to understand) deadlines. The whole statute is a morass of tripwires and roadblocks designed to prevent federal courts from reviewing state court decisions and allowing states to keep people in prison despite the unconstitutionality of their trial. Posted by: John | Mar 7, 2021 11:33:18 PM Post a comment Two men who used 4chan to threaten to blow up a mosque on the anniversary of the Christchurch massacre have been arrested. A 27-year-old made a series of posts threatening a terror attack at the Linwood Islamic Centre and Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was charged with threatening to kill but police considering further charges, while the other man was released without charge. The attack was allegedly planned for March 15 - the second anniversary of the attack by Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who shot and killed 51 people at two mosques in the city in 2019. Pictured: Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who shot and killed 51 people at two mosques in the city in 2019 Pictured: A plaque in front of Al Noor Mosque on December 8, 2020 in Christchurch, New Zealand Police said the arrests followed tip-offs from concerned members of the public following a series of posts on 4chan - an anonymous message board frequented by far-right extremists. On Sunday evening, someone made a post using an online alias that was eerily similar to the one used by the Australian terrorist two years ago, Stuff reported. The person said they were 'originally English' but grew up in South Africa, before moving to New Zealand in 2009. According to the posts, they planned to 'take action' on March 15 by attacking two mosques remotely using car bombs. They also said the bombing would be livestreamed - exactly like the massacre in 2019 when Facebook was used to broadcast the attack live. Pictured: Armed Offenders Squad teams push back members of the public following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch on March 15, 2019 Pictured: A police officer in front of the Linwood Islamic Centre on December 8, 2020 in Christchurch Message board users urged the person not to do anything 'stupid or radical'. Canterbury district commander Superintendent John Price said the messages were 'credible enough that we took action straight away'. Police visited the mosques to search for bombs but found nothing, but would not say if anything was uncovered after they raided two properties in Christchurch on Thursday. Detectives removed computer equipment from a home in St Albans, in the city's north. Pictured: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern waves as she leaves Friday prayers at Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand on December 8, 2020 Linwood Mosque leader Masjid Imam Abdul Lateef said it was upsetting to hear that people were trying to scare the community. 'We rely on NZ police to protect us, and they are doing the best they can do,' he said. The 27-year-old will appear in Christchurch District Court on March 5. Tarrant, 30, was jailed for life in 2020 without parole. He pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act. New Zealand Police urged anyone who sees anything suspicious to contact emergency services. Mainstream historians have 'no doubts at all' about Jesus being a historical figure: scholar Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Secular mainstream historical academia has no doubts at all that Jesus of Nazareth was an actual historical figure, according to an Australian scholar and Anglican priest. A recent episode of the Dallas Theological Seminary podcast The Table, posted to YouTube last week, focused on the question of the historicity of Jesus. John Dickson, a religion historian who specializes in early Christianity and is the director of the Centre for Public Christianity in Australia, was one of two experts interviewed on the podcast. Dickson commented that secular historical scholarship has no doubts at all about whether Jesus of Nazareth lived, citing multiple published examples to back up this claim. You pick up the Oxford Classical Dictionary, which is just up there on my shelf here, 1,600 pages compendium of all things Greek and Roman, said Dickson. You turn to the section on Christianity, and you will find several paragraphs that begin to just outline what we know of the historical Jesus, and zero doubt is raised. Zero doubt is raised about whether this figure really lived. You could do it again with volume 10 of The Cambridge Ancient History, he added. Turn to the section on the birth of Christianity and there are several pages written by a famous classicist about what we know of the historical Jesus. We could go on and on with this. Dickson recounted to podcast host Mikel Del Rosario how, in 2014, he issued a public challenge that if any person could name one professor of classics, ancient history, or New Testament based in a secular university who argued Jesus never lived, he would eat a page from his Bible. When I did that Twitter exploded, as it does for a little while, and people were throwing professor names at me, Dickson recalled, saying none of the professors named actually specialized in the three fields he mentioned. I was talking about people who have actually got what we call in the British and Australian tradition, tenured professorship. And then there are thousands of them, right? It's not like this is too narrow. Thousands of these characters, who argues Jesus didn't live? Find me one. Well, they are still looking. Darrell L. Bock, an author and scholar who is a professor at DTS, who was also part of the podcast episode, commented on the use of Josephus as a first century non-Christian historian who wrote about Jesus. Bock defended using Josephus as evidence, acknowledging that some of his comments about Jesus were later doctored, but nevertheless some of the core elements of what the New Testament shows are there. You strip [the doctored sentences] away, and you have what's left: a declaration that Jesus existed, that He did unusual works, that He is responsible for the origins of Christianity, said Bock. The podcast episode was named after the 2019 book by John Dickson, titled, Is Jesus History?, which argued for the historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth and the significance of this issue today. In this timely book, historian John Dickson unpacks how history works so that we have the tools to evaluate what we can confidently say about figures like Emperor Tiberius, Pontius Pilate, High Priest Caiaphas, and, of course, Jesus of Nazareth, read its Amazon description. He presents the evidence and the conclusions of the vast majority of scholars both Christian and not in this area. But more than that, he asks some more pertinent questions: If Jesus really did exist, was he who he claimed to be and if so, what does that mean for you today? Some have argued that the evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was an actual historical figure is too scant, especially when not including the Gospel accounts of the Bible. In a recent book, the French philosopher Michel Onfray talks of Jesus as a mere hypothesis, his existence as an idea rather than as a historical figure, wrote Simon Gathercole of the University of Cambridge in a 2017 piece for the Guardian. Some authors have even argued that Jesus of Nazareth was doubly non-existent, contending that both Jesus and Nazareth are Christian inventions. As with Bock and Dickson, Gathercole accepted the historicity of Jesus, adding that abundant historical references leave us with little reasonable doubt that Jesus lived and died. The more interesting question which goes beyond history and objective fact is whether Jesus died and lived, he concluded. Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Central Okanagan Similkameen Nicola which includes of Kelowna (specific boundaries), West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Keremeos, Olalla, Princeton, Merritt and Logan Lake. To contact the writer: 1-800-665-8711 or visit: DanAlbas.com CLEVELAND, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are calling on the Biden administration to help secure the release of two princesses confined for years by the billionaire ruler of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum, a daughter of the ruler of Dubai, has been held against her will since March 2018. Photo credit: Tiina Jauhiainen. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons. (PRNewsfoto/Friends of Latifa) Today marks three years since March 4, 2018, when Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum, 35, was abducted from international waters and forcibly returned to Dubai. Earlier that year, she planned to escape Dubai with the help of friend Tiina Jauhiainen. They boarded a U.S.-flagged yacht and crossed the Indian Ocean, with plans for Latifa to fly to the U.S. and seek asylum. This plan came to a nightmarish end when Indian and Emirati military forces intercepted the boat. Despite her pleas for asylum, Latifa was tranquilized and flown back to Dubai by private jet. She has been confined ever since. Recently, secret videos were released where Latifa described the brutal conditions of her captivity and isolation. Her sister, Sheikha Shamsa Al Maktoum, 39, also unsuccessfully fled while visiting the U.K. nearly two decades earlier. She lived freely for one month in summer 2000 before being kidnapped from the streets and forced back to Dubai. She has not been seen publicly since. "The UAE is a major military and economic partner," said Peter J. Fry, director of Friends of Latifa. "President Biden has made clear that our partnerships must reflect our values. When Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum imprisons innocent women for years, does this reflect our values? Biden must act now." Friends of Latifa is preparing sanction recommendations for the Biden administration. "It is appalling but not shocking that the UAE government has failed to investigate the detention of the princesses or arrest and prosecute their father, who kidnapped these adult women and holds them captive in his private residence," said Sarah Leah Whitson. Whitson is executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), an organization founded by murdered Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi. "Their ongoing detention is not just a case of domestic violence, but state-supported persecution and arbitrary detention." Toby Cadman, a U.K.-based international law expert, raised Latifa's case before the U.N. just days after she was kidnapped. "By confining Latifa and Shamsa, the UAE is violating multiple U.N. conventions," he said. "The U.S. must use its influence to push for their release." For more information, visit friendsoflatifa.org or contact [email protected]. SOURCE Friends of Latifa Related Links https://www.friendsoflatifa.org ADVERTISEMENT The Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday set aside an order of interim it made against former senate president Bukola Sarakis properties in Ikoyi. Mohammed Liman, the judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to show that the funds used to purchase the property were proceeds of corruption. The judgment came after counsels to the EFCC and Mr Saraki, Nnaemeka Omewa and Kehinde Oguwumiju respectively, adopted their written addresses for and against the making of the final forfeiture order sought by the EFCC against Mr Sarakis properties. In its judgment, the judge held that the essence of an interim forfeiture order is to prevent the suspect from doing away with the property. According to the judge, the EFCC had, in its affidavit in support of its motion for final forfeiture , stated that the properties sought to be forfeited were purchased with a personal loan Mr Saraki obtained from Guaranty Trust Bank. The court agreed with Mr Sarakis lawyer that the burden of proof for final forfeiture is on the preponderance of evidence. The court said the EFCC had failed to show that the monies used to purchase the properties were from the Kwara State Government House account. The evidence of the transactions presented by the EFCC was in respect of transactions made after he had purchased the property and the proceeds used for the purchase were legal, that is loans, the court further held. Finally, the court held that the EFCC failed to prove its entitlement to the relief of final forfeiture of Mr Sarakis properties, accordingly dismissed the application, and vacated the interim forfeiture order it made on October 21, 2019. An exquisitely detailed global ocean model simulation from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has given scientists rare insight into where baby sea turtles may go in their "lost years" after they scramble off the sandy beaches where they are born and swim into the open ocean. This look at a critically important period in the life cycle of endangered loggerhead turtles could help inform more comprehensive conservation efforts that encompass regions of the open ocean where young turtles grow, and not just the nesting beaches. It also pinpoints regions of the ocean that are important to study to better understand how to protect sea turtles. "To understand where sea turtle hatchlings are being swept to when they enter the open ocean -- and how favorable that habitat is to turtle survival -- we need to simulate smaller scale ocean features, the jets and eddies that transport these younglings," said Cheryl Harrison, a researcher at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who led the study. "The models typically used to simulate global ocean movement are too coarse for us to resolve these important features. The really exciting thing about this study is we were able to use a high-resolution, eddy-resolving model to track where turtles are traveling." The ocean simulation used for the new study, published in the journal Royal Society Interface, was run using the NCAR-based Community Earth System Model at a resolution that is an order of magnitude higher than standard global modeling runs. The model also contains complex biogeochemistry, which allowed the researchers to estimate food availability along the turtles' path. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, which is NCAR's sponsor, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Harrison began work on the study as a postdoctoral researcher at NCAR, working with oceanographer Matthew Long, who co-authored the study. Harrison is now an assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Finding the lost years Loggerhead turtles nest on specific beaches scattered around the globe, often where strong currents come close to land. After hatching, the baby turtles head for the ocean, where they spend the next several years as they mature. Once they reach sexual maturity decades later, the turtles eventually return to the beach where they were born to mate and lay their own eggs before the cycle begins again. For the new study, Harrison and her colleagues studied how hatchlings are likely to disperse during the first year of their lives from nesting sites on the coasts of Japan, Florida, Cape Verde, Oman, west Australia, east Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. Because the baby sea turtles must stay near the surface of the ocean to breathe -- and because they are not yet able to swim for significant periods -- the researchers were able to emulate their possible journeys using a method known as particle tracking, which follows how particles "released" into the model move with simulated water trajectories over time. The results show that at many of the nesting sites, strong nearby currents -- including the Kuroshio, Gulf Stream, Brazil, and Agulhas currents -- sweep the turtles poleward to a region of ocean where two circular ocean currents (known as gyres) come together. This boundary between the subpolar and subtropical gyres is warm enough for the hatchlings to survive and also rich with zooplankton and other food that turtles depend on to survive. The study results help demarcate the regions where turtles from each beach are going in their "lost years" when ecologists cannot easily keep tabs on them. For example, turtles born in southeastern Florida travel with the Gulf Stream all the way to the Azores, a productive and warm ocean habitat perfect for nurturing them. At other nesting sites, such as the one on the coast of Oman, the hatchlings do not hitch a ride on a strong current to far-off ocean habitats. Instead, they use a local current that disperses them relatively nearby because the area waters are already suitable for the young turtles. This understanding of where the turtles go allows scientists to better understand what threats the turtles may be facing. "Sea turtle hatchlings are very difficult to track and observe as they have high mortality rates and grow out of tags quickly," Harrison said. "Modelling studies help us close this observational gap and predict where they are going in the 'lost years.' Identifying ocean habitat helps us understand what factors are important for their survival in this life stage." ### About the article Title: Identifying global favourable habitat for early juvenile loggerhead sea turtles Authors: Cheryl S. Harrison, Jessica Y. Luo, Nathan Putman, Qingfeng Li, Pooja Sheevam, Kristen Krumhardt, Jessica Stevens, Matthew C. Long Journal: Journal of the Royal Society Interface This material is based upon work supported by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a major facility sponsored by the National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. VATICAN CITY, MAR 4 - Pope Francis said Thursday he will ask God for peace and forgiveness after so many years of war on his historic visit to Iraq from Friday to Monday. In a videomessage to Iraqis on the eve of his departure for Iraq, Francis said "I come as a repentant pilgrim to implore the Lord for forgiveness and reconciliation after years of war and terrorism, to ask God for the consolation of hearts and the healing of wounds. "Dear brothers and sisters in Iraq, peace be upon you!" Pope Francis said. "In a few days, I will finally be among you. I long to meet you, to see your faces and to visit your land, the ancient and extraordinary cradle of civilization," Vatican News reported. Pope Francis' visit to the Middle Eastern nation comes as the realization of a dream of his predecessor, Pope St. John Paul II, who had planned to travel to Iraq at the end of 1999 but could not make the journey. The Pope's four-day journey will include visits to several cities, as well as meetings with Christian communities and religious leaders. Recent decades marked by war, insecurity and persecution have dwindled the numbers of the once vibrant Christian communities in Iraq which numbered between 1 and 1.4 million in 2003 but presently, are an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 people. "And I come among you as a pilgrim of peace, to repeat: 'you are all brothers and sisters'," continued the Pope. "Yes, I come as a pilgrim of peace in search of fraternity, animated by the desire to pray together and to walk together, also with brothers and sisters of other religious traditions, under the sign of our Father Abraham, who unites Muslims, Jews and Christians in one family." Pope Francis, turning his thoughts to the many Christians who have borne witness to their faith in Jesus in the midst of difficult trials, expressed his gratitude to them and offered some fatherly words of comfort. "I look forward to seeing you," the Pope said. "I am honored to meet a martyred Church. Thank you for your witness." The Pope went on to acknowledge "the images of the destroyed houses and desecrated churches" that many Iraqi Christian communities still bear in mind. He prayed that the many martyrs they have known may "help us to persevere in the humble strength of love" and expressed to them "the affectionate caress of the whole Church, which is close to them and to the martyred Middle East" and encourages them to go forward. "Let us not allow the terrible suffering you have experienced, which grieves me so much, to prevail," Pope Francis urged. "Let us not give up in the face of the spread of evil." Further encouraging Iraqis to refer to their ancient sources of wisdom, the Pope reminded them of the example of Abraham who, though he left everything, never lost hope and went on to give birth to descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven. "Dear brothers and sisters, let us look to the stars. There is our promise," the Pope enjoined all. The Pope continued to express his closeness and his message of hope to the many others who have suffered over the years but have not fallen. These, noted the Pope, include Christians, Muslims and more particularly, the Yazidis who "have suffered so much." "I come to your blessed and wounded land as a pilgrim of hope," said the Pope. "From you, in Nineveh, resounded the prophecy of Jonah, who prevented destruction and brought a new hope, the hope of God." Pope Francis enjoined everyone to be infected by this hope, "which encourages us to rebuild and begin again" and to help each other to strengthen our fraternity and to build together a future of peace, especially in these trying times of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic." Concluding his message, the Holy Father reminded brothers and sisters of every religious tradition that it up to us to continue the journey that Abraham began thousands of years ago: to walk together, in the same spirit, along the paths of peace. Pope Francis concluded his message invoking God's blessings upon all and asking everyone to accompany him in prayer. "I ask all of you to do the same as Abraham," said the Pope. "Walk in hope and never stop looking at the stars." (ANSA). ATLANTA, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax (NYSE: EFX) today announced a new Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Tenant Risk Assessment product suite designed to help asset managers and bankers better build, manage and maintain CRE portfolios. Built on Equifax commercial credit data, the suite is designed to provide a more complete financial picture of a building's business tenants for a better understanding of each property's potential risk and overall performance in a time of economic uncertainty. "COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on the Commercial Real Estate industry, with tenant payment behavior and demand for space heavily influenced by social distancing, unemployment, and business stress," said William Phelan, General Manager of the Equifax United States Information Solutions (USIS) Commercial business. "Whether you're a banker overseeing a CRE portfolio, an asset manager, or a property manager, it's become increasingly important to understand the current financial health of buildings and business tenants to prevent losses. The Equifax Commercial Real Estate Tenant Risk Assessment product suite helps you understand which tenants were on sound financial footing before the coronavirus, and better predicts how they will weather the storm." According to the National Association of Realtors Research Group's January 2021 Commercial Real Estate Trends and Outlook, 59% of CRE executives surveyed reported an increase in missed, late, or partial rental payments for office, retail, and industrial space. Staying up-to-date on the financial situations of commercial tenants is a challenge for most CRE owners, and rent delays and tenant losses can be a costly proposition. The Equifax Commercial Real Estate Tenant Risk Assessment product suite includes a Tenant Risk Assessment Report and a cloud-based application on the Equifax Ignite Marketplace. The report and app can be used to evaluate a commercial tenant portfolio for financial stability and flag tenants with increased risk profiles. The tools can also be used to monitor business tenants on a monthly basis to identify changes in payment patterns and analyze tenants' ability to continue on lease. The suite is supported by an enhancement to the Commercial Credit History Report. The Commercial Credit History Report can include CRE market statistics data for an even more comprehensive view of potential business tenants during the credit decisioning process. "Smarter insights drive smarter actions," continued Phelan. "With this new offering, we're putting data insights that only Equifax can provide at the fingertips of commercial bankers, asset managers, and property owners. We are going beyond building statistics and empowering CRE leaders to identify new business tenants, negotiate lease improvements for tenant retention, and identify potential tenant losses before they occur." The Equifax Commercial Real Estate Tenant Risk Assessment suite is available now. For more information, please visit Equifax.com or register to attend the March 4 Market Pulse Webinar : Return to Opportunity for Commercial Real Estate, being held at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 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 http://www.equifax.com A new video series created by Punta Pacifica Realty (PPR), the top real estate and property management firm in Panama, explores the latest news, analysis and investment opportunities in the Panama property market. Panama Real Estate Market Insights will feature wide-ranging discussions with PPR leaders, who represent decades of experience working with international real estate investors in Panama City. Hosted by PPR broker and spokesperson Ana Patricia Hassan, the segments will target savvy investors, the global retirement community and everyone interested in buying or selling real estate in Panama. Were always looking for better ways to communicate with our loyal clients, said PPR President Duncan McGowan, who has worked in Panama for 15 years. This video is a way for people to learn more about the property market and get to know us better. Each segment of Panama Real Estate Market Insights will offer perspectives on the latest market trends, tips on how to find the best deals in Panama City and details on available properties. In a casual setting, PPRs experts will answer several specific questions in each video, addressing many of the key issues around buying property in Panama. As the pandemic eases and the market returns, there will be real opportunities for buyers familiar with the market, said PPR managing director Jeff Barton. But weve seen this cycle before and we know many of those deals wont last for long. The first segments of the new video series focus on the fundamental forces shaping the current market, as well as the basic reasons Panama is considered such an attractive market for investors. McGowan also offers insights on evaluating property in the current market and explains why there is about to be a big shift in the supply and demand dynamics of the market, which will likely have a dramatic impact on prices in the years ahead. Despite the pandemic, PPR has been able to generate steady sales in the last six months, using digital technology and remote services to connect clients with sellers. Many of the buyers were taking advantage of unprecedented deals, which havent been seen since the global economic crisis in 2009. But as Panama starts to reopen, many of those deals will likely disappear, McGowan says. The pandemic has changed everything and we know people have a lot of questions, McGowan said. The Panama Real Estate Market Insights series is one way for us to answer some of those questions. To watch the interview click here: https://www.puntapacificarealty.com/panama-news/panama-market-insight-why-panama/ About Punta Pacifica Realty in Panama Punta Pacifica Realty is the largest sales, rental and property management firm in Panama City, Panama. PPRs leaders are experts in the Panama real estate market with a proven track record of delivering unparalleled service to clients. For more information contact: Punta Pacifica Realty Address: Via Punta Darien 0833-00321, Panama Phone: +507 836-5991 Email: sales@puntapacificarealty.com Website: https://www.puntapacificarealty.com/ A number of gorillas at San Diego Zoo have been given doses of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine, following infections among apes at a sister park. A great ape who was the worlds first orangutan to undergo open-heart surgery in 1994, Karen, was among four orangutans and four bonobos who received shots of a vaccine in recent weeks, reported National Geographic. The two-dose vaccine was developed by Zoetis, a veterinary pharmaceutical company that was founded as a subsidiary of Pfizer, whose vaccines for Covid-19 have been used worldwide. Zoetiss experimental vaccine had only been used on cats and dogs prior to the gorillas at San Diego Zoo being vaccinated, although animals in captivity usually receive the same doses, according to officials. "We commonly use vaccines designed with dogs and cats for lions and tigers," Nadine Lamberski, the chief conservation and wildlife health officer for the San Diego Wildlife Alliance, said. "It's not like we randomly grab a vaccine and give it to a novel species. Read more: Gorillas at San Diego wildlife park stricken with Covid-19 after apparently being infected by zookeeper There had been no adverse reactions among the animals, and they were doing well, Ms Lamberski said, and described the vaccinations as having been carried out relatively quickly. Treats were also used to distract the apes at San Diego Zoo while they received doses. It follows infections among several gorillas at the nearby San Diego Zoo Safari Park in January for which the cases of Covid-19 were said to have been the first among gorillas in captivity. Ms Lamberski added that vaccinating apes in this way wasnt the norm, but she felt it was necessary, considering the recent infections. Some of the species are also endangered, with as few as 5,000 gorillas remaining in the wild, according to National Geographic. In my career, I havent had access to an experimental vaccine this early in the process and havent had such an overwhelming desire to want to use one, said Ms Lamberski. Winston, a 49-year-old silverback, was among eight gorillas at San Diego Safari Park who tested positive for Covid-19 in January, received a form of antibody treatment, and was recovering. Both the zoo and safari park are operated and owned by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed nation on 70 Years of Independence at the Red Fort. This will be Prime Minister Modi's fourth Independence Day address, and he is likely to present a report card of his government's accomplishments. Here are the top 10 quotes of PM Narendra Modi: #We can reach Mangalyaan within 9 months, this is our capability, but one rail project was stuck for last 42 years #India's stature in the world is rising. The world is with us in fighting the menace of terror. I thank all nations helping us doing so #Good governance is about speed and simplification of processes #You will be happy to know that today we are not alone against our fight against terrorism, many countries supporting us actively #GST has shown the spirit of cooperative federalism. The nation has come together to support GST & the role of technology has also helped. #The country's security remains our priority; our forces have always proved their mettle #Must leave this 'Chalta Hai' nature. We have to now think of 'Badal Sakta Hai'- it will help us progress as a nation. #January 1 2018 will not be an ordinary day, those born in this century will start turning 18, 'Bhagya Vidhatas' of our country. #Everybody is equal in our nation, no one big or small. We together can bring a positive change in the nation. #People of India stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected due to natural disasters & the tragedy in Gorakhpur. Read more: PM Modi Independence Day Speech Live: 'There is no question of being soft on terrorism or terrorists' For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. PETALUMA, Calif. (AP) A Northern California city has become what's believed to be the first in the country to ban all new gas stations in an effort to curb emissions. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Petaluma City Council voted unanimously Monday to prohibit the creation, expansion, reconstruction and relocation of gas stations. It encourages owners to transition to stations that serve electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The city of 58,000 people 40 miles north of San Francisco hopes to become carbon neutral by 2030. Petaluma has 16 gas stations, with one more expected to be built because it was approved before the vote. Chinas top economic official announced a healthy growth target for the nation Friday and its plans to become a more self-reliant technology leader amid tension with Washington and Europe over trade, Hong Kong and human rights. The ruling Communist Party is aiming for economic growth of over 6 per cent as it rebounds from the coronavirus, Premier Li Keqiang said in a speech to Chinas ceremonial legislature. Some 3,000 delegates gathered for its annual two-week meeting, the years highest-profile political event, under intense security and anti-virus controls. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech during the opening session of Chinas National Peoples Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Credit:Andy Wong The party is shifting from fighting the virus that emerged in central China in late 2019 back to its longer-term goals of becoming a global competitor in profitable technologies and promoting self-sustaining growth based on domestic consumer spending instead of trade and investment. The NPCs annual meeting usually focuses on domestic issues but increasingly is overshadowed by geopolitics as President Xi Jinpings government pursues more assertive trade and strategic policies abroad, cracks down on dissent at home and faces criticism over its treatment of Hong Kong and ethnic minorities. China became the only major country to grow last year, eking out a multi-decade low 2.3 per cent expansion after shutting down most of its economy to fight the coronavirus. The worlds second-largest economy grew by 6.5 per cent over a year earlier in the final quarter of 2020 while the United States, Europe and Japan struggled with renewed virus outbreaks. Li vowed to work faster to enhance our strategic scientific and technological capability seen by communist leaders as a path to prosperity, strategic autonomy and global influence. Those plans are threatened by tension with Washington over technology and security that prompted then-President Donald Trump to slap sanctions on Chinas fledgling telecom and other tech industries. The party will regard scientific and technological self-reliance as a strategic support for national development, Li said. Li promised to pursue green development following Xis pledge last year to ensure Chinas carbon emissions peak by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. That will require sharp increases in clean and renewable energy in an economy that gets 60 per cent of its power from coal and is the worlds biggest source of climate-changing industrial pollution. AP For serial entrepreneur Bhavin Turakhia, the vision while setting up Zeta was very clear. "We started with the notional objective of being a globally disruptive and dominant player in three buckets, with focus on banking, payments and commerce. Our goal is to provide the most-outstanding experience from a banking and payments standpoint and create unique experiences for commerce - buying/selling goods for customers, merchants, companies, employees and banks," says Turakhia. Co- founders Turakhia and Ramakrishna Gaddipati started their Fintech journey with 'Zeta Tax Benefits' in 2016, a Cloud-based enterprise benefits suite, which digitises meal vouchers, fuel and communications cards, medical reimbursements, gadget cards, gift cards and LTA cards. There was also Zeta Express for cashless transactions at corporate cafeterias, for which the company initially roped in Sodexo, RBL Bank, IDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ADP India and Excelity Global. "While the solution that we first started out with was employee benefits, we were eventually building a full-stack banking solution," says Bhavin. While charting out Zeta's path, the founders were staring at two options - either to get into the neo-banking/lending space, or become a pure-play Fintech. However, the challenges of regulation and capital- intensive nature in case of banks, and the risk of vertical integration and middle layers in case of Fintechs, led Turakhia and Gaddipati to look into the problem-solving area in both spaces. "If you talk to any bank today, not a single bank will tell you they love their technology," says Turakhia. "With many of them having worked with 20- 30 different vendors, from big companies to small players, banks know they are running on old technologies that cannot adapt to the latest trends or changing technology. We felt that is a clear problem to solve and we can basically become a dominant player in that space." The company currently has three distinct platforms - Tachyon, Fusion and Electron - offering solutions. Tachyon is a Cloud-based full stack, API-ready neo-banking solutions platform with a card management system, which can host credit, debit and prepaid cards and is capable of supporting use-cases for both physical and virtual cards. The payment engine enables just-in-time payments with transactions funded from multiple accounts. For instance, a payment can be funded first from a credit card account and any shortfall in funds can be covered from the savings or prepaid account, which is enabled with multiple payment methods such as account transfers, UPI, card payments, P2P payments, QR code payments etc. Fusion has been built for Fintech developers, for managing accounts, issuing physical, digital or tokenised cards and controlling spends on channels, levying fees or charges or interest, etc. The platform provides Fintechs with a set of Application Programming Interfaces or APIs that helps them build and solve use-cases unique to them by reducing the prototyping and go-to-market time for companies. An API is a source code-based specification used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other. One of the Fintechs that uses Fusion came up with the business idea of a start-up that gives teens access to financial literacy and digital payments through gamification, in the final year at IIT Roorkee in 2019. "We needed a technology partner who could help us provide and scale digital payments for this vast market. We wanted to go to market fast and needed a credible, flexible and dependable technical service provider to do it with," says Kush Taneja, Co-founder of FamPay, a neo-bank for teenagers. A neo-bank is a kind of digital bank with no branches. Taneja recalls how they conducted their research by reaching out to other founders and Fintech product managers within their network to understand the options available and finally chose Fusion's offering. "We charted the user journey and the Fusion team mapped APIs to wireframes. Concluding that phase, we were given sandbox and SDK (software development kit) access to integrate and test APIs. It took us six weeks for testing, which happens in a User Acceptance Testing environment wherein you can test your product with a small set of users. After User Acceptance Testing, we ran Beta testing, and then FamPay went live in four months," says Taneja. Zetas third offering, Electron, is a suite of solutions sold via banks to enterprises for offering employee benefit solutions and travel and management options, corporate gifting, and rewards and recognition for enterprise payments. Zeta has already signed up with seven banks and is in talks with another 11 of them for adopting Tachyon. Around 20 Fintechs have signed up for Fusion - seven of them are already live and another 11-15 are in talks with the company to integrate the programme with their apps. While Zeta plans to launch corporate gifting soon, the employee benefits product is already live in partnership with Sodexo. It has over 8,000-10,000 companies on-board, with nearly 1.5-2 million employees using it. Outside India, Zeta operates in Vietnam, The Philippines, Brazil and Italy with Electron, and plans to shortly go live in Spain and the UK. The company is also in the process of launching Tachyon and Fusion in North America. According to Turakhia, bulk of the revenues come from the Electron platform, and majority of the contracted revenue is from Tachyon. Electron benefits have already reached operational break-even, and are set to grow upwards of $20 million in annual revenues over the next five years. But both Fusion and Tachyon are catching up, "We believe Tachyon and Fusion will operationally break-even in 2023" he says. Bootstrapped like most of Turakhia's companies, the first external funding of around $60 million came from Sodexo in 2019 at a valuation of $300 million. Founders and employees still own around 90 per cent. "We have cash in the bank, but we may choose to raise some additional capital. There's no urgency," says Turakhia. With new technology invading the financial space every day, Zeta believes it is solving one of the biggest barriers in the sector. According to Turakhia, for Fintechs to proliferate, banks have to be provided with a modern stack to help them write codes and build apps. Some of Zeta's clients have launched their businesses in less than two months with a full mobile app and financial products. With Tachyon and Fusion together, "banks will be able to serve new-age modern digital financial services companies, and these companies in turn will be able to make a meaningful impact on the ecosystem," says Turakhia. @rukminirao * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) President Rodrigo Duterte initially wants two million COVID-19 vaccines rolled out before he reconsiders the proposal to place the entire country under the lowest restriction level. He (President Rodrigo Duterte) wants to see a more rigorous, a more widespread rollout of the vaccination program, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday in a briefing. He gave a figure like two million vaccines being rolled out as a start. That is when he would start reconsidering about itong pagbubukas (opening up the economy further), he added. He said the two million was just an indicative number that the President mentioned during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. In February, the National Economic and Development Authority asked President Rodrigo Duterte to place the country under modified general community quarantine beginning March to stem huge economic losses. Based on NEDAs computation, an area under GCQ is losing 700 million in wages and other income daily. But Duterte turned down the suggestion, saying vaccination should begin first before movement restrictions can be further relaxed. Metro Manila the country's economic center, and nine other areas, retained their GCQ status in March. The rest of the country is under MGCQ. With the launch of COVID-19 inoculations and the expected arrival of more anti-coronavirus shots, Nograles sees the MGCQ shift happening by the next quarter. Sa second quarter po, baka ito na ang tamang panahon na magshift na tayo sa MGCQ para sa buong Pilipinas, he said. [Translation: The right time for the entire Philippines to shift to MGCQ may happen in the second quarter of the year.] Duterte also said earlier this week that Filipinos may have to wait until 2023 before the country could return to normalcy. Malacanang denied the remark had any "chilling effect" on consumer activity. "Sabi nga ni Presidente, magsimula lang itong bakuna, magkaroon lang ng mas maraming taong nabakunahan na, bubuksan ko na ang lahat," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. "Dahil alam nga po niya importante na magkaroon ng hanapbuhay ang lahat." [Translation: Like the President said, just start the vaccination drive and get more people inoculated and I will open all [economic activities]. Because he knows it's important for everyone to earn a living.] New York: The generals who seized power in Myanmar nation have indicated they dont fear renewed sanctions and were very surprised that their plans to restore military rule without much opposition wasnt working. Christine Schraner Burgener, the UN special envoy for Myanmar, told reporters that after the February 1 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyis elected government she warned the army other nations and the UN Security Council might take huge strong measures. People view the body of Kyal Sin, also known by her Chinese name Deng Jia Xi, a 20-year-old university student shot in the head during a protest in Mandalay on Wednesday. Credit:AP And the answer was, We are used to sanctions and we survived those sanctions in the past, Burgener said. When she also warned the army that Myanmar would become isolated, the answer was, We have to learn to walk with only a few friends. 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. [March 04, 2021] Alliant Credit Union, a Nationwide Digital Credit Union, Selects Payrailz for AI-Driven Digital Payments Platform Alliant Credit Union ($13 billion in assets) has selected Payrailz, a digital payments company offering smarter, more engaging payment experiences to banks and credit unions across the United States, to power its digital payments platform. As the largest credit union in Illinois and one of the largest credit unions in the United States, Alliant decided to upgrade to Payrailz' smarter payments platform after auditing their online and mobile banking features and making important upgrades to the digital member experience. One of the credit union's top priorities was a comprehensive digital payments solution to help make members' lives easier. Facing competition from other online, direct banks, Alliant realized the need for a best-in-class payment solution that stood out from what others were offering. After an extensive search, the credit union selected Payrailz because of the company's unique vision and the platform's ability to leverage AI and machine learning to learn members' bill pay habits and make proactive payment recommendations. Payrailz, through proactive notifications and actionable alerts, takes on the hard work of juggling bills so that members no longer need to worry about when payments are due or if they have enough money in their account to cover them. "Our members come to us with high expectations and a desire for the best member experience. Being fully digital, they also expect us to provide them with the 'wow factor,'" said Aman Boyd, vice president of strategic banking partnership at Alliant. "Payrailz helps us achieve that by easing the payment process for our members." Alliant is also an investor in the Payrailz and credit union owned CUSO, CU Railz. The goal of the CUSO is to give credit unions a voice in the strategic direction of Payrailz' platform and to enable them to invest in the future of payments technology. Alliant is an all-digital credit union, meaning it operates with no physical branches. Without any geographical constraints, Alliant has members across the country. Members conduct all their business online, so providing a superior digital experience is essential to the credit union's success. "Alliant is a unique credit union because of its all-digital nature. They truly embody what it means to be digital-first and service oriented," said Fran Duggan, CEO of Payrailz. "We are proud to provide credit unions like Alliant with cutting edge payments technology and an ability to develop closer digital relationships with their members by providing solutions that go beyond members' expectations and add value to their everyday lives." About Alliant Credit Union Alliant Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than 500,000 members and over $13 billion in assets. Headquartered in Chicago and founded in 1935, Alliant is the largest credit union in Illinois and one of the largest credit unions in the United States. As a digital credit union, Alliant's mission is to provide members consistently superior financial value while simplifying and enabling how people save, borrow and pay. Find out more at alliantcreditunion.org. About Payrailz Payrailz is a digital payments company offering advanced payment capabilities and experiences including consumer and business bill pay, external and internal transfers, new account funding, P2P, B2B, B2C and other related solutions to banks and credit unions. In a society that increasingly has become focused on a "do it for me" culture, Payrailz' smart technology makes the difference. Payrailz creates smarter payment experiences for the financial services industry that are predictive and more engaging than currently available alternatives. Financial institutions can confidently embrace Payrailz' API-first and cloud-native technology engine, to offer unique payment solutions to their consumers and businesses. Payrailz helps financial institutions meet the payment expectations of today and the payment innovation needs of tomorrow. For more information, visit payrailz.com, follow them on Twitter (News - Alert) @Payrailz, Facebook or LinkedIn, or contact Mickey Goldwasser at 860.430.9245. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005059/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Vancouver, BC, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickel Rock Resources Inc. ("the Company") (TSX-V: NICL), (OTCQB: NICKLF) is pleased to announce that the Technical Report for The Nickel Project, dated January 21, 2021, prepared by Jacques Houle, P. Eng. and Jeremy Hanson, P.Geo. has been filed on SEDAR and can be obtained on the Company's website at NI #43-101 Report. The Company's World Class Canadian Nickel Properties The Mount Sidney Williams Group consists of five claim blocks in four groups with a total area of 6,125.32 hectares in the area surrounding Mount Sidney Williams, both adjoining and near the Decar project of FPX Nickel Corp., located 100 kilometers northwest of Fort St. James, B.C., in the Omineca mining division. Metallic mineralization includes nickel, cobalt and chromium. At least some of the nickel mineralization occurs as awaruite. The Mitchell Range Group area claim consist of two contiguous claim blocks covering 3,134.70 hectares with demonstrated metallic mineralization including nickel, cobalt and chromium. Nickel-cobalt mineralization has not been well explored, but the presence of awaruite has been documented. Based on the findings of this NI #43-101 Technical Report, the company is planning a detailed exploration for the upcoming exploration season. Proposed 2021 Work Program Robert Setter, President & CEO of the Company states "The proposed 2021 work program consists of several important exploration plans that will be used to both confirm successful historical work on the property and also advance the current thinking of the Company's geological team with regards to mineral exploration in the area and the discovery of an Awaruite nickel deposit. Successful exploration results from at neighboring FPX Nickel Corp. has only fueled the interest in this area and type of nickel deposit." The Company's exploration plans include strategic trenching, surface exploration diamond drilling, camp construction, and exploration activities to support drilling and trenching such as soil sampling, rock sampling, prospecting, and geological mapping. The Company proposes to have a 12-man exploration camp built on the north slope of the un-named mountain west of and adjacent to Mount Sydney Williams and will be built next to a sub-alpine lake at the headwaters of Van Decar Creek. Easily accessible by helicopter, the location of exploration camp was selected based on past exploration camps at this location and its overall suitability for exploration support and ability to accommodate enough field personnel for the exploration work. NI #43-101 Report Highlights: The Nickel Project ("project") consists of four non-contiguous mineral claims groups held by Nickel Rock Resources Inc. ("company') through three separate agreements. The exploration stage project is in the Takla Lake area of central British Columbia , partially adjacent to FPX Nickel Corp.'s Decar Nickel Project. The Decar Nickel Project is an advanced project targeting awaruite, a nickel-iron alloy mineral, hosted by serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit within the Permian to Triassic age Cache Creek Complex. , partially adjacent to FPX Nickel Corp.'s Decar Nickel Project. The Decar Nickel Project is an advanced project targeting awaruite, a nickel-iron alloy mineral, hosted by serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit within the Permian to Triassic age Cache Creek Complex. The principal target on the project is nickel occurring as awaruite, but at the exploration stage all other styles of mineralization should be considered. Systematic, ground-based exploration work began within the area of the claims now covered by the Nickel Project under the direction of Ms. Ursula Mowat , P.Geo. in 1987, continuing intermittently until 2012. This work established the presence of elevated nickel, cobalt and chromium values in rocks, soils, and stream sediments. , P.Geo. in 1987, continuing intermittently until 2012. This work established the presence of elevated nickel, cobalt and chromium values in rocks, soils, and stream sediments. The area of the claim groups of the project were included in Geoscience BC's QUEST and QUEST-West projects, including multiparameter regional geophysical surveys, and regional stream sediment reanalyzes and data compilations between 2008 and 2009. R. Britten's technical paper "Regional Metallogeny and Genesis of a New Deposit Type - Disseminated Awaruite (Ni3Fe) Mineralization Hosted in the Cache Creek Terrane published in 2017 in Economic Geology should be utilized as an interim mineral deposit model or profile for the Nickel Project. NI #43-101 Report Conclusion The Nickel Project is worthy of phased, systematic exploration programs designed and implemented to delineate areas with known or high probability metallic nickel mineralization, and to discover new areas of similar mineralization. In addition to its world class nickel exploration assets in Canada, the Company has a very promising lithium clay exploration asset in the state of Nevada USA. About Clayton Valley Lithium Project Clayton Valley is a down-dropped closed basin formed by the Miocene age Great Basin extension and is still active due to movement along the Walker Lane structural zone. As a result, the basin has preserved multiple layers of lithium bearing volcanic ash, resulting from eruptions from the 700,000-year-old Long Valley Caldera system and related events. These ash layers are thought to be the source of the lithium brines extracted by Albemarle and are also likely involved in the formation of the exposed lithium rich clay deposits on the east side of Clayton Valley. Clayton Valley Project, Silver Peak, Nevada The Company is exploring for lithium clays and brines within its project area of 118 claims covering over 930 hectares (2,300 acres). The property stretches in a northwest direction from the evaporation ponds of Albemarle Corporation NYSE: ALB. It has been widely reported that Albemarle is planning to double its lithium production by 2025 by committing between US$30 million and US$50 million in additional investment on the property. In 2021, Albemarle plans to commence exploration of clay and evaluate technology that could accelerate the viability of lithium production from clay resources in the region. Qualified Person Jacques Houle, P.Eng., a qualified person as defined by NI 43 - 101, is responsible for the technical information contained in this release. Readers are cautioned that the information in this press release regarding the property of FPX Nickel Corp is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property of interest. About Nickel Rock Resources Inc. www.nickelrockresources.com The Company is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company active in the exploration for nickel-iron alloy in British Columbia and lithium in Nevada. Nickel Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Robert Setter" Robert Setter, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statement. Contact: Nickel Rock Resources Inc. 1220 - 789 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1H2 604- 428-5690 www.nickelrockresources.com info@nickelrockresources.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449491/Nickel_Project.jpg Photo: (Photo : Screenshot from Instagram) As one netizen pointed out that Hilaria was not pregnant and that their other baby was born six months ago, the 62-year-old actor replied. He said, "You should shut the f--- up and mind your own business." He also responded to other netizens who supported the couple. Lucia, the latest addition to the Baldwin family, is the sixth child of the couple. ALSO READ: Katy Perry Is a Tremendous Mother According to Luke Bryan The Baldwin kids Hilaria and Alec share six kids. Their eldest, Carmen Gabriela, is seven years old. They also have a five-year-old son, Rafael Thomas. Another boy in the family is Leonardo Angel Charles, who is already four years old. Their other younger children are Edu and Romeo Alejandro David. Lucia is their sixth child. According to a report from PEOPLE, their youngest daughter was welcomed by the couple via surrogate. Aside from his six children with Hilaria, Alec Baldwin also has a 25-year-old daughter named Ireland. ALSO READ: Celebrity Couple Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova Celebrate Third Baby's First Birthday The comment section on Instagram Alec Baldwin recently posted a photo of Hilaria Baldwin and all of their six kids. It was a reposted photo from Hilaria's Instagram account. The comment section of the post, however, had a mix of reactions from netizens. Several people congratulated the couple. Some netizens said, "Congratulations on your beautiful family!" and "Love to the entire Baldwinitos clan! Yay! I am so happy for you all (especially Carmen)... little Lucia will be so Loved! Congrats!" Some chose to question how the couple welcomed a newborn baby when the last baby they introduced was only six months old. One netizen said, "Who's the mother? She wasn't pregnant. She gave birth six months ago. If it was a surrogate, just say that. If the baby was adopted, say that." This netizen even added, "If you don't want to say anything - why don't you both stop constantly posting and begging for clickbait. Just raise your 100 children in private." Alec Baldwin then lashed out at this netizen and told them to mind their own business. ALSO READ: Patrick Mahomes and Fiancee Britanny Matthews Welcome Their First Baby Aside from this reply, the celebrity dad also replied to other netizens who expressed their support to the couple. One netizen said, "Children are amazing! You and your wife are truly blessed! So happy for you and your wife, absolutely beautiful photo, Alec!!!" Another one said, "Congrats on the new baby to all (of)them. I just wanted to say that I don't care how they have her, but I'm glad they do." ALSO READ: Celebrity Mom Ashley Graham Looks Back to Her First Year of Motherhood MILFORD A steady influx of new businesses has Mayor Ben Blake optimistic that Milford residents will see a sixth straight year without a tax increase. A big part of our budgeting every year is going into the budget season with the ultimate goal of not increasing taxes, Blake said, a week before the Board of Finance is scheduled to vote on his $121.2 million budget proposal for the 2021-22 fiscal year. That is about a 1 percent increase over the current years $120.1 million budget. The school board has separately proposed a $99.7 million budget for 2021-22, a 2.25 percent increase over the current $97.5 million package. The two combined budgets total $220.9 million, about a 1.4 percent increase over the current combined $217.7 million for 2020-21. Blake said the pandemic year had shown Milfords strength. File photo After a very long, strange, socially distant year, our city is now battle-tested by the unknown, and ready for new challenges that lie ahead, he wrote in his budget letter. Milfords attention remains the well-being of our families and the health of our community as we lean on the expertise of medical professionals. And while the pandemic is far from over, Blake said the city would maintain its traditional conservative budgeting. This practice of conservative financial planning has paid dividends with Milford realizing tax cuts for residents and businesses for each of the past five consecutive years, he said. Milford taxpayers have experienced back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back decreases in the amount of local taxes due since 2017 an unprecedented achievement, never before seen in Connecticut. The budget spreads the funding increases across most of the town departments. Some of the bigger-ticket items include $13.9 million for the Police Department, and $12.4 million for the Fire Department. These represent 1.2 percent and 1.8 percent raises from the current year. The Public Service account, which includes the highway and parks departments, engineering, building maintenance and the city garage, had its annual budget reduced slightly in Blakes proposal, from $11.99 million to $11.94 million, a reduction of just under 1 percent. The budget line item for the mayors office increased $1,057 from 2020-21 to 2021-22, from $325,673 to $326,730. Despite budgeting for $3.2 million more expenditures next year, Blake said alternate sources of income such as state and federal grants, and steady growth in the Grand List would cover the increased spending without increasing the tax burden on residents. We had a record number of new businesses relocate to Milford this year, in spite of the fact that we had a pandemic spreading across the world, he said. Milford also saw numerous new businesses open their doors, from a two-person cupcake shop to the G Mart, an Asian mega-market that recently opened in the old Shop Rite location on Cherry Street. There are 465 new businesses making Milford home compared to last year, Blake said. In handing his budget proposal over to the Board of Finance, Blake called it a strong foundation from which the finance board and Board of Aldermen could debate and discuss Milfords future. This suggested financial plan holds spending increases to a minimum while preserving core municipal functions, he said. The recommendation also recognizes that while our Grand List continues to grow, we still face annual increases to cost drivers such as our pension contributions, salaries and health care. deng@trumbulltimes.com The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Health authorities are rushing to track down eight people who left a Brisbane CBD quarantine hotel that housed people linked to a growing COVID-19 cluster. A total of 74 passengers were on a flight from Doha, in Qatar, to Brisbane last month, including a man believed to be a super-spreader. Queensland authorities are trying to track down people who were in hotel quarantine at Brisbanes Mercure Hotel. Credit:Google Maps Six of the passengers have tested positive to COVID-19. The remaining 68 have had five days added to their 14-day quarantine as a precaution. A search is now under way for another eight people who were not on the plane, but were in quarantine at the same hotel the Mercure Brisbane Hotel, at North Quay. Claims that MNS was 'successful' in its campaign against Karachi Bakery, soon followed with its leader Haji Saif Shaikh, who led the stir, taking credit on Twitter for the closure of the bakery in Mumbai. (Twitter/@mnshajisaif) HYDERABAD; Karachi Bakery, the citys iconic biscuit-maker, has shut its store in Mumbai. Though it has brought the shutters down in the countrys financial capital, the managements Rajesh Ramnani points out they would reopen in Mumbai if suitable premises can be found, in place of the one in Bandra that has been closed. It may be recalled that Karachi Bakery in Mumbai was in the eye of a nationalistic storm after Maharashtra Navanirmana Sena (MNS) protested against the name of the bakery demanding that it be changed as it had a Pakistani ring to it. The Ramnani family, which migrated to India during partition, and set up the bakery, originally belonged to Karachi. However, the MNS would not hear anything of the emotional ties the family had with a city it left behind even as later generations of the Ramnanis began running the business. And the claims that it was 'successful' in its campaign against Karachi Bakery, soon followed with MNS leader Haji Saif Shaikh, who led the stir, taking credit on Twitter for the closure of the bakery in Mumbai. "Nothing could be farther from the truth," Rajesh Ramnani told Deccan Chronicle here on Thursday. "The lease period was over and it could not be renewed due to cost factors. There is no other reason for Karachi Bakery closing its operations in Mumbai. We will continue looking for appropriate premises, and when it is found, we are willing to reopen there," Ramnani said. Though the MNS leader tweeted about Karachi Bakery's closure in Mumbai, there were several others from that city who mourned the shutting down. Several Mumbaikars took to Twitter to express their grief at its closure and recalled how the outlet in Bandra remained an important part of their lives. Man Allegedly Jaywalking, Shot By Sheriff Deputies -Debated Whether to Stop Him Orange County sheriffs deputies debated whether to stop a homeless man with mental health issues for jaywalking last year before shooting and killing him during a struggle, according to newly released video footage. The Sept. 23 death of 42-year-old Kurt Reinhold, who was Black, touched off protests and a lawsuit alleging that his race played a role in the confrontation. The Orange County Sheriffs Department on Wednesday released a critical incident briefing video that included footage from a patrol car camera and a motel security camera along with previously released video from a witnesss cellphone. ADVERTISEMENT Reinhold was stopped in San Clemente by two deputies assigned to homeless outreach. They spotted Reinhold while sitting in their patrol car. He apparently spotted them and began walking. In audio from microphones worn by the deputies, one tells the other: Okey-doke. Hes seen ya. Hes seen ya, copper. A moment later, one deputy says: Watch this. Hes going to jaywalk and adds: There we go. Its controlled, man, the deputy says, meaning the crossing has traffic signs or signals. I dont know, dude, the other deputy replies doubtfully. It is, his partner insists and a moment later tells him: Dont make case law. Its not case law, the deputy replies. The cruiser then pulls up to Reinhold, whom the deputies want to identify, as he stands on the sidewalk. He apparently begins to walk away, and the deputies order him to stop. ADVERTISEMENT Are you going to stop or are we going to have to make you stop? one deputy says. For what? For what? Reinhold replies. When Reinhold is told he is being stopped for jaywalking and resisting arrest, he replies: Thats ridiculous. The confrontation escalates with the agitated Reinhold repeatedly telling a deputy who puts out a hand to stop him: Stop touching me. The witness cellphone video shows Reinhold trying to walk as a deputy tries to halt him and push him back to the sidewalk. Reinhold shoves back, and the deputies grab him. All three fall to the ground, struggling. On the witness video, a deputy is heard yelling several times: Hes got my gun! Two shots are then heard. In a close-up of footage from one video, Reinhold appears to grab at a deputys gun or holster, but his family has said he was simply flailing. Although a deputy performed CPR, Reinhold died at the scene. Reinholds family is suing the county for wrongful death. A statement from the family released through their attorney Thursday said the new video confirmed that the deputies had no reason to stop Reinhold and said the officers are heard disagreeing about whether he had jaywalked. The deputies created and escalated the confrontation, attorney John Taylor said in the statement. Mr. Reinhold wasnt in distress and didnt pose any danger to himself or anyone else, Taylor said. If he wasnt a Black man, this stop never wouldve happened, let alone the shooting that takes his life. The shooting remained under investigation by the Sheriffs Department and the county district attorneys office. File photo of sheet of paper in a typewriter showing the words 'Freedom of Speech'. (Markus Winkler/Unsplash) Academic Freedom In Crisis and Cancel Culture Endemic in UK Universities: Report Authoritarianism, political discrimination, and self-censorship are rife in British universities and have thrown academic freedom into a crisis of cancel culture, a landmark study has revealed. The discrimination, mainly experienced by conservative academics, manifests as hard authoritarianism, and involves no-platforming, dismissal campaigns, social media mob attacks, open letters formal complaints, and disciplinary action, according to the research from the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology (CSPI). It is mainly perpetrated by a subgroup of illiberal far-left activist staff and students, said the study, titled Academic Freedom in Crisis: Punishment, Political Discrimination, and Self-Censorship, which also covers the United States and Canada. The research, the first of its kind looking at professors and lecturers as well as Ph.D. and masters students found that soft authoritarianism, is also at work in universities. This type of discrimination affects hiring, promotion, grant applications, publishing, the allocation of teaching and research tasks, workplace civility, and social inclusion, the study found. In grant applications, for example, it showed that political bias means that academics who are openly conservative face an at least 80 [percent] chance of being discriminated against on a four-person panel chosen at random. Political Discrimination Against Conservatives It also showed that Political discrimination against conservatives and other intellectual minorities implicates between a third and a half of academics, with most who are right-leaning saying they experience a hostile climate in their departments and that they self-censor in their teaching and research. This has a powerful chilling effect, and stifles diverse dialogue, Eric Kaufmann, professor of politics at Birkbeck College, University of London, and the report author told The Epoch Times. A few no platformings is a problem, but its more of a symptom of whats going on below which is a much more widespread issue, which is the self-censorship, he said. What that does, is it shuts down views that challenge orthodoxywhether thats research, whether thats in the classroomand that simply makes the university not function as effectively, he added. He said that perpetrators of cancel culture often say that out of the 100,000 academics in Britain, a few no platformings and dismissals from posts are not serious. But one in three conservative academics and Ph.D. students have either been disciplined or threatened with discipline in their university, Kaufmann explained. That cannot be discounted as a few events, he said. His report, which brings together eight surveys, uses whether UK academics would employ a Brexit supporter as an indicator of political discrimination. Around a third said they would not employ a Brexiteer. Significant Level of Prejudice Thats a significant level of prejudice, Kaufmann said. If we saw even anything remotely approaching that on race and gender that would be an absolute scandal, he added. So, weve got a very large scale of political discrimination operating, he said, with 75 percent of academics working in the social sciences and humanities in Britain saying their department is a hostile climate for their beliefs. It is not only academics on the left that discriminate against the right, he said. Those on the right also discriminate against those on the left at roughly the same rate. But in UK universities the right is outnumbered by around nine to one by the left, resulting in a much higher rate of discrimination against right-leaning academics. The critical mass is so skewed that the discrimination has to flow basically one way, he said. Kaufmann said the good news in his report is that only around 10 percent of academics would proactively support the dismissal of someone who held a dissenting view on a controversial issue. However, around 50 percent did not say they would oppose it either. This creates a permissive climate for cancel culture, which disincentivizes conservatives from academic careers and creates an anti-diverse academic mono-culture, Kaufmann said. A key report finding is the propensity of younger academics to discriminate against dissenting views compared to older academics. Its not that the young are more left-wing, but they are more intolerant left-wing, Kaufmann said. Over issues of race, gender, and sexuality, the tolerance of the younger generation has declined, he said, and compared to older people they are more likely to favor the emotional safety of historically marginalized groups that you cant offend over protecting free speech. This does portend reduced levels of tolerance in the academy going forward, he said. Universities Bending the Law Last month the UK announced proposals to strengthen free speech and academic freedom in higher education. Kaufmann welcomed the government plans. I think these are incredibly important and world leading measures and I think this is a long overdue and very brave move, he said. Essentially the law protects academic freedom, and it doesnt protect emotional safety, he said. Universities have been essentially bending the law, he said. Rather than wait for people who have been wronged to have to sue universities, the academic freedom champions the measures will create, Kaufmann said, will proactively monitor and sanction non-compliant universities. The champions will get at the chilling effect [of discrimination] because people will know that their universities cannot move in response to activist pressure. Kaufmann said that enforcement of the measures in concrete situations will be key but was optimistic that if taken seriously they would work against a constant pressure coming from activists to shut down legally protected speech, academic freedom. Its very, very, critical, he said. Nothing like this exists in the U.S. or Canada or Australia it is a model to watch, he added. English Lithuanian The leading tour operator in the Baltic States Novaturas from the 1st of April resumes flights from Lithuania to Turkish resorts. From Vilnius Airport, planes will depart daily to Antalya and Gazipasa (Alanya). Turkey has always been the most popular summer holiday destination in 2019 it accounted for over 50% of the total summer holiday program and around 100 thousand travelers from all the Baltics travelled to the Turkish resorts. The first plane from Vilnius will take off on the 1st of April - the earliest from all the Baltics. Flights from Riga are planned to start on the 21st of April, and from Tallinn on the 3d of April. Depending on the period the largest number of flights is planned from Lithuania up to 10 flights per week, while four flights are planned from Latvia and five flights from Estonia per week, - says Audrone Keinyte, head of Novaturas group. Last year, the Turkish government initiated a strict Healthy Tourism Certification program, which must be followed by all tourism companies. Additionally, COVID-19 insurance is also available in the country, covering both treatment and quarantine in the country, in case the traveler is tested positive. Winter holiday season flight programs to Egyptian resorts and Tenerife will also continue in April, and flights to other popular summer holiday destinations - Greece, Bulgaria and Spain are planned from May. About Novaturas Group AB Novaturas Group is the largest tour operator in the Baltic States, offering summer and winter package holidays in more than 30 destinations worldwide and more than 100 sightseeing routes. In 2019, the group served more than 293 thousand customers. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor Traders' body AICPD and NGO Prahar in an open letter on Thursday asked to 'back off' from blocking the Reliance- deal, alleging mall vendors and suppliers have become collateral damage in the current tussle between the "Around 6,000 Indian small vendors and suppliers have dues of Rs 6,000 crore (USD 800 million) from the "These dues are pending for payment since March 2020. The announcement of Future-Reliance deal in August 2020 had given us hope that our dues will be cleared soon," All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPD) and Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Redressal (Prahar) said in the letter. AICPD claims to represent the collective voice of around ten lakh distributors, stockists and suppliers of FMCG goods across India. These small vendors and suppliers have become "collateral damage" in the current tussle between Amazonand Future group, the letter noted. "Payments of our members are blocked. Our families are in great financial stress and suffering from mental and emotional distress," the letter said, and asked to back off or pay the debts of all its members. and are locked in a legal tussle over the sale of Future Group's retail and wholesale business to Both parties have approached several legal forums. On August 29, 2020, Future Group had announced that its retail and wholesale business would be sold to Reliance Retail, owned by oil-to-chemical conglomerate RIL, in a Rs 24,713 crore deal. In August 2019, Amazon had agreed to purchase 49 per cent of one of Future's unlisted firms, Future Coupons Ltd (which owns 7.3 per cent equity in BSE-listed Future Retail through convertible warrants), with the right to buy into the flagship Future Retail after a period of three to 10 years. In October 2020, Amazon had dragged Future Group to arbitration at Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), arguing that the Future Group has violated the contract by entering into the deal with Reliance. Amazon had first filed a plea before the single judge for enforcement of the October 25, 2020 Emergency Arbitrator (EA) award by the SIAC restraining FRL from going ahead with its Rs 24,713 crore deal with In its suit before the single judge of the Delhi High Court for enforcing the EA award, Amazon had sought to restrain FRL from taking any steps to complete the transaction with entities that are a part of the Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (MDA) Group. After the SIAC's EA order, Amazon wrote to the Sebi, stock exchanges and CCI, urging them to take into consideration the arbitrator's interim decision as it is a binding order. FRL thereafter moved the high court to restrain Amazon from writing to SEBI, CCI and other regulators about SIAC's order, saying it amounts to interfering with the agreement with Reliance. A single judge on December 21 last year had on FRL's plea passed an interim order allowing Amazon to write to the statutory authorities, but also said that prima facie it appeared the US e-commerce giant's attempt to control Future Retail was violative of FEMA and FDI rules. Against the observations, Amazon moved an appeal before a division bench and during its pendency, Amazon filed the suit for the enforcement of the EA award. Texas school districts can continue requiring students and staff to wear masks while on-campus, even after Gov. Greg Abbotts statewide mask mandate expires next week, state education officials confirmed Wednesday. Under this updated guidance, a public school systems current practices on masks may continue unchanged, the Texas Education Agency said in a statement. Local school boards have full authority to determine their local mask policy. Ahead of the states clarification, several Houston-area districts, including Houston and Fort Bend ISDs, said they would continue mandating mask usage for students and staff. Many other school districts said they were waiting on further clarity from the TEA before issuing future plans for masks. Abbott issued an order Tuesday announcing that he would drop the statewide mask mandate on March 10. The TEAs new guidance specifies that all school staff members and children older than 9 must wear masks while on school premises, with some limited exceptions, but each school board can vote to opt out of the requirements. Districts also can choose to mandate that children younger than 10 wear masks if it is developmentally appropriate. Employees and students do not have to wear masks while eating, exercising outdoors when six feet of distance can be maintained, speaking to an audience, or participating in some extracurricular activities. Exceptions to the TEAs mask mandate can be made for those with medical conditions or disabilities. Nearly all of the Houston areas largest districts have required that all students and staff wear masks while on district property. The most notable exception is Humble ISD, which does not mandate mask usage by children younger than 10. Humbles current guidance also suggests that masks will not be required once Abbotts statewide mandate expires March 10, though the districts school board must vote to opt out of the new TEA guidance. If there is no (mask) requirement, families will decide what is best for them, Humble officials wrote in their back-to-school guidelines. All staff and students are welcome to wear as much personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves, face shields or scrubs, as they choose. Alvin ISD officials allow students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten to attend classes without face coverings, though district administrators said they are highly encouraged. Local, state and national officials have said they believe masks are proving successful at curbing the spread of the coronavirus on campus. Communities that fully implement and strictly adhere to multiple mitigation strategies, especially universal and proper masking, will reduce COVID-19 incidence within the community, as well as within schools, to protect students, teachers, and staff members, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote in its school reopening guidance. This story will be updated. jacob.carpenter@chron.com Belgium has the highest number of deaths, followed by Slovenia and the UK. Italy and Portugal are 5th and 6th respectively, while the US is 8th. In all these countries, more than half the adult population is overweight.With the second-lowest level of overweight population, Vietnam has the lowest Covid death rate in the world.Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, commented that the report is a wake-up call for governments across the world to tackle obesity and the poor health it causes.he adds.The report states that although age is the biggest factor in the death toll, being overweight comes second.said Dr. Tim Lobstein, report author.Nearly 48% of COVID patients in the UK (where 64% of adults are overweight or obese) in intensive care are obese, 32% are overweight, and only 20% are of normal weight. In the USA (where 68% of adults are overweight and obese), 64% of COVID patients in intensive care are obese, 24% are overweight, and only 12% have normal weight.Lobstein adds.He says that the governments have been negligent and have failed to tackle obesity, despite setting targets at UN meetings.He points out that although many make a living selling individual weight plans and weight-loss products, these don't seem to work for our society due to its incentives for cheap food consumption and rising inequalities.Michael R Bloomberg, WHO ambassador, commented that the results highlight the importance of fighting obesity worldwide, specifically lower- and middle-income countries where rates are rising fastest.Source: Medindia Korea's first transgender soldier, former Army sergeant Byun Hee-soo (23), was found dead in her home in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province on Wednesday. Byun had been a tank driver with a military unit in northern Gyeonggi Province until she had gender reassignment surgery in Thailand while on leave in 2019. The Army discharged her last year since the loss of genitals is considered a physical disability and gender dysphoria is classified as a mental disorder. According to firefighters in North Chungcheong Province, Byun was found dead at home at 5:49 p.m. Wednesday after a mental health counselor notified emergency workers when she became unreachable after Feb. 28. Firefighters found her dead on her bed. A firefighter said, "Judging by the level of physical decomposition, she appears to have died a few days ago." Neighbors said the ex-soldier attempted to take her own life in mid-November last year, prompting police to be called. They also said a foul smell had begun to emanate from her house. Byun lived alone while her parents live in another part of Cheongju. Police suspect suicide since there were no signs of forced entry, but no suicide note was found. After the Army discharged her, Byun took legal steps to fight the decision. She won court recognition in February last year of her changed gender, so she filed an appeal with the Army to reverse the decision to discharge her, but the Army rejected it and she sued again. The new trial was to have started on March 15. Though the stakes for digital innovation (DI) have never been higher, enterprises engaging in DI projects today can draw on a plethora of lessons learned by their predecessors. A key lesson is that security cannot be bolted on at the end of a technology project. Rather, it must be architected into the initiative from the beginning of the project. A leading Spanish pharmaceutical company, Insud Pharma, worked with Fortinet to develop a framework that enabled the transformation of the companys entire value chain, based on best practices in information security. The framework, comprised of solutions from the Fortinet Security Fabric, provides the necessary protection for the pharmaceutical manufacturers IT and OT networks, offering complete visibility of all assets and events that occur across its digital infrastructure. This broad visibility and control is critical to securing OT environments as OT/IT convergence introduces new cyberthreats to organizations worldwide, and no other vendor can provide this same breadth of protection across both IT and OT domains. Insud Pharma chose Fortinet solutions because they addressed each key requirement Insud Pharma had for their infrastructure refreshincluding scalability, connectivity, governance, performance, and security capabilities. A Complex Supply Chain Insud Pharmas business ecosystem is heterogeneous, ranging from production facilities and warehouses to a geographically widespread commercial presence. The company must therefore respond appropriately to the different requirements of the manufacturing, distribution, and sales business units, across its 44 offices around the world. Its DI strategy involved redesigning some business processes, from streamlining the most complex industrial processes to defining new marketing and sales models that would enable Insud Pharma to have a greater impact on its market. In short, this DI project encompassed not only platforms and systems, but also business processes and the use of information by employees, customers, and partners. In this context, the company needed to develop a framework for growth. We needed to find a strategic partner that would support us in the areas of network management, scalability, and security, says Emilio Pericet, Infrastructure and Technology Manager at Insud Pharma. The differentiator that led us to choose Fortinet was the capacity of their technology to offer us total visibility of our assets and of what is happening at any given moment. The security, management agility, and performance of the platform were decisive in the decision-making process. Looking beyond this project, the pharmaceutical company selected Fortinet for its capacity to respond to Insud Pharmas fast-paced transformation with a broad portfolio of solutions that simplified security management across both the IT and OT domains. Secure, Scalable, and Centralized Technology The complexity of the network required segmentation and micro-segmentation to achieve greater visibility and control over their assets, network, and connected devices. For perimeter security across its IT and operational technology (OT) environments, the company deployed FortiGate next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) in high-availability mode. The NGFWs met all of Insud Pharmas Industrial Control Systems/Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (ICS/SCADA) protocol requirements, delivering complete visibility into security events across OT systems. In this way, Insud Pharma achieves greater control over the security status of its IT and OT networks. The FortiGate firewalls also include secure software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) functionality, improving reliability while delivering savings in WAN connectivity costs. In order to simplify network management, and to unify and centralize the security policies of its 44 offices around the world, Insud Pharma leverages FortiManager, which gives the IT team end-to-end visibility from a single management console. They have also implemented FortiAnalyzer for event correlation, threat detection, and security reporting. One of the challenges of the project was to enable the secure convergence of the IT and OT infrastructure. To do this, Fortinet deployed an internal segmentation firewall (ISFW), ensuring visibility across the entire digital infrastructure by having the same FortiGate operating system (FortiOS) in their IT networks and OT networks all reporting back to FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer. Fortinet Enables Digital Innovation for Pharmaceutical Organization In only three months, Insud Pharma and Fortinet were able to define a new network based on the Fortinet technology. And they did so without impacting the daily operations and performance of the company. This was an outstanding achievement, considering the challenges of developing a project of this magnitude. From the beginning, the Fortinet team understood the complexity and the level of demands involved in this networking and security digitalization project, Pericet says. They got involved from the design stage, through the implementation, and made sure we successfully completed the functional and stress tests of the entire platform. It was clear to us that such an ambitious project could only be carried out with the guarantee of a leading global team like Fortinet, concludes Pericet. The benefits of the new network structure that Fortinet implemented are already visible at Insud Pharma. An example of this has been the implementation of an electronic batch record (EBR) project to digitize the entire drug manufacturing process. Without a secure, scalable network that facilitates efficient management, this project would not have been viable. In the future, the pharmaceutical company plans to continue developing its cybersecurity infrastructure with additional access management technologies and web application firewall (WAF) solutions. Throughout the project, the support and involvement of the Insud Pharma management was key to its success. Management understood the strategic value of technology as a whole, and of security in particular, as an enabler of the companys growth. Learn more about enabling the latest advances to safeguard pharmaceutical companies while protecting against cyberattacks with Fortinet healthcare cybersecurity solutions. Plywood has covered the outside of Flowers Tommy Luke since May 30 when rioters smashed the window of the downtown Portland florist. Owner Louella Scott looked into replacing the window at the time, but decided to wait after learning the repairs would cost $1,200. It wasnt worthwhile for her to go through insurance because she has a $1,000 deductible and she worried last summer about shelling out the money to repair the damage when nightly protests were consuming downtown Portland -- carrying with them the risk of further damage. Now, nearly 10 months after first boarding up, Scott is finally looking forward to replacing the broken window and taking down the plywood thanks to a grant from the Rose City Downtown Collective, a coalition of nearly 300 business leaders who banded together last December to advocate for downtown Portland. The group recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help downtown business owners repair broken windows and other vandalism. They had hoped to raise $2,500 but ended up getting over $22,000. That has enabled the group to provide $1,000 microgrants to 22 downtown businesses, including Flowers Tommy Luke. Its really a blessing to get this, Scott said. Im eager to get the boards down and I can do that now with this grant. Protests continued almost every night last summer. While many were peaceful, demonstrators often clashed with law enforcement outside the federal courthouse and there were frequent acts of vandalism, including graffiti, window smashing and burning of debris and dumpsters. Those protests have since dissipated, but there have still been several incidents of vandalism stemming from protests in recent months. Two people were arrested last weekend for breaking windows at several businesses during a Pearl District march. Window smashing has not been limited to downtown or the path of protests, either. Vandalism and burglaries have increased sharply since the start of the pandemic throughout Portland. The city created a $550,000 fund last fall to help businesses repair broken windows and other damage, according to Jim Middaugh, a spokesman for Mayor Ted Wheeler. The money went to approximately 150 businesses across the city before the funds were exhausted, leaving many damaged businesses without assistance. That prompted the Rose City Downtown Collective to step in and raise money on their own to support businesses still working to repair broken windows and clean up damage. Those grants enabled some to finally start taking down boards, which the city and business groups see as crucial to downtowns recovery. The group is already in the process of raising additional money for a separate fund to help businesses clean up graffiti and other similar damage and has been working with the city to organize a citywide garbage cleanup. The overarching issue is that the scope of the problem is too big for any organization to deal with, said Vanessa Sturgeon, CEO of TMT Development and a spokesperson for the Rose City Downtown Collective. Were hopeful that moving forward that were going to find some solutions, but its going to take a community-based effort. The city doesnt have the capacity to deal with the gravity of the problem. Still, some business owners say that Mayor Ted Wheeler and the Portland City Council could be doing a lot more to revive downtown and help businesses recover. Michael Fredrickson owns Michael Allens, an upscale clothing shop downtown. He has had plywood on his shop since the windows were smashed during the May 30 riot. Fredrickson said his insurance company paid for some damage the store sustained that night, but he had to fork over $6,000 on his own to repair multiple broken windows. He is receiving a $1,000 microgrant from the Rose City Downtown Collective, which will help cover a portion of that cost. But Fredrickson said he doesnt think city officials, the police or Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt have done enough to deter vandalism or arrest and prosecute people who have used protests as a cover to damage businesses. Fredrickson said he doesnt plan to take the plywood off his store until he sees the city doing more to support local merchants. Im not taking my boards down until I know when somebody is breaking into my store, Im going to get action, Fredrickson said. We need to know that we have protection for our stores, that we have protection for our downtown. The Rose City Downtown Collective is planning to unveil a downtown action plan later this month with initiatives they want to see taken up by the Portland City Council and other elected officials. According to a draft of the plan, the group will call on elected officials to come up with compassionate solutions for Portlands homeless population, clean up the citys streets, create a supportive environment for peaceful protests, dedicate financial resources toward helping businesses reopen, with a focus on those in downtown, make downtown a safe place for businesses, residents and consumers and arrest and prosecute people who destroy property. Were looking at it as a letter-writing campaign, said Evie Smith, an organizer for the collective, to really channel some of peoples frustrations while being clear about certain things that can help downtown now. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The United States will suspend retaliatory tariffs against Britain for four months, including on Scotch whisky, arising from the longstanding trade dispute about subsidies for Boeing and Airbus. The two governments said they would use the time to try to come up with a long-term solution to the trade disagreement. Since Britain left the European Union, it has sought to forge its own trade policy and secure a free-trade deal with the United States. On Jan. 1, the British government ended its retaliatory tariffs on Boeing and other goods, which were imposed by the European Union, in an effort to smooth over its relationship with the Biden administration. The decision essentially separated Britain from the dispute about aircraft subsidies between the European Union and United States. (That said, the U.S. trade representative argued Britain did not have the legal standing to keep imposing these tariffs outside the bloc.) The tariff suspension is expected to help several types of British exporters, especially the Scotch whisky industry. In October 2019, a 25 percent tariff was placed on Scotch whisky and exports to the United States have since dropped 35 percent, costing companies more than 500 million (about $700 million), the industrys trade group said. Cashmere and Stilton cheese producers will also benefit, the government said. The decision shows what the U.K. can do as an independent trading nation, striking deals that back our businesses and support free and fair trade, Boris Johnson, Britains prime minister, said in a statement. HOLTVILLE, Calif. (AP) Barely a mile from where an SUV packed with 25 people struck a tractor-trailer killing 13 inside a cemetery with unmarked bricks is a burial ground for migrants who died crossing the border from Mexico to remote California desert. Authorities are investigating whether human smuggling was involved in Tuesdays early-morning collision that killed the 22-year-old male driver of the SUV and 12 passengers. The Mexican government said 10 of the dead were Mexican citizens and that nationalities of the three others who died was undetermined. Seats of the 1997 Ford Expedition were removed except for the driver and right front passengers, said Omar Watson, chief of the California Highway Patrols border division. The cause of the collision was undetermined, authorities said, and it also was unknown why so many people were crammed into a vehicle built to hold eight people safely. But smugglers have been known to pack people in extremely unsafe conditions to maximize profits. The crash occurred during the height of harvest in Californias Imperial Valley, which provides much of the lettuce, onions, broccoli and winter vegetables to U.S. supermarkets. Holtville, a no-stoplight town with a gazebo in its large central square, calls itself the worlds carrot capital. The area became a major route for illegal border crossings in the late 1990s after heightened enforcement in San Diego pushed migrants to more remote areas. Many crossed the All-American Canal, an aqueduct that runs along the border and unleashes Colorado River water to farms through a vast network of canals. At the back of Terrace Park Cemetery in Holtville, single bricks _ rows of them _ mark the unidentified remains of people who died, many of them migrants. In 2001, John Hunter founded Water Station, a volunteer group that leaves jugs of water in giant plastic drums for dehydrated migrants. I was trying to figure out how to stop the deaths, said Hunter, whose brother Duncan strongly advocated for border wall construction as a congressman. Illegal crossings fell sharply in the mid-2000s but the area has remained a draw for migrants and was a priority for wall construction under former President Donald Trump. His administrations first wall project was in Calexico. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said late Tuesday that agents in its Homeland Security Investigations unit have initiated a human smuggling investigation (into Tuesdays crash). The investigation is ongoing and no further details are available at this time. When police arrived about 125 miles (200 kilometers) east of San Diego, some passengers were trying to crawl out of the crumpled SUV while others were wandering around the fields. The rigs front end was pushed into the SUVs left side and two empty trailers were jackknifed behind it. It was a pretty chaotic scene, said Watson. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle. People in the vehicle ranged in age from 15 to 53 and were a mix of men and women, officials said. The driver was from Mexicali, Mexico, just across the border, and was among those killed. The 68-year-old driver of the big rig, who is from nearby El Centro, was hospitalized with moderate injuries. Passengers injuries ranged from minor to severe and included fractures and head trauma. They were being cared for at several hospitals. One person was treated at a hospital and released. The crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. under clear, sunny skies at an intersection just outside Holtville, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) north of the border. Authorities said the tractor-trailer and its two empty containers were northbound on State Highway 115 when the SUV pulled in front of it from a road with a stop sign. A California Highway Patrol report said the SUV entered an intersection directly in front of the big-rig, which hit the left side of the SUV. Both vehicles came to a halt on a dirt shoulder. Its not clear if the SUV ran a stop sign or had stopped before entering the highway. Speeds were also unknown. The speed limit for tractor-trailers on the highway is 55 mph (88.5 kph), according to CHP Officer Jake Sanchez. The other road is also 55 mph for vehicles. A 1997 Ford Expedition can carry a maximum payload of 2,000 pounds. If it had 25 people inside, that would easily exceed the payload limit, which taxes the brakes and makes it tougher to steer, said Frank Borris, former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations Office of Defects Investigation. Youre going to have extended stopping distances, delayed reactions to steering inputs and potential over-reaction to any type of high-speed lane change, said Borris, who now runs a safety consulting business. SUVs of that age tended to be top-heavy even without carrying a lot of weight, Borris said. With all of that payload above the vehicles center of gravity, its going to make it even more unstable, he said. The crash occurred amid verdant farms that grow a wide variety of vegetables and alfalfa used for cattle feed. Many workers commute daily from Mexico during the winter harvest, taking buses and SUVs to the fields from downtown Calexico just before dawn. About the photo: Law enforcement officers work at the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Authorities say a semi-truck crashed into an SUV carrying 25 people on a Southern California highway, killing at least 13 people. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) A 100-acre tract of mostly wooded land along a native trout stream in Clearfield County has gained permanent protection through the donation of a conservation easement. Jane McCartney, a Sister of Mercy, donated the easement to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for her familys homestead that features about 6,000 feet of stream front along Bell Run, a stream that supports naturally reproducing populations of trout and has been designated as a wild trout water by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The stream is a tributary in the headwaters of the West Branch Susquehanna River. The land includes a mostly forested riparian area along the run that is dominated by native eastern hemlocks. Northern and southern portions of the site include mixed hardwoods, while the middle has thick stands of pine and hemlock. A conservation easement legally restricts future subdivision and development on the land. The easement from Sister McCartney is the first for WPC from a private landowner in Clearfield County. It covers land and water where she grew up playing and exploring. Her father bought the property about 50 years ago with the intent to keep the forest and stream buffer intact in perpetuity. This was important for me to do because of my family connection to this land and the Sisters of Mercy commitment to care for the Earth, she said. Our order makes personal and community choices and advocates to ensure the right to water for everyone and to do all we can to address the climate change crisis. This act of stewardship is my way of giving to future generations of wildlife and people. Since the 1970s, WPC has permanently protected thousands of acres of land through conservation easements. For more information about conservation options to protect land, contact the conservancy at 412-288-2777 or info@paconserve.org. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and his Divided Sky Foundation will be opening a nonprofit substance use disorder treatment center after purchasing a home in Vermont to house the facility. Located in Ludlow, the treatment center will be managed by Ascension Recovery Services and is slated to open at the end of this year. The goal of the facility is to be a local asset not only for treatment, but for giving back to the community and will serve people from all income levels, according to a release. Im thrilled to announce that the @DividedSkyFdn has purchased its future home in the beautiful town of Ludlow, VT. The building will house a non-profit substance use disorder treatment center that we are hoping to open by the end of 2021. Full details:https://t.co/gtpAn4yVo2 pic.twitter.com/pW3o64zVKk Trey Anastasio (@treyanastasio) March 4, 2021 A portion of the funds that are being used for the purchase of the property was raised during The Beacon Jams, a virtual residency Anastasio had at New York Citys Beacon Theatre that began in October. During the eight-week run at the Beacon, Anastasio raised more than $1.2 million via live-streaming. Substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life, Anastasio said. And the problem is intimately linked with isolation whether thats isolation due to the pandemic or for any other reason. The Beacon Jams helped us find a way to connect people and get this project off the ground. To be able to do that together during this difficult year touches my heart. Anastasio has first-hand knowledge about battling addiction. In 2006 he was arrested with heroin, prescription painkillers and an anti-anxiety drug while driving near the Vermont border. He was sentenced to probation after graduating from the Washington County Felony Drug Court as part of a plea deal. Following his graduation in 2008, Anastasio said drug court had a profound effect on his life. I think its an excellent program and it was a privilege to be part of it, he said. Im very, very grateful for what has happened. The 56-year-old now has 14 years of sobriety. Like so many people in America and so many in Vermont, I became addicted to opiates, Anastasio said. I was extremely lucky to have access to care, and I know how important it is to be part of a recovery community. Im grateful that we can help provide that opportunity for others. Divided Sky is still accepting donations. Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter. The post Trey Anastasio of Phish to Open Nonprofit Addiction Treatment Center in Vermont appeared first on InsideHook. A serial burglar with over 140 previous convictions who held a screwdriver to the neck of a primary school principal during an armed raid in Co Longford last year has been sentenced to three years in prison. James Cranny (38), of 14 Meadow Crest, Boyle, Co Roscommon was handed down the sentence at a sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court this morning following an incident at St Joseph's National School, Dublin Road, Longford on August 27, 2020. Cranny pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery, three charges of attempted robbery and one charge relating to the possession of a weapon contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. The court heard the accused had been in Dublin on the day of the offence where he consumed a "cocktail of drink and drugs" including almost 80 sleeping and valium tablets before getting off a train in Longford shortly after 6pm. Expand Close James Cranny was sentenced following the incident at St Joseph's National School, Dublin Road, Longford on August 27, 2020. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp James Cranny was sentenced following the incident at St Joseph's National School, Dublin Road, Longford on August 27, 2020. Less than an hour later, Mr Cranny, who has 70 previous convictions for burglary, interrupted a board of management meeting at the Longford town national school in a bid to steal money to try and procure more drugs. The court heard the accused who first became addicted to drugs at just 12-years-old, stormed into the building, shouting: "This is not a joke, I want 800." Armed with a screwdriver and pair of scissors, Mr Cranny approached principal Orla Egan and put a screwdriver to the right hand side of her neck. After being told by Ms Egan she had no money, Mr Cranny turned his attentions to local solicitor and board of management chairperson Frank Gearty In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Mr Gearty handed Mr Cranny 100 and guided him towards the exit door. In total, the accused stole 135 from the Longford based solicitor and a further 100 from fellow board member Beatrice Shanley. The court was also told the latter had the foresight to take photographs of Mr Cranny during the heist while another board member and local priest, Fr James McKiernan "very cleverly and surreptitiously" managed to contact gardai at the same time. Read More Mr Cranny, who the court heard, had endured a "wretched life" with his "second home" being Mountjoy Prison, wrote letters of apology to each of his five victims. "It's not about what or who I rob, it's about getting my next fix," said Mr Cranny in response to his actions on the day. "What I did to threaten people was no excuse and I deserve what I get." In determining sentence, Judge Keenan Johnson said the court had an obligation to balance the needs of the accused against the needs of the victims and society at large. He said the entire episode had clearly been a "very traumatising and unsettling experience" for each of the five board members present. Judge Johnston praised the swift and brave actions of Mr Gearty, Ms Egan and the board's three other members, saying St Joseph's NS were fortunate to boast such a "caring and committed" principal at its helm. Judge Johnson said the court was also required to take into account both aggravating and mitigating factors. The former, he said, largely centred on how what he termed a " serious offence" involved the accused entering the school armed with a screwdriver and scissors. The holding of a screwdriver to the neck of Ms Egan was "extremely aggravating" and instilled a sense of fear in both Ms Egan and those present, added Judge Johnson. Mr Cranny's early plea of guilt, his decision to write letters of apologies to each of his victims and his difficult upbringing which resulted in both his parents to likewise becoming addicted to drugs were all mitigating factors the court had to consider, he said. He sentenced Mr Cranny to four years and six months in prison, suspending the final 18 months for a period of ten years subject to a number of conditions. They included that the accused enter into a bond, keep the peace and be of good behaviour for ten years post release while also engaging with the probation services for 18 months upon the expiry of his sentence. Judge Johnson also ordered Mr Cranny to complete a residential drug treatment course with 18 months of release and refrain from both drugs and illicit substances for the entire period of the suspended sentence. The commencement of the sentence was backdated to January 4, when Mr Cranny first went into custody. A U.S. judge on Wednesday ordered the release of a prominent member of the far-right Proud Boys group while he awaits trial on charges stemming from his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Calling her decision a 'close call,' Chief Judge Beryl Howell in Washington said the U.S. government failed to show that Ethan Nordean posed such a danger to the public that he must be jailed while his case unfolds. During the court hearing, Howell said federal prosecutors had 'backtracked' and failed to substantiate allegations that Nordean was a ringleader of the attack, which left five people dead, including a police officer. Calling her decision a 'close call,' Chief Judge Beryl Howell in Washington said the U.S. government failed to show that Ethan Nordean posed such a danger to the public. Nordeam is pictured right During the court hearing, Howell (pictured) said federal prosecutors had 'backtracked' and failed to substantiate allegations that Nordean was a ringleader of the attack 'The dearth of evidence about his directions is significant,' Howell said, adding the evidence she heard at Wednesday's hearing suggested Nordean just 'went along with this mob.' Howell said other Proud Boys members have been released pending trial, and that she needed to be consistent in her rulings. The Jan. 6 attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump resulted in the deaths of five people. 'What the government said in its original papers was that he directed the Proud Boys with specific plans, telling them to split up into groups and attempt to break in to the Capitol building,' Howell said. 'That's a far cry from what I heard at the hearing today.' 'The dearth of evidence about his directions is significant,' Howell said, adding the evidence she heard at Wednesday's hearing suggested Nordean just 'went along with this mob' Howell imposed strict conditions of release on Nordean (pictured circled), saying he would be mostly confined to his home in Seattle In the criminal complaint against Nordean, investigators shared snippets of his posts from his Parler social media page which they said showed that 'he and other Proud Boys members were planning in advance to organize a group that would attempt to overwhelm police barricades and enter the United States Capitol building' The Justice Department has charged nearly 20 members or associates of the Proud Boys in the Capitol breach, and it has accused several members of spearheading early efforts to stampede police and break in to the building. Howell imposed strict conditions of release on Nordean, saying he would be mostly confined to his home in Seattle. Under standard court rules, Nordean's case will be assigned to another judge in the District of Columbia, who could still revisit the issue of pretrial detention, Howell said during the hearing. In the criminal complaint against Nordean, investigators shared snippets of his posts from his Parler social media page which they said showed that 'he and other Proud Boys members were planning in advance to organize a group that would attempt to overwhelm police barricades and enter the United States Capitol building.' State officials are pushing back against a TV report that said thousands of people vaccinated at the Oakland Coliseum this week received doses smaller than they should be. Citing two unnamed emergency medical technicians, KTVU reported Wednesday that about 4,300 people who were vaccinated at the Oakland Coliseum before 2 p.m. on Monday received the wrong vaccine doses of the Pfizer vaccine because the syringes left some vaccine in the bottom of the container instead of injecting it all. State officials who run the clinic told The Chronicle that they recently began using a new type of syringe. But they strongly denied that anybody at the Coliseum received too little vaccine. We are not aware of any instance of even a single individual being under-vaccinated on the Oakland Coliseum site, said Brian Ferguson, a spokesman with the California Office of Emergency Services, which operates the Coliseum site with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. State officials have not warned vaccine recipients of any problem, they said, because there is no problem. KTVU reported that the EMTs said the syringes were designed in such a way so the plunger cant reach all the way down, leaving the syringes to administer less than the full dose of vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration recommends the Pfizer vaccine be administered in two doses of 0.3 milliliters apiece. But a study from the New England Journal of Medicine says that people who receive 0.2mL of the vaccine will have about just as much immunity to the virus as the ones who receive 0.3mL, said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at UCSF. Other infectious disease experts reached by The Chronicle declined to say whether they thought a smaller dose would be as effective as the full amount. All said the vaccine manufacturer would have to answer such a question. Pfizer declined to comment. The Coliseum opened on Feb. 16 as one of the first mass-vaccination sites in California. Federal and state officials said the goal is to administer up to 6,000 doses of the vaccine per day at the site, but supply issues have been a problem at the Coliseum and other vaccination sites. Vaccine for the Coliseum comes from the federal government and not from the states overall allocation. Michael Williams, Meghan Bobrowsky and Catherine Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: Michael.Williams@sfchronicle.com, meghan.bobrowsky@sfchronicle.com, cho@sfchronicle.com Targeted, efficient and with few side effects: A new method for combating periodontitis could render the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics superfluous. It was developed and tested for the first time by a team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and Periotrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH. The aim is to neutralize only bacteria that cause periodontitis while sparing harmless bacteria. The study appeared in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Periodontitis is a common bacterial inflammation of the gums. According to the World Health Organization WHO Oral Health Study, almost 10 percent of the global population are affected with a severe form of the disease, which can lead to tooth loss as well as increasing the risk of other diseases, such as Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease. Until now, treatment has mainly involved the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that attack all bacteria in the mouth. However, this has some disadvantages: "One side effect of the treatment is that it also destroys all the harmless or beneficial bacteria in the oral cavity. In addition, the bacteria can ultimately develop resistance to the antibiotics," explains Dr Mirko Buchholz from Periotrap Pharmaceuticals, who led the new study alongside Professor Milton T. Stubbs, a biotechnologist at MLU. The researchers therefore looked for a way to eradicate only the harmful bacteria in the mouth. A team from Fraunhofer IZI's Department of Drug Design and Target Validation in Halle developed a test substance that attacks glutaminyl cyclase, a specific enzyme in the bacteria that plays a special role in metabolism. Inactivation of this enzyme harms the bacteria and, ideally, no periodontitis can develop. To test its effectiveness, the researchers joined forces with the Clinics for Dental Medicine at the University of Bern, Jagiellonian University in Krakow and the University of Louisville in Kentucky (USA). They found that the new substance successfully suppresses the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The new test substance has a special feature: It only works on the harmful bacteria. Our target, glutaminyl cyclase, comes in two different variants. Normally, plants and bacteria have one variant of the enzyme and mammals another.The two variants work in a similar fashion, but they differ significantly in their structure. It's a bit like flat-tip versus Phillips screwdrivers." Professor Milton T. Stubbs, Biotechnologist, MLU Surprisingly, the bacteria that trigger periodontitis have the mammalian variant of the enzyme. "This is crucial for our approach because it gives us a possible target so we only kill the pathogenic bacteria and leave the harmless ones intact," says Mirko Buchholz. To minimize possible side effects in advance, the team compared the bacterial enzyme with the human variant. "There are small but significant differences between the enzymes," says Stubbs. These differences are probably sufficient for the new substance to not affect the human enzymes. Therefore, only minor side effects are to be expected. The researchers' study provides initial evidence that the approach essentially works. It must now be fine-tuned in further studies and tested in subsequent clinical trials. It may therefore take some years before the research from Halle becomes a marketable drug. 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. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After facing $80,000 in fines and permanent suspension of its liquor license for multiple alleged violations of state-mandated coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions, Angelinas Ristorante in Tottenville paid $20,000 last month and has been back in business. The restaurants owners didnt contest the violations and had the liquor license restored, according to the State Liquor Authority (SLA). Via Alloro Inc. -- doing business as Angelinas at 44-46 Main Street -- had their license suspended on Jan. 13, said William Crowley, an SLA spokesman. The business was charged with eight violations and faced fines up to $80,000 and the potential revocation of their liquor license. The licensee made a conditional no contest offer of $20,000 and the SLA Board accepted the offer, [a quarter] of the maximum penalty, on Feb. 3, 2021; the license was reinstated after payment of the assessed fine, as is standard practice. In fact, Vincent Malerba, who owns the eatery with the restaurants namesake, his mother, Angelina, said the SLA came to his house to give back the restaurants liquor license. We gave [the state] a donation, he said of the fines paid. I mailed the check on Thursday, and on Friday night the state SLA called me up because they were at the restaurant while it was closed, and they had my liquor license.... I said I was home and he said, Ill come to you. ... Nicest guys in the world. We reopened when indoor dining was restored. Since reopening, Malerba said the restaurant has been very busy. The phone has not stopped ringing. We are booking about 20 parties a day, said Vincent Malerba, who owns Angelina's with his mother. He noted he recently renovated the outdoor party areas. (Courtesy of Vincent Malerba) THE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS The restaurant received several recent violations, including for alleged indoor dining when it was prohibited in New York City, operating after 10 p.m. while the curfew was in effect, and employees not wearing face masks, said the SLA. In order to protect New Yorkers health and safety during this public health emergency, the SLA suspended Angelinas liquor license after multiple inspections found the business in flagrant violation of COVID-related regulations, including operating on Jan. 9 after 10 p.m, with numerous patrons inside, employees without face masks, and refusing to permit an inspection, Crowley told the Advance/SILive.com in February. We are still fighting a global pandemic, and the SLA will continue to hold those who put their employees, patrons and communities at risk accountable for their actions, he added. According to the SLA, Angelinas Restaurant was cited with the following alleged violations: On Dec. 23, the Mayors Office of Special Enforcement visited Angelinas restaurant and issued a summons for indoor dining on Dec. 16. On Jan. 6, officers from the city Sheriffs office visited Angelinas and observed patrons seated at tables inside a fully enclosed tent in the rear of the premises. On Jan. 9, investigators from the states multi-agency task force and officers with the NYPD arrived at the eatery. When they peered inside, the lights were off with patrons seated at tables and loud music playing. Investigators knocked on the restaurants door and an employee came to the door. The employee told the authorities they were closed. The employee refused to open the door to permit an inspection, which every liquor license holder must allow, said the SLA. Such a violation of the law can lead to the permanent revocation of a liquor license as it undermines public safety, according to SLA guidelines. On the same night, investigators gained access through a side door entering the kitchen, which was allegedly operating past 10 p.m., with six employees allegedly preparing food without face masks. Also on Jan. 9, authorities observed six tables allegedly occupied by patrons on a fully enclosed wrap around porch on the first floor. In the rear yard inside a large fully enclosed plastic tent, investigators witnessed patrons allegedly seated at tables and eight employees without face masks, with the manager/owner indicating to investigators that there were approximately 80 patrons present at the time of the inspection on Jan. 9. Investigators estimated at least 50 patrons present, who began to disperse when investigators arrived. (Under the NYS Department of Health Guidance, in place since June, in order to meet the definition of an outdoor space, outdoor structures must have at least two open sides for airflow). On Jan. 13, the SLA board voted unanimously to suspend the establishments license, said the SLA. Angelinas liquor license was immediately yanked, and owners faced the maximum penalty, including the permanent revocation of the license and fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Licensees subject to an emergency suspension are entitled to a prompt hearing before a SLA Administrative Law Judge. CATERED AFFAIRS Malerba said once it was announced that catered affairs are allowed at 50% capacity or up to 150 people come March 15, the restaurant -- which has indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings and other parties -- was flooded with phone calls. The phone has not stopped ringing. We are booking about 20 parties a day, said Malerba, noting he recently renovated his outdoor party areas. But people are a little upset that they have to present a negative COVID test at the door. He said he is telling party hosts that they should put the fact that guests cant enter without a negative coronavirus test on their invitations. Its a lot easier to get a test now. ...We will be checking them at the door. Whether someone presents something that is fake we wont know, but I need a piece of paper, said Malerba. Angelinas is in the process of renovating its outdoor areas to accommodate catered affairs. (Courtesy of Vincent Malerba) *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK*** FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER supplier said it expects first-quarter revenue to rise more than 15% from a year earlier, boosted by strong iPhone sales and robust demand for during lockdowns worldwide to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The world's largest contract manufacturer has previously forecast strong demand for the new iPhone 12, saying its business will be supported by "stronger than expected" sales for smartphones and for telecommuting devices amid a coronavirus-induced work-from-home trend. Taiwan-based Foxconn, in a short statement on Thursday, said it expects consumer revenue, which includes smartphones and smart watches, to rise more than 15% in the January-March quarter from a year earlier. It did not elaborate. said it saw revenue for cloud products that include servers and revenue for computing products such as laptops to rise about 10% in the first quarter, respectively. Foxconn's chairman said last month that he expects his company and its clients will face only "limited impact" from a chip shortage that has rattled the global automotive and semiconductor industries. Foxconn, formally Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, has previously said it expects revenue to grow about 10% in 2021. Over the past year or so it has announced several deals on the production of electric vehicles with automakers including U.S. electric-car maker Fisker Inc, China's Byton and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Stellantis NV's Fiat Chrysler unit. Shares in have risen more than 20% so far this year. Tech-powerhouse Taiwan's economy is booming due to the pandemic because of global demand for tablets, computers and smartphones. Taiwan's January export orders, a bellwether of global technology demand, surged 49.3% from a year earlier to $52.72 billion. Taiwan's government last month revised up its outlook for 2021, predicting the economy will grow at its fastest pace in seven years, seeing gross domestic product (GDP) expanding 4.64% on the jump in exports driven by tech demand. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) the world's largest contract chip maker, in January posted its best-ever quarterly profit and lifted revenue and capital spending estimates to record levels as it forecast "multiple years of growth opportunities". (Reporting by Yimou Lee; Editing by Susan Fenton) If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Ulan Bator, March 4 : Mongolia is planning to reopen its air border from May 1 to resume international passenger flights, according to the country's government press office. "At the direction given by Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, it is planned to reopen Buyant-Ukhaa international airport from May 1 to resume international passenger air traffic," the press office said in a statement on Thursday. All preparations for the prevention of Covid-19 infection, including immunizing border control staff and setting up glass barriers separating passengers and temporary isolation rooms at the port for suspected cases, are now underway, the statement said. Mongolia suspended international passenger flights in mid-February 2020 to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Xinhua news reported. So far, Mongolia has registered 3,076 Covid-19 cases, with six deaths, and around 80 per cent of patients in the country have recovered from the disease. The Asian country launched a Covid-19 vaccination campaign across the country last week, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 per cent of its 3.3 million people. Public sculpture: a universal good. Whether its Chicagos Bean, Londons Nelsons Column, or that giant thumb in Paris, colossal outdoor sculptures deliver grandeur and whimsy to the modern cityscape. Its in this proud tradition that I must commend the District of Columbias newest work of civic art: these two humungous Transformers in front of a random row house in Georgetown. Unfortunately, some snooty neighbors want the generous benefactor who bestowed these masterpieces upon his block of Prospect Street NW to take them down. But they are wrong. These statues rule. Advertisement First reported in a delightful post on DCist, the story of the Transformers sculptures is one of techno-utopianism, mild trolling, and upper-crust neighborhood drama. Installed in January by Georgetown University biochemistry professor Newton Howard, the more than one-ton statuesa 10-foot Bumblebee and a somewhat out-of-scale 6-foot Optimus Primereplaced two brick planters that had formerly flanked his front door. Howard, whose research focuses on applied technology in human neurology, commissioned the statues from an unnamed friend. The artist is a welder, Howard told me Wednesday. I commissioned them because the Transformers represent human and machine living in harmony, if you will. Advertisement Advertisement So thats why you have Autobots, not Decepticons, I said. Advertisement Oh, so you understand! Although Howards headshot on Georgetowns website vaguely resembles that of a supervillain, on the phone he was chipper and enthusiastic about his research on the KIWI chip, which, he says, interfaces directly with neurons in the brain, and has the potential to help counteract neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinsons disease. The Transformers statues, he said, celebrate the spirit of that work. The Transformers are machines that have the core logic of a human. The KIWI chip has the core logic of a machine, inside a human. Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Some of Howards neighbors, meanwhile, have the core logic of people who live in multimillion-dollar houses in Georgetown. The former NBC News personality Luke Russert, who lives next door, complained at a meeting of the neighborhood board that the sculptures are a safety hazard, citing the number of people who stop in front of Howards house to take photos. Howard scoffed. In my humble opinion, he told me, the objecting neighbors, including Russert, are individuals who are entitled. Advertisement Russert also made a slippery-slope argument: The statues need to come down, he said, lest anyone get any other ideas. What ideas? Whats to stop someone from putting up a statue of Joseph Stalin and saying, Well this is provocative, its art, it speaks to me? Advertisement Howard did not inform me of any plans to erect a Stalin likeness, either in Transformer or non-Transformer form. And the neighborhood board, DCist reports, did not weigh in on the safety or aesthetic issues the statues represent, instead focusing on whether the sidewalk in front of Newtons house is his property or the citys, and whether he went through the proper channels to get permits. It turns out he did not. These people are rather Byzantine in their process, Howard admitted. With his application to the neighborhood board rejected, he must wait for a ruling from the Old Georgetown Board, the federal body that governs planning and design in the historic neighborhood. If they turn him down, he told DCist, I will take it to the next level and fight it in court. Advertisement I emailed Russert to ask what his objections were to the statues. I stand by the comments I made at the meeting, he wrote back, adding: Georgetown is a federally protected historic district. Any changes to a home visible from the street require a permit. That means if youre changing out a window pane, you need a permit. It can be annoying but its the current law passed by Congress in the 1950s. Advertisement Russert may be right that this is the law, but in the immortal words of St. Augustine, lex iniusta non est lexasan unjust law is no law at all. And what could be more unjust than a law that removes from public view these monuments to peaceful robot-human interaction? The statues are spectacular. They are lovingly crafted, immense, and tacky. They celebrate a medical development that seems like it could potentially be a lifesaving miracle even as it gives off mild mind-control vibes. Best of all, theyve generated comical, bloggable, hoity-toity Georgetown neighbor drama. Whats not to love? Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS), the UKs largest independent supplier of scientific products, is pleased to announce further consolidation of its relationship with Merck through its appointment as an official distributor for the Supelco range of analytical products. Comprising of over 500,000 products, the comprehensive range from SLS provides a solution for most applications. The Supelco brand incorporates many of the product lines that have made Merck one of the key names in the analytical laboratory sector, from chromatography and spectroscopy to solvents and reference standards, as well as titration and almost any other analytical chemistry technique. The Supelco brand also includes many of the products previously known as Merck products. SLS has over 30 years of experience supporting the UK scientific sector and, as a strategic partner for Merck, this arrangement consolidates a commitment by both companies to high-quality products and services, manufacturing effectiveness, and meeting customers expectations. SLS also offers next-day delivery on all in-stock products. Every product across the comprehensive Supelco portfolio is meticulously tested against the tightest specifications, to ensure the highest industry standards and compliance with applicable regulations. In the fast-paced world of routine lab testing, easy, secure, and reliable transfer of data for method execution and documentation is essential. Digitalization and connectivity are key phrases often used to describe the demand for smart, fast, and seamless access to the required data. Supelco digital solutions can help make daily analytical work safer, simpler and more efficient, to ensure the most accurate results. Tom OMeara, Portfolio Lead Chemicals and Chromatography at SLS, explained: SLS is delighted to consolidate its relationship with Merck through appointment as an official distributor of the Supelco range. Being able to offer these market-leading Supelco products alongside the entire Merck Sigma-Aldrich portfolio strengthens our market position, and allows our customers access to these leading brands from a single source. SLS has grown to become the UKs largest independent supplier of laboratory equipment, chemicals, and consumables. Because of its independence, the company is unique in its approach to sourcing and supplying the highest quality, best value products, and brands. For more information, go to www.scientificlabs.co.uk. About Scientific Laboratory Supplies Ltd SLS first began trading in 1991 and has grown to become the UKs largest independent supplier of laboratory equipment, chemicals, and consumables. Headquartered in Nottingham, the company operates a warehousing, technical storage, and logistics service across the UK and in several international territories. SLS works closely with leading international industry brands through a market-leading catalog and an extended range of over 500,000 products. NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive audio amplifier market is poised to grow by $ 319.69 mn, during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of over 2% during the forecast period. Here is an Exclusive report talking about Market scenarios, Estimates, the impact of lockdown, and Customer Behaviour. Get FREE Sample Report in Minutes! Automotive Audio Amplifier Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024 The report on the automotive audio amplifier market provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. The market is driven by growing demand for differentiated in-car experiences. The automotive audio amplifier market analysis includes application segment and geography landscape. This study identifies the developments in the field of advanced automotive sound systems as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive audio amplifier market growth during the next few years. This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. The automotive audio amplifier market covers the following areas: Automotive Audio Amplifier Market Sizing Automotive Audio Amplifier Market Forecast Automotive Audio Amplifier Market Analysis Companies Mentioned Analog Devices Inc. Cirrus Logic Inc. Infineon Technologies AG Maxim Integrated Products Inc. NXP Semiconductors NV ON Semiconductor Corp. Renesas Electronics Corp. STMicroelectronics NV Texas Instruments Inc. Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corp. Related Reports on Consumer Discretionary Include: Automotive Windshield Market by Vehicle Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024: The automotive windshield market size has the potential to grow by USD 1.17 billion during 2020-2024, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate during the forecast period. Get a FREE sample report in minutes Story continues Automotive Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Compressor Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024: The automotive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor market size will decrease by 1.18 million units during 2020-2024. However, the market's growth momentum is expected to accelerate during the forecast period. Get a FREE sample report in minutes Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook: Forecast for 2019-2024 Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Application Market segments Comparison by Application Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Application Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Analog Devices Inc. Cirrus Logic Inc. Infineon Technologies AG Maxim Integrated Products Inc. NXP Semiconductors NV ON Semiconductor Corp. Renesas Electronics Corp. STMicroelectronics NV Texas Instruments Inc. Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corp. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Report Page:https://www.technavio.com/report/automotive-audio-amplifier-market-industry-analysis Technavio (PRNewsfoto/Technavio) Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automotive-audio-amplifier-market--analog-devices-inc-cirrus-logic-inc-infineon-technologies-ag-among-others-to-contribute-to-the-market-growthindustry-analysis-market-trends-opportunities-and-forecast-2024-301239352.html SOURCE Technavio Chennai: VK Sasikala's sudden announcement to stay away from politics, barely a month after reaching Chennai amid a grand welcome has led to an unexpected twist in Tamil Nadu politics, as this comes in the run-up to the crucial Assembly poll on April 6th. Expressing shock, her nephew and AMMK General Secretary TTV Dinakaran said it would be a setback. The BJP, however, welcomed the move, via a statement issued by state president Dr L Murugan. The return of the ousted AIADMK General Secretary and late Chief Minister Jayalalithaas aide to Chennai on February 8th, following her incarceration, was keenly watched, owing to the impact it would have on the AIADMK and its allies. Aside from the clout she once enjoyed within the party, she also hails from an influential community, which has its strongholds in Southern Tamil Nadu. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam also belongs to the same community. The nearly 24-hour drive from Bengaluru to Chennai (which usually takes no longer than 6 hours) and the welcome accorded to her along with multiple stops on the way, had created the impression of her impending re-entry into the political arena. Voices from the opposition DMKs first family were also among those who predicted trouble for the AIADMK, after Sasikalas release from the Parappana Agrahara prison. While DMK President MK Stalin had hinted about the things falling into place after someone from Bengaluru arrives, his son Udhayanidhi blatantly said that Sasikala would create double for the ruling duo EPS and OPS. Though AIADMK leaders were initially hesitant to comment to Sasikalas arrival and the scenario that would follow, later Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami made it clear that there was absolutely no possibility of her re-induction into the party or a possibility of an alliance. The cadre who put up posters hailing Sasikala and welcoming her were also instantly booted out from the party, in a stern message. In the first week of February, on her way to Chennai, Sasikala had announced to her supporters, about the willingness to re-unite with the AIADMK and defeat the partys common enemy. She added that she would dedicate the rest of her life for the AIADMKs progress. In the same vein, she added a veiled threat which said, while she was a slave before the partys ideology, peoples love and cadres affection, she would not fear oppression. Live TV Since reaching her residence in Chennai, there were no major announcements or public appearances by Sasikala, until February 24th when she garlanded late J Jayalalithaas photo at her residence, on the occasion of the four-time Chief Ministers birth anniversary. Speaking at that event, she told supporters of her plan to meet the public and her followers in due course. Over the last few days, amid speculation of the BJP making attempts to get AMMK to join hands with the AIADMK, TTV Dinakaran said that they were open to leading an alliance of like-minded parties. It was on the same evening that Sasikala made this surprise announcement to stay away from politics, despite Dinakaran having requested against it. Amma's (Jayalalithaa's) loyalists must ensure that evil force DMK doesn't come to power. MGR-Jayalalithaas golden rule must continue in Tamil Nadu, cadre should work together as children of the same mother. I've never aspired for power, post, or authority. Staying away from politics, I'll always pray to the almighty and Amma for my sister Amma's golden rule to continue read her statement. However, Dinakaran has said that he would speak to party functionaries to take stock of the situation and contest the polls. Her opinion is hers, I wont influence. She only wanted Ammas children to be together, I tried to convince her for 30mins but she didn't agree he told the media. Adding that, the AMMK had received over 1300 nominations from prospective candidates and that the candidates' list would be announced on March 10th, followed by the alliance announcement. BJPs State President Dr L Murugan issued a statement welcoming Sasikalas decision. Hinting at the DMK, he said, this is a big setback to those who wanted to foment trouble and capture power in Tamil Nadu by any means. JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Blue Medicare, the state's Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare company, announced today its participation in a new effort to promote health equity by removing barriers to vaccinations for 2 million Americans most at risk for COVID-19. Vaccine Community Connectors pilot initiative Every American deserves access to safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines. Florida Blue Medicare and other health insurers have been working with federal, state and local leaders to ensure Americans can get vaccinated as quickly and equitably as possible. Members of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) extended that commitment with the announcement of the Vaccine Community Connectors pilot initiative. The Vaccine Community Connectors pilot initiative aims to enable the vaccination of 2 million seniors age 65+ in America's most at-risk, vulnerable and underserved communities such as Black and Hispanic communities. Florida Blue Medicare and other insurance providers will focus on their members and the communities they serve. They are working to reach this important goal quickly, depending upon the increasing availability of vaccine supply. "Florida Blue Medicare has a long history of working closely with community leaders to understand the unique needs and obstacles each community faces and collaborate to address them. Work is already underway to leverage those long-held business and non-profit relationships in Florida's high-risk underserved communities as part of this nationwide effort to vaccinate seniors," said Camille Harrison, Florida Blue's executive vice president of Medicare. How the initiative will work As vaccine supplies expand and registrations become more available, Florida Blue Medicare and other health insurers will use combined expertise, data and insights to: Identify seniors 65+ who are vulnerable to COVID-19 and live in areas where vaccination rates are most inequitable. Work with partners in the community to educate seniors on the safety, efficacy and value of COVID-19 vaccines. Contact those seniors who are eligible to get a vaccine through multiple channels to: Facilitate vaccine registration and appointment scheduling. Answer their questions about vaccines. Help them to understand when, where and how they can receive vaccines and remind them about any required second doses (if applicable). Coordinate services to help overcome barriers that may stand between them and getting vaccinated, including transportation. Work with federal, state and local leaders to deliver vaccines to underserved communities and closely collaborate with other vaccination partners, such as pharmacies. Track progress to ensure that those who need vaccinations most are receiving them. Florida Blue Medicare is using its enrollee data and analytics in addition to a number of methods including government resources such as the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to help identify the 25% most vulnerable communities. The SVI is a metric used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that considers 15 social factors across socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, minority status and language, and housing type and transportation. Social index data will be paired with other data such as vaccination histories and the prevalence of chronic conditions, improving accuracy and efficiency in the effort. By tailoring the outreach approach to each community, Florida Blue Medicare and other insurers will be able to best meet unique community needs. The equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines demonstrates the critical importance of strong partnerships between the public sector and private market. Florida Blue Medicare and other participating insurers will rely on existing relationships, their ability to build strong networks within communities and among community leaders, and make connections across the health care system to provide access for America's most vulnerable seniors 65+. Florida Blue commits to Rally for Recovery Florida Blue also announced today that it is joining other BCBSA companies in a Rally for Recovery Commitment, which aims to protect employees by encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations, while also educate employees and local communities on ways to mitigate the spread of the virus. The pledge was launched by the federal government and business leaders to encourage companies to take action to defeat the coronavirus. Florida Blue commits to: Requiring individuals to wear masks and social distance while in the workplace. Reducing barriers to vaccinations by making it easier for employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, once available to them. Communicating with employees, members and communities about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "We are seeing progress in the mitigation of COVID-19, but we cannot let our guard down," said Florida Blue president and CEO Pat Geraghty . "While the public health and economic emergency continues to test our resolve, now is a time of guarded hope. As health leaders in our communities, we remain committed to setting the example and supporting our neighbors as we do our part to ensure the state is on the path to recovery." About COVID-19 Vaccines For more information and resources related to COVID-19 vaccines, visit: About Florida Blue Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, has been providing health insurance to residents of Florida for more than 75 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than 5 million health care members across the state. In total, Florida Blue and its affiliated companies serve 28 million people in 45 states. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. About AHIP AHIP is the national association whose members provide coverage for health care and related services to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. Through these offerings, we improve and protect the health and financial security of consumers, families, businesses, communities and the nation. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that improve affordability, value, access, and well-being for consumers. Visit www.ahip.org for more information. About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 35 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health IndexSM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube and follow us on Twitter. SOURCE Florida Blue Chinese developers who took over an Australian island allegedly listen to locals' every move and have erected fences to close access to the beach. China Bloom snapped up a portion of Keswick Island in Queensland's Whitsundays region for $20million on a 99-year lease almost two years ago. The remaining 80 per cent of the island, 34km from the coastal town of Mackay, is national park. But locals say the Beijing-backed developer has a stranglehold on tourism and has crippled their way of living. China Bloom snapped up a portion of Keswick Island in Queensland 's Whitsundays region for $20million on a 99-year lease almost two years ago (pictured, tourists on the island in the Whitsundays) Keswick Island is located off the coast of Queensland in the Whitsundays region, popular with those looking to sample the delights of the Great Barrier Reef Federal member for Dawson, George Christensen said he was shocked by the sheer number of security guards monitoring the island. 'The first thing I noticed was the presence of a security guard peeping through the bushes at what we were doing,' Mr Christensen told 2GB's Ben Fordham. 'Residents tell me this is not uncommon; security guards constantly ask about their comings and goings and (even) drive past their houses at all hours of the day and night. 'It's very, very intimidating and not something you'd expect in modern Australia to have a privately owned security firm checking on what you're doing all the time.' Mr Christensen said there was an Australian consortium interested in taking over the land back in 2019 - but the state government opted for the Chinese company. 'All we've seen is this mayhem since; causing issues with the residents,' he said. Outraged locals have accused China Bloom of banning boats from accessing the public ramp, shut down the air strip, and attempted to stop visitors from using the beach, which the developer has denied (pictured, one of the signs restricting public access) Mr Christensen slammed Annastacia Palaszczuk by claiming the premier had failed to look after residents in her state. 'What I want to say to Annastacia is, ''Can you stick up for these Queenslanders, rather than a foreign owned company?''' he said. 'It's pretty simple stuff; if you can't get free and simple access to the island, there is a very big problem.' Locals claimed the developers have crippled their way of living by banning boats access from the public ramp, shutting down the air strip and forbidding visitors from the beach - which it hopes to redevelop. On Australia Day, boatloads of Queenslanders arrived from the mainland - some travelling from as far away as Brisbane - to protest the treatment of locals. Pictured: An aerial view of Keswick Island, in the southern half of the Whitsunday Islands They set their boats up in the marina side by side, vowing to celebrate Australia Day in the waters in solidarity with people who call the island paradise home. They also demanded Ms Palaszczuk and her state government tighten restrictions and step in to assist locals. 'I think most Australians are reasonable people, but you push them enough and this is what happens,' insurance assessor Fraser Goodchild from Mackay said. 'The culture of China has always been a passive nation, they've always wanted to help people but now they are turning into (a) nation of bullies.' One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts arrived in from Brisbane on Australia Day and had a message for the state government. 'China Bloom gets away with it only because the state government is not doing it's damn job,' he told A Current Affair. While some residents claim their lives have been turned upside down since the acquisition, others say life on the idyllic island has never been better and denied claims of access being restricted. Facebook group Keswick Island Reclaim Aussies Rights has almost 9,000 members. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) gives an opening statement during a markup on H.R. 7120, the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 17, 2020. (Greg Nash/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) House Narrowly Passes George Floyd Police Reform Bill The House of Representatives late Wednesday narrowly passed a bill that would ban controversial police tactics such as chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and would establish guidelines for police departments nationwide. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was passed in a 220-212 vote a day ahead of schedule. The vote was moved a day earlier after the U.S. Capitol Police said that it had learned of a possible March 4 threat against members of Congress and the Capitol complex by an identified militia group. The sweeping legislation now heads to the Senate where Democrats will have to sway at least 10 Republicans in order for it to succeed. The sole Republican to initially vote in favor of the wide-ranging bill, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas), said in a now-deleted Twitter post late Wednesday that he had accidentally cast the wrong ballot, the Hill reported. I accidentally pressed the wrong voting button and realized it too late. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition to the partisan George Floyd Policing Act, Gooden said, according to the news outlet. Of course I wouldnt support the radical lefts Anti-Police Act, he later wrote. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition! A similar version of the bill was first approved last August, but stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. It was named in honor of George Floyd, whose death in Minnesota last Memorial Day sparked weeks of protests and riots nationwide. Alongside a ban of controversial police tactics, it would prohibit qualified immunity for law enforcement and create national standards for policing in a bid to bolster accountability. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), who wrote the legislation with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, said the legislation would hold police officers accountable if they violate constitutional rights. How many more people have to die, how many more people have to be brutalized on videotape before police reforms become law, asked Bass. Never again should an unarmed individual be murdered or brutalized by someone who is supposed to serve and protect them, she said in a statement. Never again should the world be subject to witnessing what we saw happen to George Floyd in the streets in Minnesota. Critics of the bill say it would make communities less safe, and endanger the lives of law enforcement officers. The bill would weaken and possibly destroy our communitys police forces, said Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.). The Biden administration in a statement earlier this week encouraged the House to vote in favor of the legislation. To make our communities safe, we must begin by rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the people they are entrusted to serve and protect, the administration said. We cannot rebuild that trust if we do not hold police officers accountable for abuses of power and tackle systemic misconductand systemic racismin police departments. Derek Chauvin, the former police charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in Floyds death, is set to begin his trial on March 8 in Minneapolis. The Associated Press contributed to this report. TEL AVIV - According to Israel, the oil spill that invaded its beaches last month was a deliberate act of "environmental terrorism" that it believes Iran is responsible for. Israeli Environment Minister Gila Gamliel said in a press conference that the spilled crude was "on a pirate ship of a Libyan company, which departed from Iran. It is responsible for the environmental attack". Gamilel said the ship is named Emerald and Israel found that it is about 20 years old and in precarious condition. During its crossing from Iran it kept its transmission devices turned off, turning them on while crossing the Suez Canal and then turning them off again upon entering the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Israel. According to Rani Amir, an environment ministry official, the spill took place 5 February, when the ship was 70 to 80 km off the Israeli coast. David Yahalomi, general director at the environment ministry, added that the spill involved 1,000 tonnes of crude oil, and said it was "a serious ecological attack". Due to the pollution, the 180 km of Israel's Mediterranean coastline were closed to the public as volunteers cleaned the beaches of tar. However, there is still great concern over possible repercussions on the seabed and the quality of the water that Israel desalinates in large quantities. To identify the Emerald, investigators from the ministry reconstructed the routes of about 40 ships, excluding them one by one. They were put on the track of the Libyan "pirate ship" also by information from Greece. Amir said the Emerald was trying to smuggle crude from Iran to Syria. In response to the question of whether the ship had a mission to hit Israel, Amir responded: "Regarding that ship we have more than reasonable suspicions. The pollution hit us. It could have been an intentional spill, and we aren't excluding it, or a breakdown". Amidst days of high tension - after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of being responsible for the recent launch of two missiles at the Israeli-owned ship Helios Ray, which was sailing south of the Strait of Hormuz - minister Gamilel therefore pointed the finger of accusation at Tehran. "Iran foments terrorism not only through atomic weapons or perching itself along our borders, but practices terrorism also hitting the environment," Gamilel said on Twitter. In the meantime the Emerald has returned to Iran, according to Israel. "We will ask for damages, even if it still isn't clear how that can happen," Amir said. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do How can New Yorkers trust you @NYGovCuomo to lead our state if you dont know when youve been inappropriate with your own staff? Boylan tweeted. Cuomo said he would fully cooperate with an investigation into the allegations overseen by the states independently elected Attorney-General Letitia James. James, also a Democrat, is selecting an outside law firm to conduct the probe and document its findings in a public report. Cuomo addressed the allegations during a news conference that otherwise focused on the states response to the coronavirus pandemic, the kind of briefings that made him a daily fixture on TV and a national star among Democrats. Before that, Cuomo last spoke to reporters during a conference call on February 22. His last briefing on camera was on February 19. Two of the women accusing Cuomo worked in his administration. The other was a guest at a wedding he officiated. Bennett, 25, said Cuomo quizzed her about her sex life, asked if she felt age made a difference in relationships and said he was fine dating anyone above the age of 22. Bennett said she believed he was gauging her interest in an affair. Cuomo has denied making advances on Bennett. Loading Boylan, 36, said Cuomo commented on her appearance inappropriately, kissed her without her consent and went out of his way to touch her on her lower back, arms and legs. Cuomo has denied Boylans allegations. Anna Ruch told The New York Times that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her just moments after they met at a September 2019 wedding in Manhattan. Cuomo didnt answer directly when asked by a reporter if he could assure the public that there were no other former aides who would come forward. The facts will come out in the Attorney-Generals investigation, he said, reiterating his position that he never knew at the time that he was making anyone feel uncomfortable. Bennetts lawyer, Debra Katz, said the governors news conference was full of falsehoods and inaccurate information. Loading She said Cuomos claim that he was unaware he had made women uncomfortable was disingenuous, considering that Bennett had reported his behaviour to her boss and one of Cuomos lawyers. We are confident that they made him aware of her complaint and we fully expect that the Attorney-Generals investigation will demonstrate that Cuomo administration officials failed to act on Ms. Bennetts serious allegations or to ensure that corrective measures were taken, in violation of their legal requirements, Katz said. The harassment allegations follow accusations that Cuomo covered up the true COVID-19 death toll on nursing home residents. Cuomos support has plummeted amid the one-two punch of scandals, and even some Democrats have called on him to step aside. I dont think its in his DNA to resign or back down, said Ron Kim, a Democrat member of the New York state assembly who accused Cuomo of bullying him over the nursing home issue. I think he will do whatever it takes to fight this. Cuomo said he inherited his gregarious way of greeting people from his father, the late former governor Mario Cuomo, and that it was intended to welcome and making people feel comfortable. Speaking about the allegations, Cuomo initially said he was apologising to people who were uncomfortable with his conduct, but he didnt make clear as he continued which of the women he was referring to. At one point, he said he was apologising to the young woman who worked here who said that I made her feel uncomfortable in the workplace. That description could apply to both Boylan and Bennett. Asked what he was saying to New Yorkers, Cuomo said: Im embarrassed by what happened... Im embarrassed that someone felt that way in my administration. Im embarrassed and hurt and I apologise that somebody who interacted with me felt that way. [March 04, 2021] LiquidPiston Wins Air Force Contract To Overcome Shortcomings Of Batteries in eVTOL and UAS Propulsion LiquidPiston, Inc., a developer of advanced rotary internal combustion engines, announced today the adaptation of its X-Engine technology for the United States Air Force to use in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as well as "orbs" - urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles designed to carry people and cargo around. The X-Engine, a next-generation rotary diesel engine, is being evaluated as an enabling technology to power the UAS or orb through a hybrid-electric propulsion system. Because current battery technology limits the range of an orb's flight, the X-Engine converting the energy contained in jet fuels can enable the Air Force's UAS/Orb to become a reality. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005098/en/ LiquidPiston announced today the adaptation of its X-Engine technology for the United States Air Force to use in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as well as "orbs" - urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles designed to carry people and cargo around. (Photo: Business Wire) The Air Force has awarded LiquidPiston a Phase I ($150,000) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract through its AFWERX operation to enable this development of the X-Engine. The contract is in support of AFWERX's Agility Prime, a non-traditional program seeking to leverage commercial electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and other transformative vertical light vehicles for government missions in a way that accelerates the emerging commercial market. Orbs fall into this category and are classified by their eVTOL capabilities but are not to be confused with flying cars or drones. "Our work with the Air Force demonstrates the versatility and utility of our X-Engine across the Department of Defense including our ongoing work with the US Army," said Alec Shkolnik, CEO and co-founder of LiquidPiston. "Today's solutions for power and energy are held back by a lack of technological innovation; gasoline engines are inefficient, diesel engines are big and heavy, and while the world wants to go electric, batteries lack significantly compared to the energy density of fuel. The X-Engine solves these challenges, and with this contract, we look forward to showcasing the value a hybrid-electric configuration can bring to unmanned flight." A major issue facing all-electric vehicles - both aerial and ground vehicles - is that modern battery technology simply does not offer sufficient energy density, meaning the range of electric-only vehicles will be limited. For military orb vehicles and commercial urban air mobility to be operationally viable in a range of use cases, a stronger, lightweight power and energy source is needed to significantly extend flight times. The X-Engine from LiquidPiston takes a hybrid approach to this problem. Because fuel is up to 50 times more energy-dense than today's batteries, the X-Engine, coupled with a generator, can be configured to charge the battery and keep it charged during flight, significantly extending the range of an electric propulsion system. Alternatively, the X-Engine can be configured in parallel with an electric drive, using the engine directly to produce thrust or lift. With the X-Engine's hybrid approach, the Air Force can leverage the energy density of fuel, while still getting the benefits of an electric drive propulsion system to power an orb or UAS. LiquidPiston's X-Engine is a lightweight rotary engine capable of running on JP-8, jet fuel, diesel and other heavy fuels. The modular design of the engine coupled with the lightweight high-speed alternators enables technology to easily scale in size and increase the range of eVTOL UAS and UAM vehicles. The X-Engine is 30% more fuel-efficient than a diesel engine and up to 5-10x smaller and lighter. Compared to a small turbine, the X-engine is up to 2-4x more fuel-efficient while fitting a comparable envelope and weight. To learn more about these developments and LiquidPiston's X-Engine platform, click here. For media assets click here. About LiquidPiston, Inc. LiquidPiston, Inc. develops compact, quiet, fuel-efficient, low-vibration, multi-fuel capable combustion engines that are scalable from one horsepower to over 1,000. The company's patented High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC), an improved thermodynamic cycle, and engine architecture enable the company to create engines optimized for fuel efficiency. LiquidPiston's X-Engines have only two primary moving parts - a shaft and rotor - resulting in compact size and low-vibration operation. Although they are rotary engines, LiquidPiston's engines are not Wankel engines; they are uniquely configured to operate on the company's patented thermodynamic cycle and its associated efficiency and low-noise benefits. To learn more, visit www.liquidpiston.com. About AFWERX and Agility Prime. The US Air Force established AFWERX to expand technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capability. With respect to UAS and orbs, the Air Force wants to accelerate the development of the American VTOL industry using Air Force and commercial investment funding to develop a "bridge market" for dual-purpose technology with the objective of bolstering the emerging U.S. emerging market and industrial base by building confidence in investors, companies and regulators. https://www.afwerx.af.mil/prime.html View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005098/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Raila Odinga has said everyone has a democratic right to vie for the presidency, including Mombasa governor Hassan Joho. Speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday, the ODM party leader said he supports any party member who wants to vie for the presidency in 2022. After every year we have elections and the seats remain vacant. ODM is a national party and people have the liberty to vie for positions, Odinga said. Joho is the deputy party leader, he has the right to vie for any seat and every Kenyan has the same right. It is the ODM party that will decide who will fly the flag. I support Johos quest for the presidency. Joho reiterated his quest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta is unstoppable. He noted he has already delivered his nomination papers to the ODM party and expects full support from luminaries including leader Raila Odinga if he wins the primaries. I have heard of people questioning my capabilities. If they cannot win the top seat, then that is their problem. As for me, I will not stop at anything else apart from the presidency, Joho said. Also Read Joho Tells Raila: Its My Turn Now, Support Me Because I Will Win Paxton, IL (60957) Today Mainly cloudy. High 72F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a shower late. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Barely a year ago, New York Gov. Democratic Andrew Cuomo was at the top of the political world, lionized for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and described by more than a few Democrats as possibly a better candidate for president than presumptive nominee Joe Biden. Today, beset by scandal, he is fighting for his political life. On Wednesday, in his first public statement after multiple allegations of sexual harassment, including from two former aides, he appeared chastened and sounded repentant, words normally not associated with the governor. He described the allegations as "an incredibly difficult situation for me as well as other people." He said he "never intended" any of it. He said he was "sorry for whatever pain I caused anyone." He also said he would not resign. Instead, in character, he means to fight. "I work for the people of the state of New York," he said. "They elected me." The allegations of sexual harassment come on top of accusations that he mishandled the coronavirus crisis, that he and his administration covered up the number of deaths in state nursing homes. New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James has said the administration's undercount numbered in the thousands. A federal investigation in the Eastern District of New York is ongoing. Cuomo's fall from grace has been stunningly swift. Scroll back to March and April 2020 and the story was 180-degrees different. Cuomo was called America's grown-up leader, offering a contrast to President Donald Trump by delivering straightforward analysis of the coronavirus crisis at a time when Trump's handling was erratic and contentious as he sought to play down the threat. Democrats swooned when they saw Cuomo at his daily briefings, which included lengthy monologues, all carried out live on cable. The sessions were regarded as must-see TV. Cuomo was lucky to be the governor of New York and therefore in the center of a media world that can be noticeably parochial. Was his leadership really more impressive than that of other governors who toiled outside of that spotlight, or who did not seek it in the same way, like Republican governors Mike DeWine of Ohio or Larry Hogan of Maryland? The exposure he enjoyed was enough to cause some Democrats to lament the fact that Biden, who at the time was largely out of sight, was their likely presidential nominee amid talk that maybe, maybe Cuomo would jump into the race. It was fanciful then and looks even more so today. Last fall, Cuomo published a memoir entitled, "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the Covid-19 Pandemic." Cuomo seemed to laud his own leadership, and the book landed briefly on the New York Times bestseller list. The full story of his handling of the crisis was not fully known then. Rebecca Katz, a Democratic strategist who worked against Cuomo in his last gubernatorial election, said, "He wrote a 'mission accomplished' book before the mission was accomplished." Late last year, Cuomo received an Emmy from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his performance at his daily news conferences. "The governor's 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plotlines, and stories of success and failure," Bruce L. Paisner, the International Academy president and chief executive, said in a statement at the time. "People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on, and 'New York tough' became a symbol of the determination to fight back." Today "New York tough" has another meaning, as in tough it out. Cuomo is taking a page from the playbook of Bill Clinton, who when besieged by scandal during his 1992 presidential campaign and facing calls that he quit the race, decided to fight on, successfully. "Never quit" was his motto then and throughout his presidency. Other politicians have taken notice over the years. Some, not all, have been successful in weathering the storm around them. Cuomo hopes to be the latest. Three women have accused Cuomo of sexual impropriety. He has denied some specific allegations by one of his accusers, but he has not denied that he questioned a young aide, Charlotte Bennett, about her sex life and about having sex with older men, and that he would be interested in have a relationship with a woman in her 20s, which Bennett is. Bennett, who told her story to the New York Times, did not accuse the governor of sexual assault. In a written statement over the weekend, Cuomo said that some of his comments might have been "misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation." He said that at work he sometimes thinks he is "being playful" and that he means no offense. He said he now realizes that his comments were "insensitive or too personal." He said at that point that he welcomed an investigation, though it took a bit of time to work out something acceptable to the attorney general. He said he would have no further comment. That changed by Wednesday, as the pressure was rising around him and he needed to reassert himself, if with a dose of humility. Leading Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have called the charges serious and worthy of a thorough and independent investigation, which the attorney general will oversee. But only a few Democrats, who have been quick to pounce on Republicans accused of sexual misconduct, called directly for him to resign. Cuomo's appearance on Wednesday seemed to show a politician shaken by the experience, though coming years after the #MeToo movement gained force, the reaction to the allegations should have come as no surprise. Cuomo described himself as someone who likes to joke around with staff and others, but that is not the reputation he has developed over his years in public life. Demanding is the kindest way to describe his management style; bullying is another. With his tenure as housing secretary in the Clinton administration and three terms as governor, he has lived with and exercised power freely. Cuomo comes from a celebrated political family. His father, Mario Cuomo, a gifted orator and thinker who was talked about as a future presidential candidate until he blinked unexpectedly at a moment when he was prepared to announce his candidacy, served three terms as governor. The Cuomo brand has been strong in New York for many years. Cuomo spoke on Wednesday after a day in which no one came forward with a new allegation of sexual harassment. His apology probably bought him some time, and his vow not to resign could quiet, for now, some of that talk. His hope must be that no more women come forward, that he can survive the investigation into the charges, that the investigation into the nursing home scandal will not end up crippling his governorship and that he can run and win a fourth term in 2022. The governor has survived other scandals. No one can say whether that will be the case here. But a look back to the spring of 2020 shows how far he has fallen and why he faces a struggle both to survive and to rebuild. HDFC has reduced its Retail Prime Lending Rate (RPLR) on housing loans, on which its Adjustable Rate Home Loans (ARHL) are benchmarked, by 5 basis points, with effect from March 4, 2021. The change will benefit all existing HDFC retail home loan customers. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones (APSEZ) is acquiring the 31.5% stake held by Windy Lakeside Investment (an affiliate of Warburg Pincus) in Gangavaram Port (GPL). The acquisition is valued at Rs.1,954 crore and subject to regulatory approvals. IRCTC said the company will operate trips through Golden Chariot from 14th March, 2021 onwards. IRCON International has been awarded the work for replacement of mechanical signaling at various locations at Moradabad at the expected completion cost of Rs 187 .80 crore. The tenure for execution of the works is 24 months. This work has been awarded on competitive bidding basis among PSUs by the Northern Railways, Ministry of Railways. V.S.T Tillers Tractors has entered into a share purchase agreement for investment in Series A Preferred Stock of Zimeno Inc ("Investee Company"). The investee company is in the development of Electric Autonomous Tractor. Bajaj Electricals (BEL) and Mahindra Logistics (MLL) made an announcement of signing an agreement for innovative Logistics optimisation and outsourcing arrangement. This deal is a complete end-to-end redesign and outsourcing of Bajaj Electricals' entire logistics by Mahindra Logistics, with the twin objectives of achieving enhanced & industry-best service levels, coupled with a logistics cost saving in excess of 25%. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Tom Plate America must understand that China is different, emphasized the late Lee Kuan Yew when some 25 years ago I asked Singapore's iconic modern founder whether my new newspaper column on Asia, then in the Los Angeles Times, might possibly do some good. His counsel was to try hard to help America get its all-important China relationship right. He said it with urgency. For a quarter of a century now, I have taken his advice to heart. After all, Lee, anything but a Communist, was strong-minded about world politics almost as if in daily genetic seance with Machiavelli - and well respected in the Washington and New York military-academic lobbies as to a comparable extent he was in Beijing's. He also said that Beijing's "we're back and we're big time again" self-regard might well scare the living daylights out of people and would trigger a military balancing, whether Beijing liked it or not. Which is exactly what has happened. But at what point does balance go overboard. A quarter of a century is not a massive stretch in terms of Chinese timekeeping, but by the tick of an American clock it seems a near eternity. Alas, right now, we are not where we should be: Even with the comically one-dimensional Trump gone, Washington seems stuck in the rhetorical rut of needing another old-style Cold War (Hey, we won the last one! Why not again?) as a conceptual cushion to lean on. So, if you construe Communist China as the second coming of the former Soviet Union, then you've got a match made in American-exceptionalism heaven. But China is not that. Where do we see it invading countries, threatening to bury everyone in history's ash and seriously threatening Western security? Its preoccupation is regional, not global; yes, Taiwan (not recognized as a separate state by the U.N. or, for that matter, the U.S.) is brilliant in so many ways but is a continuing object of PRC geopolitical lust. So don't you dare try to chip away or otherwise destabilize our borders, or tamper with our core sovereignty, which includes Taiwan, of course. One thing to be sure of: the Communist Party's master plan does not include tolerance for renewed domestic poverty, or for not keeping China's defensive guard up. But world domination? In the 21st century that would prove a rather heavier lift than it was for the British in the19th; and Beijing knows that. Yet, unless we better understand Beijing on its own terms still rebuilding then its every other move and decision will tend to trigger nightmares of Stalin, Siberia, Mao, the Red Guard and the entire creepy cast of associated menaces. Today's China displays many market characteristics and peppers its political persona with more forward-looking ideas than Trump's Republican Party (Okay, not a high standard). And though not enough American "China experts" appear to notice, Beijing is redefining superpower competitiveness in a modern way that eludes cliche, except in those endlessly repetitive reverences about the party's total goodness. Recent orations by leader Xi Jinping emphasize science, technology, modern planning and global health cooperation with evident avidity. Even if he believes only half of his carefully curated statements, you have to sense that in fact now the West is really up against it. But up against what? A dumb, super-stodgy, flaccid regime that will collapse overnight of its own overweight primitiveness if only you maintain neo-containment pressure? Or an evolving state-party that accepts as definitive such core norms as the responsibility of aiming to feed and house all its people the first duty of non-shameful governance? Call that communism, or even socialism, if you are addicted to political-science topology; but in itself those goals do not strike one as illegitimate, much less evil, even if achieved via a peculiar one-party system. Long-distance talk-diplomacy will not suffice to patch growing disconnects in the bilateral if the two sides keep talking past one another. It's true that before the Lunar New Year leaders Biden and Xi reached out to one another in their first phone exchange. Good call. But their reach appears to fall short of a needed grasp of the damage when pandering to their respective constituencies. Flapping like baby hawks in the direction of America's right wing the remains of Trump's political day makes the Biden administration look weak and, to some allies especially, divorced from reality. Some of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's statements seem lifted from the pages of the Eisenhower era. Maybe the Biden administration is indeed clinging to the collective wisdom of the former administration for its China outlook, at least until it can escape the dark woods of the past election. As for the Xi government, stirring up nationalism, however righteous, really is playing with fire; a dramatic change in the wind might blow it right back in Beijing's face unless the burn is very carefully controlled. On the surface, the apparent cost of neo-containment might not appear so onerous. So let's go below the surface: The upward trajectory of U.S. military budgets that sucks resources from infrastructure, schools, health systems and so on will proceed apace for the foreseeable future, even if Biden were to try to tame the defense leviathan that has made the American people no more secure than ever. Does the American way of war inspire China military sectors to run scared, even over-budget? From the West Coast, a veteran leader of an East Asian peace nonprofit wisely points this out to me: "Are we in danger of being attacked by China? Are we by any chance encouraging China to arms-race beyond its self-defense needs?" The U.S. must clear its mind of the delusion of neo-containment as the magic killer-bullet of communism. On the contrary, the grand delusion is more of a danger to the U.S. Tom Plate (platecolumn@gmail.com), a professor at Loyola Marymount University, is the author of "In the Middle of China's Future" and "Yo-Yo Diplomacy." The first volume of his "Giants of Asia" book series featured Lee Kuan Yew ("Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew"). The original version of the column above was published by the South China Morning Post. (TNS) State legislators are moving with breakneck speed to provide assurances to ratepayers and municipalities who are staring down the barrel of sky-high energy bills after bitter cold temperatures rammed the state and region last month.A new program to provide loans to municipalities, which will have to pay bills in the hundreds of thousands of dollars within the next week, was fast-tracked with an aim to having the money in the hands of cities as soon as possible.It was signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly Thursday night, just 12 hours after it first passed a House committee."It gives them the immediate relief they need to avoid dire financial decisions while we pursue other, long-term solutions," Kelly told reporters. It comes as federal and state authorities are investigating how natural gas prices skyrocketed, with production slowing during the bitter cold snap in February, making gas scarce. The Kansas Corporation Commission is ordering a review of how the state's largest utilities are going to grapple with the costs, which a report issued this week said could total in the billions. Federal regulators and Attorney General Derek Schmidt are launching separate price gouging probes into the natural gas market.Municipalities like Denison say they cannot afford to wait for the results of an investigation, however. The tiny town of 169 residents in Jackson County is stuck with a gas bill of $241,400, which is double the $125,000 it paid for gas in all of 2020.This is a story that repeated itself in municipalities across Kansas, ranging from Winfield in Cowley County to Argonia in Sumner County.In Goodland, a town of 4,400 in the state's far northwest corner, the total bill could be as high as $1.5 million, city officials warned legislators in a letter.Those cities with municipal utilities are now faced with a choice: saddle residents with a massive bill or find other ways to pay the piper, such as property tax hikes.House Speaker Pro Tempore Blaine Finch, R- Ottawa, said that cities were forced with an impossible dilemma: keep the heat on for residents during dangerously cold weather or pay a "king's ransom" for gas, which cost thousands of times the normal going rate."They did what any of us would do they took care of the people they serve, they kept the lights on and kept the heat going," Finch said. "But these bills threaten to leave these cities with no option, except for bankruptcy."The solution legislators have devised is to use idle funds in the state treasury to power $100 million in loans to municipalities like Denison. The loans could be paid back over 10 years, meaning costs could be passed along to residents slowly, rather than in one eye-popping bill.The program would be similar to an effort signed into law last month by the governor to help rural businesses and would offer the loans at a below-market rate.While many cities were able to cobble together the funds to pay the first round of bills from the cold snap, a second payment is due at the end of this week or early next week.Kimberly Gencur Svaty, a lobbyist representing municipal utilities, underscored that time is of the essence."This is something that you can do right here, right now that will literally make a difference in the lives of people in the next 10 days," she said.Some members of the Kansas Senate, both Republicans and Democrats, were skeptical of the proposal.One lawmaker, Sen. Alicia Straub, R- Ellinwood, said in a Republican caucus meeting that municipalities should not pay their bills until federal and state investigations are complete.Representatives from the utility industry say this would result in power being shut off for affected communities but Straub said she thinks "there is a better solution.""I don't think my constituents should have to pay this in any way," Straub said on the Senate floor. She was the lone vote in opposition to the proposal.State Treasurer Lynn Rogers said he was convening with staff Wednesday afternoon to figure out a way forward, assuming the program is signed into law.Cities would have to submit an application, likely with aid from the League of Kansas Municipalities, and certify that their need was extraordinary.Rogers said his office was working on setting up a firm timeframe for when loans might start being issued but said it would be within the two-week timeframe required in the bill, if not sooner.The legislation focuses on municipal-owned utility companies, rather than larger, investor-controlled companies, such as Evergy, Kansas' largest electric utility.Those firms, even in the electric market, were also affected by the energy crisis. The KCC report released earlier this week noted that Evergy purchased about $300 million more than normal during the cold spell.The company has maintained that state regulations prevent it from passing those costs along to consumers all at once. But Evergy has warned that consumers may see an uptick in their bills due to the higher energy usage, even if they attempted to conserve power."Any change you see in your March bill, up or down, is going to be based on how much energy you used this month," Gina Penzig, a spokeswoman for Evergy, said last week.Kelly and others say they are working on their own solutions to deal with the problem. And it is likely that federal action and relief could be coming, as well.In the event that cities get aid from Washington, D.C., potentially as part of a $1.9 trillion stimulus package in the U.S. Senate, they would have to use those dollars to first pay back their state loan.But there is a broader acknowledgment that larger-scale reforms to the energy markets are needed to ensure that cities and ratepayers aren't put in a similar position again."The ultimate solution to how we strengthen the grid is not something this committee or even this state can handle, that probably is going to be a federal solution if, and when, it comes," Finch said. Ada Senior High School has recorded 10 COVID-19 cases with four recoveries, Mr Kojo Ayibor, the Headmaster, has said. He said the school was awaiting the results of the last samples taken from the remaining six students. "We hope that the samples taken will test negative so that those in isolation can go back to their various classes," the Headmaster said. He expressed optimism about the students recovering soon, saying the rapid recoveries among the students had assured the School Authorities that the Ada SHS would soon be free of the virus. Mr Ayibor was speaking in an interaction with Madam Comfort Doyoe Kudjoe Ghansa, the Member of Parliament for Ada Constituency, and the Ghana News Agency at Ada near Tema. The MP was on a tour of some educational institution in the constituency to encourage both School Authorities, pupils and students to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols. Madam Ghansa told the GNA that as an MP and a mother she considered it as both a statutory responsibility and a parental duty to visit the school to assess the COVID-19 situation on the ground. She used the occasion to encourage the school Authorities to strictly enforce the COVID-19 protocols and also appealed to the students to stop the stigmatization of those infected. "Wash your hands thoroughly and use your sanitisers when you are in your classroom. Eat a lot of fruits, especially those with calcium and citric acid that will boost your immune system, she said. On the National COVID-19 Vaccination, the MP urged the students not to panic. I will also take the injection to show you that it is not harmful." Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As part of a Reporter-Telegram poll, hundreds of readers shared their opinions on Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to reverse his statewide mask order and reopen businesses to 100 percent occupancy. Below are some of the responses. What those who support the governors announcement said: -- This is great! If you still want to wear your mask you can do so, and if you dont want to, you dont have to! Im a proud Texan today! -- I think the mask mandates did nothing except hurt people and businesses as well as cause more fear and mental stress. -- It should be a personal choice for individuals and businesses. If we see numbers going back up, then we should as a community go back to mask-wearing. If a business asks customers to wear a mask, I will gladly do it if I want to shop there. If not, Ill go somewhere else. At least all businesses will be allowed to open, try to make it and pay their workers. -- I'm in need of work. Pandemic prevented that from happening. -- People that are afraid can continue to wear a mask. Its not illegal. Let it be the peoples choice not the government. -- The mandates and rules have wreaked more havoc on our mental health than it has ever protected us from COVID-19. -- Couldnt be happier. Everyone needs to do whats best for themselves and their family. Want to wear a mask? Cool. Dont want to wear a mask? Cool. Everyone needs to do whats best for themselves without government dictating our lives. -- Businesses can now decide for themselves how to proceed. Business can still require masks the same way they can decide no shoes, no shirt, no service. Individuals can still decide to wear a mask. Its about less regulation and more personal/business accountability. -- There was never any authority behind the original decision, no one could be arrested or fined for not wearing a mask. It is and always has been up to the individual to do what they need to do to stay safe. What those who are against the governors announcement said: -- Abbott is not protecting the State of Texas nor its people by removing restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID. There will be needless deaths, illness, and hardship because of this. -- Abbott is incompetent. He almost let us freeze to death, now he doesn't care if we get COVID. Vote him out. -- Why couldnt this have waited until May when Spring Break surge is over, school is nearly done, and almost everyone who wants a vaccine will have had access to it? This makes no sense and isnt supported by any recent COVID data. -- I find this alarming and dangerous because it flouts the strong recommendation of health experts. I want a return to normal life as much as anyone, but it is just too soon to take this giant leap. I expect more unnecessary deaths in Texas because of this decision. -- It appears to be another political grandstand to divert attention from the winter storm crisis generated by laxed regulatory efforts and a failure in appointing competent folks to PUC. -- Opening businesses, yes. Removing mask mandate, absolutely not. Just because youre vaccinated Mr. Abbott does not mean everyone else is. How selfish and foolish of you. -- We are so close to actually being through the pandemic. The mask mandate should remain in place until vaccines are available for anyone who wants one. This is a selfish political stunt that does not have Texas in mind. The best way to open Texas is to end the pandemic quickly. -- While I believe we were headed in a good direction, I feel this is a little hasty. The CDC and the health experts say we arent ready for this, but he says we are. Why cant the politicians and health experts get on the same page? Open up but dont say masks arent necessary. COVID numbers are lower because of those masks. -- As a business who has been requiring masks, this will make my job a lot harder. I think it was premature and irresponsible in light of Spring Break. I think this is how we will see another wave. Yemens Houthi forces fired a cross-border missile at a Saudi Aramco facility in Saudi Arabias Red Sea city of Jeddah, a Houthi military spokesman said on Thursday, but there was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities. Saudi Aramco, whose oil production and export facilities are mostly in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province, more than 1,000 km (620 miles) across the country from Jeddah, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition that has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement for six years did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a Twitter post that the attack took place at dawn using a winged Quds-2 missile and had struck its target, without elaborating. He posted an image with coordinates of what appeared to be a petroleum products distribution plant in Jeddah used for domestic supplies that the Houthis struck with a Quds-2 missile in November 2020. Military experts estimated then that the missile was fired from about 700 km (430 miles) away in Houthi-controlled territory. Aramco said then that the attack on the North Jeddah Bulk Plant hit a storage tank but did not affect supplies. The movement, which controls northern Yemen, has struck Saudi energy assets in the past. Last November, the Saudi energy ministry said a limited fire broke out near a floating platform belonging to the Jazan oil products terminal after a foiled attack using explosive-laden boats in the southern Red Sea. The Houthis have recently stepped up cross-border drone and missile attacks on Saudi cities, mostly targeting southern Saudi Arabia. The coalition says it intercepts most attacks. On Thursday, the coalition destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launched towards Jazan and an armed drone launched towards Khamis Mushait, both cities in the south of the kingdom, state media reported. The Houthis Sarea said in a separate Twitter post that the Khamis Mushait attack targeted a military site. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital, Sanaa. The United States and United Nations have renewed peace efforts as fighting also intensified in Yemens gas-rich Marib region. The US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Tuesday on two Houthi military leaders. The conflict is widely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Houthis deny being puppets of Tehran and say they are fighting a corrupt system. Short link: Social commerce company ShopG is scaling up its presence to over 300 cities in the country and onboarding more partners as it looks to tap into the multi-billion dollar opportunity in the segment. ShopG was founded in 2019 by Ankur Arora, Abhishek Mishra, Pranay Suwalka and Yogesh Nehra, and is backed by investors including Orios Venture Partners and RPSG Ventures. The company currently has 1,000 "community leaders" (local micro-entrepreneurs). "ShopG plans to acquire a consumer base of 40 million served by 5 lakh community leaders by 2025. The company's vision is to address the unfulfilled aspirations of customers and thereby, build a GMV of Rs 4,000 crore as ShopG expands to 300-plus cities across India," ShopG co-founder Ankur Arora said. The expansion will primarily focus on tier III and IV locations across states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. These include Mandya, Shimoga, Tiruppur, Salem, Tirunelveli, Kollam, Parbhani, Junagarh, Akola, Panipat, Hisar and Sagar among others. The platform has features like vernacular language support, videos and gamified content (provides a chance to earn rewards, coins and gifts) to make the shopping experience enriching for customers. Currently, three languages (Hindi, English and Kannada) are supported and the company plans to introduce more than 12 languages over the next one year. ShopG is also looking at leveraging its platform to help its community leaders build brands that cater to local requirements. The company has already launched a D2C-owned brand 'Ohayo Natural' in the skincare segment, and plans to launch 10 other brands by 2025. Arora said the low-trust quotient among tier III consumers vis--vis online shopping created a compelling need to establish ShopG for capitalising on this untapped opportunity. Arora said players such as ShopG have a massive growth opportunity in the next five years by tapping prospective consumers in all tier III and IV cities. He cited a Bain & Co report to say that social commerce is poised to grow from USD 1.5 billion USD 2 billion GMV market currently to USD 16 billion USD 20 billion within five years, and USD 60 billion USD 70 billion by 2030. GMV (gross merchandise value) is a term used in online retailing to indicate the gross merchandise value of the products sold through the marketplace over a certain period of time. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By: Elena Faloutsou, Greg Norman, Abigail Reeves - Skadden The negotiations that culminated in the establishment of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) at the end of 2020 concluded with no meaningful agreement in relation to the provision of financial services between the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area (EEA). For the private funds community operating in the UK, this result was disappointing but not unexpected. Private fund sponsors and managers have implemented different solutions since the 2016 Brexit referendum to address this outcome. In this article, we explore some of those solutions and what may follow now that the transition period has concluded. Takeaways The TCA failed to provide any meaningful cooperation regarding financial services. UK-based alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs) remain subject to the same rules as before Brexit, but without the benefit of the marketing passport. UK divergence from the EU rules on private funds and their managers seems possible but limited in scope. The UK fund industry continues to lobby to improve the UK as a destination for both fund vehicles and fund managers. Background In the UK, the regulations applicable to the management and marketing of private funds have largely stemmed from Directive 2011/61/EU, or the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), which was transposed into the national laws of the EEA member states in 2013. The...................... To view our full article Click here (Newser) Small earthquakes are nothing new or surprising for Icelandersbut 17,000 of them in a week is enough to rattle them. Scientists say the swarm of quakes suggests Mount Keiler, 20 miles away from Reykjavik, could be about to erupt for the first time since the 12th century, the Guardian reports. "This looks like the type of activity we expect in the run-up to an eruption," Kristin Jonsdottir of the Icelandic meteorological office said Wednesday. Experts believe the apparently imminent eruption is likely to be a fissure eruption, with lava oozing out of the ground, unlike the explosive eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano that massively disrupted international air travel for more than a week in 2010. story continues below Keiler could still snarl air travel for Icelanders, however. It is on the Reykjanes peninsula, just 12 miles from the country's main international airport. Kevlafik Airport itself is not believed to be in danger from lava flows, but the road to Reykjavik could be affected. The Reykjavik area is home to around two-thirds of Iceland's population, and residents say the recent onslaught of quakes, the strongest of which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, is unprecedented. "I have experienced earthquakes before but never so many in a row," Reykjavik resident Auour Alfa Olafsdottir tells CNN. "It is very unusual to feel the Earth shake 24 hours a day for a whole week. It makes you feel very small and powerless against nature." (Read more Iceland stories.) If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland school buildings will welcome students back for the first time since early 2020 beginning on Monday, with precautions that before the pandemic would have seemed foreign but are now best practices. At Max. S. Hayes High School, the classrooms themselves seem business-as-usual at first glance, but the number of desks is significantly pared down, adhered to markings on the floor which show appropriate social distancing. The floors are covered with arrows to direct traffic. Hallways are filled with six feet social distancing markers. Water fountains are closed off, as are some stalls and sinks in bathrooms. A back room at the school serves as a storeroom for West side schools. The room holds supplies of personal protective equipment, with stacks of cleaning wipes and sneeze guards. Chairs removed from classrooms for social distancing purposes are clustered together in a pile with caution tape, with a row of child-sized chairs in front. Those are from Clark Elementary School. Water bottles also sit in the back of the storeroom, which will be offered to students in lieu of water fountains and personal water bottles, which are discouraged. Students will attend school 2-4 days a week. Students with special needs are in the first phase of return, which begins on Monday. No students are scheduled to be in-person on Monday. The next weeks group will be significantly larger, with grades Pre K2, Grades 9 and 12. The district estimates about half of families will opt into the hybrid plan. The district previously planned for teachers, paraprofessionals and other education staff to teach remotely from buildings beginning Monday, but the Cleveland Teachers Union voted against that return, according to a press release Thursday evening. Take a look at what a CMSD high school will look like when welcoming back students in the gallery above. Max S. Hayes houses about 581 students and is a newer building. The district has not publicly estimated percentage returning school-by-school. 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. Museum of the Bible offers free admission to National Guard members protecting nation's capital Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Museum of the Bible is now offering free admission to members of the U.S. National Guard, while large numbers remain deployed in Washington, D.C. The museums free admission deal for National Guard members began Monday and will continue until Easter Sunday, which this year falls on April 4. We are so grateful to the servicemen and women of the National Guard for keeping us safe, as they are among the first to respond when crises arise, Harry Hargrave, the museums chief executive officer, said in a statement. While free admission is but a small token of our esteem, we want to honor them for the sacrifices they have made and continue to make every day. A museum spokesperson told The Christian Post in comments emailed Wednesday that they wanted to honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women who are protecting all of us here in our nations capital. The museum is located just three blocks from the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall, so we see National Guardsmen in our area every day, the spokesperson explained. Last month, a private donor contacted us about providing tickets to the soldiers stationed here. This generous donation helped us to extend the free admission offer to all National Guard troops through Easter. Thus far, around a few dozen members of the National Guard have taken advantage of the free admission to visit the museum, according to the spokesperson. The museum normally charges $24.99 per adult ($19.99 if ordered online) for admission to the museum. Given the challenging circumstances, were really encouraged by the many people who want to learn more about the Bible with us, the spokesperson continued. Weve seen our online engagement increase as we provide new virtual programs and ways to explore the Bibles history and impact, such as our podcast and Storytime series for kids. Approximately 25,000 National Guard members were deployed to Washington in January in advance of President Joe Biden's inauguration to keep the peace during the ceremony. The large deployment was spurred in part by the Jan. 6 protests, in which hundreds of Trump supporters and others stormed the U.S. Capitol on the day in which electoral votes were counted for the 2020 presidential election. Last month, it was announced that nearly 5,000 National Guardsmen would remain in the District of Columbia until Mar. 12, per the request of U.S. Capitol Police. The number was based on different missions that the National Guard members would be supporting, response force, perimeter, security, those kinds of mission sets, explained Pentagon official Robert Salesses to lawmakers, as reported by CNN. Were trying to determine with them is what is the right level of security that they need from the National Guard considering that the circumstances have changed. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do LaFayette, N.Y. LaFayette Town Supervisor Danny Fitzpatrick resigned recently to take a job with a private company in Virginia. Fitzpatricks last day as supervisor was Feb. 28, according to minutes from the LaFayette Town Board. As much as it pains me in some ways to announce this, I will not be seeking re-election as LaFayette Town Supervisor as I have accepted a job in Virginia and will be moving in a few weeks, Fitzpatrick said in a post on Facebook last month. He announced at the February town board meeting that he would be resigning at the end of the month. The town board met March 1 and selected William McConnell, a board member, to replace Fitzpatrick. Jerry Marzo was appointed to fill McConnells seat. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, is the son of longtime Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick. Hes worked as a campaign strategist during several campaign cycles and ran his fathers reelection campaign in 2019. Hes sought several other political positions, including a bid to be the countys election commissioner in 2016. In 2017, Fitzpatrick was campaign manager for Laura Lavines unsuccessful mayoral run. He left the campaign during the summer, and ended up in a bitter legal fight with Lavine and her family, who accused him of pocketing money on his way out. Fitzpatrick said the dispute was part of a political vendetta and he was actually owed money. Fitzpatrick was most recently the director of intergovernmental affairs for the Onondaga County Water Authority, a job hes held since 2018. He previously was appointed to two other county positions -- an aide to the county legislature and a project development specialist in the countys economic development department. He was elected LaFayette supervisor in 2017. He ran unopposed. In 2020, Fitzpatrick ran in a Republican primary for the New York Assemblys 126th district seat. He lost to John Lemondes, who went on to win the general election. Fitzpatrick could not be reached Thursday morning. He wrote in a Facebook post that hes started a job with i360, a company in Arlington, Virginia that provides data and software services to political campaigns and commercial businesses. Thank you LaFayette for trusting in me, Fitzpatrick said on Facebook. This town is my home and always will be. [March 04, 2021] Datavant and the Cerebral Palsy Research Network Announce Partnership to Enable Investigation of Genetic Basis of Cerebral Palsy SAN FRANCISCO and SALT LAKE CITY, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Datavant, the leader in helping healthcare organizations safely connect their data, and the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Research Network, a group of doctors, therapists, and patient advocates collaborating to improve treatment and outcomes for people with cerebral palsy, announced a partnership to enable an investigation on the genetic basis of CP using Datavant technology. The CP Research Network will use Datavants patient-level, privacy-protecting linking technology to link multiple datasets across 30+ academic medical centers. A study led by researchers at the Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Childrens Hospital and the University of Utah will seek to discover new CP genes using this technology. Data fragmentation today prevents researchers from having the complete view into a patients history. Our partnership with the CP Research Network will enable researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of cerebral palsy, improving our understanding of this disease and in turn, enabling faster development of therapies, said Travis May, Chief Executive Officer at Datavant. A National Institutes of Health-funded study of CP genetics led by Michael Kruer, M.D., director of the Pediatric Movement Disorders Program at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Childrens Hospital, will implement Datavant technology to link genomic mutations that cause CP with patient characteristics in the CP Research Networks registry. The privacy-preserving linkage will be led by Dr. Jacob Kean, Associate Professor in Health System Innovation and Research, Department of Popultion Health Sciences, University of Utah. CP Research Network was founded by Paul Gross. It is an exciting time in cerebral palsy research, said Gross, President and CEO of the CP Research Network. This landmark collaboration will enable new breakthroughs in CP genetics that have the potential to transform diagnosis and treatment. We are proud to serve as the genomics research hub for the network as we know that easily accessible, comprehensive data will yield better treatment options for years to come, said Dr. Kruer. This study represents an important advance and will couple cutting-edge genomic discoveries with real-time clinical data in order to bring precision medicine to the CP community. A webinar discussing the CP Research Network and how it is using Datavant will take place on March 30 at 10 am PT. To register, click here . More information on the study can be found here . About CPRN: The CP Research Network is the largest and most comprehensive collaboration of hospitals and community members working together to improve health outcomes for people with CP. We host the largest community and clinical registries in the US to gather robust and comprehensive data for research, and we focus our research on the health and wellness outcomes that people with cerebral palsy value most. We include the entire community in the research process, the development of education materials, and the implementation of current clinical care pathways. To learn more, visit us at https://cprn.org/ . Contact: Cerebral Palsy Research Network Paul Gross Phone: 402 302-CPRN (2776) Email: paul@cprn.org About Datavant: Datavants mission is to connect the worlds health data to improve patient outcomes. Datavant works to reduce the friction of data sharing across the healthcare industry by building technology that protects the privacy of patients while supporting the linkage of de-identified patient records across datasets. Datavant is headquartered in San Francisco. Learn more about Datavant at www.datavant.com . Contact: Sarah Rowe, Head of Marketing pr@datavant.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The following joint statement was issued to the press by the Joint Platform of the Central Trade Unions and Samyukta Kisan Morcha on 04th March 2021 Workers and Farmers organisations meet to consolidate efforts of unity in action The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) in their joint meeting held on 1st March decided to coordinate time to time for joint action programmes in the coming days to strengthen the evolving unity between workers and farmers (Mazdoor Kisan Ekta). There was appreciation of the fact that the farmers had extended their solidarity to the call of trade unions on 26th November and the consistent support including solidarity actions by the Joint Platform of CTUs to all the agitation programmes called upon by the SKM from 26th November onwards. They were in agreement that there is need for intensification of their struggle to save the land of the farmers, to stop contract farming and amendment to Essential Commodity Act as well as Electricity Amendment Bill in the national interest. They firmly believed in the legalizing and ensuring Minimum Support Price to the farmers produce. The trade unions apprised SKM representatives about the dangers of govt. decisions of privatisation of Public Sector Enterprises to Indias sovereignty over the National assets and natural resources and the grievous impact of the four labour codes on the workers of the country. The four Codes take away the right of forming unions and protection of the working people from exploitation and excluding workers from existing social security schemes and workplace safety norms Both the sides reported that the hated enactments affecting them were passed without following democratic process of consultations and even transparent parliamentary process. They affirmed that the corporate loot of farmers and working masses through usurping land and other national resources is a big challenge as the Government is taking position in favour of corporate loot. It has been decided to unitedly observe 15th March as Anti Privatisation Day, by holding demonstrations near/before railway stations. The SKM has also extended support to the strike actions of the banks on 15-16 March and GIC unions on 17th March, and Life Insurance Unions on 18th March. The trade unions would extend their support to blockade of KundliManesarPalwal (KMP) Expressway for five hours announced by Samyukta Kisan Morcha along with flying black flags atop houses on 6th March 2021 and all the other programmes decided by the SKM The joint platform of Central Trade Unions (INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC) Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Joint Morcha of various farmers Organisations) (Natural News) Seville, the capital city of the Andalusia region in southern Spain, is popular for its orange trees. However, they are less a source of pride for locals and more a nuisance. The trees produce bitter fruits that are unsuitable for eating. Normally, they are simply left to fall and rot or get squashed by cars, creating sticky roads. Now, the citys water utility company, EMASESA, came up with a solution: Use the oranges to produce electricity. The initial scheme launched by the company will use 35 tons of oranges to generate clean energy, which will be used to run one of Sevilles water purification plants. Its a simple scheme: The oranges will be sent to a facility that produces electricity from organic matter. As they ferment, they will produce a gas called methane. The methane will be collected and used to power the generator of the water purification plant. For each ton of orange, roughly 500 liters of juice and 500 kilograms of peel can be obtained. And according to the results of the pilot test, one ton of orange can produce up to 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh). This should be enough to provide electricity to five homes for one day. The city has around 48,000 orange trees. If all of the fruits from those trees are recycled into electricity, Seville could provide electricity to 73,000 homes. EMASESA officials said in a statement that they hope to do that really soon. However, the city would need to invest about 250,000 in the project. Its not just about saving money, said Benigno Lopez, head of EMASESAs environmental department. The oranges are a problem for the city and were producing added value from waste. Generating power from oranges When life gives you oranges, make electricity. The juice of oranges contains fructose, which is made up of short carbon chains. The energetic performance of these carbon chains during fermentation is very high. The aim for now is to use the energy generated from fermenting oranges to run the water purification plant to provide the city with clean drinking water and sanitation. Currently, water purification plants consume nearly 40 percent of the energy needed to keep the city supplied with clean drinking water. The long-term goal is to put surplus energy generated from the oranges back into the citys electricity grid. EMASESA is now a role model in Spain for sustainability, Mayor Juan Cejas told a press conference. Moreover, the project will help the city hit its targets for lowering emissions and become self-sufficient when it comes to energy. (Related: Green policies aimed at reducing CO2 emissions are having the opposite effect.) The orange trees in Seville originated in Asia. They were brought to Spain by Arabians roughly 1,000 years ago. The trees adapted well to the climate in the region and quickly proliferated. Fernando Figueroa, head of the citys parks department, said the trees took root and adapted so well there that they became resistant to pollution. People say the city of Seville is the worlds largest orange grove, added Figueroa. The entire region produces about 15,000 tons of the bitter-tasting oranges. In Seville, the oranges are normally just left to plop on the ground. But the juice of the fruits can make the streets sticky and black with flies. In fact, the city council employs some 200 people to clean the streets of juice from the squashed oranges. Most of the oranges in Seville are exported to Britain, where they are used to make fruit preserves. So with this new project by the citys water utility company, the city of Seville itself may now benefit from their oranges. Go to Power.news to learn more about how scientists are making fuel out of fruits and other organic matter. Sources include: TheGuardian.com LongReads.com Food delivery riders are taking industrial action in China over low pay and the recent detention of an unofficial labor leader, RFA has learned. "Meituan food delivery workers protest against lower rates by going on strike in Shenzhen," the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin (CLB) said on its Strike Map on Monday. Hundreds of workers are demanding a pay increase and better conditions, it said. The strike comes after Xiong Yan, who headed an unofficial union formed by workers for the food delivery app Ele.me and other services, was detained in Beijing last month. His whereabouts are still unknown. According to several people familiar with the situation, Ele.me workers have been on a go-slow or refusing to work at all since Xiong's "disappearance," resulting in a sharp rise in timed-out orders. A person familiar with the situation who gave only a surname, Zhang, said Ele.me riders are considering a nationwide strike on Monday to protest the platform's treatment of riders and Xiong's presumed detention. "A group of their riders has been talking about going on all-out strike on March 8, but this could just be something they are talking about in their group chat rather than a decision by the alliance as a whole," Zhang told RFA. "Emotions are running high right now, but posts on Weibo don't stay up long: they generally get deleted soon after they are posted," he said. He said Ele.me isn't alone in making stringent demands of takeaway riders, who are treated as "self-employed" and have no employment rights. "Delivery staff are just casual workers ... a lot of them don't even get contracts," he said. "They may wear the uniform, but they aren't on Ele.me's payroll." "Instead they are hired by various dispatch companies in a form of outsourcing," Zhang said. "These platforms will find a number of excuses to deduct workers' pay." More workers join campaign Another person close to the situation, Hong Tao, said more riders were taking part in the "sabotage" campaign on Wednesday, but that it was hard to estimate the scale of the action. "I think it happened in Beijing [on Wednesday], although specific details are hard to come by," Hong said. According to a post on WeChat Moments by a Beijing-based delivery rider surnamed He, as many as 10,000 delivery riders in more than a dozen groups were involved in the campaign. He said he had already quit the platform in protest at Xiong Yan's detention and started working for a different company. Repeated calls to Ele.me's Shanghai headquarters rang unanswered during office hours on Thursday. Impossible targets for pay On Dec. 21, 2020, Ele.me rider Han Mouwei collapsed and died while working in Beijing using the Hummingbird crowdsourcing app. His relatives later found that only just over one third of a three-yuan monthly deduction Han had throught was for insurance actually bought into any policy, leading to questions over the purpose of the remaining deduction. Last month, Ele.me apologized after its couriers accused the platform of setting impossible targets for holiday bonus pay over the Lunar New Year holiday period. The company claimed to offer rewards for completing a set number of deliveries in several challenges in January, but the riders said the targets were impossible to reach. The renewed industrial action comes as the U.K.'s Supreme Court ruled that drivers on Uber's ride-sharing app should be considered workers under U.K. employment law, meaning they are entitled to some employment benefits, including paid leave. Uber had insisted that the drivers were independent contractors. Reported by Xiaoshan Huang and Chingman for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Han Qing for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. These decisions were taken during a review meeting held at the CMs camp office in Tadepalli. (Photo: Twitter @AndhraPradeshCM) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced that candle rallies would be held all over the state on Sunday, setting off International Women's Day celebrations for the next day on March 8. Marking the day, 2,000 stands with QR code would be arranged for women for easy download of the Disha application on their mobile phones. There would be a 10 per cent discount to women on the purchase of mobiles in select shopping malls on this Monday, a special day off to all women employees in the police department and five additional casual leaves to all women employees, the CM announced on Thursday. These decisions were taken during a review meeting held at the CMs camp office in Tadepalli. It was also decided to felicitate two women constables from each wing and hold a short film competition on women's safety and empowerment. The government will also organise an annual health checkup for Anganwadi employees. The chief minister also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh on behalf of the government to the non-gazetted women employees union. An MoU would be signed with SERP, MEPMA and Hindustan Lever to ensure sanitary pads are made available at YSR Cheyutha shops at a discounted price. The government will lay special focus on training girls of Plus-1 and Plus-2 to prepare them for competitive exams. The CM advised officials to set up hoardings with details of Disha initiatives in front of junior colleges and other higher educational institutions. Reviewing matters of YSR pre-primary schools, the Chief Minister had a close look at the books and teaching aids designed for pre-primary children and displayed by officials of the women and child welfare department. The CM also reviewed the progress of the Nadu Nedu works in Anganwadis. Construction of new buildings and revamping of existing buildings is being done in 44,119 Anganwadi centres. The work on Anganwadi buildings should be started simultaneously in urban and rural areas, the CM said. The government will provide 4,17,508 books for children of PP-1 class and 4,17,508 books for PP-2 children. The distribution of books will start on March 20 and would be completed by April 5. It has already distributed 16 of the 26 teaching aids to Anganwadi and the remaining 10 will be distributed within a month. The CM advised officials to provide an English-Telugu dictionary in schools and ensure the students learned the meaning of a new word every day. Implement a similar programme in Anganwadi centres, he said. The officials said the details on the YSR Poshana and YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus are being provided through posters. They are being set up in the village, ward secretariat and Anganwadi centres. They said an SOP book is being provided with the prescribed rules on providing good food and hygiene to children. Videos on the same are being shared to the students. Women and child welfare minister Thaneti Vanitha, DGP Gautam Sawang, higher education special chief secretary Satish Chandra, principal secretaries Y. Srilakshmi (municipal and urban development), A.R. Anuradha (women and child welfare), Anil Kumar Singhal (medical and health), Gopalakrishna Dwivedi (Panchayati Raj and rural development), Shashi Bhushan Kumar (GAD), Kumar Vishwajeet (home) were present at the meeting. DIG (technical services) G. Palaraju, health and family welfare commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar, finance secretary Kartikeya Mishra, BC welfare director B. Rama Rao, Disha special officer Deepika Patil, MEPMA managing director V. Vijayalakshmi and other officials were present. HK expelled from economic freedom ranking Chief Executive Carrie Lam was all smiles when Hong Kong was again ranked the world's freest economy. But that was back in 2019. Photo courtesy of Brand Hong Kong Joanne Wong reports Hong Kong has disappeared from an annual ranking of the world's freest economies that it traditionally dominated, with the publisher of the report, the Heritage Foundation, saying the city no longer has autonomy over its economic policies. For more than two decades, Hong Kong occupied the top position in the Index of Economic Freedom, until Singapore knocked the SAR down to second place last year. The Washington-based foundation had cited the social unrest and the city's exposure to the mainland for the drop. The SAR government which liked to boast about the city's stellar performance in the rankings said at the time that it was "naturally disappointed" for the slip, pinning the blame on anti-government protesters. But now Hong Kong is included in China's ranking, way down the league table in 107th place. Macau is also now included with the rest of China. "No doubt both Hong Kong and Macau, as special administrative regions, enjoy economic policies that in many respects offer their citizens more economic freedom than is available to the average citizen of China," the foundation said. "But developments in recent years have demonstrated unambiguously that those policies are ultimately controlled from Beijing." "China remains a mostly unfree economy," said the foundation in its report. "Overall, the economic freedom that does exist in China continues to lack depth and breadth, and the government needs to ensure that business-friendly policy changes are understood and implemented nationwide, not just in Beijing or the major commercial centers." Singapore retains the top spot in the rankings this year. Taiwan's economy is ranked the 6th freest in the world, with its score improving "primarily because of an improvement in government integrity". Ukraine has concluded non-disclosure agreements with six COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers. "Ukraine has concluded non-disclosure agreements with six manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines that are registered in the civilized world. Two of them, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, received permission to be used in Ukraine. The rest will be [registered] as these companies submit documents. That is, it is impossible to register a vaccine before a company submits documents for registration, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said during a press conference dedicated to the results of the year of the Governments activities under his chairmanship, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He explained that due to huge competition between vaccine manufacturers, they had a very careful approach to commercial classified information. "Everyone signs the NDA agreements, i.e. neither the price nor the technical and scientific data are subject to disclosure by the governments of these countries. And accordingly, the documentation is submitted in the last days, when we already know that a batch of vaccine from one or another manufacturer will come to us, so a package of documents is handed over for registration in Ukraine 5-7 days before, Shmyhal said. As reported, the Government expects 10 million Ukrainian citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2021. At the same time, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal does not rule out changes in the stages of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign in terms of determining priority groups. COVID-19 vaccination campaign began in Ukraine on February 24. As of March 4, 9,568 people have been already vaccinated against COVID-19. They all received the first dose of the Covishield vaccine, developed by Oxford / AstraZeneca and produced at the Serum Institute. ol Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Fortis Hospital in Delhi's Vasant Kunj on Thursday. Sister Ramya PC administered the shot to the Union Finance Minister. The Finance Minister tweeted an image of her getting vaccinated and said, "Got my first dose of the vaccination against COVID-19 this morning. Thanking sister Ramya PC, for her care and professionalism. Fortunate to be in India, where development and dissemination has been prompt and affordable. #vaccinated" Got my first dose of the vaccination against COVID-19 this morning. Thanking sister Ramya PC, for her care and professionalism. Fortunate to be in India, where development and dissemination has been prompt and affordable. #vaccinatedpic.twitter.com/4ejylZdv1U Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 4, 2021 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and along with his parents-Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi also got vaccinated against the contagion. Kejriwal tweeted a video of himself and his parents getting vaccinated at Delhi's LNJP Hospital and wrote, "Vaccine is now available to get rid of corona. Today, I went to the LNJP hospital with my parents and got vaccinated. We did not face any kind of problem." The national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also appealed to all those who are eligible to get vaccinated to come forward and do the same. "My appeal to the people of Delhi and the country is that those who are eligible to get the vaccine come forward and get the vaccine done." , - LNJP pic.twitter.com/Ts3WxwfPOq Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 4, 2021 Nirmala Sitharaman and Arvind Kejriwal were not the only ones to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19. Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal received their first doses of the life-saving jabs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick started the second phase of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive by getting the first dose of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on March 1. Following this, several leaders like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have taken the vaccine. Also read: COVID-19 vaccination: Covaxin's efficacy data likely to bolster public acceptance Also read: Canada receives first shipment of 5 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses from Serum Institute CARLINVILLE In a March 2 ruling, the Fourth District Appellate Court of Illinois reversed the decision of a lower court and ordered the district court to issue a summary judgment that the Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. can continue to operate as a valid corporation. In a released statement, the water companys board of directors said they can now move forward with the development of the project to provide high-quality potable water to their members at the lowest possible cost. The board is now inviting any additional parties such as municipalities, water districts or other nonprofit organizations that distribute water and might be interested in membership to contact Sue Campbell at 618-795-9116 for details. Its next meeting is planned March 25. The city of Carlinville is delighted by the Fourth District Appellate Courts decisive and unanimous ruling in the citys favor, Carlinville Mayor Sarah Oswald said in a released statement. We thank the court for its quick, decisive decision and look forward to delivering what the goal has been all along providing clean, affordable drinking water to Carlinville residents, and the region. Carlinville joined the village of Dorchester, the city of Bunker Hill and Jersey County Rural Water Co. in establishing Alluvial, a nonprofit corporation, to operate a $66 million aquifer-fed system. On July 7, 2020, Circuit Court Judge April Troemper declared Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. Inc. a private company begun by Carlinville and a handful of smaller communities was created in violation of the law and is a void corporation. On appeal, the higher court ruled in Carlinvilles favor in an original lawsuit filed by Carlinville residents Camille and Wayne Brotze. According to lawsuit documents, the couple sued the city for creating a private company the Brotzes alleged was not subject to the states public information rules. On July 22, the Illinois Secretary of State dissolved the corporation. Carlinville resisted and, under the leadership of former Mayor Deanna Demuzio who died Oct. 22, 2020, requested a stay on the judges order. At that time the stay was denied by both the circuit court and the appellate court. In September 2020, Demuzio noted the appellate court had not ruled on the matter. The trial court shall vacate its prior order, enter judgment in favor of Carlinville consistent with the reasoning of this opinion, and make clear that Alluvial may continue operating as a valid corporation, according the Fourth District Appellate Courts ruling. Oswald, an alderwoman at the time, succeeded Demuzio as mayor, stating that her top priority was getting Carlinville fresh water. This decision ensures the city of Carlinville is able to provide clean, reliable drinking water to our citizens while maintaining a seat at the table with voting power to ensure control over our rates, Oswald said. The city and its partners are excited to resume planning and construction after a nearly eight-month delay. In October 2018 the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a $24 million grant and $42 million loan to Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. to fund the project. At the time, the projects cost was estimated at $66 million by the citys engineering company, MECO-Heneghan. The federal grants and loans will be used for the construction of a new water plant and more than 40 miles of pipe to transport the aquifer-fed water supply. Carlinville Lake, the citys existing source of water, is highly silted and no longer permits boating. About eight years ago the city began searching for alternative water sources. The city of Litchfield, 12 miles away, offered to sell water to Carlinville for $2.73 per 1,000 gallons, less than rates estimated by the proposed private project. The new treatment plant and aquifer supply are critical to addressing Carlinvilles water supply issues due to reduced capacity and water quality in its current lakes. The Illinois Alluvial Regional Water project was developed to obtain alluvial water from wells proposed in Jerseyville. Many residents, the Macoupin County Board and the citys largest water user, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., supported buying water through Litchfield as a much simpler, quicker and lower-cost answer to Carlinvilles water problems, said Carlinville resident Bill Armstrong, a critic of the private company plan, last September. The legal problems started when the city decided to pursue the water project through a private corporation instead of through a water district, a water commission or one of other entities that the Illinois Constitution specifies. Some Carlinville aldermen also said they felt excluded from information on the water project, since Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. Inc. leadership prohibited the public from attending its meetings. Only one council member, Cindy Campbell appointed to represent Carlinville on the companys board was allowed. The Voice of America condemns the recent incidents in Mandalay, Myanmars second largest city, involving security forces and protesters against the military coup in that country, as a VOA Burmese journalist covering the protests is among the injured. Democracy depends on a free press and free flow of information, said Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lopez. These incidents underscore, once again, threats journalists face daily around the world. VOA condemns these and other attacks that put the lives of our very brave journalists at risk and undermine a free press. Portland gang enforcement officers didnt question why they were asked to help West Linn police arrest a Black Portland resident in 2017 on what turned out to be a bogus theft charge stemming from an alleged crime in Portland, a new investigation released Wednesday found. Instead, the Portland officers largely relied on the word of their former colleague Mike Stradley who was working for West Linn police as a lieutenant at the time, according to Portlands Independent Police Review office. While the review concluded that Portland officers didnt violate Police Bureau policies, it recommended that Portland police require more due diligence for evaluating requests for assistance from other law enforcement agencies to avoid becoming complicit in flawed investigations and possible misconduct by other agencies. The wrongful arrest of Michael Fesser spurred a series of city, state and federal investigations and resulted in two civil lawsuit settlements to Fesser totaling more than $1 million. This investigation examined the participation of Portland police in Fessers case. The Independent Police Review office, operated under the city auditor, is the intake center for complaints against Portland police. Stradley is a retired Portland police officer who used to work on the citys gang enforcement team. Even as PPB officers complied with applicable Directive and followed normal procedures, they unwittingly helped arrest a man based on a deeply flawed criminal investigation, launched under murky circumstances and carried out by a (West Linn Police) detective who appears to have engaged in multiple and serious acts of misconduct, the offices investigators noted. Investigators said police shouldnt be required to reestablish probable cause for an arrest when they help an outside agency, but they need to do some measure of due diligence to evaluate other agencies requests for help. This incident is a powerful example of how the criminal justice system can be turned against an individual by a very small number of bad actors operating inappropriately, the review said. Stradley remains under investigation, according to his current employer, the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Hes been on paid leave for more than a year, since Feb. 13, 2020, and has been paid $131.844.91 from Feb. 13, 2020 through Feb. 28 of this year, according to the state agency. Stradley had enlisted Portlands gang enforcement officers to assist West Linn in arresting Fesser on Feb. 25, 2017, on allegations that Fesser stole money from the Portland company where he worked, A&B Towing. Stradley told West Linn and Portland officers that Fesser was a gang associate. He also warned his Portland colleagues that Fesser was potentially dangerous. Fesser later sued West Linn police and Stradley admitted in a sworn deposition that he hadnt had contact with Fesser for more than 20 years and had no direct knowledge that Fesser was tied to a gang. Stradley acknowledged that he knew only that Fesser had been seen with gang members two decades earlier and had attended trials of known gang members. West Linn police had built a spurious theft case against Fesser at the behest of their police chief at the time, Terry Timeus, who was friends with Fessers boss at A&B Towing, Eric Benson. Benson had complained to the police chief that Fesser was making trouble at the towing company by alleging he faced a racially hostile work environment. The Independent Police Review investigators found that Portland Sgt. Ken Duilio, a supervisor of the gang enforcement team, couldnt tell investigators whether he knew in 2017 why West Linn police were looking into a crime alleged to have occurred in Portland. Nearly all the Portland police officers interviewed relayed how Stradley was held in high esteem in the Police Bureau. One detective called Stradley a fine police officer and an honorable individual. Another told investigators he had worked with Stradley at North Precinct and indicated he wouldnt have any concern for the veracity of information provided to him by Lt. Stradley, the report said. The Portland review narrowly focused on whether Portland officers violated any bureau directives or policies, said Ross Caldwell, Independent Police Review director. I know Stradleys name is all over this, Caldwell said. But Stradley doesnt work for Portland Police Bureau anymore. We cant do anything with him. Stradley in 2017 told Portland police that Michael Fesser had made threats to his boss at A&B Towing and other co-workers, directly contradicting what he said in a sworn deposition to Fesser's civil attorney later. The investigation didnt address the false or misleading information Stradley provided about Fesser not only the gang connections but also that Stradley later in 2017, according to a police report, had told Portland police to be on alert because Fesser had made threats to hurt his boss and colleagues at A&B Towing and damage the business. In sworn depositions, Stradley said he knew of no threats Fesser had made to Benson, and Benson said Fesser had never made any physical threats against him or his workers. Stradley left West Linn police in 2018 to serve as a training supervisor at the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. The state police training and certification department asked an outside lawyer to investigate Stradleys role in the Fesser case. The state agency also asked the Oregon Department of Justice to do an employment investigation into Stradley, according to Linsay Hale, a department spokeswoman. Fessers lawyer Paul Buchanan said he was disappointed in the Independent Police Review findings, particularly regarding Stradleys role. Its ludicrous how he gets a pass when hes really at the root of all of this, Buchanan said. Many of the Portland police officers who helped arrest Fesser and were interviewed by investigators said requests for help from other police agencies are common and typically based on the word of the requesting officer or agency. All of the Portland officers questioned, including Duilio, indicated they rely on information provided to them by other police officers to be truthful and accurate. West Linn last year paid $600,000 to Fesser to settle a racial discrimination and unlawful arrest suit. A&B Towing earlier paid Fesser $415,000 to settle a separate racial discrimination and retaliation suit. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian (@ChaudhryMAli88) CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2021) Moldova has detected the first several cases of the UK strain of the coronavirus, acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi said. According to earlier statements of the national Ministry of Health, Moldova has no laboratory equipment to detect the UK strain of COVID-19. "The data of several patients have been sent to Germany. There are preliminary results that confirm the presence of the UK strain of the coronavirus, we are awaiting an official paper confirmation. This allows me to say that there is the UK strain of the coronavirus in Moldova," Ciocoi told the Jurnal tv broadcaster on Wednesday. The prime minister added that the treatment of the UK strain required more efforts of medical staff, which complicates the fight against the pandemic. The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11. To date, more than 115.01 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 2.55 million fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University. Moldova has confirmed around 190,000 COVID-19 cases so far, with over 4,000 fatalities. I am so proud of how far SSE has come, said Ike Hawkersmith, founder of SSE. My team continues to impress me by their tireless efforts in combating the COVID-19 virus. I am excited for what the future holds, and to continue helping as many people as we can through this ongoing pandemic. Southern Solutions Environmental (SSE Inc.), a U.S. contractor service specializing in biosecurity and viral pathogen containment that implements rapid responses to emergencies and life-threatening situations, has experienced rapid growth both professionally and financially over the past year. Since the spring of 2020, the company has been on the front lines using military-grade decontaminate and high-tech machinery while playing a key role in efforts to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in hot spots across the U.S. SSE started its work with 10 employees and has since expanded and hired over 100 new employees, 92% of which are members of the Navajo tribe. The company hit over $5 million in revenue with 59% or higher profit margins on projects. In the last year, SSE has also: Accumulated thousands of hours in the field fighting the pandemic alongside emergency personnel from the Navajo Nation, local governments, the State of Arizona, the State of New Mexico, and FEMA. Decontaminated over 49 million cubic feet of essential facilities. Become recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Had all technicians successfully become Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certified. Acquired an office space and established headquarters in Farmington, New Mexico. I am so proud of how far SSE has come, said Ike Hawkersmith, founder of SSE. My team continues to impress me by their tireless efforts in combating the COVID-19 virus. I am excited for what the future holds, and to continue helping as many people as we can through this ongoing pandemic. SSE, founded in November of 2019, started as an environmental services and restoration company by Hawkersmith. As the coronavirus began to become an issue overseas, Hawkersmith began researching decontamination efforts being used and settled upon Decon7 (D7) as the most effective. On a hunch, he invested in a significant amount of D7 and with the help of his friends, Collin Anderson and Stephen Arnold, set out to begin SSEs decontamination work. In March of 2020, SSE officially shifted its focus from outside environmental services to decontamination, biosecurity, and indoor environmental services. Having started their services in Nashville, the team soon realized that the evolution of the pandemic meant their services were required elsewhere. As news began to spread of the devastation the virus was causing in Navajo Nation, the team uprooted and in June of 2020 made the nation the center of their operation. SSE came to the area with their primary intention being decontamination and their secondary, but equally as important, focus being economic stimulation by providing job opportunities to the Navajo Nation. As of January 2021, the majority of the company is composed of Navajo tribe members all earning an average income of $6,500 per month. Projected revenue for SSE in 2021 is $11.25 million, a year-over-year increase of 120%. For more information on SSE, visit sseglobal.com. ### About SSE Southern Solutions Environmental (SSE Inc.) specializes in viral pathogen containment, including viruses like COVID-19, SARS, and HIV. The decontamination company was founded in June of 2020, and continues to grow. Southern Solutions Environmental now has over 100 employees and has worked in various states to aid in combating rapidly spreading viruses. The company implemented their efforts in the Navajo Nation, and have continued to aid other COVID-19 hotspot areas using commercial grade equipment with the military grade solution, Decon7. For more information on Southern Solutions Environmental visit sseglobal.com. Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter has been hired to head up 1,555-student Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisc., starting on July 1. Carter, who has been at the helm of this Pennsylvania state-owned university since 2017, announced her planned departure in a letter to the university community on Thursday. Lawrence University said its board of trustees delivered an enthusiastic vote to hire her as the institutions next president. I am so grateful to have had the privilege of serving as the president of Shippensburg University for the last four years, Carter stated in her letter. It has been my great honor to work alongside you as we tackled the many challenges the university has faced. When I arrived, I told you that we would make waves together because waves take us places, carry us to new heights, and are powerful enough to break down barriers. Through collaboration and working for the best for our students we have indeed made waves. Carter was the 17th person to head the 150-year-old Shippensburg University that enrolls about 6,000 students this year. But she was the first woman to be named as the permanent president of the university that sits near the Cumberland-Franklin county line. While at Shippensburg, she pointed out in her letter the university created a first-year experience program, revised its general education curriculum, and created a comprehensive student success center. Further, it was able to balance its budget without dipping into university reserves, increased student retention by 6%, deepened relationship with industry partners, and made various improvements to campus facilities. Carter also highlighted the strides made under her leadership in facing social justice issues including creating a chief diversity officer position, creating a PRIDE center, obtaining grants to support bystander intervention training, and hosting the universitys first Diversity Week. As we look ahead and sail into less tumultuous waters, my family and I are sad to leave, Carter stated. But, I know I leave Shippensburg University strong and ready for this new higher education landscape. Carter leaves as the State System of HIgher Education is in the midst of a massive redesign that impacts all 14 of its universities to help them become more financially sustainable and grow. Among other aspects, that effort includes a proposal to combine six of its universities into two institutions with three separate campuses. Shippensburg, however, was not one of the universities included in those proposed mergers. Rather, the universities proposed to be combined are Edinboro, California and Clarion universities into one institution and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield into another. The State Systems governing board is expected to meet in April when it could provide direction for the university administrators to proceed with those university integrations. Lawrence University is a residential liberal arts college and conservatory of music and is exclusively devoted to undergraduate education on three campuses. Lawrence University splashed the news of its hiring of Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter on its webpage on Thursday. March 4, 2021 Screenshot of Lawrence University's webpage Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Mumbai, March 4 : TV star and classical dancer Sudha Chandran will make her debut as an anchor with the show "Crime Alert". The crime show is produced by her, too0. "Crime Alert" aims at creating awareness among viewers about crime, from means of protecting themselves to recognising crime and criminal activities. "The television industry has blessed me with all the popularity I have today. The audience loved me when I brought the twists in the story as an antagonist. But 'Crime Alert' is very different from everything I have been a part of. It has taken me away from my regular 'vamp' avatar," she said. "It is also a challenge for me, as all my life I always learnt to avoid directly looking into the camera, but I know I have to actually interact with it. But I'm very excited about it. While we do listen to some heart-wrenching stories on the news, the stories here will actually make the audience be alert and informed," added Chandran. Talking about producing the show, which airs on Dangal TV, the actress said: "I am a dancer and had always played the role of an actress. My husband and I prepared a set-up and went with a storyline for 'Crime Alert'. He was very impressed. My responsibility as a producer doubled as I wanted to make a good production and wanted to live up to the team's and the audience's expectations." The News and Observer is reporting: Two differing views were presented Wednesday on how worried North Carolinians should be about low student test scores during the coronavirus pandemic. Test results shared Wednesday with the State Board of Education and state lawmakers show that the majority of high school students did not pass state end-of-course exams given in the fall. In addition, school districts are reporting that 23% of their students are at risk of academic failure and not being promoted at the end of the school year. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt told the state Senate Education Committee the results show that more needs to be done to get students back for daily in-person instruction. Most of the states 1.5 million public school students have received either no or only limited in-person instruction since March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions on schools. Its been a lost year of learning, Truitt, a Republican, told the committee. Truitt says the pandemic has exacerbated learning gaps that were in place before COVID-19. But state Department of Public Instruction staff members cautioned the state board and the public against comparing this school years test data with past or future years. To go from a face-to-face model that had been in place for decades to go to this model this year, this blended learning environment, is quite an accomplishment that we were able to do it all. And we have to look at these tests results within that context, said Tammy Howard, director of accountability services at DPI. TEST SCORES DROP The results offer the first statewide look at how students are doing academically during the pandemic. In December and January, high school students across the state took end-of-course exams in biology, English 2, Math 1 and Math 3. Students had to take the exams in-person, even if they were taking all classes online. The majority of students failed the Math 1, Math 3 and biology exams. In Math 1, 66.4% of test-takers were not proficient. It was 48.2% during the fall 2019-20 semester. In Math 3, 54.9% of students were not proficient on the test. It was 44.5% the prior fall semester. In biology, 54.5% of students were not proficient. It was 42.1% the prior fall. Only in English 2 was there any improvement. This year, 41.4% of students were not proficient compared to 42% the prior fall. The test data also show that the majority of third-grade students who took the beginning-of-grade reading exam scored at the lowest level and that three quarters arent proficient in reading. We shouldnt be overreacting, but we should be concerned, said state board member J. Wendell Hall. The state gave flexibility this school year for when students could take the end-of-course exams and the beginning-of-grade reading tests. A usual takeaway from a decrease or an increase in test scores is that perhaps not everything was done that could be done, Howard said. But in the context of this year, I think everything is being done and this information kind of grounds us as to where we are to have conversations about where we need to go in providing support and services. PUSH FOR DAILY IN-PERSON CLASSES Due to the pandemic, state lawmakers wanted to know how many students are at risk of academic failure. It was 23% in school districts and 9% among charter schools. Its the first year the at-risk data was collected, according to Jamey Falkenbury, director of government affairs at DPI. He said schools hope to lower the percentage by the end of the school year. At the legislative committee meeting, Truitt spoke in support of a GOP-backed bill that requires school districts to offer in-person instruction to all students and daily in-person classes to special-education students. The bill was vetoed by Cooper because it, among other things, allows school districts to open high schools and middle schools with less than 6 feet of social distancing. High schools and middle schools are restricted to Plan B, whose 6 feet of required social distancing makes it difficult for schools to offer students daily in-person classes. The Senate fell one vote short on Monday of overriding the veto. But the Senate will attempt again to override the veto. Remaining in Plan B is worse than the slight risk of having all students, including grades 6 through 12, in school five days a week for in-person learning where it is possible to do 3 feet of social distancing, Truitt said. NC NIXES TAKING TESTS REMOTELY Some groups have urged suspending standardized tests this school year because of the pandemic. The exams were suspended last school year. But last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would not give testing waivers this school year. Federal officials say that the tests are needed so that both schools and parents can see how students are doing. North Carolina elementary and middle school students will take end-of-grade exams in reading, math and science this spring. High school students will have to take the end-of-course exams. The federal Education Department will give states more flexibility in how the exams are given, including shortening them and offering them remotely. Howard said the exams cant be made any shorter if theyre to remain valid. She said letting the students take the exams remotely also isnt feasible. Remote administrations, weve had many conversations about that over the past several months, and the end conclusion was that was not feasible, as well, due to security of the test administrations, Howard said. Source: 23% of NC students at risk of academic failure | Raleigh News & Observer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. British Airways is now offering Covid-19 test kits for its customers for just 33, far below the regular price tag of 100-plus. The rapid antigen tests, by Government-approved firm Qured, can be delivered on a next-day basis to any UK address and the results emailed shortly after a consultation with a professional Qured health advisor over a scheduled video call and lab analysis of the test result. The customer is guided through taking a nose and throat swab and processing the sample, with the advisor watching every step to ensure the procedure is carried out correctly. British Airways is now offering Covid-19 test kits (pictured) for its customers for just 33, far below the regular price tag of 100-plus When MailOnline Travel gave the process a test-run, the results and a fit-to-fly certificate were ready within 29 minutes of the call ending (see boxout). The Qured test kits can be ordered in bulk if desired and are ultra-portable. They are designed to be taken abroad and the test can be carried out anywhere that the customer can access the internet for the video call. BA said the kits can be used for travel to countries that require an antigen test and remove uncertainty for customers returning to the UK who may be unsure how to source a pre-departure test while in a foreign country. UK travellers are not allowed to use NHS testing services. British Airways CEO Sean Doyle said: As we look forward and prepare for a safe return to travel, we remain focused on finding and offering the most convenient and affordable testing options for our customers. Our teams were pleased to discover Qured, a unique new option which removes uncertainty and unnecessary expense for customers who may be concerned about sourcing a pre-departure test while away from home. Qureds CEO Alex Templeton said: Our accessible rapid testing service takes the hassle out of finding a test abroad. As a trusted healthcare provider we look forward to delivering an exceptional patient experience to British Airways customers and to working with them on a safe return to travel. BA said the Qured Covid kits can be used for travel to countries that require an antigen test and remove uncertainty for customers returning to the UK who may be unsure how to source a pre-departure test while in a foreign country For travellers in need of a pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test in the UK, providers Qured, CityDoc, Medicspot, Halo, Nomad, Collinson and Cignpost also offer fit to fly options at a discounted price for British Airways customers, with prices starting at 75. To offer customers further reassurance before travel, the airline recently began trialling a new travel health app, Verifly. The digital health travel passport, which can be downloaded to a mobile device, is designed to check customers meet the entry requirements of their destination by providing digital health document verification and confirming eligibility before they depart for the airport. Test results from Qured and other test providers can be safely and securely uploaded to the app. To offer customers further reassurance before travel, British Airways recently began trialling a new travel health app, Verifly British Airways is in talks with all test providers to seek opportunities to have test results automatically sent to the Verifly app, to make the process even easier. The airline said that it continues to work on the development of the IATA Travel Pass and is exploring all digital travel verification solutions to support its customers when travel re-starts. To find out more information on Qured, and all the other testing options and discounts available, customers should visit British Airways testing page on ba.com. LONDON - With his gaunt frame, haunted face and copious tears, Mazen al-Hamada became a poster boy for the suffering of Syrian torture victims. After escaping from Syria to the Netherlands, he traveled widely, sharing with audiences across the United States and Europe stories of the horrors he endured in a Damascus prison. Then, mysteriously, inexplicably and perhaps suicidally, just over a year ago he returned to Syria, to risk once again the cruelties of the government he had so strenuously denounced. Hamada has since disappeared, leaving friends and family to agonize over what prompted a man so scarred by his experiences to return to the arms of his tormentors - and what they fear is another stint in the nightmare of Syria's prison system. Was his increasingly erratic behavior a sign that trauma had driven him to make irrational decisions? Could he have been lured back to Syria, as those who knew him suspect, by pro-government Syrians keen to silence a potential witness to war crimes? Or had he simply become so disillusioned with life in the West that he was prepared to risk going home? Had he felt betrayed by the world's indifference to his country's plight, its failure to stop the bloodshed? The answers go to the heart of the tragedy of Syria, the beautiful, tormented country where the Arab Spring protests a decade ago went most disastrously awry. Interviews with those Hamada knew and testimonies he left behind reveal a portrait of a man so haunted by the horrors he endured that he was unable to adapt to a new life in Europe, or to accept that there would be no retribution, no accountability, no justice for the suffering he had seen. - - - When the Syrian revolt erupted in 2011, Hamada, 33 at the time, was working as an oil technician near his home in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour. Syrians inspired by the toppling of presidents in Tunisia and Egypt took to the streets across the country to demand the ouster of President Bashar Assad, whose family had at the time had ruled Syria for more than four decades. Hamada was swept up in the euphoria of the moment. In interviews he later gave, his eyes lit up with rare joy as he described those heady first days of peaceful protests. "When you'd see the demonstrations, your heart would fly. I swear, no one could believe it," he told Sara Afshar, the director of the documentary "Syria's Disappeared," in 2016. His activities in Syria, as a citizen journalist who spoke to foreign news outlets and as a protester, inevitably drew him to the attention of the authorities, who had instructions to round up anyone found to be aiding the uprising. Tens of thousands of people who had participated in the peaceful demonstrations were being detained and incarcerated to quell the unexpected spirit of rebellion that had taken hold in a country cowed for decades by the oppressive regime. Hamada was briefly detained twice in his home province before relocating in 2012 to Damascus. Arrested again almost immediately, he was taken to the feared air force intelligence headquarters in the Mezzeh neighborhood, where his nightmare began. - - - Across the Middle East, the uprisings of 2011 were crushed, subdued or derailed. Protesters were shot. Activists were imprisoned and tortured. A moment of hope in a region long ruled by autocrats backfired, and the Arab world is now more firmly in the grip of tyrants than ever before. But nowhere has the scale of the suffering been greater than in Syria, where Assad's ferocious response to the revolt triggered a spiral of violence that engulfed the country in the bloodiest war of the 21st century. Security forces mowed down peaceful protesters with gunfire. When the protesters took up weapons and fired back, the army brought in tanks and artillery to bombard rebellious towns and villages into submission. When that did not work, warplanes dropped barrels stuffed with explosives that demolished whole apartment buildings. When airstrikes failed, chemical weapons were deployed against recalcitrant communities, according to the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The United Nations stopped counting the dead in 2016 at 400,000. Six million Syrians fled their homeland, escaping across its borders into neighboring countries. Five million are still stranded, barely surviving in substandard conditions. A million climbed into flimsy boats to cross the Mediterranean to Europe - including Hamada, whose journey took him from Turkey through Greece, Italy, France and eventually to the Netherlands. Away from the TV cameras, tens of thousands who had participated in the protests were being systematically rounded up and incarcerated in Syria's gulag. Of the 145,000 people detained through September 2019, 128,000 - or nearly 90% - were taken by the Syrian government, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, which documents every individual detention. Of those, 83,000 have vanished without a trace. Most probably have died under torture or have been killed in mass executions documented by human rights groups. Amnesty International described the killings as "war crimes and crimes against humanity" that were authorized at "the highest levels" of the Syrian government. The Syrian government did not respond to a request for comment about human rights abuses and the whereabouts of Hamada. - - - After arriving in the Netherlands in 2014, Hamada threw himself into publicizing the horrors of the Syrian prison system. He linked up with Syrian advocacy groups and traveled across Europe and the United States to recount his experiences. He spoke to lawmakers in Washington, generals at U.S. Central Command in Florida, students at Princeton University, human rights investigators and journalists. He described how his wrists were gouged by chains used to suspend him from the ceiling, his ribs broken by guards who jumped on him, his skin scorched by cigarettes and his body jolted by electric shocks. When he reached the part where his genitals were placed in a clamp and he was simultaneously raped with a metal pole, he invariably broke down, moving his audiences also to tears. It was at that point in the interrogation that he capitulated, he told The Washington Post in 2017. "When they started to turn the screw, I confessed everything they asked," he said. He was determined to hold the Syrian government to account for what it had done, not only to him but to those he saw die in prison beside him. "I will not rest until I take them to court," he said in the documentary "Syria's Disappeared," tears streaming down his face. "Even if it costs me my life, I will pursue them and bring them to justice, no matter what." - - - The quantity of tears Hamada shed struck those who met him, including Omar Abu Layla, a Deir al-Zour exile in Germany who frequently communicated with Hamada on social media and attended a conference with him in 2018. "I remember he cried on the stage. When we had a coffee break, he cried. The one thing you noticed about Mazen was how much he is crying. He speaks and his tears come down like a river," he said. The prolific weeping offered a clue to Hamada's mental state. Away from the public glare, his life wasn't going well. He lived alone in a sparsely furnished apartment in Amsterdam provided by the Dutch authorities. He took Dutch lessons, but struggled to learn the language. Those close to him noticed he was smoking more and more marijuana, which is legal in Holland but expensive. Friends whose lives followed somewhat similar paths have fared better. Karam al-Hamad, another refugee from Deir al-Zour, also spent more than a year in a Damascus prison. He has thrived in Germany, starting a business and meeting and marrying his wife. This summer, he will begin studying on a scholarship at Yale University. Karam said he would not have overcome his trauma without extensive therapy, antidepressants and the support of family and friends. By contrast, Hamada received some therapy in the Netherlands but complained to Karam that Western therapists did not understand what Syrians like him had been through. Although six years had passed since his release, Hamada seemed unable to shed the survivor's guilt felt by many who escape trauma, said Karam. During their last encounter in Berlin, shortly before the return to Syria, Hamada was jittery and emotional, Karam recalled. Hamada kept talking about the fate of the prisoners he had left behind, and how he felt compelled to do something to rescue them. "He was sad; he was weak. From the way he was talking, it was clear this guy was so lost," Karam said. "I was wondering, when will this guy kill himself? I felt he was on the edge of suicide." Omar al-Shogre, who spent three years under torture in Syrian prisons before fleeing to Sweden, met Hamada during visits they made to the United States. Shogre has succeeded since arriving in Europe in 2015 at age 20; he has learned three languages and later this year will begin studying for an undergraduate degree at Georgetown University. Shogre said he found inspiration in the chance to start a fresh life. Hamada, who is nearly 20 years older, seemed unable to move on. "I used my trauma as a driving force. Mazen used his trauma to become more and more depressed," he said. "For Mazen, everything got worse and worse. He was isolated. He was lonely. He isolated himself because he felt no one cared." - - - Hamada's difficulties deepened as his cause was unraveling. Syrian government forces were steadily taking back the large areas of the country seized by the rebels in the first years of the war. The Western policymakers whom he had hoped to influence were more focused on fighting the Islamic State than on challenging Assad's grip on power. Increasingly, Hamada complained to friends that telling his story was a waste of time. The tears shed by his audiences did not translate into tangible efforts to bring justice to the victims. He felt pressured, exploited even, by the organizations that invited him to appear at their events. As an Arab from the overwhelmingly Arab province of Deir al-Zour, he also started complaining about the increasing encroachment there of Kurdish forces that were working with the U.S. military to roll back the Islamic State. In a rambling, emotional video broadcast live on his Facebook page in 2017, his bitterness spilled out. He raged against the Dutch authorities, who had frozen his bank account and cut off his aid after he accepted back pay from the company he had worked for in Syria, in violation of rules applied to refugees. And he lambasted the United States and Europe for sending warplanes to bomb the Islamic State. "I want to go back to my country - enough. Even if that means going back to regime areas, it is better than here," he said, sobbing into a tissue. "I don't want to integrate! It is more honorable for me to die in my country." - - - Hamada's frustrations are shared by the many people who have campaigned, without result, for war-crimes charges to be brought against the Assad regime, said Stephen Rapp, who has been investigating Syrian war crimes since serving as ambassador at large for global criminal justice in the Obama administration, and more recently as a senior fellow at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He met Hamada on several occasions and found his testimony convincing, and deeply moving. Like so many, he recalled choking back tears as Hamada told his story. Mountains of documentary evidence of war crimes committed by the Syrian government have been gathered by investigators, including photos of the bodies of 55,000 torture victims, smuggled out of Syria by a defector known by the code name Caesar, and over 600,000 documents detailing government tactics for suppressing the revolt. Among them is an arrest warrant for Hamada, dated 2012, for participating in demonstrations, Rapp said. "There's rock-solid evidence, corroboration, of war crimes by the regime and then you don't see the world sending it to a tribunal, despite the horrors that happened to you, your friends and your country," he said. "It's hard not to feel frustrated. I feel it every day." The conviction in Germany last week of a former Syrian intelligence official accused of detaining protesters relied on the kind of eyewitness testimony that Hamada has given. If war-crimes charges are brought against people associated with the air force intelligence branch where Hamada was held, or the 601 Military Hospital, where he witnessed some of the worst horrors, Hamada "would be a very important witness," Rapp said. But realities on the ground make it unlikely that senior figures in the Syrian regime will ever be held to account, said Jeffrey Feltman, a former U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs who is now a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. He has been advocating a new direction for Syria policy, predicated on the likelihood that the Assad government will survive for the foreseeable future. "Assad deserves to be hauled before a court in The Hague or an international tribunal. He deserves to be on trial in The Hague," he said. "Is that going to happen? No it's not going to happen" - in part because Russia, Assad's most powerful ally, would veto any attempt by the U.N. Security Council to establish an international court. - - - In the last months of 2019, Hamada's financial problems came to a head. Unable to pay his rent, he was evicted from his apartment and went to stay with his sister and her husband, who were also living in Amsterdam. The humiliating experience of losing his home further embittered him and may have played a big part in his decision to return to Syria, said his brother-in-law, Amer al-Obaid. "He felt betrayed. He was in a bad mental state," Obaid said. Hamada had become combative and difficult, quarreling with almost everyone he met. "He would say: 'I see the regime as better than the likes of you,' " referring to the opposition activists who were his friends. "It reached a point where he lost trust in many people." Hamada also stayed several weeks with his nephew, Ziad al-Hamada, who lives in a town in western Germany, and spent hours telling him about the tortures endured six years earlier, Ziad recalled. For the first time, Ziad learned just how badly Hamada's genitals had been injured, to an extent not revealed in his public accounts. Ziad had met a woman he thought would make a suitable wife for Hamada and suggested they open a bottle of whiskey to celebrate the potential match. Hamada refused, became agitated, then explained why. He told Ziad he longed to have children but no longer could. He cried when he recounted how it happened, showed Ziad the damage in the bathroom, then wept again. "All the nights he and I spent together he would cry," said Ziad. "All he would talk about was his torture." - - - On the morning of Feb. 22, 2020, a Syrian refugee in Germany dropped a friend at Berlin's Schonefeld Airport for a flight to Beirut, which connected to a flight to Damascus. Among those checking in for the flight was Hamada, whom he did not know but recognized from his social media and activist appearances, said the man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears for the safety of family members in Syria. Incredulous that such a well-known critic of the Syrian government would be making such a risky journey, the man approached Hamada to ask where he was going. Hamada was evasive, defensive and denied that he was going to Syria, the man recalled. "His whole body looked exhausted. He looked sad and unwell. He wouldn't speak properly. You could just see he wasn't doing well," he said. Disturbed by the encounter, the man called a friend, Maysoun Berkdar, a renowned Syrian activist who has lived in Germany for 27 years and has a reputation for sorting out problems. She tracked down Hamada's contacts and reached him after he had landed in Beirut. The recording she made of their conversation is highly revealing. "We went to America and told them the whole story. We went to Germany and told them the whole story. We went to the Netherlands, France and even Italy. And people didn't listen. The whole world didn't listen," Hamada told Berkdar. Veering from frustration to anger, he confirmed that Damascus was his destination. He said he had tired of trying to persuade the world to turn against Assad and wanted to find ways of bringing about a political solution to the war. He also said he wanted to "kick out" the Kurds and Americans, whom he accused of occupying his home province, and to work for the release of other political prisoners. He was willing, he said, "to sacrifice myself to stop the bloodshed that is happening." Pleading with him not to go, Berkdar argued that he was more likely to be imprisoned and tortured again than welcomed as a peacemaker by a government he had publicly denounced. "We are dying anyway," he responded. - - - Hamada's relatives and friends are convinced he was persuaded to go back by loyalists of the regime, with a view to silencing his testimony about atrocities. There is no evidence of that, they acknowledge, but they cite mysterious disappearances during which he would meet with "friends" he refused to name and his apparent confidence, evident in his final conversations, that he had guarantees of safety if he returned. Hamada visited the Syrian Embassy in Berlin at least three times about a month before his departure, according to Ibrahim Aswad Khalafallah, a family friend he had stayed with. Hamada told him he had been assured he was not on any wanted list in Syria. A report submitted late last year by a London law firm to four U.N. human rights agencies accuses the Syrian government of responsibility for Hamada's "enforced disappearance" after he landed in Damascus. The report seeks U.N. help in locating Hamada and cites a Facebook post, reportedly seen by his brother-in-law, that claimed Hamada was accompanied at the airport in Berlin by a woman who works with the Syrian Embassy. If Syrian government employees or loyalists played a part in Hamada's return and subsequent detention, they could face charges of abduction, said Toby Cadman, a lawyer with Guernica 37, the London law firm. Rumors have since swirled that Hamada is being held in this or that prison, or has died in custody. None has been confirmed, said Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Washington-based Syrian Emergency Task Force, who organized Hamada's visits in the United States and became his friend. He nonetheless believes that Hamada was lured with false promises of safety, only to be taken into custody. "Pro-regime people found his vulnerability and exploited it. They connected him to the embassy. The embassy promised him something," he said. "He finally realized when he got to passport control that he was wanted for interrogation, and that meant going back into the black hole." Was Hamada fully aware he might be putting himself at risk? Two phone conversations after he landed at the Damascus airport suggest he may have indeed realized, too late, that he could be in danger. The first was with his nephew Ziad, who reached him shortly after he landed. Hamada's voice was shaking and his "teeth were clattering," Ziad recalled. There seemed to be a man beside him who was telling him what to say. "It was very clear. I heard someone tell him, 'Speak, speak,' " Ziad said. "I heard people next to him telling him 'Say this' and 'Say that.' " In the call, Hamada said airport immigration officers had told him he would be detained for interrogation if he entered the country. He said he was trying to find a ticket for the next flight out, which was to Sudan. Ziad urged him to take the flight. "Pray for me dear cousin, pray for me," Hamada said, as the line cut off. Moments later, he called an American friend in the United States. Natalie Larrison, the humanitarian aid director for the Syrian Emergency Task Force, doesn't speak Arabic, but she understood that Hamada was saying he was at the Damascus airport. She also got the impression there was someone close beside him, telling him what to say. She could hear a man breathing, and seemingly giving instructions to Hamada before he spoke. Then, Hamada hung up. Larrison said she tried reaching him several times over WhatsApp, the messaging service they used, but he did not answer. Less than three hours later, his account went offline, along with all his other social media accounts. None has been active since. - - - The Washington Post's Nader Durgham in Beirut, Munzer al-Awad in Berlin and Suzan Haidamous in Washington contributed to this report. Albany, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo apologized yesterday for making women around him uncomfortable with his behavior. But he said he never intended offense and never touched anyone inappropriately. He asked New Yorkers to wait for the facts from an investigation by the attorney general before forming opinions on allegations that he sexually harassed multiple women, including two former aides. READ MORE: Cuomo apologizes, feels awful for making people uncomfortable His words did not sway his critics. Some of the women who accused him also spoke out. Debra Katz, an attorney for one of Cuomos accusers, Charlotte Bennett, released a statement after the governors apology during a news conference. Katz called Cuomos statement full of falsehoods and inaccurate information. New: Statement from Charlotte Bennetts attorney Debra Katz calls Gov. Cuomos news conference full of falsehoods and inaccurate information pic.twitter.com/ieTIMRSLQ2 Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) March 3, 2021 Another accuser, Lindsey Boylan, wondered how New Yorkers could trust Cuomo if he doesnt know when hes being inappropriate with staff. How can New Yorkers trust you @NYGovCuomo to lead our state if you dont know when youve been inappropriate with your own staff? Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) March 3, 2021 Some lawmakers also criticized Cuomos apology. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, a Democrat and frequent Cuomo critic, pointed out that one of the women who accused Cuomo produced a photo of the governor with his hands on her face. That contradicts his denials of inappropriate touching. She also criticized Cuomo for mentioning that he often greets people with a kiss. The Governor of NY is trying to normalize his unwanted kiss of a 33 y/o woman by saying this is how I greet "hundreds of people". Alessandra Biaggi (@Biaggi4NY) March 3, 2021 Other Democratic lawmakers echoed Biaggis comments. Cuomo keeps repeating he hasnt touched anyone inappropriately when there is literally a photo of him touching someone inappropriately. Yuh-Line Niou (@yuhline) March 3, 2021 I would argue that its highly inappropriate to kiss a staffer on the lips without their unequivocal consent, and highly inappropriate for the governor to put his hands on the face of a woman and grab her without her consent. These denials are very sad to watch. https://t.co/EY8LSlJuyQ Julia Salazar (@JuliaCarmel__) March 3, 2021 Democratic State Sen. Gustavo Rivera called Cuomos press conference a master class in gaslighting. It changes nothing, he said, according to NY1. His deeply toxic style of leadership does not lead to good governance. I have known this for a long time. Several critics pointed out that when Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault before his confirmation, Cuomo said he should take a lie detector test. He has shown hypocrisy in this whole thing, State Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy said, according to NY1. He challenged Judge Kavanaugh that he should strap a lie detector test on. But the governor wants a different standard for himself. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins called Cuomos apology a beginning during an interview on CNN. She also said the behavior Cuomo apologized for has to end and said there was no place for it. I think that the apology is important, she said. I think people need to hear that he knows that what happened made people feel, yes, uncomfortable. Thats important. That clearly is not what should happen in a workplace to anyone. I think we all know that this was something that needs to stop, should never have happened. Stewart-Cousins said several times during the interview that she wants to wait for the attorney generals investigation to finish before deciding whether to take any action against Cuomo over the allegations. But if the investigation finds something inappropriate did occur, Cuomo should resign, she said. Melissa DeRosa, a top Cuomo aide and constant presence at his daily briefings on Covid-19, was asked what she thought of the allegations during the press conference yesterday. She asked New Yorkers to hold their judgments until the attorney generals investigation finishes. She also said she was proud of the work Cuomos administration has done to advance womens rights, expand workplace protections and protect womens health. She also noted women serve at high levels throughout state government. I dont think that this diminishes any of that, she said. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 The anti-pancreatitis drugs Camostat and Nafamostat block SARS-CoV-2 replication in lung tissue. (A) SARS-CoV-2 attaches to human cells through binding of its spike protein to the cellular protein ACE2. Next, SARS-CoV-2 exploits human enzymes like the protease TMPRSS2 for the activation of its spike protein, which subsequently fuses the viral membrane with a target cell membrane and thus allow the delivery of the viral genetic information into the cell.(B) Apart from TMPRSS2, SARS-CoV-2 can utilize other proteases for spike protein activation. Among them are TMPRSS11D and TMPRSS13, which are mainly expressed in the upper respiratory tract. The anti-pancreatitis drugs Camostat (as well as its metabolite GBPA) and Nafamostat not only block TMPRSS2 but also TMPRSS11D and TMPRSS13. As a consequence, switching from TMPRSS2 to TMPRSS11D or TMPRSS13 as activators does not allow SARS-CoV-2 to escape Camostats/Nafamostats antiviral activity. Credit: Markus Hoffmann There are no therapeutics available that have been developed for COVID-19 treatment.Repurposing of already available medication for COVID-19 therapy is an attractive option to shorten the road to treatment development. The drug Camostat could be suitable. Camostat exerts antiviral activity by blocking the protease TMPRSS2, which is used by SARS-CoV-2 for entry into cells.However, it was previouslyunknown whether SARS-CoV-2 can use TMPRSS2-relatedproteasesfor cell entry and whether theseproteasescan be blocked by Camostat. Moreover, it was unclear whether metabolization of Camostat interferes with antiviral activity. An international team of researchers around Markus Hoffmann and Stefan Pohlmann from the German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research has now shown that SARS-CoV-2 can use several TMPRSS2-related proteases for its activation. Theseproteasesare expressed in the upper respiratory tract and are blocked by Camostat. In addition, the researchers found that Camostat and its major metabolite GBPA inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection of primary human lung tissue. These findings support the further development of Camostat and related compounds for COVID-19 therapy (EBioMedicine). SARS-CoV-2 depends on activation by the cellular protease TMPRSS2 for infection of lung cells. The researchers of the Infection Biology Unit of DPZ previously documented that the drugs camostat and nafamostat, which are used in Japan to treat inflammation of the pancreas, block SARS-CoV-2 infection by inhibiting TMPRSS2. However, it was unknown whether Camostat metabolites also block SARS-CoV-2 and whether the virus may use TMPRSS2-related proteases for infection that may be Camostat-insensitive. An international team of researches around Markus Hoffmann and Stefan Pohlmann from the Infection Biology Unit of the DPZ has now shown that SARS-CoV-2 can use several TMPRSS2-related proteases for infection, among them TMPRSS11D and TMPRSS13. These proteases may support viral spread in the upper respiratory tract and are blocked by Camostat. This finding indicates that switching to activators other than TMPRSS2 might not allow the virus to replicate in the presence of Camostat. The researchers could show that not only Camostat but also a major Camostat-metabolite, GBPA, block TMPRSS2 and SARS-CoV-2 infection. "In the human body Camostat is rapidly converted to GBPA. Therefore, it was crucial to demonstrate that not only Camostat but also GBPA exert antiviral activity," says Stefan Pohlmann, the head of the Infection Biology Unit of DPZ. Markus Hoffmann, the first author of the study adds:"Our results suggest that Camostat/GBPA may unfold antiviral activity in patients. However, for effective treatment of COVID-19, a higher Camostat dose might be required as compared to pancreatitis treatment." Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by Camostat was initially shown using the lung cell line Calu-3. The participation of Armin Braun, Fraunhofer ITEM, Hannover, and Danny Jonigk, Institute of Pathology at the MHH, in the consortium allowed analysis of Camostat antiviral activity in primary human lung tissue ex vivo. Camostat and GBPA blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection of lung tissue and Nafamostat had an increased antiviral activity. Therefore, the team of the Infection Biology Unit and the laboratory of Armin Braun are investigating how Nafamostat can be directly delivered into the human lung for increased antiviral activity. This project receives financial support from the Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) (project RENACO, Repurposing of Nafamostatmesylat for treatment of COVID-19). "Our results on the antiviral activity of Camostat and GBPA are relevant beyond the treatment of COVID-19. TMPRSS2 also plays an important role in other respiratory infections. Thus, Camostat could also be successfully used to treat influenza," says Markus Hoffmann. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Camostat mesylate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 activation by TMPRSS2-related proteases and its metabolite GBPA exerts antiviral activity. EBioMedicine, doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103255 Journal information: EBioMedicine Camostat mesylate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 activation by TMPRSS2-related proteases and its metabolite GBPA exerts antiviral activity. [March 04, 2021] NYMBUS Continues Industry Advisory Board Expansion 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 Shelly Loftin, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking, Payments and Lending for the American Bankers Association (ABA), and Maurice Moody, Head of Treasury and Innovation at Synovus. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005644/en/ Maurice Moody (Photo: Business Wire) The digital banking executives join an impressive and growing list of Nymbus Advisory Board members, including Rilla Delorier, John Janclaes, Robert James Lay and Hunter Young. Their combined experiences are guiding more banks and credit unions to leverage Nymbus' unique GROW business model which buys back decades of lost innovation time and quickly creates new digital revenue streams. "The noise around what digital means for financial servces can be incredibly overwhelming for banks and credit unions who, at the end the day, are seeking pragmatic advice for how to innovate and succeed in today's environment," said Jeffery Kendall, CEO and Chairman of Nymbus. "We're fortunate to add Shelly and Maurice to our Advisory Board that was formed specifically to help our partner financial institutions integrate a precise strategy for quick and sustainable business growth." Shelly Loftin: Shelly is a longtime banker turned ABA team member. For the past 14 years, she has worked on branding, marketing and retail in several positions at various community banks. Prior to joining the ABA, she was Chief Administrative Officer at Bear State Bank. Connecting brand, culture and customer experiences across channels is her passion. She is a cultivator of member happiness and passionate about improving the experience banking business. Maurice Moody: Maurice is the Head of Treasury Product and Innovation at Synovus, a financial services company with approximately $54 billion in assets that operates 294 branches throughout Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. He brings well over two decades of industry experience, including more recent career roles as the Head of Digital Banking at Umpqua Bank and Renasant Bank. Moody was directly responsible for developing and deploying superior digital experiences to ensure each bank was always current, competitive, and providing a unified experience across delivery channels for customers. 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/20210304005644/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has rejected the adoption of bills on civilian weapons and ammunition. According to an Interfax-Ukraine's correspondent, bill No. 4335, proposed by the profile committee, scored 88 votes with the necessary 226. Alternative draft act 4335-1 also did not score the necessary number of votes (it was supported by 74 parliamentarians). The MPs also did not support the decision to send bills for revision. Editors note: This part of a series of profiles on cannabis brokers, in which Insurance Journal explores why and how these folks got into the business, the ups and downs of insuring cannabis, as well as a few tips for those interested in a little professional development. Its been all about insuring cannabis for the past four years for Sean Medrano, vice president of operations for The Green Shield in Woodland Hills, Calif. Medrano has only been in the insurance business since 2017. Before that he, worked at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis for roughly nine years, in security for a while and then as a supervisor in event services. He got into insurance with the idea of being able to work in the cannabis space, and has since worked to hone his skills, and he has developed his book of business largely through the philosophy of network, network, network. Medrano spoke with Insurance Journal about his experience as a cannabis broker. Insurance Journal: Why did you get in the cannabis and insurance space? Medrano: Growing up in the bay area, the presence of cannabis was pretty common. Though I didnt smoke cannabis for the first time until I was in high school, I learned at a very young age about what it was and the effects it had on the body and mind. As I got older my passion for the plant continued to grow and when legalization was around the corner, I knew I wanted to work in the space but didnt know with what or how. When the opportunity to work for The Green Shield presented itself, I thought, What better way to help this industry continue to thrive than provide the security and protection to its products and businesses? Insurance Journal: Has this been a good financial decision so far? Medrano: The first two years were an absolute grind and very financially straining, but the networking and overall passion for the legalization only further pushed me to work hard. This constant hustle has now put me in a comfortable place financially. Insurance Journal: Whats the hardest thing about the cannabis industry to deal with? Medrano: Everyone is incredibly busy. When finalizing a policy quote it takes about five to seven days, and requires a lot of information from the client and sometimes getting those details take longer than preferred. Insurance Journal: What insurance product is the most difficult to obtain for your cannabis industry clients? Why? Medrano: Commercial auto. Very few carriers are willing to cover this risk in the cannabis space and those that do have many requirements to meet before they will even consider. Downtown Los Angeles and San Francisco operations are regularly declined, there are minimal fleet requirements and strict motor vehicle record restrictions for drivers. Insurance Journal: What two or three tips do you have for brokers entering the business of insuring cannabis? Medrano: Do your due diligence with keeping up to date on trends and concerns in the industry outside of insurance alone. Regularly attend events and say yes to anyone involved in the industry that wants to have a meeting. Network. Network. Network. Topics Agencies Cannabis First Minister Arlene Foster believes the Republic of Irelands slower Covid-19 vaccination programme will cause problems as Northern Irelands continues to move at pace. The number of people in Northern Ireland who have received their first Covid vaccination has reached almost 600,000, while in the Republic, only 6.15% of the population have received theirs. Speaking during Thursdays Covid-19 press conference, Mrs Foster said the differing speeds at which the vaccine programmes are progressing will bring headaches. Its very clear that we are going to be finished our vaccination programme and the Republic of Ireland will still be in the midst of theirs. That does bring headaches, stated the DUP leader. I think we will have to hear from our Chief Medical Officer [Dr Michael McBride] in relation to that - whether we need to take any actions. If you have people who are interacting with people who have been vaccinated then it becomes less effective because the virus learns that and then we would be in difficulty. I think there will be a need to look at this in the future. Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill stated that the Executive will begin to lift lockdown restrictions as soon as were in a position to give certainty. Things do look good today, she said. The virus transmission is on a downward trajectory but with what we've experienced in the past year that can quickly reverse itself. With the continued support of the public well get to the point very quickly where well be able to announce what does the first stage in lifting the restrictions looks like. It comes after the Department of Health reported three new deaths linked to coronavirus in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours. This brings the total deaths in Northern Ireland to 2,066 as of 10am on Thursday. A further 163 positive cases of the virus have been reported, meaning there have been 113,169 positive cases confirmed in Northern Ireland since the start of the pandemic. Covid-19 update with First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill Covid-19 update with First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/coronavirus-northern-ireland-three-further-deaths-and-163-new-cases-confirmed-40159071.html Posted by Belfast Telegraph on Thursday, March 4, 2021 Read More This includes 1,305 positive cases in the last seven days. In Northern Ireland hospitals, there are now 257 Covid-19 patients, including 29 patients in intensive care. A total of 63 patients are on ventilators, including 27 with Covid-19. Hospital occupancy is currently at 94% and there are 20 active outbreaks of the virus in Northern Ireland care homes. Meanwhile, the Health Minister said he is not in favour of Covid-19 vaccine certificates becoming mandatory in Northern Ireland. Robin Swann said they may be used for international travel but the idea they may be required in Northern Ireland to visit the cinema or restaurant doesnt sit comfortably with me. Appearing at the Stormont health committee on Thursday morning, the UUP minister also said the use of vaccine certificates is not generally supported by the Executive. Read More Mr Swann also provided an update on the vaccination programme and again ruled out the need for a 24/7 service. He said consideration is being given to the possibility that the planned mass vaccination at the SSE Arena will run extended hours but not on a 24/7 basis. He also said he expects that everyone over the age of 50 will have received a vaccine by April. State Senator Shay Shelnutt is behind the bill Alabamans may soon face felony charges for proving trans minors with hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgery after a new state Senate bill passed with a vote of 23-4 on Tuesday. The Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act has been sent to the House where a companion bill has already passed a committee, CBS reported. Violators could face felony charges with up to 10 years in prison or a $15,000 fine if signed into law. It would go into effect 30 days after it is signed by Republican Governor Kay Ivey. According to the bill's text, 'no person shall engage in, counsel, make a referral for, or cause' treatments to any person under the age of 19 to 'affirm the minor's perception of his or her gender or sex.' The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Shay Shelnutt, does not seem to specifically target medical workers providing the treatments. The bills' text defines a person as 'any individual.' Protesters in support of transgender rights line up near the parking lots of the Alabama State House in Montgomery on Tuesday Protestors in support of transgender rights march around the Alabama State House in Montgomery on Tuesday Protesters said the bill bans surgeries in the state, which already are not performed on minors It also targets school officials, forcing them 'to provide for disclosure of certain information concerning students to parents,' specifically 'the fact that the minor's perception of his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with the minor's sex.' The bill's text also has an ambiguous line noting that medical workers cannot 'remove any healthy or non-diseased body part or tissue,' without specificity on whether that provision applies just to genitalia. However, the bill does make exceptions for people 'born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development' such as being 'born with external biological sex characteristics that are irresolvably ambiguous.' 'Children aren't mature enough to make these decisions on surgeries and drugs. The whole point is to protect kids,' Shelnutt said, according to the Associated Press. Shelnutt admitted during the debate that he has never spoken to a transgender youth and said he did not know that such treatments were being done in Alabama when he first introduced the bill last year. He opposed an attempt by Republican colleague Tom Whatley, of Auburn, to add an amendment to the bill that made clear that counseling could continue. Shelnutt said he wants children to get counseling but not any that confirms a gender identity that conflicts with birth. 'We don't want them affirming that, 'Hey yeah, you're right, you should be a boy if you are a born a female',' Shelnutt said. Alabama is one of at least eight states where conservative lawmakers are pushing such measures, arguing such decisions should wait until adulthood. Protesters in support of transgender rights march around the Alabama State House in Montgomery on Tuesday Protesters in support of transgender rights march around the Alabama State House in Montgomery on Tuesday Parents, trans youth and medical experts have protested outside the Alabama State House to agitate against the bill, arguing it is dangerous and lawmakers don't understand that it is a lengthy process to obtain hormonal treatment. 'As a parent we know that these bills, they're fear mongering,' Justin Vest of Montevallo told The Birmingham News. 'They're not based in scientific evidence. The reality is none of the things they are saying that's being pushed on kids is true. And the reality of trans healthcare for youth, it's evidence-based and it's the right thing for these kids.' Montevallo said his daughter has known that she was trans since she was just 4 or 5 years old. 'We've watched her grow and followed her lead, and she's been consistent. And so, we want what's best for her,' he said. Chris White, who has a 12-year-old trans daughter who is on hormone blockers, held a sign that read: 'I trust doctors, not lawmakers. Let me parent my kid.' 'The things they are suggesting happen do not happen. Its absurd. And its not based in fact. Children under 19 do not get surgery on the genitals like they are suggesting in the bill. It does not happen,' White said. 'And while the hormone treatments and blockers do happen, they are done under careful medical guidance with specialists and psychiatric care to make sure the children are well-rounded, getting all the help they need. Its not done just casually.' The Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as the Human Rights Campaign and the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, the Campaign for Southern Equality and AIDS Alabama all oppose the bill. American Academy of Pediatrics claim the bill would interfere with doctor-patient relationships and that surgeries are not even performed on minors in the state. The Human Rights Campaign tweeted: 'We need everyone to speak out before Alabama criminalizes gender-affirming care for trans kids. If you live in Alabama, please call your legislators and tell them to vote no on HB1.' The ACLU claimed that passing the bill will hurt taxpayers as the state would certainly face lawsuits. 'In 2021, Alabama lawmakers have once again set out to take away the healthcare choices of everyday Alabamians, and just like the abortion ban in 2019, these bills could represent another costly lawsuit for the state if they're passed and signed by the governor,' the ACLU said in a statement. Reporter Ben Zigterman is a reporter covering business at The News-Gazette. His email is bzigterman@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@bzigterman). The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below PARLAMENTUL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA 2010 The Moldovan Parliaments website design was supported by the Democracy Support Programme in Moldova" an initiative financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe In the near future, the occupation administration in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Donetsk region plans to adopt the so-called 'law' On some issues of crossing of actual disengagement line of the power structures and law enforcement agencies of the DPR and the state of Ukraine," which provides for the introduction of a permitting procedure for the departure of persons from the TOT to Donetsk region, and also defines the categories of persons who are prohibited from entering/leaving the territory of the so-called "DPR". According to the press service of the Ukrainian delegation in the Trilateral Contact Group on Telegram on Thursday, the crossing of disengagement line when leaving (exiting) individuals and vehicles from the TOT to Donetsk region will be carried out in presence of a pass issued by the so-called " internal affairs bodies of the DPR". "It will be issued to individuals who have reached the age of 18, free of charge for a period of six months. The prerequisites for issuing such a pass are fingerprinting, photographing and checking the applicants' personal communications," the Ukrainian delegation said. It is reported that when traveling outside the TOT to Donetsk region by vehicle, the pass for the vehicle will also be issued. Consideration of applications for so-called passes by "DPR internal affairs bodies" are carried out within 15 days from the date of submission (in urgent cases - within 24 hours). "When entering through the disengagement line of an individual who has not previously received a pass for leaving or its validity period has expired, at the temporary control point "internal affairs officials" check the means of communication (mobile phone) of the individual, mandatory fingerprint registration and photographing of an individual," the negotiators say. They also report that a similar "normative act" is probably being developed by the occupation administration at the TOT in Luhansk region. "This will lead to further isolation of the TOT residents from the territory of Ukraine, which is controlled by the government, and is now being implemented under the guise of countering the spread of a new coronavirus infection," the Ukrainian delegation says. New Delhi, March 4 : Rivkah Reyes, who rose to stardom as a child star portraying Katie in the 2003 hit, "The School Of Rock", has joined the list of former child stars who have spoken up about navigating their teenage years through the darker side of harsh spotlight, often being sexualised by fans and the media alike. "Especially after production wrapped, when I first came back to school, people were really nice or really mean. There was no middle ground. I was literally followed around the school with people chanting 'School of Rock'," Reyes told New York Post recently. The subject has come to focus ever since the documentary "Framing Britney Spears" was released last month. Promoted as an effort that "re-examines her career and a new assessment of the movement rallying against her court-mandated conservatorship", it has led to a slew of child stars talking about the perils of fame at an early age. Former child actress, Mara Wilson, who rose to fame as one of the three children, Natalie Hillard, in the 1993 comedy film, "Mrs. Doubtfire", alongside Robin Williams, wrote about how, despite coming from different backgrounds, she and Spears followed a similar trajectory in the industry. In an opinion piece in New York Times, which was published last month, Wilson recalled being sexualised in the media, despite conscious efforts from her family and friends to project her as just a child. "People had been asking me, 'Do you have a boyfriend?' in interviews since I was 6. Reporters asked me who I thought the sexiest actor was and about Hugh Grant's arrest for soliciting a prostitute. If it wasn't reporters asking me inappropriate questions, then it was adult men sending me love letters. It was cute when 10-year-olds sent me letters saying they were in love with me. It was not when 50-year-old men did," she wrote. The now 28-year-old Reyes, who uses they/them gender-neutral pronouns, revealed something similar and recalled how they too were "sexualised" as a minor, with grown men telling them they "couldn't wait" for Reyes to "turn 18". With the movement #FreeBritney, which accused her father of controlling and being in charge of her pop career, already on a high, the release of this documentary has added fuel to fire, leading many to talk about how child actors, especially women child stars, are often sexualised, asked inappropriate questions, and are controlled by the media on how they look, dress and behave in public. Tavi Gevinson might not have been a pop star or an actor unlike the rest of the names, but she too had to travel down the path of being sexualized, since she had become a teenage sensation, thanks to her blog on pop culture and fashion. The now 24-year-old, who is also an actress, wrote an opinion piece for the Cut recalling a photo shoot, when had just turned 18. "Like Britney Spears, I was professionally photographed, lying across the bed in my childhood bedroom, when I was a teenager. I had been 18 for a month. I am lying on my side with my head propped up on my hand and wearing a vintage hounds tooth romper my friend had just given me, my arms and legs bare," she wrote. "When I see the photo now, I just see another thin white able-bodied blonde girl being sexualized. There is absolutely nothing else happening in it. It is not a portrait of someone with a discernible personality, just a pout. Now, at 24, it represents many things that I despise," she added. Looks like Spears's documentary has opened up a can of worms, and will probably see more former child stars come forward. Flash Nine people have been taken to hospital -- some of them seriously injured -- after a suspected terrorist attack in Vetlanda, near Jonkoping in the south of Sweden, on Wednesday. A police spokesperson told the newspaper Aftonbladet that some of the eight victims were seriously injured. The suspect was also rushed to hospital after he was shot by police. It was initially dealt with as a single incident near the town's train station, but police have since identified five locations where the victims were attacked and several areas were cordoned off in connection with the investigation. The string of attacks took place at around 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) and around 15 police patrols were sent to the area. Local media reported that the assailant was armed with a knife, but the police did not confirm this for investigative reasons. Police spokesperson Thomas Agnevik said that "some sort of weapon" was used, but declined to give any details. At a press conference following the incident, Jonas Lindell, head of the local police department, said the suspect was still armed when shot by a police officer. He was rushed to hospital and had not been interviewed by police up to 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). Lindell, however, said he was confident that the suspect would be questioned, indicating that his injuries were not life-threatening. The matter was initially treated as eight cases of attempted murder. This was later changed, as police said they were investigating it as an act of terrorism. At the press conference, the head of the Jonkoping police department Malena Grann said it was again treated as attempted murder. "But we are investigating whether the motive could be terrorism," Grann said, adding that the matter was being investigated in close cooperation with the Swedish Security Service. In a written statement sent to the TT news agency, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said: "We are reminded of how fragile our secure existence is. I would like to urge everyone to send a thought to those affected by the violence." PITTSBURGH, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FlexScreen , the leading name in window screen innovation, which originally appeared on Shark Tank's Episode 10 in Season 11 , provided fans with an inside look at how their appearance on the show changed the company's trajectory on a recent "Shark Tank Update" segment feature. This update included news about their product being available in e-commerce powerhouse HomeDepot.com and followed the journey of success post-investment from the "Queen of QVC," Lori Grenier. The company is led by Joe Altieri, Founder & CEO, who built FlexScreen's earliest prototype in his home garage after recognizing the lack of essential market innovation. FlexScreen, manufacturer of the world's first and only flexible window screen, announced their new strategic partnership with Saint-Gobain ADFORS, leading international manufacturer of high-performance construction and industrial materials. This global partnership grants Saint-Gobain ADFORS exclusive rights to sell FlexScreen products within the retail and dotcom channels. Through this collaboration, they were able to secure a roll out into HomeDepot.com. FlexScreen is currently available for purchase at homedepot.com/flexscreen, with custom sizes and multiple mesh styles available to be ordered and shipped directly to the homeowner or shipped to a local Home Depot store. "We are thrilled to join arms with Saint-Gobain and deliver our award-winning products to more residential and commercial consumers across the globe through HomeDepot.com," remarked Joe Altieri, President & CEO of FlexScreen. "We recognize Saint-Gobain's outstanding international market reputation and are excited for the opportunity to expand FlexScreen together in partnership." By putting the homeowner first, FlexScreen has been able to design with strength and ease in mind. With their high-performance spring steel, damage-resistant frames, FlexScreen offers the most efficient and effective way to install window screens without attachment hardware. This problem-solving design completely eliminates bent aluminum, scratched paint, broken hardware, and other issues commonly found in regular window screens. For decades, the window screen industry had been stagnant. When Altieri appeared on Shark Tank and flexed his unique, patented window screen invention, he shared a revolutionary idea that solves many problems. "Saint-Gobain has been a longstanding supplier to The Home Depot across multiple departments," said Jim Griffin, Sales & Marketing Director for Saint-Gobain ADFORS. "We know that innovation is extremely important to them, and FlexScreen wakes up a category that has been very much asleep." For more information, visit flexscreen.com . ABOUT FLEXSCREEN Everyone knows that the century-old technology of traditional window screens is loaded with problems. Flimsy aluminum frames that damage easily, scratched paint, complicated hardware, and frustrating installation and removal are just some of the issues that required a solution. So, we cleared out a workspace in the garage and invented FlexScreen - the world's first and only flexible window screen. No aluminum, no paint, no hardware, and no hassle. Just flex our high-performance, PVC coated spring steel frame, slide it into the window screen pocket (where it will virtually disappear), and enjoy the uninterrupted view. FlexScreen is innovative, effortless, durable, and beautiful. Welcome to the future of window screens! FlexScreen was the recipient of the Most Innovative Window Component in 2015 presented by Window & Door magazine and was a top 3 contender in the 2020 Edison Awards "Consumer Goods - Home Solutions" category, earning the Silver award. To learn more, visit www.flexscreen.com Media Contact: Lauren Gill, MAG PR at 978-473-1362 or [email protected]. About Saint-Gobain ADFORS Saint-Gobain ADFORS is a division of the Saint-Gobain Group that is focused on the construction and industrial markets. ADFORS offers solutions based on a complete range of textile and coating technologies using fiberglass yarns, synthetic fibers, and natural fibers. ADFORS is the reliable and innovative global leader in technical textiles, offering the most adapted solutions. The Saint-Gobain Group is established in 66 countries and is the market leader in each of its core businesses. To learn more, visit www.adfors.com SOURCE FlexScreen Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Introduction of an MBA course in 'Family Business and Entrepreneurship' at Delhi Technological University will enhance businesses not just in the city but in the entire country, Deputy Chief Minister said on Thursday. During his visit to DTU, he said that a course like 'Family Business and Entrepreneurship' would empower to become "job providers, not job seekers", and enable them to both enhance their own family businesses or start a new business on a fresh idea. "My dream for India is that the who graduate from our universities should become entrepreneurs and create employment opportunities. Our universities have equipped our in a way that they are able to get high salaries in world renowned companies. "But, for our nation's progress it's important that the universities equip our students with entrepreneurial skills and help them create jobs. It's my dream to see our universities become well-spring of entrepreneurs," he said. Sisodia added that his goal was to make this course "a global brand for entrepreneurship on the lines of the Babson College in the United States". Noting that one of the major problems caused by the pandemic was unemployment, Sisodia said that through the introduction of such programmes, DTU was aiming to mitigate problems of unemployment. "More than 2.5 lakh students graduate from schools in Delhi, looking for jobs, but nobody thinks of becoming a job provider. "Professional universities of developed countries are roping in students from all over the world to enhance their own economies. It should be the prerogative of our universities to empower students to contribute to our nation's economy," he said. During his visit, Sisodia also inaugurated the Manthan Hall of University School of Management and Entrepreneurship at the east campus of DTU. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A MAN who repeatedly struck another man with a hammer during a home invasion last year has been jailed for six years. Evan OKeefe, 23, of Shanabooley Road, Ballynanty, Limerick had pleaded guilty to multiple charges relating to the offence which occurred in the Mulgrave Street area of the city on March 7, 2020. During a sentencing hearing before Christmas, Garda Enda Clifford said the alarm was raised at around 4am when the victim was woken by an intruder in his bedroom. After he challenged the burglar, a second male entered the room and the occupant was punched and struck at least four times with a hammer. The homeowner sustained six lacerations to his scalp and head and required ten staples. In a victim impact statement, the now 38-year-old said he had never seen such savagery, brutality, and inhumanity from another human being as he did on the night and that he initially feared he had sustained a brain injury. Garda Clifford said after fleeing the house the intruders broke into another home a short distance away. Sometime later on the same day the defendant threatened, and robbed a mobile phone from a young man who was eating his lunch at a fast food restaurant in the city centre. The court heard Mr OKeefe was on bail at the time as he had been charged with robbing a wallet from a 15-year-old boy at Davis Street in the city centre on September 24, 2019. Barrister Yvonne Quinn said her client made full, frank and valuable admissions and that he has expressed his remorse. She said he had a very significant addiction and that he was spending around 200 a day on drugs around the time of the offences. Ms Quinn said the defendant is now drug free and that he has developed an insight into his drug use and behaviour. Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell said what happened was extremely serious and he said it was an aggravating factor that some of the offences occurred while Mr OKeefe was on bail. He added that the use of a weapon was of serious concern. He imposed a number of consecutive prison sentences totalling six years imprisonment. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Papendick: Tiospa Zina home of football champions Local columnist John Papendick takes a look successes within the all Nations Football Conference. The "The Textile Industry in South Africa 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report examines the South African textile industry, from the manufacture and distribution of basic textiles, yarns, and fabrics, to the large retail market for finished textile products like towels and linen. It includes comprehensive information on the state and size of the sector, demand, sales trade and employment statistics, sector trends, corporate actions and major developments. There are profiles of 23 companies including manufacturers such as Standerton Mills and Aranda Textile Mills, Associate Spinners and The Good Hope Textile Corporation (Da Gama). The Textile Industry: Retail trade sales of textiles have continued to expand although the country's protracted struggle with low economic growth and falling incomes, recently exacerbated by the coronavirus outbreak and national lockdown, have restrained consumer spending. In the manufacturing sector, production and employment have stagnated and many producers are uncompetitive relative to the cheap Asian imports. The sector remains largely unable to compete with imports or to generate sustainable growth. Nevertheless, there have been some important recent successes, such as the revitalisation of the cotton sub-sector. Strategic Priority: Due to their labour-intensive nature, textiles and apparel have long been identified as a strategic priority for South Africa's industrial policy and support programmes. The industry master plan, released at the end of 2019, aims to buoy local textile procurement by working closely with retailers to combat the high levels of illegal imports, and incentivise new investment into domestic manufacturing capacity. The performance of the textile industry has been mixed for a number of years, despite government support programmes and support including import duties, local procurement thresholds, subsidies, grants, and direct funding of manufacturers through the clothing and textiles competitiveness programme. Story continues Coronavirus: The pandemic and global economic lockdowns have had an immediate effect on textile production, sales, and trade. There has been a significant expansion in ecommerce and online shopping as a result of the lockdown. Clothing is a major and rapidly-growing product category for ecommerce, but textiles are a rather niche online segment. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Description of the Industry 2.1. Industry Value Chain 2.2. Geographic Position 3. Size of the Industry 4. State of the Industry 4.1. Local 4.1.1. Trade 4.1.2. Corporate Actions 4.1.3. Regulations 4.1.4. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development 4.2. Continental 4.3. International 5. Influencing Factors 5.1. Coronavirus 5.2. Economic Environment 5.3. Rising Input Costs 5.4. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 5.5. Government Incentives and Support 5.6. Environmental Concerns 5.7. Labour 6. Competition 6.1. Barriers to Entry 7. SWOT Analysis 8. Outlook 9. Industry Associations 10. References Appendix Summary of Notable Players Textile Demand for Key Products by Market and Customer, 2015 Textile Buyers, Agents, Importers, and Wholesalers Company Profiles Ahlesa Blankets (Pty) Ltd Aranda Textile Mills (Pty) Ltd Associated Spinners (Pty) Ltd Beier Envirotec (Pty) Ltd Desleemattex (Pty) Ltd Gelvenor Consolidated Fabrics (Pty) Ltd Glodina Towelling (Pty) Ltd Good Hope Textile Corporation (Pty) Ltd (The) House of Hemp (Pty) Ltd Integrated Polypropylene Products (Pty) Ltd Ivili Loboya (Pty) Ltd Ninian and Lester (Pty) Ltd Old Nick Fabrics (Pty) Ltd Prilla 2000 (Pty) Ltd Resource Link Coatings (Pty) Ltd Rotex Fabrics (Pty) Ltd Samil Natural Fibres (Pty) Ltd Sesli Textiles (Pty) Ltd South African Polypropylene Yarns (Pty) Ltd Standerton Mills (Pty) Ltd Stucken and Company (Pty) Ltd Svenmill (Pty) Ltd Yarntex (Pty) Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xytm13 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005655/en/ Contacts ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Its advanced solutions, wide geographic footprint, and deep customer focus earn it a significant competitive advantage in the global market LONDON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the global smart gas metering market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Italy-based Pietro Fiorentini S.p.a with the 2021 Global Company of the Year Award. Employing high-performance smart gas metering technology, Pietro Fiorentini emerges as a leading provider for the utilities sector thanks to cutting-edge solutions that ensure high efficiency, boost safety, minimize costs, and advance energy operations. Click here to view the full multimedia release: https://best-practices.frost.com/pietro-fiorentini/ "Pietro Fiorentini is growing much faster than the competition in the swiftly expanding global smart gas metering market. It exhibited impressive growth of 25% in 2020. Since 2016, its smart gas meter production increased three-fold, crossing six million smart meters in September 2020," said Jonathan Robinson, Global Power & Energy Research Director. "Simultaneously, the company completed several essential acquisitions to consolidate geographically and widen its product portfolio." Pietro Fiorentini signed several fruitful partnerships with various energy companies and government authorities worldwide. It entrenched itself in the leadership position by introducing innovative solutions such as a new smart gas meter 4.0 with environment-friendly and monitoring features that can interrupt gas supply in the case of earthquakes, thus providing better safety for users. "We are proud to receive this important award that testifies our growing leadership role in the smart metering sector," states Cristiano Nardi, Executive President of the Pietro Fiorentini Group. "A key success factor has been the ability to constantly listen to our customers, closely working with them and modulating our role depending on their needs. This approach implies a level of interaction between Pietro Fiorentini and its partners that is much beyond a normal supplier-customer relationship, which leads to concrete and valuable benefits for both sides. Our concept of 'quality' is related not just to the product itself but also with regard to all the interactions that characterize the customer journey and inevitably have an impact on Pietro Fiorentin perception as a reliable and highly performing partner". Pietro Fiorentini delivers best-in-class customer service, placing clients at the center of all its activities. It has the capabilities and experience to design and manufacture customizable products within a short period to ensure rapid time-to-market. It takes a proactive approach to understanding customer needs and the particular regulatory and market circumstances in which they operate to tailor their products to their specific needs. The company works jointly with customers on smart metering solutions to reduce operational costs by detecting and handling potential risks before they emerge. "Pietro Fiorentini's customer-centric approach and insight into smart gas metering technologies meet and exceed its customers' needs and expectations," noted Maksym Beznosiuk, Best Practices Analyst. "By offering unparalleled efficiency and reliability to its customers, it is all set to capture a larger share of this dynamic and challenging market." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership in customer value and market penetration. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Lindsey Whitaker P: +1 (210) 477-8457 E: lindsey.whitaker@frost.com About Pietro Fiorentini S.p.a Pietro Fiorentini, founded in Bologna in 1940, is today one of the major industrial companies in the North East of Italy, with headquarters in Arcugnano (Vicenza). The Group has around 30 locations amongst its manufacturing and commercial sites, both in Italy and abroad, and employs around 2,400 people worldwide. In 2020 reached consolidated revenues exceeding 380 million, an increase of about 17% compared to 2019. The Group has a solid customer base including natural gas distribution and transmission companies, Oil & Gas companies, EPC and industrial end-users, which recognize its absolute standing in terms of product and process innovation. At the core of the company's production is a wide range of technologically advanced solutions all along the natural gas supply chain: from components and services for transmission and distribution networks, to a series of engineered solutions that include valves, multi-phase meters, process plants, reducing and metering systems. In the last ten years the company has made significant investments in R&D, M&A, plants and production means, which have led to a leadership position in the Smart Metering sector and more generally in Smart Grids, offering integrated end-to-end solutions thanks to the unique combination of the most sophisticated mechanical and electronic skills with the software solutions provided by the subsidiary Terranova, a company that employs more than 350 people. More recently, as part of the energy transition process, the Group is accelerating its efforts to seize the new opportunities related to green energy sources such as biomethane, hydrogen and power to gas. With a strong focus on the global market, the Group generates over 70% of its revenues outside of Italy. Contact: Giorgio Barbareschi P: +39 0444 941727 E: giorgio.barbareschi@fiorentini.com WILLIAMSPORT The Lycoming County district attorney says he hopes the 90- to 180-year sentence handed down to a child rapist serves as a significant deterrent to others. District Attorney Ryan C. Gardner was talking about the sentence that county Judge Marc F. Lovecchio imposed Wednesday on Matthew W. Sauter, 42, of the Montoursville area. The judge had found Sauter guilty in a November non-jury trial on all 78 counts against him that included rape, statutory sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. The encounters began in January 2014 when the female victim was 12 and continued until September 2016 in Souters home and one in Williamsport. Prior to being sentenced, Sauter was determined to be a sexually violent predator and someone who was likely to commit the offenses again. His sentence includes a lifetime registration under Megans Law. The victim, when asked by police how many times she had been sexually assaulted, replied, according to Assistant District Attorney K. Michael Sullivan: Too many to count. Sauter, who claimed he wanted to be a father figure, would babysit the victim and a younger brother, the charges state. The girl did not seek retribution but sought a sentence that would deter others, Sullivan said. She was present for the sentencing but did not speak. She still suffers the effects of the unspeakable acts, he said. The physical and psychological harm she suffered was mentioned by Lovecchio. Sauter violated a position of trust, he said in reference to the babysitting. Sauter continued to violate her and has shown no remorse, Lovecchio said. Her life has changed forever, he said. In imposing what he considered a life sentence the judge said he wanted to send a message to the public that what Sauter did is unacceptable. New Delhi, March 4 : The Supreme Court said on Thursday that provisions for reservations of seats for OBCs in local bodies cannot breach the 50 per cent limit. A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Indu Malhotra and Ajay Rastogi said that reservation for OBCs is only a "statutory" dispensation to be provided by the state legislations, unlike the "constitutional" reservation for SCs/STs, which is linked to the proportion of population. "As regards the state legislations providing for reservation of seats in respect of OBCs, it must ensure that in no case the aggregate vertical reservation in respect of SCs/STs/OBCs taken together should exceed 50 per cent of the seats in the concerned local bodies," the bench said. The top court quashed the results of OBC reserved seats in local bodies in the districts of Washim, Akola, Nagpur and Bhandara in Maharashtra. The top court also directed the State Election Commission to take immediate steps to announce elections in respect of such vacated seats of the concerned local bodies, not later than two weeks from Thursday, to be filled by general/open category candidates for the remainder term of the panchayats/samitis. The bench said the quantum of reservation for OBCs ought to be local body specific and be so provisioned to ensure that it does not exceed the quantitative limitation of 50 per cent (aggregate) of vertical reservation of seats for SCs/STs/OBCs taken together. The top court also read down provisions of the Maharasthra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961 to hold that reservation for OBCs may be up to 27 per cent but subject to the outer limit of 50 per cent aggregate. The bench said besides this inviolable quantitative limitation, the state authorities are obliged to fulfil other preconditions before reserving seats for OBCs in the local bodies. "The foremost requirement is to collate adequate materials or documents that could help in identification of backward classes for the purpose of reservation by conducting a contemporaneous rigorous empirical inquiry into the nature and implications of backwardness in the concerned local bodies," noted the bench. The bench said in case constitutional reservation for SCs and STs were to consume the entire 50 per cent of seats in the local bodies and in some cases in scheduled area even beyond 50 per cent, the question of providing further reservation to OBCs would not arise at all. To justify its decision in the matter, the top court cited the Constitution bench decision in the 'K Krishna Murthy (Dr) and Ors v Union of India & Anr' case of 2010. The bench said the triple test conditions are required to be complied by the state before reserving seats in the local bodies for OBCs. The conditions are: Setting up a dedicated commission to conduct contemporaneous rigorous empirical inquiry into the nature and implications of the backwardness qua local bodies; specify the proportion of reservation required to be provisioned local body wise in light of recommendations of the Commission; and, in any case such reservation shall not exceed aggregate of 50 per cent of the total seats reserved in favour of SCs/STs/OBCs taken together. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 16:21:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, March 3 (Xinhua) -- An unmanned SpaceX's Starship prototype on Wednesday exploded on the ground shortly after landing in a test flight, according to a SpaceX video online. After the flight, flames were seen to come out from the bottom of the Starship rocket Serial Number 10, or SN10, and it exploded minutes after landing. During the flight, the spacecraft shut down three Raptor engines in sequence during the ascent, flew to a planned peak altitude of 10 km, and then performed a "belly flop" maneuver to a horizontal orientation to descend back to its landing pad. SN10 had a beautiful soft landing on the landing pad in the site at Boca Chica, Texas, said John Insprucker, a SpaceX engineer who hosted the company's webcast of the flight. But it exploded a few minutes after it stood on the concrete pad, rising up and crashing down again in a huge fireball. The cause of the explosion, or whether it was intentional, was not immediately clear. "The key point of today's test flight was to gather the data on controlling the vehicle while re-entering," Insprucker said. "And we were successful in doing so." It was another high-altitude flight test of Starship, a huge next-generation launch vehicle developed by SpaceX, following two previous test flights of Starship SN8 and SN9, both of which also exploded on impact as they attempted to land. A controlled aerodynamic descent with body flaps and vertical landing capability, combined with in-space refilling, are critical to landing Starship at destinations across the solar system where prepared surfaces or runways do not exist, and returning to Earth, said SpaceX. "This capability will enable a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration, interplanetary flights and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond," said the company. The next prototype, SN11, is "ready to roll out to the pad in the very near future," said Insprucker. The space company said its Starship aimed to be the world's most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tons to Earth orbit. Enditem "Thousands of people walk through our doors at Hershey's Chocolate World every day and create lifelong memories. We couldn't think of a better place to put a smile on a face through the simple gesture of 'Celebrating SHE' and honoring all the women in our lives by giving out these limited-edition chocolate bars," said Suzanne Jones, Vice President, The Hershey Experience. To keep the celebration going, the Hershey's brand also created a short inspirational film featuring women whose achievements have impacted and inspired the world, including the likes of Gloria Steinem, Gilda Radner and Katherine Johnson. Hershey's brand is also inviting everyone to share in the celebration of SHE by sharing a picture of a woman you are celebrating on social media and use the hashtag #CelebrateSHE. We'll share some of these stories on Hershey's social channels throughout the entire month of March Women's History Month. "We want to encourage everyone to share some extra goodness and take a moment to celebrate the 'SHEs'; the women and girls who have inspired us, motivated us and have made a positive change in our lives," said Veronica Villasenor, Vice President, Chocolate, The Hershey Company. The Hershey Company Commitment The Hershey Company, maker of the beloved Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar, celebrates women beyond its wrappers. With Michele Buck as CEO and Chairman of the Board, the company is among only seven percent of Fortune 500 companies that are led by women. Hershey is proud of its equal gender representation across the business and dollar-for-dollar pay gender equity in the U.S., and soon around the world. Our company is committed to achieving gender equality at every level of the organization around the globe. For more information on The Hershey Company's commitment to diversity & inclusion and support of equal gender representation, visit our corporate website. About The Hershey Company The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 90 brands around the world that drive more than $8 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate's Booty. For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed. To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com Follow: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Instagram SOURCE The Hershey Company Related Links https://www.thehersheycompany.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Khashoggi: trial in absentia resumes in Istanbul 26 Saudis charged, fiancee of murdered reporter present (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, 04 MAR - The trial against 26 Saudi citizens charged in absentia for the October 2, 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Riyadh consulate in Istanbul resumed Thursday. On trial are the suspected members and directors of the "death squad" sent by the Kingdom to eliminate the Saudi columnist with the Washington Post, who had become uncomfortable for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS. Among the suspects, for whom Riyadh denied extradition, are also two of the crown prince's very close advisors, former media advisor Saud al-Qahtani and former intelligence deputy Ahmed al-Assiri. According to Turkish investigators, the 59-year-old reporter's body was dismembered, and his remains have never been found. Khashoggi had gone to the consulate to obtain documents needed for his marriage to Turkish researcher Hatice Cengiz, who was present in the courtroom Thursday and relaunched her appeal to the international community to take action to punish the Saudi crown prince. The trial resumed just days after a report released by US intelligence accused bin Salman of having de facto ordered the operation in which the journalist was assassinated. Riyadh maintains that the crime took place following an unauthorised operation and rejects all accusations of involvement by the crown prince, who has, however, also been implicated by UN experts. In the courtroom, Cengiz's attorney asked that the results of the US investigation be included in the judges' dossier, but the judges rejected the request and maintained that the results are not pertinent. The trial was adjourned until July 8. (ANSAmed). The SECs contention was that the ward volunteers should not be entrusted with the distribution of voters slips and they should be without mobile phones as it would result in influencing the voters. VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued an order suspending the State Election Commissions direction not to involve ward volunteers in urban local body polls. A single-judge bench headed by Justice DVSS Somayajulu said there was no need to suspend all activities of the ward volunteers referring to the impugned order of the SEC permitting the ward volunteers to carry on their normal and routine mandated responsibilities. The court opined that in case any attempts were made by the volunteers, appropriate action for coercion, intimidation and undue influence could be taken up under relevant provisions of the law. The court observed that conduct of a free and fair poll was the ultimate objective of the SEC and all those involved in the election process and said that if the grievance of the petitioners was that the voters were being threatened for withdrawal of benefits by ward volunteers, the court suggested to the SEC that it could take further steps like setting up 24 hours call centre to receive complaints from each urban local body and also could set up mobile kiosks to receive complaints. The court also suggested that the SEC could give wide publicity in case the individuals were threatened or coerced to make a complaint by highlighting the legal provisions and in extreme cases, police protection could also be given to the voters to enable them to exercise their franchise. The court laid stress that an educated and informed voter, conscious of his rights and duties, was the main requirement today. The SECs contention was that the ward volunteers should not be entrusted with the distribution of voters slips and they should be without mobile phones as it would result in influencing the voters. National People's Congress Spokesperson Zhang Yesui is seen on large screens during a video news conference, as a precaution for COVID-19 prevention in Beijing, China, on March 4, 2021. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) China Moves to Overhaul Hong Kongs Elections, Suppress Dissent Beijing is pushing ahead with a proposal to overhaul Hong Kongs electoral system and allow only patriots to govern the city, officials announced on March 4. Zhang Yesui, a spokesperson for the National Peoples Congress, said the plan will be the seventh item on the agenda when Chinas rubber-stamp legislature convenes on March 5. Events in recent years showed that Hong Kongs electoral system needed improvements to keep up with the times, Zhang said in an implicit reference to the months-long pro-democracy protests beginning in the summer of 2019 in opposition to the regimes growing encroachment on the self-rule and freedoms pledged to the city after the 1997 handover from the UK. Chinese authorities have moved quickly over the past year to tighten control, imposing a national security law that punishes any activities it defines as secession, subversion, collusion with foreign forces, or terrorism. Signals of the latest move had surfaced as early as late January, when Chinese leader Xi Jinping stressed the importance of having only patriots rule Hong Kong in a virtual meeting with Hong Kongs Chief Executive Carrie Lam, during which Lam reported on her annual job performance. A month later, senior official Xia Baolong, who heads the State Councils Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, gave a speech to echo Xis viewpoints, claiming it to be an inevitable requirement for China to exercise sovereignty over the former British colony. Xia specifically mentioned the protesters, or rioters as he called them, describing them as anti-China and wreaking havoc in Hong Kong. Why were the hostile forces in and outside of Hong Kong able to cause troubles in Hong Kong and even gather momentum in some political organs and some areas? he said in the speech. One direct reason is that the principle of patriots ruling Hong Kong has not been fully implemented. The election in Hong Kong, Xia said, must effectively bar the non-patriots from occupying key positions in any situation. Chinese security personnel march after the opening session of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on March 4, 2021. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Neither Xia nor Zhang revealed any specifics about the electoral changes. Some of the citys Beijing loyalists, however, have suggested replacing the 117 district councilorslargely a group of democracy advocateswith local delegates to the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body, and barring them from selecting the citys leader. Priscilla Leung, a pro-Beijing lawmaker, also called for establishing a special committee to review potential candidates eligibility to participate in the local elections. There have been many occasions in the past when a person was allowed to join an election after signing a declaration form [promising to uphold the Basic Law and pledging allegiance to the SAR]. However, after being elected into the district councils, they started advocating Hong Kong independence or self-determination, she said. This situation is not ideal. Hong Kong has made 100 arrests over national security law-related offenses, according to a police statement. On Feb. 28, the government directed subversion charges against 47 opposition figures for their participation in an unofficial primary vote last July, which the local pan-democracy camp held to field promising candidates for legislative offices. In a sign of the citys eroding image as an international financial hub, conservative think tank Heritage Foundation on March 3 excluded Hong Kong from its latest annual index that tracks countries economic freedom. The city had been a top-rated economy on the list for 25 years. Even though the city, along with Macau, still enjoys relatively more investment freedom than mainland China, developments in recent years have demonstrated unambiguously that those policies are ultimately controlled from Beijing, the think tank said in a statement (pdf). Only pilgrims who have received a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to attend the upcoming hajj, Saudi Arabia Health Ministry announced this week. You must prepare early to secure the manpower required to operate the health facilities in Makkah, the holy sites and Madinah, and the entry points for pilgrims for the 2021 Hajj season, Saudi Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said in an official circular carried by Arab News. A vaccination committee must be formed for the Hajj and Umrah season, on which they have adopted the compulsory reception of the COVID-19 vaccine for participating health care workers, he added. Saudi Arabia limited the hajj to roughly 1,000 socially distanced citizens and foreign residents last July, with Muslims outside the country unable to attend. The Saudi government hasnt said whether it will again limit the number of pilgrims in 2021. The Islamic pilgrimage typically attracts some 2.5 million people, and together the umrah and hajj bring in an estimated $12 billion annually. In March 2020, the kingdom put umrah pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina on hold as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but in October it gradually allowed citizens and residents to undertake the year-round pilgrimage that attracts some 19 million people to the holy cities every year. Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced five deaths from the virus, raising the death toll to 6,510. The kingdom has so far registered more than 369,000 COVID-19 cases since last March. Since launching its nationwide inoculation campaign in mid-December, Saudi Arabia has set up 100 vaccine sites, with drive-through vaccinations in major cities. The country will also begin offering the vaccine for free at pharmacies, Al-Rabiah told Al Arabiya. Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN The Chief State Medical Examiner has ruled the cause of death of one of the two men found deceased in a storage room adjacent to Jacks Bar & Steakhouse Feb. 15 as an accidental overdose. Dr. James Gill said Tuesday that one of the two men died of accidental acute intoxication due to the combined effects of Fentanyl and para-Fluorofentanyl. London: One of the federal governments top scientific advisers is conducting an international lobbying blitz to assure key allies that Australia has a plan to achieve net zero emissions, in a new diplomatic effort ahead of a trio of crunch climate change summits this year. Dr Alan Finkel, who was appointed special adviser on low-emissions technology when his term as chief scientist expired in December, has met virtually with ministers and officials in the United Kingdom and United States and has further conversations planned with Japan, South Korea and Germany. Former chief scientist Alan Finkel is now a special adviser on low-emissions technology. Credit:Jessica Hromas Finkel said the offensive was designed to make sure we understand each others emissions reduction strategies and identify potential supply or research deals on low-emissions technologies. If youre talking to a colleague, a company or even another country, you really have to be very upfront about what youre doing and where youre going, Finkel said. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 22:00:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The AG600 aircraft completes the first flight test of its aerial water-dropping functions in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, March 4, 2021. (Photo provided to Xinhua) BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's independently developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft has entered a new flight test phase targeting its firefighting capacities, announced its developer on Thursday. The AG600 aircraft on Thursday completed the first flight test of its aerial water-dropping functions in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, said the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It marked a major step forward for the development of the large amphibious aircraft model, which is of great importance to the country in strengthening its natural disaster prevention and emergency rescue capacities. The aircraft performed well during the test of its water-dropping capabilities, which is one of the key functions of the amphibious aircraft model. It is expected that the AG600 aircraft will proceed to conduct flight tests dropping water over fire sites before the end of the year, the AVIC said. During Thursday's flight test, the AG600 development team also conducted a preliminary evaluation of the procedure for the aircraft's water-dropping task. It will provide a basis for the improvement of the aircraft's firefighting capacities and better serve the country's demand for enhanced, comprehensive natural disaster prevention and emergency rescue capabilities. The AG600 aircraft completes the first flight test of its aerial water-dropping functions in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, March 4, 2021. (Photo provided to Xinhua) MULTI-DUTY LARGE AIRCRAFT The AG600, together with the Y-20 large transporter and the C919 single-aisle passenger airplane, is part of China's key project to independently develop a "large aircraft family." Codenamed Kunlong, the AG600 is a key piece of aeronautical equipment in China's emergency rescue system. It is intended to meet the needs of firefighting and marine rescue missions, as well as other critical emergency rescue operations. The large amphibious aircraft is designed to operate in complex weather and environmental conditions. During rescue missions, it can conduct low-altitude water surface searches and can act as an anchor during water and maritime rescue missions. The aircraft is capable of rescuing up to 50 people per mission. The AG600 successfully completed its maiden flight in 2017, its first takeoff from a water reservoir in 2018, and its maiden flight over sea in 2020. During its maiden flight over sea, the AG600 aircraft further verified its marine-related performance, which laid the foundations for its future work in specific environments during missions such as emergency rescue operations, according to the AVIC. Three terror attacks have foiled in the UK since the start of the Covid pandemic, it was revealed today. Counter Terrorism Policing disclosed the information as Home Office figures showed the number of arrests for terrorism-related activity fell by 34% in 2020, the lowest level in nine years. Despite this, the number of terror plots prevented by police and the intelligence services has risen to 28 since March 2017, police said. Counter Terrorism Policing disclosed the information as Home Office figures showed the number of arrests for terrorism-related activity fell by 34% in 2020. File photo Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: 'These statistics tell me two things. 'Firstly, that despite facing unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, Counter Terrorism Policing continued to keep the public safe by making 185 arrests across more than 800 live investigations, stopping three possible terror attacks in the process. 'And secondly, that while the rest of us have been focused on protecting ourselves and our families from this terrible disease, terrorists have not stopped planning attacks or radicalising vulnerable people online. 'As we follow the Government's road map out of the tightest restrictions there will be greater opportunity for terrorists to operate, and we want the public to join the police, security staff and retail workers in a collective community effort to minimise the chance of attack. 'We know from experience that public information and action helps save lives and lead to the significant arrests detailed in these statistics.' The comments come as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the Commons that teenagers were being recruited to terrorist organisations during lockdown in 'worrying' numbers. Updating MPs about ISIS, the Foreign Secretary said the UK is tackling the group's propaganda 'head on'. But he warned the terror group is 'still able to carry out lethal attacks' and it remains the UK's 'most significant terrorist threat' both at home and abroad. The comments come as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (left) told the Commons that teenagers were being recruited to terrorist organisations during lockdown in 'worrying' numbers Speaking in the Commons, Mr Raab said: 'This is a critical moment. 'Yes, Daesh's brand has weakened - it remains, nonetheless, globally recognised. 'In December 2020, the UK Counter-Terrorism Referral Unit saw a 7% rise in the volume of terrorist content online and we can see a worrying rise in the proportion of children and teenagers that are now being arrested for terrorism offences. 'And it was Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu of the Met (Metropolitan Police) who described lockdown and the accessibility of terrorist content online as a perfect storm because terrorists have digital access to those who are probably the most susceptible to extremist narratives. 'So we are tackling Daesh's propaganda head on and I am proud the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) leads on this work on behalf of the global coalition.' He added the UK Government has 'carried out a range of targeted and effective cyber operations'. On the threat posed by IS, Mr Raab said: 'The safety and the security of our citizens is obviously the Government's highest priority, it is at the core of our work in tackling Daesh, which remains our most significant terrorist threat - both at home and abroad.' Mr Raab told MPs the Global Coalition Against Daesh estimates there are still 'around 10,000 Daesh members at large across Syria and Iraq', adding: 'So support for Daesh still lingers on in many communities.' New Delhi: Monsoon floods and landslides unleashed by unprecedented rains have killed hundreds and affected lakhs across the country with places like Assam and Bihar being adversely affected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered all support to Assam and also spoke to CM Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday and Monday regarding the situation in the state. Further, he also spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the flood situation in the state on Monday and assured him of all support from the Centre to mitigate the situation. The situation is being monitored closely, the prime minister said. "My thoughts are with all those affected by floods inparts of Bihar," Modi said. ALSO READ: 11 trains cancelled; PM Modi assures support to Bihar, Assam "Centre assures all support to Bihar government tomitigate the flood situation. Teams of @NDRFHQ are in Bihar for rescue and relief work," the PMO tweeted. All possible support is being provided to Assam for overcoming the flood situation prevailing in parts of the state tweets PM Modi ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2017 Due to rains in the catchment areas of Nepal andSeemanchal district, rivers like Mahananda and Kankai in Biharhave swelled leading to floods in four districts. Ever since Assam has witnessed flooding, the Central Government has been closely & constantly monitoring the situation tweets PM Modi ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2017 The chief minister had demanded an additional deploymentof 10 companies of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)in the state, besides deployment of the Indian Air Force'shelicopters to carry out relief-and-rescue operations. PM Modi spoke to Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal yesterday & today regarding the flood situation in the state. pic.twitter.com/AR6MeaYK7b ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2017 PM Narendra Modi speaks to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar regarding the flood situation in parts of the state, says situation being monitored closely pic.twitter.com/liGxany4lG ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2017 With PTI inputs READ: Assam deluge: Death toll reaches 89, 11 lakh people affected For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A 'VIP' family in Qatar are looking for a 'discreet and well mannered' female personal trainer to live on their palace in and train them five days a week. High-end UK-based recruitment company Polo & Tweed is seeking a qualified instructor to train the family and their guests at the luxury residence, which boasts a full gym, swimming pools and state of the art treatment rooms. When the family travels overseas the trainer will be expected to accompany them and continue with the training regime. In return the candidate will be given a salary of up to 120,000 tax free per year, as well as free accommodation and one return flight home per year. High-end UK-based recruitment company Polo & Tweed is seeking a qualified instructor to train the family and their guests at the luxury residence, which boasts a full gym, swimming pools and state of the art treatment rooms. Stock image In return the candidate will be given a salary of up to 120,000 tax free per year, as well as free accommodation and one return flight home per year. Pictured, the job listing The job listing does not name the family or offer any further detail other than to say it is a 'large family' that travels frequently and often hosts guests. The description explains the family are looking to employ an English-speaking personal trainer on a 'long-term basis' who will work with members of the family. It continues: 'At the main residence, the family live, with their children, and as with all Middle Eastern VIP households, expect their household to be run to the highest degree. 'They have a full gym, with all the latest equipment, plus swimming pools and state of the art treatment rooms. The job listing does not name the family or offer any further detail other than to say it is a 'large family' that travels frequently and often hosts guests. Above, an accompanying video 'They are keen to now secure a new long-term personal trainer to lead the family and guests into healthy and fit lifestyle habits.' Do YOU have what it takes to bag the role? Person training qualification Understanding of nutrition HIT/cross fit type style of training Skills in massage or rehab Discreet social media presence Well mannered Strong English skills Happy to travel regularly Advertisement Outlining the requirements, the listing states the successful candidate must 'be respectful and understanding of Middle Eastern culutre' and be a 'qualified personal trainer' with experience in 'muscle training, body building and Cross Fit with other weight-based training to get excellent results'. An interest in nutrition is also valuable, because the role involves turning to the family's personal team of chefs to help advise healthy eating plans. Additional qualifications, such as massage or rehab, are a bonus - but the family would like the candidate to have a general knowledge of these subjects. The posting specifically mentions social media, saying that while the candidate might want to maintain an online presence for professional reasons, she must be completely respectful of the family's privacy. The personal trainer will work a 10 hour day on Sunday to Thursday, with weekends in Qatar on Friday and Saturday. There will also be the chance to work extra days with an increased salary and claim time off in lieu or overtime. The family are currently interviewing for the right candidate to start as soon as possible and are adhering to the COVID-19 government guidelines. ROCHESTER, Minn. A Rochester man has been charged with 22 child pornography crimes. Arkady Pavlovich Pichurin, 26, was arrested Thursday on 10 counts of use of minors in pornographic work, one count of disseminated child porn, 10 counts of possession of child porn, and one count of soliciting a juvenile to commit a criminal act. Pichurin has been booked into the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center on $100,000 bond. The Rochester Police Department says it received multiple tips about child porn uploaded to an IP address belonging to Pichurin. That led to the search of Pichurins home on January 15. Investigators say they found hundreds of images of child pornography, many of them related to one victim under the age of 10 from New York. Police say they also found texts and Snapchat conversations between Pichurin and that victim where Pichurin asked the victim to engage in sexual behavior. Parents are reunited with their daughters in Jangabe, Nigeria (Sunday Alamba/AP) Hundreds of Nigerian girls abducted last week from a boarding school have been returned to their families amid chaos as security forces opened fire on a gathering outside the school where the reunions were held. One person died and two people were injured in the mayhem, according to local media reports. The forces opened fire after stones were thrown at government officials, apparently in frustration at the drawn-out procedure, reports said. Anxious and angry parents who were reunited with the girls after six days of waiting grabbed their daughters and left after shots rang out. Many were worried about travelling on the areas dangerous roads at night. Expand Close Freed schoolgirls during a reunion with their parents in Jangabe (Sunday Alamba/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Freed schoolgirls during a reunion with their parents in Jangabe (Sunday Alamba/AP) The girls, aged 10 and up, had been abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe in Nigerias northwest Zamfara state and were released on Tuesday after negotiations. Zamfara governor Bello Matawalle said that 279 girls had been freed. Upon their release, the girls were brought to the governments provincial offices, Government House, in Gusau for presentation, before being medically examined and reunited with their families. Following the kidnappings, the Zamfara state government announced a curfew, which remains in force. Officials said bandits were behind the abduction, referring to groups of armed men who operate in Zamfara state and kidnap for money or to press for the release of their members from jail. Expand Close Parents are reunited with their daughters in Jangabe (Sunday Alamba/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Parents are reunited with their daughters in Jangabe (Sunday Alamba/AP) At the time of the attack, one resident told The Associated Press that the gunmen had also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from responding to the abductions from the school. Nigeria has seen several such attacks and kidnappings in recent years, the most notorious in 2014, when 276 girls were abducted by the jihadist rebels of Boko Haram from the secondary school in Chibok in Borno state. More than 100 of those girls are still missing. Last weeks attack comes less than two weeks after gunmen abducted dozens of people, including 24 students, from the Government Science College Kagara in Niger State. The students, teachers and family members kidnapped from Kagara were released last week. In December, 344 students were abducted from the Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State. They were eventually released. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) The initial batch of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility arrived in the country Thursday evening. The plane carrying 487,200 doses of the vaccine developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 7:10 p.m. The vaccines were then transferred to the Villamor Air Base where President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials personally welcomed the shipment's arrival. Executives from some member countries of the European Union were also invited in what Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. labeled as a "symbolic reception." In his speech, Duterte said the AstraZeneca delivery will further boost the country's ongoing immunization program, as he vowed the national government will work towards immediate vaccine distribution to communities. "On this note, I would like to appeal to all our kababayans [fellow countrymen], please get vaccinated against COVID-19 and be the government's partner in preventing the further spread of the disease," he said. "These vaccines are safe, and they are the key to reopening our society." Duterte also noted the delivery comes after the "highly successful" nationwide rollout of China's Sinovac vaccines. From the air base, the AstraZeneca vaccines were transported to Metropac, Marikina, its storage location prior to deployment. According to the Department of Health, distribution will immediately commence after repackaging. The AstraZeneca shipment was supplied by the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility, a global initiative that seeks to ensure nations' equitable access to coronavirus vaccines. The particular batch was developed in South Korea and donated by European nations. One AstraZeneca vial contains 10 doses, with the products to be stored inside temperature-controlled boxes, the DOH said. Who is it for? While there are no set protocols yet for the rollout prioritization of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Galvez said some doctors recommended it be given to senior healthcare workers. The WHO also recommends that priority be given to medical frontliners at higher risk of exposure, as well as old people. Galvez said the move will "offset" the limitations of China's Sinovac vaccine, the first to arrive in the country but was initially not recommended for those over 59 years old. READ: PH can expand age group recommendation for Sinovac vaccine once more data come in FDA "We want to offset those limitations by having this AstraZeneca available for our senior citizens," Galvez pointed out in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source. "'Yun po ang tinitingnan naming na anggulo, para at least, well protected po 'yung ating mga vulnerable na senior healthcare workers." [Translation: That's the angle we're looking at, so at least, our vulnerable senior healthcare workers will be protected.] Galvez said the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group will be meeting today regarding the matter. The WHO notes that the vaccine is not recommended for persons under 18 years old pending the results of further studies. However, Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, said the vaccine can be administered to "almost all of the population." It is also recommended for people with comorbidities, he added. But of course, for some of the population that may have specific requirements or vulnerabilities, we request or we advise the attending physicians to weigh the risk versus the benefits," he said. "But we still think that the benefits outweigh the risk as far as vaccinating all these populations are concerned with the AstraZeneca vaccine." Why a smaller shipment? Government officials earlier announced that the country was supposed to receive 525,600 doses of the vaccine from the British drug maker. Galvez explained that the smaller shipment was due to cargo limitations since the products are on board a commercial flight. This is a commercial airline, may mga pasahero po ito, so may mga restrictions po tayo sa mga packages, the vaccine czar said. Considering that it is commercial, so nagkaroon po sigurong limitations in terms of yung sa cargo. [Translation: This is a commercial airline, which has passengers, so there are restrictions for the packages. Considering that it is commercial, thats probably why we had limitations in terms of the cargo.] The AstraZeneca doses from the COVAX facility, a global initiative that seeks to ensure nations' equitable access to coronavirus vaccines, faced a slight delivery delay as it was earlier scheduled to come in on Monday. World Health Organization country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said this was due to logistical concerns. Abeyasinghe said that the Philippines will be receiving one of the largest consignments of COVAX vaccines in this first initial delivery. What about concerns of its lower efficacy vs. the South Africa variant? Initial studies showed the AstraZeneca vaccine provided only "minimal protection" against mild and moderate COVID-19 from the South Africa variant. OCTA Research fellow and molecular biologist Fr. Nicanor Austriaco even said the new variant dramatically decreases the AstraZeneca vaccine's efficacy from 70% to just 10%. But for Montoya, the most important thing now is to get inoculated as soon as possible. "Remember that in the Philippines, we do not have that big of a problem yet," the infectious disease expert said, referring to the new variant. "We think it's just in a few cases as of now, and hopefully it will be contained." He stressed mutations happen normally, but the likelihood of this happening will decrease if more people will get themselves vaccinated. "That is the basic principle. Vaccinate as many as we can to build immunity, so that it will reduce transmission, make people more immune to the viral infection, therefore, less chances of mutation and of course, the variants developing," he explained. Sharing the same position, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said he still believes AstraZeneca's claim that its vaccines can help prevent severe cases of the viral disease. "We can't always wait. There will always be mutations, and there will always be challenges here," he told CNN Philippines. "As it comes, we should take and vaccinate ourselves because the South African variant is just few and it's easily containable." He also expressed optimism that the arrival of the vaccines will help fast-track economic recovery. According to Concepcion, 2.6 million more AstraZeneca doses procured by the private sector are expected to arrive in the country in May to June. Of this, half will be used by businesses, while the other half will be donated to the government for the immunization of frontliners. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page 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. Silver Elephant Mining (TSE: ELEF- OTCQX: SILEF) Executive Chairman John Lee joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has recently released positive drill results from their two projects in Bolivia, Sunawayo and Pulacayo. Lee talks about those results and what work they are still doing. He also talked about a new acquisition for the company, the Minago Nickel Sulphide Project in Manitoba. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) There were no talks of shifting to a stricter community quarantine in Metro Manila during the meeting of local chief executives and health experts, a DOH official said on Thursday. Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III met with several Metro Manila mayors and health experts to discuss the increase in COVID-19 cases in parts of the capital region and the presence of more transmissible variants. But she said they did not talk about the possibility of placing Metro Manila from the current general community quarantine to enhanced community quarantine. She added mayors were urged to impose localized lockdowns and ensure residents' proper compliance to minimum health standards. "Wala sa usapan ang maghihigpit ang buong Metro Manila, tinatawag na stricter community quarantine measures. Ang usapan [We did not talk about implementing stricter community quarantine measures in the entire Metro Manila. We discussed] each locality should have their localized response," she said in a media briefing. The country recently recorded its first cases of the variant first detected in South Africa. Four of the six cases are located in Pasay City. The OCTA Research Group said Pasay, Makati, Quezon City, and Manila City are also seeing a two-week surge that have the "hallmark of a variant-driven surge." Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano on Thursday said they will not oppose if the Inter-Agency Task Force places their city under ECQ, but she stressed that it will affect transportation in Metro Manila since Pasay is a travel hub due to the NAIA and several bus terminals. She said they are able to contain the virus and variant. Mr. LaDouce wrote an excellent response to the proposal for the renaming of Auburn High School. I had three children that attended Auburn High and have paid taxes since 1975. It has been and will always be Auburn High to hundreds of students. Now, low and behold, we have people that have donated money for a mural at the former Nolan's block for yet another mural of Harriet Tubman? A block up the street going south we have a beautiful mosaic of Harriet plus a statute of her in front of the Heritage Museum. I think she would be embarrassed if she could come back and see this. She was a humble woman. Enough is enough. People that drive into our city are going to wonder OK, is that all Auburn has to offer? No! We have the creator of moving pictures that was born in Auburn, Theodore Case (1888-1944). Once a year we have Oscars in Hollywood that display movies down through the ages to present day. Without his many failures and finally success, this wouldn't have been possible. Auburn should be proud and capitalize on this man's accomplishments. The Case lab should be restored and tours should be established there showing his photography, filming and production skills. The only place that ever promotes the skills he created through talking films Movietone Sound film is at the Cayuga Museum. Why not put his mural on the Nolan block along with the picture of a movie reel? Calloway Collision Sends Murray Woman to Hospital By West Kentucky Star Staff CALLOWAY COUNTY - A two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon in Calloway County sent one person to the hospital.The Calloway County Sheriff's Office said a car driven by Jacqueline Davenport of Almo was on 94 East and slowing to make a turn into a parking lot. Deputies said another vehicle driven by Dakota Davis of Murray struck the rear of Davenport's car.A passenger in Davis' vehicle, 41-year-old Brandi Heard of Murray, was transported to Murray-Calloway County Hospital for treatment of her injuries. The NSW government has abandoned plans for an electric scooter trial in Sydney despite a national push to legalise the mobility devices. Electric scooters are illegal on roads and footpaths in NSW, but sales continue to grow. E-scooters are increasing in popularity on Sydney streets, but users risk fines as they are not legal to ride in NSW. Credit:Justin McManus Transport Minister Andrew Constance says he was not in the mood to have e-scooters on Sydney streets, even though his department ran a lengthy process recommending conditions for holding a trial. The National Transport Commission, the statutory body for developing road regulations, spent 18 months considering the barriers to the safe use of personal mobility devices, given state legislation has failed to keep up with advances in technology. Theyre not lovin it. Portland police are searching for the occupants of a sedan that barreled into the side of a Montavilla neighborhood McDonalds restaurant during a wild wee-hours spin. The driver of a silver 2003 Infiniti was speeding north along Southeast 82nd Avenue about 2:55 a.m. Tuesday, attempted a sudden left turn onto Stark Street, hopped the curb and plowed straight into the fast-food chain, according to police and surveillance video of the crash. Seconds later, the driver and two passengers staggered out of the car and bolted west along Stark Street, video reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive shows. The trio left a loaded handgun inside the sedan, said Lt. Greg Pashley, a Portland Police Bureau spokesman. The gun had previously been reported stolen, Pashley said. Police said the car had recently been sold and that officers could not locate the registration or information about the new owner. No arrests have been made. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Azerbaijani low-cost Buta Airways will start to operate a Baku-Tbilisi-Baku flight three times a week starting in mid-March, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said. Other low-cost companies which will start operating flights in Georgia from mid-March are Kazakh air carriers Air Astana and FlyArystan. Turnava said that Hungarian low-cost Wizz Air will resume flights from Kutaisi International Airport starting at the end of March and will operate flights to 20 destinations. "From the end of March, a new airline, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will start operating flights from Kutaisi to Abu Dahabi twice a week," Agenda.ge cited Turnava as saying. She also said that after lifting flight restrictions, some airlines have increased the frequency of flights. For example, Turkish Airlines, which currently operates two flights daily. "Pegasus Airlines operated only twice a week, though currently flies daily. Qatar Airways will operate regular passenger flights four times a week. There will be up to 70 regular flights a week during March," Turnava added. [March 04, 2021] Economic recovery will be green in Montreal Government of Canada grants over $1 million to help four organizations in the region go green and create and maintain 11 jobs. MONTREAL, March 4, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) The environment and clean technologies will be key elements in Canada's economic recovery. Issues related to the fight against climate change were obviously very present before COVID-19, but the pandemic represents a unique opportunity to increase the pace of the green transition. Sustainable business practices and clean technologies can help SMEs offer products of equal or higher quality using fewer resources and less energy and generating less waste. Businesses and organizations have much to gain from putting in place environmental measures that will enable them to maintain their competitiveness and mitigate future climate impacts, while also meeting the growing global demand for clean technologies. With this in mind, and given that the Government of Canada's objective is to lay the foundations for a strong and green economy that supports good jobs for all Canadians, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) is currently making a series of announcements regarding a total of over $12.5 million in funding for SMEs that are going green. Clean technology projects for a strong economy The Honourable Melanie Joly, Member of Parliament for Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CED, today announced funding for the Centre d'etudes des procedes chimiques du Quebec (CEPROCQ) at College de Maisonneuve; Propulsion Quebec; Electrobac; and Future Earth. Minister Joly was accompanied by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Member of Parliament for LaurierSainte-Marie and Minister of Canadian Heritage; Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade; and Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The contributions are broken down as follows: CEPROCQ: $501,600 . CED's non-repayable assistance will allow this CCTT (College centre for technology transfer) to acquire equipment (TAN analyzer, centrifugal decanter, vacuum distiller, steam generator, HPLC, acoustic resonance mixer, automatic press, polymer pilot unit and electrochemical detector). The project, which aims to strengthen CEPROCQ's equipment pool to allow the centre to better serve and support SMEs in their innovation and technology transfer activities, will lead to the creation of two jobs. . CED's non-repayable assistance will allow this CCTT (College centre for technology transfer) to acquire equipment (TAN analyzer, centrifugal decanter, vacuum distiller, steam generator, HPLC, acoustic resonance mixer, automatic press, polymer pilot unit and electrochemical detector). The project, which aims to strengthen CEPROCQ's equipment pool to allow the centre to better serve and support SMEs in their innovation and technology transfer activities, will lead to the creation of two jobs. Propulsion Quebec: $400,000 . CED's non-repayable assistance will cover the organization's operating costs, including salaries, benefits and rent. The project, which will help maintain two jobs, is designed to ensure the continuation of Propulsion Quebec's activities and its six worksites, within the context of a two-year plan. The objective of this plan is to structure Quebec's electric and smart transportation sector, the associated innovation and technology transfer activities, and the international marketing of the innovative products and services offered by SMEs. . CED's non-repayable assistance will cover the organization's operating costs, including salaries, benefits and rent. The project, which will help maintain two jobs, is designed to ensure the continuation of Propulsion Quebec's activities and its six worksites, within the context of a two-year plan. The objective of this plan is to structure electric and smart transportation sector, the associated innovation and technology transfer activities, and the international marketing of the innovative products and services offered by SMEs. Electrobac: $150,000 . CED's repayable assistance will allow the business to hire an international sales representative and a technology development manager; participate in trade fairs and business meetings; engage in online promotional activities; and make use of consultants for international business development purposes and the improvement of manufacturing operations. The project, which aims to support the company's growth through the implementation of a U.S. marketing strategy, will create seven jobs. . CED's repayable assistance will allow the business to hire an international sales representative and a technology development manager; participate in trade fairs and business meetings; engage in online promotional activities; and make use of consultants for international business development purposes and the improvement of manufacturing operations. The project, which aims to support the company's growth through the implementation of a U.S. marketing strategy, will create seven jobs. Future Earth: $116,667 . CED's non-repayable assistance, intended for Montreal International, will be used to implement the Future Earth project in Montreal. Costs include facility fit-up and human resource hiring activities, and operating costs. The project aims to increase Montreal's international reach by supporting the development of a new component of Future Earth's activities relating to sustainable development in the digital age. Canada is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Climate-friendly measures have also been defined as the cornerstone of a plan aimed at supporting and creating one million jobs across the country. This assistance reflects the Government of Canada's willingness to build a more competitive, productive and greener economy. Quotes "The Government of Canada has made concrete commitments to demonstrate that a strong economy and a healthy environment go hand-in-hand. Our activities include making strategic investments in clean technologies. By helping Montreal SMEs become more innovative and competitive, and by supporting innovation in the development of greener technologies and products, we are also preparing Canadians for the jobs of today and tomorrow." The Honourable Melanie Joly, Member of Parliament for Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for CED "Our government supports the entrepreneurial spirit, especially when the ingenuity and know-how of our entrepreneurs leads to the development of green technologies. Innovation is at the heart of our priorities and we are proud to support businesses and organizations that are pursuing their energy transition. By building on innovative projects such as the ones being carried out by CEPROCQ at College de Maisonneuve, Propulsion Quebec, Electrobac and Future Earth, we are also investing in more resilient societies, more equitable economies, and in our future generations." The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Member of Parliament for Laurier-Sainte-Marie and Minister of Canadian Heritage "Green technologies play a key economic role in the Montreal region, and the federal government is there to support them. By providing funding for projects such as the ones at CEPROCQ (College de Maisonneuve), Propulsion Quebec, Electrobac and Future Earth, the Government of Canada is encouraging the growth of innovative organizations and supporting their efforts to make a name for themselves, both at home and on the international scene. We are investing in Montreal's economic recovery." Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade "Fighting climate change and protecting the environment are the most important challenges of our time. We must therefore encourage local companies to develop innovative and environmentally friendly processes and products. Besides fostering the competitiveness of our industries and promoting economic growth, reducing our ecological footprint also makes a positive contribution to our community." Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Quick facts The clean technology sector represents 3.2% of Canada's GDP and accounts for 317,000 jobs across the country. Over 850 clean tech businesses are helping to position Canada as the top G20 country and fourth country globally on the Global Cleantech Innovation Index. GDP and accounts for 317,000 jobs across the country. Over 850 clean tech businesses are helping to position as the top G20 country and fourth country globally on the Global Cleantech Innovation Index. The Honourable Melanie Joly , Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, is also the minister responsible for the six regional development agencies (RDAs), including CED. , Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, is also the minister responsible for the six regional development agencies (RDAs), including CED. CED's minimum target for investments in clean technologies in 2019-2020 was $25M . This target was greatly exceeded, with nearly $42M invested in 161 projects aimed at improving environmental performance, using less energy-intensive technologies or developing technologies to reduce businesses' environmental footprint. . This target was greatly exceeded, with nearly invested in 161 projects aimed at improving environmental performance, using less energy-intensive technologies or developing technologies to reduce businesses' environmental footprint. The funding for CEPROCQ, Propulsion Quebec and Electrobac was provided through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program; the assistance for Montreal International comes from CED's Quebec Economic Development Program. CED is a key federal partner in Quebec's regional economic development. With its 12 regional business offices, CED accompanies businesses, supporting organizations and all regions across Quebec into tomorrow's economy. Associated links Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) CED's funding programs Stay connected Follow CED on social media Consult CED's news SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. In an open letter to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and members of their national healthcare team, leaders of the American Diabetes Association, Black Women's Health Imperative, Easterseals and March of Dimes said the four service organizations' programs bear witness to the healthcare challenges Black Americans receive starting at birth. "We urge you to prioritize solutions to remedy these persistent health care inequities within the Black community that have only worsened during the pandemic," the CEOs write in the open letter, published in The Hill, Politico, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. The full text is available at easterseals.com. Racial Equity Concern Spans Health Conditions The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the nation's health equity shortcomings. The coronavirus death rate among Blacks is 1.9 times that of whites, the CDC reported last week. The nonprofit leaders applaud Biden's plans to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and to protect Medicaid. Access to affordable, quality health care, plus intervention and prevention programs, they say, "promise to change the trajectory for communities of color." "We believe it is critical to raise health equity as a shared concern as the Biden administration addresses issues within the healthcare system," said Easterseals President and CEO Angela F. Williams, who organized the statement. "Blacks often experience life and negotiate the healthcare system with greater challenges. We are all too familiar with this given that we lead organizations with similar missions and are regularly called on to use our positions to support the Black community and help shape a more equitable society. "As one of the nation's largest nonprofit healthcare organizations, Easterseals provides a range of services for children and adults with disabilities, seniors and veterans," she continued. "One in 4 Americans today are living with disability, and of these individuals, 1 in 4 is Black. That gives us a wide and diverse view of health equity. "With such a broad perspective, we see disturbing trends in healthcare parity that must be addressed," Williams continued. Black children are diagnosed later than their peers with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Black adults with disabilities find it harder to afford, access or advocate for care and, as they age, experience worse outcomes from a range of chronic diseases. COVID-19 has compounded these health inequities across generations of Black Americans." COVID Crisis Puts Blacks at Greater Risk The CEOs believe that political action can better the state of the Black community's social determinants of health -- unfair and avoidable conditions the World Health Organization cites as mostly responsible for health inequities -- and remove systemic barriers to racial equity. This year, Easterseals established its Black Child Fund, supporting philanthropic giving to close gaps in childcare, education and healthcare equity that have widened in the pandemic. It also introduced a new advocacy program, All In, to guide employer progress on equity in the workplace, where lower wages contribute to health insecurity for workers with disabilities. Biden and Harris campaigned on pledges to advance affordable health insurance, quality care and a less complex system that ensures healthcare rights. Biden's Nov. 7 victory speech made a callout to equity issues: "We must make the promise of the country real for everybody -- no matter their race, their ethnicity, their faith, their identity or their disability." Williams was joined in signing the open letter by Tracey D. Brown, CEO of the American Diabetes Association; Linda Goler Blount, president and CEO of the Black Women's Health Imperative; and Stacey D. Stewart, president and CEO of the March of Dimes. About Easterseals Easterseals has served as an indispensable resource for individuals with disabilities, veterans, seniors and their families for more than 100 years. Together, its 67 affiliates in communities nationwide serve 1.5 million people annually through high-quality programs, including autism services, early intervention, workforce development and adult day services. Driven by its purpose to change the way the world defines and views disability, Easterseals makes profound, positive differences in people's lives every day. Learn more at easterseals.com. For more information contact: Kelley Quinn Purpose Brand [email protected] (773) 879-3809 SOURCE Easterseals Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise During a dive on a small island off the coast of Binh Thuan Province, Nguyen Van Gioi and other tour guides were able to see hundreds of poisonous crown-of-thorns starfish, which are coral predators. Coral is seriously damaged by crown-of-thorns starfish. Photo provided by Nguyen Van Gioi When diving to look at coral reefs on Hon Tranh isle, we saw crown-of-thorns starfish seriously devastate the coral reefs, said Gioi, a tour guide on Phu Quy Island in the south-central coastal province. He and other tour guides on the larger island of Phu Quy decided to set up a team "to catch these poisonous crown-of-thorns starfish to save coral." According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, crown-of-thorns starfish are marine invertebrates that feed on coral and occur naturally on reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, and when conditions are right, they can reach plague proportions and devastate hard coral communities. The institutes research has revealed that crown-of-thorns starfish are a major cause of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef. These starfish can grow to over 50 centimetres in diametre, and one individual can consume over 13 square metres of coral reef per year, according to the New Heaven Reef Conservation Programmes team in Thailand. When Gioi and other members of the team have free time, they go to Hon Tranh isle to catch crown-of-thorns starfish. In one day, we can catch nearly 500-700 starfish. We often catch them in summer because the water is warm for diving, Gioi said. A member of a tour guide team catches crown-of-thorns starfish. Photo provided by Nguyen Van Gioi Compared to the past, more and more crown-of-thorns starfish are appearing because of an imbalance in the marine ecosystem, he said, adding that starfish predators such as giant triton snail and sea urchins are overfished on the island to serve tourism. Sea urchins play a critical role in maintaining the balance between coral and algae. Nguyen Trong Tan, another member of the team, said: Diving to see coral reefs on Hon Tranh isle appeals to tourists. So when coral is lost by crown-of-thorns starfish, tourists will no longer like to come to the island. His job as a tour guide also will be affected. Tan has called on other tour guides to join his team to catch crown-of-thorns starfish when they have free time. Crown-of-thorns starfish are coral predators. Photo provided by Nguyen Van Gioi Crown-of-thorns starfish are very poisonous and dangerous for divers, he said. When their spines accidentally hit a diver, it causes swelling and severe inflammation which could be life-threatening. Gioi said: We're very careful when catching starfish. We are working for sustainable tourism development on the island. The Binh Thuan Provinces Fisheries Division estimates that each 100 square metres contains 50-60 crown-of-thorns starfish. Binh Thuan Province has two marine reserves in Cu Lao Cau and Phu Quy islands. Phu Quy Island is surrounded by a thick ring of coral reefs. Its deepest point is 42 metres. The island has 72 species of seaweed, 134 species of stony coral and 15 species of mollusks. According to the Fisheries Division, 10 years ago, the sea surrounding the island was recognised as having the most beautiful coral reefs in the country. However, over the last several years, coral reefs have been devastated or lost. That is why the province set up the marine reserve on the island. The division has been working with the island's Peoples Committee to carry out a crown-of-thorns starfish monitor programme. Their staff dive to catch and find them. It has also asked for help from the Directorate of Fisheries and Institute of Oceanography in Khanh Hoa Provinces Nha Trang City to provide the optimal methods to kill them. VNS Binh Thuan Province Peoples Committee last June recognised Phu Quy Island as a provincial level tourism site. This is expected to help the island attract more investors. Island authorities are developing tourism products associated with the sea. Green and sustainable tourism also is being promoted. Last year it attracted 42,000 tourists, up from 7,000 in 2016. Its revenue last year reached more than VND100 billion (US$4.3 million). It targets 65,000 tourists, including 4,500 foreign tourists, by 2025. VNS More pristine tourism sites discovered in Binh Thuan The central province of Binh Thuan has been well known for its fabour tourism destinations, such as Mui Ne, Hon rom, Bau Trang We can see that there is no reduction in the scale of global challenges, such as terrorism, cross-border crime and cybercrime. Against this complicated background we also have to deal with the so-called containment policy towards Russia. Actually, this is something we have been well aware of for a long time. This is not competition as a natural part of international relations, but a consistent and highly aggressive policy aimed at disrupting our development, at slowing it down and creating problems along our external perimeter and contour, provoking internal instability, undermining the values that unite Russian society, and ultimately, at weakening Russia and forcing it to accept external management, just as this is happening in some post-Soviet states, as we can see. -Vladimir PUTIN http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/65068 Federal Security Service Board meeting Federal Security Service Board meeting President of Russia The President held a meeting of the FSB Board. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, comrade officers, This year, the meeting of the Federal Security Service Board, which usually meets in an expanded format, is being held in a restricted format. But this does not downplay its importance. Unfortunately, we have to comply with the current epidemiological restrictions. Therefore, I would like to welcome and address not only those present, but also all your colleagues, your local staff and the heads of regional and other departments. I would like to thank all of you for doing your jobs professionally and precisely, and for your readiness to achieve all your goals in non-standard conditions without reference to current circumstances. I would like to emphasise that the matters of state security, the protection of our citizens from internal and external threats are always in the focus of attention of the countrys leadership, which regards them as a priority, and I would even say top priority. We can see that there is no reduction in the scale of global challenges, such as terrorism, cross-border crime and cybercrime. Against this complicated background we also have to deal with the so-called containment policy towards Russia. Actually, this is something we have been well aware of for a long time. This is not competition as a natural part of international relations, but a consistent and highly aggressive policy aimed at disrupting our development, at slowing it down and creating problems along our external perimeter and contour, provoking internal instability, undermining the values that unite Russian society, and ultimately, at weakening Russia and forcing it to accept external management, just as this is happening in some post-Soviet states, as we can see. This is not an exaggeration. In point of fact, you do not need to be convinced that this is the case, because you know this very well and possibly even better than anyone else. It is enough to read the publicly available strategic documents and the extremely direct statements made by officials in a number of countries. They are not even trying to conceal their unfriendly attitude towards Russia and several other independent and sovereign centres of global development. But the point is not the aggressive rhetoric, but real, practical actions. A targeted information campaign is being waged against Russia with various peremptory and unsubstantiated accusations. Even absurd and anecdotal conspiracy theories are being used. For example, take the recent attempts to question our achievements in medicine, in the fight against coronavirus. By the way, many of our partners are very friendly about our results in this area. They are ready to cooperate with us, and we also welcome this kind of attitude. We understand that global problems can only be resolved by joining efforts. Nevertheless, as you know, a lot of attempts have been and are being made, thank you for the information you supply to the countrys political leaders, about provocations planned in this sphere. But we have long been accustomed to this and we are prepared. They are trying to shackle us with economic and other sanctions, to block large international projects those our partners are also interested in, by the way to directly interfere in public and political affairs in Russia, in its democratic procedures, and of course, special services tools are being used against us. Again, this kind of policy towards Russia is absolutely futile. We are ready to conduct an open dialogue, to find compromise solutions so we can deal with the most difficult problems, on the basis of mutual trust and respect. But one thing is unconditional for us, and that thing is Russias sovereignty, its national interests, the security of our citizens, and our peoples right to determine their own future. And these values, the foundations of our development must be reliably protected. In this regard, relying on the foundation already laid, on the services growing capabilities and potential, we need to ensure an even higher quality of work in all the main areas. Its effectiveness and efficiency must correspond to the nature and dynamics of the threats that we face. First of all, the fight against terrorism, the most acute and dangerous threat, calls for constant concentration and well-thought-out prompt preventive actions. The last organised armed gang committing crimes in the Chechen Republic and Ingushetia was eliminated in December 2020. This is a significant result. We are also conducting long-range operations, including air strikes against terrorist bases in Syria. I would like to once again thank those who participated in these operations and those who continue to do so. At the same time, I would like to note that 72 terrorism-related crimes were prevented last year. This is 25 percent more than in 2019 when 57 such crimes were averted. Certainly, these statistics show that in the overwhelming majority of cases, it is possible to expose criminal intentions at the preparatory stage, during their preparation and therefore to save peoples lives and safeguard their wellbeing. I would like to thank you for this and to motivate you to conduct such high-quality work in the future. But these statistics also show that the terrorist chain is trying to resume its activity, no matter what. Consequently, it is important to expose and eliminate terrorists, including the so-called deeply-hidden sleeper cells and to analyse and predict the overall situation and to heed the fact that ring-leaders and terrorist ideologues always change their tactics and look for sources of finance, and that they use new methods to conduct propaganda and recruit young people. I am asking you to focus on exposing the contacts of terrorist groups and foreign secret services. You know this very well, unfortunately, they use everything, including terrorists. And, of course, we need to increase the counter-terrorism protection levels of public places, vital facilities, social institutions and to more effectively coordinate the overall work of the Federal Security Service and other law enforcement agencies under the auspices of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee. Efforts to counter extremism are another high-priority aspect. These two trends are interlinked. Protection of the constitutional system, civic peace and inter-ethnic accord in our society is a highly important task. You should also pay attention to efforts to thwart any outside attempts to encroach upon the Russian peoples right to determine their future. This year we are going to hold elections to the State Duma. The citizens constitutional guarantees of electing their representatives freely based on democratic procedures must be protected from any provocations. We must continue working strictly within the legal framework while relying on support from our citizens, setting a clear line between political competition that is natural for any society, including ours, competition between political parties, ideological platforms and different views on national development and actions that have nothing in common with democracy and are aimed instead at undermining the stability and security of our state, at serving alien interests, the interests of those who are financing such activities from over there, as people say, to ensure that they serve not ours but their interests. In this connection, I would like to mention the effective and precise actions of our counterintelligence agencies last year. As a result, they cut short the activities of 72 career officers and 423 agents of foreign intelligence services. It is important to continue upgrading the protection of our confidential information, to prevent any leakage of classified military data or information about advanced technology and forward-looking designs of our research centres and defence industry enterprises. As you know, there are things we must protect. Overall, the protection of Russias economic security is becoming an increasingly essential and important task. In 2020, we cut short the activities of 87 criminal groups in this sphere. I would like to ask you to continue acting in this efficient manner, together with the other concerned agencies, in order to help maintain the economic and financial stability of the country and to make use of your competencies to support and protect Russian businesses and companies from criminal encroachments and unfair competition on the global markets. In the same consistent manner you should also combat corruption in the economy and at all levels of power. I would like you to pay special attention to preventing the embezzlement and unauthorised use of budgetary funds, first of all, allocations for the construction of strategic facilities, state programmes and the state defence order, as well as for the efforts to counter the coronavirus infection. All these funds must be disposed of rationally, in strict compliance with the goals for which they are allocated, and in the interests of Russian citizens. The FSB Border Guard Service is to be dealing with a wide range of tasks, including as part of our common efforts to lower the risks of transmission, spread and potential import of new strains of the coronavirus infection. In this context, I would like to note that the number of people detained for crossing the border illegally or violating the border control regime remains striking. Therefore, it is important to work on improving the border infrastructure, to equip border patrol guards with modern equipment primarily in the areas where there is a threat of border crossing by terrorists and illegal migrants or where criminals may try to build trans-border drug trafficking and smuggling channels. Cybersecurity requires new approaches. Global digital space has become a ground for rigorous geopolitical competition. Last year, if we take only those regarded as the most dangerous, the number of attacks on Russian websites, including government websites, surged by almost 350 percent. In these circumstances, we need a long-term and meticulous strategy to protect our national interests in the digital space, based on forecasting, recognising potential risks to the public and the state and, of course, relying on the most advanced technology and technological solutions. We must also work with our partners from other countries on developing the international information security system. Colleagues, There is one more thing that I must talk about. I would like to specifically thank workers of the FSB Central Archives for their hard and significant work. Last year, when we marked the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, many unique documents were declassified and released for the first time. Those materials consist of evidence of crimes committed by the Nazis and their accomplices, including crimes against civilians, and the truth about the courage and heroism of security officers during the Great Patriotic War. I believe that by continuing this work, we are making an important contribution to preserving historical memory and preventing attempts to falsify history. Of course, speaking about the results of 2020, I cannot but say to this audience that doctors and the agencys other healthcare professionals deserve high praise. I know that at the onset of the pandemic, hospital departments and health resorts affiliated with the Federal Security Service were promptly repurposed, and hospital bed reserves were created. All the FSB departments received and continue to receive timely supplies of personal protective equipment. Considering the continuous and fast-paced nature of your work, those measures made it possible to curb the critical spread of this dangerous infection and ensure quality treatment and prevention for FSB officers, their family members and agency veterans. We will continue to improve the system of social benefits for FSB officers, to develop healthcare, and resolve housing and other social issues. Comrade officers, In conclusion, I would like to once again thank the personnel of the Russian Federal Security Service for their honorable service. I am certain that you will continue to perform your duties in a professional and efficient manner. Thank you and congratulations to everybody present and all FSB officers on Defender of the Fatherland Day that we celebrated yesterday. <> WtR Party above individual: LDFs message by not giving Shailaja another shot As social media debates Shailajas exclusion, CPI(M) comes out in defence of decision BJP minister makes U-turn, says 'Metro-man' E Sreedharan's name not confirmed for Kerala CM India oi-Madhuri Adnal Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 04: After tweeting 'Metroman' E Sreedharan, who recently joined the BJP, will be its chief ministerial candidate for the Kerala assembly elections on April 6, Union Minister V Muraleedharan clarified on Thursday that the party has not made any such announcement. ''What I wanted to tell was that through media reports I learnt that the party has made this announcement. Later, I cross-checked with the party chief who said that he has not made any such announcement,'' V Muraleedharan said on his statement on E Sreedharan. In his tweet, Muraleedharan had said.."BJP4Keralam will fight Keralapolls with E Sreedharan Ji as its Chief Ministerial Candidate.We will defeat both CPIMKerala & INCKerala to provide a corruption-free, development-oriented Governance for the people of Kerala." His social media post on Sreedharan's leadership in the Assembly polls came hours after Surendran said he has requested the party's national leadership to announce 'Metroman' as the NDA's chief ministerial candidate. Referring to Muraleedharan's clarification tweets, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor took a dig at the BJP, saying the saffron party was "confused". "Hilarious! BJP4Keralam manages to be confused about who will occupy the top floor of a building that will never be built. There will be no BJP CM in Kerala," Tharoor tweeted. Hilarious! @BJP4Keralam manages to be confused about who will occupy the top floor of a building that will never be built. There will be no BJP CM in Kerala. https://t.co/mlezWttift Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 4, 2021 The development comes on a day the 88-year-old technocrat announced his decision to end his 24-year long career with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to enter electoral politics. Earlier, BJP state president K Surendran said that a 'person like Metroman E Sreedharan becoming the state CM could be good for the state'. "A person like E Sreedharan becoming the Kerala CM is always good for Kerala State," he said. On Wednesday, the Kerala BJP constituted a 16 member state election committee for the April 6 assembly polls, with ''Metroman'' E Sreedharan, who joined the party recently, being one of them. BJP state president K Surendran said in a statement that the committee was constituted with the permission of the party''s national president J P Nadda. Metro Man E Sreedharan will be BJPs CM candidate in Kerala says Union Minister Besides Surendran and Sreedharan, union minister V Muraleedharan, BJP national vice president A P Abdullakutty, former state presidents Kummanam Rajasekharan, O Rajagopal MLA, C K Padmanabhan and P K Krishnadas are the prominent members of the committee. While senior leader and state vice president Shobha Surendran''s name was missing from the list, Mahila Morcha state presiden t Nivedita Subrahmanian has found a place in the committee. The panel also has some special invitees, including the party''s in-charge C P Radhakrishnan and his deputy Sunil Kumar. Sreedharan, the architect of the Delhi Metro, had formally joined the BJP on February 25 in the presence of Union Minister R K Singh at a function at Changaramkulam in Malappuram district when the ''Vijay Yatra'' led by Surendran reached there. Representatives of Ukrainian human rights organizations have condemned the sentencing of Crimean activist Oleh Prykhodko, who was sentenced on March 3 by the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don (Russia) to five years in prison and a fine of RUB 110,000 for allegedly preparing a terrorist attack. "A citizen of Ukraine Oleh Prykhodko was convicted in a fabricated case, accused of possessing explosives and preparing a terrorist attack, but actual evidence of the commission of a 'crime' was never presented by the investigation, which is consistent with the FSB's practice of prosecuting Crimeans for political reasons," the organizations said in a statement on Facebook on Thursday. Human rights activists said the real reason for the persecution of a Ukrainian is his public disagreement with the occupation of Crimea, which he repeatedly expressed both in the media and in communication with representatives of the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea. In addition, Prykhodko took part in the Euromaidan and after the occupation of the peninsula in 2014 hung the Ukrainian flag in the courtyard of his house. Prykhodko's detention was preceded by a search in his house, during which Ukrainian symbols, flags of the Svoboda party, red and black flags, a portrait of Stepan Bandera, and the like were seized from him. "The verdict to Oleh Prykhodko indicates that the Russian Federation continues the practice of persecuting Ukrainian citizens who, while living in Crimea, oppose the Russian occupation and defend the peninsula as part of Ukraine," the Human rights activists said. They also put forward a number of demands to Russia, in particular, to immediately release Oleh Prykhodko and all political prisoners held in places of detention in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol or Russia; stop persecuting Crimeans for disagreeing with the occupation and expressing their views; immediately stop using the so-called anti-terrorist and anti-extremist legislation of Russia in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. In addition, human rights activists call on international organizations to intervene in the situation, increasing the sanctions pressure on Russia and condemning the political persecution on the peninsula. "We call on international organizations and governments of democratic states: to condemn the actions of Russia in the political persecution of Ukrainian activists in the occupied Crimea; to increase pressure on the Russian government to secure the release of all political prisoners, and to stop the persecution of Ukrainian citizens in the occupied Crimea; to strengthen sectoral sanctions against the Russian Federation for systematic gross violations of human rights, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the occupied Crimea [...]," the organizations said in the statement. It also contains an appeal to the Ukrainian authorities with a call to ensure an effective investigation of the facts of illegal imprisonment and persecution of Prykhodko and all facts of gross violations of fundamental human rights in the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as to adopt several bills to provide protection and state support to persons who were illegally deprived of their liberty as a result of the aggression of the Russian Federation, as well as the harmonization of criminal legislation with the provisions of international law and introduce responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the occupied territories of Ukraine. The statement was joined by the Crimean Human Rights Group, the ZMINA Human Rights Center, the Association of Relatives of Kremlin Prisoners, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, the Almenda Civic Education Center, Kharkiv Human Rights Group and a number of others. DUBLIN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global real estate agency and brokerage market as it emerges from the COVID-19 shut down. The global real estate agency and brokerage market is expected to grow from $960.12 billion in 2020 to $1008.95 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $1351.1 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 8%. Reasons to Purchase Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 50+ geographies. Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market research findings. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Where is the largest and fastest growing market for the real estate agency and brokerage? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The Real Estate Agency and Brokerage market global report answers all these questions and many more. The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider real estate agency and brokerage market, and compares it with other markets. The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, the impact of the COVID-19 virus and forecasting its recovery. Market segmentations break down market into sub markets. The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers the impact and recovery trajectory of COVID-19 for all regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets. Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified. The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers. The real estate agency and brokerage market section of the report gives context. It compares the real estate agency and brokerage market with other segments of the real estate market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses GDP proportion, expenditure per capita, real estate agency and brokerage indicators comparison. Major companies in the real estate agency and brokerage services market include CBRE Group; Jones Lang LaSalle Inc; Newmark Grubb Knight Frank; Keller Williams and Century 21. The real estate agency and brokerage services market consists of sales of real estate and brokerage services by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that act as agents and/or brokers for real estate activities. The real estate agency and brokerage services market is segmented into residential buildings and dwellings brokers; non-residential buildings brokers; mini warehouses and self-storage units brokers; and other brokers. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the global real estate agency and brokerage market, accounting for 53% of the market in 2020. North America was the second largest region accounting for 23% of the global real estate agency and brokerage market. Africa was the smallest region in the global real estate agency and brokerage market. Real estate companies are investing in artificial intelligence applications to perform various functions such as property search, building management and design. Artificial intelligence is helping real estate companies to find people looking to buy or sell properties, find a suitable property based on customer requirements, redesign office spaces based on user behavior. According to a research conducted by Drooms, AI technology provider around 54% of property professionals surveyed already use artificial intelligence to improve keyword search and 69% believe AI gives their companies competitive advantage by enabling high speed search of documents. For instance, REX, a real estate company analyses data from third parties such as Google to determine willingness of a person to buy or sell a house. WeWork, a startup that provides shared workspaces is using artificial intelligence to design its office spaces. Skyline, an Israeli company's artificial intelligence platform recommends properties to real estate investors by using data from more than 130 sources and taking into account over 10,000 different attributes on properties. The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has acted as a massive restraint on the real estate agency and brokerage market in 2020 as the need for services offered by these establishments declined due to lockdowns imposed by governments globally. COVID 19 is an infectious disease with flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing. The virus was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province of the People's Republic of China and spread globally including Western Europe, North America and Asia. Steps by national governments to contain the transmission have resulted in a decline in economic activity with countries entering a state of 'lock down' and the outbreak is expected to continue to have a negative impact on businesses throughout 2020 and into 2021. However, it is expected that the real estate agency and brokerage market will recover from the shock across the forecast period as it is a 'black swan' event and not related to ongoing or fundamental weaknesses in the market or the global economy. Economic growth and a rapidly growing urban population is expected to increase the demand for residential and commercial buildings brokers, during the forecast period. The increasing number of rural residents migrating into cities is resulting in increasing demand for access to affordable housing and commercial spaces. This provides a significant opportunity for real estate service providers to improve housing, retail and other commercial services. Globally, around 60% of urban settlements remained to be built. According to the World Bank, the urban population in South Asia is expected to grow by 250 million by 2030. This rapid urbanization is expected to boost the demand for real estate agencies and brokers and drive the real estate agency and brokerage market going forward. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Report Structure 3. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Characteristics 3.1. Market Definition 3.2. Key Segmentations 4. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Product Analysis 4.1. Leading Products/ Services 4.2. Key Features and Differentiators 4.3. Development Products 5. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Supply Chain 5.1. Supply Chain 5.2. Distribution 5.3. End Customers 6. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Customer Information 6.1. Customer Preferences 6.2. End Use Market Size and Growth 7. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Trends and Strategies 8. Impact of COVID-19 on Real Estate Agency and Brokerage 9. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Size and Growth 9.1. Market Size 9.2. Historic Market Growth, Value ($ Billion) 9.2.1. Drivers of the Market 9.2.2. Restraints on the Market 9.3. Forecast Market Growth, Value ($ Billion) 9.3.1. Drivers of the Market 9.3.2. Restraints on the Market 10. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Regional Analysis 10.1. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market, 2020, by Region, Value ($ Billion) 10.2. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, Historic and Forecast, by Region 10.3. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market, Growth and Market Share Comparison, by Region 11. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Segmentation 11.1. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market, Segmentation by Type 11.2. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market, Segmentation by Mode 12. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Metrics 12.1. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Size, Percentage of GDP, 2015-2025, Global 12.2. Per Capita Average Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Expenditure, 2015-2025, Global 13. Asia-Pacific Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 14. Western Europe Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 15. Eastern Europe Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 16. North America Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 17. South America Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 18. Middle East Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 19. Africa Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 20. Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Competitive Landscape 20.1. Competitive Market Overview 20.2. Market Shares 20.3. Company Profiles 20.3.1. CBRE Group 20.3.1.1. Company Overview 20.3.1.2. Products and Services 20.3.1.3. Strategy 20.3.1.4. Financial Performance 20.3.2. Jones Lang LaSalle Inc 20.3.2.1. Company Overview 20.3.2.2. Products and Services 20.3.2.3. Strategy 20.3.2.4. Financial Performance 20.3.3. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank 20.3.3.1. Company Overview 20.3.3.2. Products and Services 20.3.3.3. Strategy 20.3.3.4. Financial Performance 20.3.4. Keller Williams 20.3.4.1. Company Overview 20.3.4.2. Products and Services 20.3.4.3. Strategy 20.3.4.4. Financial Performance 20.3.5. Century 21 20.3.5.1. Company Overview 20.3.5.2. Products and Services 20.3.5.3. Strategy 20.3.5.4. Financial Performance 21. Key Mergers and Acquisitions in the Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market 22. Market Background: Real Estate Market 22.1. Real Estate Market Characteristics 22.2. Real Estate Market Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F Growth, by Segment, Value ($ Billion), Global 22.3. Global Real Estate Market, 2020, by Region, Value ($ Billion) 22.4. Global Real Estate Market, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, Historic and Forecast, by Region 22.5. Global Real Estate Market, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, Segmentation by Type, Value ($ Billion) 23. Recommendations 23.1. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market in 2025 - Growth Countries 23.2. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market in 2025 - Growth Segments 23.3. Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market in 2025 - Growth Strategies 24. Appendix 24.1. NAICS Definitions of Industry Covered in this Report 24.2. Abbreviations 24.3. Currencies 24.4. Research Inquiries 24.5. About the Publisher 25. Copyright and Disclaimer For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qmcaov Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Prime Minister will address a conference of the county's top leadership in Gujarat's Kevadia on Saturday, which will also see the participation of jawans and junior commissioned officers (JCOs) for the first time, senior officials said. They said the jawans and JCOs will be attending specific sessions related to human resource issues during the three-day Combined Commanders' Conference that began on Thursday. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General M M Naravane, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and senior officials of the defence ministry and the armed forces will attend the conference. The prime minister is expected to deliver his address on the last day of the conference on Saturday, the officials said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also attend the conference, they noted. The top meet is taking place in Kevadia at a time when India and China are engaged in talks on disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh. A border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry even as and diplomatic-level talks continued between the two neighbours. On February 11, the defence minister announced in Parliament that India and China had arrived at an agreement on disengagement of troops in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake, which mandates both sides to "cease" forward deployment of troops in a "phased, coordinated and verifiable" manner. (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.) Italy ready to do "everything possible" to protect authenticity of Modena's balsamic vinegar. Italy has moved to defend the authenticity of Modena's balsamic vinegar over attempts by Slovenia to 'standardise' its production in a market worth about 1 billion. The Italian agriculture ministry has written to the European Commission contesting the move by Slovenia whose draft regulations on the classification of vinegar quality has caused alarm in Italy. Slovenia is seeking to label any vinegar mixture with concentrated fruit juice or must as balsamic vinegar, a move described as "a great offence to tradition and to the efforts made by producers of Modenese excellence," according to Federico Desimoni, director of the Modena balsamic vinegar consortium. Balsamic vinegar produced in Modena enjoys the status of 'Protected Designation of Origin' (PDO) and 'Protected Geographical Indication' (PDI) against counterfeits, both granted by the European Union. However a 2019 ruling by the European Court of Justice stated that such protection is not extended to its non-geographical components, namely aceto and balsamico, a legal interpretation that Slovenia is now seeking to use to its advantage. The unacceptable Slovenian proposal for the recognition of a balsamic vinegar produced outside Italy represents yet another attack on Made in Italy, states Armando de Nigris, advisor of the European Commission for the environment, public health and food safety. This view was echoed by Italy's agriculture minister Stefano Patuanelli, who said on 3 March: "The protection of Italian wine and food is one of the government's priorities. So we will do everything possible to defend Balsamic vinegar of Modena from these illicit attacks." If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here With more than 20 million acres of corn and soybeans, Illinois is among the top U.S. producers of those crops. To make it all happen, the state relies on thousands of farmworkers some of whom travel to the state for seasonal work and others, like 35-year-old Sarai, who call Illinois home. Being an agricultural worker is the most beautiful thing, Sarai said in an interview in Spanish. She moved to the U.S. from Mexico to find work that would allow her to better support her family. KHN agreed to identify Sarai by only her first name because shes undocumented. Since the onset of the pandemic, shes spent most of her time shepherding her three kids through their virtual school classes. There have been tens of thousands of Covid-19 cases and hundreds of deaths reported among U.S. farmworkers and meat plant workers. Because no official tracking system is in place, these numbers based largely on media reports are likely an undercount. And yet, agricultural workers like Sarai struggle to access the most basic tool to fight the spread of the coronavirus: testing. Sarai, for example, has been tested only once since the start of the pandemic. The nearest testing site is the next town over, and without a car or a public transportation option, she had to borrow a friends vehicle to get there. She hasnt gotten Covid, but Sarai knows many others whove gotten sick. She said the pandemic has made the past year a sad and difficult one. Many farmworkers are both working and living in sometimes isolated rural regions of the country, said Diana Tellefson Torres, executive director of the California-based United Farm Workers Foundation. Besides living far from testing sites, these workers often lack reliable information in their native language and have a general mistrust of the health care system. And missing work to get a test, or to isolate or quarantine, could be financially devastating. While the rollout of the coronavirus vaccines provides some hope for a better future, the virus is still spreading across the U.S., and efforts to expand access to testing and build trust with farmworkers are still needed, Tellefson Torres said. She said these efforts will also be critical for ensuring that these hard-to-reach, vulnerable populations are vaccinated when the time comes. Leverage long-standing community connections Early on in the pandemic, Gilberto Rosas, an anthropologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was struck by how easy it was for him a work-from-home professor to get a test, compared with workers in nearby towns who were more vulnerable to catching the virus and developing a severe case of Covid. The university has its own mass testing program for students and employees. The Urbana-Champaign campus is just 15 miles south of Rantoul, where virus outbreaks at a meat processing plant and a hotel housing migrant farmworkers were among the worst in Champaign County last year. We can walk down two flights of stairs, go out the back door and we can get testing, Rosas said. Whereas these people who are at the forefront who work in the fields, who work in the plants they lack that kind of access. Rosas is part of a team at the University of Illinois that had set out to study what was causing the virus to spread in the agricultural community. They also decided to do something to address testing access. We want to both unearth inequalities, but also mitigate them, Rosas said. The researchers teamed up with medical professionals from clinics in the area to organize pop-up coronavirus testing events in Rantoul. The events are advertised in English and Spanish. The group has tried to leverage long-standing community connections to bolster turnout, reaching out to churches and organizations that cater to the areas immigrant and agricultural workforce. Even with that outreach, theyve been frustrated by low attendance. At an event held before Christmas outside a community center, for example, only 15 people came for a test. Four of those 15 tested positive a very high rate. Structural barriers: Financial and immigration worries Sofia Bolanos Robinette suspects the reason more people dont turn out for coronavirus testing, even at convenient times and locations, is that a positive result can be financially devastating. Bolanos Robinette has worked with farmworkers for the past 10 years, most recently as an advocate for students in the Illinois Migrant Education Program. She recently joined Rosas and the other University of Illinois anthropologists to study issues like barriers to testing. She recalls helping last summer with a coronavirus testing effort aimed at farmworkers who travel to the region for seasonal work. The clinic tried to make it as easy as possible for the workers to attend by setting up a station during off-hours right outside the migrant housing area. But some of them said they didnt even want to take the test, because, in the case they get back [a positive result], they will have to stop working, Bolanos Robinette said. And then that means, for them, they will not get any money for at least two weeks. Thats a big deal, she said, especially for farmworkers, who earn the bulk of their yearly income doing this seasonal work. For low-wage farmworkers, every penny counts, said Tellefson Torres of the UFW Foundation. In the most recent National Agricultural Workers Survey, one-third of farmworkers reported family incomes below the poverty line. And they don't have the same safety net that documented workers in the U.S. have. When you have to worry about putting food on your own table for your family, sometimes that is the focus, because there isnt another option, Tellefson Torres said. For undocumented workers, she said, there are even more disincentives to get tested. They may worry it could jeopardize their efforts to obtain a visa a common misperception. And after years of the Trump administration being more aggressive with immigration enforcement, Tellefson Torres said, theres a huge lack of trust and a real fear of deportation. Despite lower-than-ideal turnout at the pop-up events, University of Illinois anthropologist Ellen Moodie said attempts to host a few small-scale testing events, irregularly scheduled and located in different sites have made a difference for handfuls of people who might not otherwise have known they had the virus. However, Moodie said, the U.S. needs a comprehensive strategy to address the virus and protect vulnerable workers. Many public health experts have been calling for such a strategy since the start of the pandemic. So far, President Joe Biden has made that a priority of his administration. In a document published in January, Biden outlined a Covid strategy focused on boosting the production and distribution of vaccines. His plan includes efforts to address supply shortfalls for testing materials, implement stronger worker safety guidelines, expand emergency paid leave and otherwise strengthen the social service safety net. Vaccine implications: Mistrust breeds skepticism Building trust with farmworkers remains critical, Tellefson Torres said, not just to get more to show up for testing but also to get them to show up for vaccination as soon as they are eligible. At a recent virtual town hall hosted by the UFW Foundation, Tellefson Torres said she has heard from many farmworkers across the U.S. who are eager to get a vaccine. But others have reservations. The biggest concern shes heard has been about the potential cost, especially for the many workers who lack health insurance. Tellefson Torres said her organization is working to get the word out that Covid vaccination is free for everyone. Others, she said, worry about vaccine safety, asking questions like: What is this vaccine? What does it contain? What are you putting in my body? Vaccine safety is something Sarai the farmworker in Illinois worries about too. After finding some information online, she grew concerned about the possibility of adverse reactions, so, at least for now, she isnt planning to be vaccinated. However, Sarai said, if someone she trusts shows her evidence the vaccines are safe, she could change her mind. In Illinois, food and agriculture workers are now eligible for the vaccines. Public health administrator Julie Pryde said the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District which serves Champaign County, including Rantoul plans to work with a federally supported migrant clinic to host mobile vaccination events targeting migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Tellefson Torres said partnerships like that will be critical to ensure that agricultural workers, who have faced so many challenges throughout the pandemic, have equitable access to the vaccines their best hope of staying healthy. The norms that we have seen prior to the pandemic of not prioritizing worker health or just basic safety-net needs need to be addressed both by state, local, federal governments and employers, she said. Were literally talking about a life-and-death situation here. March 4 : A terrorist of outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), who escaped from jail in Manipur earlier while undergoing trial in the sensational 2003 kidnapping and murder of an 8-year old girl, was reportedly shot dead by the United Nation Liberation Front (UNLF), media report said on Thursday quoting a UNLF statement. The 3-page UNLF statement in Manipuri language said that Thokchom Nando Singh was shot dead on Tuesday in an undisclosed location by the underground outfit, who also released photo of slain militant's body. The UNLF, one of the oldest militant groups in Manipur, in its statement said that it had "tried" Nando Singh and "eliminated" him for his inhuman and barbaric crime against the minor girl. The girl, a daughter of a former Manipur legislator and a class 3 student, was abducted from her school on November 3, 2003, and after nine days her decomposed body was found bundled inside a bag at Sadokpam village under Imphal West District. The abductors had reportedly demanded a ransom of Rs 15 lakh from the victim's family. The UNLF said a special team especially constituted for catching Nando, succeeded in tracking him down on Monday. Police officials of Manipur refused to share any information with the media over the incident. (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Mitie Group PLC - Glasgow-based facilities management - GLAS Trust Corp Ltd intends to sell up to 149.0 million share, or 10.5% stake in company in secondary placing. Jefferies International Ltd is acting as sole global coordinator and bookrunner. The sale represents all of GLAS's holding in Mitie. Shares in company closed at 56.80 pence in London on Wednesday. Permanent TSB Group Holdings PLC - Dublin-based personal and small business bank - Records pretax loss of EUR166 million in 2020, as net interest income reduced by 4% year-on-year. Says performing loan book income was broadly stable in 2020 supported by the active management of the bank's cost of funds. NIM worsens to 1.73% from 1.80%. Total new lending of about EUR1.4 billion in 2020, which is 15% lower from 2019. A strong lending performance, it says, particularly in the second half of the year, led to a 43% increase in new mortgage drawdowns compared to the first half of 2020. Mortgage applications also increased significantly in the second half of the year, with full year market share ending at 14.5%. Chief Executive Eamonn Crowley says: "While 2020 was a loss making year for the bank, the second half of the year saw the bank increase its new lending volumes and transactional activity as the economy began to reopen. Our active mortgage offer pipeline is at a strong level and positions us well to continue our strong performance into 2021." STV Group PLC - Scottish media company - Pledges to become net zero carbon by 2030 and launches GBP1 million Green Fund for environmentally friendly Scottish businesses. Company will initially become carbon-neutral by the end of this year by investing to offset its carbon emissions. British Smaller Cos VCT2 PLC - venture capital trust - Says offer for subscription to raise up to GBP7.1 million now fully subscribed and closed to further applications. Genedrive PLC - Manchester-based molecular diagnostics firm - Believes new clinical guidance in the UK on the importance of the management of specific genetic mutations and their role in hearing loss as a result of antibiotics will lead to increased demand for the genedrive antibiotic induced hearing loss test in the UK. "This new government guidance reminds healthcare professionals about the impact of antibiotic related ototoxicity and to consider the need for genetic testing prior to initiation of treatment. Genedrive's assay is the only commercial point of care test available for the testing of MT-RNR1, the most important mutation contributing to AIHL in infants," company adds. Avation PLC - London-based aircraft leasing company - Receives consents from all of noteholders for remaining outstanding 2021 notes. Says the aggregate outstanding principal amount of its 6.5% senior notes due May 2021 is USD350.0 million, of which USD7.4 million are held in treasury. Says only USD342.6 million are deemed to be outstanding. Landore Resources Ltd - Canada-focused minerals explorer - Says drilling programme at its Junior Lake property, in Ontario, Canada is proceeding as scheduled with results received to-date confirming the depth and length extensions of the BAM west pit. "In addition drilling to the east and west of the BAM gold deposit has successfully intersected the favourable lithology and mineralized structures associated with the BAM gold deposit. Assay results will be reported once received and collated," company adds. Jersey Oil & Gas PLC - North Sea-focused upstream oil and gas company - Says Greater Buchan area development project has potential for 172 million boe 2C contingent resource estimates to be developed from a fully electrified platform. Development costs based on values are estimated to be approximately USD30 per barrel of oil equivalent. Capex estimate for Phase 1 of about GBP1 billion, with opex estimate during plateau production of USD8 per boe to USD9. "Significant upside potential from 4 drill ready exploration prospects within the GBA that have combined prospective resource estimates totalling an additional 219 million boe," company adds. Chief Executive Andrew Benitz says: "We now plan to launch a farm-out process, which we expect to be highly attractive to a wide range of oil companies in light of the project's scale, economics and low carbon potential through platform electrification, characteristic of certain fully electrified fields offshore Norway." Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC - pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical firm based in London - Starts process of engaging contract manufacturing organisations for product development and manufacturing of DNA plasmids, viral vectors and HEMO-CAR-T cells to support Phase I clinical trials and has contracted Randall Tlachac of Quality Systems LLC to provide oversight and direct product development, manufacturing and quality control operations. Vladislav Sandler, chief executive & co-founder of Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals, says: "This is the next incredibly important step on a direct path to clinical proof of concept for one of our leading product candidates." Myanmar Investments International Ltd - developer and operator of consumer businesses in Myanmar - Extends warrant exercise window to March 31. Warrant holders are able to exercise their warrants for a cash payment of USD0.90 per share during the first calendar month of each quarter. Maestrano Group PLC - London-based artificial intelligence platform for transport corridor analytics - Raises gross proceeds of GBP2.0 million by placing 15.3 million shares at 13 pence per share with new institutional, other and existing investors. Chair Ian Buddery says: "We are very pleased to have completed this raise, which will fund our growth, particularly in the US markets. We appreciate the support of our shareholders and our new investors, and look forward to reporting our progress." Jangada Mines PLC - London-based natural resources company - Says 12% investee ValOre Metals expands rhodium assay program at Pedra Branca based on encouraging results, with 60% of samples anomalous in follow-up programme, with a high value of 0.25 grammes per tonne rhodium. Team PLC - owns Theta Enhanced Asset Management Ltd, trading as Team Asset Management - Prices initial public offering at 88 pence per share, hoping to raise GBP7.5 million. Expects market cap on admission of GBP14.6 million. Says it expects the IPO to occur on March 8. Canaccord Genuity Ltd is acting as the company's nominated adviser and broker and Hannam & Partners as financial advisor. Company is a Jersey-based active fund manager providing discretionary and advisory portfolio management services to private clients, trusts and charities. Assets under management were GBP291 million in November, up from GBP140 million in December 2019. Nostra Terra Oil & Gas Co PLC - Texas-focused oil and gas explorer - Says Cypress farmout acreage doubled in size at Pine Mills asset in East Texas, US as potential additional locations and reserves identified. Notes second Cypress well planned in 2021. Chief Executive Matt Lofgran says: "Nostra Terra continues to execute on our plans to grow production and cashflow, primarily from existing assets, while still seeking additional opportunities that could be transformational for the company, both in the US and in other developed oil and gas provinces." Mineral & Financial Investments Ltd - Cayman Islands-based investment company specialising in junior mining companies - Says 75%-owned Redcorp Empreedimentos Mineiros Lda gets updated mineral resource estimate for the copper rich South Zone at its Lagoa Salgada project located on the Iberian pyrite belt in Portugal. The new estimate results in a significant upgrade and expansion of the resources at the South Zone, with measured and indicated resource estimate increased by 44% to 4.4 million tonnes at 1.51% copper equivalent. Inferred Resource increased 21% to 7.7 million tonnes at 1.41% copper equivalent. By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned visit to Dhaka later this month will surely be a "very memorable" one, External Affairs Minister said on Thursday, as he described India's strategic ties with a truly "360 degree partnership". Jaishankar arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Modi's visit to later this month to participate in the celebrations of 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations. After holding comprehensive discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart A K Abdul Momen, Jaishankar said was central to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and increasingly relevant to the country's 'Act East Policy'. "We are working to prepare for the planned visit of our Prime Minister. It will surely be a very memorable visit: if I recall right it would be his first visit outside India since the coronavirus pandemic and his second as Prime Minister to Bangladesh," he told reporters at a joint press conference along with Momen. "Many of you would remember his (Modi's) last visit (here), that was something very transformational in our relationship," he said. Prime Minister Modi is likely to pay a two day visit to Dhaka from March 26 to Bangladesh to participate in a series of events. Jaishankar acknowledged that it was a "very special year" for the people of Bangladesh when both countries mark the Mujib Barsho, 50 years of Bangladesh's Liberation and 50 years of India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. "May all your dreams come true and I can assure you that India will always be there by your side, as a reliable friend," he said. "Our relationship is so broad & our comfort level so high that there is no domain today that is left untouched. It is a truly a 360 degree partnership," he tweeted. "Our relations actually transcend even our strategic partnership, and I believe that our bonding is central to the realisation of a dream of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Asia," he said. It is in pursuit of this vision that both sides have made remarkable progress in the relationship, especially since Prime Minister Modi's assumption of office in May 2014, Jaishankar said. The significance of India's ties with Bangladesh lies in its centrality, for India's Neighbourhood First' policy and Dhaka's growing relevance for India's Act East' Policy, he said. "We see Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued partner not only in South Asia but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Every outcome and achievement in our relationship resonates through this region. It is no secret that we cite it to others as an example for emulation," he said. During his meeting with Momen, Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions on ways to take forward the bilateral relations. "We are working so hard to expand our relationship to whole dimensions, ranging from security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people to people ties ensuring development of our shared resources," Jaishankar, who is expected to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told reporters. "Our comfort levels are now so high that we have shown that there is no issue that we cannot discuss and resolve through amicable dialogue," he said. Momen said the two countries have committed to continue to work together to take "our bilateral relations to newer heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Hasina." Jaishankar said that his visit is also a statement of solidarity in "our shared" fight against the COVID pandemic. In January, India sent over 20 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine as a gift to Bangladesh. "The pandemic has actually provided an opportunity to reaffirm our friendship. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Made in India vaccines. Also among the friendship our largest gift of vaccines of 2 million, which is really appropriate that it is to Bangladesh," he said. Speaking on the long-pending deal on the sharing of Teesta waters, Jaishankar said, "We did discuss it and you know we would have a meeting of our water resources secretaries very soon. He said India had already in principle agreed to sign the agreement but its internal problems barred New Delhi to ink it yet. "We did discuss it and you know we would have a meeting of our water resources secretaries very soon. I am sure they will discuss it further. You know the Government of India's position, that has not changed," he said. Momen said his meeting with Jaishankar focused on possible ways to materialise "our commitments and how to prioritise and accommodate each other's priorities in a mutually beneficial manner. Replying to a question on the killings of Bangladeshis allegedly by the Border Security Force along the border, a major irritant in bilateral relations, Jaishankar said, We have talked about it. Many of the deaths take place inside India. Every death is regrettable. The deaths occurred due to the crimes along the border, he said, expressing optimism that it could be stopped by the joint efforts of both the countries. "But the problem is because of crime. So our shared objective should be there will be 'no crime, no death' on the border. I am sure if we can get it right -- no crime, no death -- we can together address the problem effectively," 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.) President Joe Biden is comfortable with demands by some Senate Democrats to cut the thresholds for receiving direct payments under the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, his spokeswoman said Wednesday. Under the proposal that could reach the Senate floor as early as Thursday, individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000 still would get a full $1,400 per person payment. But unlike the House-passed bill, the amounts would quickly phase out to where individuals making more than $80,000 and couples making more than $160,000 would not get any money. The first two rounds of stimulus checks phased out at $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for couples, meaning that many households who received two rounds of financial help would not get a third. Biden was fine with the lower thresholds, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during her daily press briefing Wednesday. He is comfortable with where the negotiations stand, Psaki said. Of course, there are going to be ongoing discussions. We dont have a final bill, as you know. There will be ongoing discussions. He is comfortable and knows there will be tweaks at the margin. But the numbers werent final yet as negotiations continued, scuttling plans to try to bring the legislation to the floor on Wednesday. The bill then would go back to the House with eye toward getting it to Biden by March 14, when the current extension of unemployment insurance ends. While progressives may have lost on the higher thresholds, they apparently did win on unemployment insurance, where Senate Democrats planned to keep the additional payments at $400 a week, rejecting calls to reduce them to the current level of $300. We have to pay attention to the entire package, said Rep. Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist., a vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Im going to reserve judgment until the final draft. Im going to bite my tongue for a little bit and see what they come up with. While Republicans remain unified against the legislation, a Monmouth University Poll released Wednesday said the stimulus remained popular with the public. The bill was supported by 62% of Americans. including one-third of self-identified Republicans, with 34% in opposition. And the $400 unemployment insurance benefits were backed by 67%-30%. The poll of 802 adults was conducted Feb. 25-March 1 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he wanted to have Republican support. We had always hoped that this very important work would be bipartisan, Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor. Regrettably, it seems that too many of our Republican colleagues are resorting to the same, predictable objections they raise about nearly every proposal supported by a Democrat. It almost doesnt matter whats in the bill, everything my colleagues oppose is a liberal wish list. But Rep. Kevin Brady, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, said there has been no effort to reach across the aisle. There has not been a moment of discussion with Republicans, said Brady, R-Texas, who used the same procedures in 2017 to cut taxes and to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act with no Democratic support. I challenge anyone to claim with a straight face that this has bipartisan input or consensus at all. The legislation includes a massive expansion of the child tax credit and earned income tax credit for lower-income Americans. That would benefit 1.6 million children in New Jersey under age 18 and 354,000 workers without children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive research group. I dont think its possible to overstate the sweeping potential impact, Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said on a conference call to highlight the proposals. When these two changes are passed, it really will be one of the most transformative economic policies ever to come out of Washington, D.C., in decades. This will be the greatest cut in child poverty in American history. Demand for lithium is on the rise, and the price has been moving accordingly British Lithium is moving rapidly towards the preparation of an integrated quarry and lithium refinery in Cornwall, with drilling ongoing and consultants hard at work building models. The ongoing work follows a successful preliminary economic assessment which was completed last year. To date the company has enjoyed significant government support, both at a local and national level, and appears to be capable of making a valuable contribution to Britains plans to convert from a carbon-intensive economy into a carbon neutral one. This aspiration is not just governmental virtue signalling to the environmental lobby. Its actually a vital part of positioning the UK economy to meet the demands of the future because, as it stands, with a value of 82bn, the UK car industry is second only to the NHS in terms of generating employment. Whats more, under the recently-signed Brexit deal with the European Union, it looks as though batteries for the next generation of vehicles produced on UK shores will themselves need to be built in the UK. That raises the question: can it be done? As a prerequisite to answering that question, Britain will need to be able to source economic supplies of the raw materials that are going to go into the new vehicles. And thats where British Lithium comes in. The company is run by experienced mining executives with several successes behind them, and much know-how in the sector. Whats more, its supporters have deep pockets, and the will to see the project successfully through, both onto a stock market listing when the time is right, and ultimately into production as well. Who are these people? The chairman is Roderick Smith, a man who has successfully financed and built six mining industry projects in various jurisdictions around the world, and who played an instrumental role in the early days of the Cinovec lithium project in the Czech Republic, now one of Europes foremost lithium developments. This is a man who knows his way around mining, knows his way around lithium, and knows his way around finance. He also knows how to put together a team. Theres Dr Robert Gruar, a former innovation specialist at Dyson, a dedicated metallurgist, Dr Klaas Peter van der Wielen, as well as additional specialist geologists, a consultant from Wardell Armstrong, and academics from the local universities. Theres also the chief executive, Andrew Smith, Rodericks son, who was project manager at Cinovec. He also ran the feasibility study for the US$600mln Cominco phosphate project in the Republic of Congo, and specialises in complex metallurgy. In the case of the project in Cornwall, this is likely to come in particularly handy, since the lithium is contained in an unconventional source, a lithium mica, only found in parts of the UK and Europe. Not that Andrew Smith has any doubts that the unusual metallurgy is likely to stand in the way of the company. Weve got the skills, the team and the resources to get the project done, he says. As it stands, the estimated capital required to build the project is reckoned at 250mln. Thats a chunky amount of cash to be sure, but not unreasonable by mining industry standards, and surely easily within the range of a team like Smiths. The plan is that we will fund the project internally up till the definitive feasibility study, says Andrew. Then well IPO, and fund construction with a mixture of debt and equity. Its a tried and tested path that has been trodden by tens of thousands of mining projects worldwide, including some of the ones the Smith family themselves have worked on. Often, for companies such as these, its the initial seed stage that represents the real insurmountable hurdle. But British Lithium is well past that. Its already spent 4.5mln on the project, and is deadly serious about continuing. Weve got the technical skills and weve got deep-pocketed investors, emphasises Andrew Smith. Given the economic backdrop around lithium and the UKs car industry, further steps forward are a no-brainer. Indeed, it isnt a question of whether British Lithium can go forward or not, but how far and how fast. With government support the potential is immense. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A Mobile man is dead after being shot and killed, attempting to enter his ex-wifes Daphne apartment. The incident happened around 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Daphne Police Departments Facebook page. Officers arrived to the Ashley Gates Apartments Wednesday night in response to a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, officers found Jeffrey Vincent, 32, dead. Vincent died attempting to burglarize his ex-wifes apartment, according to police. He was also armed with a rifle and fired several shots during the attack. According to the post, the apartment was occupied with a child and two adults. One of the adults were armed as well. No other injuries were reported in the incident and no criminal charges have been filed. The Baldwin County District Attorneys Office will receive the case once Daphne police are done investigating. Haiti - News : Zapping... Jackson Pleteau shotting target On Wednesday March 3, Jackson Pleteau, Chief of Staff to Minister Cadet, while he was driving his car in his neighborhood of residence, was the target of individuals who appeared to be "police officers" in a vehicle, which blocked the road and opened fire without any explanation. Pleteau's car was shot several times, however Pleteau managed to escape from his vehicle to take refuge with a neighbor and is unharmed. Shooting at Champ-de-Mars at least 3 victims On Wednesday in Champ-de-Mars, individuals traveling on motorcycles opened fire on passers-by before fleeing. At least two people were reportedly killed and a pregnant woman injured in the stomach. Kidnapping #122 The Government is making available to the population from Friday, March 5, the number 122, an emergency telephone line available 24/24 to alert the national police to cases of kidnapping throughout the country. Mathias Pierre invites the opposition to... Mathias Pierre, the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, in charge of electoral issues and relations with political parties declared on February 2 on FRANCE 24 that the Government was putting everything in place for the holding of the referendum and the elections this year. Mathias Pierre invited the opposition to leave the logic of transition to go to the elections "The involvement of the diaspora is an obligation" "The full involvement of the diaspora in Haitian affairs is an obligation. On behalf of the Haitian Consulate in Orlando, I had the pleasure of meeting several community leaders to discuss the proposed new constitution. Dyaspora in Ladan," said Herwil Gaspard, Consul and Head of Post at the Haitian Consulate in Orlando. FNE : Donation of 200,000 notebooks The National Education Fund (FNE) this week donated 200,000 notebooks to the departmental directorates of the Ministry which will redistribute them to students attending national schools in the 10 departments of the country. The Federation of Haitian Bars relieved The Federation of the Bars of Haiti wishes to express its relief following the release of the lawyer of the Bar of Port-au-Prince, Me Nasha Saint Fleur, and of the lawyer of the Bar of Petit-Goave, Me Abbias Edume, both kidnapped last week. HL/ HaitiLibre 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 In the 1950s, two of the best places to eat in St. Louis were the Mayfair Room, in the Hotel Mayfair, and the Rathskeller, in the Hotel Lennox. Both restaurants were operated by the Mayfair-Lennox Corporation and its president, C. Gordon Heiss. On August 1, 1959, Heiss announced plans for a new seafood restaurant in The Frontenac apartment building, to be located in the space formerly occupied by the Villa Capri. The new restaurant would be operated by Mayfair-Lennox and called Nantucket Cove. Nantucket Cove officially opened on November 27, 1959. Its cove was its parking lot, which one entered off Kingshighway through wooden gates adorned with nautical buoys and fish netting. ADVERTISEMENT Diners entered Nantucket Coves suite of five dimly-lit rooms via a wooden walkway. A Cape Cod atmosphere was fostered with authentic artifacts acquired from Massachusetts seaport towns. A Jenny Lind masthead kept watch over Nantucket Coves bar. The bar was separated from the restaurant by a wall of oars, harpoons and buoys, covered with fish casting nets. There were red running lanterns which had been used on sailing ships of the 1800s, along with compasses and other navigational equipment. Two large dining rooms The Mayflower and the Upper Deck were replete with checkered table clothes, captains chairs, beamed ceilings and 12-inch planked flooring. When Nantucket Cove opened, its seafood orientation was revolutionary for the Midwest. At the Nantucket Cove, no frozen sea food will ever be served . . . for we are dedicated to a hook-to-pan-to-plate freshness that converts even the most avid landlubber to our delicacies from the briny deep. The advent of jet air freight in early 1960 was the key, and over the years, Nantucket Cove steadily built its reputation for absolutely fresh, imaginatively prepared seafood. Flounder, red snapper, salmon, pompano, halibut, oysters, clams and live Maine lobster were featured daily on the menu. Nantucket Cove served more live Maine lobsters than anyone else in the Midwest. It was their most popular item. Click here to read more about the history of Nantuckets Cove on LostTables.com The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below I know that foreign policy can sometimes feel disconnected from our daily lives. Its either all about major threats like pandemics, terrorism, or it fades from view. As a result, for some time now, Americans have been asking tough, but fair questions about what were doing, how were leading, indeed, whether we should be leading at all. With this in mind, weve set the foreign policy priorities for the Biden administration by asking a few simple questions. What will our foreign policy mean for American workers and their families? What do we need to do around the world to make us stronger here at home? And what do we need to do at home to make us stronger in the world? American leadership and engagement matter. Were hearing this now from our friends, theyre glad were back. Whether we like it or not, the world does not organize itself. When the U.S. pulls back, one of two things is likely to happen: either another country tries to take our place, but not in a way that advances our interests and values, or maybe just as bad, no one steps up, and then we get chaos and all the dangers it creates. Either way, thats not good for America. Another enduring principle is that we need countries to cooperate now more than ever. Not a single global challenge that affects your lives can be met by any one nation acting alone, not even one as powerful as the United States. And there is no wall high enough or strong enough to hold back the changes transforming our world. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. ADVERTISEMENT The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting a forceful take over of Zamfara State because of the security challenges confronting the state. The party levelled the accusation in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan. The North-west state is governed by a PDP governor, Bello Matawalle. Hundreds of students were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State by some bandits on Friday last week. They were, however, released in the early hours of Tuesday. On the same day, the APC-led the federal government declared the state a no-fly-zone just as it again banned mining activities in the state to curb the rising insecurity. Before the Zamfara incident, at least 27 male students were abducted in Kagara, Niger State three weeks ago, while over 600 students were also whisked away in Kankara, Katsina State late December 2020. Both Niger and Katsina States are governed by the APC. PDP fumes In reaction to the declaration of no fly zone in Zamfara, the PDP alleged that the APC-led administration was plotting to impose a state of emergency in the state for political benefits. Our party rejects this attempt by power-mongers in the APC administration to undermine and subvert the democratic order in Zamfara state by creating the impression that the state government, under Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, is to blame for the failures of the APC-led federal government to contain insecurity in the state, Mr Ologbondiyan said. It is instructive to recall that the plot by the APC to derail the Matawalle administration and forcefully take over the control of the state started immediately after the Supreme Court handed him victory in the Zamfara State governorship election; a plot which heightened after Governor Matawalle refused the pressure to decamp to the APC. The opposition party argued that the recent incident in Zamfara was an extension of the federal governments failures to keep its promises to Nigerians. It added that the growing cases of banditry, terrorism and kidnap are a reflection of the governments dereliction of its duties to Nigerians, a burden different levels of government should bear. It is even more worrisome that the Buhari presidency will gloss over Kaduna, Niger and Mr Presidents home state of Katsina, where killings, kidnapping and abduction have become a daily routine, only to be contemplating an emergency situation in Zamfara. The PDP counsels that rather than this selective approach to fighting banditry, terrorism and kidnapping, the Buhari presidency should go back to the drawing board and adopt a holistic approach to quell the prevailing insecurity in our nation. Our party will therefore not allow the Buhari presidency to tag and intimidate Governor Matawalle for seeking to find solutions to a very depressing situation, the party cautioned. Mr Matawalle, in a statement, had also claimed that some people paid the bandits not to release the abducted school girls to discredit his efforts. He will likely not be the last as the policy will be able to apply to other midshipmen who have died. New Delhi, March 4 : Besides 10 organisations in the Indian power sector and two ports, Chinese state-sponsored hackers might also have targeted Indian Railways infrastructure, an expert with cyber intelligence company Recorded Future said on Thursday. However, there is still not enough data to confirm that Indian Railways infrastructure were actually attacked, Charity Wright, Cyber Threat Intelligence Expert, Recorded Future, said during a virtual briefing with reporters. Recorded Future had earlier released a report in which it had identified 10 distinct Indian organisations in the power generation and transmission sector and two in the maritime sector which were targeted by Chinese hackers. The intrusions were conducted by a China-linked activity group that Recorded Future termed as "RedEcho". The 12 "victim" organisations are - Power System Operation Corporation Ltd, NTPC Ltd, NTPC Kudgi STPP, Western Regional Load Despatch Centre, Southern Regional Load Despatch Centre, North Eastern Regional Load Despatch Centre, Eastern Regional Load Despatch Centre, Telangana State Load Despatch Centre, Delhi State Load Despatch Centre, DTL Tikri Kalan (Mundka) of Delhi Transco Ltd, V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Mumbai Port Trust. Recorded Future observed the intrusions in the Indian power sector beginning in mid-2020 amid heightened border tensions between India and China. Relations between India and China deteriorated significantly following the border clashes in June 2020 that resulted in the first combat deaths in 45 years between the world's two most populous nations, the report noted. "The attack was unsettling because the hackers targeted the civilian infrastructure. It should not have happened," said Christopher Ahlberg, Recorded Future's CEO and Co-Founder. It now appears that the Chinese state-backed hackers are winding down their operations, he said. They appeared to be active till February 28, but over the past few days, their activities appear to be winding down, Ahlberg said. From the nature of the attacks, it appears that the Chinese hackers were not interested in any economic gain and espionage advantage. They might have wanted to show their capability for disruptions or it could be a sign of their preparation for any future operations, he said. "The Chinese will continue this sort of targeting in the future...China will continue to exert pressure on their neighbours," Ahlberg said. He, however, said that there is not enough data to support any link between the October 2020 power outage in Mumbai and a malware at a Padgha Load Despatch Centre in Thane district. Official communications between Cairo and Washington returned to the headlines last week after the US State Department approved a $197 million arms deal with Egypt. The US secretary of state also made his countrys first official phone call to his Egyptian counterpart since President Biden took office on 20 January. The two events generated a positive outlook on the tenor of bilateral relations with Washington under a Democratic administration. This is all the more heartening after the gloomy forecasts from some quarters in the US predicting problems arising from American objections to the human rights situation in Egypt. The conversation between Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the strategic nature of a bilateral relation characterised by a large scope of consensus with room for friendly disagreement. The two sides share the view that when they air their differences frankly they will converge on areas of agreement likely to strengthen an alliance built on four decades of optimising mutual interests. Today, there are many such areas of convergence: the security of the Red Sea, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the fight against terrorism and pressing regional questions such as the conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria. Indeed, the State Department acknowledged this in a press release following the decision to approve the arms deal: This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East. The White House is under considerable pressure to link military aid to Egypt to issues on which Egypt and the US have differing views, such as human rights and democracy. Yet some circles in the US familiar with political and economic affairs in Egypt have drawn attention to the major strides that Egypt has made in economic development and growth. Lobbies for US businesses underscore the many positive developments that have occurred during the past seven years, as the improved investment climate shows. Their observations contrast starkly with the strident narratives about social instability or government incompetence circulated by some major US outlets or the reports of Washington-based think tanks. The careful and comprehensive consideration that the Biden administration has given to his countrys bilateral relations with a pivotal country such as Egypt makes it important to appreciate the danger of the camp intent on ruining this relationship. Washington can not afford to lose more friends at this crucial juncture in US foreign relations when the international power struggle has revived a Cold War climate in the Middle East and other areas vital to the interests of major world powers. Many tendentious articles and reports betray the fingerprints of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated a terrorist organisation in Egypt and in other countries aware of the threat it poses to peace and cohesion. Some in Washington have been gulled into believing that it subscribes to democracy and pluralism, which could not be further from the unpleasant truth or the history of the mother of all Islamist terrorist organisations. In all events, the mouthpieces propagating the Muslim Brotherhoods claims must be disappointed by the Biden administrations actions, which reflect a determination to keep things in perspective and to deal with Cairo as a strategic partner that remains crucial to American interests even if the two sides disagree on some issues. Egypts domestic performance indicators (comprehensive development plans, economic growth figures, etc) and its balanced foreign policies supporting development, reconstruction, territorial integrity and the preservation of the state in neighbouring countries combine to belie the image others are trying to disseminate about our government. In fact, Egypts foreign policy outlook and convictions as applied in the region are a positive mirror of its domestic behaviour whether in response to real and grave threats to national security or in pursuit of a compressive vision of human rights that includes the rights to health, education, housing and work, alongside civic and political rights. Close relations between Egypt and the US are beneficial to both, especially given threats of a magnitude it would be foolish to underestimate. Foremost among these is terrorism which jeopardises US interests in the Middle East, the freedom and safety of navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and oil resources in the Gulf. These threats are persistent and the fact that they also jeopardise international peace and security makes it imperative to encourage strategic partnerships and to insulate them from fabricated tensions. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Teagasc Scariff Webinar Event Time 7:30pm Venue Online Join the Teagasc Scariff team in the Galway/Clare Region for this interactive webinar Join the webinar here - no registration required This webinar, hosted by the Teagasc Scariff team will cover the following topics: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference in Jerusalem this afternoon with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, in Israel for a one-day visit. The three leaders pledged to work together to increase global vaccine production and prepare for future pandemics. We are now emerging from the corona with the Green Passport having vaccinated well, 90% of our population that has received one jab or two or has already recovered so we dont have that far to go I think Israel serves as model for the world and we are discussing some of these experiences, sharing those experiences with our friends," said Netanyahu. The prime minister went on to explain the purpose of the vaccine summit," saying, We have to protect our peoples against the reemergence of this pandemic or mutations, and we want to create two capacities. We think that by joining our resources, of three small but very able and gifted countries, we can better meet these challenges. What we are talking about is establishing a joint R&D fund of Israel, Austria and Denmark, and beginning joint efforts for common production of future vaccines." Netanyahu said that vaccine production demands several kinds of capabilities and expertise, so the idea would be to divide production between the three, with each of the countries focusing on and advancing the production aspects it knows best. Frederiksen noted that the three countries have worked together for a year, ever since the outbreak of the pandemic, saying, Todays meeting has provided me with a lot of inspiration on how we can work closer together when it comes to research and when it comes to production capacities." Kurz spoke with an equally enthusiastic tone, saying, Its always a pleasure to be in Israel. But at the moment the world is looking at Israel with admiration. Because under your leadership, Israel is the first country in the world vaccinating its population, and Israel is the first country in the world that shows that it is possible to defeat the virus." Before the press conference, Netanyahu took the two European leaders to a gym in the town of Modiin to show and explain Israels new Green Pass system. People who have been fully vaccinated with two Pfizer doses or those who have fully recovered from the virus can now download an app to their phones and display a personalized barcode that enables them to take part in various activities. In some four, five weeks well finish vaccinating all of the over-50s. In eight weeks, well finish vaccinating everyone in Israel over 16, except for those people who refuse to vaccinate under any circumstances, said Netanyahu. Still, the prime minister warned that masks would have to be worn for some time yet. Netanyahu and Kurz have been cooperating in different domains in the past two years and more intensely since the outbreak of the pandemic. In April 2020, for instance, after the first wave, Netanyahu participated in a Zoom conference initiated by Kurz with the leaders of Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, the Czech Republic and Greece. The leaders shared their experiences with the virus and pledged to continue coordinating their efforts. The same forum convened several times in past few months, exploring ideas such as travel bubbles or travel corridors between virus-free countries. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 22:05:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- As COVID-19 transmission rates once again begin to rise across the European region, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge on Thursday urged the region to return to basics when dealing with the pandemic. As new cases of COVID-19 in Europe rose 9 percent to just above one million, it brought to an end a six-week decline in new cases and the stark realization that variants were making significant headway in the region, Kluge said during a virtual press conference here. "We are seeing a resurgence in central and Eastern Europe. New cases are also on the rise in several western European countries where rates were already high." However, the WHO official declined to offer the support to the creation of "corona passports" many countries in the EU have been mulling over. "WHO does not recommend passports, but I also believe that as we see already, somehow, it may be unavoidable," said Kluge. While acknowledging the "feasibility, and the desirability" of corona passports, Kluge told Xinhua that the "passports" came with "some caveats." "From a scientific point of view, how long does a vaccine give immunity? It is not so clear yet. And if you get a vaccine, it protects you but does not necessarily stop transmission. So it's not a watertight thing." According to Kluge, the overarching concern for the WHO was rather an intelligent access to vaccines that would help to reduce vaccine inequality. "What WHO is taking forward is a smart vaccination consumption. It is on the digital certification because it is important that whoever is vaccinated, there is a document there." Kluge further reiterated that the WHO followed the international health regulations when it came to travel and trade and saw discussions on the issue of a passport as ongoing. "The passport itself is not recommended by WHO. The certificate, of course, yes. And a number of very important considerations, which need to be taken into account." Meanwhile, the WHO Regional Director called for the need to return to "basics" using tools such as increased vigilance, improved testing, focus on prevention, re-engagement with communities, evidence-driven re-openings and an accelerated roll-out of vaccines if the region was to again drive back the coronavirus and its variants. Enditem The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies was left visibly affronted on Thursday when model Fabio Lanzoni, known as the king of '90s romance novel covers, shared his controversial views on Australian women. The presenter, 53, looked shocked after Fabio said he wanted to marry an Aussie woman because 'they are more domesticated' than Americans and Europeans. The 61-year-old made the bizarre admission after Kylie's co-host Larry Emdur asked him: 'We understand you're single. Is that right?' Shocked: The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies (right, with co-host Larry Emdur) was left visibly affronted when model Fabio Lanzoni shared his controversial views on Australian women 'Yes and actually I'm coming to Australia because it is very well known for the most deadly snake but also the most beautiful women in the world,' Fabio replied. He then raised eyebrows by describing Australian women as 'domesticated'. 'Everyone in the world knows they are down-to-earth, beautiful, very domesticated. The best thing for a man,' he said. Looking for love: 'Everyone in the world knows [Australian women] are down-to-earth, beautiful, very domesticated. The best thing for a man,' Fabio, 61, said Gentle Rogue: Fabio was one of the world's most famous male models in the 1980s and '90s, and is perhaps best remembered for gracing the covers of bodice-ripping romance novels 'What do you mean "domesticated"?' asked Kylie, as Larry winced beside her. 'You are real women,' explained the ageing Italian-American heart-throb. A stunned Kylie asked: 'But you don't expect us to be in the kitchen with an apron on? That's not what you mean by domesticated, is it?' Exchange: 'What do you mean "domesticated"?' asked Kylie, to which Fabio (pictured in July 2016) replied, 'You are real women... you really know how to take care of a man' He went on to explain: 'No. I mean you really know how to take care of a man.' Fabio was one of the world's most famous male models in the 1980s and '90s, and is perhaps best remembered for gracing the covers of bodice-ripping romance novels. He appeared as a strapping alpha male on titles such as Gentle Rogue, Viking, Pirate and Comanche, and signed copies of these books fetch hundreds at auction. Surprised: Kylie didn't quite know how to respond to Fabio's assessment of Aussie women [March 04, 2021] Givaudan Launches Groundbreaking Consumer Segmentation Tool In North America Focused On Flavor CINCINNATI, Ohio, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing has partnered with leading market intelligence firm Bellomy to launch FlavorFinders, a unique research-backed, patent pending segmentation tool that will evolve the way flavor strategy is built, for the North America Market. FlavorFinders uses proprietary research to help identify flavor selections and strategies more efficiently, meeting consumers on their own flavor adoption curve. While traditional segmentation focuses broadly on demographics, attitudes, behaviors and the needs of consumers within a narrow product category, FlavorFinders goes beyond this to understand attitudes, behaviors and the needs of consumers as it relates to flavor choice as a part of consumers' eating and drinking lifestyle. "Finding a way to more effectively connect a brand's consumers with their flavor preferences is a goal for many in the food and beverage industry because doing so improves product success," says Eric Spenske, VP Marketing North America, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing. "FlavorFinders works with brands that already have a segmentation model in place to further define the flavor personality characteristics of those segments. For brands without a clearly defined segmentation strategy and only have simple demographics targets, FlavorFinders can really enhance their targeting as well as their positioning. In both cases, FlavorFinders will help brands identify the right flavors necessary to bring new consumers to their franchise." FlavorFinders wasn't built overnight. It is the culmination of over a decade of research. In partnership with Bellomy, Givaudan executed seven studies and surveyed over 9,000 U.S. adults, covering 86 food and beverage applications and reaching over 70 national food and beverage bands, as well as hundreds of flavors. This resulted in thousands of data points and a unique approach to understanding flavor and product adoption along a flavor-lifestyle spectrum. By adding a layer of understanding to one of the most important characteristics of food & beverage products, FlavorFinders has the potential to strengthen your brand's overall flavor strategy and in doing so, significantly improve a product's chances of in-market success. To learn more about FlavorFinders and how it can evolve your brand or product's flavor strategy, visit https://www.givaudan.com/specials/taste-wellbeing/givaudan-flavor-finders. About Givaudan Givaudan is a global leading company in taste and wellbeing, and fragrance and beauty. With its heritage stretching back over 250 years, the Company has a long history of innovating scents and tastes. From a favourite drink to your daily meal, from prestige perfumes to cosmetics and laundry care, its creations inspire emotions and delight millions of consumers the world over. The Company is committed to driving purpose-led, long-term growth while leading the way to improve happiness and health for people and nature. In the fiscal year 2020, the Company employed almost 16,000 people worldwide and achieved sales of CHF 6.3 billion and a free cash flow of 12.8% of sales. Let's imagine together on www.givaudan.com . About Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan's passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game-changing innovations in food and beverage. Let's imagine together the future of food. Learn more at www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing About Bellomy Bellomy is a full-service market intelligence firm that serves a variety of industries including healthcare, retail, financial, energy, and consumer products. Bellomy fuels digital transformation through research and design. Bellomy creates a broad and deep picture of brands, products, and experiences using a mix of traditional inputs and behavioral data, operational data, and digital sources all powered by advanced technologies to transform businesses. An AMA Gold Report Top 50 Firm, Bellomy was founded in 1976 in Winston-Salem, NC and today has more than 100 researchers, technologists, strategists, and designers in six states. MEDIA CONTACT Stephen Collins, Head of Communications, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing, North America, Stephen.collins@givaudan.com, 513-948-3433 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/givaudan-launches-groundbreaking-consumer-segmentation-tool-in-north-america-focused-on-flavor-301240634.html SOURCE Givaudan North America [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kay Sims, of Yuba City, received her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination on Wednesday at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds. The Afghan military abandoned a base in Bala Murghab district in Badghis province. This video of the abandoned base was published by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. The Ministry of Defense has confirmed the base was "relocated" as it has come under repeated Taliban attack. pic.twitter.com/4jBX7PGn9t Bill Roggio (@billroggio) March 3, 2021 Afghan security forces have withdrawn from a number of military bases and police checkpoints throughout the country, allowing for the Taliban to easily walk in and expand areas it controls and contests throughout the country. Nearly forty percent of the police checkpoints have been shut down and policemen have been relocated elsewhere, the Ministry of the Interior confirmed. We have reduced the presence of police in more than 6,000 checkpoints to 113 bases and 3,700 checkpointsthe move was aimed to reduce the role of police in war and instead to transfer the war responsibilities to the Ministry of Defense, Massoud Andarabi, the Minister of the Interior said, according to TOLONews. The Afghan military has not stepped in to make up for the withdrawal of police forces in this rapidly deteriorating security situation. The Taliban is now manning checkpoints on the Kunduz Takhar highway, as well as the Pul-i-Khumri Mazar-i-Sharif highways, TOLONews reported. The Afghan military confirmed that a military base in Bala Murghab was abandoned to avoid threats from the Taliban. The district center fell to the Taliban on May 27, 2019, and the Taliban has had effective control of the district since then. Afghan military forces have been besieged at the base. In a statement published on the Talibans Pashto-language version of Voice of Jihad, the group said it was the last base of Kabul administration in the district. Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid released a video from the vacated base in Bala Murghab. The Taliban has remained on the offensive all across Afghanistan despite signing a so-called peace deal with the U.S. on Feb. 29, 2020. U.S. officials have maintained that the agreement calls for the Taliban to reduce violence, however there is no explicit mention of that whatsoever in the short, four-page document. Instead, violence across Afghanistan has increased in the wake of the agreement. The Taliban has been clear that it will not share power with the Afghan government. In the Talibans eyes, the only acceptable outcome to the decades-long conflict is the return of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with its emir, Mullah Habitulah Akhundzada as the leader. To further this goal, the Taliban has pressed its military offensive against the Afghan government and security forces. The Taliban has effectively seized control of most of the districts surrounding the provincial capitals of Baghlan (Pul-i-Khumri), Helmand Lashkar Gah), Kandahar (Kandahar City), Kunduz (Kunduz City), and Uruzgan (Tarin Kot), according to The New York Times. Over the past five years, the Taliban has seized control of Kunduz City (twice), Farah City, and Ghazni City for short periods of time. FDDs Long War Journal assesses that Farah City, Ghazni City and Maidan Shar, the capital of Wardak province, are under direct Taliban threat. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. This article appeared originally at FDD's Long War Journal. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. Following notable acting roles in such projects as Selma and the Les Miserables miniseries, David Oyelowo made his directing debut with The Water Man, a feature that filmed in Oregon in 2019. The film made its world premiere at 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, and its now scheduled to make its Pacific Northwest premiere at the Ashland Independent Film Festival. Oyelowo will be also be honored with the Rogue Award, presented annually to an accomplished mid-career artist, according to a press announcement today. According to the Toronto International Film Festival program, The Water Man, whose executive producers include Oprah Winfrey, tells a story that recalls the beloved family-friendly films of the 1980s. Lonnie Chavis (This Is Us) stars as Gunner, a sensitive child with artistic aspirations, a vision supported by his gravely ill mother (Rosario Dawson). Oyelowo also stars in the film, as Gunners father, whose emotional connection with his son is strained. In the midst of this difficult family situation, Gunner becomes obsessed with the legend of the Water Man, a supposed immortal with magical, curative powers. Once Gunner decides to head off in search of the Water Man, the adventure begins. Oyelowo has said that his own love of fantasy films about young people, including E.T. and the Oregon-filmed adventure, The Goonies, was an influence on why he was drawn to The Water Man. At the 20210 Ashland Independent Film Festival, The Water Man will open the event, and Oyelowo is scheduled to speak with critic Warren Etheredge about the film and his work. According to the festival press information, the fact that The Water Man filmed in Oregon forests, which were dramatically impacted by 2020 wildfires, connects the film to the festivals central theme this year of Rising From the Ashes. As with other film festivals that have had to adapt to the COVID era, the Ashland event will present something different, with what its calling a Double Feature festival. The event will run online from April 15-29, and outdoors in Ashland and Medford from June 24-28. The Ashland festival has also announced other winners of its special awards. The 2021 honorees include producer Christine Vachon, who will receive the Pride Award, which is given to significant people in LGBTQ+ filmmaking. Among the films Vachon has produced is director Todd Haynes Poison. The two are scheduled to revisit the making of that film in an April festival discussion, which will be moderated by critic B. Ruby Rich, who received the 2019 Pride Award. The James Blue Award, presented to filmmakers whose work explores social justice and political issues, will go to Bruno Santamaria, a Mexican filmmaker whose films include Things We Dare Not Do. The festival will include independent features and short films, virtual discussions and other events reflecting the theme of Rising From the Ashes, which recognizes how Southern Oregon is trying to recover following the 2020 summer wildfires. The entire festival schedule will be announced on March 24. For more information, go to ashlandfilm.org. Subscribe to our free weekly What to Watch newsletter. Email: -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist My Private Professor MSI employee Edmund F. shared, It was great! Our tutor was very friendly and patient with my two boys. Theyre actually looking forward to their next session. M S International, Inc. (MSI), the leading supplier of flooring, countertops, wall tile, and hardscaping products in North America, has launched a national partnership with My Private Professor, LLC to offer free, personalized, one-on-one tutoring for the children of employees in grades K-12. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has prevented many students from being able to attend school in person, and has hampered their ability to stay on top of what they are expected to learn this year. Through this partnership, MSI is offering free virtual tutoring sessions to its U.S. employees with school-aged children that are tailored to meet their students individual needs. From 1st grade Math, Reading, and Writing to 11th grade Calculus, AP Statistics, and SAT prep, children of MSI employees across the country are utilizing these individualized sessions to help them succeed in school. In discussing his childrens tutoring sessions through MSIs Academic Support Program, MSI employee Edmund F. shared, It was great! Our tutor was very friendly and patient with my two boys. Theyre actually looking forward to their next session. With a wide variety of tutors available and sessions that are easy to schedule, this extra academic support aims to ease families stress and help students keep up with their academics. MSI continues to provide free laptops for families of employees in order to enable the virtual sessions. We recognize how difficult remote learning or limited in-person instruction can be, and were excited to launch this program to help provide extra support for our employees children, said Raj Shah, President for MSI. Supporting education in the communities in which we work and live has always been paramount to MSI. My Private Professor is the ideal partner for this program as they have the passion, staff, and resources to help empower children and progress. MSI is committed to supporting education-related causes nationwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has increased its efforts to provide employees with the resources they need to ensure their childrens and families success. To learn more about MSIs charitable efforts, visit https://www.msisurfaces.com/corporate/charitable-trust.aspx. To learn more about My Private Professor, visit https://www.myprivateprofessor.com About M S International, Inc. (MSI) Founded in 1975, MSI is a leading supplier of flooring, countertop, wall tile, and hardscaping products in North America. Headquartered in Orange, California, MSI also maintains over 30 state-of-the-art showroom and distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada. MSI's product line includes an extensive offering of quartz, porcelain, ceramic, LVT, natural stone and glass products imported from over 36 countries on six continents. About My Private Professor, LLC My Private Professor, LLC is an educational services company that provides custom-tailored academic support for students, families, organizations, and companies across the country, including online and in-home tutoring, group academic support, curated classes, and concierge services to support clients of all sizes, needs, and budgets. MPPs mission is to ensure that all students have access to educational resources, and supports resources for underserved youth with every tutoring hour. GRAND HAVEN, Mich., March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Access-Power & Co., Inc., (ACCR or the Company), a Grand Haven based diversified US Holding Company is pleased to announce today that we have removed Stacey Bolin as our Corporate Secretary. Patrick J Jensen, our sole Director added, Stacey and the BOD of ACCR had a conflict. We wanted to apologize again to our Shareholders and our beloved Market Makers for having made this error. We are focused on our FORM 10 preparation. We want to notify everybody that ACCR expects to complete this process in 2-3 weeks. We are ready with all of our documents. Right after this process, ACCR will see a FORM 10 filed by our Chief Legal Counsel Steve Mills. FOCUS- PCAOB audit completion, FORM 10and then ACCR becomes OTC CURRENT REPORTING. The FORM 10 once filed with the SEC will become effective with the SEC in 60 days. We will be in back and forth communications with the SEC staff during this time. ACCR is confident on producing an effective FORM 10 and eliminating our Red Stop Sign at OTC Markets to a PINK CURRENT INFORMATION tier Company. Established in 1996, Access-Power, Inc. is a Florida based for-profit Corporation with operations in West Michigan. There are various risk factors that should be carefully considered in evaluating our business; because such factors may have a significant impact on our business, our operating results, our liquidity and financial condition. As a result of these various risk factors, actual results could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently consider to be immaterial, may also impact our business, result of operations, liquidity and financial condition. If any such risks occur, our business, its operating results, liquidity and financial condition could be materially affected in an adverse manner. Under such circumstances, if a stable trading market for our securities is established, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. SECURITIES ISSUED BY THE COMPANY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND, THEREFORE, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY SPECULATIVE. THEY SHOULD NOT BE PURCHASED BY PERSONS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE POSSIBILITY OF THE LOSS OF THE ENTIRE INVESTMENT. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD READ ALL OF THE COMPANY'S FILINGS, INCLUDING ALL EXHIBITS, AND CAREFULLY CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER FACTORS THE VARIOUS RISK FACTORS THAT MAY BE PRESENT. BEWARE OF NAKED SHORTING IN OUR COMMON SHARES You should be aware that there are many substantial risks to an investment in our common stock. Carefully consider these risk factors, along with any available information currently reported by the Company (of which there are note), before you decide to invest in shares of our common stock. If these risk factors were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects could be materially adversely affected. If that happens, the market price for our common stock, if any, could decline, and prospective investors would likely lose all or even part of their investment. Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Company's business, based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and probably will, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Contact Information: Patrick J. Jensen Director Tel: 616.312.5390 Email: pjensen@myaccess-power.com Corporate Website: http://www.myaccess-power.com "Our corporate website is currently under construction to soon reflect our new business model in the Michigan Medical Marijuana Clone sector." Product Website http://www.mycbdpets.com http://www.clonesbydrones.com https://www.hempster19.com http://www.clonesbycars.com Access-Power & Co., Inc. OTC Ticker: ACCR From thence to Mars, And hence the Stars. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2021 One day before the Starship prototype SN10 took off at the SpaceX test facility in Boca Chica, Texas, Musk was on Twitter, musing about creating his own city in the Lone Star State. Technically, it wouldnt be his city, but rather a city built around SpaceX, incorporating the existing village.Creating the city of Starbase, Texas, he wrote. From thence to Mars, and hence the Stars, he added.For some context, at Boca Chica, SpaceX is working on a new type of reusable rocket called Starship. SN10, the third prototype it has tested so far, was able to make a perfect soft landing after flawlessly going through the entire sequence: liftoff, belly flop, free-fall, and landing on the spot. It exploded minutes later, but thats a different story.Starship will be the rocket Musk hopes to colonize Mars with. In addition to the SpaceX facility, he also has other business ventures in the state, like the Austin Gigafactory, now in construction for Tesla. Musk himself moved to Texas at the end of last year after professing his disappointment with California.The bottom line is that it would make sense to incorporate Boca Chica, which has two dozen residents, into a new city. A statement from one Cameron County official would suggest that Musk is quite serious about it, too. In case you still thought he was tweeting for clout.If SpaceX and Elon Musk would like to pursue down this path, they must abide by all state incorporation statutes, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino says in a statement cited by HypeBeast . Cameron County will process any appropriate petitions in conformity with applicable law.Translation: it can be done, as long as it's done by the rules. Your Colleagues Three recognized for mentoring graduate students By ROBERT SALISBURY Laina Bay-Cheng, Myung Mi Kim and Jinhui Xu are the recipients of the 2020-21 Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award, given out by the Graduate School to recognize UB faculty for their support and development of graduate students through their mentoring activities. The award, established in 2012, goes annually to members of the graduate faculty who have demonstrated truly outstanding and sustained support and development of graduate students from course completion through research and subsequent career placement. Bay-Cheng, professor and associate dean in the School of Social Work, was nominated by Nancy J. Smyth, professor and dean of the School of Social Work. Kim, James H. McNulty Chair and Professor of English, was nominated for the award by her department chair, Rachel Ablow, professor of English. Xu, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, was nominated by his department chair, SUNY Distinguished Professor Chunming Qiao. Kim will be UBs nominee for the Geoffrey Marshall Mentoring Award sponsored by the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS). The Marshall award will be presented at NAGS annual meeting in April. All three of the winners will be recognized at UBs Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence in fall 2021. Laina Bay-Cheng In her nomination letter, Smyth praised Bay-Cheng for her drive, commitment, work ethic and passion, all of which contribute to her success as a mentor, teacher and scholar. Bay-Cheng served as director of the PhD program from 2012-19, and during her last year in the role, her title was changed to associate dean for doctoral programs to reflect that her role had expanded to include oversight of the PhD program and the new Doctor of Social Work (DSW, a practice doctorate) program, Smyth wrote. Bay-Cheng is founding director of UBs Network for Enriched Academic Relationships (NEAR), a university-wide, interdisciplinary network through which graduate students can find mentors on issues beyond coursework, comps and dissertations. NEAR aims to connect students with faculty who have experience navigating obstacles such as systemic bias or personal hardship, or who can be effective allies so that students feel supported and empowered in their own careers. By creating NEAR, Laina exponentially expanded graduate student mentoring at UB, Sandra Flash, associate vice provost for academic affairs, wrote in a supporting letter. The transdisciplinary design has created critical graduate student support for students who otherwise would not seek mentoring in their home department. Laina has worked tirelessly to coordinate mentor training opportunities and identify ways to make the network more diverse and inclusive. Through her work to support the NEAR mentors, Laina is ensuring that graduate students who utilize NEAR receive excellent guidance and mentorship. Bay-Chengs former PhD students agree, one calling her a key part of my success, and another noting that they would not have landed their current academic position without Bay-Chengs support. Myung Mi Kim It is all but impossible to encapsulate what Myung has offered to graduate education in the English department in her 18 years at the university, Ablow wrote in her letter nominating Kim for the award. Kim, author of six iconic collections of innovative poetry, is also the subject of a book written by former students and younger poets titled Building is a Process / Light is an Element: Essays and Excursions for Myung Mi Kim (2008). [The book] collects a series of reflections on her importance to students and/or younger fellow poets, Ablow said. In addition, Kim displayed leadership in integrating the concept of diversity long before universities pushed it to be a crucial aspect of any educational experience, Ablow wrote. Myung instantiated the practices of equity and recognition in her pedagogy and mentoring and at a level, moreover, that still remains in advance of institutional prerogatives. In a supporting letter, Alison Fraser, assistant curator of the Poetry Collection, explained how Kims seminar, Twentieth-century American Poetry, shaped the rest of her PhD career. The seminar has continued to inspire the way I approach scholarship, teaching and curation, Fraser wrote. [March 04, 2021] Dynamic Infrastructure's Defect-Detection AI Reaches Near Engineering Level Bridge Assessments NEW YORK and BERLIN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dynamic Infrastructure completed a controlled assessment of its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that detected defects on bridges around the world. Bridges from Florida and Maryland, Australia and Sweden were analyzed by the company's AI platform for AASHTO defects. The outcome was compared to inspections carried out by certified engineers and the results were nothing less than groundbreaking nearly 91% of true defects and over 99% of defects categorized as condition state 3 and 4, were detected in just a fraction (0.05%) of the time it would take trained engineers. "The new generation of our AI capabilities allows us to break previous boundaries to support engineers with effective and credible AI technology. We proved that thousands of images can be automatically analyzed, making them available for final validation by engineers in minutes, not days or weeks," noted Alon Oring, Dynamic nfrastructure's AI head. "During the controlled assessment, we analyzed photos of concrete and steel bridges of various ages and in different climate conditions. Our detection model proved to be robust and consistent. "Our any-source analysis capabilities, together with the platform's automatic historical comparisons, enables us to track every defect throughout its history. Quantifying risk and understanding evolving deterioration are now much easier through digital and visual accessibility of asset images. Inventory managers should not think twice before uploading any number of photos to the system. We know how to quickly and accurately extract information, detect flaws and evaluate and manage risk." Dynamic Infrastructure is a market leader for multiple-source visual analysis in the civil-infrastructure world. The amount of digital information captured throughout the lifetime of an asset is becoming a huge burden, instead of an opportunity, when decisions need to be made concerning asset inventories. With decades of engineering experience working for PPPs and DOTs, and with the power of artificial intelligence, Dynamic Infrastructure offers operation and maintenance managers a fast, accurate and trusted services platform to execute small or large digital tasks. Headquartered in New York, NY, with offices in Germany and Israel, Dynamic Infrastructure facilitates the execution of digital jobs for bridges, dams, tunnels, walls and large civil infrastructures around the globe while meeting international and local standards and regulation. Media Contact: PR Dynamic Infrastructure http://diglobal.tech/ 304405@email4pr.com Tel: +1(646) 233-1481 www.diglobal.tech View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dynamic-infrastructures-defect-detection-ai-reaches-near-engineering-level-bridge-assessments-301240501.html SOURCE Dynamic Infrastructure [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Congratulations, gilerkentang.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Gilerkentang.com scored 82 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 4/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 30 Nov 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. gilerkentang.com is very popular in Facebook. It has 38 twitter followers. Furthermore its facebook page has 36600 likes. Add a widget like this on your site: click here The total number of people who shared the gilerkentang homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the gilerkentang homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the gilerkentang homepage on Twitter + the total number of gilerkentang followers (if gilerkentang has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the gilerkentang homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if gilerkentang has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the gilerkentang homepage on Delicious. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Sebuah Weblog Yang Memang Giler-Giler! DESCRIPTION Gilerkentang.com adalah sebuah website yang menyajikan kepada anda tentang hiburan & informasi yang terkini. Kini anda tidak perlu lagi pergi ke mana-mana website lain kerana konsep Gilerkentang.Com adalah berkonsep AIO [ ALL IN ONE ] , jadi kami menj KEYWORDS Gilerkentang, GK, Giler Kentang, giler kentang, Kentang, Giler, Gila Kentang, OTHER KEYWORDS CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER cloudflare-nginx (PHP/5.3.18) OPERATIVE SYSTEM The language of gilerkentang.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Type of server and offered services. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for gilerkentang.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/gilerkntang DESCRIPTION Sebuah Weblog Yang memang Giler-Giler! Layari: http://www.gilerkentang.com LIKES 36600 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 1703 PAGE TYPE Media/news/publishing TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/Gilerkentang4 DESCRIPTION ACCOUNT CREATED ON 01 Jul 2012 LOCATION Cheras TWEETS 2 FOLLOWERS 38 LISTED 0 Advertisement An Israeli woman has revealed how her harrowing ordeals of rape have inspired her to become a champion for female gun rights. Orin Julie, 26, who is known as 'The Queen Of Guns' regularly promotes female empowerment while wielding giant firearms. She hopes that her message will be heard by local government officials, potentially allowing more women in the country to legally carry a gun for protection. Ms Julie, who runs an online gun accessory shop, said she was inspired to do so after her devastating experiences with rape - having first been sexually abused as a child. Orin Julie became an advocate for female gun rights after her devastating experiences with rape twice as a child, aged eight and 15. The harrowing ordeals affected her confidence as she struggled with school 'I've been a rape victim twice in my life, the first time was at the age of eight; I was sexually abused by an older man,' she said. 'It affected me so much that I lost all my confidence and became scared of everything. 'I turned into a really quiet child with few friends and I was always suspicious of adults, I had no trust in them.' Ms Julie became the victim of rape again when she was 15, reportedly at the hands of an 18-year-old man. She said: 'After that happened, I did everything I could to avoid him. Ms Julie admitted she 'sheltered away from the realities of the world' when she was a child. Joining the Israeli Defense Forces transformed her personality, she said, as she became a 'defender and protector' 'I became depressed and stayed at home, I struggled with school, it affected every part of my life.' Ms Julie didn't report the crimes to the police and it took many years for her to talk to friends and family about her experience. She joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at 18 - serving for three years as a combat soldier in the Search and Rescue unit. She learned how to shoot a gun, as well as to how to protect herself undergoing Krav Maga training - a self-defence fighting regime. 'As a child, I was very weak, not confident, and sheltered away from realities of the world, didn't know how to do anything by myself,' she admitted. The sexual abuse affected Ms Julie's mental health as a child as she struggled in school and didn't tell her parents and friends about her experience. Her confidence improved while serving in the IDF as she learned a hybrid form of martial arts known as Krav Maga. It's an accepted form of Israeli martial arts used against both bare-handed and armed attackers Ms Julie 'fell in love' with weapons and self defence and said she felt 'empowered' while serving in the military. She now uses her social media platforms to raise awareness of how women can defend themselves 'I needed someone strong to help me to protect myself and when I joined the IDF, I became that person,' she said. 'I fell in love with tactical training, weapons and self-defence, and I felt empowered for the first time. 'I became my own defender, protector, I stood up for myself, I found my voice and I'm now more outspoken,' she added. After leaving the IDF, the 26-year-old continued to take self defence classes and used her social media platforms to raise awareness of how women can learn to defend themselves. However, the Israeli government has very strict rules regarding gun ownership. Gun laws in Israel are very strict as only veterans of the country's Defense Force infantry units are eligible for gun permits, along with police officers who have received the equivalent training. But, Ms Julie hopes women will be eligible for permits in the future amid increasing rates of violence during the Covid lockdown Ms Julie claims women have to prove their military capabilities further than their male counterparts. She explained that she was able to get a gun because of her service as a combat soldier. She was later a shooting instructor Currently, veterans of the IDF's infantry units are eligible for gun permits, along with police officers who have received the equivalent training. Ms Julie claims that the process of getting a gun is much easier for men who have served as combat soldiers and did basic training - while women who have almost the same combat experience have to go further to prove their skills. 'It's much easier for men who served as combat soldiers to get a gun,' she said. 'For myself, I was able to get one because I served three years as a combat soldier and then became a shooting instructor, but it was a long and difficult process. Ms Julie, pictured, firing a gun on a shooting range. She admitted the process was 'difficult' as she had to complete an instructors course Ms Julie didn't report the rapes to the police as she didn't want to confide in others. She is now a champion of female empowerment and is pressurising local government officials to change laws that will potentially allow women to carry weapons 'First we have to go through a range of officers courses, then wait for one year and just then we can do a shooting instructors course but only if we work in a shooting range,' she said. She wants more women in Israel to protect themselves amid increasing rates of violence in the country during the coronavirus lockdown. 'My country is also facing many terror attacks and women should be able to defend themselves,' she said. 'When I walk out of my home with a gun, I feel safe and protected and I want other women to feel the same way, to feel empowered and confident and to be able to stand up for themselves.' The Queen Of Guns has undergone therapy, which she says has helped massively in coming to terms with her own sexual abuse. She is also now in a relationship with a man, who she says treats her like an equal. 'It took me a lot of time to commit to someone after what I went through but he's amazing and I couldn't be happier,' she said. Ms Julie has undergone therapy which she says has helped massively in coming to terms with her own sexual abuse. She is now in a relationship with a man 'who treats her like an equal' This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Al-Ahram Weekly, which was established amidst Desert Storm, the US-led war to expel Iraq from Kuwait in 1991, one of the most momentous events in the 20th-century Middle East. The paper aimed at providing a snapshot of Egypt and regional affairs amid fierce competition for the hearts and minds of international public opinion. English-language newspapers were not new to Egypt, the first Arab nation to gain modern statehood. The Egyptian Gazette was founded in 1880, for example, shortly before the British occupation when the country was still reeling under European influence. But the events of the last three decades have seen the Weekly establish itself as a paper of quality, reflecting genuinely Egyptian views and attempting to be the best-possible record of what is happening in the region. Unlike the propaganda media outlets that target international audiences in many countries, the Weekly has always been a reliable news source about Egypt, with analysis related to politics, economy, culture and sports. For international readers, expatriates living in Egypt, and also many Egyptians, it has offered more in-depth material. While Cairo has long been a hub for the foreign media in the Middle East and foreign journalists have for decades worked in Egypt, the countrys national media remains one of the main sources of information, news and opinion about the country. As a veteran Middle East correspondent for an international news agency based in Cairo, I recall that the editors were adamant that local staff summarise the main stories in the national newspapers on a daily basis. The exercise was not only meant to understand the news from an Egyptian and regional perspective, but also to cherry-pick it for Western-style reporting. For non-Arabic-speaking foreign correspondents, reading the Weeklys unfettered reporting became a key way to track Egyptian and regional affairs, serving as an early-warning system about developing stories, views and insights and then reproducing them to be carried around the world. In contrast to the stereotypes of state-owned media outlets being clumsy, dull, lacking in objectivity, or at times close to government propaganda tools, there has been a general feeling among international readers that the Weekly has been objective, fair, more open and more of just about playing up Egypts or the regions narrative to the foreign audience. The Weeklys articles have been used as resources for research and policy-making by think-tanks and academic institutions in the US, Europe, China and Russia, among many other countries and regions. Foreign embassies have used the Weeklys reporting in writing briefing and analysis papers for their governments on the political situation in Egypt and evolving circumstances in the region. But most importantly, and as far as the essential role of the English-language media is concerned, the Weekly has been telling Egyptian and Arab stories to the outside world. Over three decades, the paper has developed a sophisticated and assertive strategy, aimed at serving the needs of foreign audiences seeking local perspectives. Media coverage of Egypt and the Arab world inevitably plays a vital role in shaping perceptions of the Arab nations around the world, and media organisations from around the world have over the decades been devoting ever greater resources reporting from the region and covering some of its most complex stories. Yet, recent years have also seen growing concerns among Egyptians and Arabs about the ways in which the Western media, which retains a near monopoly on global news, reports their countries. For them, the coverage of the Arab world in the Western media has been largely negative and has not lived up to standards of balanced reporting. Such criticisms have been given a high profile by Arab officials, and they have also been echoed by the Arab media and ordinary people in the Arab world. In the past, such criticisms have centred around bias and distortion or the little space given to reporting on the lives of the peoples of the region. More recently, they have focused on the Western media receiving payments from Arab governments for propaganda campaigns or for planting official content or for entering into partnerships. Lobbyists in the United States and Europe are being paid huge sums of money by some oil-rich Arab governments to deliver their messages and to cultivate support from government officials, lawmakers, think-tanks and media personnel for their policies and agendas in Western countries. As an Arab journalist, I am sure that this is quite touchy terrain, as many in the profession and outside would say that within the Arab countries themselves the press is increasingly being tightly controlled by governments or manipulated by special political and business interests trying to reshape the regional information environment with massive infusions of money. Nevertheless, this is precisely the point I would like to bring up here. As the Weekly celebrates its 30th anniversary, it remains committed to trying to stand for media professionalism during a time of political complexity, reporting challenges, financial difficulties and fierce industry competition. Increasing globalisation, a new aggressiveness in news production, and technological developments that speed up the flow of information and analysis on the Internet are all challenging the industry. Part of the special challenge for the media in the Arab world is related to political influence, domestic conflicts and regional turmoil and their impact on the freedom of the press. Today, there are several English-language media outlets operating in the region, mostly receiving financial backing from royal families in the Gulf and promoting their agendas. Thanks to the devotion and perseverance of its staff and contributors, the Weekly has maintained its high professional standards to provide an honest picture of what journalists are dealing with at this unprecedented time for the media worldwide. As the Arab world continues to be subject to misrepresentation and misreporting, the Weekly remains dedicated to the regions core issues, with content that helps to present the true meanings of events unfolding in Egypt and the Middle East and even to reshape the worlds awareness of the region in a way not influenced or framed by foreign agendas. Arab journalists writing for international audiences realise that the world around them is not perfect, but like colleagues around the world they are writing a rough draft of the history of their region even as they cannot say definitively that it is in fact the way things are. Truth is not a finished story, and the more such journalists are able to get their voices heard, the more mutual understanding of the facts and, ultimately, of the truth, can emerge. The present author has worked for nearly 40 years in international news organisations and has seen how one key function of the Western media is to shape the story and set the Middle East agenda for Western governments and probably for the international community too. Alternative Middle East reporting provided by papers such as the Weekly can break that cycle of monopoly and help to make the voices of the region more widely heard by the public, in the decision-making circles and research establishments without filtering. On its 100th anniversary on 6 December 1977, The Washington Post wrote in an editorial that the Post intends to stand for Washington, Washingtons interest and Washington, first, last and all the time. The Al-Ahram Weeklys founders could not have put it better themselves, through endorsing the sentiment and hope of Egypt and the Arab world, although they were keenly aware of the difficulties and the challenges ahead. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: UTICA, N.Y. The new downtown hospital in Utica finally has a name The Wynn Hospital in honor of the Wynn Family Foundations $50 million donation to the regional medical center. Steve Wynn, the founder and former CEO of Wynn Resorts, came to Utica Thursday to announce the donation. Keith Hunt // WKTV Keith Hunt // WKTV Wynn grew up in Utica, and went on to develop several successful casinos and hotels in Las Vegas, including The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio. Our family has deep roots in Utica, said Wynn. I have everlasting and fond memories of my childhood in the community, which provided a strong foundation for the rest of my life. This is my way of thanking the community and recognizing my parents. MVHS President and CEO Darlene Stromstad says the donation will allow the new hospital to provide an even higher level of service to the community. The funds will elevate The Wynn Hospital to greater heights and result in important service enhancements and lifesaving outcomes, she said. I cant thank the Wynn family enough for making this level of investment in the region, its people, its local families and its crucially important health care. This gift will have a lasting legacy on the Mohawk Valley. MVHS is proud to announce The Wynn Hospital. MVHS has received a $50 million major gift from the Wynn Family Foundation... Posted by Mohawk Valley Health System on Thursday, March 4, 2021 The new hospital will include a surgical center, cardiac care center, a neurosciences institute, and center for womens and childrens services. The funding will also help provide private patient rooms, create jobs and expand residency programs to psychiatry, OB/GYN, emergency medicine and general surgery. This is our way of giving back to the people of the Mohawk Valley, said Wynn. At the same time, we are committed to advancing health care through philanthropy. MVHS has a bold plan for The Wynn Hospital a plan that we believe in. We are proud to make this gift to advance the project even further and help ensure better health outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for the community. In 2017, MVHS was awarded a $300 million grant from New York State to build the new 700,000 square-foot, 10-story hospital. The Wynn Hospital is expected to open in 2023. BANGKOK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2021) Vietnam has evacuated nearly 400 of its citizens from Myanmar, which has been plunged into unrest after a recent military coup, Vietnamese state-run media reported on Thursday. According to the Vietnam news Agency, two flights of Vietnam Airlines landed on Thursday in Da Nang airport. The majority of the evacuees were children and teenagers under 18 as well as persons over 60. Passengers and crews on the flights were given health checks and sent to quarantine facilities in line with the existing regulations. The media outlet does not explicitly name the escalation of violence on Myanmar cities during the clashes between anti-government demonstrators and the Myanmar security forces as the reason for the evacuation of Vietnamese citizens. Myanmar's military overthrew the government and declared a year-long state of emergency on February 1, hours before the newly-elected parliament was due to convene. The nation's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested alongside other senior officials, after the military accused her party of rigging the November elections. These developments prompted mass demonstrations against the military coup. Tensions between the protesters and the police appear to be rising as law enforcement officers turn to more brutal tactics to crack down on the opposition. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed participated in a media briefing organized by the National Communication Centre as part of a series of government media briefings. The media briefing focused on the achievements of the Kingdoms digital transformation program in 2020 and took place remotely. At the beginning of the briefing, Al Qaed stated that the authority managed to successfully migrate all essential government services to various digital channels in 2020; a major milestone in the Kingdoms digital transformation efforts, particularly in the face of the challenges imposed by the global spread of COVID-19. Al Qaed added that reaching this advanced stage in digital transformation stems from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas vision, which asserts the importance of deploying advanced technologies in the provision of government services. Al Qaed also credited the realisation of this vision to the governments efforts, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the support extended by the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa; and His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior. He praised the wide-ranging contributions made towards accelerating the pace of digital transformation and developing government service delivery online, to facilitate further convenience for citizens and residents. Al Qaed revealed that the iGA, in cooperation with other government entities, is now providing 504 eServices 391 via the National Portal bahrain.bh, 16 via self-service ekiosks, and 97 via smartphone applications downloadable from the eGovernment app store, bahrain.bh/apps. The eServices have played a key role in allowing the government to reduce operational costs by 82%, and have allowed users to carry out their transactions online with 69% higher efficiency compared to traditional methods, thereby saving time to complete transactions by 76%. Speaking more about this, Al Qaed cited an increase in financial transactions in 2020 by 38% compared to 2019, as the total number of transactions was over 2,200,000 across all government entities. He added that total revenues collected from various digital channels increased by 48%, collecting a record of BD230 million, and surpassing the BD200 million mark for the first time. The National Portal received over 11 million visits. Al Qaed highlighted several factors that led to the acceleration of digital transformation in 2020, including the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technologys directives, implemented in coordination with the iGA, and the iGAs efforts to restructure government service procedures and complete national digital transformation plans as part of the Kingdoms overall strategy. This led to the re-engineering of 82 services, which are now more advanced and efficient. Al Qaed said that deploying modern technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the development of government services has supported business continuity across the public sector, including the judicial sector, by helping to streamline procedures. Judicial services include the ability to file civil and commercial lawsuits online. Modern technologies also enabled the education sector to offer remote learning by migrating the Educational Gateway, EDUNET to the cloud. In addition, these technologies have supported national efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through the development of the BeAware Bahrain app. The app is a national success story that was launched in record time and plays a central role in mitigation efforts. During the briefing, Al Qaed delivered a presentation covering more than 500 of the eServices launched since the start of the eGovernment program. A total of 82 eServices were launched in 2020, covering six sectors and 15 government entities. Al Qaed further explained that seven new operating systems were provided for the government while the National Portal and app stores had their capacities increased by 30%, in addition to an increase of 50% in the Portals responsiveness. A number of new and improved self-service kiosks have also been offered. Financial transactions carried out via the iGAs channels since the launch topped 8,647,000, generating BD754,434,000 in revenues from 504 eServices. 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. Masterchef runner-up Matt Sinclair says the phones at his Noosa restaurant are 'buzzing' after its name was called a mockery of Asian culture by foodie bible, Gourmet Traveller. The venue, Sum Yung Guys, was opened by the 2016 Masterchef runner-up with his mates Dylan Campbell, Jeremiah Jones and Michael Rickard in June 2017. The restaurants menu and decor 'highlight our spirit and passion for Asian cuisine and culture', say the owners. Matt Sinclair was runner-up in the 2016 edition of Masterchef before opening Sum Yung Guys In a piece titled What's In A Name, Gourmet Traveller writer Yvonne Lam wrote: 'Its not the Sum Yung Guys name alone that offends. 'It homogenises and flattens Asias 40-plus countries and cultures into a kitsch two-dimensional tableau. '[It] arguably trades on the mockery of Asian communities and cultures.' Sum Yung Guys was opened by Sinclair and his mates at Sunshine Beach, Queensland in 2016 Sinclair responded to the magazine: 'When you start delving into the artwork, design and branding of our restaurant you enter an incredibly subjective topic. 'We don't feel the need to "defend" ourselves against suggestions it is ill natured.' 'We hope to read more uplifting and positive articles from GT, aiding in the much needed recovery of hospitality in 2021.' Sinclair (left) with co-owners Jeremiah Jones (back), Dylan Campbell (right) and Michael Rickard (front) Asked by Daily Mail Australia whether the controversy had affected the restaurant's business, Sinclair responded: 'In all honesty the support has been overwhelming and the phones are buzzing. 'We are comfortable with who we are and what we are doing. We understand we live in a world where everyone is free to publicise their opinions and feelings. Time to move on and stay focused on what we do best.' Co-owner Jones told the The Courier-Mail the Gourmet Traveller story felt life 'a bit of a hit piece', and that the restaurant would not be changing its name or look. In the magazine article, Lam points out that the owners' have previously explained Sum Yung Guys was inspired by cult '90s film Waynes World. The article also takes issue with Cartel, a South American bar and eatery in Sydney's Chippendale, and Margarita Cartel in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. Lam quotes academic Dr Cesar Albarran-Torres, who says of a name like Cartel: 'It's insensitive naming a restaurant like that because of the stereotypes and racism they perpetuate.' South American bar Cartel in Surry Hills, Sydney, was criticised for perpetuating racism Gold Coast restaurant Curry Muncher has also been drawn into the debate. The owner of the long-running Chevron Island Indian restaurant, Anita Kumar, told the Gold Coast Bulletin the name is 'a bit of fun'. 'A few people might have a problem with it but not many,' she said. 'We've had Curry Muncher restaurants for 21 years and we're proud of the name.' The owner of Curry Muncher on the Gold Coast, Anita Kumar, has defended the name as 'fun' Restaurant names in Australia have become more controversial as movements such as Black Lives Matters have grown in prominence. In April 2016, protestors gathered outside Vietnamese restaurant Uncle Ho, in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, which was named after communist North Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh. The restaurant changed its name to Aunty Oh soon after and then ceased trading. Minh Nguyen, the owner of Madame Nhu Vietnamese restaurants in Sydney - named after the controversial former first lady of South Vietnam - told the magazine complaints about the name were mainly from white people. LONDON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On HPV Awareness Day, the International Papillomavirus Society is urging women to attend delayed cervical screenings and for all interrupted services to re-start as thousands continue to miss out on vital HPV care, with deadly consequences. The IPVS is also calling for global vaccine equity. One woman dies from cervical cancer every 2 minutes but HPV is a virus that can be beaten, if services are rolled out and taken up. In higher income countries, cervical screenings have reduced from 70% to 30-40% and 32% of women are unlikely to attend appointments due to Covid-19 fears. IPVS calls for everyone to 'Ask About HPV' - speak to local politicians, healthcare practitioners and seek information at www.askabouthpv.org. 86% of cervical cancers occur in developing countries where the story is even more serious. In sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest rate of cervical cancer in the world, cervical screening is available to less than 5% of eligible women. Professor Margaret Stanley, President of IPVS, says "It's unfathomable that there is such inequality in the roll-out of crucial, inexpensive medical care. Young women are missing vital appointments now which could be fatal. More than 350,000 people die annually from HPV-related illnesses. Early prevention and treatment is key- the world needs to step up." IPVS is hosting a high -level panel featuring WHO'S Dr Princess Notembe Simelela amongst other distinguished speakers at 3pm GMT on 4th March to define how we can accelerate progress against HPV in the era of Covid-19, which the public and media are welcome to attend. Approximately 20% of men have HPV DNA detected in their genital area, and cases are increasing every year, leading to deaths from anal, penile and throat cancers. Screening and treatment to prevent these cancers is not widely available. Dr Joel Palefsky, HPV Awareness Campaign Chair and expert on HPV-related cancer in men, said, "Quite rightly the focus has been on cervical cancer, the leading cause of death in women from HPV-related cancer. However, anal and throat cancers are becoming increasingly common, and men with HIV or immune suppression are particularly high risk. We need to dispel the stigma." Notes to Editors Sources: Professor Gordon Wishart, Chief Medical Officer,Check4Cancer Check4cancer.com, Eliminating cervical cancer in the COVID-19 era | Nature Cancer Delayed Cancer Screenings-A Second Look (ehrn.org) Hip-hop fashion can be hard to understand by the commoners at times. And a prime example of that is the latest Adidas sneakers designed by Estonian rapper Tommy Cash. The rapper has created a metre long sneakers, which happens to be the longest sneakers ever. But considering how 2020 was all about maintaining social distance with the coronavirus pandemic, these sneakers might not look so outrageous. Instagram: Tommy Cash Limited edition shoe The 29-year-old hip-hop artist had teamed up with Adidas Originals for its final installment of the SUPERSTAR Campaign. In an Instagram post on Monday he revealed that when he first said to Adidas that he wants to make the longest shoe in the world as their collaboration, they were quite skeptical, but five months later here we are. Instagram: Tommy Cash The result is a very limited edition consisting of an Adidas Superstar that has been abnormally elongated, which might also remind you of a pair of clown shoes. Colour is a unique point too Another feature of this shoe that has become the talking point is: the colour. While one is black, the other one white. Serving as the brand's longest model yet, the shoe arrives in a limited number of pairs now available via raffle. Adidas unveils their longest shoes ever, in collaboration with Tommy Cash. pic.twitter.com/cy4Af4LswK Pop Base (@PopBase) March 2, 2021 Social media in splits The odd-looking niche fashion creation has certainly left netizens in splits who have been sharing their wild reactions on social media. Some users are wondering who in their right mind would wear the shoes while others are questioning the practical use of the shoes. One user questioned on Twitter as to how she would lift her toe with those extra large shoes, while another user said it was dumb and he hates that he knows people will buy it. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LIFT A TOE IN THEM ?? adair in love era FERNANDA'S DAY !! (@bradleywillbear) March 3, 2021 this is so dumb and I hate that I know people will buy it pic.twitter.com/1OB1NPLzXo Ari (@joons_Iight) March 2, 2021 idk who I hate more adidas or tommy cash https://t.co/u6h12F2nKs neeks (@asiamil) March 2, 2021 I would rather de-foot myself than ever be seen in the same room as these According to Noah (@NoahMarshalek) March 2, 2021 Finally! A shoe that can fit my size 243 foot! Tommy Cash is my Prince Charming and Im Cinderella. https://t.co/Si0DZQjypS Marty Gross (@Martin_Gross99) March 2, 2021 While social media was all laughs about it, Instagram users mocked their fair share at the rapper post. A follower found the perfect opportunity to comment, What are thoooooooooooooooooooooooose?! While another user suggested a smart way of using the extra space in the shoes and wrote, You can hide a sandwich in the empty space. CoUtuRe meets functionality. Two local businessmen are seeking greater clarity around the pathway out of Covid restrictions and believe the NI government should share its targets for moving through each phase Brendan Duddy, of The Duddy Group, believes that if the data keeps improving there is no reason why businesses such as his cant reopen towards the end of April. The Duddy Group has a portfolio of hotel and property investments in Derry and Dublin. He said: Last year when they had a phased opening of hotels and restaurants opened it had no impact on infections. So if things keep improving I would like to be open by the end of April or start of May thats what Im hoping for. The NI Executive has agreed a five-step plan for easing the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. In contrast to plans announced in Britain, NI's pathway does not include a timetable. Progression through each of the nine pathways will depend on public health criteria being met. The Executive will review its restrictions each month starting on March 16 and continuing to June 10. However, the plan does not include specific detail on what will guide the easements such as the rate of transmission or hospital numbers. Step one represents the current lockdown restrictions, with steps two to four allowing an easing of the rules and the final step entitled preparing for the future. DATA-DRIVEN Mr Duddy wants more guidance for businesses because financial obligations are growing by the day. As a hotel and property owner he said a running time is needed so that people can organise their accommodation. He commented: What can you do, it doesnt give you any clarity, it gives you no clarity as a customer. I suppose the hope is from our point of view, the sensible thing is to wait and see how the vaccine goes. It doesnt help us in a business sense, and whether or not I agree with them, they have to see how things pan out. But theyre going to have to open and theyre going to have to open probably sooner than we think. He added: I think there is going to be pressure from various elements of business. The Executive can only react as information emerges but youd like to hope there would be some structure to it. Its extraordinarily difficult to plan, he explained. There are banks to deal with, staff, suppliers, rent and insurance to pay and lift and fire maintenance. All bills that are coming up. He expects to see extra details emerging in the coming days given that the pathway is supposed to be data led. Meanwhile, another local businessman, Eamon Gee, who owns and works in the Gees shop on Rossdowney Road said it has been difficult trading throughout the pandemic. However, his business has experienced a bit of an uplift because people are eating in with restaurants closed. Mr Gee said government Ministers are in an unenviable position at present as they try to strike a balance between public health and the economy. In all honesty I wouldnt want to be in their position. They are never going to be able to please everybody, they are dealing with peoples lives and livelihoods. Trying to balance the two is incredible difficult and I have a degree of sympathy for them. They definitely could have done some things better, theyve handled other things very well. He continued: The pathway isnt clear, a lot of people were expecting dates, but realistically I dont they can put dates on it. However, I do think they could have given some factual information. They said itll be very much data driven so they could have given an indication of where they want the rate of transmission or hospital admissions to be at each stage. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Liebherr Container Cranes, one of the worlds leading manufacturers of ship to shore container cranes, said it has handed over a ship to shore (STS) container crane to Terminales Maritimas Del Sureste SA (TMS) in the Port of Alicante, Spain. The crane has an outreach of 46.9 m, a span of 15.24 m, and a lift height of 36 m with a SWL of 50 tonnes under single lift spreader. The crane will form a key part of the port extension project operated by TMS under a concession provided by the Alicante Port Authority, said the statement from Liebherr. The extension project will help to provide the port with the necessary infrastructure and modern equipment to meet the competitive challenges into the future, in line with transportation policies promoted by the European Union in response to increased maritime traffic in the Mediterranean. Following the contract award in Q3 2019, the crane was designed and built in Ireland by Liebherr Container Cranes, the statement added. The Liebherr STS crane design with high tensile steel and a lattice beam and boom results in an optimised weight distribution for the crane with a low centre of gravity. The Liebherr crane design is perfectly suited to the reduced permissible wheel loading requirements of older quays. All terminal equipment at TMS is linked to the control center for quality assurance and to guarantee performance in operations, it stated. Likewise, the Liebherr crane features a remote crane management system allowing for remote assistance, service and diagnostics. For TMS safety is an important consideration at their facility. The new Liebherr STS features a traffic light system for controlled traffic flow, laser and mechanical crane to crane anti-collision systems, ulatrasonic anti collision systems for gantry travel as well as laser boom to vessel anti collision and sill beam protection systems, it added. Washington: A smattering of followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory gathered near the US Capitol on Thursday (US time), the day the movement had predicted former President Donald Trumps return to office, but they were far outnumbered by security forces deployed to deter any possible attack. National Guard troops patrolled inside the fence encircling the Capitol, the scene of a deadly insurrection by Trump supporters that killed five people. Police had warned of a potential attack by militants to mark Thursdays date, and the House of Representatives cancelled its session. Supporters of former President Donald Trump, John Carson, of California, left, Karyn Carson, right, stand outside of security fencing around the US Capitol. Credit:AP But around noon, all was quiet. John and Karyn Carson, who took time off work and came from California to see Trump be inaugurated for a second term, were undaunted. Every day that were here, well probably come out around noon and see if anything transpires, Karyn, 52, told Reuters. If it doesnt happen, well obviously be sad cause it didnt happen while we were here, but we believe that it will happen. It just hasnt happened yet. A 64-year-old former Millbury woman, who was involved in a marijuana grow operation where the familys plumbing company was used as a front, was sentenced Wednesday to home confinement. Andrea Laverty, who now lives in Texas, was sentenced in federal court in Worcester to one year of supervised released under home confinement, according to court records. She previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to cultivate marijuana and conspiring to launder money. Her defense lawyer said in court records that Andrea Laverty will be able to raise her grandson after his father and Andrea Lavertys son, Thomas Laverty, was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison earlier this week in the same case. Thomas Laverty, 40, of Clinton, was sentenced in federal court after being convicted last year of conspiring to cultivate more than 100 marijuana plants, using the familys plumbing business as a front, authorities said. Thomas Laverty, a former employee of the Chuck Laverty & Son Inc. plumbing business in Millbury, will also be on supervised release for 8 years. He also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of theft of government funds. The Laverty family used Chuck Laverty & Son Inc. as a front for the marijuana cultivation, officials said. In 2017, authorities discovered $6 million in marijuana inside a Clinton warehouse. Andrea Lavertys role in the scheme was not as major as her son and husband, Charles Laverty, who was also convicted in the case, but had the conviction and charges dismissed after he died of cancer at age 63 last year. Laverty & Son vehicles, bank accounts and locations were used to facilitate marijuana manufacturing, storage and distribution. Each week, several workers harvested 20 plants from the commercial warehouse with a goal of producing 8 to 10 pounds of dried marijuana. That dried marijuana was sold in large quantities for about $2,400 per pound, federal officials said. Thomas Laverty also received federally funded Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits, which is need-based and generally limited to households whose incomes do not exceed the federal poverty line, while he gained money from the grow operation, officials said. Related Content: Manana llegaran 50 mil dosis de vacuna de Pfizer, que nos permitiran continuar con el proceso de inmunizacion al personal de primera linea. Este avance progresivo de la vacunacion es una muestra de nuestro compromiso con el pais. pic.twitter.com/lryhbWCacC Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) said that it will remove destination restrictions on its Murban, Upper Zakum, Das and Umm Lulu crude grades, starting from the first traded contract month of the new ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures Contract. The company also confirmed that Adnoc Onshore, the producer of Murban Crude Oil, has launched a new monthly Murban Export Availability Forecast Report to provide forward visibility to market participants of expected Murban volumes available for export. ICE plans to launch ICE Futures Abu Dhabi (IFAD), Murban Crude Oil futures, and related cash settled derivatives and inter-commodity spreads, on March 29, 2021. Murban futures will go to physical delivery two months ahead, meaning that the delivery month for the contract is two months ahead of the pricing month. In February, ICE confirmed that the first Murban futures contract month at launch will be the June contract, which expires at the end of April for physical delivery in June. Accordingly, destination restrictions on Adnoc crude grades will be removed from June 2021. This means that all barrels purchased from Adnoc can be sold onwards by the purchasing party (there is no restriction on reselling purchased barrels, ensuring that they can be freely traded). Khaled Salmeen, Executive Director of Adnocs Downstream Industry, Marketing and Trading directorate said: Adnoc is committed to ensuring that the necessary conditions are in place for Murban to succeed as freely tradable crude grade and as a trusted price marker. By lifting destination restrictions, Adnoc crude grades will become more attractive to global customers and the wider trading community. This is another important step as we prepare for the launch of the new Murban Futures Contract on the 29th March. Adnoc also confirmed that Adnoc Onshore has launched a monthly Murban export availability forecast report with a 12-month rolling forecast of Murban export availability. The first report was released in February and is available on an Adnoc Onshore managed webpage. This provides market participants with visibility of expected Murban Export availability volumes. By 2030, Adnoc expects its Murban grade crude to contribute almost 50% of the companys 5 million barrels of oil per day production capacity target. Adnoc Onshores largest Murban producing onshore assets Bu Hasa and the South East group of fields already have a production capacity of 650,000 and 630,000 barrels respectively. At the giant Bab field, building facilities and infrastructure is underway, to increase production capacity from over 420,000 to 485,000 barrels per day by end 2021. Speaking during a virtual media visit to Adnoc Onshore facilities, Salmeen and Stuart Williams, President of ICE Futures Europe, highlighted that Adnoc and ICE Futures Abu Dhabi (IFAD) have signed new agreements with Rongsheng Petrochemical Co, Ltd, and Unipec from China, to explore using the upcoming Murban futures contract. This follows earlier agreements that were signed with companies in the United States and Japan. Meng Fanqiu, General Manager of Rongsheng Petrochemical Singapore Pte Ltd said: Rongsheng will participate in IFAD and offtake Abu Dhabi crude priced with reference to ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures for supply to China. We believe that ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures will play an important role in the global crude oil pricing and bring more reliability, stability, transparency and liquidity to the market. This agreement further strengthens the relationship between Rongsheng and Adnoc and will open more opportunities to work together in the future. IFAD will provide us with more alternatives to hedge and optimize our crude pricing portfolio. Said Leo Yang, the Trading General Manager of Unipec Asia, This is another innovation, injecting vitality to the trading world and enhancing the price discovery mechanism of light crude grades. IFAD is established in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an International Financial Centre that practices and applies English common law. ICE is the operator of the exchange and the majority shareholder. Adnoc, BP, GS Caltex, INPEX, ENEOS (formally known as JXTG), PetroChina, PTT, Shell, Total (TOTSA) and Vitol are partnering with ICE to support the launch of IFAD. TradeArabia News Service We couldnt find anything at this address. Please check the URL or go to the homepage The Retired Investor: Supply Chain Chaos Americans are used to purchasing products, either on credit or cash, and having them delivered within a week, at the latest. Repairing those products such as a household appliances may take a little longer, but not by much. The pandemic has changed all that. Now, I am not talking about toilet paper. That was last year's problem. No, it's about some large appliances and the accessories and parts that are crucial to their inner workings. Take my 9-year-old refrigerator for example. The water dispenser on the outside door doesn't work. It's a problem that has been going on for a year now, and the part needed to fix it is "on back order. Then there are my broken gas fireplace fans. The fans gave up the ghost just in time for the winter season. Ordering the parts was easy, but here it is the beginning of March and maybe, just maybe, the fans will be delivered and installed just in time for summer. And then there is the mystifying disappearance of one of my cooking staples of convenience, minced garlic. For years, it was a ubiquitous purchase that I rarely thought about, until suddenly it was no longer in its usual place above the potatoes and loose onions counter. The guy in the vegetable department said they were out of stock and were uncertain when or if they would be getting any more of it. I finally found a few small jars hidden away in a corner of another supermarket. Those are just a few personal examples. I came to realize that the coronavirus has upended the world's supply chains in ways that we rarely think about. The pandemic forced certain changes in our habits. Many of us stayed at home. Few outlets existed to spend money, so we stayed at home and spent money on our home goods. Instead of restaurants, we had to learn to cook. That meant stocking up on food and the freezers and refrigerators in which to hold it. We didn't need dry cleaners because we are all wearing sweats and working from home. But we do need washers and dryers. At the same time that demand for these appliances exploded, the factories in countries that produced them were forced to scale back or shut down production entirely as the coronavirus decimated their workforce. This has created shortages. Exactly what appliances and other products depends on the supply chain of the individual good. It becomes a question of who makes the individual parts that together comprise so many appliances. The facts are that certain important parts, items such as magnetron tubes for microwaves, compressors for refrigerators and freezers, for example, are made by a mere handful of overseas manufacturers. Most of these companies are in Asia. Some of the product categories that have been really hurt by supply chain disruption might surprise you. The FDA is monitoring certain medicines and prescription drugs, especially some generic brands, since certain ingredients are manufactured in China and India. A number of consumer electronic products, solar panels, auto parts, air conditioners, toys and games, vaping devices, and even T-shirts and socks are included. As for my beloved minced garlic, 70 percent of the garlic consumed in the United States is imported from China. Prices have risen by more than 30 percent since the pandemic began, so I'm guessing that minced garlic is getting too valuable to simply mince and stuff into a jar. To tell the truth, I'm finding that while convenient, the canned flavor lacks the pungency of mincing garlic myself. I guess that might qualify as a silver lining in the present supply chain chaos. An American military contractor died of a cardiac episode after taking shelter during a rocket attack on Iraqs al-Asad air base early Wednesday, the Pentagon has confirmed. The unidentified civilian is the first US citizen who has died in Iraqs recurrent rocket attacks since President Joe Biden took office, marking the latest test for the new administration as it seeks rapprochement with Iran. The new administration has blamed similar attacks in recent weeks on Iran-backed militias Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Saraya al-Shuhada, but has not assigned blame for Wednesdays attack. No US military personnel were reported injured in the latest barrage, which involved at least 10n rockets fired from multiple locations east of al-Asad, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. Wednesday. US counter-rocket, artillery and mortar air defenses activated, but it was not immediately clear whether they intercepted any rockets. Iraqi security forces at al-Asad have initiated an investigation, and the United States may respond if a response is warranted, Kirby said. Nobody wants to see the situation escalate," he added. The Biden administration retaliated last week for other recent attacks in Iraq, including one on Erbils International Airport that killed a Filipino national working for the US military. A second person later died from injuries in that attack, and a US service member was injured. The US responded with a nighttime airstrike late last week on a remote border-crossing office near Syrias border with Iraq. The facilities were frequently used by militias linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Pentagon said. The US strike killed one militiaman associated with Kataib Hezbollah and wounded at least two others. Some 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq, training the Iraqi military and the Kurdistan Regional Government's peshmerga forces in the aftermath of the multinational war against the Islamic State. Roughly an additional 900 troops remain in adjacent eastern Syria, where they continue to train local forces to secure gains against the collapsed jihadi proto-state. The US-led coalition reduced its footprint in Iraq last year, pulling out of satellite bases throughout the country and handing over control to the Iraqi military before consolidating at bases in Baghdads Green Zone, Erbil and al-Asad. Though circumspect about too quickly assigning blame for the recent incidents, Biden administration officials have vowed to hold Iran accountable for attacks carried out by its proxy militias in the region. The memory of the United States is very long, and the reach of the United States is very long, when we choose to use it, Gen. Kenneth Frank McKenzie, the head of US forces in the Middle East, warned last week. Intelligence provided by Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government authorities helped the US determine which groups were behind the recent attacks, defense officials have said. Pentagon officials continue to speak of the recent incidents in Iraq with marked caution as the new administration feels out a path toward renewed diplomacy with Tehran. Kirby emphasized Wednesday that it is too early to say which group carried out the attack, but acknowledged previous barrages were launched by Iraqi Shiite militias that continue to receive support from Iran. In another departure from the Trump administrations approach, the Pentagon spokesman avoided placing the onus on Iraqs security forces for protecting American personnel at local bases. Our commanders have the right and responsibility to protect their forces, he said, adding, Iraqi security forces are also coming under attack and under threat by these Shia militia groups. This is a problem that has bedeviled us for a while, these militia groups and their ties to Iran, Kirby said. Clearly the relationship between our two countries are not at a high-point. The maximum pressure campaign that was put on by the previous administration only emboldened Iran further, he told reporters. A similar rocket attack in 2019 killed an American contractor, leading to a tit-for-tat that culminated in former President Donald Trump ordering the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Iran responded to the assassination with a barrage of ballistic missiles fired at al-Asad and Erbil air bases. "Iran, through their proxies, is choosing to attack the US and the Iraqi military," said Michael Mulroy, the Pentagon's former top policy official for the Middle East during the Trump administration and an ABC News analyst. "They are either deliberately trying to destabilize Iraq or are indifferent to whether it is [destabilized]," he told Al-Monitor. "It is likely the US will now have to respond militarily." The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis II, is due to visit Iraq at the end of this week and plans to meet with Shiite clerical leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. The rocket strike has not altered plans for his visit, the pontiff said Wednesday. Credit: CC0 Public Domain France placed the northern Pas-de-Calais region under weekend lockdown over the spread of COVID-19, the third area to be singled out for tighter restrictions as the government battles to avoid a third national lockdown. Announcing the measure, Prime Minister Jean Castex said that with more than 400 confirmed cases per 100,000 people the Pas-de-Calais had nearly twice the national average. The lockdown will start at 8:00 am on Saturday and end at 6:00 pm on Sundays. A nightly curfew beginning at 6:00 pm remains in place nationwide. Since January, President Emmanuel Macron's government has been trying to tamp down surges in the virus on a region-by-region basis, in contrast with some of France's neighbours, including Britain, which imposed a third lockdown. The French Riviera and the northern city of Dunkirk have already been placed under weekend lockdown. But Parisians, who had been bracing for something similar, were spared further restrictions, with Mayor Anne Hidalgo warning that such a move would be "inhuman" in one of Europe's most densely populated cities. COVID-19 has killed 87,568 people in France since the pandemic began, figures published Wednesday showed. The country's vaccination drive has been widely criticized as too slow compared with many other European countries. So far 3.2 million people have received at least one dose, compared with nearly 21 million in Britain. Castex said that the government aimed to have offered a jab to 30 million people by the summer. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Across the country states are seeing higher temperatures. With Spring right around the corner, you may want to go on a tropical getaway. Some folks have already had their second dose of the vaccine, and are ready for a quick vacation now that restrictions are easing up. With Spring break coming up on March 20th folks may take a break from being cooped up in the house. An IU Bloomington professor says there are a few things you need to think about before heading to the airport. "International travel right now is still pretty limited a lot of places in the Caribbean, people can go to Mexico and a few others. But other than that international travel is a little bit out of the question right now because of the regulations that are in place right now," says Professor Evan Jordan. He says it's important to take some type of vacation this year to help with your mental health. "Because especially during the pandemic, you have high-stress high anxiety a lot of uncertainty. and we're kinda almost to the finish line in terms of the vaccine being rolled out and having a sense of normalcy return and so getting out and taking a vacation you don't even have to travel somewhere," says Professor Jordan. Professor Jordan adds traveling in the airports should be fine because they have good air circulation. He says if you go to a restaurant you should try to dine outside. Professor Jordan says, "a lot of states are relaxing their regulations on indoor dining that's a little bit more of a risky proposition to me because you have not only yourself but other people with their masks off for eating or drinking you know if there is alcohol involved people inhibitions are a little bit lowered and people tend to do things that they normally wouldn't do otherwise." The Delhi High Court Thursday directed Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech to disclose their capacities to manufacture Covaxin, Covishield vaccines. The high court also asked the Centre to explain in affidavit the rationale behind keeping strict control over class of persons who can be vaccinated against COVID-19 currently as under the present system those above the age of 60 years or between 45 to 60 years with comorbidities can receive vaccination. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said the two institutes-- Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech -- have more capacity to provide the vaccines but it seems that they are not exploiting it fully. "We are not utilising it fully. We are either donating it to foreign countries or selling it to foreign countries and are not vaccinating our own people. So there has to be that sense of responsibility and urgency," the bench said. It also asked the Delhi government to carry out inspection of medical facilities available in court complexes here and to report if COVID-19 vaccination centres could be set up there. The high court was hearing a PIL initiated by it to examine the demand of Bar Council of Delhi to declare all people associated with the judicial functioning, including judges, court staff and lawyers as frontline workers so that they could receive COVID-19 vaccination on priority and without limitations of their age or physical condition. (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.) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The Wellcome Trust, one of the world's top funders of health research, stands to gain financially from the COVID-19 pandemic, raising questions about transparency and accountability, reports The BMJ today. Independent journalist Tim Schwab shows how the charity plays a leading role in a WHO programme to support new COVID-19 therapeutics, while holding investments in companies producing these same treatments. It follows news reports that another charity, the Gates Foundation, is also positioned to potentially benefit financially from its leading role in the pandemic response. Financial disclosures from late 2020 show that Wellcome has a 275m stake in Novartis, which manufactures dexamethasone, and a 252m stake in Roche, which is helping to manufacture monoclonal antibodies with Regeneron. Wellcome's financial interests have been published on the trust's website and through financial regulatory filings, explains Schwab, but do not seem to have been disclosed as financial conflicts of interest in the context of Wellcome's work on COVID-19. The Wellcome Trust disputes that its investments compromiseor conflict withits independence, and say they "would never make decisions or advise others about the pandemic response for a reason other than public health." Wellcome's supporters describe the deep well of biomedical expertise the charity brings to the pandemic, while Unitaid, which co-leads the WHO project, says that it has a "clear mutual understanding" with Wellcome "that relevant institutional interests will be transparently disclosed." Marc Rodwin, professor of law at Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts, says that institutions with financial conflicts of interest can still make valuable contributions to the pandemic response but should not be in a position of influence or decision making. But Mohga Kamal-Yanni, a policy adviser to UNAIDS and other organisations says it's important to know that decisions are being made based on evidence and science. And Unitaid told The BMJ last December, "We have not received any declaration of conflict of interest." Schwab notes that, in addition to its work through WHO, Wellcome also influences the pandemic response through its director, Jeremy Farrar's position on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advising the UK government on COVID-19, as well as his board seat on the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a leading public-private partnership in the pandemic that has pledged more than $1bn to COVID-19 vaccine development. He also features frequently as an expert in the news media, including The BMJ, where he has cited the potential of specific drugs against COVID-19. Wellcome would not comment on the desirability of Farrar's dual roleshelping manage the trust's money and its charitable missionand refused to disclose the full details of its investment portfolio to The BMJ. But Schwab points out that Wellcome reports gains of 3.3bn from all investments in 2020, three times more money than the trust gave away in charity. "Despite the outsize role that private charities play in the pandemic response, their financial interests have been little scrutinised, likely because foundations are not subject to the same oversight mechanisms as public institutions," says Schwab. But Linsey McGoey, a professor of sociology at the University of Essex, who has written extensively on accountability in philanthropy, views Wellcome's and Gates's pharma investments in the context of their support for the prevailing market mechanisms driving modern medicinewhich has translated into wealthy nations getting priority access to COVID-19 drugs. "These foundations sort of perpetuate the false ideological impression that they are ... solving the problem even when they're not. And they might be compounding it by perpetuating this ideological impression of private sector saviourism," she notes. More information: Covid-19, trust, and Wellcome: how charity's pharma investments overlap with its research efforts, BMJ (2021). Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Covid-19, trust, and Wellcome: how charity's pharma investments overlap with its research efforts,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n556 Lucknow, March 4 : A sub-inspector committed suicide near the parking stand of Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday, shooting himself with his service revolver. Sub-inspector Nirmal Chaubey was posted at the Banthra police station on the outskirts of the state capital and was on duty at the Vidhan Sabha during the ongoing Assembly session. Chaubey was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injury. A suicide note was found in his pocket in which he stated that he was ending his life due to illness. In the note, he requested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take care of his children. Lucknow Police Commissioner D.K. Thakur said that Chaubey, 53, shot himself at around 3.30 p.m. on Thursday and was immediately rushed to the hospital where he died. Thakur said the suicide note is being investigated and the deceased's family has been informed. Further investigation is underway. Visit us at Thai Tiew Thai Fair, Booth no. N42 Bitec Bangna from 4-7 March 2021 for special room voucher. Special room voucher available at THB 1,199 net/night (breakfast not included). For more info, please contact: phone 076 645 999 LINE @fourpointsphuket email fp.hktfp.reservations@marriott.com website http://bit.ly/fourpointsphuketpatong Rentokil saw its profits drop by nearly a third amid a series of one-off costs, despite its hygiene business booming during the pandemic. The pest control company said it had spent millions on acquisitions and integrations, settled some old payrolls in France, and taken a 2.9 million charge for disposing of faulty personal protective equipment. Pre-tax profit dropped 32% to 229.8 million on revenue of 2.8 billion, up 4%, Rentokil said. With adjustments to strip out one-off costs, pre-tax profit rose 4.2% to 355.2 million. Chief executive Andy Ransom hailed the hygiene business, which saw revenue boom by 36.8% last year. It launched disinfection services across the world in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the second quarter of last year, selling deep cleans to businesses. Disinfection brought in 225.1 million in revenue. Thanks to the significant and swift actions we took in 2020, we are strongly positioned for the coming year Andy Ransom, Rentokil Mr Ransom said: The medium-term prospects for our hygiene business have never looked more promising as the demand for global hygiene services is sustained post the pandemic. However, he warned that the good times for the disinfectant business are unlikely to continue in the long term. We will continue to provide disinfection services as part of the crisis response, but expect volumes and prices to significantly unwind as the year progresses and the crisis hopefully abates, he said. However, when stripping out the disinfection unit, ongoing revenue dropped by 4.6% in the hygiene business. Pest control revenues grew by 1% across the year, as the unit was deemed an essential service. The company passed its 1.5 billion dollar (1.07 billion) revenue target in North America by nearly 6%. Mr Ransom said there is still uncertainty around the pandemic, but Rentokil is confident it can deliver progress this year. 2021 will be a year of transition as we cross the bridge from the worst of the crisis in 2020 to, hopefully, a post-pandemic 2022, he said. Thanks to the significant and swift actions we took in 2020, we are strongly positioned for the coming year, and expect to see further progress from our core pest control, hygiene, and protect and enhance categories. Rentokil acquired 23 businesses last year, overwhelmingly in pest control, for around 202 million. It plans to double that spend this year. The acquisitions included businesses in Chile, Spain, Tanzania and the US. It also entered Peru and Ghana for the first time. Shares fell 2% on Thursday morning after the announcement. By Corky Goldstein In the wake of the violent Insurrection that happened Jan. 6th at our U.S. Capitol, many are asking, whats the difference legally between civil disobedience and an insurrection? Its important to remember that the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution clearly states that, among other cherished rights that we all have, is the legal right to peacefully assemble. Peaceful, many times is interpreted differently. And you may need to obtain permits from the appropriate government authority. But we all have the right to peacefully protest any cause, no matter how controversial or distasteful it may be to others. Civil disobedience is when a person or group recognizes that a governmental entity has legally enacted a law, and they purposefully and peacefully violate that law, knowing they most likely will be arrested and convicted. Civil disobedience is a tactic a person who believes the existing law or laws are unjust, unfair, or unequal, will refuse to obey the law to draw attention and bring about changes, even if they are arrested and jailed. In the world we live in today, the Internet often can provide the attention that it hoped for in such situations. We just ended Black History Month, so I feel this situation will be the perfect example: President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, during the third year of the Civil War, legally ending slavery. But racial segration laws that existed stayed in place, and many more new ones were enacted in allthe Southern states and beyond, and those discriminatory laws still existed throughout the South almost 100 years later. In 1955, in Montgomery, Ala., a 5-foot,2-inch 42-year-old Black woman named Rosa Parks, quietly boarded a city bus, and sat in the Black section, as the law required. A young white man got on the bus at the next stop and, finding no seats left in the white section, he asked her to give him her seat also as the law required. She politely, but firmly, refused. Parks was arrested, convicted immediately, and spent four days in jail, until her elderly mother paid her fine and costs. That single incident, within a few weeks, sparked peaceful, civil disobedience all over the South and beyond. That civil disobedience grew in size and scope, targeting laws that segregated the races, not just on public transportation, but that required separate bathrooms, entrances and exits, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, drinking fountains, shops, plays, concerts, and many other venues. The result? Racial segregation laws all over began to be removed. Certainly, not all acts of civil disobedience are successful. Its a little-known fact that nine months before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, a 15-year-old black girl, Claudette Colvin, did the same thing on a city bus in Montgomery. But her peaceful defiance got no attention, and sparked no changes. She was cited for disorderly conduct. Civil disobedience is still going on in America, and is used by Black groups and many white people supporting them to draw attention to what they believe are discriminatory practices, and by many other groups for many different reasons and causes. On Jan. 6, all those who went to Washington D.C. to peacefully protest certainly had the constitutional right to be there. If they did not in any way force their way into the Capitol, go through the guarded gates, or incite others to attack the Capitol or any individuals, etc., then they were protesting legally and peacefully. But, my advice to them, when they saw the very beginning of the violent Insurrection taking place, would have been to immediately leave the area, and go home, so no one would suggest they were any part of the violent attack, in which great damage was done, people were severely injured and some died, and threats were made to murder the vice president, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In my legal opinion, no one in America who sincerely believes in our sacred Constitutional democracy, our rule of law, which was the foundation of this great country, can legally or morally approve of that most violent Insurrection. Nor should they approve of anyone who might have incited the coup on our federal government, to try and prevent our elected officials from carrying our their legal duties and by their sacred oaths of office, their responsibility to our nation. Attorney Corky Goldstein was formerly a deputy district attorney in Philadelphia and has practiced law in Central Pennsylvania for 48 years. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe to PennLive. Life to the Max! Maxine Baxter Obituary Maxine Baxter broke new ground as a young black female entrepreneur. In 1962, she openedMaxines lamps and lampshades with her husband and business partner, George. This prestigious shop was one of the first Black-owned businesses in the area. The shop located at 4160 Beverly Boulevard Los Angeles California was in business for over 50 years. Maxine andGeorge knew they were on to something amazing. Together, they laid the foundation for a respected, successful profession of manufacturing custom lamps and lampshades. The company produced over 500,000 lampshades specializing in imported silks, linens, taffetas, velvets, and designer textiles. Maxine worked with set decorators, prop houses, studios, and an exclusive clientele, including some of the biggest studios in Hollywood; CBS, Sony pictures, Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, Warner Bros and host of decorators, designers and independent filmmakers. Adam DiGregorio of the LA Times wrote that Maxine, has an eye for shape and proportion equal to that of any couturier. What made Maxine so unique was that each shade was custom sized and crafted by hand. In the decorating community, Maxines was known as The place to go. Maxines lampshades received many awards and accolades including being recognized in the National directory whos Who with Executives and Professionals.Maxine and George settled and raised their family in View Park. Maxine and George were hard workers for their community and in their church, Crenshaw United Methodist. They received high recognition in 1999 by being awarded as Black Trailblazers .Maxine had a passion for traveling, collecting vintage fabrics, antiques, and collecting art. Shewas an avid reader, a gourmet cook, and a fashionista. Maxine was born in McGhee, Arkansas. She was proceeded in death by her husband, George and her son, Larry. ADVERTISEMENT She is survived by her children, Betty, Gregory, Ronetta, George Jr. grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a host of family and friends. Maxine made her transition on February 6, 2021. The services will be held March 6, 2021 at Crenshaw United Methodist Church, 3740 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles 90008 at 11:00am. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A leading magazine has launched a new award in memory of UTV's former environmental correspondent Brian Black. Mr Black died last year after a tragic accident in Strangford Lough. The Yachting Monthly award is also remembering his journalist wife Lesley, a fellow keen sailor, who had passed away 10 months earlier. The award will be run in conjunction with the couple's two children, Kieron and Sarah. A car belonging to Mr Black (77) plunged from the quay at Strangford into Strangford Lough last August. The award-winning broadcaster, who had just left the vehicle, got back into the car in a failed bid to prevent it from rolling back into the water. Yachting Monthly said their Brian Black memorial award is aimed at 'celebrating sailing adventures which shed a fresh light on marine environmental issues through inspiring journalism'. It added: "Brian was passionate about the marine environment and was eloquent in his writing and filmmaking about the crises facing fragile Arctic ecosystems. His wife Lesley was a sailor and author in her own right, becoming Northern Ireland's first female yacht club commodore, blazing a trail for women in sailing." The couple's daughter Sarah said: "From a young age Mum and Dad taught us about the natural world, particularly the ocean. "We learnt how to sail on it, but also how to love and care for it. "As anyone who met them could attest, they were both natural storytellers and they used that skill to share important information about the emerging environmental crises as they saw them. "I hope that this new award will encourage others to do the same and share their inspiring stories about the challenges facing our seas today." Mr Black had contributed articles for Yachting Monthly over several decades, writing about his 'high latitude' voyages in the Arctic Circle as well as his cruises around the west coast of Scotland and Strangford Lough. A former editor of the magazine, Kieran Flatt, said: "Brian was one of my heroes. He was a remarkable sailor - a bold, skilful, tenacious and resourceful voyager who achieved so much with no fanfare or fuss." Charles Lee Frazier, 41, has pleaded guilty to attempting to produce child pornography and faces 25 to 50 years in prison A registered sex offender from Ohio has admitted using dating sites to connect with impoverished mothers in the Philippines and offering them money in return for sexually explicit photos of their children. Charles Lee Frazier, 41, of Sidney, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to attempting to produce child pornography, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio. He faces at least 25 years in prison and up to 50 years when he's sentenced later this year. According to court documents, Frazier used Filipino dating sites to connect with destitute women. In subsequent Skype chats with the women, he would ask them for photos of their naked children engaging in sexual activities with other minors, or with their own mothers. Prosecutors said Frazier sent the women child pornography as examples of what images he wanted them to create with their children, or 'with instructions to show the images to their children to convince them to engage in that behavior.' Prosecutors say Frazier connected with poor Filipino mothers on dating sites and sent them cash in exchange for pornographic photos of children Frazier also discussed committing violent acts against children, including killing infants during sexual assaults, according to the documents. Frazier sent money to women in the Philippines from April through July 2019 in exchange for child pornography, including $800 for nude photos of a seven-year-old girl, prosecutors said. Among the recipients of Frazier's cash transfers was a mother who said she needed the money for food. Frazier was convicted in a 2011 federal case for receiving child pornography and was sentenced to 84 months in prison. She managed to escape Britain's third national lockdown when she jetted off to Barbados. And Montana Brown looked incredible as she displayed her jaw-dropping figure in a series of stunning bikini snaps on Wednesday. The former Love Island star, 25, showcased her incredible physique as she donned a white bikini that highlighted her taut midriff. Wow: Montana Brown looked incredible as she displayed her jaw-dropping figure in a series of stunning bikini snaps on Wednesday Montana also sported a beige shirt and a hat as she soaked up the sun during her idyllic stay in the Caribbean. The social media star styled her brunette locks into a ponytail while she completed her look with silver earrings. Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Take chances, they might lead you to the best places to be with the best people.... speaking of the best people.' On Monday, Montana shared a picture of herself wearing a white shirt as she posed in the sunshine. Beauty: The former Love Island star, 25, showcased her incredible physique as she donned a white bikini that highlighted her taut midriff She wrote: 'Make decisions from a place of love, use gratitude to heal things from your past and manifest love in everything you do to make decisions for your future.' 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. Montana was seen leaning against a wall post as she sported a daisy embroidered one-piece from her swimwear brand, Swim Society. She wrote alongside her stunning snaps: 'Just wanted to say a thanks to everyone's lovely messages. Golden hour: On Monday, Montana shared a picture of herself wearing a white shirt as she posed in the sunshine as she shared a positive quote 'It's hard to know where the line is with posting content and I really don't want to be upsetting anyone. 'I get the odd message with people being quite angry. I travelled well before lockdown, I've stayed out here because I can work from abroad and I started my business last year in lockdown and I'd like to give it a fighting chance to be honest. 'Sending love to you all, I am going to continue posting and again, it's not my intention to be insensitive to anybody as I know this is an awful time for a lot of people. Sending love.' (sic) Appointment 4 March 2021 Evolution Hospitality, the lifestyle division of Aimbridge Hospitality, announced that Angela S. Kuzma has joined the team as Vice President of Lifestyle Operations where she will oversee a group of complex assets, providing leadership to achieve hotel performance, guest satisfaction, associate engagement and owners' investment goals. She brings 25 years of lifestyle and food and beverage experience to her new role overseeing full service, boutique, and resort properties with complex food and beverage and experiential environments that will require her to rely on her extensive restaurant concept and operations acumen. Kuzma was most recently Global Vice President of Restaurant and Bars for Marriott International. As Global Vice President of Restaurant and Bars for Marriott International, Kuzma drove key strategies for over 30 brands across five continents. She has previously served as the Executive Vice President of Operations at Aparium Hotel Group, a nationally acclaimed lifestyle and development group; Chief Operating Officer at 5oz. Factory; Director of Operations, Club & Duty Manager for Soho House Group; Regional Director of Catering Sales & Events for China Grill Management at Hotel Gansevort and more, where she has a proven track record of delivering on objectives and driving sales growth as much as 60 percent. Additionally, all the hotels she has worked with have achieved 50 percent contribution from their culinary operations, garnering many James Beard Award nominations in the process. Kuzma also brings a unique perspective to the role. Having lived or worked in more than fifty countries, she has participated in several wine harvests in South and Central America, began her career in pastry where she developed a passion for the science behind food and wine, and has a special interest in sustainability in regards to the environment, people, and culture of the industry at large. Nancy Pelosi's top priority is to turn America into a one-party nation ruled by Democrats. Her bill HR 1, to be voted on this week, trashes the U.S. Constitution in an attempt to rig the system and make it virtually impossible to elect a Republican president or Congress again. It's a power grab. The bill eviscerates state voting laws and forces all the states to conform to a set of rules that includes automatic voter registration. Anyone who goes to a DMV or applies for food stamps, Medicaid or other social services, or attends a public college will be automatically enrolled to vote. Noncitizens are obligated to identify themselves and opt out, but there are no criminal penalties if they don't. From California to New York, Dems are already pushing to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. They see this as their roadmap to a future permanent majority HR 1's bag of tricks also includes banning state voter ID requirements. Anyone can show up on Election Day to vote, registered or not, and simply sign a statement that they're a legal voter. HR 1 is being sold as a reform to make voting easier. In truth, it makes cheating easier. HR 1 compels states to send out absentee or mail-in ballots universally, favoring Democrats who tend to use this method. It also forces states to count ballots that arrive by mail as late as 10 days after the election. Say goodbye to election night finality. HR 1 also legalizes ballot harvesting, a practice many states are struggling to stop. A political organization pays a worker to walk through housing projects and neighborhoods, knock on doors, offer to help residents fill out the ballots they've received in the mail, and then submit the piles of completed ballots. It's a recipe for fraud. It's also unconstitutional. The authors of the Constitution worried that Congress would try to seize control of presidential selection using dirty tricks like those in HR 1. That's why they acted to "to take the business as far as possible out of their hands," according to Charles Pinckney, a framer from South Carolina. Congress, said Pinckney, "had no right to meddle" in it. The framers provided in Article II, Sec. 1 that only state legislatures would have the power to determine how the president is chosen. No national rules. But Pelosi has no qualms about trashing the Constitution to kneecap her opponents. HR 1 also asserts Congress has the authority to make the District of Columbia into the 51st state. That would hand Democrats two more Senate seats, breaking the current 50-50 tie. Voter registration in D.C. is 76% Democratic and only 6% Republican. Pelosi ignores that only a constitutional amendment can change the status or parameters of the District. HR 1 also would expose supporters of conservative causes to disclosure and harassment. In 2013, then-President Barack Obama's Internal Revenue Service tried to strong-arm tax-exempt tea party organizations into disclosing their donors. Pelosi's bill would give that thuggish tactic the force of law, requiring organizations to disclose their donors. When Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay advocated that the public ratify the new U.S. Constitution, they signed under the name "Publius" to shield their identities. Americans today deserve the same freedom, whether they're writing or donating to causes. Pelosi's democracy-destroying bill will pass in the House, where Democrats have a majority. President Joe Biden has promised to sign it if it passes the Senate. So much for Biden's unity pledge. Under current Senate rules, 60 votes are needed to enact HR 1. Democrats don't have them yet. It's up to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to protect the 60-vote filibuster rule. He's called the bill "the Democratic Politician Protection Act," and deplores it as a naked attempt to change the election rules to benefit one party. The bill is just what you'd expect from Pelosi. But the Senate needs to rise to the occasion and protect honest, competitive elections -- the foundation of our freedom. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM Michigan has reportedly administered 2,351,125 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the more than 11 weeks since the first shot became available. As of Tuesday, March 2, there were 1,495,021 residents who had gotten at least one of two recommended doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and 856,104 who were completely vaccinated following their second dose. With a third vaccine -- developed by Johnson & Johnson -- becoming available this week, health officials anticipate a continued increase in vaccine allocations, and thus more shots in arms, in the coming weeks. Over the last seven days, Michigan has averaged at least 47,280 doses administered per day, though the latest day totals could increase slightly if providers were late to update their totals. Either way, thats an improvement from 42,867 per day the week prior, and 38,572 per day a month ago. Last Thursday, the state had a one-day high with 79,292 doses administered. It has surpassed 60,000 doses in a day eight times, and surpassed 70,000 twice. Sundays remain the outlier, with less than 10,000 doses administered each week. Groups currently eligible to be vaccinated statewide include health care workers, long-term care workers and residents, first responders, corrections workers, childcare and school staff, staff in congregate care facilities, mortuary service workers, workers in food processing and agricultural settings, and residents 65 years and older. Some communities, like the city of Detroit, have further expanded the eligibility to additional groups. On Wednesday, March 3, the state announced further expansion of the eligible pool to include residents 50 to 64 years old with underlying health conditions beginning Monday, March 8, and all residents 50 to 64 years old beginning Monday, March 22. The state has received more than 3 million doses of the various vaccines. More than 1.3 million have gone to hospitals, 1.2 million to local health departments, and 391,300 to the federal long-term care program. Hospitals remain the top provider type with 951,599 doses administered to date. Local health departments and pharmacies follow with 779,035 and 453,622 shots administered, respectively. Some of the pharmacy doses were administered through the federal long-term care program aimed at vaccinating nursing homes and other senior living centers. Michigan has administered more than 1.3 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, which was first to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA. Its given out more than 1 million doses of Moderna, the second vaccine on the market in the U.S., and while it hasnt reportedly administered any Johnson & Johnson doses yet, the first shipments were scheduled to arrive Wednesday. That data will be reported Thursday afternoon via the states online COVID-19 vaccine dashboard. Residents 65 and older makeup the highest percentage of doses administered to date, as seniors account for 55% of first doses, 46% of second doses, and 52% of total doses administered. The next highest group for shots in arms is the 50 to 64-year-old range, who makeup 19% of total doses administered. Demographic data by race has been difficult to analyze because more than 37% of doses have gone to residents with race marked unknown, according to the state health departments public data. However, of the known data, 48% of doses have gone to white residents, 3% have gone to Black or African American residents, less than 2% have gone to the combined group of Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native residents, and 9% have gone to other race. Read more on MLive: 6 things you need to know about new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 vaccine clinic is a breath of fresh air for Muskegon Heights community 39% of Michigan seniors have gotten COVID-19 vaccine; see numbers in your county To wed or not to wed?: How 6 brides are navigating weddings during a pandemic Michigan reports 1,536 new coronavirus cases, 5 new deaths on Wednesday, March 3 Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 21:06:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOHHOT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Li Yihua and his wife Zhao Liwei have been engaged in the chili industry in Kailu County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, for nearly 20 years. As an entrepreneur, Li mainly imports chili seeds from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and exports fresh chilies to the country. With the advent of the peak chili exports season, tonnes of chilies have been kept neatly piled up in their yard. "Business is good. We export more than 4,000 tonnes of fresh chilies a year and earn more than 200 yuan (about 31 U.S. dollars) per tonne," said Zhao. "I can speak Korean fluently, which helps me a lot in dealing with clients," said Li, who is an ethnic Korean in China. Kailu County has a history of growing chilies spanning more than 30 years. "The advantages of abundant sunlight and a significant temperature difference between day and night make the county highly suitable for chili cultivation," said Yu Xiaoxiang, a local agronomist. Currently, Kailu has around 40,000 hectares of chili cultivation area, about one-third of the county's arable land. Each year, 30 of its major chili farming cooperatives export more than 15,000 tonnes of chilies to over 10 countries in Europe and Asia. To better develop the chili industry, in 2013, Kailu spent 200 million yuan on the construction of the largest chili trading center in north China. A total of 21 cold storages were built across the county, capable of storing 100,000 tonnes of fresh chilies for off-season sales. Meanwhile, to extend the industrial chain and make more money from the chilies, Kailu has set up 15 enterprises to process chilies into various products like chili sauce, chili powder, and ingredients used in lipsticks and medicines. Annually, the 15 enterprises can process 140,000 tonnes of chilies, with sales volume exceeding 2 billion yuan. High value-added products rely on good-quality chilies. In recent years, Kailu has been striving to strengthen technical training among chilies growers. Besides door-to-door visits, agronomist Yu Xiaoxiang and his colleagues also record videos covering various topics like seedling raising methods, fertilization, and pest control, and post them on the short video sharing platforms. "Such online training is more convenient as chili growers have easy access to the information," said Yu. "Over the years, the chili industry has greatly increased the income of the locals. The spicy chili has truly spiced up their lives." Enditem A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of J. B. S. Haldane, by Samanth Subramanian, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, NY, 2020. Samanth Subramanians new biography of the British scientific genius J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964) devotes its attention both to Haldanes historic achievements in the field of genetics (and much other scientific research) and to his extremely prominent political activism. These two sides of his life occasionally overlapped. After a period as a very public fellow traveler of the British Communist Party, Haldane formally joined the CP in 1942, in the middle of the wartime alliance between Churchill and Stalin. He quietly left the Stalinist party in 1950, unable any longer to publicly defend the reactionary anti-scientific edicts handed down by Moscow. Haldane never broke from Stalinism politically, however. A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of J. B. S. Haldane His role as a well-known defender of Stalinist crimes, including the Moscow Trials and the many betrayals of revolutionary struggles of the working class, cannot of course be forgotten or minimized. As a scientist, however, Haldane was one of the dozen most significant figures of the first half of the 20th century. In the field of genetics, in particular, he is forever associated with the Mendelian-Darwinian synthesis, which ended decades of conflict between the followers of Gregor Mendel and those of Darwin. This laid the basis in turn for much of modern genetics, epigenetics and evolutionary biology. Haldane was a larger-than-life figure. He was known to millions of his countrymen and to many millions more around the world. This was owing in large part to his ability to popularize, explaining complex scientific concepts to a broad audience while avoiding oversimplification. He positively enjoyed this work. In addition, he was a speaker, polemicist, pamphleteer, even a poet, with a talent for rhyme and doggerel. He was known for his repeated experimentations on himself during the course of his long career. Finally, it must be said that he was totally disinterested when it came to wealth, nor did he ever seek fame for its own sake. The biographer devotes considerable attention to Haldanes fascinating childhood, learning so to speak at the knee of his father, J.S. Haldane, a very noted scientist of his own day. The younger Haldane was educated at Eton and then Oxford. He was 22 when the First World War began, and Haldane joined in the patriotic fervor, seeing war service in France. As the war dragged on, however, like so many of his generation, he became increasingly disillusioned and radicalized. As Subramanian notes, Haldane did little laboratory work. Rather he looked at the work of others, noticed connections between different discoveries, and in his major work in genetics he was a theoretician, above all. This points to the scientists application of the dialectical materialist method, whether Haldane was fully conscious of this or not. Haldane and the development of modern evolutionary theory In the limited confines of this review, it is impossible to effectively summarize Subramanians detailed presentation of Haldanes substantial and wide-ranging scientific efforts, principally the significant role he played in the development of modern evolutionary theory. It should be noted that the books roughly chronological order of presentation, appropriate to a biography, nevertheless tends to scatter the discussion of scientific topics, which could be more clearly elucidated if organized topically. J.B.S. Haldane Many of Haldanes great discoveries were made in the decade between 1924 and 1933. By 1924 he had already attracted wide attention. He published a kind of utopian science fiction in that year, entitled Daedalus. The book made him extremely well known and not only in scientific circles. A significant factor in Haldanes ability to make valuable contributions on a variety of topics was his systematic application of mathematical analyses to data. In one of his early, seminal papers, Haldane declared, A satisfactory theory of natural selection must be quantitative. A prime example, described in detail by Subramanian, is Haldanes analysis of the rapid evolution of a species of moths in the Manchester area during the nineteenth century in response to industrial pollution. He calculated the degree of selective pressure needed to substantially increase the prevalence of a previously infrequent, dark color variant due to changed environmental conditions (darkening of the bark of trees on which the moths rested), which now rendered the trait highly adaptive by providing camouflage from predators. Haldanes model was substantiated by subsequent research. Another important contribution was a statistical analysis by Haldane of how certain traits tended to be passed on together. It was later demonstrated that this was due to the relevant genes lying close to each other on chromosomes during the exchange of genetic material (recombination) in sexual reproduction, building on the earlier work of Thomas Morgan. In his 1932 book, The Causes of Evolution, Haldane presented much of what is now known as the Synthetic Theory of evolution. This and other works by Haldane marked, as the biographer shows, a significant step in reconciling the Darwinian view that evolution takes place by slow, incremental steps via natural selection acting on small variations from one generation to the next, with that of the Mendelians, who held that variation occurred in discrete units (genes) which could impart significant, abrupt selective advantages, leading to rapid evolution. Haldanes work produced a more detailed, mathematically rigorous elaboration of the intricacies of the transmission of genetic material, demonstrating that phenotypic expression was often the product of the interactions of multiple genes (contrary to the simple Mendelian model), while at the same time demonstrating that under certain circumstances the combination of beneficial genetic material and strong selective pressure could produce rapid evolutionary changes (contrary to the Darwinians), potentially leading to the development of new species. Without strong selective pressure, even advantageous mutations might not become dominant in a population, due to the vagaries of reproduction (genetic drift). Thus, according to Subramanian, Haldanes synthesis, explaining both stability and change, anticipated the theory of punctuated equilibrium enunciated by Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge by 40 years. Haldane also theorized on the origin of life. He developed what became known as the Oparin-Haldane hypothesis, named after himself and a noted Soviet scientist, which both arrived at independently of each other. It proposed the chemical process by which a combination of inorganic compounds, in what is now known as the primordial soup, could be induced to produce simple organic molecules by the addition of energy (lightning). The feasibility of this model was supported experimentally in 1953. He spoke out on scientific controversies not directly related to his research. Earlier in his career, he had energetically opposed eugenics, which became especially popular in the first three decades of the 20th century. It attracted many unlikely supporters, including George Bernard Shaw and John Maynard Keynes, as well as those who would be expected to embrace it, like John D. Rockefeller and Theodore Roosevelt. Haldane in the orbit of Stalinism Haldanes political trajectory brought him from the Liberalism of his family, to Labour in the early 1920s, Fabianism by 1928, and then increasingly into the orbit of Stalinism in the 1930s. He was already sympathetic to the Soviet Union when he traveled there in 1928. Later in the 30s, Haldane epitomized a certain layer of the middle-class intelligentsia (Beatrice and Sydney Webb were by no means the only examples) who were sympathetic to Stalinism precisely because they recognized that support for the Moscow bureaucracy was compatible with their reform views and support for their own liberal bourgeoisie. At the same time, another factor in bolstering support for Stalinism was the growing threat of fascism, including the Franco-led rebellion against the Spanish Republic. This no doubt disturbed many sincere liberals, who increasingly saw in the Soviet Union the only bulwark against the Nazi menace, and mistakenly identified the USSR with the counterrevolutionary bureaucracy. Haldane does not appear to have had any doubts about the monstrous false confessions of such figures as Zinoviev, Kamenev and so many others. He did not himself identify with the tradition of Bolshevism. When the October Revolution took place, Haldane had been a 25-year-old Liberal, and it is unlikely that he later on seriously read or considered Trotskys exposures. Like Paul Robeson and others, Haldane may have had some doubts when the Stalinist purges began to touch figures that he knew. One of these was the Soviet geneticist Vavilov, who had invited his British colleague to the Soviet Union back in 1928. The two men remained in communication over the years, but Haldanes wife Charlotte reported back after a trip in 1941 that Vavilov had disappeared. Even then, Haldane said nothing publicly. He had become chairman of the Daily Worker Editorial Board even before he joined the party. When Stalin agreed to the pact with Hitler in August 1939, Haldane did not hesitate to defend it. In this early period of the Second World War, he took a more oppositional stance toward the government. He campaigned for the so-called Haldane shelters, proposals of his to shield hundreds of civilians from German bombing raids, and he denounced the authorities for their resistance to this proposal. When Operation Barbarossa was launched on June 22, 1941, however, Haldane immediately threw himself into a role in which he was infinitely more at ease, a renewed popular social-patriotic alliance and all-out support for the Churchill government. During the war years MI5 paid increased attention to Haldane, although government surveillance of him had begun many years earlier. There was some suspicion that, owing to his ability to obtain many government secrets, he could have been a Soviet spy. Subramanian insists that there was no basis for this. Haldane, always open about his political views, was not at all the same as Kim Philby and other Soviet agents in the British government and scientific circles. The one near-fatal flaw of this otherwise conscientious account of Haldanes life and work becomes apparent in the early chapters. The author, an Indian writer and journalist, is not a scientist himself, nor does he have a knowledge of Marxism. He crudely equates Lenin with Stalin, and the great discoveries of materialist dialectics by Marx and Engels with the lifeless formulas used by the Stalinist bureaucracy to falsify Marxism in order to defend its own privileges. The counterrevolutionary bureaucracy rested on the property forms established by the October Revolution, while undermining and finally destroying them in the restoration of capitalism 30 years ago. Subramanian even adopts the Stalinist term diamat in this way, indicating that Stalinism is the legitimate inheritor of the work of the founders of scientific socialism. He describes the smudgy jargon of diamatthe abstract dogma that explained change in the world through the interactions of physical conditions. In the official versions of diamat that Lenin and Stalin promoted, development arose out of the struggle of opposing material forcesa tenet they insisted on applying not only to history but in science and society. Pointing to Stalinist formulas, the author slanders the work of Marx and the great Marxists. He completely ignores the fundamental question: motion is the mode of existence of matter. How else does motion take place except through internal conflict and contradiction? Subramanian, like many others, substitutes external forces for the internal, lawful movement of nature and society. Haldane and Lysenkoism No account of Haldanes life and his scientific contributions would be complete without an explanation of the biggest blot on his professional and intellectual career: his support for the reactionary doctrine of Soviet biologist Trofim Lysenko. Soviet pseudoscientist Trofim Denisovich Lysenko Lysenko contended that crops could be improved simply by growing them in different environments from those in which they had evolved. Individual plants would then rapidly adapt, passing these adaptations along to the next generation by somehow transferring the advantageous changes to their genetic material via some unknown mechanism. This totally false proposition, in fact, resulted in substantial damage to Soviet agriculture. The possibility of the rapid improvements promised by Lysenko was attractive to the Stalinists in view of the disasters wrought in the early 1930s by the bureaucracys forced collectivization of agriculture. Lysenkos quackery was a reversion to the pre-Mendelian concept identified with Lamarck, long after it had been disproved. It nevertheless was embraced by the Stalinists as a means of diverting attention from their own disastrous course, as well as stoking nationalism. Lysenkoism caused havoc in Soviet biology, resulting in the ruin and often even the deaths of many who opposed it, including the above-mentioned geneticist Vavilov. The great contributions of Haldane were undermined by his endorsement of Lysenkoism and lesser-known Stalinist perversions of science. The most notorious episode was a 1948 BBC broadcast in which the scientist, usually clear and even eloquent in his choice of words, delivered a contradictory and halting defense of this Stalinist theory of agriculture. Following this, Haldanes position became increasingly difficult to maintain. In December 1949, he resigned from the editorial board of the Daily Worker. By the fall of 1950 he had left the CP itself, but there was no formal announcement. The Stalinists did not want to call attention to the friction with one of their most famous members, and Haldane for his part saw any public criticism as giving aid and comfort to the imperialist enemy of Soviet socialism. As with so many others, he could not understand, and perhaps did not want to understand, the contradictory character of the Soviet Union. The defense of the Russian Revolution and the Soviet workers state, in fact, required the exposure of and struggle to overthrow Stalinism in a political revolution. After Stalins death in 1953, the influence of Lysenko steadily declined, although he was not removed from his official posts for some years. Haldane became far less politically outspoken, although he continued to defend the Moscow regime. The last chapter of Haldanes life began in July 1957, when he and his second wife Helen accepted an offer to work in an institute in Calcutta. He transferred his political affections, to some extent, from Stalins and Khrushchevs USSR to Nehrus socialist India. He continued to travel, lecture and speak at international conferences until a diagnosis of cancer, which led to his death in December 1964. A speech that Haldane gave in London in 1962 provides a revealing glimpse of his political outlook. At a symposium called Man and His Future, Haldane discussed, Biological Possibilities for the Human Species in the Next 10,000 Years. The great scientist, now 70 years old, declared, A few centuries of Stalinism or technocracy might be a cheap price to pay for the unification of mankind. This formulation is strikingly similar to the approach of those within the Trotskyist movement, led by Michel Pablo, who envisioned centuries of deformed workers states, abandoning any revolutionary perspective based on defending and extending the great revolutionary example set in Russia in 1917. Ex-Stalinists and ex-Trotskyists both excluded the working class as a conscious actor in society, led by a revolutionary party. In the case of Haldane, it is clear that his version of socialism was never based on the working class and was not socialism at all. The new biography is valuable for two main reasons. First, it provides an account for the general reader of some of the phenomenal discoveries of science in the first half of the 20th century and of the genius behind them. Second, it also sheds light on the enormous damage done by Stalinism during the past century. The immense achievements of science and culture in the USSR were made possible by the revolution, not by the bureaucracy which undermined it. While Stalinisms betrayal of the working class and the cause of socialism is its greatest crime, this is inseparable from the attacks on science and on all aspects of culture that accompanied the nationalist degeneration of the Russian Revolution. Plans to Dose First Human Subjects in Phase 1 in Q2 2021 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - NervGen Pharma Corp. (TSXV: NGEN) (OTCQX: NGENF) ("NervGen" or the "Company"), a biotech company dedicated to creating innovative solutions for the treatment of nerve damage and neurodegenerative diseases, today provided a regulatory program update for NVG-291, a specific and selective protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma inhibitor being developed for the treatment of spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has provided feedback regarding our NVG-291 IND submission that allows us to proceed into a Phase 1 healthy volunteer study," stated Paul Brennan, President and CEO of NervGen. "Although NVG-291 remains under a partial clinical hold, we are pleased that the FDA has now provided us with a path forward to initiate our Phase 1 program in the near-term, while we complete additional preclinical work in parallel. We believe the impact to our overall timelines should be minimal, and we still plan to initiate efficacy studies in the first half of 2022." "We are confident in our ability to ultimately meet all of the requirements that the FDA has requested in order to lift the partial clinical hold on our IND, and we will continue to collaborate with regulatory agencies on the overall development program for NVG-291," added Brennan. NervGen has been cleared by the FDA to proceed with the single ascending dose ("SAD") portion of the trial in females, and the multiple ascending dose ("MAD") portion of the trial in post-menopausal females. The FDA has asked for additional preclinical safety data prior to including males in the Phase 1 program, and prior to including premenopausal females in the MAD portion of the trial. NervGen plans to initiate its first Phase 1 clinical trial in Australia under all of the conditions required by the FDA. Prior to dosing in Australia, NervGen must also obtain final approval from the ethics review board governing the study and provide notification to the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The Company will modify its proposed Phase 1 protocol and now expects to dose the first human subjects in this program in Q2 2021 in Australia after all requisite approvals have been obtained. Pending a positive outcome of the Phase 1 results in healthy volunteers, NervGen intends to add a multi-dose Alzheimer's disease patient cohort to the Phase 1 program. The Company also plans to initiate Phase 2 trials in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis after completion of Phase 1 and after resolution of the partial clinical hold. NervGen currently expects it will be able to initiate these trials in the first half of 2022. About NVG-291 NVG-291 is an inhibitor of phosphatase sigma, a promising target for reducing the clinical effects of nerve damage, either as a result of trauma, such as in the case of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or stroke, or neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease. NervGen believes that inhibiting the activity of phosphatase sigma has the potential to promote nerve repair mechanisms such as nerve regeneration, remyelination and plasticity; promote autophagy, a cellular self-cleaning mechanism; and to promote a non-inflammatory phenotype in microglia cells, the innate immune cells of the brain. About NervGen NervGen is restoring life's potential by creating innovative solutions for the treatment of nerve damage and neurodegenerative diseases. The Company is developing drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and Alzheimer's disease. NervGen's platform technology targets protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma, a neural receptor that impedes nerve repair. Inhibition of the phosphatase sigma receptor has been shown to promote regeneration and remyelination of damaged nerves, as well as improvement of nerve function in animal models for various medical conditions. For further information, please contact: Huitt Tracey, Corporate Communications htracey@nervgen.com 604.362.6209 Corey Davis Ph.D., LifeSci Advisors LLC cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com Nancy Thompson, Vorticom Public Relations nancyt@vorticom.com 212.532.2208 Follow NervGen on Twitter (@NervgenC) and LinkedIn (NervGen Pharma Corp.) for the latest news on the Company. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include, but are not limited to, the Company's current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements, or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements, and the words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "trend", "indication", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "likely" or "potential", or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: the timing of the clinical development of NVG-291; the objectives and study design of the proposed Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers; our confidence in our ability to meet all of the requirements that the FDA has requested in order to lift the partial clinical hold on our IND; our belief that the impact to our timelines should be minimal, and we can be still be entering efficacy studies in the first half of 2022; our intent to conduct all of the recommended preclinical studies concurrently with the Phase 1 studies and to amend the IND and broaden the treatment population as soon as possible; our belief that inhibiting the activity of phosphatase sigma is a promising target for reducing the clinical effects of nerve damage through multiple mechanisms; steps taken to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations; and the creation of innovative solutions for the treatment of nerve damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the Company in light of management's 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. In making forward-looking statements, the Company has relied on various assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company's ability to meet all of the requirements that the FDA has requested in order to lift the partial clinical hold on our IND; the Company's ability to obtain final approval from the ethics review board in Australia; the accuracy of the Company's financial projections; the Company obtaining positive results in its clinical and other trials; the Company obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; and general business, market and economic conditions. 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 statements, including without limitation, a lack of revenue, insufficient funding, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inability to meet all of the requirements that the FDA has requested, failure to obtain final approval from the ethics review board in Australia, reliance upon key personnel, the uncertainty of the clinical development process, competition, and other factors set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form, Amended and Restated Prospectus Supplement, financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis which can be found on SEDAR.com. All clinical development plans are subject to additional funding. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made in this news release. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and we have no intention and undertake 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 applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76073 Nearly 2,000 people have signed a petition calling on the University of South Alabama to fire three professors photographed wearing Confederate uniforms and holding nooses at a 2014 on-campus party. According to the petition, a photo of then-Dean of the Mitchell College of Business and current USA finance professor Bob Wood and professors Alex Sharland and Teresa Weldy using blatantly racist symbols were posted on the business schools Facebook page shortly after the 2014 Halloween party. In the photo, Wood is dressed in a Confederate soldiers uniform while Sharland and Weldy hold nooses. While the university apologized and took down the photo last year, the fact that these professors are still currently employed by the university shows a deep failure to commit to a safe, welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds, the petition reads. The casual racism portrayed by these professors cannot go unpunished, the document goes on to say. We are calling for the University of South Alabama to terminate these employees in order to demonstrate that racism has no place on our campus and to recommit to establishing a safe place for all who seek education here. Racism cannot simply be given a slap on the wrist. It must be addressed as the serious issue it is. We cannot have professors who partake in this kind of behavior. As of Thursday night, nearly 2,000 people have signed the petition. A Black student at the university said the professors should no longer be at the school if they cannot respect everyones race, ethnicity, gender, etc. This is a blatant disrespect toward African Americans and I will not stand with such foolishness such as them still being employed after the fact their truths came out, the student said. FIRE THEM. Updated March 4 at 2:20 p.m. to reflect that the photo was posted to the business schools Facebook page, not the university Facebook page. The House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Wednesday, a sweeping overhaul of policing in America that takes aim at racial and religious profiling, prohibits many no-knock warrants, and bans the use of police chokeholds. The bill, which endeavors to create a national database to track police misconduct and to make it easier to prosecute offending officers, passed through the Democratic-controlled House by a 220 to 112 margin. The vote predictably split down party lines, but not entirely so: Two DemocratsReps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Ron Kind (Wis.)voted against it, and a lone Republican voted for the bill. You might say that technically makes the victory a bipartisan one, but dont get your hopes up. Advertisement Shortly after the vote, the sole Republican vote in favor of the bill, Texas Rep. Lance Gooden, a Trumpy second-term Republican representing the Dallas suburbs, quickly clarified he mistakenly cast his vote in the wrong direction. I accidentally pressed the wrong voting button and realized it too late, Gooden wrote in a now-deleted tweet. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition to the partisan George Floyd Policing Act. Advertisement Advertisement I have arguably the most conservative/America First voting record in Congress! Of course I wouldnt support the radical lefts, Anti-Police Act. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition! pic.twitter.com/s7uCdlxvgO Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) March 4, 2021 Even with Goodens mistaken support, the bill lost ground since it was first introducedand passedover the summer, in the more immediate aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. In June, the measure passed the House by a still largely partisan 236 to 181 count, but did so with three Republican votes(now former) Rep. Will Hurd (Tex.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), and Fred Upton (Mich.). The first session of the eighth Parliament resumed yesterday after a three-week suspension that was aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 among members and staff of the House. The House is expected to consider a number of critical businesses prior to adjourning sine die on March 30, 2021. Some of the urgent businesses that came up on the floor of the House yesterday included the laying of the report of the Appointments Committee on the Presidents nominations for ministerial appointments. The report was subsequently distributed to the members of the House to deliberate on prior to a full debate by both sides on the observations and recommendations by the 26-member committee. Facilitating governments business Soon after the Chairman of the committee, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, had laid the report, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, expressed the belief that the House would consider, with expedition, the report within the next few weeks to facilitate government business. So far, 30 of the sectoral ministers designate and six regional ministers designate have been vetted by the Appointments Committee, which commenced the process on February 10 and will end on March 8, 2021. Message on state of the nation The Speaker also said during the current meeting, the House would receive the President who was obligated by Article 67 of the Constitution to deliver to Parliament, a message on the state of the nation at the beginning of each session of Parliament and the dissolution of Parliament. His Excellency has given an indication to me that he will be ready to meet the obligation on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Still within this meeting, in accordance with Article 179 of the Constitution, His Excellency has given further indication that he is prepared to lay the budget for the 2021 financial year on Friday, March 12, 2021, for consideration and approval, he said. Mr Bagbin reminded the House that there was a rather tall order of businesses to be handled prior to the end of the meeting of the current Parliament on March 31, 2021. He, therefore, pleaded with the members of the House to cooperate fully with him and the leadership to accomplish the tasks ahead. Death He announced the death of the Deputy Clerk to Parliament, Mr Robert Apodolla, whom he described as one of the foundation members of the Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. The Deputy Clerk of Parliaments sudden death occurred during the period we were on a short break, he said. He said Mr Apodolla died after a short illness while on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and expressed the sympathy of Parliament to the family, leading the House to observe a minutes silence in memory of the deceased. COVID-19 infections Earlier, the Speaker recounted that the suspension of Parliament on February 9, 2021, following COVID-19 infections among 17 MPs and 151 staff of Parliament had allowed for the weekly disinfection and sanitisation of the Chamber and the premises of Parliament. He stated that the third round of COVID-19 testing revealed that out of a total of 550 MPs and staff who retested, only 12 tested positive, with majority being auxiliary staff. This favourably represents a positivity rate of two per cent which compares with the national positivity rate of between 10 and 12 per cent. It is my expectation that all honourable members and staff who are required to retest actually resubmit themselves for the retesting, he stated. He said the three-week break had enabled members and staff who tested positive to overcome the virus. Adhere to safety protocols He, therefore, expressed optimism that both members and staff of Parliament would adhere to time-tested COVID-19 safety protocols. Let us wear our face masks religiously, wash our hands at the least opportunity while we are in the office; let our sanitiser be our companion wherever we find ourselves and let us maintain social distancing, he said. He assured the House and Ghanaians that Parliament would not merely adhere to safety protocols but would also adopt other protocols to ensure the safety of all members and staff in furtherance of the development of Ghana. With the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to Ghana, Mr Bagbin said he, in consultation with the leadership of the House, would soon announce a rollout of a vaccination plan for Members and staff of Parliament. COVID-19 update Presenting the business statement, the leader of the Majority group in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, informed the House that the Minister designate for Health was scheduled to brief the House today on the COVID-19 situation in the country, including the ongoing vaccination exercise. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Associated Insurance Administrators (AIA), based in Montgomery, Ala., has appointed Patrick Albrecht as president. The appointment of Albrecht is part of the companys reorganization to bring the authorities and responsibilities into the day-to-day operations. AIA said the shift to having in-company leadership will help guide it through an internal reorganization to a corporate structure. AIA previously filled the position of president externally by a member of the AIA Board of Directors. Prior to becoming president, Albrecht was the senior vice president for AIA. He is a 20-year veteran of the insurance industry. Albrecht serves on the board of directors for the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA). He is active in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Colonel with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations (SAF/IEI), the Pentagon. In this new cross-functional structure, marketing, underwriting, and claims, will work together, led by Alisha Seal in a newly created position of chief insurance officer. AIA is also updating its exclusive workers comp program with National Liability & Fire, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Expected changes include updated pricing, changes in guidelines to streamline underwriting authorities, expanded supporting product line offerings for targeted industries and faster responses on submissions. Associated Insurance Administrators (AIA) is a program administrator and wholesale supplier of workers comp insurance products to independent insurance agents and brokers, providing access to carriers, underwriting, and risk mitigation and claims management. Primarily serving agencies in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, AIAs specialized workers comp coverages include temporary staffing, healthcare, public sector, school systems and universities, social services, and not-for-profit organizations. (AIA) has specialized in offering commercial insurance products to retail insurance agencies since 1993. Topics Alabama The first stage of the 71st edition of the Berlin International Film Festival Berlinale, the Industry Days, is being held online from 1 to 5 March 2021. The majority of the selected films will be available for viewing online only to the industry representatives and accredited members of the press. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival is taking place in two stages: the Industry Days and Summer Special (9-20 June) during which the audience will be able to watch the films selected for cinema screenings in the presence of the filmmakers. Some 139 films from all over the world are participating in this edition, 15 are competing for the Golden and Silver Bears, 11 in the Berlinale Special Section; 12 are competing for the second edition of Encounters Competition, while the Berlinales international short film competition comprises 20 entries. Other sections include Panorama (19 films), Forum Programme (17 films), Forum Expanded (18 films), Berlinale series programme (six films), Generation competition (15 films) and PerspektiveDeutsches Kino (six films). Seven Arab films -- from Egypt, Palestine and Lebanon -- will be screened in several Berlinale sections, with one of them -- Memory Box -- competing for the Golden Bear. The Lebanese drama Memory Box is directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. The film stars Rim Turki, ManalIssa, PalomaVauthier, ClemenceSabbagh, and Hassan Akil. The film focuses on Maia who lives in Montreal with her teenage daughter Alex. On Christmas Eve, Maia receives a box containing the journals, tapes, and photos she had entrusted to her best friend who fled to Paris to escape the civil war in Beirut. With Memory Box, Lebanon competes for the Golden Bear after 39 years of not being represented in the main competition. The last time a Lebanese film had competed for the Golden Bear was in 1982 with Beirut the Encounter directed by BorhaneAlaouie. Egypt and Palestine's co-production documentary As I Want, the debut film by Samaher Al-Qadi, competes for the Encounters awards. The film portrays the director joining an anti-harassment women protest in 2013, in Tahrir Square, using her camera as a protection and also to document the protests of a burgeoning womens rebellion. Three Arab films will screen in the Panorama section competing for the audiences award: Souad by Ayten Amin (Egypt), Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living (Lebanon), and Miguel's War (Lebanon). Souad is a co-production by Egyptian producer Sameh Awad, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, producer and screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy, Egyptian producer Mark Lotfy, and Wim Wenders through Germanys Road Movies. The story deals with the impact of social media on young girls and follows two sisters who live in the small Delta city of Zagazig in Lower Egypt. Mahmoud Ezzat co-wrote the script with Ayten Amin. Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living follows the story of four young Lebanese men as they travel to visit a sex worker for the first time. The film stars Etienne Assal, Adnan Khannaz, Jean Paul Franjieh, and Saad Elle Dankoura. Born in Orange County, California, and raised in Batroun, Lebanon, George Peter Barbari is an Argentinean-Lebanese filmmaker. Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living is his directorial debut drawn from personal experience. Miguel's War is written and directed by Lebanese filmmaker Eliane Raheb. The film is a portrayal of a man who confronts the ghosts of his past. After fleeing war and repression 37 years ago, Miguel returns to Lebanon where he traces hidden longings, unrequited love, and tormenting feelings of guilt. Two experimental projects participate in the 16th Forum Expanded: Seven Years Around the Nile Delta, by Egyptian filmmaker Sharief Zohairy, and All of Your Stars are But Dust on My Shoes, by Lebanese artist and filmmaker Haig Aivazian. Seven Years Around the Nile Delta is the result of an eight-year-long cinematic journey, a mix of road movie and travelogue, contemplating the diversity of 32 cities and villages of the Nile Delta. All of Your Stars are But Dust on my Shoes is a video installation in Forum Expanded. It tracks the public administration of light and darkness as an essential policing tool. The video moves between cities like New York and Paris, with the artist's native Beirut setting the central pulse. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: To say I feel let down by the system is understatement. I have run from suicide most of my life. But I will no longer run. I am told by all the professionals to give it some time to heal. For me there is no healing. If I can save one life, then my life is worth living. Im only a plumber, but the answer is simple. Prevention, education and community support is the way to reduce the suicide death rate and reduce mental health distress in our young people and for everyone. Ive got some ideas and they seem pretty simple to me. Our schools curriculums must be expanded to include early intervention and prevention mental health programs. More hours and more staff must be allocated, there must be more support given to schools and staff on the ground to deal with this crisis. The whole approach to mental health education at schools seems to be fragmented and uncoordinated. We must consolidate our approach to mental health education to achieve real results. Loading Our young people also want a space outside of school and home, with qualified staff who can establish one-on-one relationships with young people that is not clinical treatment. It can be peer-focused and help nurture their skills to give them confidence, a choice of activities that interest them coupled with a text or online chat rooms. A program where the kids dont need parental permission, that is available for all kids, not just our at risk ones. We must all fight to remove the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. It is not a hushed secret that its happening. They must feel like getting help for a mental health issue is no different to asking for a Panadol for a headache. I honestly feel if we can do this they will take these lessons into adult life and use them. We will save lives. One of these lives saved may be your grandchild. There is no support for people like me, left behind after my mothers death. I felt like I had the plague. I know we have moved on from those times, but not that far. After my son died we received a pamphlet from the coroner on how to deal with a suicide. For me this was useless. Through Medicare I can receive 10 counselling sessions, what happens after those 10 sessions? What if you cannot afford any more? You are on your own. In 1985 there was no support for me and in 2019 there is still none, what a progressive society we are. Why is it left up to grieving decimated people to paint trees blue to raise awareness? I am not a mental health expert, but an emergency room is not the place for everyone in crisis. It is obviously still necessary but we perhaps need to look at setting up a safe place for people to talk about their suicidal thoughts without fear of being locked up and put on drugs. Im told most people standing on the edge will come down if they can talk about it. Our families and parents need support in convenient, affordable locations that is person centred. I live in a regional area and community support for people is desperately lacking. Its a no brainer that if we provide support services in regional and remote areas, people wouldnt need to travel to expensive and distressing hospitals, especially our young people. Again I am not a financial expert, but it must be better value for money to save these lives than to have to deal with the aftermath or pay for a hospital bed. To our politicians vying for my vote this election I beg of you, please stop wasting our money on measures that are not working. Start to invest it in innovative community support and prevention instead. There is absolutely no reason why Australia cannot lead the world in this and turn these embarrassing and disgusting numbers around. I beg you our elected leaders to lead. Look further than votes and the next election. Make bipartisan changes for our childrens long term future. I was disappointed to read WA Labors election commitment which was so focused on more beds and more crisis care that its just fuelling the crisis end even more. It would be like me putting a cup under a dripping tap rather than fixing the dripping tap. It doesnt make sense and its causing more trauma than it is solving. I believe the very reason for our being is to launch our children into their lives, to live and flourish. To have this taken away is too painful to bear. I sincerely hope that none of you ever have to walk in my shoes. If you have lost someone close to you to suicide, please act. If you havent lost anyone, please act. It may be your loved one you save. Dont be in any doubt that we are in the middle of a suicide epidemic. (Newser) She was declared unfit to serve in her country's army after having sex reassignment surgery, the first active-duty soldier to have such a procedure. Now, Byun Hui-su is dead, her body found Wednesday at her residence in Cheongju, South Korea, per the Yonhap News Agency. Emergency responders found the 23-year-old after a mental health center that had been providing counseling services to her couldn't contact her. The center says Byun had tried to kill herself a few months back, though it's reported no suicide note was found at the scene of her death. A local official tells the AP that the state of Byun's body suggests she'd been dead for a few days. The Guardian reports Byun joined the army in 2017 and went on to have gender confirmation surgery in Thailand in 2019, while on leave. When she visited a South Korea military hospital for follow-up treatment, doctors said she could be kicked out of the army, as she no longer had male genitalia and could be considered "disabled." story continues below South Korea doesn't allow transgender citizens to join the military. Since she was booted, Byun, who'd been a staff sergeant and tank driver, had fought for reinstatement, petitioning the army and then suing after her petition was rebuffed. An initial hearing tied to her suit was set for April. "I want to show that I can be an excellent soldier who helps defend this country regardless of my sexual identity," she said during a presser after she'd been discharged, per the New York Times. "Please give me that chance." Byun had international support, including from UN human rights advocates, but it was an uphill battle in South Korea, a socially conservative nation. The military rejected Byun's reinstatement campaign, citing the "effects on personnel morale." A Military Human Rights Center of Korea rep says the group hopes she'll now get to be "with like-minded people in the next world where there is no discrimination and hatred." The military itself has expressed its condolences for her death. (Read more transgender stories.) DUBLIN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "2021 Oilseeds Market - Size, Share, COVID Impact Analysis and Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides comprehensive research with in-depth data and contemporary analysis of Oilseeds Market at a global, regional and key country level, split by different sub-segments of the industry. The report presents growth projections in the Oilseeds Market between 2021 and 2027 for companies operating across different types, applications, and end-user verticals. Oilseeds Market is quickly reaching its pre-COVID levels and a healthy growth rate is expected over the forecast period driven by the V-shaped recovery in most of the developing nations. Key strategies of companies operating in Oilseeds Market Industry are identified as showcasing their contactless manufacturing and delivery methods, highlighting USP statements, focus on product packaging, and increased the presence of products on online platforms. The food industry is set to experience a few changes in 2021 due to the increased consciousness of consumers in selecting food. This inclination towards sustainable, regenerative, plant-based food and demand for foods and beverages with immunity-boosting ingredients is driving the demand for these products and their constituents. Do It Yourself (DIY) trend has seen huge momentum during Corona times and is expected to continue in 2021. Considering the rapidly changing market landscape, companies are changing their perspectives on expanding beyond traditional markets. In addition to focusing on widening applications, introducing new product portfolios, most food and beverage companies are planning to capture domestic and international markets. Fast pace recovery of developing economies leading to increased disposable income will support the Oilseeds Market demand between 2021 and 2027. Lockdowns across the globe in 2020 and continuing restrictions in 2021 disrupted the supply chain posing challenges for manufactures in the Oilseeds Market. Intense competition, pricing issues, and shifting consumer preferences will continue to put pressure on vendors' profit margins. Short-term and long-term trends affecting the market landscape are included in the research. Further, market drivers, restraints, and potential opportunities are also provided in the report. The Oilseeds report computes the 2020 market value in revenue terms based on the average Oilseeds prices and sales/revenue models of key companies operating in the Oilseeds Market Industry. The study forecasts the market size to 2027 for different types of Oilseeds and provides respective market share and growth rates. The study discusses technological innovations and the potential shift in demand among various products in the Oilseeds Market, over the forecast period. The leading five companies in the Oilseeds Market Industry together with their products, key strategies, and comparisons are provided. The Oilseeds Market size, share, and outlook across different types and applications are provided at geographic levels of North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East Africa, South and Central America. Further, country-level Oilseeds Market value is also provided. All recent developments in Oilseeds Market Industry including mergers, acquisitions, contract awards, licenses, product launches, and expansion plans are included in the report. Base Year - 2020; Forecast period: 2021 - 2027 Publication frequency - Every six months Research Methodology - Data triangulation with top-down and Bottom-up approach are used for market size Scope of the Report Global Oilseeds Market Industry size, 2020-2027 Market trends, drivers, restraints, and opportunities Porter's Five forces analysis Types of Oilseeds, 2020-2027 Oilseeds applications and end-user verticals market size, 2020-2027 Oilseeds Market size across countries, 2020-2027 5 leading companies in the industry - overview, key strategies, financials, and products Latest market news and developments Key Topics Covered: 1. Table of Contents 2. Oilseeds Market Latest Trends, Drivers and Challenges, 2020 -2027 2.1 Oilseeds Market Overview 2.2 Post COVID Strategies of Leading Oilseeds Companies 2.3 Oilseeds Market Insights, 2021-2027 2.3.1 Leading Oilseeds types, 2021-2027 2.3.2 Leading Oilseeds End-User industries, 2021-2027 2.3.3 Fast-Growing countries for Oilseeds sales, 2021-2027 2.4 Oilseeds Market Drivers and Restraints 2.4.1 Oilseeds Demand Drivers to 2027 2.4.2 Oilseeds Challenges to 2027 2.5 Oilseeds Market-Five Forces Analysis 2.5.1 Oilseeds Industry Attractiveness Index, 2020 2.5.2 Threat of New Entrants 2.5.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 2.5.4 Bargaining Power of Buyers 2.5.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 2.5.6 Threat of Substitutes 3. Global Oilseeds Market Value, Market Share, and Forecast to 2027 3.1 Global Oilseeds Market Overview, 2020 3.2 Global Oilseeds Market Revenue and Forecast, 2021-2027 (US$ Million) 3.3 Global Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Type, 2021-2027 3.4 Global Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by End-User, 2021-2027 3.5 Global Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Region, 2021-2027 4. Asia Pacific Oilseeds Market Value, Market Share and Forecast to 2027 4.1 Asia Pacific Oilseeds Market Overview, 2020 4.2 Asia Pacific Oilseeds Market Revenue and Forecast, 2021-2027 (US$ Million) 4.3 Asia Pacific Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Type, 2021-2027 4.4 Asia Pacific Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by End-User, 2021-2027 4.5 Asia Pacific Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Country, 2021-2027 4.6 Key Companies in Asia Pacific Oilseeds Market 5. Europe Oilseeds Market Value, Market Share, and Forecast to 2027 5.1 Europe Oilseeds Market Overview, 2020 5.2 Europe Oilseeds Market Revenue and Forecast, 2021-2027 (US$ Million) 5.3 Europe Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Type, 2021-2027 5.4 Europe Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by End-User, 2021-2027 5.5 Europe Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Country, 2021-2027 5.6 Key Companies in Europe Oilseeds Market 6. North America Oilseeds Market Value, Market Share and Forecast to 2027 6.1 North America Oilseeds Market Overview, 2020 6.2 North America Oilseeds Market Revenue and Forecast, 2021-2027 (US$ Million) 6.3 North America Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Type, 2021-2027 6.4 North America Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by End-User, 2021-2027 6.5 North America Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Country, 2021-2027 6.6 Key Companies in North America Oilseeds Market 7. South and Central America Oilseeds Market Value, Market Share and Forecast to 2027 7.1 South and Central America Oilseeds Market Overview, 2020 7.2 South and Central America Oilseeds Market Revenue and Forecast, 2021-2027 (US$ Million) 7.3 South and Central America Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Type, 2021-2027 7.4 South and Central America Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by End-User, 2021-2027 7.5 South and Central America Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Country, 2021-2027 7.6 Key Companies in South and Central America Oilseeds Market 8. Middle East Africa Oilseeds Market Value, Market Share and Forecast to 2027 8.1 Middle East Africa Oilseeds Market Overview, 2020 8.2 Middle East and Africa Oilseeds Market Revenue and Forecast, 2021-2027 (US$ Million) 8.3 Middle East Africa Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Type, 2021-2027 8.4 Middle East Africa Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by End-User, 2021-2027 8.5 Middle East Africa Oilseeds Market Size and Share Outlook by Country, 2021-2027 8.6 Key Companies in Middle East Africa Oilseeds Market 9. Oilseeds Market Structure 9.1 Key Players 9.2 Oilseeds Companies - Key Strategies and Financial Analysis 9.2.1 Snapshot 9.2.2 Business Description 9.2.3 Products and Services 9.2.4 Financial Analysis 10. Oilseeds Industry Recent Developments 11 Appendix 11.1 Publisher Expertise 11.2 Research Methodology 11.3 Annual Subscription Plans 11.4 Contact Information For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8zc2gd Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Ex-Amba General Goddy (left) & Meme SDO Ntou'ou Ndong Tamfu Elangwe Godwin Motoko alias General Goddy has responded to Minister Atanga Njis epistle calling on armed separatists to drop their weapons and abandon the dangerous adventure. The repentant fighter was lord over Bole, Kombone Mission, Kwa Kwa, Nake, and other enclave localities in Meme Division of Cameroons South West Region. A smile-filled Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Meme Division, Chamberlain Ntouou Ndong received General Goddy on March 2, 2021, at his office in Kumba. The SDO urged other separatist fighters to copy the example of General Goddy and drop their weapons. He hailed the repentant separatist fighter for heeding Territorial Administration Minister Atanga Njis call for separatists to willingly drop their arms in their own interest. Dont wait for the military to come looking for you. The government is helping you to lay down your arms, Atanga Nji said in a message to armed fighters. "If you are afraid to hand your weapons at the Divisional Officer's office or to gendarmes, police, and/or soldiers, go to the bishops, priests, pastors, or traditional rulers. Take the guns to them and they will facilitate your movement to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, DDR, centres, said Atanga Nji. If you are in a group, and are afraid, take your weapons with you, raise a white handkerchief in your left hands and a peace plant in your right hands to show that you have surrendered. Cameroon has a very professional army. When they see you coming with hands raised, they will protect you and take you to the DDR centre as instructed by President Paul Biya, the minister furthered. Chief Ivens Nofuruh of Nake Bokoko is credited for convincing General Goddy to drop down his weapons. A visibly happy GeneralGoddy did not spare the opportunity to exchange pleasantries and souvenir photos with the Meme SDO. The repentant fighter promised to walk in the path of righteousness and lead efforts to disarm his former peers. Activists familiar with the Ambazonia separatist movement say 'General' Goddy was part of those who started the armed rebellion in Meme Division. He was reportedly part of the first batch of separatist fighters recruited in 2017 and given training by some outlaws in Nigeria in July 2017. General Goddy allegedly championed atrocities and human rights abuses. 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. From: Expert Click Radio -- Radio Interview Service For Immediate Release: Dateline: Georgetown , DC Wednesday, March 3, 2021 published on 2021-02-26T20:33:25Z Kevin Schewe, Author of 'Bad Love Tigers,' Interviewed by Mark Bishop on Tucson Business RadioX: During this interview with Mark Bishop Kevin Schewe talks about the origins of the 'Bad Love Gang' series of historical sci-fi books and the story of the 'Bad Love Tigers,' which is the second installment. Bishop starts off the interview noting that Bad Love Tigers is a bestseller in multiple categories on Amazon and later on mentions one of the key features of the book, the popular songs which populate and enhance the story.Readers of all ages will love Bad Love Tigers, which also contains a soundtrack to guide you on your journey. And the best part? The historical facts are real. Schewe, a lifelong WWII aficionado, has spent years researching his topics, including the very old and famous hotels that the kids stay in along the way.In the first book, the Bad Love Gang discovers The White Hole project, a backup plan time-travel ma-chine created by Roosevelt in case America lost the race to be the first with the atomic bomb. In this exciting sequel, they use it to travel back to 1945 to thwart Russian spies and protect the secrets of Area 51, before heading to China to volunteer with the AVG Flying Tigers under General Claire Chen-nault.Schewe, who has a background in physics, has always loved stories about time travel. He has been fascinated by the story of the AVG Flying Tigers since he was seven years old and sick with asthma. The story of the Flying Tigers was one of the first history books he read. Mixing fiction with solid historical facts and interesting anecdotes such as the formation of Oak Ridge, TN, historical stories of some of Americas most famous hotels, the dawn of the atomic age, and mingling with the likes of President Roosevelt, Schewe offers up an entertaining history lesson. And because he always had a soundtrack playing in his head, he adds a list of music to listen along to on your reading adventure.Whether youre a history buff, a time-travel buff, or just in need of a fun book that will leave you happy, Bad Love Tigers is the adventure youve been waiting for. Grab your copy today! Genre Entertainment License: cc-by-nc-sa Listen Now! Open the Expert Radio SoundCloud Channel Here: https://soundcloud.com/expertclickradio Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 23:37:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - YANGON -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Myanmar has increased to 142,000 as of Thursday, according to a release from the Ministry of Health and Sports. A total of 16 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in the country on Thursday. - - - - MUSCAT -- The Omani health ministry on Thursday announced 369 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 142,896, the official Oman News Agency reported. Meanwhile, 353 people recovered during the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries to 133,491, while no new death was reported, keeping the tally at 1,583, according to a ministry statement quoted by ONA. - - - - COPENHAGEN -- As COVID-19 transmission rates once again begin to rise across the European region, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge on Thursday urged the region to return to basics when dealing with the pandemic. As new cases of COVID-19 in Europe rose 9 percent to just above one million, it brought to an end a six-week decline in new cases and the stark realization that variants were making significant headway in the region, Kluge said during a virtual press conference here. - - - - CAIRO -- Egypt started on Thursday vaccinating elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against COVID-19, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centers to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shots of the anti-coronavirus vaccine. Enditem Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise The U.S. State Department has expressed "deep concern" about what it calls Russian government efforts "to clamp down on the exercise of freedom of expression." The March 3 statement from State Department spokesman Ned Price came the same day that a Moscow judge rejected five appeals by U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty against fines imposed on the company under Russia's controversial "foreign agent" law. "We are concerned by today's denial of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's appeals of fines unjustly imposed under Russia's repressive foreign-agent-registration laws," Price said. "These laws are a further transparent effort to impede the work of RFE/RL outlets, which are already severely limited in their ability to broadcast on television and radio in Russia and to prevent them from bringing real and objective news to the Russian people." Price called Moscow's actions "unacceptable" and added, "We will continue to support the presence of independent and international media outlets in Russia." Judge Aleksei Krivoruchko of the Tverskoi district court on March 3 confirmed fines imposed on RFE/RL for failing to mark written and broadcast materials in accordance with regulations set by the state media-monitoring agency Roskomnadzor. A lower court imposed the fines on February 10. "RFE/RL rejects the imposition of these fines and does not accept the Russian court's decision to strike down our appeal of them," RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said in response to the rulings. "We consider Russian Internet regulator Roskomnadzor's self-labeling regulations -- in fact, orders to deface our content platforms and intimidate our audiences -- to be a state-sponsored assault on media freedom that violates the Russian Constitution and Russia's media law," he said, adding that "RFE/RL will continue to object, protest, and appeal these requirements." Despite ongoing appeals in more cases on the issue, RFE/RL now has 60 days to pay the fines and come into compliance with the regulations or face the potential closure of its operations inside Russia. It can also further appeal the March 3 decision. "RFE/RL will not abandon our growing audience in Russia, who continue to engage with our objective and independent journalism despite the Kremlin's pressure campaign," Fly said. "RFE/RL will not be deterred by these blatant attempts to influence our editorial independence and undermine our ability to reach our audience at a moment when the Russian people are demanding the truth," he added. Since January 14, Roskommnadzor has opened 260 cases against RFE/RL for violations of the labeling requirements. A Moscow court has already levied fines in 142 cases, with the total fines approaching a value of nearly $1 million. Russia's so-called "foreign agent" legislation was adopted in 2012 and has been modified repeatedly. It requires nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign assistance and that the government deems to be engaged in political activity to be registered, to identify themselves as "foreign agents," and to submit to audits. Later modifications targeted foreign-funded media. In 2017, the Russian government placed RFE/RL's Russian Service on the list, along with six other RFE/RL Russian-language news services, and Current Time, a network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. At the end of 2020, the legislation was modified to allow the Russian government to include individuals, including foreign journalists, on its "foreign agent" list and to impose restrictions on them. In December 2020, Russia added five individuals to its "foreign agent" list, including three contributors to RFE/RL's Russian Service. All five are appealing their inclusion on the list. Roskomnadzor last year adopted rules requiring listed media to mark all written materials with a lengthy notice in large text, all radio materials with an audio statement, and all video materials with a 15-second text declaration. Human Rights Watch has described the "foreign agent" legislation as "restrictive" and intended "to demonize independent groups." [March 04, 2021] C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute Announces Shell as New Industry Partner The C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute ( DTI (News - Alert) ) today announced that global energy company Shell is the newest industry partner to join the consortium of universities, national laboratories, and companies that make up the Institute. Shell's Chief Scientist - Computation and Data Science Detlef Hohl will represent the company in the consortium. The DTI Industry Partner Program enables leading companies from around the world to engage with DTI researchers and activities and to contribute data sets that will be available for research after anonymization. Industry partners also are encouraged to engage with Institute researchers and collaborate on research projects as well as participate in DTI conferences. DTI recently released its second call for proposals to fund advanced research projects focused on applying digital transformation and AI to address energy and climate security. "Shell has established clear leadership in new energy, having laid out its 'Powering Progress' commitment to accelerate the transition of Shell's businesses to net zero emissions," said Tom Siebel, C3 (News - Alert) AI founder and CEO. "Shell will be an important partner as DTI accelerates its clean energy and climate initiatives." "At Shell, we have a long history in the area of Data Science. AI has made phenomenal progress in the past decade and will undoubtedly be one of the driving forces behind enabling the transition to a lower-carbon world, but we recognise that we cannot solve these isues on our own," said Detlef Hohl. "We believe that partnerships between industry, technology companies, and academia are vital to accelerating the impact that AI can have in the energy sector. We are pleased to become a part of the renowned C3DTI and to play our part in accelerating the benefits of artificial intelligence across business, government, and society." "We welcome Shell to the C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute and look forward to working together to apply digital transformation science to advance its innovative and ambitious energy transition goals," said S. Shankar Sastry, C3.ai DTI co-director and the Thomas M. Siebel Professor in Computer Science at UC Berkeley. "Shell and Microsoft (News - Alert) are committed to working closely together to achieve a net-zero emissions future," said Judson Althoff, executive vice president, Worldwide Commercial Business, Microsoft. "Shell will be an impactful new leader in the C3.ai DTI energy and climate initiatives." About C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute Established in March 2020 by C3 AI, Microsoft, and leading universities, the C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute is a research consortium dedicated to accelerating the benefits of artificial intelligence for business, government, and society. The Institute engages the world's leading scientists to conduct research and train practitioners in the new Science of Digital Transformation, which operates at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, internet of things, big data analytics, organizational behavior, public policy, and ethics. The ten C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute consortium member universities and laboratories are: University of California, Berkeley, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Carnegie Mellon University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National Center for Supercomputing Applications at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Princeton University, Stanford University, and University of Chicago. Additional industry partners include AstraZeneca and Baker Hughes (News - Alert) . To support the Institute, C3 AI is providing the Institute $57,250,000 in cash contributions over the first five years of operation. C3 AI and Microsoft will contribute an additional $310 million of in-kind support, including use of the C3 AI Suite and Microsoft Azure computing, storage, and technical resources to support C3.ai DTI research. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005818/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Europe's drug regulator launched a rolling review of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, putting it on course to be the first non-Western jab used across the 27-nation EU. Russia quickly said it was ready to provide jabs for 50 million Europeans as soon as the shot gets the green light from the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA). Moscow has pushed Europe to follow the lead of dozens of countries around the world that have approved Sputnik, but Brussels has been wary the Kremlin will use the vaccine as a soft-power tool. "EMA has started a rolling review of Sputnik V, a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia's Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology," the EMA said in a statement. Sputnik can only apply for formal authorisation when "enough evidence is available", it said, adding that it would "assess Sputnik V's compliance with the usual EU standards for effectiveness, safety and quality." The EU has so far authorised three vaccines: the US-German Pfizer/BioNTech jab, US firm Moderna's shot, and the British-Swedish AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. It is set to decide on the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine on March 11, while jabs by Novavax and CureVac are also under rolling review. 'Major step' The EMA's announcement came as Brussels faces criticism for a slow start to its mass vaccination rollout after it was held back by supply problems. Russia and the EMA have sparred in recent weeks over what the developers allege are delays in starting the rolling review. Sputnik's developers said Thursday it was a "major step for (the) vaccine's approval for use in the EU." "Following EMA approval, we would be able to provide vaccines for 50 million Europeans starting from June 2021," Kirill Dmitriyev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which developed Sputnik, said in a statement. Several EU member states including Germany and Spain have said recently they would be interested in Sputnik V if it was approved, while Hungary registered it on its own. However the European Commission said it had no plans yet to include Sputnik in the vaccines it has made deals to buy. "Currently, no talks are ongoing to integrate the Sputnik vaccine in the portfolio," a commission spokesman told a daily briefing in Brussels. Concerns were initially raised about Sputnik after a fast-track procedure that saw it approved for use in Russia last August and deployed in December ahead of large-scale clinical trials. Fast-track procedure The EU has also been cautious of using vaccines that could give Moscow or Beijing geopolitical influence. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in February that she wondered why Moscow was so keen to offer millions of doses to the EU "while not sufficiently progressing in vaccinating their own people". But pressure has grown since The Lancet medical journal published results in February showing Sputnik V to be 91.6 percent effective. The RDIF, which helped finance the development of Sputnik V, said Thursday that 42 countries have registered the vaccine. President Vladimir Putin meanwhile said Thursday that Russia had vaccinated two million people with Sputnik. A decision on possible approval for Sputnik should "take less time than normal" due to work already done during the rolling review, the EMA said. It has taken between two and four months for other COVID vaccines to move from rolling review to EU authorisation. One further hurdle could be the insistence of EU officials that Sputnik production sites outside the bloc would need to be inspected. Sputnik's developers said on Twitter that "we look forward to welcoming EMA inspectors at the Sputnik V facilities". Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP The vast continent of Australia is home to some of the most beautiful plants and animals on the planet. Many have developed in beautiful geological solitude and are located nowhere else on the planet. Unfortunately, according to the IUCN, Australia has 96 critically endangered animal species. We'll be profiling each of them in the coming months, looking at the risks to their survival, what's been done to protect them, and what else needs to be done. The highest vulnerability rating that can be applied to a wild species is "critically endangered" (lower categories are "endangered" and "vulnerable"). These animals are either on the verge of extinction, or their numbers have declined (or may decrease) by 80% in three decades. Any of these animals may be extinct already. According to The Guardian, Australia now has 34 extinct mammals on the registry, making it the "world's capital for mammal extinction." Related Article: Mass Extinction Hits Australia With The Death of 13 Species Here are five of the most critically endangered mammal species in Australia: Brush-tailed Bettong Brush-tailed bettongs (Woylie), also known as brush-tailed rat kangaroos or woylies, are small bipedal marsupials endemic to Australia that are critically endangered. They have prehensile tails and can dig very deep. The Woylie is a Bettong genus that has been eradicated from almost all its historical distribution in the last 150 years. In south-west Western Australia, remnant populations still exist. The species initially replied favorably to widespread fox surveillance, but residual numbers have plummeted from around 200,000 to less than 15,000 cats, owing to cat predation in the last two decades. Mountain Pygmy Possum The mountain pygmy possum has been classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Redlist since 2008, and it is still listed as such as of February 2019. In 2000, population figures for the three isolated populations totaled fewer than 2000 people. Pygmy possums are only active at night. They eat nectar and pollen from eucalypts, banksias, and bottlebrushes at night. These plants depend on them for pollination. They also consume berries, nuts, and insects while flowers are scarce. Kangaroo Island Dunnart In January 2020's Ravine burn, which decimated nearly half of Kangaroo Island Dunnart's ecosystem, 90% of the adorable but carnivorous Kangaroo Island Dunnart's habitat was lost. The Kangaroo Island dunnart is a small marsupial with a slender, pointed nose and large, square-shaped ears that is dark grey in color. Adults can reach a length of 80-90 mm and weigh up to 25 g. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the Kangaroo Island dunnart as critically endangered. Both the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 classify it as endangered. There are estimated to be less than 500 KI dunnarts left. Northern hairy-nosed wombat The yaminon or northern hairy-nosed wombat is one of three extant wombat species. It is critically endangered and one of the world's rarest ground mammals. Its historical coverage once stretched through New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, but it is now confined to only one location. Northern hairy-nosed wombats have smooth, grey fur on their skins, but the fur on their noses distinguishes them from common wombats. They have a much wider muzzle and taller, more pointed ears than the other two animals. Carpentarian Rock Rat The Carpentarian rock-rat is a medium-sized rock-rat with a fattened tail base (average weight 120 g). The tail is usually longer than the head-body length, but it is always cut off, resulting in a stub. It has brown fur on top and pale white fur on the bottom. The tops of the feet are dark. These rock rats are exclusively found in a small area in Australia, making the conservation efforts even harder. ALSO READ: 5 Endangered Animals that Won the Battle Against Extinction For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise FORTY FORT The Posh Pretzel changing location Although the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on some small businesses, Alle Brooke Stefanides has seen success and is about to expand. Stefanides, 23, opened The Posh Pretzel to sell hand-crafted, chocolate-drizzled pretzels and chocolate confections over the summer. She now is moving into a larger location about three times the size. She plans to move from her current store on Wyoming Avenue next to the Forty Fort borough building to a space in 900 Rutter Ave., Forty Fort. A grand reopening is planned 10 a.m. Saturday. Although we are going through the pandemic, its just been really crazy busy and Im really thankful for all the business from my repeat customers and we met a lot of new people, Stefanides said. We needed a larger space to keep up with all the chocolate were doing. Stefanides said one of the most popular sellers at The Posh Pretzel is a caramel pretzel called the Tuzinski twist named after Forty Fort Mayor Andy Tuzinski. Tuzinski said he encouraged Stefanides to open the business in Forty Fort and he is honored that she named a pretzel after him. Since many people love caramel, the pretzels popularity is a reflection on the ingredients, not on the name, he said. As mayor, I am very proud of a young resident trying something new and sticking with it and Im very happy for her success, Tuzinski said. Other items Stefanides sells are named after Forty Fort streets. In addition to pretzels with a variety of flavors, she sells other chocolate confections including chocolate-covered apples, chips, nuts, popcorn and cookies from other small businesses as well as gift trays and gift bags. Stefanides, who graduated from Misericordia University with a degree in elementary childhood education and special education in 2019, is a fourth grade teacher at Good Shepherd Academy in Kingston. Her mother, family and friends help her with the business and she is there every day after she teaches. The new location will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. DENISE ALLABAUGH The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has singled out a "growing rivalry with China, Russia, and other authoritarian states" as a key challenge facing the United States. A White House document outlining Biden's national-security policies, made public on March 3, describes China, the world's second-largest economic power, as "the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system." The 24-page document also warns that Russia "remains determined to enhance its global influence and play a disruptive role on the world stage." Meanwhile, Iran and North Korea are pursuing "game-changing capabilities and technologies, while threatening U.S. allies and partners and challenging regional stability." Both Beijing and Moscow "have invested heavily in efforts meant to check U.S. strengths and prevent us from defending our interests and allies around the world," according to the document, titled Interim National Security Strategic Guidance. It says that in the face of challenges from "an increasingly assertive China and destabilizing Russia," the U.S. military would shift its emphasis away from "unneeded legacy platforms and weapons systems to free up resources for investments" in cutting-edge technologies. After four years of former President Donald Trump's "America first" approach, Biden has vowed to confront "authoritarianism" in China and Russia while reengaging with allies and centering multilateral diplomacy. Washington and Beijing are at odds over influence in the Indo-Pacific region, China's economic practices, and human rights in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region. Moscow's relations with Washington are at post-Cold War lows, strained by issues including the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, Russia's alleged meddling in elections in the United States and other democracies, and the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny. In a foreign-policy speech at the State Department, Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the U.S. relationship with China as "the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century," while several other countries also represent "serious challenges" for the United States, including Russia, Iran, and North Korea. "Our relationship with China will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be, and adversarial when it must be," Blinken said. The United States needs to "engage China from a position of strength," which requires working with allies and partners, engaging in diplomacy and in international organizations, "because where we have pulled back, China has filled in," and "standing up for our values when human rights are abused in Xinjiang or when democracy is trampled in Hong Kong." "The partnership with The Home Depot is an excellent fit with the Murray values and focus," says Gray Abercrombie, Vice President of Marketing, Daye North America. "The Home Depot's commitment to their customers aligns with our goal of delivering high-value mowers to simplify busy lifestyles. Or as our retail partner says, it's 'How Doers Get More Done'." The new Murray mowers offer features that help homeowners be more productive with their lawn care, while also gaining a quality cut. Each mower includes a durable steel deck, along with other model-specific features. Additionally, each mower features the reliable, world-leading power of Briggs & Stratton small engines to help get the job done. The Murray 152506 21-inch push mower (Retail: $169 ) features an E450 series gas engine with a Prime 'N Pull starting system for easy starts using only modest strength. A side discharge chute prevents buildup of grass clippings under the deck and evenly disperses them onto the top of the lawn. The addition of a four-point height adjust makes it easy to tackle mowing of various grass heights. 21-inch push mower features an E450 series gas engine with a Prime 'N Pull starting system for easy starts using only modest strength. A side discharge chute prevents buildup of grass clippings under the deck and evenly disperses them onto the top of the lawn. The addition of a four-point height adjust makes it easy to tackle mowing of various grass heights. The Murray 152702 and Murray 152703 models are both 21-inch 2-in-1 push mowers featuring high rear wheels for better maneuverability and stability over uneven ground, and two-point height adjustment to accommodate for different grass lengths. The 2702 mower (Retail: $199 ) features an E500 series gas engine, Prime 'N Pull starting and a mulch and side discharge that helps minimize visible grass clippings on the lawn and provide it with nutrients. The 2703 mower (Retail: $229 ) has an EX550 series, ReadyStart engine that doesn't require priming or a choke, for quick, easy starts, and it includes mulch and bag discharge to save time, reduce fertilizer needs and support composting. and models are both 21-inch 2-in-1 push mowers featuring high rear wheels for better maneuverability and stability over uneven ground, and two-point height adjustment to accommodate for different grass lengths. The 2702 mower features an E500 series gas engine, Prime 'N Pull starting and a mulch and side discharge that helps minimize visible grass clippings on the lawn and provide it with nutrients. The 2703 mower has an EX550 series, ReadyStart engine that doesn't require priming or a choke, for quick, easy starts, and it includes mulch and bag discharge to save time, reduce fertilizer needs and support composting. The Murray 153003 22-inch front-wheel drive 2-in-1 self-propelled mower (Retail: $279 ) features front-wheel drive to save homeowners time and energy, along with a powerful E550 gas engine and Prime 'N Pull starting to provide easy, reliable operation. A two-point height adjustment and wide 22-inch cut speed mowing, even with taller grass and like the 2703 model, this mower includes mulch and bag discharge. The Murray 3003 also features a deck wash port to simplify cleaning the deck free of grass clippings and dirt. The Murray 2702, 2506 and 3003 mowers each feature a single piece folding handle for compact storage. The new line of mowers is available online at homedepot.com and in select stores this spring. To learn more about Daye North America, visit DayePower.com . About Daye North America Daye North America is an industry leader in development of innovative, high quality and easy to use outdoor power equipment, including gas-powered and battery-powered lawn mowers. Daye has built manufacturing partnerships with a number of established brands, including Husqvarna, Briggs & Stratton and Murray and serves retail partners across the US, Europe and Asia. ### SOURCE Briggs & Stratton; Daye North America Related Links http://www.dayepower.com/ WATERVLIET Ive written repeatedly about what a redesigned Interstate 787 could mean for Albany. Additional parkland. New development that would benefit the tax base. A higher quality of life (and a more appealing downtown) driven by new opportunities for riverside recreation. But Albany is not the only city negatively impacted by 787. In fact, I'd argue the highway has had more substantial repercussions for Watervliet, the city's Port Schuyler section especially. Churchill: 787, a highway only a pessimist could love Churchill: Mr. Biden, tear down this highway! Remove I-787? Fahy wants a feasibility study Watervliet, as its name suggests, exists in no small part because of the Hudson. Yet decades ago the Watervliet section of the highway opened in 1973 the city was divided from the water and left with hardly any access to it. "If you drive through Watervliet today, you might not even know the river is there," said Jessica Sheridan, 32, who grew up in Port Schuyler, south of the Watervliet Arsenal, and continues to live there. Coming to an inbox near you Our writers share more about the topics they cover in our newsletters. Churchill's Corner: Chris Churchill goes in depth on his latest columns, and shares what readers are saying. Sign up here. Editor's Note (subscribers only): Editor Casey Seiler shares the story behind our biggest stories of the week. Sign up here. Click here for a complete list of newsletter offerings. Her grandparents, in fact, rescued a house that was to be demolished for the highway and moved it to Fourth Street. Its still in Sheridan's family. But hundreds of other homes and businesses in the highways path werent so fortunate. The demolitions left a scar on Watervliet that hasnt healed. Today, Watervliet has just two access points to the water. One is a small tunnel under the highway that leads to a waterfront bike trail; the other is at Hudson Shores Park, which is isolated from the city by the highway and its ramps. From a modern perspective, its difficult to believe that we built highways in such a destructive way that we so willingly cut neighborhoods off from potential assets, that we so casually harmed cities that took generations to build. But that doesnt mean we have to live with those mistakes forever. Cities around the country have been remaking waterfront highways to improve life in urban neighborhoods. And with the Biden administration promising to spend significantly on infrastructure projects, more waterfront highways are likely to come down. So why cant 787? Why cant Watervliet (and, of course, Albany) correct a mistake, just as other cities have done? In Albany, 787s spiraling ramps waste acres of valuable land, making it obvious what a better version of the highway could mean. In Watervliet, though, the highways footprint is more modest and often hugs the river. Yet there are areas, such as east of the Arsenal, where 787 could be merged with existing roadways to create a boulevard and parkland. Everywhere in the city, scaling back the highway could reduce its impact. The concept isnt entirely new in Watervliet. The highways noisy impact has long been a concern, which is why the city's comprehensive plan, approved in 2010, floats the idea of burying 787 or placing decks over it. More modest proposals in the comprehensive plan call for a lower 787 speed limit and better access to the water. Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli, a Democrat, said those remain important goals as the city of 10,000 works to lure new residents and keep long-time ones. And, Patricelli noted, Watervliet residents dont have to travel far to see the benefits of remade waterfronts. In neighboring Green Island, for example, the $6o million Starbuck Island redevelopment, planned to include stores and a marina, is expected to increase the villages population by 10 percent. And waterfront complexes have made nearby Cohoes one of New Yorks fastest-growing cities. Cohoes, in response to pedestrian deaths, also turned its portion of 787 into a boulevard with slower-moving traffic a change that could be a model for the Watervliet section of the highway. Sheridan, who works in community relations for Redburn Development, is among those who would love to see it, believing better access to the water would bring new attention to Port Schuyler. Its not hard to imagine, given that Port Schuyler is the kind of walkable neighborhood, peppered with long-standing businesses, with appeal to the growing number of people who find suburbia sterile. A accessible riverfront would only enhance that appeal. Lets take a quick foray into the future. Lets imagine its a hot summer night and were getting ice cream at Macs Drive-In, the iconic stand on Third Avenue in Port Schuyler. We get our cones and walk two blocks to the east. There, at a place where Interstate 787 was once an ugly barrier, we cross the newly built boulevard, find ourselves at newly created parkland and sit by the river to enjoy the view. Doesnt that sound nice? cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill A Palestinian human rights group has accused the Palestinian Authority of giving COVID-19 vaccine doses to their friends and family instead of frontline workers and those in most need. The Independent Commission for Human Rights wrote to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Wednesday. In the letter, the Ramallah-based human rights group alleged that Palestinian authorities have been administering the vaccines based on personal relationships as opposed to medical reasons. The commission said it had documented cases where the vaccine was administered based on mediation and personal relationships, without a justified medical priority, saying it had monitored cases of officials assisting their relatives in obtaining the vaccine, without any medical justifications that would give them this priority. The group asked the prime minister to publish a regularly updated plan to tell citizens about the vaccine distribution mechanism and outlining the current prioritizing criteria so people can know who will be vaccinated and when. Sick people, the elderly and health workers should be given first priority, the commission said. The Palestinian Authority began vaccinating people in the West Bank in early February after receiving 5,000 vaccine doses from Israel. The authority also acquired 10,000 doses of Russias Sputnik V vaccine last month. This shipment was flown to Israel and then transported to the West Bank, but was otherwise obtained independently of Israel. When Israel handed over vaccine doses to the authority, Palestinian officials said they would first go to health workers. Israel, which has the fastest vaccine rollout in the world, has received significant criticism internationally for the relatively slow vaccination process in the Palestinian territories. The letter from the Independent Commission for Human Rights is an example of the Palestinian Authority likewise receiving scrutiny for the vaccine campaign in Palestine. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported 2,017 new coronavirus cases Wednesday. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. When a then 7-year-old Rangesh Vel joined a kidpreneur course based on his parents suggestion, little did he know that in three months he would launch his first venture. My parents asked me to join the course and told me that after a while if I didnt like it, I could quit, recalls the now 10-year-old Rangesh. I met many people through the course and we discussed ideas. I started thinking of problems and solutions. At that time, I had noticed lots of trees being uprooted and I was looking for an effective solution. Thats how I thought of seed balls. Today, Rangesh runs a company called Life Seedz, which sells seed balls. Seed balls are nothing but mud balls with a seed in them and it helps trees grow faster. In two to three months, we thought of a name of the company and a tagline, and designed a logo with the help of our mentors, he says. So far, Life Seedz has created and sold close to 2,500 seed balls. I am saving up money as I want to hire a helicopter and use it to scatter the seed balls. I am also learning AI programming so that we can use drones to identify areas where seeds can germinate. I am also planning a new idea where on someones birthday, they can contribute to Life Seedz, and we will plant trees on their behalf, says a clearly excited Rangesh. Training them young The course that Rangesh enrolled in was conducted by a company called Kidspreneur, started by Mohanalakshmi and her husband in 2017. When I was growing up, I hated the education system, shares Mohanalakshmi, talking about what prompted her to start Kidspreneur. I realised that your study is most often not related to your work. I believe gaining practical knowledge is what makes the difference. Kidspreneur trains kids from seven to eighteen years in entrepreneurship skills in science, technology, math, arts and more. We have partnered with 320 schools across Asia and have trained about 15,000 students. Outside school partnerships, weve given in-person training to 5,000 to 8,000 students, she states, adding that once they help kids find an idea and give shape to their idea, they help them get investors who help turn their idea into a venture. Today, many organisations have entered the market of creating kidpreneurs, finding several takers among parents. Mahalakshmi Saravanan, who successfully runs Women Entrepreneurs India, started Kidpreneurs India, inspired by her 5-year-old daughter. She is a good artist and I thought I could encourage other children through her. My daughter would create artworks and as she grew up she started designing jewellery as well. We sold her works and used the money to help pay the school fees of underprivileged kids, says Mahalakshmi. They soon started encouraging and mentoring other children too. We have done many workshops to understand the ideas that kids have and mentor them and give them a platform. We will soon have a structured curriculum and help a lot more kids, she says. Bornpreneurs, another such platform started by Anuj Tripathi, gives entrepreneurship training to kids eight years and above. Many kids want to become entrepreneurs but do not know what it entails. We have a programme that takes them through the different steps, helps them understand business, marketing, how to create business pitches and understand the whole process, he says. And it goes beyond entrepreneurship, insist the founders. Mohanalakshmi believes the course gives the students important life skills. Every kid has an entrepreneurial streak; we only help give it a platform. Besides, it improves their self-confidence and their creativity, she says. Mahalakshmi adds that it makes kids better decision makers. It gives them a lot of life skills. They actually become better, more responsible individuals, she says. Entrepreneurs speak While the organisations believe they are an important path for kids to become successful entrepreneurs, not all child entrepreneurs agree. For instance, Farrhad Acidwala, one of Indias most successful young entrepreneurs, started at the age of 13, by building an online community dedicated to aviation and aero-modelling. The now 27-year-old media entrepreneur, investor, three-time TEDx speaker, mentor and influencer feels that more than teaching entrepreneurship, it is important to develop curiosity in kids. Also, not every kid wants to be an entrepreneur. So, the most important thing is to develop curiosity in them. One shouldnt teach them what to learn, but how to learn, he says adding, If a course is extremely process-oriented, I would say stay away from it, but if it lets the kid be curious, give it a try. The most successful kidpreneurs I know were the ones who were sparked by passion and curiosity. As for the kidpreneur courses... considering the lack of depth in genuine reviews and results right now I feel it is ethically questionable to push this en-masse on 78-year-olds. Vinisha Umashankar, a 14-year-old from Tamil Nadu, who recently won the prestigious Childrens Climate Prize for her solar mobile ironing cart, believes an idea is important to drive a person to become an innovator, but such courses can definitely help to hone the idea. When I saw the amount of charcoal that was being dumped into sewers and landfills, it disturbed me. I also saw the fumes coming from the ironing carts and wondered how harmful it was, not only for those using it but also for the environment. This drove me to look for an effective solution, she says. I think the idea and path are both important. It depends on what drives you and what kind of start-up you want to build, says Vinisha, who is soon hoping to get a patent for her creation. Farrhad also believes that at the right time in their developmental cycle, we have to give our next generation the tools to think. We shouldnt be teaching them what to think. This isnt the industrial age where we need to create mass professionals. Now, more than ever, in the age of AI, we need creative and critical thinkers, he says. I, personally, do not see myself teaching entrepreneurship to pre-teens. It doesnt feel right. But training those in ages 16 to 24? Absolutely yes, if they are interested, Farrhad says, signing off. Policymakers and experts are expected to develop context-specific and action-oriented recommendations as to how Africa can recover from the coronavirus pandemic after the Aswan II Forum ends on 5 March. Through the so-called Aswan Conclusions, African, national, regional and continental stakeholders, together with global partners, are expected to join forces to ensure that the ramifications of the pandemic do not impede the achievement of the African Unions 2063 Agenda The Africa We Want. The Aswan Forum II was held this week under the theme Shaping Africas New Normal: Recovering Stronger, Rebuilding Better. The forums second edition was held virtually starting 1 March. The first was held in December 2019 in Aswan. In the keynote speech that he delivered in the opening session, Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri highlighted the importance of joint African action and diligent work to achieve peace and development in the continent. More importantly, he stressed the importance of finding ways to deal with the impact of Covid-19 on various fields and trying to find the required solutions to the unprecedented challenge in a way that realises the targets of the AUs 2063 Agenda and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The pandemic contributed to exacerbating the traditional challenges that Africa faces in the fields of peace and security. Thus, it is important to bolster African countries capabilities to face the present security challenges, topped by combating terrorism and foreign terrorists, Shoukri said in his address to the inaugural session. In his speech, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi highlighted that Egypt was keen to hold the second edition of the forum to use the momentum generated by the first edition and its successes. Driven by its faith, Egypt believes that the present time is optimum to discuss together the daunting challenges facing our continent to seek the best ways and mechanisms to shore up our common efforts to get over the pandemic and to rebuild better to take our continent to safety, he said. Al-Sisi described the activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) earlier this year as a good example of the success of our collective work. He said that besides the challenge of Covid-19, the continent was still suffering from the danger of armed conflicts and civil wars, as well as organized crime, the spread of weapons, illegal emigration and forced displacement. All these challenges require joint efforts to support the mechanism that stops and settles conflicts and enhances the continents abilities to face these challenges. Thus, he said, African and international solidarity is an urgent matter for humanity to overcome these challenges as well as that of the coronavirus. The current stage has brought new challenges, foremost of which is providing the necessary vaccine for our peoples. I would like to emphasise the necessity of providing such a vaccine in a more equitable and just manner in response to the demands of the peoples of our continent, he said. Al-Sisis speech was followed by addresses from several other African presidents, including those of Rwanda, Burundi, Tunisia, and South Sudan who agreed that the continent is passing through exceptional circumstances and that solidarity and joint work is the only way to deal with the challenge. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Musa Faki participated in the forum. Guterres called for a global vaccination plan that makes the coronavirus vaccines available and equally distributed. He also urged the international community to support the worlds most vulnerable people and countries by taking various measures, from strengthening health systems to providing debt relief. Pandemic recovery is also an opportunity to address the fragilities and inequalities that have been exposed by the pandemic, and to pursue a more inclusive and sustainable path that advances gender equality and safeguards the global environment, he said in his address to the opening session. Guterres concluded by praising the Africans efforts to advance the well-being of the continents people. The United Nations will continue to support Africas efforts across this agenda, including silencing the guns, Guterres said. Faki said that the pandemic revealed the dire need for African countries to build more resilient economies to face crises. He highlighted the need to work on establishing a new healthcare system and building health capacities to ensure proper healthcare to all Africans. The first days sessions of the forum were devoted to discussing the impact of the pandemic, ways to recover from it, how to strengthen sustainable peace and development, and the need for an integrated response to the growth of terrorism in the shadow of the pandemic. The AU theme for the forum is Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want. The issue was discussed in detail on the third day. Soft power was said to be likely to bring nations together in a way that helps them address challenges with enlightened thought that fits the culture and civilisation of the African nations. It also tackled other fields, including enhancing intra-African trade after the launch of the AfCFTA in January. The forum, which saw the participation of African leaders, senior officials and heads of governments, will end on Friday with the closing session Chartering Africas Way Forward: Recovering Stronger Rebuilding Better. The event is organised by the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Monster Beverage Corporation, an American firm run by Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg, is the top-performing company in the S&P 500 Index over the last 30 years. What is not common knowledge is that both Sacks and Schlosberg were born in South Africa and attended the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Sacks was born in South Africa in 1949 into a Lithuanian-Jewish family. His father was Johannesburg businessman Wolfe Harry Sacks. He graduated from Wits with a law degree and a postgraduate higher diploma in tax law. He joined the countrys largest corporate law firm, Werksmans, where he became the youngest partner the firm has ever had. After two decades at Werksmans, in 1989, Sacks left the law firm and emigrated to California with his family. A year later, he partnered with fellow Wits graduate Hilton Schlosberg to acquire Hansen Natural Corporation for $1.71 million and the assumption of $12 million in debt. Since the acquisition in 1990, Sacks has been chairman and CEO of Hansen Natural Corporation while Schlosberg serves as President and COO. Their big break came in 2002, when they launched Monster Energy. Within ten years they increased revenue to $2 billion. So successful was Monster Energy that the Hansen Natural Corporation changed its name to Monster Beverage Corporation in 2012. What makes Monster Beverage Corporation stand out, apart from its energy drinks, is its stellar financial performance. A recent analysis by Charlie Bilello, CEO of Compound Capital Advisors, showed that Monster Beverage Corporation was the best-performing company in the S&P 500 Index over the last 30 years. The company provided a total return of 295,805% to shareholders since 1995, outperforming tech giants like Amazon, Netflix, Apple, and Microsoft. With a 35% share in the $31.9 billion global energy drink market, Monster Beverage Corporation remains a popular choice among investors. This growth also made Sacks and Schlosberg billionaires and gave them the title of the worlds best value creators. The table below shows the top-performing stocks in the S&P 500 Index over the last 30 years, with Monster Beverage Corporation leading the pack. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 22:44:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese firm has commenced the construction of two factories for the production of ceramic tiles and baby diapers in Zambia. Sunda Group is constructing the two factories at the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Zone, with 100 million U.S. dollars to be invested in the ceramic tile factory while 10 million dollars will go towards the baby diaper production factory. This came to light when the Zambia Consulate-General in Guangzhou held a meeting with a delegation from the company led by Vice-President Daniel Wang, according to a release from the consulate on Thursday. The factory to produce ceramic tiles under the brand name Twyford is expected to commence production in April this year while the baby diaper factory will begin production in June this year under the name Software. Wang said during the meeting that the investment was expected to create 500 jobs during the construction phase and 1,500 once production starts. He said the company will utilize 95 percent locally sourced inputs in the production of ceramic tiles, a situation that will promote value addition and create an estimated 2,000 indirect jobs. The company, he said, was committed to promoting Zambia's industrialization and value addition agenda as more investments will be undertaken in the southern African nation. Consul-General at the Consulate General of Zambia in Guangzhou Daniel Chisenga thanked the Chinese firm for actualizing its investment in Zambia. The investment, he said, gives impetus for Zambia's economic diplomacy, a strategy under which Zambia's embassies abroad have been tasked to attract foreign private investment. Enditem From left: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Donald Trump, Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, and Britain's PM Theresa May, pose for a family photo at the ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina during the Heads of State and of Government G7 summit in Sicily on May 26, 2017. (Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images) Multilateral Forces Target the CCP Ahead of the G7 Summit Commentary A virtual meeting was held by G7 members on Feb. 19, prior to the G7 summit scheduled for June in Cornwall, United Kingdom. On the eve of the preparatory meeting for the annual G7, it can be seen from public reports and Chinese media rebuttals that China has moved to the top of the groups agenda. As the presidency of the G7 this year, the UK is sending a strong signal to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the host of the conference, called for a world pandemic treaty to ensure proper transparency and data sharing on Feb. 15. A Reuters reporter asked Johnson who he held responsible for the lack of transparency on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson replied: I think its fairly obvious that most of the evidence seems to point to the disease having originated in Wuhan. Johnsons remarks sounded too frank and straightforward to the CCP. What also made the CCP furious is that the British regulator for the communications services Ofcom announced on Feb. 4 that it had revoked CGTNs licence to broadcast in the UK. In a statement, Ofcom said that CGTNC is controlled by a body which is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. CGTNCs license is unlawful because CGTNs license-holder in the UK, Star China Media Limited (SCML), was the distributor of the CGTN service in the UK, rather than the provider of the service. This is a violation of UK broadcasting laws, which stipulate that broadcast licensees must have control over the licensed service, including editorial oversight over the programs they show. What surprised the CCP even more was that on Feb. 11, amendments to the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill became law in the UK. According to a report by The Epoch Times, Its the first time UK lawmakers have enacted any legislation that addresses the issue of consent on human tissue from overseas. The significance of this legislation is that during debates, many cited at length concerns over the origins of plastinated bodies exhibitions, and evidence from a tribunal that concluded state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting is still occurring in China, the report said. Dr. Sophia Bryskine from Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting speaks at Real Bodies press conference on April 18, 2018. (Melanie Sun/The Epoch Times) Notably, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, who proposed the amendment, stated on Feb. 12 in a debate, I hope the Government will seek to put pressure on the World Health Organization to take this seriously. Marie Rimmer, Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston, and Opposition Whip (Commons) said, Our nation and the people who live here must not be complicit in the brutal acts of the Chinese Communist regime. She stated that this amendment sends a very clear message that we will not tolerate such appalling acts against humanity and that we will deliver for the people of China and not for the Communist Party of China. Let this amendment truly mount the beginning of a new relationship with China, a relationship that is not naive. In addition to the fact that the United Kingdom has shown significant strength in dealing with the CCP, there are at least two joint actions that the CCP should not underestimate. On Feb. 15, Canada launched a 58 country initiative, including the United States, Japan, Britain, the European Union, to stop Arbitrary Detention of Foreign Nationals. The declaration does not target any nation. However, it is generally believed that it points right at the CCP and its media Global Times. As early as Jan. 25, nearly 70 members of the G7 countries and the European Parliament signed an interparliamentary letter to the G7 heads of state calling on leaders of all countries to deal with the threat posed by the CCP. The letter addresses several key issues in which the G7 leaders should begin to cooperate in response to the actions of China. These areas range from international institutional reform, technology standards, human rights, the Indo-Pacific, and cooperation on COVID-19, stated the press release. The letter was led by U.S. Congressman Anthony Gonzalez and Norbert Rottgen, Chair of the German Bundestags Foreign Affairs Committee. According to the press release, The threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party represent the greatest foreign policy challenges of our time, said Gonzalez. Chinas selective approach to international law and its aggressive foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific as well as increasingly on a global scale, are the main challenges to the international order, said Rottgen. It has gradually become a global consensus that the CCP is the worlds biggest crisis. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once pointed out in his speech on July 24, 2020: Communists almost always lie. The biggest lie that they tell is to think that they speak for 1.4 billion people who are surveilled, depressed, and scared to speak out. Quite the contrary. The CCP fears the Chinese peoples honest opinions more than any foe, and save for losing their own grip on power, they have no reason to. Pompeo also referred to the Chinese people as a dynamic, freedom-loving people who are completely distinct from the Chinese Communist Party. He made two important points: When it comes to the CCP, I say we must distrust and verify. Securing our freedoms from the Chinese Communist Party is the mission of our time. On the occasion of the upcoming G7 summit, it is important to remember Pompeos words. Chen Simin is a freelance writer who often analyzes Chinas current affairs. She has contributed to The Epoch Times since 2011. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. In the real world, the vaccines wont achieve quite as stellar outcomes. Still, the results are excellent and equally excellent across the three, as Dr. Cody Meissner of the Tufts School of Medicine said during a recent F.D.A. meeting. Like running into the wind But why doesnt Johnson & Johnson appear to be as good at preventing mild illness? There are a few possible answers. For one, Johnson & Johnsons research trials seem to have had a greater degree of difficulty. They occurred later than Modernas or Pfizers after one of the virus variants had spread more widely. The variant appears to cause a greater number of mild Covid cases among vaccinated people than the original virus. Second, Johnson & Johnson is currently only one shot, while Moderna and Pfizer are two shots. That happened mostly because of how strong the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is. Initial testing showed it to deliver impressive levels of immunity after only one shot, while the others required a booster, as Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, explained to me. The truth is that all of the vaccines seem to provide significant protection after a single shot. (Look at Britain, which is not rushing to give second shots and where cases and deaths continue to plummet.) Similarly, all three vaccines may benefit from a second shot. I recognize that may make some people anxious about getting the single Johnson & Johnson shot, but it shouldnt. If further data suggest that a second Johnson & Johnson shot would help, regulators can change their recommendation. Regardless, follow-up Covid shots may be normal in the future. Whats the bottom line? A single Johnson & Johnson shot may indeed allow a somewhat larger number of mild Covid cases than two shots of Moderna or Pfizer. Its hard to be sure. And it isnt very important. Lieutenant-General Tiran Khachatrian was relieved of his duties on February 24 in a decree initiated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and signed by President Armen Sarkissian. The decree came just hours after a pro-opposition media outlet quoted Khachatrian as laughing off Pashinians claim that the Armenian armys most advanced Russian-made missiles seriously malfunctioned during last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh. In a February 25 statement, the armys top brass strongly condemned the sacking, accused Pashinians government of incompetence and misrule and demanded its resignation. The prime minister responded by accusing the military of a coup attempt and moving to fire the chief of the General Staff, Onik Gasparian. Gasparians dismissal appears to have been delayed by President Sarkissian and opposition groups. The latter have voiced strong support for the military and stepped up their street protests aimed forcing Pashinian to resign. Court records posted on a judicial website indicate that Sarkissian is the main defendant in the civil case filed by Khachatrian on Wednesday. The prime ministers office and the General Staff will be involved in the legal action as third parties. The Armenian government declined to comment on the lawsuit. Sarkissians office could not be reached for comment. Khachatrian has made no public statements since his sacking. Incidentally, the general received Armenias highest military award, the title of National Hero, from Pashinian during the autumn war with Azerbaijan. Pashinians claim about the Iskander missile systems also provoked a storm of criticism from Russian pro-government lawmakers and pundits. They accused him of incompetence and deceit. Russias Defense Ministry said, for its part, that it was bewildered and surprised by the remarks. Pashinian effectively retracted the claim on Monday. His press secretary said he was misled by other Armenian officials. WASHINGTON (March 4, 2021)--Over the next month, 209 U.S. counties in the United States will need to implement crisis workforce strategies to deal with potentially dangerous shortfalls of intensive care unit doctors, according to a new analysis published today. The analysis draws on data from a just launched county-level hospital workforce estimator, one that takes into account the strain on staffing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The shortages could occur just as public health officials warn that variants of the coronavirus are spreading in the United States and could trigger a sharp rise in the number of Americans infected," Clese Erikson, the principal investigator on the project and deputy director of the Health Equity Workforce Research Center at the George Washington University, said. "Our new online estimator will help county and local public health officials project shortages in the near future and take steps to help keep staffing at safe levels." The analysis shows that ICU doctors in those 209 counties will be taking care of more than 24 severely ill patients at one time. Typically, an ICU doctor will care for half that number of patients or less at the same time--and, at 24 or higher, hospitals will have to quickly organize and train non-ICU providers to step in and help provide care. Erikson and her team are part of the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, which is based at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. To develop the new tool--the first to look at hospital workforce strain at the county level--they collaborated with Premier Inc., a healthcare improvement company, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and IQVIA, a healthcare data and analytics organization. "This new ability to drill down to the county level is important for local leaders," Erikson said. A previous Mullan Institute tool estimated the hospital workforce shortages at the state level. An analysis using data from the County Hospital Workforce Estimator estimates that 7% of all U.S. counties will experience significant strains in their hospital workforce due to longstanding patterns of maldistribution and the added strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the analysis suggests that 12 U.S. counties will need to put in place contingency strategies within the next month in order to cope with a surge in severely ill patients, including those with new variants of COVID-19. Local leaders can use the tool to assess the need for additional public health measures, such as social distancing guidelines. Research shows that if 95% of the population wears a mask, future cases of COVID-19 are prevented and that can help avoid a crisis in the local hospital. "The work of public health and health care are complementary. Even as vaccination programs scale-up, traditional public health measures are critical to reducing suffering and ensuring our healthcare infrastructure is not overwhelmed," Lori Freeman, chief executive officer of NACCHO, said. "This tool can help localities better understand the strain faced by the hospital workforce and adjust public health recommendations accordingly." Past media reports have largely focused on the dangers of a surge in COVID-19 cases and a shortfall in ICU beds. However, workforce shortages can be a much more difficult problem to solve. Hospitals can create a new COVID-19 unit by taking over an underused floor or wing, but they have more difficulty finding trained doctors and others to fill in when health care workers get sick or must quarantine. "Premier has been scaling up our predictive analytics capabilities throughout the pandemic to help healthcare providers predict COVID-19 cases, supply resources, and now, workforce levels so they can ensure safe patient care," Angela Lanning, informatics and technology services chief operating officer at Premier, said. "Our models are fueled by data from more than 4,000 hospitals and health systems across the U.S., and we're thrilled to contribute to tools like this that enable business intelligence that's immediately actionable and meaningful in the healthcare setting." ### To find out more about the County Hospital Workforce Estimator and view an interactive map of U.S. counties predicted to experience ICU shortages, click here. To read the new analysis by the GW researchers click here. -GW- As Alabamas statewide mask mandate is set to expire on Friday, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth again called on the governor to immediately lift the restriction, calling it a Big Brother-style regulation. I urge Gov. Kay Ivey to immediately lift the statewide mask mandate and allow citizens and local officials the liberty to make the decisions that best fit their circumstances, said Ainsworth, who has called for nixing the restriction every time it has come up for renewal. Unless extended by Ivey, the order requiring facial coverings in public areas and schools is set to expire Friday at 5 p.m. The order was first put in place in July among a surge of COVID cases and hospitalizations. Ainsworth has said the mandate is an overstep that infringes upon the property rights of business owners and the ability of individuals to make their own health decisions. Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor still urged Alabamians to practice social distancing and good hygiene until the state reaches adequate vaccination and immunity levels. As of Wednesday, Alabama has administered 944,795 coronavirus vaccines and those numbers are expected to continue to rise as Johnson and Johnsons one-dose vaccine is set to arrive in the state. But Ainsworth said Alabamians can take public health precautions without a Big Brother-style government mandate looming over us. Ivey has not announced her decision about whether to extend the mask mandate, but her spokesman said the governor has made clear that she prefers personal responsibility to government mandate. She has created her own sustainable swimwear brand called Swim Society. And Montana Brown showed off her svelte figure in a chic one-piece from her line on Thursday as she went for a walk along the beach of St James Parish in Barbados. The former Love Islander, 25, accentuated her toned curves in the timeless swimsuit, complete with an underwired bra and tortoiseshell belt cinched at the waist. Wow! Montana Brown showed off her svelte figure in a chic one-piece from her brand Swim Society on Thursday as she went for a walk along the beach of St James Parish in Barbados She swept her chocolate tresses back in a low bun and protected her eyes from the glaring sun with rounded shades. Montana managed to escape Britain's third national lockdown when she jetted off to the Caribbean island She recently thanked her followers for sending her 'lovely messages' and supporting her decision to travel in the midst of a global pandemic. Montana was seen leaning against a wall post as she sported a daisy embroidered one-piece from her swimwear brand as she responded to followers. Back in black: The former Love Islander, 25, accentuated her toned curves in the timeless swimsuit, complete with an underwired bra and tortoiseshell belt cinched at the waist Hairstyle: She swept her chocolate tresses back in a low bun and protected her eyes from the glaring sun with rounded shades She wrote alongside her stunning snaps: 'Just wanted to say a thanks to everyone's lovely messages. 'It's hard to know where the line is with posting content and I really don't want to be upsetting anyone. 'I get the odd message with people being quite angry. I travelled well before lockdown, I've stayed out here because I can work from abroad and I started my business last year in lockdown and I'd like to give it a fighting chance to be honest. 'Sending love to you all, I am going to continue posting and again, it's not my intention to be insensitive to anybody as I know this is an awful time for a lot of people. Sending love.' (sic) Feeling the love: She recently thanked her followers for sending her 'lovely messages' and supporting her decision to travel to the Caribbean island in the midst of a global pandemic Montana's outing comes after fellow Love Islander Amy Hart defended influencers sharing sun-drenched snaps from Dubai while the UK was in lockdown. The former Love Island star, 28, has insisted that being an influencer is a 'credible' line of work and described it as a new form of advertising. Amy pointed out that she did not go to Dubai during lockdown and as a result, her social media content was not as entertaining as those who did. Sensational: Montana was seen leaning against a wall post as she sported a daisy embroidered one-piece from her swimwear brand as she responded to followers According to The Mirror, she said: 'Influencing is a credible and valid job. People say we contribute nothing to society: look at my tax return. 'It's a new form of advertising. If someone said they worked in advertising and they had to go to Dubai, you wouldnt bat an eyelid. 'I didn't go to Dubai, and as a result, my content isn't as good as the people who did go. As a result, I'm not as good at my job.' Loading the player... Digital media norms to be administered by Centre, not states The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry on Wednesday issued memorandum to states and union territories saying that the new rules for digital news publishers and over-the-top (OTT) platforms are to be administered by the Centre, not the states. The government had notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Codes) Rules, 2021 on February 25. Defence equipment sales to India show commitment to security, sovereignty: US The sale of major defence equipment to India which now stands at $20 billion shows America's commitment to India's security and sovereignty, the Biden administration said on Wednesday. As of this year, the United States has authorized over $20 billion in defence sales to India. Bharat Biotech's Covaxin 81% effective, works against UK variant Bharat Biotech has announced the Phase 3 clinical trial results for its coronavirus vaccine candidate Covaxin. The company said that Covaxin demonstrated efficacy of 81 per cent in the trials. "Covaxin demonstrated 81 per cent interim efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection after the second dose," said the company. The vaccine candidate is also effective against the UK variant, stated Bharat Biotech. Covaxin is currently being administered, along with Serum Institute's Covishield in the COVID-19 vaccination drive. Infosys to cover COVID-19 vaccination cost for employees, immediate family members IT major Infosys on Wednesday said it will cover the vaccination cost for its employees in India and their family members, and is looking to partner healthcare providers for it. Meanwhile, consulting and processing services provider Accenture also said that it will cover the cost for employees and dependents eligible for vaccination. Serum to supply 110 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine globally under COVAXT he COVAX initiative, co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO), will supply 237 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine to 142 countries by May-end. Over 110 million doses of this to about 60 countries will be met through the AstraZeneca (AZ)-Serum Institute of India partnership. UNICEF is the key delivery partner. Young Elon Musk was so good in computer aptitude test, it shocked examiners! And here's some fun trivia about the richest man in the world. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk's grades in a computer aptitude test, when he was 17, were so good the examiners could not believe them. Elon's mother Maye Musk shared the three-decade old test results of her son on Twitter. Maye Musk revealed that her multi-billionaire son had to be re-tested because "examiners had never seen such a high score before". IDEMIA announces the signature of a contract to participate in the UK government's Document Checking Service (DCS) pilot The pilot will enable service providers to benefit from instant passport checks by delivering a digital "root of trust" IDEMIA will incorporate this new capability into its IDway solution harnessing its game-changing biometric facial recognition and document authentication technologies Pursuant to UK government standards, DCS will provide a powerful new way to help verify UK passport holders' identity, underpinned by security and user experience. It will help prevent fraud, speed up checks and allow people to prove their identity for both face-to-face and online transactions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005360/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) The DCS was previously only available for use in government transactions, however can now be used by pilot-participating private sector firms to check passport information provided by UK citizens against government held data. With citizen consent, service providers will use IDEMIA's IDway solution to instantly check people's passport details match the UK government's passport office database. The DCS will then respond yes or no to confirm whether or not the passport details are valid. People's private data are protected at all times. Matt Warman,UK government Digital Infrastructure Secretary, said, "The UK has a thriving digital economy and we are committed to making it easier for people to prove their identity online without compromising personal information, and for businesses to conduct checks in a safe and secure way. This pilot is a significant step forward in our work and will help speed up access to financial services and make sure more people can benefit from the huge potential of technology." "IDEMIA is proud to contribute to this important UK Government pilot. Digital Identity will be at the center of national economic development. IDEMIA has been investing in the UK's digital identity ecosystem from the very beginning and values the long-term relationship with the UK Government. This pilot project is a major step toward increasing the trustworthiness of digital identities in the market. It will enable citizens to conduct transactions that are as secure and frictionless as possible," said Philippe Barreau, Executive Vice President for the Public Security Identity Business Unit at IDEMIA. 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 or follow @IDEMIAGroup on Twitter View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005360/en/ Contacts: HAVAS PARIS PR AGENCY Hanna Sebbah + 33 6 63 73 30 30 idemia@havas.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 23:42:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's national carrier has announced that it has got landing approvals for Heathrow Airport and Dubai International Airports as it resumes long-haul flights. Uganda Airlines said in a statement issued here late on Wednesday said it is working on obtaining traffic rights, foreign air operator permits, and landing approvals to other target destinations. The initial routes with the A330 are London, Dubai, Guangzhou, and Mumbai, with the airline operating direct flights to these cities from Entebbe International Airport, the statement said. The airline in January and February received two new A330-800neo aircraft, which it hopes to use for long-haul flights to Europe, Asia and the Middle-East. The carrier, which collapsed in 2001 and resumed in August 2019, is currently operating flights within Africa. Government is optimistic that the revival of the national flag carrier will boost the country's economic growth and tourism. Ugandans spend over 400 million U.S. dollars on air travel annually, according to government figures. Enditem Hoi An has long left an illuminating impression on visitors thanks to its twinkling lanterns in different shapes and sizes, hung above a network of streets, temples, narrow lanes and alleys along the Thu Bon river. The lanterns have not only become an iconic symbol of the Hoi An streets but also a favoured souvenir for tourists to the city. The craft of making lanterns has been practiced for over four centuries in Hoi An. According to research from the Hoi An Centre for Relic Management and Preservation, the craft first appeared in Hoi An in the 17th century when the city was a vibrant trading point welcoming businesses from Japan, China and Europe. The custom of using lanterns as decoration during festivals, holidays and major celebrations has long been observed by local people. Since 1988, Hoi An city authorities have encouraged locals and management boards of temples and shrines to turn off their electricity and replace it with soft lights from the lanterns every 15th day of each lunar month, creating a unique tourist product in the city while contributing to boosting lantern production. Millions of lanterns are made in Hoi An every year to serve domestic and export demand to Japan, Singapore, and European countries. Hoi An is considered the cradle of authentic Vietnamese lanterns, distinguishable from those made in China, Japan and Thailand thanks for their unique manufacturing techniques and the materials used. While lanterns made in those countries are covered with nylon and paper, making them easy to tear and go on fire; Hoi An lanterns are covered with cloth, such as flax and silk, promoting the durability and captivating colours of the products. Hoi An craftspeople have not only exerted great efforts to preserve and promote the making of lanterna but also worked out initiatives to renovate the product to make it more marketable. For example, Meritorious Artisan Huynh Van Ba created a foldable frame for traditional lanterns, making it easier in terms of packaging and transportation. For his part, young craftsman Vo Dinh Hoang developed his own lantern brand, De Lantana, and his products have met five-star standards under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Programme of Quang Nam province. Lanterns have not only become an iconic symbol of the Hoi An streets but also a favoured souvenir for tourists to the city. The making of a lantern involves a lot of time, skills and indulgence of craftspeople. The frame of the lantern is made from bamboo aged for least five years. The bamboo is dried, split into bars, and then soaked in water to prevent termites and finally left to dry again before being bent into a frame. The bamboo frame is then attached to two wooden rings at two ends and these are tied together using string. The frame varies in shape, with circles, octagons, hexagons, and diamonds being favourites, but also unusual designs such as dragon or fish shaped products. Meanwhile, the making of the cover involves spreading glue and wrapping the fabric around the frame, the most difficult task fully stretching the fabric over every angle of the frame. Depending on the type of fabric, the lanterns will glitter in response to different light shade. The price of a lantern varies from dozens to millions of Vietnamese dong, depending on the size and shape of the product. Hoi An currently has more than 30 lantern workshops and 200 shops. Ha Linh workshop is one of the most established lantern makers in Hoi An city, where visitors can explore every step in the making process and try their hands at creating their own products. During this lunar New Year, although the COVID-19 pandemic restricted people from travelling, Hoi An streets and houses were still illuminated with colourful lanterns. It is believed that hanging lanterns in bright colours such as red or yellow, decorated with words and sentences such as Happy New Year, Prosperity, Luck, and Longevity can bring about blessings and a peaceful new year. Nhan Dan Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Lets start with some good news: the late Alex Trebeks TV wardrobe was donated to men who are homeless or leaving jail. When an H-E-B grocery store near Austin, Texas, lost power in the recent winter storm and was unable to check out customers, employees let them take their goods home for free. A delivery drivers vehicle got stuck in a clients driveway when the storm began, so the couple took her into their home for five days. Have you seen any of these stories headlined in recent days? Riots in Portland and 'negativity bias' In other news, cancel culture has come for a Hyatt Regency hotel in Orlando, Florida. The hotel hosted the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last weekend. Former President Donald Trump spoke, as did a number of other Republican and conservative figures. As a result, critics called online for the hotel to be boycotted. Cancel culture is also coming for Dr. Seuss on claims of racist stereotypes in his books. A school district in Virginia is just one example. And rioters vandalized several buildings in downtown Portland, Oregon, over the weekend, protesting the Biden administrations immigration policy and the federal agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Unfortunately, such bad news is much easier to find in the news than good news. Negativity bias is the psychological term for our collective hunger to hear and remember bad news. Part of this is schadenfreude, the pleasure we derive from another persons misfortune. However, studies indicate that we are also conditioned to avoid danger and thus respond more quickly to bad news that threatens us. This means that we often look for the negative and overlook the positive. As a result, we can make things worse than they are. Our fears become self-fulfilling prophecies and we miss much of the good that surrounds us each day. Hiding from a king in a cave Lets relate this fact to yesterdays Daily Article, which focused on the importance of supporting religious freedom while speaking the truth in love with LGBTQ persons and their advocates. Toward the close of the article, I stated my plan to suggest specific ways we can do both. For foundational guidance, we turn to Psalm 57, Davids prayer when he was hiding from King Saul in a wilderness cave (probably 1 Samuel 22:1, but possibly 1 Samuel 24:3). Here we find four principles that apply when we face opposition to our faith. Each of them calls us to focus on the good in the midst of the bad. One: Trust Gods presence. David begins his prayer: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by (v. 1). He knows that the Lord is sheltering him in the face of mortal peril, even though he cannot see his wings at the time. Two: Trust Gods purpose. David continues: I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me (v. 2). Note that it is God, not David, who fulfills this purpose. The darkness of the tunnel does not contradict the sovereignty of the engineer driving the train. Three: Trust Gods power. David testifies: He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me (v. 3, my emphasis). He knows that the King of the universe is more powerful than the king of Israel. Four: Trust Gods providence. David admits: My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts (v. 4). Yet he can pray, Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (v. 5). He knows that God knows his challenges and will bring his glory over all the earth, including the threat he faces. Four steps to the spring of the Spirit With this backdrop, how can we respond redemptively to those who advocate for causes that threaten our religious freedom and attack our beliefs? In Crisis in America: A Christian Response, Pastor Garland Hunt offers practical wisdom for this moment in our nations history. I would summarize his suggestions for facing opposition in four steps: Perception: What is God saying to us through this event? Personal accountability: Is there wrongdoing I must admit and change? Prayer: How can I intercede for those affected and for God to act for their best? Persuasion: What changes are needed? How can I help people make them? Because God is sovereign in every cave of life, we can trust his presence, purpose, power, and providence. We can therefore look for his hand in the challenges we face. Before we can ask others to change, however, we must ask God what changes we need to make (1 Peter 4:17). Then we can pray for God to work in the minds and hearts of our opponents (Matthew 5:44). Only then can we be effective catalysts for change in our broken culture. Ill close with a lesson from the winter storm we recently suffered in Texas. My home in Dallas was blanketed with more snow than I have ever seen in our city. However, when the temperature finally climbed above freezing and the sun came out, the snow began to melt. Not so quickly that you could watch it happen, but slowly over time. In a day or two, the snow had melted in the sunlight. However, it persisted far longer in the shade. If we do our job as the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), we will make an eternal difference in our winter-gripped world. We may not see the spiritual snow melt today, but the spring of the Spirit is coming. This is the promise and the invitation of God. Originally published at the Denison Forum No need to apologise to Goa people, spoke for their rights: TN Finance Minister Thiaga Rajan In IT raids in TN Rs 170 crore unaccounted income detected India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 04: The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure operations on two groups of civil contractors in Southern Tamil Nadu. Searches and surveys were conducted in 18 premises mainly in Madurai and Ramnad districts. Based on intelligence inputs about the existence of cash, which is likely to be distributed for election purposes, searches were mounted on the business groups. The action resulted in the finding of unaccounted cash of Rs. 3 crorewhich was seized. Mumbai: IT raids continue for second day Other findings include the identification of the fact that the assessee is booking bogus expenses under various heads to reduce the profits. The declared profits were less than 2% of the turnover, when in actual accounts the profits exceeded 20%. Similarly more than 100 subcontractors were introduced to book expenses to meet illegal payments, and on-money payments for property purchases. These subcontractors introduced, had filed returns of income from the same IP address, and for the first time ever, showing only this receipt as their sole income. As a result of the search, unaccounted income of Rs. 175 crore has been detected and unaccounted cash of Rs. 3 crorehas been seized. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 18:23 [IST] New Delhi: Now this is something interesting. A new study has stated that using smiley faces or emojis during conversation in office may affect the information sharing and mean professional inability. Sharing smiley faces might seem to be fun but using them in your work emails can do considerable harm to you. People often use emojis in email marketing, however this habit may make them incompetent inform of the reader. The study was published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. The researchers wanted to find out whether using a smiley face or emoji has any impact on the email reader. The smiley face does make an impression but not a friendly one on the reader. The research found out that when people read a happy emoji face in the text of any work email, it made them think that one sending the message was less competent if it didnt have the emoticon. There are no doubt that smiles pass on warmth and competence in a person. However a smiley face is likely to make the reader share less of information in his/her reply. Researchers from Ben-Gurion University conducted the study on 549 participants who belonged to 29 different countries. All the participants were supposed to read same work related emails that too from a stranger. They had to evaluate the professional ability & competence and warmth of the writer. As a matter of fact, some mails had smileys while others didnt. The study indicated that including the smiley emojis had no effect on the participants perception of warmth. However it lowered the perception of their competence. It was also revealed that when the participants had to respond to the mails regarding formal matters, they answered it in a detail manner. They included more of content related information when the mail had no smiley. The study surprisingly showed that sexism also exists in this matter. When the recipient is unaware about the gender of the sender, he is likely to assume that email which had a smiley icon was actually sent by a woman, the study revealed. For all the Latest Lifestyle News, Others News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. No one will ever have the right to insult Ukraine, doubt its territorial integrity, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has said, commenting on the statement of Prime Minister of Slovakia Igor Matovic about the promise of "Zakarpattia region of Ukraine" in exchange for a vaccine from Russia. "I want to emphasize once again that I personally stand for very friendly and most constructive relations with our Western neighbors. With Slovakia, we have a lot in common, but no one will ever have the right to insult Ukraine with any word or hint, doubt its territorial integrity or try to demonstrate that the fate of Ukraine is defined somewhere else but not in Ukraine. And in this regard, with all friendship with Slovak colleagues, our reaction to such actions will be not just tough, but extremely tough," Kuleba told journalists in Kyiv on Thursday. He assured that if Slovakia had not immediately apologized for the words of the head of government, Ukraine would have gone to further steps. "If Slovakia had not immediately apologized for these words, we would have gone to further steps, because such things could not be forgotten. However, for Slovak colleagues, this phrase also became a shock, and therefore the Minister of Foreign Affairs has immediately apologized today on behalf of the state, the Prime Minister of Slovakia has also apologized today, he did it publicly," the Minister of Foreign Affairs said. As reported, in response to the question of the journalist about what promised Slovakia for the supply of Russian vaccine, Matovic said "Zakarpattia region of Ukraine". Later, the Prime Minister assured that he did not give promises to the Russian Federation, and made it clear that he was joking. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korcok apologized to Ukraine for the statements of the Slovak Prime Minister. Regret: Hiscox boss Bronek Masojada The boss of Hiscox regrets the 'uncertainty and anguish' of small businesses when the insurer refused to pay business interruption claims last year. As it revealed its full-year results, Bronek Masojada said it was important to 'learn from this experience' but stopped short of an apology. Hiscox refused claims from small companies forced to shut during the first lockdown. It said its policies were not designed to cover a nationwide pandemic, which left hundreds of customers whose revenues fell off a cliff on the brink of collapse. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that most customers would be due a payout. Masojada said: 'The most important lesson is the need for clarity in wordings, to ensure intent is properly reflected in the policy detail.' He said Hiscox 'has undoubtedly suffered some brand damage this year'. It fell to an 192million loss, from an 38million profit the year before, after setting aside 340million for Covid-related claims. Pakistan said on Thursday that it never shied away from talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues. Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry made the comments at the weekly media briefing when asked about the possibility of talks with India in the wake of new understanding between the Directors General Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries. "Pakistan has never shied away from talks and has always called for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes" including Jammu and Kashmir, he said. India last month said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility. "Our position is well-known. India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. "The onus is on Pakistan for creating such an environment." Read | India tells Pakistan to stop state-sponsored cross-border terrorism Chaudhry said that the DGMOs of India and Pakistan in their recently held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact reviewed the situation along the Line of Control (LOC) and all other sectors, agreeing to strictly observe all agreements, understandings and ceasefire. India and Pakistan had announced on February 25 that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors. Chaudhry said Pakistan has consistently underscored the need for implementation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding in letter and spirit for maintenance of peace along the Line of Control. "We have also maintained that escalation along the LOC is a threat to regional peace and security. The recent development is very much in line with Pakistans consistent position," he said. To a question about the US terming Kashmir as union territory of India, he said Pakistan already conveyed to the US side that "the reference is inconsistent with disputed status" of the region. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship. The relationship dipped further after India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The relations deteriorated after India in August 2019 announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) The World Health Organization continues to promote the use of the AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines despite reports the variant first detected in South Africa could render it practically ineffective. WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe on Thursday said the position of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization panel that the vaccine made by the British-Swedish firm can be used in nations with high cases of the B.1.351 variant still stands. He added there are only six confirmed cases of the South Africa variant in the Philippines, majority of which are located in Pasay City. "We still believe, and WHO released a statement, the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective even in places where you have the large proportion of cases which could be attributed to the B.1.351 variant," he said in a media briefing. OCTA Research fellow and molecular biologist Fr. Nicanor Austriaco had earlier quoted a South African study that the variant dramatically lowers the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccines from 70% down to 10%. South Africa halted its use of the said vaccine because of this reason, he said. "It's no different than injecting water into the patients. With 10% protection, basically, most people would still get mild and moderate COVID-19," he said on Wednesday. Abeyasinghe said this study is "limited" in scope since it only involved 2,000 participants. He added that there is no COVID-19 vaccine in the market that offers protection against mild infection, only against severe COVID-19 and death. Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Philippines will continue to use the arriving doses of AstraZeneca after the government health experts issue guidelines on its use and allocation. She added they will study if a booster shot is necessary to fight off the variant. About 100 people gathered Wednesday outside OHSUs administrative offices and chanted We believe you! in support of the woman who has filed a harassment and sexual assault complaint against a former resident who became an internet star as the TikTok Doc. Doctors, professors, pharmacists, radiologists, medical students and other employees called for a cultural change in how leaders at Oregon Health & Science University respond to sexual misconduct allegations on campus. Some held signs including Stop Violence Against Women and I believe you. Sue A. Aicher, a 20-year professor of chemistry physiology and biology who organized the gathering, said she was disturbed to read that several faculty in the medical school were told of the womans allegations against Dr. Jason Campbell but never reported them to university officials for investigation. If we are brave enough to report, something needs to happen, she said. They need to stop protecting the leadership and the offenders. Its very hard as individuals to report and get shut down and be told youre crazy and its all your imagination...that needs to stop. Aicher said shes heard concerns from other faculty and students about harassment but that many are scared of speaking out. I think we need to get rid of this fear of retaliation, Aicher said. She was sickened but not surprised by how OHSU officials handled the case against Campbell and found the nature of the accusations shocking, she said. She also was appalled that nothing happened for a prolonged period of time, she said. A social worker at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center adjacent to OHSU formally reported her allegations against Campbell to the university in April. OHSU then conducted an investigation and its equal opportunity officers found in August that Campbell had forcibly pushed his body against the woman in her office after sending her unwelcome and inappropriate messages via text and social media between January and March last year. The OHSU inquiry found Campbell had sent a picture of his erection through scrub pants to the woman. The social worker filed a federal sexual assault lawsuit against Campbell and OSHU on Friday seeking $45 million. Campbell resigned in lieu of a dismissal hearing on Oct. 23 , according to a university spokeswoman. He appears to have left under a non-disclosure separation agreement, according to information a lawyer for Campbell shared with the plaintiffs lawyers, Michael Fuller and Kim Sordyl. Campbell has denied any liability through a lawyer who represented him for one day. Campbell got a job at the University of Floridas teaching hospital, but Florida officials put him on leave after learning of the sexual misconduct allegations. Several attending the gathering on campus spoke out about the need for change, including faculty adhering to their mandatory reporting requirements. They also demanded more public disclosure by the university about misconduct at the school and hospital. Aicher said she believes OHSU keeps misconduct matters quiet out of a fear of tarnishing the reputation of the institution. The womans lawsuit cited a 2019 survey that OHSU conducted of its staff and students, in which 26% of respondents said they had been the victim of sexual misconduct within the prior three months, while 22% said it had happened a year or two prior to the study. Catherine W. Morgans, also an OHSU professor of chemical physiology and biochemistry, said she wanted to show solidarity with the woman who suffered in the Campbell case. One of the most insidious and damaging consequences of people who step forward is the isolation they can feel that can be as damaging as the abuse, Morgans said. We want to show her shes not alone. Morgans also criticized OHSU officials who failed to report the womans concerns after learning of them. According to the lawsuit, the social worker shared details of her allegations against Campbell with at least 13 OHSU employees, including six in leadership positions. One of those is an assistant professor of medicine who told her that another woman had made a strikingly similar complaint to him more than a year before regarding unwanted physical conduct involving Campbell, but there was no evidence that was ever investigated. That woman was an OHSU student, according to the suit, and the professor did not report the alleged misconduct. Were really disappointed in the universitys handling of this situation, Morgans said. I hope this can be a learning experience for the institution. Niki Steckler, an OHSU professor of leadership and management, said she was deeply distressed by the allegations in the suit. Im committed to working toward a culture change at OHSU, Steckler said, noting that there are people in leadership roles who are trying to bring about reforms. Rebecca A. Harrison, a professor of medicine, said the university and hospital environment needs to be healthy and supportive for students and staff. Ramin Amirsoltani, a third-year OHSU medical student, said, I think its important to show solidarity with our female colleagues. A coalition of unions representing OHSU workers -- including AFSCME Local 328, the Graduate Researchers United and OHSU House Officers Union -- issued a statement condemning a pattern of silence by the OHSU administration. We are committed to fighting back against the policies, inaction and corporate culture that allow misdeeds like the ones described in the story that broke about OHSU over the weekend to keep happening, the statement said. The other alleged victim of Campbell, who had shared her experience with an assistant professor of medicine more than a year before the social worker did, had said that Campbell had asked her to jerk him off, and when she refused and got up to leave, he pushed her against a door, grabbed her hand, put it on his crotch and made a sexually inappropriate remark, according to the social workers lawsuit. The assistant professor of medicine put the social worker in contact with the earlier alleged victim, the suit said. Sordyl, one of the attorneys representing the social worker suing OHSU and Campbell, told the crowd that university officials knew what they were supposed to do but didnt act. She also said she found it odd that university officials left brochures about its confidential advocacy program, known as CAP, at the rally site. It was that program which initially promised to pay $6,000 to cover her clients mental health therapy as a result of Campbells actions but then informed the social workers healthcare provider that it wouldnt pay for the therapy because the programs sexual misconduct fund had run out, according to the lawsuit. We dont need new policies, Sordyl said. We need accountability. Oregonian photographer Beth Nakamura contributed to this story. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian As managed-care giant Kaiser Permanente assumes a prominent role in California's new covid-19 vaccination strategy, it is drawing mixed reviews from members across the country for the way it has run its own vaccine program over the past two months. Conversations with 10 Kaiser enrollees in five states Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Maryland and California revealed a common frustration: difficulty snagging an appointment. Many also described receiving sporadic and sometimes confusing information from the company, though some said Kaiser has been doing better recently. All of those who spoke to California Healthline were over age 65. Many were long-standing Kaiser members and, aside from the vaccine rollout, had mostly positive opinions of the health system. Some ended up going elsewhere for their shots; others said they would wait for Kaiser because its services were familiar to them and they felt more comfortable going there than to another site. (KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.) Kaiser's CEO, Greg Adams, acknowledged the frustrations of his company's California patients in a Jan. 30 email, explaining that the health system had received only a small fraction of the vaccine supply it needed. Members did not blame Kaiser for the lack of vaccines, noting that insufficient supply has been the bane of providers across the country. But Kaiser could have been quicker to administer the vaccines it did receive and should have communicated more clearly about the shortage, they said. Nino Maida, a San Francisco resident who's been a Kaiser member for 14 years, said he couldn't figure out why he was unable to get an appointment. "The frustration lasted about a month, until I got a clear indication from Kaiser that any waiting was due to a lack of vaccine," said Maida, 74. "I thought they were being very inefficient instead of just poor at communicating." A Kaiser spokesperson defended the company's communication strategy, saying that a page on its website (kp.org/covidvaccine) provides detailed answers about vaccine eligibility and appointments, and that a link prominently displayed on Kaiser's homepage directs people there. The organization sends regular emails to members with information about their eligibility and instructions on how to set up an appointment, and call center operators also can answer members' questions, he said. Clearly, Kaiser Permanente isn't the only organization encountering vaccination roadblocks. Sutter Health, the large Northern California health system, for example, may have to cancel 95,000 vaccination appointments because it doesn't have enough vaccine on hand, company spokesperson Amy Thoma Tan said Wednesday. But Kaiser, which is both an insurer and medical provider, has drawn particular scrutiny because of its size and because it has been chosen to play a significant part in state efforts to speed covid vaccinations. The company, which covers 12.4 million people in the U.S., including 9.3 million Californians, was also fined nearly $500 million for workplace safety violations early in the pandemic. A memorandum of understanding with the state, released last week, stipulates that Kaiser will be part of a vaccination provider network assembled and overseen by Blue Shield of California, which signed a contract on Feb. 1 to administer the statewide inoculation plan. Kaiser will also serve as an adviser to Blue Shield to help the state meet its goal of expanding vaccine access to the most vulnerable communities, the memorandum says. Under the agreement, Kaiser will receive no state funds. It will operate two mass vaccination sites one at San Francisco's Moscone Center, the other at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, in Los Angeles County and "may consider the establishment of future mass vaccination sites" that would target rural Californians and those with historically lower vaccination rates. Importantly, Kaiser will vaccinate members and nonmembers, as it has already been doing on a smaller scale. The memorandum acknowledges the supply constraints Kaiser has faced, saying the state "shall ensure that Blue Shield understands that Kaiser is dependent on sufficient supply of the vaccine." Kaiser did not start vaccinating people age 65 and older in line with state guidelines until well after other providers had begun doing so. And some longtime Kaiser members were disappointed by the lag. "It is not good PR to have week after week of news showing the four largest health care providers in Northern California, and Kaiser is the only one still working on staff and people over 75 years old," said Elizabeth Wieland, 66, of Elk Grove, California, a member for 30 years. When Kaiser sent an email to patients on Feb. 13 encouraging them to "get vaccinated somewhere outside Kaiser Permanente" if possible, it felt as if they were "throwing in the towel," Wieland said. "It's 'fend for yourself.' Not what I would have expected, but that seems to be the new normal." On Feb. 20, Adams sent an update to members informing them the supply outlook had improved, because "the state has increased Kaiser Permanente's weekly vaccine allocation to better match the number of members we serve." As a result, the CEO said, Kaiser was able to start scheduling appointments for people 65 and up. Kaiser is also vaccinating people 65 and up in Washington state, Virginia and Georgia, a spokesperson said. Member complaints were not only about the slow rollout. Members said that Kaiser sometimes posted key vaccination information in hard-to-find places, and that they often heard things by word of mouth before they heard it from the company. Some said that, once they managed to sign up for a vaccination, they were promised email updates that never arrived. Still others said that, after getting on Kaiser's vaccination waiting list, they were suddenly bumped further back in the line with no explanation. Janet Vorwerk, a retired Kaiser operating room nurse who lives in a suburb of Denver, said that when she got on Kaiser's waiting list in January, she was No. 20,991 in line. On Feb. 15, she dropped all the way down to 9,989, then inexplicably bounced up to 11,258 two days later, which she said was "so disheartening." As of last Friday, she was No. 10,269. "I don't understand how the numbers are getting jacked around, up and down," said Vorwerk, 66. Still, she blames the circumstances more than she blames Kaiser. "I understand where they're coming from," she said. "You can't pull a vaccine out of your backside. But at the same time, it would be good to have a better idea of when it might happen." Some members said Kaiser's performance has improved recently. For Tom Spradley, an 84-year old resident of Citrus Heights, California, initial frustration with Kaiser gave way to a happy ending. He said he called Kaiser for an appointment about a month ago and was on hold for two hours before giving up. He then started checking Kaiser's vaccine page every day for updates, but said none came for several days. Finally, he was able to get an appointment for himself and his wife at a Kaiser site in Sacramento, about 20 minutes away. The appointment, he said, was a model of efficiency. They got their first shots and were scheduled for second doses March 12. "After a week of bad information on getting a shot, I think they have really come through, and I was really impressed by the job they did," Spradley said. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. During a press conference on Wednesday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo apologized to the three women who have accused him of sexual harassment, but denied touching anyone inappropriately and asked the public to wait for the facts to emerge from the state attorney generals investigation into the allegations. First, I fully support a womans right to come forward. And I think it should be encouraged in every way, Mr Cuomo said, becoming emotional as he began an apology. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional. And I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it. He added, however, that he never touched anyone inappropriately, even though hes been accused of touching and kissing women without their consent. And frankly I am embarrassed by it, and thats not easy to say, but thats the truth. But this is what I want you to know. I want you to know this from me directly. I never touched anyone inappropriately, he said. I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable. And I certainly never ever meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone or cause anyone any pain. While some New York lawmakers have called for his resignation, Mr Cuomo said hed be staying in office to tackle the full plate of handling the Covid crisis. Im not going to resign, he said. Im going to do the job the people elected me to do. The governor also told reporters on Wednesday hed taken the states mandatory sexual harassment training for government employees. Over the last week, three women have accused Mr Cuomo of unwanted advances, all of which he denies. On Wednesday, Lindsey Boylan, a candidate for Manhattan borough president, who used to work for the governor and the states economic development agency, said Mr Cuomo had kissed her without consent and asked her to play strip poker. On Saturday, The New York Times reported that Charlotte Bennett, a former executive assistant and health policy adviser to Mr Cuomo, added a new set of accusations: that the governor was grooming her for a future sexual advance by asking if she practiced monogamy and was comfortable sleeping with older men. Then, on Monday, a woman named Anna Ruch said the governor had placed an unwanted hand on her lower back at a wedding reception in 2019 before asking to kiss her, an exchange which a friend of hers photographed. During his conference on Wednesday, Mr Cuomo did not address all of the allegations specifically, but did respond to Ms Ruchs story, saying that his back-slapping style was inherited from his father, former New York governor Mario Cuomo, and is meant to make members of the public feel comfortable with him. However, he said he recognises sensitivities have changed and apologised nonetheless. I understand the opinion and feelings of Ms Ruch. You can find hundreds of picture of me making the same gesture with hundreds of people: women, men children, etc. You can go find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people: men, women. It is my usually customary way of greeting, Mr Cuomo said. However what I also understand is it doesnt matter my intent. If they were offended by it then its wrong, he added. New York leaders, including members of Mr Cuomos Democratic party, have called for him to resign, and the White House has said it supports a thorough independent investigation into the allegations. The scandal has rocked the governors office, politically weakening it when it was already under fire for allegedly downplaying data on the thousands of nursing home deaths in the state to avoid political blowback, which it denies. On Tuesday, state lawmakers hammered out a deal that would curtail the governors significant emergency powers during the pandemic, which could pass as soon as Friday. Justice Minister Stelian Ion on Thursday urged the Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM) to take a stand on defending the independence of the judiciary in connection with public suspicions that there was no effective investigation into the August 10, 2018 public protest in Bucharest, according to AGERPRES. "I have a request for the independence, freedom and impartiality of the judiciary as a whole to be defended in relation to a perception that is emerging in the public square regarding suspicions of lack of an effective investigation, as defined by ECHR jurisprudence in the case generically called ?August 10.' I think it is very important for the judiciary to have a response to these discussions in the public square and to have a reaction, of course after a very careful analysis, because such a perception can affect the reputation of the entire judiciary as a whole, which is neither right nor desirable," Ion told a CSM plenary sitting. He added that the people are waiting for an answer from the judiciary."I am not here to criticise a certain solution; I will not do that. Once again, the role of CSM and, possibly of the Judicial Inspection, is to make certain checks, if you so consider yourselves. These are matters related mainly to the right of injured persons to defence, to hearings. Checks must be conducted in that respect," said Ion.The Judge Section of CSM on Wednesday condemned what it called language "slip-ups" in the public square after a decision by the Bucharest Tribunal to reject a request from the Directorate for the Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism ( DIICOT) to reopen an investigation of the former chiefs of the Gendarmerie in the August 10 public protest in Bucharest, calling such public statements "a real attack on the independence of judges." CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - The United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into technology giant Apple Inc. (AAPL) following complaints that its terms and conditions for app developers are unfair and anti-competitive. iPhone maker Apple also operates the App Store, which is the only way for developers to distribute third-party apps on Apple's iPhones and iPads, and the only way for Apple customers to access them. The probe has been prompted by the CMA's own work in the digital sector, as well as several developers reporting that Apple's terms and conditions are unfair and could break competition law. Apple requires that all apps available through the App Store have to be approved by it. This approval hinges on developers agreeing to certain terms. Only Apple can distribute their apps to iPhones and iPads via the App Store. Apple charges a commission of up to 30 percent to developers on the value of payment transactions or any time a consumer buys their app. The CMA's investigation will consider whether Apple has a dominant position in connection with the distribution of apps on Apple devices in the UK and whether Apple imposes unfair or anti-competitive terms on developers. The European Commission (EC) currently has four open antitrust probes into Apple. 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. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and the citys other four top prosecutors called on state legislators Wednesday to takes steps to protect the citys transit workers. McMahon, alongside Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Michelle Bayer, deputy chief of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vances Trial Division, joined in calls of support of an amendment to the states penal code that would make spitting on a transit worker a misdemeanor. My office takes attacks against bus drivers and transit workers very seriously and we are committed to prosecuting those who cause them any harm, said McMahon. Expanding protections for these everyday heroes will help my office to better prosecute those who attack these hardworking and essential public servants, McMahon added. Our fellow New Yorkers, whom we depend on every day to transport us and our loved ones safely, deserve a workplace free of violence and harassment. Proud to stand w/ @TWULocal100 @ATULocal726 & my fellow DAs to implore our state legislature make spitting on transit employees a misdemeanor, enabling us to hold those who commit these disgusting acts accountable. Our transit workers deserve our thanks and total respect. pic.twitter.com/kgyDufk65O Michael E. McMahon (@StatenIslandDA) March 3, 2021 Transit workers were spat on around 200 times last year, according to Transportation Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, and around 200 times a year before. TWU Local 100; the MTA Labor Coalition, including the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 726, located in Staten Island; ATU 1056 in Queens; the Sheet Metal Air Railroad Transportation Workers Association and the Association of Commuter Rail Employees joined in the effort Wednesday. The advocates are calling on members of the New York State Assembly and Senate to ensure the aforementioned amendment, which is already part of Gov. Andrew Cuomos proposal, would become part of the final adopted budget. Union leaders previously voiced support for the legislation, which would expand the list of protected transit workers from train and bus operators, signal persons and terminal cleaners to include customer assistance personnel, signal system repairers, track cleaners and supervisors. By upgrading the penalty for spitting on one of these workers from a violation, punishable only by fine, to a misdemeanor, authorities would be able to give an offender up to one year in prison. Its outrageous that someone can spit on a bus operator and the police who respond to the scene cant do anything, said ATU Local 726 President Danny Cassella. It makes no sense. We are calling on the state Legislature to fix this, once and for all. We come to work to do a job, and thats to get people to their destinations safely, not get assaulted and abused, said Local 100 President Tony Utano. We need help from the state Legislature, and we need it now. Analysts at Shore Capital don't expect the tech giant to take the market by storm Amazon.com Inc ( ) has opened a till-less store in London which could be the start of a gradual revolution, a City broker suggested. The cash and cardless shop, where customers connect to the shelves by logging into their Amazon account via smartphone, represents another stepping-stone in the tech giants plan to take a major role in the British grocery market. Looking at its progress to date, any such move is likely to be after quite a few steps, so we are not suggesting leaps and bounds at this stage, analysts at Shore Capital commented. However, the whole British food system would be wise to take note of Amazons physical store opening and set their mindset around this being a major player in the sector at some stage through this decade. In fact, the e-commerce behemoth has expanded UK food operations in what the broker deemed a patient and rather delicate manner, in collaboration with ( ) and . The phase one of the physical stores rollout the first ones outside of the US is understood to involve 25-30 sites, although ShoreCap reckons Amazon plans to grab market share through acquisitions. Such M&A activity is not likely to us to be in the pure-play arena, where Amazons lack of focus displays interesting perspectives on the poor economics of centralised fulfilment; rather as with the US (where it acquired Whole Food Markets), the acquisition of a British supermarket chain analysts commented. Which chain could that be? Well it may be many from Tesco to Booths, the latter of which also trades with Amazon, albeit the strongest commercial relations if current game-theory is applied would lead one to suggest Morrisons, where a formal commercial agreement exists. In fact, Morrisons is expected to be the major supplier of product into the Ealing Amazon Fresh outlet. However, shares in the British chain were flat at 171.7p on Thursday at noon, while landlord Company PLC ( ), which owns the store, rose 2% to 514p. Amazon, instead, shed 3% to US$3,005 in premarket trading. Restaurant owners said the more than $1.6 million that will come from the state for the hospitality industry in the county will help them keep operating. The commissioners announced last week the county would receive $1,601,084 from the state to help restaurants, bars, hotels and motels survive the coronavirus pandemic. It is part of $145 million transferred from the state Workers Compensation Security Fund under Act 1 of 2021, with other funds going to the state Department of Education for schools and the state Department of Human Services for rental and utility assistance. Carmelo Valenti, owner of Carmelo's Roman Delight outside Orwigsburg, said he thinks the money is "great" for restaurants that have had to either shut down or alter their operations due to the pandemic. "It's nice that they recognize us," he said. "Any time they can lend a hand, it's good." Friedensburg Country Restaurant owner Christopher Clauser said the money is "a lifeline" for his business, adding that he hopes it is given out fairly to everyone in the county. "Getting any extra money will allow us to be able to grow, hire new employees and sustain the business," he said. John Challenger, co-owner of Crimson House in Pottsville, said he is excited about the relief money. "As soon as I found out how to apply, I will do it," he said Monday. "Last year was a struggle and any help is appreciated." Valenti said any funding he receives will go towards payroll and daily operations, adding the restaurant's full-time employees continued working during the pandemic. "This money is no exception," he said, adding that he employs 20 people full-time and 20 people part-time. Challenger also said he plans to use the money towards payroll, mortgages and utilities at the restaurant. Clauser said he would use the money not only for payroll and daily expenses, but for the extra expenses incurred related to the pandemic, including purchasing extra cleaning supplies, putting up plexiglass on counters and buying face masks for employees. Savas Logothetides, who owns Wheel Restaurant in Pottsville and Tamaqua and co-owns Charlie's Pizza and Subs in Pottsville, said the money is "much needed" industrywide. "My hope is that it will have a seamless and transparent application and disbursement of funds," he said. "It is important to get this money to as many restaurants in the county as possible and as quickly as possible." The owners said the public has been supportive throughout the pandemic. Valenti said he is grateful to his customers for supporting not only Roman Delight but other businesses. Clauser also said his restaurant has had "very good" support from customers. "People have left us extra tips because they knew the restaurant industry was struggling," Clauser said. Businesses eligible to receive the money have to have less than 300 full-time employees and a net worth of under $15 million. Individual grants cannot be less than $5,000 or exceed $50,000. Leaders say money needed Business and tourism leaders said this week they feel the money will be beneficial to an industry that has taken a big hit from the pandemic. Explore Schuylkill Executive Director Gina Gargano said the hospitality industry has not only been hit the hardest, but expects it will be the slowest to come back from the pandemic. "Overall, the tourism industry is expected to recover by 2024," she said. "This money is super duper needed." The various restrictions imposed on the restaurant and lodging industry by state officials, which Gargano said change constantly, have been hard for those businesses to cope with and leaves them with a lot of uncertainty. Depending on what they are, she said they can affect supply and staffing. Gargano said the county's lodging rate has been down and in line with the 41% decline in visits to hotels statewide, but expects when the weather gets warmer, more people will visit the county recreationally. Explore Schuylkill will make sure information on the relief money is relayed to members and the public, she said. Pottsville Business Association President Dave Clews said the money will help businesses in the hospitality industry stay open. "Hopefully it will allow them to bring back their inventory and get them caught up to where they were pre-pandemic," he said. 2021 American Eagle Gold Proof Coin Obverse, Classic Design WASHINGTON The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for 2021 American Eagle Gold Proof Coins on March 11 at noon EST. This is the last year these coins will be offered with the current designs. American Eagle Gold Proof Coins are collector versions of the official United States Mint American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins. Struck in 22-karat gold at the West Point Mint, the coins obverse (heads) features a version of Augustus Saint-Gaudens full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. Its reverse (tails) features a male eagle carrying an olive branch, flying above a nest containing a female eagle and eaglets. Available product options are below. PRODUCT CODE: 21EB, PRODUCT OPTION: One Ounce Coin, PRODUCT LIMIT: 4,500, MINTAGE LIMIT: 12,700 PRODUCT CODE: 21EC, PRODUCT OPTION: One-Half Ounce Coin, PRODUCT LIMIT: 1,600, MINTAGE LIMIT: 9,800 PRODUCT CODE: 21ED, PRODUCT OPTION: One-Quarter Ounce Coin, PRODUCT LIMIT: 2,700, MINTAGE LIMIT: 10,900 PRODUCT CODE: 21EE, PRODUCT OPTION: One-Tenth Ounce Coin, PRODUCT LIMIT: 8,000, MINTAGE LIMIT: 16,200 PRODUCT CODE: 21EF, PRODUCT OPTION: Four-Coin Set, PRODUCT LIMIT: 8,200, MINTAGE LIMIT: N/A The product limit is the total available for a product option, while the mintage limit represents the total coins produced for each denomination, including those contained in the four-coin set. All product options are packaged in a satin-lined burgundy velvet presentation case that is housed inside a burgundy outer box. All options include a Certificate of Authenticity. American Eagle Gold Proof Coins are priced according to the range in which they appear on the Mints Pricing of Numismatic Gold, Commemorative Gold, and Platinum and Palladium Products table. Current pricing information is available at: https://catalog.usmint.gov/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-usm-site-catalog-us/default/dw48d354aa/images/PDFs/2021-Pricing-Grid.pdf. Orders are limited to one per household for the first 24 hours of sales. To sign up for Remind Me alerts, visit: https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2021-one-ounce-gold-proof-coin-21EB.html?cgid=2021-product-schedule (product code 21EB) https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2021-one-half-ounce-gold-proof-coin-21EC.html?cgid=2021-product-schedule (product code 21EC) https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2021-one-quarter-ounce-gold-proof-coin-21ED.html?cgid=2021-product-schedul e (product code 21ED) https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2021-one-tenth-ounce-gold-proof-coin-21EE.html?cgid=2021-product-schedule (product code 21EE) https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2021-gold-proof-four-coin-set-21EF.html?cgid=2021-product-schedule (product code 21EF) To mark the 35th Anniversary of the American Eagle Coin Program, the Mint will release American Eagle Gold Coins featuring an exciting new reverse design in the summer of 2021. Check the 2021 Product Schedule at https://catalog.usmint.gov/product-schedule/2021 for the on-sale date when available. To learn more about our 2021 American Eagle Coin Program, visit: https://catalog.usmint.gov/coin-programs/american-eagle/?cm_sp=ST5-_-aegoldcombo-aelp-_-081420&scp=AEFLAG#start=1. About the United States Mint Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nations sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers. Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of March 11, 2021, at noon EST. To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mints sales centers are closed until further notice. Additionally, due to operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, our customer service representatives are available to assist with any questions you may have, but are unable to accept credit card information or place your order over the phone. Please use our website for all order placements at this time. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Visit https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/american-eagle for more information about American Eagle Gold Proof Coins. Visit https://www.usmint.gov/about for information about the United States Mint. Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information on shipping options. Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/email-signup to subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases, and public statements. Sign up for RSS Feeds from the United States Mint and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. # # # United States Mint Connecting America through Coins New Delhi: India is capable of tackling any kind of security challenge, be it the sea or borders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted amid the standoff with China in Doklam. Without naming China or the two-month-long Doklam standoff, he said the countrys security is a priority for his government and that soldiers are deployed to protect the borders effectively. In his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, Modi referred to last years surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) and said the world has realised the mettle of Indias security forces. It is clear that security of our country is our priority. Internal security is our priority. Be it sea or borders, be it cyber or space, India is capable of tackling every security challenge, he said. Our army, our bravehearts, every personnel in uniform and not only the Army, Navy, the IAF, have shown their capability and grit whenever there was a situation. Our heroes never shied away from sacrifices, he said. The prime minister said the personnel in uniform were always ready to combat any kind of challenges facing the countrybe it Left-wing extremism, terrorism, infiltration or tackling those trying to foment trouble inside the country. Be it Left-wing extremism, terrorism, be it infiltration or be it tackling the forces trying to foment trouble inside, our people in uniform have always given sacrifices, he said. He asserted that there will be no soft approach towards terrorism or terrorists and the government is determined to rid the country of this menace. At the same time, he said the government has given an opportunity to the terrorists to join the national mainstream. We have told terrorists you come to the mainstream, you have right to talk inside the countrys democratic system. Only the mainstream can fill the energy in every ones life, he said. The prime minister said that in its fight against terrorism, India is getting support from other countries. Also Read | PM Modi Independence Day Speech: '18 lakh people, Rs 1.75 lakh cr deposits under scrutiny' You will be happy to know that we are not alone in fight against terrorism. So many countries have been actively helping us. If there is hawala transaction, the world is giving us information, the world is giving us details about movement of terrorists, he said. I want thank all those countries which are cooperating with India in fighting the menace and this cooperation is giving strength in ensuring overall peace and security, Modi said. Due to efforts of the security forces, particularly in areas under Left-wing extremism, a large number of youth have surrendered and made efforts to come to the mainstream, he said. Indias stature in the world is rising. The world is with us in fight against terror. I thank all nations helping us doing so, he said. Modi said a website is being launched to give information about security personnel who have contributed significantly towards the country. The prime minister also referred to implementation of one-rank, one-pension scheme for defence personnel. Also Read: Music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman dedicate new song to army men For last 30, 40 years, the issue of one-rank, one-pension was pending. When the government fulfils the demand, when the government heeds to wishes of the armed forces, then their resolve to give sacrifices for the country increases, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. ARCHIVED - Mediterranean regions of Spain determined to keep visitors out at Easter Madrid seems isolated in opposing an Easter travel ban to avoid a fourth wave of the pandemic It had been widely expected that the Spanish government would announce on Thursday that inter-regional travel will be prohibited over the Easter holidays in an effort to prevent a fourth wave of coronavirus infection, but having failed to gain the support of all 17 of the regional governments the decision has now been postponed for another week. The main objector in the talks concerning Easter is the region of Madrid, where the regional authorities are doubtless aware that millions of the inhabitants traditionally take part in a mass exodus from the capital as madrilenos head for the Costas. But what does seem clear is that the Mediterranean coastal regions of Catalunya, the Comunidad Valenciana, the Balearics, Murcia and Andalucia are determined to remain closed, frustrating hopes that the tourism sector might be partially re-activated but at the same time guarding against consequences similar to those which were seen after the relaxation of pandemic restrictions during Christmas and the New Year. It is worth remembering that at present the highest rate of infection in Spain is in Madrid, where a 14-day accumulated incidence rate of 261 makes it the only region still classified as being at extreme risk. At the same time, it appears that the national government is keen to avoid a repeat of the Christmas holidays, when 17 different sets of rules were in force in the 17 Autonomous Communities of Spain, hence the decision to postpone any announcement in the hope of gaining the support of Madrid. The governments intention, though, has been made abundantly clear by Carolina Darias, the Minister for Health, who stated that the aim is to save lives, not to save weeks. One of the most vocal supporters of maintaining the ban on inter-regional travel is Ximo Puig, the president of the regional government in the Comunidad Valenciana, and he has already contacted his counterparts in the neighbouring regions of Murcia, the Balearics, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon and Catalunya to ensure their support. Sr Puig justifies his initiative on the grounds that no one region can be allowed to jeopardize the efforts which continue to be made by the inhabitants of the Comunidad Valenciana, and similar sentiments have been expressed by Fernando Lopez Miras in the Region of Murcia. The incidence rate in Valencia has dipped below 100 for the first time in many months, but with the vaccination campaign progressing frustratingly slowly Sr Puig believes that it is not prudent to remove all restrictions on movement within Spain before the summer. In all likelihood the Valencia president will get his way and visitors will not be permitted from other regions during Semana Santa, and if Madrid insists on being the only region not to ban travel it will theoretically make no difference as residents will be prohibited from entering other regions although they might be allowed to leave their own; the most likely outcome is that as Madrid's largest neighbour, Castilla La Mancha has already expressed its hope that Madrid will act responsibly and confine its citizens, the region of Madrid will find itself marooned as an island amidst a sea of closed borders, with its residents unable to enter any other region although theoretically, they can leave their own. What is at stake, though, is the national governments ability to achieve a consensus among the 17 regional administrations, and in this sense the Madrid president, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, appears bent on making it as difficult as possible (as she has done throughout the crisis on several major issues). Indias pursuit of iron-clad national security and global status ambitions makes it annually import as much as $20 billion of weapons Mohamed Reza Pahlavi, the second and last Shah of Iran from the Pahlavi dynasty, was the son of an Iranian gunnery sergeant who managed to seize control of that country in 1925 and crown himself king. Like Rajput kings who gave themselves extravagant genealogies of being descended from the sun or the moon, Mohammed Reza gave himself a 2,500-year-old lineage descending from Cyrus the Great. To him the surest and simplest way to greatness was to use Irans new petro-dollar millions to buy the latest weapons that money can buy. Iran then was a low-income country, but the Shahs vision was soaring. The Americans encouraged him. The US Air Force and the Navy loved him for he helped to defray the cost of development of new weapons. Flushed with his weapons. he grandiosely announced that after the two superpowers, Iran was the greatest military power and, encouraged by the United States, he appointed himself as the keeper of peace and order in the near region. Reza Pahlavis megalomania blinded him to the reality of Iran and a man called Ayatollah Ruhollah Nasrollah Khomeini, a Shia theologian who was banished to a Paris suburb. We know what happened next. This should be a lesson in history for all those strategists who think that weapons confer status. Indias diplomatic and military establishment seems gripped by grandiose visions of an India sitting on global high tables like the UN Security Council. Indias new middle classes blithely talk about India becoming a superpower, and against this rising tide few are willing to question why? Recent studies reveal that as much as 70 per cent of Indian households make do without the minimum standards evolved by international bodies like the UNDP to be considered above the poverty standard. Indias own poverty line is indeed a starvation line that prescribes a minimum caloric norm. Even by that self-serving standard, a quarter of India is excruciatingly poor. And not only is India poor, it is also economically backward, with a relatively small manufacturing base supporting a disproportionately large service sector, giving it the economic profile of a post-industrial society like the US or Europe. We mostly miss the irony of looking post-industrial without having industrialised! Indias pursuit of iron-clad national security and global status ambitions makes it annually import as much as $20 billion, or Rs 120,000 crores, of weapons, putting us in a league of our own. Our military leaders want even more and to this extent they now have a vested interest in weapons acquisitions. Most of our other engineering imports are to facilitate domestic production, either as plant and machinery or as components. Thus, they contribute to overall value addition. Military hardware imports are a one-way street and the only ones who benefit by it are the exporting economies. In the next decade alone, India will import over $200 billion of weapons. Consider this. This is the kind of money that can gives us a brand-new high-speed rail quadrilateral or 10 new world-class cities of 10 million people each. If we factor in the militarys wishlist, then we are really looking at infinity. And much of what is being planned for acquisition is not even required. Take, for instance, the French Dassault Rafale fighter-bomber. Each of these aircraft will cost at least Rs 1,600 crores and the IAF wants 126 of them. It just got 36 of them for now. Not being satisfied with this, the IAF is thinking ahead and is said to be contemplating large numbers of an even more costly fighter -- the American F-35. This will be in addition to the 272 SU30MKI fighter-bombers the IAF is in the process of inducting. Those who are knowledgeable will argue that the SU30MKI confers far greater lethality than the Rafale and costs about Rs 650 crores. Hence, why even buy Rafales? This is the exact question then defence minister Manohar Parrikar had posed. Besides, the SU30MKIs are already being assembled by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at Nashik and its AI-31FP turbofan engines at Koraput. Then lets consider what is the aircraft the IAF needs to urgently replace. Its the now outdated MiG-21 series. The MiG-21 is described as a frontal aviation aircraft designed mainly to intercept enemy aircraft and on occasion to drop small bombs and conduct ground attacks. It has a very limited range and endurance. The logical replacement for the MiG-21 is another light single-engine interceptor such as the Tejas LCA or even the more expensive Saab Gripfen, but not an expensive heavy twin-engine long-range fighter-bomber. Empirical evidence suggests that the survival ability of a twin-engine fighter is not better than a single engine fighter in a conflict. It gives it a bigger load carrying capacity and more range. But single engine fighters like the Gripen also have good range now. As the Pakistan Air Force showed in the post-Balakot engagement, good radar and better missiles even on an old platform like the F-16 can be more than a match for heavy fighters without them. More than numbers, India needs a strategy to keep the Chinese deterred. This strategy must threaten to disrupt Chinas economic interests and inflict huge costs on any Himalayan adventure, not just in the Himalayas but also in other theatres of our choosing. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army might have the advantage of interior lines in Tibet and Xinjiang, but the IAF and the Indian Army maintain bases and formations close to the border on the plains, giving them several tactical advantages. Just adding more troops and calling them strike formations makes little sense, as high-altitude battlefields require acclimatisation and the conflicts in all probability will be long over before they can be deployed in battle. India can never match China in the numbers game alone. To deter China, it has to show the willingness and ability to impose disproportionate costs. We must consider scenarios like this. China operates almost 20 airfields in Xinjiang, Tibet and Yunnan, from which the PLAAF can target IAF airbases in the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins. Each of these airbases is alongside a major population centre. Chinas home areas are deep in its hinterland. Do we have a plan to counter target them? Its very easy to become a Shah with poor peoples money. Clearly, India doesnt need to be inspired by a Shah. However, it does need to be inspired by Chanakya or even Sun Tzu. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Congress on Wednesday passed the 'George Floyd Bill' to ban controversial policing tactics, as the city of Minneapolis braced itself for the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of killing him. Chauvin's trial begins with jury selection beginning on Monday - a process that could take up to three weeks. He will be tried separately from the three other former Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's death. Their trial is in August. Derek Chauvin will be tried at Hennepin County Government Center from Monday Floyd died on May 25 after he was arrested for using a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis and Chauvin (right) placed his knee on Floyd's neck Officers involved in Floyd's death, L-R: Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao Floyd, 46, an African-American man, died when he was detained with Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nearly eight minutes. His killing sparked weeks of nationwide and global protests, many of which were led by Black Lives Matter activists. Downtown Minneapolis has begun boarding up businesses, ahead of one of the most high-profile trials in years. The City Center shopping mall is reusing plywood barricades erected during the summer's protests, and the managers will add more private security and likely reduce hours during the trial, The Star Tribune reported. Businesses and government buildings are seen boarded up in Minneapolis on Wednesday Barricades, razor wire and barbed wires fences are seen in front of the courthouse The area surrounding the courthouse has been reinforced ahead of the March 8 trial Steve Cramer, president of the Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District, encouraged business owners to have faith in authorities. 'Downtown will continue to fully function during this period, and that's largely a result of a really thorough preparation,' he said. Yet the city's Community Planning and Economic Development department warned business owners to take emergency precautions and make sure insurance policies are up to date. 'You might want to consider adding physical barriers, such as boarding or permanent security gates,' said Erik Hansen, Economic Policy and Development Director, at a recent news conference. As Minneapolis prepared for the trial, in Washington DC the House of Representatives passed the bill through a vote 220-212, with the support of only one Republican. Officially known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, it now moves to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain. Protesters outside the site of Floyd's killing, the day after the 46-year-old died A woman weeps outside the George Floyd memorial on May 20, four days after he was killed A man takes a photo of protest signs in Los Angeles on June 3 during the George Floyd protests 'How many more people have to die, how many more people have to be brutalized on videotape' before police reforms become law, asked Democratic Representative Karen Bass, who wrote the legislation with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler. She said the bill would hold police 'accountable' when constitutional rights are violated but would also support local law enforcement by fostering improvements in community policing, especially for minority neighborhoods. One of its most controversial provisions would change 'qualified immunity' for police, further opening the door for lawsuits over the use of excessive force. Reuters in May 2020 published an investigation revealing how qualified immunity, with the Supreme Court's continual refinements, had made it easier for police officers to kill or injure civilians with impunity. Conservative Republicans have attacked the Democratic bill, saying it would put law enforcement lives in danger and make communities less safe. The police reform effort sputtered in Congress last summer after the House passed the so-called George Floyd bill and Democrats blocked a Senate Republican bill. While it also addressed issues such as police choke holds, no-knock warrants and use of police body cameras, Democrats complained it relied on incentives rather than mandating changes. Senator Tim Scott, the author of the Republican bill, told Reuters in a statement he welcomed conversations with Democrats over qualified immunity. Sweeping election reform bill passes the House to update voting procedures and require states to turn over the task of redrawing congressional districts to independent commissions The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed an election reform bill on Wednesday, which they argue is essential to expanding voting access and improving accountability and transparency in Washington. The bill is one of a handful which have been singled out as priorities - such as the Equality Act, and the George Floyd police reform bill. Officially known as HR1, the election reform bill would update voting procedures and require states to turn over the task of redrawing congressional districts to independent commissions. The bill passed by a mostly bipartisan vote of 220 to 210. John Sarbanes, the Maryland congressman who sponsored the bill, said it was 'designed to restore the voices of Americans who felt left out and locked out for too long.' Nancy Pelosi is seen on Wednesday speaking to support the bill, known as HR1 House Democrats are seen gathering on the steps of Congress on Wednesday He added: 'I don't think the urgency has ever been greater. 'When you look at what Republicans are doing across the country in statehouses to roll back access to the ballot box, we need to do what we can to establish baseline standards and best practices that allow people to register and vote in America without it being an obstacle course for them.' House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, another Maryland Democrat, said: 'We believe that HR 1 needs to pass because the Republican state legislators, concerned about their losses, either in their own states or in the country, are again upping their efforts to make it more difficult for people to vote.' Republicans, however, argue that the legislation limits political speech and represents an overreach and a federal power grab that Democrats are advancing in an effort to gain an advantage in elections. House Republicans have urged their members to vote against it. HR1 has been described by supporters as a way of holding Washington accountable HR1 is designed to improve electoral access for U.S. citizens and look at Congressional districts President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill into law if it cleared both the House and the Senate. But the bills face long odds in the Senate, where all 48 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them would need to be joined by 10 Republican senators to overcome a filibuster. 'We're going to do everything in our power - I think Chuck Schumer's going to do everything in his power - to make sure that the agenda that we are working on and promised the people will in fact be the agenda we put forward and hopefully pass,' said Hoyer. Already, some Democrats have trained fire on the filibuster and called for its elimination. Hoyer called it 'undemocratic' on Tuesday, while James Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat, described how it had been used to deny rights to black citizens. A move to destroy the filibuster would face severe opposition. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has repeatedly said he would 'never' vote to get rid of it, while Biden has said he opposes overturning it. Some Democrats have suggested a compromise of a carve-out could be possible. Electoral officials are seen counting votes in Philadelphia on November 4 Asked about the possibility of a carve-out for voting rights issues, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock told a reporter on Tuesday: 'I think that the issues are urgent enough to leave all options on the table.' The bill has particular importance this year because the U.S. Census Bureau is set to turn over population data states use to redraw congressional district maps ahead of the 2022 elections, in which every House lawmaker's seat is up for grabs. States use different criteria and procedures for drawing the maps. In 33 states, state legislatures control at least part of the process, the National Conference of State Legislatures says. Parties in control of state legislatures have often wielded the power to draw the maps in a way that benefits the party in power. Some states have also used this process to target black voters. The measure also comes as lawmakers in 43 states have introduced legislation to place more limits on voting, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Several states, including Georgia, where Warnock and Democrat Jon Ossoff were elected in a political upset in January, have since introduced legislation to change election procedures that activists say make it harder for people to vote. [March 04, 2021] Longtime Protective Acquisitions Leader Nancy Kane to Retire, Protective Treasurer Lance Black Named as Successor Protective Life Corporation (Protective), a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750), today announced that Nancy Kane, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Corporate Development, has decided to retire from the company after a long and distinguished career, effective June 18, 2021. Lance Black, who joined Protective in 2003 and currently serves as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Stable Value Products, will assume Ms. Kane's role and responsibilities as Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Corporate Development. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005315/en/ Nancy Kane, EVP, Acquisitions & Corporate Development, Protective Life Corporation (Photo: Business Wire) Throughout her career with Protective, Ms. Kane has held various responsibilities for bank and debt financing, securitization and acquisition transactions. Since she became responsible for the Company's acquisitions business segment in 2013, Protective closed its four largest transactions, representing an estimated capital investment of approximately $4 billion. Ms. Kane joined Protective as Senior Associate Counsel in 1997. Prior to that, she was an Associate with Debevoise and Plimpton in New York, practicing in the areas of corporate and securities law. "In Nancy's time with Protective, the company has grown dramatically, and acquisitios have been a key driver of our success," said Rich Bielen, Protective President & Chief Executive Officer. "Beyond the significant earnings contribution the acquisition segment represents, Nancy's leadership has helped us reach more customers through new distribution channels and placed us in a strong position for continued growth. We appreciate her countless contributions and wish her well in retirement." Ms. Kane is also a distinguished leader in the community, having served on many charitable and civic boards, including the Children's Aid Society and Foundation, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, Heart Gallery Alabama, and MOMENTUM, Building Leadership in Women, of which she is currently president. Throughout his 18 years with Protective, Mr. Black has developed experience and expertise that will position him well for his new role, including serving as Treasurer since 2007. In 2013, he assumed responsibility for the Stable Value Products Division. In these roles, Mr. Black works closely with key external partners, including rating agencies, while leading asset/liability management for the company. Other responsibilities include capital raising and cash management for the corporate holding company and subsidiaries. He previously served as the Vice President of Investment Strategy for Protective, a role he assumed in 2003. Prior to joining Protective, Mr. Black spent more than a decade at Wachovia Corporation (now Wells Fargo (News - Alert) ). Mr. Black is also active in the community, representing Protective on the board of the Hope Institute, of which he is Treasurer. He also serves on the boards of Young Business Leaders and Crown Ministries of North Alabama. "Our acquisitions expertise continues to be a very important strategic capability and competitive advantage for our business, and Lance's expertise will position him to excel in this new role," Bielen continued. "Lance assumes leadership of our strong, cross-functional acquisitions team, and we are confident in their ability to continue advancing this important part of our business." Black will formally assume responsibilities upon Kane's retirement on June 18, 2021. He will report to Bielen. About Protective Life Corporation Protective Life Corporation (Protective) provides financial services through the production, distribution and administration of insurance and investment products throughout the U.S. Protective traces its roots to its flagship company, Protective Life Insurance Company - founded in 1907. Throughout its more than 110-year history, Protective's growth and success can be largely attributed to its ongoing commitment to serving people and doing the right thing - for its employees, distributors, and most importantly, its customers. Protective's home office is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and its 3,400+ employees work across the United States. As of December 31, 2020, Protective had assets of approximately $127 billion. Protective Life Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750). For more information about Protective, please visit www.Protective.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005315/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New EU rules will force large companies to publish annual statistics on the pay differences between women and men and be open about pay scales when recruiting new staff. In a draft law published yesterday, the European Commission said firms with more than 250 workers should publish annual, anonymised figures on the gender pay gap, including bonuses and benefits. They should also reveal the proportion of men and women in each pay band. Read More Smaller companies will also be obliged to provide the same information to employees, but only on request. They will not be required to make it public. Women must know whether their employers treat them fairly. And when this is not the case, they must have the power to fight back and get what they deserve, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The EU says entrenched gender bias around pay is one of the main reasons women in the EU earn 14pc less than men, on average. In Ireland, the pay gap was 14.4pc in 2018, according to Eurostat, but rose to over 20pc in Estonia and Germany. The EU believes the figures would be even higher if public sector workers were stripped out. Commission vice-president Vera Jourova said the rules are heavily needed because there has been very little progress on closing the gender pay gap, with only a 2pc improvement over the last five years. The proposal aims to tackle the systemic undervaluation of womens work which has persisted despite the right to equal pay being laid down in EU law for more than 60 years. Under the rules, employers will be prevented from asking interviewees about their pay history and must inform applicants about pay ranges prior to any job interview. They wont be able to include pay confidentiality clauses in employment contracts. Average pay differences of 5pc or more will trigger a company-wide pay assessment and could lead to compensation claims being taken through the courts. However, all fines and penalties would be left up to national authorities to decide, with equality bodies and employee organisations closely involved. Siptu said the rules will not help eliminate pay differences and must be changed to remove the 250-employee threshold. While the directive aims to reduce secrecy on pay, it does not provide the practical tools necessary to negotiate and address the glaring pay inequalities that exist for women workers, said Siptu deputy general secretary Ethel Buckle. "If recent rates of progress are anything to go by the women of Europe and Ireland will have to wait another four generations for equal pay. That is not acceptable. Currently, 13 EU countries have binding pay transparency rules in place. Leo Varadkars government published a Gender Pay Gap Information Bill in 2019, which was recently reintroduced and is currently awaiting Government amendments. The EU pay transparency measures will be reviewed in the context of the bill and existing policy on addressing the gender pay gap, said a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald urged the government to act promptly, so that Ireland can lead the EU in this field. The imperative lies with the government. The EU draft will have to be agreed by the blocs 27 governments and a majority of the European Parliaments 705 MEPs before it can become law. EU countries would then get two years to translate it into national law. However, a nine-year-old proposal to have a minimum of 40pc women on company boards has been blocked because of opposition from a slew of countries including Nordic states that have their own binding rules in place. Protesters clash with police at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) FBI Dividing Pro-Trump Ralliers Involved in Capitol Breach Into 3 Different Groups: Wray FBI Director Christopher Wray said the agency is dividing pro-Trump ralliers and those who engaged in rioting during the Capitol breach into three different groups, while suggesting that the majority of protesters on Jan. 6 were peaceful. Wray, in a Senate hearing this week, suggested that most of the rally-goers on Jan. 6 were peaceful. The first groupthe largest group, the group that we need to spend the least time talking aboutis peaceful, maybe rowdy, protesters, but who werent violating the law, he told lawmakers. The second group consists of individuals who might have come to the rally to peacefully protest but got caught up in the events of the day. A second group that is people who may have come intending to just be part of a peaceful protest, but either got swept up inin the motive, or emotion, or whatever, engaged in kind of low-level criminal behavior, Wray remarked. Crimes include trespassing on Capitol grounds but not actually reaching the building and breaching it. Describing these individuals as opportunistic, Wray noted that breaching the Capitol grounds is still criminal conduct. FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, in Washington, on March 2, 2021. (Mandel Ngan-Pool/Getty Images) The third group is the smallest numerically, and they breached the Capitol grounds and engaged in violence against law enforcement, who attempted to disrupt the members of Congress and the conduct of their constitutional responsibilities, Wray went on to say. Some of those people clearly came to Washington, we now know, with plans and intentions to engage in the worst kind of violence we would consider domestic terrorism, he added. And so, some of that coordination appears to have been coordinated travel, coordinated meeting up, coordinated in terms of what kind of gear they might be wearing or bringing with them, that kind of thing. The FBI director did not provide any specific numbers, but he said that about 300 people so far have been arrested in connection to the breach. Meanwhile, Jill Sanborn, an FBI counterterrorism official, told senators on Wednesday that she did not have any knowledge of suspects who were arrested in connection to the Jan. 6 incident having any firearms, as no firearms were recovered by law enforcement officials. Sanborn also said the only shooting during the breach was the officer-involved killing of protester Ashli Babbitt. Among those who died was Brian Sicknick, a 42-year-old Capitol Police officer who died from injuries sustained while on duty, according to Capitol Police. Sicknick actually died from natural causes following strokes, the D.C. Medical Examiners Office said on April 19. Editors Note: This article has been updated with new information about Sicknicks cause of death. Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: Assistant Service Operations Officer / Service Operations Officer in Sub Custody team wygaso z dniem 2021-04-02 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Nordea Bank Abp SA Oddzia w Polsce Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia oferty to: oferta zamieszczona przez pracodawce zostaa usunieta z naszej bazy ogoszeniodawca zakonczy proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc zgoszen rekruter zmodyfikowa tresc ogoszenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem url dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych zy adres WWW ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Administracja biurowa, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Administracja biurowa Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku Assistant Service Operations Officer / Service Operations Officer in Sub Custody team, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Assistant Service Operations Officer / Service Operations Officer in Sub Custody team Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: odz, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca odz Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne propozycje, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: Econolite Expands Texas Operations to Include Traffic Management Cabinet Manufacturing Econolite, the leader in one-stop-shop traffic management, today announced that it is expanding its Texas operations to include traffic management cabinet manufacturing at its Houston facilities primarily through increasing its local workforce. "Texas continues to be an important strategic growth market for Econolite and we are pleased to expand and strengthen our successful operations in the state," said Abbas Mohaddes, Econolite President and COO. "Adding traffic management cabinet manufacturing to our Houston facility is a reflection of our continued commitment to delivering world-class solutions to ongoing and prospective projects and services throughout Texas. This expansion in Houston will enhance our capabilities in helping our customers and partners while employing additional local workforce." The traffic management cabinet is an essential infrastructure component of a sinalized intersection that houses the intelligent traffic signal controller, sensors, and communications technologies that provide intersection and system traffic control and management. Econolite's Houston, TX, operations, established in 2018, support Econolite's ITS Traffic management systems and field maintenance services in Harris County and throughout the state of Texas. In addition, the company's Houston facility provides statewide warehousing, training, product testing, and repair programs. Econolite will continue to work closely with its distribution channel partner, Paradigm Traffic Systems (Arlington, TX), in achieving its expansion strategies. About Econolite Econolite's ITS solutions ease traffic congestion, provide safer mobility, and improve quality of life. As the one-stop-shop leader for traffic management systems, sensor products, and services, Econolite is committed to the advancement of connected and autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and cybersecurity. For more information, visit us at www.econolite.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005147/en/ 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. Tomorrow Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris will close the door for submissions to his document on the reform of Higher Education Authority (HEA) legislation. The minister opened consultations on February 23. In 10 days, he seeks to dismantle a governance system skilfully built up by Irish academic institutions over the 429 years since the foundation of Trinity College in 1592. The minister should pause for reflection. He proposes that the governing body of higher education institutions will comprise 12 people, with a majority of external members to ensure that there is credibility in the accountability role. There will be no more than four members from academic staff, non-academic staff, ex-officio and two students. The governing authority will be responsible for appointing the chief officer. The contrast with the TCD board on which I served for several terms is dramatic. The 11 board members elected from six senior academics, five junior academics, and three non-academic staff are reduced from 14 members elected by three constituencies, to the ministers favoured number of four, a 71pc decrease. Students fare only slightly better. Their reduction is only 50pc from four members today to two under the ministers proposals. A quarter of a million students and 18,000 staff at third level will have their rights of representation drastically reduced on university boards. The Provost of TCD will no longer be elected. How did the minister reach these dramatic conclusions? The Reform of Higher Education document refers to changes in emphasis over the years between academic dominated governance and corporate/business dominated governance. He discerns that in recent years the trend has been towards a higher level of external membership which are competency-based rather than representational. An OECD report back in 2004 was critical of the size of Irish university governing authorities, and recommended that they be reduced in size and that their membership reflect the skill set required to govern a university. In a previous round of consultations ending on September 30, 2019, on similar proposals by his predecessor, 34 submissions were received and these were generally positive. The task was taken up by a working group comprising departmental officials and representatives of the HEA and QQI. (QQI Quality and Qualifications Ireland is the national agency responsible for qualifications and quality assurance in higher education.) If the minister gets his way, Irish universities will cease to be collegiate, autonomous and democratic institutions. Irish university degrees are highly valued internationally and assessed by international external examiners. Our students gain access to renowned graduate schools across the world. Our research is published in international academic journals. Our universities are highly ranked in international assessments. Their accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Irish third-level qualifications attract FDI here. Our graduates play major roles in international organisations. The ministers preference for corporate/business dominated governance over academic dominated governance is bizarre in a country which had one of the biggest banking collapses relative to GDP in the world. The incompetence of senior bureaucrats, bankers themselves, bank regulators and bank auditors was legendary at the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry on which I sat. The cost of the bailout was 64bn and counting. To defray some of the cost of this corporate/business-model collapse, Irish universities increased student numbers by 31,000 between 2008 and 2014 with 4,500 fewer staff. The ministers next preference is for external membership which is competency-based rather than representational. There are over 60 academic departments in TCD. Senior academics have a searching international assessment to be elected Fellows of the college. They elect six members of the board of TCD. The non-Fellow academic staff, also recruited internationally, are typically young and ambitious and elect five members. This board constituency is highly competency-based. I have been a member of many boards and have not found the TCD board deficient by comparison. Attendances are close to 100pc at every meeting. Expenses are not claimed. Checks and balances are applied to the decisions of the college officers. TCD is the most autonomous Irish university and has the highest international ranking. The 34 submissions lodged by September 30, 2019, were generally positive. Deducting my entirely negative submission, we are thus dismantling a successful university governance system on the basis of the submissions of 33 people. It is disproportionate to undermine the education of 250,000 students and 18,000 staff at the behest of 33 people. Ireland, in the ministers proposals, is a narrow-minded country which cannot tolerate even one autonomous university. In the revised Article 3 of the Constitution resulting from the Good Friday Agreement, the Republic committed in harmony and friendship to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland in all the diversity of their identities and traditions. Scant regard has been paid to the diversity of the TCD identity and traditions in these one-size fits all proposals. The minister undermines one of the few institutions south of the Border which attracts the loyalties and affection of both communities in Northern Ireland. TCDs autonomy is protected in charters which predate the independence of the State. In another post-colonial society (the USA in 1809), the supreme court upheld the pre-independence charter of Dartmouth College against the governor of New Hampshire. Mr Harris seeks to undermine a UK charter in a manner which would be unlawful in the United States. The Cabinet should reject this attack and turn to Irelands real problems. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that few over-the-top (OTT) platforms show some kind of pornographic content at times and there should be a mechanism to screen such programmes. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to place before it the recent guidelines of the government to regulate social media platforms on Friday, when it would hear the plea of Amazon Prime Video's India head Aparna Purohit challenging the Allahabad High Court order rejecting her anticipatory bail in connection with FIRs lodged against her over web series 'Tandav'. "A balance has to be struck as some OTT platforms are also showing pornographic materials on their platforms," the bench, also comprising Justice R S Reddy, said. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Purohit, termed the case against her as 'shocking' saying this woman is an employee of Amazon and she is neither a producer nor an actor but still she has been made an accused in around 10 cases relating to the web series across the country. Tandav, a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood A-listers Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming recently. Purohit has been accused of an inappropriate depiction of Uttar Pradesh police personnel, Hindu deities and an adverse portrayal of a character playing the prime minister in the web series. Earlier, the apex court, on January 27, had declined to grant interim protection from any coercive action to Ali Abbas Zafar, Director of the web series, Purohit, producer Himanshu Mehra, the show's writer Gaurav Solanki and actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. It had said that they may seek bail from courts concerned in the FIRs lodged in connection with the web series. Now, Purohit has appealed to the top court against the Allahabad High Court's February 25 order declining anticipatory bail to her. A single judge bench of the High Court had said that Purohit had not been vigilant and has acted irresponsibly making her open to criminal prosecution in permitting streaming of a movie which is against the fundamental rights of the majority of citizens of this country and therefore, her fundamental right of life and liberty cannot be protected by grant of anticipatory bail to her in the exercise of discretionary powers of this court. While rejecting the plea, the high court had said that the applicant was earlier granted interim protection from arrest by another bench in a similar case but she was not cooperating with the investigation. The high court had observed, "Western filmmakers have refrained from ridiculing Lord Jesus or the Prophet but Hindi filmmakers have done this repeatedly and are still doing this most unabashedly with Hindu gods and goddesses." "This tendency on the part of the Hindi film industry is growing and if not curbed in time, it may have disastrous consequences for the Indian social, religious and communal order,? the high court had observed. On January 19, 2021, an FIR was lodged on the complaint of one Balbir Azad of Raunija village under Rabupura police station of Greater Noida. In the complaint, Azad alleged that the show depicted Uttar Pradesh and its police in a poor light. The complaint further alleged that the web series had deliberately denigrated Hindu gods and goddesses. Several other FIRs have also been lodged in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar and Delhi. After being entangled in fishing equipment for five months off the coast of South Carolina, a critically endangered whale died. Cottontail The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Sunday that a North Atlantic right whale known as "Cottontail" had been discovered dead around 15 miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach. Related Article: Endangered 2-Month-Old Baby Right Whale Found Dead In Florida Rescue Attempts In October 2020, the 11-year-old male whale was seen entangled in fishing gear off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. At the time, the Center for Coastal Studies' Marine Animal Entanglement Response team added tracking devices to the ropes entangling the whale to chart its movements by satellite and provide data for potential disentanglement attempts. They also managed to carefully remove some of the gears and equipment from the whale. According to the GARFO update, there was "a line over its head, exiting both sides of his mouth, stretching past his tail for around three to four body lengths." The whale was last seen alive off Florida's Treasure Coast over a week ago. Cottontail, however, died as a result of his injury before conservation officers were able to release him from the fishing gear. The animal's death is the latest in a series of "Unusual Mortality Events" (UME) among North Atlantic right whales in 2017. GARFO Officials also recorded 34 North Atlantic right whale deaths and 14 serious accidents in U.S. or Canadian waters over this time span, including Cottontail's death, according to the GARFO. Collisions with vessels-their habitat and transit paths often intersect with shipping lanes-and entanglement in fishing gear, according to the NOAA, are the major causes of the UME. Whales in Danger By the early 1890s, commercial whalers had hunted North Atlantic right whales to extinction. According to the GARFO, they are now one of the world's most endangered big whale populations, with only 400 individuals left. The GARFO said, "The 48 whales recorded so far in the UME constitute more than 10% of the population and is a major setback to the species' recovery." In addition to entanglement and vessel strikes, the whales, which are mainly found in the North Atlantic's coastal waters, face threats such as habitat loss, climate change, and increased underwater noise levels from human activity, both of which can disrupt their daily behavior and contact. According to NOAA Fisheries, North Atlantic right whales can weigh up to 140,000 pounds and reach up to 52 feet in length. While evidence on their total lifetime is small, these whales are expected to live to be about 70 years old. Furthermore, both female and male right whales tend to live just 45 and 65 years, respectively. According to researchers, this shorter longevity is due to aging caused by humans. Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events An accidental stranding involves a major die-off of any marine mammal species. It requires immediate action is described as an unusual mortality event (UME) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Understanding and researching marine mammal UMEs is critical because they may serve as indices of ocean health, providing insight into broader environmental problems that may affect human health. NOAA Fisheries formed the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events in 1991 to fulfill this task. With revisions to the MMPA amendments, the working group was formalized in 1992. ALSO READ: Whales and Dolphins Can Resist Cancer, and the Secret Lies in Their DNA Evolution! For the latest animal news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala's sudden announcement to "stay away from politics" weeks ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, has taken everyone by surprise. Since the move comes just a week after she appealed to the true loyalists of Jayalalithaa to unite to ensure that the AIADMK government is voted back to power in the April 6 assembly elections, netizens are busy exploring the reasons behind the move. Also read: Sasikala 'steps aside' from politics ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, says she never aspired for any post While some hailed Home Minister Amit Shah as the "Chanakya of politics" and pointed out that Sasikala's "game ended without even starting", others claimed that that the close aide of Jayalalithaa is only "staying away" not quitting from politics. Amit Shah: The "Chanakya of politics" 'Stalin shocked' Sasikala Retired.. EPS, OPS Surprised.. Stalin Shocked..@AmitShah Ji proved again that he is a great chanakya in politics.. Jeeva Uma (@JeevaUma_BJP) March 4, 2021 In her statement, Sasikala called for unity among the "true supporters" of late AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa to keep the "common enemy" DMK away from power. Twitterati wondered whether her move is solely to benefit the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the Assembly polls which will be held in a single-phase on April 6, 2021. Exploring the "game-plan", a social media user said that Sasikala's move is the most logical way to make "a formidable alliance" because whether she stands with or against the AIADMK, it would create trouble for the alliance. With Sasikala announcing exit from politics now deck is cleared for AIADMK - BJP - PMK - AMMK alliance. If this happens it will be formidable one. With DMK - Cong alliance nearly moving for divorce Tamil Nadu is becoming interesting daily. Seems Mota bhai playing card well. Ganesh (@me_ganesh14) March 3, 2021 The announcement came as a bolt out of the blue especially after her grand return from Bengaluru last month led to expectations that she would play a big role in the run-up to the elections in which the ruling AIADMK is eyeing a record third term. Some users claimed that she will be back after the 2021 Assembly polls as she never mentioned "quitting". Sasikala plays safe game...she knows very well AMMK cant even get 1 or 2 % of vote ,so she took back foot ... She will enter AIADMK after 2021 polls, pic.twitter.com/n85Aa5XPhF ganesh babu (@ganeshjayabalan) March 3, 2021 Political observers are also of the view that the AIADMK would benefit from the decision of Sasikala, whose bid to become Chief Minister in February 2017 came to nought with the Supreme Court sentencing her to four-year imprisonment in the Rs 66.65 crore assets case. "I will stay away from politics and keep praying my sister Puratchi Thalaivi (Jayalalithaa), whom I consider as God, and the Lord Almighty for the establishment of the golden rule of Amma," Sasikala said. The 69-year-old, considered a powerful confidante of Jayalalithaa and said to have enjoyed a say in party affairs, insisted she never yearned for power or authority. "I have never yearned for power or authority. I will be ever indebted to Puratchi Thalaivi and the people of Tamil Nadu," she said. The DMK, eyeing to capture power after being in the Opposition for ten years, are in talks with Congress over seat-sharing for the upcoming polls. After party leader Rahul Gandhi did not speak about the DMK alliance during his recent campaign in Tamil Nadu, it is speculated that there is a possible rift between the allies. The surprise announcement will come as a disappointment to DMK which was hoping that Sasikala's re-entry into politics will create confusion within the AIADMK. It came from no where MK Stalin can't have bad time than this.. now let's wait how congress moves after this.. #Sasikala #TNElection2021 https://t.co/E2e5HX60C5 tamilrasigan (@tamilrasigan5) March 3, 2021 Sasikala had earlier said she would be in active politics. (With PTI inputs) MODERN LIFE VALUE: WHAT MONEY CAN'T BUY by Stephen Bayley (Constable 18.99, 272 pp) We all hope to emerge soon from what the writer, critic and design guru Stephen Bayley calls The Great Isolation. What will we then want from our renewed lives? Bayleys latest book puts forward some answers. Partly, Value is a fiercely witty polemic directed at all those elements of the modern world he dislikes. Theres quite a long list of them. He hates the fashion industry: When death threatens to stalk the catwalk alongside leggy zonked-out models, a new Gucci handbag does not, perhaps, seem quite so important as it once did. Stephen Bayley has penned a new book urging readers to search for what is truly valuable. Pictured: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg He cant stand Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (a high-functioning dork) and hes not very keen on other tech entrepreneurs whom he describes as a mob of charmless money-grubbing predatory sociopaths. He has little time for brainless travel. As he puts it, Post-viral, flying to Prague for 9.99 for a p***-up with the boys on Friday night becomes very clearly the obscenity it always was. Business travel is, if anything, worse. Rheumy and dyspeptic lost souls assembling for a jet to Frankfurt at five in the morning with only a muffin for comfort, he remarks, are not an edifying sight. Its hard not to cheer at times as Bayley enthusiastically lays into everything from modern media (which dignify irrelevance and trivialise the important) to the iPhone (as sleek a conduit as you would ever want to traffic internet sewage). Its tempting to call him a Luddite, but he swiftly pre-empts any potential critics and is happy to embrace the title. VALUE: WHAT MONEY CAN'T BUY by Stephen Bayley (Constable 18.99, 272 pp) The original Ned Ludd was a semi-mythical figure who smashed the machinery that threatened his livelihood during the Industrial Revolution. If he were around today, hed be claiming that conversations are better than Twitter and books are better than e-readers. Hed be proclaiming vinyl is better than Spotify, and cinema is better than streaming. And Bayley would doubtless be in full agreement. However, his book is not all, or even mostly, entertaining invective. Its also a plea to readers to search out what is truly valuable. As Bayley writes, the highest forms of enjoyment are free. Or, at least, not very expensive. We can all of us be on the lookout for beauty which can be found in the most unexpected places. We can rediscover the satisfactions of simplicity and engage with the immediacy of the everyday. We can enjoy great art and also find value in ordinary things. If we are prepared to listen, places, buildings and objects have stories to tell . . . and it is valuable to hear them. During the Great Isolation we have grown used to people speculating about what we might expect when it comes to an end. Amusing, erudite, insightful and (just occasionally) so infuriating in its snooty dismissal of the more harmless delights of modern media you want to hurl it at the nearest wall, Value is one mans guide to what we should want to happen. The conclusion here, Bayley decides, is that there is not one. You just need to keep on asking questions. Cultivate the senses. And enjoy the mysterious glory of the everyday. Children across China participated in various themed activities, including sports challenges and parent-child games, over the last few days to celebrate the International Childrens Day, which falls on Tuesday this year. China established the day in 1949 and made it a full-day holiday for children under 14 in 1956 as an occasion to celebrate the spirit of youth Jun 01, 2021 05:38 PM The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) The initial batch of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility arrived in the country Thursday evening. The plane carrying 487,200 doses of the vaccine developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 7:10 p.m. The vaccines were then transferred to the Villamor Air Base where President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials personally welcomed the shipment's arrival. Executives from some member countries of the European Union were also invited in what Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. labeled as a "symbolic reception." In his speech, Duterte said the AstraZeneca delivery will further boost the country's ongoing immunization program, as he vowed the national government will work towards immediate vaccine distribution to communities. "On this note, I would like to appeal to all our kababayans [fellow countrymen], please get vaccinated against COVID-19 and be the government's partner in preventing the further spread of the disease," he said. "These vaccines are safe, and they are the key to reopening our society." Duterte also noted the delivery comes after the "highly successful" nationwide rollout of China's Sinovac vaccines. From the air base, the AstraZeneca vaccines were transported to Metropac, Marikina, its storage location prior to deployment. According to the Department of Health, distribution will immediately commence after repackaging. The AstraZeneca shipment was supplied by the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility, a global initiative that seeks to ensure nations' equitable access to coronavirus vaccines. The particular batch was developed in South Korea and donated by European nations. One AstraZeneca vial contains 10 doses, with the products to be stored inside temperature-controlled boxes, the DOH said. Who is it for? While there are no set protocols yet for the rollout prioritization of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Galvez said some doctors recommended it be given to senior healthcare workers. The WHO also recommends that priority be given to medical frontliners at higher risk of exposure, as well as old people. Galvez said the move will "offset" the limitations of China's Sinovac vaccine, the first to arrive in the country but was initially not recommended for those over 59 years old. READ: PH can expand age group recommendation for Sinovac vaccine once more data come in FDA "We want to offset those limitations by having this AstraZeneca available for our senior citizens," Galvez pointed out in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source. "'Yun po ang tinitingnan naming na anggulo, para at least, well protected po 'yung ating mga vulnerable na senior healthcare workers." [Translation: That's the angle we're looking at, so at least, our vulnerable senior healthcare workers will be protected.] Galvez said the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group will be meeting today regarding the matter. The WHO notes that the vaccine is not recommended for persons under 18 years old pending the results of further studies. However, Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, said the vaccine can be administered to "almost all of the population." It is also recommended for people with comorbidities, he added. But of course, for some of the population that may have specific requirements or vulnerabilities, we request or we advise the attending physicians to weigh the risk versus the benefits," he said. "But we still think that the benefits outweigh the risk as far as vaccinating all these populations are concerned with the AstraZeneca vaccine." Why a smaller shipment? Government officials earlier announced that the country was supposed to receive 525,600 doses of the vaccine from the British drug maker. Galvez explained that the smaller shipment was due to cargo limitations since the products are on board a commercial flight. This is a commercial airline, may mga pasahero po ito, so may mga restrictions po tayo sa mga packages, the vaccine czar said. Considering that it is commercial, so nagkaroon po sigurong limitations in terms of yung sa cargo. [Translation: This is a commercial airline, which has passengers, so there are restrictions for the packages. Considering that it is commercial, thats probably why we had limitations in terms of the cargo.] The AstraZeneca doses from the COVAX facility, a global initiative that seeks to ensure nations' equitable access to coronavirus vaccines, faced a slight delivery delay as it was earlier scheduled to come in on Monday. World Health Organization country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said this was due to logistical concerns. Abeyasinghe said that the Philippines will be receiving one of the largest consignments of COVAX vaccines in this first initial delivery. What about concerns of its lower efficacy vs. the South Africa variant? Initial studies showed the AstraZeneca vaccine provided only "minimal protection" against mild and moderate COVID-19 from the South Africa variant. OCTA Research fellow and molecular biologist Fr. Nicanor Austriaco even said the new variant dramatically decreases the AstraZeneca vaccine's efficacy from 70% to just 10%. But for Montoya, the most important thing now is to get inoculated as soon as possible. "Remember that in the Philippines, we do not have that big of a problem yet," the infectious disease expert said, referring to the new variant. "We think it's just in a few cases as of now, and hopefully it will be contained." He stressed mutations happen normally, but the likelihood of this happening will decrease if more people will get themselves vaccinated. "That is the basic principle. Vaccinate as many as we can to build immunity, so that it will reduce transmission, make people more immune to the viral infection, therefore, less chances of mutation and of course, the variants developing," he explained. Sharing the same position, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said he still believes AstraZeneca's claim that its vaccines can help prevent severe cases of the viral disease. "We can't always wait. There will always be mutations, and there will always be challenges here," he told CNN Philippines. "As it comes, we should take and vaccinate ourselves because the South African variant is just few and it's easily containable." He also expressed optimism that the arrival of the vaccines will help fast-track economic recovery. According to Concepcion, 2.6 million more AstraZeneca doses procured by the private sector are expected to arrive in the country in May to June. Of this, half will be used by businesses, while the other half will be donated to the government for the immunization of frontliners. [March 04, 2021] At Third Anniversary of Destruction of 4,000 Embryos, No Justice yet for 500 Families and UH Launches Attack on Privacy of Victims Three years after the 4,000-embryo destruction at University Hospitals (UH) Fertility Clinic (UHFC) that upended the lives of hundreds of Cleveland area and other Ohio families, UH is now fighting "tooth and nail" to avoid more than 500 families achieving justice, according to Cleveland law firm Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway (Peiffer Wolf). In fact, UH appears to be doubling down on its hardball tactics by "fertility shaming" and attempting to out the identity of couples who wish to remain anonymous. Peiffer Wolf has worked with scores of UH embryo-destruction victims, including the currently anonymous couples who are seeking to have their case heard by a jury. In an apparent effort to discourage these couples from proceeding, UH is insisting that their identities be publicly known, in a way that would be seen by family, work associates, friends, and, in future years, by their children. This "fertility shaming" and gross invasion of privacy is a switch in tactics for UH, which previously has respected the privacy of the victims who, by law, had privacy in their medical procedures leading up to the large-scale embryo destruction. Joseph Peiffer, managing partner and attorney, Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway, said: "UH has clearly decided to step up the pressure on victims by going nuclear in a fashion that can only be described as 'fertility shaming'. These couples entered the process with a full expectation of privacy and now UH is adopting a scorched-earth approach that would leave their privacy in tatters. Given the timing, one must ask if this genuinely cruel approach is a new direction being undertaken at the behest of new UH CEO Dr. Cliff Megerian." Peiffer also said: "It's unconscionable that there are still more than 500 families who are being strung along. When this happened three years ago, UHsaid that it would do whatever it took to make things right. To date, it has utterly failed to deliver on that promise. Where is the 'Art of Compassion' spoken of in UH's mission statement?" (You can see video-based comments from Joseph Peiffer here, here, here and here.) Leading IVF attorney Adam Wolf, who is a partner at Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway, said: "The eyes of the nation are upon the UH embryo-destruction scandal, which is one of the worst of its kind in U.S. history. The victims of UH don't need compassionate mission statements; they need accountability and closure. No medical institution - no matter how big it is and how much power it wields in a community - should be able to deny justice to the patients it so clearly has victimized." University Hospitals Fertility Clinic has admitted publicly that it "failed" in its handling of the embryo losses in March 2018. It initially under-reported the estimated number of lost embryos and eggs at 2,000, and it followed up weeks later with a more accurate number of 4,000. Since then, UH has disclosed additional information on what actually happened at the lab, including that the freezer tank needed preventative maintenance, that it was manually filling the malfunctioning tank from the top, that the embryology lab ran out of liquid nitrogen, and that the remote alarm on the affected tank, which was designed to alert UH staff to temperature fluctuations, was turned off. ABOUT PEIFFER WOLF The law firm Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway maintains offices in Cleveland, Youngstown, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Austin, and New Orleans. Peiffer Wolf has handled multiple cases in which fertility clinics were accused of either destroying or losing eggs and embryos. This is a highly technical area of law and science and, individuals seeking legal representation in the UH matter would be well advised to look to a law firm that has successfully handled such cases in the past. EDITOR'S NOTE: To learn more about the fight for justice for UH embryo destruction victims, go to https://www.uhembryolawsuit.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005791/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs announced that India will commemorate Chabahar Day on Thursday (March 4) on the margin of Maritime India Summit 2021. Ministers from over six countries, namely Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan will take part in the virtual meet. Transport minister of Afghanistan Qudratullah Zaki, Armenia's Infrastructure minister Suren Papikyan, Iran's Minister of Roads Mohammad Eslami, Russia's Deputy Minister of Industry Oleg N Ryazantsev, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Transport Choriyev Jasurbek Ergashevich and Indias Minister of State for ports Mansukh Mandaviya will be present at the virtual meet which will be addressed by S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of india. The External Affairs Minister emphasised upon the importance of regional connectivity and said, The Government of India, recognising the importance of regional connectivity, made a landmark decision to undertake an overseas port investment in Chabahar. While this project had been under discussion for some time, it was during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Iran in 2016 that a Trilateral Agreement to establish an International Transport and Transit Corridor that was signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan. The Chabahar port has not only emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region but also facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The port is part of our shared commitment towards peace, stability and prosperity of the people of Afghanistan. India has utilized the Chabahar port to ship 75,000 MT of wheat as humanitarian food assistance to Afghanistan in September 2020, Jaishankar added. Jaishankar also praised Uzbekistan and Afghanistans effort of joining this multilateral corridor project. The International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is an important trade corridor project, wherein India is partnering with 12 countries to establish an economic corridor for the benefit of our peoples. We also welcome the interest of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to join the multilateral corridor project, he said. Earlier, while speaking on the importance of Chabahar, Minister of State for ports Mansukh Mandaviya said, "Chabahar port is an important destination, and we are developing it. Two cranes have been put. I will be going and inaugurating it. Chabahar connects us to CIS countries...this will increase connectivity to Europe. Chabahar port is important" Chabahar in Iran is key to India's westwards connectivity, providing inroads to Afghanistan and central asia and the key to the north-south international transport corridor linking Mumbai with Moscow. January saw India sending 2 cranes for the port, and the next few months will see 4 more cranes being sent that will increase the efficiency of the port. Live TV The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Baker: Mask Mandates Essential Even as Vaccines Distributed GLOUCESTER, Mass. Hours before President Biden ridiculed "Neanderthal thinking" about removing mask mandates, Gov. Charlie Baker talked about the reasons why he has no intention of lifting Massachusetts' mandate any time soon. On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order lifting that state's face covering mandate in the face of a pandemic that has claimed more than 44,000 lives in the Lone Star State. Baker was asked at his Wednesday COVID-19 update whether he would follow Abbott's lead. "One of the things the vaccine does is it prevents you from getting sick, which is great," Baker said. "One of the things no one knows at this point is whether, if you are in fact infected and you don't get sick and you don't show symptoms, even if you've been vaccinated are you still somebody who can carry it and give it to somebody else who's not vaccinated. "That's being studied right now in a number of the countries who are a little bit ahead of the U.S. in terms of their population that's been vaccinated." That is why the mask mandate is so important, Baker said. "The mask mandate has nothing to do with whether or not the vaccine is effective," Baker said. "In fact, it's just the opposite. If you have a whole bunch of people who get vaccinated but could still carry the virus and theoretically could give it to somebody else but shows no signs, that puts people who haven't been vaccinated, or people who remain part of a vulnerable population that hasn't been vaccinated, at risk. "I think the mask mandate, at least until we get some answers on whether people who have been vaccinated can actually pass this onto somebody else, is a perfectly reasonable and appropriate place for us to continue to operate." Baker said the advent of vaccinations and declining infection rate is not a reason for Bay Staters to "let down their guard" around the novel coronavirus. Nor, he said, is his administration's decision starting this week to lift some of the restrictions it put into effect in the fall. "Some of the decisions we made with respect to our guidance around here in Massachusetts was really simply going back to where we were in the fall," Baker said. "We left in place many of the criteria and the guideposts and the standards and the advisories that have been in place all along. And we left some of the ones we added in December in place, as well. It's still 90 minutes in a restaurant, six people and no more at a table." Baker, who has spent the last 11 months preaching vigilance on issues like face covering and social distance, tried Wednesday to balance that against some of the more encouraging news of the last two months. "What I would say is the more we do to serve vulnerable populations and take the folks who are most likely to get really sick, be hospitalized and die the more we vaccinate those folks and create a certain level of additional safety for them, the more likely it will be that we won't see significant burdens on the health care system," Baker said. "We won't see significant numbers of people getting sick and dying which is great. "But, at the end of the day, this is still an incredibly contagious virus and people need to take it seriously until we get to the point where we've vaccinated a very significant portion of our population." Four artworks worth thousands of dollars each are missing from dead fraudster Melissa Caddick's $6.1 million Sydney home. Investigators who trawled through the fake financial adviser's home and contents insurance policy, which listed 19 artworks, noticed four key pieces were missing after she disappeared in early hours of November 12. Two works by Israeli artist David Gerstein were gone, including bright metal wall sculpture 'Exotic Birds', which is worth more than $5,000. 'Diver' by Australian artist Adrian Lockhart, which used to hang in the upstairs dining area of her home in Dover Heights, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, was also unaccounted for. 'Diver' by Australian artist Adrian Lockhart (pictured above Caddick and her husband Anthony Koletti) used to hang in the upstairs dining area of her home in Dover Heights David Gerstein's sculpture Exotic Birds was another of the four pieces of art that disappeared Another of Lockhart's work - which normally sell for up to $8,000 - called 'Washing Off The Sand' was missing, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Liquidators said Sydney's Canturi Jewellers also had $100,000 worth of jewellery, including a diamond necklace, which the 49-year-old paid for but failed to collect. The last people to see Caddick alive were members of the Australian Federal Police, who raided her home at 7am on November 11 during an investigation into the mother-of-one for stealing millions of dollars from her clients. Insolvency firm Jones Partners believe she took almost $30 million from investors and spent most of it on her lavish lifestyle. Caddick vanished from her $6.1million Dover Heights home (pictured) about November 11 last year. She had paid the mortgage in advance up until mid March Caddick (pictured centre) is survived by her husband Anthony (pictured right), a 15-year-old son, parents Barbara and Ted Grimley and brother Adam. Court documents showed she used a Qantas American Express credit card to spend $250,000 at Dior, $236,150 at Canturi Jewellers, $60,000 at Chanel, and $250,000 on shoes and designer clothes. About $63,000 was blown on Fijian holidays, $37,000 on trips to New York and several trips to Aspen that cost around $120,000. Despite telling her friends she owned an apartment in Aspen, that claim appears to have been false. Caddick also often sold last season's designer goods at Hock Your Frock - a luxury online second-hand store that spruiks items that are immaculate and no more than four years old. Human remains including what appeared to be stomach flesh and a belly button have washed ashore on a beach 150km away from where missing Caddick's (pictured) foot was found ASIC investigator Isabella Allen alleges Caddick hit her with a barrage of questions when authorities raided her $6.2million Dover Heights mansion on November 11 (pictured is bodycam footage of the raid) A report by liquidator Bruce Gleeson, which was handed to investors, is believed to said the scam artist took more than $1 million from her parents. They thought the money would go towards the apartment Caddick bought them in Edgecliff, for which she paid $2.66 million in 2016. Her brother Adam Grimley also gave her about $150,000 to help with the mortgage for their parents, but the family have since found out the money was used to fund her extravagant lifestyle. The mounting financial issues come as Caddick's family were given the news that her foot was found washed up on the NSW South Coast last week. Pictured: Melissa Caddick and her husband Anthony Koletti before she went missing on November 12 Conwoman Melissa Caddick is pictured, right, with her husband Anthony Koletti Soon there will also be the question of what happens next to her remains - a matter for the State Coroner, a NSW Police spokeswoman said. 'There's not really a rule book' for this sort of situation, said Professor Jo Duflou, the former longtime clinical director at the state's Department of Forensic Medicine. Generally speaking a person's remains would be released to loved ones once they're no longer required for investigative purposes. But Prof Duflou said there likely wouldn't be a problem with the remains staying in the morgue until the rest of Caddick's body - or as 'much of it as can be' - was found. Forensic pathologists are working to confirm whether other remains that have washed up along the coast in recent days are linked to Caddick. Caddick's decomposed foot was found in a grey and white Asics Gel Nimbus 22 at Bournda Beach, near Tathra on the NSW South Coast The search expands: In the coming days, when the seas are calmer, police will search the ocean off Dover Heights for clues to Melissa Caddick's disappearance Police revealed late on Tuesday that a 'discoloured' torso found at a beach at Mollymook on Friday belonged to an unknown male. The DNA profile will be compared against the missing persons database,' a police spokeswoman said. Caddick had also paid her mortgage on her Dover Heights mansion in advance up to March 2021, allowing her husband Anthony Koletti some breathing room following her November disappearance. But Caddick's once big-living family now face the issue of her $19,000-per-month repayments - as well as the likelihood her receivers could sell her property to recoup investors' funds. A court also recently scrapped an allowance for Mr Koletti to pay for his usual living expenses - funds which had covered everything from the food they ate, the electricity they used and their $1,300 per month pet insurance bill. Melissa Caddick's family face a series of grim choices in the days ahead Theories rage about what happened to Caddick in the meantime. One victim, who knew Caddick for two decades, told Daily Mail Australia he was open to the popular but extremely unlikely theory she was still alive. 'Everyone thinks she is alive and just kicking with one foot,' he said. 'She would have had an exit plan set up ages ago.' Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro told News Corp: 'I believe she had a plan. It's unlikely on impulse she would have ended her life.' Superintendent Joe McNulty, commander of the NSW Police Force Marine Command, has said Caddick's shoe 'needs extensive analysis to see how long it was in the water.' 'It's a vital clue where hopefully marine biology can provide some answers,' he told the Daily Telegraph. Supt McNulty has cast doubt on whether Caddick's Gel Nimbus 22 sneaker could have been in the water for three months and said he had never known remains to travel so far south. Assistant Commissioner Michael Willing has likewise suggested Caddick may have been on the run prior to her disappearance. That's even as police said their drift modelling appeared to show that her body could have hit the water at Dover Heights and travelled as far south as Bermagui, not far from where her body was found. Police will once again search near Dover Heights when seas are calmer. 'They (the searches) will occur in due course,' a spokeswoman said. At this point, police suspect Caddick has likely died by suicide, but aren't ruling out foul play. Daily Mail Australia revealed on Monday that Caddick had taken out a $120 per month life insurance policy prior to her disappearance. For confidential crisis support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode. There are now 253 bills in 43 states that aim to restrict voting access, according to a recent report by the Brennan Center for Justice. Thats a lot of bills, in just the past two months. Even Ari Berman, a reporter at Mother Jones whos been covering voting rights for a decade, says, Ive never seen anything like this before. Republicans are behind this new wave of voting restrictions, and they control most statehouses across the country. On Thursdays episode of What Next, I spoke to Berman about how theyre justifying voter suppression and how Democrats can fight back at the state and federal levels. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ari Berman: Georgia is fascinating because Republicans wrote every aspect of the states voting laws, so they were totally fine with it until it didnt work for them anymore. And the second it didnt work for them, now theyre trying to change the entire thing. They cant say this voting law or that voting law is a Democratic plot because they did all of it. Every press release from the Georgia secretary of state brags that Georgia is a national leader in elections because it has the trifecta of automatic voter registration, early voting, and no-excuse absentee voting. And Republicans have now introduced and passed bills through committee to repeal or restrict all three of those things. They have passed bills through committee to repeal automatic voter registration, which 5 million of 7.6 million registered voters in Georgia use to register. They have passed bills through committee to repeal no-excuse absentee voting, which 1.3 million Georgians used in November. They have tried to cut days of weekend voting, including Sunday voting, when Black churches used souls to the polls voter mobilization drives. So they really are trying to repeal or severely restrict everything in the state of Georgia that makes it easy to vote. These are not small changes around the margins. These are sweeping changes that would dramatically reshape and restrict voting access in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Mary Harris: Its notable that not all Georgia Republicans agree these restrictions are necessary, or even a good idea politically. Theres different dividing lines. The speaker of the House said he doesnt want to get rid of no-excuse absentee voting. That is not in any of the House bills so far that have been passed to restrict voting rights. The lieutenant governor, who presides over the Senate, is not for that either. Gov. Brian Kemp has been vague about what he wants to do, but I think he is very aware of the fact that most likely Stacey Abrams is going to run against him in 2022. And a lot of Democrats, and in particular a lot of Black voters, are still angry about the voter suppression that happened in 2018 when Brian Kemp was both secretary of state and a candidate for governor and appeared to use the states voting laws as a weapon against Stacey Abrams and a weapon against Black voters. And so I think he realizes if he signs bills making it harder to vote, that Abrams and other people in Georgia are going to use that against him for the next two years. Theyre going to rally voters against him and theyre going to say the governor, the Republican leadership of the state, they dont want Black voters to participate, they dont want voters of color to participate. And that may mobilize people to turn out again and to be motivated to not have their votes taken away from them. So its unclear how this is going to work politically, but its also clear that the legislature, in some form or another, is going to pass laws making it more difficult to vote based on zero evidence that it actually needs to happen. Advertisement Advertisement What do the efforts look like to stop these Republican laws from passing? When it comes to the Democrats, how can they insert themselves here, given that theyre not part of the majority? First off, just publicity. I mean, there was a truck that was circling the Georgia legislature on Friday that had a banner that said Georgia Republicans dont want Black people to vote. And this is a state where voters of color are 40 percent of the electorate. Georgia was the only state in which Black people made up a majority of Joe Bidens voters. So Black voters and voters of color are a very influential segment of the electorate in Georgia. A lot of times voter suppression succeeds because people dont know its going on. Theyre able to pass it under the rug and just think that there wont be any outrage because people wont really be following it. Thats not going to happen in Georgia. Thats not going to happen in other states. This is getting a lot of attention at the state level. This is starting to get more attention nationally. And Democrats are able to both make a stink about it, but also theyre able to exploit these Republican divides and say, It was your Republican secretary of state that said over and over and over this election was secure, there was no fraud, Donald Trump and other people who were allied with him were lying. That makes for a pretty effective argument. Advertisement Pushing voter suppression is now the same thing as being pro-life or pro-gun. If you dont do it, youre not a loyal Republican. Ari Berman Looking nationally, there are also 704 bills with provisions to improve access to voting. It seems like that would be good news. It would be good news if all of those bills to improve voting rights actually had the same chance of passing as all the bills to restrict voting rights do. Because if you look at who controls the states right now, Republicans control many more states than Democrats do. So bills to make voting easier, by and large, are only going to pass in Democratic-controlled states. But if you look at all the places that Republicans controlArizona, Georgia, Iowa, Texasthey are very, very quickly moving to restrict voting rights. It is the No. 1 thing or very close to the No. 1 thing theyre trying to do in all of these states that are competitiveor even not really that competitive. The amazing thing to me is that you have Idaho and Wyoming and Montana, all of these states that Donald Trump carried easily, theyre also making it harder to vote. So it just seems like this voter suppression virus has infected the entire Republican Party. They are doing this all across the country, and its really remarkable to see how orchestrated it is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its almost like their ability to do voter suppression has become a litmus test for how loyal of Republicans they arelike pushing voter suppression is now the same thing as being pro-life or pro-gun. If you dont do it, youre not a loyal Republican, youre a RINO. And thats so disturbing. The idea that restricting access to the ballot is now something that you have to do to prove your loyalty to the Republican Party and prove your loyalty to Trump is just an incredibly alarming and I think new development in American politics. Theyre just so insecure in terms of the power they have that even if they won the election, they clearly dont believe that theyre going to win it forever, or else they wouldnt be changing the voting systems in Iowa or Florida and other states. Advertisement Subscribe to What Next Get more news from Mary Harris and her team every day. Subscribe Lets talk about what might happen if these bills are passed. In the past, the courts have stepped in to intervene, especially with something like restricting Sunday votingNorth Carolina tried to pass a similar law in 2013. Courts got in there and said no. Can we expect that to happen now? Advertisement I dont have a whole lot of faith in the courts, when Donald Trump appointed 234 judges, including three new members of the Supreme Court. I think that the courts are going to be very lenient towards these Republican efforts. There may be a few really extreme provisions that they strike down. But on the whole, I think the courts are going to say that we think states should be able to run their elections how they see fit. Advertisement So if the courts arent going to fix this, what will? I think federal legislation. Democrats control Washington. Theyre in a position to pass a new Voting Rights Act. Theyre in a position to pass the For the People Act, the most important democracy reform bill in a generation. They have the power to do these things. If theres any way to try to stop this, its to create federal rules to make it easier to vote. Whats in the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act? The For the People Act has all of these provisions that would make it easier to vote, because Congress can regulate the rules for federal elections. So it would mandate that every state for federal elections would have automatic registration, would have Election Day registration, would have early voting, would have nonpartisan redistricting, would give voting rights back to people with past felony convictions. So, many of the things that were talking about Republicans trying to do, they wouldnt be able to do for federal elections because the For the People Act would have these broad protections for voting rights enshrined for races for the House or the Senate or for the president. And that would go a long way to blocking the kind of voter suppression efforts were talking about in the states. Advertisement Advertisement How does the John Lewis Voting Rights Act push even beyond that? The John Lewis Voting Rights Act responds to the Shelby County v. Holder decision, where the Supreme Court in 2013 said that states with a long history of discrimination no longer have to approve their voting changes with the federal government. In that decision, the Supreme Court basically said to Congress: You can write a new version of the Voting Rights Act. One of our biggest issues with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is its based on old data. So the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would require states with a more recent history of voting discrimination to have to approve their voting changes with the federal government once again. That would include states like Georgia that both discriminated against voters of color in the past but have also discriminated against them more recently, as found by the courts. And so if Georgia wanted to get rid of automatic registration or get rid of early voting or do something like that, they would have to get that approved with the federal government, either with the courts or the Justice Department. Advertisement It would also require voting changes in every state that have a disproportionate impact on minority voters to have to be approved federally as well. So if youre in Utah and you want to close a polling place in an area with a high percentage of voters of color, you would have to get that approved as well. So its both sweeping and targeted at the same time. And I think these bills work really well hand in hand, because the For the People Act would basically do all these good things, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would basically stop all of these bad things. I think you need that combination of carrots and sticks to really protect voting rights in this day and age. My understanding is these two bills are alive in the House, but not so alive in the Senate. Theyre alive in the Senate if you can pass them with 50 votes. They are alive if you get rid of the filibuster to pass them. Right now, Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, theyre saying were not going to get rid of the filibuster. So theyre dead as of now. What Democrats are betting is that if Republicans block enough legislation and if Republicans do enough extreme things at the state level, these senators might change their tune. In Arizona, Kyrsten Sinemas home state, they have introduced more restrictions on voting than any other state, even more than in Georgia. Theyre trying to roll back mail voting in all sorts of ways. Theyre trying to cut in-person voting. Theyre trying to get rid of automatic registration. Theres even a bill in Arizona that would allow the Legislature there to appoint its own electors no matter what the voters do, so basically that would render the presidential election completely void if the Legislature can just step in at any moment to overturn it. So I think at some level, Kyrsten Sinema and other Democrats in Arizona have to view these as an attack on democracy, but also as an attack on them, an attack on their ability to get reelected. They also know that the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act would stop a lot of these efforts. And so these federal bills, yes, theyre not going to pass the Senate now. Democrats are betting that in six months, the political situation, the political calculus of these senators, might be different. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. University students usher in a new semester By:Liu Xutong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-03-03 13:15 Most universities students completed their return to school in Shanghai on February 28th, and officially started the new semester on March 1. At Shanghai University, students returned to school in orderly batches from February 22nd in accordance with the principle of "different area, different level, different time, and different peak". All students officially started classes on March 1. At the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, nearly 7,000 students returned to school on February 28. During the winter vacation, the university required students to complete a daily health check-inandbefore students returned to school, they needed to submit a return application. All the information provided is linked with the access control system and POS system. In order to carry students luggage, shuttle buses and volunteers were arranged at the school gate to provide assistance. At East China Normal University, due to the different return times and the epidemic prevention control, students couldnt meet offline. The students "Hongbuliao" band from the Department of Education, specially presented "Hometown Memory" on the night of Lantern Festival. More than 800 spectators watched the performance online. CHICAGO and SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everspring, Inc., a leading provider of education technology and services to universities, and Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business, a top-ranked institution in the heart of Silicon Valley, today announced a new online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) for the fall 2021 semester. With the addition of the MSBA, Santa Clara University will provide in-demand advanced skills in business analytics to professionals seeking an online master's program at a top 10 business school.[1] This expansion brings the total portfolio of Everspring-launched and -supported online graduate programs at the Leavey School of Business to four, including an MBA, MS in Marketing and MS in Finance and Analytics. "The new online MS in Business Analytics is an exciting addition to our online graduate programs," said Nydia MacGregor, Ph.D., Faculty Director of MBA and Online Programs at the Leavey School of Business. "With increasing demand in the job market for high-level business analytics skills and training, this program fills a need for students who want to pursue a graduate degree in analytics with the flexibility of an online learning environment that delivers the same academic quality and opportunity for professional connections as our on-ground MSBA program." "Everspring is delighted to build on our work with Santa Clara to expand the highly-ranked portfolio of graduate business programs we've created together," said Everspring President and Co-founder, Beth Hollenberg. "We are thankful and proud that Santa Clara is putting their continued trust in us for this next stage of online program expansion." Everspring's partnership with Santa Clara has yielded outstanding results for the existing online graduate programs at Leavey: Princeton Review ranks the online MBA the #14 online MBA program. ranks the online MBA the #14 online MBA program. Poets&Quants ranks it in the top 10 overall and #3 for career outcomes. ranks it in the top 10 overall and #3 for career outcomes. U.S. News & World Report's "Best Online Program Rankings" ranks the online MBA #40 and its finance and marketing specialties came in at #10 and #12, respectively. Everspring will support the new MSBA with program design, marketing and enrollment services, student services, and insights into its market to create a leading business analytics program that leverages the best of what Santa Clara, a long-standing leader in Silicon Valley, can uniquely bring to the discipline. Like the three existing Everspring-supported online graduate degrees at Leavey, the MSBA will develop students' innovation skills and boost their professional networks through Santa Clara's integration with technology-focused companies in the Bay Area, while also focusing on the university's Jesuit tradition of ethics and social responsibility. About Santa Clara University and the Leavey School of Business Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valleythe world's most innovative and entrepreneurial region. 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 450-year tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information, visit www.scu.edu/business . About Everspring Everspring is a leading provider of education technology and services for higher education. Our advanced technology, proven marketing approach, and robust faculty support and instructional design services deliver outstanding outcomes for our university partners, powering their success online. Everspring offers a range of full-service turnkey solutions, as well as standalone fee-for-service offerings, and innovative self-service products that enable universities to establish themselves as leaders in the digital delivery of higher education. Based in Chicago and named one of the "Best Places to Work," Everspring serves a growing number of colleges and universities, nationwide. Visit www.everspringpartners.com for more information. Don't just go digital. BE DIGITAL. [1] Poets&Quants, Best Online MBA Programs of 2021 SOURCE Everspring Related Links https://www.everspringpartners.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 Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise has secured 125,000 in funding from the Arts Council's 130 million investment across Ireland in 2021. With its exchequer grant increased to 130 million, the government agency for funding and developing the arts said that while the sector was suffering disproportionately in the health crisis, hundreds of artists and practitioners were planning and already making great art for the public to experience in the months ahead. Due to COVID-19, Arts Centres throughout the country have suffered financially over the past year. Welcoming the news, Minister of State Sean Fleming T.D said: "These centres are showing a great level of imagination and adaptability in their planning and I am confident that this funding will support Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise to build back better and to reach the widest possible audience. "I wish to acknowledge the great addition the Dunamaise Arts Centre has been to the Arts community and all the people of Laois. "We all look forward to normal activities resuming when it is safe to do so," he concluded. Announcing its key Strategic Funding round, the Council said it would invest 46.1 million in 105 key arts organisations across the country, among them Dublins Abbey Theatre, the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Limerick, Macnas in Galway, Cork Midsummer Festival, Waterfords Spraoi and Teac Damsa in Kerry. A further 7.8 million will fund 43 arts centres in every region of the country. The Council said that in addition in the weeks ahead, it would award around 10.7 million to arts organisations through its Arts Grant Funding programme; 2 million in smaller festivals in almost every county from its Festivals Investment Scheme; and a range of other supports for arts organisations struggling to survive the Covid-19 pandemic. For individual artists there will be some 10.5 million in bursaries; 5.6 million through a new Agility Award; as well increased funding for commissions and projects. The council said it remained committed to prioritising the two policies it highlighted in 2020. These are Paying the Artist, designed to ensure fair remuneration for artists, and Equality, Human Rights and Diversity, which aims to make the arts sector fairer and more reflective of all of Irish society. Mumbai: Petrol price can go down to Rs 75 a litre across the country if brought under the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), but there is a lack of political will, which is keeping Indian oil product prices at one of the highest in the world, economists at SBI said on Thursday (March 4). Diesel will come at Rs 68 a litre and the revenue loss for the Centre and states will be only Rs 1 lakh crore or 0.4 per cent of GDP, according to the calculation by the economists made under the assumption of global crude prices at USD 60 a barrel and exchange rate at Rs 73 per dollar. At present, every state has its own way of taxing fuels, while the Centre also collects its own duties and cess. Petrol prices have touched Rs 100 per litre in some pockets of the country and concerns are being expressed about the high taxation which is making the fuels dearer. The SBI economists said bringing petrol and diesel under the goods and services tax is an unfinished agenda of the GST framework and getting the prices under the new indirect taxes framework can help. "Centre and states are loathe to bring crude oil products under the GST regime as sales tax/VAT (value-added tax) on petroleum products is a major source of own tax revenue for them. Thus, there is a lack of political will to bring crude under the ambit of GST," they said. At present, states choose to levy a combination of ad valorem tax, cess, extra VAT/surcharge based on their needs and these taxes are imposed after taking into account the crude price, the transportation charge, the dealer commission and the flat excise duty imposed by the Centre, they explained. Assuming for the crude prices and dollar rate, transportation charges at Rs 7.25 for diesel and Rs 3.82 for petrol, dealer commission of Rs 2.53 for diesel and Rs 3.67 for petrol, cess of Rs 30 for petrol and Rs 20 for diesel which will be divided equally between the Centre and states, and GST rate at 28 per cent, the economists came at the final price estimates. Growth in the consumption of diesel going up 15 per cent and petrol by 10 per cent has been used to assess the Rs 1 lakh crore fiscal impact of getting petroleum prices under GST, it said. An increase of USD 1 in the crude oil prices will push up the petrol price by around 50 paise and diesel prices by around Rs 1.50, and bring down the overall deviation by around Rs 1,500 crore under the baseline scenario, it said. States, which have the highest share of tax revenues at present, will be the biggest losers if the system shifts to GST, it said, quickly adding that such a move will help consumers pay up to Rs 30 less. Interestingly, the simulation exercise suggests that when crude oil price declines by USD 10 per barrel, Centre and states could save close to Rs 18,000 crore, if they keep the petrol prices at baseline prices without passing the benefit to consumers, which is higher than the savings of Rs 9,000 crore when the crude prices go up by the same measure. "We thus recommend the government build up an oil price stabilisation fund which can be used in bad times for compensating revenue loss by cross-subsidising fund saved from good times, without hurting the consumer," it said. For the LPG cylinders, the economists proposed an increased and graded subsidy may be provided to poor consumers which can be tapered off over a period of, say, 5-years. Meanwhile, the note said the latest revenue and expenditure numbers could lead to lowering of fiscal deficit to 8.7 per cent in FY21, down from 9.5 per cent in the revised budget estimates. It is highly likely that the Government might cancel its Rs 49,000 crore borrowing planned in the last fortnight of March, they said. Live TV National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is incensed at the decision by Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) on Parliaments Appointments Committee to approve Minister-designate for Defense, Dominic Nitiwul. Sammy Gyamfi said he was shocked to the marrow when he heard the NDC MPs had fallen for his [Nitiwuls] cosmetic explanations on the violence in their strongholds during the 2020 general election. People are appalled and dissatisfied with the decision because the MPs have endorsed Nitiwul who led the institution to terrorise citizens in our strongholds, he said in an interview on Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday. The destinies of eight ministerial nominees hang in a balance after the Minority rejected three and requested five to reappear before the Parliaments Appointments Committee for further questioning. The nomination of the three rejected, including Information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson and Minister-designate for Food Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto will be presented to Parliament for a vote. Rejection, Mr Gyamfi stated, should be the fate of Defense Minister-designate, Dominic Nitiwul. It does not send the right signal to the NDC, especially in the Volta Region who were treated as second class citizens under the guise of fighting COVID, he fumed. The NDC Communications Officer could not fathom why the NDC MPs did not reject him for deploying soldiers to Banda and Volta Region during the 2020 general election. Im struggling to come to terms as to why our representation in Parliament will take such a decision. It has far-reaching effects on the people they are leading, he added. Mr Gyamfi said the decision is very unpopular and goes against everything our rank-and-file have voted and toiled for. Source: Ghana Guardian Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Clark County lands bill submitted in the House and Senate on Wednesday will preserve 2 million acres of wilderness, extend Red Road Canyon National Conservation Area, and give the county and Las Vegas valley cities 30,000 acres of land construction and affordable housing. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., is chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee on federal lands, forestry, and mining, which will oversee the bill's passage. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., introduced similar bills in the House. Gov. Steve Sisolak, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Rep. Mark Amodei, the only Republican, and Rep's delegation Steven Horsford and Susie Lee all back the bill. Related Article: Biden To Overhaul Offices to Promote Environmental Justice Land Distribution The majority of the 2 million acres would be in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, but only 51,000 acres would be in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. According to Cortez Masto, another 41,000 acres of public property will be kept in trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes. Cortez Masto told the Review-Journal, "We've been working on this for four years now." The pandemic and its impact on the urban environment, according to Cortez Masto, "have really shone a light on the problems we have with affordable housing." Following discussions with Clark County, towns, and others, a strategy for potential development in the area was created, balancing preservation and housing as the region's population grows. Cortez Masto explained, "It's about how we handle success in a sustainable way." It is the "largest environmental bill in Nevada history," according to Titus. The bill will show that "it is possible to handle Clark County's population increase while prioritizing affordable housing and the environment," according to Titus. Criticisms Conservationists, on the other hand, slammed the bill as a scheme to continue obsolete growth that doesn't save water or fix climate change. Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, said, "This is a sprawl bill." According to Roerink, the bill fails to account for depleting Colorado River flows and increased water demand for potential uses. Cortez Masto and other lawmakers collaborated with the county to create land for planned construction and affordable housing, leveraging revenue from federal land purchases under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, a federal initiative that was cut from the Trump administration's budget. According to Patrick Donnelly, Nevada state director for the Center for Biological Diversity, the bill is more acceptable than other recent bills, but "we strongly disagree with the idea of designating wilderness as a quid pro quo for selling off public lands." According to Donnelly, the House and Senate bills encourage sprawl growth, which is "unsustainable in our desert ecosystem." This is more of the same, and we need change." Supporters Supporters of the measure, on the other hand, argue that it represents plans for development planning. "Everyone in Nevada understands that lands bills are a reality and that they can be effective instruments for economic growth, natural resource protection, and conservation," Amodei said. Annette Magnus of the party Fight Born Progress, on the other hand, was a supporter of the bill. "We've had the senator listen to people in our neighborhoods and make necessary revisions to the bill's initial versions to take it in a positive direction based on neighborhood feedback," Magnus said. "We have focused on public lands issues and saving rare sites like Red Rock for several years, and we are pleased with many provisions of this bill that include greater safeguards for important areas across Southern Nevada," Magnus said. Other Initiatives "We still agree that the ability to use funds from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act for climate change reduction activities is a key piece of this legislation," she said. According to Cortez Masto, the bill allows Clark County to use water more effectively and produce renewable energy. Cortez Masto said that she intends to pressure allies in order to get the bill out of her committee and onto the Senate floor. ALSO READ: NDC Synthesis Reports Showed How Far Countries Are From Meeting Paris Agreement's Climate Goals Common Every Day Activities that Help Mitigate Climate Change! For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! A week ago, Dinesh Kumar Khara, 59, the new Chairman of India's largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), had said the 'elephant is ready to dance'. Khara's optimism shows up in the bank's stock market performance where its share price doubled since he took charge in October 2020. The reasons are a greater control over asset quality deterioration, robust base of low-cost deposits, retail banking acceleration in mortgages and institutional set-up for housing loans gone bad and financing long-term infrastructure projects. Also, the bank's subsidiaries are already firing on all cylinders. Be it SBI Cards or SBI Life, the higher market valuations indicate the future scaling-up of these businesses. In the BT-KPMG study of India's Best Banks, the jury was unanimous in recognising the initiatives taken by banks in digital areas and controlling asset qualities despite social sector obligations and other limitations of being a government-owned bank. The jury conferred the award for the best public sector bank to SBI. That shows in the numbers. SBI has the lowest NPAs, is second in quality of earnings, and third in growth and capital adequacy. Currently, PSBs, though losing market share, control two-thirds of the market in deposits and advances. Despite a high base, SBI topped growth metrics as represented by the three-year CAGR in total deposits (17 per cent), loans & advances (14 per cent), fee income (16 per cent), and operating profit (10 per cent). With a consolidated balance sheet size of Rs 41,97,492.34 crore as of end-March 2020, and market capitalisation of over Rs 3 lakh crore, it is India's largest commercial bank. It ranked 55 according to the S&P Global Market Intelligence's Annual Global Bank Ranking for 2019. Its balance sheet size has since grown to Rs 46,62,643.98 crore by December 2020. Performance Push Despite the impact of the pandemic during the first three quarters of the current fiscal, SBI posted a robust performance in the quarter ended December 2020, underlining its business resilience. During the nine months ended December 2020, the bank registered a net profit of Rs 13,960 crore, a 27.99 per cent rise year-on-year (YoY). In fact, Khara took over in the midst of the Covid period when the bank was neck-deep in analysing the impact of loan moratorium and restructuring. During the quarter, the bank registered a net profit of Rs 5,196 crore, compared to Rs 4,574 crore in Q2FY21, an increase of 13.60 per cent sequentially. On a year-on-year basis, however, it was down 6.93 per cent. Excluding the one-off interest income and other income during the previous year's quarter, the YoY growth in net profit and operating profit for Q3FY21 would be 133.78 per cent and 26.23 per cent, respectively. "For Q3 FY21, SBI PAT surpassed our estimates on better business momentum and lower provisions, thanks to a positive surprise on asset quality. Operating performance was supported by higher growth and net interest margins (NIMs), while deposits build-up sustained," says Santanu Chakrabarti, Analyst, Edelweiss Research. Other highlights of the quarter include net NPA ratio at 1.23 per cent, down 142 basis points YoY and 36 bps QoQ. Gross NPA ratio at 4.77 per cent is down 217 bps YoY and 51 bps quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Home loan, which constitutes 23 per cent of the bank's domestic advances, has grown by 9.99 per cent YoY. "The bank has been retaining its market share (21 per cent of total scheduled commercial banks' credit) as credit grew by 7.6 per cent YoY and 3.2 per cent sequentially in Q3 FY21," says Ajit Kumar Kabi, Banking Research Analyst, LKP Securities. Digital Edge Just before the lockdown was enforced, SBI realised things were not going the way its systems and processes were designed for. It was a double whammy since the bank had to ensure employees worked from home or anywhere and not from office, and facilitate interactions and transactions with customers from the comfort of their homes. The bank set up teams to develop new programmes and keep the IT infrastructure, which was upgraded to meet the requirements based on work flow. It had to develop new contingency sites too. Unlike other banks which largely cater to cities and suburban areas, the pandemic hit SBI's last-mile connectivity for over 24,000 branches and 60,000 ATMs across the country. Many of SBI's branches and ATMs are located in rural areas. It was still relying on legacy systems like VSATs (very small aperture terminal), set up decades ago, for network connectivity. SBI had to keep looking for more processes for digitisation. Going forward, the bank plans to implement 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 YONO Effect The bank made its 'You Only Need One' (YONO) App suitable for ATM and other digital transactions without physical contact in the wake of the pandemic, using QR code. Using the YONO App, the customer can integrate all products and services from an SBI account, SBI Card, SBI Mutual Fund, SBI Life Insurance, and SBI Securities. Recently, SBI Payments has announced brand extension of the YONO platform to low-cost digital payments infrastructure for merchants and other digital payments. Khara says over the next two-three years, the bank aims to digitise millions of merchants by upgrading their mobile phones into a point of sale (PoS) device accepting all form factors, and accessing value-added services such as loyalty, GST invoicing and inventory management, among others, and connecting with an interface to avail other banking products at the click of a button. The bank had launched the YONO platform three years ago, and has 35.8-million registered users now. The platform is delivering good results for SBI in terms of credit dispensation, with 40 per cent of total retail individual loans and 60 per cent of personal loans coming from this platform. It has 2.8-crore customers, out of SBI's total customer base of 49 crore. Challenges Ahead Restructuring requests received from customers of all portfolios added up to Rs 41,216 crore, which is much below the estimated Rs 60,000 crore. Khara exuded confidence that total slippages and restructured assets for the whole year would remain below Rs 60,000 crore. The government's move to consolidate PSBs - merging 10 banks into four, private banks expanding to Tier-II and Tier-III towns and entry of Small Finance Banks could pose a threat to the bank, according to some analysts. Citing macro-economic risk as the biggest risk that SBI faces, given its size and exposures, Chakrabarti says geographic penetration by newer private sector banks can lead to faster-than-expected decline in SBI's market share. There is a possibility that once a 'bad bank' is formed for taking over the delinquent loans of banks, PSBs might have to provide for their bad loans before transferring them to the former. However, Khara had ruled out any such need for SBI as the bank has a 90.2 per cent provision coverage ratio (PCR). Looking Ahead SBI has crossed the Rs 5-lakh-crore mark recently, with its Real Estate and Housing Business Unit growing five times in the last 10 years and gaining 34 per cent market share. The bank has set a target to achieve Rs 7-lakh-crore book by FY24. It is working on various digital initiatives to improve efficiencies in home loan delivery, including a unique integrated platform, Retail Loan Management System, which will provide end-to-end digital solution, says Khara. It is expecting to save at least Rs 1,000 crore on employee-related expenses, in the form of provision for wage hikes, and reducing retirement benefit due to the advent of NPS. Already a voluntary retirement scheme of the bank is underway to optimise human resources and costs. In the near term, internal accruals will help sustain growth and there is no need to raise funds from the market, according to Khara. Khara is looking at a double-digit credit growth by the second quarter of the next fiscal, and for that, Indias largest bank is betting big on infrastructure spending. Unlike a few years back SBI was the undisputed leader in the Indian banking space, private sector lenders, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank with Rs 15 lakh crore-plus balance sheet size, are posing challenges now. Besides, the recent consolidation in PSB space has brought to the fore biggies like Union Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda. We might have to wait to see who would bag the top slot in the years to come. (The writer is a Mumbai-based journalist) But unlike Mr. Lopez Obrador, I know that even if wealth is redistributed, the abuse and inequalities suffered by women will remain. Women should not tolerate this lie the president continues to espouse. Nor should we tolerate Mr. Salgados candidacy. Over 40 percent of Mexican women have been victims of some form of sexual assault. The sexual harassment we endure will not be resolved through trickle-down economics, but through punishing abusers. Poverty has also increased among women while it has decreased among men: 32 million women are poor 10 percent more than the number of men. Women in white-collar jobs continue to earn less than men. This is the result of a history that has been forged by greedy men, who have exclusively run the show. The results have been disastrous: Their decisions have led us to become a country where inequality is endemic and poverty has the face of a woman. Our economy, shaped by men, is replete with privileges for them. It is built on the unpaid work of millions of women who take care of children and the elderly so that men can study or engage in paid work. My great-grandmother did not attend school so that she could take care of her father. Nor did my grandmother, so that she could care for her siblings. And my mother went to school until the day that she had to take care of me. Women are the victims of a government and an economy devised by men so that they have the money and women help them obtain it. When Mr. Lopez Obrador was elected president in 2018, he pledged to wage war on social injustice. Many women, including myself, thought that this meant that he would fight for us, because if the poor should come first, as he declared in his campaign speeches, then women should be at the forefront of his agenda. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins released the following statement in response to newly compiled data showing a spike last yearin some cases by triple digitsin anti-Asian hate crimes in 16 of the nation's largest cities. The March 2 analysis comes from the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, based on preliminary police data. The first spikes occurred in March and April 2020, according to the center's report, coinciding with the rise in COVID-19 cases and negative stereotyping of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members generally, and Chinese Americans in particular. In addition, the report states that overall hate crimes fell last year, while hate crimes targeting AAPI community members dramatically increased. Another group, Stop AAPI Hate, reported in February that it had collected 126 firsthand accounts of hate directed at older Asian Americans (age 60+) between March 19, 2020 and the end of the year. These cases accounted for 7.3% of the 2,808 self-reports the group has received in total. Said Jenkins: "Our nation must stand united against coronavirus, which has disproportionately sickened and killed older Americans. These troubling new hate crimes data mean that older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders not only are concerned about coronavirus, they now also face increased violence and harassment fueled by prejudice, hatred and xenophobia. This is a combination that could create barriers to seeking testing, treatment, information or vaccination, at a moment when we as a country must come together and do everything in our power to help contain COVID's spread. Former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has said 'stigma is the enemy of public health,' and we agree. AARP strongly condemns all racially motivated violence and harassment." About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media. SOURCE AARP Related Links www.aarp.org [March 04, 2021] New investments to support research and science in southwestern Ontario Southwestern Ontario institutions awarded $54.3 million to support Canada's global leadership in research HAMILTON, ON, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Research and science are essential to creating opportunity for Canadians and finding solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. That's why the Government of Canada has committed more than $10 billion since 2016 to fund research and science, and it is why research and science have guided our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To keep Canadians safe and supported through this crisis, and to build back better for everyone, we will continue to make smart investments in Canadian research and those who power it. Yesterday, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, announced an investment, through the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, to support more than 100 research projects and almost 1,000 researchers across the country. Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Labour, highlighted some of those investments: over $54 million in various research projects at McMaster University ($35 million), the University of Waterloo ($17 million) and St. Joseph's Health Care London ($2 million). At McMaster University, $9 million of the $35-million investment will be used to support the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the development of new tools to help identify early causes of mobility impairment, disability, cognitive decline and other health conditions, with a view to increasing disability-free healthy life spans. By continuing to invest in science and research, we're helping create new jobs, a cleaner environment and healthier communitiesnow and for the future. Quotes "Great science and research is the first step in driving innovation. Now more than ever, Canadians are looking to their researchers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. Our government is proud to support today's funding recipients, who are harnessing their expertise and dedication to make the important discoveries that will serve Canadians now and in the future." The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry "This investment in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Agng will help seniors in Canada live longer, healthier lives. McMaster University is a top-flight research institution and a huge contributor to Hamilton through research and its engagement with our community on many levels." The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Labour "We owe our seniors the knowledge and research required to ensure a healthy, safe and prosperous quality of life well beyond retirement. Researchers like Dr. Parminder Raina ensure Hamilton's leadership in innovation while working to tackle the problems of both today and tomorrow!" Bob Bratina, Member of Parliament for Hamilton EastStoney Creek "Investing in research is an investment in the future of Canada. Discoveries will lead to economic growth and will help solve the challenges the world faces today. These projects demonstrate the breadth and depth of Canadian expertise and excellence, and these awards are a tribute to the innovative researchers across the country." Roseann O'Reilly Runte, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation Quick facts The investments are made under the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI) Innovation Fund. The Innovation Fund supports 40% of the eligible infrastructure costs of an institution's research project, with the remaining portion coming from partners such as provincial and territorial governments and the institution itself. The funding will be provided to 35 different universities, colleges and research institutions across Canada , with 14 recipients in Ontario ; nine in Quebec ; four in British Columbia ; two each in Alberta and Saskatchewan ; and one each in Manitoba , Nova Scotia , Newfoundland and Labrador , and the Northwest Territories . , with 14 recipients in ; nine in ; four in ; two each in and ; and one each in , , and , and the . A full list of the universities, colleges and research institutions funded by the CFI as part of yesterday's announcement, along with stories about some of the projects receiving support, are available online. Projects are selected as part of Innovation Fund competitions, which take place every two to three years and include a rigorous merit review process. In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada made an investment of $763 million over five years in the CFI to support state-of-the-art research infrastructure at Canadian universities, colleges and research hospitals. It also established stable funding of $462 million per year for the CFI starting in 202324. made an investment of over five years in the CFI to support state-of-the-art research infrastructure at Canadian universities, colleges and research hospitals. It also established stable funding of per year for the CFI starting in 202324. In May 2020 , the government announced $450 million in funding to help Canada's academic research community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding included supports for universities and health research institutes to pay research staff and to maintain essential research-related activities. Associated links Canada Foundation for Innovation Innovation Fund Major investment in innovative, world-class research to benefit all Canadians SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. [March 04, 2021] Quebec and Canada Invest in Energy Efficiency for Industrial Facilities OTTAWA, ON, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Energy efficiency helps businesses save money and stay competitive while contributing to a cleaner environment. The Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada are investing in initiatives that will help us build a clean energy future and provide a healthier planet for future generations. Quebec's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonatan Julien, together with Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., and Member of Parliament for Saint-MauriceChamplain and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, today announced investments of over $123,000 for CEPSA Chimie Becancour, a petrochemical company with a revolutionary manufacturing process that represents a major breakthrough in the elimination of environmental hazards. CEPSA also contributed to the project, for a total investment of $171,000. These investments will reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases from CEPSA's facility. The company will also contribute its findings to a pool of knowledge in the field of process integration a global energy analysis of how organizations can best use and recover heat. The Government of Quebec's $83,000 investment in this project is provided by EcoPerformance, a program implemented as part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy. The $40,000 federal investment is provided by Natural Resources Canada's Energy Efficiency for Industry Program, which helps fund Canadian industrial facilities' energy management projects. The governments of Quebec and Canada continue to support green infrastructure projects that will create good jobs and advance Canada's green future. Increasing the energy efficiency of Canada's industrial sector will help achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Quotes "This financial support enables CEPSA Chimie Becancour to design and implement a strategic action to minimize its thermal energy needs and reduce its operating costs. The Quebec government is proud to support companies in their energy transition projects. EcoPerformance is one of Quebec's flagship programs, mainly thanks to carbon market revenues." Jonatan Julien Quebec's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources "As part of the 20212026 Implementation Plan of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy, we have set aside $579.2 million to support the implementation of energy efficiency and energy conversion projects of companies such as CEPSA Chimie Becancour that are committed to making more sustainable energy choices. Better energy management helps these companies save more money and improves their competitiveness in a world that is increasingly shifting toward a low-carbon economy. Benoit Charette Quebec's Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change "Environmental concerns and the search for innovative solutions and technologies to ensure greater energy efficiency for industrial companies are now priority issues for the Societe du Parc industriel et portuaire de Becancour (SPIPB), and this announcement is a shining example of this commitment." Donald Martel MNA for Nicolet-Becancour "Improvements in energy efficiency will get us a third of the way to our Paris Agreement targets. With today's announcement, we're working to lower our emissions while creating good, middle-class jobs." Seamus O'Regan Jr. Canada's Minister of Natural Resources "We are proud to support CEPSA's efforts to create a more sustainable, energy-efficient and resilient future. Reducing pollution and lowering energy bills will bring us closer to our net-zero emission goals." Francois-Philippe Champagne Member of Parliament for Saint-MauriceChamplain and Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry "The reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions as well as a constant increase in our competitiveness are two objectives of prime importance for our organization. Thanks to this project, we can implement several technical improvements to our equipment and our processes and thus make better use of our resources." Pierre Lahaie, General Manager CEPSA Chimie Becancour Associated Links Energy Efficiency for Industry CEPSA Chimie Becancour Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 04, 2021] Facebook Executive Matty de Castro Joins VidMob as VP of Growth and Operations NEW YORK, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VidMob , the leading platform for Intelligent Creative, today announced that Matty de Castro will join the company in the newly created role of VP of Growth and Operations. In this position, de Castro will expand VidMobs business intelligence practice and build a global sales organization to support small and medium-size businesses. De Castro draws on his significant experience scaling mid and growth accounts, most recently as head of North American Scaled Accounts for Facebook. For years, Ive watched firsthand as marketers of all sizes have struggled to evolve their creative operations to keep pace with the needs of todays opportunities, said de Castro. Ive also witnessed just how impactful VidMobs platform can be in improving advertiser efficiency and results. As creative intelligence gives rise to a new category of first-party data, VidMobs ability to bring data and creativity together in one place is one of the most exciting developments Ive seen in a long time, and Im so excited to join the team and get to work. VidMob is an official creative partner of nearly every major advertising platform across social, programmatic and the OTT/CTV landscape. The company works with many of the leading marketers in each major industry vertical. With the recent completion of a $50 million Series C financing and the backing of leading companies in the cretive technology space, the hiring of de Castro further accelerates VidMobs push to bring the promise of Intelligent Creative to all marketers. At Facebook de Castro held various roles over his12 year tenure, leading their earliest and current monetization programs, laying the groundwork for business growth and helping to evolve Facebook into a dominant marketing services platform. Most recently, de Castro helped build and lead Facebooks North American Scaled account business, managing a team overseeing many of Facebooks high-value SMB advertisers. Prior to that, de Castro served as the Head of Industry for two of Facebooks most important verticals, CPG and Retail. Additionally, de Castro was one of the co-founders and leader of the Facebook Chicago office. Earlier in his career, de Castro held leadership positions at Arkadium, Pulse 360, Ticketmaster, and Citysearch. While at these companies, his clients have included Walmart, General Mills, Nestle, Leo Burnett, Sony, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox. Having watched Mattys career develop for over a decade, I have always admired his leadership, enthusiasm, and character, said Craig Coblenz, VidMobs co-founder. He cares deeply about his clients, is passionate about the possibilities that can be brought about with innovative technology, and is exactly the kind of leader we look for at VidMob. About VidMob VidMob is the worlds first platform for Intelligent Creative that provides an end-to-end solution to help brands improve their marketing results by unifying creative and data. VidMob is the only company in the world to receive a certified creative marketing partner badge from every major social and digital platform. A portion of every dollar VidMob receives is used to fund pro bono creative services for non-profits through its 501(c)(3) VidMob Gives. Most recently, the company was included in Inc. magazine's annual list of the Best Workplaces for 2020 and VidMob received the 2020 Creative Intelligence Technology Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan. Learn more about VidMob at www.vidmob.com and VidMob Gives at vidmob.gives . Media Contact? press@vidmob.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Experts point out that the COVID-19 vaccines have nothing to do with the reproductive system, and that the vaccines do not use live viruses or alter human DNA. But they stress that the danger of contracting COVID-19 when pregnant is real, including increased risk of hospitalization, premature delivery and other delivery complications. The CDC has added pregnancy to its list of conditions that are deemed high risk. LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Ormat Technologies, Inc. ("Ormat" or "the Company") (NYSE: ORA) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Ormat is the subject of a report published by Hindenburg Research on March 1, 2021, titled, "Ormat: Dirty Dealings in 'Clean' Energy." According to the report, the Company "has engaged in what we believe to be widespread and systematic acts of intentional corruption." Hindenburg adds that it "expect[s] the blowback to these revelations to be severe, threatening Ormat's contracts in its most lucrative markets." The report alleges that Hindenburg "uncovered evidence tying Ormat to corruption with senior government officials," and states that there is "direct evidence tying Ormat to corruption with senior Guatemalan government officials" and that "Ormat paid contractors in Kenya tied to corrupt government officials." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 [email protected] www.schallfirm.com SOURCE The Schall Law Firm Related Links www.schallfirm.com Some Republicans have sought to address the strategic problem. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah put forward one of the most ambitious G.O.P. initiatives aimed at struggling Americans, a measure to fight child poverty by sending parents up to $350 a month per child. But fellow Republicans rebuffed the plan as welfare. Mr. Hawley has matched a Democratic proposal for a $15 minimum wage, but with the caveat that it applies only to businesses with annual revenues above $1 billion. Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster whose clients have included Mr. Rubio, was critical of Democrats for not seeking a compromise on the stimulus after a group of G.O.P. senators offered a smaller package. Seven Republican senators voted to convict a president of their own party, he said, referring to Mr. Trumps impeachment. If you cant get any of them on a Covid program, youre not trying real hard. As the Covid-19 relief package, which every House Republican voted down, makes its way through the Senate this week, Republicans are expected to offer further proposals aimed at struggling Americans. Mr. Ayres said that the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., last weekend, the first major party gathering since Mr. Trump left office, had been a spectacularly missed opportunity in its failure to include meaningful discussion of policies for blue-collar voters. Instead, the former president advanced an intraparty civil war by naming in his speech on Sunday a hit list of every Republican who voted to impeach him. Youd better be spending a lot more time developing an economic agenda that benefits working people than re-litigating a lost presidential election, Mr. Ayres said. The question is, how long will it take the Republicans to figure out that driving out heretics rather than winning new converts is a losing strategy right now? Separately, one of the highest-profile efforts to lift blue-collar workers in the country was underway this week in Alabama, where nearly 6,000 workers at an Amazon warehouse are voting on whether to unionize. On Sunday, the pro-union workers got a boost in a video from Mr. Biden. Representatives for Mr. Hawley who has been one of the leading Republican champions of a working-class realignment did not respond to a request for comment about where he stands on the issue. For the first time since Joe Biden became president, Washington launched a military attack against Iran-linked Iraqi militias Kataib Hizbullah and Kataib Sayed Al-Shuhada on the Syrian-Iraqi border. That was 36 days into Bidens term. A day later, on Friday 26 February, a newly declassified Director of National Intelligence (DNI) report on the Saudi governments involvement in killing Jamal Khashoggi was released, however reluctantly, and Washington announced its willingness to resume talks with Iran about its nuclear programme on Thursday 18 February. The three developments will no doubt shake the region, generating questions about US Middle East diplomacy and the challenges that face Washington on its quest to maintain relations with its regional allies and partners in a positive and consistent way. Worth noting is that Biden promised to consult and coordinate with said allies, including Israel, before negotiations with Iran begin. So far, Iran has not responded on the European Union invitation to hold talks on the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iranian nuclear deal, signed in July 2015 by the P5 +1 and Iran. According to senior Iranian officials, the United States should take the first step, rejoining the deal and lifting sanctions, before Tehran starts rolling back the measures that it has been taking to scale back its commitments to the JCPOA. For its part the American administration has left no doubt that its top strategic priority in the Middle East is to pursue diplomacy, warning that it will not allow Iran to manufacture a nuclear weapon. In this context, Washington believes that the breakout time for Iran (the time needed to have fissile materials and manufacture an atomic bomb) has been shortened to three-four instead of 12 months, a fact that puts the entire Middle East on edge. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday 25 February, Iran today and Iran at the end of the Trump administration... was much closer to a nuclear weapon if it chose to develop one than it was on the first day of the last administration. He stressed diplomatic engagement, which should not be limited to the nuclear programme but should deal with its ballistic missile programme as well as its malign activities in the region. He summed up the administrations strategy as seeking to have verifiable permanent constraints on Irans ability to build or acquire a nuclear weapon. In any future renegotiations related to the JCPOA, what is more, the United States will have to consult with the Saudis and the Emiratis as well as the Israelis besides the other five countries that are signatories to the Iranian nuclear deal (the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany). But with the release of the report of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the presumed role of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman in the killing of Khashoggi in October 2018, Saudi-American relations go through a major rough patch, unprecedented even compared to the oil crisis of the 1970s. How might American diplomacy deal, at the same time, with such challenging renegotiations with Iran on three highly sensitive matters while managing the fallout from the DNI report. Joint efforts to overcome the impact of the report and restore trust will be required. In a press conference on Friday, the day the report was released, Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the importance of the American-Saudi relations, pointing out that the two countries have significant ongoing interests and that the United States remains committed to the defence of Saudi Arabia. He mentioned that President Biden had made it clear on previous occasions that American-Saudi cooperation should reflect American interests and values. Mr Blinken added that the aim is not to rupture the relation but to recalibrate it to be more in line with our interests and values. He talked about reviewing the relation in its totality and how to make sure that it goes forward in a way that better reflects our interests and values. Observers and leaders who see themselves as allies of Washingtons will nonetheless question Americas diplomatic engagement with Iran and its impact on the regional balance of power. They will also suspect the timing of the DNI reports release to coincide with those overtures. Their fear is that, by entering into negotiations with the signatories of the JCPOA, including the United States, Iran might be in a position of strength due to the rift in Americas relations with its closest Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia, especially in the light of decisions that have disadvantaged the Saudis and their Yemeni allies in the Yemen war. From an Egyptian point of view, to reopen the JCPOA negotiations is not a bad idea, especially now that the Iranians have cleverly used the failed maximum pressure strategy of the Trump administration to scale back their commitments in the framework of the nuclear deal, a strategy that enabled them to come closer acquiring an atomic weapon. But it would have been preferable for this renegotiation to be conducted while American-Arab relations were on a more solid footing. In any case, Americas Arab allies and strategic partners too should reassess future relations in the light of their own interests and values. *The writer is former assistant foreign minister. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: The European Union has not been witnessing its finest hours since the new millennium, and the Covid-19 pandemic has proven to be bigger than the capabilities of the second-largest economy in the world that now comprises 27 European countries after the departure of the United Kingdom. Parting with Britain with its large economic output seems much easier than the costs incurred as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and its economic consequences for the EU. There are also other issues that Europeans cannot ignore regardless of the dire economic condition of most of the Unions member states. Among these issues is that of security. For decades, the EU has allowed droves of immigrants to come and settle in it, should they meet certain conditions and regardless of political affiliations. These prerequisites are subject to alteration, but residence and citizenship are often granted to those showing that they have been politically persecuted in their home countries. Political asylum has been granted on a large scale to Islamists from the Middle East. While some of these were worthy candidates and genuine refugees, the same courtesy has been extended to radical Islamists who have managed to abuse the right to asylum in Europe. Many wanted fugitives and terrorists from Middle Eastern countries have been granted political asylum in Europe, and some European countries have used them as political leverage against their home countries. The UK and Germany have received the majority of such fugitives from the Middle East. The irony is that these often-convicted terrorists can use victimisation tactics to plead that they have been the victims of abuse in countries where they have actually committed terrorist activities, only fleeing abroad before they were captured. A case in point is the Egyptian-born terrorist Yasser Al-Sirri, convicted in absentia for his attempted assassination of former Egyptian prime minister Atef Sedki in 1994. While the operation failed, it left one person dead, a 12-year-old girl, at the scene of the heinous attack. Al-Sirri was granted asylum in the UK this month despite his acts in Egypt. There seems to be a prevailing conviction in some Western countries that the countries of the Middle East are dictatorships and that their judicial systems are a sham that cannot deliver a fair trial. Islamists have abused the laws of the Western countries in their favour like no other group in the world, even as they have been striking hard at the core of the liberty and freedoms that have made these societies what they are today. The Islamists do not believe in secular laws, and in the countries that have given them asylum they promote their replacement by Islamic Sharia-based laws. This activity has been growing recently among Salafi groups in the UK and Germany, which have been distributing pamphlets about establishing Sharia-based laws in European countries. In Germany this week, the authorities were awoken from their long slumber when the Berlin authorities banned the jihadist-Salafi association Jamaatu Berlin, also known as Tauhid Berlin. A massive police force of around 800 officers raided 27 known locations of the group and made many arrests. The group openly supports the terrorist Islamic State (IS) group, uses anti-Semitic slogans, and propagates the adoption of Sharia-based laws in Germany. Its activities took place under the noses of German security, though it is not the only group promoting such views. There are others that are equally dangerous, as there are thought to be some 12,000 Salafis living in the country. OTHER COUNTRIES: The Muslim Brotherhood has also established chapters in different European countries under different names. For instance, the Muslim Council of Great Britain is one of many Muslim Brotherhood groups in the UK, and it supervises nearly 500 mosques in the country. Similar ideas can be found in the French group Musulmans de France, an umbrella organisation for Islamist organisations. French President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants to close 51 Islamist organisations in the country whose nearly six million Muslims are under threat of radicalisation. The kind of advice received by many of the new immigrants before they embark on their adventures on the European continent is enough to turn them into Islamist radicals. Ultra-conservative Islamist clerics from rural areas furnish the new immigrants with advice to separate themselves from the host society in Europe, labelled as infidel, and tell these often young and deluded individuals to keep themselves apart lest they lose their identities as Muslims and become infidels themselves. Ironically, the same clerics encourage such younger Muslim immigrants to marry women from other faiths to convert them to Islam. Their activities have led Macron to draw up plans to counter separatism in French society, where some Muslims, thanks to radicals, are becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of society. Problems such as these were not faced by earlier generations of immigrants, many of whom, although they sometimes restricted their interactions with the natives of Western countries, rarely resorted to radicalism. Most of them successfully integrated into the new countries to which they had immigrated. The latest wake-up call to Europe took place following the series of terrorist attacks that have taken place on the continent, and France and Austria have taken measures to curb the growing Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood and other Salafi groups. Germany, Belgium and Holland have followed suit, though the latter have directed their focus to members of radical Salafi groups and not to the Islamists as a whole. The EU has also proposed monitoring online and social-media content and forcing providers to remove radical Islamist content from the Internet. The proposals were among the most significant coming out of a summit held in December that included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. It focused on the wave of Islamist terrorism striking Europe and measures to counter it effectively. While terrorists such as Al-Sirri may still find European judges who will grant them asylum status to avoid their paying for their crimes, the harsh realities faced by European leaders have opened their eyes towards the growing danger of radicalism in their countries. Many European leaders and lawmakers are now slowly realising that these radical and terrorist elements have not been subjected to persecution as they claim and that their troubles are not the result of an authoritarian regime or an unjust judicial system. The more European leaders wake up to this reality, the sooner the Europeans will realise that they have to act decisively against turning their countries into new hubs for radicalism under the pretext of protecting human rights. *The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Moderate mag. 4.1 earthquake - 37 km northwest of Larisa, Nomos Larisis, Thessaly, Greece, on Thursday, 4 Mar 2021 8:45 pm (GMT +2) - This quake was likely an aftershock of the 6.0 quake 22 km northwest of Larisa, Nomos Larisis, Thessaly, Greece, 3 Mar 2021 12:16 pm (GMT +2), which had occurred 1 day 8 hours earlier. Moderate magnitude 4.1 earthquake at 6 km depth 4 Mar 18:51 UTC: First to report: NOA after 6 minutes. 4 Mar 18:53: Magnitude recalculated from 3.9 to 4.3. Epicenter location corrected by 72 km (45 mi) towards NE. 4 Mar 20:34: Magnitude recalculated from 4.3 to 4.1. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 10.0 to 6.4 km (from 6.2 to 4 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 34 km (21 mi) towards SSW. Update Thu, 4 Mar 2021, 19:00 4.3 quake 4 Mar 8:45 pm (GMT +2) Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicenter. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc. In Agios Dimitrios (pop. 880) located 3 km from the epicenter, the quake should have been felt as light shaking. Weak shaking might have been felt in Litochoro (pop. 6,700) located 22 km from the epicenter, Katerini (pop. 53,300) 27 km away, and Veroia (pop. 44,500) 44 km away. Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Naousa (pop. 19,900) located 58 km from the epicenter, Ptolemaida (pop. 30,000) 64 km away, Kalamaria (pop. 91,600) 78 km away, Thessaloniki (pop. 354,300) 82 km away, and Sykies (pop. 45,000) 83 km away. VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you're in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either A magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Katerini, Pieria, Macedonia Centrale, Greece, was reported only 15 minutes ago by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), considered the main national agency that monitors seismic activity in Greece. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km beneath the epicenter in the evening on Thursday 4 March 2021 at 8:45 pm local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicenter. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.In Agios Dimitrios (pop. 880) located 3 km from the epicenter, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.Weak shaking might have been felt in Litochoro (pop. 6,700) located 22 km from the epicenter, Katerini (pop. 53,300) 27 km away, and Veroia (pop. 44,500) 44 km away.Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Naousa (pop. 19,900) located 58 km from the epicenter, Ptolemaida (pop. 30,000) 64 km away, Kalamaria (pop. 91,600) 78 km away, Thessaloniki (pop. 354,300) 82 km away, and Sykies (pop. 45,000) 83 km away.VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you're in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either online or via our mobile app . This will help us provide more first-hand updates to anyone around the globe who wants to know more about this quake. Download the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic alerts online: Earthquake data: [ show map ] Show interactive Map [ smaller ] [ bigger ] please share your experience and submit a short "I felt it" report! Other users would love to hear about it! Also if you did NOT feel the quake although you were in the area, please report it ! Your contribution is valuable also to earthquake science and earthquake hazard analysis and mitigation efforts. You can use your device location or the map to indicate where you were during the earthquake. Thank you! If you felt this quake (or if you were near the epicenter),Other users would love to hear about it!Alsoalthough you were in the area, please! Your contribution is valuable also to earthquake science and earthquake hazard analysis and mitigation efforts. You can use your device location or the map to indicate where you were during the earthquake. Thank you! Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision. Magnitude Depth Location Source 4.1 6.4 km 26 Km N From Elassona, Greece NOA 4.1 6 km GREECE EMSC User reports for this quake (20) User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! 106.4 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s 114 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) 55.2 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s 145.4 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) 172.7 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt (330.4 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s Echinus (119.8 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short 99 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging 110 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) 237.6 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 1-2 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 1-2 s 246.9 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s THESSALONIKI / Weak shaking (MMI III) Thessaloniki / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Kozani / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 1-2 s LARISSA / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 5-10 s Volos , Greece / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 15-20 s Corfu, Aghios Markos / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Saranda albania / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Veles, MACEDONIA / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Bitola / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Earlier earthquakes in the same area This can take up to 20-30 seconds. Please wait while we search through millions of records.This can take up to 20-30 seconds. Click here to search our database for earlier earthquakes in the same area since 1900! Theresa Hiney Tinggal has called for a full investigation (Theresa Hiney Tinggall/PA)NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. A woman who discovered she was illegally adopted and had her birth certificate falsified has called for a full, nationwide investigation into the scandal. Theresa Hiney Tinggal has said any inquiry must not be limited to adoptees from St Patricks Guild, where at least 126 births between 1946 and 1969 were incorrectly registered. Ms Tinggal was stunned to discover the truth about her past in 2002 at age of 48, and has criticised the Government for ignoring the issue for so long. There can't just be a review of St Patrick's Guild. They need to review all the illegal adoptees, and all the other homes. Theresa Hiney Tinggal It comes after an RTE Investigates documentary shone a fresh light on the decades-old scandal, focusing on St Patricks Guild, an adoption society in Dublin run by the Sisters of Charity. Ms Tinggal told the PA news agency: Its nothing new. Its not an expose, its confirmation of what happened. I told the government about that in 2002. But you know, it has brought everything out in the open. I think there will be a review. But I do think that there cant just be a review of St Patricks Guild. They need to review all the illegal adoptees, and all the other homes, especially for people like me that have evidence. Im hoping that something positive will come out of it. Ive been at it now for 19 years. I find it very, very frustrating. OK, this programme has come out now. But is it all going to die down in a few months? Will the Government forget about it? Taoiseach Micheal Martin told his parliamentary party meeting ahead of the documentarys airing that the adoptions were illegal they were wrong. There will be a full and caring government response to what is revealed. The issue of illegal adoption is shocking. We will ensure those affected are helped and supported. Its critical they have access to their identity. The information tracing legislation is a priority. Responding to those comments, Ms Tinggal said: For information and tracing, thats OK if youre adopted, but for illegal adoptees where does that leave us? There really isnt any information. I think for us, we need an investigation into all the private homes. Thats what needs to be investigated. The Taoiseachs position appears to be at odds with the findings of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, which found very little evidence of forced adoption in Ireland between 1922 and 1998. Ms Tinggal met with then minister for children Katherine Zappone back in 2016 to discuss the exclusion of illegally adopted people from the Commission, but said she felt stonewalled and received no answers. I could never get a reason from her. She wasnt particularly interested in us, to be honest. Its another smack in the face. Going over there, arranging these meetings and then to be treated like that, she said. At the time a spokesman for the minister said she was happy to meet Ms Tinggal and described the discussion as positive and constructive. Ms Tinggal, 66, was born in Dublin but now lives in Bournemouth. Expand Close Taoiseach Micheal Martin told his party the Government will ensure those affected by illegal adoption will be helped and supported (Julien Behal/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Micheal Martin told his party the Government will ensure those affected by illegal adoption will be helped and supported (Julien Behal/PA) She said she intends to write to the Taoiseach and the current minister, Roderic OGorman, about the issue. She added: You cant investigate St Patricks Guild and leave people that were illegally adopted elsewhere. Because some of those people last night were not illegally adopted from St Patricks Guild. They have to be seen to be fair, you know, otherwise this is going to go on for years and years and years. They need to draw a line under it now and deal with the people that want answers. Other illegal adoptees, like myself, we want answers. Ms Tinggal said she got the shock of my life when it was revealed to her for the first time by her uncle in 2002 that she had been adopted, despite the fact that her adoptive parents were named on her birth certificate. She asked her sister about it, who she says replied: Oh my God, who told you? She added: She knew, my sister knew. Everybody knew, the whole area knew, everybody. Thats actually the worst thing about all of this. I actually havent got a problem with being adopted and my mother giving me up, because of the circumstances in the 50s, I fully understand where she was coming from. I have no issue with that. The worst thing for me was all the lies and deceit. With the result I actually dont trust anybody any more, I dont believe anything anybody tells me. Through Freedom of Information requests, she eventually obtained a copy of an HSE file on her adoption. All I was worth was 45. There must have been a sale on. Theresa Hiney Tinggal Apparently there was a social worker looking into it and she had put on the file I have not been able to find Theresas mother, I need direction. Nothing was ever done, she said. There was a note saying remove from the file, Theresa does not know the Hineys are not her parents. That prevented me from finding my mother. Why did they do that? She notes that her adoptive parents received a sum of 45 at time. All I was worth was 45. There must have been a sale on, she remarks wryly. Ms Tinggal has stepped back from her campaign work with The Coalition of Mother and Baby Homes Survivors in recent years, but now intends to return to it. I was ill about two years ago from all of this and Ive kind of stepped back. But now, its got me going again. Its the unfairness of it. People have no idea what its like not to have an identity and to be lied to all your life. She is currently working on a book, Against All Odds, about her life story and runs the website www.AdoptedIllegally-Ireland.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. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP The Magazine has unveiled the winners for the annual Movies for Grownups Awards, which features honorees from The United States vs. Billie Holiday, The Life Ahead, The Father, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and more. For the inaugural year of the TV categories, the winners include This Is Us and The Queen's Gambit. This year's virtual event is hosted by the iconic Hoda Kotb, NBC News' "TODAY" co-anchor and co-host of "TODAY with Hoda & Jenna." In a year where award shows have undergone major changes, movie theaters have been shuttered and the general public has been advised to stay at home, AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards will continue its tradition of awarding high quality film talent and expand its categories into Television/Streaming. "We are excited to share this year's Movies for Grownups Awards honorees and celebrate the work of these formidable filmmakers," said Tim Appelo, AARP film and TV critic. "Even during these trying times, creators continue to give audiences riveting imagery, captivating storytelling and indelible performances. We have expanded our categories into TV to reflect changes in how audiences consume content, and we can't wait to share the stories of those whose work enriched our lives this year." AARP The Magazine's Annual Movies for Grownups Awards will be broadcast by Great Performances on Sunday, March 28 at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/moviesforgrownups and the PBS Video app. This is the fourth consecutive year the awards will be broadcast on PBS in a co-production with Great Performances and AARP Studios. AARP's Movies for Grownups program has championed movies for grownups, by grownups, by advocating for the 50-plus audience, fighting industry ageism and highlighting films that resonate with older viewers. AARP's Movies for Grownups continues its commitment to celebrate quality content by expanding to honor standout TV programs in new categories. The complete list of the Annual Movies for Grownups Awards Winners: Career Achievement: George Clooney Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups: The United States vs. Billie Holiday Best Actress: Sophia Loren ( The Life Ahead) Best Actor: Anthony Hopkins ( The Father ) Best Supporting Actress: Jodie Foster ( The Mauritanian ) Best Supporting Actor: Demi an Bichir ( Land ) an Bichir ( ) Best Director: Aaron Sorkin ( The Trial of the Chicago 7 ) Best Screenwriter: Aaron Sorkin ( The Trial of the Chicago 7 ) Best Ensemble: One Night in Miami Best Intergenerational: Minari Best Buddy Picture: Da 5 Bloods Best Time Capsule: Mank Best Grownup Love Story: Supernova Best Documentary: A Secret Love Best Foreign Film/Best International Film: Collective ( Romania ) Best Actress (TV): Catherine O'Hara ( Schitt's Creek ) Best Actor (TV): Mark Ruffalo ( I Know This Much Is True ) Best Series: This Is Us (NBC) Best TV Movie/Limited Series: The Queen's Gambit (Netflix) About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media. About WNET WNET is America's flagship PBS station: parent company of New York's THIRTEEN, WLIW21, WLIW-FM and operator of NJ PBS, the statewide public media network in New Jersey and its news division, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS. Through its new ALL ARTS multi-platform initiative, its broadcast channels, three cable services (THIRTEEN PBSKids, Create and World) and online streaming sites, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than five million viewers each month. WNET produces and presents a wide range of acclaimed PBS series, including Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, and the nightly interview program Amanpour and Company. In addition, WNET produces numerous documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings, as well as multiplatform initiatives addressing poverty and climate. Through THIRTEEN Passport and WLIW Passport, station members can stream new and archival THIRTEEN, WLIW and PBS programming anytime, anywhere. SOURCE AARP Related Links www.aarp.org Trudeau Rejects Chinese Ambassadors Claim That Detention of Two Michaels Unconnected to Mengs Arrest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has strongly refuted a claim by Chinas ambassador to Canada that theres no connection between the detention of two Canadian citizens in China and Canadas arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. It is obvious that the two Michaels were arrested on trumped-up national security charges days after we fulfilled our extradition treaty responsibilities towards our ally, the United States, Trudeau said when asked during a press conference Wednesday if he agreed with Cong Peiwus claim in a media briefing earlier that day that the cases were unrelated. Chinese officials at the time were very clear that they absolutely were connected and nothing the ambassador can say now will dissuade me from understanding that that is indeed the case. Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were arbitrarily detained in China in December 2018, just days after Meng was arrested at the Vancouver airport at the request of the United States, where she is wanted on bank fraud charges related to alleged violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran. The two were later charged with espionage and have remained in custody, held on what the federal government and international observers alike have described as bogus charges aimed at putting pressure on Canada. Meng, meanwhile, is under house arrest at one of her mansions in Vancouver as her case is heard in court. Cong also denied allegations of genocide and forced labour of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, calling them lies of the century, despite numerous reports by rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International documenting Beijings oppression of Uyghurs, with reports of at least a million being held in massive camps. Cong insisted that there are no such camps, but only vocational, education and training centres in Xinjiang in accordance with laws. On Feb. 22, MPs passed a motion to formally label Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims a genocide, something Cong described as doing things out of political intention and trying to secure political gains. Those MPs voting in the House of Commons, most of them, Im afraid, have never been to Xinjiang or even to China in the last years, so how can they judge the situation on the ground? he said. Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chongthe MP who tabled the motiontold Parliament on Feb. 18 that there is mounting evidence from satellite imagery, survivor testimonies, leaked documents, and smuggled videos proving that Uyghurs are being sent to detention camps where they undergo indoctrination, torture, forced labour, sexual violence, mass sterilization, and forced abortions. Chong noted that Muslims not held in the camps are tracked, classified, and rated by the states surveillance system that also analyzes their facial bone structure, expression, and behaviour. Those who dont meet the algorithmic standards or follow the instructions of the authorities will be flagged for arrest and detention in camps. Trudeau said the federal government has and will continue to take very seriously the very credible reports of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, in China, perpetuated by the Chinese state. He said he will work with international allies to getting clear answers and holding to account those responsible with possible consequences that the world can bring forward, but this is something that is much better done on a multilateral approach. CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / March 3, 2021 / Further to the press release dated March 1, 2021, Aston Capital Advisors Corporation ("ACAC") and Balancing Rock Inc. ("Balancing Rock") announce today the closing of the acquisition of the management contract of CannaIncome Fund Corp. ("CiF") by Balancing Rock from ACAC. Balancing Rock is led by Catherine Butler, CFA. Ms. Butler is an experienced investment manager as well as a founder and operator of several businesses. Most recently, she was the Director of Business Development for Wilmington Capital and currently for Rockwood Custom Homes. Ms. Butler is a director of Beltline Brownstones, DC Bank, and Knighthawk. Previously, Ms. Butler was Analyst, Merchant Banking for the Blackstone Group in New York City and a registered portfolio manager with Qwest Funds and Avenir Capital, a venture capital firm. Ms. Butler is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter-holder with a BA degree in Economics from Queen's University. Balancing Rock is now the manager of CiF. It is anticipated that the investment strategy of CiF will be to generate capital gains and long-term growth in value for shareholders. "We look forward to continuing to build on the foundation and success that prior management of CiF established", said Ms. Butler. About CannaIncome Fund Corp. CannaIncome Fund Corp. is a private investment company currently focused on the entire value chain of the cannabis sector. The aim is to provide yield and capital appreciation upside via valuation arbitrage opportunities primarily between private and public markets. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please consult with your investment advisor and the Offering Memorandum for the fund before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Information in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking information. By their very nature, statements that constitute forward-looking information are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond CannaIncome Fund's control. Although forward-looking information contained in this press release is based upon what management of CannaIncome Fund believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Any forward-looking information in this news release is provided as at the date of this news release, based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date of this news release. CannaIncome Fund undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this news release. For further information or media enquiries: Balancing Rock Adam Thomas T: (403) 830-7995 E: adam@balancingrockinc.com SOURCE: CannaIncome Fund Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633367/CannaIncome-Fund-Announces-the-Closing-of-the-Sale-of-Its-Management-Contract Blinken Argues That China Is the Number One Problem March 3 , 2021 (EIRNS)Secretary of State Tony Blinken today outlined his foreign policy in a major speech at the State Department today, timed with the release a few hours later of an Interim National Security Guidance document by the White House. EIR has yet to review the speech and Guidance in full, but the geopolitical premise expressed by both jumps out. The guidance states in bold at its beginning: Today, more than ever, Americas fate is inextricably linked to events beyond our shores. We confront a global pandemic, a crushing economic downturn, a crisis of racial justice, and a deepening climate emergency. We face a world of rising nationalism, receding democracy, growing rivalry with China, Russia, and other authoritarian states, and a technological revolution that is reshaping every aspect of our lives. Ours is a time of unprecedented challenges, but also unmatched opportunity.... Blinken, after crying about eroding democracy and authoritarianism at home and abroad, listed the challenges he imagines face the United States, and declared the U.S. relationship to China to be the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century. He elaborates: An investigation is underway into stillbirths in four women with Covid-19 which could be potentially linked to the virus. The stillbirths could potentially be due to infection in placenta which may have led to the very rare Covid Placentitis, health officials announced this evening. Placentitis is an inflammation of the placenta that can lead to stillbirth. However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn emphasised that these reports are preliminary and that Coroners have not yet concluded their findings. These reports should be interpreted with caution as the coroners have not yet concluded their findings. The HSEs National Women and Infants Programme is aware of and is monitoring the situation and has issued a related notice to obstetric departments. I would ask that the privacy of all of those affected by this disease continue to be respected at all times. At least two of the cases took place in 2021. It is not known yet at what stage of the pregnancy the stillbirths occurred. The condition is an infection of the placenta in women who test positive in a PCR test for the virus. Nphet was notified of the four cases as todays Covid case and deaths figures came through. Dr Glynn emphasised that these are preliminary findings and does not expect that the condition should have a high incidence here. The condition has been reported internationally but at this point, further work needs to be done before we can confirm the findings, he said. He admitted that it is of concern. Of course its of concern, but we know from international data that this is a very rare condition. We have not seen high incidence of it internationally and we would not expect to see high incidence of it here." Dr Glynn said that there is no change to the advice for pregnant women and that they should not be doing anything differently. The advice remains as it has been, which is to continue to do all you can to protect yourself, he said. Dr Glynn said that if any woman has specific concerns, they should get in touch with their GP. Read More Meanwhile, there have been 39 further deaths of people with Covid-19 and 462 new cases of the virus confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) this evening. 207 new cases have been confirmed in Dublin, 29 in Cork, 26 in Meath, 20 in Kildare, 18 in Galway and the remaining 162 cases are spread across all other counties. The 14-day national incidence rate has fallen further to 190 cases per 100,000 people. Of the cases notified today; 224 are men and 236 are women; 69pc are under 45 years of age and the median age is 31 years old. Dr Breda Smyth, Director of Public Health, HSE West, confirmed that more than 200 households have had an outbreak of Covid-19 that are linked back to the outbreak among students. We know that the new variant is more transmissible, and, based on the latest data, approximately a third of household contacts of confirmed cases in Ireland are now testing positive. We know how to break the chains of transmission of this disease. We must all continue to make every effort to limit our social contacts, stay home and stay safe. 446,474 vaccine doses have been administered in Ireland up to Monday, March 1, with 303,550 people having received at least one dose. There were 460 Covid-19 patients in hospital as of 2pm today, of which 107 were in intensive care. 27 people have been hospitalised with the virus in the last 24 hours. Professor Philip Nolan said that the number of people being admitted to hospital is continuing to fall with a very significant drop in the number of people in intensive care over the last five days. The number of deaths were reporting every day remains high but looking back over the average number of daily deaths in a week, that is now 18, whereas it was 60 in early January, Prof Nolan said. The incidence of Covid-19 is declining across almost all age groups, and particularly among those aged over 65, Prof Nolan said. There has also been an increase in the numbers of cases of virus variants in Ireland. There are now 15 cases of the South African variant and three cases of the B1525 variant which has been linked to a number of countries, including Nigeria and the UK. Experts have raised concerns worldwide that this variant may be more transmissible and that it may impact how effective the vaccine is. The modelling expert said that while there has been talk of lockdown fatigue, the number of close contacts on average per positive case has only marginally increased since January. There is really strong evidence here that people are sticking assiduously to the measures, Prof Nolan said. Prof Nolan said Ireland is putting in a remarkable performance in suppressing the virus at a rate between 2-4pc per day despite the B117 UK variant making it more difficult to do so. The R number (between 0.6 and 0.9) has at least remained stable and may even have decreased slightly, this is reflected in the week-on-week decline in cases that has been reported recently. People aged over 16 who are at-risk of severe disease and death from Covid-19 due to underlying health conditions are to begin receiving the vaccine next week, the HSE has announced. The people will be offered the AstraZeneca vaccine, except for 16 and 17-year-olds, Independent.ie learned today. The HSE is currently attempting to locate people suitable to fit this cohort by using hospital records but have not yet finalised details of how it will contact these people. The 500,000th vaccine dose is expected to be administered this week amid concern the rollout is stalling after it emerged up to 800 people over 85 will not receive their first Covid-19 vaccine dose until next week. HSE Chief Paul Reid today admitted that there have been "significant issues" with the rollout this week. Due to last-minute delays to AstraZeneca shipments last week, Ireland missed last week's target of 100,000 doses and will not meet this week's target either. Mr Reid has said the shortfall will be made up by the end of this month. Read More Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Nearly 300 abducted Nigerian schoolgirls were safely returned Tuesday after they were kidnapped Friday morning by armed militants. State authorities said 279 girls were released, which is different from the original reports claiming 317 girls were kidnapped. After 1 a.m. on Friday, gunmen kidnapped nearly 300 girls from a boarding school in northwest Nigeria following a wave of mass abductions. The kidnapped girls from Government Girls Science School in Jangebe are between 11 and 17 years old. This abduction is the third mass kidnapping experienced in recent months in northwest Nigeria, according to The Wall Street Journal. Source:The Christian Post For those who cant, well, Jayanti threads the real-life stories of this towns inhabitants through the impressionistic narrative. Yvonne, an older woman, tells stories of a childhood and early adulthood full of abuse. A male resident named George discusses his collection of rocks, many of which look like marbles. And Katie, a younger woman, discusses an estrangement from her family. They all allude to how they came to Truth or Consequences, and why they are staying. These tales of real life are sometimes terribly sad. And the tales are given further resonance by the strangeness of the place, and by a reflective electric-guitar score by Bill Frisell. The realization that Jayanti is using these things to buttress a fiction albeit a fiction that could perhaps become true in the blink of an eye is disquieting in a way the filmmaker might not have intended. Truth or Consequences Not Rated. Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas. 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. Great Barrington Police Chief Paul Storti said he hopes a new series of discussions will give the public a greater glimpse of how the police department operates. CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE:FLOW), a leading provider of process solutions, has appointed Melissa Buscher as an Officer of the Company and expanded the role of Peter Ryan, Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel. Buscher will now serve as Chief Communications and Marketing Officer after joining SPX FLOW a year ago as Vice President and Chief Communications Officer. Over the past year, Buscher has significantly impacted company culture using communication strategies to increase engagement and alignment with company goals. In December 2020, she took on additional responsibilities in marketing with a vision to transform the way SPX FLOW interacts and communicates with external stakeholders about our innovative products and solutions. In connection with SPX FLOW's drive to build a great culture while increasing functional accountability and efficiency, Peter Ryan's role has been expanded to lead the Company's Human Resources organization. In his new role as Chief People Officer and General Counsel, Ryan will leverage his experience in corporate governance, compensation, sustainability and his deep knowledge of the company's business, people and culture to drive strong global functions that help deliver the company's strategy. "These are two extremely talented and reputable leaders," said Marc Michael, SPX FLOW President and CEO. "Melissa has done an outstanding job modernizing the communications function and will do the same for marketing by communicating our company's strengths to our target audiences, and with Peter's 15-year tenure at SPX FLOW, passion for people and extensive company knowledge, he will have an immediate impact on our future success." About SPX FLOW, Inc. Based in Charlotte, N.C., SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE: FLOW) improves the world through innovative and sustainable solutions. The company's product offering is concentrated in process technologies that perform mixing, blending, fluid handling, separation, thermal heat transfer and other activities that are integral to processes performed across a wide variety of nutrition, health and industrial markets. SPX FLOW had approximately $1.4 billion in 2020 annual revenues and has operations in more than 30 countries and sales in more than 140 countries. To learn more about SPX FLOW, please visit www.spxflow.com . Media Contact: Peter Smolowitz External Communications Manager [email protected] 704-390-6918 SOURCE SPX FLOW, Inc. Related Links http://www.spxflow.com Reaffirming Our Africanness and Radical Tradition, 1960s: Liberations Coming From a Black Thing (Part II) Part II. It was Min. Malcolm X who taught us to cultivate a world-encompassing consciousness, not only as pan-Africanists committed to the liberation of Africans everywhere, but also as part of the worldwide revolution and liberation struggle going on and redrawing the map of history. He taught that we, as African people, were part of that global struggle of the oppressed against oppressors. And he assured us these struggles represented the rising tide of human history. Studying Third World Liberation Movements, we learned from Mao Ze Dong and the Chinese people ideas and practices rooted in Maos teachings reflected in concepts he put forth such as power to the people, pick up the gun and a people united cannot be defeated. And from the Cuban people and its leader, Fidel Castro, we learned that it does not matter if our oppressor condemns us, for our struggle and history will absolve and define us, and that with faith in and love of the people and a clear and correct plan of action, we can achieve the impossible. And we learn from the Vietnamese people and its leader, Ho Chi Minh, that a small nation can defeat a large nation, that the preparation and will of the people are decisive and if an arrogant person or nation mounts a tiger, they must remember, the problem is how to get off. But above all, we absorbed the spirit of possibility and promise of the era if we engaged in righteous and relentless liberation struggle to be ourselves and free ourselves. ADVERTISEMENT None of this is to say there were no problems with all revolutions from which we learned; consider the American Revolution. But it is important not to deny beneficial lessons well-taught and well-learned. Moreover, we ourselves had and have lessons to teach the world, even as we learn from it as we continuously strive for excellence in all we think, feel, say and do. It is this context of righteousness and relentless struggle against racism and White supremacy and its national and international forms that the Black Freedom Movement emerges and develops. It has two phases: the Civil Rights Phase (1955-1965) and the Black Power phase (1965-1975). Although it is common practice to call both phases the Civil Rights Movement, that is not only wrong, but an act of historical erasure and part of the established orders efforts to deny our people the right to define and claim their own history, struggle and victories. Civil rights was clearly an emphasis in the Black Freedom Movement, but, as Min. Malcolm taught, our struggle has a larger arc of moral meaning as a human rights struggle. For it speaks to rights no government can give us, rights we were born with, including the first and fundamental rights the right to life, liberty and security of person. Indeed, the three most often demanded, chanted and aspired to and fought for human rights were freedom, justice and equality embraced by all leaders of the Movement, both the Christians and the Muslims, SCLC and NOI. Thus, our oppressor cannot be our teacher and must not be allowed to redefine our freedom struggle in the reductive terms of a civil rights movement. Our shared goals were freedom, justice, equality and power, the latter goal added during the Black Power period of the Black Freedom Movement. Here it is important to note that the goal of equality was not to be equal to Whites in any sense that suggested we were not already equal in dignity and human rights. Rather, the demand of equality was a demand for equal treatment and equal recognition of our rights. Indeed, the oppressor exhibited no moral qualities, social psychology or humane behaviors we wanted to adopt or emulate. In fact, we defined ourselves and our liberation struggle for a new society and world in contrast to the unfreedom, domination, deprivation and degradation that characterized his system of reasoning and rule. The Civil Rights Period of the Black Freedom Movement brought us the important transformative victories: Brown vs. Board of Education and all the initiatives launched to make it a living reality. It won the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Affirmative Action. And it made gains in ending legal segregation, although the struggle against de facto segregation remains. And this period of the Black Freedom Struggle also produced rich and varied forms of education, organization and actions, i.e., demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, civil disobedience, party building, voter education and registration, and self-defense initiatives. The Black Power Period of the Black Freedom Movement emerged as the Civil Rights Period became historically exhausted, having achieved many of its legislative and judicial gains and having begun to dismantle the people-focused structures, issues and processes of struggle that yielded their gains. It was a premature move that led to brain drain and institutional weakening and a shift from community focus to integration in U.S. society. Thus, emerged the call for Black Power, power to define ourselves, defend ourselves, develop ourselves, and enjoy lives of dignity and decency, i.e., being duly respected and having the necessities of life and the social capacity for human flourishing. ADVERTISEMENT We opened up critical space in the Black Power Movement by providing intellectual and practical initiatives. We defined Black Power as the collective struggle for and practice of self-determination, self-respect and self-defense. By self-determination, we meant and mean controlling the space we occupy, the politics, economics and culture of our community, and effectively participating in decisions that affect our destiny and daily lives. By self-respect is meant rightfully reaffirming our identity and dignity rooted in our culture and struggle and being the center and subject of our own lives, history and culture. By self-defense, we meant the right and responsibility and capacity to defend ourselves and achieve our freedom, as Malcolm said, by any means necessary. And by any means necessary, I read Min. Malcolm as meaning, by any means the oppressor compels us to engage and by any means required by us in service and sacrifice for our freedom. During the Black Power Movement, we continued to expand the realm of human freedom and to compel the country to face its racist self and come to terms with our righteous demands. Our organization Us and other Black Power organizations, organized against and resisted systemic racist violence, struggled against police violence, organized units of self-defense, built youth movements, and resisted the draft into what we defined and denounced as a racist and imperialist army. We engaged in massive political and cultural education, mobilization, organization and confrontation. We built independent schools, cultural centers and other institutions, and Black United Fronts to achieve community control and development and advance our liberation struggle. In addition, we advanced pan-African and international initiatives, built Third world alliances with Native Americans, Latina/os and Asians, participated in union and party building, and supported community-oriented politicians. Moreover, we built Black student unions and established Black Studies in the academy, laying the basis for other Ethnic Studies and the creation of a multicultural quality education and inclusive university. And we raised the moral imperative of reparations as both what society owed us, but also as a means of healing, repairing, renewing and remaking ourselves in the process and practice of repairing, renewing and remaking society and the world. In the midst of savage oppression, we determined the remedy to be revolutionary resistance, the strategy to be righteous and relentless struggle everywhere, and the ultimate goal to be a radical and liberating transformation of self, society and the world in the interests of African and human good and well-being of the world. Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act" and strongly supports its timely passage into law. "Emergency physicians and other health care workers risk their lives every day to protect patients and this bill ensures that our heroes on the frontlines can seek mental health care if they need it," said Mark Rosenberg, DO, MBA, FACEP, president of ACEP. "Dr. Lorna Breen's legacy will extend long after this pandemic is over. The bill carrying her name will be a lifeline for emergency physicians who absorb extraordinary levels of grief, anxiety and other stressors but feel their only option is to struggle in silence." ACEP is grateful for the leadership of Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA), David McKinley (R-WV), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Fred Upton (R-MI), Judy Chu (D-CA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and John Katko (R-NY) for their commitment to prioritizing care for the health professionals that courageously put the needs of patients first. This bipartisan bill is also a testament to the tireless work of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation and its mission to provide mental health support for the heroes on the frontlines. The "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act" authorizes funding for mental and behavioral health training and services for health care professionals, supports education campaigns to encourage healthier work conditions, and calls for research on causes of physician burnout and its impact, among other provisions. Despite the prevalence of mental health concerns in the health care workforce, there is a legitimate fear of consequences that deters many physicians from getting the care they need. A statement developed by ACEP with more than 40 leading medical organizations outlines recommendations for removing existing barriers to seeking treatment, including the fear of reprisal, and encouraging professional support and non-clinical mental health initiatives, such as peer support, for physicians. ACEP also supports the Joint Commission's stance that history of mental illness should not be used as an indication of a health professionals' current or future ability to practice medicine. And, for its members, ACEP offers free mental health counseling sessions, peer-to-peer support, meditation guides and other resources. "Changes to the culture of medicine will not happen overnight," said Dr. Rosenberg. "But the pandemic is shining a light on the urgent need to protect physician mental health and address contributing factors to burnout and stress that have been pushed under the rug for too long. We must take this opportunity to overcome real barriers to physician well-being, including stigma, that prevent physicians from seeking mental health care." The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research, public education, and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of its 40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150 million Americans they treat on an annual basis. For more information, visit www.acep.org and www.emergencyphysicians.org. SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Related Links www.acep.org Davina Rankin shocked Australia in 2018 when she embarked on Married At First Sight's first ever cheating scandal. And now history looks to be repeating itself with Coco Stedman finding a spark with Samantha Jayne's on-screen husband Cameron Dunne. The MAFS Funny Instagram account noticed that Coco and Davina both own the same newsboy cap. Seeing double! Married At First Sight's Davina Rankin (top) and Coco Stedman (below) both own similar hats Davina wore the hat while texting Dean Wells behind her 'husband' Ryan Gallagher's back, while Coco wore it while chatting up Cam. They also appear to own a similar pair of cream coloured slippers. 'The cheating script is getting a bit old,' one fan commented on a side by side of the two photos. 'The hat doesn't suit either one of them!' added another. 'The hat doesn't suit either one of them!' One fan felt that the accessory wasn't suited to either one of the women They may have both been matched with other people, but the chemistry was undeniable between Coco and Cameron on Wednesday's episode of Married At First Sight. After walking out on 'husband' Sam Carraro during Tuesday's episode, Coco, 30, asked Cameron to come to her apartment to discuss her troubled marriage. Knowing Cam, 32, knew Sam from outside the experiment, Coco wanted some insight into what her 'husband' was like on the outside world. The start of something: The chemistry was undeniable between Coco (left) and Cameron (right) on Wednesday's episode of Married At First Sight But as they discussed their mutual dislike of Sam, 32, it wasn't long before both Coco and Cam noticed the 'connection' between them. 'I didn't expect to get along so well with Coco,' Cameron said, before telling Coco he found it 'very hard' to talk to his 'wife', Samantha Harvey. He then told Coco that he felt like he could talk to her 'for ages' in comparison, as she laughed flirtatiously in response. Talking things over: After walking out on 'husband' Sam Carraro during Tuesday's episode, Coco, 30, asked Cameron to come to her apartment to discuss her troubled marriage 'She's easy to get along with. She gets me, I get her. You don't have to think about the conversation,' Cam added of Coco. 'It's been so bad with Sam, and then this bloke walks in, and it's like laughter and chat already. I feel like a breath of fresh air,' Coco said of Cam. Coco then suggested they take their conversation outside, and they stood on the balcony chatting. Bonding: As they discussed their mutual dislike of Sam, 32, it wasn't long before both Coco and Cam noticed the 'connection' between them Although their conversation wasn't heard by the cameras, Coco could be seen gazing up at Cam adoringly. 'He makes me laugh. I feel, like, happier than I've felt since this experiment began,' added Coco of Cam. Once back inside, Cam told Coco that she and him seemed to have 'so many common interests'. Enjoying the view: Coco then suggested they take their conversation outside, and they stood on the balcony chatting 'Sam and I don't have common interests, and it would have been easier to have been matched with somebody like yourself,' he told her. He added: 'I would've been happy to match with ya.' Giggling, a bashful Coco admitted that Cam's comments had caused her to lose her train of thought, before then giving him a hug goodbye at the door. Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A woman told police that about 7 a.m. that morning, she "bumped" the car in front of her at the intersection of Wilcox and Tunnel Boulevard. She said there was no damage to either vehicle. She said they pulled onto the lot of the convenience store at that intersection. She said that the vehicle, an older silver four-door hatchback, was occupied by three people. She said the driver got out. She said they all were yelling at her and the driver claimed that his knee was hurt and the woman in the back seat was saying her neck was hurt.She said that the driver told her that $50 would not take care of this and wanted money. She said that she went inside the store to the ATM and withdrew $100 and gave it to the driver. She said that he took the money, got in his car and sped off. The woman wanted this report in the event that there is a problem as a result of this incident.* * *A woman on Croll Court told police that in either February or March of 2020 she totaled her car and left the license plate on it. She said that she recently received a toll bill from Dade County, Florida for a toll fee due from Jan. 13, 2021. She said that she needs a report to send to Dade County showing that the tag was stolen.* * *Police received a call about a disorder at Personnel Staffing, 6227 Lee Hwy. Officers spoke with a man who said he was there attempting to collect his stimulus check and refusing to leave the property. Officers explained to the man how to go about collecting his stimulus check. The man left the area without any police action needed.* * *A loss prevention employee at Lowe's Home Improvement, 2180 Gunbarrel Road, told police that a white male and a white female came into the business. She said the man selected a Dewalt drill from the sales area and exited the business past the last point of sale without payment. The employee was able to stop the man and got the drill back from him, but the man then fled the scene. The employee said the female did not take anything.* * *A man who owns a house on Cherryton Drive told police he had cut a lock off of the basement door because it had been put on there by someone else and he didn't know what was in there. Police cleared the basement and found a mattress, clothing and other signs that someone had been staying there. The owner was informed and he said he would call back if the person came back. The address was placed on the watch list.* * *A resident on Clifton Terrace told police that someone unlawfully entered two of his vehicles and stole items. One vehicle that was possibly unlocked, a Toyota Camry, had his state identification card and a MacBook taken out of it. The other vehicle that was definitely locked, a Toyota Sequoia, had his passport, and $100 in cash stolen, and sustained damage on the driver door frame. No suspect information is known.* * *A man on Passenger Street reported to police that his gray and blue huffy bike from Target had been stolen in the past couple of days. He said he does not know exactly when it was taken. The bike lock had been cut with cutters. He said he will check with Target to see if he had any insurance on the bike. The Boeing 737-300 leased by Fly Armenia Airways, a private carrier, reportedly went missing on February 20 for still unclear reasons. The company said that the plane underwent repairs in Estonias capital Tallinn and was due to proceed to Ukraine for further maintenance. It said the plane ended up at Tehrans Mehrabad airport due to technical problems that emerged during that flight. Other reports claimed that the plane took off from the Bulgarian city of Varna and was due to fly to Sharjah airport in the United Arab Emirates. Many in Armenia questioned the airlines explanation. Some speculated that the Boeing 737-300 was secretly sold to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan expressed concern about the incident and urged the Armenian authorities to ascertain the planes whereabouts. It warned that the sanctions prohibit any transfer of U.S.-made aircraft or their spare parts to the Islamic Republic. Armenias Civil Aviation Committee launched an inquiry into the planes possible disappearance. In a statement released on Thursday, the committee said that it has reached a tentative agreement with Iranian authorities on the planes return to Armenia. It said that Iranian officials have informed their Armenian colleagues that the plane is still malfunctioning and that Iranian aviation specialists need more time to decide whether it can safely fly to Yerevan. The [Armenian] Foreign Ministry is informed, and efforts are being made to bring the plane back to Armenia, a Fly Armenia spokesman, Arsen Haytayan, said for his part. Haytayan declined to clarify why the plane deviated from its intended flight path. Armenias National Security Service (NSS) is conducting a separate, criminal investigation into the circumstances of its flight to Iran. The NSS has not charged anyone so far. Flash Another 6,385 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,194,785, according to official figures released Wednesday. The country also reported another 315 coronavirus-related deaths, taking the toll to 123,783. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test. The new figures came as more than 20.7 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of a coronavirus vaccine. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals in England dropped below 10,000 on Wednesday for the first time since November, according to figures from the National Health Service (NHS) England. A British study has shown that one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccine helps to significantly reduce risks of hospitalization, especially among people in their 80s who have other illnesses. "These early results show the UK COVID-19 vaccine program is working better than we could have hoped," said Adam Finn, chief investigator of the AvonCAP study at the University of Bristol. 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. On Feb. 22, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" for exiting the lockdown. Schools in England will reopen from Monday as the first part of the four-step plan, which Johnson said was designed to be "cautious but irreversible." To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. By relying on an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, the Oregon Health Authority can be assured that the laboratories are operating independently by demonstrating that they meet requirements for impartiality. - Randy Querry, A2LA Effective March 1st, 2021 the Oregon Health Authority has completed Phase 3 Rulemaking of the Toxic-Free Kids Act, a law requiring manufacturers of childrens products sold in Oregon to report and ultimately remove certain high priority chemicals of concern for childrens health (HPCCCH). This law is intended to reduce childrens exposure to chemicals of concern and improve scientific understanding of how children may be exposed to such chemicals. This new portion of the Toxic-Free Kids Act allows manufacturers to demonstrate the safety of their products by having them tested at laboratories that have been accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by an accreditation body that is a signatory of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) mutual recognition arrangement. The Toxic-Free Kids Act requires manufacturers of childrens products with annual worldwide gross sales of $5 million or greater to submit a biennial notice to the Oregon Health Authority detailing any products that contain high priority chemicals of concern for childrens health (HPCCCH) at or above Oregon regulated levels. This new Phase 3 Rulemaking provides measures for manufacturers to request an exemption. The exemption must include adequate evidence that the contaminant is being controlled, including periodic laboratory test reports from a third-party laboratory accredited to the current ISO/IEC 17025 standard by an accrediting body that is a signatory to ILAC mutual recognition arrangement. The laboratory must be accredited for the method used to conduct the testing. Mr. Randy Querry, Director of Government Relations at the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), provided testimony in support of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. He also encouraged the adoption of the ILAC approach for the Oregon Toxic-Free Kids Program. By relying on an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, the Oregon Health Authority can be assured that the laboratories are operating independently by demonstrating that they meet requirements for impartiality. Mr. Querry explained. Additionally, they can be certain that laboratories have appropriate testing facilities, calibrated equipment, validated methods, competent personnel, and an effective quality management system implemented. Likewise, by relying on the ILAC MRA framework, the Oregon Health Authority can expect the accrediting bodies to be operating impartially, using expert technical assessors and competent staff initiating the accreditation processes. The accreditation bodies themselves have been through a rigorous evaluation process in order to achieve global recognition. The Oregon consumer can be confident that the childrens products they purchase are safer. A2LA is an organization that advocates for the value and acceptance of third-party accreditation as an indicator of quality, impartiality, and competence. For more information on A2LAs ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation program, visit a2la.org/accreditation/toxic-free-kids-act. For more information on the Oregon Toxic-Free Kids Act, visit the dedicated page on Oregon.gov. About A2LA A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation body, offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, sampling organizations, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers, biobanking facilities, and product certifiers. Founded in 1978, A2LA is one of the largest and most recognized accreditation bodies in the world, and is committed to a culture of quality, integrity, community, accountability, and leadership. VIENNA, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lancet Oncology Commission on Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, launched today during the European Congress of Radiology 2021, presents results from the first-ever comprehensive effort to quantify imaging and nuclear medicine resources worldwide, highlighting dramatic inequalities in access to these resources. It also shows for the first time that scaling up access to imaging and nuclear medicine for cancer patients in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) would yield substantial health and economic benefits, and it calls for an overarching global strategy to address this need. By 2030, worldwide, annual numbers of new cancer cases and cancer deaths are expected to reach roughly 22 million and 13 million, respectively. Even more concerning, approximately 80% of the disability-adjusted life years lost to cancer are in LMICs, where only about 5% of the global funding for cancer control and care is applied. Imaging is essential to provide timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection and planning, and optimal outcomes for patients with cancer. "The aim of the Commission was to provide data and guidance to catalyze sustainable improvement of medical imaging and nuclear medicine services for cancer management, particularly in LMICs," explains lead Commissioner Dr. Hedvig Hricak from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York/USA. Under the Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led a global effort to collect and collate data on equipment and workforce, with a focus on LMICs through the IAEA Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine Global Resources Database (IMAGINE). The effort revealed substantial differences in the numbers of imaging units per million population between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, as well as variations within income groups. It also revealed that availability of a well-trained workforce for imaging and nuclear medicine is a major issue affecting access to and quality of these services. "To date, comprehensive information on appropriate levels of imaging and nuclear medicine facilities and workforce required for cancer care have been limited. The data obtained allows estimates of projected equipment and workforce scale-up requirements for diagnostic imaging in cancer care," says Dr. May Abdel-Wahab, co-first author of the Commission and Director of the IAEA Division of Human Health. A microsimulation model developed by researchers at Harvard University estimated that the scale-up of imaging would avert 3.2% (2.47 million) of all 76 million deaths caused by cancer worldwide between 2020 and 2030, saving 54.92 million life-years. Model estimates indicate that a comprehensive scale-up of imaging, treatment, and care quality would avert 9.55 million (12.5%) of all cancer deaths worldwide, saving 232.30 million life-years. Combining the scale-up of imaging, treatment, and quality of care would provide a net benefit of $2.66 trillion and a net return of $12.43 per $1 invested. "For the first time, we have evidence demonstrating the substantial health and economic benefits of scaling up imaging and nuclear medicine access for health outcomes of cancer patients globally and we have a compelling economic case for further investment in global scale-up of imaging and nuclear medicine," says Dr. Rifat Atun, co-first author of the Commission and Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University. "Now we need to get governments and funding bodies on board to work together on scaling up imaging infrastructure in LMICs," adds Dr. Hricak. The Commission proposes an ambitious call to action to realize the health and economic benefits of scaling up imaging to reduce cancer burden globally. This goal is aligned with the aims of the 2017 WHO Cancer Resolution and with UN health targets in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, particularly for reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases and implementing universal health coverage. "The IAEA can support countries in upscaling their diagnostic imaging capabilities through fact-finding missions, technology transfer, capacity building, clinical research, education and training initiatives, quality management programs, and guidelines," says Dr. May Abdel-Wahab. "The Commission provides a clear path forward, and we look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders on implementing the call to action with the aim of improving cancer care for patients globally," says senior author of the Commission Dr. Andrew Scott from Austin Health and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. The Commission concludes that science and technology are not the barriers to a worldwide equitable scale-up of effective cancer imaging diagnostics; rather, achieving equitable scale-up is a matter of vision and political will. Successful scale-up will result from effective political leadership, active participation from all major stakeholders, and the alignment of country-level and global efforts to expand access to medical imaging and nuclear medicine for cancer care. Efforts must take into account local and regional conditions (e.g., the prevalence of particular cancers and the availability of specific kinds of treatments, among other factors), and must be coordinated with the scale-up of other cancer care resources and universal health coverage. Prof David Collingridge, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet Oncology: "Cancer imaging is vital for accurate diagnosis and treatment, but huge global inequities exist and many of the world's poorest countries suffer from a shortage or complete lack of the necessary technology and resources. We need to move the debate so that cancer imaging is placed alongside curative interventions as an essential component of comprehensive cancer care, and in turn, universal health coverage." The Lancet Oncology Commission on Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine was established in 2018, with the charge of examining global access to imaging and nuclear medicine for cancer care. The Commission brings together 17 leading global experts and the final report is peer reviewed and published in The Lancet Oncology. The report follows two previous Lancet Oncology Commissions in 2015 that assessed the gaps in access to cancer surgery and radiotherapy, and proposed actions to address the growing burden of cancer in LMICs. Find out more here: https://www.thelancet.com/lanonc/commissions The Lancet Oncology Commission on Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine is supported by the following 27 organizations: the African Association of Nuclear Medicine, the American College of Radiology, the Association of Latin American Societies of Biology and Nuclear Medicine, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Asia Oceania Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, the African Organisation for Research & Training in Cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Arab Society of Nuclear Medicine, the African Society of Radiology, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Society of Radiology, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, the Hong Kong College of Radiologists, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology, the International Society of Radiology, the National Cancer Institute, the Pan-Arab Association of Radiological Societies, the Radiological Society of North America, the South African Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, the Union for International Cancer Control, the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, and the World Molecular Imaging Society. Read the Commission at www.thelancet.com/commissions/medical-imaging-nuclear-medicine Press contact Ms. Monika Hierath International Society of Radiology Secretariat support to the Lancet Oncology Commission on Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine European Congress of Radiology mhierath@isradiology.org Phone: +43 1 533 40 64 20 Dont Lose Sleep Over Future Cuts to Social Security Readers are always telling me they are worried about the future of Social Security. And they say they are inclined to file for Social Security benefits before they originally planned to because they are convinced benefits will be dramatically cut as part of any upcoming Social Security reform. They plan to do this because they want to be grandfathered into the current program. My advice: NEVER make a decision about when to file for benefits based on assumed future cuts to Social Security. Why? Because benefit cuts are rare and usually involve ancillary kinds of benefits. And when they are major and affect almost everyone, they are phased in over a long period of time. An example of the latter scenario is the increase in the retirement age from 65 to 67. That law was passed back in 1983 and didnt start going into effect until 2003. Beginning then, people born in 1938 had to be age 65 and 2 months to get full Social Security benefits. And the full retirement age has been going up in monthly increments ever since. It wont be fully implemented until 2027 when folks born in 1960 or later must be 67 to get full benefits. In other words, if Congress increases the retirement age again as part of a Social Security reform package, that increase very likely will affect our children and grandchildren, not anyone currently in their 50s or 60s. I mentioned that some ancillary benefits could get cut with more of an immediate impact. But its usually nothing most of us have to be worried about. Here are some examples of past cuts in Social Security benefits. Student Benefits Since the very earliest days of Social Security, the dependent minor children of a retired or deceased parent, and since the mid-1950s, the dependent minor children of a disabled parent, were eligible for monthly benefits on the parents Social Security record. Those benefits were paid until the child turned 18 but could continue beyond age 18 in two circumstances: 1) if the child was disabled, in which case they could continue for the rest of the childs life, even into their adult years; and 2) if the child was still in school, in which case they would continue until age 22. In 1981, Congress decided to eliminate benefits to students over age 18. They reasoned that because so many other forms of government loans and grants were available to students, there was no need to further subsidize higher education through the Social Security program. Mothers Benefits Curtailed Congress was looking for other ways to trim Social Security outlays in 1981, and widowed mothers and dependent wives/mothers of retired or disabled husbands with minor children ended up in their crosshairs. For decades, the law had said that wives and widows of any age with young children in their care could receive monthly benefits (in addition to the benefits paid to their kids) as long as at least one of their children was eligible for benefits. But in 1981, they changed the law to say that benefits to the mother would end when the youngest child turned 16. They figured that once all the children were over age 16, the mother ought to be able to work, if necessary, to help support her family. (By the way, although these situations rarely occur, the same benefits and the same cutbacks also applied to widowed fathers and dependent stay-at-home husbands with minor children.) Death Benefit Restrictions In the early days of Social Security, Congress offered a one-time death benefit to the family members of a taxpayer who died before having a chance to collect Social Security benefits. Over the years, this partial refund of Social Security taxes morphed into an official Social Security death benefit payable to the family members of anyone who died, even if he or she had been a Social Security beneficiary. Most people mistakenly referred to the one-time payment as a burial benefit. It never was meant to be that, especially considering that it was capped at $255 many decades ago. As anyone who has ever planned a funeral knows, $255 would barely cover the cost of flowers, let alone all the other burial or cremation costs. Anyway, in yet another attempt to curtail Social Security expenditures, Congress in 1981 decided that the death benefit should be paid only to a widow or widower who was living with the deceased at the time of death or to any minor children. Benefits to Prisoners Suspended Prior to 1992, it was assumed that people getting Social Security had earned their benefits, so they were legally due their Social Security checks no matter where they lived. But in the early 1990s, Congress came under intense pressure to suspend monthly benefits to anyone in jail or prison. People felt that since prisoners were already getting their room and board paid for by the taxpayers, they didnt need taxpayer-funded Social Security checks. Drug Addicts and Alcoholics There was a rash of news stories in the mid-1990s highlighting certain disabled people who were allegedly spending the proceeds of their Social Security disability checks on drugs and alcohol. Knuckling under the pressure to do something about this, Congress eventually passed a law that essentially denied such benefits to anyone whose only disabling condition was drug addiction or alcoholism. The law was largely pointless, though, because most of these folks have other conditions that qualified for disability. For example, a hardcore alcoholic probably has some kind of kidney or liver damage, and that impairment keeps the disability checks rolling in. Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSAs public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book Social Security: Simple and Smart. If you have a Social Security question, contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. Name: Mike Beck Organisation: Darktrace Job title: Global CISO Date started current role: Mike started at Darktrace in 2014 as the Global Head of Threat Analysis, and his title changed to Global CISO in July of 2020. Location: London, England Mike Beck is the Global CISO of Darktrace. He has 10 years experience as operational advisor and delivery lead for a range of national security programmes in the U.K. government. With vast experience in consulting on tactical cyber defense, he oversees the support and training of Darktrace clients post-implementation. Prior to joining Darktrace in 2014, Beck also served as a GovCERT U.K. practitioner, defending against a wide range of cyber threats. Beck was also deployed as a civilian advisor to a number of active operational commands within the U.K. military. What was your first job? My very first job was at the House of Fraser, a fashion retailer in the U.K. I had the privilege of travelling around the country, to install POS systems and troubleshoot IT and networking issues, to all the different retail locations. It was a great experience I was only 17 years old and I was lucky enough to be trusted with a company car. As you can imagine, it was a lot of fun driving around and having so much independence and responsibility at such a young age, not to mention I got to experience so much first-hand. I didnt know much about the IT world when I first started out, but I ended up learning on the job. It really was a gateway into the rest of my career and inspired me to keep going towards a future in tech. How did you get involved in cybersecurity? From my perspective, cybersecurity was the answer to my future because it really combines my background in IT and networking, being a software developer, with my operational experience from the military and intelligence services. I understand the technical domain of cyber, combined with the larger national security picture and I understand managing intelligence resources in an operational theatre. Years ago, I served in Afghanistan, and after returning from my time there, cybersecurity felt like a natural progression. I saw where the threat landscape was headed and the direction threats targeting the U.K. were trending. I was eager to put this knowledge and experience to work. What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? I have an undergraduate degree in computer science from Plymouth University in England. I hold a CISSP certification, which is useful to show that I have been around the industry for a long time and have a baseline breadth of knowledge. The rest of my knowledge all comes from experiences; each experience has been so invaluable to getting to where I am today. Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so, discuss. My career grew from a very early interest in tech I remember being in school thinking at a young age that I wanted to break into IT. It was the dotcom boom, so it was all very exciting, glitzy, and new. After school, I started working at the House of Fraser, in retail IT and networking. I also worked for a major drinks manufacturer, writing macros to automate jobs where they were pulling data from mainframes into Excel to do specific calculations. I learned a lot about how much software could automate tasks and work alongside humans to really drive productivity while I was in that role. Afterwards, I did a sandwich placement with the Ministry of Defence, working on databases that supported the RAF fighter jet management. It was there that I received my first big break and managed to get into an undergraduate sponsorship program at GCHQ. Once that happened, I dove into a technical stream that gave me an amazing view of how technology supports the intelligence services. Upon graduating from university, I started full-time in Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) as a software engineer but I really wanted to break into the intelligence side. So, I persisted and managed to switch into the intelligence officer stream. That led me into a completely new side to my career and led me to Afghanistan, where I was supporting military objectives, rule of law, and key leader engagement. Once I returned home, I realised I had come back to a new world in the U.K., different from the way I had left it in terms of how seriously cyber security was being taken. The U.K. government had launched the national cyber security strategy, and all eyes were turning to this new threat landscape. I found it fascinating. I served another four years with U.K. government, protecting critical national infrastructure from cyberattacks. Finally, I joined Darktrace in 2014 as the Global Head of Threat Analysis. Was there anyone who has inspired or mentored you in your career? I had an amazing manager during my placement with the RAF named Chris McManus. He helped me navigate government red tape and find new opportunities. We remain good friends to this day. I have found similar mentorship and inspiration from Dave Palmer, who is Director of Technology here at Darktrace, and has always been there to turn to. He is full of advice and guidance. Dave was also my mentor on the day I joined the undergraduate scheme in GCHQ back in 2002 and has been someone whos advice I have deeply valued long before my time with Darktrace. What do you feel is the most important aspect of your job? I would say that the most important part of my job is enabling the business to keep moving the needle forward. The level of innovation that the Darktrace team has been able to achieve is incredible to be part of it feels like a true privilege. I am providing security for a company that is able to provide creative solutions to real-world problems. My team understands the risks we face while delivering this technology to market, we mitigate where we can, and then we manage the rest. If Im not here to enable the business and drive the technology forward, as quickly and as passionately as possible, then I wouldnt be doing my job. What metrics or KPIs do you use to measure security effectiveness? I am obsessed with mean time to detect, to contain and to remediate. At a company that is delivering an AI decision-making capability that can respond at machine-speed to threats in real time, I find it essential to have metrics internally that I can report. These metrics showcase my own implementation of Darktrace. KPIs that provide supporting evidence that we are executing the fundamentals are essential: patch levels, understanding device lifecycles, identity management, and metrics on how privileged users are working across the business are all integral to what I do. Is the security skills shortage affecting your organisation? What roles or skills are you finding the most difficult to fill? I honestly dont find the skills shortage a problem here at Darktrace. There is definitely experienced talent out there, at every age. At Darktrace, we realise that people of all backgrounds and educations may have the skills within themselves that would allow them to become cybersecurity professionals. Because of this mindset, we have taken a corporate decision to grow talent internally from graduate roles. We also have a SOC functionality that is leveraging AI and mixing that output with human domain knowledge. Our unique pairing of human talent with artificial intelligence allows us to scale up as a security team and hire new talent who may not have worked in security before. Cybersecurity is constantly changing how do you keep learning? The constant change is one of the reasons I love my job! Its not a domain where you sit through exams with huge volumes of knowledge and then once you complete your training, you are done learning. Experience drives the industry with the overlay of the right knowledge at the right time. Im a huge fan of security podcasts and listening to peers explain what threats they are dealing with themselves, at their own organisations. I keep up to date with the daily cyber news and with new technology advancements I find this constant thirst for knowledge and industry awareness essential to maintain. What conferences are on your must-attend list? I love Blackhat and Defcon both serve as a time to meet and mingle with practitioners and leaders in the industry. I know my strengths and I also know my weaknesses. Recognising my gaps in expertise and staying humble leads me to seek advice from my team and from my larger network. My advice to other future cybersecurity leaders is to look for more local events. One of the small upsides to the pandemic and remote work is that these events are all online and they are now cheaper to access. I would recommend taking advantage of this and soaking up as much knowledge as you can. There is plenty out there to support your own personal development and industry understanding. What is the best current trend in cybersecurity? The worst? I think the best trend happening right now in the industry is that more organisations are looking to leverage artificial intelligence. I truly believe AI is the way of the future for cybersecurity, and so to see technology tools that utilise AI become more popular and necessary, is just incredible. AI brings me hope because it can answer the industrys scaling challenge by pairing with human security teams and by creating better-equipped teams to uncover cyber-attacks across an ever-expanding digital estate. I would say the worst trend is probably the number of attackers that manage to get through unpatched systems. Its a real shame to see completely preventable, drive-by attacks. Knowing that the technology exists to stop these sorts of outdated attacks, yet also knowing that the same attack methods that have worked for years are still able to break into systems, is frustrating. What's the best career advice you ever received? I was told to think about the long game and I never forget that. Your career will ebb and flow, with many ups and downs. Ive learned that you cannot pile pressure on yourself to be perfect. Making mistakes is a necessary and inevitable part of the learning process. If you can learn from your mistakes, they can be the most helpful way to achieve things you may have never known were possible before. What advice would you give to aspiring security leaders? Stop yourself from trying to be part of the race the race to get promotions and excel and be successful (whatever that even means). Instead, look for genuine opportunities to gain experience. The cybersecurity industry has an extreme shortage of leaders who have actually been in the trenches themselves, seen threats in the wild, and worked with intrusions and incident response. You shouldnt rush to become a manager without broader experience first. The industry needs the people willing to be in the trenches first, who are willing to wait to become leaders until after that experience is gained. What has been your greatest career achievement? This is so difficult to answer. Ive briefed multiple foreign secretaries, received a campaign medal for my work in Afghanistan from the Chief of the General Staff and helped to protect the London 2012 Olympic games from cyber-attacks. After that, however, I would say being part of the founding team at Darktrace is really my proudest achievement. Bringing our unique and game-changing technology to market, and seeing how it helps thousands of customers worldwide protect their operations from attackers has been the most outstanding thing I have witnessed and taken part in. Looking back with 20:20 hindsight, what would you have done differently? Honestly, Im not sure I would have done anything differently. Looking back, I love the split between public and private career opportunities I have been fortunate enough to have. This is not to say I have not had really low lows, but even the lows taught me something and made me appreciate the highs. Each and every experience Ive had was incredibly important in shaping me and making me who I am today. I remember being in my 20s and placing a lot on myself to achieve at all costs. Of course, that kind of mounting pressure results in anxiety about how I was doing and how my performance was being perceived. For someone going through a similar experience, I would reiterate that you need to be thinking about the long game, not just what is directly in front of you. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Thiruvananthapuram, March 4 : Gone are the days when top Congress leaders like A.K. Antony, Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala held sway over the party affairs in Kerala, the last word comes from K.C.Venugopal in Kerala. Ever since he was made the Congress general secretary in-charge of organisational affairs, the stock of the 58-year-old has been on the rise, leaving behind seasoned veterans and seniors in the party. The growth trajectory of the new Congress strongman began when in the 1990s, his closeness with the then all powerful K. Karunakaran gave him the initial momentum and ever since then he has not had to look back. A senior Congress leader on condition of anonymity said that since both Karunakaran and Venugopal hailed from Kannur, there was much synergy between them right from the start. "Even Karunakaran's wife has been quite fond of the young upcoming leader from the start. That early start he got from the Karunakaran household helped him hugely and starting from his first victory in the 1996 assembly polls, Venugopal went on to complete a hat-trick from Alappuzha. "His stock rose further when he was drafted to contest the Lok Sabha polls in 2009 and he repeated it in 2014 and it was then that his closeness with Rahul Gandhi, saw him rise further within the party," said the Congress leader. He was made the Minister of State for Civil Aviation in 2012 and it was then he used his man management skills to the best and got even closer to the Gandhi family. "The fact that he did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Alappuzha, which was the only seat of the 20 that the Congress led UDF failed to win, did not deter the Congress high command from fielding him from Rajasthan to the Upper House. "Since then he has consolidated his position and is presently the most powerful leader in Congress from Kerala," added the source who did not wish to be identified. Another theory that's now making the rounds is that, with Antony who was at the helm of affairs from 2005 till recently and who is old and have a failing health, was the one who placed Venugopal in the driver's seat, with the intention of checkmating his seasoned colleagues like Chandy and Chennithala. "When the final list of Congress candidates are released, all will know that the stamp of Venugopal will definitely be there, unlike in the past, when the party's various faction leaders had the final say. No doubt, at the moment he is the most powerful Congress leader in Delhi and has the final say in crucial matters," said another Congress leader . In a few days from now, when the final list of candidates is released from Delhi, by the end of this week or early next week, Congress leaders in Kerala will have no doubt, that in the party, it's no longer Antony, Chandy or Chennithala who is the last word, but it's Venugopal. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Good morning, Bay Area. Its Thursday, Mar. 4, and California is changing the way it allocates vaccines, aiming to address inequities. Heres what you need to know to start your day. San Franciscos Japantown has persisted, even as others throughout the United States faded away. Today, Nihonmachi is the countrys oldest and largest Japantown, one of three remaining, but it covers only about six blocks, anchored by the Japan Center malls. Many worry the neighborhood is in danger of disappearing. The pandemic has hit neighborhood businesses particularly hard, and it couldnt have come at a worse time: An agreement with the areas largest landowner to keep the Japan Center mall Japanese-themed is set to expire this year. Reporter Ryan Kost looks at the pandemics toll on Japantown and whether the landlords that own the malls are willing to negotiate on rent relief. Coronavirus updates California plans to adopt a coronavirus vaccine system that will allocate 40% of vaccine supply to its lowest-income residents, state officials said Wednesday. Once the new system begins, eligible people in the states roughly 400 lowest-income ZIP codes will get 40% of vaccine supply reserved for them. About 8 million residents who are eligible for the vaccine live in those 400 ZIP codes. The move aims to address inequities in vaccine administration, with white and Asian residents getting vaccinated at higher rates compared to Black and Latino residents. Read more on the new system here. Bay Area restaurant workers are getting vaccinated ahead of indoor dining. But safety concerns remain. Once-cautious Bay Area counties moving swiftly to reopen. What's going on? S.F. teachers should have their first vaccine shot within a week. Will it speed reopening? Reports of patients getting wrong doses of vaccine at Coliseum are false, officials say. New data shows San Francisco apartment rents on the rise, just as the city reopens. Catholic leaders raised moral concerns over COVID vaccines. Here's how S.F.'s archbishop weighed in. Around the Bay Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Do we learn from our mistakes?: Extreme weather events in California, Texas offer potential and peril for climate crisis fights. I wouldnt let it out of my sight: Bay Area experts explain why thieves are targeting French bulldogs. Hotel versus SRO: San Francisco offered permanent housing to homeless people staying in hotels, but 70% said no. Here's why. Wealthy donors in Bay Area and SoCal: S.F. is high up the list of cities where people donating money to Newsom recall live. Even with more visitors: Bike-car collisions drop sharply at Mount Diablo with surprisingly simple innovation. Chronicle Food Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Craft ceramics dont normally get much love in food writing, critic Soleil Ho writes, but a well-made and distinctive plate is a big part of what makes eating out so special. In the Bay Area, industry powerhouses like Heath Ceramics and a robust community of independent potters and ceramicists are making both functional objects and art that passes along their creators sentiments about the way we eat. Meet three local artisans who are collaborating directly with local bars and restaurants. 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. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Press Release March 4, 2021 POE: GADGET LOAN TO GIVE STUDENTS BETTER SHOT AT ONLINE LEARNING, RELIABLE INTERNET IS A MUST, TOO Sen. Grace Poe urged students in need of electronic gadgets to avail of the loan program offered by the Land Bank of the Philippines to have a better shot at online learning. "For many families, the leap to digital has become prohibitively expensive. We must enable them to obtain devices as an investment for their children's education," Poe said. The senator said she hopes the guidelines and implementation of the loan program will be friendly and simple, especially to poor families. "The less complicated the processes are, the higher the likelihood we can draw more interest into this program," Poe said. According to the state-run bank, a loan of up to P50,000 per student will be made available to purchase learning gadgets such as laptop, desktop or tablet for online learning. The amount can be included in the maximum loanable amount of P150,000 per student or P300,000 per parent-borrower to cover payment for tuition or enrollment-related fees under Land Bank's I-STUDY (Interim Students' Loan for Tuitions towards Upliftment of Education for the Development of the Youth) Lending Program. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned smartphones and tablets from luxury to must-haves as classes in the country shifted online, prompting many low-income families to scrape together money to buy cheap or even used devices. In the face of online education, internet access has also become a necessity for children to keep up with lessons--even if this meant scaling roofs and mountains for some to get a signal. Poe then emphasized that fast and reliable internet connection is a must as well to make full use of any digital device for online education. "A laptop, tablet or smartphone will only be useful tools to the students during online classes if they can connect to the internet," she said. "Telcos should also step up so that connectivity will not continue to be a stumbling block to our children's education," she added. Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is planning to extend its ban on smoking and vaping in indoor public places to First Nations communities, but it could face a court battle. Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Manitoba Assembly of Chiefs speaks during as Assembly of First Nations annual general meeting in Regina on Thursday, July 27, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is planning to extend its ban on smoking and vaping in indoor public places to First Nations communities, but it could face a court battle. The Progressive Conservative government introduced a bill in the legislature Thursday that would end an exemption for reserves and other areas of federal jurisdiction, including military bases, from the provincial smoking ban. Ceremonial tobacco use would still be allowed. "We want to ensure that our entire province, not just sections of it, provide that equitable access to smoke-free and vapour-free work environments," Audrey Gordon, minister for mental health, wellness and recovery, said. "This issue is a public health issue." The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the province does not have the right to impose a smoking ban and could end up in court if it proceeds. "First Nations will not stand idly by and allow the province to take liberties of this sort," Grand Chief Arlen Dumas said. Many First Nations communities have their own bylaws that govern smoking in public places. Some allow smoking in bingo halls and video lottery terminal lounges. Last year, after COVID-19 restrictions forced video lottery terminal lounges to close, Premier Brian Pallister said he might not let ones that allow smoking to reopen when the restrictions are lifted. The Opposition New Democrats said the government should back up. "Indigenous people have rights that the government has to respect," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said. "And I think for them to announce this bill without giving people in leadership positions in Indigenous communities the heads-up is the wrong approach." First Nations communities could also lose revenue if the plan goes ahead, Kinew said. Gordon said the government will consult with Indigenous leaders as early as next week. The bill is among dozens that could be passed by the legislature in June. Although it might not take effect immediately, Gordon said. "What I'm focused on is having that consultation I'm really focused on that engagement and we'll save that decision (on when the law would take effect) for a later date." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2021 The backlash to WhatsApps announcement of a new privacy policy continues. The latest adverse response has come from South Africa. In January, the Facebook-owned messaging platform informed users it was preparing a new privacy policy, under which it could share some data, including location and phone numbers, with Facebook and its other units such as Instagram and Messenger. According to Reuters, South Africa's information regulator has now ruled that Facebook Inc cannot share any contact information it collects from WhatsApp users in South Africa with its other properties without first obtaining authorisation from the regulator. The move is said to be in accordance with the countrys data protection law. The regulator has written to Facebook South Africa to explain its concerns. It seems especially unhappy at what it sees as more robust privacy protection for EU citizens compared to Africans. WhatsApp is now reviewing the regulators letter. WhatsApp appears to be playing down the update, suggesting that it does not expand the companys ability to share data with Facebook, or affect the privacy of users messages with friends or family. South Africa is far from alone. Turkey and India have been among countries expressing concern about the changes. In fact, as we have reported, in India, where it has hundreds of millions of users, the update of WhatsApp terms and conditions has been moved from the original date of 8 February to 15 May. At consumer level, rival services such as Signal or Telegram have benefited from the new privacy policy. HALIFAX, NS, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Today, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), announced that 57 families in Halifax will soon have access to new affordable homes. The new North-End Neighbourhood Development, by Compass Nova Scotia Co-operative Homes Ltd. (Compass NS), will consist of two buildings of 27 and 30 units each on Maitland St. near the downtown business district in Halifax. The project is receiving $1.5 million in funding through the Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) Federal Lands Initiative (FLI). The Province of Nova Scotia has committed $3 million dollars towards this development as part of province-wide investments to build more affordable housing units. Compass NS is the first sector-led housing co-operative in Nova Scotia to provide housing across the province under one governance structure, prioritizing those who have the greatest needs in the communities that they serve. Quotes: "Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The National Housing Strategy continues to ensure more adequate and affordable housing for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We are committed to making communities stronger through projects like this one, right here in Halifax. These investments help create new jobs and stimulate the local economy, while providing access to safe, affordable homes for Canadians." The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development "Being able to leverage surplus federal properties and lands is an effective way to create new housing and also breathe new life into properties that have been untouched for years or decades. These new units will add vitally needed affordable homes to our community that will allow families to thrive here in Halifax." Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax Story continues "Creating affordable housing for those who need it is a group effort, and having more partners help to make this development a reality is great news for Nova Scotia families. We will always accomplish more by working together to address our province's housing needs in a sustainable way, and I look forward to many more successful collaborations." The Honourable Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing "Compass NS is dedicated to developing strong housing communities that operate under the control of the members, for their mutual benefit on a not-for-profit basis. We welcome the partnership and contribution from CMHC that will enable us to continue with our vision for co-operatives to be the housing of choice for Nova Scotians who want strong governance and credible management in a thriving co-op community." Karen Brodeur, President, Compass Nova Scotia Co-operative Homes Ltd. "An inclusive community is predicated on all members having access to housing that they can afford. Today's announcement moves us closer to that goal. These new homes will provide affordability, safety and inclusion within a community setting for generations to come. This project would not have been possible without support of the federal government through the Federal Lands Initiative, in addition to investment from the Government of Nova Scotia. We are truly grateful for their support." Tim Ross, Executive Director, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Quick facts: The Government of Canada acknowledges North-End Neighbourhood Development is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People. This territory is covered by the "Treaties of Peace and Friendship". The Federal Lands Initiative is providing $200 million over 10 years to support the transfer of surplus federal properties to eligible proponents at discounted to no-cost rates to encourage the development of affordable, sustainable, accessible and socially inclusive housing. The Federal Lands Initiative is led by CMHC with support from: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Canada Lands Company Limited (CLC), as well as other federal partners with surplus lands. Surplus government properties are evaluated based on location, suitability, availability, proximity to amenities and through a cost/benefit analysis. Properties selected for affordable housing development are then offered for sale and advertised on CMHC's National Housing Strategy website. Social and affordable housing providers are then invited to submit applications to acquire these properties through a competitive process. Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $70+ billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call homethis includes more than $12 billion committed through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement. Compass NS, was incorporated in 2016 in order to assist co-operatives in need of support and to grow the co-op housing sector. Since late 2019, six co-operatives have amalgamated into Compass NS. This is the first new development of Compass NS. Associated links: As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2021/04/c6700.html The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below LaCenter Traffic Stop Ends in Drug Arrest By West Kentucky Star Staff BALLARD COUNTY - A traffic stop in LaCenter Wednesday afternoon led to a Paducah woman's arrest on drug and other charges.According to the Ballard County Sheriff's Office, deputies noticed a vehicle driving recklessly along US 60.Authorities say the vehicle continued west, crossing into the opposite lane and nearly striking the deputy's car and another vehicle.The driver, 38-year-old Patsy Wray, was later stopped by the LaCenter Police Department. A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered methamphetamine, mixed prescription medication, and other items associated with illegal drug use.Wray was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth), third-degree possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified), reckless driving, drug paraphernalia, a prescription controlled substance not in the appropriate container, and improper lane usage.She was lodged in the Ballard County Jail. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi, March 4 : A letter has been written to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.N. Patel highlighting severe security threat to life and property of lawyers and judges of a district court in the heart of the national capital due to the defunct CCTV cameras. In the letter, Advocate Karan Singh, who is the vice president of the New Delhi Bar Association, sought immediate action against erring police officers and related agencies responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of 195 CCTV cameras installed in and around Patiala House Court Complex. "I wish to bring to your kind notice the severe security threat to life and property of not just the lawyers and the judges functioning out of the Patiala House Court premise but also to the highly secured neighbourhood," the letter stated. Advocate Singh expanded that there are 195 CCTV cameras in and around the court complex, out of which 90 are not working. The data came to light on March 2, when a laptop of a lawyer was stolen from his chamber in the court. When a complaint about this incident was filed with the police, it was found that a lot of cameras were non-functional and no footage of the unidentified thief could be procured, he said. Singh said that a daily diary regarding the status and upkeep of CCTV Cameras is sent to Deputy Commissioner of Police, along with various other senior police officials of Police and Central Public Works Department and that it was in their knowledge. "Clearly the factum of the Cameras being faulty and non-functional was in the knowledge of the senior officials of the Delhi Police and CPWD and yet no corrective measures were taken by them to repair the same," the letter further read. He brought forth before the Chief Justice that Patiala House Court is the criminal court and is visited by many criminals for their hearings on a regular basis. "Such severe security lapse could lead to some serious incident resulting in loss of life and property of the persons." Singh requested that a high-level committee be constituted immediately to investigate the serious negligence on part of the concerned Police officials along with the CPWD officials and those guilty be proceeded against with legal action. The letter asserted, "Such immediate and urgent action is prayed for in order to ensure the safety and security of the judges, lawyers and the litigants visiting the Patiala House court complex and further to prevent any unfortunate incident which may be a result of such serious security lapse." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Davis said the name Duneyrr is meant to reflect something starting anew, which is what he considers the beers he makes with wine ingredients (including grapes and wine yeast) as well as traditional beer ingredients (such as grains and brewers yeast). The process includes fermenting the ingredients together, sometimes in stainless steel and sometimes in oak, to create a hybrid of wine and beer that is more recognizable as beer. BEIRUT - New protest marches and sit-ins were organised Thursday in various regions of Lebanon, which is facing its worst economic crisis of the past 30 years. Numerous roads and connecting arteries were interrupted by anti-government protesters in Beirut and other cities in the country. Protests once again became violent on Wednesday when the Lebanese pound hit a record low in its exchange rate with the US dollar. The pound has lost about 85% of its value since fall 2019, when the financial crisis began and protests started. In light of the currency crisis, aggravated by anti-Covid measures, living conditions are deteriorating day by day for many Lebanese citizens as well as Syrian and Palestinian refugees and migrant workers blocked in Lebanon, with growing social tension. Roads were blocked in the centre of Beirut and in other areas of the capital, as well as in the central Bekaa, in Baalbek in the country's northeast, in Sidon in the south, and in Tripoli in the north. 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. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... NAIROBI, Kenya Civilians massacred. Journalists arrested. People starving to death. Ethiopias government is under growing pressure to allow the world to see firsthand what has occurred in its embattled Tigray region as its Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister rejects partisan interventions. That pressure is expected to spike this month as the United States chairs the United Nations Security Council and addresses the first major African crisis of the Biden administration. Millions of dollars in aid to Ethiopia, a key security ally in the region, are at stake. Heres a look at the turmoil in Tigray as the Security Council meets behind closed doors on Thursday to discuss it: WHAT ABOUT CIVILIANS MASSACRED? ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Last month The Associated Press exposed the killing of an estimated 800 people in the city of Axum, citing several witnesses, and a week later Amnesty International reported many hundreds killed there, citing more than 40 witnesses. Soldiers from neighboring Eritrea, long an enemy of Tigrays now-fugitive leaders, were blamed. Ethiopia continues to deny the Eritreans presence, even as senior officials with the interim Tigray government that Ethiopia appointed are increasingly outspoken about them. There is growing concern that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the Nobel in 2019 for making peace with Eritrea, has now teamed up with it in war. Eritrea called the AP story on Axum outrageous lies. Amid the denials, untold thousands of civilians have been killed as Ethiopian and allied forces pursue the former Tigray leaders who once dominated Ethiopias government before Abiy took office in 2018. Each side came to regard each other as illegitimate, then turned to fighting. Axum is far from the only massacre alleged in the Tigray conflict. More are now coming to light as telephone service resumes in the region and more people flee. The Telegraph, citing witnesses, has reported one in Debre Abay. CNN, citing witnesses, has reported one in Dengelat. And Agence France-Presse further exposed the Dengelat killings during a rare visit to the scene. On Thursday, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said her office has corroborated information about incidents including mass killings in Axum and Dengelat, and warned of possible war crimes by all main armed groups. Victims must not be denied their rights to the truth and to justice, she said, urging Ethiopia to let independent monitors into Tigray. After U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the weekend issued the strongest statement yet from Washington on Tigray and spoke with Abiy this week, the prime ministers office on Wednesday reversed its skeptical stance on the Axum massacre and said it was investigating credible allegations in the city and elsewhere in the region. But human rights groups and others are calling for independent international investigations, ideally led by the U.N., arguing that a government accused of involvement in atrocities cannot effectively investigate itself. CAN JOURNALISTS REPORT FROM TIGRAY? Yes, at their peril. Ethiopia in recent days began allowing a limited number of foreign media outlets to visit Tigray the AP did not receive permission but several Ethiopian media workers with the outlets were quickly detained. Even as it announced the limited media access, Ethiopia warned journalists to essentially behave themselves. The governments statement on Wednesday said Ethiopian defense forces would ensure the security of journalists in the parts of Tigray under their control, but those who leave the areas do so at their own risk. And journalists who break national laws, including by aiding and abetting criminal entities and perpetrators, will be held accountable. The Committee to Protect Journalists this week criticized Ethiopias actions, saying that the scarcity of independent reporting coming out of Tigray during this conflict was already deeply alarming. Now, the Ethiopian militarys arrests of journalists and media workers will undoubtedly lead to fear and self-censorship. Without unhindered access to Tigray, it is challenging to determine the fate of an estimated 6 million people four months after the region was cut off from the world. ARE PEOPLE STARVING TO DEATH? Yes, according to local officials, though its not clear how many. While humanitarian aid to Tigray has increased in recent weeks, aid workers have said it is far from enough and some 80% of the region remains unreachable. In the starkest warning yet, the Ethiopian Red Cross last month said if humanitarian access didnt improve, thousands of people would be starving to death in a month, and tens of thousands in two months. Ethiopias government on Wednesday said it had distributed food aid to some 3.8 million people, and it again asserted that humanitarian organizations now have unfettered access to Tigray. But humanitarian workers say the reality is far different, citing obstacles from authorities and the insecurity. An access map published this week by the U.N. humanitarian agency showed much of Tigray inaccessible beyond major roads and cities. The fighting, which is ongoing in parts of Tigray, erupted on the brink of harvest in the largely agricultural region and sent an untold number of people fleeing their homes. Witnesses have described widespread looting by Eritrean soldiers as well as the burning of crops, while forces from the neighboring Amhara region have reportedly occupied large parts of Tigray. This week a senior interim Tigray official, Gebremeskel Kassa, told the BBC that we are not able to know the whereabouts of a million people. The U.S. now says both the Eritreans and the Amhara forces should leave Tigray immediately. Nicola Sturgeon choked back tears and insisted I would never have wanted to get Alex Salmond as she rejected as absurd his claims of a plot among senior SNP figures to destroy him. Scotlands First Minister yesterday told a Holyrood inquiry the simple truth was that several women had made complaints about Mr Salmond and I refused to follow the usual pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants. In an appearance over eight hours, Ms Sturgeon insisted she had seen nothing that comes within a million miles of supporting Mr Salmonds claims of a conspiracy. Although she reiterated it was beyond question that Mr Salmond had been cleared of all criminal charges, she said his behaviour was still deeply inappropriate and there was not a single word of regret from him during his six hours of testimony last Friday. Ms Sturgeon appeared on the verge of tears as she was invited to apologise to the Scottish people for arguing for years that they could trust Mr Salmond to take them to independence. Murdo Fraser, a Conservative MSP, pressed her on when she had decided that he was in fact a liar and a fantasist? Admitting that she had had to rethink certain things about him, Ms Sturgeon said: As I was watching him on Friday lashing out against us, I dont know whether he ever reflects on the fact many of us, including me, feel very let down by him. Thats a matter of personal pain and regret for me. She faced a litany of allegations that she had broken the ministerial code after two key witnesses corroborated Mr Salmonds version of events. Ms Sturgeon said that people would struggle to understand parts of her account, including forgetting a meeting on March 29, 2018 at which she was informed about sexual misconduct claims against him. As she gave evidence yesterday, Mr Salmond announced that he had lodged a formal complaint about a Scottish Government official who allegedly leaked the name of a woman who made allegations against him. Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, said: The abiding memory of this evidence session will be Nicola Sturgeon proclaiming I cant recall on repeat. Its not remotely credible, in fact its plainly absurd, for the First Minister to ask us to believe her account of a secret meeting that she claims to have forgotten entirely, instead of the evidence of multiple credible witnesses. In her opening statement, Ms Sturgeon admitted her government made a very serious mistake when investigating sexual misconduct complaints against her predecessor and mentor, and apologised to two female civil servants who lodged complaints. She said she wanted to rebut the absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice and claimed her government had tried to do the right thing. Social media messages have emerged from Peter Murrell, her husband and the SNPs chief executive, in which he said it was a good time to be pressurising police to investigate Mr Salmond. She insisted this had been taken out of context and the full message gave a very, very different impression. Mr Salmond won a judicial review in 2019 when Scotlands highest civil court found that the way the Scottish Government investigated sexual misconduct allegations against him was unlawful. The SNP administration he once led paid him 512,250 of taxpayers money to cover his legal costs after the judge ruled the inquiry was procedurally unfair and tainted with apparent bias. The committees inquiry into the debacle started after Mr Salmond was acquitted of sexual assault charges last year. Ms Sturgeon denied yesterday that one of her officials had named a complainant in a meeting with Geoff Aberdein, Mr Salmonds chief of staff, in Mar 2018. But Mr Aberdeins claim has been corroborated by Kevin Pringle, the SNPs former chief spin doctor, and Duncan Hamilton, an ex-MSP. A spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said: The First Minister today dismantled all of the claims which have been made against her. Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] An attempt by Ted Cruz to spin a conservative narrative about cancel culture about the decision by Dr Seuss Enterprises to stop publishing six childrens books has left people somewhat confused. The Texas senator posted two tweets on Wednesday in which he suggested that the publishers decision to no longer print six of the more than 60 Dr Seuss books for containing racist and outdated imagery was all the fault of Joe Biden. At the same time, a small part of Mr Cruzs speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, likened by many to a cringeworthy stand-up comedy set, has gone viral having had the opening theme to 90s sitcom Seinfeld added to it. The segment of the speech concerned the process of eating in a restaurant under a Covid-19 mask mandate. It was likened to a joke from the show about comics asking Whats the deal with airplane peanuts and included the hashtag #netflixspecial. In the first of the Dr Seuss tweets, Mr Cruz posted an image of a number of the authors books topping an online bestseller list, captioning it: Who knew Joe Biden was such a great bookseller. Could Biden try to ban my book next? the second tweet reads. One Vote Away was the #1 Bestseller on Amazon a couple of months ago maybe Joe could get it back there? He added a link to his books website. Mr Cruz was swiftly ridiculed. One tweet read: Do do you think joe biden runs the seuss estate. Peacock host and MSNBC commentator Mehdi Hasan replied: They didnt discontinue The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham and Joe Biden had nothing to do with a companys decision to stop publishing racist stuff. He continued: As I asked on my show last night: can Cruz get through any week/day without saying something ridiculous or dishonest? Conservative political commentator SE Cupp responded to Mr Cruz: Congrats. You solved ZERO problems your TX constituents are facing today with this tweet. But the dumb culture wars are lining your pockets she added. Others said that maybe the senator had missed that Joe Biden had nothing to do with Dr Seuss because Mr Cruz had been on vacation in Cancun while his constituents endured winter storms and record low temperatures with no power or water. How does this tweet help the people of Texas? asked one Twitter user. It shows us he becomes more incompetent by the day and to vote him out in 2024, came a reply. Democrat Representative Don Beyer of Northern Virginia noted that there was a wider problem regarding the Republican Partys focus. Republicans are having a multi-day freakout over a private publishing companys decision to let some of its books go out of print, which has nothing to do with the President or Congress, he tweeted. Meanwhile, they are trying to block aid to address the deadly pandemic and economic crisis. Others offered advice to the senator: Ted ... If you decide not to publish your own book, that's up to you, wrote Bryan Fisher. Biden didn't ban Dr. Seuss's books. The company that he created to manage his intellectual property after his death decided to discontinue them. I know it's hard, but quit being so dishonest, he added. 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Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. A campaign against the Liberal-National Coalition government, centering on various accusations of sexual misconduct, reached a new level of intensity yesterday, with Attorney-General Christian Porter compelled to identify himself as the subject of a historical rape allegation. Porters press conference, at which he strenuously denied the accusation, has done nothing to dampen a media-led frenzy, which has acquired a hysterical character. The corporate press and official political discussion is now completely dominated by an allegation dating back more than three decades, that will never be tested in a court of law and that is impossible to verify. Attorney-General Christian Porter speaking to the press (Source: ABC News Australia) As is always the case, such media-driven campaigns serve political agendas that cannot be openly stated, and that are concealed behind a wall of confected moral outrage, salacious gossip and feverish speculation. In the first instance, the function of the current hysteria is to drown out discussion of the immense social crisis triggered by the pandemic and the pro-business response to it, or any other political issue, from Australias frontline role in US-aggression against China, to an escalating, bipartisan assault on democratic norms. Then there are the various conflicts within the political establishment and the ruling elite, which are clearly at play. Longstanding factional divisions within the Coalition are at the centre of the crisis. Elements within the Coalition are leaking extensively to the media. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has positioned himself as the figurehead of the campaign over sexual misconduct, targeting current incumbent Scott Morrison, who displaced him in a party-room coup in 2018. Labor, which has marched in lockstep with the government for the past year, and the Greens that long ago dropped a posture of opposition to the major parties, are seeking to differentiate from the government solely on the question of sexual misconduct. They are trying to shore up their support among a privileged, upper-middle class constituency, that is obsessed with issues of identity, including gender and sexual relations, and largely indifferent to the class questions of social inequality, growing poverty and war, on which Labor and the Coalition have indistinguishable policies. The sordid political agendas being pursued are intersecting with frustrations within the ruling class over the paralysis of the government, voiced by publications such as the Australian and the Australian F inancial Review. Their chief complaint is that Morrison is not moving quickly enough on a wholesale restructuring of the economy and workplace relations, aimed at boosting the profits of the corporate elite at the expense of the working class. The campaign began on February 15, when Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins told the media that she had been raped by a colleague in early 2019. At the time, Higgins had requested an end to a police investigation of the allegation, less than two weeks after she had filed a complaint, and then collaborated with the government to keep the story out of the press. Almost two years after the fact, she suddenly aired the allegations through the media and connected them to vague assertions that she received insufficient support from her superiors. This was immediately presented by the media as proof of an endemic culture of sexual harassment and assault within the Coalition and parliament as a whole, which overnight became the decisive political issue of the day. Further anonymous allegations were rapidly forthcoming. In this context, Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young reported last Friday that they had just received an anonymous letter detailing allegations of a 1988 rape by a senior cabinet minister. Turnbull, it rapidly emerged, had himself been sent the letter in late 2019. Within days, Porters identity as the minister in question was leaked. His name trended on Twitter, while Turnbull, Labor and the Greens demanded that he step forward and respond to the allegations. What is publicly confirmed of the accusations is limited. In February 2020, a woman filed a report at a Sydney police station alleging that she was raped by Porter in January 1988 when both of them were at a debating tournament held at the University of Sydney. In June 2020, before she had been formally interviewed, the woman withdrew her complaint. Several days later, she passed away, reportedly as a result of suicide. On Tuesday, New South Wales police announced they were ending an investigation into the allegation, because the womans death meant there was insufficient admissible evidence to proceed. At yesterdays press conference, Porter categorically denied that he had committed any sexual offence. The attorney-general, now 50, noted that in January 1988, he was just 17 years old. Porter rejected calls that he stand down or resign, warning that if he were to do so, it would create a precedent for trial by media, with the mere airing of untested allegations enough to end the career of any public figure. This, he said, would be a threat to the rule of law and to democratic rights, including to the presumption of innocence. Many in the media pack, which often refrains from any critical questioning of government ministers, were clearly furious with these statements. The details of the allegations were put to Porter repeatedly, while one reporter responded to talk of the presumption of innocence by declaring that it applied in court, but not in the court of public opinion, i.e., where careerist journalists and their billionaire employers are the arbiters. There are growing calls from media outlets, including the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, Crikey and the Guardian, as well as commentators at the state-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation, for some sort of official inquiry into the allegations against Porter. This is also the line of Turnbull, Labor and the Greens. Proponents of this course of action openly acknowledge that Porter could never be convicted of an offence based on the criminal burden of proof, i.e., guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Instead, they are calling for the allegations to be tested, outside of court, on the evidentiary standards of a civil case, in which adjudication is based on the balance of probabilities. Given that many of those calling for such an investigation also insist that complaints of sexual assault by a female must always be believed at face value, and without critical examination, it is fairly obvious that they are angling for Porter to be officially labelled a rapist without a criminal trial or due process. Some have gone even further. Representatives of the Australian Women Lawyers group, for instance, have called in the media for an examination of Porters personal conduct spanning decades. This would include not only the rape accusation, but such things as media allegations last year that he had engaged in consensual extra-marital relations with adult women. Legal experts who have not lost their heads or been cowed into silence have warned of the dangerous precedent that would be established by such an operation. Firstly, individuals could be tainted as guilty of the most serious criminal offences, without any of the standard evidentiary requirements applying; secondly, the executive branch could call such non-binding hearings against anyone, thereby undermining the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers. All of this underscores that there is nothing progressive in the current campaign, which, like the #MeToo movement, is based on a rejection of core democratic rights, above all the presumption of innocence. Labor and the Greens are seeking to confine opposition to the Morrison government within an anti-democratic and essentially right-wing framework. Under conditions of mounting social and political opposition among workers and youth, they are insisting that the primary, and perhaps sole basis of opposition to a reactionary Coalition government, is upper-middle class identity politics. Labor and the Greens are hostile to a broader fight against the government, because they support its policies. Labor has backed the governments pro-business response to the pandemic, its massive tax cuts for the wealthy and the corporations, contained in last Octobers federal budget, and its escalating provocations against China. Like the Coalition, they are, above all, fearful of and hostile to any struggle by workers against inequality, war and the corporate offensive against living standards. The promotion of the anti-democratic nostrums of #MeToo is also providing the most openly right-wing sections of the political establishment with an opportunity to posture as defenders of civil liberties. This includes Porter himself, who as attorney-general has presided over the persecution of refugees, secret trials of whistle-blowers and other moves towards authoritarianism. For the past fortnight, the Murdoch press has fuelled the sexual misconduct frenzy, in line with its frustration over government paralysis. Murdoch outlets have previously spearheaded nasty #MeToo exposures of Geoffrey Rush and John Jarratt, which ended with the acclaimed actors winning defamation cases against the publications. They also trumpeted untested accusations against actor Craig McLaughlin, which were dismissed at a criminal trial that concluded last December. Now, fearful that the allegations against Porter could bring down the government and result in protracted political instability, the Murdoch stable has recalled a commitment to due process and hostility to trial by media. Workers and young people should steer clear of the current sexual misconduct campaign and reject the competing factions of the political establishment. Instead they must begin a political fight for their independent class interests and democratic and social rights against the entire parliamentary set-up and the capitalist system that it defends. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new path toward sending and receiving information with single photons of light has been discovered by an international team of researchers led by the University of Michigan. Their experiment demonstrated the possibility of using an effect known as nonlinearity to modify and detect extremely weak light signals, taking advantage of distinct changes to a quantum system to advance next generation computing. Today, as silicon-electronics-based information technology becomes increasingly throttled by heating and energy consumption, nonlinear optics is under intense investigation as a potential solution. The quantum egg carton captures and releases photons, supporting 'excited' quantum states while it possesses the extra energy. As the energy in the system rises, it takes a bigger jump in energy to get to that next excited statethat's the nonlinearity. "Researchers have wondered whether detectable nonlinear effects can be sustained at extremely low power levelsdown to individual photons. This would bring us to the fundamental lower limit of power consumption in information processing," said Hui Deng, professor of physics and senior author of the paper in Nature. "We demonstrated a new type of hybrid state to bring us to that regime, linking light and matter through an array of quantum dots," she added. The physicists and engineers used a new kind of semiconductor to create quantum dots arranged like an egg carton. Quantum dots are essentially tiny structures that can isolate and confine individual quantum particles, such as electrons and other, stranger things. These dots are the pockets in the egg carton. In this case, they confine excitons, quasi-particles made up of an electron and a 'hole.' A hole appears when an electron in a semiconductor is kicked into a higher energy band, leaving a positive charge behind in its usual spot. If the hole shadows the electron in its parallel energy band, the two are considered as a single entity, an exciton. In conventional deviceswith little to no nonlinearitythe excitons roam freely and scarcely meet with each other. These materials can contain many identical excitons at the same time without researchers noticing any change to the material properties. However, if the exciton is confined to a quantum dot, it becomes impossible to put in a second identical exciton in the same pocket. You'll need an exciton with a higher energy if you want to get another one in there, which means you'll need a higher energy photon to make it. This is known as quantum blockade, and it's the cause of the nonlinearity. But typical quantum dots are only a few atoms acrossthey aren't on a usable scale. As a solution, Deng's team created an array of quantum dots that contribute to the nonlinearity all at once. The team produced this egg carton energy landscape with two flakes of semiconductor, which are considered two-dimensional materials because they are made of a single molecular layer, just a few atoms thick. 2-D semiconductors have quantum properties that are very different from larger chunks. One flake was tungsten disulfide and the other was molybdenum diselenide. Laid with an angle of about 56.5 degrees between their atomic lattices, the two intertwined electronic structures created a larger electronic lattice, with pockets about 10 atoms across. In order for the array of quantum dots inside the 2-D semiconductor to be controlled as a group with light, the team built a resonator by making one mirror at the bottom, laying the semiconductor on top of it, and then depositing a second mirror on top of the semiconductor. "You need to control the thickness very tightly so that the semiconductor is at the maximum of the optical field," said Zhang Long, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Deng lab and first author on the paper. With the quantum egg carton embedded in the mirrored "cavity" that enabled red laser light to resonate, the team observed the formation of another quantum state, called a polariton. Polaritons are a hybrid of the excitons and the light in the cavity. This confirmed all the quantum dots interact with light in concert. In this system, Deng's team showed that putting a few excitons into the carton led to a measurable change of the polariton's energydemonstrating nonlinearity and showing that quantum blockade was occurring. "Engineers can use that nonlinearity to discern energy deposited into the system, potentially down to that of a single photon, which makes the system promising as an ultra-low energy switch," Deng said. Switches are among the devices needed to achieve ultralow power computing, and they can be built into more complex gates. "Professor Deng's research describes how polariton nonlinearities can be tailored to consume less energy," said Michael Gerhold, program manager at the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory. "Control of polaritons is aimed at future integrated photonics used for ultra-low energy computing and information processing that could be used for neuromorphic processing for vision systems, natural language processing or autonomous robots." The quantum blockade also means a similar system could possibly be used for qubits, the building blocks for quantum information processing. One forward path is figuring out how to address each quantum dot in the array as an individual qubit. Another way would be to achieve polariton blockade, similar to the exciton blockade seen here. In this version, the array of excitons, resonating in time with the light wave, would be the qubit. Used in these ways, the new 2-D semiconductors have potential for bringing quantum devices up to room temperature, rather than the extreme cold of liquid nitrogen or liquid helium. "We are coming to the end of Moore's Law," said Steve Forrest, the Peter A. Franken Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering and co-author of the paper, referring to the trend of the density of transistors on a chip doubling every two years. "Two dimensional materials have many exciting electronic and optical properties that may, in fact, lead us to that land beyond silicon." Explore further Enhanced interactions through strong light-matter coupling More information: Long Zhang et al. Van der Waals heterostructure polaritons with moire-induced nonlinearity, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Long Zhang et al. Van der Waals heterostructure polaritons with moire-induced nonlinearity,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03228-5 New Delhi, March 4 : The Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) is now ranked 76 out of all law schools globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (Law) 2021. This makes JGLS the number one law school in India once again, and the only Indian Law School to be ranked this year. Out of 976 that were considered globally by QS, 320 law schools were ranked. JGLS is the only law school to be ranked from India. JGLS is ranked 33 and 58 in the world in the parameters of 'Employer Reputation' and 'Academic Reputation' respectively in the QS World University Ranking by subject 2021. JGLS's current global rank of 76 compared to previous rank in the 101-150 bracket is driven by a 45 per cent increase in research citation and a 25 per cent increase in the H-index of research output of JGLS. JGLS is now ranked alongside highly reputable law schools including University of Bristol, University of Manchester, and George Washington University. JGLS is ranked above some leading law schools including the University of Nottingham, University of Warwick, University of Leeds, Griffith University, York University, Cardiff University, and SOAS in the UK. Out of 976 law schools considered globally, only 320 made it to the QS World University Rankings by Subject (Law) 2021. The number of law schools around the world that are considered in these prestigious rankings is substantially more than institutions considered in other subject areas, which highlights the intense competition among law schools in the world. JGLS, as the first and the only Indian law school to find a place in this year, puts India on the global map for legal education and higher education. With a global rank of 76 this year, JGLS has jumped from the 101-150 bracket in the previous year. JGLS is ranked 33 and 58 in the world in 'Employer Reputation' and 'Academic Reputation' respectively, which are the two most important parameters in the QS World University Ranking by Subject. Jindal Global Law School's significant improvement from last year is driven by a 45 per cent increase in research citation and a 25 per cent increase in the H-index of research output of JGLS. Reacting to this remarkable achievement, Naveen Jindal, Founding Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, said, "The year 2020 has been a challenging year for higher education institutions worldwide. O.P. Jindal Global University has not only demonstrated transformation and resilience in these difficult times, but also led the path towards academic excellence. JGLS has risen in the ranks to enter the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject this year. As the only law school in India to feature in these rankings, it gives me great pride to see Jindal Global Law School feature among the world's finest law schools. JGLS has put India on the world map of providing high-quality legal education, research and training." Jindal added that "As a twelve-year old university, this achievement is commendable. I congratulate all the members of our JGU family for making this possible through their commitment, dedication, team-work and perseverance in building a world-class institution. It is indeed a proud moment to be able to contribute consistently to the building of our country and the educational landscape. I congratulate our Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, and his outstanding colleagues in JGU and JGLS for bringing this important distinction to India." To produce the rankings for this year, QS analysed close to 14 million unique scholarly papers, producing more than 80 million citations. 1453 institutions were ranked across 51 subjects in 5 broad subject areas (including social sciences which includes law), resulting in over 16,981 published entries. These figures reflect the scale behind this huge undertaking that QS carried out in order to produce the 2021 Subject Rankings, and the magnitude of global competition. Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University welcomed this important milestone and said, "The news of JGLS being ranked 76 in the world is not only a significant achievement for JGU, but is also an extraordinary moment for Indian legal education. Achieving a place in the top 100 law schools in the world and sharing the stage with the world's leading universities testifies JGU's aspiration to be a world-class university. This remarkable achievement of rising from the 101-150 rank band last year to 76th position this year in the coveted QS World University Rankings by Subject (Law) 2021 is a landmark development in our relatively short institutional journey." Dr Raj Kumar added that "Our continuous efforts will be to further deepen our classroom instruction, instructional methods, global cooperation and quality of research, and elevate the quality of legal education in India. Being recognized as an 'Institution of Eminence' by the Government of India this academic year, along with the global lead rankings, only strengthens our faith in our ability to contribute positively to the higher education landscape of India." Established in 2009, JGU is a private, non-profit university that is committed to promoting social sciences, arts and the humanities. Entering the elite top 100 of the world in the competitive discipline of law breaks longstanding stereotypes and prejudices about the ability of private universities to become world-class to place India on the world map. On this monumental accomplishment, Professor (Dr.) S.G. Sreejith, Executive Dean, JGLS said, "JGLS started with 100 students and we have grown to over 4,000 students in about a decade. During this period, we remain committed to our vision to bring world-class legal education to Indian students, and to provide them with a global perspective on law and legal developments. Today, JGLS being ranked alongside highly reputable law schools from where several of our own faculty members have graduated. In fact, it is very humbling for us to see that this JGLS has been able to surge ahead of some leading law schools of the world. This is humbling and it gives our vision a greater impetus to continue to enhance the experience of students and faculty members." Professor Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, Registrar, JGU, while responding to this achievement said, "JGU has always aspired to become a world-class university in India with a mission to create global leaders of tomorrow. The news of JGLS being ranked as the 76th best law school in the world is an important milestone for us. This is a recognition of our pursuit of excellence in the field of legal education where our decade-long journey has culminated in ten inter-disciplinary schools, with more than 6600 students and over 830 full-time faculty members." 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. Glion consolidated its Top 3 overall ranking by subject area, while moving up to 2nd globally for Employer Reputation. Les Roches ranked 4th and 3rd by subject and Employer Reputation respectively. Their strong performance underscores Switzerland's position as the most important international destination for education. Switzerland is the world's third best higher education sector. It is also the home of hospitality business education with eight of the world's top 10 institutions in this field, as measured by the 2021 QS World University Rankings. "We are proud to have both of our hospitality management schools, Glion and Les Roches, performing in employer reputation throughout these challenging times. It is a proof-point on the way we have adapted and innovated, delivering classes in new ways while maintaining our hands-on teaching and personalized approach," said Benoit-Etienne Domenget, CEO of Sommet Education. About the QS rankings The QS World University Rankings provide authoritative comparative analysis on the performance of 13,883 individual university programs, taken by students at 1,440 universities which can be found in 85 locations across the world. Rankings are classified across 51 academic disciplines and five broad Faculty Areas. About Sommet Education Sommet Education is the world's leader in hospitality management education. It has a network of three prestigious institutions: hospitality business schools Glion Institute of Higher Education and Les Roches, together with culinary and pastry arts school Ecole Ducasse. These institutions offer undergraduate, graduate and technical training programs to 6,000 students from more than 100 nations, with teaching offered on-campus and through state-of-the-art remote learning platforms. Between them, the schools have a network of 28,000 influential alumni in hospitality and beyond. Sommet Education is the only education group with two Top 4 globally ranked institutions for hospitality education and by employer reputation (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021). www.sommet-education.com PRESS CONTACT Anouck Weiss - VP Communication Sommet Education Group E: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449664/Sommet_Education.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280685/Sommet_Education_Logo.jpg SOURCE Sommet Education Related Links http://www.sommet-education.com Growth rates of global fossil fuel emissions in gigatonnes (billion tonnes) of carbon dioxide. The global pandemic has seen an unprecedented drop in global emissions, with carbon dioxide down about 7% (or 2.6 billion tons) in 2020 overall compared to 2019. But our research, published today in Nature Climate Change, found this may soon be undone, as unchecked economic recovery would see global emissions bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. It comes as data released this week from the International Energy Agency shows global carbon emissions in December 2020 were 2% higher than the year prior. Our research found between 2016 (right after the Paris Agreement was signed) and 2019, emissions from 64 countries were declining while emissions from 150 other countries were increasing. This meant global emissions were still growing, albeit a bit slower. In fact, these pre-pandemic emission declines were just one-tenth of what they needed to be to keep global warming well below 2. This is why it's vital to ratchet up climate mitigation commitments to meet global targets and avoid further environmental damage. Emissions from wealthy countries Our research looked at fossil fuel-sourced carbon dioxide emissions in more than 200 countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and examined what might come next. Between 2016 and 2019, the combined emissions from 64 countries declined by 160 million tons of carbon dioxide, per year, compared to the period 2011-2015. For perspective, that's roughly one-third of what Australia emits each year. Most reductions were due to structural changes towards a low carbon economy after Paris commitments were made, such as switching from coal power to renewable sources. Other reductions occurred for reasons beyond climate or energy policies, such as fuel price fluctuations or economic downturns. Change in fossil carbon dioxide emissions (per cent per year) in the 5 years since the Paris Climate Agreement. Changes are shown for individual countries (dots) separated in three economic groups. Credit: Le Quere et al. 2021. Nature Climate Change, Author provided The biggest emission declines came from high-income economies: the UK (declined by 3.6% per year compared to the previous five years), Denmark (-2.8%), Japan (-2%) and the US (-0.7%). For these countries, emissions dropped for both territorial emissions (associated with the use of fossil fuels) and consumption-based emissions (the consumption of goods and services, such as manufacturing, imported from other countries). But a few high-income economies increased their fossil fuel-sourced carbon dioxide emissions in the same period. This includes Australia (+1.0%), Russian Federation (+0.2%), Canada (+0.1%) and New Zealand (+0.1%). For these nations, increased emissions can largely be attributed to the continued growth in oil and natural gas use. Middle and lower income countries There are 99 countries considered upper-middle-income economies. Thirty of which also showed reductions in carbon dioxide emissions during the five-years before the pandemic, including Mexico, Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong and Montenegro. This is a good sign, as it suggests actions to reduce emissions now extend beyond the most advanced economies. However, the remaining 69 upper-middle-income countries continued to increase their emissions. For example, emissions from Indonesia grew by 4.7%, Chile by 1.2%, and China by 0.4% each year on average. Depending on the country, the increase was due to the continuous growth in the combustion of coal, oil and natural gas. Finally, emissions from lower-middle-income and low-income economies showed mostly strong emissions growth. However, most started from very low levels of fossil fuel usethis group of 78 countries account for only 14% of the global fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions. Click here to view the above graph as an interactive, where you can explore country emissions since 1990, and compare up to five countries at a time. Credit: Vivid Economics, Greenness of Stimulus Index report February 2021 What happens if we return to pre-pandemic levels? Increasing global action on climate change and the major shake up of emissions by the global pandemic has placed the world in a different placeat least for now. Many countries have a unique opportunity for large infrastructure expenditure as part of economic recovery plans after the pandemic. If spending is focused on, for instance, clean energy, then economic recovery could accelerate the pace of decarbonisation. A number of countriesincluding South Korea and in Western Europehave taken this route, favoring green investment as part of their recovery plans. And a recent UN report shows 48 countries intend to reduce emissions beyond their previous commitments. Some countries, such as China and the UK, went beyond their legal obligations and pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or soon after. These current commitments, however, do not add up to what's required, globally. If these new commitments are achieved, global emissions by 2030 would be 0.2% below the 2010 level according to UN numbers released last week. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates emissions need to be reduced by 25% to 50% below 2010 levels to keep global heating between 1.5 and 2. Current stimulus packages in place are still likely to cause emissions to rebound to pre-pandemic levels within a few years. Indeed, the new data from the International Energy Agency suggests global emissions already started to rise again over the second half of 2020, potentially offsetting the drops during lockdowns. Although, it's still too early to infer the size of the rebound for 2021. Whatever strategies we put in place, one thing is for sure. Globally, we need to do a lot more: to deliver at least ten times more emissions cuts than our pre-pandemic efforts, while supporting economic recovery, human development, improved health, equity and well-being. Explore further Tenfold carbon emissions reduction needed to meet Paris climate goal This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Former White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson drank and took Ambien on the job, and was accused of making sexually suggestive remarks to women on his team, according to a report. A scathing 37-page report from the Department of Defense Inspector General revealed that multiple people described Jackson, who now serves in Congress, as a boss from hell who made life miserable for subordinates. Many of these witnesses described Jacksons behavior with words and phrases such as meltdowns, yells for no reason, rages, tantrums, lashes out, and aggressive, the report said. These witnesses also described Jacksons leadership style with terms such as tyrant, dictator, control freak. The report also raised serious questions about the staunch Trump supporters drinking on the job and use of the prescription medication Ambien, which is used to treat insomnia. It cited several witnesses who claimed Jackson occasionally drank while on duty, a breach of rules that could have left the president without proper care. Jackson expected rum or other alcohol to be stocked in his lodging room while on official travel, or that staff members feared retribution if they did not comply with the expectation, the report said. Jackson was also accused of popping pills on long presidential trips. Use of prescription medication is not specifically barred for the White House physician, but several colleagues said they worried they it could impair his judgment, said the report. The damaging sexual allegations date back to the last years of the Obama administration, when Jackson was accused of two separate incidents of inappropriate comments and behavior toward women on presidential trips. It wasnt immediately clear why the incidents were not investigated at the time. DOD officials gave Jackson the opportunity to comment on their conclusions in January, the report said, but his lawyer said he had no comment. Jackson, a Republican who now represents the 13th Congressional District in his home state of Texas, denounced the allegations on CNN as politically motivated smears. He denied drinking but did not specifically deny taking prescription drugs. Democrats are using this report to repeat and rehash untrue attacks on my integrity, he told CNN on Wednesday. Jackson became a close Trump ally after the former president took office. Trump sought to elevate him to the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2018 but the nomination collapsed amid allegations of poor management. ___ 2021 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham suffered minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash Thursday morning that authorities are investigating as possibly being alcohol-related. The crash occurred at 9:40 a.m. on Culver Avenue near Route 440, near the Democratic senators Jersey City home, police said in radio transmissions. The vehicles involved in the crash were Cunninghams Infiniti G35X SUV, a Nissan Altima and a Ford Focus. According to the police radio transmissions, Cunningham was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center after her head apparently slammed into the dashboard of her SUV and loosened some teeth. It is believed that other vehicles were not occupied at the time of the crash. Police were investigating if alcohol played a role in the crash, according to radio transmissions from the scene. A Jersey City spokeswoman said at 4 p.m. that Cunningham was still with police. No official details on the incident were provided. Cunningham , who represents the 31st District, was first elected to the state senate in 2007, three years after her husband, Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham, died while in office. She is the deputy majority leader and chairwoman of the senate Higher Education Committee, vice chairwoman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and a member of the Education Committee and the Select Committee on New Jersey Transit. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A meat-lover has revealed the perfect way to cook a steak - and the secret is to cook it low and slow in the oven before browning the edges in a pan. The home cook, Mike Elender, who posts on TikTok as MeatlikeMike, places a piece of steak in an oven-proof dish, adds a handful of garlic cloves and two sprigs of rosemary before covering it with oil. He then puts it in the oven at about 100C for 45 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 50C. The home cook, Mike Elender, who posts on TikTok and Instagram as MeatlikeMike, recently shared a steak video which went viral The steak is cooked medium rare to medium - and has divided his fans The American then pulls the steak out of the oven, sears it in a pan for 30 seconds each side, and also on the fat on the side. 'You will get an amazing crust out of this,' he said. He then cuts the steak into strips, showing off the pink centre and adds a sprinkle of salt. His face melts as he takes a bite of the delicious-looking piece of meat - and others appeared to be on board with the low and slow method because the video got over 3.5million views. Thousands of meat-lovers commented on the educational video, expressing their delight in the finished meal. 'This looks amazing, I am trying it,' one person said. But some people weren't impressed with the dish and said it was 'under cooked'. The steak was cooked in a bath of olive oil, with a handful of garlic and some rosemary The cook then seared it on either side for 30 seconds before serving 'That's one raw steak. I don't care I eat my steak medium rare but that didn't cook long enough,' one man said. The cook said the method would make a well-don steak 'good' before adding a laughing emoji. These people soon copped flack from people who like their steak to be pink in the middle. 'The people saying it isn't done shake the whole table when they curt their steak,' one man said. He served by slicing the steak into strips before adding some salt to season His face melted as he tasted the meat for the first time 'Grow up and enjoy steak that isn't leather,' another said. 'To the people saying it isn't done, I think it is overdone,' said another. Others had issues with the home cook 'using a whole bottle of oil for one steak'. The American's steak went viral in some Australian 'low and slow' Facebook pages. 'I've never had one of those fancy steaks but will have to try one before I die,' one of the meat-lovers said. Blank-check companies are increasingly looking to India for acquisition targets, which will keep the countrys recent dealmaking streak going, according to Holdings Inc. last week agreed to merge with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company in a deal that will give Indias biggest renewable power producer an enterprise value of $8 billion. Online grocer is also looking to go public in the US through a merger with a blank-check company, Bloomberg reported in February. SPAC-led transactions are expected to increase in the coming years in India, Utpal Oza, head of investment banking for India at Nomura, said in a phone interview. Wherever youve got businesses which have caught the fancy of international investors especially in sectors such as renewables, tech or e-commerce, where the corporate structure enables it to be merged quite easily, you will see SPAC activity. A blank-check company is a shell company that raises money from public investors with the goal of acquiring a business within two years. These deals -- some sponsored by the rich and famous including Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li and ex-Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam -- have raised more than $66 billion in the US alone just this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Singapore could join the bandwagon soon. The countrys exchange is consulting the market on allowing SPACs to go public, and could see its first such listing this year if it gets enough support. As many as 10 could go public through SPAC deals before the end of the year and the trend could accelerate if Singapores blank-check firm listings are permitted, Oza said. In India, expects equal revenue contributions from equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions as well as financing, Oza added. In a further boost to its business, the Japanese bank plans to hire four bankers across debt origination, corporate finance and sector coverage, he said. also expects more initial public offerings in India this year, with sentiment buoyed by the post-debut performance of recently listed companies, said Mangesh Ghogre, its head of equity capital for India. In 2020, companies raised about $4.6 billion through first-time share sales in the South Asian nation and their shares are now trading more than 50 per cent above their IPO prices on average, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Nomura ranked second as IPO arranger in India last year, just behind Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., according to the Bloomberg league table. About $1.7 billion has been raised so far this year, while State Bank of India is preparing its mutual fund joint venture for an offering that could raise $1 billion, Bloomberg reported last week. The IPO pop on the listing day has meant theres been value left on the table for investors, Ghogre said. This has given a strong confidence for the in 2021 will also receive strong reception. An Iraq rocket attack hit the coalition base and killed civilians during the assault. This comes after hostilities came about from the occupation. Bases Housing Coalition Forces Struck by Suspected Iraq Rocket Attack A U.S. coalition base got hit by ten unknown rockets that took them multi-national forces. Last year a similar attack happened, but the perpetrator was not identified conclusively. The attack in western Iraq, according to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), was one of the confirmed deaths of a US civilian contractor due to a heart attack. It was not caused by direct attacks by rockets reported BBC. #BREAKING: more than 10 rockets fired at Ain al-Assad military base in Anbar province western #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/poERblNRLS Baxtiyar Goran (@BaxtiyarGoran) March 3, 2021 A month ago, a similar assault by rockets in northern Iraq took the life of a Filipino contractor and injured a US service member. One of the suspected militants is the Iran-backed Shia militias. The U.S. sent F-15 E Strike Eagles that destroyed their facilities. Iran has been marked for retaliation by the Trump administration. The strikes were called a warning to let adversaries, like Iran, stand down or more strikes will follow. Sources say that Iraq's paramilitary Popular Mobilisation force was made up of Shia militia groups. They said the US should expect more retaliation to come. One of the most immediate concerns for violence in this part of the world is the planned visit of Pope Francis. The pope is pushing for it to continue on Friday despite the danger to himself because of cancellations caused by security concerns. Concerns that security issues cannot be resolved are tantamount to keeping the pope safe during the visit. Also read: US Navy Warns Foreign Ships in Persian Gulf to Keep Distance or Face the Consequences In #Mosul, adjacent to the Biblical city of Nineveh, the four churches which are either damaged or destroyed by ISIS, make up the Church Square, the name given to the site that #Pope Francis will visit on March 7 during his historic trip to #Iraq.https://t.co/uY5VkNGFo3 pic.twitter.com/zhelpyY6OD Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 1, 2021 In Anbar Province, the Coalition based at the Al Asad airbase assists the Iraqi security forces. A continuing operation against the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) is still causing problems in Iraq. Col. Wayne Marotto said that 10 rockets hit inaccurately the targeted facility at 07:20 local time (04:20 GMT) last Wednesday. Iraqi forces report that the attack was launched from the Al-Baghdadi area about 8km (5 miles) to the north-east. According to sources, they were Iranian-made 122mm Arash artillery rockets used in the rocket assault. Western security forces determined the attack. The DOD of the United States added they are not sure how severe the attack is. DOD statement read that assisting Iraq regarding the incident is investigated. The relatives of the deceased were given condolences. Countries like Denmark and UK included in the coalition condemned the evil intent of the perpetrators. No militants were identified positively by western intel; one group is suspected to be Shia militia that wants all coalition forces to exit Iraq and made attacks on westerners in 2020. A small group called the Saraya Awliyaa al-Dam (Guardians of the Blood Brigades) claimed it attacked Irbil International Airport last month. One Filipino died and six others hurt including one Louisiana National Guard soldier, and four American contractors. U.S. officials doubt it is one of Shia militias' fronts, with strikes on them that destroyed their facilities. The U.S. DOD thinks these groups will increase attacks in the coming days with the Iraq Rocket Attack. Related article: US Thinks of Establishing New Bases in Saudi Arabia to Counter Iran @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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 Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below 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. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was having one of the worst weeks of his administration, and he tried to divert attention to the New York City mayors race. In one of his famed slide show presentations, Mr. Cuomo listed the many challenges facing the city a rising murder rate, a homelessness crisis, people deciding to move away and questioned if the candidates were up to the task. What have you managed before? What have you accomplished before? Mr. Cuomo said in late February. This is not about rhetoric. This is not about slogans. Mr. Cuomo failed to mention another top challenge for the next mayor: Figuring out how to get along with him. The womens movement in Mexico is starting to shake the National Palace, the seat of the federal executive and official residence of the president. It is a threat that could either cost or win votes. Women in Mexico have put gender equality and ending violence against them at the center of the political debate. In recent days, their struggle which has grown to a scale unprecedented in Mexico has questioned the countrys institutions, its political parties and its public figures. The political storm surrounding Felix Salgado Macedonio, a member of the governing National Regeneration Movement (Morena) who has been nominated to run for governor of the state of Guerrero despite two rape accusations and several counts of sexual assault, is just the latest blow against the administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Since Lopez Obrador took office, his government has struggled with its approach to womens fight for greater rights. There were more signs of tension on Tuesday, when dozens of activists gathered in the Zocalo, the central square in Mexico City, while the president was holding his daily press conference. The protesters were stopped by the police before they could reach him, but their yells could be heard in the square: A rapist cannot be a governor! they called out, in reference to the accusations against Salgado Macedonio. Their demands have put Lopez Obrador on the back foot. The president who has never been comfortable with the feminist movement has tried to frame the protest as politically motivated in other words, a plot by his enemies to gain more support ahead of the election in Guerrero. But with International Womens Day just days away and the vote for governor in three months, neither side is showing signs of giving up. The demands of the womens movement are legitimate and they go beyond political parties and elections Cristina Santana, Redefine Mexico The womens movement in Mexico has been gaining a lot of traction in the last year, its a great momentum that should be used to visibilize violence [against women] and make gains, says Wendy Briceno, the president of the equality committee in Congress. Sexism is being stripped bare and female victims are putting themselves at the center of the debate. Because we have all been victims in one way or another, but some cases are more horrifying than others. Briceno is one of 500 members of Morena who have demanded that Salgado Macedonio be withdrawn as a candidate. According to Melissa Fernandez Chagoya, professor at Claustro de Sor Juana University, the rise of the womens movement and its growing presence in public life is due to three factors. On the one hand, it is an achievement of the institutionalization of feminism, with many women now holding positions of state, which is an achievement of liberal feminism, she says. On the other hand, [it is due] to the bravery of young women and their fight on the street, which is bringing visibility to the cause; and finally, the movement is making an impact on social-digital media. Now we are finding out more things than ever before, even at a local level. The veteran feminist Patricia Olamendi, who is an outspoken critic of the Mexican governments gender equality program, believes the strength of the movement lies in the fact that it is putting womens problems front and center, compared with a rhetoric that doesnt understand whats going on and categorizes everything in the usual boxes: its enemies, its adversaries, the far right. Whoever says that just doesnt get it, adds Olamendi. They are unable to see the scale of a movement that is political and social and all about demanding rights. It is an insurgency for rights. This particular case has attracted media coverage and it will ultimately be forgotten. But we should praise the progress that it has brought about Melissa Fernandez Chagoya, Claustro de Sor Juana University Women protested outside the presidential palace on Wednesday, and outside the Guerrero attorney generals office the day before. In Guerrero, protesters spilled red paint and called on the justice system to clarify how the case against Salgado Macedonia is progressing. Women in Mexico do not want to wait any longer. The demands of the womens movement are legitimate and they go beyond political parties and elections, says Cristina Santana from Redefine Mexico, a department focused on youth within the Simone de Beauvoir Institute. Its important that a person who has been formally reported [for rape and sexual harassment] not be allowed to hold political office, regardless of what party they belong to. At 27, Santana is one of the voices underscoring the strength of the womens movement in Mexico. The coming months will be key to determining what impact the movement will have on the June election for governor of Guerrero. The clashes between feminists and Lopez Obrador began early in his term and have not let up. Violence against women has not lessened, with Mexico recording an average of 10 deaths a day. What has visibly diminished are the hopes many feminists had in the government of Lopez Obrador. Disappointment and disillusionment are the words most often used to describe how they feel about the presidents gender equality program. In his morning press conferences, Lopez Obrador has made some terrible gaffes while discussing womens problems, such as the time he became angry at a journalist who asked him about the murder of Ingrid Escamilla, a 25-year-old woman attacked by her partner in February 2020. Instead of responding to the question, the president chose to continue talking about his presidential plane a sign that he did not have a hold on feminist discourse. Despite this, his followers claim he is the most feminist president Mexico has ever had. Lopez Obrador avoids this definition and prefers to call himself a humanist. Women also raised their voice when Mexicos attorney general, Alejandro Gertz Manero, suggested addressing femicides without a gender perspective. It was yet another sign that the womens movement in Mexico was not willing to remain silent. Society is telling the movement that it is right, that whats happening is real, that violence is real Patricia Olamendi, veteran feminist At Tuesdays press conference, asked about a Twitter message from former conservative president Felipe Calderon condemning the nomination of Salgado Macedonio, Lopez Obrador replied: So now Calderon is a feminist, what else is there left to say? The president believes that feminism belongs to the left, something that the womens movement rejects. Sometimes Lopez Obrador puts the movement in the context of the greater social struggle, a comparison that the suffragettes of the 19th and 20th century already put an end to. Class struggle is one thing, womens struggle, another. From my experience, I know that feminism leans more towards the left than the center or the right, but now it permeates everything, it raises questions about the institutions and parties and political actors, says Briceno. Feminism does not exclude rights, and that is its commitment. This commitment will be put to the test at the election, and Briceno is sure that it will influence the process. Its obvious that it will, because its reaching all the public forums, the morning news conferences, Congress, the cameras... Cristina Santana agrees. The movement is very strong and it is being expressed in a very public way, from the youngest [activists] to the older ones. It is defining the agenda. Women vote, they represent half of the country and our decisions as citizens are made with an eye on the people working to guarantee our rights, she says. Asked about the political cost of the Salgado case, she says there is a demand to break the pact. [The president] needs to be made very aware that this does not mean breaking his alliances with men, but breaking with the complicity and the silence in the face of violence or discrimination. Fernandez Chagoya fears that the Salgado case will end up being one of many that have dropped out of the collective consciousness. The problem is structural. There are more cases of violence beyond Salgado. This particular case has attracted media coverage and it will ultimately be forgotten. But we should praise the progress that it has brought about. The presidents attitude towards the feminist movement has run into its biggest stumbling block with the Salgado Macedonio case. Proof of it is how strongly female members of his own party have spoken out about it, as well as members of his government, with messages siding with the victims and against the alleged attacker. So far Lopez Obrador has deflected the issue, continuing to back a nominee who does not have a lot of support at street level. Of course this is going to have an electoral cost, says Olamendi. The feminist movement has been gaining a recognition that it lacked in society. And society is telling the movement that it is right, that whats happening is real, that violence is real. The president should take steps and seek to talk with the movement, something that has yet to happen. He should talk to them, although he doesnt seem to talk with anyone. English version by Melissa Kitson and Susana Urra. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Frustrations are mounting in Mississippis largest city, more than two weeks since winter storms and freezing weather ravaged the citys water system knocking out water for drinking and making it impossible for many to even flush their toilets. For more than two weeks now, residents in the city of 160,000 have been warned to boil any water that does come out of kitchen taps before using it. I pray it comes back on, Jackson resident Nita Smith said. Im not sure how much more of this we can take. Smith has not had water at her house for nearly three weeks now, she said. Smith is concerned about her mother who has diabetes, since not having water makes it difficult to take her medicine. Her mother and most of the other elderly people on her street dont drive anymore, so shes been helping them get water to clean themselves and flush their toilets, she said. A key focus of city crews this week is filling the systems water tanks to an optimal level, officials said in an update late Tuesday. Workers are also continuing to fix dozens of water main breaks and leaks throughout the capital city. City officials on Wednesday planned to continue distributing water for flushing toilets at several pick-up points. But they have given no specific timeline for when the crisis will be resolved, nor have they said how many residents remain without water. It is difficult to estimate how many customers remained without water Wednesday, said Michelle Atoa, a spokeswoman for the mayors office. The crisis has taken a toll on businesses. Jeff Good is co-owner of three Jackson restaurants, and two of them remained closed Wednesday. In an update to his customers posted on Facebook, Good said the businesses have insurance, but hes concerned about his employees. We will not be financially ruined, Good wrote. The spirits of our team members are my biggest concern. A true malaise and depression is setting in, he added. I am staying in touch, keeping them informed of the facts, trying to find the path each day. Bonnie Bishop, 68, and her husband, Mike, 63, have been without water at their Jackson home for 14 days as both struggle with health problems. Shes recovering after a three-and-half-month hospital stay with the coronavirus and back at home but still in therapy to learn how to walk again and deals with constant neuropathy in her hands and feet. She has not been able to soak her feet in warm water, something that usually helps with the neuropathy, or help her husband with gathering water to boil for cooking for cleaning. Mike Bishop just had surgery on his elbow. The first week of the couple was without water, he still had staples in his arm and was hauling five-gallon containers from his truck, his wife said. Bonnie Bishop said she told her husband not to strain himself, but he wouldnt listen. They need water, and feel like they have no choice. Its a lot of wear and tear on the elderly, she said. On Monday, the couple drove 25 miles (40 kilometers) to Mikes mothers house to do laundry. My greatest concerns are sanitation and hygiene, Bonnie Bishop said. I am sure that is everyones concern. Jacksons water system has not been able to provide a sustainable flow of water throughout the city since the mid-February storms, city officials have said. Jacksons water system has basically crashed like a computer and now were trying to rebuild it, Public Works Director Charles Williams said at a recent briefing. The citys water mains are more than a century old, and needs related to its infrastructure have gone unaddressed for decades, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has said. We more than likely have more than a $2 billion issue with our infrastructure, he said. Melanie Deaver Hanlin, who was without water for 14 days, was flushing her toilets with pool water and showering at friends homes. She said serious updates need to be made to Jacksons water system. The problem needs to be fixed, not patched, she said. Thats the issue now _ poor maintenance for far too long, and Jackson residents are paying the price. Martin reported from Marietta, Georgia. Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Endrit Geci Wins the 2021 partypoker MILLIONS Online $5,300 Main Event ($774,838) March 04 2021 Shirley Ang Yori Epskamp The 2021 partypoker MILLIONS Online $5,300 Main Event has crowned its winner. Start-of-the-day chip leader Endrit Geci took it down for $774,838 after having had agreed upon a heads-up deal with Francisco Correia. Runner-up Correia walked away $731,960 richer. Daniel Dvoress and partypoker sponsored pro Dzmitry Urbanovich finished in third and fourth place, respectively, while high roller Christian Rudolph ended up in sixth. The tournament attracted a total 1,084 entries to get to a prize pool of $5,420,000. Geci's previous biggest recorded cash on The Hendon Mob is a runner-up finish in last summer's online WSOP bracelet series ($223,978), while his biggest live score stands at ~$55K. Needless to say, this score dwarfs all his previous accomplishments and establishes the Brit's name with a bang. 2021 partypoker MILLIONS Online $5,300 Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Endrit Geci United Kingdom $774,838* 2 Francisco Correia Brazil $731,960* 3 Daniel Dvoress Canada $422,422 4 Dzmitry Urbanovich Poland $276,128 5 Hermogenes Gelonezi Brazil $189,320 6 Christian Rudolph Germany $146,300 7 Richard Mullen Canada $115,425 8 Martin Brinkmann United Kingdom $91,542 9 Jonathan Proudfoot United Kingdom $72,260 *reflects a heads-up deal Relive blow-by-blow coverage of the Main Event Final Table Action Jonathan Proudfoot came back for the final table with the second-shortest stack and saw his day end after a mere twenty minutes when he called the four-bet of Gelonezi with ace-queen suited. Gelonezi held pocket tens and even though Proudfoot picked up a gutshot to a straight on the turn, it didn't materialize on the river. Another twenty minutes later, Martin Brinkmann left the final table stage when he ran his queen-jack into the aces of Geci. Brinkman flopped a lot of outs when Geci had hit a set. The turn gave Geci a full house to leave Brinkmann with one out for a royal flush but he bricked the river to see him cash $91,542 after having qualified through a $530 satellite. Richard Mullen was another player who got his Main Event seat by qualifying in a $530 satellite and departed with queen-jack as well, unable to improve against Rudolph's ace-nine. Rudolph, however, subsequently lost all of it to Geci after bricking with ace-king against tens. partypoker Team Pro Dzmitry Urbanovich finished in 4th place ($276,128) With the elimination, Geci had a commanding chip lead with 45% of all the chips in play with five players left in the tournament. After Hermogenes Gelonezi ran pocket sevens into the eights of Dvoress. Dvoress made a sizable double through Geci with ace-queen versus ace-jack and the pair traded the chip lead back and forth during four-handed action. Urbanovich saw his bid to take the title home for his sponsor come to an end in fourth place after Dvoress flopped a set with pocket queens to leave his ace-queen drawing all but dead on the flop. Correia then doubled through both Geci and Dvoress to leave the latter short-stacked and dealt the final blow minutes later with a straight-over-straight to send the Canadian star out in third. It took two attempts for Correia and Geci to settle on a deal, but once agreed both players took home over $700k, leaving $50,000 in the middle to play for. After Correia had dwindled down to the short stack, he lost his final nine big blinds in a limped pot. Correia check-called the min-bet of Geci on the trey-ace-six-ten board. The river was a king and Correia check-tank-called the shove of Geci with ten-deuce but Geci held ace-king for top two for the pot, the win, the title, and the extra $50,000. Another major cash for Daniel Dvoress ($422,422), who finished 3rd Wipro, in its biggest acquisition so far, has signed an agreement to buy London-based Capco, a global management and technology consultancy, for $1.45 billion. Capco provides digital, consulting and technology services to financial institutions in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The deal is an all-cash one and will be funded through internal accruals and debt. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the June quarter. Rishad Premji, chairman, Wipro, said: With this deal we are joining select service providers that bring end-to-end consultative, digital cloud, and IT-driven solutions at scale to our customers. This deal will bring scale to Wipros BFSI (banking financial services, and insurance) play, said Premji. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thierry Delaporte said: This deal is a growth accelerator for We have a complementary customer base and it gives an immediate access to 30 BFS (banking and financial services) clients who can significantly enhance access to industry solutions. Lance Levy, CEO of Capco, said: We are excited to join our new colleagues at Together, we will offer bespoke transformational end-to-end solutions, now powered by innovative technology at scale, to create a new leading partner to the financial services industry. We look forward to leveraging the complementary capabilities and similar cultures of both While analysts tracking the company said it was a bold move, many said this might be an attempt to bolster its revenue. Capco is a good addition for It strengthens Wipros financial services business and adds scale to its UK and European operations. Both have been targeted by the Wipro chief executive officer as areas to be strengthened. It shows that under him Wipro is taking an acquisitive posture and is likely to be adding more scale and capability through acquisition over the next year or two, said Peter Bendor-Samuel, chief executive officer, Everest Group. The company said this acquisition would make Wipro one of the largest end-to-end global consulting, technology and transformation service providers to the banking and financial services industry. It will add revenues of $700 million and will see 5,000 technology and business consultants joining Wipro. A consultative approach enables providers to complement the capabilities required by customers in creating a road map for their business. The percentage of deals coming from traditional routes is declining and hence providers will have to engage early in helping customers across various verticals to support their journey and this can translate into new businesses. Wipros acquisition to complement consulting organisations can help it drive better non-linear growth and become a transformational player, said D D Mishra, senior research director, Gartner. A team of scientists from the University of Cologne (Germany) and the University of Uppsala (Sweden) has created a model that can describe and predict the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Resistance to antibiotics evolves through a variety of mechanisms. A central and still unresolved question is how resistance evolution affects cell growth at different drug concentrations. The new model predicts growth rates and resistance levels of common resistant bacterial mutants at different drug doses. These predictions are confirmed by empirical growth inhibition curves and genomic data from Escherichia coli populations. The study has been published in the journal 'Nature Ecology & Evolution'. Antibiotic resistance arises through evolution. Bacteria change their genome and become less sensitive to drugs. Resistance mutations, however, often come at a cost to bacteria in the absence of antibiotics. The mutant cells have higher growth in the presence of the drug, but in a drug-free environment, their growth rate is lower than that of the antibiotic-susceptible wild type. 'The cells have to optimize their decision about resistance. We have created a model that describes this process,' said main author Fernanda Pinheiro from the Institute of Biological Physics at the University of Cologne. The process can be compared to building and marketing houses, she explained: 'Houses are built with a fixed budget. Depending on the location, you have to invest more or less to insulate against cold and, in return, make compromises in design. But an ugly house also sells poorly. Similarly, the evolution of bacteria determines how much of its protein content is invested in antibiotic resistance.' This prediction is very difficult because the bacterium often has multiple options to build defences. 'Surprisingly, our model successfully predicts which mechanisms of antibiotic resistance are likely to evolve in a bacterial population under certain conditions,' Pinheiro said. In keeping with the analogy of building a house: To keep the house warm, one can invest in thick windows or in heating technology. Which option is better depends on the whole system, because in a bacterium, different parts of the cell are interdependent. 'Mutations change these parts and leave traces in the growth pattern that, in turn, can be used to learn and ultimately predict evolution.' Resistant bacteria threaten the antibiotic treatment of millions of people worldwide and cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. In 2019, the WHO included antibiotic resistance in its list of the top 10 threats to global health. Therefore, insights about the evolution of antibiotic resistance can help identify optimal treatment protocols, drug targets, and new antibiotic candidates. The new knowledge can be useful in making better decisions about antibiotic use. 'If we can anticipate what bacteria are likely to do under different circumstances, we can think more specifically about interventions to avoid the evolution of resistance,' Pinheiro said. ### Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson has said that he will force the Senate clerks to read aloud the entire 600-page coronavirus relief bill before debate begins on the legislation. In a tweet on Wednesday evening, Mr Johnson, a Republican, said he will object to the waiving of the reading for the $1.9 trillion (1.3 trillion) bill, which will force the Senate clerks to read the whole legislation out loud. Since more than 90 per cent of this Covid relief bill is not even related to Covid, I think we need a full reading of the bill, Mr Johnson wrote on Twitter. Yes, it could take 10 hours but the American people deserve to know whats in it, he added, seemingly pre-empting any criticism. The 10 hours it will take for the Senate clerks to read the bill out loud will be in addition to the 20 hours already scheduled for debate around the legislation, further delaying a vote on it. A version of the bill was passed in the House on Saturday morning by a 219-212 margin, and debate in the Senate was scheduled to begin as early as Thursday before the GOP senators intervention. Mr Johnson added that after the clerks have read the bill out loud, he will offer amendments. Many amendments. We need to highlight the abuse. This is not a Covid relief bill. Its a boondoggle for Democrats. Although a Morning Consult-Politico poll revealed last week that 76 per cent of voters and 60 percent of Republicans support the relief package, Democrats have struggled to gain support for it in the Senate. Republicans attacked two parts of the deal passed in the House, the $141 (101m) in funding for the transit system in San Francisco and $1.5m (1.02m) in aid for the Seaway International Bridge. Both of those projects have been dropped from the upcoming Senate bill, and in order to convince more Republicans to approve the relief plan, President Joe Biden has also agreed to limit the number of people who receive stimulus cheques. Under the limit, people earning over $80,000 (57,210) a year will not receive a stimulus cheque worth $1,400 (1,001), which means 8 million fewer people than under the House deal will get the payment. The limit has been criticised by progressive Democratic politicians, with New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez describing the decision as an own-goal, as it means the Biden administrations deal will provide fewer cheques than any of the bills passed during Donald Trumps presidency. Mr Biden has highlighted his desire to get the Senate relief bill passed quickly, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki saying on Wednesday that the president will not attend a joint-session of Congress until it is agreed. The extra delay caused by Mr Johnson means that Mr Biden and his administration will need to wait at least a day longer to begin attempting to pass parts of its Build Back Better agenda in the Senate. AUSTIN, Texas, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prominent North American real estate developer Intracorp is excited to reveal plans for its next Austin project called One Oak, a 106 unit mixed-use community located at 2209 South 1st Street in the desirable Bouldin Creek neighborhood in the heart of South Austin, 78704. Intracorp acquired the Bouldin Creek land assemblage by an agreement with Austin-headquartered Rastegar Property Company, a technology-enabled private real estate investment firm focused on value-add and development in all asset classes throughout Austin and the Sun Belt region of the United States. The new community located on South 1st Street and Live Oak will be four stories and will include one three bedroom homes, with the larger homes featuring expansive outdoor terraces. All residents will benefit from access to extensive amenities, including a fitness center, meeting rooms, Creekside lounge and entertaining kitchen, and outdoor courtyard, featuring a pool deck with lounge and BBQ area. This community sits on Bouldin Creek amidst towering oak trees, giving residents (and their canine friends) amazingly convenient access to nature. The property was assembled and sold to Intracorp by Rastegar Property Company, who will retain an investment in the project. Intracorp purchased the new community site through a joint venture (JV) partnership with California-based The Resmark Companies, one of the nation's most prominent providers of equity financing for residential real estate development and frequent partner of Intracorp. Financing was provided by Frost Bank in Austin, Texas. Intracorp has engaged several reputable groups to bring their considerable talents to the project. Renown firm Pappageorge Haymes Partners of Chicago is the lead architect together with local firm Urban Foundry. Hitchcock Design has been engaged for landscape architecture and Brandon Miller Group for project sales and marketing. This new project will follow in the Intracorp style of building extraordinary homes in extraordinary locations and comes closely on the heels of Intracorps first Austin community 44 East Ave, which is currently under construction and over 65% sold. We are very excited to be announcing our next community in Austin. When we set down roots here in 2018, we knew it was going to be for the long haul. Austin has been extremely good to us and we look forward to continuing to deliver extraordinary homes to this amazing city for years to come. Don Forsgren, CEO Intracorp. Similar to 44 East Ave, our next Intracorp community in Austin will also celebrate the active, urban lifestyle. One Oak is an irreplaceable location, just minutes from downtown and Austins favorite urban amenities, but nestled in an unbelievable natural setting in the midst of an amazing South Austin neighborhood. Rastegar assembled a tremendous collection of properties and we look forward to continuing to work together with Ari. Brad Stein, President, Intracorp Texas. Due to the impeccable location, putting this land assemblage together was no easy feat for the Rastegar team, but given Intracorps impressive history and track record, we can think of no better partner to bring much needed best-in-class housing to the city of Austin. Ari Rastegar, Founder and CEO of Rastegar Property Company. Austin continues to be an attractive investment market for Resmark for its fast-growing population and job growth, fueled in large part by an influx of technology jobs driving in-migration, said Ziv Cohen, Resmarks Chief Investment Officer. We are excited to continue our partnership with Intracorp across several geographies. They are a top-tier developer, and I look forward to many more projects with them. More information on Intracorp can be found online at www.intracorphomes.com . About Intracorp Developing communities in six urban regions in North America, Intracorp has established itself as a real estate developer that delivers extraordinary experiences to homeowners. As one of North Americas largest developers of multi-family homes, Intracorp has delivered more than twenty-two thousand homes in 184 communities. Intracorp grew out of founder Joe Houssians first business venture Intrawest, which was founded in 1976. The company began as an urban residential real estate business which transformed into an internationally renowned resort and real estate development company credited with the success of several pre-eminent ski resorts, such as Whistler Blackcomb. Intracorp currently develops extraordinary communities in Austin, Seattle, Southern California and Vancouver Canada. About Rastegar Property Company Rastegar Property Company is a technology-enabled private real estate investment firm focused on value-add and development in all asset classes throughout Austin and the Southwest United States. Rastegar and its affiliates have co-invested in or directly own and operate over 13.8 million square feet of real estate across projects in 13 states and 38 cities. The firm specializes in acquiring complex or undervalued assets with opportunities to create value through repositioning, redevelopment, and/or improved operational efficiencies. About Resmark Founded in 1995, Resmark is a leading residential real estate investment manager that provides capital to premier homebuilders, land developers, and multifamily developers across the United States. As a fiduciary to its investors, Resmark is a best practices aggregator that provides preferred access to Americas best residential developers. The firm has participated in more than 250 investments encompassing over 85,000 single-family and multifamily residential units. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Resmark operates nationally and maintains offices in select target markets. For additional information, please visit www.resmark.com PRESS CONTACT Rob Kreis rastegar@fischtankpr.com FischTank PR Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9707edc7-7af5-4816-9bd1-9fdaaf6f0c69 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/86b935ed-9975-4a98-8eae-0fd039da0b8b The more radical sectors of Irans embattled Reform movement say past experience has taught them not to hire a candidate from outside their tribe for the June presidential election. The concept of the hired candidate made its way into Irans political discourse with the pro-Reform movements endorsement of Hassan Rouhani in 2013 and later for his reelection in 2017. To many members of the camp, that was a choice in reluctance between a lesser of two evils. In their view, Rouhani had never expressed allegiance to their fundamental tenets of genuine reform in the Islamic Republic. Due to the limitations the Reformists were facing, the senior members had no option but to endorse Rouhani, said Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a veteran Reformist politician and close ally of the leader of the Reform movement, Mohammad Khatami. For the past months, the Reformists have been trying to gain consensus over their new candidate because they intend to avoid introducing a hired candidate. The debate has resurfaced every now and then during Rouhanis term as part of the Reformists attempts to disavow his performance and regain their own popularity, which has been fast waning in recent years. Gholamali Rajaei, another senior member of the camp, has similarly argued that the era of hiring candidates is over and the camp needs to strengthen its social base. Elsewhere, Chairman of the Voice of Iranians party Sadegh Kharazi warned that a hired candidate is not a cure and we have to confess to our mistake of doing so in the past. But none of those comments seem to be fully representative of the camps entire fabric, which has seen widening internal rifts that could perhaps tell part of the tale about its failures at the Iranian political scene. Thus, consensus on whether they will ultimately hire a candidate might still be too far to reach. When it comes to foreign and domestic policy, economy, society and culture, Rouhani has been more open-minded than many other Reformist figures, said Mohammad Ghouchani, a senior Reformist and former political prisoner. Widely believed to be a pragmatic, moderate figure, Rouhani has never called himself a member of the Reformist camp. And despite the unequivocal support he received from Reformists, the Iranian president appears to have all but disappointed them by his refusal to grant them top ministerial positions. When asked to comment on such treatment, Rouhanis right-hand man and chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi infuriated the Reformists, suggesting that the president does not owe them his election win. The challenges faced by the Reformists are many, from diminishing popularity to the suppression at the hands of powerful hard-liners. Amid all that, the Reform movement has yet to come up with a name that could truly represent it and hold a chance to push aside the powerful hard-liners. The movement appears to have lost its fertility, wrote Etemad, a daily that largely echoes the camps official views and ideology. It lamented the fact that a charismatic personality is missing and could eventually force Reformists into hiring a candidate. In a yet harsher tone, senior Reformist pundit and political scientist Sadegh Zibakalam declared that the Reformists have lost their social standing, and even if the camps spiritual leader Khatami runs, he stands no chance to win. The movements other key challenge is passing the vetting process, which is exclusively controlled by the hard-line Guardian Council. The supervisory body dashed the already tiny hopes for the Reform movement ahead of the 2020 parliamentary elections. The vote, therefore, became a one-sided race for the conservatives, who ultimately swept the majority of seats in the Iranian legislature. Irans Reformists have for ages argued that a higher turnout correlates with their victory. In that vein, election boycotts will only pave the way for hard-liners to take the helm. Ultraconservative outlet Raja News reported on a conservative candidates letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanding that, for a smooth victory for hard-liners, the states propaganda system avoid encouraging a high voter turnout. Raja News has not named the potential candidate. But even a significant turnout may not necessarily guarantee a victory for Reformists this time, as they have to scramble to distance themselves from the Rouhani governments overall economic record and the iron-fist crackdown on protesters in November 2019 that ensued his contentious fuel price hike scheme. And the hard-line rivals have not been sitting back in idleness. They seem to be conscious of Reformists attempt to borrow a candidate. They argue that even if Reformists manage to do so, they are already a bankrupt faction. They have been holding senior executive and legislative positions for 34 out of the 42 years of the lifetime of the Islamic Revolution. Yet they are still posing as an opposition group, wrote Mashregh News, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Against such a backdrop, the hard-liners seem to be banking on all the perceived inadequacies on the rival side. They are expected to go out of their way to protract any potential talks with the administration of US President Joe Biden to win credit for possible sanctions removal. If successful in doing so, hard-liners will then take advantage of the upper hand in presidential campaigning by addressing public woes and targeting Rouhani and the Reformists as a whole for their failure to ease the livelihood of ordinary Iranians. The more radical sectors of the Reform movement contend that endorsing Rouhani was a gamble in the first place that cost them their credibility. But could all the blame for the lost popularity be directed at Rouhani? Will senior members in the divided camp agree on strategies of how to bridge their widening gap with the public? In the next few months, and as the clock ticks on the race, Reformists will be perhaps busy discussing all those questions and more before coming up with a name for the key polls in June. Breakthrough Energy Ventures-led investment will fuel development of reliable, cost-effective High Temperature Superconductor based transmission VEIR, a company developing a new approach to using High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) for electricity transmission, today announced $10 million in Series A financing and debuted a new architecture for high-voltage superconducting transmission lines to transform the grid. The companys Series A investment was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), with participation from existing investor Congruent Ventures and new investor The Engine. The financing brings the companys total funding to date to more than $12 million. With the expected growth of electric vehicles and the rest of the economy shifting to electric power from fossil fuels, we will need extremely large amounts of new renewable energy and a correlating amount of transmission. However, as demonstrated by the failure of several high-profile transmission projects, current transmission technologies are too expensive and often face political opposition. HTS has long held the promise of using smaller transmission lines and better utilization of existing rights-of-way, but has been hampered by higher costs, distance limitations and overall system complexity. VEIRs novel approach to HTSwhich was unveiled todaysolves those problems by simplifying the system design that connects green energy sources to the transmission grid to address the ever-growing demand for electricity and overcoming constraints currently holding back renewables penetration. VEIRs founders are from MIT, BP, and ARPA. Together, the team is commercializing an approach based on HTS tape and a novel cooling system for high-voltage superconducting transmission lines. The new capital will allow VEIR to scale its team and begin to develop and test the critical subsystems required to deploy its product to the transmission grid. VEIR will also use the funding to establish a physical development site in Massachusetts to demonstrate its core technical innovation of evaporative cryogenic cooling, which is crucial in enabling the cost-effective deployment of HTS transmission lines. Story continues "Achieving decarbonization goals require increasing penetrations of renewables that are located far from major population centers along traditional transmission corridors. This, along with supporting the megatrend of electrification, will require a doubling or tripling of U.S. transmission capacity by 2050," said VEIR CEO Adam Wallen. "VEIRs technology enables increasing the amount of power transmitted in a given right-of-way by a factor of five. This will enable the transmission of more power at lower voltages in smaller right-of-ways, reducing the uncertainty, time, and cost of siting and permitting new transmission corridors." VEIR is the first of BEVs "newco strategy," where the firm identifies new climate technology opportunities and creates a company to fill a void in the market. "HTS cables have long promised the ability to deliver high power through smaller rights-of-way, a key process when transmitting energy from remote sources of renewables to population centers," said Carmichael Roberts, Breakthrough Energy Ventures. "With VEIR, we can finally unlock low-cost, high-reliability HTS transmission with their innovative, evaporative cooling technology." "We are very excited to support VEIRs unique approach to solving the biggest challenges in transmission infrastructure that will improve overall grid resilience, reduce long term energy costs, and increase the amount of renewable energy resources on the grid," said Joshua Posamentier, Managing Partner and Co-Founder Congruent Ventures. "Electricity transmission is a critical facet of any plan to decarbonize the electric sector, and VEIR's approach will enable a significant increase in transmission capacity through existing infrastructure, not only reducing the cost of transmission but also removing key barriers to transmission development," said Katie Rae, Managing Partner and CEO of The Engine. "The science behind VEIRs approach and its leadership team will be instrumental to enabling an energy future where more parts of the economy are electrified." VEIR is hiring technical talent in the cryogenic and energy industries, as well as operational and sales staff to support commercial development. To learn more about VEIR, please visit www.veir.com. About VEIR Based in Boston, Massachusetts, VEIR is enabling reliable, costeffective HTS transmission over very long distances through narrow rightsofway, connecting lowest cost renewable resources to where theyre needed, when theyre needed. Its passive, evaporative cryogenic cooling delivers 20 times the cooling power per kilogram of nitrogen flow compared to mechanical subcooling. The future isnt just cleaner, its affordable. To learn more, please visit http://www.VEIR.com About Breakthrough Energy Ventures Backed by many of the world's top business leaders, Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) invests in cutting-edge companies that will lead the world to net-zero emissions. BEV has more than $2 billion in committed capital to support bold entrepreneurs building companies that can significantly reduce emissions from agriculture, buildings, electricity, manufacturing, and transportation. BEV's strategy links government-funded research and patient, risk-tolerant capital to bring transformative clean energy innovations to market as quickly as possible. The first fund was created in 2016 as part of the Breakthrough Energy network of initiatives and entities, which include investment funds, non-profit and philanthropic programs, and policy efforts linked by a shared commitment to scale the technologies needed to address climate change and achieve a path to net zero emissions by 2050. Visit https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/ to learn more. About The Engine The Engine, launched by MIT, is a Cambridge, MA-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage Tough Tech companies solving the world's biggest problems through the convergence of breakthrough science, engineering, and leadership. It provides the capital, knowledge, connections, as well as the specialized equipment, space, and labs these transformative startups need to thrive. For more information, visit www.engine.xyz About Congruent Ventures Congruent Ventures invests against global macro trends in sustainability across four themes: Mobility and Urbanization, the Energy Transition, Food and Agriculture, and Industrial and Supply Chain innovation to generate top quartile venture returns. The firm was founded over four years ago and is currently investing out of its second fund in early-stage startups across North America. The firm is based in San Francisco with a veteran climate tech investment team leveraging over 60yrs of collective investment and operating experience. It is backed by a highly collaborative group of LPs comprised of family offices, corporate venture groups, and endowments/pensions. To learn more, visit www.congruentvc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005142/en/ Contacts comms@veir.com, Adam Wallen, 617-804-6091 It takes three days after any event to find out what happened, and 30 days to find out what really happened. The dust storm of information and misinformation takes a while to settle in the perpetually-online United States. The truth lodges in fewer places now. Emigres from the 1970s Soviet Union advised us that the only real information in Pravda lay between the lines. So it is with the bulk of U.S. media, which doesnt even try to hide its role as the propaganda arm of the Democratic Party anymore. After 60 days, what do we, and dont we, know about the events of January 6th? What we dont know concerns me. When information that ought to be public isnt, theres a reason. Its seldom good. We know there was no insurrection, coup, or sedition. Insurrection is an organized rebellion with the intent of toppling a government. A coup detat, or coup, is the seizure of political power by illegal or violent means. Insurrections and coups often involve the military. Always, they involve weaponry. Sedition is the act of encouraging them. No one condones the events of January 6th. I condemn them without equivocation. That said, neither an insurrection nor a coup took place, no matter how often politicians or their media sycophants parrot those words. No attempt was made to topple the government. Not a shot was fired by protesters. Of the hundreds of thousands who rallied, only a handful were arrested for bringing guns (and the FBI didn't recover any guns at all). What should we call the terrible events of that day? Id call it a riot, albeit a small one, but the Associated Press prohibited that term in 2020, instead mandating unrest. AP covered a great deal of unrest this past year, accompanied by murder, assault, arson, and looting. 700 buildings were destroyed. 28 people died. Hundreds of police officers were injured. Even when silhouetted against a skyline of flames, reporters invariably described the unrest as mostly peaceful. Following its own rules, the AP would have me call the events of January 6th the mostly peaceful unrest at the Capitol. We dont know how many forced their way inside. Charges have been filed against more than three hundred. We were told that would increase by an order of magnitude or more than a thousand. It will not. Because weve seen footage, we do know many were allowed into the Capitol calmly by law enforcement. They proceeded between velvet ropes in Statuary Hall, on camera, damaging nothing. They broke no law. We do know the charges filed against others: trespassing, disrupting an official proceeding (as is done routinely; at the Kavanaugh hearings, roughly every ten minutes), disorderly conduct, and a few cases of destruction of property. Four windows were broken. Some will be charged with assault on officers, a serious crime, routinely ignored of late. At least one may have contributed to the subsequent death of Officer Brian Sicknick, tragically the most recent innocent victim of unrest. There is, alas, no autopsy or official cause of death for Sicknick. We know he returned to his post after telling his brother he was fine, though exposed to pepper spray. His mother Gladys revealed to The Daily Mail, He wasnt hit on the head, no. We think he had a stroke, but we dont know anything for sure. Wed love to know what happened. FBI Director Wray testified on March 2nd that he still couldnt tell her -- or us. We dont know why police officers let protestors in. They may have done so in defiance of orders. They may have been directed to. Weve seen footage of the red-hatted protestor screaming at a group of riot-gear-clad officers to repel others forcing their way in: This is the Capitol! Stop them! They do nothing. Why? We dont know that, either. Dozens of Capitol police are suspended and being investigated. Chief Steven Sund resigned almost immediately, but maintains his department did not fail. We dont know why the Capitol wasnt better-defended. We know Sund begged House officials prior to January 6th for reinforcements, including National Guard. President Trump wanted to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops. All were turned down, reportedly because of optics. Additional law enforcement was deployed during BLM unrest last summer. We saw photos of them lining the Capitol steps, well-equipped. Were told the disparity was motivated by racism. That claim is preposterous. We dont know how many agents provocateur were in the crowd. APs are sent by the opposition to encourage rash and illegal action during a false flag event. Its a very old tactic, often employed effectively by Communists. We do know at least three such agents were present. One, unidentified, wears a black helmet with a Trump sticker. In the video, he breaks a window with a staff. Hes wrestled down with shouts of Hes Antifa! Two others were John Sullivan, Jayden X, a left-wing activist who urged the crowd forward, exhorting them to burn it down, and Jade Sacker, accompanying Sullivan and filming. Both appeared on CNN under misleading premises. They were paid an extraordinary $35,000 for the film by two network news sites. Weve seen additional video from Sullivans phone. He congratulates Sacker: We did it! and Is that the greatest film youve ever shot? Shes concerned when she realizes their exchange is being recorded. FBI Director Christopher Wray denies Antifa involvement. This comes as no surprise; Wray believes Antifa is only an idea, though Sullivan, an Antifa agent, is charged. Were there more such? We dont know. The presence of agents provocateur doesnt excuse criminal behavior. It does reveal theres much more to know. Perhaps most of all, Id like to know why a police officer dealing with unrest could fire a fatal shot at an unarmed woman without consequence. Id also like to know the officers identity. On any other occasion, we would. Police officers tell me thats often done before theyve finished the paperwork. We know the unrest of January 6th was caused by a tiny percentage of radicals at a mostly peaceful protest over the disenfranchisement of 75 million-plus Americans. We know the President did not incite or encourage it. We heard his words. The unrest at the Capitol building began before he even finished speaking, a half-hour away by foot. We have highly credible evidence it was planned long before. The President was impeached by the Democrat House for inciting insurrection because he questioned the results of an election. If questioning election results qualifies as incitement to insurrection, we know our constitutional republic is lost. Nonetheless, the chilling phrase January 6th is now used to brand President Trump, Trump voters, conservatives, and Republicans, as domestic terrorists, insurrectionists, and (in defiance of logic) white supremacists, a term properly reserved for fringe groups like neo-Nazis and the Klan. The unrest of January 6th was the most fortuitous possible event for the Left, whose goal is to marginalize and silence anyone opposing their radical agenda. They will use it as a bludgeon, with the tacit approval of many. Such events seldom happen by sheer luck. There is far too much we still dont know about this one. Charles Turot is a pseudonym. IMAGE: Police seemingly opening doors for Capitol protesters. Rumble screengrab. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A look at the major movers on the London market on Thursday Corporate finance group Marechale Capital (LON.MAC) was under pressure earlier, its shares falling sharply after serial entrepreneur Chris Akers cut his stake from 9.97% to 2.98% (see below 10.13am). Now the business, founded by a descendant of William Booth of Salvation Army fame, has just put out a trading statement, presumably in an attempt to limit the damage. It said it had recently completed a strategic fundraising to strengthen its balance sheet, allowing it the flexibility to take shares or warrants in lieu of cash in connection with client work. The company has recently made such investments in an energy business, a global technology group and a hospitality brand. It said: "The board believes these investments and other maturing warrants and equity and founder equity investments in the Marechale corporate finance portfolio have the potential to generate material value to shareholders." Its shares have recovered from their low of 1.75p but are still down 1.31p or 39.25% at 2.04p. 2.25pm: Bars business positive Revolution Bars Group PLC (LON.RBG) has cheered its investors with an upbeat assessment of the outlook following the Budget and the government's plans for reopening hospitality venues. Its shares have climbed 11.31% or 3.2p to 31.5p after it said it planned to reopen 20 bars next month with the other 46 due to start trading in May when indoor service will be allowed. It said the April 12 date for initial opening was later than it had hoped but expected significant pent-up demand when lockdown is lifted. On the Budget measures it said: "The...support announced for the hospitality sector by the Chancellor in the Spring Budget on 3 March 2021, particularly the restart grants, continued reduction in business rates, low VAT on food and non-alcoholic drinks and other measures are also welcome. This support will give further certainty to all our stakeholders and allow the Company, together with the wider hospitality industry, to regain a financial position from which it can again develop and thrive." It said it had sufficient liquidity resources to take it well through 17 May, the date it can restart trading indoors. 12.30pm: Franchise business thrives despite lockdown Franchise Brands PLC (LON.FRAN) is in demand after a positive update despite the disruption caused by the pandemic. Its B2B franchise operations, which include Metro Rod, Metro Plumb, and Willow Pumps and provide plumbing services, which were designated by the Government as essential and continued to operate throughout the lockdowns. It was a different story for its B2C division - ChipsAway, Ovenclean and Barking Mad - which had to suspend trading for most of the second quarter. Even so, full year revenues rose 12% to 49.3m, with a first full year contribution from Willow which was bought in October 2019. Pretax profits climbed 19% to 4.8m. So the company's shares have jumped 8.87% or 9p to 110.5p. 1.23am: Wealth management group resilient Rathbone Brothers PLC (LON.RAT) is among the risers after its final results. The wealth management firm said funds under management rose 8.5% to 54.7bn while underlying profits grew by 4.3% to 92.5m. It is paying a final dividend of 47p a share taking the total to 72p, up 2.9%. The news has lifted its shares 82p or 5.2% to 1660p. Chief executive Paul Stockton said: "Rathbones delivered a resilient performance in an immensely challenging year... "Whilst we expect 2021 to remain volatile, our balance sheet is robust with a strong capital position. Our near-term focus is to execute our growth strategy, to build our market share, to balance ongoing investment in the business, and to continue to apply strict cost discipline. Rathbones will emerge stronger after the challenges of the pandemic begin to subside." 10.13am: Cryptocurrency company warns of scepticism Online Blockchain PLC (LON.OBC) is under pressure after a warning about the prospects for the cryptocurrency sector. In a trading update it said it had raised enough funds to meet its medium term needs but added: "We do remain however, cautious with our cash resources as crypto is a volatile asset segment and it is possible at any time that blockchain may be about to enter another cycle of boom, bubble and bust. The potential upside we expect will be delivered in the medium to long term rather in the shorter time frame that so many new entrants and investors in this this field expect. While impossible to accurately predict the short-term outlook for blockchain based assets and businesses, we continue to believe that the blockchain technologies we are working with are part of a development as potentially fundamentally promising as computing in the 1970's and the internet in the 1990s. "There remains, nevertheless, a significant challenge from institutional resistance and scepticism to emerging blockchain technology businesses. At times, it is hard to come to any conclusion other than that blockchain is not yet welcome reflecting the position of established 'gatekeepers' whose commercial position is threatened by blockchain... "Whilst being wary of these institutional and regulatory challenges, we are hopeful of continuing progress for our existing products in the months ahead and for new developments. We remain excited at the prospects for blockchain, irrespective of the value of bitcoin in 2021, and our plans to develop a potentially major blockchain protocol." Its largest asset is an investment in financial company , which has reported a half year profit of 264,000 compared to a 399,000. Also falling is Marechale Capital (LON.MAC), founded by a descendant of William Booth of Salvation Army fame. The corporate finance group is down 1.55p or 46.27% at 1.8p after serial entrepreneur Chris Akers cut his stake from 9.97% to 2.98%. 8.37am: Payments group jumps on valuation update AIM-listed ThinkSmart Ltd (LON.TSL) has seen half-year profits more than triple thanks to a revaluation of its remaining stake in digital payment group Clearpay. It sold 90% of Clearpay to Australia's AfterPay in 2018 and has an option to sell the rest which is exercisable from 2023. Its latest results show that the 10% stake is now valued at 106.6m, compared to 53.7m a year ago. Including this non-cash gain, ThinkSmart's half year profits have jumped from 15.9m to 53.7m. Its total assets are worth 116.6m, equivalent to 109.44p a share. In the market its shares have jumped 8.22% or 6p to 79p Clearpay, which went live in the UK in 2019, recently reported a near tripling of half year sales, and added new customers including Superdry UK, Signet Brands (Ernest Jones and H Samuel) and Pandora. ThinkSmart's own operating business is being wound down. Executive chairman Ned Montarello said: "The value of our shareholding in Clearpay is underpinned by the rapid consumer acceptance and subsequent compelling growth of the Buy Now Pay Later market coupled with the trading performance of Clearpay... "Our investment in Clearpay has now generated over 116 million of profit for shareholders, with further upside potential for our retained stake from Clearpay's ongoing progress. Our agreement with Afterpay provides shareholders with a clear and agreed legal mechanism for realisation of the value of our Clearpay holding in 2023/24. "While our strategic efforts are focused on further value creation for shareholders via our holding in Clearpay, the managed wind down of our legacy operations continues to generate positive cash flow as we control costs while rightsizing the operations to lower volumes. This leaves our balance sheet robust. There is inherent, tangible value within our proprietary payments technology and we are continuing to consider how best to optimise the value of this asset. "Ultimately, the company is well placed to continue accruing material value for our shareholders, subject to Clearpay's ongoing progress, and we thank them for their ongoing support of the strategy." Consumer finances group Morses Club PLC (LON.MCL) has climbed 10.15% or 7p to 76p after it said full year profits would be ahead of expectations. The advent of the pandemic has meant the company accelerating its digital strategy, It said: "We quickly moved to a remote home collect credit lending model, which was made possible by the group's previous investment in its digital capability, and our well-advanced digital platform enabled us to re-commence lending to existing customers just three weeks after lockdown was announced in March 2020. 64% of lending in our HCC division is now cashless and transacted through our portal, with customers signed up to the portal rising by around 70% during the period... We expect this to be a permanent shift in customer behaviour and our research clearly indicates that both customers and agents see digital lending as the future of the HCC market. "The group has focused on the quality of lending since the start of the pandemic, with strong collection rates and levels of impairment reflecting this." Proactive news headlines ( ) said its Pharm 2 Farm (P2F) subsidiary has received an initial order from the Volz Group of Companies for 1mln masks made from its -virion antiviral material ( ), has acquired a Tesco supermarket in Prestatyn, North Wales for 26.5mln. In a separate announcement, the REIT announced plans to raise around 100mln by placing shares at 106p each (versus last nights closing price of 109.5p. s ( ) final results for 2020 highlighted positive trading through the current lockdowns. It said that trading started 2021 strongly in the first quarter, with business-to-business sales described as resilient. (LON;WSG) said it hopes to get back to double-digit revenue growth in 2021. ( ) said the ongoing metallurgical test work programme at its Mina do Barroso lithium project in Portugal has highlighted the potential for lower capital and operating costs. ( ) said progress was encouraging at the Kitlanya East copper-silver project in Botswana, operated by Kalahari Metals Ltd (KML). (LON:WTE, OTCCQ:WMELF) has relayed the results of the Bulletwood exploration well, on the Canje block offshore Guyana, which encountered quality reservoirs but sub-commercial volumes of hydrocarbons. Shares in (LON:), an oil and gas company with onshore assets in the USA, are now being traded on the JP Jenkins share dealing platform. Anthony Mason, founder and CEO of Black Bear said: This will give Black Bear Energy Resources tremendous visibility and a strong presence in the London market. ( ) said its portfolio company Exscientia has completed a Series C funding round raising US$100mln with funds. ( ) has extended its US$750,000 loan facility, provided by shareholder Pegasus Petroleum (beneficially owned by chairman Jeremy Asher). Induction Healthcare ( ) has hired N+1 Singer as Nominated Adviser and its sole broker with immediate effect. ( ) has appointed Nexia Smith & Williamson as its new auditor, replacing Grant Thornton. 's ( ) chief executive, Jason Sayers, will be introducing the company and taking questions at the Proactive One2One Investor Forum on 25 March, with the online forum due to start at 6pm GMT. Registration details can be found at https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/register/event_details/327. 's (LON:TXP, ) president and CEO Paul Baay will present at the Shares and AJ Bell investor evening webinar on 10 March at 6pm GMT, followed by a virtual Q&A session. To register for the event please use the following link: https://www.sharesmagazine.co.uk/events/event/shares-investor-evening--webinar-100321 BlueRock Diamonds PLC ( ) chairman Mike Houston and finance director David Facey will provide a live investor presentation via the Investor Meet Company platform on Monday 8 March at 11am GMT. Existing and potential shareholders can sign up at: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/bluerock-diamonds-plc/register-investor (AIM: ACSO) will announce its preliminary results for 2020 on Tuesday 23 March. ( ) will hold its annual general meeting at Spanyards Farm, Adams Lane, Northiam, Near Rye, East Sussex at 2pm on 28 April. Midland city and county leaders, Midland Health, Midland ISD and Ector County ISD released statements responding to Gov. Greg Abbotts announcement Tuesday that he would be removing the statewide mask order and occupancy limits for businesses. In a statement to the Reporter-Telegram, Mayor Patrick Payton said, We are excited about the opportunity we have collectively achieved to begin to open up our economy and return to normalcy after this long fight with COVID-19 We have said from the beginning that Midlanders will do the right thing for one another. We have been ready for this new day and I have full faith that we will do what we have continued to do in watching out for one another and for ourselves as we move into a healthy and prosperous new day in West Texas. County Judge Terry Johnson said the Unified Command Team would continue to monitor the health of the community and provide vaccines to those who qualify. Masks will be required in the county courthouse until at least April 1 because of a Texas Supreme Court order, he said. To me, opening up Texas is the right decision, Johnson said in a statement. Texas is not the only state that is opening up, we are not even the first state to do so. I trust that we, as society, have the ability to decide what is the right thing to do, not only for our own wellbeing but for the wellbeing of our fellow Texans. As Texans we value our freedom and the responsibility that comes with that freedom. Dr. Larry Wilson, chief medical officer for Midland Health, said in a statement that the hospitals position is we have not vaccinated enough of the population to be confident we are nearing herd immunity. We are all fatigued by the practices that have so effectively mitigated the spread of the COVID-19 infection, he said. But those with lost loved ones and those of us working in health care sincerely hope our communities can stay the course of safe practices for a few more months. Some lives will be lost if we take this as a signal to return to pre-COVID practices. A spokesperson for Midland ISD said current health and safety protocols will remain in effect while they await guidance from health authorities and the TEA about what Abbotts order means for students and staff. We will update parents on Friday, March 5 about what they can expect when we return from Spring Break, she said. Ector County ISD will also continue current safety procedures, including mask-wearing, as they seek guidance from the CDC and TEA, according to a press release. We are encouraged to know that the COVID-19 situation is improving in Ector County; we want that to continue and we know the steps we have taken throughout this school year have helped limit the spread of the virus, the release stated. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 16:39:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- An international research team announced on Thursday that it has discovered a site of more than 900 fossilized dinosaur tracks, covering an area of 9,000 square meters, the largest of its kind ever found in China. The dinosaur track site was located in a copper mine in Zhaojue County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. From 2017 to 2019, paleontologists from China, the United States and Germany through fieldwork or using drone technology recognized at least 933 dinosaur tracks dating back 100 million years at the site, including China's longest recorded sauropod and ornithopod trackways, which are 80 meters long and 52 meters long, respectively. Scientists believe these tracks were left by 68 trackmakers. Parallel tracks left by ornithopods were also found in the site, indicating that the dinosaurs, which were previously thought to be solitary, lived in groups. Scientists have also found three smaller but important sites of dinosaur tracks nearby since the 1990s, bringing the number of recognizable tracks found in the county to 1,928. The findings were published in the international journal Geoscience Frontiers in late February. "Such a diverse set of dinosaur tracks is an excellent sample for studying Cretaceous dinosaur fauna in this area," said Xing Lida, lead author of the article and researcher at China University of Geosciences. Xing also noted that mining operations had prompted the discovery of new records but also caused some damage to the sites. His team once tried to document the bits that remained after local mining companies broke up a site. "The Zhaojue sites provide a good example of dinosaur track sites that require long-term study and monitoring to extract as much data as possible before evidence is lost," Xing said. In the study, scientists called for more government efforts to preserve the sites, as the dinosaur tracks are "precious records from nature". Enditem Graduate student Kyle M. Bennett, left, and social work professor Douglas C. Smith are refining a mobile app called Harbor that gives young adults information on risky substance use behaviors and guidance on how to talk with peers who are engaging in these behaviors. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer A smartphone app called Harbor, currently under development by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, teaches young adults how to talk to a peer if they are concerned about that other person's drinking or drug use. Designed for people ages 18-29, Harbor teaches young adults how they can "act as first responders for their close friends who demonstrate risky substance use behaviors," according to the app's lead developer, social work professor Douglas C. Smith. Smith, the director of the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the U. of I., focuses his research on substance use and interventions for young people. While young adults have the highest rates of substance use, they are also the people least likely to seek treatment, he said. "If you're an individual who gets referred to treatment, or who is in need of treatment, it's pretty likely that people in your social network are worried about you," he said. "And there's probably a mix of people in your social network who also have elevated substance use as well." In an online survey of more than 450 young adults conducted for the current study, 45% of the respondents indicated that they were concerned about a close friend's drug or alcohol use. The study was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. "If they're responding affirmatively to that question, there's a good chance their friend is probably using at some sort of risky level," said graduate student Kyle M. Bennett, the first author of the study. "They're probably not just an occasional user; they're probably going out frequently and experiencing some of those nasty side effects of whatever substance they may be using." However, while many young people may be troubled by friends' drug or alcohol use, many of them are also uncertain how to talk with them about it, Bennett said. "You hear this often: 'I would have done something, but I just didn't know what to do or I didn't know what to say or how to approach the topic,'" Bennett said. "The Harbor app guides them in supporting their friend without being confrontational or enabling." The app prompts the user to answer several questions about their friend's substance use behaviors and provides feedback on the potential seriousnessa feature that may be especially helpful to people who feel conflicted about intervening, Smith said. Smith said the idea for the mobile phone app sprang from a prior project, funded by a five-year grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, that explored the efficacy of having young people with alcohol or marijuana problems invite a close friend to participate in some of their treatment sessions with them to provide social support. "Since young adults have really low rates of coming to treatment, we thought that this peer model might be a way of expanding the benefits of treatment to people who don't usually seek it," Smith said. "A surprising finding from that study was that both the client and their friend made changes in their substance use behaviors and got better within six months." That study, published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment in 2015, found that both the client and their friend reduced their binge drinking and increased the number of days that they abstained. Smith's co-authors were Western Ontario University psychology professor Tara Dumas and then-U. of I. graduate students Jordan P. Davis and the late Daniel J. Ureche. Harbor provides the app user with possible text messages and dialogues for conveying their concerns to their friend. Smith said a challenge for the team was writing messages that could be applied in differing situations without being overly generic and that also sounded conversational and reflected young people's speech patterns. "Ultimately, you're trying to communicate a message while encouraging them to adopt some of these practices and empowering them to put it in their own words when they talk with their friend," Smith said. When young adults in the study reviewed the sample scripts and messages, "more than 95% of them indicated the scripts would be useful in talking with their friends about their substance use," Bennett said. "And about 98% of respondents rated the script dialogues as realistic. If young adults felt the language in the scripts was inauthentic, I think it's safe to assume they would be less likely to use the app." Participants also were asked to evaluate the language in the app's messages and rate each of them as supportive, enabling or confrontational. While most of the participants accurately identified the enabling and confrontational responses, they were less consistent at recognizing the supportive responses, Smith said. The researchers were uncertain why that occurred but said it may have been because participants had not been given the app's educational module first and lacked the information or personal experience to accurately interpret supportive responses. The team is currently refining and beta-testing the Harbor app to deploy it in a controlled trial with young adults and their friends in a clinic setting this spring. More information: Kyle Michael Bennett et al, Usability and Acceptability of a Mobile App to Help Emerging Adults Address their Friends' Substance Use (Harbor): Quantitative Study, Journal of Medical Internet Research (2020). Kyle Michael Bennett et al, Usability and Acceptability of a Mobile App to Help Emerging Adults Address their Friends' Substance Use (Harbor): Quantitative Study,(2020). DOI: 10.2196/16632 Douglas C. Smith et al. Six Month Outcomes of a Peer-Enhanced Community Reinforcement Approach for Emerging Adults with Substance Misuse: A Preliminary Study, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (2015). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2015.09.002 Journal information: Journal of Medical Internet Research The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Ms. Wells is the Chief Executive Officer of Valencia Ventures, LLC, a strategic consulting and corporate governance firm which she founded. Previously, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mindflash Technologies, Inc., an enterprise software company providing cloud-based training platforms to businesses. Prior to Mindflash, Ms. Wells held a number of senior marketing roles at Mint Software, Intuit, Expedia, American Express, and Charles Schwab. Willy Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are thrilled to welcome Donna to Walker & Dunlop's board of directors with her deep knowledge in marketing, branding, and financial services technology. Donna's FinTech background, combined with her innovative marketing experience, will bring valuable insight and guidance to Walker & Dunlop's board as we continue focusing on expanding our brand and developing innovative technologies." Mr. Walker continued, "Walker & Dunlop has consistently been focused on being a leader in diversity and equity in the commercial real estate industry. We are committed to adding the best and most talented diversity to our team at all levels, including our board. We believe the significant diversity of our board members, with women and minorities representing 44% of the current board, will lead to better decision-making, better outcomes, and more innovation by W&D." Ms. Wells sits on a number of public and private company boards including Mitek Systems, Apex Technology Acquisition Corporation, Betterment, and Happy Money. Ms. Wells received a B.S. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. She is also a Lecturer in Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 950+ professionals in 41 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction. SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Related Links http://www.walkerdunlop.com Tibetan teenager Dadul is shown in a hospital in Xining, Qinghai province, with broken legs following a beating by Chinese police. Three Tibetan teenagers living in western Chinas Qinghai province have been arrested, with one sent to a hospital with broken bones, for failing to register a chat group on the popular social media platform WeChat with Chinese authorities, Tibetan sources say. The three teensidentified by sources as Dadul, Sangye Tso, and Kansi, a nicknamewere taken into custody after setting up their group during the Tibetan New Year, also called Losar, in mid-February, London-based Free Tibet said in a statement Wednesday. The group, called White Rocky Mountain Club, quickly gained 240 followers, alarming Chinese authorities who fear loss of control over political and social commentary by Tibetans over social media platforms, Free Tibet said. These young people have been brutalized for exercising a right that most of us take for granted on a daily basis, Free Tibet Campaigns and Advocacy Manager John Jones said in a statement. Id like to ask everyone to imagine if they had to invite a government official to [monitor] every one of their chat groups or face imprisonment and broken limbs. Speaking to RFA, a Tibetan living in exile confirmed the arrests of the three. Kansi, Sangye Tso, and Damdul [Dadul], who belonged to Domda township in Yushu prefectures Tridu [Chinese, Chenduo] county, were the presidents of this WeChat group, RFAs source said, citing contacts in the region. All three of them were arrested in Domda and were detained in the Kyegudo detention center. Damdul has one younger sister, RFAs source said. Free Tibet said on March 3 that its research partner, Tibet Watch, later learned that the family of Dadul, whose legs were broken by police in a beating, were later told by Chinese authorities to bring 40,000 yuan (U.S. $6,000) with them to a hospital in Qinghais capital Xining to pay for Daduls treatment. Tibetan residents of Daduls Domda township have meanwhile raised funds for Daduls hospital stay that were given to his mother, sources told RFA. The present whereabouts of Sangye Tso and Kansi, who were taken with Dadul at first to the detention center in Kyegudo, are now unknown, sources said. Daring to speak up Free Tibet regularly receives stories of political prisoners dying in jail or shortly after release from long sentences for daring to speak up against their oppressors in any small way, Jones said in his statement Wednesday. We call on every government around the world to take concrete action to remind the [Chinese Communist Party] that, try as they might to hide their atrocities, we have not forgotten the Tibetan people. Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force nearly 70 years ago, and the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India and other countries around the world following a failed March 10, 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on the region, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity, and subjecting Tibetans to persecution, torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. Reported by RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. (@ChaudhryMAli88) TORONTO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th March, 2021) A review of the coronavirus vaccine produced by the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals will be completed soon and a regulatory decision will come down within the next seven days, Health Canada Chief Medical Advisor Supriya Sharma said during a briefing on Thursday. "The review of the Johnson & Johnson submission is going very well, it's progressing. And we're expecting to have that completed and a decision in the next few days - I would say in the next seven days or so," Sharma told reporters in Ottawa. On Saturday, the US food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Johnson & Johnson's single-shot coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. Regulators have currently approved four vaccines for use in Canada, including the AstraZeneca vaccine and its Serum Institute of India version, which was authorized last Friday. Machine Gun Kelly's drummer JP 'Rook' Cappelletty was hospitalized after he was run down in a vehicle amid a robbery Tuesday evening in Hollywood Hills. Police told TMZ that Cappelletty, 27, had been walking in Hollywood Hills Tuesday evening when a pair of men ambushed him from a vehicle. The Toledo, Ohio native fought his attackers, but was robbed of thousands in property, authorities told the outlet. Police said the drummer was also hit by a vehicle, causing injuries to his arm and foot. The latest: Machine Gun Kelly's drummer JP 'Rook' Cappelletty was hospitalized after he was run down in a car amid a robbery Tuesday evening in Hollywood Hills On his Instagram Stories account, Cappelletty was pictured in a hospital bed with his arm in a cast and bandage. He wrote the caption, 'Don't worry I'll bounce back.' Police told the outlet that it was not immediately clear if the men who attacked the musician had weapons. The robbers fled the scene. The Tickets To My Downfall artist 30, was seen visiting Cappelletty in another shot on Instagram. The actor-rapper, who is dating actress Megan Fox, wore a maroon shirt as he flipped off the camera. Rook has been a drummer for MGK for nine years. Speaking with the Ohio ABC affiliate 13ABC in 2017, Rook talked about his path to musical stardom. Good friend: The Tickets To My Downfall artist 30, was seen visiting Cappelletty in another shot on Instagram MGK and his band made their first appearance on Saturday Night Live this past January, when they performed renditions of My Ex's Best Friend and Lonely 'In high school my counselors would be on me saying I know you want to be a rock star, but you need to have other choices,' he said. 'I understood where they were coming from but I told them I was either going to be a drummer or a bum, that was my mind set.' He had advice for aspiring artists, saying, 'I don't think it's impossible for anyone to do what I am doing. It's about getting yourself in the right place and having the right people to help you with your vision. As long as you have a vision of what you want to do, you can get there.' MGK and his band made their first appearance on Saturday Night Live this past January, when they performed renditions of My Ex's Best Friend and Lonely. Marietje Schaake "Marietje has been a widely respected voice on sensitive subjects such as global cybersecurity, international trade, and human rights, said Maziar Minovi, CEO of Eurasia Group. Eurasia Group, the worlds leading political risk research and consulting firm, is delighted to welcome Marietje Schaake as senior advisor on technology, policy and geopolitics with a public sector focus. As a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019 from the Netherlands, Schaake has been a top figure shaping Europes policies on technology, trade, and foreign affairs. She currently serves as the international policy director of the Cyber Policy Center at Stanford University and as president of the Cyber Peace Institute. As a leader driving policy at the highest levels of the European Union, Marietje has been a widely respected voice on sensitive subjects such as global cybersecurity, international trade, and human rights, said Maziar Minovi, CEO of Eurasia Group. At a time when unprecedented advances in technology are intersecting with geopolitical tensions and social unrest, Marietjes knowledge and perspective on cyber and technology policy will be critically important to Eurasia Groups clients, particularly those in the public and non-profit sectors where she will focus her work. As part of her new role, Schaake is launching a weekly video series on GZERO Media called Cyber In 60 Seconds, which will discuss major issues in technology and policy. Cyber in 60 is part of GZEROs In 60 Seconds video franchise, where well-known commentators such as Ian Bremmer, Eurasia Groups founder, and Carl Bildt, Swedens former prime minister, share their insights on big geopolitical stories. Marietjes media presence also includes a monthly column on technology policy in the Financial Times. Among Schaakes achievements, she helped to launch net neutrality policies now in force across Europe, and she advanced several initiatives to promote digital freedoms, including stricter export controls for cybersurveillance technology, and new policies for e-commerce and cybersecurity. She was also part of EU delegations to the US, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the chief observer to the election mission in Kenya. Schaake was named one of the Most Influential Europeans in Politicos Class of 2017. I am very excited to be working with Eurasia Group to help clients and the public better understand where fast-moving changes in technology and policy are headed, said Schaake. There is a real risk for public policy to be out of sync with the impact of innovation, so a better understanding of where these two important areas intersect will help us navigate how technology will actually affect our lives. About Eurasia Group: Eurasia Group is the world's leading global political risk research and consulting firm. By providing information and insight on how political developments move markets, we help clients anticipate and respond to instability and opportunities everywhere they invest or do business. Our expertise includes developed and developing countries in every region of the world, specific economic sectors, and the business and investment playing fields of the future. With our best-in-class advisory and consulting offerings and GZERO Media, the Eurasia Group umbrella provides the marketplace with a complete political risk solution. Headquartered in New York, we have offices in Washington, London, San Francisco, Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Tokyo, as well as on-the-ground experts and resources in more than a hundred countries. "Politics first grounds our work: Politics is the lens through which we view the world, and we are committed to analysis that is free of political bias and the influence of private interests. Media enquiries Gregory Roth Director of Communications Eurasia Group / GZERO Media media@eurasiagroup.net Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is urging Gov. Kay Ivey to lift the states masking requirement during her news conference on Thursday. He tweeted Wednesday afternoon, saying I urge Gov. Kay Ivey to immediately lift the statewide mask mandate and allow citizens and local officials the liberty to make the decisions that best fit their circumstances. He said he's calling upon Ivey to follow the lead of Texas, Mississippi, and other states and rescind her statewide mask mandate, saying that COVID-19 cases continue a dramatic decline both nationally and across Alabama. Ainsworth has maintained his position throughout the pandemic that the masking requirement infringes upon peoples rights. Ivey will provide an update about the states health order during a news conference on Thursday at 11 a.m. She will be joined by State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. You can watch this live at WAAYTV.com and on air on WAAY 31. Currently, the health order is set to expire on Friday, March 5. You can read Ainsworths full statement on Wednesday below: ISELIN, N.J., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware, a leading global IT consulting and digital solutions provider, is proud to be a Gold Sponsor at Guidewire Connections Reimagined, March 2021. The virtual global conference gives insurers a platform to engage with experts, share ideas, learn from peers and experience a broad range of perspectives from attendees around the world. Hexaware is all set to present at the conference and share its experience with Guidewire and technology-led insurance innovation. Hexaware will conduct a fireside chat session with CEO, R Srikrishna a.k.a. Keech, and Rudi Serron, IT Director, P&V Group, on March 9, 2021 at 6:55 am 7:20 am PT. In this session titled 'How P&V Group Became a Modern, Digital Insurer,' Rudi will discuss the fame, foibles, and learnings that come with executing a systemic core transformation that has helped change P&V into a modern, digital insurer focused on delivering superior customer experiences in the Belgian market. Hexaware is a Guidewire PartnerConnectT program member and works with Guidewire in the Asia-Pacific & EMEA regions. It has achieved PartnerConnect program specializations for: InsuranceSuite Integration in the Asia-Pacific region, Testing Standards Global Delivery, Guidewire Digital EMEA, and Guidewire PolicyCenter. The IT company's Guidewire practice has been evolving firmly to create solutions and accelerators focused on enhancing an insurer's digital capabilities holistically and marrying them with specific business demands. Excited to be part of the global conference, Milan Bhatt, EVP & Global Head, Healthcare & Insurance, Hexaware, said, "Guidewire Connections Reimagined has become a significant global networking and educational conference for the P&C insurance industry, and we would love to guide insurers on the path to digital revolution. Hexaware has fast-tracked many insurers into the digital era powered by cloud and automation, and we take pride in continuing to do so with a customer-first approach." Visit Hexaware at its virtual booth and connect with our Guidewire subject matter experts to discuss your cloud migration and upgrade plans. Do not miss Hexaware's Guidewire offerings demonstration to see if the solutions resonate with your requirements. Learn more about a smoother transition to Guidewire Cloud and receive a $25 Amazon gift card upon downloading our insightful white paper on our event sponsor page. Please find more information about Hexaware's Guidewire implementation capabilities here. About Hexaware http://www.hexaware.com SOURCE Hexaware Technologies Ltd. A civilian U.S. contractor died of a heart attack he suffered during a rocket attack at Iraq's Al Asad Air Base early Wednesday morning. No U.S. service members were injured during the barrage of roughly 10 rockets fired at the base in western Iraq, the Pentagon said Wednesday. But the contractor had a heart attack while sheltering in place and died shortly afterward. "Our thoughts and prayers, our deepest condolences, go to his family and loved ones," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a briefing with reporters Wednesday. Read Next: Time to Renew? DoD Retirees and Dependents Now Getting Redesigned ID Cards The attackers were east of the base when they fired the rockets, likely from multiple locations, he said. Kirby said the military cannot yet say who is believed to be responsible for the attack, and it does not yet know how much damage the base sustained. Iraqi security forces quickly responded and are now investigating the attack, he added. The U.S. military is ready to assist with the investigation, he said, but the Iraqis have not yet asked for help. The base's counter rocket, artillery, mortar, or C-RAM, missile defense systems engaged to defend the base. But it is unclear how many, if any, rockets the C-RAM shot down before others struck the base. The attack came less than a week after U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles struck a facility at Abu Kamal, Syria, on the eastern border with Iraq, that the military said was used by Iranian-backed militias including Kaiti'b Hezbollah and Kaiti'b Sayyid al-Shuhada to cross the border. The U.S. bombed that facility after a series of similar rocket attacks on the American embassy in Baghdad and Irbil in northern Iraq. After that Feb. 25 airstrike, Kirby told reporters that the strikes were intended to damage the militia groups and their ability to conduct future attacks, as well as to send a signal about the U.S.' willingness to act to protect its people and security interests. But on Wednesday, Kirby acknowledged that the morning's attack was worrisome. "Certainly, this is a troubling development, and not what anybody wanted to see, no question about it," he said. "I said back then [after the airstrike], that we hope it will have a deterrent effect. We still do. Nobody wants to see this escalate into ... a tit for tat. That's not in our interest. It's not in the Iraqi people's interest." Kirby would not comment on whether the U.S. will respond to the latest attack, but said if a response is necessary, "we'll do that ... in a manner, a time, and a place of our choosing." "If a response is warranted, I think we have shown clearly that we won't shy away from that," he said. "But we're just not there yet." Kirby declined to get into further details about the attack, but noted that similar rocket attacks in the past have been launched by Shia-backed militias. -- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey. Related: Al Asad Missile Attack Nearly Killed 150 US Troops, Destroyed 30 Aircraft: Report Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. The number of companies incorporated in January 2021 has declined nearly 24 per cent to 10,924 against total registrations of 14,358 companies a month ago. Number of new companies registered in the country saw a precipitous fall of little over 44 per cent on a month-on-month basis during March and April last year when a nationwide strict lockdown was imposed. Subsequently, monthly registration of companies recovered after hitting the lowest of 3,209 companies in April - it was down only 0.6 per cent in August and 19.5 per cent in November last year. Meanwhile, the latest data available with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs showed that number of incorporations during the first ten months of the current fiscal grew 16.4 per cent to 1.2 lakh. A total of 1.06 lakh new firms were registered during April to January 2020. ALSO READ: India's exports fall by 0.3% in February after two months of growth During the month of January 2021, a total of 10,924 companies were registered with collective authorised capital of Rs 1,183.97 crore. Of these 10,855 companies were registered as companies limited by shares with authorised capital of Rs 1,183.9 crore. Further, a total of 21,19,813 new companies were incorporated in the country as on January 31 this year. However, close to 36 per cent of these firms were closed. Around 2,249 companies were assigned dormant status, 6,858 were under liquidation, 39,739 companies were in the process of being struck-off, the MCA data revealed. "Active in progress status is now invalid and companies under this category lie under active status. Taking the above into account, there were 13,16,898 active companies as on January 31, 2021," it said. The location trends remained almost unchanged with Maharashtra accounting for majority of in companies registered during the month at 19.16 per cent. This was followed by a share of 9.75 per cent and 9.7 per cent from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, respectively. ALSO READ: Singapore uses blockchain technology to ease travel amidst pandemic A ground worker walks past one of the engines on a WestJet Airlines aircraft after it arrived at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, January 21, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press - image credit) The federal government is in the final stages of talks with airlines on what could turn out to be a $9 billion support package for the pandemic-battered industry, says union representative Jerry Dias. Sources say most of the airlines are calling for financial help from Ottawa but WestJet wants the federal government to prioritize coming up with a plan to safely restart air travel. "I think the sticking point is money," said Dias, national president of Unifor, which represents about 15,000 workers in the airline industry. "The loan, the interest on the loan." Dias said talks between the airlines and the government originally focused on the prospect of a $7 billion loan to be repaid at 1 per cent interest over 10 years but the final package could be substantially larger. "It's probably not inconceivable to be talking about $9 billion," he said. "This isn't a bailout. I would argue this is a loan to the industry. Based on the time that has gone on and the added complexity to the negotiations, I would suggest to you that the $7 billion is now the floor, not the ceiling." Unifor national president Jerry Dias: "My understanding is a solution is imminent." (The Canadian Press) Dias said he's been speaking to both government and airline representatives and described the negotiations as "contentious and difficult." "My understanding is a solution is imminent," he said. "But frankly, I thought it was imminent over a month ago, so we'll see where this thing ends up. But it's got to get done quick." Dias confirmed last night that, as first reported by the Toronto Star, Air Canada has agreed to refund passengers for cancelled flights as part of the talks. The news offered a public signal that a bailout deal is getting closer. Air Canada said in a media statement that it can't comment publicly on the bailout talks; its last public statement on the talks, issued Feb. 12, said only that the discussions were continuing. Strings attached The airline's president at the time, Calin Rovinescu, said during a quarterly earnings call that government discussions had "picked up" to a pace that made him more confident in the outcome, but added there is no guarantee of a deal. Story continues A Transport Canada official, speaking on background, told CBC News that the airline sector has received $1.7 billion through the federal wage subsidy program since the beginning of the pandemic. The official added that any additional taxpayer support will come with strings attached such as commitments from the airlines to refund passengers for flights cancelled during the pandemic, to restore and retain regional routes and to protect jobs. WATCH | Ottawa, airlines close to reaching multi-billion bailout deal: Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna said today that "good progress [is] being made" on the deal. She also said that airlines offering passengers refunds for cancelled flights is a precondition for a bailout. "That has been extremely important," said McKenna. "We all hear from Canadians who want to be compensated, who want to get their refunds and I know a lot of hard work is going on by [Transport Minister Omar] Alghabra and also [Finance Minister Chrystia] Freeland to get a deal." Tensions at the talks Sources say all of those involved in the confidential talks have signed non-disclosure agreements barring them from speaking publicly about the details. Deputy Finance Minister Michael Sabia is leading the negotiations for the federal government. The Globe and Mail reported last month the government remains open to "some form of equity ownership in return for low-interest loans to the industry." WestJet's demand for a plan to restart domestic air travel is causing some tensions at the talks, say sources. WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims has said his airline is not seeking a "bailout" and instead wants a recovery plan for the industry. "We are not seeking policy that strictly supports our bottom line and, frankly, that is not what the nation needs," Sims wrote to MPs and senators in December 2020. WestJet said in a media statement today that it's continuing to negotiate with the federal government and has nothing new to report. The airline also said it saw a 90 per cent reduction in passenger numbers over the past year. 'Testing needs to be a priority' "Given the economic realities created by quarantines and prolonged restrictions, we are advocating for the prioritization of a domestic travel plan and transparent policy to ensure the safe restart of travel," said WestJet spokesperson Morgan Bell in a media statement. "With broad vaccine distribution still months away, testing needs to be a priority for the Government of Canada and the relationship between testing and quarantine must evolve based on data and science." Andrew Gibbons, WestJet director of government relations, told MPs on the Commons transport committee last month that Canada needs to make domestic travel a priority and come up with a consistent policy, instead of leaving it to the provinces to draft their own travel restrictions. "Given global uncertainty, Canada must prioritize domestic travel and negotiate a transparent and clear policy with provincial governments," Gibbons said on Feb. 4. "This could be based on COVID levels or based on the per cent of the population vaccinated." Air Canada also has told the government that restarting the sector is a priority, said sources. The airline has been calling for testing at airports since last spring and has worked with the non-profit McMaster HealthLabs to seek alternatives to quarantine measures. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Jan. 29 the government is committed to safely restarting the travel and tourism sector when pandemic conditions improve sufficiently, and is committed to working with airlines on "the future relationship between testing and quarantine requirements." Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Oct. 14, 2020. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press) Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said a strategy to re-open the air travel sector should accompany the short-term bailout package. "We need a plan and we need transparency," said Beatty. "[The government] should say, based on the information we have today, this is our best judgment on the basis of when it will be open. And these are the criteria that we'll use to determine whether or not to reopen the economy or to restart travel." Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, said he fears Canadian airlines are falling behind because other countries' governments have delivered financial supports already. He said Canadians should also worry because losses incurred by airlines now could mean higher ticket prices and fewer travel options down the road. "The longer we wait, the more likely choice will be limited and costs will be higher," he said. "So helping the industry now will help Canadians when they're ready to travel." Since pouring first gold in December 2020, commissioning activities at the PureGold Mine have transitioned to full scale ramp-up of the mining and milling operations, the company said in an update Pure Gold Mining Inc ( ) ( ) ( ) (FRA:L11A) said Wednesday that it anticipates declaring commercial production at the PureGold Mine in the second quarter of 2021. The gold company updated shareholders on a host of developments related to its production target, including mine design and processing initiatives. Since pouring first gold in December 2020, commissioning activities at the PureGold Mine have transitioned to full-scale ramp-up of the mining and milling operations, with approximately 260 persons employed at the mine site, the Vancouver-based company wrote. Performance to date has met or exceeded expectations with respect to underground development and ore production rates, milling performance and gold recovery. Gold pours and shipments have continued regularly throughout the ramp-up period. Pure Gold said it is forecasting around 7 grams per ton (g/t) gold grades, which is in line with the grade profile for the initial production year detailed in a 2019 feasibility study. High-grade stopes will comprise an increasing proportion of ore production over the next few months and head grades are expected to increase as unit costs trend downwards, it added. Lateral sill development from the East Portal is also expected to start in late March 2021, with stope production anticipated from April onward, the company said. Ore production from the East Portal will complement current ore production from the Main Ramp, allowing the company to meet or exceed the design capacity of 800 tonnes per day from the mine. As for the milling facility, Pure Gold said that it was performing in line with expectations, averaging around 600 tons per day for the month of February with more than 700 tons per day in the latter end of the month. Pure Gold told shareholders that it is focusing its ramp-up activities on optimization of the mill process systems in an effort to achieve the design rate of 800 tonnes per day, which is expected to happen in the coming weeks. Gold recoveries are also tracking around 95% -- in line with the firms expectations. Meanwhile, gold pours have been occurring at a rate of about one pour per week with regular shipments of gold dore to the . The PureGold mine is a multimillion-ounce gold asset located in Red Lake, Ontario. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Pune, March 4 : Honeywell Automation India Ltd. (HAIL) on Thursday said it has appointed Ganesh Natarajan as Independent Director (Non-Executive) and Chairman of its Board of Directors, effective March 8. As Chairman of Board of Directors, Natarajan will offer guidance to HAIL's management team on the company's overall strategy, business, and financial matters. Natarajan succeeds Suresh Senapaty, who completes his five-year tenure as Independent Director and Chairman of HAIL on March 7. Senapaty has conveyed his desire not to seek reappointment as Independent Director of the company for a second term due to his personal commitments, HAIL said. "Ganesh Natarajan brings with him a rich and varied experience as a seasoned CEO, a tech entrepreneur, and an industry thought leader," Ashish Gaikwad, Managing Director, HAIL, said in a statement. "We look forward to his guidance and inputs to our strategic vision to become a software industrial company as we steer the company through an ambitious and aggressive growth path." Natarajan has more than 30 years of industry experience, including 25 years as CEO for Aptech and Zensar Technologies. He is a serial entrepreneur, having founded 5F World, a platform for digital start-ups, skills, and social ventures, and he co-founded Global Talent Track, Skills Alpha, and Lighthouse Communities Foundation. He also co-founded two Indo-US joint ventures, namely Kalzoom Advisors and the Centre for AI and Advanced Analytics. "I have always been keenly interested in the role of digital technologies in re-engineering processes for the corporate and social sectors. I am excited to be part of Honeywell, a software-industrial leader that has been driving India's move towards Industry 4.0," Natarajan said on his appointment. HAIL is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), and is a leader in providing integrated automation and software solutions, including process solutions and building solutions. It has a wide product portfolio in environmental and combustion controls, and sensing and control, and provides engineering services in the field of automation and control to global clients. Press Release March 4, 2021 Senators Pay Last Respects to Late Sen. John Osmena Current and former senators on Thursday paid tribute to former Sen. John Henry "Sonny" Osmena during the hybrid necrological service held at the Senate remembering his achievements as a public servant. Osmena was accorded arrival honors led by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, the family of the former senator and Senate officials. Sotto presented Senate Resolution No. 85 to the son of the former senator, John Henry Gregory, expressing the Senate's profound sympathy and condolences on the death of his father who passed away last month at the age of 86. "I have known him, as well as by others, as a 'lone ranger' because of his independent-mindedness and fearless stance even if the odds were not in his favor. If he took a stand, he holds on to it no matter what," Sotto said in his eulogy. The Senate President said he is fortunate to have worked with Osmena during the 9th, 11th and 12th Congresses, from 1992 to 1995, and 1998 to 2004 and witnessed a senator who was fearless as proven by his strong stance against corruption through his initiative in conducting investigations on several anomalous transactions in government. As a legislator, Sotto added, Osmena is famous for development-oriented bills, such as the Municipal Telephone Act (Republic Act 6849), the Mini-Hydroelectric Program (RA 7156), the Public Telecommunications Act of 1995 (RA 7925), and the creation of the Philippine Postal Corporation (RA 7354). Osmena likewise authored the amended Build-Operate-and-Transfer Law (RA 7718), which is a landmark measure and the Electric Power Crisis Act (RA 7648) and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2000 or EPIRA. "On behalf of the Senate and the Filipino people, we thank you and we will remember you for the good man that you were, and the inspiration that you have become for the Filipino youth and the generations to come. Your legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of the people, and your name will forever be etched in our country's rich history," Sotto said. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon described the late senator as one of the highly respected and colorful personalities in Philippine politics. Drilon said he is proud and honored to have worked with Osmena and to have witnessed, countless times, how the latter worked and pushed for measures that were close to his heart. "Sonny Osmena was an ultimate politician, a colorful personality, a realist, and a reformer. But as colorful as his political life was, he chose to leave quietly when he peacefully died in his sleep. Farewell 'Lone Ranger', you will always live in the hearts of the Filipino people who you served well," Drilon said in his eulogy. Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, who had worked with Osmena during the 9th and 11th Congress, remembered the late senator as someone who provided her the much needed reassurance about her own view in life. "There was youth and dynamism in the way he thinks, how he analyze and explain things and in his overall outlook. It was always a happy and fruitful experience talking to him," Coseteng said. Osmena, Coseteng said, had a clearer view of how things are, how things should be and how they could be. "I learned from him that indeed answering questions, from those who want to learn, is a golden opportunity to add to another's knowledge and should be taken as a fortune experience," she added. I his response, the younger Osmena thanked the Senate and its members, particularly the Senate President and his staff as well as Drilon and Coseteng for honoring his father. "This august body's decision to honor my father with this necrological service brings us comfort in a time of loss. Reminding us that former Sen. John Osmena will be missed by more than just his Cebuano family. That he touched lives on a national scale and that his accomplishments will live on," he said. He noted that his father loved his time in the Senate which was the pinnacle of his political career and the venue from which he felt he could do the best and have the greatest impact. As a senator, Osmena served as Senate President Pro-Tempore (1996-2000), and as chairman of the Committees on Finance, Energy, and Government Corporation and Public Enterprises. Osmena also founded and organized the "Samahan Laban sa Graft (SALAG)" and spearheaded the Senate investigations of many irregular and anomalous government transactions, including the so-called Petroscam, and those involving the Philippine Airlines and the Philippine Ports Authority, among others. His exposes have led to the resignation of corrupt government officials. A third generation member of the famous Osmena political clan of Cebu, he started out as Cebu City Councilor in 1963, became the Vice Mayor of the same city in 1968 and was elected to the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District the year after. The United States on Wednesday welcomed the steps taken by New Delhi to return the Union Territory of to full economic and political normalcy consistent with India's democratic values. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the US, at the same time, continues to follow developments in closely. The US policy with regard to Kashmir has not changed, Price told reporters at his daily news conference. "We welcome steps to return the Union Territory of to full economic and political normalcy consistent with India's democratic values. As we've said before, Secretary (of State Tony) Blinken has had a couple opportunities to speak to his Indian counterpart, both bilaterally and in the context of the Quad," Price said. The Quad, comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan, is aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed increasing Chinese military assertiveness in the recent years. The US has important relationships with India, as well as Pakistan, the spokesperson said, adding "these relationships stand on their own in our view." "They are not a zero-sum proposition when it comes to US foreign policy. We have productive, constructive relations, and productive and constructive relationships with one does not detract from the relationship we have at the other. It does not come at the expense of the relationship we have with the other," Price said. "When it comes to India, we have a global comprehensive strategic partnership, and we've talked about that. When it comes to Pakistan, I addressed this the other week: We have important shared interests in the region. And we will continue to work closely with the Pakistani authorities on those shared interests," he said in response to a question. The US continues to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues of concern, Price said. "Of course, we've continued to call for a reduction of tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), returning to that 2003 ceasefire," 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.) President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 2, 2021. (Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images) Same Old Kind of Empty Rhetoric: Expert Slams Bidens China Policy The Biden administrations approach to China as articulated in a speech by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on March 3 was heavy on rhetoric but light on substance, according to a foreign policy expert. Blinken called China the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century, while also stating that the U.S. relationship with Beijing will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be, and adversarial when it must be. The common denominator is the need to engage China from a position of strength, Blinken added. James Jay Carafano, vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at Washington-based think tank Heritage Foundation, told The Epoch Times that the speech was the same old kind of empty rhetoric. He particularly criticized Blinkens call for cooperation with China on certain issues. All the key vital issues that we have with China, we are on the opposite sides on all of them. So where are we going to cooperate? Carafano said. Carafano added that the concept of selective cooperation with China is a failed decade-old construct. Its literally like Paul McCartney saying were gonna get the band back together and then somebody says, Paul, you do know that two of the members are dead right, Carafano said. For decades, U.S. administrations have engaged with the Chinese regime in the hopes that greater trade and investment links would lead to more democracy in the communist country. The Trump administration recognized this as a failed concept, and rewrote the United States approach to focus on confronting the regime over the threats it poses to national security, economic prosperity, and freedom. Blinkens words on working with China were reiterated in an interim national security strategic guidance issued by the Biden administration on Wednesday. We will welcome the Chinese governments cooperation on issues such as climate change, global health security, arms control, and nonproliferation where our national fates are intertwined, according to the guidance. Gordon Chang, author of The Coming Collapse of China told The Epoch Times last month that it would not be possible for the United States to cooperate with the regime due to the conditions it imposes. 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. Critics have argued that the Biden administration has thus far announced policies that have benefited Beijing, including rejoining the Paris Climate accord, re-engaging with the United Nations Human Rights Council, rejoining the World Health Organization, and revoking a Trump-era rule relating to Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes. Carafano said overall Blinkens speech did not convey a coherent strategy. My assessment is: These guys came in without a plan. They dont have a plan for China. They dont have a plan for the Middle East. They dont have a plan for Russia, he said. Were not seeing a clear policy of how you deal with great power competition of the 21st century. With reporting by Zachary Stieber. Cathy He also contributed to this report. Another day, another heated conversation on Twitter that seems to involve Kangana Ranaut, and todays ended with the actress proclaiming a smear campaign against her by jilted obsessed lover I had a small fling with. But you wouldnt believe where this started if I were to tell you. The man behind this particular social media smear campaign is a jilted obsessed lover I had a small fling with, he is faking a high profile relationship but wont marry the kid cause he has many skeletons in his closet, I will reveal his name with solid proofs, hang in there Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 4, 2021 It began, of all things, over a smoothie bowl. Earlier in the day, Kangana had tweeted, There is nothing I appreciate more than self made food, heres my very own personal recipe, a summer smoothie for breakfast with lots of organic honey nuts and fruits, adding the hashtag #Tejas, the movie which she is currently shooting for. There is nothing I appreciate more than self made food, heres my very own personal recipe a summer smoothie for breakfast with lots of organic honey nuts and fruits #Tejas pic.twitter.com/UVqVkfx6Lh Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 4, 2021 Seems innocent enough! No way this could go wrong, right? But soon, tweets were pouring in accusing the actress (spoiler alert: falsely) of having stolen the picture from an Australian website, Kuvings, presenting screenshots of a reverse image search on Google. I also tried same. Even number of strawberries matched what a beautiful coincidence pic.twitter.com/34i2m8YGPZ (@pandey_priyanka) March 4, 2021 Arre ye to Rishi Bagree Max Pro ban gayi.... pic.twitter.com/5Vy9CM0LyB Mh Cabinet #Fan (2.0) (@Mumbaikkar) March 4, 2021 Kangana, of course, responded quickly. Cant believe some people are mistaking this picture from my van this morning for some international professional chefs famous blog, she tweeted, attaching additional pictures. I knew I am good but sooo good like a professional.... seriously had no clue. Thrilled to know I am awesome at everything that I do. Hahahaha cant believe some people are mistaking this picture from my van this morning for some international professional chefs famous blog, I knew I am good but sooo good like a professional.... seriously had no clue. Thrilled to know I am awesome at everything that I do pic.twitter.com/hmBok2Rr0S Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 4, 2021 And it went back and forth a little. Yes my table maushi ji and thats my silver glass, my mom says if you feel like kicking someones a** take deep breaths, drink water from this silver glass, cause silver represents moon it will calm you down... doing that right now pic.twitter.com/ncs4t7lhFX Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 4, 2021 Her followers, too, rose to her defence, pointing out that the pictures accusing Kangana were edited and not the ones accompanying the recipe on the Kuvings website. Such DESPOS. They just edited Kuvings pic of Acai Bowl & superimposed Kangana Ranaut Bowl over it. Basic editing but itni jealousy that you are stooping to such levels? Pic 1 & 2- The Acai Bowl on Kuvings site Pic 3 &4 : How to edit & superimpose Kangana Bowl in search results pic.twitter.com/BBqkXn9KaQ Rosy (@rose_k01) March 4, 2021 But that wasnt that. She went on to say, There is a proper investment of troll army, creative ka budget to make memes, to write lies to spread smear campaigns uuffff movie mafia +political mafia + jaded actors who are rejected lovers. She claims that her team has tracked down this source, from where the money for smear campaigns [is] flowing, we found unidentified companies and fake emails from where the information and memes along with money generate, but deep down I know who this is. When the time is right I will reveal his name. My team has tracked down this source, from where the money for smear campaigns flowing,we found unidentified companies and fake emails from where the information and memes along with money generate, but deep down I know who this is . When the time is right I will reveal his name. Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 4, 2021 This may seem frivolous on surface but deep down its made to damage ones credibility and dignity, she continued in another tweet, and concluded, This is mafia racket, they gang up on you boycott you and if that leaves you happy and content they ruin your image and brand thats how they killed Shushant, thats how they harass outsiders who dont need them for work. Just last week I lost more than 5 lakh followers on Instagram,this is mafia racket,they gang up on you boycott you and if that leaves you happy and content they ruin your image and brand thats how they killed Shushant,thats how they harass outsiders who dont need them for work https://t.co/0L8ine4UIM Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 4, 2021 Well, for whatever its worth, Kangana isnt in the wrong this time and was indeed accused falsely of lifting the photograph from another website. Nonetheless, when it comes to Kangana, we have kinda become used to things being blown out of proportions. What are your thoughts on this smear campaign? Tell us in the comments below! SAS Australia instructor Ant Middleton has fired back at Britains Channel 4 over his sacking from SAS: Who Dares Wins, insisting he had already told them he would no longer be taking part in the show. He has also branded the show as unauthentic and half-scripted. This week a Channel 4 statement said after discussions in relation to his personal conduct their views and values were not aligned. Channel 4s statement is very reckless and desperate, thats the word, its desperate, he told Good Morning Britain hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid. Its just them getting in there first, because they knew I was going they wanted to protect their brand, he continued. Its all smoke and mirrors. From the last episode of SAS: Who Dares Wins it became a half-scripted kind of reality show. Full control was taken from me, from health and safety to production and after that show I said look Im not going to film anymore. Im done with SAS: Who Dares Wins. He continued, When we started this off from day one, we had a great relationship with Channel 4. We said let us be ourselves because our humours different, our composure is different, the way that we deal with situations is different and it allowed us to be us. It allowed us to be true to the military ethos therefore to give an authentic programme. And over the years PC patrol have kicked in, the woke patrol have kicked in to the point where we cant say anything, we cant be ourselves. Its been so controlled and so managed and so unauthentic now that Ive decided to completely walk away from it. He added, I wanted to part in a healthy way, in a positive way. They [Channel 4] knew I was going. My future at SAS UK was no more. They knew I was going. And all of a sudden they drop this bomb about Black Lives Matter, that Ive been axed. Ultimately what theyre doing is protecting their brand. A Channel 4 spokesperson said: Our decision not to renew Ant Middletons contract and not to work with him again was solely based on his personal conduct off-camera and is not related to his on-screen persona as a DS. Middleton arrives in Australia soon with other DS staff to quarantine ahead of SAS Australia filming in April. Related An optional exam that about 90,000 New Jersey students participated in this fall suggests that roughly 1 in 3 may need strong support academically after spending months away from the classroom. Its only one test with a small sample size about 10% of the students who typically participate in state exams but the results of the states Start Strong assessments offer the first official state data on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected student learning. In Language Arts, 34% of students in grades 4-10 may need strong support. Another 38% of students met that criteria in math. The highest level of support may be needed in science, where 57% of students scored in the strong support category among students in grades 5, 8 and 11. State officials characterized the results as a brief snapshot of how students performed on material they should have learned in the prior school year. Because of the small sample size, which is not necessarily representative of the states diversity, it is difficult to draw sweeping conclusions from the results, they said. Think of it more as a dipstick, acting Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan said. An early indicator for districts. However, the data reflects national studies that found students might need the most support in hands-on subjects, such as science, that are difficult to learn from home, Department of Education officials told the state Board of Education Wednesday during a virtual meeting. The new data comes amid a national debate over how to best measure pandemic-era learning and what support students will need to catch up to typical grade level expectations. The state is also in the process of collecting local data from every school district to gauge just how far students have fallen behind. All New Jersey schools were ordered to close nearly a year ago as the pandemic swept the state. A rushed experiment in all-virtual learning, initially seen as a short-term solution, has yet to end for nearly 500,000 students. An estimated 350,000 students lacked either an internet connection or a device for online learning last spring, exacerbating the challenges of school from home. The state created the new Start Strong assessments as an optional tool for districts to see what students had learned and retained in the disrupted 2019-20 school year. Overall, the results showed: Language Arts (Grades 4-10) 34% strong support may be needed 21% some support may be needed 45% less support may be needed Math (Grades 4-10) 38% strong support may be needed 28% some support may be needed 34% less support may be needed Science (Grades 5, 8, 11) 57% strong support may be needed 28% some support may be needed 15% less support may be needed The data on student performance will help schools target their support during enhanced summer school programs, after school tutoring and other initiatives that are forthcoming. The state announced $1.2 billion in federal coronavirus education relief funds last month to school districts across the state including $105 million to help students who have struggled with learning and mental health issues as the pandemic has upended traditional classes. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. The American Civil Liberties Union has announced that its project working on LGBTQ and HIV issues is being named after Jon L. Stryker and Slobodan Randjelovic. The Jon L. Stryker and Slobodan Randjelovic LGBTQ & HIV Project, located inside of the ACLU Ruth Bader Ginsburg Liberty Center in New York, will continue the ACLUs work to make justice and equality a lived reality for LGBTQ people and all people living with HIV. The launching of the Jon L. Stryker and Slobodan Randjelovic LGBTQ & HIV Project is made possible through a landmark $15 million gift to the ACLU Foundation. The gift is the largest LGBTQ rights-focused gift in the ACLUs history and builds on decades of personal support from Stryker and Randjelovic to the ACLU and other LGBTQ rights organizations, according to an ACLU news release. Jon and Slo have been pioneering supporters for our LGBTQ rights work for years, ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero said. Alongside scores of funders and organizations as well as millions of activists and everyday LGBTQ people, Jon and Slo helped build the infrastructure that made marriage equality the law of the land, but they also understood that the fight for LGBTQ equality did not end there. Jon and Slo were in the U.S. Supreme Court when our client Aimee Stephens who lived in Jons home state of Michigan challenged her firing because she was a trans woman. Even after we won, and Donald Trump lost his presidential bid, Jon and Slo understood that there were great challenges ahead, Stryker and Randjelovic know that the battles for trans justice are more critical than ever, Romero said. The project will ensure that our fight for LGBTQ justice and equality will continue in the years ahead with energy and determination, as well as the resources needed to ensure success. Their vision and understanding are what make them such incredible friends to the ACLU, the LGBTQ movement, and to every cause they support, he said. Stryker is a Kalamazoo native and the founder and president of the Arcus Foundation, a private, global grant-making organization that supports the advancement of LGBTQ human rights and conservation of the worlds great apes. Both personally and through the Arcus Foundation, Stryker has supported not only LGBTQ causes and conservation of great apes, but has also funded a Queer Studies program at Spelman College and a national lynching memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. Stryker has said his passion for funding LGBTQ causes extends from his personal experience as a gay man but also his belief that we should all have basic freedoms related to our relationships and self-determination. Stryker and Randjelovic were married in 2016. Stryker said, LGBTQ rights are literally life-and-death human rights issues. Ive learned that in the United States and around the world, many people are still unaware of the discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ people. Were talking about ordinary people who are trying to live openly but lack the freedom to do so without facing severe consequences. Some may think the days of people being thrown in jail for being LGBTQ are over in the United States, but particularly for Black and Brown transgender women, that is far from true. Randjelovic said, We believe that viewing the fight for LGBTQ rights as part of broader fights for civil and human rights is the best protection for the LGBTQ community. We are thrilled to make this contribution to an organization that has viewed LGBTQ rights through this broader lens for over 100 years. While what is now called the Jon L. Stryker and Slobodan Randjelovic LGBTQ & HIV Project was formally created in 1986, the ACLUs advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ people stretches back to the 1930s, starting with a First Amendment case involving the play The Childrens Hour, which was censored because of its lesbian theme, according to the news release. The ACLU has appeared at the Supreme Court on LGBTQ rights cases more than any other organization, most recently as counsel for Aimee Stephens and Don Zarda in their historic victory along with Gerald Bostock. Aimee Stephens case was the first trans civil rights case to reach the high court. The ACLU and its state affiliates have also supported countless state and local efforts to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, the news release states. We will use Jon and Slos generosity to change the law and create a culture where discrimination against LGBTQ people is unfathomable. They understand that as long as LGBTQ people can be used as fodder for political attacks such as the bills against trans youth currently moving in states around the country that our entire community will be vulnerable to discrimination, said James Esseks, director of the newly named Jon L. Stryker and Slobodan Randjelovic LGBTQ & HIV Project. We need the resources to fight on all fronts in the states and at the federal level, in courts and in communities, and thats what Jon and Slos generosity will allow us to do. Read more: Kalamazoo high schoolers will hold community food drive Holland restaurant owner vows to stay open even after bench warrant issued for COVID-19 violations Plan to replace Kalamazoo County courthouse moves forward with approval of justice facility plans Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Shanna Moakler posted a very alluring image to her Instagram account on Wednesday. The Playboy model was in a string bikini as she mentioned she is going on vacation to celebrate turning 46-years-old: 'Getting Mexico ready for my bday!' This comes a day after her ex husband Travis Barker's new girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian looked like a pinup in a one piece swimsuit for her own portrait. Swimsuit stand off: Shanna Moakler posted a very alluring image to her Instagram account on Wednesday. The Playboy model was in a string bikini. This comes a day after her ex husband Travis Barker's new girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian looked like a pinup in a one piece swimsuit The Pacific Blue actress will turn 46-years-old on March 28. and it looks like she will do it in style on the beach. The veteran model wore a cute string bikini in midnight black with fringe on the triangle top and briefs with straps over the hips. The cover girl's blonde hair was worn down and she had on neutral toned makeup that made the most of her natural beauty. Another view: And the 41-year-old TV icon also shared this profile shot while on a rug She has been on a roll: The sister of Kim and Khloe Kardashian also modeled for Dolce & Gabban in this black number In her caption she pointed out she was going to Le Blanc Resorts. '@leblancresorts can't wait to share my new weight loss line with @davidallennutrition Loving my results! Swim bottoms by @montce_swim top ,' said the siren. The Meet The Barkers star was wed to Blink 182 musician Travis from 2004 until 2008. Together she has two children with the rocker: Alabama Luella Barker and Landon Asher Barker. Shanna already has daughter Atiana De La Hoya with former partner Oscar De La Hoya. They used to be man and wife: The Meet The Barkers star was wed to Blink 182 musician Travis from 2004 until 2008. Together she has two children with the rocker: Alabama Luella Barker and Landon Asher Barker. Seen in 2009 This post comes after Moakler said she is 'super happy' for her ex-husband and Kardashian. After he and the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star recently went public with their romance, Shanna has insisted she has 'no ill will' toward the pair. She said: 'As long as she's great to my kids and they're both happy, I'm happy for them. I absolutely am super happy for them. I have no ill will toward anybody. 'I think they've been friends for a really long time. My kids seem to really like her, and they all seem [to be] in a good place, and I'm in a good place, so it's good!' She has a new man: Shanna is now in a romance with fellow model and actor Matthew Rondeau, and has said she is as determined as ever to keep up a 'great relationship' with Travis, also 45, for the sake of their brood Shanna is now in a romance with fellow model and actor Matthew Rondeau, and has said she is as determined as ever to keep up a 'great relationship' with Travis, also 45, for the sake of their brood. Speaking about her kids to Us Weekly magazine, she added: 'It's not like when they were babies. They're teenagers. I don't think they want to hang out with either of their parents at this point. I think they want to hang out with their friends and be teenagers. '[Travis and I have] a great relationship. [Co-parenting is] a first priority for Travis and I no matter where we're at - as friends or acquaintances.' She gets along with her ex: '[Travis and I have] a great relationship. [Co-parenting is] a first priority for Travis and I no matter where we're at - as friends or acquaintances,' said the model But Shanna took a dig at Kourtney when a follower said Kourtney is a step down from Shanna; Shanna liked the remark. Travis and Kourtney, 41, went public with their romance after the pair had been friends for some time. And it was recently reported Kourtney who has Mason, 11, Penelope, eight, and Reign, six, with her ex-partner Scott Disick didn't expect their friendship to turn romantic so quickly. An insider said: 'She was single for a while and didn't expect that their relationship would turn romantic. She feels very fortunate. She loves spending time with Travis.' Victoria M. Holt recently retired as president and chief executive officer of publicly-traded Proto Labs, Inc., after leading the company since 2014. Headquartered in Maple Plain, Minn., Proto Labs engages in the digital manufacture of custom prototypes and production parts, and offers 3D printing, CNC machining and injection molding services. Ms. Holt previously served as president and chief executive officer of Spartech Corporation, a provider of plastic sheet, compounds and packaging products. Prior to Spartech, Ms. Holt was the senior vice president, glass & fiberglass at PPG Industries, Inc., a coatings and specialty products company. In addition to her board member role, Ms. Holt, if elected, will also serve as a member of both the nominating & governance and the personnel & compensation committees. She currently serves on the board of Waste Management, Inc., Piper Sandler Companies and Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company. Michael M. Larsen serves as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Illinois Tool Works, Inc., a publicly-traded, global, multi-industrial manufacturing leader headquartered in Glenview, Ill. He previously served as president and chief executive officer of Gardner Denver, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Larsen was chief financial officer at General Electric ("GE") Water and Process Technologies and held a number of global finance leadership roles of increasing responsibility at GE throughout his more than 15-year tenure with the organization. In addition to his board member role, Mr. Larsen is qualified as an audit committee financial expert under SEC regulations and, if elected, will serve as a member of the audit committee. "Both individuals bring a wealth of global expertise and will provide valuable perspective to our board and management team, particularly related to strategy and operations of a growth-oriented global company like A. O. Smith," said Kevin J. Wheeler, chairman and chief executive officer. Paul W. Jones and William P. Greubel are retiring from the A. O. Smith board and conclude their terms on April 13, 2021. Mr. Jones joined the board in 2004 and Mr. Greubel joined in 2006. Both men served on the nominating & governance and personnel & compensation committees. Paul Jones was the former executive chairman of the board from 2013 until his retirement in 2014. He served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer from 2011 to 2012; chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer from 2006 to 2011; and president and chief operating officer from 2004 to 2005. William Greubel was the chief executive officer of Wabash National from 2002 to 2007, and held various director positions with Wabash National, including chairman and executive director, until his retirement as a director in 2009. "On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Paul and Bill for their guidance, long service and many contributions to our company," said Wheeler. "I especially want to thank Paul for his vision and leadership as our chairman and chief executive officer during a transformative time for our company." The nominated board members will stand for election at the company's annual meeting to be held on April 13, 2021. About A. O. Smith A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and air purification products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com. SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation Related Links http://www.aosmith.com The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Toronto's top doctor is asking the province to lift a stay-at-home order and move the city to the strictest "grey" category of Ontario's pandemic restrictions system next week. Toronto's top doctor is asking the province to lift a stay-at-home order and move the city to the strictest "grey" category of Ontario's pandemic restrictions system next week. The stay-at-home order that was imposed in January, with other measures that include the closure of non-essential retail, is set to expire Monday. Dr. Eileen De Villa, Toronto's medical officer of health, said Wednesday that lifting the order is reasonable but precautions still must be taken. "While there are evident reasons for a change in status, there remain reasons or risks that underscore how moving back into grey status is and will be a delicate balance," she said. Moving to the grey category, which allows retailers to open at 25 per cent capacity, is better than placing the city in the second-strictest red category, which allows indoor restaurant dining and personal care services, she said. Toronto Mayor John Tory said he believes moving to the grey category is the right approach. "The cautious transition is the right way to go, all things considered," he said. Tory said he hopes the approach will help ensure the city will not have to undergo another shutdown. De Villa also issued a new order for workplaces, requiring businesses to ensure mask use at all times during an outbreak, should the city be moved to the grey category. The order also requires businesses to keep a record of everyone entering the workplace during an outbreak. Tory said the city has reached out to the Ministry of Labour to help support the move with increased workplace inspections over the coming days. Meanwhile, the top doctor of neighbouring Peel Region, which is also under a stay-at-home order, recommended his area move to the grey-lockdown zone as well. The move would preserve the progress made in the fight against the virus, said Dr. Lawrence Loh. Toronto reported 290 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, while Peel Region reported 164. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2021. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Advertisement Jeffrey Epstein's Upper East Side townhouse where he used to lure and abuse underage girls is in contract to sell for $50 million, with the mystery new owner knocking $38 million off the original asking price. The pre-war home on East 71st street in the heart of New York City is under contract seven months after it was first put on the market, according to the Wall Street Journal. With a sprawling 28,000 square feet over seven floors, it is described in the listing as 'a once in a life-time opportunity to own the largest single-family home in New York City.' However the mansion has a dark past as the place where Epstein would draw in girls as young as 14 and sexually abuse them. The convicted pedophile allegedly had secret cameras installed inside the sprawling property to spy on his victims while it was also fitted with unusual decor including the now-infamous painting of Bill Clinton in a dress. If the deal goes through, it will be one of the most expensive home sales in the Big Apple in the last year, after the pandemic sparked a mass exodus from the city and squeezed the real estate market. The sale may come as some small relief to Epstein's many victims with the proceeds from the sale of his estate going toward the victim compensation fund. Jeffrey Epstein's Upper East Side townhouse where he used to lure and abuse underage girls is in contract to sell for $50 million, with the mystery new owner knocking $38 million off the original asking price The pre-war home on East 71st street in the heart of New York City is under contract seven months after it was first put on the market, according to the Wall Street Journal Epstein outside the mansion in which he lured and abused underage girls and set up secret cameras to spy on his victims The property was first put on the market for $88 million back in July, just over a year after Epstein was found dead in his prison cell while awaiting trial on a string of sexual abuse charges. The price was then slashed by $23 million to $65 million in January. Sources told the Journal it is now in contract for roughly $50 million, marking a staggering 43 percent saving on the original asking price after a relatively short seven-month period on the market. The property status was still listed as 'active' Wednesday evening on the Modlin Group website. The mystery bidder has not been identified and it is not clear what they will choose to do with the property. The pedophile racked up an expansive property portfolio before his death including homes in Paris, New Mexico and Florida as well as his private island Little St. James, all of which are said to have been sites of his abuse. Epstein's beachfront mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, has been under contract since November and the prospective owner has vowed to demolish it. With a sprawling 28,000 square foot space over seven floors, the mansion is described in the listing as 'a once in a life-time opportunity to own the largest single-family home in New York City.' Pictured the balcony The convicted pedophile allegedly had secret cameras installed inside the sprawling property to spy on his victims Developer Todd Michael Glaser said he plans to destroy the property and replace it with a 14,000-square-foot Art Moderne mansion. Epstein's New York City townhouse is his most valuable property, with the billionaire reportedly snapping it up from Leslie Wexner - the man behind Victoria's Secret - for $20 million back in 1998. The 50-foot-wide, 100 feet deep property was built as New York Citys largest and most luxurious French Neo-Classical Mansion, according to the listing. It boasts huge 15-foot-tall oak entry doors, imported French-limestone meticulously decorated with carvings, sculpture figures and ornamental iron works. Based in Lenox Hill, the mansion also comes with the unique promise that its view of nearby Central Park can never be blocked by new buildings. Gone are the brass initials of its previous disgraced owner 'J.E' which used to greet Epstein's victims and famous friends including Prince Andrew to the home. It was also fitted with unusual decor including the now-infamous painting of Bill Clinton in a blue dress The home has an imposing 15-foot front door, which once featured the letters J.E in raised brass (seen above after the July 2019 raid) Esteemed guests who've stayed at the home include Prince Andrew, who is shown in the above image peering around the front door in December 2010 It is not clear whether Epstein's extravagant decor - which included a large taxidermy tiger and poodle, a painting of a woman exposing her breast and a painting of Clinton posing in a blue dress - remains. However the home's reputation will be harder to shake off. Epstein reportedly sexually abused dozens of girls as young as 14 inside the property. Victims have long described a massage room where the pedophile would assault them while he had also reportedly fitted the home with secret cameras to spy on his victims. The home was raided by the FBI in July 2019 as part of a sex trafficking sting. During the raid, federal authorities reportedly found thousands of graphic photos including of underage girls and a locked safe filled with compact discs labeled as 'nude girls'. They also found Epstein's massage room set up just as several of his young victims had described it from years earlier, with a table and assortment of sex toys. Hundreds of pinhole surveillance cameras were also found installed throughout the home so he could monitor his victims private moments in bedrooms and bathrooms. Epstein died by suicide at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan August 2019 while awaiting trial. Pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell He allegedly had a media room behind a hidden door where he kept stacks of TVs playing the surveillance feeds. 'Piles of cash', diamonds and an expired foreign passport listing Epstein's residence as Saudi Arabia were also discovered in the raid. Esteemed guests at the home include Prince Andrew, who was pictured in December 2010 peering around the front door, as he reportedly waived goodbye to a brunette female he'd led out. Built in the early 1930s, the home was originally commissioned by Herbery N. Straus, an heir to the Macys department store fortune, whose father had perished on the Titanic 18 years earlier. More recently it was owned by Leslie Wexner, chairman of L Brands, which owns retailers including Victorias Secret, who was also a mentor of Epsteins. Epstein reportedly purchased the home from Wexner back in 1998 for $20 million - just under $7 million more than Wexner had bought it for in 1989. Epsteins beachfront mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, is also under contract. Proceeds from the sale of his estate will go to the victim compensation fund Epstein was found hanging in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan August 2019 while awaiting trial. He had pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing girls as young as 14 and young women in New York and Florida in the early 2000s. His death was ruled a suicide but his attorneys and some family members claim he was murdered to stop him from sharing what he knows about other high profile, powerful people. His alleged madam Ghislaine Maxwell is now awaiting her sex trafficking trial in summer 2021. She has been charged with conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury. Prosecutors say Maxwell groomed three girls between 1994 and 1997 for Epstein in London, Florida, New York and New Mexico. She then not only facilitated Epstein abusing them, prosecutors say, but took part in some of the abuse herself. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the nation's largest wholesale water supplier, in partnership with US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and HeroX , the leading crowdsourcing platform for solutions to global problems, today announced the crowdsourcing competition " The Imperfection Detection Challenge ". The challenge calls on the global community of solvers to design portable devices for field assessment of composite structures. HeroX The ongoing use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials for federal civil infrastructure, at both Reclamation and USACE, in applications such as pipelines, tanks, and other specialized equipment takes advantage of composites' excellent corrosion resistance, reduced weight, and other helpful properties. As composites age in various infrastructure applications, reliable methods of assessing their condition in the field are needed. The goal of this challenge is to develop portable tools that use non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods to assess the condition of existing FRP composite structures. "To help maintain America's water infrastructure, Reclamation wishes to advance its field assessment capabilities of composites structures, and we have the community that can help do this," said Christian Cotichini, CEO, HeroX. "Reclamation needs portable technology to reliably and non-destructively evaluate their composite structures in the field. Because HeroX can tap into such a far-reaching and diverse pool of problem solvers, there is no shortage of creative solutions at our fingertips, even for niche problems such as this one." The Challenge: Reclamation, in collaboration with USACE, seeks to develop portable tools that use NDE methods to assess the condition of existing FRP composite structures. This challenge will result in prototypes that can rapidly detect and quantify defects of interest, and are portable, rugged, and easily used in field settings. The Prize: The Imperfection Detection Challenge is a three-phase challenge, with a total prize purse of $380,000. Participants will have the opportunity to build prototype devices and have their prototypes' performance verified in government laboratories. In addition to the prize money, winners will have access to subject matter experts from both Reclamation and USACE, as well as access to potential commercial partners. To accept the challenge, visit https://www.herox.com/ImperfectionDetection ABOUT HEROX HeroX is a social network for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd. To learn more and become a solver, visit: herox.com Media Contact: Alexandra Pony [email protected] 250.858.0656 SOURCE HeroX Related Links http://herox.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Two sexual harassment lawsuits against former film industry labor leader Jon Hendry and the local film workers union were settled last summer, but details of the settlements remain unknown. Court documents regarding the settlements were sealed from the public, and attorneys for Hendry and the women he was accused of harassing didnt provide a comment. The two lawsuits against Hendry date back to 2018 and resulted in him stepping down as the business agent of the International Alliance of Theatrical State Employees Local 480. He was also ousted as the president of the New Mexico Federation of Labor. Christa Valdez was the first woman to file a lawsuit against Hendry. She claimed he discriminated against her when she rejected his sexual advances, according to previous reporting. She said IATSE was aware of his conduct toward her and other women, and did nothing to stop it. Soon after Valdez filed her lawsuit, Madeleine Lauve joined the lawsuit, accusing Hendry of putting her through discriminatory conditions, including an explicit quid pro quo for sex. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The amended lawsuit also included an accusation of racketeering against Hendry, claiming he did smear and undermine the careers of plaintiffs in the industry, unless they consented to his sexual advances and demands. In a separate lawsuit filed a few months later, Michelle Labounty accused Hendry of patting her buttocks, pressuring her to share a bed on a business trip and calling her late at night making heavy-breathing noises, according to court documents. The two lawsuits were filed as the Me Too movement, spurred by former film producer and convicted sex-offender Harvey Weinstein, was gaining momentum. When women started speaking out against Weinstein, other women took to social media to share their stories of sexual assault and harassment. They showed solidarity with the hashtag #MeToo. AG Nessel and FTC Lead Bipartisan Coalition To Shut Down Massive Michigan Charity Fraud and Robocalling Operation AG Nessel and FTC Lead Bipartisan Coalition To Shut Down Massive Michigan Charity Fraud and Robocalling Operation Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General March 4, 2021 LANSING Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 46 agencies from 38 states and the District of Columbia, has stopped a massive telefunding operation that bombarded 67 million consumers with 1.3 billion deceptive charitable fundraising calls most of them illegal robocalls. The defendants collected more than $110 million using their deceptive solicitations. Associated Community Services (ACS) and several related defendants based in Madison Heights, Michigan, have agreed to settle charges brought by the Michigan Attorney General, FTC and other state agencies that they used illegal robocalls to dupe generous Americans into donating to charities that failed to provide the services promised. The complaint names ACS and its sister companies Central Processing Services and Community Services Appeal; their owners, Dick Cole, Bill Burland, Barbara Cole and Amy Burland; and ACS senior managers Nikole Gilstorf, Tony Lia, John Lucidi and Scot Stepek. In addition, the complaint names two fundraising companies operated by Gilstorf and Lia as successor spin-offs of ACS Directele and The Dale Corp that have allegedly continued to ramp up the deceptive and illegal practices. Between Jan. 1, 2016 and Aug. 31, 2019, the defendant companies made a total of more than 35.49 million illegal calls to more than 2.22 million unique Michigan phone numbers. Of those phone numbers: About 10,400 were called more than 100 times in one year; More than 63,300 were called more than three times in one day; Nearly 203,000 were called two or more times in a one-hour period; and Around 6,400 were called three or more times in a one-hour period. Additional numbers of allegedly illegal calls made by Directele after ACS stopped operating in September 2019 are not included above. Robocall technology such as soundboards allows users to reach a significant target population, and when utilized for deceptive or misleading practices especially in charitable solicitations it unfortunately means a significant number of potential victims, Attorney General Nessel said. We must take swift action to hold accountable those who are unlawfully using this technology to serve their own agendas and preying on unsuspecting, hardworking people. As these strong settlements show, Michigan remains an engaged leader in the national effort to combat illegal robocalls and fraudulent charitable solicitations, and we are grateful for the partnership and support from the FTC, the state attorneys general and others in addressing this increasingly important issue. The complaint also charges ACS with making harassing calls. On a national scale, ACS called more than 1.3 million phone numbers more than 10 times in a single week and 7.8 million numbers more than twice in an hour. More than 500 phone numbers were even called 5,000 times or more. According to the complaint, the defendants allegedly knew that the organizations for which they were fundraising spent little or no money on the charitable causes they claimed to supportin some cases as little as one-tenth of 1 percent. The defendants kept as much as 90 cents of every dollar they solicited from generous donors on behalf of the charities. Deceptive charitable fundraising can be big business for scammers, especially when they use illegal robocalls, said Daniel Kaufman, acting director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. The FTC and our state partners are prepared to hold fraudsters accountable when they target generous consumers with lies. The complaint alleges that the defendants made their deceptive pitches beginning in at least 2008 on behalf of numerous organizations that claimed to support homeless veterans, victims of house fires, breast cancer patients, children with autism, and other causes that well-meaning Americans were enticed to support through the defendants high-pressure tactics. ACS was also the major fundraiser for the sham Cancer Fund charities that were shut down by the FTC and states in 2015. In many instances, the complaint alleges, ACS and later Directele knowingly violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by sending robocalls. This was done using soundboard technology in their telemarketing calls. With that technology, an operator plays pre-recorded messages to consumers instead of speaking with them naturally. Use of such pre-recorded messages in calls to first-time donors violates the TSR. Use of the technology in calls to prior donors also violates the TSR unless call recipients are affirmatively told about their ability to opt out of all future calls and provided a mechanism to do so; the defendants did not make that disclosure. Most of Directeles soundboard calls originated from call centers in the Philippines and India while claiming they were originated in Michigan. The ACS defendants were the subject of 20 prior law enforcement actions for their fundraising practices. The ACS defendants stopped operating in September 2019. Gilstorf purchased Directele and The Dale Corp. in October 2019 and, with Lia, the Directele defendants allegedly continued the deceptive fundraising and illegal telemarketing practices. The complaint alleges the defendants violated the Michigan Charitable Organizations and Solicitations Act, the FTC Act, the TSR, and numerous other state laws. The terms of the settlements with the defendants are as follows: Associated Community Services Defendants Each of these defendants will be permanently prohibited from conducting or consulting on any fundraising activities and from conducting telemarketing of any kind to sell goods or services. In addition, they will be prohibited from using any existing donor lists and from further violations of state charitable giving laws, as well as from making any misrepresentation about a product or service. The defendants will also be subject to the following monetary judgments: Associated Community Services Inc.; Community Services Inc.; Central Processing Services Inc.; and Richard Dick Cole are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is suspended due to an inability to pay. Click here to view the settlement agreement. are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is suspended due to an inability to pay. Community Services Appeal Inc. and Barbara Cole are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Barbara Cole also will be required to turn over the proceeds of the sale of a vacation home in Michigan. Click here to view the settlement agreement. are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Barbara Cole also will be required to turn over the proceeds of the sale of a vacation home in Michigan. Robert W. Bill Burland and Amy J. Burland are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Amy Burland will be required to turn over $450,000. Click here to view the settlement agreement. are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Amy Burland will be required to turn over $450,000. Directele Defendants and ACS Senior Managers Scot Stepek and John Lucidi will be permanently prohibited from any fundraising work or consulting on behalf of any charitable organization or any nonprofit organization that claims to work on behalf of causes similar to those outlined in the complaint. They will also be prohibited from using robocalls for any form of telemarketing, using abusive calling practices, or making any misrepresentation about a product or service. In addition, the defendants will be required to clearly and conspicuously disclose when a donation they are requesting is not tax deductible. In addition, the two corporate defendants Directele Inc. and The Dale Corp. have agreed to the corporate death penalty and will be required to cease operations and dissolve. The ACS entities ceased operations in September 2019. The defendants will also be subject to the following monetary judgments: Scot Stepek will be subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Stepek will be required to sell a ski boat in his possession and turn over the net proceeds from the sale. Click here to view the settlement agreement. will be subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Stepek will be required to sell a ski boat in his possession and turn over the net proceeds from the sale. Directele Inc., The Dale Corp., Nikole Gilstorf and Antonio Lia will be subject to a monetary judgment of $1.6 million. Gilstorf and Lia also will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843. The judgments are partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Gilstorf and Lia will each be required to turn over $10,000. Click here to view the settlement agreement. will be subject to a monetary judgment of $1.6 million. Gilstorf and Lia also will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843. The judgments are partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Gilstorf and Lia will each be required to turn over $10,000. John Lucidi will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. He will be required to turn over $25,000. Click here to view the settlement agreement. will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. He will be required to turn over $25,000. Other state agencies joining in the case with Attorney General Nessel and the FTC include the attorneys general of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; the secretaries of state of Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Tennessee; and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. The funds being surrendered by the defendants will be paid to an escrow fund held by the State of Florida and, following a motion by the participating states and approval by the court, be contributed to one or more legitimate charities that support causes similar to those for which the defendants solicited. Combatting nuisance illegal robocalls and other consumer protection efforts have been top priorities for Nessel during her term as Michigan's Attorney General. BETHESDA, Md., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has appointed Donna Wells to its board of directors as an independent director and member of the audit committee. Walker & Dunlop Appoints Donna Wells to Board of Directors Ms. Wells is the Chief Executive Officer of Valencia Ventures, LLC, a strategic consulting and corporate governance firm which she founded. Previously, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mindflash Technologies, Inc., an enterprise software company providing cloud-based training platforms to businesses. Prior to Mindflash, Ms. Wells held a number of senior marketing roles at Mint Software, Intuit, Expedia, American Express, and Charles Schwab. Willy Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are thrilled to welcome Donna to Walker & Dunlop's board of directors with her deep knowledge in marketing, branding, and financial services technology. Donna's FinTech background, combined with her innovative marketing experience, will bring valuable insight and guidance to Walker & Dunlop's board as we continue focusing on expanding our brand and developing innovative technologies." Mr. Walker continued, "Walker & Dunlop has consistently been focused on being a leader in diversity and equity in the commercial real estate industry. We are committed to adding the best and most talented diversity to our team at all levels, including our board. We believe the significant diversity of our board members, with women and minorities representing 44% of the current board, will lead to better decision-making, better outcomes, and more innovation by W&D." Ms. Wells sits on a number of public and private company boards including Mitek Systems, Apex Technology Acquisition Corporation, Betterment, and Happy Money. Ms. Wells received a B.S. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. She is also a Lecturer in Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Story continues About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 950+ professionals in 41 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction. Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walker--dunlop-appoints-donna-wells-to-board-of-directors-301240113.html SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Kate Middleton's mother Carole has asked the publishers of Good Housekeeping magazine not to promote a cover interview with her over fears it will look 'insensitive' while Prince Philip is battling ill-health in hospital. Carole Middleton, who runs party supply company Party Pieces, interviewed with the magazine in January but has reportedly asked its publishers not to promote it as Prince Philip, 99, is still in hospital. The news comes ahead of a 'tell-all' interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Oprah Winfrey which is set to air in the UK on Monday night, despite criticism of its timing. Kate Middleton's mother Carole turned down publicity for an interview in Good Housekeeping magazine because she did not want to be 'insensitive' while Prince Philip, 99, was in hospital A source told the Sun: 'Carole is incredibly proud of her company and all the hard work that goes into it. 'But whilst backing the business, she didn't want to turn any news into a media circus because she is so respectful and sensitive to Catherine, and the royal family. 'She always gets William's go-ahead before any interview like this, and he is incredibly supportive. 'But the more the PR machine rolled out in Los Angeles with Meghan and Harry, the more sensitive Carole became. 'She decided she didn't want to do any PR for the interview - even if it cost her thousands in potential lost marketing.' In the interview, which features in the April issue and is out now, Carole shares insights into her company Party Pieces as well as her family life. Respectful: Carole Middleton, pictured on the cover of Good Housekeeping, discusses her business and family life in the interview which features in the April issue and is out now She appears on the cover of the magazine wearing a 375 Seventies-inspired floral print dress from Wyse London, befitting the arrival of spring. Yesterday, Camilla revealed Prince Philip is 'slightly improving' in hospital where he is being treated. The Duke is beginning his third full day at a specialist cardiac centre at St Bart's after 14 days at nearby by King Edward VII hospital due to an infection. Visiting a vaccination centre in Croydon yesterday the Duchess of Cornwall - his daughter-in-law - gave an update on his condition. She said he was 'slightly improving', before adding everyone was 'keeping our fingers crossed'. Details of the comments were revealed by broadcasters covering Camilla's visit. The Queen is unlikely to be able to see Prince Philip (pictured together previously) until he leaves hospital due to Covid regulations The update was revealed by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at St Paul's Church in Croydon The Duchess donned a smart baby pink woollen jacket and long black suede boots for the occasion, taking full safety precautions with social distancing and a disposable face covering for today's visit. She styled her hair with its signature waves to complete the look and appeared to be wearing very subtle make-up. Philip, 99, is currently receiving continuing treatment for an infection, as well as 'testing and observation' for a pre-existing heart condition, Buckingham Palace has said. The Queen, who is being kept regularly updated about her husband's condition, will not be permitted to visit him at St Bart's and is thought to be unlikely to see him until he leaves. This is because visitors are currently excluded apart from a handful of 'exceptional' circumstances, including end of life. She did not visit him at King Edward VII's Hospital as she is always reluctant to cause disruption to any hospital's vital work and knows her presence would place unnecessary pressure on staff at the best of times. It means the Queen will have been parted from her husband of 73 years for at least three weeks. St Bart's said while they know it is difficult for patients and their families 'our first duty is to the patients we serve, and to maintain their safety at all times we need to control visiting'. The Queen, who is being kept regularly updated about her husband's condition, will not be permitted to visit him at St Bart's and is thought to be unlikely to see him until he leaves It adds: 'We are only allowing visitors in exceptional circumstances. We understand that having a family member in hospital is distressing, and we work closely with relatives and friends to ease their concerns and find alternative ways of keeping in touch.' Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that Philip had been transferred to St Bart's for continuing treatment for an infection, as well as 'testing and observation' for a pre-existing heart condition. Although he remains comfortable and responding to treatment, they said, he will remain in hospital until at least the end of the week. This is the longest amount of time he has spent in hospital since June 2013 when he had an exploratory operation on his abdomen. Members of the Royal Family had recently been speaking out about his stay for treatment. His son Prince Edward said last week Philip was 'a lot better' but 'looking forward to getting out' with the Royal Family were keeping their 'fingers crossed'. The Earl of Wessex was asked about his father by Sky News' royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills, while she was filming a separate interview with him his Bagshot Park home in Surrey. He replied: 'He's a lot better, thank you very much indeed, and he's looking forward to getting out, which is the most positive thing, so we keep our fingers crossed.' Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Today, American Green, Inc. (OTC Pink: ERBB) announced that the company's online CBD Store and Emporium is now accepting Bitcoin and other CryptoCurrencies. After extensive testing, Kevin Davis, the Company's Vice President of Online Sales - Worldwide reports, "The Company now accepts Bitcoin and many other popular cryptocurrencies. The transactions, themselves, are operating smoothly to the satisfaction of those electing to pay by 'crypto'." As American Green stated in its March news release, it has been working on the integration of Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies into its online CBD Store and Emporium as an alternative payment method for its popular CBD products. That work is finally completed and tested and we are excited to begin accepting Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies starting today. The Company believes that their ability to accept additional methods of payment will allow them to expand their reach across the U.S. and the world. Shareholders and other interest-holders should note that American Green is not speculating on the price of Bitcoin (BTC) or any other cryptocurrency that it will accept for payment. Customer payments are immediately converted to US Dollars at the time of the purchase so the conversion rate at the exact time of the purchase will apply. As of today, American Green accepts the following cryptocurrencies on AmericanGreenCBD.com: Bitcoin (BTC) Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Dai (DAI) Ethereum (ETH) LiteCoin (LTC) USD Coin (USDC) The Company's online team looks forward to continued growth in 2021 as they invest into new technologies and nurture time-tested quality. Shareholders and interest holders may also stay current with American Green Updates: American Green's Main Website at www.americangreen.com Twitter: @American__Green (two underscores), or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americangreenusa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americangreenusa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicalnipton/ About American Green, Inc. In 2009, American Green, Inc. became America's second publicly-traded company in the cannabis sector. American Green now, with its more than 50,000 certified beneficial shareholders, is one of the largest (in shareholder count) in the cannabis sector. American Green's mission is to lead the cannabis and premium CBD industry. Leveraging The Company's team of professionals in cultivation management, manufacturing, extraction, wholesale, retail, and community outreach, The Company strives to develop sustainable initiatives in the cannabis-adjacent and CBD industries, laser-focused on adding company and shareholder value. For more information: Contact: American Green, Inc. Investor Relations 2902 W. Virginia Ave Phoenix, AZ 85009 480-443-1600 X555 investor@americangreen.com NOTES ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Except for any historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports and filings. Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by that Act. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from thoseexpressed or implied. Forward-looking statements maybe identified by words such as estimates, anticipates, projects, plans, expects, intends, believes, be should and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which they are made. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76075 Kochi, March 4 : Thursday will be the last working day in a glittering and distinguished engineering career of one of country's greatest, for E.Sreedharan on the day will also mark his new beginning in a completely different arena -- politics. The 88-year-old Sreedharan, often referred to as Metroman wearing his trademark uniform of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) himself told the media at the Palarivattom flyover that Thursday will be his last working day. "When we were handed over the work on this project, the state government had given us eight months to complete the reconstruction work, but we have completed it in five months. This became a reality on account of the work of the Uralungal Labour Cooperative Society, which did the work. "Today will be my last day in my official career," said Sreedharan. Built at a cost of Rs 42 crore during Oommen Chandy's tenure, the 750-metre flyover was supposed to last for over 100 years. It was opened in October 2016 and within three years, the flyover started crumbling and had to be closed. Later the Kerala government got the green signal for reconstruction and handed the work to DMRC. In 2020 September, the demolition work began and on Thursday Sreedharan will end his official career after completing the load test. "It would be handed over to the State government and it will decide when it should be opened," added Sreedharan. When asked about his decision to contest the upcoming assembly elections on a BJP ticket, he said he is willing to contest from anywhere. "My request is, since I now live at Ponnani (Malappuram district) I would like to contest in some place near that. My campaign would not be by meeting each and every voter, instead, I will 'reach' every voter with a message," added Sreedharan. Sreedharan sprang a surprise last month, when he announced his decision to join the BJP, which he did and later agreed to contest the assembly elections. South Jacksonville trustees are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. today in Village Hall at 301 Dewey Drive. The meeting will also be available via Zoom or by calling 312-626-6799 with meeting ID 993-584-5163 and passcode 62650. Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha on Wednesday lambasted Facebook for removing the military-linked accounts, adding that he has asked the Royal Thai Army to probe into the matter. The Thai leader accused the tech giant of interference with the Thailand army accounts, and not following the Thai law. This wouldnt be the first time when Chan-Ocha and Zuckerberg launched had a back-and-forth related to information and accounts regulation on Facebook. Earlier, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg threatened to sue the Thai government for removing accounts that insulted the monarchy, citing the governments violation of freedom of expression. In the latest spat, Facebook proactively took down 185 army-related accounts and groups, accusing Thailands army of indulging in information-influencing operations in the nation. Stirred at Facebooks recent provocations and removal of armed forces accounts, Thailands Prime Minister asked Facebook to clarify the reason. Facebook took action like this. It can be interpreted in many ways. We must make it clear, Prayuth said in a statement, cited by The Associated Press. In its response, however, the social media corp issued a statement saying that Thailands army accounts violated the policy of government interference, which is defined as coordinated inauthentic behaviour on behalf of a government entity. Additionally, it added that the network of accounts targeted Thailands southern provinces, where the army faces a longstanding insurgency movement. Thailands southern province is one of the most lethal conflict zones in Southeast Asia where on average 32 people are shot and 58 wounded each month due to counterinsurgency operations. The network of accounts removed used both authentic and fake accounts to post news and current events in Thai, particularly support for the Thai military and the monarchy, Facebook said. These pages hurled allegations of violence by the insurgent groups in southern Thailand and criticism of separatist and independence movements, according to Facebooks report. Read: Thailand's Prime Minister Survives No-confidence Vote Read: First Batch Of COVID Vaccines Arrives In Thailand Although the people behind it attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation found links to the Thai militarys Internal Security Operations Command, Facebook said. Trained army officers for 'PR only' In response to Facebooks report, Thailands military issued a statement saying that it trained officers to conduct the PR-related work for the Thai Army and had no participation in launching an information operation in the nation. However, at least 3 activists including Yingcheep Atchanont, Sarinee Achavanuntakul, and Winyu John Wongsurawat, filed a lawsuit against the army in the Administrative Court in Bangkok against Royal Thai Armys information operation as victims. They alleged that the army launched an information operation against Thai civilians and they wanted to approach Facebook and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. An opposition politician meanwhile accused the Thai Army of misusing funds to launch a smear campaign against opposition leaders. The army responded by saying it just trains its officers to promote a positive image for the armed forces. The army has no authority to commit such information operations, Yingcheep told AP. The government should protect people who want to express their opinions, not create propaganda and attack those who have differing views. Read: No-confidence Debate Begins In Thailand's Parliament Read: Thailand's Pro-democracy Protesters Clash With Police Scotland Yard faced fury yesterday after refusing to investigate claims of criminality over Martin Bashir's Diana interview. The BBC religious affairs editor allegedly faked bank statements to trick the princess into taking part in the infamous 1995 Panorama broadcast. A lawyer for her brother Earl Spencer's ex-head of security, Alan Waller, made an official complaint to Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick in January alleging potential fraud by Mr Bashir. He accused the former Panorama journalist of 'dishonest conduct' and said the BBC had 'benefited' while aware his actions were 'unlawful'. But yesterday, after spending three months assessing the claims, police announced no further action. The decision was described as a 'farce' by a former head of royal protection, who said many unanswered questions remain. Scotland Yard faced fury yesterday after refusing to investigate claims of criminality over Martin Bashir's Diana interview in 1995 The BBC religious affairs editor allegedly faked bank statements to trick the princess into taking part in the infamous 1995 Panorama broadcast It can now be revealed the same senior officer involved in the decision announced yesterday also ruled out another controversial investigation relating to a royal. Commander Alex Murray came under fire in 2019 for not pursuing Virginia Roberts' claims she was trafficked to Britain by Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with Prince Andrew. The prince has denied Miss Roberts' claims. Yesterday the commander said legal advice was sought from the Crown Prosecution Service and independent lawyers before it was decided not to launch an official probe. The decision was described as a 'farce' by a former head of royal protection, who said many unanswered questions remain Mr Bashir has previously admitted ordering Matt Wiessler, a freelance graphic artist paid by the BBC, to mock up bank statements ahead of a meeting with Earl Spencer. The statements purported to show that Mr Waller was in the pay of tabloid journalists and a shadowy company linked to the security services. Earl Spencer has said the documents were key in persuading him to provide an introduction between Mr Bashir and his sister, leading to the exclusive interview which caused shock waves around the world when Diana spoke about her husband's infidelity. In the letter of complaint, Mr Waller's barrister, Anton van Dellen, said: 'I write in relation to the actions of two BBC employees or agents for whom the BBC were vicariously liable, with very serious concerns that they have committed a criminal act, namely conspiracy to create an instrument of fraud.' A lawyer for her brother Earl Spencer's ex-head of security, Alan Waller, made an official complaint to Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick in January alleging potential fraud by Mr Bashir Yesterday ex-royal protection head Dai Davies said: 'I'm absolutely flabbergasted there was not enough basic evidence of forgery and fraud here. It beggars belief.' The BBC has appointed retired judge Lord Dyson to lead an inquiry to discover what steps the BBC and Mr Bashir took to land the interview. Last night it was unclear what impact the Met's decision will have on his probe and whether he has separately considered any evidence of criminality. Yesterday Commander Murray said that following a detailed assessment 'we have determined it is not appropriate to begin a criminal investigation'. Mr Bashir is off sick having had heart bypass surgery following a coronavirus diagnosis. His agent did not reply to a request for comment. A woman who was sexually assaulted by Nicki Minaj's husband in the 90s has claimed that he and the rapper have been harassing her for months and offered to pay her hundreds of thousands of dollars to recant her story. The victim came forward with her alarming allegations in an interview with the Daily Beast on Thursday, using only her first name, Jennifer. Jennifer accused Minaj's now-husband Kenneth 'Zoo' Petty of sexually assaulting her when they were both 16 years old in 1994. Petty was convicted of attempted rape a year later. Minaj defended her husband's sex offender status after they tied the knot in 2019 and claimed his accuser had lied and that she'd attempted to recant her statement to police back in 1995. But Jennifer has insisted that she never considered walking back her claims - despite Minaj and Petty's alleged efforts to get her to do so. She claimed that over the last year, Minaj and Petty - who grew up in the same part of New York City as she did - recruited several people close to her family in a vicious intimidation campaign that's forced her to move three times for fear of her safety. Jennifer said the harassment began in March of last year - immediately after Petty was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. A woman who was sexually assaulted by Nicki Minaj's husband in the 90s has claimed that he and the rapper harassed her for months and offered to pay her hundreds of thousands of dollars to recant her story. Pictured: Minaj and her husband Kenneth Petty in February 2020 The victim came forward with her alarming allegations in an interview with the Daily Beast on Thursday, using only her first name, Jennifer. In January she posted a video (pictured) showing her face for the first time, in which she tearfully pleaded: 'Tell your f**king people to leave my family alone Leave me and my family the f**k alone' Jennifer said she's been in contact with federal authorities investigating the alleged harassment campaign since last August. She began sharing her story publicly in November after she claimed an associate of Minaj and Petty approached her daughter at a club and threatened her. In January she posted a video showing her face for the first time, in which she tearfully pleaded: 'Tell your f**king people to leave my family alone Leave me and my family the f**k alone.' Representatives for Minaj and Petty did not immediately return requests for comment from DailyMail.com or the Daily Beast. Jennifer said the harassment began in March of last year - immediately after Petty (pictured) was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison It was only four days after Petty's arrest last March that Jennifer said she was first contacted by someone she believes was acting at Minaj and Petty's behest - a man named Barry who was childhood friends with her brother. Jennifer said she wasn't fazed when Barry brought up Minaj and Petty, because it had only been a few months since court records detailing the assault were released in the media. Barry offered to make the drama around the court case 'go away', Jennifer said, before telling her that Minaj wanted to speak with her directly. She said she was taken aback but offered up her phone number anyway. 'Next thing you know, my phone rings, and it's her,' she told the Daily Beast. Jennifer claimed that Minaj told her she'd heard she was 'willing to help them out', and offered to fly her from Atlanta, where she lived, to Los Angeles. During that conversation she recalled telling Minaj: 'Listen. I just need you to know, woman to woman, this really happened.' She said she initially thought Minaj and Petty wanted to come to a non-disclosure agreement, and that the rapper indicated that she wanted to speak again, but they never did. A few days later Jennifer said she received a call from her brother, with whom she said she was not particularly close, who said a man named Jamie had called one of their cousins and offered to pay $500,000 if Jennifer agreed to speak with Petty's lawyer. Jennifer said she approached Barry about the bizarre offer and he said there was no way it could have come from Minaj or Petty. 'I was confused as to how all of this was happening around me,' she said. 'I'm like, "You say Nicki's not involved, but she's the one who called me."' She said Barry then began pressuring her to write a letter recanting her 1994 rape allegation. She said she never considered doing it, but tried to 'stall' Barry - in part by telling him she was worried about being prosecuted - because she was concerned that he knew where she lived. Barry responded by insisting that she couldn't get in trouble because the statute of limitations had passed and connected her with lawyers to convince her of that. Jennifer said she did meet with two lawyers, but told them she had no intention of recanting and that she just wanted to be left alone - but that didn't happen. Soon after, she claimed Barry showed up at her house with $20,000 in cash and a letter he wanted her to sign admitting that she'd lied about the assault. 'I came outside and sat in the car, and he pulled out the letter and the $20,000 out of his middle console and put the money on my lap,' Jennifer said. 'I held it in my hands, and I put it on the floor in the passenger seat. And I told him: "I'm not taking it. I don't want it."' It wasn't until that point that Jennifer came to believe Barry wasn't on her side. 'It was like this dude, he really doesn't give two s**ts about me,' she said. Jennifer said she was then contacted in early June by her brother, who said that their cousin had told him 'they' knew where she lived. 'Don't be surprised if they're sitting on your couch,' he allegedly said in apparent reference to Petty's associates. Fearing for her safety, Jennifer made her first of three moves that year, to another part of Georgia, and changed her phone number because she didn't know what else she could do or who she could trust. 'I didn't know who to call,' she said. 'Who do I call? I don't want to go to the cops and get them locked up because then what would that do to me? Then what would happen to me? 'Now, instead of having this person after me, I'm gonna have them and their family and their friends after me It was chaos.' Jennifer said she later learned that Barry was so invested in the saga because he wanted Minaj to attend his six-year-old daughter's birthday party. She said her brother and cousin got involved because they wanted Minaj to appear at a club and split the profits from the promotion. Minaj reportedly started dating Petty after he got out of prison, when he was 21 and she was just 16. The couple are pictured together in February 2019 Like Petty and Minaj, Jennifer grew up in the South Jamaica neighborhood in Queens, where she was raised by a woman who adopted her as an infant. She was 16 when the alleged assault occurred after Petty approached her while she was walking to school on September 16, 1994. Petty came up behind her, pressed an object into her back and told her to 'keep walking' as he led her to his home, according to court records obtained by The Blast. Once they arrived, Petty forced her upstairs and began to rape her at knifepoint before she managed to escape after striking him with a bottle, the records state. Jennifer immediately reported the incident and went to a hospital for examination. When she returned home she said her adoptive mother told her: 'Sorry you got raped, but you should have screamed.' Petty denied Jennifer's allegations when he was arrested, telling investigators: 'I didn't do anything.' His parents told Jennifer's mother that the teens were dating, she said, even though she insists that they weren't. 'I think I kind of always just felt like people wanted me to be a liar,' Jennifer told the Daily Beast. She said that in the months after Petty's arrest, his friends harassed her family relentlessly in an effort to get her to drop the charges. At one point her adoptive aunt even brought her to court, she said, but she still refused to walk back her claims and ultimately moved to Florida before the case concluded. Petty was ultimately convicted in 1995 on four counts: first-degree attempted rape in the first degree, second-degree assault, second-degree unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Minaj reportedly started dating Petty after he got out of prison, when he was 21 and she was just 16. He landed back behind bars in 2006 after pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of Lamont Robinson. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and served seven before being released in 2013. Minaj and Petty welcomed their son in September of last year Minaj addressed Petty's attempted rape conviction on her Apple Music show, Queen Radio, in 2019 after facing backlash over her announcement that they'd tied the knot. 'When you're somebody's wife, you've gotta be even more prayed up,' Minaj said on the show. 'Because you've gotta cover your husband in prayer.' The rapper insisted that Petty had been wrongfully convicted and claimed that the accuser had planned to write a letter to the judge recanting her statement before realizing that she could face jail time for admitting that she lied. Minaj also asserted that the accuser was white, even though Jennifer is biracial - with a white mother and black father. Gossip blogger NoseyHeauxLive, who has been defending Jennifer on social media for months, told the Daily Beast she believes Minaj intentionally misrepresented the accuser's race. 'I know from being a black person, when you tell somebody that the woman is white and older than the black boy, that's making him look like the victim. That's what Nicki Minaj was trying to do,' Nosey said. 'She was trying to paint this [as an] Emmett Till story,' she added, referring to the black teen who was kidnapped and murdered after a white woman lied about him whistling at her at a Mississippi grocery store in 1955. The US Marshals got involved in the case last summer, after they were contacted by an online friend with whom Jennifer had shared details about the harassment. The friend, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Daily Beast that she asked authorities to check on Jennifer after not hearing from her in a while. The Marshals arrived at Jennifer's home in late August, days after she moved for a second time. Jennifer said she initially feared that she was being set up by Petty and Minaj. She later learned that the friend had gone to the US Attorney prosecuting Petty's federal case to raise alarm about the harassment. The US Attorney declined to comment on the case, but a source close to the investigation said it is a 'high priority' and there is evidence supporting Jennifer's claims. Jennifer was forced to move a third time in October, after a man allegedly approached her 22-year-old daughter Kenya in a club and started asking questions about Jennifer and Petty. 'It was scary, and it made me feel threatened,' Kenya said in a Facebook video late last year. Jennifer felt that the only way to protect Kenya was to move away. She finally spoke publicly in a YouTube video in November, without showing her face, and sought to clear up misinformation about the entire ordeal. After that video, several people close to Jennifer, Minaj and Petty came out to attack her on social media - including a cousin that Jennifer's brother and Petty share. 'I know where you live, boo,' the cousin, Marie, said on the Black Tea Blog. 'I ain't scared of police. Check my track record. I ain't never scared Stand down, b***h.' But Jennifer refuses to stand down. 'I'm hoping for the truth to come out, and whatever comes from that truth, to let it be,' she told the Daily Beast. 'These people were willing to sacrifice me so this guy could remain in the public eye. My family was willing to sacrifice me.' Most people are canny enough to know that when someone advertises himself or herself as a certain kind of thing, the opposite is likely to be the case. Think: "Honest John's Used Cars." "Mom's Cooking." "We're from the government and we're here to help." "I'm a lady." Which brings us to Meghan Markle, the Hollywood B-list actress who finagled a role for a couple of years as the Duchess of Sussex. After telling us how selfless she was for ditching the royal family in order to go make money (off of them, no less), including a coming March 8 tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey, here's the biteback from Buckingham Palace: Royal aides have hit back at the Duchess of Sussex before her television interview with Oprah Winfrey by revealing that she faced a bullying complaint made by one of her closest advisers during her time at Kensington Palace. The sources approached The Times because they felt that only a partial version had emerged of Meghans two years as a working member of the royal family and they wished to tell their side, concerned about how such matters are handled by the palace. The complaint claimed that she drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member. And as for the Palace: "We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex," the palace said in a statement. "Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned." The Palace does seem to be hitting out at her, playing her game as hardball against her as she has played against them, with the war, of course, being staged in the press. As for the Palace's motives, well, it makes sense to not snot off to staff, given that any of them can quit the job and do a Markle, too, using their experiences in the royal household either for press leaks or negative tell-all books or interviews. It's not just two who can play Markle's game, it's one, two, many... The other thing is, they tried to be nice to her. They gave her a fancy wedding. They let her wear an antique tiara. They gave her a fancy title. They tried to befriend her. They let her make an extravagant multi-million-dollar remodel job to Frogmore Cottage. She responded by saying life in the royal family as Prince Harry's wife "wasn't working" for her. Which supposedly ticked Prince Phillip, patriarch of the family, mightily. He, after all, gave up his own promising career as a matter of duty to be the queen's consort. Someone like Meghan is entirely foreign to his values. The allegations themselves, though, that she was so nasty and unpleasant to the help that she drove a number of them from their jobs, preferring unemployment to being abused by a B-list Hollywood actress, is pretty damning, though. Would Meghan Markle really be that nasty? Well, let's just say this isn't the first time we've heard reports of her being a primadonna. That's one thing, and if true that she was mean to the help, well, it's pretty common among Hollywood B-List actresses. Hollywood is full of actresses who treat the help like dirt, having a grand old time playing primadonna -- and they often end up on tabloidy clickbait lists like these. But in Meghan's case, the hypocrisy is disgusting. She's been telling us for years that she's Lady Beneficient, only interested in serving the global community of good causes, while reports like these slip out to bring her to earth. And her spinned defense is revolting. According to People magazine: In a statement obtained by PEOPLE after The Times published their story on Tuesday night, a spokesperson for Meghan and Harry said, "The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good." See, she's all about doing right and doing good. The idea that she could be a bully is preposterous, she'd have you know. Anyone else's antenna up with that one? In Meghan's case, it's gotten her a date with Oprah Winfrey to emote and oprah-fy in a bid to build her brand. Far from being a billionaire-lifestyler who got a big Netflix deal on no talent, and now some fancy digs in the mansion-filled California town of Montecito, home of energy-eater and masseuse groper Al Gore, she'd have you think she's actually a victim. In addition, she can't help herself in her telling of it: According to People magazine: "How do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today?" Winfrey, 67, asked Meghan in the sneak peek shared by CBS Wednesday. "I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that the Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us," Meghan said "the Firm" referring to the institution of the royal family. "And if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean I there's a lot that's been lost already." Oh, there's a such thing as being silent, of course. It's called closing your mouth and not talking about your relatives to strangers. Such a concept is completely unfamiliar to Meghan who advises she can't shut up about it at all. That's another element of Hollywood culture, but somehow, she wants you to close your eyes and believe she's a victim-duchess instead. The Palace obviously, isn't going to sit there as this Oprah-emoting plays out at their expense. They're biting back. They play hardball. They know the secret to survival, given that they've been at this for several hundred-odd years, and don't intend to let a bounder like Meghan take them down. This makes for some good soap-opera fodder for the rest of us, of course, better still, because it's to be continued soon. Image credit: Northern Ireland Office via Flickr (cropped), CC BY-SA 2.0, filtered with FotoSketcher. Earlier this week Nicky Hilton demanded that comedian Sarah Silverman apologize to her sister Paris for verbally eviscerating her at the 2007 MTV Awards while Paris sat in the audience trying not to cry. Silverman, 50, responded by issuing a lengthy mea culpa to the socialite on the latest episode of The Sarah Silverman Podcast where she admitted she would 'never do those jokes today.' Paris revealed on her own, This Is Paris podcast on Monday, that she is still angry with the comedian calling her jokes 'disgusting and cruel and mean.' Is it too late now to say sorry? Sarah Silverman issued a long and heartfelt public apology to Paris Hilton on the latest episode of The Sarah Silverman Podcast for cruelly mocking her to her face at the 2007 MTV Awards 'You know, as she said herself on the podcast, this would never happen today and she's right, I wouldn't. I would never do those jokes today,' Silverman began. 'I came up in a time when talk show hosts and comedians hired to make fun of pop culture were roasting the biggest celebrities and pop culture icons at the time and nobody was bigger than Paris Hilton,' she continued by way of explanation. 'So here we are in an awakened world and I am totally into it, it's how we grow, it's how we change,' Silverman said before launching into a full blown apology to Paris. 'I'm super down with reflecting on the past and my part in perpetuating real ugly s**t,' she said. 'And yes, we can continue to litigate the past, but I do believe that maybe that should be coupled with taking into account any growth that has come with those passing years.' Cruel: Earlier this week Nicky Hilton demanded that comedian Sarah Silverman apologize to her sister Paris (pictured) for verbally eviscerating her at the 2007 MTV Awards while Paris sat in the audience trying not to cry As a refresher, Paris had been due to check into prison hours after the 2007 awards ceremony for violating her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case and was mocked by Sarah during the show as she sat in the crowd. Silverman recollected: 'While I was thrilled at the success of my monologue, I remember spotting her in the audience, I really do, and I remember seeing that look on her face and my heart sank. There was a person under there. A couple days later I wrote her a letter apologizing, felt awful and I never heard back, I certainly wouldn't expect to anyways.' As it turned out, Hilton never received the apology letter and harbored major resentment for the comics cruel and callous jokes for well over a decade. 'I regretted the jokes not years later, but kind of immediately,' she admitted. 'Here I am, 14 years later, telling you, Paris, that I am really sorry. I was then and I am, much more completely and with far more understanding I think, now.' 'I came up in a time when talk show hosts and comedians hired to make fun of pop culture were roasting the biggest celebrities and pop culture icons at the time and nobody was bigger than Paris Hilton,' Silverman said (Pictured at the 2007 show) 'I can't imagine what you were going through at the time. My understanding of humanity through the lens of my work as a comedian had not yet merged and I'm sorry I hurt you. Comedy is not evergreen. We can't change the past, so what's crucial is that we change with the times.' She added: 'I felt it the second I saw your face that night. It feels terrible to know you have hurt someone and it's important to make it right. I hope this does that.' During her podcast this week, Hilton revealed that at the time she had been nervous to go to the event, so when she was the butt of Silverman's jokes it was intolerable. 'While I was thrilled at the success of my monologue, I remember spotting her in the audience, I really do, and I remember seeing that look on her face and my heart sank. There was a person under there. A couple days later I wrote her a letter apologizing, felt awful and I never heard back, I certainly wouldn't expect to anyways.' Detailing her version of events, Paris said: 'I was so shocked and surprised because I had actually met her a few years before at an event and she was sweet. 'I was obviously very nervous and knew I was about to check into a jail a few hours later, I put on a brave face and she literally pummeled me, so mean so cruel. 'I was sitting there, wanting to die, I was holding back tears, I had tears in my eyes... I literally wanted to run out of the entire room. The whole audience was laughing and she would not stop. 'I regretted the jokes not years later, but kind of immediately,' she admitted. 'Here I am, 14 years later, telling you, Paris, that I am really sorry. I was then and I am, much more completely and with far more understanding I think, now.' 'It was so painful especially with what I was going through in my life, it was really hard.' Sarah had said. 'I heard to make her feel more comfortable in prison the guards are going to paint the bars to look like penises, I am just afraid she is going to break her teeth on those things. Paris served three days of her 45-day prison sentence. Nicky said: 'Mom always told us you don't know someone until you have walked a mile in their she's and here Sarah was.... saying the most disgusting, vile, awful hurtful things.' 'I was sitting there, wanting to die, I was holding back tears, I had tears in my eyes... I literally wanted to run out of the entire room. The whole audience was laughing and she would not stop,' Paris recalled earlier this week 'It's abuse,' Paris added of what Sarah did. Nicky said because Sarah apologized to Britney after she similarly slammed her, she now needs to apologize to Paris. 'The sexual, disgusting remarks were so horrific, very, very, very disappointing, that should never of happened to a young girl sitting in the audience or anyone, you should not let a person be humiliated.' New Delhi, March 4 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday showed apprehensions over non-utilization of coronavirus vaccine to its full capacity by the country, asserting that it is either being donated or sold off to foreign countries rather than being provided to Indians. Justice Vipin Sanghi made the observations while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation concerning vaccination of judges, court staff and lawyers on priority and for them to be treated as frontline workers so that they could receive it without limitations of their age or physical condition. In the recent phase of the vaccination drive which commenced on March 1, the government is inoculating only those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The priority was first given to the healthcare and frontline workers. Justice Sanghi said, "If the capacity of the two vaccine manufacturers were being utilized to the full and then the restrictions were to be put, it would have been one thing. We should not have the situation where we are not even utilizing the full capacity." His remarks came after Covishield and Covaxin vaccine manufacturers Bharat Biotech and Serum Insititute of India apprised that the capacity to vaccinate the judicial staff is available. "They have the full capacity to manufacture and supply. We are not utilizing it because of our restricted control approach. We are either donating or selling it off to foreign countries rather than giving it to our own people. It is well settled and the experts are also saying that there should be a sense of urgency in this process of vaccination," the judge said. He said that the present petition is to find out if the whole judicial system can be prioritized without age limit and co morbidity. The court then issued slew of directions. Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India have been directed to file affidavits on -- capacity to manufacture the vaccines and the unutilized capacity. The Government of India has been asked to indicate the transport capacity of the vaccine and the extent to which it is being used. The Centre has also been asked to explain the rationale over strict class of persons that can be vaccinated. Delhi High Court Bar Association and Bar Council of Delhi have been asked to file an affidavit disclosing the judicial strength. "It should indicate how many of them would get covered by the existing policy and how many would be left out," said the Court. Delhi Government has been directed to carry out inspection of medical facilities in court complexes and to report whether vaccination centers could be created there. The matter will now be heard on March 10. This comes after the announcement that physical hearing of the matters in the court will begin on a daily basis from March 15. On Wednesday, the court had observed, "With increased footfall, there is likelihood of the rate of infection amongst those who attend the Courts spiking, once the full-fledged physical functioning of Courts in Delhi resumes." Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A NEW political party formed by Zimbabweans in the diaspora, the Patriotic Zimbabweans (PZ), has proposed a financing strategy to revive the countrys deteriorating road, rail, aviation and health and sanitation infrastructure. The party has developed, as part of its economic policy, a Zimbabwe diaspora bond for infrastructure restoration programme to offer an indigenous solution to capital projects in the country. Party interim president Charles Muchineripi Mutama (46), who is based in the United States, said his party was development-oriented, hence the establishment of the Zimbabwe diaspora bond to economically empower citizens. Currently, the countrys public infrastructure such as highways, railways, aviation, dams, water supply and sanitation and medical facilities, among others, are in a state of disrepair or have collapsed, Mutama said. The countrys infrastructure is in urgent need of rehabilitation in some cases and in others, a major overhaul. The party, will be administered in a fiduciary role by an internationally certified African financial institution, he added. The Zimbabwe diaspora bond for infrastructural restoration and development will ameliorate the historical proclivity to depend on foreign aid resulting in generational debt as well as a tragic continuation of an extractive and exploitative role of our traditional creditors, Mutama said. By their very nature, bonds are financial loans to a company or a government, and most bonds pay fixed interest overtime meaning that every Zimbabwean lender will benefit in this proposed mutually-beneficial process. In Western nations, most capital projects and operations are financed in this way so the party is simply following precedence while giving Zimbabweans an opportunity to invest in their country of heritage, Mutama said. In this mutually beneficial solution to Zimbabweans and the nation State, PZ proposes that this economic blue print needs to be tied with fundamental political reforms such as the enfranchisement of the diaspora among other key areas. Zimbabwe has an estimated four billion people working in the diaspora. In 2020, diaspora remittances helped drive foreign currency inflows to US$4,76 billion up from US$4,22 billion. PZ was formed in January this year, drawing its membership from Zimbabweans living in South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Australia and New Zealand. Newsday An investigation is underway into stillbirths in four women with Covid-19 which could be potentially linked to the virus. The stillbirths could potentially be due to infection in placenta which may have led to the very rare Covid Placentitis, health officials announced this evening. Placentitis is an inflammation of the placenta that can lead to stillbirth. However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn emphasised that these reports are preliminary and that Coroners have not yet concluded their findings. These reports should be interpreted with caution as the coroners have not yet concluded their findings. The HSEs National Women and Infants Programme is aware of and is monitoring the situation and has issued a related notice to obstetric departments. I would ask that the privacy of all of those affected by this disease continue to be respected at all times. At least two of the cases took place in 2021. It is not known yet at what stage of the pregnancy the stillbirths occurred. The condition is an infection of the placenta in women who test positive in a PCR test for the virus. Nphet was notified of the four cases as todays Covid case and deaths figures came through. Dr Glynn emphasised that these are preliminary findings and does not expect that the condition should have a high incidence here. The condition has been reported internationally but at this point, further work needs to be done before we can confirm the findings, he said. He admitted that it is of concern. Of course its of concern, but we know from international data that this is a very rare condition. We have not seen high incidence of it internationally and we would not expect to see high incidence of it here." Dr Glynn said that there is no change to the advice for pregnant women and that they should not be doing anything differently. The advice remains as it has been, which is to continue to do all you can to protect yourself, he said. Dr Glynn said that if any woman has specific concerns, they should get in touch with their GP. Read More Meanwhile, there have been 39 further deaths of people with Covid-19 and 462 new cases of the virus confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) this evening. 207 new cases have been confirmed in Dublin, 29 in Cork, 26 in Meath, 20 in Kildare, 18 in Galway and the remaining 162 cases are spread across all other counties. The 14-day national incidence rate has fallen further to 190 cases per 100,000 people. Of the cases notified today; 224 are men and 236 are women; 69pc are under 45 years of age and the median age is 31 years old. Dr Breda Smyth, Director of Public Health, HSE West, confirmed that more than 200 households have had an outbreak of Covid-19 that are linked back to the outbreak among students. We know that the new variant is more transmissible, and, based on the latest data, approximately a third of household contacts of confirmed cases in Ireland are now testing positive. We know how to break the chains of transmission of this disease. We must all continue to make every effort to limit our social contacts, stay home and stay safe. 446,474 vaccine doses have been administered in Ireland up to Monday, March 1, with 303,550 people having received at least one dose. There were 460 Covid-19 patients in hospital as of 2pm today, of which 107 were in intensive care. 27 people have been hospitalised with the virus in the last 24 hours. Professor Philip Nolan said that the number of people being admitted to hospital is continuing to fall with a very significant drop in the number of people in intensive care over the last five days. The number of deaths were reporting every day remains high but looking back over the average number of daily deaths in a week, that is now 18, whereas it was 60 in early January, Prof Nolan said. The incidence of Covid-19 is declining across almost all age groups, and particularly among those aged over 65, Prof Nolan said. There has also been an increase in the numbers of cases of virus variants in Ireland. There are now 15 cases of the South African variant and three cases of the B1525 variant which has been linked to a number of countries, including Nigeria and the UK. Experts have raised concerns worldwide that this variant may be more transmissible and that it may impact how effective the vaccine is. The modelling expert said that while there has been talk of lockdown fatigue, the number of close contacts on average per positive case has only marginally increased since January. There is really strong evidence here that people are sticking assiduously to the measures, Prof Nolan said. Prof Nolan said Ireland is putting in a remarkable performance in suppressing the virus at a rate between 2-4pc per day despite the B117 UK variant making it more difficult to do so. The R number (between 0.6 and 0.9) has at least remained stable and may even have decreased slightly, this is reflected in the week-on-week decline in cases that has been reported recently. People aged over 16 who are at-risk of severe disease and death from Covid-19 due to underlying health conditions are to begin receiving the vaccine next week, the HSE has announced. The people will be offered the AstraZeneca vaccine, except for 16 and 17-year-olds, Independent.ie learned today. The HSE is currently attempting to locate people suitable to fit this cohort by using hospital records but have not yet finalised details of how it will contact these people. The 500,000th vaccine dose is expected to be administered this week amid concern the rollout is stalling after it emerged up to 800 people over 85 will not receive their first Covid-19 vaccine dose until next week. HSE Chief Paul Reid today admitted that there have been "significant issues" with the rollout this week. Due to last-minute delays to AstraZeneca shipments last week, Ireland missed last week's target of 100,000 doses and will not meet this week's target either. Mr Reid has said the shortfall will be made up by the end of this month. Read More Jersey City will allocate over 2,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to staff members of the Jersey City Public Schools to help get the school district prepare for a reopening in April, Mayor Steve Fulop said. Fulop told The Jersey Journal Thursday the city will start inoculating teachers on March 15, the first day that teachers and other essential workers become eligible for the vaccine under new state guidelines. He said the district will designate 250 to 300 staff members each day to get vaccinated at Ferris High School and School 26, adding that 100% of the citys vaccine supply that week will go to teachers and school staff. Earlier this week, Gov. Phil Murphy expanded the list of people who can receive the shot, adding transportation workers, childcare workers, and teachers. My No. 1 priority is doing everything we can do to get the schools reopened across the city and while I dont have direct control over that we want to be as helpful as possible, Fulop said. We are going to make sure that we do our part to get the schools to reopen on the date Superintendent (Franklin) Walker said. Fulop added that teachers at the citys charter schools will also be eligible to be inoculated. Walker said this round of vaccinations will allow school staff to feel safe in returning to schools for in-person teaching. He said it will also assure parents and students that the district is making every provision possible to secure the safety of students and reducing the spread of the virus. Walker previously told The Jersey Journal that the district, which educates about 30,000 students, was concerned it wouldnt have the teachers necessary to cover classes if it returned to some form of in-person learning. Many of them didnt want to come in because they felt by coming in, they were presenting themselves as a greater threat to their immediate families and so that will reduce that, Walker said. Walker said the school district has about 4,500 staff members in total, including at least 2,700 teachers. He added that he hopes to make it as convenient as possible for the teachers because they will still have classes going on. Walker said teachers and faculty will receive their second shots of the Moderna vaccine just in time for the schools to reopen on April 22, the first day of the school years final marking period. But he noted that the vaccinations will not guarantee the reopening date, which has been pushed back several times already. Some Jersey City school teachers are cautiously optimistic about what receiving the vaccine will mean despite being excited to return to the school buildings. Chris Kuchar, a music teacher at School 17, said he is looking forward to returning to school. He said if the schools are safe, he wants to see his kids again. Mark Azzarello, a second-grade special education teacher for over 18 years, said kids definitely need to be back but only when its safe. However, he said if students continue to test positive, the return to in-person learning could be compromised. It is long overdue, said Azzarello about teachers receiving the vaccinations. It is not just the teachers that have to be vaccinated but you have to worry about the kids getting sick. President Donald Trump issued another statement blasting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell from Mar-a-Lago, accusing him of blowing two elections in Georgia that cost Republicans their Senate majority. The attack comes days after a speech to the conservative CPAC conference where he called for throwing Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming out of office, along with other Republicans who voted to impeach him in the House and Senate. He slammed McConnell for yielding to his caucus and supporting $600 checks for Americans, rather than the $2,000 Trump backed late in negotiations and ripped a Senate GOP group for its Georgia effort. Many GOP strategist blame the losses on Trump's refusal to concede the election. President Donald Trump attacked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in another statement Thursday 'Even more stupidly, the National Republican Senatorial Committee spent millions of dollars on ineffective TV ads starring Mitch McConnell, the most unpopular politician in the country, who only won in Kentucky because President Trump endorsed him. He would have lost badly without this endorsement,' he claimed. 'Senator Mitch McConnells refusal to go above $600 per person on the stimulus check payments when the two Democrat opponents were touting $2,000 per person in ad after ad. This latter point was used against our Senators and the $2,000 will be approved anyway by the Democrats who bought the Georgia electionand McConnell let them do it!' Trump fumed. McConnell denounced Trump following the Jan. 6th riot, and delivered a blistering speech where he said Trump 'provoked' the Capitol riot, but nevertheless did not vote to convict him of incitement of insurrection. McConnell denounced Trump and said he 'provoked' the riot in a speech after he voted to acquit Trump in inciting insurrection Trump campaigned with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler the day before her loss. He blamed McConnell, but not his own role contesting election results Trump's attack on McConnell, 79, followed a report in the Intercept that said he was planning an 'exit strategy' by lining up possible successors and angling to strip away the power of the sate's Democratic governor to appoint a successor should he leave before the end of his term. A bill introduced in the state would take power to appoint a successor in the event of a vacancy away from the governor and assigns it to a state executive committee. If could choose from a slate of three people who would hail from the same party as the senator who vacated. McConnell reportedly has a short-list of preferred candidates. It comes weeks after GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham warned of the risks of a civil war in the party, and flew down to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump. ''Mitch McConnell working with Donald Trump did a hell of a job. They are now at each other's throat. I'm more worried about 2022 than I've ever been. I don't want to eat our own,' Graham cautioned. Democrats picked up two Senate seats with the victories by Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia runoffs Trump's analysis of the Georgia results comes despite two GOP candidates, Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, losing ground in suburban areas. Both senators faced post-election runoffs that coincided with Trump's attacks on state election officials amid recounts that confirmed Joe Biden's victory. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were elected in January runoffs. 'To set the record straight, there were two reasons the Senate races were lost in Georgia,' Trump wrote. 'First, Republicans did not turn out to vote because they were so angry and disappointed with Georgia Republican leadership and Governor Kemp for failing to stand up to Stacey Abrams and the disastrous Consent Decree that virtually eliminated signature verification requirements across the state (and much worse), and was not approved by the State Legislature as required by the Constitutionhaving a major impact on the result, a rigged election,' he said. Abrams is the former gubernatorial candidate who helped design voter turnout efforts. Chris Harrison plans return to The Bachelor The Bachelor host Chris Harrison says he plans to return to the ABC dating show after admitting he made a mistake by defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who attended an antebellum party. It was a mistake, Harrison told Michael Strahan on Good Morning America Thursday. I made a mistake. I am an imperfect man. I made a mistake and I own that. Harrison also apologized to former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay for being insensitive to her experiences with racist online bullying. Harrison will not participate in Matt James After the Rose special but plans to return to the franchise. I plan to be back and I want to be back, he said. This interview is not the finish line, there is much more work to be done and I am excited to be part of that change. But Strahan didnt let him off the hook, commenting after the segment: His apology is his apology, but it felt like I got nothing more than a surface response on any of this, and obviously hes a man who wants to clearly stay on the show, but only time will tell if theres any meaning behind his words. EXCLUSIVE: It was a mistake. #TheBachelor host Chris Harrison apologizes for defending frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnells past racist social media posts, telling @michaelstrahan he is an imperfect man who is committed to progress. https://t.co/OfPBBzGd9s pic.twitter.com/0EgbKV99DV Good Morning America (@GMA) March 4, 2021 Alec Baldwin quits Twitter (again) ET reports Alec Baldwin quit Twitter again Wednesday after getting backlash for a joke about Gillian Anderson. Switching accents? That sounds fascinating, Baldwin tweeted, an apparent reference to his wife Hilaria and questions about her accent and Spanish heritage. The Emmy-winning actor said he was trying to be ironic in a video on Instagram: Of course you cant do any irony on Twitter. You cant do any irony in the United States anymore, because the United States is such an uptight, stressed-out place and unpleasant place right now. Without Remorse trailer Michael B. Jordan is John Kelly in the first trailer for Without Romance. Based on Tom Clancys book of the same name, the film follows a U.S. Navy SEAL who uncovers an international conspiracy while out for revenge for the murder of his pregnant wife. The movie premieres April 30 on Amazon Prime Video. MORE BUZZ: Square purchases Tidal, adds Jay-Z to board of directors (RS) The Simpsons renewed for seasons 33 and 34 (SF) Maroon 5 debuts new song with Megan Thee Stallion (BB) Janet Jackson documentary coming to Lifetime, A&E (RS) The Tonight Show gets the WandaVision treatment (SF) Disneys live-action Pinocchio adds Cynthia Ervo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (TW) Danny Boyle directing new FX series about Sex Pistols (SF) Syracuse University alum Clairo pays tribute to Carly Simon (RS) Machine Gun Kellys drummer attacked, robbed and hit by car (BB) Bosch spinoff in the works at IMDb TV (SF) Elle King pregnant with first child after 2 pregnancy losses (ET) Bruno Mars unveils Ricky Regal alter ego for fashion collection (RS) Thunder Force trailer: Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer as superheroes? (SF) The Amherst-Pelham regional school district will implement in-person learning regardless of public health metrics contained in an agreement with the teachers union, school board members said. The COVID-19 public health metrics contained in an agreement between the union and regional school system have barred in-person learning, but are not legally enforceable or binding, the regional school board said at a meeting on Tuesday. Amherst regional school committee chair Allison McDonald said the district is not encumbered by any unfair labor practice charge from the union, related to the metrics. She read from a legal opinion the district had requested from the schools legal counsel, to buttress this. The schools lawyer said decisions on whether a district chooses in person or remote learning is a core educational policy matter and therefore not a required collective bargaining item. The Amherst districts legal opinion references a decision, handed down last month, involving Melrose school district and its teachers union. This decision was written by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relation following their investigation of complaints by Melrose teachers union, related to a labor/management dispute at Melrose public schools. The state investigation resulted in a report dated Feb. 9, saying COVID-19 metrics are not binding on the school committee, and consequently the union has no legal recourse to enforce them. During the March 2 Amherst regional meeting, McDonald, quoting from the districts legal opinion, said the decision to go forward with in person learning is in line with the state labor departments recent determination. She said the section of the memorandum of understanding the school board and the union, Amherst Pelham Education Association agreed to in September that created COVID-19 metrics and phases related to the Districts educational model are unenforceable restrictions on the Districts ability to determine its educational model. McDonald also said section of the MOA the school board agreed to with the union -- that do not directly restrict the Districts ability to determining its educational model ... would still be enforceable. She this section includes matters such as providing protective equipment, six foot boundaries, access to technology, and other pandemic-related safety measures. The Taj Mahal complex in Agra was vacated on Thursday morning following a hoax bomb call, officials said. They said an unidentified person called the 112 emergency response number of the Uttar Pradesh police at around 9 am and claimed that a bomb was kept inside the monument that is conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and protected by armed personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Taj Mahal The Uttar Pradesh police immediately informed the CISF personnel, who asked the visitors to vacate the premises of the iconic 17th-century monument and launched anti-sabotage checks around 9:15 am. "Nothing suspicious has been found and the checks are almost done," a senior CISF officer said in Delhi. Taj Mahal The hoax call has been traced to Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, another officer said. U.S. Marshalls move outside of the federal U.S. District Court in Washington on June 28, 2014. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo) Attorney in Election Lawsuit to Appeal Order Referring Him to Disciplinary Panel An attorney that represented a group of voters that sought to block Congress from counting Electoral College votes has informed a judge that he intends to appeal a disciplinary ruling against him. Lawyers representing Erick Kaardal told U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg that the attorney will appeal his ruling last month that referred him to the D.C. district courts Committee on Grievances. The panel is responsible for investigating and considering allegations of misconduct against attorneys. Boasbergs disciplinary ruling (pdf) stems from a case where a group of voters alleged that a number of federal and state laws had unconstitutionally delegated the authority of state legislatures to certify these votes to state executive branches. It asked the court to invalidate and declare those laws unconstitutional and prevent then-Vice President Mike Pence, who would be counting the Electoral College votes, and Congress from counting votes from the contested states until their respective legislatures were able to meet to certify the votes. Boasberg on Jan. 4 rejected the request to block the certification of electoral votes and rebuked the plaintiffs and their lawyer for what he believes was a lack of good faith in bringing the suit. In addition to being filed on behalf of Plaintiffs without standing and (at least as to the state Defendants) in the wrong court and with no effort to even serve their adversaries, the suit rests on a fundamental and obvious misreading of the Constitution, Boasberg wrote. It would be risible were its target not so grave: the undermining of a democratic election for President of the United States. The Court will deny the Motion. The judge also took issue over the plaintiffs lawyer failure to formally serve or notify any of the defendants. Courts are not instruments through which parties engage in such gamesmanship or symbolic political gestures, he said. He then asked Kaardal to defend why he should not be referred to the Committee on Grievances for potential discipline after the case has concluded. In a filing to the court, Kaardals lawyers said they did not agree with Boasbergs conclusions and that extensive research and consideration went into planning and preparing Plaintiffs arguments for this case. They also disputed the claim that Kaardal had failed to formally serve defendants on the documents, saying he had done so. The lawyers urged Boasberg to not refer Kaardal to the panel, saying that it would have a potential chilling effect on future litigants who assert good faith arguments for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law. Boasberg said he was not persuaded by their argument, saying that Kaardal has not sufficiently allayed the Courts concerns regarding potential bad faith. When any counsel seeks to target processes at the heart of our democracy, the Committee may well conclude that they are required to act with far more diligence and good faith than existed here, Boasberg wrote in his order. Kaardals notice of appeal is the latest action in the dispute. His lawyers did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. A small dog has been beaten to death in a horrific home invasion in which $100,000 of goods including jewellery and electronics were stolen. Pomeranian pup Gucci was found lifeless after a home in Middleton Grange in Sydney's west was ransacked on January 30 at around 10.30pm. Police arrested Mount Pritchard teen Mikaele Maka, 19, on Wednesday on breaking and entering and animal cruelty charges. Family dog Gucci (pictured) was beaten to death in a horrific home invasion in which $100,000 of goods including and electronics were stolen, police have said. 'They killed our family dog. What for? I don't understand the callousness of this incident,' Gucci's owner Frida Karam told 7NEWS. 'Robbery's one thing but a life is a life. That dog was like a child, they took her life.' Gucci was part of the family for 11 years and the mother-of-three said she was like a therapy dog for her daughter, who is autistic. Ms Karam returned home from a birthday celebration for her seven-year-old son to find her dog's lifeless body and every room in her house ransacked. The Pomeranian (pictured) was found lifeless after a home in Middleton Grange in Sydney's west was ransacked on January 30 at around 10.30pm Police arrested Mount Pritchard teen Mikaele Maka, 19, on Wednesday on breaking and entering and animal cruelty charges. Pictured: CCTV footage showing the home invaders She said her wedding rings and children's christening clothes were taken and as she no longer feels safe in her own home, her family is going to move. 'I don't feel safe here. This is my home, I built this home from scratch,' the mother said between tears. Maka has not applied for bail and will stay behind bars as police continue their investigations, believing up to three men may be responsible. Edmon Marukian, who leads the Bright Armenia Party (LHK), said he insisted during the meeting that Pashinian stop trying to sack the countrys top army general, Onik Gasparian, who demanded the governments resignation last week. I cannot imagine pre-term elections without a solution to the issue of the chief of the [armys] General Staff but want the elections to take place as soon as possible, Marukian told reporters. That is why I was suggesting that we reach consensus, put this matter on hold, deal with it after the elections and move on. The prime minister says that the two issues must not be linked to each other, he said. Pashinian petitioned President Armen Sarkissian last week to formalize Gasparians dismissal immediately after the chief of the General Staff and 40 other high-ranking officers issued a joint statement accusing the Armenian government of misrule and demanding its resignation. The statement was condemned as a coup attempt by Pashinian but hailed by opposition groups trying to topple him with street protests. Although the LHK is not among those groups, it too effectively defended the militarys top brass. Pashinian renewed his offer to hold fresh elections on Monday amid rising political tensions in the country. He reiterated on Wednesday that their conduct is conditional on consensus among his My Step bloc, the LHK and the second parliamentary opposition party, Prosperous Armenia (BHK). He said he will meet with the leaders of both parties for that purpose. The BHK has still not officially responded to Pashinians proposal. It also remains unclear whether its leader, Gagik Tsarukian, will agree to meet with the embattled prime minister. Marukian said that he and Pashinian agreed to meet again after the BHK clarifies its stance. The LHK leader would not say whether he is ready to drop his condition for an election-related deal with the government. I hope that we will somehow find a way out, he said. I dont yet know how we will find that way. Fresh internal documents from the Department of Health and Human Services show how quickly the number of child migrants crossing the border is overwhelming the administration's stretched resources. Driving the news: In the week ending March 1, the Border Patrol referred to HHS custody an average of 321 children per day, according to documents obtained by Axios. That's up from a weekly average of 203 in late January and early February and just 47 per day during the first week of January. The same documents, dated Tuesday, say the shelter system is at 94% occupancy and expected to reach its maximum this month. Meanwhile, some of President Biden's top officials responsible for immigration policy are planning a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border this weekend, sources tell Axios. The influx of unaccompanied minors is a mushrooming problem for the new president and his policy and social welfare agencies. A trip is not finalized and the White House continues to work on locking in details and logistics for a potential visit," White House spokesperson Vedant Patel told Axios. Spokespersons for DHS and HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Behind the scenes: HHS has already moved to open overflow shelters and to increase the speed with which it releases children to caretakers already in the U.S. In the week ending March 1, an average of 174 children were released from HHS custody each day. That was up from a weekly average of 90 in late January and early February, according to the documents. Nonetheless, the number of migrants held in Border Patrol custody longer than three days has been rising nearly each day, according to additional documents reviewed by Axios. Kids and teens caught crossing the border without legal guardians are being held in Border Patrol facilities for more than three days, for an average of 77 hours, as CNN first reported. The big picture: This week, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas insisted the current situation is not yet a crisis. Regardless, it's clear the number of children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border could fast overwhelm government systems, in ways similar to the crises in 2014 and 2019. The uptick comes while the administration continues to use an emergency public health order to quickly deport migrant adults and some families including asylum seekers. At the same time, Biden has reversed a Trump administration policy of using the public health order to quickly turn away unaccompanied children. The source who provided the internal Biden administration documents expects to see family migration rise over the next months, as well. What to watch: Internally, government officials have been sounding alarm bells. As Axios previously reported, DHS is expecting a record number of child migrants this year. 20 Republican AGs Point to Constitutional Deficiencies in Democrats Election Overhaul Bill A group of 20 Republican attorneys general signed a letter on March 3 calling on the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate to consider a number of Constitutional flaws in the major election overhaul bill being pushed by Democrats. The letter, sent by Indiana Attorney general Todd Rokita, points to several potential legal flaws in the For the People Act of 2021, a top legislative priority for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). The signatories warn that they would take legal action if the bill becomes law. The bill was passed in the House late on March 3 by a razor-thin margin. As introduced, the Act betrays several Constitutional deficiencies and alarming mandates that, if passed, would federalize state elections and impose burdensome costs and regulations on state and local officials, the letter states. The missive points to the U.S. constitution, which hands the exclusive responsibility for regulating presidential elections to state legislatures. The Act would invert that constitutional structure, commandeer state resources, confuse and muddle elections procedures, and erode faith in our elections and systems of governance, the letter states. Accordingly, Members of Congress may wish to consider the Acts constitutional vulnerabilities as well as the policy critiques of state officials. The For the People Act of 2021, also known as H.R. 1, was harshly criticized by a number of speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference, over the weekend. President Donald Trump personally lambasted the bill in a speech that concluded the conference. We have no time to waste, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in Congress are racing to pass a flagrantly unconstitutional attack on the first amendment and the integrity of our elections known as H.R. 1. Do you know what H.R. 1 is? Its a disaster. Their bill would drastically restrict political speech, empower the federal government to shut down descent and turn the Federal Election Commission into a partisan political weapon, Trump said. The attorneys general argue that H.R. 1 would unconstitutionally force states to permit election measures like voting by mail. A number of other provisions in the bill also appear to contradict the Constitution, including a requirement for states to accept late ballots, an override of state voter identification laws, and a mandate that states conduct redistricting through unelected commissions, according to the letter. Despite recent calls for political unity, the Act takes a one-sided approach to governing and usurps states authority over elections. With confidence in elections at a record low, the countrys focus should be on building trust in the electoral process, the letter states. Around the nation, the 2020 general elections generated mass confusion and distrustproblems that the Act would only exacerbate. Should the Act become law, we will seek legal remedies to protect the Constitution, the sovereignty of all states, our elections, and the rights of our citizens. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu has urged the public including people living in Zongos across the country to go for the Covid-19 vaccination without any hesitation to protect them against the danger posed by the virus. According to the Chief Imam who had his vaccination on Wednseday , the vaccine is safe hence all the people in the country must submit themselves for vaccination. The Chief Imam made the Comments at Fadama in Accra when the Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF) launched a Covid-19 Vaccination campaign dubbed, "Vaccinate, Save Life" for Zongo Communities across the Country. The ZoDF also met the National Council of Zongo Chiefs who also gave their endorsement to the vaccine and encouraged the public to vaccinate against the virus. The Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund, Mr Arafat Sulemana Abdulai said the ZoDF has engaged Doctors, Nurses, Clinical Psychologists and Laboratory attendants for the campaign. According to Mr Arafat Abdulai the Covid-19 vaccination campaign by his outfit is aimed at ensuring understanding and acceptance of the vaccine and to counter the conspiracy theories about the vaccine which is putting fear in many people. He urged the public especially people in Zongo communities to vaccinate to protect themselves against the virus. Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace FM 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 Angelina Jolie looked effortlessly chic as she joined Ellen Pompeo for dinner at lavish Italian restaurant E Baldi in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, on Wednesday. The Maleficent actress, 45, oozed sophistication in an elegant white midi dress which cinched in at the waist with a matching belt. Angelina finished her look with minimal accessories and teamed the ensemble with a deep grey handbag. Chic: Angelina Jolie looked effortlessly chic as she joined Ellen Pompeo for dinner at lavish Italian restaurant E Baldi in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, on Wednesday The actress styled her signature brunette locks into a sleek blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of radiant make-up. Both Angelina and Ellen, 51, wore protective face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic as they stepped out after their meal. Grey's Anatomy star Ellen also looked stylish for the meal out as she wore an all-black ensemble with a tailored coat draped over her shoulders. The actress styled her blonde locks into a glossy blow-dried hairdo, she too added a slick of make-up for the outing. Glamorous: The Maleficent actress, 45, oozed sophistication in an elegant white midi dress which cinched in at the waist with a matching belt Stylish: Grey's Anatomy star Ellen also looked stylish for the meal out as she wore an all-black ensemble with a tailored coat draped over her shoulders The two stars appeared to be joined by some of their children for the get together and appeared in great spirits during their outdoor meal. Angelina has children Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, and 12-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox, who she shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt. While Ellen has Stella, 11, Sienna, six, and Eli, four, with her music producer husband Chris Ivery. Just last month, Angelina compared her movie The One and Only Ivan to the coronavirus pandemic. Cautious: Both Angelina and Ellen, 51, wore protective face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic as they stepped out after their meal The actress - who voices African bush elephant Stella in the Disney movie, which she also produced - opened up on the themes of the film, which was adapted from Katherine Applegate's 2012 novel of the same name. 'There's something about the captivity of it too that I think was sadly speaking to children and helping each other through with feeling confined,' she told Variety. 'I think it spoke to kids and touched at a good time.' Angelina has been living with all six of her children in her Los Feliz, California mansion which is a five minute drive from ex Brad Pitt's mansion; he also spends time with the children but it is not clear how often. The two stars, who wed in 2014 and split in 2016 then became officially single in 2019, are still working out a custody agreement. Big family: Angelina has children Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, and 12-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox, who she shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt (pictured in 2019) Happy family: While Ellen has Stella, 11, Sienna, six, and Eli, four, with her music producer husband Chris Ivery (pictured in January, 2017) Elsewhere, only recently, Ellen addressed the future of Grey's Anatomy, telling CBS Sunday Morning: 'I can't say. Can't say. We honestly have not decided. We're really trying to figure it out right now.' She said that they're in the middle of deciding if it will end with the current season, adding: 'It's, what story do we tell? To end a show this iconic, you know, how do we do it? 'I just want to make sure we do this character and this show and the fans I want to make sure we do it right.' Ellen has starred as the titular Dr. Meredith Grey in the critically acclaimed series for 17 seasons, since it premiered in 2005. Afghan officials say a female doctor died in a bomb blast in the eastern city of Jalalabad in what appeared to be another targeted killing in the war-torn country. Elsewhere in Nangarhar Province, officials said on March 4 that seven civilians from Afghanistan's mainly Shiite Hazara minority were shot and killed by a group of gunmen overnight. General Juma Gul Hemat, provincial police chief, said the victims were workers at a plaster factory in Sorkh Rod district. Police arrested four suspects, he added. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but militants from the Islamic State (IS) extremist group and the Taliban have frequently targeted the Hazaras in recent years. The doctor was killed after a magnetic bomb was attached to the rickshaw she was traveling in, according to a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar Province in which Jalalabad is the main city. A child was also wounded. The spokesman, Attahullah Khogyani, said the doctor worked in the maternity ward of a private hospital. The incident and toll was confirmed by a spokesman from a provincial hospital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which comes two days after three women media workers were gunned down in Jalalabad in an attack claimed by the local affiliate of the IS group. And on March 3, a Kabul University professor and religious scholar was shot dead in the Afghan capital. No one claimed responsibility for that attack. There has been a rising wave of killings targeting journalists, civil society activists, and officials across Afghanistan in recent months amid ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban negotiators in Qatar. Most of the assassinations have gone unclaimed. The Taliban has denied involvement in many cases, but Afghan and U.S. officials have blamed the militants. Rights groups say the killings are intended to silence and intimidate independent voices and civil society in Afghanistan, which has made inroads on womens rights and free speech since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the fundamentalist Taliban regime. The latest attacks come as U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is currently reviewing the peace agreement signed with the Taliban in Qatar last year. The Doha deal called for all international forces to gradually leave Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. In return, the Taliban committed to renounce violence and enter into peace talks with representatives from the Afghan government. The intra-Afghan talks started in September, but there has been no tangible progress yet, with the sides accusing each other of violating the provisions of the U.S.-Taliban accord. A White House document outlining Biden's national-security policies, made public on March 3, says the United States should not, and will not, engage in forever wars that have cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. The administration will work to responsibly end Americas longest war in Afghanistan while ensuring that Afghanistan does not again become a safe haven for terrorist attacks against the United States, it adds. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP Two years after a video went viral that appeared to show a black man in Phoenix being kicked out of an AMC movie theater by police - even though he had a ticket - he's now suing the chain for $100,000. Lawyers for Larry Shelton filed the civil suit in Maricopa County Superior Court on Wednesday. One of his attorneys is noted civil rights lawyer Ben Crump. The complaint alleges three counts of negligence and one count of intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as allegations of racial profiling, harassment, and false statements made about Shelton. Scroll down for video Larry Shelton is now suing AMC two years after an incident of alleged racial profiling The lawsuit comes from a March 2019 incident when Shelton was accused of sneaking into a showing of Captain Marvel, despite having proof that he purchased a movie ticket 'I just want justice to be done so no one, no other black person, would ever have to endure that embarrassment or the anxiety of feeling like you're a thief when I clearly wasn't,' Shelton said in a news conference Wednesday. 'It seems like you always have to prove yourself, by being a black person, when someone white is accusing you of something,' said Shelton, whose age wasn't given in the initial court filing. According to the Arizona Republic , Shelton has not been to a movie theater since the incident on March 8, 2019. 'He had to, as so often many African Americans have to do, fight against the presumption of guilt, fight against the presumption of being illegitimate, fight against the presumption of being the stereotype that many in society place upon African American,' Crump said of his client. Shelton was attending a screening of Captain Marvel at AMC Ahwatukee 24 when a security guard asked him to leave, despite the movie already being well underway. The manager of the theater (right) also refused Shelton's refund request after the removal 'Im at the movies,' Shelton said in a series of videos he recorded after returning from a concession run. 'I paid to get in here and one of the people out of the blue said I did not pay and did not have a ticket. Now Im taping everything.' Shelton, who later posted the videos to Facebook, insists that he paid admission to get into the theater, but the security guard is unfazed by his pleas. 'This is very disrespectful to me and everybody else in here,' Shelton continues, waiting for the police to arrive. In later footage, Shelton leaves the theater with police and security as a manager, who is white, accusing him of entering the theater through an exit door, according to the New York Post. Shelton then pulls out his ticket. 'Now whats that ticket say on there, sir? What does it say?' Nevertheless, the manager forces Shelton to leave, saying 'I will give you a card, but were gonna have to ask you to leave. Were not letting you stay.' Shelton, top left, is being represented by several lawyers in this case, including Ben Crump, seen bottom right, in a recent Zoom call on the case Shelton asks for a refund on the way out, which he is refused, supposedly because he caused a commotion in the theater by turning his cellphone flashlight on. AMC released a statement in the immediate aftermath of the incident, saying it 'deeply regrets that this avoidable situation occurred' and stating the situation should've been handled differently. 'Equality is of the utmost importance to AMC, which is why unconscious bias training is required for all AMC management associates, and we will be reinforcing that training at this theatre,' the statement concluded. After the incident, Shelton told the Arizona Republic that he received an email apology and a voucher for a free movie, soda, and popcorn. He instead demanded more diversity training and the firing of the manager of the theater. The lawsuit was filed now due to a two-year statute of limitations coming up, as attempts to settle the matter privately with AMC failed, his attorneys said. It may be time to rewrite the textbooks, as scientists have discovered the Earth has a 'fifth layer' in the form of an innermost inner core at the centre of the planet. Geologists from the Australian National University created search algorithms allowing them to trawl through thousands of models of the Earth's inner core. For a long time textbooks have taught that the Earth has four layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core, but a fifth layer has been suspected for more than a decade but proved near impossible to detect. Scientists spotted changes to the structure of iron within the inner core that suggests a new 'boundary line' stretching about 650km from the centre of the Earth. 'It's very exciting - and might mean we have to re-write the textbooks!' said study lead author Joanne Stephenson. For a long time textbooks have taught that the Earth has four layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core, but a fifth layer has been suspected for more than a decade but proved near impossible to detect FIVE LAYERS OF THE PLANET EARTH Recent studies show there are actually five, not four layers to the Earth. Crust: To a depth of up to 70km, this is the outermost layer of the Earth, covering both ocean and land areas. Mantle: Going down to 2,890km with the lower mantle, this is the planet's thickest layer and made of silicate rocks richer in iron and magnesium than the crust overhead. Outer core: Running from a depth of 2,890- 5,150km, this region is made of liquid iron and nickel with trace lighter elements. Inner core: Going down to a depth of 6,370km at the very centre of planet Earth, this region is thought to be made of solid iron and nickel. Innermost core: Recently discovered and thought to go out about 650km from the centre of the Earth, this region is solid iron in a different, but unknown structure, to the inner core. Advertisement Researchers used travel time data for seismic waves travelling inside the Earth, captured by the International Seismological Centre, as part of the study. They then used their new algorithm to search through the data to discover evidence of changes in the structure of the innermost part of the Earth's inner core. Finding these small changes in the structure of iron proved 'particularly difficult', but they were able to demonstrate two separate cooling events in Earth's history. This suggests a dramatic and previously unknown event happened at some point in the earliest years of Earth's evolution - as much as 4.5 billion years ago. 'The details of this big event are still a bit of a mystery, but we've added another piece of the puzzle when it comes to our knowledge of the Earths' inner core,' explained Stephenson. Until recently our understanding of the deepest depths of our world have been through a combination of volcanic eruptions and seismic waves. They are indirect observations but allowed geologists to determine that the inner core reaches temperatures of more than 5,000 degrees Celsius. The inner core is also relatively small, making up just 1% of the Earth's volume and existing as a single body, with the outer core surrounding it, mantle surrounding that and the crust surrounding the mantle. The structure of Earths deep inner core has important implications for core evolution, since it is thought to be related to the early stages of core formation. Previous studies have suggested that there exists an innermost inner core with distinct anisotropy relative to the rest of the inner core. Anisotropy is the way differences in the make-up of materials alter properties of seismic waves. Stephenson, a PhD researcher, said the idea of another distinct layer was proposed a couple of decades ago, but the data has been very unclear. 'We got around this by using a very clever search algorithm to trawl through thousands of the models of the inner core,' she added. Previous studies have suggested that there exists an innermost inner core with distinct anisotropy relative to the rest of the inner core. Anisotropy is the way differences in the make-up of materials alter properties of seismic waves Changes in the waves revealed subtle differences in the structure of iron as you moved through the inner core, according to Stephenson. The data isn't perfect as there was a 'lot of noise' and gaps, but they say they are confident in the findings as they align with other studies into the anisotropy of the innermost parts of the inner core. 'We are limited by the distribution of global earthquakes and receivers, especially at polar antipodes,' the authors wrote in their paper. Various models revealed slight changes to the structure of iron at the centre of the Earth, as seen by the dark circle in these graphs within the green, inner core region Future studies will explore the Earth's correlation wavefield, which involves stacking data from a range of sources to paint a more detailed picture of the movements within the planet. 'This approach promises the ability to derive deep Earth seismic structure constraints uninhibited by the limited distribution of sources and receivers, potentially in sparse locations globally, significantly increasing the resolution and understanding of the IC and hence Earth's evolution,' the authors added. The findings were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. Washington: First came the fake medical-grade masks and coronavirus tests. Now, a new threat has emerged, global police organisation Interpol warns: fake coronavirus vaccines. Interpol said police in China and South Africa have seized thousands of doses of fake vaccines - a cache it said was just the tip of the iceberg. Police interrogate a suspect in connection with fake COVID-19 vaccines in a detention centre in Kunshan in eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province in December. Credit:AP South African authorities recently seized 400 vials, which held around 2400 doses, of counterfeit vaccines from a warehouse outside Johannesburg, Interpol said in a report on Thursday (Friday AEDT). The illicit stash also included fake 3M masks. South African officers apprehended three Chinese citizens and one Zambian national in relation to the raid. TEL AVIV, Israel, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Seebo, the Predictive Quality and Yield Solution, announced its extended Series B financing round, for a total of $24M. The funding will be used to further expand its global reach and continue enhancing its Process-Based Artificial Intelligence solution. The round is led by Vertex Ventures with participation from 10D, The Phoenix and Leumi Partners. Large and mid-sized manufacturers suffer tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in quality, yield, energy, emissions and waste losses each year on average. Seebo's Process-Based Artificial Intelligence solution enables manufacturers to identify process-driven inefficiencies in their production processes in order to predict and prevent production losses. Seebo succeeded in infusing Artificial Intelligence algorithms with deep process manufacturing expertise - giving its solution the unique ability to understand each individual production process. This saves its customers significant funds each year, by revealing the hidden causes of their production losses. Seebos' customers include leading manufacturers such as Nestle, PepsiCo, General Mills, Barilla, Mondelez, Allnex, ICL and many more. This latest round comes during a period of exponential growth (400% YoY) for Seebo, as many manufacturers face an increasingly challenging and competitive marketplace in the year of COVID-19. Among those challenges is the more urgent need to increase efficiency, specifically by lowering production losses; and in some cases to meet unprecedented spikes in demand due to changing consumer behavior. The Seebo solution has provided these manufacturers with the ability to achieve these goals in a highly scalable way - without costly investments in new production lines and facilities. "The increasingly complex business environment has pushed process manufacturers to explore new ways to eliminate lingering inefficiencies in their production processes," says Lior Akavia, CEO and Co-Founder of Seebo. "These inefficiencies are responsible for significant production losses each year, but in many cases manufacturers didn't have the tools to find the root causes, as these were hidden deep within the complex manufacturing processes and data. That's why we've seen such an increase in demand for Seebo's Process-Based Artificial Intelligence: this is precisely the problem we solve. Seebo grew during 2020 with many new customers," Akavia continued. "But even more significant is our growth with our existing customers, who, by using Seebo, identified clear reductions in inefficiencies and gained significant financial benefits. These customers have implemented us in more production lines as a result, and this demonstrative success is a source of great pride for Seebo." "We are happy to announce that we have tripled our investment 9 months after our initial investment in Seebo, while observing up close how Seebo is saving process manufactures millions of dollars - and how they in return are happy to expand the solution to additional lines," says Yanai Oron, General Partner at Vertex Ventures. "Seebo is the only vendor providing a productized solution that is based on Artificial Intelligence across the full product line" About Seebo: Seebo is the Predictive Quality and Yield solution, recently selected as Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum. Manufacturers use Seebo to predict and prevent quality, yield and waste losses. Seebo Process-Based Artificial Intelligence is designed to solve complicated process inefficiencies - revealing the hidden causes and recommending the right actions. By providing production teams with ready-to-use Artificial Intelligence, continuous process mastership becomes a reality. With Seebo production teams know why process inefficiencies happen, using Automated Root Cause Analysis; how to prevent process inefficiencies, using Predictive Recommendations; and when to act, using Proactive Alerts. Seebo customers include leading manufacturers across multiple industries, like Barilla, Nestle, Mondelez, PepsiCo, General Mills, Allnex and ICL. Seebo is backed by Vertex Ventures, 10D, The Phoenix, Leumi Partners, Viola Ventures and TPY Capital. For more information, please visit www.seebo.com Contact details: Mira Marcus [email protected] SOURCE Seebo Related Links http://www.seebo.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. Daniel Winterton, Chief Financial Officer at Inventus Power I am excited to join Inventus Power, an engineering and technology leader within the rapidly growing global Li-ion battery industry, said Winterton. Inventus Power, a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced battery systems, announced today that Daniel Winterton has joined the organization as Chief Financial Officer. Winterton officially started with Inventus Power on February 1, 2021 and is based out of Woodridge, IL USA, the companys corporate headquarters. He is responsible for the leadership and management of the organizations global finance, accounting, and IT groups. I am excited to join Inventus Power, an engineering and technology leader within the rapidly growing global Li-ion battery industry, said Winterton. The company is already well-positioned for long-term success and I look forward to ensuring its continued financial health as it progresses into the next phase of growth and expansion. Winterton brings with him 19 years of experience driving financial execution and leadership in various manufacturing organizations. Prior to joining Inventus Power, he served as the CFO of Stanley Black & Decker Global Auto Fastening; Controller and VP of Finance for Eaton Hydraulics Americas region; and held several positions at Honeywell. Winterton holds an MBA from Brigham Young University with a concentration in Finance, a B.A. in Marketing from Brigham Young University, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Dan is an accomplished financial leader and Im thrilled to have him on our executive leadership team, stated Patrick Trippel, President & CEO. As CFO, he will play a critical role in executing our global business strategy and continuing to drive sustainable, profitable growth. Jim Jackson, who was filling the roles of both CFO and COO, will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer leading the companys global operations & supply chain teams through continued expansion and profitability. About Inventus Power: Inventus Power, founded in 1960, is the leading provider of advanced battery systems for global OEMs. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of battery packs, chargers, and power supplies across a broad range of portable, motive & stationary applications. With multi-country locations across four continents and manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, China, & Malaysia, the company is strategically positioned to support the needs of global brands. From design & engineering to performance testing & mass production, Inventus Power provides accelerated end-to-end solutions. Its broad market/application expertise, technology agnostic approach, global footprint, and vertical integration enable the delivery of safe, reliable & innovative power solutions at an exceptional speed to market. Imperial Valley News Center El Centro BP Agents Assist Local First Responders, Continue Investigation into Breach Holtville, California - On the morning of March 2, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents, at the request of the California Highway Patrol and Imperial County Sheriffs Office, responded to two separate critical incidents involving one vehicle each near Holtville, California. At no point, did CBP/USBP attempt to stop or pursue either vehicle. The following timeline approximates the series of those events. At approximately 5:56 a.m., El Centro Sector Radio Communications dispatch advised agents working near Calexico, California that a red Suburban was engulfed in flames near the intersection of Interstate 8 and State Route 115. Agents responded from nearby locations. At approximately 6:05 a.m., agents reported a 10-foot breach in the International Boundary Fence between Mexico and the United States near the Gordons Well exit/Schneiders Bride area just off Interstate 8 approximately 30 miles east of the Highway 115/I-8 interchange. Within this area, the international boundary fence is a few hundred feet from Schneiders Bridge. Border Patrol Agents reported they were actively working border incursions to the east and west of where the breach occurred. At 6:06 a.m., Border Patrol Agents reviewed surveillance footage which yielded images of two different vehicles leaving the area in proximity of the fence breach. At approximately 6:30 a.m., agents assisting with the burning red Suburban encountered 19 individuals hiding in the brush nearby and determined they had entered the country illegally through the breach in the border fence. At approximately 7:05 a.m., Border Patrol assistance was again requested, this time with a vehicle collision near State Route 115 and Norrish Road. At approximately 7:11 a.m., members of the Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue team (BORSTAR) responded to the vehicle collision where a BORSTAR Paramedic assisted with lifesaving efforts to accident victims. In total, 12 of 25 individuals in the vehicle at the time of the accident were pronounced deceased at the scene. An additional individual later died at an area hospital. All are suspected to have entered the U.S. illegally. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has assumed lead over the investigation of the accident at State Route 115/ Norrish Road. Details regarding this investigation can be directed to CHP Public Affairs. Border Patrol is investigating the smuggling events. Further details of Border Patrols smuggling investigation are being withheld pending potential prosecution. We pray for the accident victims and their families during this difficult time, said El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino. Initial investigation into the origins of the vehicles indicate a potential nexus to the aforementioned breach in the border wall. Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life. Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy; tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with. Palm Coast, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Gold River Productions, Inc. (OTC Pink: GRPS) announces the addition of Mr. Sam Elias to its team. With the recent announcement of distribution and availability of unique doctor crafted products to the marketplace, the Company is pleased to welcome Sam Elias to the GRPS fold. Mr. Elias has an amazing business background (see curriculum vitae - http://bit.ly/se457) and recognizes the ever-expanding potential of the company, especially with his active involvement in all matters from production to sale. As senior vice president of Seagull Software Systems, Mr. Elias was responsible for establishing integral relationships of IBM business development worldwide. Mr. Elias helped take Seagull Software Systems from $1,000,000 in revenue, grown to more than $20,000,000, with more than 1,500 clients and 500 ISV partners. He helped to sell this company to Rocket Software in 2007 for a value exceeding $300,000,000, before becoming Senior Vice President and General Manager of Rocket Software, exceeding expectations and growing revenues from $41,000,000 to $85,000,000, while doubling its EBITDA to nearly $38,000,000. Mr. Elias will be in charge of all things related to products from development to production to worldwide distribution and sales. "I don't want a salary. I don't need the money," Mr. Elias explained to Chairman of the Board, Richard Goulding. He explained further, "what I see is vast potential for this Company. What you and Dr. Bond have assembled, is an untapped market. Your products will compete with pharmaceuticals and be far less toxic. While the initial distribution with All Star Brands is substantial, I think this could be much bigger. I have the right connections for a worldwide market. I will make this succeed." About Gold River Productions Inc., GRPS: Gold River will focus on market-targeted products including, but not limited to rare cannabinoids and effective products where a particular need is identified. Products for pain relief, sleep, etc. that will be distributed work in through convenience stores, independent pharmacies and more will have mass appeal to the market. This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside Gold River's control. These include but are not limited to the impact of competitors' products, services and pricing; product demand; market acceptance; new product development; reliance on key strategic alliances; the regulatory environment; fluctuations in operating results; and other risks which are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or OTC Markets. Gold River disclaims any obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise. Investor caution/added risk and uncertainties for investors in companies claiming involvement in COVID-19 initiatives - On April 8, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and William Hinman, the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, issued a joint public statement on the importance of disclosure during the COVID-19 crisis. The SEC and Self-Regulatory Organizations are targeting public companies that claim to have products, treatments or other strategies with regard to COVID-19. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, new information may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. CONTACT: Gold River Productions, Inc. support@grpsinc.com www.GRPSInc.com @grpsinc goldriversocialmedia@gmail.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76118 Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 04:10:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIGA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Although vaccination against COVID-19 already started in Latvia at the end of last year, the Baltic country has so far managed to immunize only around 3 percent of its population, according to the National Health Service's data. The reason for the slow vaccination pace is a severe shortage of vaccine doses, as most of the vaccine deliveries are being either delayed or reduced. The first vaccine doses have been administered to slightly more than 53,500 people and around 17,700 people have received both doses. Medical and social care employees were the first to be given the vaccine in Latvia, and immunization of the country's senior population is currently underway. Eva Juhnevica, head of Latvia's Vaccination Bureau, said on public television Thursday that the vaccine shortages are likely to hamper the immunization process throughout March and that Latvia is currently inoculating some 2,000 people a day. "At any rate, I have to honestly admit that March will be a very challenging month in terms of vaccine deliveries," Juhnevica said. Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said after Thursday's government meeting that Latvia has ordered additional 1.1 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The producer is expected to deliver the doses starting the second quarter of this year, which will hopefully allow starting mass vaccinations in April. Latvia's COVID-19 incidence in the past two weeks has dropped to just below 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the latest data released by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Enditem Following consultation with its notified body, MEDCERT GmbH, Abiomed is introducing the single access procedure with Impella CP introducer sheaths for the treatment of heart disease in Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005331/en/ Following consultation with its notified body, MEDCERT GmbH, Abiomed is introducing the single access procedure with Impella CP introducer sheaths for the treatment of heart disease in Europe. At Abiomed's European headquarters in Aachen, Germany, Impella heart pumps have been developed and produced for more than 20 years to stabilize and recover the human heart. The single access procedure enables the treating physician not only to place Impella heart pumps in the ventricle via the 14 French Impella CP introducer sheaths, but also to insert other catheters and introducer sheaths. Thus, cardiac interventions such as percutaneous coronary interventions can also be performed via the 14 French Impella CP introducer sheaths. The single access procedure is already practiced in the U.S., where it was incorporated into Impella CP's U.S. labeling in January 2020. The confirmation given by MEDCERT GmbH for the single access procedure now gives cardiologists in Europe the option of performing interventional treatments for severe cardiac diseases via just one access site. This method may be beneficial for patients with limited vascular access and may reduce potential complications using only one access site. As a notified body, MEDCERT Zertifizierungs- und Prufungsgesellschaft fur die Medizin GmbH is an organization designated by Germany, as an EU member state, to determine whether medical devices comply with European directives and regulations. MEDCERT GmbH has now confirmed to Abiomed that the single access procedure is possible in Europe as well. More than 170,000 patients worldwide have been treated with Abiomed's small Impella heart pumps. Impella heart pumps promote heart recovery by taking over partial or full pump function of the heart, depending on the pump type, and relieving the ventricle, thereby supporting blood circulation, stabilizing patients' hemodynamics and improving blood supply to end organs. In this way, Impella heart pumps can promote the regeneration of the heart muscle, and enable patients to enjoy an improved quality of life. The heart pumps are used in emergency medicine as well as in complex coronary interventions. ABOUT IMPELLA HEART PUMPS Impella 2.5, Impella CP, Impella CP with SmartAssist Impella 5.0, Impella LD and Impella 5.5 with SmartAssist heart pumps are CE certified and FDA approved for the treatment of heart attack patients with cardiogenic shock. Impella heart pumps assist in restoring cardiac function so the patient can leave the hospital with their own heart. The Impella 2.5 and Impella CP heart pumps are also approved in certain cases to treat patients with advanced heart failure who need to undergo elective percutaneous coronary interventions, e.g. stent implantation or balloon angioplasty, to reopen blocked coronary arteries. The right ventricular heart pump, Impella RP, is approved for the treatment of certain patients with right heart failure. For more information about Impella heart pumps and their approved indications, as well as important safety and risk information associated with the use of these devices, please refer to the Instructions for Use or visit: www.heartrecovery.de. ABOUT ABIOMED Abiomed Europe GmbH, Aachen Germany, as affiliate of Abiomed Inc. headquartered in Danvers, Massachusetts, USA, is a leading medical technology company in the field of circulatory support. Our products aim to enable heart recovery by improving blood circulation and/or heart pump function. For more information, visit www.heartrecovery.de. Abiomed, Impella, Impella 2.5, Impella 5.0, Impella 5.5, Impella LD, Impella CP, Impella RP, SmartAssist and Impella Connect are registered trademarks of Abiomed, Inc. and registered in the U.S. and certain other countries. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements, including with respect to Abiomed's development of existing and new products, the Company's commercial growth, future business opportunities and pending regulatory approvals. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including uncertainties related to the scope, extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, development, testing and related regulatory approvals, including the possibility of future losses, complex manufacturing, high quality requirements, dependence on limited sources of supply, competition, technological changes, governmental requirements, litigation, future capital requirements and uncertainty of additional financing, and other risks and challenges detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC. Readers of this press release are advised not to evaluate forward-looking statements, which reflect information available only as of the date of this release, as reliable information. The Company is under no obligation to release updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of the release or as a result of the impact of unforeseen events. The source language in which the original text is published is the official and authorized version. Translations are provided for better understanding. Only the language version published in the original is legally valid. Therefore, match translations with the original language version of the publication. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005331/en/ Contacts: Dr. Sebastian Heindrichs Associate Director European Communications Phone: +49 151 7447 2278 E-mail: sheindrichs@abiomed.com Itanagar, March 4 : To boost development along the international borders, the Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to develop three model villages along the Indo-Tibet border as a pilot project with an allocation of Rs 30 crore, officials said on Thursday. An official of the Finance Department said that the Rs 30 crore pilot project for developing three model villages along the border is a part of the Rs 131 crore diverse projects proposed in the state budget for 2021-22, which was presented by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who holds the Finance portfolio, on Wednesday. The official said that under the pilot project, one village each in the border areas of Eastern, Central and Western Arunachal Pradesh would be developed as a model village with all basic facilities and infrastructure, including good roads. Mein told the ongoing budget session of the assembly that development of border villages remained an important priority of the state government. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the past years, we have witnessed unprecedented focus on border area infrastructure development, including road connectivity. The comprehensive development of border villages would be continued with good road connectivity, power, water supply, health, and education," he said. In the budget for the next fiscal (2021-22), the government proposed Rs 38 crore for the department of indigenous affairs for preserving the indigenous way of life, Rs four crore for preservation of indigenous heritage centres in a phased manner and Rs 40 crore for the construction of tribal cultural centres. According to the official, the other projects proposed in the budget under the development plan for border areas include repair of foot suspension bridges for border guarding forces (Rs 5 crore), documentation of the rich culture and traditions of tribes (Rs 1.4 crore), production of animated movies of the folklore of tribes (Rs 50 lakhs), developing textbooks on Arunachal history and culture (Rs 2 crore), honorarium to registered indigenous priests (Rs 3 crore), promote establishment of indigenous gurukul schools and indigenous prayer centres, Narottam Heritage and Cultural centre (Rs 2 crore), development of World War-II memorial at Jairampur (Rs 1 crore). The official quoting the Deputy Chief Minister said that the central Government has approved the preparation of a Detailed Project Report for developing highways along the frontiers. Addis Ababa, March 4 : Ethiopia registered 1,161 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 161,974 as of Wednesday evening, the country's Ministry of Health said. The ministry said five new deaths from the coronavirus were reported across the country during the same period, bringing the national death toll to 2,391, the Xinhua news reported. The East African country reported 364 more recoveries, taking the national count of Covid-19 recoveries to 136,443. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, has so far reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the East Africa region. According to the ministry, Ethiopia currently has some 23,138 active Covid-19 cases, of which 398 are said to be under severe health conditions. According to the latest figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia's Covid-19 cases accounted for about 4 per cent of the African continent's total confirmed cases. The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement Covid-19 precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. The East African nation has so far conducted 2,152,739 Covid-19 medical tests, the ministry said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) 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 Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Total-Western has had a long, rich history dating back to its creation in 1972. Through various acquisitions and organic growth in local markets, the company has continued to grow its footprint across the Western U.S. Now, Total-Western is a larger, more capable, and more complex enterprise than ever that demands growth in its leadership capacity and strength to continue to thrive. Lou will be responsible for the entire Total-Western field organization engaging with existing and potential customers, overseeing field operations, and implementing LEAN construction principles while ensuring safety, quality, and cost effectiveness for our customers. "I am excited with this latest addition to the leadership team here at Total-Western," said Payman Farrokhyar, President of Total-Western. "As we continue to put a focus on our core value of Operational Excellence, Lou will lead that charge ensuring employee and client satisfaction." With more than 30 years' experience in Construction and Operations Management, Mr. Hall recently served as Senior Vice President at Aegion Corporation. Mr. Hall began his career in the field where he started as a planner and project manager, before working his way up to serve in more senior roles at Timec Company and Team Industrial. During this journey he led regional operations and oversaw transitions into double-breasted organizations, while also expanding their geographic footprints to serve more customers and developing apprenticeship programs to comply with state legislation. Mr. Hall earned his bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering and Business Administration from Oregon State University. About Total-Western, Inc. (www.total-western.com) Total-Western provides comprehensive design-assist, construction, maintenance, operations, fabrication, and specialty services to customer assets throughout the Western and Mid-Western United States. The company was founded in 1972 and has six regional locations throughout California, Nevada, and Washington. On every job, Total-Western implements their PASS program to ensure that every task is performed with safety, quality, cost effectiveness and personal accountability in mind. About Total-American Total-American Investment Company was formed in 2015 and is the parent corporation to Total-Western, Inc. and California Spectra Instrumentation, Inc. (Spectra). The company's subsidiaries provide multi-disciplined industrial maintenance and construction contracting services in the petrochemical, energy, renewable fuels, manufacturing, and other heavy industries. Total-American is a privately held corporation headquartered in Paramount, Calif. and part of the Bragg family of companies, which include Bragg Crane Service, Bragg Crane & Rigging, Heavy Transport, Coastline Equipment, APS and JBA. SOURCE Total-Western Related Links http://www.total-western.com/ Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) Will the Cabinet members of President Rodrigo Duterte move up the vaccine priority list soon? Only his advisers can decide for now, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Thursday. Nograles revealed that Duterte asked the interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) when his Cabinet can get their COVID-19 shots, following the rollout of doses from China's Sinovac Biotech and the upcoming arrival of vaccines from British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical firm Oxford AstraZeneca. Nograles said Duterte had touched on the matter when he presided over Wednesday's Cabinet meeting to discuss the government's latest vaccination efforts. "He was just asking kung kailan 'yung Cabinet members ma-inoculate...," he said. "He considers us in the Cabinet as frontline workers and very much exposed also umiikot sa ospital doing the simultaneous cermonial inoculations in different regions." [Translation: He was just asking when the Cabinet members can be inoculated....He considers us in the Cabinet as frontline workers and very much exposed also going aroung hospitals, doing simultaneous ceremonial inoculations in different regions.] "Masyado kaming exposed kaya nag-aalala lang si Pangulo," he added. [Translation: We are too exposed that is why the President is only worried.] Nograles, who also co-chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the proposal to have them inoculated is a "work in progress" and they will discuss the matter further with NITAG. RELATED: Malacanang: Duterte to also personally welcome vaccines from COVAX "When NITAG feels it's time for Cabinet members to show that they too are willing to boost confidence level, then anytime, we're ready," he added. Frontline workers in health facilities are currently the first in priority in the government's ongoing immunization drive using the donated Sinovac doses. Some military and police personnel also got the shots on the first day of the rollout on Monday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque revealed on Tuesday that the IATF had proposed to reserve some 50 doses for vaccine "influencers" including him, some government officials, and even media personalities and celebrities to take the vaccines ahead of others. However, NITAG rejected this proposal, insisting that healthcare workers must be prioritized. It only agreed to prioritize vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy implementer Vince Dizon, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos in line with Duterte's orders. They were all vaccinated on the first day of the country's immunization drive. READ: Gov't advisers reject priority vaccination of 'influencers' During his briefing on Thursday, Roque also clarified that the NITAG is only in charge of approving protocols on the arrival of limited vaccine doses and not on who will be prioritized for these. "[I]n the manner by which they implement the protocol, una pa rin po ang mga frontliner [frontliners are still first in line] and the rest under the national vaccination plan," he said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seal at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on June 17, 2013. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) FBI Says Biggest Domestic Terror Threats in 2021 Are Violent Extremists Motivated by Race or Anti-Authority Views The greatest domestic terrorism threats facing the United States in 2021 come from racially motivated or antigovernment violent extremists, a senior FBI counterterrorism official told Congressional committees looking into the Jan. 6 Capitol breach on Wednesday. Looking forward, the FBI assesses there is an elevated threat of violence from domestic violent extremists, and some of these actors have been emboldened in the aftermath of the breach of the U.S. Capitol, Jill Sanborn, Assistant Director in charge of the counterterrorism division of the FBI, told the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Rules and Administration (pdf). We expect racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, antigovernment or anti-authority violent extremists, and other domestic violent extremists citing partisan political grievances will very likely pose the greatest domestic terrorism threats in 2021 and likely into 2022, Sanborn said. She added that known driving factors of domestic violence extremism include racism, anti-Semitism, perceived government or law enforcement overreach, socio-political conditions, and personal grievances. Sanborns official warning came right after she said she didnt know of any firearms being recovered from the breach of the U.S. Capitol, after reports of armed groups being involved. When asked by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) about whether firearms were recovered or if any suspect was charged with firearms offenses, FBI counterterrorism chief Jill Sanborn responded: To my knowledge, none. Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) speaks at the start of a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the governments response to the CCP virus outbreak in Washington, on March 5, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) But in the hearing, Sanborn said that before the Jan. 6 incident, We knew they would be armed, we had intelligence that they would be coming to D.C., but we did not have intelligence that they would be breaching the Capitol. The armed individuals related to Jan. 6 appear to have been arrested by law enforcement outside the Capitol building, including 33-year-old Christopher Alberts, who officers pushed back from the Capitol after suspecting he had a firearm in his possession. They were right. Another armed individual arrived in D.C. on Jan. 7, a day after the breach, and threatened to proceed to kill the Speaker of the House. A third man, retired veteran Lonnie Coffman from Alabama, was arrested at his vehicle as he returned from the Capitol. Police found nearly a dozen Molotov cocktail explosive devices in his pickup truck, as well as a number of guns, ammunition, and concerning handwritten notes. All men faced firearms charges, among other charges. Johnson previously told news outlets that the term armed insurrection used by some Democratic officials, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and mainstream news outlets is incorrect as no guns were recovered. The only shooting involved an officer-involved shooting that left one protester, Ashli Babbitt, dead. The officers identity has yet to be disclosed. I would say, if its properly termed an armed insurrection, it was a pretty ragtag one, Johnson said in an interview with The New York Times last week. This didnt seem like an armed insurrection to me. When you hear the word armed, dont you think of firearms? Heres the questions I would have liked to ask: How many firearms were confiscated? How many shots were fired? he also said. Johnson added: If that was a planned armed insurrection, you really have a bunch of idiots. The senators comments drew a rebuke from media pundits and congressional Democrats, who attempted to characterize him as someone who is sympathetic to the rioters. Jack Phillips and Melanie Sun contributed to the report. (Newser) Smugglers threw some 80 migrants off a boat that was crossing from East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula on Wednesday, resulting in at least 20 drowning deaths, according to a UN agency. Yvonne Ndege of the UN's International Organization for Migration said at least five bodies were taken from the water on Wednesday night, per the New York Times. Survivors were being treated at an IOM center in Djibouti. About 200 migrants, including children, had been packed onto the boat that departed Djibouti bound for Yemen earlier Wednesday. About 30 minutes into the journey across the mouth of the Red Sea, the smugglers announced that there were too many people on board the vessel and began throwing dozens of migrants off, Ndege said. story continues below Thousands of migrants, often from Ethiopia and Somalia, make the trip to Yemen each year en route to other Gulf states in the hope of finding employment, the Times reports, noting this is "the third incident of its kind in less than six months." At least 50 migrants died in two similar incidents in the area in October, according to IOM. As many as 50 migrants drowned when they were thrown overboard on the same route in 2017, per ABC News. "Wednesday's tragedy is further proof that criminals continue to exploit people desperate to improve their lives for profit regardless of the consequences," says IOM Djibouti Chief of Mission Stephanie Daviot. The agency notes the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the flow of migrants, with 37,500 crossing in 2020, compared to 138,000 the year before. (Read more migrants stories.) Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are suitable for discovering the genes that underly complex and also rare genetic diseases. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), together with international partners, have studied genotype-phenotype relationships in iPSCs using data from approximately one thousand donors. Tens of thousands of tiny genetic variations (SNPs, single nucleotide polymorphisms) have been identified in the human genome that are associated with specific diseases. Many of these genetic variants are not located in the protein-coding regions of genes, but affect regulatory sections. Therefore, scientists are trying to find out if and in which tissues these variants can be linked to changes in the activity of specific genes. Typically, such analyses are performed in blood cells or tissue biopsies, depending on the type of disease. "Pluripotent stem cells, however, might be better suited for this purpose in many cases, as they are undifferentiated and therefore reflect the ancestral state of all cells," says Oliver Stegle, division head at the German Cancer Research Center and group leader at EMBL. "Stem cells could be particularly relevant when searching for the cause of diseases that occur early in development." Pluripotent stem cells can be generated in the culture dish from normal body cells obtained from a blood sample, for example. They are referred to as "induced pluripotent stem cells," or iPSCs for short, since they are not naturally occurring stem cells. Together with scientists from Stanford University and additional international cooperation partners, Oliver Stegle's team has compiled sequence and transcriptome data on iPSCs from around 1000 donors. The researchers systematically examined these data to identify correlations between individual genetic variants and altered expression patterns in stem cells. The results have now been published in the journal Nature Genetics. For more than 67 percent of all genes active in iPSCs, the researchers found differential expression patterns depending on genetic variants. Many of these associations are novel and have not been described in somatic cell types before. For over 4000 of these associations, the genetic variants responsible for the altered expression patterns could be linked to specific diseases. These included, for example, variants associated with coronary heart disease, lipid metabolism disorders or hereditary cancers. Stegle and colleagues also investigated whether iPS are suitable for identifying the causative genes of rare genetic diseases. They used iPSC lines from 65 patients who suffered from various rare diseases, whose causal gene defects were already known through previous analyses. In the transcriptome data of these iPSC lines, the scientists searched for particularly conspicuous "outliers" in the expression pattern. These analyses reliably led to the trace of the genetic basis of the disease. "Such screenings were previously impossible because there were simply no sufficiently large reference collections of iPS transcriptomes," explained Marc Jan Bonder, first author of the study. "We were surprised to find such a large number of disease-associated genetic variants that are already visible in the expression pattern at the earliest time point of cell differentiation, represented by the iPSCs". Until now, the relevance of iPSCs for such biomedical analyses has been significantly underestimated. In a companion paper, published in the same issue of Nature Genetics, Stegle and colleagues from EMBL-EBI and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute used more than 200 iPSC lines to investigate how genetic variants affect differentiation into neuronal cells. The scientists performed RNA single-cell sequencing at different time points of neuronal cell differentiation. This allowed them to analyze how genetic variants affect expression patterns in different cellular states, including different neuronal cell types. "The study demonstrates the power of combining single-cell sequencing with iPSC technologies to dissect the effect of genetic variants in cell types that would otherwise be inaccessible," Stegle explains. ### Bonder, M.J. Smail, C., Gloudemans, M.J., Fresard, L., Jakubosky, D., D'Antonio, M., Li, X., Ferraro, N.M., Carcamo-Orive, I., Mirauta, B., Seaton, D.D., Cai, N., Kilpinen, H., Vakili, D., Horta, D., Wheeler, M.T., Zhao, C., Zastrow, D.B., Bonner, D.E., HipSci Consortium, iPSCORE Consortium, GENESiPS Consortium, PhLiPS Consortium, Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Knowles, J.W., Smith, E.N., Frazer, K.A., Montgomery, S.B., Stegle, O.: Identification of rare and common disease variants using population-scale transcriptomics of pluripotent cells. Nature Genetics 2021, DOI: https:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41588-021-00800-7 Jerber, J., Seaton, D.D., Cuomo, A.S.E., Kumasaka, N., Haldane, J., Steer, J., Patel, M., Pearce, D., Andersson, M., Bonder, M.J., Mountjoy, E., Ghoussaini, M., Lancaster, M.A., HipSci Consortium, Marioni, J.C., Merkle, F.T., Gaffney, D.J., Stegle, O: Population-scale single-cell RNA-seq profiling across dopaminergic neuron differentiation Nature Genetics 2021, DOI: https:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41588-021-00801-6 The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) with its more than 3,000 employees is the largest biomedical research institution in Germany. More than 1,300 scientists at the DKFZ investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and search for new strategies to prevent people from developing cancer. They are developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to all questions on cancer. Jointly with partners from the university hospitals, the DKFZ operates the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg and Dresden, and the Hopp Children's Tumor Center KiTZ in Heidelberg. In the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), one of the six German Centers for Health Research, the DKFZ maintains translational centers at seven university partner locations. NCT and DKTK sites combine excellent university medicine with the high-profile research of the DKFZ. They contribute to the endeavor of transferring promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improving the chances of cancer patients. The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. TAMPA, Fla., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shield ITSM has selected vXchnge, a carrier-neutral colocation provider with data centers across the United States, to host its Pittsburgh-based IT infrastructure. The new colocation deployment replaces an existing client's on-premises solution and will allow the managed IT services provider to serve more clients in and around western Pennsylvania. "Our partnership with vXchnge allows us to offer clients greater resiliency without the cost or complexity of maintaining their own IT environments. It also gives us the opportunity to expand our business, both in Pittsburgh and in the other markets that vXchnge serves," said Brian Fisk, co-founder and CEO, Shield ITSM. "With excellent references from our colleagues and capabilities superior to area competitors, the choice to use vXchnge to support our clients was a total no-brainer." Shield ITSM sought a non-competitive colocation company to provide a flexible and secure foundation for its client's infrastructure. vXchnge is strengthened by value-added services like remote hands for continuous support, in\site, an award-winning platform for data center infrastructure management, and vX\defend for mitigating DDoS attacks, while the company's robust partner program functions as a digital ecosystem of complementary solutions. vXchnge customers also have access to multiple carriers to enable network connectivity and SD-WAN architectures, extending redundancy and performance for hybrid-cloud deployments. "When we began considering colocation, we prioritized finding a partner that could ensure business continuity for our clients and ourselves. vXchnge's uptime guarantee coupled with its neutral approach to connectivity and commitment to security and transparency blew us away," continued Fisk. A managed IT services provider with locations in Pennsylvania and Florida, Shield ITSM specializes in multilayer security and risk management and serves businesses looking to improve their IT infrastructure with automation, DevOps, and more. Shield ITSM expects to expand its agreement with vXchnge to meet the needs of new and existing clients in the future. About vXchnge As the most awarded carrier-neutral colocation data center operator in the United States, vXchnge delivers unmatched reliability, scalability, and security as well as an infrastructure management platform offering complete data center transparency. vXchnge's broad geographic footprint brings businesses to the edge, so they can reach more customers in the markets they serve. From emerging startups to Fortune 500 brands, some of the world's most well-known and innovative companies trust vXchnge. Visit vxchnge.com for more information. SOURCE vXchnge Related Links https://www.vxchnge.com/ The 42 schoolboys who were abducted from the Government Science College in Niger State were set free on Saturday, reports say. Their release comes just a day after a separate raid on a school in Nigeria's Zamfara state, where 317 schoolgirls were kidnapped by armed militants. Armed militants stormed the Government Science secondary school in the Kagara district of Niger state at around 2 a.m. on February 17. The attack led to the abduction of 27 students, 3 staff members, and 12 family members. A boy named Benjamin Habila was killed during the raid, the International Christian Concern reported. The survivors were in captivity since the attack, but were released on Saturday, Feb. 27. "The Abducted Students, Staff and Relatives of Government Science Collage Kagara have regained their freedom and have been received by the Niger State Government," the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello aka "Lolo," tweeted. The news about their release comes a day after the recent mass abduction of 317 schoolgirls in the nearby state of Zamfara. On the 26th of February, armed militants raided the all-girls boarding school in Jangebe, Zamfara, at midnight. Victims were forced inside vehicles or taken by foot to the nearby Rugu forest. Saidu Kwairo, one of the girls' guardians, told The Washington Post that he watched the gunmen ambush the school campus while firing their guns in the air. "We could hear the helpless voices of the girls screaming amid the sounds of dangerous rifles," Kwairo said, narrating what he saw from his window. UNICEF's Nigeria representative Peter Hawkins expressed hopes that the government will work to hasten the safe release of the kidnapped students. "As we welcome the news of the release of the abducted Kagara students, I urge the government to expedite action on the release and safe return of the kidnapped students of Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe," Hawkins said. Increased attacks The past few years saw increasing attacks on schools in Nigeria, discouraging concerned parents from sending their kids to school. For example, just two months ago, 350 boys were abducted from a secondary school in northwestern Katsina. Years ago in 2018, Boko Haram abducted 110 girls from Government Girls' Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State. Earlier than this --in 2014-- 276 girls were kidnapped in Chibok. This incident that caused outrage across the globe. Kidnapping for ransom by armed gangs is common across many northern Nigerian states, Reuters wrote. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that his administration will not give in to the "bandits'" attempts to extort "massive ransom payments" they can get from kidnapping "innocent school students" and then using "blackmail." Buhari also urged the government "to review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles, warning that the policy might boomerang disastrously." While no group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack, terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, Fulani Militants, and ISWAP are active in northern Nigeria. When translated, Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden." The group caused havoc in Nigeria for over a decade now, killing thousands of Christians in the process and displacing millions in an attempt to remove western influence and impose strict Islamic Sharia law in the country. The ICC urges people to pray for the family of Benjamin Habila, the people who have experienced trauma from the abductions, and the healing of Nigeria. It's a question on everyone's minds: What can you do once you're vaccinated? Dr. Bob Wachter, the chair of UCSF's department of medicine who has become among the most widely quoted coronavirus experts in the country, shared his response to this question. Wachter wrote on Twitter that after getting vaccinated, he flew to Florida to visit his parents, ages 85 and 90, and wore two masks (not N95) but no face shield on the plane. He hugged his mother, who is vaccinated, but not his father, who is not. Wachter's response suggests that the vaccine offers new freedom to do things that have been deemed unsafe amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but precautions should still be taken. If you've recently received a jab or two in your arm, you're probably starting to think about what activities you'd like to do as you return to a less-restricted everyday life. To help you navigate your new life with a vaccination, we've looked to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and experts, including Wachter, for their advice on what you can do safely if you're vaccinated. One important point to keep in mind when you get vaccinated: Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, and they're not fully effective, reaching 95% efficacy against illness, until two weeks after the second dose. The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine reaches 85% efficacy against severe disease after two weeks. On to the questions ... Q: Can you throw caution to the wind when vaccinated? A: "No, not caution to the wind," Wachter wrote in an email. "The chances of you getting really sick and dying are essentially zero. But there is still a small chance of getting mild COVID, and some chance (odds still not known) of catching asymptomtic COVID and giving it to someone else. My preference is not to get it period, and definitely not to spread it particularly if Im around someone who is vulnerable (like someone over 70). So I am more comfortable doing things (like getting a haircut and flying) but still doing masks and distancing, trying my best to avoid being exposed." Wachter's stance that you still need to be careful if you're vaccinated is the consensus among experts, and Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at UCSF, said this is especially important in an "unregulated environment," such as inside a grocery store, on a bus or in any group situation. Youre in a mixed crowd, and we dont know who has been vaccinated and who is not," said Chin-Hong. Q: Do I still need to wear a mask in public if Im vaccinated? A: The CDC advises that people continue to wear a mask and so do the experts. "I think you should be wearing a mask in public since you dont know the immunity status of the people youll be in contact with," Wachter advised. "Yes, you still need to wear a mask," concurred Chin-Hong. "I dont know if I have protection myself in a large unregulated setting and I still could potentially transmit it to others. Q: Do I still need to wear a mask on a run if Im vaccinated? A: "Depends how close youll come to people, and what the local rules say," Wachter wrote. "But the chances that youll catch COVID and that youll spread it to others have gone down substantially. So if the rules allow you to run without a mask, and you wont be coming close to people, I think its fine not to wear a mask." Yes, you should wear a mask in crowded places," explained Chin-Hong. "If youre running in Golden Gate Park in an area where there's not a lot of people, you probably dont need it. Q: Can I travel on a plane safely? A: Vaccinated or not, the CDC still recommends essential travel only, but health officials say that if you do fly, you're much safer with a vaccine than without one. Wachter said that while he just flew to visit his elderly parents in Florida, he wouldnt have done it last month. "I wore a double mask and when people around me took off their masks to eat, I kept mine on," he wrote in an email. "The air is filtered on the plane quite well, so I felt that after 10-15 minutes after people had their masks back on, it was safe for me to remove mine to (quickly) grab a bite to eat. I ate and drank very quickly and immediately put back the mask when done." Chin-Hong agreed that the risk is low on a plane if you're vaccinated and sporting a face covering. "The vaccine should give you peace of mind that at least you wouldnt get severe disease and you have a very low chance of getting infected," Chin-Hong said. "I would definitely have a soda on the plane. I might even go into the bathroom but I would keep my mask on. Q: If parents are vaccinated and children are not, can the family fly to international destinations? A: International is trickier due to the concern about carrying worrisome mutations from one country to another and especially with unvaccinated children. "The kids are safer than adults (particularly if under 12) but the risk to them isnt zero, and some of the new variants appear to be harder on kids than the old virus," Wachter said. "Id wait until everybody is vaccinated vaccine for kids will probably be ready in the fall." While Hawaii isn't an overseas destination, it offers a getaway and, Chin-Hong said, "Hawaii is very safe right now." He also advised against countries where variants are a concern. "I probably wouldnt take the family to South Africa on a safari," he said. If you do choose to travel abroad, you can expect countries with quarantine and test requirements to likely add post-vaccination guidelines. Q: Can I visit my elderly parents who are vaccinated? A: "Yes, in a small group of vaccinated people its going to be fine," said Chin-Hong. "You can give them a hug and have dinner with them." As noted earlier, Wachter just visited his parents in Florida and his mom was vaccinated, but his father was not. "So Im hugging her and not him with him, Im staying more than 6 feet away, keeping fans on, and wearing mask if I have to be closer," he shared. Wachter explained on Twitter his father wasn't vaccinated as he's mostly confined to bed. His mother waited three and a half hours in a parking lot site, which his father couldn't have done. His father is a veteran and is signed up for a shot at a nearby Veterans Affairs location soon. Q: Can I eat indoors at a restaurant? A: "I wouldnt," Wachter shared. "Theres still a lot of virus around and Im going to wait until case rates are lower. If you do, make sure waiter is wearing mask, and wear yours until you eat." You will have more security in these places with a vaccinated individual and your individual chance of getting infected is very low, but I would still use protection, wear a mask," said Chin-Hong. "Youre protecting the staff. Wait staff are only starting to get vaccinated. The chances are very low. You want to give them the benefit of the doubt. I still personally feel better outdoors, but if there was a big snowstorm and I had to eat indoors I would be OK with it." Q: Can I have other vaccinated people over for an indoor dinner and sit close and not wear masks? A: "Yes, a small group of vaccinated people getting together should be safe," said Wachter. Yes for a modest crowd, five or six max," specified Chin-Hong. "You want to make sure you know where they are in their vaccination. Generally two weeks after the second dose is the mantra for being safe." Q: Can I have unvaccinated people over for an indoor dinner and sit close and not wear masks? A: "I would not," Wachter said. "Again, there is a small but real chance that you can be infected and spread it to one of them particularly if theyre high risk (older age, maybe they have a pre-existing condition you dont know about), it could be a problem. Also, if theyre unvaccinated they could infect you you wont get super sick but Id still rather not have COVID, since were not sure about the possibility of long-term problems from even asymptomatic infection (though it seems unlikely). Anyway, I wouldnt risk it. Outdoors should be fine." Chin-Hong agree it's wise to skip indoor gatherings, no matter how small, with unvaccinated friends. If unvaccinated people are visiting me, Id still want to do it outside and be safe," he said. "Not only might I give it to them, I would worry they might give it to each other." Q: Can I throw a birthday party at my house with a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated people? A: The CDC advises against gathering in large groups event if you're vaccinated, and so do both Chin-Hong and Wachter. "Birthday parties are exciting, and youd be singing, yelping in joy and having a lot of aerosols in an indoor place," Chin-Hong said. "That would be scary. Keep it outside and do social distance and have the extra protection of a mask. Wachter added that if everyone at the party were fully vaccinated, it should be OK, but "mixture is risky if youre inside, less so if outside." Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category International Association of Registered Financial Consultants Our Ambassadors will be a source of inspiration for other RFCs, active and inactive, to participate in our activities further strengthening the local and global Association... IARFC Philippines Board President Gamalielh Boyet Benavides. The IARFC Mission fosters and enhances the growth of the Association for the benefit of the members and the clients they serve by providing a continuing source of information, education and networking. The criteria for the Ambassador Award are: IARFC member for more than 1 year Current Ethics Approved status or in good standing Successfully supported the goals of the Association and has served with extraordinary efforts of time, service and dedication The recipients so designated for 2021 are: Grace de Vera Escobar RFC, IARFC Philippines Chapter Executive Vice President Maria Arlene M. Baguyo, RFC, IARFC Philippines Chapter Treasurer Joseph Adrian Daez, RFC, Manulife Philippines All three represent a leadership presence in the International Chapter as together they have charted the course of the IARFC in their country. According to IARFC Philippines Board President Gamalielh Boyet Benavides, The awards for Grace, Arlene, and Ryan are a fitting recognition for their commitment and efforts in reviving and expanding IARFC in the Philippines. I am sure this recognition will continue to fire their zeal and enthusiasm for the RFC cause. Ambassadors who give freely of their time and talents are indicative of individuals who are passionate about their lifes calling, stated IARFC Trustee Chair and CEO, H. Stephen Bailey, Ph.D., MRFC. Just as they serve their clients in promoting their financial future, they collectively inspire others to become members and adhere to the Associations Code of Ethic. Our Ambassadors will be a source of inspiration for other RFCs, active and inactive, to participate in our activities further strengthening the local and global Association, continued Boyet. As Philippines Chapter Board President, I thank them for their service to the IARFCs Mission. For more information on the Ambassador Awards and our 2021 recipients, visit the IARFC website. Virtual presentations are scheduled on April 8 during IARFC April Awards month. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A latest study has revealed that people previously infected by the coronavirus variant which was discovered in South Africa may now have developed better immunity against other mutations. According to the reports by MedicanXpress, the South African Health Minister termed it as good news for all. The findings which come from a yet to be peer-reviewed research by the team of South African scientists discovered that the 501Y.V2 variant raises hopes about the vaccine. According to the data by the Network Genomic Surveillance South Africa, only 4 per cent of the sample of 55 patients who had 501Y.V2 virus failed to neutralise infection from the original coronavirus variant. The US biotechnology company Moderna recently said that it will begin a clinical trial of a version of its vaccine in mid-March. The vaccine is specific to the South Africa variant. Read: South Africa Launches Vaccination Programme As President Ramaphosa Gets COVID-19 Jab South African President gets vaccinated Two weeks ago South African President Cyril Ramaphosa became one of the first people to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in the country as South Africa begins its vaccination drive with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. "I must say that at first I was a bit terrified of this long needle that was going to be embedded in my arm, but it happened so quickly and so easily, Ramaphosa said, narrating his experience. He further added that this day marks a milestone for South Africa. He added, Id like to invite South Africans to take this up so that we can all be safe and we can all be healthy. Ramaphosa urged South Africas 60 million people to have confidence in the vaccines. The first phase of the drive will be focussed on vaccinating the countrys health care workers as an observational study because the J&J shots are not yet authorized for general use. Earlier, the South African health minister announced that the country would not be able to roll out the AstraZeneca vaccine. This was when a small study highlighted that they were not as effective against the variant that is now dominant in Africa. Read: Thousands In US Military Avoiding COVID-19 Vaccine The country has set up 20 vaccination centers in its nine provinces to inoculate the 80,000 health workers over the next two weeks. This will be done by 164 vaccinators. When more doses arrive, the services will be ramped up to ensure the maintenance of a good rate of daily vaccine. The country aims on vaccinating 40 million people, representing about 67 per cent of its population, by the end of the year. Read: Maharashtra's COVID-19 Tally Swells With 4787 New Cases; Positivity Rate At 13.43% Also Read: UK To Begin World-first Human Trials To Study COVID-19 The number of sex abuse charges against the owner of a Vestavia Hills massage parlor continues to rise. LeVan Uriah Johnson, the 43-year-old CEO of Oasis, is now charged with 13 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of women who were clients at the business, which opened in October 2020. Though Oasis has a business license, the owner and employees are not licensed massage therapists. Two additional felony charges have been added to the list of crimes for which Johnson is accused. Those alleged assaults are reported to have happened Dec. 30, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020. Efforts to reach his lawyer have not been successful. Charging documents state that three of the incidents happened Dec. 31, two on Nov. 24, two on Jan. 11, and one each on Dec. 5, Dec. 11, Dec. 30, Jan. 18, Jan. 20, and Jan. 21. Johnson, a former U.S. Army soldier and former police chief in central Alabama, is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on bonds totaling $780,000. The spa was shut down once the investigation began but authorities say Johnson reopened anyway. Two of the 13 victims recounted their ordeals with AL.com but asked that their names not be used since they are victims of sexual assault. The women provided horrific details about their experiences as clients at the business which included inappropriate touching. More about their stories can been viewed here. Authorities said the investigation is continuing and more charges are expected. Midland County recorded 18 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, according to the daily statewide report. A total of four new COVID-related deaths were recorded in the local five-county region of Midland, Bay, Gladwin, Saginaw and Isabella counties. Vaccine update Millie Jezior, public relations manager for MidMichigan Health, said MidMichigan has vaccinated about 1,126 first dose patients and 11 second dose patients in the past seven days. The three groups being vaccinated this week are 1st dose 1A category, 2nd dose 1A category and 1st dose 1B category. Jezior said the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland uses the majority of vaccine doses it gets, especially now that allocations have been lower. "With supply of vaccines now becoming more available nationwide, MidMichigan Health has more appointment availability," Jezior said. "If you are eligible, we encourage you to call the MidMichigan Health COVID hotline to schedule an appointment." To reach the hotline, call 989-794-7600 or the toll free line at 800-445-7356 anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and press Option 1. For eligibility and criteria, see the MidMichigan Health website at www.midmichigan.org/covid19 As of March 2, the number of second doses administered is 12,614, Jezior said. Currently, about 58.5% of MidMichigan employees have had their first vaccine dose, and 94.3% of that group have gone on to receive their second dose. As of March 2, MidMichigan Health has distributed 32,944 vaccines, and 14,849 doses have been administered in Midland. Thursday, March 4 COVID-19 numbers: Midland County: 18 cases were added. Pandemic total is 4,458 cases, 592 probable, 62 deaths and three probable deaths. Bay County: 12 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 7,200 cases, 308 probable, 281 deaths and 12 probable deaths. Gladwin County: 4 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 1,259 cases, 234 probable, 40 deaths and three probable deaths. Isabella County: 3 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 3,585 cases, 458 probable, 72 deaths and one probable death. Saginaw County: 37 cases and three deaths were added; pandemic total stands at 14,232 cases, 736 probable, 505 deaths and 11 probable deaths. On Thursday, the state added 1,526 new cases and 37 deaths, which includes 29 deaths identified during a vital records review. Overall, Michigan is at 593,279 cases and 15,600 deaths. Testing The state report shows as of Wednesday, Midland County has performed 58,691 COVID-19 tests. Gladwin County is listed as having administered 16,542 tests. Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate on Feb. 28 was listed at 4.1%, and Gladwin County was listed at 2.6%. Our 12-county region is listed at 4.4% and Michigan is at 3.6%. MidMichigan Health statistics As of Thursday, MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland was listed as having a 86% bed occupancy, with nine COVID-19 patients and one in the ICU. MidMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin was listed as having an 18% bed occupancy, with no COVID-19 patients. Regarding PPE supplies, the Midland hospital reported 15-30 days for N95 masks; 15-30 days for surgical masks; 30-plus days for surgical gowns; 15-30 days for exam gloves and 30-plus days for eye protection. The Gladwin hospital reported 30-plus days for all of the above supplies. UWs EORI Studies Impact of Federal Moratorium on Legacy Oil Fields The University of Wyomings Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI) has reviewed the impact of President Joe Bidens temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands, finding significant potential impacts on Wyoming oil and gas production, access to existing and future reserves, as well as state revenue. EORI says its analysis of the federal lease moratorium on Wyomings conventional oil reserves is stark due to the fact that the federal government owns 68 percent of the federal minerals in the state. The federal lease moratorium will impact 75 percent of Wyomings legacy (conventional) fields and 60 percent of drillable land. This policy will restrict, or possibly prevent, access to 2.9 billion barrels of potentially recoverable oil reserves on federal lands and the associated $12.9 billion in tax revenue, according to the EORI report. EORIs analysis complements an earlier report by UW energy economist Tim Considine of the School of Energy Resources, who conducted a study exploring potential scenarios affecting energy development with the change in federal administration. While Considine focused on unconventional, horizontal production and future drilling, EORIs study covers production from conventional/vertical wells in legacy (existing) fields. EORIs report notes that federal ownership of anything greater than 25 percent of the minerals in a field triggers federal control and the drilling moratorium for the entire field. Wyomings legacy fields, on both federal lands and on nonfederal lands, have a combined potential of 4.2 billion barrels of oil reserves that could be recovered through enhanced oil recovery techniques. Such projects, however, require drilling of infill wells, for which federal permits are not being issued at present. An interactive map illustrating EORIs report may be found here. EORI intends to continue studies on the impact of the Biden administrations policies on production and revenue generated from both conventional and unconventional oil and gas fields in Wyoming as new data and policy decisions become known. She is the social media sensation and stunning model who always puts on a stylish display. And Sofia Richie looked gorgeous as she stepped out for dinner at Craig's with glamorous pal Tess Kemper in Hollywood on Wednesday. The beauty, 22, was effortlessly chic in a tailored chestnut coat, paired with a fawn sweater as she wrapped an arm around her longtime friend. BFFs; Sofia Richie looked gorgeous as she stepped out for dinner at Craig's with glamorous pal Tess Kemper in Hollywood on Wednesday Sofia paired this with black culottes and trainers, while her and Tess sported matching berry face masks. The model wore her caramel tresses in soft waves while a radiant palette of make-up enhanced her pretty features. Tess opted for a chic all black ensemble and and shimmering jewellery as she caught up with her friend. Dinner: The beauty, 22, was effortlessly chic in a tailored chestnut coat, paired with a fawn sweater as she wrapped an arm around her longtime friend Parting ways: Sofia has been spending tons of time with her tight knit friend group in recent months, following her finite split from ex Scott Disick in August; Scott and Sofia pictured in 2019 Sofia has been spending tons of time with her tight knit friend group in recent months, following her finite split from Scott Disick, 37, in August. The former couple, who dated for three years, originally called it quits in May, following Scott's brief stint at a rehab facility in Colorado. After less than two months apart, Scott and Sofia reunited on the Fourth Of July at a friend's beachfront bash in Malibu, California. Things seemed to be heating up again between the pair, with Sofia sharing snapshots from inside's Scott's home with her Instagram followers in the weeks following their reunion. On to the next: Disick recently made his relationship with Amelia Hamlin 'Instagram official' by sharing a photo of himself and the 19-year-old with his followers; Sofia and Amelia pictured in February 2020 But by mid-August, outlets began reporting that Scott and Sofia had decided to end their romance 'for good.' Since then, Disick has worked his charm on Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's 19-year-old daughter Amelia Gray, who he reportedly began dating in late October. The age gap couple were first spotted together as they arrived to Kendall Jenner's star-studded Halloween party in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 31. Although their loved-up outings in recent months, including multiple romantic getaways, have suggested the pair's status, Amelia and Scott only recently made their relationship Instagram official. She radiated goodness and graciousness to all people, especially to those who were poor, Archbishop Faulkner said. She was a source of inspiration especially to women. But her words and actions also have and should endure as a role model to every person in public life. A devout Catholic who was educated at Adelaides St Aloysius College, Dame Roma was in the care of her parish priest, Father Maurice Shinnick, in the days leading to her death. The Catholic Archbishop, the Most Reverend Leonard Faulkner, said Dame Romas life had been a source of hope for ordinary people. Dame Roma had planned to go to Canberra to receive her award from the Queen. After the bedside investiture last week Sir William Deane, a close friend, said Dame Roma was gravely ill and had slipped in and out of consciousness. She was held in the highest esteem and affection, Mr Olsen said. Hers was an extraordinary life and one to be celebrated. She challenged conventions and ... pioneered a new status quo. Sir William Deane said Dame Roma was among the greatest of all Australians, an inspiration not only to those who knew and loved her but also to those who knew of her achievements. `For Helen and me she was a close personal friend of whom we cherish many wonderful memories, he said. Born in Adelaide in 1913 and raised by her mother after her father died in France in World War I when she was four, Dame Roma occupied positions in public life that were unprecedented for a woman. After studying law she became South Australias first female Queens counsel, a breakthrough she looked back on with great affection because it was her first and something you attain off your own bat. Her outstanding career with the judiciary led her in 1965 to become the first woman appointed to the bench of the SA Supreme Court. In 1972 she became the first female chancellor of a major university, the University of Adelaide, then went on to eclipse all previous firsts by in 1991 becoming the state Governor, the first female governor the nation had appointed. By then she had become at least partly used to the publicity that every new milestone seemed to attract, although at first it had shocked her. In later life she told an interviewer: I remember saying at the time that I hoped I lived long enough to see that such an appointment received no more publicity than the appointment of a man, and I think Ive nearly done so. A cyclist who sparked outrage in Belgium after he appeared to deliberately knock over a child has received a suspended sentence and been ordered to pay the family just 1 in damages. Footage, which was captured at a nature park in Baraque Michel, showed the five-year-old girl walking with a woman on Christmas Day when she was struck by the cyclist who appeared to stick his knee out. A court in the Belgian city of Verviers today ruled that the man was guilty of deliberately kneeing the girl and issued him with a suspended sentence on the grounds that he had been criticised enough on social media. The five-year-old girl is knocked to the ground by the cyclist as she walks in a park in Baraque Michel, Belgium, on Christmas Day During the footage, which was shared online last year, the cyclist was seen emerging from a bend in the snowy road before knocking into the young girl and sending her toppling into the snow. Furious father Patrick Mpasa, who had been filming his wife and two children, later shared the video on social media asking if people agreed that he was right to complain to the police. Mr Mpasa said he had chased after the man and managed to make him stop but the cyclist had been unrepentant. The family soon filed a complaint with police and both the cyclist and any witnesses were asked to come forward. Meanwhile the local cyclist Association GRACQ described the man's behaviour as 'unacceptable'. Today a judge opted for lenient treatment, arguing that the man had no intention of harming the girl, the incident was minor and he had already been criticised on social media. The judge went on to say that the cyclist had already spent time in custody when he was arrested. The court ruled that the unnamed man must pay the girl's family a symbolic 1 (86p) in compensation for the incident. The cyclist emerges from a bend in the snowy road before knocking into the young girl and sending her toppling into the snow The cyclist continues to ride his bike as the girl is knocked to the ground in Baraque Miche During a court hearing on February 3, the cyclist stated that the incident happened because he had been trying to keep his balance. The cyclist told the judge: 'When I was riding close to the girl, I felt my rear wheel slide off. 'To avoid a fall, I brought myself back into balance with a movement of the knee. I felt that I hit the girl, but did not immediately realise that she had fallen.' However the prosecutor said the statement seemed very unlikely, replying: 'He was annoyed by the people on the path who had to swerve around all the time. 'He gave the child a ''knee punch'' out of sheer annoyance because an obstacle was in his way for the umpteenth time.' The judge also dismissed the accused's version of events, claiming: 'He gave the child a knee thrust out of sheer annoyance because for the umpteenth time an obstacle came his way.' While the cyclist had faced up to a year in prison, the court decided to hand him a suspended sentence, meaning he will not face any penalties for his actions so long as he does not reoffend. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A day after Microsoft said a sophisticated group of hackers linked to China has hacked into its popular email service that allowed them to gain access to computers, Beijing has responded. Reiterating that China "firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft" in all forms, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said "it is also a highly sensitive political issue to pin the label of cyber attack to a certain government." '... adopt a professional & responsible attitude' "China firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft in all forms. This position is consistent and clear. China has reiterated on multiple occasions that given the virtual nature of cyberspace and the fact that there are all kinds of online actors who are difficult to trace, tracing the source of cyberattacks is a complex technical issue," Wenbin said during a press conference. "It is also a highly sensitive political issue to pin the label of cyber attack to a certain government. We hope that relevant media and company will adopt a professional and responsible attitude and underscore the importance to have enough evidence when identifying cyber-related incidents, rather than make groundless accusations," he added. 'Indian side has openly denied the relevant report' When asked about the report by a US-based cybersecurity company alleging that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group has been targeting Indian ports and power plants since the middle of 2020 when the border conflict between China and India broke out, the Chinese Spokesperson said, "I answered relevant questions recently. I noticed that the Indian side has openly denied the relevant report. It is irresponsible and ill-intentioned to make unsubstantiated accusations against a specific party. We urge relevant sides to respect facts, and stop stirring up trouble and sowing discord." READ | Delhi MCD bypoll results: AAP wins 4 of 5 wards in BJP-run body; CM Kejriwal on cloud 9 READ | Sasikala quits politics amid AIADMK-BJP seat sharing talks: 'Will pray for Amma's rule' In a blog post on Tuesday, Microsoft said that four vulnerabilities in its software allowed hackers to access servers for Microsoft Exchange, "which enabled access to email accounts, and allowed the installation of additional malware to facilitate long-term access to victim environments," reported CNN. The firm further said the online platform for Exchange was not affected in the cyberattack. Meanwhile, Microsoft (MSFT) is now urging users to download software patches, or fixes, for the four different vulnerabilities that were found. The company also said it believes the attacks were carried out by Hafnium, "a group assessed to be state-sponsored and operating out of China." READ | 'More than 80K Christians, Muslims in Vidyabharati schools': RSS hits back at Rahul Gandhi READ | I-T raids premises linked to Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films, Taapsee Pannu & KWAN agency The third batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine developed to curb the COVID-19 contagious disease arrived in Iran this morning, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said. The batch, including 200,000 doses of the vaccine, arrived at Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport, TASS reported. The first batch of the Russian vaccine was sent to Tehran on February 4, the second - on February 12. Im no stranger to Bikini Bottom. I may not have a pineapple home there, but I know the residents and local spots. Though after my unfortunate recent visit, for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, Im packing up my swim trunks and heading elsewhere. In Sponge on the Run, directed by Tim Hill, our favorite undersea fry cook must journey with his best friend, Patrick, to rescue SpongeBobs pet snail, Gary, who has been snail-napped by King Poseidon. Theyre headed to the Lost City of Atlantic City, a scary, vice-ridden cesspool of moral depravity (sorry, Jersey, you didnt hear it from me). Hypersonix, the leading enterprise AI platform for consumer commerce industries, today announced it is actively partnering with independent retailers to deploy its AI technology to help unlock profitable growth opportunities. Three examples are HomeTown Pharmacy, Pyramid Foods, and Carlie Cs IGA all have implemented the Hypersonix AI solution with the intention to become more data-driven in merchandising, marketing, and other areas of their business. The use of AI within consumer-facing organizations has historically been seen as an expensive and time-consuming investment, putting larger organizations ahead and leaving independent retailers behind. That is not the case with Hypersonix. The companys platform can be easily and affordably deployed in smaller enterprises with few technology resources. More importantly, the platform is designed for non-technical business users to help drive adoption across the organization. HomeTown Pharmacy, a chain with more than 40 locations across Michigan and Indiana, came to Hypersonix with the challenge of driving crossover sales within its pharmacy and retail stores. Looking to level the playing field with national retailers, HomeTown Pharmacy is leveraging AI to better identify and serve their customers. Although we pride ourselves on being a long-running and family-owned pharmacy, that doesnt mean we arent also embracing the latest technologies to improve the level of service for our valued customers, said Jonathan Grice, President of HomeTown Pharmacy. Working with Hypersonix is helping us figure out what we need to do in order to not only grow on the pharmacy side, but also increase sales for the rest of our retail products. Pyramid Foods, a regional 50-store, multi-brand retailer based in Springfield, MO, engaged Hypersonix to improve its pricing capabilities. The company will be using a variety of new factors including analyzing consumer demand and competitive intelligence to set more optimal pricing to meet the needs of local shoppers. Historically it has been a manual process to set pricing in our various locations, especially with the strong competitors that we face here. Now that we have the technology to make informed, accurate changes in real time, there are a variety of other areas where we plan to use Hypersonix, said Erick Taylor, President and CEO of Pyramid Foods. Were looking forward to seeing continued growth across our business with the help of Hypersonix. Similarly, Carlie Cs IGA, a 25-store operator based in Dunn, NC, tapped Hypersonix to improve competitiveness with larger chains in the region. Their main priority initially was to improve competitive pricing against larger, national chains by identifying key factors such as consumer demand, competitive positioning, internal economics and localized category goals. Carlie Cs IGA, a 25-store operator based in Dunn, NC, tapped Hypersonix to improve competitiveness with larger chains in the region. Their main priority initially was to improve competitive pricing against larger, national chains by identifying key factors such as consumer demand, competitive positioning, internal economics and localized category goals. As a smaller chain, using AI to improve the business has always seemed like something that would be out of reach for us. I must say that it has been incredibly easy and fast to implement Hypersonix and now we are looking to maximize results, said Mack McLamb, President of Carlie C. McLamb Enterprises. Our partnerships with HomeTown Pharmacy, Pyramid Foods and Carlie Cs IGA are examples of how advanced AI-based tools, that have until now been the purview of only large retailers, are available and affordable for independent retailers, said Todd P. Michaud, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Hypersonix. While we work with large organizations too, we are very proud of the impact that we can have with regional independent retailers. We are democratizing access to advanced diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive insights to find profitable revenue growth for great retailers of all sizes. For more information about Hypersonixs leading enterprise AI platform for consumer commerce industries, and to request a demo, visit: https://hypersonix.ai/request-demo/ About Hypersonix, Inc. Hypersonix offers the most comprehensive cloud-based, Enterprise AI platform that enables consumer commerce decision-makers to make smart decisions fastempowering them to get real-time intelligence, actionable insights, and recommendations to take timely actions leading to business success. Hypersonixs diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics can measure and monitor business results, clarify why results are occurring, and recommend actions to drive improvements. Leveraging innovations in Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Programming (NLP) and real-time data computing, the platform offers a simple, fast "Google-like" experience supported by "Jarvix," a virtual assistant. Designed for Retail, Restaurant, Hospitality, e-Commerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Brand Manufacturers, Hypersonix helps several leading brands and clients today to drive profitable growth, save money and improve customer engagement. Founded in 2018 by former executives from SAP, IBM, PayPal and Epsilon, the company has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, TechCrunch, along with other outlets. It is based in San Jose, California with offices in Sacramento, California and Bangalore, India. BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson Wednesday cautioned relevant political parties and personnel in Taiwan against the populist trap of irrational and confrontational thinking. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to the Kuomintang chairman Chiang Chi-chen's statement on cross-Strait relations. "Taiwan independence" forces have been deliberately producing opposition and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, undermining peace and stability across the Strait, she said. Reiterating firm opposition to "Taiwan independence," Zhu urged relevant political parties and personnel in Taiwan to distinguish between right and wrong. They should uphold constructive policies toward the mainland and contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, not the contrary, Zhu said. Selleck has said in the past that he's 'a fairly private person' and has 'always treasured the balance between work and time with my family' Reclusive Hollywood legend Tom Selleck has been spotted out for the first time during lockdown. The Magnum PI and Blue Bloods actor, who turned 76 on January 29, was seen by DailyMail.com running errands near his Los Angeles neighborhood on Monday afternoon. He kept in casual, wearing a baggy navy T-shirt, black shorts and sneakers. He wore a face mask before taking it off to enjoy the fresh California air. This is the first time Selleck has been seen in public since 2019. Actor Tom Selleck was spotted out and about in Los Angeles in exclusive DailyMail.com photos The Magnum PI and Blue Bloods actor, who turned 76 in January, was running errands near his neighborhood on Monday afternoon Selleck kept it casual in a baggy navy T-shirt, black shorts and sneakers Selleck has said in the past that he's 'a fairly private person' and has 'always treasured the balance between work and time with my family' He wore a face mask before taking it off to enjoy the fresh Southern California air Last December it was revealed Selleck tipped a waiter $2,020 and left a handwritten note to New York City restaurant servers as part of the 2020 Tip Challenge. The veteran actor left the generous tip on a $204.68 tab in November at the Italian restaurant Elio on the Upper East Side of New York City, his Blue Bloods costar Donnie Wahlberg revealed on Twitter. Wahlberg, 51, said, 'I found out that my TV Dad #TomSelleck has generously accepted the #2020TipChallenge at Elios Upper East Side! Love ya dad. I didnt start it but Im proud to be part of it. To those who gave even the smallest extra amount this year - THANK YOU.' Wahlberg added a shot of the receipt and a note the Detroit-born star left for his server that read, 'I am honoring my friend Donnie Wahlbergs tip challenge with my sincere hope for a better 2020.' Wahlberg, who has past chronicled his large tips, spoke with People about Selleck's low-key nature after taking part in the tip challenge. Last December it was revealed Tom tipped a waiter $2,020 and left a handwritten note to New York City restaurant servers as part of the 2020 Tip Challenge The veteran actor left a $2,020 tip on a $204.68 tab in November at the Italian restaurant Elio on the Upper East Side of New York City, his Blue Bloods costar Donnie Wahlberg revealed on Twitter Wahlberg, 51, said, 'I found out that my TV Dad #TomSelleck has generously accepted the #2020TipChallenge at Elios Upper East Side! Love ya dad. I didnt start it but Im proud to be part of it. To those who gave even the smallest extra amount this year - THANK YOU' Wahlberg added a shot of the receipt and a note the Detroit-born star left for his server that read, 'I am honoring my friend Donnie Wahlbergs tip challenge with my sincere hope for a better 2020' Wahlberg, who has past chronicled his large tips, spoke with People about Selleck's low-key nature after taking part in the tip challenge Blue Bloods costar Donnie Wahlberg shared the receipt and sweet note on Twitter He said that Selleck 'never mentioned it to' him on multiple occasions they've filmed the police show: 'We've done three dinner scenes since he did it and he never told me.' Selleck told the publication in April that he's 'a fairly private person' and has 'always treasured the balance between work and time with my family,' adding, 'Its always about them. I knew intellectually what it would mean in terms of being a public person, but until youve lived it, theres no way to understand it. I had a feeling of, "I dont think Im cut out for this."' Selleck has been married to wife Jillie since 1987 and they are parents to daughter Hannah, 32; Tom is also father to son Kevin, 54, from his previous marriage to Jacqueline Ray. 'My relationships and my ranch keep me sane,' he said. Adele Parks argues a change like this can be the height of romance YES By Adele Parks Edward Abel Smith, formerly Ned RocknRoll, has legally changed his name a third time, now to incorporate his wife Kate Winslets surname. I say hurrah for him! Its cause for celebration, a step towards equality. But I bet he gets some flak for it. Even though hes married to a Hollywood A-lister, his revolutionary gesture might still cause a stir. I know, from personal experience, that breaking with tradition does raise eyebrows. On our third wedding anniversary 14 years ago, my husband Jim presented me with a deed poll document. A combination of romance and logic led him to make this powerful move he had taken my surname. I was stunned, but he explained that as my son from my first marriage bears my surname, he thought we would feel most united as a family if he took my name, too. Lets be honest, his choice surprises people. But were dissimilar to most couples in many ways. I met Jim when I was divorcing; my son had just turned one, and my first date with Jim included him picking up nappies from the supermarket for me. A couple of years later we eloped to Vegas. Our only guest was my son, who by that time was very much our son. A change like this can be the height of romance - Adele Parks Jim and I work from home, and while thats the norm now, weve done it for 20 years. Maybe thats why were not all that influenced by what other people are doing or thinking; were quite a self-contained unit. We are not big on tradition, which helps when bucking the trend for a woman to take her husbands surname. Some women do keep their own name after marriage, while other couples hyphenate or mesh, but fewer than 1 per cent of men change their names to their wives. Of course, I understand how the tradition became so entrenched. Historically, taking the mans name offered legal protection and other advantages to the woman and her children. But laws and society have changed substantially. We havent been considered chattel for a long time. Female autonomy is a legal reality in the UK, and it ought to be a social one, too. Why should a woman automatically give up her name? Change only comes when people courageously challenge outdated ideas and dare to run with new ones. It shouldnt be news that my husband did something hundreds of thousands of women do every year. It really shouldnt. Adele Parks is author of Just My Luck (HarperCollins) Rachel Johnson asks why couples must merge their identities NO By Rachel Johnson My name is the most normcore one imaginable. But when I married a man with a dashing surname, I still didnt consider conflating my identity with his. I know its simpler at passport control if you all have the same name, but I was born in the 1960s. Exchanging my fathers surname for my husbands at the altar just struck me as a little old-fashioned. It still does. And a man taking his wifes name seems performatively modern and not unproblematic, either. Wouldnt it be simpler and less stressful if we all kept the names we were born with? Im happy my children have my husband Ivos surname, Dawnay, but Ive never been accused of kidnapping them at customs just because my passport remains in my maiden name and theirs is different. I can basically divide my friends into those who kept their birth names Cosmopolitan would call them career women and those who contentedly took their husbands names, particularly if they were an improvement on their own. (I completely get Diary Of An MPs Wife author Sasha nee Nott becoming the swisher Sasha Swire.) I tried to explain to my husband that Kate Winslets third husband, formerly Ned Rocknroll, had changed his name again to reflect the new, improving, if not improved, times we live in. Why must couples merge their identities? - Rachel Johnson Oh, has he decided to call himself Ned Easy Listening then? he queried. When I said that no, he had become the more inclusive Edward Wolf Winslet Abel Smith, to match his son Bear Blaze Winslets name, I was met with an uneasy silence. Ivo has a fine name and a bloodline he can trace back to the Norman Conquest. Hed never have considered adding my name or subtracting his. Far from it. When the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved in the U.S. last week, he said: I hope it protects the public from at least two Johnsons. OK, when my children were at school I went by Mrs Dawnay to help teachers. Ditto when I had babies in hospital. But for all other purposes I retain the name I inherited from my father, as my children inherited their names from my husband. I admit its not a perfect way of doing things. Its still patriarchal. But it works and is preferable to endless double-barrelling. (If someone with a double-barrelled name marries another, their children will end up with four surnames like MP Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax!) Your place or mine? is hard enough. Your name or mine? is a step too far for me. [March 04, 2021] Chamberlain University Opens Irwindale, Calif., Campus to Expand Access to Education and Address Nursing Shortage With a projected nationwide nursing shortage of nearly half a million nurses by 2030, it's estimated that the state of California will experience the largest shortage of nurses out of all 50 U.S. States.i In an effort to address the supply/demand imbalance of the healthcare workforce, Chamberlain University, one of the largest nursing schools in the U.S., is expanding its footprint with the opening of its Irwindale campus in order to expand access to nursing education and better address critical workforce needs. With a 130-year history of excellence in healthcare education and currently serving Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students across 22 campuses in 15 states and online, Chamberlain University is committed to furthering its mission, reach and scale by consistently graduating highly qualified students that are representative of the communities that they will go on to serve. Irwindale will join the other campuses as Chamberlain's 23rd location. According to a report from the California Board of Registered Nursing, only 39% of qualified applicants were accepted to BSN programs in the state in 2018/20191. Coupled with the severity of the Los Angeles-area nursing shortage2, the Chamberlain Irwindale campus will increase capacity to educate qualified nurses to serve the healthcare needs of the community. "Expanding access to nursing education is a critical first step to address the nursing shortages and ensure our employer partners are able to offer quality care in their communities," said Karen Cox (News - Alert) , Ph.D., RN, FACHE, FAAN, president of Chamberlain University. "With the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating healthcare workforce challenges including burnout and compassion fatigue, now is a critical time to scale our educational offerings to meet these critical workforce needs. In addition, as the leading grantor of BSN degrees to underrepresented minority students in the U.S., we are focused on graduating diverse healthcare professionals who are committed to improving patient outcomes for all, including those disproportionately affected by COVID-19." The new location will offer the opportunity for students to complete their BSN in just three years with year-round study. This accelerated program allows for passionate future nurses to enter the workforce more quickly and start making an impact within the community sooner. "We are dedicated to providing quality education and training for the outstanding nurses of the future. As our campus opens, we are eager to join the community by providing the culture necessary to educate students who will become extraordinary nurses. As our graduates will represent the nursing profession by making a difference in the lives of patients, they will see that being a nurse is not just a career, but caring for others will become part of their identity." said Diane Morey, PhD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, Irwindale ampus president. The Irwindale campus is the second Chamberlain location in California and will join the Sacramento campus to help bolster the healthcare workforce in the state. Irwindale is now accepting applications for the May 2021 session. For more information, visit www.chamberlain.edu/irwindale. About Chamberlain University Chamberlain University is a part of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE). Chamberlain University's mission is to educate, empower and embolden diverse healthcare professionals who advance the health of people, families, communities and nations. Chamberlain is comprised of the College of Nursing, which offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and flexible post-licensure programs such as the RN to BSN option, Master of Science in Nursing degree program, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and graduate certificates, and the College of Health Professions, which offers Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work degree programs. Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. To learn more, visit chamberlain.edu. About Adtalem Global Education Adtalem Global Education Inc. (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) is a leading global education provider and the parent organization of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, Becker Professional Education, Chamberlain University, EduPristine, Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, please visit adtalem.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) (@adtalemglobal) and LinkedIn. 1 https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/education/prelicensure18-19.pdf 2 https://oshpd.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Registered-Nurse-Shortage-Areas-Report.pdf i https://www.chamberlain.edu/media/15701/us-registered-nurse-workforce-report-card-and-shortage-forecast.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304006160/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kolkata, March 4 : Britain has called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday to discuss the fast-worsening situation in Myanmar after at least 38 protesters were killed in firing by security forces on Wednesday. UN Envoy on Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told mediapersons that 38 protesters were shot dead on Wednesday as security forces defied an international call for restraint and opened fire on protesters seeking a return to democracy in several cities of Myanmar. US State Department spokesman Ned Price said his country was 'appalled and revulsed at the brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people'. Price asked China to push the Burmese military junta to stop the violence and pave the way for return of parliamentary democracy. "China does have influence in the region. It does have influence with the military junta. We have called upon the Chinese to use that influence in a constructive way, in a way that advances the interests of the people of Burma (Myanmar)," Price said in a statement. He said the US, which has imposed sanctions on junta leaders, was looking at further actions. China has not reacted so far except saying it wants stability in Myanmar while India has called for 'orderly democratic transition' even as the ASEAN pushed for breaking the stalemate to bring back parliamentary democracy. The ASEAN foreign ministers who met this week called for an end to the impasse caused by an arbitrary declaration of Emergency that paved the way for the military takeover. Monywa, the capital of Myanmar's Sagaing region bordering India, experienced the worst crackdown when security forces shot dead at least seven protesters. A doctor who attended to the severely injured protesters said they were 'all shot with live ammunition and at least seven died.' But he was not willing to be identified for fear of retaliation by the military. Other medical workers said they have seen two more dead protesters being dragged away by the military. At least six protesters were shot dead on the outskirts of Yangon, Mynamar's biggest city and one-time capital. Rescue workers and local journalists said the protesters continued to block key roads and security forces fired live rounds to break the blockcades. Near Yangon's Sule pagoda intersection, protesters pasted print-outs of General Min Aung Hlaing's face on the ground -- a tactic aimed at slowing down security forces who avoid standing on their chief's portraits. In Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, two demonstrators were killed, a doctor said. One of the two was a teenager shot in the head, the doctor said, indicating the military was now shooting to kill. Another 19-year-old protester died after being shot in Salin. Reports of deaths have come in from Pyay, Dawei and several other cities that have become hot-bed of the anti-junta protesters after the Febuary 1 military takeover that denied Aung Saan Suu Kyi's NLD party a second tenure in power. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest in capital NayPhiDaw and briefly appeared via video-link in a court to face charges of violating Covid regulations and for possession of foreign-made walky-talky communication equipment. Her lawyer said the junta is trying to keep her in prison on this charges that could get her a two to three year sentence, so that she cannot contest the polls once the military backed off and set the stage for fresh elections, which they have promised to do. The military takeover was inspired by fears that Suu Kyi's party, armed with a huge landslide (396/476) and support of ethnic parties (44/476) would move decisively to amend the military-drafted 2008 Constitution that gives the military control of three key ministries and 25 per cent of the parliament seats. Some say army chief General Hlaing's desire to be President also motivated the military takeover. LONDON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Governments pushing ahead with increased online services run the risk of alienating large numbers of their citizens due to concerns around data privacy, according to How can digital government connect citizens without leaving the disconnected behind? a new EY survey of 12,100 respondents across 12 countries. Conducted by Ipsos MORI, the survey further reveals a roadmap for governments attempting to deal with the increased digitization of services brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year, the pandemic has increased the need for governments to offer more services remotely, and in some cases they have been delivered entirely online. This has resulted in the generation of much larger volumes of citizens' data which is then collected by governments. Yet more than half (53%) of respondents say that privacy and security risks around how their data is shared outweigh the benefits. Forty-six per cent think data should not be shared between the public and private sector, with only 29% saying that it should be shared. And 41% think data should not be shared within the public sector, while only 33% believe that it should be shared. Almost three-quarters of respondents (72%) are opposed to governments selling their personal data to a private sector company, even where the objective is to fund better public services or tax cuts. Arnauld Bertrand, EY Global Government & Public Sector Consulting Leader, says: "The survey findings should be a wake-up call for governments across the world. The benefits of a more digital state, including increased efficiency, better value for taxpayers and better quality of service for citizens, will be significantly reduced if large segments of the population aren't convinced of them and are at risk of disengaging from increasingly digitized public services. Many individuals could potentially be alienated, which could quickly become a dangerous problem for citizens, governments and society as a whole." Technological optimism tempered by mistrust While the survey reflects optimism that technology improves quality of life (according to 72% of respondents), there are significant concerns about its broader impact. Many believe that increased use of technology will potentially widen social inequalities, with 32% stating that technology will lead to greater social inequality and 34% stating that technology gives more power to those who are already rich and powerful. There are further concerns around the impact of increased reliance on technology as a means for communication on social cohesion. Globally, 32% of citizens believe technology will make people feel less connected to their communities. However, demand still exists to further develop people's digital skills. Sixty-one per cent say they would be likely to use government training schemes that improve their digital skills if they were available. Bertrand says: "Digitization is here to stay, and during this crisis many have experienced its amazing potential to improve public services, maintain social connections and keep countries working. But there is clearly a long way to go in communicating these benefits to citizens and addressing their concerns. In a more connected world, some of the most vulnerable groups are at risk of becoming more isolated through the loss of physical support networks. Governments should demonstrate that they can be trusted to deliver safe, secure and improved digital services that will benefit all citizens. Just as importantly, they need to bring their citizens with them; access and skills are just as vital as the services being available in the first place." Seven personas that governments must reach The survey segments respondents into seven personas: Aspirational Technophiles, Capable Achievers, Diligent Strivers, Tech Skeptics, Privacy Defenders, Passive Outsiders and Struggling Providers. These categories offer insights into how governments should consider working with different societal groups. For example, the survey indicates that Aspirational Technophiles, Capable Achievers and Diligent Strivers are more comfortable with sharing their data to access a service or perform a transaction online, and with their data being shared. But there is a lack of support among Tech Skeptics, Privacy Defenders and Passive Outsiders about governments and businesses gaining access to their data. These personas also give key insights into the perspectives of certain demographics around fundamental issues, such as immigration, climate change and globalization. Notes to Editors About EY EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients. About EY Government & Infrastructure Around the world, governments and not-for-profit organizations are continually seeking innovative answers to complex challenges. They are striving to provide better services at lower costs and to create sustainable economic development, a safe environment, more transparency and increased accountability. EY combines private sector leading practices with an understanding of the public sector's diverse needs, focusing on building organizations' capabilities to deliver improved public services. Drawing on many years of experience, we can work with you to help strengthen your organization and achieve lasting improvements. Our Global Government & Infrastructure Sector brings together teams of highly skilled professionals from our assurance, consulting, strategy, tax and transaction services. We are inspired by a deep commitment to help you meet your goals and enhance public value, for today and tomorrow. About the survey Ipsos MORI conducted online interviews with 12,100 participants of working age across 12 countries (approximately 1,000 per country) globally between July and September 2020. Data have been weighted by age, gender, region and work status to nationally representative profiles. Countries surveyed included Australia (aged 18-65), Brazil (18-59), France (16-75), Germany (16-75), India (18-50), Japan (18-75), Malaysia (18-65), Mexico (18-59), South Africa (18-65), UAE (18-55), the USA (18-75) and the UK (16-75). In countries with a relatively low internet penetration, the sample is more urban, more educated, and/or more affluent than the general population and the results should be viewed as reflecting the views of a more "connected" population. Michael Healy EY Global Media Relations +44 7825 377909 [email protected] SOURCE EY The National Diversity and Inclusion Cannabis Alliance (NDICA) announced today it has received one of 80 grants totaling $31.5 million awarded by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to help communities hit the hardest by the War on Drugs. This grant makes NDICA the only multi-state funded, cannabis non-profit operator in the area of social justice and social equity in cannabis. NDICA received a grant to support both youth development and economic development services. As part of this program, NDICA will provide youth programming, vocational training, record expungement, and workforce development services in the Cook South Suburban region of Illinois. Using revenue from adult-use cannabis sales, the ICJIA is funding violence prevention, legal aid, and re-entry services as part of the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program. The R3 Program was a key equity component of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA), signed into law by Governor Pritzker in 2019. The law requires that 25 percent of all cannabis revenue be used to support communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, and nearly 400 organizations applied for funding through the R3 Program. We have been working in Illinois in the area of social equity for several years as a self-funded organization, said Bonita Money, executive director and founder of NDICA. We applaud Illinois progressive measures to fund additional social justice programs with revenue generated through adult-use cannabis sales. We are excited and grateful to be able to expand our programs and services in the Chicago suburbs to assist low-income communities and marginalized people of color, she added. In 2019, NDICA was awarded the California CAL RG GOBIZ Community Re-investment Grant, which is also funded by cannabis tax revenue. Kelly Evans, executive director of NDICA Illinois and former chief of staff to Illinois Cannabis Czar Toi Hutchinson, further explained, This grant will allow NDICA to assist people in disenfranchised Chicago communities to not only participate in the cannabis industry but, through expungement activities, also address their criminal background issues that have historically created major barriers to gainful employment, educational and housing opportunities in general. Services will be delivered by NDICA at its Illinois facility in Cook South Suburban, as well as through a remote education portal. To learn more about this program, contact NDICA at info@thendica.org. For further information, please contact: Kristie Amobi, Head of Communications Tel: +1-213-598-0236, e-mail: kristie@thendica.org Time zone: PST: Pacific Standard Time About NDICA The National Diversity & Inclusion Cannabis Alliance (NDICA) is a non-profit working to promote social equity and social justice in the cannabis industry. With chapters in Los Angeles, CA, Fresno, CA, Chicago, IL, Oklahoma City, OK, and Columbus, OH, NDICA exists to help ensure that people who were negatively affected by the War on Drugs are represented in the legal cannabis industry throughout the country. NDICA works with social equity applicants and license holders in need of technical assistance, mentorship and resources to ensure a fair and equitable cannabis industry. Visit http://www.thendica.org to learn more. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is adding Chinese to its growing list of priority languages. The deep and essential insight provided by the recently launched MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project offers a greater and more nuanced understanding of China, its people, its Chinese Communist Party-led government, its ideology, and its regional and international aspirations. For the past 21 years, MEMRI has sought to fill the information void in regard to the Arab and Muslim world, by providing timely and impactful open-source material in English to Western audiences about the reality of the Middle East, translating primary source material from Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Urdu, and Pashtu into English and other Western languages. This material has served in shaping policy and enriching the public debate on issues of concern, such as terrorism, the rise of Islamist extremism, social and political trends, and the ongoing struggle of a wide range of Muslim reformers in the region. In early 2016, MEMRI added Russian as a priority language, following Russia's move into Syria to tilt the balance of power in its civil war in favor of the Assad regime. However, in order to understand Russia's policies in the region, it became clear that the research should include Russia's domestic and international aspirations and challenges, both political and military, and its discourse regarding the U.S. in particular. In October 2020, MEMRI began its Chinese Media Studies Project. MEMRI Vice President Ambassador Alberto Fernandez stated: "China's activity in the Middle East and globally deserves rigorous monitoring and quality research of the type MEMRI has become known for Monitoring China's growing propaganda is a logical outgrowth of MEMRI's ongoing research and monitoring of media in West Asia. The two complement each other." For more information about the project, please see this essay by Amb. Fernandez and MEMRI President Yigal Carmon. DONATE TO THE CHINESE MEDIA STUDIES PROJECT MEMRI research and translation efforts in the Arab and Muslim world - and beyond - have provided crucial resources to educate policymakers, media organizations, the public, and others. MEMRI asks for your help to continue this important work through tax-deductible donations to the Chinese Media Studies Project. ABOUT MEMRI Exploring the Middle East and South Asia through their media, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, and Turkish media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends. Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. MEMRI's main office is located in Washington, DC, with branch offices in various world capitals. MEMRI research is translated into English, French, Polish, Japanese, Spanish and Hebrew. MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute MEMRI TV Jihad & Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Cyber & Jihad Lab (CJL) MEMRI In the Media Contact Information: MEMRI media@memri.org 202-955-9070 www.memri.org SOURCE: Middle East Media Research Institute View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633595/MEMRI-Launches-Chinese-Media-Studies-Project-Adding-Chinese-to-Its-Priority-Languages Since President Biden took office on Jan. 20, the department has also notified the Supreme Court that it would no longer challenge the Affordable Care Act, disavowing its position under the Trump administration. It withdrew a lawsuit that accused Yale of discriminating against Asian-American and white applicants, seen as part of a wider effort to dismantle affirmative action. And it retracted support for a lawsuit seeking to block transgender students from participating in girls high school sports. Other moves by Mr. Wilkinson helped raise morale among employees who saw President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General William P. Barr as wielding the Justice Department for political gain, according to current and former employees. Most notably, Mr. Wilkinson asked a Trump-appointed prosecutor to stay on to oversee an investigation into Mr. Bidens son, Hunter Biden; and he allowed John H. Durham, the special counsel, to continue his inquiry into the Russia investigation. Department officials viewed the decisions as an indication that facts, rather than political interests, would set the course. Though Democrats said they considered those moves an important reset, more difficult work lies ahead. Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, accused previous department leaders during Judge Garlands confirmation hearing of shaking the public trust in the department as they sought to advance Mr. Trumps personal and political interests. Mr. Durbin called for the next attorney general to restore faith in the rule of law. Despite support from many Republicans on the committee, which voted 15 to 7 to advance Mr. Garlands nomination, at least one objected to expediting his confirmation, Mr. Durbin said on Wednesday. It could be days, maybe even into next week, before he can take the job, Mr. Durbin said in a speech on the Senate floor. Like any attorney general, Judge Garland will face headwinds once he is in charge of criminal investigations with political dimensions. The integrity and wisdom of decision-making throughout the department will continually be drawn into question, Kenneth Starr, the former Whitewater special prosecutor, said in Senate testimony supporting the judges nomination. Princess Eugenie has said she wants her baby son to grow up in a world where he knows he can 'make a big difference'. August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, the newest addition to the Royal Family, was born at the exclusive Portland Hospital in central London on February 9. Speaking on CNBC's Finding Solutions yesterday, Eugenie, 30, who wore a dark jumper and an embellished bejewelled hairband, said it is her wish that the world he lives in will be a place where he can have 'hope'. Asked by Tania Bryer about what kind of world she wants her child to grow up in and how she wants to inspire the next generation, Eugenie said: 'I think my child, hopefully, will be one of those people who will continue to see the world as a place that can be changed. Princess Eugenie has said she wants her baby son August (pictured together with husband Jack Brooksbank) to grow up in a world where he knows he can 'make a big difference' 'I would love people to continue to have hope that we can make a difference. I hope that the world will be a place where my child can have hope, and continue to know that they can make a big difference.' Eugenie, who co-founded the Anti Slavery Collective, also spoke about modern slavery during the interview, describing it as 'very much a hidden crime'. She said: 'It's something that people might not be necessarily aware of. It's something that people might not be necessarily aware of, it's maybe in your nail bar, or at your car wash, or your clothes you're wearing. 'You know modern slavery is such a big term, but I think it can be cut down into different sort of headings, so like domestic servitude, or sex trafficking, or different terms like that. Eugenie, who co-founded the Anti Slavery Collective, also spoke about modern slavery during the interview with CNBC's Tania Bryer, describing it as 'very much a hidden crime'. 'And I think one of the positive things that's facing modern slavery is that the pandemic has brought people together, to data share more, and to access each other more, and I think there is a lot of momentum now towards people working together, which is great.' Explaining how the organisation came to pass, she explained: 'We launched about three years ago now and it came because my best friend Jules and I went with my mum, actually who you know very well, to India back in 2011, and we met this amazing group of people called the Women's Interlink Foundation. 'We learned from them just the extent of what modern slavery is, this term that is used. 'And we kind of came back to England and we were like, right, we're going to do something about this, let's just become like secret spies and learn everything we can about the modern slavery world, and we took meetings with anyone who would possibly talk to us, and we created The Anti-Slavery Collective from that.' Eugenie revealed last month that her son's name is a touching tribute to Queen Victoria's Husband Prince Albert, whose birth name was Franz Albert August Karl Emanuel, and Prince Philip, who is currently in hospital The Queen's granddaughter, who is 10th-in-line to the throne, is not a working royal and works at a London art gallery. She does however represent a number of charities, including the Scoliosis Association - a condition she was born with. Eugenie has been vocal about her experience, including showing off the scar from the surgery she underwent at the age of 12 to correct the condition on her wedding day. She often shares pictures on her social media showing the scars and encourages others to do the same. Posting images of her baby son last month, Eugenie said she and her husband Jack Brooksbank were 'excited' to introduce their first-born, as she described their hearts being 'full of love for this little human'. Eugenie and Jack, who is European brand director of Casamigos Tequila, co-founded by the actor George Clooney, wed in a glittering ceremony in the gothic surroundings of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in front of royal and celebrity guests in October 2018. Eugenie and Jack, who is European brand director of Casamigos Tequila, co-founded by the actor George Clooney, wed in a glittering ceremony in the gothic surroundings of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in front of royal and celebrity guests in October 2018 The couple are believed to be currently living at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, having been loaned the home by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - who have given a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey which airs in the US on Sunday. Yesterday a royal insider claimed Eugenie is the 'only member' of the Royal Family to whom Meghan Markle is still close. The pair reportedly maintain a close relationship despite the Sussexes' decision to step back as senior royals - and have bonded over their recent pregnancy joy. Meghan, who welcomed Archie Harrison, in May 2019, announced she was pregnant with her second child around the same time Eugenie gave birth. The close friendship may not come as a surprise because according to Finding Freedom authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie had always had a strong bond. The authors wrote: 'Out of all the queen's grandchildren, Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry have one of the most natural connections. Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest and great fun. 'The two had many nights out together in London, sneaking into back entrances of clubs, such as Mahiki, where Jack once was manager, or Tonteria, where in one of the VIP cave areas they downed shots from Mexican skull shaped glasses and a giant frozen margarita (with multiple straws).' The authors went on to say that the 'strong relationship between their mothers brought them together'. 'Like Harry, Eugenie also struggled to carve out her own identity growing up,' the claimed. 'Not being a senior royal meant that she had to go out into the world and find her own path, which she had done.' Meanwhile, they also detailed how Prince Harry even confided in his cousin early on in his relationship with Meghan. The authors wrote: 'Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life. Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends said that she gives great advice and has always been "beyond wise" for her years. It's not surprising then that Eugenie was one of the first in the family to know about his relationship with Meghan.' They revealed how Princess Eugenie was 'nothing but encouraging about his new relationship'. According to Omid and Carolyn, Prince Harry and Meghan went on several double dates with the couple.' Eugenie revealed last month that her son's name is a touching tribute to Queen Victoria's Husband Prince Albert, whose birth name was Franz Albert August Karl Emanuel, and Prince Philip, who is currently in hospital. She wrote on Instagram: 'On his grandfather's birthday weekend, thinking of my grandfather, we are introducing our little boy. He is named after his great grandfather and both of his 5x great grandfathers.' It came days after a source told People magazine that Eugenie is 'doing really well' after giving birth to her baby boy 'via C-section due to her previous spinal surgery for scoliosis'. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport is seeking approval for a VND513 billion (US$22,370) canal renovation project to deal with flooding at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and its vicinity. The municipal transport department has submitted the plan on renovating Hy Vong Canal in Tan Binh District to the Peoples Council for ratification. The project is aimed at improving rainwater drainage at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and other areas along the canal. The target areas cover about 1,052 hectares. The plan will also prevent flooding at public works and residential areas as well as helping improve the local environment and urbanscapes. The renovated canal will be 1,821 meters long, while two roads, about 10 meters wide each, will be built along both sides of the canal. Steel fences and lighting systems will also be installed along these roads. The project is estimated to cost VND513 billion, funded by the citys budget, and is expected to be finished in 2022. The upgrade of Hy Vong Canal was previously included in the citys flood risk management project, which was approved by the municipal Peoples Committee in 2016. It was projected to get funding from the World Bank, but the international lender stopped sponsoring the project in 2017. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is considering funding a number of sub-projects under the citys flood risk management project, including those dealing with drainage problems along Tham Luong - Ben Cat Nuoc Len Canals. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do A magnitude 3.6 earthquake near Valdez, Valdez-Cordova County, Alaska, USA, was reported only 9 minutes ago by the United States Geological Survey, considered the key international and national agency that monitors seismic activity in the US. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 8 miles beneath the epicenter late at night on Tuesday 2 March 2021 at 10:39 pm local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report. ... We are receiving unverified early reports of seismic activity in or around Albania at approximately 10:19 GMT. There are no details yet on the magnitude or depth of this earthquake. We expect more accurate data to emerge in the next few minutes. The location and magnitude mentioned are indicative and temporary until the AllQuakes monitoring service receives more exact scientific data from a national or international seismological agency. Check back here shortly and stay safe. ... A magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Baturaja, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia, was reported only 11 minutes ago by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, considered the main national agency that monitors seismic activity in Indonesia. The earthquake occurred at an intermediate depth of 129 km beneath the epicenter in the afternoon on Wednesday 3 March 2021 at 5:34 pm local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report. ... An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 occurred in the evening on Wednesday 3 March 2021 at 9:16 pm local time near Pagan Village, Pagan Island, Northern Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). ... A massive 6.2 earthquake hit near the capital city of Larissa in the Thessaly Region, Greece, earlier today, 3 March 2021, at 12:16 pm local time. Within minutes after the quake, our monitoring service received numerous reports from users describing moderate shaking. Reports coming from Larissa described to have felt strong shaking. The earthquake was felt at a radius of more than 200 km from the epicenter. ... Just 29 minutes ago, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Kathmandu, Province 3, Nepal. The tremor was recorded in the afternoon on Wednesday 3 March 2021 at 5:58 pm local time, at a shallow depth of 10 km below the surface. ... If you felt it , report it through our site or app right now! Support us - Help us upgrade our services! Weather reports Tsunami alerts Design upgrades Faster responsiveness Earthquake archive from 1900 onwards Additional seismic data sources Improved content in English Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world. Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: Trends in the four US census regions (Midwest, Northeast, South and West) were similar to those in the nation as a whole. In each region, there were large percent increases in volume of telehealth claim lines from December 2019 to December 2020; smaller increases occurred from November to December 2020 in every region but the Midwest, where the volume of claim lines dropped 0.3 percent. Higher telehealth utilization from March to December 2020 in comparison with the same months in 2019 was likely a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients and providers turned to telehealth as a way of reducing the risk of disease transmission associated with in-person visits. Other notable findings of the December Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker concern the top five telehealth diagnoses by volume. In December 2020, COVID-19, for the first time, became one of the top five telehealth diagnoses nationally and in every region. Its prominence may reflect the surging number of COVID-19 cases and relatively fewer telehealth visits for other conditions, such as the flu, cases of which have been unusually low this season. From November to December 2020, mental health conditions continued to be the number one telehealth diagnosis nationally and in every region. Exposure to communicable diseases continued to be number two on the national list of telehealth diagnoses and to appear in the top five in all regions. Exposure to communicable diseases was likely related to the pandemic, as patients contacted providers via telehealth out of concern they had been exposed to COVID-19. Also notable was the lack of change in the top five procedure codes by utilization. There were no changes nationally or by region from November to December 2020 in the top five procedure codes, even though there had been changes in at least some regions in previous months. This suggests that the telehealth procedures being performed might have stabilized by December. About the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker Launched in May as a free service, the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker uses FAIR Health data to track how telehealth is evolving from month to month. An interactive map of the four US census regions allows the user to view an infographic on telehealth in a specific month in the nation as a whole or in individual regions. In addition to data on the volume of claim lines, diagnoses and procedure codes, each infographic includes findings on urban versus rural usage. FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "FAIR Health's Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker now provides a complete picture of the year 2020 in comparison to 2019. As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, we will continue to monitor how the pandemic affects the evolution of telehealth." For the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, click here. Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth About FAIR Health FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 32 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish and an English/Spanish mobile app, which enable consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offer a rich educational platform on health insurance. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Dr. Marty Makary's book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Careand How to Fix It and Elisabeth Rosenthal's book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org. Contact: Dean Sicoli Chief Communications Officer FAIR Health 646-664-1645 [email protected] 1 A claim line is an individual service or procedure listed on an insurance claim. SOURCE FAIR Health Related Links www.fairhealth.org 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. (CNN) Another SpaceX rocket prototype was fueled and ready for a test flight Wednesday, but in the final moments before liftoff, the vehicle's engines sputtered off and the company announced it had aborted the flight. The company will recycle the rocket's fuel and attempt liftoff again around 4 pm CT, according to SpaceX engineer John Insprucker on the company's webcast of the attempted launch. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet that the abort was triggered by pre-set standards around the rocket's thrust, which Musk described as "slightly conservative." He added that the company would increase the rocket's thrust limit, giving the rocket more wiggle room for getting a go-ahead for liftoff, and attempt to launch again later Wednesday. SpaceX's SN10, an early prototype of the company's Starship Mars rocket, was expected to soar about six miles (10 km) above the coastal landscape before conducting some mid-air acrobatics and swooping down for a landing back at SpaceX's South Texas facilities. SpaceX has attempted such a test flight twice before, with both ended in a crash landing. Insprucker said that the primary goal of the test was to gather data on how the vehicle's flaps would control the Starship prototype as it plummets back to the Earth. Musk first explained Starship's intended landing method during a September 2019 media event. He billed it as a unique maneuver that would see the rocket dive back through the air with its belly pointed toward the Earth as its four fins shift slightly to keep it steady. It's a maneuver Musk said is intended to mimic how a skydiver would fall through the air, rather than the straight vertical descent to Earth that SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets employ when they're coming in for landings. Perfecting the belly-flop landing maneuver is essential to "enable a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration, interplanetary flights and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond," according to the company's website. Though prior attempts have met explosive endings, SpaceX is known to embrace fiery mishaps during the rocket development process. The company maintains that such accidents are the quickest and most efficient way of gathering data, an approach that sets the company apart from its close partner NASA, which prefers slow, methodical testing over dramatic flare ups. SpaceX intends to use Starship for a variety of purposes, including shuttling paying customers between cities at breakneck speeds, potentially aiding NASA's moon landing efforts, and, eventually, launching cargo and human missions to Mars. Starship is still in the early stages of development. A full-scale prototype has yet to be constructed. Nor has SpaceX begun publicly testing Super Heavy, a gargantuan rocket booster that will be needed to propel the Starship to Earth's orbit or beyond. Musk said during a recent interview with podcast host Joe Rogan that he expects Starship will be conducting regular flights by 2023, and he hopes the vehicle will reach orbit by the end of this year. It's not clear if SpaceX will hit that deadline. The aerospace industry, and Musk in particular, is notorious for announcing projects that take far longer and tally much higher expenses than first anticipated. This story was first published on CNN.com SpaceX aborts Mars prototype rocket test launch with 0.1 seconds on the clock NEW ORLEANS Justice Lab, the ACLU of Louisianas litigation and advocacy campaign against racist policing, has filed four lawsuits challenging police misconduct to date, with more than 30 additional cases under investigation for prospective litigation later this year. The team also launched an interactive online dashboard, which maps the disproportionate use of police violence in Black and Brown communities around the state. Since the Justice Lab initiative began last summer, the ACLU has received more than 200 complaints of police misconduct from Louisiana residents, ranging from verbal abuse, to racial profiling, to use of excessive and lethal force. Its been almost a year since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers, said ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Alanah Odoms. This was a deeply traumatic incident, but it wasnt anything new. Since last May, more victims have come forward accusing Derek Chauvin, the police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyds neck, of using similar, deadly force on them. This is what were trying to put an end to. Through Justice Lab, we are working to hold police officers accountable for their violent behaviorrather than encourage itin an effort to dismantle the era of legally-sanctioned police violence once and for all. Together, we can continue the fight for Black lives and build a future where no child has to grow up in fear of being killed by the police. Over the past eight months, the ACLU of Louisiana has refined and expanded Justice Lab in response to community feedback, incorporating non-litigation support and partnering with directly-impacted communities to combat police violence at the grassroots level. The new Justice Lab website holds a wealth of resources, including an interactive heat map of police violence across Louisiana, which confirms that parishes in the state show a pattern of racial disparity in police killingsone that disproportionately affects Black people. The site also includes summaries of cases being filed, an overview of the initiatives storytelling effort, and additional resources to help empower directly-impacted families and communities in taking on the fight to combat racist policing. ACLU has partnered with the Louisiana Victims Outreach Program (LAVO), a program that seeks to address the needs of victims of violent crime as they navigate the criminal legal system. Through the partnership, LAVO will provide an array of free services that aim to inform victims about the criminal legal system, facilitate healing on an individual level, and build a supportive community of victims, advocates, and service providers. The cases Justice Lab has filed include: Sampy v. Rabb et al.: American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, alongside Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP and Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC, are suing police officers on behalf of Mr. Raynaldo Sampya Black man who was asleep and pulled from his parked truck, repeatedly thrown onto the pavement face first, and pinned down with officers knees on his neck, back, and legs. This brutal encounter, involving seven police officers, was in response to an erroneous report that Mr. Sampy had driven into an ice cooler outside of a convenience store and damaged itan impossibility, given that a steel guard rail protected the cooler from being struck by vehicles. Read more about the case here. Johnson v. Turner et al.: The ACLU of Louisiana, along with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, are suing New Orleans Harbor Police officers for the unjust and racist arrest of Shauna Johnson, a Black Uber driver, as she pulled over to pick up her Uber passengers. According to the lawsuit, the officer arrested her without probable cause and in retaliation for exercising her freedom of speech. Read more about the case here. Beroid v. LaFleur et al.: The ACLU of Louisiana, alongside Foley Hoag LLP, are suing officers of the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriffs Office for the unlawful use of a Taser on a Black man last March. The officers entered his parents home without permission, and, in a matter of mere seconds, proceeded to Taser Mr. Beroid in front of his family members, despite the fact that he posed no threat to the officers and he was not attempting to flee. Read more about the case here. Stevenson v. Gautreaux: The ACLU of Louisiana and the UCI Irvine Law School Civil Rights Litigation Clinic have also filed a brief asking the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a district courts ruling in favor of East Baton Rouge Parish sheriffs deputies, who were granted qualified immunity for killing an unarmed man experiencing a mental health crisis in 2016. Deputies fired 21 shots into Travis Stevensons vehicle, killing him, despite the fact that Stevenson posed no immediate threat to the officers. Read more about the case here. The ACLU of Louisiana is encouraging community members to visit the new Justice Lab site, learn more about the effort, and spread the word. If you or anyone you know has been the victim of police misconduct, contact Justice Lab. Filing a complaint is simple and confidential. Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the coalition of farmer groups agitating against three farm laws enacted by the central government, will block the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway connecting various protest sites outside Delhi for five hours on March 6. "This will be between 11am to 4pm. Toll plazas here will also be freed up from collecting toll fees. In rest of India, the day will be marked by flying black flags on houses and offices to signify support to the movement, and to protest against the government," the farmer groups said in a statement. On March 6th the agitation will mark 100 days of protests at Delhi's doorsteps. The groups said it will observe March 8, International Women's Day, as Mahila Kisan Diwas. "All SKM protest sites across the country will witness greater participation of women on that day, and it will be women who will manage the stages and will be speakers," the statement said. The farmer groups have also made a call to observe March 15th as 'anti-privatisation day' along with Central Trade Unions. "The Unions will mark the day as 'anti-corporatisation' day, and extend solidarity to the protests of Trade Unions on that day all over India. In election-bound states, SKM will put out a call to the public to punish the anti-farmer, anti-poor policies of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Representatives of SKM will also visit the states for this purpose and take part in various programmes. SKM will launch a "MSP Dilao Abhiyan" all over India. As part of the campaign, the reality of price discovery of farmers in different markets will be showcased, to point out to the Modi Government the shallowness of its MSP promises. The campaign will be initiated in the south Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to begin with. Farmers all over the country are invited to join this campaign," Darshan Pal, representing SKM said. In a separate joint statement, the Central Trade Unions and Samyukta Kisan Morcha said they have decided to coordinate time to time for joint action programmes in the coming days to strengthen the evolving unity between workers and farmers (Mazdoor Kisan Ekta). "There is need for intensification of their (joint) struggle to save the land of the farmers, to stop contract farming and amendment to Essential Commodity Act as well as Electricity Amendment Bill in the national interest," the statement said. It also called for legalising and ensuring Minimum Support Price to the farmers produce. The trade unions apprised SKM representatives about the dangers of government decisions of privatisation of public sector enterprises to India's sovereignty over national assets and natural resources, and the grievous impact of the four labour codes on the workers of the country. "The four Codes take away the right of forming unions and protection of the working people from exploitation and excluding workers from existing social security schemes and workplace safety norms", it said. The SKM has also extended support to the strike actions of the banks on 15-16 March and GIC unions on 17th March, and Life Insurance Unions on 18th March. Also read: Farmers' protests: Reliance Jio's loss in Punjab, Haryana is Airtel, Vi's gain Its named after a Soviet-era satellite and was looked on with scepticism by European scientists. But now Russias Sputnik V jab could help solve some of the Covid-19 vaccine shortage that has chastened EU countries like Ireland. The European Medicines Agency has begun a rolling review of the vaccine and, if approved, there is a promise of enough for 50 million Europeans from June. So, what do we know about the vaccine and what could it mean for Ireland? Transparency concerns For a long time there was mistrust around news from Russia that it had developed a successful Covid-19 vaccine. It was approved for use in Russia a month in advance of its final-stage clinical trials being published. There was strong criticism that it was cutting corners. Read More On par with the best However, a study published in the Lancet last month, which looked at its phase three trial involving 20,000 volunteers, showed the two-dose vaccine was more than 90pc effective in protecting people against Covid-19 illness. The results referred to symptomatic cases and more research is needed on how it affects asymptomatic disease. However, that efficacy rate would put it on the same scale as the top performing vaccines like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs. It works on the same technology used in the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The German government gave it new status when it announced that it would give it to its citizens if it passed all relevant clinical trials and would help it in getting European approval. The promise is that around 1.4 billion doses could be produced this year enough for 700 million people. It is also undergoing evaluation by the World Health Organisation. The Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia have all expressed interest in the vaccine. More cavalry The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is expected to be approved by the European Medicines Agency next week. This is a one-shot vaccine and termed "a gamechanger, although there is something of a jinx on that word now when it comes to vaccines. It will mean then that four vaccines have been approved for use here. In the Governments new Covid plan it expects to get around 200,694 doses each month from April to June. Ramping up The problem is not that Ireland has not ordered enough vaccine its just that supplies are too slow arriving to meet demand. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said we have ordered enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine to inoculate 10.3 million people. However, manufacturing capacity means these are coming in limited deliveries and even then there are gaps in the schedule. It is expected that around 250,000 doses a week are due here and could be administered each week from April. That is a big logistical exercise and will test the abilities of the HSE, not just in terms of having enough vaccinators but also ensuring its registration system is running efficiently. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Meijer and several community groups are partnering to provide nearly 6,000 turkeys to West Michigan families in need. The turkeys can be picked up at the LMCU Ballpark (formerly known as Fifth Third Ballpark) parking lot between 10 a.m. and noon on March 10. The other organizations partnering with Meijer on the giveaway are YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Feeding America West Michigan and the West Michigan Whitecaps. LMCU Ballpark is located at 4500 W. River Dr. NE in Comstock Park. Workers on site will place the turkeys directly in vehicles. Meijer cares about the communities we serve and we are pleased to stand beside the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and the West Michigan Whitecaps to donate nearly 6,000 turkeys to area families in need, Cathy Cooper, Meijers senior director of community partnerships and giving, said in a Wednesday, March 3 news release. We know the coronavirus pandemic has made an impact on the lives of those who live here, and we wanted to do our part to help. In a news release, Meijer said the event is part of its pledge to donate $1 million in turkeys to foodbanks across the Midwest this winter. Read more: Michiganders 50 and older will soon be eligible for coronavirus vaccine Back-door cold front will pause Michigans march toward spring for a few days Michigans Adventure is gearing up for summer by hiring 800 employees said beginning March 8, it will support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), State Governments and local NGOs with free rides worth Rs 10 crore for assisting the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India. The free rides can be utilised to travel to and from the nearest authorised vaccination centre by citizens above 60 and over 45 age group with co-morbidities, the target group identified for the second phase of Indias vaccination drive. Beginning March 8, will roll out these free rides in a staggered manner across 35 Indian cities including Jaipur, Delhi, NCR, Lucknow, Kanpur, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Mohali, amritsar, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thirvananthapuram, Guwahati, Agartala and so on. Given that drivers on the ride hailing platform meet the two main criteria of essentiality and vulnerability, has requested the Central Government to make them eligible for early access to vaccination. Uber will not use the government Co-WIN portal or the Aarogya Setu app to identify riders, but only provide a discount to people wanting to travel to and from vaccination centres. "We don't capture demographic information about our riders and have no intention to do that, but the entire process has to be very frictionless and simple. We have used technology, and mapped every single vaccination centre which has been earmarked by the government, whether it is a private facility or a government facility, and geofenced them using technology," said Prabhjeet Singh, President, Uber India and South Asia. Uber will enable a code to be used by anybody who opens the app, either booking a ride for themselves or for somebody in their family who needs to go to the vaccination centre. "The moment you enter a destination or pickup location which is either of these vaccination centres, and you apply the code, the ride discount will get applied which will allow you to avail the offer. We are very cognizant that we want to keep it reasonably simple and streamlined," he added. Ubers initiative will facilitate free rides to vulnerable individuals through easily redeemable promo codes that will make travel to vaccination hubs easier and safer. The company will also leverage its NGO partners such as the Robin Hood Army and others for transporting the vulnerable and underprivileged elderly to vaccination centres. Ubers commitment to offer free rides worth Rs 10 crores to help citizens travel to and from the vaccine hubs is praiseworthy as it will facilitate safe mobility options for vulnerable citizens. In Indias fight against COVID-19, public-private partnerships will play a critical role in removing barriers to vaccine access and helping people stay safe. From the start of the pandemic, Uber has acted as a responsible corporate citizen by helping transport frontline healthcare workers and in delivering essential supplies to citizens homes. We look forward to working with Uber in helping our cities move again, said Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road, Transport and Highways. The discounted ride, up to a maximum value of Rs 150, has to be booked within a 24-hour window after the first ride to the centre. As a part of its support to the MoHFW for addressing vaccine hesitancy, Uber will spread awareness through its app and social media channels. Additionally, Uber will run a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign stressing upon the importance of masking, social distancing and other Covid safe behavior even after vaccination We feel privileged to support the governments tireless efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19. Our efforts in this partnership will be focused on providing safe and timely transport options for the most vulnerable sections of our population. As a part of our commitment to #MoveWhatMatters globally, we will continue to support vaccination drives so that affected communities can quickly recover from the pandemic and rebuild their lives, said Singh. He added that Uber is seeing a large number of riders use Uber Auto and Uber Moto. Encouraged by Uber's digital payments and safety and health initiatives, the Auto business has recovered more than 100 per cent from the pre Covid levels, Singh said. In first week of vaccination, 9,568 people receive vaccinations against coronavirus in Ukraine During the past day, March 3, some 2,680 people were vaccinated against coronavirus in Ukraine. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Health, as of 0800 on March 4, the total number of Ukrainians vaccinated against coronavirus is 9,568 people. As previously reported, the plane with the first batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca (Covishield) COVID-19 vaccine landed at Boryspil airport on the morning of February 23. Already on February 25, vaccination of health workers started. In addition to them, Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky were also vaccinated. Oxford/AstraZeneca is produced at the facilities of Serum Institute (India) and has the local (trade) name Covishield. For emergency use in Ukraine, it was registered on Monday, February 22. Previously, it was also approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization, and the UK, EU and India have also given permission for its use. The vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford and the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca. Ukraine received confirmation of deliveries under the COVAX mechanism of 2.2-3.7 million doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines in the I-II quarter of 2021. In addition, this vaccine will be purchased directly from the manufacturers for public funds. Ukraine has also signed additional direct contracts for the supply of vaccines against COVID-19, developed with the participation of AstraZeneca (UK-Sweden) and NovaVax (USA) and manufactured at the facilities of the Serum Institute (India). It's happening in well-to-do Pakistani households in the suburbs of Washington and among Chinese restaurant workers in Philadelphia. It's happening among weary Filipino nurses in Queens, Hmong refugee families in Minneapolis and in Silicon Valley's Asian American community. As school buildings start to reopen, Asian and Asian American families are choosing to keep their children learning from home at disproportionately high rates. They say they are worried about elderly parents in cramped, multigenerational households, distrustful of promised safety measures and afraid their children will face racist harassment at school. On the flip side, some are pleased with online learning and see no reason to risk the health of their family. In New York City, Asian American children make up the smallest share of children back in classrooms - just under 12% - even though they represent 18% of all students. In Tennessee, less than half of Asian families enrolled in Metro Nashville Public Schools opted for in-person learning, compared with nearly two-thirds of White children. In Chicago, two-thirds of White students chose in-person learning, while just a third of Asian, Black and Latino students decided to head back. And in Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest district in Virginia, just over 30% of Asian families selected face-to-face instruction this spring, by far the smallest return rate reported among any racial group. The academic consequences could be devastating, warned Mya Baker of education nonprofit TNTP, which works with school districts across the country to boost achievement among low-income and minority students. This is especially true in communities of immigrant and refugee Asian families, she said, who are often overlooked due to the pervasiveness of the "model minority myth." In reality, many Asian communities face the same kinds of challenges that hold back Black and Latino students, including poverty, language barriers and under-resourced schools. In New York City, more than 1 in 5 Asians live in poverty, the second highest of any racial or ethnic group, according to city data. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 30% of Asians in the U.S. live in intergenerational households, almost double the percentage of White households. And Asian Americans represent the most economically divided racial group in the nation, with the success of the affluent obscuring the plight of the least fortunate. "Everyone makes assumptions that, 'Oh, Asian kids are doing better with virtual learning,' " Baker said. "The reality is we're talking about families living in multigenerational households, families where English is not spoken at home, so we're increasing barriers for those students who are already not performing well." Baker said that is why it is essential for schools to work doubly hard to reach Asian families - about a third of Asians in the United States have limited English proficiency- and to reassure them that their children will not be targeted. In Virginia and Maryland, Asian American students seem to be suffering smaller academic losses than their Black and Latino classmates. But in other places, like Minneapolis, where the Southeast Asian refugee community faces steep rates of poverty, students appear to be losing ground as fast or even faster than other students of color. In fall 2019, about 7% of grades given to Asian students were F's. That percentage more than quadrupled - to 30% - in the fall of 2020, according to the Sahan Journal, which reports on Minneasota's immigrant communities. - - - Many Asian Americans have been anxious of being targeted after President Donald Trump used racist language to describe the coronavirus. Critics warned his repeated use of such phrases as "Chinese virus" and "kung flu" could escalate attacks on Asian Americans, who reported rising instances of harassment. Now, a spate of high-profile attacks on Asian Americans has many in the community on edge. In New York City, a Filipino man was slashed with a box cutter on the subway, an Asian woman was punched in the face on a subway platform, and another woman was shoved to the ground in Flushing, a predominantly Asian community in Queens. In Los Angeles, a man at a bus stop was beaten with his own cane, and a Thai grandfather died after being pushed to the ground. It's unclear whether race motivated all the crimes, but the incidents, combined with increasing reports of harassment and bullying, have heightened anxiety in many communities. The ripple effects among families weighing whether to send their children back are far-reaching. In New York City, Liz OuYang, a Columbia University adjunct professor and civil rights attorney who specializes in combating hate crimes, said some Asian American families are fearful about setting foot outside their homes. OuYang, who directs an annual hate crime prevention art project for the nonprofit OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates, said parents and kids have shared stories of strangers harassing them, yelling at them to "speak English" or "go back to your home country." It has made some families fearful of sending their children on solo commutes to school. So instead, they keep them home, learning remotely. In New York City's Chinatown, a school principal said one mother moved her child from in-person learning to remote learning after she and her child were harassed on the subway. Some families are so worried about leaving their apartments that the school has shelled out funds to ship or hand-deliver supplies and packets to them. Parents have relayed the same fears in Philadelphia. Anna Perng, co-founder of the Chinatown Disability Advocacy Project, said parents reported their children were being harassed on city buses. Then, over the summer, police arrested a homeless woman for attacking a pregnant woman in Chinatown, calling her a slur and punching her in the face. That sent the anxiety in Philadelphia's Asian American communities into overdrive, Perng said, and now threatens to deprive them of access to school-provided resources they badly need. "Families have told me they're afraid to go to the school district to get things like worksheets, learning supplies and the free meals the school district has been handing out since the pandemic started," Perng said. Lisa Liu, whose two children attend Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, said she saw little reason to send them back to classrooms when virtual learning seemed to be working well for them. But fear that they would face harassment also played into her decision. "Maybe if they go back, the other kids will say, 'You're the reason we didn't go to school for a year,' " Liu said. "I don't want my kids to experience hatred." - - - But it is not just harassment that families worry about. Asian Americans are overrepresented in medical fields, making up 6% of the population but 18% of the nation's doctors and 10% of its nurse practitioners. It means they are more likely to have had firsthand experience with the virus. Suzanne Lirazan, a 30-year-old nurse from the Philippines who lives in Queens, has seen the devastation of the pandemic firsthand. She works as a private nurse, and in April the patient she was caring for fell ill after contracting the coronavirus. She was at his bedside as he took his final breaths. Then she and the rest of the household fell ill. She was unable to see her 9-year-old son, Gabriel De La Cruz, for an entire month as she recovered and quarantined. Lirazan worries her son could bring home the virus from school, a prospect that would not only be dangerous for her, but for her patients, too. "It's the fear of him getting sick, and transmission-wise, I don't want to get sick and transmit it with my patients," Lirazan said. "My son, he's very social, he likes to study in school. But I just can't bring myself to bring him there." Lirazan said that sentiment is common in Filipino communities in New York and New Jersey, where many work in health care in jobs that put them in close contact with patients. - - - For Nancy Lin, a Philadelphia mother of two who was laid off from her restaurant job when the pandemic struck, the decision to keep her children remote was driven by something else: the school building. According to her dispatches with other parents over the messaging app WeChat, many other Chinese families are making the same decision. They had complaints about the condition of the school even before the pandemic, of mold in the basement, that bathrooms were dirty, and that heating and cooling systems were not in working order. They are the same factors that are keeping other families of color - and teachers - out of school buildings. Their concerns are not unfounded. An investigative series in 2017 by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News found widespread issues with asbestos and paint laced with lead. When the teachers union pushed the school system to delay the start date of in-person classes, its leader cited the district's "absolutely abysmal track record when it comes to addressing health and safety." At Hmong International Academy in Minneapolis, Principal Jamil Payton said only a third of students in prekindergarten through fifth grade have come back to the school building since they reopened two weeks ago. The school serves a mix of students from the city's refugee communities - Hmong, Laotian, Cambodian and Sudanese students. There were fewer than 100 students in the building the last week of February, a group whose demographics roughly matched the schools. The Hmong community has been hard-hit by the coronavirus. In June, Marny Xiong, a Hmong woman who chaired of the St. Paul Board of Education, succumbed to the virus at the age of 31, devastating the Hmong community. Xiong had worked as an administrator at Hmong International Academy and her loss was felt deeply. "We were hit like a ton of bricks by the passing of this staff member who was so beloved in our building and our community," Payton said. He believes it is contributing to the reluctance of Hmong families to send their children back to school buildings. - - - The decision for almost any family to send their children back to school can be wrenching, as they attempt to balance the benefits of sending their children back to school with the risks - all while the death toll from the pandemic mounts. So many are relying on parents from their own communities, swapping information in group chats to make decisions. Mehvish Ali, who is Pakistani American, had a lot to weigh when trying to decide whether to send her two sons back to school in Loudoun County, a northern Virginia suburb. Her oldest son, a seventh-grader, was eager to get back to school to see his friends. But he also has a medical condition that makes him more susceptible to the virus. She is close with her neighbors, most of whom are Indian American, and her children are friends with their children. The group chat had become a key source of support and information during the pandemic. On WhatsApp, the consensus was clear. "Everybody in the neighborhood that I know of said they were doing distance learning," Ali said. It made the decision easier for her and for her son, who learned his friends would also be staying home from school. When it came time for Filipino American Julius Paras to decide whether to send his child back to school outside San Jose, he and his wife, who is Chinese American, decided to convene a Zoom meeting with relatives nearby. Many of them had come together as a pandemic pod, allowing the parents to split child care duties and the cousins to continue to see each other. They realized sending their children back to classrooms could shatter their support system and possibly endanger his in-laws, who they visit for socially distanced picnics in the elderly couple's driveway. "We want our children to grow up not just with their aunts and uncles but also with their grandparents. It's just this affinity for multigenerational living that comes from my Filipino culture and from my wife's Chinese culture," Paras said. "When we thought about how to prioritize all of this, it came down to, 'Who is our family? How do we look out for them?' And we decided home is what's safest." The proportion of solar and wind power projects in the entire national electricity system is expected to increase, requiring thorough preparation because of the instability of these power sources, experts have said. The draft of the eighth national power development plan shows majir changes in power source development from now to 2030 compared with the seventh plan. Under the draft, Vietnam will develop wind and solar power on a large scale, with the capacity of wind power increasing by three times and solar power by two times compared with the adjusted seventh plan. Vietnam will only continue the projects under construction or under investment promotion, to be operational in the 2021-2025 period. The coal-fired thermopower proportion will decrease gradually from 34 percent in 2020 to 27 percent by 2030. The Ministry of Investment and Trade wants to strongly develop gas-fired power with capacity increasing from 7GW in 2020 to 13.5GW by 2025 and 28-33GW by 2030 and the proportion of gas-fired power increasing from 15 percent in 2020 to 21-23 percent by 2030. The wind power capacity would rise from 600MW in 2020 to 11,000-12,000MW by 2025 and 18,000-19,000MW by 2030. Wind power would account for 11 percent of total installation capacity by 2025 and 13 percent by 2030. As for solar power, the capacity would increase from 17,000MW in 2020-2025 to 19,000-20,000MW by 2030. The proportion of solar power would be 17 percent of total installation capacity by 2025 and 14 percent by 2030. Wind and solar power would also be strongly developed in 2031-2045, accounting for 42 percent by 2045. However, because of the high uncertainty, the strong development of these power sources will have a major impact on the national electricity system. The ministry believes that as the electricity generation capacity of the sources of power can change rapidly, wind power will cause considerable fluctuations to the electricity system when the wind changes or stops. If other sources of power cannot replace wind power at that time, or existing power sources cannot be adjusted quickly to offset the capacity decrease, the electricity system will fall into imbalance in terms of supply sources and additional charges will occur. In the worst scenario, this may cause electricity outageon a large scale. Warning of the problem, the ministry said it is necessary to develop other backup power sources which will be mobilized when wind and solar power sources fail. The capacity of the sources to be used needs to be nearly equal to the total capacity of wind and solar power sources which provide electricity to the national grid. The ministry said it wants to encourage the development of rooftop solar power systems rather than large-scale solar power farms with the capacity of tens or hundreds of MW. Luong Bang Vietnam sets record in number of wind, solar power projects Vietnam has been witnessing a solar and wind power boom for three years, becoming one of the hottest markets in the world. YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with lawmaker Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the Bright Armenia (LHK) political party and its parliamentary faction, the Prime Ministers Office said. Im glad to see you. Honestly, the occasion for continuing the discussions on the topic of early elections of parliament were your statements. And I hope that at least this time we will succeed in reaching common ground not only with you but also our colleagues in the Prosperous Armenia faction, because if eventually the parliamentary forces make a decision to hold early elections, including decisions in terms of a couple of important issues around it, I mean timeframes and so on, then we can consider this issue to be solved. From the very beginning this is what our viewpoint was, that eventually this political chapter must end through the expression of will of the people, and today I will be glad to hear out your viewpoints on how to advance, the PM said, adding that before making decisions he should also meet with Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, the ruling My Step bloc leader Lilit Makunts, as well as other lawmakers in order to achieve a consensus solution. Perhaps well also present the situation to the President, so that he expresses his stance and in a way becomes the guarantor of implementation of our agreements, the PM added. In turn, Edmon Marukyan said: Thank you Mr. Prime Minister for responding to my statement. Id like to start with the offer itself. I made an offer based on the political crisis, that is, the general staff story added on to what we had before that, and thats a big part of the political crisis now. Based on this, I stated that in order to avoid further escalation and clashes, there could be countless scenarios, which I oppose. I had offered to stop the army-government opposition and go for elections, because it is obvious that we cant have any agreement on the pre-election process as long as the issue of the army isnt resolved. Why am I saying this? Because it is obvious that [you] wont resign in order to dissolve parliament in conditions when the issue regarding the general staff doesnt have a resolution the general staff generals are there, they arent leaving, statements and so on. This is the context of my offer , that is lets resolve this part together and head for elections. In our case we dont have any obstacle regarding the election, but I agree with you that we should continue negotiations. Marukyan hoped that they will also meet with the BHK. Pashinyan said it is inadmissible to tie the general staff issue with early elections because the constitution stipulates that the military is apolitical. Pashinyan and Marukyan agreed to continue consultations for the resolution of the political crisis. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Kristine Coratti Kelly The Washington Post promotes Kristine Coratti Kelly to chief communications officer, a newly created role at the paper. The Posts PR blog says that the move is intended to reflect the increased role the communications team is playing in The Posts national and global expansion. Kelly has been with the paper since 2009, most recently serving as vice president of communications and general manager of Washington Post Live, the newsrooms live journalism platform. Taking on the vice president of communications role is Shani George, who most recently served as director of communications. With their combined experience, we look forward to their continued dedication to growing The Posts audience around the world, said Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan. Sinclair Broadcast Group is axing about five percent of its workforce (approximately 500 employees), in a move that the company says is due to the effects of COVID-19. No component of our businesss ecosystem has been fully shielded from the impact of the global pandemic. In response to this, we are currently undergoing enterprise-wide reductions across our workforce, including corporate headquarters, to ensure we are well-positioned for future success. according to a statement from a Sinclair spokesperson. Employees were notified of the layoffs in a Wednesday evening memo sent from Chris Ripley, the company's president and chief executive officer. Sinclair, which runs 186 TV stations in the U.S., reported a seven percent dip in total revenue for Q4 2020, compared to Q4 2019. Facebook is lifting the ban on political advertising that it instituted after the November elections. The company says that it will now permit advertisers to buy ads about social issues, elections or politics, from March 4, according to a report in the New York Times. The ban had been temporarily lifted in Georgia prior to that states senatorial runoff elections in January. Also, an article on Politico claimed that some political advertisers had been making their way around the regulations throughout the course of the ban. For now, political advertisers can either submit new ads to the platform, or reactivate existing ads. Ads will appear with a disclaimer noting that the ad was paid for by a political organization. Facebook has as yet said nothing about the indefinite ban placed on the account of former president Trump. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds reportedly described Brittany Higgins as a "lying cow" after the former Liberal staffer went public about a rape allegation against an ex-colleague. In front of several staffers on February 15, Senator Reynolds made the remark while speaking in an open space in her office where she could be heard by others, including public servants from the Department of Defence, The Australian reported. The report claims she later apologised to staff for the outburst, saying it had been "a stressful time". Defence Minister Linda Reynolds reportedly described Brittany Higgins as a 'lying cow' after she went public alleging she had been raped. Source: AAP In a statement released on Wednesday in response to the report, the senator did not deny the "lying cow" comment, but said she had "never questioned" Ms Higgins' allegations. Senator Reynolds said she made her comments in relation to other details in news reports which the defence minister believed had been "misrepresented". "A report in The Australian attributed some remarks to me regarding the very serious allegations made by my former staff member, Ms Brittany Higgins," Senator Reynolds said in her statement. "I have never questioned Ms Higgins' account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter. I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented. "I have consistently respected Ms Higgins' agency and privacy, and said this is her story to tell and no one elses. Ms Higgins allegations are very serious and that is how they must be treated to ensure her legal rights are protected. "I welcome her decision to progress this matter with the Australian Federal Police." Ms Higgins alleges she was raped by a male colleague in 2019 inside the office of her former boss, Senator Reynolds. Source: Nine Linda Reynolds hospitalised Senator Reynolds has come under extreme scrutiny about her handling of the complaint, taking indefinite leave after being admitted to hospital on the advice of her heart doctor. She was discharged on Friday. Story continues The minister was due to give a speech at the National Press Club in Canberra last Wednesday, but cancelled hours before. Ms Higgins said she genuinely hoped the minister was okay and wished her all the best with her recovery. "Let's just hope that from this whole horrible situation there will actually be some fundamental reform to the MOP(S) Act for vulnerable staff and improvements to the workplace culture in Parliament House," she tweeted after news of Senator Reynolds' condition. The act regulates how MPs and senators' staff are employed. Ms Higgins says she was sexually assaulted by a male colleague inside Senator Reynolds' office in 2019. The defence minister has known about the alleged rape for more than two years, but says she did not inform the prime minister to respect Ms Higgins' privacy and welfare. An independent review into the workplaces of parliamentarians and their staff has been launched, and counsellors will soon be made available at Parliament House. 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. NASA is letting millions of people be part of its upcoming trip to Mars. The organization has reopened its Send Your Name to Mars project, which was originally part of the Mars 2020 mission. Theres a lot of excitement surrounding the Mars 2020 mission and its Perseverance rover, which will carry the names of 10.9 million people aboard, the website states. However, since the Mars 2020 opportunity closed, many people have since expressed interest in sending their name to Mars. Those interested can sign up using the online portal. It asks for your name, email, postal code and country. Itll also send participants a boarding pass. Your name will fly on a future NASA mission to Mars in the mid-2020s, the website states. The spacecraft hasnt been identified but we are taking names now that will eventually be placed on a spacecraft headed to Mars. NASA doesnt have any plans to close the portal, so those interested also have time to tell family and friends. The website lists more than 11 million new reservations so far. The names were included on the Perseverance through three microchips, plus 155 finalist essays in the Name the Rover contest were included, according to Thrillist. Dont try to get too creative though. There is a no fly list which block certain words or phrases from being submitted, the website states. Since landing, our @NASAPersevere rover has given us high-def panoramic views of its landing site, Jezero Crater. Visit @GoogleArts to learn about the missions onboard tools, including cameras, that will pave the way for future human expeditions to Mars: https://t.co/Q5uAVkwpa2 pic.twitter.com/TamCYrh5J8 NASA (@NASA) March 2, 2021 Related Content: Resetting Americas Middle East policy is proving to be a very tough task. This week, US President Joe Biden found himself face-to-face with the complexities of Middle East politics and the conflicting priorities of how to protect Americas strategic and economic interests in the region, maintain good relations with regional allies and partners, create workable relations with foes and promote values such as the rule of law, democracy and human rights. Achieving these goals has always been like walking in a minefield, and Bidens first month in the job has proved just that. Since he took office on 20 January, Biden has pledged to pursue a policy towards Saudi Arabia and Iran different from that of his predecessor former US president Donald Trump. However, the events of the past few days have showed that the similarities between Bidens and Trumps policies are more than Biden would like to admit. There is no doubt that Biden has moved away from the direction of his predecessor. He published a long-awaited CIA report on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a step Trump refused to take during his years in office, for example. The publication of the report was quickly followed by a US State Department announcement of sanctions and visa bans on 76 Saudi nationals. The move is part of what it called the Khashoggi ban, which will be used in future to sanction people who try to silence dissidents abroad in the Middle East or worldwide. These decisions, combined with the end of US support for Saudi operations in Yemen and a freeze on weapons sales, are meant to recalibrate, not rupture, US-Saudi relations, Biden administration officials said. Before releasing the CIA report and in a sign of the tightrope that Biden is walking in his bid to reshape the relationship with Saudi Arabia, he appeared to have attempted to reassure Saudi King Mohamed Bin Salman in a phone call last Thursday. According to the White House, Biden noted the historic nature of the relationship, welcomed the recent release of jailed Saudi activists and pledged to help Saudi Arabia defend itself. The US announced an end to US offensive arms sales to Riyadh, but said it would continue to supply Saudi Arabia with defensive weapons. Biden is thus realising the difficulty of moving unpredictable pieces on the complex map of the Middle East. His decision to release the report in the first weeks of his presidency fulfills campaign promises to reassess ties with Saudi Arabia after critics accused Trump of neglecting the human costs of the war in Yemen and human-rights violations. Biden, however, is seeking to address those issues without completely breaking off a core US relationship in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is one of the main American allies in the region. It hosts five US military bases, and in addition to cooperating with the US against Iran and in counterterrorism activities, it also supports stability in international oil markets. It has also played a behind-the-scenes role in fostering relations between Israel and the Arab world. So, rocking the boat is not an option for any US administration. Officials in the State Department have argued that major sanctions could rupture a relationship the US still sees as crucial for its regional priorities, including ending the war in Yemen and re-engaging with Iran. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is important, Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters on Monday. White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki said in an interview on Sunday that we believe there are more effective ways to make sure this doesnt happen again and to also be able to leave room to work with the Saudis on areas where there is mutual agreement where there are national interests for the United States. That is what diplomacy looks like. Saudi Arabia has said repeatedly that the killing of Khashoggi was a crime carried out by rogue individuals without orders from the authorities. Saudi Crown-Prince Mohamed Bin Salman said in 2019 that he took full responsibility for the killing since it happened on his watch but denied ordering it. DILEMMA ON IRAN Saudi Arabia was not the only challenge facing the Biden administration in its first month in power, as policies towards Iran are also facing difficulties. Biden had hoped for a smooth path to the revival of the Iran nuclear deal, but thus far the path has been anything but smooth. During his election campaign, he told an audience in New York in July 2019 that if Tehran returns to compliance with the deal, I would re-join the agreement and work with our allies to strengthen and extend it, while more effectively pushing back against Irans other destabilising activities. Those activities include Irans missile programme and its support for proxies and terrorist groups. After almost six weeks in office, Biden and his team are keeping to the same line: for the US to re-join the nuclear deal and lift all the sections, Iran needs to first come back into compliance with the deals limitations on its nuclear development. Despite the differences between Tehran and Washington over conditions for reviving the nuclear deal, the US administration has not objected to holding informal preliminary talks to bridge the gap brokered by the European Union. Iran, however, has showed less willingness to engage in the talks. Tehran said the US had to lift sanctions before it would discuss Americas re-joining the pact. The time isnt ripe for the proposed informal meeting, tweeted Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesperson of Irans Foreign Ministry. The diplomatic efforts turned bloody when Iran-aligned proxies fired rockets at coalition forces outside Erbil in Iraq, killing a Filipino contractor and injuring US troops. In response, Washington struck nine facilities in eastern Syria in a message to Iran that it could expect consequences for supporting militia groups threatening US interests and personnel. You cannot act with impunity. Be careful, Biden said when asked what message he intended to send with the airstrikes last week on Syrias eastern border with Iraq. Satellite images showed a group of buildings before the airstrike and the obliteration of most of them afterwards. The Pentagon said the strikes by two F-15E aircrafts using seven missiles destroyed nine buildings and heavily damaged two others in eastern Syria that were used by Iran-backed militias. Democratic members of Congress blamed Biden for striking sites in Syria without congressional permission and following the same policy as his predecessor Trump. Biden argued it needed to be done to send a message of US resolution to Iran. While most experts believe Washington and Tehran will eventually go back to the negotiating table and revive the nuclear deal, the new administration has learned that the best-laid plans need retooling in the ever-moving sands of the Middle East. While the US is trying to reshape its policies towards Saudi Arabia and Iran, Europe is watching for Americas next move. The silence of the UK, France, Germany and other European countries over the CIA report is telling. Many European countries are waiting to see how the Biden administration will act. But as the US has not changed course, the Europeans did not find it necessary to act. During the Trump years, the talk in Europe was of strategic independence from the US in foreign policy. But at its first test, the continent has failed to demonstrate how it can take a different approach. The stance has left many observers disappointed and officials in a defensive mood. A British foreign office spokesperson told the Al-Ahram Weekly that the UK has always been clear that Khashoggis murder was a terrible crime. We called for a thorough, credible and transparent investigation to hold those responsible to account and imposed sanctions against 20 Saudis involved in the murder, referring to a decision last July when Britain subjected 20 individuals suspected of involvement in the murder to economic sanctions. The foreign secretary raised the issue during his visit to Riyadh last year, and we continue to raise it in our engagements with the Saudi government, the spokesperson said. However, Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chairman of the UK defence select committee, reiterated a call for the UK to follow the US in halting Yemen-related arms sales. The CIA report is unambiguous in its conclusions, and this will inevitably be an embarrassment and shame to the wider country, he said. But the UK has otherwise maintained close diplomatic and military ties with Riyadh and is the second largest arms exporter to the country after the US. When sales of weapons that could be used in the conflict in Yemen were restarted by the UK last summer after a court-imposed review, it emerged that 1.4 billion worth of bombs, missiles and other arms had been exported to Saudi Arabia. President Bidens first month in office has showed the limitations every American president has faced in dealing with the Middle East over the last 40 years. On the one hand, there is the difficulty of shaking the terms of engagement with historic allies. The obvious case for Biden is Saudi Arabia. The diplomatic, economic and security ties between Washington and Riyadh are deep and stretch back decades. A swift, dramatic change in the relationship is unlikely. On the other hand, it is apparent that changing relations with an old foe like Iran is challenging. Long decades of hostility and distrust cannot be circumvented with good faith alone. The new US administration has thus succumbed to a classic dilemma: plans and promises made during an election campaign hardly ever survive once in government. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A blood clot forming in the carotid artery. Credit: copyright American Heart Association The rate of cardiovascular risk factors among Hispanic/Latino people living in the U.S. is very high, and while they are often aware of their health conditions, less than half of the Hispanic/Latino adults with history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) had healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, and about half had healthy blood sugar levels, according to new research published today in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. According to the American Heart Association, from 2015 to 2018, 52.3% of Hispanic men and 42.7% of Hispanic women aged 20 years and older had cardiovascular disease (CVD). "It's a wake-up call for the medical community. Despite our best efforts, Hispanic and Latino populations still seem to be undertreated for their vascular risk factors," said Fernando D. Testai, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, study co-author and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "I didn't expect the numbers to be so dismal. We found many of the participants with previous stroke knew about their vascular risk factors; however, the data indicate they are receiving inadequate treatment and support, which are a real concern." Researchers reviewed data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a longitudinal study of the health of people of Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Central and South American background. Between 2008 and 2011, more than 16,000 participants, ages 18 to 74, completed questionnaires about their health and were examined at one of four centers in Chicago, the Bronx neighborhood of New York City, Miami and San Diego. Drawing from the HCHS/SOL data, researchers focused on data for 404 adults (39% male) who had a self-reported history of stroke or TIA. They investigated the rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, and assessed whether the 404 study participants knew that they had these major cardiovascular risk factors and the treatment status for these chronic health conditions. They also analyzed if participants were taking medications to prevent a second stroke. Researchers found: Overall, 59% of participants had high blood pressure, 65% had high cholesterol and more than one-third had diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2). Even though up to 90% of study participants knew they had these CVD risk factors, most did not have healthy levels: almost half had normal blood pressure levels; one-third had healthy cholesterol levels; and about half had their blood sugar in a healthy range. About half of participants were taking anti-clotting medications; less than half were taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications; and one-quarter were taking both medications, the mainstay of stroke prevention. Older age was associated with uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes. Adults born in the U.S. or who have lived in the U.S. more than 10 years were more likely to have poorly controlled diabetes. Women were more likely to have unhealthy cholesterol levels; and Not having health insurance was associated with decreased statin use and unhealthy cholesterol levels. "Health care professionals can help inform and support Hispanic/Latino adults about the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors in order to reduce cardiovascular risk," Testai said. "Almost 80% of people in this study were overweight or obese, and a significant number continued to smoke despite having a history of stroke and other cardiovascular events. Access to care is another important area that we need to address to reduce cardiovascular risk in this population." In this analysis, researchers referenced older guidelines with higher thresholds for healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. "We were conservative in our goals. If we used the newer goals, which are far more stringent, the results would be even more alarming," Testai said. A major limitation of this study is that HCHS/SOL data was self-reported by participants. Another limitation is that while race was self-reported, social determinants of health and the health impacts of structural racism were not accounted for in this analysis. The American Heart Association's November 2020 Presidential Advisory, "Call to Action: Structural Racism as a Fundamental Driver of Health Disparities," declared structural racism a cause of poor health and premature death from heart disease and stroke for many and detailed the Association's immediate and ongoing action to accelerate social equity and health care and outcomes for all people. In addition, the editors of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, another American Heart Association scientific journal, issued new guidance last month challenging 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. It includes 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. Explore further Stroke risk highest among American Indian people, with or without atrial fibrillation New Delhi, March 4 : The 29th edition of the much-awaited New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) will be held virtually this year from March 6-9. The virtual editions theme pavilion will be 'National Education Policy 2020, the National Book Trust announced on Thursday. The organisers said that over 15 countries, including the UK, the US, the UAE, China, France, Iran, Nepal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Italy will participate in the Foreign Publishers' Hall at the fair. A series of programmes highlighting various aspects of NEP 2020 is scheduled to be organised during the NDWBF 2021 virtual edition "to discuss the dynamics of its implementation through publishing for various age-groups", the NBT said in a statement. Discussions on education and pedagogy, conversations with authors, scholars, book release functions and cultural programmes will also be part of the fair. "Over 160 publishers and exhibitors from India and abroad will participate in the fair through e-stalls, acquainting the visitors with books in all major Indian and foreign languages. The visitors will be able to visit the websites of the exhibitors or the publishers directly from the e-stalls to view more products," added NBT. To purchase books, the visitors can add books to e-cart and get them delivered at their doorsteps after payment. The fair will be inaugurated by Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' in a virtual ceremony on March 5. Visitors can access the book fair on nbtindia.gov.in/ndwbf21 at any time on all four days. The fair will be free for all the visitors, said the organisers. The previous edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair took place in January 2020. It is going virtual this year due to the Covid induced restrictions that are in place. A Tibetan man serving a 10-year prison term for taking part in protests against Chinese rule was released in February one year before completing his sentence, but is in failing health after suffering beatings and torture in prison, Tibetan sources say. Gangbu Rikgye Nyima, aged around 30, was freed on Feb. 25 in Draggo (Chinese, Luhuo) county in Sichuans Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Golok Jigmea former political prisoner living in exile in Switzerlandtold RFA this week. However, like other political prisoners [released before him], Nyimas condition is very severe, Jigme said, citing sources in the region. Nyima and his cellmates, some of whom had been arrested with him in 2012, had repeatedly protested in prison, and were tortured many times by their guards, Jigme said. He was also put into a dark cell many times, as a result of which his vision is weak, and he suffers constantly from headaches. His lungs and spine are also in a bad state, and he is now mentally disturbed. Nyima was formerly employed in a hydropower station in Draggo county and was one of many Tibetans detained for peacefully protesting against Chinese rule in Tibetan areas at the time of the Tibetan New Year in Draggo and Serta (Seda) counties, Jigme said. Even though he was later sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Chinese government, he was released on Feb. 25 after completing only nine years of his sentence, Jigme said, adding that police took Nyima directly to his home after completing the paperwork for his release, and that family members were warned by police not to come to the police station to receive him. Tibetan political prisoners suffering ill health are sometimes freed in critical condition before the end of their terms, with at least seven reported during the last year to have diedeither in prison or following their releasefrom injuries inflicted under torture in custody, sources say. 'Remain united' In a statement written by Nyima and obtained by RFAs Tibetan Service, Nyima greeted his family following his release, adding, I will never forget for as long as I live how the Chinese government put me behind bars and tortured me on false charges, and tore away all my human rights. Never forget what it means to be a Tibetan, he said. Dont be discouraged, remain united, and always study your language and your religion. We all must be free from this repression. Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force nearly 70 years ago, and the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India and other countries around the world following the failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on the region, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity, and subjecting Tibetans to persecution, torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. Reported by Sonam Lhamo for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. Your support helps Excelsio to keep delivering open content. A small contribution is so valuable for us. Chao also made extensive plans for an official trip to China in November 2017 before she canceled it that would have included stops at places that had received support from her familys business, the New York-based Foremost Group. According to department emails, Chao directed her staff to include her relatives in the official events and high-level meetings during the trip. ADVERTISEMENT Many persons have again been reported abducted by bandits in Zamfara State during an attack on Wednesday on Ruwan Tofa in Maru Local Government Area of the state. Residents said the bandits invaded the community at night, setting houses, silos and other physical structures on fire. The bandits were reported to have captured many residents who were fleeing the community after being forewarned of the attack. I cannot say the exact number of those kidnapped because they are many. Women and children constitute the majority of those abducted, the source who asked not to be named for security reason added. Then they went round burning houses and silos unchallenged before moving with the victims, the source said The police confitmed the attack on the village and said officers had been deployed. Our combined teams of ground and aerial surveillance are on extensive bush combing of the surrounding forests aimed at rescuing the victims suspected to have been kidnapped, Mohammed Shehu, the police spokesperson said. He urged members of the public to disregard figures quoted by some newspapers and assist the security forces in the ongoing operations. You are to equally remain calm, as we update you from time to time, please, the statement read. The latest abductions come less than a week after gunmen kidnapped 279 schoolgirls in Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state. The students were released Tuesday morning. To check lawlessness in the state, the federal government has declared a no-fly-zone in Zamfara. Governor Bello Matawalle controversially initiated a peace dialogue, offering amnesty to bandits who renounce criminality. However, this has not appeased the bandits who continue to kidnap and attack rural communities. Northern Shipping Fund Management LLC announces final closing of Northern Shipping Fund IV LP Northern Shipping Fund Management LLC (Northern Shipping) announced that it had a final closing for Northern Shipping Fund IV LP (NSF IV) with total investor commitments of $636 million, exceeding its $600 million target. NSF IV received commitments from new and existing investors, including public and private pension funds, insurance companies and other institutions. Sean Durkin, Managing Partner, Northern Shipping, commented: Northern Shipping is very pleased to have the continued support of our existing institutional investors and to welcome new investors to share in our maritime asset-based credit strategy. Sybren Hoekstra, Managing Partner, Northern Shipping, said: We believe that opportunities to provide alternative financing solutions to vessel owners and operators continue to expand as the reduction in traditional bank lending to the maritime industry has accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Reconciliation its a term federal budget experts would understand, but for the rest of us, it sounds like what you do with a family member you havent talked to in years. Its also the process congressional Democrats plan to use to pass President Joe Bidens US$1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue and stimulus bill in the Senate. We asked Raymond Scheppach, who is a public policy scholar at the University of Virginia and a former deputy director at the Congressional Budget Office, to describe reconciliation and explain why its use now is causing such controversy. What is reconciliation, and how is it used in Congress? Reconciliation is a legislative process originally intended to reduce federal budget deficits. In 1974, lawmakers decided they had to deal with a recurring problem: If more money was spent than expected or revenues didnt meet projections, the nations deficit grew. But lowering deficits is politically difficult; to do it, Congress needed to either increase revenues, cut spending or both. That usually meant reducing entitlements and other mandatory spending like nutrition assistance for children or increasing taxes. So legislators created this process called reconciliation that could be used to reconcile actual spending with Congress previously adopted spending targets. Heres the key part that addressed the problems legislators faced when cutting spending or hiking taxes: Budget moves made under reconciliation could not be filibustered. Lawmakers believed this could ease the political difficulty associated with lowering deficits over the long term. An important point: Reconciliation could be used only to change taxes, mandatory spending like farm price supports and entitlements such as Social Security or Medicare. Does using reconciliation for the COVID-19 bill represent a hijacking of the original purpose of the process? Its important to look back at the 1974 Act to determine the purpose of the reconciliation provision and how it has changed over time. A provision that was created in 1974 to reduce deficits is now being used to do the opposite: dramatically increase deficits. So contrary to reconciliations original purpose, it was used for the 2001, 2003 and 2017 tax cuts, which substantially increased deficits. Congress could do that because the restrictions on reconciliations use in the Senate have been reduced over time so that now major tax cuts or omnibus spending bills are allowed. It was also inappropriately used to pass modifications to the Affordable Care Act, which significantly increased spending even though it also raised revenues sufficient to offset the spending. Even though it was budget-neutral, it did not reduce the deficit. The $1.9 billion Biden COVID-19 bill would also be an inappropriate use relative to the original intent of the provision, as it would substantially increase the deficit. How often has reconciliation been used? The reconciliation provision has been used by both parties more than 21 times since the 1980s. In some cases, such as the 1990 and 1993 Omnibus Reconciliation Acts, whose major purpose was to cut spending and increase revenues, each reduced the deficit by a little over $700 billion over five years. For President Biden and the Democrats on Capitol Hill, there are some clear advantages in using the reconciliation process. It would make consideration of the $1.9 trillion bill privileged, in legislative terms. This means that debate can be limited, but most importantly it cant be filibustered in the Senate, as it requires only 51 rather than 60 votes to pass. As long as all 50 Democrats are willing to vote in favor, then the vice president, also a Democrat, can cast the deciding 51st vote. This process is much more important in the Senate as opposed to the House of Representatives, which has a rules committee that can limit debate and amendments. One fact sheet about reconciliation, produced by the House budget committee in 2020, says Reconciliation is a tool a special process that makes legislation easier to pass in the Senate. Are there other reasons legislators would want to use reconciliation? Because it requires only a simple majority vote, legislation can be passed relatively quickly under reconciliations rules rather than going through a time-consuming negotiation to come up with a bipartisan bill. Since most of the money in President Bidens bill is for coping with COVID-19 and stabilizing a damaged economy, the administration believes timing is critical. The faster the bill can be enacted, the faster schools can fully reopen, vaccines can be administered and the unemployed will be able to find jobs. Is the COVID-19 stimulus bill the one time were likely to see reconciliation used this year? Under the rules, most years there can only be one reconciliation bill. But because it wasnt used last year, Biden and the Democrats will be able to do two this year. This means that they would be able to use reconciliation for this $1.9 trillion COVID-19 bill and then another reconciliation bill later in the year on climate change or infrastructure or any other major priority. There is no sacrificing other major Democratic priorities if reconciliation is used at this time, which is another political advantage although using reconciliation to pass these policies would again violate the original intent of the process. Is using reconciliation devised to avoid political battles now another form of power politics, ramming legislation through rather than considering the minoritys views? The Senate often operates on historical precedents, and thus the longer-term questions are: What is the effect of using reconciliation on the Senate as an institution? How does it affect the rights of the minority and even democracy itself? Perhaps the most significant negative effect is that it has reduced the rights of the minority party to shape legislation, which often leads to more extreme policies. Participation by the minority party in making legislation often forces policy toward the middle of the political spectrum, where most Americans live. But what we are seeing more often now is that the minority party refuses to engage with the majority party on legislation. That can force the majority to go the route of reconciliation. Yet passing legislation through reconciliation, I believe, exacerbates voter frustration and weakens democracy. Naomi Schalit, Senior Editor, Politics + Society, The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Nearly 8,000 New Jersey police and firefighters could become eligible to retire with a pension sooner than expected. A bill (S1017) passed by the state Assembly and sent to Gov. Phil Murphy this week would allow public safety workers who reach 20 years of service within 25 months of the effective date of the bill to retire with a pension, regardless of their age. Current law limits the early retirement benefit, the equivalent of half their salary, for public safety workers hired after January 2000 to those at least 55 years old. But unions say thats because a 1999 law was misinterpreted by former Gov. Chris Christies administration. The unions argue the law created the early retirement benefit on the effective date of the statute. Christies administration read that law to mean the benefit was only available to police and firefighters enrolled in the pension system as of the laws effective date. Unions say the proposal on the table now brings officers and firefighters hired after 2000 in line with those hired before 2000 and with the State Police officers who are eligible to retire after 20 years regardless of their age. This is not a new benefit, Rob Nixon, the New Jersey Police Benevolent Associations government affairs director, told the Assembly Appropriations Committee last week. The 1999 laws sponsor, in a letter to the Division of Pensions in 2014, urged Christies administration to correct its interpretation of the 20-and-out provision to apply the benefit to all police and firefighters, no matter when they were hired. This legislation would extend eligibility for an additional two years, which Nixon described as a limited window to test the financial impact of early retirement. Opponents, including local government representatives, worry about putting additional strain on the woefully underfunded public employee pension system and about higher bills for government employers. The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services said it could not calculate the fiscal impact of the bill with a reasonable degree of certainty. However, the Police and Firemens Retirement System would incur up to $465 million in costs annually if every one of the 7,630 employees covered by the bill retired early. Nobody knows Jersey politics like NJ.com. Add your email now and dont miss a story. Police union officials say history shows between 0.5% and 1.5% of members actually opt for early retirement. An individual member is leaving well over $1 million on the table by taking this benefit, Nixon said, noting their early retirement pension allowance is 50% of their final salary and they forfeit post-retirement medical benefits. Why would they take it? They take it because theyre burning out. There are savings here for municipalities, because an officer who retires at 20 years does not receive employer-paid health benefits, he continued. So the municipality is not only saving on the salary for those officers at the end of their career, but they also no longer have to provide health benefits to those individuals, which is a significant savings over the long run for them. OLS said it didnt have enough data to estimate the health care savings. Assemblyman Jay Webber, R-Morris, said he was concerned about the very uncertain financial impact of the legislation. He abstained from voting on the bill in committee and in the Assembly on Monday. Our pension system is so shaky. Its so poorly funded, he said. But local government lobbyists were adamant that counties, municipalities and taxpayers cannot afford any hit. OLS projects the funded ratio of the local portion of the pension system for police and firefighters would fall from 71.7% to 65.6% and the state portion from 38.9% to 35.7% if the full complement retired early. We just dont see how this piece of legislation strengthens the pension system, said John Donnadio, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties. We dont see how it alleviates the burden on local government employers. In fact, we think it does the opposite. And for those reasons we have long opposed this legislation. The Assembly passed the bill 66-0 with three abstentions and the Senate passed it 38-0 in December. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. (Newser) Donald Trump is dropping hints about a possible run in 2024, but he's not saying for sure. Now Bloomberg reports that while the president is "strongly considering" the possibility, he's also talking privately about finding a replacement for Mike Pence. The story is based on anonymous insiders familiar with the discussions. Pence and Trump ended their administration on rocky terms, after Pence declined to declare Trump the 2020 winner while presiding over the Senate's certification of votes. More: Options: The Bloomberg story reports that Trump, if he runs, is being encouraged to pick a female or a Black running mate, given that he struggled with both demographics in the election. This week, Trump issued a public endorsement of South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the Senate's only Black Republican. And Donald Trump Jr. is hosting a fundraiser on Friday for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. story continues below Trump-Trump? At New York, Ed Kilgore raises the idea of a Trump-Trump ticket, with his running mate one of the Trump children or perhaps daughter-in-law Lara Trump. One thing to watch is where the younger Trumps establish residence, which could have strategic benefits in the 2024 election. At New York, Ed Kilgore raises the idea of a Trump-Trump ticket, with his running mate one of the Trump children or perhaps daughter-in-law Lara Trump. One thing to watch is where the younger Trumps establish residence, which could have strategic benefits in the 2024 election. Where's Jared? CNN reports on another change in Trump world: When the former president spoke at CPAC last week, one key adviser was "conspicuously absent": son-in-law Jared Kushner. Is the split permanent? Depends on whom you ask. The story talks to insiders who say Trump is angry at Kushner, others who say Kushner is the one angry at Trump, and still others who say that Kushner is merely taking a break from politics. CNN reports on another change in Trump world: When the former president spoke at CPAC last week, one key adviser was "conspicuously absent": son-in-law Jared Kushner. Is the split permanent? Depends on whom you ask. The story talks to insiders who say Trump is angry at Kushner, others who say Kushner is the one angry at Trump, and still others who say that Kushner is merely taking a break from politics. Denial: The Washington Examiner quotes a senior adviser who dismisses the idea that Trump is considering a Pence-less ticket "fake news." The Washington Examiner quotes a senior adviser who dismisses the idea that Trump is considering a Pence-less ticket "fake news." Pence's op-ed: On Wednesday, Pence came out with an op-ed criticizing Democrats' plan to overhaul voting rules. In doing so, he perpetuated what Michael McGough of the Los Angeles Times calls the "Little Lie""not that the election was elaborately rigged (as Trump claimed in his Big Lie), but that its integrity is questionable because of pandemic-inspired changes in election procedures." It signals to McGough that Pence is still interested in doing Trump's "dirty work" and would like to be on a future ticket. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do Dubai-based Emirates Group has announced the appointment of Steve Allen as the Executive Vice President of dnata, a global leading air services provider. Allen will be responsible for all dnatas businesses covering ground handling, catering and travel across six continents. In addition, he will assume responsibility for managing Emirates Groups relationships with its associated businesses, including MMI, Emirates CAE Flight Training and Premier Inn. In his new role, Steve Allen will continue to report to Gary Chapman, President Group Services and dnata, until his retirement at the end of March. Thereafter, Steve Allen will report directly to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. Sheikh Ahmed said: "Im pleased to announce the promotion of Steve to Executive Vice President. In his various management roles at the company Steve has delivered outstanding results and demonstrated excellent leadership skills, making a significant contribution to the success of dnata and its customers. Im confident that under Steves leadership dnata will cement its position as a global leader that consistently provides service excellence and the highest level of quality and safety across all its businesses. "I wish to take the opportunity to thank Gary for his commitment and accomplishments over the last three decades. Gary has led dnata to fantastic new heights, transforming it into a strong global business with a first class reputation when it comes to service, safety, and standard. I wish Gary a happy and fulfilling retirement." Steve Allen has been with the Emirates Group for 12 years in various operational and support roles. Since 2016, he has been overseeing dnatas ground handling and cargo operations and airport hospitality services in the United Arab Emirates as Divisional Senior Vice President. For the past nine months he has also been leading dnatas travel businesses and their ongoing transformation globally. Prior to joining the Emirates Group, Steve Allen spent 16 years with British Airways in various financial, regional and operational roles. TradeArabia News Service Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Downing Street today insisted the UK has not broken the terms of the Brexit divorce deal after the EU accused ministers of 'violating' the Northern Ireland Protocol over border checks. Brussels has threatened legal action after the Government yesterday announced it had unilaterally decided to extend a grace period that has been limiting the amount of red tape on agri-food goods moving from GB to Northern Ireland. Number 10 said the exemption period, which was due to expire at the end of the month, will now run until October but the decision to act without the agreement of the bloc prompted an immediate backlash. European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic last night expressed his 'strong concerns' over the move and claimed it 'amounts to a violation of the relevant substantive provisions of the Protocol'. He said the EU will 'respond to these developments in accordance with the legal means' set out in the Brexit divorce and trade deals. Meanwhile, Simon Coveney, the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, said the UK's approach showed the EU is negotiating 'with a partner that they simply cannot trust'. But Number 10 hit back this lunchtime as the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman dismissed the claim of breaching the deal, saying the UK's actions are 'entirely consistent with our intention to fulfil our obligations under the Protocol in good faith'. The PM's spokesman also rejected Mr Coveney's claim, stating that 'obviously we would not accept that characterisation'. Downing Street said overnight that the 'temporary technical steps' will 'provide more time for businesses such as supermarkets and parcel operators to adapt to and implement the new requirements in the Protocol'. It came as loyalist paramilitary organisations told Boris Johnson they are withdrawing support for Northern Ireland's historic peace agreement amid rising community tensions over the Protocol. The outlawed groups said they were temporarily withdrawing their backing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. However, they stressed that unionist opposition to the protocol should remain 'peaceful and democratic'. The 1998 peace agreement that loyalist paramilitaries endorsed 23 years ago ended decades of violence and established devolved powersharing at Stormont. The UK Government has unilaterally decided to extend a post-Brexit grace period on some goods checks in Northern Ireland. The port of Larne is pictured on February 2 European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic (pictured left) has threatened the UK with legal action after it made the unilateral decision about post-Brexit border checks in Northern Ireland. He raised 'strong concerns' with UK counterpart Lord Frost last night Simon Coveney, the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, said the UK's approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol showed the EU is negotiating 'with a partner that they simply cannot trust' The outlawed groups said they were temporarily withdrawing their backing of the Belfast/Good Friday accord. Pictured is graffiti protesting against the sea border in Northern Ireland A file photo of a mural in west Belfast painted by the UVF, a loyalist paramilitary group What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? The Northern Ireland Protocol is enshrined in the Brexit divorce deal. It is the solution agreed by the EU and the UK to avoid a return to an Irish land border. To avoid disrupting cross-border trade and a return of checkpoints along the politically sensitive frontier, they essentially agreed to move new regulatory and customs processes to the Irish Sea. That means the checks are now focused on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with goods continuing to move freely within the island of Ireland. Trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is largely unaffected by the protocol. The red tape applies on movement in the other direction because while Northern Ireland has to stay closely aligned to EU trade rules, the rest of the UK does not. Since December 31, a range of regulatory animal and plant safety checks have been in operation, including physical inspections for a proportion of arriving freight at new port facilities. Customs declarations are also required for incoming commercial goods. Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market for goods. The region also applies EU customs rules at its ports, even though it is still part of the UK customs territory. The protocol also sees Northern Ireland follow certain EU rules on state aid and VAT on goods. Unionists and loyalists are opposed to the protocol because they believe it creates a barrier between the region and the rest of the UK, undermining the Union, while checks have also resulted in disruption at the border. Advertisement The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed as part of the Brexit divorce deal and it requires regulatory and customs checks on goods entering the region. It was designed to keep the sensitive Irish land border open by keeping Northern Ireland aligned with EU trade rules, with checks conducted on goods at ports. But the measures have caused disruption to imports from the rest of the UK. Many unionists and loyalists are against the Protocol because they believe it has created an economic barrier between the region and the rest of the UK, undermining the constitutional integrity of the Union. The UK and the EU have agreed to try to find ways to make the Protocol operate more smoothly. Changes to the way in which the Protocol operates are supposed to be jointly agreed by the UK and the EU. The UK Government yesterday announced unilateral action to extend a grace period on some checks amid fears the introduction of more red tape next month would only worsen border friction. Announcing the move, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: 'As part of the pragmatic and proportionate implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Government is taking several temporary operational steps to avoid disruptive cliff-edges as engagement with the EU continues through the Joint Committee. 'These recognise that appropriate time must be provided for businesses to implement new requirements and support the effective flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.' He said the current Scheme for Temporary Agri-food Movements to Northern Ireland (STAMNI) will continue until October 1 but certification requirements will then be introduced in phases. Brussels said in a statement issued immediately after the move was announced that Mr Sefcovic 'expressed the EU's strong concerns over the UK's unilateral action, as this amounts to a violation of the relevant substantive provisions of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and the good faith obligation under the Withdrawal Agreement'. The statement said: 'This is the second time that the UK government is set to breach international law. 'This also constitutes a clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed up until now, thereby undermining both the work of the Joint Committee and the mutual trust necessary for solution-oriented cooperation.' It added that Mr Sefcovic would inform his UK counterpart Lord Frost in a phone call last night that 'the European Commission will respond to these developments in accordance with the legal means established by the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement'. A UK Government spokesman said after the call that Lord Frost had explained to Mr Sefovic that the measures 'were temporary technical steps, which largely continued measures already in place, to provide more time for businesses such as supermarkets and parcel operators to adapt to and implement the new requirements in the Protocol'. The spokesman said: 'He underlined that these were needed for operational reasons and were the minimum necessary steps to allow time for constructive discussions in the Joint Committee to continue without the prospect of disruption to the everyday life of people in Northern Ireland in the coming weeks. 'He noted that such operational measures were well precedented in other international trade arrangements, and that they were entirely consistent with our intention to discharge our obligations under the Protocol in good faith.' Mr Coveney this morning described the UK's approach as 'very frustrating' and said the EU is negotiating with a partner it 'simply cannot trust'. Speaking on RTE Radio 1, he said: 'This is not the first time this has happened that they are negotiating with a partner that they simply cannot trust. The 1998 agreement that loyalist paramilitaries endorsed 23 years ago ended decades of violence and established devolved powersharing at Stormont. Pictured: A Loyalist sign in County Armagh Boris Johnson attending Prime Minister's Questions yesterday - when the Chancellor also delivered the Budget 'That is why the EU is now looking at legal options and legal actions which effectively means a much more formalised and rigid negotiation process as opposed to a process of partnership where you try to solve problems together, so this is really unwelcome.' Responding to Mr Coveney's claims, the PM's spokesman said: Obviously we would not accept that characterisation. We have worked closely with the EU throughout the Brexit period, not just in terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol but with regard to the TCA (trade and co-operation agreement) that we agreed at Christmas time. We continue to work closely with them through the joint committee process, we remain committed to the Northern Ireland Protocol but we want to address those areas where there are issues that have arisen. Asked if the UK accepts the EU's claim of a breach of the Brexit divorce deal, the spokesman replied: No. These types of operational measures are well-precedented and common in other international trade agreements and are entirely consistent with our intention to fulfil our obligations under the protocol in good faith. These are temporary technical steps which allow us to continue the measures that are already in place to allow more time for businesses and supermarkets to adapt to new requirements under the protocol. UK ministers are facing a growing backlash from unionists who fear the post-Brexit Protocol threatens Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market. The DUP and other unionist parties are pushing for the Protocol to be scrapped, claiming it has driven an economic wedge between the region and Great Britain which undermines the Union. A letter sent to Mr Johnson by an umbrella body representing the paramilitaries said their stance in respect of the Belfast Agreement would continue until the Protocol was amended to ensure 'unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the United Kingdom'. It added: 'If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement.' The letter to the Prime Minister was written by David Campbell, chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council. Mr Campbell has penned a similar letter to Irish premier Micheal Martin. The LCC represents the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando, which were responsible for many deaths during 30 years of conflict. The main loyalist and republican armed groups signed up to principles like commitment to non-violence during discussions which led to the signing of the Belfast Agreement in exchange for early release of prisoners. The letter says: 'We are concerned about the disruption to trade and commerce between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that is occurring, but our core objection is much more fundamental.' It said during the Brexit negotiations the Government and the EU said it was paramount to protect the Belfast Agreement and its built-in safeguards for the two main communities in Northern Ireland. The letter said the operation of the Protocol 'repeatedly breaches those objectives'. Mr Campbell insisted the LCC leadership is determined that opposition to the protocol should be 'peaceful and democratic'. The graffiti comes amid rising tension in the country over Britain's Brexit deal The letter was sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson by the Loyalist Communities Council A Loyalist sign in Gilford, County Down, opposing the border in the Irish Sea separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK 'However, please do not under-estimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family,' he adds. 'The only time I can remember such unanimity of opposition was following the imposition of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985. 'Accordingly, I have been instructed to advise you that the loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement until our rights under the agreement are restored and the protocol is amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the United Kingdom. 'If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement.' Police have noted growing discontent in unionist communities because of the Protocol. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne previously warned of a 'febrile' atmosphere and urged people to step back from the brink of violence. Inspection staff at ports were temporarily withdrawn from duties earlier this year in response to sinister graffiti, but they later resumed their work after police insisted there was no credible threat against them. Last week, Stormont's DUP Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons stopped preparatory work on building permanent Irish Sea trade checks at the ports. That move, the legality of which has been disputed by executive colleagues, did not impact ongoing checks, as those are happening at temporary port facilities. Jamie Cote says he was assaulted by Patrol Sgt. Sean Cassidy after the off-duty Winnipeg police officer followed him into the city one late March night in 2017. Jamie Cote says he was assaulted by Patrol Sgt. Sean Cassidy after the off-duty Winnipeg police officer followed him into the city one late March night in 2017. Police officers told court Wednesday, however, it was Cassidy who said he was being followed, leading to a "high-risk" takedown. Winnipeg Police Service constables Brody Kiez and Chris Rivard testified they were on general patrol when they received a call around 1 a.m. of an off-duty officer being followed by two men in a truck. The officers pulled into a St. Marys Avenue parking lot, turned off their cruisers lights and waited for the vehicles to pass. "We decided to do a high-risk vehicle stop," Rivard said Wednesday. When the suspect truck passed, Rivard pulled out of the parking lot and followed it, emergency lights flashing. Within seconds, the truck "came to an abrupt stop," Rivard said. "The driver door swung open and a male driver leaped out of the vehicle in a combative stance." "It was a scary moment for us," Kiez said. "I had an imminent threat in front of me." Rivard and Kiez got out of the cruiser, firearms drawn, and Rivard demanded the man raise his hands, Rivard said. "The male just glared at us and retreated back into his vehicle," he said. Rivard said an officer he later learned was Cassidy went to the drivers side door, yelled, "Winnipeg police, show us your hands," then struggled with the driver identified as Cote for a short time before pulling him out of the truck and to the ground. Rivard said Cote resisted, as he and Cassidy handcuffed him, but Cote was not injured. Kiez pulled another man from the passenger side of the truck, handcuffed him and placed him in a cruiser. Kiez said Cassidy told Kiez and Rivard there had been several break-and-enters in the area and an older truck was believed to be connected to the crimes. Police searched Cotes truck, found nothing suspicious, and released the two men without charge. In testimony Monday, Cote said he and a roommate were in La Salle delivering flyers for Cotes landscaping business when they stopped for a smoke break and noticed a van stop in the middle of the road, about 100 feet away. The van driver "stared at us, with his lights toward us," Cote said. "He was just sitting there, which I thought was a little weird, so I said lets just go and get on with our night." As they delivered the last handful of flyers, the van continued to follow them, Cote said. "At the last house I put up my hands in an expression of What are you doing? (but) no window came down, nothing was said." Cote said as he drove out of town toward Winnipeg, the van sped up ahead of him "swerving back and forth to not let me go." Cote recorded video on his cellphone of the van swerving in front of him. "Look at this f---ing guy, driving right in the middle so I cant pass on either side," Cote can be heard saying on the video, which was provided to court. Cote said he made a quick hard turn off the Perimeter Highway in an effort to lose the van, after which it turned around and drove into oncoming traffic. He was driving down St. Marys Road looking for help when Cote saw a police cruiser "and pulled over instantly." "I got out of my truck to flag them down," he said. "As I did that, the van that was following me stopped behind me, (the driver) got out of his vehicle and told me to get back in mine." Confused now that it appeared the van driver was a police officer, Cote backed up to his truck, hands in the air. Cote said one police officer pulled him out of the truck and took him to the ground, after which he was punched and kneed in the face by a man who was not in police uniform. "I was yelling: Im not resisting, please stop hitting me." The trial resumes Friday. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca Early Tuesday morning, a semi-truck towing two trailers slammed into a Ford Explorer SUV carrying more than two dozen people in the Imperial Valley region in Southern California just a few miles from the US-Mexico border. Law enforcement officers work at the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Authorities say a semi-truck crashed into an SUV carrying 25 people on a Southern California highway, killing at least 13 people. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) The crash, which is the deadliest in the border area in many decades, has so far claimed 13 lives and left many seriously injured. The carnage, captured on traffic cameras, shows passengers being ejected from the SUV on impact, and then several trying to get out of the wreckage looking dazed. Emergency responders at the scene reported finding several victims dead inside the vehicle. The injured were taken to the El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and Pioneers Memorial Hospital in nearby Brawley. UC San Diego Health said it received three patients transferred from ECRMC via air ambulance. According to CHP reports, the passengers ranged from ages 20 to 55, and it has been reported that the driver of the SUV was a 28-year-old from Mexicali, Mexico. In his initial statement reported by CNN, El Centro Regional Medical Center CEO Dr. Adolphe Edward highlighted the fact that this was a major accident and that people were going through a difficult time, and warned reporters against categorizing the victims as undocumented. According to the latest reports, US Border Patrol (USBP) has stated it suspects all the victims had been part of a group of 44 migrants smuggled from Mexico into the US through a hole in the border fence near Calexico. On Wednesday morning, USBP also released a timeline detailing the events leading up to the crash. According to the official version, agents patrolling the Calexico were notified that a red Suburban was on fire near I-8 and Interstate Route 115 at 5:56 a.m.. Within 10 minutes, the agents claim they found a 10-foot hole in the border fence near Gordons Well exit/Schneiders Bride area, and 19 people hiding in the bushes while trying to put out the vehicle fire. Soon after, the agents received a call about a deadly crash. Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) agents were the first on the scene and reported that they found 12 victims dead on the spot. The Ford Explorer SUV involved in the accident had all but the driver and front passenger seats removed, which meant none of the other passengers had access to seat belts. The vehicle, which is supposed to carry a maximum of 8 people, was carrying two dozen passengers. This dangerous mode of transportation is not uncommon in the border areas, especially in the Imperial Valley, where agribusinesses have consistently exploited underpaid transborder farmworkers. Farms in the region have used vehicles like the one involved in the most recent deadly crash to transport migrant workers who have crossed legally into the United States. Car crashes in the border area are not uncommon, and usually have been the result of vehicles trying to flee USBP. In what was the most recent deadly crash before Tuesday, seven people were killed when a car attempted to flee USBP vehicles giving chase in El Paso, Texas in June 2020. Prior to that, in 2019 a police chase in rural South Texas resulted in six deaths, and five people charged with migrant smuggling. In July 2012, in one of the worst border-related crashes of the last decade, a Ford pickup crammed with more than 20 undocumented adults and children struck two trees, killing 15 people, including an 8-year-old girl, in Texas. At the time of publication, many questions raised by the most recent accident remain unanswered. The official report merely states that the SUV was hit after it apparently entered an intersection directly in front of a Peterbilt tractor trailer traveling north on Route 115 near El Centro. However, it is not quite clear whether the SUV was speeding or whether the driver ran a stop sign or for that matter what would account for it being directly in front of an oncoming vehicle. For now, USBP has claimed that none of its agents were in pursuit and the BORSTAR agents at the site had merely responded to the emergency call. The response to such accidents from government officials and the media has taken the form of bemoaning the evils of human trafficking and a ramping up of militarized border policing. In his official statement after Tuesdays tragedy, El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino connected the accident to the hole in the border wall, insisting, Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life. Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy; tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with. The Department of Homeland Security has also announced an investigation into the human trafficking operation that apparently brought the migrants into the country. This investigation, as others in the past, will whitewash the horrendous human costs of US immigration policy, which under the new Biden administration is not fundamentally different from what it was under Trump. The El Centro sector employs 800 Border Patrol agents to cover 70 miles across the valley. It boasts of a new border barriera row of 30-foot-tall, slender steel slats with pointed edgesthat Trump inspected with great fanfare. All of this is to impede the movement of workers in an area which is the agricultural heart of the region and also among the most economically depressed in California. The unemployment rate for the valley is four times the state average, and its seasonal labor demands are met in large part through migrant labor from across the border. It is estimated that around 6000 farm workers cross the border legally during the annual harvest. However, the dire economic conditions on both sides of the borderexacerbated by the on-going pandemichave meant that desperate workers have been forced into looking for any means possible to eke out a living and provide for their families. Border Patrol agents, who are usually heavily armed in these areas, have reported that the number of unauthorized immigrants arrested in January 2021 was 78,323well over double the figure from January 2020. These numbers, which had dipped to 17,066 in April 2020 in the early days of the pandemic, reveal the growing desperation of the working class in the border regions. The Biden administration, which supporters claimed would initiate a new chapter in US immigration policy, has done nothing of that sort. Despite the anti-immigrant ravings of Donald Trump at the recent CPAC convention, US immigration policies have continued to develop along the same trajectory he had set, including the re-opening of detention centers for children. In this context, tragedies like what unfolded in the Imperial Valley this week will sadly continue to be a fixture. Why us? Chella Kryszek wondered, long after the horror was over. Why did she and her sister survive? Surely we were no better than anybody else. Surely we were no stronger than anybody else. But survive they did, and Kryszek spent the rest of her life telling young people about her experiences as a Jewish teen during the Holocaust. I want you to be upset about it because I want you to think about what I am telling you, she would say. She was 12 when Nazi Germany occupied her native Netherlands, 15 when she was caught hiding and sent to a series of concentration camps, including Auschwitz, and nearly 17 when she was freed. She ultimately joined her sister, Flora Kirk, in settling in Portland, where Chella and her husband, Jakob Kryszek, also a Holocaust survivor, helped created the Oregon Holocaust Memorial in Washington Park. Chella and Floras story is among those told in the new book We Must Not Forget: Holocaust Stories of Survival and Resistance, from West Linn childrens author Deborah Hopkinson. The book, aimed at readers ages 9 to 14, features the stories of about a dozen Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands, Germany, France and Poland. In this 1992 photo, Chella Kryszek looks at a picture of herself and her sister, Flora, from their 1930s childhood in the Netherlands. They survived imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps during World War II and ultimately settled in Portland.Chiaki Kawajiri/Oregonian file photo To write the book, Hopkinson drew on interviews, oral histories and other first-person accounts. The strength of the book lies in the details she culled: the weeks in hiding spent subsisting solely on onions or pumpkins because no other food was available; the stench of the cattle cars that transported Jewish prisoners to concentration camps; the camp guard who mocked a girls bald head, shaven as punishment for another girls act of sabotage. Hopkinson said in a recent interview that her goal for We Must Not Forget was to show the variety of Holocaust experiences. Kids know the story of Anne Frank, but I really wanted in this book to go a little bit beyond that, she said. As you dig in, you realize that as weve been experiencing this year with the coronavirus, each familys story is incredible and meaningful. We Must Not Forget is Hopkinsons sixth book with a World War II angle. Its her second book about the Holocaust experiences of children, a companion to last years We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport, about the rescue effort that spirited Jewish children out of continental Europe and into foster homes in England. Hopkinson said in a recent interview that as an author who spoke frequently to students, she had seen a tremendous interest in World War II. Her war series also includes Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark, Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines in the Pacific, and D-Day: The World War II Invasion That Changed History. Shes written a World War II novel as well, How I Became a Spy: A Mystery of WWII London. The Holocaust books came about at the suggestion of an editor at Scholastic, Hopkinsons publisher, that she write about the Kindertransport. Hopkinson interviewed Kindertransport alumni by email and phone and did research through the Leo Baeck Institute in New York City, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education in Portland. Among the people she interviewed, Ruth Oppenheimer Davids story stood out while her parents got her to England via the Kindertransport, they and her two younger siblings were trapped in Germany. Hopkinson wanted to learn more about such families; she ended up telling the siblings story in We Must Not Forget. (David wrote her own book, Child of Our Time: A Young Girls Flight from the Holocaust.) Hopkinson said that in writing nonfiction for young readers, she tried to provide enough context, thinking of what she herself would want to know, without overwhelming them with context. She also tried not to write down to them: She didnt shy away from using the word murdered to describe killings in Nazi camps, for example. For We Must Not Forget, she also sought to bring out the resilience of the people involved and how sometimes the small things that happened to them, the kindness shown by others or the courage shown by others, made such a big difference. Hopkinson hopes those who read We Must Not Forget and We Had to Be Brave take away empathy for other peoples challenges and a realization that we are part of history ourselves and that we have choices that we can make in our own lives that make a difference. awang@oregonian.com; Twitter: @ORAmyW An earlier version of this post misstated Flora Kirks last name. It's been a tough week for Apple and Apple legal. Firstly, the Arizona House of Representatives voted 31-29 on Wednesday to pass a bill that will require app stores to allow app makers to use their own payment processing software, avoiding fees charged by Apple and Google. The vote is a setback for Apple, which opposed it, and a victory for the Coalition for App Fairness, a group representing app makers upset with the app stores, which backed the bill. The legislation still has a lot of challenges to overcome before it becomes state law. First, the Arizona Senate has to discuss and pass the legislation. Then, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey would have a choice to veto the bill. If it becomes law, Arizona will have to grapple with questions including how Apple or Google will comply, or if it would be challenged in court. Secondly, Britains competition regulator said earlier today that it has opened an investigation into Apple Inc after complaints that the iPhone makers terms and conditions for app developers are unfair and anti-competitive. The probe will consider if Apple has a dominant position in the distribution of apps on its devices in the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said. Payment policies related to Apples App Store have for long drawn complaints from app developers. Apple said it will work with the regulator. Apple statement: "The App Store has been an engine of success for app developers, in part because of the rigorous standards we have in place applied fairly and equally to all developers to protect customers from malware and to prevent rampant data collection without their consent." The company is also being investigated on similar grounds by the Dutch competition authorities, who are nearing a draft decision, Reuters reported last month. "Complaints that Apple is using its market position to set terms which are unfair or may restrict competition and choice potentially causing customers to lose out when buying and using apps warrant careful scrutiny," CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said. CANADA and its Indigenous communities should finally commit this year to making the systemic reforms needed to ensure First Nations drinking water standards are the same as the rest of the country. Opinion CANADA and its Indigenous communities should finally commit this year to making the systemic reforms needed to ensure First Nations drinking water standards are the same as the rest of the country. For starters, Indigenous communities ought to experiment with more regional water authority agreements to deliver safe drinking water. In late 2020, Indigenous Services Canada signed agreements with Atlantic First Nations communities to create a utility to oversee drinking water and wastewater systems for 15 Indigenous communities across the region. This includes a financial commitment for staff training and capacity building. The agreement takes the issue of water delivery away from federal oversight and transfers it to a First Nation authority. This respects the principle that political decision-making should be as localized as possible and removed from centralized authority. Indigenous communities have long complained that authority over their communities and governance was at the level furthest removed from their everyday lives. This sort of agreement should be the model across the country. It addresses the fact that the long-standing drinking water issue is both a governance and capacity concern. Its not just about sending more money to broken systems. If thats the case, the federal government will always be playing catch-up. This comes after an admission in late October 2020 by the federal government that it might not be able to make its commitment to end boil-water advisories on First Nations by March 2021. It was obviously a very laudable goal, but was it realistic? The government should be bolder on reform commitments and less so on grandiose promises it cant fulfil. For starters, Indigenous communities ought to experiment with more regional water authority agreements to deliver safe drinking water. The government says that since 2015 it has lifted 95 boil-water advisories across Canada. Indigenous Services Canada says that 61 advisories remain in place. But communities that had eliminated long-term boil advisories were placed on short-term advisories shortly after. A regulatory gap has been central to the problems delivering safe drinking water to First Nations. Management, oversight and quality standards were spread over separate federal agencies, which provided funding, policy and regulatory oversight over reserve-based water systems. Separate agencies provide funding, policy and regulatory oversight (Indigenous Services Canada) for water and wastewater systems on reserves. The Indian Act delegates power to chiefs and councils to manage day-to-day water systems on reserves. That includes water quality testing, the issuing of drinking water advisories, and planning and developing infrastructure. But provincial laws that protect water safety didnt apply on reserves. The previous Conservative federal government attempted to fix this regulatory gap by passing legislation that provided comprehensive standards. However, First Nations felt that although the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act created a water governance structure and regulations, it was passed without much meaningful input from Indigenous communities and didnt come with commitments on capacity building. Since the acts passage, the government has put the regulations on hold as it develops more First Nations-led processes. Its debatable that the legislation was enacted without input. Nevertheless, Indigenous communities should work with the federal government on more agreements similar to the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority. All parties can observe how the authority acts in real time and corrects any problems. The hope is that the Atlantic authority will be completely autonomous by spring 2022, although the pandemic environment may present some challenges. Once the transfer of responsibility is complete, the authority will assume liability for water and wastewater systems for households and businesses to about 60 per cent of on-reserve First Nations in the region. This should be the year the federal government finally works with the Indigenous to deliver community-led governance and capacity reforms that bring safe drinking water to all First Nations. It should not be yet another year when the government adjusts its targets and disappoints First Nations residents. Joseph Quesnel is a research associate with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Troy Media Majority leader and Minister-Designate for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has disclosed that the President, HE Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo will on March 9 present his first state of the nation address in his second term to the House. According to him, the president has a constitutional mandate to brief and inform Ghanaians on the state of the country, as well as his administration's plans for the nation. Speaking on Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia program, he added that "the House reconvened today (Tuesday) after they took a month break to purge themselves of COVID 19" which had ravaged the entire world; not excluding the Legislature. The State of the Nation address is in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 constitution which states that the President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before a dissolution of Parliament, deliver to Parliament a message on the state of the nation. Also known as SONA, the state of the nation address was first implemented under the administration of the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. The President is expected to speak on the ravaging impact of the COVID-19 and other sectors of the economy and social development. Watch Video Below Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] 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 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico officials are forging ahead with their vaccine strategy and threatening hefty fines against health care workers and vaccine recipients who try to diverge from it. State Health Secretary Tracie Collins said Wednesday that more than 609,000 doses of vaccine have been administered. She said about 23% of New Mexicans have been at least partially vaccinated and 13% fully vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning they have received two doses of vaccine. New Mexico is No. 1 in the country in terms of the percentage of vaccine doses a state has received that have been given to patients, she said. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Still, some leaders are calling for a shift in vaccination strategies. President Joe Biden this week called on states to move to quickly vaccinate teachers. And Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is questioning why health care officials are prioritizing a persons second dose of vaccine ahead of someone elses first shot, which New Mexico and other states do. Heinrich and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, earlier this week wrote a letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force asking the group to consider a different approach. The senators suggested using what is planned to be someones second dose as another persons first dose. Then officials could rely on the growing inventory of vaccines for booster shots down the road, they said. The letter says recent data shows one shot of the vaccine made by both Pfizer and Moderna is effective against severe illness, hospitalizations and death. The senators say they believe expanding the rollout of single doses would be the most societally beneficial choice. The two-page, six paragraph letter contains 10 footnotes citing various medical journals, government studies and reports and other sources to make the senators case. Rapidly and strategically expanding first-dose vaccine coverage will help to more quickly reduce the susceptible population, protect high-risk individuals, and alleviate strain on our health care system in the face of a (coronavirus variant) B.1.1.7 surge, they wrote. Slowing the spread will save lives. NM strategy New Mexico health officials noted during a teleconference Wednesday that the pace and strategy of the states vaccine rollout is one of the reasons for a downward trend in COVID cases. There were 359 new cases reported Wednesday, including 102 in Bernalillo County. The state also reported 13 additional deaths, bringing the statewide toll to 3,753 since the start of the pandemic, according to a Department of Health news release. Collins said New Mexico prioritizes giving persons their second dose of vaccine within 21 to 28 days after they received their first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The state will continue to do so, she said. Weve evaluated what is the most efficient and appropriate approach to vaccine rollout and we are in agreement that we do not just want to give everyone one shot, Collins said. We want to complete the series. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease official, told The Washington Post that the country will continue with a two-dose strategy. Fauci said, among other reasons, the change in messaging would cause difficulties, according to national media reports. New Mexico is prioritizing health care workers and first responders, folks 75 years old or older and people with medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to severe disease. Collins said the state is working with the White House on how best to comply with the presidents directive to vaccinate more educators. Already, Collins said more than 15,000 New Mexico teachers had been vaccinated mostly because they had another qualifying factor. Biden on Tuesday called on every grade-school employee and child care provider to receive at least one shot of a vaccine by the end of the month. Collins said teachers in New Mexico will soon qualify for vaccines. That was the next group in line for us, so they are a priority to us as well, she said. Were going to work closely with the White House to figure out how to make this happen. Consequences Some people, both health care workers and those seeking a vaccine, have found ways to deviate from the states vaccine plan, Collins acknowledged. For that reason, late last month the state issued a public health order threatening people with up to a $5,000 fine for failing to follow the states vaccine plan, or for lying on the state vaccine registration system. We were having problems with either vaccine providers not clearly understanding the guidance and people were going out of order without justification, Collins said. We had instances where people were saying they were a certain occupation that would make them eligible for the vaccine when, in fact, they were not. The new public health order gives health care workers steps they must follow to ensure that qualified people have first access to vaccine. It also requires that people be truthful when registering for a vaccine. Both health care workers and vaccine recipients could face penalties for not following the order. Its really because we are still looking at a limited supply versus demand, Collins said. And we need to make sure people understand there are consequences to that. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A prolific offender who damaged a decoration reindeer at a Co Down filling station during a pre-Christmas crime spree was sentenced today. As well as being handed a 12-month sentence which was suspended for two years, Jackie Paul Kirkwood was also ordered to pay 1,000 compensation to the garage owner. This, Judge Geoffrey Miller QC said, would cover the cost of the damaged decoration, and of other items stolen from the garage by Kirkwood which included a second reindeer and a Santa statue. From Severn Street in Belfast, Kirkwood attended todays hearing via a videolink where he pleaded guilty to five offences committed on November 20, 2017. The 43-year old admitted causing criminal damage to the reindeer, stealing items including steak and sausages, driving whilst unfit, driving whilst disqualified and having no insurance. Crown barrister David McClean told the Downpatrick Crown Court Judge that around noon on the day in question staff at a filling station on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast were alerted to a male who appeared to be under the influence of something. The male got into a black Alfa Romeo and the vehicles registration was noted. At 1.30pm, staff at a petrol station on the Saintfield Road in Crossgar were told a man and women were acting suspiciously in the store. Kirkwood and a female were captured on CCTV stealing items including steak and noodles, and as Kirkwood was leaving the premises he picked up a reindeer decoration which he dropped and broke. He then picked up a second reindeer decoration along with a Santa statue before driving off in the Alfa Romeo. Police in Crossgar were alerted to the vehicle, which was stopped a short time later. Kirkwood admitted he was banned from driving, and when the car was searched the stolen items including the Christmas decorations were located. Mr McClean said Kirkwood appeared to be under the influence at the scene, was tested and had traces of multiple drugs including Diazepam, cannabis and cocaine in his system. The prosecutor said the defendant had 209 previous convictions, 89 of which were for motoring offences. He also revealed Kirkwoods co-accused has already been sentenced for a single count of theft. Defence barrister Richard McConkey raised the issue of delay in the case, and urged against immediate custody as Kirkwood has already served a significant period of time in jail for similar offences committed around the same time. Mr McConkey also pointed out his client admitted his guilt at the roadside. Judge Miller banned Kirkwood from driving for three years and warned him of the consequences of re-offending whilst under the two-year suspended sentence. Yelitza Marcano, a 35-year-old house keeper, suffered from COVID-19 during the very first days of the pandemic in Venezuela. Almost a year has passed since she got her negative result and Marcano is still suffering from post COVID-19 chest pain that won't let her breathe properly. In many cases, long after a negative test, a long and tortuous road still lies ahead for patients discharged after suffering from the disease. The after-effects of COVID-19, which in addition to the lungs usually affects other organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, spinal cord, neurological disorders, among other conditions, has forced more and more people to seek the help of experts in varied disciplines to achieve complete rehabilitation, recover their sense of smell or at least improve their quality of life. Some Venezuelan hospitals are using a combination of ancient medical techniques and advanced scientific procedures for the treatment of secondary consequences of COVID-19. Marcano has been receiving therapy for months at a rehabilitation center west of Caracas, where a group of Cuban doctors have been treating her daily to try and diminish her post-virus health problems. In Venezuela -- where the coronavirus has not hit as hard as in other South American countries such as Brazil, Ecuador and Peru -- treatments range from acupuncture, a technique of traditional Chinese medicine, aimed at treating ailments; breathing and relaxation exercises often associated with yoga; to the therapeutic use of ozone and blood components according to the needs of each patient. The Cuban doctors follow a programme designed by acupuncture specialists like Dr. Juan Mario Montecinos who, since the quarantine began in Venezuela, could not return to Spain where he lives and since then has been touring rehabilitation centers, instructing doctors and practicing different acupuncture techniques on patients. One of the therapies the patients do in the rehab center is to inflate a balloon to exercise their breathing capabilities. "I was never able to inflate the balloon," Marcano told the AP. What long months of therapy couldn't do to help Marcano inflate the balloon, a few minutes of acupuncture techniques applied by Dr. Montecinos did and Marcano was amazed to see the pink balloon fully inflated with her own breath and strength. A small achievement that shows that her lungs appear to be getting stronger. Nonetheless, physicians specializing in the treatment of COVID-19 categorically deny that any of these alternative therapies can have a true curative effect on patients. After contracting the new coronavirus nearly a year ago, Henry Alexander Guerrero too was bedridden for more than five months, nothing seemed to help him regain his lost muscle strength from the disease. He could not stand on his own and he feared he would never be able to stand again. "I wasn't moving at all," Guerrero told the AP after standing up without resting his hands for the first time following four months of alternative therapies, ranging from acupuncture to therapeutic massage. "This is incredible that this man made me stand here,'' Guerrero said. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 ONEILL I have been a subscriber for at least 50 years to the Norfolk Daily News. In the past two years, and even lately, Im horrified of the smut articles of sex offenders. Really, do you think the readers want to know each act? Iceland has witnessed an unusually high seismic activity and the Icelandic Meteorological Office has noted that nearly 17,000 earthquakes have hit the southwestern region of Reykjanes over the past week. Iceland sits on a tectonic plate boundary that continually splits apart and it also pushed North America and Eurasia away from each other along the line of Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Hence, occasional stronger tremors are an inevitable part of living in an active seismic region but this time there appears to be a rumble under the ground. As per a CNN report, since there are multiple volcanoes in the area, local officials have warned that an eruption could be imminent. orvaldur orarson, a professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland has reportedly said that rising concerns over the escalation in the seismic activity is understandable. Reykjavik resident Auur Alfa Olafsdottir told the media outlet that they have experienced earthquakes in the past but never so many in a row. The resident further said that it is very unusual to feel that the Earth is shaking round the clock for the entire week. Olafsdottir said, It makes you feel very small and powerless against nature. Read - Milind Soman's Throwback Thursday Pic Has Him Shirtless In Iceland, Actor Says 'exotic' Read - World's Loneliest House: Who Lives In The Most Isolated Home In Iceland? Netizens Guess Battling the why moment The professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland has also noted that even for a region like Iceland, the activity over the past week was actually fairly unusual because of its duration. He said, We are battling with the 'why' at the moment. Why is this happening? orarson said that it was very likely that there is an intrusion of magma into the [Earths] crust there. He insisted that it has definitely moved closer to the surface but the local officials are trying to figure out if its moving even closer to it. Meanwhile, another specialist in natural hazards at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, Elisabet Palmadottir told the media outlet that the authorities are deploying surveillance equipment in the area including GPS, earthquake monitors, web cameras and gas detectors. Reportedly, even she can not recall when was the last time she experienced so many earthquakes over such a long period of time. Fortunately, no towns appear to be at risk from lava flows in the event of a volcanic eruption, as per the latest modelling by the University of Icelands Volcanology and Natural Hazard Group which released the map of potential flows on Wednesday. Read - Indonesia's Sinabung Volcano Spews High Column Of Ash Read - Stunning 45-ft Tall Ice Volcano Mystically Appears In Kazakhstan From Underground Springs When Anna the Labrador retriever was still working as a narcotic-detecting canine for the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, she suffered a gash across the face from a piece of rusty metal under a house. Her handler, Detective Adrian Thompson, didnt have any first-aid materials for his four-legged partner and was forced to use a T-shirt to stop the bleeding as he rushed her to an emergency veterinarian for treatment. That moment stayed with Thompson, and it was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Anna 4 Paws, a nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency first-aid kits to working canine teams. The organization partnered with the Southeast Louisiana Veterinary Association and local veterinary offices to provide 10 canine first-aid bags to handlers who work at the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office. Each bag contains veterinary-specific products to allow the officers to provide emergency care to their canine partner in the field in the event of an injury or other urgent situation, said Dr. Deb Mauterer, a veterinarian and president of SLVA. Thompson, who, along with Anna, helped present the bags to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto on Feb. 25, said hes just getting started. His goal is to get canine first-aid kits into the hands of handlers across the region and eventually, the country. The kits have equipment to handle major traumatic injuries: stabbings, gunshot wounds or being hit by a car. But the injuries aren't always so severe. Little injuries happen, Thompson said. They get cut paw pads. They get stung by bees. They have allergic reactions. The bags contain items for basic wound care, including gloves, silver nitrate sticks to cauterize injuries, quick-clotting gauze to pack injuries and stop bleeding, tourniquets, antihistamines, a thermometer and cold packs for dogs when they overheat. To make the kits sustainable, Thompson turned to his fiancee, Brittany Sylvia, the area manager for Pet Care Center Veterinary Hospital in Metairie. She reached out to other veterinary offices to sponsor the bags, meaning theyd cover the initial costs for the bag and its contents, but theyd also pledge to replace items as theyre used or expire. We can have this wonderful thing, but drugs go bad, they get used, and how are you going to get them again?" Sylvia asked. We hope it all expires, and we never have to use it, but they will be replenished. The initial cost for each kit is $151, and replacement of the first-aid materials will cost $87, said Sylvia, who also is sponsoring bags. Dr. Margaret Trumble, a vet with the Avenue Animal Wellness + Emergency in New Orleans, sponsored a kit and will conduct a canine emergency first aid class for the handlers on March 12. Were going to go over whats in the kits, the different ways things can be used and help answer any questions, Trumble said. Other kit sponsors include Veterinary Specialists of Greater New Orleans, Quality Pet Care, Maple Small Animal Clinic, Clearview Veterinary Hospital, Gulf South Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery and Dr. Karen Parker. Those wishing to contribute toward the next round of canine first-aid kits can send donations to the Sheriff Joseph Lopinto Community Foundation in care of Anna 4 Paws, 1233 West Bank Expressway, Building B 5th Floor, Harvey, LA, 70058. VANCOUVER, BC, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Born and raised in the hard-scrabble fishing village of Canso, Nova Scotia (pop. 809), Marie Inkster became the CEO of Lundin Mining (TSX: LUN) in July 2018, when she was 47-years old. "At Lundin, Ms. Inkster will guide a company worth $5.4 billion that employs around 9,000 people," reported the Globe and Mail on July 25, 2018. Two and a half years later - under the guidance of Ms. Inkster - Lundin's market cap has almost doubled to $10.6 billion. "We operate in diverse locations with distinctive cultures and our values are what connect us all," Inkster told EY early in her tenure as CEO, "When our people feel valued, they bring their best selves to work". "Copper is our primary focus," confirmed Inkster in 2018 when copper was trading at $2.69/lb, "The market appears to be transitioning from a period of surplus into deficit." "We want to get more mines," confirmed Inkster, "We are looking for an asset that will support its debt with cash flow." On July 5, 2019 Lundin announced that it had purchased a 100% ownership stake in the Chapada copper-gold mine located in Brazil - a traditional truck & shovel operation with three active pits. Lundin paid at USD $800 million for Chapada, funded by cash-on-hand and a $550 million revolving credit facility. Three months later, Lundin reported that "during the period of Lundin Mining's ownership, Chapada produced 17,645 tonnes of copper and approximately 34,000 ounces of gold and 81,000 ounces of silver." "Copper cash costs of $0.35/lb were better than expected," reported LUN, "with lower operating costs, favourable exchange rate and higher precious metal credits". By February 23, 2021 copper hit $4.23/lb, Lundin Mining reported 2020 cash flows of $565.9 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $856.9 million for the year. 2020 Highlights: In Chile: Candelaria (80% owned): produced - on a 100% basis - 126,702 tonnes of copper, 76,000 ounces of gold and 1.1 million ounces of silver. Copper cash costs were $1.45/lb. In Brazil: Chapada (100% owned): produced 50,038 tonnes of copper and 87,000 ounces of gold, with copper cash costs of $0.29/lb. In USA: Eagle (100% owned): produced 16,718 tonnes of nickel, 18,663 tonnes of copper, with nickel cash costs of $0.10/lb. In Portugal: Neves-Corvo (100% owned): produced 32,032 tonnes of copper, 69,143 tonnes of zinc, with copper cash costs of $2.09/lb. In Sweden: Zinkgruvan (100% owned): produced 73,601 tonnes zinc, 3,346 tonnes of copper, with zinc cash costs of $0.52/lb. On February 18, 2021 Lundin declared a 50% increase in quarterly cash dividend from .04 to .06. Mining is notoriously dangerous. Every year, an estimated 12,000 miners perish on the job site. On September 25, 2020 Lundin reported a single fatality at its Neves-Corvo mine in Portugal. Typically, these negative events are swept under the carpet. "The loss of our colleague at Neves-Corvo in the third quarter remains top of mind within our organizations," stated Inkster five months later - on a February 19, 2021 earnings call. Although ESG (Environmental/Social/Governance) funds captured $51 billion in new money in 2020, no mining CEO is going to keep his or her job by simply "bringing their best self to work." 2020 LUN gross profit was $498.1 million, an increase of $57.7 million over the previous year. On December 31, 2020, Lundin Mining had $141.4 million in cash and cash equivalents. "Lundin Mining is positioned to benefit from the current commodity price environment," stated Inkster on the earnings call, "with multiple years of production growth, decreasing cash costs and free cash flow generation ahead." "Copper inventories at the London Metal Exchange (LME) are currently 75,700 tonnes a 15-year-low," observed Global Stocks News CEO Guy Bennett, "most metal analysts believe copper will be in deficit in 2021, as Inkster predicted 3 years ago". SOURCE Global Stocks News Related Links https://globalstocksnews.com City mayor guides Shanghais Five New Towns construction By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-03-03 18:04 A video conference on the construction of Shanghais five new towns was held recently with Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng guiding the work. (Jiading New Town) Gong emphasized that pushing the construction of five new towns, namely Jiading, Qingpu, Songjiang, Fengxian and Nanhui New Town, is an important measure to better serve the national strategy for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and a major strategic choice for Shanghais future. Besides greening the environment with cleaner water and air, providing convenient transportation that connects to adjacent provinces and between the five towns, and creating efficient governance, 3 other points that should be focused on were put forward. For example, the construction of industrial bases and infrastructure should be coordinated. Major industrial projects will be mostly conducted in the five new towns. The new towns will speed up the development of modern service industries and even be built into benchmarks for advanced manufacturing. Featured functions of the new towns should be highlighted. Another former Cambodia National Rescue Party member is looking to set up a political party ahead of the 2022 commune election, taking the total number of opposition-linked parties to four. Ou Chanroth, a former CNRP lawmaker, had asked for political amnesty in 2019 and floated the idea of forming a new political entity. On Monday, the former CNRP member applied to register the Cambodia Reform Party at the Interior Ministry. We will set up our structure at district, provincial and national level. And for sure, we will compete in the 2022 commune elections, he said. The Cambodian government has scheduled the commune election for June 5 next year. The Cambodian Peoples Party holds all commune chief positions in the country, barring one in Banteay Meanchey. The CNRP was dissolved in 2017 and all of its commune and National Assembly positions were redistributed to the CPP and some smaller parties. The CPP won all elected seats in the Senate and National Assembly in 2018, making it a one-party parliament. The Cambodia Reform Party joins the Khmer Will Party, linked to former Sam Rainsy Party president Kong Korm; Cambodia Nation Love Party, formed by former party members; and Khmer Conservative Party, which was established by former CNRP lawmaker Real Camerin. The four parties have all said they hope to be the primary opposition to the Cambodian People's Party in the 2022 and 2023 elections, by attracting the CNRPs vote base. The Khmer Will Party, which ran in the 2018 election came in fourth place on the national ballot, registering 3.3 percent of the vote. The CNRP in 2013 captured 44 percent of the popular vote and a similar vote shared in the 2017 national election. Ou Chanroth said he was not forming the party out of personal ambition and would suspend the party if the CNRP were allowed to reconstitute. He's also opened to welcoming former CNRP presidents Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha into his partys fold. For sure, we would invite them to be the leader of the party if they accept, Ou Chanroth said. Kem Sokha's lawyer has demanded not to involve him or use his name for political reasons. Moreover, Sam Rainsy is convicted by the Phnom Penh court. Thus, we can't use his name either. Ministry of Interior spokesperson Khieu Sopheak confirmed that Ou Chanroth had submitted a form to create a new political party but that the application was incomplete a document with 80 thumbprints to the founding of the party was not included. The spokesperson said Ou Chanroth agreed to submit the missing document by March 15. Meach Sovannara, a former CNRP senior official, questioned whether a fractured opposition of CNRP-linked parties would be able to beat the CPP. They claim that they want to help revive the spirit of the CNRP. So, why did they not come together as one big force, a [single] political party? he queried. Is it their intention or is it the way the ruling party wants them to be? Meas Nee, a Cambodian political analyst, said the new party would be able to attract voters only if its policies appealed to the electorate. The management or reform of policies of a party should be competitive in the name of the nation. This is important for that party, he said. Ghanas Supreme Court will tomorrow, March 4, deliver judgement in the much-awaited Election 2020 Petition trial. The seven-member panel, presided over by Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, had asked lawyers for the parties in the case to file their closing written addresses. Lawyers for the Petitioner (former President John Dramani Mahama), first Respondent (the Electoral Commission), and the Second Respondent (President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo) had all filed their closing addresses. The Petitioner called three witnesses - Dr Michael Kpessa Whyte, Mr Joseph Robert Mettle-Nunoo, both members of the National Democratic Congress, and Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the Party. Issues to be determined by the Supreme Court include whether there is any legal grounds for the petition and whether or not President Akufo-Addo met the Article 63(3) threshold set out in the 1992 Constitution. Article 63(3) stipulates that a presidential candidate must obtain 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast plus one vote before the candidate is declared president elect. It will also determine whether or not the declaration by the EC on December 9, 2020 was in violation of Article 63(3) and also whether or not the alleged vote padding and other errors complained about by the Petitioner affected the outcome of the presidential election results of December 9, 2020. The Petitioner, in his bid to have the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Mrs Jean A. Mensa, mount the witness box, had his applications dismissed by the Supreme Court. They include application for interrogatories, application for stay of proceedings, application for the Petitioner to re-open his case and subpoena the EC Boss for cross examination, and application for review of the Courts decisions. In the case of the two respondents, they declined to testify after the Petitioner had closed his case. Mr Akoto Ampaw, the Lead Counsel for the Second Respondent, had told the apex Court that: We do not intend to call any witnesses to satisfy the burden of proof. In the case of the EC, Mr Justine Amenuvor, the Lead Counsel for the Commission, held that there was sufficient evidence before the Court after the Petitioner had called in three witnesses and closed his case. Quoting the Courts Rules and Constitutional Instrument (CI 87), Mr Amenuvour said: We close our case. We are not calling any witnesses, we wish to rely on our witness statement filed by the first Respondent (EC). The Lead Counsel for the Petitioner, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, argued that the EC did not have it open to it to take the course it had proposed to the Apex Court. He said the EC could not evade cross examination, adding that the course it had taken did not form part of the case management during trials. Former President Mahama proceeded to court on the basis that no candidate won the 2020 Presidential Election and, therefore, the declaration of President Akufo-Addo as the winner by the EC Chairperson was "null and void," unconstitutional and of no legal effect. He argued that, per the results, no candidate obtained more than 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast as required by Article 63 (3) of the 1992 Constitution. He said the EC Chairperson announced the total valid votes cast as 13,434,574 minus the results of Techiman South, with President Akufo-Addo obtaining 6,730,413, representing 51.59 per cent, while he (Mahama) got 6,214,898 representing 47.366 per cent. Mr Mahama said per the figures, the actual percentage for President Akufo-Addo minus Techiman South ought to be 50.098 per cent and not 51.595 per cent as announced by the EC Chair. He argued that his percentage minus Techiman South should be 46.26 per cent and not 47.366 per cent. Techiman South had a total voting population of 128,018 and if that was added to the total valid votes cast it would be 13,434,574 plus 128,018 (13,562,592), he said. Mr Mahama said it was erroneous for the EC to state that even if all the votes in Techiman South were added to the Petitioner's votes, President Akufo-Addos votes would still remain the same at 6,730,413, now yielding 49.625 per cent whiles his (Petitioner) would increase to 6,324,907, now yielding 46,768 per cent. Accordingly, the EC Bosss claim that adding all the 128,018 votes in Techiman South to the votes standing in the name of the Petitioner would not change the results was clearly wrong. President Akufo-Addo and the EC, in their respective responses, argued that the petition was incompetent, lacked merit and raised no reasonable cause of action. They contended that the petition did not meet the requirement of a Presidential Elections Petition as stated in Article 64(1) of the 1992 Constitution and same was, therefore, incompetent. They held that was because the petition made no allegations of infractions in the election at any of the 38,622 polling stations and 311 special voting centres. The EC argued further that the petition was incompetent because it did not contest "the lawfulness of votes," obtained by any candidate at any polling station where the election was held. It admitted that Mrs Mensa inadvertently read the figure representing the total number of votes cast as the one representing the total number of valid votes cast and also gave the percentage of the votes garnered by President Akufo-Addo as 51.59 per cent instead of 51.295 per cent. It, however, averred that the EC corrected the errors on December 10, 2020, and even stated that "the corrections and clarifications did not affect the overall results as declared." The EC, therefore, held that; Mr Mahama's deliberate reliance on the figures declared on December 9,2020 to make a case that President Akufo-Addo did not obtain more than 50 per cent of the valid votes cast was misleading, untenable and misconceived." President Akufo-Addo said the corrections by the EC on December 9 were done within the powers of the EC and same did not breach any law or statute. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Credit: Flinders University New research has revealed the obstacles young African migrants face when adapting to life in Australiawith significant barriers leading to high rates of alcohol consumption and poor mental health outcomes often caused by efforts to assimilate in new communities. The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, focused on the traumatic impacts of losing family members and social disruption in their countries of origin, with African migrants and young refugees then experiencing stress related to inadequate socioeconomic and cultural support, discrimination, poverty and unemployment upon their arrival in Australia. The researchers highlight the immediate need for interventions which address lack of employment opportunities and culturally unsafe service provisions to effectively support the migration groups. Lead author Associate Professor Lillian Mwanri says participants who arrived in Australia as unaccompanied minors, following extended stays in refugee camps with poor basic nutritional, educational, or recreational services, faced a poor start to their new life as a result of their past experiences. "This paper is part of a larger study that explored determinants of suicide amongst African youth in South Australia. A combination of social and peer pressure, vulnerability, and complexities of their social deprivation could influence and contribute to substance use, ultimately leading to poor social and health outcomes." "As a result of adapting to their new society, there was a consensus amongst the study participants that African migrant youths were conflicted, and their effort to fit in led to adverse outcomes, including alcohol abuse and mental health issues." The researchers undertook in depth interviews with 23 participants and established a focus group with eight participants to better understand the factors impacting their lives in Australia since migrating. "Recognizing these issues calls for interventions that address the underlying social determinants of health amongst young African migrants which foster distress including addressing employment opportunities and culturally unsafe services to provide effective support services and improve their mental health and wellbeing." The participants also believed that differences in cultural perspectives about alcohol use that exist in Africa and Australia also shaped their negative experiences. "Alcohol use amongst African migrant youth may be a challenging behavior because of conflicting attitudes between African and Australian cultures regarding their use. In Africa, alcohol use by youths is restricted and often carry severe consequences, whereas it is socially accepted in Australia. Previous studies have supported the assimilation process as facilitators shaping the behaviors of migrants." The study findings have broadened the cultural resource, knowledge and provide important information for Mental health service providers to provide quality mental health services to African and other young refugees from across the world resettling in Australia. "Additionally, youths can be empowered through targeted initiatives to become ambassadors and agents of change in their communities." Explore further Public health service gaps for both refugees and migrants to Australia More information: Lillian Mwanri et al. Alcohol, Other Drugs Use and Mental Health among African Migrant Youths in South Australia, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021). Lillian Mwanri et al. Alcohol, Other Drugs Use and Mental Health among African Migrant Youths in South Australia,(2021). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041534 Vietnams shrimp segment is going from strength to strength thanks to increasing demand, Photo: Le Toan According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), by the end of 2020, the total value of Vietnams seafood exports reached $8.41 billion, down 1.9 per cent on year. Of these, exports of basa fish was $1.49 billion, down by 26 per cent, and shrimp accounted for $3.73 billion, up 11 per cent on year. Basa fish farmers in Vietnam, China, and India all have been affected to different degrees by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prices for basa from the Mekong Delta region fell below VND20,000 ($0.90) per kilogramme and its export value to some major markets like China, Hong Kong, the US, ASEAN, and the EU decreased compared to the previous year. However, thanks to the governments pandemic prevention efforts, Vietnams shrimp production and export activities have stayed competitive against rival suppliers. Shrimp businesses tried to maintain production, flexibly adjust to the market, and take advantage of the given opportunities, and so export value to major markets grew positively, such as to the US (up 33 per cent), the EU (up 6 per cent), and South Korea (up 3 per cent), compared to 2019. According to data from VietstockFinance, as of the beginning of February, there are 14 listed seafood enterprises that have generated nearly VND40 trillion ($1.7 billion) in revenue and more than VND1.7 trillion ($73 million) in net profit in 2020, down 10 and 48 per cent, respectively, compared to 2019. Cuu Long An Giang Seafood JSC (ACL) saw the strongest net profit in 2020 yet also the strongest drop in the industry, down 80 per cent from the previous year. Compared to its business plan, the company only achieved 71 per cent of its revenue goal and 41 per cent of its targeted after-tax profit. Similarly, due to the pandemic, the sales price and revenues of basa supplier Nam Viet (ANV)decreased simultaneously. The enterprises net profit in 2020 slid down to VND202 billion ($8.8 million). Last year, the company set targets relatively low compared to 2019, so the business exceeded its revenue and pre-tax profit plan by 15 and 20 per cent respectively, positioning Nam Viet as the only Vietnamese basa supplier exceeding initial targets. For the same reason, leading basa processor Vinh Hoan Corporation (VHC) announced that 2020 net profits went down to 40 per cent, just reaching VND705 billion ($30.6 million). Compared to the plan, VHC only achieved 82 per cent of its revenue plan and 66 per cent of the after-tax profit target in 2020. More dramatically, for the second year in a row, the accumulated loss of Ngo Quyen Processing Export JSC (NGC) amounted to VND31 billion ($1.3 million) as of December 31. According to the company, the reason is that its capital imbalance has not been overcome, causing a shortage in working capital for production. In addition, due to the heavy influence of the pandemic, the companys trade with foreign customers was interrupted, with no export orders coming in. The production plans for both domestic and foreign customers have been cancelled, thus the company failed to meet its goal of gradually bringing production back on previous levels. Blooming shrimp industry Contrary to the gloomy atmosphere of the basa industry, shrimp businesses recorded an increase in revenue. Although its net profit reached a similar level of the previous year with nearly VND226 billion ($9.8 million), 2020 revenues of Sao Ta Food (FMC) reached VND4.4 trillion ($191 million) a record high after 15 years of listing on the stock exchange. According to Ho Quoc Luc, president of food processing group FMC, the pandemic has created good opportunities for Vietnamese shrimp farmers. Production of safely farmed shrimp increased compared to 2019, even if just by a mere one-digit figure. Meanwhile, other major shrimp farming countries were severely affected by COVID-19 and were seeing interrupted or broken supply chains in the likes of India, Ecuador, and Indonesia. Along with shrimp, Camimex Group (CMX) is the only enterprise representing the seafood industry to report profit growth compared to the previous year. Net revenue and profit increased by 49 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively, over the same period. This is a positive result in the face of an uncontained pandemic which has changed the demand for imports in major markets and economic drivers. The increased demand for shrimp at home is also a great opportunity for deeply processed shrimp products compared to fresh, raw, and frozen products. As a result, while the total value of black tiger shrimp exports decreased by 14 per cent, processed tiger shrimp products alone rose by 34 per cent. The export value of processed vannamei shrimp also increased by 21 per cent. According to Luc of FMC, consumer demand is increasingly high, and processing is becoming more intensive, geographically concentrated, vertically integrated, and linked with global supply chains. These changes pose new food safety challenges to all the parties in the seafood business. Thus we have determined our main direction to be processed products with high value content and food safety. Thanks to this direction, our products are now available in most high-level markets, he said. Minh Phu-Hau Giang Seafood JSC, a member of Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, also shipped over 22,000 tonnes of processed shrimp worth $240 million to the US, Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea, thereby contributing to its corporations overall revenue of $580 million from shrimp exports in 2020. This year, Minh Phu targets to export over 70,000 tons of shrimp, with an estimated revenue of $790 million. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked if shrimp exporters could strengthen cooperation with local companies to diversify markets, continue to increase the share of value-added products, and control the quality of raw material sources, as well as ensure traceability of origin. FTAs boost growth According to VASEP, the fishery sector has a lot of opportunities from new-generation free trade agreements (FTA) such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the EU-Vietnam FTA. These FTAs have a good impact on Vietnams seafood exports and contribute to improving the competitiveness in regional and global markets. It is forecasted that Vietnams seafood export in 2021 will increase by 10 per cent, reaching over $9.4 billion. In which, shrimp export may grow the strongest at up to 15 per cent, reaching $4.4 billion. Meanwhile, the growth of basa fish farming is expected to increase by 5 per cent, reaching about $1.6 billion. Tran Minh Canh, CFO of Nam Viet Corp (ANV), also agreed that the EVFTA and the RCEP will contribute to boosting the growth of Vietnamese exports due to the tax exemptions for some industries. The RCEP allows its members to pool originating materials across the bloc, which is an advantage over the current FTA with ASEAN members, and is helping Vietnam to take advantage of the diversified input supplies throughout the bloc. The EVFTA, on the other hand, allows the tax for frozen basa to be gradually reduced to zero according to a 4-year schedule. According to Ho Quoc Luc, the EVFTA has a huge impact on shrimp products and presents a golden opportunity for businesses that have prepared well. On the contrary, Luc also forecasts several challenges that businesses may experience in 2021. The internal challenge for shrimp farmers is that authorities remain rather slow numbering and coding farming areas, ponds, as well as provide more open mechanisms to create large-scale farms that meet the standards required by export markets. However, Vietnamese shrimp has decent opportunities to penetrate high-end consumption systems with good prices. Meanwhile, information about supply and demand of basa is a prerequisite for its success or failure. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with isolated thunderstorms developing late. Low 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. PHOENIX, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Trutankless, Inc. (OTCQB: TKLS) manufactures an award-winning line of smart electric tankless water heaters. Trutankless announces it has completed the buildout of a new production laboratory and R&D facility. The newly renovated space located in Scottsdale is complete with state of the art research and testing systems for the development of new products. Trutankless has hired a prominent patent law firm and has filed the first of a series of planned patents. "Our new R&D facility allows us to accelerate product development and explore new markets that will add to our growing portfolio of leading products for the home service and construction industries" stated Michael Stebbins, President and CEO, of Trutankless, Inc. "As a technology company, patents are a key part of the value development of the business. Expanding our intellectual property portfolio provides us with further support and tools to ensure consistent quality of our products as well as the ability to protect our core technologies." Trutankless has a growing network of industry-leading distributors spanning the nation. Our team has built relationships around positive feedback from the channel for our line of intelligent plumbing products. We believe the introduction of new products for today's smart homes will garner even more excitement from a broader customer base seeking solutions for problems like ruptured pipes, leaks and wasted water in homes around the globe. We hope to announce targeted launch dates for a suite of products that will yield additional revenue streams, while boosting the company's positive environmental impact worldwide. About Trutankless, Inc.: Trutankless, Inc. (OTCQB: TKLS ) is a technology-driven developer of accessible, next-generation home automation and efficiency systems. The Company's primary products are a line of electric tankless water heaters that surpasses traditional tank water heaters in energy efficiency, output, dependability and environmental sustainability. The Company sells its products to plumbing wholesale distributors and dealers throughout the United States. Trutankless, Inc. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Connect on social media: www.houzz.com/pro/trutankless www.facebook.com/trutankless www.twitter.com/trutankless www.youtube.com/trutankless Forward-Looking Statement: The statements in this press release regarding any implied or perceived benefits from the release by Trutankless of its line of electric tankless water heaters or added key strategic sales and distribution partners are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks of the key strategic sales and distribution partners ability to sell our product, and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions, and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.There is no guarantee that any specific outcome will be achieved. Past performance is not indicative of future results. SOURCE Trutankless, Inc. COVID-19 data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health shows the states steady week-over-week decline in new cases leveled out last week following six straight weeks of decline. The state reported 10,389 new COVID cases on the week of Feb. 14. Last weeks new case count was 10,374, with additional cases still being reported. State health officials confirmed another 1,553 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, which is based on 102,052 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 66 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 15,925. As of Wednesday, there are roughly 28,550 active infections statewide. Since the pandemic began, officials have confirmed 553,220 total COVID-19 cases across the state. There are now 755 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Massachusetts (20 fewer than yesterday), including 173 in intensive care. Another 109 are currently intubated. The seven-day average of positive tests is currently 1.82%. New cases continue to be highest among the 0-19 age group, with 5,464 cases reported over the last two weeks, according to the Department of Public Health. Twenty-somethings makeup the second largest age bracket, with 4,570 reported over those two weeks. To date, roughly 19% of Massachusetts 1,306,343 people has gotten at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 1.8 million shots have been administered. The latest numbers come the day after some Massachusetts hospitals got their first shipments of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Tufts Medical Center and Boston Medical Center confirmed they each received 2,000 doses of the J&J shot and will begin administering them to patients later on in the week. Earlier on Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that Massachusetts teachers can begin booking appointments to get the COVID vaccine next week. The appointments will be available for K-12 employees, early childcare and school staff starting March 11. The announcement comes a day after President Joe Biden said he was directing all states to prioritize teachers for vaccinations. Total COVID cases by county: Barnstable County: 10,167 Berkshire County: 4,875 Bristol County: 55,934 Dukes County: 871 Essex County: 84,083 Franklin County: 1,988 Hampden County: 42,105 Hampshire County: 7,459 Middlesex County: 112,361 Nantucket County: 1,168 Norfolk County: 45,784 Plymouth County: 40,495 Suffolk County: 78,705 Worcester County: 65,741 Related Content: Albany, N.Y. New York lawmakers are expected to vote within days to repeal Gov. Andrew Cuomos emergency Covid powers, but the raft of orders governing the states response to the pandemic wont just disappear overnight. The bill lawmakers plan to pass allows Cuomos orders on mask wearing, vaccinations, capacity limits on businesses and more to be extended and altered repeatedly. He will have to communicate more with legislators about what hes doing. The bill requires Cuomo to notify the Legislature of changes and extensions to his pandemic orders and hell have to provide justification for those moves. The Legislature first granted Cuomo expansive powers to respond to the pandemic last year, just as Covid-19 cases began to take hold in New York. The governor has used the special powers to order business closures, set reopening rules, mandate face coverings and more. READ MORE: Pandemic authority made Cuomo uniquely powerful; what happens when its gone? A scandal over Cuomos response to the pandemic in the states nursing homes moved the issue of repealing or limiting his powers to the forefront. The push sped up further after multiple women accused Cuomo of sexual harassment. Heres a look at how the new law will work: It repeals the powers Cuomo has used to issue pandemic-related orders outright, Democrats said. He wont be able to issue any new statewide directives. The fate of orders he already issued is a different matter. They wont vanish immediately. Existing orders aimed at managing or reducing Covid spread, requiring masks and managing vaccinations stay in effect for 30 days, the bill states Those orders can be modified and extended repeatedly in additional 30-day increments, according to the bill. To do so, Cuomo would have to notify relevant committee chairs in the Legislature along with the leaders of the Senate and Assembly. If an order affects a specific municipality, Cuomo would have to notify leaders there as well. Cuomo would have to outline why changes or extensions to any of his orders are needed, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle . Hed also have to prove changes and extensions are Covid-related. Leaders in the Legislature would be able to comment on any orders getting extended or modified. Leaders in affected municipalities would be able to comment too. Cuomo wouldnt be allowed to extend or change any of his orders more than once unless he responds to the comments he receives. The new law would grant Cuomo authority to tweak existing mandates for a variety of purposes. Hed still be able to alter capacity limits on businesses, manage vaccine sites and change the number of people affected by his orders. Hed also be able to change rules on testing, quarantines, social distancing, air filtration and masks. The bill would restore the rights of municipalities to issue their own executive orders without state approval, according to Bloomberg But local orders wont be allowed if they conflict with state orders, the bill states. That would appear to prevent a patchwork of county-based rules on things like mask-wearing. The bill allows the Legislature to end any declared state of emergency or end any of Cuomos Covid orders with a joint resolution. Lawmakers would also have the ability to change any directive Cuomo issues, according to the D&C. The bill requires orders to be posted on a website with the health and safety reasons to justify them, according to WXXI in Rochester . Comments from lawmakers and local governments would also be included. Its worth noting New York had a strong executive branch even before Cuomo got extra authority. Hell continue to wield power over much of the government, including writing the budget and filling key roles across the state. Hell also still have the power to declare emergencies, as hes done for snowstorms, tornados and other natural disasters. Those more traditional powers already allowed him to suspend activities, such as stopping truck traffic on highways during bad weather. But Democratic leaders in the Legislature said the time is right for new limits on the governors pandemic-related powers. A year into the pandemic, and as New Yorkers receive the vaccine, the temporary emergency powers have served their purpose it is time for them to be repealed, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in a news release. These temporary emergency powers were granted as New York was devastated by a virus we knew nothing about. Now it is time for our government to return to regular order. Lawmakers see the need for a quick response, but also want increased oversight and review, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in the release. The public deserves to have checks and balances, she said. Our proposal would create a system with increased input while at the same time ensuring New Yorkers continue to be protected. Assuming the bill passes, Cuomo could veto it. But Democrats hold veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers and could vote to override. Cuomo appeared to indicate support for the plan during a news conference Wednesday. Republicans criticized the bill. Senate Minority Leader Rob Orrt described it as a sham and a bogus backroom deal and pointed out Republicans have been calling for Cuomos powers to end for months. Orrt said the deal does nothing but expand Cuomos authority. Ortt and Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay of Pulaski issued a statement yesterday attacking Democrats plan. Make no mistake: This is not what repeal looks like, Barclay said. This is not what ending emergency powers looks like. But it is what a three-way agreement looks like. A year ago today, the governor signed the bill that expanded his authorities. In the past 12 months, weve seen lockdowns, business closures, jobs lost, schools in chaos, a nursing home cover-up and now criminal investigations and sexual harassment allegations. Somehow, Democrats still cant seem to bring themselves to govern independently of Andrew Cuomo. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources NYs amazing big wedding rules: Covid tests for everyone, dancing only in your pod Third Covid vaccine available soon in CNY: What you need to know about each Covid vaccine site at NY State Fairgrounds to run 24 hours a day, add thousands of appointments Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 NEW HAVEN City police said a Good Samaritan helped officers get residents to safety Tuesday night after a serious fire at an apartment building in the Dwight neighborhood. A 911 caller reported the blaze at a building in the 400 block of Orchard Street around 9:20 p.m., according to New Haven police spokesman Capt. Anthony Duff. Three patrol officers who were in the area when the call came in arrived at the scene before firefighters and found visible flames at a rear apartment building, Duff said. Police began banging on apartment doors to evacuate residents of the building. One officer helped a mother and three young children at the apartment at the center of the fire, Duff said. As this was happening, the Good Samaritan kicked open a front door while he and another of the three officers forced entry into an adjacent apartment where they helped two adult residents escape the fire. New Haven firefighters then arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze. Fire officials also evacuated a nearby apartment building. Police did not identify the Good Samaritan who assisted officers in evacuating the apartment building. In a statement, New Haven Director of Emergency Management Rick Fontana said the second alarm fire could have been much worse. He credited police, the unnamed Good Samaritan and firefighters for quickly putting out the serious fire. Three adults and three children were quickly guided to safety by NHPD as first arriving firefighters quickly moved hose lines into place to stop the spread of fire in a three-story row house complex, Fontana said. A 14-year-old sustained a minor injury during the incident. Personal belongings were also lost, he said. No injuries were reported among fire crews. The Red Cross said it is assisting three adults and three children after the fire. New Delhi, March 4 : A massive wildfire at the Simlipal National Park in Odisha, which was raging for around a week, has been brought under control, with no loss of life or injury to wildlife, villagers or public property getting reported. Simlipal is a national park and tiger reserve situated in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. The 2,750 sq km area harbours unique melanistic tigers, rare and endemic orchids, 1,352 species of plants, 55 species of mammals, 361 species of birds, 62 species of reptiles and 21 species of amphibians. A massive fire had broken out in the biosphere reserve area of the park in February. "The fire is under control, no loss or injury to wildlife, any staff, villagers or public property has been reported," the Director General of National Tiger Conservation Authority, S.P. Yadav, told IANS. All the forest fires are recorded as ground fire in the deciduous Sal forest of Simlipal Tiger Reserve, he said. The DG further claimed that the forest fire season in Simlipal Tiger Reserve usually starts from February and continues till May. Almost all the cases of fire are anthropogenic in nature. Out of these, maximum cases are to facilitate growing of succulent grass for domestic cattle, collection of non-timber forest products (NTFP) like 'Mahua' and eradication of ticks and insects, he asserted. Various measures were taken to bring the fire under control like creation of temporary fire lines through cleaning of leaf litter and ground flora and engagement of additional man power as fire watcher in addition to the existing protection squad. Besides this, leaf blowers and personal safety equipment for firefighting were procured, additional vehicles for mobilisation of fire squads were arranged and awareness drives were carried out among the fringe villagers. Similipal comes under the Deccan Peninsular Biographic zone, Chhotangpur Province, in the Mahanadian region. The forest is a predominantly moist-mixed deciduous forest with tropical semi-evergreen patches in areas with suitable microclimatic conditions and sporadic patches of dry, deciduous forest and grassland. On March 2, Union Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar had directed the concerned officials to take immediate steps to control the wildfire. He had issued directions in response to a tweet by Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the issue. Javadekar has sought a report on the forest fire from the concerned authorities. (Aakanksha Khajuria can be contacted at aakanksha.k@ians.in) The Shoprite Group has expanded its partnership with South African banks, allowing users to deposit cash into their bank accounts at Checkers and Shoprite stores. Customers can now deposit up to R3,000 into their bank accounts at till points in these stores for a flat fee of R19.95. This functionality is supported at 1,700 Shoprite and Checkers stores across South Africa. The following banks are supported: Nedbank FNB Investec Standard Bank African Bank TymeBank Discovery Bank Bidvest Bank Sasfin Grobank Each of the almost 1,700 Shoprite, Checkers and Usave supermarkets located throughout South Africa will be able to process these transactions during their normal operating hours, the company said. As these stores are typically open outside of normal banking hours and over weekends they are significantly more convenient than traditional banking outlets. Customers simply have to present their Visa or MasterCard card at any till point, along with the cash they want to deposit, enter their PIN, and the cashier will handle the rest. Cash deposits at till point offer a new level of convenience and safety for our customers, many of whom earn their wages in cash, and live in rural or remote areas without easy access to ATMs, said Shoprite Group general manager for financial services Jean Olivier. Together with a range of in-store Money Market services, this new functionality means were now able to process an even greater number of financial transactions, making our supermarkets a real one-stop-shop. Now read: Microsoft unveils new hardware built for Teams The Home Office plans to move more people into Napier Barracks within weeks, despite a series of damning revelations about unsuitable and non-Covid compliant conditions on the site. A letter has been sent to residents stating that they will be moved out of the controversial army camp, which was repurposed to house asylum seekers in September, by 2 April, and that other people will be moved in. Home Office ministers were originally granted planning permission to use the site, located in Folkestone, Kent, for six months, until 31 March. It is unclear whether the department has secured an extension beyond this. Video footage from inside the barracks seen by The Independent reveals a Home Office official informing residents via video link that people will be moving onto the site. A separate audio clip shows a different Home Office official stating that there will be new arrivals no later than 2 April. It is not clear whether the new residents will be asylum seekers who have recently arrived in the UK or those who have been living in other Home Office accommodation such as hotels. It comes as The Independent reveals that an NHS assessment of the military site in January outlined a series of failings by ministers and contracted firms to prevent and control a Covid outbreak among residents, which saw nearly 200 people - including those who are clinically vulnerable - infected. The report, carried out by Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on 20 January, states that there were too many people housed in each block to allow adequate social distancing and to prevent the risk of spread of infection. Yet Priti Patel, the home secretary, has repeatedly suggested the asylum seekers themselves were to blame for the spread, accusing them of mingling as recently as last week. Around 400 asylum seekers were placed on the site in September, but the number has dramatically reduced in recent weeks as people have been moved out into other Home Office accommodation following the Covid outbreak, with around 45 said to remain. Video footage taken from inside Napier Barracks on Wednesday reveals a meeting held via video link between a Home Office official and a number of residents, in which plans for other people to be brought onto the site are discussed, and concerns are raised over Covid transmission. One of the residents states through a translator: Please make sure you dont let anyone come in who has Covid-19, to which the Home Office official responds: Were going to make sure people are moved on site when it is safe to do so and they are Covid free. Another resident states: You shouldnt bring them in until we are taken out, because they might be with Covid-19. I dont want them to be on this site until we come out. The Home Office official responds: What Im saying today is people will be moving out of the site, people will be moving on site, but were only going to do it when its safe. In a separate audio clip, also said to have been recorded on Wednesday, a different Home Office official tells residents: You will be leaving Napier Barracks but I wanted to let you know that while you are at the barracks you will see new arrivals, and that will definitely be no later than 2 April. A Home Office letter distributed to residents on Thursday providing a summary response to the questions raised at the meetings states that the department has been working with accommodation providers and that they will be moved out of the site by 2 April. Home Office letter sent to Napier Barracks residents on Thursday (Supplied) While we are looking to move you from Napier, we will be bringing new people to the site. We will do this in a Covid safe way. Please be assured this will not impact your move out date, it adds. Shadow immigration minister Holly Lynch said that following the revelations in the CCG report that social distancing was not possible at Napier Barracks, she was staggered that the home secretary would even be considering moving more people into the site. The Labour MP has written to the home secretary demanding answers over contradictions between the findings of the CCG assessment and evidence she gave to cross-party MPs last week, in which she claimed the advice around dormitories was all based on social distancing. It comes after a number of other damning revelations about Napier Barracks in recent weeks, including a warning from Public Health England that it was not suitable to house people weeks before asylum seekers were moved in, and that a planning report in in 2013 found that it did not meet acceptable standards for accommodation. Bridget Chapman, of Kent Refugee Action Network, who is in touch with a number of people in the camp, said: Obviously we are pleased to hear that current residents will be moved, but the site remains totally unsuitable, and downright dangerous in a pandemic. We remain committed to seeing it closed." The Home Office had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication. Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson Connects Hundreds of South Los Angeles Residents to EMPLOYLA Career Opportunities The coronavirus pandemic continues to drastically impact the health of our economy and continues to disproportionately impact people of color in South Los Angeles. Residents continue to face economic hardship and unemployment. A quality job can literally be the difference between life and death. This pandemic presents a critical time to connect people to quality employment opportunities. Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson understands the crisis residents are facing and is focusing on connecting those hardest hit by the pandemic to career opportunities. Councilmember Harris-Dawson hosted six EMPLOYLA jobs events aimed at directly connecting local employers to prepared job-seekers over the past . In collaboration with three South Los Angeles WorkSource Centers, hundreds of residents were able to learn about resume building, networking and virtual interviewing skills. Immediately following the workshops, attendees were invited to attend a job fair with prospective employers. In an effort to comply with COVID-19 safety measures, these employment events were hosted virtually on Zoom. Over 350 Los Angeles residents logged on to participate in the virtual employment events. The need for employment is at an all-time high, especially in our community, and I remain adamant about ensuring that South LA residents have pathways to high quality careers, said Councilmember Harris-Dawson. I know how difficult it can be to find a job during this crisis, and I want to create as many opportunities for residents as possible. ADVERTISEMENT Participants of the Job Readiness Workshops included the West Adams Worksource Center operated by the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP), South Los Angeles Worksource Center operated by the Labor Employment and Training Corporation, and the Southeast Los Angeles Worksource center operated by the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC). Each workshop consisted of a 25-minute presentation followed by a virtual question and answer segment. These readiness workshops gave job-seekers the necessary tips to apply for the companys open positions and begin the hiring process. Attendees were able to hear directly from job training experts and sharpen their interview skills. After the Job Readiness Workshops, attendees were able to log on to the virtual job fair. Participating employers included Clean Sweep Group, Inc., Athens Services, and the Los Angeles Unified School District. Attendees were able to learn about the companys available positions, eligibility requirements, and hiring process. The fairs also provided eligible attendees the opportunity to raise their virtual hands to ask questions and engage with employers. Council District 8 streamlined the hiring process for attendees by sharing their contact information directly to the employers to begin the interview process. There were over 100 available positions ranging from Custodial/Building and Grounds workers and Hospital Sanitation Technicians, to Equipment Operators and Diesel Technicians. Two attendees have already accepted job offers as a direct result of these EMPLOYLA jobs events. Bringing job opportunities to South Los Angeles is my top priority, and my team and I are excited to see job-seekers find employment, said Councilmember Harris-Dawson. Councilmember Harris-Dawson consistently leads the charge in bringing jobs to the district and ensuring that residents know about career opportunities. He and his team will continue working with local employers and South Los Angeles Worksource Centers to provide job training and employment opportunities during this crisis and beyond. The family of Christian Porter's now-dead accuser have thrown their support behind 'any inquiry' which sheds light on the circumstances surrounding their loved one's suicide. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the family said they are suffering 'considerable grief' arising from the death of the Adelaide woman - who took her own life last year just one day after calling off her plan to issue a formal statement to police. 'They (the family) are supportive of any inquiry which would potentially shed light on the circumstances surrounding the deceased's passing,' the spokeswoman said. It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared to rule out an independent inquiry into Attorney-General Christian Porter, who has vehemently denied the claims that he raped the woman when she was 16 and he was 17, in 1988. Speaking at a battery factory in the New South Wales Hunter Valley on Thursday, Mr Morrison said the events were 'harrowing' and expressed sympathy for the woman's family. Scott Morrison (pictured today) has delivered an emotional message to the family of Christian Porter's accuser who took her own life last year 'And for the family of the woman at the centre of these issues, as the Attorney-General commenced his remarks yesterday, my heart can only break for anyone who has lost a child... and the issues surrounding that and the way that this matter is now being addressed in the public domain. 'This must be a harrowing time for her friends and for her family. And I don't want to do anything that would seek to add any further difficulty for them,' he said. But the prime minister said the police was the only appropriate body to investigate such serious claims. And NSW Police have announced detectives closed their investigation into the matter due to 'insufficient evidence'. 'There is no other alternative for a Prime Minister than the rule of law. There's not another process,' he said. Asked if he believed Mr Porter's denial, Mr Morrison said: 'Look, my judgement is based on the report of the police. 'They are the competent and authorised authorities to make the judgements about any such allegations. And they have made their conclusions.' Referring to discredited rape allegations against former Labor leader Bill Shorten in 2014, he added: 'As people have said in similar occasions in the past - that's where the matter rests.' In an impassioned defence of Australia's legal system, Mr Morrison said: 'The rule of law is essential for liberal democracies. And we weaken it at our great peril. 'It can be hard at times. And I understand, particularly under these circumstances, it can be hard to understand just how important that principle is in how we deal with these, the most sensitive and the most traumatic and the most personal of issues. 'But we must reflect on that principle, because it is that principle that underpins our democracy itself. The presumption of innocence. The investigation of allegations involving criminal activity by competent and authorised bodies - that is, the police.' Tearful: Christian Porter has outed himself as the cabinet minister accused of rape to categorically deny the accusation and has insist he will not stand down 'That is our rule of law. It is something that every single citizen of this country depends upon - and that is the principle upon which I seek to support to ensure the good governance of our country,' Mr Morrison said. The prime minister said there was 'no suggestion' of the attorney general resigning and that he's looking forward to getting back to work after mental health leave. In an extraordinary press briefing in Perth on Wednesday, a shattered and tearful Mr Porter said he had been subjected to a trial by media and has asked the Prime Minister to take some time off as a result of the accusation. The 50-year-old former public prosecutor confirmed he attended a debating competition at Sydney University with his accuser when he was 17 and she was 16, but categorically denied ever sleeping with the woman who has since taken her own life. 'The things that have been claimed to happen did not happen,' he said through tears in the emotional conference. 'I did not sleep with the [alleged] victim. We didn't have anything of that nature happen between us,' he added. By unveiling himself, Mr Porter ended six days of speculation over the accused's identity after the woman's allegation was published in the media without naming the cabinet minister. Mr Porter admitted that he can't remember every single detail of the night in question but insisted that he would not have forgotten having sex with someone. 'The things I have read did not happen. And to suggest that they could be forgotten is ridiculous, they just never happened,' he said. The woman, who struggled with her mental health for years, told police about her allegation in February last year but took her own life in June. Detectives closed their investigation on Tuesday due to a lack of evidence. The accuser's allegation became public last week after Prime Minster Scott Morrison received a letter from a mystery sender which included a statement the woman had prepared for her lawyers in 2019. To cater to the vaccination process of the world's largest democracy, it would be pertinent to bring in safer and more effective vaccines from other countries. However, on February 24, India's drug authority had asked Dr Reddy's, the Indian pharmaceutical company facilitating the trials in the country, to supply data on immunogenicity for going ahead with the approval process. However, experts across the country have been questioning the approval procedure given the fact that the country gave approval to two homegrown vaccines in January this year for emergency use based on modified standards. For instance, Covaxin was granted restricted approval in "clinical trial mode" without any efficacy data. "The fact is that Covid-19 poses a significant threat to both health and economy globally and it is only by avoiding nationalistic policies and embracing global co-operation that countries across the world can beat the pandemic. It should be a global effort for humanity. For example, India is already acknowledged as a key global production hub for having the largest vaccines manufacturing capacities in the world. Similarly, India should provide equitable access to its people to avail the best Covid-19 vaccines as developed across the world," said Dr. A.M. Deshmukh, President, Microbiologist Society, India. Last month, the Lancet, one of the most reputed journals in the world, published the outcomes of the phase III of the clinical trials of Sputnik V. The trial results show a consistent strong protective effect across all participant age groups. Also known as Gam-COVID-Vac, the vaccine uses a heterologous recombinant adenovirus approach using adenovirus 26 (Ad26) and adenovirus 5 (Ad5) as vectors for the expression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. The use of two varying serotypes, which are given 21 days apart, is intended to overcome any pre-existing adenovirus immunity in the population. Among the major COVID vaccines in development to date, only Gam-COVID-Vac uses this approach. Sputnik V has demonstrated an efficacy rate of 91.6 per cent in the interim analysis of the Phase 3 clinical trials, which included data on 19,866 volunteers in Russia, who received both the first and second dose of the vaccine. "The Phase 3 ongoing trial of Sputnik V may turn into a landmark in untiring journey of COVID Vaccination. It could be possible after partnership between Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Russian agencies. Sputnik V is being commercialized globally by Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). RDIF had in September signed a pact with Dr Reddy's, wherein the Indian drug maker would conduct the bridging study and distribute doses to 100 million people if it were granted a license. This was later increased to 125 million," says Dr. Gajendra Singh, Public Health Expert. "The recently approved COVID 19 vaccine in India, AstraZeneca has reported 62.1 per cent efficacy as per phase III clinical trial results published by the company in the Lancet in December, while Pfizer and Sputnik V approved in world reportedly has more than 90 per cent efficacy against the virus. Sputnik V can be stored at between two and eight degrees Celsius (between 35.6- and 46.4-degrees Fahrenheit), instead of the temperatures far below freezing required for some other vaccines. As of now, Sputnik V and Pfizer had proven their efficacy to be 90+% while Oxford-AstraZeneca is standing on 62.1% as per their own paper that was submitted to the Lancet magazine. Interestingly, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) mentions that AstraZeneca shows average 70% effectiveness in preventing the COVID-19. This is the average/mean efficacy between the regular group that were injected two full doses- 62 per cent and half a dose and full dose- 90 percent. Important to note that India would go for a full-dose regimen. So clearly, there is a lack of transparency here and there should be an informed decision keeping all the aspects in mind," added Dr. Gajendra Singh. Moreover, vaccines such as Covishield and Sputnik V are fit for Indian terrain since they can be stored between +2 degrees and +8 degrees in contrast with the mRNA vaccines which require extreme temperature regimen of -70-20C for storage. Interestingly, Sputnik V vaccine has already been approved by several countries across North and South America, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa, the recent ones being Mexico and Egypt. With this, it is now approved for use in more than 35 countries making it one of the world's top three vaccines in terms of the number of approvals issued by the regulatory authorities. In the fight against a virus that brought the world to a standstill, it would be important to collectively find a conducive solution to reach the end point. India not only needs to continue the fight against the pandemic but also win it along with other countries of the world by adopting a pragmatic approach and think beyond nationalism. --IANS san/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security personnel opened fire on a crowd at a reunion of nearly 300 abducted schoolgirls and their relatives in Nigeria on Wednesday. At least three people were reportedly shot as the event in the northwestern town of Jangebe descended into chaos, according to local media reports. It is not clear whether anyone was killed. The forces opened fire after stones were thrown at government officials, apparently in frustration at the drawn-out procedure, said the reports. Anxious and angry parents who were reunited with the girls after six days of waiting grabbed their daughters and left after shots rang out. Many were worried about traveling on the area's dangerous roads at night. 'It is infuriating for [officials] to say they had to finish their speeches before handing over our children to us. This is outrageous,' one mother told AFP news agency as she led her daughter away. 'They know the roads are insecure but they didn't care. If we leave late and are kidnapped with our daughters again, the girls' rescue will make no sense.' Security personnel opened fire on a crowd at a reunion of nearly 300 abducted schoolgirls and their relatives in Nigeria on Wednesday. At least three people were reportedly shot as the event in the northwestern town of Jangebe descended into chaos, according to local media reports. It is not clear whether anyone was killed. Pictured: A kidnapped girl is reunited with a family member on Wednesday The forces opened fire after stones were thrown at government officials, apparently in frustration at the drawn-out procedure, said the reports. Pictured: Girls preparing to be reunited with their families on Wednesday Anxious and angry parents who were reunited with the girls after six days of waiting grabbed their daughters and left after shots rang out. Many were worried about traveling on the area's dangerous roads at night. Pictured: A kidnapped girl is reunited with a family member on Wednesday The girls, aged 10 and upwards, were abducted on Friday from their dormitories at the Government Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara state, in the latest mass kidnapping to rock Nigeria. At the time of the attack, one resident told AP news agency that gunmen also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from responding to the mass abduction at the school. Zamfara state governor Bello Matawalle said that 279 girls had been freed on Tuesday after negotiations. The girls were kept in the government's custody in Gusau, the state capital, receiving medical care before the official handover ceremony in the school's hall. Local residents told AFP news agency on Thursday that a 24-hour curfew had been imposed in the town following the violence. 'After the unrest yesterday a dust-to-dawn curfew was imposed and everybody was ordered to stay indoors,' said Abubakar Zaki, a resident and father of two of the kidnapped girls. 'But this morning after people had come out, the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) went round, informing people the curfew has been extended to round-the-clock and asked everyone to return home,' he said. The girls, aged 10 and upwards, were abducted on Friday from their dormitories at the Government Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara state. Pictured: A kidnapped girl is reunited with a family member on Wednesday The kidnapping happened in Nigeria's northwestern Zamfara state, which has been plagued by lawlessness as various armed groups heap pressure on security forces Abubakar said the police also ordered the closure of the local market and all shops in the village to prevent fresh violence. 'We are all inside our homes,' he added. Muhammad Mustapha, another resident, confirmed the curfew. 'There is a 24-hour curfew in Jangebe as a result of the violence by mobs yesterday,' he told AFP. 'The market and shops are closed and everyone is indoors,' he said, adding that the situation was now calm. The BBC reported that authorities had claimed the closure of the market was due to evidence it had they had found that 'market activities' were helping to fund criminals in the area. The government blames the girls' abduction on 'bandits' who kidnap people for money and as leverage to negotiate the release of their members from jail. While school kidnappings were first carried out by jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, the tactic has now been adopted by other militants in the northwest whose agenda is unclear. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Teachers have been forced to flee to other states for protection, and many children have had to abandon their education amid frequent violent attacks in communities, according to Amnesty International. Nigeria has seen several such attacks and kidnappings in recent years, most notably the mass abduction in April 2014 of 276 girls from a secondary school in Chibok by Boko Haram. More than a hundred of the girls are still missing. Following their release, the girls were taken to a government premises and kept in state custody while they received medical checks Nearly 300 girls were taken from the dormitory at the Government Science School in Jangebe. Pictured: The school's deserted dormitory following the attack The latest kidnapping on Friday came less than two weeks after gunmen abducted 42 people, including 27 students, from the Government Science College Kagara in Niger State. The students, teachers and family members are still being held. In December, 344 students were abducted from the Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, while he was visiting the region. They were eventually released after negotiations with government officials. Nigeria's government has been sharply criticised for its inability to stop the kidnappings. President Muhammadu Buhari replaced his long-standing military chiefs earlier this month amid the worsening violence. Following the girls' release on Tuesday, Buhari called for greater vigilance to prevent bandits from carrying out such attacks. He urged police and military to pursue the kidnappers, and warned that policies of making payments to bandits will backfire. 'Ransom payments will continue to prosper kidnapping,' he said. UN experts on Wednesday called for urgent rehabilitation of the traumatised students. 'Social inclusion of these children requires the provision of long-term measures aimed at restoring their physical and psychological well-being,' the UN Human Rights Special Procedures experts said in a statement. 'Sensitising families and communities to the importance of reintegration is imperative for them to be able to build renewed social relations... and to overcome stigma.' The experts condemned the Nigerian government for the 'lack of an effective investigation into the abduction of 344 students from a boys' boarding school in Kankara, Katsina State, in December 2020 and released a few days later.' Photo: (Photo : Anney Anna Gonzales / GoFundMe) Jillian Mendoza had to make a split-second decision as she was faced with an SUV reserved with such power as to mount the curb and would eventually drive into her. She is a nanny and had two toddlers in the stroller. When she saw the SUV, she knew she had no time to save both herself and the kids. In a selfless act, the nanny pushed the stroller out of the way. Nanny Pinned Between Broken Windows and SUV Witnesses of the incident and police revealed that Mendoza, now dubbed Toronto's Hero Nanny, was seen pushing a stroller with two toddlers, ages 2 and 3. The trio was strolling along St. Clair Avenue west of Dufferin Street, a few minutes past 11 am, Toronto Sun reported. They had been tobogganing at a nearby park and was set to go back home. ALSO READ: 7-Month-Old Baby Missing Due to Daycare Negligence Just then, an SUV driven by a man in his 80s lost control and drove up into the sidewalk, taking out a green P parking machine and crushing into the nanny. Mendoza was pinned between the SUV and the broken glasses of a hair salon, Global News reported. Constable David Hopkinson of the Toronto Police Service remarked that most people faced with the decision would think to save their own lives, thinking they could get injured or possibly killed. "But she thought to protect those children in her care, which is heroic indeed," Hopkinson said. Police are yet to say whether the driver of the SUV will face charges. "It is every mom's worst nightmare," said the toddlers' mom Allison. However, she said she knew their nanny would do everything in her power to protect the toddlers who escaped with minor injuries. "She is an utmost loving and caring nanny," said Allison, who says Mendoza has been caring for the toddlers since they were babies. They treat her like she's family and call her "Tita," which translates into "aunt." The family said they want their nanny to know they care for her and will support her. ALSO READ: Heroic Nanny Shielded Two Children from Hit-and-Run Crash Single Mom Needs More Surgeries After Saving Kids In Her Care Mendoza happens to be a single mom. She is the sole provider for her daughter, Ohana, and parents in the Philippines, where she was a nurse. Fellow nanny and friend Cheryl Catricala spoke of the incident, saying they had been to the park together with the kids they were caring for. Shortly after parting ways, she saw helicopters and learned a woman and two kids got hurt. When she called her friend, Mendoza was not answering. The Hero Nanny has already undergone 6 surgeries; three were done within the first 24 hours since the incident. She was brought into the hospital with broken bones and head trauma. A friend set up a GoFundMe page for her, which has already raised over $150,000 from over 3,400 people across Canada, Narcity reported. They hope to reach the $200,000 mark so the nanny would be able to complete all the surgeries she needed and would have time to recover and not need to rush back to work. Though, the toddlers' mom said the two boys are already looking for their "Tita". ALSO READ: Tips in Finding the Right Nanny for Your Children The final pieces are being slotted into the Festival jigsaw. The entries for the remaining races were unveiled on Wednesday, along with the weights for the nine handicaps at the meeting. Meanwhile Clerk of The Course Simon Claisse stated that he felt the meeting was likely to start on ground that was mainly good to soft. The handicap weights got the most attention, but hopefully there is a stone or two there that is as yet unturned. Homme Public the value in Boodles There almost certainly are in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, the Fred Winter, a race in which the vast majority of the runners will be making their handicap debut and will be competing in a race vastly different from those they've run in previously. That has led to some big-priced winners over the years, though as with most of the handicaps, big stables have come to dominate in recent times. Paul Nicholls and Gordon Elliott have won six of the last eleven runnings between them, while Nicky Henderson has won once and gone close on a few other occasions. Paul Nicholls certainly has an interesting contender in Houx Gris, who might be described as a dark horse, where it not for the fact that he's currently second favourite. Houx Gris has run three times, twice at Auteuil in the autumn and then in the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle at Chepstow in January. He shaped a fair bit better than the 20-odd lengths he was beaten that day, behind two of the leading British juveniles. There's no doubt he's an interesting runner, but a horse he's closely matched with from France is available at rather longer odds. Before he moved to Britain, Homme Public ran twice against Houx Gris at Auteuil. In the newcomers race in which both made their hurdling debut, Homme Public finished a place ahead of Houx Gris in second. A month later the placings were reversed, Homme Public going down by a neck after the pair had been nip and tuck up the straight. Homme Public then switched to Oliver Greenall, having run in his father's colours in France, and has run twice, finishing second at Catterick and winning at Market Rasen. He might have done even better at Catterick (behind another Fred Winter entry Tinnahalla) had he not pecked two out and his rider accepted the situation in the last 100 yards, the margin flattering the winner. Homme Public is a good jumper and he was strong at the finish at Market Rasen, both factors that encourage support, available for the Boodles at 21.020/1. Spiritofthegames can add to Skelton's good Festival record Another top stable which has proved adept at priming a horse for a Festival handicap is that of Dan Skelton, and his Spiritofthegames is the next suggestion, available at 17.016/1 in his bid to make it third time lucky in the Paddy Power Plate. There is no doubt he needs finessing, but he is undoubtedly on a good mark and has a fine record at the track. Spiritofthegames was sixth in the Plate last year and third in 2019, having finished fifth in the County Hurdle in 2018. He has also run well in several of the other top Cheltenham handicaps over the years, most recently finishing second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. Spiritofthegames has had three runs since then. He didn't appear to stay three miles at Wetherby at Christmas, then never got involved in a race dominated by prominent racers at Warwick. He was much more competitive on a rare run over hurdles at Chepstow ten days later. As a result of the two lesser chase runs, Spiritofthegames has been given a bit of relief by the handicapper, his mark the lowest he's ever had over fences. He hasn't worn cheekpieces on his last couple of starts, but it would be no surprise to see him back in headgear of some sort. Hot Betfair Hurdle form points to Edwardstone in County Talking of Dan Skelton, the stable's Third Time Lucki is currently market leader for the County Hurdle. There are plenty of other unexposed novices towards the head of the betting, bringing a profile similar to last season's winner Saint Roi and the recent Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory (engaged here, as well as in the Supreme). The Betfair Hurdle form hasn't yet been tested but it looks potentially very strong. The first two were progressive novices, the race was run at a true gallop in a good time and there were no obvious hard-luck stories. Third home, running his best race, was Edwardstone, and he looks worth an interest in the County at 21.020/1 Although he isn't a novice, Edwardstone has had just seven runs over hurdles and acquitted himself well each time, despite taking a long time to learn to settle. He was still overly keen when fifth in the Greatwood at Cheltenham on his return, but - after an early mishap on chasing debut - has been more settled in two runs since the turn of the year. Edwardstone won a four-runner affair at Market Rasen then, came the Betfair Hurdle. He was clearly well served by the way the latter developed and there's every reason to think the County will suit him even better. It's a race over the years where it has been almost impossible for the leaders not to go too fast for their own good and winners tend to be strong travellers coming late from the second half of the field. Edwardstone ought to be perfect for that role. Unexposed Lynwood Gold to make best of late Pertemps qualification Finally to the Pertemps Final. The best starting point in recent years for finding the winner has been the Leopardstown qualifier, four of the last five winners having contested that event. Several possible contenders emerged from this season's renewal, but perhaps the other Irish qualifier, at Punchestown, is the one to concentrate on. Unusually, this was run on Monday, over two weeks later than usual, after postponements due to the weather. Thus it took place after the entries had closed and didn't count so far as assessing a horse's mark was concerned, but it was a means of qualification. Neither of the first two home had been entered, while the third and fourth Milliner and Dalton Highway might struggle to get a run. However, the sixth home Lynwood Gold will and he looks worth backing at 12.011/1. Lynwood Gold is a useful stayer on the Flat, who finished eighth in the Cesarewitch in the autumn. His run at Punchestown was his first outing since and he was certainly handled with an eye to the future, also patiently ridden on his first try at three miles. In all, Lynwood Gold has had just five runs over hurdles, all of them on soft or heavy ground. His Flat record and the way he shaped at Punchestown suggests there will be more to come with his stamina fully tested and that he will be effective away from the mud. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed in a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday evening a number of regional issues of mutual interest, including energy and East Mediterranean cooperation fields. According to a statement released by Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady, El-Sisi underscored the distinctly strong ties between Egypt and Greece and the consistency of mutual interests and stances between both nations at the regional level. President El-Sisi expressed his hope to boost cooperation with Greece, particularly in economic, energy, security, and military fronts. The Greek PM reiterated his keenness on exchanging points of view with the Egyptian President in regard to regional issues of concern, according to the statement. He stressed the significance of mutual coordination in the energy and eastern Mediterranean domains in a way that contributes to achieving both countries interests, whether at the bilateral level or within the framework of the trilateral cooperation mechanism with Cyprus. Both eastern Mediterranean countries see eye to eye on a number of regional issues, including the situation in Libya. Egypt and Greece signed in August a maritime demarcation deal establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two, which permits Egypt and Greece to go ahead with maximising benefits from riches available in the exclusive economic zones of both countries, particularly promising gas and oil reserves, according to Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Short link: Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Moscow-based Memorial human rights organization says police have detained a Turkmen man known for his public criticism of the Turkmen government as he arrived in Russia from Turkey. Memorial said in a statement on March 3 that 27-year-old Rozgeldy Choliev was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport the day before after he arrived from Istanbul. According to Memorial, Choliev used to study at a university in Russia's North Caucasus region of Karachai-Cherkessia, where he was admitted in 2018. In 2020, he was expelled from the university after he published articles on the Internet criticizing the Turkmen government. His relatives in Turkmenistan, which is tightly controlled by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, also faced pressure at the time. Despite the fact that he had a valid Russian visa in his passport, Russian border guards tried to send him back to Turkey, but stopped after Choliev said he wanted political asylum, emphasizing that human rights organizations were aware of his situation. Choliev was told that due to the coronavirus pandemic, he could not enter Russia and because there are currently no flights to Turkmenistan, he must return to Turkey, where he will be met by Turkmen Embassy officials. Choliev rejected that option, so the Russian authorities said they would invite officials from the Turkmen Consulate in Russia to "decide your situation." Memorial says that although Choliev is not officially wanted either in Turkmenistan or in Russia, he has not been given a chance to officially meet with Russian immigration officials to file a request for political asylum. Government critics and human rights groups say Berdymukhammedov has suppressed dissent and made few changes in the secretive country since he came to power after the death of his authoritarian predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, in 2006. According to Human Rights Watch, Berdymukhammedov, "his relatives, and their associates control all aspects of public life, and the authorities encroach on private life." Choliev, whose wife and child are in Karachai-Cherkessia, tried to come to Russia in November, but the Russian airline Aeroflot did not allow him to board the plane. The chairwoman of the Civil Assistance rights group in Russia, Svetlana Gannushkina, said on March 3 that a lawyer from her organization will work on Choliev's case. "There is no doubt that in the case of a forced return to Turkmenistan, the opposition [activist] will face serious problems over his critical statements. His relatives have urged him not to come back under any circumstances," Memorial said. Memorial also said that Choliev's wife, Myakhrijamal Khudainazarova, who is a student of the Karachai-Cherkessia State University, was approached by the dormitory supervisor, who checked if her stay in Russia was legal and told her that police will visit her soon. Fifty five-year-old Sashi Jagdishan is not the one to go with the usual flow. He had keen interest in medicine, but ended up studying physics to make a career in electronics. And when his fathers close friend, a finance director in a multinational company, advised young Jagdishan about the great opportunity in the field of finance, the latter picked up chartered accountancy. But instead of joining any of the Big Four or making a career in auditing or taxation, he joined Deutsche Bank. Within three years, Jagdishan sacrificed all the perks of the MNC job to join HDFC Bank, then a start-up bank, in a public sector-dominated banking industry. "What, you are joining a government bank?", was his wife's response. The rest, as they say, is history. It's been a long road for the new MD & CEO of India's second-largest bank, one which has been closely scrutinised since it involved stepping into the shoes of one of the country's iconic CEOs, Aditya Puri. Jagdishan took risks, worked hard and got rewarded. In the last 26 years, he has worked towards creating a niche for the bank. The strategy combining growth and profitability has paid rich dividends, the bank has continued on its growth path even during the peak of the global financial crisis. Launched as a corporate bank, it moved to retail as opportunity came, but post-pandemic, its wholesale business surprised everyone. That, in fact, has been the bank's strategy - when one engine struggles, the other takes over. The consistent performance also reflects in the banks market capitalisation of Rs 8.96 lakh crore, next only to Reliance Industries and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Jagdishan has taken over at a time (October 2020) when the economy is contracting and there are new, consolidated PSBs, Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Fintechs and new-age NBFCs. "New players such as Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd bank, Yes Bank and IDFC First Bank are looking to expand into retail banking," says Jitendra Upadhyay, Senior Equity Research Analyst at research firm Bonanza Portfolio. "The growth in low-cost CASA (Current Account Savings Account) is already stagnant for the bank due to competition. The big task will be to retain the senior management team," he adds. Successions generally lead to exits or instability among the senior management, but HDFC Bank has been an exception so far. The bank has emerged as the as winner in the large bank category based on quantitative study. The private sector lender is also the country's fastest-growing bank. Growth Engines Puri actually left a well-run platform for his successor. Jagdishan, who was also part of the senior management team for more than a decade, doesn't have to exactly work out a new strategy. As the bank's change agent since 2017/18, he has worked closely with Puri in formulating the digitisation strategy and expansion planning into semi-urban and rural areas. "As a change agent, the bank tested his capabilities in every front. We worked towards a complete transformation of the bank to take care of future competition," says Puri. In fact, the duo travelled a lot in the last few years, especially to far-flung areas, to understand the needs of customers. The visits provided Jagdishan with more and more insights into the thought process of a CEO. Insiders suggest he actually became Puri's eyes and ears. Experts, however, think Jagdishan will have to work the bank's growth strategy around, especially given the current times. "As any engine needs overhauling and polishing, Jagdishan, too, will have to fine-tune the strategy in a fast-changing banking landscape," says the CEO of a financial services firm. The bank is currently focussed on building a state-of-the-art customer experience hub. Thanks to its Digital 1.0 strategy, it was already way ahead of competitors in launching products such as the 10-second personal and auto loan and loan against securities, which were also global-firsts. Today, 95 per cent of customer transactions happen via Internet and mobile banking. Digital 2.0 is the next phase of the bank's digitisation journey, which includes re-imagining customer interactions, use of Application Programming Interface (APIs) and Analytics, virtual banking etc. There will be extensive use of new technologies like robotic process automation, Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain. At the back-end, the bank is also readying to serve non-bank customers, which requires integrating a lot of information from outside sources. It is creating an omni-channel customer experience, which will ride on AI and ML platforms. Virtual relationship managers (RMs) are going to be a big channel in the future. Machines will handle a considerable amount of queries and transactions, helping the bank create a 360-degree view of customers across channels or multiple touch points. According to Ajit Mishra, Vice President, Research, Religare Broking, "Over the long-term, with rising competition and threat of disruption, sustaining growth momentum and managing asset quality would be key challenges for Jagdishan." The bank witnessed three IT outages over the last one year, as a result of which the RBI has temporarily banned digital launches and credit card issuance. The bank has, however, clarified that it is not a core technology issue. "It is a more process issue than a technology issue," say insiders. In fact, the bank has already given a roadmap to the regulator. It is currently fortifying its existing architecture and building on Digital 2.0. Expansion Move Along with digital banking, branches as services and sales centres are also undergoing shifts. Branches are becoming smaller in size - in some metro locations sizes have reduced from 2,000-3,000 square feet to 1,000 square feet. It has a direct and positive impact on the incremental cost of setting up a branch. Expansions in semi-urban and rural markets would continue as usual. Over the last decade, the bank has created a large network of branches - more than 80 per cent of new branches every year from 2010 onwards - in semi-urban and rural areas. The story is similar to the mid-90s when the bank tapped metros and urban centres. Currently, the bank is targeting the top 25 per cent of the 60-70 per cent population in non-metros and urban areas. Increased social spending, reduced leakages because of direct benefit transfers, telecom penetration, investments in roads and highways in these areas are driving the bank's move. Jagdishan plans to keep the branch-expansion momentum going, if not 80 per cent but 50 per cent, say insiders. Most rural branches are on lease, which gives it a good hedge to switch if the digital model spreads faster in smaller geographies. The RBI, meanwhile, has given approval to a number of Small Finance Banks to set up operations in semi-urban and rural areas. This could make the competition tougher for HDFC Bank, according to experts. "It is a new landscape, which is going to be highly competitive in terms of business and returns," says Upadhyay of Bonanza Portfolio. "The growth prospects in semi-urban and rural areas are certainly promising, but the competitive intensity is also high. We do believe HDFC Bank is more than capable to dominate these geographies, however, the strategy to tackle competition would be a key factor to watch out for," says Religare Broking's Mishra. Corporate Banking Post-Covid, the share of the bank's wholesale business went ahead of retail for the first time. The bank terms it an aberration created by the sudden requirement of liquidity and funds by corporates post pandemic. HDFC Bank was one of the few which had the appetite to lend money due to high liquidity. The growth is the corporate loan book is expected to moderate since most companies that had advanced their funding are now sitting on enhanced working capital and cutting down on expenses. The bank expects retail to contribute to 50-55 per cent of its business, with consumption and liquidity coming back into the system. Many suggest the large balance sheet size of the bank at Rs 16 lakh crore has positioned it well to expand the corporate book. It remains to be seen how Jagdishan, known to take calculated risks wherever necessary, steers the bank for its next phase of growth. @anandadhikari LONDON In a city known for its buzzy young talent and short-lived fashion careers, Jenny Packham is a survivor. Shes been in business for more than three decades, specializing in bridal and red carpet dressing with clients including the Duchess of Cambridge, Dita Von Teese, Kate Winslet, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Adele. More from WWD Shes not a press darling here shes been around too long for that but has a robust customer base in the U.K. the U.S. and China; a snazzy shop in Londons Mayfair and showed her latest fall/winter 2021 collection, filled with sparkle, feathery fluff and old Hollywood glamour, on the Paris schedule this week. Packham has successfully weathered the COVID-19 storm which forced many fellow designer businesses to close, and has been working with China throughout lockdown. And shes bracing for an influx of bridal and occasion-wear orders as life returns to some sort of normal. Her survival skills are not solely professional, though, and her memoir, How to Make a Dress (Ebury Press), which is published on March 4, makes that clear. In it, she takes a frank and intimate look at fashion, family and life and is able to see herself, her work and those around her from a refreshingly ironic distance. She talks openly about separating from her husband, business partner and father of her two grown-up daughters, Mathew Anderson, (they later reunite), and writes fantasy letters rebuking her detractors, including Alexandra Shulman, the former editor of British Vogue, and Prince Andrew. She also lays bare how angry, and hurt, she was when a bus full of London Fashion Week journalists opted at the last minute to attend a Burberry after party instead of her show (which featured a techno band that shed flown in from Berlin) leaving a glaringly empty front row. Well, that was a fing disaster, she tells Anderson on the way home afterward. Im never going to show (in London) again. Her husband replied by slamming his foot on the accelerator, and we sped home in stony silence, she writes. Story continues Packham was serious, and she moved the show to New York six months later, picking up big department store clients, dressing red carpet celebrities and even getting name checked in Gossip Girl, with guest actress Elizabeth Hurley declaring, Im off to a Jenny Packham fashion show. The book is also brimming with British self-deprecation, and the open acknowledgement of her own failings, fashion disasters and embarrassing celebrity moments, one in particular involving Leonardo DiCaprio. Having asked to take a picture with him during a BAFTA tea party in Beverly Hills she waits what seems like an eternity for an answer. As the slow seconds passed, I began to have that Titanic feeling I was sinking, into an abyss of shame, she writes. DiCaprio finally agreed to pose, although Packham said she couldnt bear to look at the photo for six months, she was so embarrassed by her starstruck behavior. There have been some runway failures of her own making. Packham recalls being overly excited about a collection she did that was inspired by Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes. A professional ballet dancer opened the show which featured a stellar lineup of models including Lily Cole, Jade Parfitt, Erin OConnor and Yasmin Le Bon. Charlotte Tilbury and Eugene Souleiman, respectively, did the makeup and hair. The magical snowflakes began to fall and the principal dancer took to the stage, en pointe, weightless and sylphlike As I looked toward the model lineup, I realized this collection was really bad. Somehow the styles had just drifted off course. I shuddered; my fate was sealed and I felt a cold front coming in, she writes. There was more bad news to come. Packham rushed out to buy the newspapers the next morning, hoping the show had somehow been forgotten, but as I scanned the lower shelves, I saw her on the front cover of The Mirror. Yasmin Le Bon wearing the crimson puffball (mini-gown) and the headline Does my Bon look big in this? The book is also full of career highs, and a heartfelt look at the process of design. For years I have held the components of my work in my hands and often inadvertently taken them home, waking up to find crystals and pins lying beside me in bed, writes Packham. She also loves a challenge, relishing the moment when the burlesque performer Von Teese enters Claridges in one of her complex, custom designs. I congratulate myself on fusing the Ming dynasty with film noir, and still managing to throw in a secret nod to the art of striptease, writes Packham of Von Teeses dress. The cascading curtain of crystals shimmers against her back, sending a wave of excitement through the room, and I decide to take another sip of my cocktail. She writes fondly about her supportive, and inspirational, parents, and her older brother, the naturalist, TV presenter and author Chris Packham, whose ultra-organized closet she dissects, finding fleecy jackets, mountaineering gear and lots of Prada. Packham is softly spoken, a self-proclaimed introvert and doesnt gush during interviews which is why the book is so revealing. In a video interview, she said the writing came naturally. As soon as I started, things came out and I just ran with that. I think being authentic is the most important thing to me, actually. I thought Im just going to write it from my point of view how it is for me, my experience, said the designer. She wrote the book in 2019, on planes, in hotel rooms, at her local London cafe, and even during work meetings sometimes, I wouldnt know what they were talking about, she said with a smile. Writing the book, she added, invigorated my love of everything Ive spent my life doing. I have an amazing job, and I feel really enthusiastic. Asked how her business has been able to thrive for so long in a city that can be so brutal for designers, she said having a niche product is key. Doing dresses for special occasions, theres always been a place for that. The pandemic is probably giving us the biggest challenge ever because events have been postponed but thats the first time its happened in 33 years, she said. I also think being international means that if the business is not doing well (in one region) you can sort of move around it. Youre not tied to one market. And I think that Mathew and I are very determined. Hes an excellent businessman, and we pull together and get things done. Packham has also been working closely with clients including Net-a-porter and Farfetch throughout lockdown, doing more exclusive capsules and mini-collections for them. She said that business was hopping in the week before her Mayfair flagship was forced to close last November. I think people are ordering forward for events that may or may not happen, and perhaps theyre treating themselves, too, Packham said. China, she added, has been thriving shes been dressing brides, VIPs and influencers from her shops in Beijing and Shanghai all through lockdown. Its a slow burn with China, and I think you have to really prepare to invest, and know that it takes time for them to understand the brand, said Packham, whos looking to re-establish her presence in Russia, too. Asked about the bridal business, she believes COVID-19 has taken it in a new direction. Im really expecting quite a change in bridal fashion, because this year we see a number of girls getting married quite quickly. I think theyre still going to want the experience of coming into the shop and having their family there, but I think the emphasis on a wedding is going to change slightly, Packham said. Being together with your friends and family is going to feel very special and I think, perhaps, the dresses might become slightly more fashion-orientated, because the emphasis will come off the dress a bit, and onto this very special thing of being with people. I think you might see some new sort of fashions coming out of it, like something a little bit more relaxed. As a designer, I feel Ive got a bit more scope to sort of throw things in that may be a bit of a surprise, and I feel quite confident that they are going to be interested. I think theres going to be a bit of letting go, and really living in the moment in bridal. Packham sees a bright, post-lockdown world. I think its a very exciting time in the arts, because there will be an explosion of creativity, a desire to go off in a different direction. I feel quite sort of free as a designer because at the moment I feel I can be much more experimental, I think the customers are up for change, too, and to do something different. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. MIDDLETOWN, N.Y., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RCxRules and Crystal Run Healthcare are leading a webinar hosted by America's Physician Groups titled "The Evolution of a Successful HCC Coding Workflow: From Retrospective to Concurrent Review." Register to attend the webinar on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 2pm ET/11am PT. Ensuring accurate RAF scores is a challenge for most groups participating in Medicare Advantage and value-based contracts. Barriers include provider education, pre-visit planning, and an effective coder review process. Learn how Crystal Run Healthcare, a medical group with 400+ providers working across nearly 50 medical specialties, created an efficient HCC coding workflow to navigate these challenges. In this webinar, speaker Meg Brunelle from Crystal Run Healthcare and facilitator Stephen Gorman from RCxRules will cover: 4 Steps to create an effective team HCC coding practice Point of care vs. point of charge capture and why both are important How "just in time" provider education improves clinical documentation (CDI) Differences between concurrent and retrospective review How to measure the ROI of an HCC coding process Featured Speakers: Meg Brunelle, CCS, CRCR is the Director of HCC Revenue Cycle, Coding and Education at Crystal Run Healthcare. Meg has over 20 years of experience working in healthcare and holds credentials in both revenue cycle and coding. Meg is responsible for the implementation of provider education programs for code assignment and documentation. In this role, Meg works closely with Crystal Run providers and coders to drive accurate severity of illness reporting. Stephen Gorman, CEO of RCxRules since 2010, has over 20 years of experience developing technology to help physician organizations reach their optimal operational and financial performance. Prior to RCxRules, Stephen was the Global Strategy Officer for GE Healthcare Information Technology, focused on developing technology around revenue cycle management, electronic medical records and the health information exchange. Register for the webinar today! SOURCE RCxRules Related Links www.rcxrules.com Chairman Simon Thompson decides not to seek re-election at the 2022 annual general meetings ( ) said its chairman Simon Thompson will step down at the Anglo-Aussie company's 2022 annual general meetings. Sam Laidlaw, senior independent director of , and Simon McKeon, senior independent director of Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO), will jointly lead the search for Thompson's successor after he decided not to seek re-election. "I am proud of Rio Tinto's achievements in 2020, including our outstanding response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a second successive fatality-free year, significant progress with our climate change strategy, and strong shareholder returns," said Thompson. "However, these successes were overshadowed by the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters at the Brockman 4 operations in Australia and, as chairman, I am ultimately accountable for the failings that led to this tragic event," he added. Rio Tinto destroyed the Juukan rockshelters in the Pilbara region of Western Australia in May 2020, damaging its longstanding relationship with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura People - the Tradional Owners of the 46,000-year-old caves. "Over the past eight months, we have engaged extensively with investors, government, civil society, indigenous leaders and, most importantly, Traditional Owners to learn the lessons from Juukan Gorge," said Thompson. "We have taken decisive action to address the weaknesses identified in our risk management and governance, while also acknowledging the need to improve our work culture and to rebuild relationships. In January, we appointed a new chief executive, Jakob Stausholm, who has moved swiftly to appoint his new executive team and has identified his key priorities to rebuild the trust that we have lost," he said. Laidlaw said the board accepted Thompson's decision and was "grateful that he has agreed to provide an important period of stability and support for Jakob and the new executive team ahead of the AGMs in 2022". "This will allow an orderly process for the appointment of our new chair and other key board members," he added. 'Don't take me back!' Texas pays tax dollars for private hospital beds. For years, the state didn't track which hospitals got that money 'Don't take me back!' Texas pays tax dollars for private hospital beds. For years, the state didn't track which hospitals got that money Published March 4, 2021 Alex Blanchard heard her 5-year-old sons piercing screams even before paramedics wheeled him into the hospital room. Dont take me back! Dont take me back! Less than 24 hours had passed since she dropped off her son at Austin Oaks Hospital, a private psychiatric facility owned by United Health Services in Austin, court documents allege. Doctors told her committing him was necessary if she wanted to get his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, under control. Alex nearly collapsed when she saw him. His nose was bleeding; his forehead swelled with a goose egg. His arms and legs were covered in angry, red welts. Fingerprint-shaped bruises bloomed around his neck. Her son fought off dizziness and nausea as he struggled to explain what had happened: How he was left alone in a room with an older boy; how he was playing with Legos when he felt the first kick to his head. She now alleges in a lawsuit that her son was assaulted by a 13-year-old. Alex Blanchard's son, now 9, shows off a crystal he found on his grandfathers Hot Springs, Ark. property in January 2021. The family moved to Arkansas after Blanchards son was assaulted at Austin Oaks Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital in Austin. The family has since filed a lawsuit. less Alex Blanchard's son, now 9, shows off a crystal he found on his grandfathers Hot Springs, Ark. property in January 2021. The family moved to Arkansas after Blanchards son was assaulted at Austin Oaks ... more Photo: Mark Mulligan, Staff Photographer/Houston Chronicle Photo: Mark Mulligan, Staff Photographer/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close In Crisis, Part 3: 'Don't take me back!' 1 / 4 Back to Gallery Austin Oaks is one of 54 private psychiatric hospitals in Texas that receive taxpayer money to divert mental health patients both youths and adults from the burgeoning waitlist for state psychiatric beds. Advocates of the program say its incredibly important that it has helped thousands of indigent Texans receive care. The ability of Local Mental Health Authorities to purchase inpatient psychiatric care from local hospitals, for individuals experiencing acute symptoms of serious mental illness, is critical to providing access to needed care at the right time and reducing demand on limited state hospital beds, said Danette Castle, CEO of the Texas Council of Community Centers. In Crisis The Houston Chronicle spent more than a year investigating how Texas treats people who are mentally ill. The newspaper reviewed tens of thousands of pages of court documents, police reports and state and federal investigations. The examination revealed an underfunded system with an inadequate number of psychiatric hospital beds that failed to rehabilitate the mentally ill and instead cycled them through the criminal justice system again and again. Part I: Serious neglect Part II: Punishment, not treatment Today: Dont take me back! But many of these hospitals, including Austin Oaks, have troubled track records. Between 2014 and 2019, those hospitals racked up nearly 1,100 state and federal violations including 47 at the 80-bed hospital where Alexs son was committed. Those 54 hospitals also were fined $1.4 million by the state, a Houston Chronicle investigation found. Police officers were called to those hospitals locations more than 31,200 times during that same time period, about 1,900 times for assault, about 380 times for sex offenses and about 280 times for possible suicides. There also were 15 deaths. Of the 54 hospitals, 14 are large facilities that are not singularly focused on mental health care and were not included in this count. TIMELINE: How Texas' mental health system became overwhelmed Steve Kelly, CEO of Austin Oaks, said the hospital is committed to delivering high quality patient care, including monitoring patients while they reside at the facility and overseeing individual treatment plans for every patient that includes, when necessary, parental involvement. We find that family involvement is critical in helping and supporting patients on their path to healing and growth, Kelly told the Chronicle in a statement. He added that police may be called to the facility for routine matters and emergency detentions because police are the authority for detentions in our state. At Westpark Springs in Richmond which had one state-funded contract for beds in fiscal year 2019 law enforcement was called to the 72-bed hospitals location as many as 10 times per day. In Texas, patients who are involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital must be accompanied by a constable, Kelly Sorice, spokeswoman for Westpark Springs, said and many of the police calls to that location are related to these types of commitments. Occasionally, someone will walk into Westpark Springs and an involuntary admission process will be started, Sorice added. At that time, she said, the hospital also reaches out to the sheriffs office as required to start the court process. In terms of safety, we are always extremely focused on providing a safe environment for both our patients and our staff, Sorice said. While we always look for ways to learn, we are very proud of our safety record. The state relies on Local Mental Health Authorities also called community mental health centers to provide, among other programs, medication, counseling, treatment and crisis services to Texas most needy in local communities across the state. They act as middlemen and contract on the states behalf with private hospitals. The state established this program in 2011, but state officials said until last fall, they did not collect information on which hospitals are selected. They started that work in September, a spokeswoman said. Some community centers use crisis funding to pay for beds in private hospitals as well. The Houston Chronicle examined thousands of pages of documents detailing state and federal violations, some of which were found on hospitalinspections.org, an Association of Health Care Journalists website created after the organization reached an agreement with CMS to post reports online. Violations included failing to investigate allegations of sexual abuse, administering medications in error and poor staffing levels, state and federal documents state. But some were more egregious: A suicidal patient who should have had constant, one-on-one supervision was left alone at Hickory Trail Hospital near Dallas for 11 minutes in 2017, enough time to wrench his left eye out of its socket and seriously damage the other, federal investigators found. A woman at Cross Creek Hospital in Austin that same year banged her head against the wall and threatened to kill herself if she was discharged to her uncle. Hospital personnel released her anyway. She escaped and hung herself at a construction site nearby, where she was found the next day, federal documents state. A patient whod previously attempted suicide was at Millwood Hospital in Arlington in 2016 for just 35 hours before hanging himself from the sprinkler system as several patients watched, according to state records. The hospital, which agreed to pay a $115,000 fine, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said the program needs significantly more oversight. When youre in the business of caring for people for a profit, any time you cut corners you have more profit, he said. There should be more accountability and supervision, but that takes money, too. Loading *** Local mental health authorities admit they often have to contract with any private hospitals that are willing because of location restraints and the fact that the state pays less for care than private insurers. In fact, many of the private hospitals have multiple public contracts, often with vastly different rates. Its up to these community centers to negotiate the price of a bed per day, and though they provided the information, many were hesitant to share the costs for fear that hospitals might increase the price. How to get help: National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-TALK Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255, option 1 24/7 Crisis Line: Text TX to 741741 Texas 2-1-1: 2-1-1, option 8 24/7 Local Mental Health Authority Crisis Hotline: https://hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/find-us/where-can-i-find-services or call 855-937-2372 LGBTQ suicide help: 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678 or chat online (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/) For mental health and substance use emergencies call 9-1-1 The Chronicle found that about 65 percent of the nearly 100 contracts with private hospitals paid more than the Medicaid per day rates for inpatient psychiatric beds sometimes hundreds of dollars more per day in fiscal year 2019. Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers, a community center in Kerrville, paid Laurel Ridge Treatment Center $675 per day, while Camino Real Community Services in Lytle paid $700 per day. The Medicaid rate for this hospital is $511.80 per day. The state says it will not pay more than $700 a day. Ross C. Robinson, executive director of Hill Country, said its not unusual to pay higher rates to private hospitals than what Medicaid authorizes, especially in a market that is so competitive. Local mental health authorities are required to ensure the facilities chosen are accredited by the Joint Commission, a nonprofit that accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations nationwide, or other accrediting entity recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They also have to make sure that the facilities are licensed by the state. Some centers told the Chronicle they do patient interviews and quality audits to ensure a safe environment, but many said they dont research if they have state or federal violations, or how often police are called. Shena Ureste is director of behavioral health care services at the Texana Center in Rosenberg, one of the states local health authorities, which contracts with eight private hospitals, including Westpark Springs, for beds. Theres no way we can go in and monitor in the way we monitor our business here, she said. Center officials were not aware that police were so frequently called to Westpark Springs, she said, but they dont send patients there who are in severe crisis because the hospital doesnt have a psychiatric intensive care unit. *** Alex Blanchard first noticed her son was different in 2012, when he was about 6 months old. He was constantly rubbing his head to keep himself awake. He was always fidgeting his fingers and toes. Even in his sleep, he could never stay still. She felt sure he had ADHD, but she was hesitant to medicate him. She watched him grow into a fearless kindergartner who never met a person he didnt like. But in January 2017, he started having tantrums at school, she said. He ran into the hallway when he wasnt allowed. He threw books and pencils across the room. He ripped posters off the wall. Doctors put him on Abilify and then Ritalin. The side effects were heartbreaking. He was like a zombie. Alex took him off the medications. Eight months later, on Aug. 22, 2017, Alex who owned a housecleaning business was at work when her sons school called. Hes out of control, they told her: Hes aggressive and irritable. You need to take him to the emergency room for an evaluation. Alex arrived at the hospital in the afternoon, she said, and sat there waiting with him for hours. She had repeatedly explained what was wrong: Her son had ADHD. He wasnt allowed to return to kindergarten until he was medicated and under control. The first doctor was perplexed: Hes only 5, the doctor said. There isnt much we can do. Alex understood. But she had to work. Her son had to be in school. The second doctor felt differently. Psychiatric commitment was necessary, he said. They found him a bed at Austin Oaks Hospital for a week. The doctors there would put him on the right medication and get him on track, she was told. The sun had set by the time Alex walked her son to their car. She started sobbing and couldnt stop. She hadnt been away from her son for more than six hours since he was born. Trust the doctors, she thought. They know what theyre doing. She had no idea that the hospital she was driving her son toward had repeatedly been in trouble with both federal and state authorities since 2014. Hospital staff did not monitor patients for side effects after administering medication, according to hospitalinspections.org. Parents werent involved in treatment meetings for their children. The hospital admitted to investigators that it didnt have enough staff members overseeing the adolescent wing. Police had been called to the 80-bed hospital about 400 times between 2014 and the August 2017 day Alexs son was admitted. Ten percent of the calls were assault-related, police records show. But Alex hadnt had a moment to research the hospital the doctor recommended. She strapped her son into his booster seat and started the 16-mile drive to Austin Oaks. He was scared and couldnt stop crying. Where are we going mommy? he asked. Why cant you stay with me? She comforted him as best she could. Take a deep breath, she thought. The doctors know what theyre doing. *** The next day, Alex Blanchard was cleaning a home when her phone rang. The number that flashed across the screen was unfamiliar could her son be calling already? But the voice on the other end of the line wasnt her son. It was a nurse. Theres been an accident, the nurse said. Were taking your son to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. Alex dropped her broom and raced out of the house, speeding down the highway. She arrived before the paramedics and vowed to never let her son out of her sight again. Steve Kelly, Austin Oaks CEO, said in a statement that patient privacy laws prevented him from discussing Alexs sons assault. He said, however, that the incident was fully investigated and reported, per Facility protocols. In court documents, the hospital denied the allegations that they were negligent in the treatment and care of Alex's son. *** The Chronicles investigation found that stories such as the Blanchards are all too common. Cross Creek Hospital in Austin houses just 90 people, but the private psychiatric facility was investigated by the federal government 12 different times between 2014 and 2019. It racked up 44 separate violations, records show. A patient was inappropriately restrained, according to hospitalinspections.org. A staff member worked 16 shifts without up-to-date training and injured a patient. Several incidents of sexual assault were not investigated, federal investigators found. In 2017, an adolescent girl banged her head against the wall and threatened to kill herself if she was discharged to her uncle. Austin police were called. They escorted the patient to her uncles car. In the process, she escaped but federal documents show her uncle didnt chase after her. The girl was found the following day at a nearby construction site. She had killed herself by hanging. Though the young girls suicide risk was low just before discharge, federal investigators determined that the registered nurse on duty failed to complete a suicide risk assessment before the patient left the hospital lobby, as required by hospital policy. In response to the federal governments finding, the hospital revised several of its policies to allow a discharge to be halted if staff members have concerns about a patient harming themselves or others. During that same time period, the hospital was fined a total of $115,000 by the state for violations that included failing to monitor patients at the level instructed by a physician and allowing staff members crisis training to expire, which resulted in a patient head injury. The fines were later reduced to $34,000. Though Cross Creeks policy does not allow officials to discuss patients care, Kay McKennery, hospital CEO, said it takes all issues and incidents very seriously. We address them immediately, she said. The safety and rights of everyone at Cross Creek our patients and staff have been and always will be the hospitals top priorities. Six separate local mental health authorities including Hill Country in Kerrville contracted with the hospital for in-patient beds after these incidents occurred. In fiscal year 2019, the hospital treated at least 336 patients and received more than $1.5 million from taxpayers. Ross C. Robinson, Hill Countrys executive director, said he had not heard of these incidents. He thanked the Chronicle for bringing it to his attention and said the center would review it immediately. The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Brazos Valley in Bryan has a contract with Cross Creek as well. Robert Reed, the centers director of behavioral health operations, did not know about the incidents. It does give me pause as far as future referrals, Reed told the Chronicle. However, before making a decision, we would have to review and evaluate the plan of corrections implemented and accepted by the federal or state review team and see how they have been doing since that time. The 86-bed Hickory Trail Hospital near Dallas was investigated by the federal government seven separate times between 2014 and 2019, tallying 22 violations. In 2017, a patient was admitted to Hickory Trail after trying to commit suicide three separate times in the span of 24 hours. The patient was left alone for 11 minutes, enough time to rip his eye from its socket, federal records show. Hospital personnel said there was no need to place the patient on one-to-one (staff) observation because he was cooperative and never said anything that (necessitated) one-to-one observation, federal records state, but investigators found that the hospital failed to take the appropriate preventative steps to make sure the patient was kept safe. Hospital officials changed their guidelines for which patients needed to have one-on-one observation, and also revised the high-risk alert form so that they would document specific behaviors showing that the patient might harm themselves or others. Daniel Martinez-Torres, Hickory Trails CEO, said in a statement that the hospital cannot discuss a patient or their treatment because of privacy laws, but that the incident was fully investigated and reported, per Facility protocols. *** Alex and her son moved to Hot Springs, Ark., where her father had retired, a few years ago. The woods of Arkansas have become his home, where he can climb a tree and dig for crystals all day long. But it hasnt been easy. He used to have no fear. When he was 2 years old, Alex remembers him walking into the house with a rattlesnake. She panicked. He giggled. Now the 9-year-old is haunted by nightmares and scared of most things people included. But hes getting better, slowly, she said. His teacher says hes doing well. Hes made friends. On a recent afternoon, Alexs son sprinted toward his grandfathers porch, his cheeks red from the chilly air. He needed water hed been running around the forest for hours. But he stopped abruptly when he reached his mom and wrapped his arms around her neck. I love you, mom, he said. I love you, too, she replied. Support our journalism Help our journalists uncover the big stories. Subscribe today. Alex Stuckey is an investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle and joined the paper in 2017. That same year, she won a Pulitzer Prize after unearthing the rampant mishandling of sexual assault cases at Utah colleges and universities while working at the Salt Lake Tribune. She is an Investigative Reporters and Editors award winner and a Livingston Award finalist. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com and follow her on Twitter @alexdstuckey. Mark Mulligan is a staff photographer for the Houston Chronicle, where he takes pictures and flies the Chronicles drone. A native Houstonian, he previously worked at newspapers in Virginia and Washington State before moving home to Texas with his family. Follow him on Twitter @mrkmully and Instagram, or reach him by email at mark.mulligan@chron.com. Design and photo editing by Jasmine Goldband. *** MOSCOW - The European Medicines Agency has started a rolling review of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, many months after it was first approved for use in Russia and after dozens of countries around the world have authorized it. Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrives at Kosice Airport, Slovakia, Monday March 1, 2021. Hard-hit Slovakia signed a deal to acquire 2 million dozes of Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. The country's prime minister says Slovakia will get one million shots in next two months while another million will arrive in May and June. (Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP) MOSCOW - The European Medicines Agency has started a rolling review of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, many months after it was first approved for use in Russia and after dozens of countries around the world have authorized it. In a statement Thursday, the European regulator said the review is based on results from lab studies and research in adults, which suggests the vaccine may help protect against the coronavirus. Despite skepticism about Russias hasty introduction of the vaccine, which was rolled out before it had completed late-stage trials, the vaccine appears to be safe and effective. According to a study published last month in the journal Lancet, Sputnik V is 91% effective and appears to prevent inoculated individuals from becoming severely ill with COVID-19, although it's still unclear if the vaccine can prevent the spread of the disease. With a global shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, some experts say boosting the use of vaccines made by China and Russia which have not been as in demand as those made by Western companies could offer a quicker way to increase the global supply. The pandemic has already infected over 115 million people, killing over 2.5 million of them, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The EMA has so far approved three COVID-19 vaccines for use across the 27-nation European Union: shots made by Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna and AstraZeneca. It could license a fourth shot made by Johnson & Johnson at an expert meeting next Thursday. The EMA has not set a date for when its expert group might meet to assess Sputnik V data but the rolling review aims to expedite the authorization process, which can typically take months. Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organizations regional director for Europe, called the EMA announcement on Sputnik V good news. Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrives at Kosice Airport, Slovakia, on Monday March 1, 2021. In a statement Thursday March 4, 2021, the European Medicines Agency regulator says it has started a rolling review of the Sputnik V vaccine that appears to be safe and effective, months after the vaccine was first approved for use in Russia and after dozens of countries around the world have authorized it. (Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP) We desperately need to enlarge our portfolio of vaccines, so I see this as a very welcome development, Kluge said. In the meantime, dozens of countries have already authorized Sputnik V for use including EU member Hungary and many have agreed to purchase millions of doses of the shot. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund that bankrolled the development of the vaccine, said Thursday that vaccine partnerships should be above politics and co-operation with EMA is a perfect example, demonstrating that pooling efforts is the only way to end the pandemic. Following EMA approval, we would be able to provide vaccines for 50 million Europeans starting from June, Dmitriev added. The European Commission, the EUs executive arm, said Thursday it is not looking to add the Russian vaccine to its portfolio at this stage. No talks are ongoing between negotiation teams and the producers, or institutes, or companies or organizations behind the Sputnik vaccine, said Stefan De Keersmaecker, the Commissions health policy spokesman. The RDIF has been pushing for the EMA to review Sputnik V for months, with Dmitriev first announcing an application to the European regulator in November. In January, the EMA met with the developers of the vaccine. Although there was considerable scientific skepticism when Russia unrolled its vaccine without completing advanced trials, many doubts have since been assuaged with the publication of it latest research. Experts said Russias initial immunization campaign was marred by unseemly haste, corner cutting and an absence of transparency. Sputnik V uses a modified version of the common cold-causing adenovirus to carry genes for the spike protein into the coronavirus to prime the body to react if COVID-19 comes along. Thats a similar technology to the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. But unlike AstraZenecas two-dose vaccine, Sputnik V uses a slightly different adenovirus for the second booster shot, a factor that some scientists say may account for its apparently high efficacy rate. The World Health Organization is also considering whether or not to issue an emergency use approval for Sputnik V; officials last month were awaiting further details from its Russian developers. That approval would be essential for any Sputnik V vaccines to be used in the U.N.-backed COVAX program to try to distribute vaccines fairly to nations around the world, but COVAX has not yet signed any deals for Sputnik V. Questions have been raised in the West over Russia's eagerness to export its vaccine amid its comparatively slow domestic vaccine rollout officials say nearly 4 million people, less than 3% of Russia's population of 146 million, have received the shots so far. I must say we still wonder why Russia is offering theoretically millions and millions of doses while not sufficiently progressing in vaccinating their own people, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov retorted that Russias vaccination campaign is going at normal rates, adding that the international demand for Sputnik V is so high that it significantly exceeds (Russia's) production capacity. The RDIF says it has received requests for 2.4 billion doses of the two-shot vaccine, enough to immunize 1.2 billion people, from over 50 countries. According to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russia has so far produced just over 10 million doses. __ Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report. Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic,https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak AS predicted and forecast by UK travel experts and tour operators, Turkey has now joined the race to open up to foreign tourists, in particular Britons, before any other destination in the Mediterranean. Turkey plans to welcome Britons back by June as it pushes ahead with its vaccine roll out.In comparison, Greece has given 885,000 doses and Spain has given 3.6 million vaccines.According to The Daily Sabah, Turkey has also already been in talks with UK ministers regarding foreign travel, and with the news website saying that tourists will likely start flying into the country from June. Turkeys tourism industry has also adopted the Safe Tourism Certification Program, a set of safety and hygiene measures the Turkish government introduced earlier last year. There will be some hesitancy among Britons, following the incident last summer where Turkey was accused of under-reporting their Covid cases. President Tayyip Erdogans government only publicly disclosed new coronavirus cases if the patient was showing symptoms, which skewed their national average compared to other countries. When the reporting discrepancy was discovered, the UK removed their travel corridor with the country that allowed people travelling from the country to skip quarantine. However, many holidaymakers have short memories as some of the biggest travel companies have seen a surge in bookings to Turkish holiday spots which are extremely popular with Britons. The news will come as another wake up call for the Spanish and Balearic authorities which are still trying to develop a road map for opening up to foreign tourists. Over the weekend, UK tour operators called for greater clarity and a more positive message from the Spanish so that the travel industry and consumers know what the protocol is going to be for travelling to Spain - otherwise, destinations like the Balearics, have been warned they could miss out to Greece and now Turkey this summer. Greece has made it clear it will accept tourists which have either been administered with the vaccine or taken a Covid test. LAVAL, QC, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. ("Couche-Tard" or the "Corporation") (TSX: ATD.A) (TSX: ATD.B) will release its financial results for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2021 on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, after the closing of the TSX. CoucheTard will hold a conference call on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 8:00 A.M. (EDT) to present its financial results for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2021. As such, Brian Hannasch, President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as Claude Tessier, Chief Financial Officer, will be the speakers and will answer questions from analysts. Therefore, Couche-Tard invites analysts known to the Corporation to submit their two questions to its management before 7:00 P.M. (EDT) on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at [email protected]. Financial analysts, investors, media and any individuals interested in listening to the webcast on Couche-Tard's results, which will take place online on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 8:00 A.M. (EDT), can do so by either accessing the Corporation's website at https://corpo.couche-tard.com/en/ and by clicking in the "Investor Relations/Corporate presentations" section, or by dialing 1-888-390-0549 or the international number 1416-764-8682, followed by the access code 39083123#. Rebroadcast: For individuals who will not be able to listen to the live webcast, a recording of the webcast will be available on the Corporation's website for a period of 90 days. About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Couche-Tard is the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In the United States, it is the largest independent convenience store operator in terms of the number of company-operated stores. In Europe, Couche-Tard is a leader in convenience store and road transportation fuel retail in the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), in the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), as well as in Ireland, and has an important presence in Poland. In addition, Couche-Tard operates a convenience network in Hong Kong. In addition, under licensing agreements, more than 2,220 stores are operated under the Circle K banner in 14 other countries and territories (Cambodia, Egypt, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Macau, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam), which brings the worldwide total network to more than 14,200 stores. For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., please visit: https://corpo.couche tard.com. SOURCE Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Related Links http://corpo.couche-tard.com Federal investigators probing the Jan. 6th Capitol riot have identified communications links between alleged rioters and members of Congress. Investigators have made more than 250 arrests of rioters, and have mopped up tens of thousands of tips as they try to untangle who was there and what coordination occurred in advance. Charging documents to date have revealed numerous instances where authorities gained evidence from alleged rioters electronic devices and online postings. Upon reviewing such devices, law enforcement have uncovered 'some indications that they were in touch' with members of Congress, CNN reported Thursday. Rioters clash with police using big ladder trying to enter Capitol building through the front doors. Federal investigators are probing communications between alleged rioters and members of Congress Some of those contacts took place in the days around Jan. 6th, when Congress met to count the electoral college votes that made Joe Biden president. The data includes both actual communications contacts and alleged rioters discussing associations with lawmakers, according to the network. They could seek to gain more information if they find probable cause that a crime may have occurred. Such contacts would not necessarily be improper. One lawmaker, Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), who voted to impeach President Trump on charges of incitement of insurrection, said on air that he received a call from someone during the protests and that there was nothing inappropriate about it. One House Republican, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, posted and then deleted a Tweet about meeting with people who came to Washington for what was billed as a protest on Jan. 6th. 'Had a great meeting today with folks from "Stop the Steal" at our nations Capitol. I encouraged them to keep fighting and assured them I look forward to doing MY duty on January 6th," he wrote. There were tens of thousands of people at the White House and the Capitol protests, according to the acting head of Capitol Police. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) has denied leading a Capitol 'reconnaissance' tour after a Democrat raised the issue without specifically naming her FBI Director Chris Wray said this week the Capitol riot was a form of 'domestic terrorism' Sen. Mike Lee of Utah pressed Wray during testimony about civil liberties issues as investigators go after rioters Some Democratic lawmakers have already raised suspicions about some of their colleagues, charging that they led Capitol 'tours.' The House Democrats, led by Rep. Mikie Sherrill (N.J.), have written Capitol Police demanding the identities of people who toured Capitol facilities the day before the riot. One Republican, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has specifically denied leading such a tour. Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah pressed FBI Director Chris Wray about civil liberties concerns when he testified about the massive investigation of the riots. 'Im anxious to see those who committed unlawful, violent acts on Jan. 6 brought to justice, Lee said. 'I also believe that with this circumstance, like every other circumstance, we have to make sure that civil liberties of the American people are protected, that we watch over them.' Lee and others pressed him on whether the government was using information based off information gleaned from cell phone hits to determine who was around the Capitol on January 6th. Wray this week told senators the riots were a form of 'domestic terrorism.' The government has filed some superseding indictments as it probes conspiracy charges and looks for coordination among militants in addition to mopping up people who trespassed when a mob stormed the Capitol. 'There were clearly some individuals involved, which I would consider the most dangerous who did have plans and intentions and some level of coordination,' Wray said. 'Certainly the Capitol attack involved violence extremists,' Wray said, calling it 'a form of domestic terrorism.' Law enforcement must state within guardrails when probing lawmakers due to separation of powers issues, and some convictions have been thrown out LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The team at Westside Nannies, a leading nanny agency in the Los Angeles area, is expressing grave and valid concerns over the fact that Los Angeles private nannies are being excluded from Vaccine Phase 1B, despite their clear roles as essential childcare workers. Westside Nannies Caregivers On March 1, Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in California began, which included vaccinations for childcare workers across the state. However, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department quietly made a change expressly excluding private nannies and babysitters from the definition of childcare workers. Under this exclusion, nannies across the county are prohibited from getting the vaccine with all the other childcare workers. "These are hardworking men and women who have been putting their lives on the line every day without a choice," said Katie Provinziano, Managing Director at Westside Nannies. "Nannies provide care for children, including assisting with online schooling and ensuring parents can work to support their families. It's an insulting shock that nannies were considered 'essential' during the lockdown, but they are now being overlooked when it comes to getting the vaccine." This exclusion also adversely affects caregivers, many of whom are people of color. Currently, Phase 1B includes individuals who are 65 and older, agriculture and food workers, education and childcare workers and those who work in emergency services. The agency hopes that the county reverses this decision and allows private nannies to get vaccinated since they are, in fact, childcare workers. Until then, the Westside Nannies team is reaching out to elected officials. "It is time that domestic workers stop being disregarded," said Provinziano. "Excluding nannies from the childcare worker phase is absolutely unacceptable and brings a tremendous amount of inequity." Media Contact: Katie Provinziano 310.895.6610 [email protected] For more information on Westside Nannies visit www.westsidenannies.com. Related Images westside-nannies.jpg Westside Nannies Westside Nannies Caregivers SOURCE Westside Nannies New Delhi: India has healthy and successful diplomatic relations with most countries and enjoys lucrative trade practices with nations both big and small. In the last few years, India has further strengthened its relations with several powerful countries of the world. The newly developed relations are sure to enhance the economy and military power of the country in the coming years and help it to become a prominent voice in global affairs. Countries with which India shares amicable relations include Russia, Israel, France, United States, and Japan. The United States - India is a true friend The United States has offered to train the Indian Army in modern warfare, at a time when China and India are engaged in a standoff on Doklam issue. US lawmakers have come up openly in support of India. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump had called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, India is a True Friend. PM Modis visit to the US has further strengthened the bond between the two nations. Trump, in a joint conference with PM Modi, asked Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch any terrorist attack in India and other countries. With the common goal of fighting terrorism, US has cleared the sale of 22 unmanned Guardian drones to India. The two countries have also agreed to share data on maritime traffic to keep a tab on the vast seas and oceans. Japan - Extends help to achieve nuclear goal PM Modis visit to Japan last year has cemented ties between the two countries. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised to export sophisticated nuclear technology to India. India aims to increase its nuclear capacity 10 fold by 2031 and Japan has extended help to achieve the goal. Japan has also offered its help to provide expert support to India to build six nuclear plants. Japan is also helping India with the much talked about bullet-train project. France - Defence collaboration dates back to 1950 Like Russia, France has been a special friend of India during rough times. Trade between the two countries has grown from 5.13 billion in 2006 to 8.5 billion in 2015. Indias relationship with the country has centred around three crucial areas including nuclear, space, and defence. With the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France, the ties have only strengthened further. France will be constructing six EPR (nuclear reactors) of 1,600 MW each in India. Defence collaboration of the two countries dates back to 1950. France was the first country to carry out joint naval exercise after India conducted the 1998 nuclear tests and was under sanctions. India is procuring state-of-the-art Rafale fighter jets from France. India will be procuring six Scorpene submarines, 51 Mirage-2000s and 490 MICA missile systems from France. Israel Support each other on defence matters India and Israel face the similar problem - terrorism supported by their neighbours. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. During his visit, he had said, I for I. Which means India for Israel and Israel for India. India and Israel have partnered up for: India-Israel Industrial Research and Development and Technical Innovation Fund, Increase cooperation on water conservation, State water utility reform in India, Israeli citizens of Indian origin to get Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), Direct flights between two countries and Sharing of weapons technology. The two countries will extend support to each other on defence matters, particularly air force and navy. India is to procure Barak 8 air defence system from Israel. Russia - Jointly developing fifth generation fighter aircraft India and Russia have a strong strategic diplomatic, military, and economic relationship. The Indo-Russian partnership has been built on five major elements which include politics, defence, civil nuclear energy, anti-terrorism cooperation, and space. Politically, India and Russia closely collaborate on matters of shared national interest at the UN, SCO, BRICS and G20. The two countries are jointly developing and producing fifth generation fighter aircraft and multi-role transport aircraft. India and Russia have several joint military programmes which include BrahMos cruise missile programme, Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme (230+ to be built by Hindustan Aeronautics in India), and Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft. India and Russia have signed a deal worth $2.9 billion for 42 Sukhois, 230 Sukhois, 272 Sukhois, and medium-lift Mi-17 V5 helicopters. Russia will also help India to build 20 nuclear reactors over the next 20 years. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By taking an expedient stand on Jamal Khashoggis brutal killing, US President Joe Biden may have thrown away the chance of drawing an ethical line between his administration and its predecessor. It looks almost as bad as allegations that India had sent naval commandos to capture beleaguered Princess Latifa of Dubai off the Goa coast and handed her over to the UAE in March 2018 to please one of the worlds richest heads of state. Pragmatism isnt always reconcilable with ethics, which also explained Indias long boycott of Israel. Moreover, as Morarji Desai found in 1977, he couldnt easily distance India from the Soviet Union. Of course, the Democratic President, from whom Americans and the world expect so much, and who spent his first hours in the White House cancelling many of Donald Trumps executive orders, might yet redeem himself. He has already taken the US back into the Paris climate agreement and is exploring ways of reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Mr Biden has also ordered a review of US arms sales to the Saudis and is reportedly considering a ban on all non-defensive purchases. But surely the worlds only superpower claims a higher moral role than just organising the distribution of weapons and pocketing the profits. That was emphasised in 1990 as the USSRs collapse prompted Richard Nixon to crow triumphantly from retirement that the time had come for America to reset its geopolitical compass. We have a historic opportunity to change the world, he wrote. Mr Bidens ambitions neednt be that grandiose, but he does have an opportunity to correct some of the distortions and aberrations of the past four years, give even 74 million Trump supporters a sense of true pride in their countrys achievements, and inspire foreigners with confidence in Washingtons sense of fair play. Sadly, some of Mr Trumps partnerships recalled the old story of an American President infamously claiming that a particularly unsavoury South American dictator might be a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch. Americans were taken aback in 2018 when Mr Trump appeared to support Vladimir Putin over US intelligence claims on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. His applause for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brazils Jair Bolsonaro and courtship of North Koreas Kim Jong Un also looked like aligning the US with regimes that are the antithesis of values the US claims to promote. At home, the deadly Charlottesville protest in 2017, the rise in violent right-wing extremism, and the viral spread of malevolent conspiracy theories that he encouraged were accompanied by mounting police brutality against blacks. The rise of groups like the Proud Boys, a violent street gang that gained new notoriety after Mr Trump acknowledged them during a pre-election debate with Mr Biden, was a particularly dangerous feature of those years. Its the close military and strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia that disturbs many Americans. When Mr Trump and Saudi King Salman signed a $350 billion arms deal in 2017, Tulsi Gabbard, Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, warned: Saudi Arabia is a country with a devastating record of human rights violations at home and abroad and has a long history of providing support to terrorist organisations that threaten the American people. The sale was the reported handiwork of Mr Trumps all-powerful son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, said to be close to the kingdoms real ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 35. Mr Kushner, who cultivated relationships with Saudi royals, personally contacted Lockheed Martin during the deal-making process. Widely known as MBS, the crown prince has been accused by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence of ordering Khashoggis murder and the dismemberment of his body. We assess Saudi Arabias crown prince approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey, to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, says the ODNIs four-page report. Resident in the US, Khashoggi, who wrote for the Washington Post, was lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and never seen again. When the Central Intelligence Agency levelled the same charge only a month later, Mr Trump blocked the reports declassification and continued Washingtons strong ties with Riyadh. He refused to hold the prince publicly responsible for the crime even as the US government demanded that the perpetrators be punished. To do the crown prince justice, he accepted Saudi Arabias overall responsibility for the murder of a dissident journalist who was his most vocal critic. But he denied any personal link although the ODNI says the crown prince viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the kingdom and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary to silence him. Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, says the US will not admit foreigners who threaten dissidents. To flesh out that oblique warning, Washington has banned 76 Saudi nationals implicated in Khashoggis killing. Nevertheless, if action isnt taken against the prime suspect, the drama might resemble Frederick Forsyths thriller The Cobra in which the US President sanctions the creation of an elaborate and expensive state-within-a-state machinery with the sole objective of destroying the cocaine industry. But when the resultant civil conflict threatens political careers, the US government abandons the cause. In the words of the man who was appointed to take on the cocaine underworld: It has become corrupt and venal, weak and yet arrogant, dedicated to the obese and the stupid. Nobody can say that of Mr Bidens administration. But he has yet to live up to the convictions that earned him a historic victory. TEHRAN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on European parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement to stop the "wrongful and out-of-place illegal sanctions," noting Iran has preserved the agreement for three years despite being under "economic war." "The P4+1 has a heavy task today. They must know we resisted three years of economic war, and it is us who preserved the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during this period," Rouhani said in a cabinet meeting in the capital Tehran, as quoted by official news agency IRNA. The P5+1 countries (China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States, plus Germany) negotiated the JCPOA on the Iranian nuclear program in 2015, before Washington under former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018. "You stop the sanctions and enforce the law, and if on the very first day after you lifted the sanctions you see that we are not fulfilling all our obligations, then it will be your right to tell the world that Iran is not fulfilling its obligations," he addressed European governments. A day earlier, Rouhani held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he reiterated Iran's position that the JCPOA is not renegotiable, and that lifting the U.S. sanctions is the only way to save the agreement, IRNA reported. According to a note on the official website of the French Presidency, Macron underlined in the telephone conversation his "deep concern" at decisions taken by Iran in "violation" of the JCPOA, and the need for Tehran to return to compliance with its obligations, as well as to "full cooperation" with the International Atomic Energy Agency. On Feb. 23, Iran stopped the implementation of voluntary implementation of the IAEA's additional protocol as envisaged in JCPOA, after a series of gradual steps undertaken by Tehran since 2019 to reduce its commitments under the agreement. Beneficiaries of the Kazi Mtaani programme have received a major boost after the govt approved their appeal for an extension of the initiative. The steering committee of the National Hygiene Programme(Kazi Mtaani) has extended the exercise which was set to end today, March 4, 2021, by another month. The President promised two weeks ago that Kazi Mtaani will be extended following an appeal by the youth, State Department of Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga said in a statement. The PS explained workers under the program operate on two shifts of Cohort A and B, each working for 11 days a month. Each worker earns Ksh455 per day while the supervisors earn Ksh505 per day. In the last week of February, the govt disbursed Ksh679.5 million to 137,157 workers under Cohort A. Cohort A Kazi Mtaani payment done and dusted with 99,95 per cent success rate. Over Sh670 million circulating in about 1,160 informal settlements countrywide has seen over 137,000 youths facilitated, said the PS. Cohort A workers resumed duty on February 3 after the govt in January extended the programme by one month until March 4. Hinga had said after the end of the programme in March, some of the workers would transition to projects of a more permanent nature run by other state departments and agencies. Unveiled in July 2020 to cushion Kenyan youth against the effects of COVID-19, Kazi Mtaani programme employs 280,000 young people in 900 informal settlements across the 47 counties. India honoured to be at forefront of popularising millets: PM Modi India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed gratitude to countries which joined India in the UN General Assembly as the organisation adopted by consensus a resolution declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets. The resolution was initiated by India with Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia and Senegal and was co-sponsored by over 70 nations. It is aimed at raising awareness about the health benefits of the grain and its suitability for cultivation under changing climatic conditions. "India is honoured to be at the forefront of popularising Millets, whose consumption furthers nutrition, food security and welfare of farmers. This also offers research and innovation opportunities for agriculture scientists and start-up communities," Modi tweeted. PM Modi to hold virtual summit with Swedish counterpart on Friday "Gratitude to all the nations who initiated and co-sponsored the resolution on International Year of Millets at the @UN. Distinguished delegates were also served delicious Millet Murukku! This is one snack I also relish and urge all of you to try it as well," he said. While millet cultivation has been historically widespread, its production is declining in many countries. There is an urgent need to promote the nutritional and ecological benefit of millets to consumers, producers, and decision-makers, to improve production efficiencies, research, and development investments and food sector linkages, India''s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 19:55 [IST] Patna, March 4 : The liquor prohibition department of Bihar arrested two inter-state liquor smugglers from Jharkhand's Kodarma district, a senior official said. The accused, Surmukh Singh Dariwal and Neeraj Kumar alias Senty, are natives of Ambala city in Haryana. They were involved in liquor smuggling for the last 3 years. "Both the accused used to smuggle liquor consignments generally in a truck and transaction of funds was done through Hawala," said Amrit Raj, Inspector General of Police of the liquor prohibition department. According to an official, the prohibition department has arrested a number of alleged smugglers from Haryana and Punjab in recent times. These accused revealed the possible locations and identification of Surmukh and Neeraj. "During preliminary investigation it was learnt that Neeraj Kumar came in contact with Dhariwal through the latter's son Pushpendra Singh Dhariwal. Pushpendra and Neeraj are close friends. The trio have an illegal liquor smuggling syndicate in North Bihar. The father-son duo are one of the prominent liquor traders in Haryana and are also involved in smuggling Haryana made liquor to Punjab and Gujarat apart from Bihar," the official said. Besides trucks, the accused also purchased SUVs and other large vehicles in auctions in West Bengal and Jharkhand with the aim to use them for smuggling. Being a neighbouring state, the vehicles from these two states can frequently be seen in Bihar. "Dhariwal and Neeraj have become notorious in Bihar for liquor smuggling. There are six FIRs under liquor prohibition acts and IPC sections of 272, 273, and 290 registered in Manjhi police station in Saran, Simri in Darbhanga, Pipra in Motihari, Nadi in Patna and two cases registered in Muzaffarpur's Brahampur and Paru police stations," he said. "The liquor prohibition department has also seized Rs 2.82 lakh cash, 9 mobile phones, one Innova car and some documents from their possession," the officer added. Series C Co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst, with IVP; Sriram Krishnan from Andreessen Horowitz to Join Hopin Board Anthony Kennada Named as CMO, Sarah Manning as VP of People, and Jonathan Killeen as Head of Remote Hopin, a leading virtual events provider, announced today that it has raised $400M in Series C funding co-led by new investors Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst, and existing investor IVP, with participation from returning investors Coatue, DFJ Growth, Northzone, Salesforce Ventures and Tiger Global. The funding follows Hopin's $125 million Series B funding announced in November 2020. Since then, Hopin has added 30,000 customers including Poshmark, American Express, Hewlett Packard, The Financial Times, and YMCA. Since February of last year, Hopin has raised more than $565 million. Johnny Boufarhat, CEO and Founder of Hopin said: "We are creating a portfolio of products to build the future of live video collaboration and remote community. As we've seen, the importance of providing unparalleled virtual and hybrid event experiences has never been greater and this latest funding is a reflection of how critical it is as brands look for ways to connect with people and avenues of growth. To enable this, we are investing more in video innovation, the core medium of digital collaboration. We're incredibly appreciative of the confidence from our investors who share Hopin's vision for a better connected world. This is a testament to the dedication of the Hopin team, which works hard to deliver for our customers." In addition to the investment, Sriram Krishnan, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, will join Hopin's Board of Directors. "Hopin's leadership team brings together business, event and software expertise that puts them in a unique position to dramatically transform the way we connect and interact with each other through events," said Mr. Krishnan. "We believe that Hopin is the leader in this space and couldn't be more excited to partner with the team on their bold vision." Hopin will use this capital to accelerate growth, including scaling its operations, team and platform to meet the demands of its expanding customer base and support its multi-product business. Hopin's technology is already being used to power the digital component of hybrid experiences in events across Europe, and as announced last week, will soon power new hybrid meeting solutions across the Marriott portfolio of hotels in the United States and Canada. Hopin has scaled from six to more than 400 employees since the beginning of 2020 and grown from a few hundred event creators to more than 85,000 organizations with millions of attendees showing up each month. Hopin will continue investing in the development of its platform technologies in areas such as video and mobile, which are crucial to defining the future of hybrid events and making them a seamless experience. Hopin recently acquired mobile app development company Topi and video streaming company StreamYard, adding StreamYard's 3.6 million video content creators to its base. "Johnny and the team have built one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in history by turning a period of unprecedented disruption into an opportunity to redefine how we gather virtually, in-person, and on the entirely new spectrum of experiences that fall in between," said Quentin Clark, managing director at General Catalyst. "The scale and speed at which they've been able to build Hopin into a global business is impressive. It's also a clear reminder of the significant depth of enterprise and SaaS talent that exists in Europe today." Hopin Announces New Hires To Support Rapid Growth and Innovation Hopin is also announcing the appointment of three new executives to its leadership team. Anthony Kennada joins the company as chief marketing officer (CMO), Sarah Manning serves as the vice president of people, and Jonathan Killeen has been named the head of remote. Mr. Kennada brings extensive GTM experience building the iconic brands of some of the most notable enterprise software companies in the world. He most recently held the role of CMO at Front, the leading customer communication company. Prior to Front, Mr. Kennada was the founding CMO at Gainsight, where he is credited with creating the customer success software category. During his time at Gainsight, he created the Pulse brand of conferences that host over 5,000 attendees at San Francisco's Moscone Center every year, as well as thousands of attendees at sister conferences in London and Sydney. Mr. Kennada published his marketing playbook at Gainsight with Wiley in 2019 in a book titled Category Creation: How to Build a Brand that Customers, Employees, and Investors Will Love. Ms. Manning is a strong and proven global HR leader, having worked in large corporations and rapid growth startups. She has successfully partnered with executive leaders on their global people strategies and has led HR teams distributed across four continents. She joins Hopin after serving in senior HR roles at Zendesk and BT. Mr. Killeen will oversee programs to support Hopin's fully-remote workforce, developing internal initiatives and systems that focus on building Hopin's remote work culture and optimizing employees' productivity and workplace engagement. He joins Hopin from Dropbox, where he most recently served as global events program manager International Workplace Services lead for EMEA APJ. "An opportunity to co-author the future of the events industry with event professionals across the globe was an opportunity that I could not pass up," said Mr. Kennada. "I'm thrilled to partner with Johnny, the amazing Hopin team, and our incredible customers to build a brand that can become a purpose-led and community-enabled platform for the entire industry to collaborate on defining the future." About Hopin Founded in 2019, Hopin enables brands and communities to create all-in-one live video experiences for their audiences. Through its platforms, attendees can learn, interact, and connect with people from anywhere in the world. With Hopin, you can create live virtual and hybrid events that are interactive and immersive. Hopin acquired StreamYard, a leading video streaming studio, in 2020. Hopin is a remote-first company headquartered in London, with employees in 42 countries. Learn more at hopin.com. About Andreessen Horowitz Andreessen Horowitz backs bold entrepreneurs who move fast, think big, and are committed to building the next major franchises in technology. Founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, the firm provides entrepreneurs with access to expertise and insights in innovation, executive and technical talent, market intelligence, business development, and marketing and brand-building. Find us in Menlo Park, Calif., and at www.a16z.com. About General Catalyst General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com. About IVP Founded in 1980, IVP is one of the premier later-stage venture capital and growth equity firms in the United States. IVP has invested in over 400 companies with 116 IPOs. IVP specializes in venture growth investments, industry rollups, founder liquidity transactions, and select public market investments. IVP investments include such notable companies as AppDynamics (CSCO), Coinbase, Compass, CrowdStrike (CRWD), Datadog (DDOG), Discord, Dropbox (DBX), GitHub (MSFT), Glossier, Grammarly, HashiCorp, Hims Hers (HIMS), HomeAway (AWAY), Hopin, Klarna, LegalZoom, Looker (GOOGL), Marketo (MKTO), MasterClass, Mindbody (Vista), MuleSoft (CRM), Netflix (NFLX), Personal Capital (Empower), Podium, Rubrik, Slack (WORK), Snap (SNAP), Supercell (Tencent), Tanium, Twitter (TWTR), UiPath, Wise, Yext (YEXT), ZenDesk (ZEN), ZipRecruiter, and Zynga (ZNGA). For more information, visit www.ivp.com or follow IVP on Twitter: @ivp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005213/en/ Contacts: Hopin Niko Felix niko@theoutcastagency.com Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. This new partnership with Janie is so exciting for me and the Todays Inspired Latina community. Through Janies platform were offering a fantastic opportunity for more Latina stories to be heard. Their stories need to be told far and wide and this is a great way to do so. Todays Inspired Latina (TIL), a popular international book series presenting the powerful and inspirational stories of Hispanic women, is entering into a partnership with The Janie Flores Live Show to feature some of the TIL authors during March which is known as International Womens Month. One of my biggest missions is to elevate women wherever I go, mentions Ruiz, creator of Todays Inspired Latina Book Series. This new partnership with Janie is so exciting for me and the Todays Inspired Latina community. Through Janies platform, were offering a fantastic opportunity for more Latina stories to be heard. Their stories need to be told far and wide and this is a great way to do so. Flores is very excited to showcase these TIL authors and their stories. "The 'Janie Flores Live' Show is thrilled to celebrate and elevate the outstanding women of Todays Inspired Latina during International Womens Month. Highlighting the contributions of Latinas who are leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of US history is an important focus of our commitment to giving voice to multicultural stories in our community," stated Janie Flores, president of Buena Vida Media and host of Janie Flores Live. Flores, whose show features conversations with fascinating people impacting and transforming the economy, will interview three authors every Friday in March at 2 p.m. CST/3 p.m. EST. The TIL authors who will be interviewed are: Monika Alvarez, Monse Moreno, Tamika Lechee Morales, Leonor Gil, Gloria Romo, Irene Anzola, Irma Zavala, Claudia Rodriguez, Leslie Regalado, Lisba Romo, Elisa Marquez and Jacqueline S. Ruiz. Janie is providing us with a beautiful opportunity to have these women tell their own stories of challenges and successes to inspire and empower her audiences, Ruiz said. These women are certainly making their own history as Latinas who are trailblazers in their communities. About Fig Factor Media Fig Factor Media Publishing is an international publishing company with a "beeping" heart. Fig Factor Media has helped many authors achieve and support their dream of impacting their communities in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Fig Factor Media is the official publisher of Today's Inspired Latina. For information, visit http://www.figfactormedia.com. About Buena Vida Media Buena Vida Media is an international multi-media company strategically deploying innovative media, public relations, digital marketing, and social media strategies for our client partners. Executive producer for the Janie Flores Live Video Podcast Show, an award-winning business talk show which has been online since 2017. The show has conversations with fascinating people and is hosted by recognized social entrepreneur, influencer and author, Janie Flores, President, Buena Vida Media. Now in its fourth year, the show has interviewed over 300 multicultural entrepreneurs, thought leaders, executives, and influencers from across the nation and Latin America. http://www.BuenaVidaMedia.com. A sex attacker who forced himself on a woman as she lay asleep in her bed after he got drunk and overstayed his welcome at a party has been jailed for seven years. Joseph Howell, 30, crept into the victim's bedroom at 3.30am and tried to rape her as she lay sleeping beside a female friend who had been invited for a sleepover. The attack occurred in early 2018 after the woman, in her early 20s, had been out in Bolton, Greater Manchester with her female friend. The pair and several male friends had gone back to a house together but were followed by Howell, who helped buy cider en-route. The women went to bed and told the men they should leave. After hearing the door slam shut, they assumed the men had left, but 'the next thing' the victim knew, Howell was in bed beside her with her breasts exposed and pyjama bottoms pulled down. Howell only stopped the sexual assault when the friend was woken up by the terrified victim and said 'What the f*** Joe, what are you doing?' At Manchester Crown Court, Howell, from Salford, was convicted of attempted rape and assault. He had denied wrongdoing and his trial had been delayed due to the pandemic. Joseph Howell, 30, crept into the victim's bedroom at 3.30am and tried to rape her as she lay sleeping beside a female friend who had been invited for a sleepover Sentencing, judge Recorder Paul Reid QC told him: 'On that night you and your victim spoke but there was no suggestion she had any sexual interest in you. You targeted her while she was asleep and vulnerable.' Howell was also banned from contacting the victim for life under the terms of a restraining order and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. Prosecutor Darren Preston had told the court the victim had been 'making her drinks last' while they were out and said she was not at all drunk, but the men stayed up and carried on drinking. He added: 'The victim woke up at about 3.30am to find someone in the bed beside her. 'She said when she woke fully she found her breast had been exposed from under her pyjama top and her pyjama bottoms had been pulled down below her bottom. 'She froze and simply lay there on her side, her back to the defendant, although at this time she did not know who was in the bed. 'She said she lay there for a couple of minutes and then started to try to wake her friend. He was, she said, ''still messing'' with her as she did. The attack occurred in early 2018 after the woman, in her early 20s, had been out in Bolton, Greater Manchester with her female friend 'She said she edging slowly towards her friend as she didn't want to make it obvious she had woken up in case he turned violent, and she grabbed her friend's arm and squeezed it to try to wake her up.' When the friend woke up the victim tried to gesture with her head that there was someone behind her. As the friend started to ask what was going on, the defendant stopped what he was doing, the court heard. Mr Preston said: 'She took her friend's hand and put it to her lower body to show her that her pyjama bottoms were half off, and her friend then woke properly and said ''What the f*** Joe, what are you doing?''. Howell was banned from contacting the victim for life under the terms of a restraining order and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life 'She took the opportunity of her friend confronting him to get up and out of bed and left... to sit in the car.' The woman texted an ex-boyfriend and sat sobbing in car for 20 minutes whilst her friend quizzed Howell. He claimed he gone into the bedroom where the two women were sleeping, as he couldn't find his keys and then claimed: 'It just happened - I'm not weirdo.' In interview with police, he said they had consensual sexual contact before he gave up as there was 'no room.' In a statement the victim told police: 'On that day I was at home thinking I was safe in bed, asleep when I was attacked by him. 'Since that day my life has been in turmoil as the attack has been on my mind every day. It has now been going on for three years and has affected my sleep. 'I have had nightmares about it and my anxiety went through the roof in the run up to the trial. I have been given medication. I am now wary of people I don't know, never go to a party on a whim and I don't trust people as much as I used to. 'Some of his friends have threatened me which convinced me to move out of the area for 12 months. I have now had justice and feel relief and justification after all my suffering over the past three years. I want to get on with my life and be happy.' In mitigation for Howell, defence lawyer James Heyworth said: 'Entry to her home was not uninvited or forced and it is clear what went on was out of character for him. 'He is a hard worker with his own business which did employ people, and he has supported his partner, young daughter and children from a previous relationship.' An estimated 4,300 Californians got the wrong dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, whistleblowers have revealed. Workers at the Oakland Coliseum mass vaccination site told FOX2 KTVU that they were sent a type of syringe that traps a small portion of vaccine in its plastic chamber from the national stockpile. Usually, these syringes leave about .05 mL to 0.1 mL of vaccine stuck in the plunger. The correct dose of Pfizer vaccine is 0.3 mL - so the Monday morning patients probably got about two-thirds of that, or 0.2mL. It's unclear exactly how many people received the lower dose, but one of the EMTs who revealed the short-dosing to KTVU said as many as 4,300 doses might have been given out before the problem was discovered. Oakland's vaccination site was giving out the Pfizer shot on Monday. At the correct dosage, two shots are about 95 percent effective, but there is little data on how much protection a lower dose offers. 'It's very likely that these people have a decent immunity already and I wouldn't want them all to freak out. Now, they just have to figure out what's the best thing to do in a bad situation,' said Dr John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at UC Berkeley Public Health in an interview with KTVU. Low dead space syringes like this one allow six 0.3 mL doses of Pfizer vaccine to be extracted from its vials. But the Oakland site was given syringes that can trap up to 0.1 mL of vaccine The Oakland Coliseum site (pictured) can vaccinate some 6,000 people a day. One whistleblower estimated up to 4,300 people may have gotten shots there on Monday before the syringe issue was identified A spokesperson for the site told the outlet that the amount left behind in each syringe was likely 'negligible,' but the two EMTs who raised the issue claimed that management wanted to 'sweep the problem under the rug.' Oakland's Coliseum site opened on February 16 can vaccinate up to 6,000 people a day, but it's unclear if any previous shipment contained the potentially problematic syringes. Syringe issues gained national attention earlier on in the vaccine rollout as well. Pharmacists realized in the first weeks of vaccine rollout that they could extract six doses - rather than five - from vials of Pfizer's vaccine. But that was only reliably possible with low dead space syringes. Different types of syringes have different size modules near the tip. Those with a larger 'dead space' leave vaccine trapped. Pfizer applied to the FDA to label its vaccine vials for six doses, allowing it to stretch its otherwise short supply of the shots. But most of the syringes sent to states from the national stockpile weren't the correct type to do so. In fact, the US was facing a shortage of low dead space syringes, and major manufacturers of the specialty supply were not equipped to immediately ramp up production of them. Only about 40 million of the 286 million syringes that major supplier Becton Dickinson was producing for the US vaccine kits in January were low dead space syringes. Distributor McKesson said in mid-January that it would send out the right supplies to allow 1,175 doses of Pfizer's vaccine - instead of 975 - from 'mega supply kits' to be extracted. Nonetheless, higher dead space vaccines reached Oakland's mass vaccination site, one way or another. Dr Gerry Meta, medical director at the Coliseum, told KTVU he was concerned over how much vaccine was wasted. If indeed 4,300 people were injected with syringes that each trapped 0.1 mL of vaccine, that would mean an additional 1,433 doses could have been given if the trapped vaccine wasn't thrown out with the vaccine. Officials managing the site said they were unaware of the issue until KTVU contacted them about the concerns raised by medical workers, who were kept anonymous by the outlet. A spokesman for the California Office of Emergency Services (OES), Brian Ferguson, said that the staff there met with the state's health department, the US Department of Health and Human Services and Pfizer about what - if anything - should be done about the people who received smaller doses. But, he said, 'We don't think anyone was formally underdosed, [but] should any inadequacies be identified, or follow-up be needed' FEMA, which helped launch the site, and OES 'will expeditiously make corrections.' Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. IT solutions/tools can make urban services more efficient, sustainable and user-friendly. The citizens from these areas would need to fully understand how these tools work, and what the benefits are to profit from them. An ambitious EU-funded project has sought to achieve this by developing citizen-focused tools and supporting the next generation of smart city innovators. Cities in the 21st century need to provide their ever-increasing populations with sustainable, safe and liveable environments. In recent years, the term smart cities has been coined for IT-based initiatives that monitor and analyse different aspects of urban life, and manage the provision of various services, such as transport, lighting and waste disposal, intelligently. A service or app on your mobile that integrates bus, train and tram frequencies in real time is an example of a smart city application. Smart cities must be inclusive and participatory, to ensure that these services are actually used. To be effective however, citizens need to be able to understand the processes that are driving smart cities. Citizens also need to feel that they are in control, rather than being under the control, of these innovative developments. The GEO-C project sought to investigate how we can realise truly open cities, explains scientific coordinator Christian Kray, head of the Situated Computing and Interaction Lab at the University of Munster, Germany. This means smart cities that are open to all citizens and that facilitate participation at all societal and technical levels. Collaborative approaches To achieve this, the project brought together, in addition to institutes from Germany, Portugal and Spain, experts from academia, industry and government, specialising in a range of fields. Disciplines included environmental modelling, statistics, human-computer interaction and decision support systems. The aim was to find ways of building smart city services that put citizen needs at the centre, for example by ensuring that users can easily see which app is using what data. One key goal was to develop the Open City Toolkit (OCT), a collection of tools, software, libraries and apps that can empower citizens to participate in and shape the future of their cities, says Kray. The toolkit would help to deliver services based on open data that are useful for citizens, businesses and governing bodies alike. GEO-C, a research project undertaken with the support of the Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions programme, also sought to train the next generation of smart city experts, within this multidisciplinary environment. This research area provides challenging and rewarding topics for early-stage researchers to carry out PhDs, notes Kray. These topics include, for example, how to encourage participation across all ages and groups of society, how to assess quality of life, and how to deliver fundamental urban services. Some 15 EU-funded PhD researchers recruited for 3 years helped to develop the toolkit. City councils in the cities of Munster (Germany), Castellon (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal), as well as several companies across Europe provided invaluable data, real-life case studies and technological expertise. Providing urban solutions The successes of GEO-C have underlined the importance of openness, collaboration and accessibility to the success of smart city innovations. All the tools and guidance developed through the project are open-source and freely available. Tools are highly practical, as they are focused on delivering solutions to real challenges. Shortly after our project started, Europe faced a large influx of refugees and was struggling with how to handle the situation, notes Kray. One of our researchers was inspired to work closely with refugees, to find ways of collaboratively developing technological solutions to be used by disadvantaged groups. A resulting paper was published in the prestigious journal Transactions in Human-Computer Interaction (TOCHI), and this is often cited as a successful example of how to work with groups that are socially excluded. A number of follow-up projects continue to build on the projects initial discoveries. These include the development of a tool to create software fully compliant with data protection rules and the investigation of methods to ensure that location tracking technology does not negatively affect digital sovereignty (in other words, it ensures that individuals have control over their data). All our EU-funded early-stage researchers have gone on to jobs in the field, many of them staying in Europe to help make open cities a reality, adds Kray. Their results are currently being used and trialled in ongoing and upcoming projects, giving citizens the power to contribute to the design of their own smart cities. Project details Project acronym: GEO-C Participants: Germany (coordinator), Portugal, Spain Project N: 642332 Total costs: EUR 3 676 092 EU contribution: EUR 3 676 092 Duration: January 2015 to December 2018 Source: https://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?artid=54346 The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Burma More Than 100 Myanmar Police Officers Join Anti-Regime Movement Police members joining the CDM movement participate in an anti-regime protest in Mandalay on Feb. 19. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy YANGONFollowing the recent deadly crackdowns on peaceful protesters against the regime, more than 100 police officers have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) so far. From the Feb. 1 coup to March 3, police and soldiers violent crackdowns against anti-coup demonstrations across Myanmar have killed around 50 people in numerous cities, including the commercial hub Yangon; Mandalay, Monwya and Myinchan in Upper Myanmar; and Mawlamyine and Dawei in the deep south of the country. After joining the CDM, acting Police Colonel Tin Min Tun, 54, from the Yangon Police Department, said in a video message earlier this week that he had to make sacrifices in order to support the nationwide CDM launched by government staff. He is the highest-ranking police officer to join the movement. I dont want to serve the military regime, said acting Police Col. Tin Min Tun, who has 31 years of service with the police force. He added that the whole police force is now being misused by the military regime. Following the lead of the senior police colonel, young officers are also joining the CDM. Police officer Kyaw Lin Oo, who finished his police training in August 2018, wrote on his Facebook page on March 2 that he would regret it in future if he failed to do something he knew should be done. Have loyalty to the people rather than the police force. People are the main benefactor, he wrote on his Facebook. He and two friends, both policemen, have reportedly joined the nationwide CDM, defying military rule after being ordered to open fire on peaceful anti-coup protesters. They are now in hiding, while their superiors hunt for them and put pressure on their families. Also on Tuesday, seven policewomen from Tanintharyi Region in southern Myanmar joined the movement, announcing they will get back to work when the democratically elected government returns. They said in their CDM announcements that police officers are ordered by the military regime to commit lawless acts against the people, and they cannot follow the military juntas orders. On Thursday, 17 police personnel from Putao Police Station in Kachin State, northernmost Myanmar and Bokpyin Police Station in Tanintharyi Region also joined the CDM. Every day since early February, police personnel, including some higher-ranking officers in major cities in Myanmar, have joined the nationwide CDM, with the number now exceeding 100. The movement, which was initiated on Feb. 3 by hundreds of doctors and nurses from government hospitals in many cities including Yangon and Mandalay, has gained momentum after being joined by tens of thousands of government staff and several thousand staff from essential private business sectors and military related businesses. Since then, police personnel from many major cities across Myanmar have joined the CDM, taking part in the anti-regime demonstrations despite the risk of legal action under the Myanmar Police Force Maintenance Discipline Law, which carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment for being absent from ones duties. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), about three police members have been detained or charged under the Police Force Maintenance Discipline Law. In Naypyitaw, more than 70 police members have joined the CDM to defy military rule, according to a BBC news report. Early this week, about 12 military personnel in Hpapun Township in Karen State joined the CDM, taking refuge with the Karen National Union (KNU), according to a news report from Myanmar Now. Professor Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, who was appointed by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) as the acting minister for the ministries of Education; Health and Sports; and Labor, Immigration and Population; issued a statement appealing to those government workers who have not done so to join the CDM by the deadline of midnight on March 7 (12 a.m. on March 8). The CRPH was set up by NLD lawmakers denied seats in Parliament by the coup. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is Myanmars Union Parliament. He said the elected government will label those government staff failing to join the CDM movement on time as having neglected the publics interest. Currently, hundreds of thousands of people across Myanmar are taking to the streets daily to protest against the military regime and call for the release of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and others who have been detained since the Feb. 1 coup. You may also like these stories: Myanmars NLD Rejects Militarys Call for Proportional Representation Election System Another Bloody Day in Myanmar: At Least 28 Protesters Slain by Military 115 Information Ministry Staff Refuse to Work for Myanmar Junta Henry De Bromhead is looking forward to welcoming Envoi Allen to his yard following Cheveley Park Studs decision to take the unbeaten gelding and several of his stable companions out of training with Gordon Elliott. Envoi Allen is arguably the most exciting National Hunt horse in training on either side of the Irish Sea, having won each of his 11 starts under rules, including back-to-back wins at the Cheltenham Festival in the Champion Bumper and the Ballymore Novices Hurdle. Having not put a foot wrong in three starts over fences this season, the seven-year-old will be widely considered one of the bankers of the week when he returns to the Cotswolds in a fortnights time for the Marsh Novices Chase. However, his preparations will be completed by De Bromhead following Cheveley Parks announcement they were removing all eight horses they had in training with Elliott following the image of the trainer which emerged on social media over the weekend. As well as Envoi Allen, De Bromhead will receive Supreme Novices Hurdle contender Ballyadam and Triumph Hurdle hope Quilixios, along with Malone Road and point-to-point winner Guily Billy. Speaking at Gowran Park on Tuesday afternoon, De Bromhead said he was hopeful the change of yard will not be detrimental to the horses chances at Cheltenham - and revealed Elliott has already offered to give any advice that is required. He said: They are obviously very exciting horses to be getting and we appreciate Cheveley Park sending them to us. Well let them settle in and see how they are. They will have done most of their serious work up to now and Id say its a case of ticking over with them now, being so close to Cheltenham. I havent spoken to Gordon as yet about the horses, but he said hed tell me whatever I need to know. Ill ring him soon. The late additions strengthen what was already a formidable De Bromhead squad bound for Cheltenham. The Waterford trainers other big hopes include Champion Hurdle favourite Honeysuckle and Cheveley Park-owned Gold Cup contender A Plus Tard. He said: Touch wood, all our main hopes for Cheltenham seem in good form. I worked a few this morning and all went well. The three other Cheveley Park-owned horses previously trained by Elliott will be moved to Willie Mullins. The champion trainer already handles several horses for the owners, including last years Champion Bumper winner Ferny Hollow and Ryanair Chase hope Allaho, and has picked up Sir Gerhard and a pair of expensive point-to-point recruits in Classic Getaway and Grangeclare West. The unbeaten Sir Gerhard is second in the betting for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham behind his new stablemate Kilcruit. Mullins said: Sir Gerhard is a nice type and we have also got a couple of unraced individuals. Its not great circumstances, but that is it. Image: Canva We are launching a series on Critical Race Theory. Its an important conversation today, since many are using the description and meaning different things. At the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, we are committed to help Christians know and engage the culture with biblical discernment, so we are launching a conversation with, well, different views. As Christians, we want to think through these things together, and the series will include not just one opinion, but several. We started with a descriptive framing. From there, the conversation will include others who are more negative, some more positive, and some in the middle. All the articles will come from evangelicals. And, it is important that we hear from people of color, and in this series and in the real world not all people of color will agree. Its a conversation mature, Christ-like, and God-honoring. We hope it serves you and your church well. To start it off, I asked Sitara Roden from my team to give us a framing article. Our first contributor post was from Dr. Pat Sawyer, as he begins a three part article, with references to be shared at the conclusion. Read part one here. I will share my thoughts at the end of the series. -Ed Stetzer In this second article of our three-part series, I want to offer five of eight cautions regarding critical race theory. As we get into concerns about CRT, we must understand that the postmodern nature of CRT allows for the receiver of the CRT text to partly determine how he or she wants to interpret and embrace the CRT text. To put it another way, the authority of determining what a particular CRT tenet means lies to some extent with the one reading and receiving the tenet and not exclusively with the one authoring and offering the tenet. While it is certainly the case that one could interpret a CRT idea in a way that is ultimately wrong and diametrically against the spirit of the knowledge area, it is still nevertheless true that the knowledge area is a reflexive, and to some degree, contested space that makes room for diverse interpretations and applications that are still considered within the realm of CRT. With that said, what follows are concerns that are rooted in a legitimate understanding and application of CRT. This does not mean that everyone will have these identical takeaways when engaging the ideas of CRT, but it does mean that these takeaways are not only genuinely possible but are in fact happening with a number of people who name the name of Christ in various quarters of the larger Church. Again, it is possible to understand aspects of some of these tenets in ways that are not opposed to biblical Christianity, but my concern is the ways in which these tenets can possibly lead people into false societal and cultural viewpoints and, most importantly, into heterodoxy. As I unpack the following cautions, bear in mind that the individual tenet associated with each caution may only have a minor or slight influence on the caution being elaborated. Again, this is critical social theory a fluid, reflexive, highly interpretive knowledge area where combined strands of thought can have a compounding effect. Caution 1) Through tenets 8, 9, 12, 13, and 15, CRT emphasizes identity categories fraught with racialized oppression and underscores the need and mandate to emancipate those under oppressive conditions. This can lead Christians to effectively forget that from Gods standpoint our spiritual deliverance is infinitely more important than any temporal deliverance (Matt 16:26, Mark 8:36-37) and consequently the thrust of our witness and ministry should reflect this reality. There should be no rival, or worse, conflation between these two perspectives. This conflation will deaden our urgency towards the salvation of the lost, or worse lead us to adopt a functional, then doctrinal, universalism. While God is concerned about our temporal welfare and is indeed a Liberator of His people concerned about liberating those under oppressive and unjust temporal conditions (Let my people go Ex 5:1), God is first and foremost concerned about liberating us from the power and penalty of our sin (Luke 19:10, Rom 1:16, Rom 6:23). Gods concern over our temporal welfare is radically subordinate to His concern over our spiritual welfare. For the Christian, God accomplishes immediate spiritual salvation at conversion, yet God may (and often does) withhold temporal relief from oppressors or oppressive conditions until eternity, where our eyes must remain fixed (2Cor 4:7-18). To put it another way, there is no immediate 1:1 correspondence between thriving spiritual conditions and thriving temporal conditions at the point of salvation (2Cor 4:16). To be sure that day is coming in eternity, praise God, but this side of heaven they are not inextricably linked as if they were twin, concurrent, simultaneous fruits of the gospel. Confusion here can lead to false doctrine around what actually constitutes the gospel (1Cor 15:3-4) by confusing what is downstream from the gospel (such as concern for the legitimately oppressed and their deliverance) and what is the gospel itself. This can also lead to false interpretations of biblical texts where one adds a temporal emphasis where it doesnt exist (such as 2Cor 5:18-20) and where one misapplies texts (such as Luke 19:1-10) to support societal reparations between current groups based on past sin and victimization of long dead group members (so identified) when those texts actually speak to restitution by the actual perpetrator to the actual victim. Caution 2) Relatedly, tenets 5, 8, 9, 12, and 13 demonstrate CRTs strong attention to racial or ethnic identity. Such an emphasis can lead one to put too much stock in ones racial or ethnic identity. Our ethnic identity is important and will even be recognized in heaven (Rev 5:9; 7:9), but it is inconsequential compared to our identity in Christ (Gal 2:20; Phil 3:4-11). This means that black identitarianism is high sin (just as white identitarianism is) and is non-starter to authentic Christian identity as well as authentic Christian unity. To be clear, it is not wrong to have a degree of pride in our racial/ethnic identity and even eminently reasonable, if not outright needed, for certain racial/ethnic groups who have faced significant trials that compelled a pronounced existential need to bind together. Nevertheless, our racial/ethnic identity must not be allowed to rival our identity in Christ. Moreover, it is no safe harbor to reject black identitarianism (or white identitarianism) with ones words but to be functionally living it. God sees all (Prov 15:3) and true unity will still be thwarted. Caution 3) Through tenets 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, and 14 CRT can lead people to believe that racism is everywhere and there has been essentially no reduction in racism over our history, only a change in how it is contextualized. I have colleagues who assert this. The question is not if racism has happened but how. This is false. Racism is not everywhere. Aside from the seed of it being in every human heart (and even that is anthropologically and theologically debatable), racism is not at work in every situation. Moreover, such a heart perspective is emphatically not CRTs point. CRT is concerned about actual racist attitudes and actions in society, not a nascent precondition intrinsic to fallen human nature. During slavery, black code laws, and Jim Crow, racism could be said to be everywhere in U.S. society because it was codified into law at the federal, state, and local levels of government, and in the official policies of institution after institution. Today, two generations out from the civil rights movement, this form of de jure institutional and systemic racism is almost universally absent from society and where de facto institutional and systemic racism exists (and it does) it is not nearly as pervasive as it once was. While the notion that racism can be hard to recognize is not wholly without merit, such accusations of racism are often false and such a standpoint is often weaponized as fuel for identity politics. It is true that colorblind perspectives and discourse can egregiously erase the cultural qualities and offerings of POC (which should be celebrated), however, it does not follow that not seeing color is bad, always, and entirely divorced from merit when genuine efforts of fairness and equality are at work. In addition, language itself, has been under assault for decades in the academy and more recently in popular culture concerning words related to racism including racism itself. The term white supremacy is another such word that has had a sea change in how it is used and understood. It used to be reserved for hardcore, abjectly evil white power and white nationalist groups pushing for a white ethnostate. Now its meaning has been simultaneously watered down and expanded. This is a fraud in many ways (not always). While the term, white supremacy, carries the freight of a moral breach and cultural scourge, the cultural or societal phenomenon being described often (not always) refers to something that is merely a product of white majoritarianism and consequently something not automatically immoral and/or something that is actually intrinsic to humanness and not whiteness exclusively. CRTs relentless focus on white supremacy can have an almost totalizing effect on how one sees sin. The Enemy of souls can use this perseveration to diminish concern and necessary action regarding a range of other sins strangling society and the Church that need attention and mortification. To put it another way, white supremacy becomes the most urgent sin, then the main sin, and then the only sin worth discussing. This is a precarious position for any church or believer. Finally, the emphasis on white supremacy and the ostensible ubiquity of racism can lead one to believe that any disparity plaguing POC is rooted in racism. This is emphatically false. While we cannot deny that racism has some impact on disparity today in certain cases, it is nevertheless false to assume racism is always at work. Moreover, today racism is rarely the singular cause of disparity. In other words, the reasons for any disparity are hardly ever monocausal, instead they are almost always multivariate. Caution 4) Through CRT tenets 9 and 12, professing Christians can come to believe the only way to authentically fight racism is to champion the rights of the gay and trans communities via the rules of engagement offered by critical social theory. While Christians are called to love and care for all people, including gay and trans people, and must actively seek to do so, they must do so while maintaining fidelity to Gods word including honoring His views regarding sexuality and sexual ethics. In fact, love will demand this fidelity. Applications of CRT tenets 9 and 12 can lead to an erosion and then displacement of Gods view of sexuality and sexual ethics which portends a larger deconstruction of the faith at work where a biblical understanding of the doctrine of soteriology has been compromised and is possibly being overthrown. Caution 5) CRT tenets 8, 9, and 12, and 14 can lead one to embrace an oppressor/oppressed binary as an interpretative lens for understanding current society. Setting aside spurious definitions of what constitutes oppression, this lens can lead one to believe that an oppressor status is intrinsic to and synonymous with whiteness and that an oppressed status is intrinsic to and synonymous with blackness. A number of Black intellectuals, including Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, Larry Elder, John McWhorter, Glenn Loury, Thomas Chatterton Williams, and Coleman Hughes, among others, have rightly expressed significant frustration and pushback against any victim status being resident in what it means to be Black. Notwithstanding the egregious racial history of the United States, the notion of an oppressor status and oppressed status being tied to whiteness and blackness respectively is patently false. It is a purblind contention that defies world history, not to mention anthropological and ontological reality. There are no immutable or permanent attributes assigned to whiteness and blackness along the vector of privilege and oppression. Such a view is an assault on Christian identity and an insurmountable obstacle to Christian unity. Moreover, it is an affront to God who made ALL people in HIS image. In addition, confusion here can lead to erroneous views regarding sin, guilt, and corporate repentance where all modern whites are regarded as complicit in the racial sins of some historical whites. Such factitious claims are an offense and provocation to the biblical understanding of hamartiology and the Imago Dei and will be a non-starter to Christian unity. Having offered five cautions regarding CRT, in the next and final article I will offer three more cautions, a salient concluding point, and final exhortation. Pat Sawyer has a B.A. in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill, an M.A. in Communication Studies from UNC Greensboro, and a Ph.D. in Educational Studies and Cultural Studies from UNC Greensboro. Dr. Sawyer is a faculty member at UNC Greensboro and serves on the editorial board of the peer-reviewed education journal, Philosophy, Theory, and Foundations in Education. He is a member of the Summit Church in RDU, North Carolina. He can be reached via Twitter @RealPatSawyer. At many of San Antonios busiest tourist attractions, the rule wont change face masks required. But Gov. Abbotts order abolishing the state mandate to wear face coverings in public places, effective March 10, will put workers and managers in a difficult if not impossible position when guests insist on going bare-faced. Now its going to be on us if we require masks, said Davis Phillips, owner of Ripleys Haunted Adventure and two attractions near the Alamo. It puts us in a confrontational position with our guests. We dont want to do that. But if we allow guests to come in without masks, our staff may feel unsafe, he said. Phillips will continue requiring his employees to wear masks, and will likely do the same for guests. But when visitors object, workers wont be able to point to the signs stating the masks are required by government mandate. On ExpressNews.com: Visit SA: San Antonio's tourism might not fully recover until end of 2023 The problem is that mask wearing is a politically divisive issue, said Sharon Aguillen, president and CEO of the San Antonio Visitor Alliance, which represents tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants. Nevertheless, Aguillen said many of organizations members will continue requiring face masks to protect employees and guests from the coronavirus, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tourist attractions that plan to keep mask rules in place include Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the Witte Museum, Morgans Wonderland, LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio and the San Antonio Zoo. The zoo requires masks inside buildings, but allows visitors to take them off on park walkways if they maintain social-distancing. Six Flags Fiesta Texas officials decided to keep their mask policy after scrutinizing Abbotts announcement. We have carefully reviewed our safety protocols with medical advisers, and we have determined that we will continue to follow CDC face-mask guidelines and require guests ages 2 and older and all team members to wear masks while in our parks, said Chris Ozimek, the parks marketing director. SeaWorld San Antonio officials said they are studying the governors order but have not made a decision. On ExpressNews.com: Visit San Antonio tourism agency furloughs half of staff due to coronavirus pandemic Terry Corless, who owns three River Walk restaurants and a fourth on the street level downtown, said his establishments will require staff to wear masks and request that guests do the same. His employees have had confrontations with people who angrily refuse to wear masks on entering the establishments or going to the restroom, even with the mask orders in force. Customers were saying they were free Texans and we cant tell them what do, Corless said. His workers have asked a few guests to leave. By Wednesday, the restaurants will have signs encouraging guests to wear masks. Theres not a lot we can do if they dont, Corless said. In our environment, it can become volatile and we will have no authority do anything about it. At the Witte Museum, plans are to eject guests who wont wear masks. But president and CEO Marise McDermott said she doesnt expect trouble from guests refusing to comply. After the museum reopened May 30 and before Abbotts statewide mask order on July 2 only three guests came in without face masks. And all three complied after staffers asked to don their masks. The visitors got a little edgy but everyone ended up cooperating, McDermott said. Attraction operators continued emphasis on mask wearing can only help the tourism business, said Richard Oliver, director of partner and community relations at Visit San Antonio, the public-private partnership that promotes the city as a tourist destination. As a organization, we are encouraging visitors to wear a mask, he said, noting that Visit San Antonios website has a section devoted to steps visitors can take to stay COVID-19-free while visiting. In the meantime, Visit San Antonio is gearing up for summer tourist season, with officials planning to spend 76 percent of the organizations $5.7 million marketing budget during the summer months. Our message will remain the same that San Antonio is a safe and welcoming place, Oliver said. As Texans continue to be vaccinated, and more people feel comfortable taking day trips, he said San Antonio will be a logical place to visit especially for people who live within a few hours drive time. When people start putting their toes in the water and consider travel, we hope they will think of San Antonio, Oliver said. randy.diamond@express-news.net Further legal advice relating to the Alex Salmond investigation have been released (Andy Buchanan/PA) Newly released Scottish Government legal advice appears to contradict Alex Salmonds claim of a plot to delay a civil case in the hope it would be overtaken by criminal proceedings he faced. But the Scottish Conservatives said the four documents released on Thursday fall far short of what the Scottish Parliament and Salmond inquiry demanded, and called on the Scottish Government to end the secrecy and release all the advice. The documents relate to the botched investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by the former first minister. A successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the investigation being ruled unlawful and tainted by apparent bias, with a 512,250 payout being awarded to him for legal fees in 2019. Mr Salmond was acquitted of 13 charges following a criminal trial last year. Expand Close Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross called on the Scottish Government to release all the legal advice (Andrew Milligan/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross called on the Scottish Government to release all the legal advice (Andrew Milligan/PA) Giving evidence to a Holyrood inquiry into the governments handling of complaints last Friday, Mr Salmond claimed the Scottish Government hoped a criminal trial would ride to the rescue and prevent its unlawful investigation of him suffering a cataclysmic civil court defeat. Explaining his belief that a looming criminal trial was the reason the government did not admit defeat in the case sooner, Mr Salmond said: Conceding in October [2018] would be embarrassing, it would be difficult, but it wouldnt be as cataclysmic as an open court case in January [2019]. What other motivation could there possibly have been than the belief that something might happen and intervene which meant that the judicial review never came to court? He added: If the criminal case had been advanced, then the civil case wouldnt have gone ahead pending the outcome of the criminal case. Many people seemed to invest a great deal of hope that the criminal case would ride to the rescue, like the cavalry over the hill, and the civil case would never be heard. In a document dated September 4 2018, Roddy Dunlop QC and Solicitor Advocate Christine ONeill, counsel for the Scottish Government, said they could see strength in the argument that the criminal investigation may make the entire petition pointless. Expand Close The Scottish Tories have submitted no confidence votes in Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Scottish Tories have submitted no confidence votes in Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) He wrote: If there is a criminal conviction then surely this case will not proceed; and if there is a trial and an acquittal then the Ministers would be faced with a very different situation than that which presently obtains. Deputy First Minister John Swinney released a first batch of legal advice on Tuesday under threat of a no-confidence vote and further documents were published on Thursday evening. However Mr Swinney said the newly released documents make clear that delaying the case known as sisting was only considered as an option in order to minimise the impact of the case on the ongoing police investigation. In a letter dated September 17 2018, the Lord Advocate said that the other option would be reporting restrictions and that this would be preferable. He said: I am satisfied that, if reporting restrictions are competent, these would adequately protect the public interest in any future criminal proceedings. On that basis, that would clearly be the preferable and appropriate route, since it would enable the issues raised by the petition to be addressed whilst protecting any future criminal process. Mr Swinney said: This puts beyond any doubt that there was any attempt to delay the judicial review so that it would be overtaken by criminal proceedings. The Scottish Conservatives have lodged votes of no confidence in Mr Swinney and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: The limited documents that John Swinney has just published falls far short of the demands of the Scottish Parliament and of the Salmond inquiry. There is still nothing for the whole month of November. This is not good enough. End the secrecy and release all the legal advice. A statement issued on behalf of Mr Salmond said: The documents released tonight confirm that sisting (postponing) the Judicial Review was indeed under active consideration by the Scottish Government in September 2018. John Swinney must now be the only person in Scotland who believes that the piecemeal release of these extraordinary legal documents have done anything other than demolish the Governments pretence that they were not warned months in advance that they were on course to lose the judicial review. The more they release the more threadbare the governments position becomes. He said that they look forward to further revelations in the next instalment. March 4, 2021 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Breaking CBD / water stock news from Investorideas.com Newswire - American Premium Water Corporation (OTC: HIPH) announces the Company has engaged Just Logistics Group, Inc ("Just Logistics") to be the launch distributor and provider of logistics and fulfillment support for the Cali Bear (www.calibear.life) product launch in April. The products included in this launch will be CBD nano-infused water, CBD gummies, CBD lip balm, and other CBD edible products. In addition to an online launch, the Company will look to leverage Just Logistics' network of over 2,000 smoke shops between Fredericksburg, VA and Portland, ME in the I-95 corridor. The terms of the engagement are non-binding and are subject to final changes, terms, and conditions. Ryan Fishoff, CEO of American Premium Water, commented, "I am excited to announce that the Company has engaged Just Logistics to support the Cali Bear launch in April. Just Logistics will act as not only a distributor, but also provide logistics and distribution support to the Company. This is a tremendous opportunity to not only build our distribution network, but also develop an infrastructure to support sustained long term growth. As I outlined in my letter to shareholders, establishing a foundation for growth is a key objective for 2021, and I believe that Just Logistics can provide that for the Company. Their (Just Logistics) location in Dayton, NJ is centrally located along the I-95 corridor, providing the ability to deliver products same-day as far north as Portland, ME and as far south as Fredericksburg, VA. Just Logistics has identified over 2,000 smoke shops along this corridor that could be potential direct and/or drop ship customers for Cali Bear. With recent legalization in New Jersey, the appetite for ingestible products, especially CBD infused water, is growing. These specialty smoke shops are just the first phase in a multi-stage regional and national distribution strategy that Just Logistics has outlined for us. I was very impressed with their experience, and how they leverage their logistics expertise into a strategic asset for distribution. I look forward to presenting more on this distribution plan to our shareholders as we finalize the agreement with Just Logistics and get closer to the 4.20 launch date." Just Logistics, located in Dayton, NJ, is an established provider of distribution and logistical support for Fortune 1000 companies and emerging businesses. Just Logistics has had over 20 years' experience in the beverage, cosmetic, beauty, and sundries business. The Company has established partnerships with all the country's major freight, LTL, and parcel shippers, as well as established relationships with logistical providers Sunterra Group, Mode Transportation, and CSS. About American Premium Water Corp. American Premium Water (OTC: HIPH) is a diversified luxury consumer products company focused on businesses in the health and beauty and biotech sectors. The company is focused on harnessing the powers of Nano technologies paired without cannabidiol (CBD) to treat health disorders and enhance quality of life. The company's portfolio includes the LALPINA Hydro and LALPINA CBD brands (www.lalpinahydrocbd.com), Cali Bear (www.calibear.life) Vanexxe (www.vanexxe.com) plant + body essentials (www.plantbodyessentials.co). Safe Harbor Notice Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). American Premium Water Corporation cautions that statements made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. American Premium Water Corporation undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release. Additional details of the Company's business can be found in its public disclosures as a reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") EDGAR database. This press release is issued on behalf of the Board of Directors of American Premium Water Corporation. Investor Relations 888-983-0054 info@americanpremiumwater.com 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. 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About Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/About/ Sign up for free stock news alerts at Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/Resources/Newsletter.asp Along with the 25-year-old driver who had unspecified injuries, there were five passengers in the Aviator, including Zendejo. A boy, 6, was taken to Comer Childrens Hospital with minor injuries, police said. A 20-year-old man had a fractured arm and a 32-year-old man and a 19-year-old man each suffered minor injuries, with all three treated at a hospital, officials said. Sorry! This content is not available in your region A KGO video shows an unnerving ambush attack on an elderly Asian man sitting in a laundromat in the Nob Hill-Chinatown area. The attack, which took place Feb. 23, is the latest publicized event amid an increase of violence against elderly Asian Americans in the Bay Area and nationwide. It took place weeks after the death of Vicha Ratanapakdee, the 84-year-old Thai man attacked in broad daylight in San Francisco. In the KGO-obtained clip, three men notice the victim sitting on a chair by the laundromats entrance. They walk in. One of them kicks him and pulls him out of his chair, while another grabs him by his legs to pin him down. They search through his pockets, allegedly taking hundreds of dollars. This all takes place within a matter of seconds. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the attack, San Francisco police spokesman Michael Andraychak told SFGATE, though the identity of the three suspects remains unclear. But according to police documents obtained by KGO, the three suspects may be linked to a string of auto thefts. These acts of violence targeting our Asian community members are no accident, said a statement from the San Francisco police union, who is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the trios arrest. "Our office denounces any violence against the AAPI community and we condemn attacks on the elderly or vulnerable members of our community," Rachel Martin, the spokeswoman for the District Attorney's office, told SFGATE in a statement. "We are continuing to collaborate with our justice partners and with leaders in the AAPI community to work on ensuring the AAPI community is safe." San Francisco police recently announced more patrols in the area and emergency hotlines for Chinese speakers. They are also asking anyone with information regarding the attack to contact the SFPD tip line. Richard Murray Davis, a retired electrical engineer and Florida resident who has published thirty technical papers in peer-reviewed journals and symposiums and is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), has completed his new book Bear: a spellbinding literary debut that keeps the pages turning until its dramatic conclusion. Alien miners traveling thousands of light years through space in search of colored diamonds discover the rare stones on Earth at the bottom of the East China Sea. The aliens are discovered using a new sensor able to detect perturbations in the streams of neutrinos constantly passing through the planet. But the earthlings ability to stop the marauders appears to be as futile as honeybees attempting to protect the hive from a bear. The government seeks help from an international thief and a cadre of psychic spies. Hope of stopping the plunder may rest with an overlooked discovery of a new source of antimatter. Published by Page Publishing, Richard Murray Daviss engrossing tale is a superb choice for avid military and science fiction readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Bear at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Editor Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His three books are available on amazon.com A defence witness in the trial of the chairperson of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, on Thursday, accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of mismanaging 222 sets of property handed over to it by the PRTT. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ngozika Ihuoma, a management consultant, owns Crincad & Cari Nigeria Ltd which was one time engaged by the Mr Maina-led PRTT for consultancy services. Mr Ihuoma, who was led in evidence by Mr Mainas lawyer, Adeola Olawale, also told the court how a renowned lawyer allegedly acquired one of the sets of property from the EFCC even while the property was still a subject of litigation. Okon Abang, the trial judge, had on February 25, ordered Mr Maina to open his defence in his ongoing trial on N2 billion money laundering charges filed against him by the EFCC. Although Mr Maina had intended to raise a no-case submission, the judge on December 21, foreclosed his right to do so as a result of his tardiness. Testifying in defence of Mr Maina on Thursday, Mr Ihuoma said the PRTT wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari on assumption of office in 2015 about its willingness to make available intelligence that would lead to the recovery of N3 trillion hidden in some undisclosed accounts in some banks. Mainas meeting with AGF, NSA The witness said following the PRTTs memo to the President, Mr Maina met with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, in January 2016. PREMIUM TIMES had in an exclusive report in October 2017 exposed the secret reinstatement of then dismissed and wanted Mr Maina through the support of Mr Malami. The PREMIUM TIMES report named Mr Ihuoma as part of an image-making press conference held for Mr Maina after the emergence of Mr Buhari as President in 2015. Testifying on Thursday, Mr Ihuoma said, By January 2016, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) met with Maina in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE). After the meeting in Dubai, Maina gave the delegation intelligence report that led to the recovery of N1.3 trillion out of the N3 trillion promised to recover. The money was reported to the Senate Committee that investigated Mainas reinstatement back to the civil service in 2017. Mismanagement of 222 sets of property The witness said the PRTT also petitioned the Senate in respect of 222 sets of choice property valued at N1.63 trillion. He alleged that the assets were mismanaged by the EFCC after they were handed over to it. He said, Equally, the task team petitioned the Senate on the need to revisit the 7th Assembly Joint Committee that its report was quashed by the Federal High Court in view of the fact that the 222 choice property valued at N1.63 trillion that was handed over to the EFCC have started being mismanaged. One of the property in question located at No 42, Gana Street, Maitama, had been illegally acquired by a renowned lawyer while the property was still subject to litigation, he said. He said the EFCC should be made to account for the 222 property, including the ones sold to the lawyer which was grossly under-valued from N6 billion in 2011 and sold to him in 2015 at N1 billion. We believe that the task team stood by her integrity and accountability, not minding the persecution by the EFCC before this honourable court. ADVERTISEMENT Magu denied receiving property from PRTT Mr Ihuoma said former acting chairperson of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, denied receiving the 222 sets of property from the PRTT when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee that investigated the reinstatement of Mr Maina. He added that Mr Magu also denied that EFCC was a member of PRTT. The witness said through his company, he petitioned Malami, telling him that Mr Magu lied on oath before the House by denying that the EFCC was not a member of the task team contrary to the instrument establishing the PRTT through a letter from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. Ayo Salami panels link Mr Ihumoa said his petition led to Malami petitioning Mr President and demanding that EFCC should account for the 222 property valued at 1.63 trillion which eventually led to the setting up of Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry. He added, Magu admitted before Salami that he shared and allocated most of these property to most of his friends, associates, colleagues under some presidential directives but failed to make available to the commission the evidence of that presidential directives. Mainas intelligence report The witness said Mr Maina gave intelligence report to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of a plan to siphon N35 billion from the Head of Service Pension Office. He said the commission questioned the former HoS, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita and five other management committee members. He said ICPC came up with its report and was ready to prosecute the matter. He also said Mr Maina, in March , 2013, gave an intelligence report to the then Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and EFCC leading to the mop up of N15 billion from Customs, Immigration, Prison Pension Office (CIPO). Maina singled out for sacking Mr Ihuoma said Mr Maina was the only member of PRTT that was sacked. He told the court that B. G. Kaigama, who served on the team, remains till today, a full director and second in command in Pension Transition Arrangement Department (PTAD). He added, G.T Idris, who represented ICPC is now at NIPSS undergoing a one year course leading to his promotion to a rank of full commissioner of police. Even Winifred Oyo-Ita who managed the Head of Service Pension Office as interim management committee became the Head of Service (HoS) of Federation where she used that office to stop Mr Mainas reinstatement since 2017. The witness also said Ibrahim Larmode, who was a member of the team as chair of the EFCC, was also promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG). Maina should be reinstated Mr Ihuoma called for Mr Mainas reinstatement into the federal civil service. He said, We stand to say that Maina deserves to be reinstated back as approved by the Federal Civil Service Commission in 2017 and if possible, in line with the recommendations of the House of Representatives to the then President Jonathan, be made to return to service and assist in cleaning up the pension matters now that the issue of pension is going haywire again. We believe this trial is not in the interest of pension reformed task team which EFCC was a member. The judge, Mr Abang, adjourned the matter till March 5. NAN reports that EFCC arraigned Mr Maina alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, on October 25, 2019. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charge of laundering money to the tune of N2 billion. (NAN) Northern Irelands Childrens Commissioner has accused the Executive of abandoning special schools with almost a third of them now providing classes on a part-time basis. Koulla Yiasouma said politicians are failing in their duty to provide a full education to children in all special schools, with uncertainty continuing over safety issues and the Covid testing and vaccination of teachers. Despite the fact that, at the start of this lockdown, two months ago, the Minister for Education issued a directive requiring all special schools to remain open for over 6,000 children and young people, we know there have been a number of schools that have only been able to offer part-time provision, she said. It is unacceptable that many children are still not receiving the education and health care they require, and indeed are entitled to, from their special school setting. She said urgent steps must be taken to address the worrying situation left facing families and raised concerns about the continued detrimental impact of part-time education on some of our most vulnerable childrens education, health, and wellbeing. It is my understanding schools are facing a number of issues including workforce absence, concerns that risks havent been appropriately assessed and adequate safeguards put in place and uncertainty regarding testing and vaccinations, she said. I appreciate this is a significant task, but it is disappointing that insufficient work has been undertaken by relevant authorities to anticipate these issues and address them as soon as they arose. Special schools were asked to remain open as they provide an essential service for children who have multiple complex needs and disabilities. The Commissioner added: Urgent action must be taken by the Department of Education, the Education Authority (EA), Health and Social Care, and special schools principals and boards of governors to identify and resolve the issues preventing those special schools from offering full-time education. The Commissioner said further action is now required to address staff absence, to reduce pressures on staff, to support them to feel safe and secure in the school setting and to provide sufficient cover. She has also asked for detail on how the Department and EA are holding the boards of governors and management of special schools to account to ensure they are doing all they can to keep schools open. There must be improved communications and consultation with schools and parents and regular individualised assessment focused on childrens needs and best interests, she continued. A rapid roll out of the testing programme in special schools, prioritisation of the vaccine for school staff and, in particular, those that work in special schools and continuous monitoring and review, in consultation with children and their parents/carers, of the impact of part-time or blended learning on education, health and wellbeing are all essential. There must be a concerted, collaborative effort to ensure the safe, full and sustainable opening of all our special schools; making sure our most vulnerable children and young people can fully realise their right to an education during this pandemic and beyond. South Africa: Over 80 000 healthcare workers vaccinated South Africa has exhausted its first batch of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in two weeks, with 83 570 healthcare workers vaccinated as of Wednesday. We are very encouraged that our first target of exhausting the first batch of 80 000 vaccines from Johnson & Johnson in two weeks has been achieved and exceeded. "We have taken every opportunity to learn from this process and continue to refine the programme in preparation for the rollout to the larger community in the subsequent phases, said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize. The first consignment of the single-dose vaccine arrived in South Africa in February, while the second batch arrived this past weekend. The Minister announced that 95 more people succumbed to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. Of these, 30 were reported in Gauteng, 25 in the Western Cape, 19 in the Free State, eight in KwaZulu-Natal, seven in Mpumalanga and five in the Eastern Cape, which pushes the death toll to 50 366. We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients, the Minister said. Meanwhile, South Africa has recorded 1 516 262 cases after 1 447 new infections were identified since the last report. According to the Minister, there are 1 434 772 people who beat COVID-19, while 33 498 patients are currently infected. The information is based on the 9 147 524 tests performed, 33 498 of which were done in the last reporting cycle. The World Health Organisation has reported 114 428 211 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 2 543 755 deaths to date. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Protesters lie on the ground after police opened fire to disperse an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar. Among them was Angel (19), bottom-left, also known as Deng Jia Xi, who took cover before she was shot in the head. Photo: Reuters Deng Jia Xi wore a black T-shirt bearing the slogan Everything will be OK as she joined protesters against Myanmars coup yesterday. The 19-year-old, also known as Angel, was photographed in the crowd looking defiantly up at security forces. Minutes later, she was dead. A second picture of her body laid on a gurney joined other horrific images flooding out of the country, documenting at least nine more victims of violent military crackdowns on peaceful rallies. Myanmars security forces are increasingly turning to lethal force, and apparently shooting to kill with impunity, as they try to stem the relentless tide of protests against the February 1 military takeover that ousted and detained the countrys civilian leadership. In Dengs final Facebook post on Sunday, she offered to donate blood to anyone who needed it. The post gained 127,000 likes within hours as tributes poured in after her death in Mandalay, Myanmars second biggest city. Many protesters are resorting to writing their emergency contact numbers and blood types on their forearms in case they are killed or need urgent medical care. According to local media accounts and Reuters, two people were killed in Mandalay and one in the commercial city of Yangon when police opened fire yesterday. The Monywa Gazette also reported five deaths in local protests. Another demonstrator was shot dead in the central town of Myingyan, according to student activist Moe Myint Hein. They opened fire on us with live bullets. One was killed, hes young, a teenage boy, shot in the head, Moe Myint Hein, who was wounded in the leg, told Reuters by telephone. Graphic images also circulated of the victims body next to weeping loved ones. Additional footage, which could not be verified but which spread rapidly on social media, showed medics being beaten by police officers, bodies being dragged by the security forces, and a soldier shooting at residents of a building. The security forces brutality was meted out a day after a regional diplomatic push to end the month-long crisis little progress. Myanmars Asian neighbours pressed its military regime on Tuesday to release detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to stop violence against opponents of the coup. Britain has called for the UN security council to meet tomorrow to address the spiralling violence. At Londons proposal, the UN meeting would take place behind closed doors tomorrow. However, the military regime has so far paid scant attention to repeated condemnations by the international community of the coup and a series of demands for a peaceful, democratic transition. While Facebook, one of the most popular social media sites in Myanmar, has banned the military and taken a robust stance against incitement to violence, many soldiers are reportedly turning to TikTok to film threats against protesters. In a statement, TikTok said that it is committed to promoting a safe and welcoming app environment on its platform, but did not comment directly on the videos featuring Myanmar security forces. Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Spectrum renewals in the recently-held auction will boost telcos' market position and there may not be a significant impact on their balance sheets, as pricing competition abates and profitability improves, Moody's Investors Service said on Thursday. The spectrum renewals and additional purchases will help the incumbents - Jio and Airtel - strengthen their radio wave holdings and improve their network coverage. At the same time, as some telcos have large cash holdings while others recently raised debt to fund the purchases, there will not be a significant impact on their balance sheets particularly, as pricing competition abates and profitability improves across the sector, Moody's said in its report. It also expects operators to opt for deferred spectrum payments, thus helping to mitigate the effect on liquidity and cash flows. Spectrum will be offered for a period of 20 years. Successful bidders can pay the entire bid amount in one go (upfront), or exercise an option to pay a certain amount (25 per cent for spectrum won in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz bands or 50 per cent for spectrum won in 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz bands) upfront with the remaining amount in a maximum up to 16 equated annual instalments, after a moratorium of two years. It is pertinent to mention that bids were received in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300 MHz bands, but airwaves in the premium 700 MHz and 2,500 MHz bands went unsold. Reliance Jio's purchase of 488.35 MHz of spectrum across the 800MHz/ 1800MHz/2300MHz bands will enhance its spectrum footprint and improve its network coverage and capacity, Moody's noted. The company had consolidated cash holdings of USD 30.1 billion as of January 2021, implying that the upfront payment of USD 2.7 billion "can be easily absorbed", it said. Limited's renewal of its expiring spectrum, along with the purchase of additional bandwidth, would strengthen its network coverage. The company recently issued USD 1.25 billion of bonds, a portion of which is likely to be used to fund the upfront payment for its spectrum purchases. So, the effect on credit metrics of the total spectrum outlay has already been taken into consideration, Moody's said. Spectrum purchases by Vodafone Idea will not have any impact on the credit quality of Vodafone, Moody's concluded. "This is because Vodafone does not intend to inject any further capital to support VIL. Vodafone's liability related to VIL is capped at Rs 8,400 crore for certain identified contingent liabilities relating to legal, regulatory, tax and other matters, including the adjusted gross revenue case," it said. India's first auction of telecom spectrum in five years ended on Tuesday with Rs 77,814.8 crore of airwaves being acquired by telcos, with billionaire Mukesh Ambani's spending the most. picked up 488.35 MHz spectrum in bands such as 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz for Rs 57,122.65 crore. bid about Rs 18,699 crore to pick up 355.45 megahertz (MHz) out of the total 855.60 MHz of radio frequency acquired by all telcos, while Vodafone Idea Ltd, which is facing a huge liability of unpaid statutory dues of past, bought 11.80 MHz of spectrum worth Rs 1,993.40 crore. (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 designer has spent 10 years completing the project of ao dai museum. The ao dai museum is one of the two private museums in Saigon - PHOTOS: THANH HOA The museum, which was put into operation in 2014, displays ao dai designs developed in different historical periods. Each ao dai showcased there has an interesting story. The museum complex also features a green space which gives visitors an impression that they are very close to nature. Inside the museum Some ao dai designs on display Tu than (four-part dress), commonly regarded as the predecessor of the ao dai, was popular in northern Vietnam Several ao dai designs for royal members in Vietnam Visitors can witness how ao dai is made The museum with its greenery [March 04, 2021] Hippo to Go Public in Merger with Reinvent Technology Partners Z; Company is Transforming the Home Insurance Industry Hippo Enterprises Inc. ("Hippo"), the home insurance group that created a new standard of care and protection for homeowners, has entered into a definitive business agreement with Reinvent Technology Partners Z ("Reinvent") (NYSE:RTPZ), a special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC") that takes a "venture capital at scale" approach. Upon the closing of the transaction, the combined company will be publicly traded. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005356/en/ Hippo: A Protective, Modern Approach to Home Insurance Founded in 2015, Hippo's goal is to make homes safer and better protected by taking a proactive approach designed to prevent losses. Harnessing real-time data, smart home technology, and a growing suite of home services, the company is creating the first vertically integrated, end-to-end home protection and insurance platform. Hippo's licensed property casualty agent, Hippo Insurance Services, is a leader in the transformation of the $105 billion United States home insurance industry, digitizing the entire home insurance process in order to create lasting advantages and efficiencies across the customer lifecycle. The company built an insurance experience that is simple, modern, and proactive. Its proprietary underwriting engine leverages augmented intelligence and machine learning to prefill customer applications and accurately assess and price risk at the point of purchase, enabling accurate quotes in under a minute and purchase in just five minutes on average. Hippo's omni-channel distribution allows customers to buy policies however and wherever they want: online, through an agent, or with one of the company's growing number of partners. Hippo's coverage is designed for today's homeowners, replacing coverage for items such as fur coats and china sets with more protection of crucial items such as home office equipment and water back-up. This modern coverage lowers the chance of its customers encountering unexpected gaps in coverage in the event of a loss. In addition, Hippo's industry-leading Smart Home Program is designed to help prevent events such as water damage, fires, and break-ins. The company also uses live data to anticipate and track major weather events, enabling its claims team to reach out in advance to help protect homeowners. For example, ahead of recent storms in Texas that impacted millions, Hippo reached out to customers to help them prepare for frozen pipes or water damage, offering Hippo Home Care support for live video calls to prevent and resolve any immediate DIY issues. Hippo's intuitive and proactive protection platform is designed to reduce the likelihood of loss, while deepening its customer relationships and improving loyalty and retention. Home insurance products offered through Hippo Insurance Services are currently available in 32 states, covering more than 70% of the U.S. population, and the company expects its products to be available to 95% of the U.S. population by the end of 2021. Management Comments Assaf Wand, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Hippo, said: "We set out with a bold vision: to shift the focus of the home insurance industry back to the end customer - the homeowner. In an industry that has traditionally referred to its customers as 'policyholders,' Hippo has carved out its own path. We've built products and services with a human touch to broaden home protection to include proactive, smart insurance coverage. Our guiding principle is that the best claim is one that never happens, and if it does happen, then we should make our customers' experience as smooth as possible. The evolution of our industry must be grounded in meeting today's customer needs. Through this strategic partnership with Reinvent and an incredible team of world-class entrepreneurs, investors, and employees, we can't wait to transform the homeowner experience and accelerate our growth." Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn (News - Alert) Co-Founder and Co-Lead Director of Reinvent, said: "Guided by Assaf's visionary leadership, Hippo is deploying impressive speed and skill to transform the home insurance industry. Hippo has created its own industry category by rewriting the homeowner experience through insurance. Reinvent's goal has been to help build industry-leading technology companies at scale for the long-term, and we see ample opportunity to ignite growth and scale Hippo's business; we believe that Hippo is defining a model that will set the path for years to come in home insurance. With its differentiated technology, insurance expertise, and vertical integration of homeowner services, Hippo fits squarely into our 'venture capital at scale' approach. Together, we will strive to create truly revolutionary outcomes for homeowners and this industry." Mark Pincus, Co-Lead Director of Reinvent, said: "Hippo is reimagining home insurance to serve the needs of the modern homeowner. Through deep investments in technology, data, and homeowner services, Hippo has built the country's most radically user-friendly home insurance company that provides it with a competitive advantage over industry incumbents. Hippo is positively disrupting the insurance industry by offering consumers the first online buying experience that is fast, friendly, and affordable." Hippo is Poised to Scale The U.S. home insurance industry is expected to reach nearly $140 billion by 2025,1 and Hippo has a significant opportunity for further transformation with its proven track record of growth and execution. Hippo has grown historical total written premiums by 69% over the last 3 calendar years, and it launched in 12 new states in 2020 alone. The company has attractive customer dynamics, with an average annual premium of $1,200, an average 1-year retention rate of 87%, and an overall net promoter score of 75 out of 100, 2x the industry average in 2020. Having completed two acquisitions in 2020, including the acquisition of Spinnaker Insurance Company, a national insurance carrier licensed in all 50 states with a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) by AM Best, Hippo continues to build an all-inclusive home protection platform encompassing home warranty, smart home tech, home maintenance and professional monitoring services. The company is positioned to gain significant market share through growth plans that are aggressive but also disciplined, achievable, and validated by compelling unit economics. The lifetime customer value is 5.4X the average customer acquisition cost and the company has developed meaningful partnership distribution channels, including home builders and mortgage servicers giving Hippo a strong competitive advantage. Transaction Overview The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both Hippo and Reinvent. It is expected to close in mid-2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the approval of shareholders of Reinvent and the stockholders of Hippo. The combined company is expected to have approximately $1.2 billion in cash at closing, including up to approximately $230 million of cash held in Reinvent's trust account from its initial publi offering on November 23, 2020. The transaction is further supported by a $550 million PIPE at $10 per share that was led by current investors (including Dragoneer, Lennar and Ribbit (News - Alert) ), top tier mutual funds and Reinvent Capital. After the closing of the merger, Hippo's existing stockholders are expected to own approximately ~87 percent of the pro forma combined company. Reinvent believes in structuring its transactions to ensure maximum long-term alignment with the company in which it invests. Consistent with this approach, Reinvent and Hippo have agreed to a long-term lock-up on founder shares for up to two years, and a robust earnout structure with full vesting not realized until the share price reaches $20 per share. Major stockholders and key executives of Hippo have agreed to enter into separate lockup agreements as well. Pursuant to the business combination agreement, a Reinvent appointed director will join Hippo's Board of Directors at the transaction closing. Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the merger agreement and investor presentation, has been provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Reinvent today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") and available at www.sec.gov. Advisors Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as co-financial advisors to Hippo and Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as its legal counsel. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC also acted as joint placement agents on the PIPE transaction. Barclays is acting as financial advisor to Reinvent and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as its legal counsel. Conference Call, Webcast and Presentation Information Hippo and Reinvent will host a joint investor conference call to discuss the proposed transaction today, Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 8:30 A.M. ET. A live webcast of the conference call, along with a detailed investor presentation, will be available here. The call can also be accessed via phone by dialing 1-866-777-2509 (U.S.) or 1-412-317-5413 (International). Please dial in at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay will be available following the completion of the conference call and can be accessed via the webcast link found in the investor relations section of the Hippo website. All materials, including the investor presentation, will be available on the Hippo website at investors.hippo.com and at https://z.reinventtechnologypartners.com/investor-relations. Additionally, Reinvent has filed their investor presentation with the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. About Hippo Hippo offers a different kind of home insurance, built from the ground up to provide a new standard of care and protection for homeowners. Our goal is to make homes safer and better protected so customers spend less time worrying about the burdens of homeownership and more time enjoying their homes and the life within. Harnessing real-time data, smart home technology, and a growing suite of home services, we are creating the first integrated home protection platform. Hippo is headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert) , California with offices in Austin and Dallas, Texas and insurance products available to more than 70 percent of U.S. homeowners in 32 states. Hippo Insurance Services is a licensed property casualty insurance agent with products underwritten by various insurance companies. For more information, including licensing information, visit www.hippo.com. About Reinvent Reinvent is a special purpose acquisition company led by Reid Hoffman (News - Alert) , Mark Pincus and Michael Thompson, that takes a "venture capital at scale" approach. Reinvent was formed to support a technology business to innovate and achieve entrepreneurship at scale by leveraging its team's operating expertise as founders of iconic technology companies, their experience building companies as advisors and board members, and the capital raised in its initial public offering. Important Information for Investors and Stockholders This communication relates to a proposed transaction between Reinvent and Hippo. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Reinvent intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which will include a document that serves as a prospectus and proxy statement of Reinvent, referred to as a proxy statement/prospectus. A proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Reinvent shareholders. Reinvent also will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Before making any voting decision, investors and security holders of Reinvent are urged to read the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction as they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Reinvent through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. The documents filed by Reinvent with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at Reinvent's website at https://www.reinventtechnologypartners.com or upon written request to 215 Park Avenue, Floor 11 New York, NY. Participants in the Solicitation Reinvent and Hippo and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Reinvent's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. A list of the names of the directors and executive officers of Reinvent and information regarding their interests in the business combination will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus when available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph. Forward Looking Statements This communication may be deemed to include certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between Reinvent and Hippo. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Reinvent's securities; (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by Reinvent's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by Reinvent; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the agreement and plan of merger governing the proposed transaction (the "Merger Agreement") by the shareholders of Reinvent, the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following redemptions by Reinvent's public shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed transaction; (v) the inability to complete the PIPE investment in connection with the transaction; (vi) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; (vii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Hippo's business relationships, operating results, and business generally; (viii) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Hippo and potential difficulties in Hippo employee retention as a result of the transaction; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Hippo or against Reinvent related to the Merger Agreement or the proposed transaction; (x) the ability to maintain the listing of Reinvent's securities on a national securities exchange; (xi) the potential volatility of the price of Reinvent's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industry in which Reinvent plans to operate or Hippo operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Reinvent's or Hippo's business, and changes in the combined capital structure; (xii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities; (xiii) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; (xiv) natural or man-made catastrophes such as wildfires, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, climate change (including effects on weather patterns, greenhouse gases, sea, land and air temperatures, sea levels, and rain and snow), nuclear accidents, pandemics (including COVID-19), or terrorism or civil unrest; (xv) the continued impact of COVID-19 and related risks; (xvi) the ability to collect reinsurance recoverable, credit developments of reinsurers, and any delays with respect thereto and changes in the cost, quality, or availability of reinsurance; (xvii) the actual amount of new and renewal business, market acceptance of products, and risks associated with the introduction of new products and services and entering new markets; (xviii) the ability to increase the use of data analytics and technology; and (xix) the ability to attract, retain, and expand Reinvent's or Hippo's customer base. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Reinvent's registration on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249799), the registration statement to be filed on Form S-4 discussed above and other documents filed by Reinvent from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Reinvent and Hippo assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither Reinvent nor Hippo gives any assurance that either Reinvent or Hippo or the combined company will achieve its expectations. 1 https://www.streetinsider.com/Business+Wire/Home+Insurance+Marketplace+Young+Alfred+Secures+%2410+Million+in+Series+A+Funding/16047518.html View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005356/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ally will donate $33,000 to Best Friends-affiliated shelters$1,000 to a shelter in each city that hosts a NASCAR Cup Series race. The donations start this month with the NASCAR event at Phoenix Raceway on March 14, when Bowman, a strong supporter of animal rescue, will drive a Best Friends-inspired paint scheme in honor of the hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats the nonprofit works to save. At a future date, Best Friends will auction off Bowman's race-worn helmet, which also dons a special paint scheme, to benefit the organization. "One of the lessons of 2020 for manyincluding Alex and meis that our pets mean more to us than ever. This donation is a great way to leave a positive, lasting impact on local host communities by helping their shelters care for rescued animals and find them happy homes," said Andrea Brimmer, chief marketing and public relations officer, Ally Financial. "We hope to raise awareness and support for the important, lifesaving work of Best Friends through our donations and the incredibly cool paint scheme that Alex will sport in Phoenix." Bowman, who has a rescue dog at home, will personally match each of Ally's $1,000 donations to local shelters in NASCAR race markets. In addition, Ally will increase its Best Friends donation to $10,000 in any community where Bowman wins a race in 2021. These collective donations will provide a boost to dozens of no-kill shelters and will help fund vital efforts, such as spays and neuters, trap-neuter-return programs, shelter adoptions, educating the public about animal welfare, adoption events and more. "Ally has taken a big interest in my passions and this relationship with Best Friends could not be a better fit," said Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. "Knowing each week when we go into a new race market that we are helping a local shelter is going to be special. The dedication the Best Friends organization has made to ending kill shelters by 2025 is definitely admirable. Having a rescue pup myself, Roscoe, I know firsthand how special it feels when you sign those adoption papers and you know you are going to give that pet a great life. Running this special scheme on our No. 48 Chevrolet at my home track is going to be really cool. Hopefully we can park it in victory lane and make an even bigger donation to the shelter in the area." Halo Animal Rescue in Avondale, Arizona, will receive the donation for the NASCAR Cup Series event at Phoenix Raceway, which Bowman considers his home track. The driver grew up in Tucson, Arizona. A leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends works in collaboration with its nationwide network of members and partners to "Save Them All." The nonprofit is actively working to ensure that every shelter in the country is no-kill by 2025, meaning all shelters receive the community support needed to save every dog and cat who can be saved. "As we race toward the 2025 goal, we are so grateful to have allies like Ally and Alex Bowman supporting Best Friends Animal Society and our network partners," said Marc Peralta, chief program officer at Best Friends. "These generous donations are going to make a big difference for homeless pets across the country and will also raise awareness of how people can help shelters in their own community. We welcome every pet lover to join our efforts." To donate and learn more about Best Friends, visit BestFriends.org/AlexBowman. About Ally Financial Inc. Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading digital financial-services company with $182.2 billion in assets as of December 31, 2020. As a customer-centric company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions, we are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers. We are one of the largest full-service automotive-finance operations in the country and offer a wide range of financial services and insurance products to automotive dealerships and consumers. Our award-winning online bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender) offers mortgage lending, personal lending, and a variety of deposit and other banking products, including savings, money-market, and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Additionally, we offer securities-brokerage and investment-advisory services through Ally Invest. Our robust corporate finance business offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies. For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures. For further images and news on Ally, please visit http://media.ally.com. Contact: Cristi Vazquez Ally Financial [email protected] SOURCE Ally Financial Related Links https://www.ally.com Australian shares tumbled on Thursday as jittery investors considered the implications of rising bond yields, while some of the countrys best known blue chips started trading without their dividends. The ASX200 closed down 0.8 per cent to 6760.7, with the tech sector receiving an early hammering similar to that of Wall Street stocks overnight. Afterpay was hit in early trade on Thursday. Credit:Attila Csaszar The US market closed down across its major indices on Wednesday as 10 year US treasury bond yields rose to 1.47 per cent, with tech investors in particular worried about rising inflation. On the ASX, shares in Afterpay had lost 2 per cent by 4:00pm to $118.32, while Zip Co was down 4.3 per cent to $10.09. Small business accounting firm Xero was down 2.61 per cent to $115.90 despite unveiling its largest acquisition to date, a $284 million purchase of European workplace platform Planday. Meanwhile, blue chip stocks trading ex-dividend proved a major drag on the index, with CSL down 4.2 per cent for the session, while BHP added a further drag of 3.1 per cent. CSLs performance dragged the healthcare sector 3.5 per cent lower for the session, with fellow household names Cochlear and ResMed also finishing the session down. Investors and analysts remained bullish on the outlook for local stocks despite the choppy conditions, however. Credit Suisses director and portfolio manager of Australian equities, Mike Jenneke, said in a presentation on Thursday morning that while bond yield rises are starting to gain attention, they wont affect all stocks. Probably the implications in the Australian market are more for sectors that are on high P/E [ratios] and low yields, where perhaps there is going to be pressure on their valuations, he said. Mr Jenneke said investors must remember that based on Februarys reporting season, the ASX is looking at one of its swiftest rebounds from a crisis ever. Corporate balance sheets across the market are in excellent shape. The financials sector saw selling at the market open but banks bounced back throughout the session, 0.7 per cent higher in the last half hour of trading. ANZ gained 2.6 per cent, with Goldman Sachs upgrading the stock to a buy, based on better than expected margins. The firm re-rated the stock based on solid balance sheet momentum and solid lending growth. We believe ANZ will be able to sustain this momentum and currently forecast 4% total loan growth in FY21E, Andrew Lyons wrote in a note. Herald contributor photo Elise Pundyk has been named to Global Cooperations Top 30 Under 30. The award is presented annually to 30 outstanding young people who do commendable work in making the world a more just, fair and sustainable place for everyone. Pundyks work centres around work she did while attending the University of Lethbridge. David Selles Pass Herald Reporter Elise Pundyk has been named to Global Cooperations Top 30 Under 30. The Alberta Council for Global Cooperation presents the award annually to 30 outstanding young people who have been nominated by their community for their commendable work in making the world a more just, fair and sustainable place for everyone. The Alberta Council for Global Cooperation serves as a network of organizations and individuals throughout Alberta, working both locally and globally to help advance sustainable development and global citizenship. Part of this network includes ACGC members, comprised of civil society organizations and individuals. Pundyk says she received her nomination for her work in youth leadership. continued below ... I was nominated for my involvement in youth leadership related to the Sustainable Development Agenda. In particular, I co-founded the World University Service of Canada Local Committee at the University of Lethbridge in 2015 and began to implement their key program, the Student Refugee Program. Through this, we raised funds to sponsor a refugee student to resettle and study at the University of Lethbridge. As co-chair of this Committee, I led the team to raise these funds and organize the sponsorship. In our second year we ran a referendum, where the student body of the University of Lethbridge ultimately voted "Yes" to fund the sponsorship of refugee students to resettle and study at the UofL in perpetuity. This program has since sponsored four students to come and study at UofL. Pundyk says that work has led to further opportunities. This work led to me to join the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth upon graduation, where I was part of the volunteer task fork organizing the Migration Youth Forum, which gathered 96 young leaders in migration and development from 55 countries to consolidate youth priorities ahead of the Global Forum for Migration and Development - "a state-led, informal and non-binding process, which helps shape the global debate on migration and development." continued below ... The United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth is the UN General Assembly-mandated, official, formal and self-organized mechanism for young people to meaningfully engage in the UN. For Pundyk, being named to this award was an honour. It is a huge honour to have been selected to be a part of this year's Top 30 Under 30. I strongly believe in the power of young people to shape the future we are about to inherit and I have been so lucky to have met so many youth leaders, both through WUSC and MGCY, who inspire the work I do each day. Through this experience, it has been so empowering to learn about how youth are leading the way to strengthen our communities, both in Alberta and beyond our provincial borders. Pundyk says the Crowsnest Pass has been a major reason for the person she has become today. Growing up in the Crowsnest Pass has truly shaped the leader I am today. I am so grateful to have had all the opportunities to learn about community building, for example as a young peer tutor through Crowsnest Pass Literacy Foundation and a volunteer at Turning Pointe Dance Studio after school. I think coming from such a supportive community has played a huge role in building my confidence to try new things that have led to life-changing opportunities. If anything, this award demonstrates how young people from the Crowsnest Pass can really make a difference in Alberta and on the world stage. HOME PAGE Back in November, the state of New Jersey told the owner of 10-12 E. Washington St. in Washington to put up scaffolding in front of the building because there was a concern the facade could fail, borough Manager Matthew Hall said Wednesday morning. But between then and January, when Washington Township took over management of the boroughs construction codes needs, nothing much changed at the property where the top two stories of the brick front fell on Monday, except for the scaffolding going up, Hall said. The (states) lack of follow-up and attention to things like this have concerned the borough for some time, Hall said. Washington, like many small towns in the state, doesnt have its own construction codes office and it used the state instead, he said. The scaffolding did its job and contained much of the falling facade, although there was some spill-over, authorities said. Saying the state construction office has long been understaffed, things have changed in the borough since the new year began, Hall said. We switched over to using construction services of neighboring Washington Township, Hall said. They were very aggressive. They pursued the owner, who Hall said is Adam Trematore, of Rockaway, New Jersey. They issued notices, they issued fines. They started asking for a remediation plan. They had a meeting planned for the day after collapse. They were getting impatient. A spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs said Friday that a construction official for the departments Bureau of State and Local Code Inspections saw in November that the facade was pulling away from the building and gaps were appearing around the sides and the windows. The official immediately contacted the building owner to inform him of the condition and to direct him to both rectify the issue ASAP and set up protective scaffolding in the public right of way, the spokeswoman said. That day the building was posted that it couldnt be occupied by anyone but repair workers, the spokeswoman said. The store on the first floor was allowed to stay open and a tenant was moved to a rear apartment and allowed to stay, the spokeswoman said in a follow-up email. The scaffolding went up within two weeks, but NJDCAs Bureau of State and Local Code Inspections did not monitor the site after the owner was notified of the unsafe structure. The Bureau issued no building permits for the site during the time period specified in lehighvalleylive.coms question about if any repairs were made, she said. The state on Jan. 18 turned over jurisdiction on the project to Washington Township, the spokeswoman said. A township codes official couldnt immediately be reached Wednesday for more information. Trematore said he was too busy to talk at that moment Wednesday morning, but requested contact info via an email. He confirmed he owned the building. Now both 10-12 and 14-16 E. Washington, which has a different out-of-area owner, are shut there are facade concerns about the second building as well, Hall said. The owners are now required to get engineering reports within a week as to if the structures can be saved, Hall said. Architectural plans will be required as well, he added. At this point these buildings should be able to be salvaged, Hall said, adding the boroughs engineers will go over the proposals. About 10 people have been forced from their apartments, and Frantoni Fashions for Men on the first floor of 10-12 E. Washington temporality shut, Hall said. A coffee shop renovation at 14-16 E. Washington was also put on hold, he said. The hope is once the plans are received and utilities can be reconnected that the clothing store, a long-time small business in the borough, can reopen, Hall said. The building on the other side of 10-12 E. Washington is vacant and the brick facade there appears stable, Hall said. At this point, in addition to the wreckage at 10-12 E. Washington, there was damage to a truck, a light pole and a tree, Hall said. No one was hurt. Its incredibly lucky that no one happened to be on the street at the time, he said. The outcome could have been tragic. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do DALLAS, March 4, 2021 -- The rate of cardiovascular risk factors among Hispanic/Latino people living in the U.S. is very high, and while they are often aware of their health conditions, less than half of the Hispanic/Latino adults with history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) had healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, and about half had healthy blood sugar levels, according to new research published today in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. According to the American Heart Association, from 2015 to 2018, 52.3% of Hispanic men and 42.7% of Hispanic women aged 20 years and older had cardiovascular disease (CVD). "It's a wake-up call for the medical community. Despite our best efforts, Hispanic and Latino populations still seem to be undertreated for their vascular risk factors," said Fernando D. Testai, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, study co-author and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "I didn't expect the numbers to be so dismal. We found many of the participants with previous stroke knew about their vascular risk factors; however, the data indicate they are receiving inadequate treatment and support, which are a real concern." Researchers reviewed data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a longitudinal study of the health of people of Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Central and South American background. Between 2008 and 2011, more than 16,000 participants, ages 18 to 74, completed questionnaires about their health and were examined at one of four centers in Chicago, the Bronx neighborhood of New York City, Miami and San Diego. Drawing from the HCHS/SOL data, researchers focused on data for 404 adults (39% male) who had a self-reported history of stroke or TIA. They investigated the rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, and assessed whether the 404 study participants knew that they had these major cardiovascular risk factors and the treatment status for these chronic health conditions. They also analyzed if participants were taking medications to prevent a second stroke. Researchers found: Overall, 59% of participants had high blood pressure, 65% had high cholesterol and more than one-third had diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2). Even though up to 90% of study participants knew they had these CVD risk factors, most did not have healthy levels: almost half had normal blood pressure levels; one-third had healthy cholesterol levels; and about half had their blood sugar in a healthy range. About half of participants were taking anti-clotting medications; less than half were taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications; and one-quarter were taking both medications, the mainstay of stroke prevention. Older age was associated with uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes. Adults born in the U.S. or who have lived in the U.S. more than 10 years were more likely to have poorly controlled diabetes. Women were more likely to have unhealthy cholesterol levels; and Not having health insurance was associated with decreased statin use and unhealthy cholesterol levels. "Health care professionals can help inform and support Hispanic/Latino adults about the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors in order to reduce cardiovascular risk," Testai said. "Almost 80% of people in this study were overweight or obese, and a significant number continued to smoke despite having a history of stroke and other cardiovascular events. Access to care is another important area that we need to address to reduce cardiovascular risk in this population." In this analysis, researchers referenced older guidelines with higher thresholds for healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. "We were conservative in our goals. If we used the newer goals, which are far more stringent, the results would be even more alarming," Testai said. A major limitation of this study is that HCHS/SOL data was self-reported by participants. Another limitation is that while race was self-reported, social determinants of health and the health impacts of structural racism were not accounted for in this analysis. The American Heart Association's November 2020 Presidential Advisory, "Call to Action: Structural Racism as a Fundamental Driver of Health Disparities," declared structural racism a cause of poor health and premature death from heart disease and stroke for many and detailed the Association's immediate and ongoing action to accelerate social equity and health care and outcomes for all people. In addition, the editors of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, another American Heart Association scientific journal, issued new guidance last month challenging 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. It includes 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. ### Co-authors are Fang Bai, M.D., M.S.P.H.; Jinsong Chen, Ph.D.; Dilip Pandey, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA; Ramon Durazo-Arvizo, Ph.D.; Gregory Talavera, M.D., M.P.H.; Matthew A. Allison, M.D., M.P.H.; Krista M. Perreira, Ph.D.; Neil Schneiderman, Ph.D.; Melanie W. Sutherland, Ph.D.; Jianwen Cai, Ph.D.; and Martha L. Daviglus, M.D., Ph.D. The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos was carried out as a collaborative study supported by contracts from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health to the University of North Carolina, the University of Miami, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Northwestern University and San Diego State University. Additional Resources: Multimedia is available on the right column of the release link: https:/ / newsroom. heart. org/ news/ major-cardiovascular-risk-factor-rates-are-high-in-the-u-s-hispaniclatino-population?preview= 591947f946d6bf7cf10b32b89af23a95 After March 4, view the manuscript online. 2021 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistical Update Fact Sheet Hispanic/Latino Race & Cardiovascular Diseases Helping Spanish speakers link Type 2 diabetes and heart disease and stroke Heart disease medications underused among Hispanic/Latino populations with PAD Follow AHA/ASA news on Twitter @HeartNews Follow news from Stroke, the ASA/AHA journal @StrokeAHA_ASA Statements and conclusions of studies published in the American Heart Association's scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers are available here, and the Association's overall financial information is available here. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public's health and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. As famously sleepy creatures, Dormice just want a nice peaceful place to curl up. So a noisy not to say dangerous motorway verge might seem a poor choice to set up home, especially if they want to avoid a narrow squeak with danger. But a colony of the rodents were found living next to the M1 around five years ago and have been growing in number ever since. Now, to help the protected species thrive, two bridges have been built across the highway near Little Linford Wood, Buckinghamshire for the rodents to use. A colony of dormice that were found living next to the M1, near Little Linford Wood, Buckinghamshire, around five years ago have been growing in number ever since. (Stock image) It is hoped the bridges, which run alongside an existing crossing, will join two dormice habitats together and let the animals travel safely further afield. Dormouse numbers have halved since 2000, with conservationists concerned they could become extinct in Britain. The loss of hedgerows, which are used by dormice to travel to different areas of woodland, is thought to be a factor behind their plummeting numbers. Forty-one of the nocturnal mammals were reintroduced into the wood north of Milton Keynes in 1998, and soon spread around the area. A colony settled beside the M1 a third of a mile away and was only recently discovered during upgrade works to the road. The rodent route over the highway has not yet been used, as the dormice are in hibernation until April. Paul Unwin, regional lead sponsor at Highways England, said: 'People might not give much thought to the wildlife that makes its home in roadside verges while on their journeys, but often they can be an oasis for wildlife. Two bridges, which run alongside an existing crossing, have been built across the highway for the rodents to use 'It's vitally important that we protect the surrounding countryside and wildlife that makes its home there when we build these transformative schemes not only for this generation but for the many generations to come to enjoy.' Highways England has installed 300 dormouse boxes along the M1 between junctions 13 and 16. The bridges will be monitored by cameras. The dormice, which hibernate for over half the year, will be observed until 2030. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Construction in Bahrain - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2025 under Construction category. Construction in Bahrain is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports. With the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the construction industry in Bahrain contracted by 0.2% in real terms in 2020, due to the lockdown restrictions imposed by the government. The industry has been affected by the delays in project implementation and the re-allocation of part of the governments budget towards its fight against COVID-19. According to the Central Informatics Organization (CIO), the construction industrys value-add declined by 0.5% year on year (YoY) in the first nine months of 2020. The industry is expected to recover in 2021, however, by registering a growth of 2.1%, with the resumption of major infrastructure construction projects. Bahraini Construction Industry to stabilize and grow at an average rate of 4.3% between 2022 and 2025, supported by investments on the development of the countrys overall infrastructure. Therefore, to support the countrys economic vision 2030, the construction of Bapcos oil refinery project, one of the largest projects in the country, is at 60% completion, despite the challenges of COVID-19. The construction of the countrys metro rail project and the modernization of the international Airport would help in achieving this target. According to the Bahrain Tender Board, the country awarded 1,022 tenders worth BHD1 billion (US$2.7 billion) in the first three quarters of 2020, providing a boost to the industry. Request a free sample copy of Bahrain Construction Industry Report @ http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2350183 This report provides detailed market analysis, information, and insights into the Bahraini construction industry, including - The Bahraini construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity - Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, as well as an analysis of key risks and opportunities in the Bahraini construction industry - Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, focusing on development stages and participants, in addition to listings of major projects in the pipeline. Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Bahrain. It provides - Historical (2016-2020) and forecast (2021-2025) valuations of the construction industry in Bahrain, featuring details of key growth drivers. - Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector - Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline - Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants Reasons to Buy - Identify and evaluate market opportunities using standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies. - Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts. - Understand the latest industry and market trends. - Formulate and validate strategy using our critical and actionable insight. - Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures. - Evaluate competitive risk and success factors. Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/construction-in-bahrain-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2025/2350183 About Us Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 2000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms. Contact us at: Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: info@Industryreportsonsaudiarabia.com Website: http://www.Industryreportsonsaudiarabia.com Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn The Norwegian central bank said on Wednesday it had put Japan's Kirin Holdings Ltd Co on a watch list for possible exclusion from its $1.3 trillion over the beverage giant's business ties to Myanmar's military. Kirin on Feb. 5 said it would end its partnership with Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHPCL), a company run by Myanmar's army, after a military coup deposed the democratically elected government. As part of its decision on whether to maintain its ownership in Kirin, the Norwegian fund will monitor the implementation of the company's plan to end the ties, Norway's central bank said in a statement. Kirin's decision effectively scraps the Brewery joint venture, in which the Japanese firm's controlling stake was valued at up to $1.7 billion, although Kirin also said it still wanted to keep selling beer in Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which manages the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, held a 1.29% stake in Kirin Holdings at the end of 2020 with a value of $277.1 million. "We remain focused on urgently implementing the termination of our joint-venture partnership with MEHPCL," Kirin said in an emailed statement to Reuters. "As part of this, we hope to find a way forward that will allow Kirin to continue to contribute positively to We value opinions and feedback from all of our stakeholders and are open to constructive engagement on this matter," it added. The Norwegian sovereign fund, formally called the Government Pension Fund Global and set up in 1996 to save petroleum revenues for future generations, owns about 1.5% of all globally listed shares. Holding stakes in around 9,100 worldwide, it has set the pace on a host of issues in the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) field, and its decisions are often followed by other investors. The bank separately said it would allow the wealth fund to invest again in Poland's Atal SA, which had been excluded since 2017 for risk of human rights violations through its use of North Korean workers at Polish construction sites. "As a result of a resolution in the United Nations Security Council, all North Korean workers have now been sent out of Poland. Therefore, there are no longer grounds for excluding the company," Norges Bank said. Atal did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. A third firm, Germany's Thyssenkrupp AG, will be the subject of an "active ownership" process as the fund's management seeks to probe the company's anti-corruption work, Norges bank said. "Norges Bank has been in dialogue with the company over a long period of time. We therefore have a good foundation for active ownership on the issues to which this matter relates," the central bank said. The fund held a 1.3% stake in the German firm at the end of 2020 valued at $147.1 million. Thyssenkrupp did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. (Editing by Gwladys Fouche, Richard Pullin and Gerry Doyle) (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2021) SpaceX on Thursday launched one of its Falcon 9 carrier rockets with 60 Starlink communication satellites on board, according to a broadcast posted on the company's website. The launch took place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:24 a.m. local time (8:24 GMT), after having been rescheduled several times in the past. The rocket's first stage already successfully detached itself and landed on SpaceX's autonomous spaceport drone ship The mission aims to put 60 Starlink satellites into orbit, expanding SpaceX's broadband relay satellites constellation to include over 1,200 (some of them are prototypes that are no longer in service). The Starlink project seeks to provide affordable access to broadband internet connection across the world. Both groups recognize the need for phenolic maturity (the development of intricate flavor components) that continues to advance as the grape ripens. Yet, they differ on when optimum levels are reached and whether continued ripening enhances or overpowers varietal characteristics. Regardless of which group you fall into (I must admit, I gravitate heavily to the pickem early folks) its important to understand the reality of high alcohol levels in wine. Alcohol itself adds sweetness to the palate that is often increased when fermentations become stuck and residual sugar remains. And, despite what many critics say in their reviews and opinion pieces, higher alcohol (especially when accompanied by lower natural acidity), does not bode for longer aging and is not the best compliment to food. Having traveled this twisting road of stylistic turmoil for several decades, the wine industry now finds itself in the midst of the next alcohol challenge. Last year, for multiple reasons, was the first in 25 years where domestic wine consumption fell. Yet the popularity of low- and non-alcoholic beverages has been surging internationally from a fringe sector to one that has its place in all segments of the drinks business. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. "The vast majority of the people, the 11 million undocumented, they're not Hispanics. They're people who came on a visa, [were] able to buy a ticket to get on a plane and didn't go home. They didn't come across the Rio Grande and swim." - President Biden, in a CNN town hall in Milwaukee, Feb. 16 "As you know, the fastest-growing population in the United States is Hispanic. And 60% of the Hispanic population is Mexican American. They're an integral part of our history." - Biden, in remarks before a virtual meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, March 1 - - - Biden, a longtime champion of policies that would give citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrants, bungled both of these elementary claims. The president said most undocumented migrants in the United States are not Hispanic, when in fact they are. Weeks later, Biden said Hispanics are the fastest-growing population group, but census data shows they have taken second place to Asian Americans in recent decades. Let's break down each statement. The number of U.S. immigrants, nearly 45 million in 2018, has increased fourfold since 1965, when the United States replaced nationality-based migration quotas with an application-based system based on work, study or family ties and asylum claims. Biden has proposed legislation that would grant a path to citizenship to millions of undocumented residents, though any effort at overhauling U.S. immigration laws would be going uphill in a divided Congress narrowly controlled by Democrats. - "The vast majority of the people, the 11 million undocumented, they're not Hispanics." Because of the uncertain nature of counting the undocumented population, no definitive estimates exist of how many reside in the United States or their racial or ethnic breakdown. The widely accepted ballpark is between 10 million and 14 million. None of the available estimates supports Biden's claim, and the best research indicates his statement is flat-out false because Hispanics predominate among the undocumented population. The White House did not respond to a question on this point. Using census data, the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute estimated an undocumented population of nearly 11 million as of 2018. Of those, 75% hailed from Mexico or Central or South America, the group said. The Pew Research Center estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States as of 2017, a decline from a 2007 high point of 12.2 million. At 10.5 million, undocumented migrants would represent 23% of all immigrants and 3.2% of the entire U.S. population in 2017, Pew said. "The decline in the unauthorized immigrant population is due largely to a fall in the number from Mexico - the single largest group of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S.," according to Pew. "Between 2007 and 2017, this group decreased by 2 million. Meanwhile, there was a rise in the number from Central America and Asia." - "They're people who came on a visa, [were] able to buy a ticket to get on a plane and didn't go home. They didn't come across the Rio Grande and swim." Biden said most undocumented migrants are people who enter the United States legally and then overstay their visas, a phenomenon involving air travelers from Asia or Europe, rather than Spanish-speaking migrants trekking to the border. He's not totally off base. Government statistics and independent studies show that in recent years, visa overstays have in fact outpaced migrations from unauthorized border crossings. In fiscal 2017, the Department of Homeland Security reported 606,926 suspected in-country overstays, or twice the number of southern border apprehensions. In fiscal 2016, U.S. officials reported 408,870 southern border apprehensions and 544,676 suspected in-country overstays. The Center for Migration Studies of New York, a think tank, found in a recent study that visa overstays "significantly exceeded" border-crossing migrations for the seventh straight year in 2017. The issue here is that Biden was speaking about the entire undocumented population accumulated over time. He didn't limit his comments to the migration dynamics seen in recent years. When looking comprehensively across decades, border-crossings are still the top driver of undocumented migration, albeit by a hair. "Demographers estimate that more recent additions to the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population have been chiefly of people who came legally and then overstayed a visa," said Michelle Mittelstadt, spokesperson for the Migration Policy Institute. "But if you look at the overall unauthorized population, we believe that slightly more than half crossed a border illegally to get here. This is because the overall unauthorized population is a long settled one - we estimate that 60 percent have been in the U.S. a decade or more - as well as the fact that in earlier periods illegal entries outpaced visa overstays." - "As you know, the fastest-growing population in the United States is Hispanic." Wrong again. Hispanics have been the second-fastest-growing demographic group, after Asian Americans, since around 2010, according to census figures. The two groups had been growing at similar rates since 2000. The Asian American population grew by 28.7% from 2010 to 2019, according to census data, while the Hispanic population came in second place, at 20% growth. "Of those [migrants] who arrived before 2000, most came from Latin American countries, followed by Asian countries," the U.S. Census Bureau said in a recent report predicting trends in population growth. "Since 2010, that trend has reversed with Asia replacing Latin America as the largest sending region of migrants to the United States." Looking at a longer period, Pew found: "The U.S. Asian population grew 72% between 2000 and 2015 (from 11.9 million to 20.4 million), the fastest growth rate of any major racial or ethnic group. By comparison, the population of the second-fastest growing group, Hispanics, increased 60% during the same period." A White House spokesperson told us the president "meant to say fastest-growing in our schools," but Biden's remarks, in a virtual meeting with the Mexican president, did not refer to education. The spokesperson sent us figures from the National Center for Education Statistics, showing that for the period from 1995 through 2020, Asian American and Pacific Islanders were projected to have gone from 4% of enrollees in public elementary and secondary schools to 5%, while Hispanic Americans were projected to have gone from 14 percent to 27 percent, the fastest growth of any group. Migration from Asian countries is the biggest driver of Asian Americans' population growth; about two-thirds of Asian Americans were foreign-born in 2018, census data shows. Census Bureau researchers predicted that people of two or more races would be the fastest-growing group over the next four decades, rising "some 200 percent." "The next fastest is the Asian population, which is projected to double, followed by Hispanics whose population will nearly double within the next 4 decades," the report said. "In contrast, the only group projected to shrink is the non-Hispanic White population. Between 2016 and 2060, the non-Hispanic White population is expected to contract by about 19 million people, from 198 million to 179 million, even as the total U.S. population grows. The decline is driven largely by falling birth rates and a rising number of deaths over time as the non-Hispanic White population ages." For the moment, Asians make up about one-quarter of the total immigrant population, whereas Mexicans and Latinos together represent about half of all immigrants in the United States. Biden messed up both claims, though it's interesting to note that the falsities veered off in different directions. One minimized the share of Hispanics among the undocumented population, the other inflated Hispanics' rate of growth. - - - Biden said the "vast majority" of the 11 million U.S. undocumented residents were not Hispanic. But reliable estimates show the vast majority, about 75%, are in fact Hispanic. Biden erroneously said Hispanics were the fastest-growing population group. They have been running in second place to Asian Americans since about 2010, and are projected to keep running behind Asians through 2060 at least. The White House says Biden misspoke and meant to reference education enrollment statistics, not population growth, but we didn't get an explanation for the other error. Some basic fact-checking would have saved the president from egg on his face, but instead he gets Three Pinocchios. Raw materials go only to military-affiliated companies, so other producers are pushed out of the market. North Korean companies affiliated with the countrys military are exploiting nationwide coronavirus emergency protocols to cash in on face mask production, sources in the country told RFA. North Korea declared an emergency quarantine posture at the beginning of the pandemic, and in April 2020, Pyongyang extended the emergency posture to the end of the year. Then in November the government announced a shift to ultra-high-level emergency quarantine measures, all while telling the international community that it was virus-free. As the measures include a mandatory mask mandate, trading companies run by the countrys military have been able to take advantage of increased demand to the tune of hundreds of millions of won (100 million won = U.S. $14,124) per day. Masks are big money, a resident of the city of Chongju, North Pyongan province, in the countrys northeast, told RFAs Korean Service. The wholesale price for a mask is 2000 won [$0.28]. Lets say there are 200,000 residents in Chongju. If they buy one mask a day, thats 400 million won [about $56,500]. If they buy one mask every three days its still more than 100 million won [about $14,000] a day, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. A state-run clothing factory in Chongju began producing masks at the beginning of the pandemic, the source said. But while the buildings belong to the state and workers are employees of the state, the facility is run by a trading company under the 8th Corps of the General Political Bureau of the Peoples Army. They are sitting on a pile of money. The 8th Corps, headquartered in the provinces Yomju county, already operates foreign currency earning bases in each region of the province to provide funds for military units. Then, in February 2020, the corps obtained permission from the central authorities to start producing masks in Chongju and nearby Sonchon county. The 8th Corps is stronger than other money-making organizations. Its under the General Political Bureau, and the State Security Department is also related, said the source. The Central Committee [of the Korean Workers Party] gives them a production permit, so they are relatively privileged. The security department prepares the mask production facility, and the General Political Bureau is the partys political bureau, so the security department is making money for them. RFAs Korean Service estimated that the 8th Corps is capable of generating tens of millions of dollars from mask production each month. The military are not the only ones who have profited from increased mask demand, but recent supply issues are pushing companies unaffiliated with the military out of the market, sources say. Two such companies, the Sinuiju textile factory in North Pyongan and the Pyongsong export garment factory in nearby South Pyongan eventually ran out of materials. And though new raw materials from China were then imported as emergency supplies, they were procured through a trading company affiliated with the party and military, meaning they went only to the militarys companies. Military companies in South Pyongan are profiting off masks to an even higher degree than in other regions, a resident of the province told RFA. In the city of Pyongsong, the Military General Political Bureau and the foreign currency earning bases belonging to the party are producing masks, said the second source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. The Pyongsong area has 300,000 people living there, so the sales of the masks are higher, and the revenue is about twice as much as in other areas, he said. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on the North Korean economy. In January 2020, Pyongyang and Beijing closed the entirety of the 880-mile Sino-Korean border and suspended all trade. And with much of the peoples livelihood tied to the buying and selling of goods from China, many North Koreans then found themselves with no way to make money. While many people who have nothing to spare are now forced to buy masks to comply with quarantine rules, those controlling the mask market are able to rake in a fortune. Much of the proceeds from these sales go to funding the military and party, but officials of these organizations also take a substantial cut. Sources told RFA that the party leadership has no choice but to protect the interests of the privileged class because a large share of the mask money is devoted to supporting the leadership through so-called loyalty funds. War on coronavirus In February the Workers Party of Korea Publishing House published educational material with the title, Lets be more aggressive with the emergency quarantine to protect our countrys well-being and for the safety of the motherland. The literature, which characterizes the efforts against coronavirus as an ongoing war, has dashed the hopes of officials and factory workers who had hoped that the borders could reopen in the spring and trade could be restarted. It is very wrong and foolish to think that measures related to the blockade for quarantine will be lifted in the near future, the literature said, adding that those who hope for a reopening are enemies in the fight against socialist quarantine. Residents unhappy with the message have begun complaining that the authorities were turning a blind eye to the livelihood of the people with ever-tightening quarantine measures, all the while using the crisis to make a lot of money, sources say. Residents are aggressively asking if the authorities are deliberately extending the quarantine to collect more profit from the marketplace along with the privileged people who sell the masks, a North Pyongan resident told RFA. The third source spoke of a crackdown against those who make or sell masks without permission, a scheme that merchants and many of the areas rich have attempted to advance by smuggling raw materials. Law enforcement agencies now seize these illegal masks. They are cracking down on us so recklessly now. They argue for nothing just to crack down on us. They say we have to sell the maska in some other place, and not here, a fourth source, who was caught by the authorities for making masks and supplying them to the local marketplace, told RFA. I cried out, Why can the military base make and sell masks, and why not individuals? But the law enforcement official said, The army must make money to protect the country, and seized all the masks. I was then even angrier, the fourth source said. We used to be discouraged, but now we fight against the authorities because they keep picking a fight by making issues out of nothing, the source said, adding, I said to them, Isnt the army the son of the people? If the people live, they will farm and feed rice to the army. How can the army survive if the people starve to death? Why do you keep making things difficult for the people? When the people can make a living, the army can survive, and the party policy can be supported. Reported by Hyemin Son for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. UPDATED at 6:48 P.M. ET on 2021-03-04 The U.N.'s rights office and humanitarian organizations on Thursday condemned violent crackdowns on anti-junta protesters and the rising death toll in Myanmar amid peaceful countrywide demonstrations following the deadliest day in more than a month since the military coup seized power from the democratically elected government. The U.N.s rights office (OHCHR) said Thursday that it had verified 54 deaths since the coup began on Feb. 1, though the actual figure could be higher. It is utterly abhorrent that security forces are firing live ammunition against peaceful protesters across the country, Michelle Bachelet, U.N. High commissioner for human rights said in a statement on Thursday. More than 1,700 people, including lawmakers, activists, elections officials, rights defenders journalists, civil servants, teachers, and health care workers, have been arbitrarily arrested and detained over participation in protests or engagement in political activity since the coup began, with at least 700 detained on Wednesday alone, said the U.N. human rights office. At least 38 people were killed on Wednesday the bloodiest day of the protests and more than 100 were injured at rallies throughout Myanmar, said Christine Schraner Burgener, the U.N. secretary-generals special envoy for Myanmar, at a briefing the same day. Myanmar police appeared to be using 9mm submachine guns along with live ammunition against demonstrators, she said. An RFA tally of the deaths confirmed that 39 people had been killed. In response to the escalating violence against peaceful protesters, the United States on Thursday implemented new export controls on Myanmar and added the ministries of Defense and Home Affairs, and the military-run Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar Economic Holding Limited to its trade blacklist. The U.S. already has sanctions in place on the country's top military leaders. Schraner Burgener said that in discussions with the army, she warned military regime leaders that U.N. member states and the Security Council might take strong measures against them, to which they replied, We are used to sanctions, and we survived the sanctions time in the past. I also warned they will go in an isolation, she said at the briefing, to which they responded, We have to learn to walk with only a few friends. The March 3 killings followed extreme violence on Feb. 28 when security forces killed at least 18 people, according to the U.N. Much of the violence on Wednesday took place in Yangon region, where police were caught on CCTV using the butts of their rifles to beat four volunteer medics who were helping wounded protesters and shooting out the windows of their ambulance. At least five children have been killed, at least four severely wounded, and over 500 arbitrarily detained by security forces since protests began last month, according to the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of force against children, including the use of live ammunition, and the arbitrary detention of children, and calls on security forces to immediately refrain from violence and to keep children and young people out of harms way, said a statement issued by the agency on Thursday. A makeshift memorial for a shooting victim stands on a blood-stained road in North Okkalapa township, Yangon region, March 24, 2021. Credit: RFA ICRC calls for restraint Security forces have ramped up the level of violence in recent days, firing live rounds at protesters, using stun grenades, spraying tear gas, damaging property and vehicles, forcibly entering and ransacking homes, and detaining people arbitrarily. They also are increasingly targeting heath care workers and volunteer medics assisting the injured. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Thursday that it is closely monitoring developments in Myanmar and is seriously concerned about the growing number of violent deaths in recent days. At times when demonstrations remain frequent and widespread, and when numbers of people killed or seriously injured are rising, the ICRC is calling on all for restraint in Myanmar, a statement issued by the humanitarian organization said. International rights groups also criticized the growing violence against peaceful protesters. Myanmars security forces now seem intent on breaking the back of the anti-coup movement through wanton violence and sheer brutality, said Richard Weir, crisis and conflict researcher at New York- based Human Rights Watch, in a statement n Thursday. The use of lethal force against protesters rescuing others demonstrates how little the security forces fear being held to account for their actions, he said. A vehicle transports the body of Kyal Sin, also known as Angel, who was shot in the head and killed by Myanmar police during an anti-junta demonstration, to the Yunnan Buddhist Temple in Mandalay, March 4, 2021. Credit: RFA Protesters out in full force Despite the heavy violence, anti-junta protesters were out in force again on Thursday in the cities of Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Pathein, Kalay, Dawei, Mawlamyine, Hpa-an, Kyaikto, and Kawkareik. Violence was reported in Pathein, Ayeyarwady region, where shooting by security forces occurred. There were no reports of arrests and casualties, however. In Yangon region, police and soldiers using smoke bombs carried out a morning raid on a protest camp on Kyundaw Road in Sanchaung township, forcing demonstrators to flee to safety without any confrontation. In North Okkalapa township, where several people were killed on Wednesday, demonstrators resumed rallies, while the families of some of those killed Wednesday retrieved their relatives bodies from a hospital. Thet Su, the wife of Po Chit, who died yesterday, told RFA that she last spoke to her husband around 4:30 p.m. the previous day and asked him to return home. I told him I heard about the shootings and that I was worried and frightened, but he said he was not coming home, Thet Su said. He was later killed by security forces. Tin Min Tun, a police major from Yangon region, who left his job and joined the civil disobedience movement (CDM) against the junta, condemned the violence and called on police in North Okkalapa township to join the campaign. Residents and young people of North Okkalapa are fighting peacefully for democracy, fighting for their future, he said during a rally. I want to warn you, North Okkalapa Police Force, if you do not join the CDM now, you will have to take the blame for the atrocities committed yesterday by the police and soldiers [brought in] from other areas. In Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city, protesters continued their marches throughout the day as soldiers tried to intimidate them by sending fighter jets over the citys airspace. The use of violence by the military is not acceptable either for our nation or for the world, Tayza San, a doctor, told the crowd. We will carry on with our anti-dictatorship movement no matter how much violence they use. We will resist them and fight for democracy. Tens of thousands of people attended a memorial service for Kyal Sin, a 19-year-old woman nicknamed Angel, at the Yunnan Buddhist Temple on 80th Street, a day after she was shot dead when police opened fire opened fire on a crowd of protesters. Zin Myo Maung, an 18-year-old who was shot Wednesday in the town of Kalay, Sagaing region, died Thursday, the activist group Justice for Myanmar said. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a watchdog group, said that as of Thursday, 1,507 people had been arrested, charged, or sentenced in relation to the military coup, with 1,200 still being held. Anti-junta protesters give a three-finger salute of defiance during a demonstration in North Okkapala township, Yangon reegion, March 4, 2021. Credit: RFA Policemen flee to India While some police officers have followed Tin Min Tuns example and left their jobs to join the CDM, others have left the country to seek refuge away from the military regime they are obligated to serve. Police in northeast India said they have detained at least seven Myanmar policemen who entered the country seeking refuge from the military regime, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Four officers arrived in Mizoram state's Champai area on Feb. 28, and local villagers handed them over to state authorities on March 1, while the other three crossed into Indian territory Wednesday near Lungkawlh village close to the border with Myanmar, Indian officials said. The village is 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the border with Myanmar. The trio indicated that they escaped from the country because Myanmar soldiers were looking for them after they refused to obey orders, an Indian police officer told the AP. India, which shares a 1,643-kilometer (1,021-mile) land border with Myanmar, is home to thousands of refugees from the Southeast Asian country. Reported by Roseanne Gerin and RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. An Australian activist who says she was arbitrarily detained in Tanzania over her social media and human rights activity flew into Brisbane on Thursday. Zara Kay, an Australian citizen who was born in Tanzania, said she had been put through hell over the past two months, receiving rape and death threats and being prevented from leaving the country by authorities. Zara Kay has flown home to Brisbane after her ordeal. Credit:Twitter Ms Kay, who runs an organisation called Faithless Hijabi that supports women who have left Islam, was told to attend a police station in the city of Dar es Salaam on December 28 before being detained for 32 hours. Her lawyers said she was interrogated by the Tanzanian police and had her personal belongings confiscated, including her Australian passport, which was later lost, and was threatened with arrest and prison. After her release, she said she was subjected to further questioning and continued to be threatened with criminal charges. James Cranny, right, the moment he approached St Joseph's National School principal Orla Egan, left, and Frank Gearty, middle, in August 2020. A serial burglar with over 140 previous convictions who held a screwdriver to the neck of a primary school principal during an armed raid last year has been sentenced to three years in prison. James Cranny (38) 14 Meadow Crest, Boyle, Co Roscommon, was handed down the sentence at a sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court this morning following an incident at St Joseph's National School, Dublin Road, Longford on August 27, 2020. Mr Cranny, who pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery, three charges of attempted robbery and one charge relating to the possession of a weapon contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. The court heard the accused had been in Dublin on the day of the offence where he consumed a "cocktail of drink and drugs" including almost 80 sleeping and valium tablets before getting off a train in Longford shortly after 6pm. Less than an hour later, Mr Cranny, who has 70 previous convictions for burglary, interrupted a board of management meeting at the Longford town national school in a bid to steal money to try and procure more drugs. The court heard the accused who first became addicted to drugs at just 12 years old, stormed into the building, shouting: "This is not a joke, I want 800." Armed with a screwdriver and pair of scissors, Mr Cranny approached principal Orla Egan and put a screwdriver to the right hand side of her neck. After being told by Ms Egan she had no money, Mr Cranny turned his attentions to local solicitor and board of management chairperson Frank Gearty. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Mr Gearty handed Mr Cranny 100 and guided him towards the exit door. In total, the accused stole 135 from the Longford-based solicitor and a further 100 from fellow board member Beatrice Shanley. The court was also told the latter had the foresight to take photographs of Mr Cranny during the heist while another board member and local priest, Fr James McKiernan "very cleverly and surreptitiously" managed to contact gardai at the same time. Mr Cranny, who the court heard, had endured a "wretched life" with his "second home" being Mountjoy Prison, wrote letters of apology to each of his five victims. "It's not about what or who I rob, it's about getting my next fix," said Mr Cranny in response to his actions on the day. "What I did to threaten people was no excuse and I deserve what I get." In determining sentence, Judge Keenan Johnson said the court had an obligation to balance the needs of the accused against the needs of the victims and society at large. He said the entire episode had clearly been a "very traumatising and unsettling experience" for each of the five board members present. Judge Johnston praised the swift and brave actions of Mr Gearty, Ms Egan and the board's three other members, saying St Joseph's NS was fortunate to boast such a "caring and committed" principal at its helm. Judge Johnson said the court was also required to take into account both aggravating and mitigating factors. The former, he said, largely centred on how what he termed a "very serious offence" involved the accused entering the school armed with a screwdriver and scissors. The holding of a screwdriver to the neck of Ms Egan was "extremely aggravating" and instilled a sense of fear in both Ms Egan and those present, added Judge Johnson. Mr Cranny's early plea of guilt, his decision to write letters of apologies to each of his victims and his difficult upbringing which resulted in both his parents to likewise becoming addicted to drugs were all mitigating factors the court had to consider, he said. He sentenced Mr Cranny to four years and six months in prison, suspending the final 18 months for a period of 10 years subject to a number of conditions. They included that the accused enter into a bond, keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 10 years post release while also engaging with the probation services for 18 months upon the expiry of his sentence. Judge Johnson also ordered Mr Cranny to complete a residential drug treatment course and refrain from both drugs and illicit substances for the entire period of the suspended sentence. The commencement of the sentence was backdated to January 4, when Mr Cranny first went into custody. The New York Yankees face the Boston Red Sox for the first time this season on June 4 when they open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees hitters should have a much easier time this year finding gaps in Bostons outfield than in years past thanks to this bit of news on Thursday: MLB.com reports center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is signing a two-year, $24 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers Bradley had spent the last eight seasons with the Red Sox, winning a Gold Glove Award in 2018. Bradleys departure completes the turnover in the Red Sox outfield, which at one time had three Gold Glove contenders: Bradley, Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi. The Red Sox traded Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season. Betts had won four Gold Gloves patrolling right field for Boston. This winter, the Red Sox traded Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals. Benintendi was a two-time Gold Glove finalist for the Red Sox after taming Fenways famed Green Monster in left field. In joining the Brewers, Bradley will be teaming up with a pair of Gold Glove outfielders: Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich. But Cain has spent the majority of his career in center, so its unknown if he or Bradley will be forced to change positions. 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. Weve declared March Senior Month in Chicago and are calling on all Chicagoans to step up and help our seniors sign up and get vaccinated, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in the release Wednesday. The new United Center vaccination site represents a turning point in our COVID-19 recovery effort and a major opportunity for all of us to serve our seniors and protect our residents who are most vulnerable to this virus. Bars in East Baton Rouge Parish will be allowed to increase indoor bar capacity to 50% after the parish met the minimum requirements from the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, according to a city statement on Wednesday. The increased capacity is subject to all other guidelines, like the requirement to wear masks in public places. +9 Louisiana to move to Phase 3 of coronavirus restrictions, bars allowed to open statewide After seeing the worst spike of the pandemic recede in recent weeks, Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday moved the state into the loosest phase o According to the Louisiana Department of Health, the parish had a 4 percent positivity rate for coronavirus testing between Feb. 18 and Feb. 24. Parishes with two consecutive weeks of 5% or less positivity rate can increase their bar occupancy to 50%. Governor John Bel Edwards announced on Tuesday that the state would move into Phase 3, starting Wednesday. In this phase, all bars can reopen for indoor service, but occupancy is limited to 25% or less unless the parish meets the 5% mark. Baton Rouge restaurants welcome loosened coronavirus rules, but expect 'negligible' impact The state moved back into Phase 3 of the coronavirus restrictions Wednesday, but most business owners said they dont see it making much of an Megan Schmidt '07 To attract the brightest students, universities traditionally offer the best scholarships. But when it comes to convincing top music students to choose BGSU over, say, Julliard or Indiana University, even the most generous academic and music scholarships are no longer enough. Dr. DuWayne and Dorothy 62, 69 Hansen hope their initiative for the most talented music students will be too good to refuse. We wanted to figure out what more we could do to make BGSU the most attractive choice for talented students to consider.With the newly launched Hansen Music Fellowship Program, the best students will receive funding for beyond-the-classroom musical experiences and education. Students can tailor their fellowship experience to include activities that are best suited to their needs and career aspirations, from attending summer camps, conferences and festivals to recording, seeking new performing opportunities or touring. A scholarship only goes so far, DuWayne said. We wanted to figure out what more we could do to make BGSU the most attractive choice for talented students to consider. The Akron couple, who both have strong ties to BGSU's College of Musical Arts, decided that giving the University a truly competitive edge would require funding a set of professional musical experiences for students above and beyond the typical scholarship. The Hansen Fellowship can help students stand out from their peers by enabling them to participate in activities that will become an asset for them in today's highly competitive job market. The Hansens believe a music fellowship that allows students to pursue professional development in addition to their BGSU studies will be advantageous not only for the fellows themselves, but also for their peers and the music faculty. They can benefit enormously from a summer spent at the Chicago Symphony or the Cleveland Orchestra it can open their eyes in a marvelous way, DuWayne said. They come back with so many new ideas. Back in the classroom and residence halls, fellows can share what they've learned from those experiences and serve as examples for other students of how broad the scope of a musical education can be, the Hansens said. We hope having these model students interacting with other students will help raise the bar for everyone around them, Dorothy said. The Hansens, who met at BGSU more than 50 years ago, are longtime supporters of the University's music programs. Dorothy is a two-time alumna of the College of Musical Arts and DuWayne is a former chair of the Department of Music Education. The Dorothy E. and DuWayne H. Hansen Musical Arts Series has brought dozens of renowned performers to the University since 1996. Dorothy has also served on the BGSU Foundation Board of Directors. We feel a very strong connection to BGSU. We lived here, we raised our daughter here, we worked with so many fantastic faculty and students here, DuWayne said. Our goal is to help improve the music programs and the University in whatever way we can. Two incoming freshmen will be chosen as Hansen Fellows each year. Fellowship applicants must demonstrate a record of exceptional musical performance and strong academic achievement, including a minimum ACT score of 26. A committee appointed by the dean will oversee the selection process, and the Department of Music Performance Studies chair will manage the program. Once selected, each Hansen Fellow will receive funding on a yearly basis, and will work with faculty to identify goals and determine how best to use the funds. Each fellow will be expected to maintain a grade point average of 3.5 each semester and to perform in a recital or featured concert each year they receive funding. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Inmates in New Jerseys womens prison formally raised concerns about conditions behind bars thousands of times in recent months, a new report said, the highest rate in the state. Staff at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility were also repeatedly late responding to those complaints, and no other prison had a higher share of delays, according to New Jerseys Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson, an independent watchdog. More than 120 grievances hadnt even been opened during a recent audit of the Hunterdon County facility, which is already the focus of a criminal probe, an independent investigation and a federal report about alleged abuse. Women in Edna Mahan filed nearly 3,900 grievances within the Corrections Departments Inmate Remedy System during a 12-month period. Thats an average of more than 7 grievances per inmate, according to data from the ombudspersons office and the Corrections Department. Grievances can be filed on paper or digitally and can cover a range of issues. The ombudspersons office said they sometimes involve only a question to staff, not a complaint, although inmates are supposed to ask questions on a separate form. A prison spokeswoman said delays at the womens prison were due to the high volume and because multiple grievance forms sometimes referred to the same problem. To remedy this weve assigned a Superintendent to review and assist with this and other issues, Liz Velez wrote in an email, referring to one of the top-ranking people within a facility. The report covered Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2020, meaning the data included the period when dozens of prisoners died with the coronavirus, but it did not capture the aftermath of a series of alleged beatings last month that led to charges against four officers. Grievances are generally supposed to be addressed within 30 calendar days, according to the report. In October, investigators took a look at how many times staff had failed to meet that deadline just as of the end of that month. At the womens prison, inmates had not received responses 52 times, according to the report. No other prison had a larger share. Its possible other grievances were also late, but the audit only checked their status at the end of the year. Furthermore, 121 grievances at Edna Mahan hadnt been opened at all. Only one other prison had a higher percentage, and the vast majority had no unopened complaints. In addition, staff statewide didnt always directly answer complaints, investigators wrote. Inmates would sometimes be told only that a grievance had been received, without any follow-up information about whether the problem was addressed. The report also flagged a major concern about how prisons handle appeals. If an inmate disagrees with a staff members decision, they are allowed to file an appeal. But the same employee often handles that appeal, the report said. An appeal by definition is an application to a higher authority, investigators wrote. An appeal should never be responded to by the person rendering the initial decision. The number of appeals could not be calculated, so it is unknown how many of those cases are pending, the report added. Prisoners and their loved ones can also raise concerns directly with the ombudspersons office. Women at Edna Mahan said they were harassed by staff more than three dozen times during the 12-month period, according to the report. There were three reports of staff assaults, two allegations of sexual harassment and one report of a sexual assault by a state employee. Prisoners also said they were harassed or attacked by other prisoners multiple times, the report said. Administrators and supervisors generally handle grievances and officers do not review them, according to William Sullivan, president of NJ PBA Local 105, the states largest corrections union. Its not possible to immediately compare these numbers with other years, because the ombudspersons office only created this review after lawmakers passed a bill requiring more public reporting. NJ Advance Media staff writer Nick Devlin contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Banks may risk data breaches and losing customers via third party vendors. "When a technology provider takes a bank customer out of the banking app to perform a service, this is not an optimal or 'user-friendly' experience," Laursen added. "We carefully created the best subscription management solution for banks and their customers. Subaio's technology is so robust that we've identified use cases beyond the financial sector." With 98.7% accuracy, Subaio's 'secret sauce' lies in its use of machine learning and advanced algorithms to generate subscription recognition and automation capabilities. Already Trusted by Major Banks and a PayTech Pioneer Eight banks in different markets have already partnered with Subaio. Javier Perez, Managing Partner of Global PayTech Ventures and ex Mastercard President, is providing Subaio with 4M in Series A funding. "Banks are under tremendous pressure to offer a good service," said Perez. "GPT is investing in Subaio because they provide a unique service that's differentiated, safe, secure, user-friendly and adds huge distinction to a bank's value proposition. Subaio's solution is the first to combine machine learning with a human touch." "The average consumer has between 8-11 subscriptions and the numbers have increased during COVID-19. Sometimes, banks are advising clients to simply cut up their cards and replace them with new ones to cancel a subscription, which is an expensive exercise costing 20-50 euros per contact. Instead, we offer the cancellation button to unsubscribe as a white label solution to the paytech industry," said Laursen. The funding from GPT will be earmarked to penetrate new European markets, scale-up staff by 100% over the next 12-24 months and develop new features to bring the software solution to the next level. SOURCE Global PayTech Ventures Related Links https://linkedin.com/company/global-paytech-ventures Britain could face a fine from Brussels for flouting air pollution rules after the EU's top court today made its first post-Brexit ruling against the UK. While Britain left the orbit of the European Court of Justice on December 31, it has agreed to apply ECJ judgements in any case initiated while it was still a member. In Thursday's case, the ECJ ruled that Britain had 'systematically and persistently' breached EU limits for nitrogen dioxide in 16 areas including London, Manchester and Glasgow from 2010 to 2017. If Britain fails to reduce NO2 pollution below the EU limits, the European Commission could take further legal action by imposing financial penalties. The EU's top court accused the UK of breaching air pollution rules in London and other cities (file photo) in a case which could result in a fine despite Brexit The UK said it was considering the ECJ ruling, with Defra saying today that air pollution 'has reduced significantly' since 2010. 'Now we are out of the EU we are continuing to deliver our 3.8billion air quality plan,' a spokesman for the department said. Freedom from the ECJ was among the benefits touted by Brexit supporters and heralded by Boris Johnson when Brexit talks were finally concluded last year. 'There is no role for the European Court of Justice and no requirements for the UK to continue following EU law' in the trade agreement, the UK government says. But Britain agreed in the withdrawal pact that it would comply with the EU court's judgements in any overhanging cases from when it was part of the bloc. Road transport is the main source of NO2 emissions, meaning urban areas tend to be the most heavily affected. Prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause diabetes, lung disease and cancer. An inquest in the UK last year found that air pollution contributed to the death in 2013 of London schoolgirl Ella Kissi-Debrah, who suffered from severe asthma. In a bid to curb pollution and meet climate goals, Britain has pledged to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030. London will also expand its ultra low-emission zone this year, requiring vehicles to meet strict standards or face daily fees. New Delhi, March 4 : Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Thursday emphasised on greater coordination amid all enforcement agencies functioning on the ground ahead of elections in four states and one Union Territory from March-end and in April. He also said that that the special observers will have additional role in supervising deployment of forces and their randomisation for poll duties. Arora's direction comes during a briefing meeting with special observers associated for the forthcoming general election to the legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from March 27 to April 29. The votes will be counted on May 2. The briefing was held at Nirvachan Sadan. Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra drew their attention to Commission's recent order with respect to webcasting of all vulnerable booths and emphasised on making our elections totally inducement-free. Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the Commission is very happy to have associated with all upright and efficient senior officers in order to conduct elections in a free, fair, transparent and safe manner. The Special Observers, who worked during the previous elections, apprised the Commission of issues and challenges, based on their past experiences. Sudarsanam Srinivasan, Neena Nigam will be the observers for Assam. Ajay Nayak, Vivek Dubey, B. Murali Kumar will be the Observers for West Bengal. Deepak Mishra, Pushpinder Singh Puniha have been appointed as observers for Kerala. Alok Chaturvedi for Tamil Nadu and Manjeet Singh Puducherry whereas Dharmendra Kumar, Madhu Mahajan and BR Balakrishnan, will be the observers for both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. All the special Observers appointed hold an impeccable and brilliant track record of work in their career. The Special observers, who are retired civil servants, will be visiting their assigned states and the poll-bound UT and monitor poll preparedness being done by state and district level officials. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Headlines: - Democrats attempt to build support against GOP amendment to cut stimulus bill jobless benefits provision - Senate vote sees proposed $15 minimum wage increase rejected, with some Dems voting against - Covid relief bill was read in full Thursday before the Senate could adjourn at 2.05am after Republicans continues tactics to delay the vote - Protestors gather in New York to protest against lack of stimulus support for excluded workers - VP Harris overruled GOP opposition to continue Senate debates - President Biden approves limiting $1,400 checks to those earning less than $80,000 (full details) - $1.9tn covid-19 relief bill was passed by the House of Representatives last Saturday - 70% of Americans in favour of The American Rescue Plan (poll) - Biden says he would support the stimulus bill's child tax credit increase being made permanent - Stimulus check of up to $1,400 approved by House, looks likely to stay in Senate version - Stimulus bill could be done and dusted as early as 14 March - Progressive Dems lose battle to keep minimum-wage hike from being stripped from bill in the Senate - House approve bill that will extend and increase federal pandemic unemployment benefits (more here) - Get the latest stimulus check news in Spanish - las noticias sobre los cheques de estimulo en espanol - US covid-19 cases/deaths: 28.8 million/520,356 (live updates) Have a read of some of the latest related news stories: Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Why Botticelli? In an exhibition in which the first room includes remarkable paintings by Titian and Tintoretto, Botticellis Four scenes from the early life of Saint Zenobius (c.1500) is not exactly a highlight. The painting belongs to a class of decoration called spalliere long, horizontal panels inserted into a wall at shoulder height. It records chapters from the life of St Zenobius, a former bishop of Florence. The work is beautifully painted and immaculately conserved, but doesnt bear comparison with the artists masterpieces such as The Birth of Venus or the Primavera, both in the collection of Florences Uffizi Gallery. The reason this relatively modest piece gets star billing is because of the marketing requirements for a blockbuster exhibition in Australia, which equate big names with big attendances. When the final room contains a guaranteed jaw-dropper such as Vincent Van Goghs Sunflowers (1888), one part of the title is set in concrete. The problem is to decide which Italian Renaissance artist has the highest name recognition. In the absence of Leonardo or Michelangelo, Botticelli got the nod. Johannes Vermeers A Young Woman seated at a Virginal has an aura of mystery. Credit:The National Gallery, London Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London is the first major international exhibition to reach this country since the coronavirus sent the world into lockdown. The show has been on hold for the best part of a year, in storage in Japan, while the National Gallery of Australia waited for the pandemic to subside. To launch early in March is a bold gesture, considering that were still wearing masks and scanning QR codes. The NGA is hoping this show has enough pulling power to draw crowds to Canberra hoping the desire to see great works of art will outweigh any scruples about the risks of travel. A secondary consideration is whether the typical Australian gallery-goer might say theyve already been to London and seen the National Gallery collection. Vincent van Goghs Sunflowers has an intensity in real life that no photograph can capture. Credit:The National Gallery, London Advertisement The best answer to these equivocations may be that a truly great work of art is worth seeing again and again. Id travel to Canberra simply to lay eyes on Rembrandts Self-portrait at the age of 34 (1640). By common consent one of the greatest portraits ever painted, it brings us into intimate contact with the Dutch master. Looking into the artists eyes we can imagine many different things. Although the work was intended as a display of self-confidence, its possible to detect a hint of anxiety in Rembrandts gaze, as he strains to maintain his savoir-faire. Perhaps theres also a flash of arrogance, a vice that would be his undoing in later life. Experts have raved about the humanity of Rembrandts portraits but to be human is not only to be the measure of all things, it is to be fallible, to err and suffer. Had he been a philosopher, Rembrandt might have said, with Montaigne, I have never seen a greater monster or miracle than myself. Being a painter he has captured these sentiments in this searching image of his own face which transcends the claims of his ego. Rembrandts Self Portrait at the Age of 34 is by common consent one of the greatest portraits ever painted. Credit:The National Gallery, London Masterpiece may be one of the most abused terms in the art lexicon but with the National Gallery there are only 2,300 works in the entire collection. This means there is very little fat, hardly anything that might be described as second-rate or average. Everybody seems to have their personal favourites. The painter, Jeffrey Smart, would rhapsodise about Piero della Francescas The Baptism of Christ (1450), but the work I can never get enough of is Piero di Cosimos A Satyr mourning over a nymph (c.1495). Neither of these works are displayed in Canberra but almost every room contains paintings that should stop viewers in their tracks. The most obvious is the luminous Sunflowers, a painting so iconic that the critic, Lawrence Alloway, once coined the term sunflowering for the process whereby a work is reproduced so often that it becomes an empty item of popular culture. The antidote for this is to look for 10 seconds at Van Goghs actual painting. It has an intensity no photograph can capture. Claude Monets The Water-Lily Pond, 1899, is part of the exhibition. Credit: The National Gallery, London Another iconic painting is Vermeers A young woman seated at a virginal (c.1670-72). We have so few works by Vermeer that each one is priceless. This small oil displays the jewel-like colour, the mastery of light and shade we have come to value so highly. It also presents a mystery, as we have no idea who the young woman is, or what she might be playing. Who is she looking at? The artist? Her audience? Maybe you and me. Advertisement Aside from these famous pictures, Id recommend a long pause in front of Gainsboroughs Mrs Siddons (1785), a portrait of one of the most famous actresses of the 18th century. No longer in the first flush of youth, Mrs Siddons is still an awesome proposition: distinguished, expensive, handsome rather than classically beautiful. Silks, furs and draperies swirl around her in suitably dramatic fashion. Paul Cezannes Hillside in Provence, circa 1890-92, is also in the exhibition. Credit:National Gallery, London On the other side of the room spare a moment for Thomas Lawrences Queen Charlotte (1789), which shows the long-suffering wife of George III, looking worn but serene, buried in a mountain of soft, fragile fabric. The artist has captured a beauty that transcends old age, perhaps the most forgiveable form of flattery. Turners Ulysses deriding Polyphemus Homers Odyssey (1829) or El Grecos Christ driving the traders from the temple (c.1600), would be major attractions in any show, along with pictures by Uccello, Titian, Tintoretto, Hals, van Dyck, Goya, Velazquez, Cezanne and Monet. Ive seen these pieces many times, but one I hadnt noticed that struck me with real force was Girolamo Giovanni Savoldos Mary Magdalene (c.1535-40). Loading Mary Magdalene is probably the most defamed figure in Christian history, having been transformed into the epitome of the fallen woman on the basis of very little evidence. Savoldos teasing, puzzling image shows Mary wrapped in a silvery cloak. The part of her face we see wears an enigmatic smile. She looms like a mountain against a gloomy backdrop, each fold and wrinkle in her cloak being delineated with exquisite care. A small white jar in the left-hand bottom corner presumably contains the ointment with which she anointed Christs feet. Its an image almost 500 years old that is just as engaging today as it must have been for its first viewers. It demonstrates why we need to keep looking at the Old Masters, because the best of them have the capacity to renew themselves from one age to the next. Advertisement TEL AVIV, Israel, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Axilion Smart Mobility (TASE: AILN), the Israeli AI company leading the digital transformation of the mobility industry, published an analysis conducted by Frost & Sullivan. Axilion has redefined traffic management with its market-leading AI-based Digital Twin platform that empowers cities to reduce pollution, congestion and increase safety. Axilion's technology developed alongside its strategic partner Microsoft enables cities to decrease yearly carbon emissions in cities by 140,000s tons, combat crippling congestion, shorten journey times up to 47%, and improve road safety. Axilion Smart Mobility Uses AI to Create a Digital Twin of Your City in the Azure Cloud Frost & Sullivan's equity report on Axilion Smart Mobility views the AI-company as an excellent opportunity for those seeking to invest in sustainable and smart cities According to Oran Dror, CEO and Chairman of Axilion Smart Mobility: "The Frost & Sullivan analysis provides extensive information about the company and the field in which it operates, as well as the need to turn to innovation in order to overcome the most urgent challenge of our time climate change." As the planet heats up, climate change continues to dominate headlines. In recent weeks, Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, stressed the role he believes technological innovation must play in "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster." In his book, he calls for a reduction in carbon footprint and outlines the carbon offsets required to reach zero emissions. According to the tech mogul, the transition to green technology is possible. He indicates the role that countries and governments must continue in the investment and development of new products. As the demand for sustainable technology increases, Axilion's X Way AI-based Cloud Services provides an easy solution for cities to implement. Available through Microsoft Azure and part of the Azure pricing, Axilion's X Way is promoted by Microsoft resellers as long-term contracts for municipalities and countries. X Way enables cities to improve air quality and decrease traffic without the need for costly, time-consuming traditional congestion control methods. Instead, the AI-based Cloud Services reduce emissions with minor financial investment achieved through cloud services, software, and AI-based cameras. Already implemented in several cities globally, including New York and Jerusalem, Axilions technology is proven to reduce emissions, cut congestion, and improve residents' quality of life. The main points of the recommendation from Frost & Sullivan are as follows: 2020 was a breakthrough year for AI in cloud applications. According to Frost & Sullivan, 2021 will be the year when the pace of implementation of AI-based systems will accelerate using data center infrastructure that is expanding in countries worldwide. This field will attract additional investments in the coming years. According to Frost & Sullivan, the global AI market is expected to grow to $386.1 billion by 2025, at an impressive average annual growth rate of 19.7%. by 2025, at an impressive average annual growth rate of 19.7%. The rapid growth in data volume, coupled with the growing deployment of cloud-based computing platforms, is fueling the adoption of AI in a variety of areas - Axilion is in a position to address the growing need for a smart city management system. Axilion leverages its artificial intelligence capabilities to ease traffic congestion in cities and reduce carbon emissions from transportation. The company charges municipal fees for city traffic management services, with Microsoft Azure as a strategic partner. Frost & Sullivan recognizes investing in Axillion as an excellent opportunity for those seeking to invest in smart and sustainable cities Axilion is post-technological feasibility phase and about to enter a significant sales phase of projects such as those seen in Haifa and Jerusalem . and . Based on the detailed analysis of Frost & Sullivan, the company is valued at approximately $453.7 million ; NIS 1,502 million ; the target price is in the range of NIS 50.1 to NIS 55.4 and on average at a target price of NIS 52.7 . The full report can be viewed here For more information, please contact Axilion at [email protected] About Axilion Smart Mobility: Axilion is leading the digital transformation of the mobility industry. The company's AI reduces air pollution, reduces traffic congestion, streamlines public transit, and increases the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and micromobility scooters. Axilion utilizes Computer Vision to monitor city mobility in real-time and create a Mobility Digital Twin of the physical city in the Microsoft Azure Cloud. Axilion's Mobility Digital Twin combines with Deep Reinforcement Learning AI to generate real-time traffic insights and optimized traffic plans, creating a greener and smoother way to travel around cities. The company's technology is proven to reduce carbon emissions by 100,000s of tons, eliminate peak-time traffic congestion, prioritize eco-friendly travel modes, and cut journey time by up to 47% in the cities it operates. Axilion is a publically traded company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: AILN) and has offices in Europe, the US, and the UAE. SOURCE Axilion Smart Mobility Related Links https://axilion.com/ Mumbai, March 4 : Actress Kangana Ranaut on Thursday declared she would soon reveal the name of a "jilted obsessed lover" she had "a small fling with". Kangana accused the person of running smear campaigns on social media against her. "The man behind this particular social media smear campaign is a jilted obsessed lover I had a small fling with, he is faking a high profile relationship but won't marry the kid cause he has many skeletons in his closet, I will reveal his name with solid proofs, hang in there," Kangana tweeted. "My team has tracked down this source, from where the money for smear campaigns flowing, we found unidentified companies and fake emails from where the information and memes along with money generate, but deep down I know who this is. When the time is right I will reveal his name," the actress wrote in another tweet. Kangana further alleged that paid trolls are actively being circulated, trying to ruin her image on Instagram, adding that the mafia racket harasses outsiders and had also ganged up against Sushant Singh Rajput which eventually led to his death. "Just last week I lost more than 5 lakh followers on Instagram, this is mafia racket, they gang up on you boycott you and if that leaves you happy and content they ruin your image and brand that's how they killed Shushant, that's how they harass outsiders who don't need them for work," the actress wrote. "There are paid smear campaigns happening on Instagram as well... many derogatory memes and fake information about me being spread, Instagram is also paid as my followers numbers automatically drop, fans who unfollow don't even realise it. I know who is behind it," she added. "How much you are suffering... There is a proper investment of troll army, creative ka budget to make memes, to write lies to spread smear campaigns uuffff movie mafia + political mafia + jaded actors who are rejected lovers, you are jealous of even a fruit bowl," the actress wrote in Hindi and English. In a separate tweet, the actress claimed that trollers don't hate her but do the job for a little amount of money. "Not hatred I genuinely believe they don't hate me, it's those naughty 20 ruppees they get per tweet for spreading fake propaganda and smear campaigns against me which are the real culprit," she tweeted. It all began after Kangana tweeted a picture of a breakfast smoothie made by her on Thursday morning. A section of netizens claimed that the photo is the same as an image available on Google. Soon after the actress threatened to expose names and spoke about paid smear campaigns, many troll accounts deleted their comments on her tweet. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register United Nations, March 4 : The peace process in South Sudan remains extremely fragile despite some progress in the past four years, said David Shearer, the outgoing top UN envoy for South Sudan. Shearer, who will leave his post next month as the special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, said the country has made progress both in terms of security and political stability, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. "At the end of my four years in South Sudan, I look back with a certain level of comfort about how far the country has come," he told the Security Council in a briefing. There is a cease-fire, a peace deal, and a transitional government. And local leadership is slowly being installed. The majority of people who flocked to point-of-care sites have either left or now live in newly transitioned camps for internally displaced persons -- a result of improved political security, he noted. However, he warned that the peace process remains extremely fragile. Many citizens are wary that the political will may falter. They fear the positive progress may collapse, he said. "It is for those people that we, the international community, must remain united and committed to pushing the peace process forward. We can't sit on the sidelines as spectators. Look back four years. That's what failure looks like and it's in no one's interests to return there." Last week marked the first anniversary of the transitional government in South Sudan. There have been some positive steps forward. But after a year, progress has been slow, he said. The Transitional National Legislature still waits to be reconstituted and there has been minimal progress on constitution-making, transitional justice, and economic reform. Most significantly, unifying forces are yet to occur despite multiple self-imposed government deadlines. Thousands of troops fester in cantonment sites without adequate shelter, health care and food, he noted. Slow implementation comes at a cost. The power vacuum at a local level has opened opportunities for spoilers and national actors who have exploited local tensions and fuelled violence. The cost is also humanitarian. It is estimated that most of the country requires food aid, he said. Shearer called for the attention of the Security Council to two broader issues: the lack of a viable financial system for South Sudan and the need for respect for South Sudan's ownership of the peace process. The massive UN presence will inevitably bump up against the nation's hard-won sovereignty. True sovereignty means responsibility for all the nation's 12 million citizens. It also means independence. Yet, South Sudan is perhaps one of the most dependent nations in history, he said. South Sudan's education and health systems, its roads and infrastructure are provided by outsiders, the UN envoy added. "We have too eagerly stepped in and shouldered responsibilities that should be the job of the South Sudanese -- and have added to their dependency -- and, in doing so, undermined their dignity," Shearer said. Shearer became emotional at the end of his statement when he was speaking to the South Sudanese: "My last word is to the people of South Sudan who inspire me with their seemingly endless patience and hope as they fight against huge odds to achieve a much brighter future they deserve. My thoughts and best wishes are with you always." Shearer, a New Zealander, will be replaced by Nicholas Haysom of South Africa. Meghan Markle's friends have rushed to her defence amid the Buckingham Palace 'bullying' row - with one claiming the dramatic fallout has been fuelled by racism. Omid Scobie, author of the Finding Freedom biography of the Sussexes, quoted a series of Meghan's friends standing up for her in a report for Harper's Bazaar. One friend said Meghan was another example of a 'woman of colour in a senior position accused of being too angry, too scary, too whatever in the workplace'. The author was also told Meghan and her husband Prince Harry have found the claims 'distressing and upsetting', and that she is always 'kind and considerate'. Mr Scobie, the royal editor of Harper's Bazaar, regularly stands up for Meghan on social media and last night retweeted a series of positive messages backing her. Omid Scobie, royal editor at large for Harper's Bazaar and author of the Finding Freedom biography of the Sussexes, quoted a series of Meghan's friends who have stood up for her Meghan is pictured during her interview with Oprah Winfrey set to air on ITV next Monday In an article he also claims that the couple, who deny helping him with his book, 'knew that it would get ugly in the run up' before their Oprah Winfrey interview. The 'tell-all' two-hour conversation will be broadcast in the US on CBS this Sunday night at 1am UK time, before being shown in Britain on ITV on Monday from 9pm. Omid Scobie: Harper's Bazaar royal editor who left Heat after allegedly being called a 'P**i' Omid Scobie started his career on the celebrity magazine Heat before moving on to cover the royals. He is now royal editor at large for Harper's Bazaar. Born to a Scottish father who runs a marketing agency and an Iranian mother who works in child welfare, he said he left Heat after an executive is alleged to have called him a 'P**i'. He is a royal contributor for Good Morning America and host of ABC's royal podcast, 'The Heir Pod'. Mr Scobie has boasted of his exclusive access to Prince Harry and Meghan. Mr Scobie is co-author of Finding Freedom, a biography about Harry and Meghan He is described in the blurb for the Sussexes biography Finding Freedom as 'an authoritative voice on the lives and philanthropic endeavors of the Royal Family's younger members and maintains strong access to the Sussexes' working world'. Advertisement Writing in Harper's Bazaar, Mr Scobie quotes a anonymous friend of Meghan saying: 'I hate to say it, but find me a woman of colour in a senior position who has not been accused of being too angry, too scary, too whatever in the workplace. It's sad that it's happening, but I'm not surprised. These claims are so far from the woman I know.' Another said: 'Harry and Meghan knew that it would get ugly in the run up but seeing such an obvious attempt at destroying her character was distressing and upsetting.' It comes as the Duchess said she could not be expected to stay silent if the royal family played a part in 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry. A clip of Meghan making the remarks to Oprah Winfrey was released in the early hours of today, in which the Duchess added 'a lot ... has been lost already'. The couple's interview with the US chat show queen is expected to lift the lid on their short period as working royals before they stepped down for a life in America. In the 30-second clip released on social media, Oprah asks the Duchess: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' She replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I ... there is a lot that has been lost already.' 'The Firm' is widely considered to be shorthand for the institution of the royal family. The clip was released just hours after Buckingham Palace said last night it had launched an investigation into claims that the Duchess bullied former royal staff. Past and present employees are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and that staff were 'humiliated' on several occasions. The Times newspaper has reported that the duchess 'destroyed' one member of staff and another was left in tears before she departed. Meghans lawyers have vehemently denied she is a bully. The Queen, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the Buckingham Palace balcony in July 2018 Mr Scobie last night retweeted a series of positive messages backing the Duchess of Sussex There has long been speculation about the atmosphere in the Sussex household, after a number of staff left, and the newspaper chronicles what it describes as 'turmoil' within palace walls. Prince Philip has 'successful' heart surgery just months before 100th birthday The Duke of Edinburgh has undergone successful heart surgery - just three months before his 100th birthday. Buckingham Palace said Philip, the nation's longest-serving consort, had the procedure for his pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London yesterday. The Palace said the 99-year-old duke will remain in hospital for 'treatment, rest and recuperation' for a number of days. Concern will be heightened for the duke because of his advanced age, with the Duchess of Cornwall saying yesterday that Philip was 'slightly improving' and adding: 'We'll keep our fingers crossed.' The news was announced amid growing tensions within the royal family ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's controversial televised Oprah interview, with Meghan saying in an extract that she could not be expected to stay silent if The Firm played a part in 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry. Philip has been treated for heart problems in the past and in 2011 was rushed to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham after suffering chest pains as the royal family were preparing for Christmas. Advertisement Underlying Meghan's actions, the paper reports, was the view of a number of sources that she wanted to be a 'victim' so her 'unbearable experience' would convince Harry they had to leave the UK - something her lawyers have denied. The monarchy's 'men in grey suits' have been accused of being aware of the alleged actions of the duchess and of doing 'absolutely nothing to protect people'. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'We are clearly very concerned about allegations in the Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 'Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. 'The Royal Household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.' Meghan and Harry will not be part of the process as they are not staff, and it is understood the Palace hopes to start the investigation soon. Lawyers for the duke and duchess said the Sussexes believed staff were comfortable and happy. However, Jason Knauf, the couple's then communications secretary, made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff. A source suggested the attitude to the allegations was more about making them 'go away' rather than 'addressing' them, with the paper claiming that Mr Knauf's complaint was never progressed. Meghan's spokesman said: 'The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. 'She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.' Funding led by Summit Partners and Jungle Scout CEO Greg Mercer supports company's continued growth as Jungle Scout builds upon significant market momentum and announces acquisition of Amazon advertising technology company Downstream Impact. AUSTIN, Texas, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jungle Scout, a leading all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon, today announced it has raised $110 million in growth capital, led by Summit Partners and Jungle Scout Founder & CEO Greg Mercer. The capital supports Jungle Scout's continued growth as the company expands its technology suite with the acquisition of Seattle-based Downstream Impact, a leading Amazon advertising tech company, extends its SaaS platform to support Walmart, and continues to scale its capabilities in advertising and full-scale ecommerce brand management. "As an Amazon seller myself, I started Jungle Scout in 2015 to help other entrepreneurs find financial freedom on Amazon. We've grown profitably since day one, and we believe the opportunity only continues to grow," said Mercer. "Since 2015, we've worked to expand our product capabilities to help businesses manage every step of their selling journey from product research to launching and scaling their business ventures. Today, Jungle Scout serves a global customer base of entrepreneurs and brands focused on building a business on Amazon and beyond. We're continuing to deliver on our mission to empower the world's brands with essential insights to understand and sell in the evolving ecommerce marketplace." Accelerating Momentum As the world continues to turn to ecommerce, Jungle Scout and the businesses the company serves are experiencing strong growth. Today, Jungle Scout supports more than $8 billion in Amazon revenue and serves over 500,000 brands and entrepreneurs who are working to build successful businesses on Amazon. in Amazon revenue and serves over 500,000 brands and entrepreneurs who are working to build successful businesses on Amazon. The company's powerful data engine processes data from more than 500 million Amazon products, offering sales, keyword, and other trend insights to help brands, entrepreneurs, and agencies identify opportunities and sell successfully in the Amazon channel. In June 2020 , Jungle Scout introduced Cobalt, a market intelligence and product insights platform built to help enterprise brands win the Amazon channel. Cobalt processes more than 1 billion data points daily, and is designed to provide powerful intelligence, including extensive data on market share, segment and trend analysis, competitive insights, content optimization, and more. , Jungle Scout introduced Cobalt, a market intelligence and product insights platform built to help enterprise brands win the Amazon channel. Cobalt processes more than 1 billion data points daily, and is designed to provide powerful intelligence, including extensive data on market share, segment and trend analysis, competitive insights, content optimization, and more. The company continues to invest in future ecommerce platform growth, including expansion to Walmart.com. Today, Jungle Scout employs more than 200 team members across 16 countries and expects headcount to double in 2021. The company also opened its second and third offices in China , in Hangzhou and Qingdao , in addition to its office in Shenzhen. We believe Summit Partners' investment underscores the essential role Jungle Scout's powerful technology plays in helping both established brands and aspiring entrepreneurs build successful ecommerce businesses. "Jungle Scout was one of the first companies to identify the opportunity to provide SaaS-based tools to help businesses and brands expand their ecommerce footprints on Amazon and beyond, and the company has built on this leadership position over the last several years," said Neil Roseman, Technologist-in-Residence at Summit Partners and Jungle Scout Board Director. Roseman served as Vice President of Technology at Amazon from 1998 to 2007, where he helped lead the software development underlying many of Amazon's early marketplace and commerce capabilities. "We believe Jungle Scout's technology is robust and highly scalable, designed to help a company to grow as the Amazon third-party selling ecosystem has expanded. We believe the addition of Downstream Impact will add to this product and engineering strength, and we are thrilled to be a part of the company's growth journey." Expanding Platform: Jungle Scout Acquires Downstream Impact The addition of Amazon advertising software leader Downstream Impact ("Downstream") will support Jungle Scout's continued focus on providing essential data-driven insights to help brands and agencies excel in ecommerce. Downstream manages more than $250 million per year in Amazon advertising spend for some of the world's largest brands, including HP, Bic, and several leading global CPG companies. Its artificial intelligence-powered automation tools are designed to help brands optimize their advertising campaigns and glean insights to more effectively compete within the Amazon channel. "Advertising is a critical growth lever for brands that are seeking to be truly competitive on Amazon, but it's also an undeniable pain point," said Mercer. "Jungle Scout sought out the absolute best AI-powered advertising technology to add to our platform. We evaluated dozens of tools, and Downstream emerged as a clear leader for its capabilities in managing and optimizing Amazon advertising programs." Downstream was founded in 2017 by former Amazon employees Connor Folley (CEO) and Salim Hamed (CTO), both of whom worked closely with the Amazon advertising business and well-understood the need to provide insights for brands seeking to optimize advertising spend and stay competitive in a fast-changing ecommerce environment. Advertising is Amazon's fastest-growing business, representing nearly $21.5 billion in annual revenue in 2020, a 66% year-over-year increase.1 A Jungle Scout study of nearly 5,000 Amazon sellers reveals that 75% use at least one form of Amazon pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and that, for many, PPC is a critical investment area for 2021. But, sellers also cite managing PPC bids as a significant business challenge; Jungle Scout data indicates that 62% of sellers are concerned about increasing advertising costs on Amazon. "We've watched Amazon's advertising business grow faster than Google and Facebook combined over the past year, but effectively advertising on Amazon is challenging," said Downstream Co-Founder and CEO Connor Folley. "Downstream provides ad performance insight within the context of a brand's costs and budgets, giving a more comprehensive perspective designed to optimize ad campaigns. As part of the Jungle Scout platform, we believe we can help brands connect these insights to enhance their ecommerce strategies." 1Advertising revenue ("Other" revenue, predominantly advertising) from Amazon Investor Relations About Jungle Scout Jungle Scout is the leading all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon, supporting more than $8 billion in annual Amazon revenue. Founded in 2015 as the first Amazon product research tool, Jungle Scout today features a full suite of best-in-class business management solutions and powerful market intelligence resources to help entrepreneurs and brands manage their ecommerce businesses. Jungle Scout is headquartered in Austin, Texas and supports 10 global Amazon marketplaces. About Summit Partners Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm that is currently managing more than $23 billion in capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 500 companies in technology, healthcare and other growth industries. Summit has partnered with more than 30 companies across the e-commerce and consumer landscape. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see www.summitpartners.com or follow on LinkedIn. In the United States of America, Summit Partners operates as an SEC-registered investment advisor. In the United Kingdom, this document is issued by Summit Partners LLP, a firm authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Summit Partners LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC388179 and its registered office is at 11-12 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JJ, UK. This document is intended solely to provide information regarding Summit Partners' potential financing capabilities for prospective portfolio companies. Contact: Leslie Termuhlen press@junglescout.com 513-600-3353 Related Images image1.png downstream-impact.png Downstream Impact Downstream Impact is an Amazon advertising software platform which allows brands to better measure, manage, and optimize their presence on Amazon. connor-folley-and-salim-hamed.png Connor Folley and Salim Hamed Connor and Salim co-founded Downstream in 2017. greg-mercer.jpg Greg Mercer Greg Mercer is the founder and CEO of Jungle Scout. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. FBI Director Christopher Wray committed to greater transparency following intense questioning from Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island during a Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday. Senator Whitehouse joins "Red and Blue" anchor Elaine Quijano with more on how Congress can hold the bureau accountable. He also discusses intelligence failures leading up to the Capitol riot, and weighs in on how the U.S. can shift toward renewable energy while taking care of workers. Video Transcript ELAINE QUIJANO: FBI Director Christopher Wray is committing to sharing more information with lawmakers after the January attack on the Capitol. He appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, where he was questioned on the Bureau's handling of intelligence prior to the insurrection. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse blasted the FBI for failing to answer written questions from lawmakers in hearings involving FBI witnesses over the last four years. Wray initially tried to pin that lack of response on an elaborate inter-agency process. Here's what the Senator said-- SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: We had-- CHRISTOPHER WRAY: No question in my mind. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: --eight letters go unanswered. The oldest one, dated March of 2017. So if you think your process is working, we're not seeing it on our end. CHRISTOPHER WRAY: Well, I will commit to you that I will do what I can to improve the process. I am frustrated, as you are, and obviously we need to get better. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: Well, I will commit to you that I'm going to make sure that this gets done. ELAINE QUIJANO: And Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island joins me now. Senator, welcome. Thanks very much for being with us. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: Thanks. Good to be with you. ELAINE QUIJANO: So before we discuss the FBI, I did want to get your thoughts on some major political news. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing sexual harassment allegations. And today, he apologized, but said he will not resign. Do you think he should step down? Story continues SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: Well, I'm not a New Yorker, so it's not my call. I understand that the New York attorney general is looking into this. And I think whatever the outcome is of that investigation should inform any decision he makes. ELAINE QUIJANO: Let's turn to your questioning of FBI Director Wray on Tuesday. He did, as we said, express a willingness to share more information with lawmakers. If you are not satisfied though, Senator, with what you get, what might you consider doing? What are your options? SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: The courts, having expressed an unwillingness to enforce subpoenas by Congress, have directed us to look at withholding appropriations, stalling nominees, and using the other tools of legislative persuasion. I think that was a mistake by the courts. I think that if you can enforce a judicial subpoena, you should enforce a legislative subpoena just as readily. And that fair ground rules could be set for that. But that's what they said. So those are the tools that we have. And it's just not tolerable to have an agency of government, least of all a law enforcement agency, that won't answer questions for years at a time about its conduct. ELAINE QUIJANO: Given your experiences, Senator, do you have faith in the FBI? SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: On this? No, they're going to have to prove it to me. I've got a demonstrated record of categorical blockade of information. And I know-- because we just got 800 questions answered on behalf of Attorney General nominee Garland-- what they're capable of doing if they want to. And we saw them build a side road to funnel information to Republicans when Trump wanted the Crossfire Hurricane investigation investigated. So not only was it a blockade, it was a selective blockade, and that makes it all the more frustrating, and discouraging, and disappointing. ELAINE QUIJANO: Well, with respect to the handling of intelligence before January 6, have these hearings given you a better sense of where the actual breakdowns occurred? SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: I think we're going to need to continue to look into this. And I suspect that there's going to be a much broader solution than just like one little, specific, silver bullet that's the solution. It's very hard when you are getting boatloads of information into a Fusion Center that has to go through it, sort it out, analyze it, and figure out what it means, and narrow it so that the consumer of those services can actually take it in to solve that problem. I think it may be a resource problem. But certainly, when an FBI report out of Norfolk says that there's going to be a war, and that information doesn't get to the decision-makers protecting the Capitol, something has gone awry. ELAINE QUIJANO: I know you said it's not possible right now to sort of pinpoint one thing. You want to take sort of a broader view of things. But what I hear you saying when you talk about resources, sounds like perhaps more analysts might be necessary, to take in the volume of information that's coming in, with respect to possible threats. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: Yeah, and to speed up the turn around. It may be-- I think there are over 100 Joint Terrorism Task Forces around the country. It may be that we need to figure out how to solve this in a lot of different locations, so that there aren't logjams of information when something pops up in one JTTF's jurisdiction. So TBD on what the solution is, but we're going to continue to look into it until we're satisfied. ELAINE QUIJANO: Our time is running short here, Senator, but I wonder-- there has been talk about an ongoing threat on Capitol Hill. Do you feel safe on Capitol Hill? SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: I do. In fact, I'd like to see the barbed wire come down as soon as possible. As soon as the security professionals have come up with their plan. Not a great look for our great republic, to have its Capitol wreathed in barbed wire. ELAINE QUIJANO: Would you like to see the National Guard remain at their posts there? SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: I think I'd like to see the National Guard, and the barbed wire, and the fencing all come down as soon as possible. But I'm waiting for the security professionals to make their recommendations as to how to do that safely. ELAINE QUIJANO: And let's turn to climate change. You have presented your "Time to Wake Up" poster on the Senate floor nearly 300 times. What do you want to see from the Biden administration, and are they moving quickly enough on this issue? SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: Yes, I think they are. I think that they've got an all-hands-on-deck approach. I think even the non-climate cabinet members have been tasked to address climate change, to the extent that they can affect it from their positions. They've made very strong appointees, so I'm really happy with where they are right now. I think they'd be a few steps ahead if the slow process of getting nominees confirmed were accelerated. And you have to ask Mitch McConnell why he's not being more cooperative about more rapidly moving the nominees through. But I'm generally confident with what they're doing. I think that the Build Back Better bill is going to have a big climate component to it. And we're going to get to work on that with some real enthusiasm. And then comes Glasgow, the next Paris meeting-- the COP meeting-- in November. So this is going to be a very busy and active year, and I hope one that really turns the corner. ELAINE QUIJANO: And Senator, what do you say to Americans who might be watching and wondering about jobs, though? And the cost of a climate agenda that, in their view, they may view it as a potential threat to the jobs that they hold today. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: I think there are localized areas where the transition that is inevitably coming is going to be difficult for local economies, and for individuals who hold the jobs. If you repaired landline telephones, then you had a lot less work when the cell phones came along. And a similar transition is happening in energy, albeit a larger one. So we have to help the individuals in the localities who are inevitably going to have to change things when we shift from fossil fuel to cheaper, more efficient renewables. But writ large, what we're looking at, according to the best economic advice that we have-- you know, Nobel Prize-winning advice-- is that we'll actually be economic winners for solving the climate change problem, and we'll be economic losers if we don't. So we advance the economy of the United States, we advance jobs, and we advance wealth and well-being by taking care of this. But we also have to remember the people who transition's effect, and make sure that we take care of all of our American brothers and sisters. ELAINE QUIJANO: Well we know from polling that for young people, especially, climate change is an urgent and pressing issue. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. Thank you so much, Senator. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE: Pleasure to be with you. Bengaluru, March 4 : India has agreed to expand space cooperation with Italy by tapping opportunities in earth observation, space science, robotic and human exploration, the state-run Indian space agency said on Thursday. "At a bilateral meeting in virtual mode with the Italian Space Agency (ISA) on Wednesday, we have agreed to form thematic working groups to work on earth observation, space science and robotic and human exploration," said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in a statement here. The virtual meeting was presided over by ISRO Chairman K. Sivan and ISA President Giorgio Saccoccia. Expanding space cooperation with Italy comes days after India launched 637kg Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 on board PSLV-C51 rocket from ISRO's spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 90km northeast of Chennai on February 28. Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Marcos Pontes, who witnessed the launch at the spaceport, offered to step-up the space ties with India. "Brazil has requested India's support in procurement of material and systems for its launch vehicle programme," said the statement. Cooperation in space missions using ISRO's fourth stage of polar satellite launch vehicle's (PLSV) orbital platform for studying weather was discussed at the meeting with the Brazilian delegation. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 11:12:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Arab foreign ministers Wednesday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to swiftly start a criminal investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. In a resolution issued during the 155th ordinary session of the Arab League Council which was held here, the ministers called on the international community to pressure Israel not to obstruct the upcoming Palestinian general elections in East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories. The ministers also welcomed the ICC's decision on Feb. 5, which stipulated that the court's territorial jurisdiction in Palestine extends to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, paving the way for a criminal investigation. The ministers expressed support for holding an international conference to restart negotiations based on international resolutions, the land for peace principle and the two-state solution. They affirmed that any peace plan that is inconsistent with the international references of the Middle East peace process is rejected and will not succeed, rejecting any political or financial pressure exerted on the Palestinian people and its leadership aimed at imposing unfair solutions to the Palestinian issue. The ministers also condemned Israel's settlement measures and called on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities and stop the construction and expansion of settlements on occupied Palestinian land. Earlier on Wednesday, ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced she was launching a probe into alleged crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories, saying that the probe will be conducted "independently, impartially and objectively without fear or favor." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the ICC's war crimes investigation into Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories, accusing the court of "hypocrisy and anti-Semitism" and vowing to "fight for the truth." Enditem Renault Samsung is minded to halt night shifts from next week after recording its first loss in 11 years last year and losing the bulk of its production orders. The automaker already started taking applications for early retirement last month, and around 100 workers have applied so far. If not enough workers sign up voluntarily, the company is expected to furlough its 4,200 employees on rotation. The automaker's production plant in Busan manufactured 260,000 cars a year until 2017. But last year it made just 110,000, causing Renault Samsung a W70 billion deficit. Its production target for this year is only 100,000 vehicles. The founder of the Household of God Church, Chris Okotie, has reacted to the election of the newly elected national executive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), led by Wale Oke. In a terse message to the PFN National Secretariat in Lagos on Thursday, Mr Okotie said the Christian body has departed from its core values and is now a shadow of itself. PFN has become a clannish religious enterprise, Mr Okotie said in the statement issued by his media adviser, Ladi Ayodeji. It is akin to an amorphous political entity with a Christian silhouette. Leadership in the church of God is by divine appointment and not the whims and caprices of a disjointed assemblage of Episcopalian pacifists. The statement noted that Mr Okotie has, for years, been critical of the activities of the successive Presidents of the PFN over alleged compromise and unethical behaviour bordering on betrayal of the Christian cause, especially in their dealings with the political leadership of the country. As a result, the statement added, Mr Okotie, a former presidential aspirant, had always distanced himself from the activities of the Christian body, citing credibility issues. Some of the past presidents of the PFN include James Boyejo, Enoch Adeboye, Mike Okonkwo, Benson Idahosa, and Ayo Oritsejafor. Background Mr Oke of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries was elected Tuesday night as the seventh National President of the PFN for a four-year term. He was unanimously elected by the National Advisory Council (NAC) of PFN at its meeting in Enugu. Mr Oke, also the Proprietor, Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, Oyo State, succeeded Felix Omobude of the New Covenant Gospel Church. He was the immediate National Deputy President of PFN. Other elected officers were John Praise Daniel of Dominion Chapel, Abuja, who emerged as the National Deputy President; Cosmas Ilechukwu, of Charismatic Renewal Ministry, Owerri, became the National Secretary; Sam Aboyeji of the Foursquare Gospel Church emerged as the National Treasurer and John Ayodele of the RCCG, will serve as the National Auditor. In his acceptance speech, Mr Oke said his administration would make a difference to Nigeria in dire need of divine intervention. We plan to deploy massive prayers with effective fasting, massive evangelism with discipleship, uncompromised teaching of Gods word, coupled with the doing of it, massive social and charitable works and care for the needy, Mr Oke said in a statement by his media aide, Kayode Oladeji. We plan to mobilise youths massively and engage them in the Pentecostal traditions in order to tap into their potential for church and nation building. As we seek the Lord together, we shall listen to the Holy Spirit and do all that the Lord will lead and enable us to do by His Spirit. With the full cooperation and support of all of us, we shall make a real difference and bring a real change to a nation in dire need. ADVERTISEMENT Indeed, it is an unusual time for the whole world, and more for our nation that is at a crossroad at this hour. But with the help of the Lord, and by tapping into the grace and resources He has made available to us, as His children, we shall make a real difference to a nation in dire need of divine intervention. (NAN) By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/03/2021 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. viewers will see Paige Banks meet Chris Williams ' pregnant ex-fiancee Mercedes Myrick face-to-face on the show's next episode, and Paige has explained why she even agreed to the awkward conversation to begin with.'s upcoming twelfth-season episode airing Wednesday night at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime is going to feature Paige, Mercedes and Chris all sitting down together for an uncomfortable chat about the past and the future."I was never interested in meeting with Chris' ex fiancee," Paige told Ebony in a statement."There was no curiosity or intrigue in it for me in the least. The only reason I even agreed to the sit down is out of respect to the process."Given Chris had already asked Paige for a divorce at this stage in the experiment, Paige clarified, "This meeting had nothing to do with Chris.""I've made it very clear that I'm committed to the MAFS experience and to the journey -- and that's the only reason I accepted Chris's invite to meet the soon to be mother of his child," she concluded.Ebony obtained an exclusive clip of the love-triangle meeting, and both Paige and Mercedes appear to have handled themselves with class and grace."So, yeah, how far along are you?" Paige politely asks Mercedes."I'm about seven weeks now," Mercedes confirms.(As fans probably recall, Chris told Paige at the start of their Las Vegas honeymoon that he had discovered his ex-fiancee was about six weeks along in her pregnancy .)"Okay," Paige responds with a warm smile. "How are you feeling?""First and foremost, Paige, I just want to let you know I have no ill feelings towards you at all," Mercedes insists.But Paige asked Mercedes how it felt to find out Chris had suddenly signed up to marry a stranger on television."Did you know about the process and stuff?" Paige asks."No," Mercedes admits. "I found out after I told him I was pregnant... So I think 'shocking' is probably an understatement. I think I was more just, like, confused. I am still confused. There's a lot of confusion."Paige said she "could only imagine" because Chris had clearly slept with Mercedes only seven weeks prior."Y'all had a moment and then bam! He's married," Paige points out and laughs.Mercedes reiterated how she was feeling "a lot of confusion," and then Chris explained his intention for asking the two women to meet."[This was] not for any drama. I just wanted there to be clarity and just clear the air or whatever because this is my wife and this is the mother of my child," Chris says.Chris told Paige during their Las Vegas honeymoon it had been six weeks since he last interacted with his ex, whom he had been engaged to just three months before marrying a stranger in Summer 2020 on the show.Chris claimed he and Mercedes had split in May 2020, but he told his buddy and fellow MAFS star Vincent Morales , "That wasn't the last time we had sex, for sure."Chris said Mercedes had known about her pregnancy "for a few weeks" but didn't tell him right away."You think she's being honest with you?" Vincent asked."I don't know if she's being honest," Chris replied. "I'm almost 100% confident that it's mine."During a nice dinner out in Vegas with Paige, Chris revealed that he had been intimate with his ex-fiancee when they reunited for her father's funeral arrangements -- even though they were broken up and not on good terms at the time.Chris's decision to introduce Paige to Mercedes raises some questions since Chris had already asked Paige for a divorce and didn't seem to care much about her in the show's latest episode.On top of that, Chris said he was still in love with his ex-fiancee and wanted to reconcile with her so they could raise their child together in the same household."I was like, 'You didn't even give this a chance.' [Chris] wants to move forward and get a divorce! He already spoke to, like, a divorce attorney and everything. Like, I cannot believe this sh-t at all... I jut feel f-cking disgusted right now," Paige lamented on last week's MAFS broadcast "I feel disgusted for having any type of intimacy with this man. F-ck that! No! I am done, period! I'm done. This is bullsh-t!" Paige shouted."All that m-therf-cker dramatic-ass sh-t he done dragged me through? F-ck you! F-ck that b-tch!"During a subsequent chat between Paige and Pastor Cal, the expert noted Chris must have had sex with his ex during the MAFS casting process for the timeline to add up, and Paige replied, "Exactly! When we were knee-deep in this process. So I am thoroughly confused."Paige also revealed she and Chris continued to have sex during their time together on the show.Chris, who joined the therapy session late, explained the idea of another man raising his child was "tough" and this experiment made him realize that he was still in love with his ex."So I think it's best to separate and to divorce," Chris shared.Pastor Cal reminded Chris that he had broken up with his ex "for a reason," but Chris argued that his ex-fiancee was "an amazing woman."After a tense conversation, Chris whispered something in Paige's ear that made her smile."Chris is whispering in my ear that his fear is falling in love with me," Paige told the cameras.Paige left the therapy session feeling totally confused and emotional, and she asked herself, "Are we really, really done?"Following viewer backlash about Chris' treatment of Paige , MAFS expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz slammed Chris's actions as " offensive" and "appalling ," saying it was "a bad call" to cast him on Season 12 and there are "no excuses" for that.And Pastor Cal admitted he and his fellow experts were "flabbergasted" to learn about Chris's ex being pregnant.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now! The first coronavirus vaccines started going into the arms of New Jersey residents on Dec. 15, when there were only a few vaccination sites, and only health care workers and long-term residents were eligible. In January, as enrollment opened up to millions of more people, the vaccine hunt was on. Confronted by a chaotic maze of websites and a system that was not centralized, many residents were forced to spend hours scouring dozens and dozens of websites to find an appointment. Flash forward nearly three months and some of the same challenges still persist. But theres also no question New Jersey is doing better overall with the rollout, public health experts said. New Jersey is doing dramatically better, said Brian L. Strom, the chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. The rollout is hugely better, but theres still a long way to go. As of Wednesday, New Jersey had administered 2,166,452 total vaccinations, including 732,926 second doses. The state has received more than 2.5 million doses from the federal government, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It also has drastically increased its capacity to give out shots, vaccinating more than 77,000 residents in a single day last month. Moreover, the rollout continues expanding, with the state announcing Monday that educators, day care and transportation workers will become eligible to receive a vaccination shot starting March 15. Judy Lightfoot, the chief of infectious disease at Rowan University, agreed that New Jersey has picked up the pace in vaccinating residents. But she worried the state still isnt moving fast enough to find ways to vaccine residents in underserved, inner-city or even rural communities across New Jersey. The need to keep vaccinating New Jerseys nine million residents is especially critical considering the presence of several new and dangerous coronavirus variants. We still have room for improvement, Lightfoot said. Everywhere that is capable of giving a vaccine, they need to give it. We cant take our foot off the gas. New Jersey has slowly but steadily climbed in a state-by-state comparison of coronavirus vaccinations per 100,000 residents compiled by the CDC. As of Wednesday, it was wedged near the middle, checking in at No. 21 out of the 50 states. In terms of overall doses, New Jersey has vaccinated the 10th-most people of any state. Nancy Kearney, communications manager at the state department of health, pointed out that New Jersey announced it surpassed 2 million in overall vaccine doses Sunday, just 20 days after reaching 1 million overall doses. Vaccine supplies remain limited, and demand is high, Kearney said. Kearney also highlighted efforts the state is making to reach underserved communities, including a community-based partnership that includes 10 cities and vaccinations for over 34,000 residents. The state Health Department is also working on plans to have trained community health workers travel to community centers, churches and other sites to provide education and access to vaccination, Kearney said. The community health workers will be able to discuss key issues including that vaccine is provided at no cost and names and addresses will not be shared with immigration officials. While the data is showing a mixed story, anecdotal evidence is telling another. Scores of New Jersey residents, especially the elderly or those with technology limitations, are still griping about roadblocks in the vaccination system. Francine Forte, an 81-year-old retired public health worker from Belmar, called the states vaccination rollout system the most messed up situation I have ever experienced in my life. Forte said she spent nearly a month searching online for a vaccination appointment for her and her 84-year-old husband. At one point, she said she was stuck for days in a sign-up portal because she couldnt figure out how to upload her Medicare card. Im 81 years old! How do I know how to upload and download a Medicare card and this and that and everything else? Forte said. It was totally ridiculous. Forte said she feared she and her husband would die of anxiety due to our lack of skills using the computer. Our hearts cannot take the anxiety and tension. Paul H. Wegner, a New York resident, said he also spent more than a month trying to book an appointment for his 90-year-old father, who lives in central New Jersey. After growing so desperate he made a Twitter account and Tweeted his struggles at Gov. Phil Murphy, Wegner said he finally booked an appointment for his father last week through the Trenton City Health Department. I feel like my storys a lucky story, said Wegner, who also complained about never getting any COVID-19 updates even after signing up for the states automatic text updates. The rollout is tough, but it doesnt seem like theyve gotten even the easy stuff right. I understand the really hard stuff. But the easy stuff doesnt seem to have gone so well. Strom said theres a lot of frustrated people out there and its very understandable. But he shifted the blame mostly away from the state, saying the biggest roadblock remains a lack vaccination doses from the federal government. The inventory issue could improve soon the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine was authorized Sunday by the CDC, and New Jersey is expecting an initial shipment of 73,600 within days, Murphy said. The rate limiting step is vaccine. It is not the state, Strom said. The state as of a few weeks ago had the capacity to vaccine now 470,000 people a day, but with only getting 100,000 doses a week. So, the wait-limiting step is not vaccinators or vaccinating sites. The wait-limiting step is vaccine. Lightfoot added that New Jersey needs to make a major effort to get the vaccine to people who dont have easy access such as people in rural areas without transportation or residents in undocumented or inner-city communities. Lightfoot also said hoped to see most, if not all, doctors offices and urgent care centers across the state develop the ability to distribute the Johnson & Johnson vaccination which does not require the special refrigeration of the Pfizer and Moderna shots. Its just about accessibility, Lightfoot said. Anywhere where you can give a shot, give it. Strom said one area where the state could be doing better is the lack of an efficient, centralized online vaccination system. The state launched a registration site, but health systems said it didnt interface with their electronic records systems, so most sites have opted not to use it. Many residents said they pre-registered for the vaccine through the state system, but then made appointments elsewhere. That oftentimes sent them into a web of more than 200 vaccination sites, 90 phone numbers and 80 different websites to check and recheck for an open appointment. Thats a pain in the butt, Strom said. The ideal would be a single, centralized number where when you register online or call the number, youre then given an appointment and you dont need to go through the frustration of finding it yourself. Plus, if youre not computer savvy like some elderly people, or dont have access to a computer or the internet, booking remains a challenge. Still, Strom and others say the structure is in place to get the doses into arms. If New Jersey can secure more doses, he said he believes the numbers will continue to improve. The ultimate answer is having enough vaccine, he said. That would solve the problem. Our journalism needs your support. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook. New Orleans police officer Rodney Vicknair was in the emergency room last May with a 14-year-old girl he had driven in for a rape kit exam when he began showing her pictures on his cellphone. The images of a teenage girl in bikinis and lingerie, Vicknair allegedly said, were his daughter's modeling pictures. That's how Vicknair first started grooming the girl for months of inappropriate calls, texts and meetings that eventually led to him sexually assaulting and raping her, the girl's family alleges in a lawsuit. Vicknair was arrested in September and charged with sexual battery, indecent behavior with a juvenile and malfeasance in office over his conduct with the girl, and swiftly fired from the police department. Now, her family is alleging that the department didn't do enough to stop Vicknair, who had a history of complaints for predatory behavior toward women. Given that record, the 13-year veteran officer should have never been dispatched to the girl's reported rape scene last May, her family argues. "Officer Vicknair was a singularly bad choice for this task," the lawsuit filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana states. "He was not a member of NOPD's Special Victims or Child Abuse units, and he had a long list of citizen complaints of unprofessional and illegal conduct." The city, the New Orleans Police Department and the office of the superintendent did not immediately respond to messages from The Washington Post late on Wednesday. Vicknair also did not respond to a message. Vicknair, who joined the department in 2007, had a history of complaints filed by officers and civilians involving allegations of unauthorized force, verbal intimidation and failure to follow department policy, among other cases, according to the suit. In 2009, he was accused of using a woman's license plate to retrieve her personal information so he could summon her to his cruiser by name. The woman later filed a complaint with the Public Integrity Bureau and the department found he had acted "inappropriately." Last Memorial Day weekend, Vicknair was dispatched to a reported rape scene involving the 14-year-old girl. His task that day, the lawsuit states, was to take the girl to the hospital for a forensic medical examination. When the 14-year-old girl was back home with her mother later that night, the lawsuit states, Vicknair called and asked to speak with the girl. Vicknair shared his contact information with her and began asking her personal questions. During the next four months, Vicknair gained the girl's trust by telling her he was her "mentor" and a police officer whom she could trust, the lawsuit says. "He preyed on a single mother and her young daughter, a rape survivor, by positioning himself as a role model and protective male figure in their lives," Hope Phelps, the woman's attorney, told Vice News. "He then used that position to create distrust between them, isolating his target from her mother. He escalated from sexualizing the young girl to sexual assault and rape." On days when he was not calling or texting the girl, according to the suit, Vicknair would ask the girl to meet him inside his patrol vehicle outside her home. Other times, the lawsuit states, another officer would wait for him in the car while he visited her at home. Once inside the girl's home, Vicknair "would come up with pretexts" so he could be alone with her, the suit states. On one occasion, while the girl's mother left to get him a glass of water, Vicknair allegedly leered at the girl in a sexually aggressive way. That same day after leaving, he texted the girl to describe the sexual acts he was imagining while her mother was not present, according to the suit. Vicknair, who allegedly had sexually suggestive pictures of the girl as his phone's lock screen, asked her to send him explicit photos. Twice while video chatting, the suit states, Vicknair exposed his groin area and made sexual comments. Eventually, he began molesting her, the suit says. The 36-page lawsuit describes meetings where Vicknair groped the girl's buttocks and solicited sexual acts, which the girl refused. "Officer Vicknair repeatedly described sexual acts he would like to engage in with G.H. and suggested the fact that she was a minor would not stop him," the suit states. Then, twice inside his police vehicle, Vicknair inserted his fingers inside the girl's vagina, the lawsuit says. He was armed with his gun during both incidents, and after one attack, Vicknair allegedly took the girl's underwear. Days before the girl was raped a second time, the girl's mother reported Vicknair to the Office of the Independent Police Monitor for inappropriate behavior. But Vicknair, the suit states, was allowed to remain on the streets and rape again while an investigation was underway. When he was arrested in September at his home in St. Tammany Parish, the suit states, the girl's underwear was still in his possession. He was charged with sexual battery, indecent behavior with a juvenile and malfeasance in office and placed on emergency suspension, the New Orleans Police Department told WVUE. He was fired in January. Last week, Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, who is also a defendant in the suit, told WVUE that the agency has contacted the FBI to investigate potential civil rights violations. "As I stated from the moment this was brought to my attention, this type of behavior will not be tolerated," Ferguson said. "These actions violate the basic trust citizens should never have to worry about with their police department." The girl, who is now 15, and her mother are still reconstructing their lives months after the attacks, her attorney said. "What has happened to them is so traumatizing," Phelps told WVUE. "The cost of counseling and piecing your life back together after something like this. You know, your trust in police officers, and medical care providers, and anyone in a position of authority is broken. That's very damaging, especially at this young age." In an exemplary show of humanity, the UK-based charity organisation Khalsa Aid has yet again reached out to those in need. Keeping the rising temperature in mind, Khalsa Aid volunteers have set up air coolers, increased the supply of water, have distributed mosquito creams and repellants across farmers' protest sites. Khalsa Aid On Wednesday, volunteers of the charity group distributed mosquito repellent creams and mosquito nets across the protest sites in Delhi. With approaching summers are bringing new challenges with it. As mosquitoes are increasing, our teams are distributing mosquito repellent creams and mosquito nets across the protest sites. Thank you for supporting us!#farmersprotest #supportfarmers #khalsaaidindia pic.twitter.com/v4MMHOhPQI Khalsa Aid India (@khalsaaid_india) March 3, 2021 Helping in farmers beating the heat This came a day after the group increased the supply of water bottles considering the sudden onset of summer season. As the temperatures are rising faster than expected, our teams have increased water distribution drives across the protest site. Thank you for your consistent support.#farmersprotest #supportfarmers #kalsaaidindia #khalsaaid pic.twitter.com/feqwPSsm3O Khalsa Aid India (@khalsaaid_india) March 2, 2021 On Monday, volunteer teams could be seen unloading air coolers at Singhu border protest site where farmers have been agitating for more than two months now. Farmers have been demanding repulsion of the new controversial farm laws. Volunteer teams unloading Air coolers that came in earlier today for the shelter home at Singhu border. We are thankful to the sangat for their love and support.#farmersprotest #khalsaaidindia #khalsaaid pic.twitter.com/DwfpKEcvAC Khalsa Aid India (@khalsaaid_india) March 1, 2021 Recognise The Whole Human Race As One. Our sewa at the Delhi borders continues into its third month. Thank you for your support!#farmersprotest #supportfarmers #khalsaaidindia #khalsaaid pic.twitter.com/6IEaceiFvA Khalsa Aid India (@khalsaaid_india) March 1, 2021 This is not the first time Khalsa Aid has reached out to the farmers. Initially in December, they served langars but eventually set up camp with the farmers at the site of agitation. The NGO has also been running a 600-bed full-to-capacity night shelter along with the two 'Kisan Malls' which provide various items of daily use, such as inner wears, thermals, toothbrush and sanitary pads to those in need. Recent humanitarian work Volunteers of Khalsa Aid have reportedly been providing sanitary napkins for free to women. They also set up a foot massage centre for the convenience of the farmers, who are primarily old in age, protesting for months. ANI Only recently, the charity group reached out to those affected by a massive winter storm in Texas. The group distributed 500 meals and 300 blankets to those in need in Houston. Khalsa Aid India volunteer team was also sent at ground zero in Uttarakhand where people were stranded and stuck due to glacier disaster. According to statistics released by the UN Refugee Agency, half as many refugees returned to the occupied lands of Azerbaijan from Armenia on January 26, 2021 as the Russian Defense Ministry announced. The corresponding document was published on the UNHCR website on February 26. According to the information received by the international organization from the separatists, 24,993 refugees arrived from Yerevan to the Azerbaijani Khankendi by buses. At the same time, according to the information of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, there were 47,792 refugees. Thats one of the most ridiculous and frightening things Ive seen yet. But if youre interested in a serious take on the subject of whether theres racism in math, please find John McWhorters essay, Is it racist to expect Black kids to do math for real? McWhorter is a linguistics and music history teacher at Columbia University and contributing editor at The Atlantic. 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. In Has Asia Lost It? Dynamic Past, Turbulent Future well-known Asia expert Vasuki Shastry asserts that the Asian miracle has come to an end and the future will be turbulent because of slowing growth, stalled social mobility, gender disparity, and messy geopolitics. Asia has been the greatest show on earth since Japan's rise after World War II, followed in turn by the Asian tigers and the two giants China and India. The region's openness to trade and investment aligned perfectly with the tailwinds of globalisation. However, in recent years, Asia has become a victim of its own success with commentators not differentiating between a high income utopian Asia and a low-and-middle income dystopian Asia, where a majority of the population live. Covid-19 has exposed sharp weaknesses in the latter. Developing Asia's growth-obsessed policymakers have ignored social tensions and pressures from the impact of technology on jobs, rising inequality, and fabulous wealth accumulation by a rapacious billionaire class. In his penetrating new book, Vasuki Shastry argues that while Asia's reckoning may have been a subject of speculation before the pandemic, Covid-19 has made that inevitable. Inspired by Dante's Inferno, Vasuki Shastry takes readers on a journey through modern Asia's eight circles of hell, where we encounter urban cowboys and cowgirls fleeing rural areas to live in increasingly uninhabitable cities; disadvantaged teenage girls facing social strictures and discrimination; internal mutiny; and messy geopolitics from the rise of China. Shastry challenges conventional thinking about Asia's place in the world. ### Has Asia Lost It? Dynamic Past, Turbulent Future is an essential read for those with an interest in the continent's future and retails for US$28 / 25 (paperback) and US$68 / 60 (hardcover) and in electronic formats. To order or know more about the book, visit http://www. worldscientific. com/ worldscibooks/ 10. 1142/ 12044 . ### About the Author Vasuki Shastry is an associate fellow in the Asia Pacific program of Chatham House, the London think-tank, and runs a strategic communications and ESG consulting Firm in Washington D.C. Prior to this he worked in the public and private sector at the International Monetary Fund, Monetary Authority of Singapore, And Standard Chartered Bank. Shastry started his career as a journalist and was based in India, Singapore, and Indonesia. He covered the Asian financial crisis and the fall of Suharto, the subject of his first book Resurgent Indonesia: From Crisis To Confidence. About World Scientific Publishing Co. World Scientific Publishing is a leading international independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research and professional communities. World Scientific collaborates with prestigious organisations like the Nobel Foundation and US National Academies Press to bring high quality academic and professional content to researchers and academics worldwide. The company publishes about 600 books and over 140 journals in various fields annually. To find out more about World Scientific, please visit http://www. worldscientific. com . For more information, contact Amanda at heyun@wspc.com. Tirupati, March 4 : Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said there was a time when India was known as the Vishwa Guru (world guru) and urged students to regain the past glory. "We have had an illustrious past. There was a time when India was known as Vishwa Guru. We have to regain that past glory and make India a knowledge and education hub once again," said Naidu. He made these remarks at the sixth Institute Day celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Tirupati. He stressed that there is a need to increase the employability of engineering students. This observation strikes a chord in the southern state as thousands of engineering graduates are jobless and many engineering colleges shut. "More attention should be given to building a stronger academia-industry connection," Naidu noted. According to the Vice President, youth can play a transformative role when they are properly skilled, motivated and given the right opportunities. "Technological advancement is a key decisive factor in the development architecture of a country in today's world. We should ensure that science and technology improves the quality of our people's lives," Naidu observed. Later, he inaugurated a multispecialty hospital in the temple town and highlighted that quality healthcare is the right of every individual. "There is an urgent need to bridge the rural - urban divide in healthcare so that people in rural areas also get access to modern and state-of-the-art healthcare in their own villages," he said. The Vice President flew into the temple town from Chennai along with his wife Usha. He was welcomed by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Narayana Swamy and others at Tirupati airport. By Benjamin Jumbe The world wide fund for nature (WWF) has called for a ban on single use plastics. This comes as the organisation launches a keeping clean and green campaign running ahead of the world earth hour day to beheld on 27th March. Addressing journalists at media centre, the organisations country director David Duli says Ugandans must join the campaign to control plastic pollution in the country. He says the countrys development and prosperity depends on its natural capital hence the need to have everyone involved in protecting the environment. Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature held annually encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights, for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below 's ( ) Andrew Benitz joins Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam to discuss the future of their Greater Buchan Area project, in the North Sea. He explains to our Proactive audience their plans to launch a farm-out process, which he expect to be highly attractive to a wide range of oil companies in light of the project's scale, economics and low carbon potential. Benitz highlights the potential for 172mln barrels of oil resources to be developed from a fully electrified platform. New York, March 4 : Issuing a high alert about the growing dangers to the international system from China, President Joe Biden has called for building alliances with like-minded countries and said the US will deepen its ties with India. The Interim National Security Guidance he released on Wednesday singled out China as the only "competitor" capable of mounting a sustained challenge with its multifarious capabilities to the international order. He said in the document that the US will support China's neighbours and declared, "We will deepen our partnership with India." Introducing the document, he said it would "convey my vision for how America will engage with the world" and guide his administration while Washington begins work on a new National Security Strategy. He sketched a vision of a cooperative of democracies to face China, which "has rapidly become more assertive". He called Beijing "the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system". To counter this as well as the challenge from Russia, the US will have to "promote a favorable distribution of power to deter and prevent adversaries from directly threatening the United States and our allies, inhibiting access to the global commons, or dominating key regions", he said. "We can do none of this work alone. For that reason, we will reinvigorate and modernise our alliances and partnerships around the world," he said. "Our democratic alliances enable us to present a common front, produce a unified vision, and pool our strength to promote high standards, establish effective international rules, and hold countries like China to account," he said. Envisaging the framework for the alliance of democracies to face the China challenge, he said, "Beyond our core alliances, we will also double down on building partnerships throughout the world, because our strength is multiplied when we combine efforts to address common challenges, share costs, and widen the circle of cooperation." Biden drew attention to the risk from China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative that seeks to bring countries around the world, especially developing nations, under its economic dominance. To counter this Chinese programme, he said, "We will support China's neighbours and commercial partners in defending their rights to make independent political choices free of coercion or undue foreign influence. We will promote locally-led development to combat the manipulation of local priorities." China has set debt traps by making loans to countries for infrastructure projects that they cannot pay back in the long term and then has sought to take control of them. Biden also said, "Terrorism and violent extremism, both domestic and international, remain significant threats." At its core, though, the guidance is his own version of a kinder, gentler America First that seeks to strengthen the US the unparalleled world leader. "America is back. Diplomacy is back. Alliances are back. But we are not looking back," he said. "The United States must lead by the power of our example, and that will require hard work at home -- to fortify the founding pillars of our democracy, to truly address systemic racism, and to live up to our promise as a nation of immigrants," he said. "Our success will be a beacon to other democracies, whose freedom is intertwined with our own security, prosperity, and way of life." Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the Biden administration's foreign policy emphasising "that American leadership and engagement matter". In his address on "Foreign Policy for the American People", he said, "Whether we like it or not, the world does not organise itself. When the US pulls back, one of two things is likely to happen: either another country tries to take our place, but not in a way that advances our interests and values; or, maybe just as bad, no one steps up, and then we get chaos and all the dangers it creates. Either way, that's not good for America." On the economic front, Blinken echoed one of former President Donald Trump's constant refrains: "We will fight for every American job and for the rights, protections, and interests of all American workers." He also portrayed China as the main challenge to the US and world and stressed building alliances to meet it. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed It started with a rumour relayed over dinner with an old friend. She had said to me, that a group of people were spreading a rumour, that I had in some way offended against the person, 33 years ago, but... like rumours are... it was just in the vaguest terms, an ashen-faced Attorney-General told reporters on Wednesday. Attorney-General Christian Porter has denied historical rape allegations levelled against him. Credit:Trevor Collens The rumours had swept political and legal circles too. There were many names, many claims. At Parliament House, like a race track, rumours and conspiracies abound. Only a small number are ever proven. The first suggestions of something darker came ahead of the promotion of an ABC Four Corners episode Inside The Canberra Bubble. The November program had infuriated the Morrison government with claims of inappropriate behaviour from members of the cabinet, including Christian Porter. Earlier, Germanys domestic intelligence agency said RT was seeking to weaken trust in democratic institutions. Germany's Commerzbank on February 26 has notified Russia's propaganda media assets Russia Today Germany (RT DE) and Ruptly it was closing their accounts from May 31. That's according to MFA Russia's spokesperson Maria Zakharova, RIA Novosti reports. Zakharova warned Germany that the relevant "tough" measures would be taken in relation to German media operating in Russia in case Germany fails to provide "decent conditions" for the Russian propagandists' work. RT has been trying to find a replacement for Commerzbank, but several financial institutions, including Helaba, Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, BNP Paribas, ING, HSBC, UBS, and HypoVereinsbank, have either ignored RT's inquiries or refused to open accounts on its behalf. Earlier, Spiegel wrote that Germany was concerned over the influence of Russian propaganda TV. "With RT DE, Moscow wants to provide a platform for corona skeptics, right-wing populists and leftist fans of the Kremlin to destabilize democracy in Germany. Internal emails provide insights into the media organization," the publication wrote. Read also"We are fighting": Zelensky speaks of war on Russian propagandaRT DE, which had been called RT Deutsch until November, has been disseminating Kremlin-financed propaganda in Germany since 2014. Germanys domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which has been keeping an eye on the platform, says the outlet is seeking to weaken trust in democratic institutions. The agency says there are close links between the station and those seeking to undermine the democratic order in Germany in addition to conspiracy theorists. And it considers the news disseminated by RT DE to be part of a disinformation campaign orchestrated by the Russian state. Internal documents from the media platform that DER SPIEGEL has seen show the extent to which German staff are required to follow instructions from Moscow, and how political those instructions are. Reporting by UNIAN The core module of space station and the Long March 5B heavy-lift carrier rocket tasked with launching it have arrived in the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. [Photo/CCTV] China plans to launch the core module of its space station before the end of June, starting the construction of the nation's largest space-based asset, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The 20-metric-ton core module and the Long March 5B heavy-lift carrier rocket tasked with launching it have arrived in the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, the agency said in a statement on Thursday morning, adding that four groups of astronauts have been selected for the space station's construction and are undergoing training. The statement said that China is determined to open this station to international cooperation in science and technology. Chinese scientists and their counterparts from the United Nations have selected the first batch of scientific experiments proposed by foreign researchers that can be carried out inside the station. They are currently working on the implementation for those cooperative programs, according to the agency. The agency also noted that it is considering plans for China's manned lunar exploration program. China's most sophisticated space endeavor, the multimodule space station, named Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace, will be mainly composed of three components - a core module attached to two space laboratories - with a combined weight of more than 90 tons. The core module, named Tianhe, or Harmony of Heavens, is 16.6 meters long and has a diameter of 4.2 meters. It has three parts - a connecting section, a life-support and control section and a resources section. It will be central to the space station's operations, given that astronauts will live there and control the entire station from inside. The module will also be tasked with hosting scientific experiments. The entire station is expected to become fully operational next year and is set to operate for about 15 years, program planners have said. A vote on a motion to annul the controversial all-Wales nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) regulations has been narrowly lost in the Senedd. Plaid Cymrus Llyr Gruffydd, the shadow minister for rural affairs, proposed a motion to annul the water pollution regulations. The final vote was defeated by three votes, with 27 Members of the Senedd voting for the motion, 30 against and no abstentions. NFU Cymru said it was 'deeply disappointed' with the vote outcome, warning that the Welsh government had 'copied and pasted ineffective EU regulation' during the pandemic. The union has informed legal panel firm JCP Solicitors to question the lawfulness of the controversial water quality rules. An NVZ designation is now set to rolled out gradually across the whole of Wales starting from 1 April 2021. NVZs are areas within Wales that contain surface water or groundwater susceptible to nitrate pollution from agricultural activities. Agricultural pollution incidents 'remain very high', according to the Welsh government, averaging over three per week in the last three years. It said some of these had led to the contamination of drinking water sources and the destruction of plant and aquatic life in parts of waterways. But farming industry groups fear the new regulations pose a significant threat to the economic viability of Welsh farming. Over 11,000 farmers had sent e-mails to their Members of the Senedd highlighting their concerns, according to NFU Cymru. Responding to the vote on Wednesday (3 March), the union's president John Davies said farmers had 'deep anxiety' over the Welsh government's plans. Welsh government will need to explain to the industry and its advisers how it proposes to support farmers to comply with these regulations. "They have yet to publish any guidance despite the regulations coming into force in just over three weeks - this is unacceptable. "Despite what some have said, these regulations will impact on every farmer in every sector." He said new record keeping requirements would apply to every farming business and failure to comply would result in sanctions on that business. Some of Wales' most productive horticulture and arable businesses would be impacted, Mr Davies warned, as new limits would be placed on when and how much nutrient they can apply to their crops. He added that consequences would be felt across farming and the supply chain, with ramifications for other sectors. We remain committed to our work in promoting best practice and supporting farmers to tackle improvements in water quality where needed and we will continue to promote this through our communications channels. "Safeguarding and improving water quality remains a key priority for NFU Cymru but we are clear that our ambition will not be achieved through an all-Wales NVZ, he said. PORTLAND, Ore., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the largest branch and service area expansion in its history, OnPoint Community Credit Union announced today it will open four of the 20 new Fred Meyer branches this month. These new Oregon branches are in Cornelius, South Hillsboro, East Gresham and Sandy. With these four openings, OnPoint will operate 40 branches in communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington. OnPoint is also slated to open 16 additional branches within Fred Meyer locations across the region in 2021. "As the largest credit union in Oregon, we are always pursuing innovation and partnerships that value our members' time and help them achieve their financial goals," said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. "Our new Fred Meyer branches will provide these communities with quick and easy access to our financial resources and expertise at a time when they need it most. There's nothing more central to a community than its neighborhood grocery store, and we're honored to partner with Fred Meyer." Each in-store branch will offer members a complete suite of financial services, including membership enrollment, consumer and commercial lending, mortgages, financial planning, ATM and notarization. OnPoint's new branches will offer existing and new members special grand opening promotions through the end of the year, including a $200 bonus for new members.* With the opening of these four branches, OnPoint will create a total of 30 jobs across these local economies. Visit the Careers section of OnPoint's website to learn more about becoming part of the OnPoint team at one of the new in-store branches. Sandy Branch 16625 SE 362nd Dr., Sandy, OR 97055 Opening March 19, 2021 LeeAnn Baker has been with OnPoint since 2011 and will serve as the Branch Manager of the Sandy Branch. Baker has more than 18 years of experience in financial services. She and her husband, Dave, live in Sandy with their two children. OnPoint will donate $2,500 to Ant Farm Youth Services, a program helping children connect with the community and learn how to live healthily through educational assistance, job skill development, outdoor leisure and recreation, horticulture and art classes. Ant Farm Youth Services also runs the Sandy Farmers Market in the summer. East Gresham Branch 2497 SE Burnside Rd., Gresham, OR 97080 Opening March 20, 2021 Alyssa Gonzales will lead the East Gresham Branch as Branch Manager. Alyssa has more than 15 years of experience in financial services and has been with OnPoint since 2010. Gonzales and her husband, Brian, live in Gresham with their two children, Elias and Ariela. OnPoint will donate $2,500 to Family of Friends, which leverages the power of mentoring relationships in East Multnomah County to support positive self-identity and youth leadership, giving young people a platform to build the futures they want for themselves and their communities. Cornelius Branch 2200 Baseline St., Cornelius, OR 97113 Opening March 26, 2021 Marlen Mendoza has worked in financial services for 20 years, joining OnPoint in 2008, and will lead the Cornelius Branch. Mendoza and her husband live in Cornelius with their two sons. OnPoint will donate $2,500 to Centro Cultural of Washington County, which has served Latino families since 1972 with an ever-growing range of programs designed to create self-sufficient, engaged and active citizens. South Hillsboro Branch 6495 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy., Hillsboro, OR 97123 Opening March 27, 2021 Laurissa Bybee will serve as Branch Manager of the South Hillsboro Branch. Bybee brings 13 years of financial services experience to her new role, and has been with OnPoint since 2011. She and her husband, Kalib, live in Forest Grove with their cat, Jack. OnPoint will donate $2,500 to Capes & Crowns Foundation, which conducts inspiring photo sessions for children going through life-changing situations such as trauma, illness and disabilities. ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 420,000 members and with assets of $7.9 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union's membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932. *To qualify, individuals must open a new membership with a personal checking account and receive direct deposit of at least $500 to that account within 60 days of the open date. A bonus of $200 will be credited to their checking account approximately 60 days after new account is opened. Accounts must be open and in good standing at time of payout to receive bonus. As of 2/1/21, APY (annual percentage yield) for Interest Checking is 0.05%. APY is subject to change. $500 minimum balance for Interest Checking; no minimum balance for OnPoint Checking. When Interest Checking average monthly balance falls below $500, a $7 monthly service fee applies. Fees may reduce earnings. Bonus will be included on a 1099-INT for tax purposes. Cannot be combined with other offers for opening a new membership, such as OnPoint Savers or Refer a Friend. Offer only available at OnPoint Fred Meyer Branches. Offer valid through 12/31/21 and subject to change. Business bonus: To qualify, a new membership must be opened with a business checking account and receive $500 in deposits to that account within 60 days of the open date. A bonus of $200 will be credited to their business checking account approximately 60 days after new account is opened. Accounts must be open and in good standing at time of payout to receive bonus. Bonus will be included on a 1099-Int for tax purposes. Cannot be combined with other offers for opening a new membership, such as OnPoint Savers or Refer a Friend. Offer only available at OnPoint Fred Meyer Branches. Offer valid through 12/31/21 and subject to change. SOURCE OnPoint Community Credit Union Security footage has captured the bizarre moment a delivery man stole a HelloFresh meal kit from a family's doorstep just seconds after dropping off the package. The courier was filmed in hi-vis leaving the kit outside a home in Wavell Heights in Brisbane's northern suburbs in the early hours of Monday morning. He took a photo of the box on his phone but then walked off into the night with the parcel in his hands. The parcel's intended recipient Jamie said he received photos of his order time-stamped for 1.19am but was left confused when it was nowhere to be seen later that morning. 'That day my wife had a look through our security footage which is when she came across the video,' he told 7News. The father said HelloFresh sent him a standard response and offered a refund when he first complained. He added it was only when he gave them footage of the theft that they took him more seriously and referred the video to the police. Sharing footage of the theft on Facebook, he tagged HelloFresh in the caption along with the line 'delivered and undelivered!' 'It felt like they didnt understand the seriousness of the situation so I decided to share the video with HelloFresh via Facebook,' he said. Jamie said the courier's actions had been an inconvenience as it was difficult for him and his wife to leave the house while looking after young twins. Bizarre footage has captured the moment a delivery man stole a HelloFresh meal kit from a family's doorstep just seconds after dropping off the package and taking a photo of it HelloFresh has referred the video to police - who are investigating the matter but have yet to charge anyone HelloFresh said it is investigating the footage with its delivery partner. The German-based delivery company added it was discussing compensation with the customer. A Queensland Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the theft had been reported to them and it was still investigating the matter. No charges have yet been laid. 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 Townships Bunker Hill, Chestnut Ridge and Orchard Valley middle school recently presented their annual Dan Rozmes Spirit Awards during separate in-building presentations. The awards are named for the late Dan Rozmes, who worked for the district for more than 30 years as a teacher, guidance counselor and principal, who died in 2010 after a long battle with leukemia. Chestnut Ridge Middle Schools Giavanna DeVito, left, and Israel Harris are the schools Dan Rozmes Spirit Award winners.Washington Township School District This years winners are Delaney Schwartz and Sebastian Major from Bunker Hill; Giavanna DeVito and Israel Harris from Chestnut Ridge; and Angelina Alvarez and Owen Smith Orchard Valley. The eighth-grade students were chosen by their teachers, school counselors and administration for reflecting the characteristics that Rozmes promoted selflessness, charisma and an upbeat, positive approach to others. The Dan Rozmes Spirit Award winners at Orchard Valley Middle School are Angelina Alvarez , left, and Owen Smith.Washington Township School District Danny Rozmes Spirit Day will be celebrated on Friday, March 12, with a district-wide jeans day for staff to raise funds for Dan Rozmes Spirit Awards at the middle school level and the Dan Rozmes Good Guy and Good Girl awards at Washington Township High School. Send community news to south@njadvancemedia.com. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. 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 Eskom board has instructed the power utilitys executive management to pay particular attention to the procurement function to effect the required change, and deliver the expected savings as it implements its turnaround plan. This emerged on Wednesday after the State-owned enterprise met with Parliaments Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). Eskom was, in accordance with the meeting agenda, prepared to, but not asked to present information on its annual report and procurement deviations and expansions. SCOPA, however, decided at the meeting not to consider the Eskom annual accounts, but rather to defer the proceedings, in order to consider certain claims made by the suspended Chief Procurement Officer of Eskom, Solly Tshitangano, and to hear evidence from Tshitangano in person. Eskom reiterated its commitment to account to Parliament, as required by law. Procurement at Eskom has long been an area of particular concern to the Board of Eskom, as it has been, and continues to be, an area associated with state capture, the Eskom board said in a statement. During the meeting, Eskom said savings expected from procurement have failed to materialise, and as hearings at SCOPA have repeatedly evidenced, compliance with National Treasury requirements have not met the expectations of the Board with regard to good governance. The board has therefore encouraged and instructed the executive management of Eskom, including the Group Chief Executive, Andre de Ruyter, to pay particular attention to the procurement function to effect the required change, and deliver the expected savings, the board said. Progress in this regard, the statement reads, has been slower than the board would have liked to see, at least in part due to leadership lacunae in the procurement function. The board affirmed its support and confidence in the executive management of the company in instilling a high performance culture, including the application of appropriate consequence management, in accordance with Eskoms internal disciplinary processes. The board has complete faith in the companys internal processes and governance procedures to deliver a fair process and outcome on the matter of the suspended Chief Procurement Officer. The executive management team remains fully accountable to the board, and the board is confident that the management team is currently performing its critically important duties to restore Eskom to operational stability and a sustainable financial position, said the board. The board said it was unfortunate that over the past few weeks, a number of allegations have been put in the public domain and in the media, which, on the face of it, seek to influence internal operational and good governance processes by exerting pressure through structures outside of Eskom. The Eskom board said the allegations and the accompanying unwarranted attacks on Eskoms management team have the potential effect of distracting management from the critical role of restoring Eskom to operational effectiveness and financial stability. This is unfortunate, as Eskom is a critical and strategic asset of South Africa, on which the fortunes of the whole country and economy depend, the board said. They board said it was confident that management is executing its mandate to restructure the business, reduce the risk of loadshedding, and drive greater efficiency through cost savings, including from scrutinising existing and new procurement contracts. The board said it would continue to support and guide management in these efforts. In a bid to help strengthen the countrys gas infrastructure, London-based shipping firm Foresight Group is eyeing (SCI), to make it a leading liquefied (LNG) carrier in the world. With India having set target to increase its gas contribution in the energy basket, we see SCI playing a major role due to its strong presence in the tanker segment. It is this segment where we see strong business potential, Ravi Kumar Mehrotra, founder, promoter and executive chairman at Foresight Group International Limited told Business Standard. Foresight Group, in a consortium with Belgium-based Exmar NV and Dubai-based GMS, is one of the preliminary bidders for the national carrier as the government is looking to privatise SCI by selling 63.75 percent stake in the latter. currently makes up for 6.2 per cent of all energy consumed in the country. To cut dependence on polluting coal and liquid fuels, the government is targeting its share to rise to 15 per cent by 2030. To go to 15 percent share of gas in energy basket, SCI would need another 100 LNG carriers in addition to the already existing tanker fleet it has. We will be moving in this direction to reach the target set by the country, Mehrotra added. With a fleet size of 60 vessels, SCI has presence in container vessels, crude oil tankers, dry bulk carriers, LPG / ammonia carrier, multipurpose vessels, offshore supply vessels and product tankers. Of all the segments, the tanker business contributes the highest to SCI topline. In FY20, revenues from company's tanker business stood at Rs 2,958.19 crore, 66 percent of total Rs 4,479.33 crore. The company has 20 tanker and 13 product vessels with one gas carrier in its fleet as per March 31, 2020 annual report. We want to transition SCI from a conventional shipping company to specifically energy tonnage. India energy demand is expected to grow double digit and we are located between India and Dubai (which is between energy producer and consumer region) so we would like to map this trajectory and bridge this logistics, where SCI comes handy as the right platform, Manjari Mehrotra Seth, director at RK Mehrotra Holdings Limited. While the company's energy segment is strong, its bleeding bulk business cannot be ignored. Higher operating costs, weaker import demand in China and a supply side influx adversely affected the dry cargo market, said company's FY20 annual report. As per FY20 annual report of SCI, bulk revenue was 13 percent of the total standalone revenue of Rs 4479.33 crore for 15 bulk carriers. With regard to funding of acquisition, Seth informed that the kitty is ready and would largely comprise family trust, funding from consortium partners and also institutions. SCI is the only Indian shipping company engaged in transportation of LNG, a vital fuel for Indias power plant and chemical/petrochemical industry, says the company website. Though the enthusiasm for the national carrier divestment seems to be building, it is crucial to note that the company operates in a tax environment that is relatively unfriendly when compared to global market due to an asymmetric Goods & Services Tax (GST) policy that inadvertently favours foreign shipping Last week, former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, R, was inspired to donate a quarter-million dollars to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's war chest. The hefty donation came about a month after Rauner's ultrawealthy and exclusive community on the northern tip of Key Largo received enough coronavirus vaccine doses for 1,200 residents over the age of 65, according to a Miami Herald report on Wednesday evening. That vaccine access - at a time when many other elderly Floridians struggled to find doses - combined with donations to DeSantis by Rauner and more than a dozen other residents in the Ocean Reef Club have raised new concerns among critics of the Republican governor's handling of the pandemic. "This is wrong on so many levels," state Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Democrat who represents part of Miami-Dade County, said in a tweet Wednesday night. "Floridians life saving vaccines should NOT depend on a rich Zip code or how big your political contribution is!!!" Neither Rauner nor DeSantis immediately returned messages from The Washington Post late on Wednesday. The Ocean Reef Club and the medical center there also didn't respond to messages from The Post. DeSantis spokeswoman Meredith Beatrice told the Herald that the governor played no role in choosing the Ocean Reef Club as a vaccine site. "This was not a state supported senior community POD [point of distribution], nor was it requested by the governor,'' Beatrice said. "The state has utilized a variety of approaches including walk-up, drive-thru, and faith-based initiatives to ensure vaccine access to all eligible Floridians, particularly in underserved communities. These efforts have resulted in Florida vaccinating over 50% of our state's senior population - the highest of any state in the nation." It's not clear exactly how the vaccines ended up at the Ocean Reef Club. Statewide, DeSantis has taken a personal hand in directing "pop-up" vaccination centers, the Herald reported. Last month, that led to ire from both Democrats and Republicans after he organized one in a mostly White, affluent part of Manatee County and then threatened to take the vaccines away from counties where officials criticized his approach. "If Manatee County doesn't like us doing this, then we are totally fine with putting this in counties that want it," DeSantis said at a news conference in February. "We're totally happy to do that." Critics have also accused DeSantis of using the vaccine distribution plan to appeal to donors; he has raised more than $2.7 million in February alone since he began the "pop-up" clinics, the Herald reported. DeSantis has disputed those allegations, saying his office is simply prioritizing getting the vaccine to seniors. In January, health officials in the Florida Keys were urging seniors to stay patient. Since then, challenges with technology and limited vaccination sites have kept some eligible residents from getting vaccines. As of Wednesday, more than 12,100 doses had been given in Monroe County, which encompasses the Keys, according to the state's data. Ocean Reef Club is a high-security, gated community filled with luxury vacation homes. Homeowners pay annual membership fees to the Ocean Reef Club on top of the cost of their properties, which range from $900,000 condominiums to homes worth more than $10 million, according to the club's website. All 17 Key Largo residents who have contributed to the Friends of DeSantis committee over the past four years live in Ocean Reef Club properties, the Herald reported, though Rauner is the only one who has donated in 2021 after the coronavirus vaccine was distributed. By Jan. 22, 75 percent of the Club's 1,600 homeowners had been vaccinated, according to a community newsletter obtained by the Herald. The club acknowledged in that letter that it had received enough vaccines to provide two doses to each of the 1,200 members eligible to receive the shot. "We are fortunate to have received enough vaccines to ensure both the first and second for those vaccinated," the newsletter said, according to the Herald. "At this time, however, the majority of the State has not received an allocation of first doses of vaccines for this week and beyond, and the timing of any subsequent deliveries remains unclear." The revelations about Ocean Reef Club's vaccine access led some critics to highlight disparities between wealthy, largely White communities that have received a disproportionate number of vaccines and less affluent communities with more people of color that have suffered more dire consequences during the pandemic. "Want to see systemic racism in data?" Florida state Rep. Omari Hardy (D) said in a tweet Wednesday night. "Look at the vaccination rates by race for senior citizens in my county. 67% of white seniors. 34% of Black seniors. 31% of Hispanic seniors. It's hard to survive a pandemic while being Black or Hispanic in Ron DeSantis's Florida." Other Florida officials had already called for an investigation into DeSantis's vaccine plan. Nikki Fried, Florida's commissioner of agriculture and consumer services and the state's highest-ranking Democrat, wrote a scathing letter to members of the U.S. House on Mondayurging them to investigate the Florida governor for alleged "political favoritism." She said the governor may have acted improperly by putting "pop-up" sites in wealthy Zip codes, and cited accusations that DeSantis withheld vaccines from the largely Hispanic community of Hialeah, Fla., where the mayor has often criticized the governor. "These disturbing incidents are indicative of an inept distribution of vaccines at best, and corrupt political patronage at worst," Fried wrote on Monday. Following the Herald's report, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., demanded a federal investigation into DeSantis's vaccine rollout. "Yet another wealthy community connected to Governor DeSantis's political donors got to skip to the very front of the line for the COVID vaccine - in January," he wrote in a tweet. "The Department of Justice must investigate. Period." VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Group Ten Metals Inc. (TSXV:PGE)(OTCQB:PGEZF)(FSE:5D32) (the "Company" or "Group Ten") is pleased to announce results from the 2020 drill campaign at the Chrome Mountain target area of the Company's flagship Stillwater West Platinum Group Element ("PGE")-Ni-Cu-Co + Au project in Montana, USA. Intervals from 120 to 530 meters of continuous nickel and copper sulphide mineralization, enriched in palladium, platinum, rhodium, gold, and cobalt, were intercepted in the five drill holes starting at or near surface, with each hole also encountering higher-grade intervals over widths of 50 to 150 meters in addition to more selective high-grade intervals. These results further demonstrate the potential for multiple, large-scale, bulk tonnage "Platreef-style" horizons of battery metals and PGEs within the lower Stillwater complex, based on known parallels with South Africa's Bushveld complex. Work in 2020 included a five-hole, 1,822-meter (5,979 foot) drill campaign which focused on the Chrome Mountain target area, in follow-up to the previous campaigns which focused on the HGR and Camp target areas. The Company's drilling to date has had the primary objectives of driving the conversion of drill-defined mineralized zones towards formal mineral resources while also expanding areas of known mineralization at priority target areas. 2020 Chrome Mountain drill results are now being incorporated into 3D block models to progress the generation of formal mineral resources in parallel to the work underway at the HGR and Camp target areas, with an expected release of maiden resources for all three target areas by mid-2021. 2020 Drill Highlights: CM2020-04 returned strong mineralization across its entire length with 455 meters of 1.13 g/t Total Platinum Equivalent ("TotPtEq") , or 0.25% Total Nickel Equivalent ("TotNiEq") , starting at surface with multiple well-mineralized intervals that include two horizons of previously unidentified nickel sulphide mineralization of 8.5 meters of 8.20 g/t TotPtEq (or 1.79% TotNiEq) within a broader intercept of 54 meters of 2.58 g/t TotPtEq (0.57% TotNiEq) and, separately, 60 meters of 2.22 g/t TotPtEq (0.48% TotNiEq) . CM2020-05 returned strong nickel and PGE mineralization in multiple intercepts within 149 meters of 1.19 g/t TotPtEq ( 0.26% TotNiEq), including 11.6 meters of 2.80 g/t TotPtEq. CM2020-02 returned 126 meters of 1.33 g/t TotPtEq ( 0.29% TotNiEq) with multiple PGE-rich intervals including 24 meters of 2.76 g/t TotPtEq (0.60% TotNiEq), 6.1 meters of 4.50 g/t TotPtEq ( 0.98% TotNiEq), and 15 meters of 2.61 g/t TotPtEq (0.57% TotNiEq) . CM2020-03 returned 122 meters of 1.27 g/t TotPtEq ( 0.28% TotNiEq) including 6.1 meters of 3.51 g/t TotPtEq (0.77% TotNiEq). CM2020-01 returned 533 meters of 0.76 g/t TotPtEq ( 0.17% TotNiEq) for a total of 405 gram-meter TotPtEq grade-thickness , starting at surface and including 130 meters of 0.96 g/t TotPtEq ( 0.21% TotNiEq). Preliminary metallurgical assessments returned strong nickel tenor in sulphides in drill holes from the 2020 campaign. Historic initial bench-scale metallurgical results completed by AMAX in the 1970s at the Camp target area demonstrate the potential for effective nickel and copper sulphide flotation and PGE metal recovery. Sample collection for more detailed metallurgical testing is on-going. Rhodium was reported in all five drill holes at potential co-product levels with grades that are comparable to mines in South Africa. There is very little mine supply of rhodium outside of South Africa and Russia, and persistent multi-year supply deficits have priced rhodium at more than 20x the value of platinum. CEO Comment Michael Rowley, President and CEO, commented, "Our 2020 drill campaign exceeded our expectations, not only expanding drill-defined mineralization and driving the resource modeling effort at the priority Chrome Mountain target area, but also identifying multiple new well-mineralized horizons that feature wide intervals of battery metals, PGEs, and gold in previously untested areas. The high-grade nickel sulphide intercepts in hole CM2020-04 are particularly exciting as they represent very high nickel tenor horizons in a new discovery that is open for expansion. This was our first test of a fraction of the targets identified in our 77 line-kilometer 2020 IP geophysical survey, and the success of this program is a strong demonstration of its effectiveness in targeting new discoveries with both grade and scale. The results also speak to the extraordinary size and potential of the lower Stillwater complex, with impressive "Platreef-style" battery metal and PGE mineralization in each hole featuring intercepts that are hundreds of meters in width. The strategic importance of a U.S.-based large-scale battery metal asset like Stillwater West to contribute towards the growing needs of manufacturers like Tesla while also supplying PGEs to emerging fuel cell manufacturers in North America leverages the value of this critical resource. We look forward to further announcements including our plans for 2021, which we anticipate will include our largest exploration program to date, and the delivery of maiden resource estimates, currently targeted for summer 2021." TABLE 1 - Highlight Drill Intercepts from the 2020 Drill Campaign at Chrome Mountain Highlight intercepts with grade-thickness values over 25 gram-meter TotPtEq are presented above. Total Platinum Equivalent (TotPtEq g/t) and Total Nickel Equivalent (TotNiEq %) calculations reflect total gross metal content using metals prices as follows (all USD): $6.00/lb nickel (Ni), $3.00/lb copper (Cu), $20.00/lb cobalt (Co), $900/oz platinum (Pt), $1,650/oz palladium (Pd), $1,500/oz gold (Au), and $7,000/oz rhodium (Rh). Values have not been adjusted to reflect metallurgical recoveries. Total metal equivalent values include both base and precious metals. Total platinum equivalent grade-thickness was determined by multiplying the thickness (in meters) by the Total Platinum Equivalent grade (in grams/tonne) to provide gram-meter values (gram-meter) as shown. Total nickel equivalent grade-thickness was determined by multiplying the thickness (in meters) by the Total Nickel Equivalent grade (in percent) to provide percent-meter values as shown. Grade-thickness values have been determined across continuously mineralized intervals. Nickel equivalent values may be converted to copper equivalent values by multiplying the NiEq value by the price ratio of the two (ie times two per the above prices), such that 0.5% NiEq equates to 1.0% CuEq. Platinum equivalent has been used based on the historic values of platinum and palladium. Platinum equivalent values may be converted to palladium equivalent values by multiplying the PtEq value by the price ratio of the two (ie times 0.55 per the above prices), such that 1 g/t PtEq equates to 0.55 g/t PdEq. Intervals are reported as drilled widths and are believed to be representative of true widths. Upcoming Events Company Webinar - Group Ten Metals is hosting a webinar on Thursday March 4th at 8am PST (11am EST) to discuss results from the 2020 drill campaign and emerging plans for 2021. For more information including registration, please click here. PDAC 2021 - The Company will be presenting at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada International Convention on March 10, 2021 in a technical session focused on the global supply of battery and platinum group metals. More information is available here: https://www.pdac.ca/convention/programming/technical-program/sessions/technical-program/global-supply-of-battery-and-platinum-group-metals Discussion Group Ten is targeting world-class deposits of PGEs, battery metals, and gold in the famously metal-rich and productive Stillwater mining district, where the Company is focused on the lower Stillwater complex based on known parallels with South Africa's Platreef district. The mines of the Platreef, on the north limb of the Bushveld complex, are among the largest and most profitable in the world. Led by the development of Anglo American's Mogalakwena mines in the 1990s, the district has grown to include Ivanhoe's Platreef mine and Platinum Group Metals' Waterberg project, and now hosts over 400 million ounces of PGEs and gold, and tens of billions of pounds of nickel and copper. The massive deposits of the Platreef are attractive because their scale and grade allow the application of mechanized bulk mining methods with resulting economies of scale and low operating costs. These deposits contain significant quantities of both battery grade nickel and platinum group metals in a combination that is globally very rare, and very attractive at current commodity prices. Group Ten's location adjacent to and stratigraphically below Sibanye-Stillwater's J-M Reef deposit - the highest-grade PGE deposit in the world, and the largest outside of Africa and Russia - directly parallels the setting of mines on the Platreef, which are similarly located below the productive Merensky and UG2 Reefs in the layered stratigraphy of the Bushveld complex. As shown in Figure 1, the Company's 61-square-kilometer land position, 100% owned by Group Ten, includes eight multi-kilometer-scale "Platreef-style" target areas in the lower Stillwater complex, and six target areas with more conventional "Reef-type" targets. Resource modeling of Platreef-style mineralization is now in progress at the Chrome Mountain, Camp, and HGR target areas, driven by results from Group Ten's 2020 and 2019 drill campaigns and more than 31,000 meters of total drill data across the project. As shown in Figure 1, drill data in these areas delineates thick intervals of continuous mineralization, starting at or near surface in most areas, and running from 1 to 1.5 kilometers in strike length at each of the target areas, and occurs within broader geophysical and geochemical (metal-in-soil) anomalies. Mineralization is open to expansion at all three targets with geophysical anomalies from ground-based IP and airborne EM indicating significant extension potential along trend and to depth. The Company is also advancing two other target areas with drill-defined mineralization, the Pine and Crescent target areas. The Pine target includes drill-defined high-grade gold and PGEs within a largely untested conductive high that reaches two kilometers to the west and is coincident with high-level metal-in-soil anomalies. Group Ten's 2020 drill campaign focused on the Discovery, Dunite Ridge, and Bald Hills targets in the Chrome Mountain area, in follow-up to the previous campaign which focused on the HGR and Camp target areas. Table 1 presents a summary of continuous mineralized intervals from 2020 drill results including their corresponding grade thickness values which are some of the highest intercepted to date in the Stillwater Complex. Grade-thickness values are used for comparing the strength of mineralization across different mineralized widths. A grade-thickness value of 25 gram-meter (equivalent to 1 g/t Pt over 25 meters, or 25 g/t Pt over 1 meter) or more is considered economically significant, with the adjacent J-M Reef mines averaging approximately 34 gram-meter Pd and Pt1,2. Values over 100 gram-meter are exceptional, highlighting the strength of the mineralized system. Results expanded known mineralization at the advanced Discovery target area and identified multiple new mineralized horizons to the south and southeast of Discovery that are open for expansion in subsequent campaigns. Hole CM2020-01 expanded Hybrid Unit mineralization in the developing resource model at the Discovery target while also targeting also deeper geophysical anomalies identified in the 2020 IP survey. Mineralization at the Hybrid Unit is now defined by eleven drill holes at the Discovery target that delineate a mineralized zone of a type not identified previously in the Stillwater Complex, but known at the Platreef (see December 17, 2018 and February 21, 2019 news releases). Mineralized over its entire 533-meter length, CM2020-01 returned an impressive 404.6 gram-meter TotPtEq total grade-thickness. High-grade platinum values are demonstrated over shorter intervals, with wide intervals such as 9.8 meters at 0.51 g/t Pt demonstrating size. The Pt:Pd ratio is platinum-rich in hole CM2020-01, which is unusual for the normally palladium-rich Stillwater complex. CM2020-01 also returned high-grade gold with 2.44 meters at 2.49 g/t Au starting at 6.1 meters. Holes CM2020-02 and 03 targeted high-grade PGE mineralization seen in surface samples and supported by other work, while also targeting deeper geophysical anomalies identified in the 2020 IP survey. Both holes returned higher-grade mineralization across more than 120 meters starting near surface, while also returning PGE-rich intervals within previously unidentified nickel and copper sulphide horizons. Robust battery metal grades were also noted in shorter intervals in CM2020-02, including 4.1 meters of 0.81% NiEq (as 0.58% Ni, 0.17% Cu, and 0.042% Co), plus PGEs totaling 1.12 g/t PtEq, starting at 60.8 meters. Multiple intervals demonstrated attractive nickel tenor with >3.4% Ni in sulphides reported in preliminary work. CM2020-04 was completed mid-way between Discovery and Dunite Ridge to test an undrilled portion of a large and continuous IP anomaly identified in the 2020 IP survey, as corroborated by coincident anomalies in earlier work. The hole is an offset of historic hole 355-49, drilled by AMAX in 1973, which was a 227-meter vertical hole that returned increasing nickel and copper results downhole with limited assay data. CM2020-04 returned impressive precious and base metal mineralization across its entire length, starting at surface and including two very compelling intervals of nickel-rich sulphides with important potential co-product grades of palladium, platinum, gold, rhodium, copper, and cobalt. High-grade gold, palladium, nickel, and cobalt were also reported over shorter intervals in CM2020-04. With an impressive 515.4 gram-meter TotPtEq grade-thickness, CM2020-04 ranks as one of the best mineralized intercepts ever drilled in the Stillwater district, second to 517.7 gram-meter TotPtEq in hole IM2019-03, which was drilled over 7km to the west at the HGR target at Iron Mountain in Group Ten's 2019 drill campaign. CM2020-05, completed in the Bald Hills target area, targeted mineralization that was identified in the 2020 IP survey and corroborated with coincident anomalies in earlier work. The hole returned strong nickel and PGE mineralization in multiple intercepts that include the identification of a new PGE-rich horizon with rhodium values of 0.083 g/t over 11.6 meters that are comparable to mine grades in South Africa's Platreef district and equivalent to >1.6 g/t Pt at current spot prices. This interval also returned a near-balanced Pt:Pd ratio with 0.41 g/t Pt and 0.54 g/t Pd, which is a departure from the normally palladium-rich values seen at Stillwater. High-grade battery metals were also noted in CM2020-05, and several intervals returned good nickel tenor of the sulphides, with values over 3% Ni in preliminary analysis. About Stillwater West and East The Stillwater West and East PGE-Ni-Cu-Co + Au projects position Group Ten as the second-largest landholder in the Stillwater Complex, adjoining and adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater's Stillwater, East Boulder, and Blitz PGE mines in south-central Montana, USA1. The Stillwater Complex is recognized as one of the top regions in the world for PGE-Ni-Cu-Co mineralization, alongside the Bushveld Complex and Great Dyke in southern Africa, which are similar layered intrusions. The J-M Reef, and other PGE-enriched sulphide horizons in the Stillwater Complex, share many similarities with the highly prolific Merensky and UG2 Reefs in the Bushveld Complex. At the same time, the lower part of the Stillwater Complex also shows the potential for much larger scale disseminated and high-sulphide PGE-Ni-Cu-Co deposits, similar to the Platreef in the Bushveld Complex3. Group Ten's Stillwater projects cover the lower part of the Stillwater Complex along with the Picket Pin PGE Reef-type deposit in the upper portion and includes extensive historic data, including soil and rock geochemistry, geophysical surveys, geologic mapping, and historic drilling. About Group Ten Metals Inc. Group Ten Metals Inc. is a TSX-V-listed Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the development of high-quality platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, cobalt, and gold exploration assets in top North American mining jurisdictions. The Company's core asset is the Stillwater West PGE-Ni-Cu-Co + Au project adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater's high-grade PGE mines in Montana, USA. Group Ten also holds the high-grade Black Lake-Drayton Gold project adjacent to Treasury Metals' development-stage Goliath Gold Complex in northwest Ontario, and the Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu-Co project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinum's Wellgreen deposit in Canada's Yukon Territory. About the Metallic Group of Companies The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfield assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry's highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon's high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Group Ten Metals in the Stillwater PGM-nickel-copper district of Montana, and Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon's Minto copper district. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry's leading explorers/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTC, and Frankfurt stock exchanges. Note 1: References to adjoining properties are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the exploration potential, extent, or nature of mineralization or potential future results of the Company's projects. Note 2: Based on Sibanye-Stillwater's 2018 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Report. Note 3: Magmatic Ore Deposits in Layered Intrusions-Descriptive Model for Reef-Type PGE and Contact-Type Cu-Ni-PGE Deposits, Michael Zientek, USGS Open-File Report 2012-1010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director Email: info@grouptenmetals.com Phone: (604) 357 4790 Web: http://grouptenmetals.com Toll Free: (888) 432 0075 Quality Control and Quality Assurance 2020 drill core samples were analyzed by ACT Labs in Vancouver, B.C. Sample preparation: crush (< 7 kg) up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g) and pulverize (mild steel) to 95% passing 105 m included cleaner sand. Gold, platinum, and palladium were analyzed by fire assay (1C-OES) with ICP finish. Rhodium was analyzed by fire assay (1C Rhodium). Selected major and trace elements were analyzed by peroxide fusion with 8-Peroxide ICP-OES finish to insure complete dissolution of resistate minerals. Mr. Mike Ostenson, P.Geo., is the qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, and he has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing of the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, titlefuture driling actiivities and the locations of such drilling, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Group Ten 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 the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Group Ten and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.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. SOURCE: Group Ten Metals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633301/Group-Ten-Drills-High-Grade-Nickel-PGE-in-Montana Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 HOUSTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA) today announced the redemption of all outstanding shares of its 12% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 12% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The company funded the redemption of its preferred stock using $1.97 million of proceeds from sales of common stock under its At-the-Market Sales Issuance Agreement. John Terwilliger, President and Chief Financial Officer of Houston American, stated "Proceeds from the sale of shares under our ATM program has positioned us to meet our expected capital requirements for the foreseeable future while also providing adequate capital to redeem our outstanding preferred stock, eliminating approximately $230,000 of annual dividend obligations. With our now simple debt-free capital structure and cash on hand, we are well positioned to fund our efforts to acquire, drill and develop prospects with a view to growing our reserves and production." About Houston American Energy Corp. Based in Houston, Texas, Houston American Energy Corp. is a publicly-traded independent energy company with interests in oil and natural gas wells, minerals and prospects. The Company's business strategy includes a property mix of producing and non-producing assets with a focus on the Permian Basin in Texas, Louisiana and Colombia. Forward-Looking Statements The information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate, including statements regarding our ability to meet our capital requirements for the foreseeable future and our ability to acquire, drill and develop prospects and grow reserves and production. Our ability to fund the acquisition, drilling and development of prospect and to grow reserves and production is subject to numerous risk factors, including our dependence upon third party operators and suppliers to perform within the planned time frame and within budget, the availability of rigs and services necessary to conduct drilling operations and the actual results of operations, among other risks described in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For additional information, view the company's website at www.houstonamerican.com or contact Houston American Energy Corp. at (713) 222-6966. SOURCE Houston American Energy Corp. Related Links http://houstonamerican.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) Petitioners against the Anti-Terrorism Act on Thursday called on the Supreme Court to take action following Wednesdays attack on one of their counsels, human rights lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen, who was stabbed by two unidentified men in Iloilo City. In a joint statement, nine of the counsels and petitioners urged the high court to finally issue a temporary restraining order to stop the implementation of the dreaded law. Lawyer Howard Calleja noted that they have been waiting for a TRO since July, when President Rodrigo Duterte signed the anti-terrorism law. The Supreme Court is now holding oral arguments on petitions seeking to junk it for alleged constitutional violations. The issuance of a TRO on the enforcement of the ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act) pending the final adjudication of the 37 petitions could help address the worsening situation, Calleja said, reading the petitioners statement in an online media briefing. According to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Guillen sustained two stab wounds on his head and back. The masked assailants reportedly used screwdrivers during the attack on Wednesday night. The petitioners said this is not the first time a lawyer was harassed or attacked, but this should be the last. At least 54 lawyers and judges have been killed since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016, according to the IBP. Womens rights lawyer Evalyn Ursua, who suspects she has been under surveillance by state forces as evidenced by motorcycle riding-in-tandem taking photos of her house and phone calls from unknown individuals, said there should be a prevention and institutional response from the Supreme Court. Under kami ng jurisdiction ng Supreme Court. Nadi-discipline kami ng Supreme Court. Supreme Court talaga ang principally dapat may gagawin. Kailangan yung Supreme Court ang magko-coordinate or magdedemand ng accountability sa executive branch, Ursua said. "Hindi 'yung mag-aantay pa ng sunod na mamatay o sunod na maaatake." [Translation: We are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. It can discipline us. The Supreme Court really has to do something. It should coordinate or demand accountability from the executive branch. It should not wait for another killing or attack] Hinihintay ko ang statement sa ating fellow lawyer na si Presidente. Kasi importante na may message mula sa Presidente ng Pilipinas para tumigil na itong mga atake na ito sa mga abogado, she added. [Translation: I am waiting for the statement of the President, a fellow laywer. It's important that there's a message from the President of the Philippines to stop the attacks against lawyers.] IBP President Domingo Cayosa said the high court should also push for the speedy resolution of cases involving crimes against lawyers, so it could serve as a deterrent. The Department of Justice has a task force on lawyers killings, Cayosa said, and the IBP has requested the agency to allow them to send an official for representation. A private lawyer from groups that have fallen victims to attacks and harassment could also join the government task force, he said. He said the department agreed, but the IBP is still waiting for an invitation. In a statement, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he's waiting for Guillen's statement before referring his case to the Administrative Order 35 Task Force, or the task force against extrajudicial killings, and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons. The task force can step in if Guillen "has good reason to believe that its related to his advocacies," he said. In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque condemned Guillen's stabbing and said the police and the National Bureau of Investigation should hunt down the suspects. The IBP hopes a summit on lawyers security can be held before Chief Justice Disodado Peralta retires on March 27. Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman is calling on colleagues in Congress to pass a bill to protect human rights defenders. [March 04, 2021] GigNet to Open New Sales and Customer Service Offices in Puerto Aventuras and Tulum, Mexico and Expands Cancun Headquarters GigNet, a leading digital infrastructure company for the Mexican Caribbean, announced today the expansion of its primary sales and network operations center in Cancun, and the opening of two new sales and customer service offices in Puerto Aventuras and Tulum. The Company is expanding its presence in these key markets as a response to customer demand for GigNet's secure, high-speed fiber optic network services. "This year has been a year of rapid growth and we believe that along with our advanced network, customer service is our biggest differentiator. With this additional local presence we will be able to increase our already fast response times for new customer sign-ups and installations," said Mark Carney OBE, President of GigNet Mexico. "Our new office in Puerto Aventuras, the first GigNet "Smart Community," will assist residents and businesses to utilize the power of our network for enhanced ability to connect with family and friends, work emotely, and access services such as education, telemedicine, and smart home applications. Our new sales office in Tulum is in response to rapid growth and demand for broadband service from hotels, restaurants, enterprises and residential customers in one of the fastest growing areas of the Mexican Caribbean." GigNet operates an advanced fiber-optic broadband network from Costa Mujeres, north of Cancun, to the hotel zone in Tulum, targeting the hospitality industry, enterprises, and major planned communities. GigNet enables an expanding and robust digital experience to the Mexican Caribbean and invests its own capital to bring dedicated high-speed bandwidth and other services to customers including Internet access, a seamless roaming Wi-Fi solution, and other advanced digital services for connectivity, security, and commerce. ABOUT GIGNET GigNet is the Mexican Caribbean brand of GigNet, Inc., a U.S. based international Digital Infrastructure company. Through its Mexico operating subsidiaries, GigNet, S.A. de C.V., and Sanalto Redes Peninsular, S.A.P.I. de C.V., the Company is a fully licensed telecommunications provider in Mexico. GigNet is actively adding customers to its extensive regional broadband network in the Mexican Caribbean, one of the largest and fastest growing tourism destinations in the world with over 25 million annual airport visitors. GigNet is a leader in the digital transformation of the region. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304006100/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (CNN) At least 38 people were killed at pro-democracy protests in Myanmar on Wednesday, the UN's Special Envoy to the country told a briefing Wednesday, in the deadliest day of violence since a military coup on February 1. Thousands of protesters in towns and cities across the Southeast Asian nation have taken to the streets over the past four weeks. Security forces have opened live fire, used tear gas, flash bangs and stun grenades on demonstrators in recent days. "Today was the bloodiest day since the coup happened," Special Envoy Christine Schraner Burgener said, adding that the total death toll since February 1 was now 50. Around 1,200 people have been detained, while many relatives are unsure where they are being held, Burgener said. "Every tool available is needed now to stop this situation," she said. "We need a unity of the international community, so it's up to the member states to take the right measures." CNN reached out to the ruling military regime via email but has not yet received a response. Protesters have for weeks been demanding the release of democratically elected officials, including the country's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who are currently in detention. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party (NLD) won a landslide victory in November elections; military leaders allege voter fraud but have provided no proof for their claim. World leaders have called for Myanmar's elected leaders to be restored. "The use of lethal force against peaceful protestors and arbitrary arrests is unacceptable," read a Feb. 28 statement by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman, which also urged the international community to "send a clear signal to the military that it must respect the will of the people of Myanmar as expressed through the election." A speech by Myanmar's Ambassador to the UN Kyaw Moe Tun prompted rare applause last week, after he said that he represents the country's civlian government and called on the international community to use "any means necessary" to help end the coup. On Wednesday, a deputy ambassador from Myanmar, U Tin Maung Naing, resigned after military rulers named him to replace the outspoken Kyaw Moe Tun. Pope Francis also weighed in on the deteriorating situation in Myanmar on Wednesday, appealing for the release of political prisoners in the country and for an end to the violence. "I appeal also to the international community to act so that the aspirations of the people of Myanmar is not suppressed by violence. That the young people of that beloved land get the opportunity of hope in a future where hate and injustice be replaced by meeting and reconciliation," he said during his weekly audience. 'This story was first published on CNN.com '38 people killed in Myanmar's deadliest day of protest, says UN envoy' Washington, March 4 : The US and China should cooperate immediately to stop the Covid-19 pandemic, two researchers with a Washington DC-based think tank have said. The urgent task of putting the coronavirus under control "can only be accomplished through global coordination, which requires the active engagement of the two largest economies in the world," wrote Cheng Li and Ryan McElveen with the Brookings Institution in a report published on Tuesday. The researchers argued that the governments of the two countries have a long history of collaborating to fight global health crises such as SARS. Meanwhile, facing Covid-19, medical experts and scientists on both sides have preserved extensive communication and "cooperated on coronavirus research more with each other than with any other country," the Xinhua news agency reported. The tradition of public health cooperation between Washington and Beijing and strong ties in the medical community lay the foundation for a return to US-China governmental cooperation. As variants of the coronavirus are emerging around the world, it is essential to keep transparency and sharing of data, and establish a global surveillance network for tracing, screening and warning of the variants. These efforts should also be based on cooperation between the two sides, the scholars suggested. Considering that vaccines are deemed as the ultimate solution to the crisis, the co-writers believe "the US and China should engage in positive competition and work together to promote effective vaccines platforms." They also called the two countries to jointly increase vaccine manufacturing capacity for the world and enhance equitable international distribution of doses. "Joint efforts by Washington and Beijing today will send inspiring signals to save lives," the scholars said, adding that "collaborating on Covid-19 can help set the stage for addressing other issues of global public good, including climate change and nuclear nonproliferation." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 04.03.21: Armenian ex-President Robert Kocharyan held a briefing on Thursday and talked about the latest developments in Armenia. Robert Kocharyan noted he is ready to run in the snap parliamentary elections announced by the Armenian PM. "I think I have enough experience," Kocharyan noted adding that he had never lost in any elections. According to him, PM Nikol Pashinyan must resign, his parliamentary faction must not elect a new PM twice, after which snap elections can be launched. Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh [Artsakh] war, Kocharyan said that the war started because of the Armenian authorities' failure. According to him, the Armenian authorities have been told about the upcoming defeat on the fourth day of the war. The OSCE Minsk Group is currently a necessity, and Russia also needs it, Kocharyan added. The ex-president said that there are serious grounds to believe that the defeat in the 44-day Artsakh war was planned. He added that the Armenian authorities, hiding behind the military secret, are not talking about the scale of material and human losses in the war. According to experts, about $3 billion is needed to restore the Armenian army, Kocharyan said. The search that was carried out Wednesday in the south of Artsakh did not yield any results as no bodies or remains of fallen soldiers or civilians were found. The search operations continue Thursday in the Jrakan (Jabrayil) and Hadrut regions, and in the southern part of the Kashatagh region. Over 1,000 bodies have been found so far. Former PM Vazgen Manukyan, the opposition Homeland Salvation Movements candidate for PM, has been charged at the Investigative Committee of Armenia. A signature bond on not leaving the country has been chosen as a precautionary measure against him. He was charged under the Criminal Code article on making public calls aimed at seizing power. Tiran Khachatryan, former First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, has appealed to the administrative court to invalidate President Armen Sarkissian's decree on his dismissal. The Prime Minister's Office and the General Staff of the Armed Forces are included in the case as third parties. Based on PM Nikol Pashinyan's proposal, President Sarkissian dismissed Khachatryan from the aforesaid post by a February 24 decree. Tiran Khachatryan was sacked for mocking PM Nikol Pashinyan's on Russian-made Iskander missiles. As of Thursday morning, 491 COVID-19 new cases were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 173,307 in the country. Also, six more deaths from COVID-19 were reported, making the respective total 3,208 cases. Armenian health minister Anahit Avanesyan said that the COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Armenia. She noted that if new inputs of restrictions are wanted to be avoided, it is necessary to wear masks and follow all the rules. [March 04, 2021] Weebit Nano to Attend 33rd Annual ROTH Growth Conference HOD HASHARON, Israel, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX:WBT), a leading developer of next-generation semiconductor memory technology, announced that its CEO Coby Hanoch will attend the 33rd Annual ROTH Growth Conference being held virtually March 15 - 17, 2021. The ROTH Conference will feature presentations from public and private companies across a variety of industry sectors. During previous events, ROTH has hosted close to 550 participating companies and attracted more than 5,000 attendees, including institutional investors, analysts, family offices and high-net-worth investors. Mr. Hanoch will hold one-on-one investor meetings throughout the conference, during which he will present the companys vision for the future of semiconductor memory, the companys development milestones and plans, and its progress toward commercialization. To schedule a virtual one-on-one meeting with Weebit management during the event, please contact your ROTH representative. Investors who are not yet registered should submit a new investor registration request at https://ibn.fm/ROTH2021Registration, then email a meeting request to pc@roth.com once registration is accepted. About ROTH Capital Partners ROTH Capital Partners, LLC (ROTH) is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving emerging growth compaies and their investors. As a full-service investment bank, ROTH provides capital raising, M&A advisory, analytical research, trading, market-making services and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, ROTH is privately held and employee owned. For more information on ROTH, please visit www.roth.com. About Weebit Nano Weebit Nano Ltd. is a leading developer of next-generation semiconductor memory technology. The companys ground-breaking Resistive RAM (ReRAM) addresses the growing need for significantly higher performance and lower power memory solutions in a range of new electronic products such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smartphones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 5G communications and artificial intelligence. Weebits ReRAM allows semiconductor memory elements to be significantly faster, less expensive, more reliable and more energy efficient than those using existing Flash memory solutions. Because it is based on fab-friendly materials, the technology can be quickly and easily integrated with existing flows and processes, without the need for special equipment or large investments. See: www.weebit-nano.com. Weebit Nano and the Weebit Nano logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Weebit Nano Ltd. in the United States and other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. Contact: Investors Eric Kuret, Market Eye +61 417 311 335 eric.kuret@marketeye.com.au Media Jen Bernier-Santarini +1 650-336-4222 Jen.bernier@jbstechpr.com Wire Service Contact InvestorWire (IW) Los Angeles, California www.InvestorWire.com 212.418.1217 Office Editor@InvestorWire.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The extraordinary and tragic story of the doomed Franklin Expedition that ended in the deaths of more than 120 crew members has been given a supernatural twist in a gripping new BBC drama. The Terror, which premiered last night, tells the story of the lost 1845 expedition, led by Sir John Franklin, which set out to search for a navigable passage around the north of Canada through icy Arctic seas. The two ships, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, were the most technologically advanced vessels of their day. But they ventured too far south and by the autumn of of 1846 they were trapped in the ice near King William Island. They saw no daylight for months on end and to keep track of the days and nights they rang the bell, every half an hour. The Terror (BBC2) tells the story of the lost 1845 expedition, led by Sir John Franklin, which set out to search for a navigable passage around the north of Canada through icy Arctic seas. Pictured, Tobias Menzies as James Fitzjames and Ciaran Hinds as Sir John Franklin The two ships, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, were the most technologically advanced vessels of their day. But they ventured too far south and by the autumn of of 1846 they were trapped in the ice near King William Island. Pictured, a scene from 10-part BBC2 series The Terror The crew's final message before they were wiped out - sent April 25, 1848 - indicated that there were survivors - but, at that point they were abandoning their ships after 18 months trapped in the ice. The crew left the two vessels north of King William Island and set out on a harsh journey south toward a mainland trading post. Eventually Sir Franklin, along with all 128 crew members, perished in the Arctic. Exactly what happened remains largely a mystery, although research suggests the crew resorted to cannibalism and there were reports that their behaviour became erratic and bizarre. The wreckage sites were located in the 2000s. This mysterious story of the slow demise of Sir John and his crew is compelling enough, but 10-part series The Terror, executive produced by Ridley Scott, adds a terrifying supernatural element. Sir John Franklin, pictured, perished with his crew The series, which premiered last night and is available to watch in full on iPlayer, is based on a novel by Dan Simmons in which the crew are stalked across the ice by some sort of monster. This creature is a metaphor for their madness as they slowly lose themselves to the wilderness. Ciaran Hinds plays Sir John Franklin, deeply religious and blithely certain that God meant him to map the Northwest Passage and create a short-cut from Britain to the Far East. Greta Scacchi plays his wife, Jared Harris his mutinous captain and Tobias Menzies - best known as Prince Philip in The Crown - plays the cocky junior officer who thinks he knows it all. The first episode sees Sir John and his captain debating over two opposing courses of action. A hint of what is to come is given with the gory autopsy on a young sailor who died of TB. The Terror is available on BBC iPlayer The crew's final message before they were wiped out - sent April 25, 1848 - indicated that there were survivors - but, at that point they were abandoning their ships The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below 2 NJ City Councilmen Indicted on Mail-In Voting Fraud Charges Two city councilmembers in Paterson, New Jersey, were indicted on mail-in voting fraud charges related to the citys May 2020 election, officials said on March 3. Michael Jackson, 49, and Alex Mendez, 45, face a variety of charges including election fraud, fraud in casting mail-in votes, tampering with public records, and unauthorized possession of ballots, according to a statement from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. They were initially charged in June 2020 after winning their races for City Council seats. Former President Donald Trumps campaign cited the allegations against Jackson and Mendez in pointing to the danger of using relaxed mail-in balloting. A federal judge dismissed the campaigns suit, saying there were anti-fraud measures to secure elections. Supporters of the former president pointed to the case against Mendez and Jackson again before the Nov. 3 election, noting that voting via mail could lead to fraud. Mendez and Jackson won their races by more than 200 votes each. The two councilmembers have asserted they were charged because of their opposition to Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh and have denied the charges. These indictments are an important step in our prosecution of these two sitting city councilmen on charges including second-degree election fraud, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement on March 3. As we have seen all too clearly in recent months, public confidence in our democratic process is critical. If anyone tampers with an election in New Jersey and threatens that process, we will hold them accountable. The Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability opened an investigation after the U.S. Postal Inspection Service alerted the state agency that hundreds of mail-in ballots were found inside a mailbox in the nearby borough of Haledon, before hundreds more mail-in ballots were found inside a Paterson mailbox. The Paterson election in May of last year was all vote-by-mail. New Jerseys criminal code includes various indictable offenses related to election fraud and, in particular, fraud involving mail-in ballots, noted Thomas Eicher, director of the Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. With these indictments, were using those laws for their intended purposedefending free and fair elections by prosecuting those accused of seeking to undermine them. Jackson and Mendez have previously argued that they were charged with the crimes for political reasons, claiming that the criticism of Sayegh prompted the New Jersey attorney generals office to convene a grand jury. You would like to think that local politics wouldnt reach that far, but I guess it does, Jackson said, according to NorthJersey.com. My client has maintained his innocence throughout this process and will enter a plea of not guilty to the charges and will continue to serve the citizens of Paterson, Mendezs lawyer, Paul Brickfield, told NJ.com in an email on March 3. But Sayegh, in a March 3 statement, said the indictments reaffirm the seriousness of the crimes for which the defendants are accused, adding, I remain hopeful that justice will be served on behalf of the residents of Paterson. Shelim Khalique, 52, of Wayne, and Abu Razyen, 23, of Prospect Park, were also charged in connection to the case, the attorney generals office said. Jackson could face a maximum of more than 26 years in state prison if convicted while Mendez could face a maximum of more than 36 years. Lawyers for Mendez and Jackson didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. The board of the of the state's grid manager ousted its CEO Wednesday, two weeks after the failure of the state's electric system shut power and heat for some 4 million Texas during frigid winter weather. In a statement, the board of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, said it would exercise the 60-day termination notice of President and CEO Bill Magness, who will continue to "work with state leaders and regulators on potential reforms to ERCOT" during the period. The board said it would immediately begin a search for Magness' successor. Magness has worked at ERCOT since 2010, becoming CEO in 2016. He earned $833,000 in salary and other compensation in 2018, according to IRS filings. PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON: Democrats in Congress launch investigation into ERCOT failures Magness ouster follows the resignations of five ERCOT directors last week and Public Utility Commission Chairwoman DeAnn Walker on Monday. Leaders of ERCOT and the PUC have come under fire from Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas legislators for the widespread outages that lasted for days after generators were knocked out by the winter storm Pressure for both Walker and Magness to resign over the outages increased Monday, when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick became the most influential lawmaker yet to join the cause. The lack of adequate preparation by both the ERCOT CEO and the PUC chair before the storm, their failure to plan for the worst-case scenario and their failure to communicate in a timely manner dictates they are not the ones to oversee the reforms needed, Patrick said in a statement released to the media on Monday morning. Legislators pressed Magness and Walker in hearings last week, criticizing them for failing to communicate the extent of the power crisis in a timely manner. Abbott, too, knocked the power leaders for lack of transparency. ERCOT has not been transparent, he said. Theyre not providing information either to you, the public in Houston, or even the governor of Texas....We deserve answers as to why they didnt have backup power. Pressed during legislative hearings on the crisis, Magness said there wasnt anything he would do differently. Lawmakers were not satisfied. This is not a chamber of commerce update, said Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe. This is the largest train wreck in the history of deregulated electricity. During a board meeting last week, Magness acknowledged there were several areas where ERCOT could do better in the future, including stronger forecasting, clearer communication around whether outages would be rotating or not, and figuring how to rotate power outages in times of low supply. Thats where so much of the harm and damage came from, Magness said. And this is something we have to figure out. Magness grew up in Texas, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and has worked in the utility industry for 25 years, according to a bio on ERCOTs website. Before taking ERCOTs top spot, he served as its general counsel. Includes previous reporting by Taylor Goldenstein, Jeremy Wallace and Jeremy Blackman. amanda.drane@chron.com Twitter.com/amandadrane Chanel Contos started a petition calling for better sex and consent education in schools. We have read countless, horrifying testimonials from young women documenting how they were sexually harassed and assaulted by privileged young men from Sydneys elite boys schools. And now, too, an historic rape allegation against a current federal minister. The backdrop to all this is equally distressing. Despite the national outrage over the murder of Hannah Clark and her three children a year ago, Australias domestic and family violence emergency continues, with one woman every week murdered by a current or former intimate partner. In late January, Ms R Rubuntja, a founding member of the Tangentyere Womens Family Safety Group in Alice Springs, was allegedly murdered by her partner shortly after travelling to Canberra to speak with federal politicians about the prevalence of domestic violence in Central Australia. This howl of pain is the soundtrack to millions of womens lives. During the initial stages of the pandemic, the Australian Institute of Criminology found that of 15,000 women surveyed, almost 5 per cent had been victims of physical or sexual abuse in the three months to May 2020, with almost 12 per cent suffering at least some form of emotional abuse. Women experienced heightened levels of abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit:Shutterstock The National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey has also revealed that while community knowledge and attitudes are generally improving, a worrying proportion of Australians still believe gender inequality to be exaggerated, or no longer a problem. A significant number also believe that women use claims of violence to gain tactical advantage in their relationships with men. These attitudes, according to the research, contribute towards the violence and disrespect towards women. Alongside this are the stories of women who have been deterred from progressing their careers into leadership positions. The theme for IWD21 is Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world with the purpose of forging a gender-equal world, where calling out inequality is key. Australia is stubbornly resistant to gender equality, as if its still waiting for proof that gender equality advances society as a whole. Six years ago, the McKinsey Global Institute released its report based on a survey of 95 countries showing that a staggering $US28 trillion would be added to annual global GDP by 2025 if womens participation in the economy was equal to mens. The disparities between men and women in Australia are in plain sight in the rates of full-time work participation, in the time spent in unpaid work, in the superannuation system (that is wilfully blind to parenting), and, in general, in a national gender pay gap of almost 15 per cent.. The economic pain of the COVID recession has not been shared equally. Women have been far more likely than men to lose their jobs, more likely to do unpaid work, and less likely to get government support. The effects of this will deepen the existing economic gaps between women and men long into the future. There is a significant lack of support for women in leadership roles in this country, and I believe this reinforces many of the masculine tropes of power and privilege, particularly unexamined male privilege. Our leadership challenge is real. Chief Executive Womens ASX200 Senior Executive Census in 2020 revealed that progress in the number of women reaching senior leadership positions in ASX200 companies flatlined at 25 per cent for CEOs and 16 per cent for CFOs during COVID-19. Women earn two thirds the amount of men over their lifetimes. Credit:Rob Homer Most concerningly, the number of women CEOs in Australia has slipped since 2019 to just 10 today, and of the 25 CEO appointments made in 2020, only one was a woman. Equally disappointing is that, as of 2020, only 38 per cent of members of the national parliament were women, while the Cabinet comprised only 27 per cent women. Compare this to Austrias 57 per cent, Cost Ricas 50 per cent, Frances 52 per cent and New Zealands 44 per cent according to the latest figures from Council on Foreign Relations. Economic modelling by KPMG shows halving the workforce participation gap between men and women would increase Australias annual GDP by $60 billion by 2038. We cannot leave a single resource untapped. We must work to create economic opportunity and jobs for all. As Australia rebuilds post-pandemic, we need to capitalise on the productivity of our entire workforce and minimise barriers to workforce participation. Australian women represent one of the most highly educated human resources in the world, and yet our childcare and tax system prevent them from full participation, while a culture of harassment and assault causes incalculable damage and prevents them from leading. Loading Inspired by the courageous leadership of Grace Tame and our other three Australians of the Year, we need to rebuild from COVID-19 with accelerated progress on gender equality and construct a more inclusive and resilient nation, economy and community that fully commits to women being a central part of our national identity. Australian men can, and must, play a vital role in this ambition, whether by learning from the leadership of young men like Cranbrook prefect Asher Learmonth who has called out widespread sexual assault in Sydney boys private schools, or engaging with the profoundly important work of journalist David Leser who invites men in his book Women, Men & the Whole Damn Thing to join him in a ruthless self-interrogation, and, in doing so, become part of the change that is so urgently required. A short animated film by the Los Angeles Unified School District, in partnership with Microsoft, shows Los Angeles' plan when face-to-face classes finally resume. The video was supposed to be comforting, but instead, sparked worry amongst people for showing a dystopian future in California. Bridget Phetasy, an American writer and comedian, reposted the video on Twitter saying, "California is a dystopian nightmare." California is a dystopian nightmare. pic.twitter.com/5nWEarQNoa Bridget Phetasy (@BridgetPhetasy) March 1, 2021 According to Fox News, Austin Beuther, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, said that students are mandated to get vaccinated before they can return to school. If they choose not to comply, they won't be allowed to join the face-to-face classes, and instead, be directed to online classes where a lot of kids are having a hard time adjusting. The said children that Beuther is requiring to get vaccinated are children as young as 12 years old, which are not the ideal age group for the Pfizer vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is ideal for people ages 16 above, but authorities are imposing children below 16 to get the dose in order to head back into the classrooms. Aside from getting a vaccine dose, children are also expected to follow a specific system before getting a single day pass to go to school, Joel Abbott wrote in an article for Not the Bee. In the video, it shows that children should first have a recent COVID test displaying they have negative results. This means children would be subjected to weekly COVID tests so that the system is updated with their results. In order to get a COVID test, parents would have to take their children out around the city, which makes it such a hassle knowing that it is not safe to go around in times like this. Students are also required to fill out an online "daily pass" form to ensure their health conditions. The system, which was developed by Microsoft, would generate a specific QR code if the individual passed the health check. The QR code will then be scanned at every entrance, together with the checking of the temperatures. Despite passing all the requirements and getting vaccinated, children would still be required to practice the imposed safety protocols like social distancing and wearing of masks. The video also shows that children should be afraid of the virus even though most deaths of kids ages 5-14 are not caused by the Coronavirus. In fact, only less than a hundred out of 12,000 children who died in America are due to COVID. This is a significantly smaller number compared to other reasons like accidents. Yet measures are stricter and kids are encouraged to be more afraid of the virus than other reasons that are far more dangerous. The video shows children that their futures are not secure and that the current administration is not able to handle the pandemic well if kids in the future have to continuously adjust to a more uncomfortable lifestyle just to stay safe. As the speed of Covid vaccinations picks up, so do the reports of doses going to waste. And its more than just a handful at the end of the day because of a few appointment cancellations. Health officials are trying to rein in waste without slowing down vaccinations. The incidents range from 335 discarded doses in Lee County, North Carolina, that were damaged in shipping, to nearly 5,000 doses that went to waste in Tennessee in February, prompting additional federal oversight. I definitely have been losing some sleep over this, for sure, said Beth Ann Wilmore, nursing director at Mercy Community Healthcare in Franklin, Tennessee. She manages the Covid vaccine inventory at the nonprofit clinic, which started receiving shipments a month ago. Clinics like Mercy are accustomed to handling vaccines, but none so precious as those for Covid, which have special refrigeration needs. I was definitely waking up in the middle of the night wondering how the temperatures were doing, and thinking, 'OK, I hope its good, and its not giving me a flag or anything.' Many community health centers are receiving the Moderna vials, which are easier to handle than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine but still tricky. The vials last 30 days after theyre out of the deep freeze, compared with only about five for Pfizer. But once the seal on the vial is broken, there are just six hours to use the shots. So far, no waste has occurred at Mercy. But Wilmore has heard horror stories from around the state. In neighboring Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the local school district received a thousand doses for a teacher vaccination event the last weekend of February. But they were put in an unapproved freezer. The temperature sensor on the shipment flashed an error code. Out of caution, they were advised to throw them all away. It hurts my heart, said Dr. Lisa Piercey, health commissioner of Tennessee, which has disclosed one of the countrys biggest spikes in reported spoilage. She said the losses are painful because the shots are priceless in the midst of this deadly pandemic. But its one risk of having so many places to get the vaccine. To increase access and equity, there are now more than 700 vaccination sites across Tennessee, with more planned to open as vaccine shipments grow in the coming weeks. It definitely raises the level of concern when you have more partners particularly partners that are not under your direct control, she said. Even Tennessees large, urban health departments which operate independently of the state health department are running into trouble. In Knoxville, a thousand doses were thrown out, apparently confused for a related shipment of dry ice. In Memphis, the county health director has resigned after being slow to disclose that nearly 2,500 doses were allowed to expire on several occasions related to winter weather as well as poor management in the countys pharmacy. The state has called in staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor vaccine distribution in Shelby County and stepped up audits for all local health departments in the state. There are so many opportunities for doses to go bad. In West Palm Beach, Florida, the power on a mobile refrigerator was turned off. In Connecticut, a fridge door didnt close properly, though the doses were salvaged in time in consultation with Moderna. Health officials have gone to great lengths to avoid wasting doses, like an impromptu mass vaccination event in Nashvilles homeless shelters after winter storms canceled hundreds of appointments. Dr. Kelly Moore, deputy director of the Immunization Action Coalition, said a little spoilage is expected. Its still well less than 1% of doses, even in states like Tennessee and Florida that have disclosed big losses. I would be more worried if I saw reports of zero doses wasted, Moore said, because then her concern would be a lack of transparency. You want to see some waste because that means people are paying attention and that real-world accidents happen and that theyre being responded to properly, she said. You just dont want to see negligence. Theres hope that mishaps will be easier to avoid with the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Aside from being a single dose, it can last in a normal refrigerator for months. This story was produced in partnership with Nashville Public Radio, NPR and KHN. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Galveston, TX (77553) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with isolated thunderstorms developing late. Low 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. The facility at Bowling Green State University now known as South Hall, will be changed to the Michael & Sara Kuhlin Center in recognition of the couples financial support. The facility will be referred to as the Kuhlin Center and will house the School of Media and Communication. The action was approved at the May 6, 2016 meeting of the BGSU Board of Trustees. Michael and Sara both attended Bowling Green State University: Sara, from 1967 to 1969; and Mike from 1964 to 1968, receiving a journalism degree from the College of Business Administration in 1968. Mike was actively involved in student organizations on campus which led to him being selected as BGSUs Outstanding Greek Man in 1968 and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society. Both also worked at the University. Sara was employed in the Administration Building and the Office of Financial Aid from 1969 to 1971. Mike worked in the Office of the Dean of Students as a residence hall director and was an assistant director in the Office of Career Planning and Placement from 1968 to 1971. They married on campus, in Prout Chapel, on December 11, 1971. Their 42 years together included many trips back to campus before Sara passed away in 2013. In addition to finding each other, the learning and maturing we experienced at BGSU gave us an extraordinary foundation to build our lives, Mike said. We were honored to previously endow and establish the Mike and Sara Kuhlin Scholarship for Exceptional Student Leadership to support students who have distinguished themselves by their involvement in extracurricular activities. This new gift for the building provides a lasting tribute to Sara and everything that BGSU meant to us by supporting a dynamic home for students in media and communications. 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. Someone in San Antonio just won big money. A local claimed a $5.5 million Lotto jackpot prize from the Jan. 20 drawing, according to a news release from Texas Lottery. The cash value option was selected at the time of purchase and the claimant will receive $4,397,867.63 before taxes, the release stated. READ ALSO: 'We can't wait to see you': Krause Springs now open with $9 day passes The winning Quick Pick ticket matched all six of the numbers drawn (6-14-30-45-49-50). The ticket was purchased at Allsup's convenience store, located at 907 N. Austin St., in Comanche about a 3-hour drive from San Antonio. The claimant elected to remain anonymous. The next Lotto Texas drawing will be held Saturday, March 6. The advertised jackpot prize for the drawing is set at an estimated annuitized $6.5 million. Drawings are every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:12 p.m. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre BOWLING GREEN, O. Medical Mutual of Ohio has announced that it is contributing $1 million to assist with the development of Bowling Green State Universitys new Optimal Aging Institute (OAI). As northwest Ohios aging population grows, the University and Medical Mutual, the states oldest and largest Ohio-based health insurance company, are working together on a new initiative designed to help senior citizens live longer, healthier lives and to create new wellness programs for older adults on and off campus. Through the Universitys Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan, the institutes mission is tied to the seven dimensions of elder wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, cultural and occupational. The OAI will provide learning opportunities and educational materials for service providers, health systems, entrepreneurs, corporations, caregivers and older adults. It will also be a resource for informational events on topics such as diabetes self-management, navigating the health care system, and learning social media, as well as for health and wellness classes such as how to cook budget friendly and nutritional meals, yoga and mindfulness meditation. BGSUs arts and cultural events on campus also will be marketed through the initiative so that more members of the community can enjoy those activities. Medical Mutuals contribution will support this initiative and build upon the companys previous generous support of the BGSU Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan, President Mary Ellen Mazey said. I am grateful for their partnership in improving the well-being of the regions citizens. Bowling Green State University has been a valued, longtime customer, said Rick Chiricosta, president and CEO of Medical Mutual. Supporting these broad-based programs fits well with our companys mission to help improve the overall health and wellness of the population in the regions we serve. Medical Mutual of Ohio has already proved to be a great partner and we are excited about working with them on this new initiative to foster the seven dimensions of wellness through focused educational, service and research activities, said Dr. Marie Huff, dean of the College of Health and Human Services and co-director of the center. Both of our institutions recognize the benefit of healthy and active lifestyles across the lifespan and in supporting our communities. With their generous support we will be able to advance a culture of wellness on our campus and in our region. The American Council on Education specifically states that higher education institutions are exceptionally positioned to create new frameworks for this population, and is drawing attention to the benefits of lifelong learning for older adults health and cognition. BGSU is well situated to meet many of the needs of the growing numbers of older adults, explained Kathy Golovan, Medical Mutuals Chief Health Officer. Approximately one-eighth of the population of Wood County is 65 or older and about one-fifth of the population of northwest Ohio is 60 or older. This initiative will better serve that population. Institutions of higher learning also have an important role in advancing the conversation about aging, such as when the center partnered with the Wood County Committee on Aging in July to view the 2015 White House Conference on Aging and discuss how to address those issues locally. In a year that marks the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act, as well as the 80th anniversary of Social Security, the Optimal Aging Institute is designed to be an important community asset that can mesh with providers, health-care systems and caregivers to support and engage older adults in the community. ### About Medical Mutual: Founded in 1934, Medical Mutual of Ohio is the oldest and largest health insurance company based in Ohio. For more than 80 years, the company has served customers with high-quality, affordable group and personal health insurance plans, and third-party administrative services to self-insured group customers. As a mutual health insurance company, Medical Mutual is unique in that it operates for the benefit of its members. Unlike publicly-traded insurance companies that must maximize their financial return, Medical Mutual does not answer to stockholders or Wall Street analysts. About BGSU: Located in northwest Ohio, Bowling Green State University offers students an excellent educational experience with an emphasis on preparing the engaged citizens of tomorrow. A focus on critical thinking and values makes BGSUs programs distinctive among institutions of higher learning. A state-assisted, residential institution, the University has an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students on two campuses and approximately 900 full-time faculty. More than 200 undergraduate majors and programs are offered, along with masters degree programs in 65 fields, two specialist degree programs and doctoral programs in 16 areas. 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. Big black plastic bags containing radiated soil, leaves and debris from the decontamination operation are dumped at a seaside devastated by the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami in Tomioka town, Fukushima prefecture, near Tokyo Electric Power Co's tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Feb. 22, 2015. Reuters Ten years after the Fukushima disaster, Japan's nuclear industry remains crippled, with the majority of its reactors halted or on the path towards decommissioning. The government still hopes to revitalise the sector, in part to reduce the country's dependence on energy imports as well as help it meet a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. What is the situation at Fukushima? Around 5,000 people are still working daily at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, where four reactors were severely damaged by the March 11, 2011 tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake. Tangled scrap metal can still be seen strewn around parts of the site, including at the top of reactor 1, whose roof blew off during the disaster. Three reactors melted down in all and even now mobile Geiger counters periodically beep throughout the site. So far, the reactors' surroundings have been cleared, intact fuel rods have been removed with giant cranes, and new concrete dikes are being built to protect against tsunamis. But the most difficult part lies ahead: extracting nearly 900 tons of molten fuel mixed with other highly radioactive debris. Development in Britain of a special robotic arm for use in the operation was delayed by the pandemic, pushing back the start of the extraction process by a year to 2022. But that's barely a blip in a decommissioning process expected to take 30 to 40 years, at best. This picture taken on Feb. 21, 2021, shows storage tanks for contaminated water at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant which was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquake in the town of Okuma, Fukushima prefecture. AFP ~ And US $4.2 million owed to Sheriff Security ~ Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has written to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs about the St. Maarten Festival Village and, according to the MP, the public eyesore it has become as well as general operation questions surrounding the government foundation that runs the Festival Village, Stichting Overheids Gebouwen (SOG). The facility has been sitting in an eye-sore state since Hurricane Irma with no visible repairs having taken place. Very little, if anything, is known about the Festival Village operations or about SOG. Did the board of SOG get an insurance payout or not? What explanation is there for the state of the facility? Who controls what is happening there? Why has the board never been changed? Here we have another government entity that is run like somebodys personal kingdom. I believe it is essential that we ascertain what is happening at this facility as well as obtain clarity on related matters as they refer to SOG itself, the MP said. Two of the issues Emmanuel is seeking clarity on are whether SOG received any insurance funds to repair the village and how is SOG dealing with the US $1.7 million it owes to Sheriff Security. Sheriff Security used to secure the facility for a number of years and currently still has an office on-premises. Additionally, the MP said, the government of St. Maarten in total owes the same security company approximately US $4.2 million (including SOG $1.7). We need answers on these issues and more. The MP said. MP Emmanuel also included several questions about TelEms role in the festival and with the SOG and why other telecommunications companies are not allowed commercial opportunities in the Village, which could possibly assist in the upkeep of the facility. He also asked about the other government facilities that SOG manages. There have been many complaints made publicly by several groups and organizations who wish to make use of the St. Maarten Festival Village. Their complaints have centered on the procedures and manner in which the facility is operated by the Stichting Overheids Gebouwen (SOG), a government ZBO. Some of these complaints have reached my person and I have a duty to try and obtain answers in the general interest of the public, the MP said. I continue to be flooded with all sorts of concerns from the general public that it feels requires addressing. My duty as a Member of Parliament is to listen to the people who elected me to this position and simply look into these matters. As MPs we have the power to ask pertinent questions to the relevant Ministers responsible especially when it involves tax-payers money, he said. To: The Minister of General Affairs Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs Government Administration Building Soualiga Road #1 Philipsburg February 18th, 2021 RE: Matters concerning Stichting Overheids Gebouwen Dear Minister, There have been many complaints made publicly by several groups and organizations who wish to make use of the St. Maarten Festival Village. Their complaints have centered around the procedures and manner which the facility is operated by the Stichting Overheids Gebouwen (SOG), a government ZBO. Some of these complaints have reached my person and is extremely concerning. Additionally, the facility has been sitting in an eye-sore state since Hurricane Irma with no visible repairs having taken place. Very little, if anything, is known about the Festival Village operations or about SOG by the public or Parliament. I believe it is essential that we ascertain what is happening at this facility as well as obtain clarity on related matters as they refer to SOG itself. To that end the undersigned Member of Parliament is seeking answers to the following questions from your person: Who are the members of the board of Stichting Overheids Gebouwen? What is the term of board members and when does the term of the current board expire? How long have the current members of the board ben serving on the board? Is there a supervisory board for SOG? If yes, Who are the members? What is the term of this board? When does the term expire? What is the financial compensation to board members for serving on the boards? What is the financial situation of SOG currently? Please provide financial reports from the last 5 years. Has an audit ever been executed on SOG? If yes, when and please provide audit results/report. Please provide a copy of the articles that govern SOG as a ZBO. What is the annual operational cost of SOG? Please provide a detailed list with cost. Which facilities does SOG currently manage for government? What are the annual management costs for each of these facilities? Were these facilities damaged by Hurricane Irma? If yes, have they been repaired and what was the cost of repairs? How many third party contractors does SOG utilize at these facilities? Please list names and services they provide as well as the cost of their services and how often these contractors provide these services. Does SOG employ permanent employees? If yes, how many? If not, who manages the day to day operations? Why has the St. Maarten Festival Village not been repaired after being damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Has SOG received insurance funds to repair the Festival Village? If yes, please list the amount. If not, why not? What is the total estimated repair cost of the Festival Village? Please list areas to be repaired. Does SOG have a plan of action for the repair and upgrading of the Festival Village? If yes, please provide details. If not, why not. What are the details (financial and operational) of the agreement SOG currently has with persons renting booths in the Festival Village? Please provide a copy of this agreement. How many persons are currently renting booths in the Festival Village and at what cost? Do people who currently rent a booth in the Festival Village form part of an association in the Festival Village? If yes, please explain the working relationship between SOG and its renters. Does SOG derive revenue/income from any other means? How much funds has SOG raised from events held in the Festival Village for the past 5 years? Please list the name of events and how much was paid to SOG. Please detail the entire process of third parties who wish to rent the entire Festival Village for an event. Including costs. Is it true that SOG owes Sheriff Security company over 1 million US dollars for services the company rendered to SOG? If yes, please explain how this debt was built up and why has it not been paid? What are the consequences of this situation for SOG and the Village? In total does the government owe Sherriff Security US $4.3 million? Please explain how this was built up and for what purposes? How is this situation being rectified and is government currently in court with Sheriff Security or an affiliated/subsidiary company? What is SOG's relationship with the TelEm Group of Companies? Is there an agreement between SOG and the TelEm Group of Companies? If yes, Why was this agreement entered into? For what period is this agreement? When does it expire? Please provide a copy of this agreement. Does TelEm have exclusive rights in the Festival Village? If yes, please explain in detail what these rights entail. If there is an agreement between SOG and TelEm, what is the monetary value attached to this agreement? In other words, how does SOG benefit from this agreement with the TelEm Group of Companies? Do third parties who rent the village have to adhere to stipulations outlined in the agreement between TelEm and SOG? If yes, why? And doesnt this put third parties at a disadvantage? Is it the intention to renew this agreement with the TelEm Group of Companies once it expires? Does SOG have a similar relationship as TelEm with any other company in the Festival Village or any other facility it manages? Is SOG currently engaged in any legal proceedings with any companies or individuals? Awaiting your swift response to the above questions. Respectfully, MP Christophe Emmanuel [March 04, 2021] Nippon Express Launches Scheduled Cross-border Rail Freight Service from Suzhou, China, to Europe TOKYO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nippon Express (China) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "NE China"), a local subsidiary of Nippon Express Co., Ltd., and Nippon Express Europe GmbH launched a new scheduled cross-border rail freight service from Suzhou, China, to Europe on Sunday, February 7. Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202103011669-O2-oz5w85y9 Image: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202103011669/_prw_PI1fl_ThEiU4yv.jpg Features of the new service The service utilizes Suzhou West Station, located amidst the industrial clusters of eastern China . . Space can be secured flexibly and in large volume by concluding block space agreements with railway operators in Szhou. Scheduled service will be provided once per week (departing each Sunday) from Suzhou to Malaszewicze, Poland , and to Hamburg and Duisburg in Germany . In November 2015, NE China began development of a cross-border rail freight service between China and Europe to offer a "third transport mode" between air and ocean transport, departing from Xi'an Station and other major stations in China. Transport between China and Europe is now suffering from shortages of vessel space that have sharply boosted demand for international rail transport and in turn created shortages of space on Europe-bound trains operating from major stations in China. The new service was developed to meet growing customer needs for rail transport between China and Europe. Future plans Nippon Express will be moving ahead with the development of rail freight services from Europe to Suzhou. to Suzhou. The Company will also be pursuing development of rail freight services from Suzhou to Moscow, Russia and Hanoi, Vietnam . To satisfy increasingly diverse logistics needs, Nippon Express will continue formulating new transport services and meeting the commitment to "create new ideas and value that expand the field of logistics" declared in the Nippon Express Group Corporate Philosophy. Nippon Express website: http://www.nipponexpress.com/ Official LinkedIn Account: NIPPON EXPRESS GROUP https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/ SOURCE Nippon Express Co., Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Karnataka health officer vaccinates State minister at home, gets show-cause notice India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bengaluru, Mar 04: Health officer in Haveri, Karnataka has been served a show-cause notice for vaccinating the state Agriculture Minister BC Patil and his wife at home breaking the protocol on the COVID-19 vaccination drive. According to reports, the National Health Mission director-(Karnataka) Arundhathi Chandrashekar issued the show cause notice to Dr Jayanand M, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme officer of Haveri. The officer has been asked to explain why the protocol was broken. Similipal forest fire: Odisha claims no loss of life, issues SOP to regulate blaze "According to the Government of India guidelines, the vaccination should be done at the designated hospitals and it was conveyed repeatedly in many meetings. Yet, the norm was flouted, bringing a bad name to the health department", the director said in her notice. She added that in case the RCH officer was found wrong, then disciplinary action would be taken against him. Health officials said no one should take the shot at home as it will be difficult to monitor or give proper treatment during Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI). Meanwhile, the Centre has asked for a report from the State government on the matter. Despite facing flak from various quarters including Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, Patil said there was nothing wrong in getting inoculated at home. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News BC Patil and his wife took the COVID-19 vaccination on the second day of the vaccination drive on Tuesday to cover people aged above 60 and those aged between 45-59 with co-morbidities. TUPELO, Miss., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BXS Insurance, Inc., a subsidiary of BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS), announced several leadership changes designed to optimize the client experience and drive organizational growth. The leadership realignment underscores BXS Insurance's (BXSI) commitment to its customers and communities, which have been at the center of its service model since the organization was established. "Our team and clients shape who we are; and together, we have a vested interest in the success of our communities," said BXSI President and CEO Markham McKnight. "When we can be a part of our clients' success and partner to create insurance solutions mitigating their personal and professional risks, that is a win for everyone. To that end, we have aligned our internal teams to better reflect the needs of our client base." Chris Boone, who previously served as president of BXSI's Property & Casualty Division, has been named president of Commercial and Group Solutions. Boone will also take on the responsibility of the Employee Benefits Division. McKnight stated that the addition of "solutions" is an important nuance in that BXSI provides solutions and "not just products." Kerry Drake has been named president emeritus of Employee Benefits. He will continue to be involved as a producer and provide guidance to the employee benefits team. Long known as an innovator and visionary, Drake laid the foundation for BXSI's Employee Benefits Division in Louisiana, previously served as president of the Louisiana region and, according to McKnight, his contributions "cannot be highlighted enough." Scott Naugle has been named president of Consumer Solutions, a new role for BXSI. In this capacity, Naugle is responsible for leading Personal Lines and tying together related groups, such as BXSI's individual, small group, and life and health teams. McKnight noted that Naugle, previously BXSI's Chief Operating Officer, is an insurance professional by background and is "excited to get back into the business of insurance on a daily basis." Aimee Kilpatrick has been named Chief Operating Officer. Over the last several years, she has worked closely with Naugle and increasingly taken on more responsibilities in this area. Kilpatrick assumed responsibility for BXSI's Marketing and Communications teams; Resources, Recruitment and Retention team; Carrier Interface team; internal education and talent development programs and will work more closely with the organization's regional operational leaders. Steve Allison has been named Chief Sales Officer. Previously the president of the Louisiana Region, Allison is a leader in developing and leading sales teams at BXSI and will be scaling what he has done in Louisiana across the organization's footprint. He will be strategically working with producers and sales leaders. Patrick Moore has been named president of the Louisiana Region. Moore, in moving into the role that Allison previously held, will be doing so in addition to serving as head of Marketing and Carrier Relations. According to McKnight, Moore played a key part in the growth of the Louisiana Region and will continue to do so in this enhanced position. About BancorpSouth Bank BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS) is headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, with approximately $24 billion in assets. BancorpSouth operates approximately 305 full-service branch locations as well as additional mortgage, insurance, and loan production offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, including an insurance location in Illinois. BancorpSouth is committed to a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion in both its workplace and communities. To learn more, visit our Community Commitment page at www.bancorpsouth.com ; "Like" us on Facebook; follow us on [email protected]; or connect with us through LinkedIn. About BXS Insurance BXS Insurance is the fourth largest bank-owned insurance broker in the nation and is in the top 10 percent of brokers in the U.S based on total revenue. This large, nationally recognized firm has strategically grown to 30 offices across eight states. From small companies to organizations with more than 10,000 employees, BXSI delivers the highest standard in brokerage services. It has become an industry leader in commercial insurance, surety, employee benefits and private client brokerage services by investing in technology and human capital to expand service offerings and create a competitive advantage for clients. SOURCE BancorpSouth Bank Related Links http://www.bancorpsouth.com ITV has confirmed it is making a real-life drama about canoe conman John Darwin who was jailed with his first wife for faking his own death in a 679,000 insurance scam. The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, written by acclaimed screenwriter Chris Lang, who also created popular crime drama Unforgotten, will tell the story of how Darwin vanished off the coast of Durham in 2002 after appearing to be lost at sea while out canoeing. The four-part drama shows how Anne Darwins husband, a prison officer, came up with the hare-brained scheme to faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy, unbeknownst to their two sons. After his disappearance, Darwin spent the next five years travelling between Panama and a bedsit near his home in Seaton Carew, County Durham - only for a neighbour to grow suspicious after hearing his ex-wife Anne speaking to him over the phone. Darwin resurfaced at a London police station in 2007 and pretended to have amnesia, a year after a photo of him and his partner Anne in a Panamanian estate agents surfaced online. At her trial wife Anne pleaded not guilty, arguing that she had been coerced into the plot by her husband, but the jury didnt believe her. She and Darwin were both jailed for more than 6 years. ITV has confirmed it is making a real-life drama about canoe conman John Darwin (pictured with wife Anne) who was jailed with his first wife for faking his own death in a 679,000 insurance scam The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, written by acclaimed screenwriter Chris Lang, who also created popular crime drama Unforgotten, will tell the story of how Darwin vanished off the coast of Durham in 2002 after appearing to be lost at sea while out canoeing. Pictured, Darwin's' canoe after it was recovered from sea The drama will focus on how Anne became complicit in her husbands deception as she needed to convince the world, their family and friends, the police and insurance companies that he had gone missing in 2002. Darwin made it appear that he had vanished whilst canoeing off the coast of Seaton Carew in Cleveland, where the couple owned two large houses with panoramic views of the sea. Mortgaged to the hilt, Darwin had also run up debts of 64,000 on 13 credit cards and his excessive spending had seen their finances spiral out of control. Anne claims she would have preferred her husband go bankrupt, but she eventually went along with his absurd scheme to fake his own death. Darwin laid low whilst Anne was questioned by the police and began to weave a web of deceit. The mother even lied to their sons, Mark and Anthony, for five years whilst her husband, in the early days of the fraud, secretly lived in a bedsit next door to the home he shared with his first wife. The four-part drama shows how Anne Darwins husband, a prison officer (pictured), came up with the hare-brained scheme to faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy, unbeknownst to their two son In 2003, Darwin was declared dead and the couple used the money to travel around the world and buy several properties in Panama, which he used as a base. Devastated by the loss of their father, neither son had an inkling their parents were capable of such treachery. The couple eventually decided to leave Seaton Carew and move to Panama City to start a new life together before their secret was exposed by the discovery of an infamous photo of them posing in a Panama real estate office in July 2006. After a change in the country's visa laws, Darwin decided to return to the UK in 2007. In January 2007 he arrived at a London police station, declaring 'I think I'm a missing person,' before pretending to have amnesia. The couple were both convicted of fraud in July 2008. After his disappearance, Darwin spent the next five years travelling between Panama and a bedsit near his home in Seaton Carew, County Durham - only for a neighbour to grow suspicious after hearing his ex-wife Anne (pictured) speaking to him over the phone Darwin was ordered to serve six years and three months in prison while his wife, who police described as a compulsive liar, got six years and six months. He moved to Manila after serving his sentence. In 2016, his wife Anne wrote a book about the scandal, revealing she been disowned by their two sons. Writing in Out of my Depth, the so-called 'Canoe Wife,' wrote: 'Why did I do it? That is the question I still ask myself today. Why, when I got home, did I make that phone call to the police? 'I was never motivated by money. That wasnt the reason. Incredible though it may sound, the only reason I had was my loyalty to John.' She has since reconciled with her sons, and was last known to be working for the RSPCA in York after gaining qualifications in IT and business while in prison. Darwin resurfaced at a London police station in 2007 and pretended to have amnesia, a year after a photo of him and his partner Anne (pictured left, on their wedding day, and right) in a Panamanian estate agents surfaced online In January 2021, it was reported that Darwin has settled into a new life in the Philippines with new wife Mercy May, who at 47 is 23 years his junior. The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe is based upon the unpublished manuscript written by journalist David Leigh. David was the first journalist to find and interview Anne in Panama. Screenwriter Chris Lang said: If I'd tried to sell this project as an original story, it would never have got further than the pitch. It's just too far-fetched, Chris, no-one would ever believe that any of that could actually have happened". Except it did. All of it. And I loved writing every, single, word. Filming for The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe will commence in the spring of 2021. Casting and the appointment of further key production personnel will be advised closer to filming commencing. JACKSON, Mo., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SendAFriend has selected the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital to receive the company's February 2021 donation of 10% of total sales, an amount totaling $53,535.99. UI Stead Family Children's Hospital was nominated for the donation by one of SendAFriend's Instagram followers and was selected because the hospital serves as the only comprehensive children's care facility in Iowa. SendAFriend is an ecommerce company that helps customers send personalized stuffed animal care packages to their loved ones and donates 10% of sales every month to different children's hospitals in America. The company has donated over $575,000 since its launch in 2018. "Growing a business is a thrill, but the feeling of building a brand that helps children on this scale is beyond anything I can explain," said Tyler Macke, the 21-year old founder and CEO of SendAFriend. "UI Stead Family Children's Hospital saves children's lives, teaches the next generation of physicians, and conducts medical research. What could be more important?" In addition to the SendAFriend promise to donate 10% of revenue to children's hospitals each month, SendAFriend offers a care package sponsorship program, known as GiveAFriend , for customers to send a gift and handwritten note to a child in a hospital. SendAFriend hopes to deliver GiveAFriend donations to the children in UI Stead Family Children's Hospital in the near future. To date, the GiveAFriend initiative has delivered over 7,000 care packages to children in hospitals across the Midwest. Last week, SendAFriend donated 800 GiveAFriend care packages to children at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. This week, 750 care packages were donated to St. Louis Children's Hospital. "This gift to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital General Fund will go to support the hospital's greatest and most urgent needs, continuing to allow us to offer the highest level of life saving care that we can, says Pamela Johnson-Carlson DNP, RN, NE-BC, Chief Administrative Officer for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. "We are grateful for the generosity of SendAFriend and their choice in supporting the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital." About SendAFriend Founded in Jackson, MO in 2018 by 18 year old Tyler Macke, SendAFriend is an ecommerce business that gives back in a big way and spreads smiles around the world. Their core product, adorable stuffed animal care packages, are swaddled in bright blue tissue paper and sent in a signature blue "Someone Loves You" box with personalized greeting cards from their senders. To date, SendAFriend has delivered 225,000 care packages, generating over $575,000 for pediatric care facilities across America. Interviews available upon request. SOURCE SendAFriend Nacogdoches, TX (75965) Today Cloudy this morning followed by isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 79F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form (Adds Uber comment) MILAN, March 4 (Reuters) - A Milan court on Thursday lifted restrictions on the management of an Italian unit of Uber Technologies, imposed last year as part of an investigation into possible exploitation of food delivery riders, a court document showed. The court said Uber Eats Italy srl, a division of Uber Italy, had complied with judges' orders to improve working conditions for riders including on health and safety, providing necessary equipment as well as sickness and accident coverage. The president of the panel of judges told Reuters that Uber Italy had also adjusted riders' pay and now pays its riders more than the collective labour agreement signed in Italy last year. He would not say how much they are now paid. "Uber Italy ... can now present itself on the food delivery market with a new management model that is uniquely geared towards promoting transparency and legality," the court document said. Uber Italy was placed under so-called judicial supervision in May 2020 while magistrates looked into a case involving around 1,000 delivery riders who were allegedly paid three euros per hour to deliver meals. A company put under judicial supervision can continue to operate but is run by court-appointed administrators instead of its usual management team. The administrators have to send regular reports to the judges. Uber Italy said at the time that it had made its Uber Eats platform available to restaurants and couriers in full respect of the law and it condemned any form of illegal intermediation. "Today's decision is the result of several months of hard work in which we have strived to provide couriers with a safe, rewarding and flexible working environment," Uber Italy said in an e-mailed statement on Thursday, adding it would continue to collaborate with the authorities. On Wednesday a Milan prosecutor had asked the court to revoke the judicial supervision, saying Uber Italy had met the conditions requested. In a separate case, Uber Eats Italy was also among four food delivery companies that last month were forced by the Milan public prosecutor's office to hire more than 60,000 riders following an investigation into the working conditions of riders. ( Reporting by Emilio Parodi, Elvira Pollina, Editing by Mark Potter and Susan Fenton) The chair of Stormont's Justice Committee has described a huge increase in the number of people having their bail revoked as "extraordinary" and "appalling". DUP Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan was speaking after it was revealed that such cases have risen by a half in Northern Ireland since 2015. A defendant who is found to be in breach of their bail conditions is normally brought back to court and their bail is revoked. Consideration is then given whether to set new bail or send the person to prison. In 2015, some 1,523 individuals had their bail revoked. This figure can include the same defendant appearing before the courts more than once. By 2020, the number increased to 2,286 - a 50% rise. The total for 2020 is provisional. A total of 11,181 defendants had their bail revoked from 2015 to 2020. Mr Givan described the figures as "deeply worrying". "There is a 50% increase from 2015 to 2020. This is appalling," he said. "This is extraordinary and I will be asking further questions about what action is being taken to address this. "Justice is a serious business and where bail restrictions are not being taken seriously then that points to a wider systemic problem." Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen, a member of the Justice Committee, said: "Concerns regarding the bail system in Northern Ireland have been raised with me on a number of occasions and it is clear that there is a real problem as to how easily bail is granted and how little fear there is of having bail revoked. "I believe it is time the Justice Minister and the judiciary took a very close look at what is really going on with regard to this aspect of the justice system and came up with a plan that delivers the requires results." In response to the increase, a spokesman for the Department of Justice said that, while the figures show such cases are on the rise, they do not explain the circumstances which led to bail being revoked. "Where the prosecuting authorities consider there has been a breach of bail they can bring the matter back to the court and the court will then determine, based on the individual circumstances of each case, whether bail should be revoked," the spokesman said. "Since the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law through the Human Rights Act 1988, the court is obliged to release applicants on bail unless certain circumstances are established in court. "There is a presumption in favour of the granting of bail." A PSNI spokesperson said court bail is a matter for the Courts Service. Bail can be revoked for a variety of reasons. If a defendant is granted bail by the court, then the public prosecutor will consider whether any bail conditions would mitigate or address any risks they have identified. These can include the defendant having to be at an approved address between certain times (a curfew) or the individual being barred from certain places, seeing certain people or drinking alcohol. Defendants can also be tagged electronically so the authorities can monitor their movements. A defendant who breaches bail may also be charged with a separate offence for the breach. In December last year, Belfast Magistrates' Court returned a man to custody after he was found to have breached his bail conditions for a non-violent offence four times in the space of just seven days. Nearly 300 abducted Nigerian schoolgirls released, reunited with families: 'We thank God' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Nearly 300 abducted Nigerian schoolgirls were safely returned Tuesday after they were kidnapped Friday morning by armed militants. State authorities said 279 girls were released, which is different from the original reports claiming 317 girls were kidnapped. After 1 a.m. on Friday, gunmen kidnapped nearly 300 girls from a boarding school in northwest Nigeria following a wave of mass abductions. The kidnapped girls from Government Girls Science School in Jangebe are between 11 and 17 years old. This abduction is the third mass kidnapping experienced in recent months in northwest Nigeria, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Associated Press and Reuters released a video that showed the hundreds of the freed and barefoot schoolgirls in light blue hijabs waiting at a Zamfara state government building to be released. After health examinations, the girls were reunited with their families. I am elated. We thank God. We thank God, Habib Abdullahi, whose three daughters were kidnapped, was quoted as saying. In the video, a reporter asked Yakubu Sani, the father of a released girl, how he felt. The smiling father said, Like just I was born just now, I feel very fine. Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari joined in celebrating the girls release. I join the affected families and the people of Zamfara State in welcoming and celebrating the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe, he tweeted. This news [brings] overwhelming joy. I am pleased that their ordeal has come to a happy end without any incident. Buhari also the government is working to bring an end to these grim and heartbreaking incidents of kidnapping. The president stated that the military and police would continue to go after kidnappers and will need the help of communities for intelligence to quell criminal plans. Zamfara Gov. Bello Matawalle also tweeted upon the girls return. He posted photos of the girls returning in vans. Alhamdulillah! [God be praised!], he shared. It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe from captivity. This follows the scaling of several hurdles laid against our efforts. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to rejoice with us as our daughters are now safe. Activists worldwide have called on the Nigerian government to intervene to end the fatal trend of abductions and terror activity. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, which is the countrys largest-ever kidnapping of schoolgirls, according to the AP/Reuters video. The kidnapping is under investigation. Though kidnapping for ransom has become a profitable industry for terrorist groups in Nigeria, authorities claim ransom was not paid for the girls release. However, The Wall Street Journal notes that one of the girls reported that a ransom had been paid, and the kidnappers even fired shots in the middle of the night to celebrate the payments arrival. Umma Abubakar, another one of the kidnapped girls, shared with reporters details of the abduction, according to CNN. "Most of us got injured on our feet and we could not continue trekking, so they [the captors] said they will shoot anybody who did not continue to walk," Abubakar recalled. "We walked across a river and they hid us and let us sleep under shrubs in a forest." Yusuf Idris, a spokesman Gov. Matawalle, shared with CNN that the girls said the kidnappers treated them fairly and gave them food. But they said it was the worst experience in their life. [The girls] spent four days in captivity with a bandit group walking through the Rugu Forest in a choreography that now, unfortunately, has become all too familiar in northern Nigeria, Wall Street Journal Africa Bureau Chief Joe Parkinson said. The Rugu Forest has become known as a hideout for Bandits that have terrorized northwest Nigeria. Boko Haram, one of the deadliest terror groups in the world, kidnapped as many as 500 schoolboys in an attack on Kankara Government Science Secondary School in Katsina state on Dec. 11. The terror group eventually freed 344 boys after security forces negotiated their release. Many of the boys, however, remain missing. The recent wave of school kidnappings follows the abduction of the 276 Nigerian schoolgirls from a school in Chibok in 2014, which gained international attention with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Over 112 of the Chibok schoolgirls remain missing. The Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the country third most affected by terrorism globally, behind Iraq and Afghanistan. The index reports that from 2001 to 2019, there were over 22,000 killed by acts of terror. Nigeria also leads the world in the number of Christians killed, according to Open Doors USA. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future Published a Half-Cooked Research Report on Global Microcrystalline Cellulose Market. Market Definition: Microcrystalline cellulose is a partially depolymerized, naturally occurring cellulose form wood pulp. It has properties such as anti-caking, bulking, and texturizing that are majorly required for keeping processed food fresh. The unique properties such as powder porosity, moisture sorption, and swelling capacity. Being a chemically inert substance, it has very less absorption capacity and does not dissolute during digestion. Due to this reason, it is highly used in excipient production in pharmaceuticals and is the major driver of the global microcrystalline cellulose market. The other driver for the global market growth is it being a fat substitute, primarily used in low-fat processed food. Market Scenario: The increasing demand for pharmaceuticals with the growing population consumes a major quantity of microcrystalline cellulose followed by food and beverage industry. The global Microcrystalline Cellulose Market Size growth is also driven by the cosmetic and personal care industry. The unique properties of extender, binder, and texturizer are extensively used in personal care products. The growing demand for personal care products with the concerned grooming and self-care population is expected to increase the market growth. Competitive Analysis Some of the prominent players of the microcrystalline cellulose are: FMC Corporation (the U.S), Mingtai Chemical Co. Ltd. (Canada), DFE Pharma (Germany), Dupont (the U.S.), Avantor (the U.S.), Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Japan), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Blanver (Brazil), JRS PHARMA (the U.S.), FrieslandCampina (the Netherlands), Accent Microcell Pvt. Ltd (India), Sigachi Industries Pvt. Ltd. (India), Libraw Pharma (India), Huzhou City Linghu Xinwang Chemical Co., Ltd (China) and Shandong Xinda Biotechnology Co., Ltd (China) among others. Market Segmentation The global microcrystalline cellulose market is segmented as per the raw material, end-user, and region. There are only two raw material sources available, namely wood based and non-wood based. Out of these, the non-wood based raw material source is likely to dominate the market due to the excessive demand for synthetically produced and cheap products. Based on end-user, the market is segmented into pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, cosmetic & personal care, and others. Regional Analysis The global microcrystalline cellulose market is segmented into five key regions namely North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is the major contributor to the market growth due to the increasing food & beverage industries. The increasing number of pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries in this region in expected to fuel the market growth in near future. The regulatory association named the U.S Pharmacopeial Convention has identified microcrystalline cellulose as an excellent excipient, which has propelled the market growth. The U.S contributes significantly to the market share in terms of revenue followed by Canada. Europe is another substantial region contributing to the market growth owing to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries in this region. Asia Pacific is expected to hold a considerable share of the market in coming years. Countries such as China are concentrated to the production of microcrystalline cellulose due to the low raw material and labor cost. The U.S is the major producer of microcrystalline cellulose followed by China. In Latin America & Africa, the growing medical support and availability of pharmaceutical at ease is expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period. However, poor health and safety standards may hinder the market growth in this region. BROWSE RELATED REPORT @ https://www.abnewswire.com/pressreleases/fiber-optic-sensor-market-size-and-global-trends-2020-covid19-business-impact-industry-analysis-sales-revenue-opportunities-top-leaders-and-regional-forecast-to-2022_505731.html https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/fiber-optic-sensor-market-size-and-global-trends-2020-covid-19-business-impact-industry-analysis-sales-revenue-opportunities-top-leaders-and-regional-forecast-to-2022-2020-09-07 http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4797814 https://www.wboc.com/story/42598499/fiber-optic-sensor-market-size-and-global-trends-2020-covid19-business-impact-industry-analysis-sales-revenue-opportunities-top-leaders-and-regional-forecast-to-2022 A two-hour drive stands between John Suderman and his vaccine. The 91-year-old Dauphin resident is currently eligible to be immunized against COVID-19 but he needs to get to a vaccination clinic because he lives on his own. When he booked his vaccine appointment this week, Suderman, a retired high school principal, realized he would have to drive to the nearest immunization site in Brandon. "At the age of 91, there are not that many people that are sharp enough to do it on their own or have the energy to do it on their own, and so they are left hanging dry," he said. John Suderman, 91, had to drive two hours to Brandon to get his vaccine shot. (Supplied) Barring a sudden snowstorm, he plans to drive himself or may enlist a friend to help. Meanwhile, his younger friends in retirement residences and seniors buildings are having doses brought to them. He said he understands immunization teams can't just show up at his door because of the way the vials currently have to be stored and distributed, but he believes the province could have planned things differently. The fact he can't show up at a local seniors' residence to be vaccinated along with residents doesn't make sense, he said. Suderman feels his relative good health at his age has meant he's "sort of left holding the bag". "I do know that I'm pretty lucky to be this old and still be able to do it," he said. On Wednesday, the province expanded vaccine eligibility to Manitobans 89 and older, or 69 and up for First Nations residents. Manitoba's rollout began with frontline health-care workers and personal care home residents, and has been opened up to the oldest members of the general public, but those living in care homes and other "congregate living facilities" have been given priority based on their higher risk. The provincial vaccine task force intends to open pop-up vaccination clinics outside of Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson, but there's still no schedule for when that will happen or where they will be located. Two new clinics are expected to open soon: one in Selkirk on March 8, and one in Morden on a date yet to be announced. But for now, elderly Manitobans who live in their own homes have no choice but to travel to a vaccine supersite. Manitoba Health Minister Heather Stefanson (second from left) and Premier Brian Pallister (centre) tour the immunization super-site at the Keystone Centre in Brandon in January. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun files) "The focus at the moment, given the models that we have in place and given the eligibility criteria, means that yes, individuals who are not in congregate living facilities or fall in that rank do not currently have the option of having some sort of other model available to them," Johanu Botha, co-lead for the COVID-19 vaccination task force, told reporters Wednesday. "So, the supersites (are) the option at the moment, hence why weve gone to great lengths to make the supersite experience itself as safe and comfortable for elderly individuals, like making sure theyre mobile friendly, ensuring that a primary caregiver can move with someone throughout the supersite and so on." Residents at certain 55-plus apartment buildings have been able to get priority vaccinations if the residence meets the province's congregate living criteria, including shared living quarters on site and residents who are unable to get to a vaccine clinic. The task force targeted homes according to residents' age, health conditions and risk levels. Not all 55-plus buildings are included in the province's current vaccine rollout, a provincial spokesman confirmed Wednesday. The planning took into account the province's age and population data, but it didn't capture the number of Manitobans who are older than 90 and are living independently. Some of them, including Julie Nauta, will likely have to wait until their vaccines can come to them. Nauta is 91 and living with her daughter in Winnipeg. She's too weak to travel or navigate the phone-booking appointment system. "It would mean a lot to me, but I cannot go there under those circumstances," Nauta told the Free Press over the phone. "I'm disappointed. I mean, I've been a citizen of this country 54 years and now it seems that it doesn't really matter," said Nauta, who emigrated from the Netherlands. She said she feels like she's "being thrown away." Her daughter, Martha Nauta, said it would be ideal if home care nurses could administer the vaccine to her mother. "She's at high risk here. I have so many home care workers coming into the home here, it scares me," Martha said. "Logistically, they're going to have to think about the future." with files from Danielle Da Silva katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. What are the best books about translation youve read? I havent honestly read any. It feels too strange to be reading about something Ive been doing practically every day for over 30 years. And I know this is heresy, but Im not sure theres that much to say. For me, translating is very much something you do, like writing. Do you count any books as comfort reads, or guilty pleasures? Almost anything written in the 19th century would count as a comfort read for me. Im not sure I have any guilty reading pleasures except perhaps avoiding contemporary fiction and I do feel slightly guilty about that, but it does simplify my reading life. Has a book ever brought you closer to another person, or come between you? When I was translating Saramagos Death at Intervals, I happened to meet the Dutch translator, Maartje de Kort, who was working on it too, and we had a lovely time exchanging problems and solutions, and have remained in touch ever since. Also I do a lot of co-translations at the moment, mainly with younger translators whom Ive mentored, and its a real delight to share a book with someone who knows every nook and cranny of it as well as I do. I cant think of a book that has come between me and someone else. I did disagree quite violently with a friend about Emily Dickinsons poetry she thought it too death-obsessed, and I thought it life-affirming but were still friends. Whats the most interesting thing you learned from a book recently? Well, in Bernardo Atxagas novel Casas y tumbas, I found out a lot about appendicitis, which was useful since shortly afterward, my grandson in America had to be hospitalized with acute appendicitis, so I felt better informed. What moves you most in a work of literature? The sheer pleasure of reading wonderful prose or poetry. As well as descriptions of nature and the everyday and the portrayal of friendship. I recently reread (for probably the third time) Willa Cathers My Antonia, which is a celebration of friendship over the years. And I get huge pleasure out of Billy Collinss ability to make poetry out of everything and anything. What makes for a good translation? It has to have a convincing voice, so that you, as a reader, have utter confidence in what youre reading. Yes, it needs to be accurate and faithful (whatever that means), but if youre translating a masterpiece of prose from Spanish or Portuguese or whatever, then your English translation should be a masterpiece too. Perhaps the biggest compliment Ive ever had came from a friend who is also an expert on Javier Mariass work. He said he got as much pleasure from reading my translations of Mariass novels, as he did from the original Spanish. Thats what Im aiming for. How do you organize your books? In theory, by author and by language, but my bookshelves are rarely tidy, and theyre in nearly every room in the house, which means there are overflows and leakages, with books turning up where they shouldnt. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. MOSCOW, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announces the start of a rolling review procedure of Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus by European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). The CHMP's decision to start the rolling review is based on results from laboratory studies and clinical studies in adults. EMA will assess Sputnik V's compliance with the usual EU standards for effectiveness, safety and quality. A number of EU member states have made individual decisions to register Sputnik V without EMA approval. The vaccine is currently approved for use in Hungary and Slovakia. The Gamaleya National Center and RDIF cooperate with national regulatory authorities around the world and provide comprehensive data on Sputnik V clinical trials. It is one of the world's top three coronavirus vaccines in terms of the number of approvals issued by government regulators. To date 42 countries with total population of more than 1.1 billion people have authorized the use of Sputnik V. On February 2, 2021 The Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals, published interim results of a Phase III clinical trial of Sputnik V, confirming the vaccine's high efficacy of 91.6% and safety. Sputnik V provides full protection against severe cases of COVID-19. Sputnik V, which is based on a well-studied human adenoviral vectors platform, is the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus. The vaccine has been approved in Russia, Belarus, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, UAE, Iran, Republic of Guinea, Tunisia, Armenia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Republika Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bahrain, Montenegro, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Gabon, San-Marino, Ghana, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Guyana, Egypt, Honduras, Guatemala, Moldova, Slovakia, Angola, Republic of Congo and Djibouti. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said: "We welcome the start of the rolling review procedure by EMA of Sputnik V. We have provided EMA with comprehensive data on the Russian vaccine, which is now approved for use in more than 40 countries. Sputnik V can make an important contribution to saving millions of lives in Europe and we are looking forward to a thorough review of data by CHMP. Vaccine partnerships should be above politics and cooperation with EMA is a perfect example demonstrating that pooling efforts is the only way to end the pandemic. Following EMA approval, we would be able to provide vaccine for 50 million Europeans starting from June 2021." Sputnik V has a number of key advantages: Efficacy of Sputnik V is 91.6% as confirmed by the data published in the Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals; it is one of only three vaccines in the world with efficacy of over 90%; Sputnik V provides full protection against severe cases of COVID-19. The Sputnik V vaccine is based on a proven and well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors, which cause the common cold and have been around for thousands of years. Sputnik V uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination, providing immunity with a longer duration than vaccines using the same delivery mechanism for both shots. The safety, efficacy and lack of negative long-term effects of adenoviral vaccines have been proven by more than 250 clinical studies over two decades. The developers of the Sputnik V vaccine are working collaboratively with AstraZeneca on a joint clinical trial to improve the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine. There are no strong allergies caused by Sputnik V. The storage temperature of Sputnik V at +2+8 C means it can be stored in a conventional refrigerator without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure. The price of Sputnik V is less than $10 per shot, making it affordable around the world. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140939/Russian_Direct_Investment_Fund_Logo.jpg BOSTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Second Avenue Capital Partners, LLC ("SACP") (www.secondavecp.com) has provided $6.5 million in debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing to Solstice Sunglasses, the second-largest sunglass retailer in the United States. The DIP facility delivers supportive capital to Solstice as the retailer commences a restructuring. "The DIP financing package from SACP will aid us as we move through the restructuring process," said KCP Advisory Group's Jacen Dinoff, who was recently appointed Chief Restructuring Officer of Solstice Sunglasses. "We are focused on using this time of transition to make the necessary changes to the Solstice business and position the company for long-term success." Solstice Sunglasses offers a unique retail experience for consumers looking for luxury, designer, and sport sunglasses with the service and style to match. The vast hand selected assortment from the top brands is specially curated for quality and style. From timeless to trendsetting, posh to performance-ready, Solstice Sunglasses has something to fit ever-changing lifestyles and activities. The company strives to provide a uniquely positive shopping experience across their 66 retail locations and an e-commerce site, solsticesunglasses.com. "Second Avenue Capital Partners' commitment to our endeavors offers us an opportunity to move beyond the challenging climate we've operated under for the last year," said Mikey Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer. "We know this restructuring will bring renewed focus on our mission to provide our customers with a distinctive selection of sunglasses and a unique retail experience. SACP's responsiveness and sense of urgency were vital to this process and we look forward to working with them." "When Mikey Rosenberg came to us, we looked at the company's position in the marketplace and quickly recognized the value in helping to advance their restructuring goals," said Chris O'Connor, President of SACP. "Unlike some segments of specialty retail, Solstice Sunglasses has less direct-competitor pressure which affords them the latitude to fine-tune their niche position and stabilize the business. Anytime we can help a company while they work to right-size and preserve jobs as an ongoing entity, we're proud to play a role." The Company has retained Morgan, Lewis & Bockius L.L.P. as its legal counsel, RCS Real Estate Advisors to advise on all store leases, and KCP Advisory Group LLC's Jacen Dinoff as Chief Restructuring Officer. About Second Avenue Capital Partners Second Avenue Capital Partners, LLC ("SACP") ( www.secondavecp.com ), a Schottenstein Affiliate, specializes in asset-based loans for the broader retail and consumer products industry. Serving middle-market companies, SACP leverages the experience of retail operators, product merchants, and lenders to deliver an array of customized, capital solutions. A unique merchant perspective gives SACP the ability to recognize and unlock value in assets other capital providers often overlook or do not understand. The firm's tailored financial solutions are a vital resource for clients seeking capital to effectuate strategy and achieve financial objectives. SACP is headquartered in Boston with additional offices in New York, Columbus, and Los Angeles. About Solstice Sunglasses - Solstice Sunglasses is a luxury sunglasses boutique carrying the finest assortment of designer, contemporary and sport sunglasses for women, men, and children. Solstice Sunglasses is committed to quality, in both our service and selection offered. We hand select our assortments to ensure a refined offering, which includes Italian handmade luxury sunglasses from iconic brands including Dior, Dior Homme, Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, and Tom Ford. The contemporary collection boasts of Boss, Carrera, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, and Ray-Ban, and for your performance needs Maui Jim, Oakley, and Smith Optics. Shop Solstice Sunglasses from one of our stores across the US, or from the convenience of your home at solsticesunglasses.com. Solstice Sunglasses offers Free shipping on all online purchases, a replacement guarantee, complimentary repairs, fittings and cleanings, plus hassle-free returns all in an elegant luxurious environment. About KCP Advisory Group - KCP Advisory Group is headquartered outside of Boston. KCP is considered a leading business advisory firm built on the success of its professionals who specialize in providing creative solutions and aiding clients in rehabilitating their businesses. KCP renders services spanning a range of advisory roles from consulting to interim leadership. By recognizing the uniqueness of each engagement, KCP ensures the needs of the situation are met and minimize the cost of valuable solutions by working in small, specialized expert teams. This format provides the experience of a wide range of businesses and industries, to assist a client whether they are healthy, challenged, or distressed and whether the challenges include performance improvement or financial advisory services or turnaround and restructuring. SOURCE Second Avenue Capital Partners, LLC Related Links http://www.secondavecp.com A link shared on Facebook allowed ineligible residents to make COVID vaccine appointments, officials confirmed. We have learned that a dedicated link that was reserved solely for registering teachers was unfortunately shared online through a number of individual Facebook sites, said Yale New Haven Health spokesman Vincent Petrini. We immediately took action and shut down the link and we are reviewing the situation. Though he could not say the exact number of appointments were made, Ohm Deshpande, Yale New Haven Healths vice president for population health and a physician leader for the providers vaccination efforts, said it was a small number. I dont have a hard number yet we are working on that, he said Thursday. The link was intended for educators and got abused. Needless to say it was deactivated rapidly. Any appointments made by ineligible residents have been canceled, Petrini said. Connecticut moved to an age-based vaccine rollout last month, with residents aged between 55 and 64 years old eligible to sign up on March 1. People between the ages of 45 and 54 become eligible on March 22, but teachers and other in-school workers of any age became eligible on March 1. But the intention, according to a press release issued by the state last month, was to administer the vaccine to educators at dedicated clinics that will be set up specifically for those sectors. We have teacher clinics in most places, said Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. The issue is that you also cant restrict teachers from going wherever to get their vaccines. Petrini said most school districts are going through local health districts to plan vaccine clinics, but that Yale is working with some. Yale New Haven is only working with school districts that have approached us directly and we have been working in full collaboration with local health departments and the state Department of Public Health, he said. He did not say which school district or districts the link was intended for, but Greenwich is among those school districts that are working with Yale to distribute vaccines to school-based personnel, according to the school district. We are currently running efficient and safe vaccination clinics that require extensive logistics, said Dana Marnane, vice president of public relations at Greenwich Hospital, which is part of th Yale-New Haven system To continue to best serve our entire community, this was the optimal way to proceed. As for how to prevent such breaches in the future, Deshponde said Yale was working on the issue We have deactivated the link, he said. We are working on other tech solutions to make it more stringent. Huawei has confirmed that its Mate 40 Pro premium smartphone will be coming to South Africa in April this year. Speaking during the companys Better Together 2021 live event, Huawei South Africa CTO Akhram Mohamed confirmed that the recently-released smartphone will come to South Africa. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro will be available in April across all operator channels, Mohamed said. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro runs Android with Huawei Mobile Services instead of Google Mobile Services, which means applications can be sourced from Huawei AppGallery instead of the Google Play Store. It offers a number of high-end features, including improved display technology and a next-generation Space Ring camera system with a 50MP primary lens. There is currently no launch date or South African pricing available for this new smartphone, but it is priced at 1,199 internationally. Read more about the Huawei Mate 40 Pro here. Huaweis performance in South Africa Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) South Africa president Jun Sun also spoke to the performance of Huawei locally, stating that its expansion into more product categories has paid off. He said Huawei HMS-powered smartphones achieved a 380% quarter-on-quarter increase in sales in Q3 2020, with a further 120% increase in Q4 2020. Our smartphone market share is still amongst the top two in South Africa, he said. He also said that Huawei became the number 1 PC brand in its respective channels shortly after the launch of the MateBook series. This gave us the confidence to bring more PCs to the South African market, Sun said. Huawei is now also the number one smartwatch brand in South Africa, he said, with the company seeing significant demand for laptops and wearables during the COVID-19 lockdown. Strategy for 2021 Huawei said it is focusing on its Seamless AI Life strategy for 2021, focussing on the integration between products and improved accessibility within its device ecosystem. This is based on everything from Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) to the companys product lineup and service offering, said Mohamed. When we launched HMS, it became a strong foundation because it provides consumers with a basis to operate from, Mohamed said. On top of that, there are three pillars the product ecosystem, the software ecosystem, and the services ecosystem. We have a clear vision long-term; we dont just want to say this is the new product coming out, we want to say this is the intention and thinking behind that product, he said. Mohamed said this strategy is based on developing products that address consumer pain points and needs with products, from wearables to laptops and smartphones. We hope to release many more products in the future within these categories. South Africa remains a top market for Huawei and remains an important market for our flagship launches. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below She recently returned to the UK following her 'work' trip to the United Arab Emirates. And Eve Gale was pining for sunnier climes on Wednesday as she shared a throwback swimsuit snap, before slipping into tiny hotpants. The blonde beauty, 21, flaunted her ample cleavage and underboob in a skimpy orange swimsuit. Wow: Eve Gale was pining for sunnier climes on Wednesday as she shared a throwback swimsuit snap The top barely contained her assets and drew the eye to her taut midriff and enviable legs as she posed. She captioned the snap: 'Oh to be this tanned again #June2020.' Eve later set pulses racing as she displayed her pert posterior in tight cream hotpants while striking a sizzling pose. She paired this with a cropped quilted white jacket and trainers and displayed her honed legs in the snap. Cheeky: Eve later set pulses racing as she displayed her pert posterior in tight cream hotpants while striking a sizzling pose Her caramel tresses were styled sleek and straight while a rich palette of make-up enhanced her pretty features. Eve and her twin sister Jess were just two of many celebrities who jetted to Dubai in recent weeks, joining many other Love Islanders including Joanna Chimonides, Hayley Hughes and Francesca Allen. After Dubai joined UK's travel ban list, celebrities have been flocking to Mexico's bars and beaches as it establishes itself as the latest COVID getaway destination. The country appears to be the new destination of choice for global jet-setters and could rocket in popularity. Travel abroad is now banned from the UK without a legally permitted reason, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced last month, as she criticised influencers for 'showing off in sunny parts of the world'. Many stars insisted their trips are for 'work purposes', with several influencers forced to hit back at fans after they were criticised for jetting off on holiday during the global pandemic. The pair to fame on the first ever series of winter Love Island back in 2020. While Eve was booted off after less than a week, Jess made it to the final with Ched Uzor - with the pair going their separate ways shortly afterwards. Tsinghua University President Qiu Yong delivered opening remarks at the webinar. Public health experts from both China and the U.S. on Monday urged their respective nations to expand global access to COVID-19 vaccines in order to bring about a speedy global economy recovery, adding that vaccine cooperation is crucial to curbing the spread of the virus around the globe. At a webinar co-hosted by Tsinghua University and the Brookings Institution, Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and China's leading respiratory disease expert, noted that the idea of so-called natural immunity is unrealistic and inhuman, and producing improved vaccines and cocktail antibodies would play an essential role in addressing the next wave of the pandemic in the near future. Echoing Zhongs view, Dr. Tom Frieden, former Director of the U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that vaccines hold the prospect of eventually bringing an end to the pandemic, but there are certain issues that still need to be addressed, as vaccine rollout at the current stage has been slow, and if there is not enough manufacturing, demand for the vaccine will outstrip supply for many months, maybe even years. Mass vaccination requires at least two to three years to achieve herd immunity, and that requires global collaboration. The discovery of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants globally and the mutation of COVID-19 pose a big challenge in the latest fight against the pandemic, as they diminish the effectiveness of vaccination and antibody treatments, Zhong further added. Experts from both China and the US discuss pandemic control cooperation between the two nations. To address such issues, experts from both China and the U.S. agreed that the world should cooperate in areas such as vaccine development and distribution, in an effort to tackle possible future waves of COVID-19. Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, Director at Columbias Center for Infection and Immunity, said that there was a need for a global food and drugs administration of testing and rational distribution of diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines to mitigate diseases, as they pose not just a threat to human health, but also to climate and food security. We need to work together in a global fashion. Dr. Gao Fu, Director-General of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said China and the U.S. should work together to promote COVAX, a global initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. According to his estimate, it was unlikely that the world would make a complete return to normal as before, but it could see relative normality by next summer if the current trends persisted. Health threats can unite or divide the world, vaccine nationalism will backfire. Only global collaboration against the virus can lead to global recovery, said Frieden. The webinar, which was live-streamed on various social media platforms, was viewed by millions of viewers worldwide. The New York Public Library will keep six Dr. Seuss books on its shelves despite a decision to stop publishing them due to their racist imagery. A spokeswoman for the historic library said it will keep the controversial titles in circulation as it does not censor books and will continue to lend them out until their condition deteriorates. 'As with all public libraries the New York Public Library does not censor books,' Angela Montefinise said. 'In this case, the six titles in question are being pulled out of print by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, so the very few copies we have of these titles will continue to circulate until the are no longer in acceptable condition, 'In the meantime, librarians, who care deeply about serving their communities and ensuring accurate and diverse representation in our collections - especially children's books - will certainly strongly consider this information when planning storytimes, displays, and recommendations,' she said, adding that the books are also part of the library's historical research collection. The New York Public Library will keep six Dr. Seuss books on its shelves despite a decision to stop publishing them due to racist imagery. A spokeswoman for the historic library said it will keep the controversial titles in circulation as it does not censor books and will continue to lend them out until their condition deteriorates [Stock photo] The New York Post reported that a spokesperson for the Brooklyn Public Library said the books also remain in circulation there. At the Queens Public Library, officials said they were deciding whether to move the books to the reference section but added that they 'stand firmly against censorship.' On Tuesday, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company that preserves and protects the author's legacy, said it would no longer print six of his works over racist and insensitive imagery. The six books affected are: 'And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street', 'If I Ran the Zoo', 'McElligot's Pool', 'On Beyond Zebra!', 'Scrambled Eggs Super!', and 'The Cat's Quizzer'. News of the decision came just one day after President Biden omitted Dr. Seuss from Read Across America Day, which is held annually on the children's author's birthday on March 2. Explaining the decision to stop the publication of the six books, the company said: 'These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.' These six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published because of racist and insensitive imagery, according to the company that preserves and protects the author's legacy In 'And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,' an Asian person is portrayed wearing a conical hat, holding chopsticks, and eating from a bowl. Earlier editions of the book showed the same character with yellow skin and a long ponytail. 'If I Ran the Zoo' includes a drawing of two bare-footed African men wearing what appear to be grass skirts with their hair tied above their heads. 'Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises' catalog represents and supports all communities and families,' the company said. The decision to cease publication and sales of the books was made last year after months of discussion, the company said. 'Dr. Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback from our audiences including teachers, academics and specialists in the field as part of our review process. We then worked with a panel of experts, including educators, to review our catalog of titles.' Random House Children Books, Dr. Seuss' publisher, issued a brief statement on Tuesday: 'We respect the decision of Dr. Seuss Enterprises and the work of the panel that reviewed this content last year, and their recommendation.' As adored as Dr. Seuss is by millions around the world for the positive values in many of his works, including environmentalism and tolerance, there has been increasing criticism in recent years over the way black people, Asians and others are drawn in some of his most beloved children's books, as well as in his earlier advertising and propaganda illustrations. School districts across the country have also moved away from Dr. Seuss, prompting Loudoun County, Virginia, schools just outside Washington, D.C., to douse rumors last month that they were banning the books entirely. 'Research in recent years has revealed strong racial undertones in many books written/illustrated by Dr. Seuss,' the school district said in a statement. In 'And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,' an Asian person is portrayed wearing a conical hat, holding chopsticks, and eating from a bowl. Earlier editions of the book (right) showed the same character with yellow skin and a long ponytail 'If I Ran the Zoo', which was published in 1950, includes a drawing of two bare-footed African men wearing what appear to be grass skirts with their hair tied above their heads In 2017, a school librarian in Cambridge, Massachusetts, criticized a gift of 10 Seuss books from first lady Melania Trump, saying many of his works were 'steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes.' In 2018, a Dr. Seuss museum in his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts, removed a mural that included an Asian stereotype. 'The Cat in the Hat,' one of Seuss' most popular books, has received criticism, too, but will continue to be published for now. Dr. Seuss Enterprises, however, said it is 'committed to listening and learning and will continue to review our entire portfolio.' Some fans were upset by the decision to stop publishing the six books, saying it constituted 'cancel culture'. Almost immediately after the announcement on Tuesday, the prices of those books surged hundreds of dollars on eBay as people placed dozens of bids for new and vintage copies. A vintage copy of 'If I Ran the Zoo' was priced at $510 after receiving 54 bids, while a copy of 'Scrambled Eggs Super!' was at $565 after 58 bids. A copy of 'The Cat's Quizzer', which the seller marketed as brand new, was going for $630 after receiving 48 bids. Books by Dr. Seuss (pictured), whose real name was Theodore Seuss Geisel, have been translated into dozens of languages as well as in braille and are sold in more than 100 countries [File photo] Seuss's step-daughter, Lark Grey Dimond-Cates, said on Tuesday that the author and illustrator didn't have 'a racist bone' in his body but that pulling the titles was the right decision. 'There wasn't a racist bone in that man's body - he was so acutely aware of the world around him and cared so much,' she told the New York Post, adding that she was told of the decision to pull the books a day earlier. 'I think in this day and age it's a wise decision,' she said. 'I think this is a world that right now is in pain, and we've all got to be very gentle and thoughtful and kind with each other. 'We're taking that into account and being thoughtful. We don't want to upset anybody.' She said she's hopeful the books can one day go back into print. Books by Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodore Seuss Geisel, have been translated into dozens of languages as well as in braille and are sold in more than 100 countries. Seuss died in 1991 but remains popular, earning an estimated $33 million before taxes in 2020, up from just $9.5 million five years ago, the company said. Forbes listed him No. 2 on its highest-paid dead celebrities of 2020, behind only the late pop star Michael Jackson. An Australian activist who says she was arbitrarily detained in Tanzania over her social media and human rights activity flew into Brisbane on Thursday. Zara Kay, an Australian citizen who was born in Tanzania, said she had been put through hell over the past two months, receiving rape and death threats and being prevented from leaving the country by authorities. Zara Kay has flown home to Brisbane after her ordeal. Credit:Twitter Ms Kay, who runs an organisation called Faithless Hijabi that supports women who have left Islam, was told to attend a police station in the city of Dar es Salaam on December 28 before being detained for 32 hours. Her lawyers said she was interrogated by the Tanzanian police and had her personal belongings confiscated, including her Australian passport, which was later lost, and was threatened with arrest and prison. After her release, she said she was subjected to further questioning and continued to be threatened with criminal charges. She has gained a legion of fans thanks to her endless stream of raunchy, bikini-clad photos. But model Sahara Ray put on her most daring display yet this week during a very raunchy photo shoot in Queensland. The former fling of Justin Bieber barely covered her modesty as she posed in revealing lace lingerie. Sheer daring! Model Sahara Ray put on her most daring display yet this week during a very raunchy photo shoot in Queensland this weekend The bombshell's trim pins and washboard abs were on full display as she leant up against a tree in one photo. Another photo saw her cat crawl on the ground while shooting the camera a sultry gaze. She's the cat's meow: Sahara did a cat crawl on the ground while shooting the camera a sultry gaze The last picture saw her posing with her hands on her slender, toned and tanned thighs. 'Gia x-rated,' Sahara captioned the photos, tagging the Aussie brand I Am Gia. A number of the star's fans, including Kate Moss' half-sister Lottie Moss, couldn't get enough of the seductive images. Oh my! The former fling of Justin Bieber barely covered her modesty as she posed in revealing lace lingerie Sahara was famously caught by the paparazzi enjoying a skinny dipping session with Justin, 26, in Hawaii in August 2016. He went on to marry model and socialite Hailey Baldwin, 24, in 2018. Last July, Sahara made headlines when she promised to release a sex tape if she reached enough subscribers on OnlyFans. Throwback: Sahara was famously caught by the paparazzi enjoying a skinny dipping session with Justin, 26, in Hawaii in August 2016 OnlyFans is a subscription-based social media platform that allows users to sell adult content for a monthly fee. Sahara charges AUD$20 per month for unlimited access to her OnlyFans account. The blonde bombshell is the daughter of Australian big wave surfer Tony Ray. That's bold! Last July, Sahara made headlines when she promised to release a sex tape if she reached enough subscribers on OnlyFans Like her famous father, Sahara was an avid surfer, but she put down the surfboard at the age of 16 to pursue a career in modelling and fashion. The blonde beauty then moved to the bright lights of Los Angeles, where she enrolled in The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). Sahara forged a successful career as a swimsuit model and launched her own of swimwear line, Sahara Ray Swim. Kansas lawmakers moved on March 2 to extend protections for businesses from lawsuits over COVID-19. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would give businesses an extra year of protection, until March 31, 2022, from lawsuits from customers or employees who contract COVID-19 if those businesses were in substantial compliance with public health orders. The measure is one of several rising out of the pandemic or Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys response to it that the Republican-controlled Legislature is considering. The liability shield legislation goes next to the Senate, which also was debating a bill to require all of the states local school districts to offer in-person classes to all of their students by March 26. Only a handful of the states 286 districts dont plan to have a majority of their students back in classrooms by then, according to State Department of Education data. The debates over those measures and others rewriting the states emergency management laws come amid ongoing COVID-19 inoculations. Some Republican legislators contend that distribution of vaccines is going too slowly, pointing to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data ranking Kansas near the bottom of states for doses administered per 100,000 residents. Kelly and state Department of Health and Environment officials contend that reporting issues have led the number of doses administered to be underreported and the department is working to fix that problem. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said the distribution had been a colossal disaster but lawmakers are getting fewer complaints now. You can only go up from the bottom, he said. I think things are at least trending in the right direction, but I would still contend thats the only direction it could go, he said. Legislators last year enacted a law to protect health care providers from being sued over medical decisions they made during the pandemic. They also protected adult care homes that followed state rules and public health directives and manufacturers that provided personal protective or medical equipment. But the general protection from lawsuits for stores, restaurants, bars and other businesses is due to expire March 31. Supporters of the Senate Judiciary Committees bill said extending the protection another year will give lawmakers time to see how many cases arise. Eric Stafford, a lobbyist for the influential Kansas Chamber of Commerce, said the group hasnt heard of any cases, but, If COVID never goes away, we would prefer that the liability protection never goes away. Some attorneys and lawmakers argued last year that the protections provided by the Legislature and could shield some bad behavior. Callie Denton, executive director of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, said the dearth of lawsuits shows the protections arent needed. Andy Tsubasa Field is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics COVID-19 Legislation Kansas Wipro to be one of the largest providers of integrated, end-to-end consulting, digital, cloud and IT transformation services at scale Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Capco, a global management and technology consultancy providing digital, consulting and technology services to financial institutions in the Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific. London-headquartered Capco's clients include many marquee names in the global financial services industry. Over the past 20 years, the company has worked closely with business leaders, including Boards and C-Suites in the banking, capital markets, wealth, asset management and insurance sectors and is widely acknowledged for its deep domain and consulting expertise, risk and regulatory offerings and thought leadership around key industry technology challenges and opportunities. In addition, Capco services clients in the energy and commodities trading sector. Capco has an experienced executive team and over 5,000 world-class business and technology consultants based across more than 30 global locations supporting clients through their expert insights, entrepreneurial approach and focus on delivery excellence. This acquisition will make Wipro one of the largest end-to-end global consulting, technology and transformation service providers to the banking and financial services industry. By combining Wipro's capabilities in strategic design, digital transformation, cloud, cybersecurity, IT and operations services with Capco's domain and consulting strength, clients will gain access to a partner who can deliver integrated, bespoke solutions to help fuel growth and achieve their transformation objectives. Thierry Delaporte, CEO and Managing Director of Wipro Limited said, "We are very excited to welcome Capco's admirable leadership team and employees, and global clients, to Wipro. Together, we can deliver high-end consulting and technology transformations, and operations offerings to our clients. Wipro and Capco share complimentary business models and core guiding values, and I am certain that our new Capco colleagues will be proud to call Wipro home." Lance Levy, CEO of Capco said, "We are incredibly excited to join our new colleagues at Wipro. Together, we will offer bespoke transformational end-to-end solutions, now powered by innovative technology at scale, to create a new leading partner to the financial services industry. We look forward to leveraging the complementary capabilities and similar cultures of both companies to drive industry change and offer exciting opportunities for both our clients, and our people." The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the quarter ending June 30, 2021. About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 190,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. About Capco Capco is a global technology and management consultancy specializing in driving digital transformation in the financial services industry. With a growing client portfolio comprising of over 100 global organizations, Capco operates at the intersection of business and technology by combining innovative thinking with unrivalled industry knowledge to fast-track transformation initiatives for the banking and payments, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance, and the energy sector. Capco's ingenuity is brought to life through its Innovation Labs, and award-winning Be Yourself at Work culture and diverse talent. To learn more, visit www.Capco.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn Instagram, and Xing. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. 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The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease technology spending, adversely affect demand for our products, affect the rate of customer spending and could adversely affect our customers' ability or willingness to purchase our offerings, delay prospective customers' purchasing decisions, adversely impact our ability to provide on-site consulting services and our inability to deliver our customers or delay the provisioning of our offerings, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results and overall financial performance. Our operations may also be negatively affected by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are not within our control. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. 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Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Luxembourg's GDP per capita is a whopping 260% of the average EU regional unit, according to a new report by Eurostat. That leaves the Grand Duchy as the wealthiest regional unit in the EU, a measure of statistical analysis which allows for greater comparisons between countries of different sizes. Second in the list is the southern region of Ireland on 240%, ahead of the Czech capital Prague on 205%. On the other end of the scale, the north-west region of Bulgaria is tied with the French overseas territory of Mayotte at 32% of the EU average, with other Bulgarian units making up the rest of the bottom 5. What explains Luxembourg's high rating? According to Eurostat, the 'high inflow of commuting workers', alongside the assets of multinational companies domiciled in the Grand Duchy, are responsible. Eurostat Luxembourg also ranks third for productivity, with a GDP per person employed of 136,600, behind only the Southern and Eastern-Midland regions of Ireland. "We are truly honored to receive this recognition from the APCEA. Shanghai Electric will continue to promote the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the future and strive to ensure the smooth construction and operation of the Thar Block-1 Integrated Mining-Power project. At the same time, we remain steadfastly committed to promoting the advancement of Pakistan's energy projects, in order to benefit more people in the local community," said Meng Donghai, CEO of Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company. The Thar Block-1 Integrated Mining-Power project ("the Project") was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, which in turn affected the local community in Mithi City and the wider Sindh Province. As the project developer, Shanghai Electric swiftly responded when the Pakistani government implemented lockdown measures in March 2020, working closely with the Sindh Government to assist locals during the challenging period. In April, the Company donated essential supplies to Pakistan's 441 Infantry Brigade to ensure the safety of the army. Shanghai Electric also donated supplies to Mithi City, and distributed protective materials, grain and oil to help local teams address food and clothing shortages in impoverished villages. Later in July, Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company together with the Sino Sindh Resources Company on behalf of Shanghai Electric donated 6 million rupees to Sindh Province to found Corona Virus Emergency Fund, which aims to help the local government and community tackle the epidemic challenges. At the same time, the Project is trying to overcome numerous difficulties and accelerated implementation, whilst ensuring compliance with pandemic prevention and control measures. The entry and opening of the main plant's steel structure was completed in July 2020, laying a solid foundation for the on-time completion of subsequent project nodes. The national lockdown and travel restriction slowed down the construction progress of the project at the height of the pandemic in Pakistan last year. To swiftly respond to the emergency, Shanghai Electric arranged charter flights to dispatch engineers and workers to accelerate the project progress, alongside 4 tonnes of personal protective equipment, essential supplies, office supplies and emergency medicine also to on-site employees. Over the past year, Shanghai Electric has made continuous efforts to promote local employment in Sindh Province. As of January 2021, the Project had more than 5,000 employees working on the site over 75% of whom are local staff. Shanghai Electric organized dedicated pre-job training to help workers improve their working skills, and brought senior Chinese technicians on board to pass on their skills, knowledge and experience to locally hired workers. In October 2020, the power company held a soldering competition to encourage local welders to demonstrate their professional expertise in the spirit of pursuing perfection. The Thar Block-1 Integrated Mining-Power Project was developed by Shanghai Electric under the Belt and Road Initiative and a priority energy cooperation project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It is also part of an effort by the Government of Pakistan to improve energy security and reduce the average cost of power generation by moving from imported fuel to local coal. The Project is developed with an annual production capacity of 7.8 million tons of coal and features two 660-megawatt coal-fired power plants that can deliver affordable and reliable electricity for approximately 4 million Pakistani households with environment-friendly technology. SOURCE Shanghai Electric Related Links www.shanghai-electric.com Some 400,000 fewer New Jerseyans would receive direct payments if the thresholds are lowered in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, as the Senate is poised to do, according to a progressive research group. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said the Senate proposal would provide payments to 4.8 million New Jerseyans. The bill includes $1,400 payments to those making up to $75,000, eliminating them entirely for those making more than $80,000, and $2,800 payments to couples making up to $150,000, ending them for those making more than $160.000. Under the House-passed legislation, the checks would end for those making more than $100,000 and for couples making more than $200,000. That would mean payments for 5.2 million New Jersey adults. The percentage of New Jersey adults receiving any money would decline to 77% lower than any other state from 84%, according to the group. In addition, the payments do not take into effect regional differences in the cost of living. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage The lower thresholds were demanded by moderate Senate Democrats, whose support is needed to pass the stimulus package over what is expected to be unanimous Republican opposition. The lawmakers said they wanted to better target the checks to those most in need. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist. called it madness. Stop nickel and diming the American people and pass the checks, she said. This is madness. People are struggling and were fighting over how many people we want to EXCLUDE from the relief checks. What about the family w/ several kids who made 160k but lost their job in 2020? pic.twitter.com/m8koes54Hz Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) March 4, 2021 Enough While youre quibbling over who you want to exclude people are suffering. SEND THE CHECKS. Also, what @RepRoKhanna said https://t.co/2QDRtETUTT https://t.co/Y2JFxDNArV Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) March 4, 2021 President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House Thursday that he was comfortable with the lower limits. And Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez said things could have been worse. Some senators wanted to reduce the thresholds for getting the $1,400 checks to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for couples. Having kept it at 75 and 150, its going to insure that a very large number of New Jerseyans will get a full check, Menendez said Thursday on a conference call with reporters. There is no way legislation is ever going to be written to make it perfect for everyone across the country. Overwhelmingly, we will benefit from that legislation. On the same call, Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called Menendez one of the ring leaders in the successful fight to retain the income limits for full payments at $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples. While, we would have liked the House package, Wyden said, we did achieve what we set out to do. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant. (Adds creditor reaction) LUSAKA, March 4 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday that headway had been made in three weeks of talks over a programme for Zambia and discussions would continue, though a number of challenges remained. The southern African copper producer became the continent's first pandemic-era sovereign default after missing a coupon payment on a dollar bond in November. "Significant progress has been made and discussions are expected to continue in the next few weeks, following additional technical work on the appropriate policy package," the IMF said in a statement. The IMF said work towards implementing fiscal reforms to correct large fiscal imbalances, ramping up revenues and improving governance was still needed, however. Zambia's debt load was considered unsustainable even before the pandemic. That debt includes around $3 billion in outstanding Eurobonds and another $3 billion owed to China and Chinese entities. Tensions between those two groups of creditors have so far stymied attempts to restructure Zambia's debt. In a separate statement on Thursday, Zambia's finance minister Bwalya Ng'andu said his government was committed to securing an IMF programme. "We value the work we have embarked on with the IMF and will pursue our discussions on detailed policy measures to return our economy and public finances to a sustainable trajectory," he said. Creditors welcomed the announcement but were cautious about the speed of progress ahead. "I think this (is) enough to keep the bonds supported for now as it suggests talks will continue, but we all know that reaching an agreement will take time given the track record of Zambia when it comes to negotiations with the Fund," said one investor holding the bonds. Lusaka asked for a programme with the Fund in December and requested debt relief in January under a new common framework backed by the Group of 20 major economies and designed to help the world's poorest countries tackle their debt burden. Zambia's 2027 bond traded 0.4 cents higher at 58.667 cents in the dollar, while the 2024 issue was flat at 59.26 cents, Tradeweb data showed. (Reporting by Chris Mfula in Lusaka, Rodrigo Campos in New York and Joe Bavier in Johannesburg, editing by Karin Strohecker in London) A sailor killed in California this week when several vehicles traveling to a Marine Corps base were involved in a chain-reaction collision has been identified as a 26-year-old from New York. Equipment Operator 3rd Class Aaron Fish, with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, was killed in the accident Tuesday while traveling to Camp Pendleton. Five other sailors who were hurt in the accident have been released from the hospital, according to the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. Fish, who was from Tully, New York, was part of a convoy heading south on Interstate 5 to retrieve equipment left at Pendleton during a recent training exercise. Five vehicles, including four MK-31 tractor-trailers and an MK-28 cargo truck, were involved in the pileup. Read Next: Marine Corps Gets Rid of Male-Only Underwear Allowance After Review The California Highway Patrol and military officials are still investigating the cause of the accident, which occurred just before 7 a.m. when a vehicle stopped suddenly in front of the convoy, San Diego County's medical examiner reported. Navy Equipment Operator 3rd Class Aaron Fish with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 died in a multiple-vehicle accident while traveling to Camp Pendleton, Calif., on March 2. (U.S. Navy) "This caused a chain reaction of rear-ending collisions with the decedent's vehicle between two other military vehicles," the medical examiner's report adds. "Multiple 911 calls were placed and the [California Highway Patrol] and Camp Pendleton Fire personnel responded." Fish was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger in his vehicle was among those transported to a local hospital. Fish, who was Seabee Combat Warfare-qualified, joined the Navy in 2018. His commanding officer describes him as a "cherished member of our team who loved his work, helping others, and making people smile." "As we mourn the loss of Aaron, I want to extend my gratitude to Aaron's family, who has been so gracious during this most difficult time, and for the rallying support from Seabees here in Port Hueneme and around the globe," said Cmdr. Ryan Carey, commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5. "NMCB-5 is so grateful for our time with Aaron. We miss him deeply." Fish previously deployed to Guam with NMCB-5, where he's credited as being "vital to the completion of complex engineering tasks" when the Navy built a 150-bed medical facility during the global pandemic. He received a flag letter of commendation for that work from Joint Region Marianas in Guam. Fish also received a meritorious promotion to petty officer third-class in September. Members of his unit have been provided with grief-counseling services and other support through the command chaplain. -- Gina Harkin can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: Navy Sailor Killed, 5 Service Members Hurt in Convoy Crash The rights of farmers to maintain control of their own land must not become collateral damage to planned new powers vested to the Government's Land Development Agency, according to Offlay Independent TD Carol Nolan. The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018 to make better use of state-owned land, by way of an Establishment Order. However, the enactment of primary legislation is pending to establish it as a commercial State agency. Compulsory purchase powers (CPO) are among provisions to be granted to the agency under the legislation and speaking in a debate on the laws last week, Deputy Nolan said the CPO powers would raise significant concerns, especially in rural Ireland. "I raised these concerns last April when the previous Government's proposal on CPOs for agricultural land became clear. "I said at that time that if it were implemented, it would certainly undermine and endanger any efforts to maintain financial viability through farm expansion, and I also called it a land grab. "These concerns were amplified by reports that the CPO proposal would seek to implement key recommendation from the Kenny report of 1973, which states, "It should be possible for local authorities or government agencies to 'CPO' farmland for house building, by paying the landowner agricultural value plus a 25% 'top-up'," she said. Nolan said it is disingenuous to make the claim that farmland is property like any other and that it must be subjected to the restriction of constitutional property rights that are currently allowed in law. "This is to ignore totally the plain reality that farms and farmland are, in the vast majority of cases, also homes, which enjoy additional constitutional protections, "The rights indeed, the birth rights that farmers enjoy to maintain control of their land must not become collateral damage in the race towards this Government's creation of a new land agency," she said. The Land Development Agency Bill will give the agency the power to acquire land compulsorily where the land is required to provide access to relevant public land or land owned by the Agency or to facilitate the provision of infrastructure required by housing on relevant public land or land owned by the Agency. It may only acquire such land compulsorily if it has first made a reasonable attempt to acquire the land by agreement. The Bill, which will be brought through the Oireachtas in this Dail session, will focus initially on public lands in towns of over 10,000 people. It provides that the LDA will periodically report to Government on public lands which could be suitable for housing or urban development and the Government may direct that such lands be transferred to the LDA. The Bill also provides that the LDA will have first refusal to purchase public lands being put up for sale. An overwhelming majority of plants depend upon birds and insects for seed dispersal. Plants attract pollinators by releasing aromatic compounds into the air, or by producing sweet nectar that birds and insects feed upon. Species of the Pisonia plant are no different. They entice small birds to build nests on its branches, and when the birds brush against these seed-laden branches, the Pisonias sticky seeds get stuck to the birds feathers. After some time the seeds fall off, ideally when the birds had travelled to another island. But somewhere along the Pisonias evolutionary history, something went horribly wrong. Instead of using the birds as vectors of pollination, the Pisonia ends up killing a large number of birds by ladening them with so much seeds that the poor birds are unable to fly away. They fall to the ground and starve to death, or get eaten by predators. Black noddies nest on Pisonia trees in Heron Island, Queensland. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com Pisonia trees, also nicknamed bird-catchers, are found in tropical habitats, mainly islands in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. The trees produce long seeds, covered with a thick mucous and tiny hooks that stick to almost anything that brushes against them. The seeds grow in large tangled bunches, and each bunch can bear anything from a dozen to over two hundred seeds. The Pisonia tree flowers twice a year, and the timing of these events coincidenaturally through years of evolutionwith peak seabird traffic to the islands. These seabirds use the Pisonia for nesting, and when the young ones hatch and fledge, the result is often tragic. The young birds get entangled and entrapped in the sticky bunches. Even a handful of seeds can weigh a bird down, making them unable to fly. They fall down and eventually die of starvation, or become food for scavengers. At other times, the birds die in the trees; their mummified corpses hanging from the branches like macabre Christmas tree ornaments. Seeds of Pisonia trees. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com Seeds of the Pisonia tree are covered by a sticky resin. Photo: Scott Zona/Flickr The Pisonia trees grisly behavior has a devastating effect on the bird population. A study conducted on seabird population on Cousin Island in Seychelles revealed that the Pisonia tree killed a quarter of White Terns and nearly a tenth of Tropical Shearwaters via fatal seed entanglement. Scientists have wondered if there is any evolutionary benefit derived by the Pisonia tree by killing birds. One hypothesis stated that the trees get increased nutrients from the decomposition of bird corpses that fall at the foot of the trees. But when Alan Burger, an ecologist at the University of Victoria, analyzed seedlings sprouting near bird carcasses on Cousin Island, he did not find any evidence that seemed to indicate that the seeds were sprouting any better. In addition, the tree received far more fertilizer from the bird's droppings and fallen eggs, indicating they were worth far more to the tree alive than dead. A wedge-tailed shearwater covered in sticky Pisonia grandis seeds in Tiam'Bouene islet, New-Caledonia. Photo: Tristan Berr/Twitter A white capped noddy tangled in Pisonia seeds at Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. Photo: Christopheb / Dreamstime.com Next Burger tried immersing Pisonia seeds in seawater to test another hypothesis that the carcasses of dead birds might wash ashore on another islands, helping seed dispersal. To test the theory, Burger dunked the seeds in salt water and found that they died after just five days, ruling out the possibility that the Pisonia might be using dead birds as rafst to disperse seeds to faraway island. The results from my experiments showed quite convincingly that the Pisonia derived no obvious benefit from fatally entangling birds, Burger concluded in a paper than appeared on the Journal of Tropical Ecology in 2005. The entanglement and mortality of some of the potential vectors can be viewed as a negative side-effect of selection for seeds with sufficient adhesion to slick to a bird's plumage for several weeks and resist the efforts of preening birds to remove the seeds, Burger wrote. A fledgling brown noddy entangled with seeds across its chest and tail. Photo: BBC Photo: BBC In other words, the seeds absolutely need to be sticky so that they do not fall off the birds. And because the resin gradually loses its adhesion, especially when immersed in sea water, the seeds have to start out extremely sticky. Inadvertently, this results in the death of hundreds of thousands of seabirds every year. Conservationist on Cousin Island are now working to replace Pisonia trees with other native tree species to help the sea bird population to recover. They also actively seek out entangled birds and carefully clean them, before putting them back in a tree. Surprisingly, many seabirds seems to love Pisonia trees. Its rare to see a Pisonia tree that doesnt have seabirds in it, says Beth Flint, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Flint and her colleagues actually work to encourage Pisonia groves, because they are prime nesting habitats for red-footed boobies, frigatebirds and black noddies. References: # Alan E. Burger, Dispersal and Germination of Seeds of Pisonia grandis, an Indo-Pacific Tropical Tree Associated with Insular Seabird Colonies, Journal of Tropical Ecology # Pisonia grandisA grand problem?, Seychelles Seabird Group # Jason Bittel, This tree lures birds with a free lunch and then kills them, Washington Post # The island paradise with a dark heart, BBC Blog Archive May 2021 (77) April 2021 (77) March 2021 (82) February 2021 (68) January 2021 (64) December 2020 (67) November 2020 (66) October 2020 (66) September 2020 (67) August 2020 (74) July 2020 (83) June 2020 (92) May 2020 (86) April 2020 (104) March 2020 (105) February 2020 (74) January 2020 (75) December 2019 (75) November 2019 (70) October 2019 (89) September 2019 (69) August 2019 (81) July 2019 (77) June 2019 (73) May 2019 (110) April 2019 (110) March 2019 (102) February 2019 (85) January 2019 (123) December 2018 (116) November 2018 (112) October 2018 (121) September 2018 (107) August 2018 (150) July 2018 (163) June 2018 (190) May 2018 (145) April 2018 (112) March 2018 (124) February 2018 (113) January 2018 (164) December 2017 (150) November 2017 (144) October 2017 (169) September 2017 (171) August 2017 (135) July 2017 (131) June 2017 (147) May 2017 (160) April 2017 (138) March 2017 (156) February 2017 (143) January 2017 (203) December 2016 (208) November 2016 (185) October 2016 (173) September 2016 (194) August 2016 (232) July 2016 (225) June 2016 (238) May 2016 (231) April 2016 (215) March 2016 (246) February 2016 (226) January 2016 (252) December 2015 (230) November 2015 (250) October 2015 (234) September 2015 (222) August 2015 (253) July 2015 (275) June 2015 (279) May 2015 (223) April 2015 (226) March 2015 (243) February 2015 (258) January 2015 (281) December 2014 (292) November 2014 (296) October 2014 (413) September 2014 (472) August 2014 (506) July 2014 (483) June 2014 (488) May 2014 (512) April 2014 (497) March 2014 (531) February 2014 (482) January 2014 (535) December 2013 (482) November 2013 (441) October 2013 (416) September 2013 (491) August 2013 (521) July 2013 (491) June 2013 (470) May 2013 (457) April 2013 (426) March 2013 (420) February 2013 (414) January 2013 (489) December 2012 (433) November 2012 (504) October 2012 (469) September 2012 (430) August 2012 (427) July 2012 (360) June 2012 (336) May 2012 (362) April 2012 (322) March 2012 (263) February 2012 (224) January 2012 (291) December 2011 (295) November 2011 (325) October 2011 (330) September 2011 (319) August 2011 (333) July 2011 (318) June 2011 (387) May 2011 (373) April 2011 (389) March 2011 (375) February 2011 (335) January 2011 (400) December 2010 (445) November 2010 (395) October 2010 (312) September 2010 (262) August 2010 (277) July 2010 (323) June 2010 (386) May 2010 (360) April 2010 (333) March 2010 (351) February 2010 (336) January 2010 (384) December 2009 (353) November 2009 (300) October 2009 (308) September 2009 (350) August 2009 (298) July 2009 (255) June 2009 (203) May 2009 (193) April 2009 (186) March 2009 (197) February 2009 (173) January 2009 (148) December 2008 (181) November 2008 (197) October 2008 (236) September 2008 (304) August 2008 (314) July 2008 (273) June 2008 (27) May 2008 (1) April 2008 (6) October 2007 (1) May 2007 (1) April 2007 (6) March 2007 (2) February 2007 (1) October 2006 (1) September 2006 (1) August 2006 (4) July 2006 (4) June 2006 (1) July 2005 (1) May 2005 (2) March 2005 (1) June 2004 (2) May 2004 (1) April 2004 (4) March 2004 (2) February 2004 (2) July 2003 (2) June 2003 (5) MIAMI, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Born out of a Danish 'hackathon' in 2016, Subaio offers banks a superior subscription management technology that solves two massive problems at once - the service provides banking customers the ability to cancel unwanted subscriptions, and it does so without taking bank customers away from the bank's user interface. "We are very excited to offer banks the most user-friendly and only fully white labelled subscription management service that also keeps customers within the bank's user platform," said Thomas Laursen, Subaio's CEO and Co-Founder . Banks may risk data breaches and losing customers via third party vendors. "When a technology provider takes a bank customer out of the banking app to perform a service, this is not an optimal or 'user-friendly' experience," Laursen added. "We carefully created the best subscription management solution for banks and their customers. Subaio's technology is so robust that we've identified use cases beyond the financial sector." With 98.7% accuracy, Subaio's 'secret sauce' lies in its use of machine learning and advanced algorithms to generate subscription recognition and automation capabilities. Already Trusted by Major Banks and a PayTech Pioneer Eight banks in different markets have already partnered with Subaio. Javier Perez, Managing Partner of Global PayTech Ventures and ex Mastercard President, is providing Subaio with 4M in Series A funding. "Banks are under tremendous pressure to offer a good service," said Perez. "GPT is investing in Subaio because they provide a unique service that's differentiated, safe, secure, user-friendly and adds huge distinction to a bank's value proposition. Subaio's solution is the first to combine machine learning with a human touch." "The average consumer has between 8-11 subscriptions and the numbers have increased during COVID-19. Sometimes, banks are advising clients to simply cut up their cards and replace them with new ones to cancel a subscription, which is an expensive exercise costing 20-50 euros per contact. Instead, we offer the cancellation button to unsubscribe as a white label solution to the paytech industry," said Laursen. The funding from GPT will be earmarked to penetrate new European markets, scale-up staff by 100% over the next 12-24 months and develop new features to bring the software solution to the next level. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suqrql8tqfU Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428944/Global_PayTech_Ventures_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1448885/SubaioBlackCMYK_874069285bd13142c0ff8b02abf5492515df8e8c30cc5773c57909b63410e7e0c566bc351_Logo.jpg Park: "Kumho Petrochemicals market capitalization is significantly undervalued despite its outstanding operating performance compared to its peers" He aims to raise both shareholder and corporate value by improving the fundamentals to meet global standards through 'focus on future growth,' 'improved governance' and 'management for sustainability' He will carry on active communication with fellow shareholders via website (GoBeyondKumhoPetrochemical.com) to voice his ideas for enhancing corporate and shareholder value SEOUL, South Korea, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Park Chul Whan, the largest individual shareholder and senior executive of Kumho Petrochemical, released his 'Proposal to Enhance Corporate Value,' and set out to communicate with other shareholders ahead of the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held this month. The proposal, subtitled 'Transforming into a Company for All Shareholders', provides detailed guidelines to achieve innovation, containing 'Background of the Shareholder Proposal', 'Current Status of Kumho Petrochemical and the Need for Change', 'Measures to Enhance Shareholder Value' and 'Measures to Enhance Corporate Value'. Park said, "This shareholder proposal is the first step in enhancing shareholder and corporate value." , and emphasized the necessity of 'normalizing shareholder return policy', 'efficient management of resources' and 'well-grounded investment decisions to secure drivers of future growth'. He stressed the need to establish an organization that can supervise and hold the board of director's decision-making process as well as its reform in check. Factors cited as causes of Kumho Petrochemical's low corporate and shareholder value include - increased cost of capital due to excessive cash holdings and low debt - shareholder-unfriendly policies such as low payout ratio and excessive level of treasury stock - decreased growth potential as a result of inappropriate investments. The proposal states that although Kumho Petrochemical outcompetes its domestic and foreign peers in profitability and operating performance, aforementioned management issues have destroyed shareholder value and caused the company's stock price to remain undervalued for the past 10 years. Park proposed - focus on future growth - improved governance and - management for sustainability as measures to improve the company's overall corporate fundamentals. His proposal presents a mid-to-long-term plan to transform Kumho Petrochemical into a global company that 'prepares for future, communicates with stakeholders and leads environmental action' through new strategic management and business operation differentiated from today's. In terms of having a 'focus on future growth', the proposal prioritizes the recovery of the company's financial soundness through retirement of long-held excess treasury shares, IPO of affiliate companies and disposal of insolvent assets unrelated to the company's main business. With the freed-up financial resources through these measures, this plan aims to normalize Kumho Petrochemical's low shareholder value by raising the payout ratio from the current 10% to the peer average of 50%. Furthermore, Park revealed in the proposal that the company will reinforce the competitiveness of its core business with sufficient liquidity, while investing in future growth engines by expanding into new business areas such as rechargeable battery and hydrogen, to create synergies with its existing businesses. As for 'improved governance', Park made the case for the establishment of a democratic and fair corporate governance that meets global standards. To this end, Park said that he will lead efforts to organize board members based on expertise and diversity, secure independence of the board of directors in relation to the company organization and policies, and foster a corporate culture that facilitates open communication with shareholders, employees, community members and other various stakeholders. Lastly, addressing 'management for sustainability', Park declared to manage risks by internalizing ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) values in line with the paradigm shift towards ESG management. He emphasized the need for creating an eco-friendly corporate culture and overhauling related policies to that end, and proclaimed to launch a team dedicated to ESG management that reports directly to the CEO and strengthen procedural safety at work based on the principle of 'Safety First'. Park added, "Now is the time to move forward with plans to achieve innovation, as the company is achieving record high operating performance since its foundation in the midst of COVID-19 windfall," and once again emphasized, "This proposal was based on a long period of deliberation, with the sole purpose of enhancing long-term corporate and shareholder value, from the standpoint of a senior executive and single largest shareholder of Kumho Petrochemical." He further urged for the company's good-faith cooperation to guarantee all shareholders' procedural rights with respect to the proposal and for accurate and transparent communication with shareholders on the matter. The full proposal is available to the public on website (GoBeyondKumhoPetrochemical.com). Park will carry out active communication with his fellow shareholders via the website and will continue to voice his ideas for enhancing corporate and shareholder value. SOURCE Kumho Petrochemical Public Asked To Report Fish, Wildlife Losses Recent snowfall and freezing temperatures affected many fish and wildlife species throughout the state, and now Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is asking for the publics help in reporting any animal mortality events they observe on their property, ranches or in their neighborhoods through this project on the iNaturalist website. Citizens are encouraged to report observations so that biologists can better understand the impacts of Winter Storm Uri to natural resources. The website can be found at www.inaturalist.org/projects/winter-storm-uri-wildlife-deaths. The prolonged period of subfreezing temperatures, coupled with a limited availability of food resources due to snow and ice, has had some impact on wildlife resources; however, given the secretive nature of most wildlife species, the full extent of the impact cannot yet be determined. Some of the wildlife species impacted by the storm include exotic, non-native ungulates like axis deer, blackbuck and nilgai antelope that originate in temperate climates, various bat species and multiple bird species. While TPWD has no regulatory authority regarding the management of exotic species, the cold weather did have a significant impact on these species. Native species like white-tailed and mule deer are much more tolerant to these extreme cold weather events than the exotics. TPWD does not foresee any significant losses of white-tailed or mule deer. Noticeable white-tailed deer mortalities, except for a few older deer, are not being reported. Some mortality of very old white-tailed deer, or those in poor body condition, is to be expected. Despite the potential significant loss of axis and blackbuck, this mortality event may lower free-ranging exotic populations in areas of the Texas Hill Country where they were overpopulated, ultimately helping native habitats that benefit white-tailed deer and other wildlife. At this time, the more pressing concern is possible impacts the cold weather had on the native deer habitat in some regions. In south Texas, some brush species still had green leaves prior to the freeze and snowfall. Now, however, TPWD staff are noticing many shrubs shedding leaves and turning brown. Additionally, the winter herbaceous vegetation, which are critical for deer this time of year and into the early spring, were impacted and burned by the freezing temperatures. TPWD is hopeful that, despite the cold temperatures, the moisture from the snow and ice was able to be absorbed by the soil and as temperatures warm up, the usual spring green-up will take place statewide. Across the state, citizens, biologists and park employees are reporting dead bats under bridges, along with finding live bats that were downed due to the freeze because of dehydration, starvation and cold body temperatures. Currently, wildlife rehabilitators and other organizations are being inundated with the bats that survived the storm and doing everything they can to help. Should citizens find dead or live bats, it is extremely important that people do not handle bats. The best course of action is to record the observation via iNaturalist and then, if the downed bat is still alive, contact a rehabilitator. A list of wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the TPWD website as well as on the Bat World Sanctuary website. TPWD staff continue to receive reports of dead birds, including waterfowl. Biologists have received reports of dead songbirds and woodpeckers, possibly resulting from poor body condition and lack of cover from ongoing drought conditions in certain habitats. Insectivorous and nectivorous bird species likely suffered greater losses than other bird species. Quail, however, fared well according to some reports. Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), among other WMAs with wetland ecosystems, reported hundreds of dead coots and multiple dead Blue-winged Teal. As staff are able to continue visiting field sites, along with reports from the public through iNaturalist, TPWD will be able to better analyze the long term Winter Storm Uri impacts on wildlife and other resources. [March 04, 2021] Papaya Global Raises $100 Million in Series C Funding at Over $1 Billion Valuation TEL AVIV, Israel, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Papaya Global, the industry-leading workforce management platform transforming global employment, announced today that it has raised $100 million in a Series C funding, bringing the company's valuation across $1 billion. The new investment follows Papaya's $40 million Series B funding announced less than 6 months ago. The new funding round was led by GreenOaks Capital Partners and joined by IVP Ventures and Alkeon, with participation from existing investors Insight Venture Partners, Scale Ventures, Bessemer Ventures, Dynamic Loop, New Era and Workday Ventures, Access Ventures and Group 11. The new investment brings Papaya's total funding to $190 million. Papaya's SaaS software unifies all workforce management tasks under one platform from onboarding through payroll and payments in over 140 countries. Recently, Papaya launched an HRIS functionality to enhance the employment experience and radically simplify workforce management. Papaya's innovative approach to the total workforce - allowing companies to hire and manage top talent anywhere and provide a high-level employee experience - quickly pushed Papaya to a commanding lead in the global workforce market. Papaya will use the new funding to meet the strong demand for its global workforce management platform, reinforce its market leadership, and invest in its product, engineering and go-to-market teams. Co-founded by Eynat Guez, CEO, Ruben Drong, CPO and Ofer Herman, CTO, Papaya Global has been on a hyper-growth trajectory. The investment comes on the heels of 300% revenue growth year-over-year for each of the last 3 years and reflects strong demand for Papaya's unique offering in global workforce management. "We made a bold prediction in 2016 that Papaya's technology would emerge as the most significant inovation for the global workforce and that we would become a standard for workforce management, just as ERP has in finance," said Papaya's CEO and Co-founder, Eynat Guez. "The market has proven that prediction was correct." "With companies switching to remote work and compliance becoming increasingly complex, we are seeing substantial demand for Papaya's solution, even in a challenging business environment," Ms. Guez added. "Papaya Global has built a best in class solution to onboard new employees, automate payroll, and manage a global workforce through a single pane of glass. Both growing and established companies have dramatically changed their working practices in recent years, and Papaya has seen impressive growth as a result. We're excited to continue supporting them as they seek to simplify an increasingly complex challenge for some of the world's biggest companies," said Patrick Backhouse, Partner at Greenoaks Capital. "Modern enterprises are increasingly looking to combat talent shortages and rising costs in core markets by finding geographies where they can hire and innovate more quickly and more capital efficiently," said Mark McLaughlin, General Partner at Alkeon. "Papaya's leading technology enables their customers to seamlessly extend their human capital footprint globally in a way that is synergistic to their existing operations." Clients can go live with a global client within weeks (not months!) thanks to Papaya's AI and RPA process, its ability to integrate with all data tools (such as expense management, Time and Attendance, and more), and advanced Business Intelligence that provides actionable workforce spending reports in real time. "Papaya is not only offering the best technology in the field, but also a customer experience that has been called "mind-blowing" by our clients, a unique Center of Excellence to support clients' needs in compliance, benefits, and labor laws globally," Ms. Guez added. With a seamless platform supporting all employment options (payroll, EoR, and contractors), employee engagement, payroll, and global payments, Papaya's is redefining the global people management category. About Papaya Global Papaya offers a people, payroll, and payment management solution supporting all types of global employment (payroll, EoR, and contractors) in over 140 countries to remove barriers to global hiring, enhance collaboration and engagement, and provide a first-rate employment experience. The automated, cloud-based SaaS platform provides an end-to-end solution, from onboarding to on-going management and cross-border payments. The platform integrates with all existing HRIS management tools, provides real-time business intelligence, and eliminates errors. It gathers all employee information into one place, creating a highly visible system for tracking payroll spending. The platform ensures GDPR and SOC compliance to maintain the highest standard of security. Papaya's team currently spans Tel Aviv, New York, Austin, London, Kiev, and Melbourne, with plans to triple in growth year-over-year in terms of clients, revenue, and employees globally. Papaya's technology has been recognized by all leading global analysts, including Gartner, Visa, NelsonHall and others, as disruptive in the field of global people, payroll, and payments. For more information on Papaya Global, visit Papayaglobal.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/papaya-global-raises-100-million-in-series-c-funding-at-over-1-billion-valuation-301240652.html SOURCE Papaya Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the lifting of unilateral sanctions against Iran and return to the JCPOA will contribute to regional stability. In February, in a phone call, Erdogan told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that he saw a window of opportunity for Iran and the United States, adding that he wanted US sanctions to be lifted. Earlier, Iran rejected the U.S. and EU offer to have direct nuclear talks with the United States in the coming weeks as it sought guarantees that Washington would remove sanctions after the meeting, Sputnik recalls. In December, Iran passed a law to increase its uranium enrichment and stop IAEA inspections of its nuclear sites in a bid to achieve the removal of US economic sanctions. In early January, Iran's atomic energy organization announced that the country had succeeded in enriching uranium at 20 percent at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. Iran had also threatened to suspend all IAEA inspections of the country's nuclear facilities by 23 February if the US sanctions were not lifted by that time. However, after talks with the international watchdog, Tehran agreed to prolong the inspections but in a limited capacity. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Joe Biden could be stripped of war powers after a bipartisan bill was introduced by senators on Wednesday to repeal decades-old authorizations awarded to the US President for the use of military force. It comes as Biden is accused of using the authorizations to 'stretch his war powers' after launching his first airstrike in Syria last week without congressional approval. The bill was also introduced just hours after an Iraqi military base housing US troops and civilian contractors was hit by rocket attacks, Politico reported. The measure, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Senator Todd Young, would repeal 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq It cites the 'strong partnership' between Washington and the government in Baghdad. Under the Constitution, Congress, not the president, has the right to authorize war but it has largely abdicated the authority. Joe Biden could be stripped of war powers after a bipartisan bill was introduced by senators on Wednesday to repeal decades-old authorizations for the use of military force It comes as Biden is accused of using the authorizations to 'stretch his war powers' after launching his first airstrike in Syria last week without congressional approval. Pictured the Islam Qala border crossing and destroyed tanker trucks in February Democratic Senator Tim Kaine is leading the measure. He has claimed the authorizations allow the president to 'continue to stretch its war powers', as pictured above Republican Senator Todd Young is also leading the introduction of the bill Those AUMFs - and a third one, from 2001, for the fight against al Qaeda - have been used to justify strikes by both Democratic and Republican presidents since they were passed. They have been criticized, however, as being used to justify years of attacks in the Middle East and for allowing 'forever wars' that have kept US forces fighting overseas for decades. The senators introduced the measure as an effort to shift back the authority to declare war to Congress from the White House. They are focused on the measures directly focused on Iraq and say it will not impact ongoing US operations to counter ISIS. 'Last week's airstrikes in Syria show that the Executive Branchregardless of partywill continue to stretch its war powers,' said Senator Kaine in a tweet. 'The 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force serve no operational purpose, keep us on permanent war footing, and could allow future misuse.' 'Reintroduced my push to repeal the outdated 1991 and 2002 #AUMF against Iraq,' added Young. 'Congress has been operating on autopilot when it comes to our essential duties to authorize the use of military force. 'The fact that authorities for both of these wars are still law today is illustrative of the bipartisan failure of Congress to perform its constitutionally-mandated oversight role.' Members of Congress from both parties have sought repeatedly to repeal the AUMFs in recent years, but efforts have fallen short. It is hoped that the recent Syria strike will give life to the efforts. The measure, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine (right) and Republican Senator Todd Young (left), would repeal 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq, citing the 'strong partnership' between Washington and the government in Baghdad Senator Kaine has called on the Biden administration to support the bill The other sponsors of the new measure include Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth, Chris Coons and Dick Durbin, as well as Republican Senators Mike Lee, Chuck Grassley and Rand Paul. Kaine blasted the war authorities as 'unnecessary' as he called on the Biden administration to support the measure. Biden had previously criticized Trump for using the authorizations. 'It's time to show the American people that the Article I and II branches can work together on issues as serious as war,' he wrote. The bill's introduction came after Biden's administration on February 25 carried out air strikes against facilities belonging to Iranian-backed militia in Syria that renewed questions about whether a president should be able to conduct such actions without congressional approval. Lawmakers lamented that Congress had not been consulted before the attack or properly notified. They have still not been completely briefed on the strikes, according to Politico. The airstrike reportedly killed 22 Iran-backed fighters in an apparent response to rocket attacks against US targets in Iraq that injured American troops and killed a contractor on February 15. Biden said in a letter to congressional leaders that they had been ordered in 'self-defense'. Authorities said the US airstrike last week in Syria targeted structures belonging to two Iranian-backed militias in Al Bukamal (as shown in the map above) A close up view of buildings at an Iraq-Syria border crossing before airstrikes The US dropped seven 500-pound JDAMs (file image above) on seven targets on a crossing used by the militia groups to move weapons across the border Yet senators such as Chris Murphy from Connecticut claimed that they had still to be convinced. 'I still need to be convinced that any president has the authorization required to take a retaliatory strike, especially outside of Iraq,' he said. The airstrike was conducted by two Air Force F-15E aircraft which launched seven 500-pound JDAMs, precision guided munitions, Military Times reported. John Kirby, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said the strike fully destroyed nine facilities and 'functionally destroyed' two others. The US targeted a crossing used by the militia groups to move weapons across the border. Authorities said the airstrike targeted structures belonging to two Iranian-backed militias in Al Bukamal. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Biden used his constitutional authority to defend US personnel in the first military actions he has authorized as Commander-in-Chief. 'The targets were chosen to correspond to the recent attacks on facilities and to deter the risk of additional attacks over the coming weeks,' she said. 'You can't act with impunity. Be careful,' Biden added when a reporter asked what message he had intended to send with the airstrikes. Democrats said the airstrikes were done without authorization from lawmakers, while Republicans were more supportive. Kaine was among the first to speak out stating: 'Offensive military action without congressional approval is not constitutional absent extraordinary circumstances'. And Sen. Murphy said 'retaliatory strikes not necessary to prevent an imminent threat'. House Armed Services Chair Adam Smith has argued that Biden's move was justified to defend US personnel. 'We were legitimately in the region to protect us against a threat from ISIS that was in fact attacking Americans,' he said. 'While in the region protecting against that threat, militias lobbed a bunch of missiles at us. And we shot back. If that isn't classic Article II self-defense, then I don't know what is.' Yet even he believes that the authorizations should be repealed. The airstrike comes after repeated tensions between Iran and the Trump White House over the previous four years which reached a peak following Qassem Soleimani's killing in early 2020. While the strike could be the first retaliatory move by the US following attacks earlier in February, it appeared to be limited in scope, potentially lowering the risk of escalation. Also a decision to strike only in Syria and not in Iraq would give the Iraqi government some breathing room as it carries out its own investigation of a February 15 attack that wounded Americans. The backlash against Biden comes as he was also facing criticism for failure to take further action against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after a US intelligence report last week claimed he had given the green light for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. What was likely the first plate of fried calamari served at a San Francisco eatery in months with an honest-to-goodness roof over its head landed in front of Joseph Daly on Wednesday morning. This is not about bravery, Daly said, taking a bite inside the Wipeout Bar & Grill at Pier 39. We have to get back to some sort of normalcy. This is a start. Daly and his companion, Andrea Brown, felt so strongly about normalcy that they flew from their home in Orange County when they heard San Francisco was taking the next steps to getting back to the way things were in the distant, unmasked past. It was worth it, he said. We wanted to get away for the day, and we wanted to help San Francisco return to how it used to be. On Wednesday, San Francisco restaurants got the OK to welcome customers or 25% of them, anyway back inside, away from the sea of parklets that have sprung up on San Francisco thoroughfares like mushrooms after a downpour. Some restaurants took off the blue tape from their inside tables and threw open their front doors. Some said they were going to do it later in the week. Some said it was just a little too soon to do it at all. Rica Joson, a customer at Fog Harbor Fish House, said her plate of calamari was as much a statement as it was squid. I think people are too afraid, she said. If we keep on living with fear, well keep on living with fear. We have to help our businesses. I want to show people this is a safe thing to do. Not everyone agreed, and the ones who didnt were sitting in the sunshine Wednesday. Personally, Im not comfortable just yet, said Natalie Shami, who was eating huevos rancheros at an outdoor table next to Mamas on Washington Square. I want to support businesses, but its all about risk tolerance. I have to think not just about me, but my parents and my grandmother. Restaurant hostess Veronica Singh said the restaurant would open four indoor tables on Thursday and allow 12 diners to sit at them. The restaurant business during pandemics is complicated. Her indoor capacity is 50 diners, and a fourth of 50 people isnt 12 people but 12.5 people. But she said it would be bad for business to cut customers in half. At Caffe Trieste on Vallejo Street, the morning crowd was gathered at its usual parklet table. The manager said the indoor space was so small that 25% of it would be practically nothing, so it didnt seem worth it to set up the indoor tables. And many customers were just as happy outside, as long as the weather obliged, which, on Wednesday, it did. Were taking baby steps, said one of the Caffe Trieste customers, Patrick Rylee, feeding the caffes finest stuff to his dog, Magoo. Im ready to go back inside, but we have to respect the restaurants decision. A few blocks away at Piazza Pellegrini, owner Dario Hadjian said he was ready to make three tables available to 12 diners and, he added, they should seriously consider the lobster ravioli at $29.95. At Johns Grill on Ellis Street, owner John Konstin said his servers were all vaccinated, life is good and the plate of lamb chops that detective Sam Spade would have eaten if he were a real person was $34.95. Reservations were going fast, and the last available one for Wednesday was for 7:30 p.m. After that, it would be more difficult getting your hands on a table than on the Maltese Falcon. With San Francisco officially ensconced back in the states red reopening tier, not only restaurants were allowed to reopen indoors but movie theaters, museums and gyms as well. On Mission Street, the movie complexes at the Metreon and the San Francisco Centre said they planned to reopen on Friday. Between them thats 25 screens, and not all of them will be showing Tom and Jerry, although at least four of them will. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art reopens to the public on Sunday. Admission on that day will be free, but reservations are required, and about half of them have already been scooped up. The Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park announced it would reopen on March 17. The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park reopens on Saturday, and online reservations are recommended, because Saturday falls on one of the art museums popular free admission days. Declaring doors are open and getting people to walk through them turn out to be two different things. At Sts. Peter and Paul Church on Washington Square where it took the efforts of Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and an order by the U.S. Supreme Court last month to allow indoor services attendance for the 9 a.m. Mass on Wednesday totaled three worshipers. At the Bay Club on Greenwich Street, the indoor treadmills, stair climbers and exercise bikes were available to 10% of the people who would normally use them, which means even more patience is called for than normal when trying to use the more popular equipment. Martine Moeller of San Francisco, her blue mat rolled up under her arm, said she was excited about rejoining the morning exercise class at Bay Club and doing her sweating indoors instead of outdoors for the first time in months. Its time, she said. If were worried, we can always open the window to let in the fresh air. I feel comfortable with it. We cannot forever be living with paranoia. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. ATLANTA, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ControlRad, Inc., a privately held medical technology company focused on dramatically reducing unnecessary radiation exposure during fluoroscopically guided procedures, has announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance to market ControlRad Select. The technology utilizes proprietary semi-transparent filters, a user-interface tablet, and image processing algorithms, which are retrofitted onto customers' existing Siemens Artis zee interventional imaging systems. In preparation for the commercialization efforts, ControlRad has entered into an exclusive agreement with Boston Scientific Corporation to sell the ControlRad Select technology. "With the FDA clearance and the reach of the global medical device sales team, every cath, EP, and IR lab in the country that has a Siemens Artis zee will now have the opportunity to reduce their radiation dose by 85%1 without compromising image quality," stated Guillaume Bailliard, CEO of ControlRad. "The health risks to the medical staff due to lifetime radiation exposure in cath labs have been well documented, including increased incidence of cataracts, atherosclerosis and even left-brain tumors," stated Simon Dixon, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. "We recently completed a clinical trial designed to evaluate how this novel technology might reduce radiation exposure in the cath lab. I have long been passionate about finding innovative ways to improve safety for my colleagues in the lab while they are performing lifesaving procedures for our patients." For additional information about the product or to contact a sales representative, visit www.bostonscientific.com/controlrad. For media inquiries, email info@controlrad.com. About ControlRad ControlRad is a privately held medical technology company developing innovative products that dramatically reduce the radiation exposure from fluoroscopically guided procedures (FGP) for patients and healthcare professionals. ControlRad's products are designed to improve safety without compromising image quality or workflow. They include an integrated set of proprietary components, which optimize the X-ray beam to deliver optimal image quality in the clinically relevant region, while maintaining appropriate resolution in the periphery. ControlRad is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and has engineering development facilities in Kfar Saba, Israel. For more information, visit www.controlrad.com. 1 FDA 510(k) K202431 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1274004/CR_Logo.jpg The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Combo photo shows Dure Garman, a herdsman, laughing while talking with his neighbors in the relocation site on Nov. 18, 2018 (L) and sowing grass seeds in the yard of the relocation site on June 3, 2020 (R), in Tajik Autonomous County of Taxkorgan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) GUANGZHOU, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A seminar on employment and labor rights in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held online on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The seminar was sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, and the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland. Organized by the Institute for Communication and Borderland Governance and the School of Journalism and Communication of the Guangzhou-based Jinan University, the event drew experts and scholars from relevant human rights research institutions in China. The participants focused on discussions and exchanges on Xinjiang's efforts to protect the employment and labor rights of people of all ethnic groups, and shared Xinjiang's practical experience in helping people of all ethnic groups secure prosperity through employment while continuously improving the concept of human rights development. The experts agreed that Xinjiang's policies and practices concerning employment and job security comply with China's Constitution and relevant laws, and conform to international labor and human rights standards. They have laid a solid foundation for protecting the rights to life and development of all ethnic groups while promoting social fairness and justice. Zulhayat Ismail, vice-president of Xinjiang University, said Xinjiang has brought the whole process of the establishment, operation, supervision and mediation of labor relations under the rule of law, providing a solid legal guarantee for people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to enjoy equal rights to labor and employment. Cao Yan, a researcher at the Human Rights Research Institute in Northwest University of Political Science and Law, said Xinjiang has implemented various national labor policies and regulations, issued a number of local laws and regulations, and legalized various proactive policies and measures on the labor market through local legislation, thus forming a relatively complete system for guaranteeing labor rights. Shang Haiming, an associate professor at the Human Rights Research Institute in Southwest University of Political Science and Law, said some Western scholars' studies on "forced labor" in Xinjiang contain flaws such as a lack of field research, strong ideology, and stigmatizing the protection of labor rights in Xinjiang. The existence of so-called "forced labor" in Xinjiang is a lie influenced by ideological bias. Nilufer Gheyret, a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Communication Studies, Communication University of China, shared her research results on Xinjiang ethnic minorities working in Guangdong. According to her field investigation of 70 ethnic minority workers in five enterprises in Guangdong last year, these workers from Xinjiang chose to work out of personal choice, and all their labor rights have been fully guaranteed. Working outside of Xinjiang also helped them increase their family incomes, broaden their horizons, improve their language skills and vocational and technical levels, and enabled their children to enjoy better educational resources. Zheng Liang, director of the Institute for Communication and Borderland Governance at Jinan University, said the research results presented and exchanged by experts attending the seminar will help clarify the facts, help the international academic circles to better understand the falsehood of the lie of "forced labor", and better show the true situation, which is that the labor and employment situation in Xinjiang has been greatly improved and people of all ethnic groups have created a better life together. A call has been made for more Garda resources to be assigned to the drugs unit in Inishowen amid concerns about the rise of drug use nationally. Concern about the level of drug use in Buncrana was raised at the most recent meeting of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee (JPC). Cllr Rena Donaghey congratulated gardai on the number of drugs finds in the county and country recently. The Buncrana-based councillor called for more resources to be assigned to the drugs unit in town. The increase in the number of drug users and pushers is scary, she said. She added there had been six gardai assigned to the drugs unit based in Buncrana several years ago. The unit had achieved great results but it has since been scaled down. She said the unit now consists of two gardai which is totally inadequate for a town the size of Buncrana. Drug abuse is just raging out of control in Ireland, she said. Buncrana-based councillor Nicholas Crossan supported the concerns expressed about growing levels of drug abuse. He said Irish society is facing a huge crisis due to drugs. It is nearly as handy to get drugs in Buncrana as a pint, he said. We have a crisis on our hands and if it deteriorates as much in the next few years as it did in the last few years, we will be looking at a worse pandemic than we have at the present moment in time. Inspector David Durkin said that when normal policing returns, the strength of the drugs unit in the town could be looked at. We are acutely aware of the drugs problem in this county and indeed nationally. It is something that is high up in our priorities to try and keep on top of and that is reflected in some of the detections we have had, he said. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 59F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. CBS News confirmed on Mar. 3, 2021 that up to now, over 300 people related to the protest in US capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 have been charged, while more than 280 people have been arrested. It is known from an US Justice Department official that the department has opened files on approximately 540 subjects, featuring the most common charges of conspiracy, destruction of government property statute, assault on law enforcement officers, etc. Double standard of western countries The protest in US capitol during the beginning of the year 2021 was immediately defined by the US as a riot and violent attack, which caused five people dead and more than 140 injured. Multiple US allies rose in no time to express their concerns over the protests and condemned the violence, describing it as an attack on democracy. However, even till today, western countries still adopted a double standard on the riots in Hong Kong, which only violated much more on democracy as well as a countrys sovereignty. The Hong Kong national security law Under such a background, China passed the Hong Kong national security law last year before the 23rd anniversary of the Hong Kongs return to China, in order to safeguard the national security and long-term peace and prosperity of the city. Under the national security law, Hong Kong police arrested 53 people in January on suspicion of conspiring to subvert state power for organizing and participating the so-called primary election last year, 47 of whom was prosecuted on Feb. 28, 2021. The national security law has been and still is playing an important role in coping with the multiple serious problems Hong Kong faces in both internal and external environment, under which certain success has been achieved in maintaining order, fighting the virus, addressing peoples difficulties and reviving the economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping commented hearing Carrie Lams work report on Jan. 27, 2021. Patriots governing Hong Kong Hong Kongs transition from chaos to stability has once again demonstrated that the principle of patriots governing Hong Kong must be always upheld to ensure the steady and sustained implementation of one country, two systems, Xi stressed. Patriots governing Hong Kong means after its return to the motherland, Hong Kong must be governed by patriots and the power of the HKSAR must be in the hands of patriots, Xia Baolong, the vice chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC and the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, elaborated during a symposium on improving one country, two systems institutional framework held in Beijing, Feb. 22, 2021. Moreover, immediate efforts are called on from various sectors of Hong Kong society to plug electoral loopholes imperatively to implement the principle of patriots governing Hong Kong. [ Editor: WXY ] Bhopal, March 4 : The process to shut down three government-run printing presses in Madhya Pradesh has begun following an official order. A three-member committee will take a decision about the employees working in these three units. According to official information, the three government presses situated in Indore, Gwalior and Rewa will be shut down. The Council of Ministers had taken this decision in the last few days and the state government has now issued an order to this effect. A committee will be set up under the chairmanship of the divisional commissioner to take decisions regarding the staff but excluding the fixed assets. To take decisions regarding the post of employees of the printing presses, there will be a maximum of three officers nominated by the Controller Government Press including Collector, District Registrar, Executive Engineer Public Works in the Divisional Level Committee. The Comptroller shall be the nominated officer by the Press as Member Secretary. On the basis of the recommendation of the divisional committee, the government movable property of the press will be transferred to other government offices if possible. The remaining assets will be sold through tender. Apart from this, the ownership of the land of the printing premises will be under the Department of Revenue. According to the decision taken by the state government, 495 vacant posts will be abolished out of 1,286 posts at the Gwalior, Indore and Rewa print offices. Government servants working in 67 filled positions in the printing presses will be sent on deputation to other offices under the Revenue Department. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: 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Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain For the first time, an app has been shown to reduce key symptoms of chronic pain. A UHN-led study evaluated the impact of Manage My Pain (MMP), a digital health solution developed by ManagingLife, on patients seen at the Iroquois Falls Family Health Team, and the Toronto Western and Toronto General Hospitals. Published today in JMIR mHealth, a leading peer-reviewed journal focused on health and biomedical applications, the study showed patients who used the MMP app saw a clinically significant reduction in anxiety and pain catastrophizing, two key areas that drive increased medical needs and potential abuse of prescription opioid. "Manage My Pain has helped our patients tell their story," says Dr. Hance Clarke, Director Pain Services, Medical Director of The Pain Research Unit, Toronto General Hospital, UHN. "As a result, this has empowered them to engage in discussions that enabled us to come up with patient-centered treatment plans to help manage their pain." 246 participants with chronic pain were enrolled in the study and more than 70 per cent of the group agreed to use the app along with their medication, psychological therapy, and physiotherapy, the other 30 per cent were the control group. The app allowed them to track their pain, create reports that facilitated better communication with their care providers, and through a virtual portal, give clinicians the ability to remotely monitor their patients and use advanced analytics to spot any negative trends weeks and months in advance. "Prior to Manage My Pain, our clinic was dependent on paper-based questionnaires to understand a patient's pain experience and response to treatment," says Dr. Anuj Bhatia, Site Director, AnesthesiaInterventional Pain Service, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN. "The app allows us to capture even more information than we had previously, while doing so digitally and remotely. The app also allowed us to study trends in intensity of pain and its impact on the patients' lives." Patients were prompted daily to record their reflections in the app. In less than a minute, they could input the activities they were able to accomplish and rate the pain they felt. In return, they received charts and graphs that highlighted patterns and trends that could increase their self-awareness, and provide insight into triggers and interventions. For the rural patients involved in this study, the benefits of MMP were remarkably clear from the beginning. Lacking a speciality pain center, patients in Iroquois Falls must rely on their primary caregivers and the app made the communication between the patient-clinician easier and more productive. "Chronic pain isn't like a broken arm," says Dr. Auri Bruno-Petrina, rural Physician, Iroquois Falls. "It can be invisible to the naked eye, so people who suffer from it can find it very frustrating to explain how they are feeling and how much it is impacting their lives. This app strengthened my ability to help my patients because we had more nuanced data and we could really dig into the details." For both rural and urban patients suffering from chronic pain, the use of MMP encouraged tracking and reflecting, both of which are important components of most self-management programs. The ease of adoption also presents a positive opportunity for engaging with patients during significant challenges like the one presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how essential it is for patients to have a role in managing healthcare conditions," says Dr. Clarke. "Digital tools like Manage My Pain are a great way to empower self-management in patients, which is one of the hallmarks of successful clinical care." Explore further Chronic pain costs are high to Ontario health care system and to individual patients More information: Bhatia A et al. User Engagement and Clinical Impact of the Manage My Pain App in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Real-World, Multi-site Trial, JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021;9(3):e26528 Bhatia A et al. User Engagement and Clinical Impact of the Manage My Pain App in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Real-World, Multi-site Trial,2021;9(3):e26528 DOI: 10.2196/26528 He has graced the covers of hundreds of romance novels. But now he's single in his sixties, Italian-American model Fabio Lanzoni is coming all the way to Australia to find love. The legendary heart-throb, 61, declared on The Morning Show on Thursday: 'Australian women are the best, period.' Gird your loins, ladies! Now he's single in his sixties, Italian-American model Fabio Lanzoni - known as the king of '90s romance novel covers - is coming all the way to Australia to find love Flamboyant Fabio still looked as dashing as ever during his TV interview, sporting long hair and a bright purple shirt. After complimenting the women of Australia, he raised eyebrows by describing them as more 'domesticated' than their American and European counterparts. 'Everyone in the world knows they are down-to-earth, beautiful, very domesticated. The best thing for a man,' he said. He's still got it! Flamboyant Fabio, 61, still looked as dashing as ever during his interview on The Morning Show on Thursday, sporting long hair and a bright purple shirt 'What do you mean "domesticated"?' asked presenter Kylie Gillies, as her co-host Larry Emdur winced next to her. 'You are real women,' Fabio replied. Kylie then gave Fabio another chance to explain himself, asking: 'But you don't expect us to be in the kitchen with the apron on? That's not what you mean, is it?' Faux pas: After complimenting the women of Australia, he raised eyebrows by describing them as more 'domesticated' than their American and European counterparts. Pictured here in 1995 'Absolutely. You know how to take care of a man,' Fabio responded. Larry managed to salvage the situation by interrupting: 'Why don't I just jump in here and ask a question?' The cringeworthy interview then turned to the sexagenarian's dating habits. 'Do you have a Tinder bio? Do you like to see how domesticated women are before proceeding?' teased Larry. Whoops! 'What do you mean "domesticated"?' asked presenter Kylie Gillies, as her co-host Larry Emdur winced next to her Iconic: Born in 1959, Fabio started as a model and actor in his native Italy before moving to New York City to focus on fashion modelling. Pictured on the cover of a romance novel Famous abs: In addition to gracing the covers of hundreds of romance novels, the genetically blessed Italian has served as a spokesman for a variety of brands 'I still like to meet women in person, the old-fashioned way,' confirmed Fabio. Born in Italy in 1959, Fabio started as a model and actor in his native country before moving to New York City to focus on fashion modelling. In addition to gracing the covers of hundreds of romance novels, the genetically blessed Italian has served as a spokesman for a variety of brands, including I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! and Old Spice. Fabio has never been married. FSL Trust agrees to sell one product tanker The Board of Directors (the Board) of FSL Trust Management Pte. Ltd., as trustee-manager (the Trustee-Manager) of First Ship Lease Trust (FSL Trust or the Trust), announces that a whollyowned subsidiary of the Trust has entered into a memorandum of agreement to sell the vessel FSL Osaka (the Vessel) to an unaffiliated third party and received the initial 10% deposit in escrow. The Vessel is a 45,998 DWT medium-range product tanker built at Shin Kurushima in Japan in 2007 and has been deployed in a pool. The disposal is made in the ordinary course of business. Details of the net proceeds of the disposal and their utilization will be announced upon completion of the disposal. London, March 4 : Buckingham Palace has said it will investigate claims the Duchess of Sussex bullied royal staff, adding that it was "very concerned" by the allegations. It follows a media report that Meghan faced a bullying complaint when she was a working royal. Her spokesman said the duchess was "saddened" by the "latest attack on her character". The palace said that it "does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment". It will speak to the members of staff involved "to see if lessons can be learned", a statement added. According to the story in the Times, the complaint was made in October 2018, while the duke and duchess were living at Kensington Palace. A leaked email sent from a staff member, which was published by the newspaper, alleges that Meghan drove two personal assistants out of the household. The report claims she undermined the confidence of a third member of staff. In a statement, Buckingham Palace - which is responsible for the hiring of royal staff - said: "We are clearly very concerned about allegations in the Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. "Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. "The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace." An earlier statement issued by Meghan's spokesman said: "The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. "She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good." BEIJING When Beijing set out last summer to quash resistance to its rule in Hong Kong, it imposed a national security law that empowered the authorities to arrest scores of democracy advocates and sent a chill over the city. Now, less than a year later, China wants nothing less than a fundamental overhaul of the citys normally contentious politics. Zhang Yesui, a senior Communist Party official, announced on Thursday that Chinas national legislature planned to rewrite election rules in Hong Kong to ensure that the territory was run by patriots, which Beijing defines as people loyal to the national government and the Communist Party. Mr. Zhang did not release details of the proposal. But Lau Siu-kai, a senior adviser to the Chinese leadership on Hong Kong policy, has said the new approach is likely to call for the creation of a government agency to vet every candidate running not only for chief executive but for the legislature and other levels of office, including neighborhood representatives. Larry Crabb, former Colorado Christian University prof., Bible teacher, psychologist dies at 76 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Larry J. Crabb, a psychologist, Bible teacher, author of more than 20 books, and a longtime professor at Colorado Christian University, has died after battling various illnesses. The Larger Story, a ministry founded by Crabbs eldest son, Kep, that seeks to preserve his fathers works, announced that Crabb had passed away early Sunday morning at age 76. As one who taught so many of us that it is possible to trust no matter our circumstances or condition of soul, Larry can now testify to the unspeakable joy and unlimited goodness of God. It truly is well with his soul, stated The Larger Story. Larry lived his life firmly anchored in the truth of this scripture, and now he is healed and whole and his lifelong faith points us all to the certainty of Gods great victory. What an honor to be part of his legacy. The family, which includes his wife, Rachael, and sons Kep and Kenneth, plan to hold two memorial services, one in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the other in Denver, Colorado. CCU President Donald W. Sweeting said in a statement that the school was heartbroken to learn of the passing of Dr. Larry Crabb, one of our biggest advocates and friends. He was a leader, an educator, and a spiritual adviser to many in the CCU community for a number of years, stated Sweeting. He had a passion for Christ-centered, biblically grounded psychology, and for seeing sound Christian counseling transform people's lives. He will be greatly missed by all of us at Colorado Christian University. Born in 1944, Crabb was a noted psychologist who authored several books, including When God's Ways Make No Sense, Understanding People, and Real Church: Does it exist? Can I find it?. In an interview with The Christian Post in 2010, Crabb explained that he hoped readers of his book Real Churchwould leave with the sense of excitement that there is a huge story going on that is unseen, but those listening to God will hear it. There is a huge opportunity to become a very different man or woman, somebody who is willing to give all they have for the sake of another. Abandoning myself for your sake, that is the opportunity of Christianity and not just to have a blessed life, said Crabb at the time. I hope people get away from the idea that God is a genie that you rub a lamp and call it a prayer and you get everything you want. That is not how it works at all. But rather we have the chance to move into the world with the attitude of Christ. In addition to his books, Crabb served CCU as a professor as well as a former chair of their graduate-level counseling degree program and a regular speaker at their chapel services. In honor of his many endeavors for the university, CCU created the Larry J. Crabb Center for University Counseling in November 2018, based on the schools Lakewood campus. During his over 30-year affiliation with CCU, Dr. Crabb was a bestselling author; served as the spiritual director of the American Association of Christian Counselors; founded NewWay Ministries; and was a trusted colleague to six CCU presidents, stated CCU on Monday. In recent times, Crabb had had his share of severe medical issues, including battles with liver cancer for the past several years and a struggle with leukemia for around two years. On Feb. 24, the official Facebook page for Crabb posted a statement announcing that Crabb was going to receive hospice care in North Carolina, being near his children and grandchildren. During this time, we are all struggling with various expressions and experiences of grief and perhaps even confusion and anger, but Larry would be the first to remind us to rest in the good story God is telling with his life and to be glad, the page stated. His deepest desire is to be with Jesus and he will soon see his Father face to face. Before artist Dana Levy came to St. Louis, she didnt think the city would provide an extreme enough setting for her work. But when the Israeli-born artist traveled in 2019 to north St. Louis, she had never seen a place like it, she recalled. If the buildings, abandoned, crumbling and covered in vegetation, were any indication, many people from wealthier parts of the city had not seen it either or at least taken a long look. Levy had found the right area to film her surreal warning about the future. She gathered eagles, owls, vultures and lizards and filmed them north of the Delmar Divide, a geographical boundary often used as a reference point to explain the socioeconomic and racial differences that exist in the city. ADVERTISEMENT When I saw all these houses that were being taken over by nature, I had this idea to bring live animals into these environments, Levy explained. I kind of thought of it like a fictional future, where humans no longer exist and the whole city has been taken over by animals. Levy believes that if the current social stratification and environmental destruction continues, a scenario where humans are gone but animals remain may be more than just the stuff of a vivid imagination. To see what north St. Louis and urban areas everywhere might then look like, visit the St. Louis Art Museum and see its new exhibit, Currents 119: Dana Levy. Levy, who was born in Tel Aviv and now lives in New York, will also talk with art museum curator Hannah Klemm on Monday, March 8 at 7 p.m. For more information on the free virtual event, visit https://www.slam.org/event/artist-talk-dana-levy/ Levy is the grandchild of Holocaust survivors. Her mother was born in Germany. Her father was born in Egypt. She moved around a lot growing up, including time in Israel, Atlanta and the United Kingdom. I have always had this thing of, Home is something temporary, which attracts me to houses that are abandoned, she said. Levy earned a bachelors degree from Camberwell College of Arts in London and a masters in electronic imaging at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Scotland. She previously had exhibitions at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem and the Petach Tikva Museum of Art, in a Tel Aviv suburb. Before coming to St. Louis, Levys work with live animals had always taken place indoors, including releasing 100 monarch butterflies at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh and filming them among the drawers and cases of butterflies (dead ones). I finished editing just as the Arab Spring had begun, Levy told ARTFORUM. It suddenly became clear that, for me, the work was about an awakening from an obedient slumber into a revolution. Levy landed in St. Louis because she was selected for the Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Fellowship at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University. (The Freunds were prominent local arts patrons and Jewish.) In fall 2019, Levy started exploring the area and not only learned about north St. Louis but also the Campbell House Museum and the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The Campbell House is located in the Lucas Park neighborhood, in the former home of a successful St. Louis fur trader and businessman, and has been preserved with furniture, fixtures, paintings, objects to look as it did in the 19th century. At Cahokia in Collinsville, Ill., Levy was moved by the fact that the settlement had once been a booming city, larger than London in the year 1250, before its demise. Scholars have suggested a range of theories for its downfall, including a changing climate, flooding or social conflicts and fighting. Between that, and the contrast she noticed over the river in St. Louis the elegant Campbell museum just minutes from the deteriorating buildings available for purchase from the city for $1 Levy wondered if the future might look like Cahokia. It interested me how [Cahokia] was this mound that people hardly remember and hardly know about it, and when I saw all these neglected houses, it made me think that perhaps this is the direction we are going in, that civilization will collapse, Levy said. To show others her vision, Levy borrowed rescue birds that had been sickened by rodent poison from the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park and lizards from a pet store. The owner of a once-abandoned church in north St. Louis allowed Levy to film inside, which resulted in striking footage of birds sitting where you would expect to see worshippers. The exhibit also features video of 19th century photos of the Campbell House with an image of Levy projected onto them, kind of like a ghost from the future, she said. And it features a short film explaining the history of Cahokia interspersed with interviews of residents and historians of north St. Louis, who describe the modern citys tragic trajectory due to redlining (the federal governments denial of services in particular areas); white flight; the closing of factories; and the crack epidemic. When this whole war on drugs happened, it truly felt like it was a war on Black people in general, Cheeraz Gormon, a spoken word artist from north St. Louis, said in the movie. Looked like a bomb hit it. Its the bomb of redlining, divestment and racism. During the course of talking with residents and historians; conducting research; and driving around the area, including to the impoverished East St. Louis, Levy realized that north St. Louis was not as extreme, as abnormal, as she first thought. She said she realized, This is not St. Louis, this is a national thing. There is a place like this in every city. Artist Talk: Dana Levy When: 7 p.m. Monday, March 8 How much: Free virtual event More info: https://www.slam.org/event/artist-talk-dana-levy/ Exhibit: Gallery 250 at St. Louis Art Museum until Aug. 15 Alabamas mask order will end April 9, Gov. Kay Ivey announced today. Ivey said the roughly one month mask extension allows businesses ample time to implement their own policies and make adjustments ahead of the deadline. Several major retailers including Kroger, Target and Walgreens indicated they will leave orders requiring facial coverings in place even as more states drop the requirement. Ivey stressed the mask requirement will not be extended past April 9 but does get the state past the Easter holiday on April 4. The current order was set to expire tomorrow at 5 p.m. April 9 is going to be the last day were going to have a mask mandate, Ivey said during a Thursday press conference in Montgomery . Alabamians are smart. They have good common sense. They know what works. But after (April) 9th, were not having a mask mandate. The governor added she personally would continue to wear a mask when shes around people but after April 9 the requirement will become a matter of personal responsibility and not a government mandate. Alabama first issued its mask order in July amid soaring coronavirus case numbers and concerns about overwhelming the healthcare system. Recently, Alabama has seen a decline in the number of cases with hospitalizations dropping dramatically. And while the mask order remains in place for another month, other provisions of the states Safer at Home order are changing: Restaurants, bars and breweries no longer have to limit party size at tables. Partitions or keeping tables six feet apart still applies. Outdoor programs will be allowed at senior centers. Guidelines for the programs will be written by the Department of Senior Services. Hospital patients and nursing home residents will be allowed visits from two people at a time. The previous order limited that to one. Summer camps may operate subject to social distancing and sanitation rules. The changes for restaurants, bars, nursing homes, hospitals and senior centers goes into effect March 6. A 36-year-old Allentown police officer was suspended after a Feb. 4 off-duty incident in Berks County where he pulled his loaded service weapon and threatened to kill a man during a dispute outside a home in Maidencreek Township, authorities say. Jordan R. Smith, who was hired in 2013, was removed from duty that night and the departments Office of Professional Standards is conducting an investigation into the incident, according to a written statement provided by Chief Glenn Granitz. The department and the office have been in contact with Northern Berks Regional police and the Berks County District Attorneys Office, the statement says. Granitz did not respond to a follow-up email asking if Smith was suspended with or without pay. Northern Berks Regional police filed charges Wednesday against Smith, including terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, records show. A preliminary arraignment on the charges was scheduled for April 12 in District Judge Brian K. Strands court in Maidencreek, records show. It wasnt clear why the arraignment was delayed more than a month. The incident began about 3:45 p.m. Feb. 4 when Patrick Manwiller and Megan Smith, who were on the second floor looking out a window, saw Jordan Smith drive by the home in the 100 block of Millennium Drive as he went to pick up the Smiths 6-year-old twins who were arriving on a school bus, court papers say. Manwiller, who has lived since Jan. 3 in the home that county property records say is owned by Jordan and Megan Smith, told an investigating officer that he then saw Jordan Smith throwing snowballs at Manwillers personal and WFMZ work vehicles, police said. He advised that Jordan Smith his not welcome in the residence and he observed Jordan Smith run across the front yard and enter the house through the unlocked front door, court papers say. Manwiller went to his work truck to grab a piece of equipment to protect himself and then, as Jordan Smith left the house, Manwiller put his left hand on Smiths neck, police said after interviewing him. Smith then pulled a handgun and pointed it at Manwillers head as Manwiller dropped his hands, police said from Manwillers telling. Megan Smith told an officer that before the incident on the porch, Manwiller was setting up a television camera there and Jordan Smith said, Oh, you have a big camera. I have a gun! Which one is worse?, court papers say. Megan Smith said Jordan Smith lives in Hamburg and she had changed all the locks and combinations in the home in Maidencreek, court papers say. She called 9-1-1 as Jordan Smith held the black Glock 19 Gen 5 to Manwillers head, police said. Jordan Smith then said, Ill ... kill you now who is the tough guy, Megan Smith told police. After being read his rights, Jordan Smith told police that Manwiller is a trigger for him and while the off-duty officer was throwing snowballs, he did not hit Manwillers vehicles, police said. Jordan Smith said he entered the house to pet the dogs and when Manwiller put his hand on Smiths neck, he feared for his life so he drew his service weapon from its holster, police said. A video doorbell outside a nearby home caught parts of the incident, including Manwiller telling Jordan Smith to get off the front porch and, after a pause, an armed Jordan Smith telling Manwiller that hed put a bullet right in your ... head, go ahead, go ahead. Court records do not show any charges filed against Manwiller in the incident. A listed phone number for Jordan Smith was not immediately available. Court papers do not list an attorney for him. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. The state policy on the de-occupation of Crimea was discussed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on March 3. On March 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea held the panel discussion entitled State policy on de-occupation of Crimea: status and prospects within the framework of the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the Ministrys press service informs. The discussion was attended by Emine Dzheppar, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Anton Korynevych, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; Ihor Yaremenko, Deputy Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine; Rustem Umerov, MP, co-chair of the Crimean Platform inter-factional group; Ihor Ponochovny, head of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol; Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People; Maria Tomak, Coordinator of the Media Initiative Group for Human Rights; Alim Aliyev, Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Institute. Representatives of foreign diplomatic missions in Ukraine joined the panel discussion. One of the key topics of discussion was the Crimean Platform and the challenges facing Ukraine and the world due to the Russian aggression and the temporary occupation of a part of Ukraine. Ukraine sets up the Crimean Platform to bring the discussion on the de-occupation of Crimea to the level of international strategic dialogue. This will help consolidate the aspirations and resources of the international community, as well as unite efforts at the intergovernmental, interparliamentary and expert levels, Dzheppar said. According to her, the Crimean Platform will focus on five practical areas: policy of non-recognition of Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea, expansion and strengthening of international sanctions against Russia, international security, human rights, the impact of occupation on economy and environment. The First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stressed that cooperation with international partners in these areas would enable Ukraine to move towards the de-occupation of Crimea: It is important to understand that the liberation of Crimea from Russian occupation is not just a matter of justice. Its one of the key factors in restoring the stability of the world order and protecting the common values that underpin human development. Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine to the ARC Anton Korynevych stressed that the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On Certain Measures to De-occupy and Reintegrate the Temporarily Occupied Territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol" signed on February 26, 2021 was a very strong signal to Ukraines international partners. Crimea is one of the priorities of Ukraine's domestic policy. By this Decree, the President established the organizing committee of the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform, instructed to prepare a draft strategy for de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and a strategy for the development of the Crimean Tatar language. Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov said he supported the idea of the creation of the Crimean Platform. "The de-occupation of Crimea must be preceded by the adoption of relevant laws of Ukraine, which will provide a clear picture of the future of Crimea as an integral part of Ukraine, guarantee the preservation and development of indigenous Crimean Tatar people," he said. 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 to be launched officially at an inaugural summit in Kyiv in 2021. On March 1, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar presented the Crimean Platform at the OSCE. ol Amazon is to open its first hi-tech food shop today where shoppers can leave without stopping to pay. They are tracked by cameras as they take items from the shelves, and charged via an app after leaving. The shop, Amazons first foray on to the high street, is in Ealing, west London, and is expected to be the first of several in the capital. Using the Fresh brand Amazon has for its online groceries, the store will sell everyday basics and hot food. Freshs Matt Birch said the goal was a really easy shopping experience. Shoppers are tracked by cameras as they take items from the shelves, and charged via an app after leaving. Pictured: an Amazon Go store in New York City, US The contactless payment system uses hidden sensors and cameras - similar to those in self-driving cars - to track what customers take from the shelves. Shoppers will be asked to download the app, load their card details and then scan a QR code to enter the store. They can then take items to add them to their virtual shopping list, with loose items such as fruit and vegetables added in the same way. The customer can then walk out of the shop without paying. They will be charged via the app on their mobile phone. Shoppers will find hundreds of by Amazon own-brand products, items from Morrisons, and discounts for lunch and dinnertime combinations. There will be a coffee station for customers to make their own drinks with the option to use a dairy-free machine. Shoppers will find hundreds of by Amazon own-brand products, items from Morrisons, and discounts for lunch and dinnertime combinations. Pictured: the snack aisle in an Amazon Go store in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Seattle, Washington Using the Fresh brand Amazon has for its online groceries, the store will sell everyday basics and hot food (pictured: an Amazon Go store in Seattle) It will also sell Amazon products such as the Echo Fire and Kindle, and online customers will be able to pick up and return parcels at an in-store Amazon Hub. The foray on to the high street marks a major challenge to established supermarkets, following rapid growth of online food delivery in recent years. The company hopes the speed and ease of shopping will draw commuters rushing to work as well as families shopping for their evening meal. Mr Birch said: The focus was just creating a really easy shopping experience for customers. We recognise that UK customers want to shop in a convenient way so we really think they will appreciate being able to walk in and walk out with the shopping they need. The frozen foods aisle is seen at an Amazon Go store in Seattle. Shoppers will be asked to download the app, load their card details and then scan a QR code to enter the store Freshs Matt Birch said the goal was a really easy shopping experience. The customer will be charged via the app on their mobile phone (pictured: store in Seattle) We hope to open a few more in and around London. We think they will also work well in city centres and more urban locations. Bosses say their prices will compete with other major supermarkets. The by Amazon range will include two pints of milk for 85p, six free-range eggs for 90p and 500g of 5 per cent fat beef mince for 2.75. Five oranges will cost 1.60 and a cauliflower will cost 79p. Customers can buy two fully-cooked mains and two sides for 10 as part of a takeaway deal, or a main course and side dish for 5, as part of the Night in deal. Amazon already owns seven Whole Foods stores in the UK, an upmarket grocer only found in London. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) Dr. Angelina "Helen" Tan, representative of Quezon Province's 4th District, maintained she did not receive special treatment when she got vaccinated two days ago, since she got the shot not as a lawmaker, but as a registered dependent of her son who is a healthcare worker. Tan said she received a dose of the China-made Sinovac vaccine CoronaVac on Tuesday, a day after the shipment arrived in the country. "I would like to ask the public not to perceive this as a VIP treatment, since it is totally false and misguided, inasmuch as I am a legal dependent, an immediate family member of a frontliner working as a medical professional at the [Veterans Memorial Medical Center]," said the congresswoman in a statement on Thursday. She related that the hospital required its healthcare workers to submit a list of three dependents they want to get vaccinated. However, apart from this reason, Tan added that she also wanted to boost public confidence in vaccines by taking the shot. However, Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. maintained that dependents should not have been vaccinated yet as the government needs to prioritize the healthcare workers given the limited supply of dosages. He said they will seek a probe into Tan's vaccination if it is true, although no less than the lawmaker had confirmed it. "Wala po munang mga dependents...so mali po 'yun. We will investigate on that just in case may mangyari na ganoon," said Galvez in a tele-radio interview with DZBB on the same day. [Translation: No dependents yet...so that is wrong. We will investigate on that in case that really happened.] Tan insists she did not violate any laws but adds that she will cooperate with any investigation. Earlier, Galvez himself, despite not being a medical professional, received a dose of CoronaVac. He explained that it was President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to have him vaccinated right away. A man at the centre of a family murder-suicide has been laid to rest next to his brother, who died tragically seven years ago. Following a private funeral service in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, John Hennessy was buried next to his brother Jer, who died by suicide in 2014. John (59) is believed to have attacked and killed his brothers Willie and Paddy before taking his own life in a family tragedy that unfolded last week. The bodies of Willie (66) and Paddy (60) were found at the family home at Curraghgorm on the outskirts of Mitchelstown last Friday morning. The body of their younger brother John (59) was recovered from the nearby river Funshion a few hours later. Jer Hennessy died by drowning in the same river. Read More The brothers leave behind their only remaining sibling, Breda, who attended todays service with her husband and daughter. Paddys daughter Elaine was also present, alongside several other family members. Numbers inside the Church of Our Lady Conceived Without Sin in Mitchelstown were restricted to 10 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The service lasted just over 30 minutes, with three neighbours standing outside to pay their respects as the hearse was taken to Brigown cemetery. Around 30 people had gathered at Johns burial place and prayers were said over the coffin before the crowd dispersed. Details of the funeral had been kept strictly private, with many locals unaware it was taking place. In a funeral notice posted on Rip.ie, John is described as the beloved son of the late Thomas and Eily (McCarthy) and brother of the late Jerry. He will be remembered by his sister Breda (OReilly, Anglesboro), brother-in-law Ned, nieces Elaine & Lisa, grandnephews Jack, Danny, Logan and Caleb, grandniece Halle, relatives, neighbours and friends, the notice said. Paddy is described as the beloved father of Elaine and the late Paudie and devoted grandad to Jack, Danny, Logan and Halle. He will be deeply mourned by his daughter, her mother Stephanie, Paddys partner Kitty Russell, grandchildren, mother-in-law May Devonshire, sister Breda (OReilly, Anglesboro), brother-in-law Ned, niece Lisa, grandnephew Caleb, relatives, neighbours and friends, the notice said. In a notice for Willie, he is described as the beloved son of the late Thomas and Eily (nee McCarthy) and brother of the late Jerry. Deeply mourned by his loving sister Breda (OReilly, Anglesboro), brother-in-law Ned, nieces Elaine and Lisa, grandnephews Jack, Danny, Logan and Caleb grandniece Halle, relatives, neighbours and friends. the notice said. Gardai believe from checking phone records that John may have killed his brothers by 6pm on Thursday before driving away from the farm in his Toyota Carolla van at about 10pm to Killacluig near where his body was recovered from the river Funcheon at about 1.30pm on Friday. Post-mortem examinations were conducted on the men at Cork University Hospital by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. The results were not released for operational reasons. However, it is understood that Willie and Paddy died of injuries consistent with an assault with an axe. The men suffered shock and haemorrhage associated with trauma from head injuries. John died from drowning. The funerals of Wille and Paddy will take place tomorrow. Paddy will be laid to rest next to his son, Paudie, who died by suicide in 2012 and Willie will be buried in a nearby plot. Gardai from Mitchelstown had spoken to John at about 6pm after they were contacted by a family member in Co Limerick to say that he had been in touch and had not sounded very coherent. However, when gardai rang John, he assured them everything was okay. Gardai accepted his assurance and did not call to the family farm. The matter has been referred to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) because gardai were in contact with somebody who later died. Gsoc will examine phone records to try to establish whether or not John may have already killed his two brothers when he spoke to gardai. Gardai are appealing for anyone who has information in relation to the incident to come forward. Subscriber content preview EUGENE, Ore. (AP) The University of Oregon will go back to predominately in-person instruction for the fall term, officials said. President Michael Schill says the decision was made following an announcement Friday from Gov. Kate Brown that higher education will be included in the state's next phase of vaccinations, the Register-Guard reported. . . . At least 36 people were shot in Chicago, four of them fatally, in as many hours over the weekend, with more than half of the shootings occurring over a half-day period stretching into early Sunday. Officers responded to at least 27 incidents, starting at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the West Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side involving an attack that left a 17-year-old girl dead and two other people wounded, police said. There were also fatal shootings in the South Shore neighborhood Friday night and the Washington Park neighborhood early Sunday, both on the South Side. Late Sunday, police announced charges in one of the killings. Chicago Police Department spokesman Adam Collins declined to comment on whether the weekend's temperatures Saturday reached 80 degrees, the city's warmest day so far this year contributed to the number of shootings, though criminologists have said that weather does play a role in violent crime. While the city continues to see reductions in crime and violence, there's obviously much more to be done, and we continue to be challenged by lax state and federal gun laws, Collins said, reiterating a position that police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has expressed when discussing the department's crime-fighting efforts. No one will rest until everyone in Chicago enjoys the same sense of safety, he said. Shontell Brown, mother of the 17-year-old girl killed Friday, called the situation on the city's streets an ongoing war, saying that her daughter Gakirah Barnes was not the first teen from the South Chicago neighborhood to die violently. This is something that has become all too normal to everybody, and it needs to stop, Brown said in a phone interview. We need to come together as a community and just unite to get our children and our streets back. Barnes, of the 8000 block of South South Shore Drive, was pronounced dead at 5:43 p.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Cook County medical examiner's office said. An autopsy done Saturday determined that she died of multiple gunshot wounds and her death was ruled a homicide, the office said. Barnes was a distant cousin of 13-year-old Tyquan Tyler, who was shot to death in June 2012, but the two were close enough that Barnes referred to Tyquan as her brother. Tyquan's "mother is related to me through marriage so weve kind of raised our kids together once her family married my family," Brown said. Barnes has four siblings, two older brothers and a younger brother and sister, her mother said. About two hours before she was fatally shot on a porch in the 6400 block of South Eberhart Avenue, Barnes was leaving home to meet up with friends at a barbecue, her mother said. I told her that I loved her and to be careful which is something that I told her every day when she went out on the Chicago streets, Brown said. Nearly 34 hours later, a 20-year-old man was fatally shot outside a home in the 3000 block of West 53rd Place in the Gage Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side. He was identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office as Joshua Martinez, of the 4900 block of South Karlov Avenue. Shards of glass from the home's front door littered the steps early Sunday morning. Martinez's body lay facedown on a sidewalk in front, covered by a white sheet, his feet resting on the bottom steps of the bungalow, a home that is common to Gage Park. Police said Sunday night that a 17-year boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing around 1 a.m. that day, noting it stemmed from an argument during which the suspect retrieved a handgun from his residence and shot Martinez several times. An hour and a half later, two people were shot in the 6000 block of South Indiana Avenue in Washington Park, police said. A 32-year-old man was hit in the chest and died at Stroger Hospital. A 27-year-old woman was shot in the leg and also was taken to Stroger. The medical examiner's office identified the man as Corey Brownlee, of the same block where he was shot. He was pronounced dead at 3:26 a.m. Friday's second fatal shooting occurred on the porch of a frame home in the 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue. Shannon Mack, 34, of the same block, was pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m. An autopsy determined that he died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide. Tribune reporters Jeremy Gorner and Carlos Sadovi contributed. pnickeas@tribune.com sbaer@tribune.com US Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Wednesday said authoritarianism and nationalism are on the rise around the world with governments becoming less transparent and losing the people's trust. In a major foreign policy speech after becoming the top American diplomat, Blinken said the latest report 'Freedom in the World 2021' by Freedom House is "sobering". The report, which is an annual country-by-country assessment of political rights and civil liberties, downgraded the freedom scores of 73 countries, representing 75 per cent of the global population. Democracy has eroded in the United States as well, the report noted. While still considered 'free', the United States experienced further democratic decline during the final year of the Trump presidency, it said. The US score in 'Freedom in the World' has dropped by 11 points over the past decade, and fell by three points in 2020 alone. The changes have moved the country out of a cohort that included other leading democracies, such as France and Germany, and brought it into the company of states with weaker democratic institutions, such as Romania and Panama, Freedom House said. Blinken, in his maiden foreign policy address, responded to the report by saying Democracy is under threat. A new report from the independent watchdog group Freedom House is sobering. Authoritarianism and nationalism are on the rise around the world. Governments are becoming less transparent and have lost the trust of the people. Elections are increasingly flashpoints for violence. Corruption is growing. And the pandemic has accelerated many of these trends, Blinken said. The more we and all democracies can show the world that we can deliver not only for our people, but also for each other the more we can refute the lie that authoritarian countries love to tell that theirs is the better way to meet peoples fundamental needs and hopes. Its on us to prove them wrong, he said. We will use the power of our example. We will encourage others to make key reforms, overturn bad laws, fight corruption, and stop unjust practices. We will incentivise democratic behaviour, he added. But we will not promote democracy through costly military interventions or by attempting to overthrow authoritarian regimes by force. We have tried these tactics in the past. However well intentioned, they haven't worked. Theyve given democracy promotion a bad name, and theyve lost the confidence of the American people. We will do things differently, Blinken said. According to the Freedom House report, the government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the global democratic decline. Repressive regimes and populist leaders worked to reduce transparency, promote false or misleading information, and crackdown on the sharing of unfavourable data or critical views. Many of those who voiced objections to their governments handling of the pandemic faced harassment or criminal charges. Lockdowns were sometimes excessive, politicised, or brutally enforced by security agencies. And antidemocratic leaders worldwide used the pandemic as cover to weaken the political opposition and consolidate power, it said. In fact, many of the year's negative developments will likely have lasting effects, meaning the eventual end of the pandemic will not necessarily trigger an immediate revitalisation of democracy, the report said. In Hungary, for example, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban took on emergency powers during the health crisis and misused them to withdraw financial assistance from municipalities led by opposition parties, it added. In Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved Parliament in early March and, with new elections repeatedly delayed due to COVID-19, ruled without a legislature for several months. Later in the year, both Hungary and Sri Lanka passed constitutional amendments that further strengthened executive power, he said. (Image Credits: AP) (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) 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. EMPIRE, MICH. -- For more than three decades, the Wings of Wonder raptor rehabilitation center has helped ill or injured bald eagles and other magnificent Michigan raptors successfully begin life over again in the wild. Now the acclaimed center is beginning a new life, too. This week, the non-profit facility announced its transition from the hands of retiring founder Rebecca Lessard into the care of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Under the direction of its new stewards, it will become the Migizi Eagle Aviary and Rehabilitation Center the first tribal-run eagle aviary and raptor center this side of the Mississippi River, and one of only eight nationwide. Organizers said the idea of a Northern Michigan tribal raptor center has been years in the making, thanks to Wings of Wonders long-running relationship with the Little Traverse Bay Bands and with Doug Craven, the tribes director of natural resources. Migizi (pronounced mih-GIZ-zeh; the Anishnaabe word for eagle) are significant in Odawa culture, and as such, the tribe has spearheaded a number of conservation and research projects related to the birds, often bringing injured eagles to Lessard for rehabilitation and subsequent release back on tribal land. Not only do we have a reverence for eagles, but we feel that theres a certain amount of responsibility on us, too, to help manage eagles and to care for them, Craven said. There was going to be a void once Rebecca retired and was no longer taking eagles in for rehabilitation or long-term care of the non-releasable birds. Those things combined really led us to where we are now. Joe Mitchell, tribal elder and pipe carrier with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, is pictured here at a Wings of Wonder eagle release ceremony on tribal land. The Anishinaabek look to the Eagle as the messenger to the Creator," Mitchell said in a statement. "The Eagle carries our prayers to the Creator. The Eagle lets the Creator know that some of us are trying to live and walk in a Good Way." The Wings of Wonder transition includes relocating the raptor center from its longtime spot on Lessards own home property in Empire to tribal land near Harbor Springs. There, Migizi Center will take form in a new state-of-the-art facility that will include a rehabilitation hospital, educational programming, and space to provide lifetime homes for several non-releasable eagles. The centers design and construction will be completed by tribally owned Seven Generations Architecture & Engineering of Kalamazoo. The new facility will cost approximately $600,000, which will come from a combination of tribal commitments, grants, and individual contributions. Wings of Wonder, a 501(C)3 nonprofit, will act as the fundraising arm of the project. A construction timeline depends on fundraising, though Lessard said the hope is to begin breaking ground by this summer or fall. An architectural rendering of the new Migizi Center, by Seven Generations Architecture & Engineering of Kalamazoo. | Photo courtesy of Wings of Wonder The bald eagle is considered a conservation success story. Removed from the federal Endangered Species list in 2007, the birds population numbers have rebounded from an all-time low of less than 500 breeding pairs nationwide in the 1960s to nearly 10,000 breeding pairs in 2007, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Yet human interference remains a threat to the iconic raptor, with eagles commonly killed by vehicle impacts, lead poisoning from ingested hunting ammunition and tackle, and even poaching. When the Migizi Center is constructed, it will be the only dedicated bald eagle facility in the state of Michigan, providing the ample space that these large birds need to fully recover from trauma or illness. In honor of its origins and Lessards lifelong commitment to saving raptors, Migizis rehabilitation facility will be named the Wings of Wonder Rehabilitation Center. For Lessard, who founded Wings of Wonder 32 years ago after being deeply moved by her first experience taking in an injured red-tailed hawk, this next chapter for her labor of love is more than a dream come true. Never did I have conscious intention of building a raptor center or spending the rest of my life working with raptors, but it was something the universe directed me to do and I didnt get in the way. Its been an amazing experience, she said. To have this continue like this and for the tribe to name the rehab component Wings of Wonder, to have this kind of legacy, theres just really no words. Im deeply grateful. To learn more, donate or find updates on the Migizi Center, visit wingsofwonder.org or facebook.com/wingsofwonder. Wings of Wonder founder and raptor rehabilitator Rebecca releases a bald eagle back into the wild. Since founding the raptor rehab center at her own home 32 years ago, Rebecca has helped heal countless eagles, hawks, owls and other birds of prey. Partnering with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians to see her work carried on is "more than a dream come true," she says. | Photo courtesy Wings of Wonder RELATED: Its still winter in Michigan, so why are we seeing robins? How an 800-mile canoe trip starting at an Up North beach became a turning point in Michigan history 4,500-year-old Isle Royale copper mining district named National Historic Landmark New Study: Innocent Blacks Seven Times More Likely to be Wrongfully Convicted of Murder Than Innocent Whites According to the latest report from The Innocence Project, innocent Black people are seven times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than innocent White people. The nonprofit legal organization committed to exonerating wrongly convicted individuals also noted that Black people are more likely to be wrongly convicted of murder when the victim is White. Among Black people exonerated of murder convictions, approximately 31 percent were wrongly convicted of killing White people. However, only 15 percent of homicides by Black people involve White victims, the National Registry of Exonerations reported. ADVERTISEMENT Released in February, the latest report revealed that it also takes longer for attorneys to achieve exoneration for an innocent Black person. African Americans spend an average of nearly 14 years wrongly imprisoned before exoneration or 45 percent longer than White people. Further, Black people tend to receive harsher sentences when accused of sexual assault and have a harder time being exonerated from a wrongful conviction, researchers at The Innocent Project wrote. On average, they spend 4.5 more years in prison than their White counterparts before being exonerated, the researchers found. As talk and tepid action by lawmakers toward real criminal justice reform continues, the latest reports revealed that Black people wrongly convicted of murder spend an average of three more years in prison than White people four if they are on death row. Innocent Black people spend an average of 16 years on death row before they are exonerated, researchers wrote. ADVERTISEMENT As the March 8 trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin nears, researchers concluded that police misconduct occurred in more than half of all wrongful murder conviction cases involving innocent Black people. Chauvin, who is White, is being tried for killing George Floyd, a Black man. For more than 8 minutes, Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyds neck, which caused his death. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, cases of Black people exonerated from wrongful murder convictions were 22 percent more likely to involve police misconduct than similar cases involving White defendants. The legacy of slavery, racist Jim Crow laws, and hateful lynching has translated into modern-day mass incarceration and the disproportionate imprisonment of Black people, Daniele Selby wrote for The Innocence Project. Nowhere is that seen more clearly than in prisons like the Mississippi State Penitentiary also known as Parchman Farm and Louisianas Angola prison, which were built on and modeled after slave plantations and where several Innocence Project clients have been incarcerated, Selby penned. She continued: Racial discrimination and bias has been ingrained in the criminal legal and law enforcement system from its earliest days and continues to pervade every level of the system today. The Innocence Project, with your support, is committed to addressing these injustices. The report arrives approximately one year after controversial but largely unchecked remarks by Manhattan, New York, District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. After a jury returned two guilty verdicts against former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, Vance incredulously had this to say about allegations of rape and sexual assault: Its rape even if there is no physical evidence. The district attorney stated that the verdicts against Weinstein pulled the justice system into the 21st Century. Its a new day. Their verdict turned the page on our justice system on men like Harvey Weinstein. While the verdict may have turned the page on White men like Weinstein, African Americans have always struggled to receive fair treatment by the police and unprejudiced trials in the courtroom. By the preconceived notion, a man of color accused of rape, by a White woman, is presumed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, editors at the American Bar Association wrote in 2019. In the case of a White man accused of raping an African American woman, the presumption of guilt shifts from the White defendant to the African American female victim. Here, there is a presumption that a woman is unchaste because the color of her skin is Black, the editors continued. Alternatively, the standard applied to the White defendant is the presumption that he is innocent until the African American victim is proven pure, innocent, and deserving of the law beyond a White persons reasonable doubt. (BPT) - For someone with cancer, the right treatment option can mean the difference between life and death. While cancer research has made immense strides in the past decade and even the past few years, there is still much work to be done, especially for patients with rare cancers like Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). What is WM? WM is a rare cancer that begins in the white blood cells and is one of the many subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). With about three people diagnosed per million people per year in the U.S., it is uncommon, but approximately 1,500 Americans are diagnosed with WM annually. On average, people living with WM are 70 years old. WM cells have changes in their DNAor genetic mutationsthat cause uncontrolled growth, but scientists and researchers are making advancements in understanding how these mutations can cause normal cells to develop into WM cells. Understanding genetic mutations is important because as researchers learn more about them, treatment options become more personalized. With more personalized treatment, doctors can tailor a persons treatment regimen to that individuals specific genes and disease. Instead of giving the same treatment to everyone, doctors can pick the right medicine and the right dose at the right time. Scientists now know that some patients WM cells have mutations in the CXCR4 gene. Treatments that are currently available for WM patients, such as ibrutinib, may not be as helpful for people with the CXCR4 variant, according to a recent study. This is one of the many reasons more treatment options are needed. Researchers are looking into treatments that target the WM cells with this genetic mutation, and some of these potential treatment options are available now through clinical trials. What Is a Clinical Trial? Clinical trials help researchers understand more about a disease and find new treatments. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment is safe and effective in people before it is approved by the FDA. A clinical trial is now enrolling people living with WM who have a CXCR4 genetic mutation, as well as other characteristics. This WM clinical trial will help researchers answer questions about the safety of an investigational drug mavorixafor, an oral medication in capsules taken by mouth once a day. In the trial, mavorixafor will be taken along with ibrutinib, an FDA-approved treatment for WM. If you are living with WM, talk to your doctor, and see if participating in a clinical trial is an option for you. There is no cost to join the study. Expenses for medical care and travel are reimbursed by X4 Pharmaceuticals, the study sponsor. To learn more, visit the study website at WMTrial.com. This sponsored article is presented by Brandpoint. Despite efforts by the city to make the shots available to every resident of areas most affected by COVID-19, regardless of whether they meet other standards to be vaccinated, some Latinos are still having trouble getting the vaccine while those in other hard-hit communities continue to wait for it. While the rats, mice, rabbits and Syrian hamsters were lab-bred, the rhesus macaques that were used in testing Covaxin candidates were caught in the wild in Maharashtra. (Representational Image/AFP) Hyderabad: First there were the mice, and some rats. Then came Syrian hamsters and the rabbits. And finally there were the rhesus macaque monkeys. The lakhs of people receiving Covaxin to keep themselves safe from Covid-19, and to help stop the spread of the disease in India and elsewhere in the world, have much to thank these animals for. Not just because these animals were the first ones to receive the jabs of the three vaccine candidates developed by scientists at the Bharat Biotech, along with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). Not just because the animals were deliberately injected with the SARS-CoV-2 to test the efficacy of the candidate vaccines while in their cages in a high security Level 4 biosafety hazard lab at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. But because at the end of the study periods, each of them was put to sleep for ever before necropsies were performed on their bodies by the scientists who studied what the virus did to the animals and their organs, and how the vaccine candidates worked in controlling the virus in their bodies. All these animals, unknown to anyone outside of the NIV lab or the scientists involved in the vaccine development in human terms made the ultimate sacrifice of giving up their lives so the very humans who put them through the trials, could keep themselves safe from the virus that probably racked their fragile bodies as the vaccines and the virus battled it out in their organs. In three studies, scientists from Bharat Biotech, NIV and ICMR provide great detail about how the trial were conducted, and how the immune response for the candidate vaccines three versions of the then under-development (during the peak of the lockdown in 2020) Bharat Biotechs vaccine was in these animals. There is a reason why lab grown rats, mice, Syrian hamsters, and rabbits are chosen for the studies. As is also the case with the rhesus macaques. The manner in which the immune responses to a virus in these animals develop, is very close to how a human body responds to a virus. And therein lies the value of testing vaccine candidates on these animals even if it means injecting them with the virus to study how their bodies respond and how the vaccines work in controlling the virus in them. Once the trial is over, even if it is possible to extract tissue samples from various organs without actually killing the animals, their subsequent upkeep and nursing them back to health is a hard task. Since these animals are bred for the express purpose of testing in labs, with the exception of the monkeys, and once the tests are completed they are of no further use for any other tests, they are put to sleep in the most humane way possible, according to a senior scientist well versed with the strict protocols that govern use of animals in labs for such tests. While the rats, mice, rabbits and Syrian hamsters were lab-bred, the rhesus macaques that were used in testing Covaxin candidates were caught in the wild in Maharashtra. According to the study on the tests conducted on the monkeys, permission from the Office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Maharashtra state, was obtained for capturing 30 rhesus macaques from the wild. Because a decline in the macaque population was observed in the permitted areas of Maharashtra due to the habitat change probably imposed by food scarcity during the Covid-19 lockdown period of India (March 25, 2020, till May 31, 2020), 20 of them 12 males and 8 females were captured using experienced monkey catchers, the study reported. The research was conducted in compliance with the guidelines laid down by the Committee for the Purpose of Control And Supervision of Experiments on Animals, Government of India, the study said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below New Delhi: Congress leader Anand Sharma on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing Gorakhpur hospital tragedy with other natural calamities. He said,Prime minister should have been careful over sensitive issues. While talking to reporters over Prime Ministers Independence Day speech, Sharma said PM talked about the surgical strike which had taken place almost a year ago and since then several ceasefire violations and repeated attacks took place in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress leader said PM Modi was making tall claims on GST, but it was the BJP which had stalled GST for seven years in the Parliament when the saffron party was in the opposition. He said the opposition played important role in passing of GST and it allowed it with amendments. He said they did not expect that Modi would ignore the issue and suddenly sought cooperation on the same. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below UPDATE: Jamesville teen killed in police shooting IDed Jamesville, N.Y. One person is dead after a police shooting Thursday afternoon in Jamesville, according to the district attorney. The 1:27 p.m. incident happened near Apulia Road near the Jamesville Reservoir. The investigation is continuing into what led an officer to fire at the individual, authorities said. There is a civilian death, is all Onondaga County DA William Fitzpatrick confirmed Thursday afternoon. DeWitt police, state police and the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office were all involved in the investigation. Apulia Road between Coye and Cook Farm roads is closed to traffic while police continue to investigate, Sgt. Jon Seeber said. Law enforcement is expected to remain on scene for a while, he said. The investigation remains in preliminary stages, added Trooper Jack Keller, spokesman for the state police. There is no active threat to the public, Seeber added. In Dallas, Kimberly White-Agent said she had struggled to find appointments for her brother and 83-year-old stepfather, even after city and federal officials opened a mass vaccination site to serve their largely Black neighborhood. She resorted to putting them on wait lists and hoping an extra slot opened up. Its like a mirage, she said. Some of the leftover chasers are not yet eligible to sign up for appointments. Others are old enough or sick enough to qualify but said that overloaded vaccination websites and endless hold lines convinced them to abandon the official channels and search for themselves. Gunnar Esiason, 29, has cystic fibrosis and said he was not about to wait until his New Hampshire vaccine appointment rolled around on April 21. So he started showing up at Walgreens pharmacies and state-run vaccination sites wherever there was a whiff of an extra vaccine, until he got a tip that a Dartmouth medical center had a few extras. I knew I was going to a lot of Nos, he said. All I needed was one Yes. In Minnesota, Ms. Franke signed up for eight vaccine lists managed by doctors, Walgreens, Walmart, even a state lottery, but she said nobody called. Then, last month, she got a tip that the mass vaccination site at the convention center might have some extras. There were about 20 other people already milling around in the lobby when Ms. Franke arrived, she said, and a health worker quickly emerged to inform them there were no leftovers. But many in the crowd stuck around, and after a half-hour, the vaccination team allowed people 65 and older, teachers and emergency responders to get their shots. Ms. Franke lined up and said she cried with relief on the car ride home to the suburbs. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 03:16:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on March 4, 2021 shows vehicles running on a road in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait. Kuwait's government decided on Thursday to impose a partial curfew as part of its efforts to curb the COVID-19 spread, the government spokesman Tareq Al-Mezrem said. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) KUWAIT CITY, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait's government decided on Thursday to impose a partial curfew as part of its efforts to curb the COVID-19 spread, the government spokesman Tareq Al-Mezrem said. At a press conference held Thursday evening, Al-Mezrem said that the partial curfew will start on Sunday from 5 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) to 5 a.m., until April 8. All commercial activities will be suspended during the curfew time, he said, adding that the government decided to prevent non-Kuwaitis from entering the country until further notice. In addition, the government also decided to close parks and allow restaurants and cafes to serve through delivery only. Kuwait reported on Thursday 1,716 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 196,497. Enditem South Carolina's health department is counting on the honor system as the state's essential workers report for vaccines in coming weeks. Would-be shot recipients will not have to prove where they work or what they do. They will not need a doctor's note, a company ID or a letter from their employer. "We are making sure it's very clear who's included in Phase 1B, but, also, we are not going to be requiring documentation," said Myra Reece, director of environmental services for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. That, she said, is because the state wants to keep everything as simple as possible. Gov. Henry McMaster announced March 2 that the state would be advancing to "Phase 1B" of the vaccine rollout early next week, a move that adds about 2.7 million people to those eligible to be vaccinated. Included in this group are people 55 and older but also hundreds of thousands of "front line" essential workers teachers, food-service crews, bus drivers and factory employees, among others. After the announcement, employers across South Carolina were grappling with questions regarding the where, the what, the when and the how of getting vaccines to their workforces. The S.C. Manufacturing Extension Partnership offered a crash course in vaccinations via video-conference March 3 with state health officials, and more than 700 people tuned in. Reece was on the call with Louis Eubank, a DHEC director who certifies care sites; Fran Marshall, the agency's director of applied science and community engagement; and Andy Carr, vice president for operations with the manufacturing partnership. "Bottom line, if they report to work every day, their job requires them to do that. And they come into close contact with folks in the work environment, they are considered front-line essential workers," Reece said. Close contact, Marshall added, means workers can't do their jobs without coming within six feet of others for more than 15 minutes. "It's not the same as 'essential business' that was defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier on in the pandemic," Marshall said. "This is a different definition. It's really related to the assignment of workers and how close they have to work to either the public or to other employees." Sign up for our Greenville development newsletter. Get all the latest updates on the Upstate real estate market, more openings and closings, exclusive development news and more in your inbox each week. Email Sign Up! While line workers at a manufacturing plant might be eligible for the vaccine, office workers at the same factory might not. Some companies have applied to DHEC to be a certified vaccinating site, able to provide shots because many have their own in-house nursing staff and clinics. Others want to organize mobile clinics to come to their sites to vaccinate workers en masse. Still others want the best information to convey to employees so that they could register for and get their own shots at a local clinic. All options are open to employers, the DHEC officials said, but any route an employer chooses should be coordinated with local "providers." A list of vaccination providers is available on DHEC's COVID-19 page at vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov and is searchable by zip code. Eubank said the state is activating new providers this week and will continue to do so next week, adding them now so that vaccinations can expand smoothly once the supply of vaccine opens up. To head off a potential provider choke point, he said, DHEC has activated 124 independent pharmacies across the state that will be supplied with the newly approved single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine as it becomes available. Meanwhile, the timetable for Phase 1B workers to be vaccinated entirely depends on that supply, severely limited but poised to surge by mid-April with production ramping up of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, Eubank said. South Carolina currently receives anywhere from 115,000 to 200,000 doses of vaccine a week, Eubank said. "So you can see that we have millions of people who need the vaccine," Eubank said, "and you know that demand is only going to increase come Monday. And our supply is a fraction of that." Even companies that have already worked out a deal with a local provider to vaccinate employees will have to wait until enough doses are on hand to set up a mass vaccination clinic, he added. The state received 41,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the weekend, Eubank said, but no new shipments are coming for at least a couple weeks. That vaccine, once it does become widely available, is a game changer, he said, because of its longer shelf life, no need for deep freeze and a relatively speedy manufacturing process. The single dose, he pointed out, also doubles the supply compared to the double-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. IN the space of one month, the families of 326 people were left in shock and heartbreak after losing their loved ones to the Covid-19 virus. May 2021 was the deadliest month of the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago and the month with the highest number of Covid-19 cases. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A police officer in Florida came to the rescue of a swimming coyote by using a patrol boat to guide the struggling canine back to shore. ADVERTISEMENT The Sarasota Police Department said a concerned charter boat captain called the department to report a possible dog stranded in the New Pass area of Sarasota Bay, and Officer Ron Dixon from the marine patrol unit was dispatched to the scene. Dixon initially jumped into the water to attempt to capture the canine, but the animal evaded his grasp. The department said it was only on his second attempt to grab the animal that Dixon realized it was a coyote. Dixon ended up using his patrol boat to guide the soggy canine back to shore. The animal "sprinted back into the woods safely," the department said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 13:49:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil on Wednesday saw record high daily deaths from COVID-19 for the second day in a row, registering 1,910 deaths in 24 hours and bringing the national death toll to 259,271. According to the Ministry of Health, in the past 24 hours, Brazil also saw the second highest number of daily COVID-19 case increase since the start of the outbreak, after 71,704 people tested positive, bringing the total caseload to 10,718,630. (Brazil-COVID-19-Record) - - - - CANBERRA -- Head of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has denied that he was blaming victims of sexual assault when he told first-year cadets not to make themselves "prey." It was revealed Wednesday that Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell told recruits at the ADF Academy in Canberra to lower the risk of sexual assault by avoiding the "four A's," namely "alcohol", being out "after" midnight, "alone" and "attractive." (Australia-Defence Force-Sexual Assault) - - - - WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy expanded modestly from January to mid-February amid COVID-19 restrictions and supply chain disruptions, according to a Federal Reserve (Fed) survey released Wednesday. "Overall conditions in the leisure and hospitality sector continued to be restrained by ongoing COVID-19 restrictions," the Fed said in its latest survey on economic conditions, known as the Beige Book, based on information collected from its 12 regional reserve banks. (US-Fed-Economy) - - - - WINDHOEK -- Namibia's health minister on Wednesday called for pooling more domestic resources to combat malaria, as external funding for the country's anti-malaria campaign is shrinking. Malaria is still rampant in Namibia, especially in the north and northeast parts, said Kalumbi Shangula during the country's 2021 National Management Development Forum. (Namibia-Malaria-Funding) Enditem New Delhi: In a move to prevent the nationwide bankers strike on August 22, the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and the Chief Labour Commissioner have called the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) for talks on Wednesday, a top leader of All India Bank Employees Association said. The IBA has called the UFBU for a meeting in Mumbai on Aug 16 and the Chief Labour Commissioner has called us for a meeting in New Delhi on Aug 18, AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam told news agency IANS. The UFBU is an umbrella body of nine unions in the Indian banking sector. The UFBU has given notice of a nationwide strike on August 22 to protest reforms in the banking sector and other issues. We have an open mind to resolve the issues. The same has to be reciprocated by the IBA and the central government, Venkatachalam added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Supporters of the Duchess of Sussex are using the hashtags #TeamMeghan and #SussexSquad as they go up against Royal Family fans online under #TeamQueen. Royal watchers around the world have been reacting on Twitter this week to the war of words between Buckingham Palace in London and Meghan Markle in California. Some backing Meghan claim the palace 'timed their damage control so poorly any moron can see through it' ahead of the Oprah Winfrey interview on Sunday. Other fans of the Duchess accused the Royal Family of pulling off 'stunts' and a 'smear campaign', while another said: 'Super Cali goes ballistic, RF are atrocious.' But those backing the Royal Family tweeted about the 'poor Queen' and claimed they 'don't trust a single word that comes out of Meghan's mouth or Harry's now'. It comes as the Duchess said she could not be expected to stay silent if the Royal Family played a part in 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Prince Harry. Her comments to Oprah were revealed hours after Buckingham Palace said it had launched an investigation into claims that the Duchess bullied former royal staff. A clip of Meghan making the dramatic remarks to Oprah was released in the early hours of this morning, in which she added 'a lot ... has been lost already'. The couple's interview with the US television host is expected to lift the lid on their short period as working royals before they stepped down for a life in America. It will first be shown on CBS in the US this Sunday night at 1am UK time, before being broadcast in Britain by ITV in a two-hour special on Monday evening from 9pm. In the 30-second clip released on social media today, Oprah asks the duchess: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' She replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I ... there is a lot that has been lost already.' 'The Firm' is widely considered to be shorthand for the institution of the royal family. Past and present employees of Buckingham Palace are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and that staff were 'humiliated' on several occasions. The Times newspaper has reported that the duchess 'destroyed' one member of staff and another was left in tears before she departed. Meghan's lawyers have vehemently denied she is a bully. There has long been speculation about the atmosphere in the Sussex household, after a number of staff left, and the newspaper chronicles what it describes as 'turmoil' within palace walls. Underlying Meghan's actions, the paper reports, was the view of a number of sources that she wanted to be a 'victim' so her 'unbearable experience' would convince Harry they had to leave the UK - something her lawyers have denied. The monarchy's 'men in grey suits' have been accused of being aware of the alleged actions of the duchess and of doing 'absolutely nothing to protect people'. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'We are clearly very concerned about allegations in the Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 'Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. 'The Royal Household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.' Meghan and Harry will not be part of the process as they are not staff, and it is understood the Palace hopes to start the investigation soon. Lawyers for the duke and duchess said the Sussexes believed staff were comfortable and happy. The Queen, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the Buckingham Palace balcony in July 2018 However, Jason Knauf, the couple's then communications secretary, made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff. A source suggested the attitude to the allegations was more about making them 'go away' rather than 'addressing' them, with the paper claiming that Mr Knauf's complaint was never progressed. Meghan's spokesman said: 'The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. 'She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.' According to both Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook and Michael Sinclair of Melbourne, the solution to David Pigotts trolley woes (C8) could be found in an app called Snap, Send, Solve which as Michael adds, does what it says on the tin. You snap a photo, which also provides the geo-coordinates. They send a report to the local council and that solves the problem. It works very well here in Melbourne. Allan noted that he had tried it in Sydney with Telstra and Ausgrid issues and received instant responses, but had not yet tried it with trolleys. While many were udderly appalled by Col Beggs suggestion for milk-type labelling (C8) John Perry of Enmore has the hope that the milk we buy comes vacuum sealed. The last thing I want when opening a new bottle for breakfast is to smell the cows dairy air. According to Ian Balmain of Healesville (Vic) hard flour (C8) is a thing. Hard flour is made from different wheat. It has a higher gluten content and is used for bread, pizza dough et cetera. Reading about Eric Scotts X-ray plans (C8), Judi Turnham of Port Macquarie writes that her partner has MS and wears a T-shirt that says, If I have one more MRI I am going to stick to the fridge. It came as no surprise that a large number of Column 8 readers wrote in to say that they all still had a copy of A Day In The Life of Australia, with many bringing it out regularly throughout the years. Evidently its particularly useful when entertaining visitors from overseas. The state has announced new mass vaccination sites in Adams and Cook counties and added National Guard support for sites in the states southernmost seven counties. That brings the number of state-supported mass vaccination sites to 18, according to the governors office, while there are more than 880 sites throughout the state where eligible recipients can be vaccinated. Those currently eligible for the vaccine include people age 65 or older and those age 16-64 with preexisting conditions and comorbidities, as well as front-line essential workers and inmates. According to a New York Times database, Illinois was 23rd of all states, with 16% of its population having received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Tuesday. The numbers did not yet include distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that was approved during the weekend. The state was 46th overall, however, for percentage of the population having received two doses of vaccine as of Tuesday, sitting at 6.8%. By Wednesday, that number was at 7.11%, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. On average over the previous seven days, the state had administered 84,202 vaccinations a day as of Wednesday. Providers in the state have received more than 3.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 2.9 million, or 75%, have been administered, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. As of Monday, more than 1,070 National Guard members were deployed across the state to assist with COVID-19 response and vaccination efforts. While the state announced the deployment of new mobile teams in the states southern seven counties, similar teams are currently operating in Cook, St. Clair, Sangamon, Jackson, Winnebago and Madison counties. Those teams are deployed to reach rural and under-served communities with priority sites determined by local health departments. There is no charge to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and insurance is not required. The vaccine will be administered regardless of immigration status, according to a news release from the governors office. The state expects to receive 100,000 doses daily from the federal government later this month, so the added vaccination sites are an effort to build the capacity needed to administer the added supply, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. Meanwhile, virus transmission rates and hospitalizations continue to remain near their pandemic lows. The COVID-19 case positivity rate was 2.4% Wednesday for the fifth consecutive day. The 275 intensive care beds in use by COVID-19 patients Tuesday night represented a low since the state began reporting the numbers daily in April. The 1,260 hospital beds and 138 ventilators in use by COVID-19 patients also were near pandemic lows. As of Wednesday, a total of 70 variant cases have been identified in Illinois, including 69 of the variant first found in the United Kingdom and one first found in South Africa. . Total cases in west-central Illinois counties as of Wednesday, according to individual county health departments, were: Brown County 666 total, 652 recovered, seven deaths Cass County 1,899 total, 1,851 recovered, 32 deaths Three new cases. Greene County 1,364 total, 1,308 recovered, 47 deaths One new case. Jersey County 2,483 total, 2,413 recovered, 45 deaths Macoupin County 4,514 total, 3,977 recovered, 108 deaths Five new cases. Morgan County 3,677 total, 3,535 released from restrictions, 99 deaths Four new cases. Pike County 1,679 total, 1,621 recovered, 47 deaths Three new cases. Sangamon County 16,197 total, 222 deaths 27 new cases. Schuyler County 655 total, 636 recovered, 16 deaths One new case. Scott County 451 total, 447 recovered, one death Statewide, 2,104 new cases of coronavirus disease and 44 deaths were reported Wednesday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been 1,191,520 cases and 20,626 deaths in Illinois. Austria is mulling to vaccinate an entire district, residents of whom have been hit by the South African variant of the coronavirus, Associated Press reported. Schwaz district located in Tyrol province of the landlocked recently accounts for 66 out of the total 88 people diagnosed to be infected by African variant. Although the country began its inoculation earlier in December, the district with 84,000 people remains devoid of vaccine jabs. The new plan was announced on March 3 and calls for an inoculation drive as early as next week. Elaborating on the same, the countrys health minister Rudolf Anschober said the rollout will see vaccinations offered to all aged 16 and over. Austrian Press Agency reported that from around March 10, coinciding with the start of the drive and until it is complete, residents of the Tyrol province would require a negative COVID test to fly. Read: MS Patient Sues Austria Over Health Impact Of Climate Change Read: Austria Prioritizes Testing Over Vaccination To Mitigate COVID-19 Infection Apart from stepping up its targeted vaccination move, Austria has put its faith in testing to minimize COVID-19 infection in the country. Starting March 1, Austrian authorities are distributing coronavirus tests to its 8.8 million residents, totally free of cost. While the country is currently under lockdown, the measure they believe could help revive the businesses. Speaking to media reporters in Vienna, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz asserted that with increased testing, they aim to control the incidences of coronavirus infection or at least mitigate the infection rate in the country. We were on our way to becoming world champion, he further quipped. Read: Austria, Denmark To Work With Israel On Vaccines vaccinated over 500,000 people As of now, Austria has vaccinated over 500,000 people with 200,000 out of them receiving both doses. In March, the landlocked country is expecting a delivery of more than one million doses. The second quarter of 2021 should provide Austria three times the delivery volume of the first quarter. As a part of the EU, the country has approved three vaccine candidates as now- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/OxfordUniversity. Read: Germany Tightens Border Controls With Austria, Czech Image Credits: Associated Press The Junta de Andalucia's Minister of Health, Jesus Aguirre, has again called on Spain's Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, for a single strategy among all the autonomous regions so that common criteria to fight the coronavirus pandemic are adopted at Easter. At a virtual meeting of the countrys Interterritorial Health Council, all the regional health ministers agreed in principle not to allow mobility between the regions during Easter week - but with the notable exception of Madrid. There were calls not to "repeat the mistakes" of last Christmas when 17 different regulations led to almost unlimited mobility that unleashed the third wave of the pandemic. All the regional executives - except for the one chaired by Isabel Diaz Ayuso - were in favour of closing off their perimeters to limit travel and the transmission of the virus to avoid a fourth wave that could complicate the opening up of tourism in the summer - the primary objective of the vast majority of regional leaders. Despite the consensus among the regions there may not be a firm decision made at a national level about what happens at Easter until at least next week. In Andalucia mobility restrictions mean that it is not permitted to enter or leave provinces - or the region - without a justified reason. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. SHARON Sharon Hospital, part of Nuvance Health has begun limited visitation for inpatients, effective March 2. Inpatients without suspected or confirmed COVID-19 disease are allowed one support person per day for up to four hours. Visitors must remain in the patients room for the entire visit and follow the hospitals personal protective equipment guidelines, according to a statement. Daily visitation hours are from 2 to 6 p.m. The impact of family and patient separation has been top of mind throughout the pandemic visitors play a key role in the healing process, said hospital president Dr. Mark Hirko. In support of this safe reintroduction, we urge the region to remain vigilant and wear a mask, limit group gatherings with non-household members, wash your hands often, and stay home if youre not feeling well. Visitation remains restricted in the emergency department and for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, unless the patient is under age 21, a maternity patient or if extenuating circumstances apply. Please review the full visitation policy at https://patients.healthquest.org/covid-19-updates Officials said Nuvance Health will continue to reevaluate its visitation policy as conditions evolve. Please visit nuvancehealth.org/coronavirus for the latest updates about COVID-19, or find Sharon Hospital on social media @SharonHospital. Information about COVID-19 testing throughout Connecticut can be found at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/COVID-19-Testing Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain German group Curevac said Thursday it has signed a deal with Novartis for the Swiss pharmaceutical giant to help in its production of the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing. The Swiss giant will make up to 50 million doses of Curevac's mRNA vaccine by the end of 2021 and up to 200 million doses in 2022, said the German company. CureVac began the final Phase III trials of its vaccine candidate in mid-December, involving more then 35,000 volunteers in Europe and Latin America. The European Union's medicines regulator said in February that it had started a "rolling review" of CureVac's vaccine, in a first step towards possible authorisation for use in the bloc. Under the deal with Novartis, Curevac said the Swiss group would begin deliveries from its factory in Kundl, Austria, in summer 2021. Curevac already has a separate agreement with German chemicals giant Bayer to make the vaccine, but only from 2022. Bayer had said it aimed to produce 160 million doses in the first 12 months. The German government in June took a 23-percent stake in the company for 300 million euros ($369 million). It also provided a 252-million-euro grant for coronavirus research. CureVac made international headlines in March when rumours surfaced that then US president Donald Trump wanted exclusive US access to its coronavirus vaccine, a claim both sides denied. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Two proposed mega-quarantine facilities in Victoria and Queensland will be needed if the Commonwealth wants to clear the backlog of about 40,000 Australians stranded overseas, the countrys most experienced chief health officer says. Two Australian billionaires have pitched their plans to build 1000-bed facilities outside state capitals in Victoria and Queensland, which would need approval from state and federal governments to go ahead. Queenslands Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and Victorias Daniel Andrews (centre) are expected to discuss regional quarantine at national cabinet on Friday with Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right). Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Trucking tycoon Lindsay Fox proposed accommodation near Avalon Airport, about 56 kilometres west of Melbournes CBD, weeks after construction magnate John Wagner pitched a similar plan for Wellcamp Airport on the outskirts of Toowoomba. The idea to shift quarantine facilities away from major population centres came after a series of outbreaks in hotels in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne sent millions into snap lockdowns. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)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 Mount Sidney Williams Group consists of five claim blocks in four groups with a total area of 6,125.32 hectares in the area surrounding Mount Sidney Williams, both adjoining and near the Decar project of FPX Nickel Corp., located 100 kilometers northwest of Fort St. James, B.C., in the Omineca mining division. Metallic mineralization includes nickel, cobalt and chromium. At least some of the nickel mineralization occurs as awaruite. The Mitchell Range Group area claim consist of two contiguous claim blocks covering 3,134.70 hectares with demonstrated metallic mineralization including nickel, cobalt and chromium. Nickel-cobalt mineralization has not been well explored, but the presence of awaruite has been documented. Based on the findings of this NI #43-101 Technical Report, the company is planning a detailed exploration for the upcoming exploration season. Proposed 2021 Work Program Robert Setter, President & CEO of the Company states "The proposed 2021 work program consists of several important exploration plans that will be used to both confirm successful historical work on the property and also advance the current thinking of the Company's geological team with regards to mineral exploration in the area and the discovery of an Awaruite nickel deposit. Successful exploration results from at neighboring FPX Nickel Corp. has only fueled the interest in this area and type of nickel deposit." The Company's exploration plans include strategic trenching, surface exploration diamond drilling, camp construction, and exploration activities to support drilling and trenching such as soil sampling, rock sampling, prospecting, and geological mapping. The Company proposes to have a 12-man exploration camp built on the north slope of the un-named mountain west of and adjacent to Mount Sydney Williams and will be built next to a sub-alpine lake at the headwaters of Van Decar Creek. Easily accessible by helicopter, the location of exploration camp was selected based on past exploration camps at this location and its overall suitability for exploration support and ability to accommodate enough field personnel for the exploration work. NI #43-101 Report Highlights: The Nickel Project ("project") consists of four non-contiguous mineral claims groups held by Nickel Rock Resources Inc. ("company') through three separate agreements. The exploration stage project is in the Takla Lake area of central British Columbia , partially adjacent to FPX Nickel Corp.'s Decar Nickel Project. The Decar Nickel Project is an advanced project targeting awaruite, a nickel-iron alloy mineral, hosted by serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit within the Permian to Triassic age Cache Creek Complex. , partially adjacent to FPX Nickel Corp.'s Decar Nickel Project. The Decar Nickel Project is an advanced project targeting awaruite, a nickel-iron alloy mineral, hosted by serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit within the Permian to Triassic age Cache Creek Complex. The principal target on the project is nickel occurring as awaruite, but at the exploration stage all other styles of mineralization should be considered. Systematic, ground-based exploration work began within the area of the claims now covered by the Nickel Project under the direction of Ms. Ursula Mowat , P.Geo. in 1987, continuing intermittently until 2012. This work established the presence of elevated nickel, cobalt and chromium values in rocks, soils, and stream sediments. , P.Geo. in 1987, continuing intermittently until 2012. This work established the presence of elevated nickel, cobalt and chromium values in rocks, soils, and stream sediments. The area of the claim groups of the project were included in Geoscience BC's QUEST and QUEST-West projects, including multiparameter regional geophysical surveys, and regional stream sediment reanalyzes and data compilations between 2008 and 2009. R. Britten's technical paper "Regional Metallogeny and Genesis of a New Deposit Type Disseminated Awaruite (Ni3Fe) Mineralization Hosted in the Cache Creek Terrane published in 2017 in Economic Geology should be utilized as an interim mineral deposit model or profile for the Nickel Project. NI #43-101 Report Conclusion The Nickel Project is worthy of phased, systematic exploration programs designed and implemented to delineate areas with known or high probability metallic nickel mineralization, and to discover new areas of similar mineralization. In addition to its world class nickel exploration assets in Canada, the Company has a very promising lithium clay exploration asset in the state of Nevada USA. About Clayton Valley Lithium Project Clayton Valley is a down-dropped closed basin formed by the Miocene age Great Basin extension and is still active due to movement along the Walker Lane structural zone. As a result, the basin has preserved multiple layers of lithium bearing volcanic ash, resulting from eruptions from the 700,000-year-old Long Valley Caldera system and related events. These ash layers are thought to be the source of the lithium brines extracted by Albemarle and are also likely involved in the formation of the exposed lithium rich clay deposits on the east side of Clayton Valley. Clayton Valley Project, Silver Peak, Nevada The Company is exploring for lithium clays and brines within its project area of 118 claims covering over 930 hectares (2,300 acres). The property stretches in a northwest direction from the evaporation ponds of Albemarle Corporation NYSE: ALB. It has been widely reported that Albemarle is planning to double its lithium production by 2025 by committing between US$30 million and US$50 million in additional investment on the property. In 2021, Albemarle plans to commence exploration of clay and evaluate technology that could accelerate the viability of lithium production from clay resources in the region. Qualified Person Jacques Houle, P.Eng., a qualified person as defined by NI 43 - 101, is responsible for the technical information contained in this release. Readers are cautioned that the information in this press release regarding the property of FPX Nickel Corp is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property of interest. About Nickel Rock Resources Inc. www.nickelrockresources.com The Company is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company active in the exploration for nickel-iron alloy in British Columbia and lithium in Nevada. Nickel Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Robert Setter" Robert Setter, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statement. Contact: Nickel Rock Resources Inc. 1220 789 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1H2 604- 428-5690 www.nickelrockresources.com [email protected] SOURCE Nickel Rock Resources Inc. The following editorial appeared in Thursday's Japan News-Yomiuri: - - - Attempts to force a change in the status quo in which Japan effectively controls the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture can never be accepted. Japan should not only strongly protest China's violations of international law, it should also expedite discussions on concrete measures to deal with the issue, including the preparation of domestic laws. Regarding China's entry into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands, the Chinese Defense Ministry has stated its position that law enforcement activities within the Chinese territorial waters "are legitimate and undisputed, and will continue to be carried out normally." China apparently wants to stress its stance of regarding the area around the Senkakus as its territorial waters and enforcing its laws there. This is clearly an infringement of Japan's sovereignty and should never be tolerated. Chinese government ships have entered the contiguous zone near the Senkaku Islands on a daily basis and have frequently gone into Japanese territorial waters. In February, Chinese government ships intruded into Japanese territorial waters on six days, the highest number in 4 1/2 years. Each time, they tailed Japanese fishing boats and some of them were confirmed to be carrying what appeared to be guns. In February, China put into force the coast guard law strengthening the authority of the China Coast Guard, which is the country's maritime security organ. It is a dangerous act to test the response of Japan and the United States by raising the level of provocation in tandem with the inauguration of President Joe Biden's administration. More caution is needed. During the recent telephone talks among the foreign ministries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed grave concern over China's coast guard legislation and agreed to oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo. Self-righteous behavior that violates international law is not only a direct threat to Japan, but also harms the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. The Japanese government must cooperate with the international community to press China to refrain from actions that would heighten tensions. China's coast guard law specifies that the use of weapons by the China Coast Guard is allowed if China judges that its sovereignty or jurisdiction has been infringed. The possibility cannot be ruled out that Japanese fishing boats and Japan Coast Guard vessels will be fired upon around the Senkaku Islands. The Japanese government has said there are cases in which firing shots that could injure the other party are permitted, such as if a Chinese government ship attempted to land on the Senkaku Islands. Are current laws sufficient to deal with such cases? If there are any inadequacies, it is essential to revise the laws and take other measures to establish a system that can deal with any situation. If a situation occurs that the JCG cannot handle alone, an order will be issued to the Maritime Self-Defense Force to conduct maritime security operations. On March 3, the JCG and the MSDF conducted a joint drill in waters west of Kyushu on responding to suspicious ships. It is important to cooperate closely on a regular basis so that they can deal with contingencies smoothly. In light of the growing size of Chinese government ships, it is also urgent to strengthen Japan's response capabilities through such measures as enhancing JCG patrol vessels. "I think it was because of my critical skills that I gravitated towards audit. In Barbados we push a lot of the technical stuff, but not the long answer, and I think thats why a lot of people gravitate towards financial accounting - but I was the opposite." A summer internship at PwC underlined the appeal: I really loved the environment, because I get bored really fast. I need something new every day and audit gave me that. She was particularly drawn to manufacturing companies. "I loved going to see how things worked, how things were made. And I think audit made me come out of my shell, because I was fairly shy before then. But if you are on audit you cant be shy anymore because you are dealing with the top-level people in the organisation." After school her first job was with Deloitte, and she also began studying for her ACCA Qualification, which she describes as a humbling, humbling experience. "It was a real transition coming from the school environment, where I was fairly at the top of the class. Studying and working at the same time, it was very hard." Nevertheless, she soon qualified and shortly afterwards took a job as financial controller with an off-shore company. "I wanted the experience on the other side, and an opportunity came up at an offshore company, and it was paying a bit better, so I left. My audit partner told me I give you six months. I didnt believe him, but after month two or three I knew the entire cycle and everything that was done." She decided to go back to her first love, but this time as an internal auditor with a cement company. "That was my favourite job. Every day was a challenge, there are so many things you have to investigate, so many processes and sub-processes. It was like heaven, I had to learn so much." A lot of this was non-financial. "Sometimes you have to walk the entire plant to do an environmental check, to see if people are disposing of the garbage properly. I could tell you how to make cement from beginning to end. And then I could tell you how to market it. And how HR [human resources] operates. I could tell you how all the individual departments are working because I have audited them." But Dawn realised that she would have to set up her own business. Two chronic illnesses meant she had to spend a lot of time out of the office, and even though she was delivering her work on, or ahead of time, she found it taxing. "In Barbados our culture often rewards attendance more than productivity. And though persons were not saying it directly to me, I felt the pressure of this presenteeism." And so Resilia Accounting was born. Originally designed to be a payroll company for small businesses, Dawn quickly found herself drawn into accountancy through the network she had built up during her career, and she was also able to draw on the holistic approach to business she had learned as an internal auditor. Before becoming a financial controller, she had taught herself QuickBooks, and this has stood her in good stead in the era of cloud accounting. Rather than take on fixed overheads, she works remotely and uses the flexibility to work around any recurring health issues. She works mainly with small businesses and keeps costs low by partnering with the university Accounting Students Association and offering work assignments to students, who otherwise find it hard to gain work experience and face a very competitive job market. As well as giving free seminars at the university, she also offers a lot of tips to fledgling businesses. COVID-19 has accelerated the digital transformation and, as well as helping her customers make the transition, she is seeing a new wave of younger entrepreneurs who are starting their own businesses after losing their jobs in the pandemic. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below South Africa: SA,China authorities bust fake COVID-19 vaccine ring Police have this week pounced on hundreds of fake COVID-19 vaccines following a global alert issued by INTERPOL warning vaccines would be a prime target for criminal networks. In a statement issued on Wednesday, INTERPOL said the South African authorities during an operation seized 400 ampoules - equivalent to around 2 400 doses - containing the fake vaccine at a warehouse in Germiston. During the operation, police officers also recovered a large quantity of fake 3M masks and arrested three Chinese nationals and a Zambian national. In China, police successfully identified a network selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines, raided the manufacturing premises, resulting in the arrest of some 80 suspects, and seized more than 3 000 fake vaccines on the scene, reads the statement. The investigation was supported and facilitated by INTERPOLs Illicit Goods and Global Health (IGGH) Programme. The arrests came just weeks after INTERPOL issued an Orange Notice warning law enforcement to prepare for organized crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online. The alert also included details and images of genuine vaccines and authorized shipping methods provided by pharmaceutical companies to assist in the identification of fake vials. INTERPOL said this further underlined its unique role in ensuring law enforcement across its 194 member countries. Whilst we welcome this result, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine related crime, said INTERPOL Secretary General, Jurgen Stock Following our warning that criminals would target the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, both on and offline, INTERPOL continues to provide its full support to national authorities working to protect the health and safety of their citizens. South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said: "Since COVID-19 reached the shores of South Africa, the government has adopted an integrated multi-disciplinary law enforcement approach. This, together with our association with counterparts from all INTERPOL member countries, is proving to be very effective as we have seen in the arrests for foreign nationals attempting to peddle fake vaccines to unsuspecting people within South Africa. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Public Security said the countrys government attaches great importance to vaccine security. Chinese police are conducting a targeted campaign to prevent and crack down on crimes related to vaccines, proactively investigating and combating crimes related to vaccines in accordance with law. We will further strengthen the constructive cooperation with INTERPOL and law enforcement agencies of other countries to effectively prevent such crimes," he said. INTERPOL said while investigations continue, and in addition to the arrests in South Africa and China, the agency was also receiving additional reports of fake vaccine distribution and scam attempts targeting health bodies, such as nursing homes. INTERPOL also warned the public that no approved vaccines are currently available for sale online. Any vaccine being advertised on websites or the dark web, will not be legitimate, will not have been tested and may be dangerous, they said. Anyone who buys these drugs is putting themselves at risk and giving their money to organized criminals. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat For first time Jawans, JCOs to take part in military conference to be addressed by PM Modi India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 04: Junior Commissioned Officers and Jawans from the Armed Forces will for the first time be part of India's top military conference, which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this week. Until now, the Combined Commanders' Conference only involved Commander-in-Chief officers who with their respective service chiefs. The PM would address them and give directions on dealing the security challenges perceived by the government. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will review the China and Pakistan situation during the combined commanders' conference. Budget has broadened efforts to link education with employability: PM Modi The conference will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat with all top commanders off the Army, Navy and IAF. The meeting comes in the backdrop of a disengagement process taking place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. During the meeting, the PM will address the conference. PM Modi is also likely to give directions to the armed forces to be prepared to meet challenges. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News Donald Trump thinks hes like a god after golden statue emerges at CPAC, Michael Cohen says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former President Donald Trump now thinks hes like a god after a golden sculpture bearing his likeness became a major attraction at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen has argued. I remember when I went with Donald that time to CPAC. He had a great time there. He really enjoys the cheers of the crowd. Now its even more interesting because of the artist that produced that gold Donald, Cohen explained in an interview Saturday with MSNBCs Ali Velshi. Now he actually thinks hes a god. Hes like a pagan god. People are lining up down the hallway to take a picture with a stupid-looking pagan idol of Donald. Attendees at the conference flocked to the events merchandise hall to take photos with the golden sculpture created by Trump supporter Tommy Zegan, who called the artwork Trump and His Magic Wand. Zegan, who recently moved to Mexico from the United States, told The New York Times that the six-foot-tall gold-painted fiberglass mold of the former president features Trumps customary suit jacket and red tie, American flag shorts and flip-flops because technically he should be retired. Zegan said he included a magic wand in the statues left hand as a reference to former President Barack Obamas quip in 2016 that Trump would need a wand to bring back manufacturing jobs. But he insists that there is nothing idolatrous about the statue. Its definitely not an idol, Zegan told the publication, noting that he was a youth pastor for 18 years. An idol is something somebody worships and bows down to. This is a sculpture. Its two different things. Self-styled evangelical prophet Jeremiah Johnson, who recently faced death threats from evangelical Christians for apologizing for inaccurately prophesying Trump would win a second term, warned in January that some of the support he has witnessed for the former president has been idolatrous. In a statement on Facebook about the attacks he faced, Johnson said he realized that parts of the prophetic/charismatic movement are far SICKER than I could have ever dreamed of. Over the last 72 hours, I have received multiple death threats and thousands upon thousands of emails from Christians saying the nastiest and most vulgar things I have ever heard toward my family and ministry. I have been labeled a coward, sellout, a traitor to the Holy Spirit, and cussed out at least 500 times. We have lost ministry partners every hour and counting, said the leader of Jeremiah Johnson Ministries. I have been flabbergasted at the barrage of continued conspiracy theories being sent every minute our way and the pure hatred being unleashed. To my great heartache, Im convinced parts of the prophetic/charismatic movement are far SICKER than I could have ever dreamed of. He said he never realized how absolutely triggered and ballistic thousands and thousands of saints get about Donald Trump. Its terrifying! Its full of idolatry! he warned. If I helped to prop up this ideology concerning him, I will need to repent again and stir up even more hell. In an op-ed this week, conservative radio host Michael Brown, who adheres to Messianic Judaism, argued that it doesnt take someone bowing down in worship to treat something like an idol. When it comes to Trump, to this day, I hear Christian leaders proclaim, Only Trump can save America! Brown wrote. That is idolatry, plain and simple. That is glorifying a man. That is failing to realize that, for all the good that he accomplished, there was a trail of bad as well. Not surprisingly, when I say that Trump is not our savior, the Christian response is always the same, Only Jesus is my Savior. Trump is just a man that we support and appreciate, the best man for the job. We all know that, Brown added. But if that is truly the case, why the despair and near panic over his defeat? Why the crushing emotional letdown? Why the persistent hope among many of his supporters that he will miraculously displace Biden within the next few months (or years)? Why the inability to move on from Trump to any other potential candidate? And why the virtual denial of the amount of damage he did during his presidency, damage which largely offset the good? A man has sparked a backlash after revealing he bizarrely pours a jug of milk over his Cornish pasty. Paul George, a dairy farmer from Tresillian, near Truro in Cornwall, was filmed sitting at his table delving into the tasty treat which could be seen drenched in the dairy product - before urging others to give it a go for themselves. In the controversial footage, shared by Cornwall Live, he removes the pasty out of the oven and exclaims: 'This is what you call a proper pasty, it's even smiling at me.' But while many would then reach for the gravy boat, Paul has other ideas - and slices the pasty open, before smothering it in milk. Paul George, a dairy farmer from Tresillian, near Truro in Cornwall, has sparked a backlash after revealing he bizarrely pours a jug of milk over pasties Paul was filmed removing the pasty out of the oven (pictured, left) before delving into the tasty treat (pictured, right) Unsurprisingly, Paul suspected that some may be confused by his rather unusual condiment of choice. 'We've been proud dairy farmers for generations, and we've been pouring the finest, freshest Cornish milk over our pasties for generations as well,' said Paul, explaining his reasoning to Cornwall Live. 'As a child, I can remember the milk being poured straight over our pasties as soon as it came out of the Aga. 'It helped cool it down so you could eat it quickly, stopping us kids getting burnt mouths, but also softened the contents all up nicely as well.' Unsurprisingly, Paul (pictured) suspected that some may be confused by his rather unusual condiment of choice - but explained it helped to cool the pasty down Taking to Twitter, one person joked: 'This man needs help.....mistaking a pasty for cornflakes here my boy' (pictured) He went on to say how it meant that workers could then head back to the fields without the need to wait around for the pasty to cool. But many were left less than impressed with Paul's quirky dining habits - with one branding it 'disgusting' and another adding: 'He's off his trolley.' However, others defended the dairy farmer, with one writing: 'Live and let live whatever tickles your fancy......' Elsewhere, others joked that Paul had mistaken his pasty for his breakfast. 'This man needs help.....mistaking a pasty for cornflakes here my boy,' wrote one, while a second penned: 'Dirty B#/?%:@D he will be putting Bovril on his crunchy nut cornflakes next?' New Delhi: India has supplied over 4.64 crore made-in-India COVID-19 vaccine doses to 47 countries as of Thursday (March 4). The outreach has won New Delhi a lot of goodwill from the global community. Of these, 71.25 lakh doses have been supplied as gifts, while over 3.93 crore have been sold commercially. The list of countries that received vaccines includes both developed and developing countries, from Africa to the Caribbean to ASEAN nations and to the neighbourhood as well. Canada has received 5 lakh vaccine doses till Wednesday. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India will be sending 1.5 million more doses of the Covishield vaccine. In a tweet, India's envoy to Canada Ajay Bisaria said, "India is proud to support Canada's vaccination programme as a strategic partner." One of India's significant outreach has been to CARICOM or Caribbean countries like Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda. Lauding India's generosity, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said, "PM Narendra Modi has demonstrated perhaps the most significant of benevolence, kindness and certainly of empathy that we would have seen in the recent times compared to any act of any other leader globally". "I have to admit that this is easily one of the most notable acts of benevolence that we have seen in the last 100 years," he added. Other Caribbean leaders also thanked India with Barbados PM Mia Amor Mottley tweeting, "PM Modi made it possible for more than 40,000 persons in Barbados and tens of thousands elsewhere, to receive their first dose of Covishield via 'Vaccine Maitri' before receiving his. A genuine demonstration of generosity. Thank you and we wish you continued good health." Caribbean countries included a special thanks to India in a resolution adopted by the Organisation of American States (OAS), a group of 34 countries including the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. CARICOM's envoy to the OAS permanent council, Ambassador Ronald Sanders said, "India has demonstrated that it is a caring nation and is an example to the world in international cooperation at a time of global crisis. Further, India has not sought to extract any conditions for its generosity to countries that have no vaccines. India will be remembered by the Caribbean with great gratitude." Indian High Commissioner to the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr KJ Srinivasa said, "India's role as the first responder during crises and as the 'pharmacy of the world' is now recognized throughout the region and this 'Vaccine Maitri' will go a long way in further consolidating India's role as a world leader." 11 countries including 10 from Africa, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Congo, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan and one from ASEAN, Cambodia, have got India-made vaccine under the COVAX facility and all of India's neighbours barring Pakistan have been supplied with vaccines by New Delhi. In fact, Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh began their vaccination drive using India-made vaccines. Last week, President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani said, "India, the world's largest democracy and the largest producer of vaccines, not only provided the house of Parliament of Afghanistan and the dams that are the pride of this country but also partners with us in terms of securing our lives and livelihood." India had started its mega domestic vaccination in January and since then more than 1.66 crore vaccine doses have been administered. Live TV I Would Die for My Dog: Man Fights Off 350-Pound Bear Empty-Handed to Save His Best Friend A Nevada County dog owner made headlines after he tackled a bear to save his beloved pit bull, Buddy. Honestly, the man told CBS, the only thing I could think of was save my baby. Kaleb Benhams 2020 Thanksgiving was turned upside down when he heard growling outside his home the night before the holiday. His pit bull, Buddy, was playing outside in the yard. The Grass Valley, California, resident said that when he heard a commotion, he knew something was wrong. I heard a growl, looked about 75100 feet down, and the bear was dragging him by his head, had his head in his mouth, he said. (Illustration Greg and Jan Ritchie/Shutterstock) Horrified, Kaleb sprang into action. Though he was weaponless at the time, he didnt hesitate to attack the bear, and he managed to single-handedly fend off the 350-pound (approx. 160-kilogram) animal. I just ran down there, plowed into the bear, tackled it and grabbed it by the throat and started hitting it in the face and the eye until it let go, he recounted. His quick thinking and determination deterred the bear, and it left them alone. But when they arrived at the veterinary clinic closest to home, the frantic dog owner discovered the facility was closed due to a positive case of the CCP virus, according to CBS. He was devastated, and desperate to get Buddy help. My first thought was that I was going to lose him, he said. Fortunately, Kalebs second try came with more success. When he reached Mother Lode Veterinary Hospital, they admitted Buddy to surgery right away. The 90-pound (approx. 40-kilogram) pit bull needed staples and stitches. Veterinary surgeons even had to insert tubes into his head to drain fluid from his skull. The poor dogs ears had to be reattached to his head. I just stood there and watched through the window for 3.5 hours, Kaleb recalled. Luckily, the brave pup made it through the surgery. He spent Thanksgiving healing in bed, but is expected to make a full recovery. Though the bear attacked Kalebs pet right outside their home, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife says they wont relocate the animal. They added, according to CBS, that the incident doesnt qualify the bear to be put down by a game warden, either. According to the department, Kaleb did the right thing. They recommend: If you encounter a bear, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise, and try to appear as large as possible. If attacked, fight back. Do not play dead. The department adds that nuisance bears, or bears which repeatedly tip over garbage cans and cause annoyance, but do not damage private property, are the responsibility of the resident or landowner. Its advisable to remove trash and implement bear-proof storage to deter foraging. However, despite Kaleb taking the right steps, the bear has not been permanently deterred from visiting their home. The animal, perhaps in search of food, has returned several times since the attack. It made an attack and had its food and its food got taken from it, Kaleb said, referring to Buddy, who almost became the bears dinner. It wants [him] back, I feel like. But Buddy is dear to Kaleb, and hell be keeping his beloved companion closer from now on. He added that he wouldnt hesitate to do the same thing again if it became necessary. If it was your kid, what would you do? he asked. Thats my kid, I would die for my dog. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter at: TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Thompson holds a bachelor's degree in gerontology and psychology from Miami University and a master's degree in healthcare administration from the University of Cincinnati, along with a Nursing Home Administrator license. Sarah hails from Centerville, Ohio, and outside of work she enjoys hiking, camping and spending time outdoors. She currently serves as a board member at large for the Miami Valley Long-Term Care Association. "We are excited to have Sarah at the helm of Ohio Living Quaker Heights," said Leslie Belfance, Ohio Living divisional executive director southern region. "Her educational background, coupled with strong operational experience and passion for memory care and programming will surely benefit our organization." About Ohio Living Quaker Heights Ohio Living Quaker Heights, established in 1905, is a life plan community for people 55 or older. Quaker Heights' campus includes assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, home health and hospice, memory care and long-term care. Located at 514 High Street in Waynesville, OH, Quaker Heights employs 46 professionals. It is part of Ohio Living, the largest and most experienced not-for-profit provider of life plan communities and services in Ohio. More information is available at www.ohioliving.org. SOURCE Ohio Living Related Links https://www.ohioliving.org Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley called on the province to delay the reopening of the Olymel plant, compensate workers and launch a public inquiry into the outbreak. (Audrey Neveu/Radio-Canada - image credit) Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley is asking Premier Jason Kenney to launch a public inquiry into a deadly outbreak of COVID-19 at a Red Deer slaughterhouse, delay the meat-packing plant's reopening and compensate its employees during the closure. The Olymel plant, which had been closed since Feb. 15, confirmed Wednesday that it planned to reopen for slaughter operations on Thursday and resume cutting room operations on Friday. The news of the reopening came on the same day that a third worker's death had been linked to the outbreak. According to the union representing workers at the plant, that makes a total of four deaths including a woman in her 60s previously linked to the outbreak but the government has yet to confirm that total. The outbreak has been linked to 511 COVID-19 cases, including 91 that are still active. Speaking from Calgary's McDougall Centre on Thursday morning, Notley asked the provincial government to keep the plant closed until safety measures requested by the union are met and employees feel safe going back to work. Opposition, union want inquiry "With 500 infections and three deaths, [safety measures were] not adequate before," Notley said. "I can only imagine the grief and the stress that they are experiencing as a result." The union said it supports the NDP's call for a public inquiry, while Olymel said earlier this month that it has improved health and safety measures. The Alberta government also confirmed to CBC News on Wednesday that Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) had toured the facility on Monday, and again with Alberta Health Services and the union on Tuesday. In an email, a spokesperson with Alberta's labour and immigration ministry said OHS had inspected the facility 14 times since Nov. 17, adding that AHS had also visited the facility several times. The spokesperson argued the Opposition's calls for a public inquiry were politically motivated. Story continues "It is disappointing but not entirely surprising that the Notley NDP continues to play politics with a global pandemic that has tragically taken the lives of over 22,000 Canadians and over 2.5 million worldwide," the spokesperson said. Deaths linked to outbreak The Olymel outbreak was first declared on Nov. 17, 2020, and the first death linked to the plant's outbreak happened on Jan. 28. Darwin Doloque, a 35-year-old permanent resident who immigrated to Canada from the Philippines was found dead in his home. Darwin Doloque, 35, died of COVID-19 on Jan. 28 after contracting the virus in an outbreak linked to his work at the Olymel slaughterhouse in Red Deer, Alta. (GoFundMe) His death was followed on Feb. 24 by that of Henry De Leon, a 50-year-old who immigrated from the Dominican Republic and had worked at the plant for 15 years. He left behind a wife, two adult children and three grandchildren. The third worker's identity has not yet been made public, nor has the identity of the woman in her 60s who died. It has not been disclosed how she was linked to the outbreak. Notley said Thursday the NDP is aware of three Olymel workers who are currently in intensive care. In an interview with CBC News on Thursday after the news conference, Thomas Hesse, the president of UFCW Local 401 the union representing the workers said he is hearing reports about people linked to the plant who are "gravely ill." "We are very, very, very worried that we are going to see more loss of human life in the coming days," he said. Accountability, compensation Notley said that outbreaks have occurred in meatpacking plants across the country since the pandemic started, but shutdowns occurred sooner in other provinces. She called for an immediate public inquiry to understand the Olymel plant's handling of the outbreak. "We need to hold those responsible accountable," Notley said. "I fear that instead we are doing nothing, or very little." For his part, Hesse said his feelings about the reopening mirror those of the the plant's employees who are scared, confused and grieving. "Moves to reopen the plant have to be seen through that perspective; there's a lot of insensitivity here," he said. Some of the union's recommended changes had been adopted by the plant, Hesse said. But according to Hesse, neither public health nor Olymel officials have spoken to any employees at the plant about the plant's safety conditions, or how they feel about their workplace. Thomas Hesse, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers 401 (Submitted by UFCW 401) "Our legal system is based on talking to witnesses, and they haven't talked to any of the actual witnesses to the functioning of this workplace, or the risks that are built into [it]," Hesse said. He would have liked to have seen employees interviewed about the plant's safety, and corrections made in accordance with their feedback, before having those employees report back on their implementation. In the absence of this, Hesse said he agrees with the request for a public inquiry. "Alberta Health Services, government agencies that are involved here they're spending Alberta taxpayer's money. I mean, taxpayers fund those agencies, those agencies have a responsibility and by all indicators, they're doing little or nothing to save lives and protect these workers." The NDP's request to delay the plant's reopening came with an acknowledgement from Notley that the slowdown or shutdown of meat plants jeopardize livelihood of employees. She asked the provincial government to compensate workers for lost wages. "It is not something that needs to be provided by workers literally being compelled to put their lives at risk," Notley said. "That is an immoral choice." Company says it has worked with AHS According to Alberta Pork, 40,000 to 50,000 pigs go through the Red Deer facility each week. Last month, it was reported that the temporary closure of the Olymel pork processing plant due to COVID-19 left hog farmers scrambling to find somewhere to take their animals. On Wednesday, Olymel defended plans to reopen Thursday, saying it had used the temporary closure to update and reinforce health and safety measures at the plant. "Reopening can occur because Olymel management and the regulators are satisfied that employees can return to the plant safely," said spokesperson Richard Vigneault. "Alberta Health Services authorities have however specified that the coronavirus is still spreading and that everyone is at risk of contracting it, whether in the community or otherwise. Accordingly, they recommend the utmost vigilance." A sign outside the Olymel pork plant in Red Deer, Alta., thanks the company's essential employees. It will reopen on Thursday, after being closed since Feb. 15 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. (CBC News) The company said teams from Alberta Health Services, Occupational Health and Safety, and Environmental Public Health visited the facility on March 1 and 3. AHS made several recommendations at that time. The company said it had added staff to monitor and enforce health and safety measures, and "further adjusted and enhanced" social distancing protocols, particularly when it came to adding physical space. Health and safety meetings between management and union representatives are scheduled on a daily basis, the company said. Safety recommendations made The Alberta government confirmed to CBC News that it will continue to oversee health measures at the plant. "OHS continues to monitor Olymel to ensure safety protocols and measures continue to be used to limit the spread of COVID-19," Joseph Dow said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. According to Dow, AHS made safety recommendations to be implemented before the plant's reopening. The measures recommended by AHS included: You are the owner of this article. (Alliance News) - The UK and the US said Thursday they had agreed that Washington will temporarily suspend retaliatory tariffs on various UK goods and jointly de-escalate the longstanding fight over Boeing Co and Airbus SE subsidies. The four-month tariffs suspension will freeze a 25% surcharge on Scotch whisky as well as hefty duties on cashmere, machinery and other US-bound British exports. In a joint statement, the trans-Atlantic allies said the deal will "allow time to focus on negotiating a balanced settlement to the disputes". They added it would also let them "begin seriously addressing the challenges posed by new entrants to the civil aviation market from non-market economies, such as China". The agreement follows Britain's unilateral decision to suspend its retaliatory tariffs against the US from January, which it said was "a show of good faith" to prevent more duties and allow for talks. "I am delighted to say that our American allies - under their new President and his hard-working staff at the US Trade Representative - have embraced our move to seek a fair settlement," International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said. "The benefits will be felt across our nation, especially in Scotland, where Scotch whisky distillers will be able to sell at lower prices in the US, their most valuable market." Britain's departure from the EU's trading regime at the start of this year allowed the country to strike the bilateral agreement with Washington. The 16-year-old conflict over government aid to the competing US and European aircraft manufacturers predates Brexit and has seen Brussels and Washington each impose punitive tariffs. Europe's Airbus welcomed the US-UK deal, saying that it "supports all necessary actions to create a level-playing field". The aircraft-maker added it "continues to support a negotiated settlement of this long-standing dispute to avoid lose-lose tariffs". A The trans-Atlantic trade feud saw US duties put on a record USD7.5 billion in European goods authorised by the World Trade Organization. The tariffs on Scotch whisky and a host of other items since October 2019 have hit exports to the once lucrative US market hard. Before the levy, the US market for Scotch was valued at GBP1.06 billion. By 2020 it had fallen 32% to GBP729 million. Brexit a and the coronavirus outbreak - has now compounded the problems facing the industry, with a slow-down in exports to Europe hitting profits. "It has been a really tough period for us with Covid, US tariffs and Brexit as well," John Laurie, managing director of Scotland's oldest whisky maker, The Glenturret, told AFP last week. The Scotch Whisky Association said in February the tariffs could have been avoided had the UK, EU and US governments and the European and American aerospace industries been "less intransigent".A Even before Britain left the EU single market and customs union late on December 31, exports to the EU fell by more than 15% to GBP1.25 billion in 2020, the SWA said. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted the bilateral US agreement to suspend the tariffs "shows what the UK can do as an independent trading nation, striking deals that back our businesses and support free and fair trade". "From Scotch Whisky distillers to Stilton-makers, businesses across the UK will benefit from the US decision," he said. "I now look forward to strengthening the UK-US relationship, as we drive economic growth and build back better together." The new arrangements will come into force on Monday, but be backdated to Thursday. Britain's international trade ministry said it will continue to engage with the US to agree "a fair settlement" to the dispute, that "removes punitive tariffs". The department noted it reserves the right to re-impose tariffs at any point "if satisfactory progress towards an agreeable settlement is not made". By Joe Jackson source: AFP Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. What's in a name? For Pakistan, everything, as it continues to change names of terror groups to dodge bans India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 04: Earlier this week, the National Investigation Agency registered a case against a little known terror group, Lashkar-e-Mustafa. Investigations by the NIA found that this terror group works at the behest of the Jaish-e-Mohammad. This is however not for the first time that the names of such unknown groups have popped up. The Lashkar-e-Tayiba's financial wing, Jamaat-ud-Dawa which masquerades as a charity wing was renamed Falah-i-Insaniyat, when international pressure shot up and the FATF plenary was nearing. The case of the Lashkar-e-Mustafa is no different. The name of the outfit came up at a time when Pakistan was unable to get out of the Grey List and the heat on the Jaish-e-Mohammad is very high. Post the ban imposed on Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, the outfit's name was changed to Jaish-e-Muqti. Officials tracking the developments say that this is done to overcome a ban or to reduce the heat on the outfit. In reality, whatever the name may be, the chiefs remain the same and the ISI continues to be at the helm of affairs. This is also largely to do with the fact that Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed continue to remain assets for the ISI. Not just the outfit, the ISI has also propped up leaders when the heat is high on the main chief. With the ban on Azhar, it is his brother, Mohammad Rauf Asghar who is at the helm of the JeM. A similar thing happened following the Mumbai 26/11 attack, when the ISI advised Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi to go underground. His appearances since have reduced considerably. Even during his stint in jail, he lived a luxurious life with conjugal rights. Another outfit which popped up in recent times in the Valley was The Resistance Front. It was once again a pure diversionary tactic. The TRF is a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which follows the instructions of the leadership in Pakistan. In a nutshell, The Resistance Front, Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah-i-Insaniyat are all part of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and have different names to divert attention and lower international heat. The same came be said in the case of the JeM's proxies, Jaish-e-Muqti and Lashkar-e-Mustafa. Following the 26/11 attack, investigators in India found the funding of the attack to have been carried out by the JuD. There was international pressure and this forced a ban on the JuD. In fact the then interior minister, Rehman Malik had informed that the JuD had been banned with immediate effect. Although the statement sounded strong, Pakistan was not going to take any chances and directly confront the JuD. It did not impose the ban directly but asked various authorities such as the UN to impose sanctions on the JuD. Paksitan's eye wash was evident in the year 2008. It sealed 100 offices of the JuD and even Saeed was placed under house arrest only to be released later. During all this Pakistan made a shocking statement in which it stated that there was no need to issue any notification banning the JuD when the UN has already added it to the list of banned outfits. There was some more eye wash by Pakistan. It claimed that it had sealed the 200 acre campus of the JuD in Murdike. It also stated that an administrator in Pakistan had taken over the operational facility of the JuD. All this led to the JuD seeking legal recourse. The petition drafted by top bureaucrats of Pakistan sought a directive to first release Saeed who was under house arrest. The court allowed the petition and in the days to come even the ban on the JuD was lifted. It is quite surprising that the Pakistan government was asked to return the property of the JuD and also its other assets when there was never any official notification The JuD has a sprawling campus at Murdike spread over 200 acres of land. It has teaching facilities catering to 3000 students and also residential complexes. The investigations post 26/11 showed that the ten terrorists were housed in this complex and underwent training over here. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. The optimal solution for the issue of war prisoners is all for all, official representative of the MFA Russia Maria Zakharova said in a weekly briefing. The positions of the sides over the issue of POWs are different. We are always talking about that. The difference of those data is significant the numbers presented by official Yerevan regularly changes, we receive other information from Baku, Zakharova said, adding that by now 79 POWs have been exchanged 63 Armenians and 16 Azerbaijanis. Maria Zakharova once again confirmed the position of Russia on this issue. We believe that the optimal exchange format is 'all for all''. We think that the speedy solution of the issue will give an opportunity to the sides to flip through tragic pages of relations and focus on the positive agenda, including in the economic sphere', Zakharova said. Govt explains why COVID impact may increase in children if virus changes behaviour CISCE cancels ISC class 12th board exams due to Covid-19; Assessment criteria to be out soon Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, his parents takes first dose of coronavirus vaccination India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Mar 04: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday received the first dose of the novel coronavirus vaccine at LNJP hospital. Besides kejriwal, his parents also got their first dose of the drug. "My parents and I have taken a jab of COVID-19 vaccine at LNJP hospital. We took Covishield. We don't have any problems and are in good health," Kejriwal said after getting the vaccine shot. Coronavirus cases: India reports 17,407 new COVID-19 cases, records below 100 deaths in last 24 hours He also made an appeal to those who are eligible for vaccination to come forward to take the vaccine. "There are good facilities at LNJP hospital. There is no need to fear. Doubts in people's mind regarding vaccine no longer exist," he added. Arvind Kejriwal also said that the Delhi government is in touch with the Centre and vaccination centres will be increased if need arises. Modi government is misusing IT department to intimidate those supporting farmers' protest: Rahul Gandhi People above 60 years of age and those above 45 years with comorbidities are getting inoculated in this phase of Covid-19 vaccination. Union health ministry on Thursday said that India witnessed a hike in daily coronavirus cases as it reported 17,407 new cases in the last 24 hours. The coronavirus caseload in the country now stands at 1,156,923. On Wednesday, 14,989 fresh infections were reported. According to the health ministry, the number of active cases in the country which was around 1.50 lakh in the initial week of February has also increased to over 1.73 lakh. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News On Wednesday, the health ministry had said six states are contributing most to the active coronavirus cases in the country. Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka have been witnessing a continued surge in coronavirus cases. Yediyurappa feeling the heat of dissidence: KPCC Chief 01 Jun 2021 | 7:57 PM Bengaluru, Jun 1 (UNI) Stating that Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is feeling the heat of dissidence in the party, KPCC chief D K Shivakumar today said that he (Yediyurappa) is regretting for the mistake of forming the government with the support of party hoppers. see more.. Merck announce 2 Mn Euros to India for covid relief 01 Jun 2021 | 7:49 PM Hyderabad, Jun 1 (UNI) With the country grappling with an increasing number of cases of novel coronavirus and people facing a shortage of oxygen cylinders, hospital beds and drug supplies, Merck, a leading Science and Technology Company, on Tuesday announced 2 million Euros (INR 17.85 crore ) as a caring aid to India in combating the recent surge in Covid-19 cases. see more.. TN gets 5 6 lakh covishield vaccines from Pune 01 Jun 2021 | 7:47 PM Chennai, June 1 (UNI) Tamil Nadu today received a total of 5.6 lakh covishield vaccines for vaccinating the people, including those in the 18-44 age group. see more.. DGP asks Police and Agriculture Dept to make Telangana fake seed-free state 01 Jun 2021 | 7:41 PM Hyderabad, Jun 1 (UNI) Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) M Mahender Reddy has said that the Police and Agriculture Departments in the state should work in coordination to make the state free of fake seeds. see more.. China's tremendous achievements in poverty reduction and its important contributions to the development and progress of the world's human rights cause won praise from participants in an international meeting on the role of poverty alleviation in promoting and protecting human rights held on Feb. 26. As part of the 46th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which is slated to run from Feb. 22 to March 23, the meeting was aimed at facilitating the sharing of good practices and experience in promoting human rights through poverty reduction and fostering technological cooperation concerning human rights in the international community. Facts have shown that China's idea of No human right is more important than the right to a happy life, which the country has advocated all along, is inspirational to the international community. The country has adhered to a people-centered philosophy in protecting human rights, combined the universal principles of human rights with the prevailing realities of the country, and pursued a new path of human rights protection based on its national conditions. China has always regarded the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights, which is in accord with the Declaration on the Right to Development of the UN, which stipulates that the right to development is an inalienable human right. The country is committed to improving the protection of the people's economic, political, social, cultural, and environmental rights, safeguarding social fairness and justice, and promoting the well-rounded development of individuals. China has won the war against poverty as planned, and attained the poverty reduction goal set in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule; it has built the world's largest education system, social security system, medical system and the system of community-level democracy; the average life expectancy of Chinese people has increased from 35 years to 77 years. Such achievements China has made in protecting human rights have proven that development is the master key to solving all problems and that living a happy life is the primary human right. China's human rights philosophy is not only the inherent logic behind its human rights progress, but also the country's important contribution to enriching and expanding the world's human rights theories. Guided by its people-centered approach in human rights protection, China has been able to better protect and promote human rights through effective poverty alleviation actions. Since 2012, China has organized and launched a tough anti-poverty drive that is the largest in scale and strongest in intensity in human history. Recently, the country announced that it has achieved a complete victory in its fight against poverty, with the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line all lifted out of poverty, and all the 832 poor counties and 128,000 poverty-stricken villages removed from the poverty list. These figures represent stronger guarantee for protecting Chinese people's rights to subsistence and development. Eliminating absolute poverty is a historic achievement in China's human rights progress. Meanwhile, the remarkable achievement has also provided solutions to global poverty problems in both theory and practice. As a major developing country with a population that accounts for about one-fifth of the world's total, China has beyond doubt injected strong positive energy into the development of global human rights cause with its great human rights achievements. Serbian-American economist Branko Milanovic, who works on global inequality issues, noted that China's poverty reduction and development are of great significance for promoting global equality and progress. In June 2020, the UNHRC adopted again China's resolution on "promoting win-win cooperation in the field of human rights". Later in October, China was elected as a member of the UNHRC for the 2021-2023 term in an election held at the 75th UN General Assembly. These facts have proven that China's active participation in global human rights governance has been fully recognized by the international community. Protecting and promoting human rights is a common cause for all. Global human rights governance should be advanced through consultation among all countries, and the benefits of human rights progress should be shared by people of all countries. China is willing to join hands with other countries to uphold the common values shared by all humanitypeace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, safeguard human dignity and rights, strive for fairer, more reasonable and inclusive global human rights governance, and build a community with a shared future for mankind and a beautiful world. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Earlier, the Slovak prime minister said he had promised Ukraine's Zakarpattia region to Russia in exchange for the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Prime Minister of Slovakia Igor Matovic, who has recently made a joke about Zakarpattia region, has apologized and said his country's position on Ukraine "has always been very clear." "Slovakia's position on Ukraine's territorial integrity has always been very clear. Respect for international law is a must. Apologies to all Ukrainians for my inappropriate reaction which could undermine their just efforts," he wrote on Twitter on March 4, 2021. The politician addressed in Ukrainian to President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba: "Slovakia is your friend." Previous developments While speaking on the Radio Express local radio station, the Slovak prime minister said he had promised Ukraine's Zakarpattia region to Russia in exchange for the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, but later he explained he was joking. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry immediately reacted to the relevant statement and called on that country to apologize. The diplomats said such statements have a negative impact on good-neighborly Ukrainian-Slovak relations. The next day, in a phone talk with his Ukrainian counterpart, the Slovak foreign minister apologized for the politician's "joke." Reporting by UNIAN A raft of measures was announced in yesterdays Budget to transform the fortunes of the North. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said Britain needs a different economic geography to recover after the pandemic and to make the most of Brexit opportunities. Rishi Sunak unveiled measures for Teesside, which has traditionally lagged behind the rest of England in terms of economic success and has pockets of hardship and deprivation. The Tees Transporter Bridge connecting Middlesbrough to Port Clarence. The Chancellor said Britain needs a 'different economic geography' to recover after the pandemic A new Treasury North campus will be set up in Darlington, creating 750 top jobs. The choice of the Tees Valley town beating rival bids from Leeds, Bradford and Newcastle will be a major boost for the area, which has struggled economically after losing heavy industry in the 1980s. The Mail campaigned for the Treasury North to be on Teesside, famed for its Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough. The area has also been chosen as one of eight new freeports. These zones will benefit from simpler planning, funding to improve transport links, cheaper tariffs and lower taxes. The other northern freeports will be Humber and Liverpool. East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich, Plymouth, Solent and Thames make up the rest. Teessides freeport will cover 4,500 acres and include the recently reopened airport, the former Redcar steelworks site and the ports of Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. It is expected to create more than 18,000 jobs in five years, to boost the local economy by 3.2billion and attract 1.4billion of investment. Separately, a National Infrastructure Bank is being set up in Leeds, with initial capital of up to 12billion to invest in projects to fire up the green revolution. The Chancellor said Teesside was known for its past success in heavy industries, and added: Now, when I look to the future I see old industrial sites being used to capture and store carbon; vaccines being manufactured; offshore wind turbines creating clean energy for the rest of the country. Top table: Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen described Rishi Sunak as 'a true chancellor of the North' All located within a freeport with the Treasury just down the road and the UK Infrastructure Bank only an hour away. Sunak, whose constituency is close by in Richmond, North Yorkshire, crafted his Budget with an eye to former Labour voters who switched to the Tories at the election. He is keen to secure their loyalty with an economic revival. If he does, he will succeed where Labour failed, despite Tony Blair and the late Mo Mowlam having north-east constituencies Ben Houchen, the Tees Valley mayor, said it proved the area was at the top table of Government, adding: For too long areas like Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have been left behind and local people could be forgiven for thinking that we were often an afterthought. That ends today. Our voice was heard. This shows that Rishi is a true chancellor of the North. He knew we couldnt continue to allow vital decisions affecting our area to be made by bureaucrats in London. Andy Preston, the independent mayor of Middlesbrough, said: Its really positive that the Government has decided to bring Treasury North to our area. The announcement that Leeds will house the infrastructure bank was welcomed. Roger Marsh, chairman of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: Locating this powerful national institution in our region will be a real catalyst for change and a major driver of our post-pandemic recovery. The Teesside towns of Middlesbrough and Thornaby will get a combined 46million to make improvements. Douglas McWilliams of the Centre for Economic and Business Research applauded the Treasury move north. He said: It is just one of many pro-northern announcements. The fuel duty freeze benefits the North proportionately twice as much as the South. There is 4.2billion of urban transport planned mainly for northern cities, funds for the upgrading of the A66 and three of the freeports are in the North. Together, these should provide a significant boost. Marc Kielburger (L) and Craig Kielburger appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa on July 28, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Kielburger Brothers Decline Request to Testify Before Partisan Commons Committee OTTAWAWE Charity co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger are declining requests to testify before two House of Commons committees. In a statement Wednesday, the charity noted that New Democrat MP Charlie Angus has requested that the RCMP and the Canada Revenue Agency investigate WEs operations. The charity said it would be unfair to subject it to a partisan committee investigation at the same time. While WE Charity would welcome and co-operate with any potential investigation conducted by these agencies (RCMP and CRA), no organization should be subject to both an investigation of the same matters by a partisan parliamentary committee which wishes to carry out its own substitute investigation, the charity said. Both the Commons ethics committee and procedure and House affairs committee have invited the Kielburger brothers to testify as part of their ongoing scrutiny of a federal agreement to have WE manage a now-cancelled student services grant program, despite the organizations close ties to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family. Ethics commissioner Mario Dion is investigating the involvement of Trudeau and former finance minister Bill Morneau, who also has family ties to WE, in awarding the $43.5-million contract. Both have apologized for not recusing themselves from the decision. Angus requested the RCMP and CRA investigations last week after a former donor, U.S. television journalist Reed Cowan, alleged that the plaque on a school he had funded in Kenya had been replaced with a plaque in the name of another donor. WE said the incident was an unfortunate mistake; Angus called it proof of a pattern of duplicitous relations with donors. Angus said Wednesday that he will confer with his fellow committee members about summoning the Kielburgers to testify. Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett also tweeted Wednesday that his party will pursue a summons in the interest of accountability to Canadians. Im very, very perplexed that theyre taking this strategy, Angus said in an interview. What we heard last Friday (from Cowan) was devastating testimony and I would think they would want to reassure both taxpayers and their donors by answering these questions. They need to answer these questions. They cant hide. Angus noted that the committee has already had to summon two other executives in the WE organization, to compel them to testify. A summons from a Commons committee has legal force. Cowan made the allegations during testimony last Friday to the Commons ethics committee, which invited the Kielburger brothers to testify on Monday. The brothers already testified for four hours at the Commons finance committee last summer, after controversy over the student-grant program erupted. In its statement Wednesday, WE Charity notes that five members of the organization have testified at various highly partisan committees over the past nine months and will decline further invitations to do so again. It says it will continue to co-operate with the ethics commissioners investigation. The charity also says its board of directors is setting up a standing committee on donor transparency to look into any specific concerns that may be raised by any past, present or future donor. Its first priority will be to look into Cowans allegations, the charity says. Cowan, who has called on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to also investigate the matter, said Wednesday that he puts more faith and trust in tax investigators on both sides of the border and in the FBI than I do any in-house committee that could be set up by the very organization in question. Cowan had raised money for the Kenyan school in the name of his late son, Wesley, who died in an accident at four years old. WE Charity let me use my good name and my sons death to get money for them from so many people, Cowan said in an email Wednesday, adding that he wants all the money he and others donated in his sons name to be returned. He said his testimony at committee last week has shaken loose information from people who are bound by non-disclosure agreements with the charity. The volume of calls hes received from such people should concern anyone who gave money, clout and power to this organization, he added. The latest WE controversy has taken an emotional toll on Cowan. He said hes seeking professional help to get through the post-traumatic stress disorder triggered by his testimony. I thought I could be Superman but by this morning this has driven me into a dark abyss and Im putting my faith in people to carry the questions to answers that are due donors all over the world. WE Charity said that when donors contribute to the projects such as building a school, those funds are often pooled to help villages, as is common with other major international development organizations. It says it has sought to be clear about that approach through its websites and other materials and added that every penny donated to WE Charity was used to help children. By Joan Bryden [March 04, 2021] Wynnchurch Capital Acquires Northern Wholesale Supply Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. ("Wynnchurch") announced today that it has acquired Northern Wholesale Supply, LLC ("NWS" or the "Company"). NWS is a leading distributor of marine and RV accessories. Founded in 1984, NWS is an industry leader providing an all-encompassing suite of over 30,000 parts and accessories. The Company also maintains a proprietary products division (primarily comprised of its Extreme Max product line) to address unmet customer demand. NWS currently serves its customers throughout the U.S. from its headquarters in Hugo, Minnesota. "Delivering industry-leading service to all of our customers has always been and will continue to be our top priority. I am excited to have found the perfect partner with Wynnchurch as we continue that mission," said Nick Gargaro, CEO of NWS. Nick added, "Wynnchurch has taken the time to intimately understand our company and give us the flexibility we need in order to continue our success. We are excited to partner with them to take NWS into its next phase of growth." John Hatherly, Managing Partner at Wynnchurch, said, "NWS has built an outstanding reputation over the past 36 years. We are fortunate to partner with Nick Gargaro and his team to continue to grow the NWS platform." Brian Riordan, Principal at Wynnchurch, added, "We are excited to partner with NWS to build on the Company's history of success. We believe that their focus on providing customers with industry leading product breadth, availability, and service positions NWS to be an attractive platform for growth." Wynnchurch is actively seeking investment opportunities for its $2.277 billion Fund V. In Septemer, Wynnchurch made its first Fund V platform equity investment when it acquired Labrie Environmental Group, a leading manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles across North America. Other recent Wynnchurch investments include: The Wheel Group, a leading designer and distributor of branded aftermarket wheels, specialty tires and related accessories; and Drew Foam Companies, a leading manufacturer of custom fabricated and molded expanded polystyrene products. Northern Wholesale Supply, LLC: Founded in 1984, Northern Wholesale Supply, LLC is a leading provider of RV and marine parts and accessories, selling over 30,000 products to hundreds of customers throughout the United States. The Company also maintains a proprietary products division (primarily comprised of its Extreme Max product line) to address unmet customer demand. NWS is currently headquartered in Hugo, Minnesota. About Wynnchurch Capital: Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with an office in California and an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999, and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch's strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch manages a number of private equity funds with $4.2 billion of committed capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings. For more information, please visit: https://www.wynnchurch.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005044/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 15th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), on Wednesday concluded its standing committee session. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over and addressed the closing meeting. Wang said over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee and its standing committee have overcome the negative impacts of COVID-19 and achieved continuous progress in its capacity for consultation and institutional improvement, making active contributions to the development of the Party and the country's causes. For 2021, Wang called for better leveraging the role of the CPPCC as a body dedicated to consultation, strengthening the ties between political advisors and the people, as well as conducting oversight on major issues concerning the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The meeting adopted documents including the draft agenda and the schedule for the fourth annual session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, running from March 4 to 10. The documents will be submitted to the session for review. Enditem [ Editor: SRQ ] Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland is sworn-in during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, on Feb. 22, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Sen. Cotton Says Hes Blocking Efforts to Quickly Confirm Garland as AG Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said on March 3 that hes blocking an effort by Senate Democrats to expedite Judge Merrick Garlands confirmation vote to be attorney general over his answers to senators written questions. Cottons objection presents the second delay that Garland has faced since being nominated by President Joe Biden to lead the Department of Justice. The Republican from Arkansas said Garlands responses were inadequate because he had refused to answer basic questions on a range of issues such as immigration, guns, the death penalty, and law enforcement. In one of the questions, senators had pressed Garland on whether he thought illegal entry at Americas borders should remain a crime, after he failed to give an adequate response during his confirmation hearing. Garland responded: As I said at the hearing, I havent thought about that question. The president has made clear that we are a country of borders and with a concern about national security. I dont know of a proposal to decriminalize, but still, make it unlawful to enter. Since the hearing, I have not had time to think further about the question. Cotton noted that the judge had provided similarly evasive responses to several other important questions. He then argued that the delay is necessary to ensure fairness, noting how Attorney General William Barr was received by Senate Democrats during his 2019 confirmation hearing. Democrats expressed strong opposition and attacked Barr during the process. Ensuring the Senate has time to debate these issues and get answers is the same thing that Senate Democrats did for Bill Barr. Were not going to have one standard for Trumps nominees and another for Bidens, Cotton said. It comes after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) revealed on the Senate floor earlier on March 3 that Garlands confirmation was likely to be delayed due to an objection to expediting his nomination. As a consequence, we face the Senate procedure, which means it could be delays even into next week before he can take job, Durbin said. I sincerely hope that whoever is holding his nomination up on the other side can be persuaded to give him his chance. He told reporters later on March 3 that he didnt know which senator had objected to the nomination. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Garlands nomination to the full Senate by a 157 vote on March 1. Democrats were joined by four Republicans to vote in favor of the judge, including Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). In the summer of 1936, Theodor Geisel was on a ship from Europe to New York when he started scribbling silly rhymes on the ships stationery to entertain himself during a storm: And this is a story that no one can beat. I saw it all happen on Mulberry Street. The rhymes morphed into his first childrens book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, about a boy who witnesses increasingly outlandish things. First published in 1937, the book started Geisels career as Dr. Seuss. He went on to publish more than 60 books that have sold some 700 million copies globally, making him one of the worlds most enduringly popular childrens book authors. But some aspects of Seusss work have not aged well, including his debut, which features a crude racial stereotype of an Asian man with slanted lines for eyes. Mulberry Street was one of six of his books that the Seuss estate said it would stop selling this week, after concluding that the egregious racial and ethnic stereotypes in the works are hurtful and wrong. The announcement seemed to drive a surge of support for Seuss classics. Dozens of his books shot to the top of Amazons print best-seller list; on Thursday morning, nine of the sites top 10 best sellers were Seuss books. The estates decision which prompted breathless headlines on cable news and complaints about cancel culture from prominent conservatives represents a dramatic step to update and curate Seusss body of work, acknowledging and rejecting some of his views while seeking to protect his brand and appeal. It also raises questions about whether and how an authors works should be posthumously curated to reflect evolving social attitudes, and what should be preserved as part of the cultural record. She has two published young adult titles, the most recent being The Last Pageant in Texas. Her current writing project is a longer novel, a murder mystery, for the New Adult segment of reader, those from 18 to 20 years old who are finding their place in the world. For the past five years, Lopez has been an integral part of the Napa Valley Writers group, working her way up from member to publicity chair, conference co-chair, newspaper editor and president of the club. Napa Valley Writers is a hidden gem in Napa Valley. So many people have a book inside them. We have writers who have never published to those with 17 published books. Its been immensely helpful to me. When she first returned to Oakville, she was a volunteer at the Yountville Library. Thats where she learned about a vacancy on the Library Commission. I love to read, she said. I grew up at the St. Helena and Napa Libraries. Ive been a member of the Commission about three years and I enjoy the meetings. We learn the library system and how it works. The library is amazing. Its great to be a part of them and see what an incredible job theyre doing, especially during COVID. A father-of-four decapitated his 17-year-old daughter and carried her head through the streets because he did not approve of her boyfriend. Residents spotted Sarvesh Kumar walking with the head in the Indian village of Pandetara, Uttar Pradesh yesterday. He was on his way to a police station after cutting off his daughter's head as part of an honour killing. Sarvesh Kumar, pictured, cut off his daughter's head because he did not approve of the 17-year-old's relationship. Residents spotted the man, pictured, walking with the head in the village of Pandetara Footage shows one man searching the father as he checks his clothing. Police officers ask the man his name, where the head is from and whose head it was. Kumar admitted to beheading his daughter with a sharp object as he was unhappy with the relationship she was in, NDTV reports. 'I did it. There was no one else. I closed the latch and did it. The body is in the room', he said. The alleged attack occurred in the village of Pandetara, Uttar Pradesh. The village is located 200km (124 miles) from state capital Lucknow He also claimed that he would have killed her lover too had he been able to find him. Kumar was arrested by police and taken into custody. His wife has since been arrested. Police found the body of his daughter at the family home and have sent it for a post-mortem examination. An officer has been suspended as he was pictured carrying the head 'inappropriately', according to local media reports. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of crimes against women in 2019, according to National Crime Record bureau data. The state also recorded the highest number of crimes against children with 7,444 cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh (6,503) and Maharashtra (6,402). Long-time friends of the woman who accused Attorney-General Christian Porter of raping her in 1988 at a school debating event stand by their belief in the truth of their friends account based on her demeanour when describing her claims in 2019. Jo Dyer, who was a debater with the woman in the late 1980s, knew a cohort of seven national school champion debaters from that time, which included Mr Porter and the deceased woman. She said the five others in that group all believed the woman when she told them her story decades later. Lawyers for the family of the woman, who took her own life last year, issued a statement on Thursday expressing the familys grief, asking for privacy and endorsing an investigation. They are supportive of any inquiry which would potentially shed light on the circumstances surrounding the deceaseds passing, the statement reads. New Delhi: Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala cleared his stand on the love jihad matter saying he does not believe in the term and has no issue with someone who is willingly converting to marry his/her partner. Though, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader clarified that if the proposed law checks forceful religious conversions then his party will support it. "If the law will be to check on forceful religious conversions, our party will definitely support it. If the law will be presented with a specific term like 'love jihad', then we will discuss it," Chautala was quoted as saying by ANI. Chautala's statements come at a time when the BJP is looking to table a new anti-conversion law in Haryana to check on cases of love jihad. The deputy CM has been at loggerheads with BJP over the farmers protests and has even threatened to resign if their demands are not heard and dealt with. However, several BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, have already brought in the law against love jihad. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 09:08:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is facing renewed calls to establish an independent inquiry into historical rape allegations against Attorney-General (AG) Christian Porter. Porter on Wednesday identified himself as the minister accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in 1988, when he was 17, and denied the allegations, declaring that it "simply did not happen." The New South Wales (NSW) Police have closed their investigation into the allegations, citing insufficient admissible evidence after the alleged victim took her own life in 2020. However, independent Member of Parliament (MP) Zali Steggall said on Thursday that there was "a chain of events that needs to be investigated." "The role of Attorney-General requires the utmost faith. The Australian public must have confidence that the highest legal officer in the land is a fit and proper person for the role and I do think the prime minister needs to lead on this," she told Nine Network television. "The police were unable to get a proper statement from her and sadly she then took her life so there's a chain of events here that I think should be investigated." Steggall was joined by Malarndirri McCarthy, a senator for the opposition Labor Party, who said that there were questions that remained "unanswered." "I'm saying that there are too many questions that still remain unanswered and only an independent inquiry could actually open up the opportunity to have a lot of those questions answered," she said. In response, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Thursday said that the government had no intention of establishing such an inquiry and threw his support behind Porter to remain as the AG. Enditem Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access ADVERTISEMENT The Zamfara State Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Jangebe town, following a violent protest. The protest occurred after the return of the girls abducted last week in a secondary school in the town. The girls regained freedom on Tuesday morning. The states commissioner for information, Sulaiman Anka, said the state government imposed the curfew to prevent further breach of peace. Similarly, there is strong discovered evidence of market activities in the town that aid and abet bandits activities in the town and neighbouring communities. Consequently, all market activities in the town are hereby suspended until further notice, the official said. The state government is poised to ensure safety of lives and properties of its citizens at all cost. With this announcement, the Zamfara State Police Command is hereby enjoined to ensure total enforcement, the statement said. Protest Many had sustained injuries in the community on Wednesday after the government returned the released schoolgirls to Jangebe. PREMIUM TIMES reported the release of the students on Tuesday morning. The government had reportedly taken the girls for counselling and rehabilitation before reuniting them with their families on Wednesday. The protest broke out when the girls were taken back to their school where their parents and other residents were waiting to receive them. But the event quickly turned rowdy, with some people attacking the government officials. The protesters invaded the school premises where the officials were addressing the released students and their family members and disrupted the event. Security agents whisked away the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Nasiru Magarya, and other top government officials, when the protesters started throwing objects at them. KYODO NEWS - Mar 4, 2021 - 21:52 | World, All, Japan Japan on Thursday urged Myanmar's security forces to stop a violent crackdown on protests against last month's military coup, a day after 38 people were killed in the deadliest day of demonstrations yet. "We strongly condemn the continued use of violence against civilians despite repeated calls from the international community," Japan's top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, said in a press conference. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi shared concerns about the latest use of force by the Myanmar security forces in telephone talks with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on Thursday, their second call since the Feb. 1 coup. In the talks, Motegi said Japan appreciates and welcomes the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to communicate with Myanmar, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. The 10-member bloc held a foreign ministerial videoconference Tuesday at the behest of Indonesia and called for the de-escalation of the situation in Myanmar and dialogue to peacefully resolve the post-coup political crisis. Japan will continue to strongly urge the military to reinstate the democratically elected government and to release State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained in the coup, the ministry quoted Motegi as telling the Indonesian foreign minister. Myanmar security forces on Wednesday opened fire on protesters who had taken to the streets to denounce the Feb. 1 coup that ousted de facto leader Suu Kyi. The death toll has now topped 50 and more than 1,200 remain in detention, according to Christine Schraner Burgener, the U.N. special envoy on the Southeast Asian country. The coup and crackdown on protesters has also been widely decried by those with ties to Myanmar residing in Japan. On Thursday, Burmese majors at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, who have collected more than 38,000 signatures condemning the coup, met separately with officials at the Japanese Foreign Ministry and lawmakers to call for more pressure on the Myanmar military, including through sanctions on its commander-in-chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. Related coverage: 38 protesters shot dead by Myanmar forces, most since Feb. coup ALTON The RiverBend Growth Association on Wednesday received an Illinois Department of Transportation update on projects in Madison and Jersey counties from Joe Monroe, Operation Bureau Chief for District 8. Monroe discussed the IDOT project, in collaboration with Phillips 66, to construct a pipe bridge over Illinois 3 north of Hartford. The work is a small potion of activity that is going on with the Phillips 66 Refinery in Roxana, Monroe said. The Phillips 66 folks and their contractors are phenomenal, he said. Some of the things they are able to pull off are mind boggling. Monroe also discussed work on the Delhi bypass in Jersey County, the cost of which is estimated at $18-20 million. The bypass will provide access to Panther Park, a 1,400-acre rail-served logistics park between Jerseyville and Delhi. The multimillion-dollar economic development project is the result of a collaboration between Stonemont Financial Group headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Jerseyville Economic Development Council. The park will be served by the Kansas City Southern rail network, which played a key role in forging the ongoing collaboration. The bypass will extend east from U.S. Highway 67 in Delhi, going south. Monroe said the bypass work is going exceptionally well. The contractor is just destroying the projected timeline, he said. Monroe also discussed IDOTs Multi-Year Plan which includes the construction of two roundabouts in Godfrey. The project is to set up along Illinois 3 at the intersections of West Delmar and Pierce Lane. IDOT says the intersections experienced 65 reported crashes from 2008 to 2012. A large number involved rear-end type of crashes; 42 were reported, resulting in 14 injuries. In February 2020, Godfrey signed a letter of intent for a small part of the villages participation in the $6.3 million project. As of now, the plan is still in Phase 1 with construction projected to begin in the 2023 fiscal year. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The products include AI-powered new additions to the EZVIZ's security camera family, as well as fully upgraded pro versions of the best-selling C3W and C6C. HOOFDDORP, Netherlands, Feb. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As connected living becomes a shared topic of interest in this digital age, the rising need for home automation has led to the growing market size of the smart home industry in Europe. According to researches, in 2021, the European smart home market is expected to be significantly driven by growing concerns about safety, security, and convenience. Consumers are constantly seeking for something better, smarter and newer under such market expansion. They value products by easy control, interoperability and integration, and are eager to fulfill their expectation of future home scenarios with the latest, cutting-edge technologies. As a global leader in home intelligence, EZVIZ taps into the European market with an integrated product portfolio ranging from security cameras and smart doorbells, to smart lighting and more. The company demonstrates competitiveness in not only product innovation but also diverse product offering. In response to the market trend in 2021, EZVIZ rolls out a year of excitements with the launch of multiple high-tech products in the first quarter. The new additions, all equipped with AI capacities and next-level product features, aim at increasing product adoptability to a wider application scenario under diversified consumer needs. First, EZVIZ uplifts the threshold of high-performance security cameras by introducing a group of AI-powered newbies. The new comers include EZVIZ's first-ever outdoor pan/tilt camera C8C, and the orb-shaped rotational indoor camera C6W. Both cameras are designed for 360-degree, intelligent monitoring to cover every corner around and inside the household, along with a compact, delightful design to fit in any environment. Furthermore, EZVIZ upgrades its best-selling C3W and C6C with all pro features - including enhanced video quality and AI human detection - by adding the C3W Pro and the C6CN Pro to the lineup. It is also worth noticing that EZVIZ is taking a step further with wire-free, battery-powered cameras for ultra-flexibility. The BC1, which largely outperforms other market peers in terms of battery life, can operate well up to a year under normal conditions with one single full charge, thanks to its 12900mAh rechargeable battery. "We are fully aware that in Europe, smart living is not only an option but a rising necessity. More and more consumers are looking for best-in-class products for easier, safer homes, and are always intrigued by how high technologies really benefit their daily lives," said Alexandre Raguenet, Sales Director of EZVIZ France. "In 2021, we have strategized it as a priority to further complete our product portfolio, and bring AI capacities to the whole camera range." Built-in AI algorithm for human detection, color night vision, high image resolution up to 4MP, high video compression efficiency under H.265 - these are just few of the exciting technologies featured across the products. Here is more information how the new products meet users' expectation for industry-leading smart home gadgets: C8C outdoor pan/tilt camera: An all-in-one camera that records, detects, and deters effectively in the face of property security needs. Designed to overcome challenges in outdoor surveillance and protection, the C8C boasts powerful features including panoramic monitoring, AI-powered human shape detection, color night vision, and event-triggered active defense. An all-in-one camera that records, detects, and deters effectively in the face of property security needs. Designed to overcome challenges in outdoor surveillance and protection, the C8C boasts powerful features including panoramic monitoring, AI-powered human shape detection, color night vision, and event-triggered active defense. C6W indoor pan/tilt camera : A smart orb that harmonizes with modern decor with its pleasant look while delivering powerful, panoramic monitoring. The C6W can automatically zoom in up to 4 times to capture details when motions are detected. To filter out irrelevant alerts, the auto-zoom tracking can also be set to "human tracking only." : A smart orb that harmonizes with modern decor with its pleasant look while delivering powerful, panoramic monitoring. The C6W can automatically zoom in up to 4 times to capture details when motions are detected. To filter out irrelevant alerts, the auto-zoom tracking can also be set to "human tracking only." BC1 battery-powered camera kit : A breakthrough product designed for simple placement in anywhere at any time. The BC1 camera, coupled with a base station, guarantees super long usage with one single battery charge. It also inherits EZVIZ's core technologies in color night vision, two-way talk, active defense and more. : A breakthrough product designed for simple placement in anywhere at any time. The BC1 camera, coupled with a base station, guarantees super long usage with one single battery charge. It also inherits EZVIZ's core technologies in color night vision, two-way talk, active defense and more. C3W Pro outdoor camera with color night vision: An AI-powered upgrader to the best-selling C3W, and an endeavor to expand EZVIZ's beloved C3 outdoor series. The C3W Pro is equipped with multiple enhancements in late-night monitoring, alert accuracy and video quality. It provides human detection supported by built-in AI algorithm, and color night vision for colored imaging even at dark night. An AI-powered upgrader to the best-selling C3W, and an endeavor to expand EZVIZ's beloved C3 outdoor series. The C3W Pro is equipped with multiple enhancements in late-night monitoring, alert accuracy and video quality. It provides human detection supported by built-in AI algorithm, and color night vision for colored imaging even at dark night. C6CN Pro indoor pan/tilt camera: A must-have to boost indoor safety at every level. It enhances alert accuracy with advanced AI, and improves image clarity under all circumstances through upgrades on both hardware and software - it is equipped with starlight lens for low-light monitoring, as well as true-WDR technology to better balance out image over-exposure. The product availability may vary across regions and countries. Please contact a local EZVIZ representative for detailed information. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1427852/EZVIZ_new_generations_of_security_cameras.jpg Jeremy Clarkson has suffered a setback in his bid to widen the area in which he can source goods for his 'non-organic' Cotswolds farm shop. The Grand Tour host had asked to adapt tough planning rules on his Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire. The rules restricted the 'Squat Shop' at his 4.25million farm to sell only 'locally produced' goods sourced from within the West Oxfordshire area. But, in a move which infuriated parish councillors, the 60-year-old, who lives on at the farm with partner Lisa Hogan, asked to expand the area to a 30 mile radius. Now the ex-Top Gear presenter has been forced to settle for a radius of 16 miles, after district council chiefs cut back his proposals. It comes after Chadlington Parish Council launched a scathing attack on Clarkson stating the plans would undermine the 'viability' of businesses within the Oxfordshire village. The Grand Tour host had asked to adapt tough planning rules on his Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire The rules restricted the shop at Clarkson's 4.25million farm (pictured) to sell only 'locally produced' goods sourced from within a three miles radius In a move which infuriated parish councillors, the 60-year-old, who lives on at the farm (pictured: A sign for the farm) with partner Lisa Hogan, asked to expand the area the shop can source produce from to a 30 mile radius Under the planning rules, the shop can sell meat, vegetables, fruit, flowers, bread and cakes, eggs and dairy products as well as farm and woodland based products. The 'locally-sourced' alcohol Jeremy Clarkson could sell at Diddly Squat Farm Jeremy Clarkson has also recently applied to have an alcohol licence for the farm. If approved these local breweries could be seen at Diddly Squat Farm: Wytchwood, Witney The popular brewery, owned by Marston's sells British favourites Hobgoblin and King Goblin. It produces around 50,000 barrels of cask ale each year. Pictured: Wytchwood beer Little Ox, Witney Brewing a variety of IPA's and pale ale, Little Ox emerged as a fusion of two fledgling breweries in West Oxfordshire. Pictured: Little Ox beer Advertisement But parish councillors feared the move to expand the sourcing radius would impact on the village's businesses. In its objection, Chadlington Parish Council said: 'Much of this could not be considered as being 'in the locality.' 'The large increase in area, within which goods can be sourced and sold, is unreasonable and is likely to result in the undermining the viability of existing shops in the village, namely Chadlington Quality Foods, Chadlington Butchers and The Cafe De La Post. 'Our concern must be to support the existing shops in the village. These facilities are essential to many, particularly those who rely on being able to walk to them.' The parish council objected to the applicant's claims the farmshop should be treated as a Market Co-operative and benefit from a 30 mile radius. The spokesperson added: 'It is a permanent shop that will be in competition with the local shops of the village. For these reasons the Parish Council objects to the variation of the condition.' Original regulations stated that things sold at the store 'shall be solely limited to goods and produce grown, reared and produced on the holding or from local producers'. This restriction was designated as the West Oxfordshire District boundaries, which represented an area of 275sq miles. Clarkson's team's proposed extension to 30 miles would cover a total of 2828sq miles. A spokesperson for the applicants said: 'We do not challenge the intent of the condition to limit the goods sold from the premises to a limited area, but do submit that it may be met in a different way. 'There are a number of alternatives that are employed elsewhere, however we consider a reasonable alternative would be to employ a condition that has a similar effect to that used by the Thames Valley Farmers Market Co-operative. 'The Co-operative have markets in Witney, Woodstock, Charlbury and Chipping Norton and thus serve the local community of this part of the uplands area of West Oxfordshire in a very similar fashion to the farm shop. 'The Co-operative have strict guidelines as to who can sell produce at their markets based. Their definition of a local producer is based on a radius of 30 miles from the market location. We propose to substitute that for the District boundary in varying this condition.' West Oxfordshire District Council granted removal of the condition - but limited the distance to a radius of 16 miles. Around 100 people turned up to grab produce grown on Clarkson's land last February - with a humourous sign promising prices would be 'less than Aldi' The story of how he launched the store - named so because of the poor crop yields on the surrounding land - will feature in a forthcoming Amazon Prime show, which has the working title I Bought The Farm According to the shop's website, it is a 'small barn full of good, no-nonsense things you'll like. We do not, for example, sell kale. Pictured: Clarkson inside the shop In publishing the decision, a spokesperson acknowledged this was an 'exception to the normal policies of restraint upon retailing in an open countryside location.' But they added: 'This was solely on the basis that the nature of the goods sold being ancillary and related to the farming operations in the locality.' The development has been subject to previous controversy when he was forced to reapply for permission for certain aspects of the shop - including the roof- because it was built with the wrong type of material. Officials discovered that a green steel sheet which wasn't approved by the local council had been used for the roof. Retrospective permission was later granted. Diddly Squat Farm - named so because of the poor crop yields on the surrounding land - opened to the public in February last year. Around 100 people turned up to grab produce grown on Clarkson's land - with a humorous sign promising prices would be 'less than Aldi'. The application also included plans for a lambing shed and a request for film-making to be allowed on the 350-hectare site. It is understood that Clarkson is set to front an Amazon Prime series about his experiences with farming as as 'inept townie'. Several locals voiced their objections to the plans when approval was first sought. But 'The Grand Tour' host took it in his stride and said he didn't blame those who were complaining - adding 'otherwise what is the point in planning permission'. Indie film star Chloe Sevigny shared a photo with her nearly one-year old-son Vanja on Thursday. The 46-year-old actress posted an adorable snap of her and her only child during an intimate moment, as she modeled a pair of SerpentSea clip on earrings designed by her sister in law Sophie. The Brown Bunny star was all dolled up in the Polaroid snap as she lovingly cooed at the tot, which is a rare look at the two since she welcomed her son in May. Sneak peek: Chloe Sevigny, 46, shares a rare photo with her son Vanja as she lovingly coos at him giving her followers a glimpse into her very private life since welcoming her first child in May Despite being in the comfort of her home, Chloe was runway ready in a patterned silk dress while holding her blonde-haired boy. She welcomed Vanja with art gallery director Sinisa Mackovic and has chosen to keep many details of their life underwraps. Sevigny did however briefly speak to The Cut ahead of her son's arrival where she discussed learning her child's gender. 'When I found out I was having a boy, I had to wrap my head around that, as I am so girly. I don't even have that many boy friends; all of my friends are girls. I just relate better to girls. I'm like, what the hell am I going to do with a boy?' she shared. Parents-to-be: She and her boyfriend Sanisa have chosen to keep much of their relationship and journey to parenthood underwraps; pictured 2020 Despite her initial hesitation, she shared that she was 'thrilled and so excited about the whole thing.' She and her Croatian-born beau have been dating for a little over two years, but she has rarely revealed any information about their relationship. Chloe was nominated for an Oscar in 2000 for her role in Boys Don't Cry but it was costar Hilary Swank who walked away with the award for Best Actress. Though she has taken a small step back from the spotlight since catapulting to mainstream fame on Big Love, she did appear in the HBO series We Are Who We Are which premiered back in September. Expectation management: 'When I found out I was having a boy, I had to wrap my head around that, as I am so girly,' she told The Cut ahead of her pregnancy; pictured August 2020 During filming she was pregnant but chose to keep that part of her life underwraps at least to show director Luca Guadagnino. 'I had a pooch, but I tried so hard to camouflage it. I'm not ever sure Luca knew I was pregnant,' she shared with LA Mag, though she did say that production had been looped in due to having to schedule around her doctor's appointments. Chloe also revealed that she never thought motherhood was in the cards for her despite trying to conceive over the years both naturally and with the aid of science. 'It was a real shocker. This was an accident. I didn't think I'd ever have kids. I just acquiesced that it was not going to happen for me.' LEWISTON - TitleOne, a Boise based title and settlement services provider has announced the acquisition of Land Title of Nez Perce County in Lewiston. Founded in 1984, Land Title of Nez Perce County was previously owned and operated by 25-year industry veteran Joe Strohmaier. Joe will continue to manage Land Titles operations. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. TitleOne President Jason Vickrey said Land Title of Nez Perce County is known for fostering a collaborative culture and for delivering exceptional service and community support to the Lewiston market, attributes that mirror TitleOnes values. Were thrilled to be adding this outstanding team to the TitleOne family. According to Strohmaier, The decision to join forces with TitleOne was an easy one. Combining our companies allows us to streamline operations and capitalize on efficiencies, while offering our customers an expanded range of products and services. TitleOne, a subsidiary of Realogy Title Group LLC, was founded in 2000. Since then, the company has grown to 23 locations and more than 400 team employees. For nine consecutive years, TitleOne has been named among the top 10 Best Places to Work in Idaho in the large employer category. Hitman 3 Keeps The Seven Deadly Sins Theme Going With 'Season of Pride' Next Week Amazon changed its logo after 5 years and now it has faced heat from the netizens. Amazon which changed its logo in January sported a blue tape strip over the Amazon smile. The company was compelled to update its logo to a new design after many netizens complained it to resemble the German dictator Adolf Hitler's toothbrush moustache. Global e-commerce giant considered this request and has updated its logo. The spokesperson of the company said, "Amazon is always exploring new ways to delight our customers. We designed the new icon to spark anticipation, excitement and joy when customers start their shopping journey on their phone, just as they do when they see our boxes on their doorstep." Many people expressed their views on Twitter regarding Amazon's logo. One user tweeted by saying that she can not think of buying anything from Amazon now. The updated amazon icon makes me not want to buy anything Lmfaooooo pic.twitter.com/pSNoTXwWqN (@Itsmochiqueen) March 3, 2021 Another user tweeted by saying that the updated logo looks like the Aang from Avatar i keep thinking the new amazon app logo is aang from avatar pic.twitter.com/YkIdcvNruh (@ixNOKES) March 2, 2021 Amazon updated its app and changed the app icon on iOS on Monday (February 22) and for Android, the app icon saw a change on Monday (March 1). The icon saw a visual update where the blue strip appears to be like a folded over piece of tape. This is not the first time in India for such an incident. Recently, the fashion apparel company Myntra faced heat from customers for its logo. The logo was considered offensive towards women and the company instantly changed the logo and published an apology for the same. Live TV Two years ago, I was 94 days into a mammoth adventure, a following of dreams and a chasing of Gods calling on my life. It was a season of joy, pain, beauty and immense privilege, and it feels like just yesterday I landed in that beautiful land yet I can still vividly remember the day a year ago when I stepped back on that plane at OR Tambo to return home to Aotearoa. I could spend all day telling you about the smiles and hugs, the joy of watching a child take their first steps or the absolute privilege it was to help raise these incredible children while they await their forever homes. The truth is two years ago I was struggling, and I described my experience thus far as a beautiful brutal reality. I was challenged, I was encouraged, I was shown so much love and I endured more than I ever imagined I would in my first 50 days on African soil. And so, I asked, what is the purpose? I know without a doubt that God placed me on that farm in Johannesburg south for a reason and as I struggled to find my place, to find my peace and to continue surrendering my all to God I couldnt find my purpose of being there other than loving those babies. Today, two years on, a year after returning to New Zealand, I can tell you that the purpose of me being there was so much more than just loving those babies. God changed me, he gave me the tools to heal, he gave me the chance to surrender more of myself than I had before and he gave me the right people to be vulnerable with and to develop deep and authentic relationships with. Authenticity Ive always struggled to be the most authentic and vulnerable version of myself, to be someone who shows life beyond the surface, to be the person Im destined to be, to speak and share my flaws and vulnerabilities and to share with an open and honest heart. Learning to be more authentic and vulnerable during my time in South Africa was one of the hardest yet most life-giving journeys of self-development Ive been on these past few years. Living a life so far from the norm of my life Ive lived in Aotearoa and away from those in my life who know my heart, who know my struggles and my joys and my passion, away from those who have walked this journey of life with me thus far meant that I had to learn to trust, to be open and to expose my heart and the hard truths to people I havent journeyed with for very long in life. I got to see the beauty of journeying authentically in relationship with people from all walks of life, with people who I wouldnt normally become so close and deep with and with people who didnt see me for the colour of my skin, the life I come from, or any other unimportant aspect of who I am. They saw my heart, they heard the cries of my pain, they walked beside me through every challenge and every triumph. These people didnt know me. These kids didnt see anything beyond the love and friendship I gave them. I very quickly learnt that I wouldnt survive without the art of being authentic, without the trust to share openly when the chaos of it all was too much and without the faith that no matter what came out of my mouth I would still be loved and accepted. So, what now? I continue to thrive to be true to who I am, to who Ive become and to who God destines me to be. I continue to work hard daily to keep open, to remain authentic to myself and those around me and to continue to break down the walls I spent so long building to protect myself from the evil of this world and life. I work daily to be authentic, not just for myself but for those who I align myself with. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with isolated thunderstorms developing late. Low 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Young women are now leading the protests because we have a maternal nature and we cant let the next generation be destroyed, said Dr. Yin Yin Hnoung, a 28-year-old medical doctor who has dodged bullets in Mandalay. We dont care about our lives. We care about our future generations. While the militarys inhumanity extends to many of the countrys roughly 55 million people, women have the most to lose from the generals resumption of full authority, after five years of sharing power with a civilian government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The Tatmadaw, as the military is known, is deeply conservative, opining in official communications about the importance of modest dress for proper ladies. There are no women in the Tatmadaws senior ranks, and its soldiers have systematically committed gang rape against women from ethnic minorities, according to investigations by the United Nations. In the generals worldview, women are often considered weak and impure. Traditional religious hierarchies in this predominantly Buddhist nation also place women at the feet of men. The prejudices of the military and the monastery are not necessarily shared by Myanmars broader society. Women are educated and integral to the economy, particularly in business, manufacturing and the civil service. Increasingly, women have found their political voice. In elections last November, about 20 percent of candidates for the National League for Democracy, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyis party, were women. The party won in a landslide, trouncing the military-linked and far more male-dominated Union Solidarity and Development Party. The Tatmadaw has dismissed the results as fraudulent. As the military began devolving some power over the past decade, Myanmar experienced one of the most profound and rapid societal changes in the world. A country that had been cut off from the world by the generals, who first seized power in a 1962 coup, went on Facebook and discovered memes, emojis and global conversations about gender politics. A Benin opposition leader who was barred from contesting upcoming presidential elections has been detained for questioning, a special court's prosecutor said Thursday Cotonou, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ) :A Benin opposition leader who was barred from contesting upcoming presidential elections has been detained for questioning, a special court's prosecutor said Thursday. Reckya Madougou's candidacy for the April 11 elections was rejected by the electoral commission for failing to garner required signatures of support from local mayors and lawmakers. Her detention came as critics accuse President Patrice Talon of cracking down on political opponents who say the April ballot will be rigged in the incumbent's favour. Prosecutors at the Economic Crime and Terrorism Court (CRIET) said in a statement that Madougou was detained by police on Wednesday around 7pm (1800 GMT) in the capital Port-Novo. "Madougou and certain members of her party have, in all likelihood, plotted to disturb the electoral process with grave acts of terrorism," Prosecutor Elonm Mario Metonou said. As of Thursday afternoon, Madougou had not been charged while her lawyer Renaud Agbodjo asked for her "immediate release". "Madougou was unjustly arrested," Agbodjo said in a statement. "Benin's democratic goals cannot be undermined by President Talon's strongman tactics." Talon's supporters dismiss opposition charges of election rigging and say the vote will be fair. Madougou is accused of sending money to a military officer tasked with "murdering an influential authority" and "eliminating a second authority during the funeral of the first victim." According to the prosecution, Georges Sacca, a close collaborator of Madougou, met with Colonel Ibrahim Mama Toure on February 26 to discuss both tasks. The two men were later detained by police, Metonou said, without saying if they were charged or released. "The goal of these operations is to provoke terror, chaos and therefore succeed in suspending the ongoing electoral process," Metonou said. "From confessions of the Colonel, it emerged that the money was sent by Madougou." Joel Aivo, another opposition member who was barred from running, said he witnessed Madougou being arrested. "Our car was blocked by security forces... four officers took away our car with Mrs Madougou aboard," he wrote on social media Wednesday. Minutes before her arrest, the leader of the Democrats party, a close ally of former president Boni Yayi, had denounced the current regime's tactics. "We will not succumb to intimidations, obstacles and bullying," said Aivo. On Tuesday, two members of Madougou's party were charged with conspiracy and terrorism, their lawyer and a judicial source said. "Bio Dramane Tidjani and Mamadou Tidjani are political hostages," Madougou had said after their arrest. Separately, Sebastien Ajavon, a key opposition leader who came in third in the last election and was convicted of drug trafficking in 2018 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, was sentenced in absentia on Monday to five years for forgery and fraud. Ajavon is currently living in exile in France, like many of the country's opposition members. Talon, a cotton tycoon, was elected in 2016. He had initially said he would complete only one mandate, later changing his mind and announcing in mid-February he was running again. Benin has long been viewed as a vibrant democracy, but Talon's critics say the country has veered into authoritarianism under his rule. Fife Coastline Anstruther by Professor Bill Austin. Credit: University of St Andrews Scientists from the University of St Andrews and Marine Scotland have undertaken the first full mapping of carbon stores across the UK's offshore Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to provide updated evidence for those trying to address aspects of climate and environmental change. Marine sediments accumulating on the ocean floor act as traps and long-term stores of carbon. The new article, published in Frontiers in Earth Science today (4 March 2021), is the first comprehensive assessment of the entire UK EEZ carbon stock and provides a new methodological framework to map carbon in shelf sea sediments that could be applied worldwide. The research provides a UK-wide national break-down of carbon stocks in marine sediments, placing Scotland's shelf seas very much at the forefront of these natural resources. While representing only 8.9 percent of the global seabed area, continental shelf sediments are estimated to hold 16 percent of the global organic carbon stock and annually account for 86 percent of all organic carbon buried in marine subtidal sediments. These sedimentary environments are believed to play an important role in the global carbon cycle and as such require management to ensure this climate service continues. An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an area of the sea in which a sovereign state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind. The UK EEZ includes a variety of marine sedimentary environments across a range of water depths. The UK has one of the most intensively mapped seabeds in terms of carbon storage, however, any attempt to bring data together from the fjords, estuaries and adjacent deep waters to develop the first holistic understanding of surficial carbon over the entire UK EEZ has proved difficult. Previous carbon stock estimates within the UK EEZ have been produced for different areas, such as the Scottish and Irish Fjords. Additionally, more expansive estimates have been made for the North West European shelf which partially encompasses the UK EEZ. Many of these earlier estimates assume that the physical properties and organic content for each sediment type are uniform across the entire study area. However, it is well documented that these factors differ spatially, with coastal muds, estuaries and fjords containing significantly more organic carbon than offshore areas. Dr. Craig Smeaton, a research fellow at the University of St Andrews, said: "To overcome the issues encountered by earlier studies, nearly 275,000 data points were compiled describing the sediment type on the seabed and allowing the creation of a bespoke high-resolution map of the UK EEZ seabed. This, in conjunction with carbon data from across the UK EEZ, allowed a detailed picture of the spatial distribution of C storage across the seafloor." Professor William Austin, from the School of Geography and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, said: "Our research highlights the significant role of carbon storage in Scotland's marine sediments. If we can manage some of these carbon-rich 'hot-spots' we might reduce the release of greenhouse gases that would otherwise contribute to global warming, at the same time supporting their rich biodiversity and improving their resilience to ongoing climate change impacts." Dr. Bill Turrell, from Marine Scotland, said: "We are very pleased to help with this important improvement to our evidence base and understanding of seabed carbon stores. Marine Scotland is promoting collaborative scientific work on carbon stores and carbon sequestration along our coasts, and in and under the sea through the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum. The Forum provides a platform both for researchers to provide scientific advice directly to policy makers, and for Government to engage directly with researchers." Explore further UNESCO reveals largest carbon stores found in Australian World Heritage Sites More information: Craig Smeaton et al. Marine Sedimentary Carbon Stocks of the United Kingdom's Exclusive Economic Zone, Frontiers in Earth Science (2021). Craig Smeaton et al. Marine Sedimentary Carbon Stocks of the United Kingdom's Exclusive Economic Zone,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/feart.2021.593324 Biochemist Jennifer Doudna won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2020 for her work on genetic editing. Shes the subject of a new biography by Walter Isaacson. By coincidence, another of the months most anticipated books was written by a Nobel laureate, Kazuo Ishiguro. Its safe to say hes familiar with Doudnas work, but it would be a disservice to his readers to say much more. Heres a look at those books and eight more being released this month that deserve a spot on your nightstand. Fiction Foregone, Russell Banks (Ecco, $28.99): Documentary filmmaker Leonard Fife is a celebrity of sorts in Canada, where he moved in the 60s to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. Thats the story hes always told. But hes an old man now, and dying, so when a former student shows up to make a movie about him, Fife has a different tale to tell. Readers familiar with Banks novels such as Affliction and The Sweet Hereafter, full of loss and melancholy, will be ready to hear it. On sale now. Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro (Knopf, $28): In his first novel since he won the Nobel Prize in 2017, Ishiguro returns to the science fiction genre of his masterpiece Never Let Me Go. The Klara of the title is the books narrator, a childlike robot. An Artificial Friend to be precise, Klara is keenly observant. Human emotions are unfamiliar to her, though, so when she goes home with an affluent but apparently sickly teenage girl named Josie, the things she sees and hears suggests something is amiss in this near future. On sale now. On ExpressNews.com: S.A. novelist foretold Texas deadly winter freeze How Beautiful We Were, Imbolo Mbue (Random House, $28): Mbue, whose debut novel Behold the Dreamers, was an Oprahs Book Club pick, follows up with an environmental David and Goliath story. When a U.S. oil company sets up operations near an African village, pollution follows and then sickness. When no one will listen to their pleas, the villagers decide to take on the company themselves. Tuesday. Libertie, Kaitlyn Greenidge (Algonquin, $26.95): We Love You, Charlie Freeman, Greenidges acclaimed debut, was like a literary Get Out, a family-centered horror comedy that raised the specter of racist experiments on unwitting Black subjects. Her sophomore novel digs further back into history. Libertie is set in New York during and after the Civil War, and the title character is the daughter of one of the first Black female doctors in the U.S. It imagines what freedom might mean for a young Black woman in that time and place. March 30. Of Women and Salt, Gabriela Garcia (Flatiron Books, $26.99): This debut novel starts in Cuba in the 1800s, stops in Mexico and Texas, and ends not long ago in Miami. It is a story of families, immigrants and untold histories, and it starts with a mother looking back on her daughters life, snapshots of a normal Florida childhood that has dissolved into addiction. Tell me you want to live, she says to her daughter, and Ill tell you my secrets. March 30. Nonfiction Amoralman, Derek DelGaudio (Knopf, $37): In & Of Itself, DelGaudios celebrated one-man show, might take your breath away. Great magicians can do that to you. Its the tears you dont expect as DelGaudio does a deep dive into identity and what it means to be seen. His new memoir delves into similar territory, specifically his fascination with sleight of hand and how it led him to be a card cheat and how he lives with that now. Like the show, its a mix of magic, fables and biography if you can trust that a man who admits to deceiving people for a living is telling the truth. On sale now. Decoding Despacito, Leila Cobo (Vintage, $16.95): This oral history of Latin music, the term conventionally used for music sung in Spanish, is named for the Luis Fonsi hit that spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in 2017 and signaled a renewed appreciation for the music among mainstream listeners. But, as Billboard executive Cobo points out, Latin musics popularity has come and gone in waves for years. Her approach to charting its history is to talk to the creators musicians, songwriters, producers about songs that made a difference, from Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano in 1970 to Malamente, the 2018 hit by Spanish flamenco artist Rosalia. Selenas Amor Prohibido falls near the middle, in 1994, the title song to an album that revolutionized Tejano music, Cobo writes, fusing the genre with blends of hip-hop, ranchera, cumbia and electronic beats. On sale now. The Code Breaker, Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster, $35): Popular biographer Isaacsons latest traces the development of the gene-editing tool CRISPR, which has been used, among other things, to treat sickle-cell anemia. The focus is on Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Jennifer Doudna, though Isaacson makes clear that the major scientific advances were collaborative efforts, with competing claims for credit and lucrative patents in the aftermath. The book is so up-to-date that it bumps into the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the full impact of gene editing big questions in biology, health care and morality is still unknown. Tuesday. This is the Fire, Don Lemon (Little, Brown and Co., $28): CNN anchor Lemons book on racism in the U.S. is flecked with the anger that can spark his monologues and interactions with recalcitrant guests. But hes not out to scorch the earth, no matter what the title, inspired by James Baldwins The Fire Next Time, says. With a mix of U.S. history, personal history and reporting, he wants to start uncomfortable conversations about racism without shutting out people who think this problem is not their problem. March 16. Horizontal Vertigo, Juan Villoro (Pantheon, $30): Mexico City may be too vast, too populous, too much to write about in a conventional way. How can anyone represent a city that grew up around the dual temple of the Aztecs and that a few years ago was the natural setting for the futuristic, apocalyptic film Elysium, writes novelist Juan Villoro, a lifelong resident. Instead, Villoro presents a series of essays character studies, biographies, sketches of places and ceremonies that form a sort of collage that, when viewed from a certain angle, reveal a portrait of the metropolis. March 23. jkiest@express-news.net A new trial will see sanitary products handed out for free in public schools to address the growing issue of period poverty. New South Wales will follow the lead of other states in providing sanitary products to students who are missing school because they don't have access to them. Department of Education secretary Mark Scott announced the trial in a budgets estimates hearing on Wednesday, the SMH reported. Isobel Marshall was named the 2021 Young Australian of the Year for her work in addressing period poverty 'We are developing work on a pilot program around this and details will be emerging on that shortly,' Mr Scott said. Pictured: Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott 'We are looking to test how we could effectively roll this out.' Young Australian of the Year, Isobel Marshall recently put a national spotlight on the issue through her work to fight period poverty at home and overseas. Ms Marshall and friend Eloise Hall created non-for-profit social enterprise 'TABOO' in 2017 and developed a brand of ethically sourced organic sanitary products. Ms Marshall said menstrual products should be more accessible and affordable, and shouldn't act as a barrier to education. Dr Ruth Knight from The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies told Women's Agenda that period poverty is still considered a 'taboo topic'. 'Period poverty is a real issue that is under-researched', Dr Knight said. 'We have anecdotal evidence of teachers personally donating products but there is a lack of data about the level of need. 'We've been told girls use socks or rolled up toilet paper with underwear left on the floor or in bins while toilets are only accessible at certain times of the day.' Pictured: Dr Ruth Knight from the The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies Dr Knight said the announcement of the trial was 'fantastic' but also 'long overdue'. She said educators have been anecdotally aware of the existence of period poverty in their schools, but rarely made records of when girls were experiencing it. There was no evidence of girls leaving or missing school because of their period until recently, maybe that's the reason why there's policy now, she said. 'While I'm interested in gathering evidence of incidents, I'm equally as interested in interventions, programs and solutions', Dr Knight said. 'Providing pads, tampons and other sanitary products is just one piece of the puzzle'. Dr Knight said education around the issue was essential in empowering girls to have 'period dignity'. 'Period dignity is being able to talk openly about periods, it's taking it to the human rights level of the conversation.' Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott has announced a new trial that will give public school students free sanitary products Victoria became the first state in Australia to provide free period products to students in government schools in 2020. Machines that dispensed period products were installed in every school in the state, in a $20.7 million initiative that was completed in June, 2020 and will continue for the next three years. In February, South Australia announced free sanitary items would be provided to all female students in Year 5 and above. Of the $450,000 program, South Australia's Education Minister John Gardner said the three year investment would assist the students in greatest need. 'We are committed to working with schools on improving student well being and removing barriers to learning', he said. 'We want to ensure that no girl or young woman in South Australia is missing school because they dont have access to sanitary products.' Loyalist paramilitary organisations have told UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson they are withdrawing support for Northern Irelands historic peace agreement. The outlawed groups said they were temporarily withdrawing their backing of the Belfast/Good Friday accord amid mounting concerns about the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol governing Irish Sea trade post-Brexit. However, they stressed that unionist opposition to the protocol should remain peaceful and democratic. The 1998 agreement that loyalist paramilitaries endorsed 23 years ago ended decades of violence and established devolved powersharing at Stormont. UK ministers are facing a backlash from unionists who fear the post-Brexit protocol threatens Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market. The DUP and other unionist parties are pushing for the protocol to be ditched, claiming it has driven an economic wedge between the region and Great Britain which undermines the union. Read More A letter sent to Mr Johnson by an umbrella body representing the paramilitaries said their stance in respect of the Belfast Agreement would continue until the protocol was amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the United Kingdom. It added: If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement. The development came as the UK Government took unilateral action on Wednesday to extend a grace period that has been limiting the volume of red tape associated with moving agri-food goods from GB into Northern Ireland. The EU criticised the UK Government move to extend the exemption period, which was due to run out at the end of the month, until October, claiming it risked breaching the terms of the protocol. Goods arriving into Northern Ireland from GB have been subjected to added processes and checks since the Brexit transition period ended on December 31. That bureaucracy is set to intensify significantly when the grace period ends, as from that point supermarkets and other retailers will require EU export health certificates for agri-food products brought in from GB . Taoiseach Micheal Martin has also accused the UK government of undermining trust over Northern Irelands EU special trade status guaranteed under Brexit. The Taoiseach expressed his dismay at the move. He said the ongoing problems should be worked on by the joint EU-UK joint committee set up to deal with them. We have worked continuously in support of efforts to find sensible means of implementing the Protocol that respond to challenges identified, the Taoiseach said. We will continue to do so, but unilateral action undermines the trust necessary to reach agreement. I call on the British government to engage urgently with the European Commission, and to work towards agreed outcomes, Mr Martin added. Now, the letter to the Prime Minister was written by David Campbell, chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council. Mr Campbell has penned a similar letter to Irish premier Micheal Martin. The LCC represents the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando, which were responsible for many deaths during 30 years of conflict. The main loyalist and republican armed groups signed up to principles like commitment to non-violence during discussions which led to the signing of the Belfast Agreement in exchange for early release of prisoners. The letter says: We are concerned about the disruption to trade and commerce between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that is occurring, but our core objection is much more fundamental. It said during the Brexit negotiations the Government and the EU said it was paramount to protect the Belfast Agreement and its built-in safeguards for the two main communities in Northern Ireland. The letter said the operation of the protocol repeatedly breaches those objectives. Mr Campbell insisted the LCC leadership is determined that opposition to the protocol should be peaceful and democratic. However, please do not under-estimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family, he adds. The only time I can remember such unanimity of opposition was following the imposition of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985. Accordingly, I have been instructed to advise you that the loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement until our rights under the agreement are restored and the protocol is amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the United Kingdom. If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement. The protocol is designed to prevent the imposition of a hard border on the island of Ireland by keeping Northern Ireland following EU trade rules. It has caused disruption to some goods travelling from the rest of the UK as suppliers have struggled to overcome extra red tape. Police have noted growing discontent in unionist communities. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne previously warned of a febrile atmosphere and urged people to step back from the brink of violence. Inspection staff at ports were temporarily withdrawn from duties earlier this year in response to sinister graffiti, but they later resumed their work after police insisted there was no credible threat against them. Last week, Stormonts DUP Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons stopped preparatory work on building permanent Irish Sea trade checks at the ports. That move, the legality of which has been disputed by executive colleagues, did not impact ongoing checks, as those are happening at temporary port facilities. The Kremlin yesterday played down the impact of sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union over Moscows treatment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, but said it would retaliate with reciprocal measures. In US President Joe Bidens most direct challenge yet to the Kremlin, the US on Tuesday imposed sanctions to punish Russia for what it described as Moscows attempt to poison Mr Navalny with a nerve agent last year. Mr Navalny (44) fell ill on a flight in Siberia in August and German doctors concluded he had been poisoned with a nerve agent. The Kremlin has denied any role in his illness. Washington on Tuesday imposed sanctions against seven senior Russian officials and on 14 entities. The US acted in concert with the EU, which imposed largely symbolic sanctions on four senior Russian officials. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would hit back in a way that best served its interests. Of course its impossible not to apply the principle of reciprocity, he told reporters. We consider such decisions to be absurd, unjustified and most importantly, they have no effect or meaning. We can only regret this and express our bewilderment. Mr Peskov said the US sanctions would have no effect on the officials targeted because they are not allowed to travel outside Russia, own property abroad or hold foreign bank accounts due to the sensitivity of their positions. Maria Zakharova, of Russias Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday that the sanctions amounted to interference in Russias internal affairs, and that Moscow would retaliate but not necessarily symmetrically. Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] The Jefferson Parish School Board adopted a discipline policy for virtual lessons Wednesday night, after enduring months of furor and legal battles stemming from the suspension of a Harvey fourth grader whom a teacher saw handling a BB gun in his bedroom during an online class. The new policy keeps suspensions and potential expulsions in place for students seen handling weapons, even if they are fake or toys, and for a number of other offenses including drug-related actions, bullying or cheating. The policy gives students and parents a right to expect privacy in their homes - a major point of contention in the battles that ensued after the student was suspended in September - but only "outside the view of teachers and peers in the virtual classroom." The board's approval comes as the school system faces a legal challenge from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who has been harshly critical of Jefferson for suspending Ka'Mauri Harrison. Last month, Landry sued the School Board, accusing it of violating the state's public meetings law when it created a previous virtual discipline policy that it approved in November. Landry filed his suit in state court in Jefferson Parish. Harrison and his family have sued the school system in federal court in New Orleans. The attorney general alleges that the school system did not properly hold public meetings of a state law-required discipline review committee and did not provide proper public notice of the committee's meetings. That committee convened Monday in a meeting that was publicly advertised and open to public comment. On Wednesday, the School Board approved the policy unanimously and without discussion. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up School system officials said the new policy contained only "minor clarifying revisions" and that they thought the first process had been above board. "Questions have recently been raised as to whether our discipline review committee meetings should also have been open to the public," a school system spokesperson said. "Out of an abundance of caution, and in order to put to rest any concerns as to whether the committee meetings and the policy approved by the board comply with the law, we held an open meeting of the discipline policy review committee on March 1." The original policy was a response to a 2020 state law that requires school systems to create discipline policies and add avenues of appeal for students who are recommended for expulsion. The law was dubbed the Ka'Mauri Harrison Bill when lawmakers rallied to the student's side after his suspension. Harrison, who was 9 at the time, allegedly moved a BB gun from one side of his chair to another while he was taking an online test. His teacher reported the incident to the school administration, saying it appeared to be a "full size rifle" in Ka'Mauri's hands. Administrators first recommended Ka'Mauri for expulsion. That was later reduced to a six-day suspension. After the Legislature approved the bill, the School Board reduced it further to three days, matching the punishment handed down to a Grand Isle sixth grader accused of a similar offense. Parents will be asked to acknowledge receipt of the new policy, which goes into effect immediately. First Minister Arlene Foster believes the Republic of Irelands slower Covid-19 vaccination programme will cause problems as Northern Irelands continues to move at pace. The number of people in Northern Ireland who have received their first Covid vaccination has reached almost 600,000. Speaking during Thursdays Covid-19 press conference, Mrs Foster said the differing speeds at which the vaccine programmes are progressing will bring headaches. Its very clear that we are going to be finished our vaccination programme and the Republic of Ireland will still be in the midst of theirs. That does bring headaches, stated the DUP leader. I think we will have to hear from our Chief Medical Officer [Dr Michael McBride] in relation to that - whether we need to take any actions. Read More If you have people who are interacting with people who have been vaccinated then it becomes less effective because the virus learns that and then we would be in difficulty. I think there will be a need to look at this in the future. Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill stated that the Executive will begin to lift lockdown restrictions as soon as were in a position to give certainty. Things do look good today, she said. The virus transmission is on a downward trajectory but with what we've experienced in the past year that can quickly reverse itself. With the continued support of the public well get to the point very quickly where well be able to announce what does the first stage in lifting the restrictions looks like. Meanwhile, the Health Minister said he is not in favour of Covid-19 vaccine certificates becoming mandatory in Northern Ireland. Robin Swann said they may be used for international travel but the idea they may be required in Northern Ireland to visit the cinema or restaurant doesnt sit comfortably with me. Appearing at the Stormont health committee on Thursday morning, the UUP minister also said the use of vaccine certificates is not generally supported by the Executive. BANGALORE, India, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Electric Toothbrush Market is Segmented by Type (Rechargeable, Battery), by Application (Adults, Children), Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212027. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the Hygiene & Toiletries Category. The global Electric Toothbrush market was valued at USD 1628 Million in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 2163 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.7% during 2021-2026. Major factors driving the growth of electric toothbrush market size are: Rise in awareness towards oral hygiene among the young generation. Continuous technological advancements in electric toothbrushes. Increase in disposable income in the developing countries. Get Free Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-1478/Global_Electric_Toothbrush_Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH MARKET SIZE The increasing awareness about maintaining good oral hygiene is expected to drive the growth of electric toothbrush market size. Oral diseases are expected to be the among the most common non-communicable diseases in the world, with tooth decay being the most common. Increased urbanisation and lifestyle changes have resulted in increased consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, sugars, and other unhealthy food which in turn has affected oral hygiene. The increasing awareness of maintaining good oral health is expected to fuel the electric toothbrush product demand. The increase in the percentage of the aspiring middle-class population, together with an increase in disposable income and in healthcare spending, is expected to boost the growth of electric toothbrush market size. Continuous technological advances are expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities for the players in the electric toothbrush market. For example, an electric toothbrush can be transformed into a smart device that can provide dental professionals, patients and insurers with insights into a patient's brushing routine. When available to a dental professional, this information may be used to guide and monitor the browsing behaviour (through tele-dentistry). It also provides dental professionals with a more complete overview of the oral health of the patient when he or she visits the practise. There are currently a few smart toothbrushes on the market that allow remote monitoring of brushing behaviour and oral health status. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-1478/global-electric-toothbrush-market ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS Based on the product type, the Rechargeable Electric Toothbrushes are dominating the market, with a share over 75% in volume and 93% in revenue in 2019. Rechargeable toothbrushes, unlike battery toothbrushes, do most of the work for you, and all you have to do is guide them into your mouth. Rechargeable toothbrushes also come with a variety of features, including multiple brushing modes, timers that tell users how long they should brush each area of their mouth, and reminders to replace the brush head. Europe in the largest market, has nearly 60% of the market share in 2019, and Asia-Pacific is the second market, with a market share of 26% in 2019, due to the rapid growth in China and Southeast Asia. This dominance of Europe is attributed to the affordability among high disposable incomes consumers, preference for premium dental care, and the concerted efforts of manufacturers in launching products utilizing advanced technology. ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH MARKET SEGMENTATION By Type Rechargeable Battery By Application Adults Children By Region: North America Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East & Africa . Inquire for Regional Data: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-1478/Global_Electric_Toothbrush_Market By Companies Philips Sonicare, P&G (Oral-B and Crest) Colgate The above companies are dominating the high-end market. Xiaomi, Huawei, TCL, Haier, usmile, Saky, Soocas, Roaman, Flyco, DARLIE, Meizu, Chigo, Others. This in turn is expected to make the market for electric toothbrushes more competitive especially in the middle and low-end market. 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SIMILAR REPORTS : - Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush Market is Segmented by Type Inductive Type, Wired Type, by Application Adults, Children and by various regions. - Kids Electric Toothbrush Market is Segmented by Type 0 to 6 Years Old, 6 to 13 Years Old, by Application Online, Offline and by various regions. - Children Electric Toothbrush Market is Segmented by Type Vibration, Rotation-Oscillation, by Application Children Aged 3-6, Children Aged 6-12, Others and by various regions. - Electric Toothbrush Head Market is Segmented by Type Reciprocating Linear, Rotary Motion, by Application Adults, Children and by various regions. - Electric Oral Care Market is Segmented by Type Electric Toothbrush, Electric Tongue Cleaner, Electric Flosser, by Application Online Stores, Retail Stores and by various regions. Click Here To See More Related Reports On Electric Toothbrush Market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports SOURCE Valuates Reports The founder of an anti-crime patrol group in New York City has been indicted for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in 2017. Authorities unsealed the three-count indictment Thursday morning against Jacob Daskal, who ran the Shomrims Brooklyn South Safety Patrol, a Hasidic neighborhood watch group, at the time of the alleged abuse. According to the court filings, between August and November 2017, Daskal, who was then 59 years old, engaged in a sexual relationship with the teenager whom he took into his home in Brooklyn, where he groomed her for sex. Jacob Daskal (left and right during his first arrest in 2018), who is the founder of an anti-crime patrol group in New York City, has been indicted for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in 2017 During the summer of 2017, Daskal (pictured during his first arrest in 2018) allegedly 'engaged in sexual relations with the victim primarily at his residence and at his summer home in South Fallsburg, New York' During the summer of 2017, Daskal allegedly 'engaged in sexual relations with the victim primarily at his residence and at his summer home in South Fallsburg, New York'. A few months later in October 2017, the victim moved to Chicago to attend a new school and live with another family, authorities said. 'While the victim was in Chicago, Daskal communicated with her via text message and over Skype video chat,' authorities said in a statement. 'He requested that she pose nude for him during their video chats and send him nude photographs as well.' According to the indictment, Daskal on November 5, 2017, traveled by plane to Chicago to visit the victim and brought her to a hotel room. While there, he engaged in sexual intercourse and oral sex with the victim, prosecutors said. During the alleged abuse, Daskal was the founder and chief of the Borough Park Shomrim Society, a private anti-crime patrol group. Authorities said his position in the community 'led the victim to feel threatened when he told her not to tell anyone about their sexual relationship'. The shomrim has been around since the 1970s and has a close relationship with law enforcement. In 2018, the victim told her mentor about the alleged abuse and then reported it to the police. In 2018, the victim told her mentor about the alleged abuse and then reported it to the police. At that time, Daskal (pictured in May 2018) was arrested and charged with third-degree rape before being free on $75,000 bond Daskal (pictured in 2018 with his family as they left court) has been charged with coercing a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct At that time, Daskal was arrested and charged with third-degree rape before being free on $75,000 bond. On Thursday, Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Seth D. DuCharme, said in a statement that Daskal 'exploited the vulnerability of a young teenager by grooming her for sex and enticing her into having sexual relations with him'. 'Protecting underage minors from flagrant sexual abuse and predators like the defendant will always be a high priority of this Office and the Department of Justice.' DuCharme said. FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F Sweeney said: 'A man who founded an organization aimed at creating a safer community should know the difference between right and wrong. As we allege, Mr. Daskal's position of influence may have helped him attempt to silence his victim, but it won't stop the FBI from holding him accountable. 'Sexually exploiting a teenaged girl is a crime that carries severe consequences, and we hope Mr. Daskal's arrest will demonstrate to other victims that they can come forward,' Sweeney added. Daskal has been charged with coercing a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. If convicted of the charges, Daskal faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. Sweeney said anyone with information about this investigation or the identities of additional victims should call authorities at 212-384-1000. WE are now reading that the Minister of Sport has come out with a statement regarding our participation in the Tokyo Olympics. As with the usual run-of-the-mill political type, the statement vacillates, kicks the can down the road and seeks to avoid the issue. Let us be clear on what the situation is regarding these Olympics. States consider bills to ban abortion based on Down syndrome: 'Dignity they deserve' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Lawmakers in Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Arizona are considering bills to ban all abortions based solely on prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, similar to legislation passed in other states. Introduced earlier this year, Pennsylvanias Senate Bill 21, which would ban abortions based on Down syndrome diagnoses and sex of the child, was introduced and co-sponsored by 16 Republicans. In Arizona, lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 1457, which would ban medical providers from providing abortions when a fetus has a genetic abnormality such as Down syndrome. Meanwhile, South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem introduced a similar bill in the Mount Rushmore State. The Declaration of Independence summarizes what we all know in our hearts to be true: God created each of us and endowed all of us with the right to life, Noem said in a statement. This is true for everyone, including those with an extra chromosome. In recent years, multiple statehouses have passed legislation to ban abortion based on a Down syndrome diagnosis. Ingrid Duran, National Right to Life Committee director of state legislation, told The Christian Post in an email that these pieces of legislation protect Down syndrome babies from being discriminated against. Eugenics in abortion is real and must be prevented, Duran wrote. These laws are so important to protect unborn children from this type of discrimination in the womb. Last month, South Dakota legislators heard testimony from supporters of the bill, including pro-life and Down syndrome advocates. And in Arizona, a Republican-majority Senate panel approved SB 1457 in early February. According to NBC News, advocates on both sides believe the measure will go before the Senate floor and is expected to pass. In Pennsylvania, legislators passed a similar bill in 2019. However, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the pro-life legislation, according to the Associated Press. Tennessee passed a bill last July allowing the state to enforce abortion reason bans based on a Down syndrome diagnosis or the race and sex of the child. The law was upheld by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a ruling last November. Mississippi also enacted legislation last year banning abortion for the reasons of race, sex or a genetic abnormality such as Down syndrome. In 2017, Ohio passed legislation making it illegal for doctors to perform abortion solely because of a Down syndrome diagnosis. The legislation was later blocked by a divided Sixth Circuit panel. Passing these laws demonstrates the compassion our society should have towards the vulnerable and that the humanity of these preborn babies or anyone with any disability or potential disability is worthy of protection, Duran wrote. Abortion-rights proponents have spoken out against such bills over the years, claiming they violate women's ability to make decisions about abortion with their doctors. In 2014, Pennsylvania passed the Down Syndrome Prenatal Education Act, or Chloes Law, which requires healthcare providers to provide information to women who receive a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis,according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Named for Chloe Kondrich, a girl with Down syndrome, the bills efforts were spearheaded by her father to give families hope and make them aware of resources to steer them away from abortion. In 2017, 18% of all pregnancies in the U.S., excluding miscarriages, led to abortion, according to Guttmacher Institute. The rate is higher for pregnancies with a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, though the percentage is not certain. In countries like Great Britain, Germany and Denmark, studies show over 90% of babies born with Down syndrome are aborted, according to the Life Institute, an Ireland-based pro-life organization. In Iceland, it was reported that virtually all babies with Down syndrome are aborted. Dr. James Dobson, Christian psychologist and founder of Focus on the Family, commented in 2017 on a CBS report regarding Icelands Down syndrome abortion rates and said, a child born with a chromosome defect is a child made in God's image, fully capable of living a happy, productive and healthy life. "I have rarely seen a story that so closely resembles Nazi-era eugenics as a recent report about Iceland 'eradicating' nearly 100 percent of Down syndrome births through abortion," Dobson said. "This is a trend closely followed by other Western nations including Denmark, France and even the United States. We should all be deeply sorrowful and outraged." Down syndrome is the most prevalent chromosomal condition and occurs when an individual has an extra copy of chromosome 21. It affects about one in every 700 babies born in the United States, and around 6,000 babies with Down syndrome are born in the U.S. every year, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. We [as a society] are slowly starting to treat people with disabilities with the respect and dignity that they deserve, Duran wrote. We are starting to see more representation in the media of persons with Down syndrome and autism even in mainstream media like Atypical on Netflix, Parenthood, and Life Goes On. Having adequate representation shows that these individuals with love and support can and do lead full, productive, and enriching lives. They bring joy to their loved ones. Dressed in camouflage, her face covered in mud, Ismaira Figueroa holds her position on a hill, rifle in hand, as she takes part in military exercises simulating an invasion. "I feel like I was born to do this and if I had to die for this... I'm ready," says the 43-year-old sniper from the "Milicia," a civilian militia attached to the armed forces. "Dying for my country, for my children, for my mother, for my siblings... I'm ready to give my life," she adds. Figueroa says she's ready to defend Venezuela and the populist socialist "Bolivarian" regime of President Nicolas Maduro from any "invading army." She's a single mother of four, including a three-year-old daughter. When not wearing military fatigues, Figueroa is a make-up artist and stylist. She also does social work in her community, is a biker and knits in her spare time. In her home in the Palomera neighborhood in Caracas, Figueroa has a photo of late former leader Hugo Chavez, whom she views as a god. In 1994, aged 16, she unsuccessfully tried to see him leaving prison, and once climbed a tree to try to "touch his finger." When Chavez came to power in 1999, he began implementing social policies that proved highly popular with much of the population, although he was accused of authoritarianism by his detractors. Figueroa was one of the people who took to the streets in 2002 to "save" Chavez as a coup d'etat unfolded to remove him from power. It lasted only two days. It was for Chavez that Figueroa joined the Milicia he created in 2009 and described as "people in arms." "We are not a little enemy," said Figueroa, a second sergeant. "The Milicia is the vegetable seller, the dog walker... a teacher, a taxi driver, a nurse." Maduro claims there are four million members of the militia out of a population of 30 million. - 'Men don't like someone in their zone' - Story continues Figueroa had never thought about becoming a sniper when she joined the Milicia in 2010, but her unit commander convinced her to try. "It's a world that is mostly male," she said. "Men don't like it much when someone is in their zone. When you're a sniper who shoots better... it awakens a certain zeal." She keeps a folder with her diplomas, including a sheet of paper with six holes in it that confirmed her graduation as an "expert marksman" in 2016. It's called a "fly" because from a distance, the six holes appear to be a single black dot. "Before pulling the trigger... you empty your mind and just concentrate on your breathing," said Figueroa. "You relax again and let the shot surprise you." Figueroa says she's only fired her gun in practice. "I've never killed anyone," she said, though insists she is prepared to do so. Maduro has accused both the United States and neighboring Colombia -- his main international detractors -- of planning to assassinate him. In May 2020, Venezuelan authorities thwarted an attempted sea invasion by mercenaries that left eight dead and 66 people captured, including two retired US servicemen. - 'I'm not a masochist' - Before she joined the militia, Figueroa was a member of the Bolivarian Circles -- political and social worker organizations created by Chavez -- that were accused of violence against opponents to the regime, something she denies. Strolling through Plaza Bolivar in the Baruta neighborhood of Caracas, Figueroa greets neighbors, police and bikers. She says she gets on equally with the regime's supporters and its opponents, although claims to have once been fired over her support for Chavez. And she is as committed to Chavez's "Bolivarian revolution" as ever. She plans to keep progressing within the Milicia, where she earns just $4 a month -- around four times the minimum wage. She blames low wages on Venezuela's economic crisis and the international sanctions imposed against the Maduro regime, including an oil embargo. "My conscience isn't worth a kilogram of flour. The more hungry I am, the more I love the revolution. That's not being a masochist, it's just that you cannot let up in this battle." jt/mbj/erc/bc/to 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. Supplier News 4 March 2021 StayNTouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management software and contactless solutions, today announced the appointment of Michael Heflin as Chief Revenue Officer. Prior to joining StayNTouch, Mr. Heflin served as the President of Andrew Harper, a full-service luxury travel agency, and as the SVP of Hotels for Internova Travel Group, where he oversaw hotel strategy at one of the industry's largest travel agency groups. Mr. Helfin also served as EVP & COO of Anglepoint, where he executed global financial and business process strategies. As the Chief Revenue Officer at StayNTouch, Mr. Heflin will be responsible for aligning and optimizing all revenue streams, delivering maximum value to customers, executing on joint venture partnerships, and leading the company's growth strategy. Tom Underwood, CEO of StayNTouch, remarked, "I am excited to welcome Michael Heflin to the StayNTouch team. Michael's extensive industry experience, combined with his innovative and data-driven approach to achieving revenue growth and customer satisfaction will serve both StayNTouch and our clients exceptionally well." "It is an honor to join an innovative company like StayNTouch at such a pivotal time in our industry," said Mr. Heflin, "StayNTouch provides a cutting-edge cloud PMS, and I look forward to working with the team to bring greater value to our customers and execute on new opportunities for expansion." About StayNTouch StayNTouch provides a fully cloud and mobile hotel property management system (PMS) that enables hotels to raise service levels, drive revenues, reduce costs, and ultimately captivate their guests. Backed by a team of professionals with deep roots in the hospitality industry, StayNTouch is a trusted partner to many forward-thinking hotels and resorts, including the TWA Hotel, First Hotels, Conscious Hotels, Margaritaville, Valencia Hotel Group, and Modus Hotels. School districts can decide for themselves whether to stick with their anti-coronavirus precautions, state education officials said Wednesday, following up on Gov. Gregg Abbotts decision to drop his statewide order for mask-wearing and limited building occupancy. That will mean few if any changes to current practices, some local school districts predicted after the Texas Education Agency announced it was now up to them. Bexar Countys three largest school districts, Northside, North East and San Antonio ISDs, said they will continue enforcing the safety protocols they already have in place, including requiring everyone on campuses to wear a mask. I see us staying in that mode for a good while if not the rest of the school year especially if were looking to bring more students into the classrooms, said Patti Radle, San Antonio Independent School Districts board president. Abbott said Tuesday the states reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations and increasing numbers of vaccinations justified allowing businesses to fully open and drop mask requirements if they choose. It drew immediate alarm from health experts and many local officials. School leaders said they had been waiting for the new TEA guidance before figuring out their next steps. In Northside ISD, a few parents expressed skepticism about the efficacy of masks after the district announced that it would continue requiring them, but most seemed pleased, said Barry Perez, district spokesman. Any decision is always going to be met with some who are in support of it and some who oppose it, but right now, the overwhelming consensus is that people appreciate the overall decision, he said. School boards looking to make masks optional within their districts will have to vote to do so, the TEA said. Carol Harle, Northside ISDs board president, said the mask requirement has been effective in reducing coronavirus transmission in schools. Bexar County school districts have been able to keep their positivity rates below 2 percent throughout the pandemic, even as the countys positivity rate has at times exceeded 20 percent. We are still continuing on with masks, Harle said. We know whats working, so rocking the boat with any other initiative or mandate is not really on the table for now. Most area school districts have offered both in-person and remote learning options for students since they began the current school year. Extensive health and safety protocols for those who return to classrooms include mandatory mask-wearing, room occupancy limits, daily health screenings and at some schools, weekly coronavirus testing. On ExpressNews.com: Texas orders vaccination priority for teachers, child care workers Among area districts, San Antonio ISD has been the most conservative about a return to classrooms, encouraging parents to keep children learning at home unless they needed the advantages of the classroom. The district managed to limit students learning in person to only about 30 percent of its enrollment after the winter break. It also has offered more coronavirus tests for students and staff than any other school district in Texas, Radle said. The SAISD approach to safety has been supported by parents in the district, which includes some of the ZIP codes in San Antonio hardest hit by the pandemic, she said. The TEA guidelines that will soon be lifted have required students and staff to wear masks anytime they are on school property and unable to maintain a distance of at least six feet from others, except when eating or drinking and for students younger than 10 or with a disability that makes it difficult to wear a mask. The updated guidance still encourages physical distancing but does not require it. Schools with classrooms in which keeping six feet apart is not possible should offer more opportunities for hand washing and sanitizing and consider whether increased airflow from the outdoors is possible, the new guidance states. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox Private schools in Bexar County are not bound by the TEA rules but several said they also dont plan to shuck off their safety precautions and will continue following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Central Catholic High School, Keystone School, Saint Marys Hall and San Antonio Academy said they will continue requiring masks within their buildings. We pride ourselves on maintaining our protocols that we have in place, including safety and social distancing guidelines, and nothing will change here, said Jason Longoria, Central Catholics director of advancement. Its been working for us and well continue to do that to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff, and our entire community. Staff writer Danya Perez contributed to this report. andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 59F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Larry J. Crabb, a psychologist, Bible teacher, author of more than 20 books, and a longtime professor at Colorado Christian University, has died after battling various illnesses. The Larger Story, a ministry founded by Crabbs eldest son, Kep, that seeks to preserve his fathers works, announced that Crabb had passed away early Sunday morning at age 76. As one who taught so many of us that it is possible to trust no matter our circumstances or condition of soul, Larry can now testify to the unspeakable joy and unlimited goodness of God. It truly is well with his soul, stated The Larger Story. Larry lived his life firmly anchored in the truth of this scripture, and now he is healed and whole and his lifelong faith points us all to the certainty of Gods great victory. What an honor to be part of his legacy. Source:The Christian Post TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "Magna Terra") (TSXV:MTT) is pleased to announce that it has started a Phase one, 2,000 metre drill program (the "Drill Program") designed to test the highly prospective Emilio Trend at the Cape Spencer Project ("Cape Spencer" or "Project"), located in southern New Brunswick (Exhibit A). The Drill Program will test priority targets on the western half of the 5-kilometre Emilio Trend based on recent and historic exploration results that demonstrate a strong mineralization system, in multiple gold occurrences. The drill program will target surface gold occurrences, including recent sampling with assays up to 21.2 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold, that are hosted along faulted geological contacts and associated structures as announced in news releases on December 17, 2020 and February 23, 2021 (Exhibit B). Highlights of the Emilio Trend include: 7.86 g/t gold over 7.4 metres in historic drill hole AB-04-06; 12.00 g/t gold over 1.4 metres and 2.77 g/t gold over 3.0 metres in historic outcrop chip samples; Recent and historic rock float and outcrop grab* samples up to 53.50 g/t gold; Numerous visible gold occurrences with 63 of 576 float and outcrop grab* samples assaying over 0.5 g/t gold; Emilio Trend footprint expanded to 5.0 kilometres - demonstrating the presence of a large-scale gold mineralizing system; and Recognition of multiple NNE striking faults, that are favourable hosts to gold mineralization. *Grab and float samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization that may be hosted on the property. "We are pleased to start our first drill program testing the Emilio Trend. This 2,000 metre drill program will test high priority targets that parallel major geological contacts as well as the recently identified structures off the Millican Lake Fault - a regional structure genetically linked to gold mineralization within the Emilio Trend. A cursory, 2004, six-hole program demonstrated the presence of gold mineralization in this area and included an intersection of 7.86 g/t gold over 7.4 metres. We have built on this and demonstrated the presence of a multi-kilometre, large-scale gold bearing system within the Emilio Trend that has the potential to host significant gold deposits. This phase-one program will be an initial test of the western half of this highly prospective part of the Emilio Trend, while we continue to generate new targets along the entire, currently identified 5.0 kilometre strike length." - Lew Lawrick, President and CEO, Magna Terra Minerals Inc. Drill Program Details 2,000 metres of diamond drilling will test the western half of the 5.0 kilometre long Emilio Trend. The Emilio Trend is defined by numerous gold occurrences, some with visible gold, soil geochemical anomalies with recent and historic rock float and grab assays up to 53.50 g/t gold; with 63 of 576 float and outcrop grab samples assaying over 0.5 g/t gold. The Emilio Trend has only been tested with cursory drilling (8 holes) to date with the majority of drilling (4 holes; 199 metres) testing one section of the Emilio Zone where drill core assays up to 7.86 g/t gold over 7.4 metres were intersected in near-surface drilling in hole AB-04-06 (Exhibit B). Mineralization comprises specular hematite and pyrite bearing quartz veins that are hosted within pervasively illite, pyrite and iron-carbonate altered and strongly deformed Millican Lake granite and Cape Spencer formation sediments, the same geological environment hosting the nearby Pit and Northeast Zones. Gold mineralization is hosted both in pyrite-bearing wallrock as well as low-sulphide (pyrite), visible gold bearing, quartz veins as observed in rock float, outcrop and in hole AB-04-06 at the Emilio Trend. Geological mapping has outlined the importance of two critical structural environments that host gold mineralization; 1) major faulted lithological contacts between the Millican Lake Granite and Cape Spencer formation sediments (hosts to the Northeast and Pit Zone Deposits) and; 2) a series secondary NNE striking fault splays off of the Millican Lake Fault. These fault zones, in certain cases, show strong coincidence with gold-bearing float and grab samples and wallrock alteration expanding the potential host structures for gold mineralization. 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 New Brunswick for partial funding of the exploration program under the NBJMAP Program. Cape Spencer Project Highlights 5,045 hectares along 15 kilometres of strike of a regional-scale gold bearing structure - the Millican Lake Fault and associated structures; Project is host to large untested gold bearing alteration systems including: 5.0 kilometre alteration and gold bearing Emilio Trend with drill intercepts up to 7.86 g/t gold over 7.4 metres; Marigold Prospect with drill intercepts up to 8.71 g/t gold over 2.0 metres; Birches Zone with drill intercepts up to 5.23 g/t gold over 4.0 metres; The Cape Spencer Deposit has an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 1,720,000 tonnes at an average grade of 2.72 g/t gold for 151,000 contained ounces in two zones: Northeast Zone - Inferred Mineral Resource of 740,000 tonnes at an average grade of 4.07 g/t gold, for 96,000 contained ounces at a cut-off grade of 2.5 g/t gold in a conceptual underground development; and Pit Zone - Inferred Mineral Resource of 990,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.71 g/t gold, for 54,000 contained ounces at a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t gold. **Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All Mineral Resource Estimates were prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards (2014). Please refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report with effective date January 23, 2019 by Harrington and Cullen (2019) as detailed below for the Cape Spencer Project. See further details on Technical Reports below. Note: Analytical results in this press release section are sourced in the Cape Spencer Project Technical Report (2019) - see "Technical Reports and Documentation Notes" below; "grab samples" are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization that may be hosted on the property. 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. Widths from drill core intervals reported in this press release are presented as core lengths only. True widths are unknown. All quoted drill core sample intervals, grades and production statistics have been compiled from historic assessment reports obtained from the Government of New Brunswick. All rock float and grab samples referred to in this release were analyzed for gold at ALS Global in North Vancouver, BC ("ALS"), using standard fire assay (30 g) pre-concentration and Atomic Absorption finish methods (method AU-AA23). Overlimit samples were analysed at ALS via gravimetric finish using method AU-GRA21 and select samples assaying >0.5 g/t gold were analysed via screen metallics method AU-SCR21. ALS is a fully accredited firm within the meaning of NI 43-101 for provision of this service. The Mineral Resource Estimate quoted in this press release regarding the Cape Spencer Project refers to the technical report: "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on The Cape Spencer Gold Deposit, Saint John County, New Brunswick, Canada", with an effective date of January 23, 2019, and authored by Michael Cullen, P.Geo. (Independent Qualified Person), and Matthew Harrington, P.Geo. (Independent Qualified Person). 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: Cape Spencer Project Property Geology and Gold Occurrences Exhibit B: Emilio Trend Geology and Rock Sample Locations and gold assays, including historic assay highlights SOURCE: Magna Terra Minerals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633352/Magna-Terra-Initiates-a-2000-Metre-Drill-Program-at-the-Emilio-Trend-Cape-Spencer-Project Samsung is collaborating with Mastercard on a biometric scanning payment card with a built-in fingerprint reader, Samsung has announced. The technology appears to be similar to Mastercard's biometric payment cards unveiled in 2017 that let you authenticate purchases with without ever touching a keypad. However, Samsung said the cards "will adopt a new security chipset from Samsungs System LSI Business that integrates several key discrete chips," rather than using Mastercard's current tech. The aim is to increase security while reducing physical contact points, as your fingerprint is scanned directly from your own card and not an external point-of-sale (POS) device. However, the card is compatible with Mastercard's authentication tech, as it can be used at any Mastercard chip or POS terminal. By way of comparison, the Apple Card is designed mostly to be used on a smartphone, but Apple does issue a physical titanium card with your name laser etched onto it. If you do use Apple's physical card, however, you'll need to enter a code into a POS device as there's no built-in fingerprint reader. While the card will use Mastercard on the clearing and point-of-sale side, it will be backed financially by Samsung Card, which is owned by Samsung Life Insurance and is South Korea's biggest credit card company, according to Wikipedia. The card will roll out in South Korea later this year, but Samsung didn't say if it would come to other regions. President Joe Biden called off a second target strike in Syria last week after being warned a woman and a couple of children were in the courtyard at one of the sites. Biden originally ordered the Pentagon to conduct airstrikes on two targets inside Syria on February 26 when - about 30 minutes before the bombs were set to fall - an aide delivered the warning about the people spotted at one of the strike zones via battlefield reconnaissance, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Syria strike was Biden's first known use of force as commander in chief - a decision that raised some hackles on Capitol Hill as he made the move without congressional approval. Biden could be stripped of his war powers after a bipartisan bill was introduced by senators on Wednesday to repeal decades-old authorizations awarded to the US President for the use of military force. It comes as Biden is accused of using the authorizations to 'stretch his war powers' after launching his first airstrike in Syria last week without congressional approval. The bill was also introduced just hours after an Iraqi military base housing US troops and civilian contractors was hit by rocket attacks, Politico reported. The measure, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Senator Todd Young, would repeal 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq It cites the 'strong partnership' between Washington and the government in Baghdad. Under the Constitution, Congress, not the president, has the right to authorize war but it has largely abdicated the authority. President Joe Biden called off a second target strike in Syria last week after being warned a woman and a couple of children were in the courtyard Biden is accused of using the authorizations to 'stretch his war powers' after launching his first airstrike in Syria last week without congressional approval. Pictured the Islam Qala border crossing and destroyed tanker trucks in February Democratic Senator Tim Kaine is leading the measure. He has claimed the authorizations allow the president to 'continue to stretch its war powers', as pictured above Republican Senator Todd Young is also leading the introduction of the bill Those AUMFs - and a third one, from 2001, for the fight against al Qaeda - have been used to justify strikes by both Democratic and Republican presidents since they were passed. They have been criticized, however, as being used to justify years of attacks in the Middle East and for allowing 'forever wars' that have kept US forces fighting overseas for decades. The senators introduced the measure as an effort to shift back the authority to declare war to Congress from the White House. They are focused on the measures directly focused on Iraq and say it will not impact ongoing US operations to counter ISIS. 'Last week's airstrikes in Syria show that the Executive Branchregardless of partywill continue to stretch its war powers,' said Senator Kaine in a tweet. 'The 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force serve no operational purpose, keep us on permanent war footing, and could allow future misuse.' 'Reintroduced my push to repeal the outdated 1991 and 2002 #AUMF against Iraq,' added Young. 'Congress has been operating on autopilot when it comes to our essential duties to authorize the use of military force. 'The fact that authorities for both of these wars are still law today is illustrative of the bipartisan failure of Congress to perform its constitutionally-mandated oversight role.' Members of Congress from both parties have sought repeatedly to repeal the AUMFs in recent years, but efforts have fallen short. It is hoped that the recent Syria strike will give life to the efforts. The measure, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine (right) and Republican Senator Todd Young (left), would repeal 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq, citing the 'strong partnership' between Washington and the government in Baghdad Senator Kaine has called on the Biden administration to support the bill The other sponsors of the new measure include Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth, Chris Coons and Dick Durbin, as well as Republican Senators Mike Lee, Chuck Grassley and Rand Paul. Kaine blasted the war authorities as 'unnecessary' as he called on the Biden administration to support the measure. Biden had previously criticized Trump for using the authorizations. 'It's time to show the American people that the Article I and II branches can work together on issues as serious as war,' he wrote. The bill's introduction came after Biden's administration on February 25 carried out air strikes against facilities belonging to Iranian-backed militia in Syria that renewed questions about whether a president should be able to conduct such actions without congressional approval. Lawmakers lamented that Congress had not been consulted before the attack or properly notified. They have still not been completely briefed on the strikes, according to Politico. The airstrike reportedly killed 22 Iran-backed fighters in an apparent response to rocket attacks against US targets in Iraq that injured American troops and killed a contractor on February 15. Biden said in a letter to congressional leaders that they had been ordered in 'self-defense'. Authorities said the US airstrike last week in Syria targeted structures belonging to two Iranian-backed militias in Al Bukamal (as shown in the map above) A close up view of buildings at an Iraq-Syria border crossing before airstrikes The US dropped seven 500-pound JDAMs (file image above) on seven targets on a crossing used by the militia groups to move weapons across the border Yet senators such as Chris Murphy from Connecticut claimed that they had still to be convinced. 'I still need to be convinced that any president has the authorization required to take a retaliatory strike, especially outside of Iraq,' he said. The airstrike was conducted by two Air Force F-15E aircraft which launched seven 500-pound JDAMs, precision guided munitions, Military Times reported. John Kirby, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said the strike fully destroyed nine facilities and 'functionally destroyed' two others. The US targeted a crossing used by the militia groups to move weapons across the border. Authorities said the airstrike targeted structures belonging to two Iranian-backed militias in Al Bukamal. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Biden used his constitutional authority to defend US personnel in the first military actions he has authorized as Commander-in-Chief. 'The targets were chosen to correspond to the recent attacks on facilities and to deter the risk of additional attacks over the coming weeks,' she said. 'You can't act with impunity. Be careful,' Biden added when a reporter asked what message he had intended to send with the airstrikes. Democrats said the airstrikes were done without authorization from lawmakers, while Republicans were more supportive. Kaine was among the first to speak out stating: 'Offensive military action without congressional approval is not constitutional absent extraordinary circumstances'. And Sen. Murphy said 'retaliatory strikes not necessary to prevent an imminent threat'. House Armed Services Chair Adam Smith has argued that Biden's move was justified to defend US personnel. 'We were legitimately in the region to protect us against a threat from ISIS that was in fact attacking Americans,' he said. 'While in the region protecting against that threat, militias lobbed a bunch of missiles at us. And we shot back. If that isn't classic Article II self-defense, then I don't know what is.' Yet even he believes that the authorizations should be repealed. The airstrike comes after repeated tensions between Iran and the Trump White House over the previous four years which reached a peak following Qassem Soleimani's killing in early 2020. While the strike could be the first retaliatory move by the US following attacks earlier in February, it appeared to be limited in scope, potentially lowering the risk of escalation. Also a decision to strike only in Syria and not in Iraq would give the Iraqi government some breathing room as it carries out its own investigation of a February 15 attack that wounded Americans. The backlash against Biden comes as he was also facing criticism for failure to take further action against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after a US intelligence report last week claimed he had given the green light for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Kaura's unique expertise blends strategic business leadership, brand and creative strategy, integrated strategy, data and analytics and business strategy. She will leverage this unique mix to drive and deliver data-infused creative solutions across select Mars Incorporated brands. The global position sits within DDB Chicago and reports into Justin Thomas-Copeland, CEO of DDB North America. Kaura will be responsible for strengthening Mars Incorporated global relationships across multiple geographies and individual agency offices, including adam&eveDDB, DDB Chicago, DDB Guangzhou, DDB Mudra, DDB Mexico, and DDB New York. She will bring best in class solutions to Mars Wrigley confectionary and Mars Pet Nutrition. Kaura will be responsible for delivering future-facing data-driven creative solutions to Mars Incorporated, leveraging the new data and insight platforms and capabilities integrated into DDB as part of a broader strategy of agency reimagination being driven by CEO Justin Thomas-Copeland. "Varsha brings a unique mix of extensive creative agency experience combined with C-Suite management consultancy leadership in data and analytics driven strategy. We are excited for the new value creation we will bring to Mars Incorporated through data-driven creativity to further catapult their brand," says Thomas-Copeland. "Varsha will bring her unique set of skills adding a new dimension of creative problem-solving to our clients, using data and insight to fuel our creativity for Mars Incorporated." Kaura's experience spans across capabilities and industries, her expertise in brand management, creative solutions, data targeting have generated growth for brands like Allstate, Kellogg's, and Brooks. Kaura was a member of the core leadership at Motista, where she led strategy and client relations across a variety of industries for the predictive intelligence startup. With over 20 years working in creative agencies and business consultancy Kaura represents the senior hybrid skills becoming a feature of DDB NAM. ABOUT DDB DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world's largest and most influential advertising and marketing networks. DDB has been named Agency of the Year numerous times by the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and the industry's leading advertising publications and awards shows. The WARC has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for 12 of the last 15 years. The agency's clients include Volkswagen, McDonald's, Unilever, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and the U.S. Army, among others. Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 countries with its flagship office in New York, NY. ABOUT OMNICOM Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. CONTACT: Xavier Totor, [email protected] SOURCE DDB North America Related Links http://www.ddb.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 Company announces that with effect from 3 March 2021, David Hough retired as a non-executive Director of the Company. David has been a Director of the Company since its launch in 2003 and the Board wishes to thank David for his wise counsel and commitment to the Company. His understanding of the investment trust market and in-depth knowledge of the wealth management industry has been of great benefit to the Board. 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. SANTIAGO, March 4 (Reuters) - Chilean President Sebastian Pinera late on Wednesday announced a new plan to overhaul the countrys heavily criticized pension plan, even as opposition lawmakers pushed a bill to allow a third withdrawal from savings amid the lingering coronavirus crisis. Chiles privatized pension system, introduced under dictator Augusto Pinochet, has been hailed by some economists as a model, but has increasingly come under fire for meager payouts. A pension overhaul was a principal demand of protesters during widespread riots in 2019. Pineras plan would extend the reach of a government-subsidized pension top-up to cover the middle class, increasing that assistance from 60% to 80% of the population, and boost coverage for women. The reform will "improve the pensions of all retirees, current and future, and especially of women, the middle class and the most vulnerable sectors," the president said in a televised speech late on Wednesday. The plan would assure that even the base-level "solidarity" pension remains above the poverty line. At the same time, his plan guarantees those that have paid into the system for 30 years or more, including contributions to a solidarity fund, would receive a pension equal to or greater than the minimum wage. To help fund the changes, Pinera has proposed boosting competition, transparency and more tightly regulating the private pension fund administrators that manage citizens' retiremennt investments. Pineras announcements tweak a previously announced reform that had floundered in Congress, and follow the introduction of an opposition-sponsored bill that would allow citizens a third withdrawal from their pension savings. Pinera has long argued that early withdrawal from the system jeopardizes the long-term pensions of the poorest Chileans, and offer a tax-free windfall to rich people who do not need it. His opponents say Chileans need economic help now. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Bernadette Baum) People with 11 additional medical conditions will soon be eligible for a coronavirus vaccine. The state quietly updated its eligibility list Monday to include all individuals aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says increase the risk or might increase the risk of severe illness from the virus. That takes effect March 29. The 11 additions come from the might increase category. According to the CDCs definition, they are: Asthma (moderate-to-severe) Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain) Cystic fibrosis Hypertension or high blood pressure Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines Neurologic conditions, such as dementia Liver disease Overweight (those with BMIs greater than 25 but less than 30; obese residents were already eligible). See the CDCs BMI calculator here. Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues) Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder) Type 1 diabetes Gov. Phil Murphy made no mention of the additions Monday in his 68-minute press conference. The expansion was included as a link to the CDC website in a press release issued by his office later that day. People with eight other medical conditions were already eligible. At least 2,227,881 vaccine doses have been administered in New Jersey as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the state health departments dashboard. Officials say 750,790 people have received a second shot and are fully vaccinated. Murphy on Wednesday disclosed 2,957 more cases of COVID-19 and 63 additional deaths. Thursday marks one year since the first case was confirmed in New Jersey. New Jersey has now identified three separate coronavirus variants including the first cases of variants originally identified in Brazil and New York that are thought to be more easily transmittable and possibly more deadly, officials announced Wednesday. Officials have identified two cases of the Brazilian variant in Hudson County, as well as 34 cases of the New York strain concentrated in the northeastern part of the state, CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Heres a roundup of the latest coronavirus news in New Jersey and elsewhere: Sleepaway camps OK, wedding capacities expanded: New Jersey residents will be permitted to attend sleepaway camps this summer, Murphy announced Wednesday. Murphy said he made the announcement because of the extensive planning involved with preparing those summer camps. He also announced indoor wedding receptions can proceed at 35% of a venues indoor capacity up to 150 persons with a same cap on outdoor receptions. Having trouble securing a COVID vaccine appointment? Heres a list of free sources you can use.: Its no secret that demand for the coronavirus vaccine is much greater than New Jerseys current supply, making appointments limited and difficult to schedule. But there are helpful resources for New Jersey residents confused or frustrated with the appointment-making process and theyre entirely volunteer-based. People across the state and beyond have become self-appointed vaccine hunters for New Jerseyans eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, devoting hours of their days and at times burning the midnight oil to secure appointments for those struggling to do so themselves. N.J. makes it easier to get details about outbreaks and visitation at states nursing homes: Viral outbreaks, deaths and updates on individual New Jersey nursing homes will be the focus of a new Department of Health webpage launched Wednesday. The webpage at nj.gov/health/ltc/ will have a map showing each nursing facility in the state and links to summaries of their inspections, making it easier to find health and safety metrics, state health commissioner Judy Persichilli said. Rowan College campuses, one currently a COVID mega vaccination site, to welcome students in the fall: Students will be returning to the campuses of Rowan College of South Jersey next semester, school officials said Wednesday. The two-year community college, affiliated with Rowan University, closed its campuses in Deptford and Vineland last March and began internet-based instruction as a result of state executive orders to combat the pandemic. The campuses remain closed to students through the summer but its Gloucester County campus is currently the location of a mega vaccine center. N.J. again extends ban on utilities shutting off power, gas, water to residences: New Jersey has again extended its moratorium on companies shutting off residents utilities through June 30, as the state continues to cope with the coronavirus pandemic one year after the first reported case, Murphy announced Wednesday. Murphys executive order means if customers cant pay their bills, the states major utility companies will not shut off their gas, water, or electric, as well as the internet in households with children using the internet for educational purposes. The moratorium was set to expire March 15. It applies only to residents, not commercial businesses. 9th MVC agency shuts down due to COVID: It got a little harder Wednesday for New Jersey drivers who need to go to a state Motor Vehicle Commission agency that specializes in drivers licenses. Coronavirus has closed more than a third of the 23 agencies designed as licensing centers, with the closure of the Flemington agency Wednesday afternoon. Its the eighth licensing center and ninth agency to shut down. The Flemington Licensing Center is scheduled to reopen March 15, after an employee who was last in the agency on Saturday, tested positive for the virus. As N.J. expands COVID vaccine eligibility, Bergen to launch call center to help book appointments: Bergen County plans to launch a call center to help county residents set up COVID-19 vaccination appointments. In an effort to help Bergen County residents navigate what is often a convoluted and frustrating booking system for COVID-19 vaccine appointments, Bergen County and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center have partnered to set up a call center where residents can ask questions about scheduling their appointment, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced Wednesday. U.S. cases: At least 518,459 of the approximately 28,761,399 million to test positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. have died as of 7 a.m. Thursday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide cases: As of 7 a.m. Thursday, the coronavirus has led to at lest 2,561,738 million deaths in 192 counties, according to the center. More than 115.2 million have been infected since the outbreak started in December 2019. At least 65.2 million have recovered. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Bill Duhart, Caroline Fassett,Brent Johnson, Larry Higgs, Ted Sherman and Rodrigo Torrejon contributed to this report. ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian Airforce has killed a notorious criminal gang leader and some bandits operating in Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna State. The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Homeland Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, stated this on Thursday. He said Rufai Maigaji was killed alongside dozens of other bandits during an aerial military mission. According to the statement, the aerial missions in which Mr Maikaji and his gang were neutralised were conducted in late February. Mr Aruwan said Mr Maikaji and his accomplices, on sighting ground troops, had escaped from Anaba village of Igabi LGA where they killed some citizens, burnt houses and kidnapped some locals. After painstaking checks with security agencies, and careful exploitation of numerous human intelligence sources, the Kaduna State Government can authoritatively confirm that one Rufai Maikaji a deadly bandit who commanded over a hundred fighters has been neutralised. Rufai Maikaji, and dozens of his fighters were neutralised during air interdictions around the fringes of Malul Forest in Igabi LGA of Kaduna Central Senatorial District. The prompt response by the air platforms ended the reign of terror maintained by Rufai Maikaji and his bloodsucking accomplices. From further checks, Rufai Maikaji and his group were confirmed to be responsible for the killing, kidnapping and cattle rustling in many communities in Giwa, Igabi and Chikun LGAs, especially in the following locations: Iyatawa, Garke, Kumfa, Bakali, Karau-karau and Galadimawa, Anaba, Kerawa, Hashimawa, Sabon Birni, Buruku general area and parts of Chikun LGA axis of Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road. Rufai Maikaji is said to have begun his ignoble career as an errand boy to some deadly bandits in and around Sabon Birni general area of Igabi LGA. From this position, he grew to become a household name in banditry. The Kaduna State Government, military, police, DSS and all agencies have assured residents of the communities that suffered the brutality of Rufai Maikaji, that aggressive pursuit of other accomplices who escaped the onslaught is in full swing, and they will be caught sooner rather than later. Governor Nasir El-Rufai praised the military for taking down the bandit leader and his accomplices. The governor further assured them of the firm commitment of the government and people of Kaduna State in the ongoing operations against the bandits throughout the state. Many parts of the north, including Kaduna, have been ravaged by sporadic cases of violence, banditry and abductions for ransom in recent months despite military and police presence. A look at some of the major movers in London on Tuesday ( ) was off 15% at 11.5p after the company declined to say (for now) what it would do with the proceeds from recent disposals. The plastics products specialist has completed the disposal of Coral Product (Mouldings) limited and Interpack Limited. The disposals were announced on February 11. It is the board's intention to conduct a review to determine the most advantageous route to deliver shareholder value and apply the proceeds from the disposals." said Joe Grimmond, the chairman of Coral. 2.50pm: CloudCoCo Group gives back some of February's gains CloudCoCo Group PLC ( ) gave back some of Februarys handsome gains, sliding 8.3% to 1.65p in the wake of its full-year results announcement. The turnaround play saw its loss before tax narrow to 2.97mln in 2020 from a loss of 5.59mln in 2019 on revenue that rose to 7.97mln from 7.26mln. We are still in the early stages of our long-term plan, but there are green shoots clearly emerging, said Simon Duckworth, the non-executive chairman of the information technology and telecommunications specialist. 1.55pm: D4t4 finds interim replacement for its head abacus rattler PLC ( ) dived 7.1% to 276.5p after it announced an interim replacement for Charlie Irvine, its chief financial officer. Nitil Patel, formerly the chief financial officer at Dods group and Ten Alps (now known as ), will hold the fort until a permanent successor can be found for Irvine, who last month announced he was off to pastures new. The data solutions provider is currently undertaking an external search with a view to making a permanent appointment in due course. 1.00pm: DX reverses despite delivering a return to the black DX (Group) PLC ( ) retreated 8.3% to 29.7p after its interims failed to pack the punch investors were expecting. Adjusted profit before tax for the six months to January 2 was 3,8mln, compared to a loss a year earlier of 2.4mln. The freight firm said it has a healthy pipeline of opportunities in the parcels market, while trading in 2022 has so far been significantly ahead of last year, albeit in line with managements expectations. 12.05pm: Boohoo rocked by slave labour allegations ( ), down 4.9% at 327.75p, sashayed south as it faced a potential import ban in the US over allegations of slave labour. US Customs and Border Protection has received two petitions by campaign group Liberty Shared over the course of last month. The petitions concern the potential prohibition of imports to the US if they contain in whole or in part materials made with forced labour under the Tariff Act of 1930, from Boohoo or if made by apparel industry businesses based in Leicester with the exception of two companies, Basic Premier Limited and Ethically Sourced Products Limited. 11.05am: Hurricane share price gets sidetracked Hurricane Energy PLC (LON:HUR) tumbled 14% to 3.184p after it outlined some possible courses of action for a sidetrack from the 205/21a-7z well. The company has concluded that it will not be possible to drill this well during the 2021 summer weather window without unacceptable operational and cost risk. All options for potential further development activity are subject to factors that are or may be outside the company's control, which include field performance, prevailing oil prices and support from relevant stakeholders and counterparties, Hurricane told investors. 10.10am: PetroNeft encouraged by fracking results PetroNeft Resources PLC ( ) said it has completed its fracking programme on the Sibkrayevskoye and the Lineynoye fields, sending its shares 11% higher to 2.45p. The company said the initial results from the wells are very encouraging, leading to production increases and opening the door to potential further developments. Although it is still early days, results so far have demonstrated the value of fracking as a relatively low cost but highly effective means of increasing production, provided the right geological and operational conditions prevail combined with an optimized frack design. We look forward to identifying further candidates for similar activity within our licences, said David Sturt, the chief executive officer of PetroNeft. 9.15am: Amigo up after JPM increases its stake; Lookers escapes with a slapped wrist ( ), the scandal-hit loan company, saw its shares rise 21% to 19.76p on news of an increased shareholding. Funds managed by JP Morgan Chase upped their stake to 7.04% from 6.29% previously. Last night after the stock market closed, Amigo sneaked out details of its new long term incentive plan for its chief risk officer, Paul Dyer. Dyer will receive up to 1.5mln nil-cost options if the company hits certain performance targets. Talking of scandals, ( ) motored 10% higher to 44.4p after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ended its investigation into the car dealers activities. The FCA was looking into the possible mis-selling of regulated products, and associated issues relating to potential customer detriment in the first half of 2019. The FCA does not intend to apply any sanction against the group but made clear its concerns relating to the historic culture, systems and controls of the group. The board said it fully accepts the FCA's comments and remains committed to improving the culture. Proactive news headlines ( ) said its focus on properties that have omnichannel potential has been validated by the surge in online grocery sales during the pandemic. Next Fifteen Communications PLC ( ) said it will repay 1.4mln of cash received from the government furlough scheme - reflecting its strong trading performance and robust balance sheet. (LON:MXC, ASX:MXC, ) said distributor Swiss has increased by 85% its initial order volume for ArtemiC Rescue, an anti-inflammatory product targeting COVID-19. ( )( ) has completed its flotation pilot plant programme for the Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi. The programme was completed at ALS Metallurgy in Perth, Australia, and was effective in scaling up a new, optimised flotation regime for the project. Shanta Gold Ltd ( ) generated revenue of US$147.4mln from its gold production operations in Tanzania during the year to 31 December 2020, up significantly from the US$112.8mln generated in 2019. Neuro-imaging specialist ( ) has been brought in by new client Cyclerion Therapeutics to support the latters phase II trial of a treatment for Alzheimers. ( ) is planning to launch a non-fungible token (NFT) technology development studio in Gibraltar. In partnership with Indorse, a Singaporean company, it plans to develop smart contract systems for NFT applications including a bridge for NFTs on Bitcoin using Rootstock (RSK) blockchain technology. Sirius Real Estate Limited ( ) announced it has completed the acquisition of a mixed-use business park in Fellbach, near Stuttgart, for 9.2mln. ( ) has acquired a modern purpose-built primary care centre in Shankill, Co. Dublin, Ireland for 3.8mln. ( ) has made progress towards completing the purchase of the remaining interest in the Mikei gold project in Kenya. ( ) told investors that rig mobilisation for the Merlin-1 exploration well is progressing well and has seen only minor weather-related delay. Chariot Oil & Gas Limited ( ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Moroccan authorities committing to support the development of the Anchois Gas Development project. ( ) has launched a new directional drilling system, called SABER, which it describes as a disruptive alternative to traditional rotary steerable systems (RSS). Deepverge PLC ( ) said the Ecological Water Operating System, known as EcowaterOS, will begin its launch in China with an introduction via an industry webinar on March 17 and 18. ( ) has sold 19,634.15 SDT tokens in the Stake DAO (SDT) project, generating proceeds of US$255,542. The tokens were sold at an average price of US$13.02 each. ( )( ) has closed the 4mln placing it announced in mid-February, with just over 9.5mln shares issued at a price of 42p. ( ) is planning to list on Aim, a market to which the companys board believes it is more suited. Emmerson is about to enter into a pivotal period, with the commencement of mine construction at the Khemisset potash project in Morocco expected by the end of 2021. ( ) updated on its court case in the Bahamas reporting that, yesterday, the Honourable Justice Petra Hanna-Weekes allowed the company's application and ordered the applicants to post $200,000 security for costs within 30 days, pending which the proceedings will be stayed. ( ) notified investors that chief executive Richard Petti and chief financial officer Haywood Chapman will provide a live presentation relating to the company's preliminary results via the Investor Meet Company platform on 25 March at 4.30pm GMT. The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders. ( ) will host a webcast of an investor presentation on 12 March at 11am GMT. The call will be led by chief executive Osamede Okhomina, and will include a Q&A session at the end. The Company will provide an update on the business and its views on the drivers behind the current market. ( ) announced that chief executive Dr Markku Jalkanen will present in a pre-recorded presentation at the virtual HC Wainwright Global Life Sciences Conference that will be available on-demand starting Tuesday, March 9, at midday London time. An audio webcast of the presentation will be available in the investors section on Faron's website: https://www.faron.com/investors. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close You might not have seen it until someone pointed it out. But an Amazon logo that was just quietly redesigned bore an unsettling resemblance to the face of Adolf Hitler at least according to some on social media. The much-mocked app icon, with a smile-shaped arrow beneath what looked like a toothbrush-style mustache, was unveiled in January, replacing a shopping-cart logo that had been used by the online-shopping giant for more than five years. The company refused to say on Wednesday if criticism of the new logo prompted the second redesign this year, which blunted the scraggly edges and dog-eared a corner of the blue patch, which, according to Amazon, was always intended to evoke a piece of packaging tape. We designed the new icon to spark anticipation, excitement and joy when customers start their shopping journey on their phone, just as they do when they see our boxes on their doorstep, the company said of the original change from the shopping-cart icon. This coming July will mark the 10th anniversary of Chris Evans' Captain America: The First Avenger, with the star celebrating a bit early with some rare candid footage. Evans, 39, took to Twitter on Wednesday morning, sharing the new video with his 14.5 million Twitter followers and 9 million Instagram followers. The video features behind-the-scenes footage of Evans on the set, shot by his high school friend Zach, who was Evans' assistant along with another friend Jon. Celebrate: This coming July will mark the 10th anniversary of Chris Evans' Captain America: The First Avenger, with the star celebrating a bit early with some rare candid footage Candid: Evans, 39, took to Twitter on Wednesday morning, sharing the new video with his 14.5 million Twitter followers and 9 million Instagram followers 'When I filmed the first Captain America in 2010, two of my high school buddies, Zach and Jon, were my "assistants,"' Evans began his tweet. 'Zach got a lot of great footage. Jon was unimpressed,' Evans added, with his tweet getting over 12K retweets and over 150K likes. The first shot in the behind-the-scenes video was taken from afar, showing Evans, in his full Captain America costume, jumping off a ledge, while being secured on a harness. Assistants: 'When I filmed the first Captain America in 2010, two of my high school buddies, Zach and Jon, were my "assistants,"' Evans began his tweet Jon: 'Zach got a lot of great footage. Jon was unimpressed,' Evans added, with his tweet getting over 12K retweets and over 150K likes As Evans was being pulled back to the original position, cameraman Zach turned the camera to Jon, who shook his head and gave a thumbs down. The next shot showed Evans diving into a tank of water, and when Zach ask Jon, 'What do you think of the dive jump?' he just shook his head. Evans was also seen shirtless carrying some dumbells around, which Jon also did not approve of, while another scene showed Evans being lowered onto a car from a wiring rig. Thumbs down: As Evans was being pulled back to the original position, cameraman Zach turned the camera to Jon, who shook his head and gave a thumbs down Dive: The next shot showed Evans diving into a tank of water, and when Zach ask Jon, 'What do you think of the dive jump?' he just shook his head Dumbbells: Evans was also seen shirtless carrying some dumbells around, which Jon also did not approve of, while another scene showed Evans being lowered onto a car from a wiring rig 'He will fall. I hope he falls,' Jon said, though Zach questioned his logic, asking how he could fall when he's hooked up to a wiring rig. 'Yeah... you've never heard of an accident before? Jon said dismissively while turning back to the action on set. Evans had previously starred as Marvel superhero Johnny Storm in the 2005 Fantastic Four movie, and its 2007 sequel Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Fall: 'He will fall. I hope he falls,' Jon said, though Zach questioned his logic, asking how he could fall when he's hooked up to a wiring rig Accident: 'Yeah... you've never heard of an accident before? Jon said dismissively while turning back to the action on set However, he was vaulted into the stratosphere with his turn as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, which earned $176.6 million domestic and $370.5 million worldwide from a $140 million budget. He returned the next year in the massive hit Marvel's The Avengers, along with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. He most recently starred on the Apple TV Plus series Defending Jacob, and he'll next be seen in Don't Look Up. Big hit: However, he was vaulted into the stratosphere with his turn as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, which earned $176.6 million domestic and $370.5 million worldwide from a $140 million budget Writing this column can be tricky, because MLive is a lot of different things to a lot of different people at a lot of different times. For example, some of you are reading this right now on your computer or phone screen. Others will see it first in an email newsletter. And print subscribers will see it Sunday morning with their coffee. Its also challenging because I often reference great journalism we are doing that is reserved for subscribers only. Online, those are marked Subscriber Exclusive (with a gold key icon), and require a subscription to access. Last wrinkle: A digital subscription wont get you a newspaper, but a newspaper subscription will get you access to everything that MLive journalists do, 24/7/365 including Subscriber Exclusives online. Not all print subscribers know this, but it matters because not all of our stories make it into newspapers. Some of that is due to production deadlines, which means news breaks after a paper has gone to press. Some of that is due to space issues in the physical newspaper. Part of that is because some news isnt relevant a day after it happens. Case in point: The #1-read story the past two weeks by our digital subscribers was 48-hour forecast map shows how much snow Michigan could get this weekend. That was extremely useful information when posted online early on a Saturday, but it wasnt going to be too useful in a Sunday paper especially since maps in the story updated every six hours! Heres another that didnt make it into print because it includes a massive database: See average income in your ZIP reported on federal tax returns. Thats easy to search, sort and view online; not so practical in a printed newspaper. 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If youre reading this in the newspaper itself, type the following into your computer browser and follow the instructions provided: https://myaccount.mlive.com Once youve activated, simply look for the Sign In wording in the upper right of our website its next to a Subscribe Now button and the silhouette of a persons head. On the app, that silhouette is in the lower right portion of the screen. Once youre signed in, youre set to receive all of our great content, when and how you want to get it. Thank you for reading us, however you get your news. Your loyalty allows our journalists to bring you vital information to your doorstep or to your phone. Happy reading! If youre encountering difficulty activating or have questions, please call MLive customer service at 616-222-5411. With MK's help, we are becoming a better institution for our customers through informative marketing pages, mobile-first applications, and faster decisions. MK Decision (MK), a FinTech provider of digital account opening and loan origination, partnered with First Bank of Alabama, a $719 million-asset community bank in Alabama, to transform their institutions credit card program from paper applications to digital customer onboarding. After being introduced by ICBA Bancard, the payments subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), First Bank of Alabama implemented MKs Credit Card Origination System (CCOS) to provide an online shopping experience for their credit card customers and streamlined underwriting processes for their internal teams. At First Bank of Alabama, we pride ourselves on the excellent service our empowered employees provide to the communities we serve, said bank CEO Chad Jones. Keeping with our mission, I turned to my team to find the right vendor for our digital transformation. The ease of implementation speaks to MKs service, transparency, and diligent approach to project management. With MK's help, we are becoming a better institution for our customers through informative marketing pages, mobile-first applications, and faster decisions. MKs CCOS closely aligns with First Bank of Alabamas mission to provide exceptional service by introducing CustomerAccount to keep applicants updated post-application. CustomerAccount offers a cloud-based platform for electronic signatures on agreements, document uploads, and automated status updates. Since the implementation, First Bank of Alabama experienced a 200 percent growth in application volume. In addition to improving their online customer experience, First Bank of Alabama invested in their internal teams by introducing a loan origination system with real-time credit decisioning. With fraud on the rise, MK built its platform to ensure identity verification in every decision. MKs CreditConnect integrates with credit bureaus to generate automatic OFAC and MLA checks, significantly reducing First Bank of Alabamas underwriting time by 50 percent. Motivated by its mission to strengthen local economies, MK empowers community financial institutions with the technology they need to serve their customers online and compete against megabanks. First Bank of Alabama has its eyes on the future and its vision centered around its customers, making its partnership with MK Decision not only natural but strategic, said MK CEO Har Rai Khalsa. "As their digital strategy accelerates, MK is committed to continuously improving our platform to support their transformation. By collaborating with their Compliance and Marketing teams, we deployed a customer-first mentality to reduce the compliance burden while maximizing the customer experience. In recognition of consumer demand for digital financial services, MK broadened its product suite to support both sides of the balance sheet with deposits and credit cards. To foster long-lasting relationships with future generations, First Bank of Alabama looks to MK as inspiration for their digital roadmap. Together the pair will deliver First Bank of Alabamas custom-centric culture through MKs cloud-based platform where marketing and decisioning converge. About MK Decision MK Decision's mission is to help community financial institutions thrive by receiving more deposits and more loans. With a commitment to strengthen local economies, MKs platform gives community banks a competitive advantage through simple, beautiful customer experiences and streamlined banker workflows. The MK platform supports a variety of financial products including checking & savings accounts, credit cards, and consumer, commercial, small business, and indirect loans. So far, MK has helped over 200 community banks acquire customers online. MK was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. About First Bank of Alabama First Bank of Alabama has been operating for over 170 years in Talladega, Alabama and surrounding areas. Today we remain dedicated to the very same principals that we were founded on in 1848. We are continually improving our products and services in order to meet our customers needs. When you bank with First Bank of Alabama, you can expect the same great service from friendly hometown faces that has always been a part of our banking tradition PLUS you get all of todays modern banking conveniences. [March 04, 2021] Malwarebytes Names Mark Strassman Chief Product Officer SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MalwarebytesTM , a leading provider of advanced endpoint protection and remediation solutions, today announced the addition of Mark Strassman as the company's new chief product officer. Strassman joins Malwarebytes from LogMeIn, where he was General Manager of their Unified Communication and Collaboration (UCC) product portfolio, which served hundreds of millions of end-users. "Mark gets our customers and how people adopt new products and technologies into their daily lives, which will be crucial in building our global product roadmap this year and beyond," said Marcin Kleczynski, CEO and co-founder of Malwarebytes. "Mark's gift for recognizing the unmet needs of customers is paramount for us as we design new cyberprotection solutions that are effective, intuitive, and inclusive." In his new role at Malwarebytes, Strassman will lead the product teams to put a renewed emphasis on the customer, evaluate new market opportunities, and deliver solutions to unmet and unarticulated needs. His focus will center on creating superior customer experiences across both the consumer and corporate product lines to continue to accelerate customer acquisition and retention growth. "Malwarebytes presents a unique opportunity to help align the needs of multiple customers and be a contributor to an incredible sage of the company's growth," said Strassman. "I'm excited to join such a seasoned and accomplished executive team and help deliver a differentiated value proposition which puts our customers at the center of everything we do." While at LogMeIn, Strassman drove explosive growth in the core UCC business, moving from dozens of products to a single, integrated UCC platform, dramatically driving up usage, customer satisfaction, and retention rates. He also led product, design, and integrated portfolio strategy at BlueJeans, helping transform the company from a video transcoding service to a communications and collaboration platform that fostered end-user love and IT trust. Strassman also held leadership roles at Blackboard, Autodesk, Adobe Systems, and Macromedia. He holds a master's degree from the Haas School at the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in architectural studies and industrial archaeology from Brown University. To read more about Malwarebytes visit our blog , follow us on Twitter , or check us out on LinkedIn . About Malwarebytes Malwarebytes is trusted to protect people and businesses against the latest dangerous cyberthreats including malware, ransomware and exploits that traditional antivirus solutions fail to catch. Malwarebytes offers comprehensive defense and recovery technologies to safeguard devices whether at home or in the office, enabling users to protect themselves anywhere, anytime. Malwarebytes' team of researchers and security experts protect more than 60,000 businesses and millions of people worldwide, combatting millions of threats daily using artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify behavior and catch new threats rapidly. Driven by a desire to protect everyone's right to a malware free existence, CEO Marcin Kleczynski founded Malwarebytes in 2008 and has grown the company to over 800 employees across the world today. The company is headquartered in California with offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.malwarebytes.com/ . MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Lisette Rauwendaal, Sr. Global Public Relations Manager Malwarebytes press@malwarebytes.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/malwarebytes-names-mark-strassman-chief-product-officer-301240150.html SOURCE Malwarebytes [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kinderhook Industries, LLC ("Kinderhook") announced today its acquisition of LAUB Holdings, LLC ("Leonard" or the "Company") from Copeley Capital Management ("Copeley"). Leonard represents Kinderhook's 26th automotive / light-manufacturing platform since inception. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Leonard is one of the largest full-service retailers of truck accessories, trailers, and sheds in the United States. In operation since 1963, Leonard is proud to serve its customers through 59 retail locations in the Southeast. The Company offers high-quality, complementary, specialized products geared towards professionals, do-it-yourself and do-it-for-me consumers, and truck enthusiasts. Leonard's sheds are manufactured in the Company's Mount Airy, North Carolina facility and its trailers are contract manufactured in the United States. Leonard's assortment of truck accessories offers fit, function, and style for truck enthusiasts seeking to enhance their vehicle for both professional and recreational purposes. "With a nearly 60-year heritage, Leonard is a high-profile brand in its core markets. The Leonard team is excited to partner with Kinderhook to build Leonard's footprint and bring quality products and trusted service to even more customers," said Mike Pack, Chief Executive Officer of Leonard. "Leonard offers a unique opportunity to invest in a distinct business model with an experienced management team in a sector in which Kinderhook has deep experience. Kinderhook plans to leverage its relationships within the automotive aftermarket to help accelerate Leonard's growth," said Tom Tuttle, Managing Director of Kinderhook Industries. "Kinderhook is excited to partner with Mike Pack and his executive leadership team as they continue the geographic expansion of Leonard's unique retail model which provides for a high touch, in-person experience that is beneficial to customers who are in the market for high quality sheds, trailers, and truck accessories," said Paul Cifelli, Managing Director of Kinderhook Industries. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Kinderhook. Piper Sandler & Co. served as the exclusive financial advisor and K&L Gates acted as legal advisor to Leonard and Copeley in connection with the transaction. Financing for the transaction was provided by Twin Brook Capital Partners, LLC. About Kinderhook Industries Kinderhook Industries, LLC is a private investment firm that manages over $3.3 billion of committed capital. We have made in excess of 250 investments and follow-on acquisitions since inception. Kinderhook's investment philosophy is predicated on matching unique, growth-oriented investment opportunities with exceptional financial expertise and our proprietary network of operating partners. Our focus is on middle market businesses with defensible niche market positioning in the healthcare services, environmental / business services, and automotive / light manufacturing sectors. We have a track record of successfully and consistently building industry leaders. For more information, please visit: www.kinderhook.com About Leonard Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Leonard is a leading full-service specialty retailer of truck accessories, trailers, and sheds in the Southeast. Leonard offers quality products and trusted, knowledgeable service to customers in its 59-store footprint across North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Leonard's complementary product categories help to serve the needs of customers both for work and recreation. The Company remains dedicated to service and is proud to offer truck accessories, trailers, and sheds that ensure fit, function, and style so that Leonard customers are ready for work and ready to stand out in a crowd. For more information, please visit: www.leonardusa.com SOURCE Kinderhook Industries Related Links http://www.kinderhook.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. KALAMAZOO, MI A Cass County man facing murder charges in the death of 64-year-old Michael Vines, of Kalamazoo, said he shot Vines out of jealousy, police said. Jordan Pierre Johnson, 30, of Vandalia, told police he shot the older Kalamazoo man on Feb. 25, because his child and childs mother had just moved in with Vines earlier that day, court documents state. Related: Cass County man charged with murder in death of 64-year-old Kalamazoo resident Johnson was arrested Feb. 26 and arraigned Monday, March 1, on one count of open murder and one count of weapons-felony firearm, according to court records. He is due back in court March 9 for a probable cause conference. Johnson is being held without bond in the Kalamazoo County Jail. Police were dispatched to a parking lot in the 4500 block of West Main Street, just east of North drake Road, shortly after 8:10 p.m. the night of the shooting. Upon arrival, offices found Vines lying facedown on the concrete near his truck, according to court documents. Officers turned Vines over and noticed an apparent gunshot wound to the left side of his head. After beginning to remove some of his clothing so they could apply an AED, officers discovered Vines had been shot several more times in the chest. The man was pronounced dead at 8:28 p.m. on Feb. 25. A nearby surveillance camera captured most of the shooting, Johnsons probable cause affidavit states. Johnson could be seen in the video starting to leave the scene in his grandfathers vehicle, and then getting out of the vehicle and firing several more rounds at the victim lying on the pavement, the affidavit states. Police were able to identify Johnson and the vehicle in the video and then drove to Johnsons grandfathers house in Vandalia, where they located the vehicle and found human blood on its exterior, the affidavit states. Officers also found evidence that showed someone had fired a gun from inside of the vehicle, which Johnson could also be seen doing in the video. During an ensuing interview with police, Johnson confessed to the shooting and told them he was jealous and angry that his childs mother was in a relationship with Vines. The homicide is the citys second in 2021. The first killing occurred on Jan. 1 at Fox Ridge Apartments when 21-year-old Tracy Myckal Evans was gunned down. No one has been arrested in that incident. Also on MLive: Longtime bassist for The Gospelettes dies of COVID-19 complications at 64 Muskegon teen who helped cover up killing of former classmate sentenced to prison Kalamazoo man charged with shooting at domestic violence victim sentenced to probation, time served Dean Webber, 19, (pictured) blindly stabbed two men who broke into his home on September 30, 2018 A teenager who fatally stabbed two home intruders will never have to take the stand at an inquest into the deaths after a surprising Supreme Court ruling. Diesel fitter Dean Webber, then 19, stabbed Tom Davy, 27, and his friend Corey Christensen, 37, after they tried to enter his home in Alva Beach, north Queensland on the night of October 1, 2018. The pair had been looking for Mr Davy's injured girlfriend Candace Locke - who went to Mr Webber's home seeking help after dislocating her shoulder in a quad bike accident. The Queensland Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley's ruling in October Mr Webber would only have to give evidence in writing due to the trauma he had suffered. Mr Davy's mother hit out at the ruling and said Mr Webber's mental state should not excuse him from fully answering for his actions that night. The original decision came after the inquest heard he had experienced PTSD from the stabbing and therefore shouldn't have to testify in person. Candace Locke (pictured) took refuge at Mr Webber's house on September 30, 2018. The group of men then allegedly broke into the property Mr Webber stabbed Tom Davy (left), 27, and friend Corey Christensen (right), 37, after they tried to come into his house in Alva Beach, north Queensland, on October 1, 2018 'We feel that the person who has taken those two lives should be questioned to explain,' Heather Davy told The Courier-Mail. The 27-year-old's brother Josh described him as 'a beautiful young man in the prime of his life just discovering Australia'. 'Our beautiful son Tom was a person Australia or the world cannot afford to lose,' his father Neil said. The family of the two men had challenged the move not to force Mr Webber to testify, but their hopes of dismissing a judicial review were ended on Thursday morning by Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Rafter. Lawyer Rebecca Fogerty, who represents Mr Davy's family, had said they wanted the cross-examination process to be as easy as possible for Mr Webber. 'It's an important consideration that if the witness is required to give evidence in person, that he does not have to go through that process anymore than he absolutely needs to,' Ms Fogerty said, according to the Cairns Post. 'This is of course a tragic situation for everybody involved and we are very conscious of the fact that for Mr Webber the process of giving evidence will be a very distressing one.' Mr Davy has hit out the decision not to force Mr Webber to take the stand (pictured: Mr Christensen's wife) The Alva Beach stabbings have been shrouded in mystery since they shocked Queenslanders two years ago. Ms Locke had arrived at Mr Webber's door asking to be let in on the night of the stabbing. Mr Davy and Mr Christensen are then believed to have come banging on the door of Mr Webber's house looking for Ms Locke around 12.30am on October 1, 2018 before being fatally stabbed in the frenzied chaos moments later. Both men died at the scene, and Mr Webber received no charges after it was deemed he was acting in self-defence. A coronial inquest was launched into the deaths of Tom Davy, 27, and Corey Christensen, 37. Mr Webber (pictured) was excused from giving evidence in person because of his PTSD Mr Davy's mother earlier told the Townsville Bulletin, her son was the 'most beautiful person' and a 'gentle giant'. The aircraft engineer loved being in the water and had only just moved to Queensland before he was killed. The family had known about Ms Locke as the pair had dated for four months before but had never met her. She has since remained distant from the family. CBC Despite the storied history of both clubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens to face off in Game 7 for just the second time in 16 playoff series (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET). The winner advances to battle the Winnipeg Jets in the next round of the postseason. Here's a look at some of the storylines: The history The tribal loyalties of the two clubs have been well established on and off the ice, the latter perhaps most famously in Roch Carrier's children's book The Sweater, which was then animated by the National Film Board of Canada. The playoff matchup pits the two NHL clubs with the most championships in league history. The Canadiens as a franchise have won 24 Stanley Cups, while the Maple Leafs hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup on 13 occasions. But that history, in a modern context, can mislead. Toronto famously hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1967, so any Leafs fan under the age of, say, 54, likely has no memory of their club being the NHL champs. While a 54-year-old Habs fan can laugh gleefully at that, given the fact their club has won 11 Stanley Cups since 1967, the Canadiens themselves are in a franchise-long 27-years-and counting championship drought. Such are the the perils of playing in a league that has 30-plus clubs, not just six. WATCH | How the Leafs-Habs playoff rivalry came to be: The Canadiens have won eight of 15 playoff meetings between the clubs historically. A couple of generations of NHL players have come and gone since the last meeting in 1979, when little-used Cam Connor, with the only playoff goal he ever scored for Montreal, helping to sink the dagger in for Leafs fans then with a key overtime winner. The two clubs last faced off in a Game 7 in a playoff series in 1964. The Leafs won that one, and then went on to beat Detroit for the Cup. The stakes The winner of this series advances to the North Division final and takes on the Winnipeg Jets, idle since May 24 after a sweep of the Edmonton Oilers. Either Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe or Canadiens bench boss Dominique Ducharme will celebrate their first-ever NHL playoff series win on Monday night. "We're confident. We're going to Toronto to head to Winnipeg," Ducharme said on Sunday. WATCH | Canadiens tie playoff series with Quebec reopening: Montreal has good reason to be confident, or at least feel like they have nothing to lose. The Canadiens overcame a coaching change in February, shrugged off a dispirited Game 4 defeat that represented their eighth loss in their last nine games at that point, and then survived the late rallies by Toronto in the fifth and sixth games. The Leafs, meanwhile, are dealing with the metaphorical monkey on the back, and not just because they finished with 18 more points than the Habs in the regular season. Toronto last won a playoff series in 2004. To put that time span in context, in 2004, Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber was a teen winning a Memorial Cup with Kelowna Rockets and Leafs forward Auston Matthews was not yet seven years old, starting his ascension through the Arizona minor hockey system. John Tortorella lifted the Stanley Cup that season with Tampa Bay, the fourth-last NHL team he's coached. But despite the relative youth of the Toronto club, one veteran sports wag in the city has written that Game 7 is nothing less than the stage for Matthews and Mitch Marner to "salvage their reputations." The fans The game on Saturday at Bell Centre in Montreal saw fans in a major Canadian sports venue for the first time since before the pandemic in early 2020. Quebec officials signed off on a scenario in which 2,500 fans were allowed into the 21,000-plus capacity building. On Monday morning, the Ontario government announced that 550 fully vaccinated frontline health-care workers would be able to attend Game 7 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. "This small token of appreciation doesn't measure up to the sacrifices they've made during COVID-19, but it is an opportunity for us to recognize their heroic efforts to keep each and every one of us safe," said Premier Doug Ford in a statement. How we got here The last two games have offered a cavalcade of emotions for fans of both clubs. Toronto had been one shot away from eliminating the Canadiens and advancing to the second round of the playoffs in each game, but it's also true that Montreal outplayed the Leafs for long stretches in both of those contests. Leafs fans feared the worst given their recent franchise history when captain John Tavares suffered head and knee injuries early in Game 1 in a scary incident and was hospitalized. The Leafs did well to keep their composure after that, but Habs goalie Carey Price was, in the words of teammate Josh Anderson, "an absolute wall" in a 2-1 Montreal win. WATCH | Kotkaniemi propels Habs to OT victory over Leafs in Game 6: Toronto's William Nylander scored in the first four games of the series and the rest of the Maple Leafs rallied in Tavares's absence as the Ontario club took a 3-1 series lead. The Canadiens controlled the play for much of Game 5 but coughed up a three-goal lead to lead to overtime. Two Toronto players then made mistakes on the same play, with Nick Suzuki converting on the rare overtime 2-on-0 to give the Habs new life in the series. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell makes a save on Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson in their contest May 20. Campbell will be starting in the first playoff Game 7 of his career. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press) Game 6 was more competitive, but Montreal again neutralized Toronto for much of the game, with Price stopping anything coming his way. The Canadiens scored two in the third period, but Toronto then matched that. Toronto appeared to be carrying the play for the most part in overtime, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi snapped a shot past Leafs goalie Jack Campbell to force Game 7. Who to watch in Game 7 Matthews rallied the troops in the wake of the Tavares injury with a four-point effort in the Game 2 victory for Toronto. He's tallied just one assist in the subsequent four games. To call him a disappointment would be a stretch he's fired 20 shots on net in the last four and won more faceoffs than he lost but players of his calibre are asked to produce in moments like this. Fans watch the warmup before Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at Bell Centre. Quebec's easing of COVID-19 restrictions saw 2,500 mostly partisan fans to attend in the building for the first time in 14 months. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) Obviously the play between the pipes will be critical. Price and Campbell have both impressed in the series, but there's a disparity in big game experience. The Montreal goalie has played a trio of elimination games in the NHL playoffs in addition to a wealth of big international contests, while Campbell is starting his first Game 7 in the NHL postseason. Price has allowed just one first-period goal in the series thus far. Then there's the Toronto blue line. It's unclear if the banged-up Jake Muzzin is good to go, so how he'll look if he suits up or how the Leafs pairings will be configured in his absence will be of note. The future The NHL hasn't set a date for Game 1 of the North final, but the league has wasted little time in getting the postseason rounds rolling. The Vegas Golden Knights, for example, played Colorado on Sunday in their second-round opener after just one full day off following a seven-game first-round victory. Toronto won six of 10 games during this regular season against Winnipeg, while Montreal lost six of nine against the Jets. Winnipeg, in both incarnations of the Jets, has never faced Montreal or Toronto in the postseason. The reconfiguration of divisions this season due to COVID-19 guarantees a Canadian team will be among the final four teams competing for the Stanley Cup, for the first time since the Jets reached that stage in 2018. A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since the 1992-1993 run of the Canadiens. One defining characteristic of a conspiracy theory is that it requires no actual proof. Once the premise has been accepted, even the absence of evidence reinforces the underlying belief: See, the conspirators are so powerful that they leave no trace of their existence. It is easy enough to ridicule QAnon followers who parade in horned helmets and shaman garb, but what is there to say about a renowned academic who attributes professional setbacks to unseen Zionists who, though never identified, must surely be operating behind the scenes? Regrettably, Im speaking here of Cornel West theologian, activist, philosopher, and social critic who recently went public in a dispute with Harvard over his status on the faculty. In 2016, West accepted a non-tenure-eligible position in Harvards divinity school and African-American Studies department. Following the standard five-year review, Harvard offered West a ten-year contract renewal as the Victor S. Thomas Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy, as well as a significant pay raise. But West wanted more, demanding that he be switched to a tenured position. Harvard declined. West, having previously been tenured at Yale, Princeton, the Union Theological Seminary, and in an earlier appointment at Harvard, considered the denial disrespectful and loudly complained. The refusal was inconceivable, he said, unless something sinister was afoot. And he knew just whom to blame. In an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Education, West charged that Harvards decision was political payback in a very specific way: In my case, my controversial and outspoken views about and critiques of empire, capitalism, white supremacy, male supremacy, and homophobia are tolerated, but any serious engagement around the issues of the Israeli occupation are rendered highly suspect and reduced to anti-Jewish hatred or prejudice. Referencing certain unnamed powers that be at Harvard, West explained, So, I surmise it must be my deep Christian witness based on the idea that an ugly Israeli occupation of precious Palestinians is as wrong as any ugly Palestinian occupation of precious Jews. And he added, [T]wo brilliant scholars critical of the U.S. empire and Israeli occupation a Black Dominican woman and a Jewish Israeli woman have been denied tenure. I see a pattern here. The interviewer for the Chronicle of Higher Education did not bother asking West if there was any factual basis for his suspicions. Thats the beauty of an anti-Israel conspiracy theory. The power of the inner circle is deemed self-evident, and the accusation, therefore, proves itself. At least one other well-known academic has taken Wests claim seriously. Juan Cole, a History Department chair holder at the University of Michigan and former president of the Middle East Studies Association, found it plausible that Wests strong language in support of Palestine led to the tenure denial because many pro-Israel professors and administrators (as well as those hoping for big donations from pro-Israel donors) are corrupt, and are entirely willing to misuse their positions to silence voices that are inconvenient for Israeli propaganda. If there is such a surreptitious pro-Israel cabal, it has been mysteriously selective and fine-tuned. Wests argument for tenure at Harvard is premised on his previous tenured positions at several other celebrated universities, including Princeton and Yale, which must somehow be immune to the so-called corruption and greed of the Israel backers. And it would take an oddly focused conspiracy to be just fine with offering West a ten-year appointment, at age 67, to a prestigious endowed chair, while inexplicably drawing the line at tenure. What real or imagined harm to Israel could be done by the words of tenured-professor Cornel West that would not be equally damaging coming from the Victor S. Thomas Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy? Tenure means a great deal to academics, such as West, Cole, and me. But to the general public the people to whom West claims to speak well, not so much. West has convinced himself that his many other radical positions are fully acceptable to Harvard, including his outright rejection of capitalism, which ought to be most troubling to the universitys wealthy donors. He is likewise certain that his joyful support of Bernie Sanders would never be held against him. But with nothing even resembling evidence, West has no doubt that shadowy friends of Israel just had to be responsible for his rebuff by the Harvard administration. That might make sense only to someone intensely committed to Wests worldview; his conclusion would otherwise be recognized as an unsupported non-sequitur. I have admired some of Wests books, and conspiracy theories aside, I share his alarm at the current political situation in Israel and Palestine. I must note, however, that West had an equally public quarrel during his first stint at Harvard, which led to his departure for Princeton in 2002. Though the spat had absolutely nothing to do with Israel, West pointedly denounced Harvards then-president Lawrence Summers as the Ariel Sharon of American higher education. To paraphrase Professor West: there just might be a pattern here. A priest ordered by gardai to stop allowing people come to his Dublin church to receive Holy Communion has said depriving parishioners of the Eucharist could have a mental health cost. Fr Binoy Matthew, a parish priest in west Dublin, said he ceased administering Holy Communion to up to 150 parishioners at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Huntstown after Garda intervention. Speaking to Independent.ie, the Divine Word missionary explained he had given communion to parishioners every week after online mass throughout the pandemic until asked to call a halt by the Gardai. They spoke to the priest following a road traffic accident outside Fr Matthews church in Blanchardstown three weeks ago, which brought the fire and ambulance services to the scene. According to Fr Matthew, anyone receiving communion adhered strictly to sanitising and social distancing protocols and came to the church over a two-hour period. They came through the main body of the church, received communion, and left through a side exit. There was no congregating, he said. It was a way for us to stay in contact with our parishioners and offer them spiritual support. It is not as if the whole world was coming to us it was a small group of people who carried out the correct sanitising and protocols. They didnt stay in the church for prayers or gather in groups. He said gardai told them they we were in breach of Covid protocols so we decided not to continue. A garda spokesperson said they became aware of an event involving organised activity taking place in a church and engaged with the relevant people. This organised activity is no longer taking place, he said. According to Fr Matthew, Covid restrictions look likely to be in place until after Easter, and so there will be no possibility for parish communities to publicly celebrate Easter ceremonies and even if the country goes to Level 3, public worship will still not be permitted. You hear a lot about the mental health cost. This was something for a small group of people for whom receiving communion meant a lot. Every group is trying in some way to keep in contact with their core community to care and look after them. We were trying to help our core group. You can have over a hundred people in a small supermarket or congregating in a queue for a takeaway coffee. But you cannot allow people to come individually to their parish to receive communion. It seems this is what the Government wants, he said. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Trainer Tony Mullins believes that "public opinion has robbed a business from Gordon Elliott" in the wake of the scandal which saw the Meath trainer pictured on top of a dead horse on his gallops. Elliott has been at the centre of a media storm since the shocking photo emerged online last Saturday with his Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) hearing set for tomorrow morning at 9.30 with his training licence hanging in the balance. Mullins acknowledges the "awful" error in judgement which Elliott made, but he condemns the "horrific assault on a man's character because of one mistake" and he doesn't want to see the Meath trainer wiped out as a result. "Public opinion has robbed a business from Gordon Elliott during the week, which I think is the most horrendous thing I've ever seen seen in public life," Mullins, brother of champion jumps trainer Willie, told Independent.ie "I think this lockdown has caused frustration among people and Twitter has allowed them to vent it at the cost of Gordon's life and the 60 or 70 families who are the main bread winners employed by Gordon. "You're not talking only about one man here, which is horrendous for him, there's also 60 or 70 families who have their bread winner working in that yard and who love their horses. "I know from dealing with people all of my life. If he was in any way not top class with his horses, he wouldn't get the results that he did. To say that he doesn't give his horses absolute 100 per cent attention was just a horrific assault on a man's character because of one mistake. "He admitted, and I would say he made an awful mistake, but it certainly didn't warrant him and many other people's lives being turned upside down. He made a mistake, he has to remember he is an ambassador for our sport. "And he must be reprimanded for it but to take his and many other people's...to take the belly out of their lives is horrendous and should never be allowed to happen again." The Kilkenny trainer is a hugely popular character on Twitter but his thoughts on social media have been soured by the fallout to the Elliott affair and the Group One-winning handler is calling for action against faceless keyboard warriors. "I really enjoyed Twitter for the last few years but this has turned my stomach. I am now looking at Twitter in a completely different light and I won't be as loose and jolly as I have been for the last few years," Mullins said. "And I did enjoy it, not realising that something like this could happen. I think it's horrendous and if Twitter don't do something about it, our government has to. "To say that an account is not traceable in my opinion is a complete lie and every account is traceable. I just don't believe when they say that they can't trace an account and Twitter should be brought and held to ransom on it." President Barack Obama signs the Affordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Bidens COVID-19 Bill Expands Obamacare Subsidies That Benefit Affluent WASHINGTONDemocrats are racing to pass President Joe Bidens economic relief bill by mid-March, amid doubts about the price tag of the package. Buried in the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill is an expansion of Obamacare insurance subsidies, which could provide thousands of dollars to wealthy families who have been least hit by the pandemic, according to critics. Democrats aim to make the Affordable Care Acts (ACA) premium subsidies available to more people through the end of 2022. It also expands the amount of those subsidies for currently eligible people. The revised structure makes the subsidies much larger for older people and those with higher incomes, according to Brian Blase, senior fellow at the Galen Institute and former special assistant to former President Donald Trump at the National Economic Council. The proposed change in the plan, recklessly boosts federal subsidies for health insurance in a way that exacerbates tax inequities, substantially replaces private spending with government spending, reduces incentives for work and productivity, and significantly adds to already unsustainable family and government health care expenditures, Blase wrote in a report. He estimated that a family of four with a 60-year-old head of household and income of $159,000 a year, would qualify for an annual subsidy of $15,868 under the Democratic proposal. Bidens relief bill makes Obamacare subsidies available to more people by removing the income cap on subsidy eligibility. Currently, subsidies are available only to people with income below 400 percent of the federal poverty level$51,520 for an individual and $106,000 for a family of four. The proposal also reduces a persons maximum spending on premiums for benchmark coverage to 8.5 percent of income from 10 percent. Removing the subsidy cliff would benefit people living in states with high premiums, according to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The report shows that a 60-year-old with $55,000 income living in Wyoming, West Virginia, South Dakota, Nebraska, Connecticut, or Alabama would see a premium saving of more than 70 percent on a benchmark plan. Because Obamacare premiums rise with age, most of the benefit from this change will accrue to households in their 50s and 60s, often in their peak earning years and with considerable accumulated savings, according to Chris Jacobs, a health policy expert and CEO of Juniper Research Group. In an article in the Federalist, Jacobs argued that the expansion of subsidy would reduce the incentive to work because some households can lose thousands of dollars in insurance subsidies by going one dollar over the cliff. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on March 2 on the Senate floor echoed the criticisms raised by conservative health policy experts, and said the enhanced subsidy structure would disproportionately benefit wealthier people. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed back against the criticisms, saying that the provision will make the subsidies available to the people in the next income tier temporarily. Its not about wealth, Pelosi said, rebuking Republicans who call it a subsidy for wealthy people. They ought not to be complaining about some people making a little more money, getting a subsidy, she said. Pelosi also denounced the Republican 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, claiming that it benefited the wealthy excessively. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week on the Biden administrations $1.9 trillion stimulus bill. On the afternoon of March 4, Vice President Kamala Harris broke a 50-50 tie to begin Senate debate on the measure. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the proposal to expand ACA subsidies for two years would cost $34.2 billion. But thats just the beginning, according to The Wall Street Journal editorial board. The politics are such that the benefit will never be revoked. The more generous subsidies will be captured by insurers, who will continue to raise premiums, and the specter of high costs will push lawmakers to intervene again, The Journals editorial board wrote last month. Critics argue that once enacted, there will be political pressure to make the temporary expansion permanent, which will lead to greater budgetary cost. As emergency response coordinator for the COVID-19 pandemic in Fort Bend County, Judge KP George is tasked with issuing initiatives and orders to keep residents safe and to reduce the spread of the virus. Now, following Gov. Greg Abbotts mask mandate removal on Tuesday, George fears for the safety of the people of Fort Bend County. Im disappointed, and that is the nicest way of saying it, George said. This is a big, big mistake. In June of 2020, George issued a mask mandate for Fort Bend County. At the time, Abbott had emphatically stated his support for the decisions of local governing authorities in their response to the pandemic. By removing the mask mandate, George said, Abbott has reneged his support and taken over their authority. MORE FROM CLAIRE GOODMAN: Fort Bend County judge announces rental and utility assistance programs Initially, (Abbott) said, The local government understands their people, and I trust them to do whats right, George said. Now hes taken over control. George worries that COVID-19 cases, which had been on the decline since the vaccine distribution picked up steam, will skyrocket again without masks. Hes fighting with data. Hes fighting with science, George said. Its a very dangerous path were taking. Especially frustrating to George is his belief that the time for the mask mandate removal was drawing near. By removing it prematurely, George said, the virus will spread unnecessarily. There was no reason to do this now, George said. If hed waited another 30 days or until wed had a few million vaccinated, it would have been so much better. Like Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, George believes Abbott timed the mask mandate removal in order to deflect criticism for the devastating freeze crisis in mid February. On HoustonChronicle.com: Hidalgo, Turner slam Abbott's decision to lift mask mandate, business restrictions People have been absolutely furious over (the freeze) and the way (Abbotts office) mishandled the energy situation in Texas, George said. But by removing the mask mandate, hes changing the attention away from what happened. While county authorities cannot override Abbotts orders, George hopes that residents will still wear masks and businesses will still require them. We cannot enforce mask wearing, but we strongly encourage it, said George. People should follow science, not politics, and the masks are supported by science. claire.goodman@chron.com Iran has given encouraging signs in recent days about opening informal talks with world powers and the United States, two European sources said on Thursday after European powers scrapped plans to criticise Tehran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Iran has so far refused to take part in a meeting brokered by the European Union between world powers and the United States on reviving its 2015 nuclear deal. "Things are moving in the right direction and we have had positive signals this week and especially in last few days," a French diplomatic source said. "We are seeing movements that we weren't seeing last weekend," he said. The source added the objective was to get everyone around the table before the start of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, on March 20, when Iran slows down administratively. He added that the window would also narrow from mid-April when Iran's presidential election campaign kicks in. "We are putting all our efforts so that this (meeting) can take place in the days or coming weeks," the source said. French President Emmanuel Macron and his foreign minister both spoke separately with their Iranian counterparts earlier this week. A second European source also said there had been positive signals from the Iranian side. An Iranian official declined to comment. An EU official said that this was the objective and the channels remained open with contacts almost daily. "It's good that the Iranians are still talking," the official said. The French source added that another positive indication was that Iran had reportedly suspended its production of uranium metal, one of its latest violations of the nuclear accord, although that had not been verified by the IAEA. Britain, France and Germany decided to pause the submission of a resolution critical of Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday to not harm the prospects for diplomacy and after what they said were concessions gained from Iran to deal with outstanding nuclear. Short link: Srinagar, March 4 : Senior separatist leader and chairman of his faction of the Hurriyat conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was set free from house arrest on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar city after 80 weeks. Mirwaiz Umar was placed under house arrest on August 4, 2019, a day before Article 370 was abrogated and the state bifurcated into two union territories. Sources here said Umar Farooq has been conveyed the official decision that he is free to attend all religious and social functions and also move around freely. Sources close to the him, however, said the mobile bunker vehicle parked outside the house of the Mirwaiz in the city outskirts Nigeen area has still not been shifted. He is now scheduled to address the Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of Srinagar city on Friday. Traditionally, the Mirwaiz family has been delivering the Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid which is situated in the old city of Srinagar. The old city areas of Srinagar are believed to be the strong bastions of the Mirwaiz family as most of their supporters live in these areas. WILLIAMSPORT A Waverly, New York, man who to threatened to kill a lot of people and commit the worst terrorist attack in American history when he got out prison admits he needs help. Im not ready to go home, Jesse Allen Blake, 25, told U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann at his Thursday sentencing. Judge sentenced him to four years in prison consecutive to the 10 to 20 years he received in 2019 in Bradford County. His charges there were aggravated assault stemming from an incident in jail and sexual statutory assault in which the victim was 13. When Blake eventually gets out of prison he will be on supervised release for four years during which he is to undergo mental health treatment. He understands that he needs long-term help, said assistant public defender Gerald Lord, who suggested intensive psychological therapy. Blake pleaded guilty last June to a charge of mailing threatening communication. The communication was a letter Blake sent March 29, 2019, while an inmate at the Bradford County Correctional Facility to FBI headquarters in Washington that stated in part: I will blow or attempt to blow up the White House, the U.N. headquarters and the Pentagon and Trump Tower. And try to kill the president. If you think Im playing try me ... You cant ever charge me with a terroristic threat through letter nor can you put me in federal prison. Below his name he wrote: I will terrorize the [expletive] out of America. A mental health evaluation concluded Blake was a high risk of violent behavior and likely should have remained in placement longer as a young child, Lord said. Blake was diagnosed at age 5 with deficit attention order and had a neglected childhood that included stays in group homes and foster homes, he said. Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel speculated Blake might have made the threats to get more time in jail, recognizing he needed to be in a structured environment. You pose a serious threat to the community, Brann told Blake, adding that it was clear to him he has the capacity to engage in violent behavior. When Blake pleaded guilty, he said he had been treated for methamphetamine and alcohol addiction. At the same court proceeding, Rocktashel quoted Bradford County Warden Donald Stewart as saying he believed Blake was fully capable of carrying out the threats. The prosecutor had cited evidence he showed Blake: Paramedics will respond to triple zero calls for mental health support rather than police and emergency services workers will have access to a unique mental health service under a state government plan. Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday that Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria would work together on how to best implement the change that would result in paramedics acting as first responders to calls for mental health help. I think we can have a healthcare response to what is a healthcare issue. And that is much, much better, much safer, and much more effective than a law and order response to a health issue, Mr Andrews said. The 3195-page final report from the Royal Commission into Victorias Mental Health System, which was released on Tuesday, found hospital emergency departments were being used as entry points, with people unable to obtain the right treatment when it would benefit them the most. EDWARDSVILLE The city council voted 6-0 in favor with one abstention Tuesday to swap ownership between two parcels, one on North Main Street and one on St. Louis Street, to facilitate future parking garage access. Alderman Art Risavy Jr. refrained from voting as Art Risavy Sr., his father, owns Big Daddys property, which is next to one of the properties being exchanged. Brett Vuagniaux spoke during the meetings public comment section about the proposed land exchange, which he opposed. His family owns an adjacent property on St. Louis Street. He served as a former treasurer in Osage Beach, Missouri and a finance director for the city of Des Peres, a St. Louis County suburb. Vuaginaux made four points. First, future parking needs have changed during the pandemic. He said experts and scholars agree that the future office space will look different post-COVID. Specifically, the parking the city needed pre-COVID is not the same parking the city will need post-COVID, he told the council. Second, there is no immediate, demonstrable need to enter into this exchange, he said. The same outcome can be achieved when and if the citys proposed parking structure is in the immediate future, not two or more years away. Third, he described his thoughts on how this land exchange does not promote the highest and best use of land for the downtown area or the city as a whole. As a matter of fact, it creates a higher barrier to redevelopment of an area that has been acknowledged as blighted on St. Louis Street. Finally, Vuagniaux claims there is a conflict of interest in this exchange for the city. He said state municipal laws prevent elected officials from participating in agenda items that present direct or indirect conflicts of interest. Because the property owner is getting a property improvement, perhaps at the cost of the tenant, that indisputably increases the value of that property, he said. It will increase the usage, density and customer counts, which consequently and indisputably increases the parking needs of that individual property owner, owned by the Risavy family and occupied by Big Daddys. City Administrator Kevin Head disputed Vuagniauxs claims Thursday, stating the city solely wants access from N. Main to the North Main super lot. He claimed he visited both subject sites at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Of the 24 parking slots on St. Louis Street, all of them were empty while seven of the 13 slots on North Main were occupied at that hour. He requested the council postpone the exchange until a better, demonstrable need can be illustrated. When it came time to vote on the item, City Attorney Jeff Berkbigler provided a summary of events in which started about nine months ago. He said they quickly realized the city had no public access off of North Main Street; the gap between Big Daddys and Whiskerbones is privately owned even though its used daily as an entrance and exit. Plummer General owns the lot and uses it as parking for their Mark Twain buildings on the west side of North Main Street. The city offered a 1:1 land swap of a lot it owns on St. Louis Street for the N. Main Lot, which would benefit Plummer General employees, who would no longer have to cross North Main Street when leaving or arriving to work. ACS committee members requested property appraisals for both lots before moving forward, which delayed things for a few weeks. We wanted to make sure we were getting a fair deal and its clearly a fair deal for the city. Were not giving anything away by any means, Berkbigler said. The swap would give the city three access points to the super lot/parking garage Hillsboro, North Main and East Vandalia. He ended by saying staff members are wholly in support of the plan. Alderwoman Janet Stack worried about what Vuagniaux reported and asked if there was a way to delay things before approving the swap. Berkbigler said he saw no purpose in delaying and that the process was not rushed. Mayor Hal Patton left it to the council to decide. As you know, Ive got two months left. This is not going to be my baby in any way, shape or form, Patton said. You guys are going to have to address downtown parking in this future project. The city extended TIF #2 for this specific purpose, parking in the Super Lot area, according to City Administrator Kevin Head. Alderman Jack Burns asked what would be accomplished by tabling the item. Youll lose the deal, Head replied. The next city council meeting is March 16 at 7 p.m. at city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has named the five major achievements of Ukrainian diplomacy over the past year. This was said in a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry's Facebook page. According to Kuleba, "Ukrainian diplomacy stands for the protection of the Ukrainian state, Ukrainian business and Ukrainian citizens. We work every day to realize the choice made by the Ukrainian people. To make Ukraine a successful, strong, European state, a member of the EU and NATO; a Ukrainian proud of his country in the world and feel that it protects him; and make Ukraine a success story and move forward." "I know that by joint efforts we will achieve the goal. Everything will be Ukraine," the minister stressed. Kuleba listed the top five achievements of the year as follows: NATOs Enhanced Opportunities Partnership, Ukraine is among the Alliance's six closest partners in the world; the Lublin Triangle united three states Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland in a new format; return of more than 250,000 citizens home at the beginning of a global lockdown, attraction of humanitarian aid to counter COVID-19, including more than 3 million tests, over 1,500 ventilators of various types, and almost 6 million pieces of personal protective equipment; release of more than 30 Ukrainians from pirate, terrorist captivity, life imprisonment, and a total of more than 1,600 citizens from prison abroad with the assistance of Ukrainian diplomats; business: Ukrainian companies, with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies, won 73 tenders abroad and concluded 53 contracts with foreign partners, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection opened three new sales markets. As reported, March 4 marks the anniversary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine headed by Denys Shmyhal. ish New Delhi, March 4 : Top superstars of regional cinema have a new formula to reach out to a pan-Indian audience. While earlier, films would be made in one language and then dubbed in other languages including Hindi, big names of regional cinema -- particularly the South -- are going for escalated production cost and shooting in multiple languages, sometimes even different co-actors to make in different markets. In many cases, if a film is not getting made in a different language, then separate dubbing artistes are not being hired and the lead actor dubs for himself in every language that the film is slated to release in. The films are released in multiple languages on the same day, to gauge the impact across various markets. Here is a list of upcoming films that have been, or are being, shot in languages more than one: Haathi Mere Saathi The Rana Dagubatti-starrer is set to hit theaters on March 26. While it is called Haathi Mere Saathi in Hindi version, the film is called Kadaan in Tamil and Aranya in Telugu. While in Tamil and Telugu versions have actor Vishnu Vishal in the character of Singa, the Hindi version has actor Pulkit Samrat in the same character, but as Shankar. KGF 2 This Kannada film, starring actor Yash is going to release in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. While the film is made in Kannada, Yash, who plays the role of Rocky Bhai in the film, will be dubbing in Hindi for himself. For a pan-Indian impact, his antagonist Adheera is played by Sanjay Dutt, and the film also has Raveena Tandon in a vital role. RRR Bahubali maker SS Rajamouli's mega-ambitious Roudram Ranam Rudhiram (RRR) is being planned for a release in 10 languages -- nine Indian languages and English. The film unites Telugu stars Ram Charan and Jr NTR, and also casts Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn, besides a smattering of international actors. Muddy Touted as India's first film on off-road car racing, Muddy will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. The film is directed by Dr. Praghabal, was announced by Tamil star Vijay Sethupati last week, when he released the motion poster on February 20. Liger The much-awaited Bollywood debut of Telugu star Vijay Deverakonda, Liger will be released in five languages. The film, which co-stars Ananya Pandey, can be viewed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. -- Syndicated from IANS An investigation into Victorias unregulated private drug rehabilitation system has found vulnerable patients are being referred to operators accused of exploitative billing practices, treating people without appropriate expertise and employing misleading advertising. After a two-year investigation, Health Complaints Commissioner Karen Cusack found that long waiting lists in the public system meant Victorians were left with no choice but to pay more than $30,000 for a residential place in privately run clinics of varying quality. Melbourne business woman Lily Owen, who beat a methamphetamine ice addiction. The unregulated nature of the private sector has allowed numerous operators to open [alcohol and other drug] treatment services without the necessary competence, skills or experience, Ms Cusack wrote in a report to Health Minister Martin Foley to be made public on Friday. The two providers her office received the most complaints about charge between $13,000 and $32,500 for residential treatment lasting between 30 and 90 days. She recommended the state should introduce a mandatory licensing scheme and ensure counsellors and other workers have appropriate qualifications. The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. TalentSprint News Summary TalentSprint, a leading EdTech platform and NSE group company, today announced the launch of the third cohort of the pioneering Women Engineers Program (WE) with support from Google. (@FahadShabbir) The number of new coronavirus cases has risen in Europe after six weeks of decline, the World Health Organization said on Thursday Copenhagen (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ) :The number of new coronavirus cases has risen in Europe after six weeks of decline, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. "Last week, new cases of COVID-19 in Europe rose nine percent to just above one million. This brought a promising six-week decline in new cases to an end, with more than half of our region seeing increasing numbers of new infections," WHO Europe's regional director Hans Kluge told a news conference. "We are seeing a resurgence in central and Eastern Europe. New cases are also on the rise in several western European countries where rates were already high," he said. "We need to get back to the basics. We need to enlarge" the vaccine portfolio, he said. WHO's Europe region comprises 53 nations and vaccination drives have begun in 45. According to an AFP tally based on official numbers, 2.6 percent of the European Union's population have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines and 5.4 percent have got one dose. [March 04, 2021] Nokia has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2020 and published its Nokia in 2020 Annual Report Nokia has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2020 and published its Nokia in 2020 Annual Report Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release March 4, 2021 at 23:00 EET Nokia has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2020 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and published its Nokia in 2020 Annual Report. Espoo, Finland Nokia has today filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2020 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, Nokia has published its Nokia in 2020 Annual Report, which includes audited financial statements, the annual review by the Board of Directors, Nokias corporate governance statement and the Remuneration Report for the governing bodies for 2020. The Annual Report on Form 20-F and Nokia in 2020 Annual Report will be available in PDF format at www.nokia.com/about-us/investors/reports-filings , along with Nokias past quarterly and annual financial reports. Shareholders may request a hard copy of the reports free of charge through Nokias website. The corporate governance statement is available also at www.nokia.com/about-us/investors/corporate-governance and the Remuneratio Report at www.nokia.com/agm . The financial statements are also published in XHTML format in accordance with the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) reporting requirements. In accordance with ESEF requirements, the primary statements of the consolidated financial statements are marked with XBRL tags. The ESEF financial statements in Finnish are available in the zip file attached to this release and at www.nokia.com/fi_fi/tietoa-nokiasta/sijoittajat/tulostietoja-ja-raportteja . About Nokia We create the critical networks and technologies to bring together the worlds intelligence, across businesses, cities, supply chains and societies. With our commitment to innovation and technology leadership, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we deliver networks at the limits of science across mobile, infrastructure, cloud, and enabling technologies. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities we need for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. Media Enquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Katja Antila, Head of Media Relations Attachments Nokia_Annual_Report_2020_English Nokia_Corporate_governance_statement_2020 Nokia_Remuneration_Report_2020 Nokia_2020_12_31 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When the U.K. and European Union shook hands on a trade deal late last year, few expected the new relationship to be plain sailing. And as with many divorces, antagonism between the sides has refused to fade. Among the most sensitive issues is Northern Ireland, and tensions ramped up considerably this week when the U.K. announced it will ignore some crucial obligations under the Brexit deal and the EU responded with a dramatic threat of legal action. With Prime Minister Boris Johnson already under pressure from members of his own party to rip up the Northern Ireland deal, the risk is a further escalation that erodes relations. That could have spillovers far beyond politics, and the ongoing saga is a frustration for business. The U.K.'s huge finance industry, for example, is seeing the potential for beneficial trade agreements being slowly whittled away by endless political spats. For its part, the EU had already raised the temperature when it controversially suggested in January -- albeit briefly -- that it could use an emergency clause in the Northern Ireland deal as part of export controls on vaccines. Officials on both sides don't expect any drastic consequences immediately, and the U.K. and EU will continue talking. But with the bloc yet to ratify December's deal, and a fear in Brussels that this may not be the government's last attempt to rip up what it previously agreed, the next few months will be rocky. Strains on the fragile compromise over Northern Ireland are particularly dangerous, threatening stability in a region that suffered decades of bloodshed. The Irish News reported that some paramilitary loyalist groups in the region are withdrawing their support for the Good Friday peace deal, which largely ended the violence. The deal signed by Johnson avoids border checks on the island of Ireland, and keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU's customs union and much of its single market. That means the border, with its accompanying checks, is effectively in the Irish Sea, between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K To ease the adjustment for businesses, not all trade checks were introduced on goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. at the end of the post-Brexit transition period. But now the U.K. has extended the waiver until October, beyond the March 31 date agreed with the bloc. Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney called the move "deeply unhelpful." Johnson on Thursday said these were "temporary, technical measures" to help trade. "I'm sure that with a bit of goodwill and common sense, all these issues are eminently soluble," he said. On Wednesday, Johnson had told Parliament the government would act as needed to ensure Northern Ireland's position within the U.K. internal market, and "we leave nothing off the table." Northern Ireland is just one example of the inherent tension in the agreements that established the post-Brexit relationship. Given those needed nearly four years of complicated, bad-tempered, and at times chaotic negotiations there's a sense of foreboding behind the scenes in London and Brussels. Within Johnson's Conservative Party, some members want him to invoke the agreement's Article 16, which gives both sides the unilateral power to take action should its application create "serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties that are liable to persist, or to diversion of trade." It's considered by architects of the agreement on both sides as the nuclear option that was never expected to be used. Many in Brussels believe it suits Johnson's government to constantly pick holes in the deal, in what's ostensibly a post-Brexit manifestation of the way the U.K. blamed the EU before the split. But the EU's blunder in January, -- which Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she regretted -- has given the U.K. reason to push the issue. For the U.K., there's frustration with the stance in Brussels. One official with knowledge of the discussions said it was clear that EU figures see the issue solely through the perspective of the Republic of Ireland and are too sympathetic to Northern Ireland's nationalist community. Dealing with the province isn't the only source of contention. There's also finance, a sector vital to the U.K. economy and one that the EU would like to raid for spoils. The City of London has already seen some share and swaps trading slip away, and a slow exodus of bankers is expected to continue. Last month, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned the EU against demanding euro derivatives be settled by clearinghouses inside the bloc, saying such a move would be a "very serious escalation." The two sides have also bickered over a ban on shellfish exports. And Johnson's government is standing alone in the world in refusing to grant full diplomatic status to the EU's ambassador in London. Adding to the tension is the appointment of David Frost, formerly Johnson's chief negotiator, as a minister in charge of relations with the EU. He's considered a hardliner who, in private meetings in Brussels, has made clear his dislike for the Northern Ireland Protocol, despite helping to negotiate it. He has also several times spoken of the need to prioritize sovereignty over short-term economic benefits. Mujtaba Rahman, director of political risk consultancy Eurasia, summed it up recently in a note to clients: "Permanent conflict will be the new normal." Wyoming Business Tips for March 8-14 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 Andi Lewis, program manager, Wyoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) It is becoming increasingly important that federal contractors implement a robust cybersecurity program. Why? The No. 1 reason is to protect your company from unscrupulous people or organizations that want to hold your data for ransom, deliberately harm your company or steal your information. Another reason could be that your company wants to pursue contracts with the Department of Defense (DOD) and other federal agencies. Or, perhaps your company is interested in going after future Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer contracts, or Other Transactional Agreements. Regardless of what agencies your company intends to do business with, defending against cyberattacks begins by understanding cyber activity risks, the vernacular of the industry, and how to protect your company and yourself. Implementing a cybersecurity program is not an easy task. Lets start with a definition: Cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices and data from unauthorized access or criminal use, and the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Sounds straightforward enough. But, in learning the ropes of federal government contracting, youll find that there are several rules and regulations that surround cybersecurity. And this is where it gets complicated. At the present time, there are several Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and DOD clauses that deal with cybersecurity. -- FAR clause 52.204-21 - Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems. If included in the contract, this clause applies to any federal contractor that processes Federal Contract Information (FCI). This rule states that contractors are required to apply 15 cybersecurity and facilities security best practices to protect their information systems. These best practices are known as the FAR Critical 15 or FAR Critical 17, and are restated in the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 requirements. -- DFARS clause 252.204-7012 - Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting. This requirement is in all contracts, except for contracts solely for the acquisition of commercial off-the-shelf items. Additionally, the contractor shall include the clause in subcontracts for which performance will involve covered defense information or operationally critical support. -- DFARS clause 252.204-7021 - Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Requirements. As of November 2020, this interim rule specifies CMMC requirements and enables the department to verify the protection of FCI and controlled unclassified information within the unclassified networks of Defense Industrial Base companies. The interim rule includes a phased rollout of CMMC implementation in fiscal years 2021-25. Starting in fiscal year 2021, the department will pilot the implementation of CMMC requirements for Level 3 and below on select new acquisitions. This brief overview is not meant to give guidance. Its goal is to have companies understand that becoming cyber-compliant is not something that can be done overnight. It will take effort and time. Proof of compliance will be necessary. Leadership must be onboard, along with the companys IT cadre, and assistance from cyber professionals may be necessary in order to understand the requirements. Its not a one-time process. Its an ongoing process that will need to be continually controlled and updated. Its also not something to leave until the last minute. To learn more about cybersecurity, you can attend our upcoming GRO-Biz Conference. This year, the conference takes place virtually March 9-11. In addition to learning about cybersecurity, attendees can hear from experts on several topics designed to help government contracting newcomers and experts. To reserve your spot, visit www.wyomingsbdc.org/ptac. You also can sign up for no-cost, confidential assistance with government contracting at www.wyomingsbdc.org/ptac. 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. Leading building equipment maker Doosan Infracore is set to introduce its quarrying, mining and construction solution, XiteCloud at the upcoming Hillhead Digital event in UK. XiteCloud is the first step towards the commercialisation of Concept-X, the companys integrated unmanned and automated control solution, first demonstrated to the world in 2019. In addition, the company will be rolling out its new wheel loader, excavator and ADT at the industry event to be held from March 30 to 31. XiteCloud maximises productivity by incorporating complex 3D drone construction surveys and earthwork calculations into a cloud platform, allowing them to be completed in just one to two days. Following the successful introduction in South Korea, Doosan Infracore is intending to launch XiteCloud in international markets including Europe in the near future. These events have opened the door to Doosan Infracore to further expand its business portfolio into the field of construction site management, to complement its existing operations in manufacturing and sales of construction equipment. With XiteCloud, a customer can manage multiple tasks such as surveys, terrain analysis, machine purchases, equipment operation and construction management on a single platform, thereby reducing construction costs and saving time while increasing work accuracy, which in turn raises productivity. XiteCloud also allows customers to manage multiple projects on a single platform, accumulating and managing data that can be utilized for future decision making/business. The solution even makes it possible to digitize earthwork site information into three dimensions as well as to analyze rock formations. Since it is cloud-based, XiteCloud makes it easy for stakeholders, including contractors and clients, to join forces and manage the progress of a given project together. PM Modi's visit to Bangladesh will be a very memorable one: Jaishankar India oi-Madhuri Adnal Dhaka, Mar 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s planned visit to Dhaka later this month will surely be a "very memorable" one, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, as he described India''s strategic ties with Bangladesh a truly "360 degree partnership". Jaishankar arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Modi''s visit to Bangladesh later this month to participate in the celebrations of 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations. After holding comprehensive discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart A K Abdul Momen, Jaishankar said Bangladesh was central to India''s ''Neighbourhood First'' policy and increasingly relevant to the country''s ''Act East Policy''. "We are working to prepare for the planned visit of our Prime Minister. It will surely be a very memorable visit: if I recall right it would be his first visit outside India since the coronavirus pandemic and his second as Prime Minister to Bangladesh," he told reporters at a joint press conference along with Momen. UK MPs to debate safety of protesters in India, press freedom next week "Many of you would remember his (Modi''s) last visit (here), that was something very transformational in our relationship," he said. Prime Minister Modi is likely to pay a two day visit to Dhaka from March 26 to Bangladesh to participate in a series of events. Jaishankar acknowledged that it was a "very special year" for the people of Bangladesh when both countries mark the Mujib Barsho, 50 years of Bangladesh''s Liberation and 50 years of India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. "May all your dreams come true and I can assure you that India will always be there by your side, as a reliable friend," he said. "Our relationship is so broad & our comfort level so high that there is no domain today that is left untouched. It is a truly a 360 degree partnership," he tweeted. "Our relations actually transcend even our strategic partnership, and I believe that our bonding is central to the realisation of a dream of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Asia," he said. It is in pursuit of this vision that both sides have made remarkable progress in the relationship, especially since Prime Minister Modi's assumption of office in May 2014, Jaishankar said. The significance of India''s ties with Bangladesh lies in its centrality, for India''s 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Dhaka''s growing relevance for India''s 'Act East' Policy, he said. "We see Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued partner not only in South Asia but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Every outcome and achievement in our relationship resonates through this region. It is no secret that we cite it to others as an example for emulation," he said. During his meeting with Momen, Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions on ways to take forward the bilateral relations. "We are working so hard to expand our relationship to whole dimensions, ranging from security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people to people ties ensuring development of our shared resources," Jaishankar, who is expected to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told reporters. "Our comfort levels are now so high that we have shown that there is no issue that we cannot discuss and resolve through amicable dialogue," he said. Momen said the two countries have committed to continue to work together to take "our bilateral relations to newer heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Hasina." Jaishankar said that his visit is also a statement of solidarity in "our shared" fight against the COVID pandemic. In January, India sent over 20 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine as a gift to Bangladesh. "The pandemic has actually provided an opportunity to reaffirm our friendship. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Made in India vaccines. Also among the friendship our largest gift of vaccines of 2 million, which is really appropriate that it is to Bangladesh," he said. Speaking on the long-pending deal on the sharing of Teesta waters, Jaishankar said, "We did discuss it and you know we would have a meeting of our water resources secretaries very soon. He said India had already in principle agreed to sign the agreement but its internal problems barred New Delhi to ink it yet. "We did discuss it and you know we would have a meeting of our water resources secretaries very soon. I am sure they will discuss it further. You know the Government of India''s position, that has not changed," he said. Momen said his meeting with Jaishankar focused on possible ways to materialise "our commitments and how to prioritise and accommodate each other's priorities in a mutually beneficial manner." Replying to a question on the killings of Bangladeshis allegedly by the Border Security Force along the border, a major irritant in bilateral relations, Jaishankar said, "We have talked about it. Many of the deaths take place inside India. Every death is regrettable." The deaths occurred due to the crimes along the border, he said, expressing optimism that it could be stopped by the joint efforts of both the countries. "But the problem is because of crime. So our shared objective should be there will be ''no crime, no death'' on the border. I am sure if we can get it right -- no crime, no death -- we can together address the problem effectively," he added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 17:57 [IST] Why a 'gentle giant' father-of-two was allegedly murdered and dumped in bushland could finally be revealed when a star witness gives evidence. Jarrad Lovison, 37, disappeared while riding his bike near Moe in country Victoria on April 16 last year and his body was found five weeks later on May 23. Samantha Grace Guillerme, 24, Jake William Brown, 28, and Andrew James Price, 47, are charged with Mr Lovison's alleged murder. Police have never said why or how Mr Lovison died, but prosecutors and judges have referred to a possible, but so far unstated, motive. Jarrad Lovison, 38, went missing in mid-April but his remains were discovered by detectives in Moondarra, near Moe in Victoria's Gippsland region Mr Lovison's body was found five weeks after he was reported missing. Guillerme and Brown were charged with his murder Guillerme's connection to her co-accused and Mr Lovison are also a mystery, though they appeared to know each other as they laughed together in court in January. Almost a year since Mr Lovison's disappearance, a committal hearing at Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court will determine if the trio will go to trial. A key witness will take the stand and and discuss a 'conversation with the deceased in regards to motive', the Herald Sun reported. Magistrate Guillaume Bailin will decide who the lawyers can question to help provide evidence to push the three alleged murderers to trial. The body of Moe man Jarrad Lovison (left) was found in May a month after he went missing Samantha Grace Guillerme (pictured above) was remanded in custody on January 7 in relation to the murder of Jarrad Lovison The witness will also be asked about the 'burning of a shed' before the alleged murder. Mr Bailin heard that DNA analysis was still underway and questioned police why the process was not done in October when the charges were laid. Defence lawyer Ashley Halphen said the police investigation was not ready and was missing 'critical information'. Prosecutor Ruth Champion hit back saying there was a vast 'amount of testing to be done' for the case. Phone tower analysis will also be used and prepared into transcripts, the court heard. Andrew Price, 47, (left) was also charged with Mr Lovison's murder last year Julian McMahon, defence lawyer for Mr Price previously told the court the prosecution's case was weak and Mr Lovison could have died from other causes. The seven-foot-tall cyclist was found with large quantities of the drugs GHB and meth in his system, which Mr McMahon claimed were enough to cause his death. Mr Bailin said the case could be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court and skip the committal hearing in the lower court. Guillerme, Price and Brown will return to court on March 16. This is an opinion cartoon. I met Dr. Seuss, he drew me a toon. Ill tell you all about it one day real soon Now there are thoughts to think and doodles to do If a cartoonist was in charge Things would be different for me, you and you Like many of you, I grew up with Dr. Seuss. He was a huge influence on whatever it is I am today. In the second grade, my friend Tim Dixon and I got in trouble for laughing too loud in class. We were reading If I Ran the Zoo. Later on, as part of a deal I made in negotiating a cartoonist job in San Diego, I got to meet and hang out with the man himself, Theodor Geisel. Meeting Dr. Seuss was like meeting the real Santa Claus. Ill save that story for another time. Heres the thing that strikes me about the controversy swirling around 6 Dr. Seuss books: Seuss Enterprises has chosen to discontinue the publication of the books. The books havent been banned, burned or blown up. They are still in libraries. You can still buy them. The Seuss Estate will not print any more of these 6 titles because some of the drawings are offensive. 6 Dr. Seuss books to stop being published over racist images Alabama professor on Dr. Seuss: Discontinuing racist books isnt cancel culture I agree with University of Alabama Professor Jamie Campbell Naidoo: To call the discontinuation of some of Dr. Seusss titles cancel culture is a stretch, Nadoo said. Is it really cancel culture if Dr. Seusss own estate is ending the publication of these books? Are all of his books being taken out of circulation from libraries or pulped in book stores? No. The Seuss Estate choosing to discontinue titles that are racist isnt cancel culture, he said. They are acknowledging that times have changed and finally realizing that racist images of Africans and Asians is not acceptable. The term cancel culture is being used more often lately to be synonymous with anything that is changed. Long before cancel culture was being used, parents and educators realized that some of Dr. Seusss images were not appropriate and reinforced stereotypes. I have to believe if Ted Geisel were alive today he would have no problem with this decision. He was a sharp, feisty progressive man with a conscience. I cant imagine he would draw the same offensive stereotypes today that were unfortunately accepted in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Heres the statement from Seuss Enterprises: Today, on Dr. Seusss Birthday, Dr. Seuss Enterprises celebrates reading and also our mission of supporting all children and families with messages of hope, inspiration, inclusion, and friendship. We are committed to action. To that end, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, working with a panel of experts, including educators, reviewed our catalog of titles and made the decision last year to cease publication and licensing of the following titles: And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, If I Ran the Zoo, McElligots Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and The Cats Quizzer. These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong. Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprisess catalog represents and supports all communities and families. Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe Alabama basketball: SEC champs are Jonesing for respect Will medical marijuana cure ignorance and apathy? 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide: lotta love for Nick Sabans greatest team Nick Saban wins 7th championship; The Bear abides Alabamas DeVonta Smith wins Heisman with one-handed grab Will medical marijuana cure Alabamas ignorance and apathy? Gov. Cuomos undercover work? Nursing home COVID deaths Frozen windmills? Deregulation is to blame for Teas power grid fiasco Thaw your frozen heart, Kay Ivey. Expand Medicaid When Richard Shelby retires, whos gonna bring home the bacon? Tommy Bad Weather Tuberville is dumber than a snowman Something stinks about Kay Iveys prison lease deal Alabamas confusing COVID vaccine portal Alabama vaccine rollout: Four flat tires on a muddy road 2020 tributes: Gallery of heartbreak and heroes JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com and 2020 RFK Human Rights Award winner for Editorial Cartoons. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Hardoi, March 4 : In yet another horrendous incident, a man beheaded his 17-year-old daughter and reached the police station with her severed head. The incident took place on Wednesday night and the man was allegedly upset over his daughter's alleged affair with a youth whom he disliked. Hardoi Superintendent of police, Anurag Vats, told reporters that the accused, Sarvesh Kumar of Pandeytara village under Majhila police station, has been arrested. "Sarvesh is a vegetable vendor. A few days ago, he spotted his daughter in a compromising position with a youth. He made up his mind to teach his daughter a lesson. Sarvesh's wife has also testified this in her statement to the police," the SP said. According to police, Sarvesh reach home, late on Wednesday afternoon, and beheaded his daughter with a chopper. Panic gripped the area when Sarvesh walked down to Majhila police station, about two kilometres away from his village, holding the girl's severed head in his hand. Police said the girl, a student of Class 12, was the eldest among four children - three girls and a boy. A video of a police constable holding the head of the girl went viral on social media, following which IG Lucknow range, Laxmi Singh took cognizance and suspended the constable deployed at Mahila police station. She said that responsibility of the police is to maintain law and order and also must carry themselves in a disciplined manner. "The constable was holding the beheaded girl's head and taking a stroll in the police station," she said. VK Sasikala has declared that she is distancing herself from politics. She has said that the AIADMK should be unified and the DMK should be defeated in the forthcoming assembly elections. Before the assembly elections in Tamilnadu, there has been a major political upsurge. Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaas confidant VK Sasikala has declared that she is distancing herself from politics. Sasikala has said that I am leaving politics to ensure the formation of ADMK government in Tamil Nadu. I will pray to God and my sister (Jayalalithaa) for the victory of ADMK. Assembly elections are going to be held in Tamil Nadu on April 6 in one process. Issuing a remark, Sasikala said on Wednesday that I never set a goal for power or any place. She claims that she is leaving public life. She has said that the AIADMK should be unified and the DMK should be defeated in the forthcoming assembly elections. Sasikala asked all the true supporters of Jayalalithaa to save the common enemy DMK from coming to power in the assembly elections and to ensure Ammas golden rule in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu: In a statement, VK Sasikala says she is quitting public life; asks the AIADMK cadre to stand united and ensure DMK is defeated in forthcoming Assemlby elections. (file photo) pic.twitter.com/qEXfWLkXhq ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2021 Also Read: China-Pak celebrate 70 years of bilateral ties: Xi-Imrans Iron Brothers narrative on VK Sasikala, the expelled chief of AIADMK, returned to Tamil Nadu only last month on January 28 after serving four years of imprisonment in a disproportionate assets dispute. Where she had a grand welcome. Here she declared that he would come into active politics. But the abrupt news of leaving politics has fired up the market of curiosity. Several types of assumptions are being made among political rulership. Also, since then, there was talk that the ruling AIADMK and the opposition party would challenge the DMK in this time assembly elections. Although they did not open their cards. In December 2016, J Jayalalithaa died. After this, the war of dominance in AIADMK broke out. Sasikala was expelled from the party by the O. Panneerselvam faction of AIADMK. Also Read: EAM S. Jaishankar to arrive in Dhaka ahead of PM Modis expected visit to Bangladesh FLOWOOD, Miss. - Carrie Kizek and her mother, Sandra Breland, decided to skip masks while headed out to lunch Wednesday - the day after Mississippi's governor said residents were no longer required to wear them. "If he says we don't have to, then I'm not," Kizek said of Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican). Reeves and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, rescinded coronavirus restrictions Tuesday, doing away with mask mandates and allowing businesses to operate at 100% capacity. The impact was immediate in both states and beyond, with "masks required" signs coming down, businesses trying to navigate the lack of restrictions, local officials pushing back and the White House weighing in. President Joe Biden blasted the decisions by Abbott and Reeves as "Neanderthal thinking." In Austin, Texas, local officials called an early-morning news conference to beg residents to continue wearing masks, while leaders in the Fort Worth area dropped a face covering mandate they were planning to extend into May. The removal of restrictions alarmed public health officials, who worried the actions could accelerate a trend of states peeling back efforts to curb virus transmission, sending cases creeping upward as the country tries to get to the end of the pandemic. Weeks of hard-won, steep declines in infections stalled last week, holding at an alarmingly high average of more than 67,000 new cases per day. That's above the caseload of the summer and early fall, before a winter surge sent daily new infections soaring to a high of about 248,000 per day. Pointing to the level of cases still being recorded and the rise in contagious new variants of the virus, federal health officials have been urging states not to remove restrictions too hastily. But recent weeks have seen a flurry of decisions to increase occupancy limits on restaurants and bars and ease restrictions on stadiums and theaters, with announcements in a dozen states, from Michigan to New York to California. Texas and Mississippi drew extra scrutiny because they removed nearly all safeguards - Abbott declared on Twitter that his state was "OPEN 100 %. EVERYTHING." - and went further than many others in eliminating mask requirements. The Republican governors of Iowa and Montana also stopped requiring masks within the past few weeks, but they remain mandatory in 35 states, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to AARP. Scientists view them as a critical tool in controlling the virus. "This is not just about the decision of one state because it affects all of us. People in Texas will get on planes and drive. The more the virus spreads there, the more chance the virus will mutate," said Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. "We saw how this played out this summer. These are not just the same mistakes we're making, but the same players making them. It just leaves you speechless." The divergence has forced many Americans to make a decision: Continue wearing masks and keeping a safe distance or take the newly relaxed measures as encouragement to return to something resembling normalcy? Kizek, 42, and Breland, 66, were eating at Papitos, a popular Mexican restaurant that on Wednesday began requiring face coverings only for employees. Kizek said she "of course" wore a mask when they were required. But she was excited that Reeves ended the mandate. "Numbers are going down like he said," Kizek said. "I just feel like it's time to get back to somewhat of a normal life." Others at the restaurant made the opposite call. While having a celebratory lunch after a morning of job interviews, Jailyn Myers, 22, and Ollivera Hutton, 23, both donned masks. Hutton said she might start wearing two. "It's still around even though people are not talking about it as much," she said. "I'm going to keep my mask on and might double up if I have to because there are still different strands coming around. I honestly don't know why he decided to." In lifting the restrictions, Tate and Abbott both pointed to declining case numbers, along with the availability of vaccines. Tate said in a series of Twitter posts that, with infections falling, his administration was "getting out of the business of telling people what they can and cannot do." Abbott said during a Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday that "people and businesses don't need the state telling them how to operate" and that recent progress made clear that mandates were no longer necessary. But while cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all fallen dramatically in Mississippi and Texas since January - like in much of the country - the numbers remain at relatively high levels compared with the fall, just before the winter surge. In recent days, the daily numbers of new infections and deaths have markedly increased in both states, although those numbers have been heavily affected by last month's winter storm that left large parts of both states without power and water, disrupting testing and data reporting, as well as vaccinations. The two states also rank far behind others in vaccine distribution, with Texas 49th and Mississippi 47th for the number of people per capita who have received at least one dose, according to Washington Post data. The announcement lifting restrictions left some Texas cities scrambling. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a Democrat, said he believed Abbott's decision would lead to more deaths, adding that "when you combine telling people they don't need to wear masks anymore with 100 percent capacity at gyms, bars, restaurants and concerts, that is the perfect recipe for community spread." In Fort Worth, the city council was on the verge of voting Tuesday to extend its mask mandate until May. But when officials heard the governor's announcement, they gave up on the idea. "We ended up just pulling it from the agenda because it's a moot point. There's no way to enforce it even if we passed it. The governor's order supersedes ours," said Mayor Betsy Price, a Republican who described Abbott's decision as "premature." For months, the city and its Chamber of Commerce have been giving out signs for businesses showing the outline of a person wearing a cowboy hat and mask that read: "Y'all wear a mask. It's required." On Wednesday morning, officials hurried to revise it to a much more vague "Stay strong, together we win." There's still a picture of a mask on the sign, Price said, "but obviously we can't require it now. Only thing we can do is encourage personal responsibility." Businesses, too, grappled with how to react. Several large companies, including Target and Starbucks, announced they would continue requiring masks inside their stores in states that no longer mandate them, according to The Wall Street Journal. H-E-B, a Texas grocery chain, said it will continue asking customers to wear masks, though its employees will not engage in confrontations over them. Gina Spagnola, president and CEO of the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, said she cried tears of joy after hearing Abbott's announcement. "It's wonderful news. It was a great day yesterday - there were lots of tears and joyful people, but they're not taking it lightly," she said. "We feel ready, honestly. Our businesses have suffered, as everyone has, and it's been a year." Others said they worried over how to keep employees safe and whether they will be able to continue enforcing mask-wearing now that the state no longer requires it. Glenn Mier, a Texas restaurant owner who serves as president of the Coastal Bend Restaurant Association, worried about how to rapidly adapt to the change. He called an emergency board meeting to discuss concerns. "In the beginning, we felt like we had to be the police - and we're trained to be hospitable," Mier said. "Over time, it became easier because people accepted it. But with the mandate out the window overnight, I assume there's going to be people who will be obstinate about it." At an Austin convenience store called the Bread Basket, owner Abraham Rahim said the governor's announcement wouldn't change operations. He and his family own 17 stores throughout Austin, he said, and in a family meeting Tuesday night, they all decided to keep their mask mandates and social distancing requirements in place. "Coronavirus is not finished," Rahim said, his face covered in a red-and-blue fabric mask. "We are still adopting mask requirements and are worried about our employees and families. I think these politicians are playing some games, and we pay the price." Until a wide swath of the population is inoculated, research has proved masks to be among the most effective tools in decreasing the virus's transmission. A CDC study released in November compared 81 counties in Kansas that chose not to enact a mask mandate with 24 counties that did. At the time, infections were rising across the state, but the rates had been even higher in the 24 counties that opted to require masks. Within two months, the counties with mandates had stopped the runaway growth and began decreasing infections. Meanwhile, cases in the 81 counties with no mandates kept increasing. The effect of mask mandates is so strong that some modelers include them when projecting the deaths and infections a state will suffer in coming months. Texas and Mississippi's actions this week have caused many to revise those estimates. Coupling the repeal of mask orders with the removal of capacity limits at indoor venues could make for "a killer combination," said Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "Close spaces that are crowded with poor ventilation is the feeding ground for this virus," he said. "By lifting both of them simultaneously, you're just asking the virus to go ahead and do its thing that it's already demonstrated it's so good at." - - - Fowler reported from Flowood, Miss., and Moravec from Austin. Shammas and Wan reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Jacqueline Dupree, Amy Goldstein and Fenit Nirappil in Washington contributed to this report. Former FAI CEO John Delaney's application to have an action over the inspection of thousands of documents seized from the FAI held in private will heard later this month. The application arises out of Mr Delaneys concerns that media reports of the court case will result in what he claims is private and legally privileged information entering the public domain. The 'in camera' application is opposed by Sunday Times News, which is being supported by several other media outlets including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Examiner and the Journal.ie. Solicitor Simon McAleese for the newspaper says the media believes the order being sought is draconian, as the media would be excluded from the hearings, and should not be granted. Last week Paul McGarry SC for Mr Delaney told the Court that arising out of the independent person's work their client is seeking a formal order, under the 2014 Companies Act from that the hearing be conducted 'in camera' where only the parties involved would be present. Mr Delaney is concerned that material he claims is covered by Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) and or that is private to him comes before the court, counsel said. This potential dissemination he said is a matter of enormous concern to him, counsel added. When the matter returned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Tuesday Mr McGarry said that arising out of discussions some of the urgency that had prompted the in-camera application had eased. However, the 'in camera' issue would have to be heard at some stage, counsel said. Ms Justice Reynolds fixed the hearing date of the in-camera application for March 23rd next. Also, on Tuesday the judge ruled that an additional independent person should be appointed to assist barrister Niall Nolan Bl in the examination and review of materials over which claims of legal privilege are made by Mr Delaney. The two independent persons will prepare a report for the court which will aid the judge in determining which of the material is privileged and which is not. The Judge said the additional person, who will be identified later this week, was sought by Mr Nolan in order to speed up the process, so it will be concluded by May or June of this year. The judge however was not prepared to appoint an addition five independent persons to help with the examination of the files, as had been sought by the ODCE. The Judge said that two persons working together, as suggested by Mr Nolan would yield a more efficient and coherent report within the timeline envisaged by Mr Nolan. The examination arises out of the seizure of some 280,000 file by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in February 2020 as part of its criminal investigation into certain matters at the FAI. In proceedings brought by the ODCE the judge has been asked to determine which of the material is covered by legal privilege are made, and cannot be used by the ODCE as part of its probe. The inspection arises out of documents, covering a period of 17 years, that were seized by the ODCE from the FAI's offices last year as part of an investigation into the FAI. Arising out of the seizure the High Court has been asked by the ODCE, in an application where the FAI is the respondent and Mr Delaney is a notice party, to determine if some of those files are privileged and cannot be used by the ODCE. Mr Delaney has been allowed inspect the files, including thousands of emails, to see which ones are private to him or covered by professional legal privilege. The matter has been before the courts on many previous occasions, but the completion of the examination has been delayed due to factors including the volume of documentation involved and the covid19 pandemic. Michigan will soon allow residents 50 to 64 years old to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. The eligibility expansion announced Wednesday, March 3, was welcomed by some providers who say theyve gotten through the majority of the previously eligible population who have requested a vaccine, and didnt want to slow down vaccinations in the coming weeks. But for other providers, particularly in higher-population areas, the expansion feels a few weeks too soon with plenty of people still waiting in line. And for already eligible residents still struggling to get an appointment, the move only furthers their concern that they wont get a shot before the increased competition. I feel before they keep lowering the age limit they need to take care of elderly people who have underlying conditions, said Alice Neil Rhoney, 79, of Roseville. Rhoney said she has a heart condition, which makes her particularly susceptible to having a severe case of COVID-19 if infected. She has registered through Beaumont Health and three different Meijer stores, to no avail. She also calls the Macomb County vaccine hotline incessantly every Tuesday as instructed and get nothing but busy signals. Lauren Johnson, 37, of South Lyon has heard plenty of similar stories from elderly residents in Oakland County. After successfully signing her parents up for appointments through Rite Aid last month, she began assisting others with getting signed up. Most of these people were in their late 70s and 80s, but I also talked to a couple people in their 90s, she said. These poor people were on several lists, one had heart issues, two had cancer, some didnt drive, and most were not computer savvy. I got such a feeling that they all felt forgotten, that they didnt have anyone to help them, especially since everything is online. As of Wednesday, Michigan has administered 2,351,125 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. That includes 1,495,021 residents who have gotten their first dose, and 856,104 who have gotten their second of two recommended doses. Related: Nearly 1.5M Michiganders have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose Groups currently eligible to be vaccinated statewide include health care workers, long-term care workers and residents, first responders, corrections workers, childcare and school staff, staff in congregate care facilities, mortuary service workers, workers in food processing and agricultural settings, and residents 65 years and older. Among the states senior population, 47% have gotten at least one dose of vaccine. Residents 65 and older have received 52% of the states total doses administered to date, including 55% of first doses and 46% of second doses. In Ingham County, about 60% of the 65 and older population has received their first dose, including most who have registered for a shot. Health Officer Linda Vail said her department has been getting the point where its struggling to fill appointments and they were going to have to expand the eligible pool soon themselves if not for the states latest decision. Shes heard similar comments from her peers in other counties. Vail said she might have picked additional 1B priority groups -- like grocery store and other essential frontline workers -- before moving on to the 1C priority group, but she also understands the states rationale. State health officials said theyre accelerating vaccination of the 50 to 64-year-old range, as well as adding caregiver family members and guardians who care for children with special health care needs, due to concern around disparity in life expectancy and in an effort to remove barriers to vaccine access. Theres logic to moving down to the 50 and older group because a lot of those folks are really as much or more at risk than some people who are 65 and older, Vail said. Thats when we see numbers start to skew, like hospitalizations and deaths, often because theyre riddled with underlying health conditions. Its rare to see a (COVID-19) death without underling conditions. Of the 15,563 confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported in Michigan since March 2020, 73% were residents 70 years and older. Another 23% were in their 50s and 60s, leaving 4% of deaths to residents 49 and younger. Similar to Ingham County, the health district of Luce, Mackinac, Alger, and Schoolcraft counties in the Upper Peninsula reported that it has reached the majority of those 65 and over and those in the priority groups in 1B. We are also ready to take those who are over the age of 60 regardless of their medical status, said Kerry Ott, public information officer for the LMAS District Health Department. Its a different story in Washtenaw County, where there are about 23% more residents than Ingham County. Theyve gotten a first dose to about 47.5% of their 65 and older population. We were anticipating that more eligibility would open soon because we know smaller counties have been able to move more quickly through the groups, said Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, an administrator for the health department. But its a little distressing because, with the increase in supplies recently, many counties were finally just feeling like were making progress with their current eligible groups. Were a few weeks away from finishing those groups, which feels good, but its daunting to now have another large group opening up right away. Ringler-Cerniglia said she hopes the already eligible residents dont get discouraged by the additional groups getting in line. Her county, like others, has a two-step request process that will make sure those folks who have been waiting can get vaccine appointment offers first. While there could be some overlap, she anticipates it will be at least a few weeks before Washtenaw County will offer appointments to the newly eligible groups. She also expects to get through the current waitlists faster because some residents on it will have already gotten a vaccine elsewhere due to signing up with multiple providers. As for the 50 to 64-year-old group getting the greenlight ahead of essential frontline workers like those in grocery stores and restaurants, Ringler-Cerniglia said she understands the frustration. Are there good reasons for looking carefully at risk by age and underlying health conditions? Sure, its hard to articulate any argument against those folks being moved up, she said. But none of us want to move those restaurant and grocery store workers down either. Everyone has so many good reasons to be eligible and prioritized that it continues to be challenging and frustrating. Hopefully well be so flooded in vaccine moving forward that it wont matter. President Joe Biden said earlier this week that the U.S. will have enough vaccine supply to get shots to all adults by the end of May. The news comes as Johnson & Johnsons one-dose vaccine became the third to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA. Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said the announcement from the Biden administration sparked the states move to the next phase of eligibility. She also indicated that more groups could soon be eligible as well. Recognizing the recent update to the federal plan to increase production of the vaccine, MDHHS is in active discussions finalizing our plan and will announce the next round of eligibility in the near future, Sutfin said Wednesday. Read more on MLive: Disabled Michiganders, caretakers and advocates take issue with low vaccine priority 6 things you need to know about new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine Gov. Whitmer balks at notion severance pay to former health director was hush money The Terror Rating: Inside Chernobyl Rating: Divers in the Arctic waters around Canadas King Williams Island brought an extraordinary Victorian artefact to the surface a few years ago the ships bell from HMS Erebus. To anyone who doesnt know the story of the doomed, two-ship Franklin Expedition, searching for a navigable route across the top of the Americas, that bell might seem an unremarkable find. But for the crew crammed aboard the tiny steam-and-sail powered vessel, the bell was their only symbol of hope amid a frozen hell. Tobias Menzies as James Fitzjames (pictured left) and Ciaran Hinds as Sir John Franklin (right). For all the talent on tap, its a curiously stage-y production, writes Christopher Stevens With the Erebus trapped in ice throughout the winter, they saw no daylight for months on end. This was 1846: to keep track of the days and nights they rang the bell, every half an hour. The Terror (BBC2) tells the story of that lost expedition. Today it is largely forgotten, though 50 years ago it was still taught in schools, as the epitome of the reckless courage shown by British explorers at the height of the Empire. Ciaran Hinds plays Sir John Franklin, deeply religious and blithely certain that God meant him to map the Northwest Passage and create a short-cut from Britain to the Far East. He is surrounded by a superlative cast Greta Scacchi as his wife, Jared Harris as his mutinous captain and Tobias Menzies playing the cocky junior officer who thinks he knows it all. Among other faces youll recognise, even if you cant immediately put a name to them, are Paul Ready, Matthew McNulty and Ian Hart. For all the talent on tap, its a curiously stage-y production, almost like a historical re-enactment for a documentary by Neil Oliver or Lucy Worsley. Theres a whiff of television-for-schools about the whole business. Hinds plays Sir John Franklin (above), deeply religious and blithely certain that God meant him to map the Northwest Passage and create a short-cut from Britain to the Far East Teen tantrums of the week As news broke that the online BBC Three channel is returning to our airwaves, a spat broke out on Twitter. The account for Channel Fours E4 sneered: Welcome back, losers. We never left, snapped Three. These kids, what are they like? Advertisement The actors barely move and the camera angles are static too. Much of the script appears to be lifted from journals and letters. Perhaps the intention was to create a sense of claustrophobia, but the result is that we never forget we are watching a play, set on a ship. This is only made worse by the constant flashbacks to a night the officers spent at a London theatre, watching themselves depicted in a music hall tableaux. Franklins second ship is HMS Terror. Its name echoes the nightmare and madness, bordering on the supernatural, that is to come. We had a hint, with a spectacularly gory autopsy on a boy sailor who died from TB. No spoilers but, in the annals of naval history, the mutiny on the Bounty was an afternoon at a boating lake compared to the ordeal of Franklins crew. Ben Fogle was exploring a different hell on earth as he visited the deserted city of Pripyat on Inside Chernobyl (C5). Ben Fogle was exploring a different hell on earth as he visited the deserted city of Pripyat on Inside Chernobyl (C5), writes Christopher Stevens He is used to meeting recluses on his New Lives In The Wild, but the teenage thrill-seekers squatting in the derelict tower blocks and filming themselves scaling the abandoned rooftops are not your average hermits. A lethal dose of radiation seems a small price, to them, for the chance to upload selfies to social media from a nuclear wilderness. Optimist Ben, who would see the good in Ivan the Terrible, thought these self-styled Chernobyl stalkers were kind of cool. But he was on safer territory chatting to Ukrainian grandmother Valentina, who had returned with her dog Dana and her accordion to the home she was forced to leave in 1986 after the nearby power station went into atomic meltdown. As Valentina played a polka, Dana howled along then chased her tail in excitement when Ben burst out laughing. It was a delightfully domestic scene, in the worlds least likely setting. A man from the northern province of Ninh Binh has spent the last 10 years collecting old bicycles, repairing them and giving them to those less fortunate. 70-year-old Le Trong Kinh, from the northern province of Ninh Binh, collects old and used bicycles, repairing before giving them to poor students. VNA/VNS Photo Thuy Dung The bicycles that Le Trong Kinh provides aren't worth much money but greatly ease the hardship for students to pursue their studies and motivate disadvantaged people to overcome difficulties. The 70-year-old has presented more than 150 bicycles to needy people so far. The idea came to him after his daughters charity trip to several northern mountainous provinces. During the trip, she saw a large number of students who lacked clothes and textbooks. Their families couldnt afford their vehicles so they had to walk long distances to get to school. Kinh said he sent several bikes that he had just assembled to needy kids in the region. The story inspired him to repair as many bicycles as he could to give to disadvantaged students and families in his area. Kinh said that after leaving the army, he worked as a teacher at the Vietnam-Russia Vocational College of Electro-mechanics and Construction in Ninh Binh Provinces Tam Diep City. As he had a passion for antique bicycles, he often bought them to revamp and collect, he recalled. After he retired, seeing many families had discarded old bicycles, he decided to buy and repair them for his family. Nowadays, many people use motorbikes and electric bikes so old bicycles are hardly used and to be sold," Kinh said. He said it cost him between VND100,000-300,000 (US$4.3-$13) to buy an old bike but it would take a long time to fix them because its not easy to find spare parts. He could go to repair shops to purchase a few spare parts but for rare ones, he had to wait. To save money, he often collects spare parts from scrap dealers. Sometimes, I have to buy two or three old bicycles to assemble and refurbish into a complete bike. It takes me at least two days, a week or even a month to finish a bike. After assembling, Kinh paints the bikes to make them like new and spends time fixing the chains and brakes before giving them away. As word spread about his efforts, many people supported him by giving used bikes. Eighteen-year-old Nguyen Hong Ngoc, who was given a bike, said she was grateful for the gift. My hardship has been eased as I have a bike to get to school, she said. Ngoc and seven-year-old Pham Dang Quang were adopted by nuns at Trung Son Pagoda in Tam Diep City and used to walk to school which is several kilometres away. When the bike breaks down, I usually bring it to Kinh's house to ask him to fix it. He does not take money for the repairs and even tells us to strive to study well, Ngoc said. Talking about Kinh, Pham Trung Son, secretary of residential group No 5 of Trung Son Ward, Tam Diep City, said Kinh always upheld the characteristics of Uncle Hos soldiers and the good nature of Vietnamese people. The good examples of people like Kinh have contributed to spreading the spirit of caring for other people of our nation. Son said he hoped that Kinh would stay healthy so he could continue his meaningful work for the community. VNS Pedal power is helping kids cycle into life They say one man's trash is another man's treasure, and for Tran Quyet Thang, that old proverb couldnt be more accurate. Texas teachers are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, health officials announced Wednesday. Effective immediately, all Texas vaccine providers should include all school staff, Head Start program staff and child care staff in their vaccine administration programs, according to a notice the Texas Department of State Health Services sent to providers. RELATED: Here's where you can get vaccinated in Texas The notice comes after the Biden administration urged all states Tuesday to prioritize vaccinating teachers and school staff. Texas had not previously prioritized teachers. Texas received a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday night directing it to expand eligibility, according to a DSHS news release. Those eligible are those who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers) and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers, according to the federal directive. State health officials said earlier this week that they expected to finish vaccinating older and most vulnerable Texans in the next few weeks and broaden eligibility to include more Texans by the end of the month. The decision also comes the day after Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would allow all businesses to reopen and rescinded a longstanding mask mandate. Many school officials, unprepared for Abbotts decision, chose to continue requiring masks on their campuses and are awaiting further state instruction. RELATED: Abbott ends Texas mask mandate, opens businesses '100 percent' That new group was expected to include teachers before Wednesdays announcement, but officials have not said who else would be in that new 1C group. The first 1A and 1B priority groups, which health officials have said comprise more than 8 million people, included front-line health care workers, people 65 and older, and those 16 or older with medical vulnerabilities. The early inclusion of teachers comes as vaccine supplies ramp up and 2 million people, or 6.8% of Texas population, have been fully vaccinated with both doses of the two-shot regimens. Administration of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one dose, began in Texas this week, officials said. As of March 1, 5.7 million doses had been administered, with providers across the state administering an average of 123,469 vaccine doses each day in the last week. None of the vaccines are approved for children under age 16, who make up about 23% of the population. Supply of the vaccine still falls far short of both the demand and the number of people eligible to get it. Educators and advocates have been begging the state to include teachers as it rolled out its vaccination program this winter and spring. After Abbotts announcement Tuesday, several educator groups chastised him for removing the mask requirement without prioritizing teachers for vaccines. HOUSTON REACTS: 'I hate it here' trends on social media as Texans react to lifted mask mandate Abbott has shirked his responsibility to stick with medical advice and clarify what needs to happen to keep our schools safe. Every top health official has stressed that even with vaccinations we need to keep using the most simple tools to stop the spread, said Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, in a statement Tuesday. In response to Bidens proclamation, CVS Pharmacy had already made appointments available to educators, school staff and child care workers in Texas and other states where it offers vaccines. CVS is part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, a collaboration between the federal government, states and pharmacies across the country. Karen Brooks Harper contributed to this report. Disclosure: Texas AFT has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. SAN FRANCISCO About a quarter of UC students, faculty and staff reported that they had experienced some exclusionary, intimidating or offensive situations on campus and 9% said that had interfered with their abilities to study or work, according to a survey by the university system released Wednesday. Those results in the long-awaited Campus Climate survey elicited mixed responses from leaders of the 10-campus UC system. They said they were pleased that 73% of UC undergraduates reported feeling comfortable or very comfortable in their classes and only about 7% uncomfortable. But the officials were concerned about the reports of discrimination and isolation. (Sizable portions of the survey participants said they were neither comfortable nor uncomfortable.) UC Regent Sherry Lansing said UCs goal should be to reduce the number of people who report feeling isolated and snubbed. We want a welcoming environment. We know that if 1% feels uncomfortable, thats an environment we dont want, she said at the regents meeting at a UC San Francisco facility. Among the other findings: About 6% of undergraduate students said they experienced some unwanted sexual contact in the last five years. Across all UC students and employees, 4% of women and 1% of men reported rape or some form of unwanted, forced fondling or the use of drugs to incapacitate them. Advertisement The study was commissioned by former UC President Mark G. Yudof in response to several incidents of racial and religious bias in 2010. Among them was an off-campus party held by UC San Diego students that mocked African Americans, vandalism at a gay and lesbian student center at UC Davis, and the spray-painting and carving of swastikas at UC Davis. In addition, campus protests at UC Irvine and elsewhere about the Israeli-Palestinian situation raised tensions between some Muslim and Jewish students. UC Merced scored the highest 81% for the share of its undergraduates who felt comfortable or very comfortable in classes, and UC San Diego, the worst, at 68%. Santa Barbara scored 77%; Davis, 76%; Riverside and Santa Cruz, 75%; Irvine, 74% ; UCLA, 71%; and Berkeley, 69%. The survey showed some differences, but not drastic ones, between whites and minorities, and among religions. About 84% of white students and faculty said they were comfortable in their classes compared to about 74% for blacks, Latinos and Asians and Native Americans. About 76% of Muslim students and faculty reported feeling comfortable or very so in classrooms, below the 78% for Christians and 84% for Jews. More than 386,000 students, staff and faculty were asked to take the survey but only about 104,000, or 27%, responded. Some regents expressed concerns that the sampling might be too small, but administrators said the information appeared accurate and useful. The results are similar to other surveys conducted at other schools by the consultant, Rankin and Associates, hired by UC. UC system President Janet Napolitano said the university seeks to create, and to nurture, an ethos of respect for others, and inclusion for all. That effort should not diminish the spirit of free speech and robust constructive dialogue, she said, urging students, faculty and staff to maintain civility. Student Regent Cinthia Flores said the statistics were not surprising and showed that the university has room to improve. She said some of the feelings of exclusion resulted from the relatively low numbers of minorities, particularly blacks, at some UC campuses. If you feel you are outnumbered or explicitly under-represented, you will feel disenfranchised, said Flores, who is a UC Irvine law student. Among the 24% of UC employees and students who said they experienced some hostility or isolation, about half reported being isolated or deliberately ignored. About 19% said they had received offensive verbal remarks, 9% said they feared for their personal physical safety, and 1% said they had been the victim of a crime. Advertisement Gender and sexual identities had some influence on perceptions about UC: 81% of men and 76% of women said they felt at least comfortable in classes; 78% of heterosexuals said so, six percentage points more than lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The Campus Climate survey was conducted from November 2102 through May 2013 at all UC campuses, hospitals and its system headquarters and energy and agricultural research facilities. Two years ago, a previous set of studies revealed that some Muslim students felt their rights to free expression were being suppressed and some Jewish students thought that anti-Israel protests on campus had become anti-Semitic. In August, the U.S. Department of Education exonerated UC campuses at Berkeley, Irvine and Santa Cruz of allegations that they fostered anti-Semitic climates by allowing protests against Israeli policies that Jewish students contended were illegal harassment. In other matters, the UC system was hoping to avoid a five-day strike scheduled for next week by the union that represents about 13,000 patient care and technical workers at the five UC medical centers and numerous clinics in the state. Advertisement After lengthy negotiations, AFSCME 3299 alleged that UC is pursuing policies of unsafe staffing levels, a contention UC denies. Napolitano on Wednesday reached out to union President Kathryn Lybarger at the regents meeting, appearing to chat amiably with her. Officials later said no breakthrough was achieved. The union struck for two days in May and held a one-day walkout in November, costing the university millions of dollars in replacement workers and lost revenue. larry.gordon@latimes.com New Delhi, March 4 : Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding a virtual meeting on March 5 (Friday) to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries. During the meeting, the two leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between Sweden and India in the post-Covid era -- a stronger and sustainable innovation partnership. Lofven said: "I look forward to tomorrow's summit with India. Not least the discussions on how we can strengthen cooperation to fight the pandemic and build more resilient, sustainable and equal societies after Covid-19. We will present a number of initiatives in areas such as climate, innovation and health cooperation." Besides bilateral engagement, the interaction would also include a wide range of topics including regional and global issues of mutual importance. "Sweden and India have always been strong partners. Since Prime Minister Modi's visit to Sweden in 2018, the innovation partnership has become one of the flagships of our relations along with our collaborations in a wide range of sectors, including health, transportation, telecom, defence, clean energy and circular economy. The common thread of innovation runs through our partnership," said Klas Molin, Ambassador of Sweden to India. "Our close relations, which are based on shared values and norms, goes back to the time of independence and continues to grow stronger." In addition to the interactions at the Prime Ministerial level, then President of India Pranab Mukherjee had visited Sweden in May-June 2015 and His Majesty the King of Sweden visited India in December 2019. IRCON International ended 0.16% higher at Rs 91.25 on the BSE today, after the company's offer for sale (OFS) concluded on Thursday, 4 March 2021. The Government of India initially offered to sell over 4.70 crore shares, constituting 10% paid-up share capital of the company, through the OFS. The floor price for the OFS was set at Rs 88 per equity share, at a 10.07% discount to IRCON's closing price of Rs 97.85 on Tuesday, 2 March 2021. The OFS opened on Wednesday (3 March 2021) for non-retail investors, while both retail as well as non-retail investors were allowed to subscribe on Thursday (4 March 2021). On Wednesday (T day), the OFS received subscription for 10,84,93,968 shares or 329.59% against the base non-retail offer size of 3,29,18,051 shares. Following the strong response on T day, the government decided to exercise the oversubscription option of 2,82,15,473 shares (6% equity) in addition to the base offer. Accordingly, the final share sale was 7,52,41.260 shares, constituting 16% of the paid-up equity share capital of IRCON International. As per the latest shareholding pattern, Government of India held 89.18% stake in IRCON International as of 31 December 2020. As on 15:30 IST on Friday (T+1 day), the OFS received total bids for 4,65,41,711 shares or 206.19% of the total enhanced retail offer size of 2,25,72,378 shares. The retail segment received bids for 2,20,42,911 shares or 97.65% of the total retail offer size. The non-retail segment received bids for 2,44,98,800 shares or 108.53% of the total retail offer size. IRCON International is an engineering and construction, specialized in transport infrastructure and is wholly owned by the Ministry of Railways. On a consolidated basis, the company's consolidated net profit declined by 28.3% to Rs 102.10 crore on a 11.7% rise in net sales to Rs 1353.03 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine show that analysis of the proteomics, or all the protein data, from aggressive human cancers is a useful approach to identify potential novel therapeutic targets. They report in the journal Oncogene, the identification of "proteomic signatures" that are associated with clinical measures of aggressive disease for each of the seven cancer types studied. Some signatures were shared between different types of cancer and included cellular pathways of altered metabolism. Importantly, experimental results provided proof-of-concept that their proteomics analysis approach is a valuable strategy to identify potential therapeutic targets. "There are two notable aspects of this study. One is that we explored the proteomic landscape of cancer looking for proteins that were expressed in association with aggressive forms of cancer," said co-corresponding author Dr. Chad Creighton, professor of medicine and co-director of Cancer Bioinformatics at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor. "We analyzed protein data that included tens of thousands of proteins from about 800 tumors including seven different cancer types - breast, colon, lung, renal, ovarian, uterine and pediatric glioma - made available by the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) mass-spectrometry-based proteomics datasets." Computational analysis for the CPTAC datasets identified proteomic signatures associated with aggressive forms of cancer. These signatures pointed at altered cellular pathways that might be driving aggressive cancer behavior and could represent novel therapeutic targets. Each cancer type showed a distinctive proteomic signature for its aggressive form. Interestingly, some signatures were common to different types of cancer. The other aspect of this study was to provide proof-of-concept that the proteomic analysis was a useful strategy to identify drivers of aggressive disease that could potentially be manipulated to control cancer growth. "That's exactly what we were able to do with this new, very powerful dataset," said co-corresponding author Dr. Diana Monsivais, assistant professor of pathology and immunology at Baylor. "We focused on the uterine cancer data for which the computational analysis identified alterations in a number of proteins that were associated with aggressive cancer. We selected protein kinases, enzymes that would represent stronger candidates for therapeutics." Of hundreds of initial candidates, the researchers selected four kinases for functional studies in uterine cancer cell lines. They found that the kinases not only were expressed in the uterine cancer cells lines, but also that manipulating the expression of some of the kinases reduced the survival or the ability to migrate for some uterine cancer cells. Cell migration is a property of cancer cells that allows them to spread cancer to other tissues. This work is the result of a productive collaboration between two Baylor centers, the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Drug Discovery. "Chad conducted this wonderful analysis on new CPTAC datasets and was interested in validating it in a human cancer. He approached us about performing functional studies to determine whether some proteins could translate to new targets for endometrial cancer," Monsivais said. "Our experiments provided proof-of-concept that proteomics analysis is a useful strategy not only to better understand what drives cancer, but to identify new ways to control it or eliminate it." "Historically, researchers have only been generating transcriptomic data (the messenger RNA (mRNA) that is translated into protein). Looking at the protein data itself, which is made available by the CPTAC, enables researchers to extract a new layer of information from these cancers," Creighton said. "In this study, we compared mRNA and protein signatures and, although in many cases they overlapped, about half the proteins in the proteomic signatures were not included in the corresponding mRNA signature, suggesting the need to include both mRNA and protein data in cancer studies." ### The researchers have integrated CPTAC data with the UALCAN data (An online portal for facilitating tumor subgroup gene expression and survival analyses), allowing users to query proteins of interest for associations with cancer grade or stage. Other contributors to this work include Yasmin Vasquez, Fengju Chen, Yiqun Zhang, Darshan S. Chandrashekar, John C. Faver, Ramya P. Masand, Michael E. Scheurer, Sooryanarayana Varambally and Martin M. Matzuk. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Texas Children's Hospital and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants P30CA125123, P20CA221729, R00HD096057, a Core Facility Support Award from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RP160805) and a PDEP Award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. This research was conducted using data made available by the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium, the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium and the Cancer Genome Atlas Consortium. CAIRO Russia officially announced on Feb. 25 that Egypt had received five Sukhoi Su-35 advanced combat aircraft. The Russian Khabarovsk Krai regions official media agency stated that the most important achievement of the military factory in the region was delivering the five Su-35 fighter jets to Egypt, out of the 24 jets that were agreed upon, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 23, 2020, the first photos of the new Egyptian upgraded Su-35SE fighter jets were taken by journalist Andrey Neyman when five fighter jets, which represented the first batch of an Egyptian-Russian arms deal, arrived in the Russian city of Novosibirsk for refueling, according to The Drive. Speaking at the Dubai Airshow on Nov. 18, 2019, R. Clarke Cooper, then-assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs, said the US government, represented by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, has sent an official letter to Egypt warning it of possible sanctions if it goes ahead with plans to purchase Russian aircraft. Cooper said Egypt is aware of the risks it would be taking by purchasing Russian aircraft because this exposes it to possible US sanctions and threatens its future purchases of US equipment, noting Pompeo and Esper stressed that any major new arms deal with Russia would complicate US defense and security assistance to Egypt. Esper and Pompeo had addressed their letter to Egyptian Defense Minister Mohamed Ahmed Zaki. Meanwhile, Washington had warned the commander of the Egyptian air force, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Abbas, of the consequences of the Russian arms deal and asked Cairo to review its military and intelligence relations with Russia. Maj. Gen. Khaled Okasha, director of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that after Egypt's success in purchasing 24 Rafale aircraft from France in February 2015, Cairo ordered the upgraded Sukhoi 35 fighter jets so that it can diversify its weapons sources, especially for its air force, and not rely on US weapons only. He said the United States has supplied Israel with the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, and thus Washington has guaranteed Tel Avivs military supremacy and sovereignty over the region with this type of aircraft. The acquisition of this type of aircraft could threaten the balance of power in the Middle East, especially after the United States refused to sell F-35 fighter jets to Egypt at the same time, he added. Okasha stressed that the main goal of Egypt in acquiring the Sukhoi 35 aircraft is that this type of aircraft can match the Israeli and US warplanes, and thus the Egyptian army guarantees superiority in regional skies. This is why the United States strongly opposed this deal and threatened sanctions against Egypt. Okasha stressed that Egypt has the full right to diversify its weapons sources without relying on the United States alone, rejecting US threats to suspend military aid because Egypt has a right to make independent decisions. He added that Cairo already received 40 Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters in November 2019, which is what may have angered the United States, since Egypt insists on completing its military deals with Russia without submitting to the dictates and threats of the United States. On Feb. 23, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed to his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, his concern about Egypt's purchase of the Russian Sukhoi 35 planes. The former Donald Trump administration had previously warned against this deal, saying it would expose Cairo to the risk of US sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Blinken also expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Egypt, stressing that it will be pivotal in the bilateral relations between the United States and Egypt. Ammar Ali Hassan, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor that US-Egyptian relations have gone through many stages and tensions in recent years, to the point that US aid to Egypt was suspended in 2013 when former President Mohammed Morsi was ousted and a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood supporters was launched. He added, Even after aid resumed [in 2015], relations between the two countries remained unstable. Egypt heavily relied on the United States to secure weapons, but [after aid was cut], Cairo realized the importance of not relying on Washington alone. Besides, the United States refused to supply Egypt with the F-35 planes that it had provided to Israel to ensure its military superiority. IN the space of one month, the families of 326 people were left in shock and heartbreak after losing their loved ones to the Covid-19 virus. May 2021 was the deadliest month of the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago and the month with the highest number of Covid-19 cases. MIAMI, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cano Health, LLC ("Cano Health" or the "Company"), a leading value-based primary care delivery platform for seniors, today announced that a peer-reviewed study published in The American Journal of Managed Care shows that the Company's population health management program reduced COVID-19 mortality by 60%, compared to a mirror group of Florida patients. The goal of the retrospective cohort study of 38,193 patients was to determine whether managed care patients in Cano Health's population health management program had different outcomes than a mirror group of patients in the most populous counties of Florida matched for age and gender. Cano Health's population health strategy for COVID-19 included: Using data to stratify its managed care population including Medicare patients and Medicaid patients in historically underserved areas to identify higher risk individuals by age and comorbidities; Assigning these higher risk individuals to the care of a COVID-19 Task Force composed of specialized clinicians and health care professionals; Home delivery of supportive services such as medicine, vitamins, food, pulse oximeters and home oxygen concentrators; Intensive at home and inpatient monitoring; and Daily data sharing and analysis by clinical and administrative leaders. "This is the first time a large-scale study has shown that a population health management program can significantly lower COVID-19 mortality," said Dr. Marlow Hernandez, Founder and CEO of Cano Health. "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our dedicated clinicians and staff have worked within a model of care where patients come first. As we continue to improve our population health platform, we aim to create a brand of primary care that will continue to produce these types of results." Cano Health serves over 112,000 managed care patients in Florida, Texas, Nevada and Puerto Rico. Read the full study at The American Journal of Managed Care. About Cano Health Cano Health operates value-based primary care centers and supports affiliated medical practices that specialize in primary care for seniors in Florida, Texas, Nevada, and Puerto Rico, with additional markets in development. As part of its care coordination strategy, Cano Health provides sophisticated, high-touch population health management tools including telehealth, prescription home delivery, wellness programs, transition of care, and high-risk and complex care management. The Company's personalized patient care and proactive approach to wellness and preventive care sets it apart from competitors. Cano Health has consistently improved clinical outcomes while reducing costs, affording patients the opportunity to lead longer and healthier lives. The Company was recognized in August 2020 by Inc. Magazine for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest-growing health care companies in the country, ranking 39th among all U.S. privately held companies as part of its annual 5000 ranking. For more information visit www.canohealth.com. SOURCE Cano Health, LLC A shop where you pop what you want in your bag and waltz out the door without queuing at the till sounds rife with pitfalls, but that's the seamless experience promised by the UK's first Amazon Fresh store. Opened today in Ealing, West London, customers scan a barcode from the Amazon app on their phone and inside, cameras and depth-sensors developed with deep-learning artificial-intelligence techniques monitor what customers pick up and put back on the shelves. Once done, there is no till, and the shoppers can leave the store without technically paying, but will receive a receipt later and be charged for their purchases via their Amazon account. The store is the first of its kind in the UK, and Amazon, which already has 20 similar stores around the US, is reportedly looking to open some more in Greater London. Campaigners have raised concerns regarding shoppers' privacy. The security system around the shop doesn't use facial recognition, but Amazon has said in-store information would only be associated to a customer's Amazon account for up to 30 days. Femail reporter Claire Toureille visited the store in Ealing to see if the experience was as 'frictionless' as Amazon claims it is. Femail reporter Claire Toureille travelled to the first Amazon Fresh store, which opened today in Ealing Broadway, West London, where customers can walk out without going through a till. Pictured: Customers must have the Amazon app on their phone and scan a QR code on one of the sensors upon entering the store Once in the store, shoppers can just pick items up, make up their minds, and bag them up before leaving Entering the Amazon Fresh Ealing store feels like stepping in the not-so-distant future, where everything is digitalised... And heavily monitored. Before walking in, I was instructed to download the normal Amazon app on my phone, and to tap on my 'basket.' There, I had to tap the 'Fresh' option to receive a code on my phone, which opened a QR code on the app. A staff member guides me in, I tap my phone on the sensor at the entrance, and an automated door lets me in. The store itself looks like any other local shop. It is smaller than I pictured it on my way there, and feels very 'normal,' with aisles stocked with fruit and veg, toiletries, meat and fish, drinks and breakfast essentials like cereals and coffee. Loose items like fruits are priced per kilo, and there are prices for bagged items on all the shelves Once you've exited the shop, your receipt with your average shopping time and total spending is sent to your Amazon account You don't have to scan anything to leave the shop, picture, and only need to go through the automated doors - there is no security staff or beeping machines anywhere There is a bakery aisle with coffee machines working with oat milk, a nice touch for non-dairy shoppers. Most of the vegetables and fruits are bagged in plastic. One can still buy some loose vegetables, which are priced by the kilo. I picked a Pink Lady apple and paid 60p for 160g. A banana cost me 25p. Like in your local supermarket, staff are moving around the store, restocking items that are going low. They can answer questions if needed and seem friendly and happy to help, but staff presence is overall low. At the corner of each aisle, posters remind shoppers of the way the shop works: 'choose what you like, bag as you shop, just walk out! We'll email a receipt,' they read. A few people are going on with their shopping already around me, including a man pushing a stroller around like he's shopping at that store everyday. Shoppers look at the bakery section of the shop, which comes with two coffee machines and drinks A few others, like me, stop to have a look around, or rather, above, as we take in the bewildering number of cameras steadily recording everything from the ceilling. I count eight cameras in one aisle alone, but there must be much more around the store. As I pick a loaf of bread priced 90p, I catch three cameras above me. Amazon now knows I have a thing for seeded, wholewheat slices. This thought doesn't leave me as I move on to the aisle for dairy products. Every decision I make is steadily being monitored. It is understandable why campaigners have raised concerns about privacy upon the shop's opening. Posters on each aisle remind customers of the concept: they can choose what they want to buy and buy it before walking out The store have coffee machines with dairy alternatives. Like with other items, customers are charged after purchasing their coffee, via their Amazon account Loose fruit and veg can be found in the shop, but most of them are packed in plastics and stacked on shelves How does the Amazon 'Walk Out' technology work? The contactless payment system uses hidden sensors and cameras - similar to those in self-driving cars - to track what customers take from the shelves. Amazon premiered their 'Walk Out' technology in similar stores in the US, which opened in 2018. The system was created using deep-learning AI, algorithm and fusion sensors around the stores. It's so accurate it can distinguish which magazines or particular item one customer is picking. However, recent advancements mean the system can now cope with customers selecting from different bouquets of flowers, magazines and greetings cards - it could not distinguish accurately enough between one choice and another before. Hundreds of cameras are propped round the store, but they don't use facial recognition. Advertisement The idea that a company as big as Amazon is recording my every move is unsettling: in the span of thirty seconds, they've seen which brand I was drawn to, what items I changed my mind about, and which ones I finally decided on. I shudder to think about the amount of data they could collect about me in with that one decision: will I get ads for seeded bread or dairy-free milk in the upcoming days? Nevertheless, I go on with my shopping: I pick flowers, apples, a banana and some milk with the bread. I simply pick the product I want and bag it, ready to move on to the other part of my shopping. Amazingly, the system seems to know not to charge me for items I put back on the shelf. However, I will only know for sure that no mistake has been made once I receive the receipt which will be sent to my Amazon account after my shopping trip. Customers can buy flowers, which are located by the fruit and veg section at the entrance of the store There are Amazon staff monitoring that everyone is shopping happy at some point in the store, but most customers are left alone On top of their meat and veg selection, the store also have own brand and third party snacks, toiletries and flowers But this seamless concept raises some questions: how do the camera know what I am legitimately trying to buy and how much can they really see. As I walk out of the shop with my flowers, bread and milk and a couple of more essentials, it strikes me that I have no idea what I just spent. There are price tags under every item in the shop, but you don't get a tally of the total on your phone before leaving and you only receive the receipt on your Amazon account. While this would be find for a quick nip to the shop when you only need a few items, this does not feel budget-friendly if you just randomly pick items as you go. Smile, you're being recorded. As Claire picked up a loaf of bread, she caught three cameras behind her (top right) You'd need to calculate everything as you go to keep track of your spending and since you just have to walk out once you're done, it feels you could overspend on items you don't really need. The fact that the store limits face-to-face interaction is also reassuring in the age of Covid-19, however, shoppers were not exactly socially distancing in the shop to begin with. People hoping to shoplift should think twice about trying to bag freebies: the heavy camera presence makes it nearly impossible to sneak so much as a candy bar into your jacket without one of the sensors picking up on it. Stepping out of the store, I'm not asked to scan my phone again: magically, Amazon will charge me for the items I've picked without me having to do anything. I still find myself scouting around for a staff member - or anyone - to tell me that, yes, it's okay, I can just walk out with my bag without notifying anyone. If someone change their mind, they can put the items back on the shelf without being charged There are no trolleys or baskets around the shop, only bags for life and paper bag, which makes keeping an eye on your spending a challenge Shoppers simply walk out once their done. Amazon has put together deep learning algorithms and motion sensors to create what they call 'walk out technology' The whole experience is exhilarating, and clearly, customers around me are liking this way of doing things. But as I log onto my Amazon app moments later, I still have no receipt showing me how much I have spent for the items I bagged. In fact, I am only informed of what I spent once I get home, with the details of my order and total amount in my 'order history' tab. 10 for the lot, but as I close the browser, I realise: parading in front of more than 100 cameras and deep learning sensors for 15 minutes holds much more value to Amazon than what I put in my basket, and I've just given it up for free. But, as the Equal Justice Initiative points out: Throughout history, Native people have been subjected to more than 1500 wars, attacks, and raids authorized by the United States government. Under the guise of expanding civilization, the drive to amass land and widen borders incited decades of racial genocide. In elementary school we celebrated Columbus Day by coloring pictures of a happy, smiling white man and his three boats, not knowing that Columbus was a brutal enslaver and slave trader and who wrote in 1500 of enslaved women and girls: A hundred castellanoes are as easily obtained for a woman as for a farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for girls: those from nine to ten are now in demand. In fact, it is in the early years that we become conscious of race, and it is then that we can begin to assign value to it. As the American Psychological Association pointed out last year, new research indicates Adults in the United States believe children should be almost 5 years old before talking with them about race, even though some infants are aware of race and preschoolers may have already developed racist beliefs. I was a teenager before I could start to understand what had been done to me, that I had been taught to hate myself, and for me to start to reverse it. The most illuminating and sad realization came when I became aware of the doll tests in which very young children were presented with a white doll and a Black one and asked to describe each. Most of the children preferred the white dolls and described them positively. About 30 years ago, in my own version of the experiment, I grabbed an old yearbook from a school I attended whose student body was roughly evenly split between white and Black students. I gave it to my nephew who was 4 or 5 years old and told him to point to the people he thought were pretty. Every face on which that little brown finger landed was white. It underscored for me that the things that we present children with, believing them innocent, can be highly corrosive and racially vicious. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The so-called 'QAnon Shaman' charged in the Capitol riots has broken his silence to claim that he stormed the Senate floor to 'sing a song' and stop people from stealing and vandalizing in the hallowed hall. Jacob Anthony Chansley, 33, spoke publicly for the first time since his arrest in a 60 Minutes interview from a jail in Washington, DC, on Thursday as a judge prepares to rule on whether he should be released on bail before trial. The Arizona native - who was pictured in the Capitol on January 6 sporting a horned headdress, face-paint, a Star-Spangled spear and a bullhorn - argued that he actually helped curb the chaos, not exacerbate it. 'Well, I sang a song. That's a part of shamanism. It's about- creating positive vibrations in a sacred chamber,' he said of his visit to the Senate floor. 'I also stopped people from stealing and vandalizing that sacred space, the Senate. Okay? I actually stopped somebody from stealing muffins out of the break room. 'And I also said a prayer in that sacred chamber. Because it was my intention to bring divinity, and to bring God back into the Senate.' Scroll down for video Jacob Anthony Chansley, the so-called 'QAnon Shaman' spoke out for the first time since his arrest in the January 6 Capitol riots in an interview with 60 Minutes on Thursday (pictured) Chansley - who was pictured in the Capitol on January 6 sporting a horned headdress, face-paint and a Star-Spangled spear - argued that he actually helped curb the chaos, not exacerbate it My actions were not an attack on this country, says Jacob Chansley, aka the QAnon Shaman. For the first time since his arrest, Chansley talks publicly about his actions that day, and he tells @LaurieSegall why he wanted to be in the Senate chamber. https://t.co/AhuFQOSzts pic.twitter.com/bIgKjVYS5I 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) March 4, 2021 Video included in Chansley's indictment showed him standing at Vice President Mike Pence's chair in the Senate and pumping his fists in the air. When 60 Minutes correspondent Laurie Segall reminded that Chansley was not legally allowed to be in the 'sacred chamber', he asserted that he thought it was okay because police welcomed him in. 'That is the one very serious regret that I have, was believing that when we were waved in by police officers, that it was acceptable,' he said. Chansley grew incredulous when Segall described his actions as 'an attack on this nation'. 'No, they were not, ma'am,' he said. 'My actions were not an attack on this country. That is incorrect. That is inaccurate, entirely. 'I consider myself a lover of my country,' he continued. 'I consider myself a believer in the Constitution. I consider myself a believer in truth and our founding principles. I consider myself a believer in God.' Chansley also expressed disappointment that Donald Trump didn't give him a pardon before leaving office, saying that he thought the president 'had our back'. He added that he regrets storming the Capitol 'with every fiber of my being' but does not regret his loyalty to Trump. 'Well, I sang a song. That's a part of shamanism. It's about creating positive vibrations in a sacred chamber,' Chansley said in the 60 Minutes interview When 60 Minutes correspondent Laurie Segall reminded that Chansley was not legally allowed to be in the 'sacred chamber', he asserted that he thought it was okay because police welcomed him in Video in Chansley's indictment showed him standing at Vice President Mike Pence's chair in the Senate and pumping his fists in the air Chansley is among more than 300 people who have been charged in connection with the Capitol insurrection that left five people dead and over 130 police officers injured. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on two felony and four misdemeanor counts, including violent entry and civil disorder. A federal judge in DC is slated to hear arguments Friday on whether he should be released from jail ahead of his trial, a date for which does not appear to have been set. Chansley (pictured in his mugshot) faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on two felony and four misdemeanor counts, including violent entry and civil disorder In a filing on Monday, prosecutors argued that Chansley should not be released because he poses a danger to the community. The prosecutors cited Chansley's indictment, which accused him of holding a weapon as he confronted officers inside the Capitol, speaking about ridding the government of traitors and writing a threatening note to Pence which read: 'It's only a matter of time, justice is coming.' 'He cannot be trusted now to suddenly change course,' prosecutors said. Chansley's attorney, Albert Watkins, disputed those claims, saying that Chansley's spear was an ornament, not a weapon, and that the letter he wrote to Pence wasn't intended to be threatening. Watkins also said his client is suffering from digestive tract difficulties, even though the jail has complied with his request for organic food. The defense attorney has sought to cast blame for Chansley's actions on Trump, claiming that his client was 'duped' into participating in the riot. 'Mr Chansley is not alone. We all are compelled to be introspective about our role in creating and permitting an environment where believing the words of a president [is] criminally actionable,' Watkins told DailyMail.com last month. He argued that Trump had drawn Chansley into a web of lies, but said that Trump's lack of action during the riot and failure to issue pardons had been a wake-up call to his client. 'My client is understandably compelled to reconcile the words of the former president with the subsequent actions of the former president,' Watkins said. 'The reconciliation of a betrayal necessarily requires the bellying up to the bar by the betrayed to acknowledge their role in making themselves ripe for betrayal.' The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decisive ruling that TriMax Media committed no legal violations against Wickfire, L.L.C., while recognizing a jury's finding that Wickfire intentionally interfered with TriMax's business. DALLAS, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After seven years of litigation, TriMax has triumphed over Wickfire. On February 26, 2021, an Appellate Court issued a paramount ruling that Wickfire lacked any evidence to support its claims against TriMax. The decision was made in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Case Number 17-3043040. The Appellate Court's ruling reversed all monetary damages previously awarded to Wickfire. The lawsuit, originally before the Western District of Texas, Case No. 14-CV-34, centered around Google AdWords Auctions, an online-auction platform where companies like TriMax and Wickfire compete for advertising space. Wickfire asserted innumerable claims against TriMax, but as to each one, Wickfire ultimately failed: Wickfire alleged TriMax intentionally interfered with Wickfire's contracts, intentionally interfered with Wickfire's prospective business, and committed civil conspiracy. The Appellate Court, however, disagreed fully, finding "Wickfire offered no such proof" and declaring that each of these claims failed "as a matter of law." Wickfire also alleged TriMax violated trademark law under the Lanham Act. The jury, however, awarded Wickfire no damages on the claim. Furthermore, the Appellate Court found Wickfire not to be the "prevailing party" on that claim, and in doing so, rejected Wickfire's improper attempt to seek attorneys' fees under the trademark statute. Finally, Wickfire brought claims against TriMax for injury to business reputation, business disparagement, defamation, unfair competition, and misappropriation. However, Wickfire retracted each of those claims before the trial, and therefore, these claims did not even reach the appellate level. TriMax filed its successful appeal in the wake of a lower court's judgment, in which the court erroneously awarded $2.3 million to Wickfire. Because Wickfire lacked any evidence whatsoever to support its claims, the Appellate Court reversed the judgment, overturned the award, and ordered the trial court to issue a new judgment. Based on the Appellate Court decision, the new judgment should award Wickfire nothing. In the same lawsuit, the jury previously found Wickfire LLC and its co-owners, Chet Hall and Jon Brown, to have intentionally interfered with TriMax Media's business. TriMax argued that Wickfire intentionally interfered with TriMax's contracts by (1) paying kickbacks to merchant representatives in exchange for exclusivity agreements; (2) impersonating TriMax by placing unauthorized ads that plagiarized TriMax's ad copy and contained other identifying information of TriMax; (3) repeatedly clicking on TriMax ads in order to artificially increase TriMax's costs (known as "click fraud"); and (4) using an automated software program to manipulate the Google auction system (known as "bid jamming"). TriMax presented evidence to the jury that Wickfire had been suspended from over 200 Google accounts, violated merchant terms, and employed fake user agents and proxies to conceal its identity. The jury also saw evidence that Google referred to Wickfire as "Known Fraudsters" and that Wickfire registered the domain name "GoogleClickFraud.com". TriMax also presented evidence regarding Wickfire's destruction of evidence. TriMax learned that during the litigation, Wickfire wiped all the data from its Chief Technology Officer Jon Brown's laptop and then failed to disclose that information to TriMax or the court. Once TriMax uncovered the destruction, Wickfire claimed it was necessary, since the laptop had been stolen during a home burglary. However, the police report-which TriMax obtained independently after Wickfire failed to produce a copy-contradicted Wickfire's story because it mentioned nothing about an allegedly stolen laptop. While the jury heard extensive evidence about Wickfire's conduct comprising Wickfire's intentional interference against TriMax (which the jury found to have occurred), some of the most devastating evidence was excluded. For example, the jury was not permitted to see: The police report from the burglary; Registration documents showing Wickfire as the owner of "BitchesOfFacebook.com" and "PokeBitches.com"; An e-mail from a merchant representative who, after refusing to accept the alleged kickbacks, referred to Wickfire as "criminals"; Screenshots of Wickfire's ads impersonating TriMax's; An e-mail from a merchant terminating TriMax after wrongly believing TriMax was the source of the impersonating ads; An e-mail from a merchant complaining that Wickfire violated trademark terms and plagiarized TriMax's ads; A lengthy technical report that, according to a world-renowned computer expert, proves conclusively that Wickfire committed extensive click fraud against TriMax; A real-time video demonstrating the bid-jamming TriMax experienced; A summary of hundreds of TriMax's merchant contracts interfered with by bid-jamming; and E-mails from other competitors of Wickfire complaining about Wickfire's bidding tactics. Despite the jury's finding against Wickfire, Chet Hall and Jon Brown for intentional interference with TriMax's business, no damages against Wickfire were awarded. The Appellate Court's ruling, however, did not disturb the jury's finding that Wickfire, Hall, and Brown committed the intentional interference in the first place. The Appellate Court's ruling was comprised of a 21-page opinion, unanimously decided by three Circuit Judges and authored by Chief Judge Priscilla Owen of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Representing TriMax were attorneys Sidney K. Powell of the law firm of Sidney Powell PC and Barry M. Golden of the law firm of Egan Nelson LLP. Ms. Powell was formerly an Assistant United States Attorney and is author of the groundbreaking book Licensed to Lie, an expose on unethical attorney conduct and improper concealment of evidence. Ms. Powell is known most recently for representing General Michael Flynn, filing third-party election lawsuits, and launching a Super PAC dedicated to a range of aims, including freedom of speech, Constitutional rights, and the right of free and fair elections. Mr. Golden is a litigator and the Co-Chair of Egan Nelson's Commercial Litigation Group. Throughout his 23-year career spanning four decades, Mr. Golden has regularly handled high-stakes litigation, often including bet-the-company matters. TriMax's CEO, Laura Woodruff, commented: "After so many years of litigation, TriMax has received complete exoneration. We are thrilled but certainly unsurprised by the outcome. We only hope this ruling will prevent Wickfire from bringing any more baseless claims against a legitimate competitor. We do, however, remain disappointed that Google and the Networks allowed Wickfire to intentionally interfere with our business in the first place. Nevertheless, based on the jury's finding that Wickfire interfered with TriMax's business-a finding that was not reversed-we now hope tactics like kickbacks, impersonation of competitors, click fraud, and bid jamming will no longer be tolerated in the online-advertising industry." About TriMax Media: Founded in 2003, TriMax Media is a digital marketing agency specializing in performance-based search engine marketing. TriMax served on the first Google Advertiser Research Council and was one of the first companies to generate over one million leads for its clients utilizing Google AdWords. The agency focuses on creating highly effective search marketing campaigns and developing successful long-term relationships with its clients. Company Contact: For questions, please contact: Barry M. Golden Egan Nelson LLP 214.893.9034 barry.golden@egannelson.com By Prossy Kisakye A 2019 compliance report from the inspector of government released today has revealed that the President, his vice and permanent secretaries are the most compliant when it comes to declaring their assets. Today, political and public servants started the declaration process of their wealth online, an exercise that Is backed up by the leadership code Act 2002. The code requires both elected and appointed leaders holding public offices to declare their income, assets and liabilities in a bid to fight corruption in government offices. Releasing the report today, the Deputy Inspector General of Government Mariam Wangadya said the President and his deputy have been 10% complaint followed by the public service commission, Parliament, Petroleum Authority of Uganda among others. The Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera has now asked the Judiciary to champion the process after they were not among the top 10 and yet they are meant to be enforcers of the law. Dallas cop Bryan Riser (pictured) has been arrested on two counts of capital murder in two unconnected 2017 killings that weren't related to his police work, authorities said A 13-year Dallas Police Department veteran has been arrested and charged for allegedly hiring a hitman to kidnap and murder a man and a woman in 2017. Bryan Riser, a 13-year veteran of the force, was taken into custody Thursday morning and brought to the Dallas County Jail for processing, according to a statement from the police department. Riser was arrested in connection with two separate, unconnected killings after a witness implicated him in August 2019, police Chief Eddie Garcia said during a news conference. He said the deaths were related to Riser's off-duty conduct, not his police work, and that the witness told investigators that Riser had instructed him to kidnap and kill the two victims. 'We received information through a witness that implicated Riser in both murders,' Garcia said. Police identified the victims as Liza Saenz, whose body was pulled from water in Dallas on March 10, 2017, with several bullet wounds, and Albert Douglas, who was reported missing by his family in February 2017. According to the witness, Riser offered him thousands of dollars to kill the victims - $3,500 for Douglas and $6,000 for Saenz. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, seen by WFAA, the witness said he and Riser pulled Douglas over, handcuffed him and bundled him into a vehicle before the victim was shot and dumped in a river. Riser then allegedly contacted the hitman again to kill Saenz, who police believe once lived with the defendant. Riser told the witness Saenz was 'an informant' according to the affidavit. Saenz was kidnapped at gunpoint and killed. The witness said Riser offered him $6,000 to kill her, but that money was never paid because the witness and his associates were arrested. Scroll down for video Riser was arrested in connection with two separate killings after a witness implicated him in August 2019, police Chief Eddie Garcia (pictured) said during a news conference Garcia said in the case of Saenz, officers responded to an area in the 200 block Santa Fe Avenue where they found her body in the water. 'On August 14, 2019, a witness stated that he kidnapped and murdered the victim at the direction of Riser,' Garcia said. Police said Douglas' body hasn't been found, but he was also killed on the same avenue as Saenz. 'The motive for these murders are unknown at this time,' Garcia said. Garcia said Riser had a relationship with at least one of the victims, but he didn't go into detail. Riser joined the department in 2008 and was working as a patrol officer before his arrest. Garcia said Riser was first identified as a person of interest in 2019, meaning he was still patrolling the community while he was under investigation for murder. A lawyer for him couldn't immediately be identified. Police identified the victims of Liza Saenz (left), whose body was pulled from water in Dallas on March 10, 2017, with several bullet wounds. A witness told police that he was instructed to kidnap and kill Saenz at the direction of Riser (right) FBI agents take photos of Eboni Samuel's home in Grand Prairie, Texas on Thursday. Samuel is believed to be the wife of Riser 'The motive for these murders are unknown at this time,' Garcia said. Garcia said Riser (pictured) had a relationship with at least one of the victims, but he didn't go into detail Police said he has now been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation. 'We're going to expedite our process so this individual is no longer with the department,' Garcia said. 'We will not allow anyone to tarnish this badge,' the chief said, noting that the FBI was assisting in the investigation. Riser had not been booked into the jail as of early Thursday afternoon, a sheriff's spokesman said. A spokeswoman for the Dallas County district attorney's office said her office didn't have information on the case. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 04:17:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The third batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccines arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran on Thursday, the Press TV reported. Mehrdad Jamali, deputy head of the Iranian Customs Office, was quoted as saying that the new batch of 200,000 doses of vaccines would be immediately delivered to the Iranian Health Ministry. Iran had already received 240,000 doses of the Russian vaccine on two flights from Moscow in late January and early February. On Thursday, Iran announced that a total of 1,665,103 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus since Feb. 19, 2020, of whom 60,431 have died. Enditem A medical staff member shows the Sinopharm vaccine from China during the first-day vaccination against the COVID-19 at Calmette hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb. 10, 2021. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP via Getty Images) Man Develops Fever and Rashes Following China-Made COVID-19 Vaccine A woman in China said her husband developed serious adverse reactions after receiving a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine, including prolonged high fever and extensive rashes. Doctors said they cant rule out the possibility that his symptoms were related to the vaccine. The woman, who is from Beijing and whose surname is Zhang, described her husbands story in a March 1 post on Chinas mini-blogging platform Weibo. On Feb. 17, she and her husband, who is in his 30s, received their first shots at a location organized by their community. They stayed there for 30 minutes for observation after the injection and went home without feeling any uncomfortable symptoms. On Feb. 23, however, her husband began to develop small rashes. A day later, he developed a fever of 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 degrees Celsius) or higher, and more rashes. At first, they thought he had hives, so he took some medication for it. But by Feb. 26, the fever persisted and further patches of rashes appeared on his body. Screenshot of a post on Weibo revealing a Beijing residents suspected adverse reactions after receiving a China-made COVID-19 vaccine. The mans whole body was aching and itchy, and he couldnt sleep at night, Zhang said. [His] chest, back, waist, buttocks, arms, legs, and feet are all covered [with rashes], she said. At 5 p.m. on Feb. 27, they rushed to Beijing Luhe Hospital for treatment, but doctors asked them to return the next day. On Feb. 28, her husband had a blood test, a nucleic acid test, a CT scan, and a biochemical test. All the results were normal. They paid a second visit on Feb. 29. We bore all the expenses on our own during the whole process, Zhang said. My husband felt more in pain all the way along. Though doctors didnt clearly identify his condition as post-vaccine allergic reactions, they expressed they would not rule out that possibility. She said that neither she nor her husband had allergies before, adding he was in incredibly good health and rarely fell sick. She has filed a complaint with her community and Beijing Luhe Hospital. The hospital authorities replied: Lets wait and see until the patient has recovered. Do not seek accountability until he is well again. Zhang raised concerns over how her husbands symptoms could be proven to be allergic reactions caused by the vaccine when he has recovered. She said: When we were at the dermatology program, a young man ahead of us on the waiting list had symptoms exactly as my husband did. He, too, developed a high fever after receiving a shot. Worse than my husbands situation, he got rashes all over his body. Spread up to his neck. Our whole family now believes that it was caused by the vaccine. In an interview with Hong Kong-based Apple Daily, Zhang said the vaccine her husband received was from the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology and is believed to be developed by Sinopharm Group. Although the hospital stated that it had reported the incident, and her husbands health was improving, Zhang said her confidence in domestic vaccines had greatly diminished. China-made COVID-19 vaccines could cause reactions, as suggested by a notice of treatment procedures for abnormal reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, which a medical advisory team under Chinas State Council issued to regional health commissions on Dec. 23, 2020. The internal document was designated Not to Be Disclosed to the Public. An internal document addressing treatment procedures for abnormal reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, dated Dec. 23, 2020. Michael F. Epstein is a retired physician who reads and writes in Cambridge, Mass., and Brownsville, Vt. You can reach him at www.EpsteinReads.com, where you will also find more than 1,000 book reviews to answer the question, What shall I read next? Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work 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is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed 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soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices 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of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's palatial New York City pad has gone under contractafter a massive price cut. The opulent seven-story townhouse is under contract for an eye-popping sum of about $50 million, sources told the Wall Street Journal. However, that price is far lower than the initial $88 million price tag slapped onto the French Neoclassical mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan when it went up for sale in July. The price was reduced to $65 million in January. The money from the sale is slated to go to the victims of Epstein who filed claims against the disgraced financier's estate. He died by suicide in prison in 2019. When the sale of the 28,000-square-foot home closes, it will be the most expensive sale in Manhattan this year, says New York City luxury real estate broker Donna Olshan. It will also be one of the most expensive townhome sales ever in the city. "It's very reasonable for one of the most prime locations and private residences in New York City," says Olshan, touting the home's size. "It sounds crazy because the numbers are so big. ... [But] the buyer got a very good deal." Olshan, who has no connection to the sale, believes the initial $88 million price tag on the property was wildly overpriced. "They started at a very unrealistic number. Once the price was lowered, it showed the market they were willing to negotiate," she says. Olshan also doesn't think the Epstein connection hurt the sale price. "Buyers for this kind of property are going to put their stamp on it," she says. "They're going to make it their headquarters or home, and all traces of Jeffrey Epstein and his notorious behavior will [be] eradicated." The townhouse was commissioned by Macy's department store heir Herbert N. Straus on one of Manhattan's most prestigious blocks. It sits on East 71st Street, between Fifth and Madison avenues. Construction was finished in the 1930s. In the mid-1940s, the home became an extension of the St. Claire Hospital. Two decades later it was transformed into the Birch Wathen School. It last changed hands in 1989 for $13.2 million, according to realtor.com data. The Manhattan home was Epstein's most expensive piece of real estate, according to the Journal. He also owned properties in Paris, New Mexico, and Florida. The post Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan Townhouse Sells at a Big Discount appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Prime Minister will receive the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award on Friday, his office said. He will also deliver the keynote address at the Cambridge Energy Research Associates Week (CERAWeek) via video conferencing, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. It is considered the world's premier annual energy platform, the noted, adding that the event is being held virtually between March 1-5. CERAWeek was founded in 1983 by Daniel Yergin and is held in Houston annually. The CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award was instituted in 2016. It recognises the commitment of leadership on the future of global energy and environment, and for offering solutions and policies for energy access, affordability and environmental stewardship, the noted. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BEIJING, March 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ) :China on Thursday said it was closely following the current situation in Mynamar, calling on all parties to properly handle the differences under the constitution and legal framework and maintain political and social stability. "As a friendly neighbor of Myanmar, China has been closely following the current situation in Myanmar, calling on all parties to exercise restraint, properly handle differences under the constitution and legal framework, and maintain political and social stability," Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during his regular briefing held here. He informed that the Chinese side had been in contact with all relevant parties in Myanmar and actively promoting deescalation in Myanmar. "We support ASEAN countries in adhering to the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and consensus, committed to the unity and cooperation of the ASEAN family, and actively promoting the cooling of the situation in Myanmar through the ASEAN approach. " The spokesperson said the Chinese side believed that any action by the international community should contribute to Myanmar's political and social stability, help Myanmar's peaceful reconciliation, and avoid intensifying contradictions and further complicating the situation. He said China was willing to continue to play a constructive role in easing the situation in Myanmar. It may be mentioned here that a United Nations envoy is reporting 38 protesters killed in Myanmar on Wednesday by the security forces across several cities. It is the highest daily death toll since the military takeover began February 1, exceeding the 18 people killed Sunday according to the United Nations Human Rights Office. 'A lion of a man': Advocates worldwide honor martyr Shahbaz Bhatti 10 years after assassination Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A defender of religious freedom and Christian martyr, Shahbaz Bhattis legacy lives on 10 years after his death, though religious oppression in Pakistan has heightened in the decade following his assassination. International religious freedom advocates, legislators and religious leaders from across the globe on Tuesday participated in a virtual observance of the 10th anniversary of Bhattis death to honor the legacy of the first-ever Pakistani minister for minorities affairs and discussed the future of religious liberty for minorities in Pakistan. The virtual event was hosted by the Religious Freedom Institute, International Christian Voice and Institute for Global Engagement. Bhatti was killed at the age of 42 on March 2, 2011, after facing years of death threats for his outspoken opposition to the countrys corrupt blasphemy laws and other injustices in the Muslim-majority nation. Bhattis brother and founder of International Christian Voice, Peter Bhatti, said his brothers sacrifice will not go in vain. Some of us must make small sacrifices in the fight of justice and equality, Peter Bhatti said. My brother made the ultimate sacrifice of his life. After the Shahbaz Bhatti martyrdom, either we give up on his mission and allow our enemy to claim victory or to follow in his footsteps. Letting his enemy win is not an option. It is the duty of all of us to carry on his mission. Bhatti, the former federal minister for minorities affairs and first Christian member of the Pakistan presidents cabinet, was shot through a car window multiple times. No one was ever held accountable for his murder. The fatal attack was in response to Bhatti's demand to review the controversial blasphemy case of the Christian mother of five, Asia Bibi. Bibi was acquitted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2018 after being imprisoned for over a decade based on false allegations that she insulted Islam. She now lives in Canada with her husband and children. Bibi shared a heartfelt video tribute to Bhatti and urged people never to forget him. She said he did not die since he is still alive in our hearts. She urged the community to come forward against injustice and inequality to protect our coming generation from these miseries. Bhattis nephew, David Bhatti, shared memories of visiting his uncle in Pakistans capital Islamabad. He remembers that his uncle was everyones favorite. He dedicated his entire life to fighting persecution, intolerance, discrimination and inequality of the religious minorities of Pakistan, Bhatti said. He challenged the forces of violence and darkness and refused to be silent. Bhatti said his uncle empathized with the persecuted and felt their pain daily despite the joy he radiated. Although he always radiated such happiness, he always carried the grief of the innocent lives lost to another suicide bombing at a place of worship, the nephew recalled. Or he was harboring the heartache of wrongfully incarcerated prisoners who were languishing cold and alone, without any hope. Or he was experiencing the weight of the agony felt by villagers whose entire homes were burnt to the ground simply because they were religious minorities. Bhatti said his uncle remained a patriot and did not give up on the country he loved, despite his challenges and the injustice he experienced. For him, challenges were opportunities. Opportunities to lead by example, Bhatti said. He empathized with the persecuted and oppressed deeply and to effect real, lasting change for this generation and for the next. He dreamed of seeing not just a Pakistan, but a world in which the dignity and worth of every human being was respected, valued and celebrated. Bhatti said his uncles death is easier to accept, knowing how he inspired people worldwide. My uncle believed that to despair is to accept defeat, Bhatti said. For him, silence is never an option. The legacy he leaves behind is a call to action: to be uncompromising in our principles, to name injustices wherever we see them and to be fearless in our pursuit of the truth. Other speakers included the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, former Archbishop of Karachi Cardinal Joseph Coutts and other leaders who promote religious liberty around the globe. Statements from several U.S. senators and international leaders were also featured during the event. U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chairwoman Gayle Manchin shared that violent extremism has increased and religious minorities remain a target in the years following Bhattis death. Pakistans blasphemy laws are still being enforced vigorously with dozens of innocents languishing on death row and others serving lengthy prison terms, Manchin said. Now, more than ever, the U.S. government must send a message that there will be consequences for these egregious abuses. Manchin said the world continues to gain strength from Mr. Bhattis legacy. He defended a vision of a diverse, multicultural, and multi-religious society, the USCIRF chairwoman added. He opposed Pakistans blasphemy laws as a stark contrast to that vision, and he paid the ultimate price for that courage. Mr. Bhattis death was not in vain, and it will inspire and encourage us to keep pressing on until his vision is realized. Former U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., known by many as an impassioned advocate for international religious freedom, knew Bhatti as a giant in the Christian faith. He was a martyr and he was one of the most courageous and dedicated men I have ever known, Wolf shared in his video statement. Jesus said, This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. Shahbaz Bhatti did this. In the final interview before his death, which was shared in the virtual event, Bhatti said he understood his life was on the line for his stand against a radical philosophy and call to abolish blasphemy laws that oppressed minority faiths. But I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us, Bhatti said I am ready for a cause for my community and suffering people and I will die to defend their rights. I would prefer to die for my principle and for the justice of my community rather than to compromise on these threats. A decade later, Pakistans blasphemy laws still lead to persecution of Christians and faith minorities. Under section 295-C of Pakistans penal code, blasphemy is punishable by death. Muslims often abuse the law to settle personal scores with religious minorities. Pakistan ranks as the fifth most dangerous country in the world for Christians, according to Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List. Under 2% of the country of over 200 million people is Christian. In a panel discussion moderated by Rehman Chishti, a member of the United Kingdom House of Commons and senior fellow of the Religious Freedom Institute, panelists discussed the lack of religious freedom for minorities in Pakistan, the oppressive nature of blasphemy laws and how to enact the change Bhatti dreamed of and fought for. Panelists included Peter Bhatti, former member of Pakistan Parliament Farahnaz Isaphani, former European Union Special Envoy Jan Figel and former Special Advisor in the Near East and South and Central Asia at the U.S. Department of State Knox Thames. Moving forward, strengthening religious freedom in Pakistan will include external pressure persisting on reform and enacting change in the education system. Isaphani, who served with Bhatti in Pakistan's Parliament, remembers him as a lion of a man. Getting rid of blasphemy laws will be an interfaith global effort, Isaphani said. She said that even though politicians are afraid to talk about it, reform can still occur. Thames said the blasphemy laws empower the most extreme and violent voices. Pakistan must rediscover its roots or oppression will consume the country, he said. In the month before his death, Bhatti shared with The Christian Post in an interview that he had received death threats for speaking against Pakistans blasphemy law. "But I will continue to follow the principles that I believe. I will continue to raise the voice of the voiceless, Bhatti had told CP in the Feb. 11, 2011 interview. And I will not feel fear because of these threats because I follow Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us. So as a follower of Christ, my destiny is to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. The full video tribute and supplemental videos for Bhattis commemoration can be found here. A healthcare worker administers a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to a Brussels police chief inspector Didier Bruer at the Brussels Expo center in Brussels, Thursday, March 4, 2021. The Expo is one of the largest vaccination centers in Belgium. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) A shipment of more than a quarter million AstraZeneca vaccines destined for Australia has been blocked from leaving the European Union, in the first use of an export control system instituted by the bloc to make sure big pharma companies would respect their contracts. The move, affecting only a small number of vaccines, underscores a growing frustration within the 27-nation bloc about the slow rollout of its vaccine drive and the shortfall of promised vaccine deliveries, especially by Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca. The ban came at the behest of Italy, and the EU did not raise objections to the tougher line Rome has adopted in dealing with vaccine shortages in the bloc since a new government led by Mario Draghi came into power Feb 13. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on Friday it had anticipated veto problems could arise in shipments from Europe, adding that Australia's inoculation schedule would continue as planned. "They are in an unbridled crisis situation. That is not the situation in Australia," Morrison said. "But, nevertheless, we have been able to secure our supplies, and additional supplies for importation, both with Pfizer and AstraZeneca, which means we can continue the rollout of our program." He said most significantly, Australia was also producing vaccines domestically, giving it sovereignty over its vaccination program. In this Friday, Feb. 19, 2021 file photo, a pharmacist prepares a syringe from a vial of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine during preparations at the Vaccine Village in Antwerp, Belgium. A shipment of a quarter million AstraZeneca vaccines destined for Australia has been barred from leaving the European Union in the first use of an export control system instituted by the bloc over a month ago. An EU official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed a report that first appeared in the Financial Times. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File) Italy's objections centered both on the general shortage of supplies in the EU and on "the delays in the supply of vaccines by AstraZeneca to the EU and Italy," a Foreign Ministry statement said. It said it also intervened because of the size of the shipment, more than 250,700 doses, that would go to Australia, which it did not consider a vulnerable nation. Italy said it had informed the company on Tuesday. AstraZeneca refused to comment. The Financial Times first reported on the issue late Thursday. Faced with shortages of doses during the early stages of the vaccine campaign that started in late December, the EU issued an export control system for COVID-19 vaccines in late January, forcing companies to respect their contractual obligations to the bloc before commercial exports can be approved. In this Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 file photo, a health worker prepares a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered at a vaccination center set up in Fiumicino, near Rome's international airport. A shipment of a quarter million AstraZeneca vaccines destined for Australia has been barred from leaving the European Union in the first use of an export control system instituted by the bloc over a month ago. An EU official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed a report that first appeared in the Financial Times. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File) The EU has been specifically angry with AstraZeneca because it is delivering far fewer doses to the bloc than it had promised. Of the initial order for 80 million doses to the EU in the first quarter, the company will be struggling to deliver just half that quantity. There were rumors that the company was siphoning off from EU production plants to other nations, but CEO Pascal Soriot insisted that any shortfall was to be blamed on technical production issues only. The EU has vaccinated only 8% percent of its population compared to over 30%, for example, in the United Kingdom. Australia is still very much at the start of its vaccination drive. With such an action, the EU is caught in a bind. On the one hand, it is under intense pressure to ramp up the production of vaccines in the bloc while on the other hand it wants to remain an attractive hub for pharmaceutical giants and a fair trading partner to third countries. A healthcare worker administers a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to a woman at the Brussels Expo center in Brussels, Thursday, March 4, 2021. The Expo is one of the largest vaccination centers in Belgium. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) The EU thought it had made perfect preparations for the rollout of vaccinations, heavily funding research and production capacity over the past year. With its 450 million people, the EU has signed deals for six different vaccines. In total, it has ordered up to 400 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and sealed agreements with other companies for more than 2 billion shots. It says that despite the current difficulties it is still convinced it can vaccinate 70% of the adult population by the end of summer. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This artist's illustration represents the possible interior dynamics of the super-Earth exoplanet LHS 3844b. The planet's interior properties and the strong stellar irradiation might lead to a hemispheric tectonic regime. Credit: Universitat Bern / University of Bern, Thibaut Roger Until now, researchers have found no evidence of global tectonic activity on planets outside our solar system. Under the leadership of the University of Bern and the National Center of Competence in Research NCCR PlanetS, scientists have now found that the material inside planet LHS 3844b flows from one hemisphere to the other and could be responsible for numerous volcanic eruptions on one side of the planet. On Earth, plate tectonics is not only responsible for the rise of mountains and earthquakes. It is also an essential part of the cycle that brings material from the planet's interior to the surface and the atmosphere, and then transports it back beneath the Earth's crust. Tectonics thus has a vital influence on the conditions that ultimately make Earth habitable. Until now, researchers have found no evidence of global tectonic activity on planets outside our solar system. A team of researchers led by Tobias Meier from the Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern and with the participation of ETH Zurich, the University of Oxford and the National Center of Competence in Research NCCR PlanetS has now found evidence of the flow patterns inside a planet, located 45 light-years from Earth: LHS 3844b. Their results were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. An extreme contrast and no atmosphere "Observing signs of tectonic activity is very difficult, because they are usually hidden beneath an atmosphere," Meier explains. However, recent results suggested that LHS 3844b probably does not have an atmosphere. Slightly larger than Earth and likely similarly rocky, it orbits around its star so closely that one side of the planet is in constant daylight and the other in permanent nightjust like the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. With no atmosphere shielding it from the intense radiation, the surface gets blisteringly hot: it can reach up to 800C on the dayside. The night side, on the other hand, is freezing. Temperatures there might fall below minus 250C. "We thought that this severe temperature contrast might affect material flow in the planet's interior," Meier recalls. To test their theory, the team ran computer simulations with different strengths of material and internal heating sources, such as heat from the planet's core and the decay of radioactive elements. The simulations included the large temperature contrast on the surface imposed by the host star. Flow inside the planet from one hemisphere to the other "Most simulations showed that there was only upwards flow on one side of the planet and downwards flow on the other. Material therefore flowed from one hemisphere to the other," Meier reports. Surprisingly, the direction was not always the same. "Based on what we are used to from Earth, you would expect the material on the hot dayside to be lighter and therefore flow upwards and vice versa," co-author Dan Bower at the University of Bern and the NCCR PlanetS explains. Yet, some of the teams' simulations also showed the opposite flow direction. "This initially counter-intuitive result is due to the change in viscosity with temperature: cold material is stiffer and therefore doesn't want to bend, break or subduct into the interior. Warm material, however, is less viscousso even solid rock becomes more mobile when heatedand can readily flow towards the planet's interior," Bower elaborates. Either way, these results show how a planetary surface and interior can exchange material under conditions very different from those on Earth. A volcanic hemisphere Such material flow could have bizarre consequences. "On whichever side of the planet the material flows upwards, one would expect a large amount of volcanism on that particular side," Bower points out. He continues "similar deep upwelling flows on Earth drive volcanic activity at Hawaii and Iceland." One could therefore imagine a hemisphere with countless volcanoesa volcanic hemisphere so to speakand one with almost none. "Our simulations show how such patterns could manifest, but it would require more detailed observations to verify. For example, with a higher-resolution map of surface temperature that could point to enhanced outgassing from volcanism, or detection of volcanic gases. This is something we hope future research will help us to understand," Meier concludes. Explore further Images reveal where lava broke through the wall of a Martian crater and began filling it up Results support use of Agendia's genomic tests to better tailor pre-operative treatment and timing for surgery Agendia, Inc., a world leader in precision oncology for breast cancer, announced new data from the prospective Neoadjuvant Breast Symphony Trial (NBRST) which demonstrate the predictive and prognostic abilities of MammaPrint and BluePrint, and underpin both assays' pre-operative utility in pre-and post-menopausal patients. A poster highlighting these findings will be presented at the 38th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference. The poster, entitled Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) Rates According to MammaPrint and BluePrint Results are Consistent Among Pre- and Post-Menopausal Patients,outlines the first age-based analyses of MammaPrint and BluePrint assays in the pre-operative setting. As expected, the data show that pCR rates varied according to molecular subtype, with MammaPrint and BluePrint accurately predicting pCR in patients of all subtypes, regardless of age. This analysis reinforces both tests' use to better tailor pre-operative treatment and in determining the best timing for surgery for patients of all ages with breast cancer. "Among the many clinically meaningful findings provided by the NBRST trial, we were focused on the importance of conducting a further sub-analysis of the trial's data based on age," said William Audeh, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Agendia and a study author. "It is critical that we have a full understanding of the biology of each patient's breast cancer, and whether age in itself affects the response to chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Our findings indicate that it is the genomic profile of the tumor, and not age of the patient, which determines response to chemotherapy. It is useful, in these challenging times, to know that we can triage each patient effectively with genomic tools that can give predictive and prognostic information essential for optimal treatment planning." This age-based analysis reinforces the importance of the multi-disciplinary care team having meaningful genomic information at the earliest point after a diagnosis of breast cancer to inform the decision for the timing of surgery and systemic therapy. With recent analyses of pre-menopausal patients with breast cancer suggesting a clinical benefit to adjuvant chemotherapy, genomic tests that accurately predict outcomes across age ranges are crucial in the research community's ongoing efforts to determine whether this age-dependent benefit is due to a direct cytotoxic effect on the tumor or a secondary hormonal effect due to ovarian suppression by chemotherapy. "These data confirm that genomic tests, like MammaPrint and BluePrint, have a place in every breast cancer diagnosis," said James Pellicane, MD, Director of Breast Oncology at the Bon Secours Cancer Institute and an author of the poster. "Diving into the large bank of knowledge provided by the NBRST trial continues to help us facilitate more informed treatment decisions that will benefit the enormously diverse group of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer." Agendia's mission is to help guide the diagnosis and personalized treatment of breast cancer for all patients throughout their treatment journey, which the company prioritizes by continuing to look deeper into the arsenal of data that will help treat cancer. About Agendia Agendia is a precision oncology company headquartered in Irvine, California, committed to bringing early stage breast cancer patients and their physicians the information they need to make the best decisions for the full treatment journey. The company currently offers two commercially-available genomic profiling tests, supported by the highest levels of clinical and real world evidence, that provide comprehensive genomic information that can be used to identify the most effective breast cancer treatment possible for each patient. MammaPrint, the 70-gene breast cancer recurrence assay, is the only FDA-cleared risk of recurrence test backed by peer-reviewed, prospective outcome data and inclusion in both national and international treatment guidelines. BluePrint, the 80-gene molecular subtyping assay, is the only commercially-available test that evaluates the underlying biology of a tumor to determine what is driving its growth. Together, MammaPrint and BluePrint provide a comprehensive genomic profile to help physicians make more informed decisions in the pre- and post-operative treatment settings. Agendia develops evidence-based novel genomic tests and forges partnerships with groundbreaking companies to develop next-generation digital treatment tools. The ongoing research builds an arsenal of data that improve patient outcomes and support the evolving clinical needs of breast cancer patients and their physicians every step of the way, from initial diagnosis to cancer-free. Agendia's assays can be ordered on core biopsies or surgical specimens to inform pre- and post-operative treatment decisions. For more information on Agendia's assays and ongoing trials, please visit www.agendia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005292/en/ Contacts: Media Terri Clevenger Westwicke/ICR Healthcare PR Tel: 203.856.4326 Terri.Clevenger@icrinc.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 06:49:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for efforts to advance the political process in South Sudan. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of South Sudan. Over the past 10 years, the South Sudanese have overcome numerous challenges and made new progress in nation-building. At present, the situation in South Sudan presents both opportunities and challenges, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. There is a need to maintain the positive momentum of the political process, he told the Security Council. For some time now, the cease-fire in South Sudan has been holding on the whole. And the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement has made positive progress on key issues, such as government formation and appointment of governors. China welcomes this development, he said. China encourages all parties in South Sudan to consolidate existing gains; move forward the key tasks of security arrangements, the reconstitution of parliament, and preparations for general elections; stay in the course of implementing the peace agreement and resolve potential differences by peaceful means, said Zhang. "We call on the armed factions that have not yet joined the agreement to do so as soon as possible. The implementation of the agreement faces practical difficulties, such as lack of funding. We hope the international community will provide responsive assistance," he said. The international community should continue to support the peace efforts of the African Union (AU) and sub-regional organizations such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and countries such as Sudan, he said. China calls on the international community to respond to the AU's initiative and lift sanctions against South Sudan as soon as possible, he said. It is necessary to continue to improve the security situation in South Sudan, said Zhang. Communal and ethnic conflicts continue to pose a security threat to the people of South Sudan, and require a combination of responses such as prevention, mediation, reconciliation, and protection. The UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS, has devoted considerable efforts to this end with some success. The government of South Sudan bears the primary responsibility for protecting civilians. China supports the international community in continuing to provide capacity-building assistance to the government of South Sudan in this regard, he said. Competing for resources remains a major cause of communal and ethnic conflict. Developing the economy and improving people's livelihood can help eliminate the root causes of conflict. Special attention should be paid to this point, he said. It is necessary to help South Sudan in its response to challenges such as COVID-19. The COVID-19 infection rate in South Sudan is reported to be as high as 15 percent to 25 percent, which is worrying, he said. The immediate priority is to provide anti-COVID-19 support to South Sudan, ensure timely and fair access to vaccines for those in need and curb the spread of the pandemic, said Zhang. South Sudan is experiencing severe economic difficulties, and more than 8 million people may need humanitarian assistance this year. The international community should step up its support and assistance in this regard, he said. China has all along actively supported South Sudan's economic and social development. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China has provided several batches of anti-pandemic materials and humanitarian assistance to South Sudan and has decided to donate COVID-19 vaccines to the country, said Zhang. While Chinese medical teams remain on the ground, additional teams of medical experts have been dispatched. Chinese female peacekeepers are also actively involved in providing medical help to local people, he said. China will continue to work with all parties to help South Sudan meet its challenges, he added. UNMISS has done a great deal and played a significant role in improving the situation in South Sudan. China pays tribute to the peacekeepers who have remained at their posts against COVID-19 and supports the extension of its mandate, said Zhang. China hopes that UNMISS will give top priority to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and strengthen coordination and synergy with regional organizations such as IGAD. COVID-19 poses a serious threat to the health of peacekeepers and affects the normal performance of peacekeeping operations, including UNMISS. This situation warrants high attention. China has decided to donate COVID-19 vaccines to UN peacekeepers. China will continue to support the work of UNMISS, he said. Enditem FLINT, MI -- Jarrod Agen, former Gov. Rick Snyders chief of staff, has no idea what he did to commit perjury related to the Flint water crisis, his attorney says in a new Genesee Circuit Court filing that claims the case against him smacks of game playing and prosecutorial misconduct. Agen, 43, was among nine current and former city of Flint and state of Michigan employees charged with crimes related to the water crisis in January and pleaded not guilty of willfully making a false statement or statements under oath during an investigative subpoena interview in early 2017. The charge is a felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. His attorneys -- Seth B. Waxman and Scott A. MacGriff -- have argued the charge should be dismissed because the indictment returned by a one-man grand jury fails to advise him of what he said to commit perjury, because he was indicted in a county where the alleged crime was not committed and because the grand jury acted outside its jurisdiction in the case. Mr. Agen is entirely left to guess what he supposedly lied about, the Tuesday, March 2 court filing says. Mr. Agen testified for multiple hours, undoubtedly resulting in a transcript that is at least one hundred pages long, if not longer. Where in this lengthy transcript is the supposed falsehood? Did Mr. Agen supposedly lie about his name? His date of birth? Where he lived? We do not know. The possible lines of conjecture are limitless; yet, Mr. Agen is left in the dark. It is like a person is charged with theft, but not told what he allegedly stole. In response to the motion to dismiss the case against Agen, Flint water prosecutors from the Department of Attorney General have said the indictment against him meets the requirements of the law, that venue in Genesee County is proper because he intended his crime to have an effect in the city of Flint, and that the grand jury was empowered to indict him. As required by the statute, the indictment indicates the offense for which the accused is prosecuted, the nature of the controversy in respect of which the offense was committed and before what court or officer the oath was taken or was to have been taken, " water prosecutors said in their Feb. 24 response to the the Agen motion. Defendant is not left to guess as to when or where the false statement was made. His indictment references the specific date and circumstances of the testimony. His additional claim that he is entitled to notice in the indictment of the specific statements which are alleged to be false is incorrect. Prosecutors did not immediately comment on charges in the new court filing that their case smacks of game playing and prosecutorial misconduct. Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Kelly is scheduled to consider the motion to dismiss during a Monday, March 8 hearing. Agen served at different times as Snyders director of communications and chief of staff during the Flint water crisis. He is currently vice president of global media and digital communications at Lockheed Martin Attorneys for Snyder are also asking a Genesee District Court judge to dismiss criminal charges against him, also claiming he was charged in the wrong county and that the grand jury lacked jurisdiction in the case. Read more on MLive: Former Gov. Snyder, 8 others criminally charged, accused of trampling trust of Flint people Attorney for ex-Gov. Snyders chief of staff files to dismiss Flint water crisis perjury indictment Former federal prosecutor files to represent ex-Snyder chief of staff in Flint water perjury case MCCALL - Denise Dana Hanson, 59, of McCall, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 140 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Hanson to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Hanson pleaded guilty to the charge on August 20, 2020. According to court records, Hanson and her brother Daniel Joiner, also of McCall, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of methamphetamine. Hanson was also indicted on two counts of distributing methamphetamine. Their charges stemmed from an investigation into their large-scale distribution of methamphetamine in McCall from January through August 2019. Law enforcement discovered that they would routinely travel to Boise to rent a vehicle, then drive to Las Vegas, Nevada to pick up several pounds of methamphetamine for distribution in McCall. Local law enforcement partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to utilize a confidential informant and ultimately an undercover federal agent to purchase methamphetamine from Hanson. Hanson and Joiner were arrested in Boise on August 3, 2019, after returning to Idaho from Las Vegas. Joiner was in possession of a 9mm pistol and Hanson was found to be in possession of 888 grams of pure methamphetamine. After her arrest, Hanson called her son from the jail and in a recorded call, solicited him to hurt the confidential informant. In another recorded call, she stated that she would kill the undercover officer. At sentencing, Hanson was found to have obstructed justice and received an enhancement under the federal sentencing guidelines. Hanson had twice previously been convicted of drug related felonies: attempted possession of controlled substance in state court in Las Vegas and two counts of illegal use of a communications facility in the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada. Joiner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and on June 23, 2020, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. Young children were at an illegal house party disrupted by police, it has emerged. The shocking news comes as fines of 9,000 were doled out on Tuesday, bringing to 20,000 the total in penalties issued in just two nights, mostly in the Holyland student area of south Belfast. Officers said there were at least 40 people at Roden Street, off Donegall Road, with both adults and children aged as young as 10 present, flouting Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Meanwhile, exasperated residents have called on universities to urge their students to go home in the run-up to St Patrick's Day. Campaigner Brid Ruddy said it was also time for Belfast City Council to take action to address the situation, which is spiralling out of control ahead of March 17, traditionally a problematic time for Holyland residents. "What are students doing in this area when they're supposed to be remote learning?" she said. Expand Close Police deal with a second night of parties in the Holyland area of Belfast on March 2nd 2021 Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police deal with a second night of parties in the Holyland area of Belfast on March 2nd 2021 "The universities should be urging them to go home when there are no physical classes. "Residents want the students to go home unless they need to be here for their courses. "There are parties every night. Young people are wandering in and out of each other's houses. "Residents also want the council to get landlords to close down the party houses." Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said police visited a party at Roden Street "where they located at least 40 people inside, a mix of adults and children, some aged as young as 10 years old". "Four Covid 2 notices, 32 Covid 4 200 fines and six community resolution notices were issued. One person is to be reported to the Public Prosecution Service," he added. Mr Kirkpatrick also said police visited another address at Agincourt Avenue, in the Holyland, issuing two Covid 2 notices and 13 Covid 4 200 fines. Five individuals are also to be reported to the PPS. "Over the last two nights, in south Belfast, we have taken enforcement action attracting a total of 20,000 in fines," he said. Expand Close Police deal with a second night of parties in the Holyland area of Belfast on March 2nd 2021 Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police deal with a second night of parties in the Holyland area of Belfast on March 2nd 2021 "It's really hard to believe this type of irresponsible behaviour continues." Queen's University said students should only be in the area to study. "All students have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and only travel to the university area if necessary for their studies," it said. "The university fully investigates any complaints or reports of anti-social behaviour. "A strict off-campus disciplinary code is in place, and if any Queen's student is found to have brought the university into disrepute they will be subject to the full rigours of this code. Expand Close Police deal with a second night of parties in the Holyland area of Belfast on March 2nd 2021 Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police deal with a second night of parties in the Holyland area of Belfast on March 2nd 2021 "The university also has stringent disciplinary measures in place for students who breach the Covid-19 public health guidelines, resulting in automatic suspension for 14 days." Ulster University said it was urging students to stay at home, behave responsibly and to "consider the risks of engaging in anti-social behaviour". It added: "We have also advised students of public health guidelines which state that unnecessary travel should be avoided." Belfast City Council said it didn't have powers to close down party houses, but it did have powers to control noise. "Our noise team can be contacted on 028 9037 3006," it said. Republican lawmakers Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene have criticized President Joe Biden for causing a "superspreader" event after 108 migrants released into the United States tested positive for COVID-19 since January. "President Biden's border crisis is a superspreader event," Tom Cotton tweeted as reported by Fox News. Greene also scrutinized the move saying that Biden is treating America just like New York Governor Andrew Cuomo treated nursing homes. The Republican lawmaker added an #ImpeachBiden in her tweet. Tom Cotton further noted that the Democratic Party has always been lax in national security when it comes to China, according to The Daily Wire report. Tom Cotton has been criticizing Biden even before the latter became a president. READ MORE: 1,700 Illegal Migrants in Panama Held in a Jungle Camp Due to COVID-19 Migrants Testing Positive on COVID-19 A spokesman for Brownsville, Texas on the U.S.-Mexico border said the 108 positives represent 6.3 percent of the number of total migrants who have been rapid-tested at the city's main bus station, where the Border Patrol is releasing the migrants. Rapid testing of the individuals started there on Jan. 25, according to spokesman Felipe Romero. White House sources told Fox News that they know that some migrants who test positive may continue to travel. However, federal guidance encourages them to isolate themselves. Miriam Izaguirre, a 35-year-old asylum-seeker from Honduras crossing the border with her young son, has turned herself in to the authorities a few hours after being released. She took a rapid test for COVID-19 at the Brownsville bus station, and officials told her that her test came out positive. According to an NBC News report, other migrant families who had also tested positive for COVID-19 were waiting to go to other destinations such as North Carolina, Maryland, and New Jersey. After the Border Patrol releases migrant families, Brownsville's city administered the said rapid tests at the bus station. Romero said several NGOs are providing resources to a positive case, adding that there are organizations that help with quarantine, which can either be a shelter or a hotel. Eva Orellana from Honduras, who also tested positive for COVID-19, said she was going to take the bus to North Carolina with her three-year-old daughter. On the way there, Orellana noted that they were wearing their masks all the time and washing their hands and didn't feel anything. Those who tested positive and spoke to Noticias Telemundo Investiga said they did not have any document stating their COVID-19 results. They said station workers only told them about the result after the test was done and asked them to wait in a different waiting area than the rest of the migrant families if the test turns out to be positive. The CBP said their personnel conduct initial inspections for COVID-19 symptoms and then consult the onsite medical personnel, local health systems, or the CDC. The agency noted that suspected COVID-19 cases are immediately referred to local health systems for appropriate diagnosis, testing, and treatment. Meanwhile, more than 30,000 refugees and migrants from different regions around the world participated in a first survey assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental and physical health. They were asked to grade and impact on a scale from 0 to 10, being the extreme. The average impact assessment, according to a World Health Organization study, was at 7.5. "Refugees and migrants live and work in often-harsh conditions with inadequate access to health, housing, water, sanitation and other basic services," Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a statement. READ ALSO: Clinic Strengthens Safety Measures Against COVID-19 for a Camp of Asylum Seekers WOOD RIVER The Madison County Health Department on Friday will add the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccines to its coronavirus toolkit. On Thursday afternoon, appointment times remained available March 8-9 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville for COVID-19 vaccinations through the health department. To register for an appointment, people can visit https://events.juvare.com/IL-IDPH/90e2c37e-ce91-44b0-9378-d1e867141108/?fbclid=IwAR2Ho39M6QY7pzJb83wrmFbdnu6_soeOVXKKrz0cXwcSShQuTBWyVyWn1U8. People without access to a computer may call 618-692-8954. All vaccinations are by appointment only. Recipients must be an Illinois resident who lives or works in Madison County and must be eligible to receive the vaccine under Illinois Phase 1a, Phase 1b, or Phase 1b+. Those eligible include: Phase 1A Individuals who are healthcare providers Phase 1B Individuals aged 65 or older; law enforcement or other emergency responders; educators in public or private K-12 schools, licensed daycare providers, public transit workers, U.S. Postal employees, agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store or supply employees, shelter and adult daycare workers or participants. Phase 1B+ Individuals 16-64 years old with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of COVID-19. More Information Vaccinations 1st Dose: 445,624 (17.25%) 2nd Dose: 12,838 (4.85%) Source: IDPH COVID-19 cases by county Madison - 27,640 (461 deaths) Jersey - 2,496 (47 deaths) Calhoun - 494 (5 deaths) Greene - 1,317 (47 deaths) Macoupin - 4,522 (108 deaths) Montgomery - 3,524 (69 deaths) St. Clair - 25,618 (468 deaths) Clinton - 5,579 (89 deaths) Bond - 1,917 (24 deaths) Monroe - 4,078 (84 deaths) Randolph - 3,975 (79 deaths) Washington - 1,587 (24 deaths) Source: IDPH & Madison, Greene, Macoupin, Jersey and Calhoun county health departments See More Collapse People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any injectable medication or vaccine are not eligible to register for these clinics; contact COVIDVax@co.madison.il.us for further instructions. People cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine within 14 days of any other vaccines. People sick or COVID-19 positive are asked to contact the health department to reschedule appointments. On the day of a vaccination appointment, people should arrive at their appointment time but not come early. They should have a photo ID and proof of employment, if applicable. Facial masks are required and people should wear proper attire to receive an injection in the upper arm. Minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian at all times. On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health was reporting 58,462 COVID-19 vaccinations in Madison County so far. That included 45,624 first vaccine doses or 17.25% of the population given and 12,838 residents, or 4.85% of the population, fully vaccinated. The Madison County Health Department has said the actual number of both vaccinations is higher than the IDPH figures. The IDPH on Thursday also reported that 10.99% of Macoupin County had received both doses of the vaccine. Other fully vaccinated rates included Calhoun County at 11.45%, Jersey County at 14.47% and Greene County at 12.33%. On Thursday the IDPH reported 3,563,775 doses of vaccine had been delivered to providers in Illinois. About 443,700 doses have been allocated to the federal governments Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 4,007,475. A total of 2,993,543 vaccines have been administered, including 330,328 for long-term care facilities. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 78,942 doses. The IDPH on Thursday reported 1,740 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, as well as 42 additional related deaths, including two in Madison County a woman in 70s and a man in his 70s. Late Wednesday the Madison County Health Department also was reporting two additional COVID-19 related deaths, men in their 60s and 70s, to bring the countys death toll to 461. There are sometimes discrepancies in the number of cases and deaths reported at the state and local levels, in part because of the volume of cases, and also as each local department forwards the information and it is verified. Local health officials have said the cases eventually reconcile as the reporting catches up. The county health department reported 50 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, along with 640 tests. To date the county has reported 27,640 cases within the county and a total of 263,611 tests. There were 23 COVID-19 patients reported in Madison County hospitals Tuesday, one on a ventilator. The three-day positivity rate on Wednesday was 6.2%. The seven-day rate was 5.04% and the 10-day rate was 5.35%. The IDPH reported Thursday that the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests Feb. 25 to March 3 was 2.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity for the same period was 2.9%. To date, the IDPH has reported 1,193,260 cases, including 20,668 deaths. As of Wednesday night, 1,200 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 260 were intensive care unit patients and 128 were on ventilators. For move COVID-19 information, visit https://coronavirus-response-madcoil.hub.arcgis.com/, www.madisonchd.org or Facebook @madisonchd. Also visit www.co.madison.il.us or Facebook @madisoncountyil for more vaccination news and daily updates. For The Telegraphs online vaccine tracker, visit https://www.thetelegraph.com/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-alton-illinois/. For additional vaccine locations visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location. Local and statewide information also is available at www.dph.illinois.gov. Click the coronavirus banner. For health-related questions about COVID-19, people also can call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. ADELAIDE, Australia, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayne Pharma Group Limited (ASX: MYX) is pleased to announce the commercial launch of a generic version of ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol 0.15 mg / 0.03 mg) tablets to customers in the US. This is the fourth oral contraceptive launched this calendar year after launching generic versions of LOESTRIN 24 FE, ORTHO CYCLEN and ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN. According to IQVIA, the annual US market sales for the four products were approximately US$315 million in the twelve months ending January 2021[1]. Mayne Pharma's CEO Scott Richards said, "We are very pleased to expand our Women's Health portfolio which now covers ~80% of Obstetrician/Gynaecologist oral contraceptive prescription volumes[1] and includes 24 marketed branded generic contraceptives. Mayne Pharma is committed to helping meet the needs of women in the US by providing cost effective, high-quality and novel contraceptive options. The four new products launched this year were sourced from the strategic partnership with Novast Laboratories." "In addition, Mayne Pharma has four women's health pipeline products pending at the FDA including the novel combined oral contraceptive NEXTSTELLIS (E4/DRSP) and a generic version of NUVARING. NEXTSTELLIS which has a FDA target action date in April contains a new estrogen called estetrol or E4 in combination with a progestin, drospirenone. If approved, E4 will be the first new estrogen introduced in the US for contraceptive use in approximately 50 years." About Mayne Pharma Mayne Pharma is an ASX-listed specialty pharmaceutical company focused on applying its drug delivery expertise to commercialise branded and generic pharmaceuticals, offering patients better and more accessible medicines. Mayne Pharma also provides contract development and manufacturing services to more than 100 clients worldwide. Mayne Pharma has a 40-year track record of innovation and success in developing new oral drug delivery systems and these technologies have been successfully commercialised in numerous products that continue to be marketed around the world. Mayne Pharma has two facilities based in Salisbury, Australia and Greenville, USA with expertise in the formulation of complex oral and topical dose forms including potent compounds, modified-release products and poorly soluble compounds. LOESTRIN 24 FE, NEXTSTELLIS, NUVARING, ORTHO-CEPT, ORTHO CYCLEN and ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN are registered trademarks of third parties. [1] IQVIA, MAT Sales and NSP Units for brand and generic equivalents, January 2021 SOURCE Mayne Pharma Related Links www.maynepharma.com Volcanoes in southwestern Iceland have been quiet for 800 years, but the period of rest may soon be over: More than 18,000 earthquakes have shaken the area in just over a week, leading scientists to believe that an eruption could be imminent. Geophysicists and volcanologists say the quakes are the culmination of over a year of intense seismic activity, and although most of the tremors have lasted a few seconds, with light shaking, they have rattled residents in the capital, Reykjavik, just 20 miles north of the Reykjanes Peninsula where they have occurred. People in Reykjavik are waking up with an earthquake, others go to sleep with an earthquake, said Thorvaldur Thordarson, a professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland. Theres a lot of them, and that worries people, but theres nothing to worry about, the world is not going to collapse. Earthquakes are common in Iceland because it straddles two of the Earths tectonic plates, the North American and Eurasian, which are divided by an undersea mountain chain, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The ridge oozes molten hot rock, or magma, from deeper in the Earth, forcing the plates to spread apart and causing quakes on the island. INDIANAPOLIS, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tirzepatide led to superior A1C and body weight reductions from baseline across all three doses compared to injectable semaglutide 1 mg in adults with type 2 diabetes in Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE: LLY) 40-week SURPASS-2 clinical trial. In topline results from the largest SURPASS trial to date, using the efficacy estimandi, the highest dose of tirzepatide (15 mg) reduced A1C by 2.46 percent and body weight by 12.4 kg (27.3 lb., 13.1 percent). The lowest dose of tirzepatide (5 mg) reduced A1C by 2.09 percent and body weight by 7.8 kg (17.2 lb., 8.5 percent) compared to semaglutide at 1.86 percent and 6.2 kg (13.7 lb., 6.7 percent). Additionally, 51 percent of those taking tirzepatide 15 mg achieved an A1C of less than 5.7 percent the level seen in people without diabetes compared to 20 percent of those taking semaglutide. The overall safety profile of tirzepatide was similar to previously reported SURPASS trials and the well-established glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class. Across all treatment arms, the most commonly reported adverse events were gastrointestinal-related. Tirzepatide is a novel investigational once-weekly dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptor agonist that integrates the actions of both incretins into a single molecule, representing a new class of medicines being studied for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. "Head-to-head studies are the gold standard for clinicians assessing the efficacy of investigational treatments, and these results show that all three doses of tirzepatide delivered superior A1C and weight reductions compared to the highest approved dose of semaglutide to treat type 2 diabetes," said Juan Pablo Frias, M.D., Medical Director, National Research Institute and Principal Investigator of SURPASS-2. "Newer treatment options may help people with type 2 diabetes achieve their A1C and weight loss goals. In SURPASS-2, tirzepatide delivered clinically meaningful efficacy, beyond what has been seen with an existing medicine in the established GLP-1 receptor agonist class." SURPASS-2 was a 40-week, randomized, open-label trial comparing the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide to semaglutide as an add-on to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes. The study randomized 1,879 participants, who had a mean duration of diabetes of 8.6 years, a baseline A1C of 8.28 percent and a baseline weight of 93.7 kg. Across both estimandsii, all three doses of tirzepatide (5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg) delivered superior A1C and body weight reductions compared to semaglutide. Of the participants receiving tirzepatide 15 mg, 92 percent achieved an A1C of less than 7 percent, the American Diabetes Association's recommended target for people with diabetes, compared to 81 percent of those taking semaglutide. Specifically, results showed: Efficacy Estimand Results Tirzepatide 5 mg Tirzepatide 10 mg Tirzepatide 15 mg Semaglutide 1 mg A1C reduction from baseline of 8.28% -2.09%* -2.37%* -2.46%* -1.86% Weight reduction from baseline of 93.7 kg -7.8 kg* (-8.5%) -10.3 kg* (-11.0%) -12.4 kg* (-13.1%) -6.2 kg (-6.7%) Percent of participants achieving A1C <7% 85.5%* 88.9%* 92.2%* 81.1% Percent of participants achieving A1C <5.7% 29.3% 44.7%* 50.9%* 19.7% *Denotes statistical significance compared to semaglutide Not controlled for type I error In the treatment-regimen estimandiii, all three doses of tirzepatide delivered superior A1C and body weight reductions compared to semaglutide. Greater percentages of participants achieved an A1C of less than 7 percent across all three doses compared to semaglutide, with statistical significance met for 10 mg and 15 mg but not for 5 mg. Specifically, results showed: A1C reduction: -2.01% (5 mg), -2.24% (10 mg), -2.30% (15 mg), -1.86% (semaglutide) Weight reduction: -7.6 kg (5 mg), -9.3 kg (10 mg), -11.2 kg (15 mg), -5.7 kg (semaglutide) Percent of participants achieving A1C <7%: 82.0% (5 mg), 85.6% (10 mg), 86.2% (15 mg), 79.0% (semaglutide) Percent of participants achieving A1C <5.7%: 27.1% (5 mg), 39.8% (10 mg), 45.7% (15 mg), 18.9% (semaglutide) Hypoglycemia less than 54 mg/dL was reported in 0.6 percent (5 mg), 0.2 percent (10 mg) and 1.7 percent (15 mg) of participants in the tirzepatide arms and in 0.4 percent of participants in the semaglutide arm. The most commonly reported adverse events across all treatment arms were gastrointestinal-related, including nausea (17.4 percent [5 mg], 19.2 percent [10 mg], 22.1 percent [15 mg], 17.9 percent [semaglutide]), diarrhea (13.2 percent [5 mg], 16.4 percent [10 mg], 13.8 percent [15 mg], 11.5 percent [semaglutide]) and vomiting (5.7 percent [5 mg], 8.5 percent [10 mg], 9.8 percent [15 mg], 8.3 percent [semaglutide]). Treatment discontinuation rates due to adverse events were 5.1 percent (5 mg), 7.7 percent (10 mg), 7.9 percent (15 mg) and 3.8 percent (semaglutide). "Nearly nine in 10 people with type 2 diabetes in the U.S. are overweight or have obesity, and we are committed to providing solutions that not only lead to meaningful A1C reductions but also significant weight loss to help meet their needs," said Mike Mason, president, Lilly Diabetes. "These striking head-to-head results surpassed our expectations, supporting our belief in the value of all three doses of tirzepatide as potential new treatment options for people living with type 2 diabetes. "Lilly is extremely grateful to the patients and investigators who participated in SURPASS-2, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic," Mason added. "Their commitment to the diabetes community is immeasurable." The complete SURPASS-2 study data have not yet been evaluated but will be presented at the American Diabetes Association's 81st Scientific Sessions and published in a peer-reviewed publication in 2021. About tirzepatide Tirzepatide is a once-weekly dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that integrates the actions of both incretins into a single novel molecule. GIP is a hormone that may complement the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists. In preclinical models, GIP has been shown to decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure therefore resulting in weight reductions, and when combined with a GLP-1 receptor agonist, may result in greater effects on glucose and body weight. Tirzepatide is in phase 3 development for blood glucose management in adults with type 2 diabetes and for chronic weight management. It is also being studied as a potential treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). About SURPASS-2 and the SURPASS clinical trial program SURPASS-2 (NCT03987919) is a 40-week, multi-center, randomized, parallel, open-label trial comparing the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg to semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with 1500 mg/day metformin alone. The trial randomized 1,879 study participants across the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mexico and the UK in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive either tirzepatide 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg or semaglutide 1 mg. The primary objective of SURPASS-2 was to demonstrate that the two higher doses of tirzepatide (10 mg and/or 15 mg) led to non-inferior A1C reductions from baseline compared to semaglutide after 40 weeks in people with type 2 diabetes. Key secondary objectives included non-inferior A1C reductions from baseline for tirzepatide 5 mg; superior A1C and body weight reductions from baseline and greater percentages of participants achieving an A1C less than 7 percent across all three tirzepatide doses; and greater percentages of participants achieving an A1C less than 5.7 percent for tirzepatide 10 mg and 15 mg compared to semaglutide. Additional secondary endpoints not controlled for type 1 error included percentage of participants achieving an A1C less than 5.7 percent for tirzepatide 5 mg compared to semaglutide. Study participants had a mean A1C between 7 percent and 10.5 percent and a BMI greater than or equal to 25 kg/m2. All participants in the tirzepatide treatment arms started the study at a dose of tirzepatide 2.5 mg once weekly and then increased the dose in a step-wise approach at four-week intervals to their final randomized maintenance dose of 5 mg (via a 2.5 mg step), 10 mg (via steps at 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 7.5 mg) or 15 mg (via steps at 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg and 12.5 mg). Participants in the semaglutide treatment arm started the study at a dose of semaglutide 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks, then increased the dose to 0.5 mg for four weeks and then reached the final dose of 1 mg. The SURPASS phase 3 global clinical development program for tirzepatide has enrolled more than 13,000 people with type 2 diabetes across 10 clinical trials, five of which are global registration studies. The program began in late 2018 with full results from the registration studies anticipated in 2021. About Diabetes Approximately 34 million Americans1 (just over 1 in 10) and an estimated 463 million adults worldwide2 have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type internationally, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases in the United States alone1. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin. About Lilly Diabetes Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research, collaboration and quality manufacturing we strive to make life better for people affected by diabetes and related conditions. We work to deliver breakthrough outcomes through innovative solutionsfrom medicines and technologies to support programs and more. For the latest updates, visit http://www.lillydiabetes.com/ or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes and Facebook: LillyDiabetesUS. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom. P-LLY Lilly Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about tirzepatide as a potential treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and the timeline for future readouts, presentations and other milestones relating to tirzepatide and its clinical trials and reflects Lilly's current belief and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that the studies will be completed as planned, that future study results will be consistent with the results to date or that tirzepatide will receive regulatory approvals. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services; 2020. 2 International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edn. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2019. Available at: http://diabetesatlas.org. ____________________ i Efficacy estimand represents efficacy prior to discontinuation of study drug or initiating rescue therapy for persistent severe hyperglycemia. ii Treatment differences for two estimands efficacy and treatment-regimen were evaluated for three tirzepatide doses (5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg) compared to semaglutide 1 mg. iii Treatment-regimen estimand represents the efficacy irrespective of adherence to the investigational medicine or introduction of rescue therapy for persistent severe hyperglycemia. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Related Links http://www.lilly.com Elizabeth Keckley, Thirty Years a Slave, Four Years in the White House A Black womans memoir published 153 years ago still tops Amazons books sales chart. Behind the Scenes or Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House, by Elizabeth Keckley, currently stands as the 24th most popular book in Amazons category of U.S. Civil War Womens History. The historical work was perhaps the bluntest and most controversial of its era. Keckley detailed her life as a slave who purchased her freedom and then worked in the White House for two U.S. first ladies Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, and Varina Davis, the wife of President Jefferson Davis. ADVERTISEMENT A seamstress to both Davis and Lincoln, Keckley practically lived in the White House during the Civil War. Because Keckley made her close relationships with the Lincolns so public, the reaction nearly ruined the Lincolns reputation and almost destroyed Keckleys life. In the 166-page memoir, Keckley recalls an intimate scene between President and Mrs. Lincoln after learning their son, Willie, had died in 1862. I assisted in washing him and dressing him, and then laid him on the bed when Mr. Lincoln came in. I never saw a man so bowed down with grief, Keckley wrote. He came to the bed, lifted the cover from the face of his child, gazed at it long and earnestly, murmuring, My poor boy, he was too good for this earth. God has called him home. I know that he is much better off in heaven, but then we loved him so. It is hard, hard to have him die. Immediately after President Lincolns 1865 assassination, Mary Todd Lincoln sent for Keckley. According to WhiteHouseHistory.org, when Mrs. Lincoln was later drowning in debt, she reached out to Keckley to assist in selling off her wardrobe and other items to raise money. ADVERTISEMENT Because the auctions failed to solicit any funds for Lincoln, Keckley reached out to prominent African Americans for assistance, including asking leaders in the Black church to take up offerings for her former boss. She even asked Frederick Douglass to take part in a lecture to raise money, although the lecture ultimately did not come to fruition, the White House historians wrote. The book was not well received by Lincoln or the American public. Whites turned on Keckley for disclosing conversations and her relationship with Mrs. Lincoln. Mostly, they claimed it violated social norms of privacy, race, class, and gender. Her choice to publish correspondence between herself and Mary Lincoln was seen as an infringement on the former first ladys privacy, historians wrote. Keckley addressed her critics in the preface to her memoir: If I have betrayed confidence in anything I have published, it has been to place Mrs. Lincoln in a better light before the world. A breach of trust if breach it can be called of this kind is always excusable, Keckley penned. My own character, as well as the character of Mrs. Lincoln, is at stake since I have been intimately associated with that lady in the most eventful periods of her life. I have been her confidante, and if evil charges are laid at her door, they also must be laid at mine, since I have been a party to all her movements, she added. Keckley continued: To defend myself, I must defend the lady that I have served. The world has judged Mrs. Lincoln by the facts which float upon the surface, and through her have partially judged me, and the only way to convince them that wrong was not meditated is to explain the motives that actuated us. Born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, in 1818, Keckley endured years of beatings and sexual assault as a slave. She bore her slave masters child, George, and was then given away to her owners daughter, who moved her to St. Louis. Keckley learned the art of dressmaking and, in 1852, married James Keckley, whom she believed was free. Before her marriage, she negotiated a $1,200 price to buy her freedom but discovered she couldnt raise the money for herself, her son, and her husband. However, customers to her small seamstress shop loaned Keckley the money to purchase freedom for her and her son, and in 1860, she moved to Washington, D.C. She left Washington in 1892 to teach domestic skills at Wilberforce University, but ill health forced her to return and spend her final years in the Home for Destitute Women and Children, which she had helped to establish, historians wrote. Elizabeth Keckley died in 1907 after suffering a stroke. Please note The Sun Chronicle is providing this story and all of our local coronavirus coverage for free so that all readers have access to this important information about the pandemic. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus coverage page for more stories. If you'd like to support our mission, please subscribe. NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 260 years, Guinness has been celebrating St. Patrick's Day and what it means to be Irish: being resilient, toasting to the good times and always focusing on the silver linings. This past year, we've seen so many people do their part to lift us all up and keep us going, so to spread the magic of St. Patrick's Day in 2021, Guinness is raising #AToastTo our heroes on the front lines, pubs and bartenders, and our community of friends near and far. A St. Patricks Day Message From Guinness Chef Corrine Liverman and Head Brewer Hollie Stephenson at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore Guinness Raises #AToastTo Our Heroes for St. Patrick's Day "We won't quite be able to march again this year, but we can give thanks to the people who have raised us all up since last St. Patrick's Day through our words, but much more importantly, through our actions," said Nikhil Shah, Guinness Brand Director. "In line with our long history of giving back, for the past year, we've been donating to and working with organizations that support restaurants, bars, bartenders, food banks, the fight for systemic justice, and frontline organizations, like Team Rubicon, among others. In true Guinness fashion, we'll continue to have the backs of those in need this March and beyond." The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore has been baking and donating "Brewers Bread" to the Maryland Food Bank to help feed the community since last spring, when COVID-19 began to create even greater food scarcity concerns. In addition to monetary donations, the total number of loaves donated is more than 25,000 and counting. "After being forced to close our gates to the public for a little while last year, we immediately knew we had to find a way to pitch in and help," said Chef Corrine Liverman, Bakery Supervisor at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore. "We have a ton of grain, of course, and we know what to do with it. So we all turned our focus from only brewing beer to also baking bread for those in need." Beyond Baltimore, to continue to help with COVID-19 relief efforts this St. Patrick's Day, Guinness is donating $600,000 to Team Rubicon and organizations fighting food scarcity across the country, including Feeding New York State, California Association of Food Banks, Greater Chicago Food Depository, The Greater Boston Food Bank, Maryland Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix. Fans 21 and older can raise a pint with us and share what they're toasting to this year by using #AToastTo and tagging @GuinnessUS on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Guinness will donate an additional $1 (up to $100,000) collectively to those same charity partners for every qualifying post through March 21, 2021. In addition to supporting the important work still to be done, Guinness will also be raising toasts and sparking celebration in many ways this St. Patrick's Day season. Even though we'll be waiting one more year to officially march again, Guinness will still be bringing a familiar sight and sound to dozens of cities from coast to coast bagpipers. To surprise our communities, groups of bagpipers will be showing up outside in towns and cities, unannounced, either on March 17 or the days leading up to the holiday. Keep your eyes and ears open! And there's more from raising additional funds via #AToastTo social campaign to launching a new Cameo sweepstakes to help consumers to enjoy the day: A new TV commercial featuring the Guinness Brewers Bread project is airing throughout St. Patrick's season, echoing the hopeful "We Will March Again" message we shared last St. Patrick's Day. The #AToastTo campaign will appear in major newspapers, on billboards and digital displays in several major cities, and on windows of pubs across the country, including New York , Chicago , Boston , Los Angeles , Phoenix , Orlando and Baltimore . , , , , , and . The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore is hosting 17 days of celebrations to count down to St. Patrick's Day, featuring socially distant movie nights, live music, and a special menu with Irish favorites. Learn more at www.guinnessbrewerybaltimore.com or @GuinnessBreweryUS on Facebook and Instagram. is hosting 17 days of celebrations to count down to St. Patrick's Day, featuring socially distant movie nights, live music, and a special menu with Irish favorites. Learn more at www.guinnessbrewerybaltimore.com or @GuinnessBreweryUS on Facebook and Instagram. Limited-edition St. Patrick's Day gear from the Guinness x Carhartt Collection is now available on The Guinness Webstore, in Carhartt retail stores, Carhartt.com and in select retailers across the country. Exclusive Guinness and #AToastTo animated stickers created by Holler are also available via messaging keyboards and on Venmo.* Limited-Edition Guinness Draught 'Slainte' 8-packs and 4-packs on shelves now. Visit ToastTo.us for full details on Guinness' St. Patrick's Day celebrations and #AToastTo, or follow @GuinnessUS on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And remember, whether you're in the pub with friends or at home with family this St. Patrick's Day, always drink responsibly. Slainte! *This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Venmo or PayPal, Inc. About Guinness The Guinness brand was established in 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin. Brewed using four main ingredients, water, barley (malted & roasted), hops and yeast, Guinness is the world's most popular stout. The iconic beer is brewed in 49 countries worldwide and sold in over 150 with almost 9 million glasses of Guinness enjoyed every day around the world. The most GUINNESS is sold in Great Britain, Ireland, USA, Nigeria and Cameroon. More information can be found at www.guinness.com. About Diageo Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA. MEDIA CONTACTS: Dave Finn, TAYLOR [email protected] Kelly Pepe, DIAGEO [email protected] SOURCE Diageo Beer Company USA Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. There are growing calls for tougher laws to be imposed on children as young as 12 following a string of alleged crimes. Queensland last month announced a crack down on young criminals but community leaders say more needs to be done to tackle the problem. Calls have intensified after two boys, aged 12 and 14, allegedly stole dozens of cars from the Sunshine Coast, A Current Affair reported. In one video uploaded to social media the 12-year-old was allegedly seen driving a stolen car through the Sunshine Coast streets in April last year while the pair goaded police who gave chase. One of the boys could be heard allegedly saying: 'What are youse (sic) gonna do b***h. F**k you'. A number of police cars were allegedly rammed as officers attempted to pull the vehicle over. The two boys were both charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, evasion and driving unlicensed. Calls are growing in Queensland for tougher penalties for juvenile criminals after two youths, aged 12 and 14, allegedly broke into dozens of cars on the Sunshine Coast and took them for joyrides The juveniles were also allegedly captured on video in separate incidents breaking into cars and showing off wads of cash they had in their possession. According to A Current Affair, a police report from one alleged incident after the 12-year-old was picked up by officers in April last year said: 'It is highly likely that levels of offending will continue to increase'. Queensland Liberal National politician Dan Purdie, whose electorate takes in the area of the alleged thefts, said more needed to be done to deter children from criminal activity. 'They know if they get caught, they will be out tomorrow,' Mr Purdie told A Current Affair. 'Twelve months on we have the same offenders - their behaviour has escalated. It's a miracle they have not killed someone and it's not just these kids doing it, this is happening across Queensland night after night.' The 12-year-old boy was allegedly breaking into cars a week after being caught by police over a separate incident. Photos posted to social media allegedly show the juveniles goading police as they tracked down an allegedly stolen car A teenager is pictured on social media wearing work clothes after allegedly stealing a work ute from a Sunshine Coast home In a separate incident, two 17-year-olds and an adult allegedly stole a work ute from a Sunshine Coast home. They also allegedly stole another vehicle after assaulting the owner. Jamie Franklin, whose ute was allegedly stolen, said a Queensland Government plan to have high risk offenders aged 16 and 17 fitted with GPS trackers as part of bail conditions was not a big enough deterrent. Mr Franklin said he felt 'let down' by the justice system. 'They need to either keep them locked up, put them through a program or better still if they are still youths penalise the parents,' Mr Franklin said. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last month announced a crack down on young criminals with 'all the force and resources at our disposal'. 'The new measures will target hardcore youth criminals who repeatedly offend and put the community at risk,' Ms Palaszczuk said at the time. The issue became highly charged following the deaths of pedestrians Kate Leadbetter, who was pregnant, and her partner Matt Field when they were struck by an allegedly stolen car driven by a teenager in Alexandra Hills on January 26. Calls for reform increased with the death of 22-year-old motorcyclist Jennifer Board at Thuringowa, Townsville on February 5. She was hit by a Holden Statesman, which had allegedly been following a stolen Hyundai sedan during a suspected vigilante pursuit. Matt Field, 37, (left), Kate Leadbetter, 31 (right) and their unborn son Miles were killed on Australia Day after they were struck by an allegedly stolen car driven by a teenager in Alexandra Hills, Brisbane 'It is clear to me and to the community that some young offenders simply don't care about consequences,' Ms Palaszczuk said last month. 'It's this 10 per cent who are responsible for 48 per cent of the crime. They're the ones we are going to target with all the force and resources at our disposal.' Ms Palaszczuk said the changes target about 400 repeat offenders who are responsible for almost half of all the state's youth crime. Youth justice laws will be amended to ensure they note that the community must be protected from recidivist offenders and that offending on bail is an aggravating circumstance for sentencing purposes. The state of Alabama no longer will have a mandatory mask-wearing mandate after 5 p.m. April 9, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday. The current mask mandate was set to expire Friday. Ivey said this extension into April will be the last of the move that was created to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Iveys office said this mask extension is to allow businesses ample time to implement policies of their own and make any adjustments they would like ahead of April 9. Other changes announced Thursday: HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES Subject to reasonable restrictions, patients and residents will be allowed visits from as many as two caregivers (up from one) or as many as two visitors (up from one) at a time SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS Programs other than congregate meals may resume, but only outdoors and subject to guidelines by the Alabama Department of Senior Services. Meals still available by curbside pick-up or delivery RESTAURANTS, BARS AND BREWERIES Still may open, but with no limit on party size at tables. Still required: Partitions or 6 feet between tables and additional sanitation rules and guidelines SUMMER CAMP Still may open subject to social-distancing and sanitation rules and guidelines. The social-distancing requirement was changed to mirror the one used for schools. Stay with WAAY 31 for updates These successes wont fix Californias housing crisis overnight, but they reveal a new political reality, reflecting a yearslong uprising against NIMBYs who once dominated many California cities. Shouting No! to all new building is no longer the safest political choice. In Berkeley, for instance, the councils new openness to density is the consequence of a defeat in the November election of an incumbent who had been more skeptical of new housing. Terry Taplin, a 32-year-old poet and community organizer, won Berkeleys District 2 City Council seat by promising to focus on sustainable development and transportation options more housing, denser housing, more options for walking and biking in place of cars, and a view of development that attempts to redress historical racial inequities. If Berkeley was the leader in exclusionary zoning and racist housing policies, we should also lead the nation in the redressal of those policies, Taplin told me. He outlined a full slate of reforms for housing in the city a plan to facilitate affordable housing across Berkeley, a pilot program to study public housing, a plan for new protections for tenants. Were having a real renaissance in progressive housing policies, he said. Perhaps one reason Taplin won is that he defies traditional housing-politics caricatures. Many housing battles in California break along familiar fault lines the NIMBYs who want nothing to change versus the YIMBYs who are easily pilloried as shills for developers and antagonistic toward tenants rights. Taplin breaks free from these binaries. He believes that Berkeley needs more development, more robust protections for tenants, and more services for homeless and low-income residents a kind of all-of-the-above plan to address the housing shortage. He also sees density and sustainability not just through an economic lens, but also a means to racial justice. Taplin is among a new generation of urban lawmakers elected in November who talk about housing and homelessness as complex, multilayered crises that connect many of Californias biggest challenges our unequal economic growth, our vulnerability to climate disasters, our unsustainable car-dominated urban culture and the entrenched racial divisions that still dominate much of life here. Among these is the new mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, a Democrat whose opponent, Barbara Bry, echoed Trumpist fear-mongering about density killing the suburbs. Theyre coming for our homes, Bry warned in a campaign email. Another is Nithya Raman, an urban planner who won a City Council seat in notoriously NIMBY Los Angeles by putting racial justice and equity at the center of her campaign. One of Ramans big ideas was to decriminalize homelessness, to address it through housing policy, addiction care and mental health services rather than arresting people for drug offenses and crimes tied to mental illnesses and rootlessness. Raman also promised to allow affordable housing plans to be approved within 90 days almost light speed by big-city standards. UW Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Seniors Undertake Wyoming Projects Students in the University of Wyomings new outdoor recreation and tourism management degree program are completing projects in southeast Wyoming as part of an innovative, applied experience called the professional semester. The professional semester is a suite of classes, taught by the programs faculty, for students in their last year of the program. This is the second annual professional semester offered through the outdoor recreation and tourism management program, which is an undergraduate degree offered through UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. Professional semester projects are community-driven and address specific needs or issues. This year, six different agencies or organizations were selected from sites closer to Laramie to minimize travel for students due to COVID-19. The agencies and organizations include the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, Visit Cheyenne, Visit Laramie, the Laramie Parks and Recreation Department, Snowy Range Ski Area and the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests Laramie Ranger District. The projects have mentors from the agencies or organizations who work closely with the student teams to help them develop reports and present their findings. The professional semester projects are a great way for our students to apply their years of education, in their final year at UW, to specific needs or issues in the community, says Dan McCoy, the outdoor recreation and tourism management degree and professional semester coordinator. We are excited to have such great projects and mentors this year. Jaxon King, of Saratoga; Zane Buchanan, of Arvada, Colo.; and Jordan Kobliska, of Oconomowoc, Wis., are working with the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests Laramie Ranger District to provide the Forest Service with feedback from the Pole Mountain Community Gateways nonmotorized plan for the Pole Mountain Unit. According to Mary Grace Bedwell, a project mentor and a public affairs specialist with the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, the Pole Mountain Community Gateways Project is an important process for shaping recreation in southeast Wyoming in the coming decades. Providing an opportunity for students in their professional semester to engage with the pre-project public input process and also provide technical support to our team is an invaluable experience for both students and Forest Service staff. I am so excited to work on the nonmotorized preferred alternative for the Pole Mountain Unit, Kobliska says. I'd love to work in public lands management in the future, and this is a great opportunity to get my foot in the door with the Forest Service. Maddie Reid, a senior from Loveland, Colo., and Kat Gruner, of Casper, are working with the Laramie Parks and Recreation Department on a bike park feasibility study. I am excited to be working on the Laramie bike park feasibility study, because this bike park will give the Laramie community more options to recreate closer to home, Reid says. I've always had a passion for getting others outdoors, and I'm grateful for this opportunity to help provide a more accessible recreation location for the people of Laramie. Chris Floyd, the manager of the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, is working with students Emma Adams, of Tulsa, Okla., and Cade Bednarchik, of Parker, Colo., to develop a communication tool to convey the economic and social benefits of outdoor recreation to stakeholders across the state. We know that the outdoor recreation sector is an important part of our economy, but we need help in compiling and sharing this information in a meaningful way, Floyd says. We are thrilled to be partnering with the UW outdoor recreation and tourism management program to do just that. With the increased demand for outdoor recreation over the past year, this capstone project will help highlight the potential for outdoor recreation to be a driving force in the diversification of our economy. Students Hailey Moss, of Douglas, and Levi Kaiser, of Casper, are working with Visit Cheyenne on a tourism master plan. When we imagined this process of a unique, first-of-its-kind tourism master plan for our county, the students in the capstone class for outdoor recreation and tourism management were first on our mind to help it be successful, says Domenic Bravo, CEO of Visit Cheyenne. The students will bring a unique perspective, a fresh examination of strategies and a scholarly polish to this critical document. In turn, they will learn how the practical applications of their degree program directly apply to our industry. I am so excited to be a part of creating the Cheyenne tourism master plan with Visit Cheyenne, because it allows for me to grow my understanding of the tourism industry in Wyoming while also utilizing all of the wonderful skills I have learned throughout the degree program, Moss says. Students are in the project investigation phase, wherein they develop comprehensive investigation plans of the documents, reports, individuals and organizations they intend to interview or review. Once their investigation plans are complete, students will implement their plans and ultimately develop reports, and present them to public audiences in May. Ultimately, what we want these students to be able to do is make positive, long-lasting impacts in outdoor recreation and tourism-related industries in Wyoming that further economic diversification and support for the second largest industry in our state -- tourism, McCoy says. In turn, students gain valuable experience and apply their skills to complex issues or opportunities. Here is the full list of participating students, listed by their hometowns: Arvada, Colo. -- Zane Buchanan. Casper -- Kat Gruner and Levi Kaiser. Chaska, Minn. -- Kevin Marsh. Douglas -- Cody Blair and Hailey Moss. Loveland, Colo. -- Maddie Reid. Oconomowoc, Wis. -- Jordan Kobliska. Parker, Colo. -- Cade Bednarchik. Saratoga -- Jaxon King. Tulsa, Okla. -- Emma Adams. Westminster, Colo. -- Nicholas Alles. Wilmington, Mass. -- Jillian Troy. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/28/2021 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Stephanie and Ryan are still together.] ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So did Stephanie and Ryan split up for good or is the couple still together now? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Stephanie Davison was just shown breaking up with Ryan Carr and considering dating his cousin Harris on Season 8, so what do spoilers reveal about if Stephanie and Ryan got back together and are still together now?Stephanie is a 52-year-old career-focused woman who owns and operates two medical spas from Grand Rapids, MI.Stephanie was "a lifelong bachelorette" before meeting Ryan, a 27-year-old from Belize, during a vacation to his home country. Stephanie said he was the hottest and youngest guy she had ever dated and she had no problem being a cougar.Stephanie and Ryan dated for three years before Stephanie applied for a K-1 visa and the couple decided to appear on the show.Stephanie admitted she had trust issues in their long-distance relationship, mainly due to their large age gap, but also because she had caught Ryan texting three different women a little over a year prior."I threw Ryan out that night and I was crying. Right after his cousin Harris called me, and I slept with his cousin. Basically, it was over between Ryan and I. I'm just such an honest person, and I never would have slept with his cousin had I not found all of those texts and everything," Stephanie told the cameras.Stephanie had been keeping this secret from Ryan, and she knew it had the potential to tear them apart and ruin their relationship forever.Stephanie was worried about her romance coming to an end because she had invested so much heart and money into their relationship. She was allegedly giving him $500-$1300 a month by paying for Ryan's rent, groceries -- and even his work wages at a luxury resort, which Ryan was unaware of at the time.While apart during COVID-19, Stephanie felt she and Ryan were "growing further and further apart" although she said she loved him and wanted to be with him forever. They were fighting all the time and many of Stephanie's calls and requests for contact went unanswered."We are hanging on by a thread right now, and that thread is going to f-cking break any single second," Stephanie lamented.Ryan confessed he was tired of Stephanie "b-tching" at him, and Stephanie said she was nearly ready to throw in the towel. She accused Ryan of using her for money and wanting to come to America to "screw" other women or just have "a little joy ride."For Ryan's part, he said he enjoyed making his own money and his excitement about coming to America was waning because Stephanie was "far past crazy" and acting ridiculous.The pair began questioning why they were even engaged, but Stephanie wanted to end the relationship in person if that's what they were choosing to do.In October 2020, Stephanie said the borders had finally reopened and so she'd be able to visit her boyfriend in Belize."Although Ryan and I are engaged, he hasn't officially proposed yet, so the ideal thing for me is for him to propose with my mother's ring. I have a feeling this might be the time he proposes, on this trip. We shall see!" Stephanie gushed.When Stephanie arrived in Belize, Ryan said her presence was "a dream come true," and Stephanie seemed to temporarily forget about all their problems.All of Stephanie's anger and resentment appeared to disappear when Stephanie was in Ryan's arms, and Ryan promised Stephanie that she was his No. 1 priority and he wanted to make her happy and feel secure.At dinner one night, Stephanie gave Ryan her mother's ring to propose with, but she still had doubts about whether Ryan was faithful."How many women have you slept with since I've been gone for 10 months?" Stephanie asked."None," Ryan replied. "Of course I'm horny as f-ck and I want to have sex, but I was just thinking about your well-being and that's it."Stephanie later confessed to Ryan that she had slept with Harris when they fought about him texting other women, including one person whom he allegedly invited to join him in Cancun."He called me every day... Harris is very bold, and you know that," Stephanie said."I said, 'I just threw Ryan out. I've had it this time.' And he said, 'Can I come see you?' I was crying so hard. It had been so long since you made me feel special. So I had him come and he spent the night with me that night."Stephanie broke down into tears, and Ryan admitted that he had already known about that.Ryan called Harris an "assh-le" and said someone that worked at his hotel had seen Harris enter Stephanie's room. Ryan called Harris "a backstabber."Ryan said he blamed both Stephanie and Harris for the mistake but it happened a long time ago and he had chosen to forgive Stephanie and stay with her."I forgive you, but I'll never forgive [Harris]... He is dead to me, and I mean that," Ryan explained.Stephanie and Ryan continued to build up their trust and relationship foundation, with Stephanie revealing she felt optimistic about their future together.Ryan told Stephanie that he was looking forward to touring Michigan, but he was a little bit upset that Stephanie and his mother had gotten into an altercation over money. Stephanie apparently asked for some money back since Ryan's mom didn't sincerely thank her for it."I was expecting that was from the heart, you know? I feel if my fiancee is trying to control me and my family because of her money, then I would have to break it off. That's not a healthy relationship," Ryan told the cameras.Stephanie told Ryan that her psychic Maria had predicted Ryan was going to move to America and leave her for a younger woman, but Ryan said he didn't believe in that and thought it was the devil's work.Stephanie also said she had heard that Ryan's mother was pressuring him to have babies and so he might leave her for a woman, maybe a co-worker.Ryan insisted he didn't want to have children "right now," which Stephanie called him out on. But Ryan clarified he didn't want kids -- "not now and not forever."Ryan promised Stephanie that he had no desire to go to the United States and leave her because she's a gorgeous woman and he'd always want to "rock [her] boat."Four hours later, Stephanie and Ryan were back at Stephanie's hotel room, and she suddenly started yelling at Ryan, "Are you kidding me?!""Don't you f-cking lie to me! Are you afraid of the truth, Ryan? Why would you do that to me?" Stephanie shouted.As Stephanie was flipping out, Ryan was shown leaving her room and trying to get a cab.Stephanie revealed she was angry because Ryan had allegedly slept with her the previous night without a condom when she didn't trust him."You got it out. Crinkle, crinkle, crinkle. I thought we were good!" Stephanie yelled, suggesting Ryan had been sneaky about the unprotected sexual encounter."And then when I said, 'You need lubricant,' you're like, 'Wait, there's no rubber.' Why would you do that to me?" Stephanie asked in desperation."What are you talking about? You're trying to embarrass me," Ryan responded.Stephanie cried to the cameras that she hadn't seen Ryan in 10 months and a man "can do a lot of cheating in 10 months." Stephanie had wanted to protect herself, so she was really upset.Stephanie said Ryan had insisted he had been faithful to her and only loved her and wanted to move to Michigan to be with her, but Stephanie said, "He blew his chance right there.""When the truth is being told," she continued, "I am a very forgiving woman. When I'm being lied to, f-ck off and die. That's how I look at it."Ryan told the cameras Stephanie never trusted him but they rarely ever used the condoms she had brought to Belize on previous trips and so his actions were nothing new. Ryan said he hated the fact Stephanie kept accusing him of cheating when she allegedly knew deep down nothing happened."I believe that she is batsh-t crazy and I gotta go," Ryan said. "I've been nothing but a great fiance, faithfully. She has nothing on me. She was the one that cheated with my cousin Harris, so I'm done with that. I'm done."Stephanie later called to thank Ryan for not stealing her mother's ring, but then she asked him again why he would pretend to put a condom on and then not follow through with it.Ryan told Stephanie that she had a trust issue and she was the one who had lied about Harris before."You know what?! This is over! F-ck off and die, Ryan! You know what? I'm going to go and find myself a nice cabana boy," Stephanie yelled on the phone.Ryan told Stephanie that she's "f-cking crazy," and then he hung up.Stephanie reiterated how her relationship was over and she didn't care where he went or what he was doing."I am done with him!" Stephanie insisted in a confessional.Stephanie then called Harris, who had always warned her about Ryan and his actions. Stephanie needed a friend and asked Harris to call her in the morning.Stephanie then FaceTimed with her psychic Maria and confirmed she and Ryan had never used condoms but she wanted to use them during this trip to Belize because that had spent so much time apart.Maria said there was no excuse for that and Ryan had done that on purpose. Maria advised Stephanie to get tested for STDs and stop sacrificing her life, health, happiness, and self-worth for Ryan.Maria said Harris seemed more sincere than Ryan but had an agenda of his own. Maria wasn't sure whether Stephanie should date Harris, but she did ask Stephanie to "drop" Ryan and forget about him.There is no sign of Ryan on Stephanie's Instagram page, and all signs are pointing to the couple being finished for good.Stephanie claimed she had a miserable experience filming and would never appear on the show again.If she and Ryan lasted as a couple and remained happy together, one would think Stephanie would be somewhat grateful for the show given it documented the pair's time together.Stephanie recently made jaw-dropping allegations about her time filming Season 8, claiming she had been raped and that TLC forced her to film during a bug infestation that put her life in danger.On January 13, 2021, the Instagram account @Mommy_says_bad_words posted the cover of a book titled Never Get Ghosted Again: 15 Reasons Why Men Lose Interest and How to Avoid Guys Who Can't Commit by Bruce Bryans.The Instagram account wrote above the image, "If only Stephanie had read this before she met Ryan," and the post was captioned, "She needs this book ASAP."In the comments section of the post, Stephanie completely unloaded her frustrations."My new motto after this reality tv stuff.....ONLY believe half of what you see and hear!!" Stephanie wrote.Stephanie also added the following shocking hashtags to her comment: "#theycangofuckthemselves #paymewhatyouoweme #careaboutyourcast #manipulatedbeyondbelief #seeyouincourt."Stephanie then expressed pride in her strong hashtags and explained why she's so angry."These clusterf-cks that work for this company are going to wish they never deceived me. I not only was raped while filming, but manipulated to keep filming after I begged to get off set after being bitten hundreds of times by sandflies," Stephanie claimed."But no, they just needed a romantic dinner filmed with Ryan."While Stephanie didn't get into details about the alleged rape incident, she complained about how all of those bug bites were life threatening and TLC allegedly did nothing to help her."I spend have my time in a hospital now hooked to IV's for the inflammation from the allergic reactions I had," Stephanie wrote."They are unwilling to pay all my medical expenses. My attorney started legal action today...stay tuned!!"The Instagram account noted Stephanie's medical bills should absolutely be taken care of, at the very least."Yes!" Stephanie agreed. "This show has ruined my health, I wish I had never heard of this show."It's unclear when the alleged rape incident happened, but the couple's final segment on 's February 14 episode included a four-hour time jump in which something significant seems to have happened and resulted in Ryan angrily leaving the resort where Stephanie was staying in Belize.Several days after Stephanie went on her Instagram rant, she posted a photo of herself on Instagram and captioned it, "Be careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it. #happysunday #Instagood #90dayfiance #truthalwayscomesoutintheend.": The Other Way star Laura Jallali -- whose relationship with Aladin Jallali ended in divorce -- commented, "Looking beautiful and yah 100 [percet] you probably don't want what you wish for because you will be disappointed in the end!"And Stephanie replied, "You and I know first hand, don't we my friend?!!!"Stephanie is pretty clearly giving away her relationship with Ryan did not work out.Laura wrote back to Stephanie, "Honey been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and couldn't return it without loosing my dignity."And then Stephanie responded, "LOVE YOU," along with clapping emojis and crying-laughing emoticons.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Tamil Nadu assembly polls: Voters information slips to replace photo voter slip India oi-Madhuri Adnal Chennai, Mar 04: The Election Commission of India has decided to provide voter information slip, instead of photo voter slip, to all voters who have enrolled themselves, at least 5 days before the April 6 Assembly election. The voter information slip will contain details about polling station, date and time of the poll etc but not the photograph of the voter, according to Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo. e-EPIC Digital voter cards: Who are eligible? How to download? In a statement here on Thursday, he said all District Election Officers have been directed to distribute the voter information slip at least 5 days before the date of poll to all enrolled electors. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 19:09 [IST] VANCOUVER, BC, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Delic Holdings Inc. ("DELIC" or the "Company") (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF), a psychedelic wellness-focused company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Homestead brand and intellectual property. Homestead is a legacy counterculture distributor of psychedelic media and creator of one of the first self-contained mushroom grow kits. Matt Stang, Founder and CEO of DELIC commented, "The acquisition of Homestead is an exciting one for us at DELIC. It shows how we are increasing accessibility to this nascent industry within regulated jurisdictions. Homestead not only sold tens of thousands of mushroom kits globally but also was one of the earliest distributors for High Times and many other counter culture publications. We look forward to growing together and increasing shareholder value with what we accomplish." The Homestead acquisition will allow DELIC to increase its product offering on its website Reality Sandwich (realitysandwich.com), which most recently hit record average monthly traffic of over 200,000 unique visitors, and over 2.6 million active readers in 2020. Through Homestead's extensive intellectual property and heritage brand, Delic anticipates to revive the at home EZ Grow experience targeted at the Reality Sandwich consumer. Including the EZ Grow product suite, DELIC intends to increase e-commerce sales and activity by offering other high demand products to our online viewers and consumers. Product launch is expected this March, and the new mushroom kit will have a modern interpretation of the company's history and will include everything a consumer needs to be an at home mycologist - pre-sterilized and as easy as mixing the core ingredients provided. In addition to the mushroom kit, consumers will also be able to purchase other complementary products to the kit to enhance their experiences and to become better mycologists. Delic aims to be a leader in the at home cultivation movement. Recently, DELIC announced execution of a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire Complex Biotech Discovery Ventures and a binding letter agreement to acquire Ketamine Infusion Clinics. The addition of Homestead further showcases to our stakeholders the unique ability DELIC has to be able to acquire strong brick and mortar and online businesses in the psychedelic sector as well as bring continued value to the Company's investors. In consideration for acquisition of the Homestead assets, DELIC issued subordinate voting shares having an aggregate value of $50,000 and 50,000 incentive stock options were granted to David Tatelman, the founder of the Homestead brands, with an exercise price of $0.58, exercisable for a period of 3 years in accordance with the terms of the Company's Incentive Stock Option plan. It is anticipated that David Tatelman will act as a consultant to the Company going forward. About Homestead Book Company The Homestead Book Company was founded in 1972 by David Tatelman in Seattle and bills itself as the "World's Oldest Counter-Cultural Book Distributor." They were one of the original distributors of High Times Magazine, and distribute thousands of titles to stores throughout the USA and Canada. Homestead specializes in books on growing marijuana, a business that has grown exponentially over the years, as well as many of the marijuana magazines that have proliferated. In 1974 Homestead published its first book, The Magical Mushroom Handbook. Tatelman had seen the popularity of marijuana growing books and realized there was a demand for a book on identifying psilocybin mushrooms. "We couldn't have people getting poisoned by mushrooms because they couldn't identify the magic mushrooms they were looking for" Tatelman said, "So we found an author and published our own." In 1975 Tatelman attended the First Teonanacatl Mushroom Conference in Washington State. There he met many of the most prominent people in the mushroom knowledge business, including Paul Stamets and Bob Harris, who had recently written a book on Growing Wild Mushrooms. Harris and Tatelman became close and decided to put out the first mushroom grow kit. Later Homestead also published Harris' book and Paul Stamets' first book Psilocybe Mushrooms and Their Allies. About DELIC DELIC Always Expanding. In All Ways. DELIC was formed in 2019 to address the growing interest in psychedelic wellness backed by science. DELIC was the first psychedelic umbrella platform and is currently a trusted source for those interested in psychedelic culture, psychedelic clinics, and more. DELIC's offerings include, Ketamine Infusion Center (under binding acquisition agreement), a limited liability corporation formed under the laws of Arizona and runs two ketamine clinics in Arizona and California, "Reality Sandwich", a free public education platform providing psychedelic guides, news and culture, "Meet Delic", the first ever psychedelic wellness summit, and "The Delic", an e-commerce lifestyle brand. For more information, check out www.deliccorp.com. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. 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 DELIC'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 are not limited to, information concerning listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange, anticipated continued growth in the health and wellness sector (and, in particular, related to psychedelics), the continued emergence of psychedelics from stigmas, the ability of the Company to maintain sensible messaging, the ability of the Company to avoid dogmatic practices and binary rhetoric, the ability of DELIC to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. By identifying such information and statements in this manner, DELIC 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 DELIC 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, DELIC 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: the ability to consummate certain proposed transaction; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and securityholder approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions to the consummation of the proposed transactions on the proposed terms and schedule; the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the transaction on relationships, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, customers and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation; and the diversion of management time on the transactions. 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 DELIC 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 DELIC 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 DELIC or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. SOURCE Delic Holdings Inc. Related Links http://www.deliccorp.com ROME, MAR 4 - Rome prosecutors have opened a probe into a possible bid to recreate banned far-right subversive group Avanguardia Nazionale (National Vanguard). At least five people have been placed under investigation including a former leader of the group, 72-year-old Vincenzo Nardulli. The investigation is into suspected subversive association and propaganda, and instigation to race hatred. Police have carried out several raids in the last few weeks, judicial sources said. The original National Vanguard was an extra-parliamentary movement formed as a breakaway group from the Italian Social Movement (MSI) by Stefano Delle Chiaie in 1960, initially based around a group of youths recruited by the government to break up leftist meetings. The Vanguard rejected the parliamentary route of the Social Movement, preferring instead to work outside the political system to subvert democracy and bring about a return to fascism. A leaflet produced by the group described them as in favour of "man-to-man engagements" in which their members were to be encouraged to be as ruthless as possible. Members of the movement were frequently denounced as terrorists and it was claimed that Della Chiaie had links to bomb making concerns in Spain. The group also had close links with Ordine Nuovo and other extremist groups. Vincenzo Vinciguerra was a notorious member of the group. The group was adjudged responsible for a series of bomb attacks in Italy in 1969, the most notorious of which was the Piazza Fontana bombing. The group also took a leading role in the abortive coup attempt by Junio Valerio Borghese the following year. Avanguardia Nazionale allegedly organized the assassination of Italian magistrate Vittorio Occorsio, employing arms allegedly supplied by the CIA via its contacts in Francoist Spain. For the killing Pierluigi Concutelli is currently serving a life sentence in Italy. Avanguardia Nazionale member Mario Ricci participated in the 1978 assassination of Jose Miguel Benaran Ordenana aka Argala, a Basque separatist militant who had taken part, five years before, in the assassination of Francisco Franco's prime minister, Luis Carrero Blanco. A second group bearing this name was set up in 1970 by Adriano Tilgher, but this movement was outlawed by the Italian government, who saw it as an attempt to refound the National Fascist Party. (ANSA). Kim Forney has had a rough couple of years. In September 2018 she was shot in the leg during a domestic violence incident at her York County home. Police officers who responded to that call followed a trail of bloody footprints to a bag filled with cash. That discovery led to Forney and her husband, Matthew, being charged with tax fraud for skimming roughly $800,000 in cash payments to their business, KP Home Collection LLP, and failing to report that income to the IRS. As if that wasnt enough, Forney then developed an addiction to crystal meth. Shes now facing drug distribution charges in both Adams and York counties. The whole thing reached a crescendo in a federal courtroom in Harrisburg on Thursday morning when U.S. Middle District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson sentenced the 47-year-old Forney to 1 year in prison, in tax dodging case, to be followed by a year of probation. Kim Forney pleaded guilty last year to four charges of assisting in the filing of false tax returns. The conduct here was based on greed and incredibly bad decisions, Wilson said. Wilson, who is to sentence Matthew Forney on Friday, imposed Kim Forneys penalty at the end of a 90-minute hearing during which defense attorney Christopher Ferro lobbied for a house arrest sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom sought prison time. Ferro called the case interesting, which could be regarded as a vast understatement. It began on Sept. 23, 2018 when the boyfriend of the Forneys daughter shot at Matthew Forney as he physically assaulted Kim, Ferro said. Several bullets hit Mr. Forney, Ferro said. An errant bullet hit Mrs. Forney. Kim Forney had to undergo numerous surgeries for her leg wound, he said. Ferro said she later developed the full-blown meth addiction and has been undergoing intensive rehab for substance abuse and is addressing long-standing mental health concerns. That avalanche of circumstances caused a complete destruction of her entire life, Ferro said. She has taken some dramatic steps to crawl out of the hole she has created. He said the Forneys have already paid nearly $300,000 in full restitution for the taxes they skirted, plus interest and penalties. Bloom urged Wilson not to give Kim Forney too much credit for belatedly paying the tax bills they owed for 2014 though 2017. Wilson had several questions, including who left that trail of bloody footprints that was followed by the cops. Kim Forney said they were left by her daughter, who went outside to be sick after the shooting. She said there was no deliberate attempt to hide the money and that her daughter didnt even know about it. She just happened to go near where that money was, Kim Forney said. In a trembling voice, she tried to lay most of the blame for the tax scam on her husband, saying she just signed the fraudulent tax returns he had prepared and filed with the IRS. Im very upset that I allowed this to happen, she said. Bloom and Ferro said the $500,000 in cash found at the Forney home initially was miscounted by around $300,000. However, investigators determined that, in total, the couple had hid more than $800,000 from the IRS. Wilson asked what they did with that money. Kim Forney said it paid for a new roof for their home and for equipment for the business they sold in 2018. At the judges prodding, she also said some of the cash likely financed her gram-a-day cocaine habit. She declined to estimate the cost of that habit, saying she wasnt the one who bought the drug. My husband took care of thatI know it was expensive, she said. Kim Forney said that, considering the amount the couple ultimately had to pay in interest and penalties, the tax scam was a financial bust. We actually paid more than double in the end than if we had just paid the taxes, she said. Wilson ordered Kim Forney to serve her federal prison term consecutively to any sentences she receives in the Adams and York county cases. She is to report to federal prison in May. Indian merchants have almost entirely stopped signing new export contracts with Iranian buyers for commodities such as rice, sugar and tea, due to caution about Tehran's dwindling reserves with Indian banks, six industry officials told Reuters. "Exporters are avoiding dealing with since payments are getting delayed for months," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading house. Iran's reserves in India's UCO and IDBI Bank, the two lenders authorised to facilitate trade, have depleted significantly and exporters are not sure whether they would be paid on time for new shipments, the dealer said. Under U.S. sanctions, Tehran is unable to use U.S. dollars to transact oil sales. previously had a deal to sell oil to India in exchange for rupees, which it used to import critical goods, including agricultural commodities, but New Delhi stopped buying Tehran's oil in May 2019 after a U.S. sanctions waiver expired. Tehran continued using its rupees to buy goods from India, but after 22 months of no crude sales, Iran's rupee reserves have fallen, said the sources, who asked not to be named, citing business privacy. Iran's reserves have reduced significantly and "will be over soon probably because trade has stopped," said a senior official with IDBI Bank. The Islamic Republic was buying mainly basmati rice, tea, sugar, soymeal and medicines from India. "Rice exporters are concerned about the current payment mechanism," said Vijay Setia, a rice exporter and former president of the All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA). "There was too much of delay in payments from last year's shipments. Exporters received payments six months after shipments," Setia said. In the first quarter of 2020 imported nearly 700,000 tonnes of basmati rice from India, but in the same period this year shipments would be "very negligible," Setia said. Last year, Iran was the biggest buyer of India's basmati rice and sugar. Iran fulfils more than one-third of its sugar and rice demand through imports, traders estimate. Iran's trade ministry and Central Bank of Iran declined to comment on the matter. PAYMENTS HIT BY SANCTIONS "We are in talks with Indian government and Indian traders to resolve these payment issues and I believe it will be resolved soon," said a senior Iranian official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. "The delay in payments are due to U.S. sanctions on Iran's financial system that has made such payments very difficult," he said. As rupee reserves have depleted and dollar trade is not allowed, sugar exporters are exploring options to conduct trade in euros, Rahil Shaikh, managing director of MEIR Commodities India, said. Sugar exporters are focusing on other destinations like Indonesia and Sri Lanka, as Iran is unlikely to buy significant quantities this year, said Shaikh. India's overall exports to Tehran fell 42% in 2020 from a year ago to $2.2 billion, the lowest in over a decade, said an official with India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The fall is continuing in 2021 and in January this year exports more than halved from a year ago to $100.20 million, the official said. India's ministry of commerce and industry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trading houses and exporters were hoping new U.S. President Joe Biden could reverse sanctions imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump on the oil-rich country. "Exports would rebound even if Biden administration provides a few concessions to Iran like allowing oil trade in rupees," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, Nupur Anand in MUMBAI and Parisa Hafezi in DUBAI; Additional reporting by Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Euan Rocha, Sanjeev Miglani, William Maclean) Kayte Gamble, a GP registrar, prepares to administer a dose of the Moderna vaccine at the GP vaccination clinic in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise (PA) People with underlying conditions who are at high risk from Covid-19 will begin receiving their vaccines next week, the Health Minister said. The Cohort 4 group includes people aged 16-69 with a medical condition that puts them at very high risk of severe disease and death. The news comes as the Government launched a staunch defence of progress in the vaccination rollout amid increasing criticism from the Opposition. This is a big logistical operation and I do think we need to be patient and supportive of the HSE as they work this out and get this job done. Leo Varadkar Stephen Donnelly told the Dail: Its a complex group, this is complex work and planning and engagement is ongoing. The HSE is currently working through the details for how these patients will be contacted and indeed where they will be vaccinated. During Leaders Questions on Thursday, the Tanaiste blamed vaccine producers AstraZeneca for a failure to hit a target of 100,000 inoculations last week. Leo Varadkar said: A consignment of 25,000 Astra-Zeneca vaccines didnt arrive at short notice. Were told it will arrive before the end of the month allowing us to catch up so there will be weeks where we fall below target. There will be weeks where we go ahead of target. I acknowledge there has been difficulties in getting the vaccine to some General Practices. And this is a big logistical operation and I do think we need to be patient and supportive of the HSE as they work this out and get this job done. But Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty said the excuse doesnt wash because Astra-Zeneca was not being administered to those over the age of 85. Mr Doherty said the Government was dropping the ball and were letting people down when it came to the rollout of the vaccine programme. He said some General Practices were promised vaccines and they had not arrived and they had been left to make hundreds of calls to cancel vaccine appointments for vulnerable patients because of the delays. This is simply not acceptable, he said. It needs to be sorted and it needs to be sorted fast. The uncertainty is causing huge anxiety, he added. Minister Donnelly later told the Dail that Ireland has one of the fastest rollouts anywhere in the European Union. I think its very important that we acknowledge the work of the vaccination teams right across Ireland that has made that possible, its no mean feat he said. Weve achieved this while at the same time prioritising the most vulnerable. Thanks to the efforts of all of the people involved, 6% of our population has now had at least one dose. Ireland is currently above the EU average, with approximately 3% of the population fully vaccinated and 6% having received at least one dose, according to figures from the HSE. Sinn Feins David Cullinane called on the Health Minister to begin seeking vaccines outside of the EU framework which has been heavily criticised for delays in delivery. The Minister said he was open to this, but that any vaccines Ireland receives must first be given approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Advance planning for April, May and June shows Ireland receiving over one million doses per month through its advance purchase agreements. However, delivery timeframes are still being worked on with vaccine manufacturers. COVID-19 vaccinations are already bringing hope to our communities. If you're aged 80 or older, you'll be offered a free #CovidVaccine next. You donat need to register in advance. When your vaccine is available, your GP will let you know. Visit: https://t.co/hVUdrTRpEb #HoldFirm pic.twitter.com/msYTzMecyr HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 4, 2021 Sinn Feins Rose Conway Walsh said: Its very disappointing for a nation that is trying to be hopeful about what is going to happen, when we hear continuously of what is going to happen tomorrow and next week, but we still have a situation where GPs dont have the vaccines they need. Its happened in my own constituency in Mayo, and its not good enough. I really think the Government needs to take a grip this batting of responsibility between the Government and the HSE is not acceptable. The Government needs to get a grip on this and they need to have someone who is an expert in logistics in order to be able to roll this out. Its very concerning that at this stage we are making a mess like this. CITEG Ghana, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) that believes in the ideologies of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by its Founder and President, Alex Kweku Tetteh, has made a strong case for the candidature of Alan Kyeremanteng, as the perfect and next NPP flagbearer to succeed Akufo-Addo in 2024. According to Mr Tetteh, the NPP flagbearership race has already been settled since delegates already know that Alan stands tall above any other candidate that will seek to contest including Vice President Dr Bawumia. He revealed that Alans loyalty dates back to the days of his father as a true patriot following in the footsteps of Danquah Dombo political tradition. Alans father supported NPP and President Kufuor including leading members of the NPP leadership are very much aware of this. I am therefore urging Vice President Bawumia to lend his full support to Alan while he waits for a better time to bounce back to the political scene. Kufuor told Akufo-Addo when the NPP won in the year 2000 that Aliu Mahama should be given the chance. He added, Akufo-Addo kicked against it and told Kufuor in the face that when you finish your term 8 years, go with your Running Mate so President Akufo-Addo should also exit with his running mate in 2024. He recalled that during the 2007 Legon NPP congress to elect the flagbearer, Alan sacrificed and submitted by conceding to save the party needless rounds of voting. This is the covenant that Alan created since that time and it still holds so NPP shouldnt make any mistake by bringing Dr. Bawumia. Alan has contested the NPP race twice and should be given the nod on his 3rd attempt, the CITEG President and Founder stated. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A key figure in the Laois for Choice movement in the 8th Amendment Referendum in 2018, Gearoidin McEvoy is a PhD candidate at the School of Law and Government in DCU. She also lectures in DCU. For her PhD Gearoidin's research focuses on the right to a fair trial under international human rights law for minority language speakers and examines ways in which speakers of regional or minority languages access their right to a fair trial. The focus is on four case study language groups; Irish speakers and Irish Sign Language speakers in Ireland and Swedish and Sami (Saami) speakers in Finland. Gearoidin completed her BCL in Law and Irish at University College Cork in 2014 and has a Masters of Social Sciences from Abo Akademi University in Turku, Finland. During her undergraduate degree, she was a recipient of the JP McManus All Ireland Scholarship. She also has a background in translation, having worked with Fiontar in DCU and in Irish language teaching, having taught at the Irish Studies Program at the University of Montana. Gearoidin has also just been awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship - a flagship EU fellowship program for researchers. She will be researching at the Univserity of Birmingham on the legal recognition o.f sign languagues. David Adefeso and Tamar Braxtons split was anything but amicable. Reports allege that both accused the other of domestic violence. Adefeso was even granted a restraining order against Braxton. But, its recently been dismissed due to neither him nor Braxton appearing in court. Many fans now believe the former couple has reconciled. David Adefeso and Tamar Braxton | Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for WE tv David Adefesio alleges Tamar Braxton physically assaulted him In August 2020, Adefeso and Braxton reportedly got into a major verbal dispute that turned physical. Adefeso alleges that Braxton became violent on their way to a mental health facility for treatment for her. Per Adefeso, Braxton hit him in the jugular, nearly causing him to lose focus. He claims he phoned his mother in tears during the drive in an attempt to get Braxton to stop. Adefeso alleges he had audio and video footage of what took place inside the vehicle. He also accused Braxton of causing nearly $30,000 in damages to his Rolls Royce. Source: YouTube Related: David Adesfeso Says Tamar Braxton Assaulted and Secretly Recorded Him in a Shocking Instagram Video In Adefesos request for a restraining order, he alleges Braxton has hit him and made threats several times in their two-year relationship. The documents reveal that Adefeso alleges Braxton hit him twice, threatened to get her ex-husband Vincent Herbert on him, and mocked his sexuality. Adefeso was granted the restraining order and Braxton was forbidden to have any contact with him moving forward. Tamar Braxton denies abusing David Adefeso Braxton has denied all of Adefesos allegations. In fact, reports allege that Braxton told insiders it was Adefeso who became physical with her the day in question. He allegedly grabbed her arm in anger and left a bruise, which caused her to retaliate. Photos of the bruise on Braxtons arm surfaced but she refused to acknowledge how it happened due to the legal dispute between her and Adefeso. Braxton also shoots down rumors that any abuse occurred between her and Adefeso. She told Tamron Hall that Adefeso was her best friend and an overall amazing boyfriend. She also says the alleged footage in question will exonerate her of any guilt. Source: YouTube Related: Tamar Braxton Says Her Ex, David Adefeso, Is Lying About Being a Victim of Domestic Abuse In a recent interview with Jason Lee of Hollywood Unlocked, Braxton said of the fight with Adefeso: That day in the car was a horrible day and it was a lot of emotions. It was a lot happening. And Im not making excuses for himIt was probably the worst argument Ive ever been in my life. But Im going to tell you that David and I were not in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship. But that was the worst argument weve ever had in our lives. Tamar Braxton speaks on Hollywood Unlocked David Adefesos restraining order is dismissed after neither appears in court; fans suspect a reconciliation Just days after Braxton defended herself and Adefeso against domestic violence rumors, neither attended a court hearing for Adefesos restraining order. Per TMZ, Adefesos restraining order is now dissolved due to neither appearing in court over the situation. Sources tell the media outlet that Braxton and Adefeso have not reconciled. Braxton also insists that she is single and has not spoken with Adefeso since the incident in question. But fans dont buy it. Social media users are convinced the former couple is back together and question why neither showed up in court. Source: YouTube Related: Vincent Herbert Is Not Part of Tamar Braxtons Reality Show Because of David Adefeso They spent the day together and reflected, one fan wrote under the comment section of The Shade Rooms report about the matter on Instagram. Something toxic brewing, another commented. They are probably back together, another agreed. Whether they have reconciled or not, fans cant fathom why after so many allegations, neither would appear in court. With Braxton mum on what occurred, we may never know what really happened. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 21:20:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENNA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Tehran has agreed to hold technical meetings in early April with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to clarity outstanding concerns, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Thursday. "As a result of very intensive consultations I had with Iran, Iran has finally welcomed and accepted my initiative to engage in a focused and systematic effort aimed at attempting to clarify a number of outstanding issues," Grossi told reporters after the conclusion of the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors meetings this week. The issues will include presence of uranium particles and doubts about certain material that has not been declared by Tehran, he said. "The board of governors has welcomed the understanding, this agreement between Iran and the IAEA," he said. "So we are encouraged by this development." Asked about whether he did the talk with Iran this week to avoid the board of governors issuing a statement in fear of retaliation from Iran, Grossi said that his job is to clarify everything that is outstanding, and the consequences of the action are in the eyes of the beholder. Grossi emphasised that his agency is trying to go beyond the exchange of letters and messages with Iran, which seemed a lot like "talking past each other." He hoped that the effort will achieve satisfactory outcome in time for the next regular session of the board of governors in June, and other technical and political meetings will follow, Grossi added. Enditem Wendy Brown, 58, who spent three years sleeping on Venice sidewalks, enters a room arranged through Project Roomkey at the Cadillac Hotel in June 2020. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The city of Los Angeles has not received millions of dollars in federal aid it may be owed for housing homeless people in hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic because, nearly a year into the crisis, Mayor Eric Garcetti's administration hasn't asked for the money yet. Local, state and federal officials say the city hasn't requested reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for portions of the estimated $59 million it has spent on Project Roomkey, which has been sheltering homeless people in hotel rooms since shortly after the pandemic began last year. The city has sharply scaled back the hotel program in recent months, leading advocates and lawyers for the homeless to say the Garcetti administration is showing a lack of political will to protect some of L.A.'s most vulnerable residents. "There is federal money on the table the literal FEMA response the mayor has been begging for, and yet the city has found excuse after excuse not to take advantage of it," said Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles attorney Shayla Myers. If this is true, it is really disturbing and inexcusable, said Mary Leslie, president of the Los Angeles Business Council, who has urged the city to expand the hotel program. This is costing the most vulnerable people their lives. Garcetti Deputy Communications Director Alex Comisar said Wednesday that there is not one iota of funding that is holding up the citys process for securing hotel rooms and the city continues to front money for that effort. Any unnecessary delays in this process are unacceptable, and Mayor Garcetti expects these reimbursement requests to be submitted by the end of this month, Comisar said. Activists, business leaders and elected officials have spent weeks pressuring Garcetti to rent thousands more hotel rooms for people living on the streets through newly announced federal aid that fully reimburses cities for the rooms. Under the Trump administration, the federal government reimbursed 75% of the costs; the Biden administration has raised that to 100%. Story continues Garcetti has expressed enthusiasm for the federal help, but also blamed a lack of hotel participation as the reason why the program hasn't expanded. He's also questioned whether homeless service providers have enough staff to help those living at the hotels. Most frequently, though, he's mentioned a cash flow problem. City Hall is facing a financial crisis, and it needs dollars to spend before the money can be reimbursed by the federal government. It can take years to recoup those funds, according to the mayor. City officials cited a lack of staff for the failure to apply for reimbursement. Before, one city staffer was assigned to work on FEMA reimbursement applications, city officials said. Now three are processing requests. Essentially our billing department needs more assistance to get the money back, City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn told City Council members at a Budget and Finance Committee meeting last week. Shortly after his inauguration, President Biden signed an executive order directing FEMA to reimburse cities and counties 100% for renting rooms for homeless people at risk of contracting COVID-19 through September 2021. In response, Garcetti pulled $75 million from a city fund to keep open about 1,200 rooms that the city already had rented and was slated to close. His office is also trying to rent 200 more rooms at four motels. Fire Wilson, 66, right, was staying at a Project Roomkey hotel in July 2020. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) At the peak of Project Roomkey last summer, the city and county had 3,774 rooms under lease. Those rooms have been a lifeline for Angelenos on the street, providing a safe space during the health crisis and help in the form of meals and services. Nearly 7,000 homeless people in Los Angeles have contracted the virus, and large shelters that house many people on a nightly basis have been a hub for large outbreaks. County officials requested nearly $80 million from FEMA for hotel rooms. Some $40 million was made available as part of an expedited program that allows municipalities to receive 50% of the funds upfront. The county has sought $400 million from FEMA for its broader pandemic response. As of this week it has received about $119 million in reimbursements from FEMA, including $12.4 million for Project Roomkey. In contrast, the city has lagged behind the county when it comes to getting money back. City officials have submitted about $100 million for reimbursement of money spent on COVID testing, a surge hospital at the L.A. Convention Center, a meal program for elderly Angelenos, and more. About $29 million has come back, city officials said. None of the reimbursement requests have been for hotel rooms. Assistant City Administrative Officer Patty Huber told The Times that the city will soon ask FEMA for about $14.5 million for what it spent on Project Roomkey from the beginning of the pandemic through Aug. 15. She added that the City had prioritized reimbursement requests that were bigger and in many cases simpler to complete. Llewellyn, the administrative officer, said FEMA doesnt accept estimates, so the city is required to detail the number of hours of overtime worked by Fire Department staff, for instance. It's a kind of a skill set that I can't just take anybody and plop them into this, Huber told the Budget and Finance Committee. During the hearing, City Councilman Bob Blumenfield said he wants the city to be amping up our FEMA-eligible expenses, adding that the process feels frustratingly slow. Every day that goes by that were not taking full advantage of that FEMA money is a lost opportunity, Blumenfield said. Told that city officials are blaming staffing issues, Los Angeles Business Council's Leslie offered to help. "If its really a matter of filling out paperwork, the LABC is perfectly willing to organize an army of volunteers to go down to City Hall," Leslie said. Frustrated by the city's inability to rent more hotel rooms, Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Paul Krekorian asked budget analysts to examine how Project Roomkey could be expanded and what sources of funding could be used to make that happen. The pair wants the city to request from FEMA a $150-million advance of funds to cover the rental of 10,000 hotel rooms through September, the month the 100% federal reimbursement expires. This covers an estimated 40% of the costs for these rooms. Genia Hope, 52, moves into a Project Roomkey hotel room in Whittier in July 2020. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) FEMA spokesman Robert Barker told The Times that a request of this size, while unusual, is feasible provided that city officials explain why they couldn't cover the costs and show why the hotel rooms are a medical necessity. He said how quickly they get the money depends on how fast and thoroughly they complete the paperwork and justify why the money is needed upfront. "With an expedited Public Assistance Project, you can get 50% of the funds upfront," Barker said. Martinez said she was glad to see Garcetti put forward $75 million to spend on hotels but thinks the city could do more. "There's really nothing more frustrating than to not be able to take advantage of an opportunity like this," Martinez said. Garcetti said last week that he would support Martinez's efforts to advance the money. Martinez and Garcetti have been targeted at their homes and at public events by activists who want them to compel hotel owners to rent their rooms to the city so it can shelter homeless people. So far city and county officials have sought out hotels that were willing to rent their rooms rather than force hotels to participate, and as a result fell far short of their goal to rent 15,000 rooms for homeless Angelenos over 65 or at risk of dying from the virus. Last summer the city investigated why no hotels that had received taxpayer assistance or were built on sites currently or formerly owned by the city or its former redevelopment agency participated in Project Roomkey. They found a host of concerns, including one downtown hotel that was worried about how participating in Project Roomkey would affect its brand. They also found that the county had contacted 850 hotels, but at its peak, just under 40 hotels were participating in the program. Garcetti has the legal right to commandeer hotel rooms as needed for the protection of life and property of the people, according to a report issued by City Atty. Mike Feuers office. Pete Hillan, representative for the California Hotel and Lodging Assoc., which represents 6,000 hotels statewide, said commandeering hotels sets a bad precedent and is unnecessary. We continue to work with the city and county to ensure that theres enough space for those who need it, Hillan said. Martinez told The Times she would be open to commandeering rooms if hotels weren't willing to open their doors, but she didn't want to get into a situation in which protracted litigation prevented people from getting off the street. Krekorian said that he and his colleagues understood the need to act fast but first had to gather more facts, which would help shape what they do next. "We need to work with all deliberate speed, but we also have to make sure that we do it in a way that is going to work and isn't going to put the city in a terrible situation of not getting its expenses reimbursed, or stumbling and not doing it properly." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. MONTREAL, March 3, 2021 /CNW/ - Otsuka Pharmaceutical Canada Inc. (Otsuka) and Lundbeck Canada Inc. (Lundbeck) announce that Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance for an alternative initiation regimen for ABILIFY MAINTENA (aripiprazole for prolonged release injectable suspension). Authorization for use of the alternative initiation regimen takes effect immediately. The new, alternative initiation regimen of two injections of 400 mg ABILIFY MAINTENA at separate gluteal and/or deltoid sites with a single dose of 20 mg oral aripiprazole, all on the first day of treatment, offers a new option for initiating patients onto ABILIFY MAINTENA. The existing approved initiation regimen remains unchanged (one injection of 400 mg ABILIFY MAINTENA at the gluteal or deltoid site followed by 14 consecutive days of treatment with 10 to 20 mg oral aripiprazole or current oral antipsychotic). "The new alternative initiation regimen minimizes burden on care providers and families, simplifies the initiation process, and potentially reduces length of stay in hospital," said Dr. Andrea Bardell MD, MSc, FRCPC, psychiatrist. Please note that the alternative injection regimen has no impact on the packaging of ABILIFY MAINTENA. About Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder affecting 20 million people worldwide.1 Schizophrenia is characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour. Worldwide, schizophrenia is associated with considerable disability and may affect educational and occupational performance. Stigma, discrimination and violation of human rights of people with schizophrenia is common. About Bipolar Bipolar I disorder is a recurrent and chronic mental illness characterized by episodes of mania (unusually high mood and energized/elated behavior) and depression (very sad, down, or hopeless periods).2 Bipolar disorder affects almost 30 million people worldwide, and the estimated lifetime prevalence of bipolar I disorder in Canada is 0.87%.3,4 About ABILIFY MAINTENA ABILIFY MAINTENA (aripiprazole for prolonged release injectable suspension) is an atypical antipsychotic for intramuscular use. It was created by Otsuka in Japan and has been co-developed and co-commercialized by the alliance between Otsuka and Lundbeck. ABILIFY MAINTENA was approved in Canada in 2014 for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia and was approved for the treatment of bipolar I disorder 1 in 2017. 5 Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at increased risk of death compared to placebo. ABILIFY MAINTENA is not indicated for the treatment of elderly patients with dementia. ABILIFY MAINTENA safety and efficacy have not been established in patients <18 or 65 years of age. ABILIFY MAINTENA is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity reaction to aripiprazole. ABILIFY MAINTENA is a sterile lyophilized powder that when reconstituted with sterile water for injection, forms a suspension that can be administered by injection once a month (the initial injection is accompanied by an overlapping 14-day dosing of oral antipsychotic treatment). The starting dose can be administered using one of two regimens: One-injection start: On the day of treatment initiation, administer one injection of 400 mg of ABILIFY MAINTENA. After the first ABILIFY MAINTENA injection, treatment should be continued with 10 mg to 20 mg oral aripiprazole or current oral antipsychotic for 14 consecutive days to maintain therapeutic antipsychotic concentrations during initiation of therapy. Administer the next monthly 400 mg single injection no sooner than 26 days after the previous injection. Two-injection start: On the day of treatment initiation, administer two separate injections of 400 mg ABILIFY MAINTENA at separate injection sites , along with one 20 mg dose of oral aripiprazole. Administer the next monthly 400 mg single injection no sooner than 26 days after the previous injection. The recommended maintenance dose of ABILIFY MAINTENA is 400 mg. ABILIFY MAINTENA should be administered by a healthcare professional once monthly as a single injection no sooner than 26 days after the previous injection. ABILIFY MAINTENA is not indicated in elderly patients with dementia. ABILIFY MAINTENA is not indicated in pediatric patients and its use is not recommended in this population. For more information about ABILIFY MAINTENA, please visit http://otsukacanada.com. ABILIFY MAINTENA is a trademark of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., used under license by Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. About Otsuka Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. (OCPI) is an innovative, fast-growing health care company that commercializes Otsuka medicines in Canada. OCPI aims to improve the quality of life and health of patients through its commitments to neuroscience, cardiovascular health, oncology and nephrology. OCPI was established in 2010, with headquarters in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. OCPI is part of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: "Otsuka people creating new products for better health worldwide." Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative and original products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products for the treatment of diseases and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health. Otsuka Pharmaceutical is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed approximately 47,000 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 13.3 billion in 2020. All Otsuka stories start by taking the road less travelled. Learn more about Otsuka on our global website at https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en. Learn more about Otsuka in Canada at www.otsukacanada.com. About Lundbeck Lundbeck is a global biopharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 70 years, we have been at the forefront of neuroscience research. We are tirelessly dedicated to restoring brain health, so every person can be their best. Our approximately 5,800 employees in more than 50 countries are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing, and sales. Our pipeline consists of several R&D programs, and our products are available in more than 100 countries. We have research centres in Denmark and the US, and our production facilities are located in Denmark, France, and Italy. Lundbeck generated revenue of DKK 17 billion in 2019 (CAD 3.5 billion). For additional information, we encourage you to visit our corporate site www.lundbeck.com/ca/en. References 1 World Health Organization Fact sheet on Schizophrenia (updated October 2019): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia 2 National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml 3 Grande I, Berk M, Birmaher B, Vieta E. Bipolar disorder. Lancet 2016;387(10027):1561-72. 4 McDonald KC, Bulloch AGM, Duffy A, Bresee L, Williams JVA, Lavorato DH, & Patten SB. Prevalence of Bipolar I and II Disorder in Canada. Can J Psychiatry. 2015 Mar; 60(3): 151156. 5 ABILIFY MAINTENA (aripiprazole) 2021 full product monograph SOURCE Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. For further information: Helena Wade, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, E: [email protected], M: 613-483-7853 Made in India vaccine Covaxin by Bharat Biotech for the novel coronavirus has shown an interim efficacy of around 81 percent in late-stage clinical trials, in individuals who didn't have a prior infection, the company announced on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Reuters Reported first by Reuters, the Covaxin vaccine trial that delivered this result involved around 25,800 participants, and was done in collaboration with the Indian governments medical research body. According to the trials, thirty-six of the 43 cases were recorded in participants who received a placebo, compared with seven cases in people who were given the Bharat Biotech vaccine, pointing to an efficacy rate of 80.6%, the company said. According to the statement by the company, the trials revealed that the vaccine candidate was well tolerated. ALSO READ: CoWin And Maps: How To Find COVID-19 Vaccination Centres Near You This comes at a time when the government has announced vaccination of people who are over 60 years of age as well as people of over 45 with comorbidities. This is one of the two vaccines that were permitted for emergency use, by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in January , 2021. Covaxin was, at the time, surrounded by concerns since there wasnt enough data available (the vaccinations had commenced without late-stage efficacy data) to claim its effectiveness and safety for mass vaccinations. To instil faith in Indians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi got himself vaccinated with Bharat-Biotechs Covaxin at Delhis AIIMS hospital. He was also one of the first individuals in India to get vaccinated upon commencement of Phase II of vaccination. Reuters More effective than Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine Surprisingly, the effectiveness of the made in India vaccine, Covaxin is around 13.6 percent more than that of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that is known in India as Covishied (Covishield is 67 percent effective), and has been authorised by the aforementioned pharmaceutical giant to be manufactured by Serum Institute of India, in Pune, Maharashtra. What do you think about this interim efficacy report of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine trail results? Let us know in the comments section below... [March 04, 2021] Crosslake Fibre Adds TMX Group to the Fastest Network Service Between Toronto and New York - Crosslake Fibre becomes approved Network Vendor for TMX Group exchanges, including Toronto Stock Exchange - Establishes new network Point-of-Presence in TMX Group's primary data centre - Extension of Crosslake's Velocity low latency fibre route to TMX from the New Jersey Liquidity Triangle TORONTO, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ -- Crosslake Fibre, an international network service provider and developer of unique submarine and terrestrial fibre networks, announces today that it has established a network point of presence ('PoP') in TMX Group's primary data centre. The new Velocity 'on ramp' allows Crosslake Fibre to connect TMX Group exchanges, including Toronto Stock Exchange, Canada's premier equities market, into its global financial network and provide clients with key latency and diversity attributes. Crosslake Fibre recently built the fastest and most diverse long-haul route providing connectivity services that interconnect two of the most vital financial markets in the world, Toronto & New York. The new optimised and geographically diverse network delivers sub-9ms round trip delay (RTD) performance between TMX in Toronto and New York City. It also provides unique, diverse routes to other key financial centres including Chicago, London, Paris, and Sao Paulo. Request a Network Map "We are thrilled to be able to provide our customers with connectivity into TMX Group, owner of Canada's premier exchanges," states Mike Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of Crosslake Fibre. "Our Point-of-Presence at TMX Group's co-location facility will reduce latency and enhance the inter-connectivity between two of the financial markets in North America, Toronto and New York." "We're pleased to welcome Crosslake Fibre as a new network vendor," said Sarah Ryerson, President of TMX Datalinx, TMX Group's information services division. "The addition of Crosslake Fibre's network infrastructure at our primary data centre enhances the connectivity options for our co-location clients who provide major financial centres around the world with low latency access to data from our exchanges." The Crosslake Fibre network provides backbone Internet infrastructure that benefits not only financial markets, but also wholesale carriers, cloud service providers and enterprise ecosystems that run high performance-based platforms. Performance is critical whether it be a financial institution trading between TMX Group's exchanges and the New Jersey Liquidity Triangle, or consumers accessing high-bandwidth applications like on-demand video and online gaming. About Crosslake Fibre Crosslake Fibre is a Network Service Provider and developer of fibre-optic networks in North America and Western Europe. Our innovative approach to fibre-optic development is focused on providing wholesale, enterprise, and financial customers with physically diverse, low-latency connectivity over next-generation networks. Visit us at www.crosslakefibre.ca or follow us on Twitter @CrosslakeFibre or LinkedIn or Request a KMZ. Contact: Crosslake Fibre Fergus Innes info@crosslakefibre.ca +1 289 715 2514 Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA) 1 866-695-3629 ext. 13 jsa_crosslake@jsa.net View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crosslake-fibre-adds-tmx-group-to-the-fastest-network-service-between-toronto-and-new-york-301240340.html SOURCE Crosslake Fibre [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] COVID-19 is only the latest infectious disease to have had an outsized impact on human life. A new study employing ancient human DNA reveals how tuberculosis has affected European populations over the past 2,000 years, specifically the impact that disease has had on the human genome. This work, which publishes March 4 in the American Journal of Human Genetics, has implications for studying not only evolutionary genetics, but also how genetics can influence the immune system. "Present-day humans are the descendants of those who have survived many things--climate changes and big epidemics, including the Black Death, Spanish flu, and tuberculosis," says senior author Lluis Quintana-Murci of the Institut Pasteur in France. "This work uses population genetics to dissect how natural selection has acted on our genomes." This research focused on a variant of the gene TYK2, called P1104A, which first author Gaspard Kerner had previously found to be associated with an increased risk of becoming ill after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis when the variant is homozygous. (TYK2 has been implicated in immune function through its effect on interferon signaling pathways.) Kerner, a PhD student studying genetic diseases at the Imagine Institute of Paris University, began collaborating with Quintana-Murci, an expert in evolutionary genomics, to study the genetic determinants of human tuberculosis in the context of evolution and natural selection. Using a large dataset of more than 1,000 European ancient human genomes, the investigators found that the P1104A variant first emerged more than 30,000 years ago. Further analysis revealed that the frequency of the variant drastically decreased about 2,000 years ago, around the time that present-day forms of infectious Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains became prevalent. The variant is not associated with other infectious bacteria or viruses. "If you carry two copies of this variant in your genome and you encounter Mycobacterium tuberculosis, you are very likely to become sick," Kerner says. "During the Bronze Age, this variant was much more frequent, but we saw that it started to be negatively selected at a time that correlated with the start of the tuberculosis epidemic in Europe." "The beauty of this work is that we're using a population genetics approach to reconstruct the history of an epidemic," Quintana-Murci explains. "We can use these methods to try to understand which immune gene variants have increased the most over the last 10,000 years, indicating that they are the most beneficial, and which have decreased the most, due to negative selection." He adds that this type of research can be complementary to other types of immunology studies, such as those performed in the laboratory. Moreover, both researchers say these tools can be used to study the history and implications of many different genetic variants for multiple infectious diseases. ### This work was supported by the Institut Pasteur, the College de France, the Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), the French Government's Investissement d'Avenir program, Laboratoires d'Excellence "Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases" and "Milieu Interieur,", the Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale, the Fondation Allianz-Institut de France, and the Fondation de France. Kerner was supported by the Imagine Institute with the grant "Imagine Thesis Award." American Journal of Human Genetics, Kerner et al.: "Human ancient DNA analyses reveal the high burden of tuberculosis in Europeans over the last 2,000 years" https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(21)00051-3 Football pundit Chris Kamara, receives his Covid-19 vaccination at the Village Hotel in Morley, Leeds. PA Photo Ireland is currently above the EU average with 3pc of our population fully vaccinated. 6pc of our population has received at least one dose of vaccine and 8.8 doses per 100 of our population have now been administered. It is expected that the 500,000th dose will have been administered within the next week. Vaccine deliveries for the month of March are still being finalised with manufacturers. The latest figures come as the vaccine roll-out programme received criticism in recent days as it emerged the target of 100,000 doses being administered last week was not reached due to a deferral of delivery from AstraZeneca. Read More The Government continues to reiterate its target to offer the first dose of the vaccine to more than 80pc of the population by the end of June. As of Sunday, 435,895 vaccines were administered 294,550 first doses and 141,345 second doses, HSE figures have shown. More than 50,000 people aged over 70 - Cohort 3 in the vaccine priority list - have now received their first dose. In the North, 537,389 people had received their first jab by March 1st, while 35,370 are fully vaccinated. Ireland currently ranks eighth in the European Union for highest vaccination rate behind Malta, Hungary, Lithuania, Denmark, Poland, Greece and Cyprus, but how does it compare on a global scale? United Kingdom The United Kingdom currently leads against the rest of Europe in terms of vaccinations per capita of the population, with over 20 million doses administered so far. The UKs number of vaccinations per 100,000 people currently stands at 32,258, compared to Ireland which stands at 9,014 per 100,000 people. British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons roadmap out of lockdown sets a date for normality to resume with hopes that the majority of restrictions on mass gatherings will be lifted from 21 June. However, cases continue to rise in the UK as the total number of cases has surpassed 4.1 million, with over 124,000 deaths. United States In the United States, 52.9 million people have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, with 27 million people now fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An average of 2.01 million doses are being administered daily and President Joe Biden has promised to administer 100 million vaccines by his 100th day in office. The US continues to lead with the highest number of cases in the world at 28.8 million, with more than 518,000 deaths from Covid-19. The priority group in the vaccine roll-out mirrors Irelands plan to vaccinate health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities first. Israel Israel currently leads with the fastest vaccination programme in the world as 52pc of the Israeli population of 9 million have been administered a Covid-19 vaccine. The Asian countrys vaccination plan gave new hope to the rest of the world as new data shows that just one in 1,500 fully vaccinated Israelis tested positive for Covid-19. Israel has even begun administering vaccines to some of the younger cohorts, including those aged 16-18 and 19-21. The country has unveiled the internal Covid-19 vaccine passport known as the Green Pass, an initiative created by Israel's Ministry of Health in a bid to incentivize those who dont wish to be vaccinated and boost the economy. The "Green Pass" is available in both digital and paper form, and is offered to anyone who has received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine through any one of Israel's health maintenance organizations. Germany 6,174,362 doses of Covid-19 vaccinations have been administered in Germany since the approval of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine in the EU, with the over 80s age group receiving the majority of doses. The German government has come under criticism for its slow vaccination and testing programmes and has yet to offer the nation a roadmap out of the crisis, remaining far behind countries such as Britain, Israel and the US. A lack of supply and growing concerns of lingering side effects in relation to the AstraZeneca vaccine have contributed to the delayed roll-out. Germany has seen a total of 2,471,900 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 71,240 deaths, according to the Robert Koch Institute, its public health institution. Italy 1.4 million people in Italy have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, amounting to 2.3pc of its 60 million population, according to the latest official data by the Italian Government. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi released an acceleration plan on Monday which aims to have 56 million doses administered by June. Around 108,000 doses are currently being administered daily, however the Italian government said the aim is to increase it to 200,000 doses per day, according to Italian media outlets. The number is set to rise to 400,000 per day in April, the equivalent of 12 million doses per month. Italy has seen a total of 2.98 million cases of coronavirus and 98,635 deaths. Spain Spain has administered a total of 4.5 million doses of a covid-19 vaccine and 1.2 million people have been fully vaccinated. The first priority group, seniors in residences and their carers, is almost complete, while the second, frontline health workers, are currently receiving their second doses. The Spanish government has set a target of having 70pc of the population vaccinated by the summer, according to WHO. Spain has had 3.14 million cases of coronavirus and 70,247 deaths. France Around 3 million people have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in France so far. Frances vaccination plan has been sluggish since it began in late December, with 6.7 vaccine doses per 100 people in its population administered as of February 28, French media reports. This is in contrast to the 31 vaccine doses per 100 people in the UK, where more than 20 million doses have been administered, which has roughly the same population as France. France has had a total of 3.81 million cases and 87,542 deaths. The Netherlands The Netherlands was the last EU country to begin vaccinations, beginning in early January. The country aims to offer the jab to all adults in its 17 million population by the end of September. The vaccination programme has been lagging so far with just 3.6 doses given per 100 people, making it the second slowest in the EU in administering vaccines. However, the Dutch government has ordered 85 million doses from eight companies. The Netherlands has had a total of 1.1 million cases of covid-19 and 15,697 deaths. Pound US Dollar Exchange Rate Pushes Higher on UK Construction PMI Improvement A stronger-than-expected uptick in the UK construction PMI helped to return the Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate to a positive footing. While forecasts had pointed towards the PMI returning to a state of expansion in February investors were encouraged to find that it had jumped from 49.2 to 53.3 on the month. This demonstrated a solid monthly increase in activity across the construction sector, encouraging confidence in the health of the wider UK economy. Although the construction sector only accounts for a small fraction of the UK gross domestic product this improvement still prompted the Pound to trend higher against a number of the majors. Afternoon Mid-Market Exchange Rates - vs. Pound Sterling GBP > AUD 1.79379 (-0.1%) GBP > CAD 1.76321 (-0.07%) GBP > CHF 1.29607 (+1.19%) GBP > EUR 1.16263 (+0.61%) GBP > NZD 1.92701 (+0.05%) GBP > USD 1.40073 (+0.62%) US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rates Fail to Benefit from Factory Orders Uptick Even though US factory orders jumped 2.6% on the month in January this was not enough to shore up the US Dollar, meanwhile. This latest sign of strength within the US manufacturing sector failed to encourage any particular demand for the US Dollar on Thursday. Focus instead fell on the latest initial jobless claims and continuing jobless claims figures, which continued to run at a historically high level. With markets wary of further signs of weakness from within the labour market USD exchange rates came under pressure, especially in the face of the latest bout of market risk appetite. GBP to USD Forecast: Non-Farm Payrolls Volatility Imminent The Pound US Dollar exchange rate could face greater selling pressure ahead of the weekend, though, if Februarys US non-farm payrolls report impresses. Forecasts point towards a major uptick in payrolls growth on the month, following Januarys lacklustre reading of just 49,000. If employment shows significant growth in the last month this could see the US Dollar trending higher across the board once again. However, the ultimate impact of the payrolls report may still prove muted if the unemployment rate fails to improve. A steady unemployment rate of 6.3% would offer a fresh reminder of the relative weakness of the US labour market and the risk of further weakness to come. If payrolls fail to pick up as anticipated this could also see USD exchange rates shedding fresh ground, particularly if Januarys trade data also points towards continued weakness. Yves here. Australia and Maryland have both sought to tax Googles and Facebooks online advertising putting their broader role the spotlight. Both platforms make considerable use of traditional media content while pulling digital ad revenues away from them. Old school publishers had already suffered due to loss of classified ad income to Craigslist and in parallel, the dwindling of print subscriptions. One reason for getting a hard copy paper had been to get stock prices; when they became available on line, initially with a 20 minute delay, many readers deemed a hard copy paper to be frivolous. I confess to being a bit of fogey; I always buy a paper in the airports and find I scan a much broader range of stories, more efficiently, than I do online. Nevertheless, I spend so much time on the Web that getting a print paper on a regular basis seems like overkill. Given this history, its not hard to see that having Google and Facebook eat the diminished revenues available to publishers is destructive to their businesses. Their domination raises questions of whether they are unfairly exploiting original publisher content. The problem is that no single publisher has the financial heft to carry out a legal fight without running considerable risk; even a group of publishers wouldnt have the same firepower. And traditional notions of copyright dont help them much either. So this is a legitimate area for government action. Yet as Steven Hill pointed out in his cover note: There is a larger issue at stake here that recent media coverage has missed: are Facebook, Google, Twitter and other digital media platforms really the new public square? Or are they new techno publishers swiping content from other publishers without paying for it? Many newspapers and news organizations have been devastated by this impact, including in Europe. Yet the European Commission and the Biden administration have been notably silent. Some readers may be put off by the invocation of the free press, since todays media outlets seem much less halo-worthy than in the Walter Cronkite era. However, the press performs the critical and costly function of fact gathering. That was getting hard even before newspaper revenues started shrinking. In the early 2000s, I had lunch with a New York Times reporter who had joined the paper after hed opened the Wall Street Journals office in China in 1993 and returned in 1999. He said there had been a sea change in reporting in the US in the six years hed been away. Corporations had gotten much better in spinning the press and throwing sand in the gears of reporting. This had occurred as the Internet had greatly increased the pressure to publish quickly. The result, he said, was that it was now impossible to get to the bottom of a story in a normal news cycle. And with an income-starved media, theres seldom enough resources to keep digging after news has broken. By Steven Hill, the former policy director at the Center for Humane Technology and author of seven books, including Raw Deal: How the Uber Economy and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers and The Startup Illusion: How the Internet Economy Threatens Our Welfare From France to Australia to the US state of Maryland, the free press is waging a battle for survival against Facebook and Google. Besides being gushing firehoses of COVID and election disinformation and QAnon conspiracies, another of Google and Facebooks dangerous impacts is undermining the financial stability of media outlets all over the world. Where is the Biden administration and European Commission in this fight? A lot is at stake, yet so far they have been quiet as church mice. How do Google and Facebook threaten the Free Press? These two companies alone suck up an astounding 60% of all online advertising in the world (outside China). With Amazon taking another 9 percent, that leaves a mere 30% of global digital ad revenue to be split among thousands of media outlets, many of them local publications. With digital online advertising now comprising over half of all ad spendng (and projected to grow further), that has greatly contributed to underfunded and failing news industries in country after country, including in Europe and the US. Australias situation is typical. Its competition commission found that, for every $100 spent by online advertisers in Australia, $47 goes to Google and $24 to Facebook (71%), even as traditional advertising has declined. Various studies have found that the majority of people who access their news online dont go to the original news source, instead they access it via Facebooks and Googles platforms which are cleverly designed to hold users attention. Many users rarely click through the links, instead they absorb the gist of the news from the platforms headlines and preview blurbs. Consequently, Facebook and Google receive the lions share of revenue from digital ads, rather than the original news sources receiving it. Note that Facebook and Google could tweak their design and algorithms to purposefully drive users to the original news sources websites. But they dont. So Australia decided to fight this duopoly with some rules-setting of its own. A new law will require large digital media companies to compensate Australian media companies fairly for re-packaging and monetizing their proprietary news content. Media outlets around the world are watching to see how this plays out. Google initially fought the proposal, but finally negotiated deals with Australian news publishers to pay them some compensation. But Facebook flexed its digital muscles by cutting off Australia entirely from its platform for several days, preventing Aussie news publishers as well as everyday users, including important government agencies like health, fire and crisis services, from posting, viewing or sharing news content. The result was jarring, the proverbial shot heard round the world. Facebook censored Australian users more effectively than the Chinese communist government ever could, prompting charges of big tech authoritarianism. Facebook finally relented to Australias requirement, in return for some vague and uncertain concessions. But the message of raw, naked platform power was unmistakably clear. Now a similar battle is playing out in the US state of Maryland. Over the last 10 years, US newspapers advertising revenue has declined by 62%, and without that funding newsroom employment dropped by nearly half. Squeezed by these economics, Maryland approved the USs first tax on digital ad revenue (earned inside its state borders), targeting companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. The measure is projected to generate as much as $250 million in its first year, dedicated to schools. But this battle has only begun. Lawsuits against Maryland are being threatened by the tech giants, even as legislators from the states of Connecticut and Indiana have introduced similar measures. The Bigger Picture: Whats at Stake Nelson Mandela once said, A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracyIt must have the economic strength to stand up[and] sufficient independence from vested interests to be bold and inquiring without fear. One of the most important, unsettled debates of the Internet age is whether digital media platforms like Facebook, Google/YouTube and Twitter are the new public square, a kind of global free speech Agora, or just the latest techno variety of old-fashioned publishers and broadcasters. Or a hybrid in between. Over the past year that debate has intensified, crisis after crisis. Following the US Capitol ransacking, Facebook, Google, and Twitter all decided to discontinue publishing the president of the United States. Before that, as the platforms tried to deal with their toxic pipeline of disinformation regarding the Covid pandemic, racial tensions, and the presidential election, they slapped on warning labels and removed inflammatory content of certain users. Now, in response to Australias law, Facebook pulled the plug on an entire country! Thats something only a giant monopoly publisher can do. In 2014, when Spain enacted legislation requiring Google to pay Spanish news outlets for the article snippets in its search results, Google bullied the government and closed its new service there. Even before the past years seminal events, Facebook, Google and Twitter acted as publishers by turning over crucial decisions to its engagement algorithms about which content is featured at the top of users news feeds, and what is promoted and amplified. Its sophisticated long tail publishing machine uses precise content-targeting to niche users, showing different content to different people, including political ads. These are not passive online chat boards. They are robot publishers, in which algorithms perform the essential duties of an editor. From a legal or accountability standpoint, it should matter little that there is a supercomputer behind the curtain instead of a human. So its pretty difficult at this point to argue credibly that these platforms are not in some sense publishers. Big Tech platforms are increasingly using their considerable publisher power to decide what content, sources and values should disappear or be amplified. These companies have more in common with the New York Times, Bild and Rupert Murdoch than they do with an online wikiboard or free speech corner in Londons Hyde Park. Indeed, Facebooks and Google/YouTubes algorithmically-curated machines, with 2.6 billion and 2.0 billion users respectively, are the largest publisher and broadcaster in human history. Yet existing law does not treat these companies like a publisher or broadcaster, especially when it comes to liability or accountability. The digital media platforms hide behind the fact that they have billions of users generating content, which resembles an AT&T-like common carrier or public square role. But that should not obscure the centrality of their publisher role. From that perspective, Facebook, Google and Twitter are completely within their publishers rights to decide it does not want to publish Donald Trump anymore, just as the New York Times would be. Or just as Rupert Murdoch has an editorial right to feature Boris Johnson on the front page of The Sun or at the top of a Fox News broadcast. Facebooks Oversight Board should take note. Threat to the Open Internet? Critics of the Maryland and Australian approach claim it threatens the principle of an open internet. They also insist that traditional media outlets actually benefit when Facebook-Google-Twitter send user traffic back to the news outlets. The latter claim is easily debunked, since ad revenue at traditional media outlets has plummeted in the digital media platform era, while it has zoomed for the platforms. One study found that digital media traffic supplied less than 0.2 percent of total revenue to the news companies examined (while producing 24 percent of their total visitor traffic). So whatever revenue the traditional media outlets have received, its a drop in the bucket compared to what they have lost. And the open internet principle must be balanced by the copyright principle, which was established years before the Internet was even invented. Copyright law mandates that any individual person or organization cannot swipe someone elses content and monetize it without paying for it. The open internet principle essentially demands that traditional news sources bear the financial burden of continuing to produce quality news without fair compensation much as it demanded that Napster be allowed to distribute copyrighted music for free without compensating musical artists and record companies. The open internet principle is contributing to media financial instability throughout the world, and taken to its logical conclusion will cannibalize whats left of the news media. With no credible news sources to rely upon, the digital media platforms would be even more overrun by the barbarian disinformation for which the platforms have become notorious. They are eating their own seed. Already the digital media platforms have turned thousands of publishers and broadcasters into little more than ghostwriters for their platform content. Facebook has transmogrified from its initial hip mission of being a convenient place to post your vacation and puppy pics, and re-find your long lost college roommate, into a re-publisher that re-packages and monetizes product from the original producer without paying for it. In other industries, thats called theft. Democracies must stop this Big Steal before these companies steal away with our democracies. France and Austria have passed similar laws, Canada says it will adopt the Australian approach, and possibly India too. But the EU and US have been noticeably silent. Both are known for encouraging competition and a vibrant media, so you would think their regulators would jump into action to aid the free press. Unfortunately, the reaction from the Biden administration has been nonexistent, though understandably it has a lot on its plate in its first months. The European Commissions silence has been more disappointing. Its two-year old Copyright Directive has been barely implemented, and now its championing its recently unwrapped Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. But those anodyne proposals lack regulatory teeth and, like the GDPR, do not fundamentally challenge the digital platforms toxic business model. Its time for governments on both sides of the Atlantic to step up their games, and ensure that Big Tech media respect the sanctity of copyright and stop undermining the worlds media and news outlets. Former California congresswoman Katie Hill, who resigned in 2019 after the leak of nude photos of her and a campaign staffer, with whom she and her ex-husband had a sexual relationship, will be heading to trial against her former spouse, The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday. Ms Hill accuses her ex-husband of leaking the photos and has been seeking a restraining order preventing him from releasing what she says are further revealing photos and confidential information. Her ex-husband, Kenny Heslep, denies leaking the photos. The pair had previously been seeking a settlement over the restraining order issue, but were unable to find agreement, the Mail reported, leading to the potential trial. They were officially divorced in September, and in December, Ms Hill won a restraining order against Mr Heslep, after accusing him of years of physical and sexual abuse, threats with guns, and harming her pets, all of which he denies. Attorneys for Ms Hill and Mr Heslep did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent. I have been subject to Kennys physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and psychological abuse for more than 15 years including, but not limited to, the many times Kenny has threatened me with guns, killed and hurt my pets in front of me, choked me until I lost consciousness and publicly released sexually explicit photos of me, solely for the purpose of destroying my life and career in Congress after I had gathered the courage to leave him, she said in recent court documents. At this point, I am finally seeking a restraining order because I am afraid that he will not give up until I am dead, she added. Mr Heslep denies these allegations, and has said a computer hack led to the release of the suggestive photos. There has never been any abuse or domestic violence in our relationship, he wrote in a declaration to the court. The allegations are false. Ms Hill has also accused her ex-husband of chocking her to the point of unconsciousness during sex, and sicking his dogs on her cat until it was dead, which he denies. I never choked Ms. Hill or put my hands on her during sex or at any other time, he wrote in the court documents. I have never engaged in anything that could be construed as choking behavior. Ms Hill resigned in October of 2019 and cited a gendered double standard. In an emotional floor speech announcing the move, she said she was leaving because of a misogynistic culture that gleefully consumed my naked pictures, capitalised on my sexuality and enabled my abusive ex to continue that abuse this time with the entire country watching. Screenshot shows a report published by Reuters on Feb. 23, 2021. Chinese donated and exported vaccines have arrived and applied in countries across the world, injecting impetus to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 200,000 of two million doses vaccines from China's Sinovac Biotech arrived in Thailand on February 24, two days after the vaccines were given emergency use authorization in the country, said Reuters. "We will start injecting the target groups within three days after the vaccines arrive," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a Facebook post. Priority is to be given to worst-hit areas in Thailand, with more than half of the doses received earmarked for epicenter, Samut Sakhon and the capital, Bangkok. 800,000 more doses of Sinovac vaccines will arrive this month and the remaining one million in April, said Prayuth. Mexico and Senegal speed up their vaccination programs with billions of Chinese vaccines arriving in the countries. According to Russian media Sputnik News, health authorities in Mexico began to vaccinate elder citizens with vaccines developed by Sinovac on February 22. The first shipment of the Sinovac vaccines was designated to Ecatepec, a city in central State of Mexico, where residents aged over 60 started to get their first jab. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador thanked China for offering a batch of the Sinovac vaccines, which serve as a great support for its inoculation campaign. Senegal also began its coronavirus vaccination in the last week of February with 200,000 doses purchased from China's Sinopharm. The first shots were given to government minister and health workers at the health ministry in the capital, Dakar. The western African country is one of the first in the region to start vaccinating its population against COVID-19, Reuters reported on February 23. As of February 25, China has provided and is providing vaccine aid to 53 countries, and has exported and is exporting vaccines to 27 countries, making great efforts to promote equitable distribution of vaccines worldwide to jointly fight the virus. [ Editor: WXL ] AKRON, Ohio Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan has penned a letter to investor Carl Icahn, who is seeking to acquire a substantial stake in FirstEnergy, asking the billionaire for an in-person meeting regarding the investment and the future of the company at the heart of the House Bill 6 corruption scandal. Icahn Capital LP sent FirstEnergy a letter on Feb. 16 expressing its intent to acquire a stake worth $184 million to $920 million. Icahn, 85, is known as an activist investor and a corporate raider for his track record of buying large stakes in companies and influencing corporate decision-making. In his letter, Horrigan said FirstEnergy is one of Akrons largest private sector employers and the 24th-largest employer in Ohio, and urged Icahn to keep the company headquartered in Akron. The future of FirstEnergy, the future of Akron and the future of our region are intertwined, Horrigan wrote. I realize that FirstEnergy has faced a tumultuous seven months and major swings in their marketplace valuations. FirstEnergy is at the center of a federal corruption investigation involving Ohio House Bill 6, the $1 billion nuclear bailout bill signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in July 2019. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four allies were charged with using more than $60 million in bribe money from FirstEnergy and its affiliates to secure the bills passage. Two Ohio political operatives -- Jeff Longstreth, Householders former top political aide, and Juan Cespedes, a lobbyist for Energy Harbor, the former FirstEnergy subsidiary and nuclear plants current owner -- have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in connection to the bills passage, and a Householder-controlled political nonprofit is expected to also. FirstEnergy and its officials have not been charged or formally identified in charging documents, but federal prosecutors have made it clear the company is at the center of the probe. Read more: In filing, FirstEnergy said state regulator acted for the companys benefit as a result of $4.3 million payment I completely understand the opportunities that the marketplace presents to both short- and long-term investors, Horrigan continued. I want to reiterate that whatever the intentions of the investors may be, that myself, local leaders, local businesses and our residents are committed to FirstEnergy remaining in Akron and we hope that you will be as well. In October 2019, FirstEnergy signed a lease extension for its headquarters in downtown Akron through at least June 2035. Horrigan said he hopes the utilitys well-established partnerships in the community will extend beyond that lease. I remain committed to assisting FirstEnergy in its endeavors and will work tirelessly to keep FirstEnergy headquartered in Akron, Horrigan said. It is my hope that FirstEnergy will weather the current storm and emerge stronger than ever, in Akron. I hope that this is also your goal. Horrigan requested a meeting with Icahn, in person, if possible, to discuss his intentions. 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. AT THE beginning of last month EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted the bloc is not where it wants to be with its immunisation programme. Ms von der Leyen conceded: We were late to authorise, Too optimistic when it came to massive production, and perhaps too confident that what we ordered would actually be delivered on time. One month on, the HSE tells us it has missed its target of issuing 100,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses last week. Only 81,843 doses were administered between February 22 and 28. A shortfall of around 20pc. A late change in AstraZenecas delivery schedule for last week and this week was blamed. The Government previously claimed the vaccination roll-out would accelerate this month with about 100,000 doses per week in March, rising to between 200,000 and 300,000 in April. Vaccinations for the over-85s were due to be completed by the end of this week. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly now says the large majority of over-85s would have their first dose by the end of the week. Such is the backdrop to the understandable concern expressed by Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall at the pace of our roll-out. Many will share her worries at the very substantial gap between what was forecast to arrive into Ireland and the number actually being administered. Taoiseach Micheal Martin admitted there had been bumps along the way. He once again said the issue was supply, something which is being discussed in Europe. But after a year of tragedy, mass unemployment and rolling lockdowns its hard to imagine what is left to discuss. The EUs sole priority is to get as many shots as it can into as many arms as it can. It must do all in its power to deliver on its promises. It might also be more forthcoming on its interactions with suppliers. Lives are on the line. By now the roll-out should be in over-drive instead of stuttering between stops and starts. The prospect of another surge is far from remote. The bloc must be seen to be more pro-active. In the US President Joe Biden expects to have enough vaccine for all adults by the end of May. In the UK there have been some days on which half a million people been vaccinated. The levels of risk are still frighteningly high. Responding to the disgraceful scenes of students partying in Limerick, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said our country will not be able to reopen as planned if such incidents continue. Ms McEntee has said she firmly believes the end is in sight. And we must believe it is. But so much will depend on the EU. In the past when it comes to assessing the performance of EU action; when everything is said and done; too often there is far more said than done. We have enough talk but it is time to inject a bit of urgency. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 2) Instead of passing an Anti-Terrorism law that critics argue is unconstitutional, the State should have focused on improving deficient police and intelligence performance, a counsel for petitioners against the measure said on Tuesday. On Day 4 of the Supreme Courts oral arguments on the assailed measure, petitioners lawyer and former Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz said the Human Security Act of 2007 which was repealed by the new law was enough to deter terrorism. If I may clarify, what is really lacking is good police work and good intelligence work, he told Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda during an interpellation. I think these are solely lacking in our jurisdiction. Cadiz also contended that the repealed 2007 law is a better one, as it enumerates predicate crimes. The Anti-Terrorism Act did away with predicate crimes and instead states a person is deemed a terrorist if he engages in acts that intend to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a persons life, or to create a serious risk to public safety. This ambiguous wording in Section 4, critics said, is a ground for the law's abolition. They claimed this vague provision could result in a chilling effect, as citizens who are unsure what exactly constitutes terrorism may simply restrain themselves from expressing their views in order to avoid being charged of the crime. RELATED: Diokno tells SC: Only the Anti-Terrorism Act punishes based on persons state of mind While the same section of the law states that terrorism shall not include advocacy, protest, dissent and other similar exercises of civil and political rights, the line also still carries the phrase which are not intended to. This supposed safeguard, Cadiz said, ultimately is not enough against potential abuse and is only a very minor exception. In a separate interpellation, Former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares, another counsel for petitioners, agreed that enhanced operations by law and intelligence operatives could be a better solution than the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act. But even if the State believes a new law is needed, Colmenares said the main issue is that the Court should not allow any measure to be of unbridled discretion, vague, and overbroad. READ: Here are the major issues raised against the Anti-Terrorism Act Another lawmaker, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman who is one of the petitioners, explained to the Supreme Court that the peition against the ATL is not a political issue but rather a constitutional one. The anti-terrorism law, he said, violates the 1987 Constitution, particularly the rights provided for under the Bill of Rights. Lagman added he was appearing as a petitioner despite having voted against the ATL when it was still a bill being discussed in the House. He said that although the majority in Congress led the approval of the bill into law, it does not mean that the ATL was constitutional. Day 4 marked the end of the SC justices interpellation of petitioners. It was initially scheduled last Feb. 23 but was delayed by a week after some magistrates went on self-quarantine as a precaution against COVID-19. Solicitor General Jose Calida and the governments lawyers are expected to defend the measure when the oral arguments resume on March 9. It's the sort of chance that comes along just once in a blue Moon: a Japanese billionaire is throwing open a private lunar expedition to eight people from around the world. Yusaku Maezawa, an online fashion tycoon, was announced in 2018 as the first man to book a spot aboard the lunar spaceship being developed by SpaceX. Maezawa, who paid an undisclosed sum for the trip expected to launch in 2023 at the earliest, originally said he planned to invite six to eight artists to join him on the voyage around the Moon. But on Wednesday, in a video posted on his Twitter account, he revealed a broader application process. "I'm inviting you to join me on this mission. Eight of you from all around the world," he said. "I have bought all the seats, so it will be a private ride," he added. Maezawa, 45, said his initial plan of inviting artists had "evolved" because he came to believe that "every single person who is doing something creative could be called an artist." The Japanese entrepreneur said applicants would need to fulfil just two criteria: being ready to "push the envelope" creatively, and being willing to help other crew members do the same. In all, he said around 10 to 12 people will be on board the spaceship, which is expected to loop around the Moon before returning to Earth. The application timeline for spots on the trip calls for would-be space travellers to pre-register by March 14, with initial screening carried out by March 21. No deadlines are given for the next stages -- an "assignment" and an online interview -- but final interviews and medical checkups are currently scheduled for late May 2021, according to Maezawa's website. Musk 'highly confident' Maezawa and his band of astronauts will become the first lunar voyagers since the last US Apollo mission in 1972 -- if SpaceX can pull the trip off. Last month, a prototype of its Starship crashed in a fireball as it tried to land upright after a test flight, the second such accident, after the last prototype of the Starship met a similar fate in December. But the company hopes the reusable, 394-foot (120-metre) rocket system will one day carry crew and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyond. "I'm highly confident that we will have reached orbit many times with Starship before 2023 and that it will be safe enough for human transport by 2023. It's looking very promising," SpaceX founder Elon Musk said in Maezawa's video posted Wednesday. The mission will be the first private space flight beyond Earth's orbit, Musk said. Because it will not land on the Moon, but loop behind it, "we expect people will go further than any human has ever gone from planet Earth," he added. Maezawa, known for his eccentric comments and extravagant lifestyle including a penchant for pricey art, was last year valued around $1.9 billion, making him one of Japan's richest people. He made his fortune as founder of online fashion store Zozo, which he sold to Yahoo! Japan in 2019. Maezawa has previously made headlines with an online ad for a girlfriend to join him on his SpaceX flight -- only to abruptly cancel the hunt, despite attracting nearly 30,000 applicants. US space agency NASA is intending to land astronauts on the Moon, including the first woman, in 2024. One of the goals of its Artemis III voyage is to bring back a total of 85 kilograms (187 pounds) of lunar samples -- more than the average 64 kilograms brought back by Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972. ANDERSON COUNTY, I-75 South near Mile Marker 128.3: On Monday, March 8, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. ANDERSON COUNTY, SR 61 Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway and Market Street in Clinton: SR 61 East is reduced to one lane through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this area. ANDERSON COUNTY, US 25/SR 9 Bridge over Clinch River between SR 61 and Carden Farm Drive: SR 9 northbound is reduced to one lane approaching the bridge as crews continue work in this area. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, lane shifts, and use extreme caution throughout this bridge construction project. ANDERSON COUNTY, US 25/SR 9 at SR 170: Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, possible lane closures, and use extreme caution through this intersection construction project. BLOUNT COUNTY, US 129 North and South between SR 35 Hall Road and Tyson Boulevard: Motorists should be alert for workers present, possible lane closures, and brief stoppages of traffic through this roadway construction project. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-hall-road-to-tyson-blvd.html BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 335 Hunt Road between Ambrose Street and Ramsay Street: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures at various times as crews install utilities through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present directing traffic and use extreme caution through this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 33 between Foothills Mall Drive and Henry Street: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this intersection improvement construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changed conditions and use extreme caution through this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, US 321 between Jones Avenue and Lamar Street: Motorists should be alert for possible daily lane closures as crews perform roadside work through this project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 North and South between Mile Markers 135 and 142: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 North near Mile Marker 143: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning on Sundays through Thursdays through this project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 North near Mile Markers 146.6; 148.9, and 150.6: On Monday, March 8, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 South near Mile Markers 155.3 and 154.4: On Monday, March 8, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, SR 63 between Myers Lane and Frontier Road/Woodson Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and/or 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CARTER COUNTY, US 19E/SR 37 Bridge over the Doe River and Riverview Road: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. CLAIBORNE COUNTY, SR 63 between Old Town Creek and US 25E/SR 32: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. GREENE COUNTY, US 11E/SR 34 both directions between Blue Springs Parkway and Forest Road in Mosheim: Beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, 2021, motorists should be alert for lane closures and lane shifts as crews begin the first phase of bridge repair operations. These lane closures will remain in place 24/7 until repairs are complete. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, and use extreme caution in this area. This bridge repair project is estimated to be complete on or before October 31, 2021. HAMBLEN COUNTY, I-81 South near Mile Marker 11.6: On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. HAMBLEN COUNTY, SR 34 near Commerce Blvd.: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. HAMBLEN COUNTY, SR 160 near Commerce Blvd.: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. JOHNSON COUNTY, SR 167 at Log Mile 7.5: Motorists should be alert for single-lane roadway with temporary traffic signal through this slide repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-40 East and West between Mile Markers 392 and 393: On Friday, March 5, 2021, and Sunday, March 7, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform median barrier wall repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-40 East and West between Mile Markers 390 and 402: On Saturday, March 6, 2021, motorists should be alert for a series of rolling roadblocks between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. as utility crews perform overhead power line installations. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, expect delays, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-40 West between Mile Markers 398 and 393: On Sunday, March 7, 2021, motorists should be alert for a series of rolling roadblocks between the hours of 3 a.m. and 12 Noon as crews install an overhead sign structure near Mile Marker 393. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, expect delays, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, Various Interstates through Knoxville: On Thursday, March 4, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible mobile lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform roadway maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, US 11W/SR 1 Rutledge Pike Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad near Harris Road: Motorists should be alert for lane shifts and changing traffic patterns through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect potential delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, US 129/SR 115 Alcoa Highway between Topside Road and Maloney Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-little-river-to-maloney.html KNOX COUNTY, US 129/SR 115 Alcoa Highway between Maloney Road and Woodson Drive: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-maloney-to-woodson.html KNOX COUNTY, US 441 Broadway Viaduct between Jackson Avenue and Fifth Avenue: US 441 Broadway Viaduct over Norfolk Southern Railroad in downtown Knoxville is closed for bridge replacement. The Broadway Viaduct will be closed to all traffic for the duration of the project. During the closure, Broadway will be closed from the intersection of Oak Avenue, Worlds Fair Park, and Jackson Avenue to just north of the Depot Avenue intersection. Depot Avenue will also be closed. These closures will ensure the safety of workers and motorists as crews demolish the old bridge and reconstruct the new bridge. Primary and Local Detour Routes around the bridge closure will be in place. For detour routes and project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/broadway-viaduct.html KNOX COUNTY, US 441/SR 71 Chapman Highway between Highland View Drive and Burnett Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/chapman-highway-evans-to-burnett.html KNOX COUNTY, SR 162 Pellissippi Parkway West between I-40 and Lovell Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, SR 162 Pellissippi Parkway West at Hardin Valley Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, SR 332 Concord Road between Turkey Creek Road and Northshore: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and new traffic patterns through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-332-proposed-widening.html LOUDON COUNTY, I-40 West near Mile Marker 363.8: On Thursday, March 4, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. LOUDON COUNTY, I-40 East between Mile Markers 364 and 365: On Monday, March 8, 2021, and Tuesday, March 9, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. as crews perform roadway maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution in this area. LOUDON COUNTY, I-75 North near Mile Marker 80.7: On Thursday, March 4, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. ROANE COUNTY, I-40 West between Mile Markers 340 and 344: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures at various times through this slope stabilization project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this area. SCOTT COUNTY, US 27/SR 29 between Industrial Lane and Second Avenue: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. SEVIER/JEFFERSON COUNTY, I-40 East between Mile Markers 407 and 412: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform work through this I.T.S. expansion project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. SEVIER COUNTY, I-40 East between Mile Markers 405 and 410: Through Thursday, March 4, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible mobile lane closures nightly between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following morning as crews perform roadway maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. SEVIER COUNTY, SR 71 between US 411 and Macon Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. SEVIER COUNTY, SR 73 between Nell Rose Lane and Pitman School Road: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. as crews perform roadside geotechnical work through this area. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. SULLIVAN COUNTY, I-26 East near Mile Marker 5.7: On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. SULLIVAN COUNTY, I-81 North & South between Mile Markers 57 and 63: Beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 7, 2021, Interstate 81 North and South will be reduced to one lane in each direction near Mile Marker 59 (Colonial Heights exit) as crews begin performing bridge repair activities. The lanes will remain closed 24/7 throughout the project until repairs are complete. Entrance and exit ramps will remain open to and from SR 36 (Fort Henry Drive) during repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution in this area. A wide load detour will be in place for restricted lane widths through this area. This bridge repair project is estimated to be complete on or before May 31, 2021. SULLIVAN COUNTY, I-81 North near Mile Marker 71: Through Friday, March 5, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. as crews perform roadside maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution in this area. UNICOI COUNTY, I-26 West near Mile Markers 52.6 and 52: On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, I-26 West near Mile Markers 23.3 and 13.6: On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, I-26 East and West between Mile Markers 16 and 18: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect delays, and use extreme caution approaching this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, SR 93 between Davis Road and Fire Hall Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, and use caution through this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, SR 354 Boones Creek Road at I-26: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Lake Park Drive will be closed and detoured at the intersection with SR 354 as construction continues in this area. Motorists should follow signed detour. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. For information on statewide interstate construction, motorists can access the Tennessee Department of Transportation SmartWay website at https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic TDOT is now on Twitter. For up to the minute traffic information in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/knoxville511. For statewide travel information follow www.twitter.com/TN511 The IT major is commited to creating 500 jobs in Calgary in the next three years, as part of its continued expansion across Canada. Infosys announced that it would be bringing 500 jobs to Calgary over the next three years, doubling its Canadian workforce to 4,000 employees by 2023. Within the last two years, Infosys has created 2,000 jobs across Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal, with plans for further expansion across the country. The Calgary expansion will enable Infosys to scale work with clients in Western Canada, Pacific North West, and the Central United States across various industries, including natural resources, energy, media, retail, and communications. The company will hire tech talent from fourteen educational institutions across the country. Infosys plans to build a strong pipeline to expand the skills needed to accelerate digital transformation. On a consolidated basis, the IT major's net profit jumped 7.3% to Rs 5,197 crore on a 5.5% rise in revenues to Rs 25,927 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q2 September 2020. Shares of Infosys gained 0.25% to Rs 1,346.90 on BSE. Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police divers have combed through thousands of square metres off Dover Heights in a bid to narrow down what may have happened to missing Sydney businesswoman Melissa Caddick. They have been assessing ocean conditions each morning since Wednesday, but Friday was the first time they were able to enter the water. NSW Police divers at Dover Heights on Wednesday inspecting ocean conditions. Credit:Nine News On Friday, the divers conducted an underwater search spanning 6000 square metres but nothing of interest was found, a police spokesperson said. At this stage, police wont be conducting further searches in the area, the spokesperson said. NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be able to explore even more cosmic questions, thanks to a new near-infrared filter. The upgrade will allow the observatory to see longer wavelengths of light, opening up exciting new opportunities for discoveries from the edge of our solar system to the farthest reaches of space. "It's incredible that we can make such an impactful change to the mission after all of the primary components have already passed their critical design reviews," said Julie McEnery, the Roman Space Telescope senior project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Using the new filter, we will be able to see the full infrared range the telescope is capable of viewing, so we're maximizing the science Roman can do." With the new filter, Roman's wavelength coverage of visible and infrared light will span 0.5 to 2.3 microns - a 20% increase over the mission's original design. This range will also enable more collaboration with NASA's other big observatories, each of which has its own way of viewing the cosmos. The Hubble Space Telescope can see from 0.2 to 1.7 microns, which allows it to observe the universe in ultraviolet to near-infrared light. The James Webb Space Telescope, launching in October, will see from 0.6 to 28 microns, enabling it to see near-infrared, mid-infrared, and a small amount of visible light. Roman's improved range of wavelengths, along with its much larger field of view, will reveal more interesting targets for Hubble and Webb to follow up on for detailed observations. Watch this video to learn more about the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's new near-infrared filter and the benefits it will provide. Credits: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Expanding Roman's capabilities to include much of the near-infrared K band, which extends from 2.0 to 2.4 microns, will help us peer farther across space, probe deeper into dusty regions, and view more types of objects. Roman's sweeping cosmic surveys will unveil countless celestial bodies and phenomena that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to find. "A seemingly small change in wavelength range has an enormous effect," said George Helou, director of IPAC at Caltech in Pasadena, California, and one of the advocates for the modification. "Roman will see things that are 100 times fainter than the best ground-based K-band surveys can see because of the advantages of space for infrared astronomy. It's impossible to foretell all of the mysteries Roman will help solve using this filter." Treasures in our cosmic backyard While the mission is optimized to explore dark energy and exoplanets - planets beyond our solar system - its enormous field of view will capture troves of other cosmic wonders too. Roman will excel at detecting the myriad small, dark bodies located in the outskirts of our solar system, beyond Neptune's orbit. Using its improved vision, the mission will now be able to search these bodies for water ice. This region, known as the Kuiper belt, contains the remnants of a primordial disk of icy bodies that were left over from the formation of the solar system. Many of these cosmic fossils are largely unchanged since they formed billions of years ago. Studying them provides a window into the solar system's early days. Most of the Kuiper belt's original inhabitants are no longer there. Many were thrown out into interstellar space as the solar system took shape. Others were eventually sent toward the inner solar system, becoming comets. Occasionally their new paths crossed Earth's orbit. Scientists think ancient comet impacts delivered at least some of Earth's water, but they're not sure how much. A census of the water ice on bodies in the outer solar system could offer valuable clues. Lifting veils of dust Though it's a bit counterintuitive, our Milky Way galaxy can be one of the most difficult galaxies to study. When we peer through the plane of the Milky Way, many objects are shrouded from view by clouds of dust and gas that drift in between stars. Dust scatters and absorbs visible light because the particles are the same size or even larger than the light's wavelength. Since infrared light travels in longer waves, it can pass more easily through clouds of dust. Viewing space in infrared light allows astronomers to pierce hazy regions, revealing things they wouldn't be able to see otherwise. With Roman's new filter, the observatory will now be able to peer through dust clouds up to three times thicker than it could as originally designed, which will help us study the structure of the Milky Way. The mission will spot stars that lie in and beyond our galaxy's central hub, which is densely packed with stars and debris. By estimating how far away the stars are, scientists will be able to piece together a better picture of our home galaxy. Roman's expanded view will also help us learn even more about brown dwarfs - objects that are not massive enough to undergo nuclear fusion in their cores like stars. The mission will find these "failed stars" near the heart of the galaxy, where catastrophic events like supernovae occur more often. Astronomers think this location may affect how stars and planets form since exploding stars seed their surroundings with new elements when they die. Using the new filter, the mission will be able to characterize brown dwarfs by probing their composition. This could help us identify differences between objects near the heart of the galaxy and out in the spiral arms. Gazing across the expanse of space If we want to view the most far-flung objects in space, we need an infrared telescope. As light travels through the expanding universe, it stretches into longer wavelengths. The longer it travels before reaching us, the more extended its wavelengths become. UV light stretches to visible light wavelengths, and then visible light extends to infrared. By extending Roman's view even further into the infrared, the mission will be able to see back to when the universe was less than 300 million years old, or about 2% of its current age of 13.8 billion years. Exploring such distant regions of space could help us understand when stars and galaxies first began forming. The origin of galaxies is still a mystery because the first objects that formed are extremely faint and spread sparsely across the sky. Roman's new filter, coupled with the telescope's wide field of view and its sensitive camera, could help us find enough first-generation galaxies to understand the population as a whole. Then astronomers can select prime targets for missions like the James Webb Space Telescope to zoom in for more detailed follow-up observations. The new filter could also provide another way to pin down the Hubble constant, a number that describes how fast the universe is expanding. It has recently sparked debate among astronomers because different results have emerged different measurements. Astronomers often use a certain type of star called Cepheid variables to help determine the expansion rate. These stars brighten and dim periodically, and in the early 1900s American astronomer Henrietta Leavitt noticed a relationship between a Cepheid's luminosity - that is, its average intrinsic brightness - and the cycle's length. When astronomers detect Cepheids in remote galaxies, they can determine accurate distances by comparing the actual, intrinsic brightness of the stars to their apparent brightness from Earth. Then astronomers can measure how fast the universe is expanding by seeing how fast galaxies at different distances are moving away. Another type of star, called RR Lyrae variables, have a similar relationship between their actual brightness and the amount of time it takes to brighten, dim, and brighten again. They're fainter than Cepheids, and their period-luminosity relationship can't easily be determined in most wavelengths of light, but Roman will be able to study them using its new filter. Observing RR Lyrae and Cepheid stars in infrared light to determine distances to other galaxies may help clear up recently revealed discrepancies in our measurements of the universe's expansion rate. "Enhancing Roman's vision further into the infrared provides astronomers with a powerful new tool to explore our universe," said McEnery. "Using the new filter we will make discoveries over a vast area, from distant galaxies all the way to our local neighborhood." The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with participation by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech/IPAC in Southern California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and a science team comprising scientists from various research institutions. The primary industrial partners are Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation in Boulder, Colorado, L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne, Florida, and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging in Thousand Oaks, California. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Its been one year since COVID-19 hit, and for many in the creative economy this time has been especially rough. Unable to perform in theaters and concert halls, artists have taken to livestreaming on Zoom from their homes even as their ability to produce a sustainable income has dwindled. But the loss of gathering space has also impacted something deeper: that in-the-moment interaction between artist and audience without which the performing arts would forever be altered. Theres just no substitute for having the people in the building with you at the same time, says Casey Polomaine, director of programming and residencies at the Albany Barn. Michael Burns, artistic director at comedic improv troupe Mopco, agrees. Its a visceral feeling when you have an audience and youre interacting with them. And the fact is, you cannot re-create that completely on Zoom. To be sure, you can try. Both Mopco and the Barn have done a great deal of successful experimenting with livestream formats. At both classes and shows, Burns says, he repeatedly hears feedback like This is the high point of my week. Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs has received a similar response to its shift into broadcast studio mode, for which it received a business reclassification from the state. Every single night that we turn on those cameras, we get at least one heartfelt message from somebody whos been watching, says Executive Director Sarah Craig. Those messages say things like, I feel so much better now, so much less isolated, or Thank you for bringing us some joy into this dark time. Still, establishing that emotional connection is elusive. What we have cultivated over the last 60 years is an audience that loves to go out and feel music on the surface of their skin, shoulder to shoulder with a lot of other people, Craig adds. I dont think that theres anybody whos like, Oh good, we dont have to leave the house anymore. For Troy Foundry Theatre, focusing on the desire to not leave the house was the path to producing new kinds of content. Early in the pandemic, the company started an online Living Room Series featuring live music, lectures, clowning and even a home cooking show, with the intention of boosting up artists in the community not getting work or exposure. When the weather warmed up, they got the blessing of the neighboring E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy Law Firm for after-hours use of their parking lot and then brought in carpets, furniture and lamps to re-create the living room feel outdoors. We were like, OK, this works. People so far seem comfortable coming out, sitting 6 feet apart with a mask on and watching some kind of live event, explains Emily Curro, the companys producing executive director. The success of the Trojan Alley Series inspired the company to move ahead with a larger production in the fall, Models of Perfection. It was extremely challenging, Curro continues. TFT kept the cast small, required everyone involved to be tested for COVID weekly, and followed city protocols for contact tracing, temperature taking and the like. The message to the audience was simple: If this feels safe for you, we hope that you come out, and if it doesnt, we get it. The run was a sellout. Michael Kennedy, founder and artistic director of Creative Action Unlimited, discovered a different way to bring an audience to her original piece on homelessness, Shelter. After shelving plans for a live performance, her company did masked and socially distant theatrical devising to rework the show into a film script. Had it not been for COVID, Kennedy says, she would not have considered this approach. I didnt believe that we could capture the emotional intensity of the kind of work we do on film as well as we could on the stage I was wrong. That is but one example of what might be called a silver lining to pivoting in response to a pandemic. As a film, Shelter with a theme especially relevant to the current increase in housing instability can reach a wider audience. Were a theater company that focuses on social issues. And social issues dont stop, Kennedy explains. Its important for us to rise to the occasion. At Mopco, Burns adds, physical distance doesnt matter anymore. The company now offers regular Zoom performances that tap into a worldwide network of improvisers and break new audience ground. He also sees the work as having a mission: People have this deep hunger to be seen and heard. And lots and lots of folks, even when its not a pandemic, arent. Theyre kind of invisible. They go through their day, and they do their job and they go home and they turn on the TV, and nobody sees them. Craigs description of Caffe Lenas mission echoes that image. I think that the isolation and the feeling of purposelessness that has exploded within the music world is truly dangerous for a lot of people. If we can provide some way for artists to feel like they have purpose, to feel connected to their audience we want to be able to do that. Purposeful connection with other artists has always been important to Jean-Remy Monnay, producing artistic director of the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York. I go through my phone and I look at people that Ive worked with I call you and have a conversation, just to know whats going on with you and your life, he explains. Thats something I do any time but even more during COVID, because we all need to stay connected. Monnay adds that staying home as the Black Lives Matter movement took on more importance last summer wasnt an option. Instead, he made use of the Caffe Lena space, working with other organizations focused on social justice to produce in-person collaborations. Im not a Zoom person, he says. I want to be on stage, I want to see people. Sharing the same space with his actors, despite the need to remain masked and socially distant, feels crucial to him for pushing out an impactful message. A similar push seems to be a common driver for all the artists. We are not meant to be disconnected from one another, Polomaine says. It is insanely important to keep opportunities coming for people to explore creativity and what makes them happy. Because the Barn, like Caffe Lena, offers a large space to accommodate social distancing, it has been able to play host to small in-person artistic gatherings. Ive been in the building a few times when it happens, she says, and to see two people that know each other from theater but havent seen each other in a year, seen each other in person theres this surge of energy, like Holy cow, Im back in a building with my people. Not all performing artists in the area have followed the same path, of course. Some, including Monnay and Polomaine, have used this time for reflection and skill-building that they anticipate infusing into their future work. Collectively right now, were reinventing all kinds of performance art, adds Burns. I think that were going to take the best of this reality and apply it to the live space in great ways. What about simply waiting things out? Wait and see is totally not our motto, Curro explains. Pushing ahead for us was the only option. We saw that people were sad and upset and missing performance and missing connection, and we knew that we could figure out how to bring that to people. CQG's strategic partnership will enable Aquarius to launch its first institutional grade cryptocurrency exchange in Q3 2021 LONDON and CHICAGO and DENVER, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquarius Financial Technologies Ltd. (Aquarius), a next generation trading technology provider, today announced a strategic partnership with CQG, a leading global provider of high-performance technology solutions for traders, brokers, commercial hedgers, and exchanges. The partnership will support Aquarius' vision to launch an institutional-grade global cryptocurrency exchange using CQG's proprietary technology. Under the partnership, CQG will provide Aquarius with its trading interfaces, infrastructure, and API connectivity, as well as access to more than 45 tradable, global exchanges and more than 85 market data sources. The exchange is scheduled to launch in the third quarter. "We are delighted to welcome CQG as a key go-to-market partner," said Richard Lane, co-founder of Aquarius. "We are soon to close our series A investment round at the end of March 2021, and this agreement marks another important milestone for Aquarius, enabling us to realise our ambition to launch and grow a fairer trading environment of institutional-grade standard for all customer types. We are excited to align our unique trade matching technology with CQG's market-leading technical and operational excellence." CQG President Ryan Moroney said: "We are excited about the opportunity to play a role in supporting this innovative new exchange. We look forward to contributing to the future success of Aquarius with our broad network and deep technological and market expertise." About Aquarius Financial Technologies The Aquarius team of technologists and traders have been developing next generation trade matching technologies for over 20 years. Its forthcoming product is the Aquarius cryptocurrency exchange. Aquarius' team is based in Zurich and London and draws on its team members' former experience at Goldman Sachs and UBS to set new standards for the world's currency exchange industry. About CQG CQG provides the industry's highest performing solutions for traders, brokers, commercial hedgers, and exchanges for their market-related activities globally, including trading, market data, advanced technical analysis, risk management, and account administration. The firm partners with the vast majority of futures brokerage and clearing firms and provides Direct Market Access (DMA) to more than 45 exchanges through its global network of co-located Hosted Exchange Gateways. CQG technology serves as the front end for a variety of exchanges and is increasingly employed as the over-the-counter matching engine for important new markets. CQG's server-side order management tools for spreading, market aggregation, and smart orders are unsurpassed for speed and ease of use. Its market data feed consolidates 85 sources, including exchanges worldwide for futures, options, fixed income, foreign exchange, and equities, as well as data on debt securities, industry reports, and financial indices. One of the longest-serving technology solutions providers in the industry, CQG has won numerous awards for its trading software, technical analysis and multi-asset trading platform. CQG is headquartered in Denver, with 16 sales and support offices and data centers in key markets globally. For more information, visit www.cqg.com. SOURCE CQG; Aquarius Financial Technologies Ltd. Related Links http://www.cqg.com BOCA RATON Fla., March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The severity of state sanctions handed out to certified public accountants (CPAs) is influenced by political regime, a practice with potentially dire consequences for companies and their shareholders, according to a study by a research team that includes professors at Florida Atlantic University. The study, published in the Journal of Business Ethics, revealed that state Boards of Accountability (BOA) respond less aggressively to federal disciplinary actions from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) when Republicans control a state rather than Democrats. Researchers Julia Higgs, Ph.D., and Abdullah Al-Moshaigeh, Ph.D., of FAU, and Denise Dickins, Ph.D., of East Carolina University, point out that CPAs who are punished less severely than they should be can negatively affect companies, whose investors may end up losing more money. But overly aggressive punishment may hurt economic growth. Higgs, Al-Moshaigeh and Dickins said they believe this is one of the first studies addressing the impact of political regime on the regulation of professionals in any field. They say the studys conclusions could be generally applied to other areas. For example, consumer insurance losses may be greater in Republican-led states due to less-severe enforcement of insurance companies, or businesses may avoid investment in Democrat-run states if enforcement is seen as comparatively more onerous. We felt that this was an important study because with uneven enforcement, the quality of professional services differs from state to state, degrading the publics trust in the profession, said Higgs, an accounting professor in FAUs College of Business. Ideally, disciplinary actions occur without bias by the disciplining authority. Higgs noted that accountants already have been punished once by the PCAOB so some might see further sanctions by the BOA as too harsh. State boards take this into consideration and, except in the most serious cases, dont want to preclude someone from earning a living, Higgs said. The researchers compared public data about CPAs sanctioned by the PCAOB from May 2005 to May 2018 to the subsequent actions of the BOA. During the comparison period, 16 states were controlled by Republican governors, 12 were led by both Republican and Democrat governors, and seven were headed by Democrat governors. Fifteen states had no BOA actions during the 13-year period. The study also noted that most states allow CPAs to practice in another state without having to be licensed in that state, making licensing and registration easier but muddling enforcement. Higgs said she believes the issue of uneven enforcement is becoming more important with more Americans working from home during the pandemic and other professions considering recognizing the licenses of another state, known as reciprocity of licensing. The problem, Higgs said, is likely to become more prominent as technology enables work to be done remotely. For example, a CPA in Florida can easily complete a tax return of a California resident or a radiologist in Dallas can read the images taken of a patient who had an X-ray in South Dakota. Additionally, emergencies create situations where licensing may be expanded across state lines, Higgs noted. As a result of COVID-19, some states, including New York, allowed medical professionals to practice there even if they were licensed in another state. There are important societal reasons that professionals may need to work in a state where they are not licensed, but states may hesitate to grant reciprocity if there is uneven enforcement, she said. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. SEOUL, South Korea A transgender woman who was expelled by the South Korean military last year after her gender-reassignment surgery has been found dead at her home south of Seoul, the police said on Thursday. The authorities said they were investigating the cause of death of the woman, Byeon Hee-su, 23, whose body was found on Wednesday at her home in the city of Cheongju by emergency responders. They were alerted after a local mental health center that had been counseling her reported that it could not contact her. Ms. Byeon, who had been a staff sergeant in an army tank unit, was discharged from the military in January 2020 following her surgery. She had wanted to continue her service in the army, but a military panel declared her unfit to serve. She became the first active-duty soldier in South Korea to be referred to such a panel because she had had a sex-change operation. Since her dismissal, Ms. Byeon had campaigned vigorously to be reinstated, arguing that there was no reason she could not fulfill her duties. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) (FSE: 8LH) ("UPI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has filed an application to be quoted on the OTCQB, a U.S. market operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. ("OTC") in New York. The Company will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under its symbol "UPI" and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under its symbol "8LH". In addition, the Company is working to secure DTC eligibility with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") for electronic settlement and transfer of its common shares in the United States. Chris Hazelton, CEO of Universal PropTech commented, "UPI is excited to provide US institutional and retail investors this opportunity to join our journey through the OTCQB." Mr. Hazelton continued, "We love our Canadian roots, but our plans and visions include being traded in the largest economy on the planet and demonstrate our investment capabilities in technologies with global impacts, such as SpotLight19." The OTC operates the world's largest electronic interdealer quotation system for US broker dealers and offers multiple media channels to increase the visibility of OTC-listed companies. Trading on the OTCQB market enables companies to efficiently build broader investor awareness and provide U.S. investors with a seamless trading facility to more easily trade through the broker of their choice. Obtaining quotation of the Company's common shares on the OTCQB remains subject to the approval of the OTCQB and the satisfaction of applicable listing requirements. The quotation of Universal PropTech shares is expected to begin upon securing the approval from the OTC. As more information becomes available, the Company will keep its shareholders up-to-date on the status of the application. About Universal PropTech Inc. Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) (FSE: 8LH) is a leading building innovation company, selecting, integrating, deploying, and maintaining PropTech in healthy buildings. As trusted advisors, we provide holistic evidence-driven solutions and services for building developers, owners, and operators in Canada. UPI operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, VCI Controls Inc. ("VCI"), a leading supplier and integrator of PropTech healthy building solutions and services. VCI is an industry leader in the acquisition and deployment of intelligent building technology, including the integration of all building systems utilizing the latest in communications technologies and standards. VCI's business focuses on digital controls and mechanical services, performance monitoring, and energy efficiency solutions. With headquarters in Toronto, Universal PropTech Inc. has offices across Canada including, Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa. For more information, visit www.universalproptech.com. Contact Information Universal PropTech Inc. Chris Hazelton President and Chief Executive Officer chazelton@universalproptech.com (647) 300-2957 Forward-Looking Statements Certain information provided in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", or similar words suggesting future outcomes. The Company cautions readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as, by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company. While the Company intends to satisfy all of the applicable listing requirements to obtain OTCQB quotation, it is subject to risks and uncertainties associated with the regulatory process, which are beyond the Company's control. There is no timeline for receiving the approval for OTCQB quotation or any assurance that its application will be approved. The forward-looking information included herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information included herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("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 release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/75963 Pascal Lefrancois Wins MILLIONS Online Super High Roller ($525,089) March 04, 2021 Matthew Pitt Canadas Pascal Lefrancois is a MILLIONS Online champion after he came out on top of a 70-strong field in the $25,500 Super High Roller event on March 3. Lefrancois padded his bankroll with an impressive $525,089 prize. MILLIONS Online #20 Super High Roller Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Pascal Lefrancois Canada $525,089 2 Ami Barer Canada $327,468 3 Joakim Andersson Malta $212,835 4 Alexander Shalkovski Russia $152,274 5 Jason Koon Canada $114,840 6 Ole Schemion Austria $90,588 7 David Coleman Canada $75,782 Only 11 players managed to make it through to Day 2 and it didnt take long for those 11 returnees to be whittled down to the seven-handed final table. Georgi Sandev and Matthias Eibinger were the first players to bust. Barry Hutter and Daniel Dvoress joined them on the rail shortly after, with Dvoress still in the MILLIONS Online Main Event. Dvoress eventually finished third in the Main Event and walked away with $422,421. Endrit Geci Wins the 2021 partypoker MILLIONS Online Main Event David Colemans time at the final table was short-lived because he dusted off his stack and finished in seventh-place. German superstar Ole Schemion had to make do with sixth-place, which was the final spot at the final table not to pay six-figures. Team partypokers Jason Koon ran out of steam in fifth place and saw $114,840 wing its way to his partypoker account. Russian grinder Alexander Shalkovskis impressive run ended in a fourth-place finish worth $152,274 before Joakim Andersson bowed out in third-place with $212,835 in prize money in tow. Lefrancois and Ami Barer locked horns heads-up in what was essentially a $197,621 heads-up sit & go such was the difference in payouts. No deal was struck between these two Goliaths, which meant Barer walked away with the $327,468 runner-up prize when he lost the one-on-one battle with Lefrancois. The champion scooped the $525,089 top prize and yet another major online poker tournaments title. [Removed:244] Triumphs in the Turbo Knockout " align="center" wh="2048x1367"][Removed:244] Austrias [Removed:244] is $39,318 richer than he was a couple of days ago courtesy of taking down the $1,600 buy-in MILLIONS Online #22 Turbo Knockout. The tournament started with at 8:05 p.m. and saw 132 of the 133 entrants eliminated by 2:34 a.m. thanks to the rapid stucture. Lehners victory was made sweeter by the fact he competed with some legitimate superstars at the final table. Andrii Novak, Juan Pardo Dominguez and Joao Vieira all crashed out in succession, before Oleg Vasylchenko and Lithuanian star Audrius Stakelis busted out. The latters exit left Lehner heads-up against Ludvig Lindstrom who had sent eight opponents to the rail on his way to reaching heads-up. He couldnt managed a ninth, however, and had to make do with a combined prize of $31,798 for his second-place finish. MILLIONS Online #22 Turbo Knockout Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize Bounties Total Prize 1 [Removed:244] Austria $18,623 $20,695 $39,318 2 Ludvig Lindstrom Sweden $18,603 $13,195 $31,798 3 Audrius Stakelis Lithuania $12,257 $2,812 $15,069 4 Oleg Vasylchenko Ukraine $8,327 $4,687 $13,014 5 Joao Vieira Netherlands $6,092 $3,750 $9,842 6 Juan Pardo Dominguez United Kingdom $4,720 $4,734 $9,454 7 Andrii Novak Ukraine $3,614 $3,000 $6,614 Ali Imsirovic Crowned MILLIONS Online High Roller Turbo Champion Upcoming MILLIONS Online Events Two new MILLIONS Online events, and their mini equivalents, shuffle up and deal at 7:05 p.m. GMT on March 4. MILLIONS Online #23 Mix-Max is a $3,200 buy-in tournament with $300,000 guaranteed. Play begins on eight-handed tables for the first 15 levels before switching to six-handed from Level 16 onwards. The mini edition of this tournament costs $320 to enter and has $50,000 guaranteed. MILLIONS Online #24 6-Max Omaha High Roller also starts at 7:05 p.m. It commands a $5,200 buy-in and comes with a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. The more affordable mini variant has a buy-in that weighs in at $530 and features a $50,000 guarantee on its prize pool. Join partypoker and Grab Up to 40 Worth of Tickets Now is the time to download partypoker via PokerNews because new depositing players can get their hands on up to $30 worth of SPINS and tournament tickets. Deposit $10 to receive $10 worth of free tickets over the course of a week, increase that initial deposit to $20 and $30 worth of tickets are all yours. Download partypoker via PokerNews, make your first-ever real money deposit, and enjoy up to $30 worth of tickets. Tickets awarded for a $10 deposit: Day 1: 2x $1 SPINS tickets + 1x $3.30 MTT ticket Day 2: 4x $0.25 SPINS tickets Day 4: 1x $3.30 MTT ticket Day 6: 4x $0.25 SPINS tickets Tickets awarded for a $20 deposit: Day 1: 1x $5 SPINS ticket + 1x $3.30 MTT ticket Day 2: 2x $1 SPINS ticket + 1x $5.50 MTT ticket Day 4: 1x $5.50 MTT ticket Day 6: 2x $3 SPINS tickets + 1x$3.30 MTT 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. This is the moment a man is heckled by fed-up passengers after he refused to wear his mask and the airline made an unscheduled landing to take him off the flight. The incident took place onboard a JetBlue aircraft on February 27 which had been flying to Cancun, Mexico from JFK in New York when it was forced to divert to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Several passengers including Lawrence T Redick IV, 22, from New York filmed the scenes as the delayed passengers vented their frustrations. One passenger calls out they hoped the Covid-19 denier would be fed to Florida's alligator community and the rest of the flight erupts into laughter. Footage shows a flight attendant standing next to the offending passenger, telling him: 'Let's go, get up, let's go.' Disgruntled passengers on a JetBlue flight to Cancun, Mexico, heckled a man who refused to wear a mask and forced the aircraft to be diverted to Florida so he could be thrown off Other passengers can be seen filming the anti-masker and shouting: 'Get him out of here,' and: 'Shame!' Moments later, after two sheriffs walk up the aisle behind the flight attendant, the passenger, who is now wearing a black mask, can be seen getting up from his seat. Passengers erupt into cheering and clap their hands while others shout 'boo' as the man slowly makes his way off the plane. As he is exiting, one hilarious person onboard shouts: 'I hope you get eaten by an alligator!' prompting an outburst of laughter. Redick added: 'I started filming after we landed in Florida. 'Me and my family were on our way to Cancun and the passenger initially wore a mask to get on the flight but during the flight, he kept taking it off. 'The flight attendants and the pilot made two announcements about the passenger saying that if he didn't keep his mask on then they would have to make an emergency landing and get him off. 'Sure enough, he didn't keep the mask on and so we had to land early and then he put his mask on to leave. 'We were on the plane for roughly three hours before we landed early and then we had to stay on the plane in Florida for about an hour to an hour-and-a-half because of this.' Almost 3,000 people have commented on the footage which was uploaded to TikTok on Monday. More than 60,000 people have liked the short video and more than 2,500 users have shared the story. The aircraft was diverted to Florida because the passenger repeatedly removed his mask Redick captioned his video using text-to-speak software to provide commentary about what was happening. He wrote: 'Some D head didn't wanna wear a mask on the plan so we had to land early just to get him off.' He continued: 'All this just because of one person, it's so frustrating.' Urging the prompt end of the incident, he said: 'Come on loser, hurry up!' As the man is being led from the cabin, he describes it as a 'walk of shame'. He then adds: 'I hope you stay stranded in Florida.' One TikTok user wrote: 'If you want to anti-mask, do it home, not at the inconvenience of everyone else flying. Even if you don't believe it, just wear it to be polite.' Passengers onboard the flight said they were on the ground in Florida for 90 minutes Another person seemed more concerned with why the flight was so full, adding: 'Why are there so many people on the plane? Are they not seating people spaced out anymore?' JetBlue's website states: 'Face masks are required inside all airport terminals and the duration of every JetBlue flight. 'Beginning February 2, 2021, a federal mandate will be in place requiring all persons 2 years and older wear a mask during flight, including during boarding and deplaning. 'A federal mandate also requires a mask be worn in all U.S. airports. Any individual who fails to comply with this law may be subject to denied boarding, removal from the aircraft, and/or penalties under federal law.' A spokesperson for JetBlue told MailOnline: 'On February 27, JetBlue flight 751 with scheduled service from New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport to Cancun, Mexico, was forced to divert to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when a customer became aggressive and threatening toward our crewmembers and other customers after being asked multiple times to comply with JetBlues face mask policy and the federal mask mandate. 'The customer was eventually escorted off by law enforcement in Fort Lauderdale. 'The flight continued to Cancun without further incident. 'The safety of our customers and crewmembers is our first priority at JetBlue, and the customer in question is not welcome to fly JetBlue in the future.' The Election Commission has directed all petrol pumps to remove hoardings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poll-bound West Bengal within 72 hours. Besides, the poll body has asked retail fuel pumps to remove advertisements of the central scheme as they violated the model code of conduct. The Model of Conduct came into effect last Friday when the Election Commission announced dates for assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. EC's order has come after a delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders alleged that the use of Modi's photo on advertisements of various central schemes and COVID-19 vaccination certificates are violating the model code of conduct. TMC leader Firhad Hakim had told EC, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi happens to be the star campaigner of the BJP in this assembly elections. As a politician, he is seeking support for his party during rallies. In this situation, using his photo in vaccination certificates is akin to influencing voters and violates the model code of conduct. We have sought the EC's intervention to remove his photo in hoardings promoting central schemes at petrol pumps". According to a senior election commission official, the poll body received over 1,000 similar complaints out of which 450 were found to be genuine. "We have received such complaints on cVIGIL. Everybody has to abide by the model code of conduct (MCC) and people have been directed as to what action is to be taken when MCC is violated," the official said. The EC has decided to use vehicles having GPS-based applications on polling days to monitor the movement of sector officers and to communicate with them. "If needed the sector officer can be contacted in emergencies. Their movement can be monitored from the district election office, as well as by the observer and from the CEO here," he said. Since Tuesday the EC has seized cash amounting to Rs 25 lakh besides recovering 28,131 litres of liquor having a cash value of Rs 32 lakh. Narcotics worth Rs 30 lakh were also seized, the official said. The assembly election in West Bengal is scheduled to be held in eight phases, beginning with polling for 30 seats on March 27. Counting is slated for May 2. There will be over 400 observers for the assembly election and around 170 companies of the CAPF will reach the state by Monday. Also read: NRIs won't be double-taxed in FY21 for over-staying Also read: Digital media norms to be administered by Centre, not states Sometimes words just arent enough. But a wagging tail, floppy ears, puppy eyes and a wet nose are hard to resist even in the worst of times. In a lot of situations, people dont want to talk to anyone; they might have walls up, said Katy resident Stacy Bretting. But a dog is like a bridge. At her congregation, Memorial Lutheran in Katy, Bretting serves as Top Dog, which means she leads and organizes the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministry. Lutheran Church Charities, headquartered in Illinois, deploys thousands of volunteers nationally to respond to natural disaster and crises, as well as various missions. Though the K-9 Ministry is only part of the churchs operation, Bretting said its one that makes a positive impact in Houston. There are three Comfort Dogs in the area Joy, Damaris and Gabriel and each is part of a ministry at a church: Gloria Dei Lutheran, Messiah Lutheran and Memorial Lutheran. These golden retrievers are trained to interact with individuals of all ages, no matter the circumstances. They become members of local churches and attend services every Sunday, greeting parishioners as they enter. They also respond to emergencies, including the 2019 Walmart mass shooting in El Paso, as well as the school shooting in Santa Fe in 2018. Damaris and Gabriel arrived after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in 2018 and the Sutherland Springs Baptist Church shooting in 2017. Gabriel recently visited victims from Hurricane Laura and regularly goes to the Harris County Sheriffs Office 911 Call Center. More Information For more information, visit lutheranchurchcharities.org/k-9-comfort-dogs-about.html. See More Collapse The rest of the year, the dogs calendars are full, visiting schools, nursing homes, senior living facilities, VFW posts and hospitals. Read Our Online Childrens Book: Meet Dexter, the only dog on staff at Childrens Memorial Hermann The Comfort Dogs wear a vest inscribed with their name, the church they serve and the words, Please pet me. Damaris serves in the K-9 Ministry at Memorial Lutheran in Katy with Bretting, who learned about the program when a Comfort Dog from Fort Worth visited the church in 2015. It takes about a year-and-a-half to two years to get the dog ready and also to get your church ready, to understand what the ministry is about, Bretting explained. The ministry is really to reach people when they are hurting. Her church signed up, and Damaris joined the congregation in 2017. Top Dog Karen Gastler at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Clear Lake said its ministry with Joy started in 2018. I had never heard of it before, but I do like dogs, Gastler said. The part that appealed to me was using the dogs as a bridge to talk to people. She noticed immediately that Joy knew how to fulfill that mission. When Joys there, shes wagging her tail and making friends, Gastler said. Its much easier to start talking to people, sharing faith and prayer. Its totally different from other ministries. Janet Cook, a resident of The Woodlands, serves as Top Dog at the Rice Military neighborhoods Messiah Lutheran Church, where Gabriel was placed in 2017. At first, Cook says, she was skeptical about the ministry. We had never heard about it, she said. Were an older congregation and dont go outside the church walls very much. Still, parishioners formed a team, signed up and trained as dog handlers. Not long after Gabriel arrived, the shooting occurred at the church in Sutherland Springs, followed by the school shooting in Santa Fe. It was like the handlers and I were thrown into the deep end and someone said, Swim, Cook said. Gabriel immediately made a world of difference. Cook clearly recalls the way Santa Fe students reacted to the dog. Those kids were hurting so much, she said. All we had to do was show up with a dog, and they flocked to him. Thats when our eyes opened. We saw that the ministry works. Cook and Gabriel went to every vigil and they returned every two weeks for a time. Now they visit the students and teachers each May on the anniversary of the shooting. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston celebrates Archbishop Fiorenzas 90th birthday (with a drive-thru, of course) You dont have to say a word, Cook said. They know theres someone there who cares. Cook said that sometimes the students ask to pray with the handlers, but she waits for their request. There are times when Christ or prayer is never mentioned, she said. You cant force religion on people. You can just plant the seed. Instead, Cook believes the heart of the mission is being a good listener. People want to talk when something happens; they want you to listen, she said. And Gabriel makes it easier for those in need of comfort to open up. He just opens the door for people to walk through, Cook said. Its God working through the dog. During COVID-19, the K-9 Ministry adapted. School and nursing-homes visit temporarily stopped. Still, the Comfort Dogs kept working, focusing instead window visits and meeting individuals on porches, driveways and patios. They joined parades and participated in drive-by events, greeting others through a car window. The Houston dogs are also participating in the Lutheran Church Charities Virtual Visits ministry providing support and relief from pandemic stress through online sessions with teachers, students, nurses and others. Theres still a need, Bretting said. You just have to figure out how to meet it. Before COVID-19, Joy visited patients and staff at area hospitals. Now, her focus is on nurses at Houston Methodist Clear Lake and HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake. Recently, Joy and her handlers presented Mercy Hearts to nurses at HCA Clear Lake. These wooden hearts are signed by church members and show gratitude to the hospital staff. Sheila Rios, a charge nurse in the emergency department, said the Mercy Hearts will be placed in each department. During Joys regular visits during the nurses shift changes, everyone wants to pet her right away, Rios said. People go out of their way to see her. They automatically light up when shes there. During the pandemic, Joys visits are especially welcomed, Rios added. Joy is a wonderful dog and definitely has a calming effect on the nurses and staff, even when theyre coming out of traumatic situations, Rios said. Dogs are a gift from God to understand people, said Gastler. Bretting said the K-9 Ministry has changed her personally. Im not as apprehensive to go up to people, she said. Even when youre not with the dog, you carry on the mission. Theres a lot Bretting has learned from Damaris. We dont see whats inside a persons heart, but dogs do, Bretting said. Houstons Top Dogs said that the smiles on the faces of those who were in grief and the comfort the canines provide are the greatest reward. Weve done our job and brought them some peace, Bretting explained. And who doesnt love a big fluffy dog coming your way? Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer. Yemeni tribesmen gather in a square during a Houthi organized event in the Dhamar governorate, Yemen, on Feb. 22, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images) US Blacklists Two Leaders of Yemens Houthi Movement WASHINGTONThe United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on two military leaders of the Houthi movement in Yemen, accusing them of procuring weapons from Iran and organizing attacks, in the Biden administrations first punitive action against the group. The sanctions contrast with the State Departments decision last month to revoke terrorist designations on the group imposed by President Donald Trumps administration on its last full day in office, over concern that they would exacerbate Yemens humanitarian crisis. But President Joe Bidens administration has signaled limits to U.S. tolerance of the Iran-backed Houthi movement, warning that Washington will keep up pressure on the groups leadership. The United States remains committed to promoting accountability of Houthi leadership for their actions, which have contributed to the extraordinary suffering of the Yemeni people, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Andrea Gacki said in a Treasury Department statement. Tuesdays move blacklisted Mansur Al-Saadi, the Houthi naval forces chief of staff, and Ahmad Ali Ahsan al-Hamzi, the commander of Yemens Houthi-aligned Yemeni air force and air defense forces. The Treasury accused the two leaders of orchestrating attacks by the Houthis that affected the Yemeni people, neighboring countries, and commercial vessels in international waters, in actions done to advance the Iranian regimes destabilizing agenda. The United States condemns the destruction of civilian sites by the Houthi militants designated today. These individuals command forces that are worsening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Gacki said. The war has sent the impoverished country spiraling into what the United Nations describes as the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. The new sanctions were issued as Biden has withdrawn support for a Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen, declaring that the six-year war, widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, has to end. The Treasury said Iran has intensified the conflict by providing direct financial and material assistance to the Houthis, including small arms, missiles, explosives, and unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, that have been used against the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The Treasury said Al-Saadi has received extensive training in Iran and helped smuggle weapons into Yemen, while al-Hamzi has acquired Iranian-made weapons for use in the civil war, including in drone strikes. Tuesdays sanctionsimposed under an executive order that aims to freeze the assets of people threatening the peace, security, or stability of Yemenblocks any property those blacklisted may have under U.S. jurisdiction and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. By Daphne Psaledakis and David Lawder Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday issued a notification that as many as 18 services including renewing your licence, issuing a learners licence, getting a duplicate license can now be done via Aadhaar-based authentication which means applicants now do not need to visit RTO offices. Other services such as temporary registration of vehicles will also be accessible online as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said in a notification on Wednesday. The development comes after the Union government issued a draft notification for linking driving licence and RC with the 12-digit unique identity number assigned to every Indian citizen. The government of India notified that getting a learners licence, renewing license, issuing a duplicate license have all been moved online so that applicants need not visit RTO offices. These services which can now be availed by citizens by the comfort of their homes include: Learners licence, Renewal of driving licence for which test of competence to drive is not required, Duplicate driving license, Change of address in driving licence and Certificate of Registration, Issue of international driving permit, Surrender of class of vehicle from licence, Application for temporary registration of motor vehicle, Application for registration of motor vehicle with a fully built body. Services which require Aadhaar authentication: * Learners licence * Renewal of driving licence for which test of competence to drive is not required * Duplicate driving licence * Change of address in driving licence and certificate of registration * Issue of international driving permit * Surrender of class of vehicle from licence * Application for temporary registration of motor vehicle * Application for registration of motor vehicle with fully built body * Application for issue of duplicate certificate of registration * Application for grant of NOC for certificate of registration * Notice of transfer of ownership of motor vehicle * Application for transfer of ownership of motor vehicle * Intimation of change of address in certificate of registration * Application for registration for driver training from accredited driver training centre * Application for registration of motor vehicle of diplomatic officer * Application for assignment of fresh registration mark of motor vehicle of diplomatic officer * Endorsement of hire-purchase agreement * Termination of hire-purchase agreement The move will reduce the burden on citizens, helping them to avail these services in a hassle free, contact-less manner. This will also reduce the footfall in the RTO office, which will further increase efficiency of the RTO offices as well. Close Looking for rehab facilities can be the first step in changing your life for the better, but before you make a leap that you don't fully understand, it is incredibly important to learn how rehab works in Canada, especially when it comes to how the government can and cannot help you along the way. Take a look at these simple keys to knowing all that you need to about rehab in the Great White North. The Cost of Rehab When thinking about going into rehab, you might have found yourself asking, "Does rehab cost money in Canada?" The answer might surprise you as it will likely depend on some of the other decisions you're going to have to make. When talking about health care in Canada, it is true that the government provides cost-free coverage to those in need. What often goes unmentioned are the long wait lists, the lack of personalized treatment, and the tactics they provide when available. Private rehabs, naturally will not be free, as daily treatments for inpatient care can cost hundreds of dollars, but will offer expertise and individual care that the public sector could never make available to the general population. Pros and Cons of Government Rehab in Canada Drug and alcohol addictions are a serious threat to individuals throughout the nation. Because of this, there are a vast number of people who walk into government-run service facilities to seek help, as not everyone can simply afford to pay for treatment themselves. Because of the growing rate of those in need of assistance, many are forced to put themselves on a long waitlist to receive help from public services. While this solution might work well for those that can't afford treatment and have less serious problems, there are many who need solutions that aren't cookie-cutter based outpatient programs that might help some in the long-run. Rather than being shuffled in and out by doctors who are pressured by the government to treat as many patients as possible, some will choose to receive assistance privately. The Benefits of Privately Funded Rehab in Canada While nearly everyone likes to hear about free treatment, the reality is that private rehab facilities in Canada can be affordable, all while you receive specialized care by medical professionals without the long queues and generalized care. Unlike government programs, private rehab treatment is more likely to include more than outpatient care, as you can also choose inpatient programs, residential live-in assistance, or simply withdrawal management centers. One of the most important reasons you might choose a private rehab facility over a public treatment is that you are able to receive specialized treatment that will meet your individual needs based on your personal circumstances. When it comes to seeking rehab in Canada, it is important to understand the options that you have available to you in order to receive the treatment that is best suited for your individual needs and abilities. While government-funded rehab is more affordable, there are reasonable private rehab options for those seeking more individualized care. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Twenty districts brought students back into classrooms either full- or part-time this week, as schools continue to change learning formats during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As of Monday, 533 districts were hybrid, 141 remote, and 111 fully in-person. Sixteen districts made the switch to hybrid learning this week, while the number of fully in-person districts increased by seven. Twenty-seven districts have different educational formats for different schools. This is the fifth week in a row to see more schools opt for some form of in-person learning, as President Joe Biden pushes to see most K-8 students back in the classroom by April. The list provided by the Department of Education is self-reported, spokesman Mike Yaple said. Districts have cited concerns about the viruss spread as the main reason for choosing to remain remote; at least one district has said it intends to stay virtual through the end of the year, and a number of large districts say they will remain remote until mid-April. Some schools have remained entirely remote since last March, while other districts have changed formats as virus conditions have changed. Gov. Phil Murphy said he expects all schools to return to in-person learning for the start of the 2021-2022 school year in September. There have been 152 outbreaks and 737 cases of the coronavirus linked to schools in New Jersey. For cases to qualify as an outbreak, they must be confirmed to have been transmitted in the classroom or during academic activities. All 21 counties have seen an in-school outbreak. How districts handle return-to-school plans has been a contentious issue, with protests, threats of violence, and lawsuits playing out across the state. The split between in-person and remote districts is not even across the state, with counties in the northwest part of the state having mostly in-person or hybrid options. Teachers will become eligible for the vaccine beginning on March 15, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday. There is not currently a vaccine approved for children under 16. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said there is strong evidence younger students can safely return to schools, without teachers needing to be vaccinated first. Coronavirus activity has continued to decline across New Jersey, with the statewide activity level dropping to moderate for the first time in 15 weeks. Only two regions the northeast and central east are still showing a high level of activity. The following districts welcomed students back into the classroom during the week of March 2: Bergen County Special Services School District, Hybrid Bergen County Vocational Technical School District, Hybrid Edgewater School District, Hybrid Englewood Public School District, Hybrid Fairview Public School District, Hybrid Freehold Borough School District, Combination of formats Linden Public School District, Hybrid Medford Lakes School District, In person North Arlington School District, Hybrid Passaic County Vocational School District, Hybrid Plainfield Public School District, Combination of formats Rahway Public School District, Combination of formats Ridgefield Park Public School District, Hybrid South Hackensack School District, Hybrid Hoboken Dual Language Charter School, Hybrid Cresthaven Academy Charter School, Combination of formats Alpha School, Hybrid Forum School, Hybrid Y.A.L.E. School East, Northfield, In person Y.C.S. George Washington School, Hybrid Chart not displaying? Click here. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. One shot that goes a long way Health officials have worried that some people may see the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson as inferior to those from Pfizer and Moderna, but the initial rollout of the new shot is turning that notion on its head. From a public health standpoint, the latest vaccine is shaping up to be the best choice for many people, including for the countrys most vulnerable populations. Because its a single shot, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can offer protection for those who might not have access or time for a second shot like people in rural areas, migrant workers, those on the verge of release from prison and meatpacking plant workers, among others. Dr. Joseph Kanter, the top health official in Louisiana, called it a potential breakthrough. In North Dakota, Johnson & Johnson doses will be put to use at pharmacies and urgent care clinics where people dont have regular access to health care. In Missouri, most of the states Johnson & Johnson doses are going to community health centers, which are taking advantage of the easier storage conditions because the vaccine doesnt require ultracold temperatures. And in North Carolina, health providers are holding a series of events to inoculate meatpacking, farm and grocery workers. We selected Doxims solution because it offers a unique level of interoperability and a seamless integration between user-assisted and self-service channels, a core capability in maintaining our high touch approach to member relationships -- Matt Hebert, Manager of Innovation at Motor City Doxim (http://www.doxim.com), the leading customer communications management (CCM) and engagement technology provider serving financial and regulated markets, today announced that Motor City Community Credit Union (http://www.mcccu.com) has selected Doxim Self-Service Account and Loan Origination, a further step towards creating a true omnichannel experience for Motor City members. The market leading self-service solution from Doxim will enable a complete, end-to-end digital account opening and loan origination process, right from ID verification to funding and creation of the account in core banking platforms. It integrates seamlessly with Doxim User-Assisted Loan Origination, which is a core component of the credit unions existing technology stack. Providing more digital channels was already on our roadmap, but with the onset of the global pandemic, we felt an additional urgency to invest in innovative, reliable ways for members and prospective members to do business with our credit union remotely, explained Matt Hebert, Manager of Innovation at Motor City. We selected Doxims solution because it offers a unique level of interoperability and a seamless integration between user-assisted and self-service channels, a core capability in maintaining our high touch approach to member relationships. In addition, a key requirement for Motor City, is the ability for members to begin an application on one channel and switch seamlessly to another to complete the process. We want the user-assisted service to fully support the self-service process. Doxims solution incorporates smart features, such as business messaging, which enables Motor City representatives to identify an abandoned application, send a message to the member or prospective member from the platform, and assist in completing the application. Were very excited to expand our relationship with Motor City, which has been a valued Doxim client for many years now, indicated Doxim VP for Payments and CEM Sean Kennelly. The Motor City team have expressed interest in sharing ideas and helping to innovate the solution going forward, and we look forward to bringing our digital engagement vision and expertise to the partnership. About Motor City Community Credit Union For over 80 years, Motor City Community Credit Union has provided full financial services to Windsor and Essex County. Truly, a credit union built from the ground up beginning with Printers Industrial Credit Union in 1938, Motor City has stayed true to the values of co-operative banking and the credit union system in our community and continues to grow and service over 13,000 members with technology, products and services our members have come to expect. Local decision-making and putting people before profits remains a priority for Motor City Community Credit Union, now and into the future. About Doxim Doxim is the customer communications management and engagement technology leader serving financial and regulated markets, providing omnichannel document solutions and transforming experiences to strengthen engagement throughout the entire lifecycle. The Doxim Platform helps clients communicate reliably and effectively, improve cross-sell and upsell opportunities, and drive increased loyalty and wallet share through personalized communications. The platform addresses key digitization, operational efficiency, and customer experience challenges through our suite of plug-and-play, integrated, SaaS software and technology solutions. Learn more at http://www.doxim.com. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below ALBANY State and national teachers' unions are calling on school districts to ramp up COVID testing efforts for students and staff as many explore ways to bring more students back for in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year. Leaders from New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), United University Professions (UUP), the National Football League Players Association and the Rockefeller Foundation, made the case for continued screenings at a virtual press conference Thursday. NYSUT said districts should look to models used in New York City schools, on SUNY campuses and by the NFL to create or expand their own testing programs. The union also is calling for federal and state funds to implement testing. Educators want to be in the classroom with their students, but they want to do that safely. Identifying asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 in particular is critical to bolstering school safety plans, NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said. Yet far too few districts have a testing regimen up and running. That is unacceptable. If the nations largest school district, the nations largest university system and the nations biggest professional sport can do it, theres no reason we cant figure out how to implement testing for schools statewide. The unions call comes as many school districts are considering or already are bringing more students back for in-person instruction in school buildings. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions February reopening guidance noted that routine testing can help detect new cases and prevent outbreaks and reduce the risk of further transmission. During the winter COVID-19 surge, New York's more than 700 New York school districts had stockpiled enough rapid testing kits for one round of required testing in case the state declared their region a "microcluster" which would trigger restrictions on businesses and schools. When the microcluster designation never came and the state shifted its virus mitigation strategy, a number of schools in the Capital Region used up their test supplies to randomly test between a portion of their asymptomatic students and staff. The surveillance testing, which screened between 10 and 20 percent of in-person populations in districts like Watervliet, Albany, Bethlehem, and North Colonie, turned up close to zero positive cases. Local public schools have not indicated if this testing will continue as infection rates continue to decline across the region. In a February poll of NYSUT members outside New York City, 74 percent of educators said their district is not doing any regular testing. But 18 percent said testing of some students and staff is happening regularly, and 2 percent said their districts are testing most students and staff. A robust testing infrastructure is one of the single most valuable tools we have to stop the spread of COVID-19 and reopen our school buildings for in-person learning safely and equitably, AFT President Randi Weingarten said. Our friends across professional sports, television programming and other critical industries have taught us that with regular, reliable testing, we can identify COVID outbreaks including an early warning sign of asymptomatic carriers and spreaders and drastically reduce the number of infections in a given place. In New York City, schools reopened with a mandatory random testing program in all reopened school buildings. This program currently tests 20 percent of staff and students on a weekly basis. Testing is the early warning system that helps you stop the spread of COVID within school communities, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said. Testing and tracing enable you to quickly isolate reported cases, while testing school populations for asymptomatic cases helps keep schools from spreading the virus to the larger community. For New Yorks public colleges and universities, SUNY adopted a number of COVID-19 testing measures and safety guidelines for students and on-campus faculty and staff. Currently, all locations in the 64-campus university system are required to test every student and staff member with access to the campus on a weekly basis. Going back to last spring, UUP has been outspoken over the absolute need for baseline and consistent surveillance COVID testing for our members working on campus, UUP President Frederick E. Kowal said. Many of the guidelines proposed by UUP are now part of the campus safety protocols adopted by SUNY. I am certain that these measures protected our members and saved lives. The Joint Forces had to fire back. The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported one wounded in action (WIA) amid four violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Wednesday, March 3. "In the past day, March 3, four 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 March 4, 2021. In particular, the Russian occupation troops fired an under-barrel grenade launcher and automatic rifles near the village of Prychepylivka. Read alsoKravchuk: 'DPR' statement on 'pre-emptive fire' seen as Russia's possible withdrawal from peace deal"A serviceman with Ukraine's Armed Forces was wounded amid shelling. He was rushed to the hospital where he received medical assistance," the report says. Also, the enemy used grenade launchers of various systems near the village of Vodiane in the Azov Sea littoral. What is more, the invaders fired anti-tank grenade launchers near the village of Vodiane outside the occupied city of Donetsk, as well as rifles near the village of Kamianka. The Joint Forces had to fire back, the report said. The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire in Donbas. Since Thursday midnight, March 4, two ceasefire violations were recorded in the JFO zone. In particular, the enemy fired proscribed 120mm mortars toward Ukrainian positions near Vodiane outside Donetsk, while heavy machine guns were used near the village of Pisky. There have been no casualties since Thursday midnight. The Ukrainian military say the situation is under full control. Donbas ceasefire: Background Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday, July 27, 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 Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Hanwha Chairman Kim Seung-youn, left, and Hanwha Solutions President Kim Dong-kwan / Korea Times file By Kim Hyun-bin, Kim Yoo-chul Upon the return of Chairman Kim Seung-youn, Hanwha Group is expected to speed up efforts to explore its best possible opportunities to achieve both "organic" and "inorganic" corporate growth. In terms of business strategies, organic growth allows firms to boost sales via internal efforts helping them cut overhead and any management complexities. But inorganic growth relies on mergers and acquisitions (M&As) that boost a company's total assets, liquidity and liabilities. As Chairman Kim will handle top posts of the group's key affiliates including Hanwha Solutions and Hanwha Engineering & Construction, the group is widely expected to put a bit more priority on "organic growth" as this strategy reflects the quality of leadership and commitment to long-term development goals. Because organic growth is well-translated into a broad range of benefits including increased output, new product development and improved investor confidence, the conglomerate is looking to widen its customer base, according to sources. Hanwha's core strengths lie in manufacturing. Based on those strengths, it is planning to invest more in aerospace, mobility, solar cells and other eco-friendly businesses. The group's corporate structure largely comprises of the financial, manufacturing, construction and leisure sectors. More specifically, Hanwha aims to set foot in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipbuilding market and to strengthen the conglomerate's manufacturing sector. The conglomerate has been operating a taskforce to expand its solar panel business and has been eyeing to acquire and expand investment in other eco-friendly business sectors to fuel future growth. "Hanwha has been seeking to increase synergy in the manufacturing sector especially within the eco-friendly business sector," an industry source told The Korea Times. "As a long-term plan, Hanwha may be interested in acquiring major stakes in the country's top-tier shipbuilder to increase their manufacturing sales portion," an industry official said, Thursday. Hanwha was in the process of recruiting personnel from other local LNG shipbuilding companies. "Regarding the specifics, I would say Hanwha is said to be recruiting experts from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME)," the source said. On a related note, Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings has received the green light from antitrust authorities in some countries for its planned acquisition of DSME and is awaiting approval from Korea, EU and Japan. In 2008, Hanwha sought to acquire DSME, which abruptly fell through at the last minute. Back in 2014, Hanwha sought the acquisition of Samsung affiliates. It acquired Samsung Techwin and Samsung Thales, creating great synergy to grow into the country's largest defense manufacturer. According to data released by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Hanwha Group's 2019 financial data states that the conglomerate's financial sector makes up 45.8 percent of the group followed by manufacturing at 41.8 percent, and construction and leisure services at 10.4 percent. "Organic growth could come from new business targets because any enhancements in technology and clients' needs offer more ways to lead the growing markets. I would say LNG-oriented business models are something Hanwha could successfully handle given its strengths in manufacturing," another source added. Hanwha Group denied the report, claiming it has not sought to recruit experts from DSME or to acquire a major shipbuilding company at this point in time. Winnipeg-based agricultural technology startup Farmers Edge Inc. jumped 14 per cent in its Toronto trading debut Wednesday after raising $125 million in its Canadian initial public offering. Winnipeg-based agricultural technology startup Farmers Edge Inc. jumped 14 per cent in its Toronto trading debut Wednesday after raising $125 million in its Canadian initial public offering. Shares of the firm closed at $19.98 on the Toronto Stock Exchange, above its IPO price of $17 a share. That gives the company a market value of about $813 million, based on about 40.7 million shares outstanding. The stock had surged as much as 21 per cent at the start of trading Wednesday to touch $20.50. Farmers Edge uses technology and artificial intelligence to collect and analyze local weather, soil moisture and satellite data to help growers boost crop yields and farm more efficiently. The firm, co-founded in 2005 by Wade Barnes, has turned to public markets as the agriculture industry shows heightened interest in using technology to improve outputs, curb greenhouse gas emissions and digitize operations. "We make those farms data-rich, and thats when you can start putting in artificial intelligence and machine learning to really develop these tools that the farmers can use," Barnes said. "Thats really our special sauce." Farming is the industry least affected by the digital "disruption" hitting the economy, "but its our belief it will make the biggest impact," he said. The investment banks that managed the sale, led by National Bank of Canada and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, have an option to sell an additional 15 per cent of the offering. That could lift proceeds to as much as $143.8 million. Farmers Edge also sold shares to some directors, officers and employees outside of Canada in a private placement that raised $437,500, according to a Wednesday statement. Farmers Edge plans to use about $80 million of its proceeds to expand, with a focus on internal growth using existing partnerships. While a "lions share of growth" will come from within, Barnes didnt rule out takeovers. "There probably will be some opportunities around acquisitions," he said. "The ag tech space is a little fluid out there, so if something presents itself I think well take a long, hard look at it." Bloomberg WOOD RIVER Multiple COVID-19 vaccination appointment times were listed as available Friday, Monday and Tuesday by the Madison County Health Department. On Thursday morning, the health department stated it is now scheduling Johnson & Johnson one-dose COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible Madison County residents March 5, 8 and 9 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. To register for an appointment, visit https://events.juvare.com/IL-IDPH/90e2c37e-ce91-44b0-9378-d1e867141108/?fbclid=IwAR2Ho39M6QY7pzJb83wrmFbdnu6_soeOVXKKrz0cXwcSShQuTBWyVyWn1U8. People without access to a computer may call 618-692-8954. All vaccinations are by appointment only. Recipients must be an Illinois resident who lives or works in Madison County and must be eligible to receive the vaccine under Illinois Phase 1a, Phase 1b, or Phase 1b+. Those eligible include: Phase 1A Individuals who are healthcare providers Phase 1B Individuals aged 65 or older; law enforcement or other emergency responders; educators in public or private K-12 schools, licensed daycare providers, public transit workers, U.S. Postal employees, agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store or supply employees, shelter and adult daycare workers or participants and people 16-64 years old with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of COVID-19. People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any injectable medication or vaccine are not eligible to register for these clinics; contact COVIDVax@co.madison.il.us for further instructions. People cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine within 14 days of any other vaccines. People sick or COVID-19 positive are asked to contact the health department to reschedule appointments. On the day of a vaccination appointment, people should arrive at their appointment time but not come early. They should have a photo ID and proof of employment, if applicable. Facial masks are required and people should wear proper attire to receive an injection in the upper arm. Minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian at all times. BOSTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Mutual Insurance announced today the appointment of Wesley Hyatt as Chief Client Officer of its Global Risk Solutions (GRS) division. In this role, Hyatt leads the Client Executive team, charged with deeply understanding the evolving risks faced by clients, and helping them and their brokers fully benefit from Liberty Mutual's suite of global products, services and capabilities. Hyatt also oversees the US Client Service team, which provides day-to-day service support for large domestic policyholders and their brokers. Wesley Hyatt, Chief Client Officer, Global Risk Solutions, Liberty Mutual "Liberty Mutual aspires to be the world's most respected commercial and specialty (re)insurer," said GRS President Dennis Langwell. "To earn that distinction, we've built our organization around the needs of our clients and brokers. As Chief Client Officer, Wes plays a critical role in ensuring we continue to do that." Hyatt brings the right skills to the position, according to GRS North America President Tracy Ryan. "Liberty Mutual's deep expertise, regional presence and continuously-expanding commercial and specialty insurance offering ideally position us to support the evolving needs of the most complex risks in the US and across the globe. Throughout her career at Liberty Mutual, I've seen firsthand that Wes has the proven leadership and management skills, drive and inclusive approach needed to ensure her team delivers value to clients and distribution partners." Hyatt has held a number of leadership roles at Liberty Mutual in claims and account management, most recently as Senior Vice President of Workers Compensation Claims. In this position, Wes led efforts to enhance Liberty Mutual's workers compensation business for the benefit of clients, their injured workers and employees across the workers compensation organization. Highlights include digital transformation work with cloud-based technology solutions and improving claim outcomes through an advocacy-based approach. About Liberty Mutual Insurance At Liberty Mutual, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today we are the sixth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2019 gross written premium. We also rank 77th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2019 revenue. As of December 31, 2020, we had $43.8 billion in annual consolidated revenue. We employ over 45,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property. For more information, visit www.libertymutualinsurance.com. Contact: Richard Angevine 617-833-0926 [email protected] SOURCE Liberty Mutual Insurance Having people who are actually working in schools, who know what those challenges are, is something thats going to be a little different. ... Im confident thats going to help us land this a lot sooner, and in a much more pleasant way for everybody, Jackson said, alluding to the at times fraught back-and-forth between district and union leaders. Last month, we discussed a patent holders ability to more adeptly pursue patent infringement of its products in the online marketplace through Amazons Neutral Patent Evaluation Process. Amazon also provides online armor to owners of trademarks (the sister assets of patents) to protect them from knock-off artists who use their brand names to sell their own competing products. Two such Amazon programs are the Amazon Brand Registry and Project Zero. Both provide invaluable opportunities for brand owners to wield both shield and sword against trademark attacks in the commercial marketplace. Amazons Brand Registry The Amazon Brand Registry is a boon for eligible companies that sell products on Amazon and want to quickly address knock-off products. On average, enrolled brands reported a 99% reduction in suspected infringements. A critical prophylactic measure against infringers, this brand protection program not only offers brand owners additional tools for reporting violations of their rights, it provides key control mechanisms over brand representation and content. Some key benefits to enrolling your trademarks with Amazons Brand Registry are: (1) access to searching and reporting tools to detect and report violations of images and the Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs); (2) access to text and image searches through Amazons Report a Violation tool; and (3) the ability to proactively control and monitor your brand. Amazons Brand Registry also enables you to: Enhance your brand content by adding a uniquely crafted brand story, as well as enhanced images and text placements. Grow brand awareness with sponsored ads that feature your logo, a custom headline and up to three of your products. Promote your brand and products through your own multi-page Amazon Store for no cost. Utilize Amazons brand analytics as a springboard for making informed, strategic and streamlined business decisions using data that teaches you about your customers through search terms and customer behavior data reports. Refresh your brands product listings with quick updates so customers see the most current and accurate product information. Capitalize on Amazons automated protections that use your brand information to proactively remove suspected infringing or inaccurate content. In fact, the more information you provide, the more intelligent the Brand Registry becomes in assisting you with brand protection. Report violations using Amazons powerful search tools to locate and report suspected violations using a simple, guided process. To date, Amazons Brand Registry has stopped 2.5 million bad actor accounts before they were able to publish a single listing on its site. The Registry also blocked over 6 billion suspected infringements before being published on Amazon. In short, the program works, so if your brand is eligible and you are selling products on Amazon, you should enroll in the program. Am I Eligible? To see if your brand is eligible for enrollment with Amazons Brand Registry, review these requirements: You must be the actual trademark owner, and you must have one of the following: An active registered trademark in each country in which you would like to enroll the brand; A pending trademark application filed through Amazon IP Accelerator; or A trademark pending registration in a subset of certain trademark offices. Your trademark must match the brand name or image on the application form. Your trademark must be on the product or its packaging. To enroll your brand, you must provide the official trademark registration or pending trademark application number. You must also list the product categories (e.g. apparel, sporting goods, electronics) for which the brand should be listed. While only a trademark owner can enroll a brand, you can add an authorized agent once the brand is enrolled. Once you enroll, Amazon will verify you are the actual brand owner and provide you with a verification code. You send that verification code back to Amazon through its case log. After Amazon verifies that information, enrollment is complete. Official enrollment allows you to add new marks for an already-enrolled brand, to update your brand profile, and to report trademark and other IP violations through the Amazon Brand Registry. Keep in mind, however, that this registry isnt open to everyone. First, if you enrolled in the registry before April 30, 2017, you must re-enroll. Second, Amazon only accepts the enrollment of trademarks officially issued by the governments in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Australia, India, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Sweden, European Union and United Arab Emirates. Specific country requirements are available here. Amazons Project Zero Amazon also offers Project Zero, which is effectively the Amazon Brand Registry on steroids, to its most prolific brand owners. Project Zero is a self-service counterfeit removal tool that provides automated protections based on machine learning. Amazon continuously scans and confirms the authenticity of each product through serialization codes. It then proactively removes suspected counterfeits by scanning over 5 billion daily listing updates. Notably, product serialization is not required by the brand owner, but if a brand owner decides to serialize its product, the brand owner should apply a unique code to every unit it manufactures and enrolls. This allows Amazon to detect and stop counterfeiting for every single product unit. As an added benefit, once a brand is enrolled in one country, it is automatically enrolled in other countries. It is free to enroll in Project Zero, to obtain access to the automated protections and to use the self-service counterfeit removal tool. Keep in mind, however, that brand owners who choose to use the product serialization service incur a cost per unit, based on volume. Am I Eligible? To be eligible for Project Zero, the brand owner must: Be enrolled in Amazons Brand Registry. Own the trademark rights. Have an Amazon account with access to the Brand Registry. Have submitted reports of potential infringements with an acceptance rate of at least 90% during the last six months. To maintain this frequent flyer status through Amazons Project Zero, you must be diligent as well as accurate. Once enrolled in Project Zero, you must maintain an accuracy rate of at least 99% to maintain your privileges. You must also complete a required training as part of the enrollment process, and Amazon maintains ongoing monitoring to prevent the misuse of its Project Zero tools. Similar to the Amazon Brand Registry (which is a prerequisite to Project Zero), Project Zero is currently available to eligible brands in the U.S., U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, India, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Brazil, U.A.E., Turkey, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and the Netherlands. Unlike Amazon Brand Registry, a brand owner cannot authorize an agent to act on its behalf for Project Zero. The authors penned this piece as part of the Midland Daily News' Community Connections initiative. Mary Bonnema can be reached at 616-752-2403 or mbonnema@wnj.com. Amber Underhill can be reached at 616-752-2797 or aunderhill@wnj.com. Brianna Loder can be reached at 248-784-5119 or bloder@wnj.com. Museums Shouldnt Be Bullied by the Left on Statues: UK Culture Secretary Museums shouldnt be bullied by left-wing campaign groups into removing statues and rewriting history, UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said. Dowden highlighted the risk of museums being pushed around by unrepresentative campaign groups, principally from the left. File photo shows the toppled statue of 17th-century merchant Edward Colston as it is tossed into the water during a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol, England, on June 7, 2020. (Keir Gravil via Reuters) These left-wing groups put bullying pressure on institutions to rapidly change their approach, to remove our history, to remove items and statues and so on, in a very short-termist way, he said on March 2 at the History Matters conference organized by Policy Exchange, a London-based center-right think tank. I think that that is a danger that needs to be guarded against, because it can take generations to build history and heritage, and it can take just a few short-termist decisions to remove it and to remove it for good. Dowden said that the left has been applying pressure on cultural institutions quietly, for years. He said he had talked to institutions who felt they were being bullied, particularly by left-wing campaigners, adding that some had been subjected to threats of defunding. A worker cleans the defaced statue of Winston Churchill, which was spray-painted with the words was a racist, in London, on June 8, 2020. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Im the first culture secretary to stand up and say, well, hang on. Just think, as institutions, about your wider duty to the nation, your wider duty to conserve and preserve our heritage. Dont allow yourself to be pushed around by the zeitgeist of the day, take a longer-term view of things, make sure you do things in a rigorous way, and understand that your principal duty is to preserve and conserve our heritage. He reminded taxpayer-funded cultural institutions that they should be independent of both politicians and unrepresentative campaign groups. Just as independence means that they should not be subject to the will of politicians, they should equally stop, pause, take a breath, and not be pushed around by campaign groups who often purport to represent a wider community that they simply dont represent. Citing recent research by think tank the Henry Jackson Society, which showed that 84 percent of black Britons oppose the toppling of historical statues, Dowden said the public is bemused by the tendency to try and rewrite chunks of history. Of course we need to continuously reevaluate our history and learn the lessons of the past, he said. But equally I think strong societies dont try and airbrush their past, they dont try to hide it away. They preserve and they cherish their heritage. He said, I think most people in this country believe in retaining our heritage, preserving what is so wonderful, but also using it as an opportunity to explain our rich history. The UK government said in January that it will enact new laws to protect statues in England from attacks by woke militants who want to censor the nations past. The issue of how Britain should deal with the legacies of its past, especially its role in slavery and colonialism, has been the subject of heated debate since the statue of Edward Colston, a 17th-century merchant, was toppled by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Bristol in June 2020. During protests last summer sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, rioters in the UK also defaced a statue of Winston Churchill in Londons Parliament Square, taping a Black Lives Matter sign to it and spraying it with graffiti. In September 2020, Dowden wrote to several museums and cultural institutions warning that their public funding could be called into question should they remove statues or other historical objects that have become the focus of protests or complaints. Reuters, Mary Clark, and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Correction: A previous version of this article misstated that a poll was conducted by The Times of London. The research was conducted by the Henry Jackson Society and reported by the Times of London. The Epoch Times regrets the error. On July 31, 2019, PBS SoCal, the PBS flagship public television station in Southern California in the United States, premiered my documentary on China's historic poverty alleviation campaign: "Voices from the Frontline: China's War on Poverty (Adam Zhu, executive producer; Peter Getzels, director), the inside story of China's race to eradicate all absolute poverty by 2020, the first in-depth documentary about China's poverty alleviation campaign to be broadcast abroad. In May 2020 it was broadcast again in the U.S. The documentary Voices from the Frontline: Chinas War on Poverty(The video website iqiyi) Working with the CPC Organization Department, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, and with CGTN, our production partner, our international film crew had unprecedented access to travel across China, embedded in the country's massive poverty alleviation programs. We met poor villagers, local officials, special monitors those being lifted out of poverty, those assigned to do the lifting, and those recruited to do the checking. For example, the last step in deciding who is poor and who is not and who can be said to have been lifted out of poverty is what is called the "democratic appraisal meeting. It is where the villagers themselves get a chance to vote. I attended one such meeting in a remote village of Wanling Township in central Hainan's Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County, where villagers voted into poverty status one young man whose father has cancer (and thus benefitted from favorable policies) and cheered when another man was raised out of poverty. The villagers were not shy in voicing their opinions. As much as I thought I knew China, I was startled to discover that every poor family in China has its own file, each with its "targeted plan to lift each above the line of absolute poverty that's millions of poor families with customized plans, each checked monthly, recorded on paper, and digitized for central compilation and analysis. That's millions of households! Equally startling, young Party cadres are dispatched to impoverished villages to manage poverty alleviation for two years. One might think that they would be unhappy, because they were away from their families, living under difficult conditions, their career path in local government held up. But not they were happy and excited, knowing they were contributing to China's national commitment to eradicate all extreme poverty and that their grassroot work would help their future careers. I was especially moved when I spent days with young Party cadres who had been assigned to very poor, isolated villages and saw how they visited poor families regularly on their motorcycles (I rode with them). One case that impressed me was where the young cadre suspected that one family was hiding income in order to get the financial benefits of poverty status, and how he cleverly but compassionately separated husband and wife to see how their stories matched (their stories did not match). Although poverty is being fought the world over, there is nothing anywhere like China's relocation of whole villages on a massive, national scale moving people from remote rural areas to cities, providing homes and jobs, giving them a real chance at a better life, But what might sound good in theory might not work well in practice, which is why I wanted to see how it actually works on the ground. I travelled to Guizhou Province, Huishui County, where the relocation of whole villages was underway. From remote mountain hamlets, villagers were being moved to Mingtian community, 70 kilometers away. I joined Yang Wei, the First Party Secretary of Mingtian community, as she and the local Communist Party committee made their rounds, visiting those who had recently moved there. I learned that housing is free for villagers who relocate here. A family of four receives up to 80 square meters of living space, 20 per person. The government also covers all basic amenities, including sofas, beds, kitchenware, and TVs. But how can these rural men, who were farmers, learn new, non-farming jobs? I joined a cooking class and got to know one of the former farmers who was learning to be a chef. I spent time with three generations of his family and several of his friends. All were appreciative of their new lives, but one man thought the local government made promises that they had not kept (about income) and he was not afraid to voice his complaint to me and everyone else in the room. Yet, not everyone from the villages agrees to move to the new communities. After all, the farms have been their lives for generations. I travelled to Daijing village to meet the Party secretary. His job was to convince the few remaining villagers to relocate. It is policy that neither he nor the government can force people to relocate. But even with success in industry (micro-business), education, and relocation, in such a massive country, with such large flows of funds and with officials' careers on the line, there is risk of abuse and manipulation. While cheating and stealing in poverty alleviation are not unexpected, they are disconcerting. One of the aspects of the poverty alleviation that impressed me the most was the system put in place to mitigate fraud, called "third-party evaluation. For example, our documentary focused on a team of professors and students from Southwest University in the Chongqing municipality. It was as if they were on a military mission. Authorized and trained by the central government, they traveled more than 300 kilometers from their university deep into rural Sichuan Province. The governing idea is that since the third-party evaluators would be coming from completely different regions, they would not likely know any of the officials whom they would be evaluating and thus not be swayed by personal relationships. Their task was to evaluate both the successes and the challenges of the poverty alleviation process and to assess how officials were doing their jobs. To ensure that the local officials do not prepare for inspection visits, the evaluation team decides where they will go only at the last minute, often the same morning of the inspection. The mobilization of students is indeed like a military operation. Hundreds fan out across the countryside to check if the anti-poverty work is being done properly and assessed honestly. In one ethnic township, the team found irregularities in the work of village officials. I watched local officials being held accountable, sweating, their careers at stake. No one gets off easy. After watching our film, one not unsophisticated American said, "I wasn't expecting a positive outcome. I guess there are so many negative reports about China that we assume they couldn't care less about their underclass. My opinion was changed. Between 2015 and 2019, all across China, almost three million Party officials were working on the frontlines of rural poverty alleviation (that's cumulative some 750,000 at any given time). I was impressed by the rigid rules designed to optimize poverty alleviation outcomes. No official could be promoted until each met specific, numeric, poverty-alleviation objectives. Officials know that their careers prosper or falter based on their poverty-alleviation results. I could tell that cadres and officials knew that the Party and the government meant business with the poverty alleviation campaign. In framing my poverty alleviation documentary, I insisted that the first and last statements be about and by President Xi Jinping. My documentary begins by stating, "To President Xi Jinping, ending poverty is his most important task and it ends by quoting President Xi, "I have spent more energy on poverty alleviation than on anything else. Although other developing countries have different conditions and cultures, China rightly believes its poverty alleviation experience can help. Among developing countries, only China has achieved rapid development and large-scale poverty reduction, with the poor sharing the fruits of reform and opening up over the four decades and with the intractably poor finally brought out of poverty over the last seven years or so. For good reason, China's poverty alleviation accomplishments have been called a developmental miracle. When China's 2020 poverty alleviation mission is completed, China will have achieved the poverty reduction goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. No other country has brought so many people out of poverty, and did so in such a short period of time. China asserts that these historic achievements validate the country's socialist political system, which means the continuing leadership of the Communist Party. What can the world learn from China's success in poverty alleviation? Certainly, China hopes to share its poverty-reduction experience all aspects of it with the world community, especially the poorest nations. But first, a caveat. Each country is different. Each culture has its own history and culture; the natures of different peoples are indeed different. We cannot take programs from one country and impose them wholly, without adaptation, on another country. However, the principles are what's important. And China's principles of poverty alleviation are clear: "targeted poverty alleviation employs specific measures to fit specific circumstances and needs, and a clear organizational structure to implement those measures, monitor them, and check them. Nonetheless, to me, what is even clearer is this. For a country to make a success of poverty alleviation, the number one criterion is that the leadership of the country must make an absolute and resolute commitment to accomplish it. Again, General Secretary Xi' s unambiguous assertion: "I have spent more energy on poverty alleviation than on anything else. This sends a powerful message to officials at all levels, indeed to the entire country. So, this is the big lesson to learn: the senior leader of the country needs to make the overall mission of poverty alleviation a high priority for the nation. Nothing less will do. One individual needs to be empowered, by senior leadership, with the authority and resources to implement the national program. We think of poverty programs in terms of criteria, measures, mechanisms and procedures. And indeed, China has pioneered micro-businesses, education, relocating whole villages, eco-compensation, and social security. These can be adapted to other countries, as can the Party-led organizational system of implementing poverty alleviation through the "five levels of local government (provincial, municipal, county, township, village). Bottomline, though, what all countries should recognize in the fight against poverty is the critical importance of motivating officials to make poverty alleviation a priority in the hierarchy of values in their work. This can come only from the top down. This is a big lesson that China offers to the world. (The author is chairman of the Kuhn Foundation) Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has said he does not rule out changes to the stages of COVID-19 vaccination program in terms of determining priority groups to receive the vaccine. Will there be changes to the stages of vaccination, that is, the list of people who fall under the first, second and up to the fifth stage? There will probably be, because there are different proposals," Shmyhal said a press conference dedicated to the results of Government's activities under his chairmanship, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He noted that the distribution of priority groups by stages of vaccination in Ukraine corresponds to the European one. In addition, there are proposals to prioritize members of the clergy because they contact with many people. According to Shmyhal, proposals to make changes to priority groups are being discussed with the Ministry of Health. On February 24, 2021, Ukraine launched a coronavirus vaccination campaign. Medical workers and military personnel were the first to get their shots of the Covishield vaccine, manufactured in India under the license of Oxford/AstraZeneca. As of March 4, 9,568 people received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Ukraine, according to the Center for Public Health. iy Police have been given more time to question a man in connection with the suspicious death of a woman at Altnagelvin Hospital last year. Detectives from the PSNI's Major Investigation Team this arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with death of a 21-year-old woman at Altnagelvin hospital on August 9, 2020, following an incident at an address in Gortnessy Meadows in Derry on August 3. A PSNI tonight said that they have been granted a further 36 hours to question the man. The Turks and Caicos Islands health facilities have just 50 days worth of oxygen left to support Covid-19 patients, according to Minister of Health E Jay Saunders. "Weve been running low on oxygen levels and this oxygen can actually be depleted pretty quickly, he said during a press conference on Monday, March 1. "The depletion rate is dependent on the amount of persons on ventilators, so we need to make sure we try to keep people healthy. The new health minister said this is just one of the stressors the Ministry of Health is facing. "Thankfully weve got oxygen generators on island right now and those will allow us to produce oxygen on island, and those are being installed. In May last year, former health minister Hon. Edwin Astwood said oxygen supplies were dangerously low because of high global demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that the territory did not have the capacity to produce oxygen cylinders, and as a result they had to be shipped from overseas. At the time Astwood said the Ministry of Health planned to buy the full range of products required to generate oxygen in-country, and provide oxygen therapy and monitoring. "focus has been given to improving local oxygen supply and oxygen therapy systems at both TCIG hospitals, he said. Normally, hospital patients receive air or low-flow oxygen, but during the Covid-19 pandemic a much larger number of patients need oxygen therapy to support their breathing. Covid-19 attacks the lungs and can cause severe pneumonia and difficulty in breathing. Some patients require a sustained form of ventilation including full sedation and a tube passed into their windpipe. "Covid-19 causes pneumonia and approximately 15 percent of Covid-19 patients are classified as severe and require oxygen therapy, the former minister explained. "Much fewer, approximately five percent, are classified as critical and require a ventilator. Oxygen therapy involves the free-flow of oxygen through the nostrils to support hospitalised patients recovering from Covid-19. A ventilator is a complex device that requires well trained staff to operate and maintain. It provides mechanical ventilation and is only used for those critical Covid-19 patients in intensive care who are unable to breathe. Nikira John from TCI Hospital told the Weekly News on Tuesday, March 2, that a comprehensive press release will be sent out on the topic later in the week. In just one week Irina Shayk has graced two different international Vogue covers and one for Elle magazine, all while doing Milan fashion week. To say the 35-year-old Victoria's Secret vet is in demand would be an understatement, and her look for Vogue Thailand was anything but. The Russian born beauty was seen rocking a pixie cut and pearls as she posed in evening wear for a very elegant cover, sharing a sneak peek of the spread via social media on Thursday. Changing it up: Irina Shayk, 35, graces two covers for Vogue Thailand in a pixie cut and pearls as she snags her second international cover in a week on top of partaking in Milan Fashion Week An expression of herself per the cover's theme, Shayk posed in two evening looks one plunging white dress with black trimming and another black strapless gown. The always confident model pursed her lips in one snap with Chanel earrings and played with her long dress train in the other while flashing her enviable runway legs. She recently returned to her home in New York after walking in Milan Fashion Week, where she was reunited with her daughter Lea de Seine who she shares with former partner Bradley Cooper. In her Elle spread she touched on their relationship both romantically and as parents, but was guarded when it came to giving too much away. Legs for days: In the black strapless gown Irina played with her dress train while flaunting her incredible runway legs City strut: Taking to the city streets like a runway Irina looked edgy in a striped black and yellow sweater and leather trousers to match her jacket 'I never understood the term co-parenting. When I'm with my daughter, I'm 100 percent a mother, and when she's with her dad, he's 100 percent her dad. Co-parenting is parenting,' she shared. Not willing to share too much about the pair's four-year relationship she quipped in conversation: 'My past relationship, it's something that belongs to me, and it's private. It's just a piece of my inner self that I don't want to give away.' The amicable exes have been spotted in recent weeks out together with Lea both very hands on with their shared offspring as she called him 'the most amazing dad.' Though no-longer a couple, Irina has maintained that she has never needed to depend on a man, stemming from the loss of her father when she was just 14. Cab hail: The model was seen strolling through the city with her daughter dressed in a stylish pink coat as they hailed a taxi Co-parenting: In conversation with Elle the Russian-born model said 'co-parenting is parenting' as she spoke about both she and Cooper being very hands on when it came to their daughter In demand: The Victoria's Secret vet recently returned to her home in NYC after modeling for Milan Fashion Week; pictured February 28 'I learned how to survive, without a man,' she told the fashion publication. Despite her independence, since splitting from Cooper she has been linked to art deal Vito Schnabel, most recently seen with him last week. Having a predilection for gorgeous models, Schnabel dated Heidi Klum for three years and it has been reported by some that she and Cooper used to double date with the former pair. Her light in the fashion industry continuing to shine she spoke about riding the grey area between 'Sports Illustrated sexy' and high fashion, something she has settled into in recent years. 'I feel more comfortable in my own skin - I love my body. I love to eat. I appreciate food; I appreciate life. I really think that's what fashion is looking for now,' she shared. Kuwaits new government was sworn in on Wednesday. Prime Minister Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah took office along with his entire Cabinet, the state-run Kuwait News Agency reported. The Gulf kingdom has experienced several leadership changes in the past few months. In September, longtime Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah passed away. His brother, Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, succeeded him as emir later that month. In January, Prime Minister Sabah resigned along with his Cabinet amid a debate on the governments formation. Sabah was reappointed to form a government later that month and then formed a new Cabinet on Wednesday. Sabah swapped out four ministers who parliament had disapproved of to form the new government. He replaced them with experienced politicians deemed less controversial, Al Jazeera reported. The emir suspended parliament for one month on Feb. 18 amid the disagreements between the prime minister and the legislative body. The tension between the Cabinet and parliament has made it difficult for them to deal with the countrys cash crunch. The situation is due to low oil prices over the past year and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Reuters. Kuwait is an important player on the Gulf diplomatic scene. Kuwait has played a leading role in the rapprochement among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The new government will also be tasked with continuing to fight the coronavirus. The government implemented a mandatory quarantine for all people entering the country last week. Police were called to Night Owl Pediatrics, 2372 Lifestyle Way, regarding a suspicious person. Employees said there was a man at the rear of their building who had several backpacks and was carrying a cardboard sign. The staff at this location found the man suspicious and requested police assistance to move him along. Police met with the man who said he was just resting around the sidewalk. He was asked to leave and left without incident.* * *After receiving a BOLO for a stolen 2012 Chevy Captiva with Dade County tags, police observed the gray Chevy Captiva parked alongside of the residence on Fairleigh Street.Police spoke with people at the residence and they named a woman who they said was the last one driving the vehicle. They said that the woman had passed away a couple of weeks ago. Police did confirm that the woman had died. Denton's Wrecker arrived on scene and towed the vehicle.* * *A man on Mount Vernon Avenue told police his vehicle had been gone through and someone had broken off his rear view mirror as well. He said nothing of value was left in the vehicle and nothing had been taken. The man's residence was added to a watch list.* * *Police responded to a disorder at a store in the shopping center at 6209 Lee Hwy. An employee said that a woman had come into the store and was acting disorderly because she did not agree with charges on her account. She said the woman left the scene when she began to call police and that the woman had mistakenly left her backpack at the store. Officers took possession of the backpack and ensured there were no illegal items in it to turn it into Property for safekeeping. Officers then later managed to make contact with the woman by phone and she requested that officers give her backpack to a friend of hers, which was then done per her request. The woman said the store was trying to overcharge her and refused to give her money back, and that she would later call their corporate office to settle the issue.* * *A manager of CVS, 3600 Hixson Pike, told police a former employee was inside the store and refusing to leave. The manager wanted police to have the former employee trespassed due to this incident and a history of disorders caused by her at this location. Police trespassed the woman from this CVS. The woman left the premises with no incident.* * *Police began observing a vehicle traveling east on Northpoint Boulevard that was driving exceptionally slow and stopping randomly in traffic. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but it kept driving at 4-10 miles an hour until finally stopping at the 5400 block of Hixson Pike. Police met with the woman driving and she said she had injured her back and also could not see very well. The woman was not capable of driving safely. Police took her home safely.* * *A caller reported suspicious activity on Ferrymans Way. The caller said there was a white van with three people going through houses with flash lights. The caller said that no one should be back there after dark because no one is living back that way yet. Police located the white van with three Hispanic males with headlamps on. They said they were cleaning up the equipment for the evening. They do plumbing on all the houses that are being built. All three were out of Mexico. They all showed police credentials where they were employed by a construction company. They finished packing up the equipment and left the scene.* * *Police were called to an apartment on Integra Vistas Drive where a man said he had come out of his apartment to go to work and his truck was gone. The last time he saw his truck was at 5:30 a.m. Police confirmed the truck belonged to him and entered it into NCIC as stolen. The man had no suspect information.* * *While patrolling the area, police located an unoccupied vehicle broken down within the roadway at 7701 Lee Hwy. The vehicle was a white GMC Safari van. Police contacted a tow due to the vehicle being abandoned and obstructing the roadway. The owner of the van arrived on scene and said his vehicle broke down and he was going to fix it and remove it from the roadway. He was able to provide police with the vehicle registration and title. He and his father then removed the vehicle from the roadway.* * *A woman on McCallie Avenue called police and said she heard noises in the parking lot and looked out the window and saw two black males lift her friend's car up with a jack. Then she saw the car drop and the two men run into the alley. The friend who owned the car was outside when officers arrived and tried to start her vehicle, but it wouldn't start. She said someone stole the catalytic converter off of her 2003 Honda Accord some months back and did the same thing tonight. She valued it at $500.* * *A man told police that while he was at Koch Foods, Inc., 1001 Birmingham Hwy., someone stole his wallet out of his bag. He said his bag was unattended in the company office when this happened. He said he has canceled all credit and debit cards and that there was no illegal activity on any of them. He said a check for $575 which was given to him by someone was also canceled.* * *Police were flagged down and told there were several vehicles, possibly stolen, behind a log cabin house next to the powerline road on Isbill Road. Police located several old junked vehicles on the property, but a white Ford F-150 was found to be occupied by a man. The man said he did not live at this location, but the owner is his friend, and he was just waiting around for his girlfriend to get off work. A check for warrants was conducted and none were found.* * *The manager of Motel 6, 2440 Williams St., called police to remove a guest who had stayed past check out. Police spoke with the man who said he was gathering his belongings and getting ready to leave. Police remained on scene to ensure there were no further issues. He left without incident.* * *A woman told police that while she was in her car in the side parking lot of Center for Oral Facial & Implant Surgery, 6015 Shallowford Road, she noticed a black Honda Accord (GA tag) with two white males drive into the lot. She said she saw one of the men get out of the car and go near the other car. She said she believes the men saw someone or something and got spooked and drove off. When she went to check on the car, she noticed the catalytic converter of the vehicle was partially cut off. Police spoke with the owner of the car and she said the car was in perfect condition beforehand and has no idea who did this. Police added the property to the watch list.* * *The manager of InTown Suites Extended Stay, 1914 Gunbarrel Road, called police about a guest he wanted to leave the premises for not letting housekeeping clean the room or do safety checks. The woman was given four hours to leave the property.* * *Police were called to a disorder between two employees at Advance America, 5250 Brainerd Road. A woman said she and another employee were involved in a verbal dispute. According to the first woman, the second woman was starting her shift as hers was ending. She said she was on the phone and, for whatever reason, the second woman thought she was slandering her with whoever she was on the phone with. She said the second woman began cussing at her, implying that she could beat her up, and even said she had a firearm in her vehicle, although a firearm was never seen. The second woman left without any further incident.* * *A woman told police that someone had come into her apartment complex at 900 Mountain Creek Road and stolen the catalytic converter from her gold 2000 Honda Accord. She said her vehicle is now at the repair shop. She said there were no witnesses or suspects. Roger Kibbe, the convicted "I-5 Strangler," was found strangled inside a California prison, according to an autopsy performed by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office. Kibbe, 81, was found unresponsive in his cell in Mule Street State Prison around 12:40 a.m. Sunday. A correctional officer was doing an inmate count when the officer noticed Kibbe's cellmate standing near Kibbe, who was lying on the floor, according to a release from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Medical staff took Kibbe to the institutional health care facility, where he was later pronounced dead. The Amador County Sheriffs Office is calling the death a homicide. Kibbe's cellmate has been moved to a different unit while authorities investigate Kibbe's death. No charges have been filed in the death of Kibbe, a former suburban Sacramento furniture maker whose brother was a law enforcement officer. He was initially convicted in 1991 of strangling Darcine Frackenpohl, a 17-year-old who had run away from her home in Seattle. Her nearly nude body was found west of South Lake Tahoe below Echo Summit in September 1987. Investigators said then that they suspected him in other similar slayings. But it wasn't until 2009 that a San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office investigator used new developments in evidence to connect him to six additional slayings in multiple Northern California counties, with several victims found alongside Interstate 5 or other highways in 1986. Kibbe was serving multiple life terms for the slayings when he was killed. Authorities said they never stopped trying to prove that he was responsible for even more deaths. Investigators secretly took him on multiple field trips from prison with the hope that he would reveal the whereabouts of more victims. They would buy him an egg McMuffin and a Coke for breakfast, another Coke and a hamburger and fries for lunch, Vito Bertocchini, a retired San Joaquin County sheriffs detective and district attorneys investigator, told The Sacramento Bee. Bertocchini spent nearly two decades pursuing Kibbe and thinks he must have killed others during the 10-year gap between his first and last known slayings. Investigators have said they found other women who had been killed and dumped with Kibbe's trademark of cutting his victims clothing in odd patterns. He was finally captured after Sacramento police said a would-be victim escaped, and they recovered a garrote made from a pair of dowels and parachute cord along with scissors and other items. Investigators said they matched the cord to rope found with Frackenpohls body and at Kibbe's house, all with microscopic dots of red paint. DNA eventually linked him to two other victims, and he agreed to cooperate in exchange for prosecutors taking the death penalty off the table. Kibbe never admitted to other killings beyond those with which he was charged, but Bertocchini said he never stopped trying to elicit another confession. Even after he retired in 2012, each year he sent Kibbe birthday and Christmas cards, asking him to speak up if he recalled anything about other victims. He and his old partner last visited Kibbe in prison in 2019, but still he wouldn't admit to any more victims. Now it's too late, but Bertocchini called Kibbe's death by strangulation some fitting justice. I dont wish ill on anyone, Bertocchini said. But I hope he remembered every one of his victims while he was being killed. Lawyers for double murder suspect continue to pick apart the case against their client. The latest . . "The state on Thursday dropped the abandonment of corpse charges in a hearing on pre-trial motions.The dismissal was a mutual agreement between both parties . . . Yust's lawyers argued the abandonment of corpse charges violated the self-incrimination clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution." Read more . . . 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 March 04, 2021 Biden's "Nothing Will Fundamentally Change" Promise Extends To His Foreign Policy "America is back" claimed Joe Biden to no ones amusement. But the world has changed after four years of Trump and after a pandemic upset the world. The U.S. position in this world and its role in it have thereby also changed. To just claim one is back without adopting to the new situation promises failure. As candidate Joe Biden promised that there would be no changes. Joe Biden to rich donors: "Nothing would fundamentally change" if he's elected Former Vice President Joe Biden assured rich donors at a ritzy New York fundraiser that nothing would fundamentally change if he is elected. Biden told donors at an event at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan on Tuesday evening that he would not demonize the rich and promised that no ones standard of living will change, nothing would fundamentally change, Bloomberg News reported. That Biden statement destroyed the illusion of those who had hoped that he would lift the standard of living for the average Amercian. Biden stayed true to his words at the fundraiser. There will be no rise in the minimum wage. The $2,000 checks he promised to all voters will now be only $1,400 checks. They will also be heavily means tested. Those who made more than $80,000 in 2019 but lost their income in 2020 will get no check at all. Even as they hold the White House and the House and Senate majorities the Democrats are unable or unwilling to deliver basic progress. This will likely cost them their House majority in 2022 and the presidency in 2024. Biden's "nothing will fundamentally change" attitude extends into foreign policy. Secretary Pompeo @SecPompeo - 0:29 UTC Dec 21, 2019 Today, the #ICC prosecutor raised serious questions about the ICCs jurisdiction to investigate #Israel. Israel is not a state party to the ICC. We firmly oppose this unjustified inquiry that unfairly targets Israel. The path to lasting peace is through direct negotiations. --- Secretary Antony Blinken @SecBlinken - 1:34 UTC Mar 4, 2021 The United States firmly opposes an @IntlCrimCourt investigation into the Palestinian Situation. We will continue to uphold our strong commitment to Israel and its security, including by opposing actions that seek to target Israel unfairly. With that, and with its lack of punishment for the Saudi clown prince, the Biden administration has blinked on human rights which it had emphasized in earlier statements. That nothing will change is also expressed in two policy papers the Biden administration released yesterday. The early emphasis on human rights, which distinguished it from the Trump administration, is already gone. The common theme is now 'democracy' as if that were not just a form of government but a value in itself. The White House published an Interim National Security Strategic Guidance (pdf). The paper is dripping with ideological LGBTQWERTY librulism. Its central claim is that 'democracy' is under threat: At a time when the need for American engagement and international cooperation is greater than ever, however, democracies across the globe, including our own, are increasingly under siege. Free societies have been challenged from within by corruption, inequality, polarization, populism, and illiberal threats to the rule of law. Nationalist and nativist trends accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis produce an every-country-for-itself mentality that leaves us all more isolated, less prosperous, and less safe. Democratic nations are also increasingly challenged from outside by antagonistic authoritarian powers. Anti-democratic forces use misinformation, disinformation, and weaponized corruption to exploit perceived weaknesses and sow division within and among free nations, erode existing international rules, and promote alternative models of authoritarian governance. Reversing these trends is essential to our national security. It then singles out China: We must also contend with the reality that the distribution of power across the world is changing, creating new threats. China, in particular, has rapidly become more assertive. It is the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system. Russia remains determined to enhance its global influence and play a disruptive role on the world stage. Both Beijing and Moscow have invested heavily in efforts meant to check U.S. strengths and prevent us from defending our interests and allies around the world. Regional actors like Iran and North Korea continue to pursue game-changing capabilities and technologies, while threatening U.S. allies and partners and challenging regional stability. We also face challenges within countries whose governance is fragile, and from influential non-state actors that have the ability to disrupt American interests. To fight China the U.S. will (ab)use its allies: We can do none of this work alone. For that reason, we will reinvigorate and modernize our alliances and partnerships around the world. For decades, our allies have stood by our side against common threats and adversaries, and worked hand-in-hand to advance our shared interests and values. They are a tremendous source of strength and a unique American advantage, helping to shoulder the responsibilities required to keep our nation safe and our people prosperous. Our democratic alliances enable us to present a common front, produce a unified vision, and pool our strength to promote high standards, establish effective international rules, and hold countries like China to account. Good luck with that. Neither the European U.S. allies, nor the Asian ones, have any interest in following the U.S. into a confrontation with China. It is their greatest trading partner and they do not perceive it as an ideological or security threat. A speech Secretary of State Anthony Blinken gave yesterday touches on the same points. It is headlined A Foreign Policy for the American People The main theme is again 'democracy': The more we and other democracies can show the world that we can deliver, not only for our people, but also for each other, the more we can refute the lie that authoritarian countries love to tell, that theirs is the better way to meet peoples fundamental needs and hopes. Its on us to prove them wrong. So the question isnt if we will support democracy around the world, but how. We will use the power of our example. We will encourage others to make key reforms, overturn bad laws, fight corruption, and stop unjust practices. We will incentivize democratic behavior. But we will not promote democracy through costly military interventions or by attempting to overthrow authoritarian regimes by force. We have tried these tactics in the past. However well intentioned, they havent worked. Theyve given democracy promotion a bad name, and theyve lost the confidence of the American people. We will do things differently. The "lie that authoritarian countries love to tell, that their's is the better way to meet peoples fundamental needs and hopes" is targeted at China. But that China did and does much better than the U.S. to meet its people's needs and hope is not a lie. The pandemic has again demonstrated that. The last quoted paragraph has seen some positive attention on social media. But it is based on a falsehood. The U.S. has not once used military means to 'promote democracy'. Not ever. It has used war to gain markets and power, to destroy its competition. The neo-conservatives have claimed to be motivated by 'democracy promotion'. But that was always just a pretext to hide the real reasons for waging war. Iraq became democratic not because the U.S. wanted it to be that. In fact, after invading Iraq the the U.S. pro-consul Paul Bremer tried to prevent universal elections in Iraq. Only the insistence of Ayatollah Sistani on a universal vote led to a somewhat democratic system in Iraq. Blinken is, just like Pompeo before him, focused on China: And eighth, we will manage the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century: our relationship with China. Several countries present us with serious challenges, including Russia, Iran, North Korea. And there are serious crises we have to deal with, including in Yemen, Ethiopia, and Burma. But the challenge posed by China is different. China is the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to seriously challenge the stable and open international system all the rules, values, and relationships that make the world work the way we want it to, because it ultimately serves the interests and reflects the values of the American people. That there is no change from the Trump to the Biden administration in hostility to China is disappointing only for those who had expected some: Pang Zhongying, a specialist in international relations at Ocean University of China, said Beijing would be disappointed with the Biden administrations approach to continue and even elevate the tough policies of the Trump era and to strengthen alliances to deal with China. There does not seem to be any change yet in the serious tensions in China-US relations, he said. I think there may be some frustration in Beijing that after more than 40 days [of the new administration] they have not seen any change but there is actually more pressure from the US. Beijing will manage the conflict and it is likely to see it as a chance. The U.S. failure to adopt to new circumstances will accelerate its demise. The U.S. empire was a historical abnormality and its twilight is near: [The Realist professors of International Relations David Blagden and Patrick Porter] observe Americas position as global leader is premised on a set of impermanent and atypical conditions from an earlier post-war era, but the days of incontestable unipolarity are over, and cannot be wished back. The result is that overextension abroad, exhaustion and fiscal strain at home, and political disorder feed off one another in a downward spiral, cumulatively threatening the survival of the republic. The US empire is, then, at an impasse. Its moral and political justification of overseeing a global order of universal liberal democracy the closest real-world equivalent to the Kantian perpetual peace that has both motivated and eluded liberal idealists for the past two centuries is now beyond its capabilities to maintain. ... How does this end for America? Biden and the presidents after him will be forced to make a hard choice: whether to retrench to a smaller and more manageable empire, or to risk a far greater and more dramatic collapse in defence of global hegemony. Biden has made his choice. Nothing will fundamentally change under him. He is thereby likely to repeat all of Trump's foreign policy failures. There will be no new JCPOA with Iran nor will there be any win for the U.S. in the Middle East. North Korea will continue to test bombs and missiles. The U.S. will continue to be stuck in Afghanistan. The Chinese-Russian alliance will strengthen. U.S. allies will further distance themselves from it. We can not yet know what, at what point will cause the collapse of U.S. hegemony. But we are coming more near to it. Posted by b on March 4, 2021 at 18:04 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Chemring Group (CHG.L) reported that with the exception of the potential impact of foreign currency translation, the Board's expectations for the current year remain unchanged. Further, the company noted that its long-term prospects remain strong with a robust strategy, strong positions across different geographies and sectors, and products and services that are critical to its government and commercial customers. Net debt at 28 February 2021 was 51.0 million versus 85.9 million last year, as strong operating cash conversion continues to fund investment in capital expenditure. The company said it continues to expect to make further progress on net debt in the full year. Order intake in the period to 28 February 2021 was 128 million versus the prior year's 132 million, with a book to bill ratio of 127% compared to 125% last year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. A protective face mask is seen in the rain in Madrid, Spain, (Photo : REUTERS/Susana Vera) While Texas and Mississippi announced complete rollbacks of their states' COVID-19 mitigation measures this week, several governors of other Republican states have made clear they are not abandoning their mask mandates despite political pressure. The sharp decline of new daily COVID-19 cases and the rollout of vaccines in the United States have prompted state and local governments to ease business restrictions in recent weeks, with movie theaters set to open at limited capacity in New York and indoor dining resuming in San Francisco on Friday. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2WTOZDR) Advertisement However, the decline in cases plateaued last week with new infections rising in 29 out of 50 states compared with the prior week. Texas saw a 69% rise in cases in the week ended Feb. 28. Few of the rollbacks have been as sweeping as in Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday said the state's mask mandate would be lifted and most businesses could open at full capacity next week. The move drew immediate criticism from some politicians and public health experts who have urged caution while the nation's vaccination program is still underway. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that decisions to end the required wearing of masks - such as those made by Texas and Mississippi - amounted to "Neanderthal thinking" given the ongoing deaths being caused by the pandemic. "I think it's a big mistake. Look, I hope everybody's realized by now, these masks make a difference," he told reporters. Public health experts agree face coverings are essential to slowing the spread of the virus, which has killed more than half a million Americans. But over the last year, resistance to public health measures in the United States, especially mask-wearing, has become politicized, with many Republican states enacting fewer and looser COVID-19 protocols than Democratic states. In some Republican-led states, including Florida and South Dakota, there has never been a statewide mask mandate. In others, like Alabama and Ohio, mask mandates remain in effect. Including the upcoming change in Texas, 34 states mandate that residents wear face masks in public, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In Ohio, U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel on Wednesday called on Republican Governor Mike DeWine to follow Texas' lead and repeal the statewide mask order. The governor quickly rejected the idea. "Ohio will be keeping its mask mandate to protect Ohioans who have yet to receive the vaccine. Vaccine supply is increasing, and there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the virus is still here and the pandemic is still ongoing today," a spokesman for DeWine told Reuters in an email. Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia, a Republican, said on Wednesday he was not ready to ease any restrictions, including an indoor mask mandate. "All businesses must continue to follow the safety guidelines," Justice said. Abbott's executive order in Texas will lift all mask requirements statewide as of March 10 and forbid local authorities from penalizing residents who do not wear face coverings. It will remove all restrictions on businesses in counties without a high number of hospitalizations. Local officials can still apply limits to businesses where hospitalizations remain high, according to the order, but are prohibited from mandating that they operate at less than 50% capacity. As of Monday, Texas was seeing about 7,500 new cases per day on a seven-day average, according to Reuters data, and it was ranked 47th in the list of states that have vaccinated the highest percentage of their populations. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican, on Tuesday also lifted his state's mask order and removed all restrictions on businesses. But Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat in a majority Republican state, doubled down on his state's mask order even as it increased capacity to 75% at restaurants and retail businesses on Wednesday. "Louisiana's mask mandate is still in place," Edwards tweeted. "As we vaccinate more and more people, masks are still our most effective tool in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives." Credit: CC0 Public Domain Online shopping has been with us for many years. The World Wide Web opened up to the commercial world back in the mid-1990s. However, the web itself has been displaced to a large degree by social networking and online life for many exists almost exclusively on these apps and sites rather than the broader internet. As such, commercial concerns hoping to keep pace with constant change must adapt to take advantage of social networking in the same way that bricks-and-mortar shops had to adapt to the emergence of web rivals. Could the social network be the new shopping mall? Melanie Wiese of the Department of Marketing Management at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, discusses the prospects in the International Journal of Business Information Systems. She has investigated how quickly users are taking to the online marketplace of the biggest international social networking system, Facebook and considering the moderating role of trust in this environment. Completed surveys from almost 400 uses in South Africa provide the raw data for her analysis. Fundamentally, Wiese's results show that it is perceived enjoyment and usefulness that are the most important factors determining whether or not a Facebook user will make a purchase through this system. She found that while privacy risk and social norms were not significant influences. Indeed, among the Facebook users surveyed, the majority were more trusting of shopping through Facebook than more conventional online shopping. Her findings could guide those hoping to sell their wares on Facebook helping them to improve their marketing strategies. The alignment of social networking and shopping has been a possibility for many years, perhaps first mentioned in the research literature in 2010, but hinted at long before that. "Shopping on social networks presents an opportunity for users to complete transactions within the social network's environment, while it provides brands the opportunity to meet consumers in their space," says Wiese. She adds that researchers and marketers alike need to quick to respond to changes in this fast-moving online environment if they are to make credible and timely predictions. There needs to be a sense of urgency, she suggests, as otherwise cutting edge research quickly becomes out-dated historical artifact rather than forward looking. Explore further Facebook to help struggling retailers create online stores More information: Melanie Wiese. Shopping on social networks: is this the storefront of the future, International Journal of Business Information Systems (2021). Melanie Wiese. Shopping on social networks: is this the storefront of the future,(2021). DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2021.113280 Marthand said that cops did not register a written complaint he gave on against the old age home to the Bowenpally police. DC Image Hyderabad: The case of a nonagenarian who was tied up and hit by caregivers at an old age home here has turned more tragic with a former DGP bemoaning that cops are not only ignoring the victims plight but also his request to register an FIR. According to Benjamin Marthand, 91, a bachelor and well-known pianist here, he fell down at his rented house three months ago. The house owner called the police for assistance and had him admitted to Navjeevan Hospital in Karkhana, Secunderabad. Later, his nephew moved him to the Serene Senior Living Care Home in Bowenpally. The aged eyes welling up with tears, Marthand told Deccan Chronicle at his brothers house in Yapral, where he is currently staying, that he was treated cruelly at the old age home. My hands and legs were tied up. They took away my cellphone and when I asked for it, I was punched at and beaten by the staff, he said. Anytime I demanded something loudly, they would beat me up. They did not want anyone to hear my complaints. I want to do something with the 12 acres of land I own near Shamirpet and build a home for the aged where people like me will be taken care of, he said. Marthand said that cops did not register a written complaint he gave on against the old age home to the Bowenpally police. Former director general of police Swaranjit Sen told Deccan Chronicle that he spoke with senior police officials about Marthands plight and the complaint on February 23. I spoke to the DCP and ACP and urged them to investigate the case properly and take action. Justice must be done, Sen said, adding that no action was taken yet. Bowenpally station house officer Ravi Kumar acknowledged the receipt of the complaint. An investigation is going on. We will also be taking into consideration the medical report on him. Deccan Chronicle spoke to Bibin Mathew who runs the Serene Senior Living Care home. He said, When Marthand came here, his condition was not good. Admitting that Marthand was tied to his bed, Mathew said it was because his condition was such. We wanted him to stay in bed and recover, he said, adding that the family was yet to pay the bill for Marthands stay. Mathew said there were around 35 inmates at the home and they were all being taken care of well. He alleged that there appeared to be some differences within the family over the land owned by Marthand. Married At First Sight star Ivan Sarakula has made an extraordinary plea for leniency in court after being caught using his phone while driving three times last year. Mr Sarakula's lawyer, Jennifer Mouhaweg, said her client was addicted to his phone and struggling with the pressure of being an 'overnight celebrity' when he was caught on camera using his mobile device at the wheel. Fans will remember the Sydney real estate agent, 31, from last year's season of the Nine dating show, which saw him unsuccessfully paired with Aleks Markovic. Married At First Sight star Ivan Sarakula (right, with Aleks Markovic) has made an extraordinary plea for leniency in court after being caught using his phone while driving three times last year Mr Sarakula had been busted using his phone while driving in Sydney three times in two weeks: on May 16, May 30 and June 2. Magistrate Joy Boulos did not convict him for the May 16 offence at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday, but he was convicted and fined $200 for the May 30 and June 2 offences. He also incurred 10 demerit points, reports The Daily Telegraph. Fans will remember the Sydney real estate agent, 31, from last year's season of the Nine dating show, which saw him unsuccessfully paired with Aleks Markovic (right) Solicitor Ms Mouhaweg explained Mr Sarakula had become addicted to using his phone at the time of the offences. He had just started a new job, she said, and was dealing with his recent break-up with Ms Markovic and the sudden media attention that comes with being on reality TV. 'He says he became an overnight celebrity,' Ms Mouhaweg told the court. Mr Sarakula's lawyer, Jennifer Mouhaweg, said her client was addicted to his phone and struggling with his recent break-up with Ms Markovic and the pressure of being an 'overnight celebrity' when he was caught on camera using his mobile device at the wheel 'There is no doubt that the media attention can be quite overwhelming and being in the public eye also proved to have taken a toll on his mental health.' The police prosecutor refuted any suggestion Mr Sarakula did not enjoy his fame, and said he should not receive 'any leniency whatsoever'. He said people go on reality shows to 'bolster their social media image' and that was why Mr Sarakula was so 'obsessed with his phone' at the time of the offences. The police prosecutor refuted any suggestion Mr Sarakula did not enjoy his fame, and said he should not receive 'any leniency whatsoever'. Magistrate Joy Boulos did not convict him for the May 16 offence, but he was convicted and fined $200 for the May 30 and June 2 offences Meanwhile, a seemingly unfazed Mr Sarakula filmed a press photographer outside Sutherland Local Court, where his matter was heard on Thursday. He even tagged the court's location on Instagram and captioned the video 'pap life'. When contacted for comment by Daily Mail Australia on Friday, Mr Sarakula did not dispute the Telegraph's report of his court appearance and simply said: 'My comment is "yeah, the girls".' A seemingly unfazed Mr Sarakula filmed a press photographer outside Sutherland Local Court, where his matter was heard on Thursday. He even tagged the court's location on Instagram and captioned the video 'pap life' Fans will remember Mr Sarakula's union with Ms Markovic on Married At First Sight was quite a turbulent one. Despite both being real estate agents with European backgrounds, they struggled with intimacy and refused to discuss their sex lives with the relationship experts. Since the show ended, Mr Sarakula has changed his appearance significantly, growing out his hair into a fashionable mullet. Dan Andrews has finally shared his reaction to being compared to Married At First Sight's goofy groom Russell Duance. In an interview with The Fox's Fifi, Fev & Nick, the Premier of Victoria admitted that many people have told him that he's a dead ringer for Russell. 'It has been drawn to my attention and the gentleman in question has my deepest sympathies,' Dan joked. Twinning! Dan Andrews (left) has finally shared his reaction to being compared to Married At First Sight's goofy groom Russell Duance (right) 'If you have to wander around looking like me and having people compare you, that's a tough gig,' he added. Russell and Dan were feverishly compared to each other by viewers on social media after Russell's wedding to Beth Moore aired earlier this week. 'Anyone else think Russel looks like Dan Andrews?' one fan wrote. Comparisons: Russell (pictured) and Dan were feverishly compared to each other by viewers on social media after Russell's wedding to Beth Moore aired earlier this week Another eagle-eyed viewer added: 'Did Dan Andrews just walk into the set of Married At First Sight?!' Yet another added: 'Russell? or Dan Andrews??' Viewers simply couldn't get past the comparison to the groom and the politician. 'That one guy looks like Dan Andrews!' Viewers couldn't hold back when discussing the similarities between the two Another eagle-eyed viewer added: 'Did Dan Andrews just walk into the set of Married At First Sight?!' Bad match: One viewer pointed out how bad of a match Russell and Beth Moore are Another fan tweeted: 'That one guy looks like Dan Andrews,' while one wrote: 'Is it just me? Or is Dan Andrews on MAFS.' Russell, 37, is a diesel mechanic who is currently based in South Australia. According to his Channel Nine bio, he is described as a 'quintessential Aussie larrikin', with him happy when he's 'downing a beer and eating a steak'. Three security personnel were killed and two injured in a Naxal-triggered in the forests of Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district on Thursday, officials said. Three men of the special unit of the state police, Jaguars, were killed in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast that took place around 8:45 AM in Hoyahatu village under Toklo police station area of the district. A jawan of the Jaguars and a Central Reserve Police Force personnel from its 197th battalion were injured in the blast, they said. The joint team of Jaguars and CRPF was out for an anti-Maoist operation in the area. (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.) Senate Republicans ripped into Colin Kahl, President Joe Biden's pick to be the top policy official at the Pentagon, for what they called inappropriate and partisan tweets. "What concerns me here is that hyper-partisanship -- especially in regards to our national security -- is inappropriate for the position of under secretary of defense for policy," Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said at Kahl's nomination hearing Thursday. "Unfortunately, in the past, in many cases, your public policy positions have been couched in partisan politics rather than fact-based analysis," Inhofe added. Read Next: National Guard Won't Cut Ties with Contractor That Served Undercooked Food, Sickening Troops Republican lawmakers didn't give many specific examples of mean tweets from Kahl. But in October 2019, he did post, "The GOP used to pride itself as a party that put values front and center in US foreign policy. Now--as they debase themselves at the altar of Trump--they are the party of ethnic cleansing," linking to a story about then-President Donald Trump saying he would withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Kahl's "intemperate manner will create a toxic environment in the Pentagon." He told Kahl, "If this is the way you respond to mere policy disagreements when you're sitting at home reading the news, I do not think that you're fit to sit in the Pentagon and make decisions about life and death." Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, called the Republicans going after Kahl over mean tweets "pretty rich" after years of the party excusing and outright ignoring Trump's tweets, which she said were regularly inflammatory and bolstered conspiracy theories that ended up playing a major role in igniting the mob that assaulted the Capitol on Jan. 6. Kahl apologized for his tweets, telling the panel he got "swept up" in the polarizing social media environment. "There were a number of positions that President Trump took that I strongly opposed. I think the language that I used in opposing those was sometimes disrespectful, and for that I apologize," he said. Republicans also took issue with Kahl's policy positions, specifically the nuclear deal with Iran, and complained that he repeatedly retweeted media stories about Trump's ties to Russia and Moscow's interference in the 2016 election. And they lashed out over Kahl's incorrect prediction that certain Trump actions would lead to wars with North Korea and Iran. However, there are examples of spiking tensions with the countries during the Trump administration, such as when Iran launched missiles at an American base, injuring 110 U.S. troops. If all GOP senators oppose Kahl's nomination, Biden can't afford to lose any Democratic support in the Senate, which is divided evenly between the parties. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: New Footage Shows January 2020 Missile Strike on Al Asad Air Base Housing US Troops by Lewis Black, CEO of Almonty Industries In the last year, there has been an explosive need for EV batteries. All car manufacturers seem to be following in the same footsteps as Tesla. In fact, Jaguar plans to become an all-electric luxury brand by 2025[1] as mentioned on ABCNews. This shift is also taking place in other motorized segments including trucks and mining machinery. With the COVID pandemic wreaking havoc on the U.S. and global economies with businesses and manufacturers having to close doors and furlough employees, the global trade markets plummeted to an 11-year low of 41.5% in the April report for the Institute for Supply Managements Manufacturing Index. As manufacturers set to ramp product back up to produce everything from automobiles, airplanes and construction tools, they will begin to return to normal production cycles. This also means they will face their usual litany of production challenges. This primarily includes dealing with a strained supply chain on critical raw materials, like tungsten, to produce all of those EV-powered automobiles, cranes, trucks and more. Domesticating Raw Materials to Ease an Already Strained Demand China controls the market for nearly 35 precious minerals and metals that are important to the U.S. for production and manufacturing, and tungsten is among them. According to the USGS in its Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019 report[2], World tungsten supply was dominated by production in China and exports from China. Source: Almonty The issue at hand is that China has limited the amount of tungsten exports that can be shipped to the U.S., and this has caused a great deal of concern about the overall supply chain of tungsten. With a growing need of raw materials like tungsten on the horizon and an overdependency from this one source, there is an even greater need to domesticate raw materials. Chinas government regulated its tungsten industry by limiting the number of mining and export licenses, imposing quotas on concentrate production, and placing constraints on mining and processing, according to the USGS report[2]. The challenge with China being the dominant force for a majority of raw materials is regarding their legal system. Should the U.S. have a boom in demand of a certain material from China, their legal system could effectively stop the supply of that particular material. New Tungsten Production Will Open the Global Supply Chain Fortunately, new entrants into the market have begun mining projects throughout the world that are mining for tungsten. These efforts are crucially important to increase supply levels and exports back to the U.S., which will benefit the overall global supply chain of tungsten for production and manufacturing. One project of particular importance is the Korea Tungsten project located in the Sangdong Mine of South Korea, which hosts one of the largest tungsten resources in the world. This mine was the leading global tungsten producer for more than 40 years and it has the potential to produce 50% of the worlds tungsten supply. The project has become a center of focus recently for resource experts, miners, investors, shareholders, and other interested parties around the globe. Global economies of this relaxed supply chain are eagerly awaiting production of tungsten from this region, especially since it will ease Chinas hold on the overall supply of this raw material. Whats more, U.S. manufacturers are keenly watching, since additional supply of tungsten from South Korea would help avoid expensive import tariffs of products shipped from China and enacted by the U.S. government. The global trade wars have recently heated up, which is costing manufacturers in the process. Currently, the U.S. has imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion worth of Chinese goods, and China has also retaliated by imposing tariffs on more than $110 billion worth of U.S. products. The U.S. imposed three rounds of tariffs on Chinese imports in 2018, with a fourth round completed last September on many items with a 15% duty[3]. Hopefully, the Sangdong Mine is one example of relief U.S. and global manufacturers will see from the mining and production of tungsten to ease the global supply chain of this precious raw materiala material that is sorely needed for many EV-products, both now and in the future. Lewis Black is CEO of Almonty Industries, a leading global company involved in the mining, processing, and shipping of tungsten concentrate. Editors Note: The principal business of Toronto, Canada-based Almonty Industries Inc. is the mining, processing and shipping of tungsten concentrate from its Los Santos Mine in western Spain and its Panasqueira mine in Portugal as well as the development of its Sangdong tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea and the development of the Valtreixal tin/tungsten project in north western Spain. The Sangdong mine, which was historically one of the largest tungsten mines in the world and one of the few long-life, high-grade tungsten deposits outside of China, was acquired in September 2015 through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Woulfe Mining Corp. With Sangdong at full production, Almonty will produce 30% of all tungsten outside of China and 7-10% of global supply. Resources WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress are pushing a sweeping rewrite of the countrys voting laws, essentially establishing a new national election code aimed at reining in states like Texas, where Republicans for years have worked to limit access to the ballot. Texas has voting laws that are among the strictest in the nation, and the bill would target virtually all of them. It would ban voter ID laws, institute automatic and same-day voter registration and it would expand mail-in and early voting options. And it would take redistricting out of the hands of the states lawmakers just as theyre gearing up to redraw political boundaries. Its also a way for the Democrats to push back against Republicans who supported Donald Trump as he made unprecedented and baseless claims that the November election was stolen from him because voting access was expanded during the pandemic. This bill restores guardrails to our democracy that almost went off the rails as Republicans pledged their loyalty to the cult of Donald Trump, said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-San Antonio. Democrats have long believed that if they can ramp up turnout, especially of young and minority voters, they can win Texas, the biggest remaining Republican state. The GOP relies on Texans and their 38 electoral votes to compete with the Democrats in presidential elections. LEADING THE WAY ON VOTER SUPPRESSION: Texas is ground zero in voting rights war But how far Democrats will be able to get the bill, which passed the House on Wednesday night along party lines, is questionable at best as it heads to an evenly divided Senate. Texas Republicans, who say voting restrictions are meant to safeguard against election fraud, unanimously opposed the bill in the House, blasting it as federal overreach by politicians angling to stay in power. The Democrats are doing everything they can to retain power in Washington, even if that means nationalizing our state and local elections, said U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of The Woodlands, echoing Trump, who said last year that Republican candidates would never win again if voting were made too easy. The legislation which Democratic leaders say is a top priority is an early test of just how much the party is able to get done with its newfound, albeit narrow, control of Washington. But they face an uphill battle at best in the 50-50 Senate, as each would need to clear a 60-vote threshold to pass unless Democrats scrap the filibuster a rule that at least a couple of Democratic senators have said they wont toss out. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox And if Democrats are able to peel off any Republican votes for the bills, they wont be Texans. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn spent Thursday morning sparring with Beto ORourke on Twitter over whether restrictions disenfranchise voters. It is a myth, Cornyn tweeted, pointing to record-breaking turnout as some 11 million Texans voted in November. Anybody qualified to vote, can vote in Texas. Period. More than 60 percent of registered voters in Texas cast ballots in 2020 the best mark in three decades. The state still lagged behind most others. A huge, huge deal for Texas The sweeping reforms follow a contentious election season that saw state leaders clash with local officials in places like Harris County over efforts to expand voting options during the pandemic. They come as state lawmakers in Texas are pushing further restrictions and preparing to redraw congressional maps something that would be taken out of their hands if Democrats pass the bill soon enough as it would require redistricting to be done by independent panels. It would be a huge, huge deal for Texas voters, said Grace Chimene, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas, a group that supports the legislation. Its like having a new Voting Rights Act that would protect the rights of voters, make it fair and equal access to voting here in Texas. Among other measures, state lawmakers are now pushing bills that would make voting by mail more complicated and would scale back hours for polling places. The federal legislation would stop those efforts, but its changes to how political boundaries are drawn may have some of the biggest effects on Texas, where Republicans control the Legislature and are expected to draw districts that benefit GOP candidates for the next 10 years as Texas becomes an increasingly competitive state. Texas lawmakers will also be drawing boundaries for two to three more seats in Congress. The bill would take redistricting out of the hands of lawmakers and create independent panels to draw boundaries something already in place in several states. It includes provisions to prevent the drawing of districts to break up communities of color, which could have a big impact on Texas increasingly diverse and Democratic trending suburbs, said Michael Li, an expert on redistricting who serves as senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. The legislation would create a legal framework to test districts for gerrymandering and would expedite the legal challenges that are almost certain to follow Texas new maps, as well. This is the pushback to all the efforts going on in states including Texas to rollback longstanding voter practices, Li said. ben.wermund@chron.com The symptoms were controlled and the disease did not become full-blown in 81 per cent of the cases, it said. Hyderabad: Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council for Medical Research has shown 81 per cent efficacy against Covid-19, based on a survey done on 25,800 participants, says an interim analysis of clinical trial results provided by the company. The symptoms were controlled and the disease did not become full-blown in 81 per cent of the cases, it said. Dr Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech, said, "Covaxin demonstrates high clinical efficacy against Covid-19 and also significant immunogenicity against rapidly emerging variants." Among the participants were 2,433 persons aged over 60 years and 4,500 with comorbidities. The participants in the trials were between ages 18 years to 98. All of them had tested negative for Covid-19 before being given the first dose of Covaxin. In the controlled or placebo group, it was found that after the first dose, 36 participants contracted Covid-19. In the vaccinated group, after both the doses, it was observed that seven got Covid-19. The interim analysis observed that adverse events occurred at low levels and were balanced between vaccine and placebo groups. The company will share further details of the trial results in 87 cases and the final analysis of 130 cases in the planned group. These second interim and final analyses will also be shared in peer-reviewed journals. An analysis by National Institute of Virology indicated that vaccine-induced antibodies could neutralize the UK-variant strains and other heterogeneous strains. The analysis was published in the peer-reviewed journal bioRxiv. Dr Kiran M., anesthetist at the government medical college, Nizamabad, explained, "The efficacy is proven by comparing the two groups that were being observed by the company. It has been found that Covaxin works towards preventing the intensity of symptoms and helps the body fight it." Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. If Ms. Young was the biggest drug kingpin, we still should have treated her with dignity and respect, said Brown, who was not Chicagos top cop during the February 2019 raid at her home. That should be clear to everyone that her dignity and respect had nothing to do with whether or not she was actually the focus of this or this was a mistake and it was the wrong house, she still deserves a measure of respect. The announcement that Vernon Jordan had died March 1 at the age of 85 was immediately followed by tributes from the political and corporate establishment. Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were joined by Jordans colleagues in the top Washington law firm of Akin Gump and the Lazard Freres investment bank on Wall Street in marking his passing. Civil rights activist and businessman Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., in 2019 (Wikipedia/Jay Godwin) Many headlines referred to Jordan as a civil rights leader, but those words are highly misleading. He had little connection to the mass movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1960s. He graduated from Howard University Law School in 1960 and soon began his career as Georgia field director for the NAACP, the organization which little more than a decade earlier had forced out its founder W.E.B. Dubois in the midst of the McCarthyite anticommunist witch hunt. When the Southern mass movement grew in the early 1960s, the NAACP sought at every point to hold it back, and Jordan was only on the fringes of the struggles that mobilized millions. Later in the 1960s, Jordan became the head of the United Negro College Fund. At the age of 35, he became the president of the National Urban League, the organization which, even more bluntly than the NAACP, typified gradualism in the struggle for racial equality, and the collaboration of the petty bourgeois African American establishment with the more enlightened sections of big business. Even as a young man, Jordan was oriented not to the workers and youth in the streets, but to the halls of power in Washington and New York, where he offered his services to hold back the mass movement. Jordan was head of the Urban League during the crucial decade of the 1970s, serving as president from 1971 to 1981. The crisis of these years was laying the basis for the social counterrevolution that deepened drastically with the austerity and unionbusting presidency of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, and has been continued and deepened ever since, presided over by Democrats and Republicans alike. When Reagan took office, Jordan said of the right-wing Republican, I do not challenge the conservatism of this administration. I do challenge its failure to exhibit a compassionate conservatism Significantly, this slogan of compassionate conservatism was later popularized by George W. Bush during his 2000 election campaign, the same one that ended in the stolen election in Florida. The phrase encapsulates the right-wing politics of Vernon Jordan. After his years at the Urban League, Jordan seized the opportunity to collect financial rewards for services rendered to the ruling class. He became one of the most prominent partners in Akin Gump, joined literally dozens of corporate boards, and quickly became a multimillionaire. In government circles, the name of Vernon Jordan is most closely associated with Bill Clinton. Jordan met and befriended Clinton in the late 1970s, when the future Democratic president was the young Attorney General of Arkansas. He accompanied Clinton all the way to the White House, leading the president-elects transition team after the 1992 election and then working behind the scenes as one of Clintons closest advisers throughout his two terms in office. Although obituaries in the mainstream media all noted the fact that Jordan had briefly been ensnared in the Monica Lewinsky scandal because of his role in attempting to get the White House intern a job as the scandal unfolded in 1998, they generally passed over his far more significant role as political confidant of Clinton, the Democrat who personified the partys open abandonment of even the pretense of a connection to the struggles of the working class. Jordan the civil rights leader is closely associated with some of Clintons signature legislative achievements of the 1990s, the 1994 Crime Billwritten by current President and then-Senator Joe Bidenthat helped pave the way for mass incarceration and the so-called Welfare Reform bill of 1996 that consigned millions to poverty and poverty-level jobs. This illustrates the way in which the label of civil rights was attached to the most reactionary social legislation since before the New Deal. For the last several decades, Jordan continued with his lucrative legal and corporate career, while enjoying the reputation of elder statesman of the political establishment. He was not prominently associated with the identity politics wing of the black middle class. He spoke regularly at observances of Martin Luther King Day, such as the 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Breakfast held in 2015 by the Minneapolis-based Fortune 500 company General Mills. Jordan called on Americans to renew our hopeHope in spite of all obstacles. Hope in the face of defeat. Hope against all odds. Hope, no matter what comes. But hope alone, moves no mountains. And that is where meaningful action must come in. The system today cries out for reform, but it also calls for wise actions and measured responses for change. Platitudes like this match almost word-for-word the ones now coming out the mouth of President Biden. It is significant that Jordans career coincides with the last 50 years of uninterrupted onslaught on the living standards and democratic rights of the working class. Far from being the civil rights icon hailed by the capitalist media, Jordan based himself on the collapse of the civil rights movement. The limited gains of the integration of public accommodations, the extension of voting rights and the dismantling of Jim Crow barriers left in place the system of capitalism that could no longer provide any serious measures against poverty, unemployment and decaying public services. In order to fight for the goals of genuine social equality, it was necessary to fight capitalism. This was the crisis that faced King in the last two years of his life, as he struggled to find a way forward, but refused to break from the Democratic Party and the outlook of radical pacifism. Just a week before his assassination, at an informal strategy meeting in New York, King had lashed out at Andrew Young, then one of his lieutenants and later the mayor of Atlanta and the US Representative to the United Nations. As recounted by Harry Belafonte in his memoir, King said, I dont need to hear from you, Andy. Ive heard enough from you. Youre a capitalist, and Im not. And so we dont see eye to eyeon this and a lot of other stuff. Jordan, only six years Kings junior, faced no similar crisis. He advanced his career on the ashes of the civil rights movement. He was if anything an even more unabashed supporter of capitalism than Andrew Young. In the course of his long career, he met and worked with every US president between Lyndon Johnson and Barack Obama. When editorial boards call Jordan a civil rights icon they are celebrating the ability to the US ruling class to use the techniques of black capitalism, affirmative action and identity politics to elevate a thin layer of the African American middle class into the business and political establishment. Jordan was perhaps the most prominent of this layer. This integration of ruling class circles is directed against the working class of all races and ethnicities. It has gone hand in hand with the efforts to whip up divisions and distractions over race and gender, to keep the lid on the growing anger and struggles of the working class. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved over N809.7 billion for various projects, including the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kano expressway. The meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday also approved the procurement of fire fighting vehicles and equipment as well as the development of an application for design, development and management of National Social Investment Management System for the National Social Investment Programme. Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said Council approved the change of scope for the construction of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway. He said the road, hitherto undergoing renovation, would now be completely reconstructed, thus changing the existing cost of the project from N155 billion to N797.2 billion. I presented on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Housing, one memorandum and one report. The memo was with respect to the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway, which was to change the scope of works form rehabilitation previously awarded because many parts of the pavement had deteriorated, to full reconstruction of two lanes on both sides. The council considered and approve the request for that change of scope and the incidental cost consequence; changing the existing contract for N155 billion to N797.236 billion to provide for full reconstruction of the main carriageway, trailer parks, way bridges, toll stations and additional side lanes in the built-up areas across the FCT, Niger Kaduna and Kano Sates, which are all served by the road and this was approved by council for the same contractor, he said. Mr Fashola listed some completely rehabilitated roads which he said would soon be handed over to include Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Aba, Sagamu-Benin, Kano-Maiduguri, Enugu- Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba and Lagos-Badagary. The minister said the roads would be delivered one after the other. So, we are dealing with 375 kilometres of roads. So the completion is going to be in phases. So the first phase will be the Kaduna Zaria section, which is 74 kilometres that will be in quarter four of 2022, he said. The next phase B the Zaria-Kano section, which is 137 kilometres, that should be quarter one of 2023. And the last phase will be the Abuja Kaduna section which should be in quarter two of 2023. Others On the procurement of fire fighting trucks, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said the council approved N10.4 billion which would also cater for other equipment for the Federal Fire Service. He said, The council considered and approved the procurement of various firefighting equipment. The total sum of the approval is N10, 436, 375, 340.96. The breakdown is as follows; the approval covers the supply of 44 firefighting engines, it also covers the supply of 15 water tankers, 15 rapid intervention fire engines, not conventional ones, that can go into any nook and cranny to respond to distressed calls. The approval also covers the supply of 20 basic life support ambulances. So, in all, we are talking about 79 firefighting equipment and support vehicles. Mr Aregbesola said the procurement of the vehicles would enhance the capacity of the Federal Fire Service to effectively control and manage emergencies relating to fire. The minister also appealed to state governments to also equip their own fire services, so as to complement the work of the Federal Fire Service operating in their states. But no matter how powerful we are, our efficiency will still be inadequate, if the sub-national or states do not develop their own capacity to support or to be the main driver in fire service, prevention and control of fire incidents, the minister said. As for water, I told you to ensure that therell be no complaints of not having water tankers, the best way is for the subnational to always have their fire hydrants, fire hydrants in the locations, in the various communities, metropolis, towns and whatever we have fire engines can be connected to draw water from the public main and serve the purpose of firefighting. So I am ceasing this opportunity to appeal to state governments to ensure that their fire hydrants are always ready and functional for the purpose of supporting Fire Service both for the federal fire Service and their own State Fire service organisations. ADVERTISEMENT The interior minister also announced that the ministry got an approval of N353 million for the deployment of an integrated real-time data repository equipment for the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja. The council also considered and approved the award of contract for the deployment of an integrated real-time data repository and security intelligence solution to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters here in Abuja and the delivery period for that contract is four months at a total sum of N353, 219, 200 only, he said. He explained that the aim is to enable the immigration Service have all its databases on one platform, for effective management of such data. Welfare Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, said the council approved the award of contract for the design, development, deployment, and management of the National Social Investment Management System for the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). She said the system is going to be used to take care of the issues of N-Power Programme, N-SIP Programme, National Cash Transfer Programme, as well as National Home Grown School Feeding Programme. She explained that they are immediately starting with N-Power before keying other clusters of the NSIP into the platform. The contract is in the sum of N2,123,035,499.96 inclusive of 7.5 % VAT with a completion period of 24 months, she said. 'The biggest defender': Why Wolf's legacy matters in 2022 Gov. Tom Wolf's veto pen has frequently been the only thing to stop legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature from becoming law. Edgefield County Council on Tuesday took three actions related to the countys Comprehensive Plan and the proposed Land Management Ordinance. Council passed the first reading of an ordinance related to a 90-day moratorium on acceptance of applications for major subdivisions, gave the OK to a mail-out to property owners in the county and approved a resolution requesting that the Planning Commission revisit the countys Comprehensive Plan. The moratorium ordinance passed 4-1 on first reading but will require two additional readings before it becomes effective. The proposed ordinance initially included applications for both minor and major subdivisions, but a motion to amend the ordinance made by council member Dean Campbell removed the language related to minor subdivisions. Its important I think for us to reset and push the pause button as weve talked about for just one small segment of our countys development and that is subdivisions, and it doesnt, in my view, doesnt affect industry, commercial business, mom-and-pop business, Campbell said, adding that including minor subdivisions would have unintended consequences. A minor subdivision is one that does not involve the creation of more than 10 lots or the creation of any new street or road. A major subdivision is any subdivision that isnt minor, the county code says. Campbell said the moratorium allows the county to get in sync with the Comprehensive Plan, get the LMO sharpened, get it better, get it different, get the public input and so Im for a very small segment, as I described, and the shortest time frame we can do it in. Council member Tiffani Ireland made the motion to approve the ordinance as amended. I think this LMO someone said earlier that the goal is to stay ahead. I think they are ahead, development is way ahead of us and thats the problem, I think this is slowing it down so we can catch up, Ireland said. Also, I dont agree that this is sending the wrong message, I think this is telling the people that we are trying to get this right. We are trying to do this right, that we want our county to have a certain look, a certain development style, and I think thats what were telling people. And thirdly I think what its telling people is were listening to our constituents. We are hearing what theyre saying and we are trying to represent them. County Council chairman Scott Cooper was the sole vote against the ordinance and said he worries it will send a closed for business" message. The county has drafted a Land Management Ordinance, and it has received pushback from county residents who have said they dont believe zoning or other restrictions on land use should be imposed, among other things. County Council unanimously approved a mail-out to property owners in the county to provide notice of the Land Management Ordinance. The mail notice will cost the county $12,075, County Administrator Tommy Paradise said during the meeting. Council also approved a resolution asking the county Planning Commission to promptly reexamine and review a section of the county Comprehensive Plan, according to the resolution. The agenda for the meeting states the request is for the sections of the Comprehensive Plan that were changed at third reading and approval of the current plan in June 2019. Specifically, The Estate Residential element and the Suburban Residential element. The Planning Commission is being asked to provide a recommendation concerning should these sections be changed to the original wording. Council member Dr. Jackie Kennion said she received 15 phone calls on Tuesday ahead of the meeting and read a statement she wrote about the issues at hand. Many people are defensive of this LMO, which some people call zoning, changing the way they live and what they do on their property, Kennion said. I want to apologize to my constituents for voting on the change of the reading of the Comprehensive Plan that I sat up here and voted on. She said she gets bashed daily for that decision, saying later, We cannot stop change, but I do agree with my constituents that we can slow it down and ensure the change does not affect our freedom to do what we want to on our land. Massachusetts still trails more than a dozen other U.S. states in the number of first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to its 65-and-older population, according to data compiled by MassLive sister site PennLive. Roughly 40.7% of Massachusetts seniors aged 65 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine as of Feb. 25, putting the Bay State at 16th on the list of states leading the effort to vaccinate elderly and therefore high risk populations. That percentage is based on population estimates from the 2019 U.S Census. States ahead of Massachusetts include Utah, South Dakota, Maine, Delaware, North Dakota, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, Ohio and Mississippi. After nearly three months of the vaccination effort, the states progress in immunizing its elderly may come as a surprise given the Baker administrations focus on getting as many initial doses of the shots out to hard-to-reach populations, like long-term care residents and workers, home health aides, homeless people in shelters and inmates, among others. Gov. Charlie Baker acknowledged that by targeting these groups early on before the state had set up any of the large-scale vaccination sites, Massachusetts overall ability to get the delicate, freezer-dependent shots out would cause the state to lag behind. Remember when we first started expanding our infrastructure here in Massachusetts, we had a lot of catching up to do, Baker said during a press conference on Thursday. And this is a race against time. At the end of the day, its a race against time. New variants, other concerns, everybody wanting to get vaccinated every state in the country is creating large-scale sites in the race against time. State health officials have repeatedly blamed the pace of the states vaccine rollout on low allocations from the federal government. But vaccinations for the 65-and-older group only began two weeks ago after Baker announced he would be bumping them up in priority. Thousands of newly eligible residents havent been able to book shots since then because of issues with the states appointment website. As of Feb. 25, about 477,356 first doses have been administered to residents 65 and older, according to the states vaccine dashboard. Of those, 330,740 were given to residents 75 and older the highest number of any age bracket and more than double the total given to residents between the age of 65 and 74. Earlier this week, Baker said officials have vaccinated roughly 68% of the states 75-and-older population and around 90% of its long-term care population a group that was devastated by the virus early on in the pandemic in places like the Holyoke Soldiers Home. While Baker has acknowledged that there have been failures throughout the states vaccine rollout effort, he continues to defend his administrations strategy. Massachusetts leads the nation in the number of first doses administered per capita among the 24 states with more than five million residents, his administration says. With the Johnson & Johnson vaccine already being administered, Baker says the supply roadblocks could finally begin easing up, letting officials distribute the shots more widely and in greater numbers. The good news here is having another effective vaccine for all eligible residents produced by a third manufacturer should mean a big increase in the number of vaccines that are available for first doses or single doses here in the commonwealth, Baker said during a press conference earlier in the week. As more residents look to schedule second doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, Baker said officials will continue to make 150,000 first doses available every week as part of the way we distribute the vaccine. Related Content: Edtech firm upGrad said it will be covering 100 per cent vaccination costs for all its staff (full-time, contract and intern) and their families. The company is already in advanced discussion with private service providers for vaccination and the drive will start as soon as government approvals and procurement of vaccines is allowed. This medical benefit programme makes upGrad India's first edtech startup to announce such a Covid-19 vaccination drive. The vaccination drive will be voluntary for employees and their immediate families, who can avail of it in major cities. The drive will also embrace ex-employees who may seek assistance from upGrad. Thus, more than 10,000 people comprising self, spouse, kids, and parents of current employees and ex-employees could be benefiting from this move. The health and well-being of our employees is our top priority, said Ronnie Screwvala, co-founder and chairman, Mayank Kumar, co-founder and MD and Phalgun Kompalli, co-founder, upGrad in a joint statement. We have always valued our employees' contribution to the company and have come up with various employee-friendly policies even in the past. We're ready to roll this out as soon as the government allows the private sector to procure the vaccines. upGrad said it has always focused on providing a healthier work-life balance and holistic well-being for its employees. During the lockdown, pre-empting the need for a well-rounded approach to monitor and meet the psycho-social needs, upGrad partnered with over 1,000 counsellors who were available 24x7 for online chats, voice calls or video sessions for its employees. It was also one of the first employers in India to reverse and reinstate salary cuts within three months of lockdown. Most recently, it announced ESOPs (employee stock ownership plan) to all who have completed more than a year with the firm, in order to recognise its employees contribution to the edtech majors stellar growth. Information Technology majors Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Accenture India have also said that they will cover Covid-19 vaccination costs for their employees and their family members, who are eligible and choose to receive the vaccination. The target list found on David M. Crawfords cellphone pointed to a former police chief consumed with grievances in his personal and professional life, the authorities said. It named, among others, two doctors who had treated Mr. Crawford for a back injury, a woman who had led a training program for Mr. Crawfords wife that discussed white privilege, and three former police officials who had served with Mr. Crawford during his career of more than three decades in Maryland law enforcement. The target list was a key piece of evidence, the authorities said, that linked Mr. Crawford, a former police chief in two Maryland cities, to an arson spree that is believed to include at least 12 fires that targeted Mr. Crawfords perceived enemies across the state from 2011 to 2020. All the fires were set at night. In six of the arsons, the victims were asleep in their homes with their families. No one was injured, but the fires caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, and the authorities said there had been clear signs that people were home when Mr. Crawford set a number of the fires. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 116.0 points in February 2021, 2.8 points (2.4%) higher than in January, marking the ninth month of consecutive rise and reaching its highest level since July 2014. The February increase was led by strong gains in the sugar and vegetable oils sub-indices, while those of cereals, dairy and meat also rose but by a lesser extent. The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 125.7 points in February, up 1.5 points (1.2 percent) from January and 26.3 points (26.5 percent) above its February 2020 level. Among major coarse grains, international sorghum prices increased the most, rising 17.4 percent in February, up 82.1 percent above their values in the corresponding month last year, driven by ongoing strong demand from China. International maize prices also rose, albeit by only 0.9 percent from the previous month. Maize export prices in February were up 45.5 percent from the previous year, underpinned by continued strong import demand amidst shrinking export supplies. Wheat export prices remained nearly stable in February, but up 19.8 percent from last years level. The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 147.4 points in February, gaining 8.6 points (or 6.2 percent) from January and marking its highest level since April 2012. The continued strength reflected firmer prices of palm, soy, rape and sunflower oils. International palm oil prices rose for a ninth consecutive month in February, fuelled by concerns over low inventory levels in leading exporting countries following below potential outputs. At the same time, soy quotations remained on an upward trajectory, mainly reflecting current global supply tightness prior to the arrival of the new crop in South America. As for rapeseed and sunflowerseed oils, international prices were underpinned by, respectively, lower than initially expected 2021 production prospects in the European Union and further tightening of export availabilities in the Black Sea region. Noticeably, rising crude oil prices also lent support to vegetable oil values. The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 113.0 points in February, up 1.9 points (1.7 percent) from January, rising for the ninth consecutive month and nearing a 40-month high. In February, international price quotations for butter rose, underpinned by firm imports by China amidst limited export supplies from Western Europe due to a surge in internal demand in view of the upcoming Spring holidays. Quotations for whole milk powder (WMP) increased due to high import purchases and concerns over potentially lower export supplies in New Zealand stemming from dry weather conditions. Skim milk powder prices also increased, reflecting low stocks and tight export availabilities in Europe. By contrast, reduced demand for spot supplies, coupled with high inventories in the United States of America, weighed on cheese quotations. The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 96.4 points in February, up 0.6 points (0.6 percent) from January and marking the fifth consecutive monthly increase, but still 4.1 points (4.0 percent) below its level in the corresponding month last year. In February, international price quotations for bovine and ovine meats rose mostly on tight supplies in key producing regions, further accentuated by lower processing in Oceania due to the sustained demand for herd rebuilding. The FAO Sugar price index averaged 100.2 points in February, up 6 points (6.4 percent) from January, marking the second consecutive monthly increase and registering its highest level since April 2017. The latest hike in international sugar price quotations was prompted by continued concerns over tighter global supplies in 2020/21, following production declines in key producing countries and a strong import demand from Asia. Logistical constraints hampering shipments from India and the rally in crude oil prices, which may divert more sugarcane crushing to ethanol production in Brazil, the worlds largest sugar exporter, contributed to support the higher prices. Potentially larger monthly price gains were, however, contained by expectations of a production recovery in Thailand and a bumper crop in India in 2021/22. Powered by Commodity Insights Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. New Delhi: Nearly a year since the coronavirus pandemic crisis people are now seeing a ray of hope as they get their COVID-19 injections. Several countries have rolled out vaccination drive and people are flooding the social media with their stories. One prominent story is of a Canadian Sikh man, a dance instructor, who posted a video of himself doing 'bhangra' on a frozen lake in Canada, much to the delight of the internet. Pandher shared the video with an inspiring message saying: "Yesterday evening I received my Covid-19 vaccine. Then I went to a frozen lake to dance Bhangra on it for joy, hope and positivity, which Im forwarding across Canada and beyond for everyones health and wellbeing. Watch Video Yesterday evening I received my Covid-19 vaccine. Then I went to a frozen lake to dance Bhangra on it for joy, hope and positivity, which I'm forwarding across Canada and beyond for everyone's health and wellbeing. pic.twitter.com/8BS0N7zVZK Gurdeep Pandher of Yukon (@GurdeepPandher) March 2, 2021 Gurdeep Pandher received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine a few days ago. After getting his dose he celebrated the moment by recording himself doing a 'bhangra' in a 55-second video on Twitter joyously dancing to dhol beats. Heres how the Internet reacted: One Twitter user commented that watching the dance video made him feel like the world is a better place. I dont know exactly why, but I watch this man and suddenly the world seems like a better place. Thank you Gurdeep! Andrew Westra (@AndrewWestraToo) March 2, 2021 Another user said that men doing a happy dance should be normalised. Normalize Men Celebrating Vaccination Through Dance In The Snow 2021 Attorney at Paw (@_AttorneyAtPaw) March 2, 2021 While, one expressed her desire to do a similar dance when she gets vaccinated too. I'm going to do exactly this when I get my vaccine! Thanks for the exuberance and joy!!! Kristine Kenyon (@kristine_kenyon) March 2, 2021 But mostly, users thanked for sharing joy with the world. Thanks for sharing your joy with the world. The virality of your video shows how much your joy is needed. Wishing you and our Canadian neighbors the best! Hope to see your dance on a @zumba video soon. Loveandtreasure (@LovenTreasure) March 3, 2021 Pandher's happy dance video has received more than 2.7 million views in nearly two days with over 117k likes. Reporters Without Borders said Tuesday that it has asked a German court to investigate "crimes against humanity" by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the grisly killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The criminal suit, which seeks an inquiry by prosecutors under Germany's international jurisdiction laws, alleges systematic persecution of Khashoggi -- who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018-- as well as dozens of other journalists. It comes after Washington released a declassified intelligence report last week which concluded that Prince Mohammed personally approved the killing of Khashoggi, a US-based contributor to The Washington Post. Saudi officials denounced the report, insisting that Khashoggi was killed in a "rogue operation" by a Saudi hit squad that did not involve the crown prince. But Reporters Without Borders said it had gathered evidence of a "state policy to attack and silence journalists," which it submitted to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany, on Monday. Its report details the cases of 34 other journalists who have been jailed in Saudi Arabia, including the blogger Raif Badawi, who has been imprisoned in his home country since 2012 on charges of "insulting Islam." "We call on the German prosecutor to take a stand," Christophe Deloire, secretary-general of the media watchdog known by its French abbreviation RSF, said in a statement. "No one should be above international law, especially when crimes of humanity are at stake," he said. Contacted by AFP, the court in Karlsruhe confirmed it had received the complaint but declined to comment further. Last week, a court in Koblenz applied the principle of universal jurisdiction to convict a former Syrian intelligence agent for complicity in crimes against humanity, the first court case worldwide over state-sponsored torture by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government. Story continues - 'Mockery of justice' - Besides Prince Mohammed, the complaint targets his top aide Saud al-Qahtani, who is suspected of taking a direct role in the planning and killing of Khashoggi, and three other Saudi officials. While a Saudi court eventually sentenced 11 unidentified defendants in December 2019 for the killing after international pressure, the main suspects remain "fully immune to justice," RSF said. And the death sentences for five of the suspects were overturned last September, in what Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz called "a mockery of justice." On Tuesday, Cengiz reiterated her call on the international community to "punish" the prince over the extra-territorial murder of a citizen. The 59-year-old Khashoggi was strangled and had his body cut into pieces by a 15-man Saudi squad inside the Istanbul consulate, according to Turkish officials. His remains have not been found. Both the CIA and a UN special envoy have directly linked Prince Mohammed to the killing, a charge the kingdom denies. The US report released last week found that seven members of the hit squad that flew to Istanbul came from the Rapid Intervention Force, which it said "exists to defend the crown prince" and "answers only to him". President Joe Biden's administration imposed sanctions on the Rapid Intervention Force -- meaning any US transactions with it will be a crime -- and said it was banning entry into the United States of 76 Saudis under a new policy against foreign officials who harass dissidents. But it stopped short of personally targeting the 35-year-old crown prince, who is the de facto Saudi leader as well as the defence minister of one of the world's largest oil suppliers. Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, on Tuesday called the RSF filing "an important step in the right direction" for holding the crown prince accountable. ac/js/adp/dl The League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area is holding two Voter Information Candidate Events for the April 6th election. The league has invited candidates in contested races to participate in the events. Candidates have the opportunity to let voters know why they are running for office and where they stand on the issues. Manitoba is providing far less information on cases of highly contagious coronavirus variants than other provinces, adding to existing concerns around transparency in the pandemic. Manitoba is providing far less information on cases of highly contagious coronavirus variants than other provinces, adding to existing concerns around transparency in the pandemic. "People have a general expectation that there are certain kinds of baseline information that will be shared," said Michelle Driedger, a community health professor at the University of Manitoba. "Transparency has been a general issue in the handling of COVID-19 in Manitoba, all the way along," said Driedger, who specializes in public health communication. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Michelle Driedger, a community health professor at the University of Manitoba: Transparency has been a general issue in the handling of COVID-19 in Manitoba, all the way along." On Tuesday, Manitobas chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin and Premier Brian Pallister announced a further loosening of pandemic restrictions, and urged the public to be cautious due to variants. But both failed to divulge Manitobas first two cases of the variant originally detected in South Africa, which appears somewhat resistant to vaccines, along with another new case of the British variant. That information came out one hour later in a bulletin that did not disclose when those cases emerged, how long they took to detect, whether they resulted from travel, and if these people infected each other details other provinces are reporting. As of Tuesday, Manitoba had logged eight confirmed variant cases, including recoveries. Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have each reported six or seven variant cases, and all have provided a rough timeframe of when the COVID-19 sample was collected. People have a general expectation that there are certain kinds of baseline information that will be shared Michelle Driedger, a community health professor at the University of Manitoba Nova Scotia has detailed which variant cases are linked to each other, while New Brunswick has specified which cases involved travel outside the province. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have also announced presumptive variant cases before they were confirmed. Manitoba has chosen to only do so for First Nations or small towns. The Manitoba government argued this can help smaller communities isolate sooner and prevent rumours from circulating. Officials say announcing unconfirmed variant cases in cities such as Winnipeg could cause unnecessary concern. Other provinces have curtailed the details they report on variant cases, but only did so when dozens of cases started emerging at the same time. Manitoba public health officials contend it made more sense to make this shift now, instead of curtailing information at a later date. We appreciate the public has a significant interest in how the province is managing cases related to the variants of concern, and we agree that sharing as much information as possible helps the public understand the current situation and assess their risk of COVID-19. Provincial spokeswoman Officials have noted that logging each variant case means collating data from interviews with nurses and as many as three labs, then figuring out what can be divulged without identifying those infected. "We appreciate the public has a significant interest in how the province is managing cases related to the variants of concern, and we agree that sharing as much information as possible helps the public understand the current situation and assess their risk of COVID-19," a provincial spokeswoman wrote Wednesday. The province said its trying to balance privacy, as people could be stigmatized if theyre identified as bringing a variant into Manitoba, which could deter others from being honest with contact-tracing nurses. But Driedger argues its worth giving the public more information on when variant cases emerged, whether they spread to other people and if everyone has recovered at least until variants start spreading in large numbers. "Because (variants) are relatively new within the Manitoba context, more detail is probably better than less," Driedger said. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Brian Pallister (right) and chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Michelle Driedger, community health professor at the University of Manitoba, says the scope of pandemic information released to the public is generally decided by the elected government, with the advice of health officials. "It does have an impact, at really kind of nudging us into ensuring were really strictly following things, and being as careful as possible." Driedger said the scope of pandemic information released to the public is generally decided by the elected government, with the advice of health officials. She said providing every piece of information to the public without any discretion would clearly violate privacy, and likely confuse people. But she argued the Progressive Conservative government should be more upfront about its handling of COVID-19. Province's delayed request to private lab behind COVID variant detection lag Click to Expand The Manitoba government only asked Dynacare to send daily COVID-19 samples to the Cadham Provincial Laboratory for variant of concern screening on Feb. 7, partially explaining the 18-day delay in reporting Manitoba's first case of the B.1.1.7 variant. (Supplied file photo) Posted: 7:44 PM Mar. 1, 2021 Manitoba's weeks-long lag in detecting highly contagious COVID-19 variants stemmed from a delay in asking the private lab conducting nearly half the tests to send along samples, the Free Press has learned. It wasnt until Feb. 7 that the Manitoba government asked Dynacare to send COVID-19 samples on a daily basis to the Cadham Provincial Laboratory so they could be screened for variants of concern. Read Full Story For example, the province never explained why it took 18 days to detect the first variant case since it emerged, leading the Free Press to ask questions in emails and press conferences over the course of three weeks. Eventually, private firm Dynacare revealed the province hadnt asked for samples to be screened for variants on a daily basis until Feb. 7. The province has been evasive in past months about things ranging from how many care-home inspections occur through video calls, to how many people are doing contact tracing. "Its been a lot of constantly seeking to get clarification and answers, and eventually something comes forward, whether it comes forward from public health... or government, or because some information has been leaked to the media," Driedger said. "Its this constantly having to return with the same question before getting answers, that creates a certain challenge in trying to maintain public confidence and trust in what is being provided." To that end, the province says its now working on a way to publish more data on variant cases in recurring reports. "At this time, were looking into what can be provided consistently on a periodic basis in the longer term, and hope to have more details about what this might look like soon," a provincial spokeswoman wrote. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca US President on Wednesday nominated Pakistani-American Dilaware Syed to serve as Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Syed, who played a key role in organizing the Asian American Pacific Islanders community and was one of the early supporters of Biden, is the highest-ranking Pakistani-American in the Biden administration. The sent the nomination to the Senate later in the day. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the highest-ranking Muslim American in the Biden administration. Syed is president and CEO of Lumiata, an AI for healthcare company focused on reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes. Previously, he was president of Freshworks where he helped scale the software company's products to thousands of small and medium businesses. The said Syed has driven civic efforts at the federal, state, and local level focusing on economic growth and entrepreneurship. "As the founding Chair of California Entrepreneurship Task Force with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, Dilawar drives inclusive entrepreneurship bridging coastal regions with the state's rural heartland. He served on President Obama's Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and chaired the White House Initiative on AAPIs' Economic Growth Committee," the White House said. In that role, Syed led the administration's engagement with small businesses across the US after the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Syed also served as a liaison with the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce on federal initiatives such as the President's Export Council. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and earned a BA in Economics and Computer Science from The University of Texas at Austin. Syed immigrated to the US from Pakistan as a freshman student to attend The College of Wooster in Ohio. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise A bomb squad has set off controlled explosions in a Gold Coast neighbourhood after a hazardous chemical was found at a home. An emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act was made about 3.20pm after police found a hazardous chemical at a home on Pacific Parade, Bilinga. It was revoked just after 5pm. Police said the bomb squad was conducting controlled explosions after the chemical was found and deemed unstable. Four Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews were on scene after arriving about 12.50pm and helped police remove the chemical. OTTAWA - WE Charity co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger are declining requests to testify before two House of Commons committees. Marc Kielburger, screen left, and Craig Kielburger, screen right, appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa on July 28, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - WE Charity co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger are declining requests to testify before two House of Commons committees. In a statement Wednesday, the charity noted that New Democrat MP Charlie Angus has requested that the RCMP and the Canada Revenue Agency investigate WE's operations. The charity said it would be unfair to subject it to a partisan committee investigation at the same time. "While WE Charity would welcome and co-operate with any potential investigation conducted by these agencies (RCMP and CRA), no organization should be subject to both an investigation of the same matters by a partisan parliamentary committee which wishes to carry out its own substitute investigation," the charity said. Both the Commons ethics committee and procedure and House affairs committee have invited the Kielburger brothers to testify as part of their ongoing scrutiny of a federal agreement to have WE manage a now-cancelled student services grant program, despite the organization's close ties to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family. Ethics commissioner Mario Dion is investigating the involvement of Trudeau and former finance minister Bill Morneau, who also has family ties to WE, in awarding the $43.5-million contract. Both have apologized for not recusing themselves from the decision. Angus requested the RCMP and CRA investigations last week after a former donor, U.S. television journalist Reed Cowan, alleged that the plaque on a school he had funded in Kenya had been replaced with a plaque in the name of another donor. WE said the incident was an unfortunate mistake; Angus called it proof of a "pattern of duplicitous relations with donors." Angus said Wednesday that he will confer with his fellow committee members about summoning the Kielburgers to testify. Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett also tweeted Wednesday that his party will pursue a summons "in the interest of accountability to Canadians." "I'm very, very perplexed that they're taking this strategy," Angus said in an interview. "What we heard last Friday (from Cowan) was devastating testimony and I would think they would want to reassure both taxpayers and their donors by answering these questions. They need to answer these questions. They can't hide." Angus noted that the committee has already had to summon two other executives in the WE organization, to compel them to testify. A summons from a Commons committee has legal force. Cowan made the allegations during testimony last Friday to the Commons ethics committee, which invited the Kielburger brothers to testify on Monday. The brothers have already testified for four hours at the Commons finance committee last summer, after controversy over the student-grant program erupted. In its statement Wednesday, WE Charity notes that five members of the organization have testified at various "highly partisan" committees over the past nine months and will decline further invitations to do so again. It says it will continue to co-operate with the ethics commissioner's investigation. The charity also says its board of directors is setting up a standing committee on donor transparency to look into "any specific concerns that may be raised by any past, present or future donor." Its first priority will be to look into Cowan's allegations, the charity says. Cowan, who has called on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to also investigate the matter, said Wednesday that he puts "more faith and trust in tax investigators on both sides of the border and in the FBI than I do any in-house committee that could be set up by the very organization in question." Cowan had raised money for the Kenyan school in the name of his late son, Wesley, who died in an accident at four years old. WE Charity "let me use my good name and my son's death to get money for them from so many people, " Cowan said in an email Wednesday, adding that he wants all the money he and others donated in his son's name to be returned. He said his testimony at committee last week has "shaken loose" information from people who are bound by non-disclosure agreements with the charity. The volume of calls he's received from such people "should concern anyone who gave money, clout and power to this organization," he added. The latest WE controversy has taken an emotional toll on Cowan. He said he's seeking professional help to get through the post-traumatic stress disorder triggered by his testimony. "I thought I could be Superman but by this morning this has driven me into a dark abyss and I'm putting my faith in people to carry the questions to answers that are due donors all over the world." WE Charity said that when donors contribute to the projects such as building a school, "those funds are often pooled to help villages, as is common with other major international development organizations." It says it has sought to be clear about that approach through its websites and other materials and added that "every penny donated to WE Charity was used to help children." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2021. (Newser) US and Canadian coast guard officials managed an impressive 12-hour rescue of all 31 crew members from a disabled fishing vessel off Nova Scotia over Tuesday and Wednesday, wrapping up shortly before the vessel sank. The 143-foot Atlantic Destiny was 130 miles from Nova Scotia's southwest coast when it lost power and began taking on water in the midst of a fire, possibly in the engine room, around 8pm local time Tuesday, per the CBC. "It was literally your worst fear coming true," Hannah Fancy, whose brother was on board, tells the outlet, noting her family stayed up nearly the entire night "praying for some miracle to happen." A helicopter crew from the Royal Canadian Air Force first located the ship, rescuing six crew members while dropping two technicians to help pump out the water, the US Coast Guard said in a statement. But the effort was to no avail. story continues below US Coast Guard crews rescued another 21 crew members before the pumping was halted some 12 hours into the rescue. The Canadian Coast Guard then whisked the captain and three remaining crew members off the ship, which sank 2.5 hours later, per the CBC. All but the last four crew members were hoisted into helicopters one at a time, so 27 lifts were required. US Coast Guard officials described it as one of the "craziest" and most challenging rescues of their careers, per the CBC and CNN. One described 33-foot waves and sustained winds nearing 60mph. Lt. Cmdr. Brian Owens of Canada's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said that without assistance from the US, "we would still be trying to transport people to shore." Both Fancy and Martin Sullivan, CEO of Ocean Choice International, which owns the ship, described a "huge" sense of relief. (Read more rescue stories.) The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana lawmakers are trying to stifle no prosecute policies in Hoosier counties. The author of the bill, Indianapolis State Senator Mike Young, says the bill ensures that local authorities cant create a list of crimes they wont prosecute. The most notable instance of this is in Marion County. That prosecutor chooses not to file charges against anyone in possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana. Senator Young says the idea of Senate Bill 200 came from prosecutors in large jurisdictions like Boston and Chicago. Those authorities have announced that they will not prosecute certain crimes in cases of trespassing or disorderly conduct. This bill would allow for the Indiana Attorney Generals Office to appoint a special prosecutor to file charges if the prosecutor in that specific county has a no prosecute policy. Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt says this bill is trying to combat that specific instance. Modesitt says he believes this bill isnt necessary in Vigo County. I take an oath to uphold the laws in the State of Indiana. I realize that its up to the legislature to decide what the laws are going to be. Its my job to enforce them and to protect the public, so Im not going to try to basically to their job for them up in the legislature, Modesitt explained. Our system would be broken if, for instance, the legislature does their job and passes the laws and I just say, as prosecutor, I dont like it so I wont enforce that law. I think that is stepping out of bounds to do that, Modesitt continued, Here in Vigo County, as long as Im the prosecutor, this law is not necessary. Im going to let them do their job and Im going to do my job. State Senator Young agrees. He says that this bill only applies to prosecutors in Hoosier counties that wont follow the laws themselves. Neither the Indiana Public Defender Council nor the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council supports this bill. Modesitt offered his thoughts on whether the bill will become law. I would say that theres a less than 50% chance that it will pass. Thats my guess, Modesitt concluded, I know the Indiana Prosecutors Council is opposed to it. They feel like it takes some of the authority away from the elected prosecutors. They feel like thats overstepping the bounds in the opposite direction by passing a law like this. Senate Bill 200 passed the Indiana Senate and is on its way to the Indiana House of Representatives. News 10 will keep you up to date with the bills progress moving forward. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out a triumphant road map for the country's exit from lockdown, off the back of its successful Covid-19 vaccination drive, major flaws have been exposed in the UK's efforts to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants in the country. The government issued a public appeal on Sunday, to trace someone who has been infected with a coronavirus variant first identified in the Brazilian city of Manaus. The unidentified person failed to properly fill out a test registration card, meaning British authorities had no idea who, or where, they are. They are one of six cases infected with the variant, known as P1, which studies suggest has mutations that make it more transmissible and able to evade immunity from previous coronavirus infection and possibly vaccines. Direct flights from Brazil to the UK were banned in January, but two cases of the variant have been traced to a family who returned from Brazil on February 10. They are believed to have traveled on a Swiss Air flight from Sao Paulo, via Zurich, to London Heathrow. The three other P1 variant cases returned to Scotland from Brazil via Paris and London. The Scottish government has provided no details of when their flight arrived. Critics who warned that the government's failure to clamp down on indirect flights from high-risk countries like Brazil would make it easier for variants to spread in the UK have been vindicated. "It demonstrates the slowness of the government to close off even the major routes, but also the unwillingness to confront the fact that the virus doesn't travel by direct flights," opposition Labour party leader Keir Starmer told a virtual meeting on Monday, according to PA Media. To further prevent the arrival of new variants and control coronavirus case numbers, the government announced its 10-day hotel quarantine plan in January, but it was not implemented until February 15, just days before the indirect Swiss Air flight from Brazil landed -- and months after health experts had called for such a program to be introduced. Johnson defended his government's policies on Monday, saying the UK had "one of the toughest border regimes anywhere in the world for stopping people coming in to this country who may have variants of concern." At a press conference later that day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said all the evidence showed that five of the known cases had followed prior quarantine rules that required them to isolate at home, and that no knock-on transmissions had been caused by the missing case. But the long-overdue hotel quarantine measures are half-baked, Dr. Gabriel Scally, president of epidemiology and public health at the Royal Society of Medicine, told CNN. The UK's hotel quarantine rules apply to people returning from 33 "red list travel ban" countries, where variants of concern identified in Brazil and South Africa are believed to be spreading. The ban also includes nations with strong travel links to those countries. But Scally argues that this is insufficient: "It should be all countries -- even now we are half doing it." He pointed out that the US, which has one of the world's highest daily rates of reported Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people, is not on the list. "If you build quarantine measures, you either do it properly or not at all," he said. This was also pointed out by Dr. Catherine Bennett, epidemiology chair at Australia's Deakin University when speaking to a cross-party parliamentary group on Covid-19 [APPG] last week. Bennett said the measures surrounding the UK's quarantine hotels were incomplete, highlighting that the UK rules allow people to leave their rooms to exercise, visit a dying family member or attend a funeral. The isolation period is also 10 days -- contrary to international standards. "If there are too many holes in the sieve, then why bother with the sieve?" Bennett asked, explaining that the UK needs to either have a "hard commitment at something to make it work or pull back" and just rely on its Covid-19 surveillance systems. Slow off the mark The British government procrastinated from the very start of the pandemic. Even as the movement of people came to a virtual standstill worldwide, the UK's borders remained open to all. Analysis by the Pew Research Center in April 2020 found that 91% of the world's population was living in places that had imposed travel restrictions related to Covid-19 -- but those figures did not include the UK. The British government did not order inbound travel restrictions until June, at which point it ordered all international arrivals to self-isolate for two weeks, at a location of their choice. But the following month it dropped those self-isolation restrictions for people arriving from more than 50 countries with low infection rates. The summer travel season led to the import of a Covid-19 variant first identified in Spain, which became the dominant variant in the UK by the fall of 2020, Scally said. And in December, just weeks before the country's worst wave of the pandemic began, the two-week self-isolation period for international arrivals was cut to 10 days. Then the hotel quarantine plan took weeks to implement, seeing the arrival of the Brazil variant just days before its launch. Scally believes that instead of talking to New Zealand, Taiwan or Australia, all of which have been revered for their pandemic response and have nearly a year's experience of border restrictions and hotel quarantine measures designed to combat Covid-19, the UK has created another leaky system that needs a rethink. For example, many countries in the Asia-Pacific region have remained off-limits to all travelers except for returning citizens and residents. Australia caps weekly international arrivals of Australians and residents at around 4,000. In sharp contrast, the UK sees up to 15,000 people enter the country on any given day, one third of whom are hauliers and another third of whom are British citizens, Paul Lincoln, director of the Home Office's Border Force, told the Home Affairs Committee last week. Only 150 of those -- just 1% of that figure -- go into quarantine hotels, Yvette Cooper, Labour Party lawmaker who chairs the committee, said on Twitter last week. The "majority can still go straight onto public transport home without being tested on arrival," she said. Australia has also blocked its own citizens from leaving the country and people in quarantine are strictly forbidden from leaving their hotel rooms during the two-week period. In Singapore, where similar quarantine rules are in place, a British man is facing six months in prison, or a fine of more than $7,500, for leaving his room to visit his fiancee, who was staying in the same hotel. "I wish the UK would look at and model successful countries more -- and have been wishing that since February 2020," Dr. Tim Colbourn, associate professor of global health epidemiology at the University College London, told CNN. Dithering and delays in introducing restrictions and lockdowns "has made all the difference between low and manageable cases, and overwhelmed hospitals" in the UK in the past year, Colbourn said, adding that earlier lockdowns could have saved tens of thousands of people. A better blueprint The systems in Australia and Singapore are not faultless. A spike in Covid-19 cases in April 2020 saw Singapore seal migrant workers off in their dormitories, but case numbers continued to climb as the cramped living quarters made it near impossible for those inside to socially distance. The move, which shone a light on the plight of the poorly-paid South Asian workers, sparked outrage. In Australia, a coronavirus outbreak that began in Melbourne last July was reportedly caused by a hotel staff member, who is presumed to have picked it the virus from a returning traveler. Australia has learned from some of its failures. Meal times at quarantine hotels are now staggered, after two separate groups of guests living in adjacent rooms in a Melbourne hotel were infected with a variant first identified in the UK, known as B.1117. Authorities think the virus spread when both guests opened their doors at the same time, allowing the virus to spill out following high concentrations in one of the rooms. "The viral load in the room of the family of five ... was so high that just even opening the door to pick up your food has seen the virus get into the corridor," Victoria's Police Minister Lisa Neville said in a February press conference. There are now calls to move Australia's hotel quarantine program out of cities and into more sparsely populated areas. Australia's states also changed their approach, of allowing Australian-based flight crews to quarantine at home, after a spate of infections were linked to crew members. But experts say Australia's success in containing the pandemic is partly a product of its geography, as an island nation that can easily close its borders. The same is true of Singapore, which has a considerably smaller population than the UK, and which has stopped border traffic to all except commercial vehicles on the causeway linking it with Malaysia due to the pandemic. What both Singapore and Australia also have is political will. It is still unclear if a year of lessons learned by Australian officials is being taken seriously by their British counterparts and in the meantime, cases continue to spread and the threat of new variants looms, with international travel expected to increase this summer. Too many cases Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are trying to maintain zero Covid-19 cases within their borders. The UK government has instead emphasized the importance of learning to live with the virus, simply accepting that a certain level of cases will continue to circulate in the community. On Tuesday, the UK recorded 6,391 new cases, while Australia recorded seven new cases -- all of which occurred within the hotel quarantine system -- on the same day. And the Australian government says its borders will remain closed for another three months, showing that it's not backing down despite the low number of cases there. High case numbers in the community require an effective track-and-trace system to be in place. The UK has scaled up its Covid-19 testing and contact-tracing system following widely reported failures last spring, but gaps in the process remain -- including the one that led to officials making a public appeal to trace the missing case of the P1 variant, which critics say highlights sloppy data collection standards. UK guidance also does not recommend testing of a positive case's close contacts, in contrast to guidance in the US and Europe, said Scally. "All the way along the pandemic, the government has not taken this stuff seriously: They don't take making schools safe seriously; they don't take quarantine seriously; they don't take test and trace seriously," he said. "I am sure this is why the UK has done so badly." The UK's immunization campaign, one of the fastest in the world, has provided some respite, say experts, as has the hope that reformulated vaccines, providing increased immunity against variants, could be available by this fall. The country is also a world leader in sequencing the Covid-19 genome, which is crucial in analyzing the spread of new variants. But while it is "amazing" that Britain is sequencing 25,000 positive Covid-19 cases a week, Colbourn believes it would be better to get weekly case numbers below that figure in the first place. A Drogheda criminal with 40 previous convictions has appealed the severity of his sentence for burning out a stolen car, in what a judge has described as "mysterious" circumstances. Paul Crosby (25) of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth was under surveillance by the Emergency Response Unit who watched as he and two others jump-started the stolen Volkswagen Polo, drove it to a field and set it on fire. He pleaded guilty to arson and a judge at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment with the final six months suspended. At a sentence hearing in April 2020 Detective Garda Seamus Nolan told Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court that Crosby was being watched by the Emergency Response Unit when, on May 10, 2019, he was seen with two other men trying to jump-start the stolen car at an industrial estate in Drogheda. Read More The car had been reported stolen from Dublin and had been fitted with stolen plates and tax and insurance discs. When the three men got the car started they drove to a field in the Yellowbatter area of the town. The two other men, driving a BMW, left and returned with a can of petrol. One of them, not Crosby, doused the car and set it on fire. The Volkswagen, which was said to have been worth 10,000, was a write-off. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years in prison but reduced that due to Crosby's early guilty plea. The court also heard that Crosby had 40 previous convictions: 31 for road traffic offences, four for theft, three for drug-related offences and two for criminal damage. He was also acquitted of attempted murder following a trial in February 2019. He had been accused of the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, on November 10, 2016. Mr Boyle was stabbed 28 times and forced into the boot of a car that was then pushed into a canal. He escaped from the car and swam to the canal bank where a passing taxi driver called the emergency services. Crosby denied any involvement and a Central Criminal Court jury took just 43 minutes to find him not guilty of attempted murder. The Sunday World revealed last month that Crosby was arrested by gardai investigating the savage murder and dismemberment of the body of a 17-year-old boy in January of last year. The 25-year-old crime figure was taken from his cell in Mountjoy Prison to the nearby Mountjoy Garda Station. He was later released without charge. Crosby is considered a key-member of the so-called anti-Maguire faction in the Drogheda feud and a close friend of two on-the-run brothers who are currently on-the-run abroad. Read More At the Court of Appeal today (THU) Lily Buckley BL for Crosby said the headline sentence of seven years for arson was too severe. She said the main concern in arson cases is the danger posed to others when fires get out of control. That did not feature in this case, she said, as the car was set on fire in a field away from houses and people. She also argued that her client's guilty plea was particularly helpful given that his trial would have been delayed indefinitely as the courts are not holding jury trials during lockdown. She said the sentencing judge put too much emphasis on the idea that it was a planned operation. Ms Buckley pointed out that Crosby and his alleged accomplices didn't even have petrol to light the fire when they first brought the car to the field, suggesting it wasn't particularly well-planned. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said people who burn out cars usually do so to destroy forensic evidence relating to a robbery or shooting, or out of hostility towards the car owner, or as an act of mindless vandalism. "It's hard to see where this one fits into the picture," he said, adding: "It is slightly mysterious, a car stolen in Dublin, turning up in Drogheda, parked in a car park until the battery went flat, jump started and then brought to a field to be burned out. What is it all about?" Ms Buckley pointed out that the sentencing judge had described the fire as "sinister" but didn't speculate beyond that. Kevin Segrave SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions said the involvement of the emergency response unit meant the judge was "entitled to infer something sinister." He added, however, that there is no more evidence and therefore he would "leave it at that". Mr Justice Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved judgement. Pakistan cement sales expand 2% in February ICR Newsroom By 04 March 2021 Total cement sales in Pakistan edged up two per cent YoY to 4.6Mt in February 2021, showing sharply decelerating market growth when compared with January, when the market expanded by 16.3 per cent. The drop in sales was attributed by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) to a considerably drop in export sales, which fell to 18.2 per cent YoY to 753,444t the fourth-consecutive monthly decrease. Domestic sales in February 2021 increased by 6.1 per cent YoY to nearly 4Mt although the pace of growth also softened from 11.2 per cent YoY in the previous month. 8MFY20-21 In the July 2020-February 2021 period (8MFY20-21) total cement sales grew by 13.9 per cent YoY to 38Mt. Domestic cement sales advanced 15.5 per cent YoY while exports increased by 6.6 per cent YoY. Domestic sales were driven by the governments construction amnesty scheme, which was announced as part of an incentive package for the sector in April 2020 to encourage investments in real estate, combined with construction of dams and other projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Published under Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared Christian Porter is looking forward to returning from medical leave and rejected renewed calls for an independent investigation into the rape allegation denied by the Attorney-General on Wednesday. Mr Morrison said calls for an independent investigation from friends of the woman who accused Mr Porter, independent MPs and the Greens after NSW Police closed its investigation this week risked Australias rule of law and the presumption of innocence. That would say that our rule of law and our police are not competent to deal with these issues, Mr Morrison said. And they are competent to deal with these issues. They have reviewed the materials and theyve formed their assessment. Im pleased that [Mr Porter] is taking some time to get support to deal with what has obviously been a very traumatic series of events. NEWARK, N.J., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT) reported net income per diluted share of $0.51 and Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share* of $0.49 on revenue of $340 million for the second quarter of FY 2021, the three months ended January 31, 2021. 2Q21 HIGHLIGHTS (Results are for 2Q21 and are compared to 2Q20) Consolidated revenue increased 5% to $340 million from $324 million . from . Consolidated revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue increased 15% to $71 million from $61 million , the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year increases. from , the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year increases. National Retail Solutions (NRS), BOSS Revolution Money Transfer, and net2phone-UCaaS subscription revenues increased by 151%, 73% and 36%, respectively. The Fintech and net2phone-UCaaS segments contributed 30% of the consolidated revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue, compared to 19% in the year ago quarter. Consolidated income from operations increased to $12.9 million from $1.3 million . from . Adjusted EBITDA* increased to $16.3 million from $7.4 million , and Adjusted EBITDA* less capital expenditures** increased to $12.0 million from $3.6 million . from , and Adjusted EBITDA* less capital expenditures** increased to from . Earnings per diluted share increased to $0.51 from $0.04 . Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share* was $0.49 compared to $0.11 . REMARKS BY SHMUEL JONAS, CEO "IDT delivered another strong quarter, including significant year-over-year increases in consolidated revenue, income from operations and EPS. "The quarter's results were highlighted by year-over-year revenue expansion from our three higher margin businesses: National Retail Solutions (NRS), BOSS Revolution Money Transfer and net2phone-UCaaS. NRS increased revenue year-over-year by over 150% powered by sales of its payment processing services and digital out-of-home advertising offerings. Money Transfer revenue posted a 73% year-over-year increase, and subscription revenue for net2phone-UCaaS' service climbed 36% with solid growth across all regions." CONSOLIDATED RESULTS Results (in millions, except EPS) 2Q21 1Q21 2Q20 2Q21 - 2Q20 change (%/$) Revenue $340 $343 $324 +4.9% Direct cost of revenue $269 $273 $263 +2.5% Revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue $71 $70 $61 +15.4% Revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue as a percentage of revenue** 20.8% 20.5% 18.9% +190 BP SG&A expense $54 $52 $54 +0.9% Depreciation and amortization $4.5 $4.5 $5.2 $(0.7) Severance expense $0.1 $0.1 $0.5 $(0.4) Other operating gain (expense), net $1.2 $(0.3) $(0.4) +$1.6 Income from operations $12.9 $13.3 $1.3 +$11.6 Adjusted EBITDA* $16.3 $18.1 $7.4 +$8.9 Adjusted EBTIDA* less CAPEX** $12.0 $13.5 $3.6 +$8.5 Net income attributable to IDT $13.1 $8.3 $0.9 +$12.2 Diluted earnings per share $0.51 $0.32 $0.04 +$0.47 Non-GAAP net income* $12.7 $9.0 $2.9 +$9.8 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share* $0.49 $0.35 $0.11 +$0.38 * Throughout this release, Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP net income and Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share are Non-GAAP measures intended to provide useful information that supplements IDT's or the relevant segment's results in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures at the end of this release for an explanation of these terms and their respective reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. ** Revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue as a percentage of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA less CAPEX are key performance metrics. Please refer to the Explanation of Key Performance Metrics at the end of this release for an explanation of these metrics. RESULTS BY SEGMENT (Results are for 2Q21 and are compared to 2Q20 except where otherwise noted) (in millions) Fintech net2phone-UCaaS Traditional Communications 2Q21 1Q21 2Q20 2Q21 1Q21 2Q20 2Q21 1Q21 2Q20 Revenue $18.5 $20.1 $9.7 $10.7 $9.6 $7.9 $310.5 $313.7 $306.2 Revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue $12.0 $13.9 $5.3 $8.8 $7.6 $6.3 $49.7 $48.7 $49.5 SG&A $11.8 $10.4 $8.2 $10.8 $10.4 $9.0 $29.7 $29.3 $34.2 (Loss) income from operations $(0.2) $3.1 $(3.2) $(3.2) $(3.8) $(3.8) $18.7 $15.8 $10.8 Adjusted EBITDA* $0.2 $3.5 $(2.9) $(2.0) $(2.7) $(2.7) $20.1 $19.5 $15.3 Adjusted EBITDA* less CAPEX** $(1.0) $2.3 $(3.4) $(3.2) $(4.4) $(4.1) $18.2 $17.8 $13.6 Fintech Fintech comprises BOSS Revolution Money Transfer, a provider of international money remittances and National Retail Solutions (NRS), an operator of a nationwide point-of-sale retail network providing payment processing, digital advertising, transaction data and ancillary services. The Fintech segment accounted for 5.4% and 3.0% of IDT's consolidated revenue and 17.0% and 8.7% of IDT's consolidated revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue in 2Q21 and 2Q20, respectively. Fintech Takeaways: National Retail Solutions (NRS) revenue increased 151% to $5.2 million from $2.1 million , driven by increased sales of payment processing services and digital-out-of-home (DOOH) advertising offerings. from , driven by increased sales of payment processing services and digital-out-of-home (DOOH) advertising offerings. NRS deployed 1,300 billable POS terminals during the quarter, increasing its network to 13,700 terminals, and had 3,800 active payment processing merchant accounts at January 31, 2021 . . BOSS Revolution Money Transfer revenue increased 73% to $13.3 million from $7.7 million , driven primarily by increased transaction volume. Money Transfer's top and bottom-line results also reflect a diminished benefit from the transient FX market conditions that positively impacted results over the past four quarters but by and large dissipated at the end of 2Q21. from , driven primarily by increased transaction volume. Money Transfer's top and bottom-line results also reflect a diminished benefit from the transient FX market conditions that positively impacted results over the past four quarters but by and large dissipated at the end of 2Q21. Money Transfer transactions increased 46% to 1.8 million from 1.3 million in 2Q20. net2phone-UCaaS The net2phone-UCaaS segment accounted for 3.2% and 2.4% of IDT's consolidated revenue and 12.5% and 10.3% of IDT's consolidated revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue in 2Q21 and 2Q20, respectively. net2phone-UCaaS Takeaway: Subscription revenue increased 36% to $10.1 million from $7.4 million , led by growth in the U.S. market. Sequentially, the rate of revenue growth was strongest in net2phone's South American markets as sales in that region continued to recover from a COVID-19-related slow down. Traditional Communications The Traditional Communications segment accounted for 91.4% and 94.6% of IDT's consolidated revenue and 70.5% and 81.0% of IDT's consolidated revenue-less-direct-cost-of-revenue in 2Q21 and 2Q20, respectively. Traditional Communications Takeaways: BOSS Revolution Calling revenue was substantially unchanged at $114 million . Minutes of use decreased by 6% offset by a corresponding increase in revenue per minute. . Minutes of use decreased by 6% offset by a corresponding increase in revenue per minute. Mobile Top-Up revenue increased 27% to $97 million from $76 million . The increase was driven by the addition of new mobile partners and increasing demand for data-centric top-up bundles. from . The increase was driven by the addition of new mobile partners and increasing demand for data-centric top-up bundles. Carrier Services revenue decreased 14% to $87 million from $102 million . The decrease reflects the continued, industry-wide decline of international voice calling, accelerated by the rise of over the top and video conferencing particularly among corporate users who have transitioned to work from home. from . The decrease reflects the continued, industry-wide decline of international voice calling, accelerated by the rise of over the top and video conferencing particularly among corporate users who have transitioned to work from home. Other revenue decreased 13% to $13 million from $15 million . Many of the offerings within this vertical are in harvest mode. NOTES ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Consolidated results for all periods presented include corporate overhead. Corporate G&A expense decreased to $2.0 million in 2Q21 from $2.3 million in 2Q20. As of January 31, 2021, IDT held $125.3 million in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, debt securities and current equity investments, with no debt. Current assets totaled $341.4 million and current liabilities totaled $326.3 million. Net cash provided by operating activities during 2Q21 was $6.8 million, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $18.3 million in the year ago quarter. Exclusive of changes in customer deposit balances at our Gibraltar-based bank, net cash provided by operating activities during 2Q21 was $17.4 million, compared to $4.1 million in 2Q20. Capital expenditures were $4.3 million in 2Q21 compared to $3.8 million in 2Q20. IDT EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT & SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION This release is available for download in the "Investors & Media" section of the IDT Corporation website ( https://www.idt.net/investors-and-media) and has been filed on a current report (Form 8-K) with the SEC. IDT will host an earnings conference call beginning at 5:30 PM Eastern today with management's discussion of results, outlook and strategy followed by Q&A with investors. To listen to the call and participate in the Q&A, dial toll-free 1-888-348-8417 (from U.S.) or 1-412-902-4243 (international) and request the IDT Corporation call. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours after the call concludes through March 11, 2021. To access the call replay, dial toll free 1-844-512-2921 (from U.S.) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and provide this replay number: 10151915. A replay will also be accessible via streaming audio at the IDT investor relations website . ABOUT IDT: IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT) is a global provider of fintech, cloud communications and traditional communications services. We make it easier for families to connect, support and share across international borders. We also enable businesses to transact and communicate with their customers with enhanced intelligence and insight. Our BOSS Revolution branded money transfer and international calling services make sending money and speaking with friends and family around the world convenient and reliable. National Retail Solutions' (NRS) point-of-sale retail network enables independent retailers to operate and process transactions more effectively while providing advertisers and consumer marketers with unprecedented reach into underserved consumer markets. net2phone's unified communications as a service solution provides businesses with intelligently integrated cloud communications and collaboration solutions across channels and devices. Our IDT Carrier Services and IDT Express wholesale offerings enable communications companies to provision and manage international voice and SMS services. All statements above that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "target" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors. Our filings with the SEC provide detailed information on such statements and risks, and should be consulted along with this release. To the extent permitted under applicable law, IDT assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. IDT CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS January 31, 2021 July 31, 2020 (Unaudited) (in thousands) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 79,481 $ 84,860 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 109,858 116,362 Debt securities 21,501 18,363 Equity investments 24,346 5,964 Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,909 at January 31, 2021 and $6,085 at July 31, 2020 51,616 44,166 Prepaid expenses 34,671 33,115 Other current assets 19,926 19,302 Total current assets 341,399 322,132 Property, plant and equipment, net 30,641 30,061 Goodwill 14,843 12,858 Other intangibles, net 6,289 3,959 Equity investments 10,441 8,833 Operating lease right-of-use assets 8,794 9,490 Deferred income tax assets, net 2,832 8,512 Other assets 9,332 8,905 Total assets $ 424,571 $ 404,750 Liabilities and equity Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable $ 36,368 $ 31,147 Accrued expenses 126,425 125,544 Deferred revenue 39,189 40,114 Customer deposits 109,673 115,992 Other current liabilities 14,646 12,073 Total current liabilities 326,301 324,870 Operating lease liabilities 6,514 7,353 Other liabilities 1,340 1,388 Total liabilities 334,155 333,611 Commitments and contingencies Equity: IDT Corporation stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized shares10,000; no shares issued Class A common stock, $.01 par value; authorized shares35,000; 3,272 shares issued and 1,574 shares outstanding at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020 33 33 Class B common stock, $.01 par value; authorized shares200,000; 26,343 and 25,961 shares issued and 24,151 and 24,345 shares outstanding at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively 263 260 Additional paid-in capital 276,871 277,443 Treasury stock, at cost, consisting of 1,698 and 1,698 shares of Class A common stock and 2,192 and 1,616 shares of Class B common stock at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively (60,413) (56,221) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (8,957) (7,410) Accumulated deficit (117,937) (139,333) Total IDT Corporation stockholders' equity 89,860 74,772 Noncontrolling interests 556 (3,633) Total equity 90,416 71,139 Total liabilities and equity $ 424,571 $ 404,750 IDT CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended January 31, Six Months Ended January 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (in thousands, except per share data) Revenues $ 339,766 $ 323,890 $ 683,191 $ 664,089 Costs and expenses: Direct cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 269,145 262,716 542,319 542,177 Selling, general and administrative (i) 54,298 53,789 106,442 107,223 Depreciation and amortization 4,464 5,184 8,956 10,479 Severance 143 486 255 1,112 Total costs and expenses 328,050 322,175 657,972 660,991 Other operating gain (expense), net 1,207 (392) 955 (3,168) Income (loss) from operations 12,923 1,323 26,174 (70) Interest income, net 139 195 98 467 Other income, net 3,170 550 1,792 785 Income before income taxes 16,232 2,068 28,064 1,182 Provision for income taxes (3,027) (1,164) (6,444) (1,700) Net income (loss) 13,205 904 21,620 (518) Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (97) 28 (224) (63) Net income (loss) attributable to IDT Corporation $ 13,108 $ 932 $ 21,396 $ (581) Earnings (loss) per share attributable to IDT Corporation common stockholders: Basic $ 0.52 $ 0.04 $ 0.84 $ (0.02) Diluted $ 0.51 $ 0.04 $ 0.83 $ (0.02) Weighted-average number of shares used in calculation of earnings (loss) per share: Basic 25,362 26,320 25,448 26,300 Diluted 25,713 26,451 25,787 26,300 (i) Stock-based compensation included in selling, general and administrative expenses $ 434 $ 1,167 $ 940 $ 2,531 IDT CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) Six Months Ended January 31, 2021 2020 (in thousands) Operating activities Net income (loss) $ 21,620 $ (518) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 8,956 10,479 Deferred income taxes 5,881 1,587 Provision for doubtful accounts receivable 1,069 1,466 Stock-based compensation 940 2,531 Other (17) (412) Change in assets and liabilities: Trade accounts receivable (7,330) 6,253 Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets 4,965 (9,315) Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses, other current liabilities, and other liabilities 1,631 (11,488) Customer deposits at IDT Financial Services Limited (Gibraltar-based bank) (11,136) (20,613) Deferred revenue (968) (3,260) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 25,611 (23,290) Investing activities Capital expenditures (8,825 ) (7,656) Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (2,388) (450) Purchase of Rafael Holdings, Inc. Class B common stock and warrant (5,000) Purchases of debt securities and equity investments (34,436) (8,994) Proceeds from maturities and sales of debt securities and redemptions of equity investments 11,575 2,672 Net cash used in investing activities (39,074) (14,428) Financing activities Distributions to noncontrolling interests (418 ) (470) Repayment of other liabilities (56) (79) Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility (273) Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility 273 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 686 276 Repurchases of Class B common stock (4,192 ) (266) Net cash used in financing activities (3,980) (539) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents 5,560 14,152 Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents (11,883) (24,105) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 201,222 257,199 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 189,339 $ 233,094 Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities Liabilities incurred for acquisition $ 393 $ 375 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 and 2020 In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), IDT also disclosed, for 2Q21, 1Q21, and 2Q20, Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, all of which are non-GAAP measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. IDT's measure of Adjusted EBITDA consists of revenue less direct cost of revenues and selling, general and administrative expense. Another way of calculating Adjusted EBITDA is to start with income (loss) from operations, add depreciation and amortization, severance expense, and other operating expense, and deduct other operating gains. IDT's measure of non-GAAP net income starts with net income (loss) in accordance with GAAP and adds severance expense, stock-based compensation, and other operating expense, and deducts other operating gains. IDT's measure of non-GAAP earnings per diluted share is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income by the diluted weighted-average shares. These additions and subtractions are non-cash and/or non-routine items in the relevant fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 periods. Management believes that IDT's Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share are measures which provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses and non-routine gains and losses that may not be indicative of IDT's or the relevant segment's core operating results. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, among other measures, as a relevant indicator of core operational strengths in its financial and operational decision making. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to evaluate operating performance in relation to IDT's competitors. Disclosure of these financial measures may be useful to investors in evaluating performance and allows for greater transparency to the underlying supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. In addition, IDT has historically reported similar financial measures and believes such measures are commonly used by readers of financial information in assessing performance, therefore the inclusion of comparative numbers provides consistency in financial reporting. Management refers to Adjusted EBITDA, as well as the GAAP measures income (loss) from operations and net income (loss), on a segment and/or consolidated level to facilitate internal and external comparisons to the segments' and IDT's historical operating results, in making operating decisions, for budget and planning purposes, and to form the basis upon which management is compensated. While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, these expenses primarily represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or capitalized in prior periods. IDT's Adjusted EBITDA, which is exclusive of depreciation and amortization, is a useful indicator of its current performance. Severance expense is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share. Severance expense is reflective of decisions made by management in each period regarding the aspects of IDT's and its segments' businesses to be focused on in light of changing market realities and other factors. While there may be similar charges in other periods, the nature and magnitude of these charges can fluctuate markedly and do not reflect the performance of IDT's core and continuing operations. Other operating gain (expense), net, which is a component of income (loss) from operations, is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share. Other operating gain (expense), net includes a gain from the sale of IDT's rights under a class action lawsuit, expense for the indemnification of a net2phone cable telephony customer related to patent infringement claims brought against the customer, legal fees related to Straight Path Communications Inc.'s stockholders' putative class action and derivative complaint, expense for other legal matters, and the write-off of certain assets. From time-to-time, IDT may have gains or incur costs related to non-routine legal and tax matters, and write-off assets, however, these various items generally do not occur each quarter. IDT believes the gain and losses from these non-routine matters are not components of IDT's or the relevant segment's core operating results. The other calculation of Adjusted EBITDA consists of revenue less direct cost of revenues and selling, general and administrative expense. As the other excluded items are not reflected in this calculation, they are excluded automatically and there is no need to make additional adjustments. This calculation results in the same Adjusted EBITDA amount and its utility and significance is as explained above. Stock-based compensation recognized by IDT and other companies may not be comparable because of the variety of types of awards as well as the various valuation methodologies and subjective assumptions that are permitted under GAAP. Stock-based compensation is excluded from IDT's calculation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share because management believes this allows investors to make more meaningful comparisons of the operating results per share of IDT's core business with the results of other companies. However, stock-based compensation will continue to be a significant expense for IDT for the foreseeable future and an important part of employees' compensation that impacts their performance. Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, income (loss) from operations, cash flow from operating activities, net income (loss), basic and diluted earnings per share or other measures of liquidity and financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, IDT's measurements of Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Following are reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, which are, (a) for Adjusted EBITDA, income (loss) from operations for IDT's reportable segments and net income (loss) for IDT on a consolidated basis, (b) for non-GAAP net income, net income (loss), and (c) for non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, diluted earnings per share. IDT Corporation Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (unaudited) in millions. Figures may not foot or cross-foot due to rounding to millions Total IDT Corporation Traditional Communications net2phone- UCaaS Fintech Corporate Three Months Ended January 31, 2021 (2Q21) Adjusted EBITDA $ 16.3 $ 20.1 $ (2.0) $ 0.2 $ (2.0) Subtract (Add): Depreciation and amortization 4.5 2.8 1.2 0.4 - Severance expense 0.1 0.1 - - - Other operating (gain) expense, net (1.2) (1.6) - - 0.3 Income (loss) from operations 12.9 $ 18.7 $ (3.2) $ (0.2) $ (2.3) Interest income, net 0.1 Other income, net 3.2 Income before income taxes 16.2 Provision for income taxes (3.0) Net income 13.2 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (0.1) Net income attributable to IDT Corporation $ 13.1 Total IDT Corporation Traditional Communications net2phone- UCaaS Fintech Corporate Three Months Ended October 31, 2020 (1Q21) Adjusted EBITDA $ 18.1 $ 19.5 $ (2.7) $ 3.5 $ (2.1) Subtract (Add): Depreciation and amortization 4.5 3.0 1.1 0.4 - Severance expense 0.1 0.1 - - - Other operating expense (income), net 0.3 0.6 - - (0.3) Income (loss) from operations 13.3 $ 15.8 $ (3.8) $ 3.1 $ (1.9) Interest expense, net - Other expense, net (1.4) Income before income taxes 11.8 Provision for income taxes (3.8) Net income 8.0 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (0.1) Net income attributable to IDT Corporation $ 7.9 IDT Corporation Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (unaudited) in millions. Figures may not foot or cross-foot due to rounding to millions. Total IDT Corporation Traditional Communications net2phone- UCaaS Fintech Corporate Three Months Ended January 31, 2020 (2Q20) Adjusted EBITDA $ 7.4 $ 15.3 $ (2.7) $ (2.9) $ (2.3) Subtract: Depreciation and amortization 5.2 3.9 1.0 0.3 - Severance expense 0.5 0.5 - - - Other operating expense, net 0.4 0.2 0.1 - 0.2 Income (loss) from operations 1.3 $ 10.8 $ (3.8) $ (3.2) $ (2.5) Interest income, net 0.2 Other income, net 0.6 Income before income taxes 2.1 Provision for income taxes (1.2) Net income 0.9 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests - Net income attributable to IDT Corporation $ 0.9 IDT Corporation Reconciliations of Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Income and Earnings per share to Non-GAAP Earnings per diluted share (unaudited) in millions, except per share data. Figures may not foot due to rounding to millions. 2Q21 1Q21 2Q20 Net income $ 13.2 $ 8.4 $ 0.9 Adjustments (add) subtract: Stock-based compensation (0.4) (0.5) (1.2) Severance expense (0.1) (0.1) (0.5) Other operating gain (expense), net 1.2 (0.3) (0.4) Total adjustments 0.7 (0.9) (2.0) Income tax effect of total adjustments (0.2) 0.3 - (0.5) 0.6 2.0 Non-GAAP net income $ 12.7 $ 9.0 $ 2.9 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.52 $ 0.32 $ 0.04 Total adjustments (0.02) 0.03 0.07 Non-GAAP - basic $ 0.50 $ 0.35 $ 0.11 Weighted-average number of shares used in calculation of basic earnings per share 25.4 25.5 26.3 Diluted $ 0.51 $ 0.32 $ 0.04 Total adjustments (0.02) 0.03 0.07 Non-GAAP - diluted $ 0.49 $ 0.35 $ 0.11 Weighted-average number of shares used in calculation of diluted earnings per share 25.7 25.9 26.5 Explanation of Key Performance Metrics Revenue less direct cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue is a financial metric that measures changes in our revenue relative to changes in direct cost of revenue during the same period. Revenue and direct cost of revenue in this metric are from IDT's consolidated statements of operations in accordance with GAAP. Revenue less direct cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue is a ratio in which revenue less direct cost of revenue is the numerator and revenue are the denominator. It is useful for monitoring trends in the generation of revenue as well as for evaluating the net contribution of IDT's revenue. Adjusted EBITDA less CAPEX is also a financial metric, which is calculated by deriving Adjusted EBITDA as described above and subtracting capital expenditures in accordance with GAAP as reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA less CAPEX to evaluate the level of capital investment needed to support operations, and as a reasonable proxy for the cash generated by IDT's businesses. Because IDT's capital expenditures reflect an allocation of capital for longer term growth, IDT seeks to strike an appropriate balance between near-term and long-term financial performance as reflected in Adjusted EBITDA less CAPEX. IDT's measurement of Adjusted EBITDA less CAPEX may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. SOURCE IDT Corporation Related Links http://www.idt.net ANN ARBOR, MI The American Civil Liberties Union has weighed in on the legality of Ann Arbors new City Council rules that have been a hot topic of debate among city officials. Some of the rules aiming to control council members speech, including consequences for personal attacks against colleagues outside of council meetings and on social media, are troubling and run afoul of the First Amendment, said attorney Nick Roumel, co-chair of the Washtenaw County Lawyers Committee for the ACLU of Michigan. Roumel shared the groups opinion and legal analysis in a three-page letter to council Wednesday, March 3. Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, said he feels vindicated and appreciates the valuable work the ACLU continues to provide in defending our democratic tenets. He looked to the ACLU for advice after opposing the new council rules a majority of his colleagues recently approved. The rules have the potential for viewpoint discrimination and could have a chilling effect on the dissenting political minoritys freedom of expression, he argued. Ann Arbor officials divided on new rules about personal attacks against colleagues The new rules state if a council members integrity, character or motives are characterized, assailed, questioned or impugned by another member at a meeting, the member being attacked can request permission from the mayor to publicly address the matter and defend themself for up to two minutes. Ramlawi questioned the discretion that gives the mayor. Another new rule states if a council member is personally attacked by another member during a meeting or in another public venue, including social media, they can seek redress through the Council Administration Committee, which is made up of the mayor and four council members. Under ethics rules, council members can face counseling by the committee or reprimand for misconduct. Council Member Jen Eyer, D-4th Ward, who has championed the rules, defended their intent in response to the ACLUs letter, though she suggested shes open to revisions. Anyone who has been following the council discussion on this issue is well aware that this isnt about restricting policy debates, she said in a statement. It is about council members who make defamatory statements about other council members like clearly implying that colleagues took bribes simply because they voted differently on an issue. That kind of speech is the opposite of a policy discussion, its harmful to local democracy, it erodes trust in government and it discourages people from running for office, Eyer said. Defamation is not protected speech, she said. We have said all along that these rules are a work in progress, and I look forward to working with our city attorney to tailor the language as necessary to address this important issue. The ACLU is concerned sanctioning council members based on their speech is a potential First Amendment violation. The U.S. Supreme Court dealt with this issue when civil rights icon Julian Bond was prohibited from taking a seat in the Georgia State House because of his controversial political statements, especially opposing the Vietnam war. That, said the Supreme Court, violated the free speech provisions of the First Amendment, Roumel wrote, citing the 1966 case Bond v. Floyd and other rulings upholding First Amendment rights. For the Ann Arbor council to threaten adverse action against a council member for questioning the integrity, character or motives of fellow members, especially outside of a council meeting in another public venue, is troubling, Roumel said. Thats especially true since speech that relates to policy disagreements or election campaign rhetoric often questions or can be perceived as questioning a political adversarys integrity, character or motives, he said. Not only does such speech have strong First Amendment protection, but the words proscribed have so many meanings and applications that the rule may also be vulnerable to being void for vagueness, he wrote. Under Ann Arbors new council rules, a member could face sanctions merely for questioning why another member voted the way they did on a certain issue, Roumel said. For example, the ongoing affordable housing debate has engendered a great deal of rhetoric, he wrote. Some members may be criticized for not sufficiently caring about providing low-income housing; others for being unduly pressured by certain interest groups. With either scenario, the speaker may be subject to sanctions. Even without a formal complaint, the very threat of sanctions could deter council members from continuing to speak about issues of public concern, creating an unconstitutional chilling effect on speech. The new rules also are vulnerable under the First Amendments overbreadth doctrine, which provides that regulation of speech can sweep too broadly and prohibit both protected and non-protected speech, Roumel said. All of these judicial tests reflect the principle that free expression needs breathing space to survive, he said. We are mindful that the intent of the rule is to promote civility, at a time when our political landscape seems more divided than ever, he wrote. We strongly condemn hate speech or targeting of historically oppressed people and groups, and agree that it is critical to build bridges. Nonetheless, we must conclude that enforcement of the new rule, and the rule itself, run afoul of the First Amendment. Calling the new rules problematic, Roumel concluded by urging the council to reconsider the new restrictions on what the ACLU views as protected speech. Council Member Kathy Griswold, D-2nd Ward, serves on the councils rules subcommittee with Eyer. She said she looks forward to the Council Administration Committee discussing the issues the ACLU has raised. Council members are still considering whether to adopt new rules for public speakers at council meetings. Council voted this week to ask the city attorney to provide a public memo on issues with respect to public commentary, as well as council speech inside and outside of meetings, as they relate to the Open Meetings Act and First Amendment. Mayor Christopher Taylor said at the meeting he looks forward to receiving those memos and he suggested he was open to hearing the ACLUs advice as well. If it comes to pass that we as a body want to change the rules in response to external feedback or internal feedback, well, thats something that we are well within our rights to do, he said. We are putting together something thats iterative here, and so well see what develops. I dont think anyones going to go to the wall on this one. Taylor did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ACLUs letter. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: EPA answers lingering questions about possible Superfund cleanup in Ann Arbor Ann Arbor banned Airbnb houses in neighborhoods. Now theyre in legal limbo. Should Ann Arbor cut $30M police budget to fund mental health crisis responders? Ypsilanti OKs using marijuana application fees to help ex-inmates find housing Downtown Ann Arbor music store pursues liquor license for bar, entertainment use Britains Energy and Clean Growth Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan has told the NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean that she wants to see Australia announce a more ambitious emissions reduction target. Mr Kean said Ms Trevelyan called him on Wednesday evening and the two discussed the gap between the net zero goals of Australias states and the federal governments target of net zero preferably by 2050, as well as ways NSW and Britain could collaborate on emissions reductions. UK Energy and Clean Growth Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan and NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean. Credit:Getty/Dominic Lorrimer He said he agreed the two jurisdictions would share information and experience on promoting electric vehicles, green hydrogen and renewable energy projects. She was very familiar with what we were doing in New South Wales, very excited about the energy roadmap, he said, referring to the state governments strategy of fast-tracking renewable energy development in grid connected zones around the state. This is not how I planned to spend 2020-2022. It was not part of the game plan at all. However, here we are hunkered down and living with the coronavirus.This morning I listened to The Daily podcast The Next Year (or Two) of the Pandemic. It is a sobering assessment of the future. One biggie for me is the timeline for the development of a vaccine. The 18 months has been drilled into my brain. In reality, the fastest any vaccine has been developed is four years. So, 18 months would be lightning speed thus, not likely.As noted, the reporter was interviewed earlier in March and his predictions based on covering infectious diseases for decades was pretty much spot-on. I had shared that podcast earlier here in this blog. Brittany Higgins (pictured) went public with allegations that a colleague raped her Scott Morrison has criticised Defence Minister Linda Reynolds for calling alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins a 'lying cow' - but refused to sack her. Speaking at a battery factory in the New South Wales Hunter Valley on Thursday, the prime minister said she was under 'significant stress' when she made comments. 'She deeply regrets it. They were offensive remarks. She should never have made them. I don't condone them,' Mr Morrison said. Miss Higgins said the comments were 'incredibly hurtful' and were further evidence of a 'toxic workplace culture behind close doors at parliament house'. Ms Reynolds made the comments within earshot of several staff members and public servants on February 15, according to The Australian, but has since insisted the remark was not in reference to the alleged sexual assault. It was the same day Ms Higgins went public with allegations a senior colleague raped her in Senator Reynolds' Parliament House office after a night out in March, 2019. Ms Reynolds issued a statement on Wednesday night saying she never questioned Ms Higgins' allegations. She said she was at the time upset with news reports about the circumstances of the alleged rape and the response to it which she thought were inaccurate. When several staff members told their superiors Ms Reynolds' comments were inappropriate, the minister reportedly called a staff meeting and apologised. Mr Morrison said Senator Reynolds was under 'significant stress' and regretted the comments She told her employees the remark was made during 'a stressful time' for everyone in the office. Mr Morrison said Senator Reynolds regretted the comments and has apologised to her staff. When asked if Senator Reynolds should step down, he shook his head and said: 'I'm sure that all of you have found yourself, at a time of frustration, perhaps saying things you regret.' Senator Jacqui Lambie said Ms Reynolds' career was over. 'She's gone this morning, she needs to resign immediately. You know, there's just no need for this,' she told Sky News. 'What is she sitting in denial is she? Seriously. 'Yeah, I think Reynolds has gone... she's not coming out and denying that, now she's trying to smooth it over and throw it somewhere else. 'Then I think she's finished, her career is done.' Ms Reynolds, who is on medical leave until next week, said in a statement on Wednesday that she did not doubt Ms Higgins' rape claims. 'A report in The Australian attributed some remarks to me regarding the very serious allegations made by my former staff member, Ms Brittany Higgins,' she said. 'I have never questioned Ms Higgins account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds (pictured) says she never doubted Brittany Higgins' claims Brittany Higgins, then 24, alleged she was raped by a colleague inside Parliament House in March 2019 Ms Higgins, who has said she was not supported well enough after her alleged rape, wished Senator Reynolds a speedy recovery 'I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented. 'I have consistently respected Ms Higgins's agency and privacy and said this is her story to tell and no one else's. 'Ms Higgins's allegations are very serious and that is how they must be treated to ensure her legal rights are protected. I welcome her decision to progress this matter with the Australian Federal Police.' Ms Reynolds has faced sustained pressure over her handling of Ms Higgins' initial rape allegations and her alleged failure to tell Prime Minister Scott Morrison about them for two years. She said she learned about the allegations 'incrementally, over a period of days' and that her then-chief of staff Fiona Brown gave Ms Higgins access to police if she wanted to make a complaint. BRITTANY HIGGINS TIMELINE 2019 March 22: Anonymous male staffer of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and media adviser Brittany Higgins arrive at Parliament House intoxicated. A security officer signs in the pair and then takes them to the ministerial wing before leaving. Ms Higgins is then allegedly raped and left alone by staffer. March 23: Security officers find Ms Higgins half-naked in the office early in the morning. The Department of Finance (which is in charge of Parliament House offices) request room to be cleaned before work on Monday (March 25) March 26: Senator Reynolds' chief of staff holds a meeting with Ms Higgins over a 'security breach'. The male staffer is also brought in for a separate meeting and is sacked. His Parliament House pass is cancelled the next day. April 1: Ms Higgins meets with her boss - Senator Reynolds - and the minister's chief of staff Fiona Brown to talk about the alleged rape. The meeting takes place in the same room as the alleged rape. April 4: Senator Reynolds and Ms Brown meet with AFP assistant commissioner to discuss 'allegations of sexual assault'. April 8: Ms Higgins goes to Belconnen police station. There is dispute over whether officers have trouble accessing the CCTV footage from Parliament House. April 13: Ms Higgins tells police she won't proceed with complaint. She later told reporters she felt pressure not to be a distraction during the federal election - which was called two days earlier on April 11. June: Ms Higgins begins to work for minister Michaelia Cash after the election 2020 November 9: ABC's Four Corners' airs a story exposing the 'sex and booze' culture in Canberra, including an affair between married minister Alan Tudge and his staffer Rachelle Miller. 2021 February 5: Ms Higgins resigns from her new job, working for Senator Michaelia Cash, due to the ongoing trauma from the alleged rape. February 11: Peter Dutton is briefed by Australian Federal Police over Ms Higgins' allegations. He advises the Prime Minister's Office the following day but does not tell Scott Morrison February 15: news.com.au break Ms Higgins' story on Monday morning. Mr Morrison claims it is the first time he was made aware of the allegations. Journalist Samantha Maiden questions why the PM was not made aware of the allegations by his staffers, saying she approached the government for comment at 2.30pm on Friday February 12 regarding the allegations. The Project interview Ms Higgins later the same night. February 16: Mr Morrison and Ms Reynolds both offer apologies in parliament. Advertisement Senator Reynolds (pictured with Ms Higgins) has known about the alleged rape for more than two years but did not inform the prime minister to respect Ms Higgins' privacy and welfare 'I have full confidence that my then chief of staff and I at all times acted in what we believed were the best interests of Brittany,' the Senator said last month. Mr Morrison is adamant he first learned about the alleged rape on February 15 when the story was published on news.com.au. When asked whether it was acceptable that the defence minister didn't tell him or his office about the alleged crime, Mr Morrison said: 'It's not, and it shouldn't happen again.' Ms Reynolds was released from hospital in late February after being admitted days for an existing condition on the advice of her cardiologist. 'As a precautionary measure, Minister Reynolds has this morning been admitted to a Canberra Hospital,' a statement said earlier last week. Foreign Minister Marise Payne has taken over Defence duties while Ms Reynolds is on leave. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton previously admitted he was told about the alleged rape but chose not to tell the prime minister about it to avoid compromising a potential police investigation. Since Ms Higgins made her allegation public last week, three other women have come forward to accuse the same man of sexual assault or harassment Mr Dutton confirmed Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw informed him about the alleged assault on February 11, four days before Mr Morrison says he was told. Ms Higgins spoke to police on February 5, with the AFP then informing Mr Dutton. Since Ms Higgins made her allegation public, three other women have come forward to accuse the same man of sexual assault or harassment. The man was sacked after the alleged rape for breaching security rules by entering Ms Reynolds' office at night. The allegations have prompted another former intern to share details about her experiences with the man on a couch in the office of a Nationals senator at Parliament House in 2014. While she says their encounters were consensual, she claims she felt 'pressured' to have sex with him on other occasions. 'Nothing 'rapey' happened. But that makes me feel really ill. I feel like he wanted to [take me there] because he wanted to show off his power. He was obviously much more important than I was,' the woman told news.com.au. 'There was one time I kept saying, 'No, I am really tired, I don't want to do anything' and he kept being like, 'Oh, come on. Come on'.' She also shared Facebook messages which refer to the couch in the senator's office, which the man insists is 'comfortable' as he invited her there. 'The lounge in his office is really comfy, good for doing readings. Haha,' he wrote. The woman replied: 'Mmm, depends, do you tend to talk a lot whilst studying?' The man added he's usually 'a good boy' and has an essay to write. Ms Higgins pictured with Senator Micahela Cash (left) former Liberal Party deputy leader Julie Bishop (right) She claimed the encounter occurred five years before the staffer allegedly raped Ms Higgins. The woman was a university student at the time and interning for a Labor MP. The man, whom she described as 'ambitious' with dreams of becoming Prime Minister, was also an intern at the time for a Nationals MP. She first met him at drinks where she got 'very drunk' and went back to his house. 'We kissed that night. I was very drunk and he was totally sober,' the woman recalled. 'I never felt weird about that but there were other instances where he definitely pressured me. We never had proper sex.' The woman says she will come forward to police to make a statement if it helps with their inquiries. Scott Morrison said he is confident Linda Reynolds will keep her job despite copping criticism over her handling of Brittany Higgins' rape allegations. Pictured with alleged rape survivor Brittany Higgins Ms Higgins previously said she did not immediately report the alleged rape to police out of fear that she would lose her 'dream job', but resigned earlier this month before making the allegations last Monday. Her alleged rapist has checked himself into a private rehabilitation clinic after losing his job at a large corporation. Two more women accused the former government worker of rape after Ms Higgins went public last week, and now a fourth alleged victim has taken her story to Canberra police on Sunday. Alleged rape survivor Brittany Higgins The fourth woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the ABC the 'really sleazy' alleged rapist stroked her thigh on a night out in 2017. Ms Higgins' claim, which was formally stated to police on Wednesday, opened the floodgates for others to share their stories. The latest woman to come forward was with colleagues at Canberra's Public Bar in 2017 when the alleged rapist touched her thigh uninvited. She said it was not the first or last time she received unwanted advances from male colleagues. 'By that time, I was just so used to sexual harassment I just brushed it off,' she said. After speaking to officers from the local police station on Sunday afternoon, the woman said she received a call from the Australian Federal Police's Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team. The third woman said she was assaulted while working as a coalition volunteer during the 2016 election campaign. She was barely out of school at the time of the attack, which allegedly occurred after a night out drinking with the then-political staffer. During the night out, she claims he bought her several rounds of 'double strength' vodkas and three tequila shots. The boozy night prompted the young volunteer, who had never been drunk before, to vomit in the nightclub bathroom. Mr Dutton confirmed Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw informed him about the alleged assault on February 11, four days before Mr Morrison says he was told When everybody else had left, the woman said she told him she was going to catch an Uber home, and he suggested they go back to his hotel room 'around the corner' instead, and he would 'look after her', she told The Australian. After they arrived, she passed out while laying on his bed and allegedly woke up with her clothes undone and the staffer allegedly lying on top of her. The woman, who was a virgin, said she was uncertain as to whether he was conscious or sleeping, but she bolted from the room into the hotel lobby toilet, where she discovered she was 'bleeding'. Feeling embarrassed and ashamed, the woman made her way home and did not tell police, her family or friends. 'I believe his actions on the night of June 29 and the morning of June 30 constitute sexual assault, because he performed or tried to perform sexual acts on me whilst I was severely intoxicated and unable to provide valid and informed consent,' she said. Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds is seen during Question Time in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra in February, after Ms Higgins' allegations were made public 'I later realised I was so drunk, I was not able to give any consent' 'Hearing Brittany Higgins' story, it was so eerily similar, it made me think this person has a pattern of behaviour.' The second alleged victim claimed she met the ministerial advisor in 2016 when he was working for Ms Reynolds during the election campaign. 'We went back to my place and we were kissing we were going to have sex and I said he had to wear a condom,' she said. 'He refused and we argued and I told him five or six times that we couldn't have sex unless he wore a condom. I was drunk and he just got on top of me, I said no, and then he was inside of me and I kept saying no.' WASHINGTON California, Texas and New York would receive 29% of the $350 billion in direct aid that President Joe Biden has proposed for states and cities in his COVID-19 relief bill, according to a USA TODAY analysis of the projected allocations. That's slightly more than the three states' share of the U.S. population 27% The minor discrepancy is the result of a formula used in Bidens American Rescue Plan that largely relies on the number of unemployed citizens in each state at the end of 2020, not overall population, to determine the funding amount for each state. Bidens legislation, which carries a $1.9 trillion overall price tag, was passed by the Senate Saturday after clearing the House previously by a mostly party-line 219-212 vote. The House will again vote on the Senate's amended version of the bill before it can head to Biden's desk. The package includes $350 billion in aid designed to replenish tax revenue collections that decreased during the pandemic so states and local governments can pay employees and take care of core services. More: 21 Republican governors attack Biden's COVID-19 stimulus bill for 'penalizing' their states Republican governors have blasted the plan's funding formula, arguing it punishes states that kept businesses open amid the coronavirus pandemic and is "biased" toward Democrat-led states that enforced shutdowns. Advocates of the legislation say the arrangement allows for distribution to more closely address actual needs. Yet the most populous states would still generally receive the most money. The smallest states would receive the least. Although some states would receive more money others less when using unemployment as the criteria, the differences tend to be modest percentages. California, the most populous state, would receive the most money, $42.3 billion including $26.2 billion for its state government and $14.6 billion across local governments. The second most populous state, Texas, would take in the second most ($27.3 billion) in combined dollars. Story continues But the third largest recipient would be New York, which would receive $23.5 billion, even though Florida is the third largest state by population, according to U.S. Census Bureau 2020 estimates. Florida would receive $17.3 billion, fourth most among states. The reason for the shuffling: New York, one of the first states to enforce a strict lockdown order after facing the brunt of the pandemic last spring, had an 8.2% unemployment rate in December, nearly 2 points higher than Floridas unemployment rate of 6.1%. House Republicans have highlighted how GOP-led Florida, for example, would receive $1.2 billion less with unemployment as the criteria instead of population. But it marks only a roughly 7% net loss for the state. Georgia, another state led by a Republican governor, would collect $1.3 billion less under the formula, a roughly 14% net loss, but would still receive $8.2 billion. Virginia, a Democratic-led state, would receive $6.9 billion, also roughly 14% less than if population dictated the allocation. Conversely, California would receive about 15% more funds using unemployment the criteria, New York about 10% more, New Jersey 13% more and Texas 5% more. Funding projections are according to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and reflect data as of Feb. 25. More: 'The need is real': GOP mayors embrace Biden's COVID-19 relief plan even as Republican lawmakers pan it How Biden's bill would allocate funds differently The consideration of unemployment marks a change from last year's allocation of COVID-19 relief funds. The federal CARES Act, passed last March under President Donald Trump, provided $150 billion through the Coronavirus Relief Fund across all states, tribal governments, territories and the 38 cities with more than 500,000 people. Funds were limited to expenses "directly related" to COVID-19, not replacing lost revenue like Biden's bill would do. More: Wisconsin and local governments would receive $5.5 billion in COVID-19 aid under House bill Also unlike Biden's bill, the CARES Act divvied up the money based on population. The CARES Act delivered a baseline of $1.25 billion to all 50 states, boosting the share of funds for small states compared to Biden's bill. The American Rescue Plan proposes a lower baseline of $500 million for all states. Most of the direct aid in Biden's bill, $300 billion, would be allocated proportionate to states' unemployment as determined by the number of unemployed individuals over a three-month period that ended in December. Vermont would receive the least amount in direct aid under Biden's bill, $852 million, even though Wyoming is the least populous state. That's because Wyoming had a higher unemployment rate (4.8%) in December than Vermont (3.1%). Biden states compared to Trump states Democratic-leaning states would get a slight boost in Biden's bill compared to Trump's CARES Act. More: Do states and cities 'need' Biden's $350 billion in direct COVID-19 relief? It depends where you're asking Three out of every five dollars (60.4%) of the direct aid in Biden's bill would go to states that Biden won in the November election, according to a USA TODAY analysis. An analysis from Reuters found the same states received about 56% of relief dollars in last year's CARES Act. The $350 billion in aid would be divided into four pools: 195.3 billion in aid for state governments; $130.2 billion for city and county governments; $20 billion to tribal governments; and $4.5 billion for U.S. territories. The states receiving the most funds behind California, Texas, New York and Florida, would be Illinois and Pennsylvania, both $13.5 billion, followed by Ohio, around $11 billion. The states projected to receive the least amount of funds besides Vermont and Wyoming are South Dakota and North Dakota, each $1 billion, and Alaska, $1.1 billion. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much money each state would receive if Biden stimulus bill passes Roads and sidewalks inside an urban area in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi have been turned into parking lots for cars, leaving narrow spaces for traveling and other public activities. Residents of the My Dinh 1 Urban Area in Cau Dien Ward, Nam Tu Liem District have been complaining about the encroachment for months. L.V.N. told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that locals like him had always parked their cars at another venue as the My Dinh 1 Urban Area does not have a basement. A few months ago, roads and sidewalks in the area were turned into parking lots to everyones surprise, N. said. Cars are parked along the internal roads at the My Dinh 1 Urban Area in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Photo: Q. The / Tuoi Tre In the past, my two children cycled around the area every day, but now there are barely any spaces left for them, another resident complained, blaming the smaller living spaces on the parked cars. How can fire trucks make their way through such cramped streets in case of fire? Cars are parked along the internal roads at the My Dinh 1 Urban Area in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Photo: Q. The / Tuoi Tre According to Tuoi Tres research, the pop-up parking lots are serviced. In September 2020, Nguyen Huy Cuong, the then-deputy chairman of Nam Tu Liem District signed a temporary license to allow an enterprise to use the sidewalks and roads inside the My Dinh 1 Urban Area to provide paid parking lot service. The sections designated for this service include some internal roads behind apartment buildings A2, B4, B5, C2, C4, C5, and C7 in the urban area with a total area of 865 square meters. Cars are parked along the internal roads at the My Dinh 1 Urban Area in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Photo: Q. The / Tuoi Tre Tuoi Tre had spent about two months trying to reach out to leaders of Nam Tu Liem District regarding the issue, before an official from the Peoples Committee responded on Tuesday afternoon. I have urged the districts urban management unit [to deal with the problem] several times, the official said, adding that an advisory document on the issue is still pending from the urban management unit. Cars are parked along the internal roads at the My Dinh 1 Urban Area in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Photo: Q. The / Tuoi Tre Cars are parked on the sidewals at the My Dinh 1 Urban Area in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Photo: Q. The / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID Julia Hanuliakova: From campaigner against animal captivity to zoo director Bratislava native returns from US to take top job at capitals zoo. Julia Hanuliakova with her husband Jessie and daughter. (Source: Courtesy of Julia Hanuliakova) Font size: A - | A + As a teenager, Julia Hanuliakova, 45, campaigned for animal rights and was against zoos. Keeping animals in captivity was wrong, she believed. She worked as a volunteer at the Slovak non-governmental organisation Sloboda Zvierat (Freedom of Animals) which fights for animal rights, and also joined campaigns by Greenpeace. But as she grew older, she had a change of heart, coming to view zoos as not only places where people can see exotic animals in real life, but also scientific organisations contributing to better knowledge, and conservation, of nature. Related article Unprecedented Bratislava zoo set for overhaul as new boss takes the reins Read more Now an award-winning zoo designer, this philosophy continues to guide her in her work, which has now brought her back home after more than a decade spent in the US designing zoo enclosures around the world. The welfare of animals is my top priority, Hanuliakova told The Slovak Spectator. From Bratislava to Seattle Hanuliakovas journey to top zoo designer and head of the Slovak capitals zoo began in an entirely different field. After graduating from the Faculty of Architecture at the Technical University in Bratislava, Hanuliakova enrolled on a three-month internship with UNESCO. 4. Mar 2021 at 11:23 | Jana Liptakova Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 20:41:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's independently developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft has entered a new flight test phase targeting its firefighting capacities, announced its developer on Thursday. The AG600 aircraft on Thursday completed the first flight test of its aerial water-dropping functions in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, said the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It marked a major step forward for the development of the large amphibious aircraft model, which is of great importance to the country in strengthening its natural disaster prevention and emergency rescue capacities. The aircraft performed well during the test of its water-dropping capabilities, which is one of the key functions of the amphibious aircraft model. It is expected that the AG600 aircraft will proceed to conduct flight tests dropping water over fire sites before the end of the year, the AVIC said. During Thursday's flight test, the AG600 development team also conducted a preliminary evaluation of the procedure for the aircraft's water-dropping task. It will provide a basis for the improvement of the aircraft's firefighting capacities and better serve the country's demand for enhanced, comprehensive natural disaster prevention and emergency rescue capabilities. MULTI-DUTY LARGE AIRCRAFT The AG600, together with the Y-20 large transporter and the C919 single-aisle passenger airplane, is part of China's key project to independently develop a "large aircraft family." Codenamed Kunlong, the AG600 is a key piece of aeronautical equipment in China's emergency rescue system. It is intended to meet the needs of firefighting and marine rescue missions, as well as other critical emergency rescue operations. The large amphibious aircraft is designed to operate in complex weather and environmental conditions. During rescue missions, it can conduct low-altitude water surface searches and can act as an anchor during water and maritime rescue missions. The aircraft is capable of rescuing up to 50 people per mission. The AG600 successfully completed its maiden flight in 2017, its first takeoff from a water reservoir in 2018, and its maiden flight over sea in 2020. During its maiden flight over sea, the AG600 aircraft further verified its marine-related performance, which laid the foundations for its future work in specific environments during missions such as emergency rescue operations, according to the AVIC. Enditem Scientists look for safety issues during the testing phase and continue their monitoring as shots roll out around the world. So far, the only serious warning to emerge is a rare risk of severe allergic reactions. Different types of COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized and its possible side effects will differ for each although theres more public data on the vaccines being rolled out in Western countries than elsewhere. Countries also vary in their vaccine standards, with some allowing the use of shots before final-stage testing involving large numbers of volunteers. But in the U.S., Britain and European Union, regulators required any vaccine to be tested in tens of thousands of people before distribution. So far, the U.S. is using shots from Pfizer and Moderna, while Britain and Europe have cleared those plus the AstraZeneca vaccine. Those companies large studies found that common side effects were minor and typical of the immune system revving up: soreness in the arm, fever and flu-like symptoms including fatigue, chills and headache. But since extremely rare problems might not turn up even in large tests, the vaccines still are being monitored. The U.S. and British governments and the European Medicines Agency track reports filed by health workers and the public about suspected side effects. Extra scrutiny in the U.S. includes tracking insurance claims for red flags. And U.S. vaccine recipients can sign up for a program that sends text messages to see if theyre feeling side effects. Those checks are proving reassuring. People are supposed to wait around for a short time after vaccination in case they have a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. Such incidents so far have been rare, with between 2 and 5 anaphylaxis reports for every million vaccine doses in the first weeks of U.S. inoculations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials expected to receive reports of health problems, even deaths, that occur just by chance in the days or weeks after vaccination, given the huge numbers of people, including the frail elderly, getting inoculated. Deaths and other serious events are investigated to see if the vaccine played a role. Authorities consider the persons overall health and how often the reported condition occurs without vaccination. With more than 52 million vaccine doses administered in the U.S. by mid-February, the CDC said it hasnt detected any patterns in deaths that signal a safety problem. German prosecutors said Thursday they have charged a Syrian with killing one man and seriously injuring another in a knife attack they believe was motivated by Islamist extremism. Named as Abdullah AHH, the suspect is accused of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm motivated by 'radical Islamist convictions,' prosecutors in the city of Karlsruhe said. The two men aged 55 and 53 were attacked in the eastern German city of Dresden on October 4, 2020, with the older man later dying in hospital. They were a gay couple, according to several media reports. Syrian ISIS supporter Abdullah AHH (pictured), 20, was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a gay couple in the city of Dresden on October 4, 2020. 'He had chosen the two victims to punish them with death as representatives of a free and open social order which he rejected as 'infidel',' prosecutors said. The case could be the first example of attempted murder by an Islamist motivated by homophobia in Germany, according to Der Spiegel weekly. The suspect, who was 20 at the time of the attack, was arrested in Dresden on October 21, with prosecutors announcing the case was being investigated as a terrorist attack. The victims, one aged 53 and the other 55, were German men from the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia on vacation in Dresden (pictured). The 55-year-old died later in hospital The fatal attack fuelled a debate about the deportation of foreign criminals from Germany, as the suspect had several previous convictions and a history of involvement with the Islamist scene. He had been living in Germany under 'tolerated' status granted to people whose asylum requests have been rejected, but who cannot be deported. He had been under surveillance after being released from a juvenile detention centre five days before the attack. AHH was jailed for two years and nine months in 2018. Islamists have carried out several violent attacks in Germany in recent years. The worst such incident was a truck ramming assault at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016 that killed 12 people. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. As the Internet of Things (IoT) gradually becomes more integrated throughout various industry sectors, the development of IoT networks that allow for communication between interconnected IoT devices has grown. However, inevitable complexities derived from this have made it difficult for companies to adopt and deploy these expansive and up-to-date networks. Companies seeking to utilize new IoT networking may find difficulties: With implementation, configuration, and management of devices as well as interoperability; creating challenges for future scalability Integrating with existing systems requiring a costly infrastructure overhaul The incorrect implementation may limit constant embedded security measures putting clients at risk Failing to select the right wireless connectivity could derail your IoT deployment from the outset, says Wolfgang Thieme, CTO at BehrTech. The right solution must balance reliability, scalability, and cost to safeguard the long-term viability of your connected system. In response to this, BehrTech, an Ontario, Canada-based disruptive enabler of next-gen wireless IoT connectivity, together with the German company, WEPTECH, a leader in the engineering and manufacturing of innovative technologies and systems for wireless communication, have released the first low-cost MYTHINGS certified gateway (AVA) for mioty low-power wide-area networks. Mioty is a next-gen LPWAN protocol that provides efficient, reliable, and scalable wireless connectivity for large commercial and industrial IoT deployments. The AVA gateway is easy to deploy and provides flexible IoT connectivity, as a bidirectional IoT gateway integrated with the ETSI-standardized mioty wireless stack. It includes pre-configured MYTHINGS Central software by BehrTech, an inclusive device management platform designed to manage large-scale mioty LPWA networks. With one-click registration, MYTHINGS features a highly scalable cloud service that specializes in providing a fast, simple, and cost-effective means of deploying successful mioty networks. Recognizing the need for integrative wireless IoT connectivity, Thieme states, Between legacy proprietary solutions and costly third-party managed networks, there is strong demand for inexpensive, easy-to-deploy and highly flexible IoT connectivity solutions, he continued. Together with WEPTECH, were making this powerful new LPWAN technology more accessible, interoperable and consumable for companies worldwide. We are happy that we could win BehrTech as a partner on the platform side at this early stage, said Wolfgang Esch, Head of Sales and Marketing at WEPTECH. With this collaboration, we are able to give the customer even easier and faster access to this game-changing technology. Available through WEPTECH as an evaluation kit, the AVA gateway serves to simplify both the adoption of mioty as well as the reliability, range, and scalability of mioty LPWA networks. The gateway provides support for 868 MHz (Europe) and 915 MHz (North America) frequency bands and can be connected to the local network with an Ethernet connection. Retrofittable in any environment, the MYTHINGS platform enables fully integrated IIoT solutions for data-driven decision-making while featuring a highly flexible Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) interface, cloud connectors for Azure, AWS, and Cumulocity, and its plugin architecture. Customers can also easily integrate with the external systems, third-party applications, and IoT platforms of their choice. When building a future-proof wireless IoT architecture, its important to consider not only existing requirements but also those that might pop up down the road, says Thieme. A solution that offers data ownership, minimal infrastructure requirements, built-in network management, and integration and interoperability will ensure cost-effective support for the influx of data and devices in the future. Edited by Maurice Nagle COVIDMASS-1 (1).jpg (copy) A Pittsfield police officer directs traffic outside the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Berkshire Community College in February. VEXATION NATION REPORTS: The struggle to land vaccine appointments has been terrestrial, but the frustration has one Stockbridge man pondering deep space. I could have taken a course in astrophysics in the time I have wasted searching for a vaccine shot, Mark Mills told us Wednesday morning from Stockbridge. My computer mouse is exhausted. My right index finger is begging for a day off. This morning I went to the state vaccine appointment website and saw 18 slots available tomorrow at Berkshire Community College. When I clicked the schedule button it jumped to the dreaded page that says no more appointments which is burning its image onto my laptop screen. I have repeatedly had similar experiences, which are technology breakdowns, not a shortage of vaccine. It's torture. Somebody pleeease fix this! Gov. Charlie Bakers message this week: In time, vaccine supplies will prevent all the frustration people are now feeling. But thats then (theoretically). This is now: I waited for three hours on Tuesday, finally nabbed one of four open appointments on the BCC site, was three-quarters of the way through the paperwork when my page refreshed, Mindy Hackner reports from North County. I was kicked out and all the slots were gone. Three other friends were able to get appointments scheduled by family and friends accessing the maimmunizations.org site from out of state or near Boston. Weve also received several reports now of people who held appointment times, but were not allowed to be vaccinated. Heres Hannah Provenchers account of that, which she shared with The Checkup on Tuesday: After successfully negotiating the Covid registration process, I secured an appointment for this past Saturday at BCC. When I arrived for my scheduled and confirmed I was informed that in fact I would not be receiving my vaccination due to a shortage of doses. I was asked to fill out a form and was told additional registration slots would be offered at the beginning of this week. As I already had been denied a vaccination after having secured a confirmed slot, I was told an email would be sent to me two hours prior to the next available appointments (being) offered to the general public. Today, Tuesday, I learned through a website that more appointments would be accepted beginning at 4 p.m. I never received the promised email. Instead, I logged into the suggested waiting room at 2 p.m. and waited. At 4 p.m. I tried to secure another appointment only to find they had all been taken. I understand the vaccine is in short supply and high demand. I just wish those in charge had been more forthright in fulfilling what had been promised. We will continue to share reports from readers. Email lparnass@berkshireeagle.com. BY THE NUMBERS: For the third day, Berkshire County saw no new COVID-19 deaths as of Wednesday, leaving the total at 261, with the confirmed case count up 5 to 4,875, the state Department of Public Health said. A week ago, the death total was 254 and the case total was 4,835. A month ago, the death total was 222 and the case total was 4,569. The DPH said 66 new deaths were reported in Massachusetts, pushing the statewide total to 15,925. Confirmed cases rose 1,553 to 553,220. NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES: 28,550 statewide, down from 64,431 a month ago; 146 in Pittsfield (down from 936 a month ago); 163 Pittsfield households are in quarantine, compared to 444 a month back JUST THE FAQS: The Berkshire Eagle is regularly updating answers to frequently asked questions about access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the Vax FAQs in the Coronavirus section on the home page at berkshireeagle.com. COVID-19 WEBSITE AND INFOLINE: For information on vaccines and to schedule an appointment, when you are eligible, visit getvaccinatedberkshires.org. The city of Pittsfield is providing access by phone to weekly updates about access to the novel coronavirus vaccine in the city and in Berkshire County. A recorded message is posted at 413-449-5575. WESTERN MASS. PICTURE: The case totals (and death counts) in neighboring counties: Franklin, up 7 to 1,988 (101); Hampshire, up 52 to 7,459 (up 1 to 262); Hampden, up 164 to 42,105 (up 7 to 1,347). HOSPITAL CHECK: Berkshire Medical Center reported caring for 10 COVID-19 patients, up from 8 a week ago and down from 26 a month ago; no cases were reported at Fairview Hospital. Statewide, 755 people are hospitalized, compared to 1,635 a month ago. Of those hospitalized, 173 are in ICU and 109 are on ventilators. WIDER WORLD OF COVID: Global cases top 114,975,672, with 2,554,416 deaths, according to data provided by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has seen at least 28,739,056 cases and 517,833 deaths. LAST TWO WEEKS AT A GLANCE: In its weekly report Wednesday, the state Department of Public Health provided this COVID-19 data for Berkshire County. Total number of cases: 4,875 Case in last 14 days: 144 Relative change: Lower Total tests: 276,708 Tests last 14 days: 22,624 Number positive results last 14 days: 153 Percent positive: 0.68 percent Change in percentage of positive cases: Lower HELP FOR NURSES: The state will begin a series of online sessions to help nurses talk about their work on the COVID-19 front line. On March 10, the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety will begin a free six-week support group for nurses working with pandemic patients. "Talking with peers is a proven strategy for coping with stresses, sadness, anger and other difficult feelings," said Linda Kenney, the centers director of peer support programs. "Many nurses are experiencing these kinds of feelings right now and this virtual support group can help." Nurses can join the Zoom sessions by registering with the center. (Go to: t.ly/BiA6.) They will run Wednesdays from 8 to 9:15 p.m. LEADING INDICATORS: The DPH provides the following statistics as indicators in the fight against coronavirus infection. Wednesdays figures: Seven-day average of new confirmed cases: 1,076. That is down from the recent high of 6,239 on Jan. 8. Seven-day weighted average of positive test rate: 1.82. That is down from the recent high of 8.7 on Jan. 1. Seven-day average of number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals: 800. That is down from the recent high of 2,336 on Jan. 9. Seven-day average of COVID-19 deaths: 39. That is down from the recent high of 73.9 on Jan. 11. INFORMATION ON TESTING: Stop the Spread testing sites are open at three Berkshire Health Systems locations. Tests will be conducted for any reason, with the state picking up the cost. To schedule a test, call the toll-free hotline, 855-262-5465, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Locations are: Pittsfield, 505 East St., St Lukes Square, adjacent to BHS Urgent Care Center; North Adams, 98 Church St., next to the city library; Great Barrington: 475 Main St. Tests can also be obtained through CVS by filling out a form online. JOIN US: Quality local journalism, like you find in The Checkup, needs your support. When you and your family subscribe to us, that's the fuel we need to keep reporting the essential news you want. Join us. Help us build our community. We are offering a 30-day free trial to readers of The Checkup. How can we make The Checkup better or more informative? Email us at lparnass@berkshireeagle.com. Wage arrears have been a serious and long-standing issue confronting millions of workers in China since the capitalist restoration in 1978. For the year 2020, according to the China Labour Bulletin, there were at least 660 collective protests by workers against wage arrears covering almost all provinces. From the Workers Calls-for-Help Map, which tracks individual workers attempts to appeal for help on social media, 207 cases related to wage arrears have been recorded since September 2020. These records are certainly an underestimation as many grievances are not reported on the local news or in social media. The struggles of workers amid already heated social tensions are regarded by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a serious threat. In January 2020, Prime Minister Li Keqiang hypocritically signed a regulation designed to make sure migrant workers receive their pay. In reality, the CCP regime has, in recent years, been deepening its attacks on the democratic rights of workers and using all means to prevent them from demanding their unpaid wagesthrough legislation, vilification and arrests. Tech workers in China In November 2019, in a case where construction workers sued for wage arrears, the Supreme Peoples Court made a ruling that significantly increased the difficulties workers face when attempting to recover their wages. The ruling, in essence, only allowed workers to demand wages from an intermediate person or agent who subcontracted a work project, and denied the right of workers to demand wage arrears from the main contracting company. Specifically, Mingfa, a real estate company in Huaian, Jiangsu contracted to carry out a construction project in 2016 for another company called Fujian Sihai Construction. In fact, the project was carried out by an individual, Peng, who was affiliated with Sihai, but not employed by it. Peng did not engage his own construction team, but instead subcontracted the project to a group of construction workers. However, the real estate company did not pay for the construction as indicated in the contract. So the leader of the group of construction workers sued Peng and Sihai Construction, demanding the 359,849.50 RMB ($US51,400) in arrears. The High Peoples Court in Fujian Province (where Sihai Construction is based) ruled in favor of the construction workers and issued an order to enforce this payment. In the enforcement order, the provincial High Peoples Court established that neither Peng nor the construction company possessed any assets that could be used to pay back workers and implemented restrictions on large expenditures by Peng. As a result, despite the favorable ruling, construction workers did not receive their pay in the end. The construction workers later appealed to the Supreme Peoples Court, the top court in China, demanding that the real estate company, Mingfa, should also be held at least partially responsible for the payment of their unpaid wages. However, the Court ruled that the construction workers had only a labor service relation with Peng, who subcontracted the project to them, but this did not constitute a contractual relation with Peng. Therefore, the Court declared that, in a narrow legal sense, the construction undertaker was Peng, not the construction workers. Since only the construction undertaker has the right to demand payments from original contractor, Mingfa, the construction workers had no right to demand wages from Mingfa directly. This ruling has far reaching implications for workers, shutting off the already very limited means for workers to demand unpaid wages. The employment of workers via subcontractors is very common in the construction industry. Wage arrears happen very frequently with 54 percent of the protests reported by the China Labour Bulletin in 2020 being in the construction sector. As one lawyer from Wuhan University commented, this ruling will undoubtedly have disastrous consequences in practice. Workers who demand their pay are not only oppressed by the judicial system, but are also attacked and vilified by the state through the media. In recent months, various articles have appeared denouncing protests by workers to demand their wages. For instance, when reporting on a protest by more than 20 construction workers demanding wages on January 20, several local media characterized the workers as marching illegally and accused the leading worker of intentionally instigating other workers into protests. The police have also brutally intervened in many workers protests. Seven workers were detained for weeks after the aforementioned protest in Guangdong Province in January. Another worker in Jiangsu Province who threatened to jump off a crane tower unless he was paid was also detained by the local police for 10 days. The police have also issued statements that there would be zero tolerance against future attempts of migrant workers to demand wages through malevolent means. Such statements are outrageous. Nothing is done about the real criminalsthe employers who fail to pay the wages on which workers rely. Moreover, workers resort to protests because there are no benevolent avenues to be paid what they have earned. The city of Tongxiao in Zhejiang Province has gone even further with a recent regulation published on February 7 that establishes a blacklist for employees who exhibit abnormalities in labor disputes. The criteria for abnormalities include: applying for arbitration at the same labor department more than five times in a year, filing more than 10 complaints at the same social security office within three years, and appealing to the same social security office to demand wages more than three times every year. The personal information of any blacklisted worker is be published on the city courts official website and through social media. This information will also be circulated through the local employment markets. This anti-working class regulation, despite claiming to regulate local labor market through legal means, clearly serves to intimidate and bully workers to prevent any opposition being voiced. The source of the widespread practice of failing to pay wages is not merely the greed and criminality of individual company owners and construction project contractors. The suppression of workers protests over unpaid wages is carried out with the active involvement of the police, media, the judicial systemin short, the Stalinist CCP state apparatus that enriches itself through the oppression and exploitation of the working class. The inspector generals are coming for Trumpworld! For an administration with a historic aversion to ethics and the propriety of public service, there has been a lot for these internal governmental watchdogs to dig in to. On Wednesday, the inspector general at the lowly old Transportation Department, perhaps the least glamorous of all the Cabinet gigs, released its report outlining the ways in which former Secretary Elaine Chao managed to use the position to deploy public resources to benefit her family. The instances of wrongdoing were not particularly subtle and the department watchdog referred the case to the Department of Justice late last year for possible criminal prosecution. The Justice Department, in the final weeks of the Trump administration, declined to advance the case. Advertisement Most of Chaos questionable behavior revolved around her father, James Chao, and his shipping business, the Foremost Group, which made its mark transporting raw materials, like coal and iron, to China, and continues to do extensive work with Chinese state-owned businesses. The Shanghai-born patriarch of the family started the business after emigrating to the U.S. in the 1950s but has since turned the operation over to Chaos younger sister Angela Chao. As the secretary of transportation, Elaine Chao was charged with overseeing the American shipping industry. What could possibly go wrong? Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. For starters, investigators said that Chao routinely asked government employees to help her father in a number of ways, from updating his Wikipedia page to promoting his biography and even building a public relations strategy for the longtime shipping magnate. Chao also made highly questionable moves, such as giving an interview, as a Cabinet-level public official, to a Chinese-language TV station that resembled an infomercial about her fathers success and business acumen. The interview was conducted at the New York City headquarters of the Foremost Group. Advertisement Then there was the proposed 2017 trip to China for the Chao family that raised ethics concerns and was ultimately canceled. From the New York Times: The investigators found that Ms. Chao had used her staff to arrange details for Mr. Chaos trip to China in October 2017, including asking, through the State Department, for Chinas Transport Ministry to arrange for two cars for a six-person delegation, which included Ms. Chaos younger sister Angela Chao, who had succeeded their father as head of the family shipping company, and Angela Chaos husband, the venture capitalist Jim Breyer. The trip had been scheduled to include stops at locations in China that had received financial support from the company and also a meeting with top leaders in China that was to include Elaine Chaos father and sister, but not other members of Transportation Department staff. Chao pushed back against accusations of misusing her office by chalking it up to cultural differences, pointing to a memo outlining the importance of promoting her father as part of her governmental work. Anyone familiar with Asian culture knows it is a core value in Asian communities to express honor and filial respect toward ones parents, the September 2020 memo said. Asian audiences welcome and respond positively to actions by the secretary that include her father in activities when appropriate. The governors of Texas and Mississippi recently joined those of Florida and South Dakota in releasing their citizens from unconstitutional tyranny by "allowing" businesses to fully reopen and removing mask mandates for individuals. This prompted President Biden to lambast the governors for engaging in "Neanderthal thinking." Yes, that's how far we have fallen, how far we have traveled down the road to dependence, degeneracy...and Gomorrah. Democrats now feel comfortable characterizing rulers "permitting" the people to go to work, feed their families, and breathe freely as reactionary. Incredibly, so-called "Progressives" now see freedom as the product of "Neanderthal thinking" and their opponents as sub-human. So say it loud, and let it ring: Democrats are once again the party of slavery. Good for Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and South Dakota. The rest of us, of all races, need a Second Emancipation Proclamation. Graphic credit: Stefan Scheer, CC BY-2.5 license. Pope Francis said yesterday he is going to Iraq, where his predecessor John Paul was not allowed to go in 2000, because the people cannot be let down for a second time. Speaking at the end of his general audience, Pope Francis, who is due to start the risky trip in Baghdad tomorrow, asked for prayers so that the visit can take place in the best possible way and bring about the desired fruits. He made no mention of the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, where yesterday at least 10 rockets landed on an air base that hosts United States, coalition and Iraqi forces. Pope John Paul had to cancel a planned trip in 2000 after a breakdown in talks with the government of then leader Saddam Hussein. For some time I have wanted to meet that people who suffered so much, and meet that martyred church, said the 84-year-old pontiff. Iraqs minority Christian community has been devastated by wars and repression by Islamic State insurgents. Persecution has decreased the Christian community from 1.5 million in 2003 to just 400,000 today. Pope Francis will visit the former Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, where churches still bear the signs of conflict. The people of Iraq are waiting for us. "They were waiting for St Pope John Paul II, who was not allowed to go. The people cannot be let down for a second time. Let us pray that this trip can be carried out well, he said. Pope Francis will also visit Ur, birthplace of the prophet Abraham, who is revered by Christians, Moslems and Jews, and meet Iraqs top Shiite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (90). In the land of Abraham, together with other religious leaders, we also will take another step forward in fraternity among believers, Pope Francis said. Al-Sistani is one of the most important figures in Shiite Islam, both within Iraq and beyond. He commands a vast following among Iraqs Shiite majority and huge influence over politics and public opinion. About 10,000 security forces will be deployed to protect the pope, who will mostly likely be travelling in armoured vehicles. The number of people who will be able to see him has been severely limited because of coronavirus restrictions. Read More Work on reforming funding of social care has been set back by the pandemic, despite Boris Johnson promising he had a plan ready to go when he became Prime Minister in July 2019 months before coronavirus struck. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said ministers were committed to finding a cross-party solution although Labour claimed there had been a lack of dialogue. Mr Sunak faced criticism from care groups, MPs and charities over the absence of measures to address growing social care pressures in this years Budget. Mr Sunak was asked during an interview on BBC Radio 4s Today programme why there was no mention of social care in his financial statement. He said: We are committed to finding, ideally, a cross-party solution to sustainable social care funding it is important given the long-term duration of social care policy that, as much as possible, we would like to build consensus around a solution. Obviously right now our focus is the pandemic. I know the Health Secretary has started that work on trying to see what the solutions might be and at the appropriate time, if we can find consensus on a solution, we will bring that forward and have that conversation, but that is something that of course we remain committed to. Successive governments have failed to address the situation which can both leave families facing ruinously expensive care costs while the system as a whole struggles for funding. In his first speech as Prime Minister in July 2019 Mr Johnson said he was announcing now on the steps of Downing Street that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared. But almost two years on there is no sign of that plan and Number 10 acknowledged work on the proposals due to finally be produced this year had been held up by the pandemic. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here to do so. Pressed on why there was still no information about such a plan when the Prime Minister said it had already been prepared, Mr Sunak said: I think given, as you said, it has been a problem that has not found a solution over many governments and parliaments, I think it is going to take some time and thought to get it right because we want to make sure it is a lasting settlement. And right now, particularly on the health side, the focus is on tackling the pandemic, and thats right that that is our focus. The Prime Ministers press secretary, Allegra Stratton, told reporters: I do truly believe that the focus for everyone in Government has been on saving lives in care homes and other places, but a lot of care homes over the last year, and there just hasnt been the chance to look in detail at what comes next. She said Health Secretary Matt Hancock had written to all MPs on the issue in March 2020 and would pick that work up again as the coronavirus crisis eased. But Labours shadow minister for social care, Liz Kendall, said the Government had not discussed or even raised with the Opposition its plans to build a cross-party consensus. She said: There was nothing in the Budget on social care, despite everything that has happened during this pandemic and the Prime Ministers promise on the steps of Downing St to fix the crisis in social care more than 18 months ago. Today the Chancellor claimed this gaping hole is because the Government is trying to build cross-party consensus about the way forward. Yet this has not been discussed or even raised with Labours front bench team, despite our repeatedly asking the care minister about this issue. Our society and economy need a care system that is fit for the future. Ministers must bring forward plans for reform as a matter of the utmost urgency and deliver on their promises to the British people. Sir Andrew Dilnot, who led a review into the future of funding social care which recommended a cap on costs in 2011, said the lack of action on it was a stain on our nation. He said the broad outline of any plan would involve topping up the funding for council-delivered means-tested social care while creating some form of social insurance for the population to pool the risk should they need care later in life. He predicted it would need between 7-10 billion extra per year to be put into social care. Sir Andrew told BBC Radio 4s World At One: We know how to do this, we just need to get on and do it. Toyota might never sell as many Tundra units as Ford, Ram or Chevrolet manage to achieve with their products, but the competition will be close. The Tundra has a following of its own, and those who want to go down an alternate route as opposed to everyone else will be happy to spend their savings with Toyota. 20 photos Brussels threatened legal action yesterday after a bitter row exploded over the Government's decision to unilaterally extend a grace period for Irish border checks. Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said the EU felt it was dealing with a partner it 'simply cannot trust' and was examining its legal options a move that could see the UK being fined or extra tariffs being slapped on British goods. MEPs also indicated they could delay formal ratification of the wider Brexit deal, the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA), pending the outcome of the dispute. Brussels threatened legal action yesterday after a bitter row exploded over the Government's decision to unilaterally extend a grace period for Irish border checks. Lorries are seen coming off a ferry from Scotland into the port of Larne, Northern Ireland yesterday But Boris Johnson insisted that 'goodwill and common sense' would bring a resolution to the issues over the Irish Sea trading arrangements, which have lingered since Britain formally left the post-Brexit transition period. The Prime Minister said last night the problems were 'eminently solvable' despite threats of legal action. On Wednesday night, the Government angered EU ministers by unilaterally extending a grace period that limits red tape on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney (pictured) said the EU felt it was dealing with a partner it 'simply cannot trust' and was examining its legal options a move that could see the UK being fined or extra tariffs being slapped on British goods Mr Johnson said: 'We are taking some temporary and technical measures to ensure that there are no barriers in the Irish Sea, to make sure things flow freely between GB and NI, and that's what you would expect. Obviously, these are matters for continuing intensive discussions with our friends. 'I'm sure with a bit of goodwill and common sense all these technical problems are eminently solvable.' 11billion into EU budget Britain will pay 11billion into the EU budget this year, despite Brexit. Treasury documents reveal the sum is part of the estimated 50billion 'divorce bill' negotiated by Theresa May and signed off by Boris Johnson. Britain gave 10.9billion in the last year of full membership. During Brexit talks Brussels said the UK had to contribute to the bloc's seven-year budget even after leaving. Payments are due to fall to 8.7billion next year. Advertisement The Northern Ireland Protocol delivered a temporary solution to prevent a hard border in Ireland which goes against the Good Friday Agreement. Goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain have been subjected to added processes and checks since the Brexit transition period ended on December 31. To give businesses time to adjust, grace periods on checks were introduced to prevent red tape. The first of these grace periods was due to expire at the end of March, but the Government has said it will be extended until October. The announcement, which took the EU by surprise, prompted fury. Mr Coveney described the move as 'very frustrating', telling RTE: 'This is not the first time this has happened, that they (the EU) are negotiating with a partner that they simply cannot trust.' He said he preferred 'engagement', but the UK Government was driving the EU towards legal action. The EU also threatened to fine the UK or to slap harmful tariffs on goods over the row. A European Commission source said it could take legal action for a breach of the protocol. It means that the European Court of Justice can fine the UK, and the EU can increase tariffs. A UK source said they were 'surprised' by the EU's reaction and accused Brussels of making a 'song and dance' about it. Fidel Minor, a Houston Metro bus driver, said Gov. Greg Abbotts mask rollback will incite mass chaos on city buses as drivers like him try to enforce federal mask requirements for transit. Its already a hard enough job as it is without having conflicting directives, said Minor, a driver for Houston Metro. On HoustonChronicle.com: COVID-19 vaccine registrations spike as Texas rolls back restrictions Abbott relaxed requirements on businesses Tuesday, lifting statewide mask mandates and reducing capacity restrictions on restaurants and retailers. The order, effective March 10, sent chills through frontline workers across the region who say they still face risks on the job. Asking customers to wear masks means being met with a daily dose of attitude, said Stacy Brown, bakery manager at Phoenicia Specialty Foods, a grocery store on the ground floor of One Park Place downtown. Now she fears that attitude will spread. Were gonna have people come into the store, not wanting to comply just because of what (Abbott) says, she said, noting she feels its especially important that her customers wear masks because as a diabetic shes in a high-risk group. While the vaccine rollout has coincided with improving virus case statistics, Catherine Troisi, an epidemiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston specializing in infectious diseases, cautioned that its premature to discontinue the practices in place that precipitated those advances. Variants pose new risks, she said, especially if one develops that the vaccine cant fight. Thats why we need to get a handle on the virus now, she said. The virus is still out there. You need to protect yourself. Wearing masks and physical distancing does that. Once Abbotts reversal takes effect next week, individual businesses may nevertheless stick to more stringent pandemic protections outlined by public health officials. Some major Texas grocers said they would dial back their mask policies in light of Abbotts rollback. Kroger updated its position and said Thursday it it would require all customers to wear masks, while H-E-B and Randalls released statements Tuesday saying they would urge, but not require, customers wear masks inside their stores. But behind the counter, the change in policy didnt play well. David Lee, a deli manager at Kroger in Galveston who got sick with the virus in December, said its scary to know he and his colleagues will be surrounded by more of the maskless customers he believes exposed him to the virus in the first place. I think (Abbott) should wait at least two more months, he said. Its going to be scary now. For its part, the family-run Phoenicia will keep its mask mandate at its two Houston stores and restaurants, said owner Haig Tcholakian. Requiring masks inside his stores is about health and safety for staff and customers, first and foremost, he said. But also because when workers get sick or exposed, it affects business, too. It disrupts operations quite a bit, and if there are multiple (illnesses) across all businesses that would probably limit us and make us scramble to make up for that, he said. Tcholakian said he and his employees have to ask people to leave a handful of times a week. Like Brown, his bakery manager, hes concerned that enforcement will get more difficult now. Well have to prepare for it. For Teresa McClatchie, an escalator monitor at Bush Intercontinental Airport, the governors policy change seems at odds with the facts on the ground. She said her coworkers are still ill with the virus one may need to stay on oxygen on an ongoing basis because of damage the virus did to her lungs. We still have some employees out, she said, and some, they may not be back. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'Neanderthal thinking': President Biden decries Gov. Abbott's decision to drop COVID restrictions Few stay as close to customers as long as hair stylists, and Shyn Salon stylist and owner Casey Clay said that even earns them some leverage when it comes to cajoling clients into wearing masks. Most people, when they want their hair done, theyre willing to do anything, he said. Sticking with the masks was a no brainer, he said, because masks and other protective measures at the salon have allowed him and his staff to stay virus free. All of those things, I think, work, he said. So were going to continue doing that until the people who want vaccines can get vaccines and until we feel more safe. Mask troubles had subsided in recent months as wearing them grew normal, said Khanh Nguyen, owner of Gloss Nail Bar on West Gray. He fears a regression now. Were going to get more people who are angry about having to put on masks and telling us the governor rescinded the masks, he said. Im pretty certain thats going to happen. But when it comes to enforcement, he said there will be no ifs, ands or buts about it, because we need to protect our clients and all of our technicians. One of his nail designers, Katie Nguyen (no relation) is anxious about next week, when the rollback takes effect. It's just a waiting game, waiting to see how next week goes, she said. People hate wearing masks now, so just imagine (when the) rules are changed. So far theres only been one eye roll comment on the salons social media announcement about its continued mask requirement, Khanh Nguyen said. Thats the bright side of doing business in Houston, he said. I know in other areas its not as easy, he said. Since were in the city people are more understanding here. amanda.drane@chron.com The Redding Board of Education unanimously appointed Meghan Ward as the next John Read Middle School principal. Ward, an assistant principal at Staples High School in Westport, is expected to begin July 1. The Joel Barlow alumna holds a bachelors degree in political science from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and a masters in teaching and administrative certification from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. contributed by the Redding Board of Education I really enjoyed the process and meeting everyone and I am so excited to get to work with all of you and to the good work that we know kids need. As a Barlow grad, Im just really excited to come back to the Easton-Redding community, too, Ward said during the board meeting. Ward initially taught social studies at Staples High School for nine years before transitioning into an administrative career at several schools in Maine. She returned to Westport in 2016 and is now heading to Redding for her next role. The board selected Ward from a pool of 40 candidates in a process that gauged input from an outside consultant and the school community, according to the boards news release. Throughout the interview process, Ms. Ward quickly rose to the top of a very competitive candidate pool, Superintendent Rydell Harrison said in the release. Her passion for middle school students and understanding of their unique needs, proven instructional leadership and commitment to student-centered learning, and ability to build positive relationships with all stakeholders through clear and concise communication are just three of the many qualities that make her a great fit at John Read Middle School, he added. Board Chairman Chris Parkins said members anticipate welcoming Ward and her authentic approach makes her ideally suited for our middle school community. (Natural News) The Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York (CACAGNY) is speaking out against so-called critical race theory (CRT), a racist, anti-White, Marxist ideology that aims to indoctrinate Americans into believing that the country is structurally racist because of White people. This White Man Bad ideology is a hateful, divisive, manipulative fraud, says CACAGNY not just against White people but also against Asians. Critical race theory is basically an ideological hate crime against both White and Asian people, it turns out. One way or another, CRT wants to get rid of too many Asians in good schools, the group says. Asians are over-represented. CRT is todays Chinese Exclusion Act. CRT is the real hate crime against Asians. According to CRT, any disparity in racial outcomes, whether it be more White people in a particular school, or more Asian people at a particular company, is proof that some hidden racial bias or discrimination exists that is keeping black and brown people underrepresented. Because Asians tend to be overrepresented at institutions of higher learning, as one example, CRT would contend that American society is structurally biased in favor of Asians. It does not go both ways, however, as black and brown overrepresentation is considered to be just fine. CRT appears in our workplaces under the cover of implicit bias / sensitivity training, CACAGNY further contends. It infiltrates our schools pretending to be culturally / ethnically responsive pedagogy, with curricula such as the New York Timess 1619 Project and Seattles ethnomathematics. From its very roots, CRT is racist, repressive, discriminatory, and divisive. White genocide is the ultimate goal of the critical race theory religion CACAGNY lays out all the main dogmas of the CRT religion that are important for people to understand in order to dismantle them. Foundational to the cult is the idea that a person is not a person but rather a cog in a particular race meaning a person is judged solely based on race and skin color rather than character. Nothing could be more racist and quite frankly petty, yet this is the prevailing dogma at many of Americas large corporations, universities, and other institutions, all of which have become wastelands of toxic femininity, anti-White racism, and other evils. While the underpinnings of justice in America center around equal rights and equal opportunity, the social justice ethos of CRT contends that equal outcomes must be the norm, otherwise everything is a racist manifestation of White supremacy. To achieve equal outcomes, forget equal rights, CACAGNY says about how it works. Another common theme of CRT doctrine is the idea that black people are always oppressed by White people, who are always the oppressors. Black people can never be racist within the confines of CRT, and White people are always racist. CRT is a genocidal operation against White people, in other words, and is likewise antagonistic against Asians, though in a much more muted way. CRT never talks about Asian supremacy, nor does it use such derogatory language except when referring to White people. If you are White and wont admit you are racist, you are racist by implicit bias, CRT dogma maintains. To reduce implicit bias, you must self-criticize, confess to privilege, apologize to the oppressed race. CRT also routinely takes aim at the nebulous idea of whiteness, which it claims is a system based on achievement, delayed gratification, progress, schedules and deadlines, meritocracy, race-blindness, the written word, facts and objectivity, logic and reason, mathematics, and science. CRT suppresses dissent with cancel culture, CACAGNY further notes. More related news about CRT in action on college and university campuses can be found at CampusInsanity.com. Sources for this article include: PJMedia.com NaturalNews.com CHICOPEE After being told to go larger the city has partnered with three other communities and is moving its COVID-19 vaccination site to a new location. Members of the citys vaccine task force have joined forces with officials in Holyoke, South Hadley and Granby to create a new vaccine location at the Knights of Columbus banquet hall on Memorial Drive, Mayor John L. Vieau said. The original plan was to have a vaccination clinic at the Council on Aging. About two weeks ago Vieau announced the citys site had received state approval and hoped to receive 500 doses of vaccine a week, but so far none has been sent as Gov. Charlie Baker continued to prioritize mass vaccination sites. We were redirected and told by the Department of Public to go larger to be able to meet the capacity of 750 per day. We are able to meet that, Health Director Lisa Sanders said. The task force, which includes Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski, Council on Aging Director Sherry Manyak, Police Lt. Holly Davis and others, is prepared to administer vaccine doses as soon as the state makes them available, Sanders said. The Fire Department has teamed up with those in the three other communities and is also getting assistance from the nursing staff at American International College and the Hampden Sheriffs Department so they will have enough personnel to administer the 750 shots five days a week, Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski said. There are many moving parts to setting up a COVID-19 vaccination site. Stamborski thanked East Longmeadow health and public safety officials, who held initial clinics to vaccinate first responders, for sharing their expertise. It has not been ideal. We have had no supply with an astronomical demand, Vieau said. Staff at the Council on Aging and city librarians are also continuing to help people who are eligible for vaccines to make appointments but are having difficulty finding appointments as the number of people eligible increased to include anyone who is 65 and older and those with at least two pre-existing medical conditions. The Council on Aging now has a list of more than 2,000 people who would prefer to be vaccinated in the city and Vieau said he urges people to consider going to mass vaccination sites such as the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, or any other location where they can get an appointment instead of waiting for Chicopee to get vaccines. But he warned people that it has been difficult for the staff to make appointments. On Thursday there were 10 staff members answering phones and trying to make online appointments online but were stuck in a queue for three hours. In the end, they were unable to schedule a single appointment, he said. It is a message of frustration but we are working hard for the people of Chicopee, Vieau said, adding the city is trying any avenue to get more residents vaccinated including working to have a local CVS or Walgreens become a vaccination site. At the states urging, the city is also is contacting people who are homebound or in senior housing to ensure they will be vaccinated as soon as the city receives doses, he said. Multiple departments in the city are also continuing to work together to operate a free testing site at the Council of Aging for residents and first responders who live outside the community. The number of people going to the testing site has dropped to fewer than 100 a day - a decline from as many as 300 a day when it opened in late December - so it is reducing the days of operation from three to two. The drive-up site is now open from 8 a.m. to noon, Mondays and Wednesdays, and is open to any resident who believes they have been exposed to the virus or is feeling ill, Vieau said. Related content: Nova Scotia is a top-ranked mining jurisdiction enjoying renewed interest Firm's assets in the province have good infrastructure and access all-year-round Aureus East was last operated in 2018 What Aurelius Minerals does: ( ) ( ) ( ) is a gold explorer, which is advancing its flagship Aureus gold properties comprising four assets in mining-friendly Nova Scotia. These assets include the Aureus East mine, which has a 300 tonne per day (tpd) mine and mill - one of only two permitted gold mines and mills in the Canadian province. The company also has the Aureus West, Tangier and Forest Hill properties. Across all four assets, there are 73,000 ounces of gold in the higher confidence indicated category and 354,200 ounces in inferred. Aurelius believes there is extensive resource growth potential, reserve conversion and exploration upside. The company also holds what it calls two district-scale gold projects in the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt in Ontario. These are the 968-hectare Mikwam property, which is adjacent to Hecla's Casa Beradi mine (with 3.75 Moz reserves and resources), and the 12,425-hectare Lipton property, on the Lower Detour trend. The company has experienced management as well as extensive capital markets expertise. It follows a so-called #DefineRefineReEngineer strategy to advance its assets, namely to define (resources), refine resources (into reserves) and re-engineer (the extraction method) into economic and mine studies to maximise efficiency and operations. How is it doing: Aurelius Minerals started drilling at the Aureus gold project in August last year, announcing an initial 10,000 metre (m) program, with 6,000m of underground at Aureus East (now complete). Concurrently, there was to be 4,000m of surface drilling at Aureus West. Phase one drilling, comprising ten holes, has now been completed at Aureus West and more assays are awaited before a second phase of drilling begins. Notably, in January this year, the group said that three holes at Aureus West had hit 'significant' gold mineralization and new gold horizons to a depth of 500m below surface, which is well below the current resource depth of around 150m. Results included an intercept of 2.5m grading 13.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, including 0.5m grading 46.4 g/t gold. And on March 1, Aurelius revealed underground assays from two holes at Aureus East, which had expanded a high-grade gold zone called Zone 9. With the results, which included 10.5m at a grade of 11.7 g/t gold from a depth of 63m to 73.5m, the firm said it had "laterally expanded the width of the Zone 9 high-grade gold zone". Inflection points: Receipt of more drill assays (lab assays generally have been delayed due to the pandemic) Resource estimate for Aureus East Precious metals moves What the boss says: In Aurelius Minerals' latest video with Proactive, CEO Mark Ashcroft told Proactive's Steve Darling: "We've just finished Phase One, in fact we will have completed 6,000m of drilling on the East project ... so then we're going to plan out our Phase two and really Phase two is where we want to grow the resource." Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com BIG RAPIDS, MI Ferris State University is planning to offer mostly in-person classes next fall as the university prepares for a return to normal operations amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Around 84% of classes will be face-to-face during the fall 2021 semester, a structure that is similar to semesters prior to the pandemic, according to a university news release. School leaders said the move toward more in-person instruction is because of low COVID-19 positivity rates on campus this school year. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferris State University has been able to stay open, and remain open, while providing a safe and healthy living, learning and working environment for students, faculty and staff, Ferris President David Eisler said in a prepared statement. With the extremely low number of COVID-19 cases on our campus and in our community, and with vaccines now available, we look forward to providing a fully in-person learning experience for our students. As the one-year mark approaches since the novel coronavirus emerged in Michigan, Ferris State continues to maintain a low number of positive COVID-19 cases. The university has reported a total of 614 positive cases among students, faculty and staff since August, according to the Ferris State COVID-19 data dashboard. The university reported only three new COVID-19 cases on March 3, bringing the total number of active coronavirus cases to 13. Given our resilience as a university community and the fact our faculty, staff and students have done remarkable work in keeping the campus open and delivering face-to-face instruction during the pandemic, makes our return to normal in the fall that much more exciting, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Bobby Fleischman said in a prepared statement. The university will continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19, as well as any new variants of the virus, throughout the community as the fall semester approaches, according to the news release. Unless otherwise advised by health officials, Ferris State will continue its COVID-19 safety procedures on campus, including enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, daily symptom checkers, social distancing and face coverings. I am elated that our continuing and new students will have the opportunity to maximize their college experience and move more assuredly toward graduating from Ferris, said Jeanine Ward-Roof, vice president for Student Affairs. More on MLive: Ferris State University fires professor who tweeted slurs, called COVID-19 a leftist stunt Ferris State University to break ground on $29.5M Center for Virtual Learning this spring Low-income students can get free tuition from Ferris State University through new program Representatives of civil society want to sound the alarm regarding the assistance and social protection system in Romania, said the President of the Senate, Anca Dragu, after a meeting with organizations involved in the field, according to AGERPRES. According to Anca Dragu, representatives of the Center for Legal Resources, FONSS, the Tonal Association, the Foundation for Civil Society Development, the Resource Center for Public Participation, Code4Romania and ActiveWatch reported on existing problems in the system and presented special examples of the situation where people with disabilities are cared for. "A key institution is the Council for Monitoring the Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons. This institution must ensure that the rights of disabled persons are respected. (...) The transparency of the process of selecting the President of the Council has been an important issue. In accordance with the recommendations of the ECHR, Romania must strengthen its collaboration with civil society," Dragu wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. Senators Monica Anisie, Radu Mihail, Stefan Palarie and Cosmin Poteras were also present at the meeting. The Senate initiated the procedure for selecting the chairperson of the Monitoring Council. Plans for Filing Provisional Patent for Processing Economical Ultra High Grade Battery Material for North American EV Sector Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN.WT) (FSE: 9SC2) (OTC Pink: MNXXF) ("Manganese X" , "MN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it is entering Phase Three of its metallurgical study with Kemetco Research Inc. ("Kemetco" ) which will include Manganese X Energy Corp. filing a provisional patent on the manganese purification process and further refinement of the ultra-high manganese product flow sheet in preparation for its Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and for our upcoming environmental study. MN's CEO, Martin Kepman, comments, "We are continuing to advance methodologies in the purification process of our Battery Hill, New Brunswick manganese ore property. We are committed to R & D that will enable an efficient, cost effective and novel recovery and refining solution for manganese ore." "Manganese is primed to be a key element in future battery production as indicated by Tesla whose intent is to produce cobalt free batteries. Our North American manganese asset gives us a decided advantage for servicing future domestic Electric Vehicle (EV) battery needs. The US is looking at securing domestic supply chains in critical minerals and metals. We remain laser focused on advancing our manganese property to commercialization." Further evidence of manganese as a key element in the battery manufacturing world was offered by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Director Simon Moore who recently participated in a parliamentary discussion on Canada's role in building a domestic and global lithium-ion battery ecosystem. He suggested the combination of natural resources and a highly skilled workforce should make it easy for Canada to create a sustainable value chain for battery materials. "The potential to add [Canada's huge base of key battery raw materials] into high value chemicals, cathodes, anodes and even engage in the production of lithium-ion batteries offers the country a major slice of this growing lithium-ion and electric vehicle economic pie." This latest phase of metallurgical studies focuses on the evaluation of alternative approaches to leaching and novel aspects of the purification process. This includes the enhancement of the flow sheet leading to greater efficiencies and a major reduction in costs, as well as development of the Company's PEA and the filing of its provisional patent. The Company's mission is to commercialize its Battery Hill manganese project for North America's growing EV and energy storage sectors. Phases One and Two were also conducted with Kemetco. In Phase One, Kemetco used a series of bench-scale leach, purification and crystallization processes and produced a high purity manganese sulphate product. The product's 99.95 percent purity, also with very low contaminants, was considered a transformational achievement as this demonstrated that Manganese X Energy's Battery Hill manganese could be compliant and suitable for battery manufacturing use in EVs, energy storage and other high-tech applications. Phase Two consisted of the development of a more efficient workable and novel extraction process, the achievement of a recovery rate of 85 percent and the genesis of a flow sheet for the production of high-grade manganese sulphate. Significant recent results included potentially eliminating a major step in the purification process, as well as improved purification results, meaning a significant reduction in overall costs and enhanced opportunities for the commercialization of Manganese X Energy's Battery Hill project. Reduced costs will have a notably positive impact on the PEA, About Manganese X Energy Corp. Manganese X's mission is to advance its Battery Hill project into production, with the intent of supplying value-added materials to the lithium-ion battery and other alternative energy industries , The Company is also striving to achieve new carbon-friendly more efficient methodologies, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost. The company is the only manganese company in North America moving forward toward commercialization of a manganese deposit. Subsidiary Disruptive Battery Corp.'s mission is to develop an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) air purification delivery system for cleaner and healthier air, aiming to mitigate COVID-19 and other contaminants on surfaces and in the air. For more information, visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors of MANGANESE X ENERGY CORP. Martin Kepman CEO and Director Email: martin@kepman.com Tel: 1-514-802-1814 Cautionary Note Regarding 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. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. We seek safe harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76000 A company boss chased thieves down the motorway and helped guide police to their van after they stole a digger he had fitted with a tracking device. Sam Daniel's family business, Ashley Plant Hire and Building Supplies in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, had been hit by a string of machinery thefts in recent months. So he and his business partners, his father and brother, decided to purchase tracking systems for their most expensive items - so they could keep tabs on the machinery when they went home. Not long after installing the devices, Mr Daniel received an alert on his phone to report movement from one of his Micro Excavator digger. Not wanting to be the target of yet another theft, he decided to jump in his car and follow the tracker - not realising he would end up becoming involved in a 50-mile chase. 'I checked again and it was heading down the A556 so I just ran out the house and went chasing after it,' Mr Daniel said. Sam Daniel, pictured with a woman believed to be his partner, had seen his family business hit by a string of machinery thefts in recent months Sam Daniel, 35, who runs a family business, Ashley Plant Hire and Building Supplies LTD in Altrincham, chased down a stolen piece of machinery using a tracking device 'I was on a three way call with my parents. My dad was guiding me where the tracker was moving and my mum was relaying the location to the police. 'By the time I caught up with the tracker it was at Junction 17 of the M60 near Bolton. 'I saw a van that stuck out a mile off so I followed that one and gave the details to the police. 'I was giving every detail I had of the van they were driving - where they were heading, the speed, what lane they were in.' Eventually, several police cars took over Mr Daniel's efforts and successfully pulled over the van on the M62 at Halifax. After tracking the piece of machinery for 50 miles, he called for police to stop the vehicle (pictured: Police recover the stolen machine) 'Four police vehicles flew past me with flashing lights and then there were more police cars,' Mr Daniel said. 'They started slowing all the traffic down. All of a sudden we came to a stop and police pulled the van over.' 'They checked inside the van and low and behold the digger was in there. I was one happy customer.' Mr Daniel posted the story on his LinkedIn profile following his dramatic evening, and said the reaction has been 'amazing.' Police found the item inside a van (pictured), which Mr Daniel had chased down using a tracking device 'Excavator theft is on such a high at the moment and normally the thieves never get caught,' he said. 'Last year alone we had five machines stolen so we took matters into our own hands and bought the trackers. 'The police were very responsive. We still haven't got the digger back because it's being used for forensics but it's in safe hands so that's the main thing.' Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment. The World Health Organization and the mainstream media continue to insist that the COVID-19 pandemic was not man-made and that it had moved from bats to humans, following the WHO's controversial investigation in Wuhan, China. The investigation, which resulted in dismal findings, absolved the Wuhan Institute of Virology from bearing any responsibility for the coronavirus, which has taken the lives of millions worldwide. However, there are still a number of entities who are fighting to uncover the truth, that it was Chinese experiments that led to COVID-19 pandemic. One of those entities is British political commentator and former political adviser Steve Hilton, who recently launched an informal investigation with FOX's The Next Revolution into the experiments that led to the coronavirus pandemic. According to LifeSite News, Hilton spoke with FOX News to uncover how Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Biden administration's trusted health expert, "funded the specific gain-of-function study that almost certainly created the COVID-19 virus despite protests from leaders of the scientific community who warned that he was playing with fire," Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Children's Health Defense chairman and chief legal counsel said. In a conversation with FOX's Maria Bartiromo, Hilton shared how Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is "the leading proponent of a type of virus research called gain of function" and may have been involved in experiments that led to COVID-19 pandemic. "The idea is to manipulate genetic information in the lab to make viruses as contagious as possible so we can learn how to fight them. It's a noble intention but accidents happen," Hilton explained, linking Dr. Fauci to the experiments that led to COVID-19 pandemic. Hilton said the COVID-19 origin story was not meant to point a finger at someone, but rather meant to let people "learn lessons, to prevent the next pandemic," LifeSite noted This gain-of-function research was previously suspended in 2014 under the Obama administration. However, in December 2017, the suspension was lifted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Lancet reported. In February, a Washington Post op-ed insisted that another "plausible pathway" must be investigated, that the coronavirus was a result of a laboratory accident or leak. The op-ed pointed out that Wuhan, where the virus first broke out, has a population of 11 million and is "a major transportation hub and a center of virus studies in China" that is home to as much as six facilities "with BSL-3 laboratories for handling infectious agents." Evidence has been found that these institutions have been actively pursuing coronavirus research, which may include experiments that led to COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, these coronavirus research programs are in fact, U.S.-funded. Hilton said, "The question is who commissioned the work, who started the work that they were doing in that lab, and the answer...comes back right to here, to our country, to Dr. Fauci." "In 2014 Dr. Fauci commissioned work that led to that kind of manipulation in the lab that is so close to what we saw with this pandemic," Hilton explained. He strongly recommended an investigation into Dr. Fauci, who he accused of commissioning coronavirus research despite the suspension in 2014. Hilton also questioned why the United States continues to fund coronavirus research that sets the stage for accidents or leaks that can cause another similar pandemic. The U.S. Congress has already demanded the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the National Institutes of Health's taxpayer-funded coronavirus research conducted at the Wuhan virology lab in China. This story is part of the In-Between, Slates series on how life is slowly getting back to normal. JL Johnson is the managing correspondent for Airline Reporter, a magazine focused entirely on flying. Its his side gig (he has a day job in tech), but between work and fun, he usually averages 50 flights a year. In a normal year, that ishe hasnt taken a single one since February of 2020. Since the start of the pandemic, hes been skeptical that getting on a plane is as flawlessly safe as the industry has made it out to be. The airlines are like HEPA filters!, says Johnson. If the jerk in the middle seat takes his mask offI dont care how many HEPA filters you have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting on a plane is just the first step of travel, of course. Vacations also often involve friends, restaurants, and generally milling around a new place. It just doesnt seem like the kind of thing to do during a pandemic, as much as our brains might crave it. As Johnson says: Gee, I would love to get in on that, but Im trying to do the right thing. Perhaps youve felt similarly. Airline travel fell 60 percent last year according to a recent report from the International Civil Aviation Organization. While coronavirus experts differ in their willingness to engage in air travel for not-strictly-essential purposes (like visiting family), its clear that getting on a plane during a pandemic does involve some level of risk. But as vaccines roll out, it may have crossed your mind: When is a realistic time to finally book tickets to fly somewhere? Advertisement The answer is pretty simple: Book the trip. The question of whether you can safely travel right now, even if you are vaccinated, is a downer. Experts are still urging caution. I encourage people to hold off on vacations, says Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist at George Mason University. Shes vaccinated herself but lives with someone who isnt. Im content taking a road trip to an Airbnb with my husband if and when I get a weekend off. We still dont have good, replicated data on whether the new vaccines reduce the chances that a vaccinated person will spread the disease, which she says means that nonessential travel should be kept to a minimum, for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement But shes optimistic about the future: I think its great to start considering plans later this year for travel, says Popescu. Well have more data on the transmission question within the next few months; experts have said that they do expect that the data will be favorable. The more people who are vaccinated, the lower cases will be, in general. Biden announced Tuesday that there should be enough vaccines for everyone by May (though it could take longer to get those doses into arms). Some public health experts are already planning trips themselves. Virologist and Slate contributor Angela Rasmussen has a trip to Italy booked with her parents and spouse for November, which shed already had to put off once because of the pandemic. She wont go unless shes vaccinated, but she suspects shell be vaccinated by then. And: If I end up having to go to Italy in the dead of winter, I will. Lindsey Leininger, a public health educator at Dartmouth, has scheduled flights to visit her family at the end of the year. This is not based on some sort of fancy empirical calculation. Im a human being too. Im desperate to go back to Texas for Christmas. Shes hoping that by then not only will everyone involved be vaccinated, but that enough people in the country will have chosen to take the vaccine so that community spread will be slow enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have lifted their recommendation against travel. My gut is telling me its so far out its pretty safe, Leininger says, emphasizing that shes not certain. As a scientist, I look at the data. We just cant say. Advertisement Advertisement Johnson personally tried to keep erring on the side of caution when making his travel planseven after he got a first dose of the vaccine much sooner than he expected (February). I told myself, Im not going to book anything, he said. But then he caved that very night, scheduling a trip to visit his wifes family in Connecticut and another family trip to Florida for spring break. While he had a plan to get the next dose when we spoke, he knew that supply chain issues meant there was no guarantee that hed get it in time for the trip. I may fly on one dose; I dont advocate for that, he told me. But my wife hasnt seen her family in over a year. (He emailed me the next week to say that everything had gone according to plan: my second [dose] was this morning. Yayyyyy!) Advertisement The other reason you should book your trip now is that there is still a ton of flexibility. Should you not wind up getting a vaccine in time for your tripor if things change for whatever virus-hell-reasonif you book by the end of March or April, youll definitely be able to change it without a penalty. Zach Honig, an editor at large at the Points Guy keeps a running list of pandemic change policies for major airlines, all of which have windows extending at least a month out from now. At some point, they will surely stop extending this date. What I would recommend is go to your airlines website and start throwing pins at the map, says Honig, who has trips to Tel Aviv, Johannesburg, California, Hawaii, Peru, Japan, and French Polynesia currently on his 2021 schedule. While he flew to the Southwest and Dubai during the pandemic, he says hes staying grounded now that theres a vaccine in sight, and very willing to move things around or cancel depending on what international travel restrictions are in place. I imagine theres a decent chance that that trip could get pushed back, he says of the Johannesburg trip, which is scheduled for the beginning of June. I dont know if Ill end up taking it at all. Advertisement Advertisement Flexible but very hopefulthats what it is to plan travel right now. Let me tell you, doing so feels good: As I finished this piece, I got a good deal on a round-trip ticket to Denver. There are scenarios where the trip happens but is still a socially distanced endeavor. Im texting with a friend about spending that weekend camping. But its better to book now than when everyones scrambling. The thing that Im really worried about and I know the airlines are going to do itguaranteedis that demand is going to surge, and airlines are going to jack prices through the roof, said Johnson. Folks are going to get left out I think. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. 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The letter anticipated that the womans death meant there would be no criminal charges, but said that leaving it there meant considerable damage to community perceptions of justice ... failing to take parliamentary action [though an inquiry] because the NSW Police cannot take criminal action would seem like wilful blindness. Barrister Fiona McLeod. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen How would such an inquiry work? It is not entirely clear. Prominent barrister Fiona McLeod, SC, said inquiries were often set up by business, sport and other professional bodies to address allegations of unprofessional conduct or misconduct that were different to criminal investigations. These civil processes are very familiar to the law, Ms McLeod said. Some lawyers say the federal government could commission an independent person with investigative experience (such as an ex-judge with no connection to either Mr Porter or the alleged victim) to advise what the parameters of the inquiry should be. Barrister Rachel Doyle, SC, says theres no off the shelf process that could be applied in such a case there is no precedent for an inquiry such as this. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Its not for me to say whether an inquiry should or shouldnt happen but one reason why people might think it would be desirable to happen is because the allegations are serious and because the person theyre levelled against is the Attorney-General, Ms Doyle said, noting that the allegations had been denied by Mr Porter. Australian Women Lawyers president Leah Marrone said an investigator could determine if Mr Porter was a fit and proper person to hold the office of attorney-general, rather than focus on a criminal matter. Loading Would an inquiry be confidential? Ms McLeod says there is a need to balance the reputation of the person under investigation with the public interest in the process. In inquiries carried out by ICAC or IBAC the corruption watchdogs in NSW and Victoria the inquiry satisfies itself that there is a need to proceed beyond the first review of the allegations. At that point, says Ms McLeod, a hearing of evidence would then be held in public if appropriate. Ms Doyle says workplace inquiries are usually conducted behind closed doors to enable people to speak freely and privately. This was the case with the High Court inquiry into Mr Heydon. What standard of proof would be required? In a criminal court, prosecutors have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a crime occurred, but in a civil case the standard of proof required is on the balance of probabilities. Its a lesser standard than in a criminal case and the Briginshaw principle would also apply, a lawyers term that means satisfaction to the highest degree within the civil rubric, Ms Doyle says. Mr Porter said in his press conference that if he were subject to an independent inquiry, he would be put on trial in circumstances where he would, in effect, be required to disprove the allegation. But Ms Doyle said it would be up to the investigator to satisfy themselves at a standard higher than the balance of probabilities whether or not the alleged events occurred. Would it be similar to the Dyson Heydon inquiry? The reason why the High Courts inquiry keeps being referred to is because it is seen as a successful mechanism to investigate the claims against the former judge, to listen to the women who the inquiry found were sexually harassed, and at the same time, balance Mr Heydons rights. Former High Court judge Dyson Heydon was investigated for sexual harassment. Credit:Andrew Meares In the case of Mr Heydon, the High Court commissioned a former inspector-general of intelligence and security, Dr Vivienne Thom, to run the investigation, which involved interviews with a dozen witnesses. Mr Heydon denied the claims when the inquirys findings were made public, and he criticised the process as non-judicial. He did not participate in the inquiry. Both the inquiry itself and its report were confidential, however, once it was finished, High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel released a statement that said the inquiry had found Mr Heydon harassed six former staff members. The key difference was that the Heydon inquiry was a workplace investigation and the complainants were alive, so Dr Thom had the opportunity to speak with the women who accused the former judge of sexually harassing them in the workplace. In the Porter case, the allegations do not relate to the workplace but allegedly happened in 1988 when the now Attorney-General was 17, legally a minor. Christian Porter during Wednesdays press conference. Credit:Trevor Collens Would Mr Porter be forced to co-operate? That would depend on the type of inquiry it was and whether it were afforded the powers to force witnesses to give evidence and documents to be handed over. Ms McLeod says each inquiry or commission is granted a terms of reference and various powers to investigate and report. Ms Doyle says in workplace inquiries such as Mr Heydons no one can be compelled to participate because an investigator has no statutory powers. Any inquiry into the Attorney-General would have no powers to compel participation, unless it was established under legislation. Scott Morrison talking to media on Thursday. Credit:Kate Geraghty Whos for it and whos not? Prime Minister Scott Morrison is not. He told reporters on Thursday he didnt agree with the calls to launch an inquiry because that would say that our rule of law and our police are not competent to deal with these issues. Mr Porter also rejected the suggestion of an inquiry in his press conference on Wednesday. As well as the alleged victims friends, the lawyer who helped her make a report to police Michael Bradley, supports an inquiry. The Greens and Independents Jacqui Lambie and Zali Steggall back an inquiry. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has not specifically supported one, but said on Thursday that Mr Porters denial cannot be the end of the matter. Is it likely to happen? Without the Prime Ministers support, an inquiry is unlikely. For help in a crisis call 000. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. Press Release March 4, 2021 Gatchalian on long-term education recovery: close the nationwide digital divide Though the Philippines jumped from number 111 to the 86th spot in Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized the need for sustained efforts to bridge the nationwide digital divide to cover all barangays and reach every learner. Since most barangays have a public school, Gatchalian has been proposing the construction of cell sites in these schools to ensure nationwide internet coverage. In a Senate panel hearing last November, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported that out of the 22 million public school learners, only 3.6 million learners have access to the internet and only 1.9 million have their own laptops. Project BASS-Bandwidth and Signal Statistics co-founder Wilson Chua, on the other hand, shared in the Medium Post that there are 36,607 out of 42,055 barangays or 87 percent that don't have cell sites. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture reiterated that the country has an opportunity to bridge the digital divide, citing the the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Republic Act 11494) or Bayanihan 2's three-year suspension of certain requirements for cell tower construction, except for the building permit. Gatchalian is also mulling a bill that would provide a free laptop and internet allowance to every learner in the country. According to the Center for Educational Measurement, around 60 percent of learners who participated in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) did not have access to computers and the internet. The group added that among the proportion of learners without computers and internet connection at home is much higher in lower proficiency groups. "Access to the internet and laptops now is as basic as having access to water or electricity. In the same way as no household can survive without electricity or water, no learner can survive now without access to the internet and gadgets," said Gatchalian. "The bill we are formulating is embracing the principle of shared responsibility. All of us will have to put in a share to bring the internet to the home of every learner. While this will be costly, the future returns will also be big because if our learners improve their outcomes, the whole country will benefit from it," he concluded. # # # Internet sa bawat barangay, paaralan isinusulong ni Gatchalian Bagama't umakyat ang ranggo ng Pilipinas mula 111 patungong 86 sa Speedtest Global Index ng Ookla, binigyang-diin ni Senador Win Gatchalian na dapat maabot ng internet ang bawat barangay at mag-aaral upang mawakasan ang "digital divide" sa bansa. Dahil karamihan ng mga barangay ay may pampublikong paaralan, iminumungkahi ni Gatchalian ang pagpapatayo ng cell site sa mga paaralang ito upang matiyak na konektado sa internet ang bawat barangay. Sa isang pandinig sa Senado noong Nobyembre, iniulat ng Department of Education (DepEd) na sa mahigit dalawampu't dalawang (22) milyong mag-aaral sa mga pampublikong paaralan, halos apat (3.6) na milyon lamang ang konektado sa internet at halos dalawang (1.9) milyon ang may sarili nilang laptop. Ayon naman kay Project BASS-Bandwidth and Signal Statistics co-founder Wilson Chua, walumpu't pitong (87) porsyento o mahigit tatlumpung anim na libo (36,607) sa mahigit apatnapung libong (42,055) barangay ang walang sariling cell sites. Pahayag ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, may oportunidad ang bansa na mabigyan ng internet ang bawat Pilipino. Ito ay dahil sa ilalim ng Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Republic Act 11494) o Bayanihan 2, suspendido sa loob ng tatlong taon ang ilang mga requirements sa pagpapatayo ng cell towers, maliban sa building permit. Balak ding maghain ni Gatchalian ng panukalang batas upang bigyan ng internet allowance at libreng laptop ang bawat mag-aaral. Ayon sa Center for Educational Measurement, halos animnapung (60) porsyento ng mga mag-aaral na lumahok sa 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) ang walang access sa mga computer at internet. Dagdag ng grupo, mas mataas na porsyento ng mga mag-aaral na nakakuha ng mababang marka sa PISA ang walang computer o internet sa kanilang mga tahanan. "Ang pagkakaroon ng internet at laptops sa mga panahong ito ay maitutulad na natin sa pagkakaroon ng sapat na tubig at kuryente. Kung kinakailangan ng bawat tahanan ang tubig at kuryente, kailangan na ring ng bawat mag-aaral ang internet at mga gadgets," ani Gatchalian. "Sa ihahain naming panukalang batas, isinusulong natin ang konsepto ng shared responsibility. Lahat tayo ay magkakaroon ng ambag upang maipaabot natin ang internet sa tahanan ng bawat mag-aaral. Malaking halaga ang kailangan natin para rito, ngunit malaki rin ang magiging benepisyo nito dahil kung mai-angat natin ang husay ng ating mga mag-aaral, buong bansa ang makikinabang rito," pahayag ng senador. # # # Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Exit and entry will be allowed for citizens with a pass issued by the "DPR's internal agencies." The Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) has said the occupation authorities of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") terrorist organization will soon enact own "rules" for citizens crossing the contact line. "Law" with "rules" to be enacted The exit and entry of citizens will be allowed if they have a pass issued by the "DPR's internal agencies" for six months to all citizens aged 18 and older. Scanning fingerprints, taking photographs, and checking applicants' communication means are the mandatory conditions for obtaining the "pass." Read alsoKravchuk warns of retaliation in case of ceasefire violations by Russian proxiesPasses will also be issued for vehicles. Applications for passes will be considered within 15 days from the date of filing the documents (within 24 hours in urgent cases). Those citizens who do not have passes or the "document" has expired will undergo a check while crossing the contact line, namely scanning fingerprints and photographing, as well as their mobile phones will be checked. Threat "It is not ruled out that a similar 'act' is being developed by the occupation administration in Luhansk region. This will lead to further isolation of residents of the temporarily occupied territories from the government-controlled territory of Ukraine and is now being implemented under the guise of countering the spread of the coronavirus," the diplomats said. More news reports Reporting by UNIAN Dozens of ethnic Baluch rights activists have staged a protest in Pakistan's port city of Karachi to condemn the killing of their ethnic brethren by Iranian border guards last month. The protest comes amid reports of violent unrest and Internet blackouts in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan Province triggered after security forces killed cross-border fuel smugglers. Human Rights Watch last month said at least 10 people were killed at the Saravan border area near Pakistan on February 22, although the number of dead may be higher. In the wake of the killings, there have been reports of armed men attacking Iranian government buildings and security forces near the border, prompting a harsh crackdown. In Karachi, the protesters demanded of the Iranian government stop using violence against smugglers and protesters who have few other means of earning a living in the poverty-stricken region. They also demanded compensation for those who have been killed and injured. Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Irans poorest provinces, is a volatile area where drug smugglers and militant groups operate along a porous border with Pakistan, which also faces an ethnic Baluch separatist insurgency and a brutal state crackdown that has killed thousands of people since 2004. Harrisburg City Council President Wanda Williams became the sixth candidate in a crowded Harrisburg mayors race Thursday afternoon. Williams, who at times in the past year had suggested that she might be ready to wrap up a 20-year career in local politics, instead made clear shes looking for a career capstone instead, and has decided to take her accumulated experience and use it for a bid to become the citys next CEO. Williams, a 67-year-old retired state employee, said her mayoral bid grew out of recent discussions with friends who all felt that - despite the growing list of candidates - the field was still lacking the right person. Many of those friends - including her husband, Jerome; former council colleague Gloria Martin-Roberts; the Rev. A.J. Briley and longtime Harrisburg Democratic committeewoman Peggy Grove - turned out for Williams announcement Thursday, which came at the site of the recently-installed monument to Harrisburgs Old 8th Ward, once a thriving community for African-Americans and other immigrants that was moved aside for the expansion of the state Capitol Complex. Williams is likely the last candidate to jump into the Democratic race, which also includes the two-term incumbent, Eric Papenfuse and four other challengers: former councilman Otto Banks; community activist Lewis Butts; Midtown resident Kevyn Knox and businessman Dave Schankweiler. (Papenfuse, who is seeking a third term, hasnt made a formal campaign announcement, but county records show that he has filed nomination petitions and he has begun distributing campaign literature.) For all the talents of that field, Williams can and is likely to make the argument that she is the only candidate who has been a lifelong Democrat, a lifelong Harrisburger and has worked directly in city government for the last 16 years. My run for mayor is based on a commitment to see our city through these difficult times, Williams said during a brisk announcement speech. Ive been in the trenches with you, and Ill stay here until we change the negative landscape of our city... I am ready. I am prepared. And I am able. Williams has served on the council continuously since 2005, and before that she served one term on the Harrisburg school board. Harrisburg City Council President Wanda R.D. Williams has joined the race for mayor of Harrisburg. Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive After the citys fiscal collapse under the weight of former Mayor Stephen R. Reeds bad bet on Harrisburg incinerator upgrades, Williams emerged as one of the early resistors to a state-led fix that involved selling off the citys parking facilities and raising taxes on residents and commuters to bring new stability. She was part of a so-called Gang of Four that supported taking the city into bankruptcy. Their petition to do that was ultimately rejected by federal courts and the state plan became the template for recovery as the city went into a court-supervised receivership. In more recent times, Williams has served as president of the City Council, a role in which, at times, she has clashed with Papenfuse. She has also added her voice to calls for more inclusive economic development policies that benefit Harrisburgs majority Black population as much as out-of-town developers, through jobs, economic opportunity and affordable housing for Harrisburgs majority Black community. Hitting that theme Thursday, Williams promised a commitment to inclusion so that all of Harrisburg City is proven valuable. Williams, who suffered through the loss of a granddaughter as a bystander to an open-air shooting in 2013, has also been a resolute backer of efforts to end gun violence in the city. Williams refrained from direct criticisms of Papenfuse after Mondays announcement, but said she will spend more time drawing a contrast between her vision for the city and Papenfuses in the weeks to come. As for the rest of the field, she noted Monday that one of the things that is missing is a womans voice. Not anymore. The mayoral primary is scheduled for May 18. In recent years, the Democratic primary has tended to be decisive in the city. Through Wednesday, no Republican candidates have filed for the primary ballot. Mumbai, March 4 : The Shiv Sena has decided to opt out of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, but the party has decided to 'wholeheartedly' support All India Trinamool Congress leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a top official said here on Thursday. Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that since the West Bengal polls are turning out to be "Didi vs All", the Shiv Sena has decided not to contest the elections, but will stand in solidarity with her. "Looking at the present scenario, it appears like a 'Didi vs All' fight. All M's - Money, Muscle and Media - are being used against Mamata Didi. We wish her a 'roaring success', because we believe she is the real 'Bengal Tigress'!" said Raut. He said that the decision was taken after discussions with Shiv Sena President and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. However, MVA sources said the move could have been prompted to ensure that there is no division of votes in the West Bengal polls that could damage Trinamool's prospects vis-a-vis the BJP as the Sena was tentatively planning to contest around 60 seats. As part of its strategy to acquire an all-India presence, in January, the Sena had announced plans to sound the poll bugle in West Bengal where it had contested the 2016 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but notched nil in terms of seats. Earlier, the Sena -- ruling Maharashtra in alliance with Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress -- has contested various elections in different states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir and Goa besides West Bengal. The saffron party has justified its ventures in other states on grounds that the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre has been attempting to destabilize or dethrone Constitutionally-elected governments in all Opposition-ruled states, including Maharashtra and West Bengal. Incidentally, ruling ally NCP President Sharad Pawar has already said he would visit Kolkata to extend support to Mamata Banerjee -- as part of plans to build up a 'grand alliance' of national and state opposition parties -- before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, political sources also do not rule out the possibility of a repeat of Maharashtra's MVA experiment -- Sena-NCP-Congress with differing ideologies joining hands -- in West Bengal if the eastern state brews up a fractured mandate in the elections, the results of which are expected in early-May. "The unthinkable happened in Maharashtra and it is working smoothly. Anything is possible... even in WB... The MVA is cited as a national example to make states strong," a senior state leader said guardedly, on the odds with three arch-rivals in West Bengal -- Congress, Left Front and Trinamool Congress -- hugging each other post-polls to keep the BJP at bay. On its part, the BJP is in a hyper-aggressive mood to capture West Bengal and is leaving no stone unturned to conquer what was a Communist fortress for nearly three decades before Mamata planted the Trinamool flag there 10 years ago. The relations between the Thackeray family and Mamata Banerjee, a former Union Minister, go back several decades. In 2017, Uddhav, 60 and Mamata, 66, had a cordial meeting in Mumbai when the latter had come to invite Indian corporate honchos for the West Bengal Global Investment Summit-2018 held in Kolkata. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The new technology could help to protect emergency services and first responders from chemical hazards. Credit: Shutterstock In a colorful solution to a dangerous problem, Australian scientists are adapting a component from cutting-edge solar cells to design a rapid, light-based detection system for deadly toxins. While use of chemical warfare agents like sulfur mustardbetter known as mustard gasis banned internationally, we do rely on other strictly-controlled chemicals for agriculture, industry and throughout our daily lives, including fumigants like methyl iodide, which is used to control insects and fungi. The wrong amounts or incorrect use of these fumigants can be harmful to people and degrade the ozone layer. Because it's invisible and doesn't smell, it's hard to tell whether there are dangerous amounts of methyl iodide present, and until now the best way to test for it was in a laboratory using expensive, complicated equipment, which isn't practical in many real-world settings. Some cheaper, lightweight detection methods have been tried, but they didn't have enough sensitivity and took too long to deliver results. Now, research led by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science has found a way to detect methyl iodide through changes in color, withfor the first timethe accuracy, flexibility and speed necessary for practical use. Importantly, this new sensing mechanism is versatile enough for use in detecting a wide range of fumigants and chemical warfare agents. Working with Australia's national science agency CSIRO and the Department of Defense, the researchers borrowed some new technology that's being used to improve solar powersynthetic nanocrystals based on a perovskite structureand turned it into a detection method. Their approach relies on the fact that these highly fluorescent nanocrystals react with the fumigant causing a change in the color of the light they emit. The presence of methyl iodide causes the nanocrystal emission to shift from green to yellow, and then on to orange, red, and finally deep red, depending on the amount of fumigant present. "Perovskite nanocrystals have proved to be a very efficient light emitter," lead author Dr. Wenping Yin of Monash University said. "Here we showed that methyl iodide can react with such perovskites, and do so very quickly following a simple chemical activation step. Critically, this activation step cuts the response time of the sensor from a few hours to just a few seconds." In this process, the ions forming the nanocrystals change quickly when they are exposed to the methyl iodide triggered by a chemical reaction. The reaction involves exchanging bromide with iodide within the nanocrystal itself, which results in the color change. Ultimately, the researchers have been able to demonstrate that the change in color is dependent on the perovskite nanocrystal and methyl iodide concentrations. "Although the chemical mechanism is very complicated, the outcome is just a color change of the light produced by the nanocrystals, which is very easy to detect," Wenping said. The new mechanism has the widest range, highest sensitivity and quickest response ever achieved for a technique that doesn't rely on expensive laboratory instrumentation, producing its results in around five seconds at room temperature. The researchers now hope their findings will provide a platform for building a test device that can be used in real-world applications. Senior author Professor Jacek Jasieniak said: "We've understood the foundational mechanism for what's needed to undergo this colourimetric sensing. Now it's about building a prototype sensing device. "It needs further development to realize its true potential for broader detection of different types of methyl halide species, as well as pesticides and chemical warfare agents, like teargas, and mustard gas, but the stage is set." Defense scientist and Industry Partner Investigator, Dr. Genevieve Dennison said: "We are very excited about the potential demonstrated by this work and are looking forward to applying the technology to protect our military and first responders." More information: Wenping Yin et al. Detection of Halomethanes Using Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals, ACS Nano (2021). Journal information: ACS Nano Wenping Yin et al. Detection of Halomethanes Using Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c08794 Provided by ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky should immediately return state guards to former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Vasyl Burba, who testified about the failure of the operation to capture Russian terrorists by Wagner PMC (private military company), the fifth president, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko said. "Recently, as the media said, former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Vasyl Burba was deprived of his security. Maybe the participants in the crime dream that someone would destroy the main witness of high treason with them? I know well the track record of this officer, I know very well what he did for Ukraine and how he did harm to its enemies. I demand that Zelensky return the security to Burba as on behalf of the person most interested in the security of this intelligence officer," Poroshenko said in a video statement. Poroshenko also said that European Solidarity requires the creation of a parliamentary temporary commission of inquiry to investigate the disruption of the special operation to detain "Wagner members." "The president must instruct Servant of the People to immediately submit candidates to this commission, so that there is no suspicion that he is covering up someone from his inner circle, or, do not even think, himself," Poroshenko said. "I am ready to testify to this commission. The truth is that in 2018 I gave authorization to prepare this operation, which is difficult in the history of the Ukrainian special services. The truth is that intelligence, in cooperation with Western partners, prepared it brilliantly, down to the smallest detail. And the bitter truth is that in the last hours before the arrest of the criminals, information about this fled to the Russian Federation from the Office of the Ukrainian President. In the summer of 2020, when I had not been there for over a year, it happened. And this is the direct responsibility of Volodymyr Zelensky," Poroshenko said. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Chelonoidis chatamensis, or San Cristobal Giant Tortoise, as endangered, though their numbers are on the rise Three dozen endangered giant tortoises, born and raised in captivity, have been released into the wild on one of the Galapagos islands, where their kind is from. The Galapagos National Park said the 36 creatures were freed on the northeastern part of San Cristobal island, where an estimated 6,700 giant tortoises roam free. The latest additions belong to the Chelonoidis chathamensis subspeciesone of 15 endemic to the Galapagos, where Charles Darwin's observation of birds and tortoises on different islands led to his theory of natural selection. The youngsters are between six and eight years old, and weigh between three and five kilograms (6.6-11 pounds) each. The animals spent time in quarantine and were tested for disease and parasites before their release so as not to endanger the rest of the natives, the park said. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Chelonoidis chathamensis, or San Cristobal Giant Tortoise, as endangered, though their numbers are on the rise. The slow-breeding creatures can live to the age of about 100 or 150 and are endemic to the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean off Ecuador's coast. According to the IUCN, the San Cristobal Giant Tortoise population experienced "catastrophic decline" due to the introduction of predators, competitors and vegetation changefrom about 24,000 animals historically to about 500-700 in the early 1970s. By 2016, the numbers had recovered somewhat to about 6,700. In the last eight years, 75 of the sub-species, raised in captivity, have been reintroduced to San Cristobal. Explore further Conservationists release 155 giant tortoises on Galapagos island 2021 AFP The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Deputy Communication Director of the ruling NPP, Mame Yaa Aboagye has congratulated the Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Hawa Koomson after the approval by the plenary of parliament. This follows the Parliament of Ghana's approval of the minister-nominee by 161 secret ballots in her favour (60.67 percent). Announcing the results to parliamentarians, Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament stated: In respect of Honourable Mavis Hawa Koomson, the same number of qualified voters, the Ayes, 161, the [Nays], 104; the percentage of votes obtained [60.75]. In the circumstances, Honourable Mavis Hawa Koomson is accordingly approved. Mame Yaa taking to social media congratulates her saying; "Congratulations Hon. Hawa Koomson. I am overly confident that you will deliver on your mandate with excellence that comes with the usual admiration of all Ghanaians. You've proven yourself as one of the hardworking Ministers of President Akufo-Addo's administration and we say Ayekooo." 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 US President Joe Biden held his first bilateral head-of-government meeting as president with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau via video conference last week. The Feb. 23 meeting adopted a comprehensive plan to expand and strengthen the US-Canada economic and military-strategic partnership to pursue trade war against their common great-power rivals and modernize military infrastructure in preparation for war. President Joe Biden speaks after holding a virtual meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Underscoring that the Canada-US alliance is a key element in advancing both imperialist powers predatory global ambitions, the Trudeau-Biden summit was given the character of a joint cabinet meeting. It was attended by leading personnel from both governments, including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, their Canadian counterparts, respectively, Mark Garneau, Harjit Sajjan and Chrystia Freeland, and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Trudeaus chief of staff, Katie Telford. The Roadmap for a Renewed US-Canada Partnership, issued by Biden and Trudeau at the summits conclusion, outlines plans to expand cooperation across the board with the aim of reasserting North American imperialist world dominance. The blueprint for a whole-of-government partnership includes plans to modernize NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command), secure strategic production chains and minerals critical for military and high-tech industries, and make North America the world leader in clean energy industries. The mainstream media largely treated the meeting as a pro forma event, which recycled traditional boilerplate rhetoric about the strength of Canadian-American friendship and was held to demonstrate the return to bilateral normalcy. To be sure, Biden did want to draw a sharp contrast with Trump, who repeatedly roiled Canada-US relations, including by threatening to scrap NAFTA. But the Roadmap does not represent a return to business as usual in US foreign policy, which, as a preliminary matter, would be bad enough, as millions of people in the war-torn countries of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya can attest. Rather, it represents an intensification and revamping of the eight-decade-old military-strategic partnership between Washington and Ottawa under conditions of unprecedented global capitalist crisis. The coronavirus pandemic, acting as a trigger event, has exacerbated the rivalries between the major powers, increased social inequality, and led to a radicalization of the working class that places mass class battles on the order of the day. To defend the wealth and advance the global interests of the capitalist oligarchies that rule the US and Canada, Ottawa and Washington are forging a renewed partnership to enhance North American competitiveness, i.e., mount savage attacks on the working class at home, and pursue strategic competition against their common great-power rivals. Preparations for great power conflict The two leaders agreed to modernize the North American Aerospace Defence Command to strengthen continental defence capabilities. This initiative, the Wall Street Journal estimates, will cost US $40 billion. Canadas proposed portion of this massive sum, $6 billion, is equivalent to a third of Ottawas $19 billion (CAN $23.4 billion) annual defence budget. As part of the Roadmap, Trudeau and his Liberal government also reaffirmed their pledge to rapidly increase annual defence spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product, an increase of more than one third from its current level. This was coupled with a bilateral commitment to strengthen NATO, which for more than seven decades has been pivotal to projecting US imperialist power in Europe and the Middle East. Established during the Cold War, NORAD is seen by military planners in Washington and Ottawa as critical to the great-power confrontations of the future, especially with Russia and China. Its purpose is discussed in ever more openly aggressive and provocative terms. Whereas in the past its existence was justified with claims about the need to stop incoming missiles from the Soviet Union or Russia, it is now bluntly stated that instead of taking out the arrows, Canada and the US must strike the archer, i.e., carry out first-strike attacks on launch sites in Russia and China. The mad plan to modernize NORAD for potential war with nuclear-armed Russia and China will invariably involve renewed pressure for Canada to join the US ballistic missile defence shield. Canadas military establishment has long favored Canada joining the missile shield, but governments have dared not proceed because of widespread public opposition to participating in a program which, its name notwithstanding, is aimed at making a catastrophic nuclear war winnable. As part of their Roadmap, Washington and Ottawa also agreed to establish an expanded Canada-US Arctic dialogue to discuss continental security, economic and social development, and Arctic governance. The Arctic is becoming a major arena for geopolitical confrontation due to climate change, which is opening up the regions shipping lanes to great power rivalries and inciting a race to control its increasingly accessible energy and mineral resources. In a similar vein, the Roadmap pledged to increase cooperation to strengthen cybersecurity, and to confront foreign interference and disinformation. As part of their efforts to protect critical infrastructure in North America, the two countries will implement a Framework for Collaboration on cybersecurity in the energy sector. The Canadian and US ruling elites intend to underpin these plans for war with closer economic cooperation, including by further developing the ever more explicit protectionist trade bloc consolidated under the Trump administration. The Roadmap heaps praise on the protectionist US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the replacement to NAFTA negotiated by Trump and Trudeau with the support of the trade unions. The Roadmap takes explicit aim at China. It calls on both countries to more closely align our approaches to China, including to address the challenges it presents to our collective interest and to the international rules-based order, i.e., US global dominance. The document denounces the Stalinist regime in Beijing, which defends the interests of Chinas capitalist oligarchy, for its coercive and unfair economic practices, national security challenges, and human rights abuses. This language is all but identical to the lurid denunciations of China made by the NDP and Canadas other establishment left parties in recent months, including the unfounded allegation that Beijing is guilty of genocide against the Uyghur Muslim minority. The document is no less strident in assailing Russia. It condemns Moscows egregious mistreatment of Aleksey Navalny, a far-right pro-imperialist stooge. It also denounces Russias gross violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, a reference to the Kremlins response to the 2014 fascist-spearheaded coup in Kiev, which the US and Canada helped orchestrate. The Roadmap also notes that Biden and Trudeau discussed the situation in the Middle East and Venezuela, two areas where Canadian imperialism has supported its US ally in mounting regime-change operations. Dominating the economy of the future Despite Bidens difference in style from Trump, he is pursuing a like protectionist economic agenda and with the same aim: to retain American global economic and geostrategic primacy against its rivals through trade war, diplomatic intrigue, and military conflict. While Trump framed this policy with far-right America First rhetoric and celebrated unilateral US action, Biden has emphasized his support for multilateral institutions and US-led multilateral initiatives against China and Russia. This aggressive agenda is masked with phony blather about democracy, human rights, and inclusiveness. As part of the Roadmap, Canada announced its support for Bidens convening of a Summit for Democracya cynically-titled initiative that will serve as a thinly-veiled cover for provocations and threats against China and Russia. With a view to confronting Russia and China, but also their ostensible European and Japanese imperialist allies, the Roadmap calls for increased Canada-US collaboration to ensure North American dominance in key emerging technologies, including those essential for transitioning to non-carbon-based energy. It announces that Canada and the US will launch a strategy to strengthen Canada-US supply chain security. This will include building the necessary supply chains to make Canada and the United States global leaders in all aspects of battery development and production. The document continues, To that end, the leaders agreed to strengthen the Canada-U.S. Critical Minerals Action Plan to target a net-zero industrial transformation, batteries for zero-emissions vehicles, and renewable energy storage. The Critical Minerals Action Plan was developed in 2019 by the Trump administration and Trudeau government, with the aims of reducing the dependence of North Americas twin imperialist powers on China for 17 rare earths and minerals. These materials are crucial to the manufacture of missile systems, computer screens, electric vehicles, lasers, and other hi-tech devices, i.e., the key elements of the equipment required to wage military conflict and dominate the world economy in the decades to come. These bilateral initiatives take place in parallel with Bidens readying of an executive order to strengthen US supply chains. He is expected to order 100-day reviews of four strategically important economic areas: computer chips, high-capacity batteries, pharmaceuticals and their active ingredients, and critical minerals and strategic materials, like rare earths. Biden and Trudeau also committed to initiating a joint ministerial dialogue on climate change with the aim of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. A major goal of this dialogue will be to press other democratic countries, under the guise of bogus pledges to fight climate change, to line up against China and Russia, which have poor emissions records, and accept Washingtons hegemony in emerging technologies and energy markets. The climate change initiative will hold polluters accountable, the Roadmap asserts, including by working to prevent unfair trade by countries failing to take strong climate action. That is, it will impose tariffs and other penalties on Russia and China, and attempt, as the Trump administration did, to banish Huawei and other leading Chinse-based tech firms from strategically significant markets. The hollow references to unfair trade, coming from a country whose violation of international law is second to none, could just as easily be turned against erstwhile allies to enforce US imperialist demands. It is worth noting in this regard the bipartisan US opposition to the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Democrats and Republicans alike have denounced, including for its environmental risks. In the run-up to the Trudeau-Biden summit, there was much media discussion about Canada pressing for an exemption from the Buy America provisions of Bidens economic-stimulus infrastructure-building program. However, the White House would only promise at this point to take Ottawas concerns into account. The refrain from Canadas corporate and political elite, including the trade union bureaucracy, is that Ottawa must press for Washington to eschew America First protectionism in favour of a North America First agenda. They view expanding the Canada-US military-security alliance and new or enhanced partnerships on energy, strategic supply-chains and mineral security as vital. Vital to ensuring privileged access for corporate Canada to the US market and to upholding American capitalist hegemony, which is critical to the assertion of Canadian imperialisms own predatory global interests. The total material damage Armenia inflicted on Azerbaijan amounts to more than $50 billion, Azerbaijan's ambassador to Turkey told Anadolu Agency in an interview. "Apart from the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, and war crimes committed during the wars, Armenia violated the international law among others through the efforts of the destruction of cultural heritage, ecocides, and theft of our natural wealth," Khazar Ibrahim said, Anadolu Agency reports. The two former Soviet republics experienced tense relations for three decades after the Armenian military started occupying Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions in 1991. When new clashes erupted last September, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements. During the six weeks of conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from occupation after almost 30 years. "After the liberation, the sceneries in our historical lands seemed devastated," Ibrahim said. Before the recent conflict, about 20% of Azerbaijan's territory had been under illegal Armenian occupation for nearly 30 years. According to estimates, besides Azerbaijan's residential and administrative buildings, 700 historic and cultural monuments, 927 libraries, 808 cultural centers, 85 music and art schools, 22 museums with over 100,000 artefacts, four art galleries, four theatres, and two concert halls were damaged or destroyed by Armenian forces over the last three decades, the envoy said. He mentioned that Azerbaijan has "large-scale post-war reconstruction plans" for restoring the liberated territories, adding that demining processes have been launched to realize these plans safely. He stated that the transportation and infrastructure projects play a "crucial role" in the area, noting that in this context, right after the liberation of the city of Shusha -- Karabakh's symbolic city considered as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan -- the construction of the international airport along with a new hundred kilometers highway from Fuzuli, involving three companies from Azerbaijan and Turkey, was announced. Destruction of cultural heritage Reconstruction in the liberated territories is arranged to reflect the historical and authentic heritage of the region while embracing modern technological innovations, Ibrahim said. Modern smart cities built with cutting-edge technologies, infrastructure projects, agricultural activities, and energy supplies based on renewable resources are among the developmental goals of the region, he added. The head of the diplomatic mission highlighted that apart from Azerbaijan, the companies from Turkey, the UK, Italy, Hungary, Japan, Israel, Iran, and other states have already shown interest in contributing to the recently liberated lands. He went on to say that as a result of the tripartite agreement signed in last November, a corridor to Azerbaijan's landlocked exclave Nakhchivan through Armenia "engendered novel opportunities" for the regional cooperation. The two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement on Nov. 10 to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution. Azerbaijan plans to construct a highway and railway to Nakhchivan that will directly connect the country to "brotherly" Turkey, the envoy said. Furthermore, Ibrahim said the restoration of the cultural and religious monuments destroyed and desecrated by Armenian forces during the occupation period has a "salient place" on the reconstruction agenda. "Contrary to some popular disillusionment, Azerbaijan as a multi-confessional country will be involved in the restoration of cultural heritage belonging not only to Muslims but also Christians that have also been looted by Armenians," he said. "Indeed, there is too much work ahead in order to overcome the destructive burden of the occupation and it may require serious reconstruction efforts to make it possible for the internally displaced people to get back home. Only after the developmental plan is accomplished may the people return to their homes." International community turned blind eye to real facts Ibrahim said that as seen in previous attacks of the Armenian forces against Azerbaijani people, Armenia also continued "committing war crimes" in the recent 44-days war too. "The Armenian army, which was incapacitated by our armed forces, did not hesitate to target civilians in cities that were not in the conflict zone; as a result, 100 of our citizens were killed, 416 were injured, and serious damage to civilian infrastructure was caused," he said. He stated that the officials of the Armenian government "acknowledged their involvement" in the civilian attacks "once again," adding that it was "another turn of events" happening in front of the world with its evidence and confessions. Ibrahim said that during the second Nagorno-Karabakh war, or Patriotic War, some countries, international organizations, and media outlets "turned a blind eye" to the real facts and "preferred the fabricated ones." "Certainly, infiltrating into the countries and societies where Armenian diaspora enrooted itself for decades and has omnipresence in almost all power circles is difficult yet achievable," he said. "In order to be heard, we need to perpetuate our work on reaching the world with the truth and destruct the prejudicial illusion constructed about the 'victimhood' of Armenians and 'savageness' of Turks." Quoting George Washington, Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains to bring it to light, Ibrahim said in this regard they need "nothing more than really being heard and seen," which require more efficient diaspora activities among not only the ones who like they, but also among those who "ignore and even have prejudices" to the Azerbaijani nation. Shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris cast a tie-breaking vote to kick off Senate debate on Democrats $1.9 trillion relief bill. After the clerk began to read the 628-page legislation, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made a customary request to waive the reading of the bill. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson rose to object. As I write this, the clerk is just getting started on reading aloud the table of contents of a piece of legislation. Republicans think the full recitation could chew up 10 hours. Senate clerks think they can do it in five. Advertisement The objection was the first salvo in a wave of dilatory stunts that Johnson and his Republicans have planned over the next few days as they try to do something theyve been wholly unsuccessful at so far: turning public opinion against Democrats popular legislation, which Republicans wish to frame as less a COVID relief bill than a raid on the Treasury for unrelated Democratic priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Johnson says that hes submitting the Senate clerks to this trial of vocal-cord durability not to be a jerk, but because the American people deserve to know whats in it. Its hard to think of a less effective way to inform the American people about whats in a bill than by forcing an hourslong recitation of incomprehensible legislative language on the Senate floor, but thats the message. Advertisement And when thats done, Johnson and other Republicans have more plans for dragging out the process. After the bill text has been read aloudand Middle America is out with pitchforks, infuriated by learning through C-SPAN that the legislation would strike the semicolon in subparagraph 4(b) from Section 2104 of the Semiconductor Transparency Act of 1986theres a period of up to 20 hours of debate, followed by the rapid-succession, open-amendment process known as a vote-a-rama. In a typical vote-a-rama, hundreds of amendments get submitted, but only a small portion get a vote as the physical necessity of sleeping asserts its primacy. There were 889 amendments submitted during the last all-nighter in February, for example, and the chamber only voted on around 40 of themwhich was still more than usual. Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. This time, however, Republicans are talking tough about a far more grueling process. Asked how many amendment votes hed like to see, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said, Im hoping for infinity. Indiana Sen. Mike Braun wouldnt quite go all the way to infinity, but he said there would be many more votes than there were in the warm-up session last month. The ringleader of this show is, again, Ron Johnson. Johnson is trying to set up a process, as he told reporters Thursday, to make sure that all the amendments that are offered are actually voted on. This would involve Republican senators working in shifts on the floor to ensure that the body doesnt tire out. I was in a business that had continuing shift operations in manufacturing, he told reporters, so this is, this is just what we did. (Gumming up the machines to delay outputits Manufacturing 101.) Johnson and his gang could also try to force the reading of each amendment, if they wanted to. The Senate, and its accumulated detritus of forgotten 18th-century procedure, is theirs to do with it what they wish. Advertisement Theres a perverse logic to the otherwise pointless behavior. When the minority cant change the outcome, all they can do is throw up arbitrary delays, in the hope it arouses controversial atmospherics. Since the relief bill is unusually popular, with Republican base energy far more devoted to the gender politics of Mr. Potato Head, theyll feel pressured to elevate their endgame to a new level of performed horror. Advertisement Democrats dont really care about all of these delays, though theyd prefer not to work on the weekend. And theyre pleased that the face of the charge is Johnson, whos built a name for himself of late spreading conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Advertisement Yesterday, the Republican senator from Wisconsin, the same senator wholast summerproudly declared that he would oppose even a dime more in COVID relief, the same senator who spent a Senate hearing on Capitol security reading conspiracy theories into the record, and said that Jan. 6th wasnt an armed insurrectiondecided to make himself the face of Republican opposition, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in his floor remarks Tuesday. Still, we are delighted that the senator from Wisconsin wants to give the American people another opportunity to hear whats in the American Rescue Plan, he continued. We Democrats want America to hear whats in the plan. And if the senator from Wisconsin wants to read it, let everybody listen because it has overwhelming support. Advertisement There are real dangers for Democrats during the open amendment process that have nothing to do with Johnsons assortment of gags. Republican senators will try to find weak points in Democrats unity and offer amendments that could tempt a Democrat or two to stray from the herd. Theres been bipartisan concern that the fund for state, local, and tribal governments is too bloated, given that a lot of states arent in as dire a fiscal situation as once predicted. So Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, for example, is going to offer an amendment that bars states that didnt see a reduction in revenueswhich includes California, for examplefrom receiving any funds. Advertisement Amendments like these are why Democrats worked so hard these past few days to reach an agreement among themselves before the bill was introduced. Some last-minute changes were made, for example, to the formula on state, local, and tribal aid that will help smaller population states and boosts the minimum they will receive, as CNN reported. In other words, they accommodated potential dissent, making it much easier for Democrats to be united in rejecting Republican amendments. Ron Johnson can do whatever he wantsforce readings of amendments, manage his fellow senators like factory workers to keep action from stalling on the floor, wave his pants in the air to distract the clerk from reading at too fast a clip. But as long as Democrats are committed to the compromise theyve worked out, the end result is just that the inevitable is pushed back a day. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do A severe storm has ripped through surban homes after Cyclone Niran was upgraded to a category three system off Queensland's east coast. The storm battered homes with heavy rainfall and strong winds in Springfields Lakes near Ipswich, Queensland on Tuesday. With winds reaching up to 130km/h, tarpaulins were ripped off from constructions sites. A severe storm ripped through Springfields Lakes near Ipswich, Queensland on Tuesday (pictured) Ergon Energy has restored power to 35,000 homes since Monday after winds reached up to 185km/h. The Bureau of Meterology said Cyclon Niran has now moved away from the Queensland coast, but is expected to rapidly intensify. 'Niran is forecast to adopt an east-southeast track away from the Queensland coast during today,' a Bureau spokesperson said. 'The system is expected to continue moving away from the Queensland coast over the next few days before approaching New Caledonia over the weekend.' The Bureau of Meterology predicts the cyclone will upgrade to a category four system by Thursday. There are no direct hazards expected near the Queensland coastal or island communities. The severe thunderstorms come after Queensland locals called the Bureau of Meteorlogy a 'bloody disagrace' for leaving them in the dark about the cyclone. Locals said the bureau 'failed us terribly', by allegedly providing inaccurate weather warnings. 'There were gusts in excess of 90km/h and when you look at what happened, it is very different to what BOM was saying. I don't understand how they could get it so wrong,' Diane Sciacca of Pacific Coast Eco Banana told the Cairns Post. The Bureau of Meterology said Cyclon Niran has now moved away from the Queensland coast, but is expected to rapidly intensify (pictured) Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the Bureau of Meterology can 'do alot better' following their 'appalling' forecasts. 'All the assurances I was given by the BOM that moving local guys out of the area would have no impact has proven to be wrong.' A BoM spokesman defended their warnings and said information about gales was shared via multiple platforms since Friday. 'As early as Sunday a Tropical Cyclone Watch for Cape Flattery to Lucinda, stating that gales with gusts to 100km/h may develop'. 'From the morning of Monday the bureau provided updated warnings every three hours, again providing information that gales with gusts to 100km/h were likely about the exposed coastal fringes.' An alleged killer accused of stabbing a drill rapper to death told a court the musician had shown him a Samurai sword and boasted about being 'never unarmed'. Crosslon Davis, 20, a 'highly regarded' member of the Harlem Spartans music collective known as Bis, was knifed nine times in a 'savage and merciless' attack, the Old Bailey has heard. Mr Davis, known as Bis, was set upon by four armed youths in a passageway in Creekside, Deptford, southeast London, shortly before 3am on December 6, 2019, it is said. Crosslon Davis, 20, a 'highly regarded' member of the Harlem Spartans music collective known as Bis, was knifed nine times in a 'savage and merciless' attack, the Old Bailey has heard Jurors heard he became upset about perceived 'disrespect' towards a dead friend while on the phone to someone, and the pair arranged to meet up and sort it out. Elijah Morgan, 20, and Jedaiah Param, 21, are accused of murdering him after jumping out of a cab at the scene. Jurors have been told two males also involved in the attack have not yet been 'satisfactorily' identified. Giving evidence Param claimed he and Morgan passed the scene in a taxi while they were 'driving round in circles' and saw a fight erupting. Mr Davis, known as Bis, was set upon by four armed youths in a passageway in Creekside, Deptford, southeast London, shortly before 3am on December 6, 2019, it is said He told jurors he only ran towards the brawl to try and 'calm things down but picked up an object from a bin on his way 'just in case'. Asked about his relationship with Mr Davis, Param said the pair had crossed paths a number of times at an abandoned flat in Catford where people often congregated. Param claimed he grew wary of Mr Davis after the rapper showed him a Samurai sword and later a gun, and described himself as 'no lacking' - a slang term meaning 'never unarmed.' 'He kind of had a way he carried himself. He was kind of intimidating. Certain things he'd done around me I wouldn't trust him as a friend but I didn't have a problem with him. On the day before he died, Mr Davis had arranged to film a music video for his latest drill track 'First time I met him [on 22 September], he had a Samurai sword and the second time, thats when I saw the firearm,' the defendant said. 'Did he say what it was for?' Robert Woodcock QC, defending, asked. 'Just general talk but not ever direct that he would do something, but there was general talk about no lacking,' came the reply. Param said he began to believe the rapper's claims were 'real' and not just a pretence to do with his drill music when Mr Davis implied his friends had shot a rival group from Lambeth. 'What did this Crosslon Davis say about the dispute?' the defence barrister said. 'He said something about a house thats been shot up in that area and then someone commented about people that were shot,' came the reply. 'By whom had these people been shot according to what you heard?' Mr Woodcock asked. Elijah Morgan, 20, and Jedaiah Param, 21, are accused of murdering him after jumping out of a cab at the scene 'He was claiming, referring, saying like ''man dem,'' his friends kind of thing,' Param claimed. 'It was more than I thought. I thought with the music he makes, you carry yourself a certain way, but after seeing him that time I was like okay, this is actually real.' After the killing, Param claimed he fled to a friend's house where he stayed the night and grew increasingly 'panicked' about what had happened. Denying that he assaulted anyone during the fatal clash, he told jurors there was a moment of calm before violence suddenly broke out. He saw Crosslon being kicked by another male known as 'OD' and tried to pull the pair apart, the court heard. When he noticed the victim was 'injured' he ran away from the scene, thinking there as 'nothing much to do' about it, he told jurors. 'I was like chill, chill, chill, leave him, leave him and [the other male] was like cool,' Param claimed. 'Crosslon was kicked could you see for yourself what condition he was in?' Mr Woodcock asked. 'He looked injured. I turned around and said leave him leave him and I turned around and ran,' came the reply. 'Why?' asked his lawyer. 'Because I noticed Crosslon was injured, OD was, I don't know... I pulled him away and there's nothing much to do at this point,' Param answered. Having reached his friend's house nearby the accused killer lay low, fearing that if he went outside he would cross paths with the same group, he said. 'If I went outside I thought they would be around again at the time. I was a bit I don't know what the word is stressed, but I was breathing heavy, I was panicking. I didn't even want to go outside. 'I was panicking because I got attacked and next thing I know I see Crosslon attacked but the second before that everyone was standing there with no problems so I was just trying to process everything that had happened,' Param claimed. Cross-examining Brian O'Neill QC said: 'Just so I understand your case is that as the cab was reversing out it was attacked by Crosslon Davis who you thought might be armed with a gun or a knife?' 'Yes,' answered Param. 'As the cab drove away you and the man you were with told the driver to stop because you wanted to get out in order to stop any violence which you feared was taking place behind you,' the lawyer said. 'Yes,' Param replied. 'As you ran towards that scene from the cab, you picked something up just in case,' Mr O'Neill went on. 'Yes,' Param said. 'At the scene you did not assault anyone, you simply tried to calm things down,' the QC said. 'Yes,' came the reply Morgan of no fixed address and Param of Norwood High Street, south London deny murder. The trial continues. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. China in Focus (March 3): Wuhans Virology Institute Studies New Virus Wuhans Institute of Virology is researching yet another deadly virus. This one comes from the Xinjiang regionand may wreak even more havoc in the body. One man in Hong Kong dies after receiving the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccine. The dose given to him was made in China. A new round of digital security breaches, blamed on Chinese hackers, have targeted both the United States and India. U.S. Health authorities reportedly complied with a confidentiality form designed by the Chinese Communist Party in order to access data collected by the World Health Organization. Does China ever have free speech? Contrary to the CCPs crackdown on dissidents, the right to criticize the government is actually rooted in ancient Chinese culture. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Read what is in the news today: Politics Vietnam is slated to repatriate 390 Vietnamese citizens stuck in Myanmar on a Vietnam Airlines flight on Thursday, according to the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar. This is the fifth repatriation flight Vietnam has carried out since May 12, 2020. Society Vietnam reported seven new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday evening, including five community infections in northern Hai Duong Province and two imported cases in southern Kien Giang Province. The national patient tally stood at 2,482, with 1,898 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths as of Thursday morning. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam have issued a press release urging the Vietnamese government and the public to keep vigilance on the H5N8 human infection upon the detection of seven farm workers infected with the influenza A (H5N8) at a chicken farm in Russia, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday. Vietnam ranks fifth in the Happy Planet Index, and second in the Asia Pacific region, according to the UK-based New Economics Foundation. Architect Tran Ngoc Chinh, chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, suggested at a seminar on Wednesday that Hanoi build its second airport south of the Vietnamese capital city earlier than previously planned to welcome international arrivals by 2045. Another One-Stop Service Office was launched in Can Tho on Wednesday to facilitate sustainable reintegration of returning migrant women in the Mekong Delta city, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Business The administration of Russia's St. Petersburg City on Wednesday virtually held the second international travel forum with Vietnam to boost tourism between the two sides, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Lifestyle The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has granted permission to Institut Francais du Vietnam to screen seven classic and modern French movies in ten cities and provinces nationwide from March 1 to December 31. Sports Japans government will decide whether to let overseas spectators attend the Summer Olympics in Tokyo by the end of March, Reuters cited Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa as saying on Wednesday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Renovation 4 March 2021 Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, a riverfront hotel with breathtaking views of the Ohio River and Cincinnati's downtown skyline, and in proximity to Cincinnati's eclectic food and beverage scene, has completed a multi-million-dollar renovation. In addition to the completed renovations of the property's 321 guestrooms, meeting spaces, and public spaces, the new M Club and Marriott Greatroom are now available to both leisure and business travelers looking to catch up on work, grab a quick bite to eat in between meetings, or wind down at the end of an exhausting day. The property's spacious guestrooms have been modernized. Each of the guestrooms has all new case and soft goods, enhanced resilient wood-look flooring, a walk-in shower, an in-room safe, complimentary WiFi, a well-lit desk, a coffee maker, mini-refrigerator, and a smart TV. Many of the property's guestrooms also offer guests incredible balcony views of the not only colorful but vibrant Cincinnati skyline, and the city's beloved Ohio River. Conveniently connected to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, which has 100,000 square feet of event and meeting space, Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter has nearly 13,000 square feet of total event and meeting space. All of the property's event rooms have been renovated, including the Riverview ballroom, which doubled in size to 4,200 square feet, and includes floor-to-ceiling windows and a waterfront private balcony providing spectacular panoramic views of the Cincinnati skyline, and the Kentucky room, which expanded to 1,155 square feet and has floor-to-ceiling windows. The events and meeting space has 10 breakout rooms in total. Also new to the property is the 1,700-square-foot M Club, a 24/7 lounge where Marriott Bonvoy members of all levels can retreat, recharge and refocus; and a reinvented Marriott Greatroom, which offers guests modern and comfortable spaces, food & beverage, technology, guest services, and ambiance. Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter also has an on-site fitness center, a Marriott Health & Fitness Club, a full-service business center, complimentary high-speed internet, an indoor lap pool, and other amenities. One of Cincinnati's top riverfront hotels, the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter is only steps away from the Ohio River, and within walking distance to Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ballpark. STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kdan Mobile Software Ltd., a global SaaS company, has released a new update for its productivity tool, Markup, which uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to automatically generate summaries of content to save users time and recommend relevant articles to optimize their reading experience. Markup's AI-infused technology is constructed on the basis of Kdan's established PDF technology. With AI, Markup can automatically identify and extract the important pieces of information from large amounts of web pages and PDF files that the users are reading, making their reading experience more focused and time-saving. Markup also analyzes the content of web pages annotated by users, automatically categorizes them according to content attributes, and recommends relevant articles based on users' reading preferences. "We're optimistic about how this will save people's time reading or processing information," says Eason Wang, the Product Manager for Markup. "Markup's Auto Summary filters noise immediately and finds the focus, making every second count." Kdan's use of AI technology is part of their long-term effort to progress their core Document AI solutions. "Markup is built to improve upon people's natural reading habits by providing an intelligent reading experience with AI technology," said Kenny Su, Kdan's CEO. "Integrating AI marks a significant milestone for our team, and paves the way for us to introduce advanced document AI solutions to the wider market, especially to enterprises who need a smart solution to process large amounts of documents." Markup also allows users to share digital content as a group within its Reading Hub. This empowers the team to create their knowledge base and sync up important information effectively in one place. In the near future, Markup will release its Web app, providing users a more streamlined digital reading experience across platforms. Markup is available for download on the App Store: https://apple.co/3sFubhD . For more information, visit Markup's official website at https://bit.ly/2OeM208 . About Kdan Mobile Software Ltd. Kdan Mobile was founded in 2009 with a mission to empower modern professionals to better leverage their productivity and unleash their creativity. Kdan Mobile is a global SaaS provider, whose work is supported by over 200 million downloads, and over 8 million active members worldwide. Their solutions include an e-signature service and a portfolio of different productivity and creativity-related tools. Kdan Mobile is headquartered in Taiwan, with operations in China, the U.S. and Japan. Additional Information: Website: https://www.kdanmobile.com/ Press Kit download: https://www.kdanmobile.com/press Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdanmobile Twitter: https://twitter.com/kdanmobile LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kdan-mobile-software-ltd- Media contact: Clare Lo Email: [email protected] Phone: +886-2-25020268#511 SOURCE Kdan Mobile Related Links https://www.kdanmobile.com/ I believe that 2022 is going to be a difficult year for our party, both at the national level and at the state level, said Costello, whose Metro-East area was once a Democratic stronghold. Were going to be challenged, and were going to have to come together and raise a lot of money in order to maintain the majorities that we have in the General Assembly and in Congress. "There are plenty of Black folks who can sit in at counters," Col. Jim Fowler, the fifth African American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, told Cadet Joe Anderson Jr. "Your job is to get through West Point." There were only 11 Black cadets at West Point when Anderson began his plebe year in 1961. It was the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, and he was struggling with not being out marching in the streets. Anderson did graduate from West Point in 1965. Today, he is CEO and Chairman of TAG Holdings, and he was the guest speaker at the academy's 2021 Henry O. Flipper Award presentation. There, he relayed his memories of serving in a racially charged world. "The more we know about our history, the more likely we are to learn from past mistakes and benefit from lessons learned," Anderson told the gathered crowd. Next, came Anderson's own story. He grew up in a racially segregated world. The future Army officer and CEO was in grade school in Topeka, Kansas, when the U.S. Supreme Court delivered the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling, which struck down segregation in schools. When Anderson entered the academy, there were no African Americans on the staff or faculty. Though he said the school was not yet ready for a Black firstie in a position of leadership, there were no racial incidents between himself and his classmates. After graduation, Anderson was sent to Vietnam to lead members of the 1st Cavalry Division. He did two tours in Vietnam; while there, his unit was the subject of the Emmy- and Oscar-winning 1967 French documentary film, "The Anderson Platoon." After just two months in Vietnam, he found himself leading men in heavy fighting; he was awarded the Silver Star. Today's U.S. military, Anderson said, looks nothing like the military of 1965, when he graduated as an infantry officer. "My whole life has been on the cycle of race in America," he said. "When I graduated in 1965, there were no black generals in the Army, and only six colonels. Now we've had a number of generals in the Army and Air Force, and admirals in the Navy." The French filmmakers who first visited "The Anderson Platoon" would later catch up to the unit, to see what their lives were like 20 years later. They would meet at West Point yet again. That year, the commandant at the academy was Brig. Gen. Fred Gordon, the first African American to hold the position and the only African American graduate of the class of 1962. During his speech, Anderson shared stories of his service in Vietnam and being filmed for two documentaries. He also gave a brief history of trailblazing -- but often lonely -- African American graduates of the academy who would rise to have great careers. "What I wanted to do is to convey to those cadets who will graduate in 2021, 150 years after Flipper graduated, the kinds of things that were going on before them and bridges that were crossed," Anderson told Military.com. "Race is real, as is the reality of living in America. But from what Flipper went through in 1877, what Fowler experienced in 1941, we now have the gentleman who's over all of the military: African American, West Point graduate class of 1975." He was referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a retired Army four-star general. U.S. Military Academy 1965 graduate Joseph Anderson (left) presents the Henry O. Flipper Award to Class of 2021 Cadet Markus Wright (right) during the Flipper Award ceremony Feb. 4 at the Cadet Mess Hall. (U.S. Military Academy/Tarnish Pride) Anderson, with a long career as a leader in corporate boardrooms, says the same is true of the corporate world. "When I went into corporate America in 1977, there were not a lot of African Americans in leadership positions of Fortune 500 companies or directors on the New York Stock Exchange," he said. "Everything is evolving. So we've seen things change and change again over the years." While serving as a White House Fellow in the Carter administration, Anderson was able to meet Henry Ford II, chairman of the Ford Motor Company. He was soon offered a position at Ford, but took an offer from General Motors instead. After 13 years, Anderson left the Army for a new career. "The automobile industry concluded they could hire leaders of character from the military and teach them to be leaders in the automobile industry," he said. "I had no training in how to make fenders, hoods or bumpers for Pontiac cars, but I did know how to lead people." Flipper was born a Georgia slave but became the first African American West Point graduate in 1877. He did it in the face of overwhelming odds and the systemic, open racism that was endemic in America at the time. Every year since 1977, West Point recognizes a cadet who has put honor, discipline and service to their country above all things, even in the face of adversity, presenting them with the Henry O. Flipper Award. Flipper's story is where Anderson's telling of the black experience at the academy begins. Henry Ossian Flipper was commissioned an Army lieutenant after his graduation from West Point in 1873. Flipper was then assigned to the 10th Cavalry at Fort Sill, Okla., and later became the Assistant Commissary of Subsistence at Fort Davis, Texas. Flipper is widely remembered as the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. (Courtesy Photo) As a second lieutenant, Flipper became the first non-White officer to command the all-Black Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. 10th Cavalry. He served with the U.S. Army Cavalry during the Apache Wars of the late 1870s and was eventually transferred to Fort Davis in western Texas to serve as the post quartermaster. Other officers conspired to accuse him of embezzlement, and he was eventually forced out of the Army. Flipper spent the rest of his life maintaining his innocence, but was never allowed in uniform again. Still he persevered, first as a brilliant engineer in the West, an author and later as a government adviser. He died in 1940, but President Bill Clinton pardoned him in 1999. "When you see the issues that upset individuals in the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, you see some things have not changed and we still have work to do on race in America," Anderson said. Still, he said he believes the military is a place that will always offer the chance for anyone to develop the skills to move about the world and do a job with a combination of execution, excellence and character. "As I came along in Vietnam, it was a breakthrough scenario for African Americans," Anderson said. "Way back when in World War I, World War II, Korea, it was not so good, but it was at least a place to develop skills, an understanding of who you are, and make a difference. The military was a place that we could go and have a life and a career." -- 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. (Natural News) Multinational corporate giant Google is readying to unveil an Orwellian new pre-crime program known as Geofence that has the potential to assign guilt to innocent people who happen to be nearby when a crime is committed by someone else. The virtual dragnet would allow law enforcement to tap into Googles location data, which is collected from users GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular connections. Anyone in close proximity to where a crime occurs would potentially have their privacy breached in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This blanket model of data collection, which is unconstitutional, would allow law enforcement to probe innocent people as they search for suspects. Instead of actually doing their job by investigating a crime, police would simply be able to pore through Googles surveillance data to determine the alleged guilty party or parties. Investigating crimes using this guilt by proximity model is already being piloted in some areas of the country where cops have been caught falsely accusing innocent bystanders of complicity just because they happened to be in the area of where a crime was committed. In one instance earlier this year, a Gainesville, Florida, man was caught up in a legal nightmare because he merely rode his bicycle unbeknownst near a home burglary at around the same time it happened, writes StevieRay Hansen for HNewswire. And it was in 2018 that for the first time a man had been falsely accused and arrested based on a controversial geofence warrant for the crime of murder. Geofence warrants are unconstitutional because they violate the Fourth Amendment Similar to what was depicted in the dystopian 2002 film Minority Report, Googles Geofence technology also serves as a template for prosecuting pre-crimes, meaning a crime that has not actually happened but that supposedly is on the verge of happening. In one instance, a 23-year-old Arizona man, Jorge Molina, was arrested and jailed for six days on suspicion of killing someone. Police determined that because his phone was at the scene of the crime, he was one hundred percent, without a doubt guilty of the crime. In reality, though, Molina was not the killer. He was not even at the scene of the crime, and had merely lent his old phone to the man whom police later arrested. Because the phone was still logged into Molinas Google account, Molina was pegged as guilty by lazy police officers who, rather than properly investigate the crime, simply relied on Googles Geofence data as evidence. As for Molina, he ended up losing his job, his car and his reputation because the corrupt and lazy cops who pegged him as guilty failed to do the job that taxpayers pay them to do. In the wake of this breach of justice was another innocent life ruined. The good news is that Molina filed a lawsuit against the local police department in early 2020, specifically targeting the officers that arrested him along with the chief of police. He is also now suing Google for $1.5 million. So much for that supposed 100% police certainty, Hansen joked. Its but one example illustrating the likely hundreds of ways geofence warrants could be abused or flat out link completely innocent individuals to a crime. It also strongly suggests old fashioned detective work is increasingly being replaced by dubious technological means. The other good news is that two judges so far have denied requests for geofence warrants citing the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause or a real warrant. Be sure to check out the rest of Hansens reporting for more details about how all of this was biblically foretold to occur in the Last Days. To learn more about how Big Tech and Big Police State are colluding together to expand tyranny in America, visit Tyranny.news. Sources for this article include: HNewswire.com NaturalNews.com Constitution.Congress.gov Beijing has rebuked Britain's ambassador to China for publishing an article defending the role of a free press. Caroline Wilson, who took up her post in Beijing last year, penned a post on Chinese social media after a number of newspapers accused foreign journalists of being 'China haters' for publishing reports that were critical of the country. Wilson wrote that critical reporting is not proof of 'hatred', but is designed to help leaders identify problems and hold them to account when they get things wrong. But Beijing quickly blocked users on Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, from sharing the post while the foreign ministry issued a statement accusing British media of bias and of publishing 'fake news'. Caroline Wilson, Britain's ambassador to China, has been slapped down by its foreign ministry for defending the role of a free press on social media Wilson penned an article on Weibo, the country's equivalent of Twitter (picutred), defending foreign journalists who criticise the country after they were accused of 'hating' China In her piece, she cited examples of how British media are critical of their own government - including reporting on the MP's expenses scandal - as evidence that they are not biased against China. She also pointed to critical reports in Chinese media following the outbreak of Covid in Wuhan that revealed how medic Li Wenliang was silenced while trying to raise the alarm about the virus. 'Their critical reports were not seen as evidence that they hated Wuhan or even China,' she wrote. 'On the contrary, these reports were praised for their role in identifying problems and pursuing accountability.' She added: 'No matter where in the world, critical reports cannot prove that journalists do not like this country. 'On the contrary, it proves the value of media freedom, which can bring more accurate information and point out areas that need to be changed. 'As the motto of the French newspaper Le Figaro says: If criticism is not free, praise is meaningless. 'I hope that such important reports from Western and Chinese media will be recognized in the future.' But she fell foul of Chinese censors, who blocked other Weibo users from sharing her post but stopped short of deleting it outright. China's relations with the UK have deteriorated in recent months in part due to Beijing's crackdown on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong, which the UK has been critical of China last month banned the BBC after it published a report on the persecution of Uighur Muslims. It came after the UK banned China's CGTN network for being state-owned 'Seems like someone doesnt want my article to be shared,' she added afterwards using the hashtag #defendmediafreedom. She was also slapped down by foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin who accused foreign reporters of failing to fairly balance their reports about China. 'Some British media don't keep a fair and objective stance, and even make fake news based on ideological bias,' he said. 'The facts are clear. The Chinese government always welcomes foreign journalists, including British journalists, to come to China for news reporting. 'What we oppose is the ideological bias, the behavior of using "freedom of the press" as an excuse to produce fake news or other activities that violate the professional ethics of journalism.' State-run newspapers Global Times and China Daily also published editorials attacking Wilson for 'making a wrong argument'. Wilson spoke out amid an increasingly tense standoff between China and the UK over issues including democratic freedoms in Hong Kong and persecution of Uighyur Muslims in Xinjiang province. The British government has condemned China's crackdown on Hong Kong using draconian new security laws, while offering 5.4million of its overseas citizens a route to full citizenship. Beijing has accused the British government of meddling in its domestic affairs. Last month, BBC World Service was banned from China after publishing a report on persecution of the Uighyurs - including interviews with women who said they had been raped, sexually abused and tortured in 're-education' camps. It came after British media watchdogs banned China's CTGN network from airing in the UK because it was controlled by the state, which violates broadcasting codes. "We'll provide content for their online learning system and offer mentorship to their graduates," says Goldfinger. "Graduates can turn to an experienced mentor from CT which will help them be more successful in their careers and provide confidence to prospective employers. "I also hope to support the organization in establishing and driving new funding sources," he continues. "PepUp Tech was largely dependent on live events for fundraising in the past, so this new focus is critical given the negative impact of the pandemic." Says Selina Suarez, Executive Director at PepUp Tech, "We're glad to be able to leverage the financial support of Customertimes, but more importantly, we welcome Jim's guidance and the experience of his team. With this extended network, our students will have greater opportunities to learn, which translates to greater opportunities for future employment." Goldfinger hopes similar organizations will join him in partnering with PepUp Tech. "Salesforce recently introduced the Lead program for Equality and Sustainable Development, which gives partner weighting around these initiatives," he says. "I can think of no better organization than PepUp Tech for a Salesforce partner to work with in order to align their company with this initiative. They can volunteer hours as mentors, hire their diverse graduates, or provide funding for an incredibly worthy Salesforce-oriented cause." Get involved on their site, and join Customertimes in working with this impactful group. Additional Resources Follow Customertimes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/customertimes/ Follow Customertimes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/customertimes Follow PepUp Tech on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pepuptech/ Follow PepUp Tech on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pepuptech?lang=en About Customertimes Customertimes Corp. is a global consulting firm dedicated to making the top IT technologies accessible to customers. With more than 4000 projects completed and 1000+ highly skilled experts, their solutions are engineered to help clients realize true business transformation and achieve maximum value from their technology investments. An early entrant into the Salesforce consulting and implementation space in Eastern Europe, Customertimes Corp. currently has headquarters in New York City, along with regional offices in London, Paris, Toronto, Kyiv, Minsk, Riga, and Moscow. For more information, visit www.customertimes.com. About PepUp Tech PepUp Tech is a non-profit that gives motivated, underserved students the access, skills, mentors, and confidence needed to begin careers in tech and help diversify the industry. They offer an intensive ten-week Salesforce Academy training designed to train students for careers in the fast-growing Salesforce ecosystem. Students have access to top notch training, industry professionals, and workforce placement services. For more information, visit pepuptech.org. CONTACT: Val Tika, [email protected] SOURCE Customertimes Corp Photo: BC Gov Flickr B.C. residents will get no choice of which version of the COVID-19 vaccine they will receive once it is their turn to be immunized. Let me be very clear, the vaccine you are offered is the best vaccine, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday. All the vaccines we have available for use in Canada are safe and effective. Henry explained that the foundation of B.C.s immunization program has been built around the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which both have to be stored at very cold temperatures. The newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine is fridge-stable, allowing for a more flexible deployment. That vaccine, however, is not approved for use in anyone over the age of 65. Mass clinics for those over age 80 starting up in B.C. later this month will use either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, Henry said. No, you wont have a choice between Pfizer and Moderna. You will take the one that is there in front of you. Henry said B.C. will use the AstraZeneca vaccine to immunize essential workers and first responders while the province works its way down the older age brackets in its vaccine plan. She urged the public that when the time comes for your turn at vaccination, dont wait. I would not suggest people wait. These vaccines are all good and they all work, and weve seen that across the world. The discovery of two people lurking at a Limestone County home Wednesday ended in two arrests and a hospital visit to remove drugs from inside a womans body. The Limestone County Sheriffs Office said a man called about 9 a.m. Wednesday to report he found a man and woman prowling around his shop at his residence. The man told deputies the pair told him his nephew had given them permission to be on the property to look at a vehicle. Problem is, the man said he doesnt have a nephew. He said the pair then took off in a 2000 gray Pontiac Firebird. He discovered several parts and tools were missing, and that an attempt had been made to remove a catalytic converter from a vehicle, the sheriffs office said. Later, a deputy stopped the vehicle and saw drug paraphernalia and a container of methamphetamine. That led to the arrest of Amberley Brown and James Townsend. Brown, 28, of Toney was charged with theft, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is being held in the Limestone County Detention Center on a $6,000 bond. Townsend, 22, of Taft, Tenn., was charged with theft and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held in the Limestone County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond. During booking, the sheriffs office said Brown realized a body scanner would be used. That caused her to admit she had a bag of methamphetamine hidden in one of her body cavities, the sheriffs office said. "The hidden methamphetamine was unable to be retrieved at the Limestone County Detention Center and Ms. Brown had to be transported to Athens-Limestone Hospital, where medical personnel removed approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine from Ms. Browns body cavity, the sheriffs office said in a news release. In fairness, there are probably no really good answers to the question: How did your company leave your IT infrastructure so unprotected that it was used to deliver malware to several branches of the federal government as well as a series of high-profile private sector targets? But maybe blaming an intern was not the best approach. On Friday, former SolarWinds CEO Kevin Thompson testified about the massive espionage campaign that originated at his former company at a congressional hearing held jointly by the House Oversight and Homeland Security Committees. Members of Congress honed in on the fact that the company had used the password solarwinds123 to log in to a file transfer server, though it was not clear at the hearing whether that password was used in the intrusion that subsequently infected many government departments and private companies with malware via a malicious SolarWinds update.* Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Eddy, executive vice president at Goldin Solutions which is working with SolarWinds, later said in an email to Slate that SolarWinds has determined that the credentials using that password were for a third-party vendor application and not for access to the SolarWinds IT systems. Furthermore, the third-party application did not connect with the SolarWinds IT systems. As such, SolarWinds has determined that the credentials using this password had nothing to do with the SUNBURST attack or other breach of the companys IT systems. Still, the question of the poor password hygiene was front and center at the Congressional hearing about the espionage campaign. According to Thompson and current SolarWinds CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna, an intern who worked at the company posted the solarwinds123 password on GitHub back in 2017. Security researcher Vinoth Kumar later discovered that the password had been posted publicly since at least June 2018 and informed the company of the leak in 2019, at which point, according to Ramakrishna, it was removed from GitHub. Advertisement Needless to say, that explanation still leaves a lot of questions unanswered. For instance, was the intern actually responsible for setting the solarwinds123 password? And, if so, why on earth had the company delegated responsibility for setting such an important password to an intern? Was the password actually changed when the leak was discovered in 2019 or was it just removed from GitHub? And why was there no multifactor authentication protecting that server if it could be used to transfer files onto company servers? But this is, by and large, a profoundly unproductive path to go down when it comes to trying to understand how the SolarWinds compromise happened and what we can do to try to better protect ourselves from similar intrusions in the future. What are companiesmuch less Congresssupposed to take away from Thompsons and Ramakrishnas testimony about how to do a better job of securing their data and networks? Dont hire interns? Advertisement One of the most frustrating elements of the aftermath of cybersecurity breaches is this kind of finger-pointing, in which the different actors involved all find someone else to point to (or, in some cases, sue) and say: This was not my fault; this was the fault of organization X for not telling me how to better secure my data, or contractor Y for failing to protect the credentials we gave them, or software company Z for not finding and fixing every vulnerability in the code they sold us. Take the Office of Personnel Management breach in 2015, for instance, which was probably the previous largest single act of cyberespionage directed at the U.S. federal government. During the lengthy aftermath, at various points, OPM laid blame for the breach at the feet of its contractor KeyPoint, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the company SAP, which made OPMs enterprise management software. Advertisement Advertisement This is frustrating because even though all of these actors likely have some role to play in improving security, its rarely any one individuals sole fault that something went wrong or that it wasnt discovered until too late. But its in everyones interests to pretend that there is a single responsible partyanyone other than them!so those narratives often take hold. The SolarWinds case is particularly egregious: Rather than implicating any of the stakeholders who actually had some agency and capabilities to identify or prevent the espionage campaign, the company has instead chosen to pin blame for the incident on someone who clearly had no authority to strengthen its security, and also now has no opportunity to answer these accusations: an intern, long since gone, who made a mistake that should probably never have been within their power to make in the first place. Advertisement Its a tempting narrativeas the stories about how a massive, complicated breach is the fault of a single actor often arein which some clueless college student shows up for a summer and sets a dumb password and then carelessly leaves it up in some publicly accessible code on GitHub. Above all, its a story thats easy to understand, especially for members of Congress. For instance, California Rep. Katie Porter pointed out at the hearing, Ive got a stronger password than solarwinds123 to stop my kids from watching too much YouTube on their iPad. Advertisement And while shes not wrongthat solarwinds123 was a stupid password, that it should never have been up to interns to set important company passwordsit would be a mistake to imagine that stopping the next SolarWinds will be as easy as setting more complicated passwords or cracking down on interns, especially because the company now says that password has nothing to do with the subsequent compromise. Focusing on that element at a Congressional hearing provides a narrative that lets SolarWinds off the hook for how little it was monitoring its own servers. It lets all of the government departments using the software off the hook for how little vetting they had done of the companys security practices before purchasing SolarWinds products. And it lets everyone off the hook, really, except for a nameless intern whose mistakes have now been aired at a congressional hearing, even though they were apparently unrelated to the massive cyber espionage breach. Correction, March 4, 2021: This article originally misstated that the former CEO of SolarWinds blamed the large-scale breach on a bad password and an intern. SolarWinds says that bad password was unrelated to the cyberespionage campaign. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 In the second joint hearing held by the Senate Rules and Homeland Security committees on the January 6 siege of the US Capitol by pro-Trump insurrectionists, D.C. National Guard Commander William Walker confirmed that senior leadership at the Department of Defense refused for hours to approve urgent requests from Walker and D.C. police to deploy National Guard troops to protect Congress from the mob. In his opening statement, Walker said he asked Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy for approval to deploy National Guard troops at 1:49 p.m., but was not given the go-ahead until 5:08 p.m. Walker testified that the three hour and 19 minute delay left him stunned and frustrated. Army Maj. Gen. William Walker, Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard speaks during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Senate Committee on Rules and Administration joint hearing Wednesday, March 3, 2021, examining the January 6, attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP) He told the panel that he had about 155 soldiers fully equipped and ready to deploy, and their dispatch to the Capitol could have secured the perimeter and made a difference. Walkers statements coincide with testimony given last week by D.C. Metro Police Chief Robert Contee and former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund. Both police chiefs testified that they were stunned at the lack of response from Pentagon officials when they pleaded for reinforcements, even as the Capitol was being overrun by far-right forces whom Trump had called on to halt congressional certification of the Electoral College vote. Just hours after the Senate hearing, which also took testimony from FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense Department officials, the FBI and DHS issued a bulletin citing social media chatter and warning of possible attacks on the Capitol on March 4 by fascistic groups that adhere to the Republican lie of a stolen election and refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the Biden administration. The official warning said that elements linked to the QAnon fascist conspiracy theory were pledging to storm the Capitol and remove Democratic lawmakers. In response, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced that the House had canceled its sessions for the remainder of the week. The decision to shut down the House of Representatives, despite the ongoing deployment of 5,200 National Guard troops to safeguard the Capitol, is an indication of the intensity of the political crisis that continues to grip the American state in the aftermath of the January 6 coup attempt. Major revelations that emerged from Walkers testimony include: Following a frantic phone call from Capitol Police Chief Sund at 1:49 p.m. requesting Guard support, Walker spoke by phone with senior Army leadership, including Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt and Lt. General Charles Flynn. They refused to approve Walkers request for approval to dispatch his troops, citing the negative optics of stationing uniformed troops at the Capitol and concerns about further inciting the crowd. Charles Flynns brother is retired Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps one-time national security adviser, who was convicted of lying in the Mueller investigation and pardoned by Trump. In the run-up to January 6, Michael Flynn made public statements calling on Trump to declare martial law and hold new elections at gunpoint in key swing states won by Biden. Charles Flynns brother is retired Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps one-time national security adviser, who was convicted of lying in the Mueller investigation and pardoned by Trump. In the run-up to January 6, Michael Flynn made public statements calling on Trump to declare martial law and hold new elections at gunpoint in key swing states won by Biden. On the eve of the January 6 Save America rally called by Trump to overturn the 2020 election, Acting Defense Secretary Miller and Army Secretary McCarthy, both Trump appointees, stripped Walker of his normal unilateral authority to deploy troops under his command. Walker testified about the contents of two memos that severely limited his ability to use a 340-person detail that had been authorized to assist D.C. police with traffic control on January 5 and 6. Walker testified that an unusual January 4 memo was unlike any other directive he had received in the course of his military career. It required me to seek authorization from the secretary of the Army and secretary of defense to essentially even protect my Guardsmen, he told the senators. Another memo issued by Miller the subsequent day added further restrictions on the contingent of soldiers. Miller warned Walker that he would withhold authority from him to deploy the quick reaction force without a concept of operation submitted beforehand. Walker testified that an unusual January 4 memo was unlike any other directive he had received in the course of his military career. It required me to seek authorization from the secretary of the Army and secretary of defense to essentially even protect my Guardsmen, he told the senators. Another memo issued by Miller the subsequent day added further restrictions on the contingent of soldiers. Miller warned Walker that he would withhold authority from him to deploy the quick reaction force without a concept of operation submitted beforehand. Walker testified to the stark difference between the Pentagons handling of the peaceful protests last June against police violence and the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6. Walker said that during the summer protests, Secretary of the Army McCarthy was right by my side, which allowed the six-step process to deploy the D.C. National Guard on Capitol grounds to be completed in minutes, whereas McCarthy was unavailable when Walker sought approval on January 6. Contradicting claims made the day before the hearing by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley, that the Pentagon moved at sprint speed to approve police requests for Guard support on January 6, Walker said he had troops waiting on buses less than 20 minutes outside the Capitol that could have been deployed shortly after 2:00 p.m. The hearing also revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to declare the January 6 joint session of Congress called to certify the electoral vote a National Special Security Event (NSSE), despite the multitude of threats tracked by the FBI, DHS and other state agencies against the lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence who were gathered in one building. This revelation followed testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday admitting that the FBI had failed to issue a threat assessment in advance of the joint session of Congress. The designation of an event as an NSSE places the US Secret Service in charge of coordinating, planning and implementing a security plan, while the FBI is charged with collecting intelligence and implementing counterterrorism measures. Previous examples of NSSE events include the two major party political conventions, State of the Union addresses and even Super Bowl 36. Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire questioned witness Melissa Smislova, a senior official with the DHS, as to why, given the threats and the political significance of what was occurring on January 6, an NSSE declaration was not issued. Smislova admitted that no one at DHS even considered making January 6 an NSSE. To date, the hearings called by House and Senate committees on the lack of security on January 6 have highlighted glaring failures for which no innocent explanation appears plausible. But the Democratic Party, which controls both houses of Congress, has refused to even subpoena the Trump officials who were in charge of the Pentagon and the DHS at the time. These include Secretary Miller, who was installed by Trump after the November 2020 election as part of a purge of Pentagon officials who had resisted his attempt in June to invoke the Insurrection Act and mobilize active-duty troops to crush the nationwide protests against police violence. They also include Chad Wolf, who, as acting DHS chief, had presided over the mass incarceration of immigrants at the border as well as the use of federal police forces to terrorize left-wing protesters in Seattle and Portland. Instead, Wednesdays hearing once again featured repeated invocations by the Democrats of the need for bipartisan unity with Republican colleagues who continue to question the legitimacy of the 2020 election and overwhelmingly support Trump. This was underscored by the publication Wednesday of an op-ed column by former Vice President Pence reiterating the lie of significant voting irregularities and calling a Democratic-backed bill to protect mail-in ballots an unconstitutional power grab. Pence, who supported Trumps claims of a stolen election, only weeks ago was being praised by Biden and the Democratic leadership as a model of patriotism and fidelity to democratic principles after he refused to illegally reject the Electoral College vote on January 6. While waiting for the signal to turn green, actor Dulquer Salman was caught driving on the wrong side of the road in his blue Porsche in Kerala. A video of the actor being asked to turn back by a police officer has now gone viral on social media. The incident was captured by two young men who were following the actor on a bike. Salmaan has been in Kerala ever since the national lockdown which was initiated due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The actor will be seen next in a Malayalam movie titled Kurup. The film is directed by Srinath who last worked with him seven years ago on Dulquers debut movie, Second Show. This newly renovated condominium in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston requires an open mindset about privacy. To get into the main bathroom on the first floor, you do not need to twist a doorknob or slide a door -- because there is no door. Or walls. The bathroom is a free-flowing open-concept bathroom, which apparently has become a trend in bathrooms over the past couple years, according to Elle Decor. "Open-concept bathroom" in Jamaica Plain condo (MassLive Real Estate Listing/Boston Trust Realty Group) On one hand, youll never not know if the bathroom is occupied. On the other hand, people will be able to see you when youre in the bathroom. If youre cool with that, theres plenty to love about this fresh on the market JP condo, but it comes with a steep price tag of $899,000. "Open-concept bathroom" in Jamaica Plain condo (MassLive Real Estate Listing/Boston Trust Realty Group) The condo boasts 2,001 square feet, most of which is filled with new hardwoods. There are also new stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and plenty of sun-filled windows. The bi-level condo is located along the orange line corridor and a walk to Forest Hills is under two minutes, according to the Boston Trust Realty Group listing. Plenty of folks have weighed in on the open-bathroom concept on social media. So how drunk were you when you built an 'open-concept bathroom' and then decided to charge almost a million dollars for it? https://t.co/Y49zh9jPkD KarynRegal (@Karynregal) March 4, 2021 JP, we need to talk.https://t.co/np2xFgRAJb Jonathan "Boo and Vote" Cohn (@JonathanCohn) March 4, 2021 No... just no. Bathrooms NEED doors. https://t.co/IKNcJvEiXP Aaron Kraemer (@AaronKraemer) March 4, 2021 my reaction is that i would 100% love an open-concept bathroom if I could commit to never having another human being in my house https://t.co/n8U7CKkUQJ Whet Moser (@whet) March 4, 2021 I've literally had this nightmarehttps://t.co/CPkiuwsryp The Slithy Tove (@TKDano) March 4, 2021 The only thing the condo is missing is a buyer with an open mind, listing agent Robert Nichols tells Boston Magazine. It could work if folks, you know, dont mind having it open like that and just can live freely and enjoy it to its full potential, he told the magazine. Related Content: Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. Jan Cadosch's winning photo was pitted against some fierce competition throughout the 2020 Pinkbike Photo of the Year contest, including Ross Bell's stunning shot of a rider styling into the frame in the greenest of landscapes, Trevor Lyden's dramatically lit shot of Cody Kelley blasting dirt and Mason Mashon's photo of Graham Agassiz riding down a loose chute. After a frantic couple days of voting during the final round, Jan Cadosch's stunning shot of a rider in front of the Matterhorn was the one to take the competition.We caught up with Jan Cadosch to learn more about his winning photo. Coming into the competition, how confident were you that you had a winning photo on your hands? I had no idea that my picture would make it this far. Ive never seen such an amazing sunset and thought, well if you dont enter you already lost. To see my picture in the top 32 was already a big achievement. Where were you when you took it and what were you doing? Was it for an assignment? We were in Zermatt watching the Pros ripping through the EWS. It was wet, cold and foggy. After the race we decided to go up the mountain one more time, no matter what weather it was.In the train to Gornergrat we broke through the clouds and had this unique scenery with unexpected sunshine. Luckily, I had my camera in my backpack, and we started taking some pictures before the sun went down. This wasnt for an assignment. It was pure joy for riding mountain bikes. Was it a planned shot or spontaneous? It was more than spontaneous. We didnt expect to even have a lot of light left to ride down from 3000msl/10000ft back to Zermatt. No matter how the trail or conditions are, bring your camera because you never know what could happen. Tell us about your photo are there any interesting details to share? In Switzerland we dont have many rock slabs to ride. But the top part of Gornergrat is exactly that, what makes it kinda special. Lots of rock and boulders you can ride with different lines. I really wanted to get the whole landscape in the shot but couldnt find a good spot until this awkward corner. Its not the best corner for riding but I could capture the emotions and energy what really makes this picture unique. How many attempts did it take to nail the shot? Jan Cadosch shared a couple more photos from that day with us. We got it at the second attempt. The clouds were moving fast, and we had little light left to shoot. And we needed to get down to Zermatt again, which was another 5000ft descent, so we didnt want to stay too long. For the photography geeks out there, can you tell us about the camera, settings and lighting that you used? I took this picture with a Sony a7iii and a 16-35mm F2.8. Shutter Speed 1/2500, Aperture 2.8 and an ISO of 200. All natural light. What did it feel like during each voting round? As mentioned, being in the top 32 got me already really hyped. After making it into round three I knew it would get really hard but figured its up to the Pinkbike community to decide. Didnt expect to win against Ross. What a tight battle but after that I felt like we could actually win now. Which of your competitors' shots have stood out for you this year? For me Ross Bell and Trevor Lyden really catched me with the energy and power their picture transfers. Any plans for the winnings yet? Some new camera equipment or an adventure to somewhere new and exciting? I will for sure upgrade some of my gear especially for filmmaking. Always dreaming about riding a bike in BC one day, lets see if that happens in the next years. Anything else to add? I want to thank Pinkbike and Jenson USA for making this photo competition possible. Its always inspiring to see so many good pictures. Thanks to all the people that support me and my work. Makes me push even harder to shoot more for clients and magazines.Thanks to Jenson USA Retiring after 22 years at the helm of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Liz Ann Macgregor still inspires mixed feelings. She arrived in 1999 in a burst of Scottish exotica, a veritable blur of tartan, and says she is now returning from whence she came. Possibly Macgregors most notable achievement at the MCA was to steer the institution through a very rocky patch when it was on the verge of bankruptcy. This happened shortly after she took over the directorship from Bernice Murphy and Leon Paroissien. It might be argued that by this stage the MCA had already become an established part of Sydneys cultural infrastructure and was too big to be allowed to fail. Nevertheless, it was under Macgregors stewardship that a deal was done with the state government that secured the museums future. Going, but wont be forgotten: Liz Ann Macgregor leaves the MCA. Credit:Wolter Peeters She had less success with former lord mayor Frank Sartor, who stymied a multi-million dollar plan for a new building. However, she bounced back and managed to engineer a major refit that opened in 2012. Sam Marshalls design has been unkindly compared to Rubiks Cube, but it did open up more extensive spaces in a heritage building that was never a comfortable fit as a venue for contemporary art. These nuts-and-bolts matters are not especially glamorous, but they are immensely important in the life of a public gallery. Any director will spend most of their time dealing with matters of administration, courting private and corporate sponsors, and maintaining good relations with the government of the day. The latter requirement may be the reason the MCA has kept boasting about attendance numbers in the millions. Im not at all sure how these figures are calculated but they have an air of pure fantasy. The United States is seeking to support a diplomatic solution to help Afghans achieve a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, the Biden administration said on Wednesday. The State Department said Special US Representative for Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has concluded three days of consultations in Kabul with government officials, civil society and women leaders, and other Afghan political figures. "With all parties, I outlined our focus on Afghanistan, diplomacy, and garnering wider support in order to help Afghans make more rapid progress on the peace process, Khalilzad said in a tweet. The Islamic Republic and the Taliban must find a path to a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. In Kabul, I discussed various options/alternatives to propel the process forward, Khalilzad said. This is an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference. The United States, of course, is seeking to support a diplomatic solution to help Afghans achieve a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. To that end, as we announced over the weekend, the special representative and his team are now in the midst of their first travel to the region since January 20, he said. Khalilzad and his team, he said, wrapped up on Wednesday three days of productive consultations with government officials in Kabul. They met with civil society leaders. They met with other Afghan political leaders focused on accelerating progress towards peace, Price said. In all of this, Ambassador Khalilzad emphasized our focus on and garnering wider support to help achieve that political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire that I mentioned before. It is fair to say that they found and over time have found widespread support for the need to move quickly and to deliver that just and durable peace that has been at the centre of our diplomatic efforts and the centre of what Afghans are demanding and in fact what they deserve, he said. Ambassador Khalilzad is now in Doha, Price said, adding he will continue engagements in Doha. There may be additional travel from there, he said. The killing of three female media workers in Jalalabad is a devastating news, he said. We know that these attacks are meant to do one thing. They are meant to intimidate. They are intended to make reporters cower. The culprits hope to stifle freedom in a nation where the media has in many ways flourished for the past 20 years, he said. This cannot be tolerated. We do not tolerate it. We seek to end the impunity with open and transparent investigations into these vicious murders. We call on the government to defend press freedoms and to protect journalists. The perpetrators must be held accountable and to stop their terrorism against Afghan civilians, including in this case journalists, Price 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.) Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Aquaponics Market is anticipated to reach $1,019 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2018, the Deep Water Culture segment accounted for the highest Aquaponics market share in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Aquaponics market revenue in 2018. The increase in the population worldwide and growth in global food demand majorly drives the aquaponics market growth. Aquaponics is increasingly being used to meet the high-demand for food crops. The ability to produce high quality crops throughout the year, lesser use of water for crop cultivation, and lower dependency on weather conditions boost the aquaponics market growth. Growing demand for organic and chemical free crops, and rising urban population accelerate the growth of the aquaponics market. New emerging markets, and reduced environmental pollution by aquaponics would provide growth opportunities in the aquaponics market in the coming years. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aquaponics-market/request-for-sample North America generated the highest aquaponics market share in terms of revenue in 2018. The growing urbanization, and rising population has accelerated the aquaponics market growth in the region. A significant rise in the demand for organic and chemical free food products supports the growth of the aquaponics market in the region. The technological advancements in farming methods, and increasing awareness among consumers improves the aquaponics market growth rate. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. This is owing to significant growth of population in the region. Lack of fertile land, and strong technical expertise in agricultural practices in the region promotes the adoption of aquaponics in the region. Technological advancements and established R&D institutes in China and Japan further supplements the aquaponics market growth. The well-known companies profiled in the aquaponics market report include Ultrasonics Canada Corporation, UrbanFarmers AG, Backyard Aquaponics Pty Ltd., ECF Farmsystems GmbH, My Aquaponics, Aqua Allotments, Nelson & Pade Inc., Colorado Aquaponic, Greenlife Aquaponics, Aquaponic Lynx LLC, and The Aquaponic Source 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. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aquaponics-market Leading players in the aquaponics market partner and collaborate with other players in the market to enhance their offerings in the market and expand their customer base. For instance, Aerofarms has partnered with Dell Technologies to expand its technological requirements of machine learning and network systems. Fluence Bioengineering, offers lighting solutions for Aquaponics to its consumers. The companys Fluence RAZR Series is developed for various Aquaponics applications such as full-cycle cultivation of leafy greens, young plant propagation of vegetable, ornamental and cannabis crops. Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Product Fish Herbs Fruits Vegetables Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Component Bio Filter Rearing tanks Settling Basins Hydroponics Subsystem Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Method Deep Water Culture Nutrition Film Technique Media-Filled Beds Ebb and Flow Drip Irrigation Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by End-User Commercial Home Production Community Agriculture and Farming Education and Research Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 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/aquaponics-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. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Kakao co-CEOs Yeo Min-soo, left, and Joh Su-yong / Courtesy of Kakao By Nam Hyun-woo Kakao is struggling over a deepening conflict with its employees regarding the company's personnel evaluation system, which some workers claim encourages office bullying. With the controversy being made public, management held a meeting with the employees and pledged "improvements in the evaluation system and stern countermeasures to deal with office bullying." But the company's union criticized this response, saying managers just reiterated theories without offering any practical solutions. Kakao held the meeting between co-CEOs Yeo Min-soo and Joh Su-yong and 100 employees online Tuesday and discussed the company's personnel evaluation system and corporate culture. The meeting came after a number of posts on Blind, an online community for office workers to share information anonymously, criticized Kakao's personnel evaluation system, describing it as "murder." According to one post, the evaluation system is comprised of peer reviews and contains a question asking the reviewer "Do you want to work with this employee again?" The system provides data on how many people said yes and how many colleagues did not want to work with the employee compared to the company average. Employees claim revealing this data is excessively harsh and encourages office bullying. Since the review is done on condition of anonymity and doesn't reveal the reasons for why the reviewer doesn't want to work with the employee, the system is not working as a tool for improvement, but instead grows distrust between colleagues, the union said. During the meeting, employees demanded improvements and management pledged to change it to ensure "crews" (employees) can feel more stable and optimistic about the expression of the questions, while maintaining the strength of peer review." Also, the company promised stern countermeasures against office bullying, saying it has already set up a taskforce to eradicate this. However, the union said the company did not provide concrete answers or solutions to improve its personnel evaluation system, while reiterating "principles." A Kakao spokesman said the meeting was initially arranged with the intent to hear various opinions from employees and not aimed at offering immediate solutions. Kakao's messenger app Kakao Talk / Courtesy of Kakao Facing a growing backlog of cases, Michigan court officials still point to health and safety as being at the top of the priority list in making the decision to reopen courthouses and their various activities. State court administrators and local judges say the decisions being made on gradually conducting jury trials again center around keeping jurors and everyone in the courtroom safe. To that end, the Michigan Supreme Court issued guidelines for the states local courts as they consider opening back up after most have been shut down since March. Based on COVID-19 data and ongoing discussions with local health officials, each local court is placed in one of four phases in the return to full activity. The phases gradually expand from limited in-person activity all the way back to normal, said Jodi Latuszek, senior director of Administration for the State Court Administrative Office. Cant see the map? Click here. Courts must submit a request to move from one phase to another and show a decrease in the positivity rate, as well as downward trajectories for documented cases, per the supreme courts Return to Full Capacity guide. RELATED: Michigan courts brace for jury trials to start again after pandemic creates massive backlog During any phase, we have focused so heavily on continue to do what you can do virtually, Latuszek said. For all phases, we have provided basic guidance, but the real substance is whats in the courts safety plans. Their phase comes from their interactions and conversations with the local health department. In Muskegon County, the decision to reopen the courthouse on March 1 was made in consultation with the countys public health officer, Kathy Moore. The first jury trial there is planned for the week of March 22. The schedule allows time for employees to acclimate to having public visitors, as well as time to get out jury summons letters, Moore said. I have been meeting with judges and court administrators every Monday and we review the statistics based on the parameters set by the Michigan Supreme Court, Moore said. Those statistics include examining any cases and outbreaks among county employees as well as community COVID rates, she said. RELATED: Plastic sheeting and hockey-style penalty boxes: What jury trials will look like in Michigan courtrooms Its important to remember that while very few jury trials have happened since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020, other court proceedings have happened virtually, regardless of the phase a court is in, Latuszek said. Courts have logged 2 million hours of Zoom hearings as of Jan. 31. At the end of the day, its peoples lives, Latuszek said. The last thing we want is for a court employee to get sick, or somebody visiting the court to get sick because we didnt have adequate safety guidance. This is very important. Face coverings, social distancing, plastic dividers and health screening questions are part of the safety plan for the first three phases. These are the phases: Phase One This means courts have very limited in person activity, where employees who can work remotely should work remotely, Latuszek said. Faxes are utilized for court filings, along with emails and other electronic systems. Its really limited to things where people have a Constitutional or statutory right to be present in the court, she said. Phase One happens for a couple reasons, according to the supreme courts guide. One reason is that there is a state or local order requiring shelter-in-place or restricted movement. The other reason is the COVID-19 test positivity rate is 15% or higher and there is an increasing number of cases during a 14-day period, per a Local Administrative Order. Phase Two Court proceedings will continue virtually, and each court can decide if they want to allow the public inside on a limited basis, per a Local Administrative Order. Jury trials can restart in very limited circumstances in Phase Two, if the county has 70 cases or fewer per million per day and the test positivity rate is below 10%, Latuszek said. Courts move into Phase Two when the county has a test positivity rate between 5 and 15% in the seven days before the request to change phases, per the supreme court guide. During Phase Two, courts have a lot of wiggle room to adjust their safety practices based on what their current local public health conditions are, Latuszek said. Phase Three This phase is when jury trials, with proper safety measures, are recommended. Phase Three is as close to normal as things will get, Latuszek said. Some public facing activity resumes. Courts can have jury trials with safety plans in place. Making jurors feel safe is an important part of Phase Three, she said. Jury selection can bring in a hundred people or more, so courts must find a place to safely select jurors. Some jurisdictions meet social distancing guidelines at a location outside of the courthouse, like a gymnasium, Latuszek said. Courts move into Phase Three when the test positivity rate in the county is at 5% or lower, in the seven days before the request to change phases, per the supreme court guide. Phase Four Phase Four starts after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or President of the United States declares the pandemic over. Phase Four is Hey were out of the pandemic. Life is back to normal, Latuszek said. -- MLive reporter Lynn Moore contributed to this report. Read more: Congressman Meijer: $1.9T COVID relief bill puts government excess over direct dollars to Americans Michiganders 50 and older will soon be eligible for coronavirus vaccine Kalamazoo parents keep up the fight for in-person school after district decides to stay virtual Nextech AR Joins the Interactive Advertising Bureau's (IAB) Augmented Reality (AR) Board Nextech AR Solutions ("Nextech'' or the "Company") (OTCQB: NEXCF) (NEO: NTAR.NE) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29), a diversified leading provider of virtual and augmented reality (AR) experience technologies and services for eCommerce, education, advertising, conferences and events, today announced that the Company has joined the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) AR Board, the leading trade association with more than 650 leading media companies, brands, and technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. AR advertising is at its inflection point with several retailers and eCommerce companies expected to prioritize their investments into AR eCommerce and AR advertising. Nextech already has AR technology in the marketplace and has established measurements to measure engagement data and conversion data to deliver ROI on AR ads to its customers. With this board membership at IAB, Nextech will work along with industry peers to build industry standards for AR creative formats, performance benchmarking, measurement standards and privacy considerations. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., IAB advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. The AR Board's mission is to inspire brands to discover new immersive ways to reach audiences and unlock the value of AR through defining best practices and standards. Zoe Soon, Vice President, Experience Center at IAB, comments: " Accelerated (News - Alert) by our new socially-distanced reality and buoyed by the rollout of 5G networks, AR is set to become the next frontier of advertising. I'm excited to welcome Nextech AR Solutions to the IAB AR Board where our mission is to help brands connect with consumers in more immersive ways. Nextech AR Solutions is a great addition to our group of industry leaders because with their eCommerce and virtual events solutions they are helping brands reimagine ways to solve consumer problems and provide utility." The Nextech Advertising Network team has been laser-focused on building a powerful, in-house advertising network for advertisers, brands, and sponsors, which has already begun to generate significant ROI for the company, its advertising customers, and shareholders. Nextech's 3D/AR Ad Network enables the Company to gather first party data of online and offline purchase data, demonstrating the full impact of these advertising programs. Hareesh Achi, President of the Advertising at Nextech AR, comments: "Joining the IAB's AR Board is another indication of Nextech AR's investment in becoming the leader in the emerging AR/3D ad industry. As members, we will be able to participate in a variety of industry-facing committees which are responsible for creating industry standards and best practices, in addition to providing Nextech with an opportunity to showcase our own technology and insights. The growth in online eCommerce has created opportunities for brands and products to differentiate through immersive digital experiences and foundationally transform how they reach their target audience through online advertising. Nextech's AR technology, virtual events platform and AR ads are going to enable the industry for this advertising digital transformation in not only reaching the audiences but also enabling that product or brand interaction with its audiences". To learn more about Nextech AR, please visit www.Nextechar.com About IAB The Interactive Advertising Bureau empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership comprises more than 650 leading media companies, brands, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. In affiliation with the IAB Tech Lab, IAB develops technical standards and solutions. IAB is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the trade association advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, IAB is headquartered in New York City. Recent Company Highlights: March 2, 2021: The Company announced the launch of its Ad Network. The company is utilizing its owned and operated virtual event platforms audience which hosts thousands of specialized events allowing for targeted ads similar to Facebook (News - Alert) ; serving up high value ads based on people's interests, behaviors, location, and demographics. The Company announced the launch of its Ad Network. The company is utilizing its owned and operated virtual event platforms audience which hosts thousands of specialized events allowing for targeted ads similar to Facebook (News - Alert) ; serving up high value ads based on people's interests, behaviors, location, and demographics. February 23, 2021: The Company announced that First Lady Jill Biden was the keynote speaker on its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) which was selected to host the Student Veterans of America's (SVA) 2021 National Conference. The Company announced that First Lady Jill Biden was the keynote speaker on its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) which was selected to host the Student Veterans of America's (SVA) 2021 National Conference. February 17, 2021: The Company announced that its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) will host this year's virtual Ontario Dental Association's Annual Spring Meeting taking place May 6-8, 2021. The Company announced that its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) will host this year's virtual Ontario Dental Association's Annual Spring Meeting taking place May 6-8, 2021. February 16, 2021: The Company announced it has hired Zak Mcleod formerly of Fastly: FSLY as Senior Director of Sales - EMEA. The company is also pleased to announce that Rory Ganness formerly of Salesforce.com : CRM has joined the Nextech team as Director of Enterprise Sales-North America . The Company announced it has hired Zak Mcleod formerly of Fastly: FSLY as Senior Director of Sales - EMEA. The company is also pleased to announce that Rory Ganness formerly of Salesforce.com : CRM has joined the Nextech team as Director of Enterprise Sales-North America February 10, 2021: The Company announced the launch of version 2.0 of its AiR Show app, an application that turns your favorite music artist into a 'live' hologram that you can interact with in your living room, providing an immersive and engaging AR experience. The Company announced the launch of version 2.0 of its AiR Show app, an application that turns your favorite music artist into a 'live' hologram that you can interact with in your living room, providing an immersive and engaging AR experience. February 9, 2021: The Company announced that its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) will host this year's virtual Canadian Surgery Forum (CSF) taking place September 21-24, 2021. The Company announced that its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) will host this year's virtual Canadian Surgery Forum (CSF) taking place September 21-24, 2021. February 8, 2021: The Company announced the launch of new standardized chat features within its Virtual Experience Platform /VXP) and recently-launched ARoom collaborative streaming solution. Nextech will also offer the chat platform, as a stand-alone SaaS (News - Alert) service externally, increasing the company's revenue potential for 2021. The Company announced the launch of new standardized chat features within its Virtual Experience Platform /VXP) and recently-launched ARoom collaborative streaming solution. Nextech will also offer the chat platform, as a stand-alone SaaS (News - Alert) service externally, increasing the company's revenue potential for 2021. February 3, 2021: The Company announced that the Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) has selected Nextech AR's Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) to host its 2021 trade show, taking place virtually on April 7-8, 2021. The Company announced that the Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) has selected Nextech AR's Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) to host its 2021 trade show, taking place virtually on April 7-8, 2021. February 1, 2021: The Company announced that it has been invited to Microsoft's (News - Alert) Global Education Partner Summit (GEPS), taking place virtually on February 8-10, 2021. The Company announced that it has been invited to Microsoft's (News - Alert) Global Education Partner Summit (GEPS), taking place virtually on February 8-10, 2021. January 29, 2021: The Company announced Society of Physician Leaders (CSPL) has selected Nextech AR's Platform to host this year's Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership (CCPL) taking place April 26-29, 2021. The Company announced Society of Physician Leaders (CSPL) has selected Nextech AR's Platform to host this year's Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership (CCPL) taking place April 26-29, 2021. January 26, 2021: The Company announced in partnership with ARB Meetings and Events it has signed a six-figure annual contract to supply its InfernoAR video conferencing and virtual events platform to NAMD. The Company announced in partnership with ARB Meetings and Events it has signed a six-figure annual contract to supply its InfernoAR video conferencing and virtual events platform to NAMD. January 25, 2021: The Company announced that Strategic Site Selection (SSS), a 15 year old site selection leader in the meeting and events industry, has selected Nextech AR as a preferred channel partner, making Nextech's industry leading virtual experience platform and services available to SSS clients. The Company announced that Strategic Site Selection (SSS), a 15 year old site selection leader in the meeting and events industry, has selected Nextech AR as a preferred channel partner, making Nextech's industry leading virtual experience platform and services available to SSS clients. January 20, 2021 : The Company announced that Microsoft's Azure Cloud Services platform will be a standard offering across its virtual experience platforms and consumer apps enabling hyper-scalable, secure, and immersive events and applications for users. : The Company announced that platform will be a standard offering across its virtual experience platforms and consumer apps enabling hyper-scalable, secure, and immersive events and applications for users. January 15, 2021: Company has signed a renewal agreement with Poly with an initial value of $470,000 for a six-month term and the potential for additional revenue after the six months. Company has signed a renewal agreement with Poly with an initial value of and the potential for additional revenue after the six months. Record Q4 2020 Total Bookings of $7.3 million +275% growth over the same period last year CEO Evan Gappelberg purchased 250,000 shares. This purchase brings his 2020 purchased shares to 1,279,885 common shares of Nextech. Announced the launch of its ground-breaking "Genie in a Bottle" human hologram AR marketing platform and new eCommerce store for its TruLyfe brand of human supplements. and new eCommerce store for its TruLyfe brand of human supplements. Announced that it is expanding its services into the Asia-Pacific market after establishing a presence in Singapore . To support this expansion, Nextech has hired Yau Boon Lim, a technology industry veteran with over 25 years' experience in strategy, planning, marketing, operations, and business management for various industries in the Asia Pacific market. Lim has held leadership positions within global enterprise technology companies, driving marketing and strategies for blue chip global tech companies, including IBM (News - Alert) where he led marketing management, Motorola where he was Head of Strategy and Planning, and SAP where he was Vice President of Marketing for the Asia Pacific market. Lim is based out of Singapore. . To support this expansion, Nextech has hired Yau Boon Lim, a technology industry veteran with over 25 years' experience in strategy, planning, marketing, operations, and business management for various industries in the Asia Pacific market. Lim has held leadership positions within global enterprise technology companies, driving marketing and strategies for blue chip global tech companies, including IBM (News - Alert) where he led marketing management, Motorola where he was Head of Strategy and Planning, and SAP where he was Vice President of Marketing for the Asia Pacific market. Lim is based out of Singapore. Coex chooses Nextech as its hybrid virtual event platform partner. Coex is a global leader in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events (MICE); it hosts over 200 exhibitions and 3,000 meetings & events in-house each year in Korea at the Coex convention and exhibition center. Coex also organizes numerous exhibitions throughout Korea and abroad, with international reach in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. as its hybrid virtual event platform partner. Coex is a global leader in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events (MICE); it hosts over 200 exhibitions and 3,000 meetings & events in-house each year in Korea at the Coex convention and exhibition center. Coex also organizes numerous exhibitions throughout Korea and abroad, with international reach in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. The Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN) has chosen Nextech AR's Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) to host its 2021 Annual General Meeting, taking place May 10-13. AR's Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) to host its 2021 Annual General Meeting, taking place May 10-13. Launched a new collaborative streaming solution with AI and AR enhancements, that integrates with its existing Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) and its ARitize SaaS offerings. Nextech is one of the leaders in the rapidly growing Augmented Reality market estimated to grow from USD $10.7B in 2019 and projected to reach USD $72.7B by 2024 according to Markets & Markets Research; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 46.6% from 2019 to 2024. The company is pursuing four verticals: Virtual Experience Platform (VXP): An advanced Augmented Reality and Video Learning Experience Platform for Events, is a SaaS video platform that integrates Interactive Video, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality in one secure platform to allow enterprises the ability to create the world's most engaging virtual event management and learning experiences. Automated closed captions and translations to over 64 languages. With Nextech's VXP platform having augmented reality, AI, end-to-end encryption, and built-in language translation for 64 languages, the company is well positioned to rapidly take market share as the growth accelerates globally. ARitize For eCommerce: The company launched its SaaS platform for webAR in eCommerce early in 2019. Nextech has a ?'full funnel' end-to-end eCommerce solution for the AR industry including its Aritize360 app for 3D product capture, 3D/AR ads, its ARitize white label app, its 'Try it On' technology for online apparel, 3D and 360-degree product views, and 'one click buy'. ARitize 3D/AR Advertising Platform: The ad platform will be the AR industry's first end-to-end solution whereby the company will leverage its 3D asset creation into 3D/AR ads on its owned and operated digital properties. ARitize Hollywood Studios: The studio is in development producing immersive content using 360 video, and augmented reality as the primary display platform. To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com. On behalf of the Board of Nextech AR Solutions Corp. "Evan Gappelberg" CEO and Director The NEO has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be", "looking forward" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness are based on the Company's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements of Nextech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005312/en/ Advertisement Social media users have been baffled after Australian snake catchers challenged them to spot the serpent hiding among the tools in a Sunnybank garage. Snake Catchers Brisbane & Gold Coast shared a picture of the scene to Facebook after being called out to the home. While a few eagle-eyed users were able to pick out the snake, many have been left scratching their heads - some even claimed the image was a hoax and did not feature a snake at all. Social media users have been baffled after Australian snake catchers challenged them to spot the serpent hiding among the tools in a Sunnybank garage. Snake Catchers Brisbane & Gold Coast shared a picture of the scene to Facebook after being called out to the home But hidden among the cables, tools and paintbrushes in the work shed is a carpet python, curled up in a corner next to a saw. The reptile can grow up to 10 feet in length, and though non-venomous, carpet pythons have been reported to have squeezed the life out of humans and pets after winding their way around their bodies. One Facebook user confessed he felt 'a bit concerned' about being faced with the situation in real life, based on how hard it was to find the snake in the photo. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Sex trafficking survivors urge Canadian Parliament to open criminal investigation into MindGeek Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Anti-pornography advocates and survivors of sexual exploitation have called for the Canadian Parliament to open a criminal investigation into MindGeek, the parent company of Pornhub and over 160 other websites that profit off videos showing "rape, nonconsensual pornography, and child sexual abuse material." In a 12-page letter to the Canadian Parliament's Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, a collective of 104 survivors of sexual exploitation and 525 nongovernmental organizations from 65 nations called for a criminal investigation into MindGeek, which is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Joining the group is the Washington-based National Center of Sexual Exploitation, whose Law Center filed a legal brief on Feb. 19 backing an investigation into "how the nonconsensual content on MindGeek websites is violating international legal norms against slavery and torture. MindGeek has profited from rape, nonconsensual pornography, and child sexual abuse material for years, and it is time to open a criminal investigation to hold this company accountable, said NCOSE senior legal counsel Dani Pinter in a statement Monday. On Feb. 1, the Canadian House of Commons Ethics Committee held public hearings to hear witnesses' testimonies about MindGeeks alleged practices. Four days later, MindGeek executives were questioned by the ethics committee. Multiple reports have emerged revealing how Pornhub, one of the largest pornography websites in the world, has allowed illegal content on its site and has been slow to verify consent and remove the videos. [I]t apparently stores a copy of all content on its servers, even child sexual abuse material (CSAM); and it turns out that MindGeek executives even claimed a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children but NCMEC says no such partnership exists. These issues are just the tip of the iceberg, Pinter added. The outcry from such an overwhelming number of survivors and organizations against MindGeeks exploitative business model must be heard, and we are proud to stand with them. Survivors deserve justice and Canada has a unique opportunity to fully investigate MindGeek. Last month, MindGeek executives insisted that they were trying to create a safe environment for people to consume adult content. Michael Bowe, an American attorney who has been investigating Pornhub for a year, was among those who spoke at the Feb. 1 hearing where he cited the case of a girl younger than 10, who had been trafficked and had child sexual abuse material made of her. The material had been posted on Pornhub for over 10 years and had stayed there until late last year. Pornhub came under considerable scrutiny in December when New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristofdetailed how the company had failed to enforce its policies and had contributed to an explosion of child sex abuse online. In the column, Kristof described the porn giant as "[pedophile] Jeffrey Epstein times 1000." Later that month, 40 women who were victims of Girls Do Porn the owners of which have been charged with various sex crimes filed a lawsuit against Pornhub, claiming the site had profited off their exploitation as victims of sex trafficking. The United States Department of Justice effectively shuttered Girls Do Porn in 2019 when its senior staff were arrested and charged with various crimes. The site had been a partner of MindGeek up until that point. Launched last year by the group ExodusCry, a Change.org petition calling for Pornhub to be shut down given documented link to trafficking has garnered nearly 2.2 million signatures. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund is scouting for long-term opportunities in the United States, an executive said, after a fund co-established with Group Inc raised $2.5 billion, half of the targeted amount. The China-U.S. Industrial Cooperation Fund, launched in November 2017 on the sidelines of former U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, has completed two investments in the United States, Corp (CIC) Chief Strategy Officer Zhao Haiying told Reuters on Wednesday. The fund was launched with the aim of reaping returns from helping the U.S. firms that it invests in to expand their market in It fell short of the initial $5 billion target, due to a change in strategy, according to a person with direct knowledge. CIC declined to comment further. Goldman declined to comment. Zhao said the fundraising went smoothly but CIC has no near-term plans to invest in a second fund with Goldman of a similar nature. The joint fund first invested alongside Goldman to buy Boyd Corp, a Pleasanton, California-based manufacturer of rubber seals and gaskets, for $3 billion in September 2018, Reuters reported https://www.reuters.com/article/us-goldman-sachs-fund-china-exclusive-idUSKCN1RA0CX in 2019. It completed a second deal last year despite heightened trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, Zhao said, without disclosing details. CIC will keep watching for potential policy changes in the United States under the Biden administration and "continue to explore long-term opportunities," Zhao said. "As China's sovereign wealth fund, we understand the market well and can leverage that advantage to help bridge overseas companies with China," she said. CIC has been pursuing an overseas strategy by co-investing with private-equity fund managers such as France's Eurazeo SE and Japan's Nomura Holdings Inc. CIC also made several investments last year via its U.K.-China Cooperation Fund, Japan-China Capital Partners and two other cooperation funds with Italy and France, which it deemed "meaningful exploration," Zhao said. CIC's committed in non-public markets hit a record high in 2020, with strong performance from asset classes such as real estate and private equity, Zhao said. CIC has an unaudited return of over 12% on overseas investments last year, with its 10-year annualised return at over 6.6%. (Reporting by Cheng Leng, Ryan Woo in Beijing and Kane Wu in Hong Kong; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Christopher Cushing) (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.) In just the past week, Andrew Reichenbach's car repair shop in Minneapolis has had three Mitsubishis come in with their exhaust pipes sawed off. The thieves were after a precious metal - tucked into almost all American vehicles - in such demand that it costs 15 times the price of gold. "We've had 60 or 70 in just our shop alone if that gives you a sense of the magnitude of these thefts," the mechanic said. "Most of my customers are just baffled. Like, why would somebody do this?" The metallic element is housed in a bulbous piece of aluminum, called a catalytic converter, that encases a honeycomb structure that filters fumes. National data is scarce, but news reports point to thousands of catalytic converter thefts over the past year, a crime wave that has risen with the price of one of their essential components: rhodium, a silvery-white chemical element that is a byproduct of the production of platinum and palladium, and is unparalleled in its ability to remove the most toxic pollutants from vehicle exhaust. A single troy ounce, which is slightly heavier than a regular ounce, of rhodium cost around $27,000 last week - more than a brand new Toyota Prius. That's up from $1,700 three years ago. But to understand why those prices, and thefts, are skyrocketing, and to understand how long they might stay that high, we must go back more than a decade to the 2008 global recession and follow its effects until they coincide with last year's pandemic-driven economic catastrophe in South Africa, where 80% of the world's rhodium originates. Before the 2008 recession hit, South African mines were churning out platinum, a pillar of the country's export economy that is used in a wide variety of products from jewelry to heavy industry. They kept doing so during the downturn, creating a massive surplus of platinum that persists to this day. Because rhodium is a byproduct of platinum production, it is only produced when mining companies see a profit in platinum - which they might not for another few years until the surplus wanes. "There is a lot of metal in the system, which has kept prices quite low for a long time," said James Wellsted, spokesman for Sibanye-Stillwater, the world's largest platinum and rhodium producer. Even meteoric rhodium prices can't justify significantly scaling up platinum production right now, he said. Each unit of ore mined typically contains 60% platinum, 30% palladium, 8% to 9% rhodium and trace amounts of other metals, said Emma Townshend, an executive at Impala Platinum, another major South African platinum metals group producer. Mining representatives said they expected rhodium shortages and the accompanying high prices to persist until at least 2025. Part of the shortage is driven by the demand side, too. As some countries in Europe, the Americas and East Asia raise emissions standards, new vehicles are expected to require more rhodium in their exhaust filters. And in countries like China, demand for cars is soaring. Lara Smith, founder of the mining market research group Core Consultants, said while rhodium shortages were in excess of 150,000 ounces, the deficit was expected to grow until a substitute was found or if there was a major switch to electric vehicles, which don't require rhodium. "There are certain metals that don't follow fundamental supply and demand dynamics because nobody is going to set up a mine just for the rhodium," she said. "Rhodium will always be mined or not mined because of the platinum." The shortage was only exacerbated by the pandemic. In South Africa, what little platinum mining remained was curtailed between April and November as the government figured out how to allow for mine activity without putting workers at risk. An explosion at a giant platinum mine last March also disrupted production. These factors, together with the platinum surplus and surging demand, took what was already an expensive, rare metal and drove the price through the roof. The global automotive industry now spends tens of billions of dollars a year on the metals for catalytic converters alone. "We call rhodium the most precious of all the metals. People are only taking note of it now, but really it has been the top-performing commodity for the last three or four years," Wellsted said. He said criminals who stole rhodium-containing catalytic converters usually sold them to a network of scrap merchants. Each converter generally contains about $400 worth of rhodium, he said, in addition to its numerous other components. The FBI declined to comment on the spate of thefts. "I call it a pandemic within a pandemic," said Reichenbach, the mechanic. "Mitsubishis seems to be the thieves' new hit, and who knows what it'll be next." - - - Wroughton reported from Cape Town and Bearak from Nairobi. 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. [March 04, 2021] Outreach Adds Ralph de la Vega, Former Vice Chairman of AT&T, to Board of Directors SEATTLE, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Outreach, the largest and fastest-growing sales engagement platform, today announced Ralph de la Vega, an experienced executive with a history of leading global technology organizations, has joined its board of directors. "Ralph is someone who has been at the forefront of some of the most significant technological innovations of the past 20 years - from the early days of the wireless industry to helping bring the iPhone into the world. His wisdom and experience are invaluable to us, and his mentorship can change the trajectory of lives and businesses," said Manny? ?Medina,? ?chief? ?executive? ?officer? ?of? ?Outreach.? "From leading Cingular Wireless and AT&T Mobility to running all of AT&T's international businesses Ralph represents a person who has built the American dream. Having Ralph on my board has been a dream of mine for a long time!" De la Vega has significant experience leading high-growth, global enterprises and advising burgeoning startups. He is the former Vice Chairman of AT&T Inc., where he was responsible for all of AT&T's global business operations. De la Vega also held roles as CEO of AT&T Mobility, COO of Cingular Wireless, and President of BellSouth Latin America. Currently, he is the founder and chairman of the De La Vega Group, an advisor and investor to early-stage copanies. He serves on the boards of American Express Company, New York Life Insurance Company, and Amdocs Corporation. De la Vega received a degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Atlantic University (FAU), a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University, and Doctorate Honoris Causa from Florida Atlantic University. "I joined Outreach's board not only because of the company's impressive growth and industry-changing technology but also because of its leadership and entrepreneurial story," said de la Vega. "As a native of Cuba, I've met very few peer immigrant LatinX CEOs in tech and business and even fewer that have catapulted themselves to success despite the many adversities we've had to face. I look forward to working closely with Manny to guide Outreach to the greatness it's destined for." Medina and de la Vega connected in December 2020 when they were both guests on CNBC's live program, "The Path Forward: Race and Opportunity in America - The Latino Economy," hosted by Jon Fortt and Carl Quintanilla. As an influential leader and mentor for entrepreneurs and business leaders, de la Vega shared insights about the LatinX community's economics and representation in corporate America. About Outreach Outreach is the largest and fastest-growing sales engagement platform that helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter, more insightful engagement with their customers. The only sales engagement platform to make the Forbes Cloud 100, Outreach was also the fastest-growing Sales Engagement Platform on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. More than 4,600 companies such as Adobe, Tableau, Okta, Splunk, DocuSign, and SAP depend on Outreach's enterprise-scale, unparalleled customer adoption, and robust AI-powered innovation. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io . PR Contact: Amanda Woolley pr@outreach.io View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outreach-adds-ralph-de-la-vega-former-vice-chairman-of-att-to-board-of-directors-301240822.html SOURCE Outreach [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An Anaheim Police Department patrol car is seen outside the station in Anaheim, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Gang Task Force Operation Conducted in Orange County SANTA ANAThe Orange County Violent Gang Task Force was serving a number of federal and state warrants March 3 as part of an investigation targeting an Orange County-based street gang, according to the FBIs Los Angeles field office. The Orange County Violent Gang Task Force and its partners are executing twelve federal search warrants this morning, as well as one federal arrest warrant, one state arrest warrant and probation compliance checks, as part of an investigation targeting an Orange County-based street gang, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement. Several federal and local tactical teams were utilized during the service of the warrants, Eimiller added. The affidavits supporting the search warrants have been sealed by a federal judge. In addition to the FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the task force was also assisted by the Santa Ana, Anaheim, Fullerton and Newport Beach police departments, the IRS Criminal Investigation Department, the Criminal Investigation Task Force and the Orange County Probation Office. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation were also participating in the continuing investigation. The U.S. Attorneys Office is prosecuting the federal case and the Orange County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting the state charges. Quick Links SACI Facebook : SACI Instagram: SACI Award winner, Fellows and Life members 2020 Fellow of SACI (FSACI) 2020 Prof. John Bradley Prof. Bette Davidowitz Prof. Charles de Konning Prof. Patricia Forbes Prof. Perry Kaye Prof. Selwyn Mapolie Prof. Vincent Nyamori Prof. Marissa Rollnick Life Members 2020 Dr KJ Buchanan Prof GE Jackson Mr DJHP Reyskens Prof JP Michael THE GOLD MEDAL The award, a gold-plated medal bearing the Institutes name and crest on the obverse and name of the medal and the recipient and date on the reverse, is made to a person whose scientific contribution in the field of chemistry or chemical technology is adjudged to be of outstanding merit. Prof Charles de Koning University of the Witwatersrand THE MERCK MEDAL The medal is awarded to the senior author of the paper, or papers, published in the South African Journal of Chemistry in a specific field of chemistry, adjudged to have made the most significant contributions to the discipline. The award for 2020, covering papers published in the period 2014 to 2019, was amongst the most cited (without self-citation) SA authored paper in the field of Chemistry, as adjudicated by two former S. Afr. J. Chem. editors. Eric M. Njogu, Bernard Omondi and Vincent O. Nyamori * S. Afr. J. Chem., 2016, 69, 5166, Synthesis, Physical and Antimicrobial Studies of Ferrocenyl-N-(pyridinylmethylene)anilines and Ferrocenyl-N-(pyridinylmethyl)anilines THE SACI POST-GRADUATE AWARDS The awards shall be made to student members of the Institute engaged in research towards a MSc or PhD degree and registered in a School/Department of Chemistry at a South African University, or a MTech or DTech degree registered in a School/Department of Chemistry at a South African University of Technology. The number of medals awarded shall not exceed five per annum, and the awards are limited to one per institution. Past SACI/Sasol Postgraduate Awardees are not eligible for nomination for a second award of the medal. The recipients of the award shall be known as The SACI Postgraduate Awardees. Mr Adam Shnier University of the Witwatersrand Ms Jean Lombard Stellenbosch University Dr Ayomide H. Labulo University of KwaZulu-Natal THE CHEMICAL EDUCATION MEDAL The award is made to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to chemical education as judged by the persons published work in the previous 5 years. Published work may be in any form and may be related to any level or educational context. Dr Margaret Blackie Stellenbosch University THE RAIKES MEDAL The award shall be made to a person, under the age of 40 on 31 March in the year of the award, whose original chemical research shows outstanding promise, as judged by the persons publications in reputable journals. It is further stipulated that the research shall have been performed in South Africa. Prof. Tricia Naicker University of KwaZulu-Natal THE JAMES MOIR MEDALS Medals shall be awarded to the best fourth year student in chemistry at each University and University of Technology. To be eligible for the award the student must have achieved a minimum average final pass mark of 75%. Mr I.J. Minnie University of Witwatersrand Ms A. Kritzinger University of Pretoria Ms S.A. Fraser University of Kwazulu-Natal Ms L. Amod University of Cape Town Ms P Maseko North West University Ms B. Khuzwayo Durban University of Technology Mr G. Ramaremisa University of Limpopo Ms L. Mbonzhe University of Venda Mr M. Maritz Nelson Mandela University Statement from SACI Council on tertiary training in chemistry as a result of disruptions to the 2020 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the professional body representing the interests of all chemists in South Africa, we recognise the challenges that the current COVID-19 crisis presents to all our members in academia, research and industry. We also acknowledge the challenges the current situation presents to our tertiary institutions and specifically the challenges presented by moving to online teaching. We applaud the efforts of all our members who work at tertiary institutions who have adapted and innovated to ensure that we can continue as far as possible with our teaching and learning of chemistry even when on campus face-to-face contact is not possible. Our tertiary institutions play a critical role in not only training the next generation of chemists, but they are also tasked with the important responsibility of ensuring that many people from other professions and disciplines are trained in the fundamental principles of chemistry. We reaffirm our belief that this training is essential, as chemistry is one of the central sciences. Key to this training is the practical component and laboratory based skills development. While we accept that this critical component of our training is not possible under the current situation, we strongly urge that plans be put in place to preserve this component of training as part of the curriculum as far as possible. In some cases, virtual laboratory tools can facilitate learning, but we believe that in laboratory practical training particularly for senior level courses should be preserved. SACI strongly recommends that at least a critical minimum practical experience should form part of the plans to complete the 2020 academic year at our tertiary institutions. We believe that this is essential to preserve the validity and integrity of the academic training programmes in chemistry. Statement issued on behalf of the SACI Council, Professor Peter Mallon President of SA Latest Updates: Pay your SACI membership fees with SnapScan New Interactive Electronic Version of the IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements & Isotopes How do we know what the temperature of our planet was a million years ago, to better understand climate change? Where did Otzi the Iceman live as a child and an adult? What evidence gives doping agencies the gold standard to determine whether testosterone in an athletes sample comes from doping? How do we obtain 3D images of tumors in soft tissues? The answers to all of these questions and many more can be revealed through a deeper understanding of isotopes of the elements. Isotopes matter! These new resources are created for educators and students at secondary and post-secondary levels, and to inform the public about the many uses of isotopes in our lives. They are based on educational practices that encourage engaged and active learning by students. The new IUPAC interactive electronic periodic table and accompanying educational materials were created by a partnership between an , and researchers at the , and build on the work of a previous IUPAC project team to create a print version of the Periodic Table of the Isotopes. This project responds to requests by educators and students for resources highlighting the importance of isotopes in our lives, and that give students help in using interval atomic weights for elements. brings free engaging and interactive learning resources to the fingertips of students and educators around the world, says Task Group Co-Chair Peter Mahaffy, Professor of Chemistry at the Kings University in Canada, and co-director of the Kings Centre for Visualization in Science. And Norman Holden, retired Research Coordinator of the High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR) and the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMMR) and a Guest Scientist at the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) of Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, adds: Its great when scientists and educators work together to create a vehicle to provide students with an understanding of fundamental scientific facts and accomplish this internationally. Following the global launch on August 17, 2016, the new IUPAC interactive electronic periodic table and accompanying resources can be accessed at . A print version of the periodic table of the isotopes and elements is available at . Further details will be published in the peer-reviewed IUPAC Journal, Pure and Applied Chemistry. Contact: Dr. Peter Mahaffy, IUPAC Project Task Force Co-Chair Co-Director, The Kings Centre for Visualization in Science The Kings University, Canada Dr. Norman Holden, IUPAC Project Task Force Co-Chair Brookhaven National Laboratories, USA Dr. Fabienne Meyers Associate Director, IUPAC SACI Ties, Scarfs and T-shirts Periodic table ties and ladies scarfs R130 each. Periodic table T Shirt Short sleeve R180, Long sleeve R200 Please contact head office to place orders. There is also a courier charge of R150 per order for delivery. Nine families who were set to be booted from their homes to make way for a carpark have secured a victory after the government backed down due to widespread backlash. Transport NSW had plans to forcibly acquire a strip of properties next to Jannali train station, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire, to build a multi-storey car park. After the local community launched a campaign against the development, a member from the department called residents on Thursday to announce the plan had been aborted. 'This is a great victory but it's not a victory just for us it's a victory for common sense,' homeowner Liam Mulhall told ABC News. Nine Sydney families have been told they will be able to keep their cherished Jannali homes after the government backed down from plans to turn the block into a car park. Pictured: NSW shadow Transport Minister Chris Minns (pictured to the right of the sign) visiting the residents last month Pictured from above is the patch of land NSW Transport had planned to bulldoze in order to make a commuter car park to service Jannali train station 'We've had outstanding support from our neighbours and everyone in The Shire and more broadly ... we had over 11,000 people sign our petition and our Facebook group has 3,500 members, it's extraordinary support.' The department had last month threatened to demolish the homes if Sutherland Shire Council did not hand over the Jannali Shopping Centre car park as an alternative site. The council refused the proposition and are now understood to be negotiating a different arrangement with Transport NSW. A council report submitted to the government department has proposed the shopping centre instead be rezoned for an integrated development that will include both retail and commuter parking. Last month, two bureaucrats from Transport NSW door-knocked on the nine families home to unceremoniously break the news their homes would be demolished - and there was nothing they could do about it. The first knock was answered by a man with cerebral palsy who just finished refurbishing his home to make it more accessible. Helma Mullhall and her husband Liam, who have lived in their Jannali home for 20 years, were last month told their property would be forcibly acquired by Transport NSW Ishpal Singh (pictured), who has cerebral palsy, has lived in the area for 15 years and had only eight weeks ago finished upgrading his home with ramps, rails and an automatic door when A widowed single mother was next to be bailed up as she stood in the driveway strapping her and her sister's children in the back of their car as they got ready for school. After that a cancer survivor, a woman who suffers chronic anxiety and two families who've lived in their homes for decades were also told. Under compulsory acquisition laws, home owners have six months to negotiate a price before getting the boot. But when private land is forcibly acquired for a public project, property owners are only entitled to the current market value of the home - nothing more. Helma Mullhall and her husband Liam have lived in their home for over two decades and had just spent over $100,000 renovating the property to make it more comfortable for their golden years. 'We bought the place with the long term intention of retiring here and maintaining our independence as much as possible because it's close to the shops, medical facilities and the train station,' Mr Mullhall previously said. 'The current market value doesn't take into account the value it has to us and it doesn't take into account that it's taking us out of the community that we love.' Mr Ishpal Singh, who has Cerebral Palsy, has lived in the area for 15 years. He had only recently finished upgrading his home (pictured) with ramps, rails and an automatic door when he was told his home would be forcibly acquired Houses in the Jannali neighbourhood were decorated with various signs blasting the state government Transport NSW had plans to bulldoze the houses for a four-storey commuter car park to service Jannali train station. Pictured: An impression of what the car park is set to look like Ishpal Singh, who has cerebral palsy, has lived in the area for 15 years and had only just finished upgrading his home with ramps, rails and an automatic door when he was told he would be evicted. 'They didn't even ask if we were okay or anything,' Mr Singh previously told Daily Mail Australia. 'Before the ramp I had to crawl into my house. Now I can access the community. 'We don't want to move because everyone is so friendly and I feel very comfortable in this area.' Mr Singh said finding a new home to suit his needs would be an uphill battle. 'After they told us everyone in my family just started crying.' Local member Eleni Petinos and Transport Minister Andrew Constance came under immense pressure since the plan was made public, with residents saying they had not been visited face to face and were not returning their calls and emails. A massive groundswell of supporters quickly rallied around the local community, putting up posters, doing letterbox drops and launching an online petition. A Facebook action group named Save Our Homes quickly gained traction, garnering 1,900 members in just over a week. When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines? That depends on the age, but according to new reporting from the Associated Press, the time for teenagers to get their shots could be coming soon. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is cleared for use starting at age 16 and the Moderna vaccine is cleared for people 18 and older. Pfizer and Moderna both have completed enrollment for studies of children ages 12 and older, and expect to release the data over the summer, according to the Associated Press. Experts say testing younger groups is more complex, because they may require a different dose or have differing responses from adults. RELATED: Michigan opens vaccines to more people, but frustration grows for those still struggling to book appointments Children are not just small adults, pediatrician Dr. James Campbell of the University of Maryland School of Medicine told the Associated Press. The younger you get, the higher the odds are that things could be different. And while the numbers support the idea that children arent developing serious illness or dying from COVID-19 at the same rate as adults, they can still spread the virus. Theres no question: we do want to immunize children, Drexel University pediatrics professor Dr. Sarah Long told the Associated Press. Pfizer and Moderna expect to start studies in children 11 and younger later this year, the AP reported. Its unlikely we could get community protection without immunizing children, Long added. This is the lynchpin to getting everything back to some kind of normalcy. [March 04, 2021] Transphorm's GaN Products Meet Crypto Mining Power Supply Units Performance Requirements Transphorm, Inc. (OTCQB: TGAN)-a pioneer in and global supplier of high reliability, high performance gallium nitride (GaN) power conversion products, announced today that its device portfolio is optimally designed and proven to support the growing demand for high performing power supply units (PSUs) driving the mining of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005483/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) The Company's GaN FETs are proven to reliably perform under harsh environments with high efficiency in various power applications, thereby minimizing wasted electricity. Transphorm is the only high voltage GaN supplier to date to publicly announce a customer's products currently in production are known to be used for crypto mining purposes. The Bitcoin Power Problem Crypto mining is a power-hungry process involving heavy computation to verify transactions. Recent research from Cambridge University indicates that Bitcoin mining alone consumes approximately 121.36 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity per year, which equates to more electricity than the entire country of Argentina uses. This high power draw is logically why, for example, Tom's Hardware reviewers identify the power supply as "the component that takes the most stress in a cryptocurrency mining rig." To meet the performance demand, the often-sourced Cybenetics requirements for mining-ready PSUs recommends baseline operational and support specifications to include: Minimum one-year warranty for the ability to operate 24/7 under full load at temperatures ranging between 30 o C to 35 o C C to 35 C 230VAC input capability to achieve 1 to 2% higher efficiency The previously referenced Tom's Hardware review identifies the CORSAIR AX1600i as the choice PSU to support crypto mining as it meets and exceeds the above requirements. That device is powered by Transphorm's GaN FETs in an AC to DC PFC power stage to maximize efficiency no matter the input voltage and comes with a 10-year warranty. The GaN Technology Enabling the Market Transphorm's GaN platform differs from competitive solutions in ways that are crucial to meeting crypto mining PSU performance requirements. First, Transphorm is one of the few high voltage GaN manufacturers that is vertically integrated, controlling the innovation and advancement of the FET design itself, the epitaxial starting material, and the manufacturing process. This has led to: Best-in-class Quality + Reliability: Over 12 billion hours of field reliability data on Transphorm's FETs has yielded a FIT rate of < 1-meaning less than 1 part per billion hours fails in field applications. The data is garnered from devices supporting power levels through several kilowatts. Over 12 billion hours of field reliability data on Transphorm's FETs has yielded a FIT rate of < 1-meaning less than 1 part per billion hours fails in field applications. The data is garnered from devices supporting power levels through several kilowatts. Simplicity of design and drivability: Transphorm's FETs are driven just like common silicon superjunction MOSFETs with off-the-shelf gate drivers. Additionally, the FETs offer the industry's highest threshold drive voltage at 4 V for best-in-class noise immunity. Transphorm's FETs are driven just like common silicon superjunction MOSFETs with off-the-shelf gate drivers. Additionally, the FETs offer the industry's highest threshold drive voltage at 4 V for best-in-class noise immunity. High volume reproducibility: Transphorm's manufacturing process delivers high volume yields matching silicon yields. Transphorm's manufacturing process delivers high volume yields matching silicon yields. Transphorm's leading GaN patent portfolio: as stated by industry patent and technology intelligence firm, Knowmade. "Transphorm is uniquely positioned to service the crypto mining industry like no other GaN supplier," said Kenny Yim, Vice President of Asia Sales, Transphorm. "We have the right platform, in the right packaging that delivers the required performance and reliability. Plus, we have the proven experience with customers already in production. As the Bitcoin market continues to ramp, the power supply capabilities will need to keep pace. We'll be the company helping PSU manufacturers do just that." Today, Transphorm continues to drive design wins into higher power applications to include crypto mining PSUs ranging from 1600 W to 3600 W. The Company is poised for significant growth with its latest patented SuperGaN Gen IV technology, which is available in the TO-247 package-a trusted package used for decades in the power electronics industry. The benefits of the SuperGaN platform paired with the thermally-proficient, highly reliable TO-247 package and stable high-speed switching through Transphorm's proprietary designs create a GaN solution unmatched by competitive surface mount devices that are, given their limitations, relegated to lower power applications. About Transphorm Transphorm, Inc., a global leader in the GaN revolution, designs and manufactures high performance and high reliability GaN semiconductors for high voltage power conversion applications. Having one of the largest Power GaN IP portfolios of more than 1,000 owned or licensed patents, Transphorm produces the industry's first JEDEC and AEC-Q101 qualified high voltage GaN semiconductor devices. The Company's vertically integrated device business model allows for innovation at every development stage: design, fabrication, device, and application support. Transphorm's innovations are moving power electronics beyond the limitations of silicon to achieve over 99% efficiency, 40% more power density and 20% lower system cost. Transphorm is headquartered in Goleta, California and has manufacturing operations in Goleta and Aizu, Japan. For more information, please visit www.transphormusa.com. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @transphormusa and WeChat @ Transphorm. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005483/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. New Delhi: 100 days of the agitation of farmers against the agricultural laws of the Center are nearing completion. Meanwhile, Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), has increased the restlessness of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), making a claim. Rakesh Tikait says that in the same month a BJP MP will resign in support of the movement, the number of BJP MPs will remain, the same day this movement will run. However, Rakesh Tikait has not named the name of the BJP MP, but after his statement, there is a lot of speculation. Some people say that the MP who resigns may be from western Uttar Pradesh, while some people say that the BJP MP from Punjab or Haryana may resign. Earlier, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait had said that till the withdrawal of all the three laws and the law guaranteeing the MSP, our movement will end. He had said that the farmers are in no hurry, no matter how long it takes, we are not calling the opposition party or denying anyone, there are many BJP leaders with us. On the question of rallying in West Bengal, Rakesh Tikait had said that the court has imposed some sanctions on us, where we would like to, we will meet there. He said that our target is on the central government, when the Center has framed the law, then take back the center itself, why should we fight the state governments. Modi govt explicitly embraces Privatisation, instead of Disinvestment, Says Sonia Gandhi Upcoming Polls: Congress screening committees shortlists candidates Mongolia: Air border set to reopen air from May 1 Fuel price taxes: MLAs stage walkout from Punjab Vidhan Sabha America didnt do so great in 2020. The national response to the coronavirus pandemic was haphazard, with foolish fights over masks and distancing. The George Floyd killing triggered a ferocious outpouring of rage, violence and racist counter-protests. Then President Trump refused to admit he lost the presidential election, fomenting an anti-democratic uprising that culminated in the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol early this year. The world noticed this shabby performance. The United States dropped from first to second place among the best countries to relocate to, in a survey of 209,000 workers in 190 countries by Boston Consulting Group and Appcast, a job advertising firm. Canada ranked No. 1 in the survey. Boston Consulting has done the survey twice before, in 2014 and in 2018. The United States ranked first both times, while Canada ranked third. The report attributes the U.S. drop to an inconsistent pandemic response, the adoption of more nationalistic policies, and social unrest. It doesnt cite Trump by name, but Trumps America first approach included a reduction in legal immigration, a cutback in temporary skilled workers allowed into the country, and anti-immigrant rhetoric dating to the beginning of his presidential campaign in 2015. Its hardly a surprise that would have made the United States seem less welcoming. The surveys took place from October to December of last year, a period of time when Trump himself contracted Covid-19 and the Trump White House was the source of at least one superspreader event. At 1,600 deaths per 1 million people, the U.S. has the 10th worst coronavirus death rate out of more than 200 countries. Canadas death rate is 581 per million, 64% lower than in the U.S. The United States wasnt the only country to lose luster in the survey. Germany fell from second in 2018 to fourth in 2020, probably because of a spurt of anti-immigration sentiment. The UK ranked second in 2014, but fell to fifth in 2019 and 2020. The UKs chaotic exit from the European Union Brexit occurred in 2016 and wasnt finalized until the end of 2020. The UK also struggled with a high coronavirus death rate. Story continues Countries moving up in the BCG welcome index include No. 3 Australia, No. 6 Japan and No. 10 New Zealand. Each has a coronavirus death rate far lower than the global average. Heres how the top 10 have changed since 2014: Source: Boston Consulting Group Workers in general were less willing to relocate to another country in 2020, most likely because of the coronavirus. The portion of survey respondents working abroad or willing to work abroad fell from 63.8% in 2014 to 57.1% in 2018 to 50.4% last year. Most of the respondents were young or mid-career workers with a college education, since those are the types of workers needed by the big firms BCG does consulting work for. The United States is rebounding better from the coronavirus downturn than many countries, thanks to aggressive fiscal and monetary stimulus and a generally resilient economy. But America is hardly the best at everything, as some Americans might think. It fell from first to second in the 2019 World Economic Forum global competitiveness report, behind Singapore. In 2020, the WEF ranked countries on their pathway to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, with the U.S. ranking 5th. The World Bank, in its ease-of-doing-business assessment, ranks the U.S. 6th. On health care, the U.S. performs much worse. The United States endures higher mortality and disease rates than wealthy countries do, on average, with the highest costs in the world, by far. Thats one of the problems President Joe Biden has vowed to tackle, but he faces daunting challenges. The worlds most celebrated democracy only ranks 19th in government effectiveness, in part because of the difficulty passing legislation in the U.S. Senate. For anybody wondering, Canada ranks 10th. Rick Newman is the author of four books, including "Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman. You can also send confidential tips, and click here to get Ricks stories by email. Read more: Get the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance As well its French and Italian businesses, Aviva also sold its operations in Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Turkey ( ) said it is planning for higher payouts to shareholders after the sale of its French and Italian businesses and strong cash generation from the ongoing businesses. The life insurer said today it had sold the last bits of its Italian business for 754mln having agreed the sale of its French and Turkish businesses last month for 2.7bn and 122mln respectively. Amanda Blanc, the life and pensions groups chief executive, has targeted cash remittances from its core business of 5bn over the next three years to fund both investment and payouts to investors. The FTSE 100 group said operating profits fell by 3% to 2.49bn in the year to end-December 2020, which Blanc described as a resilient performance. Trading in several key markets had been strong, she added, with Saving and Retirement and bulk purchase annuities both having record years. As well the French, Turkish and Italian businesses, Aviva also sold its operations in Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. The dividend for the year was 21p (15.5p) with a final payment of 14p, which Aviva said is in line with policy. Aviva also expects to reduce debt by 1.7bn in the first half of 2021 following the disposals in Europe and has launched a tender offer to remove 800mln of debt. Cash remittances in 2020 were 1.5bn with a target of 1.8bn by 2023 while proceeds from the Italy and France disposals will boost excess capital by 3bn. Avivas solvency ratio, a key measure of financial health, was very strong at 202% (206%) at the year-end. Russ mOuld, investment director at wealth manager AJ Bell said: "Aviva has sold off seven separate businesses since August and netted more than 5 billion in proceeds the latest deal seeing the company exit Italy. This is now a much more streamlined company with a clear strategic focus on UK, Ireland and Canada where todays results reveal it delivered resilient performance in 2020 despite the pandemic with, somewhat remarkably, record sales posted in several areas amid a notably strong showing from its asset management arm. "Blanc is not just making progress on selling off bits of the group but, using the proceeds derived from these transactions, is also rapidly paying down debt. This should allow Aviva to begin returning a lot of capital to shareholders, potentially as soon as next year." Shares rose 3% to 395.3p. --adds comment, share price -- Kansas City, MO , March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: NGAB.U) (the Company) today announced that, commencing March 5, 2021, holders of the units sold in the Companys initial public offering may elect to separately trade shares of the Companys common stock and warrants included in the units. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The shares of common stock and warrants that are separated will trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbols NGAB and NGAB.W, respectively. Those units not separated will continue to trade on the NYSE under the symbol NGAB.U. Holders of units will need to have their brokers contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Companys transfer agent, in order to separate the units into shares of common stock and warrants. The Company 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. Although the Company may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business or industry, it intends to focus on opportunities whose business model demonstrates clear commitments to sustainability and strong alignment with environmental, social and governance principles. The units were initially offered by the Company in an underwritten offering. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and CIBC Capital Markets acted as the joint book running managers for the offering. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained for free from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) website at www.sec.gov or from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (866) 803-9204 or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com ; Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (888) 603-5847 or by email at barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com ; CIBC World Markets Corp., Attn: USE Prospectus Department, 425 Lexington Ave, 5th floor, New York, NY 10017, by telephone at (800) 282-0822 or by email at useprospectus@cibc.com . A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the SEC on January 12, 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. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including with respect to the initial public offering and the Companys search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above or the Companys initial business combination 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 for the 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. Contact remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. More than 200 life-saving anti-stab kits have been placed at bars, schools and shops across the West Midlands in honour of a 26-year-old who was knifed to death outside a pub. The kits, which contain bandages, tourniquets and gloves, have been placed in easy to reach locations so that members of the public can stem catastrophic bleeding before paramedics arrive on scene. There are 227 of the packs issued across Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley, Birmingham, Walsall, Solihull and Coventry, which have been funded by West Midlands police and crime commissioner David Jamieson. Their arrival comes after intense campaigning from mother Lynne Baird, who set up the Daniel Baird Foundation in memory of her 26-year-old son after he was stabbed to death outside the The Forge Tavern in Digbeth, Birmingham, in 2017. Ms Baird said: 'Sadly in 2017, when my boy was attacked, there wasn't a first aid kit to hand in the area. 'Had there been, then Daniel might still be with us today. I would love it if these kits could be placed in every busy area of the West Midlands.' In Central London, 320 of the packs have been deployed near key venues. Lynne Baird and daughter-in-law Stacey Coombes have campaigned for bleed control kits to be deployed at key locations such as pubs and venues, after Ms Baird's son Daniel was stabbed to death in Birmingham in 2017 There are 227 of the kits situated at sites across the West Midlands, while Central London has 320. The packs contain gauze, tourniquets and seals that can be used to slow bleeding and treat chest wounds before paramedics arrive on scene More recently there have been several high profile murders in the West Midlands, including the death of 15-year-old schoolboy Keon Lincoln. The teenager was stabbed and shot after being attacked by a gang of youths in Handsworth, Birmingham, on January 21. And six months ago a student was stabbed to death and seven others were injured after a man went on a knife rampage in Birmingham city centre. Just two days ago a murder investigation was launched after a man died after being stabbed in the neck near to the 2022 Commonwealth Games site in Perry Barr. Each kit is designed to be easy to use and keep an injured person alive until they can receive medical treatments from a professional medic. Ms Baird added: 'We know how important it is that when someone is stabbed, cut or injured that they receive first aid treatment straight away. 'These kits are designed to save lives and I'm delighted so many are now in areas near to where they are needed most.' Daniel Baird was stabbed to death outside a pub in Digbeth, Birmingham in 2017. His mother Lynne said: 'When my boy was attacked, there wasn't a first aid kit to hand in the area. Had there been, then Daniel might still be with us today' THE VITAL KIT INSIDE BLEED CONTROL PACKS Bleed control kits have been deployed across London and the West Midlands to provide rapid treatment to stab victims before paramedics arrive. The kits contain: Trauma dressing to control moderate bleeding; Gauze that can control moderate to severe bleeding; A specialist seal used to dress stab wounds to the chest; A tourniquet, which helps limit the flow of blood; Two sets of gloves, so that a stab victim can be safely treated; One pair of scissors, for applying the gauze, seal or tourniquet; Basic instructions so a member of the public will understand how to use and apply the equipment properly. Advertisement Hundreds of kits have already been placed in London at bars and pubs in response to soaring incidents. Knife crime in the West Midlands has doubled since 2012 and the PCC says they are keen to ensure these kits are distributed across the region. New figures show the murder rate in the area has risen dramatically since 2015 with 31 murders being recorded. Compared to 51 in 2020 and 39 in 2019. Knife crime has also significantly risen in the region in the last five years with 1,9000 recorded incidents in 2015 compared to 3,579 in 2019 and 3,160 last year. Gun crime in the West Midlands has also risen in the last three years rising from 671 cases in 2017 to 711 in 2020. David Jamieson, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: 'The bleed-control kits are a simple yet smart idea that has been designed to save a life. 'That is why I took little convincing that we should roll them out across our region. 'Sadly, knife crime has been rising across the country in the last decade, and so too has the number of fatalities. 'These new kits are good value for money and if they save just one life then they will have been worth the investment. 'I'd also like to praise Lynne Baird for her excellent tireless work on this issue. Without her, none of this would have been possible.' PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the largest unions representing essential workers in the Commonwealth is calling on the Pennsylvania Department of Health to change course and prioritize the tens of thousands of essential workers in Pennsylvania who help feed every Pennsylvania family for COVID-19 vaccinations. UFCW's 35,000 members across the state include 20,000+ grocery store and pharmacy workers, 2,000 workers in meatpacking and processing facilities, and thousands more in other food processing and packing plants across Pennsylvania. Young noted that, while 90% of the Local's members are considered "essential workers" under state guidance. In addition, Young said that, according to a recent study in Philadelphia, essential workers have a 55% higher chance of contracting COVID-19 and that their family members have a 17 percent higher chance of contracting the virus than members of the general public. "Now that it is crunch time, we cannot get the vaccines into their arms," Young added. "We process the food. We pack it. We stock the shelves and man the registers in grocery stores from southeast Pennsylvania to West Virginia and Ohio. There is no other Local in Pennsylvania whose members play this vital role in our food supply chain." "Stalling vaccinations for these essential workers is a dangerous policy mistake and we are urging our members and all front-line essential workers to join us and call Governor Tom Wolf's administration and tell them to do the right thing." Young noted that workers in meat-packing facilities in other states are being vaccinated. As the Department of Health moves to reprioritize other groups of workers in the 1B category, the essential workers of UFCW Local 1776 must be included. "We need the state Department of Health to revisit these decisions today," said Young. Representing members in the grocery, retail, food manufacturing, health care industries throughout Pennsylvania, the Ohio Valley and Hudson Valley, UFCW Local 1776 is proud to be a voice for the 35,000 workers we serve. SOURCE UFCW Local 1776 Keystone State MEPs of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party have quit the European People's Party (EPP) group after it approved an amendment to the umbrella party's rules at a group meeting. The EPP group voted on Wednesday to change the groups statutes to make it possible to suspend the membership of a whole group, not just individual MEP members, or to terminate membership collectively if the party groups rules were seriously breached. Fidesz MEPs Kinga Gal and Tamas Deutsch said it was unacceptable that the EPP group had launched hasty administrative manoeuvers during the coronavirus epidemic that was claiming the lives of thousands of European citizens every day, putting unprecedented pressure on our citizens and economies. The Fidesz MEPs said they had stated their legal and political concerns on several occasions, but the final version of the amendment to the EPP statutes was still unsatisfactory. The change in rules that would allow a simple majority to oust a whole party group from the EPP group would prevent Fidesz MEPs from exercising their parliamentary rights, they added. The Fidesz MEPs said the democratic will of almost 2 million Hungarians who backed Fidesz in the European elections must be respected fully. Salvini Assures PM Orban Of 'Friendship With Hungarians' Matteo Salvini, leader of the Italian League party, texted a message to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, assuring Orban of his friendship and closeness to the Hungarian nation after the MEPs of Hungarys ruling Fidesz announced to leave the European Peoples Party (EPP) family in the European Parliament. Salvini and Orban also talked on the phone later in the day, and discussed issues regarding vaccination against the coronavirus, reopening their countries economy after easing restrictions, as well as migration and the protection of families, the League party said. Meanwhile, Joerg Meuthen, the deputy leader of Germanys radical Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) party and an MEP sitting in the Identity and Democracy (ID) party group in the European Parliament, said ID would welcome the Fidesz MEPs among its ranks. Fideszs stance on migration, identity and national sovereignty is clearly much closer to ID than to EPP, Meuthen said. The ID currently counts 76 MEPs of the Italian Lega, the French Rassemblement National and the AfD parties. Fidesz Slam Changes To EPP Statutes Katalin Novak, a deputy leader of ruling Fidesz, has slammed the EPP groups vote to amend its statutes, which led to Fideszs 12 MEPs leaving the group on Wednesday. Thousands of people are dying in the European Union on a daily basis, Novak said on Facebook. And yet the European Peoples Partys parliamentary group is focused on limiting Fidesz MEPs room for manoeuvre. Novak, who is Hungarys minister without portfolio for family affairs, noted that Fidesz decided to put an end to the disagreements and leave the EPP group after the umbrella party approved an amendment to its statutes that would allow MEPs to be removed from the group en-bloc with a simple majority. Novak also shared a letter by Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed to Manfred Weber, the EPPs group leader, on Fideszs decision to leave the group. In his capacity as Fidesz leader, Orban said he was disappointed to witness the EPP group paralysed by internal administrative matters and busy silencing democratically elected Europeans, while hundreds of thousands of Europeans are hospitalised He called the change in rules a clearly hostile step towards our voters and Fidesz. This is anti-democratic, unfair and unacceptable. The governing body of Fidesz, he added, has decided to leave the EPP group in the European Parliament immediately. Orban added that Fidesz MEPs would continue to speak for those voters they represent and defend the interests of the Hungarian people. Justice Minister Judit Varga said EPP head Manfred Weber should have kept the party group together rather than weakening it. Varga said Fideszs long-time disagreement with the party family started because Weber does not want to lead [the EPP according to] Christian-Conservative values. He made this clear when he said that national sovereignty no longer exists. Varga said Fidesz believed in preserving the countrys thousand-year-old culture while cooperating with European countries. Hungary's Christian Democrat Party To Remain In EPP Hungarys allied ruling Christian Democrat (KDNP) party will remain a member of the European Peoples Party group after the MEPs of senior governing party Fidesz announced to leave the group. Gyorgy Holvenyi, KNDPs only MEP currently serving in the European Parliament, told MTI that the party joined the predecessor of the EPP, the European Union of Christian Democrats, in the early 1990s. The amendments of the EPPs statutes, which the EPP adopted earlier in the day, do not present a legal issue to KNDP and do not strip the party of positions it is holding, Holvenyi said. He said the party would continue to work for the cause of religious freedom, for persecuted Christians, for interreligious dialogue and for the advancement of European development policy. The OnePlus 8T has been nuts and bolts reality for a while now, and since its launch, the phone has been quite popular with buyers. The OnePlus 8T's success is based on a number of factors, including its core hardware, cameras and fast refresh rate display. Of these, the cameras have now been put through an in-depth review, with DxOMark comparing it to other popular camera phones in the market. DxoMark in its camera review of the OnePlus 8T has given it an overall score of 111 points, putting the device on par with the Google Pixel 4a and the old Huawei Mate 20 Pro. This Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC phone offers decent power in the camera department, however, as per the review, the phone's overall performance isn't too great. According to DxOMark, the main issues with the phone's camera is inaccurate color reproduction and noise across almost all shooting scenarios, especially in low-light. It also adds that the Dynamic range is also not up to the mark, with telephoto shots lacking detail and producing noise. The review also points out issues with videography on the phone, with videos needing better focus in low-light conditions. However, the review does mention that the phone offers good exposure metering and a wide depth of field that ensures a sharp background. Additionally, the review also praises the phone's ability to shoot bokeh shots which offer an accurate and convincing depth effect. OnePlus 8T specifications and features Talking about the cameras of the phone, the OnePlus 8T is equipped with a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 48MP camera with a Sony IMX586 sensor and f/1.7 aperture. This is followed by a 16MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 123-degree field-of-view, a 5MP macro camera and a 2MP monochrome lens. The primary camera supports OIS that assists in recording 4K UHD videos at upto 60FPS and super slow-motion videos at upto 240FPS. The camera app offers features like video night scape, video portrait and Pro mode, to name a few. On the front, theres the same 16MP selfie camera that uses Sony IMX471 sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. The front camera can record 1080p videos and also helps in face unlock and more. On the front, theres the same 16MP selfie camera that uses Sony IMX471 sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. The front camera can record 1080p videos and also helps in face unlock and more. Mumbai, March 4 : In another shocking incident, a government doctor has been sacked for allegedly molesting a Covid-19 cured patient at a Covid Care Centre in the tourist centre of Aurangabad. The issue figured prominently in the Maharashtra assembly following media reports that the doctor sought sexual favours and attempted to rape the woman who was cured of Covid-19 and sought a discharge from the Padampur CCC. After media reports surfaced on the incident and matter was raised in the assembly by BJP MLA Manisha Choudhary, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation dismissed the doctor from service. Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis lashed out at the government on the growing incidents of crime against women at CCCs and said he had written four letters fo the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government demanding standard operating procedures to curb them Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar assured the House that the SOPs would be in place by March 31. "We have gathered all information... No rape has taken place.... but there was an incident of attempted molestation. There is no denying the fact and whatever has happened is serious. The doctor has been dismissed from service," said Pawar. However, he added that the woman and her family did not want to lodge a formal police complaint and her husband and the sacked doctor were also found to be known to each other. Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 22:01:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A medical worker shows a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, March 4, 2021. Egypt started on Thursday vaccinating elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against COVID-19, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centers to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shots of the anti-coronavirus vaccine. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Egypt started on Thursday vaccinating elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against COVID-19, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centers to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shots of the anti-coronavirus vaccine. Madbouly stressed that the state is carrying out the vaccination process in a scientific manner, starting with testing the vaccines through the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) until their distribution according to priorities. He noted that the Health Ministry has launched a website to register citizens who would like to be vaccinated, adding that the government will work on increasing the number of recipients of the vaccines. Meanwhile, those who cannot access the website could apply for vaccination at the nearest hospital. In late January, Egypt started vaccinating medical staff of government hospitals with Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, which was the first to be approved by the EDA that recently approved Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines. For her part, the Egyptian health minister said that the ministry specified 40 vaccination centers that will be eventually increased with the inflow of vaccine doses to Egypt. Egypt has so far confirmed a total of 184,168 COVID-19 cases, including 10,822 deaths and 142,155 recoveries. Enditem She was nominated for an Academy Award for her first and only time in the year 2000, but lost the statuette to Angelina Jolie. And Chloe Sevigny looked to be deep in conversation on Wednesday, perhaps about a new role, when she was spotted chatting on her smartphone whilst crossing the street in New York City. The Brown Bunny star, 46, wore a cozy brown fur coat with the lapels flapped up to keep warm. Chatting: Chloe Sevigny looked to be deep in conversation on Wednesday, perhaps about a new role, when she was spotted chatting on her smartphone whilst crossing the street in NYC Chloes coat hung to just below her knees. Underneath, she wore medium wash denim skinny jeans. She had on large tortoiseshell cat eye sunglasses, and a white disposable face mask over her mouth and nose as protection against the coronavirus pandemic. Waiting on the corner: The Brown Bunny star, 46, wore a cozy brown fur coat with the lapels flapped up to keep warm Sevigny had her cream knit winter cap stuffed into one coat pocket, as she let her blonde hair out to breathe. It was sleek against her head and parted at the middle. Chloe gesticulated as she walked and talked, displaying a red manicure. On her feet, she wore pointy toed heeled tan suede boots with zippers on the sides. Crossing the street: Sevigny had her cream knit winter cap stuffed into one coat pocket, as she let her blonde hair out to breathe The actress first made waves at the age of 20 in 1995's shocking indie drama Kids, in which she played a character dismayed to discover her HIV-positive diagnosis. Five years later, she scored an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role opposite Hillary Swank in the biopic Boys Dont Cry, about the life and murder of transgender man Brandon Teena. In 2010, Chloe scored a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her television role on HBOs Big Love, about a polygamist family. Ingenue: The actress first made waves in 1995's indie drama Kids, in which she played a character who discovers her HIV-positive diagnosis; seen in the film with Rosario Dawson (left) Five years later: Chloe scored an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role opposite Hillary Swank in the biopic Boys Dont Cry Most recently, the star appeared in the HBO miniseries We Are Who We Are. The 8-episode series follows two American teenagers who come of age while living on an American military base in Italy And on the personal side, Chloe is mom to baby boy Vanja, whom she shares with her partner, Croatian gallery director Sinisa Mackovic. The pair have been dating since 2018, and they became parents to little Vanja last May. Zencity, a startup that offers tools to help government track public sentiment , has acquired another startup that specializes in opinion polling.The purchase of Elucd will create a company stretched across the Atlantic, with one foot in Tel Aviv and the other in New York, that can offer the public sector a broader spectrum of technology for understanding how the feelings of its constituents change over time.For example, a city manager could use Zencity to first get an understanding of residents opinions about a major public works project, then survey them to understand why, then make changes based on the responses and watch to see if their opinions change.The ability to turn how people feel about the neighborhood they live in, or how the citys doing, into a performance metric is incredibly transformational for cities, said Michael Simon, co-founder and CEO of Elucd. Its been transformational for the private sector. Every company in the world relies on things like net promoter score, (which) is one of the KPIs on the CEOs desk. Were now going to be able to put that same power in the hands of the CEOs of local governments, and thats a powerful thing.Zencity CEO Eyal Feder-Levy thinks the combination could have a very important application in coming months as well: the latter stages of the U.S. push to vaccinate against COVID-19. Though President Joe Biden recently announced that the country should have enough doses to vaccinate every American adult by the end of May , a sizable chunk of the population has been telling public opinion pollsters that they dont want to be a part of it The implication is that sometime between now and the end of May, the U.S. will reach a point where it has more vaccine supply than demand. And in fact, Feder-Levy has already seen the problem shaping up in Israel, where most of the population has already been vaccinated When the U.S. reaches that point, the governments concern will become convincing those people to get the vaccine. Feder-Levy thinks a combination of sentiment monitoring and surveying can help with that.If we can recognize what are the pockets of people who are more skeptical about vaccines, and recognize from the emerging discourse, from the examining discourse, what are the messages that are resonating well, not resonating well, what is the fake news thats dominating the conversation that mix of the two is a great, great, great example of (how) we can really make an impact on what is about to be, just two months down the road, what is going to be the biggest barrier between us and reopening our lives back to where we were before, he said.Zencitys product works by tapping into several sources of public discourse, including social media and local news. The companys algorithms then create insights and trends for a local government to see how that sentiment changes over time.Elucd is also focused on tracking changes over time. But it does so by giving governments a way to continuously survey residents with an eye toward creating respondent samples representative of the entire jurisdiction.The tools that exist today, they dont really solve the problem, Simon said. Because if you think about the way cities use survey research, its like, Lets do an annual study (where) we spend three months cooking up the questions and then we publish it three months later. The tools that exist are kind of clunky.Rather than creating a snapshot, the two companies hope to give public officials a before-and-after picture so they can see how the public responds to their actions. That could also work as a performance management metric for different departments.Zencity has about 200 local government agency customers and 75 employees, while Elucd has nine employees and 15 city customers. Most of Elucds clientele has been police departments, including one of the largest in the U.S., the Chicago Police Department.Zencity is venture-backed, and has raised at least $21 million from investors including Salesforce Ventures and Microsofts M12 fund. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The Texas Center for Employee Ownership (TXCEO.org), an independent member of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOXnetwork.org), is thrilled to announce its official launch in the Lone Star State. A nonprofit organization dedicated to educating business owners on employee ownership benefits, TXCEOs mission is to expand the awareness and benefits of employee ownership opportunities, including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). Serving businesses throughout Texas, the creation of TXCEO provides resources, case studies, articles, and a database of providers to assist with transitions of businesses to employee ownership. Throughout the coming year, TXCEO will provide learning opportunities to business leaders, attorneys, wealth managers, accountants, and other trusted business advisors as they consider moving to an employee-owner business model. We feel that now is a key moment for businesses in Texas, and the time is right for launching the TXCEO. There are approximately 163,000 businesses in Texas that are owned by baby boomers. With the damaging effects of COVID-19, many of them face a transition of ownership or potential closure. Over 2 million Texas employees are affected by this situation, said Steven Storkan, Executive Director of EOX. We know that conversion to an employee ownership model is not right for every business owner. However, it is a powerful option that business owners should not overlook due to a lack of information. By providing tools and resources to organizations in Texas considering to embark on this transition, TXCEO can quickly engage with business owners looking to shift to an employee-owned structure and assist them in the journey. The following ESOP professionals serve on the TXCEO organizational board and are responsible for upholding the organizations mission to expand employee ownership throughout the state: Steve Storkan Co-Chair and Executive Director at EOX Jennifer Krieger Co-Chair and Director at Weaver Mark Russell Treasurer and Head of Finance at SES ESOP Strategies Stephie Althouse Secretary and CEO at ESOP.io Laurie-Leigh White Board Member and Partner at BVA Group Anthony Eppert Board Member and Partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP Employee ownership increases engagement, dedication, and ingenuity, which are key to business success, especially during this uncertain time when businesses must respond quickly to change, stated Jennifer Krieger, Board Co-Chair. Im thrilled to be part of the TXCEO organization and help to communicate the positive message of employee ownership. The Texas Center for Employee Ownership is a community of passionate individuals and companies engaged in the transformative power of employee ownership - for businesses, communities, and individuals. We see employee ownership as a critical tool in reducing poverty, increasing community wealth, and creating a more vibrant, participatory economy. To learn more about the organization, register for events, and sign up for insights, please visit http://www.txceo.org. Experienced Professionals Augment Firm's Global Construction Disputes & Advisory Practice NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ankura, a global business advisory and expert services company, today announced the promotions of Matthew Finn and Chris Clark to Senior Managing Director in Ankura's Global Construction Dispute & Advisory practices in London and Perth, Australia, respectively. The appointments expand Ankura's deep bench of senior construction consulting experts and coincide with the firm's continued investment in its global construction consulting services. "We are excited to continue the expansion of our global team with the promotions of our colleagues Matthew and Chris, who have made outstanding contributions to our clients and our firm," said Steve Pitaniello, Senior Managing Director and Construction Business Group Leader at Ankura. "Matthew and Chris bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience enabling them to provide expert support and advice to clients throughout their respective regions. Additionally, they are professionals who live our firm values and embody our culture." "We look forward to Matthew and Chris's ongoing leadership as we continue to strategically grow our presence in this crucial region," said Simon Michaels, Ankura's Chairman of EMEA and APAC. "Our strong position in the market is a reflection of our professionals' talent in client services, and these well-deserved promotions are a testament to these leaders' valuable insight and commitment to client solutions." Mr. Finn is a chartered quantity surveyor and chartered construction manager with 18 years of dispute resolution experience in the building, infrastructure, power including nuclear, and oil and gas sectors. He has been regularly appointed as an independent expert witness in quantum (damages) on matters throughout the UK, Continental Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific. In addition, Matthew is a certified civil and commercial mediator, construction adjudicator, international and domestic arbitrator and sits on over 30 worldwide arbitration panels. He has been widely recognized by industry sources, such as Who's Who Legal, as a leading expert for arbitration, quantum and delay in construction matters. "I look forward to collaborating with Chris and our colleagues at Ankura on providing innovative solutions for the complex issues our clients face during the design and execution phases of capital projects," said Mr. Finn. "Ankura's continued focus and investment in our construction consulting capabilities ensures we are well positioned to achieve client success across multiple disciplines and regions." Mr. Clark, a chartered civil engineer, has 30 years' experience in civil engineering contracting and in commercial and contract consulting. His experience on large projects includes road, railroad, airport, power, mining and oil and gas projects. Chris has been appointed as a delay expert in complex arbitration and litigation matters in Australia, UK and South East Asia, with special skills in analysis of delay, its causation and illustration of impact and dealing with issues of prolongation, disruption, EOT entitlement and concurrency for client construction projects. "I'm excited for this next step in leadership and to continue working closely with my fellow professionals at Ankura as we offer industry-leading expertise to clients navigating complex construction issues," said Mr. Clark. "I'm proud of the work our team has done to expand our global construction consulting offering and look forward to continuing to advance that effort in my new role." About Ankura Ankura is a global business advisory and expert services firm defined by HOW we solve challenges. Whether a client is facing an immediate business challenge, trying to increase the value of their company or protect against future risks, Ankura designs, develops, and executes tailored solutions by assembling the right combination of expertise, strategy and execution. We help clients navigate a wide range of corporate performance and risk management challenges, including those pertaining to compliance, investigations, forensics, technology, turnaround and restructuring, and corporate strategy. We build on this experience with every case, client, and situation, collaborating to create innovative, customized solutions, and strategies designed for today's ever-changing business environment. This gives our clients unparalleled insight and experience across a wide range of economic, governance, and regulatory challenges. At Ankura, we know that collaboration drives results. For more information, please visit: www.ankura.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659817/ankura_Logo.jpg The 13 people killed in one of the deadliest highway crashes involving migrants sneaking into the US had entered California through a section of border fence with Mexico that was cut away, apparently by smugglers, immigration officials have said. Surveillance video showed a Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban drive through the opening early on Tuesday, said Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrols El Centro sector chief. The video has not been publicly released as it is part of an ongoing investigation. Workers mending the fence on Wednesday (Eugene Garcia/AP) The Suburban, carrying 19 people, caught fire for unknown reasons on a nearby interstate highway after entering the US. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The Expedition crammed with 25 people continued on, and a tractor-trailer struck it a short time later. Ten of the 13 killed in that crash have been identified as Mexican citizens. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the wreck. The opening in the fence was some 30 miles east of the crash in the heart of Californias Imperial Valley, a major farming region now at the height of a harvest that provides large amounts of vegetables to US supermarkets. The scene of the crash in which 13 people in the SUV were killed (Gregory Bull/AP) It was made of steel bollards that were built before former President Donald Trump blanketed much of the border with taller barriers that go deeper into the ground. Photos show a panel of eight steel poles was lifted out and left on the ground in the desert next to an old tire and other debris. Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life, Mr Bovino said. Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy, tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with. Advertisement Footage has emerged of a Myanmar pro-democracy protester being shot dead at point-blank range amid a bloody crackdown by the military - whose soldiers are issuing threats on TikTok warning that 'I will shoot whoever I see'. The video of a civilian being gunned down in the street has been condemned by a UN special envoy, who also decried separate footage of a medical crew being savagely beaten by police as the generals try to stamp out dissent. The shooting video shows the protester being marched away from a building by riot police before falling to the ground after the gunshot rings out. After the person briefly raises their head, two of the troops drag them down the street by the arms as security forces take control of the area. 'A protester was taken away by police and they shot him from very near, maybe only one metre. He didn't resist his arrest, and it seems that he died on the street,' said the UN's Myanmar envoy Christine Schraner Burgener. More than 50 civilians have been killed since the military's February 1 coup, including 38 who died on the bloodiest day of clashes on Wednesday. At least five children have been reportedly killed since the protests began, UNICEF said, with four severely wounded and 500 arbitrarily detained. Digital rights group Myanmar ICT for Development says it has found more than 800 pro-military videos that threatened protesters with further violence. One video shows a man in army fatigues aiming an assault rifle at the camera and addressing protesters: 'I will shoot in your f***ing faces... and I'm using real bullets.' 'I am going to patrol the whole city tonight and I will shoot whoever I see... If you want to become a martyr, I will fulfil your wish', he says. TikTok vowed to 'promptly remove all content that incites violence or spreads misinformation' while Facebook has banned all pages linked to Myanmar's army. tw // gunshots Terrorists're shooting in North Okalapa. According to the update list, 13 civilians was killed and over 50 got injured. It's not DISPERSING anymore, it's obviously KILLING. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Mar3Coup pic.twitter.com/dsvqEzPE8M Travelkueen (@Travelkueen1) March 3, 2021 Footage has emerged of a Myanmar pro-democracy protester being shot at point-blank range (left, at the head of the crowd of people) before they are dragged away (right) A mobile phone shows a picture of a Myanmar man in an army shirt threatening to shoot anti-coup protesters in the head Horrific footage has emerged of three medics being surrounded by at least a dozen police officers who were kicking and punching them and even hitting them with their guns as they tried to cower away from the violence Police were also filmed on Wednesday beating a volunteer ambulance crew in Myanmar's largest city and commercial hub of Yangon. CCTV footage showed armed police stopping an ambulance at gunpoint and forcing three medics out before attacking them. Six cops can be seen smashing the medics over the head with rifle butts, beating them with truncheons, kicking them in the head and blasting out the windows of their ambulance with shotguns. Meanwhile Myanmar's military sent fighter jets on a menacing low pass over the country's second-largest city today in a show of force to accompany the violence. The five low-flying warplanes buzzed over Mandalay in formation as the generals try to stamp out dissent more than a month since seizing power in the February 1 coup. And more footage detailed how officers opened fire on crowds of demonstrators in cities around the country without warning, leaving the streets covered in blood. One piece of footage from Monywa shows how officers were ordered to drag away the body of one protester who had been fatally shot, while graphic video from Myingyan showed a 14-year-old boy who was shot in the head. Police and 77th LID soldiers broke up a protest at Yangon's North Okkalapa roundabout with teargas and rubber bullets at 10:30am. Frontier saw police beat protesters and arrest 10. From hiding, our reporter saw police kick and drag this wounded protester#WhatsHapppeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/TONAebV5a5 Frontier Myanmar (@FrontierMM) March 3, 2021 Footage taken in the city of Monywa in central Myanmar showed police dragging away the body of a protester after they had been fatally shot Military jets buzzed over the city of Mandalay on Thursday in a show of strength as protesters returned to the streets to mourn their dead The US called the images appalling, the UN human rights chief said it was time to 'end the military's stranglehold over democracy in Myanmar,' and the world body's independent expert on human rights in the country urged the Security Council to watch the videos before meeting Friday to discuss the crisis. 'I saw today very disturbing video clips,' said UN envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told reporters on Thursday. 'One was police beating a volunteer medical crew,' Burgener said. 'They were not armed. 'Another video clip showed a protester was taken away by police and they shot him from very near, maybe only one meter. He didn't resist to his arrest, and it seems that he died on the street.' Wednesday marked the bloodiest day yet in Myanmar after military leaders seized power, undoing the country's years-long experiment with democracy and drawing tens of thousands of protesters on to the streets. Police aim their weapons as they chase after protesters during the demonstrations on Thursday in the city of Yangon People gather around the coffin of Ma Kyal Sin during her funeral in Mandalay, a day after the 19-year-old was shot dead by police A relative of Kyal Sin, also known as 'Angel', is visibly upset at the 19-year-old's funeral in Mandalay on Thursday 'Everything will be OK': Tears for protester called 'Angel' who was shot in the head A 19-year-old protester called Kyal Sin - also known as Angel - was shot in the head on the streets of Mandalay after joining the anti-coup protests on Wednesday. She was wearing a T-shirt that read: 'Everything will be OK', a slogan which has since been taken up by her allies and mourners. Angel was a taekwondo expert as well as a dancer at Mandalay's DA-Star Dance Club, posting videos of her latest moves on Facebook. Kyal Sin, also known as Angel Last year she had proudly voted for the first time in the country's tentative democracy. But she joined the protests after the election result was overturned by the generals' coup on February 1. After initially taking to the streets waving the flag of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy movement, she kept going even as protests grew more dangerous and as the junta deployed combat troops with assault rifles alongside police. Despite her shirt, she had known it might not be OK - leaving details of her blood group, a contact number and a request to donate her body in the event of her death. She had been on the frontline of the barricades in Mandalay where a fellow protester said she had bravely kicked open a water pipe so that others could wash tear gas from their eyes. Before the police assault, Angel can be heard on video shouting, 'We won't run' and 'blood must not be shed'. 'When the police opened fire she told me 'Sit! Sit! Bullets will hit you. You look like you're on a stage',' recalled Myat Thu, 23. 'She cared for and protected others as a comrade. 'She was a happy girl, she loved her family and her father loved her so much too,' said Myat Thu, who is now in hiding. 'We are not in a war. There is no reason to use live bullets on people. If they are human, they will not do it.' Advertisement As well as the 14-year-old boy killed in Myingyan, another 17-year-old was shot dead elsewhere in the country, Save The Children said. Nineteen-year-old Kyal Sin, also known as 'Angel', was also killed after being shot in the neck in Mandalay, local media reported. She was pictured wearing a t-shirt saying 'everything will be OK' just moments before being killed. Thousands gathered today at her funeral in Mandalay. Deaths also occurred in the country's largest city of Yangon and the northern mining town of Hpakant. Witnesses said police gave no warnings to protesters - who have been on the streets almost every day since the military seized power - before opening fire with live ammunition. Dozens more were wounded by rubber bullets and slingshots fired by officers, according to local doctors. As part of the crackdown, security forces have also arrested around 1,200 people, including journalists who are facing charges under security laws, according to UN envoy Schraner Burgener. More than 500 children are estimated to be among those arbitrarily detained, UNICEF said Thursday. The numbers of demonstrators flooding the streets of cities across the country has remained high even as security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds, and arrested protesters en masse. Myanmar has been in chaos since February 1 when the military launched a coup and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ending the country's decade-long experiment with democracy and sparking daily mass protests. Despite the violence they have endured, demonstrators returned to the streets on Thursday to mourn those who were killed. International pressure is mounting - Western powers have repeatedly hit the generals with sanctions - and Britain has called for a United Nations meeting on Friday. But the junta has ignored the global condemnation, responding to the uprising with escalating brutality. 'Only today, 38 people died,' UN envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told reporters on Wednesday, adding that more than 50 people have died in total since the military takeover, with many more wounded. 'Today was the bloodiest day since the coup happened,' she added, without providing any further details, including a breakdown of the deaths. Burgener called for the UN to take 'very strong measures' against the generals, adding that in her conversations with them, they had dismissed the threat of sanctions. 'I will keep going on, we will not give up,' she said. Burgener added that she receives some 2,000 messages per day from people inside Myanmar, many 'who are really desperate to see action from the international community.' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was horrified by the recent violence in Myanmar and called for a restoration of democracy. 'I'm horrified by the escalation of violence in Myanmar and the killing of pro-democracy protesters,' Johnson said on Twitter. 'We stand with the people of Myanmar in calling for an immediate end to military repression, the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and others, and the restoration of democracy,' said Johnson. British foreign minister Dominic Raab said the UK would be convening the United Nations Security Council to discuss the issue on Friday. 'Terrible scenes in Myanmar. Targeting your own people with lethal force for simply exercising their right to peaceful protest is unacceptable,' Raab said on Twitter on Thursday. 'The ongoing violence and the intimidation must end. The UK & partners will be convening @UN Security Council on Friday. The violence left the United States 'appalled and revulsed,' State Department spokesman Ned Price said, telling reporters: 'We call on all countries to speak with one voice to condemn the brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people.' He singled out China, a frequent US adversary that Myanmar's military has historically considered its main ally. 'China does have influence in the region. It does have influence with the military junta. We have called upon the Chinese to use that influence in a constructive way, in a way that advances the interests of the people of Burma,' Price said, using another name for Myanmar. And he said the United States, which has imposed sanctions on junta leaders, was looking at further actions. People flash a three-finger sign or resistance during the burial of anti-coup protester Kyal Sin in Mandalay, Myanmar Hundreds of people accompany a hearse carrying the body of Kyal Sin, who was shot in the head by security forces, for burial in Mandalay on Thursday Kyal (left) had been pictured wearing a t-shirt reading 'everything will be OK' before being shot, a slogan that protesters have now adopted Anti-coup protesters wearing helmets and masks hide behind shields as police use tear gas during a march in Yangon on March 4 Police officers aim their guns towards people in nearby apartments as they stand off with anti-coup protesters in Yangon An excavator moves a barricade made of tyres and set up by demonstrators during an anti-coup protest in Yangon on March 4 An anti-coup protester with a makeshift shield braves teargas during demonstration in Yangon on Thursday Earlier, AFP recorded at least 17 deaths across Myanmar on Wednesday, with Monywa in the central Sagaing region registering at least seven, according to a doctor. Medics also said they saw two other individuals being dragged away by security forces but could not confirm if they had died. In Yangon protesters used makeshift tyre and barbed wire barricades to block major roads. At least six demonstrators died in Yangon, according to a rescue worker and local journalist. In downtown Pansodan Road, near the famed Sule pagoda intersection, protesters pasted print-outs of junta leader Min Aung Hlaing's face on the ground - a tactic aimed at slowing down security forces who will avoid standing on the portraits. In San Chaung township, which has been the site of intense clashes in recent days, tear gas and fire extinguisher clouds filled the streets as riot police confronted protesters. In Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, two demonstrators were killed, a doctor confirmed to AFP, adding that one of the victims aged 19 - now revealed to be Angel - was shot in the head. Another 19-year-old protester died after being shot in Salin. 'They shouldn't have used such lethal force against the peaceful protesters,' said his friend Min Pyae Phyo, through tears. 'I won't forget and forgive them the rest of my life.' A protest in the central city of Myingyan also turned deadly, as security forces confronted protesters in hard hats crouching behind red home-made shields emblazoned with the three-finger salute - a symbol of resistance for the anti-coup movement. Demonstrators block a road with tyres, bins and pieces of wood during an anti-coup protest in Yangon whilst they hold makeshift shields on March 4 A pair of demonstrators carry shields to the frontlines as they face off against police in Yangon on March 4 Security forces carrying guns stand on a road during an anti-coup protest in Yangon, Myanmar on March 4 Medical students display flags of the National League for Democracy party during an anti-coup demonstration in Mandalay Medical students display placards during an anti-coup demonstration in Mandalay on Thursday Protesters stand on a makeshift barricade in Yangon on Thursday in an attempt to protect themselves from tear gas and bullets fired by police 'They fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds,' a volunteer medic on the scene told AFP, adding that at least 10 people were injured. Thet Thet Swe, from Myingyan rescue clinic, confirmed a young man was shot in the head and died. Several medics confirmed this. 'Zin Ko Ko Zaw, a 20-year-old was shot dead on the spot and my team treated 17 injured people,' a second rescue team member told AFP. There were also chaotic scenes at North Okkalapa - a civil society health clinic confirmed 19 injured people had arrived for medical treatment. 'Some got hit with rubber bullets, some fell down and some were beaten. We had to transfer one man to hospital for a operation because a rubber bullet hit his head. We do not have a surgeon here,' an official told AFP. Local media in northern Kachin state also reported similar scenes of violence. In Dawei, one gunshot victim from Sunday - when 18 people were killed across the country - was cremated on Wednesday. Mourners held floral wreaths and portraits of Lwin Lwin Oo, 33, as coffin bearers were flanked by hundreds chanting: 'We are united... Democracy is our cause.' UNICEF condemned the reported killings of at least five children since Wednesday, as well as the wounding of four others. 'In addition to those killed or seriously wounded, many children are being exposed to harm from tear gas and stun grenades, and are witnessing horrific scenes of violence, in some cases directed against parents or family members,' UNICEF said in a statement Thursday. The intensifying standoff is unfortunately familiar in a country with a long history of peaceful resistance to military rule - and brutal crackdowns. The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in the Southeast Asian nation after five decades of military rule. People ride their motorbikes and flash the defiant three-finger salute as they attend the funeral of Ma Kyal Sin in Mandalay Anti-coup protesters flash a three-fingered sign of resistance during a demonstration in Yangon on March 4 People flash a three-finger sign of resistance during the burial of anti-coup protester Kyal Sin in Mandalay People build barricades to deter security personnel from entering a protest area in Mandalay on March 4 Medical students participate in an anti-coup demonstration in Mandalay on Thursday, March 4 Wednesday's violence came after the foreign ministers of Southeast Asian nations - including Myanmar's junta representative Wunna Maung Lwin - discussed the crisis at a virtual meeting. After the talks Indonesia's Retno Marsudi expressed frustration over the junta's lack of cooperation, and Singapore condemned the use of lethal force. The violence on Wednesday also came on the heels of news that six Myanmar journalists would be charged under a law prohibiting 'causing fear, spreading false news, or agitating directly or indirectly a government employee', according to their lawyer Tin Zar Oo. Among them is Associated Press photographer Thein Zaw, who was arrested Saturday as he covered an anti-coup demonstration in Yangon. Video emerged on Wednesday of him being held in a chokehold by police as he was handcuffed. The other five are from Myanmar Now, Myanmar Photo Agency, 7Day News, Zee Kwet Online News and a freelancer. They face up to three years in jail. The junta amended the legislation last month, increasing the maximum sentence from two years to three years in jail. The United States called for their release and was 'forcefully making clear' that their detention was 'unacceptable,' Price said. Burgener said that the generals had told her they would hold elections in 'one year.' But she also said she had not been able to speak directly with the leaders since February 15, communicating only in writing since then. She said she sent a 'long letter' directly to the army's number two Soe Win on Sunday but had not yet heard back, though she did receive information from the army daily. Protesters gather behind a makeshift blockade in a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on Thursday Protesters wearing helmets and masks take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on March 4 And she said she had not yet been granted permission to visit the country. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group, more than 1,200 people have been arrested since the coup, with about 900 still behind bars or facing charges. But the real number is likely far higher - state-run media reported more than 1,300 people were arrested on Sunday alone. State-broadcaster MRTV said Tuesday 511 detainees had been released in Yangon. Myanmar nationals living in Bangkok, Thailand, hang posters with images of protesters in Myanmar and funeral wreaths in front of the United Nations building on Thursday Grieving Myanmar nationals hold a candlelight vigil outside the UN Headquarters in Bangkok on Thursday Pope Francis on Wednesday urged Myanmar's military authorities to prioritise dialogue over repression. 'We are still getting sad news from Myanmar of bloody clashes with losses of human lives,' Francis said during his weekly audience. 'I would like to draw the attention of the involved authorities so that dialogue may prevail over repression and harmony over discord,' the 84-year-old Catholic leader said. The international community should 'work so that the aspirations of the people of Myanmar are not stifled by violence', Francis said. The pope has already spoken out on at least two occasions to voice solidarity with the people of Myanmar following the February 1 coup, and to call for the release of detained leaders. A social media death threat aimed at an 11-year-old environmental activist has roused outrage in Colombia, a nation where attacks on social leaders are common and threats are taken seriously. Colombian officials said they are investigating the death threat against Francisco Vera and President Ivan Duque recently promised in a television appearance that his government would find "the bandits" behind the Twitter message. For his part, the boy says he will continue to lead environmental campaigns and urged other young people to use social media to "support causes they believe in." Vera, who has drawn comparisons to teenage Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, got together with six friends from school about two years ago and marched to the main park in his hometown of Villeta carrying cardboard signs and chanting slogans about climate change, under the supervision of his grandmother. His Guardians for Life group now has at least 11 chapters and more than 200 members across Colombia. It planted hundreds of trees last year and petitioned Colombia's government to ban single-use plastics. He has spoken before the country's congress. On Jan. 15, the boy received a gruesome, profanely worded death threat from a Twitter account using a false name in response to a video he posted urging Duque to improve internet access for children studying from home during the pandemic. Such threats have weight in Colombia. The United Nations says that at least 53 community leaders were murdered in the South American country last year and it is examining reports of an additional 80 such slayings. The nation is struggling to achieve peace following decades of guerrilla conflict and clashes involving drug gangs and paramilitary groups. Twitter suspended the threatening account and the boy received hundreds of messages of support, including a letter that was hand-delivered by United Nations officials. Signed by the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, it congratulated Francisco for his work on behalf of the environment. At home in Villeta, a small town surrounded by mountains, Francisco said he welcomes "constructive criticism" and is trying to ignore the threat as well as messages in which critics accuse him of being an instrument of leftist politicians. He said his group of young activists will campaign against the introduction of oil fracking technology in Colombia and will also keep up pressure on politicians to ban single-use plastics. Last year, the group collected 24,000 signatures in an online petition for such a ban. His mother, Ana Maria Manzanares, said she hopes the threat is nothing more than a cruel joke. She said a town official suggested shutting down her son's social media account, but she prefers to let him decide whether to stop campaigning. His mother says that she wants him to be aware that he's doing something valuable and that it's possible for him and thousands of other children to make changes. Francisco agrees. "Adults should not be the only ones who discuss big topics," he said. "Children need to have a voice, too, because people who are making choices today will be gone soon and we will have to deal with the consequences." While the sixth-grader said he enjoys watching congressional debates on television, he's also got more typical interests: playing video games, taking his dog Pinky for walks and swimming in a neighbourhood pool. In his room, Francisco keeps a box full of Lego bricks, taekwondo belts of different colours and a collection of Nerf guns that he shows off to visitors with a grin. "I'm a pacifist," he said as he reloaded one of the toy guns, "but I'm also a boy." (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Philippine soldiers patrol along a village near a highway in southern Maguindanao province, after almost a week of attacks on suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a pro-Islamic State militant group, May 10, 2017. At least five government soldiers were wounded during an intense firefight with a band of Islamic State-linked militants in the southern Philippines, the military said Thursday. A gunbattle broke out and lasted several hours after members of the 55th Infantry Battalion assaulted a suspected lair of the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur province on Wednesday, military officials said. Five soldiers sustained minor injuries during the firefight and have been given medical attention, battalion commander Lt. Col. Franco Rafael Alano said. Government security officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties on the enemy side, a local militant group that had helped lead hundreds of pro-Islamic State (IS) fighters from the Philippines and other countries in a siege on the southern city of Marawi in 2017. Hundreds of fighters on both sides, as well as civilians were killed in a five-month battle then. Alano said Wednesdays firefight occurred in a remote village in the mountains outside the town of Madalum, where the enemy side dug in for five hours before escaping. Troops recovered a home-made bomb, bomb-making materials, assorted ammunition, food rations and personal items, he said. Baby paraphernalia was also recovered, indicating that an infant and its mother were in the company of the militants, Alano said. It was clear evidence of the terrorists disregard for the safety of their family members, he said. The militant group, he said, had been trying to build up its forces ever since their defeat in Marawi nearly four years ago. Those involved in the firefight in Lanao del Sur this week were part of its recruitment team, he added. The clash took place a day after a suspected Dawlah Islamiyah member surrendered amid a military offensive against the group in the province, authorities said. Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the militarys Western Mindanao Command, identified the member as Amirudin Dimakuta, 40, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency. Web Photo A driver for online moving company platform Huolala was formally arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of negligently causing the death of a female client in his van last month, police in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, announced. The driver, surnamed Zhou, allegedly deviated from the route set by the platform to save time before the customer, 23-year-old Che Shasha, fell from his moving van, according to a police report. Zhou, 38, is from Changsha. He signed up to be a driver for Huolalaa ride-hailing platform that concentrates on moving people's belongingsin September 2019. On Feb 6, Zhou received a moving order through Huolala from Che and arrived at her old home at around 8:40 pm. According to the report, Zhou asked Che whether she needed his help to move her belongings from the house to the van, which would require her to pay an extra fee, but she refused. Che made 15 trips to and from the house to load the van. Zhou urged her to move more quickly, saying that the platform stipulated that drivers would charge more money if they had to wait for clients for more than 40 minutes, but Che ignored him, the report said. At 9:14 pm, they set out for their destination, with Che sitting in the front passenger seat. Zhou again asked her if she wanted to pay to have him help her unload her belongings after arriving, but she refused again. As they drove, Zhou changed the route to save time and grab more orders through the platform. Che began questioning him about why he was changing the route. At first, he ignored her, but then he began expressing his dissatisfaction with her, according to the report. For reasons that are unclear, Che got up from her seat and leaned her body out of the van's window. Zhou did not attempt to stop her, nor did he stop the vehicle even though he noticed what she was doing, it said. When she fell out of the window, Zhou stopped the van to check and found her lying on the ground. He called an ambulance at about 9:30 pm and then the police five minutes later. Che died in hospital on Feb 10. Police said Zhou did not drive abnormally and noted the front passenger window was half open during the trip. There were no signs of struggle in the van, which was deemed to be in good condition. Police found that Zhou's alternate route could have saved them four minutes from a 21-minute trip, but the route was dimly lit and sparsely populated. Forensic examination showed no tearing on Che's clothes or any evidence of a fight, nor did it reveal any of Zhou's DNA on her clothes or fingernails. Her death is believed to have been caused by a head injury she sustained when she fell. The procuratorate in Changsha formally approved Zhou's arrest on Wednesday. He had been detained by police on the negligence charge since Feb 26. On Feb 24, Huolala issued a statement saying that it had apologized to Che's family and had obtained the family's understanding. The company also promised to rectify problems and strengthen its existing safety features. Huolala also said it is cooperating with the authorities as the investigation continues. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below FAQ: What you need to know about Abbott's new mask order Sign up for our breaking newsletter or download the Express-News app to receive alerts. President George W. Bush looked Top Gun confident on that overcast day in May 2003. Sporting a flight suit, he emerged from a Navy fighter jet expertly landed on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. The scene was made for TV. Young crewmen gathered around him for pictures, the president looking like a hero home from war. It was a prelude to a speech Bush and others in his administration would live to regret. His declaration of Mission Accomplished in Iraq hardly ended operations there. That would come eight years and more than 4,500 U.S. lives later, not including members of coalition forces. Many more remained among the walking wounded. Bushs speech, roundly mocked, became another demoralizing chapter in history. Thats what came to mind Tuesday as Gov. Greg Abbott announced, with some bravado, the lifting of a statewide mask mandate and the reopening of businesses, no matter what they do, to 100 percent capacity. The governor seemed to leave room for local intervention, but Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff called it essentially meaningless. Abbott used Texas Independence Day to proclaim that businesses dont need the state telling them how to operate, hitting all the political notes about freedom and rights his audience wanted to hear. Unmasked and sitting together, they applauded and cheered. The next Texas disaster begins next Wednesday. Mark your calendars. His decisions will lead to another wave of positive cases, and some will involve more infectious variants. New caseloads will be linked to bar reopenings, where green beer will flow for St. Pattys Day, and spring breakers will flood beaches. Easter barbecues will come next, followed by Mothers Day gatherings. Those infections and deaths will land on Abbotts desk, along with the still-unknown deaths in February linked to snowstorms, electricity and water outages and leaders who opted for greed and deregulation in setting up the states power grid. Wiser leaders have used every possible negative adjective to describe Abbotts decisions, from premature to criminally negligent. President Joe Biden called it Neanderthal thinking. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said reopening the state without restrictions and masks will cost lives. What the state needs are more vaccines, the mayor said. In tweets and statements, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo warned that Texans will have to continue masking because, This is all on us now. She joined a chorus of leaders who suspect Abbotts moves were politically motivated, a cynical attempt to distract Texans from the failures of state oversight of our power grid. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, was more pointed. Governor Abbotts failure to listen to science and medical advice will cost Texans their lives Clearly the announcement is a desperate distraction from the Governors dereliction of duty during the massive power and water outages, which he has never accepted personal responsibility. Castro likened Abbott to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who are auditioning to be the next Donald Trump. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also ended a states mask mandate. All are Republicans. Abbott didnt use the term mission accomplished. His actions said it for him. Meanwhile, Texans will continue to get infected, infect others and require treatment, hospitalization and ventilators. Illness and death arent good for business. More than 43,000 Texans have died of COVID-19; 2,676 in Bexar County confirmed by Metro Health; with 255 more under investigation. Less than 10 percent of Texans statewide have been fully vaccinated. Evidence of Abbotts decision will appear in the data and in the social media posts of those fighting and dying of COVID-19. The worst part of Abbotts announcements were his contradictions. He warned the disease still exists, as does personal responsibility to remain vigilant, follow state standards and the advice of experts. The words were hollow. Texans can best fight back by wearing masks, maintaining 6 feet or more away from those outside their pandemic bubbles, washing their hands frequently and staying home as much as possible. On social media sites, some were already mounting a defense by changing their profiles with pictures of themselves above a public-health banner, I Choose to Wear a Mask. Some will wait for the all-clear, not from politicians, but from scientists. eayala@express-news.net TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Health Undersecretary Dr Waleed Khalifa Al Manea has praised the competence and dedication of the Bahraini health workers in confronting the coronavirus pandemic. They have been working to the maximum of capacity amid the exceptional health conditions affecting the globe and they have been accomplishing outstanding achievements within Team Bahrain, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the undersecretary said as he visited Al Aali field center. The center is used for implementing the policy of "optional home quarantine" as well as a precautionary quarantine for children and women. Al Manea thanked the health workers at the center and praised the contributions of the volunteers who have been serving the health sector in the Kingdom during the COVID-19 crisis, proving their commitment to the wellbeing of all communities and demonstrating their patriotism. The undersecretary toured the facilities where he was briefed on the various services offered to Bahrainis and foreigners and all the procedures followed to ensure safety for all. Al Manea, a member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), hailed the efficiency of Bahrain's health workers who have maintained high-performance levels and provided regular medical services in the Salmaniya Medical Complex and the health centers across the Kingdom and throughout the various stages of the pandemic. By Choi Sung-jin On Monday morning, I watched the nationally televised ceremony celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement. Maybe it was partly because of COVID-19 and unseasonably heavy rainfall and because no interesting movies or dramas remained for me on Netflix. Anyway, I watched the ceremony almost from start to end, for the first time in my life. I was also a little curious what President Moon Jae-in would say to Japan in his address to mend the worst bilateral relations in decades. As expected, President Moon emphasized the need not to get bogged down by the unfortunate past but to look forward while reiterating Seoul's readiness to resume dialogue with Tokyo anytime. Equally expectedly, he fell short of making concrete proposals or diplomatic concessions to do this. It was understandable, given the Japanese government's unrelenting pressure on Korea to back off over the comfort woman and forced labor issues. For Moon to go any further would appear to be waving the white flag diplomatically. Incomprehensible were responses from right-wing media outlets here. The trio of mainstream conservative dailies Chosun, JoongAng and Dong-A, or ChoJoongDong criticized President Moon for paying only lip service but failing to come up with action plans. In an editorial, the Chosun Ilbo rebuked Moon and his administration for taking a hardline stance against Japan over the past four years but turning around to appeasement in its final year only because the occupant of the White House has changed to one who stresses the importance of friendly ties between Korea and Japan. A columnist of the JoongAng Ilbo lambasted the Korean leader for "pretending to be close to his Japanese counterpart" by saying, "I'm pleased to meet you, Prime Minister Suga," at an international conference in November. The writer then wrote, "The current words and acts of President Moon and his aides regarding Japan are quite unpleasant to the eye because the changes were not the result of their belated recognition of Japan's importance but were political tactics aimed at using the Tokyo Olympics to improve inter-Korean relations." Readers might have thought they were reading the Yomiuri or Sankei Shimbun. Few gurus of international politics deny President Joe Biden's election has prompted Seoul's change of policy toward Tokyo. Unlike his predecessor, Biden is an experienced diplomatic hand who knows the U.S. strategic interests in this part of the world would suffer severe damage if Seoul and Tokyo remain estranged from each other for long. And the new U.S. president and almost all of his predecessors for that matter is closer to Japan than Korea, for strategic and historical reasons no matter what they say "diplomatically." Like it or not, Korea has few other choices but to compromise with Japan if the nation is to keep Washington by its side. And that has been so for more than a century. The organizers of Monday's event introduced something new by having the Declaration of Independence read in five languages Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese and Russian. Reading the English part was Jennifer Taylor, the granddaughter of Albert Taylor, an AP correspondent who played a pivotal role in letting the world know what was happening in the Land of Morning Calm. What was the response of the U.S. government to these reports, then? It was little short of a disparagement. In a statement issued on March 14, 1919, the U.S. State Department downplayed the movement as a "riot started by Koreans to demand the freedom of speech and address other complaints." For those with just a sparse knowledge of modern history, finding the reason is not hard, either. As early as the late 19th century, the U.S. decided to recognize Japan's occupation of Korea to counter the influence of the two continental powers of China and Russia on this peninsula and Northeast Asia. Stipulating that was the Taft-Katsura Agreement in July 1905, which came four months before Japan annexed Korea. America's siding with Japan over Korea continued through the post-WWII talks in San Francisco in 1945, which excluded Dokdo from the Korean territory to be recovered, providing room for dispute between Seoul and Tokyo. More recently, the Basic Agreement in 1965, hurriedly progressed at the behest of Washington to contain the southern advances of two Communist giants, also created causes for future conflicts between the former colony and its colonizer, including the individuals' rights for compensation aside from that on the governmental level. Even more recently, the 2015 agreement on comfort women was also the work of the then Barack Obama administration to reconcile Seoul and Tokyo to form a joint front against an increasingly assertive China. No one else but the then Vice President Biden orchestrated the accord, which was so unsatisfactory for most Koreans, not to speak of comfort women themselves, that Moon had to scrap it upon taking office. Biden reportedly was satisfied with his work and recalled his role in the process, saying, "I was like a divorce counselor restoring a couple's marital relations." It's no small surprise then that the Moon administration hurriedly revised its tactics toward Japan, with Biden calling for the mending of bilateral ties. Suppose Biden has to take up the role again. In that case, most Koreans will be hoping he will stand closer to the side of the injured rather than the injurer, at least in matters of human rights and historical justice, especially if the U.S. wants a genuine trilateral alliance instead of a superficial and fragile one that might fall through at a critical moment. As an old Korean saying goes, the one who tied the knot ought to untie it. Choi Sung-jin (choisj1955@naver.com) is a Korea Times columnist. ADVERTISEMENT Nigeria on Thursday received its share of the second consignment of COVID-19 medical supplies procured by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), for the benefit of all ECOWAS Member States. Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja, the Director-General of WAHO, Stanley Okolo, said the donation was part of the organisations mandate to support ECOWAS countries in their national health response. Mr Okolo noted that the medical supplies worth over $18 million will be distributed to 15 West Africa countries including Nigeria. He said the supplies will support countries in the fight against the COVID-19 virus even as Nigeria has received the first batch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. The provision of critical medical supply to aid the fight against the pandemic is one of the contributions we make towards achieving the regional health agenda at WAHO, he said. We at WAHO have set up ourselves to support both strategically and operationally. Vaccines are now beginning to arrive, and that in itself is a very good thing. He noted that WAHO has over half a million diagnostic test kits to be distributed to African countries. Some of the distributed supplies include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), oxygen tube, extension, PCR tubes, and Oxygen concentrator flow splitter. Receiving the Items on behalf of the Nigerian government, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said authorities will ensure the supplies are well distributed. Represented by the Minister of Environment, Mahmoud Abubakar, Mr Mustapha said this was the second bulk of consignment the country had received from the organization towards its response to the pandemic. He said that the health supplies will go a long way in containing the impact of COVID-19 related deaths in the country. Nigeria, like many other ECOWAS Member States, is currently experiencing a second wave of the pandemic which has seen the emergence of some other strains of the virus, he said. This is in addition to the negative impact of the pandemic on our populations mental well-being, non-pandemic health issues and socio-economic development. In his remarks, Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said the donation was coming at the right time. We appreciate the choice of Abuja by ECOWAS and WAHO, as the central hub for receipt and distribution of regional supplies of medical products and equipment for the fight against COVID-19, Mr Mamora said. He urged Nigerians to continue to adhere to all non-pharmaceutical measures put in place to limit the spread of the virus. Sierra College The Invention and Inclusion Innovation (I) initiative will empower students from diverse backgrounds who might not see themselves in an entrepreneurial role and prepare them for an evolving and innovative future, said Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan. Sierra College announced today that it has joined the California Community College Chancellors Office to launch a bold initiative to encourage, harness, and develop the inventive talents of communities across the State. The goal of the Invention and Inclusive Innovation (I) initiative is to catalyze innovation and invention to solve social problems that existed before COVID-19 and those that have been created or amplified by the pandemic. The Invention and Inclusion Innovation (I) initiative will empower students from diverse backgrounds who might not see themselves in an entrepreneurial role and prepare them for an evolving and innovative future, said Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan. We are excited about providing our students with this opportunity and for the opportunity to include our community partners in this initiative. Faculty at Sierra College will be one of four colleges statewide tapped to develop a program prototype that will guide learners on a path to discovery and facilitating the invention of new products that solve community problems for larger social good. Learners will work in teams to: Research challenges experienced by communities; Conceptualize systemic or technological solutions; Develop working prototypes through the invention process; and Learn to commercialize their inventions while keeping the social benefit at the forefront. This initiative aims to spark innovation in every region of the State to address small challenges that impact dozens of people to big challenges that are disrupting the lives of thousands of people, said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley. The I program is a collaboration between the Chancellors Office and the Lemelson-MIT Program, modeled after the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams. The InvenTeams are groups of high school students, educators, and mentors that invent technological solutions to real-world problems of their own choosing. The InvenTeams initiative has been changing teaching and learning and providing young people with creative problem-solving skills to flourish in college and career for over 15 years, including having received patents for their high school projects. A full list can be found here. This initiative centers deep and meaningful collaboration between students, faculty, and community partners in order to develop innovative solutions to student-identified community issues and build sustained transdisciplinary approaches to addressing our communities needs, said Lynn Harrison-Benevides, Professor, Mathematics at Sierra College. As one of the most diverse systems of higher education, California community colleges will increase access to invention education to women and communities of color who have historically been underrepresented in the innovation and invention economy, but whose life experiences provide valuable insights and perspectives to tackle systemic changes. Sierra College will join the following colleges during the prototype stage: Modesto Community College in the Modesto, Yosemite Community College District; Chaffey Community College in the Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey Community College District; and College of the Desert in the Palm Desert, Desert Community College District Student recruitment for the initial I prototype will take place in Spring 2021 and the program is expected to be scaled to 20 additional colleges for implementation in 2022. About Sierra College The Sierra Joint Community College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern CA with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at http://www.sierracollege.edu About the California Community Colleges The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.1 million students annually. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; degree and certificate pathways; and basic skills education in English and math. As the states engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. About the Lemelson-MIT Program The Lemelson-MIT Program celebrates outstanding inventors and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. The program was founded in 1994 by Jerome H. Lemelson, one of the U.S. historys most prolific inventors, and his wife Dorothy, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. It is funded by the Lemelson Foundation and administered by the School of Engineering at MIT, an institution with a strong ongoing commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for K-12 STEM education. (Reuters) - Myanmar security forces opened fire on protests against military rule on Wednesday, killing at least 18 people, a human rights group said, a day after neighbouring countries called for restraint and offered to help Myanmar resolve the crisis. The security forces resorted to live fire with little warning in several towns and cities, witnesses said, as the junta appeared more determined than ever to stamp out protests against the Feb. 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. "It's horrific, it's a massacre. No words can describe the situation and our feelings," youth activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi told Reuters via a messaging app. A spokesman for the ruling military council did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. Ko Bo Kyi, joint secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights group, said in a post on Twitter: "As of now, so called military killed at least 18." In the main city Yangon, witnesses said at least eight people were killed, one early in the day and seven others when security forces opened sustained fire with automatic weapons in a neighbourhood in the north of the city in the early evening. "I heard so much continuous firing. I lay down on the ground, they shot a lot," protester Kaung Pyae Sone Tun, 23, told Reuters. A protest leader in the community, Htut Paing, said the hospital there had told him seven people had been killed. Hospital administrators were not immediately available for comment. Another heavy toll was in the central town of Monywa, where six people were killed, the Monywa Gazette reported. Others were killed in various places including the second-biggest city Mandalay, the northern town of Hpakant and the central town of Myingyan. At least 40 people have been killed since the coup. The violence came a day after foreign ministers from Southeast Asian neighbours urged restraint but failed to unite behind a call for the release of Suu Kyi and the restoration of democracy. Story continues Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist but has small Christian communities. Pope Francis, who visited Myanmar in 2017, said on Twitter: "Sad news of bloody clashes and loss of life...I appeal to the authorities involved that dialogue may prevail over repression." 'WE SHALL OVERCOME' Security forces breaking up protests in Yangon detained about 300 protesters, the Myanmar Now news agency reported. Video posted on social media showed lines of young men, hands on heads, filing into army trucks as police and soldiers stood guard. Reuters was unable to verify the footage. Images of a 19-year-old woman, one of the two shot dead in Mandalay, showed her wearing a T-shirt that read "Everything will be OK". Police in Yangon ordered three medics out of an ambulance, shot up the windscreen and then kicked and beat the workers with gun butts and batons, video broadcast by U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia showed. Reuters was unable to verify the video independently. Democracy activist Esther Ze Naw told Reuters that the sacrifices of those who died would not be in vain. "We shall overcome this and win," she said. On Tuesday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to make a breakthrough in a virtual foreign ministers' meeting on Myanmar. While united in a call for restraint, only four members - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore - called for the release of Suu Kyi and other detainees. "We expressed ASEAN's readiness to assist Myanmar in a positive, peaceful and constructive manner," the ASEAN chair, Brunei, said in a statement. Myanmar's state media said the military-appointed foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, attended and "apprised the meeting of voting irregularities" in the November election. The military justified the coup by saying its complaints of voter fraud in the Nov. 8 vote were ignored. Suu Kyi's party won by a landslide, earning a second term. The election commission said the vote was fair. Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has pledged to hold new elections but given no time frame. Foreign firms should suspend all business in Myanmar to send a clear message to the military, Chris Sidoti, a former U.N. expert on the country, said. Suu Kyi, 75, has been held incommunicado since the coup but appeared at a court hearing via video conferencing this week and looked in good health, a lawyer said. (Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Angus MacSwan, Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich) Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release March 4, 2021 at 12:00 (CET +1) Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Nokia Corporation Notice is given to the shareholders of Nokia Corporation (the "Company") of the Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday April 8, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. in the Company's headquarters at Karakaari 7, Espoo, Finland. Participation and exercise of shareholder rights in the Meeting is possible only by voting in advance and by submitting counterproposals and asking questions in advance in accordance with the instructions given in section C of this notice and otherwise by the Company. It is not possible for the shareholders or their proxy representatives to participate in the Meeting at the meeting venue. The Board of Directors of the Company has resolved on extraordinary measures pursuant to the legislative act concerning temporary deviations from the Companies Act (677/2020), which entered into force on October 3, 2020. In order to restrict the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Annual General Meeting will be held without shareholders' and their proxy representatives' presence at the Meeting venue. This is necessary in order to ensure the health and safety of the shareholders, employees and other stakeholders of the Company as well as to organize the Meeting in a predictable way allowing equal means for shareholders to participate while also ensuring compliance with the current restrictions set by the authorities. It is possible to follow the Annual General Meeting through a webcast, provided that the webcast can be arranged in compliance with all regulatory rules and restrictions imposed by the Finnish authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instructions regarding the webcast will be available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm. It is not possible to ask questions, make counterproposals or vote through the webcast, and following the webcast is not considered as participation or any kind of exercise of shareholder rights in the Meeting. A. Matters on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting At the Annual General Meeting, the following matters will be considered: 1. Opening of the Meeting 2. Matters of order for the Meeting The Chair of the Meeting will be Seppo Kymalainen, attorney-at-law. In case Seppo Kymalainen would not be able to act as the Chair of the Meeting for a weighty reason, the Board of Directors will name another person it deems most suitable to act as the Chair of the Meeting. 3. Election of a person to confirm the minutes and a person to verify the counting of votes The person to confirm the minutes and to verify the counting of votes will be Ulla Nyberg, the Company's Senior Legal Counsel. In case Ulla Nyberg would not be able to act as the person to confirm the minutes and to verify the counting of votes for a weighty reason, the Board of Directors will name another person it deems most suitable to act in that role. 4. Recording the legal convening of the Meeting and quorum 5. Recording the attendance at the Meeting and adoption of the list of votes The shareholders who have voted in advance and who have the right to participate in the Meeting pursuant to Chapter 5 Sections 6 and 6a of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act will be recorded to have attended the Meeting. The list of votes will be adopted according to the information provided by Euroclear Finland Oy. 6. Presentation of the Annual Accounts, the review by the Board of Directors and the auditor's report for the financial year 2020 As participation in the Meeting is possible only in advance, the "Nokia in 2020" annual report, which includes the Company's Annual Accounts, the review by the Board of Directors and the auditor's report is deemed to have been presented to the Meeting once it is published in week 9 of 2021, after which it is available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm. 7. Adoption of the Annual Accounts The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting adopt the Annual Accounts. 8. Resolution on the use of the profit shown on the balance sheet Both Nokia Corporation and the Nokia Group reported a loss for the financial year 2020. While Nokia has strengthened its cash position, the Board of Directors continues to focus on ensuring Nokia's ability to increase investments in 5G and strategic areas, while continuing to establish a track record of sustainable cash generation. Therefore, the Board of Directors proposes to the Meeting that no dividend be paid based on the balance sheet to be adopted for the financial year ended on December 31, 2020. 9. Resolution on the discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the President and CEO from liability for the financial year 2020 10. Addressing the Remuneration Report As participation in the Meeting is possible only in advance, the Remuneration Report is deemed to have been presented to the Meeting once it has been published by a stock exchange release in week 9 of 2021, after which it is available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm. The resolution to adopt the Remuneration Report is advisory. 11. Resolution on the remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors The Board's Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee has made a recommendation to the Board to introduce additional annual fees to be paid to the members of the Personnel Committee and Technology Committee in addition to the Committee Chairs. Other remuneration payable to the Board members would remain unchanged and no additional annual fee payable to the Committee members is proposed to be paid to the members of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee or the Chair of the Board for her service in any of the Board Committees. Consequently, on the recommendation of the Board's Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, and in line with the Company's Remuneration Policy presented to and adopted by the Annual General Meeting 2020, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the annual fees payable for a term ending at the close of the next Annual General Meeting be as follows: EUR 440 000 for the Chair of the Board; EUR 185 000 for the Vice Chair of the Board; EUR 160 000 for each member of the Board; EUR 30 000 each for the Chairs of the Audit Committee and Personnel Committee and EUR 20 000 for the Chair of the Technology Committee as an additional annual fee; and EUR 15 000 for each member of the Audit Committee and Personnel Committee and EUR 10 000 for each member of the Technology Committee as an additional annual fee. In addition, the Board proposes that the meeting fees for Board and Board Committee meetings payable to all the other Board members, except for the Chair of the Board, remain at current level. These meeting fees based on travel required between the Board member's home location and the location of a meeting would be paid for a maximum of seven meetings per term as follows: EUR 5 000 per meeting requiring intercontinental travel; and EUR 2 000 per meeting requiring continental travel. Only one meeting fee would be payable in the usual case of multiple Board and Board Committee meetings per eligible travel. Furthermore, the Board also proposes that members of the Board of Directors shall be compensated for travel and accommodation expenses as well as other costs directly related to Board and Board Committee work. It is proposed that approximately 40 per cent of the annual fee be paid in Nokia shares purchased from the market, or alternatively by using treasury shares held by the Company. The meeting fee, travel expenses and other expenses would be paid in cash. 12. Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors On the recommendation of the Board's Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, the Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the number of Board members be eight (8). 13. Election of members of the Board of Directors Elizabeth Nelson has informed that she will no longer be available to serve on the Nokia Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting. The Board proposes, on the recommendation of the Board's Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, that the following eight current Board members be re-elected as members of the Nokia Board of Directors for a term ending at the close of the next Annual General Meeting: Sari Baldauf, Bruce Brown, Thomas Dannenfeldt, Jeanette Horan, Edward Kozel, Sren Skou, Carla Smits-Nusteling, and Kari Stadigh. All candidates for the Board of Directors and evaluation on their independence are presented on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm. 14. Resolution on the remuneration of the Auditor On the recommendation of the Board's Audit Committee, the Board of Directors proposes to the Meeting that the auditor to be elected for the financial year 2022 be reimbursed based on the invoice of the auditor and in compliance with the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee. 15. Election of Auditor for the financial year 2022 Since 2019 the Board of Directors has proposed to the Annual General Meeting that the shareholders would elect the auditor for the financial year commencing next after the election. Therefore, on the recommendation of the Board's Audit Committee, the Board of Directors proposes to the Meeting that Deloitte Oy be re-elected as the auditor of the Company for the financial year 2022. Deloitte Oy has informed the Company that in the event it is re-elected as the auditor, the auditor in charge will be Authorized Public Accountant Marika Nevalainen. 16. Authorization to the Board of Directors to resolve to repurchase the Company's own shares The Board of Directors proposes that the Meeting authorize the Board to resolve to repurchase a maximum of 550 million shares, which corresponds to less than 10 per cent of the Company's total number of shares. The repurchases under the authorization are proposed to be carried out by using funds in the unrestricted equity, as resolved by the Board, which means that the repurchases will reduce distributable funds of the Company. The price paid for the shares under the authorization shall be based on the market price of Nokia shares on the securities markets on the date of the repurchase. Shares may be repurchased to be cancelled, held to be reissued, transferred further or for other purposes resolved by the Board. The Company may enter into derivative, share lending or other arrangements customary in capital market practice. The shares may be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the shares held by the shareholders (directed repurchase). The Board shall resolve on all other matters related to the repurchase of Nokia shares. It is proposed that the authorization be effective until October 7, 2022 and terminate the authorization for repurchasing the Company's shares granted by the Annual General Meeting on May 27, 2020. 17. Authorization to the Board of Directors to resolve to issue shares and special rights entitling to shares The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board to resolve to issue in total a maximum of 550 million shares through issuance of shares or special rights entitling to shares under Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act in one or more issues during the effective period of the authorization. The Board may issue either new shares or treasury shares held by the Company. The proposed maximum amount corresponds to less than 10 per cent of the Company's total number of shares as of the date of this proposal. Shares and special rights entitling to shares may be issued in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights as a directed share issue within the limits set by law. The authorization may be used to develop the Company's capital structure, diversify the shareholder base, finance or carry out acquisitions or other arrangements, to settle the Company's equity-based incentive plans or for other purposes resolved by the Board. The Board would resolve on all terms and conditions of the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares under Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act. It is proposed that the authorization be effective until October 7, 2022 and terminate the authorization for issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares resolved at the Annual General Meeting on May 27, 2020. 18. Closing of the Meeting B. Documents of the Annual General Meeting This notice, all the proposals by the Board of Directors relating to the agenda of Meeting, the Remuneration Report as well as the "Nokia in 2020" annual report, which includes the Company's Annual Accounts, the review by the Board of Directors and the auditor's report, are expected to be available on the Company's website at www.nokia.com/agm in week 9 of 2021. The "Nokia in 2020" annual report will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm latest on April 22, 2021. C. Instructions for the participants of the Annual General Meeting The Company takes the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and in its efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Annual General Meeting has been decided to be held without shareholders and their proxy representatives' presence at the Meeting venue. This is necessary especially in order to ensure the health and safety of the Company's shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. The Company's shareholders and their proxies can participate in the Meeting and use their shareholder rights only by voting in advance and by submitting counterproposals and asking questions in advance by following the below instructions. It is possible to follow the Annual General Meeting through a webcast, provided that the webcast can be arranged in compliance with all regulatory rules and restrictions imposed by the Finnish authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instructions regarding the webcast will be available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm. It is not possible to ask questions, make counterproposals or vote through the webcast, and following the webcast without voting in advance, or issuing a proxy related thereto, is not considered as participation or any kind of exercise of shareholder rights in the Meeting. 1. The right to participate in the Meeting Each shareholder, who on March 25, 2021 is registered in the Register of Shareholders of the Company, maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy, has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting. A shareholder, whose shares are registered on his/her Finnish book-entry account, is automatically registered in the Register of Shareholders of the Company. If you do not have a Finnish book-entry account, see section 4. Holders of nominee-registered shares or section 5. Holders of American Depositary Receipts (ADR). Shareholders cannot participate in the Meeting by any other means than voting in advance in the manner instructed below as well as by submitting counterproposals and asking questions in advance. 2. Registration and voting in advance for shareholders registered in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy Shareholders with a Finnish book-entry account, who wish to participate at the Annual General Meeting, must register for the Meeting by giving a prior notice of participation and by delivering their votes in advance no later than by March 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. (EET) by which time the notice and votes need to be received. Registration and advance voting will open on March 10, 2021 by 10:00 a.m. and end on March 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. (EET). A shareholder, who has a Finnish book-entry account, may register and vote in advance by the following means: a) through the Company's website at www.nokia.com/agm Private persons can register and vote by using strong authentication (for example Finnish bank ID). For legal persons, a business ID and the book-entry account number of the shareholder are needed for voting in advance. b) by email or mail A shareholder may send the advance voting form available on the Company's website to Euroclear Finland Oy by email at yhtiokokous@euroclear.eu or by regular mail to Euroclear Finland Oy, Yhtiokokous/Nokia Oyj, P.O. Box 1110, FI-00101 Helsinki. In connection with the registration, a shareholder or a proxy representative is required to provide the personal information requested. The personal information collected will only be used in connection with the Annual General Meeting and registrations related to it. If a shareholder participates in the Meeting by sending the votes in advance by mail or email to Euroclear Finland Oy, in accordance with applicable instructions, the delivery of the votes constitutes due registration for the Meeting. No other separate notification of participation is required. Further instructions relating to the advance voting will be available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm and information is also available by telephone at +358 20 770 6870 from Monday to Friday at 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EET). 3. Proxy representatives and powers of attorney A shareholder may participate in the Annual General Meeting by proxy. The proxy representative of a shareholder is also required to vote in advance in the manner instructed in this notice. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate their right to represent the shareholder. Should a shareholder participate in the Meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares in different book-entry accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the Meeting. Proxy authorization documents should be delivered to Euroclear Finland Oy by letter to Euroclear Finland Oy, Yhtiokokous/Nokia Oyj, P.O. Box 1110, FI-00101 Helsinki or by email at yhtiokokous@euroclear.eu at the latest by March 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. (EET). 4. Holders of nominee-registered shares A holder of nominee-registered shares has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting by virtue of such shares, based on which they on the record date of the Annual General Meeting, i.e. on March 25, 2021, would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders' register of the company held by Euroclear Finland Oy. The right to participate in the Meeting requires, in addition, that the shareholder on the basis of such shares has been registered into the temporary shareholders' register held by Euroclear Finland Oy at the latest by April 1, 2021 by 2:00 p.m. (EET). As regards nominee-registered shares this constitutes due registration for the Annual General Meeting. A holder of nominee-registered shares is advised to request without delay necessary instructions regarding the temporary registration in the shareholders' register of the company, the issuing of proxy documents and registration for the AGM from his/her custodian bank. The account management organization of the custodian bank shall temporarily register a holder of nominee-registered shares, who wants to participate in the AGM, into the shareholders' register of the company at the latest by the time stated above. In addition, the account management organization of the custodian bank shall arrange advance voting on behalf of the holders of nominee registered shares. Further information on these matters can also be found on the company's website www.nokia.com/agm. 5. Holders of American Depositary Receipts (ADR) A holder of American Depositary Shares (ADR) intending to vote at the Meeting shall without delay notify the Depositary Bank of Nokia, Citibank, N.A., of his/her intention and shall comply with the instructions provided by Citibank, N.A. 6. Other instructions and information Shareholders who hold at least 1/100 of all shares in the Company have a right to make counterproposals on the agenda items for the Meeting, to be put for a vote. Such counterproposals are required to be sent to the Company by email to agm@nokia.com no later than by March 9, 2021 at noon (EET). The shareholders shall in connection with the counterproposal present sufficient evidence of their shareholding in the Company. The counterproposal will be taken to a vote in the Meeting provided that the shareholders making the counterproposal have the right to participate in the Meeting and that they hold at least 1/100 of all outstanding shares in the Company on the record date of the Meeting. Should the counterproposal not be taken to a vote at the Meeting, votes in favor of the counterproposal will not be taken into account. The Company will publish the counterproposals eligible for voting on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm on March 10, 2021 at the latest. Shareholders have the right to ask questions referred to in Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act with respect to the matters to be considered at the Meeting. Such questions must be sent by email to agm@nokia.com no later than March 19, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. (EET). Shareholders shall in connection with their questions present sufficient evidence of their shareholding in the Company. Such questions from shareholders, the Company's management's answers to them, and any counterproposals that have not been considered to be put for a vote are available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm on March 24, 2021. Information on the General Meeting required by the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act and the Securities Markets Act is available on the Company's website www.nokia.com/agm. Changes in the number of shares held after the record date of the Annual General Meeting shall not have an effect on the right to participate the Meeting nor on the number of votes held by a shareholder in the Meeting. On the date of this notice of the Annual General Meeting the total number of shares in Nokia Corporation and votes represented by such shares is 5 675 461 159. BOARD OF DIRECTORS About Nokia We create the critical networks and technologies to bring together the world's intelligence, across businesses, cities, supply chains and societies. With our commitment to innovation and technology leadership, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we deliver networks at the limits of science across mobile, infrastructure, cloud, and enabling technologies. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities we need for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. Media Enquiries: Nokia Communications Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Katja Antila, Head of Media Relations Investor Enquiries: Nokia Investor Relations Tel. +358 4080 3 4080 Email: investor.relations@nokia.com Eddie Murphy returns as Prince Akeem in the long-awaited sequel Coming 2 America, but there will be a big change from the original. While the original was rated R for language and nudity, the sequel, arriving March 5 on Amazon Prime Video, will be rated PG-13. Some fans have questioned why it won't be rated R, though director Craig Brewer told the Wall Street Journal why that approach was taken. Eddie returns: Eddie Murphy returns as Prince Akeem in the long-awaited sequel Coming 2 America, but there will be a big change from the original Director: Some fans have questioned why it won't be rated R, though director Craig Brewer told the Wall Street Journal why that approach was taken 'There was always this line that we had to judge with how far wed go with the comedy. It wasnt like, "Oh, this better be a PG-13 movie." If an R-rated movie would work then we would do an R-rated movie,' Brewer said. 'I think we still have a really hilarious movie and we do push the boundaries on a PG-13 movie here and there,' he added. 'If you look at the first movie, other than the gratuitous nudity of the bathers and some swearing, it is actually rather wholesome. Its got a fairytale feel to it,' Brewer said. Hilarious: 'I think we still have a really hilarious movie and we do push the boundaries on a PG-13 movie here and there,' he added He added that, while they were doing test screenings of the movie with fans, it was during Black Lives Matter protests. 'The conscience of the country was beginning to shift, and so we asked, "How can we still be relevant to this movie, to be funny but at the same time be sensitive to racial and gender issues?"' Brewer said. 'I dont want that to scare people. I think we still have a really hilarious movie and we do push the boundaries on a PG-13 movie here and there,' he added. Shift: 'The conscience of the country was beginning to shift, and so we asked, "How can we still be relevant to this movie, to be funny but at the same time be sensitive to racial and gender issues?"' Brewer said Murphy returns as Akeem along with Arsenio Hall as Semmi, James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer and most of the rest of the original cast, with Brewer acknowledging that meant expectations would be high. 'I know what its like to have people go, "Cant wait to see it" and then threaten me and say, "You better not mess it up because that movie means a lot to me."' the director said. 'My job on set was to be the guardian of what from the original movie can be celebrated, and then whats going overboard, because we did want this movie to be its own thing,' he added. Return: Murphy returns as Akeem along with Arsenio Hall as Semmi, James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer and most of the rest of the original cast, with Brewer acknowledging that meant expectations would be high Brewer also acknowledged that the country has changed quite a bit in the three decades since the original. 'We didnt want to ignore the fact that Prince Akeem in the first movie left the wife that he was betrothed to through his king hopping and barking like a dog,' he said. 'I can guarantee you that would not make it through the third draft of a script that would come through the Hollywood system today," he said. "There was always this line that we had to judge with how far wed go with the comedy,' he added. Coming 2 America debuts on Amazon Prime Video starting March 5. Original: Brewer also acknowledged that the country has changed quite a bit in the three decades since the original In 2013, Ross Ulbricht was hunted down by the FBI while sitting in a San Francisco library. He was arrested for making half a billion dollars running Silk Road, a dark web marketplace for buying and selling illegal goods. Ulbricht liked hanging out in the librarys sci-fi section for its quiet and free wifi. It makes for an ironic juxtaposition: one day youre an aloof hacker sitting under a Dune poster, the next youre facing a double life sentence for narcotics trafficking, money laundering and attempted murder (he spent almost a million dollars to hire six hitmen to take down his enemies). In the days of Silk Road, Tor a type of open-source software for maintaining anonymity online was used to hide IP addresses and bitcoin facilitated transactions without involving banks. That would not happen today. Looking back, its referred to as the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet. But Ulbricht was more than a business mastermind, as we learned in investigative journalist David Kushners stunning longform report for Rolling Stone in 2014. But thats not where the story ended. Now, Vertigo is releasing the first film that traces the rise and fall of the internet black market, called simply Silk Road, streaming March 22. It stars Jurassic World star Nick Robinson as Ulbricht, with Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) as a Drug Enforcement Administration agent who is loosely based on the corrupt cops who worked on the case. Its directed by Tiller Russell (known for his recent crime series on Netflix, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer) and based on the Rolling Stone article written by Kushner in 2014. The title credits before the film read, Everything in this film is true, except for what we changed. Its also the first film based on the fiasco, though there was a BBC documentary series that premiered in 2017. Russell used documentary filmmaking tactics to bring this story to screen. I have a background in non-fiction filmmaking, it was a blend of two different sensibilities crime documentary filmmaking and feature filmmaking, he says. When Ulbricht was arrested in 2013, Russell recalls reading the news story. I was in the middle of making a crime documentary and I remember holding a newspaper and reading about it it was the most cursory reporting at that point, with a headline like Nefarious Figure at the Heart of Black Market. He recalls thinking, Wow, theres an amazing story here. Who is the character at the center of it? Over time, Russell began tracking Ulbricht, in a similar methodology I would have used to making a documentary. Reading the reporting as its happening and then following the court case, then connecting with anyone who knew him. He reached out to Ulbrichts ex-girlfriend Julia Vie, who became a consultant on the film and a window into Ulbrichts character. It was a documentary investigation that informed the first part of the film, he says. Then, at a point, you have to set that aside and say, OK, this is what we know from this historical record, now we must imagine what the story would be like from the inside. The film starts in the early 2010s in San Francisco, tracing Silk Roads success as an independent website where people could buy and sell anything anonymously, which quickly leads to it being a website where people sell, well, things that need to be sold anonymously: drugs, weapons, murder contracts. Ulbricht, a diehard libertarian, is quoted in the film saying: Every action we take outside of government control strengthens the market and weakens the state. When his friends retort that Jeff Bezos already beat you to it, he says: Bullshit, people want anonymity, encrypted transactions. The war on drugs in America is a farce. If Russells aim was verisimilitude, its interesting that he chose not to make a documentary, given his background. One challenge with a documentary is that youre limited by what people say and how they say it, he says. A story is only as good as its storyteller. Your sources may not tell the story in a compelling way. It was still a challenge to use historical records as inspiration for the Silk Road. The problem, then, was simply that the footage he needed didnt exist, and never would. There are scenes based on moments you werent there for, or theres no documentation of, so youre using your imagination. But if its based on a true story, you want to adhere as closely to the truth as possible. Early on, Russell reached out to Kushner, author of the Rolling Stone article. Im a huge fan of Kushner, who is a good reporter and vivid writer. He was the springboard of this whole thing, says Russell. Jason Clarke and Darrell Britt-Gibson Silk Road The first time he read the Rolling Stone article, he felt Ulbricht was deeply human, Russell says. It wasnt just a nefarious gangster, dark-web mastermind. It was a snapshot of his upbringing, his youth, his family, it made him relatable and accessible as a character. It gave me a way in, emotionally. Kushner was willing to make himself an accessible resource, including his reporting process and everything that ended up on the cutting-room floor. At the same time, he didnt have an agenda to force on me. Getting to Ulbricht who still files essays on Medium and tweets about cryptography from prison himself proved more difficult. Russell wrote him early in the filmmaking process, when he was still in New York on trial in 2015. But I knew, and rightly so, his lawyers would never give me access to him. It was impossible. Russell instead used the breadcrumbs Ulbricht left online to piece together details in the film, from diary entries on his laptop to his chat logs, which were turned into evidentiary records. He also relied on conversations with Vie, the girlfriend who has continued to preach the gospel of her incarcerated paramour. Libertarianism was a guiding principle of who this guy is, Russell recalls Vie telling him. From the first time we met, he had a willingness to engage strangers and share his strong political convictions. To the filmmaker, that was gold. Just having access to someone who saw him change was a fascinating perspective, says Russell. As a filmmaker, Russell is fascinated by morally grey areas and peeking into the dark side of humanity. Previously, he has created films on serial killer Richard Ramirez and Kiki Camarena, an American intelligence officer who was kidnapped by drug traffickers and killed in Mexico. Ive asked myself this many times: What is it about me thats so drawn to these crime stories? he asks. What is it about the Silk Road that I wanted to plumb the depths of humanity? Its dark and heavy material. Stories are how we make meaning of the world. Its in the process of telling them that we digest them. The release of the film also makes for interesting timing, with many of the psychedelic drugs that were sold on Silk Road becoming the subjects of clinical trials and supervised therapeutic use. If these drugs which made up the lions of the products exchanged on Silk Road are legalized, should Ulbricht be released from prison? Hes currently tweeting for his clemency. The film also provides a glimpse into the early days of another hot topic: cryptocurrency. Silk Road put bitcoin in the zeitgeist in a big way, says Russell. Its a bookend to the war on drugs. Now, we can get weed at the weed store. This was the old way of doing things. It was a watershed cultural moment. I am drawn to these kinds of stories to understand the world better. Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Ulbricht was arrested by a SWAT team. He was in fact arrested by plainclothes FBI agents during a sting operation. You can read more about the arrest here. The post The Story of the Internets Silk Road Feels Way Less Sinister in 2021 appeared first on InsideHook. March 2 marked the National Education Associations landmark event, Read Across America Day, the U.S.s largest celebration of reading. The annual program features titles and resources that are about everyone, for everyone. Teachers, librarians, politicians, actors, athletes, parents, grandparents, and others develop Read Across America activities and set up events across the nation to bring reading excitement to readers of all ages who are able to feel recognized and included in addition to being able to explore things different from them and what they know. Weve gathered a selection of highlights from this years events. Americas first Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff, paid tribute to one of his heroes, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with a reading of I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Dolly Partons Imagination Library commemorated Read Across America Day by gifting millions of free books to children, so they can dream more through daring adventures, far-off lands, beloved characters and epic journeys. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felica Bond, to his 10-month-old son, Wyatt. Author Kelly Starling Lyons read her book Tiaras Hat Parade, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. Following the reading, Read Across America Ambassador and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks Marley Dias interviewed the books creators. Librarians from the Mercer County Library system in New Jersey celebrated RAAD by reading The Not So Quiet Library by Zachariah OHoraa fitting choice. The Los Angeles Chargers celebrated with elementary school students on a Zoom read aloud. The Cape May County Park & Zoo Education Department (and a special guest) joined in on the fun with a reading of the animal-themed Do Your Ears Hang Low? by Dorothea DePrisco, illustrated by Treesha Runnells. Atlantas Morning Rush anchors announced their favorite books during a show-and-tell segment. U.S. Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey read Freedom Soup by fellow Newark native Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara. Launched in 1998 by the NEA, with help from a committee of educators, Read Across America motivates children of all ages to find excitement in reading. For more information, click here. by Vladimir Rozanskij Shavkat Mirziyoyev's trip to Russia in preparation for the signing of a strategic and global partnership between the two countries. China and Russia major trading partners. Attempts to establish access to the Indian Ocean, passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit Russia at the beginning of next April. Yesterday, March 3, Uzbekistans foreign minister Abdelaziz Kamilov and his Russian counterpart Sergej Lavrov met in Moscow to prepare for the future meeting (photo 1). On the occasion, 30 documents will be signed, including the declaration on the strategic and global partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan. It should represent the synthesis of what the two sides have been trying to achieve for several years, and be the foundation for future cooperation. Mirziyoyev went to Moscow for the first time in 2016, immediately after his election as president, and the visit was reciprocated by Putin in Tashkent in 2018 (photo 2). The interests of the two countries are not limited to economic agreements: they include political and military issues in an area disputed by East and West. Russia is Uzbekistan's second largest trading partner, with a turnover of 5.9 billion dollars, yielding only to China, which is winning with 6.4 billion dollars in the land of the ancient Timurid empire. In Russian-Uzbek relations, the most pressing problem concerns migrant workers, who are trying to move to Russia from all over Central Asia. Uzbekistan is the first of these countries to participate in the pilot project, which allows Russian regions and companies to obtain the necessary agreements to give migrants work visas. The first region to apply this agreement was the Leningrad region (which has kept the Soviet name), around the capital St. Petersburg. In this way, Russia strengthens its positions in Central Asia, greatly expanding the market for non-primary production. Moscow also helps Uzbekistan in the fight against Covid-19 by registering the Sputnik-V vaccine for local production in Tashkent, which will be used together with the Uzbek-Chinese vaccine ZF-UZ-VAC 2021. In the military field, after the end of 'the USSR has remained in Uzbekistan weapons and technologies belonging to the "Military Department of Turkestan", hitherto little used, due to the absence of military conflicts on Uzbek territory. A renewal of armaments is now necessary, and Russia offers the most advantageous conditions. Uzbekistan itself aspires to play a leading role in the region, promoting "the convergence between Central and South Asia", in the words of Kamilov. A special conference is being prepared in Tashkent in July 2021, to which the Russian Minister Lavrov has been invited. It will also study new communication routes to the Indian Ocean, despite the uncertainties of the Afghan territory. Lavrov noted that "there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict, as history has shown several times, and it can only be resolved through political and diplomatic channels, and the participation of Uzbekistan is central in this". Another project presented by Kamilov is the construction of the Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway line, which will connect Uzbekistan with Pakistan, allowing commercial cargoes to reach Indian Ocean ports. In this way, Uzbekistan, a country that has so far remained completely isolated within its borders, would inaugurate a new season of wide-ranging relations, trying not to be dominated by the main players in the Central Asian region. Feeling the pinch of the pandemic economic crisis, Uzbekistan is also seeking help to solve various social problems within it. Education Minister Abdukadir Tashkulov announced on March 2 a support measure for students who cannot pay their rent during their studies, dividing them into three categories: green, yellow and red, depending on the level of economic need. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Loss making entities may get one last attempt at strategic sale before closure The government may make one last attempt next fiscal to sell more than two dozen sick and loss making entities that have failed to secure investor interest in earlier rounds of strategic sale. Failing this, these enterprises that have eroded their net worth, would be closed and their assets including land would be sold in parcels. Sources said that the ministry of heavy industries, that administers several of these sick and loss making entities, will be tasked to provide a revised list of public sector enterprises that can be put up for strategic sale, some for another attempt, to the disinvestment department DIPAM that will chart out the roadmap for their sell off. If such companies do not elicit a response from investors even in the earlier stage of the disinvestment process, the process may be ended and the company will be put up for closure. The government will also take up companies from an earlier list of over 30 entities approved for strategic sale by NITI Aayog for closure if it fails to elicit investor interest. The department of public enterprises (DPE) is finalising revised guidelines for timebound closure of loss-making central public sector units (CPSEs) and disposal of their assets. These guidelines would be applied for closure of the units after attempts for their sale fail. The guidelines would first be approved by the cabinet. The guidelines would allow for delinking land holdings from the process of closing the PSU, that would then be transferred to the administrative ministry for further action. Such land parcels could be sold for industrial development by the corporate sector. Some of the land parcels could also be developed as industrial clusters. A case in point here would be Scooters India which is already facing a legal dispute over its land with the Uttar Pradesh government. In the event the government decides to place the company again for strategic sale, and no buyer turns up, the company may be wound up and closed while its huge tracts of land would get transferred to the heavy industries ministry. The ministry could then take up the case with the UP government and find alternate use for this land. Other sick PSUs that may benefit from such an approach are Hindustan Fluorocarbons Ltd., Bharat Pumps and Compressors Ltd. and Hindustan Prefab Ltd. The government has a list of about 34 PSUs that have been given 'in principle' approval, some of which are still pending strategic disinvestment. These include companies such as Scooters India, Bridge and Roof Co., Cement Corporation of India, Ferro Scrap Nigam, Pawan Hans. The disinvestment process for a few such as Air India and BPCL is ongoing while THDC and NEEPCO has been taken over by NTPC. "With a pick-up in economic activity in FY22 these could be of interest for some of the sick and loss making entities among the investors. The government would like to test strategic sale of these units again. If they fail to pass muster, closure and liquidation of assets would be done," said a government official privy to the development. In FY19, about 70 loss-making CPSEs caused an over Rs 31,635 crore loss to the exchequer. Faced with the problem of losses the government has also closed over 20 such entities including HMT Watches Ltd, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hindustan Fluorocarbons Ltd. between August 2013 and March 2020. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. Lucknow, March 4 : The Yogi Adityanath government recently achieved another feat by bringing down the unemployment rate to 4.1 per cent in February this year as per a report of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). The statewide unemployment rate and figures were released by the CMIE recently. Last year, in the wake of the corona-induced lockdown, the unemployment rate in the state had sky-rocketed to 21 per cent. In Rajasthan, it was over 25 per cent during the same period. Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Navneet Sehgal, said that as per CMIE figures, the unemployment rate was 17.5 per cent before 2017. In early 2020, the state government managed to keep it at 10 per cent but outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns posed a challenge before the government as the unemployment rose to 21 per cent. Sehgal said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a series of steps were initiated by the MSME sector, which is also considered as the largest job giver sector. These measures helped the state in recovering from Covid-triggered economic gloom and gradually, global giants started being attracted towards the state, triggering economic activities. To address problems faced by migrants, the state government had also set up a Migrant Commission and all these measures enabled the state to bring down the unemployment rate to 4.1 per cent from 21 per cent in 2020. The state has already risen to the number two position in the 'ease of doing business' in the Yogi Adityanath regime and also its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is next only to Maharashtra, leaving behind even Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. DUBLIN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biohacking Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Type; By Product; By Application; By End Use; By Regions; Segment Forecast, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global biohacking market size is expected to reach USD 52,779.36 million by 2027, according to the study. The report gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth. Biohacking are biological experiments conducted in a small lab and are done by either individual or a small community. That is why biohacking is also called Do-It-Yourself (DIY). The biological experiments performed in garage labs could be genetic engineering, 3-D printing using light-sensitive bacteria. Furthermore, biohackers are in process as well as have developed various products to explore the human body and mind such as smart drugs, microchips, brain sensors, magnetic fingerprints, RFID implants, bacterial and yeast strains, smart blood pressure monitor and health tracker. For functional or aesthetic changes, biohackers have implemented technology to their own bodies. For instance, Artist Neil Harbission has exceptional color blindness due to which he used to see every object in grey color only. Later, he and his team had developed a software that transposes colors into vibration using a head-mounted camera extension. The growing awareness about biohacking and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases across the globe are the factors driving the growth of the market. Currently, the COVID-19 crisis has led to a rise in market growth for the pharma industries, and several R&D activities have been conducted by the companies to develop a suitable drug t as well as control the crisis. Therefore, increasing research & development activities by the company is the factor anticipated to fuel the market. However, the lack of cybersecurity practices and expertise, severe regulations that govern the genetic engineering experiments are anticipated to restrain the market growth during the projection period. On the other hand, lack of funding in research & development by the government yet remains another factor that limits the growth of the market. Furthermore, Salvia Bioelectronics, a Dutch startup company, is developing neurostimulation implantable device to stop chronic migraines. At its early stage of R&D, the company has successfully raised a fund of 1.8 million euros, in 2019. Additionally, smaller U.S. startups like CVRx has raised USD 340.6 million while Setpoint has raised USD 84.3 million. CVRx makes implant for heart failure treatment while Setpoint develops neuro devices for the treatment of arthritis and Crohn's disease. This shows a great opportunity for biohackers. Market participants such as Thync Global Inc., Apple, HVMN, Inc., Synbiota, Grindhouse Wetware, MoodMetric, THE ODIN, and Fitbit, Inc. are some of the key players operating in the market. The companies operating in the market are involved in the development of the product, strategic initiative, and regional expansion. For instance, Tim Cannon (co-founder of Grindhouse wetware) had implanted a circadia device into his arm. This was the very first event of body implantation. The Circadia device is capable of monitoring body temperature. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1. Report Description 1.1.1. Objectives of the Study 1.1.2. Market Scope 1.1.3. Assumptions 1.2. Stakeholders 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Highlights 3. Research Methodology 3.1. Overview 3.1.1. Data Mining 3.2. Data Sources 3.2.1. Primary Sources 3.2.2. Secondary Sources 4. Biohacking Market Insights 4.1. Biohacking - Industry snapshot 4.2. Biohacking Market Dynamics 4.2.1. Drivers and Opportunities 4.2.1.1. Technological advancements 4.2.1.2. Government backed funding 4.2.2. Restraints and Challenges 4.2.2.1. Bioethics 4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers (Moderate) 4.3.2. Threats of New Entrants: (Low) 4.3.3. Bargaining Power of Buyers (Moderate) 4.3.4. Threat of Substitute (Moderate) 4.3.5. Rivalry among existing firms (High) 4.4. PESTLE Analysis 4.5. Biohacking Market Industry trends 5. Biohacking Market Assessment by Type 5.1. Key Findings 5.2. Introduction 5.2.1. Global Biohacking Market, By Type, 2016-2027 (USD Million) 5.3. Inside 5.3.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Inside, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 5.4. Outside 5.4.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Outside, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 6. Global Biohacking Market, by Product 6.1. Key Findings 6.2. Introduction 6.2.1. Global Biohacking Market, By Product, 2016-2027 (USD Million) 6.3. Smart Drugs 6.3.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Smart Drugs, By Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 6.4. Sensors 6.4.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Sensors, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 6.5. Strains 6.5.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Strains, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 6.6. Others 6.6.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Others, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 7. Global Biohacking Market, by Application 7.1. Key Findings 7.2. Introduction 7.2.1. Global Biohacking Market, By Application, 2016-2027 (USD Million) 7.3. Synthetic Biology 7.3.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Synthetic Biology, By Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 7.4. Genetic Engineering 7.4.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Genetic Engineering, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 7.5. Forensic Science 7.5.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Forensic Science, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 7.6. Diagnosis & Treatment 7.6.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Diagnosis & Treatment, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 7.7. Drug Testing 7.7.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Drug Testing, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 8. Biohacking Market Assessment by End Use 8.1. Key Findings 8.2. Introduction 8.2.1. Global Biohacking Market, By End Use, 2016-2027 (USD Million) 8.3. Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies 8.3.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 8.4. Forensic Laboratories 8.4.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Forensic Laboratories, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 8.5. Others 8.5.1. Global Biohacking Market, by Others, by Region, 2016- 2027 (USD Million) 9. Biohacking Market Assessment by Geography 9.1. Key findings 9.2. Introduction 9.3. Biohacking Market - North America 9.4. Biohacking Market - Europe 9.5. Biohacking Market - Asia-Pacific 9.6. Biohacking Market - Middle East & Africa 9.7. Biohacking Market - Latin America 10. Competitive Landscape 10.1. Expansion and Acquisition Analysis 10.1.1. Expansion Analysis 10.1.2. Acquisition Analysis 10.2. Partnerships/Collaborations/Agreements/Exhibitions 11. Company Profiles 11.1. Thync Global Inc. 11.1.1. Company Overview 11.1.2. Financial Performance 11.1.3. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.1.4. Recent Developments 11.1.5. Apple 11.1.6. Company Overview 11.1.7. Financial Performance 11.1.8. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.1.9. Recent Developments 11.2. HVMN 11.2.1. Company Overview 11.2.2. Financial Performance 11.2.3. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.2.4. Recent Developments 11.3. Synbiota 11.3.1. Company Overview 11.3.2. Financial Performance 11.3.3. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.3.4. Recent Developments 11.4. Grindhouse Wetware 11.4.1. Company Overview 11.4.2. Financial Performance 11.4.3. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.4.4. Recent Developments 11.5. MoodMetric 11.5.1. Company Overview 11.5.2. Financial Performance 11.5.3. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.5.4. Recent Developments 11.6. THE ODIN 11.6.1. Company Overview 11.6.2. Financial Performance 11.6.3. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.6.4. Recent Developments 11.7. Fitbit, Inc. 11.7.1. Company Overview 11.7.2. Financial Performance 11.7.3. Product/Services Benchmarking 11.7.4. Recent Developments For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qexfba Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID A third-world telco has hired Chris Evans to endorse their brand. The Hollywood star was recently unveiled in the Philippines as the face of Smart Communications for their 2021 campaign titled "Live Smarter for a Better World," following Korean pop band BTS. The video featuring the "Captain America" star was helmed by German-born director Pascal Heiduk who worked with other big Hollywood names such as Hugh Jackman. Heiduk also created advertisements for brands like Mercedes Benz AMG and BMW. Evans is the first-ever Hollywood A-lister brand ambassador for the telco. However, massive fans of the Hollywood hunk in the Philippines are not pleased with the telco's latest endorser. One of the main reasons why the entire endorsement is facing backlash is because of the company's reported slow internet. One Twitter user asked, "Why would a local telco hire international endorsers if they do not even have the first-hand experience of how bad the internet is in the Philippines?" along with a clown emoji. Another mentioned how Smart Communications are using big bucks to pay high-profile celebrities but couldn't even improve their service first and foremost. "Smart always pays celebrities millions to endorse their products more than improving their service and making sure the entire country gets strong and quality network signals." One exclaimed, "When you have SO MUCH money to pay for a talent but technically DO NOT CARE about making your services BETTER." Some even noticed how Chris Evans' entire spiel was too peachy and wordy. One person commented that if the whole commercial were supposed to make it seem like Evans is portraying Steve Rodgers, "he would say it fast, swift and powerful." But there are still people who were excited for the actor to be the brand ambassador. One witty person tweeted, "So if that's America's Ass and he's with Smart, does that make him, Smart Ass?" Another even mentioned how Cap should have a partner so he wouldn't seem sad. Others suggested they should hire Scarlet Witch and Vision to be the next brand ambassador. Chris Evans Is Endorsing One of the Philippines' Worst Telcos The Philippines is a third-world country, and according to reports, their internet connection is one of the worst in the entire world. One of those telcos is Smart Communications, which is also one of the leading telcos in their country because of the Filipinos' lack of options. The most common complaint regarding this company is its extremely slow and intermittent internet connection, either in Wi-Fi or mobile data, and topping it off with terrible service. See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles PHOENIX, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC - CELZ) Creative Medical Technology Holdings announced today a publication in the pre-print server SSRN describing data from its first 15 patients treated in a clinical trial evaluation perispinal injection of bone marrow cells in patients with disc degenerative disease. Evaluation of patients at 30,60 90, 180, and 360 days revealed significant improvement in mobility and reduction in pain score . The mean pain changed from 8.9 at baseline to 4.3 at 30 days and sustained to 1.8 at 6 months and 1.3 at 12 months with a gradual reduction in overall pain medication utilization guided by their healthcare team. No serious adverse effects were noted with some short-term bruising in two patients at the harvest site and no long term adverse events where reported related to the procedure. "This publication, which is "pre-peer review" describes what to our knowledge is the first demonstration of a signal of clinical efficacy by injecting stem cells in areas surrounding the disc." Said Dr Amit Patel, Board Member and Co-Founder of the Company. "While others have intra-disc injection may help disc pain, the current work regenerates the blood supple to the disc, allowing the disc to heal itself." The autologous utilization of bone marrow falls under the "minimal manipulation exception" and can be commercialized rapidly, in the same manner that the Company commercialized Caverstem for treatment of erectile dysfunction. Granted United States Patent #9,598,673 which is owned by the Company covers the use of any mesenchymal stem cells, both from the patient or from donors, for reduction of lower back pain when injected into the major muscles of the lower back. "Disc degenerative disease represents a multi-billion dollar market for which current medical solutions do not address the underlying cause, while surgery is expensive and not applicable for a significant number of patients." Said Timothy Warbington, President and CEO of the Company. "We are excited to follow the path we did with CaverStem and initiate commercialization of this technology for American patients." To view our Publication: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3797402 About Creative Medical Technology Holdings Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. is a commercial stage biotechnology company specializing in regenerative medicine/stem cell technology in the fields of immunotherapy, urology, neurology and orthopedics and is listed on the OTC under the ticker symbol CELZ. For further information about the company, please visit www.creativemedicaltechnology.com. Forward Looking Statements OTC Markets has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming clinical trials and laboratory results, marketing efforts, funding, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. See the periodic and other reports filed by Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Commission's website at www.sec.gov . www.StemSpine.com www.CaverStem.com www.FemCelz.com SOURCE Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://creativemedicaltechnology.com Roland DGA TrafficWorks includes all the essential tools for producing full-color, reflective, color-compliant traffic signs in-house easily and cost-effectively. TrafficWorks provides the user with the critical hardware, software and training needed to get the job done."Kit Jones, Roland DGA Co-Creation Product Manager Roland DGA, in conjunction with leading media manufacturer ORAFOL, has introduced Roland DGA TrafficWorks a turnkey traffic sign printing solution that enables print service providers to expand their product offerings and create new revenue streams. TrafficWorks also offers traffic sign companies a cost-effective, easy-to-use solution for producing traffic signage in-house, plus all the other applications award-winning TrueVIS VG2 printer/cutters are known for. Roland DGA TrafficWorks is a complete, reliable all-in-one solution that makes both designing and printing industry-standard MUTCD, ASTM and FHWA compliant traffic signs simple, while also minimizing production costs. The TrafficWorks solution, designed around Roland DGs TrueVIS VG2 wide-format printer/cutters and wide-gamut, GREENGUARD certified TR2 inks, includes all the tools needed to produce full-color, reflective, color-compliant traffic signs. The complete package includes either a VG2-640 or VG2-540, powerful, user-friendly Roland DGA TrafficWorks design and RIP software (powered by SAi) featuring MUTCD compliant sign templates, a traffic-specific color library, fonts, and custom profiles, ORAFOL 5900 reflective media, and 5061 laminate, as well as Roland DGA certification and a digital training course. Customers who already own a VG2 inkjet that has an 8-color with Orange ink configuration can purchase the kit portion of the solution only, which includes all other package components except the VG2 printer/cutter. The Roland DGA TrafficWorks certification program provides end users with general training on MUTCD, ASTM and FHWA traffic signage standards, along with instruction on how to produce signs using the VG2. Dealers are also required to complete a Roland DGA certification program before receiving authorization to sell the TrafficWorks solution. In addition to delivering vibrant, color-compliant, durable graphics, TrueVIS VG2 series inkjets feature integrated contour cutting with up to 500G of downforce. The advanced capabilities and simple operation of the VG2, together with the specialized, intuitive Roland DGA TrafficWorks design and RIP software, allow for a streamlined workflow for printing high-quality, color-compliant traffic signage. Those equipped with a VG2 printer/cutter and the TrafficWorks package will also have the versatility to create traditional signage and graphics applications, including banners, decals, vehicle graphics, and more. Historically, the traffic signage markets have been dominated by screen printers, vinyl cutting, and large, expensive digital printers, said Roland DGA Co-Creation Product Manager Kitt Jones. The Roland DGA TrafficWorks solution offers a complete, affordable alternative that not only makes producing color-compliant traffic signage easer, but also more cost-effective than ever before. TrafficWorks provides the user with the critical hardware, software and training needed to get the job done. According to Jones, the wide-color gamut of the TrueVIS VG2 printer/cutter and its TR2 inks is also an advantage for TrafficWorks users. Unlike most competitive traffic signage systems, the TrafficWorks solution lets you print everything from traffic signage to photorealistic prints without having to use specially formulated spot color inks, Jones added. That saves end users even more time and money. Roland DGAs traffic sign printing solution can be purchased now through certified and authorized Roland DGA TrafficWorks dealers throughout the U.S. At present, this solution is available to U.S customers only. To learn more about new Roland DGA TrafficWorks, visit http://www.rolanddga.com/trafficworks. For more information on the complete Roland DGA product line, visit https://www.rolanddga.com. About Roland DGA Corporation Roland DGA Corporation serves North and South America as the marketing, sales, distribution and service arm for Roland DG Corporation. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG of Hamamatsu, Japan is a worldwide leader in wide-format inkjet printers for the sign, apparel, textile, personalization and vehicle graphics markets; engravers for awards, giftware and ADA signage; photo impact printers for direct part marking; and 3D printers and CNC milling machines for the dental CAD/CAM, rapid prototyping, part manufacturing and medical industries. [March 04, 2021] Franklin Templeton Canada Migrates Four ETFs to NEO Exchange NEO is proud to announce that Franklin Templeton Canada ("Franklin Templeton") has migrated four regional and country ETFs from the Toronto Stock Exchange to the NEO Exchange. The existing tickers remain the same, and FLAM, FLCD, FLJA, and FLUR are now available for trading on NEO. Franklin Templeton has become the 18th fund manufacturer to list products on the NEO Exchange. The four Franklin Templeton ETFs that have migrated to NEO are as follows: Franklin FTSE U.S. Index ETF - NEO:FLAM Franklin FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF - NEO:FLCD Franklin FTSE Japan index ETF - NEO:FLJA Franklin FTSE Europe ex U.K. Index ETF - NEO:FLUR Each of the funds seeks to replicate the performance of its corresponding index, investing primarily in equity securities of large and mid-capitalization issuers in the respective region or country it targets. Aggregate assets of the funds represent approximately $1.13 billion as of March 2, 2021. "Franklin Templeton Canada welcomes the innovation that the NEO Exchange brings to the market. With its new closing price methodology, we have taken the opportunity to move a suite of low-cost regional and country ETFs to the exchange for the benefit of our investors," commented Duane Green, President and CEO of Franklin Templetn Canada. "Our diverse and innovative global ETF platform, which offers actively managed equity and fixed income, smart beta and passive ETFs, was built to provide better client outcomes." Investors can trade shares of Franklin Templeton's four regional and country ETFs through their usual investment channels, including discount brokerage platforms and full-service dealers. Click here for a complete view of all NEO-listed securities. "This migration of Franklin Templeton's ETFs is another major achievement for NEO," remarked Jos Schmitt, President and CEO of NEO. "It is a strong endorsement of the innovations we have brought to market to ensure a better closing price for ETFs and our relentless push for unrestricted access to market data. We are thrilled to welcome Franklin Templeton Canada to the NEO family and look forward to providing first-rate client service as we champion their success on the NEO Exchange." NEO consistently represents roughly 20% of all volume traded in Canadian ETFs and close to 15% of all trading in Canadian-listed companies. About NEO Exchange NEO Exchange is a progressive stock exchange that brings together investors and capital raisers within a fair, efficient, and service-oriented environment. Fully operational since June 2015, NEO puts investors first and provides access to trading all Canadian-listed securities on a level playing field. The NEO Exchange lists non-venture companies and investment products seeking a stock exchange that enables investor trust, quality liquidity, and broad awareness including unfettered access to market data. Connect with NEO: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram About Franklin Templeton Canada Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. (known as Franklin Templeton Canada) is a subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 165 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company brings extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, multi-asset solutions and alternatives. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has over 70 years of investment experience and approximately US$1.5 trillion (approximately CA (News - Alert) $1.9 trillion) in assets under management as of January 31, 2021. Connect with Franklin Templeton: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Beyond Bulls & Bears Blog View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005362/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] San Francisco is paying $16.1 million to shelter homeless people in 262 tents placed in empty lots around the city where they also get services and food a steep price tag that amounts to more than $61,000 per tent per year. The city has created six tent sites, called safe sleeping villages, since the beginning of the pandemic to get vulnerable people off crowded sidewalks and into places where they have access to bathrooms, three meals and around-the-clock security. The annual cost of one spot in one site is 2 times the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco. City leaders are under enormous pressure to address the citys swelling homeless population, which has become more worrisome and visible amid the pandemic as traditional shelters have had to cut their capacity and other services have been disrupted. But several officials said Wednesday that the tent program which is not eligible for federal reimbursement is staggeringly expensive and must be re-examined, especially amid the $650 million budget deficit that San Francisco projects over the next two years. Its eye-popping, and we need to understand why that is, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who proposed legislation last fall that would force the city to create more shelter options, like safe sleeping villages. We have to find a way to have exits from the streets. But we need them to be more cost-effective than the safe sleeping program that the city has been running. The $16.1 million allocated for the safe sleeping program in the current budget is a fraction of the more than $300 million spent annually on homeless services. A 2018 ballot measure will probably raise an additional $250 million to $300 million per year. The average per-night cost $190 is $82 less than what the city pays to shelter someone in its homeless hotel program. But unlike the hotel program, the tent sites are not eligible for federal reimbursement. According to city data, 314 people live in 247 tents. Fifteen spots are open. The hotel program, which provides four walls, a bed and private bathroom, costs about $21 million a month. The majority of the costs will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The tent sites are not eligible for federal reimbursement because they are considered a group shelter, Abigail Stewart-Kahn, the interim director of the homeless department, said at a budget committee hearing Wednesday. Stewart-Kahn noted that the city had to scramble to create other options for the homeless as indoor shelters were closing early in the pandemic. She said officials did not have time to do a more thorough contract bidding process, which may have lowered operating costs. The sites are also on empty lots around the city including outside of City Hall and at a City College parking lot South of Market which required water and electrical hookups, along with around-the-clock security. Stewart-Kahn said the department is conducting an analysis on the tent program and figuring out how it can move forward with the program. The city which originally thought the program would be reimbursed by FEMA has paid for it through a combination of state grant money, the citys general fund and money from a 2018 business tax, the department said Wednesday. The conversation on the tent program came during a committee hearing on the departments proposed budget for the next two fiscal years. Mayor London Breed asked all departments to slash budgets by at least 7.5% to fill a $650 million deficit, which was largely caused by the pandemic. The homelessness department said that it was able to comply with the mayors request, while also maintaining current service levels. The departments proposal particularly frustrated Supervisors Ahsha Safai and Shamann Walton, who wanted more funding for an RV Navigation Center, where people who live in cars can park overnight and access services. Wednesdays conversation was a window into the tough choices that city leaders will likely have to make over the next few months as they try to close the deficit, or until the federal government provides more financial assistance. Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle I understand the motivation to create (safe) sleeping space during this COVID-19 crisis, Safai said. But we really need to dive deep to see if this a sustainable model ... without any federal reimbursement. Some tent sites have rankled nearby residents, who have complained about blight and drug use. But those living at the sites have embraced them, as have advocates and city leaders who say theyre better than makeshift encampments of tents on sidewalks. One site at 33 Gough St., a City College parking lot in SoMa, was quiet on a recent afternoon as people ambled in and out. Several evenly spaced tents were propped up on wooden blocks to help them stay relatively dry during the recent winter storms. The security guards personally knew many of the people who walked in. They screened everyone for COVID-19 symptoms with a temperature check and reminded people to keep their masks on at the site. A young man who lived at the site said it was still dramatically better than living on the street, even though his tent was battered by wind the night before. At the site he has food and security guards looking out for him, and he also knows that if he leaves his stuff will probably be safe. Jennifer Friedenbach, the executive director of the citys Coalition on Homelessness, said the city made the right decision at the beginning of the pandemic to create the tent program as quickly as possible. She said many homeless people even prefer the sites to traditional shelters, as a tent gives them more privacy than a cot in a large room. But, moving forward, she said she would not support expanding the program at the current price. Instead, she said, the city should invest that money in more stable options, like housing subsidies. Having people in tents creates a natural block of the spread of the virus, Friedenbach said. But we do not think that a tent is a permanent solution to homelessness. Mandelman said hes still working on his legislation, which would force the department to figure out how many shelter spaces it needs to be able to offer a spot to everyone sleeping on the street. There is no set plan on how to pay for it. Im not ideologically wedded to safe sleeping sites if we can come up with something better, he said. But I haven't found that yet. Indoor shelters can cost millions of dollars to construct and operate, while affordable housing can cost at least $700,000 a unit. Both can take years to build in San Francisco. Still, despite the millions of dollars spent on the tent program, many people are sleeping on the streets every night. Outside 33 Gough St. on the recent afternoon, a woman with abscesses on her face walked up to the security guards and asked whether there was room for her inside. The guard politely told her that the site was full, and that she should try reaching out to the Homeless Outreach Team to find a spot elsewhere. The woman sighed and shuffled away. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The maelstrom that has engulfed federal politics has left many wondering how on earth we ended up here. The allegations of sexual assaults and the failure of politicians to treat their own staff with basic decency and dignity are so shocking the Federal Police Commissioner felt it necessary to remind our leaders of their obligation to report crimes. A senior cabinet minister stands accused of committing one of the gravest of crimes. Attorney-General Christian Porter strongly denying allegations at a press conference on Wednesday that he raped a young woman 33 years ago. Credit:Trevor Collens And these are merely the most egregious examples from the past week. Barely six months ago, the Senates finance and public administration legislation committees consideration of a Greens bill proposing among other things a parliamentary code of conduct, concluded that there was not a strong argument in favour of such a code. Future Proof is a collection of millennial founders and established industry veterans developing innovative beverage brands for the next generation of drinkers Future Proof has taken a non-traditional approach to the growth of its business and sourcing investors. In 2014, the brand secured a $1 million investment from Mark Cuban on ABC's Shark Tank. Cuban predicted the brand "would go viral," and supported the company's growth within the millennial demographic. The brand has also brought on celebrity Rob Dyrdek and DJs Party Favor, Anna Lunoe, GTA, Louis the Child in its Series A and B rounds. Since then, Future Proof has not slowed down and has experienced nearly a 100% year-over-year (YoY) growth in 2019 and 2020. It is projecting to again double its revenue in 2021. The growth has been, in large part, by their enthusiastic consumer fanbase. In October 2020, the company launched its first-ever crowdfunding campaign, in partnership with Wefunder, and since has raised nearly $1.2 million through nearly 1,300 fans and investors. "We could not be prouder of how far we've come over the last couple of years," said Justin Fenchel co-founder and CEO at Future Proof. "Having our core brand, BeatBox be named the leader in both single-serve wine and RTD cocktails, is a testament to our vision in changing the alcohol industry and the unwavering support from our fanbase." "The BeatBox brand was designed to bring people together and that is central to everything we do," added Brad Schultz, co-founder and CXO at Future Proof. "This ranking paired with the crowdfunding campaign is just another example of that. Having raised over $1 million, largely from our fans, has enabled us to make incredible strides for our company, all while adding the most important stakeholders to our team - our consumers." The money raised from the crowdfunding campaign has sparked incredible growth for the Future Proof portfolio as the company stated it expects BeatBox revenue to exceed $3 million in Q1 2021 compared to $890,000 Q1 2019 revenue. "This new capital has allowed us to substantially expand our team and footprint," said Aimy Steadman, co-founder, and COO at Future Proof. "We've hired new members of the sales team, started to sell our products in four new states, and are shipping our first product ever to Puerto Rico." Through brand experience and production innovation, Future Proof is committed to changing the alcohol industry. Its brands are currently in over 12,000 stores including. Kroger, Circle K, Quik Trip and many more, with a goal to offer its products nationally. To read more about Future Proof's fundraising goals and make an investment through Mar. 31, 2021, visit their Wefunder page. About Future Proof United through a love of music and inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of Austin, Texas, the founders of Future Proof (formerly BeatBox Beverages) set out to create something that could help everyone #PartyBetter. One year later, they made Shark Tank, walking away with the biggest investment the show had made at that time, $1million from Mark Cuban. Later adding on a team of industry veterans from Austin Eastciders, InBev, MillerCoors, Deep Eddy, and Tito's Handmade Vodka, to name a few who know how to develop, launch, and quickly grow authentic brands. Now boasting a portfolio of brands, and a roster of investors including Mark Cuban, Rob Dyrdek as well as DJs Party Favor, Louis The Child, Good Times Ahead, and many others, Future Proof's reputation is secured as a company that creates products that drive incremental profit in high-growth categories with specific expertise in the Millennial target. For more information, please visit www.futureprf.com or check out our LinkedIn . Press Contact Taylor Foxman [email protected] 609-432-2237 SOURCE Future Proof Related Links https://futureprf.com Power stocks were trading in green, with the S&P BSE Power index increasing 3.81 points or 0.15% at 2550.12 at 09:48 IST. Among the components of the S&P BSE Power index, Adani Power Ltd (up 7.54%), Adani Transmission Ltd (up 1.65%),Adani Green Energy Ltd (up 1.46%),Thermax Ltd (up 1.15%),Tata Power Company Ltd (up 1%), were the top gainers. Among the other gainers were Torrent Power Ltd (up 0.67%), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (up 0.59%), K E C International Ltd (up 0.46%), NHPC Ltd (up 0.4%), and Siemens Ltd (up 0.12%). On the other hand, NTPC Ltd (down 1.69%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (down 1.1%), and ABB India Ltd (down 0.25%) turned lower. At 09:48 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 866.68 or 1.68% at 50577.97. The Nifty 50 index was down 229.35 points or 1.5% at 15016.25. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 16.14 points or 0.08% at 21069.15. The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was down 10.51 points or 0.15% at 7014.22. On BSE,973 shares were trading in green, 1247 were trading in red and 98 were unchanged. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TERRE HAUTE, IND. (WTHI) - At the pump, you may have noticed you've been paying more to hit the roads recently. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price for a gallon of gas is $2.73. This is the highest it's been in over a year and a half. These price increases stretch further than the gas station. If you visit the grocery store, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. "By the time you do groceries, medicine, and gas, it doesn't leave a lot for your regular bills," Shirley Frakes, Terre Haute resident, said. According to Bloomberg Business, food prices are at a six-year high. The United States Department of Agriculture specifically found that grocery store prices were up 3.5% at the end of the year. Beef and Veal saw the most dramatic impact at almost 10%. This is mainly due to the economic consequences of the pandemic. Frakes is not the only one feeling this economic burden. In fact, organizations are also feeling the pinch. The Catholic Charities Food Bank in Terre Haute is seeing a change too. "Certainly as fuel prices go up, it has an impact on the price we pay at both the pump and at the shelf." John Etling, Agency Director of Catholic Charities in Terre Haute, said. The nonprofit organization serves more than 42,000 people in seven Wabash Valley counties. About half of that number is children and the elderly. Etling wants to emphasize that the organization not experiencing any food shortages, but the supply chain lines have been stretched. "Food is certainly a basic need, explains Elting. "We want to make sure we are doing everything we can so we can push that food out and get it into the homes of people who really need it." As the economy continues to change, Etling believes the organization is prepared to handle these rising costs, further helping the increased demand in the community. Both Etling and Frakes agree that fuel prices are the bigger economic issue the community is facing at this moment. A Corkman who has overcome his own stammer problems and is now helping others is hoping to make contact with USA president Joe Biden to raise awareness about the issue CLONAKILTY native Jamie Googan has been working in conjunction with his local TD Michael Collins and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny who is a good friend of Mr Biden and RTEs Washington correspondent Brian ODonovan to set up a virtual meeting with the recently elected US president. Mr Googan wants to set up the meeting with Mr Biden, who has himself conquered his own issues with a stammer, to defeat the stigma associated with stammering and raise its profile to a new level. Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts. Mr Googan is hoping to talk with the president via Zoom or to potentially meet him when he is expected to travel to Ireland in the near future. We are hoping to touch base with Mr Biden so we can create more awareness about the issue. We are hoping to make contact via Zoom or it could possibly happen during his expected future visit to Ireland. We have touched base with the US embassy and written letters to the White House. We are knocking on every single door and trying to reach out to every person in authority, he said. Jamie said that he has received assurances from the US embassy that when Mr Biden travels to Ireland during his tenure, a meeting will be facilitated. There is nothing confirmed yet about the president coming to Ireland as of yet, but we have assurances that when a schedule is released in due course, we will be facilitated. Brian ODonovan the RTE correspondent has been a great help as have Michael Collins and Enda Kenny. The former Taoiseach has met Joe Biden numerous times over the years and he will do his best to set up a meeting. We are after generating a fantastic team of individuals who are trying to help us, he said. The rise of Joe Biden who successfully negotiated his own personal issues with a stammering problem in his youth gives great encouragement to all people who suffer from a stammering problem said Jamie. He is the most powerful man in the world. For him to have the same challenge as us, it is very heartwarming and inspiring for us to see him rise to such a huge position of authority. He is so inspirational. He speaks from the heart about his stammer. He has overcome his personal battles and he is always keen to acknowledge this. Even a video message from him will help and guide the young people who suffer from a stammer a huge lift. Mr Googan is hoping the new president will use his influence and highlight the issues people who suffer from a stammer face on a daily basis. He has the power to normalise a stammer. It will only take a few interviews with President Biden to globalise this issue. He is a patron of the American Stammering Association and he raises the profile significantly. We all share the same struggles. We all have been through the whole process of going through the same hurdles and difficulties. Humiliation is probably the biggest hurdle. His election shows us what can be achieved. We all recognise the road ahead of us to make this happen. The Cork native is involved with the Irish Stammering Association, having developed a stammer as a child following a fall. Mr Googan wants to normalise stammering. Our aim is to normalise this. 1% of the worlds population has a stammer. 0.8% will grow out of it during their teenage years and 0.2% will have it for life. The assessment list for people suffering from stammers in Ireland has increased over the last nine years which needs to be addressed. When I was three years old, I fell and knocked out my front three teeth. This led to me developing a stammer. It is very humiliating. Something basic like giving your name or number can cause huge struggles. It is awful for your confidence. "In 2012 I went to the McGuire Programme. I have undergone a huge transformation in the subsequent years. I am now an eloquent and clear speaker, he added. Mr Googan also wants stammering not to be seen as a disability, but as a challenge moving forward. He aims to raise this issue with President Biden. I want to bring to Mr Bidens attention that in both Ireland and America, stammering is seen as a disability. This can be very degrading to be put under that specific grading as to me it is a challenge and not a disability. I would like this to change and for it to be called an active challenge. Jamie said there is currently a support group for people who suffer from stammer problems in Cork who meet up and help one another. Mr Googan is glad to help out. A lot of people have helped me overcome my challenges and I am keen to help other people. I want people to find their voice and their freedom. There are support groups in every county. They meet up every two weeks and practice their speech. They encourage one another to get outside their comfort zone. I was given the tools and I put myself in every uncomfortable situation as often as possible. I gradually became comfortable. The Council for Industrial and Scientific Research (CSIR), South Africa's central and premier scientific research and development organisation, was created by the government with a very clear mandate to foster scientific and industrial progress via research, development and innovation. As CEO of the CSIR, Dr. Thulani Dlamini is at the helm of an organisation expected to perform directed research and technological innovation that creates a clear and tangible impact. What is that impact? We recently chatted to Dr Dlamini to find out. We also spoke to him about the CSIR's innovation efforts which include the development of a local ventilator to aid the South African government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and his views on the so-called fourth industrial revolution (4IR): the convergence of emerging technologies include machine learning and 5G. Let's talk about your current position as CEO of the CSIR, what does it take to lead SA's premier scientific and research organisations? Any key challenges? I really see myself as being very fortunate to lead an organisation of this stature, with the history it has and the impact it has made across South Africa. I'm very mindful that I need to protect the reputation of the CSIR and also that I need to grow and develop this institution into something better than what it was yesterday. As innovators, we can't just keep doing what we did in the past, we always need to be evolving and responding to change. In fact, our new strategy aims to build from our previous successes. This means that we're working to develop our science and engineering capabilities so that we can support and drive industrial development in the country. Unlike universities and other academic institutions that also do research and development, our work has to be directed and it needs to have a real, marked impact across society, industry and government. As such, anything we do is driven by a requirement that we make a clear mark on broader society and have an impact on industrial development. During meet with Antony Blinken, Jaishankar thanks US for strong support India recognised by US as important part of conversation on Afghanistan: Jaishankar Jaishankar arrives in Dhaka: To prepare ground for PM Modis visit India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 04: Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar has arrived in Dhaka. He will hold a meeting with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Foreign Minister. During his visit, Jaishankar will prepare the ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to that country, and hold talks on the progress of bilateral ties. Prime Minister Modi is likely to pay a two-day visit to Bangladesh beginning March 26 to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the liberation of Bangladesh. At the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart A. K. Abdul Momen, the External Affairs Minister will pay an official visit to Dhaka on March 4, a Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday. For first time Jawans, JCOs to take part in military conference to be addressed by PM Modi Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen visited India in January during which both sides extensively deliberated on PM Modi's visit to Dhaka. This visit of the External Affairs Minister to Bangladesh follows on the PM-level Virtual Summit held between the two countries on December 17, 2020 and will also provide an opportunity to take stock of the progress in bilateral relations, the MEA said. Following the summit, the Indian side had said Prime Minister Modi will visit Bangladesh in March this year to join the celebrations for 50 years of Bangladesh's Independence and India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations. The ties between India and Bangladesh have witnessed a major upswing in the last few years. In reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war that led to liberation of Bangladesh. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the 'Mukti Bahini' on December 16, 1971 that led to the birth of Bangladesh. Advertisement Stunning pictures show the astonishing moment a flock of starlings formed the shape of a giant bird over a lake in Ireland. Photographer James Crombie captured the murmuration over Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath on Tuesday evening. Breathtaking footage shows the starlings swooping and diving in unison as they formed the outline of a bird above the water. Mr Crombie made around 50 trips to Lough Ennell in the hope that he would capture the murmuration. Photographer James Crombie captured the stunning murmuration of starlings swooping over Lough Ennell on Tuesday evening. The flock formed the outline of a giant bird Mr Crombie and friend Colin Hogg had been watching the starlings for weeks as they tried to find the ideal location for shooting the impressive footage. Mr Crombie told the Irish Times that he had already formed an 'image in his head' that he wanted to replicate Footage shows the starlings swooping, twisting and diving in unison as they nest in the weeds. Mr Crombie reportedly shot between 400 and 500 frames before capturing the perfect image Murmuration is a phenomenon that sees hundreds or thousands of starlings fly together in the sky to form patterns. They can form shapes such as birds (pictured), as well as love hearts and Christmas stockings The starlings formed a perfect shape above Lough Ennell in Ireland (pictured), located near the town of Mullingar. Starlings are smaller than blackbirds and have a pointed head and triangular wings He and Colin Hogg, a friend, had tracked the starlings for several weeks in a bid to find the ideal location for shooting the footage. I had an image in my head. I could see they were making shapes. I kept going back to get the image I had in my head, Mr Crombie told the Irish Times. Murmuration is a phenomenon that sees hundreds or thousands of starlings fly together in the sky to form coordinated patterns. Starlings group together to protect themselves from predators such as falcons. They find it difficult targeting one bird in a pack A couple captured the moment thousands of starlings formed a giant heart over the sea in Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon in January. Photographer Ed Sykes, from Halifax, West Yorks, captured a huge murmuration of starlings forming the shape of a giant stocking in Castleford just weeks before Christmas. Grouping together protects starlings from predators such as falcons who will find it difficult to target one bird in a pack of thousands. Starlings also gather together to keep warm at night and to communicate. The starling population in the UK has fallen by more than 80 per cent in recent years meaning they are now on the list of birds most at risk. When their nesting period is over, starlings often gather in large flocks and use woodlands and forestry for roosting. Roosting sites can accommodate thousands of birds In February, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg dismissed the appeal of Abdul Hanan, a farmer from Kunduz, against the Federal Republic of Germany over a 2009 massacre in Afghanistan. Hanan, who also appeared on behalf of his village, had filed the complaint alleging inadequate judicial investigation of the deaths of his two sons, who were eight and twelve years old when they were killed. The two children, Abdul Bayan and Nesarullah, and more than a hundred other people (the exact number has not yet been firmly established), most of them civilians, were killed on 4 September 2009 when two US warplanes bombed a crowd that had gathered around two stalled tankers on a sandbank of the Kunduz River. The order for the attack had been given by Col. Georg Klein of the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces)|. It was the largest massacre ordered by a German officer since the Second World War. But after eleven years, it finally remains unpunished. September 4, 2009: Afghan police officers at the site of the massacre (AP Photo, file) From the beginning, the Attorney Generals Office had refused to press charges against Klein and his air traffic control officer. Hanan had then tried to force an indictment through a so-called proceedings to force criminal prosecution. However, he had failed in all German courts with his motions, brought by the renowned human rights lawyer Wolfgang Kaleck from Berlin. The Dusseldorf Higher Regional Court, the Federal Court of Justice and finally the Federal Constitutional Court had not even allowed them. This has now been rubber-stamped by the ECHR. The non-profit human rights organisation European Centre for Constitutional Rights (ECCR), which supported Hanan, called the Strasbourg decision disappointing, as the German militarys policy of secrecy and the de facto denial of procedural rights to those affected were not reprimanded. Plaintiff Abdul Hanan described the last twelve years as an ordeal for my family and the families of the other victims. He said they had never received an official apology from the German government. All we wanted is for those responsible for the attack to be held accountable and for us to be properly compensated. The German government is not prepared to do that. To this day, it holds the stated view that the airstrike was permissible under international law and thus justified under criminal law. Although it has given small sums of money to the survivors and surviving dependents, it has expressly not linked this to the recognition of any legal obligation. The ECHR dismissed Hanans complaint, although the court acknowledged that there had been a whole series of glaring deficiencies in the investigation of the case. The decision is final. Further appeals are no longer possible. This has far-reaching significance for German militarism. The Bundeswehr is assured that it has nothing to fear from the prosecuting authorities and the judiciary when it causes large-scale collateral damage among civilians. Eleven years ago, when it closed the investigation against Colonel Klein after only four weeks, the Attorney General had already determined that it was only impermissible to kill numerous civilians when dropping bombs if the expected civilian damage is disproportionate to the expected concrete and immediate military success. In all the proceedings against Klein and his German comrades, it was repeatedly claimed that he had done everything possible at the time of the attack to get a picture of the situation and could not have known that it was mainly civilians who were near the tankers. This is demonstrably false. The German military relied only on a single informant of dubious reliability who was not on the spot and even lied to allied NATO forces to push through the bombing. The subsequent investigations by the Bundeswehr, public prosecutors and the courts were aimed at giving Klein and his comrades a clean bill of health. All this has now been justified or brushed aside by the ECHR. For example, after discussions with the Ministry of Defence, the state Attorney Generals Office in Dresden, which was initially responsible for the case, handed it over to the Federal Attorney Generals Office, which is under the authority of the Ministry of Justice, i.e., the federal government. The ECHR did not find this relevant, as there was no evidence that such instructions had been given, or that the Ministry of Defence had tried to influence the proceedings, it said. The ECHR also rejected the applicants objection that the investigators in Afghanistan had not been independent of the suspects. The Strasbourg judges did note that it would have been better in terms of independence if the initial assessment on the ground had not been carried out exclusively by members of the Kunduz Provincial Reconstruction Team who were under the command of Colonel K.. However, it was the mens rea [subjective ideas, knowledge and will] of Colonel Klein that mattered anyway. Realistically speaking, the investigations had therefore not been influenced. The ECHR, like the German Attorney General and the German Federal Constitutional Court, did not consider it necessary to question witnesses other than Klein himself and his comrades in the German command post, not even the Afghans affected by the airstrike or the American pilots who carried it out. The court also saw no need to question military experts or to re-enact the situation in the command centre. After all, the ISAF investigation teamcomrades or subordinates of Colonel Kleinconsisted of military experts from various countries. The Strasbourg judges were also not particularly bothered by the fact that it had not been determined how many victims there had been and how many of them were civilians. After all, the liability of Colonel Klein had depended on his subjective view. The fact that the investigations were discontinued without even once hearing the complainant of the father of two persons killed by the air raid appeared problematic at first sight to the ECHR, because it could not be ruled out that Hanan had relevant information, in particular about the identity of the persons present at the bombing site. After all, the plaintiff could still have produced relevant information even after the investigation had been discontinued. Three judges placed a dissenting opinion on record. According to them, the ECHR should have dismissed the complaint as inadmissible from the outset. This was in line with the official legal opinion of Germany, Britain, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Accordingly, the applicant had had no right to invoke the European Convention on Human Rights and the ECHR had no jurisdiction. The majority of the judges took a different view: first, Germany had been obliged by international law to investigate the airstrike; second, the Afghan authorities had been legally barred from investigating (because of an agreement with the international troops in their country); and third, the German law enforcement authorities had also been called upon to investigate under national law. Legal observers, who were otherwise critical of the ruling, praised it as a possible milestone in ECHR jurisprudence. It is nothing of the sort. Those politically and militarily responsible went scot-free. Colonel Georg Klein was promoted and still serves as a general in the Bundeswehr. Georg Klein (AP Photo / Anja Niedringhaus, File) The plaintiff and the other victims and survivors, on the other hand, leave empty-handed; they are awarded no compensation, and no one is held accountable for the death and destruction they suffered. In the end, it took little more than the military commanders statement that he had acted in good faith to legally wash him clean of the blood of dozens of innocent men, women, and children. The result was no different in the civil courts. In November last year, the Federal Constitutional Court did not accept a constitutional complaint by survivors of victims of the Kunduz massacre, who had been denied damages and compensation for pain and suffering by the lower courts. The constitutional court judges in Karlsruhe ruled coolly that not every killing of a civilian in the context of armed conflict also constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. Colonel Klein had made a valid prognosis decision from his point of view at the time. The lower court, the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH), had gone even further and had fundamentally rejected public liability claims against German soldiers on armed missions abroad because of the possible impairment of Germanys ability to form an alliance and its scope for shaping foreign policy. The Federal Constitutional Court, on the other hand, had expressly left open the question of whether public liability claims were possible in the case of military missions abroad. It did not have to decide on this because Colonel Klein had not acted unlawfully in the specific case. Taken together, these rulings send a clear message that officers and soldiers need not fear punishment when they kill civilians, nor even facing charges in a criminal court. The judgements provide a blank cheque to German militarism, which is massively rearming and preparing to wage war all over the world again. Only a week after the ECHR ruling, the German government extended the Bundeswehrs Afghanistan mandate until January next year and published plans to intervene militarily in the Indo-Pacific and other regions of the world, in addition to existing missions, such as in Mali. In the Nuremberg Trials that followed the defeat of the Nazis in World War Two, the head of the High Command of the Wehrmacht (Hitlers Army), Wilhelm Keitel, was convicted and executed as a war criminal, among other things, because he had given the following order in Yugoslavia: It is ... not only justified, but it is the duty of the troops to use all means without restriction, even against women and children, so long as it ensures success. Today, according to the Attorney General, it is permissible to kill civilians if it is proportionate to the expected immediate and concrete military success. The ECHR has now given this its legal blessing. WASHINGTON - It was dark days when, six days before his inauguration, President Joe Biden first released his $1.9 trillion relief proposal. The economic recovery was backsliding, covid-19 cases were surging, and vaccines were just starting to get out. Nearly two months later, as the Senate plans to begin voting Thursday on a nearly identical package, the economic and public health outlook appear to have changed. The economy is doing better, covid-19 cases have plateaued at a high but much-reduced level, and Biden has said there would be vaccines for every American adult by the end of May. For policy experts and even members of Biden's own party, the improving picture is raising questions about whether the stimulus bill is mismatched to the needs of the current moment. Some economists say it's too focused on providing funding to states, cities and schools - some of which, they argue, could be used instead for long-term economic investments or simply reduced altogether. Other critics question whether Democrats are squandering a unique opportunity to enact more lasting programs to reduce poverty, given how much in new funding they are approving as part of the legislation. And some leading Democratic lawmakers have said the plan should include more safeguards to protect jobless Americans should the pandemic continue longer than expected - measures left out of the current package. "The improving economy and improving outlook on the virus has dramatically changed the dynamic on Biden's spending plans, but the bill has remained largely the same," said Bill Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Republican staff director for the Senate Budget Committee. The changed economic outlook has intensified political opposition to the bill, giving congressional Republicans political cover to vote against the legislation and creating some skittishness among centrist Democrats about the overall price tag. On Wednesday, Biden agreed to a last-minute changed pushed by moderate Democrats to tighten eligibility on the stimulus payments for higher-earning Americans, although liberal Democrats have called for expanding the payments. Centrist Democrats are expected to push other changes to further "target" the package, including redirecting state aid and reducing jobless benefits for Americans. White House officials have pushed back on suggestions that its proposal is not as well-designed for March as it was January. They argue the country is still gripped by a deadly pandemic and economic crisis requiring vast resources, and are trying to push legislation through a slow-moving Congress amid rapidly changing circumstances. "We're still at the height of a pandemic," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday. "We are not going to recover from this pandemic tomorrow. The economic recession will not be recovered tomorrow." Biden has repeatedly argued that the risks of spending too little to help the economy outweigh the risks of spending too much. White House officials have also cited polling showing Biden's relief plan is broadly popular with Americans, including a majority of Republican voters. And even those who say the bill could be better targeted acknowledged that Democrats' urgency is being fueled by an impending deadline - March 14 - when tens of millions of Americans will begin to lose unemployment benefits if no action is taken. "This is not a perfect bill. If an economist was designing it from scratch today, they would design it differently," said Jason Furman, who served as a senior economist in the Obama administration. "But nothing Congress does is perfect, and as written the American Recovery Plan will be a major booster shot that will hopefully help close the remaining gaps in the economy." Several economists said they would cut down or overhaul several key parts of the bill. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the U.S. economy is running about $600 to $700 billion below potential because of the pandemic. This is the shortfall that many experts say the government should try to fill, but they point out that it's a lot less than Biden's proposal. Constance Hunter, chief economist at KPMG, said the bill could be $1.5 trillion given the reality of the current economic upswing. The vast majority of business economists think injecting around $1 trillion more would be sufficient, according to a recent survey by the National Association for Business Economics. Combined with legislation passed by Congress in December, Biden's stimulus will amount to about $300 billion per month in new economic relief for its first nine months. By comparison, the decline in gross domestic product last November only amounted to $80 billion below precrisis levels, according to Furman. Citing the improving economic outlook, House Republicans were united in voting against Biden's bill last week. Virtually all Senate Republicans are expected to oppose the measure as well. "It's of a size that might have made sense a year ago . . . this is not a year ago," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Tuesday. "We're making extraordinary progress with the rollout of the vaccines." Congressional Democrats and many economists have countered that the risks of spending too little dramatically outweigh the risks of spending too much. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the U.S. cannot risk recreating the experience of the Obama administration, in which a modestly sized stimulus package led to only tepid growth and was accompanied by Democratic defeats at virtually levels of government. That fear has helped hold the Democratic caucus together throughout passage of the bill, despite significant internal ideological divisions. "We cannot go through the situation we did back in 2009 where the stimulus wasn't strong enough and we stayed in recession for years," Schumer said. "Just because the numbers are not as bad as they were doesn't mean that we don't need a continued strong push to get us out of this ditch and go upward and forward." Conservatives and other economists have criticized the bill's allocation of $350 billion to states, cities, tribes and territories. Moody's Analytics found in a report that states and cities only need $61 billion. The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, pegs that number at closer to $100 billion, although the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found as much as $225 billion was needed. Many states face much better fiscal outlooks than expected at the outset of the pandemic. "If I were king for the day, I'd scale back a few hundred billion on state and local and use that money to help with the infrastructure program that's coming," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics and the author of that report. "That's a more effective way of using the resources to get back to full employment." The White House has pointed out that state and local governments have shed 1.3 million jobs and that their proposal has broad support from Republican and Democratic local officials across the country. More liberal economists also argue the federal government should try to boost states above pre-pandemic levels, arguing additional funding can help local growth. "There's no economic rationale for cutting the state and local aid down," said Lindsay Owens, an economist at the Groundwork Collaborative, a left-leaning think tank. "The idea we just need to get back right to January 2020, and not a dollar more, is bananas. We should try to do better than that." Other critics say the bill is in several ways not generous enough to help Americans through one of the worst crises in generations. The unemployment benefits are set to expire in August even if the virus resurges and the economy faces renewed turbulence. Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has advocated for tying federal benefits to automatically adjust to economic conditions, such as the unemployment benefits, a position also supported in the initial White House proposal. That idea fell out of the bill amid concerns it would make Democrats' price tag appear higher. "We keep setting arbitrary deadlines and keep having arbitrary top-line numbers. It's just nonsensical," said Elizabeth Pancotti, policy director at Employ America, a policy think tank. Other Democrats, such as Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., have argued for curbing the $400 weekly benefit down to $300 per week. Democrats also face questions over the structure of their plans on housing, health care and combating child poverty, among other issues. Independent analyses have suggested renters owe as much as $75 billion, but the Democrats' bill only includes $25 billion, according to Saoirse Gowan, a housing policy expert who recently left the Democracy Collaborative, a left-leaning think tank. On health care, Democrats' bill includes about $34 billion to increase the subsidies for Americans on the Affordable Care Act's individual exchanges, but about $16 billion for states to expand Medicaid. Health-care experts point out that people enrolled in the ACA tend to have higher incomes than those who would be reached by expanding Medicaid, primarily a health program for the poor and disabled. "Expanding Medicaid would be a much more efficient way of getting more people insured," said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group. "If your goal is universal coverage, increasing the subsidies somewhat is not going to get you there - although it does make insurance more affordable and puts money back in the pockets of people who are struggling." After the $15-an-hour minimum wage fell out of the bill, White House officials over the weekend repeatedly highlighted estimates showing the expansion in child benefits would cut poverty among children in the U.S. in half. But there, too, critics wonder if the stimulus plan was sufficiently well-designed. Under Biden's proposal, that benefit ends after one year, meaning child poverty could double if Democrats do not find a way to expand it next year. Democrats could have enacted different proposals, such as the one pushed by Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, that pay for a $3,000-per-year child benefit with a mixture of tax cuts and spending. Critics point out doing so would not have exposed families to a sudden income shock should Democrats fail to extend the new child benefit. "If they don't plan ahead, a year from now when this program is up for renewal, they could be back at square one," said Sam Hammond, a welfare expert at the Niskanen Center, a think tank that helped draft Romney's plan. "If they don't figure this out, they are putting in jeopardy the ability for this credit to reach the lowest-income children." Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Twitter's streaming platform Twitch kicks off Women's History Month by offending its transgender users - with something supposedly "inclusive." March is Women's History Month and this year, the celebration is nuanced with the recently passed Equality Act that many believe will in fact trample with women's rights for the sake of inclusivity. Under Biden's Equality Act, people are no longer allowed to be discriminated against based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. However, it will allow biological males who identify as women to participate in women's sports, attend exclusive schools for women, enter and use any restroom and locker room as they please, and so forth. The Equality Act is geared towards recognizing member of the LGBTQ community as "equals" and giving them the recognition they want -- at the potential expense of people's rights, religious freedoms, women's rights, and free speech. Renowned evangelist Franklin Graham even calls it a "threat to life." Interestingly, however, when given recognition by Twitter's streaming platform Twitch, the LGBTQ community and transgender people did not receive it well. BBC reported that Twitch, the highly popular streaming service aimed at gamers and content creators, had rescinded a new policy that would use the term "womxn" to remove gender bias in its language. A since deleted tweet from Twitch read, "March is Womxn's History Month. Join us in celebrating and supporting all the Womxn creating their own worlds, building their communities, and leading the way on Twitch." The term "womxn" has gained popularity because it supposedly removes the "patriarchal roots" of the word women, which has the word "men" in it. It supposedly works the same way as how the terms "Latino" and "Latina" have been replaced with "Latinx" to become more "gender-neutral" -- which is what the LGBTQ agenda pushes. Twitch received backlash from transgender people who claimed that the term was in fact not inclusive towards cisgender and gender-nonconforming groups. FOX News reported that critics argued how the word "womxn" actually "undermined womanhood and the accomplishments of women throughout history." In addition, Twitch received backlash from transgender people because they believed the word "womxn" is often used to exclude and is allegedly being used by trans-exclusive radical feminist or TERF groups. Another argument was that it forces the non-binary identifying members of the LGBTQ community to fit into a binary mold. A Twitter user by the name of @GAMEandRODO64 from Mexico who identifies as a cisgender male shared, "Trans and NB women are WOMEN, not womxn. With womxn you're just separating them more, you're not being inclusive, you're excluding them from women." Another Twitter user by the name of @stefsanjati explained, "Trans folks don't need you to use 'womxn', because in fact, trans women are women and we don't need a separate word to be included. What we need is protection from anti-trans hate on your platform, and invitations to be spotlighted like other female creators." Conversely, other entities such as university groups and companies have already been using the inclusive term "womxn" to describe both cisgender women and trans women. FOX News reported that the user of the supposedly inclusive term began with Elizabeth Hunter-Keller, who used the spelling in the Womxn's March on Seattle in 2017. After Twitter's streaming platform received backlash from transgender people, they released a statement to respond to the negative reactions from their streaming community. They took to Twitter to say, "While we originally wanted to use a word that acknowledges the shortcoming of gender-binary language, after hearing directly from you, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Twitch, we will be using the spelling 'women' moving forward." New Delhi, March 4 : To cater to the vaccination process of the world's largest democracy, it would be pertinent to bring in safer and more effective vaccines from other countries. However, on February 24, India's drug authority had asked Dr Reddy's, the Indian pharmaceutical company facilitating the trials in the country, to supply data on immunogenicity for going ahead with the approval process. However, experts across the country have been questioning the approval procedure given the fact that the country gave approval to two homegrown vaccines in January this year for emergency use based on modified standards. For instance, Covaxin was granted restricted approval in "clinical trial mode" without any efficacy data. "The fact is that Covid-19 poses a significant threat to both health and economy globally and it is only by avoiding nationalistic policies and embracing global co-operation that countries across the world can beat the pandemic. It should be a global effort for humanity. For example, India is already acknowledged as a key global production hub for having the largest vaccines manufacturing capacities in the world. Similarly, India should provide equitable access to its people to avail the best Covid-19 vaccines as developed across the world," said Dr. A.M. Deshmukh, President, Microbiologist Society, India. Last month, the Lancet, one of the most reputed journals in the world, published the outcomes of the phase III of the clinical trials of Sputnik V. The trial results show a consistent strong protective effect across all participant age groups. Also known as Gam-COVID-Vac, the vaccine uses a heterologous recombinant adenovirus approach using adenovirus 26 (Ad26) and adenovirus 5 (Ad5) as vectors for the expression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. The use of two varying serotypes, which are given 21 days apart, is intended to overcome any pre-existing adenovirus immunity in the population. Among the major COVID vaccines in development to date, only Gam-COVID-Vac uses this approach. Sputnik V has demonstrated an efficacy rate of 91.6 per cent in the interim analysis of the Phase 3 clinical trials, which included data on 19,866 volunteers in Russia, who received both the first and second dose of the vaccine. "The Phase 3 ongoing trial of Sputnik V may turn into a landmark in untiring journey of COVID Vaccination. It could be possible after partnership between Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Russian agencies. Sputnik V is being commercialized globally by Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). RDIF had in September signed a pact with Dr Reddy's, wherein the Indian drug maker would conduct the bridging study and distribute doses to 100 million people if it were granted a license. This was later increased to 125 million," says Dr. Gajendra Singh, Public Health Expert. "The recently approved COVID 19 vaccine in India, AstraZeneca has reported 62.1 per cent efficacy as per phase III clinical trial results published by the company in the Lancet in December, while Pfizer and Sputnik V approved in world reportedly has more than 90 per cent efficacy against the virus. Sputnik V can be stored at between two and eight degrees Celsius (between 35.6- and 46.4-degrees Fahrenheit), instead of the temperatures far below freezing required for some other vaccines. As of now, Sputnik V and Pfizer had proven their efficacy to be 90+% while Oxford-AstraZeneca is standing on 62.1% as per their own paper that was submitted to the Lancet magazine. Interestingly, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) mentions that AstraZeneca shows average 70% effectiveness in preventing the COVID-19. This is the average/mean efficacy between the regular group that were injected two full doses- 62 per cent and half a dose and full dose- 90 percent. Important to note that India would go for a full-dose regimen. So clearly, there is a lack of transparency here and there should be an informed decision keeping all the aspects in mind," added Dr. Gajendra Singh. Moreover, vaccines such as Covishield and Sputnik V are fit for Indian terrain since they can be stored between +2 degrees and +8 degrees in contrast with the mRNA vaccines which require extreme temperature regimen of -70A-20AC for storage. Interestingly, Sputnik V vaccine has already been approved by several countries across North and South America, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa, the recent ones being Mexico and Egypt. With this, it is now approved for use in more than 35 countries making it one of the world's top three coronavirus vaccines in terms of the number of approvals issued by the regulatory authorities. In the fight against a virus that brought the world to a standstill, it would be important to collectively find a conducive solution to reach the end point. India not only needs to continue the fight against the pandemic but also win it along with other countries of the world by adopting a pragmatic approach and think beyond nationalism. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text [March 04, 2021] Blue.cloud Taps Brian Alvarez as 'EVP, Corporate Development,' a New, Growth-Focused Leadership Position at the Company Blue.cloud, the cloud-only digital transformation company, today announced that Brian Alvarez has joined the organization as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, a new, growth-focused leadership position. A former U.S. Army Intelligence officer, CEO and investor, Mr. Alvarez will lead the charge in identifying, evaluating and executing new acquisition opportunities, investor partnerships and major financing activities that will position Blue.cloud optimally for its continued rapid expansion and leadership in the fast growing data and analytics space. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005734/en/ Kerem Koca, Blue.cloud co-founder/co-CEO, and Brian Alvarez, EVP, Corporate Development (Photo: Business Wire) "I'm excited to help Blue.cloud advance on its trajectory of accelerated growth, and I'm eager to lead the charge as they seize new opportunities through partnerships and strategic capital investments," said Mr. Alvarez. "Coming from a business services company, I know first-hand the tremendous impact that digital transformation can have on an organization's ability to achieve its goals. Blue.cloud's partnerships with Snowflake, ThoughtSpot and Starburst - all best in-class players in the data and analytics space - are testimony to the need and value of its technologies and services. This is anamazing opportunity to spearhead the development of a technology pioneer whose solutions are helping companies execute on their digital transformation initiatives with speed and efficiency." Mr. Alvarez, who will relocate from California to Tampa Bay, FL where Blue.cloud is headquartered, brings more than 12 years of leadership experience to the company as a finance professional and CEO, as well as a field grade officer in the U.S. Army. Prior to joining Blue.cloud, he was CEO of a private equity backed business services company and led the organization through significant growth and professionalization. Before that, he worked at a Boston-based private equity firm and the Chicago-based middle-market investment bank, Lincoln International. Alvarez also served for several years as an Army Intelligence Officer and is currently a Major in the Army Reserves. In 2016, Alvarez founded an investment vehicle for a search fund acquisition, focusing on small- to mid-sized businesses. He has invested in business services and technology companies across the country and serves as an advisor to multiple search fund investors and CEOs. Mr. Alvarez holds an economics degree from West Point and an MBA from Harvard Business School. "Blue.cloud is laser-focused on providing top-notch technologies and services to our clients as they digitally transform, and our investments and partnerships are key to making this happen," said Praveen Ramineni, co-Founder and co-CEO of Blue.cloud. "While we've executed successfully on numerous partnership and acquisition opportunities to date, with Brian heading up our future development efforts, we now have deeper resources to work even more aggressively toward meeting our goals for growth and expansion in 2021 and beyond." "We're excited to welcome Brian to our team as EVP, Corporate Development," said Kerem Koca, co-Founder and co-CEO of Blue.cloud. "His broad experience as a leader, investor and CEO is the perfect combination to help lead us through our next stage of accelerated growth by maximizing enterprise value and capital for growth initiatives. He has the expertise needed to streamline expansion efforts from both operational and financial standpoints, and a proven track record for flawless execution. There's no limit to what he can help us achieve." About Blue.cloud Founded in 2021, Blue.cloud is a cloud-only digital transformation company that specializes in implementing leading cloud technologies and solutions for clients. Blue.cloud provides digital strategy, data engineering and analytics, digital services and cloud operation services to companies ranging from Fortune 500 enterprises to mid-market companies and startups. It has deep technology skills that enable key business processes and works across industries to deliver cloud transformation solutions that impact growth and differentiated customer experience for clients. Blue.cloud is the evolution of Bluenet, which was founded in 2004 in the data and analytics space. The company is headquartered in Tampa Bay, FL. For more information, visit www.blue.cloud View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005734/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Demonstrators in Myanmar protesting against last months military coup have returned to the streets, undaunted by the killing of at least 38 people by security forces the previous day. New protests were held in at least three areas of Yangon, the countrys largest city, which have been scenes of violence for the past few days. Police again used force to try to disperse the crowds, according to social media accounts. Expand Close Anti-coup protesters flash a three-fingered sign of resistance during a demonstration in Yangon (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anti-coup protesters flash a three-fingered sign of resistance during a demonstration in Yangon (AP) Protests also continued in Mandalay, the second-biggest city. A formation of five fighter planes flew over the city on Thursday morning in what appeared to be a threatening show of force. The UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said 38 people were killed on Wednesday, describing it as the bloodiest day since the coup. The death toll was the highest since the February 1 takeover, when the military ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 50 civilians, mostly peaceful protesters, are confirmed to have been killed by police and soldiers since then. Expand Close A protester displays defaced images of commander in chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A protester displays defaced images of commander in chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (AP) The UN Security Council has scheduled closed-door consultations on Friday on calls to reverse the coup including from UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and stop the escalating military crackdown. Any kind of co-ordinated action at the UN will be difficult as two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, are likely to veto it. Some countries have already imposed or are considering their own sanctions. Ms Burgener said she warned Myanmars army that the worlds nations and the Security Council might take huge strong measures. And the answer was, We are used to sanctions and we survived those sanctions in the past, she said. Expand Close UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener (Aung Shine Oo/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener (Aung Shine Oo/AP) When she also warned the army that Myanmar would become isolated, she said: The answer was, We have to learn to walk with only a few friends. The coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. As the generals loosened their grip, culminating in Ms Suu Kyis rise to power after 2015 elections, the international community responded by lifting most sanctions and pouring investing into the country. Ms Burgener said the army had been taken aback by the strong opposition, which has been led by young people. Expand Close A hearse carrying the coffin of Kyal Sin, a student who was killed in a demonstration on Wednesday (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A hearse carrying the coffin of Kyal Sin, a student who was killed in a demonstration on Wednesday (AP) I think that the army is very surprised that it doesnt work because in the past, in 1988 and 2007 and 2008, it worked, she said, referring to previous violent crackdowns on uprisings against military rule. Demonstrators have flooded the streets of towns and cities across Myanmar since last months coup, even though gatherings of five or more people are banned and security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds, and arrested protesters en masse. Protesters in Mandalay flashed a three-fingered salute of resistance on Thursday as they rode their motorbikes to follow a funeral procession for Kyal Sin, also known by her Chinese name Deng Jia Xi, a university student who was killed as she attended a demonstration on Wednesday. Many thousands of people attended. As part of the crackdown, security forces have also arrested more than a thousand people, including journalists, according to the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. CIO-SP3 provides information technology (IT) solutions and services as defined in FAR 2.101(b) and further clarified in the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. These IT solutions and services include, but are not limited to, health and biomedical-related IT services to meet scientific, health, administrative, operational, managerial, and information management requirements. The contract contains general IT services in support of medical and other systems that are increasingly integrated within a broader IT architecture, requiring a systems approach to their implementation, as well as a sound infrastructure for their operation. Based on their broad corporate capabilities across the entire IT services spectrum, Celerity Government Solutions, LLC dba Xcelerate Solutions was awardedLLeo all ten (10) CIO-SP3 Task Areas: Task Area 1: IT Services for Biomedical Research, Health Sciences and Healthcare Task Area 2: Chief Information Officer (CIO) Support Task Area 3: Imaging Task Area 4: Outsourcing Task Area 5: IT Operations and Maintenance Task Area 6: Integration Services Task Area 7: Critical Infrastructure Protection and Information Assurance Task Area 8: Digital Government Task Area 9: Enterprise Resource Planning Task Area 10: Software Development Contract #: 75N98120D00184 Period of Performance: 05/11/2020 through 07/14/2022 Celerity Government Solutions, LLC dba Xcelerate Solutions NIH CIO-SP3 Program Manager (PM) Name: Jim Dufford Contract PM Email: [email protected] Contract PM Phone: (703) 462-1500 Link to CGS CIO-SP3 SB Site: https://www.celeritygs.com/about/contracts/cio-sp3/ For More Information: Contracts Department Email: [email protected] Link to NITAAC Site: https://nitaac.nih.gov/services/cio-sp3-small-business Celerity Government Solutions, LLC dba Xcelerate Solutions Celerity Government Solutions, LLC dba Xcelerate Solutions exists to create innovative solutions that deliver results, manage risk from individuals to systems, and accelerate time to value. Across our three service areas Enterprise Security, Strategic Consulting, and Digital Transformation we optimize efficiency and effectiveness and enhance the security and resilience of America's personnel, physical and cyber infrastructure. www.celeritygs.com SOURCE Xcelerate Solutions Related Links www.xceleratesolutions.com Detention of ex-Khabarovsk Krai Governor charged with murders prolonged until June Moscow's Basmanny District Court 10:18 04/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 4 (RAPSI) Detention of ex-Governor of Russias Khabarovsk Krai Sergey Furgal charged with masterminding murders in 2004-2005 has been extended until June 8, RAPSI has learnt from the press service of Moscows Basmanny District Court. Investigation into Furgal was completed in early February. Investigators believe Furgal took decisions to commit the crimes in order to move forward his personal business interests. According to the Investigative Committee, the murder of entrepreneur Yevgeny Zorya was connected with a long conflict with Furgal and court proceedings over a concrete plant purchased by Zorya. The victim had been killed a day before an obvious verdict was delivered, investigators state. One more alleged victim of Furgal was his partner Oleg Bulatov. After his murder, the defendant acquired his share in their common business, a company engaged in buy-in and resale of scrap iron, , according to the investigation. Investigators claim that the former Governor of Russias Khabarovsk Krai was involved in the attempted assassination of scrap iron businessman Alexander Smolsky outbidding competitors. Moreover, a local resident Roman Sandalov was killed for commercial reasons. A driver of Furgal took the rap. Furgal was arrested on July 9. According to investigators, all crimes were committed by an organized criminal group led by Furgal in Russias Khabarovsk and Amur Regions in 2004-2005. Earlier, four alleged members of the gang were arrested and placed in detention. Born in the Amur Region, Furgal worked as general physician at a hospital more than 6 years before the start of his political career. After being discharged from healthcare in 1999, he went in for business, according to his biography on the Khabarovsk Krai governments website. He was elected as the State Duma lawmaker three times. In September 2018, he was elected as a Khabarovsk Region governor by popular vote. While visiting their shrimp breeding ponds, local people in Ba Don town in the central province of Quang Binh saw a dead whale weighing about 1 ton, 8 meters long, that was decomposing ashore. On March 3, the authorities in Ba Don Town, Quang Binh province, and local people buried the dead whale that washed ashore the local beach a day before, said Mr. Nguyen Van Huu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tho Ward. Huu told VietNamNet that the dead whale was discovered by local residents on March 2. It had been dead for a long time. On March 3, the local authorities and people used an excavator to dig a huge hole to bury the whale according to the custom of local fishermen, Huu said. Whales are considered sacred animals by Vietnamese fishermen. It is a common belief among fishermen that if they properly burying dead whales, sailors will be blessed with good luck, good weather, bountiful catches and protection at sea. The dead whale. The local government and the people bury the whale. Hai Sam [March 04, 2021] Champion ONE Enables Accelerated XGS-PON Deployment at Syringa Networks with New Open Architecture Solution Champion ONE (News - Alert) , a brand of Legrand, and a leading supplier of open optical network solutions, has partnered with Syringa Networks to rapidly deploy an open architecture XGS-PON network, the first of its kind in the U.S. Syringa Networks, a facilities-based provider offering fiber-based, managed transport, and voice solutions to business customers in the United States and globally, planned to deploy 1G services to their SMB customers. By turning 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports in an already deployed switch into a virtual OLT, Syringa Networks was able to cost-effectively scale new services to meet demand while maximizing their existing switch investment. The Champion ONE open architecture solution implemented by Syringa Networks accelerated their XGS-PON deployment by providing: 1) a modular, software-only management implementation which allowed quick customization for Syringa Networks' unique physical network; 2) a pre-packaged set of management tools that interface with the solution's core open-source database; and 3) an operator-controllable open API toolset for 3rd party ONU interoperability. Champion ONE and Tibit supported Syringa Networks through the lab evaluation process, enabling accelerated deployment and turn-up of services. As a result, Syringa Networks was able to connect its first customers to the network build-out within eight weeks of the initial discussion with Champion ONE and additional customers are expected to be added throughout 2021. "We're excited to contribute our new open architecture management solution to help Champion ONE and Syringa Networks realize this accelerated network deployment," said Colt Lawton, Managing Director of North American Regional Accounts at Tibit Communications. "Tibit's newly-released MicroClimate Management System (MCMS) provides several industry firsts for open architecture deployments. Uniquely, it opens the core database itself as a modular, open-source, and secure solution which can integrate with Tibit or partner-designed tools. MCMS also provides native 3rd party ONU support with open tools for carriers to flexibly add new ONUs as the network evolves." "Champion ONE is pleased to prtner with Tibit to support Syringa Networks with an open 10G PON network," said Tim Yanda, Director of Engineering at Champion ONE. "This commercial deployment marks a milestone for XGS-PON networks as it is utilizing the revolutionary Tibit MicroPlug and management system in an existing Syringa Networks' switch to power the PON network. Champion ONE looks forward to supporting Syringa Networks as they deploy additional Tibit MicroPlugs." About Champion ONE: Champion ONE, a brand of Legrand, is a global supplier of optical networking components and solutions. Founded in 1992, Champion ONE is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with additional offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Omaha, Orange County ( CA (News - Alert) ), San Jose (CA), Albany, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. The company provides high-performance, mission-critical open networking solutions for domestic and international telecommunications providers and category-leading businesses across both public and private sectors. In February 2020, Champion ONE merged with Approved Networks and its affiliate U.S. Critical, two recognized leaders in the programming, testing, and distribution of network solutions. The combined company is one of the world's largest independent optics companies, servicing the global market's leading telecommunication service providers, data centers, enterprises, and U.S. government agencies, among others. For more information, visit www.championone.com. About Tibit Communications: Founded in 2014, Tibit Communications has introduced a fundamental change to the architecture and economics of PON solutions, which has been mostly constrained to proprietary, chassis-mounted architectures available from only a few global vendors. Tibit's MicroPlug OLT is the world's first pluggable OLT. The standards-based SFP+ form factor allows their device to plug into almost any 10G switch port, greatly expanding architecture options for carriers. All this is enabled by the Tibit bridge ASIC, the world's smallest and lowest power 10G OLT chipset, which supports a rich feature set across both ITU-T and IEEE (News - Alert) 10G PON standards. Tibit's MicroClimate Management System builds on our unique OLT hardware architecture to provide the industry's most transparent, modular, and open management architecture for operator deployment. To learn more, visit tibitcom.com. About Syringa Networks: Founded in 2000, Syringa Networks specializes in custom network and voice solutions for businesses, providing a broad range of networking services throughout the U.S. and globally. Services are delivered over a 4 Terabit capacity backbone on a purpose-built, self-healing, dedicated fiber optic network, ensuring reliable high-speed connectivity and unparalleled 24/7/365 customer service. Services provided include SD-WAN, Business Internet, MPLS, Ethernet, VoIP, Colocation, Managed Services, and Custom Networking Solutions. Syringa Networks is a privately held corporation headquartered in Boise, Idaho with 6 additional offices. To learn more, visit www.SyringaNetworks.net. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005503/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY)(OTCQB:XPHYF)(FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the Company has completed a corporate rebranding and launched a new website which can be viewed at www.xphyto.com. The rebranding decision reflects the Company's commitment to operational achievement in 2021 as a number of product development programs advance from the laboratory to the clinic. As a bioscience accelerator at the leading-edge of the life science industry, XPhyto is targeting value creation through commercialization of its development pipeline and focused investment in impact driven innovation. "The Company is excited to introduce a fresh look at such a pivotal point in our business growth," said Hugh Rogers, CEO & Director of XPhyto. "With all technical requirements fulfilled, we are on the cusp of two major commercial milestones related to our rapid point-of-care COVID-19 PCR test system. With expected ISO certification and CE-IVD approval pending, we are excited to enter the next phase of our business with a positive, crisp and energetic new image." The Company will provide further information and updates in due course. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, its COVID-19 related test products are not yet approved and are still subject to risks associated with the regulatory approval process. About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug delivery, diagnostic, and new active pharmaceutical ingredient investment opportunities, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications, including psychedelic compounds and cannabinoids. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director Investor Inquiries: Mr. Knox Henderson T: 604-551-2360 E: info@xphyto.com Media Inquiries: MC Services AG Julia Hofmann, Andreas Jungfer T: +49 89 210 228 0 E: xphyto@mc-services.eu Forward looking statements This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "develop", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "propose" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and in this release include the statement regarding the Company's goal of building a successful diagnostic, drug delivery, and medical cannabis company. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not succeed in developing a commercial product; that the sale of products may not be a viable business; that the Company may be unable to scale its business; product liability risks; product regulatory risk; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; currency risks; competition; international risks; and other risks beyond the Company's control. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633422/XPhyto-Completes-Corporate-Rebranding-and-Launches-New-Website Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 14:44:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 28, 2020 shows a view of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) The global community has been overshadowed by a prolonged pandemic and slow recovery for quite some time. It is hoped that those around the world who are searching for ways to get back on their feet can find in China confidence, new impetus and inspirations, and press forward. BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- As national lawmakers and political advisors are gathering for the "two sessions," the world is keeping a close eye on how China's annual political event will guide and influence the country's development for the years ahead. This year's gathering, which has returned to the regular March schedule after last year's postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, takes on special importance. China, a country with a population of 1.4 billion, has just declared a complete victory in eradicating absolute poverty, and will embark on a new journey with the next five-year plan. During the "two sessions," lawmakers will discuss the economic and social development plan for the 2021-2025 period as well as the long-range objectives through the year 2035. The blueprint that will guide China's development has attracted much global attention. In the coming years, China will move faster to pursue a new development pattern featuring "dual circulation," where the internal and external markets can reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. In this process, the world community expects China can give full play to the advantage of its super-large market and continue to expand it by boosting domestic consumption. Beijing's firm commitment to greater opening-up means more dynamics and benefits for the global economic recovery and sustainable growth. The world economy is struggling with a deep recession under the shadow of the pandemic. As the virus is still spreading, the road to recovery will be long and highly uncertain. China has largely brought the pandemic under control and became the only major economy with positive growth last year, and that will give more certainties and possibilities to the world in this stormy moment. Workers adjust a tunnel boring machine at a workshop of Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, east China on Oct. 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Global investors have cast their votes of confidence in the Chinese market. According to the United Nations (UN) Investment Trends Monitor report in January, global foreign direct investment in 2020 has slumped by 42 percent from 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars in 2019, while China saw a 4-percent increase in this field in the same year. "The most attractive market among global markets is China's domestic market," said Kiyoyuki Seguchi, research director at Japan's Canon Institute for Global Studies. "This is a consensus not only among Japanese companies, but also among world-class companies." As the global fight against poverty has also been beset by the pandemic, many countries are looking to draw inspirations from China in this regard, and to learn more about China's plan for the next stage of development through the "two sessions." Poverty has long been a hard nut to crack for the world, and the pandemic makes the problem all the more difficult to solve. According to the latest UN World Economic Situation and Prospects, job and income losses have pushed an estimated 131 million more people into poverty in 2020. Aerial photo taken on June 12, 2020 shows farmers operating harvesters in wheat fields in Dafu Village, Xixindian Township, Botou City of north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) China, however, did not give up on delivering its promise to end absolute poverty in the country in the face of the pandemic. Last year, all of the country's nearly 100 million impoverished rural residents living below the current poverty line cast off poverty after eight years' efforts, achieving the UN poverty reduction goal a decade in advance. By doing so, China has blazed a poverty reduction path and formed an anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics. It has also set an example for many other developing countries facing similar challenges. Villagers harvest Amomum Tsao-ko in Fugong County of Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Nujiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 28, 2019. (Xinhua) In the next five years, China will continue to promote multilateralism and build an open world economy with its global partners so as to boost common development. Last year, China signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade deal with 14 other countries, and concluded negotiations for an investment agreement with the European Union. Those achievements were truly hard-won against the backdrop of a raging outbreak and rising tide of isolationism and protectionism. The "two sessions" will show the world China's continued commitment to greater openness and closer cooperation on the world stage. China has been a valuable partner, Serbian legislator Zarko Obradovic said, noting that China has shared development achievements through the Belt and Road Initiative and others. The global community has been overshadowed by a prolonged pandemic and slow recovery for quite some time. It is hoped that those around the world who are searching for ways to get back on their feet can find in China confidence, new impetus and inspirations, and press forward. Buildings in Derry have been lit up blue this week to raise awareness of a medical condition. The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Brian Tierney, is leading a campaign to highlight Lymphoedema Awareness Week by lighting a number of civic buildings in the council area. The Guildhall clock, council offices and the Strabane's Alley Theatre will remain lit up blue until Saturday to raise awareness of the condition which is particularly close to Mayor Tierney's heart as two of his children are sufferers. Lymphoedema affects the lymphatic system where excess fluid is retained in the body tissues causing persistent, painful, swelling. It can affect any area of the body but most commonly the limbs and and weakens the immune system of sufferers. "This is a particularly poignant campaign for me as my youngest children, Mary Kate and Ben, are living with the daily challenges of Lymphoedema," said Mayor Tierney. "It is a problem that can't be cured but with careful management the quality of life of sufferers can be improved. "I hope the lighting of our civic buildings will heighten awareness of the condition and let other families know that they are not alone and help is out there to help you manage the condition." Explaining more about the condition, Jill Hamilton, clinical lead for Lymphoedema at the Western Trust, said Lymphoedema was a chronic long- term condition which could have a significant impact on patients both physically and psychosocially. Awareness of the condition within Northern Ireland and within the Western Trust locality has improved over the last number of years as evidenced by the growing demand on the service. Raising awareness of the condition has been embedded into the Lymphoedema Network Northern Ireland work plan for the last 11 years and continues to be something we work on within our own Trust area. Early detection and early referral to the service can lead to a better outcome for patients, in the long term, by providing the necessary skills to be able to self-manage their condition. Mayor Tierney and his wife Cheryl manage Mary Kate and Ben's swelling using physical therapy techniques such as lymphatic drainage massage and the use of compression garments, bandages and specially made shoes. However, some days are more challenging than others. "When they experience flare ups it can be particularly difficult as their mobility is limited and they can't do some of the activities that other children enjoy but they have a positive outlook on life which is truly inspirational. "They are living proof that no matter what obstacles are in your way you can live life to the full and realise your dreams." After writing to Northern Irelands councils to ask for their support, Mayor Tierney was told that Belfast City Hall, the headquarters of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council at Cloonavin, Newry Town Hall and Downpatrick Leisure Centre would all also be lit blue this week. Mayor Tierney's daughter Mary Kate is documenting her experience of living with Lymphoedema on her YouTube channel which you can subscribe to at Lymphoedema Life. MI5 cannot stop another Salisbury-style attack because Russian poisons can easily be smuggled into Britain, a serving spy warned yesterday. The senior intelligence officer, named only as Tom, revealed that the Kremlin continues to take 'quite an active interest' in a number of people living in Britain. As a result of the attempt to assassinate Sergei Skripal, a former double-agent, and his daughter Yulia three years ago, MI5 increased security for those individuals. However, Tom warned: 'I cannot say with certainty - having discussed with you the sort of size and shape of that novichok bottle, and how easy it would be smuggle another one of those into the UK - I cannot say with certainty that we are safe. Emergency service workers in hazmat suits in Salisbury after the novichok poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The attack took place on March 4, 2018 'We live in a liberal democracy. In the same way that our counter terror colleagues would say we can't prevent every attack, we can't prevent an incredibly well resourced and ruthless adversary from getting something like novichok in.' He added that MI5 was better placed than it was then to detect threats, but because of how quickly technology is evolving 'it's an absolute arms race' to keep up with developments in things like encryption. Since the poisoning in Salisbury there has been no let up to Moscow's intelligence war and it is carrying out cyber attacks on Britain 'on a daily basis,' Tom warned. Speaking to Sky's Into The Grey Zone podcast, he said Russia has expanded its sights, evolving to use 'non-intelligence' actors such as hackers, academics, visiting businessmen or even tourists to interfere 'in our democratic way of life at the behest of the Russian state'. It is the first time that an MI5 counter intelligence officer has spoken publicly about their efforts to combat hostile state attacks, which was sanctioned by Security Service director-general Ken McCallum. Tom also gave a fascinating insight into the work of spies, revealing that MI5's counter intelligence team were on a 'management away day' at the time of the Skripal attack on March 4, 2018. He recalled: 'It came as a complete shock to everybody in my team. 'I remember we were we were on a management away day, believe it or not, when we received a message that two people had been found on a park bench in Salisbury, Russian nationals, and that they appeared to be exhibiting symptoms of poisoning. 'By the time we were back in Thames House [MI5's London headquarters] it became apparent who these individuals were, and at that point, MI5 and partners swung into action.' He said Moscow was now keen to rebuild a team of spies at its London embassy after the UK expelled 23 Russian intelligence officers in the wake of the novichok attack, which the Kremlin has continued to deny any involvement in. Since then, the Russia threat has been 'evolving and diversifying', with the Kremlin now taking 'an active interest' in a number of 'at-risk' individuals in the UK. The security services and police have had to work closely to protect those at risk from giving advice to boosting physical security arrangements around their property and movements. The Kremlin in Moscow 'There is not much doubt that the Russian state continues to conduct attacks against the UK, including cyber-attacks on a daily basis,' Tom said. 'We know that the Russians are keen to rebuild their embassy intelligence officer cadre, we are very keen to ensure that doesn't happen. 'So a lot of our work goes into that. But it has also expanded beyond that into the other nature of the threat. 'And we've been able to devote more resources to looking at people who might not be associated with the embassy - people who might be here either permanently or visitors under business cover or as journalists or academics or tourists or others who might want to come into the UK.' He went on: 'We are also looking at what you might describe as the non-intelligence actors, those actors who are potentially trying to influence or interfere in our democratic way of life at the behest of the Russian state, but potentially with the knowledge of the intelligence services as well.' There is a myth among public in both India and Sri Lanka that Indian fishermen can come to this island and dry their nets. That was in 1974 agreement, where even Sri Lanka fishermen had right to fish in Wedge bank , in Indian waters closer to Kanyakumari. by Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne The Jaffna Divisional Secretary informed the public well in advance that St Antony Feast in Katchatheevuisland is cancelled this year due to Covit- 19 pandemic. The decision was well understood by devotees of both Sri Lanka and India. This annual feast on tiny island closer to India-Sri Lanka International boundary line ( IMBL) was annual meeting place for specially the fishermen of both the countries. Last year (2020) feast was attended by more than ten thousand devotees. For the first time, Sri Lankan devotees out numbered Indians. Anticipating these facts, Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Justin Bernard Ganapragasam had invited Bishop of Diocese of Galle, Rt. Rev Raymond Wickramasinghe also. The mass last year was conducted in all three languages, Sinhala, Tamil and English. Old Church built in 1905 in Kachchtivu As devotee of St Antony, the Saint look after seafarers like me, even though I am a Buddhist, I was sad that I am going to miss this year feast. Good news came from Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna.few days back. He said Jaffna Bishop has requested to have a mass at Katchatheevuisland without public presence with few Rev fathers and Sisters on 27th February 2021, and if I am keen, I can join them. I was delighted. Whenever I visit Katchatheevufeast, I travel to this tiny island previous day afternoon. Katchatheevu is 163 acre large and located half nautical mile from Indo-Sri Lanka IMBL which we ratified with UN Law of the Sea conference in 1976, in which maritime boundaries and Exclusive Economic Zones of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives were demarcated and agreed by all three countries and ratified at United Nations. There is a myth among public in both India and Sri Lanka that Indian fishermen can come to this island and dry their nets. That was in 1974 agreement, where even Sri Lanka fishermen had right to fish in Wedge bank , in Indian waters closer to Kanyakumari. When 1976 agreement ratified, those privileges were diminished and now Katchatheevuis Sri Lanka territory well within our waters. Please read famous book on Katchatheevu by late Mr WT Jayasinghe, who was our Defence and External Affairs Secretary in 1970s (father of late Mr Romesh Jayasinghe, our Foreign Secretary in 2000s)to learn more about how our beloved Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaikes diplomatic skills and close personal relationship with then Indian PM Mrs Indira Gandhi won us KKatchatheevuisland. Those who championed in Tamilnadu and in Indian Central government on taking back Katchatheevufrom Sri Lanka should refer to what Indian Attorney General Mukul Rohargi told Supreme Court of India, bench led by Chief Justice of India R M Lodha on 26th August 2014, KKatchatheevu was gone to Sri Lanka by an agreement in 1974. It was ceded and now act as boundary. How can it be taken back today? If you want Katchatheevuback, you will have to go to War to get it back. Fort Hammenniel My accommodation in Jaffna was arraigned at Fort Hammenniel , beautiful fort built by Dutch at entrence of Karinagar channel, entrance to old Jaffna port of Kytes, now part of our Naval Base, SLNS Karinagar. This tiny Dutch fort has its own history in our country, the place where JVP leader late Mr Rohana Wijewrrea was kept in captivity in 1971 with 100-odd JVP leaders. I could not imagine how it would be with 100 prisoners in this small fort. Please do not get alarmed, I was not accommodated in this cells, but in one of the four super Luxury rooms in the top deck of the fort. Fort Hammenniel My dear friend, Rear Admiral Senarath Wijesooriya , the Commander Northern Naval Area joined me to travel to Katchatheevu26th evening . We travelled in an indigenously built Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC), which can move at 38 knots (approx 50 mph). During the final stages of our conflict with LTTE, under guidance of then Commander of the Navy, today our Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Navy Engineers built more than 100 IPCs which brought LTTE Sea Tigers to their knees on asymmetric naval warfare as per Lanchester theory and destroy all their ultimate weapon at sea - Suicide boats. Visionary leadership of Admiral of the Fleet Karannagoda, who always told us, You cannot Buy a Navy- you have to built one ! How true ! We built it for you Sir. Bravo Zulu to our Engineers ! IPC moved at 38 knots at mirror-calm sea, took only one hour and forty minutes to reach Katchatheevufrom Karinagar. I was so impressed with Petty Officer in charge of the IPC, for his boat handling, beaching the boat at Katchatheevu and professional competent. With such junior leaders, our Navys future is bright. With full noon, calm sea and light breeze from North East direction, it was a beautiful night. Few scores of sailors were preparing the church and surroundings for next morning. One thing missing this year was crowd. Camping in small groups and singing hymns praising St Antony was not heard this year. The small Street in Katchatheevuwhich was full of makeshift Indian shops with sarees, cloths and sweet meats andSri Lankan shops with Lux soap, coconut oil and cinnamon were not there this time. The new church built by the Navy five years ago on request of Bishop of Jaffna was looking beautiful. This was a hundred percent donation by officers and sailors of the Navy. It cost us rupees 7.7 millon, total contribution by the Navy personnel, majority of them were Buddhists like me. This church going to be symbol of reconciliation. Sunrise on 27th February 2021-empty beaches Next day , 27th, by 0930 hrs mass stared , led by Very Rev Father Pathinathar Joshopthas Jebaratham, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Jaffna. Mass was attended by fifty officers and sailors following strict quarantine laws. Vicar General , Very Rev Father Jebarathnam blessed all present and those who comes every year to Katchatheevuwho missed this year due to pandemic. I personally missed our Sri Lankan and Indian Fishing community brothers and sisters. Their request to St Anthony was always very simple, that is for them to have good catch of fish next year, so that they can keep their homes fed and to chance come back to St Antony feast next year. I also kept my request also simple. Thank you St Antony, allowing me to come to Katchatheevuthis year and give me the strength to come back next year ! (The writer is retired from Sri Lanka Navy and Former Chief of Defence Staff ) Chennai, March 4 : Ahead of the International Women's Day celebrated on March 8, hospitality major Indian Hotels Company Ltd on Thursday announced that its Taj Wellington Mews will be an all women managed luxury residences. Located in the Old Mahabalipuram-IT corridor here, Taj Wellington Mews will have 112 residences and will open soon for guests. The property will be led by a woman General Manager and a team of over 100 women across all operations and other departments, the company said in a statement issued here. According to the company, this initiative is in line with its efforts in creating an equitable workplace and ecosystem, while empowering women in the hospitality industry. (@ChaudhryMAli88) KUWAIT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Mar, 2021) Kuwait reported that 1,716 people were tested positive for coronavirus with eight related deaths reported on Thursday taking the total cases up to 196,497 as deaths rose to 1,105 respectively, according to the health ministry. Kuwait news Agency, KUNA, has quoted ministry spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad as saying that the number of people hospitalised with the virus currently stands at 12, 071, with 167 of them in intensive care units. Some 11,208 swab tests were conducted over the last day out of a total of 1,822,389, he added. The ministry had earlier reported that some 1,125 more people had been cured of the virus over the past day, raising the total of those to have overcome the disease to 183,321. Even as the Naveen Jindal-owned JSPL group has joined the race to buy Anil Ambanis bankrupt shipyard, and Engineering Ltd, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has granted five more months to the lenders to complete the resolution process of the company, which has defaulted on loans worth Rs 11,000 crore. Apart from Jindal, other serious contenders are the Russian government-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation and US-based fund, Interups. NCLT Ahmedabad has granted a 153-day extension for the completion of the resolution process of R-Naval, to August this year. With this, the resolution professional has sought bids submission date for the fifth time to March 15. The was delayed mainly due to lukewarm response from the bidders due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Both Jindal and Russian government have completed the inspection of the shipyard during the last week of February and a five-member team of the Russian Government concluded its inspection of the yard this week. Pipavav shipyard had earlier received interests from amongst others, Chowgule Industries of Goa, and APM Terminals Company as well as Invent ARC but all three of these potential bidders have set terms unacceptable to the banks. Besides there are several legal hurdles to the resolution plan as the shipyard is located on the leased land in Pipavav, Gujarat wherein the sea facing port site is taken on lease from Gujarat Maritime Board, and the SEZ site is taken on lease from E-Complex Pvt. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of R-Naval has already received lease termination notices for the land taken on lease from Gujarat Maritime Board, whereas E-Complex Pvt. Ltd is also undergoing a resolution process through NCLT. With this, both the site at the shipyard is under legal dispute and whether the potential buyers will be able to use the shipyard post takeover is not clear. Taking this into account, the potential bidders have sought assurances from the Ministry of Defence and Indian Navy and Coastguard that fresh orders should be given to the new buyer in order to pay for their risk and investment. But the Indian government is not ready to offer assurance to any bidder including to the Russian Government, saying the yard would have to follow established rules to competitively bid for the potential shipbuilding orders. L&T is another big player in the Indian ship building sector. Two other private shipyards, ABG Shipyard and Bharati Shipyard Limited (BSL) have also failed to find buyers for the last four years as the Ministry of Defence is unwilling to take the risk of giving ship orders to private yards as these yards went bankrupt and were unable to service orders. The government owned shipyards are performing well in the same segment. Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said the ban on imports of Turkish goods may be prolonged. "From an economic point of view, we believe that the ban should be extended if political or other priorities do not interfere with it. If we have already entered this river, then it makes sense to extend the embargo," Kerobyan said on Wednesday in parliament. In his words, the Armenian economic entities had sufficient time to reorient themselves to other markets. "We are ready to defend our local producers as long as it takes so that they can strengthen their positions in the market," ARKA cited him as saying. At the same time, he noted that the Ministry of Economy is leaning towards an "open economy", however, in these market conditions, taking into account the decisions already made, the best option is to extend the ban for at least another 6 months. Armenian government's ban on import of Turkish goods has come into force on January 1, 2021. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Chennai: Weeks ahead of Tamil Nadu assembly elections, expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala on Wednesday announced "she will stay away from politics," but would pray for the "golden rule" of the late party supremo Jayalalithaa. In a sort of u-turn from her earlier statement of engaging in active politics after completion of her four-year jail term in an assets case, the close aide of Jayalalithaa also called for unity among the "true supporters" of the late leader to keep the "common enemy" DMK away from power. The sudden announcement came as a bolt out of the blue especially after her grand return from Bengaluru last month led to expectations that she would play a big role in the run up to the April 6 elections in which the ruling AIADMK is eyeing a record third term. "I will stay away from politics and keep praying my sister Puratchi Thalaivi (Jayalalithaa), whom I consider as God, and the Lord Almighty for the establishment of the golden rule of Amma," Sasikala said in a statement. The 69 year-old, considered a powerful confidante of Jayalalithaa and said to have enjoyed a say in party affairs, insisted she never yearned for power or authority. "Much like I was the sister who implemented Amma's thoughts, I am the same even after her death." "I have never yearned for power or authority. I will be ever indebted to Puratchi Thalaivi and the people of Tamil Nadu," she said. In her statement, she appealed to Jayalalithaa's "true supporters" to work unitedly in the April 6 elections and prevent "common enemy", DMK, identified as "evil force" by the late chief minister, from coming to power. "Amma's true supporters should work unitedly as siblings in the coming elections to ensure the golden rule of Puratchi Thalaivar (AIADMK founder late CM M G Ramachandran) and Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader) continues even for over another 100 years in lines with Puratchi Thalaivi's desire," she said. "Amma's supporters should deftly prevent our common enemy DMK, identified as evil force by her, from coming to power and establish Amma's golden rule," Sasikala said and thanked Jayalalithaa's supporters and others. Political observers are of the view that the AIADMK would benefit from the decision of Sasikala, whose bid to become Chief Minister in February 2017 came to naught with the Supreme Court sentencing her to four year imprisonment in the Rs Rs 66.65 crore assets case. She had returned to the state on February 8 to a rousing reception by her supporters all the way from Bengaluru to Chennai and announced her intention to engage in active politics amid indications of a confrontation with the AIADMK. Her subsequent political moves, including the stand of the AMMK floated by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran in the polls was keenly awaited by observers and political parties alike in the state even as the AIADMK repeatedly asserted it would have no truck with her. Meanwhile, Dhinakaran said he tried to talk his aunt out of her decision but could only "delay" it by half an hour before she released her statement to the media. On her court case against her removal as then AIADMK's interim general secretary, he hinted she may not persist with it. Sasikala had earlier said she would be in active politics as she thought that will ensure unity, he told reporters soon after Sasikala made public her decision to stay away. "She was telling there will be unity only if she stayed away and therefore she has taken this decision," he added. However, Dhinakaran, said her decision was "demoralising". Also, "she did not want to be an object of discussion about being reinducted in the AIADMK and therefore chose to stay away," he said. Ever since her return from Bengaluru, political circles have been abuzz over her possible reinduction in the ruling AIADMK, which under the joint leadership of O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami, had expelled her in 2017 after the then rival leaders merged their respective factions. Dhinakaran said Sasikala had picked "the present chief minister," Palaniswami to the post in 2017 before leaving for Bengaluru to serve the prison term. After Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, Sasikala "established Amma's rule, kept insisting Amma's supporters should remain united," he said. BJP state president L Murugan welcomed Sasikala's decision and to converge on the idea of keeping DMK away from the ruling saddle. "Her intention has been to ensure DMK, which is inimical to the growth of the country and the state, doesn't come to power." "She has disappointed all those who tried to create confusion using her and come to power in Tamil Nadu," he said. Hyderabad, March 4 : Around 54 per cent of people in Hyderabad have antibodies against Coronavirus, reveals a joint survey by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and Bharat Biotech. The joint effort estimated the seroprevalence of antibodies against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the city. This study of around 9,000 samples, finds that around 54 per cent of Hyderabadis show antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, indicating prior exposure to the coronavirus. "This study brings a comprehensive perspective of potentially protective immune response against the coronavirus in the city's population. The data indicates that the population of Hyderabad might be slowly moving towards herd immunity, which will be certainly accelerated by the ongoing vaccination effort," Dr Rakesh Mishra, Director, CCMB told a news conference. Scientists checked for antibodies against the virus in people across 30 wards of the city. At least 300 people, from each ward, all of them older than 10 years of age, were tested. Most of the wards showed a similarly uniform range of seroprevalence, from 50-60 per cent. However, a few wards showed as much as 70 per cent or as low as 30 per cent as well. Women showed a marginally higher seropositivity rate (56 per cent) than the men (53 per cent). Those above 70 years of age showed a lower seropositivity (49 per cent), perhaps because of limited mobility and extra care taken by older individuals during the pandemic. Those who had Covid-19 positive cases in their own households, showed the maximum seropositivity of 78 per cent. This was followed by those with known Covid-19 contacts outside their household (68 per cent). Dr A Laxmaiah, Scientist 'G' at NIN observed that having a larger number of rooms in houses and small family size households had low prevalence of coronavirus infection. "This multistage random sampling study on 9,000 people in the city of Hyderabad showed that more than 75 per cent of the seropositive population did not know that they had contracted coronavirus infection in the past. This suggests seroconversion, that is antibody formation has happened even with silent infections," said Dr R Hemalatha, Director, NIN. According to the study, individuals who had suffered the prominent Covid-19 symptoms as well as those who were asymptomatic, both had equivalent seroprevalence of around 54 per cent. Eighteen per cent of the study group had been tested earlier and found positive for the coronavirus. Ninety per cent of them were found to be seropositive, suggesting that they retain the antibody response. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 21:28:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - CONAKRY -- A batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Conakry, capital of Guinea, on Wednesday. Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahima Khalil Kaba, Guinean Minister of Health Remy Lamah and Chinese Ambassador to Guinea Huang Wei attended the handover ceremony held at the airport. - - - - JAKARTA -- As many as 13 more overseas Indonesians have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total cases in this group to 3,703, according to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday. Of the new cases, 12 were reported in South Korea and one in Jordan. - - - - MOSCOW -- Russia registered 11,385 more COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, up from 10,535 a day earlier, the country's COVID-19 response center said Thursday. The national tally has thus increased to 4,290,135 with 87,823 deaths and 3,869,857 recoveries, the center said. - - - - MINSK -- Belarus reported 1,174 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking its total to 291,621, according to the country's health ministry. There have been 1,273 new recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 282,039, the ministry added. - - - - DHAKA -- Bangladesh reported 619 new COVID-19 cases and seven new deaths on Thursday, bringing the tally to 548,549 and death toll to 8,435, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said. The official data showed that 15,985 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh. Enditem A DELIVERY man was attacked in Dublin after he refused to bring a fast food order to a customers door, a court has heard. Adebayo Adebolu, 28, with an address at Basin Street flats, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty on Thursday to assault causing harm which happened on November 3 last year. Presenting prosecution evidence, Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy told Dublin District Court that the victim, 30, was a delivery driver. He arrived at Basin Street and rang the accused to tell him to collect a food order from his car. It was thought that this was the delivery companys policy, the court heard. Adebolu demanded it be brought to his door. The driver refused and Adebolu went down to him and punched him three to four times in the face. The victim was cut and bleeding after the the attack. He had soft tissue injuries and after treatment with anti-inflammatories, he recovered after two weeks. A medical report was handed in to court. Judge Treasa Kelly accepted jurisdiction for the case to be dealt with at district court level. Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said his client was offering a guilty plea and anxious to dispose of the matter. Other than minor road traffic offences, Adebolu did not have criminal convictions, he said. The solicitor told Judge Kelly, there is a backstory and an explanation. He proposed an adjournment for the restorative justice team in the Probation Service to consider him for their programme. They might suggest appropriate compensation and a letter of apology, Mr Kelleher said. Judge Kelly adjourned the case until April for investigating Garda Ruairi Brennan to take a victim impact statement first. The restorative justice approach could be considered afterwards. Adebolu, who did not address the court, was remanded on continuing bail pending sentence. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Head of International Relations and Corporate Strategy at Teagasc Paul Maher has been appointed as the new Head of International Relations and Corporate Strategy in Teagasc. The appointment was approved by the Teagasc Authority at its meeting on Wednesday, 3 March. He takes over from Dr Lance OBrien who retires in April having served in Teagasc for over 40 years in a range of strategic planning and developmental roles. Paul Maher New Head of International Relations and Corporate Strategy at Teagasc Over the last 10 years Paul Maher has led the strategic development and modernisation of the Teagasc advisory and life-long learning programmes in his role as Assistant Director of Knowledge Transfer. Prior to that he worked in Teagasc in organisation wide functions such as business evaluation, business planning and risk management as well as farm financial management, advisory and education roles. He also worked in Ireland and New Zealand in commercial and agri-extension roles. He is a graduate of UCD with a Bachelor and Masters in Agricultural Science and also holds a post graduate qualification in business studies from WIT. Teagasc Chairman, Liam Herlihy congratulated Paul Maher on his appointment saying: Paul has extensive knowledge and experience of the Irish and European Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) as well as the wider activity of Teagasc. This will help him guide the organisation towards the strategic changes required to meet the challenges facing farmers and the agri-food sector and I wish him well in his role in the future. I would like to thank Dr Lance O Brien for his contribution to Teagasc, in numerous roles, over a long career with the organisation. Director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle, in welcoming the appointment, said: Paul Maher has an exceptional record in collaboration, networking and programme delivery across a number of different roles throughout his career to date. I particularly look forward to his leadership of Teagascs contribution to international development work in the coming years . Looking forward to his new role Paul said: I am passionate about the development of agriculture as the anchor point for a vibrant economy and the positive contribution that rural communities make to society. I look forward to guiding Teagasc to successfully transition the agri-food sector towards a sustainable food system within Ireland as well as making a substantial contribution at European and International level. Yash's KGF Chapter 2 is undoubtedly one of the highly awaited films of the year. The makers have announced the film will release in July while it is currently in the post-production stage. For the unversed, the massive pan-India success of KGF Chapter 1 back in 2018 catapulted Yash to new heights of fame and glory. The Rocking star has since been in high with offers from across all the industries. Even though the actor has not finalised his immediate next project after KGF 2, it is being reported that he is in talks with Ranveer Singhs 83 producer, Vishnuvardhan Induri for a Pan-India film. According to a report by Pinkvilla, the work on the project will commence in full swing once the KGF star officially signs the film. It is also being said that Yash might start work on his next in the same year. A source close to the development told the portal, Yash and Vishnu have had multiple meetings and the actor is bowled away by the concept of this action-packed Pan-Indian film. They are speaking to several directors to come on board the film, as the idea is to take the film on floors this year itself. However, things will move at a faster pace only once Yash signs the dotted lines. The producer has zeroed in on a few probable directors from Bollywood as well as Telugu and Kannada industry, and will soon have another meeting with Yash before taking things forward with director. It must be noted that no official confirmation regarding the project has come forward as of yet. In the meantime, it is also being speculated that Yash might be planning to launch his own production house and his immediate next will be a film under his own banner. The actor, according to the buzz, is even considering multiple projects to debut as a producer. However, he will only take the final call after the release of KGF Chapter 2. Produced by Hombale Films, KGF Chapter 2 also stars Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty, Achyuth Kumar, Nassar, and Vasishta N Simha in pivotal roles. The Prashanth Neel directorial will simultaneously release in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi on 16th July 2021. ALSO READ: Prabhas Salaar Comes To Yashs Rescue As KGF Chapter 2s Distribution Rights Trouble The Makers ALSO READ: KGF Chapter 2: Dil Raju Bags Telugu Distribution Rights Of Yash Starrer For A Whopping Price? China has expanded its use of anal swabs to screen for Covid-19 with anyone flying into Beijing now vulnerable to the tests despite growing protests from foreign governments. A staffer at a Beijing epidemic control department told Chinese state media that all international arrivals in the capital could be ordered to take the tests by health officials, although they are not compulsory for everyone. And in Shanghai, travellers from high-risk regions and those who arrive on planes with at least five positive cases must take a full battery of tests, including anal swabs. The US, Japan, South Korea and Germany, have all raised concerns about the tests, although China has denied claims that they are required for US diplomats. A diagram used by a Chinese doctor to explain the use of anal tests for Covid-19, a practice which has drawn protests from various foreign governments China's disease control centre says the test is performed with a sterile swab that is inserted up to two inches into the anus before being gently rotated out. Doctors have told state media that the tests can prevent infections from being missed because traces are detectable there for longer than in the respiratory tract. But Jin Dongyan, a virology professor at the University of Hong Kong, said it might also pick up inactive traces that pose no danger of being passed on to others. Another expert in Europe said the virus does shed for longer in the stool than in nasal samples, but patients in that stage of recovery are no longer a contagion risk. Earlier this week, Tokyo complained about the tests on some Japanese travellers to China, saying they had caused 'great psychological pain'. South Korea's foreign ministry meanwhile says that its citizens can now submit stool samples instead of 'Chinese authorities taking them directly'. US media also reported last month that American diplomats had been required to take the test, but Beijing rejected the claims. 'To my knowledge...China has never required US diplomatic staff stationed in China to conduct anal swab tests,' foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. And Germany has also raised concerns about the tests, saying that some of its citizens had faced 'tightened procedures', according to Vice News. 'We have repeatedly raised that issue vis-a-vis the Chinese government, especially with regard to the medical tests and examinations that are taking place against the will of the persons concerned,' a German diplomatic source told the website. Anal swabs have been used in China to test coronavirus since last year, but the method is mainly used in key groups at quarantine centres because of its inconvenience, expert says A viral video purports to show people walking stiff-legged with their arms slightly open while leaving a hospital following an anal swab test. Chinese authorities have called the video 'fake' A disease control worker in Shanghai told state media that travellers flying there must take anal tests if more than five people on the plane test positive for the virus. Travellers from regions where the virus is rampant or those who test positive on arrival also need to undergo such tests, they said. While anal swabs are not compulsory for all international arrivals in China, one staffer of Beijing's Daxing district epidemic control department told the state-backed Global Times that international visitors to Beijing were subject to such testing. 'If people are not familiar with the procedure for taking an anal swab test, our employees will help explain how it will be done,' she said. Last month, footage emerged purporting to show people waddling like penguins after taking one of the anal swabs. But Chinese authorities labelled the video 'fake', promising citizens that they would not walk like that after taking the tests. In addition to Beijing and Shanghai, the port city of Qingdao has also carried out the tests in addition to nasal or throat swabs, state media says. But anal swab tests are not exclusive to foreign visitors. During China's last major round of infections in January, some cities performed them on unspecified segments of the local population. The tests have also been carried out in Galicia, in Spain, where some hospitalised patients and newborn babies received the tests. They were also given to those with psychiatric illnesses for whom it was impossible to administer nasal swabs, Galicia's health department says. Air Serbia is set to take delivery of second widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The jet, formerly operated by Aeroflot, is twelve and a half years old and carries the registration VP-BLY. The aircraft landed at Shannon Airport in Ireland yesterday where it will receive the Air Serbia livery and be prepared for service. The jet is expected to feature the airlines new premium product, which will allow for greater capacity in the business class cabin. The aircrafts last commercial service was operated between Antalya and Moscow in August 2020, with the jet stationed in Hong Kong ever since. It features Rolls Royce engines and had a total of 241 seats while operating for Aeroflot, with 34 in business and 207 in economy. Air Serbia is set to take delivery of second widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The jet, formerly operated by Aeroflot, is twelve and a half years old and carries the registration VP-BLY. The aircraft landed at Shannon Airport in Ireland yesterday where it will receive the Air Serbia livery and be prepared for service. The jet is expected to feature the airlines new premium product, which will allow for greater capacity in the business class cabin. The aircrafts last commercial service was operated between Antalya and Moscow in August 2020, with the jet stationed in Hong Kong ever since. It features Rolls Royce engines and had a total of 241 seats while operating for Aeroflot, with 34 in business and 207 in economy. The aircraft will replace Air Serbias sole A330-200 in its fleet, registered YU-ARA. Its lease runs until May. The airline took delivery of the former Jet Airways operated aircraft in May 2016. It boasts eighteen seats in business class and 236 in economy. Its premium cabin includes leathered fully flat bed seats (68.5 inch in length) in a 1-1-1 configuration. Air Serbia has made a number of changes to its fleet since the coronavirus pandemic hit the aviation industry a year ago. It has retired its Boeing 737-300 fleet and ended the lease of one ATR72 and one A320 jet. At the same time, it took delivery of two additional A319s. Air Serbia's existing A330-200 business class hard product Air Serbia's existing A330-200 economy class hard product Since the onset of the pandemic, the airline has renegotiated leasing terms for its aircraft, with power by the hour contracts concluded, where leasing costs are accounted based on the number of hours the aircraft has been utilised rather than a fixed rate. The Serbian government previously said it was the right time to acquire aircraft for the company. We are thinking about starting negotiations for the acquisition of some aircraft. This is the right time, because there will never be an opportunity like this where prices on the market will be as low, the Ministry for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure said last May. Not everyone is aware that the journalist Ambrose Bierce (18421914) wrote short stories, poems, and fables. His best known story, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," is perhaps the most famous. It was an episode of Twilight Zone and is included in many anthologies of American literature. He was a prolific man of letters. His Devil's Dictionary was named one of the top one hundred masterpieces of American literature. Few people remember his fables, which are less well known than Aesop's but just as wise and just as biting. One of them is entitled "Alarm and Pride." It is a perfectly apt description of what Americans today face with the leftists now in control of all three branches of government. Here it is: "GOOD-MORNING, my friend," said Alarm to Pride; "how are you this morning?" "Very tired," replied Pride, seating himself on a stone by the wayside and mopping his steaming brow. "The politicians are wearing me out by pointing to their dirty records with ME, when they could as well use a stick." Alarm sighed sympathetically, and said: "It is pretty much the same way here. Instead of using an opera-glass they view the acts of their opponents with ME!" As these patient drudges were mingling their tears, they were notified that they must go on duty again, for one of the political parties had nominated a thief and was about to hold a gratification meeting. Bierce's little parable describes our plight in the face of the tsunami of leftist abrogation of our Constitution since they illicitly took power. Not even their mouthpieces in the media believe that Biden won the election fair and square. That is why they protest so hysterically when anyone states the obvious. That is why there are seven or eight thousand National Guard troops stationed as props around the Capitol in D.C. As Devin Nunes remarked, it is a Hollywood production, all for show, a pseudo-event meant to send a particular message: we are running the show now. You will do as we say, and you'll like it. The frightening thing about all this is how many Americans have fallen for the show and all its production values the lockdowns, mask mandates, the vaccine, every new reason to continue all the nonsense. It's all been a sort of mass hypnosis, something like the Salem Witch Trials (1692). One would think we would know better since a few hundred years have passed. The Democrats are proud of their ill gotten success, but they know they cheated, and they are afraid of the truth eventually being revealed. They are consumed with pride and alarm pride in their power, alarmed that they cannot force the probably seventy-five-plus millions of voters who support Trump to submit to their authoritarian agenda. Their solution? We must be forced to comply by any means necessary. Any and all discussion or references to the fraud that so characterized the 2020 election must be censored. And it has been censored, just as any legitimate but skeptical medical opinions about COVID and the vaccine must be censored and most certainly have been. The alarm of the left dictates the deletion of any and all voices that do not align with the fear-mongering narrative that COVID is going to kill us all if we do not submit to their tyrannical restrictions on our freedom. Their "narrative" is all nonsense, a ruse, part of a grand plan, the "great reset." We are all just pawns in their game of re-organizing civilization, here, there (Europe), and everywhere. Their pride will be the death of us all unless those of us who venerate the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution fight back. The left is terribly alarmed by the support President Trump still garners, that it not only remains strong among his supporters, but seems to be growing after only a month-plus of the hapless Biden administration. Did they not realize that their plan to undo every bit of good Trump did would only further anger those millions of people? On day one, Biden put thousands of pipeline workers out of work. He ended the employment of all those working on building the southern border wall. He campaigned on opening up the border so that we now have a border crisis that dwarfs the previous breaches. It will surely devastate our border cities and the communities from which they are bussed into the interior of this nation. The pride and arrogance of people like Pelosi, Obama, Biden, and Schumer may well be the death of this nation if conservatives do not get together and stop all this any way possibly available to them. Can a Democrat who supports an open, unrestricted border even think about being re-elected? Probably not. Every Democrat in Congress is being betrayed by Biden or whoever is calling the shots. Democrats "elected" a corrupt man, a plagiarist, a liar, and a traitor who is selling us out to China, and they expect us all to be onboard? They are alarmed at our intransigence. We are horrified by their pride, their alarm at our resistance and their blatant treason. Beginning with the Russia hoax, clearly a coup attempt, and their current plan to transform the U.S. into a submissive member of a one-world government in which we are meant to be the cash cow, their pride must be their downfall. Image credit: Pixy.org, CC0. This drone photo from a field study of icing on wind turbines shows how ice accumulated at the tip of a turbine blade during a winter storm. Credit: Hui Hu/Iowa State University Wind turbine blades spinning through cold, wet conditions can collect ice nearly a foot thick on the yard-wide tips of their blades. That disrupts blade aerodynamics. That disrupts the balance of the entire turbine. And that can disrupt energy production by up to 80 percent, according to a recently published field study led by Hui Hu, Iowa State University's Martin C. Jischke Professor in Aerospace Engineering and director of the university's Aircraft Icing Physics and Anti-/De-icing Technology Laboratory. Hu has been doing laboratory studies of turbine-blade icing for about 10 years, including performing experiments in the unique ISU Icing Research Tunnel. Much of that work has been supported by grants from the Iowa Energy Center and the National Science Foundation. "But we always have questions about whether what we do in the lab represents what happens in the field," Hu said. "What happens over the blade surfaces of large, utility-scale wind turbines?" We all know about one thing that recently happened in the field. Wind power and other energy sources froze and failed in Texas during last month's winter storm. Searching for a field site Hu wanted to quantify what happens on wind farms during winter weather and so several years ago began organizing a field study. But that was more complicated than he expected. Even in Iowa, where some 5,100 wind turbines produce more than 40% of the state's electricity (according to the U.S. Energy Information Association), he wasn't given access to turbines. Energy companies usually don't want their turbine performance data to go public. So Huwho had made connections with researchers at the School of Renewable Energy at North China Electric Power University in Beijing as part of an International Research Experiences for Students program funded by the National Science Foundationasked if Chinese wind farms would cooperate. Operators of a 34-turbine, 50-megawatt wind farm on a mountain ridgetop in eastern China agreed to a field study in January 2019. Hu said most of the turbines generate 1.5 megawatts of electricity and are very similar to the utility-scale turbines that operate in the United States. Because the wind farm the researchers studied is not far from the East China Sea, Hu said the wind turbines there face icing conditions more like those in Texas than in Iowa. Iowa wind farms are exposed to colder, drier winter conditions; when winter cold drops to Texas, wind farms there are exposed to more moisture because of the nearby Gulf of Mexico. Researchers took to the field to study icing on this ridgetop wind farm in eastern China. Credit: Hui Hu/Iowa State University. Measuring the ice As part of their field work, the researchers used drones to take photos of 50-meter-long turbine blades after exposure to up to 30 hours of icy winter conditions, including freezing rain, freezing drizzle, wet snow and freezing fog. The photographs allowed detailed measurement and analyses of how and where ice collected on the turbine blades. Hu said the photos also allowed researchers to compare natural icing to laboratory icing and largely validated their experimental findings, theories and predictions. The photos showed, "While ice accreted over entire blade spans, more ice was found to accrete on outboard blades with the ice thickness reaching up to 0.3 meters (nearly 1 foot) near the blade tips," the researchers wrote in a paper recently published online by the journal Renewable Energy. (See sidebar for the full research team.) The researchers used the turbines' built-in control and data-acquisition systems to compare operation status and power production with ice on the blades against more typical, ice-free conditions. "That tells us what's the big deal, what's the effect on power production," Hu said. The researchers found that icing had a major effect: "Despite the high wind, iced wind turbines were found to rotate much slower and even shut down frequently during the icing event, with the icing-induced power loss being up to 80%," the researchers wrote. That means Hu will continue to work on another area of wind-turbine researchfinding effective ways to de-ice the blades so they keep spinning, and the electricity keeps flowing, all winter long. Explore further Engineers study icing/de-icing of wind turbine blades to improve winter power production More information: Linyue Gao et al, A field study of ice accretion and its effects on the power production of utility-scale wind turbines, Renewable Energy (2020). Journal information: Renewable Energy Linyue Gao et al, A field study of ice accretion and its effects on the power production of utility-scale wind turbines,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.12.014 The former Wolfeboro resident who kept dozens of Great Danes in her home is suing the Humane Society and the town, alleging they conspired to The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Three Myanmar police constables have crossed over to India's northeastern state of Mizoram to seek refuge there, rather than carry out orders given by the military junta, an Indian police official said on Thursday. The three men came across the border near the town of North Vanlaiphai on Wednesday afternoon and the local authorities were assessing their health and making arrangements for them, the police superintendent in the Mizoram's Serchhip district said. "What they said is they got instructions from the military rulers which they cannot obey, so they have run away," Superintendent Stephen Lalrinawma told Reuters. "They are seeking refuge because of the military rule in Myanmar," Lalrinawma said. India shares a 1,643 kilometer (1,021 mile) land border with Myanmar, where more than 50 people have been killed during protests against military coup on Feb.1. The junta overthrew a democratically-elected government, and detained its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, having disputed her party's landslide victory in November. India is already home to thousands of refugees from Myanmar, including ethnic Chin people and Rohingya who fled the southeast Asian country during previous bouts of violence. (Reuters) Last fall, I bought my first fancy ceramic dishes. While waiting for a hoagie from Flour + Water Pasta Shop in the Mission, I wandered over to a pop-up shop by MMclay, a local tableware business run by ceramist MaryMar Keenan. Stacks of shiny glazed plates and bowls with rough, scraped exteriors called to me. I bought the lowest-commitment items, a couple of $28 ramekins, and left with my wallet much lighter for it. I was new to this world, but having those ramekins in my life has made me a convert. Craft ceramics dont normally get much love in food writing photographers and stylists think about them a lot; writers rarely say anything. That elides the fact that plates are a big part of what makes eating out so special. There is so much thought that goes into each one, even before a speck of food touches them. In the Bay Area, we have industry powerhouses like Heath Ceramics and a robust community of independent potters and ceramists. Handmade tumblers, bowls and custom mignardise platters alike adorn the tables of restaurants like Copita in Sausalito and Nightbird in San Francisco, doing the dual work of being both art objects and practical vessels. Three artisans in particular are doing exciting work in this field by collaborating directly with local bars and restaurants. These functional objects make big statements about the way we eat: In appearance and practice, they pass along each creators sentiments about culture, inclusivity and art. Chinzalee Sonami, the creator behind Oaklands Pala Ceramics, makes some of the most eye-catching tableware Ive seen: Her distinctive plaid patterns create bold contrasts that one rarely sees on American dinner tables, with soft, rounded edges that make tumblers, bowls and mugs look like tropical anemones. Usually, dishes are meant to accentuate the colors and textures of the food placed on them, and that often manifests as solid whites or beiges serving as the base, with bolder colors and textures being used sparingly as accents. But I have a philosophical beef with beiges, whites and neutral colors, she told me. Its not that those colors themselves are unappealing per se, but she takes issue with the way theyre widely seen in the West as a default color for dishes denoting sophistication, cleanliness and order. Her antidote to that is a style she calls harmonious clashing, inspired by Tibetan and French fashion and textiles like the traditional Tibetan bangdan apron, which features bright striped fabrics combined into a riotously colorful household garment. The goal, she said, is to juxtapose colors that might be surprising or, to put it another way, that might ask more of the viewer than a simple beige vessel would. To that end, she encourages customers to buy mismatched pieces from her shop, and says that figuring out which foods might look good on which plate is part of the fun. For example, her pale pink plates might highlight the bright red leaves of a radicchio salad, while slices of golden yellow cornbread would likely look stunning on orange and navy plaid plates. If you want to see Pala Ceramics products out in the wild, you can find them being used as mezcal cups at Alkali Rye in Oakland. Another local ceramist, Lynn Chang, is challenging the assumptions of what people might consider to be a proper set of dinnerware with the products she makes for her 2-year-old company, Uniqlay Ceramics. The seed of her business mission was planted when Chang, an immigrant from Taiwan, noticed that she never saw any chopsticks in photos by American ceramics brands, though thats how I eat 90% of my food, she said. In Taiwan, every meal is family-style, even breakfast. When she started out, she found herself being commissioned by customers to make pieces for different cultural eating styles, which only confirmed her observations about home goods largely being a monoculture. Its not like everyone needs a salad plate. A missing part of the industry has been cultural diversity, both in the selling and making of ceramics, Chang said. Its ironic to her, considering the crucial role East Asian countries have historically played in the craft: Chinas robust ceramics industry, and its exports throughout the world, have made the countrys name synonymous with high-quality porcelain dishes since the Ming Dynasty. Thus, the items she creates for Uniqlay have been designed to fit a broader range of eating styles than the typical Western dinnerware set. For instance, her carryall bowl, a shallow 8-inch bowl is made for versatility. It works for serving family-style meals like pastas and braises, and its also flat enough that saucy dishes wont pool in the center. And while Uniqlay does carry plates, Chang rounds out her catalog with smaller bowls meant for households that primarily eat family-style, with everyone at the table plucking their share of food from a collection of dishes on the table. For Chang, the best way to work with potential customers, whether individuals or restaurants, is to first ask them what kind of food they make. Her recommendations for pieces and commissioned designs naturally flow from those conversations about whether people will be using forks, spoons or chopsticks to eat; and even what materials their tables are made of. That way, each customer can get a set that is immediately relevant to the way they eat and cook. That spirit of collaboration is the modus operandi of East Bay ceramicist Erin Hupp, who has been working the potters wheel for two decades now. Her plates, bowls and tumblers, found at upscale restaurants like Nightbird, Californios, Flour + Water and the soon-to-come tasting menu restaurant Osito, are custom-built to almost extreme specificity: When meeting with clients at their restaurants, Hupp always brings her tape measure so she can better visualize their table settings, dishes and even the diameter of their house-made tortillas. Her work is texturally rich, featuring glazes that crackle and pop in the kiln and colors that cascade over each other like the melted edges of an ice cream sundae. The drip of a white glaze on a cake stand might suggest the drips of chocolate ganache on the bundt cake set on top of it, while an inky black streak drawn across a white plate can serve as a guide for a contrasting swipe of sauce. It draws attention while being hyper-aware of its ultimate utility. My favorite part is when Im meeting with a chef and were both energized and inspired and we build off of each other, Hupp said. The intention I put in my pieces is the same intention people show at a restaurant. For Hupp, the restaurant is a living gallery for her work, where the public can literally perceive the weight of her craft. I really hope that people flip their plates over at the end of the meal, especially while at a restaurant that has chosen intentionally to go with handmade objects. Its not easy to accumulate such treasures, whether youre just a person in need of a receptacle for your cereal or a restaurant with a tight budget. Plenty of food businesses opt for the simplicity of picking up cases of factory-made dishes from Restaurant Depot or ordering high-end sets that are still more affordable than custom work from local artisans like Sonami, Chang and Hupp. Their prices, which hover around $40 for cups and $25 for small bowls, are steep. But they reflect a process that takes years to master and an inordinate time to execute: A single dish can take two weeks to create, from its initial shaping on the wheel to its final firing. The cost of a $5 mug from a big box chain is not up front, Sonami said. While the consumer may be paying less, others further up the chain are subsidizing that price, whether through the low wages they earn or the environmental consequences of shipping cheap products from factories overseas. Whereas when youre buying from a small business, I think youre really addressing the cost of that mug as opposed to sweeping the unspoken cost under the rug. The simple act of being able to flip a dish and see someones name can feel like an act of rebellion in a culture where were rarely given the opportunity to recognize the people who make the everyday things we depend on. Do you know who grew the orchid on your desk or the glasses youre wearing, or even where they did those things? We dont, because often the alienated products are what we can afford. Not everyone has the space in their budget for a $28 soy sauce dish, or the mental bandwidth to consider their saucers. When it comes to the pursuit of tying labor to people, were all set up to lose. But if you can afford to add one precious thing to your kitchen cabinet, consider buying a piece of handmade ceramic. It just feels different when I use my MMclay ramekins at home when I pile kimchi on them as a side dish to braised short ribs or set a tea strainer onto one to drain every morning. They werent made specifically for me, but theyve inured themselves into my life as if theyve always been here. Its easy enough to remember that someone made them: Her initials are right there, on the bottom. Pala Ceramics. www.palaceramics.com Uniqlay Ceramics. www.uniqlay.com Erin Hupp Ceramics. www.erinhuppceramics.com Soleil Ho is The San Francisco Chronicles restaurant critic. Email: soleil@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hooleil 4 March 2021 Nominees for Acron Board of Directors Acron Board of Directors has resolved to put the following persons on the list of nominees for Acron Board of Directors for electing at the annual general meeting, as proposed by Acron shareholders: Nikolai Arutyunov Vladimir Gavrikov Georgy Golukhov Alexander Dynkin Yury Malyshev Alexander Popov Arkady Sverdlov Vladimir Sister Seven members of Acron Board of Directors shall be elected. The date of the annual general meeting will be announced later. Mediacontacts: Tatiana Smirnova Public Relations Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196) Investor contacts: Ilya Popov Investor Relations Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252) Background Information Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and the Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It has a wholly owned transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic seaport terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron's subsidiary, North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP), holds mining leases and an exploration permit for ten parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty S.A., one of the largest chemical producers in Europe. In 2019, the Group sold 7.6 million tonnes of main products to 78 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets. In 2019, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 114,835 million (USD 1,774 million) and net profit of RUB 24,786 million (USD 383 million). Acron's shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people. For more information about Acron Group, please visitwww.acron.ru/en. Oregon officially surpassed a numerical milestone Wednesday as health officials had administrated 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, less than three months after the first dose was injected in December. As of Wednesday, some 1,019,767 vaccine doses had been administered in the state. More than 636,000 of the states 4.2 million residents had received at least one dose as of Tuesday. Oregon announced the news as it reported another 27 deaths due to COVID-19 and 276 new cases statewide, putting the overall known death toll at 2,252 since the pandemic began. Patrick Allen, the states health authority director, said Wednesdays vaccine milestone wouldnt have been possible without local partnerships. Every day we are delivering more than 22,000 doses of vaccine that will bring us to the end of this difficult journey for so many, he said in a statement. Overall cases continue to drop, broadly, with Wednesday seeing Jackson County record nearly double (47) the total number of cases as Multnomah County (26), which has more than three times the population. The state is expected to announce new risk levels next week following the latest two months of case positivity data, which may result in further loosened guidelines for Multnomah County. Where the new cases are by county: Baker (2), Benton (3), Clackamas (20), Clatsop (2), Columbia (3), Coos (24), Deschutes (10), Douglas (22), Grant (2), Harney (2), Jackson (47), Jefferson (5), Josephine (5), Klamath (2), Lane (15), Linn (4), Malheur (2), Marion (28), Multnomah (26), Polk (4), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (7), Union (10), Washington (25) and Yamhill (2). Who died: Oregons 2,226th death linked to coronavirus is a 101-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Feb. 9 and died Feb. 14 at her residence. The 2,227th fatality is a 96-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Feb. 6 and died Feb. 14 at his residence. The 2,228th fatality is a 100-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Feb. 6 and died Feb. 12 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. The 2,229th fatality is an 80-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Jan. 22 and died Feb. 21 at Providence Portland Medical Center. The 2,230th fatality is a 66-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Jan. 22 and died Feb. 10 at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. The 2,231st fatality is a 97-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Jan. 25 and died Feb. 21 at her residence. The 2,232nd fatality is a 95-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Jan. 19 and died Feb. 15 at his residence. The 2,233rd fatality is an 85-year-old Deschutes County woman who tested positive Jan. 22 and died Feb. 24 at her residence. The 2,234th fatality is a 65-year-old Jackson County woman who tested positive Jan. 18 and died Feb. 28 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. The 2,235th fatality is a 50-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Jan. 28 and died Feb. 22 at his residence. The 2,236th fatality is an 82-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Jan. 27 and died Feb. 14 at Providence Portland Medical Center. The 2,237th fatality is an 83-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Jan. 25 and died Feb. 10 at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center. The 2,238th fatality is a 71-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Feb. 12 at Providence Portland Medical Center. The 2,239th fatality is an 89-year-old Morrow County woman who tested positive Dec. 20 and died Jan. 13 at his residence. The 2,240th fatality is an 80-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Feb. 1 and died Feb. 11 at her residence. The 2,241st fatality is an 85-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Feb. 5 and died Feb. 22 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. The 2,242nd fatality is a 75-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Feb. 3 and died Feb. 24 at Adventist Health Portland. The 2,243rd fatality is a 74-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Feb. 1 and died Feb. 14 at her residence. The 2,244th fatality is an 89-year-old Benton County woman who tested positive Jan. 17 and died Feb. 18 at her residence. The 2,245th fatality is an 82-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Feb. 8 and died Feb. 14 at Providence Portland Medical Center. The 2,246th fatality is an 80-year-old Yamhill County man who tested positive Dec. 29 and died Feb. 19 at his residence. The 2,247th fatality is an 85-year-old Yamhill County woman who tested positive Dec. 29 and died Feb. 17 at her residence. The 2,248th fatality is an 88-year-old Yamhill County man who tested positive Jan. 24 and died Feb. 14 at his residence. The 2,249th fatality is a 47-year-old Wallowa County man who tested positive Jan. 25 and died March 2 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The 2,250th fatality is a 100-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Feb. 18 and died March 1 at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center. The 2,251st fatality is a 77-year-old Josephine County man who became tested positive Feb. 13 and died Feb. 23 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. The 2,252nd fatality is an 84-year-old Polk County woman who tested positive Jan. 20 and died Jan. 30 at Salem Hospital. Unless noted above, each person who died had underlying health conditions or state officials were working to determine if the person had underlying medical conditions. The prevalence of infections: On Wednesday, the state reported 601 new positive tests out of 27,038 tests performed, equaling a 2.2% positivity rate. But state officials said the rate is artificially low because they received a large volume of backlogged test data from the past two months, with about 99% of those results negative. Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (6); 10-19 (40); 20-29 (46); 30-39 (36); 40-49 (27); 50-59 (35); 60-69 (23); 70-79 (13); 80 and older (20). Whos in the hospital: The state reported that 140 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Oregon, which is nine fewer than yesterday. There were 31 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, two more than were in similar care Tuesday. Vaccines administered: Oregon has administered 1,019,767 first and second doses as of Wednesday. The state reported 22,346 new doses reported, although a breakdown between those administered Tuesday versus previous days was not provided. Since it began: Oregon has reported 156,287 confirmed or presumed infections and 2,252 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported over 3,787,438 lab reports from tests. Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MZ, a global leader in investor relations services, announced today a successful start to the Company's limited-time IR website offering for publicly traded companies on the OTC Markets. The special offer, available for OTCQX, OTCQB & Pink Sheet issuers, includes free setup and maintenance for the first year. Since launching the offer, more than 20 public companies have signed up with positive initial feedback, noting how the launch of a new, compliant IR website was a simple and timely process. Below is a sample of feedback from public companies who participated in the offer: "We are extremely pleased with our new and greatly improved IR website. The entire process was completed quickly and our investors are quite pleased with the ease of use and the simple but effective design." Reviv3 Procare Co. (OTCQB: RVIV) Reviv3 Procare Co. (OTCQB: RVIV) "Working with the MZ website team was streamlined and efficient! We had our updated website done inside of a week in a hassle-free transfer. I highly recommend using the IR website add-on services that MZ Group provides. It's a high value service that frees up my time to focus on the business!" Grande West Transportation Group (OTCQX: BUSXF) All MZ websites are built with investor engagement and regulatory compliance in mind, leveraging fully responsive, modern, and GDPR-compliant designs. Websites are hosted by Amazon AWS and with a user-friendly content management tool. All eligible public companies can find more information at https://www.mzgroup.com/otc-lets-start/ or contact the MZ team at [email protected]. About MZ MZ is a global leader in investor relations services for over 20 years. Our solutions are trusted by more than 800 clients worldwide and we have published over 1,500 IR websites. Our portfolio of intelligence and communication solutions empower our clients to be ahead of the market by providing them with all the tools and insights they need to make effective decisions and better engage with the market. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.mzgroup.com/. Contact: Amanda Munhoz Partner & Sales Executive [email protected] www.mzgroup.com SOURCE MZ The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Egypts Minister of Health Hala Zayed highlighted on Wednesday the effects of unequal distribution of the coronavirus vaccines on the global economic situation with a global economic cost of about $4 trillion, a cabinet statement said on Wednesday. The minister stressed that the economic cost of leaving people in the developing countries unvaccinated is about $9 trillion. Zayed said in the meeting that global studies conducted on the impact of disproportionate distribution of vaccine "have proven that if rich countries have fully vaccinated their people by the middle of this year, while during the same time period, developing countries only vaccinated half of their population, this will cost about $4 trillion globally. Its in the economic interest of developed countries to ensure that vaccines are distributed equitably in developing countries, added the minister. The minister discussed a study on equipment and infrastructure in African countries to address the coronavirus pandemic. She also discussed Egypt's tangible progress in containing the coronavirus in terms securing adeqaute numbers of intensive care beds and ventilators. The meeting reviewed efforts to confront the coronavirus, the position of the global spread of the pandemic, and the provision of vaccines from various companies. Zayed spoke about the efforts of the national campaign to vaccinate children against the Poliovirus, which was launched by the ministry between 28 February and 3 March. The ministry is scheduled to launch another campaign against the Poliovirus in a month, she added. The campaign comes as part of the polio vaccination campaigns launched annually by the ministry to keep the country free from disease, which comes within the framework of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis vision to develop the public health of citizens. The minister indicated that Egypt has an effective routine vaccination system and a surveillance system for polio viruses. This, the minister said, enabled the country to eradicate the Poliovirus in 2004. Egypt was declared free of the disease in 2006 by the World Health Organisation. Short link: A federal grand jury in Worcester, Massachusetts, brought additional charges against two men in connection with their involvement in an employment tax and mail fraud scheme. Juliano Fernandes, 39, of Clinton, Massachusetts, and Anderson Dos Santos, 36, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, were charged in a superseding indictment on Thursday, February 25, 2021. The superseding indictment charges Fernandes with two counts of false statements and Dos Santos with two counts of filing a false tax return. In January 2021, Fernandes was charged with 11 counts of failure to pay over employment taxes and two counts of mail fraud, and Dos Santos was charged with one count of mail fraud. According to the superseding indictment, Fernandes made two false statements to the state Department of Labor in August 2017 concerning the value of property he owned in Lunenburg, Massachusetts and that he never had any responsibility or control over the payroll for Force Corporation. In addition, Dos Santos was charged with two counts of filing a false and fraudulent tax return related to his 2013 and 2014 personal tax returns. According to charging documents, Fernandes exercised management and control over Force Corporation and AB Construction, both Massachusetts-based construction companies. Between 2015 and 2017, Fernandes willfully failed to account for and pay over employment taxes for Force Corporation and AB Construction to the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, from approximately April 2013 through January 2017, Fernandes allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud workers compensation insurance carriers for Force Corporation by misrepresenting the number of employees and amount of wages paid to its employees. Similarly, from approximately December 2013 through April 2016, Fernandes and Dos Santos engaged in a scheme to defraud workers compensation insurance carriers for AB Construction by misrepresenting the number of employees and amount of wages paid to its employees. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of failure to pay over employment taxes and making a false statement each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Source: The United States Attorneys Office, District of Massachusetts Topics Fraud Abuse Molestation Massachusetts Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. What hit Texas, just over two weeks ago, was a winter storm, not an earthquake, but the aftershocks will reverberate. The 4 million Texans who lost power may have their electricity back, but for those families who lost loved ones, there is no return to normal. Hundreds of thousands of Texans must still boil their water, and people across the state worry about the costs of fixing busted pipes and cleaning up other damage. Hanging over the state are questions of who will take responsibility among elected leaders and energy companies for cleaning up this disaster, one magnified by deregulation and short-term political thinking. A catastrophic act of nature was made worse by men and women who put profits over preparation, who were more devoted to preserving their deregulated markets than in protecting their customers from a debilitating storm and exorbitant electricity bills. What are they doing to prevent a repeat of this avoidable disaster that could end up being the costliest natural disaster in Texas history? So far, not much. In Texas House and Senate public hearings last week there was genuine bipartisan anger directed at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates Texas public grid, and the Public Utility Commission, or PUC, which oversees it. Seven ERCOT board members have resigned, and this week, DeAnn T. Walker resigned as PUC chairwoman. In her resignation letter, Walker made it clear that others should share in the blame that led to the massive power outage. She wrote: The gas companies, the Railroad Commission, the electric generators, the transmission and distribution utilities, the electric cooperatives, the municipally owned utilities, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, and finally the Legislature all had the responsibility to foresee what could have happened and failed to take the necessary steps for the past ten years to address the issues that each of them could have addressed. Walker is correct, but she left out one conspicuous name: Gov. Greg Abbott, the man who appointed her and the other PUC members who dissolved the agencys Oversight & Enforcement Division and cut ties with the Texas Reliability Entity, a nonprofit group that monitored and helped Texas enforce the states electric reliability standards. Within four months, the PUC, with Abbotts approval, weakened its internal oversight apparatus and its external, independent monitor. Abbotts office denies that weakening oversight was the reason or intent for these changes, which is difficult to believe when the reason for deregulation and Texas having its own power grid is to be relatively independent of oversight and enforcement. Its also difficult to believe because of something Walker said during last weeks public hearing when asked about an investigation into the power shortage. Saying the PUC didnt have the staff for a complete investigation, Walker suggested, We may want to think about it and look into hiring a third party to help us with this. A third party? Perhaps something like, say, the Texas Reliability Entity? Abbott has asked the Legislature to mandate the winterization and funding of energy plants, something he didnt do before the winter storm. But he hasnt said anything about re-engaging with the Texas Reliability Entity or any other external, independent body that would investigate the power outage and monitor electric reliability in the future. Its fair to be skeptical of Abbotts commitment to this when his first instinct, upon being given a national platform to talk about this disaster, was to lie about renewable energy being the cause. A governor who has yet to acknowledge his role in a disaster made worse by poor planning and an absence of concern isnt a governor who can be counted on to help prevent the next such disaster. Indianapolis, IN (46208) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 76F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. At last, the most exploited workers in Australia may soon be able to get some redress. The delivery drivers and cyclists who have signed up for Uber either delivering food or people have been given some hope by a massive blood nose given to the gig economy giant, in the courts in the UK. Uber drivers celebrate as they listen to the court decision outside the Supreme Court in London. Credit:AP It is not just Uber that will be closely examining the decision their business model has been widely copied. How long will it take for one of the big union-affiliated law firms here to mimic the UK claim and attempt to establish exactly the same legal principles here? In a test case, the Supreme Court of the UK has blown up the fiction that Uber and so many other tech platforms rely upon. The foundation of their commercial model has been to undercut traditional business the taxi industry, couriers, food delivery by using workers to whom they claim no obligation whatsoever. A huge and totally unnecessary crisis is being created at the U.S.-Mexican border, with profound human suffering and the possibility of reigniting the spread of COVID. You can thank President Biden, or his handlers, for wrecking a perfectly good arrangement, carefully constructed by President Trump, that protected Americans from the human waves of border violators that overwhelmed the Obama administration. Thanks to Mexico acting like a Good Neighbor after considerable persuasion by President Trump the foreign invaders, including those from nations south and east of Mexico, were mostly intercepted before they got a chance to attempt an illegal entry. Thanks to the completely sensible policy of requiring those who claimed asylum to wait in Mexico while those claims were adjudicated, the formerly huge problem of people disappearing into the U.S. interior and unable to be expelled when their claims were found to be bogus vanished. And as word went out that it was no longer easy to sneak in or openly come in claiming refugee status and melt away, fewer people decided to attempt to defraud our border protections. All of those well functioning solutions have been discarded, and as a result, human suffering on the part of border-violators has escalated and continues to grow. The Biden administration reportedly expects an unprecedented surge of unaccompanied migrant children showing up on the southern border in hopes of being admitted into the United States during its first year. Border officials anticipate 117,000 children will arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or guardian in 2021, according to a White House domestic policy council document to be shared with President Biden this afternoon, which Axios reported Tuesday. The number is higher than the 68,000 taken into custody during the 2014 surge of solo children and the 80,000 who arrived during the 2019 humanitarian crisis at the border. Each of these children is a human tragedy. The media will no longer use expressions like "ripped apart from their families" or "confined in cages" even as some of the very same facilities used under Trump are used to house them, but the unhappy situation is the same. Some of these children will have been abused by the coyotes whose business has been revived by Biden. Each and every one of them will become a burden on U.S. taxpayers, who will bear the cost of schooling, housing, feeding, and caring for them medically. After Americans have borne a gigantic cost in the multi-trillions in locking down the economy to slow the spread of COVID, a new population of people who have not been screened or treated for the disease is being spread throughout the United States. Biden has slurred the governors of Texas and Mississippi as "Neanderthals" (less than humans) for ending their largely ineffective mask mandates, but he is himself guilty of far more reckless behavior, seeding America with a wave of Typhoid Marys, carrying COVID into the United States. The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities. The Biden Admin. must IMMEDIATELY end this callous act that exposes Texans & Americans to COVID. Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 3, 2021 These people at the border (who paid for those t-shirts?) know who has wrecked border security and who will spend our tax money to help them once they get in. YouTube screen grab. by Nirmala Carvalho I want to encourage everyone to take the vaccine. It is easy, it is painless and comfortable, the cardinal said. I am so proud of our country. I am proud that India has taken the lead; not only concerned about itself but also concerned about other countries. We are sending the vaccine also to other countries that are needy. Mumbai (AsiaNews) Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Indian Bishops' Conference (CBCI), this morning inaugurated and blessed the Holy Family Hospital in Bandra (Mumbai), where he received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. I was privileged to begin this, as India begins its next phase of coronavirus vaccination, with the government allowing charitable hospitals to join the vaccination drive, said the cardinal, speaking to AsiaNews This is so important for our people and not only for ourselves as the Holy Father says, but also for others. We owe it to God to protect our lives. That is our moral obligation, to take care of ourselves. Also, as the Holy Father says, it is an act of charity so that others are not affected. I want to compliment the Holy Family hospital in Bandra for their systematic and orderly arrangement. Everything was very smooth and well done: registrations, data storage, actual vaccination. There was only half an hour's wait. The vaccination itself was painless and I did not even feel it. The staff was very kind. We praise God for this vaccine which is the beginning of the end of this scourge for mankind. I want to encourage everyone to take the vaccine. It is easy, it is painless and comfortable. I had no reaction or discomfort. There is no need for anyone to fear. I myself was hesitant before I took the vaccine. As President of the CBCI, I wish to convey to our honourable Prime Minister my appreciation of his thought for the weaker countries, the poorer and needy countries. This is truly a sign of fraternal solidarity. All of us are one family under God and we must help one another. I complement the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Modiji (Narendra Modi) for this initiative. I am so proud of our country. I am proud that India has taken the lead; not only concerned about itself but also concerned about other countries. We are sending the vaccine also to other countries that are needy. Our Honourable Prime Ministers commitment to vaccine equity is a marvellous example. Indian vaccines are distributed worldwide, particularly to low-income countries, supplying more than 60 per cent of vaccines in the developing world. I also want to say that I saw from the beginning the very orderly and systematic way the things are done. There was a sort of rehearsal before the vaccination drive. There was no confusion or panic during the actual process. I would like to complement the Prime Minister for this. The Government of Maharashtra has also been most supportive and helpful. This is very good news. To all our people I say... Please go ahead. We have this opportunity so take it. At the moment we have enough stocks of the vaccine. In our COVID prayers at Mass we pray for the poor and the rural areas. I am most concerned about them. I have informed the Director of CHAI (Catholic Hospitals of India). They have many branches all over. In particular in the rural areas. I will encourage them to see that this vaccine reaches the rural areas. We will assist where possible. Even educating them on the need for the vaccine will be necessary, to build public understanding and trust about the vaccines. So go ahead. Get vaccinated. It is good for you, good for your family. It is good for the city, good for our country. It is good for society and good for the world. It is our moral obligation. Anti-pornography advocates and survivors of sexual exploitation have called for the Canadian Parliament to open a criminal investigation into MindGeek, the parent company of Pornhub and over 160 other websites that profit off videos showing "rape, nonconsensual pornography, and child sexual abuse material." In a 12-page letter to the Canadian Parliament's Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, a collective of 104 survivors of sexual exploitation and 525 nongovernmental organizations from 65 nations called for a criminal investigation into MindGeek, which is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Joining the group is the Washington-based National Center of Sexual Exploitation, whose Law Center filed a legal brief on Feb. 19 backing an investigation into "how the nonconsensual content on MindGeek websites is violating international legal norms against slavery and torture. MindGeek has profited from rape, nonconsensual pornography, and child sexual abuse material for years, and it is time to open a criminal investigation to hold this company accountable, said NCOSE senior legal counsel Dani Pinter in a statement Monday. Source:The Christian Post A New Orleans man who used a toy gun to steal $302 from a Mid-City bank pleaded guilty to bank robbery Wednesday, according to federal court records. Bernell Breaux faces as long as 20 years in prison when U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman sentences him June 2. Maximum penalties in federal court for first offenders are rare, however. New Orleans man arrested after allegedly hitting 2 banks in 1 day, FBI says A New Orleans man was taken into custody Monday for his alleged involvement in two area bank robberies Thursday, according to a release from t Prosecutors wrote in court filings that Breaux walked into the Capital One Bank branch in the 4100 block of Canal Street on Jan. 2, 2020, and handed a teller a note that read, This is a robbery. He pointed a black toy gun with a red trigger at the teller, who handed Breaux $302 from her till. Breaux fled with the money and, less than an hour later, tried to rob the Gulf Coast Bank & Trust branch in the 200 block of St. Charles Avenue. He did not conceal his face during either stickup, prosecutors said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up After the FBI distributed images from surveillance cameras, several tipsters called in to identify Breaux as the robber. FBI agents went to Breauxs apartment, and he confessed, prosecutors said. Agents said they recovered the shirt, pants and shoes Breaux wore during the crimes, along with the toy gun he wielded. Prosecutors charged Breaux in both cases on Jan. 17, 2020. It makes no difference in the eyes of the law that Breaux used a toy gun rather than an actual firearm. After Breaux pleaded guilty to the Capital One holdup, prosecutors dismissed the Gulf Coast Bank charge. My Food Bag is debuting on both the NZX Main Board and ASX today. The listing makes My Food Bag the biggest IPO in New Zealand by amount raised since 2014. The initial public offer was strongly supported with applications being scaled in the Institutional and Broker Firm Offers, as well as in the Foodies Offer. My Food Bags foodies received an allocation preference, meaning less scaling of applications across this customer and staff group. Thousands of Kiwi retail investors now join the existing shareholders, who have retained an approximate 25% stake in the company post-IPO, as well as a broad range of New Zealand institutional investors, including those previously disclosed as taking shareholdings greater than 5%. The majority of shares have been bought by New Zealand investors, with solid support from selected offshore institutional investors as well. Tony Carter, My Food Bag Chairman, says: I would like to welcome all of our new shareholders to the My Food Bag family. We are particularly delighted to welcome so many of our customers as shareholders following their participation in the Foodies Offer. Today marks the culmination of eight years work. Weve grown from a Kiwi start-up beginning life on the kitchen bench to becoming a New Zealand food powerhouse, inspiring thousands of Kiwi families to eat better each night of the week. On behalf of the My Food Bag Board, I want to thank our team for their dedication through this demanding process and we look forward to the future, says Mr Carter. Looking ahead, the company plans to offer further recipe choice across more products. Kevin Bowler, CEO of My Food Bag, says: Since our inception, we have a proven record of successful growth, consistently bringing exciting products and recipes to market that cater to New Zealands changing consumer food, demographic and societal trends. Every week we receive thousands of recipe reviews that add to our expansive knowledge of what Kiwis love to eat. With feedback from our database of approximately 300,000 customers we continue to keep on top of what inspires Kiwis in the kitchen. For example, our data shows us that New Zealand Lamb is currently a firm favourite. Our Valentines Day lamb rack with twice cooked potatoes, as well as our rosemary mustard lamb rack with almond broccoli and smoky aioli are currently this years highest ranked recipes, says Mr Bowler. Since its inception in 2013, My Food Bag has developed and launched a series of new ground-breaking products. The business launched Bargain Box in 2016, expanding its reach to even more New Zealanders. In 2017, My Food Bag leveraged its strong nutritional foundation and expertise to launch Fresh Start, helping Kiwis achieve their weight loss goals. The company then became the first meal-kit business to introduce ready-made meal options in 2018. The following year it launched My Plant Based bag, another goal-based offering helping Kiwis discover vegan recipe options. During 2020 My Food Bag developed operating protocols enabling it to operate safely from its three assembly centres across New Zealand as an essential service in all COVID-19 alert levels. The company has helped many Kiwi families stay isolated when they needed to with its contactless delivery service. Please see the link below for details: My Food Bag Listing Announcement Source: My Food Bag Group Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Infratil Limited (NZX: IFT) Update on Infratil Infrastructure Bond Offer 1st June 2021 Morning Report Synlait Milk Limited (NZX: SML) Update Following Canterbury Flooding Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Full Year Results to 31 March 2021 31st May 2021 Morning Report The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) Media Reporting Regarding Potential Class Action Synlait Milk Limited (NZX: SML) Forecast Milk Price Update General Capital Limited (NZX: GEN) Continues on Its Strong Growth Path Third Age Health Services Limited (NZX: TAH) Announces Preliminary Full Year Result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) Better Positioned for Future Growth March 5, 1961: Six candidates have filed for the two upcoming vacancies on the Plainview City Council. Candidates for the April 4 election are George L. Taylor, Alvin Stokes (both seeking re-election), Ben Bridges, Perry Stanton, Floyd Lamb and Joseph R. Stubblefield. --Hale County farmers interested in growing sugar beets met with Frank Kemp, president of great Western Sugar Company of Denver, which is considering a possible expansion into the area. New Delhi: On Wednesday (March 3), in the central American country of Guatemala, Pacaya volcanoes erupted. The incident has sent the locals and the authorities into a frenzy. "One of the Central American countrys most active volcanoes, Pacaya began to expel lava at dawn, creating an immense column of smoke, video footage from the institute showed," reported Reuters. The news agency also quoted the Guatemalan Seismology Institute issuing a warning to people to stay away from the volcano as "its volcanic activity will increase and generate new eruptions." This development has caused both fear and awe among the Twitterati, who are sharing spectacular pictures from the eruption. "Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala made eruption early morning March 3, 2021. Beautiful and terrible the power of nature" wrote one user. "Pacaya this morning. I hiked this volcano not too long ago and wanted to do it again but...nah. I'm good for now," wrote another. Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala made eruption early morning March 3, 2021. Beautiful and terrible the power of nature. pic.twitter.com/FE1FXNez4t Rapper and King (@KarelovesZTao) March 4, 2021 Pacaya this morning. I hiked this volcano not too long ago and wanted to do it again but...nah. I'm good for now. https://t.co/CWIY2A2M0i Brice Jordan (@Brice_Jordan) March 4, 2021 Nice 3 a.m. view of eruption activity at Pacaya! #volcano https://t.co/MqYkTVz0SE BJDeming (@BJDeming) March 4, 2021 When Mist of a Kiss lifts spirits....the Pacaya style!! ha! Pacaya volcano eruption today, in Guatemala. pic.twitter.com/Uj8TWvAhep FabiLouise (@fabihbt2) March 3, 2021 Pacaya is 2,552 meters tall and is situated between Guatemala and Escuintla. The volcano erupted for the first time 23,000 years ago. It is an active volcano, which calls for constant vigilance of the meteorological department to predict its eruption. Asm. Holden Takes on Unfair Lowballing When Black Californians Appraise Their Homes Assemblymember Chris Holden has (D-Pasadena) introduced legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 948, to address discrimination in the real estate appraisal process in California. AB 948 proposes requiring the Bureau of California Real Estate Appraisals to gather demographic data on home sales and sellers of real estate property and, most importantly, from homeowners from protected classes who file complaints about low appraisals. Black homeowners in predominantly White neighborhoods are getting their homes appraised for far less than their neighbors, said Holden. Its just another example of how bias, whether explicit or implicit, creates inequity for Black Americans. This is redlining 2.0. ADVERTISEMENT According to Nationwide, the insurance and financial services company, during the process of buying or selling a house, a home appraisal is supposed to be an independent, unbiased assessment of how much a property is worth. Administered by a licensed or certified professional, an appraisal is based on equivalent sales in the neighborhood and market as well as a visual assessment of the condition of the home, Nationwide stated. Racial discrimination in housing has persisted for decades in California and across the country. There is a large body of evidence that has confirmed systemic bias in mortgage lending for decades now. There is also documentation of redlining, deliberate tactics governments and companies used to prevent potential Black homebuyers from securing home loans or purchasing property in majority White neighborhoods. Home appraisals are just one of the ways real estate companies have discriminated against African Americans. Racism has also been widespread in the home buying process for Blacks, too, according to numerous studies. A UC Berkeley study showed that both traditional and online lenders overcharge Black and Brown borrowers for mortgage loans to the tune of $765 million a year compared to equally qualified White borrowers, reports Greenlining, a public policy and research institute based in Oakland. Researchers found that banking algorithms still give White borrowers better rates and loans than Black ones. If the California Legislature approves AB 948 and the governor signs it into law, the measure would require appraisers to take anti-bias training when renewing their licenses. The bill has been submitted to the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions for review. ADVERTISEMENT Making his case, Holden cites the example of a Black couple in Marin City, just north of San Francisco. In the process of selling their home, an appraiser lowballed their home value by nearly $500,000 less than the amount quoted to a White couple for the same property. Similar incidents have been documented in other parts of California and throughout the Country. Holdens legislation in California is aimed at combating just one front of a broader national issue that is pervasive. Bryan Greene, vice president of policy advocacy at the National Association of Realtors, told the Philadelphia Inquirer in January that the ills of home appraisals will open up a window to other aspects of housing discrimination. As an industry were all concerned about the homeownership gap for Blacks, and we need to roll up our sleeves and figure out what those barriers are, said Greene, who oversaw enforcement of the Fair Housing Act at the Department of Housing and Urban Development before joining the realty group. As we dedicate more attention to that, its going to uncover issues throughout the entire industry that need our attention and that includes the appraisal industry. Fifty-three years after the Fair Housing Act of 1968 became law, Blacks still face racism in the housing and real estate markets. That federal legislation, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, sex or national origin in the sale, rental or financing of housing. In California, the Fair Housing Act of 1963, commonly called the Rumford Act, predated the federal anti-discrimination housing legislation that became national law a few years later. That first-in-the-nation fair housing law that protected the rights of Blacks and other minorities became a lightning rod for conservative groups and real estate organizations who vehemently pushed back against it. In November 1964, California voters repealed the law through Proposition 14, a ballot initiative. Then, two years later in 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court declared Proposition 14 illegal, restoring the Rumford Act in California. Now, the housing industry is increasingly coming under a microscope again. More and more, Black homeowners are voicing complaints, and more data is being mined that corroborate allegations that African American-owned properties are being appraised for less than those of their Non-Black neighbors. This bill reflects a starting point in a much-needed conversation about how discrimination is still prevalent in the home buying and selling process, and I am committed to addressing this inequity, said Holden. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results In a move that ends the prohibition which started after the general election in November 2020, Facebook announced that it is lifting its self-imposed ban on political ads, Thursday. Facebook Announces Lifting of Ban on Political Ads Facebook's ban on political ads has remained active for several months since November. The lifting of the said ban comes just a week after Google announced that it would also allow the return of political ads on its platforms. The move both by Facebook and Google is a significant development in the field of digital politics. This happened after months of on and off policy changes from the tech giant which largely affected fundraising programs for political parties as well as their campaign strategies. The ban on political ads was imposed by Facebook and Google in efforts to curb misinformation. Both companies have reportedly earned more than $3 billion in political spending just in the 2020 election cycle. The restriction on the ads, however, extended months after the campaign and even during Biden's first months in the administration. It was only partially lifted in early January before the Georgia Senate runoff, Politico reported. Just last week, Google had made the announcement that it would be lifting its ban on political ads, which the company reimposed in the aftermath of the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6. According to several sources who have knowledge of the announcements, the top political advisers were informed by the platform by phone on Wednesday. Moreover, clients were also sent an email announcing the changes on the same day and were told that their ads could start airing as early as Thursday, as per POLITICO. Read also: Australia's New Media Law Requires Facebook, Google to Pay for News Many digital strategies were against Facebook's ban on political ads in the past several months. Strategists from both parties stated that the move cut off one of the largest pipelines to gaining potential supporters who fuel organizing across the country as well as their fundraising activities, The New York Times reported. Moreover, the strategists stated that the ban froze out candidates and groups in a crucial time for fundraising when party candidates and committees could have been able to draft their support on then-President Donald Trump's second impeachment. In addition, there also could have been drafted support for the inauguration, and the start of Biden's administration, which they deem as potentially profitable. In a statement by Republican Digital consultant Michael Duncan, there is an agreement between the two parties that Facebook poses as a critical, and powerful tool due to the huge number of people that it could reach. Meanwhile, just before Facebook's announcement on lifting its ban on political ads, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a statement calling the tech giant's ban on political ads, "misguided." In addition, there was a complaint that Democratic digital strategists regularly circulated, stating that Facebook was punishing the digital advertisers instead of targeting those who release and cause disinformation in their platform. On the other hand, NBC News reported that Facebook did not respond immediately to questions about the timing of the company's decision to lift the ban on political ads. Related article: India Imposes Stricter Social Media Law on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A health worker has been hospitalised after suffering a severe allergic reaction to the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The nurse, who has a history of allergies, went into anaphylactic shock following her injection at Gold Coast University Hospital on Thursday. A spokesperson for the hospital said the worker is in stable condition and is being treated in intensive care. Anaphylactic shock causes a series of symptoms, including a rash, sudden drop in blood pressure, breathlessness and swelling of the face and tongue. Pictured: A nurse holding up a Covid vaccine at Metro North Health facility in Brisbane on March 1 The reaction, often triggered by medicines or certain foods, can be fatal. Patients are treated using an adrenaline injector. 'The response was prompt and effective and the patient received the appropriate treatment and has since recovered,' the hospital said in a statement. 'Anaphylaxis has been identified as a possible side effect from any vaccination. Staff are well prepared for this and stringent processes are in place to manage such reactions.' Pfizer said anaphylactic reactions to vaccines are rare and are estimated to occur in around one in a million doses administered, although symptoms are usually mild. In the American drugmaker's trials of the jab, 137 out of 19,000 people who got the vaccine experienced 'potential' allergic reactions. None were hospitalised. Hospitals where the vaccine is being deployed have anaphylaxis packs and EpiPens on standby in the rare event someone has a reaction. Pictured: Nurses at the Gold Coast University Hospital being instructed ahead of the Pfizer vaccine roll out in the Gold Coast, February 22 WHAT IS ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK? Anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, can kill within minutes. It is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger, such as an allergy. The reaction can often be triggered by certain foods, including peanuts and shellfish. However, some medicines, bee stings, and even latex used in condoms can also cause the life-threatening reaction. According to the NHS, it occurs when the immune system overreacts to a trigger. Symptoms include: feeling lightheaded or faint; breathing difficulties such as fast, shallow breathing; wheezing; a fast heartbeat; clammy skin; confusion and anxiety and collapsing or losing consciousness. It is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. Insect stings are not dangerous for most victims but a person does not necessarily have to have a pre-existing condition to be in danger. An incremental build-up of stings can cause a person to develop an allergy, with a subsequent sting triggering the anaphylactic reaction. Advertisement The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy estimates about one in five Australians are affected by allergies and anaphylaxis. This includes allergies to food, drugs, insect venom, ticks, environmental triggers such as pollen, latex and chemical products used in cleaning and cosmetics. There have been a handful of cases globally of anaphylaxis among patients receiving the Pfizer vaccine, which was the first Covid jab to be approved and rolled out en masse around the world. Reports have emerged in the UK and US, where the jab was has been given to millions of residents. The condition occurs in roughly one in one million people who get the vaccine. It is just as common in flu vaccinations. It predominantly affects patients with a history of severe allergies or who were unaware they suffered from them. People with a history of allergic reactions or anaphylaxis must tell health care staff before getting the Covid vaccines. About 9,360 doses of the vaccine were delivered to Queensland health officials this week, but only 22 were administered. Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said safety was more important that administering hundreds of vaccinations quickly. 'Whether you get an extra hundred or two in that first few weeks, that's less important than getting it right, making it safe,' he said. About 30,000 people were vaccinated across Australia as of Friday, according to figures released on Sunday. Those who got the shots included 8,110 aged care and disability residents from 117 care facilities, the national Health Department figures showed. The federal government previously said it hoped to be giving 60,000 injections per week by the end of February, with about four million people immunised by early April. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the arrival of the first 300,000 doses of the AstraZenaca vaccine in Sydney on Sunday would help speed up the process. The vaccine, developed by Oxford University, was to be administered to its first patients in the second week of March, but was moved up to Monday. The Queensland Government has issued a 'show cause' notice to Healthcare Australia for a disastrous mistake last week. The federal government contractor injected two elderly Queenslanders with four times the recommended dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Carseldine aged-care centre, in Brisbane's north last Tuesday. By Jun Ji-hye The government is considering moving up Arbor Day, which currently falls on April 5, to a more suitable time for tree-planting in March, in consideration of constantly rising temperatures caused by climate achieve, according to the Korea Forest Service (KFS). On Arbor Day, nationwide tree-planting campaigns and events are carried out. "As tree-planting season has been advanced to some extent due to global warming, there have been growing calls for Arbor Day to be held earlier," KFS Minister Park Chong-ho said during media briefing, Wednesday. "It is time for us to review the need to move up the date, though a national consensus would be necessary considering the historical significance of Arbor Day." This year's Arbor Day marks its 76th anniversary. The current date of Arbor Day was decided to mark the day in 1493 when King Seongjong (1457-94) of Joseon Kingdom cultivated a field in what is now Seoul to encourage people to engage in farming. Local administrations have been consistently raising the need for tree-planting events to take place earlier in the year, claiming that it was no longer appropriate to plant trees in April due to rising temperatures. For this year's Arbor Day, Park noted his organization is planning to hold events to plant 4,800 trees in about a 20,000-hectare area. "We will continue to encourage people to participate in tree-planting so 3 billion trees can be planted by the end of 2050," he said. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE The biggest potential changes to New Mexicos liquor laws in decades are headed to the full Senate for consideration after clearing a critical committee Wednesday just barely. The legislation, House Bill 255, would allow restaurants to deliver alcoholic drinks in some circumstances and create a new license intended to make it easier for restaurants to sell liquor, in addition to beer and wine. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday revised the bill with a series of amendments and voted 5-4 to send the bill to the Senate floor, where it could be heard later this week. Reps. Antonio Moe Maestas and Dayan Hochman-Vigil both Albuquerque Democrats and co-sponsors of the measure said the bill is intended to help restaurants rebound from the damage inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic and public health restrictions. We want our restaurants to flourish and want entrepreneurs to develop our restaurant industry, Maestas said during the hearing. Some holders of liquor licenses have opposed the bill, arguing it would devalue their investments by increasing the number of restaurants that sell liquor, among other changes. The House approved the bill 41-27 last month with bipartisan support. But the revised measure will have to go back to the House again if it passes the Senate. Both chambers have to approve an identical version of the bill by the end of the session March 20 to send it to governor. Were trying to spur economic development in every way we can, Hochman-Vigil said Wednesday as she urged the senators to support the bill. The legislation would: Allow restaurants to deliver alcoholic drinks with food. Retailers could also apply for permits to deliver alcohol. An earlier version of the bill would have limited retail delivery to smaller stores, but the committee on Wednesday removed the size restriction, a move that would allow big-box stores to deliver, too. Establish a new license intended to make it easier for restaurants to sell liquor, not just beer and wine. Impose a 2% tax on retailers selling alcoholic drinks to help raise revenue to offset other changes to the liquor tax structure. But the 2% tax would sunset in four years, a change added by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Way back when Atlantic City was still Atlantic City (i.e., before the casinos arrived), I went there in hopes of finding a job so that I could remain there for the summer, and for a few hours was employed in one of those Boardwalk tourist-trap establishments that conducted "closed sale" auctions of objets d'art and other useful novelties. The auctioneer would solicit bids from the crowd that had entered, do a few freebie giveaways of some of the lowered-valued (and often mass-produced) items, and then close off the premises so that the people seated could bid upon the supposedly higher-valued items in a private session. As I carried the items to the bidders and collected their money, I would look into the bidders' opened wallets to see what kind of cash the wallets contained, and through arcane code jargon (example: "Bidder Number 22 has lines"), apprise the auctioneer of which attendees might be good prospects from which to extract cash. (After ascertaining the cost of renting a room for the summer, I realized that if I were to actualize my plan to enjoy a summer of beaches and the Boardwalk, I would be lucky when I returned home to begin the Fall Semester to have thirty-eight cents in my pocket; and decided to continue for the summer my campus job of shelving books in the library instead.) Criminal tax offenses are arguably the most bureaucratically complex crimes to prosecute. The procedures and paperwork within the IRS are very involved and time-consuming. It all begins with the front-line IRS guy or gal auditing the tax return, who, upon encountering some reason to suspect criminal activity, completes the paperwork to initiate an investigation (of which stage alone the Internal Revenue Manual speaks more than 16,000 words). The case then works its way to the upper levels of the IRS bureaucracy, and then, some GS- (unless the job has been A-76-ed to a private sector contractor) must physically carry the case file across 10th Street to the Justice Department. Once it makes its way to the Justice Department's Tax Division, a complex bureaucracy in its own right, the case file then descends the bureaucratic ladder down to the local United States Attorney's office and is assigned to the relevant Assistant U.S. Attorneys for prosecution. At this stage, the AUSAs often take the attitude that having racked up hundreds of federal personnel man-hours on the matter, it is a trifling matter to spend three or four days trying the case. The corollary is that attorneys who specialize in taxation frequently advise their clients to settle their differences with the IRS as early as practicable when there is a palpable potential for criminal liability, so that the case never becomes a criminal prosecution. As Justice John Marshall Harlan noted in the case of Boske v. Comingore in 1900, "The interests of persons compelled, under the revenue laws, to furnish information as to their private business affairs would often be seriously affected if the disclosures so made were not properly guarded." The Boske case entailed a federal revenue agent who had been imprisoned for failing to disclose a taxpayer's filed returns to the Kentucky authorities on account of the federal confidentiality statute. Any time money changes hands, information is also passed. As my brief Atlantic City gig exemplifies, the information that so passes often reveals more about the person passing the money than about the subject of the transaction. And tax returns can reveal information which is highly intrusive into the taxpayer's personal affairs. Effective tax administration accordingly necessitates that information voluntarily disclosed to the tax collector be kept in confidence, and tax returns be disclosed only when the information on them is sought for a compelling purpose and there is no other likely source for such information. Indeed, the 112-word tax information confidentiality statue that was operative in 1900 and validated in the Boske case has expanded; its successor provision, Internal Revenue Code 6103, has a word count of approximately 20,000, exceedingly verbose even by Internal Revenue Code standards. Violations of taxpayer confidentiality by governmental employees and others are criminal offenses under I.R.C. 7213 and 7213A. But New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. is not asking anyone from the IRS for Donald Trump's tax returns; he has subpoenaed (and received) them directly from Trump himself (or, more accurately, from Trump's tax return preparers). It is neither unusual nor necessarily nefarious for individuals or businesses to be asked to show copies of their tax returns. As a board member of a non-public school, I had occasion to review tax returns of parents who requested financial aid for their children's tuition, and in my law practice I successfully resisted an insurance company's boilerplate request for my client's tax returns in a case involving a damaged piece of artwork, in which my client's income was irrelevant. Courts have held that "[t]o compel the disclosure of tax returns, the movant must show that (1) 'the returns are relevant to the subject matter of the action' and (2) 'there is a compelling need for the tax returns because the information contained therein is not otherwise readily available.'" Moreover, New York County's own courts have declined to compel disclosure of tax returns where the government's assertion of need was "speculative, conclusory, unconvincing, and insufficient to demonstrate a showing of necessity." I am not familiar with District Attorney Vance's suspicions that Donald Trump may have committed financial crimes, but if indeed the former President has, then his tax returns (which, as I have previously noted, no doubt comprise hundreds if not thousands of pages) would likely contribute some significant evidence to help secure a conviction. As matters currently stand, the Supreme Court's allowance of disclosure is a precedent for future abuses by prosecutors nationwide. Nobody's tax returns can truly be confidential anymore. But if Vance's accusations against the former President prove baseless, then Trump may well have additional arrows in his quiver. I.R.C. 7213(a)(3) effectively felonizes the wrongful disclosure of all federal tax return information, even if obtained through channels not authorized by the Internal Revenue Code. The chances are excellent that, given the number of people in Vance's shop who will have access to Trump's tax returns (especially if the return information is presented to a grand jury), there will be someone who will illegally leak the information somewhere, and there may be hell to pay if, like Grover Cleveland, Donald Trump nonconsecutively serves another term in the Oval Office. Kenneth H. Ryesky, a freelance writer currently based in Israel, is a lawyer who has taught business law and taxation at Queens College CUNY for more than two decades. He formerly served as an attorney for the IRS. Image: 401(K) 2012 In oral arguments held Tuesday, the right-wing majority of the US Supreme Court (six of the nine justices) displayed a level of contempt for the right to vote that has no modern parallel. While the immediate legal questions at issue involve the interpretation of Section Two of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the practical and political implications might be translated into everyday language as: does the US federal government still have the authority to prohibit racial discrimination in state election laws? The US Supreme Court building in Washington DC (Wikimedia Commons) The cases under reviewBrnovich v. Democratic National Committee and Arizona Republican Party v. Democratic National Committeeconcern two racially discriminatory voting regulations in the state of Arizona, one of which invalidates any ballots cast out of precinct and another which criminalizes ballot harvesting, a politically-charged title for the simple act of transporting another persons ballot to the appropriate polling station on their behalf. While the Supreme Court will not make a ruling in the cases until May or June, the overall tenor of the oral argumentsgiven the core democratic right at issuewarrants some examination. The laws in question emerged as part of the deluge of voter suppression measures following the high courts infamous 2013 Shelby County decision striking down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The proliferation of voter fraud initiatives has only swelled since Donald Trumps electoral defeat in November 2020. To this day, the former president and architect of the January 6 coup attempt maintains that the election was stolen through massive voter fraud, a false and unsupported conspiracy theory. In 2016 the Arizona legislature made it a felony to collect and deliver another persons completed ballot, with very narrow exceptions, punishable by two years imprisonment and a $150,000 fine. The law served to disenfranchise the states American Indian population, only 18 percent of whom have access to regular mail services. Latino and African-American voters also make use of third-party ballot collectors more frequently than white voters, mainly because of greater poverty and social isolation. Former Arizona state senator Don Shooter championed the measure. Shooter leads the fascistic Yuma County Tea Party. He made regular appeals during his tenure to anti-Latino racism, blaming demographic changes for improving election prospects for Democrats. He infamously appeared at one legislative meeting dressed as a Mexican mariachi performer, with a cigar in his mouth and a bottle of tequila in a holster. Shooters racist proclivities formed part of the lower courts records and are not in dispute. Arizonas out-of-precinct policy serves the same discriminatory and anti-democratic ends. In its ruling below the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit concluded that Arizona election officials change voters assigned polling places with unusual frequency and that polling precincts are sometimes located so counterintuitively that voters easily make mistakes. Between 2012 and 2016 Maricopa County, home to more than 60 percent of Arizonas population, cut the number of polling places by 70 percent, with a disproportionate reduction in minority communities. Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans in Arizona are twice as likely as whites to vote outside of the precinct to which they had been assigned. In sum, both of the policies before the court bear the unmistakable marks of racially motivated voter suppression. Obama appointees Elena Kagan and Sonya Sotomayor posed some questions which had the general character of a warning that if Arizonas voting restrictions should survive, little would remain of Americas tattered constitutional-democratic political framework. The aging reactionary Clarence Thomas appeared unmoved by the ostensibly small number of disenfranchised voters, hinting that he might base his legal findings on a de minimis rationalethat the purported violation is too small to matter in the eyes of the law. (The legal notion comes the from Latin de minimis non curat lex which means the law does not concern itself with trifles.) In Thomas novel theory, thousands of suppressed votes are literally trifles. Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett also nodded at a de minimis rationale for upholding the Arizona laws in question. She hinted in one question that the appropriate legal standard might be to assess the discriminatory impact of the states voting system as a whole rather than a particular measure. Such a legal standardwhich would permit a dash of disenfranchisement here and there, now and thenwould represent a departure from 40 years of legal precedent as well as an attack on the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. It is noteworthy that while justices openly debated how much voter suppression was too much, they never considered the question of whether voter fraudthe supposed pretext for the Arizona lawsexists at all. According to numerous studies, in-person vote fraud of the kind alleged incessantly by Republican Party officials is effectively nonexistent (truly de minimis ). For his part, Chief Justice John Roberts legitimized the voter fraud justification for banning third-party ballot collecting. More significantly he implied that evidence of discriminatory intent by a single state legislator might be insufficient in proving that a given election law had an illegal and racist motivation. Roberts even mentioned disgraced former Arizona state senator Don Shooter by name. The most revealing words uttered at Tuesdays oral arguments came from George W. Bush appointee Samuel Alito, who asked the following question to the attorney for the Democratic National Committee: What concerns me is that your position is going to make every voting rule vulnerable to attack under Section 2 [of the VRA] to the same extent that the out-of-precinct policy iswas found toviolate Section 2 by the Ninth Circuit, because people who are poor and less well educated on balance probably will find it more difficult to comply with just about every voting rule than do people who are more affluent and have had the benefit of more education . (Italics added.) One might rephrase the question: if the Supreme Court follows controlling precedent in applying the Voting Rights Act to these discriminatory laws in Arizona, how can the ruling class reduce the presence of working class voters in elections and from the political process as a whole? Just a few weeks ago and a few hundred feet away from the US Supreme Court building, a fascistic mob attacked the Capitol with the intent to overturn the November 2020 presidential election. Tuesdays ruminations in the Supreme Courtessentially on the issue of how much voter suppression is permissibleshould serve as another warning that American democracy is on life support. (Newser) Rep. Lance Gooden voted for a police reform bill Wednesday night that bans chokeholds and certain no-knock warrants, among other measuresand he wants his constituents in Texas to know that he sincerely regrets the error. Gooden, the only Republican who voted to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, says he accidentally pressed the wrong button, the Hill reports. "Of course I wouldn't support the radical left's, Anti-Police Act," he tweeted. "I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition!" The bill passed 220-212, with two Democrats joining every Republican except Gooden in voting against it. story continues below The police reform bill, an earlier version of which was passed by the House last year but failed in the Senate, also overhauls qualified immunity for police and bans racial profiling, reports NPR. It's not clear whether the Democrats will be able to get 10 Republicans in the evenly split Senate to vote for it this time. Gooden's mistake didn't affect the outcome of the House vote, but other lawmakers' errors have had more serious consequences, the Washington Post notes. In a 2012 vote in North Carolina, Democratic Rep. Becky Carney accidentally cast the deciding vote to legalize fracking, and state House rules didn't allow her to change it. (Read more House of Representatives stories.) Christian leaders react to Bethany Christian Services allowing LGBT couples to foster, adopt Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian leaders have expressed disappointment after Bethany Christian Services, the largest Protestant adoption and foster agency in the United States, announced it will now be offering its services to LGBT couples. On Monday, the Michigan-based group announced it will begin placing children in LGBT families nationwide. In a statement to The Christian Post, Nathan Bult, senior vice president of the historically evangelical organization, said that faith in Jesus is at the core of their mission," but they are "not claiming a position on the various doctrinal issues about which Christians may disagree." "We acknowledge that discussions about doctrine are important, but our sole job is to determine if a family can provide a safe, stable environment for children. Unlike many other child and family welfare organizations, Bethany is committed to partnering with churches to find as many families for vulnerable children as possible, and we seek to place children with families that share our mission. "For us to carry out our mission, we are building a broad coalition of Christians finding families and resources for children in the greatest need. The people we serve deserve to know they are worthy of being safe, loved, and connected. The need is great, so we are taking an all hands on deck approach. "We believe that Christians with diverse beliefs can unify around our mission of demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus. It's an ambitious mission, and we can only accomplish it together. The international agency said it will begin training all its employees, including those at locations that have not worked with gay couples. The announcement represents a shift for Bethany, an evangelical organization that has the stated aim of demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services. According to its website, Bethany facilitated 3,406 foster placements and 1,123 adoptions in 2019 and has offices in 32 states. The group says it abides by Matthew 25:40: I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was meyou did it to me. Bethanys latest decision was met with disappointment from evangelical and Christian leaders. Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler said that in choosing to open its services to LGBT couples, Bethany decided to meet the demands of the moral revolutionaries. The moral revolutionaries are now demanding that every single individual in this society every single institution, every single school, every single religious denomination, every single adoption, and foster care agency, must pivot ... In this case, that means capitulation, it means absolute surrender to the demands of the LGBTQ community, and now we're just talking about generalized the political left in the United States, he said on a Tuesday edition of The Briefing. We are now seeing a head-on collision between organizations like Bethany Christian services that had been very committed to a Christian understanding of marriage and the family and human sexuality and gender and the government. Mohler said Bethany has surrendered the Christian convictional part in order to retain its partnership with the government. Christians have to understand: If you're redefining marriage, if you're redefining parent and family, you are redefining civilization, he said. Jim Daly, head of Focus on the Family, tweeted that Bethany Christian Services should not have to choose between holding to their deeply held religious convictions and serving children and families. No government should tell any ministry how to run their ministry, let alone violate deeply held biblical principles, he added. Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, said Bethanys decision is a very disappointing capitulation to cultural pressure. Children need a dad and a mom in a healthy, biblical home. Gods Word is clear, he tweeted. I am disappointed in this decision, as are many, Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said. This move will harm already existing efforts to enable faith-based orphan care ministries to serve the vulnerable without capitulating on core Christian convictions. Though Bethany previously referred LGBT prospective foster and adoptive parents to other agencies, the organization began placing foster children with same-sex couples in 2019 after a legal battle in Michigan. At the time, the agency announced that despite the decision, its beliefs have not changed. Bethany will continue operations in Michigan, in compliance with our legal contract requirements. The mission and beliefs of Bethany Christian Services have not changed, the agency said at the time. We are focused on demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ by serving children in need, and we intend to continue doing so in Michigan. (In the second part of this series on extrajudicial killings during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria, Kemi Busari investigates the killing of an awaiting trial inmate at the Kaduna Correctional facility and why prison authorities refuse to release his body. Read the first part here). Wisdom Felix has been dead for about 11 months now but his siblings would dare not break the news to his mother. For one reason, Felicia, Cyprian and Doris believe such an announcement would worsen her health situation. Before Wisdom was arrested and taken to the Kaduna Correctional Centre in 2018, Mrs Ruth Felix was already suffering from high blood pressure and excess sugar among other ailments. Her health status was aggravated by the news of her beloved son, Wisdom, being imprisoned and even made worse by the many futile attempts to get him out. She is now bedridden. The news will just kill her, Wisdoms elder brother, Cyprian, said, after agreeing to an interview at a location other than their house; to prevent their mum from finding out. On the other hand, the circumstances surrounding his killing are so hideous its announcement would break even a hale being. At first, it was said that Wisdom was caught in the brawl between the correctional officers and rioting inmates. Then, the most corroborated account was that he was beaten by the warders for no just reason other than they had the power to do so. Worst still, his corpse has not been released to the family for proper burial 11 months after. How then do you tell such an awful story of a childs death to a mum grappling within the gravity of life and death, Cyprian asked rhetorically. The story of his journey to the correctional centre was enough headache for Wisdoms 64-year-old mother. It all started in June 2018, the then 25-year-old Wisdom was dating Godiya Elisha. Some acquaintances of these lovers said the relationship had lasted for just a few months before they started having misunderstandings, which climaxed on June 9, 2018. That day, Wisdom was in the middle of an altercation with his girlfriend when he seized her phone. Irked by this move, Ms Elisha screamed, calling the attention of officers of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) who immediately took Wisdom into custody and detained him. Wisdom was not immediately charged to court. Instead, the officers kept him for about a week before he was transferred to the correctional centre awaiting arraignment. Against Nigerian law, which stipulates that persons accused must be charged to court within 24 hours where a court of competent jurisdiction is located within a radius of 40 kilometres from the police station, Wisdom was neither charged nor released until February 2019, eight months after. He was eventually charged with armed robbery at the Kaduna High Court. Contrary to accounts of witnesses, which attest to a domestic fight between Wisdom and the girlfriend, the charge sheet reads that she was violently attacked while (Wisdom was) armed with a knife, which led to the dislocation of her arm when he robbed her of her Gionee M6 Mobile Phone valued at Fifty Thousand Naira (50,000). Several attempts made by this newspaper to speak with Ms Elisha were rebuffed on the excuse that she is now married. Futile efforts at bail Wisdoms family decided to hire a lawyer to secure his bail. At a point in time, he told me he was having issues, Wisdoms elder brother, Cyprian, said of the lawyers effort. I told him you were the one recommended to us by them who we can bank on in getting bail, he said yes he can do it but there are many other people involved. He said I have to make the girl available to go and see the Director of Prosecution at the Ministry of Justice. When I made the girl available, she came down, we went to the lawyer, the lawyer took us to the director. When we got there, he (director) asked for the file, he asked the girl some questions that how and what does she think, what does she want and the girl categorically told him that she let go, she has forgiven him (Wisdom). He assured us that he was going to be bailed but after seven months, he was not released. Cyprian said the lawyer told the family his brother was only eligible for bail after three months but by March 2019, nine months after, he was disengaged due to his inability to deliver. The family contacted other lawyers but none could secure the needed bail. Two other lawyers contracted by the family, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, gave excuses of bureaucracy, judiciarys holiday and inability to get a brief as the reason why getting Wisdom out of the prison was difficult. ADVERTISEMENT The family kept visiting Wisdom and making efforts to get him out on bail until he was killed. How Wisdom, others were killed in Kaduna correctional centre A regular day for inmates at the correctional centre starts as early as 6 a.m. with denominational prayers. This is then followed a few hours after with domestic chores, most times fetching water. But March 31, 2020, deviated from the norm. Multiple sources, including inmates and officials, recounted the events of the day to PREMIUM TIMES. A fresh inmate, who was brought to the facility some few days before the unfortunate incident, started showing some COVID-19 symptoms around 10.30 a.m. on March 31. Coughing profusely, the condition of the inmate soon caught the attention of other inmates who suspected she had contracted the virus. Soon, the inmates mobilised in numbers demanding the prison authority take action. Five days earlier, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had called for a speedy decongestion of prisons nationwide to avert the spread of COVID-19. Worried by this development, the Deputy Comptroller of the prison, Ahmed Usman, accompanied by some other officers came to address the agitated crowd but his appeal did not quell their demand. When he came, he saw people shouting ba maso (we dont want this). He asked them to calm down but they said no. That was when he called the officers at the gate to come in, one of the sources narrated. Normally, officers within the facility only move around with batons but the ones guarding the entrance, who were summoned to quell the agitation, used rifles. They did not hesitate to fire the rifles at the protesters. Soon five bodies fell. First three, then another, then another. An earlier investigation by PREMIUM TIMES identified the five as Hammed Abdullahi, 25, awaiting trial for a murder case at the Kaduna State High Court 5; Lucky Ujokama, 24, awaiting trial for a rape case at Barnawa Magistrate Court 17; Ibrahim Abubakar, 37 awaiting trial for armed robbery. Yahu Salisu, appearing before Magistrate Court 21, died from gunshot wounds while Oluchukwu Oche, a condemned inmate died from injuries sustained from beating. Prison officials had then told PREMIUM TIMES 16 officers of the correctional service were injured in the melee. Irked by this confrontation, the officers became more brutal with their treatment of inmates and tightened security. In one of the brutalities confirmed by three of our sources, officers went on a show of force immediately after the incident. In doing this, the correctional officers, allegedly led by one officer, whose name this newspaper decided not to publish as his role could not be independently verified, used batons on the inmates several times. Wisdom didnt do anything, he was inside the cell before they come and call all of them to come outside. He was a quiet inmate. When they opened their place, Wisdom was coming down, he was first attacked by (the officer with name withheld). Anyone who comes down the step must be given that heavy beating. They hit Wisdom in the chest, he fell, then started crying, they continue to hit him on the ground. That was how the guy died. He didnt die instantly, he died at the hospital, a source narrated. It is not clear which date Wisdom died but the correctional centre recorded it as April 5, 2020. It is also not clear how he died as the centre offered no convincing explanation. In a notice sent to the Court 2 of the Kaduna High Court, the centre wrote that Wisdom died at the custodial centre hospital of protracted illness but offered no explanation on the kind of illness. However, on the death certificate sighted by this reporter, he was recorded to have died of head injury due to blunt trauma. This was also recorded on the warrant for burial. Again, the centre did not explain how Wisdom sustained the head injury, the kind of care he received or how he eventually died. Game of lies When the news of the incident first broke out, authorities at the prison first claimed no inmate died in what it branded attempted jailbreak. A few days later, however, the service released a statement admitting that four inmates died. Four inmates later died in the hospital from the injuries sustained in the melee that ensued while being restrained by the custodial officers from breaking jail. For the avoidance of doubt, all the deceased inmates were from the condemned section of the Custodial Centre where the jail-break occurred, a statement by the controller of corrections, Kaduna State command, Sanusi Danmusa, read. By condemned, the service meant only those that had been sentenced to death. This again turned out to be a lie as at least four of the deceased were awaiting trial inmates. Hammed Abdullahi, Lucky Ujokama, Yahu Salisu and Ibrahim Abubakar were not condemned inmates as claimed by the service. The statement noted further that an investigation had been opened on the issue. However, when contacted in February, 11 months after the statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna NCS, Ahmadu Wadai, requested more time when asked about the investigation. We are still working on some documents. If you can give me some time, I can relate with you, he said. Illegality Meanwhile, the conduct of the officers was against the dictates of the Nigeria Correctional Service Act which spelt out instances where officers may use firearms. These include cases of the attempted jailbreak, attempted escape when inmates use weapons against correctional officers among others. Despite this provision, the Act only provides for the use of firearms with a caution. The use of weapons under this section shall as far as possible be to disable and not to kill, it states in section 20 (6). Since the incident, the NCS has provided no justifiable reason for the killings and neither has any official been charged to court for the extra-judicial killings. No plea, no corpse When the killings happened, families of the victims were not informed of the demise of their relatives, instead, the correctional service put out a series of press statement mostly false and full of denials. Cyprian said he only got to know about the death of his brother through the news some days after. Around 11.47 p.m. that was when the publication came out. A friend screenshot it and forwarded it to me on WhatsApp. They did not contact us. If the explanation of the service was anything to go by, Wisdom was still alive when Cyprian read the news on March 31. Still, in disbelief, Cyprian did not inform Felicia and Doris, his siblings, about what he just heard. The following day, two people called Cyprian, the first to announce Wisdoms death, the second to inform him that he was seriously beaten and needed urgent medical attention. Despite the COVID-19 lockdown in force in Kaduna then, Cyprian made his way to the correctional service. He was denied entry on the excuse of COVID-19 but told, by officials at the gate, that his brother was being well taken care of. I kept going there until someone now advised that I should get a lawyer that the lawyer would gain access to the inside to know his condition, he said of his many futile efforts to ascertain the condition of his brother. The family was not contacted until April 27 when an official asked them to come for Wisdoms corpse. The family met, without the matriarchs knowledge, and decided to retrieve the corpse. When we went, they now gave us a format, they gave us a copy of the format to follow in pleading for the release of the corpse. To retrieve Wisdoms corpse, the family was asked to process and sign three documents: a formal letter to apply for the release of the body, a letter of indemnity in which the family must beg for the release of the corpse and affirm that they held nothing against the service and an affidavit in support of these documents. Copies of the three samples were sighted by PREMIUM TIMES. The sample letter of indemnity, which the family considered most ridiculous reads, On behalf of the family of the above-named inmate, we are pleading with the Nigerian Correctional Service to release his body to me for burial and that we dont hold anything against the Nigerian Correctional Service about his death. We believe that he died a natural death. This letter must be signed by a family member of the deceased, Cyprian said, adding that the service was eager to have the letters delivered and processed. That period, they arranged the court for me to go to the court to swear indemnity oath attesting that I owe nothing against the correctional centre before the body would be released to us, Cyprian recounts. The moment they gave us that copy, they started calling, they were frequent with their calls. They kept calling that other people have started coming for their corpse that it remains only us. However, the family decided not to claim the corpse under the circumstances to which they were held by the correctional centre. It is disheartening that someone is asking you to attest to something contrary to your belief. That boy is my junior brother, how will I go, because I want to take his corpse, youre asking me to write to the authority pleading for the release of his body and also stating in the letter that he died a natural death. Meanwhile, other families had claimed their corpses, sources within the correctional facility confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES. A family member of one of the killed inmates told PREMIUM TIMES that the corpse of their relative was released after signing all these documents and payment of N20,000. The corpse, the relative said, was released three months after. Before the corpse was released, they had to swear affidavits that he was not murdered, the relative added. Eleven months after, the correctional centre still holds on to Wisdoms corpse deposited at the General Hospital, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna. Although the family had made some efforts through some lawyers, none has been successful. In one of these efforts, Falana and Falana in June 2020 wrote the correctional service to demand N200 million as damages for the extra-judicial killing of Wisdom. In response, the centre lied that Wisdom is unknown. Now, all Wisdoms siblings want is justice, the release of his corpse under fair circumstances and some compensation. They should pay for damages and release the corpse of our brother to us for burial. They should bring all officers involved to book and let them face the law as the case may be, a distraught Cyprian said. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. ANN ARBOR, MI The University of Michigan is planning a number of in-person experiences for 2021 graduates, including professional photos at Michigan Stadium. In February, UM announced that the commencement ceremony for 2021 graduates will be virtual due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. In addition to the virtual ceremonies, students can take part in one of multiple socially distanced photo sessions on the field of Michigan Stadium starting April 6, according to a university release. COVID concerns prompt another virtual spring graduation at University of Michigan The photo sessions will include professional photographs and the opportunity for students to take their own photos with graduating friends and classmates, the release states. Students are encouraged to wear their graduation attire and will receive a special commemorative graduation tassel, according to the release. Instructions to sign up for the photo sessions will be provided soon and other opportunities for in-person experiences will be announced in the weeks ahead, the release states. The (UM) class of 2021 is achieving a wonderful milestone in their lives and academic careers, President Mark Schlissel said. Weve heard from them that they want inspiring commencement speakers and the opportunity to have a celebration in Michigan Stadium. We created our photo event in the Big House and invited influential leaders to share their message and make this spring special for our graduates. Based on feedback from students, the ceremony will allow students and families to come together online at one time and participate interactively, the release states. Graduates will receive a commemorative program book after the ceremony that includes their names and degrees, according to the release. Some seniors and their families, however, are still pushing for an in-person commencement ceremony. A petition started by UM senior Tal Lipkin has gotten more than 5,300 signatures over the last month that calls for an in-person ceremony, citing schools like Brown University that will have in-person graduation. Lipkin posted an update on the petitions website Thursday, saying the photo opportunity at Michigan Stadium was due to all of your efforts in communicating with the administration, and the idea had been proposed by numerous students and parents. University of Michigan seniors feeling frustrated, defeated after announcement of virtual graduation The university also announced that civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson will address graduates during the virtual spring commencement ceremony on May 1. Stevenson, who has worked to exonerate prisoners on death row, founded the Equal Justice Initiative in 1989 to provide legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced or abused in state jails and prisons, the release states. Choreographer Twyla Tharp will address graduate students at their virtual commencement ceremony on April 30, according to the release. Tharp founded Twyla Tharp Dance in 1965 and has choreographed more than 160 works, including 129 dances, 12 television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows and two figure skating routines, according to the release. READ MORE: University of Michigan employees to continue working remotely through mid-summer 375 students lose building access for not following University of Michigan COVID-19 testing requirements 17 Blocks film from Ann Arbor native, University of Michigan alum brings light to gun violence Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. South Africa: Eskom instructed to focus on procurement function in turnaround plan The Eskom board has instructed the power utilitys executive management to pay particular attention to the procurement function to effect the required change, and deliver the expected savings as it implements its turnaround plan. This emerged on Wednesday after the State-owned enterprise met with Parliaments Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). Eskom was, in accordance with the meeting agenda, prepared to, but not asked to present information on its annual report and procurement deviations and expansions. SCOPA, however, decided at the meeting not to consider the Eskom annual accounts, but rather to defer the proceedings, in order to consider certain claims made by the suspended Chief Procurement Officer of Eskom, Solly Tshitangano, and to hear evidence from Tshitangano in person. Eskom reiterated its commitment to account to Parliament, as required by law. Procurement at Eskom has long been an area of particular concern to the Board of Eskom, as it has been, and continues to be, an area associated with state capture, the Eskom board said in a statement. During the meeting, Eskom said savings expected from procurement have failed to materialise, and as hearings at SCOPA have repeatedly evidenced, compliance with National Treasury requirements have not met the expectations of the Board with regard to good governance. The board has therefore encouraged and instructed the executive management of Eskom, including the Group Chief Executive, Andre de Ruyter, to pay particular attention to the procurement function to effect the required change, and deliver the expected savings, the board said. Progress in this regard, the statement reads, has been slower than the board would have liked to see, "at least in part due to leadership lacunae in the procurement function". The board affirmed its support and confidence in the executive management of the company in instilling a high performance culture, including the application of appropriate consequence management, in accordance with Eskoms internal disciplinary processes. The board has complete faith in the companys internal processes and governance procedures to deliver a fair process and outcome on the matter of the suspended Chief Procurement Officer. The executive management team remains fully accountable to the board, and the board is confident that the management team is currently performing its critically important duties to restore Eskom to operational stability and a sustainable financial position, said the board. The board said it was unfortunate that over the past few weeks, a number of allegations have been put in the public domain and in the media, which, on the face of it, seek to influence internal operational and good governance processes by exerting pressure through structures outside of Eskom. The Eskom board said the allegations and the accompanying unwarranted attacks on Eskoms management team have the potential effect of distracting management from the critical role of restoring Eskom to operational effectiveness and financial stability. This is unfortunate, as Eskom is a critical and strategic asset of South Africa, on which the fortunes of the whole country and economy depend, the board said. They board said it was confident that management is executing its mandate to restructure the business, reduce the risk of loadshedding, and drive greater efficiency through cost savings, including from scrutinising existing and new procurement contracts. The board said it would continue to support and guide management in these efforts. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. SHINE is challenging the multi-billion-dollar supplement industry by bringing forward a unique form of supplement personalization for those looking to take control of their mental wellbeing and live with courage. OTTAWA, ON, March 3, 2021 /CNW/ - SHINE, the first natural and personalized mental wellness supplement company, launched its proprietary mental health quiz to help the 3 million Canadians every year who struggle with mental health-related issues. 19,000+ Canadians took the science-backed Mental Health Assessment to gain access to a targeted, safe, natural, and affordable mental wellness supplement plan that addresses their unique challenges and goals. SHINE's Scientific Advisory Board comprises a Medical Doctor, a Naturopathic Doctor, a Pharmacist, and a Registered Holistic Nutritionist with a combined 80 years of experience. They spent months mining the data, identifying seven key customer priorities: anxiety, stress, energy, focus, mood, memory, and sleep. The company's research-backed supplement recommendations are based on an in-house build algorithm referencing thousands of research studies. In a recent study featured in The New York Times, 68% of the 44 herbal supplements tested contained some form of contaminant, substitute, and/or filler. SHINE designed five new formulations from the ground up using its Small Batch Method (GMP certified) innovationa process that allows it to use 100% of capsule space with therapeutic doses of medicinal herbs and extracts that work synergistically and address different pathways in the body. As a result, there is zero use of any additives, fillers, or preservatives. "Our mission is to make natural and personalized mental wellness easy to understand, accessible for everyone, and gentle on the planet. We made it our priority to not dilute the effectiveness of our remedies and use only pure ingredients. Our customers are feeling the difference," said Phil Desrochers, Co-founder of SHINE. A second product innovation called the SHINE Advantage that contains a therapeutic dose of proprietary AlphaWave L-Theanine has also proven very popular with customers. A natural ingredient that can cross the blood-brain barrier, it's added to formulas to boost the effectiveness of accompanying ingredients. Increased alpha brain wave activity is associated with increased creativity, increased performance under stress, improved learning and concentration, and decreased anxiety. According to Oceana Canada, about 86 percent of Canada's plastic waste is not recycled. SHINE offers a first-of-its-kind plastic-free, compostable packaging made from non-GMO cornstarch resin and wood pulp. The packs are compact, have a kraft paper feel, and leave no harmful residue behind. SHINE recommends taking the free Mental Wellness Quiz to build a personalized Mental Wellness Plan. For more information, visit www.shinehealth.ca. About SHINE SHINE is the first natural and personalized mental health supplement company. It's inspired by its Co-founder's struggle with and eventual recovery from mental health challenges, but only after accidentally discovering the value of a personalized approach using the best ingredients. The company is looking to donate a portion of its revenue to charities that align with its values. Website: www.shinehealth.ca SOURCE SHINE Health For further information: Phil Desrochers, Public Relations, SHINE, 613.447.4746, [email protected] Related Links https://shinehealth.ca/ ADVERTISEMENT The Organised Labour in Ekiti State has issued a seven-day strike notice to the state Assembly over alleged irregular disengagement of some of its staff. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the notice, which was handed over to the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye, on Wednesday, threatened to involve all workers in the state. In the notice, Labour asked the Speaker to cause the immediate reinstatement of 21 workers of the Assembly, allegedly disengaged by the House of Assembly Service Commission (HASC), early in the year. It threatened that workers across the state would commence an indefinite strike from Wednesday, March 10, should the Assembly fail to recall the affected workers. NAN recalled that jobs of the affected workers were terminated in January over what was called their illegal recruitment into the service by the immediate past administration. Copies of the letter, dated Mach 3, 2021, were made available to journalists on Wednesday. It was signed by the Secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Akinyemi Eunice; Secretary, Trade Union Congress, Kuloogun Lawrence; and a member of the Joint Negotiating Council, Gbenga Olowoyo. The labour unions said the state leadership of the organized labour had waited patiently enough for the leadership of the Ekiti State House Assembly to address this issue of 21 sacked workers by recalling them, but to no avail. Consequently, the entire Civil Servants of Ekiti State, through the organised labour leadership, are hereby demanding for the immediate reinstatement of the 21 sacked workers of the House of Assembly within seven days from Thursday, March 4, 2021. (NAN) AP bandh tomorrow: Normal life to be hit as support pours in India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Visakhapatnam, Mar 04: With an AP Bandh being observed tomorrow (March 5) several organisations have come out in support of the same. The Andhra Pradesh Bandh tomorrow is being observed to protest against the move of the Centre to privatise the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). Normal life is likely to be affected due to the AP Bandh tomorrow. FDNA general secretary A Aja Sarma in a statement said that the VSP was contributing to the progress of Andhra Pradesh, especially north Andhra. He also said that the local BJP leaders who camped in Delhi with the promise of convincing the Centre to change its mind is now singing a different tune. He also said that the privatisation was nothing but handing over national assets to corporate companies. He alleged that the local BJP leaders were more interested in protecting their political future rather than safeguarding the interest of the state. The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee too announced that it will extend support to the bandh. APCC President Dr S Sailajanath said that the Congress party had decided to extend its support to the bandh. He said that the VSP has Rs lakh crore worth of lands, but the Centre proposed to handover the same to a private company at a cheaper price of Rs 30,000 crore. He vowed to protest vehemently until the decision was reversed. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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. Cambodian health officials have denied reports that a 39-year-old Cambodian medical worker in Siem Reap province died on Tuesday shortly after being vaccinated, claiming instead that the worker had a heart condition. Cambodia started vaccinating people against COVID-19 on February 10 after the arrival of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine. Frontline medical workers, government officials, and security personnel are among the 300,000 people who will be inoculated in this first phase of vaccinations. Seang Tola, a health worker at Siem Reap Provincial Hospital, died in the early hours of March 2, hours after he had received his first dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. A hospital statement said the death was not linked to the vaccine and that Seang Tola passed away due to a heart attack. Seang Tola died immediately due to myocardial infarction and it was not linked with the COVID-19 vaccinations, read the statement. According to the statement, Tola told his wife the evening of March 1 that he was tired and had experienced chest pain. Before going to bed, he said he had chest pain and was exhausted since he didnt take much rest, the hospital said in the statement. News spread on social media attempting to link Seang Tolas death to the Sinopharm vaccine, which has faced criticism for its efficacy and has yet to be validated by the World Health Organization. VOA Khmer could not reach Seang Tolas family for comment on Thursday. Pen Phalkun, head of Siem Reap Provincial Referral Hospital, did not want to comment on the case, directing to the statement instead. I clarified everything [in the statement]. I dont have anything to add. It is enough, he said. Kros Sarath, director of Siem Reap Provincial Health Department, also did not want to comment and said the case had been closed. The referral hospital in Siem Reap province has assessed [the case] already, he said. I am not involved in assessing this case. Or Vandine, a Health Ministry secretary of state, could not be reached for comment on Thursday. Public health experts have urged caution with Chinas COVID-19 vaccines, which have not been recognized by the World Health Organization. In Cambodia, the vaccine is administered to people under the age of 60 and excludes people who have a wide range of medical conditions. As of Thursday, more than 80,000 Cambodians, including senior government officials, medical workers, security forces had been injected with the Sinopharm vaccine. On Tuesday, Cambodia received 324,000 doses of the Indian-made AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the World Health Organization-backed COVAX vaccine program. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who previously said he is too old to get the Sinopharm vaccine, was injected with the AstraZeneca vaccine on Thursday. In a press conference on Thursday, he urged people below the age of 60 to get the Sinopharm vaccine and those older to take the AstraZeneca vaccine. People are now in need of vaccines. For those who are unhappy with the [Chinese] vaccine, it is their problem because this is voluntary, he said. For those who think vaccines are killing people, you dont need to get one, he said. The Northampton mayoral race is starting to heat up. Shanna T. Fishel, an activist, social worker and former special education teacher, announced their campaign for chief executive of the city. I am running for mayor of Northampton because I am invested in the future of our community. Having overcome personal obstacles and supported others to overcome theirs, I am well-equipped for the challenge to lead our community efforts towards growth and transformative practices and policies, Fishel said in a statement. Upholding justice and transparency, I am excited to collaborate with residents, business owners and organizations to ensure that every voice is heard. Mayor David Narkewiczs confirmed in January that he wont seek a fourth term in office. I will champion expanding community care possibilities and increase availability/access to timely services. Together, we can build a bold future for a brave Northampton. What is your vision for Northampton? #Mapoli #Northampton #NorthamptonMA #CommunityCare Shanna Fishel (@Shanna4Mayor) March 1, 2021 Fishels platform includes leading an equitable, safe and effective recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, supporting small businesses in the Hampshire County community, ensuring housing equity and rent stabilization, enhancing infrastructure investments, expanding educational opportunities and more. Their background is one of hard work, resilience and pain. In 1997, Fishel was injured in a motorcycle crash and had to undergo three surgeries and varied medical risks. A doctor said they would never run or dance again, breaking Shannas spirit, according to the campaign. Twelve years later, when Fishels twin children were less than a year old, the candidate suffered a stroke, losing words, memories and physical abilities, the campaign detailed. For the second time in their life, Shanna endured a long, painful journey of rehabilitation, the campaign said. A year later, against all odds and medical predictions, Shanna completed a sprint-triathlon in 1:37:07 and was propelled into further growth. Each turn and trauma built Shannas ability to believe in the power of resilience and healing. Fishel worked for America Reads, volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and was president of their college chapter of Hillel. They have also helped the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, the Connecticut River Conservancys river cleanup events and Tapestry Health. The candidate is an educator as well. After graduating with a masters degree in special education from Lesley University in 2005, Fishel worked within Boston Public Schools. As a first-year teacher, Fishel confidently stepped into the open position of teachers union representative and organized fellow teachers to strike with the BPS teachers union, the campaign noted. In the years that followed, Fishel gravitated toward sexual justice issues, volunteering for roughly five years for the Planned Parenthood hotline and eventually working as a private consultant, counselor and educator in the public and private sector for close to a decade, according to the campaign. After graduating from Smith College School for Social Work and becoming a certified social worker, Fishel now provides community outreach services for individuals experiencing co-occurring struggles, trauma and oppression, the campaign said. Fishel is also working to decrease food insecurity and waste in Northampton, collaborating with others currently to bring a community fridge to the city, according to the campaign. Shanna T. Fishel is committed to invigorating our town, renewing our community pride and creating humane practices in government, a statement from the campaign reads. Driven by life-long community building and cross-community collaboration, Shanna will work with you to implement strategic planning for housing equity and community resilience, address infrastructure needs rooted in environmental justice, expand justice-oriented educational opportunities, revitalize our small businesses and improve transportation and programming to benefit our youth and the elderly. Fishel, who is gender-nonconforming, and their partner are homeowners in Leeds, where they live with their twins, their dog Freeda and their three cats. The news of Fishels candidacy came the same week Northampton City Council President Gina-Louise Sciarra launched her bid for mayor. Serving on the council since 2014, Sciarra, a Democrat, has worked on multiple subcommittees and currently chairs the Finance Committee and vice-chairs the Committee on Legislative Matters. She was unanimously voted in by her colleagues as council president in 2020. The council presidents platform in running for mayor includes prioritizing racial and social justice, addressing the impact of climate change in the city and spearheading an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 public health crisis. This year has brought unimaginable challenges and for many it has been personally devastating. The pandemic has laid bare the inequities and injustice of many broken systems in our country, Sciarra said in a statement announcing her bid for mayor. While hard, these moments also hold hope and opportunity for change. Im ready to work with everyone in our community to move us forward to a more vibrant, more accessible and more equitable Northampton. Sciarra was named as a possible mayoral candidate after Narkewiczs decision not to seek reelection was made public in January. The names of Chelsea Sunday Kline, an activist and former state Senate candidate, and Alan Wolf, the mayors chief of staff, were floated as potential contenders as well. However, both individuals have made it clear they wont be tossing their hats in the ring. The city will hold its municipal election on Nov. 2. If more than two candidates for mayor are certified, a preliminary election will be scheduled for September to narrow the race down to two contenders for the general election. The leadership of Northampton will officially change hands in January 2022. Related Content: New Delhi, March 4 : Kotak Mahindra Bank on Thursday said that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Army for salary accounts. The MoU enables Kotak to offer its salary account proposition, combined with exclusive benefits for the Indian Army, to all army personnel, both active and retired. A statement from the bank said that through the Kotak salary account, all personnel of the Indian Army will get access to the full range of Kotak's products and services including a zero-balance salary account that earns up to 4 per cent interest per annum with free unlimited ATM transactions on all VISA ATMs among others facilities. Under the benefits, army personnel would get enhanced complimentary personal accident insurance cover, for both on-duty and off-duty incidents. It also covers accidental death or total or partial permanent disability and provides special education benefit for children and additional girl child benefit among. It covers dependent children of up to 22 years in the event of an accident claim by the salary account holder. It also offers exclusive benefits on loans and credit cards. Virat Diwanji, Group President, Retail Liabilities and Branch Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank said: "We have customised the Kotak Salary account to meet the specific needs of the army personnel and their families and we look forward to a long-standing association." Pro wrestling legend 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin is offloading one of his two homes in Marina del Rey, California. The 58-year-old WWE Superstar and reality TV star listed the 2,724-square-foot home on an 8,003-square-foot lot for $3.595 million, according to The Dirt. Austin (real name Steven James Anderson) is holding on to a smaller home he owns on the same street. Bottom line: Pro wrestling legend 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin is offloading one of his two homes in Marina del Rey, California Listed: The 58-year-old WWE Superstar and reality TV star listed the 2,724-square-foot home on an 8,003-square-foot lot for $3.595 million, according to The Dirt Same street: Austin (real name Steven James Anderson) is holding on to a smaller home he owns on the same street If he does sell at the current asking price, he'll earn a tidy profit after nearly 13 years of owning the home. Austin shelled out $1.965 million for the abode back in the summer of 2007, four years after he retired from professional wrestling in 2003. The home was built in 1953, with the listing, held by Re/Max Estate Properties' Denise Fast, indicates there was an extensive exterior overhaul by Randy Ward and interior work done by Janice Francois. Profit: If he does sell at the current asking price, he'll earn a tidy profit after nearly 13 years of owning the home Old price: Austin shelled out $1.965 million for the abode back in the summer of 2007, four years after he retired from professional wrestling in 2003 Home: The home was built in 1953, with the listing, held by Re/Max Estate Properties' Denise Fast, indicates there was an extensive exterior overhaul by Randy Ward and interior work done by Janice Francois The single-level ranch-style home has three bedrooms with the potential for a fourth, along with 2.5 bathrooms. The home's elegant designer flourishes include wide-plank floorboards that feature an 'occasional knot' plus custom linen window coverings. The house is said to be designed with a 'Mediterranean flair' which includes a clay-tile roof, plus iron and glass doors. Bedrooms: The single-level ranch-style home has three bedrooms with the potential for a fourth, along with 2.5 bathrooms Floorboards: The home's elegant designer flourishes include wide-plank floorboards that feature an 'occasional knot' plus custom linen window coverings Glass doors: The house is said to be designed with a 'Mediterranean flair' which includes a clay-tile roof, plus iron and glass doors While the home is said to be in a 'tightly-packed neighborhood' - just a mile from Venice Beach - it's kept safe behind secured entry gates while the home itself is tucked behind a tall hedgerow. The home is said to have a 'somewhat unconventional layout' which includes 'an over-sized foyer and reception lounge with a double-sided fireplace and two different types and colors of flooring. Other amenities include custom glass-paneled barn-style doors that reveal what could be either a family room or a formal sitting room. Hedgerow: While the home is said to be in a 'tightly-packed neighborhood' - just a mile from Venice Beach - it's kept safe behind secured entry gates while the home itself is tucked behind a tall hedgerow Doors: The home is said to have a 'somewhat unconventional layout' which includes 'an over-sized foyer and reception lounge with a double-sided fireplace and two different types and colors of flooring Sitting room: Other amenities include custom glass-paneled barn-style doors that reveal what could be either a family room or a formal sitting room The home also includes a guest bedroom that is shared with a 'Jack and Jill' style bathroom which could be easily converted into a fourth bedroom. The open plan kitchen is centered around a large island with a vegetable sink and snack bar with dark brown wood cabinets and quartz countertops. The back yard is surrounded in a privatizing thicket of trees and shrubs, featuring a concrete patio, pool and spa. Kitchen: The open plan kitchen is centered around a large island with a vegetable sink and snack bar with dark brown wood cabinets and quartz countertops Backyard: The back yard is surrounded in a privatizing thicket of trees and shrubs, featuring a concrete patio, pool and spa Researchers engineer 1st technique to exploit the tunable symmetry of 2D materials for nonlinear optical applications: laser, optical spectroscopy, imaging, and metrology systems, and next-generation optical quantum information processing and computing. Columbia researchers engineer first technique to exploit the tunable symmetry of 2D materials for nonlinear optical applications, including laser, optical spectroscopy, imaging, and metrology systems, as well as next-generation optical quantum information processing and computing. New York, NY--March 4, 2021--Nonlinear optics, a study of how light interacts with matter, is critical to many photonic applications, from the green laser pointers we're all familiar with to intense broadband (white) light sources for quantum photonics that enable optical quantum computing, super-resolution imaging, optical sensing and ranging, and more. Through nonlinear optics, researchers are discovering new ways to use light, from getting a closer look at ultrafast processes in physics, biology, and chemistry to enhancing communication and navigation, solar energy harvesting, medical testing, and cybersecurity. Columbia Engineering researchers report that they developed a new, efficient way to modulate and enhance an important type of nonlinear optical process: optical second harmonic generation--where two input photons are combined in the material to produce one photon with twice the energy--from hexagonal boron nitride through micromechanical rotation and multilayer stacking. The study was published online March 3 by Science Advances. "Our work is the first to exploit the dynamically tunable symmetry of 2D materials for nonlinear optical applications," said James Schuck , associate professor of mechanical engineering , who led the study along with James Hone , Wang Fong-Jen Professor of Mechanical Engineering. A hot topic in the field of 2D materials has been exploring how twisting or rotating one layer relative to another can change the electronic properties of the layered system--something that can't be done in 3D crystals because the atoms are bond so tightly together in a 3D network. Solving this challenge has led to a new research area termed "twistronics." In this new study, the team used concepts from twistronics to show that they also apply to optical properties. "We are calling this new research area 'twistoptics,'" said Schuck. "Our twistoptics approach demonstrates that we can now achieve giant nonlinear optical responses in very small volumes--just a few atomic layer thicknesses--enabling, for example, entangled photon generation with a much more compact, chip-compatible foot print. Moreover, the response is fully tunable on demand." Most of today's conventional nonlinear optical crystals are made of covalently bonded materials, such as lithium niobate and barium borate. But because they have rigid crystal structures, it is difficult to engineer and control their nonlinear optical properties. For most applications, though, some degree of control over a material's nonlinear optical properties is essential. The group found that van der Waals multilayer crystals provide an alternative solution for engineering optical nonlinearity. Thanks to the extremely weak interlayer force, the researchers could easily manipulate relative crystal orientation between neighboring layers by micromechanical rotation. With the ability to control symmetry at the atomic-layer limit, they demonstrated precise tuning and giant enhancement of optical second harmonic generation with micro-rotator devices and superlattice structures, respectively. For the superlattices, the team first used layer rotation to created "twisted" interfaces between layers that yield an extremely strong nonlinear optical response, and then stacked several of these "twisted" interfaces on top of one another. "We showed that the nonlinear optical signal actually scales with the square of the number of twisted interfaces," said Kaiyuan Yao, a postdoctoral research fellow in Schuck's lab and co-lead author of the paper. "So this makes the already large nonlinear response of a single interface orders of magnitude stronger still." The group's findings have several potential applications. Tunable second harmonic generation from micro-rotators could lead to novel on-chip transducers that couple micromechanical motion to sensitive optical signals by turning mechanical motion into light. This is critical for many sensors and devices such as atomic force microscopes. Stacking multiple boron nitride thin films on top of each other with controlled twist angle demonstrated greatly enhanced nonlinear response. This could offer a new way to manufacture efficient nonlinear optical crystals with atomic precision. These could be used in a broad range of laser (such as the green laser pointers), optical spectroscopy, imaging, and metrology systems. And perhaps most significantly, they could provide a compact means for generating entangled photons and single photons for next-generation optical quantum information processing and computing. This work was a collaboration carried out at the Energy Frontier Research Center on Programmable Quantum Materials at Columbia, with theory collaborators at Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter . The device fabrication was partially done in the cleanroom of the Columbia Nano Initiative . "We hope," Schuck said, "that this demonstration provides a new twist in the ongoing narrative aimed at harnessing and controlling the properties of materials." ### About the Study The study is titled "Enhanced tunable second harmonic generation from twistable interfaces and vertical superlattices in boron nitride homostructures." Authors are: Kaiyuan Yao1, Nathan R. Finney1, Jin Zhang2, Samuel L. Moore3, Lede Xian2, Nicolas Tancogne-Dejean2, Fang Liu4, Jenny Ardelean1, Xinyi Xu1, Dorri Halbertal3, 56334 K. Watanabe , T. Taniguchi , Hector Ochoa , Ana Asenjo-Garcia , Xiaoyang Zhu , D. N. Basov3, Angel Rubio2,7, Cory R. Dean3, James Hone1, P. James Schuck. 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University 2Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Germany 3Department of Physics, Columbia University 4Department of Chemistry, Columbia University 5Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan 6International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan 7Center for Computational Quantum Physics, Simons Foundation Flatiron Institute The study was supported mainly as part of Programmable Quantum Materials, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (BES), under award DE-SC0019443. Theory support involving DFT calculations for this project is supported by the European Research Council (ERC-2015-AdG694097), the Cluster of Excellence AIM, and the Max Planck Institute-New York City Center for Non-Equilibrium Quantum Phenomena (A.R.). The Flatiron Institute is a division AQ7 of the Simons Foundation. N.F. acknowledges support from the Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship program provided under cooperative agreement number DE-NA0003864. K.W. and T.T. acknowledge support from the Elemental Strategy Initiative conducted by the MEXT, Japan (grant number JPMXP0112101001), JSPS KAKENHI (grant number JP20H00354), and the CREST (JPMJCR15F3), JST. J.Z. acknowledges funding received from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement 886291 (PeSD-NeSL). F.L., X.Y.Z., and J.H. are inventors on a patent application related to this work filed by Columbia University (no. 62/944,753 and 62/963,839, filed 6 December 2019). The authors declare that they have no other competing interests. LINKS: Paper: https:/ / advances. sciencemag. org/ content/ 7/ 10/ eabe8691. full DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe8691 https:/ / advances. sciencemag. org/ http://engineering. columbia. edu/ https:/ / www. engineering. columbia. edu/ faculty/ p-james-schuck https:/ / www. me. columbia. edu/ https:/ / www. engineering. columbia. edu/ faculty/ james-hone https:/ / quantum-materials. columbia. edu/ https:/ / www. mpsd. mpg. de/ en http://cni. columbia. edu/ Columbia Engineering Columbia Engineering, based in New York City, is one of the top engineering schools in the U.S. and one of the oldest in the nation. Also known as The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School expands knowledge and advances technology through the pioneering research of its more than 220 faculty, while educating undergraduate and graduate students in a collaborative environment to become leaders informed by a firm foundation in engineering. The School's faculty are at the center of the University's cross-disciplinary research, contributing to the Data Science Institute, Earth Institute, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Precision Medicine Initiative, and the Columbia Nano Initiative. Guided by its strategic vision, "Columbia Engineering for Humanity," the School aims to translate ideas into innovations that foster a sustainable, healthy, secure, connected, and creative humanity. New State Vaccine Push Focuses On K-12 Education Workers Sprawling parking lots at California State University Los Angeles and Oakland-Alameda Coliseum in Oaktown are two locations in California where the state is set to conduct focused vaccine pushes for education workers. The effort is part of Gov. Gavin Newsoms health equity plan as he prioritizes the reopening of schools. According to the equity-centered plan, as of March 1, 10 % of the states vaccine supply is dedicated to K-12 educators and staff. The mobile sites and vaccine drives will focus on counties and school communities weighted by equity, including the proportion of students from low-income families, English learners, and homeless youth, state officials said. Our top priority is getting students back in the classroom as safely and quickly as possible, and the expanded access to vaccines will build on the momentum and confidence that we can do so with urgency, Gov. Newsom said. ADVERTISEMENT Candidates eligible for the vaccination include teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, childcare workers, and site-based administrators. State officials have committed to providing 75,000 vaccinations each week at mobile sites set up to administer vaccines for registered school staff statewide. The health equity plan aims to prioritize vaccine access for communities disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. The equity plan also addresses the ethical issues presented by reports of individuals from outside target communities, including educators at a Los Angeles-based private school, skipping the line to get early vaccinations from medical providers. Gov. Newsom said the state officials are working closely with medical providers, healthcare administrators, and local organizations to speed up vaccine delivery across California. The education professionals who nurture and support our children deserve to be and have been prioritized for vaccines, and I am proud to accelerate those efforts in all 58 counties, Gov. Newsom said. According to state officials, prioritization is based on occupational health exposure. Eligible candidates will receive single-use codes to schedule vaccine appointments. The health equity plan is an integral addition to Gov. Newsoms Safe Schools for All plan which initiated plans to vaccinate education workers in January. So far, 35 state counties have vaccinated education workers based on supply since the launch of multiple mobile sites statewide. ADVERTISEMENT Efforts to Counter the Privilege Gap that Leads to Skipping Ahead for Vaccines According to administration officials with the California Health and Human Services Agency, part of the states plans to promote vaccine equity includes partnering with community organizations and understanding demographic data for appropriate vaccine access statewide. Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said the state is working with trusted local organizations for outreach and education campaigns to engage underserved communities. We work hard to make sure we dont have blind spots and were paying attention to where we can make improvements, Ghaly said. Public health officials are also moving forward with plans to work closely with third-party administrators to provide vaccines in communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. The state can achieve health equity by, simply doing more for those whove been disproportionately impacted. So, they are not overlooked and that is something that we are deeply committed to whether its on age or race, or sexual orientation, gender identity, Ghaly said. Administration officials have also put metrics in place to help measure the impact of its outreach and education campaigns in Californias Black and Latino communities. Equity efforts by the state include keeping a keen eye on the data and making adjustments to address the privilege gap in Californias health care system, he said. Affluent people receiving early vaccinations discloses the important equity issue, we know that we have more work to do in some communities than others, administration officials said. State lawmakers have prioritized school staff in efforts to accelerate and support the legislative proposal to reopen schools, as safely and quickly as possible, Gov. Newsom said. The state has launched online tools for accountability and transparency to counter the imbalance of vaccine distribution and also provided routine testing for more than 1,000 schools in California. Although the legislatures proposal is a step in the right direction, it doesnt go far enough or fast enough, Gov. Newsom said. I look forward to building on the growing momentum to get our schools open and continuing discussions with the Legislature to get our kids back in school as safely and quickly as possible, Gov. Newsom said. The Politics of Global Energy Transition The global future of energy is substantially formed not only in Europe but also in other world regions. While the consumption of energy decreases on a European level, the demand will rise in other economic regions, even drastically. As regards fossil energy sources (oil, gas, and coal), this tendency applies to developing countries in particular. It is in our interest to work towards a global orientation as sustainable as possible. With an excellent know how of energy planning, system design, regulation, energy services, as well as innovative energy technology and storage, Austria is able to contribute significantly towards achieving this goal. The term "international politics of energy transition" comprises the entirety of all regulatory action in the area of foreign energy relations which aim at accelerating international energy transition. Thereby, the main focus lies on The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC. Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the session. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body opened its annual session Thursday afternoon in Beijing. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held at the Great Hall of the People. At the meeting, the agenda for the session was reviewed and approved. Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the session. Noting that the year 2020 marks an extraordinary year in the history of the People's Republic of China, Wang said the CPPCC National Committee and its standing committee, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, have fulfilled the duties centering on the coordination of epidemic control and economic and social development, making active contributions to the accomplishment of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) tasks. Wang summarized the work of the CPPCC National Committee last year, saying that national committee members had faithfully performed their duties, and consolidated unity and cooperation. The year 2021 marks the centenary of the CPC and the beginning of a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country, Wang said. For the CPPCC's work in 2021, Wang called for efforts to focus on the centenary of the CPC to strengthen the theoretical and political guidance, concentrate on serving the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) to improve the effectiveness of consultation, further pool the wisdom and strength, and improve work performance. The CPPCC, as a special consultative body, is an integral part of China's governance system. The CPPCC is an important mechanism and special governance platform for the CPC to lead the Chinese people in developing socialist democracy and ensure the good governance of China, Wang said. He called for strengthening the development of the special consultative body and further transforming the advantages of the CPPCC system into efficient state governance. Attendees were also briefed on the handling of proposals submitted by political advisors. A total of 5,974 proposals have been submitted since the previous annual session of the top political advisory body. Of the 5,044 proposals filed, 99.64 percent have been handled, said Gu Shengzu, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, when delivering a report on the proposals. The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) He made Americas representative institutions greatly biased in favor of Republicans. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer Photo: REUTERS/Yuri Gripas In the United States, every season is campaign season. Four months after America last went to the polls, Democrats are still refining their autopsies of the 2020 race and already governing with an eye toward the 2022 midterms. Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Republicans are trying to figure out just how firm Donald Trumps grip on their party really is and debating whether that grip should be stronger or weaker. To gain some insight into these matters, Intelligencer turned to our favorite socialist proponent of ruthlessly poll-driven campaigning, David Shor. A veteran of the 2012 Obama campaign, Shor is currently head of data science at OpenLabs, a progressive nonprofit. We spoke with him last week about how his analysis of the 2020 election has changed since November, what Democrats need to do to keep Congress after 2022, and why he thinks the Trump era was great for the Republican Party (in strictly electoral terms). What are the most important things youve learned about the 2020 election between the last time we spoke and today? Whats changed since November is that we now have individual-level vote-history data in a bunch of states. And we also have a lot more precinct-level data. And people have had more time to run surveys. So the picture has gotten clearer. One high-level takeaway is that the 2020 electorate had a very similar partisan composition to the 2016 electorate. When the polls turned out to be wrong and Trump turned out to be much stronger than they predicted a lot of people concluded that turnout models must have been off: Trump must have inspired higher Republican turnout than expected. But that looks wrong. It really seems like the electorate was slightly more Democratic than it had been in 2016, largely due to demographic change (because theres such a large partisan gap between younger and older voters, every four years the electorate gets something like 0.4 percent more Democratic just through generational churn). So Trump didnt exceed expectations by inspiring higher-than-anticipated Republican turnout. He exceeded them mostly through persuasion. A lot of voters changed their minds between 2016 and 2020. At the subgroup level, Democrats gained somewhere between half a percent to one percent among non-college whites and roughly 7 percent among white college graduates (which is kind of crazy). Our support among African Americans declined by something like one to 2 percent. And then Hispanic support dropped by 8 to 9 percent. The jury is still out on Asian Americans. Were waiting on data from California before we say anything. But theres evidence that there was something like a 5 percent decline in Asian American support for Democrats, likely with a lot of variance among subgroups. There were really big declines in Vietnamese areas, for example. Anyway, one implication of these shifts is that education polarization went up and racial polarization went down. In other words, a voters level of educational attainment whether they had a college degree became more predictive of which party they voted for in 2020 than it had been in 2016, while a voters racial identity became less predictive? Yeah. White voters as a whole trended toward the Democratic Party, and nonwhite voters trended away from us. So were now somewhere between 2004 and 2008 in terms of racial polarization. Which is interesting. I dont think a lot of people expected Donald Trumps GOP to have a much more diverse support base than Mitt Romneys did in 2012. But thats what happened. Does the available data give us any insight into why? Do you have any sense what was behind the large rightward shift among Hispanic voters? One important thing to know about the decline in Hispanic support for Democrats is that it was pretty broad. This isnt just about Cubans in South Florida. It happened in New York and California and Arizona and Texas. Really, we saw large drops all over the country. But it was notably larger in some places than others. In the precinct-level data, one of the things that jumps out is that places where a lot of voters have Venezuelan or Colombian ancestry saw much larger swings to the GOP than basically anywhere else in the country. The Colombian and Venezuelan shifts were huge. One of my favorite examples is Doral, which is a predominantly Venezuelan and Colombian neighborhood in South Florida. One precinct in that neighborhood went for Hillary Clinton by 40 points in 2016 and for Trump by ten points in 2020. One thing that makes Colombia and Venezuela different from much of Latin America is that socialism as a brand has a very specific, very high salience meaning in those countries. Its associated with FARC paramilitaries in Colombia and the experience with President Maduro in Venezuela. So I think one natural inference is that the increased salience of socialism in 2020 with the rise of AOC and the prominence of anti-socialist messaging from the GOP had something to do with the shift among those groups. As for the story with Hispanics overall, one thing that really comes out very clearly in survey data that weve done is that it really comes down to ideology. So when you look at self-reported ideology just asking people, Do you identify as liberal, moderate, or conservative you find that there arent very big racial divides. Roughly the same proportion of African American, Hispanic, and white voters identify as conservative. But white voters are polarized on ideology, while nonwhite voters havent been. Something like 80 percent of white conservatives vote for Republicans. But historically, Democrats have won nonwhite conservatives, often by very large margins. What happened in 2020 is that nonwhite conservatives voted for Republicans at higher rates; they started voting more like white conservatives. And so this leads to a question of why. Why did nonwhite voters start sorting more by ideology? And thats a hard thing to know. But my organization, and our partner organizations, have done extensive post-election surveys of 2020 voters. And we looked specifically at those voters who switched from supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016 to Donald Trump in 2020 to see whether anything distinguishes this subgroup in terms of their policy opinions. What we found is that Clinton voters with conservative views on crime, policing, and public safety were far more likely to switch to Trump than voters with less conservative views on those issues. And having conservative views on those issues was more predictive of switching from Clinton to Trump than having conservative views on any other issue-set was. This lines up pretty well with trends we saw during the campaign. In the summer, following the emergence of defund the police as a nationally salient issue, support for Biden among Hispanic voters declined. So I think you can tell this microstory: We raised the salience of an ideologically charged issue that millions of nonwhite voters disagreed with us on. And then, as a result, these conservative Hispanic voters whod been voting for us despite their ideological inclinations started voting more like conservative whites. Are these problems with Democratic positioning or with disinformation? Obviously, Joe Biden didnt campaign on police abolition and worker control of the means of production. So there was a disconnect between the reality of the partys platform and how it was perceived. Closing that gap, through a Latino Anti-Disinformation Lab, appears to be a focus of Democrats postelection efforts to fix their problem with Hispanic voters. Does that make sense as a path forward? Id say this: The decline that we saw was very large. Nine percent or so nationwide, up to 14 or 15 percent in Florida. Roughly one in ten Hispanic voters switched their vote from Clinton to Trump. That is beyond the margin of what can plausibly be changed by investing more in Spanish media. And I dont think a shift that large can be plausibly attributed to what was said in WhatsApp groups or not buying enough in YouTube ads. I think the problem is more fundamental. Over the last four years, white liberals have become a larger and larger share of the Democratic Party. Theres a narrative on the left that the Democrats growing reliance on college-educated whites is pulling the party to the right (Matt Karp had an essay on this recently). But I think thats wrong. Highly educated people tend to have more ideologically coherent and extreme views than working-class ones. We see this in issue polling and ideological self-identification. College-educated voters are way less likely to identify as moderate. So as Democrats have traded non-college-educated voters for college-educated ones, white liberals share of voice and clout in the Democratic Party has gone up. And since white voters are sorting on ideology more than nonwhite voters, weve ended up in a situation where white liberals are more left wing than Black and Hispanic Democrats on pretty much every issue: taxes, health care, policing, and even on racial issues or various measures of racial resentment. So as white liberals increasingly define the partys image and messaging, thats going to turn off nonwhite conservative Democrats and push them against us. When you say that white liberals are to the left of the typical Black Democrat on racial issues, how much does that depend on the definition of a racial issue? For example, one policy fight that often pits the interests of white liberal Democrats against those of the Black working class is housing and school integration. There are a lot of highly educated, white, liberal areas full of Black Lives Matter lawn signs which nevertheless oppose affordable-housing projects or school-redistricting plans that would bring less wealthy, less white students to their kids classrooms. The white liberals who oppose efforts to end de facto segregation may know the enlightened answer to abstract questions about the nature of racial inequality, but Im not sure that puts them to the left of nonwhite voters on racial issues, properly defined. Yeah, no, absolutely. White liberals do give more progressive responses across a wide battery of traditional racial resentment questions like, Do you believe that the reason why African Americans cant get ahead is due to discrimination or due to other factors? But I think its important to put racial resentment in quotes whenever you talk about it. Im not claiming that white liberals are somehow less racist than people of color, to the extent that question even makes sense. And I do think if you asked about affirmative action and inclusionary zoning, rather than these more abstract questions that political scientists use for measuring racial resentment, you could find a different breakdown. But I think the split on those abstract questions captures something real. In liberal circles, racism has been defined in highly ideological terms. And this theoretical perspective on what racism means and the nature of racial inequality have become a big part of the group identity of college-educated Democrats, white and nonwhite. But its not necessarily how most nonwhite, working-class people understand racism. How do they differ? I dont think I can answer that comprehensively. But if you look at the concrete questions, white liberals are to the left of Hispanic Democrats, but also of Black Democrats, on defunding the police and those ideological questions about the source of racial inequity. Regardless, even if a majority of nonwhite people agreed with liberals on all of these issues, the fundamental problem is that Democrats have been relying on the support of roughly 90 percent of Black voters and 70 percent of Hispanic voters. So if Democrats elevate issues or theories that a large minority of nonwhite voters reject, its going to be hard to keep those margins. Because these issues are strongly correlated with ideology. And Black conservatives and Hispanic conservatives dont actually buy into a lot of these intellectual theories of racism. They often have a very different conception of how to help the Black or Hispanic community than liberals do. And I dont think we can buy our way out of this trade-off. Most voters are not liberals. If we polarize the electorate on ideology or if nationally prominent Democrats raise the salience of issues that polarize the electorate on ideology were going to lose a lot of votes. Dont these ideological self-descriptions carry similar definitional problems as racial resentment? Most voters may not identify as liberals. But judging from opinion polls, most voters do reject the lions share of the conservative movements governing priorities. In Congress, a conservative is typically a lawmaker who supports tax cuts for the rich and funding cuts for Medicaid, while opposing a higher minimum wage and another round of stimulus checks. Those are all extremely unpopular positions. Absolutely. It seems important then to get clarity on what these ideological labels do and dont mean. If taken at face value, the data looks pretty ominous for Democrats: Theyve built a coalition premised on overwhelming support from these nonwhite groups, but that support was rooted in historically contingent social conditions not substantive agreement and now those conditions are eroding, clearing the way for an emerging conservative majority. On the other hand, if you look at the polling of the biggest policy debates in Congress over the past eight years, you might conclude that theres a natural liberal majority in this country and that the GOP is the party whose coalition is an unnatural agglomeration of groups held together by accidents of history. I agree with everything you said. I do think that liberals sometimes take the ambiguities of ideology too far. A lot of progressives insist that ideological self-identification means nothing. And we know that isnt true. One of the big patterns of the last 40 years is that ideological self-description has become increasingly correlated with partisanship and increasingly correlated to views on issues. But there is still a large universe of policy questions mostly economic but not exclusively where a large majority of the public agrees with us. A $15 minimum wage polls above 60 percent; that couldnt happen without a lot of moderates and conservatives supporting the policy. What I take from that is: Ideological polarization is a dead end. If we divide the electorate on self-described ideology, we lose both because there are more conservatives than liberals and because conservatives are structurally overrepresented in the House, Senate, and Electoral College. So the way we get around that is by talking a lot about progressive goals that are not ideologically polarizing, goals that we share with self-described conservatives and moderates. Even among nonwhite voters, those tend to be economic issues. In test after test that weve done with Hispanic voters, talking about immigration commonly sparks backlash: Asking voters whether they lean toward Biden and Trump, and then emphasizing the Democratic position on immigration, often caused Bidens share of support among Latino respondents to decline. Meanwhile, Democratic messaging about investing in schools and jobs tended to move Latino voters away from Trump. Is that primarily a function of the fact that the marginal Hispanic voter the one whos least attached to the Democratic Party is to the right of the typical Hispanic voter? Like, it isnt the case that a majority of Hispanic voters respond negatively to immigration messaging, is it? No. I mean, Hispanic voters are more liberal on immigration than white voters. But I think that, for one thing, the extent to which Hispanic voters have liberal views on immigration is exaggerated. If you look at, for example, decriminalizing border crossings, thats not something that a majority of Hispanic voters support. Pews done a lot of polling on immigration reform, and if you ask things like, Should we deport the undocumented population, should we give them a path to permanent residency, or should we give them a path to citizenship? citizenship only gets a little over 50 percent support among Hispanic voters. So I think liberals really essentialize Hispanic voters and project views about immigration onto them that the data just doesnt support. Now, how we should campaign and what we should do once in office are different questions. Our immigration system is a humanitarian crisis, and we should do something about that. But the point of public communication should be to win votes. And the way that you do that is to not trigger ideological polarization. Whats your (way too early) assessment of Democrats odds of retaining Congress after the midterm? What do they need to achieve, in statistical terms, to pull that off? And then, from a substantive point of view, are there things that they can do in office to make hitting those marks easier? As a baseline, midterms are usually very bad for the party in power. In the past 70 years, the incumbent party has gained seats in the House and Senate maybe once or twice. The last one was in 2002. The regularity of how bad midterm environments are for the presidents party is one of the most striking findings in political science. Generally speaking, over the last 30 to 40 years, the party that controls the presidency gets about 47 percent of the vote nationwide. Add in the fact that the House already has a fairly substantial pro-Republican bias the median House seat is something like three points to the right of the country overall it means that in the base scenario, Democrats are headed for near-certain doom. If we replicate the GOPs post-9/11, 2002 midterm performance, we have a chance. If we replicate the second-best presidential-party midterm from the past 40 years, we lose. The good news is that theres a strong case for thinking this time might be different. Im not a macroeconomist, but it seems like Joe Biden might preside over a post-corona economic boom. Already, Bidens approval rating is very strong. The best predictor of how a midterm is going to shake out is how popular the president is. So, for now, everything looks about as good as you could hope for. But we have no margin for error. If we conduct ourselves the way we did after 2008, were definitely going to lose. And due to the way that our electoral system works, we really could be locked out of power for a very long time, just like we were after 2010. So that means the need for messaging discipline is stronger than ever. But keeping the national conversation focused around popular economic issues probably wont be enough. Since the maps in the House of Representatives are so biased against us, if we dont pass a redistricting reform, our chance of keeping the House is very low. And then the Senate is even more biased against us than the House. So, its also very important that we add as many states as we can. Currently, even if we have an exceptionally good midterm, the most likely outcome is that we lose one or two Senate seats. And then, going into 2024, we have something like seven or eight Democrats who are in states that are more Republican than the country overall. Basically, we have this small window right now to pass redistricting reform and create states. And if we dont use this window, we will almost certainly lose control of the federal government and not be in a position to pass laws again potentially for a decade. In terms of putting numbers on things, I think that if we implemented D.C. and Puerto Rican statehood and passed redistricting reform, that would roughly triple our chance of holding the House in 2022 and roughly the same in the Senate. The fact that its possible to triple those odds is a testament to how bleak the baseline case is. So we need to pass those reforms and we need Biden to remain popular. If his approval rating is below 50 by the end of the year, were probably fucked. Is there a tension between those two imperatives? In the past, Ive heard you talk a lot about thermostatic public opinion how voters tend to move right when Democrats are in power, and left when Republicans are in power, and generally display a bias toward the status quo and against policy change. Could adding multiple states to the Union, and changing the way that we go about allocating House representation specifically in a manner that diminishes the influence of white, rural voters spur thermostatic backlash? And if so, could maintaining Bidens current approval, and implementing the reforms necessary for Democrats to stay competitive at the congressional level, present an irresolvable dilemma? I cant claim to know exactly what the electoral effects would be of doing these things. But all of the polling Ive seen suggests that things like HR 1 and adding states are above water. Theyre not as popular as a lot of economic issues, but theyre above 50 percent. Electoral backlash doesnt typically come from doing things that poll at 53 or 54 percent. It comes from doing things that poll at 30 or 40 percent. And so I think that the downside of this stuff is low. I think the level of voter interest in procedural issues is low. If we lived in a world where voters punished politicians for playing procedural hardball, we would have a lot fewer Republicans in office. And actually, in some ways, pursuing procedural reforms that dont concern voters much but which do get the other party all worked up could be electorally beneficial. If you can get the other party to talk about something that voters dont care about, thats good. People dont always think about media attention as a fixed quantity. But it is. To the extent that the coronavirus impacted the 2020 election, I think one positive political effect it had for Democrats was that whenever the media was talking about the coronavirus, they werent talking about Hunter Biden or immigration. And I think that kind of blocked Republicans from creating and inserting wedge issues. If Republicans decide to make 2022 into a referendum on independent redistricting, that will eat up space that could have otherwise gone to effective attacks. We should dare them to do it. We talked a lot about the rightward drift of Hispanic voters in 2020. But the other big change was a leftward shift among college-educated whites. Understanding the cause of that shift seems pretty important. If these college-educated voters were primarily rejecting Donald Trump, Democrats might not be able to count on their support in 2022 and beyond. Yeah, its a great question. Lets start with numbers: In 2016, non-college-educated whites swung roughly 10 percent against the Democratic Party. And then, in 2018, roughly 30 percent of those Obama-Trump voters ended up supporting Democrats down ballot. In 2020, only 10 percent of Obama-Trump voters came home for Biden. So I think what this shows: There is a long-term trend of increasing education polarization here and in every other country in the West. But the fact that education polarization declined significantly in 2018 when Trump wasnt on the ballot and picked up again in 2020 suggests that Trump is personally responsible for a significant portion of Americas education polarization. I think that theres a really strong case that this transition was specifically about Donald Trump. A lot of people theorized that we first alienated Obama-Trump voters during the fight over comprehensive immigration reform and that their rightward movement was already apparent in 2014. But if you actually look at panel data, it seems really clear that these people didnt start identifying as Republicans until Trump won the GOP nomination. I think theres a very strong empirical argument that Donald Trump was the main driver of the polarization weve seen since 2016. He just personally embodies this large cultural divide between cosmopolitan college-educated voters and a large portion of non-college-educated voters. Those divides take a lot of different forms: attitudes toward race, attitudes toward gender, opinions on what kinds of things youre allowed to say, or how you should conduct yourself. And you know, as Trump became the nominee, and as the media made politics the Donald Trump Show for the last four years, that led to increasing political polarization on attitudes toward Donald Trump specifically. I think the reason why we saw less education-based voting in 2018 is that Trump was a smaller part of the media environment than he had been in 2016 or would be in 2020. Looking ahead to 2022, and just thinking about the next four years, the big question is how much is Donald Trump going to shape media coverage of the Republican Party or the Republican Partys own branding? And I dont know the answer to that question. If Trump fades out of the spotlight, Id expect some level of education depolarization, particularly if Democrats show ideological discipline. That speaks to a question Ive been mulling for a while. During the 2016 campaign, Vox developed this concept of the Trump Tax, which was a measure of the electoral penalty that Republicans were paying for picking the most unpopular nominee in polling history. Basically, it took a fundamentals model of how one would expect a Republican presidential candidate to perform, given economic conditions and other background factors, and then measured how much lower Trumps support was than that. And yet, while Trump remained historically unpopular in office, he also helped the GOP increase its structural advantages at every level of government. So Ive long wondered: Was Donald Trumps unpopularity with the general public more detrimental to the Republican Party than his gift for deepening education polarization was valuable? So, in 2016, Hillary Clinton got 51.1 percent of the two-party vote. Obama got 52 percent in 2012. In just about any other country, retaining 51.1 percent support would have been enough to keep power. But in this country, between 2012 and 2016, the Electoral College bias changed from being one percent biased toward Democrats to 3 percent biased toward Republicans, mainly because of education polarization. So Donald Trump is unpopular. And he does pay a penalty for that relative to a generic Republican. But the voters hes popular with happen to be extremely efficiently distributed in political-geography terms. Imagine Hillary Clinton had run against Marco Rubio in 2016. Rubio is a less toxic figure to the public as a whole, so lets say he performed as a generic Republican would have been expected to, and Hillary Clintons share of the two-party vote fell to 49.6 percent. If she had maintained Obamas coalition if her 49.6 percent had the same ratio of college-to-non-college-educated voters as Obama had in 2012 she would have won that election. And then, if you look at the implications that would have had down-ballot, especially in the Senate, Republicans would have been a lot worse off with a narrow majority coalition that had a Romney-esque split between college and non-college voters than they were with the Trump coalition. So I think the Trump era has been very good for the Republican Party, even if they now, momentarily, have to accept this very, very, very thin Democratic trifecta. Because if these coalition changes are durable, the GOP has very rosy long-term prospects for dominating Americas federal institutions. The question is: Can they get all of the good parts of Trumpism without the bad parts? And I dont know the answer to that question. But when I look at the 2020 election, I see that we ran against the most unpopular Republican ever to run for president and we ran literally the most popular figure in our party whose last name is not Obama and we only narrowly won the Electoral College. If Biden had done 0.3 percent worse, then Donald Trump would have won reelection with just 48 percent of the two-party vote. We cant control what Trump or Republicans do. But we can add states, we can ban partisan redistricting, and we can elevate issues that appeal to both college-educated liberals and a lot of working-class conservatives. If we dont, things could get very bleak, very fast. Shiv Sena will not contest West Bengal polls, stand in solidarity with Mamata: Sanjay Raut India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Mumbai, Mar 04: In a shocking turn of events, the Shiv Sena on Thursday announced that they will not contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly election. The party said that it will extend their complete support to Mamata Banerjee's re-election campaign as Chief Minister for a third term. "A lot of people are curious to know whether Shiv Sena is contesting West Bengal polls or not. So...after discussions with party president Uddhav Thackeray...looking at the present scenario, it appears like a 'Didi vs All' fight. All 'M's - money, muscle and media - are being used against 'M'amata Didi. Hence, Shiv Sena has decided not to contest West Bengal polls and stand in solidarity with her. We wish Mamata Didi a 'roaring' success, 'cos we believe she is the real Bengal Tigress," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut announced on social media platform Twitter. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, his parents takes first dose of coronavirus vaccination In January, Shiv Sena had expressed interest to contest the West Bengal Assembly elections after consultations with Thackeray, who is also the Maharashtra Chief Minister. The Sena's exit from the poll battle could prove a blessing in disguise for both the BJP and Mamata's TMC. While the pro-Hindutva votes could now shift towards BJP, the Sena's clout among the same masses could fuel the TMC campaign. Earlier, it can be seen that the Shiv Sena was an ally in the BJP-led NDA government till the 2019 Parliamentary elections and had contested the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal for the first time that year. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News The party had fielded candidates from 15 out of the 42 seats - Kolkata Dakshin, Jadavpur, Basirhat, Barrackpore, Bankura, Bishnupur, Medinipur, Barasat, Dumdum, Purulia, Kanthi, Malda North, Birbhum, Bolpur and Murshidabad. Reporter to Sue Gov. Whitmer Over Nursing Home Death Data A legal foundation in Michigan is preparing to file a lawsuit on behalf of a reporter against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over the release of comprehensive COVID-19 nursing home death data. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charlie LeDuff wrote in a recent tweet: We are preparing a lawsuit against Gov. Whitmer of Michigan. She refuses to turn over COVID death data and accurate nursing home numbers to the public. All the way to the Supreme Court, Madam. Thanks to the [Mackinac Center Legal Foundation], who has agreed to take our case. Michigan state data covering the period of Jan. 1, 2020, to Feb. 23, 2021, shows that 5,523 nursing home residents died of COVID-19. Yet questions have swirled about the accuracy of this data, with Republican state legislators in Michigan recently issuing a call for a probe into Whitmers handling of nursing homes during the pandemic and claiming discrepancies in the death data. Spokesperson Holly Wetzel confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation has agreed to represent LeDuff in the lawsuit. Mr. LeDuff approached us after being denied access to the records that underlie the data being reported by the state, Wetzel told the outlet via email. We are seeking access to those records to be able to compare them to the numbers being reported by the state, and to gain a better understanding of COVIDs effect on Michigan. Whitmers office didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment by press time. Whitmers policy on sending COVID-19 patients to nursing homes was similar to that of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is facing criticism for allegedly underreporting deaths in long-term care facilities and for a controversial directive that may have fanned the flames of the outbreak in nursing homes. Cuomos March 25, 2020, directivesubsequently reversed in May 2020essentially prohibited nursing home operators from refusing to accept residents even if they tested positive for COVID-19. LeDuffs said in another tweet that, while Cuomo reversed his policy, Whitmer has not. Whitmer copied most everything from [Cuomo] on nursing homes. Except one HUGE difference. Cuomo stopped [COVID-positive] people from returning home back in May. Whitmer still allows it, he wrote. In the early days of the pandemic, Michiganalong with New York and four other statesimplemented a policy that sought to prevent hospital overcrowding by returning medically stable seniors to the nursing homes they lived in. Whitmers April 15 executive order imposed a condition for such readmission, namely that the facilities had to set up dedicated isolation units and have adequate personal protective equipment. Critics have argued, however, that the policy of intermingling COVID-19 patients with others in nursing homes exposed vulnerable residents to the CCP virus and may have led to more deaths. Meanwhile, at a hearing last week, Michigan House Oversight Committee Chair Steve Johnson, a Republican, said he contacted the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) asking for clarity on discrepancies between the departments tracking numbers and figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on COVID-19 related deaths, ClickOnDetroit reported. The CDC figures show a lower number of COVID-19 deaths at long-term care facilities in Michigan compared to state numbers. Responding in a letter, MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel told committee members that the state has consistently implemented the most accurate reporting protocols with the goal of maintaining quality death data, according to the outlet. MDHHS worked with legislative staff to ensure that the metrics and data surrounding nursing homes that were of interest to the Legislature were publicly available, Hertel wrote, as cited by ClickOnDetroit. It is my belief that Michigan has done an exemplary job of collecting, tracking, and validating data throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and it cannot be overstated the commitment by our staff and partners in ensuring that the data is correct. New Online Tool Provides Data for Local Businesses By Tim Brockwell PADUCAH - Kentucky Association for Economic Development President and CEO Matthew Tackett was the featured speaker at Thursday morning's Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce March Power in Partnership breakfast.Tackett has served in his position since 2017. He demonstrated a new online tool called SizeUp Kentucky, which allows local business owners to access data about other businesses in the commonwealth to see how they measure up against the competition.The free online tool, which was developed through a partnership with the University of Kentucky, analyzes several different metrics about a business and provides detailed comparison data against other area businesses."The goal of the project is to provide business professionals and civic leaders with tools and knowhow to support the business community and to catalyze growth." Tackett said. "We have a platform to provide free market analytic and business intelligence data to businesses in the commonwealth. We're able today to share with you that we've provided SizeUp Kentucky, a market analytic business intelligence tool to every business in Paducah."Tackett said SizeUp Kentucky gives small business owners free access to data that a short time ago was only available to larger businesses."You can compare your business performance to industry competitors across multiple performance indicators." Tackett said.Tackett said the new tool is designed to help small businesses compete in an increasingly difficult environment, and to take advantage of new opportunities."We know Kentucky can succeed, because we have demonstrated our ability to provide key and global industries with a world class economic opportunity in our state," He said. "Global industry recognizes Kentucky as a fantastic place to do business."Click the link below to visit the SizeUp Kentucky website.On the Net: Every day roughly 300 people, mostly members of the Greater Westfield community, drive to work at one of the largest employers in Western Massachusetts, and, once a month, that number increases to approximately 1,000 members of our community working as a team at one employer. Since 1947, just a short drive from the Westfield exit off the Massachusetts Turnpike, the Air National Guards 104th Fighter Wing has been a constant at Barnes Regional Airport. Our team includes generations of families who have grown up in the area and those who have chosen to transfer to Barnes to join the 104th family. For as long as I can remember, Barnes has always been engrained into my familys life, says Staff Sgt. Michael C. Reynolds, aerospace medical technician. Growing up in the area, there was always the sound of the previous A-10 Warthog or the current F-15 in the air. My parents brought my brothers and I up with the teachings of a modern-day military family, which has prepared us for our own careers in the military. When my time to join came, there was no doubt I had to go to the 104th. It was more than just being from the area and its convenience that made the decision. It was the fact that I could serve on the base that my father had served on and still does, as well as many other family members. It was the sense of community that was always at the 104th which turns into your family thatll have your back when you need it. Today in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, I serve along the side of all my brothers and sisters who took the oath of enlistment; it has been the best six years of my life. While Reynolds sustains the legacy that his father has passed down to him, others who grew up in other communities around the nation and started their careers at other bases chose to transfer here to Barnes to put down their roots. I had been trying to move to New England for years and remembered my trainer in Jacksonville, Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Puckett saying that if he had to work anywhere other than (Jacksonville) he would work at Barnes, says Master Sgt. Patrick Greaney, the non-commissioned officer in charge of maintenance management analysis. It was the best group of people he had ever been around. That stuck in my head from 2009 when he said it to me until 2018 when my wife, Staff Sgt. Whitney Greaney, and I made the move here. As an Air National Guard unit, the 104th has a federal mission to lead missions overseas and answer the presidents call and a state mission to defend the Northeast and support our community when the governor calls. On any given day, our F-15C Eagles could take off to deter or intercept aircraft, our civil engineers could respond to clear roads from a snow storm, our communications squadron could set up remote communications capabilities, our services personnel could lead search-and-recovery missions, our explosive ordnance disposal team could respond to a call to assist local law enforcement, our chaplains could provide services and support in the community or any other number of professionals we train and employ could answer the call to defend our nation or support our communities. Our team members are constantly learning and innovating to continue to do our jobs. Our history as a fighter jet unit and as a member of this community pushes us to forge leaders and embrace opportunities to work with the latest technology, including the latest fighter jet. Over the years, we have flown the P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, F-94 Starfire, F-86 Sabrejet, F-84 Thunderstreak, F-100 Supersabre, A-10 Thunderbolt II, currently the F-15C Eagle and, moving into the future, the next-generation fighter jet. While the aircraft continue to evolve over the years, the mission remains the same: maintain air superiority to defend our nation overseas and here at home. It is a mission in which the Barnes family takes pride and intends to continue to entrust to future generations. Lindsey S. Watson is a master sergeant and public affairs manager for the Air National Guards 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield. Her column will appear monthly. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 09:25:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Nick Mitzevich, director of the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), introduces the paintings at the media preview of an exhibition in Canberra, Australia on March 3, 2021. An exhibition with 61 paintings from the National Gallery London spanning nearly 500 years will start on Friday. It brought together works of 56 of European history's greatest artists including Botticelli, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Goya, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Gauguin, and will run until June 14. (Photo by Liu Changchang/Xinhua) CANBERRA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- From a Self Portrait of Rembrandt to Sunflowers of Vincent van Gogh, the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) gives people a rare chance to view some of the most celebrated paintings in the world. An exhibition with 61 paintings from the National Gallery London spanning nearly 500 years will start on Friday. It brought together works of 56 of European history's greatest artists including Botticelli, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Goya, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Gauguin, and will run until June 14. "These works are outstanding, this exhibition is a 500-year slice of artistic excellence from some of the greatest creative spirits of all time," said Nick Mitzevich, director of the NGA. While many of the works were familiar to audiences, coordinating curator from the NGA Sally Foster noted that people should not underestimate the power of seeing them in real life. "These paintings are absolutely radiant. They light up the room. There is a reason they are considered masterpieces," she said. The exhibition was arranged in seven parts, from Italian Renaissance painting, Dutch painting of the Golden Age, British portraiture, to France and the rise of modern art. Of all the painting a notable piece was Sunflowers that Van Gogh painted in 1888, with various shades of yellow. Although the artist left several paintings with sunflowers as the theme, Foster told Xinhua that this was the one that Van Gogh himself thought was the best. "He talked about the intensity of the yellows," she said. "It's also the work that his friend Paul Gauguin, the artist to who he actually painted it for, thought was the most successful. He thought it was the best painting Van Gogh had ever done." "When you see it, you see how he painted it. And you get close to have a look, you can feel the emotional intensity and the seriousness with which he painted it," said Foster. At the exhibition visitors are also able to see the Self Portrait at the Age of 34 by Dutch painter Rembrandt, one of the most famous of his many self portraits. The pose he took in the painting was based on historic self portraits of Albrecht Durer, Titian and Raphael. In this way Rembrandt was paying homage to and aligning himself with those famous artists in the history. Foster said it was one of her favorite paintings at the exhibition. "I really do feel like when I am standing in front of this painting, I am looking at Rembrandt. I am looking into the eyes of the artist. And he is looking back at us. He is completely aware who he is, aware that he will go down the art history as one of the greatest. " It is the first major international exhibition in Australia since COVID-19 forced international borders to be closed in the country last March. Foster said it was "enormously difficult" to make this exhibition happen. "The logistics of a show like this is always huge," she said. "But just with the complication of COVID... it's amazing to watch it all come together actually in a huge relief." The exhibition was open with limited timed-entry tickets available for 12 sessions per day. "After a year of uncertainty and difficulties for many people, I'm glad we can play a part in bringing joy and inspiration to the community in the form of these extraordinary paintings," said Mitzevich. Enditem San Franciscans will recoup nearly $100 million in overpaid trash-collection fees after a probe by the City Attorneys Office detailed how the waste management company Recology improperly hiked its prices over the last four years, City Attorney Dennis Herrera said Thursday. The settlement between the city and Recology represents the latest twist in the sprawling City Hall corruption saga centered around former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, other city officials, contractors and nonprofit groups. Nuru played a key role in the rate-setting process for Recology. The results of Herreras investigation and a separate federal probe allege that Nuru accepted bribes from Recology in exchange for allowing the company to inflate its rates. A former Recology executive was fired and arrested in November in light of those allegations. Officials said that in addition to the alleged bribes, Recology failed to account for revenue it would receive from ratepayers during its application for a rate increase in 2017. These underreported funds, officials said, amounted to a rate increase of 14% instead of the 7% Recology should have received. In a statement, Recology officials characterized the overcharging as an inadvertent mistake, and said they immediately reported it to the City Attorneys Office. City officials said Recology counsel made the disclosure in December 2020, nearly a year after they were subpoenaed by the City Attorneys Office. As part of the settlement, Recology will pay $94.5 million to reimburse ratepayers for overcharges and interest fees and will lower its residential and commercial waste rates beginning April 1. The reimbursements total more than $100 million for San Francisco Recology customers, with the average household expected to receive about $190, officials said. The company serves about 160,000 customers in San Francisco. With this legal action, we are making San Francisco ratepayers whole and sending a clear message that cozying up to regulators wont be tolerated, Herrera said in a statement. Mohammed Nuru may have had his challenges keeping the streets clean, but he clearly excelled at cronyism, slush funds, and indifferent oversight. Recology Chief Executive Officer Sal Coniglio said in a statement that the company is grateful to the City Attorney for helping us reach a resolution that benefits our San Francisco customers. We are reviewing our internal processes and working with the City to ensure an issue like this never reoccurs. The amount each ratepayer will be refunded will depend on how long theyve been a Recology customer and the type of service purchased. Both current and former customers are eligible for reimbursement, and current customers are required to receive their refund by Sept. 1, Herrera said. Recology will also be required to provide monthly reports on the status of its refunds and to pay a $7 million penalty to the city. San Francisco is unable to bar Recology from doing business with the city Herrera said, due to a 1932 ordinance that grants it exclusive rights as the citys trash collector. We think that getting $100 million back for San Francisco ratepayers and commercial residents ... is a real success, Herrera said at a news conference Thursday. And what happens with future trash service in San Francisco is something Im sure policymakers will look into and debate. District Three Supervisor Aaron Peskin said his office is already looking into ways the city can break Recologys monopoly. On Tuesday, Peskin will ask the city to form a task force to study other options for trash collection, including municipal services or putting out a competitive bid. The goal, he said, is to present the decision to voters as an upcoming ballot measure. This task force will ultimately steer San Franciscos antiquated garbage collection regime into the 21st century, where it can be cleaner, more efficient and more affordable, he said. The announcement comes about four months after federal prosecutors charged former Recology executive Paul Giusti with bribery and concealing money laundering, alleging that he funneled more than $1 million to Nuru over the span of several years. Nurus former post allowed him to play a key role in approving rate increases for garbage collection, and the intent of the bribe, prosecutors said, was to keep him happy. The citys civil investigation revealed that Nuru regularly solicited funds from Recology for the benefit of himself and city employees, despite a San Francisco law that banned giving or receiving gifts from restricted sources. Officials said that from 2016 to 2020, Recology and its affiliated companies regularly provided gifts of money, meals and accommodations to city employees, allegedly to influence decisions affecting Recology. Some of the gifts, officials said, were funneled through a nonprofit and used to foot the bill for employee holiday parties hosted by Nuru. The ramifications of our work with the city attorney on this investigation are not abstract there are real financial consequences for San Franciscans, City Controller Ben Rosenfield said. Nuru was arrested and charged last year after federal officials alleged that he had attempted to bribe an airport commissioner and that he had lied to the FBI. A federal investigation revealed how he allegedly orchestrated a pay-to-play scheme that involved contractors bribing public officials to curry favor while bidding for lucrative city contracts. Federal officials allege that Giusti quietly siphoned money from Recology to Nuru and the Department of Public Works by using nonprofits like the Lefty ODouls Foundation as an intermediary. Both federal and city investigators have zeroed in on how money has flowed between contractors and city departments, and said that nonprofits have helped launder allegedly illicit payments. Meanwhile Herrera and Rosenfield began their own investigation into Nuru and several city departments, contractors and nonprofit groups with a focus on violations of city rules. Several members of the Board of Supervisors and Mayor London Breed lauded the settlement as an important step in the citys efforts to regain the trust of its residents. This is an appalling case for our residents and businesses who have been overpaying their trash rates for years, Breed said in a statement. The good news is that thanks to the city attorney, they will be getting that money back now. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy (Natural News) Texas largest power cooperative filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court in Houston on Monday, March 1, citing a disputed $ 1.8 billion debt to the states grid operator. Court documents show that Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, which supplies electricity to more than 660,000 consumers across the state, filed for Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The company claimed that it could not pay a $1.8 billion bill from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) stemming from a severe cold snap last month. Brazos is just one of dozens of providers facing enormous charges caused by last months severe cold snap. The fallout threatens both utilities and power marketers, which are collectively facing billions of dollars in blackout-related charges. Brazos caught in liquidity trap Half of Texas power plants were knocked out by unusually frigid temperatures in mid-February, leaving millions of people without heat or light for days. At the same time, Brazos and other providers committed to providing power to the grid were required to buy replacement power at high rates to cover other firms unpaid fees. ERCOT on Monday said that $2.46 million in bills went unpaid, underscoring the financial stress on utilities and power marketers. ERCOT itself acted as a clearinghouse, collecting from power buyers and then paying those who generated it. The squeeze was triggered when ERCOT pushed up spot-market rates to $9,000 per megawatt hour (mwh) over more than four days. At the same time, it also levied huge fees up to 500 times the usual rate for services. Brazos executive Clifton Karnie told the federal court that Brazos found itself caught in a liquidity trap that it cannot solve with its current balance sheet. Karnie previously sat on ERCOTs board of directors until last week. According to Brazos, ERCOTs $2.1 billion invoice was nearly three times the cooperatives power costs for all of 2020. According to Karnie, this forced the company to respond by issuing a notice of force majeure, rejecting the bills. Texas power companies in trouble Brazos bankruptcy filing highlighted the troubles faced by Texas power providers following colder than normal temperatures this past February. The municipal power sector is in a real crisis, said Maulin Patani, founder of independent power marketer Volt Electricity Provider LP, which is not a member of the Brazos cooperative. Talking to Reuters, Patani warned that further defaults could occur should ERCOT not suspend the service charges. ERCOT Vice-President of Commercial Operations Kenan Ogelman has conceded as much, saying that defaults are possible, and some have already happened. Prior to Brazos filing for bankruptcy, energy producer Just Energy saw its shares crash by more than 21 percent last week after the Canadian company released a statement about the steep losses it incurred last month in Texas. Just Energy also pointed to ERCOTs high prices during the February freeze. The sustained high prices from February 13, 2021 through February 19, 2021, during which real-time market prices were artificially set at USD $9,000/MWh for much of the week, it is likely that the Weather Event has resulted in a substantial negative financial impact to the Company, Just Energy said in a statement. Based on current information available to the company as of the time of this press release, the company estimates that the financial impact of the Weather Event on the company could be a loss of approximately USD $250 million (approximately CAD $315 million), but the financial impact could change as additional information becomes available to the company. Meanwhile, debt analyst Fitch Ratings has warned of potential downgrades to all Texas municipal power firms that use the states grid. It stated last week that costs from the storm could exceed the liquidity immediately available to these issuers. Others were taking steps to prevent companies from defaulting by having to pay ERCOTs bills. Last week, the city of Denton in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area sued ERCOT in state court to prevent it from charging the city for bills uncollected from other grid users. As part of their investigation into the blackout, the office of the Texas attorney general has called on ERCOT and others to provide documents on the outages and pricing, saying that they mismanaged the crisis. (Related: Federal regulators plan to investigate Texas power outages.) Followe Disaster.news for more on the fallout of Texas power crisis. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com 1 Reuters.com ZeroHedge.com 2 The U.S. oil benchmark, WTI Crude, jumped early on Thursday to above $64 a barrel, soaring by more than 5 percent, after OPEC+ sources began telling reporters that the coalition may be close to agreeing not to increase their collective oil production in April. WTI Crude prices were surging by 5.06% at $64.21 as of 11:18 a.m. ET on Thursday. Brent Crude prices jumped above $67 per barrel, to $67.17, up by 5.10%, after OPEC+ sources started to leak insights from the ongoing OPEC+ ministerial meeting. According to delegates, the discussion is now about a rollover of production for all members except for Russia and Kazakhstan, which will be allowed to boost output by 130k and 20k respectively, Amena Bakr, Deputy Bureau Chief & Chief Opec Correspondent at Energy Intelligence, tweeted. Saudi Arabia, OPECs top producer and de facto leader, is proposing a rollover of the current level of cuts into April and May, according to various reports. In addition, Saudi Arabia will be keeping its additional 1 million barrels per day (bpd) production cut in April, too. That extra cut was initially planned to last only in February and March. Russia, as well as Kazakhstan, were pushing for an increase in the collective production. Russia, the leader of the non-OPEC group of nations in the OPEC+ pact, was reportedly pushing to get an increase in April to meet high domestic fuel demand, according to various sources and reports. Start Trading On OPC Markets Today Saudi Arabia, however, as expected, was calling for a more cautious approach, with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman saying at the meeting, as carried by Bloomberg: At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, I would once again urge caution and vigilance. Before we take our next step forward, let us be certain the glimmer we see ahead is not the headlight of an oncoming express train, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said. The market was expecting quite a different outcome from todays OPEC+ meeting, including Saudi Arabia reversing its extra cut and the group lifting production by as much as 500,000 bpd. It looks like Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman was right when he said two weeks ago: Those who are trying to predict the next move of OPEC+, to those I say, dont try to predict the unpredictable. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Supreme Court on Thursday (March 4) said the centre should present guidelines to regulate OTT platform content. During the recent hearing for the Tandav cases, the court observed that a few OTT platforms show some kind of pornographic content at times, and there should be a mechanism to screen such programmes. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R Subhash Reddy said, "A balance has to be struck as some OTT platforms are also showing pornographic materials on their platforms." The court has asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to present the recent guidelines of the government to regulate social media platforms on Friday (March 5). On the same day, the court would also hear the plea of Amazon Prime Video's India head Aparna Purohit. The Allahabad High Court recently rejected Aparna Purohit's anticipatory bail in connection with the FIRs lodged against her over web series Tandav. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Purohit, said the cases against her are "shocking" as she is just an Amazon employee, neither a producer nor an actor in the show. According to reports, Aparna has been named in around 10 cases against the show, across the country. On February 25, the Allahabad High Court had rejected her anticipatory bail plea stating, "The irresponsible conduct against the inherent mandate of the Constitution of India by anyone affecting the fundamental rights of the large number of citizens cannot be acquiesced to only because of the tendering of unconditional apology after committing the alleged act of crime and indiscretion." Meanwhile, Amazon Prime Video has issued a statement apologising for 'objectionable' scenes in the web series on Tuesday (March 2) evening. The streaming platform in the statement expressed "deep regrets" and said, "We respect our viewers' diverse beliefs and apologise unconditionally to anyone who felt hurt by these scenes." Tandav, helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar and written by Gaurav Solanki, stars Saif Ali Khan, Twinkle Khanna, Sunil Grover, Gauahar Khan, Anup Soni, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub among others. ALSO READ: Amazon Prime Video Issues Fresh Apology Over Tandav Row, Says, 'We Respect Our Viewers' Diverse Beliefs' ALSO READ: The Family Man 2: Amazon Prime Video To Postpone Release In Wake Of Tandav And Mirzapur Controversy? Colorado first-time unemployment claims edge lower First-time unemployment claims filed last week with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment fell slightly from the previous week as two programs are set to expire next week. Claims filed by payroll workers fell 13% from the week ended Feb. 20 to 13,034 for the week ended Feb. 27. However, claims by self-employed persons and contract workers jumped 23.7% during the same period to 9,916. Total claims of both types fell by 41 filings, or 0.2%, to 23,950. The department said nearly 191,000 people continue to receive unemployment payments, but nearly two-thirds will lose benefits with the expiration next Thursday of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for self-employed and contractors and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program that pays and extra 11 weeks of benefits to all types of workers. Wayne Heilman, The Gazette Most Michigan residents currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine can schedule their shots at their local Rite-Aid. Rite-Aid is offering vaccinations in all counties and cities in Michigan where it has stores. Right now, the pharmacy is serving these eligible groups: Anyone 65 and older Healthcare workers Long-term care residents and staff Pharmacy staff Public health employees RELATED: Michiganders 50 and older will soon be eligible for coronavirus vaccine Rite-Aid is not authorized to vaccinate school staff, child care workers or correctional officers, although those groups are currently eligible for vaccination under state guidelines. RELATED: Michigan opens vaccines to more people, but frustration grows for those still struggling to book appointments Appointments must be scheduled online here. Appointments cannot be made by phone or in person. The company is among the first to participate in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which is allocating vaccine doses directly to pharmacies for distribution based on state and local eligibility requirements. Rite-Aid is currently distributing doses in California, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Philadelphia and New York City. READ MORE: Nearly 1.5M Michiganders have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose Disabled Michiganders, caretakers and advocates take issue with low vaccine priority 6 things you need to know about new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine Gov. Whitmer balks at notion severance pay to former health director was hush money "We feel that the partnership with Sextant Marketing is the best way to highlight why students should choose NMUs Global Campus." Sextant Marketing, a leader in fee-for-service marketing and enrollment support in higher education, has been chosen by Northern Michigan University as the schools partner for media, marketing, and enrollment efforts. Sextant will act as the schools marketing Agency of Record, providing advisory, consulting, and management services. Working with Northern Michigan University, Sextant will develop university marketing strategies and enrollment marketing services designed specifically for the school, including paid media and social media campaigns, SEO services and content development. Sextant will focus on the NMU Global Campus, which offers online degree programs that Northern Michigan University holds to the same high standard as those on campus. Sextant will provide university marketing strategies, as well as creative and media management. "The NMU Global Campus team is excited about our partnership with Sextant Marketing. With our small staff and limited resources, it is getting harder to reach our audience, and it is essential to use what resources we have wisely, said Brad Hamel, Director of Global Campus Operations for Northern Michigan University. Sextant Marketing will be an extension of our team, building on NMUs mission and vision to grow our online market share in both the regional and national markets. Matthew Speer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Sextant Marketing, said the Tampa-based company looks forward to working with the University and helping to shape its marketing strategy. Northern Michigan University is a fantastic school with unlimited potential for its Global Campus, said Matthew. Were perfectly suited to help them reach their ambitious targets for student enrollment. We have a great team with the right tools to leverage all the benefits of digital marketing, including paid search, social media, SEO and more. Sextant will provide a variety of university marketing strategy services to Northern Michigan University, including: Developing and executing marketing plans for the NMU Global Campus Planning, developing, and maintaining media strategy, marketing research, and media placement services for Northern Michigan University nationally Providing strategic and tactical management of Northern Michigan University's paid digital marketing activities Applying geo-targeting functionality where applicable Providing strategic and technical website optimization Establishing and managing ongoing strategic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaigns Providing creative and technical services Brad Hamel said the partnership with Sextant is a perfect fit for the university. NMUs Global Campus offers quality online academic programming with the personal touch that distance learners expect, he said. We feel that the partnership with Sextant Marketing is the best way to highlight why students should choose NMUs Global Campus." About Sextant Marketing Centrally located in the heart of Tampas historic Latin District, Sextant Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency and consultancy dedicated to the service of higher education. We are a team of full-funnel student enrollment experts with deep experience delivering coordinated new student recruitment, retention, and yield campaigns across all program and student types. Sextant Marketing is a nimble partner with a comprehensive approach made possible through our forward-thinking model and 19+ years in higher education program management working with some of the nations leading institutions. About Northern Michigan University Northern Michigan University, located in historic Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic, public university known for its undergraduate research opportunities, award-winning leadership programs, and cutting-edge technology initiatives. NMUs Global Campus offers online academic programs ranging from one-year certificates to a doctorate degree. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below (@FahadShabbir) Germany's financial watchdog said Wednesday it froze the operations of the German banking subsidiary of troubled British group Greensill Capital, citing an "imminent risk" of over-indebtedness Frankfurt am Main, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Mar, 2021 ):Germany's financial watchdog said Wednesday it froze the operations of the German banking subsidiary of troubled British group Greensill Capital, citing an "imminent risk" of over-indebtedness. The move comes as the parent company of Greensill Bank is preparing to file for insolvency, according to the Financial Times and Bloomberg News. German regulator Bafin said it had placed an immediate "moratorium" on payments in and out of the Bremen-based bank, essentially closing down its business, "as there is an imminent risk that the bank will become over-indebted". In its statement, the watchdog expressed concern about accounting irregularities at Greensill Bank, including in dealings with the GFG Alliance Group headed by Indian-British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta. "During a special forensic audit, Bafin found that Greensill Bank AG was unable to provide evidence of the existence of receivables in its balance sheet that it had purchased from the GFG Alliance Group," Bafin said. Bafin said Greensill Bank's total assets amounted to 4.5 billion euros at the end of 2020, and the bank therefore does not pose a systemic risk to Germany's financial system. The bank describes itself as a refinancing institution for the Greensill group, which is itself a leading provider of short-term supply-chain financing for industrial firms, Bafin said. The regulator added that under German law, deposits at the Bremen bank are guaranteed up to 100,000 euros per customer. ALBANY, New York Vaccinated Ohioans are now free to visit New York, without following the states onerous travel restrictions. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced late Wednesday that vaccinated Americans no longer have to follow the states complicated quarantine and testing rules, established last fall to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Since November, most visitors to New York have been required to show proof of a negative COVID test within three days of arrival, then quarantine for three days, followed by a second negative test. The rules effectively prohibited most leisure and business travel to the state, although enforcement was inconsistent and residents of neighboring states were exempt. Starting this week, U.S. travelers who have been vaccinated within 90 days are free to move about the state. Since the pandemic began, New York has had some of the strictest travel requirements of any states. Earlier this year, residents of certain states with high COVID infection rates were required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Ohio, with fluctuating rates of infection, spent much of the summer and fall on New Yorks restricted list. The loosening of restrictions comes as good news to some vaccinated Ohio skiers, who have been prohibited from the popular slopes in western New York all winter. Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, N.Y., for example, typically draws as many as one-third of its skiers from Ohio. Its unclear how the vaccination status of travelers will be confirmed and whether vaccinated visitors will still be required to fill out a travel health form. For updates: coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory Read more: New York alters travel advisory for Ohioans as ski season approaches; new rules require multiple COVID tests Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G) ("Maple Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Kiran Patankar to the position of Senior Vice President, Growth Strategy. Mr. Patankar is a proven mining executive with more than a decade of senior experience at growth-focused public companies and leading Canadian/global financial institutions. In this new role, he will complement the corporate development team in its pursuit of new growth opportunities. Matthew Hornor, Maple Gold's President and CEO, stated: "I am delighted to welcome Kiran to the Maple Gold team. His strong finance, capital markets and technical background will perfectly complement the skill sets of our existing team and enable us to move deftly ahead on corporate growth opportunities." Kiran Patankar, Maple Gold's SVP, Growth Strategy, stated: "I couldn't be more excited to join the team at Maple Gold. I have known Matthew for many years and we share a deep commitment to shareholder value creation as well as an optimistic yet pragmatic view of the gold mining sector. With a district scale project in the prolific Abitibi gold belt, a strategic partnership with one of the world's premier gold mining companies, and a strong balance sheet, we are well positioned to capitalize on near-term opportunities and to execute on our longer-term corporate growth priorities. I look forward to working closely with our highly experienced management team, advisors and board to build upon the Company's recent successes." Kiran Patankar - SVP, Growth Strategy Mr. Patankar brings a diverse set of technical and strategic leadership skills including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, mining project evaluation and optimization, contracts negotiation, stakeholder engagement and corporate governance. He was previously President, CEO and a Director of two TSX-V listed gold exploration and development companies, where he led growth initiatives and orchestrated successful company turnarounds. From 2007-2014, Mr. Patankar was an investment banker at Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. and Mackie Research Capital Corp., where he advised a range of public and private companies on strategic corporate matters, including internal and external growth projects as well as M&A and equity financing transactions totaling more than $3 billion. Mr. Patankar holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. Story continues Stock Option Grant In conjunction with the appointment, the Company has granted Mr. Patankar 400,000 stock options that are exercisable at a price of $0.325. The options have a 5-year term and vest one-third immediately, one-third 12 months from the date of grant and one-third 24 months from the date of grant until the options are fully vested. The Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") governs these options, as well as the terms and conditions of their exercise, which is in accordance with policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). Annual Grant of Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units Pursuant to its new Plan dated December 17, 2020, the Company has made an aggregate grant of 550,000 Deferred Share Units ("DSUs") to its Directors and an aggregate grant of 3,175,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") to its Directors, officers and employees. The RSUs will vest 1/3 on April 30, 2021, 1/3 in 12 months and 1/3 in 24 months following the date of grant. Further details regarding the Plan are set out in the Management Information Circular of the Company filed on November 23, 2020, which is available on SEDAR. About Maple Gold Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company in a 50/50 joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited to jointly advance the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The project benefits from exceptional infrastructure access and boasts ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold resource that holds significant resource expansion potential as well as the past-producing Telbel mine. The property also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55 km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the project ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is well capitalized and is currently focused on carrying out aggressive exploration programs to grow resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.com. ON BEHALF OF MAPLE GOLD MINES LTD. "Matthew Hornor" B. Matthew Hornor, President & CEO For Further Information Please Contact: Ms. Shirley Anthony Director, Corporate Communications Cell: 778.999.2771 Email: santhony@maplegoldmines.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 PRESS RELEASE. Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about corporate development opportunities. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.'s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76047 The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed an election reform bill on Wednesday, which they argue is essential to expanding voting access and improving accountability and transparency in Washington. The bill is one of a handful which have been singled out as priorities - such as the Equality Act, and the George Floyd police reform bill. Officially known as HR1, the election reform bill would update voting procedures and require states to turn over the task of redrawing congressional districts to independent commissions. The bill passed by a mostly bipartisan vote of 220 to 210. John Sarbanes, the Maryland congressman who sponsored the bill, said it was 'designed to restore the voices of Americans who felt left out and locked out for too long.' Nancy Pelosi is seen on Wednesday speaking to support the bill, known as HR1 House Democrats are seen gathering on the steps of Congress on Wednesday He added: 'I don't think the urgency has ever been greater. 'When you look at what Republicans are doing across the country in statehouses to roll back access to the ballot box, we need to do what we can to establish baseline standards and best practices that allow people to register and vote in America without it being an obstacle course for them.' House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, another Maryland Democrat, said: 'We believe that HR 1 needs to pass because the Republican state legislators, concerned about their losses, either in their own states or in the country, are again upping their efforts to make it more difficult for people to vote.' Republicans, however, argue that the legislation limits political speech and represents an overreach and a federal power grab that Democrats are advancing in an effort to gain an advantage in elections. House Republicans have urged their members to vote against it. HR1 has been described by supporters as a way of holding Washington accountable HR1 is designed to improve electoral access for U.S. citizens and look at Congressional districts President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill into law if it cleared both the House and the Senate. But the bills face long odds in the Senate, where all 48 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them would need to be joined by 10 Republican senators to overcome a filibuster. 'We're going to do everything in our power - I think Chuck Schumer's going to do everything in his power - to make sure that the agenda that we are working on and promised the people will in fact be the agenda we put forward and hopefully pass,' said Hoyer. Already, some Democrats have trained fire on the filibuster and called for its elimination. Hoyer called it 'undemocratic' on Tuesday, while James Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat, described how it had been used to deny rights to black citizens. A move to destroy the filibuster would face severe opposition. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has repeatedly said he would 'never' vote to get rid of it, while Biden has said he opposes overturning it. Some Democrats have suggested a compromise of a carve-out could be possible. Democrats argue that HR1 will allow more people to have a stake in the country Electoral officials are seen counting votes in Philadelphia on November 4 Asked about the possibility of a carve-out for voting rights issues, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock told a reporter on Tuesday: 'I think that the issues are urgent enough to leave all options on the table.' The bill has particular importance this year because the U.S. Census Bureau is set to turn over population data states use to redraw congressional district maps ahead of the 2022 elections, in which every House lawmaker's seat is up for grabs. States use different criteria and procedures for drawing the maps. In 33 states, state legislatures control at least part of the process, the National Conference of State Legislatures says. Parties in control of state legislatures have often wielded the power to draw the maps in a way that benefits the party in power. Some states have also used this process to target black voters. The measure also comes as lawmakers in 43 states have introduced legislation to place more limits on voting, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Several states, including Georgia, where Warnock and Democrat Jon Ossoff were elected in a political upset in January, have since introduced legislation to change election procedures that activists say make it harder for people to vote. George Floyd bill to outlaw chokeholds and other police tactics passes the House but faces challenge in the Senate as Minneapolis boards up ahead of Derek Chauvin's trial next week Congress on Wednesday passed the 'George Floyd Bill' to ban controversial policing tactics, as the city of Minneapolis braced itself for the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of killing him. Chauvin's trial begins with jury selection beginning on Monday - a process that could take up to three weeks. He will be tried separately from the three other former Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's death. Their trial is in August. Derek Chauvin will be tried at Hennepin County Government Center from Monday Floyd died on May 25 after he was arrested for using a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis and Chauvin (right) placed his knee on Floyd's neck Officers involved in Floyd's death, L-R: Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao Floyd, 46, an African-American man, died when he was detained with Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nearly eight minutes. His killing sparked weeks of nationwide and global protests, many of which were led by Black Lives Matter activists. Downtown Minneapolis has begun boarding up businesses, ahead of one of the most high-profile trials in years. The City Center shopping mall is reusing plywood barricades erected during the summer's protests, and the managers will add more private security and likely reduce hours during the trial, The Star Tribune reported. Businesses and government buildings are seen boarded up in Minneapolis on Wednesday Barricades, razor wire and barbed wires fences are seen in front of the courthouse The area surrounding the courthouse has been reinforced ahead of the March 8 trial Steve Cramer, president of the Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District, encouraged business owners to have faith in authorities. 'Downtown will continue to fully function during this period, and that's largely a result of a really thorough preparation,' he said. Yet the city's Community Planning and Economic Development department warned business owners to take emergency precautions and make sure insurance policies are up to date. 'You might want to consider adding physical barriers, such as boarding or permanent security gates,' said Erik Hansen, Economic Policy and Development Director, at a recent news conference. As Minneapolis prepared for the trial, in Washington DC the House of Representatives passed the bill through a vote 220-212, with the support of only one Republican. Officially known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, it now moves to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain. Protesters outside the site of Floyd's killing, the day after the 46-year-old died A woman weeps outside the George Floyd memorial on May 20, four days after he was killed A man takes a photo of protest signs in Los Angeles on June 3 during the George Floyd protests 'How many more people have to die, how many more people have to be brutalized on videotape' before police reforms become law, asked Democratic Representative Karen Bass, who wrote the legislation with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler. She said the bill would hold police 'accountable' when constitutional rights are violated but would also support local law enforcement by fostering improvements in community policing, especially for minority neighborhoods. One of its most controversial provisions would change 'qualified immunity' for police, further opening the door for lawsuits over the use of excessive force. Reuters in May 2020 published an investigation revealing how qualified immunity, with the Supreme Court's continual refinements, had made it easier for police officers to kill or injure civilians with impunity. Conservative Republicans have attacked the Democratic bill, saying it would put law enforcement lives in danger and make communities less safe. The police reform effort sputtered in Congress last summer after the House passed the so-called George Floyd bill and Democrats blocked a Senate Republican bill. While it also addressed issues such as police choke holds, no-knock warrants and use of police body cameras, Democrats complained it relied on incentives rather than mandating changes. Senator Tim Scott, the author of the Republican bill, told Reuters in a statement he welcomed conversations with Democrats over qualified immunity. Donald Trump tried to shift the blame for the Senate race defeats in Georgia to other Republicans and lashed out at TheWall Street Journal in a new statement. In it, the ex-president attacked Senator Mitch McConnell for the defeats of Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the January special elections that handed control of the Senate to Democrats. Mr Trump, who also lost the state to Joe Biden last November, blamed Mr McConnell for only offering $600 stimulus checks while his opponents campaigned on payments of $2,000. The former president said that the first reason the Senators lost their seats was the anger many GOP voters in the state felt towards Republican leadership there and Governor Brian Kemp. Then he turned his anger on Mr McConnell, who recently voted to acquit Mr Trump at the end of his historic second impeachment trial in the Senate but then delivered a stunning rebuke of the former president saying there was no doubt he bore responsibility for the insurrection. Second, Senator Mitch McConnells refusal to go above $600 per person on the stimulus check payments when the two Democrat opponents were touting $2,000 per person in ad after ad, wrote Mr Trump. This latter point was used against our Senators and the $2,000 will be approved anyway by the Democrats who bought the Georgia election and McConnell let them do it! Even more stupidly, the (NRSC) spent millions of dollars on ineffective TV ads starring Mitch McConnell, the most unpopular politician in the country, who only won in Kentucky because President Trump endorsed him. He would have lost badly without this endorsement. Mr Trump also blasted the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal and its opinion page, where the editorial board recently published an article on Mr Trump, asking If he was so great politically for the GOP, why is the party now out of power? The Wall Street Journal editorial page continues, knowingly, to fight for globalist policies, such as bad trade deals, open borders, and endless wars that favour other countries and sell out our great American workers, and they fight for RINOS that have so badly hurt the Republican Party, replied Mr Trump in his statement. Mr Trump and his MAGA supporters use the term RINOS as shorthand for Republicans in name only, or those conservatives who do not support the ex-president. Thats where they are and thats where they will always be. Fortunately nobody cares much about The Wall Street Journal editorial anymore. They have lost great credibility, he added. In his statement Mr Trump noted that many Republicans were angry that Mr Kemp had failed to stand up to Stacey Abrams, the Democratic activist credited with turning Georgia blue, and the Consent Decree that virtually eliminated signature verification requirements across the state. That claim was quickly debunked on social media, with observers pointing out that the decree just standardised signature match and ballot cure procedures for elections in the state. The statement was a relatively rare intervention by Mr Trump, who has been banned from Twitter previously his favourite form of communication and other social media sites for fear he would incite his followers to violence. Ukraine, Turkey finalizing bilateral FTA The government also plans to expand the free trade area with Canada. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter [March 04, 2021] Volta Industries Names Global HR Executive Julie Rogers as Chief People Officer SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Volta Industries, Inc. (Volta), an industry leader in commerce-centric electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, announced today that it has named Julie Rogers as Chief People Officer. Rogers previously led the People function at Komodo Health, a healthcare data insights platform. In her new role, Rogers is responsible for leading Volta's people function, including scaling culture, designing organizational structure and implementing leading practices. Reporting to Scott Mercer, Founder and CEO of Volta, she will provide strategic direction and expertise for the full scope of the HR function. Rogers brings more than 25 years of diverse People, Leadership and Talent Development experience in high-growth technology, sales and retail industries. Most recently, she led the global People functions at Komodo Health, Culture Amp, and Atlassian. She is an advisor for early-stage companies in the peopletech space, and actively supports, advocates for, and invests in female-founded and -led businesses. "Julie's experience leading companies through periods of high growth while creating an environment for employees to excel will be imperative as we accelerate our business plan," said Scott Mercer. "As Vola continues to evolve, the key to our success is our people. Julie's talent for establishing best practices and gaining insights into what motivates and attracts talent will be a tremendous asset to our leadership team." Volta's EV charging business model is unique to the market. Centered around evolving spending habits caused by the move to electric vehicles, Volta is transforming the fueling infrastructure by building charging networks in locations where drivers already spend their time and money, including grocery stores, pharmacies and other retail locations. Volta's charging stations feature large eye-catching digital displays that function as a sophisticated media network, providing brands a way to reach millions of shoppers moments before they enter a store. These sponsor-supported charging stations provide energy to customers who are able to plug in their vehicles where and when they shop. Volta's business partners who choose to have Volta charging stations installed report an increase in spend, dwell time and engagement on site. Currently located in 23 states and over 200 municipalities, Volta's approach has gained significant acceptance and penetration in the market. "I am excited to join a company that is reimagining the way people interact with our fueling infrastructure. Volta's mission and culture provide a unique environment for individuals who want to have a direct impact on this revolution, while contributing to their own professional growth and development. I look forward to advancing our business mission through the People lens," said Rogers. About Volta For over a decade, Volta has been building a nationwide electric vehicle charging network to drive the world forward. Named after Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the electric battery, Volta's award-winning charging stations benefit brands, consumers, and real-estate locations by providing valuable advertising space to businesses and free charging to drivers. Strategically located in places where consumers already spend their time and money, Volta's chargers are among the most used electric vehicle charging stations in the United States. Headquartered in San Francisco, Volta is bringing to communities the means of building a sustainable fueling network for the 21st century. To learn more, visit www.voltacharging.com . In February 2021, Volta and Tortoise Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: SNPR), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company with a strategic focus on energy sustainability and decarbonizing transportation, announced they entered into a business combination agreement. Upon the closing of the transaction, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, the combined entity will be named Volta Inc. and remain on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol "VLTA". View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volta-industries-names-global-hr-executive-julie-rogers-as-chief-people-officer-301240181.html SOURCE Volta [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] THE head of councils environment committee wants to determine how and when the City of Winnipeg could halt natural gas expansion and rely more on renewable heating sources. THE head of councils environment committee wants to determine how and when the City of Winnipeg could halt natural gas expansion and rely more on renewable heating sources. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) is calling for a civic report to offer timelines on reasonably achieving the following: halting the further expansion of natural gas infrastructure within Winnipeg; stopping the use of natural gas in newly constructed areas; and excluding the use of natural gas in all tenders for new municipal buildings. Mayes said Winnipegs climate action plan calls to ensure eight per cent of all residential and 12 per cent of commercial buildings make efficiency and/or renewable energy upgrades by 2030 to help reduce emissions. In 2011 alone, Winnipeg buildings emitted 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from the burning of natural gas. "We have this grand aspiration in the climate change plan, and we really havent been doing anything toward that. So lets try and do something, lets see what the cost would be, see what the implications are," said Mayes, chairman of the water and waste, riverbank management and environment committee. The councillor said the motion is inspired by Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan), who has repeatedly noted Manitobas abundant hydro-electric power could potentially provide a green heating source. Mayes said hes not yet sure if there is a cost-effective way to switch to more environmentally friendly heat sources or if the city would require senior government approvals to make the changes. "At least lets figure out what powers the City of Winnipeg might have on this," said Mayes. "I grew up hearing (about) clean-burning natural gas... and it is cleaner than coal or oil. But decades later, we realize theres an environmental cost." The motion, which the environment committee is set to vote on March 9, also calls to identify city buildings best suited to switch energy sources. In an email, Manitoba Hydro indicated a mass switch to replace natural gas with hydro-electric energy for heating would come at a steep cost. Spokesman Bruce Owen said natural gas serves 289,000 customers in the province, primarily for heating, and is expected to remain an affordable part of Manitobas energy mix "for the foreseeable future." "Based on current electricity rates and natural gas market prices, heating with natural gas is expected to continue to be cheaper in Manitoba even if federal carbon charges increase to as high as $170 per tonne. The importance of this energy source cannot be overstated. Manitoba Hydro does not currently have the generating capacity to support a mass switch from natural gas to electricity for home heating," said Owen. Enhancing the grid to serve peak energy demand without any natural gas would cost "tens of billions of dollars," he said. A Hydro analysis found electrifying the transportation system would reduce more greenhouse gas emissions than eliminating natural gas as an energy source for heating, he added. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga Increased political tensions over Northern Ireland will risk further damage to near-term trade and cut GDP for the first quarter. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has also warned over a long-term productivity loss outside the EU. Unless the UK can reverse this deterioration through investment and capital flows, the Pound Sterling will tend to weaken over the longer term. Northern Ireland trade row escalates On Wednesday, the UK government announced that the grace period for checks on goods arriving in Northern Ireland would be extended from the end of March until the end of October. Northern Ireland has remained a part of the EU's single market for goods so products arriving from GB undergo EU import procedures. Lord Frost, the Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for EU relations, a UK government spokesperson said "official-level notification" of the move was made to the commission earlier this week. A spokesman for Cabinet Office Minister Lord Frost stated that the extension was needed for "operational reasons" and such measures were "well precedented in other international trade arrangements, and that they were entirely consistent with our intention to discharge our obligations under the Protocol in good faith". European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic stated that the move amounted to "a violation of the relevant substantive provisions" of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, known as the NI Protocol. In response, the EU stated that a UK move to unilaterally extend grace periods for Irish Sea border checks will be a breach of international law. Irish Foreign Secretary Coveney strongly criticised the move and commented; "That is why the EU is now looking at legal options and legal action which means a much more formalised and rigid negotiation process as opposed to a process of partnership where you try to solve the problems together." Deputy Prime Minster Varadkar added that the UK's actions were "not the way a friend should behave" and "not the way a respectable, honourable country should behave". Loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland have withdrawn their support for the Good Friday Agreement in protest at post-Brexit border arrangements. The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) said they no longer backed the 1998 peace deal due to the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Last week, Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionist party launched legal action challenging the Northern Ireland protocol. The judicial review proceedings will argue that the new checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland were imposed without the consent of the public. OBR warns over productivity loss, essential to boost investment In its report yesterday, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) stated that the temporary disruption to EU-UK goods trade would cut GDP by 0.5% for the first quarter of 2021. "This reflects both that exports appear to have been hit harder than imports and that the trade disruption will affect UK supply chains. From a longer-term perspective, it noted that the trade agreement was broadly in line with previous assumptions. It estimated that there would be a long-term productivity loss of around 4% compared with remaining in the EU. If the UK is unable to boost productivity, the equilibrium Pound Sterling rate is likely to be lower. Increased investment will be essential in achieving any productivity improvement. This inevitably influenced Chancellor Sunaks budget with a big boost to investment allowances and introduction of free ports. Evidence on capital flows will be monitored very closely over the next few months. Former President John Dramani Mahama will comment on the judgement by the Supreme Court that dismissed his election petition at 5 pm today. A member of the legal team of the National Democratic Congress, Abraham Amaliba made this known after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on Thursday. We are unable to address you now, however, our flagbearer will address you in his office at 5 pm today", Mr Amaliba said when journalists approached the legal team and spokespersons for a comment after the court ruling on Thursday. Judgement The Supreme Court per a unanimous decision delivered Thursday affirmed Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a validly elected President of Ghana. The court said the petitioner, Mr John Dramani Mahama did not demonstrate in any way how the alleged errors made by the Electoral Commission (EC) in the declaration of the presidential election results by the chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa affected the outcome of the election. "The petitioner has not produced any evidence to re-butt the presumption created by the publication of the C.I. 135", for which the court said the petitioner wanted a re-run to be made. In effect, the Supreme Court said there is no reason to order a re-run, as one of the reliefs by the petitioner and dismiss the petition as having no merit. The Supreme Court therefore dismissed the petition filed by former President John Dramani Mahama which challenged the declaration of President Akufo-Addo as the winner of the 2020 presidential poll by the Electoral Commission. Graphic Online's court reporter, Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson who was in the courtroom said the Supreme Court in its seven-member unanimous decision dismissed the petition as without merit. The court held that the figures as contained in the declaration made by the EC clearly showed that President Akufo-Addo obtained more than 50 percent of the total valid votes cast to be the validly elected President of Ghana. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ULAN BATOR: The Asian Country, Mongolia is contemplating resuming its air border from May first to resume international passenger flights, according to the country's government press office. Mongolia suspended international passenger flights in mid-February 2020 to prevent the spread of Covid-19, according to the Xinhua news reports. "At the direction given by Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, it is planned to reopen Buyant-Ukhaa international airport from May first to resume international passenger air traffic," the press office said in a statement on Thursday. All preparations for the prevention of Covid-19 infection, including immunizing border control staff and setting up glass barriers separating passengers and temporary isolation rooms at the port for suspected cases, are now underway, the statement said. So far, Mongolia has registered 3,076 Covid-19 cases, with six deaths, and around 80 per cent of patients in the country have recovered from the disease. The Asian country launched a Covid-19 vaccination campaign across the country last week, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 per cent of its 3.3 million people. Coronavirus: New studies suggest it evolves naturally: Report US says its relations with India Pak not zero-sum proposition China is a threat to the world order, US slams The South African actor, known for his performance as Wikus van der Merwe in the 2009 science fiction film 'District 9', carries 'Ted K' with a meticulously studied but intense act that is as discomforting as it is impressive. New Delhi: Evil is beguiling, evil geniuses more so. They excite us like tantalising puzzles that we want to examine and solve. Writers, film directors, theatre owners and audiences are almost like law enforcement officers in their pursuit to understand psychopaths and thats why they keep revisiting terrorists, serial killers, rapists -- for yet another peek into their minds, their homes, their rage, and their crimes. But, psychopaths are also cliches. Almost every exploration of a criminal mind that's been mounted on the big screen or split into episodes for OTT platforms is a trek down a familiar road. En route there are absentee or overbearing parents. Some physical or emotional abuse. Theres unease in mundane, social situations. Solace in solitude. And theres almost, always, sexual frustration. Given this template, there is nothing exceptional in the story of Theodore Kaczynski, or as he is better known, Ted Kaczynski, Americas Unabomber. And yet, writer-director Tony Stones film Ted K, which had its world premiere at the 71st International Film Festival of Berlin on Monday, stands out. To tell the story of the Unabomber, Stone uses real television clips, Kaczynskis writings, diary entries which were copious and in numerical code and meshes them with an intense, bravura performance by Sharlto Copley. The South African actor, known for his performance as Wikus van der Merwe in the 2009 science fiction film District 9, carries Ted K with a meticulously studied but intense act that is as discomforting as it is impressive. He remains in an unrelenting wired state throughout, whether he is raging against the whirring helicopters overhead, the pillage of the earth around him, building a bomb or complaining to a telephone company official about the $5 and few cents that a public phone owes him. We watch, in his body and face, as his complexes, sense of superiority, frustration turn into a raging, mad desire to seek revenge on corporates, technology, one parcel bomb at a time. Great performances, especially in biopics, are marked by that moment when the actor becomes the character, embodying and portraying all the ugliness and physicality while creating an inner cosmos that we can read in their eyes, in the tiniest change of expression. Copley as Kaczynski, a mathematics prodigy who joined Harvard University at the age of 16 but then checked out to live by himself in Montana mountains in a 10-by-12 wood cabin, is on the screen throughout. Except for a few brief scenes in the 120-minute film, the camera stays on Copley and there is not a single false note in his compelling act. Among the younger lot in Hollywood, Christian Bale, Leonado de Caprio, Matthew McConaughey, Javier Bardem, Joaquin Phoenix, James Franco and Bradley Cooper are names taken with reverence in terms of how much they give of themselves to a role. Difficult films with demanding roles can ride on them. To that hall of fame, Ted K adds the name of Sharlto Copley. He creates the sort of scary, uneasy portrait of a man in constant distress and rage that wont ever leave you. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell filed a lawsuit Friday (March 29) against Entergy New Orleans, Chevron U.S.A. Inc, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company and eight other oil and gas companies, demanding they repair damage caused by exploration, production and pipeline construction activities to wetlands along the citys eastern edges. The lawsuit, filed at 5 p.m. in Civil District Court, is similar to dozens of other suits filed against oil and gas firms by six Louisiana parishes. Those suits are pending before federal judges in New Orleans and Lafayette. New Orleans has been harmed. The people of our city have been harmed, and our way of life is threatened by the damage done to our coastal wetlands, Cantrell said. The land thats been lost was a protective barrier defending us from hurricanes and floods. If current trends hold, New Orleans will be a literal coastal city within the next fifty years - with no protective land barriers. "Given the challenges we face when it comes to our infrastructure, the additional strain of these damages demands action. Getting our fair share means being made whole by the companies who have harmed us. We are filing this lawsuit to ensure that the residents of Orleans Parish are safe, our economy is protected, and to help restore our coast said City Attorney Sunni LeBeouf. Like the other suits, the city filing argues that in exploration, development and operation of oil and gas wells and pipelines, the energy companies violated provisions of the states Coastal Zone Management Act of 1978, either by not restoring damage such as canals and spoil banks, or cleaning up hazardous and radioactive waste produced during drilling operations. City Council Vice-President Helena Moreno voiced support for the new filing. Our future as a city is strongly connected with the health of our coast. Therefore, its long past time to hold those responsible for coastal damages accountable. They have put New Orleanians at great risk, Moreno said. But industry and business groups quickly criticized it. The Grow Louisiana Coalition, a collection of business-friendly organizations supportive of oil and gas, said the lawsuit ignores the economic impact of the energy industry in the city. Nothing good comes from suing an industry that means so much to New Orleans. Right now, there are more than 1,600 New Orleanians and a couple hundred New Orleans-based businesses working in the energy industry here, said Grow Louisianas Executive Director Marc Ehrhardt in a statement. Lawsuits do not build relationships. They end them. The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, which represents smaller oil firms, also expressed dismay. In a statement sent on Twitter, the groups president, Gifford Briggs, called it unfortunate to see the (city of New Orleans) bow to the administrations pressure for more self-serving lawsuits, in apparent reference to the Edwards administration. Briggs added: These promise snake oil to heal all your ailments, but do nothing other than line the peddlers pockets. It is long past time that the litigation is put on the back burner and state government take back the responsibility it is granted in the Coastal Zone Program, Briggs said. With the filing of this lawsuit, the city of New Orleans sends a message to oil and gas theyre closed for business, said Tyler Gray, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, whose members include larger oil and gas corporations. Unnecessary legal tactics threaten the community investment and cultural support the industry has provided for over a century, which they can now potentially lose, as they wait for several years, as other parishes in the state have, for this to work its way through the judicial process. Comments from Entergy and other companies named in the suit were not immediately available. EOG Resources declined to comment as did Apache Corp. and Kinder Morgan, parent companies for two of the defendants. Its unclear whether oil and gas interests would make good on Grays threats, however. Despite the lawsuits filed by Cameron and Plaquemines parishes, oil and gas firms have committed to spend or already have spent several billion dollars on major new facilities, including several terminals to export liquefied natural gas and oil overseas from locations on the Mississippi and Calcasieu rivers, and several major pipelines to serve those facilities. While the city attorney is named as lead attorney in the case, also listed are firms headed by New Orleans lawyers Gladstone Jones and James Swanson, who represented the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East in a failed attempt to sue oil and gas firms to restore wetlands or for damages aimed at protecting the New Orleans area levee system. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up That lawsuit failed after federal appeals judges upheld a lower court ruling finding that that case as filed under three federal laws to force 97 oil and gas companies to repair damages, and those laws did not require the companies to make the repairs. The citys lawsuit, like the other parish lawsuits, makes clear that it is only attempting to enforce the provisions of the state Coastal Zone statute, and specifies that it is not calling for enforcement of federal laws or the use of state tort statutes governing other types of damage lawsuits. The other 42 parish suits were all removed to federal courts by oil and gas firms in May 2018 on allegations that they were attempting enforce the state laws on actions that occurred before the laws existing, and that some of the company actions were the result of federal directives issued during World War II. Two of those cases have hearings in April that are expected to address those issues, and judges hearing the remaining cases are expected to follow the lead of those two judges in determining whether the suits should be returned to state courts. Other law firms listed as representing the city in the case include Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, and Don A. Rouzan & Associates. Other parishes began filing coastal zone lawsuits in 2013, with most parishes represented by the Baton Rouge law firm of Talbot Carmouche & Marcello, but New Orleans did not enter the fray until Friday. About six months before his term ended in May 2018, former Mayor Mitch Landrieu told reporters that he would make a decision on whether to file a similar suit before his term ended. But he left office without announcing that decision. Both Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and the state Department of Natural Resources have joined as plaintiffs in all the other lawsuits. Two years ago, Gov. John Bel Edwards said he would like all coastal parishes to file similar suits. Edwards said the states intervention is aimed at assuring that any money stemming from the suits is used for restoration projects that are in keeping with the states $50 billion, 50-year coastal master plan. Organizations representing both small and large oil and gas firms have opposed similar lawsuits, arguing that the legal cases are designed to make money for trial lawyers and that the energy firms have followed state laws in their exploration and production. They also argue that the industry already has helped fund Louisianas coastal restoration program with direct assistance to some projects, letting others use their land and through royalty payments to the state from offshore and onshore oil and gas production. The New Orleans lawsuit points to the citys flood-prone status as virtually an island already," with almost half of the citys land being at or below sea level. New Orleans itself is home to these vanishing wetlands-from the lands fed by and bordering Bayou Bienvenue to the wetlands areas around Bayou Sauvage and bordering Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans East, to the Lake St. Catherine area and on through the East Orleans Land Bridge and the lands bordering Lake Borgne, the suit said, adding that the U.S. Geological Survey has estimated that morre than 5,470 acres of marsh have been lost from the eastern land bridge since 1932. The suit says the failure of the energy companies to repair damage caused by their exploration and production activities has exacerbated the citys wetland loss problems. Oil and gas exploration and production activities have included a multifude of access canals and other activities, the failure to maintain which directly harms the coastal wetlands; and, to transport the mineral riches of Louisiana to processing and refining facilities and the rest of the country, pipeline companies have gashed long, straight conduits, which, again, they have failed to adequately maintain and protect such that they have become wetlands-destroying forces through the coastal zone, the suit said. The suit contends the companies both failed to follow regulations requiring them to backfill canals, repair lost wetlands and clean up wastes, and in some instances, failed to get the permits required to work in the wetland areas. The energy firms named in the suit include Apache Louisiana Minerals LLC, based in Houston; Aspect Energy, LLC, based in Denver, Colo.; Chaparral Energy L.L.C., based in Oklahoma City; Chevron U.S.A. Inc., based in California; Collins Pipeline Company, based in Houston; Entergy New Orleans and its predecessor companies; EOG Resources Inc., based in Houston, which is a successor company to Florida Exploration Company and Coastal Production Company; ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, based in Spring, Texas; Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP, baed in Houston; Southern Natural Gas Company, L.L.C., based in Houston; and Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, based in Denver. Roxann Martinez was found shot and killed at a Denver intersection on Thursday, according to a report, with the Denver Police Department offering a $2,000 reward for information on the woman's death. A star witness who was set to testify next week in the murder trial of a defendant accused of killing a pregnant woman in 2013 has been found dead in Denver. Roxann Martinez was found shot and killed at a Denver intersection on February 25, according to a report, with the Denver Police Department offering a $2,000 reward for information on the woman's death. Martinez was set testify in the murder trial of Kelsie Schelling, 21, who disappeared on February 4, 2013, when she was planning to visit her boyfriend, Donthe Lucas. Schelling's body was never found, but Lucas - who she was going to visit in Pueblo, Colorado, was charged with her murder in 2017. He has pleaded not guilty. At the time of her alleged murder, Schelling was eight weeks pregnant. Messages on her phone showed that she texted her boyfriend that she was pregnant, and that he was not happy about the news. On the day of her disappearance, GPS on Schelling's showed it had traveled to the same location in Pueblo that Lucas' phone was. Martinez, 31, had been 'endorsed as a prosecution witness,' according to Jeff Chostner, the 10th judicial district attorney, who spoke to FOX 31 in Denver. Chostner said he was unable to speak further on the nature of her testimony because of the on-going investigation into Schelling's death. Martinez was found dead on February 25 at around 11 p.m. at the intersection of East Kenyon Drive and South Wabash Street in the Hampden South neighborhood of Denver. 'Denver police officers were notified of a woman down in the streets,' Denver Police Department spokesperson Christine Downs told CBS4. But Denver police told the station that they did not believe Martinez's death is connected to the case of Kelsie Schelling. 'Investigators are aware of her connection to that trial, but at this time do not think her death is connected to that case,' police told the news station. 'We don't have anybody in custody at this time. We don't believe there is a danger to the community at this time,' Downs also said. 'And, we don't believe it was related to any trials or any other issues that are going on right now. We don't believe that there are any connections to anything else.' Left: Kelsie Schelling, who was allegedly murdered in 2013. Right: Donthe Lucas, who was charged with her murder in 2017. Martinez was set testify in the murder trial this week In the trial on Tuesday, a geologist testified that the soil in Schelling's abandoned car likely came from an area west and southwest of Pueblo, and not from Denver where she lived. Schelling's car was found abandoned in a Pueblo parking lot a few days after her disappearance in 2013. An FBI agent involved n the investigation and the former neighbour of 28-year-old Lucas also testified for the prosecution on Tuesday, according to Fox News. Schelling's family and friends have also previously testified about her troubled relationship with Lucas, with one friend saying that he physically abused her. At least 38 people were killed in Myanmar on Wednesday, the biggest one-day toll in a worsening repression of anti-coup protests, the United Nations special representative for the country said. The representative, Christine Schraner Burgener, reported the deaths as news emerged that the juntas own choice for U.N. envoy had abruptly resigned. Wednesdays developments came as the United States, which is president of the United Nations Security Council for March, scheduled a meeting on Friday to deal with the crisis in Myanmar, diplomats said. The death by suicide of a 17-year-old boy Feb. 19 in a juvenile prison in Istanbul has reignited allegations of ill treatment of minors under police detention and government pressure on the judiciary, even as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed this week that there is zero tolerance for torture in Turkey. Turkish authorities say Kadir Aktar used a bedsheet and blankets to hang himself in his cell a day after he was arrested in connection with an attack on an individual in July 2020. The boys family is demanding an immediate investigation, saying his death is suspicious. Aktars lawyer, Ahmet Atalay, who was present at the boys autopsy, said its findings indicated that internal bleeding had occurred in his arms and legs. This in turn pointed to the possibility that he had been beaten. Aktar was being held in solitary confinement in keeping with COVID-19 protocols, and there was no surveillance camera in his cell, Atalay said. Allegations of torture are not new in Aktars case. His case was publicized by Human Rights Watch last year following his arrest along with two other minors on July 18 for their alleged role in the shooting death of a police officer. Aktar told Atalay that he was taken to a room in Istanbuls Bagcilar police station where the police kicked and punched him in the face several times and bounced his head against the walls like a ball. Photos showing Aktar with caked blood were posted on Twitter by anonymous accounts. They were allegedly taken by policemen boasting of their exploits. Police formally claimed that Aktars blows were self-inflicted as he resisted arrest and hit his head and body against the walls. Lawyers who saw Aktar undressed said he had a split eyebrow, bruises on his head and long red stripes on his back, consistent with beating with a cable, Human Rights Watch reported. Atalay told Al-Monitor there was zero evidence to support claims that Aktar was involved in the police officers death. He was freed Feb. 16 pending trial. Aktars father, Cengiz, was quoted by Evrensel, a left-leaning opposition newspaper, as saying, I spent the night with my son after he was freed. My son wasnt inclined to suicide. His mood was good. Father I have grown taller. Ive put on weight. I have facial hair now, he told me. We are extremely concerned about this case because we followed earlier allegations of torture against Aktar, said Emma Sinclair Webb of Human Rights Watch. Over the past five years [since the failed 2016 coup against Erdogan] we have received many complaints of torture, Sinclair-Webb told Al-Monitor. But there are huge problems in investigating the allegations. There are medical examinations that should help deter torture or allow doctors to record ill treatment. But police are finding ways to hide evidence. Theres a huge slackening of the rules, she added. The day after Aktar was freed, the police came to take him in again, this time for his alleged role in a knife attack on an individual that took place on July 16, 2020, a day before the shooting of the police officer. Again, there was zero evidence against his client, Atalay said. Yet Aktar was remanded in custody despite having been freed pending bail in a far more serious case. Why? Atalay asked. Atalay wont say so openly, but prosecutors may have been acting under pressure from the authorities because the case involved a slain police officer. The officers widow insists that all three minors who were charged and freed pending trial in the case were guilty. She has called on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu to have the trio re-arrested. I dont come here to watch them be freed. I come here to watch them be punished, she said following the Feb. 16 hearing. The police force is attached to the Ministry of Interior. Soylu is an unabashed Turkish nationalist who is leading the ongoing crackdown on the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democracy Party. Thousands of its members and supporters have been prosecuted and jailed on thinly evidenced terror charges. According to Atalay, Aktar was not political. But he was a Kurd, making him guilty by default in the current climate. When Atalay went to see the boy Feb. 18, it was obvious he had been beaten. He seemed different this time. Subdued. Yet he wasnt the kind of person who would take his own life. We dont know what happened between the time of his detention and the time of his death. We demand to know, for justice to be served, he said. On March 2, Erdogan unveiled an 11-point action plan that is supposed to bolster freedoms and improve the judicial system in areas including the trials of minors. A committee to monitor rights violations in prisons will be established. Critics greeted the announcement with deep skepticism, with many noting that if Erdogan were sincere his first order of business would be to advocate freeing prominent philanthropist Osman Kavala and Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas, both of whom are being held on a cocktail of outlandish terror charges. Instead, hes done the opposite, telling the European Court of Human Rights which has ruled that both men be freed to mind its own business. This [reform] package amounts to a confession by the government that human rights are currently not being respected, said Cigdem Ertak, a lawyer specializing in minors rights and who is also the secretary-general of the advocacy group Migration and Humanitarian Aid Foundation. If the government implemented existing laws and the international conventions by which it is bound, there would be no need for such a package, she told Al-Monitor. Children are not just being violently assaulted by security forces under detention, but [also] out in the open, on the streets, in full view of the public, she added. Ertak recalls a case of police violence against three minors in the mainly Kurdish southeastern province of Van who were accused of taking part in a February 2019 demonstration in support of the jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan. The boys, who were 14, 16 and 17, respectively, at the time were savagely beaten en route to the police station. Police repeatedly clubbed them and kicked and punched them in the back and the head. Upon arrival, the boys said they had been blindfolded and that hard metal objects that felt like bullets and hand grenades had been placed in their hands. They plunged my clients head in the toilet bowl while raining curses and threats on him, said Naci Duman, who is representing one of the boys. The lawyer insists Orhan Duman, now 17, is innocent. He was so traumatized that he remained mute for months. He now has a permanent stutter and had difficulty defending himself in court during an initial hearing that took place last month. None of the boys has previous records. They face between five to 26 years if convicted as charged. Duman predicts that an ongoing investigation against the officers accused of torturing the boys will likely be shelved. The three government leaders disclosed details of the global partnership late last week at a private Commercial Club of Chicago meeting cohosted by World Business Chicago. The leaders are committed to eliminating existing health disparities and negative outcomesfrom COVID-19 hospitalizations to infant mortality, chronic disease and early deathconnected to conditions where people live, learn, work and play. Sheba Medical Center, Kaleidoscope Health Ventures (KHV) and Farpoint Development are partners in the Chicago ARC Innovation Center. The discussion focused on how Sheba's ARC model, which fosters healthcare innovation to redesign this system and make it more accessible by accelerating entrepreneurship, is extending from Israel to Chicago. Israel to Illinois: A Fast Track for Healthcare Transformation Healthcare transformation is one of Israel's greatest priorities but is a goal no state or nation can accomplish on its own. The Sheba ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) model will be executed in Chicago to enable alliances with Illinois' abundant trove of life sciences teaching and research institutions, biotechnology companies, health systems and technology startups to make fast progress toward achieving health equity. This includes implementing groundbreaking technologies with a market-driven approach adapted for the United States. "We have learned many things from the current COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most important is that global challenges need global solutions," Ashkenazi said. "This partnership with the Chicago ARC Innovation Center and Sheba Medical Center could quite literally save lives. Together they will advance healthcare solutions, share best practice and transform health care." "Today we are celebrating the partnership between Israel's Sheba Medical Center, one of the world's top-ranking hospitals, and Kaleidoscope Health Ventures and Farpoint Development. It is one of the many ways we have to share Israeli innovation and keep strengthening the unbreakable bond between our two nations," Ashkenazi said. Prioritizing Health Equity in Illinois with Sheba's Help Illinois has made health equity an overarching public health goal . Leading through a health equity lens, the state's programs, services and partnerships aim to increase parity in the social determinants of health to close health disparity gaps. "Here in Illinois, we have some of the best research universities on the earth, one of the largest biotech talent pools in the United States, and our medical centers are among the most respected in the world," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Those assets are just one facet of why our state is ideal for a new health innovation hub. The establishment of the Chicago ARC Innovation Center both recognizes and strengthens our reputation." "I am so deeply grateful for Kaleidoscope Health Ventures, to Sheba Medical Center and to the ARC Innovation Complex and Farpoint Development for coming together to spur this innovation here in Illinois, bringing more collaborative health innovation, life sciences development and transformative equitable healthcare models to our state," continued Pritzker. In fact, Sheba's ARC model has allowed Israel to become a world leader in combating COVID-19 by shaping Israel's rapid response to COVID-19which will see half its population vaccinated by March and showcases Israel's use of innovative approaches to achieve health equity. With Sheba's guidance, Israel's agencies and health providers are repackaging the temperature-sensitive Pfizer vaccine for wider distribution; opening arenas and field clinics as inoculation centers; and engaging the Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in a public health campaign to overcome resistance to the vaccine, Kreiss noted. "The outbreak of COVID-19 boosted this new enterprise and proved to all of us just how crucial it is to get ARC Chicago up and running," Kreiss said. "We have been looking for the right location and partner to bring our model to the U.S. and are very fortunate to have found this great partnership in Illinois. "Sheba will contribute its global network of partners, its open innovation model, data and sources of technologies and startups looking to transform healthcare in the U.S," Kreiss said. "KHV will use its experience in the U.S. market and impact investing to drive commercialization and investment success. Farpoint will help us cultivate inclusive Chicago neighborhoods, (turning them) into the U.S.A.'s first City of Health with its commercial real estate development (expertise)." The Chicago ARC Makes Illinois a Global Investment Destination The Chicago ARC will connect the best science, talent, technology and data to achieve health equity and justice for all through a high-touch, collaborative innovation platform. A health equity accelerator will be an early Chicago ARC initiative, with plans to launch later this year. The Chicago ARC will partner with South and West Side community initiatives to unlock the benefits for all residents across Illinois and the United States. A life sciences incubator and data collaborative will follow in 2022, all with health equity goals. International companies, starting with a focus on promising Israeli startups, are targeted as Chicago ARC tenants. A tailored approach with a customer-driven network will give them a U.S. foothold and make Illinois a gateway for global investment. The permanent Chicago ARC facility is set to open in 2023 as the anchor of the Bronzeville Lakefront development. Until then, it will operate out of interim space. "On behalf of the Chicago ARC partners, we are honored to have the support of Israel's Foreign Minister and the Governor of Illinois for this transformational venture," Kaleidoscope Health Ventures Cofounder and Managing Partner S. Bob Chib said. "We look forward to partnering with Sheba and Farpoint Development on the launch of the Chicago ARC Innovation Center." About the Speakers Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi : Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 35th government of Israel, Ashkenazi served in the Israel Defense Forces for 39 years. He headed the IDF from 2007 to 2011 as the 19th Chief of General Staff, or Rav Aluf. While in the IDF, Lt. Gen. (res.) Ashkenazi served in numerous senior capacities, including Deputy Chief of Staff and head of the Northern Command. He also restored the IDF's operative capacity in the wake of the Second Lebanon War and led a series of campaigns, including Operation Hot Winter, Operation Cast Lead and the decisive strike on Syria's nuclear reactor in September 2007. Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi holds a bachelor's degree in political science and oriental studies from Haifa University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Executive Management Program, the IDF's Joint Command Course and the Officer Candidate School of the United States Marine Corps. He headed Shemen Oil and Gas Explorations Ltd. before entering the Knesset in 2019. Gov. JB Pritzker: The 43rd governor of Illinois is in his third year in office, obtaining bipartisan support for historic investments in education, human services and infrastructure, including $500 million in capital funding for a network of research and innovation hubs. Before becoming governor, Pritzker founded Chicago nonprofit small business incubator 1871, which has helped entrepreneurs create more than 11,000 jobs and more than 1,000 new companies. Since 1871's inception, Chicago has been named one of the top ten technology startup hubs in the world and 1871 was named the best incubator in the world. Gov. Pritzker has expanded support for new business incubators and cut taxes for hundreds of thousands of small businesses while incentivizing job creation and innovation. He also extended research and development tax credits to help manufacturing workers and businesses thrive, and he worked with the business community to create apprenticeship tax credits to promote job training. Prof. Yitshak Kreiss: Director General of Sheba Medical Center since 2016, Prof. Kreiss is world renowned for his research in leadership and health management based on humanitarian operations he led in the IDF. During his 25 years in the IDF, he rose from combat surgeon to IDF Surgeon General and attained the rank of Brigadier General. He earned his medical degree at the Hebrew University; completed a residency in internal medicine at Sheba Medical School; and earned a Master of Health Administration from Tel Aviv University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. Prof. Kreiss was cited as one of the 50 most influential Jews of 2020 by the Jerusalem Post . Under his tutelage, Sheba Medical Center has also been ranked as one of the Top 10 Hospitals in the World by Newsweek magazine. About the Chicago ARC General Partners Sheba Medical Center: The Chicago ARC Innovation Center will play a significant part in Sheba Medical Center's global digital healthcare revolution. Sheba is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East, the only one in Israel that combines acute and rehabilitation hospitals on a single campus. Sheba is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education, recognized by Newsweek as one of the top 10 hospitals in the world two years in a row. Kaleidoscope Health Ventures: KHV is a venture development firm focused on social impact. It brings together world-class startups, partners, investors and talent to address socioeconomic and health issues while providing high-value services to support a new wave of life science startups and healthcare solutions. The KHV team has collectively created billions of dollars in startup venture value and served in strategic leadership as well as operational roles across startup, growth-stage and corporate entities. Farpoint Development: Farpoint is a highly experienced team that has been successful in shaping Chicago's skyline and neighborhoods for more than three decades. Farpoint has exceptionally strong local government ties and community relationships and has a notable track record for spurring transformative change in underserved areas locally and nationally. They continue to expand their socially responsible real estate mandate nationwide. Farpoint is a partner in the GRIT joint venture to develop the 100-acre, $7 billion Bronzeville Lakefront site. For more information contact: Kelley Quinn Purpose Brand [email protected] (773) 879-3809 SOURCE Sheba Medical Center Washington Rep. John Katko encouraged President Joe Biden in a White House meeting today to come up with a bold infrastructure plan that could be the presidents first bipartisan initiative to pass Congress. The Republican from Central New York was among eight House members who met privately for 90 minutes with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office. Biden had invited the group to share their ideas as he begins to gather support in Congress for a $2 trillion infrastructure bill, his second big legislative push since taking office. I said Im absolutely ready to think big, Im absolutely ready to compromise, and it cant be any kind of reconciliation bill where they try to ram something through Congress, Katko told Syracuse.com after the meeting. We had a very substantive conversation, Katko said. It was good. Katko was among four Republicans from the House Transportation and Infrastructure invited to the meeting, along with four of their Democratic colleagues. The House members each took turns sharing their priorities with the president, vice president and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Katko said. Katko said he was the only House member from either party who showed up to the meeting with a written plan. He handed Biden a copy of a bipartisan plan to modernize the nations roads, bridges, pipelines, ports, electric grids, and related infrastructure. The plan was crafted in 2019 by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Katko chaired the Infrastructure Working Group within the caucus. Katko told Biden that his top priorities were to fund the transformation of Interstate 81 in Syracuse and to make sure an infrastructure deal includes funding to help communities modernize and replace their crumbling water infrastructure. Biden emphasized to the group that he wants to come up with a bipartisan bill, Katko said, and the president seemed receptive to the idea of working directly with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to achieve that goal. Katko, a Syracuse University law school graduate like Biden, said he reminded the president as he walked into the Oval Office that his son, Liam, is still appreciative that Biden asked to meet him backstage during a 2015 visit to SU. Liam Katko had sent Biden a supportive letter when his son, Beau, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. At the meeting today, Katko said he invited Biden to return to Central New York to meet with him over breakfast at Hunter Dinerant in Auburn, the diner once owned by the family of the presidents late wife, Neilia Hunter Biden. As Katko exited the meeting, he said, Biden told him, Hey, Ill see you on the lake up there. Katko also extended a personal invitation to Buttigieg to tour Interstate 81 in Syracuse, an invitation he put in writing last month. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh have also invited Buttigieg to visit and talk about plans to tear down the elevated stretch of the highway that cuts through the heart of the city. I told him in front of the president that hes a rock star in Syracuse and everybody wants him to come up, Katko said. Buttigieg made no commitments but told Katko that hes familiar with the plans to tear down the elevated highway. New York state has proposed a $2 billion project to replace the highway with a street-level boulevard. The federal government pays about 90% of the cost of interstate highway projects. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 09:25:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Nick Mitzevich, director of the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), introduces the paintings at the media preview of an exhibition in Canberra, Australia on March 3, 2021. An exhibition with 61 paintings from the National Gallery London spanning nearly 500 years will start on Friday. It brought together works of 56 of European history's greatest artists including Botticelli, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Goya, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Gauguin, and will run until June 14. (Photo by Liu Changchang/Xinhua) CANBERRA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- From a Self Portrait of Rembrandt to Sunflowers of Vincent van Gogh, the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) gives people a rare chance to view some of the most celebrated paintings in the world. An exhibition with 61 paintings from the National Gallery London spanning nearly 500 years will start on Friday. It brought together works of 56 of European history's greatest artists including Botticelli, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Goya, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Gauguin, and will run until June 14. "These works are outstanding, this exhibition is a 500-year slice of artistic excellence from some of the greatest creative spirits of all time," said Nick Mitzevich, director of the NGA. While many of the works were familiar to audiences, coordinating curator from the NGA Sally Foster noted that people should not underestimate the power of seeing them in real life. "These paintings are absolutely radiant. They light up the room. There is a reason they are considered masterpieces," she said. The exhibition was arranged in seven parts, from Italian Renaissance painting, Dutch painting of the Golden Age, British portraiture, to France and the rise of modern art. Of all the painting a notable piece was Sunflowers that Van Gogh painted in 1888, with various shades of yellow. Although the artist left several paintings with sunflowers as the theme, Foster told Xinhua that this was the one that Van Gogh himself thought was the best. "He talked about the intensity of the yellows," she said. "It's also the work that his friend Paul Gauguin, the artist to who he actually painted it for, thought was the most successful. He thought it was the best painting Van Gogh had ever done." "When you see it, you see how he painted it. And you get close to have a look, you can feel the emotional intensity and the seriousness with which he painted it," said Foster. At the exhibition visitors are also able to see the Self Portrait at the Age of 34 by Dutch painter Rembrandt, one of the most famous of his many self portraits. The pose he took in the painting was based on historic self portraits of Albrecht Durer, Titian and Raphael. In this way Rembrandt was paying homage to and aligning himself with those famous artists in the history. Foster said it was one of her favorite paintings at the exhibition. "I really do feel like when I am standing in front of this painting, I am looking at Rembrandt. I am looking into the eyes of the artist. And he is looking back at us. He is completely aware who he is, aware that he will go down the art history as one of the greatest. " It is the first major international exhibition in Australia since COVID-19 forced international borders to be closed in the country last March. Foster said it was "enormously difficult" to make this exhibition happen. "The logistics of a show like this is always huge," she said. "But just with the complication of COVID... it's amazing to watch it all come together actually in a huge relief." The exhibition was open with limited timed-entry tickets available for 12 sessions per day. "After a year of uncertainty and difficulties for many people, I'm glad we can play a part in bringing joy and inspiration to the community in the form of these extraordinary paintings," said Mitzevich. Enditem Jimmy Nicholson has just been announced as Australia's new Bachelor. But this won't be the 31-year-old's first time in front of a camera, as he previously had a short-lived TV career on The Price Is Right, hosted by Larry Emdur. The former model-turned-airline pilot was the male assistant showcasing the prizes for about a year in 2012. Everything you need to know about the new Bachelor: Jimmy Nicholson (pictured) used to be a model on The Price Is Right before training as an airline pilot Jimmy was also previously signed to one of Australia's leading modelling agencies, Chadwick Models. In 2014, he completed his training as a Regional Express Cadet Pilot and now holds a Commercial Pilot License. He previously told Year 13 he had always dreamt of becoming a pilot because 'it is a bit of a family tradition'. 'My dad is a pilot, not a commercial one, but he worked for Qantas and so did my grandfather. My uncle is also a pilot for another major international airline, so I grew up with it all my life. It's a bit of a family tradition,' he said. TV career: Jimmy (left) was the male assistant showcasing the prizes on The Price Is Right, hosted by Larry Emdur, for about a year in 2012 Jimmy was most recently working as a first officer for Jetstar Australia, but was stood down from his job due to the coronavirus pandemic. He told Sydney Confidential he'd signed up for The Bachelor because his career had made it difficult for him to find a long-term partner. 'I was never in the same spot for too long,' he explained. The new Bachelor is of New Zealand and Fijian heritage, and has not appeared before on The Bachelorette or any other dating show. Jimmy said on Thursday he was pumped at the prospect of finding The One. Career shift: In 2014, he completed his training as a Regional Express Cadet Pilot and now holds a Commercial Pilot License 'I am ready to open up my heart and meet someone,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'I hope to meet someone with similar values that I can have fun with and that shares the same zest for life as myself.' He concluded: 'The Bachelor franchise has produced many success stories and I hope to be the next.' The Bachelor's ninth season will air on Channel 10 later this year Rahul Vaidya & Disha Parmars Friendship Started From Instagram Chat Apparently, Rahul and Disha started chatting on Instagram in mid-2018 and they soon became friends. Disha revealed that she liked a song and commented 'loved it' on the post. To this Rahul added, "I thought itni sundar ladki hai toh mauka kaise chhod dete (laughs!)," and started chatting. He further said that they soon exchanged numbers and hung out for the first time in Delhi while shooting for his single Yaad Teri', in November 2018. Disha Says Recalling how their friendship blossomed, Disha said that they were shooting for four consecutive days and they got time to sit down and talk. She added that she had a soft corner for him. She further said that they were good friends before he entered the Bigg Boss house. Rahul Was Worried About Dishas Parents' Reaction To His Proposal Rahul revealed that initially no one in the Bigg Boss 14 house spoke to him and he felt complete misfit. It was then that he started missing Disha immensely and wanted to meet her. After proposing her, Rahul said that he was worried about her parents' reaction. On the other hand, Disha revealed that she was shocked as although they liked each other, they never spoke about their feelings and he straight away proposed her for marriage, which surprised her. She added that she had tears in her eyes while watching the promo. Disha also added that her family is happy about the match. What Attracts Them To Each Other? About what attracts them to each other, Rahul said that Disha never spoke ill about anyone, including people she may not like and this quality of hers amazed him. He said that she is simple and extremely beautiful. On the other hand, Disha likes Rahul's honest and romantic nature. She also likes the fact that Rahul is clear about everything in his life. She added, "I'm sure that he is going to be a great husband." Wedding Plans When asked about their wedding plans, Rahul said, "We are still in the process of finalising a date, but marriage will happen in three to four months." Any Pre-Wedding Jitters? Talking about pre-wedding jitters, Rahul said, "Both of us are calm people. We aren't fussy at all. I have performed at a lot of weddings and have witnessed all the grandeur, which is why I would prefer mine to be simple and intimate. We will host a function for the fraternity later." Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday night instructed Preah Sihanouk officials to restrict travel in the province, as the February 20 community COVID-19 cluster shows no signs of easing. Cambodias second community transmission event has registered 402 cases so far and has spread from Phnom Penh and Kandal to Preah Sihanouk and Svay Rieng provinces. These cases were tracked to foreign nationals. Hun Sen said provincial authorities should prevent Preah Sihanouk residents from leaving the province and traveling to nearby Kep and Kampot or on National Road 4, which leads to Phnom Penh. We cant shut down the city entirely because of the transportation of goods in and out. But for people, there must be an effort to curb the spread [of the virus] to other provinces, he said in an audio message released Wednesday night. So, please ask the people to stay in Preah Sihanouk province. He added that people in the affected provinces should be vaccinated as a priority. Cambodia received 324,000 doses of the Indian-made AstraZenca COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday. The second measure is to promote vaccinations that have to move forward. Those aged 59 and under [will get Sinopharm] and AstraZeneca for those over the age of 60, Hun Sen said. The Sinopharm vaccine is being administered to people under the age of 60 because it is not suitable for older people. The vaccine also has a long list of medical conditions that exclude a person from getting the vaccine. On Thursday, the Health Ministry reported 28 new infections linked to the February 20 cluster, with Preah Sihanouk provincial officials reporting a total of 80 cases since the start of the outbreak. Chuon Narin, Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief, said the travel restrictions were temporary and that the provincial administration would adjust the restriction as per the case count. We will check if travel is not necessary, and we will not allow traffic to move out to avoid the spread of COVID-19 virus, he said. Cheap Sotheary, a provincial staffer at local rights group Adhoc, said some consideration should be given to transportation workers and private taxi operators, as well as people in need of medical treatment. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Some Catholic faith leaders are suggesting their congregations opt for the Modera or Pfizer vaccines over the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine, citing controversial ingredients used in its production. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses abortion-derived cell lines, raising moral concerns. The Johnsons & Johnson single-dose vaccine is the third immunization granted Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect against the coronavirus (COVID-19). Clinical trials showed Johnson & Johnson had around an overall 72% efficacy in the United States, compared to the around 95% rates seen in trials from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. According to information from the FDA, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 85% effective in preventing severe cases of the virus after 28 days of receiving the single shot, and 66% effective across all areas in preventing moderate to severe cases. Johnson & Johnson has a contract to supply the U.S. federal government with 100 million doses of their vaccine by the end of June. If one can choose among equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen. Therefore, if one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Modernas vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnsons, the statement says. However, the statement went on to say if ethically irreproachable COVID-19 vaccines are not available it is morally acceptable to received COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines Generally, people do not have the option to choose which vaccine they are inoculated with; however, people do have the option of scheduling an appointment at one location over another. The type of vaccine administered by each location is found on the New York Citys Vaccine Finder website. The group recognizes that being vaccinated against the potentially deadly virus is an act of charity and serves the common good, and the group is not discouraging people from being vaccinated. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use cell lines but only in its testing processes and not in the finished vaccines. POPE FRANCIS WEIGHS IN ON THE MORALITY OF THE VACCINE Pope Francis spoke about the morality of using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after faith leaders began issuing statements about it. In such a case, all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which the cells used in production of the vaccines derive, the Pope said in-part in the lengthy statement. The Pope is urging the government and pharmaceutical companies to produce, approve, distribute and offer ethically acceptable vaccines that do not create problems of conscience for either health care providers or the people to be vaccinated. He went on to say that the morality of vaccination is a persons ability to protect themselves and to pursue the common good. Those who opt not to be vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine when given the opportunity need to ensure they are practicing the appropriate behavior and not becoming vehicles for transmission of the disease. In the absence of other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the common good may recommend vaccination, especially to protect the weakest and most exposed. Those who, however, for reasons of conscience, refuse vaccines produced with cell lines from aborted fetuses, must do their utmost to avoid, by other prophylactic means and appropriate behavior, becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent, he said. In particular, they must avoid any risk to the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons, and who are the most vulnerable. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. I want to comment on the Star-Ledger editorial, For racial justice, Murphy should hold his nose and sign sentencing bill. Even though the editorial disagrees with the amendment inserted by state Sen. Nicholas Sacco, D-Hudson, to include official misconduct in the mandatory-minimum sentences that the bill eliminates, you recommend that the governor sign the bill. I strongly disagree. Your editorial suggests Sacco added the amendment to possibly assist his girlfriends son, who is being prosecuted for allegedly having a no-show government job in North Bergen. This is the same Democrat Party in Hudson County with years of political corruption going back to Jersey City Mayor Frank Hagues regime from 1917 to 1947. The late Gov. Brendan Byrne used to joke that when he dies, I want to be buried in Hudson County so that I can remain active in Democratic politics. In 2014, the Star-Ledger published an article stating that New Jersey was one of the most corrupt states for both legal and illegal corruption. Both major political parties in New Jersey have politicians who have special interests that are not directed toward the common good. The governor and the state Senate, regardless of party, should not allow any member to stall the movement of bills for reasons that might foster so-called legal corruption. It is about time the voters of New Jersey elect representatives who have shown in their private lives to have integrity, compassion and success based on their own initiatives. We need more independent voters and more candidates who are independents.Both major parties have not purged their bad actors from office over many years. This must change. Bob Barrett, Clark Climate-change fix needs carbon pricing Regarding the article Powerful N.J. congressman reveals sweeping new plan to tackle climate change: Although we should all celebrate U.S. Rep. Frank Pallones bold $565 billion proposal, if we are to address the most devastating effects of this impending crisis, we must at last embrace putting a price on carbon emissions consistent with their true social costs. Since the days of John D. Rockefeller, big energy companies have been given a pass in assuming the actual costs of their product, which include the many harmful effects of greenhouse gases. A carbon fee-and-dividend plan, such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, to be reintroduced in the new Congress, would address this flaw in the fossil-fuel market. By imposing a fee on emissions at the source of their extraction, and returning these fees to families through monthly dividend payments, this is a revenue neutral program that has broad support in Congress. Advocates say it would produce a net benefit to almost two-thirds of American households. Economists have embraced it as one of the most effective measures given the time sensitive nature of this crisis. Saving our planet for future generations should not be a partisan issue. Its time for lawmakers to treat it with the urgency it deserves. Dave Sandhusen, Montclair Vaccine chase game should be more fun The combination on the Star-Ledgers March 3 opinion page of Jeff Stahlers syndicated political cartoon, showing a dozen people with their arms out for a nurse with one dose of vaccine, and Lee Seglems guest column, We finally got our shots! was interesting and timely. Seglem accurately describes the process of securing a COVID-19 inoculation appointment. Spot on! He articulated the complexity, confusion and frustration that so many of us have encountered with navigating the online systems, not just senior citizens who grew up in an analog world... . Seglem further compares the scheduling procedures to a game or contest. But, games and contests presuppose amusement, even fun. The vaccination scheduling process is the exact opposite. I thank the writer for his commentary that speaks for those of us who continue to confront the obstacles to securing an appointment. Frances S. Della Penna, Butler Free college program lacks buy-in Free community college in New Jersey is a great idea almost. The program just made permanent by Gov. Phil Murphy should have been: Pay 2% of the tuition from $45,000 to $60,000 of family income; 5% from $60,001-$69,999; 10% from $70,000-$79,999; and 15% from $80,000 to $89,000. Families need to buy in, and middle-income folks shouldnt suffer by being cut off abruptly (at $65,000) from assistance. I know and love these, folks so Im speaking from experience. Joanne Lockwood White, Chatham Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. As well its French and Italian businesses, Aviva also sold its operations in Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Turkey ( ) said it is planning for higher payouts to shareholders after the sale of its French and Italian businesses and strong cash generation from the ongoing businesses. The life insurer said today it had sold the last bits of its Italian business for 754mln having agreed the sale of its French and Turkish businesses last month for 2.7bn and 122mln respectively. Amanda Blanc, the life and pensions groups chief executive, has targeted cash remittances from its core business of 5bn over the next three years to fund both investment and payouts to investors. The FTSE 100 group said operating profits fell by 3% to 2.49bn in the year to end-December 2020, which Blanc described as a resilient performance. Trading in several key markets had been strong, she added, with Saving and Retirement and bulk purchase annuities both having record years. As well the French, Turkish and Italian businesses, Aviva also sold its operations in Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. The dividend for the year was 21p (15.5p) with a final payment of 14p, which Aviva said is in line with policy. Aviva also expects to reduce debt by 1.7bn in the first half of 2021 following the disposals in Europe and has launched a tender offer to remove 800mln of debt. Cash remittances in 2020 were 1.5bn with a target of 1.8bn by 2023 while proceeds from the Italy and France disposals will boost excess capital by 3bn. Avivas solvency ratio, a key measure of financial health, was very strong at 202% (206%) at the year-end. Russ mOuld, investment director at wealth manager AJ Bell said: "Aviva has sold off seven separate businesses since August and netted more than 5 billion in proceeds the latest deal seeing the company exit Italy. This is now a much more streamlined company with a clear strategic focus on UK, Ireland and Canada where todays results reveal it delivered resilient performance in 2020 despite the pandemic with, somewhat remarkably, record sales posted in several areas amid a notably strong showing from its asset management arm. "Blanc is not just making progress on selling off bits of the group but, using the proceeds derived from these transactions, is also rapidly paying down debt. This should allow Aviva to begin returning a lot of capital to shareholders, potentially as soon as next year." Shares rose 3% to 395.3p. --adds comment, share price -- Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. We did everything we could to prevent this from happening, said Lauren Lundmark, teachers union president in District 53, which serves prekindergarten to eighth grade. We would much rather be in our classrooms with our students, but instead we are fighting for them out on the picket line. South Africa: Information Regulator seeks clarity on WhatsApp policy South Africas Information Regulator (IR) has written to WhatsApp regarding concerns it has over changes over the messaging services privacy policy. In a statement on Wednesday, the regulator expressed concern at the statement released by WhatsApp detailing changes that a user will face if they ignore Facebooks terms by the 15 May 2021 deadline. The statement outlines that if users will not accept the terms, for a short time these users will be able to receive calls and notifications, but will not be able to read or send messages from the app. The IR has written to Facebook South Africa and provided an analysis of some of the concerns that it has about the privacy policy of Facebook as it relates to South Africa, said the regulator. WhatsApp is owned by Facebook. For example, it is the IRs view that the processing of cell phone numbers as accessed on the users contact list for a purpose other than the one for which the number was specifically intended at collection, with the aim of linking the information jointly with the information processed by other responsible parties (such as Facebook companies) does not require consent from the data subject, but prior authorisation from the IR, it said. The regulator said WhatsApp cannot without obtaining prior authorisation from the IR in terms of section 57 of Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), process any contact information of its users for a purpose other than the one for which the number was specifically intended at collection, with the aim of linking that information jointly with information processed by other Facebook companies. The IR has also raised as a central concern that citizens of the European Union will receive significantly higher privacy protection than people in South Africa and Africa. We are very concerned about these different standards that apply to us, our legislation is very similar to that of the EU. It was based on that model deliberately, as it provides a significantly better model for the protection of personal information than that in other jurisdictions. We do not understand why Facebook has adopted this differentiation between Europe and Africa, said Chairperson of the IR, Advovcate Pansy Tlakula. The IR has indicated to Facebook SA that it is willing and committed to have a round-table discussion regarding the issues raised to ensure that there is full compliance by the WhatsApp privacy policy with the provisions of POPIA and other pertinent international legal instruments. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Feeding Families -- CityServe Launches 'Last Mile of Need' Campaign with Uncommon Giving NEWS PROVIDED BY CityServe March 3, 2021 WASHINGTON, March 3, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- CityServe announced today it has joined the online giving platform, Uncommon Giving, inviting individual and corporate donors to join its "Last Mile of Need" fundraising campaign to feed hungry families struggling through the pandemic. More families are struggling to provide enough to eat with the ever-increasing challenges of job losses and illness. By utilizing Uncommon Giving's innovative tool that connects charitable people with nonprofits, CityServe strives to close the gap of hunger and get fresh, nutritious foods to households deemed food insecure. "The hunger crisis millions of Americans have experienced due to the pandemic is catastrophic," said Dave Donaldson, CityServe co-founder and chairman. "Donors who want to make a difference in the 'Last Mile of Need' can now engage with Uncommon Giving's multifaceted digital giving wallet. We look forward to seeing more families fed with this creative approach to fundraising." In less than a year, the number of people seeking food assistance has increased by 55% and reports show 4 in 10 people currently utilizing food banks have never done so in the past. CityServe is honored to unify churches and faith-based organizations in a Faith-Based Community for Farmers to Families to bring food to families in the "Last Mile of Need. Since the United States Department of Agriculture Farmers to Families Food Box Program launched in May 2020, the Faith-Based Community for Farmers to Families has distributed over 13 million food boxes to those who need it most. Currently comprised of over 1,400 HUBs, the collaborative network of churches and faith-based organizations continues to expand across the nation to serve the most food-insecure families in round five of the program, occurring now through April 2021. "We are proud CityServe has chosen the Uncommon Giving platform for this important cause," said Ron Baldwin, founder and CEO of Uncommon Giving. "Generosity is at the core of everything we do, and we are passionate about providing solutions to help individuals and companies make an impact in this unprecedented time. The 'Last Mile of Need' campaign is a great example of how donations of any size can help people in need. We want to make it easy for donors to give online, at any level, wherever they are." Starting as low as a $10 gift, donors can feed a family of 4 with 26 meals. To learn more about CityServe's "Last Mile of Need" campaign and how to give please visit: https://uncommongiving.com/np/last-mile-of-need. About CityServe CityServe is a collaborative network of churches and community leaders connected to help those in need live better lives. CityServe empowers the local church to fulfill its purpose to overcome despair and transform lives by resourcing them with tangible goods and capacity building. CityServe brings the church to the table to address community challenges by offering long-lasting relationships that lead to transformation and has been designated a "Community of Faith and Opportunity" by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information about CityServe and its initiatives, please visit https://cityserve.us or on social platforms, @cityservehq. About Uncommon Giving Uncommon Giving is a digital-first financial services company changing the way people give, invest and make an impact on the world. The company offers a broad range of solutions for corporate social responsibility, digital giving by individuals and impact investing, all aligned with a multitude of interests and values. At UncommonGiving.com, people can discover nonprofits, explore causes and donate to 1.2 million charities through a donor-advised fund (DAF), as well as through contributions to curated, cause-based funds. With one unified platform for its capabilities, Uncommon strives to be a first-of-its-kind financial services powerhouse and a one-stop-shop for social impact giving and investing. Uncommon Giving Corporation, The Generosity Company, is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. SOURCE CityServe CONTACT: Crissy Cochran, 661-472-7305, crissy@cityserve.us Former California State Director Heather Hutt Looks to Apply a Balanced Voice as She Runs for 54th District Assemblymember Public service needs a balanced voice in leadership; former California State Director, Heather Hutt has devoted her focus to equity and proper representation in the halls of civic duty. She has been an amplified voice for Black women and wants to use her influence to bring on social change within the 54th District. As Hutt runs for state assemblymember, she stands on the principle of widening the perspective in every government department, starting in her own regional jurisdiction in California. The voice of the Black community needs to be heard from all angles. The areas within the 54th District include Culver City, Ladera, Leimert Park, Windsor Hills, and West Los Angeles. Each city is teeming with diverse cultures; Hutt is familiar with those terrains and has seen their opportunity for development firsthand. Growing up in Leimert Park, Hutt is armored to stand for the broad range of issues that trouble those areas. ADVERTISEMENT Hutts lifes energy went into streams of activism and bringing a sense of focus to the diversity found within the collective community. She was the first Black U.S. Senate State Director in Californias history, having served as an extended arm of the Harris administration. As a leader in legislation, Hutt participated in different areas of political operations. Hutt reflected on her term as state director; she worked under Vice President Kamala Harris when she served in the Senate. Hutt mentioned that her predecessor, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, granddaughter of the American labor activist, Cesar Chavez, was the first Latinx woman to serve as California State Director. Hutt credited the diversity seen within the role to Harris, bringing a coalition of women together in a political setting. Hutt said, We were a women-heavy senate office and that was really exciting. As the nation witnessed the first Black Woman vice president take her position in the Oval Office, the glass ceiling continued to shatter as Harris catapulted other women in positions of power, such as Hutt. The former California State Director dissected the work ethic of women, applauding the strategy she seen among her colleagues. She described the senate office environment as a place where one felt respected. In her role, Hutt oversaw Harris staff that were placed in five different California offices. This included areas such as Sacramento, San Francisco, Fresno, San Diego, and Los Angeles, according to a profile article found on 2Urbangirls.com. Resolving a problem from different angles leads to a well-rounded solution. Hutt has been involved in many different crucial issues; her voice echoed concerns about the environment, discussing implicit bias in healthcare, and advocating for DACA recipients to have fair rights. ADVERTISEMENT Focusing on healthcare, Hutt mentioned that Black Women have seen a biased treatment within the medical system. Patterns that are being studied include, higher injury and maternal mortality rates, underrepresentation in clinical trials, and a higher level of disparity in infertility rates. According to the national organization, Black Womens Health Imperative, Black women are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than White women. Hutt emphasized that personal background was not the main variable, the problem derived from the color of ones skin. Hutt said, In studying the data, you have to get the understanding of the whylike, why is that? She described the discomfort behind healthcare that lies within the Black community, it may not be easy to receive, or trust the care one needs during pregnancy. Targeting a resolution, Hutt held focused round table gatherings across the state. Pregnant women and large hospital organizations would come together to have a conversation about the face of healthcare for women of color. Hutt said, We find that Black women are treated differently, that they have a greater death rate than any other race, they are paid less, and they have bigger stressors. Hutt described her process in finding out how to face this concern head-on. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic position are three social status categories that lead to the differential distribution of health risks and thus to variation in the rates of disease in society. There is a need for reconditioning within the medical system; Hutt explained the solution lies within implicit bias training for healthcare personnel. Hutt said, There needs to be funds for implicit bias training in the hospitals so that people who are attending to you, attended to you in a more human way. Implicit bias training will bring a perspective that will cover everyones health concerns, eradicating the idea of different levels of pain tolerance based on their race. Looking at the resiliency of the people who lived in different L.A. neighborhoods, Hutt brought attention to community resources for those impacted by AB109 Re-Entry, the public safety realignment that shifted the responsibility of people facing lower-level incarceration charges from state leadership to the county. Hutt used her mind to focus on the voices that otherwise would have been blocked by the red tape of local politics. Hutt has developed her platform from her time as the California Democratic Party delegate (CDP) and Treasurer of the CDP Black Caucus. Her mind has connected to different levels of leadership; sharing a unique standing on the concerns funneled through work encompassed by civil rights. The perspective of Black women is needed in all parts of government; Hutt is carrying a viewpoint that captures a different side to this continuous narrative of America, one that represents women of color. Hutt said, You need the Black womens perspective for balance; how can Black women elect the president of the United States, but we dont have representation here? It is vital to have civic leadership reflect the communities that they look to serve. Hutt leads with a sense of balance; it exists as evidence found in her work. Being in close counters with Vice President Harris, Hutt reaffirmed that there is nothing too small or too big; all concerns are critical when it comes to the quality of life. Looking at the possibilities for change, Hutt is taking her experience and applying it to a broader scale. Her voice could be heard on a larger platform, as she chants for change. Civic duty needs a balanced perspective, the former California State Director continues to devote her lifes energy to providing a new perspective, one that includes women of color. Hutt is looking to increase the representation of 400,000 people as state assemblymember of the 54th District and strengthen the viewpoints that would echo the concerns for people of color, specifically Black women. Her focus will continue to be on issues that affect the overall quality of life and look at opportunities that promote equitable change. Voting for Hutt, is voting for increased representation for the community. Fans have been left wondering if a new Harry Potter movie could be in the works after the CEO of WarnerMedia said there is a 'lot of fun and potential there'. JK Rowling's best-selling series of seven novels were adapted into a hugely successful film franchise of eight movies released between 2001 and 2011. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jack Kilar spoke about the future of the media empire during a virtual appearance at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecommunications conference. Could there be ANOTHER Harry Potter movie in the works? Film boss has dropped major hint he will extend franchise as he said 'there's a lot of potential' (Still from Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows in 2011) He said: 'There's this little thing called Harry Potter, which is one of the most beloved franchises. 'And we're incredibly thankful to be able to partner with JK Rowling and so I would argue there's a lot of fun and potential there as well.' Mr Kilar did not elaborate further on his comments but it was previously reported a Harry Potter live-action TV series was in early development at HBO Max, which Warner Bos. later denied. MailOnline has contacted representatives for JK Rowling for comment. Franchise: JK Rowling's best-selling series of seven novels were adapted into a hugely successful film franchise of eight movies released between 2001 and 2011 The Potterverse has already been expanded through the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find them film series. Two out of a planned five films have been released so far starring Eddie Redmayne as Newst Scamander, with the plot taking place decades before the events of Harry Potter. Johnny Depp appeared in the first two films as Gellert Grindelwald but dropped out of the series after he lost a libel case against The Sun over a 2018 article that referred to him as a 'wife beater'. Potterverse: The Potterverse has already been expanded through the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find them film series It comes after Daniel Radcliffe recently admitted he is 'embarrassed' by some of his acting in the Harry Potter films. Speaking to fellow actor Elijah Wood in Empire magazine, he said: 'It's hard to separate my relationship with Harry from my relationship with the films as a whole. 'I'm incredibly grateful for the experience. It showed me what I want to do with the rest of my life. To find out early on what you love is really lucky. 'I'm intensely embarrassed by some of my acting, obviously [laughs], but yeah, it's like asking, "how do you feel about your teenage years?"' Document Solutions - Business Life Simplified This is such a prestigious award, and for our teams to earn it for the 15th year in a row is not only an honor but also a testament to our self-improvement culture."- Kevin OConnor, VP of Sales at Document Solutions Document Solutions, an office technology, IT and VoIP solutions provider, announced their 15th consecutive win of the Pro-Tech Service Award. Issued by Konica Minolta, business and industrial printing solutions manufacturer, the yearly Pro-Tech Service Awards recognizes their members excellence in service delivery, support and customer satisfaction. Pro-Tech Services rigorous evaluation focuses on five key processes: Management skills Inventory control systems Technical expertise Dispatch systems Customer satisfaction ratings Achieving the Pro-Tech Service Award standard in the context of the global health crisis is more challenging than ever as businesses across industries are adjusting to the new norms and office management guidelines. Nevertheless, Document Solutions managed to stay true to their mission: Business Life Simplified. According to Document Solutions Service Manager Jorge Campos, receiving the award this year testifies to Document Solutions commitment to providing consistent, quality service, evolving the offering to meet newly arisen needs and maintaining customer satisfaction even in the most challenging of environments. It is always a challenge to attain Pro-Tech certification, more so with the obstacles presented by the current environment," said Campos. Nevertheless, the Service Team persevered in our pursuit of achieving certification for a 15th consecutive year, a testament of our commitment to service excellence. Document Solutions VP of Sales Kevin OConnor said, This is such a prestigious award, and for our teams to earn it for the 15th year in a row is not only an honor but also a testament to our self-improvement culture. Most customers considering an office technology partner think we are all fungible, and earning this award really demonstrates how our service capabilities exceed those of our competition. About Document Solutions: Document Solutions is an office technology and IT solutions company providing services to mid-size companies in New York and New Jersey. The companys mission is to provide superior technology solutions for respective clients office support needs and keep it running seamlessly. Document Solutions aims to drive business growth while fostering a positive impact on clients goals and the well-being of the community. s ( ) (FRA:3A2) (OTCMKTS:AZZVF) Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, is on the pathway towards construction with plans in place to submit one remaining ESIA proposal to the ACE in DRC for approval this quarter. After awarding a 12-week front-end-engineering-design (FEED) contract to Melbourne-based company Mincore Pty Ltd, AVZs construction schedule for the remainder of the year includes submitting a PE application to CAMI in the DRC, making a final investment decision and processing the plant and HEPP EPC award in Q2. Providing all goes to plan, the mineral exploration company expects to begin construction in August. Product export routes AVZ Minerals has selected two main routes: The first being Manono to Kabondo Dianda Intermodal Staging Station by road, then onto SNCC to Tenke and Tazara Railway to the Port of Dar es Salaam; The second route leaves Manono to Kabondo Dianda railhead by road then onto SNCC to Tenke and to Angolan Rail (CFB) to Port of Lobito; and A future option for the company is also available to Walvis Bay in Namibia via the Walvis Bay Corridor. The Angolan railway (CFB) has been recently updated and is currently transporting copper to Lobito port. Full technical due diligence studies of railways to Lobito and Dar es Salaam have been conducted and both are considered as suitable for the product export with both ports having undergone upgrades in the last three years. Negotiations are underway with: Ports of Lobito and Port of Dar es Salaam; NCC; TAZARA; and CFB. Mineral resource drilling AVZ completed diamond resource drilling at Manono in early February with intersections of up to 203.3 metres at 1.59% lithium and 1,014ppm tin recorded from the pit floor called Wedge at Roche Dure. The assays were from the first four of nine planned diamond drill holes at Roche Dure in previously undrilled areas beneath the historical pit which were inaccessible and underwater during the earlier resource drilling programs. Following this, in March the company received further strong results with intersections of up to 1.63% lithium and 1,134ppm tin returned from the pit floor 'wedge' at Roche Dure. A nine-hole diamond drilling program for 1,654 metres is complete with sample preparation underway for transportation to Perth as soon as possible. The strongest result was from hole MO20DD005 and the other hole, MO20DD009, returned 95 metres at 1.52% Li2O & 1,057ppm tin and 22.6 metres at 1.29% Li2O & 1,062ppm tin. Pegmatite in these two holes was fresh from the pit floor and confirm strong spodumene mineralisation from the top of the holes. The company is hoping to undertake a resource update, pending outstanding data being received, in the first quarter of 2021. AVZ has earmarked the following improvements based on this drilling: Back in January, the company completed a comprehensive independent greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment for the life of mine at Manono, which evaluated the estimated scope 1 and scope 2 emissions associated with all operations over the 20-year life of the Manono mine, processing facilities and road transportation of the products. The greenhouse gases evaluated in the study include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. ERM employed a methodology consistent with the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines and findings showed the Manono Project could have one of the lowest carbon footprints of any global hard rock lithium miner. This is primarily due to AVZs strategic location adjacent to the Mpiana Mwanga Hydro Electric Power Plant (HEPP) which, once refurbished, is anticipated to provide all the Manono Projects electricity requirements. ERMs GHG assessment assumed the Manono Project will include an open-pit mining operation at the Roche Dure pegmatite deposit producing lithium, tin and tantalum and is inclusive of SC6 and PLS processing facilities AVZ is investigating and planning substantial GHG mitigation measures which include: Purchase of an electric mining fleet once commercially viable equipment is available; Generation of Hydrogen (H2) from excess renewable electricity to enable use of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs); and The establishment of a 5,000-hectare sequestration plantation. Managing director Nigel Ferguson said at the time: We will continue to strive towards improving our greenhouse gas emissions profile as we develop the world-class Manono Project. Ultimately, we want to see the electricity generated from the Mpiana Mwanga hydroelectric power plant used to operate all our mining equipment, making the Manono Project a 100% green mine. Any surplus power may be provided into the national grid for use in the town of Manono. Target catalysts for 2021 and onwards Toto Wolff thinks spectators will begin to return to Formula 1 races in 2021. That is despite the fact that June's Azerbaijan GP has already announced that spectators will not be allowed to gather around the Baku street layout. "I'm always a pessimist by nature and trying to calculate for the worst-case scenario," said the Mercedes boss, just days after F1 revealed its almost $400 million loss of 2020. "But with covid I am trying to remain an optimist," Wolff told Sky Deutschland. "We are seeing a vaccination trend that is incredibly positive, at least here in England. I think over 30 percent of the population is vaccinated now and that will also be the case in other countries. "I think we will race in front of spectators here and there, perhaps with a vaccination certificate or not completely full houses. But it will be something like that to return to something like normality. "Of course this virus story will haunt us some more, but we will learn to deal with it. I think Formula 1 can have spectators again in the summer or the autumn - even a lot of spectators," he added. (GMM) Police in Myanmar broke up demonstrations in several places with tear gas and gunfire on Thursday as protesters took to the streets again undeterred by the rising death toll in a crackdown on opponents of last month's military coup. The incidents followed the bloodiest day since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, with the United Nations special envoy for Myanmar saying 38 people had been killed on Wednesday. The U.N. human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, called on the security forces to halt what she called their "vicious crackdown on peaceful protesters". At least 54 people had been killed in total but the actual toll could be much higher, she said. More than 1,700 people had been arrested, including 29 journalists. "Myanmar's military must stop murdering and jailing protesters," Bachelet said in a statement. A spokesman for the ruling military council did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. The army seized power alleging fraud in an election won by Suu Kyi's party last November, although the electoral commission dismissed its claims. It has defended measures to quell protests and said it will not let Myanmar's stability be threatened. Activists said they refused to accept military rule and the new elections promised by the junta, voicing determination to press for the release of the detained Suu Kyi, 75, and recognition of her election victory. "We know that we can always get shot and killed with live bullets but there is no meaning to staying alive under the junta," activist Maung Saungkha told Reuters. Police opened fire and used tear gas to break up protests in Yangon and the central town of Monywa, witnesses said. Police also fired in the town of Pathein, west of Yangon, and used tear gas in Taunggyi in the east, media reported. Big crowds also gathered peacefully for rallies elsewhere, including the second city of Mandalay and in the historic temple town of Bagan, where hundreds marched carrying pictures of Suu Kyi and a banner saying: "Free our leader", witnesses said. "EVERYTHING WILL BE OK" PROTESTER MOURNED Hundreds of people attended the funeral of a 19-year-old woman shot dead in Mandalay on Wednesday, who was photographed wearing a T-shirt that read "Everything will be OK". . On Wednesday, police and soldiers had opened fire with live rounds with little warning in several cities and towns, witnesses said. The United Nations said at least 38 people were killed. "Myanmar's security forces now seem intent on breaking the back of the anti-coup movement through wanton violence and sheer brutality," said Richard Weir, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party said in a statement that flags would fly at half mast at its offices to commemorate the dead. The U.N. Security Council is due to discuss the situation on Friday in a closed meeting, diplomats said. The U.S. State Department said Washington was "appalled" by the violence and was evaluating how to respond. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was horrified by the escalation of violence and killing of protesters. The European Union suspended support for development projects to avoid providing financial assistance to the military, officials said on Thursday. The support in past years has involved more than 200 million euros ($240.7 million) in separate programmes often running for four years. Myanmar's generals have long shrugged off outside pressure. The U.N. special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said on Wednesday she had warned deputy military chief Soe Win that the army was likely to face strong measures from some countries over the coup. "The answer was: 'We are used to sanctions, and we survived'," she told reporters in New York. "When I also warned they will go (into) isolation, the answer was: 'We have to learn to walk with only few friends'." The United States has told China, which has declined to condemn the coup, it expects it to play a constructive role. China has said stability is a top priority in its strategic neighbour. At least 19 Myanmar police officers have crossed over into India, fearing persecution for disobeying orders, a senior Indian police official told Reuters. Short link: [March 04, 2021] Harris Williams Advises TricorBraun on its Sale to Ares Management and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it advised TricorBraun, a portfolio company of AEA Investors LP (AEA), on its sale to funds managed by Ares Management Corporation's Private Equity Group (Ares Management) and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'). As part of the transaction, AEA will continue to hold a minority stake in the company alongside Ares Management, Ontario Teachers' and the TricorBraun management team. TricorBraun is North America's largest primary packaging distributor and one of the largest providers of packaging in the world. The transaction was led by Bob Baltimore, Graham Gillam and Bill Greven of the Harris Williams Specialty Distribution Group and Brandt Carr and Dan Savage of the firm's Industrials Group. TricorBraun serves consumer packaged goods companies, from cutting-edge start-ups to the world's most iconic brands, and is a critical packaging provide for the essential personal care and household cleaning, food and beverage, and healthcare/nutraceutical industries. From rigid to flexible packaging, stock and custom capabilities, and countless options of materials, industries, and markets served, TricorBraun's range of packaging solutions sets it apart. Serving customers since 1902, TricorBraun has grown to $1.5 billion in annual sales, with more than 1,100 team members in 50 locations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. AEA was founded in 1968 by the Rockefeller, Mellon and Harriman family interests and S.G. Warburg & Co. as a private investment vehicle for a select group of industrial family offices with substantial assets. AEA has an extraordinary global network built over many years which includes leading industrial families, business executives and leaders; many of whom invest with AEA as active individual investors ("Participants") and/or join its portfolio company boards or act in other advisory roles. Today, AEA's approximately 90 investment professionals operate globally with offices in New York, Connecticut, London, Munich and Shanghai. The firm manages funds that have over $15 billion of invested and committed capital including the leveraged buyouts of middle market companies and small business companies and mezzanine and senior debt investments. AEA Private Equity invests across three sectors: value added industrials, consumer and services. Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager operating integrated groups across Credit, Private Equity, Real Estate and Strategic Initiatives. Ares Management's investment groups collaborate to deliver innovative investment solutions and consistent, attractive investment returns for fund investors throughout market cycles. As of December 31, 2020, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $197 billion of assets under management with more than 1,450 employees operating across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Ontario Teachers' is the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with $204.7 billion Canadian dollars ($161.8 billion) in net assets, as of June 30, 2020. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded as of January 1, 2020, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 329,000 active and retired teachers. Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC (News - Alert) Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). Harris Williams' Specialty Distribution Group has experience across a variety of sectors, including automotive and heavy duty aftermarket; building products; consumer; electrical and communications; foodservice; healthcare; industrial; and technology. For more information on the firm's Specialty Distribution Group, visit the Specialty Distribution Group's section of the Harris Williams' website. The Harris Williams Industrials Group has experience across a variety of sectors, including advanced manufacturing; building products; chemicals and specialty materials; industrial technology; and packaging. For more information on the firm's Industrials Group and other recent transactions, visit the Industrials Group's section of the Harris Williams website. Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005271/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Liberal activist who helped craft Obamacare contraceptive mandate withdraws Cabinet nomination Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Joe Biden has withdrawn the nomination of Neera Tanden to serve as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget after senators on both sides of the aisle indicated they would not vote to confirm her. In a statement Tuesday, Biden announced Tanden's request to withdraw her nomination and indicated that he still wanted the longtime political operative to play an active role in his administration. "I have accepted Neera Tanden's request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Biden stated. I have the utmost respect for her and her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve a role in my Administration. She will bring valuable perspective and insight to our work." The White House also shared a copy of the letter Tanden sent to Biden announcing her decision to withdraw her nomination. "It has been an honor of a lifetime to be considered for this role and for the faith placed in me," she wrote. While Tanden expressed gratitude for the White House's efforts to secure her nomination, she admitted that "[i]t seems now that there is no clear path forward to gain confirmation, and I do not want consideration of my confirmation to be a distraction from your other priorities." Tanden, who currently heads the liberal think tank Center for American Progress and has a long history of bashing politicians on social media, concluded her letter by praising Biden's "leadership on behalf of the American people and for your agenda that will make such a transformative difference in people's lives." Tanden's acknowledgment that she lacks a clear path to nomination comes after the Senate Homeland Security Committee delayed a vote on her nomination because "members need more time to consider the nominee." The Homeland Security Committee's decision was a result of bipartisan opposition to Tanden's confirmation. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced last month that he would not support her confirmation, citing "overly partisan statements" she made on social media in the past as a cause for concern. With a narrow 50-50 margin in the Senate, Tanden's confirmation would have required the support of all 50 Democratic senators and Vice President Kamala Harris, who would serve as the tie-breaking vote. With Manchin's opposition, Tanden would have needed to pick up support from at least one Senate Republican to secure the votes needed for confirmation. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the most moderate Republicans in the Senate, indicated that she would not support Tandens confirmation on Feb. 22. According to Collins, "Neera Tanden has neither the experience nor the temperament" to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Concerns about Tanden's temperament and partisan tweets directed primarily at congressional Republicans came up during her Feb. 9 confirmation hearing. When questioning the nominee, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., pointed out that Tanden had a history of taking to Twitter to call Republican politicians "criminally ignorant," "corrupt" and "the worst." He also questioned why Tanden referred to people with religious convictions against the Obamacare contraceptive mandate as extreme. Tanden previously served as senior adviser for health reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While in that role, she worked on provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Grace Meng and DNC Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong touted Tanden as one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act who helped expand access to health care for millions of Americans, including no copay birth control for more than 55 million women. Tanden is the first of Biden's Cabinet nominees to withdraw her name from consideration due to bipartisan opposition. Many of the president's confirmed Cabinet members have enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support, including Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. While Tanden's withdrawal marks the first unsuccessful Cabinet nomination of the Biden presidency, it is not uncommon for presidents to experience such setbacks. In 2009, as he enjoyed a much larger Senate majority of 59 Democrats, President Barack Obama had three Cabinet nominees withdraw their names from consideration. BRUSSELS Pushing member states to address salary disparities between men and women, the European Union revealed details on Thursday of a proposed law that would require companies to divulge gender pay gaps and give job candidates access to salary information in employment interviews. It also would provide women with better tools to fight for equal pay. The move comes as female workers across the world have been disproportionately affected by the economic repercussions of the coronavirus crisis, and it could lead to sanctions on companies that do not comply. The proposed law would also empower women to verify if they are being fairly compensated in comparison with male colleagues. The European Commission, the blocs executive arm, wants to provide workers with the ability to seek proper compensation in case of discrimination. Under the proposed law, those who believe they are victims could take action through independent monitors of compliance with the equal-pay requirement. They could also press gender-based pay grievances through workers representatives, either as individuals or in groups. A quarter of Airbnb owners are happy to break Covid restrictions with some even urging would-be guests to lie about the reason for their stay, an investigation found. Under current Government guidelines weekend breaks are illegal, unless for essential reasons such as funerals. But an investigation found some landlords in Kent were happy to rent out their properties, even if they were told it was for pleasure. Of the 45 landlords who were contacted, 11 were happy to hand over the keys, with some even offering to reduce prices. The news came after Kent police issued a warning reminding people of lockdown rules as spring sunshine saw people flocking to Whitstable. Kent Police tweeted over the weekend to remind people of the national lockdown, after seeing more people out in Whitstable and Kent Some landlords reported being 'flooded with requests' to stay in Kent, breaking Covid rules Others admitted they had already allowed people to holiday in the area during lockdown. The investigation comes after people flocked to parks and beaches over the weekend to enjoy the warmer weather. Police were forced to remind people of the lockdown as large numbers were seen in some Kent towns such as Whitstable. People looking to rent a property are asked during the booking process whether they are exempt. But some hosts had no qualms in telling guests to lie about the reason for their stay. When asked if any neighbours would question someone staying at the property, one landlord said: 'I don't think there will be any problems. 'We have had a good many guests staying over the last six weeks or so, some on business, others just wanting to get away for a night or two. 'I don't think there is a case for being found out.' Holiday accommodation, including the UK's 223,000 Airbnb listings, must stay closed under the current government guidelines except in specific cases, such as funerals, work or seeing a dying loved one, when people can spend the night. The government recently announced hotels and bed and breakfasts should be able to unlock their doors on 17 May. But one law-abiding host said she has been flooded with requests from opportunists trying to book non-essential stays. She said: 'It's shameful they're breaking the rules. Whitstable was busier over the weekend as people made the most of the sunny weather (stock image, July 2019) 'I've got parents who live here, and children, and they're putting them at risk. 'My Airbnb's a really good chunk of my income, so I get really upset when I see somebody isn't closing theirs.' The investigation was carried out by KentOnline who called 45 landlords across Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, pretending to be a customer. Whitstable councillor Neil Baker (Con) says many people have continued visiting second homes and renting out Airbnbs in the town 'as normal' throughout the pandemic. He added : 'Some people aren't just bending the rules, they're absolutely smashing them. Whitstable councillor Neil Baker says people are 'smashing' Covid rules by visiting the Kent town 'The fact they're constantly in use suggests that people aren't playing by the rules. 'There are people across the town who haven't been travelling 15 minutes away to see their grandchildren, whereas people are travelling from potentially hundreds of miles away to stay in an Airbnb.' Self-contained accommodation, like self-catering lets and campsites, could reopen on April 12, according to the government's Covid roadmap. A spokesman for Canterbury City Council, who are responsible for making sure landlords follow the rules, said: 'The regulations covering guest accommodation, which includes Airbnb premises, are very clearly set out in the legislation. 'These premises are allowed to operate but only for very specific reasons, such as for people visiting a support bubble, accommodation during a house move or contractors working away from home. 'A non-essential holiday is not one of these reasons.' A spokesperson for Airbnb said: 'We take these reports very seriously and investigate any concerns brought to our attention. 'In the past year, we've assisted police and local authorities in Kent with their enquiries about non-exempt stays during lockdown and found no link to Airbnb. 'Our website currently restricts bookings to guests with legal exemptions to travel during the lockdown and the vast majority of Hosts follow the rules.' 'The biggest defender': Why Wolf's legacy matters in 2022 Gov. Tom Wolf's veto pen has frequently been the only thing to stop legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature from becoming law. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks at an event for the "For the People Act of 2021" on the steps of the Capitol in Washington on March 3, 2021. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images) Update: House Democrats Pass Sweeping For the People Act Making Permanent Pandemics Temporary Voting Reforms A landmark bill was approved late Wednesday by the House of Representatives to federalize and make permanent many of the election reforms adopted as temporary measures in 2020 by a handful of states in response to the CCP Virus pandemic. The election reforms including radically expanded mail-in, early and absentee voting, as well as automatic, online and same-day voter registration with minimal verification, were followed by widespread allegations of voter fraud in seven states that marred the 2020 presidential contest between then-President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden, the ultimate declared winner. In addition, the measure the For the People Act of 2021 requires states that have not already done so to establish independent commissions for congressional redistricting, restructures the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as a partisan-majority rule campaign regulatory agency and creates extensive new restrictions on freedom of speech during campaigns. The bill further establishes millions of dollars in new campaign funding sourced from corporations, requires disclosure of donors to religious and non-profit advocacy groups, and enables incumbent congressmen and their challengers to receive a salary from campaign funds. The final tally in the House showed 220 Democrats voting for passage and one against, as well as 210 Republicans who opposed the proposal. Two Republicans did not vote. There are currently three vacant seats in the House. During a news conference on the Capitol steps earlier in the day led by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and attended by dozens of her Democratic colleagues, she compared the floor debate on H.R. 1 to the bitterly cold Valley Forge winter encampment in 1776 by the American Revolutionary troops, which many historians consider the low-point of the War for Independence. Everything is at stake, we must win this race, this fight for this bill because at the same time we are gathering here to honor our democracy over 200 bills are being put together to suppress the vote, Pelosi claimed. She was referring to efforts in multiple state legislatures since November 2020 to tighten up voter registration, ballot counting and security, and election-day procedures. Democrats typically condemn such proposals as efforts to make it more difficult for minority voters to cast ballots, while Republicans argue the measures are needed to prevent voter fraud. The comprehensive scope of the bill prompted House Rules Committee Ranking Minority Member Tom Cole (R-OK) to remark during debate that, this is a bill thats about preserving the present Democratic majority. It is a bill by the majority, for the majority, and is intended to entrench the majority in power for years to come. And House Administration Committee Ranking Minority Member Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), who managed opposition presentations during the floor debate, focused on the provision that diverts funds paid by corporations on a multitude of federal fines to campaign donations for congressmen. The Democrats number one priority is a bill that funds their own campaigns. H.R. 1 would launder corporate dollars through the Treasury and use those dollars to publicly fund congressional campaigns. Based on the 2020 fundraising numbers, that creates access to more than $7 million in public funds to bolster my colleagues campaign coffers by providing a 6-to-1 funding match to small donations. I know when I speak with my constituents back home, establishing a program that helps me acquire more money for my campaign is not what they think the federal government should be working on, Davis said. The House spent most of Tuesday and into Wednesday debating 56 amendments approved by the Democratic leadership for floor consideration. Only seven of the 56 were introduced by Republicans. One of the amendments was introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and would have mandated that 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to register and vote in federal elections. The Pressley amendment was defeated, while all but a handful of the other amendments were approved. The huge HR1 measure was rushed through the House by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-MD) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) with minimal committee hearings or markups. The bills supporters outside of Congress were drawn mainly from progressive non-profit advocacy groups, Democratic campaign activists, labor unions, environmentalists and Silicon Valley corporations. Opponents of the measure outside of Congress included the National Disability Rights Network that worried about increased use of paper ballots, a coalition of 130 non-profits that oppose being forced to disclose the names of donors, 16 Secretaries of States and other state election administration officials, and nine former FEC commissioners. A nearly identical bill passed the House in 2019 but went nowhere in the then-Republican-controlled Senate. This time around, passage in the Senate remains uncertain as the upper chamber is split evenly between the two parties, leaving Vice-President Kamala Harris to break ties. But if Republicans filibuster the proposal, as seems likely, Senate rules require 60 votes to invoke cloture, which limits debate to 30 hours and then requires a vote on final passage. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 3 1 of 3 Cassandra Day / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Josh LaBella / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 MIDDLETOWN The two individuals involved in a double-shooting earlier this week had just moved into the apartment within the prior two weeks, according to police. The individuals moved to Middletown from out of state, Capt. Richard Davis said, characterizing the shootings as a domestic incident, emphasizing that the incident poses no threat to the public. Ballton Shares Insight on Extraordinary Ministry in Ordinary Places In the world of CDCs, Lula Bailey Ballton is considered a brilliant innovator and some even regard her as the dynamic queen of nonprofits. Balltons reputation stems from her role as the CEO emeritus, co-founder and former president of West Angeles Community Development Corporation (WACDC). In 1993, Bishop Charles E. Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, selected Ballton as the first executive director of WACDC and charged her with fulfilling the organizations mission to increase social and economic justice, demonstrate compassion ad alleviate poverty as tangible expression of the Kingdom of God. To Ballton that meant, to serve God and love people and during her 26-year tenure, she did just that by creating an array of cutting-edge, community-based programs under the umbrella of WACDC. The programs include several low-income, real estate projects such as West Angeles Homes, West Angeles Parklane Apartments and West Angeles Villas. She also spearheaded the WACDCs Homeownership Centers, which provides ownership, entrepreneurial and dispute resolution services and much more. Ballton, now the executive director of Community and Economic Development for the Church of God in Christ, Inc., recently published a book entitled Extraordinary Ministry in Ordinary Places. ADVERTISEMENT The book is about the steps to start a CDC and steps to sustain one to make it a profitable venture. A nonprofit does not have to be faith-based or church-based. Its supposed to be other-based committed to whatever you say that you are going to do, said Ballton, a former college professor and director of education for the Chicago Urban League. The purpose of a CDC is not to make money for a church or an organization. Working with integrity is super-important. So, my book is more a reference manual than a handbook. Its a story of what you need to do, what your options are. The sections in Extraordinary Ministry cover administration, economic development, program development and the steps to follow. Also, the reader will learn what community development is and is not, how to establish an organizations vision and mission, what are the required legal components, how to select and train board members and the seven principal steps to form a successful CDC. A 501C3 is a business. Its a corporation. I think its misnamed with the word nonprofit because you have to make a profit to have a business or youll go out of business. The difference in a 501C3 is that the profit goes back into the mission of that community or that work as opposed to being divided up among the shareholders or board members, explained Ballton. By incorporating scriptures with her experience, she offers practical guidance to help churches, faith-based institutions and nonprofits invest in and improve their communities. In addition, Ballton recruited WACDC program managers to author chapters about their departments. For instance, Paul Turner, economic development director, and Samuel Hughes, economic development manager, contributed information about that area. COO Claudia Jones, Operations Director Robert Norris and Executive Director Tunua Thrash-Ntuk discuss administration, and Sandra Speed, housing director, and Ariel Bailey Fernald, Mediation Center director, shared information on program development. Being the director of the CDC was a complete faith-walk because it was an arena that I did not considered myself prepared for, recalled Ballton. I didnt come to the community with a plan that Im going to fix this place. I lived in that community and my plan was to make where we are, in the Crenshaw district, a destination place. And Ballton certainly succeeded in that regard because WACDC projects are sprinkled along Crenshaw Boulevard, starting north at the U.S. 10 freeway and extending south to 63rd Street. As the Lord led me, she said, I saw opportunities to improve our community. ADVERTISEMENT Ballton, who received a J.D. degree from UCLA School of Law, continues to aid churches and nonprofits through her independent consultancy firm, Lula Ballton and Associates. She also maintains her close relationship with God and applies His word to her life on a daily basis. My favorite scripture is Lamentation 3:21-22 because by His faithfulness, we get up everyday, noted Ballton. My other mantra is a poem that my grandmother taught me and that I live by. It goes: When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road youre trudging seems all uphill, and the funds are low and the debts are high and you want to smile but you have to sigh. When cares are pressing you down a bit, rest if you must, but dont you quit. Life is strange with its twists and turns and every one of us sometimes learns, though many a failure comes about, you might have won if you had stuck it out. Dont give up though the pace seems far. You may succeed with another blow. Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint of the clouds of doubt. And you never can tell just how close you are, it may be near when it seems so far. So stick to the fight when youre hardest hit, its when things seem worst that you must not quit. Extraordinary Ministry in Ordinary Places is available at Amazon.com. Originally slated for release in February, Lenovo has released their new 2021 X1 ThinkPad now in early March. Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 feature new 14 inch 16:10 screens. As usual with Lenovo, their starting prices are sky high at the moment. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 5G , Accessory , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker February is a short month - maybe a wee bit too short for Lenovo's taste. The PC manufacturer had announced the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 at the virtual CES 2021 to be available in February. That did not happen: The two high end business class laptops did not arrive in February. Lenovo narrowly missed the goal, as they have dropped them now, in early March. The price for being an early adopter in this case is very high: Both the X1 Carbon 2021 and X1 Yoga 2021 are only available as three pre-configured models at lenovo.com at the moment. Both of them lack any discounts and prices are extremely high: The cheapest X1 Carbon Gen 9 costs $2,819 - for that much money, buyers get a Tiger Lake i5, 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB SSD and a WUXGA/FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200) screen. The least expensive ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 is even more expensive with $3,189. The configuration is almost identical, but the convertible does include a high-res 4K-UHD+ (3,840 x 2,400). It seems strange that Lenovo would release their X1 ThinkPads with such an high price, but it is a common sight: The thinner 3:2 convertible ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga started out equally expensive. A few weeks later, the prices have dropped considerably on that one: The least-expensive X1 Titanium currently costs more than $1,000 less than right after release. Once Lenovo's usual discounts set in, the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and the X1 Yoga Gen 6 should be much more affordable. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A Syracuse University alumnus and his family are trying to get a word invented in Central New York added to the dictionary. Jonathan Krieger, who graduated from SUs Newhouse School in 2007, knows its not an easy task. But its an important one, as he seeks to honor his father, Neil Krieger, who died of complications from Covid-19 last year. Neil Krieger created the word orbisculate for a class assignment while he was a student at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., during the late 1950s. According to the official website orbisculate.com, its primarily a verb, with two definitions: To accidentally squirt juice and/or pulp into ones eye, as from a grapefruit when using a spoon to scoop out a section for eating. (Example: The grapefruit I was eating just orbisculated into my eye.) To accidentally squirt the inner content from fruits, vegetables and other foods onto ones face, body or clothing, or onto that of a person nearby. (I made a mistake dressing up before I ate a grapefruit. It ended up orbisculating on my shirt and now I have to change, Jonathan Krieger told CNN as an example last month.) Theres also a related noun, orbisculation, which describes the fruit juice itself: Hey, you have something on your shirt. Oh no! That must be from the orbisculation of the orange I had earlier. Neil Krieger, who taught neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard medical schools and later started a biotech consulting company, loved the word and used it his whole life. His own children, Jonathan and Hilary, heard it so often they thought it was a real word. Jonathan Krieger said he doesnt know exactly when he learned it was a made-up word, but Hilary, a Cornell alum who works as an opinion editor at NBC News, remembers losing a $5 bet with a college friend over whether or not it was in the dictionary. Neil Krieger had chronic kidney disease and was undergoing dialysis when he tested positive for the coronavirus in late March 2020. He was hospitalized for a month, dying of respiratory failure and complications due to Covid-19, according to medical records, on April 29. He was 78. Jonathan Krieger and his sister launched their efforts to get orbisculate in the dictionary as a way of both grieving and celebrating their father. Its just fun, its light, and thats something that I think people could use right now, as opposed to something that gets a bit more serious, he told CNN last month. A petition seeks to add the word to English-language dictionaries in future editions. More than 5,700 people have signed as of Wednesday night, Krieger told syracuse.com. Krieger, 35, lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, and runs the virtual events company Long Distance Trivia. He published a book about his varied career in 2018, titled Odd Jobs: One Mans Life Working Every Gig He Could Find, from Bathroom Attendant to Bikini Model. He and Hilary also created a list of 50 goals to popularize the word, which is the most important step in getting in the dictionary. (Orbisculate is already on UrbanDictionary.com, but Merriam-Webster and other major publications are harder to crack.) Of those goals, theyve already achieved nine, including getting the word in a crossword puzzle, engraved on a grapefruit spoon, and said in a podcast. They also hope to get it in a song (preferably by Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda) or used by a celebrity with a fruit-y name, like CNN anchor Don Lemon, fictional 30 Rock character Liz Lemon, or Syracuse University mascot Otto the Orange. Jonathan Krieger is aware that Otto doesnt talk, but the anthropomorphic orange is active on social media and could always tweet about orbisculate or hold up a sign with the word on it. Kriegers girlfriend, Megan OHara, also designed a logo and t-shirts featuring a cartoon citrus to help spread the word. Shes a really talented artist that can hopefully get more people on board, Krieger said. Sales from the shirts are all going to charity. More than $2,500 has been raised to benefit Carsons Village, a Dallas non-profit that helps families after the loss of a loved one. ...It feels fitting to honor our dad in a way thats unique, that captures his humor and creativity and shares those attributes with the world, Jonathan and Hilary wrote. We suspect that the mission were embarking on may take years; if were being honest, we realize we may never accomplish our goal. But life has always been more about the journey than the destination. We know, because our dad taught us that. For more information or to sign the petition, visit orbisculate.com. Endometriosis Awareness Month could not have come at a better time for one of Kenyas renowned Endo warriors Njambi Koikai alias Jahmby. The revered media personality is back on the radio waves after six years off the air following her well-documented battle with Thoracic Endometriosis. Jahmby is the newest addition at Trace Radio, where she will be hosting the Trace na Doba show. She announced her major comeback via social media describing it as hashtag #newbeginnings. Faaaaammmm!!!!! After 6 years!!!!! 6 long years OFF AIR! GUESS WHOS BACK ON RADIO? QUEEN FYAH MUMMAH JAHMBY!!!!! YES!!!! Im back on radio and my new home is Trace Radio @traceeasternafrica. Ill be live every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 8 pm- Midnight. Ill also be with @selectortechnix giving you the baddest mixes. For our diaspora fam you can tune in online www.traceradio.co.ke. #walewatomato #walewanyanya #newbeginnings, she shared. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- Health care providers, first responders, and those in long term care facilites have gotten their COVID-19 vaccine in indiana. Now, it's a system based on age, but many teachers in the state are wondering why they haven't been prioritized. "The term essential worker has been thrown around quite a lot and I know that I'm essential, and I am told that I'm essential, but the state, so far, has not treated me like I am essential," Carlee Sluder, a teacher for the Vigo County School Corporation said. She said going to school and teaching face to face is what the teachers want, but she said she worries about the spread of COVID. "I am not fearful for myself, per say. I am more afraid about what could happen to other people," she said. Tuesday night President Biden challenged every state to prioritize vaccinating educators. Wednesday Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced the federal government would be providing vaccines to do just that. "The federal government will fold in their doses, their appointment regimine, and scheduling process at Meijer, at Kroger, at Wal-mart. So, that's the, when you think about the federal pharmacy program, there are those options as well for teachers of all ages," Governor Holcomb said. But, Sluder said it shouldn't have taken the federal government to step in for teachers in Indiana to be vaccinated. "This just further illistruates what teachers in Indiana fight for daily. Like every day. Whether it's fighting for fair funding, to ultimately benefit our students, or fighting to be paid like professionals, or fighting to be vaccinated for the health of everyone. Everyday is a fight for teachers in Indiana," Sluder said. If you're a teacher under 50 years old you'll need to go Meijer, Wal-mart, or Kroger's pharmacy websites to sign up. They are the places offering federal vaccines for teachers. Representatives from the retail sector have welcomed duty freezes on fuel and alcohol, and a furlough extension, in Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Budget 2021 while urging the Northern Ireland Executive to follow Englands lead in extending rates relief to local shops. Launched yesterday at the House of Commons, Sunaks Budget included a 410m allocation for the Northern Ireland Executive and a range of measures aimed at supporting UK-wide economic recovery from the pandemic. Included in Budget 2021 are: Duty freeze on spirits, wine, cider and beer No further duty increase for tobacco Duty freeze on fuel Contactless payment limit increase to 100 Minimum wage increase to 8.91 an hour from April Business rates relief extended until June in England 6,000 each for non-essential retailers to restart in England Corporation tax rise to 25% (19% for low-profit companies) in 2023 Extension of furlough to the end of September (employers contribute 10% in July and 20% in August and September) Extension of support for the self-employed to the end of September No increase in national insurance, income tax or VAT with personal allowances frozen until 2026 Overall, this Budget is a bit of a curates egg with a mixture of positive and not so positive measures for the business community in Northern Ireland, said Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI. We welcome the extension of the furlough scheme until the end of September but, with employers expected to contribute 10% which will rise to 20% in the summer, it does reinforce the need for the Executive to clarify the timescale of its strategy of lifting restrictions and allowing businesses to reopen. The Chancellor outlined proposals for a 6,000 restart grant per premises for independent retailers and other businesses - this is something we want our own Executive to introduce in Northern Ireland. Rishi Sunak has also introduced a year of rate relief for independent retailers in England and this is something our members expect to be brought forward by own Finance Minister. The increase of Corporation Tax could potentially cause problems for our recovery and poses huge questions for the future of Northern Ireland having a similar rate to RoI. That being said, it is welcome that some smaller businesses will be protected from this increase with the maintained 19% small profits rate. The big questions arising from this Budget are now directed back to the Northern Ireland Executive and how they are going to use the 410m extra funding to support business as we begin the long road toward a post-pandemic recovery. The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) welcomed extension of the business rates holiday in England and freezes on alcohol and fuel duty, with the latter preventing any impact on retailers providing increased home delivery services during the pandemic. Stuart Reddish, national president, NFRN, said: Overall, the Budget is probably as good as we could have hoped for, particularly the assistance with business rates. Although this is not as supportive as in Scotland, where it is 100% for the whole year, it is still welcome and we look forward to a full review of business rates in the autumn. Books by Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, at the Chinatown Branch of the Chicago Public Library in Chicago, Ill., on March 2, 2021. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) New York Public Library to Keep Canceled Dr. Seuss Books Circulating New York Public Library said it will keep circulating all Dr. Seuss books in its collection, including the six titles that will no longer be published over charges that they contain racist imagery. The six books in question will not be taken out of circulation until they are too worn to be lent out, New York Public Library spokeswoman Angela Montefinise said Wednesday. As with all public libraries, the New York Public Library does not censor books, Montefinise said in a statement to the New York Post. Montefinise noted that since the publication of the six books are being discontinued by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company that manages the legacy of the celebrated childrens author Theodor Seuss Geisel, the very few copies the library has will continue to circulate until the are no longer in acceptable condition. In the meantime, librarians, who care deeply about serving their communities and ensuring accurate and diverse representation in our collectionsespecially childrens bookswill certainly strongly consider this information when planning storytimes, displays, and recommendations, she added. Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced on Mar. 2, Theodor Seuss Geisels 117th birthday, that it has decided to cease publication and licensing of If I Ran the Zoo, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, McElligots Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and The Cats Quizzer. These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong, Dr. Seuss Enterprises said in a statement, saying that the move was part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises catalog represents and supports all communities and families. First published in the 1930s and 40s, the books came under fire in recent years due to depiction of different ethnic and racial groups, which some find offensive. In And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, an Asian man is portrayed wearing a conical hat and eating from a bowl with chopsticks. If I Ran the Zoo includes a drawing of two African men wearing grass skirts and carrying exotic-looking animals. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday blamed his Democratic colleagues for the cancellation of Dr. Seuss books, claiming that those lawmakers want to outlaw Dr. Seuss and tell Americans what they can and cannot say. Under the Constitution, we generally defer to states and counties to run elections. Democrats want to change that, McCarthy said on House floor. First, they outlaw Dr. Seuss and now they want to tell us what to say. The founder of a youth organisation backed by the Duchess of Sussex sided with the Queen today and said Meghan Markle should sort out her grievances with the Royal Family 'in person' and 'privately'. Kate Robertson said that 'hurting the Queen in public is really low' and praised Her Majesty for being the 'world's most stunning example of public service' ahead of this Sunday's Oprah Winfrey interview with Meghan and Prince Harry. But her tweet was then shared by journalist Omid Scobie, a friend of Meghan's who co-wrote her biography Finding Freedom, who posted it to his 66,000 followers and said that 'not everybody will be watching on Sunday'. Around three hours later, after being bombarded with angry messages from Sussex fans, Ms Robertson deleted her tweet and apologised. She said she had been 'unduly critical of people I admire, care about and have worked with for a long time', adding: 'Everyone has the right to tell their story'. Mr Scobie, the royal editor of Harper's Bazaar, has been accused of organising a 'nasty' pile-on on the charity founder - and he has also since deleted his tweet. The Twitter row came as the Duchess said she could not be expected to stay silent if the Royal Family played a part in 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry. Ms Robertson, who is the co-founder of One Young World, previously hit the headlines for awkwardly hugging Meghan on stage at the Royal Albert Hall. Kate Robertson initially posted a tweet which was then quoted by royal author Omid Scobie, before deleting it and apologising after suffering a 'pile-on' because she gave her views The Duchess of Sussex is awkwardly welcomed on stage by One Young World co-founder Kate Robertson in a greeting at the summit at the Royal Albert Hall in London in October 2019 Omid Scobie has been accused of bullying himself and organising a pile-on on Ms Robertson The incident in London at an event in October 2019 saw Ms Robertson greet the Duchess with a curtsy, while Meghan went in for a hug, resulting in a slight clash. Today, Ms Robertson tweeted at 8.18am: 'Not having any of it. The Queen is the world's most stunning example of duty and service. The Sussexes have grievances but should sort out in person privately. Hurting the Queen in public is really low.' Kate Robertson, co-founder of One Young World Summit, in Dublin in October 2014 Royal author Omid Scobie, who wrote the Sussexes biography Finding Freedom, then quoted the post in a tweet at 9.12am, which saw it gain a greater audience. Mr Scobie wrote: 'It seems that not everybody will be watching on Sunday, including the founder of One Young World, a youth-focused global forum that the Duchess of Sussex has been involved with for years.' But by 11.11am, Ms Robertson's initial tweet had disappeared, and she wrote an apology, saying: 'I am so sorry. I sent a tweet this morning that was unduly critical of people I admire, care about and have worked with for a long time. 'People have called me out on it and they were right to do so - we should all choose to contribute to a culture of kindness. 'Everyone has the right to tell their story - that's what our work is about. This was a good lesson: commenting on people's personal lives is wrong. I'm truly sorry.' Mr Scobie's tweet that quoted her message has also since been removed. The Duchess has spent years supporting One Young World, which was co-founded by South Africa-born Ms Robertson and had its first summit in February 2010. Ms Robertson later removed her initial tweet and replaced it with a two-part apology Meghan and Ms Robertson have appeared on stage numerous times, including at the summit in Dublin in 2014 for a 'Bridging the Gender Gap' special session. Then in October 2019, the Duchess was greeted by the awkward hug at the opening ceremony of the same summit, in London. Ms Robertson, who moved to Britain from South Africa in 1986, and Meghan appeared to laugh off the mishap before sharing a hug on stage. Meghan attended the event at the Royal Albert Hall without Harry, in her role as vice-president of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust. There are no official codes of etiquette when meeting a member of the Royal Family, but Meghan and Harry have been known to hug members of the public. The opening of the summit had been Meghan's first public appearance since the release of the bombshell ITV documentary Harry And Meghan: An African Journey. Today, a clip of Meghan making the remarks to Oprah Winfrey was released in the early hours of this morning, in which she said that 'a lot ... has been lost already'. Ms Robertson received a number of critical tweets after posting the message this morning The couple's interview with the US television host is expected to lift the lid on their short period as working royals before they stepped down for a life in America. In the 30-second clip released on social media, Winfrey asks the duchess: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' She replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I ... there is a lot that has been lost already.' Ms Robertson (left) and Meghan (far right) at the One Young World summit in Dublin in 2014 'The Firm' is widely considered to be shorthand for the institution of the royal family. It came as Buckingham Palace said it had launched an investigation into claims that the duchess bullied former royal staff. Past and present employees are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and that staff were 'humiliated' on several occasions. The Times newspaper has reported that the duchess 'destroyed' one member of staff and another was left in tears before she departed. Meghan's lawyers have vehemently denied she is a bully. Prince Harry and Meghan attend a roundtable discussion with the Queen's Commonwealth Trust and One Young World at Windsor Castle in October 2019 There has long been speculation about the atmosphere in the Sussex household, after a number of staff left, and the newspaper chronicles what it describes as 'turmoil' within palace walls. Underlying Meghan's actions, the paper reports, was the view of a number of sources that she wanted to be a 'victim' so her 'unbearable experience' would convince Harry they had to leave the UK - something her lawyers have denied. The monarchy's 'men in grey suits' have been accused of being aware of the alleged actions of the duchess and of doing 'absolutely nothing to protect people'. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'We are clearly very concerned about allegations in the Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for a 'tell-all' TV special 'Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. 'The Royal Household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.' Meghan and Harry will not be part of the process as they are not staff, and it is understood the Palace hopes to start the investigation soon. Lawyers for the duke and duchess said the Sussexes believed staff were comfortable and happy. The Queen, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the Buckingham Palace balcony in July 2018 Ms Robertson's Twitter post was quoted this morning by royal author Omid Scobie (pictured) However, Jason Knauf, the couple's then communications secretary, made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff. A source suggested the attitude to the allegations was more about making them 'go away' rather than 'addressing' them, with the paper claiming that Mr Knauf's complaint was never progressed. Meghan's spokesman said: 'The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. 'She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.' JERUSALEM - The International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor on Wednesday launched an investigation into alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories, turning the tribunals focus toward Israeli military actions and settlement construction on lands captured in the 1967 Mideast war. FILE- In this Nov. 7, 2019 file photo, the International Criminal Court, or ICC, is seen in The Hague, Netherlands. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Wednesday, March 3, 2021 that she has launched an investigation into alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories. Fatou Bensouda said in a statement the probe will be conducted independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favor.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File) JERUSALEM - The International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor on Wednesday launched an investigation into alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories, turning the tribunals focus toward Israeli military actions and settlement construction on lands captured in the 1967 Mideast war. The decision dealt an embarrassing blow to the Israeli government, which had conducted an aggressive public relations and behind-the-scenes diplomatic campaign to block the investigation. It also raised the possibility of arrest warrants being issued against Israeli officials suspected of war crimes, making it potentially risky to travel abroad. "The state of Israel is under attack this evening," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a videotaped statement. "The biased international court in the Hague made a decision that is the essence of anti-Semitism and hypocrisy." "I promise you we will fight for the truth until we annul this scandalous decision," he said. The decision by Fatou Bensouda, the courts outgoing prosecutor, had been expected since the court determined last month that she had jurisdiction over the case. A preliminary probe by Bensouda in 2019 had found a "reasonable basis" to open a war crimes case. In a statement, Bensouda said the investigation will look into "crimes within the jurisdiction of the court that are alleged to have been committed" since June 13, 2014. She said the investigation will be conducted "independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favour." That task will now be handed to Karim Khan, the British lawyer who is set to become the court's chief prosecutor in June. Wednesday's decision turns the courts focus toward two key Israeli policies of recent years: its repeated military operations against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, highlighted by a devastating 2014 war, and its expansion of Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Experts say that Israel could be especially vulnerable to prosecution for its settlement policies. Although the Palestinians do not have an independent state, they were granted nonmember observer status in the U.N. General Assembly in 2012, allowing them to join international organizations like the ICC. Since joining the court in 2015, they have pushed for a war crimes probe against Israel. Israel, which is not a member of the court, had said it does not have jurisdiction because Palestine is not a sovereign state. The Palestinian Authority, which administers autonomous areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, welcomed Wednesdays move. "This long-awaited step serves Palestines vigorous effort to achieve justice and accountability as indispensable bases for peace," the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said. The Palestinians chose June 2014 as the start of the investigation to coincide with the run-up to Israels devastating Gaza war that summer. In the fighting, over 2,200 Palestinians, including nearly 1,500 civilians, were killed by Israeli fire, according to U.N. estimates. At least 67 soldiers and six civilians were killed on the Israeli side, according to Israeli figures. Israel has argued that it waged a war of self-defence against nonstop rocket fire against its cities. It blames Gazas Islamic militant Hamas rulers for the high civilian death toll because the group launched attacks from residential areas, drawing Israeli retaliation. Bensouda has also said her probe would look into the actions of Hamas, which fired rockets indiscriminately into Israel during the 2014 war. In Gaza, Hamas nonetheless welcomed the initiation of the investigation and called on Bensouda to "resist any pressure" that could scuttle the process. "This is a step forward to implement justice, punish the occupation and do justice to the Palestinian people," Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told the Associated Press. He said he was confident that the rocket attacks on Israeli cities was legitimate under international law. The ICC is meant to serve as a court of last resort when countries own judicial systems are unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute war crimes. Israel does not recognize its authority, saying it has an independent, world-class judicial system. But the Palestinians, and human rights groups, say Israel is incapable of investigating itself and has a history of whitewashing military crimes. After the war, the military opened dozens of investigations into the conduct of troops. Although there were only a handful of convictions on minor charges, that could be enough for the court, which dropped a similar case against British troops in Iraq last year because U.K. authorities had investigated. In a reference to Israels justice system, Bensouda said the investigation will "allow for a continuing assessment of actions being taken at the domestic level in accordance with the principle of complementarity." Experts have warned that Israel could have a harder time defending its settlement policies in in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Settlements are widely viewed as illegal based on the Geneva Convention principle that an occupying power is barred from transferring its population to territories captured in war. Population transfers are listed as a war crime in the ICCs founding treaty, the Rome Statute. Israel annexed east Jerusalem after the 1967 Mideast war, and considers the West Bank disputed territory. But its positions are not internationally recognized, and most of the world considers both areas occupied territories. Today, some 700,000 settlers live in the two areas, which the Palestinians claim, along with Gaza, for a future state. Israel says the fate of these areas should be resolved in negotiations, and that ICC involvement will push the Palestinians away from the negotiating table. Bensouda said that priorities in the investigation will be "determined in due time" based on constraints including the coronavirus pandemic, limited resources and prosecutors existing heavy workload. While Wednesdays decision does not pose any immediate threat to Israel, the court has the authority to quietly issue arrest warrants for people suspected of crimes. Netanyahu was prime minister during the 2014 Gaza war and has been a strong advocate of the settlements. His defence minister, Benny Gantz, was Israels military commander during the war. Israeli media have said that Israel is in touch with allies who are members of the ICC to receive warnings about potential arrest warrants against its citizens. In his statement, Netanyahu said Israel was being unfairly singled out. He accused the court of "turning a blind eye to Iran, Syria and the other dictatorships that are committing real war crimes." U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said "we firmly oppose and are disappointed by the ICC prosecutors announcement of an investigation into the Palestinian situation." "We will continue to uphold our strong commitment to Israel and its security including by opposing actions that seek to target Israel unfairly," Price told reporters in Washington. International human rights groups praised the decision as a step toward justice for Israeli and Palestinian victims. "The courts crowded docket shouldnt deter the prosecutors office from doggedly pursuing cases against anyone credibly implicated in such crimes," said Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch. "ICC member countries should stand ready to fiercely protect the courts work from any political pressure," she said. ____ Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Fares Akram in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed. In announcing that the Biden administration was resuming efforts to put abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, Its important that our money reflect the history and diversity of our country. While liberals bask in the blinding glow of superficial identity politics, patting themselves on the back for replacing villainous former President Andrew Jackson, conservatives can also celebrate this choice by looking beyond Tubmans color to celebrate her life and deeds. For instance, faith was everything to Tubman. Called Black Moses, Tubman would likely fit into the mold of an evangelical Christian today. She would probably be shocked at modern liberal assertions that Christianity is to blame for promoting racism, bigotry and White supremacy. Her faith emboldened her to risk everything to aid escaped slaves, and inspired her to recognize the dignity in every life. She talked to God, and claimed that He talked back (something former Vice President Mike Pence was mocked for saying). She said the Underground Railroad was not her idea, but rather divine inspiration from the Lord. A century later, that same type of faith inspired the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Sadly, our current culture castigates those who claim to trust God. While Tubman did much on her own, she had help from fellow Christians, most of whom were White. The role of Quakers and other Christian abolitionists acting according to the convictions of their faith is often downplayed by historians. But the Quakers were fierce in their belief in God, and they wholeheartedly believed slavery was incompatible with the gospel. They believed this so much that they risked physical harm, criminal charges, and loss of property and life to defy governments supporting such unjust policies. In working with those people, Tubman was colorblind in a way many of todays race-obsessed activists could never understand. In her forays into the South, Tubman was also armed. That should be no surprise given who and what she was up against. For her, guns were a means of achieving and preserving liberty. If she were alive today, she might compare those angling to take away constitutional freedoms such as gun rights with those who wanted to force her back into slavery. Tubman fought for freedom, liberty and all the rights guaranteed to us by God and the Constitution. While she probably never heard the term conservative, she nonetheless exhibited the values characteristic of a modern conservative. Tubman modeled that disruption, and even resistance, is sometimes necessary. Her example serves as a reminder to be brave and have the courage to fight for what is right. She also proved that righteousness does prevail in the end. History serves as a lesson for modern day issues. There is a fight for freedom and individual liberty being waged today, especially in a climate of overreaching government and cancel culture. Conservatives today are faced with censorship, harsh gun controls and restrictions on religious liberties. Tubmans legacy can inspire determination in all of us to ensure that we, as a people, never lose our rights. For all this and more, Harriet Tubman would be better than Andrew Jackson to represent our nations values on our $20 bills. Donna Jackson is a member of the Project 21 black leadership network. She wrote this for InsideSources.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 23:44:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday flagged off the countrywide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, saying health workers and frontline service providers will be the first in line to receive the injection. Kenyatta said other groups of people that will be given priority during the vaccination campaign are teachers and defined emergency service providers. "We met as the Cabinet and made it very clear that the first persons to be administered with this vaccine shall be our frontline health workers. That is category number one," said Kenyatta in a statement issued after the launch of the exercise in Kitengela, in the outskirts of Nairobi. "They (health workers) will be followed by our category number 2, who will be our security forces, who also due to the nature of their work are equally frontline workers," he said a day after the arrival of the first consignment of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine in the country. He urged Kenyans to continue supporting frontline health workers especially in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, saying the government will provide the logistical support needed to ensure the national exercise succeeds. "Included also will be our teachers because as you know we have resumed learning and our teachers are equally just as exposed. We will then move to those with co-mobilities and those above the age of 58 as we move to the rest of the population," Kenyatta outlined. He reiterated the government's unflinching resolve to ensure the success of the vaccination exercise and urged Kenyans to continue observing COVID-19 containment protocols. The administration of the jab is set to begin Friday after the vaccines are distributed from the central vaccine storage site. Kenyatta said experts will continue giving progress updates on the vaccination campaign and expressed confidence that the country will emerge stronger from the ravages of the deadly disease. He said his government will continue procuring more doses of the life saving vaccines, while noting that the second consignment will arrive in the country at the end of this month. Mutahi Kagwe, the health cabinet secretary, said Kenya is among the first countries in Africa to receive the vaccine and assured Kenyans that his Ministry was adequately prepared to oversee a successful national COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Patrick Amoth, acting director-general for Health, said the first phase of the vaccination campaign will run until the end of June and benefit 1.2 million Kenyans. The second phase to benefit 9.6 million people will start thereafter. Kagwe said the country's total confirmed cases are 107,329, with 1,870 deaths and 87,099 recoveries. Altogether 528 people tested positive for coronavirus in Kenya out of a sample size of 6,291 tested in the last 24 hours. "The cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,317,617. From the cases 483 are Kenyans while 45 are foreigners. 330 are males and 198 are females. The youngest is a two-month-old infant while the oldest is 89," Kagwe told a media briefing in Nairobi. He said a total of 435 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities across the country while 1,583 patients are on home-based isolation and care. According to the cabinet secretary, 65 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 24 of whom are on ventilatory support and 34 on supplemental oxygen while seven patients are under observation. He said another 15 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen all of whom are in the general wards. No patient is in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 21:28:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's development has been advancing in a new historic journey since late 2017, when Chinese President Xi Jinping noted at the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress that China's economy was transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development. To forestall and defuse various kinds of risks and proactively address challenges brought by external changes, China needs to focus on taking care of its own matters and improving the quality of development, Xi has said. It is widely believed that this new vision for development, featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, benefits not only China, but the world as a whole. "China will work with other countries to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity," Xi said in his speech at World Economic Forum Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda in January. OPEN WORLD ECONOMY China's high-quality development can only be achieved through greater openness, Xi said at the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in 2018. In May 2020, the CPC leadership made a strategic decision to foster a new development pattern where domestic and foreign markets can boost each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. "Making the domestic market the mainstay does not mean we are developing our economy with the door closed," Xi told a symposium of entrepreneurs in July last year. By giving full play to the potential of the domestic market, both domestic and foreign markets can be better connected and utilized to realize robust and sustainable development, he said. China will follow the new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm, and pursue high-quality development by staying committed to deepening reform and opening wider to the world, Xi said when delivering a speech via video at the third Paris Peace Forum in 2020. He stressed that China will also work with the rest of the international community to keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and to foster an open world economy. According to official data released in 2020, China had signed 200 cooperation deals on the Belt and Road Initiative with 138 countries and 30 international organizations. The country had also established 21 pilot free trade zones. Its global business environment ranking moved up to the 31st in 2020. In his phone conversations with various foreign leaders, Xi has called for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, stressing that China welcomes active participation by various countries in its development and construction for mutual benefits and win-win results. INNOVATION AS DRIVING FORCE Innovation is the primary driving force behind development. China must pursue innovation-driven growth and make breakthroughs in key and core technologies to achieve high-quality development. Those are remarks taken from several of Xi's articles published on the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. Xi has attached great importance to technological innovation and paid visits to places including research institutions, universities, companies and high-tech industrial development zones. Progress was made in building Beijing, Shanghai and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into global sci-tech innovation centers, as well as in manned space program and moon probe. When the Party leadership held a study session on the research and application of quantum science and technology in October 2020, Xi again emphasized the importance of technological innovation. It plays a very important role in accelerating the development of quantum science and technology in promoting high-quality development and safeguarding national security, he said, stressing that quantum mechanics is a major achievement in human's exploration of the microworld. On the same occasion, Xi called for efforts to follow the path of independent innovation, make breakthroughs in key core technologies, ensure the safety of industrial and supply chains, and enhance China's ability of responding to international risks and challenges with science and technology. GREEN DEVELOPMENT Under Xi's leadership, China has achieved unprecedented ecological progress. Energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product dropped 13.2 percent between 2015 and 2019, city dwellers now breathe in unpolluted air for 82 percent of the days in a year, and water quality has improved to sound levels. The pollution control goals set out in the 13th Five-Year Plan have been accomplished, as Xi has urged governments at all levels to remember that "clear waters and green mountains are invaluable assets." At the virtual Climate Ambition Summit in December 2020, Xi said the international landscape is evolving more rapidly, and COVID-19 is triggering deep reflections on the relationship between man and nature. Xi urged the international community to pursue a new approach to climate governance that highlights green recovery and pledged China's further commitments for 2030 to tackling the global climate challenge. Moreover, speaking at the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity in September 2020, Xi highlighted the major risks in loss of biodiversity and the degradation of the ecosystem. He made four proposals, including adhering to ecological civilization and increasing the drive for building a beautiful world; upholding multilateralism and building synergy for global governance on the environment; continuing with green development and increasing the potential for high-quality economic recovery after COVID-19; and calling on countries to strengthen the power of action to tackle challenges to the environment. He also said that he believes that fostering high-quality economic recovery in the post-pandemic era requires enhancing cooperation and exchanges across borders. Enditem Serum Institute of India writes to PMO proposing reforms in drug regulatory system India pti-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 04: The world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Serum Institute of India, has written to the Prime Minister's Office proposing reforms in the existing drug regulatory system, including allowing manufacturing and stockpiling of non-COVID vaccines while undergoing clinical trial. In the letter, Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) referred to the Health Ministry's May 18, 2020, gazette notification, saying it allowed manufacturing and stockpiling of COVID-19 vaccine under clinical trial for marketing authorization for sale or distribution. "Because of this rule, it became possible for us to manufacture and stockpile the COVID-19 vaccine during the clinical trial and we could make the vaccine available in such a short span of time to protect millions of lives," he said in the letter dated March 2. By the end of 2020, SII has already produced around 50 million dosages of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield', even while it awaited the Drugs Controller General of India's (DCGI) nod for emergency use of its vaccine in the country. It got the nod in early January this year. "In view of the successful result of this provision for COVID-19 vaccine, this provision should also be implemented for non-COVID-19 vaccines," Singh said. In the letter to the PMO, he also sought permission to use the remaining quantities of batches of COVID and non-COVID vaccines for commercial purpose which have been used in a clinical trial. In this context, he said the Health Ministry had issued draft rules dated April 12, 2018, to allow the remaining quantities of batches of vaccines which have been used in a clinical trial for commercial use after the grant of permission in Form 46 (now it is Form CT-23) and manufacturing licence in Form 28D. COVID-19 recovered people showing faster antibody response to Covishield vaccine "However, this draft rule has not been implemented till now. This draft rule should be implemented shortly to avoid wastage of life-saving vaccines," Singh pointed out. Singh also sought implementation of recommendations of a high-powered inter-ministerial committee for reforming the Drug Regulatory Systems in India. The letter stated that on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a high-powered inter-ministerial committee for reforming the Drug Regulatory Systems in India was constituted on May 11 last year under the chairmanship of then officer on special duty Rajesh Bhushan, who is presently the union health secretary. "A series of meetings of this committee was held starting May 2020. Recommendations of this inter-ministerial committee should be implemented immediately in line with the ease of doing business" he said. Singh's letter highlighted a few other points also related to regulatory reforms and said, "We are putting forward the following points with relation to necessary regulatory reforms in the existing Drug Regulatory system for your kind reference and intervention, which will take the vaccine industry of our country to new heights in the world." Singh also lauded the prime minister's vision mentioning, "It is a matter of great pride for all of us that because of our Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision about the regulatory reforms, the vaccine industry of our country is growing very fast and under his global leadership, our country has proved that we are the world leader in vaccine sector." The man who was twice deported before returning to the United States and raping and murdering a Jersey City woman in a park has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Jorge Rios, 35, who pleaded guilty last year to sexually assaulting and strangling 45-year-old Carolina Cano on March 24, 2019, when Cano was jogging inside Lincoln Park in Jersey City, is not eligible for parole on the 30-year sentence for first-degree murder. Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre also sentenced Rios to 10 years for the aggravated sexual assault offense, with the sentence to run concurrent to the murder sentence. Responding to a tip, Hudson County sheriffs officers found Canos body, only partially clothed, in the lake in Lincoln Park at roughly 7:30 a.m. on March 24. Cano was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30 a.m. One week later, members of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Homicide Task Force arrested Rios. On June 19, 2019, a Hudson County grand jury returned an Indictment against Rios charging him with four counts related to the death of Carolina Cano. The Indictment charged Rios with murder, felony murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping. Upon release, Rios is subject to parole supervision for life and Megans Law. After serving his sentence, it is expected that Rios would be deported again. Bombay Begums Director Alankrita Shrivastava Talks About Why She Doesn't Make Heroes Of Her Characters Director Alankrita Shrivastava, who has excelled at capturing the female gaze with her films, says she can never write men who are heroes as she tries to present her characters with all their flaws. With movies like "Turning 30", "Lipstick Under My Burkha" and "Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare", Shrivastava has broken away from the Hindi cinema's typical slotting of women into either perfect beings or vamps. "I think people are different and I just try to make them real. It just depends, sometimes they are wonderful, and sometimes they are not. But I can't make heroes out of them. I don't even make heroes out of my female characters, so I definitely won't do that to the male characters," Shrivastava told PTI in an interview. Besides tackling themes of liberation, freedom, and serious issues like marital rape and abuse, Shrivastava has presented women who openly pursue their ambitions and desires and in the course, break the shackles placed on them by men in their lives. The director, whose latest series "Bombay Begums" on Netflix delves into the lives of five women from different sections of society, who all want different things in life, is aware of the critics who believe she presents men in a negative light. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja B (@poojab1972) But the director said she tries to write her characters as honestly as possible. "Sometimes, people feel that I write male characters who are very negative. But I try to write them from the experiences that people have had. "To be honest, I don't like judging any of my characters... I believe human beings are complex and everyone has many facets," Shrivastava said. The filmmaker said that the men in her stories appear as per the experiences of the women characters and what role they play in their lives. "In all my films, starting from 'Turning 30', the men appear only as how the female characters experience them. We're not really following the journeys of those male characters. These characters exist in relation to the female characters. "So it depends really on what's going on in that character's life. There are some male characters who may be supportive, some may be in conflict and some may be betraying those characters. So that's really only how we see them." The show, which features an ensemble cast of Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash, Plabita Borthakur, and Aadhya Anand, delves into the lives of five women from different sections of society. A common theme that the show has tried to explore is the physical struggles of its women. There's a 12-year-old Shai (Anand) who's attaining puberty, and on the other hand, Bhatt plays 49-year-old Rani on the advent of menopause. Then there's Fatima who is facing constant pressure from her husband to conceive a child despite the fact that her body is displaying signs that it is not possible. "I like to look at characters from a holistic point of view, especially like the primary characters. I believe that for a woman, her body is always a part of her life on a daily basis. We get periods because women are the ones who bear children. "So I feel like there's always something going on with a woman's body at whatever age she is. It's like a constant theme in her life. It's something that we all have dealt with in different ways." Shrivastava said a deep dive into the lives of her lead characters couldn't have been possible for her without examining their physical struggles. "Each character has a specific struggle and relationship with their bodies that is explored as a subtext in the show. Visually, one can see it through Shai's drawings. They tell something about a woman and provide a more candid lens as to what women's bodies should look like." Patriarchy is another theme that is common across all of her work. The filmmaker said the idea that women should exist to serve men has been deeply ingrained in women. "The idea that women feel like that their greatest duty is to serve the men in their lives, starting with respecting the father, then brother, then husband and then it's the son. It's always about putting the man in your life ahead of you. So I think that internalised the idea." Women are also told to constantly compete with each other, which prevents them from becoming allies, Shrivastava added. "I think we all are definitely at different stages of trying to unlearn and see the world differently because there is so much conditioning. When a woman enters a room, she might not feel like she owns the room in the same way a man may feel. "In many ways, my characters are actually going through that process of putting themselves at the centre of their own lives and not feeling guilty about it." Last week, the government unveiled guidelines for OTT (over-the-top) platforms as per which a 'code of ethics' and three-tier grievance redressal mechanism would be applicable for platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, news publishers and digital media. When asked if the new government guidelines would somehow affect the creative freedom provided by OTT platforms to content creators, Shrivastava said people will find a way to tell their story. As artists, we must have faith in the fact that humanity cannot survive without stories. We will tell our stories somehow or the other," she added. "Bombay Begums", a six-episode series, premieres on Netflix on March 8, International Women's Day. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close (Natural News) New emails obtained by the Daily Caller showed that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) caved in to Chinas persistent attempts to absolve itself of any blame for the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). One of the emails, dated Feb. 15, 2020, revealed that a WHO technical officer informed Dr. Cliff Lane that he would have to sign a confidentiality form and a disclosure of interest (DOI) approved by Chinese authorities. The forms this time are tailored to Chinas terms so we cannot use the ones from before, Mansuk Daniel Han, a technical officer at WHOs headquarters in Switzerland, wrote to Lane. Lane serves as Dr. Anthony Faucis deputy director for clinical research at the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of the NIH. The emails were obtained by the Daily Caller through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed on its behalf by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch. The request sought emails from both Fauci and Lane referencing the WHO and China. These new emails show WHO and Dr. Anthony Faucis National Institutes of Health gave special accommodations to Chinese communist efforts to control information about COVID-19, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement. The restrictions Beijing included in its confidentiality forms were not included in the emails turned over by the government to Judicial Watch and the DCNF. Citizen journalist sentenced to four years in prison for reporting coronavirus toll in Wuhan That China would want to control the narrative around COVID-19 comes as no surprise. The Chinese government has been accused of silencing doctors, whistleblowers and journalists who tried to alert the public about the virus. In December 2020, a court in Shanghai sentenced citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who reported on the coronavirus toll in Wuhan, to four years in prison. Human rights lawyer Ren Quanniu, who was involved in the case, has been disbarred. City officials suppressed information [on infection risks], worried it would impact their careers, said Zhang Hai, a Shenzhen resident whose father contracted coronavirus and died after undergoing bone fracture surgery in Wuhan on Jan. 20, 2020. Zhang and at least four others have tried to sue the city of Wuhan and other authorities for their virus response, but their lawsuits have not been accepted. Beijing has also maintained a tight grip on scientists both inside and outside China studying the virus. Earlier this year, the government delayed the visit of WHO team that was going to Wuhan to investigate the origins of the virus. On Jan. 4, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the setback disappointing. (Related: China sympathizer and WHO director Tedros Ghebreyesus was ranking member of violent Communist movement in Ethiopia.) When the team was finally allowed to visit Wuhan, some scientists on the mission said Chinese authorities had refused to turn over raw data on early coronavirus patients in the city. Chinese authorities conducted Wuhan investigation, not WHO investigators WHO adviser Jamie Metzl said the investigation into the origins of the coronavirus was in fact conducted by Chinese authorities and not by the WHO investigators. The investigation itself was very short, Metzl told Laura Ingraham, host of Fox News Ingraham Angle, on Feb. 10. It was two weeks of quarantine and two weeks of meetings, but the actual investigation was done by Chinese authorities. And so, the WHO investigators were basically receiving reports from the Chinese officials. The probe was meant to look into whether or not the coronavirus could have accidentally leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Peter Embarek, a Danish scientist who led the WHO mission, claimed it was extremely unlikely that the virus leaked from the Wuhan lab. He said that bats were a more likely source. The laboratory incident hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus into the human population, Embarek said on Feb. 9. Therefore, [it] is not in the hypotheses that we will suggest for future studies. Metzl was critical of the conclusion reached by the WHO mission. He mentioned that the WHO team outlined four possible beginnings of the coronavirus bat to human, bat through an animal intermediate host, frozen food shipped from somewhere and the accidental lab leak. While he emphasized the need to look at the fourth option the accidental lab leak the WHO team focused on the first three. For more than a year, Ive been one of the leading advocates saying we have to look very, very seriously at option four, Metzl said. But rather than saying, alright, lets look more deeply at all of those possibilities, the WHO investigators said we should look at the first three, but not at the accidental lab leak, he continued. And Im just miffed that this has happened. I think its really terrible. Most of us dont exactly how COVID began. But certainly, an accidental lab leak is a very, very credible possibility. Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com 1 Asia.Nikkei.com TheEpochTimes.com 2 A Major General's wife has blamed school fee fraud claims against her husband on jealous spouses of lower officers, a court martial has heard. Maj Gen Nick Welch, who allegedly swindled 50,000 to send his children to private schools, was placed under investigation after a tip off from a soldier's wife. The neighbour complained that - despite he and his wife Charlotte claiming to be living together in their London home - the couple were rarely there at the same time. This meant they were allegedly in breach of rules allowing them to claim public money for their children's school fees. Maj Gen Welch is said to have 'dishonestly' told the Army his wife would be living with him at his new London residence, which meant he could claim taxpayers' money for two of his children to board in Dorset. In fact, 54-year-old Mrs Welch spent most of her time at their 800,000 country home in Blandford Forum near the schools, prosecutors say. A military court, where Maj Gen Welch is the most senior Army officer to be hauled before a judge in 200 years, today heard that after the complaint was made Mrs Welch immediately dashed up from the family home with a promise to be 'very sociable all week'. Later, she expressed her confusion over why someone would complain about them. Freelance consultant Mrs Welch, who is accused of spending 'most of her time' at their Dorset home close to their children's private schools, said she was 'trying to understand why they have done it'. 'Perhaps they are daunted by Nick's rank, all of their husbands are two or three ranks below', Mrs Welch said in a text message to a friend. Maj Gen Nick Welch (pictured), who allegedly swindled 50,000 to send his children to private schools, was placed under investigation after a tip off from a soldier's wife The anonymous neighbour's complaint led to Maj Gen Welch's landmark court martial. The 57-year-old is the most senior Army officer to be hauled before a judge since 1815. Bulford Military Court, Wilts, has heard he duped taxpayers out of 48,388 by illegally claiming Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) for 15 months from 2015 to 2017. He denies one count of fraud. Under CEA rules, the two-star general's family had to live with him in Putney, London, while he worked at MoD HQ but the court has heard Mrs Welch spent most of her time at their 800,000 Blandford Forum home, Dorset, near their children's schools. Prosecutor Sarah Clarke QC read to the court a series of messages from Mrs Welch to her friends, in which she suggests her husband's rank 'daunted' the anonymous complainer. In one, she said: 'The saddest thing is that one of my London neighbours reported us. 'I have been away a lot recently so I have not been doing the coffee mornings and showing my face. 'I'm trying to put my feet in their shoes to understand why they have done it. 'Perhaps they are daunted by Nick's rank, all of their husbands are two or three ranks below.' Another said: 'Nick has just been told about the small print in the latest Army regulations which say I can only be away from the house for 90 days so I have just had to dash back up here.' She also said: 'I always thought that if Nick was not at home I didn't have to be there. I thought that spending weekends in Dorset was allowed.' Maj Gen Welch (pictured) denies one count of fraud Ms Clarke said the anonymous complaint had been filed to Army housing workers, questioning why the four-bedroom property was often empty 'at a time of housing austerity'. The prosecutor also told the court that, having received the complaint late one evening in February 2017, Maj Gen Welch ordered his wife to hurry to London from Dorset the following morning. She said: 'Early in the morning Charlotte texted Welch 'good morning my love, I'm up and about, I'll ring you when I'm done'. 'Then a phone call from Welch was made at 7.01, which lasted five minutes. Then another which lasted two minutes. 'At 8.47, Charlotte said to Welch 'on my way handsome'.' Maj Gen later said 'thank you for driving, I love you' and after arriving, Mrs Welch sent a message to her husband revealing her plans to make sure her presence was seen. It said: 'Beeped my horn really loudly as I went in. Not really, but I'll be out and about being very sociable all week.' Ms Clarke said: 'It's clearly the case that during these two phone calls he said to her 'look, you need to get up to London because there's been a complaint'. 'That's why she gets straight in the car and says she's going to beep her horn on the way in and going to be social, clearly to give the impression that they were living in London. 'The balloon's gone up and he realises that something has to be done about it.' Maj Gen Welch quizzed colleagues as to where the complaint 'originated from' and said he'd check his diary to make sure he was 'whiter than white'. 'I'm comfortable that I'm well inside the rules, clearly in my position I need to make sure I am', Maj Gen Welch said in one email. It has been heard he was 'well aware' of the rules as he had been claiming CEA for years. Ms Clarke accused him of trying to 'head-off' an investigation by writing an email suggesting he was not aware he breached rules and later told investigators the Blandford home was mainly visited 'for maintenance'. She also told the panel that a year into Maj Gen Welch owning the London property, Maj Gen Welch's boarding school child - who was supposed to live at the home while not at school - didn't event know its address. Meanwhile, the officer's defence barrister claimed Maj Gen Welch was the target of a 'invidious prosecution' which has been 'painted as a national scandal'. Sarah Jones QC, defending the two-star general, described him as a 'leader of men and women' who served the Army 'well and for a long time'. Ms Jones QC suggested Maj Gen Welch did not act dishonestly and said the nature of his mobile role at the MoD made it hard to establish how to apply the rules to him. She said Mrs Welch ordered 'every single aspect' of the family's life so the Army 'had the best of him'. Bulford Military Court, Wilts (pictured), has heard he duped taxpayers out of 48,388 by illegally claiming Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) for 15 months from 2015 to 2017. He denies one count of fraud Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) is offered to soldiers to help fund 90 per cent of their child's education when they relocate on assignment, as long as their family live with them, a practice known as 'serving accompanied'. Addressing the panel with a brief speech after the prosecution opening, Ms Jones QC urged them to consider if prosecutor Sarah Jones QC had done enough to convince them that Maj Gen Welch had behaved dishonestly. She said: 'Have the prosecution proved that someone who served the Army as well and as long as he did, a leader of men and women, acted dishonestly? 'Did that man set out to deceive? Did he ask his wife to deceive? Did he embroil his children in what has been painted as a national scandal? 'Did he pretend to be somewhere he was or wasn't? Did he hide anything? What lies, if any, did he tell?' She also said: 'The invidious nature of this prosecution means you might have to consider his life and his marriage. 'Whatever distaste you might feel about this intrusion, was this man serving accompanied in the ordinary meaning of these words? 'Did this man and his wife seek to be together whenever they could? 'Whenever the demands of his service allowed? 'Did Charlotte order every single aspect of his family life so that he could serve the Army as best as he could, did she support so they have the best of him? 'And if she did, should that be punished?' Ms Jones QC said the panel should consider that the nature of Maj Gen Welch's senior job, which saw him frequently travel, made it hard to apply CEA rules. She said: 'Does his position make it especially different to apply or understand the rules in how they might apply to him? 'Not that he is somehow elevated by reason of his rank, which could see him abuse the rules, as the prosecution seem to want to make it appear. 'If he was required to spend a chunk of time in London, and a chunk of his time in Andover at Army headquarters, then it prescribed where he should be spending his working time. 'If it's not clear for him then is it clear where she should be, if the point is that she should be accompanying him for accompanied service?' Ms Jones QC cast doubt on how 'clear' the rules of CEA are. She said: 'Can they make you sure there is a single consistently applied set of rules that are clearly set out and can be easily understood? 'Or will the evidence show that the methods are a mess, that so-called experts in the field, who make it their daily grind, so help them, even disagree fundamentally. 'Even these people cannot agree on a decision on what should or should not be allowed. These calculations often are calculated after the event, from a position of hindsight.' Prosecutor Sarah Clarke QC, when bringing her opening to a close, said Maj Gen Welch lied about living arrangements because 'he didn't want to curtail his family's lifestyle.. and that's dishonest'. Maj Gen Welch denies one count of fraud. The trial continues. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. When researchers analyzed the responses of the COVID-19 Symptom Survey in the United States, they found an increased risk of COVID-19 for household members when children had in-person schooling. One challenge of COVID-19 preventive strategies has been determining the role of in-person classes in schools on transmission. Some studies have reported numerous outbreaks in schools with in-person classes. In contrast, others have reported limited transmission within the schools and the larger community when proper preventive measures are in place. However, the influence of schools on COVID-19 transmission is complex. Even if transmission within the school is rare, other associated activities such as school drop off-pick up and interactions with teachers may increase community transmission. There is also evidence that suggests children below 10 years are less susceptible to infection, but it is unclear how likely they are to pass on the infection to others. One reason for understanding the effect of in-person schooling is the risk posed to teachers and family members. But, studies have not looked at the risk of school openings on household members of the schoolchildren. In the United States (US), there has been a great non-uniformity in schooling approaches in 2020-2021, ranging from a complete stop to in-person classes to complete opening with no preventive measures in place. Although many schools that have opened have some types of mitigation measures, the methods vary greatly. There is no database of all the different measures taken in the 130,000 schools across the US or the health outcomes. Some data are available for the public school system, but there is no data for about 28% of students who attend private or charter schools. Spatial distribution of survey responses. (A) Number of survey respondents reporting a school-age student in the household by county. (B) Percentage of households with school age children reporting any in-person schooling by county, excluding counties with fewer than 10 responses (excluded counties in dark grey). (C) Percentage of households with a child in in-person schooling reporting full-time in-person schooling, excluding counties with fewer than 10 reporting in-person schooling, (D) Average number of school-based mitigation measures reported for children with in-person schooling, excluding counties with fewer than 10 reporting in-person schooling. Analyzing survey responses In a new study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers used data from the COVID-19 Symptom Survey to correlate school opening and COVID-19 transmission to household members. The survey is administered via a Facebook platform and received about 500,000 responses each week. The questions are related to COVID-19 testing and symptoms and the schooling of any children in the household. The team analyzed data for two periods during the 2020-21 school year. Of the more than 2 million respondents across the US, about 27% reported at least one school-age child living in their household. Of these, 49% had children going to school full-time or part-time. The analysis showed that living with a child going to school full time is associated with a high risk of COVID-19-like illness and a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test. The association increases with increasing grade levels, with no association in households with children only in kindergarten or below to a strong positive association for households with only high school-going children. For households with children going to school part-time, the association is reduced but statistically significant. There was no clear trend with grade levels. Preventive measures in schools lower risk Mitigation measures varied across the country, with households in South Dakota reporting the least measures and households in Vermont the most. Schools with students going in-person part-time had more preventive measures than schools with students going full-time. Measures included masks for students and teachers, the spacing between desks, and restricted entry. The authors found a strong correlation between mitigation measures and the risk of COVID-19 in the households of school-going children. Each prevention measure was associated with a 9% decrease in the odds of COVID-19-like illness and a 7% decrease in the odds of a positive test. However, part-time in-person schooling was not associated with a decrease in the risk for COVID-19, accounting for all other measures. When more than seven or more mitigation measures were in place, risks associated with the in-person school were low and completely disappeared when there were 10 or more measures in place. Thus, the results show a clear association between in-person schooling and COVID-19 in adult household members. A reasonable number of preventive measures are enough to almost eliminate this risk. However, it is possible that other unmeasured factors cause these associations. The authors found that teachers working outside the home were more likely to have a positive test than teachers working from home, but this increased risk was similar to those in other professions who worked outside the home. Although there are still many unknowns, The results presented here provide strong evidence that in-person schooling poses a real risk to those living in the households of students, but that risk can be managed through commonly implemented school-based mitigation measures, write the authors. *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. Israel on Thursday began giving coronavirus vaccinations to Palestinians in the West Bank with permits to work in Jewish settlements in the occupied territory and inside Israel Jerusalem, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ):Israel on Thursday began giving coronavirus vaccinations to Palestinians in the West Bank with permits to work in Jewish settlements in the occupied territory and inside Israel. "The vaccination campaign for Palestinian workers began Thursday with a pilot test on 700 people with work permits in Israel," said COGAT, the Israeli military branch responsible for civil affairs in Palestinian territories. The Palestinian Authority said on February 19 that it had reached an agreement with Israel that would see the Jewish state vaccinate 100,000 Palestinian labourers. The main Covid-19 vaccination campaign, carried out by COGAT and the Israeli health ministry, would begin on Sunday "in seven sites located at entry points" of the occupied West Bank to Israel and in industrial areas of Israeli settlements, COGAT said. Palestinian workers would receive doses of the Moderna vaccine, it added. Palestinians in east Jerusalem, occupied territory annexed by Israel, can get vaccinated against Covid-19 like the rest of the Israeli population. More than 4.88 million Israelis, or 60 percent of the population, have received at least a first dose since the launch of Israel's vaccination campaign under an agreement with Pfizer. The Palestinians have received just over 30,000 vaccine doses, including 2,000 from Israel, which has pledged to provide 5,000 doses. More than 135,000 Palestinians in the West Bank have been infected since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,534 of whom have died, out of a population of 2.8 million. FILE PHOTO: The OPEC logo pictured ahead of an informal meeting between members in Algiers, Algeria By Rania El Gamal and Olesya Astakhova DUBAI/MOSCOW (Reuters) - OPEC and its allies agreed to extend most oil output cuts into April, offering small exemptions to Russia and Kazakhstan, after deciding that the demand recovery from the coronavirus pandemic was still fragile despite a recent oil price rally. OPEC's leader Saudi Arabia said it would extend its voluntary oil output cut of 1 million barrels per day (bpd), and would decide in coming months when to gradually phase it out. The news pushed oil prices back towards their highest levels in more than a year with Brent trading up 5% above $67 a barrel as the market had expected OPEC+ to release more barrels. [O/R] OPEC+ had cut output by a record 9.7 million bpd last year as demand collapsed due to the pandemic. As of March, it is still withholding about 7 million bpd, or 7% of world demand. The voluntary Saudi cut brings the total to about 8 million bpd. Under Thursday's deal, Russia was allowed to raise output by 130,000 bpd in April and Kazakhstan by another 20,000 bpd to meet domestic needs. "Everybody (else) is going to maintain the freeze," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told a news conference to outline the deal. He said Saudi Arabia would decide in the next few months when to gradually phase out its 1 million bpd voluntary cut "at our time, at our convenience". "We are not in a hurry to bring it forward," he said. The Saudi minister and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, lynchpins in the OPEC+ group, had earlier told OPEC+ ministers the recovery in demand was fragile. Graphic: OPEC+ Supply Balances (Base Case), https://graphics.reuters.com/GLOBAL-OIL/xklvyoywbvg/chart.png Novak said after the meeting that OPEC+ had to tread cautiously to avoid overheating the market Russia has been insisting on raising output to avoid prices spiking any further and lending support to shale oil output from the United States, which is not part of OPEC+. Story continues But in February Moscow failed to raise output, despite being allowed to do so by OPEC+, because harsh winter weather hit its production at mature fields. Novak said Moscow needed extra barrels to meet recovering demand at home. Former U.S. President Donald Trump regularly communicated with OPEC+ via Twitter and phone calls asking to pump more to avoid price spikes or less to prevent prices from collapsing. With U.S. President Joe Biden now in office, analysts have said Washington will play a much less active role in trying to influence OPEC's policies. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki made no direct comment about the OPEC decision when asked on Thursday and instead said the United States was focused on helping Americans through the U.S. economic stimulus package. Large oil consuming nations, such as India, have already expressed concerned about the recent oil price rally. The Saudi minister responded on Thursday by saying India should start using oil it had in its inventory bought cheaply during the price collapse last year. Graphic: OPEC+ compliance with oil production cuts, https://graphics.reuters.com/GLOBAL-OIL/rlgvdezdjpo/chart.png Graphic: OECD Commercial Oil Stocks, https://graphics.reuters.com/GLOBAL-OIL/nmovazaggpa/chart.png (Reporting by Rania El Gamal in Dubai, Ahmad Ghaddar and Alex Lawler in London, Olesya Astakhova and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; Additional reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by David Goodman and Edmund Blair) Promoting domestic consumption will be a strong driving force for China's high-quality development and the global economic recovery, said Huang Maoxing, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC). "Comprehensively promoting consumption" was listed as a focus of the country's future development in proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 adopted at the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Oct. 29, 2020. "As one of the three major drivers of economic growth, consumption is playing an increasingly bigger role," Huang said in an interview with China.org.cn on March 2. "With a population of 1.4 billion, China is a huge consumer market. Tapping into the great potential of the market promises more robust growth for the Chinese economy." In 2020, final consumption expenditure accounted for 54.3% of China's GDP, 11.2 percentage points higher than the total capital formation, the highest proportion of recent years, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Huang, dean of the School of Economics at Fujian Normal University, said as China is fostering a new development paradigm, the promotion of domestic consumption will help boost and sustain the recovery of the global economic system. "The sudden onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic caused enormous damage to the world economy, and the recovery is currently shaky," Huang said. "The new development paradigm features domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other, which means that bolstering the vitality of the domestic market will contribute to the recovery and growth of the world economy." Huang emphasized the importance of forecasting and responding to new trends to comprehensively promote consumption. Technological innovations have spurred rapid changes across consumption categories in China, creating various new consumption models, he said. Continuous efforts are needed to develop innovative products, services, platforms and sales approaches in line with new consumption trends and people's needs for a better standard of living, Huang continued. He said online consumption, which exploded during the COVID-19 outbreak, has become a part of life for most Chinese people and will continue to rise as a crucial growth area. As their livelihood improves, Chinese consumers are increasingly looking for high-end, individualized and diversified products and services, which is also a trend that deserves much attention, Huang said. Other growth drivers include green consumption, with overall improvements in the country's level of green development; and cultural consumption, especially tourism, as people pursue a higher quality of life, he added. Huang said that in order to increase demand and promote consumption, efforts should also be made to further increase people's incomes and improve the income distribution structure by creating new jobs, strengthening social security, and other specific measures. Good morning. The legislative session that resumed Wednesday continues today. Earlier this week, six prominent Manitobans urged the three political parties to find a way to work together and for the Tory government to reveal the contents of 19 bills introduced last fall by no later than today. Two of the bills were distributed Wednesday. The Winnipeg Jets face the Montreal Canadiens in their first of five consecutive road games at 6 p.m. CT. Fifty years ago today, Pierre Elliott Trudeau married Margaret Sinclair in Vancouver, becoming Canadas first prime minister to marry while in office. Adam Treusch, assignment editor A total of 11,607 people arrived at Dublin Airport from February 22 to 28 The number of passengers arriving through Dublin Airport has increased with holidaying the main reason for foreign travel. Data shows that between February 22 and 28, a total of 11,607 people entered Ireland through the countrys main airport. The figure is up 10.7pc compared to the previous week, while overall passenger arrivals are down 96pc from the same week last year. In total, 7,261 residents returned to Ireland last week with the main reason for travel given as a holiday or visit to the country. Read More Such travel is deemed a non-essential by the Government and gardai have handed out over 700 fines for unnecessary travel to airports and ports. Other reasons given by passengers for travelling into the State were for work or business, visiting a sick relative, medical travel or for a funeral. The figures, compiled from a survey by the Department of Justice, show that 4,346 non-residents arrived last week, up 9pc on the previous week. The main non-resident nationalities arriving were from the UK, followed by Romania, Poland and Spain. Sinn Feins Transport spokesperson Darren ORourke said that seeing other people flout the rules is frustrating for those confined to their homes. People are rightly fed up of staying at home doing all they can to suppress Covid-19 and seeing thousands of people still travelling in and out of the state for holidays. Everyone wants a holiday, but the vast majority of people have foregone their plans to assist in the national effort to suppress Covid-19, the Meath TD said. Its deeply frustrating for people to see others flout the rules against all but essential international travel, while they are confined to their homes. In my opinion this increase in arrivals could be as a result of the Governments botched handling of the mandatory hotel quarantine bill, as people rush home early to dodge the requirement before it comes into effect, he added. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Funding led by Summit Partners and Jungle Scout CEO Greg Mercer supports company's continued growth as Jungle Scout builds upon significant market momentum and announces acquisition of Amazon advertising technology company Downstream Impact. AUSTIN, Texas, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jungle Scout, a leading all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon, today announced it has raised $110 million in growth capital, led by Summit Partners and Jungle Scout Founder & CEO Greg Mercer. The capital supports Jungle Scout's continued growth as the company expands its technology suite with the acquisition of Seattle-based Downstream Impact, a leading Amazon advertising tech company, extends its SaaS platform to support Walmart, and continues to scale its capabilities in advertising and full-scale ecommerce brand management. Downstream Impact is an Amazon advertising software platform which allows brands to better measure, manage, and optimize their presence on Amazon. Connor and Salim co-founded Downstream in 2017. Greg Mercer is the founder and CEO of Jungle Scout. "As an Amazon seller myself, I started Jungle Scout in 2015 to help other entrepreneurs find financial freedom on Amazon. We've grown profitably since day one, and we believe the opportunity only continues to grow," said Mercer. "Since 2015, we've worked to expand our product capabilities to help businesses manage every step of their selling journey from product research to launching and scaling their business ventures. Today, Jungle Scout serves a global customer base of entrepreneurs and brands focused on building a business on Amazon and beyond. We're continuing to deliver on our mission to empower the world's brands with essential insights to understand and sell in the evolving ecommerce marketplace." Accelerating Momentum As the world continues to turn to ecommerce, Jungle Scout and the businesses the company serves are experiencing strong growth. Today, Jungle Scout supports more than $8 billion in Amazon revenue and serves over 500,000 brands and entrepreneurs who are working to build successful businesses on Amazon. in Amazon revenue and serves over 500,000 brands and entrepreneurs who are working to build successful businesses on Amazon. The company's powerful data engine processes data from more than 500 million Amazon products, offering sales, keyword, and other trend insights to help brands, entrepreneurs, and agencies identify opportunities and sell successfully in the Amazon channel. In June 2020 , Jungle Scout introduced Cobalt, a market intelligence and product insights platform built to help enterprise brands win the Amazon channel. Cobalt processes more than 1 billion data points daily, and is designed to provide powerful intelligence, including extensive data on market share, segment and trend analysis, competitive insights, content optimization, and more. , Jungle Scout introduced Cobalt, a market intelligence and product insights platform built to help enterprise brands win the Amazon channel. Cobalt processes more than 1 billion data points daily, and is designed to provide powerful intelligence, including extensive data on market share, segment and trend analysis, competitive insights, content optimization, and more. The company continues to invest in future ecommerce platform growth, including expansion to Walmart.com. Today, Jungle Scout employs more than 200 team members across 16 countries and expects headcount to double in 2021. The company also opened its second and third offices in China , in Hangzhou and Qingdao , in addition to its office in Shenzhen. We believe Summit Partners' investment underscores the essential role Jungle Scout's powerful technology plays in helping both established brands and aspiring entrepreneurs build successful ecommerce businesses. "Jungle Scout was one of the first companies to identify the opportunity to provide SaaS-based tools to help businesses and brands expand their ecommerce footprints on Amazon and beyond, and the company has built on this leadership position over the last several years," said Neil Roseman, Technologist-in-Residence at Summit Partners and Jungle Scout Board Director. Roseman served as Vice President of Technology at Amazon from 1998 to 2007, where he helped lead the software development underlying many of Amazon's early marketplace and commerce capabilities. "We believe Jungle Scout's technology is robust and highly scalable, designed to help a company to grow as the Amazon third-party selling ecosystem has expanded. We believe the addition of Downstream Impact will add to this product and engineering strength, and we are thrilled to be a part of the company's growth journey." Expanding Platform: Jungle Scout Acquires Downstream Impact The addition of Amazon advertising software leader Downstream Impact ("Downstream") will support Jungle Scout's continued focus on providing essential data-driven insights to help brands and agencies excel in ecommerce. Downstream manages more than $250 million per year in Amazon advertising spend for some of the world's largest brands, including HP, Bic, and several leading global CPG companies. Its artificial intelligence-powered automation tools are designed to help brands optimize their advertising campaigns and glean insights to more effectively compete within the Amazon channel. "Advertising is a critical growth lever for brands that are seeking to be truly competitive on Amazon, but it's also an undeniable pain point," said Mercer. "Jungle Scout sought out the absolute best AI-powered advertising technology to add to our platform. We evaluated dozens of tools, and Downstream emerged as a clear leader for its capabilities in managing and optimizing Amazon advertising programs." Downstream was founded in 2017 by former Amazon employees Connor Folley (CEO) and Salim Hamed (CTO), both of whom worked closely with the Amazon advertising business and well-understood the need to provide insights for brands seeking to optimize advertising spend and stay competitive in a fast-changing ecommerce environment. Advertising is Amazon's fastest-growing business, representing nearly $21.5 billion in annual revenue in 2020, a 66% year-over-year increase.1 A Jungle Scout study of nearly 5,000 Amazon sellers reveals that 75% use at least one form of Amazon pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and that, for many, PPC is a critical investment area for 2021. But, sellers also cite managing PPC bids as a significant business challenge; Jungle Scout data indicates that 62% of sellers are concerned about increasing advertising costs on Amazon. "We've watched Amazon's advertising business grow faster than Google and Facebook combined over the past year, but effectively advertising on Amazon is challenging," said Downstream Co-Founder and CEO Connor Folley. "Downstream provides ad performance insight within the context of a brand's costs and budgets, giving a more comprehensive perspective designed to optimize ad campaigns. As part of the Jungle Scout platform, we believe we can help brands connect these insights to enhance their ecommerce strategies." 1Advertising revenue ("Other" revenue, predominantly advertising) from Amazon Investor Relations About Jungle Scout Jungle Scout is the leading all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon, supporting more than $8 billion in annual Amazon revenue. Founded in 2015 as the first Amazon product research tool, Jungle Scout today features a full suite of best-in-class business management solutions and powerful market intelligence resources to help entrepreneurs and brands manage their ecommerce businesses. Jungle Scout is headquartered in Austin, Texas and supports 10 global Amazon marketplaces. About Summit Partners Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm that is currently managing more than $23 billion in capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 500 companies in technology, healthcare and other growth industries. Summit has partnered with more than 30 companies across the e-commerce and consumer landscape. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see www.summitpartners.com or follow on LinkedIn. In the United States of America, Summit Partners operates as an SEC-registered investment advisor. In the United Kingdom, this document is issued by Summit Partners LLP, a firm authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Summit Partners LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC388179 and its registered office is at 11-12 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JJ, UK. This document is intended solely to provide information regarding Summit Partners' potential financing capabilities for prospective portfolio companies. Contact: Leslie Termuhlen [email protected] 513-600-3353 Related Images image1.png downstream-impact.png Downstream Impact Downstream Impact is an Amazon advertising software platform which allows brands to better measure, manage, and optimize their presence on Amazon. connor-folley-and-salim-hamed.png Connor Folley and Salim Hamed Connor and Salim co-founded Downstream in 2017. greg-mercer.jpg Greg Mercer Greg Mercer is the founder and CEO of Jungle Scout. SOURCE Jungle Scout DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - Building materials group CRH Plc (CRH, CRH.L) reported Thursday that its fiscal 2020 profit before tax declined to $1.66 billion from last year's $2.18 billion. Earnings per ordinary share were 141.8 cents, down from 212.6 cents last year. Adjusted profit after tax was $2.0 billion, compared to $1.7 billion a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were 243.3 cents, compared to 203.8 cents last year. EBITDA of $4.6 billion was 3 percent ahead of 2019. EBITDA was 5 percent ahead on a like-for-like basis. CRH delivered overall sales of $27.59 billion, 2 percent lower than last year's $28.1 billion. Further, the company is recommending a final dividend of 93.0c per share, resulting in a total dividend of 115.0c for 2020, an increase of 25 percent on 2019. The company also intends to recommence its share buyback programme following a pause in response to high levels of market volatility in 2020, with a further tranche of up to $0.3 billion to be completed by the end of June 2021. Looking ahead, Albert Manifold, Chief Executive, said, 'Although the near-term outlook remains uncertain, our unique portfolio of businesses together with the strength of our balance sheet leaves us well positioned to capitalise on the growth opportunities that lie ahead.' 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. Ardmore Shipping takes on commercial management of four Carl Buttner chemical tankers Ardmore Shipping Corporation (Ardmore or the Company) has announced a new partnership with Carl Buttner taking on the commercial management of four chemical tankers on behalf of the Bremen-based shipowner. The vessels - the MT Aurelia, MT Avalon, MT Apollo and MT Admiral - are high-quality 24,000 deadweight tonne (DWT) chemical tankers, and will operate alongside Ardmores own chemical tanker fleet. This move signals a doubling of the number of similar sized chemical tankers under Ardmores management, leveraging the Companys global platform and experience in the chemical and vegetable oil trades. Gernot Ruppelt, Chief Commercial Officer, Ardmore Shipping, commented: We feel honoured that a company as well-established and professional as Carl Buttner has entrusted us with their assets. These are four high-quality, high-performing vessels, and we will work hard to repay their trust with performance. "This move also reflects our belief in the significant growth potential for more sustainable, non-fossil fuel cargoes, which already makes up 25% of our business. The energy transition is driving greater demand for non-fossil cargoes. In joining forces with Carl Buttner, we have strengthened our platform when it comes to meeting customers needs for the movement of chemical cargoes, which will benefit both partners mutually. Thorsten Mackenthun, Managing Director, Carl Buttner, said: We believe there is a lot of aligned thinking between Buttner and Ardmore, and we look forward to this new partnership. There is a strong match between our chemical tankers and Ardmores global presence and strong track record in the chemical and vegoil markets. And we look forward to exploring new trades and cargo opportunities for our ships. Ardmore Shipping also owns and operates six chemical tankers (25-37,000 DWT), bringing the total number of chemical tankers under Ardmores management to ten, in addition to their large fleet of IMO 2/3 medium range tankers. The growth in more sustainable, non-fossil fuel cargoes is one of the key strands in Ardmores Energy Transition Plan, alongside an ongoing focus on fuel efficiency improvements and partnership projects with like-minded customers and shipping companies. Penn State Health announced Wednesday the appointments of two vice presidents. Dr. Safa Farzin, who joined Penn State Health in 2019 and currently serves as vice president for medical affairs and staff development at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, has been promoted to the position of senior vice president for Penn State Health Medical Group, Community Practice Division after a national search, a press release said. He will replace Dr. Bill Bird, who is retiring at the end of this month after nearly 25 years as a physician and leader within Penn State Health. This transition will take place March 31. Over the past year, Farzin has been responsible for developing the leadership team and clinical services at Hampden Medical Center, the release said. He has been instrumental in collaborating with the community physicians in the greater Harrisburg region who will use that hospital to care for their patients. In his new role with the Medical Group, Farzin will lead the Community Practice Division, which has experienced tremendous growth under Birds leadership. Julie Nickell will join Penn State Health as vice president and chief financial officer for Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health Medical Group, Academic Practice Division, on Monday, March 29. Nickell is currently chief financial officer for Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, according to the release. Following Nickells arrival, Mark Liston, who serves as interim chief financial officer, will transition to Penn State Health St. Joseph as its interim chief financial officer. He will replace Chris Fallon who is stepping down March 12 for personal reasons. Chris has done an excellent job leading the management of St. Josephs financial operations for the last year, said Paula Tinch, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Penn State Health. We wish him the best going forward. As the lead financial executive for Baylor, Nickell leads a team of more than 150 employees at the research health sciences university, which owns 35% of Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center, an 881-bed acute care hospital located in Houston. ALSO READ: Before Penn State Healths $300M Hampden Medical Center even opens, officials are planning for its expansion Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - GBML Battery Metals Ltd. (TSXV: GBML) (FSE: REZ) (OTCQB: REZZF) (the "Company" or "GBML") is pleased to announce, that through the staking of federal placer claims, it has acquired the property area known as the Lithium King property (the "Lithium King Property" or the "Property"). Lithium King Property Highlights: Prospective lithium bearing brine aquifer located on the west side of the Great Salt Lake Basin in western Utah. The land position consists of approximately 7,900 acres (3,200 hectares) of placer claims. Excellent infrastructure: Interstate Highway I-80 runs through the Property. Adjacent to active brine mining operation. Mining friendly jurisdiction. Michael Murphy, President and CEO, commented: "We are very excited to have added the Lithium King Property to our growth-oriented portfolio of battery metals projects. Samples from the Property have recorded positive lithium values, with excellent access from Interstate Highway 80, which runs beside the Property. We look forward to rapidly advancing this Property, beginning with digitizing historical data, water sampling, modelling, and ultimately leading to drill testing." Lithium King Property Overview The Lithium King Property is located on the west side of the Great Salt Lake Basin in western Utah, adjacent to the community of Wendover, Utah. The land position consists of approximately 7,900 acres (3,200 hectares) of placer claims. The Property has the potential to host a lithium, and magnesium brine deposit in an existing mineral producing location in a mining-friendly state. Figure 1. Lithium King Property To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7080/76037_figure%201%20jpeg.jpg The lithium and magnesium on the Lithium King Property are present as dissolved salts in a large surface brine aquifer, which is believed to be derived from both surface erosion of lithium-rich rhyolites (as part of the Pilot and Toano Ranges) and mineral-rich geothermal brine flows into the basin sediments from deep seated faults underlying the 20-mile-long basin. Lithium values from several samples from 39 shallow wells (25 feet) averaged 244 parts per million (ppm) and ranged from a low 49 ppm to a high of 1,200 ppm. The lithium values from these wells are set out in Schedule A. (See also United States Geological Survey Data Base: Produced Waters, Volume 2.2n.xlsx, available in the Utah Geological Survey files.) The Lithium King Property is within the Great Basin of the western United States, where lithium concentrations of greater than 10 ppm in brines are anomalous. Lithium values from the only lithium production in the United States, in Clayton Valley, Nevada, also in the Great Basin, range from 75 to about 250 ppm. (PC - W. R. Henkle, Jr.). Figure 2. Property looking north towards Pilot Peak To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7080/76037_96f502bde4881a7a_007full.jpg Magnesium values at the Property and near vicinity range between 1,300 and 8,500 ppm (see United States Geological Survey Data Base: Produced Waters, Volume 2.2n.xlsx, available in the Utah Geological Survey (USGS) files, and Selected Ground-Water Data, Bonneville Salt Flats and Pilot Valley, Western Utah, Utah Basic-Data Release No. 30, United States Geological Survey). The shallow aquifer water samples (as per USGS sampling) may not reflect the deeper basin below 25 feet depth. Drilling to bedrock and brine sampling is needed to confirm the presence of and concentration of lithium in the deeper basin brines. In addition to the large surface brine aquifer, several deeper, thick, porous clastic horizons are present. These horizons were identified by inspection of the drill logs from the Shell-Salduro oil exploration well which was drilled just west of the Property boundary. The historical drill logs identified this deep sequence of aquifers (greater than 70% volcanic conglomerates) at the basin bedrock contact, at a depth of between 1,350 and 2,650 feet, beneath 1,300 feet of impervious, clay-rich sediments. They provide posited permeable reservoirs for large quantities of what are thought to be higher value brines (undiluted by meteoritic water). Because of the moderate target depths, both exploration and production drilling could be undertaken with conventional hard rock drilling equipment and should not require oilfield tools. The lithium and magnesium anomalous area overlies basement faulting identified by geophysical surveying and confirmed by oil and gas drilling records (the logs of the Shell-Salduro oil exploration well located in the Property vicinity, are public information, maintained by the Utah Dept. of Oil, Gas and Mining). The geothermal fluids which are thought to be sourced from the underlying faults are believed to be the primary source of mineralization. This is supported by: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey observation that, despite the presence of an industrial minerals extraction operation in an adjacent area for many years, there has been no depletion of mineral values as would be expected if the recharge to the aquifer was from meteoric waters (USGS Professional Paper # 1585); and (2) water temperatures are elevated over the highly mineralized area (see Selected Ground-Water Data, Bonneville Salt Flats and Pilot Valley, Western Utah, Utah Basic-Data Release No. 30, United States Geological Survey and, United States Geological Survey Data Base: Produced Waters, Volume 2.2n.xlsx, available in the Utah Geological Survey files). Work Program To assess the lithium potential of the basin brines on the Lithium King Property and subject to the receipt of any required drilling permits, GBML expects to conduct the following work: Locate and digitize existing oil well data to help in the modelling of the basin. Acquire public domain geophysical datasets. This will help in improving the subsurface structural and geological model. A depth to basement modelling exercise shall be completed. The data to be included in such model is expected to include, but is not limited to: Gravity Magnetics Seismic Exploration mud rotatory drilling with wireline geophysics to evaluate the stratigraphy and basement depth for the Property area. Water sampling of drill holes using in-hole packer equipment to test for lithium enrichment and deleterious element content of the brine. Acquire additional geophysical data to assess basement depth, water content and brine depth throughout the basin. This will be completed by a combination of gravity and electro magnetic data acquisition. Further drilling to test for: Stratigraphy Brine composition Production metrics Finder's Fee In connection with acquiring the Property, the Company has agreed to pay a finder's fee (the "Finder's Fee") to Atherton Resources LLC. Subject to acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Finder's Fee shall include: (1) a 2% net smelter royalty over the Property, with a right to repurchase 1% of such royalty for the greater of US$1 million or 10% of the value of such 1% royalty; (2) the issuance of 150,000 common shares ("Shares") of the Company upon delivery of a technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 in respect of the Property; and (3) the issuance of 380,000 Shares upon delivery of a positive feasibility study in respect of the Property. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by William R. Henkle, Jr., a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. About Global Battery Metals Ltd. GBML is a mineral exploration company with a focus on metals that make up and support the rapid evolution to battery power. GBML's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, OTCBB and Frankfurt. GBML currently has two projects: (1) an option to acquire up to 90 per cent of the North-West Leinster lithium property in Ireland, and (2) a 55-per-cent stake in Peru-based Lara copper property, which has over 10,000 metres of drilling. As previously disclosed, Minsur S.A., a Peruvian mining company, entered into an option agreement with GBML and Lara Exploration Ltd. to acquire the Lara property for staged payments of $5.75 million (U.S.). GBML will retain a 0.75-per-cent net smelter royalty. Michael Murphy BA, MBA, MSc., ICD President & CEO E: MM@gbml.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements about the Lithium King Property, including the potential lithium values of the brine, the lithium potential of the Property, the receipt of required drilling permits and the proposed work program, the terms of the Finder's Fee and regulatory approval of such fee. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Sufficient work has not been performed on the Lithium King Property to determine what lithium and potassium values are present. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "could", "estimates", "expects", "may", "shall", "will", or "would". These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, impacts arising from the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions, availability of financing, the potential for gold and/or lithium at any of the Company's properties, the prospective nature of any claims comprising the Company's property interests, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, and uncertainty of sample results, timing and results of future exploration. Please refer to the Company's MD&A for the year ended April 30, 2020 and other disclosure documents filed under its profile on SEDAR for other risks that could materially affect the Company. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEITHER THE TSX-V NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX-V) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. NO STOCK EXCHANGE, SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. Schedule A LITHIUM KING PLAY AREA SHALLOW AQUIFER BRINES TOOELE COUNTY, UTAH PREPARED BY: Henkle and Assoc. from the U.S. Geologicial Survey Database: Produced Waters, Volume 2.2n.xlsx COUNT WELLNAME Li Mg Mg/Li Ca Ca/Li Ca/Mg WELLTYPE WELLCLASS 1 NWIS Well (C- 1-17)18cab- 1 1200 5600 4.6666667 1000 0.83333333 0.178571429 Geothermal 2 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)22abd- 1 1100 5400 4.9090909 1000 0.90909091 0.185185185 Geothermal 3 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)29dac- 1 1000 5400 5.4 940 0.94 0.174074074 Geothermal 4 NWIS Well (C- 1-18) 3dcd- 2 970 4800 4.9484536 1000 1.03092784 0.208333333 Geothermal 5 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)11aac- 1 810 5000 6.1728395 1200 1.48148148 0.24 Geothermal 6 NWIS Well (C- 1-17) 4bba- 1 810 4300 5.308642 940 1.16049383 0.218604651 Geothermal 7 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)22bca- 1 760 4500 5.9210526 920 1.21052632 0.204444444 Geothermal 8 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)12dcc- 1 730 4700 6.4383562 1200 1.64383562 0.255319149 Geothermal 9 NWIS Well (B- 2-17)36ddd- 1 720 4600 6.3888889 1200 1.66666667 0.260869565 Geothermal 10 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)23bad- 2 700 4300 6.1428571 1200 1.71428571 0.279069767 Geothermal 11 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)19dad- 2 620 3700 5.9677419 1100 1.77419355 0.297297297 Geothermal 12 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)23abd- 1 580 3800 6.5517241 1300 2.24137931 0.342105263 Geothermal 13 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)22aad- 1 570 4100 7.1929825 1100 1.92982456 0.268292683 Geothermal 14 NWIS Well (C- 1-18)17bdb- 1 420 3100 7.3809524 1100 2.61904762 0.35483871 Geothermal 15 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)21add- 3 290 3000 10.344828 1200 4.13793103 0.4 Geothermal 16 NWIS Well (C- 1-17)15dbd- 1 250 1800 7.2 1100 4.4 0.611111111 Geothermal 17 NWIS Well (C- 1-18)11ccd- 1 170 1800 10.588235 1200 7.05882353 0.666666667 Geothermal 18 NWIS Well (C- 3- 2)35abc- 1 120 8500 70.833333 910 7.58333333 0.107058824 Geothermal 19 NWIS Well (C- 1-17)18cab- 1 95 5100 53.684211 960 10.1052632 0.188235294 Geothermal 20 NWIS Well (B- 4-18)17ddd- 1 88 2500 28.409091 2200 25 0.88 Geothermal 21 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)29dac- 1 88 4800 54.545455 830 9.43181818 0.172916667 Geothermal 22 NWIS Well (C- 1-17)17bba- 1 86 5000 58.139535 970 11.2790698 0.194 Geothermal 23 NWIS Well (C- 1-18)11ccd- 2 85 4300 50.588235 1100 12.9411765 0.255813953 Geothermal 24 NWIS Well (B- 4-18)17aaa- 1 85 3700 43.529412 1000 11.7647059 0.27027027 Geothermal 25 NWIS Well (C- 2- 1) 6abc- 4 84 5700 67.857143 920 10.952381 0.161403509 Geothermal 26 NWIS Well (B- 5-18)32ddc- 1 81 2500 30.864198 2200 27.1604938 0.88 Geothermal 27 NWIS Well (B- 4-18)17ddd- 1 78 2900 37.179487 2500 32.0512821 0.862068966 Geothermal 28 NWIS Well (B- 5-18)32ddc- 1 78 3100 39.74359 2900 37.1794872 0.935483871 Geothermal 29 NWIS Well (C- 1-17) 4bba- 1 75 4700 62.666667 1000 13.3333333 0.212765957 Geothermal 30 NWIS Well (C- 3- 5) 4bbb- 2 75 5300 70.666667 1100 14.6666667 0.20754717 Geothermal 31 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 1 72 5700 79.166667 1100 15.2777778 0.192982456 Geothermal 32 NWIS Well (C- 1-17)17bba- 1 71 5200 73.239437 1000 14.084507 0.192307692 Geothermal 33 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 1 71 5100 71.830986 910 12.8169014 0.178431373 Geothermal 34 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)11aac- 1 69 3800 55.072464 970 14.057971 0.255263158 Geothermal 35 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 1 69 5800 84.057971 1100 15.942029 0.189655172 Geothermal 36 NWIS Well (B- 2- 1)24bad-10 69 2400 34.782609 2200 31.884058 0.916666667 Geothermal 37 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)12dcc- 1 67 2200 32.835821 2100 31.3432836 0.954545455 Geothermal 38 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)22abd- 1 67 4300 64.179104 970 14.4776119 0.225581395 Geothermal 39 NWIS Well (B- 4-18) 1cbc- 1 66 2200 33.333333 2000 30.3030303 0.909090909 Geothermal 40 NWIS Well (C- 3- 5) 5aba- 1 66 4400 66.666667 1100 16.6666667 0.25 Geothermal 41 NWIS Well (C- 1-18) 6adc- 2 65 1400 21.538462 1200 18.4615385 0.857142857 Geothermal 42 NWIS Well (D- 1- 1) 4cac- 1 63 4000 63.492063 1200 19.047619 0.3 Geothermal 43 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)36dac- 1 63 4800 76.190476 1100 17.4603175 0.229166667 Geothermal 44 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)26cad- 1 61 4700 77.04918 1100 18.0327869 0.234042553 Geothermal 45 NWIS Well (C- 2- 1)34dda- 1 61 3900 63.934426 1100 18.0327869 0.282051282 Geothermal 46 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 3 60 3900 65 1100 18.3333333 0.282051282 Geothermal 47 NWIS Well (C- 1-18)17bdb- 1 60 3300 55 1100 18.3333333 0.333333333 Geothermal 48 NWIS Well (B- 1-18)32ccc- 1 59 1300 22.033898 920 15.5932203 0.707692308 Geothermal 49 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)34ddd- 1 59 4200 71.186441 1000 16.9491525 0.238095238 Geothermal 50 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 2 59 4400 74.576271 950 16.1016949 0.215909091 Geothermal 51 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 3 57 3300 57.894737 1000 17.5438596 0.303030303 Geothermal 52 NWIS Well (B- 2-17)36ddd- 1 56 3400 60.714286 1200 21.4285714 0.352941176 Geothermal 53 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 2 54 4500 83.333333 1000 18.5185185 0.222222222 Geothermal 54 NWIS Well (B- 4-18)33ccc- 1 54 1700 31.481481 2100 38.8888889 1.235294118 Geothermal 55 NWIS Well (C- 1-17)10aac- 1 53 3500 66.037736 1200 22.6415094 0.342857143 Geothermal 56 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)26cad- 1 52 3200 61.538462 1200 23.0769231 0.375 Geothermal 57 NWIS Well (A- 3- 2)26aab- 1 51 3400 66.666667 1100 21.5686275 0.323529412 Geothermal 58 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)23abd- 1 50 3200 64 1300 26 0.40625 Geothermal 59 NWIS Well (B- 4-18)33ccc- 1 50 2200 44 2600 52 1.181818182 Geothermal 60 NWIS Well (B- 1-17)31acc- 2 49 4600 93.877551 1000 20.4081633 0.217391304 Geothermal To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76037 Until recently, the traditional approach to operating spacecraft involved a single party operating the craft, the payload, and its ground network. This vertical integration allowed for the information security of the spacecraft to be built around the trust within an organization. We are moving into an era where operators are now using third-party ground stations, splitting the roles of spacecraft, and even sharing payload operators with other entities. In this hybrid, multi-party environment, security can no longer be based on trust. Updated communications software is crucial. Our OrbitSecure protocol provides a strong assurance of the authority, identity, integrity, and confidentiality of the space architecture data and systems entrusted to it. Furthermore, OrbitSecure can integrate with both legacy systems in space, and new systems that are yet to launch. Our SBIR contract from the Air Force will provide initial funding for research to integrate OrbitSecure into Air Force and Space Force systems, and to subject the system to a rigorous assessment. This will help fulfil a need of the Armed Services for zero-trust software to create secure cryptographic communication channels in an ephemeral manner. Steve Nixon, President of the SmallSat Alliance, remarked, "This award is great news for SpiderOak and for the United States Space Force's future Hybrid Space Architecture. Having the ability to employ different space systems, whether commercial or government, with varying levels of trust while finely tuning who gets to see what, is absolutely critical to this future vision. I hope SpiderOak hits this out of the park!" Michael Campanelli, Vice President of Federal for SpiderOak, added, "This contract is a key waypoint in the evolution of our company and our success in space. We see this as a vote of confidence in our technology by the Air Force, and the chance to demonstrate that success in military applications will follow our recent advances with commercial clients. Satellites and space travel are poised to expand dramatically and we expect that our software will play a major role in this new world." About SpiderOak Mission Systems SpiderOak builds need-to-know technology that supports customers working in hostile environments. Traditional systems trust traditional infrastructure to maintain the whole security system, even though the news is rife with evidence that this model does not work. Our software combines end to end encryption with a distributed ledger technology to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our clients' most sensitive data in any environment from space to ground and back again. For more information about SpiderOak Mission Systems, check us out at http://www.spideroak-ms.com Editorial Contact For inquiries, please call SpiderOak at (866) 432-9888 ext. 6 or write [email protected] SOURCE SpiderOak Inc. Related Links www.spideroak.com The failure of Neera Tandens nomination has led to charges that she is a victim of the cancel culture conservatives deplore. Nonsense. Tanden hasnt been de-platformed. Shes free to go Twitter and indulge in all the name-calling she wants. No one is trying to injure Tandens ability to make a living. Shes free to take a high-paying job at some woke corporation or well-endowed think tank. Rejection for a top government job isnt cancellation. And its normal for a presidential nominee (or two) to be rejected by the Senate, even by Senates in which the presidents party holds a majority of the seats rather than only half of them. This Fox News article, relying heavily on Tevi Troys analysis, discusses the history of such rejections. The modern list of failed nominees includes John Tower (himself a former Senator), Zoe Baird, Kimba Wood, Tom Daschle (a former Senate Majority Leader), Linda Chavez, and Andy Puzder. No one ever suggested that these nominees were cancelled. Tevi points out that the rejection of nominees has had long-term implications for how future nominees are judged. In Tandens case, says Tevi, the long-term implication will be a Twitter test. Nominees can expect tough sledding if they have engaged in personal attacks on sitting Senators, and maybe on other public officials, as well. Cenk Uygur claims that Tandens rejection means if you ever criticize the powerful, well end your career. Nonsense. Tanden wasnt rejected for criticizing the powerful (nor is her career at an end). She was rejected for engaging in crude name calling. Obviously, theres nothing wrong with criticizing Mitch McConnell, for example, and no nominee will be rejected for doing so. Calling McConnell Moscow Mitch or saying that vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz is different. Lets leave that kind of attack to intemperate bloggers, not aspirants for high government positions. Skylar Baker-Jordan says that Tandens position as chair of the centre-left think tank the Center for American Progress meant that it was her job to attack Republican policies and decisions at the time. Right. To attack policies and decisions. But Tanden didnt stop there. She attacked character through name calling worthy of a ten year-old on the playground. If Tandens rejection causes people in her position to criticize political opponents by attacking the substance of their positions, rather than through crude character assassination, the effect will be altogether salutary. Canada on Wednesday (local time) thanked India for sending vaccines, of which 500,000 doses reached on March 4, a week after the AstraZeneca vaccine was approved. Anita Anand, MP for Oakville and Minister of Public Services and Procurement, said in a tweet, "The AZ/CoviShield vaccine is now in Canada. The first tranche of 500,000 doses arrived this morning from Serum Institute of India with 1.5 million more doses to follow. Thank you to all whose hard work made this happen. We look forward to future collaboration." She had earlier said that another 944,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be reaching Canada this week, of which 444,600 doses are of Pfizer and 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca. While lauding the efforts made by Anand and her team to procure the vaccines, Jennifer O'Connell, MP for Pickering-Uxbridge, said, "This is incredible work - AstraZeneca was approved this past Friday and thanks to Minister Anita, her team and the many others involved, 5 days later we have received 500,000 doses with 1.5 million more on the way! We're now set to receive more than 6.5M doses by the end of March!" Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month spoke to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and assured that India will do its best to support Canada's COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Expressing his appreciation, the Canadian Prime Minister 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".The Prime Minister thanked PM Trudeau for his sentiments. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India earlier this month said that "Dear Hon'ble PM @JustinTrudeau, I thank you for your warm words towards India and its vaccine industry. (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 Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Red Nucleus (RN), a premier provider of learning, performance, and process solutions for the life sciences industry, announced that it has acquired iTakeControl (ITC), a leading provider of clinical operations and medical affairs technology and services focused on rare disease and specialty pharma. ITCs mobile platform collects patient-reported outcomes and real-world evidence in virtual- and home-based clinical trials and enhances data science in drug development. The ITC platform allows patients to record and submit videos and at-home assessments in compliance with FDA regulations. The company also provides research-related consulting and strategy planning services. ITCs solutions align closely with RNs existing R&D business, and ITC offers many of the solutions RNs clients require. With the acquisition, RN enhances both its product portfolio and its service offering in core verticals. ITCs technology application joins RNs product suite, including a global labeling compliance tool (DirectusPRO), a learning and engagement platform (Unify), off-the-shelf training courses (LSTI), and a gaming platform (Rcade). ITC is a wonderful addition to the Red Nucleus family. In this new era of virtual and remote clinical trials, ITC offers study sponsors and participants innovative technology to facilitate a more convenient, forward-thinking, and patient-friendly data collection approach. With its technology, ITC removes roadblocks so that in-need patient populations can participate in these critical trials in a way thats better for them. With ITC, our service and product offerings as well as therapeutic area coverage are strengthened, said Red Nucleus CEO Ian Kelly. RN wants to make a difference for our clients and society, and ITC is a great way for us to do so. Chris Jones, ITC co-founder, adds, Joining Red Nucleus accelerates our impact on novel endpoints and our mission to expand and improve the nature of clinical research for both patients and sponsors. We can now do so with the global footprint, technology investment, and the caring, attentive culture Red Nucleus has created. The transaction closed in March 2021. For more information, please contact Jeff Warwick jwarwick@rednucleus.com About Red Nucleus Red Nucleus is the premier provider of strategic learning, performance, and process solutions exclusively for the life sciences industry. Our global solutions engage and inspire teams across the commercial and R&D spaces and are designed to boost understanding, efficacy, and compliance. Squarely focused on the life sciences industry for close to 30 years, Red Nucleus takes pride in our long-term relationships with industry leaders, as well as our strategic partnerships with innovative startups. Red Nucleus is headquartered in Yardley, PA. The company also has offices in Malvern, PA; Boston, MA; Toronto, Canada; the United Kingdom; India; and Japan. Visit http://www.rednucleus.com to learn more. The Northern Ireland Protocol is designed to prevent the imposition of a hard border on the island of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) The European Commission has said the UK is in violation of its post-Brexit obligations after unilaterally deciding to continue Irish Sea border grace periods until October. Britain is set to breach international law for a second time, vice-president Maros Sefcovic warned. The Irish Government also branded the intervention extending the soft-touch regulatory regime on some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain as deeply unhelpful. A commission statement on behalf of Mr Sefcovic said: Following the UK Governments statement today, vice-president Sefcovic has expressed the EUs strong concerns over the UKs unilateral action, as this amounts to a violation of the relevant substantive provisions of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and the good faith obligation under the Withdrawal Agreement. Expand Close Maros Sefcovic (PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Maros Sefcovic (PA) This is the second time that the UK Government is set to breach international law. This also constitutes a clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed up until now, thereby undermining both the work of the Joint Committee and the mutual trust necessary for solution-oriented co-operation. The Northern Ireland Protocol is designed to prevent the imposition of a hard border on the island of Ireland by keeping Northern Ireland following EU trade rules. It has caused disruption to some goods travelling from the rest of the UK after suppliers encountered extra red tape. Businesses in Northern Ireland have been pressing for an extension to the grace periods to avoid a cliff-edge plunge into extra bureaucracy linked to the protocol. The British Government has said grace periods like those for supermarket agri-food movements from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland will continue until October. Expand Close Brandon Lewis (Leon Neal/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brandon Lewis (Leon Neal/PA) Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: As part of the pragmatic and proportionate implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Government is taking several temporary operational steps to avoid disruptive cliff edges as engagement with the EU continues through the Joint Committee. These recognise that appropriate time must be provided for businesses to implement new requirements, and support the effective flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ministers face a backlash from unionists who fear the protocol threatens Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market. Mr Lewis said: For supermarkets and their suppliers, as part of the operational plan the UK committed to at the UK-EU Joint Committee on February 24, the current Scheme for Temporary Agri-food Movements to Northern Ireland (STAMNI) will continue until October 1. Certification requirements will then be introduced in phases alongside the rollout of the Digital Assistance Scheme. He said further guidance will be provided later this week on parcel movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, to provide necessary additional time for traders beyond April 1. Guidance will also be set out to help address practical problems on soil attached to the movement of plants, seeds, bulbs, vegetables and agricultural machinery. The first of the grace periods had been due to expire at the end of March. Supermarkets would have had to produce export health certificates for all shipments of animal products. Expand Close Simon Coveney (Tom Honan/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Simon Coveney (Tom Honan/PA) Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said unilaterally continuing the grace period undermines the UKs commitment to the protocol. He said: A unilateral announcement is deeply unhelpful to building the relationship of trust and partnership that is central to the implementation of the protocol. Mr Coveney met Mr Lewis and the Cabinet Office minister responsible for EU-UK relations, Lord Frost. He said: I made clear to them my regret that the UK had moved in a unilateral way, rather than working in continued partnership with the EU in accordance with the EU-UK joint statements of 11 and 24 February. The DUP is aiming to undermine the protocol. The partys Westminster leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, said: Whilst supermarkets and those bringing in goods via our ports from Great Britain will be relieved to see extensions to the grace periods, we will be continuing to press the Government for a permanent solution. Grace periods do not provide the long-term certainty that businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland require. The protocol has been demonstrated to be unworkable. The DUPs Stormont Agriculture Minister, Gordon Lyons, sparked controversy on Friday night when he announced he had ordered officials to halt work on planned permanent facilities to carry out inspections on goods from Great Britain. Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald said: At last weeks meeting of the Joint Committee, Michael Gove and Maros Sefcovic reaffirmed support for the Irish Protocol and the need to work together to deal with issues that have arisen. It is incredible that one week later the British government has gone on a solo run and taken unilateral action. This was completely unnecessary, totally undermines the work of the Joint Committee and puts it on an immediate collision course with the European Union. While this news is a little old, we thought our readers would enjoy hearing details about the recent addition to the National Naval Aviation Museum. In the year of COVID-19, air show crowds around the United States did not have the opportunity to witness traditional flight demonstrations by the Blue Angels. Their sole public appearances were special flyovers around the United States, sometimes in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and one final formation flight around the teams home base in Pensacola, FL. These flights represented the last ones for the legacy F/A-18 Hornet, an aircraft flown by the team since 1987. The Blue Angels will celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2021 flying their first new aircraft in decades, the F/A-18E Super Hornet. As the manager of the Navys aircraft loan program, the National Naval Aviation Museum has had no trouble placing a number of the retired Hornets with the distinctive blue and gold paint scheme in museums around the country. On January 13th the Yankee Air Museum received F/A-18C Bu.163485 which served with VFA-83 Rampagers during the first Gulf War in 1991. Ss readers might recall from our article last November, the Smithsonians National Air & Space Museum was one of the first, obtaining their own example after its November 18th, 2020 flight to Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia for display at NASMs Udvar-Hazy Center annex nearby. The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum has had as well the good fortune to receive their own example. On February 2nd, they too welcomed one of these iconic blue and gold jets into their collection, this being F/A-18C Bu.163768, the former Blue Angel #4. Others were earmarked for a different purpose; their parts will help make two other Hornets whole for eventual display. This pair of F/A-18Cs, perhaps the most historic in history because LCDR Mark Fox and LT Nick Mongillo each shot down an Iraqi MiG-21 while flying them in Operation Desert Storm, arrived at the museum in summer 2019 missing many parts. The skilled staff and volunteers of the museums Aircraft Restoration Division have been putting together the puzzle using components from jets that for years have wowed tens of thousands of people. The result is a patchwork of blue and gray for now that will eventually be masked by the Desert Storm paint scheme of the VFA-81 Sunliners. The first of the restored jets, Bureau Number 163508 flown by Fox, should be completed in early 2021, the 30th anniversary of the air campaign in which it flew into history. 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. In a Facebook post Hon. Boakye Agyarko , a former Energy Minister and Former Campaign Manager to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo have congratulated the President after the Supreme Court verdict in favor of the defendants. Today, the people of Ghana won yet another victory. Electoral disputes that degenerate into a downward spiral of violence has been avoided in Ghana. We the people of Ghana must thank our Judiciary for their diligence and fairness. We thank all the political actors for allowing the law to take its course. I congratulate President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the affirmation of his victory in the 2020 elections by the Supreme Court. By the collective actions of all, we have allowed peace to reign. Source: peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A man accused of murdering a low-level drug dealer and dumping his body by the roadside has told a court he did not kill anyone, and only helped to dispose of the body after his housemate told him the death was by accident. Alex Dion, 40, is on trial in the NSW Supreme Court accused of murdering Wachira Mario Phetmang, 33, and dumping his bound body next to Homebush Bay Drive at Sydney Olympic Park in May 2018. He has pleaded not guilty. Killed: Wachira Mario Phetmang. Credit:NSW Police The court heard Mr Phetmang was a low-level drug dealer and Mr Dion had bought ice from him to cope with pain from an injury. On Thursday, Mr Dion said through an interpreter that he arrived back at his apartment block with Mr Phetmang in his car on May 25, 2018, then went upstairs to his apartment leaving Mr Phetmang downstairs with his housemate. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Very hot. High 106F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 74F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: Java API Developer wygaso z dniem 2021-04-02 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Nordea Bank Abp SA Oddzia w Polsce Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia oferty to: propozycja zozona przez pracodawce zostaa wycofana z naszej bazy firma zakonczya proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc osob rekruter zmodyfikowa tresc ogoszenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem WWW dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych niewasciwy adres WWW ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Informatyka / Telekomunikacja, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Informatyka / Telekomunikacja Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku Java API Developer, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Java API Developer Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Warszawa, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Warszawa Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne oferty, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: Min Byrne announces 100k available through Communicating Europe Initiative News Minister Byrne announces 100k available to community and voluntary organizations to promote dialogue on Irelands relationship with Europe The Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Thomas Byrne, TD, has today invited voluntary organisations, educational bodies and civil society groups to apply for funding under the Department of Foreign Affairs Communicating Europe Initiative. The Communicating Europe Initiative is aimed at deepening public awareness of the role the EU plays in our daily lives and at improving the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues, particularly at regional or national level. Projects should seek to communicate European issues, the role of the European Union and Irelands place in Europe. Funding of 100,000 has been made available under the scheme this year. Announcing the launch of the scheme, the Minister said: As Minister of State for European Affairs my priority is to promote a national debate around Irelands place in Europe and the impact our EU membership continues to play on our daily lives. Minister Byrne also said that Following the success of pilot radio programmes from Radio Kerry and KCLR last year, I would especially encourage local radio and other media groups to apply for this funding. Previous projects funded have included local media projects and competitions, school initiatives and interactions, employment opportunities in EU Institutions and EU-related Citizens Dialogues. Projects have promoted themes on the role of women and young people in the EU, climate action and the importance of diversity in Ireland to our relationship with the EU. Further details including application forms are now available from https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/ireland-in-the-eu/future-of-europe/communicating-europe-initiative/. The closing date is Friday 9April 2021. ENDS Previous Item | Next Item A day after a large contingent of police descended on Narragansett Town Beach to break up a big fight, Narragansett town officials reassured the public Monday that the beach is safe. Eight people, all from outside of town, face charges following the Sunday afternoon melee, which drew a response from local police as well as departments in North and South Kingstown and the state police. Unruly teens are not new to beaches. In Narragansett, residents complained last summer when a group of youths showed up at the town beach and acted disruptive. With that being said, do you ever feel unsafe at local beaches in Southern Rhode Island? Let us know in this week's poll question. You voted: New Covid-19 travel guidelines for the passengers travelling to Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bengal New Delhi, Thu, 04 Mar 2021 NI Wire Despite following Covid-19 protocols there is recent surge in new Covid-19 cases in the country. To check the spread of the Coronavirus, the state governments released new Covid-19 rules for the travellers travelling to Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Bengal. Travellers should be aware of these rules and guidelines before travelling to these states. We have seen recent spike in the fresh Covid-19 cases in the six states in the country including Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi. States governments in the country tightened the travel rules; still there are lot of confusion among people about the Covid-19 reports. Travellers travelling to Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal must have Aarogya Setu application installed and running on their smartphone. If you are planning to travel to these states you should installed Aarogya Setu application in advance. The Aarogya Setu application installation on the traveller smartphone is a must for travel. If you are travelling to to Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal, you must have Aarogya Setu application installed on your smartphone. Here are the mandatory guideline states wise: Delhi: All the passengers travelling to Delhi must have Aarogya Setu application installed on their smartphone. It is mandatory for passengers travelling from Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra (between February 27 to March 15) to have Covid-19 negative report from an ICMR approved lab. Karnataka: All passengers travelling to Karnataka must have Aarogya Setu application installed on their mobile phone. It is mandatory that all passengers arriving from Kerala and Maharashtra must have a coronavirus negative report from an ICMR approved lab. Maharashtra: All passengers travelling to Maharashtra should have Aarogya Setu application installed on their mobile phone. It is mandatory for passenger travelling from NCR/DELHI, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa to carry and show negative RT-PCR report on arrival. West Bengal: All passengers travelling to West Bengal must have Aarogya Setu application installed on their mobile phone. All passengers travelling from Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana to West Bengal must carry negative RT - PCR test report. Passengers arriving in West Bengal must fill and submit the declaration form through Sandhane App, which developed by H&FW Department of West Bengal. Related Austria and Denmark break ranks with EU to produce vaccines with Israel France has criticised a push by Austria and Denmark to coordinate with Israel on developing new Covid-19 jabs, as EU unity frays even further over its troubled vaccine rollout. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the Israeli partnership on Monday, saying the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was "too slow in approving vaccines" leaving the bloc vulnerable to supply bottlenecks at pharmaceutical companies. But France's foreign ministry defended the agency and insisted that "the most effective solution for meeting our vaccination needs must remain within a European framework". "This is what guarantees the solidarity among member states that is more essential than ever," it said in a statement late Wednesday. European officials are under pressure to step up vaccination drives that have lagged behind those of other countries, including Israel and Britain, which approved coronavirus vaccines several weeks before the EMA. "We should not be solely dependent on the EU any more," Kurz said ahead of a trip to Israel with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen on Thursday to agree on common production of future vaccines and cooperation on research. Austria's neighbours Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic have already bypassed the EMA to approve Russian and Chinese coronavirus vaccines. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian acknowledged on Wednesday "significant" shortcomings in the EU's vaccination policies, but criticised what he called "attempts at secession". European nations should instead pool their resources to increase vaccine production capacity in Europe, "something we are in the process of doing", the ministry said in its statement. "The approval process for the European market has also been reviewed, with the introduction of 'emergency procedures' for vaccines targeting new variants," it added. Short link: Lerner and Rowe Gives Back Plantinum Sponsor of the 2021 Wish Ball in Arizona "Lerner & Rowe Gives Back is honored to partner with the long-established Make-A-Wish Arizona community as they celebrate 40 years of helping to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses." Kevin Rowe, Esq. Lerner and Rowe Gives Back announces their renewed sponsorship of the annual Wish Ball that will be held on Saturday, March 20 virtually and in-person at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. Through their 2021 platinum sponsorship, Lerner and Rowe Gives Back will once again join other local organizations in supporting Make-A-Wish Arizonas efforts to fulfill hundreds of wishes and bring a twinkle to the eyes of critically ill children across the state. With more than a half-million wishes granted since the first wish in Arizona on April 29, 1980, this event celebrates 40 years of wish granting in Arizona and worldwide. Lerner & Rowe Gives Back is honored to partner with the long-established Make-A-Wish Arizona community as they celebrate 40 years of helping to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Both of our nonprofits have roots in Phoenix and share a common belief that the gift of hope is essential to creating happiness and joy, which makes this continuous sponsorship even more special for our team, said Lerner and Rowe Gives Back founder, Kevin Rowe. In an effort to help Make-A-Wish Arizona reach their 2021 Wish Ball goals, Lerner and Rowe Gives Back encourages others to make a donation online. To learn even more about this meaningful fundraiser, please contact Anne Carman at acarman@arizona.wish.org or by phone at calling 602-343-9428. More about Lerner and Rowe Gives Back Lerner and Rowe Gives Back is a nonprofit organization founded by Kevin Rowe, managing partner of Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys and Lerner and Rowe Law Group. The foundation believes in paying forward the law firm's achievements and successes by assisting other community organizations that advocate for the general health and well-being of children, struggling families and individuals, as well as our four-legged friends. For more details about their nonprofit organization visit LernerAndRoweGivesBack.com. For more details about the law firms visit lernerandrowe.com, lernerandrowelawgroup.com, or follow them on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. She recently returned from a sun-soaked trip to Mexico with Too Hot To Handle star girlfriend Francesca Farago. And Demi Sims showed off her holiday tan as she flaunted her washboard abs in a sizzling photoshoot for PrettyLittleThing. The TOWIE star, 24, looked sensational as she displayed her physique in a black leather bikini top and matching flares. Work it: Demi Sims showed off her holiday tan as she flaunted her washboard abs in a sizzling photoshoot for PrettyLittleThing Demi flashed a seductive look at the camera as she modelled the black PU PrettyLittleThing bra and trousers combo from Becky G's collection which featured hues of white and yellow. While she accessorised her look with a silver train and a simple silver bracelet. The reality star completed her sizzling look with a generous coat of sleek make-up, while her caramel locks cascaded over her shoulders. Captioning the snap, Demi said her outfit is 'poppin', while noting that it had 'Christina Aguilera vibes' from her 2002 Dirrty video. Fashionista: The TOWIE star, 24, looked sensational as she displayed her physique in a black leather bikini top and matching flares Demi confirmed her relationship with Francesca last month, and the couple recently announced plans to live together in London after just one month of dating. They later shocked fans as they got their names tattooed on each other's bottom and wrist, just days after going public with their relationship. Francesca also shared shots of herself in blue floral bikini bottoms and a white crop top from PrettyLittleThing as she revealed her future plans with Demi. Wow: Demi flashed a seductive look at the camera as she modelled the black PrettyLittleThing bra and trousers combo from Becky G's collection which featured hues of white and yellow Photoshoot: Captioning the snap, Demi said her outfit is 'poppin', while noting that it had 'Christina Aguilera vibes' from her 2002 Dirrty video She wrote: 'Moving to London next, brb,' which was quickly met with approval from Demi's sister Frankie, who wrote: 'Yay.' Shortly after, Demi confirmed the news as she wrote: 'Can't wait for you to live with me!' amongst a trio of adoring comments on Francesca's post. The pair were among a host of reality stars who switched their 'work' trips from Dubai to Mexico amid a ban on UAE flights. New couple: Demi and Francesca officially confirmed their romance last month, after sharing a loved-up snap of them locking lips Celebrities and influencers have been flocking to Mexico's bars and beaches as it establishes itself as the latest COVID getaway destination. The couple spent time together in the country with Demi's sister Chloe, 38, while her cousin Frankie, 33, flew back home to the UK earlier in the month. The Canadian first received attention for her role in the Netflix original series Too Hot to Handle last April, when she briefly dated her co-star Harry Jowsey. Demi has previously dated Leonie McSorley, with them last being seen out together in October, and having confirmed their romance in July. According to the MoU, Pharmacity will become a partner in the customer care network of Hanwha Life. Customers of Hanwha Life Vietnam will be able to access the benefits provided from this collaboration as well as experience policy owner services such as premium payments at the system of more than 500 drugstores of Pharmacity nationwide via payment service providers like Payoo, Momo, and VNPay. About 450 staff members and 44,000 agents of Hanwha Life will be the recipients of the incentives of Pharmacity. The MoU with Pharmacity also aims to realise Hanwha Lifes mission to build a comprehensive life solution for customers in Vietnam As a life insurance company pioneering co-operating with a leading healthcare partner, Im Dong Jun, CEO cum chairman of the Member Council of Hanwha Life Vietnam, said, Healthcare is an essential part of our business, considering its nature. Particularly in the context of the pandemic, human health has become a great concern for most people and the whole society. With a hope to bring more benefits and healthcare services to customers to improve their quality of life, Hanwha Life Vietnam has tried to intensify its co-operation with reliable healthcare partners, including Pharmacity. I believe that this mutual endeavour will create a more comprehensive healthcare service to the customers of both parties. Pharmacitys customers will be able to access Hanwha Lifes financial protection solutions, whereas Hanwha Lifes customers, staff members, and agents will have access to medicines and better healthcare services from Pharmacity. To make this happen in a more customer-friendly environment, Hanwha Life and Pharmacity will continue to further collaborate to integrate its customer service platforms, added Im Dong Jun. Pharmacitys representative added With a network more than 500 pharmacies in big cities the northern, central and southern regions in big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Can Tho, and Danang, together with professional, thoughtful pharmacists, we are confident that Pharmacity will bring the best services to customers. Pharmacity is one of the leading drugstore chains in Vietnam with a network of over more than 500 pharmacies As a life insurance company endeavouring to meet the ever-changing demands of customers, Hanwha Life is strengthening co-operation with its numerous partners in health, banking, and fintech, and with technology companies so that customers can experience Hanwha Lifes products in their daily life. Earlier, in December 2020, Hanwha Life signed a co-operation deal with Gene Solutions, a leading company in genetics in Vietnam. With the motto of customer-centricity, Hanwha Life is boosting investment in improving customer experience. Along with the co-operation with many partners in many fields, the company is accelerating the digitisation of its sales network. Recently, Hanwha Life Vietnam has launched the LIME mobile app to improve services for customers. In addition, the company has also developed many different tools to support its business system professionally and effectively in the digital technology environment concerning recruitment, policy management, and staff training, which are important for its business. Despite the strong impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanwha Life Vietnam maintained stable business and sustainable growth in 2020, with total premium revenue of nearly VND3.4 trillion ($147.83 million), up 20 per cent compared to 2019. In 2021, Hanwha Life continues to strive to become the most reliable life insurance company and aims to bring optimal life solutions to customers. At present, Hanwha Life Vietnam has more than 170 customer service points, over 44,000 financial consultants, and 450 staff members serving more than 600,000 customers countrywide. SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play has accepted 98 startups into their Spring 2021 Batches. Startups have been selected for one of the following programs that run through May: Brand & Retail , Food & Beverage , Media & Advertising , New Materials & Packaging , Supply Chain , or Sustainability . 45% of the startups are based outside the U.S. and represent a multitude of countries including Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, India, Singapore, Spain, the U.K., and more. The full list of startups can be viewed on Plug and Play's website: http://bit.ly/pnpspring2021 "I am excited to welcome this year's first batch of startups to our platform," said Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play. "With our programs running virtually again this year, startups will have greater access to our partners without geographical constraints." Plug and Play's network consists of over 30,000 startups, 500 industry-leading corporate partners, and hundreds of venture capital firms and investors. Throughout the next three months, the selected startups will have the opportunity to virtually meet with this ecosystem in private dealflow sessions, networking events, mentor sessions, focus weeks, and more to increase their chance to land exclusive pilots, POCs, new customers, and investment. There is no equity requirement for startups to participate. Graduation for these startups will commence mid-May at Plug and Play's Spring Summit 2021, which will be held virtually. Please reach out if you would like to reserve attendance. Plug and Play has also released its 2020 Company Performance Report. To see their new programs, locations, investments, and more, read the full report: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/2020-report/ About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 30 locations globally, giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 30,000 startups and 500 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $9 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, and PayPal. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ Media Contact Allison Romero allison@pnptc.com (408) 524-1457 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/835431/PNP_Logo.jpg Lay Guzman stands behind a partial protective plastic screen and wears a mask and gloves as she works as a cashier at the Presidente Supermarket in Miami, Fla., on April 13, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Hero Pay for Grocery Workers, Pharmacy Workers Takes Effect in Santa Ana Grocery workers and retail pharmacy workers in Santa Ana, Calif., will begin receiving an hourly pay boost after city council passed an urgency ordinance to implement hero pay. The measure, which passed with a 5-2 vote during a March 2 council meeting, takes effect immediately. Eligible workers will receive an extra $4 per hour. Under the new law, stores with grocery sections 10,000 square feet or largersuch as those found in Target or Walmartwill be included. Councilmember Jonathan Ryan Hernandez voted in favor of the amended ordinance. I think that hazard pay really sends a message that we really do value people, and we go beyond just applying titles to these folks as heroes, but were going to fight to get them the pay that they deserve, Hernandez said during the meeting. And I think that is us supporting this ordinance. But councilmember Nelida Mendoza, one of two dissenting voters, said the ordinance will cause workers to suffer tremendously. Some of the unintended consequences of a yes vote are as follows: increased operational expenses, decrease in profits, increasing grocery prices, decrease in workforce potential, bankruptcy, potential lawsuit against the City of Santa Ana, eventual store closures, hundreds of Santa Ana grocery and pharmacy workers getting laid off, Mendoza told council. She said smaller, independent grocers in Santa Ana have already increased benefits for their employees, without being mandated to do so. The independent grocer North Gate provided its employees with an additional two weeks of paid sick leave to take care of themselves or ill families, she said. The company also provided employees who were 65 and older with 90 days of paid leave and provided them with three- to four hours of paid leave to get vaccinated. The store also paid for employees rides to and from vaccination sites, Mendoza said. These grocers do not need to mandate to show how to treat their employees well and to show their increased appreciation, she said. Councilmember Phil Bacerra said that as profits increased for large-scale grocers during the pandemic, it would be greedy of them not to provide their employees with a raise. You have a company where the profits are growing between 90 and 150 percent during a pandemic, and those profits arent shared with workers who are risking their lives, to make sure that all of us are able to have essential items to have access to them, Baccera said. Its no longer success. Its glutton. Mayor Pro Tem David Penaloza said that grocery store and retail pharmacy workers should not be singled out for hero pay when there are other professions putting their lives at risk. Lets not be selective of what essential workers were trying to help, Penaloza said. Hero pay for our grocery store employees is great. However, as good as it makes us feel and as great as it sounds, I believe its a little shortsighted and has unintended consequences. Some of these unintended consequences could include reducing employee overtime hours and grocery store item prices going up, he said. A mandate like this, although temporaryand due to the corporate greed at these grocery stores and corporations to inhibitwill cause our grocery store prices to go up, Penaloza said. In a perfect fantasy world, these companies would absorb the cost into their profits. But we all know that that isnt going to happen. The City of Irvine was the first in Orange County to approve a hero pay. Its ordinance takes effect March 25. New Delhi, March 4 : Interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at the Centre over its disinvestment policy, alleging that the 'fire sale of assets is to help the crony capitalists close to the government'. Sonia Gandhi wrote this in an article which was shared by the Congress with the media. She said in the article, "The Modi government is using the economy's collapse since the pandemic to rush headlong into its mission of handing over large portions of India's wealth to its favourite crony capitalists. It has announced its intent to become cash rich by selling the family silver, through hasty privatisation of India's public sector undertakings (PSUs)." She said the Modi government has explicitly embraced "privatisation", instead of "disinvestment". "Its choice of language signals its intent. Unable to manage the nation's finances, unable to inspire trust in the private sector to boost investment, the government has turned to distress sale of our national assets. Will selling assets for short-term gains make up for the long-term loss of public wealth? "This fire sale is being justified by citing enhanced efficiency and the generation of funds for the government's welfare programmes. This is a deceptive argument. What we are likely to witness in reality is the privatisation of PSU profits, and the nationalisation of private sector losses. "In the garb of privatisation, valuable assets and profit-making companies will be undervalued and sold to cronies who will make a killing. On the other hand, defaulters with huge loan burdens will be bailed out using public funds," she alleged. "Executed carefully and strategically, disinvestment (which is the sale of a part of the government's shares in PSUs) can generate resources for the government, set the right incentives for their managements, and reward the investing public. In that spirit, in our 2019 Manifesto, the Congress party promised a middle path to disinvest from only non-core, non-strategic public sector enterprises." Sonia Gandhi said the origin of the ongoing crisis in the Indian economy was the fateful night of November 8, 2016. Dr. Manmohan Singh's prescient words in Parliament -- that demonetisation would lead to a 2 per cent drop in the GDP -- were not heeded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She also said the low international oil prices presented the government an opportunity to encourage a consumption-led revival by passing on these benefits to the people. "Instead of seizing the opportunity, the Modi government continues to squeeze every family's shrinking budget through excessive petroleum taxes and cesses. In contrast, in 2019, it gave corporates a huge tax cut that did not generate increased investment and succeeded only in burning a Rs 1.45-lakh crore-sized hole in India's Budget. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Right on Brands, Inc. (OTC Pink: RTON), a developer of a broad line of hemp and CBD-based foods, beverages, tinctures, and topical products and the exciting new 100% federally legal Delta-8 product line. Today ENDO is announcing all future ENDO Brands products produced after March 2021 will now be contained in glass bottles. Consumers know it is important to understand what materials to avoid, but almost more important to know what materials to choose! Glass is one of the materials consistently preferred over plastic for two big reasons: It is better for people and for the environment. Why Not Plastics Plastics are made from various chemical formulas, including endocrine disrupting chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates. Some of these chemicals, including BPA and phthalates, can affect the brain, hormone system, reproductive system, and may contribute to cancer development. Most chemicals have not been thoroughly tested for their health effects. And we know that some of these chemicals can leach into food and beverages, as well as contaminate air, dust, and hands. The people have spoken and Th Company listened. CBD and Delta-8 Drinks ENDO Brands is expected to produce it's first run with "Bottled Glass" drinks and is now ready to announce the new drink lineup. The four flavors will be Black Cherry, Mango, Lemon-Lime and Pure Alkaline. Web Development In an effort to make easier ordering on the ENDO Brands The Company has been making upgrades to the website. The Company has asked it's website developers to look into creating a wholesale partners portal for commercial accounts so that ordering will be more streamlined. The Company's retail distribution base is growing, and they need to be able to process orders and ship in a more expedited manner. "The conversion to all glass bottles is not just about the birds or fish in the Ocean it's about taking responsibility for the world we live in," says Jerry Grisaffi CEO of Right On Brands. "According to Greenpeace the "Break free from Plastics Movement" the top four plastic polluters in the World are Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle and Dannon. Food and Beverage companies need to take responsibility for the damage they are doing to promote their bottom line." Order online at: https://endobrands.com Additional Updates: The Company is in the process, with it's accounts, to completing their 10K. In addition, The Company has now paid off 2 of their convertible debt holders with a new much more friendly lender for a total of $140,000. Finally, The Company's daily operation are back on track after the storms in Texas and The Company has just about caught up with all of it's orders. About Right on Brands, Inc.: Right On Brands, Inc., (OTC Pink: RTON) is a Dallas based, consumer goods company specializing in the brand development and distribution of Hemp and CBD-based foods, beverages, smokables, oils, topical and Delta-8 products for health-conscious individuals. Right On Brands consists of ENDO Brands, and Right On Brands. Become a ENDO Brands retailer OR Distributor If you are a food and beverage or consumer products distributor seeking to sell The Company's high margin product lines of CDB-infused beverages, smokables, or it's CBD and Delta-8 edibles, oils and topicals and vapes please contact The Company's sales department. For more information please visit: https://endobrands.com Try our products today! 50% off first purchase offer use the discount code RTONARMY50 email: info@endobrands.com Corporate Sales: Mike Brown OR Jerry Grisaffi (214) 736-7252 ex 302 Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results described by the forward-looking statements. Risk factors that could contribute to such differences include those matters more fully disclosed in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76083 This years rally in oil prices brings back an all-too-familiar question for the oil market and the OPEC+ group: Will U.S. shale come back faster than expected to ruin the alliances efforts to manage supply? Most publicly-traded U.S. shale firms continue to vow strict capital discipline. They promise that any excess cash flow will go to additional payouts to shareholders, who have seen years of meager returns while the shale patch was chasing drilling and production records. However, there is a group of shale producers who could spoil the OPEC+ plans for oil market management again, producing more than the market and forecasters currently expect. This is the group of the smaller privately held oil firms benefiting from higher oil prices as their primary way of generating cash is increased production. Those closely held producers also benefit from the fact that they are not punished by the stock market or investors for their choice to ramp up drilling activity while large listed firms are scaling back capital spending and idling rigs. Signs have started to emerge that some private shale operators that have boosted production over the past year will continue to do so in the coming months. More than expected U.S. production coming to the market could derail the current forecasts for American oil supply and undermine the efforts of the OPEC+ alliance to control a large part of the global oil supply while demand is recovering from the pandemic shock. For example, privately held DoublePoint Energy looks to raise its production to over 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the coming months, after having doubled output to 80,000 bpd over the past year. The publics are under a lot pressure to be disciplined with the capital they spend, DoublePoint Energys co-chief executive Cody Campbell told Bloomberg in a recent interview. They dont have the freedom to go after returns like we can, Campbell added. Related: Is This The Worlds Next Big Offshore Oil Region? If more of the smaller guys decide to take advantage of the higher oil prices and boost production to generate more returns, they could upend expectations of how much oil the U.S. would pump this year. Currently, OPEC itself sees U.S. crude oil production for 2021 at 11.2 million bpd, slightly down from an estimated 11.28 million bpd output for 2020. In its latest Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for February, the cartel actually revised down its 2021 forecast for U.S. oil production by 210,000 bpd and now expects a 70,000-bpd annual decline from 2020, as continued capital expenditure discipline is expected to weigh on production prospects in 2021. Larger listed U.S. producers are concerned that some drillers would break promises of output restraint. There are going to be bad actors [who pursue] growth for growths sake, Matthew Gallagher, an executive at Pioneer Natural Resources, told the Financial Times in January. Pioneer Natural Resources itself will look to limit production growth to an average 5 percent over the long term, CEO Scott Sheffield said on the Q4 earnings call last week. Moreover, Pioneer expects to return up to 75 percent of its annual free cash flow to shareholders after the base dividend is paid, Sheffield noted. This will be returned in the form of variable dividends paid out quarterly the following year, the executive said. Related: Is This The Worlds Next Big Offshore Oil Region? While Pioneer and other major listed shale players seem to be heeding investors calls for higher returns to shareholders, the smaller closely held operators are not promising anything other than chasing higher returns on their investment, which is being generated by more oil production. U.S. shale production as a whole is unlikely to return to the levels before the pandemic, Occidentals CEO Vicki Hollub said on the CERAWeek by IHS Markit on Tuesday. The severe drop in activity in the U.S. along with the high decline rates of shale and the pressure from investment community to maintain discipline instead of growth means in my view that shale will not get back to where it was in the U.S., Hollub said, as carried by Reuters. Shale production may never return to pre-COVID levels, but privately held drillers could surprise to the upside major forecasters, the oil market, and even OPEC. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A 40-year-old man in Maharashtra died yesterday, shortly after taking a second dose of the anti-Covid vaccine. Doctors say the cause of death is not known yet. Sukhdev Kirdat from Bhiwandi, who worked as a driver with an eye specialist, fainted in an observation room around 15 minutes after taking the second dose. PTI After taking the shot around 11 am, Sukhdev complained of giddiness while he was seated in the waiting hall at the civic-run inoculation centre. Following this, he was rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical Hospital nearby where doctors declared him brought dead. 'Died 30 minutes after taking vaccine' Dr KR Kharat, Medical Health Officer, Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC), said, "After being administered the vaccine, the man [Kirdat] started feeling dizziness after around 15 minutes. It is suspected that he died after 30 minutes. The family has revealed that he had been suffering from blood pressure-related issues and we are waiting for the post mortem report from JJ hospital to know the exact cause of his death." Image For Representation/Reuters Took first shot a month back The father of two had taken his first dose on January 28 as a health worker. "He took his first dose a month back and there was no problem. There was full check-up before this dose. There were symptoms like swelling of feet. But here his BP was normal and oxygen was also normal," said KR Kharat said. Doctors at Bhiwandi vaccination centre had checked his pulse and blood pressure which was said to be normal before he was administered the vaccine dose. Sources said Kirdat was suffering from hypertension and took medicines for the same. His family has meanwhile demanded a thorough probe into his death. Reuters Second round of inoculations underway People above 60 and those over 45 with other illnesses are being vaccinated in the second round of nationwide inoculations. Frontline and health workers received doses in the first round. BCCL On Tuesday, Maharashtra vaccinated 33,044 people, slightly more than the previous day but much lower than daily vaccinations until last week. The authorities in South Sudan have confirmed that a small plane crashed on Tuesday evening in the eastern Jonglei State, killing all the 10 people on board. It happened at Pieri airstrip shortly after take-off while heading to the capital, Juba. A team of investigators was being sent to the site of the crash to conduct preliminary investigations, Transport Minister Madut Biar Yel said. The plane belonged to a local aviation company, the South Supreme Airlines. The firm has not yet issued a statement about the crash. Jonglei State Governor Denay Jock Chagor said he received the news with "shock and horror" and sent condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. South Sudan's air safety profile is not yet rated by the International Aviation Safety Assessment Programme. But the database on Aviation Safety Network (ASN) shows that at least 10 planes crashed in different locations in South Sudan between 2018 and 2020, which caused about 30 fatalities. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bengaluru, Shimla 'most liveable' cities in 2020 Bengaluru was adjudged the most liveable among 111 cities in India in the government's 'Ease of Living Index' on Thursday, followed by Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Coimbatore, Vadodra, Indore and Greater Mumbai. Of the 49 cities ranked on livability index in the 'million-plus population' category, Delhi figures in the 13th spot and Srinagar at the bottom. Read here retains 8.5% interest on deposits for 2020-21 Retirement fund body on Thursday decided to retain 8.5 per cent annual rate of interest on provident fund deposits for the current financial year for its more than five crore active subscribers. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) apex decision-making body Central Board of Trustees decided to fix 8.5 per cent rate of interest for 2020-21 at its meeting in Srinagar on Thursday. Read here Kerala BJP pitches for making Sreedharan NDA CM candidate BJP in Kerala on Thursday said it has requested the party's leadership to declare "Metro man" E Sreedharan, who recently joined the party, as the NDA's chief ministerial candidate in Kerala in the coming assembly elections. If the NDA, "under the leadership of "Metroman", gets an opportunity to rule the state, "we are confident we will be able to implement development works under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a ten-fold force in Kerala", state unit president K Surendran said. Read here Few OTT platforms at times show pornographic content: SC The Supreme Court on Thursday said that few over-the-top (OTT) platforms show some kind of pornographic content at times, and there should be a mechanism to screen such programmes. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to place before it the recent guidelines of the government to regulate social media platforms on Friday, when it would hear the plea of Amazon Prime Video's India head Aparna Purohit challenging the Allahabad High Court order rejecting her anticipatory bail in connection with FIRs lodged against her over web series 'Tandav'. Read here WhatsApp to introduce audio, video calling on desktop app WhatsApp will Thursday roll out voice and video calling from the desktop, making it easier for people to take calls at their convenience. Voice and video calls on WhatsApp Web will also be end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that WhatsApp cant hear or see them, whether you call from your phone or your computer. Read here Sandy Marchisotta was able to secure her husband a vaccine through the Cook County Department of Public Healths Tinley Park vaccination site, but was unable to get one herself. When the opportunity to sign up in Niles came along, she got on her phone and didnt stop redialing until someone answered on the other end, she said. Google and its nonprofit partner Housing Trust Silicon Valley have loaned $30 million to three Bay Area affordable housing projects. The commitment, announced Thursday, is part of the tech giants $1 billion funding plan to support local housing, which started in 2019. The projects include Bridge Housings Hope SF development in Potrero Hill, Eden Housings La Avenida in Mountain View, and USA Properties Fund and the Pinyon Groups Tasman East in Santa Clara. Google, Apple and Facebook pledged billions in 2019 to help bolster housing after rents and for-sale prices soared in the past decade, making it harder for even well-paid tech employees to find homes. The coronavirus pandemic has cooled the rental market, but weakness in the job market has made housing an ongoing burden for many. Market-rate housing development is expected to slow in the Bay Area, reducing the fees that help support affordable housing projects. Affordable housing is needed now more than ever given the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our communities, Rebecca Prozan, Googles West Coast policy lead, said in a statement. We continue to be as focused as ever on helping the Bay Area build more affordable homes in this time of need. The Potrero Hill project includes around 619 replacement units of public housing, which existing residents will move into, along with around 1,000 new affordable and market-rate units. The project was approved in 2017 and the first new building opened in 2019. Cynthia Parker, CEO of Bridge Housing, said Googles loan will help speed up development at the project. This means more than 800 affordable homes plus a range of housing, amenities and open space that will lift up the entire community, she said in a statement. La Avenida includes around 100 affordable housing units, with a third reserved for the homeless. The project at 1100 La Avenida St. has a budget of around $78 million, according to a 2020 city report. Its 1 miles from Googles headquarters. The Tasman East project at 2310 Calle Del Mundo calls for up to 150 housing units. This project will be one of the most well-located transit-oriented developments in Silicon Valley and will bring much needed affordable housing at a broad range of incomes near new and existing employment hubs, Geoff Brown, CEO of USA Properties Fund, said in a statement. Google previously funded projects in San Jose, Newark and Sunnyvale. Other plans include converting commercial land that it owns into housing sites. Despite a shift to more remote work, the tech giant has numerous office expansions planned in the Bay Area, including in Mountain Views North Bayshore, Santa Clara and near Diridon Station in San Jose. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf Even after Covid clears, Disney is unlikely to revive the old practice of giving theaters 7590 days exclusivity on new releases. Im not sure theres going back to that kind of theatrical window, CEO Bob Chapek has said. Speaking at a virtual investment conference hosted by Morgan Stanley, Chapek said, The consumer is probably more impatient than theyve ever been before, particularly since now theyve had the luxury of an entire year of getting titles at home pretty much when they want them. He added, But we certainly dont want to do anything like cut the legs off a theatrical exhibition run. Throughout the pandemic, with cinemas mostly shut, studios have experimented with shortening theatrical windows or abolishing them outright as they place emphasis on home releases. Disney turned Soul and Mulan into Disney+ exclusives, charging a $30 premium for the latter. On Friday, it will give Raya and the Last Dragon (pictured above) simultaneous releases in theaters and on Disney+, once again for $30. Other areas along the west and east coasts of the North Island, Stewart Island and Chatham Islands were expected to see flooding. The first earthquake, magnitude 7.3, struck the Kermadec Islands at 2.27am local time (12.27am AEDT). The second quake, magnitude 7.4, hit at 6.41am (4.41am AEDT). New Zealand Emergency Management Minister Kiri Allan said the earthquakes had been a dynamic event that is constantly evolving. Up to 3000 cars were on a hill near Whakatane, where no one appeared to be left in the town. Credit:Christel Yardley/Stuff.co.nz People have done the right thing in the regions by picking up, packing up, and by and large staying calm, she said earlier on Friday before the threat had eased. I want to acknowledge the anxiety for many families and for many people [...] Now, as we pivot towards the current environment that were in, were asking those that have moved to high ground or inland to remain where you are until the official all-clear is given. As people were allowed to return home, Ms Allan said this came with a note of caution. While there are no longer the restrictions on being able to go down to the beach, please do exercise prudent judgement, she said. Civil Defence controller Roger Ball urged people to stay away from the beach, out of the water and not go sightseeing. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours, and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled, he said. If you are told to evacuate, do not stay at home. Auckland was not within the regions asked to evacuate, but a beach-and-marine threat was in place. Whakatane community members evacuate to higher ground. The powerful earthquake that shook the country awake on Friday morning was unrelated to later quakes in the Kermadec Islands, which could cause aftershocks for the next few weeks. University of Otagos earthquake science chairman Mark Stirling said the quake activity near Te Araroa was caused by friction as the Pacific plate moved down. It just so happens they were very close in time, but theyre unrelated, he said. The later earthquakes in the Kermadecs were thrust events, where the Pacific plate lurched forwards. Magnitude 7s are not uncommon in this area, theres a bit of historical precedent for this here. Theres a lot of tectonic activity in the subduction zone. Marine tsunami threat remains for Norfolk Island Australia issued a marine tsunami threat for Norfolk Island but said there was no threat to the mainland. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said the islands coastline had been impacted by a 64-centimetre tsunami wave and urged residents to stay out of the water. Tsunami waves are more powerful than the same size beach wave. It is the power rather than the height that makes tsunami waves so destructive, hence dangerous to swimmers and boaters, an update from the bureau said. The warning for Norfolk Island was cancelled at 2.40pm AEDT. This marks the end of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centres response to this mornings 7.9 magnitude earthquake north-east of New Zealand and the aftershocks thereafter, the bureau said. Emergency services on Norfolk Island will advise if and when it is safe to return to normal activity. Be aware that although the main tsunami threat has passed, small unusual waves, currents and abnormal tides may still affect some beaches, harbours and coastal waterways for many hours or even days. Small tsunami waves, not considered dangerous, were recorded on the east coast including a 10-centimetre wave at Tweed Heads and a nine-centimetre wave at Port Kembla near Wollongong. The floor of the Tokomaru Bay Four Square after the earthquake struck in the early hours of Friday morning. Elsewhere, Vanuatu recorded a 32-centimetre tsunami wave, a 13-centimetre tsunami wave was recorded at Fiji and an eight-centimetre tsunami wave was observed at Tonga. Ms Ardern posted on Instagram: Hope everyone is ok out there especially on the East Coast who would have felt the full force of that earthquake. The earthquake comes just over a week since the country marked 10 years since a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Christchurch, killing 185 people and injuring thousands more on February 22, 2011. With Reuters, AP and Stuff.co.nz Patna, March 4 : Contradicting opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav's claim of having studied in a government school, former minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Neeraj Kumar described on Thursday it as political fraud. Speaking to reporters in the Bihar Assembly complex on Thursday, Kumar said: "A few days ago, Tejashwi was describing BJP legislator Shreyasi Singh as his classmate. Shreyasi used to study in Delhi Public School (DPS). What is Tejashwi's reality?" asked Kumar. Participating in a debate on the education budget in the Assembly on Wednesday, Tejashwi had said that he was born in the peon quarters of the Veterinary College that he studied in a government school and his degree was completely official. Kumar asked Yadav some pointed questions: "He should clarify what the name of his school was and what was his roll number. The kind of statements that he is making in the assembly can only be described as political fraud." He further said: "If he cannot speak the truth in the Assembly, why did he take an oath? Which medicine does Tejashwi have that makes him change his statements again and again? He should clarify where he has studied?" Improving cooperation and coordination in parliamentary diplomacy, in particular in international issues, providing a new impetus to our inter-parliamentary visits and contacts are among the goals of a visit of the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to Ukraine on March 5-6. The current visit takes place almost eight years after the previous one. Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop said this in an interview with Ukrinform on the eve of his official visit to Ukraine. "This is my first visit to Ukraine as speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. You will see that after this visit we will raise relations between our parliaments to a much higher level," Sentop said. According to him, inter-parliamentary visits and contacts will receive a new impetus. "We will hold consultations on steps that will bring our countries closer in the humanitarian, cultural and economic spheres, and strengthen ties in these areas. We will consider ways to improve cooperation and coordination in terms of parliamentary diplomacy, in particular in international issues, as well as give a new impetus to our inter-parliamentary visits and contacts," Sentop stressed. The speaker of the Turkish parliament also noted that the work of inter-parliamentary friendship groups had recently been intensified. "I know that they [leaders of parliamentary friendship groups] have agreed to hold a joint meeting where the members of the friendship groups of the two countries will be able to get to know each other and discuss joint working issues. The parliaments contribution to the cooperation between our countries will be discussed in detail at such meetings," Sentop said. The Turkish politician also assured that his visit would take parliamentary cooperation to a new level. As reported, the visit of a Turkish delegation led by Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop will take place on March 5-6 at the invitation of Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov. The program of the visit includes meetings with the president, the prime minister, the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, the foreign minister, and representatives of business and the diaspora. The previous visit of the speaker of the Turkish parliament took place almost eight years ago. On April 4, 2013, the then Speaker Cemil Cicek paid an official visit to Ukraine. ish Hartselle police say a man has been arrested after confessing to killing his brother. According to police, officers responded to a shooting call Wednesday at 2102 S.W. Pinehurst St. about 3 p.m. Phillip Anthony Grigsby, 59, had been shot once. He was taken to Decatur Morgan Hospital by ambulance, and died at about 4:45 p.m. His brother, Jerry Wayne Cleek, 79, of Hartselle, was questioned about the incident and admitted to shooting his brother, police said. He has been charged with murder and is being held in the Morgan County Jail on $100,000 bond. An autopsy will be performed as the investigation continues. New Delhi: Incessant rain in the last three days triggering flash floods has claimed 41 lives in Bihar, 10 lives in Assam and paralysed normal life in West Bengal. Pratyay Amrit, Bihar principal secretary of Disaster Management Department, said, 41 people have died in the flash floods. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit areas. Kumar talking to media after the aerial survey said, Araria is the worst affected district, while flood waters have engulfed large areas of Kishanganj, Purnea and Katihar districts. Kumar said heavy rains in Nepal and Bihar has led to the situation. Also Read | Nepal: 200 Indian tourists stranded due to floods in Chitwan town Kumar was accompanied by Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav and Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh. In Assam 10 people have been killed in the second wave of floods. According to reports more than 10 lakh people have been displaced in the state in the last 24 hours. More than 85% of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is under flood-waters. According to reports, more than 60,000 people have been displaced in West Bengals Alipurdar and Jalpaiguri district. Also Read | Bihar floods: Army, NDRF deployed in affected region; five trains cancelled in Kishanganj West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, Earlier floods had affected south Bengal and now it is north Bengal. We have initiated rescue operations in the flooded areas. West Bengal government officials told the media that it is impossible to run trains and buses beyond Birbhum district without endangering the lives of passengers. East Central Railway service has been hit between Kishanganj and Hatwar in West Bengal as water is flowing above the danger mark at several locations in Katihar division. According to ECR officials around 33 trains have been cancelled and around 10 have been stopped midway. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prelude Corporation (PreludeDx), a leader in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine for early stage breast cancer, presented data at the Miami Breast Cancer Conference (MBCC) 2021 Annual Meeting examining the association of DCISionRT test results with breast cancer mortality (BCM) in patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Study results demonstrated patients with higher DCISionRT scores had an increased risk of BCM. MBCC Poster entitled A biomarker assay predicts women diagnosed with DCIS without microinvasion at increased risk for breast cancer specific death, included 414 women in the original case control study (96 women who died of breast cancer and 318 controls from a population of 6,964 in Sweden diagnosed with DCIS without microinvasion). A prior nested case control study was used due to the low incidence of death in DCIS. "In our study, treatment was not independently associated with decreased BCM risk. In fact, the women selected for treatment with mastectomy tended to have increased BCM compared to those who were treated with BCS," said Charlotta Wadsten, MD., PhD, Umea University, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences. "The study demonstrated that the DCISionRT Decision Score was significantly associated with breast cancer mortality, while clinicopathologic factors were not." The primary endpoint of the study was to identify the association of DCISionRT test results with breast cancer mortality. DCISionRT Decision Score (DS) results were available for 157 of the 414 women. Primary DCIS was treated with breast conserving surgery (BCS) alone, BCS plus radiotherapy or mastectomy in 34%, 29% and 37% of the cases, respectively. Results revealed patients with increasing continuous DS had increasing BCM (OR=10, p=0.004), and patients with high categorical DS (>6) were at greater risk of BCM (OR=19, p=0.007). "The more information that we can provide the physician and patient, the more confidence they will have in making a treatment recommendations and decision," said Dan Forche, President and CEO of PreludeDx. "This data demonstrates that DCISionRT may help to identify patients at greater risk for breast cancer mortality and provide the information for physicians to implement more aggressive upfront treatment when needed." About DCISionRT for Breast DCIS DCISionRT is the only risk assessment test for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that predicts radiation therapy benefit. Patients with DCIS have cancerous cells lining the milk ducts of the breast, but they have not spread into surrounding breast tissue. In the US, over 60,000 women are newly diagnosed with DCIS each year. DCISionRT, developed by PreludeDx on technology licensed from the University of California San Francisco, and built on research that began with funding from the National Cancer Institute, enables physicians to better understand the biology of DCIS. DCISionRT combines the latest innovations in molecular biology with risk-based assessment scores to assess a woman's individual tumor biology along with other pathologic risk factors and provide a personalized recurrence risk. The test provides a Decision Score that identifies a woman's risk as low or elevated. DCISionRT's intelligent reporting provides a woman's recurrence risk after breast conserving surgery alone and with the addition of radiation therapy. In turn, this new information may help patients and their physicians to make more informed treatment decisions. About PreludeDx PreludeDx is a leading personalized breast cancer diagnostics company dedicated to serving breast cancer patients and physicians worldwide. Founded in 2009 with technology licensed from University of California San Francisco, PreludeDx has focused on developing precision breast cancer tools that will impact a patient's treatment decision. Our mission is to provide patients and physicians with innovative technologies that improve patient outcomes and reduce the overall cost burden to the healthcare system. Before making a treatment decision, Know Your Risk. PreludeDx is a Fjord Ventures portfolio company. For more information on how PreludeDx is making a difference for patients, please visit the Company's website: https://preludedx.com and follow us on Twitter @PreludeDx, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. PreludeDx, the PreludeDx logo, DCISionRT, the DCISionRT logo, Decision Score, The DCIS Test, Know Your Risk and Your Biology, Your Decision are trademarks of Prelude Corporation or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and foreign countries. Media Contact Cory Dunn 760-705-7464 [email protected] Investor Contact Andrew Wade 949.600.8925 [email protected] SOURCE PreludeDx Related Links https://www.preludedx.com As of Wednesday, Alabama has passed 10,000 coronavirus deaths. The Alabama Department of Public Health noted that of the 10,000 deaths, almost 80% were people ages 65 and older. As of the last update Wednesday, there have been 497,154 cases in the state. Of the 10,029 statewide coronavirus deaths, 200 were in Marshall County. The Marshall County Coroner's Office says it saw a 25% jump in deaths from 2019 to 2020, not all because of the virus. Just a few months ago, Marshall County Schools lost their transportation director, Tim Gilbert, to the virus. "When you lose a member of your work family, that makes it tough," said Superintendent Dr. Cindy Wigley. Wigley explained the district had several staff members with coronavirus cases so severe, they went to the hospital. "It's really been so hard on our schools, our parents, our staff and our communities, you know, when somebody that you love and care deeply about is affected. It brings it real," said Wigley. Around 70% of the staff members for Marshall County Schools have been vaccinated against the virus. British companies were not prepared for Brexit and this continues to cause issues in the supply chain, according to the Department of Transports most senior official who revealed the problems following a question from Dundalk TD Ruairi O Murchu. The Sinn Fein TD had the opportunity to question the departments Secretary General, Ken Spratt, and other officials at the Oireachtas Committee on Transport. Deputy O Murchu said: "I know the department would have had a view that a huge number of issues were caused by a lack of preparation in Britain, not only at governmental level but also at company level. "I know issues were brought to the Department and the Revenue Commissioners by hauliers and people involved in the movement of freight. "Last week at this committee, I asked representatives of Rosslare Europort about those issues. "They said an awful lot had been dealt with but the added cost is obviously an issue.2 In response, Mr Spratt said: "There is no doubt about it. "While we in this country were getting Brexit-ready for approximately two years, and while every politician was trying to ensure his or her constituents were alert to what needed to be done to get Brexit-ready, it is very clear that the same message was not being given in GB. "We have found that GB exporters into the European Union were not at all prepared, or at least the vast majority were not prepared, for what emerged on 1 January this year. "It is the case that Irish exporters into Britain were very well-prepared and knew what they needed to do in terms of complying with the new customs requirements over there. "However, GB exporters into the European Union and into Ireland were not ready for the application of the European Union customs code. "That gave rise to all sorts of problems in that people did not have the required Revenue documentation prepared, which prevented them from actually boarding ferries. "It meant that hauliers and trucks were refused access and refused boarding onto ferries. "The preparations that were put in place by the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the ports here in Ireland meant that problems were identified in GB rather than at our ports. "We are continuing to engage with the ferry companies, hauliers and logistics companies to see how we can ensure we make the importation of goods from GB as smooth as possible. "Government is encouraging the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to engage and liaise as best they can with the hauliers, freight and logistic companies and exporters to try to get that back to some sort of normality. "I have to say, however, that the Revenue Commissioners have an obligation to ensure they protect the Single Market and apply the European Union customs code. They are doing that in a way they would like to be as flexible as possible, but there is only so much they can do. "We met with the ferry companies last week and we are meeting with them again to see what else we might be able to do". Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. I heard a psychologist speaking on radio the other day, advising listeners that maybe they should take breaks from listening to too much Covid-19 coverage on radio, for the sake of their mental health. The saturation media coverage of all things Covid can get a bit overbearing at times, but hey, what are we to do? It is such an enormous and significant event in everyones lives. But what other issues, stories or debates would we be listening to or reading about if Covid hadnt happened. What isnt making the news anymore? The Covid crisis has masked so many underlying challenges for business, society and for Government, while creating lots of new ones on it its own. To get a glimpse of the scale of the challenge you can read Ibecs submission on the need for higher infrastructure spending. Ibec always calls for more capital spending by government but this time round it points to some very obvious truths. The most startling challenge (and opportunity) is the projection that our population is likely to increase by between 300,000-600,000 in the next ten years. According to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) the population is likely to grow by 926,000 between 2016 and 2040. Where will they all live? Will they all have jobs? How will they get to work? How do we provide enough electricity, especially given the pressure points that have emerged in the national grid in recent months? The Ibec document, called Investment Reboot Infrastructure for Better Lives and Better Business, says the total capital expenditure budget in the National Development Plan needs to be increased by a staggering 70bn over the next ten years. Whatever about the amount of money and the fact the Government still cant seem to ensure major infrastructure projects come in on budget (think National Childrens Hospital), a staggering new level of investment is needed. Ibec estimates the exchequer hit from Covid between 2020 and 2022 will be around 35bn, which it says is affordable into the medium term. The business group takes the view that the exchequer deficit should be closed by 2023. This can only happen if there is solid economic growth and a reining in of spending increases by the Government. Not easily done. The list of infrastructure needs is significant especially given the lost years after the financial crash when Ireland fell behind other developed EU countries on capital expenditure. The projected population increase will require us to build 28,000 new homes per year for the next 20 years. According to the ESRI the population will grow by 926,000 between 2016-2040 Building costs account for only about 45pc of the cost of providing a new house, so access to suitable cheap sites is vital. Yet the Land Development Agency, which is supposed to help provide that very thing, still hasnt been put on a statutory legislative footing, despite being established over two and a half years ago. Other big infrastructural challenges come into play around renewable power generation and energy efficiency. We have set a target to reach 70pc renewable power generation by 2030. The only way to achieve this is to invest massively in offshore wind farms. This will involve building several large offshore sites in less than ten years. Last year around 30pc of our power generation came from wind. But bear in mind, in the month of August, 85pc came from gas, because the wind wasnt blowing. Gas will continue to have a part to play in power generation in Ireland for some time, despite our aims at becoming a net power exporter at some point in the future. Successive Irish governments have never been good at long-term planning. The M50 was heralded as an infrastructural triumph but it took years and a lot of money to get the toll plazas removed because they were causing congestion. Then it had to be widened. The National Childrens Hospital is a textbook example of getting things wrong. Originally selected to be built in the completely wrong place (Mater Hospital), after spending 30m on consultants, it was moved to St Jamess Hospital. Its cost overrun, at double the original 640m estimate, is already legendary. But we should remember, that when completed it will provide a maximum of 470 beds, roughly equal to the total number of beds now available at the three hospitals it will replace. It will be a better hospital and no doubt with better patient outcomes. But where is the long-term planning if our population is set to grow? Aside from totally shaping the news agenda for now, Covid will have its own long-term consequences. Remote working could provide a boost to small towns and rural areas. It may also challenge our FDI model given that people who can work from home can work in another country. Big tech firms with thousands of employees in Ireland have seen many of them head back to their home countries during lockdown. Will they want to come back to Dublin with its high rents, and poor transport links? We were behind other small countries like Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium and Austria in EU innovation rankings The Ibec document says we need to be an attractive place to live as well as a centre for innovation. They are correct, but it will be very difficult to be both. Ireland moved from tenth to ninth last year in the EU innovation table. Given the multinational investment and intellectual capital located here, this isnt a great result. We were behind other small countries like Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium and Austria. Private sector spend in research and development (R&D) has been growing in Ireland, but the total government investment in R&D decreased from 894m in 2007 to 739m in 2017, according to Ibec. The Government has a plan but it doesnt look like it will be enough, even if it is implemented. Human Rights Watch has released a report saying the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic set off human rights crises worldwide. The report documents how government have allowed corruption to flourish, and used the pandemic to clamp down critics and the opposition. The Human Rights Watch report says the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed more than 2.5 million lives worldwide should not be used as an excuse to trample on peoples basic rights. Dewa Mavhinga, head of Human Rights Watch in southern Africa, said civic groups and the media must ensure governments account during the coronavirus pandemic. Mavhinga sums up the HRW report: Some government introduced some restrictions on movements including national lockdowns which were quite disproportionate or inappropriate for the level of public health threat that was being confronted. We saw in our report that some government instituted discriminatory policies and authorities enforced in a discriminatory way with excessive and sometimes fatal forces in terms of the enforcement of those regulations, including the killing of people in South Africa. The report says Zimbabwes government did not release political prisoners when President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted amnesty to decongest crowded jails to contain the spread of COVID-19. We also saw the excessive use of force by the military and police and the arrest of thousands of people into places of detention that are overcrowded already which further raise the risk of the further spread of the pandemic," said Mavhinga. "We also saw that the virtually collapsed health system was not fully equipped to address the COVID19 pandemic challenges, especially in the context of serious reports of corruption in the procurement of COVID19 equipment. Journalists and anti-corruption activists who exposed the corruption faced harassment and arrests by the authorities in Zimbabwe. Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwes information minister, said she has yet to see the HRW report. Bright Matonga, a member of ruling ZANU-PF party and a former government minister, said the HRW report is very partisan toward Zimbabwe. Obviously with the pandemic, a lot of rights issues were canceled, people didnt go to work because governments were following WHO procedures and processes. But let me say that the World Health Organization commended Zimbabwe for a well done during the lockdown for providing enough information, access to testing and obviously for getting the COVID vaccine on time. So I do not think that that report is a very accurate report, said Matonga. However, Fadzayi Mahere, spokeswoman for opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), says the HRW report is on target. Most fundamentally, the COVID-19 measures were used to curtail the right to protest, as we saw in July 2020, freedom of speech and the freedom of the media. We have also seen the weaponisation of the law to silence descending voices, including journalists, opposition politicians. So we can see that there was a list of rights that were violated over the last year using the veil or excuse of the COVID19 pandemic, she said. Mahere is one of the people facing charges of violating Zimbabwes lockdown regulations last July when she took part in protests against the governments response to the pandemic. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says he has asked the federal government to consider expanding the coronavirus vaccine program into a greater number of general practices earlier than initially anticipated, as his state approaches 17,000 vaccinations. Speaking at a budget estimates inquiry on Thursday, Mr Hazzard said he wrote to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Wednesday night to ask if the government would review their approach. Health Minister Brad Hazzard says he is pushing for more GPs to be included in the vaccine rollout. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer While the Pfizer vaccines currently being used in Australia require refrigeration at -70 degrees, the AstraZeneca vaccines are stored at 2 to 8 degrees, like most vaccines. A shipment of 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived on Australian soil on Sunday. We could go to our own GP and have the vaccine ... the fact that [the federal government has] announced all this new AstraZeneca is making us rethink the whole thing and were making, hopefully, constructive suggestions, Mr Hazzard told the inquiry. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work 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Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help 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is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise A Benin opposition leader who has been barred from contesting upcoming presidential elections has been detained for questioning by a special court, her lawyer and party members said Thursday Cotonou, March 4 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ) :A Benin opposition leader who has been barred from contesting upcoming presidential elections has been detained for questioning by a special court, her lawyer and party members said Thursday. Rekiath Madougou's candidacy for the April 11 elections had been rejected by the electoral commission for failing to garner signatures of support from 16 mayors or MPs. "Mrs Madougou arrived Thursday at the Economic Crime and Terrorism Court (CRIET) where she will be heard by a special prosecutor," her lawyer Renaud Agbodjo said. "She is facing charges of conspiracy and terrorism." "Our car was blocked by security forces," said Joel Aivo, another opposition member who was barred from running, who said he witnessed Madougou being arrested. "Four officers took away our car with Mrs Madougou aboard," he wrote on social media Wednesday. A police source confirmed to AFP that she was detained overnight. Minutes before her arrest, the leader of the Democrats party, a close ally of former president Boni Yayi, had denounced the current regime's practices. "We will not succumb to intimidations, obstacles and bullying," said Aivo, who was also present at the meeting. Tuesday, two members of Madougou's party were charged with conspiracy and terrorism, their lawyer and a judicial source said. "Bio Dramane Tidjani and Mamadou Tidjani are political hostages," Madougou had said after their arrest. Separately, Sebastien Ajavon, a key opposition leader who came in third in the last election and was convicted of drug trafficking in 2018 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, was sentenced in absentia on Monday to five years for forgery and fraud. Ajavon is currently living in exile in France, like many of the country's opposition members. President Patrice Talon, a cotton tycoon, was elected in 2016. He had initially said he would complete only one mandate, later changing his mind and announcing in mid-February he was running again. Benin has long been viewed as a vibrant democracy, but Talon's critics say the country has veered into authoritarianism under his rule. 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. Natixis building in Paris / Courtesy of Natixis Fears grow over possible recurrence of 'Citadel case' By Park Jae-hyuk IMC and Natixis are facing a severe backlash from retail investors here over their latest attempts to enter the Korean securities market which is waiting for the lifting of the short selling ban in May. Individual domestic investors have expressed serious concerns over the recent inflow of foreign securities firms into Korea, alleging they will intensify confusion in the local capital market and the side effects of stock short selling. According to the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Wednesday, Natixis applied for a preliminary approval, Feb. 24, to open its Seoul branch and broker investments in securities and over-the-counter derivatives here. The French financial firm's application was filed a few weeks after the domestic financial authorities gave a preliminary approval to the Amsterdam-headquartered IMC's application filed last June for a license to do investment trading here and serve as a market maker on the Korean stock market. The Dutch financial company applied for a final approval, Feb. 9. IMC headquarters in Amsterdam / Courtesy of IMC A vintage bike as authentic as possible in a discreet bobber look. These are the words used by German custom motorcycle shop Thunderbike to describe one of its more complex projects. Officially titled Bel-Air, it pairs some original and old Harley-Davidson parts with the benefits of more modern hardware in a unique, pure-European custom package. 24 photos COSMIC, a multipurpose X-ray instrument at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's (Berkeley Lab's) Advanced Light Source (ALS), has made headway in the scientific community since its launch less than 2 years ago, with groundbreaking contributions in fields ranging from batteries to biominerals. COSMIC is the brightest X-ray beamline at the ALS, a synchrotron that generates intense light - from infrared to X-rays - and delivers it to dozens of beamlines to carry out a range of simultaneous science experiments. COSMIC's name is derived from coherent scattering and microscopy, which are two overarching X-ray techniques it is designed to carry out. Its capabilities include world-leading soft X-ray microscopy resolution below 10 nanometers (billionths of a meter), extreme chemical sensitivity, ultrafast scanning speed as well as the ability to measure nanoscale chemical changes in samples in real time, and to facilitate the exploration of samples with a combination of X-ray and electron microscopy. Soft X-rays represent a low range in X-ray energies, while hard X-rays are higher in energy. Each type can address a different range of experiments. COSMIC is setting the stage for a long-term project to upgrade the decades-old ALS. The effort, known as the ALS Upgrade (ALS-U), will replace most of the existing accelerator components with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring capabilities that will enable world-leading soft X-ray science for years to come. The upgrade will also further enhance COSMIC's ability to capture nanoscale details in the structure and chemistry of a broad range of samples. The expected 100-fold increase in X-ray brightness that ALS-U will deliver will provide a similar increase in imaging speed at COSMIC, and a more than threefold improvement in imaging resolution, enabling microscopy with single-nanometer resolution. Further, the technologies being developed now at COSMIC will be deployed at other beamlines at the upgraded ALS, making possible microscopy with higher X-ray energies for many more experiments. The instrument is one of many highly specialized resources available to scientists from around the world for free through a peer-reviewed proposal process. A journal article, published Dec. 16, 2020, in Science Advances, highlights some of COSMIC's existing capabilities and those that are on the way. The paper offers examples of 8-nanometer resolution achieved in imaging magnetic nanoparticles, the high-resolution chemical mapping of a battery cathode material during heating, and the high-resolution imaging of a frozen-hydrated yeast cell at COSMIC. (A cathode is one type of battery electrode, a component through which current flows.) These results serve as demonstration cases, revealing critical information about the structure and inner workings of these materials and opening the door for further insights across many fields of science. Another journal article, published Jan. 19, 2021), in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrated the first-ever use of X-ray linear dichroic ptychography, a specialized high-resolution imaging technique available at COSMIC, to map the orientations of a crystal known as aragonite that is present in coral skeletons at 35-nanometer resolution. The technique shows promise for mapping other biomineral samples at high resolution and in 3D, which will provide new insights into their unique attributes and how to mimic and control them. Some biominerals have inspired humanmade materials and nanomaterials due to their strength, resilience, and other desirable properties. "We use this user-friendly, unique platform for materials characterization to demonstrate world-leading spatial resolution, in conjunction with operando and cryogenic microscopy," said David Shapiro, the paper's lead author and the lead scientist for COSMIC's microscopy experiments. He also leads the ALS Microscopy Program. "Operando" describes the ability to measure changes in samples as they are occurring. "There's no other instrument that has these capabilities co-located for X-ray microscopy at this resolution," Shapiro said. COSMIC can provide new clues to the nanoscale inner workings of materials, even as they actively function, that will lead to a deeper understanding and better designs - for batteries, catalysts, or biological materials. Equipping COSMIC with such a diversity of capabilities required an equally broad collaboration across scientific disciplines, he noted. COSMIC contributors included members of Berkeley Lab's CAMERA (Center for Advanced Mathematics for Energy Research Applications) team, which includes computer scientists, software engineers, applied mathematicians, and others; information technology experts; detector specialists; engineers; scientists at the Molecular Foundry's National Center for Electron Microscopy; ALS scientists; and outside collaborators from the National Science Foundation's STROBE Science and Technology Center and Stanford University. Several advanced technologies developed by different groups were integrated into this one instrument. Key to the demonstrations at COSMIC reported in the paper is the implementation of X-ray ptychography, which is a computer-aided image reconstruction technique that can exceed the resolution of conventional techniques by up to about 10 times. With traditional methods, spatial resolution - the ability to distinguish tiny features in samples - is limited by the quality of the X-ray optics and their ability to focus the X-ray beam into a tiny spot. But conventional X-ray optics, which are the instruments used to manipulate X-ray light to see samples more clearly, are difficult to make, inefficient, and have short focal lengths. Instead of relying on imperfect optics, ptychography records a large number of physically overlapping diffraction patterns - which are images produced as X-ray light scatters from the sample - each offering a small piece of the full picture. Rather than being limited by optics quality, the ptychography technique is limited by the brightness of the X-ray source - precisely the parameter that ALS-U is expected to improve a hundredfold. To capture and process the enormous amount of data and reconstruct the final image requires data processing facilities, computer algorithms, and specialized fast pixel detectors like those developed at Berkeley Lab. "X-ray ptychography is a detector-enabled technique - first deployed with hard (high-energy) X-rays using hybrid pixel detectors, and then at the ALS with the FastCCD we developed," said Peter Denes, the ALS detector program lead who worked with lead engineer John Joseph on the implementation at COSMIC. "Much of the COSMIC technology benefited from the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program, as did the FastCCD, which translated tools for cosmology into COSMIC observations." Berkeley Lab's LDRD Program supports innovative research activities that keep the Lab at the forefront of science and technology. Ptychography utilizes a sequence of scattering patterns, produced as X-ray light scatters from a sample. These scattering patterns are analyzed by a computer running high-performance algorithms, which convert them into a high-resolution image. In the Dec. 16, 2020, paper, researchers highlighted how ptychographic images made it possible to see the high-resolution chemical distribution in microscopic particles of a lithium iron phosphate battery cathode material (Li0.5FePo4). The ptychographic images showed nanoscale chemical features in the interior of the particles that were not visible using the conventional form of the imaging technique, called spectromicroscopy. In a separate demonstration of ptychography at COSMIC, researchers noted chemical changes in a collection of LixFePO4 nanoparticles when subjected to heating. Ptychography is also a source of COSMIC's heavy data demands. The beamline can produce several terabytes of data per day, or enough to fill a few laptop computers. The intensive computations required for COSMIC's imaging necessitate a dedicated cluster of GPUs (graphical processing units), which are specialized computer processors. The ALS Upgrade will further drive its data demands up to an expected 100 terabytes per day, Shapiro noted. Plans are already being discussed for using more resources at Berkeley Lab's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) to accommodate this pending ramp-up in data. COSMIC is a stellar example of Berkeley Lab's Superfacility Project, which is designed to link light sources like the ALS and cutting-edge instrumentation including microscopes and telescopes with data and high-performance computing resources in real time, said Bjoern Enders, a data science workflows architect in NERSC's Data Science Engagement Group. "We love data and computing challenges from instruments like COSMIC that venture beyond facility borders," Enders said. "We are working toward a future where it will be as easy as a button click to use NERSC's resources from a beamline." The addition of the new Perlmutter supercomputer at NERSC, he added, "will be an ideal partner for COSMIC in team science." COSMIC started up in commissioning mode in March 2017, and opened to general scientific experiments about 2 years ago. Since this time, instrument staff have launched the operando capabilities that measure active chemical processes, for example, and rolled out linear and circular dichroic microscopy and tomography capabilities that further extend COSMIC's range of imaging experiments. Its coherent scattering branch is now undergoing testing and is not yet available to external users. Work is also in progress to correlate its X-ray microscopy results with electron microscopy results for active processes, and to further develop its cryogenic capabilities, which will allow biological samples and other soft materials to be protected from damage by the ultrabright X-ray beam while they are being imaged. The combination of X-ray and electron microscopy can provide a powerful tool for gathering detailed chemical and structural information on samples, as demonstrated in an experiment involving COSMIC that was highlighted in the journal Science Advances. Shapiro noted that there are plans to introduce a new experimental station to the beamline, timed with ALS-U, to accommodate more experiments. One secret to COSMIC's success is that the instrument is designed for compatibility with standard sample-handling components. Shapiro said this user-friendly approach "has been really important for us," and makes it easier for researchers from academia and industry to design COSMIC-compatible experiments. "Users can just show up and plug (the samples) in. It increases our reach, scientifically," he said. While COSMIC is loaded with features, it isn't bulky, and Shapiro described it as "streamlined in size and cost." He said he hopes it will be a model for future beamlines, both at ALS-U and at other synchrotron facilities. "I think what is really attractive about it is that it is a very compact instrument. It is high-performance and very stable," he said. "It is very manageable and not very expensive. In that sense it should be very attractive for synchrotrons." ### The ALS, Molecular Foundry, and NERSC are all U.S. DOE Office of Science user facilities. More "COSMIC Impact: Next-Gen X-Ray Microscopy Platform Now Operational," March 21, 2018 Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest scientific challenges are best addressed by teams, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and its scientists have been recognized with 14 Nobel Prizes. Today, Berkeley Lab researchers develop sustainable energy and environmental solutions, create useful new materials, advance the frontiers of computing, and probe the mysteries of life, matter, and the universe. Scientists from around the world rely on the Lab's facilities for their own discovery science. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory, managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The federal government will no longer allocate additional COVID-19 vaccines to Manitoba because of its higher proportion of Indigenous people, who are statistically more vulnerable to serious outcomes. The federal government will no longer allocate additional COVID-19 vaccines to Manitoba because of its higher proportion of Indigenous people, who are statistically more vulnerable to serious outcomes. The provincial health minister made the announcement Wednesday. Heather Stefanson told reporters she learned Tuesday that Manitoba will be allotted its share of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines on a per capita basis as of the next quarter. "We have some serious problems with how they went about doing this and how much Manitoba is going to be getting," Stefanson said. "We didnt have an opportunity to have a say on that," she said. Under the per capita option, Manitoba would receive 832,820 doses. That compares to 960,959 doses for a per capita allocation adjusted for a large elderly and Indigenous population. "We have indicated to the federal government this has serious implications for Manitobans," said Stefanson. The province doesnt yet know how the reduced allocation will affect Manitobas vaccine rollout. NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the government should deal directly with Ottawa. "These types of debates shouldnt be carried out in public like this," Kinew told reporters. "I would hope the health minister and the premier would get on the phone with the prime minister and the federal government and get more vaccines here to Manitobans," he said. "The bickering that goes on between various levels of government does a disservice to most folks." The Town of Banff is converting wood waste into energy with support from the Government of Canada The Town of Banff is converting wood waste into energy with support from the Government of Canada Canada NewsWire OTTAWA, ON, March 1, 2021 OTTAWA, ON, March 1, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadians want cleaner air and cleaner water for their children and grandchildren. That's why the Government of Canada's strengthened climate plan is helping Canadians cut pollution in their communities, while saving on energy costs and creating good jobs across the country. Using cleaner fuels to power our vehicles and heat our homes is an important part of our plan to create a healthier future. Today, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced an investment of approximately $530,000 from the Low Carbon Economy Fund to support a project that converts municipal waste into biomass energy in Banff, Alberta. The Town of Banff will build a biomass district heating system that will see a cumulative reduction of about 6,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of this project. That is equivalent to removing approximatively 1,800 cars from the road for one year by replacing natural gas with sustainable wood waste to heat four municipal buildings. The $1.3-million biomass system reduces the need to haul waste to the landfill. The funding is also helping to increase the solar electricity capacity to the buildings. The federal funding for this investment comes from the Partnership stream of the Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Challenge, which invests in projects that reduce carbon pollution, save money, and create good jobs. Canada's strengthened climate plan is reducing emissions across the country. A key part of the plan to create a cleaner and healthier future is investing in powering our communities with clean energy. Quotes "The Government of Canada is pleased to support innovative projects that reduce emissions and create good jobs. Today's announcement highlights some of the important work Canadian municipalities, like Banff, are doing to lead the charge and build a cleaner, healthier future. It's leadership and good projects like the one announced today that will help Canada exceed its 2030 Paris Agreement target and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Story continues "Located in Canada's first national park, the Town of Banff strives to be a model environmental community. With support from Environment and Climate Change Canada for projects like our biomass district heating system, we are making great strides in our transition to a low-carbon economy. This effort will save costs for our taxpayers, while helping protect the local natural environment that makes Banff so special. Locally, this project will grow as private-sector companies join our sustainable district heating system. At the same time, with four million visitors a year to Banff National Park, we believe our small community's big actions to fight climate change can inspire individuals, organizations and countries around the world." Karen Sorensen, Mayor, Town of Banff Quick facts The Town of Banff biomass district heating system will use a high-tech boiler to burn wood and wood chips that currently go to landfill and transport heated water through an underground pipe network to each building's heat exchanger to provide heating or cooling, depending on the season. The advanced combustion chambers would produce extremely clean emissions, representing less than a single campfire. The project is intended to establish a breakthrough in Banff for biomass district heating, from which the technology can spread to other parts of the community. Cost savings and greenhouse gas reductions will grow as more buildings connect to the district heating system. The Low Carbon Economy Fund is supporting energy-efficiency projects in provinces and territories across Canada, which will help Canadians and businesses save money by lowering energy bills. Additionally, support is available for industries to put in place clean technologies that will help them be more efficient and innovative, creating jobs and savings across Canada. The Low Carbon Economy Fund is an important part of Canada's climate action plan, helping put Canada on a path to meet and exceed the Paris Agreement target for 2030. Associated links Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media HAMDEN Police arrested a teenager they said led police in pursuit in a stolen motor vehicle before losing control and crashing Wednesday afternoon. Police said the 17-year-old New Haven resident, who was not identified, has been charged with second-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle without a license. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrives in Bangladesh to review bilateral ties. the minister will meet his counterpart A.K Abdul Menon and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis expected trip to Bangladesh, S Jaishankar, Indias External Affairs Minister is going to visit Bangladesh today after receiving an official invitation from his counterpart Mr AK Abdul Menon, Bangladeshs Foreign minister. EAM will hold talks with key leaders of the country and discuss regional and international developments. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced in a statement that EAM Jaishankar will meet his counterpart and will further call on Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Haseena. EAM will review the bilateral ties between the two countries and the visit to Bangladesh follows the PMs level Virtual Summit between the two countries which was held on Dec 17th 2020, where the key focus of discussion was the opening of the Haldibari-Chilahati rail link which connected Bangladesh with the Indian state of West Bengal. During the PM Level summit in 2020, PM Sheikh Haseena had stated that India is Bangladeshs truest friend for its support to the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. PM Modi also categorised Bangladesh as an important pillar of Indias Neighbourhood policy. Both the countries had also asserted that they are strongly committed towards eliminating terrorism in all its manifestation and forms. Also Read: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to pay a visit to Bangladesh on March 26 for the countrys 50th Independence day celebration and it will be his first visit abroad in more than a year. his last trip abroad was to Brazil in November 2019 and since then there had been no official visits due to the coronavirus outbreak. India and Bangladesh had signed about 7 agreements at last year summit in areas such as hydrocarbons to agriculture and had revived a 55-year-old scrapped cross-border railway line project. Bangladesh Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen had visited India last month for foreign consultations during which India provided two million doses of the Coveshield vaccine under its Vaccine Maitri scheme. Updates Via Twitter: We did discuss it, we have a meeting of our water resources Secretaries very soon. I'm sure they will be discussing it further. I think you all know Govt of India's position, that position has not changed: EAM Dr S Jaishankar, in Dhaka, on the issue of Teesta river pic.twitter.com/jsDnmx4Nz0 ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2021 Also Read: 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. A Winnipeg man who admitted to a year-long string of bank robberies, during which he claimed he was a terrorist and threatened to detonate a bomb, has been sentenced to five years in prison. A Winnipeg man who admitted to a year-long string of bank robberies, during which he claimed he was a terrorist and threatened to detonate a bomb, has been sentenced to five years in prison. Rakesh Rakesh, 43, pleaded guilty to five such robberies committed between March 2016 and June 2017. Provincial court Judge Mary Kate Harvie rejected a Crown recommendation Rakesh be sent to prison for nine years, ruling such a sentence would be "crushing" and would not recognize the many efforts Rakesh has taken to rehabilitate himself since his 2017 arrest. After being targeted by a financial scam, Rakesh turned to gambling in an attempt to recoup his losses, but instead racked up $135,000 in losses during 171 visits to Winnipeg casinos in 2015. "The most significant motivating factor (in the bank robberies) was the gambling addiction," Harvie said, noting Rakesh participated in "any and all" rehabilitative programming available to him while in remand custody, and has continued with addiction counselling since his release on bail in July 2019. Rakesh made off with $10,000 in his first robbery, after showing a teller what he claimed was a bomb in his backpack. In his second robbery, two months later, Rakesh, who wore a fake beard and beret, handed a teller at a Royal Bank on Ellice Avenue a note demanding $20,000, claiming he was a member of the so-called Islamic State terrorist group and had a bomb. That robbery netted him just $300. It would be nearly a year before he robbed another bank. Court heard Rakesh, wearing a fake beard and turban, walked into a St. Marys Road RBC on March 9, 2017, and threatened to detonate what he claimed was a bomb under his jacket if he wasnt given $30,000. Rakesh was given $3,700 along with a dye pack, which detonated before he could flee the building. Rakesh had better luck his fourth time out, robbing an Assiniboine Credit Union of $11,000. In his last robbery, a Bank of Montreal on Regent Avenue, on June 26, 2017, Rakesh claimed he was a Syrian terrorist and had a bomb, before making off with $12,000. Police arrested Rakesh at home later that day. While the robberies were "planned and deliberate," they were also unsophisticated, Harvie said. In one robbery, he discarded pieces of his disguise at the bank, which were later found to carry his DNA. In another robbery, he fled from the bank in his own car. A bank employee noted the licence plate number and reported it to police. Rakesh immigrated to Canada from India with his wife in 2011 and is a permanent resident. He faces almost certain deportation proceedings upon the completion of his sentence. Rakesh received credit for time served, reducing his remaining jail sentence to 23 months. Harvie sentenced him to an additional three years supervised probation, during which time he is prohibited from attending casinos. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca Islamabad, Mar 4 (PTI) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday met European envoys based in Islamabad as part of the government's efforts to promote economic diplomacy. During the meeting, Qureshi told the European diplomats that the purpose of their interaction was to review Pakistan's economic engagement with European countries, identify impediments to fulfilling its true potential, and chart a way forward. He shared with the envoys the outcome of his two recent virtual meetings with Pakistani Heads of Mission in Europe. Highlighting Europe's position as Pakistans largest trading partner, Qureshi 'underscored the importance of consolidating and expanding Pakistans economic outreach with the continent.' He noted that Pakistan's bilateral trade with the EU had doubled over the past eight years. There, however, was still room to realize the full potential. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan's exports to and investments from many European countries had increased, he said. He also apprised the European envoys of the various reforms introduced by the government to improve business and investment climate which have brought an impressive improvement in Pakistan's Ease of Doing Business ranking. The meeting was attended by envoys from the EU, Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Norway, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Greece, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium and the UK. This was the second region-specific interaction focused on economic diplomacy this year. The first one was held with African Envoys in January. PTI SH ZH ZH FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a deforested plot of the Amazon near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil August 21, 2019. Picture taken August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo Indigenous people from Brazil and Colombia sued retailer Casino in a French court on Wednesday over the selling of beef linked to land grabbing and deforestation in the Amazon, campaigners involved in the lawsuit said. It is the first time a French supermarket chain has been taken to court over deforestation and the loss of land and livelihood under a 2017 law in France that demands its companies avoid human rights and environmental violations in their supply chains. Casino, which controls Brazil's largest food retailer, Grupo Pao de Acucar (GPA) and through that also Colombian retailer Almacenes Exito, said it actively fought against deforestation by cattle ranchers in Brazil and Colombia. The lawsuit alleges Casino regularly bought beef from three slaughterhouses owned by a major Brazilian meatpacker. Those slaughterhouses sourced cattle from nearly 600 suppliers responsible for at least 50,000 hectares (123,550 acres) -- an area five times the size of Paris -- of deforestation between 2008 and 2020, according to the lawsuit. "The demand for beef by Casino and Pao de Acucar brings deforestation and land grabbing and violence," Luis Eloy Terena of COIAB, a body coordinating indigenous groups in the Brazilian Amazon, said in a statement. Casino said GPA applied a rigorous policy of controlling the origin of beef delivered by its suppliers, adding Brazilian beef was not sold in its French stores. GPA told Reuters that since 2016 it had established criteria that its suppliers must comply with. They included "zero Amazon deforestation, no slave-like labour conditions, no child labour and no invasions of indigenous land or conservation areas." Ranchers must hold land ownership documents, it added. Brazil is Casino's second largest market after France. "Sustainable ranching is one of the focal points of the company's sustainability strategy," Almacenes Exito's parent company Grupo Exito said in response to questions, calling itself a pioneer in implementation of the practice in Colombian retail. Grupo Exito added that it monitors all of the more than 91,400 acres (36,990 hectares) of land used by its suppliers, built its sustainability plans in partnership with conservation NGOs and has signed zero-deforestation commitments. COMPENSATION The Amazon plays a vital role in regulating the Earth's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. An area of the Amazon rainforest the size of Israel was felled last year, campaign groups say, and cattle ranching is a leading driver of habitat loss, as population growth and the expanding middle classes of developing nations fuel the consumption of meat and dairy. Sebastian Mabile, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said Casino and its subsidiary had failed in their obligations to scrutinise their supply chains. "We want them to pay approximately 3 million euros to the organisations that represent indigenous peoples and ensure that their activities do not entail deforestation," Mabile told a news conference. Companies are under growing pressure from national legislation and campaigners to protect the Amazon. French bank BNP Paribas in February pledged to only finance companies producing beef or soybeans in Latin America that adopt a strategy of zero deforestation by 2025. In January, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse and Dutch lender ING announced they were to stop financing the trade in crude oil from Ecuador. Indigenous leaders said the banks' money made them complicit in the destruction of rainforest by Ecuador's oil industry. Plaintiffs to the lawsuit include French and U.S. campaign groups. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New York, March 4 : Learning about their health through a trusted source may help teens take better care of themselves, leading to less depressive symptoms, says a new study. The study indicated that trust played a factor in whether receiving health information improved depression. The more that adolescents trusted their parents or teacher as a credible source of health information, the more likely they were to experience less depression. Additionally, even though adolescents reported that they trusted traditional media -- like TV, radio and newspapers -- more than online content, only content from social media or websites resulted in actual changes in behaviour. "This study was actually inspired by my students, after several of them came to me really stressed out," said researcher Bu Zhong from the Pennsylvania State University. For the study, published in the journal Child: Care, Health and Development, the team recruited 310 adolescents from elementary, middle and high schools. Participants answered information about health information -- such as seminars, classes, pamphlets and other media -- they recently consumed, including its quality and whether the source and information were credible. They also answered questions about their health, including their symptoms of depression and whether consuming health information led to changes in their behaviour, such as whether they felt it helped them prevent disease and if it increased their likelihood to discuss and share health information with friends. The researchers found that the older participants were, the more likely they were to be depressed. Additionally, participants with higher GPAs were also more likely to be depressed. The researcher said this could be because the longer students were in school, and the better their grades were, the more likely they were more likely to feel more pressure to succeed. However, the more frequently participants used social media, the more likely they were to change their health behaviours, which led to less depression. Overall, the researchers said the results suggest that health information has the potential to be strategically used to help mitigate depression in teens and adolescents. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 06:31:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LISBON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Portugal announced on Thursday that it will invest 156 million euros (188 million U.S. dollars) until 2030 in a "national strategy" for preventive civil protection against fires in forests, woods, and biodiverse pastures. The investments are foreseen in the "National Action Program of the Integrated Management Plan for Rural Fires," which was approved at the Portuguese Council of Ministers. The project includes five strategic objectives including measures of "knowledge, management, and risk reduction" as well as "mechanisms for better preparation of citizens and the system for occurrences." "This is a path that involves government areas in close connection with local authorities and farmers to preparing both for mitigation and response in the event of a rural fire," said Minister of Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita. According to him, one of the investments will be the acquisition of 14 more aerial vehicles to fight rural fires by 2026, including helicopters and amphibious planes. Cabrita explained at a press conference that the investments will be financed with European funds. In 2020, Portugal registered the second-largest area affected by forest fires in the European Union, with at least 61,000 hectares burned, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. Enditem Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Mostly cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 79F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. The hoax call has been traced to Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, another officer said "Nothing suspicious has been found and the checks are almost done," a senior CISF officer said in Delhi. (AFP File Photo) New Delhi/Agra: The Taj Mahal complex in Agra was vacated on Thursday morning following a hoax bomb call, officials said. They said an unidentified person called the 112 emergency response number of the Uttar Pradesh police at around 9 am and claimed that a bomb was kept inside the monument that is conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and protected by armed personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The Uttar Pradesh police immediately informed the CISF personnel, who asked the visitors to vacate the premises of the iconic 17th-century monument and launched anti-sabotage checks around 9:15 am. "Nothing suspicious has been found and the checks are almost done," a senior CISF officer said in Delhi. The hoax call has been traced to Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, another officer said. (Newser) Law enforcement in Tennessee are celebrating a major accomplishment: the recovery of 150 missing children. Operation Volunteer Stronga collaboration between the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, US Marshals Service, and Tennessee Department of Children's Serviceslaunched Jan. 4 with the goal to find 240 missing children across the state. The results were "miraculous," Rep. Tim Burchett tells WVLT. In all, 150 children were found "during two-week blitzes in each of Tennessee's three grand regions," the TBI said in a Wednesday release, per the Nashville Tennesseean. Eight children were recovered out of state. One child was rescued during an active kidnapping attempt, while five others are suspected victims of human trafficking, per Fox News. Most will now receive DCS support, including possible placement into foster homes, per the release. story continues below John Clark, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which assisted the operation, says it's "a great example of how working together, we can find missing children and get them the help they need to move forward." In October, Virginia's Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen said more than 440 children had been taken "out of harm's way" in similar operations in 2020. That included the recovery of 70 children across Ohio and 39 children in Georgia. TBI Director David Rausch notes hundreds of children go missing in Tennessee each month. But this should "serve notice to those who prey on society's most vulnerable that these children are not forgotten," Tyreece Miller, US Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, said Wednesday. "Investigations will continue and the next knock at the door could be for you." (Read more missing child stories.) Bhopal, March 4 : Toote hue sapnon ki kaun sune siski (Who would listen to the sobbing of broken dreams?). This line by former prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee may well apply to the people of Bundelkhand and the water crisis in the region. This is because the people are shown dreams of solutions to the water crisis but the dreams eventually shatter every year. Bundelkhand faces an acute water crisis every year. In large parts of the region, people have to buy water and drink it. This time, too, almost the same situation is being created since most sources of water have dried up and hand pumps have stopped producing water. The 14 districts of Bundelkhand spread over Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are united by one common crisis: shortage of water. That is why thousands of families are forced to flee the region. There were about 10,000 ponds in the area earlier. There are innumerable wells commissioned in the times of Chandel and Bundela kings, but now a large number of these wells as well as ponds have dried up. Yes, there are claims about developing new ponds and water structures every year, but the water crisis remains intact. "There are so many water sources in Bundelkhand that there should not be a water crisis, but these water sources have all been destroyed over the years," says Dhiraj Chaturvedi, a journalist who raised his voice against encroachment on Bundelkhand's ponds. "The land mafia in nexus with the administration, worked towards manipulating land documents so that ponds were converted into plots of land," alleges Chaturvedi. He further says, "Bundelkhand has become a milch cow for some people. As soon as the heat begins, the conservation of ponds starts, budgets are sanctioned. During the rains ponds fill up with rainwater and people are still kept hunting for long-term solutions. All this can happen because of the nexus between the administration, the officers and certain social workers. " A social worker says, "As soon as the heat comes, the picture and fortune of the region are heard from all sides, the locals feel that their water problem will be eliminated, but the story and promises are repeated but never fulfilled. " Past experience shows that whether it is Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh, a large number of ponds in Bundelkhand have been constructed with funds from the government. Campaigns have been launched saying 'Save the ponds, save water.' Not just that, the ponds were also beautified. But their beauty vanishes in the summer months every year. After the month of March, ponds turn into large barren tracts of land. It sealed what Churchill would call the 'special relationship' between two powers he visit by leading American codebreakers to Bletchley was cloaked in secrecy Commander was working with Alan Turing to crack German Enigma code in 1941 A spy chiefs diary has revealed the secret help the US gave Britains codebreakers early in the Second World War. With the simple entry The Ys [Yanks] are coming, Commander Alastair Denniston, first head of the Government Code and Cypher School, which would become GCHQ, recorded the first visit of American cryptographers to Bletchley Park. At the time, February 10, 1941, Denniston was working there with Alan Turing to crack the German Enigma code. The visit by leading US codebreakers to Bletchley was cloaked in secrecy the US would not enter the war until December that year. It also sealed what Winston Churchill would call the special relationship between the two powers. Spy boss: Commander Alastair Denniston (pictured above), first head of the Government Code and Cypher School, who recorded the first visit of American cryptographers to Bletchley Park Hollywood version: Keira Knightley, Matthew Beard, Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch and Allen Leech (pictured from left to right) in The Imitation Game Having survived a treacherous Atlantic crossing, the Americans arrived late at night at the Buckinghamshire spy HQ. Denniston told his assistant Barbara Abernethy: There are going to be four Americans coming to see me at 12 oclock tonight. I require you to come in with the sherry. You are not to tell anybody who they are or what they will be doing. His guests were shown Turings ground-breaking invention, the Bombe machine, which was used to decipher Enigma. Denniston features in the film The Imitation Game, about the race to decode Enigma. He is played by Charles Dance, with Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing. His diary, seen today for the first time, also records Dennistons visit to the US accompanied by another celebrated codebreaker, Joan Clarke. Miss Clarke, played in the film by Keira Knightley, was then engaged to Turing, apparently unfazed by his admission of homosexuality, which was illegal at the time. Revealed: The private diary of Commander Dennison, pictured in a handout photo issued by GCHQ, which tells of intelligence meetings that took place with US counterparts during WWII Vital role: One of the Hut 3 priority teams at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, in which civilian and service personnel worked together at code-breaking Denniston features in the film The Imitation Game, about the race to decode Enigma. He is played by Charles Dance (pictured above, in the film), with Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing However Turing later decided he could not go through with the marriage. Dennistons family objected to the way the spy chief was portrayed in The Imitation Game, suggesting it showed him as a hectoring character who hindered Turings work, and ignoring the contribution he made. His diary has been released to mark the 75th anniversary of a 1946 UK-US pact to share intelligence. In a statement, GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming and US National Security Agency chief General Paul Nakasone said: This alliance... has helped protect our countries and allies for decades. [It] is built on a history of strong shared values. Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. John MacArthur: I wouldnt fight for religious freedom because I wont fight for idolatry Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment While studies show most Americans support religious freedom as a core component of American cultural values, Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, said he doesnt support it because it allows idolatry. During his State of the Church address Wednesday, which replaced his Shepherds Conference for men in church leadership that was postponed due to ongoing litigation" and "threats" from the state, MacArthur urged evangelicals to stop forming alliances with non-Christian groups to promote religious freedom because they dont need it. The Gospel offends the sinner and seeks to break the sinners comfort and contentment by bringing him into stark realization of the eternal judgement of God. Evangelicals have become like Peter. They are looking for alliances with Satan that they think somehow can aid the Kingdom, MacArthur said. I told our congregation a few weeks ago that I could never really concern myself with religious freedom. I wouldnt fight for religious freedom because I wont fight for idolatry. Why would I fight for the devil to have as many false religions as possible and all of them to be available to everyone? he asked. The megachurch leader, who has famously challenged local government and state officials over the right of his congregation to have in-person services during the coronavirus pandemic, noted that even with religious freedom Christians have continued to be the target of the hostility of sinners. Well, people would say thats a terrible thing to say. What about Christianity? Christianity advances whether there is religious freedom or not. And therell always be religious freedom for all the lies. Every false religion is going to be free because its linked to the kingdom of darkness that operates in the world. And Christians, whatever the label of religious freedom might be in its broadest sense, Christians are always the target even with religious freedom, of the hostility of sinners, MacArthur said. The Apostles turned the world upside down with no help from it. No social action. No alliances. The evil kingdom of darkness hates what God loves and loves everything that God hates, and the kingdom of darkness is never a friend to the light, he continued. Even rulers have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. They function under the liar Satan himself who [is] the liar and father of lies. There is absolutely no reason for us to make any alliance with him, he said. To support his argument, MacArthur cited several Scriptures which he said spells out the Churchs mandate, including Ephesians 5: 5-8. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy personsuch a person is an idolaterhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things Gods wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, the NIV version of the Scripture says. Do not be partakers with them, he said, repeating verse 7. You have no alliance with the kingdom of darkness. A 2019 study from the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions, showed that a majority of Americans strongly support religious freedom even if the views expressed are deemed discriminatory. The data highlighted in Beckets inaugural Religious Freedom Index: American Perspectives on the First Amendment show that a majority of Americans support freedom to practice ones religion at work or in life even if it creates an imposition or inconvenience for others. The central finding from this first years Index is that broad public support for religious freedom has survived the culture wars. After years of religious freedom being pushed to the center of polarizing debates, rather than reveal a partisan 50-50 split, at 67[%], the Index scored in the upper third on the scale of favorability toward robust religious freedom protections, Becket said in an announcement to The Christian Post at the time. Across dimensions, we saw public support well above 70 percent on many issues, indicating that the concept of religious freedom maintains its place as a core component of American cultural values. The study also found evidence for a preference for a hands-off government approach and support for a culture of accommodation of religious beliefs and practices, the nonprofit noted. And despite challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the second and most recent Religious Freedom Index: American Perspectives on the First Amendment found that a majority of Americans, more than 60%, said religious freedom remained important. While much changed in 2020, religious freedom continues to garner support across demographics through each of the Indexs six dimensions, as reflected by this years composite score of 66 on a 100 point scale, researchers said. Our findings present a picture of Americans relying on religion and religious freedom to deal with the challenges of 2020, both reactively and proactively. The project is to build, own, and operate a 745 MW (net output: 718 MW) natural gas combined-cycle power project in Meghnaghat, Narayanganj, located approximately 40 km southeast of Dhaka. Reliance Power and Japan's JERA Co. Inc., through their joint venture project company, are developing a new gas-fired power generation project in Bangladesh. The project company has achieved financial closure for the project with a group of lenders that includes Japan Bank for International Cooperation & Asian Development Bank and all requisite conditions for availing drawdown under the loan agreements have been satisfied. The project is to build, own, and operate a 745 MW (net output: 718 MW) natural gas combined-cycle power project in Meghnaghat, Narayanganj, located approximately 40 km southeast of Dhaka (the Project / Phase 1). Reliance Power's wholly owned subsidiary Samalkot Power has received the approval from the Export Import Bank of the United States (US Exim Bank) to sell one module of equipment (Module 1) to Samsung C&T Corporation of South Korea, who is the EPC contractor for the project, for about Rs 1540 crore. Notice to proceed has been issued by the project company to Samsung C&T, who in turn has issued the notice to proceed to Samalkot Power for supply of equipment. Samalkot Power will supply one module of equipment procured from internationally reputed original equipment manufacturers to the Phase 1 project in Bangladesh. Reliance Power's networth is Rs 12,063 crore and debt to equity ratio is 2.24:1, which is among the lowest in the industry (31 December 2020). Reliance Power said it will achieve a total debt reduction of upto Rs 3,000 crore by March 2021. Reliance Power is a power generation and coal resources company. Shares of Reliance Power hit an upper circuit of 5% at Rs 4.50 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 71st Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Tuesday. His speech may include the achievements his government in the last three years and further prospects. It is also expected that PM Modi will talk about the Goods and Services Tax and the benefits the country will get from its implementation in the future. This time PM Modi's speech will be smaller than before. Apart from this, he may also talk about the situation in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and eastern India, and the efforts being made by the central government to resolve such issues. Terrorism and Kashmir issue PM Modi can speak on terrorism and related issues as in recent times, it is seen that terrorists are being killed by Indian security personnel in many areas of Kashmir. This is a great achievement from India's point of view and at the same time, the Zero Tolerance policy has always been adopted by the central government against terrorism. ALSO READ | 70 years of Independence: Young turks who can rule Indian politics Demonetisation The opposition parties have always targeted the central government over its demonetisation move. Recently, the Congress party had come up with two different sizes of Rs 500 notes in the Lok Sabha, terming it to be the biggest scam of the century. Hence, it is expected that the PM may also speak on this issue. Swachh Bharat Campaign Swachh Bharat Campaign is PM Modis one of the top most agendas. He may talk about the governments efforts to clean India in the last three years and the future prospects related to the campaign. Pakistan and China issue PM Modi may also speak on Indias relations with the two neighbouring countries. Indias ongoing tussle with China over Doklam issue and terrorism coming from Pakistans side are the two important issues that the country is facing right now. Gorakhpur Medical College More than 60 children died due to lack of oxygen in the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in Gorakhpur on Friday. Till now, the Prime Minister has not discussed this issue on any forum. The Opposition parties are also targeting him and his silence on the issue. Hence, there is a lot of possibility that he could speak on this issue. Watch | 70 years of Independence: Indian and Pakistani artists sing National Anthems For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. China has approved the sale of three traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) drugs through a special approval procedure, offering more options for COVID-19 treatment, according to the National Medical Products Administration. The three medicines, namely Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying granules, Dampness Resolving and Detoxifying granules and Lung Diffusing and Detoxifying granules, all originate from ancient classic TCM prescriptions. They are based on three TCM preparations that have proven effective in treating COVID-19 patients in central China's Wuhan last year. Late in the afternoon of Oct. 16, 1913, just as the sun began to set over the New York state Capitol Building in Albany, the High Court of Impeachment gathered to decide the fate of then-Gov. William Sulzer. After a 21-day trial featuring hundreds of hours of testimony, the clerk read each article and presiding judge, Edgar M. Cullen, Chief Justice of the New York Court of Appeals, asked the jury, composed of the state Senate and the justices of the New York Court of Appeals, How say you, is the respondent guilty or not guilty? Just 11 months earlier, Sulzer had been elected governor in a landslide, putting Democrats in control of both chambers of the Legislature. With everyone from Republican elected officials to Democratic state legislators and members of Congress calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be impeached over his handling of nursing homes in the COVID-19 pandemic and recent allegations of sexual harassment from two former employees, it is useful to look back at the only impeachment of a governor in New Yorks colorful and interesting history. The roots of Sulzers impeachment began in 1912, an extraordinary year in politics. President William Howard Taft was running against his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt. In Roosevelts home state of New York, the Progressive Party nominated Oscar Straus, TRs former secretary of Commerce and Labor. Republicans nominated a corporate lawyer, Job E. Hedges. What would the Democrats do? As I describe him in my book, Bitten By the Tiger: Sulzer was a tall man with sandy-colored hair, whose lanky frame and controlled movements gave him the air of a trained athlete. He dominated rooms with an intense gaze and his piercing blue eyes. Sulzers eyes led constituents to believe in his deep sincerity, but they could also flash with anger and turn into cold hard steel, intimidating opponents. Sulzer had gone from the Tammany Hall political clubhouse in Manhattan to Assembly Member (and one-term Assembly Speaker) to member of Congress. In Albany, he played a role in ending imprisonment for debt, creating a prevailing wage regulation, abolishing corporal punishment in prisons, establishing the New York City Public Library, and, ironically, for the punishment of corrupt election practices. In Washington, D.C. he authored 25 bills that became law. Some were symbolic: acts to raise the battleship Maine and light the Statue of Libertys torch. Other legislation was more substantial: raising the pay of letter carriers, creating postal savings banks, creating the Bureau of Corporations (important in enforcing antitrust laws) and creating the U.S. Department of Labor. He was inaugurated as New Yorks 39th governor on Jan. 1, 1913. Instead of the customary military procession, Plain Bill walked alone from the Executive Mansion to the Capitol. Shouts of hurrah! echoed as the crowd grew frenzied. Yet Sulzers ambition, like many New York governors before and after, was to be president. He had watched as Woodrow Wilson had blazed a trail to the White House, in large part on his record as a reformer, specifically one who took on New Jerseys corrupt political machines. New Yorks political machines were alive and well in New York in 1913. The most powerful was Tammany Hall and its boss, Silent Charles Francis Murphy. As soon as he was inaugurated, Sulzer declared his independence from Boss Murphy, cutting off patronage appointments and freezing out Tammany Hall. It was not all good government: Sulzer began filling patronage positions with men who would be loyal to him personally. More than just trying to defang Tammany, the governor was building a Sulzer Machine. One of the biggest points of contention was control of the state highways. At stake was the sum of $50 million, approved as a bond issue the previous year. It was a staggering sum in 1913 and enough to make some people very rich, especially Charlie Murphy, a silent partner in a highway contracting company. Of course, the fight was not all one sided. Tammany was able to fight back. Before adjourning, the Legislature had created a committee to investigate the various State departments. The Frawley Committee, as it came to be called, conducted private and public hearings. Their immediate focus was Sulzers 1912 campaign committee. New Yorks Corrupt Practices Act provided that all candidates for statewide offices had to sign a sworn statement detailing their campaign contributions and spending. Through six weeks of hearings, the Frawley Committee heard damaging testimony showing that the governors signed statement was false, that Sulzer had raised significantly more money than he had reported, and that he had used that money to speculate on the stock market under various secret trading accounts. A crowd eight-deep gathered on a hot, sweaty August night when the Assembly convened a few minutes after 10:00 PM to consider the Frawley report. The floor of the Legislature was a battleground: the vote was 79 in favor three more than necessary for impeachment with seven GOP members voting with 72 Democrats to impeach. There were 45 votes against impeachment, including Republicans who saw this as an intramural fight and did not want to be drawn in and the four Progressive members who supported Sulzers reforms. William Sulzer, governor of New York, had been impeached for willful and corrupt conduct in office, and high crimes and misdemeanors. The eight articles of impeachment were expansive, but the three key counts charged Sulzer with making and filing a false statement on his campaign accounts, perjury in verifying this statement, and suppressing evidence by threats. The High Court of Impeachment then tried the governor, per the state constitution. A stream of witnesses testified, revealing manycampaigncontributions from bankers, liquor dealers, brewers, and politicians had not been reported on Sulzers 1912 campaign finance report.There were political reasons for Sulzer, who presented himself as a man of the people to conceal these contributions. Thirty-nine donors testified. Only four had been reported. They also detailed tens of thousands of dollars in unreported checks and cash. As one of the impeachmentmanagers noted, I concede that the failure to report one contribution might be an accident; the failure to report two contributions might be a coincidence; the failure to report a hundred is a crime. The biggest surprise of the trial was not whathappened in the court but what did not happen: Sulzer never showed up, nor did he attempt to tell his side of the story, at least under oath. His silence allowed public opinion to shift against him, and he was found guilty by a two-thirds vote on the three main charges. A further vote of 43 to 14 removed him from office that day. Significantly, some of the judges and several Republican senators declined to vote to prevent Sulzer from holding office in the future. Later in 1913, he would win a race for Assembly and return to Albany but that triumph was short-lived and he soon faded from the political scene. Underlying the trial was the crime for which Sulzer was really punished: disloyalty to Tammany Hall. If one of the most important skills in politics is the ability to count votes, Sulzer seemed too late to understand the threat majorities in both houses of the Legislature loyal to Charlie Murphy posed to Sulzers success as governor and, in fact, to his career. Anyone with Sulzers experience in politics and knowledge of the Tammany organization should have known that Boss Murphy would not perhaps could not let Sulzer destroy his organization without a fight. And fight they did. Faced with Sulzers threat to Tammany Halls political power, the machine responded with the most powerful political weapon at its disposal: impeachment. The cry of impeachment has been heard often in the recent past: both former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi and ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned before the Legislature summoned the will to determine their fates. This week, impeachment has begun echoing through the Capitol, growing louder the last couple of days. What will the Legislature do? Heres hoping a glimpse of the past helps inform the future. The UN special envoy for said the generals who have seized power in the Southeast Asian nation indicated they don't fear renewed sanctions, though they are very surprised that their plans to restore military rule without much opposition isn't working. Christine Schraner Burgener told U.N. correspondents on Wednesday that after the February 1 military that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government from power she warned Myanmar's army that the world's nations and the U.N. Security Council might take huge strong measures. And the answer was, We are used to sanctions and we survived those sanctions in the past,' the U.N. envoy said. When she also warned the army that would become isolated, Schraner Burgener said, the answer was, We have to learn to walk with only a few friends.' The reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to isolation and sanctions. As the generals loosened their grip, culminating in Suu Kyi's rise to power after 2015 elections, the community responded by lifting most sanctions and pouring investment into the country. Schraner Burgener noted that opposition to the was being spearheaded by young people who lived in freedom for 10 years, noting they are well organized and very determined they don't want to go back into dictatorship and isolation. She was speaking by video link from Bern, Switzerland, on what she called the bloodiest day since the coup. Schraner Burgener urged a united community to take the right measures, stressing that Security Council sanctions that must be implemented by every country would be more powerful than sanctions by individual countries. The council has scheduled closed consultations for Friday on calls to reverse the coup including from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the escalating military crackdown, which Schraner Burgener said killed 38 people on Wednesday alone. Schraner Burgener said she receives about 2,000 messages a day from people in Myanmar, many desperate to see an international response. She said she also speaks every day with representatives of the ousted Parliament and has spoken several times with the armed forces deputy commander-in-chief, Soe Win, most recently on February 15. Schraner Burgener said the deputy commander explained in their first phone call on February 4 that the new State Administration Council the name for the new ruling junta is charged with implementing a five-step military roadmap. That roadmap, which the junta has also published in state-run media in Myanmar, includes reconstituting the electoral commission, which rejected the military's allegations of fraud in a November election where Suu Kyi's party won 82% of the vote. She said that has already been done. It aims for a national cease-fire agreement with all 21 ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, which Schraner Burgener said is going to be difficult as 10 have already taken a strong stand against the coup. It also aims at stamping out COVID-19 and recovering business activity. It's final task is holding new elections in a year. Schraner Burgener said in her view the military's tactic was to investigate members and leaders of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, prove they committed crimes like election fraud, treason or working with foreigners, and put them in prison. And then the NLD will be banned and then they will have new elections where they want to win, and then they can continue to stay in power, she said. The army had told me the plan to threaten the people, to make arrests and then the majority of the people would go home because they have fear, Schraner Burgener said. Then the military have the control back again, and people will get used to the situation and go back to business as usual. She said the army is surprised by the opposition, which has been led by young people. I think that the army is very surprised that it doesn't work because in the past, in 1988 and 2007 and 2008, it worked, she said, noting the years of previous violent military crackdowns on uprisings against its rule. She has an office in the capital, Naypyitaw, and has been asking to return since the coup on condition she can talk to the military leaders and see representatives of the ousted parliamentarians and Suu Kyi and ousted President Win Myint, who are among some 1,200 people she says are detained. I really hope to visit as quickly as possible, she said. I don't have the solution on the silver plate, but I have some ideas which I would like to discuss. Schraner Burgener didn't disclose the ideas. She said the military has told her the time isn't right yet for a visit. She asked if she could visit if she lifted her conditions and said she was told it wouldn't make a difference. During her three years as the U.N. special envoy, Schraner Burgener said she always warned the Security Council and the General Assembly that a coup could happen because she knew the structure of the government that the military had the power. Under Myanmar's constitution, drafted under military rule, the army maintained control of many key ministries surrounding defense and security and also was guaranteed enough seats in Parliament to override any changes to the charter. I always felt she was on a tightrope dealing with the army, Schraner Burgener said of Suu Kyi. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The White House warned that the US may consider a military response to the rocket attack on Wednesday that hit an air base in western where American and coalition troops are housed, raising concerns this could trigger a new round of escalating violence. A US contractor died after at least 10 rockets slammed into the base. And while no group claimed responsibility, it was the first strike since the US bombed Iran-aligned militia targets along the Iraq-Syria border last week. Heightened tensions with Iranian-backed militia groups in could lead to more attacks, complicating the Biden administration's desire to open talks with Iran over the 2015 nuclear deal, as well as the ongoing US strategy to focus more attention on Asia. Asked about the attack, President told reporters, We are following that through right now." He added, Thank God, no one was killed by the rocket, but one individual, a contractor, died of a heart attack. But we're identifying who's responsible and we'll make judgments about a response. White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggested that the calculated US airstrikes last week could be a model for a military response. Those strikes were in response to an attack on American forces in northern earlier in February. If we assess further response is warranted, we will take action again in a manner and time of our choosing, Psaki said. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said the US contractor suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering from the attack and died shortly afterward. He said there were no service members injured and all are accounted for. British and Danish troops also are among those stationed at the base. The US airstrikes last week, which killed one member of the Iran-aligned militia, had stoked fears of another cycle of tit-for-tat attacks as happened more than a year ago. Those attacks included the US drone strike in January 2020 that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani in Baghdad and set off months of increased troops levels in the region. The latest attack also comes two days before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Iraq despite concerns about security and the coronavirus pandemic. The much-anticipated trip will include stops in Baghdad, southern Iraq and the northern city of Irbil. The rockets struck Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province early in the morning, US-led coalition spokesperson Col. Wayne Marotto said. Kirby said the rockets were fired from east of the base, and that counter-rocket defensive systems were used to defend forces at the base. He added that while 10 rockets hit the base, he didn't have information on what, if any, impact the defensive systems had in stopping any strikes. He said damage assessments were ongoing. Asked if the attack may have come from Iranian-backed Shia militia groups, Kirby said the US can't attribute responsibility for the attack yet. He acknowledged, however, during a Pentagon briefing, that we have seen rocket attacks come from Shia-backed militia groups in the past. So in that way, certainly it certainly coincides with our past experience here. It's the same base that Iran struck with a barrage of missiles in January of last year in retaliation for the killing of Soleimani. Dozens of US service members suffered concussions in that strike. The Iraqi military released a statement saying that Wednesday's attack did not cause significant losses and that security forces had found the launch pad used for the rockets a truck. Video of the site shows a burning truck in a desert area. British Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Hickey condemned the attack, saying it undermined the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group. Coalition forces are in Iraq to fight Daesh at the invitation of the Iraqi government, he tweeted, using the Arabic acronym for IS. These terrorist attacks undermine the fight against Daesh and destabilize Iraq. Denmark said coalition forces at the base were helping to bring stability and security to the country. Despicable attacks against Ain al-Asad base in #Iraq are completely unacceptable," Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod tweeted. The Danish armed forces said two Danes who were at the base at the time of the attack are unharmed. Last week's US strike along the border was in response to a spate of rocket attacks that targeted the American presence, including one that killed a coalition contractor from the Philippines outside the Irbil airport. After that attack, the Pentagon said the strike was a proportionate military response. Marotto, the coalition spokesperson, said the Iraqi security forces were leading an investigation into the attack. Frequent rocket attacks in Baghdad targeting the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the US Embassy, during Donald Trump's presidency frustrated the administration, leading to threats of embassy closure and escalatory strikes. Those attacks have increased again in recent weeks, since President took office, following a lull during the transition period. US troops in Iraq significantly decreased their presence in the country last year and withdrew from several Iraqi bases to consolidate chiefly in Ain al-Asad, Baghdad and Irbil. (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.) SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, MI -- St. Joseph Mercy is being recognized as a top healthcare system in the nation. Newsweeks 2021 list of the Worlds Best Hospitals named both St. Joseph Mercys Ann Arbor and Chelsea locations as top hospitals. This marks the second year in a row the Chelsea hospital has been recognized with the award, according to a news release. To be recognized again this year as one of the worlds best reinforces the pride we all have in our hospital and our ability to deliver high-quality care to local communities, Nancy Graebner, St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea president, said in a statement. Here in Chelsea, our patients love the calming, personalized feel of our small-town community hospital, but they also recognize and appreciate that the medical care and services they receive are second to none. Hospitals were ranked based on: Hospital recommendations from peers based on an international online survey, which included more than 74,000 doctors, hospital managers and health care professionals. Patient experience surveys measuring patient satisfaction with hospitals. Patient safety, hygiene measures and quality of treatment. This recognition is the result of the collective effort of all our nurses, physicians, advanced practice providers, clinical support staff and administrators, Alonzo Lewis, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston president, said in a statement. Its humbling to work alongside this dedicated group of men and women and to help deliver world-class care to our community. Michigan Medicine was also listed in Newsweeks top 200 Global hospitals. Newsweeks competition recognizes the top medical institutions in 25 countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Israel, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Thailand, Italy, Brazil, India, Spain, Mexico, Poland, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands, according to a news release. Downtown Ann Arbor music store pursues liquor license for bar, entertainment use 63-year-old driver killed in rollover crash in Washtenaw County 33-year-old critically injured in crash on U.S. 23 in Monroe County Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. COVID-19 imapct & Outbreak: on new Hot Runner Controller Market Report, offering growth, trends, and forecast for each segment along with regional and country analysis. The study has done with respect to Moisture Meter market share, size, trends, growth, outlook, estimation and forecast period 2021-2027. This section of the hot runner controller market report provides detailed data on the segments by analyzing them geographically, thereby assisting the strategist in identifying the target demographics for the respective product or service. Request a FREE Sample Copy of Global Hot Runner Controller Market Report with Full TOC At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/contact/hot-runner-controller-market/download-sample By Type Hot Runner Temperature Controller Hot Runner Sequence Timer Controller By Application Open Gate Hot Runner System Valve Gate Hot Runner System Browse Full Global Hot Runner Controller Market Research Report With TOC At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/report/hot-runner-controller-market The research report also covers the comprehensive profiles of the key players in the market and an in-depth view of the competitive landscape worldwide. The major players in the hot runner controller market include Yudo Group, HRS-Flow (INglass Spa), Milacron, Husky, Incoe, Barnes Group (Synventive), Gunther, Seiki Corporation, Gammaflux, EWIKON, Suzhou HTS Moulding, Shanghai SURE Hot Runner Electrical, Shanghai ANRY Mold, Hasco, Meusburger (PSG), Hotsys, Misumi (PCS Company), Mastip Technology S. This section includes a holistic view of the competitive landscape that includes various strategic developments such as key mergers & acquisitions, future capacities, partnerships, financial overviews, collaborations, new product developments, new product launches, and other developments. This section covers regional segmentation which accentuates on current and future demand for hot runner controller market across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Further, the report focuses on demand for individual application segment across all the prominent regions. Purchase complete Global Hot Runner Controller Market Research Report At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/contact/hot-runner-controller-market/buy-now About Us: Value Market Research was established with the vision to ease decision making and empower the strategists by providing them with holistic market information. We facilitate clients with syndicate research reports and customized research reports on 25+ industries with global as well as regional coverage. Contact: Value Market Research 401/402, TFM, Nagras Road, Aundh, Pune-7. Maharashtra, INDIA. Tel: +1-888-294-1147 Email: sales@valuemarketresearch.com Website: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com The Lagos State government has formally sealed a Joint Venture Agreement with CIG Motors Limited for the establishment of a vehicle assembly plant in the state. Establishment of the vehicle assembly plant in Lagos was part of the bilateral agreements reached by the state government and Chinese Investors Community when the governor visited the Asian country in November, 2019. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the establishment of the plant was in furtherance of his administrations economic growth blueprint, stressing that the Joint Venture Agreement would revive industrialisation, drive up skilled youth employment, and create wealth, boost tourism, and encourage technology sharing, adaptation, and advancement. As we formally sign the Joint Venture Agreement for the establishment of Motor Assembly Plant, Lagosians should expect a roll-out of vehicles from this plant within the next 18 months, the governor said. I urge other stakeholders and private investors to collaborate with us to sustain the scheme. We have the political and administrative will to ensure business survives in Lagos. The governor also unveiled a new e-hailing taxi scheme, Lagos Ride with pilot fleet of 1,000 units of brand new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). IBILE Holdings Limited, a state-owned corporation, will be driving the two investment agreements on behalf of the Lagos State Government. Mr Sanwo-Olu said the new ride-hailing taxi was a social intervention programme initiated with an objective to create jobs and economic opportunities for residents of the State. He said the Lagos Ride scheme was in fulfilment of his administrations desire to give residents a better choice in road transportation by offering a safe, efficient and modern cab model in line with policy thrust of his Governments T.H.E.M.E.S agenda. The governor said the taxi scheme, which is expected to fully take-off in the next six months, had been structured along a profitability model and designed to be self-sustaining for expansion and growth. I am elated to unveil the Lagos State Taxi Scheme, which is another innovative policy of this administration targeted at making life easier for Lagosians, improving mobility and creating a seamless multi-modal transportation system, said Mr Sanwo-Olu. The scheme, which is to be known as Lagos Ride, is in fulfilment of our desire to give Lagos residents better transportation choices. The modern ride-hailing service is one of the State Governments socio-economic intervention programmes, which will be professionally managed in line with global best practices Our social intervention programmes are tailored towards the eradication of poverty, provision of jobs and other employment opportunities as well as the provision of basic necessities, that make good governance our peoples reality. A major attribute of a modern megacity is a world-class transportation system with inter-connected services and mobility choices for the citizens. The task of bequeathing a safe, efficient, quick, and modern public transportation system is a key thrust of our administrations development agenda. We are guided by the need for an equitable transportation system with mobility choices for our people. Under the taxi scheme, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the Cooperative Society in the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment would give operators brand new SUVs for a period of four years, during which they would pay a monthly installment. At the end of the credit tenure, the operators will have the opportunity to fully own the cars. The governor said the scheme would offer operators flexible repayment plan and affordable savings for vehicles maintenance. The Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladehinde, said the e-hailing taxi scheme was initiated, following the approval of IBILE Holding Limiteds proposal in the August 31, 2020 States Executive Council meeting. He said the Assembly Plant and the taxi scheme would boost socio-economic activities and support the development of ancillary enterprises in transportation sector. ADVERTISEMENT The Chair of CIG Motors Company Limited, Diana Chen, pledged the full commitment of the automobile firm to the agreement. Ms Chen, who is also the Vice Chair of China-Africa Business Council (CABC), disclosed that the automobile firm would sponsor 50 students for a two-year engineering training in a vocational school in China to strengthen its partnership with the Lagos Government. She said: My teams are ready to work with 100 percent effort to build GAC MOTORS in Nigeria in the highest level of a brand. This international Joint Venture Project will soon bloom up in the Chinese business communities both in Nigeria and China. I assure you that we will use this partnership as a best example tointroduce and promote a Greater Lagos where greater opportunities abound. The highpoint of the event was the signing of the partnership agreements by the Managing Director of IBILE Holding Limited, Abiodun Amokomowo, and the Vice Chair of CIG Motors Company Limited, Linus Idahosa, in the presence of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and Lagos Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo. Amazon .com Inc. is opening a cashierless convenience store in the U.K., the first expansion of the companys automated checkout technology outside the U.S. The Seattle company said it will debut a 2,500-square foot Amazon Fresh-branded store in London on Thursday. The store, like its U.S. counterparts, will use an array of cameras and other sensors to track shoppers as they pull items off the shelves, and charges a credit card on file after they exit. The stores represent the retail and technology giants biggest effort to reshape physical retailing. Amazon is also offering to license the system, which it calls Just Walk Out technology, to other companies. Also Read | Why Das should heed Buffett on bond yields The shop, in the Ealing area of London, is the companys first physical store outside the U.S. Amazon has opened 26 cashierless convenience stores under the Amazon Go brand in its home country, and two larger versions called Go Grocery, according to its website. An Amazon spokesperson said there were no plans to change the branding of the U.S. stores. The company also operates a new line of U.S. grocery stores with conventional checkout lines called Amazon Fresh. As part of the launch, the company also introduced a new private label food brand in the U.K., called by Amazon," to be sold in the store. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Opinion Article 4 March 2021 I recently made the decision to relocate back to my old stomping grounds of Connecticut and begin looking for a new career opportunity. I'd had a great run working at an ultra-luxury resort in Utah, where I was responsible for creating memorable experiences, inspiring strong guest and employee relationships, and collaborating with other guest experience leaders. I'm now in the process of planning my next great move. In the meantime, relocating gave me the opportunity to see firsthand how airlines - a crucial part of the travel and leisure industry - are operating right now, and how they may change for the long-term. As someone who loves to travel and create incredible service experiences wherever I land, this shifting landscape is of particular interest to me. Advertisements The hospitality industry needs air travel to survive, and things look like they're going to improve this year. Studies show that close to one-third of employers expect their employees to resume in-person events and conferences in the second quarter of 2021, and more than half of Americans are now willing to hop on a plane for their next leisure travel endeavor. Here are my thoughts on the current state of air travel, and how the flying experience may change as we move forward: COVID will permanently up the ante for sanitation practices. Hygiene and cleanliness took center stage as COVID-19 swept the world. Touchless check-in options are gaining traction in the industry and are already in trials in Abu Dhabi. Another recent discussion is around "sanitagging," a potential process in which passengers and their bags would walk through disinfection tunnels or thermal scanners to ensure everything that gets on the plane is fully cleaned. Frequent and thorough disinfecting of all touch points, limited food and drink offerings, and the continued use of masks even post-COVID will all help airlines and their customers stay safe. The downside of these practices, of course, is the potential for longer wait times at airports before or between flights as every passenger participates in thorough sanitation. It may be a small price to pay for safety in the short term - and perhaps more importantly, increased customer satisfaction in the long run. Customer service improvements can make big impacts. This past year, customer service efforts made a huge difference when it came to retaining travelers. Studies show that although the travel industry took an unprecedented hit, top airlines actually improved their satisfaction ratings. In an era with slashed jobs, falling revenue, heightened anxieties, and frequently changing procedures, those increased ratings were really earned. Perks such as flexible booking and nixed change and cancellation fees were key tenets of happy customers this year and something airlines would be wise to consider keeping in some form. Research also shows that airlines who leveraged AI in their customer service strategy saw great success this year. With such increased volume in help tickets - for some airlines, more than 1000% - AI customer service can solve common, oft-repeated problems and leave human agents with much more bandwidth, both physical and emotional, to efficiently deal with bigger or more complex issues. We're also seeing airlines stepping up their game with more intuitively designed smartphone apps so fliers can have all the elements of their flight experience at their fingertips. At the end of the day, customers want control over their travel experience. Improving customer service offerings will make them feel listened to and valued along the way. Both business and leisure travelers will see changes. Business travelers accounted for nearly 70% of air travelers pre-COVID and used to be a major cornerstone of the air travel industry. In a post-COVID world, it remains to be seen how airlines will tempt business travelers back. With video conferencing and work-from-home now proven possibilities, temptation may well be necessary. Flight "bundles" may also become more common for business travelers, with flight tickets acting as more of a whole experience. At varying price points, bundles might include extra baggage allowances, lounge privileges, in-flight WiFi options, or other perks. Airlines may also consider revamping their business-class seating choices for more spaciousness or luxury. In spite of business travel being so crucial to airlines, research suggests leisure travel may be more likely to experience a quick rebound post-COVID. With airports offering on-the-spot COVID testing and millions of people now being vaccinated, we could see leisure travel significantly climb in 2021. At the very least, leisure travelers are eager to fly domestically. Airlines would do well to consider how they can sweeten the pot for them as they do. 2020 may not have been kind to air travel, but air travel was kind to those who needed it. With increased safety practices, improved customer service, and attention to both business and leisure travelers, my hopes are high for this corner of the hospitality industry to see a well-deserved comeback in a post-COVID world. 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 Bert Farias, founding minister of Holy Fire Ministries, has a sobering reminder to everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike. Both on his blog post and on Facebook, the minister emphasized that the centrality of Christians' focus should be on God and His kingdom. "The fight we are in brothers and sisters is not between the Democratic Party and Republican Party. It's between good and evil. It's between light and darkness," Farias wrote. He also reminded them that as people with dual citizenships - heavenly and earthly- they could not just "be so naturally and temporally minded," but also to be "spiritually and eternally minded." "I'm seeing too many leaders and pastors and believers in general losing the anointing of the Spirit in their lives and ministries because they are only thinking and operating in the wisdom of man," Farias said. He, however, did not dwell on calling out unbelievers, but more on calling out Christians for what they have done during the election. "If only more professing Christians acted like Christians at the ballot box our nation would've never reached this point of crisis," Farias said. The crisis he's pertaining to is the "undoing" of several executive orders signed by former President Trump. Under the new administration, state-funded abortions are now easily available. As for women athletes, they're now put at a disadvantage with the inclusion of transgenders in women's sports. Farias stressed the crucial role of Christians in every election. That is to cast their votes with Exodus 18:21 in mind. "Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers." By failing to do so, Christians, in a sense, became complicit to the spread of ungodly policies and ideologies that could destroy a nation. Nonetheless, Farias urged Christians to be patient and prayerful as they wait for God's intervention. The evangelical minister noted how both the Democrats and the Big Tech are almost becoming conspiratorial in silencing the voice of God through conscientious people. He explained that hampering free expressions from a Christian perspective empowers the antichrist spirit to dominate the world. "It is common knowledge that social media organizations like Facebook and Twitter oppose righteous, conservative viewpoints that promote a Christian worldview. Look at what Twitter has done to conservative voices including President Donald Trump recently. The antichrist spirit is now the dominant spirit throughout America and the nations of the world with constant efforts to eliminate the true living God from the mainstream, but again their plans will backfire." Farias also noted the terrible things that were done against the weak and the vulnerable in the society. He said that God will bring all these to light and that He'll dispense justice for them. Still, Farias remains hopeful and certain that nothing can thwart God's plans and that all attempts will soon backfire. He added that God's Justice will prevail and that His Kingdom will advance. It's just a matter of time. "We know their attempts will fail. Just give it some time. You and me, and all the believing ones, with God are a majority, and will always win in the end. Justice will prevail. The kingdom of God will advance." Farias also clarified that his post is not about promoting "Christian Nationalism." It's more of a call for Christians to rally for righteousness to win over ungodliness in their nation. "I am a Christian first, but I am an American second. I love Jesus first, but I love my country, too." He ended his musings in his blog with an open invitation for all American Christians; a call for true repentance. "If you are guilty, you can still repent. God will forgive you." And on his Facebook post he said, ".. watch what the Lord will do. Be patient. Have faith in God. Put all your hope and trust in Him, but pray in the Spirit and let Him speak to you, give you revelation, and assure you of victory." COLDWATER, MI -- Jail inmates in Branch Countys Lakeland Correctional Facility raised $2,000 for Genesee County Jails IGNITE program which works to provide education opportunities to inmates. The IGNITE (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) program announced in September expanded the jails education program beyond just the ability to earn a GED. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson drove out Wednesday, March 3 to Coldwater in southern lower Michigan to accept the check with the sheriff departments Genesee County Ambassadors. The check was presented during a sheriffs department Facebook Live. Week in Review with Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson. Posted by Genesee County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 About two months ago, Swanson said he received a phone call from the warden of Lakeland Correctional Facility, which houses about 1,500 inmates. In a meeting with the warden, inmates said they head what was happening with the IGNITE program in Genesee County and wanted to help. They did something really, really special and they took up a collection, Swanson said. Swanson said the sheriffs department is working to spread word about the IGNITE model across the state and the country. The Genesee County Ambassadors, who accepted the check on behalf of the IGNITE program, are four individuals who have reentered society after serving time in prison. They have been deputized and brought into the sheriffs department to help work with inmates. Related: New inmate education program hopes to end generational incarceration Ambassador Johnell Allen-Bey served 29 years in prison. This is surreal for me because in 2005, I was right there in that yard there, Johnell Allen-Bey, who pointed behind him to the yard at Lakeland Correctional Facility. I was sitting on a picnic table, looking out and wondering would I ever get a chance to be out? Would I ever get a chance to be out here. So to be here in this moment and look at this (check) -- that means $20,000 in prison. Thats how impactful this moment is here. I feel humbled to stand before you and say its all about unifying a community. Its all about coming together collectively. Its about coming together and saying theres no difference between nobody when its all about coming together for somebody. So far, 876 inmates have participated in IGNITE programing, said Genesee County Captain Jason Gould. Around 380 students in jail are currently enrolled in the IGNITE program. In the last month, 14 IGNITE students entered the workforce after they were released from jail. Matthew Saxton, Executive Director for the Michigan Sheriffs Association, said it is important to recognize that inmate education should be a priority for jails. If we as sheriffs dont give the opportunity within our 80 jails in the state of Michigan for those inmates to improve themselves while their with us, were not doing the right thing, Saxton said. Its important for us to give everyone the opportunity to be successful within their community. Read more on MLive: Restart of Genesee County Circuit Court jury trials delayed after county sees coronavirus spike Flint man becomes first Michigan inmate to get ServSafe certified in jail Man shot in both legs while riding inside car down Flint road Police investigate second suspicious death over two-day period in Flint Man critically injured in Flint stabbing, suspect in custody Traders' body said it will launch a one-month long dialogue campaign from Friday involving "door to door visit of each market in all corners of Delhi to discuss the problems faced by The Confederation of All India (CAIT) claimed that due to the growing problems of traders, it has become extremely difficult for them to conduct business activities in a smooth manner. Instead of doing business, most of the time is spent in compliance of notices of various government departments and government orders. Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal alleged that "the absurd and arbitrary" legal provisions of GST, eviction of from their shops due to Delhi rent law, permanent solution of sealing issue and de-sealing of sealed shops shops, non-renewal of license of Delhi's retail chemists are some of the major local issues faced by traders. To resolve burning issues of Delhi trade, the traders' body announced a campaign from March 5 to April 5. As part of the campaign, its representatives will visit door to door of each market and discuss the on ground problems of Delhi traders. As part of the campaign, intends to communicate with about 3,000 trade bodies of Delhi in turn contacting about 10 lakh of its traders. (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) Because people with lighter skin are apparently more interested in the sport, Cornell University created a special rock-climbing course for people of color, reports indicate. The BIPOC Rock Climbing class has since been slightly altered following backlash, but it was originally restricted to people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color meaning no whites allowed. The course, which costs $1,890 this includes the standard one-credit course cost of $1,575 plus an additional mandatory $315 course fee was branded and marketed as a way to get more dark-skinned people involved in the sport of climbing rocks. Since Campus Reform reached out to Cornell to ask about the racially discriminating class, the school quietly changed its description to state that it is: designed to enable Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color underrepresented in the sport of rock climbing to learn the sport and to feel included and supported. It would seem as though white students at Cornell are still allowed to enroll in the class if they wish, the caveat being that they will be ignored while a high degree of individual attention will be given to blacks and other dark-skinned people in a supportive space that is geared specifically towards them. John Carberry, Cornells Senior Director of Media Relations and News, issued a statement to Campus Reform explaining that all Cornell students are welcome to enroll in the BIPOC Rock Climbing class, even though it was originally available only to non-whites. Carberry falsely claims that there was never any intention to exclude fair-skinned students from the class. He untruthfully insists that it was always available to everyone, but that there is an intentional focus on outreach and inclusion to non-whites. All Cornell students are welcome to enroll in this course, Carberry told Campus Reform. While the original description of the course represented an intentional focus on outreach and inclusion, there was never an intent to exclude non-minority students. The description of the course has been adjusted accordingly. Cornell guilty of breaking the law by excluding whites from education Located in New York State, Cornell is bound by the law, which states that students in New York schools are protected by federal, state, and local laws that prevent discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and other categories. New York also has a Human Rights Law that makes it illegal for non-sectarian educational institutions to deny their services to students on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, age or marital status. Based on this, Cornell is guilty of violating numerous laws with its BIPOC Rock Climbing course, which is flagrantly racist against white people. Why any white person would even bother to enroll at Cornell, or any other Ivy League school for that matter, in this day and age is perplexing and inexplicable. The anti-white agenda of American colleges and universities has never been more apparent than it is today, and yet white people continue to patronize them with their hard-earned dollars why? The Left controls the entire educational system, from pre-K through graduate school and in every state in the nation, one Campus Reform commenter wrote. In fact, some of the most woke institutions are the schools in the Big 10. Another commenter claiming to be a black woman expressed wonder about the fact that so many other black people feel a bizarre need to have their own courses, their own space, a less difficult test, lower SAT scores, wider access to vaccines, special set-asides for business, flexibility on bail, and Im just getting started. Its constant enough to make one wonder about the incredible consistency of reductionism toward us, she further wrote. It really seems constant. Anti-white racism has become a pandemic throughout America. To learn more, check out CampusInsanity.com. Sources for this article include: CampusReform.org NaturalNews.com COVID-19 vaccines Titular de la PCM: Antes de terminar la gestion del presidente @FSagasti queremos garantizar vacunas para todas las personas que habitan en el territorio nacional. Este es un primer lote de 50 mil dosis que hemos contratado con Pfizer.#PongoElHombro por el Peru ???????? pic.twitter.com/VmJ0lcHGEa UNSW Sydney medical researchers say their new study is a key step forward in developing predictive models for nerve damage post chemotherapy and appropriate clinical pathways for care. Credit: Shutterstock Being older, overweight and having low hemoglobin levels (fewer red blood cells) could increase a patient's risk of developing debilitating nerve damage following chemotherapy, a research team led by UNSW Sydney has revealed. The researchers aimed to identify pre-treatment clinical and blood-based risk factors in patients who developed chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) nerve damage in peripheral body parts, like hands or feet, as a result of chemotherapy. The study, published in JAMA Network Open recently, examined patientsmostly womenwho received paclitaxel or oxaliplatin chemotherapy treatment, which are common treatments for breast, colorectal and gynecological cancers. Lead author Dr. David Mizrahi, of the Prince of Wales Clinical School at UNSW Medicine & Health, said: "One in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85, including 145,000 new cases each year. Thankfully many survive, but side effects as a result of life-saving treatments are less talked about. "CIPN is damage to the nerves that can impact your sensation and muscle control, generally in the hands and feet. This can have major implications for those who work with their hands and can impair balance, which can become an even bigger problem for older patients who are then at increased risk of falls. Many patients experience painful symptoms too. "There are few established risk factors for this nerve damage. We found patients with low hemoglobin at the beginning of treatment, and those who had higher body mass indexes (BMI), were more susceptible to developing nerve damage. Older patients seemed to be more at risk, too." The study's senior author Professor David Goldstein, Conjoint Clinical Professor at UNSW's Prince of Wales Clinical School, said past studies also showed older patients and those with a higher BMI, in both healthy adults and those with conditions such as diabetes, may be prone to developing nerve damage. "Importantly, this work was stimulated by two committed consumers from the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group who had identified that hemoglobin or iron levels may be a modifiable factor," Prof. Goldstein said. "Fortunately, we were in a position to examine this within our wider Cancer Institute NSW-funded CIPN research program led by Associate Professor Susanna Park of The University of Sydney and myself. "In our recently reported Australian cross-sectional survey of more than 950 patients exposed to neurotoxic chemotherapy, 75 percent of respondents reported CIPN-related symptoms, emphasizing the importance of this issue." Prof. Goldstein said: "There are likely a range of factors that contribute to a patient developing CIPNsuch as genetics, treatment dose, nutritional status, comorbidities. "So, our findings add a new perspective to the current knowledge that patients who receive these types of chemotherapy could have a range of contributing factors putting them at an increased risk of nerve damage. "Our findings could help cancer doctors and nurses to identify those who merit either a modified more tailored management approach or much closer and more intensified monitoring for the development of symptoms. This work will also assist medical teams to reduce the long-term severity of symptoms and positively impact patients' quality of life." Laying the foundations for future research The UNSW-led research team recruited 333 adult patients receiving paclitaxel and oxaliplatin chemotherapy in hospitals and cancer clinics in Sydney and Brisbane between September 2015 and February 2020. The median age was 58 years old. About 80 percent of those recruited were women, because females make up a significant proportion of patients with breast or gynecological cancers. Most patients had advanced stages of cancer, including some who were returning for relapse treatment. The researchers analyzed initial pre-treatment blood samples from patients before they started chemotherapy and comprehensively assessed participants for nerve damage three to 12 months post-treatment, then compared the results. Dr. Mizrahi said the team's study was the largest to date to identify low hemoglobin as a potential contributing factor to cancer patients developing CIPN. "This result now justifies future studies of the relationship between low hemoglobin, iron levels and CIPN, and whether opportunities for intervention before or during treatment could reduce the risk of developing CIPN," he said. "For example, raising hemoglobin by transfusion or iron infusion before starting chemotherapy is a testable hypothesis. In addition, we are currently investigating other potential options for reducing the impact of CIPN, such as using exercise or prescription medications such as Duloxetine (an antidepressant) for people with known CIPN. "We are also exploring the use of simple screening questionnaires at each patient's chemotherapy cycle in an attempt to pick up symptoms early, allowing for closer monitoring and opportunities to modify treatments or refer patients to appropriate members of the multi-disciplinary teamso, the burden of symptoms can be reduced." Dr. Mizrahi acknowledged further exploration of the findings was needed but said the team's research was a key step forward in developing predictive models for CIPN and appropriate clinical pathways for care, which remained an unmet need for an important problem. "There are currently no preventative or treatment strategies for CIPNso, if our findings are validated with further research, future studies could closely monitor patients to determine the impact of risk factors for developing CIPN and examine possible interventions," he said. Explore further Survey puts disabling chemotherapy side effect in focus More information: David Mizrahi et al. Hemoglobin, Body Mass Index, and Age as Risk Factors for Paclitaxel- and Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, JAMA Network Open (2021). Journal information: JAMA Network Open David Mizrahi et al. Hemoglobin, Body Mass Index, and Age as Risk Factors for Paclitaxel- and Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.36695 [March 04, 2021] good natured Products Inc. Announces Closing of its $23.1 Million Bought Deal Offering & Debt Retirement /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES./ VANCOUVER, BC, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - good natured Products Inc. (the "Company" or "good natured") (TSXV: GDNP), a North American leader in earth-friendly plant-based products, today announced that it has closed its previously announced bought deal short form prospectus offering of common shares of the Company (the "Offering"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued 19,262,500 common shares in capital of the Company (the "Offered Shares") at an issue price of $1.20 per common share (the "Issue Price") for gross proceeds of $23,115,000. The over-allotment option granted by the Company to the Underwriters to acquire up to 15% of the Offered Shares at the Issue Price exercisable in whole or in part at any time, and from time to time, up to 30 days following the closing of the Offering (the "Over-Allotment Option") was exercised concurrently with the closing of the Offering. The issuance of the 19,262,500 Offered Shares includes the 2,512,500 Offered Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. Beacon Securities Limited ("Beacon") and Canaccord Genuity Corp. acted as co-lead underwriters and co-bookrunners in connection with the Offering on behalf of a syndicate including Integral Wealth Securities Limited, Raymond James Ltd., and Paradigm Capital Inc. (the "Underwriters"). The Underwriters received a cash commission of $1,386,900 representing 6.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering; and 1,155,750 compensation options (the "Compensation Options") representing 6.0% of the aggregate number of Offered Shares issued pursuant to the Offering. Each Compensation Option shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Offered Share at the Issue Price for a period of 24 months from the date hereof. The net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used by the Company for potential future acquisitions, general working capital purposes, and capital expansion projects. Insiders of the Company subscribed for a total of 41,200 Offered Shares for total gross proceeds of $49,440 under the Offering. Participation by insiders constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Offered Shares issued to such related parties nor the consideration paid by such related parties exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering as the details of the participation of insiders of the Company had not been confirmed at that time. Further details will be provided in a material change report to be filed by the Company subsequent to the dissemination of this press release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not bee and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "US Securities Act") or any states securities laws. They may not be offered or sold within the United States or to US Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act) unless registered under the US Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Business Development Bank of Canada Debt Retirement The Company also announced the closing of its transaction with BDC Capital inc., a subsidiary of the Business Development Bank of Canada ("BDC"), for the conversion of $2.5 million USD (at an exchange rate of $1.2753 CAD/USD, being the Bank of Canada end of day exchange rate of February 8, 2021) of the Company's existing long term credit facility into Offered Shares at the Issue Price (the "Share Settlement"). The Company issued 2,656,875 Offered Shares to BDC as part of the transaction, which increased its total ownership in good natured to 12,323,542 Offered Shares. In addition, the Company will pay US$738,311 in cash to BDC to further reduce its outstanding debt to BDC. The Offered Shares issued to BDC pursuant to the Share Settlement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date hereof. The Company's material financing agreements with BDC can be found on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. "BDC has been an amazingly supportive partner since we began our partnership in June 2019 and we are very happy to have them as an even more meaningful owner of the Company," stated Paul Antoniadis, CEO of good natured. "The debt retirement further strengthens our ability to execute on our organic and acquisition growth strategy". "The strong commercial success good natured has achieved to date is a prime example of the outcome BDC has sought to enable by providing growth capital to emerging earth-friendly Canadian champions," stated Jahangir Bhatti, Director, Cleantech Practice at BDC Capital. "BDC's original financing helped facilitate the robust organic growth good natured has delivered along with the acquisitions of Shepherd Thermoforming and Integrated Packaging Films. The debt conversion will lower the Company's debt outstanding and cash interest costs enabling more resources for future growth." The good natured corporate profile can be found at: investor.goodnaturedproducts.com About good natured Products Inc. good natured is passionately pursuing its goal of becoming North America's leading earth-friendly product company by offering the broadest assortment of eco-friendly options made from plants instead of petroleum. We're all about making it easy and affordable for business owners and consumers to switch to better everyday products made from renewable materials and free from chemicals of concern. Part of the sustainable consumer goods market, good natured offers over 385 products and services through wholesale and retail channels, including our own e-commerce stores. From plant-based home organization products to compostable food containers, bioplastic industrial supplies and medical packaging, we're focused on delivering a great customer experience to make more plant-based products readily accessible to more people as the path to deliver meaningful environmental and social impact. For more information: goodnaturedproducts.com About BDC Capital BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs. With over $3 billion under management, BDC Capital serves as a strategic partner to the country's most innovative firms. It offers businesses a full spectrum of capital, from seed investments to growth equity, supporting Canadian entrepreneurs who have the ambition to stand out on the world stage. Visit bdc.ca/capital. On behalf of the Company: Paul Antoniadis Executive Chair & CEO Contact: 1-604-566-8466 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Information regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering and the US$738,311 cash payment to BDC by the Company in this news release constitutes forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. The forward looking statements contained in this news release are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including expectations and assumptions regarding the use of the net proceeds of the Offering and the aforementioned cash payment to BDC. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned that the use of proceeds of the Offering is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including market and business conditions and could differ materially from what is currently expected as set out above. Other than as required under securities laws, we do not undertake to update this information at any particular time. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on our current estimates, expectations and projections, which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. SOURCE Good Natured Products [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] HIGHLIGHTS Montem receives excellent results from detailed coal quality test work completed on large diameter core samples from Chinook Vicary. Exceptional coke strength results with CSR values ranging from 67 to 74. Working section clean coal composite produced high simulated plant yields with low ash: 9.1%; low volatile matter: 21.4%; low total sulphur: 0.48%; favourable rank (RoMax): 1.31%; and outstanding CSR: 70 Chinook Vicary coal attributes fit precisely in the specification range for "Premium Low Vol Hard Coking Coal". Test work used coal samples from the 2020 Chinook Vicary exploration program which confirmed the occurrence of near surface, structurally thickened zones of coal suitable for future open-cut extraction. Results confirmed historical coal quality test work and mined product coal specifications; indicating that a significant portion of Chinook Vicary product coals are similar in quality to the globally traded Tier 1 Hard Coking Coals produced at nearby Teck Resources Limited mines in the Elk Valley, and mines in Queensland. Chinook Vicary, and the entire Chinook Project is within Alberta Coal Policy Category 4 lands. Category 4 lands are areas where surface mining is contemplated. Montem will use the coal quality results and new geological information from the 2020 exploration program to update the Chinook Vicary JORC Resource Estimate, expected in Q2 2021. MELBOURNE, Australia, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Montem Resources Limited (ASX: MR1) ("Montem" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results of coal quality test work performed on drilling samples from the Chinook Vicary area of its Chinook Project in Q4 CY2020. Figure 1 - Cross-section B-B showing potential low strip-ratio pit shell at Chinook Vicary The Chinook Project ("Chinook" or the "Project") in Alberta, Canada is made up of two areas, Chinook Vicary and Chinook South. The Project contains a coal Resource Estimate of 149.1Mt (103.8Mt Indicated and 45.3Mt Inferred) and a coal Exploration Target Estimate of an additional 125Mt to 450Mt1 at Chinook Vicary. Story continues Large diameter core samples, obtained from Montem's exploration drilling at Chinook Vicary in late 2020, have been analysed, with coal quality and carbonization results confirming the occurrence of high quality low volatile Hard Coking Coal (HCC) at Chinook Vicary. Montem completed drilling at Chinook Vicary inside the conceptual open-cut pit shell areas designed during the Chinook Project Scoping Study released in February 2021. These drilling and coal quality results will now be used to complete an update of the JORC Resource Estimate for Chinook Vicary, expected in Q2 2021. Montem Managing Director and CEO, Peter Doyle said: "We are excited the Chinook Vicary coal quality results confirm Tier 1 Hard Coking Coal. The historical Vicary mine sold 100% of its product to Japanese steel makers in the 1970's. When we met with these same steel making companies in Tokyo, they remarked on the exceptional quality of the coal from Vicary and showed us the product specification from the old mine. So, we always knew there was potential for high quality coal at Chinook, and we are really pleased to confirm this with the current drilling. To get CSR's over 70 for a low-volatile Hard Coking Coal, puts Vicary firmly in the top bracket of Hard Coking Coal available on the global market." "The washability results from Seam 2 and Seam 4 are impressive, with simulated plant yields around 75%. Seam 4 in the area drilled was over 15m thick, and accounts for approximately 45% of the total Resource in the Scoping Study Vicary pits. With these results, and the Scoping Study mine plan, the potential for a high quality, low cost, Tier 1 Hard Coking Coal mine is now confirmed." "The next step, later this year, is to drill out the remaining areas included in the Scoping Study mine plan, and progress to a Pre-Feasibility Study. As the entire Chinook Project lies within Alberta Coal Policy Category 4 lands, we will continue exploration and mine planning. We are excited by Chinook and look forward to the next phase of development." For full announcement, visit: https://montem-resources.com/investors/announcements2020/2021-2/ Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/montem-confirms-tier-1-hard-coking-coal-at-chinook-vicary-301240359.html SOURCE Montem Resources Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2021 shows the packing line for inactivated COVID-19 vaccine of Sinovac Biotech, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, in Beijing, capital of China. ISTANBUL, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 vaccine made by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech has an efficacy of 83.5 percent based on third phase trials in Turkey, a Turkish university announced Wednesday at a press conference. The results were based on 10,216 participants aged 18-59, 3,568 of whom had received a placebo as part of the trials that began in mid-September, said Serhat Unal, a medical faculty member of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Ankara-based Hacettepe University, and a member of Turkey's Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board. Murat Akova, another physician at the university, said that 32 volunteers from the placebo group and nine from the vaccine group were infected with the virus at least 14 days after they received their second doses. "When you look at this ratio, the vaccine prevents the symptomatic disease by 83.5 percent," Akova said, adding it was 100 percent in preventing hospitalization. Meanwhile, no death was reported during the trial period, Akova said. In mid-January, Turkey launched a mass vaccination campaign with the Sinovac vaccine, aiming to ultimately vaccinate 60 percent of its population. According to the Turkish Health Ministry, more than 7.2 million people have received at least one vaccine jab, while up to 2.1 million have received two jabs. The United States has shown that it won't 'shy away' from responding to attacks against its personnel when necessary, the Pentagon said on Wednesday after a rocket attack against Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts US coalition and Iraqi forces. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, during which a US national who was working as a civilian contractor died after suffering a heart attack while taking shelter. No other casualties were reported. The Pentagon said the attack fit the profile of previous assaults by 'Shia-backed militias' in the area but that it was too early to attribute responsibility. 'Let's do this the right way. Let's let our Iraqi partners investigate this, see what they learned,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told a news briefing, describing the attack as a 'troubling development'. 'And then, if a response is warranted, I think we have shown clearly that we won't shy away from that. But we're just not there yet,' Kirby added, firmly declining to speculate about whether a response was likely. When asked if the attack may have come from Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Kirby said he could not attribute responsibility for the attack yet. However he acknowledged, during a Pentagon briefing, that 'we have seen rocket attacks come from Shia-backed militia groups in the past. So in that way, certainly it [Wednesday's attack] certainly coincides with our past experience here.' The United States has shown that it won't 'shy away' from responding to attacks against its personnel when necessary, the Pentagon said on Wednesday after a rocket attack against Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts US coalition and Iraqi forces. Pictures circulating on social media purportedly show the burnt out truck that was used to launch the attack Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby (pictured) told a briefing that 'Shia-backed militias' had been behind other rocket attacks in the area, saying: 'So in that way, certainly it [Wednesday's attack] certainly coincides with our past experience here' [File photo] At least 10 rockets slammed into the base in Iraq's western Anbar province during Wednesday's attack, which began at around 7.20am local time. Footage shared online purported to show some of the damage from the strikes At least 10 rockets slammed into the base in Iraq's western Anbar province during Wednesday's attack, which began at around 7.20am local time. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which was the first strike since the US bombed Iran-aligned militia targets along the Iraq-Syria border last week in attacks that killed 22 people, according to a war monitor, prompting concerns the new strike could be retaliatory action by Iran or an associated militia group. Ain al-Asad is the same base that Iran struck with a barrage of missiles in January of last year in retaliation for the death of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq. Dozens of US service members suffered concussions in the Iranian attack on the base. Heightened tensions between the US and Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq could lead to more attacks, complicating the Biden administration's desire to open talks with Iran over the 2015 nuclear deal, as well as the ongoing US strategy to focus more attention on Asia. In a statement on Wednesday, the Pentagon confirmed the nationality of the civilian contractor who died, saying: 'There are no current reports of US servicemember injuries and all are accounted for. 'A US civilian contractor suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering and sadly passed away shortly after.' Tensions between the US and Iran have been escalating in recent years, particularly during former president Donald Trump's four years in the White House, exacerbated by the assassination of Soleimani last year. The attack comes ahead of Pope Francis's visit to Iraq, which is due to begin on Friday and will mark the first time a pope has been to the country. Despite the rocket attack, Pope Francis said that he would still make the trip 'because the people cannot be let down'. Asked about the attack, President Joe Biden told reporters, 'we are following that through right now.' He added, 'Thank God, no one was killed by the rocket, but one individual, a contractor, died of a heart attack. But were identifying whos responsible and well make judgments' about a response. White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggested that the 'calculated' U.S. airstrikes last week could be a model for a military response. Those strikes were in response to an attack on American forces in northern Iraq earlier in February. 'If we assess further response is warranted, we will take action again in a manner and time of our choosing,' Psaki said. Western security sources told AFP that the rockets were Iranian-made Arash models, which are 122mm artillery rockets and heavier than those seen in other attacks on Western targets in Iraq. Pictures online purportedly show the vehicle that was used to launch the strikes Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq - which hosts US, coalition and Iraqi forces - was hit by at least 10 rockets on Wednesday. One casualty has been reported Wednesday's attack on the sprawling base is the fourth time in less than three weeks that rockets have hit a Western installation in Iraq. Ain al-Asad hosts both Iraqi forces and troops from the US-led coalition helping fight remnants of the Islamic State group - as well as the unmanned drones they use to surveil jihadist sleeper cells. Coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto confirmed that 10 rockets hit the base at 7.20am (4.20am GMT). Iraqi security forces said they had found the platform from which 10 'Grad-type rockets' were fired at the Ain al-Asad base. Western security sources told AFP news agency on Wednesday that the rockets were Iranian-made Arash models, which are 122mm artillery rockets and heavier than those seen in similar strikes. British Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Hickey condemned the attack, saying it undermined the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group. 'Coalition forces are in Iraq to fight Daesh at the invitation of the Iraqi government,' he tweeted, using the Arabic acronym for IS. 'These terrorist attacks undermine the fight against Daesh and destabilize Iraq.' Denmark said coalition forces at the base were helping to bring stability and security to the country. 'Despicable attacks against Ain al-Asad base in #Iraq are completely unacceptable,' Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod tweeted. The Danish armed forces said two Danes who were at the base at the time of the attack are unharmed. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been escalating in recent years, particularly during former president Donald Trump's four years in the White House, exacerbated by the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani (pictured in 2016) last year, on Trump's orders The rocket strike is the latest attack on US forces in Iraq by Iran-backed militias, though nobody has claimed responsibility. Ain al-Asad has also been attacked by ISIS in the past Video of the launcher pic.twitter.com/EP9AYYpCLk Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 3, 2021 The Pope says he will still travel to Iraq on Friday despite rocket attack on military base Pope Francis has insisted that his historic trip to Iraq which is due to take place this week will go ahead despite an attack on US forces in the country on Wednesday. The 84-year-old pontiff said he cannot disappoint people 'who have suffered so much' by calling off the visit, the first ever by a pope to Iraq, at the last minute. Instead, he asked people to pray for him and the journey 'so that it may take place in the best possible way and bear the hoped-for fruits'. Pope Francis is due to land in Iraq on Friday for a three-day visit designed to encourage the country's Christian faithful after years of often violent repression by Islamic extremists including ISIS. During the trip, Francis will visit the Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad which was the site of a massacre of Christians in 2010, a church in Qaraqosh that was left charred by ISIS attacks, and pray for the victims of war in Mosul. The trip is also designed to broaden the Vatican's outreach to Islamic countries and leaders, and on Saturday will feature a meeting between Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of Iraq's Shia Muslims. Francis has said the journey will complete the dream of Pope John Paul II, who had planned to visit in 1999 but never made the trip over fears for his security and concerns that then-ruler Saddam Hussein would use it as propaganda. 'The day after tomorrow, God willing, I will go to Iraq for a three-day pilgrimage. For a long time I have wanted to meet these people who have suffered so much,' Francis said in his weekly Wednesday address. He added: 'The Iraqi people are waiting for us, they were waiting for Saint John Paul II, who was forbidden to go. 'One cannot disappoint a people for the second time. Let us pray that this journey will be successful.' Advertisement Dozens of rocket attacks and roadside bombs targeted Western security, military and diplomatic sites in Iraq in 2020, with Iraqi and Western military sources blaming hardline pro-Iran factions. They came to a near-complete halt in October following a truce with the hardliners, but have resumed at a quickening pace over the past three weeks. In mid-February, rockets targeted US-led coalition troops in the Kurdish regional capital Erbil, a US military contracting company working north of the capital and the US embassy in Baghdad. The US responded on February 26 with an air strike on Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary force stationed along the Iraqi-Syrian border. Twenty-two people were killed when seven 500lbs bombs were dropped on a compound used by two Iranian-backed Shia militia groups in the first Biden-authorized airstrike. Military sources said the airstrike was intended to 'draw a line' after a series of attacks on US positions in Iraq. The compound in Syria had been used by militants to smuggle weapons across the border and into Iraq, the US said. On February 15, a volley of rockets fell within the grounds of Erbil's international airport and in residential parts of the city. A contractor was killed and several US personnel and Iraqi civilians were wounded in the attack. The Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, where the American embassy is located, has been a regular target for mortar and rocket fire. Ain al-Asad air base is the second largest airbase established during US occupation of Iraq between 2003 and 2011. It came under attack by Iran last year following the drone strike ordered by President Trump which killed Soleimani and commander of the Kateab Hezbollah militia, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Iran fired 15 Fateh-313 missiles at two US bases in Iraq following the assassination: Ain al-Asad and another facility in Erbil. Ten of the rockets hit the US airbase and one landed at the Erbil facility, while four failed in flight, American military sources said at the time. No US troops were killed in that attack but 109 were later diagnosed with brain injuries from the force of the explosions. It is not yet clear who was behind Wednesday's rocket attack. The base has also come under attack from ISIS militants in the past. Pope Francis has insisted that his visit to Iraq, which is due to take place at the end of the week, will go ahead as planned despite a rocket attack on US forces in the country on Wednesday The last major attack on Ain al-Asad came last year when Iran hit the base with 10 missiles in revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. 109 soldiers suffered brain injuries The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Nigeria Immigration Service has launched a building it says will use technology to monitor security activities at the nations borders real time. The building was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari virtually on Thursday in Abuja. The first phase of the building was approved by the Federal Executive Council on November 1, 2018 at the cost of N7.1 billion. After a review by the FEC on December 14, 2020, another N2 billion was approved for cover furnishings, installation of multimedia and other equipment. Mr Buhari said the technology will secure and enhance the lives of Nigerians. The comptroller of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said the contract was awarded to Julius Berger Plc. The building has digital imaging equipment for fingerprint, retina scan and voice print. Mr Babandede said having a data bank and data processing centre provides access to information at the touch of a button. This makes it possible to monitor all entries and exits at the borders and have real time information on all immigrants, he said. The centre receives and gives out still and motion pictures and audio signals in real time, coordinating seamlessly movements within our borders. The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said the e-border will put the entire borderline under real time monitoring, thereby giving law enforcement agencies capacity to totally secure citizens and land from external threat. The Nigeria Immigration Service has deployed adequate security in our air border but our land borders remain the weakest link, he said. The challenge now is on how to effectively patrol the 4,047km land borders which comprise of 1,690km with Cameroon, 87km with Chad, 1,497 with Niger, 733 with Benin Republic and a coastal line of Gulf of Guinea with 853km, he said. The ministry has also reduced the period of stay for migrants to register from 90 days to 30 days. The Ministry will take necessary steps to increase the registration centres from one per state to one per senatorial district to enable the fast-tracking of implementation of this amendment before the end of our 180 days target, he said. Mr Aregbesola said Immigration has been directed to concentrate more on the borders by deploying 50 per cent of its personnel to border outposts. A pilot e-border system is already connected with one of our border control posts in this building to be commissioned by Mr. President today, he said. When the project is completed, we will have six mega control posts, 16 medium control posts, 64 mini control posts, totalling 86 border posts with command-and-control centre in the technology building, he concluded. ADVERTISEMENT Whitney Cummings got a foot tattoo in honor of her longtime friend Jennifer Aniston. The 38-year-old comedian on the latest episode of her Good For You podcast allowed social influencer Hannah Stocking, 29, to tattoo her foot with the phrase 'I [heart emoji] J'. 'I want that on me! I will literally tattoo that on my forehead,' Hannah declared in video provided to People. Forever ink: Whitney Cummings, shown in February 2020 in Beverly Hills, California, got a foot tattoo in honor of her longtime friend Jennifer Aniston 'There's nothing I won't do for a laugh. I'm fully getting an 'I love Jennifer Aniston' tattoo,' Whitney said during the recording of the inking session. 'This is so dumb, and I'm so into it. ...Jen's gonna see this,' Whitney added. 'When in doubt, do it for Jen!,' cheered Hannah, who has 18.8 million followers on Instagram. Hannah showed Whitney the finished tattoo and promised her it would look better as they both laughed. Foot tattoo: The 38-year-old comedian on the latest episode of her Good For You podcast allowed social influencer Hannah Stocking, 29, to tattoo her foot with the phrase 'I [heart emoji] J'. Longtime friends: Whitney and Jennifer, shown in February 2016 in Los Angeles, have been friends for years Whitney has been friends with Jennifer, 52, for years and was a guest at her wedding to Justin Theroux in 2015. The Washington, DC native launched her Good For You podcast in 2019. Whitney revealed during a February 2020 episode of Good For You that she ended her engagement to creative director Miles Skinner, 37. Inking session: 'There's nothing I won't do for a laugh. I'm fully getting an 'I love Jennifer Aniston' tattoo,' Whitney said during the recording of the inking session Big fan: 'I want that on me! I will literally tattoo that on my forehead,' Hannah Stocking declared 'Nothing nasty, no drama,' Whitney said of the split that came over a year after Miles initially proposed. She explained: 'It just wasn't [dramatic] I feel like nobody will believe me I truly just was not ready to plan a wedding, the whole thing really overwhelmed me.' Mile orchestrated a surprise proposal for Whitney during her 36th birthday in September 2019. YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. In the response to the urgent written question sent to the European Commission by the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Loucas Fourlas (Cyprus, EPP), the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell states on behalf of the European Commission that the latter deplores the damages caused to the Shushi Ghazanchetsots Cathedral by the Azerbaijani armed forces, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) said in a news release. In the urgent written question addressed by MEP Fourlas, it is mentioned that the Azerbaijani armed forces targeted and attacked Shushis Ghazanchetsots Cathedral on 8 October 2020, in violation of international rules of war. The MEP asks the European Commission whether the latter is planning to take steps to protect both the civilian population and places of worship in Artsakh/ Nagorno Karabakh that are currently under the Azerbaijani control. Responding the MEP, the European Commission states that it deplores the destruction of religious and historic monuments in Nagorno Karabakh and underlines the importance of preserving and restoring the cultural and religious heritage. Furthermore, in his answer the High Representative refers to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347 (2017), which gives the definition of the war crimes, targeting of the religious, educational and cultural centers. The European Commission also welcomes the mission initiated by UNESCO to the regions of Nagorno Karabakh currently under the Azerbaijani control aimed at establishing a first factural assessment of the Armenian cultural heritage. It will also contribute to supporting the preservation and restoration of the cultural sites. Commenting on the response of the written question, the EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian stated: Azerbaijan has to bear full responsibility for the gruesome war crimes committed during and after the 2020 war in Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh, including targeting civilian settlements as well as religious sites i.a. the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. Shushi has undeniably been a historical Armenian city, an important center for culture and education, and the symbol of the Armenian revival of Artsakh. The international community and the relevant organizations must closely follow and monitor the preservation of the Armenian religious and cultural heritage in the region. We should not allow yet another act of cultural genocide, such as the destruction of thousands of Armenian medieval cross-stones in Nakhijevan by the Azerbaijani authorities in 2006. Any attempt of demolition of historic Armenian presence in Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh must be prevented and strongly condemned. People are seen at the entrance of the headquarters of the Korea Land and Housing Corp. in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo Public anger is mounting over allegations that employees at the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) housing cooperation used inside information on a residential area development project for land speculation. The public is also skeptical of the government's planned investigation on the deals made by the officials, given that the property purchases were made while the current land minister was at the helm of the housing corporation. The Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will jointly lead the interagency probe. The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and Lawyers for a Democratic Society, an association of progressive lawyers, accused 14 former and incumbent employees at LH of speculative land buying in Gwangmyeong and Shiheung, which had been designated as sites for the country's third new town development plan to increase the supply of new homes in satellite cities. As a result, President Moon Jae-in ordered the government Thursday to conduct a thorough probe into the case, referencing to the incident twice in as many days. A petition calling for a National Assembly inspection into the case has also been posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website. "I am dejected to see LH officials' speculative purchase as I had high expectations for the new town plan. The government's call for justice and fairness sounds hollow. I hope that deep-rooted corruption will be thoroughly eradicated," the petitioner said. "In that respect, I am calling on the National Assembly to launch an investigation into the case." Other citizens also voiced frustration after learning of the allegations. "It is questionable whether the government can carry out its plan to root out land speculation as well as curb skyrocketing housing prices, due to the corruption among officials at state-run organizations," an office worker in Seoul told The Korea Times on the condition of anonymity. "I wonder how much trust people will have in the government's efforts to deal with the mounting anger over soaring home prices and rental costs." Following the allegations, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Byeon Chang-heum apologized Thursday for the illegal land speculation allegedly made by his former subordinates, vowing to prevent any recurrence of such cases. "I am deeply responsible for the scandal as the then-head of the organization," Byeon said in a press briefing. "The government plans to stringently restrict real estate transactions by public officials in charge of such development projects if the purchase is not to buy a house as a main residence, while mandating that they report their real estate transactions. In addition, we will seek punitive measures against those who purchase properties using inside information even though they have nothing to do with the development projects." LH also issued a public apology, vowing to introduce a system that will check property purchases involving its employees. "The corporation will fully cooperate with the government's investigation into the speculative land deals by public officials and if any illegal speculation is verified, we will strictly deal with those cases," it said in a statement, adding that it will run checks on property possessed by its officials before launching new land development projects. However, internet posts by some LH officials have only added fuel to the angry public sentiment. "There is no law prohibiting LH officials from investing in real estate," one worker wrote on Blind, an anonymous chat app for verified employees. "It falls on the judgment of a court or the prosecution whether their investment was made based on inside information or their own research on real estate trends." Another LH employee also wrote, "While a large number of people invest in real estate, I believe that other public officials and those working for state-run companies have purchased property in the Gwangmyeong area." The allegations of real estate speculation have dealt a heavy blow to the Moon administration, which has been under fire for its failure to stabilize soaring home prices. Despite announcing 25 sets of measures to curb real estate speculation, the government's efforts have yet to pay off. Also, ahead of the mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan, the issue is emerging as an unfavorable factor for the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. San Francisco, CA, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- THE CONVERSATION: Between Us, About Us. is a new campaign to provide Black communities with credible information about the COVID-19 vaccines co-developed by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) and the Black Coalition Against COVID. Black doctors, nurses and researchers dispel misinformation and provide accessible facts in 50 FAQ videos that deliver the information Black people are asking for about the COVID-19 vaccines. More videos and voices will be added to this one-of-its-kind living video library as new questions arise and information becomes available. The series debuts on YouTube today with a launch video featuring W. Kamau Bell in an open, honest conversation with Black health care workers that gets to the heart of Black peoples questions and concerns. YouTube is providing significant support for the campaign, including high visibility promotion across its platform. Despite having one of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates in the U.S., Black Americans are among those least likely to get the vaccines. As Black health academicians, researchers, and clinicians, we understand our empathy-based responsibility to provide our community with the resources and guidance on surviving this pandemic, said Reed Tuckson, MD, Founding Member, Black Coalition Against COVID. As such, we appreciate this partnership with KFF to produce one of the largest of its kind campaigns to creatively provide trustworthy information that will save Black lives. Were seeing more Black adults want to get vaccinated when their time comes, but still a sizeable percent say they are waiting to see others vaccinated first. Among this group, many share common concerns that are directly addressed in this campaign, said Drew Altman, PhD, President & CEO, KFF, which produced the campaign as the first initiative in its Greater Than COVID public information response to the pandemic. The Biden Administration has made a commitment to prioritize equity, in policy and practice. As we work toward eliminating the severe and pervasive health and social inequities that have been exacerbated by this pandemic, we know we cant do it alone. Honest and transparent communication about the vaccine is a critical piece of this work. Thats why, Im proud to listen to and support THE CONVERSATION. This work truly exemplifies the power partnerships have to uplift the voices of Black health care workers and ensure that those most impacted by this pandemic have the resources they need to respond to it, said Marcella Nunez-Smith, MD, MHS, Chair, COVID19 Health Equity Task Force and Associate Dean, Yale University. There are two major barriers to Black folks receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. Neither one of them are vaccine hesitancy. The barriers are accessible facts about the COVID-19 vaccines and convenient access to receive a vaccine, said Rhea Boyd, MD, MPH, a pediatrician and public health advocate, who co-developed the project with KFF and the Black Coalition Against COVID. This is a comprehensive effort on behalf of Black health care workers across the country, to ensure every Black person in the United States has the credible information they need to make this critical choice. It is time for us to have a conversation, between us and about us. Effective communication is as critical to the outcome of the vaccine program as manufacturing the shots. YouTube is where people are, and it's where they are looking for information and support to guide them in health decisions. By partnering with KFF and the Black Coalition Against COVID, we are able to bridge the information gap between communities most at-risk and trusted health experts who are representative of those communities and make clinical topics like COVID vaccine development accessible and relatable in a way that only video can. Together, I believe we can reimagine how health information has traditionally been shared and make public health truly public," explained Garth Graham, MD, Director and Global Head of Healthcare and Public Health at YouTube. For more about THE CONVERSATION: Between Us, About Us., go to: www.BetweenUsAboutUs.org www.YouTube.com/GreaterThanCOVID The California Health Care Foundation, Commonwealth Fund and Sierra Health Foundation have generously contributed funding to the production and are supporting distribution of the series. Through Greater Than COVID, KFF will also be working with partners to address information needs in other disproportionately affected communities. * * * Black Coalition Against COVID is a Washington, D.C.-based community initiative which seeks to provide trustworthy, science-based, information curated on behalf of and for the Black community about COVID-19 and the vaccine development process in an effort to help save Black lives at the national and local levels. KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) is a national nonprofit leader in health policy analysis and polling, journalism and social impact media. No affiliation with Kaiser Permanente. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Dashboard, Racial Equity and Health topic page, and KHN. Greater Than COVID is a public information initiative from KFF to help individuals take charge of their health during the evolving COVID-19 public health crisis. Tailored media messages and community tools address information needs about the vaccines. Attachment Police seized thousands of fake COVID-19 vaccine doses and arrested more than 80 suspects in South Africa and China on Wednesday as Interpol warned the raids were 'only the tip of the iceberg.' The international police body said roughly 2,400 doses of fake coronavirus vaccines in 400 ampoules were seized with a 'large quantity' of face masks at a warehouse in Germiston, South Africa. Chinese police seized more than 3,000 fake vaccines after a raid on a manufacturing plant. Authorities also arrested 80 suspects at the scene. Both investigations were supported by Interpol as it claimed it had received more reports of criminal vaccine distribution networks targeting nursing homes and other health bodies. South African police seized around 2,400 doses of fake COVID-19 vaccines at a warehouse in Germiston on Wednesday. Four suspects were also arrested at the scene Officers found 400 ampoules of fake coronavirus vaccines in South Africa. Interpol warned the raids were 'only the tip of the iceberg' Pictures from the South Africa raids showed boxes stacked up in a largely empty warehouse, and a box full of fake COVID-19 vaccine ampoules. 'Whilst we welcome this result, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Covid-19 vaccine related crime,' said Interpol Secretary General Juergen Stock. He added: 'Following our warning that criminals would target the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, both on and offline, Interpol continues to provide its full support to national authorities working to protect the health and safety of their citizens.' South African national police said 'foreign nationals' trying to sell fake vaccines in the country were among those arrested at the warehouse. South African police said 'foreign nationals' were trying to peddle fake vaccines in the country after its warehouse raid on Wednesday A Chinese Ministry of Public Security spokesperson said: 'Chinese police are conducting a targeted campaign to prevent and crack down on crimes related to vaccines, proactively investigating and combating crimes related to vaccines in accordance with law.' Interpol earlier this year issued an 'Orange Notice' warning authorities worldwide to prepare for organised crime networks targeting Covid-19 vaccines, both physically and online. The global policy agency also warned that no approved vaccines are currently available for sale online, and said those buying fake doses from criminal networks were putting themselves at risk. 'Any vaccine being advertised on websites or the dark web will not be legitimate, will not have been tested and may be dangerous,' it said. Secretary General Stock warned in December in an interview with German weekly WirtschaftsWoche of a sharp rise in crime due to the vaccine roll-out, with thefts and warehouse break-ins and attacks on vaccine shipments. A size 22 model who weighs 176lbs more than her partner insists they are proud of their mixed-weight relationship despite the cruel comments they receive from strangers. Leah Stanley, 32, from Vermont, met tree surgeon Dan, 35, from New York, on a dating app in August 2019, and it was love at first sight for the couple, who hit it off immediately. They moved in together less than a year later, and while they are as happy as can be, they admitted that they are regularly trolled for their weight difference online. Candid: Leah Stanley, 32, from Vermont, and her partner Dan, 35, from New York, have opened up about their mixed-weight relationship Differences: Leah, who wears a size 22, weighs 176lbs more than her tree surgeon beau Look of love: The couple met on a dating app in August 2019, and they hit it off straight away Digital content specialist, Leah, who has chosen not to disclose her exact weight, said: 'Numbers don't matter, your weight difference doesn't define your relationship. 'It's literally a topic that's never come up for us. 'Clearly, we both know that I'm much bigger and that's it. 'I think in a world where people are obsessed with numbers of all sorts, it's important to remember that they're exactly that - just numbers. 'When we first met, we just clicked straight away. 'As soon as he walked into the bar on our first date, I gave him a hug which I never usually do. 'We moved into a cute little apartment together in June. 'Our relationship is so sweet. 'He's the sweetest person to me, I've never had anyone treat me as sweet as he does. 'We have lots of happy times, we joke around a lot, we laugh a lot, we're just a funny, goofy couple.' Not important: Leah, who has chosen not to disclose her exact weight, said that 'numbers don't matter' in a relationship Hard to handle: The plus-size model said people won't criticize them in person, but they will comment about their the difference in their sizes online Feeling good: Leah admitted that she used to be self-conscious about her weight when she was younger, but she has a newfound confidence Despite their perfect relationship, the couple does face negativity from online trolls who suggest that they aren't right together. But they dismiss suggestions that they can't love each other because of their size difference and are speaking out because they want to see more mixed-weight relationships normalized. Leah, who wears a US size 22, said: 'No one ever says anything to our face but online, people will make comments about the difference in our sizes. 'We get comments because people will judge anything. 'People say he looks really uncomfortable in photos with me because he isn't as comfortable in front of the camera as I am. 'They just pick apart everything they can. 'These people usually aren't in relationships themselves, see a bigger girl and can't understand how I can be in a happy relationship. When you know, you know! Leah, who works as a digital content specialist, moved in with Dan less than a year into ther relationship Goal: Leah and Dan are sharing their love story because they want to see mixed-weight relationships normalized Nothing to see: 'Our happiness doesn't depend on our size, so we don't really care,' Leah said. 'We're just happy being together and what other people think doesn't really matter' 'It's never bothered me, I'm really confident with who I am and what I look like but I think Dan maybe is a little less confident. 'When we're together, weight isn't an issue, it just doesn't come up because it doesn't matter. 'Our happiness doesn't depend on our size, so we don't really care. We're just happy being together and what other people think doesn't really matter.' Leah confessed that she used to be self-conscious about her weight when she was younger, but her newfound confidence has led her to become a plus-size model. 'Plus-size women struggle when we're looking for a relationship,' she explained. 'We feel self-conscious and don't know who to go after or who would like us but there's someone out there for everyone and if you give up looking, you'll never find them. 'Everyone deserves love, but as a young girl, I struggled to find relationships. 'I never really had boyfriends because there was something in my head saying I wasn't good enough but I'm a lot more confident now. 'We can't control what someone says about us but we can control the way we react. I take it with a pinch of salt. It's cowardly for them to do it from behind a screen.' To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Khanh Hoa authorities have recommended the issue of a license for Vinpearl Company to build a $2.24-billion casino in the central province. The casino is proposed to be built on Hon Tre Island near famous beach town Nha Trang along with tourism and amusement components. It requires approval from the Politburo, which is at the apex of the Communist Party, and government. If approved it will be the second in the province after an earlier, $2.02-billion casino received the green light in 2019. The Ministry of Finance said an assessment needs to be done on the impacts of the proposed casino on local tourism and socio-economic growth. The government has for long treated gambling as a social evil and prohibited Vietnamese from entering casinos. But in January 2019 it opened certain casinos to Vietnamese as part of a three-year trial and will continue to do so on a case-by-case basis. Vietnamese who want to gamble in a casino must be over 21, earn a minimum of VND10 million ($430) a month and have no criminal record or objections from their family. A group of casino owners recently sought the governments permission to let Vietnamese in to make up for foreigners absence due to the Covid-19 international travel restrictions. Vietnam has eight casinos which earned revenues of VND2.5 trillion in 2019, according to Ministry of Finance data. Asian Americans are facing twin crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and a wave of hate. In December, police said a group of people attacked an Asian American woman on a train in Manhattan while making anti-Asian comments related to the coronavirus. Another man allegedly spat on an Asian American woman on a Bronx train in the summer, yelling: Asians caused the virus! Go back to China! Go back to Manhattan! And just last month, a man allegedly stabbed a 36-year-old Asian man in Chinatown. While the NYPD said the suspect would be charged with a hate crime, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the attack as a hate crime because of insufficient evidence the attacker saw the victims face. Local Asian American activists have decried the decision not to charge the man with a hate crime. While hate crimes in New York City have overall declined, hate crimes targeting Asian Americans have grown significantly. The NYPD reports that only three anti-Asian hate crimes were reported to them in 2019, compared with 28 last year. This is the most significant jump anti-Asian hate crimes compared with 15 other major cities reviewed in an analysis from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. But the NYPD statistics alone dont account for the full spectrum of prejudice Asian Americans have faced. Its common that victims of hate crimes dont necessarily report them to law enforcement. Other hateful acts dont legally rise to the level of being classified as hate crimes, such as being called a racial slur or other verbal harassment. The city Commission on Human Rights which has received complaints regarding bias incidents and other discriminatory behavior found that more than one-third of 389 coronavirus-related incidents it received from February 2020 to the end of May 2020 involved anti-Asian sentiment. Those 145 complaints represented a tenfold increase in anti-Asian complaints filed compared with the same period in 2019, when there were only 12. Other groups have also collected complaints from New York City residents. People have sent in more than 500 reports of bias incidents and hate crimes to the Asian American Federation since early 2020. And Stop AAPI Hate a hate crime documentation project supported by a coalition of Asian American rights groups received 259 reports of anti-Asian incidents in New York City as of the end of December 2020. City & State reached out to the following experts to hear their thoughts on how to stem the wave of hate against Asian Americans in New York City: Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the Asian American Federation; Christopher Kwok, a board member, and Taiyee Chien, a student leader, with the Asian American Bar Association of New York; Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino; Stanley Mark, senior staff attorney at the Asian American Legal Defense And Education Fund; and Russell Jeung, professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. What has fueled the increase in anti-Asian bias incidents and hate crimes? Jeung: Asian Americans have experienced racism especially during periods of epidemic, war and economic downturn. Last year, we had all three: the COVID-19 pandemic, the worst recession since the Great Depression and the U.S.-China cold war. These factors, along with the underlying yellow peril fear of Asian Americans, set the stage for the increase last year in anti-Asian hate. Former President Donald Trump's incendiary political rhetoric fueled this racism, and his hate speech led to hate violence. Yoo: The quick answer is the perpetual foreigner label that is affixed to the Asian American community, coupled with the anti-Asian rhetoric and policies initiated and perpetuated by the former president and his administration these factors put our community at risk of being targeted. Despite our long history in the U.S., we suffer under the assumption that we don't belong here; we are NOT Americans. The Asian American community's contributions to and sacrifices for this country are vast, but so is the history of our marginalization. From the Chinese Exclusion Act to sending Americans of Japanese descent to prison camps, to forcing the South Asian, Muslim, and Arab communities to suffer brutality after the 9/11 terror attacks, to the recent Muslim Ban we are the perpetual foreigners and are looked upon with suspicion. Mark: Today's political and economic climate (job loss, small business closure, health care disparities etc.) arising from the pandemic. Asian Americans become the current scapegoats as part of the longer legal legacy of anti-Asian bias as reflected in our statutes and case law. Levin: What we have seen in recent years has been a rotation of various victim groups into a cycle where they are attacked in sociopolitical discourse as being broadly a threat worthy of derision and aggression. About a decade ago, the Latinx immigrant community was targeted online and in legislative activity during a time of rising unemployment and increased border crossings, while mid-decade, Muslims as a whole were targeted for bigotry by politicians amid a coarse political season and violent Salafist Jihadist attacks. Anti-Muslim assaults actually exceeded those after 9/11. Today, sadly, millions of Americans subscribe to anti-Asian bigotry and conspiracy theories related to the pandemic. The initial spike in March and April correlated to a rise in hospitalizations, increasing anti-Asian referencing and online invective including that by Trump, and fewer limitations to online dissemination. Kwok and Chien: The recent surge in anti-Asian attacks can be attributed to three interrelated factors. First, increased geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S. created a tense backdrop for the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, then-President Trumps inflammatory China virus rhetoric revived deep-rooted racist and nativist sentiments. Combined with the perception of Asian Americans as permanent foreigners, Asian Americans were convenient targets for violence. More fervent activism and vigilant reporting within the Asian American community likely also account in part for the increase in documented instances of anti-Asian violence. What should be done to support victims of attacks and bias incidents? Yoo: From our government, we need more robust victim services and outreach regarding those services. The victims often dont know what services are available. They need to know their rights and what services theyre eligible for by receiving that information in their native languages and delivered with cultural sensitivity. In-language recovery services are absolutely necessary to help victims heal from the trauma. And these services should be available to anyone who experiences a bias incident, as most bias incidents dont rise to the level of a hate crime but may be equally difficult to deal with physically, emotionally and financially. Being an upstander is also important in public settings. There are trainings being offered by the Center for Anti-Violence Education to help disrupt incidents through upstander interventions, verbal deescalation tactics, and calling-in strategies. When Noel Quintana was attacked, no one stepped up to help him. There are always things we can do when we see our fellow New Yorkers getting hurt. Kwok and Chien: Victims should be supported in three ways. First, when safe to do so, one should record what is transpiring through their phones and by providing statements to law enforcement. Second, restitution funds should be established through the government, nonprofits and corporate sponsors to provide financial support for victims who require medical treatment or other financial assistance. Third, law enforcement and community members need to continue to watch over victims after the assailant has been charged. Because so few of these acts of violence are charged as hate crimes or felonies, perpetrators are often back in the local communities and in close proximity with victims and their family members. Jeung: Persons reporting attacks and bias incidents display racial trauma long-term issues of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms. We need to support these persons with culturally responsive mental health resources in their language. They also ask for legal assistance, and many of them can file civil actions to mediate their civil rights violations. Thirdly, they desire resources to help them address racism to their children and youth. Overall, we want everyone to be good neighbors to each other. To be on the watch for one another, to intervene in cases of harassment, and to support Asian American businesses. Mark: Law enforcement is not enough. There must be a shift in spending priorities and reinvestment in our communities with political leadership that goes beyond spending for more law enforcement. Instead, areas like education, mental health services, job training, access to vaccinations, more bilingual and culturally competent services in all communities. What can be done to prevent these acts from happening? Kwok and Chien: As a start, the Asian-American community needs more allies to help raise awareness about these tragic happenings and to translate outrage and despair into actionable next steps. One concrete action item is to ensure that reporting lines are Asian language-friendly and Asian-American victims feel safe to report acts of violence. Another is for nonvictim Asian Americans and allies to stand in solidarity with the victims and to pressure politicians, prosecutors, and the police to create a safer world for the Asian-American community. The NYPD anti-Asian hate crimes task force should be funded and have officers assigned to it full time, instead of being volunteers. Finally, educational programs should be made available for both the Asian American community, to ensure that Asian American victims understand their rights and can better navigate our complicated legal system, and society in general, to foster greater appreciation for the lived experiences and struggles of the Asian American community. All of these initiatives will require cooperation between public and private sectors, and all citizens who want to build a better society. Yoo: We need investments in safety measures for our communities that allow neighborhood nonprofits to offer services and programs that help make connections between residents. We need to connect victims to mental health services and programs to help them heal and recover. And we need to increase access to mental health services for all especially for those who could be a danger to themselves or others. Jeung: Ethnic studies would help teach students the sources of this racism and promote racial empathy and solidarity. Expanded civil rights protections would safeguard us from harassment in private businesses. And restorative justice would help break the cycle of violence that we're now experiencing. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Mostly cloudy early. Isolated thunderstorms may develop this afternoon. High 83F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Award winning bartender and expat bar manager Dez OConnell, who's been teaching about drinks for the last twenty years all over Europe, has had a taste of the up-and-coming Unicum Barista and reveals what he thinks - sharing insights about how Zwack came to develop it, how it tastes at various temperatures, and how best to mix it. If the current Covid situation had not come to pass, those keen-eyed drinkers amoung us would have noticed a new kid in town from the legendary Zwack stable. Unicum Barista was, after three years in development, just getting onto the shelves of selected bars and restaurants at the end of last year when those shelves went dark... So what can we look forward to? Ill tell you 'cause I just got a bottle! In a similar vein to Unicum Szilva (plum), the base is still that of the classic bittersweet Unicum recipe of 40 or so herbs and spices. This time however, the recipe has been given the additional ingredient of arabica coffee. The tradition of drinking coffee with a side shot or pour of alcohol is worldwide. Think of your Italian Caffe corretto, a shot of espresso with a small amount of booze, usually grappa and sometimes sambuca or brandy. The Hungarian farmer on a winters morning has been known to splash a little palinka into his morning kickstart too. I wont go into the Scottish Rugby Tea, but you get the idea. Unicum and Unicum Szilva are awesome with coffee and coffee cocktails. Along with the rest of the world, the recent coffee shop or cafe revolution has sped things up in terms of quality and interest generally. So understandably Zoltan Nagy, he of Budapests famous Boutiq bar, and Sandor Toth, professional coffee roaster, barista (and all round coffee badass) put their heads together with Zwack to deliver a new Amaro (or bittersweet digestif). The story behind the coffee deserves an article in itself. In brief, Sandor Toth met and now works with Laszlo Banyai, a Hungarian emigre to the US and now Costa Rica where he has his 11 acre coffee farm of 55,000 bushes. Apart from the cool fact that a Hungarian is producing the beans in Costa Rica to be then sent to Hungary, the process is a bit special. Sandor calls it the Banyai honey method. Basically, when the beans are taken out of the berry, a layer of "honey" pectin is, unusually, kept on its surface and dried with it prior to roasting. Alright Mr. Bartender, so what's it like?! Served at room temp . Aroma: espresso / cold brew coffee, vanilla, old cigar box, sour cherry, malty molasses - touch of marmite, anise Taste: coffee not as intense as the aroma suggests it will be. Obvious blend with the original Unicum although interestingly reduces the bitterness which I wasnt expecting as they have not increased the sugar content. Finish: Cigar coming back then drying up with the familiar quinine, bitter chocolate, seville orange zest and minty notes of its classic Daddy. Served chilled (5-6 C) Aroma: As expected, the aromas, especially the coffee, are quieter. Dark bitter chocolate appears with those molasses again. Taste: The coffee and Unicum blend is much more integrated - its become one. Less bitterness so the chocolate/ cacao nibs are allowed to sing a bit more. Finish: Ginger, some spices (cardamom, all spice, cinnamon?) and a clean old-school espresso thats had a sprinkle of sugar. What of the cocktail potential then? Its early days as bartenders havent really been able to play with it yet. Zoltan has produced a menu of simple long drinks with various tonics, creams and colas as well as a few more complex, shaken drinks. My favourite being the J.Z. Martini, ( a sort of reverse French Martini for those of you shakers out there). Unicum Barista, Creme de cassis (blackcurrant) and pineapple. Pineapple and coffee are, perhaps surprisingly, great bedfellows. So, welcome to the family and the backbar Unicum Barista. I hope well all be able to try more of you and your cocktails in the not too distant future. By Dez O'Connell, Bar & Drink Consultant https://www.facebook.com/betterbars Last New Years Eve, Catriona OConnor paused for a photo with three of her colleagues after leaving work. They had just closed the shutters of the Dorothy Perkins store on Patrick Street in Cork for what they feared would be the last time. They had emptied their lockers and taken their cups from the canteen. Outside, it was more difficult to plan their next move. Their employer Arcadia had become the latest British high street giant to go into liquidation. It has since closed its brick-and-mortar stores, selling well known brands like Topshop to online retailers. We shut the doors for Level 5 restrictions on New Years Eve, she said. We were in liquidation at that point and knew it probably would be the last time we were locking the doors. Read More We got our notice then. It was pretty fast moving from working for Arcadia to being unemployed. At the shop across the road from Debenhams, she looked after many regulars, kitting them out for special occasions like funerals, christenings and weddings. Its very sad to see so many buildings empty in the city, she said. For the older customers and the regulars, it will be very sad. We had a group of sisters who used to come in to us every Friday. We used to call them the Friday girls. Wed show them all the bargains. They loved it. Theyd come in for lunch and have a nose around the shop. They were lovely women, and their whole routine is going to be gone now. She got the job straight after her Leaving Cert and stayed because she loved it so much. You have to have that element of customer skills and you face a lot of backlash and come home with a pain in your head some nights. Its one of those jobs that gets forgotten about and taken for granted, she said. Now on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, its daunting and scary to know she will have to start again in the middle of a pandemic. Her partner works in construction, but can only carry out essential jobs. She will get the basic statutory redundancy payment, not the four weeks per year of service package that had been negotiated in the past. Although they have held protests, she is not sure her colleagues are up for the same battle that former Debenhams workers have engaged in for almost a year .My initial plan was to upskill and go back to college and do something else, she said. Its hard to know what my next step should be. Were saving for a mortgage. The best option for me would be to get a job and push the whole college thing back. But she worries about how she will manage childminding for her two-year-old son. In retail, they want young staff they can call with an hours notice. Its hard for the likes of me with a little fellow. Shed prefer to return to retail, specialising in merchandising. We were like sisters, all of us, she said. It is sad on a personal level that when things start to reopen, were not going back there. Its an old building and it was ours in a way, our second home. Cahya Mata Sarawak sees gradual increase in cement demand 04 March 2021 Malaysia-based Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS) can expect an improved financial performance this year, given the anticipated gradual recovery in the demand for building materials in Sarawak following the relaxation of movement restrictions. TA Securities Research said CMS management expects demand for cement to be around 1.6Mt in 2021, backed by ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway, Coastal Road and Baleh Hydro Dam. The groups clinker plant is also on track to increase its production to 750,000t and 800,000t for the FY21 and FY22, respectively, to be less reliant on imported clinker. Meanwhile, AmInvestment Bank Research estimated that CMS dependence on clinker imports, which are largely from Peninsular Malaysia and other parts of southeast Asia, will decline to a share of clinker requirement of between 45-50 per cent from 60 per cent previously. The sizes of the clinker and cement markets in Sarawak are about 1.4Mta and 1.7Mta, respectively. For the construction materials and trading division, TA Securities pointed out that CMS management guided that the demand for aggregates has started to pick up and the group is looking for a new quarry to increase the current production capacity. The order book for its construction division stood at MYR1.2bn (US$295.8m) as at the 4Q20. Published under TV presenter Laura Whitmore is having a baby girl, according to an exclusive extract from her first book. The Bray-born star (35) is due her first child with husband Iain Sterling, whom she married at an intimate ceremony in Dublin last November. Writing in her new book, No-one Can Change Your Life Except for You, the Love Island presenter says: Theres a new chapter coming in my life in the form of a baby girl currently growing inside me. And that scares the s*it out of me. I once swallowed a fly and was freaked out that there was a live bug inside me. A little live human is a whole new level of freaking out. But Im excited. Because there is a lot of good in the world, there is a lot of potential and I want to bring up a child knowing that she has her own story to write. She adds: She will be supported and loved but she is the heroine of her own life, no-one else. We arent built to have it all figured out. Imagine how boring a tale that would be! But we have the tools and capabilities to get through anything. News of her engagement and subsequent wedding to the Love Island voice-over star last November was revealed by a UK media organisation. So the former MTV presenter has been keen to control the narrative on her pregnancy, having revealed her pregnancy bump in a shoot with a UK magazine and the babys gender in her new book. Expand Close Photo by: Laura Whitmore/ Instagram / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Photo by: Laura Whitmore/ Instagram The title of her debut tome was inspired by the first album she ever owned as a child, by Wilson Philips and she also details her life growing up in Bray and her entry into the showbiz world. However, in the book, she also details some harrowing levels of sexual harassment that she experienced as a younger woman. I had my ass slapped when I was 16 in a local club in Ireland and my older cousin Clair, who was with me, pushed the guy against a wall and made him apologise to me. He was shocked. He had never had that response before. That single moment comes back to me every time I feel violated in a similar way. No-one has the right to do that to anyone. My body, my property. This I know. But sadly, Ive experienced such behaviour repeatedly. Read More She said that when she first moved to London during her 20s, someone smacked my ass before I got on to a bus. Ive had lewd remarks shouted at me. Every time I pass a group of guys alone, my stomach knots and I keep my head down because I worry theyll shout something and embarrass me. I am by no means a weak woman. I consider myself a strong person. But sometimes I feel I have to choose my battles and other times I feel like in that club whats the point? Sometimes its about timing. Waiting until you feel strong enough and protected to speak up. Sometimesyouve just had enough. Broken down into nine different chapters, her book sees her sharing some of the lessons that she has learned through life and how you can take charge of your own destiny by having more self-belief. Two days later, during an interview at the Dallas Police Headquarters, the witness implicated Officer Riser in the murders of both Ms. Saenz and Mr. Douglas, whose family had reported him missing in February 2017, according to the authorities. His body has not been found, although the witness told the police that Mr. Douglas had been shot and killed then dumped in the Trinity River. The witness said he and Officer Riser had known each other for years and had reconnected in 2013 when Officer Riser contacted him and asked him if he was still doing the things they were doing when they were young, like committing burglaries, the witness told the police. The witness said that Officer Riser initially promised to provide him with information about drug houses if the witness and his crew would rob the houses and then keep the drugs and give any stolen money or guns to Officer Riser, the police said. The plan, however, never materialized, the witness said, because Officer Riser then came up with a plan to have Mr. Douglas kidnapped and killed for $3,500, the police said. After discussing the plan at a doughnut shop and in a park, the witness said, Officer Riser drove him to a place where he identified Mr. Douglas as his target, the police said. Several days later, the witness said, he and an associate stopped and handcuffed Mr. Douglas, put him in a car and drove him to a spot near the Trinity River, the police said. Mr. Douglas was shot and killed and his body was dumped in the river, the witness told the police. About two weeks later, Officer Riser contacted the witness again and told him he would pay him $6,000 to kidnap and kill Ms. Saenz, the police said. Officer Riser told the witness that she was an informant, the police said. This gives people something to talk about other than the states failure to protect the power grid, he said. In a statement on Tuesday, the governor had defended his decision by saying: We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, Covid-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. But that sense of optimism was lost on local officials like Ricardo Samaniego, the county judge of El Paso County, where according to a New York Times database one in seven residents is known to have had the virus. We still have mortuaries that are saturated, he said. We still have bodies that have been there for two to three months. He said the leaders of the six largest counties in the state agreed that Mr. Abbotts decision was premature. But he said he saw no indication that their opinions were sought, which left him frustrated and dejected. We were doing so well, he said. We had worked so hard. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Abbotts decision will trigger a wave of similar decisions by other governors eager to lift restrictions. On the same afternoon as Mr. Abbotts speech, the governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves, also a Republican, announced he was lifting the statewide mask mandate and rescinding capacity limits on businesses there. We continue to suggest that you do the right thing, said Mr. Reeves, who, like Mr. Abbott, urged people to continue to wear masks despite the lifting of the state order. The precautions remain the same, Mr. Reeves said; the difference is that the government is no longer telling you what you can and cannot do. 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 Pentagon officials placed unusual restrictions on the D.C. National Guard before the Capitol riot, its commander told senators on Wednesday, saying the military leaders fears of a repeat of aggressive tactics used during racial justice protests last year slowed decision-making and squandered time as the violence by a pro-Trump mob escalated. Military and federal security officials detailed in a joint Senate committee hearing the additional security breakdowns that led to the failure to quell the mob attack on Jan. 6. Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the D.C. National Guard commander, said he did not receive approval to mobilize troops until more than three hours after he had requested it. The delay he outlined was longer than previously known and came to light in the latest hearing by lawmakers investigating the attack. Days before the riot, the Pentagon had removed General Walkers authority to quickly deploy his troops, he testified. He said he was unable to move troops even from one traffic stop to another without permission from Ryan D. McCarthy, the Army secretary. Once General Walker had approval for deployment, the Guard arrived at the Capitol only minutes later, at 5:20 p.m., and helped re-establish the security perimeter on the east side of the building. Ryanair has announced eight new routes from Belfast City for summer 2021 (Niall Carson/PA) Ryanair will return to Belfast City Airport after 11 years with the launch eight new routes connecting Belfast to a host of popular international summer destinations. The new routes are Malaga, Mallorca, Faro, Alicante, Barcelona, Ibiza, Milan Bergamo and Valencia. The airline says the UKs highly successful rollout of its vaccination programme, which has seen almost 35% of the adult population of Northern Ireland already vaccinated, provides consumer confidence that summer travel will be possible. Ryanairs director of marketing, Dara Brady said: We are delighted to make a return to Belfast City Airport this summer, having previously operated here in 2010. The UK Government's highly successful rollout of their vaccination programme gives customers the confidence that travel will be possible this summer and NI consumers now have eight routes at low fares to some of the most popular summer holiday destinations in Spain, Portugal and Italy to choose from. Expand Close George Best Belfast Airport / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp George Best Belfast Airport Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport, Brian Ambrose added: This is excellent news for those in Northern Ireland considering a getaway this summer. The choice of routes offered by Ryanair will facilitate both city breaks and relaxing beach holidays for our passengers. Travel has been significantly restricted over the last 12 months and as the vaccine rollout continues at pace and the restrictions ease, we expect there will be considerable demand for these routes, and we look forward to welcoming Ryanair customers through the terminal. To celebrate the return to Belfast City Airport, Ryanair has launched a seat sale, with fares available from just 14.99 for travel from June to October 2021, which must be booked by midnight Saturday, 6th March only on https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en A woman surnamed Tang from Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, was recently denied permission to register her marriage using a photo of her and her husband wearing hanfu, a traditional form of clothing, sparking debate online, The Paper reported on Wednesday. According to Tang, a hanfu enthusiast, she had seen online examples of couples in other cities who had successfully registered their marriage licenses using a similar type of photo, so she and her husband took a photo wearing the traditional garb; the size, and background of which were in line with the marriage registration regulations. Tang said that although the civil affairs bureau staff kindly explained to her why she could not register, what she couldn't accept was the reason given by the civil affairs bureau: "the cloth was like an opera costume." Hanfu, the traditional clothing for Han Chinese, an ethnic group that makes up more than 90 percent of the Chinese population, has seen a resurgence in recent years. Mainly favored by young people, it isn't only popular, but has also gained widespread acceptance as daily attire. The civil affairs bureau staff said there was no precedent in Wuxi City before, so they could not agree with Tang's request. The staff also explained that the previous expression of "opera costume" is not accurate, and it is understandable for her to bring personality to her photo. Whether hanfu photos will be recognized in the marriage register in the future still needs to be studied. Netizens have mixed reactions to this. According to some netizens, the item is a traditional Chinese costume, and a well-sized photo of the newlyweds in hanfu can obviously be used for registration. But other netizens believe that the marriage certificate is mostly used for formal occasions as proof, and therefore the clothes should not be too distinctive. Some netizens also suggested that Tang replace her hanfu with a simple and light color one that stands out from the red background. A reporter from The Paper also consulted a lawyer about the issue. Xing Xin, a senior partner and lawyer at Hunan King Zone Lawyer Office, told The Paper that a marriage license is a legal document proving that a marriage is legal and valid, and the photos used on the marriage license should be rigorous, authentic, and not affect the identification process. On the other hand, he said, the regulations issued by the civil affairs department do not have specific provisions to explicitly reject hanfu photos. Under the condition of not violating the public order and good customs, the marriage registration authorities should not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to the dress of registering photos. Xing suggested that on the premise of not affecting the identification function of the registering photos, it can be considered to properly meet the individual needs of registrants. According to the past reports, some local civil affairs departments had previously refused to allow couples to register their marriage license with photos wearing a hanfu or cheongsam, while some local civil affairs departments allow for some differences. Yunnan Radio and Television previously reported that in Kunming, couples can use hanfu and cheongsam photos to register the marriage license. But the staff also reminded newlyweds to not go overboard in modifying their photos and to refrain from wearing redundant accessories. An official with the civil affairs bureau of Yanta District in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province also said on Wednesday that the hanfu photo will not affect the marriage license registration, but the marriage license may be used by various departments in the future, and couples need to consider it carefully. (CNN) Global emissions of heat-trapping gases fell dramatically last year as the pandemic forced much of the world to a halt. But new data has shown they are bouncing back fast. Lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus caused a 7% drop in CO2 emissions over the course of 2020 the biggest drop ever recorded a study published Wednesday in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change estimates. But its authors warn that unless governments prioritize green investment in their attempts to boost their struggling economies, the world is going to see a strong rebound in emissions with potentially catastrophic consequences. Corinne Le Quere, one of the authors of the study and a professor of climate change science at the University of East Anglia, said the big, pandemic-induced drop in emissions in April was short-lived. Once lockdowns started to lift, emissions bounced back strongly. "Because nothing has changed around us," she said. "The confinement measures are a forced behavior change, they are not lasting." And while the world's battle with Covid-19 is far from over, emissions have already recovered. New data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) published on Tuesday showed global energy-related emissions were actually 2% higher in December 2020 than they were in the same month a year earlier -- and that was despite parts of the world still experiencing lockdowns. Fatih Birol, the IEA's executive director, said the rebound in carbon emissions was "a stark warning that not enough is being done to accelerate clean energy transitions worldwide." "If governments don't move quickly with the right energy policies, this could put at risk the world's historic opportunity to make 2019 the definitive peak in global emissions," he said in a statement. The burning of fossil fuels in cars, planes and power plants -- as well as through other human activities releases CO2 into the atmosphere, where it accumulates like a blanket and traps in radiation that would otherwise escape into space. This causes temperatures on Earth to rise, which is linked to more extreme weather, ice melt and a rise in sea levels. And the more carbon emitted into the atmosphere, the more the planet will warm. Under the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, the majority of the world's governments agreed to try to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Experts have repeatedly warned that exceeding the threshold will contribute to more heatwaves and hot summers, greater sea level rise, worse droughts and rainfall extremes, wildfires, floods and food shortages for millions of people. According to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global CO2 emissions must drop by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 for the world to have a chance to hold warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this, the world needs to reduce emissions by between 1 gigaton and 2 gigatons each year between now and 2030. Those drops are similar in size to the one seen last year: Le Quere and her co-authors estimate global emissions fell by 2.6 gigatons in 2020 to 34 gigatons -- but this drop was temporary and came at a huge cost to the economy. They key going forward is to figure out how to achieve such significant drops without hurting the economy. To do that, the authors say investment in renewable energy and a green recovery is vital. "It's a crucial year for tackling climate change, not only because we're already in 2021, but in addition, we're doing all these post-Covid investments and if they go to the wrong place, it could really lock us into a very fossil (fuel)-intense trajectory, whereas if we put them in the right place, it could bend the emissions curve," Le Quere said. She added that while many countries have adopted ambitious goals of cutting emissions to net zero by 2050 or 2060, what's lacking are many details on how they plan to get there. Despite the pledges, there's growing evidence that the world's governments are not taking sufficient action. According to the Greenness of Stimulus Index, which was developed by the economic consulting group Vivid Economics and tracks G20 countries' economic plans, the vast majority of the money committed to the post-Covid recovery is going into projects that are either outright bad for the climate or neutral, at best. The group found that of the total stimulus of $14.9 trillion injected so far, only $1.8 trillion has gone into green projects, while $4.6 trillion has gone directly into sectors that have "a large and lasting impact on carbon emissions and nature." The new IEA data also backs up the idea that much of the recovery is being fueled by polluting sectors and that, in some cases, the emissions reductions seen in the first half of 2020 were more than made up for by dramatic increases later on. China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, saw a 12% drop in emissions in February 2020, compared with the same month in 2019, according to the IEA. But emissions bounced back quickly after the country's economy returned to growth in April 2020, and for the rest of the year, monthly emissions were on average 5% higher compared with 2019 levels. This rebound meant that despite the big drop in February, emissions in China actually rose by 0.8% for the whole of 2020. "China is so big, well over a quarter of global emissions, so whatever happens in China leaves a big fingerprint on the global total," said Glen Peters, research director at the CICERO Center for International Climate Research. Peters said the strong rebound in emissions shows how challenging it will be for China to reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2060. "That's quite ambitious for China given its heavy dependence on coal," he said. China isn't the only trouble spot. Emissions in India were back above 2019 levels from September 2020 onward. In Brazil, they surpassed the 2019 levels throughout the final quarter, the IEA data shows. And while emissions in the United States fell by 10% in 2020 overall, they started to bounce back later in the year. In December, US emissions were approaching the level seen in the same month a year earlier, the IEA said. This story was first published on CNN.com Remember the pandemic greenhouse emissions drop? It's nearly gone The health minister has said he is not in favour of Covid-19 vaccine certificates becoming mandatory in Northern Ireland. Robin Swann said they may be used for international travel but the idea they may be required in Northern Ireland to visit the cinema or restaurant doesnt sit comfortably with me. Appearing at the Stormont health committee on Thursday morning, the UUP minister also said the use of vaccine certificates is not generally supported by the Executive. Responding to a question on the subject from SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, he said: It is one of those very topical conversations at this minute of time. There was a four nations call last night at first ministers level, which I was part of and I know its a piece of work that Her Majestys government are actually undertaking as to what that looks like. It will bring particular challenges, especially for us because if we introduce a Covid certificate or passport or whatever it may deemed to be about access to services, especially its how we match that as well and its something the Deputy First Minister raised about how thats concurrent across these islands, not just throughout the United Kingdom as well. Read More I suppose the additional challenges, as well as how they are perceived on an international basis, will some countries insist on having a vaccination certificate or passport prior to entry for holidays and things like that? It is something that we will have to develop to allow that greater part of travel. Its not something, and I will be honest with you, its not something from a political point of view or a personal point of view that I think we should ever develop in Northern Ireland, that we would need to provide certification of vaccination to enter a cinema or to enter a restaurant. Thats not something that sits comfortably with me. Read More Mr Swann said proof of vaccination against the likes of yellow fever is already required in some regions so it is possible that Covid vaccination certificates may be required for international travel in future. But to access services is something I dont think the Executive or I dont think the Assembly would be entirely comfortable with, he continued. Mr Swann also provided an update on the vaccination programme and again ruled out the need for a 24/7 service. He said consideration is being given to the possibility that the planned mass vaccination at the SSE Arena will run extended hours but not on a 24/7 basis. He also said he expects that everyone over the age of 50 will have received a vaccine by April. Myanmar security forces opened fire on protesters against military rule again on Wednesday. The shooting came a day after calls for restraint and offers to solve the crisis from neighboring countries. The Associated Press reported at least eight people were killed Wednesday including a 14-year-old boy. The United Nations Human Rights Office said security forces also killed at least 18 protesters last Sunday. And Reuters has reported that at least 40 people have been killed since February 1 when the military seized control and removed Myanmars elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Witnesses told Reuters that security forces used real bullets with little warning in several towns and cities. Its horrific, its a massacre. No words can describe the situation and our feelings, youth activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi told the news agency. A spokesman for the military rulers did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. The country is like Tiananmen Square in most of its major cities, the Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, said on Twitter. He was referring to the violent suppression of student-led protests in China in 1989. Myanmar is a majority Buddhist country with a small Christian community. Security forces in Yangon, the countrys main city, detained about 300 protesters, the Myanmar Now news agency reported. Video posted on social media showed lines of young men with their hands on their heads. It shows them getting into army trucks as police and soldiers stand guard. One video taken from a security camera showed police beating members of an ambulance crew. Police can be seen kicking the three crew members and hitting them with their guns. In the central town of Myingyan, social media reported the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy. In Mandalay, the countrys second-biggest city, police and soldiers chased around 1,000 teachers and students with tear gas as gun shots could be heard. The violence came a day after foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) urged restraint. Myanmar is an ASEAN member. The Southeast Asian neighbors, however, did not unite behind a call for the release of Suu Kyi and a return to democracy. The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet on the situation this Friday. Britain reportedly requested the meeting but two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, would almost certainly veto any action. The Myanmar military claimed that its action came after reports of fraud in the November 8 election were ignored. Suu Kyis party had won a large majority and the election commission said the vote was fair. Im Jonathan Evans. Hai Do wrote this report with material from Reuters and the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story restraint n.(formal) a way of limiting, controlling or not taking action massacre n. the violent killing of many people ambulance n. a vehicle used for taking hurt or sick peole to the hospital especially for emergencies fraud n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. is gearing up for the global debut of its Redmi Note 10 series from India on Thursday at 12 pm. The Chinese technology company is expected to launch at least three models in the Redmi Note 10 series, including a model with 108-megapixel-based quad-camera array on the back. The series is expected to be powered by Qualcomm mobile processors, big capacity batteries, and Android operating system based MIUI user interface. Importantly, the series is expected to bring smartphone with 4G LTE network connectivity, and not 5G. Redmi Note 10 series: Livestream details The Redmi Note 10 series launch event is set to begin at 12 pm on March 4. The virtual event will livestream on Xiaomi Indias YouTube channel. Besides, Xiaomi will share live updated from the event on its social media handles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can watch the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 series launch livestream through the video embed below. A design to challenge your boundaries! At 20:00 (GMT+8) on March 4th, #RedmiNote10Series is ready to meet the world. #ChallengeAccepted pic.twitter.com/XSXQPE6CDV Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) March 3, 2021 Redmi Note 10 series: Expected specifications The Redmi Note 10 series is expected to debut with at least three the Redmi Note 10, Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. While the Redmi Note 10 is expected to be the most affordable model, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is expected to be the top-end model in the series. The Redmi Note 10 Pro, on the other hand, is expected to be a lot similar to the top-end model but with a different camera configuration. The are expected to sport super AMOLED displays, including a 120Hz refresh rate one in at least one of the models. Powering the smartphone would be Qualcomm Snapdragon system-on-chip and big capacity batteries. The upcoming are expected to ship with fast chargers. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. With just one week to go in the Paycheck Protection Program's exclusive 14-day lending window for companies with fewer than 20 employees, the U.S. Small Business Administration has released much-anticipated guidance for lenders on the latest changes. The problem: Some borrowers aren't going to like what they see. The 32-page document, known as an interim final rule, published Wednesday, spans many of the changes to the PPP the Biden administration requested last Monday. Among others, President Biden asked the SBA to modify the loan formula for sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed entrepreneurs--so called Schedule C filers--allowing them to apply for loans equivalent to their gross income, rather than their net income, which removes taxes and other expenses. Biden also authorized an exclusive lending window for the smallest borrowers, which launched on February 24 and ends on March 9. "The Paycheck Protection Program is a bipartisan effort; Democrats and Republicans helped pass it," Biden said in his announcement of the changes. "But Democrats and Republicans have also voiced concerns about improving it. With their input, that's what we're doing in our administration: improving it." However well-intentioned the changes may be, the new guidance will likely leave some business owners feeling disappointed. For starters, it's clear now that you'll have to wait a minimum of eight weeks before you can apply for a second-draw loan--which is liable to be a blow for business owners like Jennifer Moxley who were hoping to be able to apply for both their first- and second-draw loans this round. An eight-week waiting period makes it impossible someone to get a second-draw loan before the current PPP round ends on March 31--even if they could handily spend down the loan proceeds during that time. Using the prior, net income formula, Moxley applied in early February for her first PPP loan from BlueVine, a nonbank lender based in Redwood City, California. At just over $6,000, she says, it was a pittance. "I'm not ungrateful, but I have people to pay and I have rent and that's not that much money," she says. Like many self-employed entrepreneurs, Moxley, who runs Sunshine Media Network, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based media company, doesn't pocket much of her earnings. While the nine-year-old business does well--she says she typically employs around 30 1099 employees--she invests most of her earnings back into her company. If Moxley were able to apply for a second-draw loan according to her gross income, she would be eligible for the maximum a self-employed entrepreneur might receive under the new formula--that is, $20,833--as her gross income in 2019 exceeded the individual earnings cap of $100,000. "When the White House said you're going to get special treatment ... I was like, 'Oh, my god, this is amazing.'" Then, as details started to emerge, Moxley says she began to question whether to apply at all. "It's a joke," she says. "Small-business owners like me are missing out doing what they think is right." Per the new guidance, Moxley also can't retroactively change her earlier loan amount and base it on the new formula. "If you applied earlier this week and your loan was submitted to SBA and approved, there is nothing you can do other than to cancel the loan and start over," says David Patti, a spokesperson for Customers Bank, which has been closely monitoring the latest PPP changes. And if you do cancel and reapply, which you can do only if the money has yet to reach your account, Patti suggests you may run into delays that could push your loan approval past the program's end date. "You run the risk that the lender won't get to you in time," he says. "It's a difficult situation. [We're] hoping there might be more clarity in coming days." Further, the new guidance claws back a safe harbor for solopreneurs. While the SBA had previously stated it would only automatically audit all loans above $2 million, it's now making an exception for Schedule C borrowers with higher gross incomes. Because higher-income borrowers are presumed to have other available sources of liquidity, they may need to retroactively prove that they needed the loan. PPP and the solopreneur The challenges business owners like Moxley are facing now are just part of the difficult PPP experience for solopreneurs. While it's true that basing the original calculation on net income versus gross income almost always shortchanges founders who don't pay themselves well--which is the case for many sole proprietors--the biggest inequities of the PPP for this group aren't the government's fault, says Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed, a business association in Dallas. "Small-business owners--particularly the self-employed--don't have the resources that other big businesses do. They don't have someone out there doing the application for them," Hall says. "If they take time to do the application, they're taking time away from selling to the next customer." And many sole proprietors, independent contractors, and the like don't even know they're eligible for the program, says Martin Moll, founder and adviser at Breakaway Bookkeeping and Advising, a virtual network of bookkeepers and advisers in Tualatin, Oregon. "We find that many of the target audience President Biden is trying to reach remain unaware that applying for a loan is even an option. Either they stopped paying attention when they found out that they didn't qualify last year or, more likely, many sole proprietors are simply too busy earning a living to take the time to research the options available to them." Burundian refugee Ishimagizwe Eliana washes her hands at the entrance to the Natukobenyo health clinic, Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya, October 2020. UNHCR/Samuel Otieno For the worlds poorest people, COVID-19 has brought social and economic catastrophe. Up to 115 million likely fell into extreme poverty in 2020, the World Bank estimates. Most live in low- and middle-income countries, especially in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Even progress on vaccines is tempered by uncertainty about when these will reach vulnerable populations worldwide. The vulnerable include refugees and internally displaced people uprooted by conflict. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warns that their number has now passed 80 million, equal to the population of Germany. For example, in Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, COVID-19 has pushed a million Syrian refugees and 180,000 internally displaced people into poverty, along with over four million people in host communities. Today, 85 per cent of refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries. The current economic contraction is compounding crises of conflict, violence, and food insecurity that were already pushing communities to the brink. These countries infrastructure, health, education, and social protection systems are not set up to cope with a shock on this scale. Short of an urgent increase in humanitarian and development support, countries risk drastic, long-term destabilisation. The desperation among refugees is stark. UNHCR staff report more instances of self-harm, including suicides in countries as different as Uganda and Lebanon, a sign of acute anguish. Yet many refugees are able and willing to give back to host communities if they have the opportunity. In Jordan, France, and Peru, for example, refugees with a background in public health or medicine have joined frontline responders in the pandemic response. Even last February, before the pandemic, the World Bank estimated that, in 10 years, up to two-thirds of people living in extreme poverty would be in countries affected by fragility and conflict, where progress on poverty was reversing. Amid protracted conflicts, four out of five refugees now live in host countries for five years or more. Since the start of the pandemic, UNHCR and the World Bank have stepped up health, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to protect people forced to flee. We have worked with host country governments to ensure that the displaced are included in pandemic response and economic recovery efforts. But the economic crisis means efforts must be stepped up further: people forced to flee need long-term help more than ever. In 2019, more than half the worlds seven million school-age refugees did not attend school. Now, with COVID-induced closures, severe learning loss risks a lost generation of refugees with few job prospects and little hope. Refugee populations with the best access to job markets were typically in cities, but the coronavirus and recession have both hit urban areas hard, making them vulnerable to losing incomes, particularly the self-employed and informal workers. Social and economic stress could spill over into violence, triggering new waves of displacement. Host countries can benefit by including refugees and internally displaced people in recovery efforts and ensuring their access to public health, education, and labor markets. Many are making commendable efforts. Jordan, for instance, is including Syrian refugees in its national vaccination campaign and Lebanon has just committed to doing the same. Refugees have no safety net, and even data on their socioeconomic status is often lacking. Including themin national statistics, in emergency response and long-term recoverymakes them visible, helping us understand the scope of the challenge and how we can help. Investing in refugees cannot be the responsibility of host countries alone. In December 2018, the international community joined together on the Global Compact on Refugees, which commits donors and multilateral institutions to this shared responsibility as a global public good. We must live up to that commitment to refugees and host communities in spirit and deed. This op-ed was first published by Thomson Reuters Foundation. This is an excerpt from Chris Churchill's weekly newsletter. Sign up here, and it will arrive in your inbox every Friday . Hello everybody. How was your week? Mine was good. Busy. There have been a few things going on in the news, including, of course, the collapse of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's political career. Well, maybe "collapse" is going too far. We don't know can't know how the dueling scandals and investigations Cuomo now faces will ultimately play out. Nor can we know how voters in New York will respond to the drumbeat of bad news. I'm on record as believing that it's extremely unlikely this governor would ever resign but that it's also increasingly difficult to see him winning a fourth term. Really, his future hinges on three things: the investigation by Attorney General Tish James into the sexual harassment allegations; the FBI investigation into the administration's hiding of truthful data on nursing home deaths; and whether additional women come forward with new harassment claims. If both investigations clear him and no other women emerge, the governor could very well get through this. But that is one huge IF, and it has to be unsettling to Cuomo that he now has so little control over his future. The Democrat is, as you might have heard, a man who likes to control things, including who gets to ask him questions. And that brings us to the press conference on Wednesday, the one in which the reporters most likely to ask tough questions were ignored. The one in which the governor emerged from hiding and ... apologized. Can you believe it? The apology even seemed sincere. For the governor and other graduates of the Donald J. Trump School of Public Relations, where "never ever say you're sorry" is the mantra, that's remarkable enough. "I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable," Cuomo said. "It was unintentional and I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it and, frankly, I am embarrassed. And that's not easy to say." I now understand. That's an interesting phrase. I mean, why does Cuomo realize now that he made women uncomfortable? Wasn't it obvious, back in June, when Charlotte Bennett complained about the governor's behavior to his chief of staff and general counsel, that his behavior had upset her? It should have. Of course, it also should have been obvious that a 63-year-old governor asking a 25-year-old subordinate whether she has been with older men, among other gross questions, is the very definition of uncomfortable. Cuomo didn't understand that until now? Really? Likewise, it should have been obvious, especially in a state that mandates sexual harassment training for just about every person who has a job, that it's inappropriate for bosses to talk to employees that way. Cuomo says he took the training, we're told, so why is he now coming to understand that he acted poorly? And why was Bennett simply transferred to another job away from the governor, in apparent violation of state rules? On Wednesday, Cuomo also suggested his behavior will change going forward. But how much of his behavior will change? While sexual harassment is distinctly awful, it is also terribly consistent with other abuses of power of which the governor has been accused. In recent weeks, for example, Assemblyman Ron Kim said that the governor threatened to destroy him for critical comments about Cuomo's handling of nursing homes. In a recent Times Union article, we learned that Team Cuomo threatened Judith Enck, then a regional administrator for the EPA, because she demanded that the state stop telling residents of Hoosick Falls that their poisoned water was safe to drink. Will Cuomo stop doing that stuff, too? Or do the lessons of recent days apply only to sexual harassment? (Update: This newsletter item was written prior to the latest Cuomo scandal: Reports from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times detailing how top Cuomo officials doctored a state Department of Health report as part of an ongoing effort to hide the number of nursing home COVID-19 deaths.) cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill London: Modified vaccines to protect against new variants of coronavirus can be fast-tracked through the approval system, the UKs independent medicines regulator said on Thursday. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said this is because authorised COVID-19 vaccines that are modified in response to new variants will not need a brand new approval or lengthy" clinical studies, according to guidance from the Access Consortium a coalition of regulatory authorities from the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Switzerland. The guidance, developed by the MHRA and Access, lays out what information the medicines regulators would need to approve any modifications to authorised COVID-19 vaccines, should virus mutations make them less effective at preventing the disease. Our priority is to get effective vaccines to the public in as short a time as possible, without compromising on safety. Should any modifications to authorised COVID-19 vaccines be necessary, this regulatory approach should help to do just that," said Dr Christian Schneider, MHRA Chief Scientific Officer. The announcement today also demonstrates the strength of our international partnerships with other regulators and how our global work can help ensure faster access to life-saving vaccines in the UK and around the world. The public should be confident that no vaccine would be approved unless the expected high standards of safety, quality and effectiveness are met," he said. The approach will be based on the tried and tested regulatory process used for seasonal flu vaccines, for which annual modifications are needed to match the strains circulating each year. According to the latest guidance, vaccine manufacturers would need to provide robust evidence that the modified vaccine produces an immune response, but time-consuming clinical studies that do not add to the regulatory understanding of a vaccine safety, quality or effectiveness would not be needed. This is because researchers are now better able to measure protection by looking at antibodies in the blood following vaccination, reducing the need to wait and see whether or not people in a trial become infected with the disease, the MHRA explained. This would significantly reduce the length of time taken for the modified vaccine to be ready for use. Alongside data on the immune response, the vaccine manufacturer would also be expected to provide evidence showing the modified vaccine is safe and is of the expected quality. In addition, data from the original robust clinical trials and the ongoing studies on real-world use in millions of people could be used to support any decision by the regulators. The MHRA joined the Access Consortium in October last year to be part of a worldwide effort is to maximise international cooperation between partners in the consortium, reduce duplication, and increase each agencys capacity to ensure patients have timely access to high quality, safe and effective therapeutic products. Currently, the Brazilian variant of coronavirus, first detected in the city of Manaus, is causing the greatest concern over whether the current vaccines being administered will work to protect against it. Scientists have said that the current vaccines, especially those involving mRNA gene-based technology such as Pfizer/BioNTech, are relatively simple to reconfigure and adapt if required. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do An Israeli ship that suffered an explosion blamed on Iran is back at sea. The MV Helios Ray was sailing southeast off the coast of Oman on Wednesday, according to data from MarineTraffic. An explosion occurred aboard the cargo ship Feb. 26 in the Gulf of Oman between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. There were no injuries. The Helios Ray is owned by a Tel Aviv-based company, but flies the flag of the Bahamas. The vessel left port in Dubai, where it had docked for repairs following the blast, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for the explosion, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied involvement. Suspected Israeli airstrikes hit Iranian targets in Syria that day, which Israeli media outlets reported as a response to the purported attack on the ship. It is unclear where Helios Ray is sailing. It listed both its destination and origin as Dubai, but is currently heading away from the Emirati city. Novelist S.L. Lim has become the first non-binary writer to be in contention for one of Australias most important literary awards since changes were made to the eligibility requirements of the $50,000 Stella Prize for womens writing. But Lim, who made the longlist with second novel Revenge: Murder in Three Parts, played down the significance of the inclusion which comes after the award changed entry guidelines to include women-identifying and non-binary writers in 2019. Lim said they did not see their achievement as a milestone because the inclusion of non-binary and trans women in the prize was simply a necessary correction of a harmful prejudice. It was only noteworthy, they said, because the standard of human being in the world is so incredibly low that not being a TERF [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] is something we need to feel gratitude for. S.L. Lim has been longlisted for the $50,000 Stella Prize. Lims comments reflect the ongoing tension between supporters of trans and non-binary rights and gender critical feminists known by their opponents as TERFs who challenge the idea that gender identity is more relevant than biological sex. Non-binary means that a person does not identify exclusively as either male or female. More employees at Redstone Arsenal may be returning to the office with the lowering Thursday of the Army bases health protection condition. The arsenal announced that the health protection condition had been lowered to bravo due to the continuing decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases as well as the ability to test and treat the virus. Only about 25 percent of the more than 40,000 people who work daily at the arsenal have continued in-person work during the pandemic and officials have said more people reporting to work at Redstone Arsenal will have a positive impact on the Huntsville-area economy. Redstone Arsenal has taken a deliberate and measured approach to reopening installation services and ensuring proper health and safety measures are in place to facilitate the return of the workforce, the announcement said. Under HPCON Bravo, the installation is postured to accommodate a larger percentage of the workforce processing through our gates as tenant commanders determine their organizations workforce requirements. The announcement said employees should stay in contact with their direct supervisory chain or organizational leadership regarding their individual work status on the base. Gov. Tom Wolf is taking hits on issues ranging from vaccines to tolling bridges, from ballot questions to charter schools, from budget pitches to nursing homes. Hes the target of a jab fest seemingly bent on turning him into a political punching bag. Everything he does or seeks to do draws opposition and criticism. Hes stirred such ire among Republicans that the state GOP just officially censured him! Though who knows what that means, other than maybe hes now banned from GOP pig roasts. Anyway, the Govs got lots of haters and lots of heat, albeit mostly partisan. But other Democratic governors seem to be on hotter seats than his. Take two who also run big states. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is under fire amid claims of sexual harassment and a scandal over handling nursing home death data. Either could cost him his job. California Gov. Gavin Newsom faces recall for his COVID-19 lockdowns and personal dining habits, which potentially could cost him his job. More on these guys in a bit. First, a look at Wolfs current list. CORONAVIRUS: The House State Government Committee is starting a series of hearings into Wolfs handling of the pandemic. The first is Tuesday. The topic is lack of government transparency. NURSING HOMES: House Republicans just announced an investigation, with subpoena power, of the administrations oversight of long-term care facilities, focusing on questions and data related to COVID-19 deaths. CHARTER SCHOOLS: Wolf recently offered reforms to the states charter school law that would alter and cut funding. Within hours, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman tagged Wolf as Tone-deaf and out-of-touch. BRIDGE TOLLS: An administration plan to toll bridges, including the I-83 South Bridge, to pay for infrastructure, could earn Wolf permanent recognition. Dauphin County Republican Sen. John DiSanto says hell push legislation to rename the local span the Gov. Tom Wolf Toll Bridge. BALLOT QUESTIONS: Republicans, hoping to shrink Wolfs (and future governors) emergency powers, put questions to do so on Mays Primary Election ballot. Then, after the administration wrote the questions (as law requires), Republicans raged that verbiage was used to ensure the measures fail. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff called it shameful, labeling Wolf desperate to cling to power. Wolf even took shots from allies such as statewide education groups pushing vaccine priority for teachers (which Wolf now is granting). And some Democratic lawmakers want to create a statewide vaccine registry, which the administration has resisted. All this comes on top of ongoing GOP opposition to Wolfs calls for a natural gas severance tax, a higher income tax and a big bump in the minimum wage, recurrent wishes viewed as coming from Wolfs own Fantasy Island. All of it distracts from, if not hampers, Wolfs ability to govern. But others have bigger distractions. Cuomos under pressure both from New York Democratic lawmakers working to take away his emergency pandemic powers, and from others seeking his resignation after a third woman charged him with inappropriate behavior. Newsoms odds of facing a recall election -- enhanced by his infamous dinner during lockdown at Napa Valleys ritzy French Laundry -- just went up after a citizen recall petition surpassed the required 1.5 million signatures. Wolf doesnt have such troubles. First, Wolf likely thinks The French Laundry is a place to wash fancy shirts. And since Pennsylvania has no recall provision, allowing for buyers remorse after electing a governor as 20 states do, Wolfs job seems safe. (This assumes Butler County GOP Rep. Daryl Metcalfes nine-month IMPEACH WOLF NOW crusade stays stalled.) And, come on, the prospect of Wolf ever being in a Cuomo-like #MeToo moment falls somewhere between extremely unlikely and no way, no how. COVID-19 has been rough all around. The financial news website 24/7 Wall Street recently released data showing nearly all governors paid a price for their handling of the pandemic. Polling, collected throughout October, ranked Cuomo 10th. This was, of course, before his travails. Newsom ranked 26th. Wolf 32nd. Top-ranked governors were Republicans: Vermonts Phil Scott; Marylands Larry Hogan; Massachusetts Charlie Baker. Bottom-ranked were Nebraska Republican Pete Ricketts, Iowa Republican Kim Reynolds and Hawaiian Democrat David Ige. Now all states race to vaccinate their citizens. All focus should be on that. Especially here, where the vaccine rollout has been shaky. And especially since our governor doesnt face the ouster threats of others. John Baer may be reached at baer.columnist@gmail.com. More from PennLive Pa.s teacher, school staff vaccination program to launch on March 10 Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf signs bill enabling National Guard to help with COVID-19 vaccine effort CORK, Ireland, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI) Chairman and CEO George Oliver, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Olivier Leonetti will speak at the JP Morgan Industrials Conference held virtually on Monday, March 15, 2021 at 10:30a.m. EST. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the company's website at: http://investors.johnsoncontrols.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations. About Johnson Controls: At Johnson Controls, we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. From optimizing building performance to improving safety and enhancing comfort, we drive the outcomes that matter most. We deliver our promise in industries such as healthcare, education, data centers and manufacturing. With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries and over 130 years of innovation, we are the power behind our customers' mission. Our leading portfolio of building technology and solutions includes some of the most trusted names in the industry, such as Tyco, YORK, Metasys, Ruskin, Titus, Frick, Penn, Sabroe, Simplex, Ansul and Grinnell. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter. SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc Related Links https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ Some people are having delayed reactions to their first dose of a Covid vaccine, with their arms turning red, sore, itchy and swollen a week or so after the shot. The reactions, though unpleasant, appear to be harmless. But the angry-looking skin condition can be mistaken for an infection, according to a letter published on Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine. The doctors said they wanted to share information about the cases to help prevent the needless use of antibiotics and to ease patients worries and reassure them that they can safely get their second vaccine shot. We modified our patient handout once we started seeing this, Dr. Kimberly G. Blumenthal, an author of the letter and an allergist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said in an interview. We had said it was normal to get redness, itching and swelling when you get the vaccine. We changed the wording to say it can also start seven to 10 days after you get the vaccine. The letter describes the experiences of 12 people who had delayed large local reactions that began four to 11 days after the first shot of the Moderna vaccine, within a median of eight days. The report is not a controlled study, but rather a series of cases that came to the doctors attention because the vaccine recipients were concerned and wanted to know whether they should get the second shot. WASHINGTON - The chairman of the House Transportation Committee pitched a plan Thursday to raise money for infrastructure spending without Republican votes in the Senate before a bipartisan discussion at the White House. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., the leading voice on infrastructure in the House, described the idea in an interview with CNBC on the same day that he met with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. It would involve using reconciliation, a parliamentary procedure that Congress can use to pass budget measures with 50 votes in the Senate. DeFazio and Biden were joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and seven other House members. Biden said he wanted to talk to the group about "what we're going to do to make sure we, once again, lead the world across the board on infrastructure." Infrastructure is expected to rise up the agenda after Congress finishes work on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus package. DeFazio is targeting a transportation bill for the end of spring, and Senate Democrats are hoping to shape a key part of its package by Memorial Day. On Wednesday, the American Society of Civil Engineers released its influential four-year infrastructure report card, issuing a C- grade. The group pegged national road and rail transportation spending needs for the coming decade at $2.8 trillion - $1.2 trillion more than is currently proposed. The Biden administration and members of the Senate have pitched infrastructure spending as an area ripe for bipartisanship. But House Democrats' efforts to pass a sweeping infrastructure package last year showed limits on the potential for cooperation. DeFazio has said he hopes to set the nation's transportation infrastructure on a more environmentally sustainable path, casting his approach as a break with policies set during the Eisenhower era. That rankled Republicans, who complained about being shut out of the drafting process that led to last year's bill. It also prompted opposition from powerful state transportation departments, which say they are worried about being held to unattainable environmental standards. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, the Republican leader on the Transportation Committee, said he told Biden that Republican priorities had to be taken into account in any legislation. "A transportation bill needs to be a transportation bill that primarily focuses on fundamental transportation needs, such as roads and bridges," Graves said in a statement. "Republicans won't support another Green New Deal disguising itself as a transportation bill." Last year's $500 million legislation, which passed the House as part of a broader infrastructure package but was not taken up in the Senate, sought to weave environmental policies through transportation spending. It would have prioritized fixing existing roads and bridges over expanding the highway network and would have pumped money into transit and intercity rail. DeFazio told reporters after the meeting Thursday that it would form the basis for this year's proposal. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., a committee member, said that Biden showed his commitment to tackling climate change during the meeting and that he saw the potential to draw Republican support to the cause, especially if it's framed in economic terms. "The climate is changing, and the Republicans are coming along," Garamendi said. Disagreements over how to pay for any package have been long-standing. Gas taxes have not covered the cost of federal transportation spending for years, and Buttigieg recently said raising them would violate a pledge Biden made not to increase taxes on anyone making less than $400,000. The 2020 bill would have covered the existing funding gap and new spending by transferring $145 billion from other federal funds. There was discussion during the meeting Thursday about how to raise money, including the notion of taxing drivers by the number of miles they travel. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., the Transportation Committee's vice chairwoman, said that nailing down details will be part of lawmakers' work in coming weeks and that there were "quite a few different options on the table." Graves said a bill that is not paid for would lose Republican support. "We have to be responsible," he said. ROME, MAR 4 - Carabinieri police on Wednesday broke up a huge brawl in which youths were using clubs and even what appeared to be a butcher's cleaver in the northern town of Desio, near Brianza. Around 20 youths were involved in the fight and six have been identified and reported to prosecutors, including three minors. Two gangs of youths are thought to have arranged the fight in advance and agreed a time and place. A row over a romantic interest between two members of the two gangs is thought to have been the cause. (ANSA). AML RightSource Acquires Arachnys Informations Services, Ltd. AML RightSource (AMLRS or the Company), the leading outsourced provider of Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance solutions, is pleased to announce it has acquired Arachnys Information Services Limited (Arachnys). Arachnys, an innovative RegTech platform based in the United Kingdom, provides enriched, intelligent KYC and AML data and software solutions to accelerate customer onboarding and monitoring for financial institutions and other high-risk industries. Its platform and suite of APIs support KYC and onboarding, AML and investigations, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), adverse media monitoring, Third-Party Due Diligence (3PDD), and other critical anti-financial crimes (AFC) processes. Its an exciting time to join AML RightSource and we look forward to adding our technology and expertise to an industry-leading and rapidly growing organization, said David Buxton, CEO and Founder of Arachnys, who will continue leading Arachnys and will join AMLRS as Chief Product Officer. Together, we can offer a wider and more sophisticated range of scalable, KYC and anti-financial crimes compliance solutions, helping our customers reduce the friction of onboarding, monitoring, and AML investigations. Arachnys offers a technology platform that is powered by unparalleled data coverage. The platform employs machine learning to normalize and enrich entity profiles, automate manual tasks, and provide screening at scale. Arachnys global customer base includes financial institutions, asset and wealth management firms, FinTechs, insurance providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, oil and gas companies, and commercial real estate firms. We are delighted to be joining forces with David and his team to expand our capabilities and geographic footprint, Frank Ewing, Chief Executive Officer at AML RightSource, added, Arachnys has developed a differentiated suite of data and software solutions that, combined with our proven delivery model, will allow us to better arm our clients with the tools and technology needed to fight financial crime. AML RightSource is backed by Gridiron Capital, LLC (Gridiron Capital), a leading investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams. About Arachnys Arachnys accelerates onboarding and monitoring by providing the best global KYC and AML data. Enriched, intelligent data on customers enables straight-through processing and means fewer customer touchpoints, less risk and quicker revenue. Founded in 2010, Arachnys has helped some of the worlds biggest banks avoid regulatory fines and remediation costs while significantly improving operational efficiency. Visit arachnys.com for more information. About AML RightSource, LLC AML RightSource is the leading firm focused on fighting financial crime for its clients with Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and financial crimes compliance solutions. We provide highly-trained AML/BSA professionals to assist banks and non-bank financial institutions to meet day-to-day compliance tasks. Services include transaction monitoring, alert backlog management, enhanced due diligence reviews, and financial crimes advisory matters. Our highly trained workforce of nearly 1350 analysts and subject matter experts includes the industry's largest team of full-time professionals. AML RightSource is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, visit http://www.amlrightsource.com. About Gridiron Capital Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in branded consumer, B2B and B2C services, and niche industrial segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firms website: http://www.gridironcapital.com. Police are seen in the area after several people were attacked in Vetlanda (Mikael Fritzon/TT News Agency via AP) A man armed with an axe has injured eight people in a town in southern Sweden before being shot and arrested. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said a possible terrorist motive was being investigated. In the light of what has emerged so far in the police investigation, prosecutors have initiated a preliminary investigation into terrorist crimes, he said. Shortly after his statement, investigators at a police press conference said they had started a preliminary investigation into attempted murder with details that make us investigate any terrorist motives. But at the moment I cannot go into details, regional police chief Malena Grann said. Expand Close Police said the suspect was shot and taken to hospital (Mikael Fritzon/TT News Agency via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police said the suspect was shot and taken to hospital (Mikael Fritzon/TT News Agency via AP) Police said the man in his 20s attacked people in the small town of Vetlanda, about 118 miles south east of Gothenburg, Swedens second largest city. His motive was not immediately known. The man was shot by police, who said the condition of those attacked and of the perpetrator was not immediately known. Officials did not provide details on the identity of the suspect, who was taken to hospital. Local police chief Jonas Lindell said it seems that the injuries are not life-threatening but could not give further details. The events took place in central Vetlanda with police saying they got calls just after 2pm about a man assaulting people with an axe. Police said that there are five crime scenes in the town of roughly 13,000. Mr Lofven condemned this terrible act and added that Swedens domestic security agency SAPO was also working on the case. They continuously assess whether there are reasons to take security-enhancing measures and are prepared to do so if necessary, he said. New Delhi, March 4 : Initial discussion to shortlist names of the party candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls started at BJP chief J.P. Nadda' residence on Thursday. Senior leaders from the state, party in-charge and co-in-charge for West Bengal were attending the meeting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reached Nadda's residence. BJP national vice president Mukul Roy, national general secretary and state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, co-in-charge Arvind Menon, state unit president Dilip Ghosh, and former close aide of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former minister Suvendu Adhikari were present in the meeting. BJP sources said that on wednesday core committee of the West Bengal party unit shortlisted the names of the probable candidates recommended by district units. "In the meeting going at Nadda's residence, list of probable names will further shorten before being submitted in the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) which will select the candidates for the West Bengal polls," he said. The BJP's CEC meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend. Sources said that in the party CEC meeting the first list of the BJP candidates for 60 Assembly constituencies will be finalised. Polling in these seats will be held in the first two phases on March 27 and April 1. Eisai has committed the equivalent of $1 million in aid over the span of 1 year in order to support the controlling of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Africa Japanese firm Eisai Co., Ltd. announced that it has decided to assent to and support a project led by CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd., a subsidiary of the healthcare startup company engaged in improving healthcare access in Africa, Connect Afya Co., Ltd., which aims to build a new structure for the efficient testing framework for the novel coronavirus infection in Kenya. CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd., in collaboration with the government of Meru County in Kenya, will support the setup of PCR testing laboratories, along with procurement of equipment necessary for testing and training of screening technicians. Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties, is the most populous county in the Eastern Province of Kenya with approximately 1.35 million people. As the novel coronavirus infection spreads in Kenya, one issue in Meru County is the time required to receive screening results as samples must be sent across over 200 kilometers to the capital city of Nairobi for testing, a situation which is caused by a lack of equipment, facilities and technicians necessary for screening of the novel coronavirus. It is expected that support for this effort will contribute largely to the formation of accurate and rapid understanding of the infection situation as well as strategy that is based on that understanding by construction of PCR testing in Meru County. Eisai has committed the equivalent of 1 million USD in aid over the span of 1 year in order to support the controlling of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Africa, along with prevention of delays of elimination activities for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). As part of this support, Eisai has begun provision of Personal Protection Equipment (masks, goggles, face shields, etc.) to core hospitals in Africa for research of and countermeasures against infectious diseases, as well as masks and sanitizer for the resuming of mass drug administrations in Kenya for the elimination of NTDs. In addition, Eisai is supporting Amref Health Africa in the development and popularization of its mobile health platform LEAP for healthcare workers in sub-Saharan countries. Through this support, including the new support for Connect Afya, Eisai will continue in its contribution to mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Kenya and other African countries. Depression can be a common problem for teens and adolescents, and while many treatments exist, they don't always work for everyone. A new study found that feeling more informed about their health may help teens take better care of themselves, leading to less depressive symptoms. The researchers also found that trust played a factor in whether receiving health information improved depression. The more that adolescents trusted their parents or teacher as a credible source of health information, the more likely they were to experience less depression. Additionally, even though adolescents reported that they trusted traditional media -- like TV, radio and newspapers -- more than online content, only content from social media or websites resulted in actual changes in behavior. Bu Zhong, associate professor of communications at Penn State, said the findings -- recently published in the journal Child: Care, Health and Development -- suggest that while adolescents are probably taught to be skeptical of online content, websites and social media have the potential to powerfully affect adolescent health. "The kids weren't purposefully being misleading when they said they didn't trust information online, even though that information was ultimately linked with lower depression," Zhang said. "They were probably told by their parents and teachers to be wary of information found online or on social media. But our research found that online content has a strong impact on their health behavior and depression mitigation strategies, which are not found in the traditional media content." According to the researchers, depression is one of the most common mental disorders among adolescents in China. In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health reported that 13.3% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17 in 2017 had at least one major depressive episode. Additionally, previous work has shown that depression increases the risk of adolescents experiencing poorer school performance and social withdrawal, along with an increased risk of self-harm and suicide ideation. This study was actually inspired by my students, after several of them came to me really stressed out. I know firsthand how widespread depression can be among students, so I was interested in what kind of health information people shared with the young people and if it can help them cope with depression." Bu Zhong, Associate Professor of Communications, Penn State The researchers recruited 310 adolescents from elementary, middle and high schools in North China for the study. Participants answered information about health information -- such as seminars, classes, pamphlets and other media -- they recently consumed, including its quality and whether the source and information were credible. They also answered questions about their health, including their symptoms of depression and whether consuming health information led to changes in their behavior, such as whether they felt it helped them prevent disease and if it increased their likelihood to discuss and share health information with friends. The researchers found that the older participants were, the more likely they were to be depressed. Additionally, participants with higher GPAs were also more likely to be depressed. Zhang said this could be because the longer students were in school, and the better their grades were, the more likely they were more likely to feel more pressure to succeed. However, the more frequently participants used social media, the more likely they were to change their health behaviors, which led to less depression. Lastly, adolescents felt more depressed when their mothers had a higher level of education, but less depressed when their fathers had a higher level of education. Zhong described this finding as the "tiger mom effect." "These findings don't mean that a mom's education causes their kids' depression, but one interpretation could be that it may not be a good idea for moms to dominate their children's school life and push them too hard," Zhong said. "Kids may do much better at school and more importantly are less likely to experience stress or other depressive symptoms. Parents may learn from each other in educating their teen children." Overall, the researchers said the results suggest that health information has the potential to be strategically used to help mitigate depression in teens and adolescents. "Our research is interested in providing long-term health outcomes, not just temporary relief," Zhong said. "So we're looking for anything in addition to drugs, in addition to therapy, that can help people with their depression, and this offers another possibility. It may not be able to remove all the stressors causing teen depression, but it's possible we could equip adolescents with better health information gathering skills to help battle depression." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) China will donate 400,000 more doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Thursday. However, Duterte did not mention which brand of vaccine China will donate. "China will give us another 400,[000], making their donation to this country one million, he said during the inauguration two new school buildings in Valenzuela City. The Philippines received last Sunday 600,000 doses of Chinese manufacturer Sinovacs CoronaVac, which is the first to be rolled out in the country. Duterte has always been vocal over his preference for China-made COVID-19 vaccines, saying they are as good as those produced by American and European pharmaceuticals. "Others might prefer other vaccine brands. The doctors are very discriminating, they are waiting for Pfizer. Ang akin is Sinopharm, China (I prefer Sinopharm from China). Hindi ako masyado sa mga produkto ng puti (Im not fond of the products of Westerners)," the President reiterated. The country is set to receive today more than 480,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from British-Swedish drug firm AstraZeneca, under the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility. Malacanang earlier said Duterte is awaiting Emergency Use Authorization for China state-owned Sinopharm. Scientists have confirmed the existence of a "space hurricane" hovering over the North Pole, according to a recent study. The newly-discovered phenomena was spotted swirling in the Earth's upper atmosphere, according to a recent study by Nature Communications. ASTEROID PASSING EARTH: An asteroid the size of the Golden Gate Bridge will pass by Earth in March "This hurricane shows strong circular horizontal plasma flow with shears, a nearly zero-flow center, and a coincident cyclone-shaped aurora caused by strong electron precipitation associated with intense upward magnetic field-aligned currents," according to the study. In an interview with Science Alert's Michelle Starr, space environment physicist Mike Lockwood explained the groundbreaking nature of the phenomena. "Until now, it was uncertain that space plasma hurricanes even existed, so to prove this with such a striking observation is incredible," Lockwood said. Jupiter and Saturn are also considered "extremely turbulent places," and a good breeding ground for these hurricanes, Starr wrote. There's also "roiling plasma tornadoes deep in the atmosphere of the Sun," according to Starr. Previous observations of space hurricanes were recorded by satellites in Aug. 2014. "They were only uncovered during retrospective analyses led by scientists from Shandong University in China," according to Doyle Rice with USA Today. Lockwood told Rice chances are no one saw the "space hurricane." "The phenomenon would be an incredible sight, but it's likely no one saw this particular space hurricane. It would be visible to the naked eye but because the event is over the pole you would have to be at very high latitudes (to see it)," Lockwood said. The "space hurricane" measured 600 miles across and was detected hundreds of miles above the North Pole, according to Rice. It "rained electrons instead of water," according to the study. Space physicist Qing-He Zhang of Shandong University said space hurricanes will serve as important research subjects moving forward, Starr wrote. "In addition, the space hurricane will lead to important space weather effects like increased satellite drag, disturbances in High Frequency radio communications, and increased errors in over-the-horizon radar location, satellite navigation and communication systems." A magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Pinotepa Nacional, Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, Mexico, was reported only 21 minutes ago by Mexico's National Seismological Service (SSN), considered the main national agency that monitors seismic activity in Mexico. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 16 km beneath the epicenter early morning on Thursday 4 March 2021 at 3:14 am local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report. ... We are receiving unverified early reports of seismic activity in or around New Zealand at approximately 13:28 GMT. There are no details yet on the magnitude or depth of this earthquake. We expect more accurate data to emerge in the next few minutes. The location and magnitude mentioned are indicative and temporary until the AllQuakes monitoring service receives more exact scientific data from a national or international seismological agency. Check back here shortly and stay safe. ... Just 8 minutes ago, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Ruatoria, Gisborne District, Gisborne, New Zealand. The tremor was recorded early morning on Friday 5 March 2021 at 1:27 am local time, at an intermediate depth of 81.8 km below the surface. ... An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 occurred in the morning on Thursday 4 March 2021 at 7:34 am local time near Isla, Veracruz, Mexico, as reported by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). ... A magnitude 7.2 quake shook the North Island of New Zealand earlier today, 5 March 2021, at 1:27 am local time. The earthquake occurred 189 km northeast of the city of Gisborne, New Zealand, offshore at 82 km deep. ... Tsunami warnings were raised by the New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency over the coastal areas of North Island, New Zealand, following the magnitude 7.2 quake. The East coast of the North Island from Cape Runaway to Tolaga Bay was declared as areas under Land and Marine Threat. They had also announced that tsunami waves may reach the coasts of North Island by 3:34 am local time today, 5 March 2021. The New Zealand Civil Defence reiterated strict compliance to evacuation procedures and regard the threat as real until the warning has been cancelled. ... A magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Digos, Davao del Sur, Davao, Philippines, was reported only 29 minutes ago by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, considered the main national agency that monitors seismic activity in this part of the world. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km beneath the epicenter late at night on Thursday 4 March 2021 at 10:36 pm local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report. ... If you felt it , report it through our site or app right now! Support us - Help us upgrade our services! Weather reports Tsunami alerts Design upgrades Faster responsiveness Earthquake archive from 1900 onwards Additional seismic data sources Improved content in English Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world. Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Pope Francis has tapped New Jerseys highest ranking Catholic leader to be one of the few Americans sitting on a powerful Vatican committee that helps him appoint bishops around the world. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, head of the Archdiocese of Newark, was named Wednesday to the Congregation for Bishops, according to a Vatican announcement. The groups duties include advising the Pope on which priests should be selected to be bishops in dioceses around the world. Tobin, 68, will be one of two Americans on the panel, which already includes Chicagos Cardinal Blase Cupich. Tobin replaces retired Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl. Members of the Congregation for Bishops, which dates back to the 16th century, travel to Rome several times a year and have great influence in picking who will be bishops in their home countries, according to the National Catholic Reporter. Pope Francis also appointed Brazilian Archbishop Sergio da Rocha to the Congregation for Bishops Wednesday alongside Tobin. The appointment does not affect Tobins role as head of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jerseys largest Catholic diocese, serving more than 1.5 million Catholics in Essex, Union, Bergen and Hudson counties. Tobin did not immediately respond to a request to comment on his new appointment. Pope Francis selected Tobin to be the head of the Archdiocese of Newark in 2016. Tobin was previously the archbishop of Indianapolis and is known for his moderate views and sense of humor. The Pope and Tobin were friends long before Francis became head of the Catholic Church. The Detroit-born Tobin recalled in a 2016 interview that he met the future pope in 2005 when they sat next to each other on a Vatican committee while Francis was still a little-known cardinal from Argentina. During a coffee break at one of the committee meetings, Tobin joked with the Argentinian that his American mother had heard of the South American cardinal and hoped he would be the next pope. When an amused Francis asked why, Tobin said his Midwestern mother had read stories about the Argentinians reputation for cooking his own food, living in modest apartments and rejecting many of the perks that came with being a cardinal. He never forgot that, Tobin said. Years later, Pope Francis wrote Tobin a note saying, he remembered their conversation and his mothers good taste. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Pakistan: Rising sea level: Threat to coastal Life (Part 2) by Muhammad Ausaf Ashraf and Saud Bin Ahsen March 04,2021 | Source: Daily Times The effects of the risks coming about because of dynamic environmental change are evident up and down the drift. The antagonistic impact of ocean level ascent on the Pakistan is even more evident as geographically, it is a salt marsh zone in Indus Delta. The low-lying regions along the Baluchistan drift may likewise apply a critical impact. The possible impact of sea level rise would be on the coastal industry such as power plants, ports & harbors, real estate & housing, tourism, coastal fishing/agriculture etc. Even a modest rise in the sea level will threaten storm barriers and increase salinity of fresh water reservoirs along the coastal belt. The erosion processes (wind and wave) are severe along the Makran coast particularly on coastal cliffs composed of soft rocks. At places, the erosion is very fast and the shoreline between the promontories of hard rocks is receding at a very high rate. Lately, the rate of disintegration seems to have expanded at a few focuses along the drift. The islands at the approaches of the creeks have been severely eroded. The creeks, which are near the present outfall of the Indus River at the concave bulge of the delta, are facing erosion due to natural hydraulic forces. The high-energy wave actions are strong during South-West monsoon period. The soil cover in the deltaic area is drift type, made up of material transported by rivers, mostly mudflats and marshy areas and can easily be encroached upon by sea. Creek region shows recession towards inland. The Sea Level Rise (SLR) will cause significant flooding impacts in the coastal zone particularly in the low-lying Deltaic regions. Low-lying coastal areas would become more vulnerable to flooding for four reasons: (1) A higher sea level provides a higher base for storm surges to build upon; (2) Beach erosion would leave coastal properties highly vulnerable to storm waves (3) Higher water levels would increase flooding due to rainstorms by reducing coastal drainage. A rise in sea level would raise the water table. Floods along the Sindh coast continue to be a regular event although damage has always been variable. Frequent flash flooding because of torrential rains in Baluchistan, particularly Makran division during the Southwest monsoon period causes heavy losses to both human and their property. Hundreds of persons including women and children in villages swept away and thousands rendered homeless by flash flood in recent years. A large part of lower Indus deltaic area would be at risk from frequent flooding by the end of the next century according to these scenarios, even if storms did not become more intense or frequent. Although the marshy area Rann of Kutch can adapt to moderate rates of sea level rise, but these areas may be unable to keep up with the accelerated sea rise rates. If the number of coastal storms increased, the impacts of flooding would certainly aggravate. The coastal Sindh is prone to storm surges associated with the severe cyclonic storms generated in the adjacent Arabian Sea. A significant number of the cyclonic storms produced in the Arabian Sea move towards North and Northeast and some of them hit Pakistan Coast, resulting in huge losses to life and property in the coastal areas. Indus Deltaic Creeks are critically located on the path of cyclones of the Arabian Sea. The winds and low pressure creates storm surges which when combined with high tides, can create destruction in the coastal areas. The effects of SLR do not stop at the prompt drift. As ocean level ascents, there is an expanded danger that saltwater will enter upstream and inland. This impact would be especially apparent amid the dry season conditions that are progressively likely under environmental change. The ocean level ascent would empower saltwater to entrance more distant inland and upstream in to the waterways, wetlands, and aquifers, which would be destructive to the amphibian greenery, and would undermine human employments of water. Expanded saltiness has just been referred to in the greater part of the seaside territories uncommonly in bring down deltaic plain district. The water conditions will become brackish and would causing great economical and health problems in the coastal region. Mangrove Backwoods Mangrove cover in the Pakistan have diminished and incapacitating the survival of the normal assets and in this way the business of an expansive number of anglers. Aimless misuse and disintegration of the seaside assets because of changes in the natural conditions, for example, hyper-saltiness, contamination, soil disintegration and digging and conceivable effect of ocean level ascent and environmental change and so on. Sediment and mud stores lift arrive and the mangrove plants have restricted access to tidal water, the plant development consequently ends up impeded and the mangrove backwoods break down. The mangrove woods of the Indus Delta are under worry because of changing levels of water and dregs release from the Indus and the expanding impact of marine hydrological forms. Karachi is situated beside the Indus River Delta, where the Indus streams into the Arabian Sea. This delta is presently nearly at an indistinguishable level from the Arabian Sea, which is causing seawater intrusion and making devastation to the complex biological community of mangroves in the locale. Mangrove backwoods cover has diminished because of rising ocean levels, as well as because of land encroachment and badly managed population settlement plans. One such illustration is the construction of the Port Qasim Power Project along the coastline of the Arabian Sea resulting in a large number of locals, who once lived in this district, having been dislodged because of changes in the Indus deltas biological community caused both by such man-made projects as well as atmosphere interventions. Sri Lanka is worried about the new draft resolution put forward by the Core Group led by UK, which would be voted on March 22. by Col R Hariharan Overview If the happenings during the month in Sri Lanka are any indication, the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, voted to power by 6.9 million Sinhalas to restore Sinhala pride and Buddha Sasana as he claims, did not cover itself with glory. This was evident in the government conduct on three issues which peaked during the month troubled ethnic relations, the handling of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting on Sri Lankas human rights accountability, and challenges of governance. Perhaps, the bonhomie showed by visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, despite accusations of Islamophobia voiced by Muslim minority, was the only moment of cheer for the government. Significance of P2P march Perhaps for the first time since the 70s, Tamils of all hues Jaffna and Easterners, Muslims and Tamils of Indian origin (Up country Tamils) - came together, across political affiliations, to march peacefully for five days to voice their demands. They covered a distance of 750 km from the eastern town of Pottuvil to Polikandy in Jaffna in the North, to draw attention to demands, ignored by successive governments, as well as concerns on current issues. The march held from February 3 to 9, now embedded in Tamil lore as P2P, did not draw much attention in mainstream media, though Tamil media estimated the participation of a thousand people. Apparently, it was timed to draw international attention on the eve of the UNHRC meeting slated to discuss Sri Lankas human rights accountability issue. The proceedings of the UNHRC session, so far, indicates they had achieved their aim. The P2P march is a watershed moment for a number of reasons. For the first time, besides Tamils from north and east, plantation Tamils and Muslims had joined hands to project their demands peacefully. It was led by civil society organisations, with Tamil and Muslim political parties taking a back seat. Slogans raised at the march voiced, much more than longstanding demands of Tamils of North and East, like forcibly disappeared, vacation of land under occupation of security forces and release of LTTE suspects still in custody without due legal process. They also protested against denial of burial rites to Muslim victims of Covid pandemic, continued recourse to Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), denial of minimum wage of Rs 1000 per day to plantation Tamils and aberrations of Sinhala majoritarian rule against minorities. This would indicate, the patience of minority population is wearing thin over the governments continued indifference to their grievances. This increases the likelihood of minority politicians coming together for making common cause to build upon the Tamil idiom to further their political aspirations. Two mainstream political parties the SJB (clone of its parent UNP) and the JVP - came out in support of the Tamil marchers. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who is politically savvy, would remember that the P2P was reminiscent of the early 70s, when Tamils started projecting their demands for autonomy peacefully. It later snowballed into satyagraha movement under Dr SJV Chelvanayakam's leadership and opened the gates for Tamil separatist struggle. Wasted opportunity at UNHRC The four-week long 48th session of the UNHRC conducted virtually, has so far gone according to script. HR Commissioner Michelle Bechelet's report (analysed last month in Sri Lanka Security Trends) was taken up for discussion, with 40 countries presenting their views in the interactive dialogue that followed. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardanes address was largely defensive, trying to counter Ms Bechelets report with recycled arguments, rather than breaking new ground to tone down the damage caused by the report. He said her report has unjustifiably broadened its mandate and scope to incorporate many issues of governance and matters that are essentially domestic, and dismissed the previous resolutions brought at the UNHRC as politically motivated. Few would be convinced by his argument that the former Sri Lanka government decision to co-sponsor UNHRC Resolution 30/1 resulted in compromising national security, which eventually led to the Easter attacks of 2019. Representatives of the UK, Germany, Canada, Norway and the US shared the concerns raised by the OCHR and called upon Sri Lanka to share a time table for the implementation of the recommendations mentioned in the report. India did not allow the recent hiccups in its relations with Sri Lanka to highlight the core aspects of Sri Lankas human rights issue. Indias Permanent Representative, Indra Mani Pandey, noted that India was an active participant in the discussions on the seven resolutions on the question of human rights in Sri Lanka since 2009 and Sri Lanka remained a close friend and immediate neighbour. We believe that respecting the rights of the Tamil community through meaningful devolution contributes directly to the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka. Therefore, she added India advocated delivering on the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil community is in the best interest of Sri Lanka. India called upon Sri Lanka to take steps to address such aspirations through reconciliation and full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Sri Lanka is worried about the new draft resolution put forward by the Core Group led by UK, which would be voted on March 22. Sri Lanka would consider certain comments and clauses of the draft resolution as provocative. For instance, it takes note of the passage and operationalisation of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, counsels the government to respect local governance including holding of elections to provincial councils and ensure they are able to operate effectively, in accordance with the 13th Amendment. It asks Sri Lanka to provide sufficient resources and technical means for effective functioning of the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations and stresses the importance of maintaining support to these institutions, safeguarding their independent functioning. It expresses serious concern over emerging trends over the past year, which represent clearly early warning signs of a deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including the accelerating militarization of civilian functions, erosion of the independence of the judiciary and key institutions responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights, ongoing impunity and political obstruction of accountability for crimes and human rights violations in emblematic cases. Presumably, the draft resolution would be toned down in its final form; but the writing on the wall is clear - Sri Lanka cannot do business as usual, if it wants to maintain its win-win relations with its traditional Western allies. India in 2010 had provided valuable support to Sri Lanka in the UNHRC in shaping the final resolution. With China assuring Sri Lanka its support in international forums, how would India handle Sri Lankas request for help in the UNHRC, remains to be seen when the final resolution takes shape. Future Alan Keenan of the International Crisis Group summed up the situation in Sri Lanka in his paper, The Rajapaksa familys return to government has put an end to tentative efforts to address the legacy of civil war and brought in more centralised, militarised government, anchored in Sinhala majoritarianism. As Sri Lankas longstanding ethno-religious tensions continue to linger, the presence of hard-line Sinhala nationalists in power rules out any accommodation of Tamil political claims. Once-fringe ideas of militant Buddhist groups regarding violence and hate speech against Muslims are increasingly being adopted as government policy. The Rajapaksa government has so far shown neither the willingness, nor the ability, to tackle these issues dispassionately. The Rajapaksas weakest link is the ineptitude in handling foreign relations, which has caused maximum damage to the country. This was seen in all critical situations: continued insensitivity in handling Indias concerns, embarrassing the new US administration by undiplomatic comments, and clumsiness in handling Prime Minister Imran Khans visit to Colombo and the inability to strategize the approach to the UNHRC session. The after effects of this weakness is likely to impact the country in the coming months. [Col R Hariharan, a retire MI specialist on South Asia and terrorism, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90. E-mail: colhar@gmail.com Website: https://col.hariharan.info] Vietnamese farmers often call on consumers to rescue farm produce when there is an oversupply and sales are slow. But the use of e-commerce platforms has changed that. Earning his living by cultivating vegetables for many years, Do Van Chung in Gia Loc district in Hai Duong province complained that he has never met such difficulties before. In previous years, he harvested 4 tons of cabbage and earned VND14-16 million from two sao (1 sao = 360m2) of cultivation area. But he cannot find buyers and is not sure if he can earn VND2 million from each sao. Phung Danh Ut, the owner of a melon field used with greenhouse technology, also complained that trucks have not come to collect produce for the last two weeks and the price has plunged from VND35,000 per kilogram to VND11,000. Chung and Ut, who have been living on agricultural production for many years, have become as clumsy as bears as goods circulation is stuck. To solve the problem, Hai Duong provincial authorities decided to utilize IT to boost the distribution of products. Some groups have been set up on Zalo, including Doanh nghiep nong nghiep Hai Duong (Hai Duong agriculture companies), Nong nghiep Hai Duong vuot qua dai dich (Hai Duongs agriculture overcomes the pandemic) and Tong hop nhu cau (demand summary). Leaders of appropriate agencies are also members of the groups, helping connect businesses in Hai Duong province and other provinces, and helping farmers join production, supply and transportation chains. We connect businesspeople by using the communes electronic information portal and Zalo and invite them to come to Hai Duong to collect farm produce, said Nguyen Tien Thanh, deputy chair of Pham Tran commune. Approximately 800 tons of farm produce were marketed during the social distancing time. About 300 tons of cabbage remains unsold, he said. Meanwhile, Do Van Sang, deputy chair of Gia Loc district, said 10,000 tons of vegetables and 200 tons of poultry meat have been sold. Thanks to the activities connected by technology, Hai Duongs farm produce has been carried to Hanoi and other localities for sale. There are other methods that can help rescue their farm produce more effectively e-commerce platforms. Voso.vn of Viettel Post and Postmart.vn of Vietnam Post in recent years have helped local farm specialties approach millions of consumers throughout the country. Viettel Post uses a smart logistics system which delivers vegetables directly to consumers within a short time after harvesting to ensure the freshness of produce. Binh Minh - Trong Dat Three main trends for Vietnam's e-commerce in 2021 Innovation in Vietnams e-commerce industry this year will focus primarily on payments, logistics, and digital technology. According to a new study published in Medical Care, improving hospital nurse staffing as proposed in pending legislation in New York state would likely save lives. The cost of improving nurse staffing would be offset by savings achieved by reducing hospital readmissions and length of hospital stays. Researchers at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, conducted independent research in early 2020 on whether pending nurse staffing legislation in New York state is in the public's interest. The study of 116 hospitals and 418,000 Medicare patients documented large differences in patient-to-nurse ratios by hospital from an average of 4.3 patients for each nurse to as many as 10.5 patients per nurse. The wide variation in patient-to-nurse ratios across hospitals in New York is contributing to avoidable deaths and unnecessary costs. The new study finds hospital deaths and costs of care are significantly lower in hospitals with better nurse staffing. Each additional patient added to a nurse's workload is associated with 13% higher in-hospital mortality and 8% higher readmissions. Similarly, the odds of staying a day longer in the hospital, a major cost factor, increased by 9% for surgical patients and 5% for medical patients. Results show that improving nurse staffing in New York hospitals could substantially reduce deaths and save money that could go to funding improved staffing." Karen Lasater, PhD, RN, Lead Author, Assistant Professor and CHOPR Researcher Researchers estimated that if all New York hospitals had staffed at levels recommended in pending state legislation of not more than 4 patients per nurse on medical and surgical units, over a two-year period more than 4,370 deaths could have been avoided and over $720 million saved just among Medicare patients alone and likely considerably more across all hospitalized patients. Co-author, Linda H Aiken, PhD, RN, a senior researcher at CHOPR and professor at the University of Pennsylvania said, "This independent scientific study shows that setting a quality standard for nurse staffing in hospitals is in the public's interest. It is also feasible to fund because of significant savings associated with avoided days of care associated with better patient care." In associated research, CHOPR funded a Harris Poll in 2020 showing that 91% of the public surveyed in a national sample agreed that hospitals should be required to meet safe nurse staffing standards. The Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act (A2954/S51032) currently pending action in the NY Legislature sets a minimum nurse staffing requirement for all New York state hospitals that would serve to bring hospitals with poor staffing to an evidence-based minimum standard. Evidence suggests that New York state has a sufficient nurse supply to meet the ratios proposed in the legislation. California which successfully implemented similar legislation 17 years ago has substantially fewer nurses (11.3 nurses per 1000 population) than New York state (18.7 per 1000 population). The Nurse Licensure Compact providing multi-state licensure for nurses has been passed in 34 states but not in New York where the Governor had to use temporary emergency powers during the Covid-19 emergency to allow NY hospitals to recruit nurses. The rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths at long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania has plummeted, showing vaccine is doing its job. Pennsylvanias seven-day moving average of infections at long-term care facilities has fallen to about 40, down from a peak of more than 600 in December. The average number of daily deaths is less than 7, down from peaks of about 120 daily deaths during April and again in December. Nationally, the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, which represent long term care providers, said this week the level of new cases in long-term care is the lowest since May, 2020. The organizations noted that new COVID-19 cases among long-term care residents are down 82% since late December. Thats steeper than the 46% decline for the overall population. They attributed it to long-term care residents being vaccinated. We still have a long road ahead, but these numbers are incredibly encouraging and a major morale booster for frontline caregivers who have been working tirelessly every day for a year to protect our residents, said Mark Parkinson, the CEO of the two organizations. This new data showcases just how important it is for nursing homes residents and staff, as well as the general public, to get the vaccine because it is clearly working. Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf said Pennsylvania has given the two vaccine doses needed for full protection to virtually all skilled nursing home residents. Other officials said they expect most residents of assisted living and long-term care facilities will have received two doses by mid-March. In other COVID-19 news, Pennsylvania registered 3,028 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday and 50 new deaths. The deaths bring Pennsylvanias toll to 24,219 since the start of the pandemic about a year ago. The number hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania fell to 1,628, including 352 in intensive care. As of early Thursday, Pennsylvania had been allocated a total of about 4.3 million doses of vaccine, and had given nearly 3 million shots, according to federal data. About 2 million adults had received at least one dose. About 915,000 adults, or about 9% of Pennsylvanians 18 or older, had received the two doses needed for full protection. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Morgan State Alum Dropped Out, Drove for UPS, Presents University with $20 Million Endowment He attended Morgan State College nearly 40 years ago and had to drop out because he could not afford it. (In 1975, Morgan State was designated a university by the Maryland State Legislature). Calvin E. Tyler Jr. and his wife, Tina, presented the historically Black college with a $20 million commitment, increasing an endowed scholarship fund previously established in the Tylers name. According to a news release, the monumental gift is the largest private donation from an alumnus in University history. ADVERTISEMENT Its the most significant contribution of its kind to any Historically Black College or University (HBCU) nationwide from an alum. Morgan is so proud to call this son and daughter of the great City of Baltimore our own, and through their historic giving, the doors of higher education will most certainly be kept open for generations of aspiring leaders whose financial shortfalls may have kept them from realizing their academic dreams, David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University, stated in the release. For public institutions, like Morgan, our charitable alumni are testaments to the legacy we collectively uphold, and the Tylers generosity over the years, culminating with this transformative commitment, is a remarkable example of altruism with great purpose. We are forever indebted to the Tylers, Wilson noted. Calvin Tylers story is remarkable. He enrolled at Morgan State College in 1961 to study and earn a degree in business administration. Tyler counted as the first in his family to make it to college, but two years after enrollment, he was forced to drop out because he lacked the funds to pay for tuition. ADVERTISEMENT Instead, he went to work as a UPS driver becoming one of the first 10 UPS drivers in Baltimore. At UPS, he steadily climbed the corporate ladder, ultimately working his way to senior vice president of operations before his retirement in 1998. Tyler then joined UPSs board of directors. Still, Morgan State officials said he never lost sight of his humble beginnings, committing with his wife Tina to support those who, like him, encountered hardships and financial insecurities while pursuing their college degree. In 2002, the couple started the Calvin and Tina Tyler Endowed Scholarship Fund to provide full-tuition scholarships for select need-based students residing in Baltimore the Tylers hometown. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Tylers expanded their giving, making the endowed scholarship available nationally. According to the release, the endowed fund has supported 222 Morgan students through 46 full-tuition and 176 partial scholarships, with the promise of benefiting more Tyler Scholars with the increased multimillion-dollar pledge and an expanded scope. My wife and I have become keenly aware of the effect that the pandemic has had on a number of young people trying to get an education [and] we have the resources to help a lot of young people, Tyler shared in a statement. This is why we are increasing our commitment at Morgan; we want to have more full-tuition scholarships offered to young people so that they can graduate from college and enter the next stage of their life debt-free. Five years ago, Calvin and Tina committed $5 million to Morgan State, a contribution that stood as the largest in the universitys history. Endowed scholarships and other gifts have far-reaching implications for any institution, but for a public, urban university like Morgan, with students from a broad spectrum of academic, social, and economic backgrounds, the need is especially great, stated Donna Howard, vice president for Institutional Advancement. We are forever grateful to the Tylers for their unrelenting charity to alma mater. The impact of their generosity will have a prevailing effect fostering Morgan-made leaders for generations. Former Bachelorette Georgia Love and fiance Lee Elliott were forced to postpone their wedding due to the pandemic. But things are back on for the couple, who are currently preparing to tie the knot in Tasmania. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Georgia shared a photo of herself and Lee boarding a flight to the Apple Isle from their home in Melbourne. Wedding bells! Former Bachelorette Georgia Love and fiance Lee Elliott are preparing to wed in Tasmania Despite wearing face masks for the flight, it was clear the couple were beaming with excitement ahead of the ceremony. Georgia put her hand tenderly around Lee's arm before adding the bride and groom emojis and writing: 'Incoming!!' Little is known about the couple's ceremony, but Georgia confirmed she would be tying the knot with Lee this month. Gearing up: Over at Lee's Instagram, the soon-to-be groom shared a photo over the picturesque Tasmanian coastline The former reality star penned a Stellar column on Valentine's Day about her love for Lee and the excitement she had to finally become his wife. 'After this one, there won't be any new Valentines for me. That's the plan, anyway, because I'm getting married next month!' Georgia eagerly announced. Georgia and plumber Lee met on The Bachelorette back in 2016. Setbacks: Planning their wedding has been a difficult journey for the lovebirds amid the coronavirus pandemic, who met on The Bachelorette in 2016 'I close the book on the traditional Valentine's part of my life,' she penned. 'But don't get me wrong, I will still celebrate this mushy, commercial, silly holiday every year and 100 per cent expect flowers from my husband forever. 'Love is literally in my name. He knew what he was getting into.' Getting close! Both Georgia and Lee have since held respective Hen's and Buck's parties Planning their wedding has been a difficult journey for the lovebirds. They originally wanted to get married in Italy, but then chose Tasmania as their alternative wedding destination when international borders closed. Disaster struck for the couple, when Victoria slammed its borders shut in response to a second wave of coronavirus, meaning their back-up plans were also thwarted. Early hint: Georgia claimed their mini vacation to Queensland's Noosa in January marked their last one before their honeymoon Speaking to The Herald Sun last September, she said: 'We have set a (wedding) date next year and are forging ahead hoping it is going to happen as we want it to.' Georgia claimed their mini vacation to Queensland's Noosa in January marked their last one before their honeymoon. Both Georgia and Lee have since held respective Hen's and Buck's parties. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Known as La maison dans la Loire (the House in the Loire), the three-storey building looks like the victim of a flood that once swept it away, but appearances can be deceiving Walking along the river Loire, near the town of Lavau-sur-Loire, just a stone throw away from Nantes, youre bound to spot a rather unusual sight a tilted building located right in the middle of the river. Youd think it was brutally swept away by some catastrophic flood, but it was actually placed there deliberately by a company that specializes in salvaging wrecks, at the request of a French artist. Today, the House in the Loire is one of the highlights of river cruises on the Loire. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbera/Flickr The House in the Loire is the brainchild of French artist Jean-Luc Courcoult, who created it as part of the 2007 Estuaire Art Exhibition, which invited a number of international artists to create large-scale works inspired by the Loire and its nearby estuary. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carole Tournay (@caroletournay) Interestingly, the abandoned house is a 1:1 replica of a former inn located in Lavau-Sur-Loire, which currently serves as a creperie (pancake house). Courcoult produced an almost identical replica out of cast concrete, and had it placed on the right bank of the Loire, but strong currents and high tides caused it to capsize, so the edifice was moved to a new location, near the left bank. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jerem Dkl (@jeremdkl) To prevent floods or the tide from sweeping the house away ever again, it was bolted down to the rocky bottom of the Loire River. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Melanie Blumina (@melanie.blumina) Although the House in the Loire simply looks strange during the day, because of its unusual location, at night, it becomes downright creepy, especially on nights when the wind blowing through the windows makes itself heard. But the thing that really freaks people out is the light that turns on in one of the rooms, which isnt really something youd expect to see in an abandoned house in the middle of a river. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lucie Melon (@lululamelon) I wonder if people ever try to swim to this mysterious house Im sure its forbidden, for safety reasons, but when has that stopped curious daredevils Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 06:14:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The newly-installed Italian government led by former European Central Bank Governor Mario Draghi is already busy fighting the country's two most pressing challenges: the coronavirus pandemic and the slow economic growth. The country's massive and costly pension system -- an area where a generation of Italian leaders have tried and failed to make changes -- will soon emerge as a third front the Draghi government must face. Italy has one of the oldest populations in the world and one of the world's longest life expectancies, according to data from the World Factbook and World Data, both information collating entities. Those facts combine to create an unusually large concentration on the high-end of the age spectrum. According to World Data, Italy is also one of five countries in the world where residents under the age of 20 account for less than 18 percent of the population. "It all creates a very challenging situation for any Italian government," Roberto Pizzuti, a professor of political economics at Rome's La Sapienza University, told Xinhua. "For every idea on how to reform the system, there is a group opposed to it." In the meantime, the pension system is the largest single expenditure for the cash-strapped Italian government. Pension spending in Italy is high as a percentage of the country's economy at 16 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 2018, Italy developed a plan called "Quota 100," which allowed a worker to draw a pension starting at age 62 as long as the worker paid into the pension system for at least 38 years. Those two figures -- 62 and 38 -- total the "100" in the name of the plan. Workers with fewer years of contributions would have to retire at a later age, up to 67. The plan, which was budgeted to cost 20 billion euros (23.9 billion U.S. dollars) over three years, has gone over budget and will expire this year. Before the pandemic, the government said it was considering an early end to the "Quota 100" plan. "Instead of waiting for the natural end of 'Quota 100' at the end of 2021, it would be better to have a replacement ready to come into force at the start of 2021," Pier Paolo Baretta, then under-secretary of the Italian Treasury told reporters in early 2020. But that strategy was ditched when the coronavirus became the government's top priority. Now, with the "natural end" of "Quota 100" approaching, the Draghi government's hand is being forced. "There was a strategy of raising the retirement age as average life expectancy rose, but now, due to the pandemic, the average life expectancy is actually dropping slightly," Pizzuti said. "Nobody would accept lower benefits, and raising the retirement age beyond 67 is difficult. There is no clear solution." But Roberto Ghiselli, the confederation secretary of the CGIL, Italy's largest trade union, said the government should create a reform that provides more options for workers. "Italy needs to increase productivity, and allowing older workers to retire when they are less productive and creating a job for younger and more dynamic workers would be a solution," Ghiselli told Xinhua. He called for retirement options to start to kick in at age 62 -- the same as with the "Quota 100" plan -- though with fewer than 38 years of contributions, and adjustments for workers toiling in particularly dangerous fields. Enditem Catnip may be used as a natural insect repellent. Credit: Gallio lab / Northwestern New collaborative research from Northwestern University and Lund University may have people heading to their backyard instead of the store at the outset of this year's mosquito season. Often used as an additive for cat toys and treats due to its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects on cats, catnip has also long been known for its powerful repellent action on insects, mosquitoes in particular. Recent research shows catnip compounds to be at least as effective as synthetic insect repellents such as DEET. But until now, the mechanism that triggered insects' aversion to this common member of the mint family was unknown. In a paper to be published March 4 in the journal Current Biology, a team of researchers from Northwestern and Lund universities report finding the underlying receptors that contribute to the mosquitoes' aversive reaction. "Catnip and its active ingredient, Nepetalactone, have been used for millennia to ward off insect pests, at least since the time of Pliny the Elder," said Marcus C. Stensmyr, associate professor at Lund University and co-corresponding author. "But why Catnip is so potent on such a broad range of insect species has remained unknown." Traditional approaches to mosquito control involved insecticides, but those eliminate other insect species as collateral damage. Modern formulations of insect repellents such as DEET target mosquito odor and taste receptors, rendering the insect incapable of recognizing the chemical cues that signal a human prey. "We discovered that Catnip and its active ingredient Nepetalactone activate the irritant receptor TRPA1, an ancient pain receptor found in animals as diverse as flatworms, fruit flies and humans," said Marco Gallio, an associate professor of neurobiology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. "We now think Catnip is so aversive to so many insect species because it activates this widespread irritant receptor." In previous work, the Gallio Lab and others demonstrated that humans, insects and many other animal species possess a version of the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) ion channel, a protein best known as the "wasabi receptor" that senses environmental irritants like pain and itch. "What is particularly interesting is that, unlike wasabi or garlic compounds that also activate these receptors in humans, catnip appears to selectively activate the insect receptor," Gallio said. "This explains why humans are indifferent to it, and provides a serious advantage for its use as a repellent." Why cats are so attracted to catnip is an entirely different story and one that is not entirely understood. Research indicates this may be due to an unusual interaction between one of catnip's active ingredients and a molecular component present in the reward system of the cat brain. "Mosquitos, in particular those that act as vector for disease, are becoming a bigger problem as climate change creates attractive conditions for them farther north and south of the equator," Stensmyr said. "Plant-derived compounds represent a new emerging approach to developing insect repellents, as plants have long known how to protect themselves from insect pests." Gallio added that plant-derived repellants are often available at a much lower cost and are easier to obtain. Catnip's accessibility could have major implications in developing countries where mosquito-borne diseases are a huge problem. The Gallio lab at Northwestern studies the sensory systems of the common Lab fruit fly Drosophila, including the mechanisms that control the responses to external temperature and pain. Lund's Stensmyr lab mainly focuses on mosquitoes and other insect vectors of human disease. The researchers studied various insect species to better understand how catnip and its active ingredient are working to repel a broad range of insects, while having no irritant effect on humans. To confirm their results, the team ran a range of tests, including offering mosquitoes a blood meal in a dish covered with a nylon sock doused in catnip, experiments involving a wind tunnel, as well as experiments in which volunteers place their hand in a cage with live mosquitos, with or without the protection of a catnip oil rub. Gallio believes that the mechanism they discovered also provides proof of concept for the development of next-generation repellents that exploit the same logicselectively targeting the mosquito irritant receptor. "This is an entry point to study how this molecule works on the receptor," he said. "Once we understand its chemistry and how it interacts with the receptor, we could design even more powerful and selectively targeted molecules." The team's next project? Finding out how to get rid of the cats that keep chasing them down. More information: Yishu Jiang et al, Chemo- and stereoselective intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of conjugated dienes using colloidal nanocrystal photocatalysts, Chem Catalysis (2021). Journal information: Current Biology Yishu Jiang et al, Chemo- and stereoselective intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of conjugated dienes using colloidal nanocrystal photocatalysts,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.checat.2021.02.001 COVID-19 testing information for west-central Illinois counties: Morgan County Jacksonville Days and times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Location: Drive-through testing site located at Dunlap Court and Morgan Street. Details: No appointment necessary. Photo ID and insurance card requested but not required. Brown County Mount Sterling Days and times: By appointment. Location: Brown County Health Department, 120 E. Main St. 217-773-2714 Details: Testing eligibility determined by telephone screening. Cass County Beardstown Days and times: Monday-Friday 9-11:20 a.m. Location: Cass County Health Department, 8590 St. Lukes Drive. 217-323-2182 Virginia Days and times: Monday-Friday 1-3 p.m. Location: Cass County Health Department, 331 S. Main St. 217-452-3057 Details: Testing by appointment only and is limited to those who live or work in Cass County. Schedules subject to change. Greene County Carrollton Days and times: By appointment. Open seven days a week. Location: Boyd Rural Health Clinic, 800 School St. 217-942-3600 Details: Testing performed if medically indicated, pre-op with doctors order, or return to work. Must call and leave message with name and callback number. Jersey County Jerseyville Days and times: By appointment. Location: Jerseyville Community Hospital Walk-in Clinic, 903 S. State St. 618-498-2273 Details: Testing performed if medically indicated. Macoupin County Gillespie Days and times: By appointment. Location: Maple Street Clinic, 109 E. Maple St. 217-313-5078 Details: Drive-through free testing. Register by phone or online at mcphd.net. Pike County Pittsfield Days and times: By appointment. Location: Quincy Medical Group, 320 N. Madison St. 217-277-4001 Details: Testing performed if medically indicated. . Days and times: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Location: Illini Express Clinic, 101 E. Washington St. 217-277-3504 Details: Testing performed if medically indicated. Register upon arrival. Scott County Winchester: Days and times: Mondays and Fridays 9-11 a.m. Location: Scott County Health Department, 335 W. Cherry St. Details: Schedule subject to change. See Facebook page for updates. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh attended 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat held via videoconference on March 2-3, during which he and other delegates approved 10 initiatives and priorities for economic cooperation in 2021. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh attends the 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat. The initiatives and priorities have been built with three main orientations - recovery, digitalisation, and sustainability - with a focus on such important fields as trade facilitation, tourism, energy, information technology, minerals, and sustainable development. Of note, several initiatives inherit cooperation contents from 2020 when Vietnam assumed the role of ASEAN Chair. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to have a serious impact, delegates discussed ASEANs efforts to recover economies so as to not only fight the pandemic but also boost economic development, particularly the expansion of the ASEAN List of Essential Goods. In particular, the retreat also reached consensus on 2021 agenda priorities in economy with 68 different contents, such as trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property, e-commerce, and consumer protection, among others. At the event, Khanh expressed his support for Bruneis initiatives during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2021, and affirmed that Vietnam will continue cooperating closely with other ASEAN countries to realise the common targets of the ASEAN Economic Community. The 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat was held via videoconference on March 2 and 3. Photos: VNA Vietnam also shared its experience and efforts to control the pandemic and ensure economic development while implementing its commitments within ASEAN and the ASEAN Plus frameworks. Together with discussions on intra-bloc economic cooperation, the participants also exchanged views on extra-bloc economic cooperation, such as reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and collaboration between ASEAN and the EU. They said their countries are exerting every effort to soon ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement to facilitate post-pandemic recovery. Within the framework of the retreat, the participants held a consultation with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council to make recommendations on health care and addressing non-tariff measures, and intensifying public-private partnerships (PPPs) in ASEAN and between the grouping and its partners. VNA * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below ShipBob expands its fulfillment network with a third international location to more efficiently reach consumers in the United Kingdom, as well as two new domestic sites in the United States, bringing the total global network count to 16 facilities. CHICAGO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ShipBob , the leading cloud-based logistics platform for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced its first fulfillment center in the United Kingdom. In today's convenience economy, this enables ecommerce businesses around the world to thrive within the UK by addressing their customers' expectations of fast and affordable shipping. With their latest international location, which is in very close proximity to the Heathrow Airport and major logistics hubs, ShipBob customers can reduce international shipping costs, improve the customer experience with shorter transit times while removing import duties and tariffs, and increase conversions for consumers in the UK market, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Analysts expect that Brexit will impact cross-border ecommerce in the UK, projecting a 7.3% decrease in 2021. Working with a global logistics solution with locations in the UK and the European Union ensures you're able to fulfill your promise of fast and affordable shipping. ShipBob is partnering with Royal Mail and DPD carriers, securing discounted shipping rates and fast delivery times. Using Royal Mail and DPD, the average transit time from ShipBob's UK facility to the majority of the UK is 1-4 business days. "Our mission is to democratize fulfillment for companies of all sizes around the world. We are excited to help direct-to-consumer brands expand their reach into the United Kingdom," said Dhruv Saxena, CEO and co-founder of ShipBob. "Like our entire fulfillment network, our UK fulfillment center will be held to the ShipBob promise of reliable, fast, and inexpensive shipping with end-to-end transparency from one dashboard, managing all of our customers' sales channels." "From our history through the years with ShipBob, it was a no-brainer to expand into other markets with them knowing that they have done their due diligence to meet the ShipBob standard," said long-time ShipBob customer, Marc Fontanetta, Director of Operations of BAKblade. Additionally, ShipBob just opened two new US fulfillment centers in Phoenix, Arizona and Louisville, Kentucky to further expand their regional fulfillment network and increase capacity in the US. These are their twelfth and thirteenth fulfillment centers in the United States. Ecommerce brands that are interested in partnering with ShipBob to take advantage of their US and UK fulfillment network can find more information here: https://fulfillment.shipbob.com/united-kingdom/ About ShipBob ShipBob is the leading cloud-based logistics platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses to provide them access to best-in-class supply chain and fulfillment capabilities. The ShipBob platform provides merchants with a single view of their business and customers across all of their sales channels, and enables them to manage products and inventory, orders and shipments, and leverage analytics and reporting to run their business effectively. Founded in 2014 out of Chicago, ShipBob was launched through Y Combinator by co-founders Dhruv Saxena and Divey Gulati, two entrepreneurs who saw a need for more efficient shipping for ecommerce businesses. Today, the company has raised $130.5 million in funding and operates a global logistics network with 16 fulfillment centers across four countries. Learn more by visiting shipbob.com . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1281888/ShipBob_Logo.jpg Then-Thai Army Chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong gives a lecture at the military branchs headquarters in Bangkok, where he discussed how hybrid warfare incorporating such methods as spreading propaganda through social media was being used to destroy the nation, Oct. 11, 2019. Thailands leader on Thursday ordered an investigation after Facebook shut down 185 pages, groups and accounts allegedly linked to the Thai military and aimed at influencing the predominantly Muslim population in the insurgency-stricken Deep South. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha made the announcement in response to a reporters question at Government House in Bangkok about the action taken a day earlier by the social media giant. Ive assigned the Ministry of Defense to look into what it is all about, said the PM, an ex-army chief and former junta leader who also serves as defense minister. Facebooks move can be seen in different ways, you know. The things will be clear as I ordered the defense ministry to investigate. In its Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior Report for February 2021, which was released Wednesday, Facebook said it had removed 77 accounts, 72 pages, 18 groups and 18 Instagram accounts that originated in Thailand and targeted domestic audiences in the Southern provinces of Thailand. Our investigation found links to the Thai Militarys Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). We found this network as part of our internal investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior in the region. This network posted primarily in Thai about news and current events including content in support of the Thai military and the monarchy, calls for non-violence, regional COVID-19 updates, alleged violence by the insurgent groups in Southern Thailand and criticism of separatist and independence movements. Facebook cited examples of alleged misinformation such as a comprehending the operation page where an online post attacked the London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International saying The NGO never cares about ordinary citizens because they have no role in the society. The report noted that those involved in the network went so far as to pose as women. Although the people behind it [the network] attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation found links to the Thai Militarys Internal Security Operations Command, the report said. Some of these fake accounts posed as individuals from Southern provinces of Thailand and also as young women, using stock photos as profile images. The report from the Silicon Valley powerhouse also said that about 703,000 accounts followed one or more of the pages, about 100,000 accounts joined at least one of the groups and about 2,500 people followed one or more of these Instagram accounts. Facebook said its action was in line with its policy to remove content when we find domestic, non-government campaigns that include groups of accounts and pages seeking to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing while relying on fake accounts. We remove both inauthentic and authentic accounts, pages and groups directly involved in this activity. In a statement on Thursday, ISOC spokesman Maj. Gen. Thanathip Sawangsang denied that the military had a role in the network. The ISOC has no knowledge of Facebook taking down accounts because such accounts belong to individuals and have nothing to do with the organization. The ISOC Facebook is still functioning, he said. The ISOC is a hub which drives efforts to assist and alleviate hardships of the people and be a helper of people. The Muslim-dominant Malay-speaking southern border region, which encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala provinces as well as four districts of Songkhla province, has been entangled in an armed separatist insurgency since January 2004. More 7,000 people have been killed in violence in the region during the past 17 years. Rights activist concerned The move by Facebook follows action by Twitter in October 2020 to close 926 accounts it found to have links with the Thai military. An army spokesman at the time argued the accounts were meant to disseminate information to the public. Social media allegedly sponsored by the government attack human rights activists, according to Angkhana Neelapaijit, a Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate and former member of the National Human Rights Commission. In the past, whoever criticized the handling of the Deep South troubles would be attacked and [targeted with] hatred upon by those pages, Angkhana told BenarNews. I was attacked and I filed a complaint to the Computer Crimes Suppression Division but to no avail. On Thursday, legal advocacy group iLaw submitted a petition to the Administrative Court seeking an order to stop the Royal Thai Army from conducting misinformation operations. There is evidence that the messages they conveyed were aimed at dissidents. While there are some good words and sensible messages, most of them are slanderous, rude and nonsense, Yingcheep Atchanont, a program manager for iLaw, told reporters. Yingcheep and two companions said they were targeted by the operations. Im coming here to seek Administrative Courts order to point out that these information operations are illegal and must be stopped immediately, not for us three, but for all. The Administrative Court settles disputes between citizens and government agencies. Death sentences upheld Meanwhile in Pattani, the Supreme Court earlier this week upheld death sentences for a half-dozen suspects held responsible for a bomb blast at a night market that killed a woman and injured more than 20 in 2016, a police official said Thursday. The Pattani Supreme Court read a verdict on a bomb case which took place in the Pattani municipality in 2016, in which it upheld death sentences of six convicts, life imprisonment for three others and imprisonment of 36 years and eight months for another, police Col. Taweesak Thongsongsi, a deputy spokesman in the Deep South, told reporters. The court ruled that the defendants were guilty of forming a syndicate and acquiring weapons to perform multiple attacks, said a military source who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak about the case. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. President Moon Jae-in, left / Yonhap President Moon Jae-in may take a COVID-19 vaccine, probably made by AstraZeneca, in the near future, his office said Thursday. A specific schedule for a possible vaccination would be decided considering a related manual of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and the diplomatic calendar, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok told reporters. He cited the possibility that Britain will host an in-person Group of Seven (G-7) summit in June. Moon has been invited to the session. Health authorities have a priority list for the people to benefit from the free-of-charge vaccination program that got under way here last week. But there is an exception if urgent foreign travel is required, Kang pointed out. A Cheong Wa Dae official later reaffirmed that Moon, 68, plans to "willingly" take AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine shot, as Pfizer-produced ones are now available for medical workers. The official was speaking on the condition of anonymity. [March 04, 2021] Ardian and PRGX Announce Acquisition Close Ardians North America Direct Buyouts Completes Transaction, Positioning PRGX to Expedite Technology Roadmap and Accelerate Growth Michael Lustig Named PRGX CEO ATLANTA and NEW YORK, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ardian , a world-leading private investment house, and PRGX Global, Inc . (PRGX), a global leader in recovery audit and spend analytics services, announced the completion of Ardians acquisition of PRGX. In addition, Michael Lustig has been named PRGXs new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lustig, who serves as an advisor to Ardian, has over 15 years of experience in the source-to-pay industry, including having served as CEO of Apex Analytix, and during a prior tenure, as President and Chief Operating Officer of PRGX. He succeeds Ron Stewart, who will rejoin PRGXs board of directors. PRGX is the worlds largest Accounts Payable and Merchandise Recovery Audit firm, serving clients in more than 30 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, PRGX works with clients in the retail, grocery, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, natural resources, financial services, and transportation industries. PRGX provides leading technology-enabled source-to-pay solutions to businesses by mining client data to deliver actionable insights that increase cash flow and profitability through cost reduction, business process improvement and risk management. PRGXs advanced solutions include recovery audit, preventive audit, contract compliance, and advanced analytics, which leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to minimize leakage, maximize value, optimize cash flow, and strengthen operations creating a complete audit assurance program, not only recovering cash, but improving internal controls and resolving systemic issues to drive total improvement. The company leads its industry in protecting the privacy and security of client data through a robust combination of technical, administrative and physical controls, in addition to rigorous data privacy and security business practices. Wth Ardians support, the company will develop core markets, including accelerating the roll-out of the companys proprietary platform, the Verigon Solution Suite, and grow strategic revenue streams, including the launch of new advanced analytics solutions. Ardian will leverage its global network and considerable experience in business services to help PRGX identify new markets while continuing to serve the companys existing customer base. With digital transformation at the forefront of business strategies across the globe, PRGXs state-of-the-art platform for recovery audit, contract compliance, advanced analytics, and predictive audits, is tremendously impressive, said Vince Fandozzi, Head of Ardian North America Direct Buyouts. We are enormously grateful for Ron Stewarts leadership, and were excited to embark with PRGX on this next chapter under the guidance of Michael alongside the incredible PRGX team, said Mr. Fandozzi. With market leadership, innovative technology and with the full support of Ardian, PRGX is well-positioned to help clients unlock unprecedented value from their source-to-pay data. Im excited to work with PRGXs outstanding team to produce value for our long-tenured clients, said Mr. Lustig. Todd Welsch, Managing Director, Ardian North America Direct Buyouts, added, We look forward to working with the PRGX team, which under Rons leadership, has transitioned into a technology-enabled services and analytics powerhouse. Commenting on the news, Ron Stewart said: Leading PRGX for the last seven years has been an extraordinary honor. As PRGX continues its technology transformation program, Im excited about the companys potential for future growth and expanded client value delivery, and look forward to working with Ardian and Michael. The transaction, which was initially announced on December 24, 2020, was approved by the majority of PRGX shareholders on March 2, 2021. In connection with the closing of the transaction, the company, which will continue to operate as PRGX Global, Inc., will be controlled by Ardian. The Ardian North American direct buyout fund focuses on lower middle market buyouts, specifically middle market industrial and business service companies across a range of sectors in North America. About PRGX PRGX helps companies spot value in their source-to-pay processes that other sophisticated solutions didnt get to before. Having identified more than 300 common points of leakage, we help companies reach wider, dig deeper, and act faster to get more value out of their source-to-pay data. We pioneered this industry nearly 50 years ago, and today we help clients in more than 30 countries take back $1.2 billion in annual cash flow. Its why 75% of top global retailers and a third of the largest companies in the Fortune 500 rely on us. PRGX | See What Youve Been Missing. About Ardian Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$110 billion managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base. Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardians activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world. Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 700 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of around 1,000 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt. www.ardian.com Media Contacts PRGX Arketi Group Grant Tucker gtucker@arketi.com Phone: +01-404-819-1889 ARDIAN The Neibart Group Emma Murphy emurphy@neibartgroup.com Phone: +01-347-968-6800 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). 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. Smell: Sniffing Out This Forgotten Sense Our sense of smell has a special role, unique connection to the brain Our ability to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell gives us five different ways to experience the world. But we prioritize some senses over others. For most of us, sight is primary, then comes hearing. Smell is usually at the bottom of the list. Our possessions may even top this innate sense. One survey asked 7,000 people between the ages of 16 and 30 to choose only two necessities from among a list of items: cosmetics, a car, passport, their phone, and their own sense of smell. About half chose to sacrifice smell. Perhaps its because smell plays a rather minor role in modern life. Unlike our ancestors, few of us would be able to identify or interpret the subtle scents found in the wild. Wendy Gardner, an aromatherapist in the United Kingdom, says smell may be our most primal sense. For example, newborns use scent to bond with their mothers. But Gardner believes weve lost a lot of the information that smell was meant to provide. We used it to find food, find our way home, avoid predators (think how stinky lions are in the zoo, yikes), to know when another human was a threat (fear releases a certain scent) or how to find a mate so that our combined genes had the best chance of survival, Gardner said. [Now] perfumes and aftershave cover up natural odors, so selecting a mate that way is tricky. We all have scents we enjoy and others we despise. For our ancestors, this sense was essential for survival. Today, smell has become almost trivial. One frivolous example is a marketing strategy called smell branding. Just as how a logo gives a company visual recognition, smell branding connects to consumers through the nose. Customers exposed to a company scent have been shown to significantly increase their shopping time. But last year, the sense of smell was reconnected to its survival roots. With evidence that smell loss is a reliable sign of having caught COVID-19, many began monitoring this sense more closely. Smell Loss COVID-19 isnt the only ailment that leads to smell loss (also known as anosmia). A 2017 study from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that a lack of smell ability in older adults of normal cognition consistently identified those who would suffer from Alzheimers disease later in life. Researchers are now developing a cheap and reliable diagnostic smell test (the target scent is peanut butter) to identify an early onset of the disease. Smell loss is also associated with Parkinsons and multiple sclerosis, suggesting a serious link between our smell ability and brain function. For COVID-19, however, loss of smell appears to be a rather minor symptom. While weve all experienced temporary anosmia due to stuffiness during a cold or allergies, COVID-19 sufferers rarely report sinus congestion. According to an international team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School, the cause for smell loss due to COVID-19 is complicated, but suggests its nothing to worry about. Researchers identified certain cell types in the upper nasal cavity that are most vulnerable to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The sensory neurons that detect and transmit the sense of smell to the brain arent among the vulnerable cell types, but they do depend on the vulnerable cells to work. According to Sandeep Robert Datta, a neurobiology professor at Harvard Medical School, this means that the damage that COVID-induced anosmia has on our body is minimal. I think its good news, because once the infection clears, olfactory neurons dont appear to need to be replaced or rebuilt from scratch, Datta said in a statement. Thankfully, anosmia is the only symptom of this notorious contagion that many ever experience. For most, smell usually returns in a few weeks. However, a few lose their sense long-term. For some, smell becomes warped. A large global survey from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem tracking smell and taste issues with COVID-19 from more than 4,000 patients finds that 6 percent of people report phantom smells. Seven percent report distorted smells. Known as parosmia, smell distortion can make lemons smell like rotting cabbage, or chocolate smell like gasoline. When Florida resident Beth Reider, 65, caught COVID-19 in June 2020, she experienced all of the above. First, her sense disappeared. Then, she would smell phantom smoke. And finally, things began smelling really off. Reiders sense of taste also became distorted, but she says smells were a bigger bother. After a month, Reiders sense was mostly back to normal. But she says, even today, two of her favorite foods, peppers and lettuce, still reek. The thing that bothers me most is the smell of romaine lettuce. It used to be that a little bit of salad dressing was enough, but now, I drown it, Reider said, because I have to mask that smell. Smell Training If you develop a smell disorder, dont fret. There are things you can do to turn it around. Reider says she got some relief using a popular home remedy from Ayurvedic medicine: placing drops of warm castor oil in her nostrils. Research from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom offers another method. The study was conducted months before the pandemic, but it suggests that the diseases smell malfunctions may also benefit from a sniffing exercise. Professor Carl Philpott from UEAs medical school explains that the training involves smelling at least four different odors twice a day every day for several months. He says its a simple, side-effect-free treatment option for various causes of smell loss. It aims to help recovery based on neuroplasticitythe brains ability to reorganize itself to compensate for a change or injury, Philpott said in a statement, In the study, participants with post-viral smell disorders were given smell training kitsa collection of scents that included eucalyptus, lemon, rose, cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, lavender, honey, strawberry, and thyme. After six months of training, participants showed clinically significant recovery in smell function. We also found that older people, in particular, were more likely to start to recover their sense of smell, Philpott said. And that the biggest improvements happened in those that had lost the most amount of smell function in the first place. A Special Sense You dont have to lose your sense of smell to appreciate it. But it can help to consider what kind of information can be gleaned from this special sense. While dogs and elephants are known for their super-smelling abilities, human capacity for scent is still enormous. A study published in the journal Science found that humans can distinguish among 1 trillion different scents. Smell gives color to our perception of taste. The tongue, of course, can sense flavors on its own. But if youve ever eaten anything during a sinus infection, youll recognize just how much scent brings to the table. An even more profound feature of scent is how it can reach deep into our psyche. Sniff a crayon and you may suddenly be transported back to childhood. Or catch a whiff of a particular brand of laundry detergent and it could conjure a memory from more than 20 years ago. People have noticed since ancient times that scent is tied to memory. Neuroscientists say its because the olfactory organs have a direct line to the limbic system, the part of the brain that processes emotion and memory. Smell is special because all the other senses must first be processed by the thalamus before the stimuli are sent to other parts of the brain for further interpretation. These mechanics suggest that scent must be more than just a pleasure or a bother. We may no longer use it to find food or avoid predators, but Gardner says we still depend on this sense for healing and to keep us safe. For example, the smells of nature have been shown to reduce psychological stressthink of the fresh smell of pine, the sleepy scent of lavender, or the calming aroma of a rainfall. And when it comes to survivalwhether it be mold, a gas leak, or rancid peanutsthe ability to sniff out and identify these poisonous problems can protect the rest of the body from harm. Old age does have some advantages. As a member of the over-75 club, I was part of the first wave of Connecticut residents to receive my COVID-19 vaccine. I had the first shot of the Moderna vaccine on Feb. 4 after the big storm. Today, March 2, despite the high wind literally blowing me down the sidewalk to the entrance of the Stratford Health Department, I walked out barely a half hour later with a pseudo COVID Gold Star after my second inoculation. I had the distinction of being the oldest and the first teacher in my school to be vaccinated. I am literally writing this column in the moment, since I just received the vaccine this morning and I am waiting to see if I have any side effects from this second dose. The nurse at the health department couldnt have been nicer and more patient. And she was a goldmine of information. She explained that everyone has a different reaction to the vaccine and promptly shared her own story that within 13 hours she was suffering from chills and fever. Thats a good thing, the nurse told me, because it means your body is making the antibodies needed to fight off any future COVID illness. More importantly, that reaction means that your immune system is fighting hard to keep you healthy. I was incapacitated for about two days. Meanwhile, I still have another 10 hours or more to see whether I feel like Ive been hit by a bus or whether my now sore arm is the only ill effect Ill have from my inoculation. In any case, I pulled the plug on returning to school today and I am very thankful that tomorrow is remote day. My only in-person obligation will be my shift at the bookstore, which is scheduled at 3 p.m. And I may cover my rear end by emailing my boss that Ill have to weigh keeping my shift until tomorrow morning. I was absolutely amazed at how streamlined the vaccinating process had become in just four weeks. When I arrived Feb. 4, the line to receive paperwork was long and I empathized with other seniors, who were frail and had difficulty standing and walking. It took well over an hour to get through the process. Now, the rule is to stay in the car until your appointment. I couldnt get over the difference. I had arrived way too early but once I got inside, I was in and out in less than a half hour. The staff and volunteers had ironed out any kinks and COVID vaccinating was a well-oiled machine. Color me impressed. Nevertheless, today seemed almost surreal when I arrived this morning for my inoculation. Just about a year ago, school administrators were making decisions to close for an indefinite quarantine. Businesses were shuttering right and left, causing millions of Americans to be furloughed or abruptly fired for seemingly no good reason. I remember colleagues on March 13, the day we closed, saying things like, Hey, well see you back here in no time. Not! Instead, this indefinite quarantine felt like we were under house arrest. I remember my favorite news commentators saying that if couples were still together when this homebound situation ended, they had definitely made the right choice in a partner. Now, here we are, barely a year later with over a half million loved ones, friends and healthcare workers living in our memories instead of being with us at home, work and hospitals. Weve watched so many needless deaths and seen so much cavalier behavior concerning masks and social distancing. But most of all, weve seen so many non believers fall victim or suffer some form of the illness. Thankfully, under this new, more organized presidential administration, executing a well thought-out strategic plan, Americans are finally receiving hundreds of million doses of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson. And in Connecticut, 55 and older recipients along with teachers were being inoculated within days of Gov. Lamonts announcement. Fairfields first school clinic was held earlier this week and rapidly organized clinics in other towns across Connecticut are sure to follow. Response to the Fairfield clinic was amazing and patient levels will surely remain high. I even received a text on March 1 that pharmacies were beginning to schedule appointments. Soon, these pharmacies giving the vaccine will become as routine as administering, flu, shingles and pneumonia shots. So, I am vaccinated at last and can breathe a little easier. But will I get a free ride to losing my mask, ignoring social distancing and hugging my children and grandchildren and old friends? Hardly. We are not out of the woods and not likely to return to any kind of new normal soon. Scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci are saying we wont see a radical change until later this year and possibly beyond. The vaccine is only a first step. The rest is up to us. And if we dont unify under the proper guidelines, we could face a major regression. Steven Gaynes is a Fairfield writer, and his In the Suburbs appears each Friday. He can be reached at stevengaynes44@gmail.com. Lucknow, March 4 : The Budget Session of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was wrapped up abruptly on Thursday, six days ahead of the schedule, and all departmental Budgets were passed together. The Assembly was adjourned sine die. The opposition strongly protested at the curtailing of the session and staged a walkout. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said that in view of the upcoming Panchayat elections, most of the Legislators wanted to go back to their constituencies. Leader of Opposition, Ram Govind Chaudhary, later told reporters that the government had wrapped up the Budget Session because it had no moral courage to face the issues that the opposition was raising. He said that this amounted to a betrayal of the people. Congress legislature party leader Aradhana Mishra said that the government had not even bothered to allow a debate on the Budget presented by various departments. She said that such tactics amounted to the murder of democracy. The Budget had begun on February 18 and was scheduled to end on March 10. The opposition had been demanding an extension of the session. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota has begun fortifying the Hennepin County Courthouse and the jail in advance of the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin which begins with jury selection on March 8. Chauvin been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the murder of George Floyd last year. Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Derek Chauvin Floyd died after Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyds neck for more than 8 minutes while two of his partners held him to the ground and third held a growing crowd at bay. The murder sparked mass multi-racial, multi-ethnic protests across the US and internationally after a bystanders recording went viral on social media. There is extreme nervousness that the trial and its outcome could once again trigger an eruption of social anger in the city. The city has been setting up jersey barriers and fences with razor wire around various downtown government buildings in preparation for mass protests. Deputy Police Chief Erick Fors reported at a press conference last week that National Guard soldiers will also be deployed throughout the downtown area in the lead up to and during the trial. They will be providing patrols, a presence and a deterrence in key business corridors, Fors explained about the soldiers role. Most of the Hennepin County Government Center will be closed to the public during the trial, save for two demonstration zones, where protestors will be corralled and kept under the watch of the police. Workers install concertina wire between fenced barriers outside the Hennepin County Government Center, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2021 in Minneapolis, as part of security in preparation for the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The trial is slated to begin with jury selection on March 8. Chauvin is charged with murder the death of George Floyd during an arrest last May in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The audience inside the courtroom will be extremely limited. Only one member Floyds family will be able to attend the trial in person, Judge Peter Cahill ruled on Monday. The same restriction has also been imposed for Chauvins family, allowing different family members to be rotated in person. The trial will be live streamed online for those who cannot attend in person. Judge Cahill decided last month to hold Chauvins trial separate from that of the other three former officers, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, saying that the physical limitations of the courtrooms made it impossible to have four defendants together while following safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a news conference held last Monday, the city of Minneapolis revealed plans for what they termed a Joint Information System aimed at sharing timely and relevant information with the city's residents as the trials progress. The program is set to target Black-led media and radio stations as the city government's channels to convey pro-government and pro-police propaganda throughout the city. David Rubedor, the Minneapolis director of neighborhood and community relations, stated at the news conference that they had recommended the city hire social media influencers, or individuals who utilize social media platforms to advertise products with lifestyle imagery, to spread city-generated and approved messages aimed at combatting misinformation. Another city spokesperson, Sarah McKenzie, elaborated further on this part of the program, stating that it would aim to create contracts with six social media influencers who are trusted by the African American, East African, Hmong, Native American and Latino communities as a channel for spreading city-approved messages about the trial. The citys plan to use social media personalities as paid propaganda outlets was immediately met with vehement opposition from residents, protest organizations and on social media. The city quickly withdrew the initiative with a half-apology by McKenzie claiming that the intentions were misinterpreted: The intent really is about keeping everyone in the city safe and, I think sometimes when people saw the term influencer, they misinterpreted what the plan was... Mark Ruff, Minneapolis city coordinator, stated that the program was meant to publish the developments of the trial on multiple channels for communities who are not utilizing... the city's website or the other traditional media sources where there'll be disinformation also disseminated. Chauvins trial will be followed closely by millions of workers in the United States and internationally. In the US, police officers are rarely ever charged or convicted in cases of brutality and murder. In 12,000 cases of police killings from 2005 to 2017, only 80 were charged, and 30 were found guilty. The last major trial in Minneapolis was of former officer Mohammed Noor, who was convicted in 2019 of third-degree murder and manslaughter and sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for the fatal 2017 shooting of Justine Damond. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below COVID-19 Important links and resources As the spread of COVID-19, or as it's more commonly known as the coronavirus continues, this page will serve as your one-stop for the resources you need to stay informed and to keep you and your family safe. CLICK HERE Conde Nast, the publisher of Vogue, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, has just published the full-year findings of its first diversity and inclusion report, revealing that much needs to be done to improve representation among its workforce. In 2020, 68 percent of staffers based in the U.S. identified as white, 10 percent as Asian, 7.5 percent as Black, 5.5 percent as Latine, 4 percent as multiracial. Less that 1 percent identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander and it was the same figure for those identifying as Native American or Alaska Native. When it came to new hires, 52 percent identified white, 13 percent Black, 11 percent Asian, 8 percent Latine and 5 percent multiracial. More from WWD Among senior leadership, diversity was at its lowest, with 77 percent identifying as white, 10 percent as Asian, 5.5 percent as Black and 3 percent as Latine. As for the gender split, globally, 68 percent of the workforce identified as female and 32 percent as male. The publisher plans to offer a non-binary option in its 2021 questionnaire. Chief executive officer Roger Lynch is yet to make a statement on the full-year findings, but in a note accompanying the preliminary January to August figures, he said: The report is meant to provide a summary of where we are today, as well as the start of a blueprint for how we will continue to improve. The events of the last year, within our company, the industry and around the world, have made it clear how much work we have to do. Among its commitments to improve diversity and inclusion included in the report, it has pledged to ensure that every year 50 percent of candidates on hiring slates are from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. The organization has also tapped Yashica Olden as its first global chief diversity and inclusion officer, responsible for developing and implementing diversity and inclusion strategies across the companys global portfolio of brands and divisions. Story continues Conde was put under the spotlight for its record on diversity and inclusion amid national protests last year over the police killings of George Floyd and other unarmed Black people and, more broadly, centuries of systemic racism in the U.S. In June, Bon Appetit editor in chief Adam Rapoport resigned after the emergence of a photograph of him in brown face, plus allegations of a discriminatory workplace environment for people of color. At Vogue, in a memo to staffers, editor in chief and global chief content officer for Conde Nast Anna Wintour admitted that Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators. In a recent Sway podcast for The New York Times, host Kara Swisher asked Wintour to address allegations of diversity failings at Conde Nast and what happened when employees raised these issues at companywide meetings. Wintour responded that what was happening at Conde Nast was happening also at many other businesses, whether they were media or other companies throughout the United States and indeed throughout the worldso I dont think it would be correct to single out Conde Nast as being the sole place where this was happening. When Swisher pushed her to elaborate on what exactly employees said, Wintour continued that there were many different discussions and I think a lot of it was rooted in the social unrest that was happening at that time.I think that this was definitely heightened by the leadership that we have in this country. Hearst, the publisher of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Esquire, Harpers Bazaar and Elle, published its first report at the beginning of February. As well as its magazine division, the report covered the whole company encompassing newspapers, television and more. It found that 73 percent of employees identified as white, 8 percent as Black, 8 percent as Asian and 8 percent as Latine. For new hires in 2020, 64 percent identified as white, 11 percent as Black, 11 percent as Asian and 10 percent as Latine. Just over half of employees identified as male. Meredith Corp., the largest magazine publisher in the U.S. whose brands include People and InStyle, has not made public any data on the diversity of its workforce, but plans to do so shortly. Penske Media Corp., the publisher of WWD, has also yet to release a diversity and inclusion report. In July, however, the company did note the breakdown of its board of directors. For more, see: These People of Color-owned Influencer Agencies Are Advancing Opportunities for People of Color Remaining Conde Nast Perks Dry Up as Budgets Stretched Globally Media People: Cat Marnells Second Act Daniel Hutchinson From The Hutch Sometimes its a good thing and sometimes its bad, but size really does matter. And this week everything just seemed to get bigger. For starters, in a few short years New Zealand should be able to launch a human being into space. This is thanks to Rocket Labs plans for a much bigger rocket, with the cool name of Neutron. This bigger rocket will be able to launch a payload of eight tonnes. This is enough to launch people into space along with the various things that they require to stay alive. At the moment, Rocket Labs slender 18-metre rockets carry about 300kg. The newer, fatter 40-metre Neutron will make a more impressive sight if it takes off from its site on Mahia Peninsula, near Gisborne. The first one will actually lift off from Virginias Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in 2024, but Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck says there is no reason why it couldnt depart from Mahia in the future. Mahia provides one of the best platforms for launching rockets because of all the ocean in the right direction, and we dont really have any neighbours to annoy. The chances of accidentally dropping a rocket on the Chatham Islands is virtually nil. Firing off rockets in the Middle East doesnt tend to go down too well. Peter isnt exactly champing at the bit to go into space himself. He just wants to make a really big company. And I wont be applying for the job of being the first person to be strapped to one of these rockets either after his comments to Stuff this week. I think I probably understand the risks. I am one of those people who looks out of an aircraft at the wing, counting the fatigue cycles ... so I dont think I would make a good passenger on a launch vehicle. God, what are fatigue cycles? Big numbers Peter wasnt the only one firing off rockets this week. Tenby Powell - Tauranga Citys last elected mayor, whos not there but still cares - reckons we should be merging all the councils in the Western Bay of Plenty, creating a glorious super council to solve all of our problems. The reasoning behind this is that a bigger council would cut out administrative double ups and there would be more money to spend to fix Taurangas problems. This is unlikely to be well received in a place like Katikati, where a big roading plan is a two square metre pedestrian haven in the middle of the main road, which also doubles as the main highway. Powells ideas were received by other civic leaders with about the same enthusiasm as you would expect of a cold fart from a dead seagull. Empty those pockets Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber was reported by the New Zealand Herald saying that Tauranga people should spend more money on Tauranga projects. How absurd. He also produced a graph that seemed to show Tauranga ratepayers could actually stump up another grand a year easily enough compared with other ratepayers, as calculated by a special formula. That concept is bound to be about as popular as an Aucklander at a barbecue in Russell. Its also completely contrary to most other surveys on the subject, which show that Tauranga is usually hanging around the top 10 when it comes to how much they charge. Crunching the numbers In fact in a battle of the big numbers, Taxpayers Union spokesman Jordan Williams went so far as to say Tauranga has the most expensive residential rates in the country already, compared with other metropolitan councils. The Unions latest rankings has Tauranga as the 12th most expensive for residential rates and 5th most expensive for commercial rates. Auckland - yes that big super merger of a council - usually easily tops the list of most expensive rates. Not sure what happened to the bigger is better theory there. All these big numbers will be very upsetting for Tauranga ratepayers as the new commissioners beaver away on the 10-year plan. I doubt any sane person would be expecting a decrease in rates over the coming few years. The strange blip Strangely, Tauranga property prices were the only thing that got smaller this week. Yes, they can go down, contrary to popular opinion. Head of research for CoreLogic, Nick Goodall, says there has been a dip in values of 1.5 per cent in Tauranga over the month of February. This means that house prices have only risen 6.7 per cent over the last three months, which is a decrease compared to what they could have gone up by. Apparently size does matter in New Plymouths Crowded House Bar and Eatery. Owner Doc van Praagh told Stuff this week he hasnt received a single complaint about a giant photo of his bar managers looking over the mens urinal sporting various expressions. One of the women is holding a tape measure. Doc says its just a bit of fun. I suppose people are free to take their business elsewhere. Its probably best we dont get too tangled in the numbers this week, and just try and appreciate all the free stuff. daniel@thesun.co.nz WE Hub, India's first and only state-led incubator by the government of Telangana to foster and promote women entrepreneurship to start-up, scale-up and accelerate with global market access, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Meesho, an Indian-origin social commerce platform. This year-long partnership aims to aid women entrepreneurs from Telangana to achieve financial independence by providing market exposure. The MoU was inked between Deepthi Ravula, CEO of WE Hub, and Vidit Aatrey, Founder and CEO of Meesho in the presence of Women and Child Welfare Minister Satyavati Rathod. WE Hub and Meesho said they will work together to provide robust market access to women-led businesses in the state, helping small businesses to grow and thrive in the post-pandemic environment. The entrepreneurs will register as suppliers on the Meesho platform which enables them to sell their wide range of products on a national e-commerce platform. WE Hub and other startups from the Telangana startup ecosystem will be able to leverage this partnership and expand their markets in India. It will benefit in the form of seamless onboarding, free cataloguing, and market access on a national platform which will create avenues to increase business and trade opportunities. "When women succeed, everyone benefits. There is no tool more effective for women than their economic development. I am truly heartened to see We-Hub and Meesho coming together to help the women of Telangana realise their economic, social and financial goals," said Satyavathi Rathod. She said this will be a pathbreaking partnership for the state of Telangana that will enable women to use the power of technology for creating their own identity, and will in turn help us take a big step forward towards diversity and financial inclusion "It is great to see unicorns like Meesho join hands with WE Hub, Government of Telangana in enabling small business entrepreneurs. We believe this partnership would benefit many women entrepreneurs across the socio economic strata of Telangana by making best use of these platforms, WE Hub is bringing into in Telangana," said Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, IT, Electronics and Commerce. Vidit Aatrey said they were hopeful of creating a vibrant, diverse and inclusive ecosystem for women-led micro businesses in the state. "Small women led businesses have always been left behind due to the digital divide that exists. Through our new partnership with Meesho, small businesses in Telangana will learn about taking the next step in expanding their markets and converting their customer base and sales in entirely new ways," said Deepthi Ravula. WE HUB through this partnership also aims to promote homepreneurs by providing digital and financial literacy training to the women registered as homepreneurs on the Meesho platform. This effort will enable them to achieve financial independence. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Hungary tightened Thursday an existing partial lockdown by ordering shutdowns of schools and most shops and businesses in response to a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths. The 9.8-million-strong EU member reported 6,278 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest daily tally in three months, while the death toll also increased steeply to 152. Hungary since November has been under a partial lockdown that includes an evening and nighttime curfew, a ban on gatherings, and the closure of restaurants, schools and universities. "From March 8 primary schools and kindergartens must close until April 7," Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief-of-staff, told a weekly briefing. Shops apart from food and drugstores, and petrol stations must also close to March 22, he said. All services apart from private medical clinics were also ordered to close, while working from home should be facilitated where possible, said Gulyas. The government had been weighing a gradual lifting of pandemic restrictions in March, but the country's coronavirus statistics drastically worsened in recent weeks. So far the virus has infected around 440,000 people and killed over 15,000. Last month, Hungary broke ranks with the EU by becoming the first EU member to start rolling out the Chinese-made Sinopharm jab and Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. Almost 800,000 Hungarians had received at least one vaccine dose by Thursday. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP The high schools in Green River and Rock Springs showed their love for the Make-A-Wish Foundation last week, raising $39,885.04 for the organization. A blood drive hosted by the schools generated 141 pints of blood, with Green River donating 77 pints while Rock Springs donated 64 pints. Marisa DeClercq, the Green River High School student government advisor, said the amount raised for Make-A-Wish is impressive considering the fundraising period was condensed into a single week. She said planning began Jan. 4. We really had to plan very far in advance to get events and spaces approved,... Many Americans have had trouble getting appointments to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The process for getting vaccinated is different across U.S. states and communities. Some older people who lack technology experience have found it difficult to follow the necessary requirements to seek appointments through the internet. To get around this, some people have turned to internet bots to help them find a quicker way to get vaccines. What is a bot? A bot is a computer program that works automatically to search for different kinds of information on the internet. People seeking vaccinations often have to search several different vaccine provider websites for available appointments. With the demand for vaccines continuing to outweigh supply, people often have to keep checking sites over and over to find an available time. Sometimes the availabilities can disappear before a person has the chance to complete the appointment process. How do vaccine bots work? Bots can be used to continuously search provider sites for the latest availabilities. The bots are often overseen by humans, who can then publicize information about the openings on Twitter or through text messages. A second kind of bot that is more worrisome to health officials is called a scalper bot. This kind of bot can automatically book appointments immediately when it finds them. Sometimes these appointments can be offered up for sale. So far, though, there is little evidence that scalper bots are making appointments. Are vaccine bots helping? Vaccine bots are helping some of the people who use them. Benjamin Shover of Stratford, New Jersey, used a bot system to help get his 70-year-old father a vaccine appointment for early March. Shover learned of the availability from a message on Twitter. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I GOT MY DAD AN APPOINTMENT! THANK YOU SO MUCH! he tweeted. The success, through the Twitter account @nj_vaccine, came a month after he registered for New Jerseys official online appointment system. Shover said his father has limited technical skills and is also physically disabled, making it difficult for him to find an appointment himself online. The developer of the bot, software engineer Kenneth Hsu, said he first created it to help get an appointment for his wifes parents. Now he and other volunteers are using the bot to assist others who are frustrated by New Jerseys online appointment system. These are people who just want to know theyre on a list somewhere and they are going to be helped, Hsu said. We want everyone vaccinated. We want to see our grandparents. What do health officials think? Health officials in some communities have opposed the use of such bots. One bot that recently identified availabilities at a provider in a rural area of Massachusetts led many people who live in the Boston area to register for the spots. Local officials chose to cancel all of the appointments. They changed to a private system and started spreading news about availabilities through officials and community centers. Our goal was to help our residents get their vaccination, said Tracy Rogers, the head of emergency preparedness for the local Massachusetts government. But 95 percent of the appointments we had were from outside (the area). One area of New Jersey added a website tool designed to confirm that visitors are human. Officials there said the tool was aimed at blocking efforts to game the system with a bot. Noah Marcus created a vaccine bot that is now blocked in New Jersey. The 24-year-old computer programmer says the official appointment system is not fair. He said, The system was already favoring the tech-savvy and the person who can just sit in front of their computer all day, hitting refresh. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Some Turn to Internet Bots to Help Get Vaccine Appointments Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story appointment n. a time set to meet someone or go somewhere automatic adj. something controlled using machines and not people frustrate v. make someone feel annoyed because things are not happening the way they want resident n. someone who lives in a particular place savvy adj. having practical knowledge and abilities relating to certain subjects refresh v. to make the most recent information on an internet website appear PHOENIX, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful recruitment to its network of three financial professionals in California and North Carolina with a total of $120 million in client assets. The professionals include Daniel Sutton and Chris Paydock of Sunset Wealth Advisors in Roseville, California and Kevin Swan in Raleigh, North Carolina. The professionals have joined Advisor Group through its subsidiary and network member firm Securities America. Advisor Group also includes FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC and Woodbury Financial Services Inc. Jim Nagengast, CEO and President of Securities America, said, "These financial professionals have consistent, longstanding track records of building strong relationships with their clients and offering them a positive service experience as they strive to achieve their financial goals. We look forward to collaborating with these new financial professionals and providing the products, technology and business services they need to help further elevate their growth trajectory." Mr. Sutton and Mr. Paydock specialize in financial planning, investment advisory services, retirement planning and income distribution planning for retirees, pre-retirement clients and business owners. Messrs. Sutton and Paydock have 37 and 24 years in the wealth management industry, respectively, and together oversee $89 million in client assets. Mr. Paydock said, "As we searched for a new partner, Advisor Group's outstanding culture stood out among all others. When we spoke to them in depth and familiarized ourselves with the level of support and collegiality that Jim and the Securities America team offer, along with the industry-leading technology and infrastructure that Advisor Group provides, we were sold. The firm's extensive succession planning capabilities and practice management expertise will also play a valuable and important role for us as our business continues to evolve in the coming years. We're excited to begin our partnership with Advisor Group and Securities America." Mr. Swan is joining Securities America through Omaha, NE-based producer group Futurity First Insurance Group and oversees $30.8 million in total client assets. A 25-year wealth management veteran, he is also becoming an independent financial professional for the first time. Mr. Swan said, "In seeking a new firm, I was searching for partners with the expertise to support my independent business, and I found that in Futurity First Insurance Group, Advisor Group and Securities America. From top to bottom, the team I'm joining brings the best-of-breed solutions I need to grow quickly, efficiently and sustainably. I am particularly interested in leveraging Advisor Group's multiple-clearing-platform model, which gives financial professionals like me a great deal of flexibility and freedom in how we serve our clients." Greg Cornick, Advisor Group's President, Advice & Wealth Management, said, "We're excited to welcome these outstanding professionals to the Advisor Group family. We also congratulate Jim Nagengast and his team at Securities America for bringing aboard financial professionals who have built successful advisory businesses and value a partner who can support their long-term goals. We look forward to building on Advisor Group's momentum and industry positioning as the partner who can take businesses to new heights with programs that accelerate growth, technology that makes doing business easier, and a vibrant community of like-minded professionals who support each other." About Securities America Securities America is part of Advisor Group, the nation's largest networks of independent wealth management firms. Headquartered in Omaha and founded in 1984, Securities America supports approximately 3,200 independent financial professionals with innovative technology and wealth management platforms, practice management and business growth tools and a personalized service culture. The firm's flexible, multi-custodial approach supports a range of business models including Super OSJs, independent RIAs, RIA-only advisors, hybrid advisors and financial institutions. For more information visit https://www.securitiesamerica.com/. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. and Arbor Point Advisors, LLC. About Advisor Group Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 11,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $450 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379. Media Inquiries Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens Haven Tower Group 424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE Advisor Group Related Links https://www.advisorgroup.com Minister at Opening of Overseas Territories Environment Conference Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, the Hon Prof John Cortes gave a keynote address at the opening session of a conference on the Environment in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies on Tuesday, following the formal opening by Lord Zac Goldsmith, UK Minister of State for Pacific and the Environment. The virtual conference, the sixth in the series organised by the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, goes under the title of Staying Connected for Conservation in a Changed World, and runs over four days this week and next. It is attended by delegates from Governments and NGOs of the UK and most of the OTs and CDs. In his opening address, John Cortes traced the history of this series of conferences, which began in Gibraltar over 20 years ago when he was General Secretary of GONHS, and linked it to the creation of the OT/CD Environment Ministers Council, which he chairs, in Gibraltar in 2015. He stressed the importance of Government and NGOs working together in partnership, and explained how small territories can lead by example in developing environmental strategies and achieving aims. He also highlighted the importance of using local knowledge in advancing environmental objectives, while welcoming funding initiatives from UK Government and UK NGOs in helping achieve these aims. Contributors to the Conference from Gibraltar include the Department of Environment & Climate Change, GONHS, and the University of Gibraltar. They will be presenting results of research in Gibraltar, and contributing to the discussion on conservation. They also demanded the release of more than 40 Pashtun activists, who have been languishing in jails over false charges. Geneva, [Switzerland] March 04 (ANI): Members of the civil rights movement, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) on Wednesday staged a protest outside the UN headquarters in Geneva raising concerns over gross human rights violations committed by the Pakistan Army on innocent Pashtuns. The Pashtun activists demanded the immediate and unconditional release of PTM leader Ali Wazir, a sitting Member of Pakistan's National Assembly, who was detained last December for allegedly making anti-state comments. They also demanded the release of more than 40 Pashtun activists, who have been languishing in jails over false charges. The activists urged the United Nations to take notice of the enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and arbitrary detentions of Pashtuns in Pakistan. Fazal-ur Rehman Afridi, an activist of PTM, France said in his address, "Pakistani authorities have put restrictions on Manzoor Pashteen (PTM leader) to travel abroad and raise voice against atrocities on Pashtuns. They even blocked his national identity card to stop running any sort of movement in Pakistan". He added, "Pakistan Army has been treating the country's constitution as like a toy. Article 15 of the constitution provides you freedom of movement as you can freely travel within the country and do any protest. But, whenever you raise a voice against fascist Pakistan Army for committing extra-judicial killings and abductions, they muzzle the voice". The Pashtuns were joined by activists from Balochistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir, who condemned brutalities by the Pakistan army. Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, exiled Chairman of United Kashmir People's National Party said, "Thousands of people have become victims of enforced disappearances. Even prominent leaders of PTM are languishing in jails. You can witness such a double-standard in Pakistan, that in other places, production orders are issued for lawmakers for Assembly sessions. But PTM leaders remain in jail". Members of the Pashtun ethnic minority have long blamed that they have been targets of military operations, ethnic stereotyping, enforced disappearances and fake encounters by Pakistani security forces. (ANI) Why it is not yet time to write Sasikalas political obituary Day after Sasikala's premature exit from politics, theories abound on her decision India oi-Madhuri Adnal Chennai, Mar 04: The move of expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala to stay away from politics has fuelled various theories on her decision while the ruling party confined itself to poll related work like holding interview for ticket aspirants. As AIADMK headquarters here was swarmed with ticket aspirants, the party said the scenario is advantageous to it. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam addressing aspirants, cited ''succesful implementation of welfare measures'' by Chief Minister K Palaniswami. Praising the CM, he said an ''advantageous'' situation has emerged for the party. Asked on Sasikala''s move, AIADMK leaders remained tight-lipped. "We have been advised to not speak about it," a former Minister and a senior office-bearer said. The party at the moment is busy finalising seat-sharing arrangement with allies and selecting candidates out of 8,240 applications, he said. Such tasks were expected to be completed in about 3-4 days, he told PTI. Weeks ahead of Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Sasikala on Wednesday announced "she will stay away from politics," but would pray for the "golden rule" of the late party supremo Jayalalithaa. Chief Minister K Palaniswami addressing aspirants said a slew of welfare schemes were being implemented which has earned the AIADMK people''s good will. Though the party has been in power for about 10 years there was no anti-incumbency sentiment among the people in view of efficient governance, he said. Never aimed for power: Jayalalithaa aide VK Sasikala quits politics ahead of Tamil Nadu polls Describing the Assembly election as ''very important'' he said if the party emerged victorious no party would have the power to oppose the AIADMK, he said adding in the same breath, ''we will win for sure.'' He asked party office-bearers and ticket aspirants to work unitedly to post victory. Though several conspiracies were hatched following the demise of ''Amma'' Jayalalithaa in 2016, the government successfully completed four years in office, he said. The BJP hailed Sasikala''s decision and said her exit would help fulfil late chief minister J Jayalalaithaa''s dream of a progressive and prosperous Tamil Nadu. Supporters of Sasikala, meanwhile, turned up at her close relative''s house here, where she is currently staying, and held placards requesting her to re-consider her move. Some loyalits claimed in social media that it was a very ''generous'' move, and a ''political master stroke'' aimed at preventing the DMK from coming to power and at same time one that could help unite pro-AIADMK votes. They also pointed out that she did not take a stand in favour of her nephew Dhinakaran, who is heading the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. Divakaran, Sasikala''s brother alleged that Dhinakaran was behind her move and he had thrust his decision on her aunt. This was because Dhinakaran sought primacy in everything, he claimed. "She (Sasikala) is 67-year old," Divakaran told ''Puthiya Thalaimurai'' news channel and underscored that at this age, her health was more important than politics. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan wondered if her decision was aimed at leading a peaceful life or if the BJP indirectly ''intimidated'' her or brought ''pressure'' on her. Her announcement also indicated that she wanted the AIADMK and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam to come together, he said. BJP spokesperson Tirupati Narayanan sought to know the rationale behind blaming his party for every development related to Sasikala. "The same people said BJP is pressurising AIADMK to accommodate Sasikala in its alliance. When she announced to stay away from politics, they claim that BJP has exerted pressure," he told PTI. "Our question is what is the meaning, the intent behind dragging the BJP for everything?" he asked. They targeted the BJP when she went to jail in the assests case and also claimed that she was freed recently only because of his party, he said. Political analyst M Bharat Kumar said in case the AIADMK lost the polls, Sasikala may have an opportunity to say that she stood for unity all along and had Palaniswami and Panneerselvam accepted her leadership, the party would have won polls. "She tried her best for reconciliation with the AIADMK leadership, but they remained stubborn in keeping her at bay," he said adding hence she had no other option. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 22:36 [IST] Chennai, March 4 : The decision of V.K. Sasikala to keep away from politics has altered the electoral equations for the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK fronts in Tamil Nadu, said analysts. They also say that Sasikala's decision benefits AIADMK for the present. Sasikala, the close aide of Tamil Nadu's late Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said she would keep herself away from politics and would pray to the God and also to late Jayalalithaa for the establishment of 'Amma' government in the state. In AIADMK and political circles the term Amma denotes Jayalalithaa. Political analysts told IANS that if Sasikala's decision to keep away from politics is temporary or permanent will be known on March 15 when her case for announcing her to be the General Secretary of AIADMK comes up for hearing in a local court. Analysts are of unanimous view that if she tells the court on March 15 that she would withdraw her case then her decision to keep away from politics is in a way permanent. "Her intent will be known if she withdraws or does not withdraw the case. If she does not withdraw then her real intent of the announcement will be clear," Sriram Seshadri, political analyst told IANS. Be that as it may, Sasikala's current decision will benefit the ruling AIADMK. "The AIADMK may not see any exodus of members who fail to get a chance to contest in the April 6 assembly polls. There will be stability in the party at least till the elections are over," an analyst told IANS preferring anonymity. Seshadri said Sasikala's appeal to the followers of Jayalalithaa to keep her legacy going and to keep DMK out of power is a signal to vote in favour of AIADMK and not AMMK floated by her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran. There will be some consolidation of votes in favour of AIADMK. The analysts also say Dhinakaran though may seem to be the probable loser, his AMMK might contest in some pockets instead of all the 234-constituencies. "While DMK seems to enjoy an electoral edge over AIADMK, Sasikala's announcement has slightly blunted that even in its stronghold regions like the Delta and North Tamil Nadu," Seshadri said. According to him, if Congress with about five per cent vote share exits DMK coalition over sharing of seats the latter will find the going difficult. "The Congress' vote share always gets transferred to DMK candidates. If Congress joins the coalition headed by Kamal Haasan's MNM party then DMK's vote share will come down," he added. On the other hand, if Sasikala's decision to stay away from politics is only temporary then her prospects of gaining control of AIADMK depends on the number of seats bagged by the latter. "If AIADMK wins 70-75 seats and loses the elections then Chief Minister and Joint Coordinator K.Palaniswami would continue to hold control over the party. Members of Dhinakaran's AMMK may switch over to AIADMK. But if AIADMK loses badly winning 30 and odd seats then he will lose control and Sasikala may gain it," Seshadri said. Sasikala who was jailed in a corruption case for four years in Bengaluru, came out recently and has been claiming to be the General Secretary of the ruling AIADMK. She had the AIADMK party flag on the car in which she had travelled from Bengaluru to here. Soon after her release from the jail Sasikala had said that she would get into politics. The BJP had tried to bring her into AIADMK or the AMMK party into the AIADMK led coalition. However Chief Minister Palaniswami and others had opposed that move. Soon after Jayalalithaa's death, all the AIADMK party leaders had requested to become the party's General Secretary and later she was elected for the post. Subsequently, the Supreme Court upheld the trial court's decision of pronouncing her guilty in the corruption case and sentencing her to a four year jail term. (Newser) Myanmar security forces dramatically escalated their crackdown on protests against last months coup, killing at least 34 protesters Wednesday in several cities, according to accounts on social media and local news reports compiled by a data analyst. That is highest daily death toll since the Feb. 1 takeover, exceeding the 18 that the UN Human Rights Office said were killed on Sunday, and could galvanize the international community, which has responded fitfully so far to the violence. Videos from Wednesday also showed security forces firing slingshots at demonstrators, chasing them down, and even brutally beating an ambulance crew, the AP reports. The toll could even be higher; the Democratic Voice of Burma, an independent television and online news service, tallied 38 death story continues below Demonstrators have regularly flooded the streets of cities across the country since the military seized power and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Their numbers have remained high even as security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds to disperse the crowds. The Wednesday death toll was compiled by a data analyst in Yangon who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety. According to his list, the highest number of deaths were in Yangon, which had 18. As part of the crackdown, security forces have also arrested hundreds of people, including AP journalist Thein Zaw. He has been charged with violating a public safety law that could see him imprisoned for up to three years. (Read more Myanmar stories.) The device was developed by an international consortium through the EU-funded project Renewable penetration levered by Efficient Low Voltage Distribution grids (RESOLVD). The power electronic technology is claimed to be able to combine different storage technologies in a single electronic-based board interface.From pv magazine Spain Spain-based CITCEA, a technology transfer center within the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), has developed a new power electronic technology for the management of surplus power in PV installations, which is claimed to be able to combine different storage ... 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. Similipal forest fire: Odisha claims no loss of life, issues SOP to regulate blaze India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bhubaneswar, Mar 04: The Odisha government on Wednesday claimed that there was no loss of life in the Similipal National Park fire, which has been raging for around a week and spreading to newer areas. However, it was not clear from a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office what the authorities meant "no loss of life" of humans or animals. According to the statement, Sharma informed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a review meeting that there has been no loss of life, large trees remained unaffected, and the fire has been brought under control. For first time Jawans, JCOs to take part in military conference to be addressed by PM Modi Patnaik reviewed the fire situation at Similipal National Park a day after Union Environment, forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar sought a report on the devastating fire at the Park, one of the major biospheres in the country. Sharma also informed the chief minister that the Forest and Environment Department has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with the fire in the Park which spreads across an area of 2,750 square kilometres in Mayurbhanj district. Local people said that large animals such as tigers, elephants, deer and bears could escape the blaze by shifting to unaffected areas, but reptiles died and many valuable trees including medicinal plants are destroyed in the fire. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Sashi Pal is present at the spot and monitoring the situation. "The intensity of the fire inside the National Park is high because of the hot climate in Mayurbhanj district. Extra precautions are being taken to regulate it," Pal told reporters at Baripada, the district headquarters. As many as 1,000 people including forest officials, locals and volunteers are engaged in disconnecting the fire line in order to stop the spread of fire to newer areas, an official said adding that 40 vehicles and 240 blowers are being used for the purpose. Another Mumbai-like blackout? Telangana power utilities thwart Chinese hacking attempt The core area of the tiger reserve remains unaffected, said Dr JD Pati, Deputy Director of the Similipal Tiger Reserve. While the government is yet to ascertain the cause of the blaze, local people said that forest fire is an annual phenomenon in Similipal but the intensity is high this year. "The fire is man-made. It is lit by people using dry leaves for collecting forest produces like Sal seeds, Mahua flowers and firewood, besides smuggling timbers and poaching," a local volunteer claimed. "All fire points in Similipal are communicated by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun through satellite pictures," Pati said. He said that 21 squads have been formed for each range of North and South Similipal and village level meetings are being conducted to create awareness among local tribal people to refrain from setting fire in Similipal, Pati said. Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, had earlier tweeted, "Distressed to learn about the forest fire raging in Similipal Tiger Reserve from social media platform. Request the urgent attention of Shri @PrakashJavadekar and CM Shri@Naveen _Odisha on this alarming situation at one of the most important biosphere reserves of the country." Responding to his tweet, Union minister Javadekar posted: "I have ordered officers to take immediate action and report to me." Mayurbhanj royal family scion Akshita M Bhanja Deo has also expressed concern over the situation. Union MSME Minister Pratap Sarangi tweeted: "Similipal is burning and it's not a good sign for Asia. Mayurbhanj needs national and international's media attention as its cause is genuine. Sad, not any leading national media is covering the story of Similipal since fire broke a week ago." Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News Raila Odinga says he is forever indebted to a former prison officer who helped him during his detention at the Manyani Maximum Prison. The ODM leader spoke Tuesday when he met the prison guard, Mzee John Mwavuda, in Mbololo, Taita Taveta County. Raila spoke highly of Mzee Mwavuda narrating how the prison guard helped him send messages to his family when he was detained incommunicado at the Manyani Prison in the 80s. Mwavuda was kind enough to smuggle in pieces of toilet paper that I would then use to write letters on to my loved ones. He doubled up as the official courier for the prison and I would deliberately write official letters which would later trigger his transfer to Nairobi. Mzee Mwavuda risked his life selflessly by delivering messages that kept me going during those dark days, Raila said. The former Prime Minister promised to support Mzee Mwavuda in his project as a way of appreciating him. Raila described Mwavuda as a hero who deserves better. Mzee John Mwavuda is a person I will be forever indebted to and I will support a project that is close to his heart that he has told me about, to come to fruition. He has now lost most of his close family members. Let us pray for strength and comfort for this selfless man. Also Check Out Raila Narrates How He Sent Message About Matibas Stroke on Toilet Paper Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who along with his parents took their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, appealed to all eligible people to come forward and get vaccinated, asserting that there's "nothing to fear". The vaccine was first administered to Kejriwal's parents, Govind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi, and then to the chief minister at the government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospital here. They all were given the Covishield vaccine. "I and my parents got our first dose of COVID-19 vaccine today. We had no problems and are perfectly healthy. There is nothing to fear. Doubts in people's mind (about the vaccine) no longer exist. I appeal to everyone eligible for the vaccine to come and get themselves vaccinated," Kejriwal told reporters after getting the jab. During the second-phase of the inoculation drive that started on March 1, people aged 60 years and above and those in the 45-59 age group with specific comorbidities are being administered the vaccine at 192 hospitals across Delhi. The 52-year-old chief minister, who has a history of diabetes, said the hospital has made adequate arrangements for the vaccination drive. The government will increase the number of vaccination centres if needed, he added. "We are in constant touch with the Centre and are working according to the prescribed guidelines. As and when we receive further directions, we will increase the number of vaccination centres. We have enough stock of the vaccines," the chief minister said. Earlier, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan got themselves inoculated against COVID-19. (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.) Range Rover Lavish homes and luxury shopping sprees at Neiman Marcus are just a few of the items listed in the Justice Department's investigation into an alleged Houston-based Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) scheme. Houston native LaDonna Wiggins has been indicted for bank fraud, money laundering and making a false statement to a bank as part of a $3.6 million CARES Act scam, according to Justice Department U.S. Acting Attorney Jennifer Lowery. Wiggins appeared before a U.S. Magistrate on Tuesday. Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have made an online visit to Iwate, one of three northeastern prefectures hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Officials say the Imperial couple is eager to see how the affected areas are being rebuilt and talk to survivors ahead of the 10th anniversary of the disaster on March 11. Online visits have been arranged due to the coronavirus pandemic. The couple talked with people in Iwate from the Akasaka Imperial Residence in Tokyo on Thursday. The visit started with a briefing by Iwate Governor Tasso Takuya on the current state of reconstruction. The couple then talked with people hit by the disaster in the city of Rikuzentakata. One of them, a 57-year-old woman, lost her 25-year-old son in the tsunami. She later published a picture book to pass down memories and lessons of the disaster to younger generations. The Emperor told her it is very regrettable that she lost her son. The Empress said it must have been painful as a mother. She commended the woman for taking action despite her grief, for the sake of other people and coming generations. The couple also talked with a 53-year-old man whose home was destroyed in the tsunami. He has rebuilt his life after living as an evacuee with his wife and two children. The Emperor offered words of sympathy over the man's hardship, and asked if it affected his children psychologically. The couple later talked with people in the city of Kamaishi. A 25-year-old woman who was a junior high school student at the time of the disaster now works at a facility for teaching future generations about the tsunami and studying how to prepare for disasters. She reportedly said she wants to watch over and help children as a community member, just like people who helped her 10 years ago. Officials say the Emperor told the people that he prays for further development of the area. The Emperor and Empress also plan to make online visits to Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. They are scheduled to attend a government-sponsored memorial ceremony for the victims of the disaster in Tokyo on March 11. The new immigration pilots will focus on pathways for workers in health, food processing, and technology sectors. Quebec launches 3 new immigration programs The new immigration pilots will focus on pathways for workers in health, food processing, and technology sectors. Quebec launches 3 new immigration programs The new immigration pilots will focus on pathways for workers in health, food processing, and technology sectors. Quebec launches 3 new immigration programs The new immigration pilots will focus on pathways for workers in health, food processing, and technology sectors. Shelby Thevenot Gabriel Dumitrascu Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A On March 3, Quebec announced it will launch three new immigration pilots over the coming weeks. The Ministere de lImmigration, de la Francisation et de lIntegration (MIFI) is opening up the pilots for foreign nationals who work in the following three sectors: food processing; health (orderlies); and artificial intelligence, information technology and visual effects. These pilots are expected to last for a maximum of five years. The goal is to attract and retain immigrants whose skills meet Quebecs labour market needs. MIFI will issue Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQ) to up to 550 principal applicants, annually, through each pilot. Applicants must work in eligible sectors in order to be selected. This figure does not include families. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration Eligibility requirements You will need to demonstrate that you can financially provide for yourself and your family for at least three months. These programs also require applicants to be at least 18 years old. Most of these stream require work experience in Quebec. If you are applying for one of these streams, you must have obtained your work experience with legal status. You must have been paid and worked at least 30 hours per week. Here are some of the more specific eligibility requirements of each new program. Pilot program for food processing workers This pilot program is for foreign workers in the food processing sector. It is intended to help Quebec businesses retain their foreign labor force, and to remain competitive with other Canadian provinces. The pilot will come into effect on March 24. In order to receive a CSQ under this program, you need to be able to communicate orally in French, have work experience in Quebec in an eligible occupation, and be working in the province when you submit your application. Some additional eligibility requirements include: hold a high school diploma or professional studies diploma from a program in Quebec; have held an eligible full-time job for at least 24 months in an eligible sector in Quebec during the three years prior to the application date; and demonstrate a knowledge of oral French at level 7, according to the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants. Eligible occupations include: Industrial butcher, meat cutter, poultry preparer and related workers (NOC 9462); Labourer in food and beverage processing (NOC 9617); Labourer in fish and seafood processing (NOC 9618); Specialized cleaner (NOC 6732); Machine and industrial process operator in food and beverage processing (NOC 9461); Agricultural worker, (NOC 8431) but only the job title chicken picker; and Worker in fish and seafood processing plants (NOC 9463); Hire a lawyer who specializes in work permits Pilot program for orderlies This pilot is for temporary foreign workers who have worked as orderlies in Quebec for at least one year. Among other eligibility requirements, you must be proficient in spoken French and hold a job as an orderly in Quebec when submitting your application. MIFI developed this program to reduce labour gaps in this sector, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. This program will launch on March 31. There are two streams under this program: Work and Studies-work. Work stream conditions If you are applying under the Work stream, you must meet the following conditions: have a diploma related to working as an orderly, which you obtained following a one-year, full-time study program that corresponds to a Quebec diploma of vocational studies; and have at least 24 months of work experience as an orderly during the three years preceding your application date. At least 12 of these months must have been done in Quebec. This program is specifically for people working as orderlies, as described under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3413 Nurse aide, orderly and patient service associate. If you have worked in the health sector outside Quebec, it must be related to basic personal care in order to be considered eligible work experience. Work-study stream conditions If you are submitting an application under the Work-study stream, you must meet the following eligibility criteria: have graduated with a Quebec diploma of vocational studies leading to the occupation of orderly during the two years preceding the date you submitted your application; and have at least 12 months of work experience as an orderly in Quebec, acquired during the two years preceding the date of submission of your application, and after the completion date of your study program. You also need to have successfully completed the Institutional and Home Care Assistance study program, and graduated with a secondary diploma of vocational studies. Hire a lawyer who specializes in work permits Pilot program for workers in artificial intelligence, information technology and visual effects This pilot program is intended to attract highly skilled tech workers to launch their careers in Quebec. It will also facilitate the retention of international students who received a specialized graduate degree from Quebec universities. This pilot is scheduled to launch on April 22. There are two streams under this pilot: Artificial intelligence, and Information technology and visual effects. Under each stream there are two types of profiles: Francophone, and Francization. Francophone profiles must have an oral proficiency of 7 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants. If you are selected under the Francization profile, you will automatically get registered with the Integration service for immigrants under Accompagnement Quebec. This measure is supposed to help support your French learning. Each year, MIFI intends to select 275 Quebec graduates and temporary workers in the artificial intelligence sector, and 275 foreign workers in the information technologies and visual effects sector. These figures do not include family members. Artificial intelligence stream conditions You can submit an application under the Artificial Intelligence stream as a foreign worker or as a Quebec graduate. As a foreign worker, you need a diploma that corresponds to a Quebec bachelors degree and one of the following: two years of skilled work experience over the five years preceding your application; or a masters or doctoral degree in the 12 months preceding your application. Also, you need a full-time job offer, or be employed in the artificial intelligence sector. If you are a Quebec graduate, in addition to a job offer, you must have graduated from a university with a higher specialized studies (DESS), masters, or PhD during the two years preceding your application. DESS graduates need six months of work experience in the 12 months before the application date. Information technologies and visual effects stream eligibility requirements For this steam, you need to hold a diploma that corresponds to a Quebec diploma of college studies (technical training), or bachelors degree. You need to be employed or have a job offer in Quebec, and have worked in an eligible full-time occupation for at least 24 months during the five years preceding the submission of your application. To be eligible, your job must correspond to one of the following occupations: Information systems analyst and consultant (NOC 2171); Graphic designer and illustrator, (NOC 5241) but only if your job is in the visual effects sector; Computer and information systems manager (NOC 0213) Software engineer and designer (NOC 2173) Electrical and electronics engineer (NOC 2133) Producer, director, choreographer and related occupations, (NOC 2133) but only if your job is in the visual effects sector; Computer programmer and interactive media developer (NOC 2174) Audio and video recording technician, (NOC 5225) but only if your job is in the visual effects sector; Computer network technician (NOC 2281); or Electrical and electronics engineering technologist and technician (NOC 2241). Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Advertisement Lady Gaga's pre-fame apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan is available for rent at $2,000 a month. The listing on StreetEasy specifies that the place has one bedroom and one bathroom, and pictures show the kitchen attached to the living room. Gaga, 34, reportedly paid $1,100 a month when she lived at this walk-up before she became a star with her 2008 album The Fame. Legendary: Lady Gaga's pre-fame apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan is available for rent at $2,000 a month Origin story: Gaga is pictured in 2006, two years before she catapulted to stardom, playing a New York City venue called the Bitter End In an interview with Neil Strauss for his book Everyone Loves You When You're Dead she revealed she lived in drug-fueled squalor at that apartment. 'Sometimes it freaks me out - or I should say it petrifies me - when I think about laying in my apartment with bed bugs and roaches on the floor and mirrors with cocaine everywhere, and no will or interest in doing anything but making music and getting high,' she revealed in the book. She left the Lower East Side digs after she became a star and then in 2013 she moved into a $22,000 a month penthouse at 40 Central Park South, per Curbed. Now she mainly lives on the West Coast with homes including what the New York Post reports is a $22.5 million Malibu mansion. Details: The listing on StreetEasy specifies that the place has one bedroom and one bathroom, and pictures show the kitchen attached to the living room How times change: Gaga, 34, reportedly paid $1,100 a month when she lived at this walk-up before she became a star with her 2008 album The Fame History: In an interview with Neil Strauss for his book Everyone Loves You When You're Dead she revealed she lived in drug-fueled squalor at that apartment The news about Gaga's old apartment comes after her French bulldogs Koji and Gustav were returned to her following their abduction. In horrifying footage that went viral online, Gaga's dog walker Ryan Fischer screamed for help and was shot by dognappers who made off with the pets. At the time of the robbery Ryan was walking not only Koji and Gustav but also Gaga's other dog Asia who managed to escape. Remember when: She recalled 'laying in my apartment with bed bugs and roaches on the floor and mirrors with cocaine everywhere' in those early days Moving up in the world: She left the Lower East Side digs after she became a star and then in 2013 she moved into a $22,000 a month penthouse at 40 Central Park South, per Curbed Far from this apartment: Now she mainly lives on the West Coast with homes including what the New York Post reports is a $22.5 million Malibu mansion Ryan's family have said his 'doctors expect him to make a full recovery,' and the Mirror reports Gaga will pay his medical bills. After the robbery Gaga offered $500,000 'no questions asked' for the return of her Koji and Gustav, in a move criticized by law enforcement experts who have pointed out that a financial incentive may inspire copycat celebrity pet abductions. She got the dogs back after a Good Samaritan found them tied to a pole and brought them to the police, law enforcement insiders revealed to TMZ. Lady Gaga's $22.5 million Malibu mansion is shown in this aerial photo A bedroom in Lady Gaga's $22,000 per month former penthouse on Central Park South Gaga moved to the penthouse in 2013, after she became famous The Manhattan penthouse came complete with a home theater It also offered a stunning view from a roof deck The penthouse, which went back on the market for $33,000 a month in 2017, was once home to Liza Minnelli and Lance Armstrong The penthouse spans 2,000 square feet and boasts 'no neighbors on any side' Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, March 4 : Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday reiterated his request to the Odisha government to implement reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and educational institutions, and for Socially Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) in educational institutions in the state. "I had written letters to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking reservations for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions and for SEBCs in educational institutions in Odisha. However, my request for 27 per cent reservation for socially and economically backward classes in government jobs and educational institutions in Odisha has remained unaddressed till date," Pradhan told Odisha media in New Delhi. Notably, the state government is set to begin a survey of backward classes based on the social and educational status. "The current move for enumeration of SEBCs comes across as a dichotomous and dilatory step trying to mask the extant policies of the Odisha government denying reservations for OBCs and SEBCs categories," he added. He further said that the state government has access to its own SEBC list as well as OBC list of the Centre, which can be used for providing appropriate reservations in the field of education. The Minister said backward classes constitute a considerable portion of the total population of Odisha. "There are more than 210 communities identified as SEBCs in Odisha. Most of them are suffering from the twin curses of poverty and illiteracy. Even after 30 years of a provision for reservations under Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution for such communities, the state government is not providing any such reservations to OBCs in government jobs as well as in educational institutions," said Pradhan. "At the cost of reiteration, IAagain urge the Chief Minister to accede to my request of providing higher reservations to OBCs in public employment and educational institutions and for SEBCs in educational institutions on an immediate basis," said Pradhan. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. In this May 14, 2019, photo, US Attorney Trent Shores speaks in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As many as 10 death row inmates in Oklahoma, more than one-fifth of the states prisoners condemned to die, could escape the death penalty because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling about criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country. Advertisement Downing Street said Boris Johnson has 'full confidence' in Cabinet Secretary Simon Case (pictured) amid claims he was told about bullying allegations against the Duchess of Sussex in 2018 Boris Johnson has 'full confidence' in Cabinet Secretary Simon Case amid claims he was told about bullying allegations against the Duchess of Sussex in 2018, Downing Street said today. The PM's spokesman signalled support following reports that Mr Case, formerly the Duke of Cambridge's private secretary, had been aware of the accusations. Buckingham Palace has now launched an investigation into claims that the Duchess bullied former royal staff - something she vehemently denies. Asked whether Mr Johnson was concerned about claims that Mr Case had covered up allegations of bullying, the spokesman said: 'It is a matter for the Palace.' But pressed on whether Mr Johnson had confidence in his senior official, the spokesman said: 'Yes, he does.' The Prime Minister's press secretary Allegra Stratton said Mr Johnson and Mr Case wrote to Government ministers last year in the wake of the Priti Patel row making it clear there was 'no place for bullying' in government. Asked whether that extended to public life more broadly, she said: 'The particular case you are talking about is a matter for the palace.' Today new claims emerged that royal staff say they are members of the 'Sussex Survivors' Club' after working for the couple, with some claiming they have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety because of their treatment by Harry and Meghan. And senior palace sources said aides are 'incandescent' the Sussexes claimed they were orchestrating a 'smear campaign' against the Duchess. One told the Mirror: 'It is totally disingenuous, frankly ludicrous and wholly untrue to suggest anyone at the Palace has been peddling disinformation and has been briefing on these matters. There are far, far more important things going on right now than the circus surrounding a media appearance'. Meghan and Harry were today accused of being disrespectful to the Queen and her husband after it emerged they won't delay the release of their Oprah Winfrey interview despite Prince Philip's health problems. In a new teaser clip Meghan is seen accusing the Royal Family of 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry. Ramping up her war of words with the royals, the Duchess of Sussex calls her husband's family 'The Firm' in the 30-second trailer released by CBS today and blames them for speaking out in a show set to be watched by millions around the globe. The couple are under huge pressure to ask Ms Winfrey to delay the broadcast in the US on Sunday night and across the world on Monday after it was revealed Harry's 99-year-old grandfather underwent heart surgery yesterday. Critics including several MPs have warned them they are 'badly advised' to go along with the plan - but the couple insist that it is up to CBS, who don't have 'any intention' to delay the show set to make them millions of dollars in sales and advertising revenue. Meghan suggests she has no fears about losing her royal privileges by speaking out, claiming: 'If that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already' Meghan and Harry's war of words with his family and the royal household has stepped up a gear after Ms Markle said that they were 'perpetuating falsehoods' about them in a clip released hours after the Queen launched an inquiry into claims she bullied staff out of their jobs Meghan Markle spoke to Oprah Winfrey for the interview, which will air on Sunday, and is asked whether she had contemplated what the reaction would be from Buckingham Palace to the interview The royal aides at the centre of palace intrigue Melissa Touabti (right) is pictured with Robbie Williams' wife Ayda for whom she previously worked PA WHO QUIT AFTER WEDDING: Melissa Touabti, the duchess's former personal assistant, had previously worked for Robbie Williams and Madonna. She played a key role in preparations for Meghan and Harry's wedding in May 2018, but quit after just six months. The Frenchwoman, 41, took a job with the billionaire Livingstone family owners of the stately home Cliveden. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf joined the royals in 2014, having acted as a 'crisis management expert' at the Royal Bank of Scotland. The 36- year-old American, who completed his master's at the London School of Economics, served as communications secretary to the 'Fab Four' of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan before the Cambridges and Sussexes created separate offices in March 2019. Mr Knauf now heads William and Kate's charitable foundation. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf (left) walks behind the couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto Simon Case in Dundee in 2019 THE WHIZ-KID WHO RUNS WHITEHALL: Simon Case became the youngest head of the civil service for over a century when he took the post at the tender age of 41. The Cambridge history graduate a noted fan of tweed suits and Barbour jackets had previously been the principal private secretary to successive Tory prime ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May. He also worked at spying centre GCHQ as a 'director of strategy'. His most recent role before becoming Cabinet Secretary last year was serving as private secretary to Prince William. THE TOUGH TALKING AUSTRALIAN: Formerly the Queen's assistant private secretary, Samantha Cohen had planned to quit Buckingham Palace in 2018. Instead, she agreed to stay on and help the duchess through her first months in the Royal Family. The well-liked but tough-talking Australian became the Sussexes' private secretary, but left in 2019 to work for the environmental charity Cool Earth. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II (accompanied by Samantha Cohen) attend a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018 in Widnes, England THE PRINCES' HR HEAD HONCHO: Experienced human resources director Samantha Carruthers worked for De Beers and investment bank Lazard before joining the royals. Head of HR for Prince Charles and Prince William until 2019, she is now deputy chairman of the board of trustees for child bereavement charity Winston's Wish. Samantha Carruthers worked for De Beers and investment bank Lazard before joining the royal Advertisement A source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex today confirmed that the screening on Sunday night is still expected to go ahead, claiming the decision now lies with the broadcasters set to make millions from the two-hour show. 'There are a lot of people who are going to talk about this until the programme airs, but the programming and all the rest of it is ultimately up to CBS, we're not involved in that side of things', the source said, adding: 'As it stands, I don't think there is any intention from the programme maker to change its air date'. There is growing anger over the broadcast going ahead, with royal experts, fans and MPs calling for its postponement. Tory MP Bob Blackman told MailOnline: 'The reality is I don't think the interview is appropriate at all. The less they say the better, irrespective of the state of health of the Duke of Edinburgh. But to be doing a tell-all interview screened in the UK when he is in hospital fortunately he appears to have had a successful operation they are badly advised to put it mildly. None of these royal interviews have gone well... and I can't see this going any better.' Mr Blackman said ITV has 'got a choice to make'. 'I don't think they should be showing it,' he said. 'Everyone's sympathies should be for the Queen, a remarkable lady who has given a lifetime of service.' Another Tory MP, who did not want to be named, said of Harry and Meghan: 'One day I hope those two discover what it is really like to have problems.' In a clip set to dramatic music, Ms Winfrey asks her: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' And an emotional Meghan replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us'. The Duchess adds: 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already.' It is not known what 'falsehoods' Meghan is talking about because the interview was recorded before she was accused of 'driving out' two PAs and shattering the confidence of another member of Kensington Palace staff - with one former aide branding Prince Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies' in The Times yesterday. She denies the allegations. Hours after she made the claims, Buckingham Palace revealed the Duke of Edinburgh has undergone a 'successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition' and will remain in hospital for 'treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days'. Prince Philip, 99, had the operation yesterday at St Bartholomew's Hospital in the City of London, where he was transferred to on Monday after spending 14 days at King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone due to an infection. Harry's grandfather's ill health will again increase calls for the couple to postpone its broadcast on CBS in the US on Sunday and on ITV1 in the UK on Monday. Meghan Markle will talk about her experience of race issues in Britain during her interview with Oprah Winfrey. And in dramatic promotional clips released on Monday, Miss Winfrey is seen asking Meghan if she was 'silent or silenced', with the duchess' answer not revealed. In response to a comment by the duchess, the presenter says: 'Almost unsurvivable. Sounds like there was a breaking point?' At one point in the trailer, Miss Winfrey tells viewers: 'Just to make it clear to everybody, there is no subject that is off-limits,' as Meghan nods in agreement. The clip then cuts to Harry, 36, in a grey suit and white shirt with no tie, as he says: 'My biggest fear was history repeating itself.' The teaser then shows Harry and Meghan sitting side by side holding hands as Miss Winfrey says: 'You have said some pretty shocking things here'. In a second clip, also set to dramatic music, Prince Harry compares his mother's situation to the one he says he and Meghan found themselves in. As he speaks, a picture is shown of him with his mother when he was a little boy. 'For me, I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side, because I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago because it's been unbelievably tough for the two of us. But at least we have each other,' he says. Today's clip with Meghan's views on 'The Firm' came as Buckingham Palace announced they will launch an investigation into allegations that Markle bullied royal aides. The Queen launched the unprecedented inquiry into allegations that Meghan and Harry bullied their staff - leaving royal employees 'shaken' by 'unhappy memories' being brought up about a 'toxic period'. Devastating claims that the Duchess of Sussex inflicted 'emotional cruelty' on underlings and 'drove them out' were 'very' concerning, Buckingham Palace said. She denies being a bully. It came as a royal insider scotched hopes they could one day return for royal events such as Trooping the Colour, saying: 'I can't ever see those two back on the balcony.' Buckingham Palace has released more details about how the royal family will celebrate the Commonwealth in a special programme to be screened just hours before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Oprah interview in the US. The palace said: 'In Her Majesty's annual Commonwealth Day message, the Queen will pay tribute to the way in which communities across the family of nations have come together in response to the pandemic.' A Celebration for Commonwealth Day will be broadcast on BBC One at 5pm on Sunday March 7 - a few hours before Meghan and Harry's sit-down with Oprah is shown. The Prince of Wales has recorded a message for the programme addressing 'the universal devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic'. Prince Charles will also celebrate the 'critical work' being carried out by nations across the Commonwealth to combat climate change and protect its unique landscapes, marine environments and biodiversity. Harry and his wife were both labelled 'outrageous bullies', according to sensational claims reported yesterday. 'Broken' royal aides told of feeling humiliated, 'sick', 'terrified', left 'shaking' with fear, and being reduced to tears by the duchess. The Duchess of Sussex is accused of 'driving out' two PAs and shattering the confidence of another member of Kensington Palace staff - with one former aide branding Prince Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies' in The Times on Wednesday. It also claimed the monarchy's 'men in gray suits' were aware of the purported actions of the duchess - but did 'absolutely nothing to protect people'. Meghan has denied the allegations and accused the newspaper of being 'used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative' about her. Royal officials initially refused to comment, with sources telling MailOnline that aides and senior family members are focused on Prince Philip's health problems in hospital. But on Wednesday night, the Palace confirmed that its HR team will 'look into' the allegations, saying it 'does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace'. A spokesman said: 'We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 'Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. 'Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. 'The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.' The bullying claims emerged in a 2018 email sent by Harry and Meghan's press chief Jason Knauf, who now works for Prince William. This sparked an extraordinary chain of events where the Sussexes accused Buckingham Palace of smearing them. The Queen then launched an inquiry into the bullying claims A royal source told the Daily Mail last night that the emergence of the bullying claims yesterday had 'shaken' many staff, both past and present, and brought up 'many unhappy memories' about a particularly 'toxic period'. There is no timetable to the investigation but it is understood that any changes in policies and procedures will be shared publicly in an annual review expected later in the year. Meghan said The Times is being 'used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative based on misleading and harmful misinformation' about her treatment of staff after former aides accused her of 'emotional cruelty and manipulation', reducing them to tears and leaving them 'shaking' with fear. Her lawyers said the former actress was 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma'. Jason Knauf - the Sussexes' then communications secretary who now heads the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's charitable foundation - made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff. A source told the newspaper Harry begged his senior aide not to take the matter further, but it also reported lawyers for the duke and duchess deny the meeting took place and that Harry would not have interfered with staff matters. Knauf reportedly sent an email outlining the duchess's alleged actions to Simon Case - the Duke of Cambridge's then private secretary and now the cabinet secretary - after conversations with Samantha Carruthers, the head of human resources. Case then forwarded it to Carruthers, who was based at Clarence House. The Times reported Knauf wrote in his email: 'I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable. 'The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. 'She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. Meghan Markle wore a pair of striking diamond earrings that were allegedly a wedding gift from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. She is pictured wearing them at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji, on October 23, 2018, three weeks after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul 'We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y.' Knauf also made clear he was concerned nothing had been done, or would be done in future, to protect palace staff. He said Carruthers 'agreed with me on all counts that the situation was very serious', but added: 'I remain concerned that nothing will be done'. Melissa Touabti, the second of Meghan's personal assistants to leave, departed six months after the royal wedding after she ended up in tears, according to reports. Lawyers for the duke and duchess said the Sussexes believed staff to be comfortable and happy. Revealed: Meghan's 500,000 diamond earrings were NOT 'borrowed' but a 'wedding gift from Saudi Crown Prince' - and worn by duchess three weeks after assassination of Jamal Khashoggi in consulate The Duchess of Sussex was again seen wearing the earrings one month later on November 14, 2018 as she was photographed leaving Kensington Palace to attend Prince Charles's 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace Meghan Markle wore a pair of striking diamond earrings that were a wedding gift from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, who approved the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, it was claimed today. Kensington Palace had said at the time of the formal dinner in Fiji in October 2018 - which took place three weeks after the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul - that the jewellery was 'borrowed', without stating from whom. Lawyers for the Duchess of Sussex have now told The Times that she may have stated they were borrowed, but did not say they were borrowed from a jeweler - and denied that she had misled anyone about their provenance. The newspaper was also told by Meghan's team that every relevant member of royal staff knew who the earrings were from, and the duchess was unaware of rumours at the time that bin Salman was involved in the killing. Bin Salman is not thought to have met Meghan or given her the earrings in person. The jewellery is considered Crown property because it was a gift from a foreign head of state, and she would not be allowed to sell them. The earrings Meghan wore for the black tie reception at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, which was hosted by Fiji's president Jioji Konrote, were later revealed as being made by celebrity designer Butani. Advertisement The article came as ITV1 confirmed the ViacomCBS show, called Oprah With Meghan and Harry, will be broadcast in the UK between 9pm and 11pm on Monday night, almost 24 hours after it is shown in the United States. Staff told The Times they have spoken out to give their story before the couple's tell-all interview, claiming that when Meghan was urged to support palace staff she replied: 'It's not my job to coddle people.' It is also claimed that the couple's treatment of aides worried Harry's brother William so much, because some staff were shared, that he and his most senior advisor, Case, hastened the split between the Sussex and the Cambridge households and the destruction of their joint foundation. Other extraordinary revelations in The Times include claims Meghan wore a pair of 500,000 diamond earrings to a dinner in Fiji in 2018 that were a wedding gift from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, three weeks after the US claims he approved the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. And in a further twist Markle, a campaigner for women's rights, told aides they were borrowed from a jeweler, rather than a present from a regime known for human rights abuses and the oppression of women. Lawyers for the Duchess of Sussex have told The Times that she may have stated they were borrowed, but did not say they were borrowed from a jeweller - and denied that she had misled anyone about their provenance. The newspaper claims that on the same official tour the duchess was seen being ushered out of an official engagement to a local market due to apparent security concerns. In fact, it says, Meghan had cut short the visit because she had 'reservations' about the organization UN Women, which had an involvement in the event. Daily Mail Royal Editor witnessed the aftermath and wrote today: 'I was there at the time and witnessed Meghan turn and 'hiss' at a member of her entourage, clearly incandescent with rage about something, and demand to leave. 'I later saw that same female highly distressed member of staff sitting in an official car, with tears running down her face. Our eyes met and she lowered hers, humiliation etched on her features'. Describing life working for Meghan and Harry, aides have claimed they 'bent over backwards' to help her when she arrived after the couple became engaged in 2017. A source told The Times: 'Everyone knew that the institution would be judged by her happiness'. According to the Times their sources say two 'senior' members of royal staff were bullied by the duchess. An ex-employee alleged they had been 'humiliated'. Another aide described the experience of working for the Sussexes as 'more like emotional cruelty and manipulation, which I guess could also be called bullying'. Staff claimed they had occasion been reduced to tears after dealings with Meghan and one aide told a colleague 'I can't stop shaking' as they anticipated a row with the duchess. Meghan's lawyers vehemently deny she is a bully and said that one person had left the job because of misconduct. The Times said it could not corroborate that claim before publication earlier this week. The Mail also approached a spokesman for the Sussexes for comment. The Times said it was contacted by sources who felt a 'partial version' had emerged of Meghan's two years as a working royal. It makes clear they wished to tell their side in advance of Sunday's 'tell all' television interview, which is likely to make uncomfortable viewing for Buckingham Palace. A spokesman for the Sussexes said in a statement to The Times: 'Let's just call this what it is - a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation'. Insiders told The Times that despite Knauf's intervention nothing was done to investigate the situation or to protect staff from bullying from senior royals in the future. One source told The Times: 'I think the problem is, not much happened with it. It was, 'How can we make this go away?', rather than addressing it'. A bullying complaint was lodged against the Duchess of Sussex by a senior member of Kensington Palace staff before she and Prince Harry quit as working royals, it was dramatically claimed on Tuesday The Duchess of Sussex (pictured with the royal family) is accused of 'driving out' two PAs and shattering the confidence of another member of Kensington Palace staff - with one former aide branding Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies' in The Times today On Wednesday night, the Palace confirmed that its HR team will 'look into' the allegations, saying it 'does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace' Meghan's friends accuse Royal aides of painting Duchess as an 'angry woman of colour' with 'bullying' allegations in an 'ugly' bid to 'destroy her character' ahead of tell-all Oprah interview Meghan Markle's friends have rushed to her defence amid the Buckingham Palace 'bullying' row - with one claiming the dramatic fallout has been fuelled by racism. Omid Scobie, author of the Finding Freedom biography of the Sussexes, quoted a series of Meghan's friends standing up for her in a report for Harper's Bazaar. One friend said Meghan was another example of a 'woman of colour in a senior position accused of being too angry, too scary, too whatever in the workplace'. The author was also told Meghan and her husband Prince Harry have found the claims 'distressing and upsetting', and that she is always 'kind and considerate'. Omid Scobie, royal editor at large for Harper's Bazaar and author of the Finding Freedom biography of the Sussexes, quoted a series of Meghan's friends who have stood up for her Meghan is pictured during her interview with Oprah Winfrey set to air on ITV next Monday Omid Scobie: Harper's Bazaar royal editor who left Heat after allegedly being called a 'P**i' Omid Scobie started his career on the celebrity magazine Heat before moving on to cover the royals. He is now royal editor at large for Harper's Bazaar. Born to a Scottish father who runs a marketing agency and an Iranian mother who works in child welfare, he said he left Heat after an executive is alleged to have called him a 'P**i'. He is a royal contributor for Good Morning America and host of ABC's royal podcast, 'The Heir Pod'. Mr Scobie has boasted of his exclusive access to Prince Harry and Meghan. Mr Scobie is co-author of Finding Freedom, a biography about Harry and Meghan He is described in the blurb for the Sussexes biography Finding Freedom as 'an authoritative voice on the lives and philanthropic endeavors of the Royal Family's younger members and maintains strong access to the Sussexes' working world'. Advertisement Mr Scobie, the royal editor of Harper's Bazaar, regularly stands up for Meghan on social media and last night retweeted a series of positive messages backing her. In an article he also claims that the couple, who deny helping him with his book, 'knew that it would get ugly in the run up' before their Oprah Winfrey interview. The 'tell-all' two-hour conversation will be broadcast in the US on CBS this Sunday night at 1am UK time, before being shown in Britain on ITV on Monday from 9pm. Writing in Harper's Bazaar, Mr Scobie quotes a anonymous friend of Meghan saying: 'I hate to say it, but find me a woman of colour in a senior position who has not been accused of being too angry, too scary, too whatever in the workplace. It's sad that it's happening, but I'm not surprised. These claims are so far from the woman I know.' Another said: 'Harry and Meghan knew that it would get ugly in the run up but seeing such an obvious attempt at destroying her character was distressing and upsetting.' It comes as the Duchess said she could not be expected to stay silent if the royal family played a part in 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry. A clip of Meghan making the remarks to Oprah Winfrey was released in the early hours of today, in which the Duchess added 'a lot ... has been lost already'. The couple's interview with the US chat show queen is expected to lift the lid on their short period as working royals before they stepped down for a life in America. In the 30-second clip released on social media, Oprah asks the Duchess: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' She replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I ... there is a lot that has been lost already.' 'The Firm' is widely considered to be shorthand for the institution of the royal family. The clip was released just hours after Buckingham Palace said last night it had launched an investigation into claims that the Duchess bullied former royal staff. Past and present employees are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and that staff were 'humiliated' on several occasions. The Times newspaper has reported that the duchess 'destroyed' one member of staff and another was left in tears before she departed. Meghan's lawyers have vehemently denied she is a bully. The Queen, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the Buckingham Palace balcony in July 2018 Mr Scobie last night retweeted a series of positive messages backing the Duchess of Sussex Kate Middleton's mother Carole asks publishers of Good Housekeeping not to promote her cover interview to avoid being 'insensitive' to Prince Philip, 99, Kate Middleton's mother Carole has asked the publishers of Good Housekeeping magazine not to promote a cover interview with her over fears it will look 'insensitive' while Prince Philip is battling ill-health in hospital. Carole Middleton, who runs party supply company Party Pieces, interviewed with the magazine in January but has reportedly asked its publishers not to promote it as Prince Philip, 99, is still in hospital. The news comes ahead of a 'tell-all' interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Oprah Winfrey which is set to air in the UK on Monday night, despite criticism of its timing. Kate Middleton's mother Carole turned down publicity for an interview in Good Housekeeping magazine because she did not want to be 'insensitive' while Prince Philip, 99, was in hospital Respectful: Carole Middleton, pictured on the cover of Good Housekeeping, discusses her business and family life in the interview which features in the April issue and is out now A source told the Sun: 'Carole is incredibly proud of her company and all the hard work that goes into it. 'But whilst backing the business, she didn't want to turn any news into a media circus because she is so respectful and sensitive to Catherine, and the royal family. 'She always gets William's go-ahead before any interview like this, and he is incredibly supportive. 'But the more the PR machine rolled out in Los Angeles with Meghan and Harry, the more sensitive Carole became. 'She decided she didn't want to do any PR for the interview - even if it cost her thousands in potential lost marketing.' In the interview, which features in the April issue and is out now, Carole shares insights into her company Party Pieces as well as her family life. She appears on the cover of the magazine wearing a 375 Seventies-inspired floral print dress from Wyse London, befitting the arrival of spring. Advertisement Revenge of the Sussex survivors' club: The extraordinary inside story of how a fairytale turned into a nightmare of 'traumatised' staff - by Royal Editor REBECCA ENGLISH, who saw so much of it herself It is the one royal group that no one wants to join. Referred to only half-jokingly as the 'Sussex Survivors' Club', its membership is sadly rising. But its select band of members have one thing in common: all have worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and lived to tell the tale. Joking aside, some even believe they may have a form of post-traumatic stress, defined by doctors as an anxiety disorder caused by distressing or frightening events. Such experiences, of course, are now widely acknowledged not to be limited to soldiers who have undergone traumatic experiences on the battlefield, but also to people at work. Even if that work is in a palace. And today, many former palace staff look back on the moment that Prince Harry introduced to the world his beautiful, intelligent and passionate bride-to-be as the beginning of one of the most traumatic periods in their lives. Let us be clear: Harry is a complex man but one with a strong sense of natural justice and charity, given to acts of compassion and kindness. 'He wears his heart on his sleeve and genuinely wants to do good in the world,' one admirer tells me. But he is also equally capable, say those who know him well and like him, of behaving 'like an absolute brat'. It had been clear for years to anyone he came into contact with that he wasn't happy working with the palace machinery or, particularly, the British media (sometimes understandably so). He was, they say, always capable of self-destructively 'pressing the nuclear button' on his royal life. Meghan, they stress, was simply the catalyst. But the result was more toxic, more personally harmful, than anyone could ever have imagined. To begin with, however, the atmosphere at Kensington Palace was heady and exciting. Here was a glamorous couple, clearly deeply in love. Meghan was the missing piece of the jigsaw that poor, motherless Harry had been searching for all those years. Famously she once paid for an ice cream stand for her new staff at Kensington Palace, with the event later surprise! being breathlessly revealed in People, a 'pro-Sussex' American magazine, as the 'best day of work, ever'. More than that, they were a couple determined to do good on a world stage at the same time sprinkling a little stardust on Britain's 'fusty' old Royal Family. And their small team of loyal staff believed in them until, that is, the scales fell from their eyes. Notoriously, within a few weeks of Meghan's arrival in England and the announcement of the couple's engagement in November 2017, word was leaking out about the couple's 'autocratic' and 'difficult' behaviour. Occasionally it slipped into print: that Meghan (a claim robustly sourced by the Mail) had refused to wear a hat on her first official engagement with the Queen in Chester, despite being strongly advised it would be appropriate and respectful to do so. Then came the famous row over which tiara she wanted to wear to the couple's wedding, resulting in Harry publicly admonishing one of the Queen's most senior members of staff, Angela Kelly: 'What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.' There were also claims that the Duchess of Cambridge had told Meghan she shouldn't speak to her staff so dismissively and that there was so much friction at a pre-wedding bridesmaid fitting that Kate was left in tears. The Times has reported that the 'febrile' atmosphere within Kensington Palace saw staff, on occasion, weeping. Two say they were bullied by the duchess, a third that they had been 'humiliated' by her. The paper quotes one aide, who was anticipating a confrontation with Meghan, as saying: 'I can't stop shaking.' At first, my sources tell me, Harry tried to keep the peace, gently placating his wife and quietly apologising to staff. On one occasion described to me by several sources, he even gently admonished Meghan about the way she behaved with palace staff many of whom work long hours for relatively little money out of pride for the institution after a particularly explosive encounter. The details are subject to conjecture (and have become something of a palace legend) but resulted in Harry speaking to one of his close protection officers, who confirmed his fiancee's behaviour. But as the weeks went on, the prince became increasingly hostile to his once-loyal aides. Rebecca English with Prince Harry to learn about the work of his new charity Sentebale in Lesotho in 2006 The Times has claimed Harry knew of a complaint made by the couple's former communications secretary, Jason Knauf, that Meghan had driven two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member. Harry is said to have had a meeting with Mr Knauf in which he begged him not to pursue it. The Sussexes deny this. They also describe the allegations as 'old', 'distorted' and aimed at 'undermining' Meghan. It has been suggested by others that staff may have 'misunderstood' Meghan's more direct, American style. But I have personally witnessed more than one member of staff driven to tears by the treatment they were subjected to by the duke and duchess before the couple acrimoniously quit as working royals. One person sobbed down the phone to me after a particularly harrowing day. They clearly felt emotionally broken and could no longer cope with the pressure they were being subjected to. Others have indicated to me they were being asked to behave in a manner they did not feel professionally comfortable with, particularly in their dealings with the media. Several aides have also told me that Meghan in particular was very good at 'drawing' staff into her confidence, flattering them as if they were the only person in the world she could trust and asking them to help her with various duties. Often these were things that were far beyond the scope of their normal work in one case being instructed to make plans for her father Thomas to be flown from his home in Mexico before the wedding and taken to a fully-stocked 'safe house' in LA for a few days in order to fool any waiting media. And then, when things didn't go to plan, the sun would no longer shine on them. It was made 'horribly clear' they were out of favour. Toxic, hostile, distrustful, poisonous: all words I have heard regularly used over the past few years to describe people's experiences working in the Sussexes' household. The Times reports matters became so bad that Mr Knauf, an experienced PR operator who cut his teeth defending the bank RBS at the height of its financial scandal, decided to put his strongly held concerns in writing. He made clear in October 2018, little more than six months after the couple married, that he believed the duchess had already driven two members of staff out and another was being targeted. 'I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of [redacted] was totally unacceptable,' he wrote. 'The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying 'Y' and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.' The Times has chosen not to match incidents to individual names, but the members of staff leaving the Sussexes' employment were all women and all seasoned professionals. A well-placed source said: '[One woman's] job was highly pressurised and in the end it became too much. She put up with quite a lot. Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.' One member of staff, a seasoned professional, was initially said to have left on good terms. But I have since been told that this popular aide was deeply unhappy about her experience working for the duchess and had been 'desperate' to get out as long as she could professionally put a brave face on it. Likewise a third member of staff. Mr Knauf makes clear in his email, as reported by The Times, that he was also concerned about the couple's hugely experienced deputy private secretary, Samantha Cohen. She had worked for the Queen for more than 20 years and was personally persuaded by the monarch to stay on and help the couple navigate their first few years of royal life. He indicated that she was experiencing extreme stress and said: 'I questioned if the Household policy on bullying and harassment applies to principals [the term used to refer to a member of the royal family].' One source tells me wryly, with an eye to Meghan's much-hyped championing of female empowerment: 'Note that everyone concerned was a woman.' Another adds: 'Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers. They were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.' The Times also makes reference to an incident during the couple's tour to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga in 2018, which was a particularly difficult one for all concerned, Meghan included. She was, of course, pregnant at the time. The newspaper reports how Meghan cut short a visit to a market in Fiji because she was concerned about the presence of a UN organisation promoting women, with which she had worked before and made clear she no longer wished to have anything to do with. At the time officials had suggested that it was because it was humid and the crowd was oppressive in the market. I was there at the time and witnessed Meghan turn and 'hiss' at a member of her entourage, clearly incandescent with rage about something, and demand to leave. I later saw that same female highly distressed member of staff sitting in an official car, with tears running down her face. Our eyes met and she lowered hers, humiliation etched on her features. At the time I was unable to document anything as I couldn't conclusively link the two incidents together, despite my suspicions. I have subsequently found out from other sources that my instincts were right. It should be stressed that lawyers for the duchess said she met other leaders from UN Women later on the tour and denied she left for the reason alleged. So why has this all come out now, you might ask? The Times makes clear that these aides have 'hit back' before Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey this Sunday. The newspaper says it was approached by sources because they felt 'only a partial version had emerged of Meghan's two years as a working member of the royal family and they wished to tell their side'. They were also concerned at how such matters were handled by the palace. One source put it more succinctly to me yesterday. 'Those concerned are fed up with the sheer hypocrisy of it all. The suggestion that they [the Sussexes] were being bullied and forced out when others were experiencing that very treatment at their hands!' exclaimed the source. Another insider told me they believed some staff had even sought psychological therapy over their experiences something that Harry, who moved the nation when he revealed how he had himself sought professional help to cope with the emotional fall-out over his mother's death and has long campaigned on mental health issues, should know all about. 'People have been broken by this, genuinely so. Absolutely traumatised,' I am told. Lawyers for the duchess say she wished to fit in and be accepted and had left her life in North America to commit to her new role. What a sad, sorry mess. The irony, another source says, is that no one wanted a battle. But the Sussexes have waged this war and enough is enough. Those aides who have broken the royal omerta say they refuse to sit by and watch Harry and Meghan's 'duplicitous' behaviour, especially when 'good people and brilliant professionals' are having their reputations unfairly traduced. One source warns: 'The royals cannot fight back. 'Never complain, never explain.' But they can.' A spokesman for the Sussexes has told The Times that they are the victims of a 'calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful information'. They have said the duchess is 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.' Royals' Meghan 'bully' crisis: As Buckingham Palace launches an unprecedented investigation into sensational bullying claims against Meghan, make no mistake this is a crisis that echoes the Abdication, writes RICHARD KAY When Jason Knauf left the Treasury to go and work for RBS the bank that had been bailed out with 45 billion of taxpayers' money following the 2008 financial crisis he was dubbed 'gamekeeper turned poacher'. But his silky skills in crisis management were never tested there as they were in his next big job working for Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. Yesterday, the quietly spoken American was revealed to have been the author of a sensational bullying complaint against former actress Meghan, which threatens a new royal crisis every bit as divisive as the War of the Waleses. That, of course, was the bitter and acrimonious battle for public sympathy waged between Princess Diana and Prince Charles throughout the 1990s. A sensational bullying complaint against former actress Meghan threatens a new royal crisis every bit as divisive as the War of the Waleses The crisis has echoes of the dramas that followed the Abdication of Edward VIII in 1936 after he chose to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson (pictured) Mr Knauf's email, alleging that the Duchess's intimidating behaviour had driven two personal assistants out of the household, reopens a rift far more critical and damaging for the future of the monarchy: the split between Harry and his brother, Prince William. But last night the email had an even more shocking immediate effect. Stung by Meghan's astonishing statement in response to allegations of bullying that she was the victim of a 'smear' and that the newspaper that published the email was 'being used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative' the Queen hit back. Announcing an inquiry into the claims about the two employees who left their jobs and a third whose confidence was said to have been undermined is an astonishing development. Never before has the Palace held a member of the Royal Family to account, and its move represents a serious blow to the Duchess's carefully curated status of victimhood. It also shows that the Queen's deep reserve of patience for her grandson, Harry, has reached a tipping point. The move was not just a result of the incendiary remarks of the Sussexes' American public relations team, but also because of the implications that the Palace could face legal action over nothing being done when the complaints were first raised. In other words, a cover-up. I also understand that individuals who fear their reputations will be damaged in the Sussexes' upcoming Oprah Winfrey TV interview have demanded the protection of the Palace. 'The Palace is taking the gravity of the situation extremely seriously,' I am told. Even to the most neutral and fair-minded of observers, the bombshell revelations coming just four days before the Oprah interview is broadcast, represent a moment of potential danger for the Royal Family. It has echoes, too, of the dramas that followed the Abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, when the Queen's father reluctantly took the throne as George VI, triggering years of hostility between the brothers and, crucially, their wives. The Queen Mother blamed, and never forgave, the Duchess of Windsor the former Wallis Simpson for the premature death of her husband. The Queen's father (pictured) reluctantly took the throne as George VI, triggering years of hostility between the brothers and, crucially, their wives Just who leaked Mr Knauf's 2018 email to The Times scarcely matters. Its very existence suggests an escalation in the fraught relationship between William and Harry. The reason? Mr Knauf's current job as the Duke of Cambridge's right-hand man. For more than two years he has worked exclusively for Prince William, and is now chief executive of the Cambridges' Royal Foundation. His email was one of a series of claims about Meghan's treatment of staff after former aides accused her of 'emotional cruelty and manipulation', which had reduced them to tears and left them 'shaking' with fear. The fact aides had managed to keep a lid on these troubling claims for so long demonstrates the unease over what might be unleashed when the Oprah interview is broadcast in the U.S. on Sunday night. It is also a sign that the Palace will not sit back and allow the Sussexes' partial and highly selective account of their brief life as working royals to go unchallenged. Yesterday, royal officials were insisting that the complaints about Meghan, which began to surface within weeks of her and Harry's starry Windsor wedding, were not being orchestrated by Buckingham Palace or by members of the Queen's family. Their focus, they said, was on 99-year-old Prince Philip, who remains a patient at Barts Hospital in London. Complaints about Meghan began to surface within weeks of her and Harry's starry Windsor wedding. Pictured: Harry and Meghan at Ascot in July 2018 All the same, some courtiers are privately describing developments as 'the Crown getting its revenge in first'. Whatever the case, you don't have to be much of a conspiracy theorist to see a pattern in the revelations. For on any reading of the claims, what appears to emerge is a streak of wilfulness in Meghan and a pusillanimous Harry torn between his family and his wife. As someone who has reported on the royals for 35 years, I have heard of complaints about the failings of the royals' internal human resources departments on a number of occasions and they were a key factor in the war of words between Charles and Diana. This probably accounts for Mr Knauf's pointed observation in a 2018 email leaked to The Times this week. It said that while the household's head of human resources, Samantha Carruthers, had 'agreed with me on all counts that the situation was serious . . . I remain concerned that nothing will be done'. The intervention of the Queen last night indicates that was almost certainly true. Sources quoted by The Times claim HR attitudes were 'How can we make this go away?', rather that addressing it. The Queen Mother blamed, and never forgave, the Duchess of Windsor the former Wallis Simpson (pictured) for the premature death of her husband According to insiders, senior figures in all the major royal households knew of the reports that young women were being bullied to the point of tears. 'The institution just protected Meghan,' it was claimed. How ironic that it should be 'the men in grey suits' the very people whom the Duchess of Sussex has complained had been so hostile to her who protected her from these sulphurous claims. By now stories of Meghan's behaviour were circulating openly. One story that reached my ears was of a very junior assistant who had gone from being Meghan's favourite to being told that she had become 'over familiar'. Another was how morning staff meetings over coffee, which Harry himself made, had stopped when Meghan apparently engaged a butler, ending the informality at a stroke. Harmless enough, you may think, but there were other accounts, too. One figure, working in a different part of the royal estate, was alleged to have been reprimanded for giving Harry a present to mark his engagement. And there have been claims that behind the glowing headlines of the couple's first big overseas tour, in October 2018, all was not well at Admiralty House, Australia's governor general's residence which hosted Harry and Meghan. The bombshell revelations coming just four days before the Oprah interview (pictured) is broadcast represent a moment of potential danger for the Royal Family How conflicting this must all have been for Harry, who had been brought up by both his mother and father to respect the staff who work for the Royal Family. But it was Mr Knauf's devastating conclusion about bullying by 'principals' that was to have the greatest impact. Prince William was appalled by the reports that reached his ears, and many now wonder whether it was this that ultimately led to the split between the brothers. Initially, I understand, Harry acknowledged that something was not right, but he swiftly backed his wife. At the time William and Harry shared their staff, but the issue of their treatment became so acute that William and his aides accelerated the process of splitting the household in two. 'What was a long-term plan became an immediate plan,' said a source. Suddenly the 'Fab Four', as the two couples had been dubbed, were no longer quite so fabulous. Harry and Meghan moved out of Kensington Palace and went to live at their new home, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, taking their own staff with them. Mr Knauf, meanwhile, took up a job as an adviser to the Duke of Cambridge. To the public, the unravelling of the special relationship of two brothers who had been so close because of adversity as well as their unique circumstance was as perplexing as it was heartbreaking. The picture of the princes and their wives barely acknowledging one another at last year's Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey could not have contrasted more than with that joyful Christmas Day at Sandringham in 2017, when all four had been wreathed in smiles. William has looked on with mounting dismay as his brother and sister-in-law have used their new Californian pulpit to wage war on the Press and, more recently, on their own family and the institution that serves it. His hope that Harry, who more than anyone else knows the burdens William faces as the future king, would be at his side has vanished to be replaced by a fear that his disgruntled brother and sister-in-law are morphing ever more into a modern-day version of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. That may also indicate William's hand in last night's Palace intervention. Bullying and remedies to prevent it, are, after all, at the heart of his mental health charity, Heads Together. Even when such damaging allegations are made on the Palace's own doorstep, doing nothing is not an option. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below TOKYO, Mar 4, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that it has decided to assent to and support a project led by CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd., a subsidiary of the healthcare startup company engaged in improving healthcare access in Africa, Connect Afya Co., Ltd., which aims to build a new structure for the efficient testing framework for the novel coronavirus infection in Kenya. CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd., in collaboration with the government of Meru County in Kenya, will support the setup of PCR testing laboratories, along with procurement of equipment necessary for testing and training of screening technicians.Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties, is the most populous county in the Eastern Province of Kenya with approximately 1.35 million people. As the novel coronavirus infection spreads in Kenya, one issue in Meru County is the time required to receive screening results as samples must be sent across over 200 kilometers to the capital city of Nairobi for testing, a situation which is caused by a lack of equipment, facilities and technicians necessary for screening of the novel coronavirus. It is expected that support for this effort will contribute largely to the formation of accurate and rapid understanding of the infection situation as well as strategy that is based on that understanding by construction of PCR testing in Meru County.Eisai has committed the equivalent of 1 million USD in aid over the span of 1 year in order to support the controlling of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Africa, along with prevention of delays of elimination activities for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). As part of this support, Eisai has begun provision of Personal Protection Equipment (masks, goggles, face shields, etc.) to core hospitals in Africa for research of and countermeasures against infectious diseases, as well as masks and sanitizer for the resuming of mass drug administrations in Kenya for the elimination of NTDs. In addition, Eisai is supporting Amref Health Africa in the development and popularization of its mobile health platform LEAP for healthcare workers in sub-Saharan countries.Through this support, including the new support for Connect Afya, Eisai will continue in its contribution to mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in Kenya and other African countries.About Connect Afya Co., Ltd. and CA Medlynks Kenya, Ltd.Connect Afya Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hyogo, Japan, CEO: Yoichi Shimada) and its local affiliate CA Medlynks Kenya Ltd. (Location: Nairobi are startups delivering clinical laboratory services and providing in-vitro diagnostic medical equipment, for the realization of a society where people enjoy better lives without suffering from limitations of insufficient medical infrastructure.As of February 2021, the startup has supplied diagnostic services and in-vitro diagnostic medical equipment, including novel coronavirus infection reverse transcription PCR screening equipment, to over thirty healthcare organizations, clinics, and corporations across Kenya.Media Inquiries:Public Relations Department,Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120Source: EisaiCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . 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. The Pima Air and Space Museum, near Tucson, Arizona, took delivery of a former Swiss Air Force Dassault Mirage IIIRS on February 22nd. The museum acquired this jet from Piet Smedts Aero, a Dutch company which specializes in the sale, acquisition and rental of former military aircraft. The Mirage arrived packed inside a shipping container and will soon undergo reassembly for display. This particular Mirage served as R-2107, one of just 18 Swiss reconnaissance variants. The Swiss Air Forces relationship with the Mirage was a complicated one, but the type served with distinction from the mid-1960s through the early 2000s. They operated a variety of Mirage variants, which included 36 Mirage IIIS (fighter), four Mirage IIIBS (operational trainer), two Mirage IIIDS (trainer) and a sole Mirage IIIC (all weather interceptor). R-2107 served with the Swiss Air Forces Fliegerstaffel 10 (No.10 Squadron), their dedicated photo-reconnaissance unit based at the now-dormant military airfield in Buochs. Interestingly, a sister-ship to R-2107, R-2109, is still based at Buochs in ground-running condition inside one of the old hardened air shelters. Be sure to check out our story on this beautiful aircraft and the remarkable organization which operates her HERE. While the F-18 Hornet replaced the Swiss Mirage IIIS fighters, the RS reconnaissance variant lingered on a few more years until they also retired in October, 2003. R-2107 was one of the last to stand down, but the honors of the final flight by a Swiss Mirage goes to Mirage IIIRS R-2118. This final sortie concluded on December 17, 2003 (the 100th anniversary of powered flight) when pilot Markus Zurigo Zurcher, Fliegerstaffel 10s CO, landed R-2118 at Dubendorf for her eventual display at the locally-based Flieger-Flab-Museum. With respect to R-2107s future, she has been in indoor storage for most of her retirement and is in excellent, near-complete condition, so the airframe should not present a problem during reassembly. At some point, she will join the queue for a repaint. As with most of Pimas airframes, the newly acquired Mirage will go on outdoor display, but thankfully Arizonas arid, inland climate lends itself well to this kind of long-term exhibition. The Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the worlds truly great aviation museums, with perhaps the most diverse and comprehensive collection of airframes anywhere on earth. To learn more about this important, and ever-growing organization, please visit www.pimaair.org. A Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission demanding the removal of the image of Prime Minister from the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, issued to people in poll-bound Kerala. In the brief letter, Midhun Shah, who is also the state co-coordinator of the Kerala State Youth Commission, pointed out that the model code of conduct was already in force in the southern state, where Assembly election is scheduled on April 6. "The certificate, issued for receiving the free COVID-19 vaccine in the state, carries photo of Prime Minister and excerptsof his speech. As it may influence the election procedure, I request you to take necessary steps to remove it," he said. Shah later said that the complaint was lodged based on the provisional certificate which he got after receiving the shot at a vaccination centre here this morning. "As the state-coordinator of the Youth Commission, I received the first dose of the vaccine this morning. I was surprised to see the Prime Minister's colour photo and wordings in it. I feel it is a violation of model code of conduct and so approached the EC seeking its removal," he told PTI. The EC had on Wednesday directed all petrol outlets and other agencies to remove hoardings advertising central government schemes and carrying images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from the premises within 72 hours, citing violation of the model code of conduct. A man receives a shot of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine during a trial run of a mass vaccination center located inside a gym in the town of Ricany near Prague (Photo : REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo) The Czech Republic has declined an offer to buy AstraZeneca Plc's coronavirus vaccines from an intermediary in the United Arab Emirates, Czech officials said on Wednesday. Health Minister Jan Blatny said the offer was not officially from the UAE but that it came from an unnamed third party. Advertisement "An offer arrived from this country from an intermediary, for a purchase from India," he said on Twitter. "It concerned a batch that does not have a permission for the European Union," he said. Prime Minister Andrej Babis later said he did not take the offer - or a similar proposition last month - seriously. AstraZeneca said there should be no private sector supply for sale or distribution of the vaccine in Europe. "If someone offers private vaccines, it is likely counterfeit, so should be refused and reported to local health authorities," a company spokesman said. AstraZeneca has licensed the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine maker, to manufacture the shot mainly for poor and middle-income countries. A spokesman for SII was not immediately reachable for comment. The number of infections, hospitalised patients and deaths in the Czech Republic, a country of 10.7 million, has spiked in recent days. The country ranks among the worst-hit places in the world. The government deployed more police officers and soldiers on Monday to help enforce new lockdown measures that seek to confine people mostly to their home districts. Last month, Babis said in parliament that he and three other prime ministers in Europe had been offered AstraZeneca shots by a Dubai intermediary but he did not consider the offer to be reliable. WASHINGTON - President Biden has agreed to narrow eligibility for a new round of $1,400 stimulus payments in his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, a concession to moderate Senate Democrats as party leaders moved Wednesday to lock down support and finalize the sweeping legislation. Under the new structure, the checks would phase out faster for those at higher income levels, compared to the way the direct payments were structured in Biden's initial proposal and the version of the bill passed by the House on Saturday. The change came as the Senate prepared to take an initial procedural vote to move forward on the bill as early as Thursday. Biden and Senate Democratic leaders were scrambling to keep their caucus united since they cannot lose a single Democrat in the 50-50 Senate if Republicans unite against the legislation. In addition to the stimulus checks, the sweeping economic package would also extend unemployment benefits through August, as well as set aside $350 billion for state and local aide; $130 billion for schools; $160 billion for vaccinations, testing and other health care system support; increased the child tax credit; and spend billions more on a variety of other provisions including rental aid and food assistance. Biden made a closing pitch for the package to House Democrats on Wednesday evening, citing public polling in favor of the measure and telling them: "I know parts of this and everything else we seek to do are not easy, but people are going to remember how we showed up in this moment, how we listened to them . . . and how we took action." At least one Senate Republican, Lisa Murkowksi of Alaska, appeared open to considering a vote in favor of the legislation, telling reporters, "My state needs relief." Elsewhere, though, GOP opposition was hardening, as Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., announced plans to force Senate officials to read the entire 600-page-plus bill aloud before debate could even begin -- a process he predicted would take around 10 hours. "I don't want to sound like a leftist, but I'm gonna resist," Johnson told a talk radio host in Wisconsin. The action in the Senate was unfolding against a backdrop of tightened security around the Capitol complex, as the sergeant-at-arms and the Capitol Police warned of potential violent unrest over the coming days. The House moved up votes to allow members to avoid the Capitol on Thursday, the day some conspiracy theorists have identified as when former president Donald Trump should rightfully be inaugurated. The Senate is scheduled to remain at work. Under the plan for stimulus checks passed by the House, individuals earning up to $75,000 per year and couples making up to $150,000 per year would qualify for the full $1,400 payment. The size of the payments would then begin to scale down before zeroing out for individuals making $100,000 per year and couples making $200,000. Under the changes agreed to by Biden and Senate Democratic leadership, individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 would still receive the full $1,400-per-person benefit. However, the benefit would disappear for individuals earning more than $80,000 annually and couples earning more than $160,000. That means singles making between $80,000 and $100,000 and couples earning between $160,000 and $200,000 would be newly excluded from seeing any benefit under the revised structure Biden agreed to. The changes were confirmed by a Democratic aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden has always been open to a faster phaseout for higher-earning individuals and "he is comfortable with where the negotiations stand." "He is comfortable and knows there will be tweaks on the margin," Psaki said Wednesday's White House briefing. "What his firm viewpoint is, is that it needs to meet the scope of the challenge, it needs to be the size he's proposed, it needs to have the core components in order to have the impact on the American people." Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., was among those who had called for changing the eligibility levels for checks, telling reporters this week, "I think we could drop it below the $200,000 and still get households that really need it." She said she would hope to redirect the savings from that change toward other needs, such as hospitals. Narrowing eligibility for the stimulus checks was just one change moderates like Sens. Shaheen and Joe Manchin, W.Va., had been seeking. Several were also eyeing better targeting money for state and local governments, and changing the structure of weekly federal unemployment benefits in the bill, to keep them at the current level of $300 rather than raise them to $400 as proposed by Biden and passed by the House. Senate Democrats do not intend to adopt the suggested change to unemployment benefits, and they will stay at $400-per-week, the aide said. The unemployment benefits currently are set to expire March 14; the Biden bill would extend them through August. Democrats are aiming for final passage of the bill ahead of the March 14 deadline. About 12 million fewer adults and 5 million fewer children would get the stimulus payments under the new Biden-Senate compromise, according to preliminary estimates from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning think tank. About 280 million Americans in total - 200 million adults and 80 million children - would be eligible for the checks under the new structure. Centrist Senate Democrats initially had pushed for even more aggressive restrictions on the stimulus payments. Senior Democratic officials had at one point considered dropping the full benefit for those making more than $50,000 per year, a change they ultimately abandoned after a backlash led by Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Budget Chair Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Still, liberal lawmakers bristled at the new changes. House liberals have suggested it could be difficult for them to approve the package if it's watered down significantly in the Senate. Presuming the Senate passes the package this week, it would still have to go back to the House for final approval. "I don't understand the political or economic wisdom in allowing Trump to give more people relief checks than a Democratic administration," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said in a statement. "People went far too long without relief last year - if anything we should be more generous, not more stingy. It's also an insensitive compromise for the roughly 80 percent of Americans that live in urban areas, which are known for higher costs of living." Biden acknowledged in his comments to House Democrats that "I know we're all making some small compromises," but he said staying united to pass the relief bill, his first major piece of legislation, would help restore the public's faith in government and open the door to further successes. "It's a show of strength," Biden said. "We know how much we have to do, but it all starts here, it starts by bringing this home." On a portion of his call with House Democrats that was not public, Biden told Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., that he supports legislation that would permanently increase the child tax credit to $3,000 per child, according to two people on the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of the conversation. The legislation as currently written would do so for one year. Senate moderates were discussing further changes and GOP senators also were preparing amendments aimed at further targeting the legislation, which could peel off Democratic votes as the legislation moves through the Senate. Democrats are advancing the package under a process called "budget reconciliation" that allows it to pass with a simple majority instead of the 60 votes normally required. With only 50 votes in the Senate and GOP support uncertain, Democrats must ensure they remain united to pass the legislation with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie. Attention has focused on Senate moderates who have voiced skepticism about various elements of the bill. Psaki expressed optimism Wednesday that Democratic moderates such as Manchin would support the bill. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do The government has signed an interim Trade Partnership Agreement (TPA) with the United Kingdom (UK) to sustain trade relations between the two countries as Britain and Northern Ireland exit the European Union (EU). The agreement, which allows up to 1.2 billion worth of trade between the two sides, replaces the interim Ghana-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which governed trade relations between Ghana, but ceased to apply to the UK on December 31, 2020. The new trade framework provides duty-free-quota access for Ghanaian exports to the UK market and enhances the competitiveness of local industries. It would also improve the business environment in Ghana through development cooperation between the two countries. Negotiations between the technical teams of both nations for the new trade framework started in March 2018, with the two countries arriving at a consensus on the fundamental elements of the new agreement. Ghanas Acting High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Peprah Ampratwum, signed on behalf of the government, while the UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Ms Liz Truss, signed on behalf of the UK last Tuesday. The Minister designate for Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, witnessed the signing ceremony via Zoom. The deal is expected to facilitate multiple economic transactions in a tariff-free package, covering bananas, canned tuna, cocoa and other such related commodities. The reciprocal partnership will also see the UK benefiting from tax liberation from 2023 when it can export machinery, chemical products and other electronics to Ghana. Significance Mr Kyerematen said the new agreement reaffirmed the deep interest of both Ghana and the UK to strengthen their long-standing trade and economic relationship, as it establishes a new framework for Ghana-UK for sustained economic growth in the country. The agreement also reflects the importance both the UK and Ghana attach to integration between West African states within the context of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and among African states within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), he added. The minister designate expressed the hope that the new agreement would build the foundation for the negotiation of a free trade agreement between the UK and ECOWAS to promote regional integration, economic cooperation and good governance in the sub-region and also increase intra-regional trade. I believe the new agreement will further support the economic and sustainable development agenda of Ghana by enhancing the countrys export potential and diversification, he added. Mr Kyerematen further expressed the belief that the agreement would complement priority policies and projects of the government, particularly its industrial transformation agenda, and a national export development strategy which he said were designed to boost industrial production and enhance export development. Appreciation The minister designate thanked the UK government for actively supporting Ghanas programme to develop strategic anchor industries to build economic pillars of growth by diversifying the economy beyond cocoa and gold. I will like to make special mention of the support we have received from the UK government in the development of the automotive industry as well as the garment and pharmaceutical industries, Mr Kyerematen said. He also commended Ms Truss for her constructive engagement and the flexibility she had shown in the negotiations which made it possible to arrive at the desirable outcome we celebrate today with the signing of the new Interim Ghana-UK Trade Partnership Agreement. UK responds We have just signed a trade deal with Ghana, building on a trade relationship worth 1.2 billion, Ms Truss posted on her Twitter handle shortly after the signing. She said the agreement secured certainty for business to support jobs in both nations and also set the stage for closer trading ties in the years to come. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korcok apologized to Ukraine for the statements of Prime Minister of Slovakia Igor Matovic about the promise of "Transcarpathian Ukraine" in exchange for a vaccine from Russia. "Today I talked with my Ukrainian partner, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. I apologized to him for the inappropriate statements of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Igor Matovic about Ukraine. I am all the more sorry that just a few days ago we had a very good conversation about how to further develop our relationship," Korcok wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, March 4. As reported, in response to a journalist's question about what Slovakia promised the Russian Federation for the supply of the vaccine, Matovic answered "Transcarpathian Ukraine". After that, the prime minister assured that he had not given promises to the Russian Federation, and made it clear that he was joking. Police quiet on probe into officer attempting to flee scene of drunk-driving accident PHUKET: A veil of silence has been dropped on the investigation into an accident last month that involved a drunken Phuket police officer who tried to flee the scene in his car after hitting one car, sending it colliding into another car in front. policealcoholtransportSafetycrime By The Phuket News Thursday 4 March 2021, 03:56PM Lt Nikorns car after he attempted to flee the scene of the accident last month. Photo: Pit Ti Wai Jai / Facebook Immediately after the incident came to light, only after a video was posted online, Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Pornsak Nuannu confirmed that he had ordered Thalang Police Chief Lt Col Phisit Chuenphet to investigate the incident. The officer involved in the incident, Lt Nikorn Songkhao, is assigned to the Thalang Police, Gen Pornsak explained. However, Thalang Polcie Chief Lt Col Phisit has now told The Phuket News that he is leaving the investigation to the Tha Chatchai Police. The incident occurred in their jurisdiction, he said. Meanwhile, Tha Chatchai Police Chief Col Kanchawit Poprasit has declined to comment on any progress in the case. Please contact the case investigator, Lt Col Watcharin Jirattikarnwiwat, as he has not sent any report of this case to me yet, Col Kanchawit told The Phuket News on Tuesday (Mar 2). Case investigator Lt Col Watcharin also declined to comment on his investigation. I cannot give any details about this case, as I am not in the position that allows me to give information to the press, he said. Lt Col Watcharin repeatedly declined to give any details about his investigation, despite his commanding officer instructing The Phuket News to expressly contact him for such information. If you want to get information about this case, you may need to come to the police station, was all Lt Col Watcharin would say. The incident caused a furore online after the video was posted showing Lt Nikorn in a drunken state still in his car after attempting to flee the scene of the accident. The video, a 3 minute 57 second clip posted on Facebook, was titled "Police hit and run, white sedan, police car (Phuket Airport Intersection)". The video showed that Lt Nikorn had stopped in the right-hand lane on the southern side of the intersection. On the north side of the intersection was a Suzuki Swift with heavy damage to its rear. In front of the Suzuki Swift was a white pickup truck with minor damage to its rear bumper, from where the Suzuki Swift had struck it. Meanwhile, on the south side of the intersection, the front of Lt Nikorns Toyota Vios had sustained heavy damage from the impact, and a long line of fluid had spilled from under his car, trailing all the way to where his car came to a halt. The video also clearly showed Lt Nikorn who initially remained sitting in the car, and his police identification hanging from the rear-view mirror. Lt Nikorn appeared to be drunk in the video. Thalang Police Chief Lt Col Phisit Chuenphet has set up a team to investigate the incident, Maj Gen Pornsak said today. The team is in the process of collecting evidence, including video clips and obtaining statements from witnesses at the scene. If it is found that a law enforcement officer actually committed a crime, the officer will face disciplinary and criminal penalties, he assured. KITCHENER, ON, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Many people living in Canada, especially women and children, are victims of intimate- partner violence (IPV). IPV has been identified as a major global public health concern, linked to intergenerational violence and harmful physical, emotional and economic impacts on victims, witnesses and society as a whole. The violence associated with IPV can be particularly terrifying and threatening when the abuser has access to a firearm. The Government of Canada is committed to protecting public safety. That is why the Government introduced new firearms legislation to keep Canadians safe and to make sure that guns stay out of the hands of people who may pose a serious risk to themselves or others. Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, participated in a virtual roundtable with organizations that support victims of intimate-partner violence and gender-based violence from the Kitchener-Waterloo region. During their discussion, the Minister highlighted the important work carried out in supporting women and other individuals at risk. The Minister also had the opportunity to detail how the Government's proposed firearms legislation is designed to help prevent and deter domestic violence. As part of legislation introduced on February 16, 2021 and other measures undertaken, the Government will: Combat intimate-partner and gender-based violence, and self-harm involving firearms by creating "red flag" and "yellow flag" laws. These laws would allow people, such as concerned friends or relatives, to apply to the courts for the immediate removal of an individual's firearms, and allow a Chief Firearms Officer to suspend and review an individual's licence privileges to acquire or use firearms. by creating "red flag" and "yellow flag" laws. These laws would allow people, such as concerned friends or relatives, to apply to the courts for the immediate removal of an individual's firearms, and allow a Chief Firearms Officer to suspend and review an individual's licence privileges to acquire or use firearms. Fight gun smuggling and trafficking by increasing criminal penalties, and by enhancing the capacity of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to combat the illegal importation of firearms. by increasing criminal penalties, and by enhancing the capacity of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to combat the illegal importation of firearms. Help create safer communities by supporting municipalities that ban handguns through bylaws restricting storage and transportation in their jurisdictions. Individuals who violate these municipal by-laws would be subject to federal penalties, including licence revocation and criminal sanctions. by supporting municipalities that ban handguns through bylaws restricting storage and transportation in their jurisdictions. Individuals who violate these municipal by-laws would be subject to federal penalties, including licence revocation and criminal sanctions. Give young people the opportunities and resources they need to avoid criminal behaviour by providing funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to support youth programs. they need to avoid criminal behaviour by providing funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to support youth programs. Protect Canadians from gun violence by creating new offences for altering the cartridge magazine component of a firearm and depicting violence in firearms advertising, introducing tighter restrictions on imports of ammunition, and prohibiting the import, export, sale, and transfer of all replica firearms. by creating new offences for altering the cartridge magazine component of a firearm and depicting violence in firearms advertising, introducing tighter restrictions on imports of ammunition, and prohibiting the import, export, sale, and transfer of all replica firearms. Complete the prohibition of assault-style firearms to ensure these weapons cannot be legally used, transported, sold, transferred, or bequeathed by individuals in Canada . We also intend to move forward with a buyback program in the coming months to support the safe removal of these firearms from our communities. This legislation builds on previous measures to keep guns out of our communities, including prohibiting assault-style firearms, expanding background checks for firearms licence applicants to cover their lifetime, including a history of domestic violence and making online threats, and providing $327.6 million through the Initiative To Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence to support provincial, territorial and community-level prevention and enforcement efforts to tackle the increase in gun-related violence and gang activity. Click here to find family violence resources and services in your area. Quote(s) "Intimate-partner violence is a serious crime that affects Canadians from coast to coast, in both urban and rural areas. It often takes place behind closed doors and can make the victims, who are typically women, feel isolated and afraid. It is even more terrifying when the abuser has access to a firearm. Our government is committed to strengthening gun control measures - including introducing red flag laws - that would give IPV victims the power to quickly remove firearms from their abuser." - The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Quick Facts There were over 107,000 victims of police-reported intimate-partner violence (IPV) in Canada in 2019. For 660 victims of IPV, a firearm was present. Women accounted for almost 8 in 10 victims of all IPV incidents and they were even more likely to be the victim in the 660 IPV incidents where a firearm was present. in 2019. For 660 victims of IPV, a firearm was present. Women accounted for almost 8 in 10 victims of all IPV incidents and they were even more likely to be the victim in the 660 IPV incidents where a firearm was present. A Justice Canada study estimated the cost of one type of intimate-partner violence, spousal violence, on Canadian society at $7.4 billion in 2009. Most were related to victim costs, such as pain and suffering, counselling expenses and legal fees for divorce, while the next highest costs were borne by third parties (e.g., families, employers and social services) and the criminal and civil justice systems (e.g., police, courts, corrections). study estimated the cost of one type of intimate-partner violence, spousal violence, on Canadian society at in 2009. Most were related to victim costs, such as pain and suffering, counselling expenses and legal fees for divorce, while the next highest costs were borne by third parties (e.g., families, employers and social services) and the criminal and civil justice systems (e.g., police, courts, corrections). Only 30% of Canadians say police are aware of incidents where their spouse had been violent or abusive. This means that many incidents of family violence never come to the attention of the police. The rates of violent and non-violent offences specific to firearms increased for the fifth consecutive year in 2019. The number of violent offences specific to firearms increased by 21% (an increase of 642 from 2,861 to 3,503). Related Products Associated Links SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada For further information: Mary-Liz Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected] Related Links https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. 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In this one-of-a-kind collaboration, designer J.J. Valaya will join hands with Academy Award winner, Ruth E. Carter, this has never been implemented in the past by any designer of Indian origin before. With an illustrious storyline revolving around the magnificent African society with their bold colours and larger than life depictions, Valaya was the apt choice for costume designs due to his synonymity with grandeur and majesty. With 38 other designers on board for this magical fictional tale of 'Zamunda', Valaya was approached by Black Panther fame, Carter who along with being an Academy Award winner is also the second costume designer to have a Hollywood Walk of fame star. Valaya went on to design an assortment of 18 noteworthy pieces for this movie, for the likes of stars such as Eddie Murphy, Shari Headley and Arsenio Hall. The initial designs which were curated by Carter were further re-interpreted by Valaya in his signature style of prints and embroideries to give it an epitome of world class finesse and elan. This vision of splendour which had to be shared virtually due to the pandemic at hand, became increasingly effortless because of the joint similarity in belief that both Carter and Valaya projected towards this venture. (IANSlife Features can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Bhubaneshwar, March 4 : Fifteen years after expressing its intent to set up a steel plant in Odisha, worlds largest steel maker ArcelorMittal has decided to revisit the state with a mega investment plan. The company's Indian operations led by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Odisha government for setting up a 12 million tonne (MT) steel plant in Kendrapada district with an investment of Rs 50,000 crore. ArcelorMittal had indicated its intent to set up greenfield steel operations in India in 2005 and 2006 as well when it had inked MoUs with Jharkhand and Odisha for setting up a 12 MT steel plant each in the two states. But lack of clearance on land and lack of assurance on supplies of key raw material iron ore prevented the company from realising its investment plan. The existing MoU in Odisha, which was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and steel tycoon Lakshmi N. Mittal in Bhubaneshwar, has given a leg up to the bullish plan of the company to have both greenfield and brownfield steel operations in India. In December 2019, ArcelorMittal, which has formed a joint venture with Japanese steel maker Nippon Steel, completed a Rs 42,000 crore acquisition of Essar Steel India Limited (ESIL) that has given it access to port facilities and a 10 MT steel plant in Gujarat. Even at the time of Essar's acquisition, ArcelorMittal had indicated that it would continue to pursue more avenues for investment in India that will involve setting up greenfield operations as well as acquisitions. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A father and son have been charged with human trafficking offences after an 58-year-old man was found in a 6ft shed where he had allegedly been living for 40 years. In October 2018 police discovered the British man allegedly being kept in a decrepit green shed in Carlisle, Cumbria. Officers believe the alleged victim was being kept at the shed since he was around 16-years-old, with the 2018 raid finding a TV, one chair, a makeshift bed on the floor and an electric heater inside. Two men have been charged with human trafficking offences after officers discovered a 58-year-old man allegedly being forced to live in a shed in Carlisle, in October 2018 Officers fear the alleged victim was being kept at the shed since he was 16-years-old, with officers finding a soiled duvet, electric heater and a metred TV inside Today two men, both named Peter Swailes, aged 80 and 55, appeared before Carlisle Magistrates' Court. Both men live in Carlisle, but at different addresses. They have been charged with conspiracy to organise the travel of an individual with a view to exploiting them contrary to Section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977. The charges came following a three-year investigation by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, supported by Cumbria Police and the National Crime Agency. GLAA officers carried out the raid in October 2018, and the 58-year-old was taken away by specialist trauma officers to be medically examined and assessed. In 2019, senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said: 'Our priority since we made the initial arrest has been to ensure that the potential victim has been given all the necessary help and support. This was clearly the right thing to do. Today two men, both named Peter Swailes, aged 80 and 55, appeared before Carlisle Magistrates' Court today. They are due to appear before Carlisle Crown Court on April 6 'When we found him he was like a rabbit in headlights and very confused.' Investigators found there was no heating in the cramped shed, with a soiled duvet on the floor and a metered television. Swailes and Swailes are due to appear before Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday April 6 for a plea and direction hearing. We are aware of this matter. The TPG Telecom board will consider the implications of this matter. TPG Telecom does not condone discriminatory or violent behaviour, the spokesperson said. Mr Teoh, who has sat on the board of $12.6 billion broadband company TPG Telecom since the 2020 merger, was convicted of assaulting an Uber driver in September 2019 and was fined $1500 in a Sydney court on Wednesday. Mr Teohs father, David Teoh, is the chairman of TPG with a personal fortune estimated to be $2.5 billion, according to The Australian Financial Review 2020 Rich List. One of Australias biggest broadband companies is considering disciplinary action against Shane Teoh, a director and the son of its reclusive billionaire chairman, after he was convicted for assaulting an Uber driver. The 34-year-old is a non-executive director of the telco giant that was formed through the merger of TPG and Vodafone Hutchison Australia last July. Before the merger, he was on the board of TPG Corporation, the business founded by his parents, for eight years. He is also a non-executive director of Vita Life Sciences Limited and the managing director of Total Forms, a developer of accounting and taxation software. Mr Teoh was convicted at the Sydney Downing Centre on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the charge. The TPG Board is made up of directors from the former Vodafone Hutchison Australia business and TPG Corporation. Independent non-executive directors Arlene Tansey and Helen Nugent declined to comment and referred The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age to a TPG spokesperson. Shareholders including BlackRock did not respond to requests for comments before deadline. The conviction comes in a difficult year for Mr Teoh, who owns Oscar Wylee Eyewear with his three brothers. The company was fined $3.5 million last September for making false representations about its charitable donations and affiliations. The company told shoppers it would donate a pair of spectacles to charity for every pair it sold. The Federal Court found that over five years and more than 328,010 pairs of glasses it donated about 3181 frames without prescription lenses. Mr Teohs father, David Teoh, is one of the most notoriously private executives in the country. Mr Teoh remained largely out of media coverage until 2019 when he attempted to merge the ASX-listed business that he launched with his wife Vicky in 1992 with Vodafone Hutchison Australia, to create a $15 billion fixed-line and mobile internet giant. The merger was challenged by the competition regulator and was not completed until mid July 2020. With Samantha Hutchinson A man has been found guilty of strangling his girlfriend to death just one week after she moved in. Programmer Adam Margolis, 41, had met Mai Yia Vang, 26, on the online chatroom Omegle one month before he murdered her on February 24, 2018, and sent three friends a chilling email titled: 'I have killed a woman and committed suicide'. A Victorian Supreme Court jury on Thursday rejected Margolis' defence that he was not responsible for Ms Vang's death. Ms Vang had been living with her parents in Queensland when the pair first met, before moving her life to Victoria to live with Margolis in Bendigo. After she was killed, Ms Vang's body lay on the floor of the 41-year-old's home for two days, while he sent messages to her sister pretending to be her and claiming she was sick, The Australian reported. Margolis, while pretending to be Ms Vang, told her sisters she would be online later because she was feeling unwell and needed to see a doctor. Adam Margolis, 41, had met Mai Yia Vang, 26, online on Omegle just one month before he murdered her in Bendigo, a jury found on Thursday Margolis sent a 12-page email to three acquaintances admitting he had killed a woman and planned to take his own life, and asking them to take care of his cats Police eventually found her body lying on a mattress after Margolis sent a 12-page email to three acquaintances, admitting he had killed a woman and planned to take his own life, and asking them to take care of his cats. One of the men immediately called the police. Margolis told police after his arrest that Ms Vang had 'goaded' him into attacking her by triggering 'flashbacks' involving childhood abuse allegedly inflicted by his stepfather. The 41-year-old said he had a 15-minute 'flashback' that involved recollections of fighting his stepfather before 'waking up' on top of Ms Vang's lifeless body. When police asked the Bendigo man if he took Ms Vang's life, Margolis said that wasn't an 'appropriate way of phrasing it'. 'I'm not the person you're obviously trying to make me out to be,' he told police in a statement played to court. After she was killed, Ms Vang's body lay on the floor of the 41-year-old's home for two days, while he sent messages to her sister pretending to be her and claiming she was sick (mocked up messages pictured) 'She drew me into a flashback intentionally, knowing full well what would happen.' Margolis had held Ms Vang in a chokehold for between three to four minutes. He was at least double her weight and towered over her at 6'3". The 41-year-old claimed to the jury they had a six-hour argument that ended in Ms Vang telling him she didn't care if he died after he threatened to kill himself. He had told a psychologist that his girlfriend was 'behaving so insane' because she acted as if nothing was wrong. Ms Vang was a former chemical engineering student when she met Margolis online. 'I want to achieve my goals with you, I want everything and more with you,' she had wrote to him over Skype, the court heard. Margolis previously told the court he loved Ms Vang and had wanted to marry her before he killed her. Margolis will next face the Victorian Supreme Court for a plea hearing on April 23. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins says the comments made by embattled Defence Minister Linda Reynolds are 'never excusable' after Scott Morrison confirmed she called the alleged rape victim a 'lying cow'. Ms Higgins says she was raped by a colleague in Senator Reynolds' ministerial office in 2019. The prime minister said Senator Reynolds was frustrated over suggestions she did not give enough support to Ms Higgins at the time of the incident. He said the remark was made in a private office and she later apologised to staff for the outburst. 'She deeply regrets it. They were offensive remarks. She should never have made them. I don't condone them,' the prime minister told reporters in NSW on Thursday. Ms Higgins says the comments were 'incredibly hurtful'. Brittany Higgins has hit back at Linda Reynolds after it was revealed she called her a 'lying cow' 'I appreciate that it has been a stressful time but that sort of behaviour and language is never excusable,' she said in a statement. 'It's just further evidence of the toxic workplace culture that occurs behind closed doors in Parliament House.' Senator Reynolds, who is on medical leave following heavy criticism of her handling of the allegation, is under increasing pressure to resign. Ms Reynolds made the comments within earshot of several staff members and public servants on February 15, according to The Australian, but has insisted the remark was not in reference to the alleged sexual assault. It was the same day Ms Higgins went public with allegations a senior colleague raped her in Senator Reynolds' Parliament House office after a night out in March, 2019. Ms Higgins didn't proceed with the police complaint in 2019 out of fear she would lose her job as a media adviser. Independent senator Jacqui Lambie is calling for the minister to quit over the remark. 'She's gone this morning. She needs to resign immediately,' Senator Lambie told Sky News. 'If she's not coming out denying that, if she's trying to smooth it over and throw it somewhere else then I think she's finished. Her career's done.' The prime minister said Senator Linda Reynolds (pictured) was frustrated over suggestions she did not give enough support to Ms Higgins at the time of the incident Ms Higgins says the comments made by Ms Reynolds were 'incredibly hurtful' DEFENCE MINISTER LINDA REYNOLDS' FULL STATEMENT 'A report in The Australian attributed some remarks to me regarding the very serious allegations made by my former staff member, Ms Brittany Higgins. 'I have never questioned Ms Higgins account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter. 'I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented. 'I have consistently respected Ms Higgins's agency and privacy and said this is her story to tell and no one else's. 'Ms Higgins's allegations are very serious and that is how they must be treated to ensure her legal rights are protected. I welcome her decision to progress this matter with the Australian Federal Police.' Advertisement Senior Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said Senator Reynolds needed to explain herself. 'It's obviously not an acceptable comment and I think the minister needs to respond publicly,' she told ABC radio. Brittany Higgins, then 24, alleged she was raped by a colleague inside Parliament House in March 2019 Independent MP Zali Steggall said she was shocked to hear Senator Reynolds used the derogatory term towards Ms Higgins. 'That's incredibly disappointing and inappropriate of Linda Reynolds and the minister should know better,' she told the Nine Network. 'It makes her position all the more untenable.' Senator Reynolds issued a statement saying she had never questioned Ms Higgins' account. 'I did, however, comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented,' the minister said. Ms Higgins has recently reinstated her official complaint with the Australian Federal Police. Three other women have since alleged they were assaulted by the same man. He was sacked as a ministerial adviser because of a security breach on the night of Ms Higgins' alleged rape. Foreign Minister Marise Payne has taken over Defence duties while Ms Reynolds is on leave. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton previously admitted he was told about the alleged rape but chose not to tell the prime minister about it to avoid compromising a potential police investigation. Mr Dutton confirmed Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw informed him about the alleged assault on February 11, four days before Mr Morrison says he was told. Ms Higgins spoke to police on February 5, with the AFP then informing Mr Dutton. Scott Morrison said the remark was made in a private office and she later apologised to staff for the outburst First Holy Communion and Confirmation celebrations look set to be put on ice again due to the Covid-19 pandemic following a statement from bishops in the west of Ireland. A Pastoral message has been issued from the Bishops of the six dioceses of the Province of the Archdiocese of Tuam to Catholics in Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. It says confirmations have been deferred to Autumn. Parishes have been advised to do the same in relation to First Holy Communions. "In so far as the Government plan currently offers no clarity about when we might expect to return to public Sacramental life, we find it difficult to have any confidence that the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation can be celebrated before the end of the present school year. "As of now, we have decided to defer the Sacrament of Confirmation for the 2021 class until the Autumn, and we encourage our parishes to consider doing the same in relation to First Holy Communion. Should the circumstances change for the better, this decision can be revisited in each diocese. "In the meantime, we encourage young people and their parents to continue with their preparation. We have provided online resources to support what is being done through the Religious Education programme with the teachers in the schools," said the statement. Sacraments were postponed to the Autumn in 2020 in many parts of the country due to the first wave of the pandemic. Text of pastoral Message from the Bishops of the six dioceses of the Province of the Archdiocese of Tuam Michael Neary (Archbishop of Tuam) Brendan Kelly (Bishop of Galway) John Fleming (Bishop of Killala) Kevin Doran (Bishop of Elphin) Michael Duignan (Bishop of Clonfert) Paul Dempsey (Bishop of Achonry) Covid-19: A Year On This week we mark the first anniversary of the appearance of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. As we consider how this has touched our parish communities, particularly given the tragic loss of so many lives, we wish to share some thoughts with you, the people of the six Dioceses of the Tuam Province. Further to Climb Many of us will be familiar with the experience of arriving at what we thought was the top of a mountain only to discover that there is still further to climb. Sometimes the last bit can be the hardest of all. We understand the experience of disappointment and frustration that many people feel, at the news of an indefinite extension of lockdown. We are delighted, however, that children have the opportunity to return to school and we wish them and their teachers every blessing. Until we are all Ok All of us appreciate the efforts and the sacrifices of those in our community who provide essential services. For many people, however, the continued high level of restriction poses practical and emotional challenges. We want to say very clearly that, in the Christian vision of things, every person is essential and no person is more important or necessary than any other. When we pray the Stations of the Cross, we celebrate people like Veronica, who wiped the face of Jesus and Simon of Cyrene who shared with Him the burden of the cross. None of us can say Im ok until we are all ok. Serving the Common Good and Supporting Restrictions As Church leaders, we have consistently supported the public health restrictions on the grounds that they serve the common good. The state has a particular responsibility for the common good and, on that basis, the Church teaches that Catholics must obey the law unless it is manifestly unjust or immoral. That does not mean that we cannot or should not speak out when we believe that something seems unfair or could be done better. We have consistently made representations, not only for the timely reopening of the public pastoral life of the Church, but also for better protection for elderly residents in nursing homes, for equity in the delivery of critical care in our hospitals and for a fair distribution of vaccines both in our own society and in the wider world. Difficulties with Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead We recognise the need for prudence and caution at the present time, in the light of the terrible loss of life in January and February, and we accept absolutely that now is not the time for a major reopening of society. We have carefully considered the five stage plan Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead, published by the Government last week. There are two things in this plan which we find very difficult to support. One of those is the fact that at level 5, all funerals are still limited to 10 people. We believe that a modest increase to 25 would, without compromising safety, bring much consolation to grieving families. Our second concern is that public worship is still excluded even at level 3. This would suggest that we may not have the opportunity to celebrate Mass together for months to come. It ignores the important contribution of communal worship to the mental and spiritual well-being of people of faith. The fundamental importance of Holy Week and Easter for all Christians, makes the prohibition of public worship particularly painful. While, as Christians, we are obliged to obey these regulations, we believe that it is our responsibility as Church leaders to make the case for change. We will continue to make fair and reasonable representation and we encourage you to do likewise. Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation In so far as the Government plan currently offers no clarity about when we might expect to return to public Sacramental life, we find it difficult to have any confidence that the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation can be celebrated before the end of the present school year. As of now, we have decided to defer the Sacrament of Confirmation for the 2021 class until the Autumn, and we encourage our parishes to consider doing the same in relation to First Holy Communion. Should the circumstances change for the better, this decision can be revisited in each diocese. In the meantime, we encourage young people and their parents to continue with their preparation. We have provided online resources to support what is being done through the Religious Education programme with the teachers in the schools. Continuing Pastoral and Sacramental Care Bearing all of the foregoing in mind, it is also important for us to do as much as we can within the current restrictions to provide pastoral and sacramental care to our parishioners. Experience teaches us that with suitable precautions, the individual celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is possible, as is the sacramental care of the sick. These, together with various other pastoral initiatives, can supplement the various online outreaches that have proved so helpful and successful. The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the reinstatement of a Principal Executive Officer of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Abayomi Ipaye, who was unlawfully sacked in July 2017. Sanusi Kado, the judge who heard the case brought by Mr Ipaye to challenge the termination of his appointment, also ordered the university authorities to pay him his accrued salaries and other benefits from July 2017, when he was illegally sacked, to date. The judge, who ruled that the claimants disengagement was done in violation of the universitys employment regulations, also awarded the cost of N500,000 against the university. PREMIUM TIMES, on Thursday obtained a copy of the judgment which Mr Kado delivered on February 17. Ipayes suit Mr Ipaye had, on October 24, 2017, sued NOUN, challenging his sacking. He recalled that he was employed as an executive officer, grade level 06 of the university, on September 1, 2005, over 15 years ago, and rose to become a principal executive officer II, grade level 09, the position he occupied till the termination of his employment in July 2017. He claimed that his employment was terminated without being queried or invited to appear before any disciplinary panel in accordance with the universitys employment regulations governing. In its defence, the university maintained that Mr Ipaye had had cases of acts of misconducts against him with warnings and queries issued against him on different occasions. It stated that the claimant deliberately refused to answer some of the queries, and insisted that the termination of his employment was in accordance with the rules and regulations governing his employment and the Act establishing the university. The university urged the court to dismiss the suit. In a further reply to the university, Mr Ipayes legal team insisted that the claimant was never placed on probation to be given salary in lieu of notice nor was aware of any allegation of misconduct brought against him. The claimants team maintained that the institution acted without due course to the provisions of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Act, and urged the court to grant his prayers. University weak in enforcing discipline Mr Kado acknowledged in his judgment that the university authorities could have been weak in taking right disciplinary action against the claimant at the appropriate time, but ruled that his disengagement in 2017 was done in violation of the law. He held that the universitys hues and cry about querying the claimant eight or nine times, the last of which was in 2016, with the claimant only merely warned at the end of the day goes to show the weakness of the defendant (NOUN) to take the bull by the horn when it comes to issue of discipline. Mr Kado said the university should blame itself for all the derelictions or negligence in not taking appropriate action at appropriate time when it matters most, adding that it could not validly sack the claimant without following due process. Disheartening violation of law He said due process was not followed and the universitys establishment law was disregarded in disengaging the claimant. Mr Kado described as disheartening that the university authorities decided to ignore the law and adopted the procedure that denied the claimant of knowing the report against him and giving him opportunity to depend himself before the council. He added that the failure by council to strictly adhere to the provision of section 14 of the Act and regulations exhibit CE1-65 has rendered termination of the claimants employment void. ADVERTISEMENT READ ALSO: National Open University gets new VC In setting aside Mr Ipayes sacking, the judge also noted that the university made contradictory claims the reasons for sacking the claimant in 2017. He stated, From the content of the DW1T -Request for ratification of the termination and letter of termination, there appears to be confusion and contradiction in that in Exhibit DW1T the case against the claimant was stated to be insubordination and gross misconduct, while in the termination letter, it was stated that the claimants service was no longer required. Therefore, the action of the Governing Council in ratifying the termination of employment of the claimant was done in flagrant violation of section 14 of the National Open University of Nigeria Act and the right of the claimant to be heard and given the opportunity to defend himself on the allegations of insubordination and gross misconduct. SVHC Surpasses Fundraising Goal For SVC Campus BENNINGTON, Vt. The Grateful Bennington Fund raised over $566,000 to help support Southwestern Vermont Health Care's repurposing of the former Southern Vermont College campus. "The Grateful Bennington Fund is a tremendous testimony of the level of support that our community has," Southwestern Vermont Health Care's (SVHC) President and CEO Tom Dee said during a virtual press conference Thursday. "Not only for our health system, but it also highlights the importance of the former SVC property and how people feel about it." Southern Vermont College (SVC) closed in 2019 after years of struggling with declining enrollment and financial pressure. SVHC purchased the campus two years later. "It was a very difficult decision for us and the community," David Newell, fundraiser organizer, former SVHC Foundation Board Member, and former SVC Board Member said. "...Certainly there was the risk that the campus would not be available to the community." Funds were needed for the reimagination and reinvigoration of the campus so Newell and fellow SVHC Foundation Board Member Michael McKenna conceptualized the Grateful Bennington Fund Drive. The fundraising effort ran through the month of February. The goal was $500,000. McKenna said Grateful Bennington raised over $566,000 from 450 donors. He said 80 percent of the donors were from Bennington, but people donated from as far as Hawaii. "We have exceeded that goal," Newell said. "...We are extremely encouraged and humbled by the outstanding community support." McKenna said the average donation was $1,200 with an anonymous $200,000 donation towards the end of the campaign. "Thank you very much for everyone's support," McKenna said. "It is really tremendous and a real momentum builder." Dee said SVHC envisions a multi-use community facility. He said the exact details have yet to be worked out, and they plan to engage Bennington County Regional Commission to develop a masterplan. "We will look at those needs and the needs of the community to see how we can best use it," Dee said. "We know that it is a tremendous community asset...We have a lot of good ideas but those thoughts are not a plan yet." We recently had dinner with some Mexico City friends. It happened on the day that Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas is now open. During our conversation, we were reminded of just how bad the COVID situation is in Mexico, from schools closed to businesses shut down to people in panic about the situation. So why would we let people in without testing them? Is anyone surprised that some of these people would be infected? This is from ABC news reports: Miriam Izaguirre, a 35-year-old asylum-seeker from Honduras, crossed the Rio Grande at dawn Monday with her young son and turned herself in to the authorities. A few hours later she was released, and the first thing she did was take a rapid test for Covid-19 at the Brownsville bus station. They told her her test came out positive. "Right now we were tested for Covid and they separated about eight of us because we were positive," she told Noticias Telemundo Investiga. "We are waiting right now." She was waiting to catch a bus to Houston. Other migrant families who also said they had tested positive were waiting to go to other destinations: North Carolina, Maryland and New Jersey. I wonder what they are thinking about this in North Carolina, Maryland, and New Jersey! And now we hear that a growing number of underage migrants will be arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border! How are these underage migrants getting to the border? Who is taking them there? What criminal elements are potentially using these kids or charging their parents to bring them to the border? In the meantime, the Biden administration tells us that there is no crisis on the border. We just have a case of "loving parents" sending their kids north. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). Imgae: Pixabay. With coronavirus case numbers plummeting, vaccinations rising and several Bay Area counties reopening their economy, it feels like the end is in sight for the pandemic. But public health experts warned Wednesday that a false sense of optimism could have deadly consequences, particularly as highly infectious coronavirus variants continue to take hold in the state. Weve seen this story over and over again in the Bay Area, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert with UCSF. We have a surge and then we have a honeymoon period of five to six weeks when everything opens back up, and then we have another surge. If you look back, that is the pattern for California. Most of the Bay Areas nine counties have left the most restrictive, purple tier of the states reopening system and moved into the less restrictive red tier, which permits some indoor dining and limited use of gyms, movie theaters and museums. Only Alameda, Sonoma, Solano and Contra Costa counties remain in the purple tier. Along with pandemic fatigue and outcry from ailing businesses that have been forced to shutter for months, part of the urgency behind reopening Californias economy may be driven by a high-profile recall effort against Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has spent the past few weeks on a feverish campaign-style tour of vaccination sites and schools across the state. We really are seeing that bright light at the end of the tunnel, Newsom has repeated at several of his appearances, reframing the severity of the pandemic. Up and down the state, people are gathering in greater numbers, dropping their masks, and generally taking Californias incremental signs of progress against the coronavirus as a green light to resume normal life. Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle Fatigue is winning and the exact measures we have taken to stop the pandemic are now too often being flagrantly ignored, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention speaking Wednesday at a White House briefing. Even San Francisco and Santa Clara counties, which earlier in the pandemic exercised far more caution than the state are now moving aggressively to reopen. Some public health officials fear this patchwork approach to reopening could backfire. People in the Bay Area are mobile, said Chin-Hong. People who have more restrictions in their counties will come into counties with fewer restrictions so they can go to restaurants or movies. I hope we dont look back on this time and say, Wow, we had it so good then. I think its completely plausible, he added. The new virus mutations are also emerging at a pace that may help them elude the current vaccines. Were in a race against the variants, which are more infectious than the original virus, said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a Stanford expert in infectious diseases and vaccines. President Biden vowed on Tuesday to accelerate the vaccine delivery timeline in the United States. But most Americans will not be eligible to receive their shots until May. Chin-Hong thinks political leaders are facing mounting public pressure in their more aggressive approach to reopening. The natives are restless, he said. If they did not reopen with these measures in place then people wouldnt uphold ordinances. Gone are the days of totalitarianism, where Gavin Newsom and London Breed could shut everything down and everybody would stay home because they were afraid of this virus. With the most vulnerable people being vaccinated already, meeting people where they are is important. Other states are moving even more rapidly. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday lifted all of the states pandemic restrictions, including capacity limits and a mask mandate a move that Newsom called absolutely reckless. Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi also dropped all restrictions, saying, Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time! Yet public health experts say those moves could put the entire nation at risk for a fourth surge of infections and the development of even more variants, especially with spring break coming up and the potential for increased travel. Now Playing: Video: Erika Betty Carlos That is completely berserk, said Chin-Hong. The virus doesnt exist in a state. It doesnt respect borders. It doesnt contain itself to one area. Walensky of the CDC said it was too soon for states to eliminate safey protocols as deaths and new infections have plateaued at a troubling level after falling off their January highs. I think we at the CDC have been very clear that now is not the time to release all restrictions, she said Wednesday. President Biden was even more direct, saying it was a big mistake for states to drop coronavirus public health guidelines to open their economies. The last thing we need is the Neanderthal thinking that, In the meantime, everything is fine, take off your mask, forget it, he said, noting that the virus has claimed more than 518,000 American lives. It still matters. Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MusicSF At least 20 migrants have drowned after smugglers threw them off a boat while making a crossing from Africa into the Middle East. Around 200 desperate people including children had been crammed on to a boat crossing from Djibouti to Yemen when smugglers panicked and began throwing them overboard overnight Wednesday. In total, 80 people - mostly Ethiopians and Somalians - were pushed into the water and forced to swim for shore in the pitch darkness, UN monitors said. At least 20 migrants crossing from Djibouti into Yemen have drowned after being pushed off a smuggler's boat and into the water (file image, a smuggler's boat in Djibouti) Survivors said that at least 20 people had drowned. Five bodies have washed ashore so far, workers from the UN's International Organization for Migration said. The survivors are receiving medical treatment in the Djibouti port town of Obock and testimonies are still being collected. Two similar incidents in the Gulf of Aden in October claimed the lives of at least 50 migrants, the IOM said. Every year, tens of thousands of migrants make the crossing from African into the Middle East via the so-called 'eastern route', from Djibouti to Yemen. From there, the migrants are promised passage into Saudi Arabia, where they hope to find work or else travel to another Gulf state where jobs can be found. Smugglers are thought to charge around $900 for the crossing, which is usually made in small wooden fishing boats. Fear of coast guard boats which patrol the 30-mile strait between Djibouti and Yemen sometimes causes smugglers to hastily abandon their voyage by pushing migrants into the ocean. Other survivors of the voyage have told how boatmen will demand extra money once the ship has set sail, and drown those who refuse to pay up. Tens of thousands of migrants - largely from Ethiopia and Somalia - transit through Djibouti to Yemen each year, hoping to make their way into Saudi Arabia where they can find work A similar incident in 2017, when a smuggler panicked after seeing some 'authority types' on the shore in Yemen, led to 50 people drowning. Despite a raging civil war in Yemen and a humanitarian crisis branded 'the worst in the world' by the UN, the Eastern Route is though to be one of the world's busiest and fastest growing illegal migration routes. Poverty, violence and political instability in Somalia and Ethiopia have been the main factors driving people to seek opportunities overseas. Roughly 138,000 people made the journey in 2019, the IOM said, which fell to 37,500 last year as coronavirus lockdowns limited travel. The numbers are expected to increase again once measures are lifted. Complicating the situation are thousands of migrants who have become stuck in Yemen or are trying to make the crossing in reverse, after realizing the stark reality of the situation in Yemen. An IOM survey in 2017 found that a majority of migrants had no idea about the problems in Yemen before starting the journey, almost all reported problems on the crossing, and just five per cent said they would recommend the undertaking. Write it up as yet another juicy chapter in South Sydneys famous Book Of Feuds. Sydney Roosters favourite Cooper Cronk this week sided with Souths officials for baulking at giving halfback Adam Reynolds a long-time deal, and said: Hes got to three prelims in the last three years and failed. Adam Reynolds at Thursdays NRL season launch. Credit:Getty Images Reynolds, never one to back away from a scrap, returned serve on Thursday when he said: One player doesnt solve the outcome of a game he [Cronk] should know that from the [2018] grand final. They [the Roosters] pretty much did it without him, Reynolds said of the match Cronk famously played with a broken shoulder blade which reduced his role to on-field organiser. Cronk suffered the injury in the preliminary final against the Rabbitohs, having first copped a hit from Sam Burgess and then another from Reynolds himself. LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stacey Abrams urged participants of the California Conference for Women to become champions for change within their own organizations and communities to help eliminate gender pay gaps and other inequities. "Part of the way to hack the system is, instead of championing your own change, work within your organization to ensure that you are doing the best you can by those who are the most vulnerable and have the smallest voices and the weakest choices," Abrams said. Abrams, the first Black woman in U.S. history to earn a major party nomination for governor, said she resisted calls to change her appearance before running for office, encouraging participants to not wait until they feel "perfect" to take action. "Fundamentally if we don't like ourselves, if we aren't willing to be our whole selves, if we wait until we are perfect to act, then we never do anything," Abrams said. "You don't have to compromise your values or your authenticity." Other speakers at the virtual Conference included the first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company Ursula Burns; iconic conservationist Jane Goodall; best-selling authors Angie Thomas and Glennon Doyle; and award-winning professor and best-selling author Adam Grant. The Conference, held during Women's History Month, focused on helping women move forward from a pandemic and economic crisis that forced more than 2.2 million women to leave the workforce in 2020. California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom joined the conversation with Burns, the first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company, about the need for corporations to provide options to help women within the workforce. "One of the things that we should all think about (for employees) is flexibility, particularly when their children are in their early years," Burns said. "Affording parents as much flexibility as possible to adjust their work schedules, to share work, to work from home, to do things that allow the family to stay kind of running semi-normally, is important." On the topic of Covid-19, Goodall suggested that there has been "one silver lining." "This one silver lining of this terrible pandemic, which has caused so much suffering, is that more and more people are understanding that we have, in many ways, brought this on ourselves, that it is desperately important that somehow we create a new, more respectful relationship with animals and nature," she said. The nonprofit, nonpartisan California Conference for Women is part of the nation's largest network of women's conferences, which also includes events in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The combined events attract more than 50,000 attendees annually. The California Conference also offered expert-led breakout sessions on resiliency; dismantling inequalities at work; parenting; and breaking bad habitsplus, facilitated networking sessions, a virtual career fair, and ways to support women-owned businesses. The California Conference for Women is generously underwritten by presenting sponsor Google; champions for women sponsors Gilead Sciences, Inc., Juniper Networks and Silicon Valley Bank; official lifestyle sponsor Target; and official networking sponsor Cisco, among others. For a full list of sponsors, visit http://www.caconferenceforwomen.org/sponsors. "We are extremely proud to be sponsoring this extraordinary event, which highlights our shared beliefs in empowering women leaders and striving for a diverse and inclusive culture," said Cynthia Pham Stark, director of corporate engineering at Google. https://www.caconferenceforwomen.org #CalWomen instagram.com/californiacfw/ twitter.com/californiaCFW facebook.com/CAConferenceforWomen/ SOURCE California Conference for Women Related Links http://www.caconferenceforwomen.org More than 30 million smartphone users had downloaded Bluezone, a locally-developed app that helps determine if a person has come in contact with a COVID-19 patient, as of 11:30 am on March 2. More than 30 million smartphone users have downloaded Bluezone. (Photo: VNA) More than 30 million smartphone users had downloaded Bluezone, a locally-developed app that helps determine if a person has come in contact with a COVID-19 patient, as of 11:30 am on March 2. The figure is 11,000 higher than that on March 1, and over 5.2 million higher than that on January 28 when the third outbreak wave started in the country, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications. Central Da Nang city takes the lead nationwide in the rate of smartphone users downloading the app, with 42.3 percent of the localitys population. It is followed by the northern province of Hai Duong, the capital city of Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh. At present, over 30 million Bluezone users can make online health declarations on this app. In addition, people can also inform authorized offices of cases suspected to be infected with COVID-19 via the app. Currently, Vietnam has basically put the pandemic under control. However, people are recommended to continue installing and using Bluezone continuously to help trace any possible contacts with COVID-19 patients accurately. Developed by tech firm Bkav, the app uses Bluetooth Low Energy, a wireless personal area network technology, to link smartphones within a two-meter distance. It helps health authorities quickly track those who had close contact with virus carriers, and alert them about the risk of infection. The app is completely confidential, anonymous, and transparent, as it only stores data on the users phone and does not transfer a users information or locations to the system. The development of Bluezone was overseen by MIC and the Ministry of Health (MoH). It was launched on April 18. Vietnam aims to have 50 million downloads of Bluezone, which is hoped to become an useful tool to help the health sector control the pandemic, and protect smartphone users from the disease. VNA Burma Civil Servants Given Deadline to Stop Work: NLD Appointee Protesters outside the Central Bank of Myanmar, urging staff to join the protests. / The Irrawaddy Yangon A minister appointed by Myanmars elected parliamentarians has set a deadline for all civil servants to join the civil disobedience movement (CDM). Those who continue to work will be defying the will of the people. Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, who is the education, health and sports, labor, immigration and population minister appointed on Tuesday by the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), representing elected members of the Union Parliament from the National League for Democracy (NLD), has called for lists of civil servants who are and are not participating in the CDM by midnight on March 7. Civil servants who chose not to join the CDM will have ignored the public interest, he warned. This is the final request. The CDM door will shut. The truth and lies, justice and injustice and good and evil will be distinguished. Decide if you will stand by the people or by the dictators and killers, Dr. Zaw Wai Soe posted on Facebook. He said the CRPH will order offices to close for 10 days to mourn the civil servants and civilians killed in the revolution. CDM staff will take control of offices, schools and universities and join the protests for the peoples government, the NLDs minister said. He also urged civil servants participating in the CDM to send their phone numbers and emails along with support plans to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] by 12am on March 7. Health workers started the CDM in response to Myanmars military coup on February 1. Dr. Zaw Wai Soe refused to work under the regime as rector of the University of Medicine in Yangon. But many civil servants have not joined the CDM. The military-run State Administrative Council has threatened striking civil servants with prosecution as the movement slows the workings of government and the banks have closed. You may also like these stories: Myanmars NLD Rejects Militarys Call for Proportional Representation Election System Another Bloody Day in Myanmar: At Least 28 Protesters Slain by Military 115 Information Ministry Staff Refuse to Work for Myanmar Junta Children and teenagers are being recruited to terrorist organisations during lockdown in worrying numbers, according to Dominic Raab. Updating MPs about so-called Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh, the Foreign Secretary said the UK is tackling the groups propaganda head on. But he warned the terror group is still able to carry out lethal attacks and it remains the UKs most significant terrorist threat both at home and abroad. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Raab said: This is a critical moment. Yes, Daeshs brand has weakened it remains, nonetheless, globally recognised. We are tackling Daeshs propaganda head on and I am proud the FCDO leads on this work on behalf of the global coalition Dominic Raab In December 2020, the UK Counter-Terrorism Referral Unit saw a 7% rise in the volume of terrorist content online and we can see a worrying rise in the proportion of children and teenagers that are now being arrested for terrorism offences. And it was Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu of the Met (Metropolitan Police) who described lockdown and the accessibility of terrorist content online as a perfect storm because terrorists have digital access to those who are probably the most susceptible to extremist narratives. So we are tackling Daeshs propaganda head on and I am proud the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) leads on this work on behalf of the global coalition. He added the UK Government has carried out a range of targeted and effective cyber operations. On the threat posed by IS, Mr Raab said: The safety and the security of our citizens is obviously the Governments highest priority, it is at the core of our work in tackling Daesh, which remains our most significant terrorist threat both at home and abroad. Mr Raab told MPs the Global Coalition Against Daesh estimates there are still around 10,000 Daesh members at large across Syria and Iraq, adding: So support for Daesh still lingers on in many communities. At the same time, while Iraq and Syria remain Daeshs primary focus, it also presents a clear and growing global threat. So diminishing Daeshs ability to operate in other parts of the world, including Africa and Asia, must also be a priority for the international community. We must not allow it to take roots elsewhere. I can report to the House that on 11 February a coalition surveillance aircraft located a number of Daesh fighters they were occupying two dispersed encampments on the banks of the Tharthar River, west of the city of Bayji (Iraq). Expand Close Labours Lisa Nandy said she was deeply troubled to hear children are being targeted by IS propaganda (PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Labours Lisa Nandy said she was deeply troubled to hear children are being targeted by IS propaganda (PA) Two UK Typhoon FGR4s conducted careful checks of the surrounding area for civilians before carrying out simultaneous attacks using two Paveway IV guided bombs against each group. The bombs hit their targets within the encampments, eliminating the terrorist threat. Mr Raabs comments came as it was announced that police and UK intelligence services have foiled three terror attacks since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Counter Terrorism Policing disclosed the information as Home Office figures showed the number of arrests for terrorism-related activity fell by 34% in 2020, the lowest level in nine years. Despite this, the number of terror plots prevented has risen to 28 since March 2017, police said. For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said: I was deeply troubled to hear the Foreign Secretary outline the way that children are being targeted by Daesh propaganda. Does (Mr Raab) agree that it is appalling that British children in the UK are being groomed to join Daesh? And can he therefore tell me what steps the Government is taking to protect children from this threat? Mr Raab advised people against travelling to Syria, adding: We continue to work with all of those concerned to facilitate the return of unaccompanied or orphaned children where thats feasible, where that can be done where theres no risk to security and where practically it can be done. I wont comment on the numbers, its obviously very sensitive but I take that very seriously. We regard those children as the innocents of the scourge of war and wherever its safe and possible, we will put our protective arms around them. The talks have dragged on for over a year, but now an end is in sight after U.S. President Donald Trump, who was demanding a massive increase, was voted out of office. Negotiators from Korea and the U.S. meet for defense-cost sharing talks in Washington on Friday to settle Korea's contribution to the upkeep of American forces here. Korea will be represented by Jeong Eun-bo from the Foreign Ministry and the U.S. by Donna Welton from the State Department, the ministry said in a press release. "The government expects that discussions will proceed toward a mutually acceptable agreement as soon as possible, based on talks that the two sides have had so far," it added. Last March, the two countries tentatively agreed to increase Seoul's contribution by about 13 percent in 2020 from W1.04 trillion in 2019, but the deal was vetoed by Trump (US$1=W1,123). The figure reportedly remains the same, but now both sides will accept a deal that holds good for longer than a year. The Wall Street Journal reported on Feb. 26 that "a new five-year agreement is close." Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do A day after Gov. Greg Abbott announced an end to all pandemic-related precautions in Texas, President Joe Biden slammed him Wednesday for putting lives at risk by clinging to Neanderthal thinking rather than heeding advice from the nations top scientists. I think its a big mistake, Biden told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with lawmakers. We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which were able to get vaccines in peoples arms. ... The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everythings fine, take off your mask. Forget it. It still matters. He noted the death toll, 511,874 Americans at last count. Were going to lose thousands more. ... Well not have everybody vaccinated until sometime in the summer, Biden said. Its critical, critical, critical, critical that they follow the science. Wash your hands, hot water. Do it frequently, wear a mask and stay socially distanced. And I know you all know that I wish the heck some of our elected officials knew it. The nations top infectious disease experts have expressed disappointment at Abbotts decision to end all restrictions starting next Wednesday, calling the move premature and warning it could lead to a resurgence of the outbreak that has cost 43,266 lives in Texas. We at the CDC have been very clear that now is not the time to release all restrictions, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asked about Texas change of policy during a White House briefing. Abbott announced the move on Tuesday, boasting that Texas would be 100% open as of March 10. Under his order, Texans will no longer be required to wear face masks, and all businesses will be allowed to operate at full capacity. Mississippi made a similar announcement. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, called the decisions to scrap mask mandates ill-advised and really quite risky. Abbott avoided taking on Fauci and the other medical experts. But he hit back at Biden for recklessly endangering lives of Texans, referring to a report that in recent weeks, federal authorities released more than 100 migrants in Brownsville who later tested positive for COVID-19 at the citys bus station. President Bidens administration itself is exposing Texans and Americans to COVID-19 through illegal immigrants that they are allowing to come into the state of Texas, Abbott told KPRC-TV in Houston. He is bringing in people with COVID-19 and releasing them into our communities. Abbott and Biden spent hours together on Friday in Houston with no hint of animosity. The president assessed Texas recovery from the previous weeks statewide power failures and toured a vaccination super site at NRG Park capable of delivering 6,000 shots per day. At no point did Abbott indicate that he would soon abandon the pandemic-control measures advocated by federal public health authorities. U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, a Republican, echoed Abbotts line of attack, accusing Biden of misplaced priorities in pressuring Texas over masks while doing little to keep out migrants. Some are bringing the disease with them, he asserted on Fox Business. If Joe Biden would actually come out and secure the border I would wear five masks a day, Gooden said. Our numbers are down. Businesses have been crushed across the nation, including in Texas, and we dont think its a Neanderthal thought that the people of Texas, or all Americans for that matter, can make the decision for themselves. The governor did not ban masks. He just eliminated the mandate to wear them. Evidence from fossils and DNA indicates that Neanderthals and homo sapiens had a common ancestor about 600,000 years ago. Modern humans arrived in Europe from Africa about 45,000 years ago and about 5,000 later, their thick-browed cousins abruptly disappeared. Calling someone a Neanderthal has long been an insult connoting low intelligence. At the U.S. Capitol, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who also joined Biden in Houston, defended Abbott against the criticism. President Biden has a lot of problems to take care of. ...And so I dont think hes got a lot to say about preaching to my state about how to handle this COVID-19 virus, he said, adding that the fact of the matter is, if you want to wear a mask you can still wear a mask. But public health experts say voluntary masking isnt enough. Only widespread masking will keep down the spread as mass vaccinations ramp up, though the federal government lacks authority to mandate that at the state level. Andy Slavitt, White House senior adviser for COVID-19 Response, called masks critically important, noting the emphasis Biden has put on mask-wearing. I dont think he could be possibly any clearer about the need for masks, Slavitt said. We know that it can save tens of thousands of lives if people do this, and we strongly encourage people to continue to wear masks. Walensky urged Texans to voluntarily take the precautions the state will no longer require. As we scale up vaccination we really do need to decrease the amount of virus that is circulating, she said. Every individual is empowered to do the right thing here, regardless of what the states decide -- for personal health, for public health, for their health of their loved ones and communities. I would still encourage individuals to wear masks, to socially distance, and to do the right thing to protect their own house. 2021 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. THE two coffins emerged from the church to the bowed heads of the mourners gathered outside. They were side by side, Paddy Hennessy on the right, carried by several pallbearers including his daughter Elaine, and Willie Hennessy on the left. Behind them, their sister Breda, the last remaining Hennessy sibling, watched as they were placed inside each hearse. She had stood in the exact same spot outside the church door just yesterday, as the coffin of her brother John was taken on its final journey. Johns funeral, a service few locals were aware was taking place, had seen just three neighbours gather outside. Today, as Breda surveyed the scene around the church grounds, her eyes took in every person, almost 50 in number, who had come to pay their respects. The deaths of her three brothers, in an apparent murder-suicide carried out by John, has left the community in Mitchelstown reeling. Last Thursday, after killing Willie and Paddy on the family farm with an axe, John took his own life in the river Funshion. Read More Todays joint requiem mass for Willie and Paddy saw Breda, who lives in nearby Angelsboro, Co Limerick, joined by her husband and daughter Lisa. Paddys daughter Elaine was accompanied by her young children and partner and Paddys ex-partner Stephanie was also present. Numbers inside the Church of Our Lady Conceived Without Sin in Mitchelstown were limited to 10 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The service lasted just under an hour, with friends and family watching from a distance as floral arrangements were placed inside each hearse. For Wille two simple wreaths. For Paddy, two large floral tributes, one that read Dad and another that read Grandad. Mourners then travelled to nearby Brigown Cemetery, where a crowd of up to 100 had gathered in the graveyard. Both men were buried in the same plot as Paddys son Paudie, who died by suicide in 2012. John was buried yesterday in a separate plot, where the remains of his brother Jer where buried in 2010. Jer died by suicide. Gardai believe that John may have killed his brothers by 6pm on Thursday before driving away from the farm in his Toyota Carolla van at about 10pm to Killacluig near where his body was recovered from the river Funshion at about 1.30pm last Friday. Read More Post-mortem examinations were conducted on the men at Cork University Hospital by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. The results were not released for operational reasons. However, it is understood that Willie and Paddy died of injuries consistent with an assault with an axe. The men suffered shock and haemorrhage associated with trauma from head injuries. John died from drowning. Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel, center, is seen during the annual Father Lafleur Memorial Mass held on Saturday, September 5, 2020, at St. Landry Church in Opelousas. The mass is held in honor of Father Joseph Verbis Lafleur, a WWII chaplain, who is the second candidate for Sainthood from the Lafayette Diocese. Highlights Realme GT 5G launch is set for later today in China. The Realme GT 5G will be a flagship phone with Snapdragon 888 SoC. Realme is also said to launch a GT 5G Pro smartphone. Realme GT 5G flagship smartphone is set to be launched today. This will be the company's first smartphone in the flagship category but there will be a second one later this year, according to the new strategy Realme announced recently. The Realme GT 5G will bring the power of the high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor inside, which is also inside the Xiaomi Mi 11 and will soon debut on a number of phones. Realme is also bringing the dual-tone variant on the vegan leather version of the GT 5G, the company said in one of the recent teasers. Essentially, "GT" in Realme GT comes from the Nissan GT-R scale model that Realme vice president Xu Qi Chase pointed at sometime back. The idea behind the reference is that the Realme GT 5G is going to be as fast as a racing car. Apart from the processor, there will be bumped-up specifications on the Realme GT 5G, such a better display, powerful battery, and an improved cooling system to allow for high-end gaming on the phone. Although the camera on the phone is likely the same as the one that last year's X50 Pro used. Before its launch, here is a rundown of everything we know about the Realme GT 5G: Realme GT 5G launch live stream Realme GT 5G launch event will begin at 2 pm CST in China but it is going to be a global event. In India, the event will begin at 11.30 am. Realme is expected to announce the price and specifications of the flagship phone at the event. Realme GT 5G price A recent teaser from Realme official suggested the GT 5G could be CNY 2,999, which translates to roughly Rs 34,000. Realme's Chase also said once that the GT 5G may cost the same as the X50 Pro from last year. Realme GT 5G specifications Realme GT 5G is going to be a flagship phone and the number of specifications that have either leaked or been confirmed so far falls in line with that. Realme confirmed the GT 5G will use an octa-core Snapdragon 888 chipset coupled with an LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The phone will have a 120Hz screen and feature a 64MP triple-camera setup on the back. Realme also confirmed the phone will have a better cooling system that can reduce the temperature of the phone by up to 15 degrees. All this is confirmed, which means GT 5G is going to belong to the premium-category. Now, coming to what we know via the leaks, the Realme GT 5G will come with at least 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The phone will come running Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 out of the box. The display on the Realme GT 5G will be a 6.8-inch OLED screen with 1440x3200-pixels resolution and an aspect ratio of 20:9. There was another rumour that pointed out that Realme may launch GT 5G Pro with a 165Hz refresh rate display and the 125W fast charging technology that the company unveiled last year. Whatever the case may be, Realme will take the wraps off and announce everything about the Realme GT 5G at today's event. Children across China participated in various themed activities, including sports challenges and parent-child games, over the last few days to celebrate the International Childrens Day, which falls on Tuesday this year. China established the day in 1949 and made it a full-day holiday for children under 14 in 1956 as an occasion to celebrate the spirit of youth Jun 01, 2021 05:38 PM Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will seek a vote of confidence in parliament after the government's finance minister lost his bid for a Senate seat in an election, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced on Wednesday. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will seek a vote of confidence in parliament after the governments finance minister lost his bid for a Senate seat in an election, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced on Wednesday. In indirect elections for 37 seats in Pakistans 104-member upper house of parliament, Imran Khans ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its political allies were bidding to wrest control of the Senate from opposition parties. While official results are still pending, local media reports indicate that the PTI and its allies gained ground in the Senate, likely enough to win a majority. However, Khans finance minister, Abdul Hafiz Sheikh, did not secure the seat he was running for. Following the announcement of the result, senior PTI official and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a press conference in the capital Islamabad, accusing the opposition of using corruption to sway lawmakers votes. Also Read: China-Pak celebrate 70 years of bilateral ties: Xi-Imrans Iron Brothers narrative on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, Imran Khan and his party has reached a consensus decision that Imran Khan will take a vote of confidence from the parliament. The step, according to Information Minister Shibli Faraz, was intended to show Khans political rivals that he still had the confidence of parliament and it was a sign of a brave man. The defeat is a big setback for Khan and the government since the electoral college in Sheikhs case was the lower house of parliament, which selects the countrys prime minister and gave a majority in 2018 to Imran Khan. If Khan and his allies win a majority in the Senate after the election, it could aid him in passing crucial legislation that has stalled in the chamber and hindered progress in IMF talks. Also Read: EAM S. Jaishankar to arrive in Dhaka ahead of PM Modis expected visit to Bangladesh A group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries have supported India for supplying COVID-19 vaccines to different developing and least developed nations. During a discussion at the WTO (World Trade Organisation), a group of Latin American member states including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Paraguay have also expressed their concerns on the export restrictions imposed by European Union on COVID-19 vaccines and their trade distorting impact. St. Lucia, on behalf of CARICOM group of countries expressed appreciation and thanked India and South Africa for vaccine supplies to them. CARICOM is a grouping of Caribbean countries that includes Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, and Saint Lucia. "We thank the Government of India and South Africa as well as the African Union for their generosity and solidarity at this time. The Government of India, through the generosity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has donated an initial instalment of 1,70,000 vaccines to Barbados and Dominica through bilateral arrangements," St. Lucia has said adding that India has dispatched an additional 1,75,000 vaccines to five CARICOM member states. Similarly, in its intervention, Jamaica, on behalf of ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) Group of countries, also thanked Indian efforts in delivering vaccine supplies to developing and least-developed countries (LDCs). Jamaica has said: "There is absolutely no place for vaccine nationalism in this crisis, as no member is spared the impact of the virus until all members are able to contain its spread. Therefore, we recognize the efforts of countries such as India and South Africa that have arranged delivery of vaccines to many developing countries and LDCs. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Talks of a new supercycle fuelled by a sustained surge in commodity prices, will only worsen the situation, the experts say. Copper prices heading for new all-time highs, surging agricultural markets and oil prices back at pre-pandemic levels are driving exciting predictions as economies, juiced by massive stimulus, rev up post lockdowns. The theory is that this could be just the start of a years-long rally in demand for raw materials across the board. The countries to watch closest are the mining jurisdictions characterized by both a painful covid-related economic contraction and a rise in less explicit forms of resource nationalism, Verisk Maplecrofts head of Americas, Jimena Blanco, says. These governments are becoming more willing to intervene in the economy, use indirect expropriation, or demand increases in local content requirements opening the door to a more sophisticated resource nationalism path. Related: Houthi Rebels Claim Missile Attack On Saudi Aramco Facility Source: Verisk Maplecrofts Political Risk Outlook 2021. Last year, miners experienced a pronounced increase in subtle forms of resource nationalism, such as higher taxation or more arduous regulation, in major mineral producers. Mexico, the worlds largest silver producer and foreign investment magnet, took the 14th position among the worlds highest risk jurisdiction in Verisk Maplecrofts Resource Nationalism Index (RNI). The country, which has made cracking down on tax breaks a priority, has locked horns with a few resources companies in the past year. On Wednesday, Canadas First Majestic Silver (NYSE:AG) (TSX:FR) announced it had kicked off arbitration proceedings against the Lopez Obrador government, as its being asked to pay over $500 million in allegedly owed taxes. Other mineral-rich nations in the ranking were Liberia (41st), Colombia (44th), Mauritania (74th), Mali (85th), Chile (97th) and Canada (140th). But going back to the tail end of 2019, the consultancy also signalled out Brazil (53rd) and Peru (117th). Source: Verisk Maplecrofts Political Risk Outlook 2021. The line between resource nationalism and legitimate national interest isnt always easy to draw, and this can exacerbate tensions. Verisk Maplecrofts RNI tracks incidents of direct expropriation and nationalization. The highest scores go to cases where there hasnt been adequate compensation, no compensation, or in which a government hasnt paid an award to a company following arbitration. The motive behind direct expropriation could be short-term political gain or a genuine attempt to save a vital but ailing industry to support the national interest. The adequacy of compensation is the key factor from a business perspective, the consultancy says. Related: Is This The Worlds Next Big Offshore Oil Region? In Latin America, the push to gain greater benefit from natural resources generally hinges on two factors. In Mexico and Argentina, the main driving force is ideology, while in Colombia and Chile pressure comes from communities both those hosting mining projects and civil society. In Africa, motivations are much more diverse. The interventionism seen in Liberia and Mauritania is driven by structural governance shortcomings, not nationalist sentiment, Verisk Maplecroft points out. In Mali, the political concerns of the transitional government are the issue, while in Guinea it is the need to maximise revenue from bauxite both countries are looking to review existing contracts, the report says. Beyond covid According to Verisk Maplecroft, the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic alone cannot explain last years hike in resource nationalism. The consultancy believes the virus did exacerbate a pre-existing trend witnessed in the index since 2017. The experts anticipate the pandemics impact will rise up over the next two years. Price cycles also remain an important factor, the analysts say, but miners that stay on top of each countrys ESG (environmental, social and governance) landscape, will be able to keep ahead of the resource nationalism curve. Issues around income distribution, poverty, access to education and healthcare to name but a few can trigger socio-political processes that demand more from the state, Mariano Machado, senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, says. The experts says that in advanced economies, turning to the mining industry to ask for (or take) more has become a subtle and varied art. Operators must prepare for the latter to overtake classic methods of resource nationalism as the more common type of state interventionism over the coming decade, Machado says. What is key for miners, the report says, is to detect the signals early on, so they can adapt their investment strategies and exploration portfolios to mitigate future exposure to nationalism trends. By doing so, the consultancy concludes, companies can also prioritize investment in jurisdictions where they can be part of the solution. They can work with local stakeholders to find a balance between community needs and industry profitability to secure long-term social license to operate. By Mining.com More Top Reads Form Oilprice.com: Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 06:16:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for efforts to advance the political process in South Sudan. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of South Sudan. Over the past 10 years, the South Sudanese have overcome numerous challenges and made new progress in nation-building. At present, the situation in South Sudan presents both opportunities and challenges, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. There is a need to maintain the positive momentum of the political process, he told the Security Council. For some time now, the cease-fire in South Sudan has been holding on the whole. And the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement has made positive progress on key issues, such as government formation and appointment of governors. China welcomes this development, he said. China encourages all parties in South Sudan to consolidate existing gains; move forward the key tasks of security arrangements, the reconstitution of parliament, and preparations for general elections; stay in the course of implementing the peace agreement and resolve potential differences by peaceful means, said Zhang. "We call on the armed factions that have not yet joined the agreement to do so as soon as possible. The implementation of the agreement faces practical difficulties, such as lack of funding. We hope the international community will provide responsive assistance," he said. The international community should continue to support the peace efforts of the African Union (AU) and sub-regional organizations such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and countries such as Sudan, he said. China calls on the international community to respond to the AU's initiative and lift sanctions against South Sudan as soon as possible, he said. Enditem The Queen will appear on a television special featuring Prince William and Kate, Sophie as well as Charles and Camilla hours before Harry and Meghan's US interview criticising the Royal household. Six senior Royals will be seen on A Celebration For Commonwealth Day which will be broadcast on BBC One on Sunday. It will be seen by millions of Britons before Meghan's pre-recorded CBS sit-down with Oprah Winfrey which has already been trailed showing her hitting out at 'The Firm'. In fact six of the eight senior Royal Family members widely said to make up The Firm will be seen speaking beforehand - with only Princess Anne and Edward not featured. The Queen's annual Commonwealth Day message will pay tribute to communities across the family of nations have come together in response to the pandemic. The Queen will be joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate on TV The Royal family broadcast will go out hours before Meghan and Harry are on US television Later the Prince of Wales will addressing the universal devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic in a recorded message and wife Camilla will tell broadcaster Clare Balding about the importance of books. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also spoken to medical, charity and voluntary staff from across the Commonwealth to hear more about the work they have been carrying out to care for those within their communities. Finally the Countess of Wessex has spoken to three women from around the Commonwealth, to hear about their experiences of supporting other women and their wider communities. The 5pm programme steals a march on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to beat them to the airwaves by addressing the nation on TV first. Her Majesty was due to attend the annual Commonwealth Service on March 8 - but this has been cancelled for the first time in nearly half a century due to Covid-19, Westminster Abbey announced this week. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their last working royal show on Commonwealth Day The Queen will take to the airways without Meghan and Harry who have stepped down Instead the Queen chose to share her annual message 24 hours earlier for A Celebration For Commonwealth Day. This will be shown to millions a few hours before Harry and Meghan's intimate interview with Oprah Winfrey is being screened in a two-hour special on CBS at 8pm EST in the US - around 1am UK time on Monday. A Westminster Abbey spokesman said: 'The decision was taken jointly by the Abbey, the BBC and the royal household about three weeks ago.' The clash between the Queen's BBC statement and the Sussexes' multi-million dollar CBS interview has extra significance because last year's Commonwealth Service was when the couple bowed out as working royals, and when they were last seen in public with Harry's grandmother, father and brother. Harry and Meghan are said to be in shock because the Queen stripped them of their royal and sporting patronages after they 'poured their hearts out' to Ms Winfrey during a two-day shoot in their 11million LA mansion last week. The tell-all interview is due to air on Sunday March 7 with no topics off-limits with one source warning Harry's family the show would be a good 'time to hide behind the sofa at the palace'. It has also emerged that Meghan is expected to speak about the feud with her family on her father Thomas' side after This Morning host Holly Willoughby said that Oprah Winfrey's team had been in contact with ITV for footage of an interview with her half-sister. In the January 2020 broadcast Samantha Markle said the former Suits actress and Harry owed her and their father an apology for 'incredibly wrong, untoward, and shocking' behaviour after the royal wedding in 2018. How Meghan used Prince Philips nickname for the royal family The Firm in bombshell Oprah interview as she accused them of 'perpetuating falsehoods' BY DAN SALES When Prince Philip first coined 'The Firm' as a nickname for the Royal Family, he could have no idea 74 years later it would still be used - let alone in an interview criticising the monarchy. But in the latest clip from Meghan Markle's upcoming interview with Oprah Winfrey the two-word moniker is used again for that purpose. The Duchess of Sussex is asked by the US chat show queen how she thinks the Palace might feel about her 'speaking her truth'. She responds: 'I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.' Sources close to the couple claim she was referring to institution of Buckingham Palace, which includes senior courtiers and advisers, headed by the Queen, rather than individual royals. But Meghan's choice of words may not have been deliberately chosen to do so, but channels the Duke's own remarks when he wed into the House of Windsor. Meghan used the phrase 'The Firm' to describe the Royal Family in the upcoming interview The Duke of Edinburgh coined the nickname The Firm when he married into the family in 1947 It was Philip who first uttered the phrase when he tied the knot with the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, describing the wedding affectionately as 'marrying into The Firm'. But since then members of the Royal Family have appeared to have avoided repeating the term in public, even if they may have in private. Newsweek had recently claimed that the Queen uses it herself behind closed doors. It is widely misremembered that Princess Diana uses the term in her Panorama interview with Martin Bashir. In fact she says 'When I say many people I mean the establishment that I married into, because they have decided that I'm a non-starter. In fact the term is actually more frequently used by commentators than actual members of the family themselves. It is oft cited that Princess Diana used the term in interview, but was in fact 'The Establishment' The modern Firm now: Edward, Sophie, Kate, William, The Queen, Charles, Camilla and Anne The reluctance may be due to the fact the simple two-word description can also be used to refer specifically to the key personnel within the Crown. Eight senior royals are said to be within the 'firm of eight' chosen to represent the family. They are William and Kate, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, The Queen herself and Princess Anne. A photo of the group before Christmas left little doubt of their significance within the household. But despite their own hesitancy in using the label to describe themselves, the easy identifier for the royals has endured through the decades. Roya Nikkhah, Royal Correspondent at The Sunday Times, told Radio 4 this morning: 'The extraordinary phrase in that clip is that she is saying The Firm were actively perpetuating falsehoods about her and Harry. 'I think the use of that phrase The Firm, it can include both the principals, members of the Royal Family, and members of the household so it remains to be seen who she is going to aim her fire at.' Penny Juror, the royal biographer, even named her 2005 book The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor. The description of the book says: 'The House of Windsor is a big business, though one with more ups and downs than the stock market. 'Prince Philip calls it 'The Firm' and all the royal executives and their powerful associates are supposed to make every effort to avoid even a hint of scandal that could diminish the reputation of the family business.' And the name has even retrospectively placed into the Royals' fictionalised accounts of history. Colin Firth in the King's Speech declares 'We're not a family, we're a firm.' With its high-profile debut on Oprah's primetime interview this Sunday, it looks sure to remain in use for much longer. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)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 Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Europe's medicines regulator says it has started a "rolling review" of the Russian-developed Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, a key step toward approval for use across the 27-nation European Union. The human medicines committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will review data from ongoing trials of the vaccine until there is enough clinical data for approval, the Amsterdam-based EMA said in a statement on March 4. Last month, peer-reviewed, late-stage trial results published in The Lancet medical journal showed the two-dose regimen of Sputnik V was 91.6 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19, about the same level as the leading Western-developed vaccines. EMA's "rolling reviews" are intended to speed up the process of approving a successful vaccine by allowing researchers to submit findings in real time, even before final trial data is ready. RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region. The agency has already approved vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca /Oxford, and is expected to give its verdict on Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine next week. Reviews for CureVac and Novavax's candidates are also under way. The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which has funded the vaccine and is responsible for selling it globally, said on March 4 that the country would be able to provide the vaccine for 50 million Europeans from June if it was approved by the EMA Kirill Dmitriyev also said that the country expected several European countries to approve Sputnik V this month. Slovakia earlier this month received its first shipment of Sputnik V doses, becoming the second EU member state to obtain the vaccine after Hungary, even though it lacks approval by the EMA. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 09:43:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Thursday published three high-resolution images of Mars captured by the country's Tianwen-1 probe. These images include two panchromatic images and one color image, said the CNSA. The panchromatic images were taken by the high-resolution camera of Tianwen-1 at a distance of 330 to 350 km above the surface of Mars, with a resolution of about 0.7 meters. In the images, Martian landforms such as small craters, mountain ridges and dunes are clearly visible. It is estimated that the diameter of the largest impact crater in the images is around 620 meters. The color image is of the red planet's North Pole region taken by the medium-resolution camera, the CNSA said. 6th Annual Student Art Contest sponsored by WEA Member Benefits and the WEA Member Benefits Foundation. This years contest is meant to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion in our communities. We look forward to seeing how students reflect this important and timely topic in their creations, said David Kijek, WEA Member Benefits President and CEO. Be You! Building people up through artistic expression is the theme of the sixth annual student art contest sponsored by WEA Member Benefits and the WEA Member Benefits Foundation. Young artists are invited to submit pieces inspired by the diversity each of us brings to the worlda unique personal characteristic or style of art, a life experience, something that illustrates pride in what makes you who you are, or simply a creation that celebrates how diversity enriches our lives. Monetary prizes from the WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc., will be awarded to ten student winners, and one student artist will receive the Loeymae Lange Best in Class award. The Best in Class award is named in memory of Loeymae Lange, a former art teacher at Cooper Elementary school in Burlington, Wisconsin. Her brother, Dr. Paul Lange, and his wife June are honoring Loeymaes legacy and love for art by providing this memorial gift to the WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc. This years contest is meant to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion in our communities. We look forward to seeing how students reflect this important and timely topic in their creations, said David Kijek, WEA Member Benefits President and CEO. Its wonderful to be able to recognize and reward talented students and teachers in Wisconsin and generous gifts, like that of Dr. Lange, makes it possible. The deadline to enter the 2021 student art contest is Friday, April 30, 2021. Finalists will be announced in June. More information about the art contest, including contest rules, eligibility, and art submission information is available at weabenefits.com/studentartcontest. About WEA Member Benefits WEA Member Benefits has been helping Wisconsin public school employees achieve their financial goals for over 45 years by providing personal insurance and retirement and investment programs. We operate as a trust that reinvests any profits back into programs that benefit participants. We have no shareholders. This allows us to focus on meeting the needs of those we serve with high-quality products that are competitively priced. We have one of the highest customer retention and satisfaction rates in the industry. Learn more at weabenefits.com. About the WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc. The WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc., launched in March 2019 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that supports Wisconsin public education through grants and charitable donations to public educators, public schools, and the communities they serve. More information about the foundation can be found at weafoundation.org. The HSE is to begin offering the vaccine to people aged 16 to 69 years with underlying conditions who are at very high risk of severe illness due to Covid-19 next week. They are to be offered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, except for those aged 16 and 17, Independent.ie has learned. Hospitals are being asked to find as many people as possible in this group as quickly as possible from their records based on their illnesses. They will then contact the patients to arrange vaccination through the hospital process. Those aged 16 and 17 cannot be given the AstraZeneca vaccine. GPs were told today that some people at very high risk who will be difficult to contact through the hospital system. Read More The HSE is working on a plan to contact them also but the details are not worked out at this point. The Irish College of General Practitioners were told that at this point people who are concerned do not need to do anything or contact anyone. There is no requirement for GPs to make representations on their behalf. For the moment patients should wait to hear from the hospital they attend. Those aged 16-69 and at very high risk of severe COVID-19 disease are: Cancer All cancer patients actively receiving (and/or within 6 weeks of receiving) systemic therapy with cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies or immunotherapies and radical surgery or radiotherapy for lung or head and neck cancer. All patients with advanced/metastatic cancers. Chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease, on dialysis, or eGFR <15 ml/min. Chronic neurological disease or condition Chronic neurological disease or condition with evolving ventilatory failure (requiring non-invasive ventilation), for example: motor neurone disease, spinal muscular atrophy. Chronic respiratory disease Chronic severe respiratory disease, for example: severe cystic fibrosis, severe COPD, severe pulmonary fibrosis. Diabetes Uncontrolled diabetes, for example: HbA1C 58mmol/mol. Immunocompromised Severe immunocompromise due to disease or treatment, for example, Transplantation: - Listed for solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) - Post solid organ transplant at any time - Post HSCT within 12 months Genetic diseases: - APECED** - Inborn errors in the interferon pathway Treatment: - included but not limited to Cyclophosphamide, Rituximab, Alemtuzumab, Cladribine or Ocrelizumab in the last 6 months. Inherited metabolic diseases* Disorders of intermediary metabolism/at risk of acute decompensation, for example: Maple Syrup Urine Disease. Intellectual disability* Down Syndrome. Obesity BMI >40 Kg/m2. Sickle cell disease* Meanwhile, in total, 520,000 vaccine doses have been received so far and the 500,000th dose will be administered by the end of the week, according to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. He said that the beginning of vaccinating the Cohort 4 group next week is really welcome news however raised concerns about AstraZenecas ability to deliver the agreed doses. I certainly remain concerned about AstraZenecas ability to deliver on schedule and indeed to deliver on the volumes that have been agreed, he said. 1,300 GP practises across the country are involved in the vaccine programme. Ireland has now purchased enough advance purchase vaccine supply for 10m people and once everyone in the country is vaccinated, the leftover doses will be given to the EU for other countries. The pandemic will not end until everyone has access to vaccines, said Minister Donnelly in the Dail. Saudi Arabias long-awaited Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) will take place between 11 and 20 November, in the historic district of Jeddah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Carrying the theme Metamorphosis, the RSIFF will celebrate cinema as a force for positive change, marking the first edition of the countrys nascent film festival. According to the festivals press release, the upcoming event will be delivered by a team of Saudi and international curators, film specialists, and industry veterans, including Managing Director Shivani Pandya and Director of Arab Programs & Film Classics Antoine Khalife both formerly of the Dubai International Film Festival. Film Critic Kaleem Aftab joins as director of international programming, bringing distinctive global cinema to Saudi Arabia across In Competition, Out-of-Competition, and thematic categories. Jumana Zahid leads the Red Sea Lodge, the foundations incubator for Saudi and Arab filmmakers, now in its second edition. The Red Sea Souk, the festivals industry platform for distributors, sales agents, and producers is helmed by Zain Zedan, industry/souk manager. The senior team, which has a 50/50 gender split, is completed by Ibrahim Modir, head of shared services. The RSIFF was first schedule to hold its inaugural edition in March 2020, yet it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the precautionary measures taken by the kingdom. In July 2020, the organisers revealed that the cancelled edition would be considered a Label Edition and announced that the festivals first edition will only feature a few events from its original schedule throughout the year. Among the Label Editions events was honouring Egyptian renowned filmmaker Khairy Beshara, who in December 2020 held a masterclass at Mall of Arabia, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The masterclass was accompanied by a screening of Besharas key works, which have been restored by the Red Sea Festival Foundation, namely The Collar and the Bracelet (1986); Bitter Day, Sweet Day (1988); Ice Cream in Gleam (1992); Abracadabra America (1993); and Traffic Light (1995). This is the first time that restored works by the Egyptian filmmaker are shown on the big screen in Saudi Arabia. The festival also released a new biography on Beshara, edited by film critic Mohammed Sayyed Abdel-Raheem, featuring never before seen archival images. The Red Sea International Film Festival is organised by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, being the first Saudi independent non-profit organisation with an official mandate to promote film culture. Among the foundations aims is to shed light on Saudi cinema, promoting international cinema to local audiences, and supporting Saudi and international filmmakers while nurturing the cultural scene. Members of the Red Sea International Film Festival team shall be attending the Berlin Film Festival and more programming details are set to be revealed in the coming months, the press release reads. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the International Code Council, the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions, released a new framework to assist governments and building industry stakeholders in meeting energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction goals. The Code Council Board of Directors, which consists of 18 government code officials who were elected by their peers, adopted the framework, Leading the Way to Energy Efficiency: A Path Forward on Energy and Sustainability to Confront a Changing Climate. This framework includes using the Code Council's American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved standards process to update the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Future editions of the IECC will build on prior successes including an increase of efficiency requirements by about 40%, or an average of 8% a cycle from 2006 to 2021, allowing the IECC to remain a strong avenue for communities to reach their energy efficiency and sustainability goals globally. With the base 2021 IECC efficiency requirements just 10% away from net zero for residential buildings, under the new framework future editions of the IECC will increase base efficiency using a balancing test proposed in bipartisan legislation that has cleared the U.S. House and Senate and has been supported by energy efficiency advocates and the building industry . The IECC will be developed under a revised scope and be part of a portfolio of greenhouse gas reduction solutions that could address electric vehicles, electrification and decarbonization, integration of renewable energy and energy storage, existing buildings performance standards and more. The Code Council's new framework will also provide optional requirements aimed at achieving net zero energy buildings presently and by 2030. Using a tiered approach, the framework offers adopting jurisdictions a menu of options, from a set of minimum requirements to pathways to net zero energy and additional greenhouse gas reduction policies. "Thank you to our members and stakeholders for their feedback throughout this process," said Greg Wheeler, CBO, President of the Code Council. "After careful consideration of all the input, the Board of Directors has approved this coordinated, comprehensive strategy to support the needs of our communities, building on the Code Council's strong foundation of technical solutions provided by the IECC, International Residential Code and International Green Construction Code." "The Code Council is committed to furthering the progress the IECC has made to date and ensuring our energy code continues to meet the needs of governments around the world to advance their energy efficiency goals," said Dominic Sims, CBO, Chief Executive Officer of the Code Council. "We have heard clearly feedback from the building safety community asking us to strengthen the IECC and create new resources to help communities address their climate goals. We will rise to that challenge." The Code Council has also announced the establishment of an Energy and Carbon Advisory Council which will consist of governmental and industry leaders to inform the Code Council's efforts. The Energy and Carbon Advisory Council will advise on which additional greenhouse gas reduction policies the IECC should integrate, the pace that the IECC's baseline efficiency requirements should advance, plus needs and gaps that the Code Council should work to address. The Code Council will begin outreach to fill the Energy and Carbon Advisory Council in March. A call for applications for the IECC Development Committees will take place in March. The committees will represent diversity across nine interest categories and assure representation from a diversity of jurisdictions, experiences in building types and energy efficiency strategies, and geographies. "Government officials will have the strongest voice on the committee, and the consensus process requires one third of the seats to be government regulators," continued Wheeler. Committee membership will be determined through an open nominations process with no seats reserved for organizations. For additional information: The executive summary and full framework are available online. and are available online. An infographic detailing the changes is here . . For additional resources, visit www.iccsafe.org/energy . About the International Code Council The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide. SOURCE International Code Council CLEVELAND, Ohio The entire field of Democratic candidates aiming to succeed Warrensville Heights Rep. Marcia Fudge appeared together at a forum for the first time Thursday, giving a glimpse into how the crowded slate stands on several key issues. The forum, organized by the Ohio chapter of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, brought six candidates together for the 90-minute virtual session. The 11th Congressional District, heavily gerrymandered to favor Democrats, includes most of the eastern portion of Cuyahoga County and stretching down to include part of Akron in Summit County and includes the largest population of Jewish voters in Ohio, though none of the candidates themselves are Jewish. Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Shontel Brown, former state Sens. Nina Turner and Shirley Smith, former City Councilman Jeff Johnson, former state Rep. Bryan Flannery and Navy veteran Tariq Shabazz were all present. Former state Rep. John Barnes Jr. joined for the opening statement but had to leave for the question-and-answer session due to a death in the family. The six candidates who remained were relatively simpatico on most of the topics, given the limited time and lack of interaction between the candidates. Israel All of the candidates said they supported continued aid to Israel, including honoring a 2016 agreement negotiated by Democratic President Barack Obama to provide $38 billion in aid to the Middle Eastern country. Brown, Johnson and Flannery said they supported aid without any conditions. Turner, Shabazz and Smith said they thought the U.S. should honor the memorandum, but future foreign aid of any kind to any ally should come with conditions. All six candidates said they supported a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine as well as the Biden administrations effort to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal an Obama-era agreement that ended sanctions on the country in turn for routine outside inspections of their nuclear facility. The deal was aimed at preventing Iran a hostile state toward Israel from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Republican President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal without having a replacement early in his term. All six candidates said they did not personally support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. The BDS movement aims to put economic pressure on Israel over Palestine. Some critics describe it as anti-Semitic. Criminal justice reform There was universal agreement among the six candidates that the criminal justice system in America needed overhauling. Multiple candidates said they supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. The bill would, among other things, end qualified immunity for police officers, ban the use of chokeholds by federal officers, mandate body cameras and limit the sale of military-style equipment to local police departments. I would have voted for that, Johnson said. We have to get rid of the chokeholds. We need to make liability not a factor when it comes to police actions. They have to be liable and they have to be accountable. Johnson also said he would work to end the use of no-knock warrants a type of warrant where police can enter without identifying themselves. The tactic has increasingly become controversial following the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville last year. Turner said she also wanted to end the use of for-profit prisons, feeling that lobbying efforts by the industry prohibit criminal justice reform for the sake of profit. Brown said she would also support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would restore voting rights to felons who served their sentences. Flannery said he supported a diversionary approach, such as mental health spending, expansion of drug courts and ending cash bail. Climate change The candidates uniformly supported President Joe Bidens decision to re-enter the United States into the Paris Climate Accords, as well as the goal of transitioning the country away from fossil fuel usage by 2050. Smith said she would also work to hold more companies accountable for contributing more to carbon emissions, such as UPS, FedEx and Amazon. They are using our air and our roads more often than anybody else, she said. They should be held accountable and pay to where we need to get by 2050. There was some tepid support for the so-called Green New Deal, a package of reforms proposed by Democrats to reduce fossil fuel emissions and usage, though there was little mention of the proposal by name. Shabazz said any legislation related to climate change had to account for economic disparity and provide jobs for impoverished communities as well as transitional programs for workers in fossil fuel industries. We need to be mindful about who is going to receive these jobs, he said. How are we going to move away from these coal jobs and protect people in this dying industry? Budget carrier Ryanair is return to Belfast City Airport after more than a decade and launching eight new summer routes, it has emerged The airline says it will fly eight routes this summer. That includes Malaga, Mallorca, Faro, Alicante, Barcelona, Ibiza, Milan Bergamo and Valencia. The airline says to celebrate the return to Belfast City Airport, Ryanair has launched a seat sale, with fares available from just 14.99 for travel from June to October 2021. This is excellent news for those in Northern Ireland considering a getaway this summer, Belfast City Airport chief executive, Brian Ambrose said. The choice of routes offered by Ryanair will facilitate both city breaks and relaxing beach holidays for our passengers. Travel has been significantly restricted over the last 12 months and as the vaccine rollout continues at pace and the restrictions ease, we expect there will be considerable demand for these routes, and we look forward to welcoming Ryanair customers through the terminal. Ryanairs director of marketing, Dara Brady said: We are delighted to make a return to Belfast City Airport this summer, having previously operated here in 2010. The UK Governments highly successful roll-out of their vaccination programme gives customers the confidence that travel will be possible this summer and NI consumers now have eight routes at low fares to some of the most popular summer holiday destinations in Spain, Portugal and Italy to choose from. To celebrate the launch of these eight summer routes from Belfast City, we are launching a seat sale with fares available from just 14.99 for travel from June to October 2021, which must be booked by midnight Saturday, March 6 only on Ryanair.com. We look forward to welcoming NI customers on board our flights to the likes of Alicante, Barcelona, Milan and Valencia this summer. A much-deserved getaway is only a click away, so to avoid disappointment, we advise customers to act fast and book before these amazing low fares are snapped up. 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. Ukraine remains committed to continuing to implement the agreements reached in the Normandy format and on the Minsk platform, the head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group, Leonid Kravchuk, has said. He said this in a comment to the Dom television channel, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "It is important for us that the Ukrainian delegation officially stated during the negotiations - and we have already published this in the press - that there is an official statement [by Russian-backed forces] to violate the agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire reached on July 22 last year. We hope that the ceasefire will be observed, but it could be violated to some extent somewhere. But Ukraine has been and will remain committed to complying with the agreements reached in the Normandy format and on the Minsk platform," Kravchuk said. On March 3, at a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group, Kravchuk protested against a report published by the so-called "DPR People's Militia" on the Internet that Russian-backed forces were granted "permission to conduct pre-emptive fire to suppress enemy firing points." Kravchuk stressed that this statement was a threat to "the Russian side's unilateral withdrawal from the ceasefire regime." Later, he said that if Russian-backed forces violate the ceasefire in Donbas, Ukraine will have no other option but to retaliate. Kravchuk placed all responsibility for the violation of peace agreements on illegal armed groups. op Freedom House, a US government-funded NGO, in its annual Freedom in the World report has demoted India from being Free in 2020 to Partly Free in 2021. The countrys score has fallen from last years 71 to 67 out of 100 this year, calculated on the basis of the state of its political rights and civil liberties. Explaining the status change, the organisation says, Indias status declined from Free to Partly Free due to a multiyear pattern in which the government and its allies presided over rising violence and discriminatory policies affecting the Muslim population and pursued a crackdown on expressions of dissent by the media, academics, civil society groups, and protesters. Freedom House Rather than serving as a champion of democratic practice and a counterweight to authoritarian influence from countries such as China, Modi and his party are tragically driving India itself toward authoritarianism, says the report. And according to the report, its not just Indias freedom that is in question. With Indias decline to Partly Free, less than 20 percent of the worlds population now lives in a Free country, the smallest proportion since 1995. Freedom House Besides India, Peru was also declared Partly Free this year. Thailand, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan were among the countries that declined from Partly Free to Not Free while Seychelles was declared Free as an improvement from its previous Partly Free status. The public seems to be of two minds on this news though. Some seem to be calling into questioning the organisations authority. Even funnier... #FreedomHouse opinions are based on a grand total of "40 advisers" and, wait for it... journalists, academicians & NGOs . No wonder India seems so terrible! pic.twitter.com/7rtQ6YWj4f Anuraag Saxena (@anuraag_saxena) March 3, 2021 Freedom Housed had received funding for clandestine activities inside Iran in the past. It also lists Indian and Pakistani Kashmir as separate entities and ranks. FWIW, it also gives Canada a score of 98. pic.twitter.com/nFEQ450M4p Avatans Kumar (@avatans) March 4, 2021 On the separate assessment of Indian Kashmir, the organisation says, Disputed territories are sometimes assessed separately if they meet certain criteria, including boundaries that are sufficiently stable to allow year-on-year comparisons. Others are concerned over the contents of the report and what it might mean for the state of Indian democracy. Two disturbing news items in todays newspapers. Freedom House has downgraded Indias ranking from being a free country to being only partly free. And, 70% of governmental shutdowns of the Internet were in India. Tavleen Singh (@tavleen_singh) March 4, 2021 Our freedom fighters fought the British and laid down their lives for a free India, for it to now being taken away, bit by bit, every passing day, is a sad reminder of where we stand today. The new normal. Image courtesy: Freedom House Report 2021 pic.twitter.com/zc3BqIoEgQ Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) March 4, 2021 A man accused of killing his twin brother during a fight over a woman was arraigned at the Makadara law courts. The DCI sought a custodial order to hold the suspect Hussein Chemwor Maina, who is said to have stabbed Noah Kibiama Maina to death in Soweto area of Kayole on the night of February 24, 2021. The suspect allegedly stabbed his twin brother on the right side of his chest and neck after a quarrel over a woman the deceased was dating. Chemwor reportedly attacked Kibiama at his house(the deceased) adjacent to his twin brothers house. Kibiama succumbed to injuries while being rushed to the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Kayole. While seeking custodial orders, Inspector Moses Kenga of Kayole DCI offices told chief magistrate Angelo Kithinji that he needed time to trace and record witness statements, take the suspect for mental assessment and conduct the post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death. Mr Kenga said he also needed to collect the deceaseds blood and body tissues and send them to the government analyst together with the murder weapon for forensic analysis. The court granted the custodial orders which will remain in force until March 15. The states health secretary said the decision to earmark the states initial batches of Johnson & Johnsons single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to school employees and child care workers is not delaying senior citizens and those with high-risk health conditions from their turn at getting the vaccine. Rather, Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said it is intended to vaccinate educators without putting additional stress on the efforts underway by hospitals or providers to get shots in the arms of those in the Phase 1A of the states vaccination program. We know that there is significant interest among all Pennsylvanians about when they will be vaccinated, this special initiative involving teachers and childcare workers will not delay that process, she said during a virtual news conference with reporters. It allows us to continue efforts to vaccinate people in Phase 1A, while also setting up this special initiative to get kids back into school. Gov. Tom Wolf, along with the COVID-19 vaccination task force, announced on Wednesday plans to begin administering as soon as Wednesday some 120,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that the state received this week to teachers, support staff and child care workers. The states 28 intermediate units will administer the program along with the help of the Pennsylvania National Guard and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare for public and private schools as well as charter schools. The states retail pharmacy partners will be handling the outreach and administration of the vaccine to those who work at licensed child care centers, Beam said. To date, she said more than 1 million Pennsylvanians have received their first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer two-dose vaccine and nearly 830,000 are fully vaccinated. Although the addition of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will help boost those numbers, Beam said, I want to be clear that the vaccine supply is still not able to keep up with demand at this time. Acting Education Secretary Noe Ortega said the opportunity to vaccinate all our pre-K to grade 12 teachers, school staff and child care workers will support a safe and quicker return to in-person teaching and learning across Pennsylvania. It has been and will continue to be my agencys and the Wolf Administrations collective priority to reopen classrooms and schools as soon as possible, Ortega said. This vaccine, along with a comprehensive mitigation strategies ... provides us with yet another tool that will help create the conditions for that to happen. Ortega said updated school guidance about instructional models now recommend in-person instruction in counties with low community transmission of COVID-19; hybrid instructional models in counties with moderate transmission levels; and remote, hybrid or in-person instruction for elementary school students as well as those with disabilities and English language learners who have shown to be more susceptible to learning loss. Amid the strategy we have now with vaccination along with other mitigation efforts, those are all in place to create safe conditions for teachers to return and offer in-person learning, Ortega said. With regard to mandates, the state does not plan to mandate any in-person instruction except to recommend it. Please keep in mind that we are a locally controlled state and many of these decisions are made at the local level. Beam said the state hopes that with this initial batch of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a second large batch expected in a couple of weeks, that all school employees who choose to get this vaccine will have received it by the end of March. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Serology does not give the full picture of the adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibodies are not always produced in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, or may be delayed 1,2 . Antibodies can also wane quickly after infection 4 and reports show T cells may be more long lived than the antibody response 3 . In the absence of an antibody response, the T cell response may be protective from SARS-CoV-2 infection 5 . In a clinical study using samples collected in the US, the T-SPOT.COVID test was proven to detect a SARS-CoV-2 cell mediated (T cell) immune response in PCR positive individuals, even with negative serology test results6. The T-SPOT.COVID test therefore complements results obtained by antibody serology to give a more comprehensive view of an individual's adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The test could also be used, for example, alongside serology tests to support clinical assessment of individuals who present with suspected COVID-19 but are PCR negative. In the study, the T-SPOT.COVID test had a positive agreement with PCR-results of 96.6% (84/87) in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals <60 days after first PCR positive result. At >60 days (with the furthest time point after first positive PCR test result being >240 days) positive agreement remained high at 83.3% (40/48). The T-SPOT.COVID test detected substantially more people with previous positive PCR results than serology in the cohort, whose positivity rate was lower and declined faster over time. In an endemic cohort of US individuals selected to be at a relative lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (based on the absence of self-reported symptoms, negative serology results and no prior history of a positive PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2) the T-SPOT.COVID test had a negative agreement of 98.0% (96/98)6. We cannot exclude the possibility that a proportion of this group had, or still have, an asymptomatic infection, seronegative at the time of testing, but in whom the T-SPOT.COVID test was able to detect a T cell response. Phill Keefe, Senior VP, Product Design, Development and Delivery at Oxford Immunotec said, "T cells and antibodies are two arms of the adaptive immune response. The detection and measurement of each can provide different insights about disease activity and an individual's personal immunity." The Company developed the T-SPOT.COVID test as an evolution of its T-SPOT Discovery SARS-CoV-2 assay, a research use only test used to gain insights about the immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Dr. Peter Wrighton-Smith, CEO of Oxford Immunotec, said, "The T-SPOT Technology platform is a standardised way of measuring T cells. It has been proven in clinical use for over 18 years with another major infectious disease, tuberculosis, which kills around 1.5 million people every year. Our T-SPOT.COVID test is tailored specifically for the detection and measurement of an individual's T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Having the ability to determine an individual's immune response to SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to support a wide range of needs in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic." For further information visit www.tspotcovid.com. Oxford Immunotec has entered in an agreement to be acquired by PerkinElmer (NYSE: PKI). The transaction is expected to close shortly. Tan W, Lu Y, Zhang J et al. Viral kinetics and antibody responses in patients with COVID-19. medRxiv. 2020 March 26. Preprint. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.24.20042382 Altmann DM, Boyton RJ. SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity: Specificity, function, durability, and role in protection. Sci Immunol. 2020;5:eabd6160 Zuo J, Dowell A, Pearce H et al. Robust SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell immunity is maintained at 6 months following primary infection. bioRxiv. 2020. doi: 10.1101/2020.11.01.362319 Ibarrondo FJ, Fulcher JA, Goodman-Meza D et al. Rapid decay of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in persons with mild Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020; 383: 1085-1087 Wyllie D, Mulchandani R, Jones HE et al. SARS-CoV-2 Reactive T cell numbers are associated with protection from COVID-19: A prospective cohort study. medRxiv. doi: 10.11012020.11.02.20222778 Package Insert PI-T-SPOT.COVID-IVD-US v3 T-SPOT-COVID-US-PI-v3-1.pdf T-SPOT, T-Cell Xtend, T-SPOT Discovery SARS-CoV-2 and the Oxford Immunotec logo, are trademarks of Oxford Immunotec Limited. About Oxford Immunotec Oxford Immunotec Global PLC is a global, high-growth diagnostics company. We bring energy and invention to a world in need of diagnostic truth. We are uniquely placed as the only company in the world offering regulated ELISPOT assays for T cell measurement, with approval around the globe. Our leading product, the T-SPOT.TB test, is used for diagnosing infection with Tuberculosis, the world's largest cause of death from infectious disease. The Company has over 18 years' experience as a manufacturer of IVD tests, operating under a fully audited Quality Management System, ensuring rigorous batch control. The company has manufactured in excess of 20 million clinical T cell tests for TB infection. The T-SPOT.TB test has been approved for sale in over 50 countries, including the United States (where it has received pre-market approval from the Food and Drug Administration), Europe (where it has obtained a CE mark), as well as Japan and China. The Company is headquartered near Oxford, U.K. and in Marlborough, MA. Additional information can be found at www.oxfordimmunotec.com. About T-SPOT.COVID Oxford Immunotec has been developing and strengthening its expertise in T cell measurement for over 18 years since the introduction of its T-SPOT technology in the field of TB diagnostics. In that time, we have taken the classic ELISPOT technique and developed it into the world leading proprietary T-SPOT technology platform we now use to measure T cell immune responses, improving performance, standardizing results, and streamlining the workflow. The ELISPOT technique is exceptionally sensitive since the target cytokine is captured directly around the secreting cell making ELISPOT assays much more sensitive than conventional ELISA assays. The test enumerates effector T cells responding to stimulation using two separate peptide pools measured in parallel in individual wells. T-SPOT.COVID antigen panels are designed as overlapping peptides spanning sequences of the Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins. This design offers maximum epitope coverage for enhanced detection of T cell reactivity and no HLA restrictions. Antigenic formulations of 253 peptides covering the most immunogenic regions of the virus genome allows measurement of the breadth of immunity and ensures the impact of point mutations is minimized. Specificity to SARS-CoV-2 has been enhanced by removing potentially cross-reactive peptide sequences with high homology to other coronaviruses. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this release are forward-looking statements. This includes statements about Oxford Immunotec's anticipated plans and objectives, future performance and revenues, financial condition, prospects for sales of its products, growth, strategies, expectations and objectives of management. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements contained in this release reflect Oxford Immunotec's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied by forward-looking statements. Other factors that could adversely affect Oxford Immunotec's business and prospects are described under the "Risk Factors" section in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Oxford Immunotec's SEC filings are available for free by visiting the investor section of its website, www.oxfordimmunotec.com, or the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Investors should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and assumptions and currently available data and are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events or performance. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date of this release. Oxford Immunotec does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements after they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. For Investor Inquiries: Matt McLaughlin Chief Financial Officer Oxford Immunotec Tel: +1 (508) 573-9953 [email protected] For Media Enquiries: US: Mary Conway MKC Strategies, LLC Tel: +1 (516) 606-6545 [email protected] UK: Megan Anderson ZPB ASSOCIATES mobile: 07597572287 office: (020) 7018 1124 [email protected] SOURCE Oxford Immunotec Related Links http://www.oxfordimmunotec.com Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday that he was ending the statewide mask mandate and that Texas businesses could open at 100 percent capacity beginning March 10. However, several Houston-area schools will maintain current safety protocols. WEAR EVERYWHERE: Here's where you're still required to wear a mask in Houston Here are the school districts, colleges and universities that have responded to Abbott's order. This list will be updated as more information is available. Houston-area School Districts Aldine ISD Aldine ISD is upholding all safety protocols, including the wearing of face coverings, social distancing, and frequent hand washing, until further clarification. Alief ISD Alief ISD will uphold its mask policy after the TEA clarified that "a public school system's current practices on masks may continue unchanged." Students, faculty and visitors are required to wear masks and facial coverings in all schools and district facilities. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD The district is upholding current safety protocol, including requiring masks, while it reviews Abbott's order and awaits guidance from TEA. Fort Bend ISD Fort Bend ISD will continue to require masks and facial coverings in all schools and facilities until the district further reviews guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Fort Bend County health officials and Fort Bend ISD's medical advisor Galveston ISD Galveston ISD will continue to require masks and social distancing throughout the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. It is my belief that social distancing and masking should continue for now, said Dr. Richard E. Rupp, medical director for Teen Health Center, Inc. which operates clinics at five Galveston ISD campuses. Masks are still needed. COVID-19 numbers, although down, are still high. There is a good chance of encountering someone with COVID in a public setting. Houston ISD Houston ISD is still requiring all students, staff, and visitors to practice social distancing and wear masks on district property and at district events based on advice from health professionals and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More information on Houston ISDs safety measures can be found here. Katy ISD The district is currently upholding its COVID-19 safety measures, which include requiring masks, social distancing and frequent hand-washing. Klein ISD Klein ISD is reviewing Gov. Abbott's order and awaiting guidance from the Texas Education Agency. The district will continue to follow previous guidance from TEA until further clarification is released. La Porte ISD La Porte ISD is reviewing Gov. Abbott's order and awaiting guidance from the Texas Education Agency. Pasadena ISD Pasadena ISD will continue to uphold its mask mandates and mitigation strategies. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Spring Branch ISD Spring Branch ISD will continue its current COVID-19 safety protocols, including the requirement that all students and adults wear masks or face coverings. The district is following guidance from TEA and its medical partners at Memorial Hermann. MASK UP?: H-E-B president Scott McClelland talks masks with Chron Colleges and Universities Rice University Rice University will uphold its room occupancy limits and mask policy, which requires people to wear masks or face coverings while on campus. Texas Southern University Texas Southern University is maintaining current protocol, which requires masks or facial coverings, social distancing, temperature checks and daily COVID questionnaires. University of Houston The university is currently upholding current COVID-19 safety protocols but is reviewing Abbott's order and will update students and faculty before the order goes into effect March 10. The event was attended by a large number of major tour operators from Vietnam and Russia. Vice Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Le Phuc welcomed the event, saying that the forum will help boost confidence and recovery of tourism between the two countries following the unprecedented challenges posed to international travel by the COVID-19 pandemic. Demyan O. Smilevets, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourisms Department for International Cooperation, said Vietnam remains a popular destination among Russian tourists. According to Russias Federal State Statistics Service, about 572,000 Russians visited Vietnam in 2019, up 8% from the previous year while the number of Vietnamese visitors to Russia rose by 9% year-on-year to 59,000. Russia sees Vietnam as a promising market because of the friendship between the two countries people, he said. He noted that Russia has started issuing e-visas for Vietnamese citizens since January 1, 2021, with Vietnamese visitors allowed to stay in Russia for 16 days. But due to COVID-19, the new policy has yet to come to reality, he said. He urged travel agencies from both countries to work together to promote safety and convenience to attract more visitors. Meanwhile, according to Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Tourism of St. Petersburg Nana M. Gvichia, the number of Vietnamese visitors to the Russian city was only paid 25,000 in 2019 and it is relatively small compared to Vietnams population of 100 million. She vowed that St. Petersburg will do its utmost to ensure safety for all visitors in the face of COVID-19. Causing a blow to the ruling alliance headed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in the Senate elections from Islamabad, an upbeat opposition on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan "to resign in an honourable way" after the defeat of the government's candidate Abdul Hafeez Shaikh at the hands of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. "If he (the Prime Minister) has honour then he should himself resign (from the office). Imran Khan should submit his resignation today as the demand for his resignation is no more only the opposition's demand but it has now become a demand of the government members as well," said a cheerful Pakistan Peoples Party ' title=' Pakistan Peoples Party '>Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari while speaking at a news conference at the Zardari House with Gilani and other senior party leaders hours after results of the elections on the Senate seats from Islamabad were announced by the returning officer, the Dawn reported on Thursday. Earlier, the PPP chairman had tweeted "Democracy is the best revenge Jiye Bhutto" soon after the announcement of the result. Later, a number of other opposition leaders, including supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif, through their social media accounts on Twitter, also felicitated Gilani and termed his election a "glorious victory". Later, Sharif talked to Gilani over telephone and congratulated him. PML-N President and opposition leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, who had been brought to the capital to cast his vote through a production order, in a statement said that Gilani's victory was the expression of a no-confidence by lawmakers in Imran Khan's government. "Those who have destroyed the people and the country's economy and the vote thieves, sugar thieves and flour thieves have been exposed," said Sharif. Taking advantage of his presence in the Parliament House, Shehbaz Sharif also presided over a meeting of the party's parliamentary group and senior leaders in which he bitterly criticised the government's performance, saying that he had never seen such a "worst government" in the country's history, PML-N vice President Maryam Nawaz also tweeted, congratulating Raza Gilani as well as the PDM leadership. "Well done the PML-N.... congratulations to PML-N members who upheld the narrative of Nawaz Sharif... future is yours," said Nawaz in her tweet. In another post, she claimed that "the fake mandate has been snatched back by the people's representatives. Their own people, despite the pressure on them, refused to vote for [...] (Prime Minister) Imran Khan," she said, adding that the premier now had no right to occupy the Prime Minister House. Vote chor (thief), leave the chair." PML-N's Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal said, "Imran Khan was a selected prime minister and now he has become a rejected Prime Minister". "The nation is expecting that he (PM) will resign from the office," he said, adding that a government whose ministers did not even know how to vote in Senate elections had no right to rule the country. Speaking at the news conference, Bhutto-Zardari said that the defeat of the Prime Minister from the National Assembly was a "historic win" for the PDM. He said the PDM leadership challenged the government first in the by-elections and then in the Senate and defeated it. The PPP chairman said that Gilani's victory was also an expression of a no confidence on the IMF-dictated budget and a reaction of the people over the prevailing price hike and unemployment in the country. The PDM, he said, would continue its democratic struggle and "the war against this puppet government and will soon send this cruel government packing". Speaking on the occasion, Gilani thanked the PDM leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Akhtar Mengal and others and said that he would personally visit these leaders to offer his gratitude. In reply to a question, Bhutto-Zardari said that the option of moving a no confidence motion against the Prime Minister was still available and "its timing and place" would be decided by the PDM leadership with consensus. "There will be long march and there will be no confidence motion. We will decide its timing and place," he added. In reply to a question about the decision of the government to challenge Gilani's election before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PPP chairman simply said that Imran Khan was a sportsman and he should demonstrate sportsman spirit. Bhutto-Zardari evaded a question about the leaked video of Gilani's son telling the PTI members about the technique to waste their votes, saying that if the government had made an attempt to get its rival candidate disqualified from the race only a day before the elections, this showed that they already knew the results. PPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar, who was himself a candidate on a technocrat seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but lost the election, in a statement termed the victory of Gilani a "win for democratic process and for political engagement more than the win of any individual". Babar said election to the Senate and the by-elections a few days earlier in various parts of the country had not only strengthened democratic process but also vindicated the position taken by the PPP that political parties should make use of every democratic process in fight against fascist tendencies. "All forums namely elections, the Parliament, the courts and by reaching out to the people directly must be availed in a democratic spirit," he said. Babar hoped that the PTI would accept and welcome the victory of Raza Gilani as an expression of free will and call of conscience of the voters and not impute any ulterior motives to those who voted for him. A senior PML-N leader and former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair while talking to reporters said that the PDM's victory was the first step towards ouster of Imran Khan's government. "If there is any shame left in Imran Khan, he should resign tonight after dissolving the Assembly," he said, adding that "this is a huge defeat for a sitting government which used all tactics to win the elections with the support of all other forces". Zubair said they considered Gilani's victory a "first compensation" which they had received for the rigged general elections in 2018. The PML-N leader refuted charges that the PDM's victory was the result of vote buying and said all those having powers, money, perks and ministries were with the PTI. Bhutto Zardari and Raza Gilani later visited the residence of PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Talking to reporters, the Maulana said that Imran Khan had no choice, but to resign as the nation wanted fresh elections in the country. He said Khan had not only wasted his vote he had "wasted himself". He said that he was convening a meeting of the PDM heads next week to discuss the future strategy of the alliance. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 19:13:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Senior African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali National Army (SNA) military chiefs visited the Ugandan troops in the southern region as part of efforts to plot joint operations against al-Shabab. The AU mission said on Thursday the joint visit by its force commander Diomede Ndegeya and Somalia's Chief of Defence Forces Odowaa Yusuf Rageh is part of wider efforts to enhance coordination and joint military operations by the allied forces against the militant group. "The visit has the objective to set up staff and coordination activities in sectors, to engage sector commanders on enhancing joint offensive operations, to promote the spirit of cooperation and to synchronize operation plans," Ndegeya said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. The Ugandan troops are in charge of sector 1, which includes the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia and Mogadishu and houses the headquarters of AMISOM and international partners. Ndegeya lauded Ugandan troops for their immense role in restoring security and stability by degrading the al-Shabab and winning the hearts and minds of local Somali communities. "Allow me to congratulate through you, sector commanders - both AMISOM and SNA, and all the brave SNA and Ugandan soldiers who, recently, on Feb. 20 put out of action 60 al-Shabab militants, including some of their commanders," Ndegeya said. The joint visit is also part of efforts to enhance synergy between the two forces in the implementation of the Somali Transition Plan, under which the mission will gradually hand over security responsibilities to Somali security forces and exit by 2021. The AMISOM said the joint visit is part of wider efforts to enhance coordination and joint military operations by AMISOM and the SNA against al-Shabab. On his part, Rageh, commended AMISOM for its contribution to the stabilization of Somalia, noting that SNA is keen to harmonize strategies. Uganda is one of the Troop Contributing Countries under AMISOM and was the first country to volunteer its troops to the mission when it was formed in 2007. Enditem Dilawar Syed, co-chair of the AAPI Victory Fund, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Deputy Administrator at the Small Business Administration. Shekar Narasimhan, an Indian American executive who launched the AAPI Victory Fund with Syed, told India-West Syed brings in a rare set of skills. He is a tech entrepreneur who knows how to build a successful business, and, importantly, has an appreciation for the difficulties of running and growing minority-owned businesses. Syed is seen here in a file photo with President Joe Biden. (India-West file photo) iCloud has been the primary and only cloud database for all photos taken or saved in an Apple device, but that changes now as the company allows Google and its Photos app to receive backed-up memories taken by the camera. However, there is a catch, and Apple would not allow Google to take it all, as iCloud would remain as the primary service. Users of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices from Apple are given the iCloud backup and photo library available for free, utilizing up to five (5) GB of allotted space or can purchase more storage options. While other users opt to upgrade more storage capacity for their iCloud accounts, some use third-party applications such as Google, with its Drive and Photos. Initially, fans and users were protesting a request for Apple to allow Google Photos to receive stakes from the Cupertino giant to be utilized in saving photos from the smart device to the iCloud and the Photos app. It was ignored by the company, but now, all that changes as Apple already allowed the backed-up photos to be transferred to Google Photos directly. Read Also: SpaceX SN10 Starship Explosion: Successful Landing Attempt Explodes Minutes After Touch Down-What Happened? [VIDEO] Google Photos Now Available for iCloud Photo Library Transfers According to Apple's support document, the Cupertino giant is now allowing users to transfer Apple captured photos from the iCloud's library to Google Photos in several easy steps, and ensure encryption and safety on the transfer. This means that users are given the chance to save on upgrading iCloud storage and use another potential application to address storage needs. However, the catch is that users would need to have a matching storage capacity on both applications to complete the transfer. Meaning, that for example a user's iCloud Storage already has 20GB on its cloud, the target Google Photos account should have at least 20GB to receive and store the file. Having so would ensure the smooth transfer from one cloud database to another. On the other hand, smart files such as Live Photos and edited ones are also available for transfer and can be read by Google Photos, but would only bring one file, the edited one, and leave the original in the iCloud. Moreover, doing this transfer would not rid of the saved photos on iCloud, and that would be at the discretion of users to delete or keep. To do the transfer, users would need to log in via their Apple ID and enable two-factor authentication for this matter. iCloud vs. Google Photos: Which is Better? Apple and Google's cloud-based photo library is on leagues of their own, as the Cupertino giant is more focused on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, while the Mountain View company focuses on Android and other OS. Universally-wise, Google Photos is available for most operating systems including iOS and macOS, while iCloud remains exclusive to Apple. Pricing for Google Photos is cheaper in the sense that it provides more storage on its monthly subscription charges compared to Apple iCloud. Google Photos offers 100GB of storage for $9.99/a month, while Apple iCloud offers 50GB only for the same price. While no app is better than the other, value for money and universal use is greatly attributed to Google and wins the match up. Related Article: Google Will Refund You If a Bug Forces You to Pay for Expensive Cloud Subscriptions This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. We have all spent more time in our kitchens over the past year. But there is one product, even more than banana bread, that has really taken off in popularity: coffee. Lakeland, the kitchenware shop, in its annual trends report says that the coffee machine rose from sixth most popular kitchen gadget in 2018 to the No 1 spot last year. Sales of coffee machines were up 22 per cent at John Lewis last year, as more and more consumers tried to recreate cafe cappuccinos and flat whites at home, with Lakeland saying there is no sign of the trend slowing down. Sales of coffee machines and accessories are up 92 per cent in the first two months of this year compared with 2020, according to Lakeland. Customer ambassador Wendy Miranda says: Customers are looking to create the coffee shop experience at home. Harry Wallop gives verdict on the best machines to buy in the UK, for under 50 - including Wacaco minipresso (pictured) The best machines, however, can be astronomically expensive, with some costing as much as 3,600. These are the cafe-style espresso machines, which grind the beans, use a wand to create hot, frothy milk and apply huge amounts of pressure to squeeze out a perfect shot. Even a simple Nespresso machine, which uses coffee pods, costs 179. Andrea Otte, head of coffee at Caravan, one of the countrys leading coffee roasters, which supplies restaurants including Heston Blumenthals The Fat Duck, says: Weve seen a surge in people taking home brewing seriously. But most people dont want to go all out and buy a coffee grinder or a goose-necked kettle [where the spout comes out from the bottom, allowing you to pour water more precisely]. Many are opting for simple bits of kit that need nothing more than a standard kettle and a bag of ground coffee to make a delicious cup. Some are attempts to improve on the French press, or plunger-style coffee pot, which can produce large quantities of perfectly decent filter coffee but often with quite a bit of grit at the bottom of the mug. Others use pressure to force more flavour out of the ground coffee, in a similar way to an espresso machine. Even drip coffee, the staple of 1960s American diners, has come back into fashion. Drip coffee can be delicious. But it needs to be fresh and hot, says Otte. Its the heating pad the coffee pot sometimes sits on to keep the coffee warm thats the problem. It keeps the coffee cooking, producing lots of rancid flavours. She says she is a big fan of an Aeropress, which many coffee experts favour. Its easy to wash up, and my flatmates cant break it, she laughs. Theres really no need to spend lots of money to make a great cup of coffee at home. So, for those on a budget, which is the best coffee kit under 50 to buy? Bright as a button Wacaco minipresso, 50, selfridges.com Smaller than a bottle of beer, this could slip into most kitchen drawers. But its elegance hides the fact its tricky to put together. Once you have done so, it produces a pretty amazing cup of espresso. You use a button on the side to build up pressure before releasing the liquid. But the largest cup is a mere 70ml. You will need separate attachments if you want to transform your machine into making bigger brews or if you want to use Nespresso- style capsules rather than ground coffee. 4/5 Great on the go Morphy Richards Coffee On The Go, 24.99, argos.co.uk Harry said Morphy Richards Coffee On The Go (pictured) is ideal for those who hate leaving the house without a coffee in their hand This is not the most elegant bit of kit and few people will want yet another machine on their kitchen counter. But for this price, it is very effective delivering 300ml of perfectly decent, if quite weak, coffee quickly. It is, in effect, a slimmed-down version of those old-fashioned office drip coffee machines. This delivers a filter coffee straight into an insulated takeaway mug (included with the kit) in just a couple of minutes. Ideal for those who hate leaving the house without a coffee in their hand. 3.5/5 A pour choice Kalita Wave Dripper, 25, caravan coffee roasters.co.uk Harry said Kalita Wave Dripper (pictured) is easy to use, but the coffee can come out quite bitter and thin This Japanese device is ultra simple and claims that its flat-bottom coffee bed geometry ensures the perfect cup. But I am not convinced. Yes, it is easy to use. You slowly pour hot water from the kettle onto the coffee. But the coffee can come out quite bitter and thin if you dont add enough coffee, or overly-strong and looking like Bisto gravy if you put in too much. 2/5 Take the plunge Aeropress brew kit, 35, caravancoffeeroasters.co.uk Harry said Aeropress brew kit (pictured) is very clever and works like a supersized high-pressure syringe The Aeropress has a cult following despite it looking like something used to inseminate a cow rather than make a nice cup of coffee. It is very clever and works like a supersized high-pressure syringe. You add coffee, a filter paper and hot water. The coffee brews for all of ten seconds or so, before you plunge down to produce smooth, high-quality coffee either espresso-style or filter (depending on how much water you add). It is a piece of magic. Even better, you dont need to put in the dishwasher; a simple rinse under the tap is enough. If you want to buy just the Aeropress, it costs 27.50, however, Caravan sells one alongside a bag of high-quality coffee beans, and 350 filters, for 35. 5/5 Smooth customer Barista & Co Twist Press, 29.99, lakeland.co.uk Harry said he would use Barista & Co Twist Press (pictured) daily, if it was easier to put together I found this a menace to get to grips with, despite its apparent simplicity and promise that Id get perfect coffee in 60 seconds. Once I had worked out how to use it, however, it was pretty amazing, managing to create huge amounts of pressure to extract maximum flavour out of the coffee. You squeeze two handles, as if they were a pair of pliers, to push air through the hot water and coffee. The end result was very smooth. If this was easier to put together and master, Id use it every day. 4.5/5 Foam sweet foam Lakeland Milk Frother, 49.99. lakeland.co.uk Harry said Lakeland Milk Frother (pictured) is perfect for those who say an at-home flat white is a must Milk frothers are remarkably expensive. Thats because they heat as well as aerate the milk. This, under 50, produces remarkably thick and smooth frothed milk and can create both cappuccino-style clouds and the less aerated latte-style froth. Its not small about the same size as a small kettle. If an at-home flat white is a must, however, this is the machine for you. 4/5 Cheap & cheerful Aerolatte, 10.99, currys.co.uk Harry said Aerolatte (pictured) is effective for the price, but the problem is that you need to heat the milk first There are few coffee accessories, except a mug, that are cheaper than the Aerolatte. The problem is that you need to heat the milk first, and theres no way you can pretend the finished milk is as thick and silky as the stuff created by a proper cappuccino frother. Still, for the price, it is effective. And the batteries are included. 2.5/5 The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A man has been given capital punishment for robbing and murdering his co-worker in Ho Chi Minh City in 2018. The municipal Peoples Court on Wednesday sentenced Nguyen Hoang Phi, 24, who hails from the southern province of Binh Phuoc, to death for murder and robbery. His accomplices, Nguyen Dien Tai and Tran Van Tu, both 21, each received an 18-year jail term for murder and robbery. Tai and Tu were under 18 years old when they committed the offenses. The fourth defendant, 19-year-old Vuong Minh Tuan, was condemned to one year and a half in prison for robbery but he was given a suspended sentence. Tuan was under 16 years old when he committed the violation. According to the indictment, Phi was an employee of a local security guard service company. He was dispatched to Ngoc Chau Company along with Bui Van Dat and some other people from April 1, 2018. On the evening of October 5 the same year, Phi and Dat were on duty during the same shift. Phi then planned on robbing his co-worker and contacted Tai and Tu for their assistance. The man waited until Dat went out for some errands and let his accomplices enter the place. At around 9:30 pm that night, Dat was patrolling the venue when he was attacked and tied up by Tai and Tu. The two also took the victims phone and VND1.5 million (US$65), while Phi was in charge of keeping watch. As Dat screamed for help, Phi arrived and told the other two robbers to kill the victim to prevent him from reporting the case to police. Despite Dat begging for mercy, the three strangled him to death with an electric wire. They took Dats body to outlying Binh Chanh District and buried it at an empty land plot. On November 15, 2018, Phi and Tuan stole Tais motorbike and sold it to Cambodia for some cash. In the following month, Tais father discovered that Tuan was involved in the motorbike theft and took him to the local police station. Tuan admitted his wrongdoing to officers, but went on to accuse Phi, Tai, and Tu of murdering and robbing Dat. Police then launched an investigation into the case and found Dats body. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do Its heartwarming to be able to help and Im glad that my community is finally getting what they need, but theres gotta be a different way to reach them and make it easier for them to access these vaccines, he said. Not only to facilitate access but to also help them feel more comfortable getting it. There is so much misinformation out there. Senator, which operates 17 casinos in Croatia, will leverage ORYXs proprietary set of tools including player and payments management, CRM and promotions, bonuses and rewards, fraud, rules engine, compliance, analytics and reporting, and CMS inc. (TSX:BRAG) (OTCMKTS:BRGGF) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary ORYX Gaming is taking Croatian land-based operator Senator online with a complete turnkey solution. The ORYX solution includes the ORYX iGaming Platform, ORYX Hub and a wide selection of ORYX RGS and third-party aggregated content. Senator, which operates 17 casinos in Croatia, will leverage ORYXs proprietary set of tools including player and payments management, CRM and promotions, bonuses and rewards, fraud, rules engine, compliance, analytics and reporting, and CMS. Senator also now has full access to ORYX Hub, which hosts an extensive library of more than 10,000 casino games from more than 100 providers, including ORYXs proprietary RGS content and a variety of third-party suppliers such as NetEnt, Greentube, EGT and PlaynGo. Senator will utilize ORYXs real-time data and player engagement platforms, including tools such as Real-Time campaign management, Leaderboards and Tournaments, Achievements, Jackpots and more. Senator also operates casinos in several other territories, including Macedonia, Kenya, Mauritius, Central and South America. The online launch in Croatia marks the companys first venture away from its traditional land-based interests. Following a recently signed deal to move into the Netherlands, ORYXs Croatian partnership heralds its latest expansion in Europe, where it is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN). Its content is certified or approved in 18 other major jurisdictions. Underpinning its commitment to information security, ORYX was recently awarded an ISO/IEC 27001 certificate. The regulated market in Croatia is enjoying great growth and we have had great success in this jurisdiction so far, said Matevz Mazij, managing director of ORYX Gaming in a statement. Our turnkey solution provides our partners with everything they need for a successful casino, sportsbook and lottery operation. "Senator is an established and respected local operator, so to have been chosen by them to facilitate their entry into the online space is an honour. Our high-quality products and diverse content will allow them to hit the ground running with a premium online offering. As the popularity of online gaming goes from strength to strength in Croatia, we are excited about taking our knowledge and expertise to launch an online offering for our existing customer base as well as a completely new audience, added Dimitar Deskoski, CEO of Senator. Bragg Gaming is a global B2B gaming technology platform provider. With operations across Europe and North America, the company is expanding into an international force within the burgeoning global online gaming market. Braggs main brand is ORYX Gaming, an innovative business-to-business iGaming platform, casino content aggregator, managed sportsbook and managed services provider, offering cutting-edge content from leading studios. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Kathmandu, Mar 4 (PTI) Nepal's government on Thursday signed a peace agreement with a banned radical Maoist group, which was involved in violent attacks, extortion and bombings targeting infrastructure projects in the country. According to the three-point agreement signed between the government and the outlawed Communist Party of Nepal-Chand, the government will lift the ban, release all their party members and supporters in jail and drop all legal cases against them. On its part, the rebel communist group will address all its political issues through dialogue and carry out all political activities in a peaceful manner, according to a statement issued by the leaders of both sides on Thursday. The government banned the CPN-Chand, a faction of the previous Maoist party, in March 2019 after it carried out a series of deadly bomb attacks in the capital Kathmandu. According to government sources, details of the agreement will be made public on Friday during a programme which would be attended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and general secretary of CPN-Chand Netra Bikram Chand, who has remained underground for two years. Over 2,000 leaders and carders from the CPN-Chand face various charges across Nepal. The peace agreement comes two days after the government formed a team led by Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa to hold dialogue with the radical group. The CPN-Chand had also formed its own talks team led by Khadga Bahadur Biswakarma. PTI SBP ZH It was certainly a challenging year, but our team did an excellent job to keep our operations flowing smoothly, said NAV COO Ambuj Garg. We focused on maintaining optimal productivity, availability, and responsiveness. We also appreciated our clients flexibility and proactive feedback. NAV Fund Administration Group, a leading provider of administrative services to alternative asset managers, was announced as Best Fund Administrator at the HFM US - Quant Services Awards, held virtually on February 25. The HFM US Quant Services Awards celebrate those service providers who have gone above and beyond over the past year to provide excellent client service and innovation. With the premise that the disruption and uncertainty caused by Coronavirus encouraged funds to look to their service providers and partners to support them through the challenges, the awards recognize that demonstrating exceptional client service and innovation is more important than ever before. NAV was also named Best Administrator at the HFM European Quant Services Awards in October 2020. It was certainly a challenging year, but our team did an excellent job adjusting our IT and communications infrastructures to keep our operations flowing smoothly, said NAV COO Ambuj Garg. We focused on maintaining optimal productivity, availability, and responsiveness to our clients and to each other. We also appreciated our clients flexibility and proactive feedback and look forward to continuing to collaborate on shared successes in the year ahead. The award ceremony capped the one-day online HFM US Quant Summit 2021, featuring industry speakers, roundtable discussions, and virtual networking opportunities. NAV was named Best Administrator by a judging panel of leading executives of CTA managed futures and quant hedge funds. Judging criteria included: Commercial success and business growth, including quant hedge fund/CTA client wins Demonstration of service innovation Description of future service development possibilities Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials About NAV Fund Administration Group Founded in 1991, NAV is a privately-owned fund administrator recognized for its innovative and cost-effective fund administration solutions. A dynamic team of more than 1,000 professionals provide services to 1,000+ Hedge Fund, Private Equity & Real Estate Funds, CTA, and Managed Account clients across the globe while maintaining a 99% client retention rate. The company is headquartered in the United States, with three facilities in India supporting Back Office and Middle Office services, and locations in Singapore and the Cayman Islands. NAV ranks among the top 10 global hedge fund administrators by number of funds, and services more than $110 billion AUA. All operations are ISAE 3402 Type 2 certified. About HFM HFM supplies the intelligence hedge fund professionals need to raise assets, allocate funds, source new business opportunities and understand the market. HFM is part of Pageant, a global business intelligence provider servicing the asset management industry from hedge funds and mutual funds to private equity, real estate and credit/debt. #HFMAwards #USQuant KAZAN, Russia -- The chairman of the All-Tatar Public Center (TIU) says police and security officers in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan have searched his home and summoned him for questioning in a case concerning the incitement of hatred. Farit Zakiyev told RFE/RL that police and officers from the Federal Security Service (FSB) came to his apartment in Kazan early on March 4 and searched the premises, confiscating his and his wife's smartphones. Zakiyev said he was informed that the case was launched regarding a 2019 event related to the annual commemoration of Tatars who died during the 1552 siege of the city by Russian troops. "They ordered me to come for questioning to the Investigative Committee tomorrow at 2 p.m., but did not say in what capacity I was summoned. This is absolute lawlessness. It is strange that I am even implicated in the case to start with because the event in question was organized by private individuals not by my organization," Zakiyev said. TIU, which has been functioning since 1989, is known for activities promoting Tatar culture, language, and traditions, as well as equal rights for ethnic Tatars. Some participants in the annual event in October 2019 were sentenced at the time to community work or fined for praying and reading the Koran and using words about "Tatarstan's statehood." In October 1552, Russian Tsar Ivan IV, also known as Ivan the Terrible, conquered the Khanate of Kazan after two weeks of resistance. Many of the Khanate's Muslim population were killed after the siege or forcibly Christianized afterward. Last month, Zakiyev held a hunger strike, protesting a motion by prosecutors to label his organization as extremist and shut it down. A court decision on the prosecutors' motion is pending. The situation mirrors similar developments in the neighboring Republic of Bashkortostan, where last year a court banned a prominent Bashqort group that had long promoted the Bashkir language and culture. The court on May 22 labeled the group extremist and banned its operations based on what it called the "presence in the organization of individuals who had been convicted on extremism charges." The group's leader, Fail Alsynov, said at the time that the extremism charges against members of his organizations were politically motivated. Both TIU and Bashqort activists have faced pressure in recent years after staging several rallies and other events challenging the policies of both local and federal authorities, including Moscow's move to abolish mandatory indigenous-language classes in regions with large populations of indigenous ethnic groups. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) - often referred to as 'Socially Responsible Investing' (SRI) or 'Sustainable Investing' (SI) - account for roughly 33% of total US assets under management, largely due to institutional investors which can then advertise their virtuous holdings. Except, America's largest ESG fund - the Parnassus Core Equity Fund - has no direct investments in renewable energy companies, according to Bloomberg, which notes that "Instead, the $25 billion Parnassus Core Equity Fund holds stocks like Linde Plc, an industrial gas company, Deere & Co., the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery, and Xylem Inc., which makes water and wastewater pumps for municipal customers. It also owns big stakes in technology behemoths Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc." Managers of many environmental, social and governance funds were slammed in 2020 for running what amounted to index-trackers that relied on tech stocks to beat their market benchmarksalbeit with shiny green labels. While Ben Allen, co-manager of the Parnassus fund, doesnt dispute this critique of the ESG industry, he said his fund is different. Its assets are concentrated in 40 large-cap stocks that are measured against ESG metrics. He said publicly traded renewable energy companies arent big enough or mature enough to meet Parnassuss investment criteria. -Bloomberg That said, Parnassus has divested from fossil-fuels, selling its last such holding in September 2018, while they also claim to avoid direct investments in any energy-focused company unless there is a comprehensive plan in place to address their 'carbon-insensitive' business. Related Video: The Climate Change Bankers, For Better or Worse And as we know all too well - that typically means purchasing carbon 'offsets' to atone for their climate sins. Microsoft, another large Parnassus holding, has pledged to remove all of its historical carbon emissions by 2050, Allen said. In effect, Microsoft is winding back the clock to the 1970s, Allen said. Its as if the company never existed. Until recently, Amazon was considered a pariah of the ESG industry, Allen said, having waited until 2019 to publish its first sustainability report. Amazon subsequently pledged that it will zero out its carbon footprint by 2040, or eliminate the greenhouse-gas emissions caused by its activities. -Bloomberg "Its true that we dont own any pure-play solar manufacturers, but the portfolio is full of companies that are committed to the transition away from carbon," said Parnassus' Allen, who also serves as CEO of San Francisco-based Parnassus Investments which has around $41 billion in assets under management (AUM). Related: Is $3 Gas Coming? Still, the Parnassus fund has outperformed the S&P 500 over the last three years, and does hold stakes in companies involved in green-ish technologies. The Parnassus fund has risen at an annual rate of 17.2% during the past three years as of Feb. 26, outperforming the 13.2% advance of the S&P 500 Index, including reinvested dividends. Linde is a company in which the Parnassus fund held a $704 million stake as recently as Jan. 31. Its products are designed for industrial applications to be as clean as possible, Allen said. Linde is a leader in the hydrogen market and looking to triple its clean-hydrogen production, and has earmarked more than one-third of its annual research and development budget over the next decade to decarbonization, Allen said. -Bloomberg Parnassus' $956 million stake in Deere - "best known for its distinctive green-colored tractors (which tend to run on fossil fuels)" - was 'greenlit' because the company is investing in so-caled precision agriculture which uses information technology to optimize crop production, and utilizes less water and fewer pesticides "so it's better for the environment and Deere's bottom line," according to Allen. So - nevermind that Deere's entire fleet of machinery are gross polluters. The company qualifies for ESG treatment because they're investing in a technology to maximize crop yields. "We hesitate to overplay the ESG hand," said Allen - who some might argue is seriously stretching to fit the profile of a 'green' fund. "We have a responsible large-cap investment approach. We use the E to help us discover what we want to avoid, and also to help us find stocks that we want to own." By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: An independent energy system, cheap energy is the main goal that Ukraine is striving for, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said during a meeting devoted to the development of infrastructure and the energy sector on Wednesday. According to the press service of the head of state, the meeting chaired by Zelensky was attended by Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, Deputy Heads of the President's Office Yulia Svyrydenko and Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Krykliy, Acting Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Vitrenko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy and Housing and Utilities Services Andriy Gerus. "An independent energy system, cheap energy is the main goal that Ukraine is striving for. Every Ukrainian should feel energy security and receive socially fair bills for provision of energy services," Zelensky said. In turn, Vitrenko said that he is working closely with the Ministry of Digital Transformation to create affordable and effective electronic services for consumers. He also said that Ukraine will put energy efficiency to a new qualitative level and will actively work on integration with the European Union in this area. In addition, Krykliy said how the road infrastructure is being modernized and brought to the level of EU standards. "The roads are being built according to European standards. We are introducing automatic control of the weight and speed of vehicles, rebuilding airports, working as a team to sign the Common Aviation Area Agreement with the EU. Our goal is also to eliminate monopoly in the transport system," Krykliy said. In addition, he said that his ministry is working to increase the share of transportation using inland waterways, liberalize, digitalize transport service markets, and simplify the working environment for business. The meeting participants also discussed the provision of lighting for Ukrainian highways and roads, on which the Ministry of Infrastructure will work together with the Ministry of Energy. "Ukraine should have a modern and safe infrastructure, integrated into the global transport system, which ensures high mobility of the population. This was part of my election program, and this is supported by the Ukrainians," Zelensky said. Sheep worth 38,000 were taken during recent sheep thefts in the Valleymount area of Co Wicklow. The financial and emotional costs of sheep theft was highlighted at the virtual February meeting of Baltinglass Municipal District. Cllr Gerry O'Neill (Ind) proposed a suspension of standing orders to allow members to receive a report on the issue of sheep thefts in the district. Cllr John Mullen (FF) seconded the motion. District Cathaoirleach Cllr Patsy Glennon (FF) agreed the standing orders would be suspended later in the meeting. Ann Halpin, community representative for the Baltinglass district on the Joint Policing Committee (JPC), gave a short update on the issue to elected members. Farmers were being urged to be vigilant about the issue of sheep thefts across the county. She said there had been a report that 160 breeding ewes and fattening lambs had recently been taken from a farm in the Valleymount area. Thefts had also been reported in the south of the district in Carnew. The cost of sheep thefts to the Valleymount area alone was around 38,000 without the cost of replacement stock. Ms Halpin said affected farmers were 'shattered' by the incidents and some reported being unable to sleep. 'The stress levels are high in the area,' she added. She said the local authority could help in relation to reports of dogs bothering sheep. The dog warden was often not in the area or unavailable to attend the scene of an incident. When incidents were reported to gardai, Ms Halpin said some farmers expressed the view that gardai were not very responsive to their concerns. Ms Halpin said farmers knew local gardai were under enormous pressure, but pointed out that lower levels of CCTV in rural areas could be a disadvantage. It was also less likely that there would be witnesses to incidents, given that they often occurred at night time. Ms Halpin suggested the dog wardens could be more active in west Wicklow. She also asked that issue of rural CCTV be reviewed. Ms Halpin added that she would raise the issue at the next meeting of the Baltinglass District's local JPC. Cllr Avril Cronin (FG) said she had raised the issue with senior gardai to express the concerns of the community. She said they had assured her they were working on the issue. A retired Maryland police chief has been accused of intentionally setting a dozen fires to multiple structures that belonged to his perceived enemies, among them the man who had succeeded him in his post, other law enforcement officials, and even his own doctors. Former Laurel Police Chief David Crawford, 69, was arrested on Wednesday and is charged with over 50 felonies, including first-degree arson and first-degree attempted murder, in connection with an arson spree from May 2011 to November 2020 in Howard, Prince George's, Frederick and Montgomery counties. Twelve fires were set in the nine-year span to multiple homes, vehicles and residential garages, authorities said. The first fire was set in Laurel less than a year after Crawford's retirement. Former Laurel Police Chief David Crawford, 69 (left and right), has been charged with over 50 felonies, including first-degree arson and first-degree attempted murder. He is suspected of starting a dozen fires between 2011 and 2020 In at least two of the cases, the arsonist who has now been identified by the authorities as Crawford was caught in the act on surveillance video. Footage from March 16, 2019, shows a man with a hood drawn tightly around his face pouring what appears to be gasoline from two canisters all over the garage door and driveway of a home in the 5800 block of Maple Terrace in Laurel. Speaking to ABC13 at the time, the owner of the damaged home said: 'I cannot put it into words. It dropped me to my knees.' On November 17, 2020, a neighbor's doorbell camera in Clarskville caught a man running from the scene of an explosion on a quiet residential street with a gas can in his hand. Officials say Crawford was caught on video pouring gasoline on a garage door in Laurel, Maryland, in March 2019 The house targeted in the arson attack was said to belong to a man who had succeeded Crawford as a police chief In the video, the arsonist douses the driveway with gasoline from two canisters A fire is seen blazing at the police chief's home in Laurel, Maryland, in March 2019 The owner of the damaged home said: 'I cannot put it into words. It dropped me to my knees' Investigators determined the fires were connected to people who had disagreements with Crawford, authorities said. Police said they found 'a target list' of known victims and other evidence during a search of Crawford's home in Ellicott City. Some of the victims include a former City of Laurel official, three former law enforcement officials, including another Laurel police chief, two relatives and two of Crawford's former physicians. 'People who are angry, they do bad things,' said State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci. 'Clearly, our suspect, thought he was wronged in a lot of different cases and wronged by a lot of different people, and these are all, you know, spite-revenge fires.' All the fires were set at night. In six of the arsons, the victims were asleep in their homes with their families. 'The arsonist exhibited a similar pattern of behavior using gallon jugs filled with gasoline and a stick wrapped in cloth to set the fires,' according to a press release from the City of Laurel. 'Also there was a similar, but very generic vehicle description, a silver sedan, in several of the cases.' In November 2020, a neighbor's doorbell camera caught an arsonist fleeing the scene of a garage explosion in Clarksburg, Maryland (circled in red) The explosion took place inside of this detached garage in the 11800 block of Peppervine Drive The break in the case came shortly after the last known fire in November 2020, when officials said a link between the victims was discovered, which eventually led investigators to Crawford. Authorities said although no one was injured in any of the fires, they filed the attempted murder charge against Crawford because there were clear signs there were people inside the homes when the fires were set. Crawford is being held at the Howard County Detention Center. Crawford served as the Laurel police chief from 2006 until his resignation in 2010. Prior to that, he was chief of the District Heights Police Department, a position he assumed after retiring in 2000 at the rank of major for the Prince Georges County Police Department. Crawford served as the Laurel police chief from 2006 until his resignation in 2010. He is pictured above posing with the Lone Ranger character during the Labor Day parade in Greenbelt, Maryland, in September 2010 On his LinkedIn page, Crawford, who described himself as 'happily retired,' wrote: 'My Baltimore Police mentor in 1973 taught me 95% of your challenges in law enforcement melt away if you remember to speak to people the way you would want to be spoken to and treat people the way you would want to be treated.' Laurel Mayor Craig Moe, who appointed Crawford, said he was a staple in the community. Moe said some people in the police department were unhappy with Crawford, but that wasn't unusual for a police chief, The Baltimore Sun reported. 'It's very disturbing,' Moe said. 'Somebody who took an oath of office to protect and serve, thats not how you protect and serve.' At the time of Crawford's retirement more than a decade ago, Moe said in a statement that the chief was retiring for personal reasons. International Women's Day began more than 100 years ago. It was also suggested by a woman named Clara Jetkin. Clara Yun was a Marxist thinker and activist, but she continued to be active even on the question of women's rights. In 1910, an international conference of working women was held in Copenhagen. It was in this conference that for the first time she suggested to celebrate International Women's Day. About 100 women from 17 countries were present at that conference. They all supported Clara's suggestion. The first year was in 1911 when International Women's Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. But technically this year we are celebrating 109th International Women's Day. The official recognition of Women's Day was given in 1975 when the United Nations began celebrating it annually with a theme. The first theme of International Women's Day was 'Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future'. Due to the pressure of the women's strike, the emperor Nicholas was forced to step down. As a result of this incident, the interim government gave the local women the right to vote. At that time, the Julian calendar was used in Russia. The day the women started this strike was on 28 February. In the Gregorian calendar, this day was 8 March and after that International Women's Day began to be celebrated on 8 March. Metroman is an icon of development: Kerala BJP Govt allows round clock Covid -19 vaccination drive Women in Biz: India ranks ahead of global average in women-led business Indian security Scholar gets Rs 36 lakh prize from Microsoft for bug alert Apple is facing yet more pushback in Europe over its iOS App Store policies for developers. The UK's competition regulator has launched an antitrust investigation into the iPhone maker for alleged anti-competitive behavior. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says it acted after receiving several complaints from developers decrying Apple's "unfair" terms and conditions. It will now consider Apple's App Store rules that see it approving which apps make the cut and that force developers to use its own payment and in-app purchase systems. "Millions of us use apps every day to check the weather, play a game or order a takeaway," said Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA. "So, complaints that Apple is using its market position to set terms which are unfair or may restrict competition and choice potentially causing customers to lose out when buying and using apps warrant careful scrutiny." In its response, Apple said it would work alongside the CMA "to explain how our guidelines for privacy, security and content have made the App Store a trusted marketplace for both consumers and developers. It added that its rules are applied fairly across the board to all developers as a means of protecting customers from malware and apps that collect data without consent. The latest action ramps up the regulatory pressure Apple is facing in Europe. It follows the European Commission's launch of separate antitrust investigations into the App Store and Apple Pay. In a bid to mitigate the issue, Apple recently halved its App Store fees to 15 percent for developers that earn up to $1 million a year, with the standard 30 percent charge still reserved for bigger app makers. Alongside the regulatory hurdles, Apple is also facing a growing backlash from within the tech industry over its payments stance. Fortnite maker Epic Games has filed a slew of complaints with global regulators, including in the UK, over Apple's approach to in-app purchases. A US judge recently sided with Epic by ordering iOS and MacOS chief Craig Federighi to testify alongside CEO Tim Cook as part of the game studio's ongoing lawsuit against Apple. Other notable names such as Facebook have also come out against Apple's position. A grand jury on Wednesday indicted a Passaic County man who denies accusations of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old child in a daycare run out of his home, authorities said. On Wednesday, a Passaic County grand jury indicted Juan Jimenez, 65, of Passaic, with multiple sex crimes, including first degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second degree sexual assault and two counts of second degree endangering the welfare of a child, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said in a statement. Last July, police arrested Jimenez for allegedly sexually assaulting an 8-year-old at the Passaic daycare center that is owned by his wife, the office previously said. The daycare is operated by Jimenezs wife and is an accredited center for childcare, a spokeswoman for the office previously said. While it was not known if Jimenez was ever employed at the daycare, he would often assist in babysitting there, the spokeswoman said. The alleged sexual assault happened between July 1, 2016 and July 17, 2020, the office said. In a previous conference call, Jimenez, joined by his wife and his attorney Victor Urbaez, vigorously denied the allegations to NJ Advance Media. On Wednesday, Urbaez once again maintained his clients innocence. We stand firmly in the innocence of Mr. Jimenez, said Urbaez. We plan to plead not guilty going forward, based on the fact that all indications are that hes innocent. This is an exemplary man all his life, loved by everyone in the community. Loved by everyone hes cared for currently and in the past, added Urbaez. A Passaic County Superior Court Judge previously released Jimenez on pretrial monitoring, barring him from returning to the daycare or having contact with anyone under the age of 18. Since Jimenez lived at the daycare center, he is now staying with his adult son in Bergen County, said Urbaez. If convicted, Jimenez faces 25 years to life in state prison for the charge of first degree aggravated sexual assault. Jimenez is scheduled for arraignment on April 12. Anyone with information is asked to call the Prosecutors Office tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or email tips@passaiccountynj.org. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. WE are now reading that the Minister of Sport has come out with a statement regarding our participation in the Tokyo Olympics. As with the usual run-of-the-mill political type, the statement vacillates, kicks the can down the road and seeks to avoid the issue. Let us be clear on what the situation is regarding these Olympics. [March 04, 2021] Avaya Recognizes Outstanding Canadian Partners Driving Customer Success, Digital Transformation and Cloud Communications Avaya (NYSE: AVYA), a global leader in solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration, honored five Canadian partners for their outstanding collaboration, contribution, and commitment to innovation. Avaya (News - Alert) Canada Partner of the Year Awards celebrate leaders across five categories (cloud, midmarket, services partner, service provider and subscription) in addition to an award presented for primary Canadian Partner of the Year. "Our award-winning partners have enabled exceptional business outcomes for customers and are trusted to guide them on their digital transformation journeys," said Miles Davis, Vice President of Channel Sales at Avaya Canada. "Avaya and its partners continued to deliver innovative solutions that helped customers shift toward modern work-from-anywhere environments, and embrace new digital business models focused on more rewarding customer and employee experiences. We are thrilled to honor our top-performing Canadian partners for their achievements." Carefully chosen for their innovation and ingenuity, Avaya's partners add the perfect elements and expertise to complete solution implementation, helping clients deliver experiences that matter for their customers and employees. Connex Canada Partner of the Year Avaya OneCloud Subscription Partner of the Year Through its partnership with Avaya and a keen understanding of their client's needs, Connex provides next generation solutions that achieve clear results. Established in 1996, with a long history of innovation, Connex continues to be a leading solutions provider supporting some of Avaya's leading customers in Canada across government, education and Enterprise and midmarket. The team at Connex continues to grow their business by positioning the full Avaya OneCloud portfolio of solutions, and this past year was a particularly successful for Connex as they introduced the value of Avaya OneCloud Subscription solutions. TA Networks Midmarket Partner of the Year TA Networks achieved outstanding sales of Avaya midmarket solutions during 2020 and continues to be one of Avaya Canada's leading partners in the midmarket space, selling the full portfolio of Avaya OneCloud solutions and services. TA Networks had an exceptional year, while successfully addressing the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic. Bell MTS (News - Alert) Avaya OneCloud Services Partner of the Year Bll MTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Canada, a leading Service Provider in Canada. Bell MTS supports some of Avaya's largest Manitoba-based clients in healthcare, government and education. Their consistent focus on delivering business value, and their business outcomes sales approach resulted in significant growth in Avaya Global Services revenues. These professional services engagements included large scale deployments of Avaya OneCloud solutions as well as several deployments focused on healthcare applications to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically with Avaya OneCloud CPaaS and Avaya OneCloud CCaaS deployments. Digitcom Telecommunications Canada Avaya OneCloud Public Cloud Partner of the Year Digitcom Telecommunications Canada Inc. is a leading Avaya solutions provider with locations across Canada. They support customers of all sizes, from small to Enterprise and across all verticals. Their commitment to creative solutions and excellent customer-service has contributed to their outstanding year in cloud growth. Additionally, their strong marketing efforts have driven Digitcom to a leadership position with the Avaya Cloud Office UCaaS solution in Canada. Bell Canada (News - Alert) Service Provider of the Year Bell Canada earned the Service Provider of the year award with new logo and expansion wins across every segment. These successes include mission critical PSEP updates, small and mid-sized Avaya OneCloud UCaaS wins in all major verticals and Avaya OneCloud Subscription migrations in large Enterprise. Coast to coast, the Bell Canada and Avaya partnership has ensured that customers' essential modernization plans have stayed on course during this most testing year for business continuity. About Avaya Businesses are built by the experiences they provide, and everyday millions of those experiences are delivered by Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA). Avaya is shaping what's next for the future of work, with innovation and partnerships that deliver game-changing business benefits. Our cloud communications solutions and multi-cloud application ecosystem power personalized, intelligent, and effortless customer and employee experiences to help achieve strategic ambitions and desired outcomes. Together, we are committed to help grow your business by delivering Experiences that Matter. Learn more at http://www.avaya.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking" statements for purposes of the U.S. federal and state securities laws. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "our vision," "plan," "potential," "preliminary," "predict," "should," "will," or "would" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control. The factors are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) ") available at www.sec.gov, and may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company cautions you that the list of important factors included in the Company's SEC filings may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release may not in fact occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. All trademarks identified by , TM, or SM are registered marks, trademarks, and service marks, respectively, of Avaya Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Source (News - Alert) : Avaya Newsroom View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005290/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Humans and animals alike constantly size up one another. In the workplace, a new employee quickly learns which coworkers are the most respected -- and therefore hold more power. Big brothers boss around little brothers. In nature, a dominant male chimpanzee fights off would-be intruders. Even fish and octopi interact within social hierarchies. These pecking orders have been studied within the behavioral ecology world for almost 100 years. How individuals interact can affect access to food and mates -- even survival -- and insights into those behaviors can lead to better management of threatened and endangered populations. But few studies have explored what the animals that live within these dominance hierarchies actually know about each other. The more animals know about each other, the more they may be able to optimize their aggression. New research, published March 3 in PNAS, offers the first big-picture look at information in these animal systems. Using a new computational method, the researchers examined existing data on aggression -- the earliest from a 1934 pigeon study -- in 172 social groups across 85 species in 23 orders, looking for social dominance patterns. They found three main aggression strategies employed by individuals: simply fighting any lower-ranked opponents; specializing in fighting "close competitors" ranked just below themselves; and bullying opponents ranked much lower. The majority of the groups fell into the first category, where aggression could be explained by animals following a basic dominance hierarchy, but several groups used the more information-rich close competitors or bullying strategies to fine-tune their choice of opponents. Rank clearly influences how one individual treats another, says biologist Elizabeth Hobson, the lead author of the study. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati and was formerly a Complexity Postdoctoral Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute, where she conducted much of the research. "What we're able to do with our computational approach is to get new insight into how animals are managing conflict within the groups, and the kind of information that informs those decisions," she says. Simon DeDeo of Carnegie Mellon University and the Santa Fe Institute and Dan Mnster of Aarhus University in Denmark also contributed to the work. Some of the results took the team by surprise. For example, it turns out that pronghorn -- a speedy North American ungulate prized for its graceful gait -- can be bullies. "They look so cute, right?" says Hobson. "You don't expect them to have a bullying strategy in their group." Another unexpected insight was that social dominance patterns can vary from group to group within the same species. For example, one group of African elephants behave according to a close competitor hierarchy, while another group exhibits bullying behavior. It's unclear why dominance strategies sometimes differ among groups, but this and other studies suggest that they can change according to the context in which individuals interact. For example, "it may be that you have near rivals, so you might have to have conflict to sort that out," DeDeo says. Hobson says she hopes the study will inspire other researchers to look at how social information is used within and across species. This could provide a foundation for answering even bigger questions about how social complexity arises in animals, and how animals evolved the cognitive skills to enact these social dominance patterns. ### By William James and Andrea Shalal LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The agreed a four-month suspension of retaliatory imposed on British goods such as Scotch whisky over a long-running aircraft subsidy row, with both sides pledging to use the time to resolve the dispute. The U.S. administration under former president Donald Trump had imposed on an array of European Union food, wine and spirits, including on Scotch whisky, which the industry says had put its future at risk. Britain is party to the dispute as a former member of the EU. "The United Kingdom and the are undertaking a four-month tariff suspension to ease the burden on industry and take a bold, joint step towards resolving the longest running disputes at the World Trade Organization," a joint statement said. "This will allow time to focus on negotiating a balanced settlement to the disputes, and begin seriously addressing the challenges posed by new entrants to the civil aviation market from non-market economies, such as China." The tariff truce is separate from broader U.S.- talks on a post-Brexit trade agreement, but sends a positive signal about those discussions. Britain and the were hoping to reach a trade deal before the expiration of fast-track trade promotion authority granted to the U.S. federal government by Congress in July. In order to hit that deadline, U.S. trade officials would have to notify Congress about their intention to seal a deal sometime in April. TIT-FOR-TAT The multi-billion dollar tit-for-tat tariff battle between the United States, the European Union and Britain relates to a long-running row over state subsidies for planemakers Airbus and Boeing. Airbus spokesman Clay McConnell welcomed the suspension of what he called "lose-lose tariffs" and said the company supports all efforts to reach an agreement. Airbus builds wings and other parts in Britain, but assembles its commercial aircraft in the EU. U.S. planemaker Boeing said: "A negotiated settlement will allow the industry to move forward with a genuinely global level playing field for aviation." Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker and Talisker whisky said a permanent solution would help safeguard thousands of jobs across Scotland and the rest of Britain. ALLIES The agreement to lift is temporary and applies only to goods. U.S. tariffs will continue to apply to EU goods, according to a U.S. administration official. A British official described it as a "real win" which justified a British decision to diverge from EU policy after Brexit and ditch the tariffs in hope of reaching an agreement with the Trump administration before it left office. At the time, the EU questioned whether Britain had the legal right to keep those tariffs in place after leaving the bloc. "I am delighted to say that our American allies - under their new President and his hard-working staff at the U.S. Trade Representative - have embraced our move to seek a fair settlement," she said. U.S. President Joe Biden's top trade nominee, Katherine Tai, is headed to confirmation by the full Senate next week. She told the Senate Finance Committee last month that Washington had completed four rounds of negotiations with Britain since announcing the start of talks. She said she would make it a priority to resolve the long-running dispute over aircraft subsidies. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States welcomed Thursday's decision but said it was disappointed that British tariffs on U.S. whiskey relating to a separate dispute over steel were still being applied. Tai, asked if she would prioritise an agreement with Britain, told the committee in written responses to questions released this week that Britain was "an important trading partner and ally". (Reporting by William James in London, Andrea Shalal in Washington and Aakriti Bhalla and Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; editing by Paul Sandle, Jason Neely and Toby Chopra) (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 Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that school districts will continue to be funded on the number of students they had projected to educate this year instead of the number who actually showed up to classes, providing a financial lifeline for districts that have lost thousands of students since the COVID-19 pandemic began. There is a caveat, however: to keep being funded at originally projected levels, on-campus attendance rates cannot decline this semester, or the percentage of students learning in person must be at least 80 percent. Only a handful of districts in Greater Houston have more than 80 percent of their students learning face-to-face, including Dickinson, Friendswood and Conroe ISDs. At the same time, a Chronicle survey of 10 local districts in January showed all had seen more students sign up for in-person classes each time they were given the option during the last three grading periods. Houston ISD, which began the school year missing about 13,000 students, did not respond to a request for comment. In a press release, the governor said the TEA and other state leaders are ensuring schools will not be penalized for lower attendance rates due to the pandemic while providing an incentive for districts to expand in-person instruction. Providing a hold harmless for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year is a crucial part of our state's commitment to supporting our school systems and teachers and getting more students back in the classroom, Abbott said. Thousands of students have dropped off districts rolls across Texas this school year as the pandemic has continued, leading some parents to keep their kids home out of fear of the virus or move after job losses. Statewide, enrollments were down about 3 percent, or more than 156,500 students, in January. In Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, officials said Thursday that enrollment is down by more than 2,000 this month compared to last March, which could have cost the district an estimated $29 million. Some districts have seen much larger enrollment drops, particularly in urban districts that serve higher rates of lower income students and students of color. Last fall, the Texas Education Agency announced it would fund districts based on the number of students they projected would attend before the pandemic through what they called a hold-harmless guarantee. That agreement expired in January, leaving districts to wonder whether they would receive millions less in state funding due to ongoing enrollment declines. Before Thursdays announcement, some state lawmakers and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath questioned whether the state should require districts do more to find those missing students in order to be eligible for an extended hold harmless agreement. Sen. Larry Taylor, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, told the Texas Tribune in January that a blanket hold-harmless extension could take away schools incentive to find more students. While that left many to question whether he or the Senate would support the extension, he said in a statement Thursday that the Legislature was already dedicated to funding schools at the levels prescribed last session. The financial stability provided by this hold harmless will further support our schools in their efforts to help our students meet the challenges brought on by COVID-19, Taylor said. That school systems offer five days a week of in-person instruction since the fall or risk losing their state funding. They also required districts to give families a choice to switch from virtual to in-person every grading period. In Alief ISD, where enrollments have dropped by about 3,000 students, only about 52 percent of students are learning on campuses. That is up from about 34 percent of students who opted to learn in person in October, said Superintendent HD Chambers, which still would qualify the district for the hold-harmless extension. Without it, finance officials in the southwest Houston district said they could have lost $30 million in state funding. We all agree that we want as many students as possible back learning face-to-face. We also realize there are still families where COVID is still a significant health and security issue, and we recognize that there has to be some flexibility in the districts efforts to increase the number of students attending face-to-face, Chambers said. I think what they put forth now is fair and reasonable. However, he worried that if there was another spike in COVID-19 infections, or a new variant made the situation more dire in Houston or Texas, more parents would opt to keep their kids home. Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina echoed those concerns. What if there is a spike in COVID-19 cases after spring break or because of Gov. Abbotts decision to end the mask mandate and relax other safety standards? Molina wrote in a statement. Districts that could lose on-campus attendance to online learning because their communities become COVID hotspots shouldnt be penalized for attendance losses either. shelby.webb@chron.com BRUSSELS, MAR 4 - Italy on Friday told the European Commission it was blocking the export of over 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and the EC accepted the proposal, sources said Thursday. The shots were due to go to Australia. Italy's proposal was made in line with the new European mechanism on export controls. (ANSA). "This is called the For the People bill. And in doing so, we combat big, dark, special interest money in politics and amplify the voice of the American people," she said. "We fight foreign interference in our elections. We expand voting rights. We fight political gerrymandering and we crack down on corruption." But that's not how it was viewed by Katko, R-Camillus, and House Republicans. As he did in 2019, Katko voted against the measure. Katko supports some parts of the legislation. The bill would overturn the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision, which said that the First Amendment prevents restrictions on independent expenditures for political communications by corporations, labor unions and other groups. He is the lone Republican who has co-sponsored a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and allow states to "set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections," according to a summary of the resolution. 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 -- On the day when former president Donald Trump's most delusional supporters swore he would return to power - and the House suspended its business because of supposed threats to the U.S. Capitol - Washington D.C. looked on Thursday morning much the way it has for the past two months. National Guard members armed with M4 rifles braced for rebellion that never came. Razor wire lined miles of steel fencing that went unbreached. Trump remained in Florida, where it was 70 degrees and sunny. The angst stemmed from another misguided belief within QAnon, the extremist ideology that claims Trump has been working in secret to overthrow a cabal of blood-drinking, Satan-worshipping Democratic pedophiles. After repeated unfulfilled prophecies, the group's supporters declared in recent weeks that Trump would retake office on March 4, the country's original Inauguration Day. That, of course, did not happen, but on Wednesday, the U.S. Capitol Police announced it had identified a potential plot by a militant group to breach the Capitol, as hundreds of insurrectionists did on Jan. 6. The threat apparently was credible enough for the House to suspend a Thursday session, though the Senate still convened. And it came just before the Capitol Police sought to extend the Guard's mission by two more months. Samantha Broaddus, 34, had heard vague references about a QAnon threat, but she didn't think much of it before arriving on the Hill for a dentist appointment and finding what looked like a fortress. "It's more sad than nerve-racking," she said, strolling down Second Street NW with her 9-month-old daughter, Isabelle. "D.C. used to feel so accessible to everyone who wanted. Now it's starting to feel like another country." Along the fence, which stretches from the east side of the Supreme Court to the Mall, police shooed away anyone who lingered nearby. "Have you seen the news?" they asked. Outside the fence, the neighborhood's streets were quiet. People walked their dogs in the morning sun and masked students sat on steps drinking coffee. Construction crews continued with their projects. For more a month now, people who live and work on Capitol Hill have navigated, and gradually accepted, the reality that this part of their city has been converted into a militarized zone. No longer can they exercise on the Capitol lawn or rest on the steps of the Supreme Court. For many, Thursday was just another day in 2021. About 5,200 Guard members remain on duty in Washington, where the sprawling security operation costs $2 million per week to maintain. The Guard's mission here is scheduled to end March 12, but the Capitol Police has asked that it be extended for 60 days. The request appeared to surprise D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. "It was our expectation that the additional forces would be leaving now," she said, adding that the Capitol Police has had little communication with the city about its security requests. "We don't know why additional forces have been requested until May." One defense official familiar with the talks said authorities have discussed scaling back the number of troops around the Capitol, but keeping others ready for an emergency at the D.C. Armory, about two miles away. The oppressive security measures have become increasingly controversial in recent weeks, particularly among the people who have to live with them every day. "It doesn't make sense anymore," said John Kabre, who, before all that fencing went up, had a view of the Capitol from his shifts as an events coordinator outside of 101 Constitution Ave. "I think people are overreacting." At a news conference, even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., played down the decision to suspend votes, arguing that the move was as much about accommodating Republicans attending an annual retreat as it was about any possible danger. Unconcerned about the potential menace, Kabre smiled at passersby and encouraged them to enjoy the sunshine. He waved at National Guards members through the fence, some of whom he'd come to recognize over the past month. Among those on duty was Capt. Dan Rogers, who had traveled to D.C. a few times before his New York Guard unit was deployed here Jan. 28. School trips mostly, filled with the typical museum and monument stops. But now, in his off time, he's enjoyed an insider's view of the Capitol, escorted through the halls by people who work within them. "We've gotten way better tours than we had in eighth grade, that's for sure," he said. Down by the White House, a man in a red Washington Capitals hoodie stood against the tall steel fencing that still encircles Lafayette Square as he raised his phone and peered expectantly at the camera lens. He was about to go live. David Bardash, who lives in Bowie, Md., is a citizen journalist for something called Patriot Party News. He and other volunteer correspondents fanned out across the District on Thursday, trying - at last, in their minds - to uncover what was really going on. The 50-year-old had come to Black Lives Matter Plaza, thinking he might find people to talk to, but as the bare branches of trees rustled in the late-afternoon wind, the square remained largely empty. Nearby, Henry Jenkins, 39, looked puzzled. After hearing about the QAnon claims, he had come to the District from Charles County, Md., to find a counterprotest to join. Instead he saw only Bardash, holding his phone aloft. "I really expected to see more Trump people or something," Jenkins said, shaking his head, the red mohawk on top bending in the wind. "It's weird how quiet it is today." Bardash, who declined to say whom he voted for in the last election, said he identifies as an independent but has been intrigued by the false claims that Joe Biden lost the election. "I'm no Trump fan by any means, but I think we need to have a new election for the good of the country," said Bardash. "I'm not sure what to believe." Bardash had more questions than answers Thursday, but it was his job to find something true. So he gestured to the building behind him and smiled beneath his blue surgical mask. "Hi, I'm live outside the White House," he said to the phone, motioning with his other hand. And that much, at least, was true. - - - The Washington Post's Emily Davies and Dan Lamothe contributed to this report. Microsoft has recently reported that threat actors from China have attempted to hack its Mail Server Program using the Zero-Day exploit system and is led by state-sponsored HAFNIUM, as determined by the company. The United States has already issued an emergency warning to all federal agencies to download software to protect against the attack. The good news is that Microsoft was able to detect the supposed attack that would have compromised its systems from the state-sponsored threat actors from China, and is now taking precautionary measures against it. However, the bad news is that the company faces a breach in their mail server program, which it now needs to fix and reconfigure. The company now remains vigilant for any forms of attack, as the HAFNIUM are suspected to be working closely with China, and Microsoft says in "high confidence" that these threat actors are state-sponsored. Not only was Microsoft the target of the attack, rather, but it is also only one of the targets as different companies and organizations remain under surveillance from the hackers. Read Also: List of All 'Fortnite' 15.50 Skins Revealed [LEAKED] Microsoft Chinese Hack on Mail Servers: Not the Only One According to the blogpost of Microsoft, the company was recently attacked by Chinese hackers, in an attempt to infiltrate its networks and systems, but is still studying the extent and severity of the attack. The company is also unsure as to what the purpose of the attack is, but is already convinced that it aims to compromise the systems of the companies. Microsoft has determined that several vulnerabilities on its Mail Server Program were exploited, but the company has already identified them and has issued a temporary fix to prevent hackers to access these. Currently, Microsoft is on the verge of fixing the program and determining the purpose of the threat actors but has already concluded that they are HAFNIUM, based on tactics and schemes. According to Corporate Vice President for Security and Trust on Microsoft, Tom Burt, law firms, policy think tanks, NGOs, education institutions, and the like are also under attack from HAFNIUM. The company thinks that they are all subject to the same hack if it is not already occurring in the background of their servers or websites. US Issues Emergency Warning for Federal Agencies Following the Microsoft attack, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, has already issued an emergency warning for all federal agencies of the countries to remain on high alert. As Microsoft shared the attack, their tactics, and its identities, the United States has already prepared for the worst-case scenario. However, that is not the only preparation is made, as it issued several updates for systems to avoid said hacks and block off the threat actors for when they attempt to access the websites or systems. The prep made by the country aims to protect its interests and integrity from the Chinese state-sponsored hackers that attempt malicious threats. Related Article: Microsoft Surface Duo 2 Upgrades Feature Machine-Learning, AI-Powered Camera and 5G This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MEXICO CITY, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Government of Mexico along with UN Women and the Government of France, in a partnership with civil society and youth organizations, announced the forthcoming Generation Equality Forum in Mexico City. This landmark event, hosted by the Government of Mexico, is intended to catalyze urgent action for the achievement of gender equality and women's rights. The Generation Equality Forum Mexico City will take place virtually from 29 to the 31 March, 2021, marking the 'kick-off' of the Forum journey. The Mexico Forum will inspire and incubate the drive for urgent action which will continue in the announcement of trailblazing gender equality commitments and investments at a second event in Paris, in June 2021. Registration for the Generation Equality Forum in Mexico is open until March 19 at https://forogeneracionigualdadmx.vfairs.com/. The Mexico event seeks to honor the grassroots legacy of the Beijing Platform of Action by highlighting the power of gender-based activism. It will provide the space to develop a multilateral feminist agenda and will include a side-event by the Government of Mexico to create a multilateral alliance of countries to promote gender equality. The event will also feature the work of the Generation Equality Action Coalitions, a set of global, innovative, multi-stakeholder partnerships that will unveil their draft blueprints for catalytic actions to accelerate women's rights. An additional Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action will work to drive action and accountability for this agenda. Announcing the countdown to the Mexico Forum Nadine Gasman, president of Mexico's National Institute for Women, said: "The Forum in Mexico will place the agenda for women and girls' rights at its core by centering the voices of grassroots organizations as accelerators for social change." "The Generation Equality Forum will establish clear lines of work and make a strong call to action. I invite you to join us in this effort and to transform our reality for the benefit of all," said Martha Delgado Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights. "The disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on the lives of women and girls makes the need for the Generation Equality Forum more acute than ever," added Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director. "This is a unique opportunity for stakeholders in all sectors to establish commitments that guarantee a gender-equal post-pandemic recovery." Media inquiries: Miguel Trancozo Trevino, [email protected], +525538366192 SOURCE Generation Equality Forum The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Haas will not fire up its 2021 car until the small American team touches down in Bahrain for the start of official testing next week. Normally, Haas' car for the new season is put together at the Dallara facility - which, like engine supplier Ferrari, is based in Italy. However, with covid making travel difficult within Europe, Haas is assembling its 2021 car in the UK this year - meaning Ferrari staff cannot be on site to oversee installation of the engine. "Our new car will be started for the first time in Bahrain in the week before the tests from March 12," team boss Gunther Steiner told Sport Bild. "Due to the measures taken for covid, the Ferrari people would have had to be quarantined and that will not do. So we are putting everything together that we can and will then start the engine in Bahrain. "It means our car will only be seen completely finished when we drive onto the track in Bahrain for the first time," he explained. "None of this is ideal, but it helps us that we are carrying over a lot of parts from the 2020 car, such as the gearbox and the wiring. A year ago, a late fire-up would have been a lot more risky." Steiner said the team has at least now been able to do a seat fitting for Mick Schumacher, who had to spend several days in quarantine to make that happen. "He has already driven for us in Abu Dhabi, so we had a seat ready for him. The chassis has remained the same for the most part," he said. The late engine fire-up is one thing, but Haas is also saying that it will not develop the 2021 car - at all. "We have to keep an eye on the big picture," said Steiner. "We know that it is going to be a very tough year. "But we'd rather bite the bullet in 2021 with a less competitive car and then be well prepared for 2022. From our perspective, that makes more sense. "This way, our two rookies can learn their craft in peace to prepare them as well as possible for 2022. If we get a few points every now and then, that would be a success," he added. (GMM) Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, explained how Hong Kong as a local democracy fits into the Chinese national context in a recent video. The extra powers of autonomy come not from the local Hong Kong people, but from Beijing, said Leung. (Video source: Xinhua) Sentence against Russian hematologist overturned, case dropped TASS, Sergey Savostyanov 18:20 04/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 4 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Thursday overturned sentence delivered against well-known hematologist Elena Misyurina over the death of a patient, the courts press service told RAPSI. The charges filed against the defendant were dropped due to the lack of criminal elements he was accused of. 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. Ghislaine Maxwell's family have slammed the 'bizarre and cruel' US legal system for subjecting her to 'brutal and degrading' treatment in jail. The 59-year-old British socialite faces child sex trafficking charges over allegedly recruiting three teenage girls as young as 14 for paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse in the 1990s. She pleaded not guilty to all charges following her arrest in July 2020 - and has been languishing in a New York City detention centre ever since. Her lawyer has claimed the one-time girlfriend of Epstein is 'withering' away behind bars, is losing her hair and had allegedly been abused by a guard during a pat down search. Now her brother, British businessman Ian Maxwell, has echoed concerns about her treatment as he spoke out for the first time following his sister's arrest. Ghislaine Maxwell's family have slammed the 'bizarre and cruel' US legal system for subjecting her to 'brutal and degrading' treatment in jail. Pictured: Ghislaine Maxwell with brother Ian (right), father Robert and mother Elizabeth (far left) The 59-year-old British socialite (a sketch of her video link court appearance last year) faces child sex trafficking charges over allegedly recruiting three teenage girls as young as 14 for paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse in the 1990s He told The Daily Telegraph: 'To anyone familiar with the British system of law, the American system is simply bizarre, quite frankly, cruel.' He said Maxwell - who is friends with Prince Andrew - has a concrete bed and a toilet in her 6ft by 9ft cell. Mr Maxwell is one of nine siblings and was previously charged with and acquitted of financial crimes connected to his disgraced media tycoon father Robert Maxwell's business operations. The brother added: 'The sustained brutal, degrading and wholly unnecessary conditions of my sister's solitary imprisonment are a disgrace to any civilised democracy.' In February, Maxwell's attorney Bobbi Sternheim wrote a letter to Judge Alison Nathan claiming her client is experiencing 'onerous' conditions in jail. Such treatment is purported to include being deprived of sleep, being given inedible food, being 'physically abused' by a jail guard and later being punished for complaining about it. 'It is impossible to overstate the deleterious effect of the conditions under which Ms. Maxwell is detained,' Sternheim wrote. 'She is withering to a shell of her former self losing weight, losing hair, and losing her ability to concentrate.' Maxwell - who is on 24/7 suicide watch - is awaiting a July trial on charges that she recruited three teenage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse in the 1990s and committed perjury during 2016 depositions in a civil case. Epstein's alleged madam Maxwell (left and right with Epstein) has applied for bail for a third time, by offering to give up her UK and French citizenship so that she won't be considered a flight risk, according to new a court filing The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn is seen above. Maxwell's lawyer has routinely complained about the 'onerous' conditions she's being confined in She was arrested in July 2020 following a worldwide search and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. She has remained incarcerated without bail since July, when she was arrested almost exactly a year after Epstein was arrested to face sex trafficking charges. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail a month after his arrest. In December, prosecutors said Maxwell is allowed out of her solitary confinement cell for up to 13 hours each day, has a shower to herself, in addition to her own phone, access to two computers and a TV. Last month, Maxwell filed a third application for bail, this time offering to renounce her British and French citizenship so she cannot seek refuge in either country. Maxwell is scheduled to face a July trial on charges that she recruited three teenage girls for Epstein to abuse in the mid-1990s. She has pleaded not guilty Maxwell said she would 'immediately' give up her citizenship from the UK, the country where she grew up, in exchange for her release. Giving up her citizenship with France, which has no extradition treaty with the US, would be 'expedited', her lawyers said. Maxwell would also put all the money and assets she owns into an account supervised by an asset manager who would sign off on any spending. Maxwell's lawyers said the measures were 'sufficient to address the hypothetical risk of flight and secure Ms Maxwell's presence at trial.' But they face a high bar against a judge who has twice ruled already that Maxwell should remain behind bars until her trial in July. Maxwell (pictured in a court sketch last year) was arrested last July on child sex trafficking charges and has remained jailed on grounds she might flee New York federal court judge Ms Nathan has said that 'no combination of conditions' would ensure Maxwell attends court. In a nine-page filing, Maxwell's lawyer Sternheim said that the 59-year-old socialite 'will renounce her French and British citizenship to eliminate any opportunity for her to seek refuge in those countries.' Maxwell currently has British, French and American citizenship. 'The requisite paperwork is in the process of being completed. Renunciation of UK citizenship can be accomplished immediately upon granting of bail,' Sternheim wrote. 'The process of renouncing her French citizenship, while not immediate, may be expedited.' Sternheim called citizenship a 'priceless asset' and Maxwell's offer to give up citizenship from 'the county of her birth and the country of her upbringing demonstrates her earnestness to abide by the conditions of her release.' She wrote that doing this 'should satisfy any concerns the court may have that Ms Maxwell may try to seek a safe haven in France or the United Kingdom.' The letter said that Maxwell would be prepared to put all assets she and her husband Scott Borgerson own into a new account to be overseen by an asset manager. Maxwell has repeatedly complained about the conditions inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (pictured) where she is being held until her trial in July The account will contain all of the couple's cash and liquid assets and anything from the 'pending sale' of her $2million home in London, revealing for the first time that the home is being sold. Maxwell offered a retired federal judge William Duffey as the asset manager and said he will have to approve any expenditure from the account apart from legal fees and taxes. The only funds in the account will be money held in escrow for lawyers. Her previous disclosures said she has $7.6million in legal retainers - and $450,000 for Mr Borgerson's living expenses. Sternheim said that Maxwell's motions filed in recent months 'significantly call into question the strength of the Government's case against Ms Maxwell and the underlying justification for continued detention'. She complained about how Maxwell has been 'depicted as a cartoon-character villain' to turn her into a 'substitute replacement for Jeffrey Epstein.' Sternheim wrote: 'Ms Maxwell is determined - and welcomes the opportunity - to face her accusers at trial and clear her name', Maxwell's second bail application had offered a $28.5million package with an emotional letter from Mr Borgerson. Maxwell was a wealthy socialite, moving in elite circles until she virtually disappeared from public view in 2016 after Virginia Roberts - Epstein's main accuser - filed a lawsuit against her (pictured, Epstein and Maxwell in New York in 2015) That included $22.5million in assets she owns with Mr Borgerson and another $5million from friends and family. Maxwell had earlier offered to give up her passports and submit to home confinement and electronic monitoring, but Judge Nathan rejected it. In the third bail application, Sternheim said that the new measures enhance the already extraordinarily restrictive bail conditions' they have put forward. The Swedish carmaker Volvo announced this week that it will only make electric vehicles by 2030. Volvo is the second large car company to say it will stop making traditional internal combustion engines. In January, American carmaker General Motors said it would only make battery-powered vehicles by 2035. Henrik Green is Volvos chief technology officer. He said: there is no long-term future for cars with traditional engines. If you want to buy one of these Volvos in about nine years, you will have to make your order online. You will still be able to look at cars at a Volvo store, however. The current Volvo stores, which are known as dealerships, will remain in place so customers can look at cars and have them repaired. In making the announcement, Volvo said it also plans to show a new electric vehicle. The automobile company said it hopes that within four years, half of its sales around the world will come from electric vehicles. The other half will come from cars known as hybrids. Hybrid cars use a combination of batteries and traditional engines to move the vehicle. Green said the move to electric vehicles will help Volvo meet the expectations of our customers and be part of the solution when it comes to fighting climate change. As technology improves and governments try to reduce pollution, more carmakers like Volvo are increasing production of electric vehicles. However, Americans continue to buy more vehicles powered by traditional engines. Only about two percent of the cars sold last year in the U.S. were electric. Around the world, about 2-and-a-half million electric vehicles were sold last year and industry analysts expect that to increase by 70 percent in 2021. Volvo sold about 660,000 cars worldwide last year. One-sixth of the companys sales came in the U.S. Volvo is known as a Swedish car maker, but it has been owned by a Chinese company since 2010. Im Dan Friedell. Matt Ott wrote this story for The Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Would you be interested in buying an electric car the next time you are looking for a new car? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story internal combustion engine n. a type of engine that is used for most vehicles : an engine in which the fuel is burned within engine cylinders battery n. a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a clock, toy, or car) to supply it with electricity expectation n. a belief that something will happen or is likely to happen Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the crucial Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting of the BJP to discuss the names of party candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam. Modi is also expected to attend the CEC meeting at the party headquarters here on Thursday evening along with Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda and other senior leaders. The CEC is a body that decides who the candidates will be for the different constituencies in the poll-bound states. It has been learnt that the BJP leaders will go into a huddle to finalise the first list of candidates for 60 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal that will go to the polls in the first two phases. The first two phases of polling in Assam and West Bengal will be held on March 27 and April 1. The elections in West Bengal, poised to be a stiff contest between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, will be held in eight phases, beginning with 30 seats on March 27. The votes will be counted on May 2. According to sources, the CEC is likely to discuss the party candidates for 86 seats in Assam where polls will be held in the first two phases. The third and final phase of polling in Assam will be held on April 6. The results will be out on May 2. Britain's competition regulator said on Thursday it has opened an investigation into Inc after complaints that the iPhone maker's terms and conditions for app developers are unfair and anti-competitive. The probe will consider if has a dominant position in the distribution of apps on its devices in the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said. Payment policies related to Apple's have for long drawn complaints from app developers. It charges a commission of up to 30% from developers on the value of transactions or any time a consumer buys their app. The iPhone maker said it will work with the regulator. "The has been an engine of success for app developers, in part because of the rigorous standards we have in place - applied fairly and equally to all developers - to protect customers from malware and to prevent rampant data collection without their consent," said in a statement. The company is also being investigated on similar grounds by the Dutch competition authorities, who are nearing a draft decision, Reuters reported last month. Last year, the European Commission too had opened a probe into the iPhone maker over commission fee. "Complaints that Apple is using its market position to set terms which are unfair or may restrict competition and choice - potentially causing customers to lose out when buying and using apps - warrant careful scrutiny," CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said. (Reporting by Muvija M and Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru, Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Editing by Arun Koyyur) The ongoing tvN drama "Vicenzo" drops a new character poster featuring 2PM's Taecyeon! Here's a Short Rundown of "Vicenzo" "Vicenzo" is a crime drama that stars talented actors Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Been, and Ok Taec Yeon. Song Joong Ki stars as the titular Vincenzo Cassano, when he was eight years old; he was adopted by an Italian family and moved to Italy. He eventually became an Italian lawyer and Mafia consigliere. He then moves back to Korea due to a conflict within the mafia organization. There, he crosses paths with the straight-forward lawyer Hong Cha Young (played by Jeon Yeo Bin) and her intern Jang Joon Woo (played by 2PM's Taecyeon). These three characters will work together to take down villains who cannot be punished by the court of law. 2PM's Taecyeon Character Poster in "Vicenzo" Warning! Spoilers will be Mentioned Below! In the latest episode of the drama, Vincenzo and Hong Cha Young performed an act of brutal revenge against Babel Pharmaceutical which plans to launch a new medicine with illegal drugs as its main component. Hong Yoo Chan (Yoo Jae Myung) lost his life trying to keep the substance from being released. In order for Vincenzo to pursue the mafia's principle of "an eye for an eye", Vincenzo decided to track down the person responsible for killing Hong Yoo Chan. He works together with Hong Yoo Chan's daughter Hong Cha Young who has ideas about the connections between the Babel Pharmaceuticals, the death of her father as well as Woosang Law Firm. Hong Cha Young and Vincenzo sent a warning to Choi Myung Hee (Kim Yeo Jin) and set Babel Pharmaceutical's entire storage warehouse on fire. tvN released a new poster featuring Taecyeon's character as Jang Joon Woo. This was followed by the big revelation that Jang Joo Woo is actually the real chairman of Babel Pharmaceuticals! The poster showcases Joo Woo as the mysterious man portraying the mysterious antagonist in the drama! Now that Vincenzo is gradually beginning to engage in his revenge plot against his enemies, the viewers can look forward to his war against Jang Joon Woo. The words in the newly released poster state "Insane ambition" and the rest of the caption reads "The real chairman of Babel Pharmaceuticals! A vicious, sociopathic villain." The poster depicts the two characters of Taecyeon, his smiling face character as an intern who is scolded by his boss Hong Cha Young and his real identity as the cold Jang Joon Woo, the chairman of Babel Pharmaceuticals! Taecyeon shared his thoughts about the shocking revelation of his character in "Vincenzo", sharing that Jang Joon Woo is a character that will make you witness a 180-degree difference between hot and cold. The actor shares that he finds it appealing that he was able to showcase his acting prowess portraying dual roles as an innocent intern and a self-absorbed villain, all in one character. According to the actor, portraying Jang Joon Woo's corruption is another challenge for him so he's giving his best while acting. "Vincenzo" broadcasts every Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m. KST. Kdramastars owns this article Written By Liza Parker Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Five quick takes on Israel, Iran, Turkey and Iraq 1. Politics plays a role in Israels response to cargo ship attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding off, for now, on retaliation for the Feb. 26 attack on an Israeli cargo ship, which Israel has blamed on Iran (Tehran has denied responsibility). There were no casualties and limited damage, and the ship is back on its course after repairs in Dubai. Most of Bibis inner circle argues that restraint, and using the incident as yet another example of Irans malign behavior, will serve it best in its dealing with the Joe Biden administration. With the US-EU-Iran nuclear talks stalled (see below), the fear of imminent discord with Washington over Iran is less. Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen is reportedly the abstainer from the current restraint consensus, advocating a to-be-determined retaliation. Iran: the gift that keeps on giving. "Iran has served Netanyahu well throughout his political career," reports Ben Caspit, who has the inside scoop on Israels deliberations on the next steps. "He has fanned the flames of the Iranian threat to great heights and repeatedly used them to his political advantage. Now, at almost the last minute before the elections (on March 23), he has once again been handed this gift that keeps on giving." 2. Fractured Arab Joint List As Arab voters head to the polls for Israels fourth election in just two years, the fracturing of the Arab Joint List means theyll have two Arab groups to choose from. The first is led by Knesset member Ayman Odeh and consists of three of the Arab-majority political parties: Hadash, Balad and Taal. But the new Raam party, led by Knesset member Mansour Abbas, promises a more centrist approach. We are neither left nor right, Abbas said in February. We will work with everyone to advance the issues important to Arab society. Competition for Arab voters. The split comes as voters are caught in sheer desperation, with the coronavirus and economic crisis leaving many without jobs. That result is politicians seeking new voters. In past elections, Jewish parties avoided including Arab candidates on their lists, leaving the Joint List to address Arab concerns. This time, Jewish parties are competing with Arab parties for votes in the Arab sector. This courting of Arab voters will cause Arab Knesset members to show greater interest in the needs of their electorate, social activist Samir Abd Elhadi told Al-Monitor. Read more from Abu Much about the fractured List here. 3. Clubhouse finds a market in Turkey Audio-based social media app Clubhouse is growing in popularity in Turkey, with users flocking to the US-made chat network to escape government censorship. Student protesters turned to the app in January to organize the Bogazici demonstrations, reportedly giving chatrooms names like whiskey or beer to mask their free-speech discussions. Despite the buzz, privacy concerns remain after Turkish authorities took into custody a number of Clubhouse-using protesters. Are you on Clubhouse? Pinar Tremblay explains that getting an invite to Clubhouse has become something of a status symbol for young people in Turkey, with some eager Android users confirming to Al-Monitor they had found a back door to download the iPhone-only application. Check out Tremblays report from Turkey here. 4. Turkey mum on Khashoggi report Ankara has yet to comment on the new US report detailing the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. The intelligence assessment released by the Biden administration on Friday concluded that Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (commonly referred to by his initials, MBS), had approved the operation at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul that killed Khashoggi in October 2018. Turkeys silence is especially deafening given its own investigations into the journalists murder and Erdogans well-known disdain for MBS. Sigh of relief? As Amberin Zaman writes, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must be relieved that a fellow autocrat eluded punishment from Washington. The Biden administration stopped short of imposing sanctions on MBS, but it did unveil the so-called Khashoggi Ban, which gives the State Department the authority to impose visa restrictions on individuals who, acting on behalf of a foreign government, target journalists and activists. Officials in Erdogans government would easily meet this criteria. Bidens cold shoulder. Relations between Ankara and Washington remain strained, in part over Turkeys purchase of Russian-made S-400 missiles, its actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and its worsening human rights record. Notably, Biden has spoken with his Saudi counterpart, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the father of MBS, but has yet to place a call to Erdogan, whose government exposed the Khashoggi murder. Read Zamans full report here. 5. Iran and Turkey rivalry heats up in Mosul Mosul has emerged as an important arena in the competition between Ankara and Tehran for greater influence in the Middle East. Turkeys focus on nearby Sinjar has fueled this rivalry, and a rift between the countries is now apparent. On the surface, Ankara has cited the Kurdistan Workers Party settling in northern Iraqs Sinjar district as the reason for military intervention. Tehran argues its military attendance is required to prevent the revival of the Islamic State. Why Mosul? For many in Turkey, Mosul remains a lost homeland that slipped through Turkeys fingers as the Ottoman Empire collapsed. Sulaimaniyah, Erbil and Dahuk, the three regions that make up Iraqi Kurdistan, were part of the Ottoman Mosul province. Meanwhile, Iran has gained considerable influence in Mosul via its allies the Popular Mobilization Units. Local support lines increase the value of the Mosul-Sinjar route to the Iraqi-Syrian border. Balance leaning in Irans favor. Turkeys sectarian detour tipped the balance of power to Iran. But Sunni anger with Shiite militias in Mosul is steadily brewing as sectarian strife and corruption cripple the citys recovery. Read Fahem Tastekins report on the rivalry over Mosul here. Our hot take: Irans ground game likely to pick up With the prospect of US-EU-Iran talks on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal, stalled for now, eyes turn to Irans ground game in the region. The absence of diplomacy in the Middle East is usually a worrying sign; Iran and its proxies are always engaged in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. The attack on the Israeli cargo ship seems a classic Iranian provocation and test damaging enough to force Israels leaders to scramble but not necessarily meriting a military response. The exchange between Iran-backed militias and US forces in Iraq and Syria is another sign that Iran is hardly idle. Tehran no doubt is already weighing its next moves. Eyes are on Yemen, where the Biden administration has given top priority to ending the war. Mohsen Milani told us last month that Yemen may be the best opportunity for regional diplomacy. So far, Ansar Allah (the Houthis) are not letting up. Iran has its own elections in June, and hard-liners who control the parliament are likely to carry the day. One Cool Thing: Inside Jerusalem's Tombs of the Kings Taghreed Ali dives into the history of the Tombeau des Rois, the 2,000-year-old burial site owned and managed by the French Consulate in Jerusalem. The Tomb of the Kings, which was acquired by France in the 19th century, is believed to have been constructed for an aristocratic family during the Roman era. The ancient Romans believed that burying their dead inside the rocks would provide more stability for the deceased to return to another life, unlike burial under the soil, a Jerusalem historian explained. Learn more about the archaeological wonder here. In Case You Missed It: Al-Monitor podcast on reimagining US strategy in the Middle East RAND researchers Dalia Dassa Kaye, Linda Robinson and Jeffrey Martini suggest the United States needs to move away from "threatism" as the focus of its approach to the Middle East, arguing that having 80% of all assistance being military is "unbalanced." Listen to the podcast here. What Were Reading The UN Syria commission report says tens of thousands remain forcibly disappeared across Syria. The 30-plus page report out Monday says that after nearly a decade of conflict, Syrias warring parties (but especially the government) are focusing on concealing rather than investigating crimes committed in detention. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) is not a coherent, integrated organization, says a paper by the Chatham House. The PMF is a series of fluid, adaptive networks connected to structures within the Iraqi state, argues Renad Mansour in his latest report. These networks developed into significant security, political and economic forces following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State. The Ukrainian National Guard's combat training center for special missions, located outside Kyiv, has provided a training course for new sniper professionals, Defense Express has reported, with reference to the National Guard's press service. According to the report, the course focused on learning how to handle the domestically-produced, semi-auto sniper rifle UAR-10 and included shooting on practice targets. During the specialized basic training course, National Guard trainees received theoretical knowledge instruction in sniping and tactics, as well as engineering and psychological aspects, and improved their practical skills in firing on different targets and in weapon/fire control. Sniping instructors from the National Guard's other special forces units were recruited to help with the course conduct. They shared experience among themselves and agreed on a common approach to training special missions personnel. UAR-10 a semi-auto sniper rifle chambered for 7.6251 NATO round is offered by the Ukrainian company UKROP / Photo courtesy of the National Guard of Ukraine Upon completion of the course, trainees were awarded diplomas and certificates of participation in the specialized sniper training course (UAR-10). UAR-10 is a semi-auto sniper rifle offered by the Ukrainian company UKROP. Chambered for 7.6251 NATO round, it boasts very fine precision (less than 30-mm spread at 100 m). UAR-10 is already in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. op Israel has accused Iran of 'eco-terrorism' after a tanker spilled tons of oil in the eastern Mediterranean last month. The ship was smuggling crude oil from Iran to Syria when it spilled its cargo in early February. Environmental minister Gila Gamliel on Wednesday claimed this was an intentional attack without providing evidence. Today the junior minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party doubled-down, claiming it was an act of terrorism to kill off Israel's marine life. A marine veterinarian, takes samples from a 55ft long dead fin whale washed up on a beach in Nitzanim Reserve, Israel, on February 19 after the oil spill Israeli soldiers wearing protective suits clean tar from a beach after an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea in Sharon Beach Nature Reserve, near Gaash, Israel, on February 22 Asked in an interview on Army Radio whether she could prove the spill was an intentional attack, Gamliel said: 'To say that this isn't terrorism, that it was an accident, is an inappropriate approach to the incident.' She added: 'The fact that no one knew about the ship that smuggled crude oil from Iran to Syria, that dumped oil and turned off its radar is a failure that needs to be investigated.' She said that Israel's Defense Ministry 'had to give explanations.' The ministry did not have any immediate comment. Neither the Israeli military, foreign ministry nor the prime minister's office has commented on Gamliel's claims. Iranian officials have not publicly acknowledged the allegation or responded to requests for comment. More than 1,000 tons of tar are estimated to have washed onto Israel's Mediterranean coastline last month, causing extensive environmental damage and forcing the closure of beaches to the public. Israel's Nature and Parks Authority has called the incident one of Israel's worst environmental disasters. The clean-up is expected to take months. On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Ministry identified the ship it believed was responsible for the Feb. 1 oil spill as the the Panama-flagged, formerly Libyan-owned tanker named Emerald. Ministry officials investigating the incident said it was unclear whether the spill was deliberate or accidental, but said they received no warning about the incident until tar started washing up on shore weeks later. Tar is stuck on rocks after an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea, at Tel-Dor Nature Reserve, in Nahsholim, Israel Ami Daniel, CEO of Windward, a maritime shipping intelligence company that was involved in the investigation, told The Associated Press that several aspects about the Emerald's behavior - from shutting off its transmitters, to irregular traffic and ownership irregularities - breached U.S. and British standards and pointed to the vessel's involvement in smuggling oil from Iran in violation of international sanctions. 'All risk indicators are consistent with the deceptive shipping practices at a very high likelihood that this is an Iranian operation to provide crude oil into Syria,' he said but declined to comment on whether the spill may have been an intentional attack. Gamliels office declined requests for clarification. But in an English language statement, she said 'Iran is operating terrorism by damaging the environment.' Israel accuses archenemy Iran of developing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies. Israel also cites Iran's support for hostile militant groups across the region - such as the Palestinian Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah - and its military presence in neighboring Syria. Israel has acknowledged carrying out hundreds of airstrikes on targets connected to Iran and its proxies in Syria. SELBYVILLE, Del., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on Global Market Insights Inc.'s report, the Battery Separators Market size was estimated at $6.6 billion in 2020 and is slated to surpass $19.8 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 16.1% from 2021 to 2027. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the top winning strategies, wavering industry trends, drivers & opportunities, top investment avenues, competitive scenarios, market estimations & size. Global Market Insights Inc. Battery separators are extensively used in the consumer electrical and automotive industry. Lithium ion batteries are widely used in the automotive and consumer electronics industry owing to their excellent mechanical properties. Moreover, the decline in lithium battery manufacturing cost in the recent times is anticipated to further propel the demand for polyolefin separators in the coming years. Request a Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/3547 Among various product segments, polypropylene and polyethylene are projected to generate substantial gains during the forecast period. Nylon is another major segment, with a market share of over 5%, and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of over 15.2% through 2027. Based on batteries, lithium ion battery held the largest market share, followed by lead acid battery with a market share of over 30% in 2020. Lithium acid batteries are widely used in consumer electronics. The other batteries include nickel metal hydride battery and nickel cadmium battery. The other segment held a market over 22% in terms of revenue and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of over 16%. The growing penetration of electric vehicles across the globe is projected to augment the battery separators market share for lithium ion batteries in the coming years. On the basis of end users, the automotive industry was the most revenue-generating industry in 2020 and is projected to follow the same trend throughout the forecast period. Moreover, the penetration of electric vehicles mainly in the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to further augment the battery separators market growth. The European business will showcase a moderate growth rate at a CAGR of around 15.0% from 2021 to 2027. The presence of major manufacturing companies coupled with huge automotive and consumer electronics industry will propel the battery separators market demand in this region. On the other hand, Asia Pacific was the largest region in 2020 is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of over 16.6 %. China, India, and Japan are the largest countries contributing to this growth. Request for customization of this report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/3547 The major companies are hugely investing in research and development to cater to the growing demand from the electronic vehicle sector. For instance, in March 2019 Asahi Kesai invested over USD 30 billion in the expansion of its battery separator plant with completion schedules by 2021. Key manufacturers operating in the battery separators industry include Asahi Kesai, Celgard, Toray Industries, UBE, Sumitomo, SK Innovation, Freudenberg, Entek International, W-Scope Industries, Bernard Dumas, and others. Industry players are focused on product development, geographic expansion, mergers & acquisitions, strategic collaborations with several innovations, and cost optimization strategies over the long-run. About Global Market Insights, Inc. Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision-making. GMIPulse, our business analytics platform offers an online, interactive option of exploring our proprietary industry research data in an easy-to-use and dynamic manner. Clients get to explore market intelligence across 11 top level categories and hundreds of industry segments within them, covering regional, company level and cross-sectional statistics that make our offering a stand-out for decision makers. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.gminsights.com Related Images battery-separators-market.jpg Battery Separators Market Statistics - 2027 SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc. 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Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 ROCHESTER, Minn. - A bill in the Minnesota legislature is hoping to address pay inequities in the North Star State. The Preventing Pay Discrimination Act would bar employers from requesting information about a job applicant's pay history. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights says when future salaries are based on past pay, Minnesotans are locked into a cycle of unequal compensation. The National Women's Law Center says in 2019, white women made 80 cents for every dollar a man made in Minnesota. They say the gap is even more profound among people of color, with Black women earning 59% of what men earned, and Latinas earning 53% in the same metric. Minnesota DHR Commissioner Rebecca Lucero tells KIMT News 3 the Preventing Pay Discrimination Act presents a proven way to narrow the pay gap. "This is a pervasive problem in Minnesota and across the country, and we actually have evidence that implementing a pay discrimination ban, or preventing that question from being asked, is working. It's working in other states," Commissioner Lucero said. The Department of Human Rights adds in the 18 states that have already enacted salary history bans, pay is up 8% for all women, and 13% for Black workers. Commissioner Lucero adds while this effort is just one piece of the puzzle in narrowing the pay gap, it's a simple one lawmakers should take. "When we can just do small things like this to help end discrimination, we should do so," Lucero said. "In fact, there are a lot of employers who are already on board and moving on this already. We celebrate that that's already happening, and we'd like to see that implemented across the board." In addition to employers, the Preventing Pay Discrimination Act would also bar labor unions and employment agencies from requesting a job applicant's pay history. So far the bill appears to have bipartisan support. If passed, the measure would take effect next January. MILAN United Colors of Benetton is introducing a new store concept in Florence, which chief executive officer Massimo Renon hailed as unique in the world and setting the benchmark for the future of retail. The flagship marks a new phase for the company, Renon said. We could have opened it anywhere but choosing Florence has a highly symbolic, almost romantic value, since its the city of the Renaissance one that we see for the brand, too. In addition, Florence has strong links with fashion, from housing the headquarters of Pitti Immagine to those of brands including Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo. More from WWD Renon was previously CEO at Marcolin, joining Benetton in April last year. Past experiences include executive positions at the eyewear division of Kering Group, Safilo, Ferrari and Luxottica. Touting Benettons potential, Renon said he has also been impressed by the enormous manufacturing power and the companys massive retail network, counting 5,000 stores in the world. That said, since his arrival, he has been streamlining the retail chain, closing some underperforming stores, especially outside Italy. He underscored, however, that the company is planning to further develop business and is not on the retreat, on the contrary mapping out the opening of more directly operated stores. In Europe, Benettons main markets are Italy, France, Spain and Germany. Covering 1,728 square feet over one floor, the Florence boutique, opposite the Santa Maria Novella train station, makes abundant use of upcycled natural materials. The floor is made with gravel from the river Piave in the Veneto region, which houses the Benetton headquarters, as well as waste wood from beech trees knocked down by the destructive Vaia storm that hit the region in 2018. Future store openings will be modeled after this blueprint, Renon said. The walls are treated with a mineral paint, which have antibacterial and anti-mold properties that can also reduce pollutants in the environment. Story continues The interiors are made with new materials created from textile industry scraps. Platforms and bases of the display stands are made with a compound created from used buttons, which Renon said are generally difficult to dispose of, mixed in hydro-resin. Recycled wool in its raw wick state is reused in the design of the perimeter lining and as decoration for the curtains of the dressing rooms. Shelves, display bases and mannequins are made in rossino, which is a material created from upcycled, mixed textile fibers. The Florence boutique uses 20 percent less energy than a standard store. A system based on small sensors, artificial intelligence and data analysis maximizes the energy efficiency, automatically adjusting store temperature based on the amount of customers in the store. Renon also pointed to the sustainability of garments in organic, recycled or Better Cotton Initiative cotton, regenerated nylon, or natural fibers such as linen. Shopping bags are in either washable, easily recyclable organic cotton bags or in paper bags made with materials sourced from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests. Customers really want to know about the clothes, where they come from; they check the labels and their traceability, Renon said. Renon trumpeted Benettons longstanding efforts in terms of sustainability. Green, digitalization and product are the pillars we are building our future upon, he said. In 2017, Benetton Group was the first European fashion company to join the International Wool Textile Organization and it has also been a member of the BCI, the worlds largest program dedicated to the sustainability of cotton, since that year. The goal is by 2025 for the collections to contain only 100 percent sustainable cotton. The company procures organic cotton from certified supply chains, and recycled cotton comes from pre-consumption scraps (remains from production) and post-consumption scraps (finished fabrics and pieces at the end of their life cycles). All United Colors of Benetton garments in recycled cotton contain at least 20 percent recycled cotton, sourced from certified supply chains. In 2017, the group obtained the Responsible Down Standard certification and since then it has been part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the largest sustainable production alliance. As a member of the SAC, Benetton Group has adopted the Higg Index, a means of measuring a companys sustainability performance and involving suppliers in a process of continuous improvement relating to environmental management systems, the use of water and energy, atmospheric emissions and the use of chemicals. In 2020, for the second year in a row, the brand achieved the highest score among all Italian brands and was placed among the top 10 globally of the Fashion Transparency Index. Among the categories analyzed by the index, traceability is the one in which Benetton excelled with a score of 73 percent, the fourth best result worldwide. Renon touted Benettons incredible brand awareness, and he believes that the label reminds customers of quality, comfort and values. With the help of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, who was named artistic director in 2018, the company has been rejuvenating its product offer, with a fashion edge, working to attract a young customer and modernize its image, creating quality and comfortable products with the right positioning, Renon said. In fact, with de Castelbajac, Benetton held its first runway show in February 2019 in Milan. The brand skipped Milan Fashion Week this season, but Renon said the designer is preparing a capsule collection to be launched shortly. The designer was tapped by Luciano Benetton, who returned to helm his family-owned firm in January 2018. As reported, in December, Benetton launched its new online store and website. The brands e-commerce tripled its business in the past 12 months, Renon said. While the company is mapping out a physical return to the U.S., the region is a strong online business, the executive said. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. There have so far been 16 cases of the new 'Variant Under Investigation', temporarily named B1.1.318 Another new coronavirus variant has been detected in the UK which has a mutation that may help it escape immunity. There have so far been 16 cases of the new 'Variant Under Investigation', temporarily named B1.1.318, Public Health England revealed today. The new variant was first detected on February 15 through genomic sequencing and officials began monitoring its spread on February 24. It has the E484K mutation on its spike protein which is also found in the Brazilian and South African variants. Those two strains are also circulating in the UK. The alteration changes the way the virus looks to the immune system, helping it to dodge antibodies. But antibodies are just one part of what gives Covid survivors and vaccinated patients protection against reinfection. White blood cells play a crucial role in fighting off the virus and scientists say they are 'not substantially affected' by current mutated variants. It means the current crop of vaccines should still be highly effective against strains with the E484K mutation. PHE said it does not know if it spawned in the UK or was imported from another country. The agency now has four variants under investigation and four more which it describes as variants of concern. PHE now has four variants under investigation and four more which it describes as variants of concern They are the current dominant Kent strain, two imported from Brazil, the South African variant and one which is thought to have originated in Nigeria, as well as two others which cropped up in Bristol and Liverpool. The new strain announced today does not feature the N501Y mutation that makes the virus spread more quickly. Scienitsts have said previously that variants without this key change are unlikely to overtake the Kent strain and become dominant anytime soon because they won't have an 'evolutionary edge' over it. This N501Y mutation, which is found on the Kent, South African and Brazilian variants, means it can bind to cells more easily and is more transmissible. The lead researcher behind Oxford University's coronavirus jab warned earlier this week against becoming 'obsessed' with new variants, despite new versions cropping up around the globe every week. He said his team were confident they their vaccine would be highly effective against all emerging strains and in the unlikely event one made it significantly weaker, the jab can easily be modified in a matter of weeks. More proof Covid variants won't scupper vaccines: Crucial T cell immunity is NOT hampered by new strains Immunity produced by white blood cells is 'not substantially affected' by mutated coronavirus variants, scientists have found. Experts were concerned the current jabs might not work as well against the South African and Brazilian variants because they changed its shape. Studies found disease-fighting proteins called antibodies were less effective in the face of the new strains, raising fears they would partially evade vaccine-triggered immunity and cause reinfections. But they are only one type of immunity. New experiments have found white blood cells called T cells appear to work just as well against Covid variants as they do the original virus. And they work just as well when produced by either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, which were both tested in the study. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego said: 'The data presented here suggests that T cell responses are largely unaffected by the variants.' They said the T cells, which tag onto the coronavirus and help to destroy it, might not completely stop infection but should prevent people getting seriously ill. This would mean that anyone who has already had Covid or a vaccine would get less sick the next time they were infected with the virus. The researchers tested what happened when they mixed the coronavirus with the blood of people who had been vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Specifically they measured two types of T cell in the blood, called CD4 and CD8. CD4 are 'helper' cells which identify a viral infection and spark the rest of the immune system into action, and CD8 are 'cytotoxic' and they can destroy infected cells in the body. These work alongside antibodies, which target the virus itself and wreck it directly. They found that the T cells worked just as well when they were exposed to the old Wuhan variant of the virus, the Kent variant, the Brazilian variant or the South African one. Previous studies found antibodies worked less well against the mutated strains, worrying scientists, but this gives reassurance that vaccines will still work in other ways. Advertisement Drug chiefs in the UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland and Singapore have confirmed that booster jabs to tackle mutated coronavirus variants will be fast-tracked and won't need to go through massive clinical trials. Big vaccine-makers are already working on new versions of their Covid vaccines to tackle the South Africa and Brazil variants, which studies suggest may make the current jabs less effective than they were against earlier strains of the virus. The first time around, the vaccines had to be trialled on tens of thousands of people for around six months and studies are still ongoing. But for the boosters the same process won't have to be followed as long as the firms are only making minor tweaks to their original vaccines. Proof of effectiveness and safety will be transferable from the earlier studies, UK regulator MHRA said, although small studies for updated safety information will be required. This process will be based on a system that allows flu vaccines to be easily updated each year so they can adapt to the different strains that circulate each season. 'Our priority is to get effective vaccines to the public in as short a time as possible, without compromising on safety,' said Christian Schneider, chief scientific officer at the MHRA. 'Should any modifications to authorised Covid-19 vaccines be necessary, this regulatory approach should help to do just that. 'The public should be confident that no vaccine would be approved unless the expected high standards of safety, quality and effectiveness are met.' During a visit to Glasgow Lighthouse Lab, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'We will have a fast-track approach to safely approving future vaccines that work against a variant of Covid. 'The vaccine programme has clearly been a huge UK success story, and part of the reason that we have been able to develop the vaccines so far so quickly is because of the MHRAs rigorous yet flexible approach, which has been based entirely on looking as quickly as possible at the safety and efficacy of vaccines. 'Im delighted that theyre taking that same principled approach to the approval process for vaccines that may work against variants.' The MHRA said the reason mass clinical trials are not necessary is that scientists can test how well a vaccine works on blood samples in a lab. And because earlier versions of the vaccines have already gone through the entire process, they can see how this lab effectiveness translates to the real world. Real-world data also proves that the vaccines the boosters are based on are safe and that they protect against coronavirus. Any updates to vaccines should use almost exactly the same technology based on a slightly different version of the virus, to incorporate changes caused by mutations in the new variants. All the current vaccines are based on the original coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan in 2019. But the virus has mutated since then and lab studies suggest one big change named E484K has changed the virus in a way that helps it to evade immune cells that are only used to the older strains of the virus. This makes reinfection more likely among people who have already had Covid, and makes vaccines slightly less effective. AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna, the makers of the three vaccines the MHRA has approved for use so far, have all said they are aiming to modify their jabs to cope with variants this year. AstraZeneca, the maker of the Oxford vaccine, said it hopes its new vaccine will be ready by autumn. MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said there is no evidence that current vaccines are lacking effectiveness against known coronavirus variants. She said: 'Since December last year we have all been concerned about the appearance of variants Kent, South Africa, more recently Brazil and therefore were well-prepared to look at, when its needed, updates to ensure the vaccines being used in citizens are fully effective. 'Our goal is to ensure the vaccine modifications in future that respond to the new variants can be available in the shortest possible time but without compromising in any way on safety, on quality and on effectiveness. 'What I would emphasise at the outset is that we dont have evidence at the moment that the vaccines in use in the UK are significantly lacking in effectiveness but we are now well-prepared.' To employ state of the art digital advertising to increase market and brand awareness Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Plant&Co. Brands Ltd. (CSE: VEGN) (FSE: VGP) (OTC Pink: VGANF) ("Plant&Co"), a modern health and wellness company curating delicious plant-based foods, is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with Native Ads Inc. ("Native Ads") to provide a comprehensive digital media marketing campaign for cash consideration of $300,000. The comprehensive advertising program is designed to build brand familiarity, general recognition, and awareness within online investor content platforms. The term of the agreement extends from the effective date of February 25, 2021 until the digital media marketing campaign and related media buying concludes. The campaign includes, but is not limited to, content creation, web development, media buying and distribution, advertising development, and campaign reporting and optimization. About Native Ads Inc. Native Ads is a full-service ad agency that owns and operates a proprietary ad exchange with over 80 integrated SSPs (supply-side platforms) resulting in daily access to three to seven billion North American ad impressions. About Plant&Co Plant&Co. Brands Ltd. (CSE: VEGN) (FSE: VGP) (OTC Pink: VGANF) is modern health and wellness company curating delicious plant-based foods. For more information please visit: www.PlantandCo.com. About Holy Crap At Holy Crap Foods Inc. our mission is to create products that create a healthy gut through simple, quality ingredients that ultimately feed the connection between gut and mind. Holy Crap is an organic breakfast cereal for today's consumer that expects their food to work hard for them. Our great tasting cereal helps maintain a healthy gut which creates a happy mind. For more information on the healthy and high-quality breakfast cereals visit: www.HolyCrap.com. About YamChops YamChops is a plant-based butcher shop based in Toronto, Ontario. Vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and even meat enthusiasts love visiting the beautifully curated shop located in the heart of Toronto's food district. Whether customers sample YamChops' Tunaless "Tuna", Chick*n Schnitzel, Szechuan "Beef", Montreal Style "Steak", or browse their vegan grocery market assisted by its knowledgeable staff, customers will have an unforgettable experience at YamChops vegan butcher shop. YamChops' mission is to provide extraordinary plant-based foods and provide extraordinary service to its customers, with a vision to expand its plant based culinary experience and make YamChops the destination of choice for all consumers. For more product information please visit: www.YamChops.com. Interested entrepreneurs can find more information regarding YamChops franchising opportunities by visiting the YamChops website: https://yamchops.com/pages/franchise. For additional information, please contact: Shawn Moniz Chief Executive Officer ir@plantandco.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Plant&Co. and Holy Crap within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including with respect to the closing of the Transaction and the business plans and prospects of Plant&Co. and Holy Crap. Plant&Co. and Holy Crap provide forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in Plant&Co.'s and Holy Crap's public filings under their respective SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Plant&Co. and Holy Crap have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Plant&Co. and Holy Crap disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76055 Horse Well Drilling Update Melbourne, Mar 4, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - By way of market update, and in response to a large and increasing number of queries from shareholders regarding the anticipated timing of the results of its initial drilling program at Horse Well, Cohiba Minerals Limited ( ASX:CHK ) advises that it is expecting to be in a position to announce the results of that drilling program by the end of next week.In relation to the dispute in respect of its interest in the Olympic Domain tenements, the Company maintains the position that it has well exceeded the financial milestone required to earn its 80% interest in the tenements the subject of the Olympic Domain farm-in agreement. Cohiba continues to pursue formal recognition of this position through the litigation proceedings previously announced.Cohiba's Executive Director and CEO, Andrew Graham said, "Following a number of delays, we now expect to be able to release key information pertaining to the Horse Well drilling program towards the end of next week. We are appreciative of shareholder patience in this matter and look forward to being able to release the results of the program shortly. We are also working very hard to secure recognition of Cohiba's 80% stake in the Olympic Domain tenements and want to assure all shareholders that we will exhaust every avenue necessary to achieve that outcome."About Cohiba Minerals Limited Cohiba Minerals Limited (ASX:CHK) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange with the primary focus of investing in the resource sector through direct tenement acquisition, joint ventures, farm in arrangements and new project generation. The shares of the company trade under the ticker symbol CHK. The Company recently acquired 100% of the shares in Charge Lithium Pty Ltd, which holds exploration licences in Western Australia. Thats not to say there werent verbal throw downs. There were. A lot, actually. But they mostly involved real issues about racism and privilege. Kevin, who is Black, wasnt interested in letting his white cast mates off the hook. And as Heather points out in hindsight, Wheres the lie? So far, Kevin is the one we see expressing the most introspection, contemplating the potential conversations he hopes to be having now, today. And because of that, he is the most interesting and thoughtful person on this reconstituted version of the show. All human beings are imperfect and fragile and we can change, he says, and it is a sentiment filled with optimism and openness. Research sponsored by Starburst and Red Hat shows data access is more critical for 53% of respondents since the pandemic New market research commissioned by Starburst and Red Hat, shows that data access has become more critical for 53% of survey respondents throughout the pandemic as analytics workloads and demands increase significantly. The survey, conducted by independent research firm Enterprise Management Associates, found that the imperative for faster data access is about driving business outcomes, with 35% of survey respondents looking to analyze real-time changes to risk and 36% wanting to improve growth and revenue generation through more intelligent customer engagements. More than one-third (37%) of survey respondents aren't confident in their ability to access timely, relevant data for critical analytics and decision-making. "The State of Data and What's Next" survey revealed that this lack of confidence stems from four main challenges currently facing data teams: Data is significantly distributed and this complexity isn't going away. The survey found that half (52%) of respondents have data in five or more data storage platforms. And more enterprises are expected to follow this trend, with 56% of respondents claiming they will have data on more than five platforms in the next year. It appears distributed data is here to stay. Moving data across sources is riddled with challenges. Many enterprises are finding the task of building and deploying data pipelines difficult. Some of the biggest obstacles they face are combining data in motion with data at rest (32%), the excessive time it takes to address break and fix (30%), data pipeline complexity (26%) and the manual coding lift for deploying error-free data pipelines (25%). Developing a data pipeline is time intensive. Building the right infrastructure for accessing data takes significant time and manpower, and enterprises can't afford to wait. For 45% of survey respondents, it currently takes more than a day to develop a data pipeline, with 27% saying it can take anywhere from three days to two months.Not to mention making that data pipeline operational takes more time 52% of respondents said that it adds another day or more, with 24% saying it adds another week to the process. Every second between querying data and gaining insight counts. With the rapidly changing landscape of almost every industry due to the pandemic, today's enterprises have significantly less time to gain insight on their data before it's outdated. Viability of business decisions comes down to a matter of milliseconds (according to 17% of respondents), with 39% of business decisions requiring latency of one second or less. "Data is the lifeblood of any business trying to navigate today's digital economy. What we're seeing in these survey results is that organizations have clear demands for faster and more comprehensive data access, but technical challenges still exist," said Justin Borgman CEO of Starburst. "It's imperative that companies overcome these challenges because their customer experience, competitive advantage and growth depend on it. By empowering our customers to access all of their data, regardless of location, Starburst enables better and faster business decisions." The survey shows that enterprises are turning to specific practices and product capabilities to meet these challenges: Multi-cloud flexibility.Among survey respondents, 56% of their data is in the cloud and 44% is on-premises. The move to the cloud is quickly progressing, however, with respondents expecting to have 62% of their data in the cloud and 38% on-premises by the end of 2021. And this migration is not to one specific cloud provider: the number one criteria respondents looked for in cloud data storage was the flexibility to access data from multiple clouds (47%). Automation, search cataloging. When asked, almost half (44%) of respondents identified automating IT and data operations as the most important practice to improve their organization's data strategy. Survey respondents also identified implementing search (32%) and cataloguing data (30%) among the most important practices, pointing toward the necessity for organizations to make finding and using the right data a quick and easy process for users across the enterprise. Modern analytical capabilities. Legacy data solutions are no longer meeting the needs of the modern enterprise data analysts need future-facing tools that enable the processes they are engaging in most. For 42% of respondents, that is running a single query across relational databases, file systems and object storage. Data analysts are also looking for the most support in analyzing streaming data or real-time events (38%) and running a single query across structured and semi-structured data (37%). "The opportunity for every organization is to convert data into action," said Mike Piech, Vice President and General Manager of Cloud Storage and Data Services at Red Hat. "But the challenge we see organizations facing is a veritable tsunami of diverse data in their hybrid cloud environments, with a range of users needing access to it, including application developer and DevOps teams, data science and data engineering teams, and cloud infrastructure teams. The imperative is to create a consistent foundation for storage that can handle a wider range of workload types, from structured databases and semi-structured data warehouses to unstructured data lakes. With this foundation, organizations can be better positioned to harness insights from their data, no matter where it comes from in their hybrid cloud environment." "It was clear even before this research that enterprise technology needs have drastically shifted over the past year," said John Santaferraro, Research Director at Enterprise Management Associates. "This research identifies that there is a chasm between data requirements and current capabilities, pinpoints what is most needed to bridge that chasm, and provides the roadmap for how technology solutions will need to evolve to meet these needs." Download the full report here. Methodology The survey of 402 respondents located in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia and Singapore was conducted by independent research firm Enterprise Management Associates in December 2020. Respondents included IT decision makers and data management professionals from organizations across a range of industries, including manufacturing, retail, telecommunications, finance and more. About Starburst Starburst unlocks the value of data by making it fast and easy to access anywhere. Starburst queries data across any database, making it instantly actionable for data-driven organizations. With Starburst, teams can lower the total cost of their infrastructure and analytics investments, prevent vendor lock-in, and use the existing tools that work for their business. Starburst and the Starburst logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Starburst Data, Inc. Red Hat and the Red Hat logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. About EMA Founded in 1996, EMA is a leading industry analyst firm that specializes in providing deep insight across the full spectrum of IT and data management technologies. EMA analysts leverage a unique combination of practical experience, insight into industry best practices, and in-depth knowledge of current and planned vendor solutions to help their clients achieve their goals. Learn more about EMA research, analysis, and consulting services for enterprise line of business users, IT professionals and IT vendors at https://www.enterprisemanagement.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005129/en/ Contacts: Jill Creelman Inkhouse starburst@inkhouse.com 781-966-4100 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) A top of official of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City said more of their personnel have expressed willingness to receive Chinas Sinovac vaccines. For the past few days tumataas iyong nagbibigay ng consent kahit alam nila na may isa pang brand na parating, Dr. Gerardo Aquino, chief of VSMMC, said in a briefing, referring to the expected arrival of AstraZeneca vaccine on Thursday evening. Lalo na siguro pagkatapos ng araw na ito we are expecting na tataas pa rin iyong magko-consent. [Translation: For the past few days, the number of people giving their consent is increasing despite knowing that another brand will also arrive. We are expecting that this will further increase after this day.] The said hospital facility started its vaccine rollout on Thursday. Aquino, the first to be inoculated, said he did not experience any adverse effects at least one hour after the procedure. He said got his shot to show his staff the importance of the vaccine and that there is nothing to be afraid of. Aquino noted that as of their latest count, 1,246 among their 2,900 personnel have signed up to receive the vaccine, an increase from the 700 who earlier signified their willingness to get the shots. On Sunday, the government received around 600,000 doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac. These were distributed to COVID-19 referral hospitals across the country to be administered first to health workers. At least 7,200 doses of the vaccine were brought to Cebu on Tuesday, which were transferred to VSMMC. Aquino said the program will be implemented over 6-7 days, with a target to inoculate 400 staff members per day. It was not immediately clear how many were vaccinated on Thursday. Since vaccination is voluntary, he said they also came up with a quick substitution list to replace personnel who will reject the Sinovac vaccine. During the ceremonial vaccination, Mel Feliciano, chief implementer of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Visayas, said this is a welcome breakthrough for all the people in Visayas. Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo, who also joined the program, encouraged health workers to get vaccinated so they can have the protection they need amid the fight against COVID-19. VSMMC nurse April Denise Cabatingan said she is proud to be part of history and that they are excited about the arrival of the vaccine. She is among the 15 nurses who will administer the shots. She too will be vaccinated on Friday. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque was also present during the event. Based on latest data from the Health Department, the tally of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City has reached 18,124, with 3,469 active cases. The city also recorded 13,938 recoveries, and 717 deaths. CNN Philippines correspondent Dale Israel contributed to this report. House Cancels Thursday Session After March 4 True Inauguration Day Capitol Threat Warning The House of Representatives has canceled its Thursday session after law enforcement officials warned that a militia group could be plotting to breach the Capitol building on March 4, a day some online rumors have claimed would see former President Donald Trump restored to power. The Capitol Police, the agency tasked with protecting the Capitol complex, said in a statement that it had obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday. The agency added that it is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex, with security upgrades in place to provide extra protection. While police did not provide additional details about the intelligence, they said theyre working with local and federal law enforcement agencies to stop any threats. The agency was caught flat-footed and left embarrassed after protesters and rioters breached security lines on Jan. 6 and overran the Capitol. Several Capitol Police officials resigned following the breach. A joint intelligence bulletin issued on March 2 by the Justice Department, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, obtained by Axios (pdf), warned that some domestic violent extremists (DVE) may seek to target the Capitol complex on March 4. Some DVEs motivated by the QAnon conspiracy theory believe that the previous president will be inaugurated on March 4 or will return to power on May 20 with the help of the U.S. military, the agencies said in the bulletin. Also an unidentified group of militia violent extremists (MVE), which the agencies define as individuals who seek, wholly or in part through unlawful acts of force or violence, to further their belief that the U.S. government is purposely exceeding its Constitutional authority and is attempting to establish a totalitarian regime, discussed plans to take control of the Capitol on or around March 4, according to the bulletin. MVEs also have allegedly threatened an attack against the U.S. Capitol using explosives to kill as many members of Congress as possible during the upcoming State of the Union address, the agencies warned. So far, no date has been set for President Joe Biden to deliver the customary State of the Union speech to Congress, a fact that has fed into online rumors questioning the legitimacy of his presidency. On Tuesday, Acting House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett notified Congress members of a possible security threat spanning Thursday through Saturday, referring to potential protests and demonstration activity surrounding what some have described as the true Inauguration Day.' For nearly a century, U.S. presidents have been inaugurated on Jan. 20, including Biden, who took the oath of office on the grounds of the Capitol. Previously, March 4 had been the swearing-in date. Following reports of the heightened threat levels, the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday that all votes set for later this week would be wrapped up by Wednesday evening, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Senate will convene as planned to begin debating Bidens $1.9 trillion COVID-19-relief bill on Thursday. Reuters contributed to this report. US President Joe Biden has previously spoken about his commitment to maintaining peace in Northern Ireland. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP. Joe Biden maintains unequivocal support for the Good Friday Agreement, a White House spokeswoman said. The 1998 deal, which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland, also enshrined cooperation with the Republic of Ireland. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said the UK cannot be trusted over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which ensures the Irish border remains open and free-flowing. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: President Biden has been unequivocal about his support for the Good Friday Agreement. It has been the bedrock of peace, stability and prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland. The UK has unilaterally extended some grace periods of light-touch regulation on goods crossing the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland following lobbying by businesses. Ms Psaki added: We also welcome cooperation between our British and Irish partners on the Northern Irish protocol and the recent strong statements on these governments full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement. Before his election, the US president said the Agreement cannot become a casualty of Brexit. The UK is seeking a bilateral trade deal with the US. The US has agreed to suspend millions of pounds worth of tariffs on UK exports as part of an effort to resolve a transatlantic trade dispute over aerospace subsidies. Washington will temporarily suspend tariffs on a range of goods, cutting the 25% tariff rate on Scotch whisky to zero per cent for four months, according to the Department for International Trade. Following a conversation last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to reassure Mr Biden who is fiercely proud of his Irish roots that he remained firmly committed to the Northern Ireland peace process. Mr Johnson said then: This is fundamental for us, the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the peace agreement, the Good Friday process, the Belfast Agreement, these agreements are absolutely crucial. Pressed on his support for the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal agreement following the recent row with the EU over vaccines, he replied: We want to make sure that theres free movement, north-south, free movement east-west, and we guarantee the rights of the people of Northern Ireland, of course. President Bidens ancestral homes on the west and east coast of Ireland have celebrated his inauguration with champagne and cake while waving Irish and American flags. The US presidents proud links to Ireland are well known and often spoken about by the Democrat. He is seen by many as the most Irish American president to date, with his heritage tracing back to Ballina in Co Mayo and the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth. The drilling program is focused on defining the oxide zone along a previously outlined extensive oxide-hosted gold trend in advance of finalising the maiden mineral resource estimate. Once all assays are received they will be incorporated into a resource estimate, which is on track for delivery this month. ( ) (FRA:JYA) has received new high-grade assay results of up to 1-metre at 42.6 g/t gold that enhance and extend mineralisation at Seko within its flagship Dandoko Gold Project in west Mali, Africa. Six diamond (DD) holes and 15 reverse circulation (RC) holes completed in the ongoing 2021 drilling campaign at SK1 have continued to intersect high-grade gold mineralisation. The 42.6 g/t result in SK1 North infill drilling was within 3 metres at 17.8 g/t which in turn was within 14 metres at 4.17 g/t gold from 155 metres. Hanging wall lode extended A strong result from SK1 South step-out drilling was 5 metres at 1.36 g/t from 61 metres, including 5 metres at 5.34 g/t that included 1-metre at 13.60 g/t in hole RDSK21-104. This hole has extended the emerging hanging wall lode down dip from a previous shallow gold intersection of 10 metres at 4.04 g/t from 11 metres. The hanging wall lode is associated with a wide zone of altered and deformed, brecciated sediments that averages 1 g/t gold over 57 metres from a downhole depth of 39 metres and follow-up drilling at depth is in progress. Assay results from reconnaissance shallow aircore (AC) drilling also confirm further growth opportunities near Seko for follow-up evaluation. These include: 17 metres at 1.02 g/t from 32 metres, including 4 metres at 2.75 g/t, to the immediate southwest of SK1 South; and 17 metres at 0.64 g/t from 33 metres, including 6 metres at 1.13 g/t, around 1 kilometre south of SK3. Highly encouraged by wide zone Oklo managing director Simon Taylor said: We are highly encouraged by the wide zone of hydrothermal alteration emerging within the hanging wall at SK1 South associated with medium to high grade gold mineralisation. With the resource definition drilling program now complete, we remain on track to deliver our maiden mineral resource estimate during March. Shares have been as much as 9% higher intra-day to A$0.175. Location of Seko and Koko gold trends within the Dandoko gold corridor. Ongoing exploration Reconnaissance AC drilling is ongoing, testing additional targets near Seko identified through a combination of previous auger geochemical drilling, induced polarisation (IP) geophysical surveys and geological mapping. Regional programs are also commencing on the Kandiole, Kouroufing, Sari and Kossaya licences. Over a month ago, we had the first piece of information regarding Samsung Galaxy A80's successor. Other than the model number and the fact that it will feature a quirky camera module with a rotating mechanism, there was nothing else in the report. Now, we have the chipset, thanks to a couple of Geekbench listings. The model number SM-A826S helped us identify the handset as the Galaxy A82 5G and to our surprise, it will feature the Snapdragon 855+ SoC launched in late 2018. The configuration that was tested also runs Android 11 out of the box and is equipped with 6GB of RAM. We will wait for more details to come around to paint a fuller picture. Source We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form London: Officials in Europe have blocked the shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia in a ploy set to trigger a major diplomatic dispute. The decision is the first time the European Commission has used its powers over whether vaccines manufactured on the continent by Pfizer and AstraZeneca can leave its territory. The export controls - which have been widely criticised as a dangerous example of vaccine nationalism - were hurriedly drawn up in January after the drug giants warned supply to Europe over coming months would be slashed because of production delays. More than 150 international deliveries were authorised without a hitch over recent weeks, but Italy has now opposed the delivery to Australia. Romes objection was endorsed by the European Commission. Doubts have been raised over the timeline of rape allegations against Christian Porter as it's revealed the venue in which she claimed she danced with the then 17-year-old Attorney-General wasn't open yet. A shattered Mr Porter on Wednesday called a press conference to publicly deny the allegations and was asked by a journalist if he had 'been out to dinner, went dancing at the Hard Rock Cafe, and then walked the alleged victim back to her room'. Mr Porter replied he was not sure of his full movements on the night of the January 1988 alleged incident because 'this was 33 years ago'. The Hard Rock Cafe in Sydney is understood to have been mentioned in a letter sent to the Prime Minister, Labor's Penny Wong, and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. The Darlinghurst venue has since been revealed to have not opened until April 1989 - 15 months after the alleged incident. Sydney's Hard Rock Cafe (pictured) is understood to be central to allegations against Mr Porter but did not open until 15 months after the alleged incident Mr Porter (pictured) at a press conference on Tuesday appeared shattered as he denied the historic rape allegations against him While the revelation does not prove or disprove the woman's version of events, the discrepancy does cast doubt over the timeline of the allegations. The only confirmed reference to the Hard Rock Cafe has been from questions at Tuesday's press conference with the alleged victim's statement she prepared for her lawyers yet to be revealed. Mr Porter emphatically denies the allegations that as a 17-year-old he raped the then 16-year-old girl when they were both attending a week-long debating competition in Sydney. No charges have been pressed against the nation's top law official and the criminal case has been closed because of a lack of evidence. The government has also back the attorney-general with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg insisting the allegations are finished after he denied the claims. But immense pressure remains on the Morrison government to launch an independent inquiry. Christian Porter (pictured during a debate when he was a schoolboy) has been accused of raping a woman when he was 17 and she was 16 after a debating competition at Sydney University in 1988 Mr Porter is expected to be on leave for about two weeks but won't quit cabinet after vehemently rejecting the allegations. 'The matter is at an end because the police have spoken,' Mr Frydenberg told Sky News on Thursday. 'It's the police whose judgement and whose decision is the most important here.' The deputy Liberal leader rejected calls for an investigation to review the historical allegations, saying Mr Porter's critics will never be satisfied. 'Christian Porter has emphatically denied the events and he's entitled to the presumption of innocence,' Mr Frydenberg said. Mr Porter on Wednesday identified himself as the cabinet minister at the centre of an alleged sexual assault. 'It just didn't happen,' he told reporters. 'Could I have forgotten or misconstrued the things that I have read, which are said to have occurred? Absolutely not.' Mr Porter announced he had split from his second wife Jennifer (pictured together) - who is 13 years his junior - in January 2020. An anonymous sender wrote a letter to MPs detailing the woman's allegations after Brittany Higgins went public with a separate claim about a parliamentary staffer The South Australian woman went to NSW police last year but withdrew her complaint before taking her own life in June. The opposition and the Greens are calling for an inquiry to restore faith in cabinet. Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said the allegations against the attorney-general were serious and credible. 'The prime minister really needs to stop looking at this as an issue of glib political management,' she told ABC radio. Greens senator Larissa Waters said there was no possible advantage for women in making up sexual assault allegations. 'His statement was based on the premise that he thinks women make this sort of stuff up and I just simply don't accept that,' she told ABC TV. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said the attorney-general's denial would not stop the 'demeaning' speculation on social media about the issue. 'I believe some form of external inquiry would be a vastly better alternative than what we're seeing,' he told ABC radio. Independent MP Zali Steggall called for the prime minister to show leadership by calling an inquiry. Western Australia senator Michaelia Cash will act as federal attorney-general and industrial relations minister during Mr Porter's absence. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A mum who has just spent two years growing her hair back following chemo feared she would have to chop it all back off after her mischievous daughters got 'about 50' Bunchems toys tangled in her 'precious' locks. Breast cancer survivor Donia Youssef, 42, from Grays, Essex, thought nothing of letting her little girls Aaliyah, eight, and Tiana Youssef-Thomas, five, 'play hairdressers' with her long locks on Tuesday night. However, relaxation soon turned to horror when a panicked Aaliyah shouted that the plastic balls had become stuck in her mum's hair and would not come out despite her tugging on them desperately. The author and company director urged her kids not to panic and put them to bed, but soon realised the coloured balls were completely 'matted' in her locks. Breast cancer survivor Donia Youssef, 42, from Grays, Essex, spent two years growing her hair back following chemo. Pictured, with no hair following treatment She thought nothing of letting her little girls Aaliyah, eight, and Tiana Youssef-Thomas, five, 'play hairdressers' with her long locks on Tuesday night - until 'about 50' got stuck in her hair (pictured) A panicked Aaliyah shouted that the plastic balls had become stuck in her mum's hair and would not come out despite her tugging on them desperately. Pictured, Donia with daughters Aaliyah and Tiana Eventually, the stressed mum was freed, but not before losing large clumps of the hair she had waited so long to grow (pictured) Donia then spent 22 hours trying to get the Bunchems out of her hair - unable to sleep as a spiky crown had formed across her hairline. Eventually, the stressed mum was freed, but not before losing large clumps of the hair she had waited so long to grow. Now, she is calling for the toys to be banned while urging other parents not to buy the toys or to throw them out if they already have. 'It was horrendous,' said Donia. There were about 50 in there. [Bunchems] should be banned. I lost all my hair because of chemotherapy so this to me is an absolute nightmare. Donia (pictured, now) is calling for the toys to be banned while urging other parents not to buy the toys or to throw them out if they already have The author and company director urged her kids not to panic and put them to bed, but soon realised the coloured balls were completely 'matted' in her locks (pictured) 'I thought I'd have to cut the things out. It's taken me two years to grow my hair long again from being bald. I've been up since 3am this morning trying to get them out. I was worried. 'There was a lot of hair coming out because unfortunately it was all wrapped around the balls. 'It's not great and especially for me, my hair is really precious. I've spent all this time growing it. 'They're going in the bin. My message to parents is get rid of them, straight away. Get rid of them. They are banned from my household and should be banned full stop.' Donia had initially told her girls not to panic but as she tried to take control and remove them herself, she realised to Bunchems were not budging. Over the course of the evening, she tried to get them out with oil and even soaked her hair in the bath, hoping the water would help it separate and release the toys. Over the course of the evening, Donia tried to get them out with oil and even soaked her hair in the bath, hoping the water would help it separate and release the toys. Pictured, the Bunchems once removed In a panic, Donia then called Ebby Ijomoni (pictured, together), 31, who came over with conditioner and detangler and stayed for five hours patiently unravelling hair from each piece Donia, who has been in remission since January 2018, said: 'I was trying to juggle schoolchildren and working life. I was trying to keep the children quiet for 10 minutes and they said 'can we play hairdressers?' 'I didn't even know what Bunchems were. The little one, five, had all different colours of these things. 'She said: "Mummy, can I put them in your hair" and I said "yes of course", thinking they were hair accessories. They must have been given them for a party or birthday present. 'I'm sat there and the next minute the eldest starts panicking saying 'Mummy, Mummy, they're not going to come out'. 'I said "don't panic". She was getting so worked up. But the next minute I thought "oh my god, they won't come out". 'She was more worried than me. I've obviously been through cancer and lost my hair. I had to sleep in them all night which obviously weren't very comfortable. They were all at the front of my hair so I can't even chop it out. Donia (pictured), who has been in remission since January 2018, branded the whole situation a 'nightmare' Donia then spent 22 hours trying to get the Bunchems out of her hair - unable to sleep as a spiky crown had formed across her hairline (pictured) Donia said it was 'horrendous' - adding she lost all her hair because of chemotherapy so this to her was 'an absolute nightmare.' Pictured, Ebby shows hair stuck to her hand after removal of the Bunchems 'I bathed this morning to try and see if [the matted hair] would separate by lying with my hair down in the water, but no. 'I said [to the girls] "don't worry, we've got Ebby, the hairdresser down the road". She's a friend.' In a panic, Donia then called Ebby Ijomoni, 31, who came over with conditioner and detangler and stayed for five hours patiently unravelling hair from each piece. After using the hair products, Ebby was able to remove every piece - but sadly pulled out huge clumps of Donia's hair in the process. Donia said: 'The problem is you put the [Bunchems] in your hair, then they weirdly start getting attracted each other, then they all lock up and it's a big, matted mess. 'My friend has a huge bottle of conditioner, detangle spray and a bottle of water. The comb broke too. 'My children are mixed race, so they've got Afro-Caribbean hair. If it got in their hair - good god. Their hair is a nightmare as it is to manage. 'My hair is European hair but it's still an absolute nightmare. I was going to chop it off last night because I couldn't sleep on it properly. After using the hair products, Ebby was able to remove every piece - but sadly pulled out huge clumps of Donia's hair in the process. Pictured, together Donia told how her friend (pictured) has a huge bottle of conditioner, detangle spray and a bottle of water - adding that the comb broke too 'My hairdresser came to the rescue, so sorry covid, we [had] an actual emergency here. 'I need to complain to [Bunchems manufacturer] and send the hairdresser's bill. 'I've got to go to the hospital in a couple of days and [I feared I'd] have to walk out in public with them in.' A spokesperson for the toy manufacturer Spin Master, who launched Bunchems in 2015, commented: 'We express our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this has caused for both her and her children. 'While the packaging clearly indicates that Bunchems should be kept away from hair, we recognize that accidents like this may happen. 'We are no longer producing this item and any product still on shelf are through third-party sellers. 'We encourage parents who may have the item in their home to read the directions carefully and leverage our online resources to help guide play with the product.' Learn more about the inspiration for March 14 concert Anytime is birding time...but especially springtime! On Sunday, March 14, an evening concert of student ensembles in the School of Music will feature two premieres of works by student composers that were commissioned by the Audubon Society of Forsyth County (ASFC) as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations! Inspiration for these projects has been the Wood Thrush Project of ASFC that tracked migration of these songbirds between their breeding grounds here and their wintering grounds in Belize. This musical event seems an excellent opportunity to launch UNCSA's springtime birding activities for our campus community. Stay tuned for more details on springtime walks and a possible Audubon collegiate chapter! Learn more: Contact: Allison Gagnon March 3, 2021 Submit an announcement Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size If youve ever found yourself reading an article in The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age that details a gruesome crime or complicated trial, you might have some questions about the way we cover those events. Crime reporting can be a legal minefield for journalists and the end result sometimes leaves readers feeling like theyre only getting half the story. Questions crop up about whether we protect complainants and those theyre accusing by hiding their identities, particularly when those in positions of power are accused of crimes such as sexual assault and they have already been identified on social media. Were also asked why we use words such as allegedly. How are crime reporters restricted by the law? Why do they include what they include, and leave out what they leave out? And do the rules apply on social media? Why is the identity of an alleged perpetrator kept secret? In some cases, a person accused of a crime may not be named in media reports. There are a number of reasons why this may happen, and it is not about protecting an accused person. Advertisement If no charges have been laid against a person and, indeed, in some cases charges may never be laid a news outlet might consider the legal risk of naming them as an alleged perpetrator is unacceptably high. That person might sue a publisher for defamation for suggesting they were guilty of a crime. In cases where criminal charges have been laid, there may be a suppression order covering the identity of the alleged perpetrator to protect an alleged victim being identified by association (such as if the two people are family members). In some states there is also a legal prohibition on identifying a person accused of sexual offences during the initial stage of their criminal case. These bans may be lifted at a later stage. Finally, there may be policy or editorial considerations, among other factors, that are weighed in deciding whether to name an alleged perpetrator. In the Brittany Higgins case, which involved an allegation of rape against a former political staffer, not naming the alleged perpetrator focused public discussion on the response of the federal government to the allegations, rather than conducting a media trial into the truth of the allegations. Why is the identity of a victim kept secret? As weve noted above, there may be cases in which the media is prohibited from identifying a victim of crime. Child victims of crime cannot be identified in news reports in most Australian states. There is also a prohibition on identifying the complainant in cases involving sexual offences in order to protect their privacy and encourage other complainants to come forward. In stories where complainants are identified, its usually because they have consented to being identified. Australian of the Year Grace Tame won a court order in Tasmania in 2019 to identify herself publicly as a child sexual assault survivor. With journalist and sexual assault survivor advocate Nina Funnell and law firm Marque Lawyers, she was the face of the successful #LetHerSpeak campaign to change the law in Tasmania to make it easier for future survivors to tell their stories publicly. Advertisement Why do media refer to alleged crimes even if the crime seems clear? One of the fundamental tenets of our legal system is that people are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. In every case involving an allegation that a person has committed a crime, it poses a legal risk to assert they are guilty of that crime before a court has determined their guilt. A media outlet might run the risk of being sued for defamation which is a lawsuit seeking damages for publications that harm a persons reputation or being in contempt of court by influencing witnesses or people who may end up being on the jury in the case (see more on contempt below). In crime reports, we make a clear distinction between a fact and an allegation. When a person is found dead, for example, it may be tempting to conclude they were murdered, and it may seem overly cautious to refer to an alleged murder. In almost all cases, however, it is not possible to say what crime has been committed until after a trial. There may be a death or even a killing, but was it murder, manslaughter, or neither? In a recent case, Sydney man Blake Davis stood trial for murder after killing a home invader, Jett McKee, with a samurai sword. Nobody disputed that Davis killed McKee, but the jury found him not guilty of murder and guilty instead of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Murder was indeed alleged, but was not found. Murder or manslaughter? In order to find a person guilty of murder, a judge or jury would need to be satisfied that an accused had intended to kill the victim or inflict grievous bodily harm when they carried out an act causing their death; or they acted with reckless indifference to human life; or they caused the death during the commission of another serious crime. They would also need to reject any defences, such as self-defence. If they are not satisfied the accused committed murder, they may find them guilty of manslaughter, or find them not guilty of this too. In the #MeToo era, some people may consider that referring to an alleged sexual assault implies the complainants account is not truthful. The word is used to make it clear that an allegation has been made and it has not been tested in court, not that either party should be believed or disbelieved. Advertisement How can we draw the line between facts and allegations? Its the job of a reporter to distinguish between verifiable facts and mere allegations. The reason we do this is there may be reasonable grounds to suspect a person has engaged in wrongdoing but it would be risky to go further and imply a person is guilty. In a famous 1964 British defamation case about newspaper reporting of a fraud squad investigation, the distinction was explained in this way: A man who wants to talk at large about smoke may have to pick his words very carefully if he wants to exclude the suggestion that there is also fire. [Words] can convey a meaning of suspicion short of guilt: but loose talk about suspicion can very easily convey the impression that it is a suspicion that is well founded. In order to fulfil our obligation to produce a fair and accurate report of court proceedings, articles are required to include certain information about a case. For example, if the accused is named they must be identified with precision so as not to defame someone with a similar name. Reporters are also required to provide an accurate summary of the charges and report on both the prosecution and defence arguments. Why do some crime reports include vast detail while others contain only bare facts? You might have noticed that some reports contain a trove of information relating to an alleged crime, from timelines to photo galleries, while others are pared back to a minimum. This is because media outlets may publish detailed accounts of a crime until an arrest is made or charges are laid. Then, theyre subject to the law of sub judice contempt, which means literally that a matter is under a judge. Advertisement Once a matter is sub judice, media outlets cannot publish reports that might sway a jury or a witness. This would amount to interfering in the administration of justice. The only thing a jury should be considering, when deciding if someone is guilty or not guilty, is what they hear inside the courtroom not in the media (or on social media). This is why jurors are also told explicitly that they should not search for previous news reports on a case. If an accused is found guilty after a trial, media reporting is likely to revert to including more detail, including detail that the jury might not have heard in evidence (such as an accused persons criminal history). Some criminal trials are presided over by a judge sitting without a jury. In those cases, media outlets have more latitude in what they can report before questions of contempt arise. This is because the law assumes a judge will put media reporting out of his or her mind in deciding a case. An example of this was the Western Australian trial of the so-called Claremont killer, Bradley Edwards, who was sentenced in December to two life terms with a minimum non-parole period of 40 years for the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon in the mid-1990s. Media reporting on this case included details that could not have been aired if it was a jury trial. Suppression orders aimed at ensuring an accused receives a fair trial will also affect the level of detail in reporting. A total suppression order covered Cardinal George Pells trial in Victoria for child sexual abuse offences, meaning it was not reported at all at the time. The High Court subsequently acquitted him of the crimes. The reason for the suppression order was that a second jury trial against Cardinal Pell was contemplated at the time of the first trial, and there were concerns the second jury would be prejudiced by media reporting of the result in the first case. The second trial did not proceed. The internet poses obstacles to ensuring compliance with suppression orders. After overseas media outlets published detailed reports naming Cardinal Pell and the initial guilty verdict against him, 14 Australian media outlets, including The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, published and broadcast reports that said a high-profile person had been convicted of a crime. While the media outlets were careful not to name Cardinal Pell or the charges involved, they were later charged with contempt of court and admitted to a combined 21 charges of breaching the suppression order. Prosecutors argued that although the reports did not name Cardinal Pell, they encouraged readers, viewers and listeners to search online for more information. If its all based on what the law will allow, why do bloggers and social media cover crimes differently? Advertisement A $4.2 billion plan to fund various COVID-19 response and relief measures while tying some of the money to policy bills limiting the administrations authority to issue pandemic-related orders advanced through the House Wednesday afternoon. The spending plan, the bulk of which comes from federal funds appropriated to Michigan by Congress, cleared the Senate on Tuesday and will soon head to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers desk. Whitmer, who was not involved with the negotiations, has advocated for the Legislature to advocate all of the federal spending available to the state and has previously vetoed efforts to curb her administrations powers. Taken together, House Bills 4047 and 4048 include $2.3 billion for vaccines, testing, direct care worker payments and property tax relief, as well as $1.9 billion for addressing learning loss and returning schools to in-person learning. The two spending bills earned bipartisan support, passing 85-25 and 77-33, respectively. More than $840 million in school funding included in 4048 is tie-barred to House Bill 4049, which would shift authority on closing in-person learning and sporting events during the COVID-19 pandemic from the state to local health departments. That legislation also passed the House Wednesday. And slightly more than $347 million in COVID-19 testing funds is tied to passage of Senate Bill 1, which would require legislative approval of DHHS emergency public health orders after 28 days and calls for the specific science and data behind each declaration. Whitmer vetoed a similar bill last session. Senate Bill 1 could not immediately be taken up by the House Wednesday, and House Bill 4048 was amended on the House floor, meaning the Senate will need to approve those changes. But the package earned support from the Republican-majority Legislature, where sponsors said the legislation was a lifeline for people still dealing with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. House Appropriations Chair Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, on the House floor also urged Whitmer change course immediately on COVID-19 measures: The economic devastation that is being unleashed is significant. Read more: Whitmer vetoes bills that would limit public health orders and repeal governors emergency powers Whitmer earlier this year issued her own $5.6 billion proposal for spending the funds, and Democrats have largely adhered to support of that plan. House Democrats, following the lead of Senate Democrats earlier this week, attempted to amend the legislation to allocate all of the federal dollars and remove the tie-bars to policy bills. Many House Democrats ultimately voted for House Bills 4047 and 4048, although House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, said not using all the federal funds at Michigans disposal is hampering the states ability to administer vaccines and continue responding to the pandemic. During a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Whitmer said shes been trying to negotiate with the Legislature and will continue efforts to do so. She urged lawmakers to get to the table and release funds as soon as possible, noting the more than $5 billion in federal funding for Michigan is currently gathering dust. Washington didnt send us this money to sit on it, they sent it to us because people need it, she said. They sent it to us because its crucial to economic re-engagement, and protecting public health is crucial for our seniors and for our students alike, and small businesses, too. Whitmers plan contained some elements that Senate and House Republicans have argued arent immediately pertinent to coping with the pandemic, such as $225 million in grants for job creation initiatives and $5 million to implement increased security measures at the Michigan State Capitol. Read more: Michigan Senate approves $1.9 billion for vaccine distribution, direct care worker payments, school aid The deal struck by House and Senate Republicans includes funding vaccine distribution, COVID-19 testing, emergency rental assistance and school aid, plus an extension and increase on direct care worker payments. While it didnt use all of the federal funding available to Michigan, the final plan allocated more than previous proposals on how to spend the money put forward legislative Republicans. House Bill 4047, sponsored by Rep. Timothy Beson, R-Bay City, includes $110 million for vaccine distribution allocated one-third at a time. Additional funding includes $555 million for COVID-19 testing and $600 million in food assistance benefits. The bill also incorporates $220 million in rental assistance, $300 million for the Department of Treasury to establish a property tax relief program for struggling businesses and a $150 million deposit into the states employer-funded Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. House Bill 4048, sponsored by Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles, sends $1.94 billion to fund school programs. More than $1.65 billion in federal money to ensure districts are able to afford $450 per pupil and fill gaps for underfunded districts. Additional programs included in the bill are $90 million for K-8 summer school programs to help offset learning loss during the pandemic shutdowns, $45 million to help high schoolers recover lost credit hours, $17 million for more before and after school programs and $21 million to pay staff that operate during the summer. AFTRS, ACMI, Film Victoria and Media Mentors have partnered for a series of free industry panels, Meet The Creators. The twice-monthly panels of the industry practitioners will share their secrets at the regular events live streamed via AFTRS and ACMI YouTube channels. They will be recorded at AFTRS (Sydney) and ACMI X (Melbourne) buildings in front of small, COVIDSafe live audiences. It begins next week with a celebration of Australian creatives for International Womens Day. Media Mentors Denise Eriksen said: Theres nothing we love more than seeing people inspired by their peers, talking to each other and swapping ideas and expertise, while celebrating success. So, were delighted to be involved in Meet The Creators. Well be showcasing Victorias best while making sure we also attract the best brains in our creative world, wherever they may be based. Cant wait to see you all soon wherever and however COVID lets us meet up! AFTRS CEO, Nell Greenwood, said: AFTRS is so excited to be working with ACMI, Media Mentors and Film Victoria on this celebration of Australian talent. As the national screen and broadcast school, we are passionate about supporting industry with these kinds of talks and knowledge summits, bringing together top-tier practitioners to share their insider insights. ACMI CEO & Director Katrina Sedgwick OAM said: We are delighted to be working with AFTRS, Media Mentors and Film Victoria to host this series of industry conversations and gatherings at our co-working space ACMI X. ACMI is Australias national museum of screen culture and we are eager to support screen creatives to come together and share their stories and experience, especially after such a difficult year for our industry. Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher said: Were proud to support this insightful conversation series by the screen industry for the screen industry, in partnership with AFTRS, ACMI and Media Mentors. With such a high calibre of successful industry leaders, Meet the Creators is a not-to-be-missed program for Australian creatives at all stages of their careers who want to make connections and be inspired. The first event at AFTRS, on Tuesday 9th March 2021, for International Womens Day, will feature writer/director Corrie Chen, factual executive producer Debbie Cuell, director/writer/actor Leah Purcell, documentary producer Laurie Critchley and producer/writer Samantha Strauss discussing their recent projects and sharing insights into their exceptional careers with legend-in-her-own-right, AFTRS alumna Anita Jacoby AM. The first Melbourne event at ACMI X on Tuesday 23rd March 2021, titled Everyones A Winner, also celebrates success in our industries. It will be moderated by Media Mentors Australias Denise Eriksen and feature Stateless, Clickbait and Fire showrunner, AFTRS alumnus Tony Ayres, MasterChef EP Marty Benson, Freeman producer/director Laurence Billiet, and Why Are You Like This writer/actor Naomi Higgins. The program will be presented at ACMI X the creative industry co-working space that is part of Australias national museum of film, TV, video games, digital content and art. ACMI X is located on Level 4 at the Australian Ballet Centre on Kavanagh St, Southbank. AFTRS YouTube ACMI YouTube Related Press Release Nokia announces it will halve emissions from 2019 to 2030 The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has signed off Nokia's new targets which fulfil its commitment to align with limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5C. The previous targets were in line with a 2C rise Emissions will be reduced in both Nokia products in use with customers as well as Nokia's own operations 4 March 2021 Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced that it will reduce emissions by 50% across both its own operations and products in use by 2030. The company's new Science Based Targets (SBTs) fulfill its commitment to recalibrate in line with a 1.5C global warming scenario. Nokia first committed to SBTs in 2017, initially with goals based on limiting global warming to 2C. The company achieved 90% of its target savings within its own operations (scope 1 and 2) 11 years ahead of target and was on track to deliver its 'scope 3' targets for products in use with its customers. Nokia is now adopting more ambitious targets which consider a 1.5C warming limit, starting with 2019 as the baseline. These have been expanded to cover a broader base, close to 100% of the company's current product portfolio. They also now include emissions from both logistics and assembly factories within its supply chain, as well as emissions from Nokia's own operations. Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO, Nokiasaid: "We have led the way in reducing emissions from our own operations and helping our customers to do the same by continuously innovating to make our products more energy efficient in recent years. But climate change is a race against time. These tougher, new, scientifically-calibrated climate targets mean we will go further and faster to reduce our carbon footprint and ensure sustainability is at the heart of our product design and the smart solutions we enable." SBTs are authenticated by the Science Based Targets initiativewebsite during the course of today (4 March). Products in use is the largest part of Nokia's carbon footprint and the company is addressing in multiple ways, from hardware and software energy efficiency to product design, to modernization and better use of resources. For instance: Nokia's ReefShark (https://www.nokia.com/networks/technologies/reefshark/overview) chipset used in AirScale radio products cuts energy use by up to 66%. The company was the first to deliver a liquid cooled 5G base station (https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2018/12/10/a-world-first-nokia-elisa-and-efore-commercially-deploy-a-liquid-cooled-base-station-that-can-reduce-co2-emissions-by-up-to-80-percent/) into commercial operation, which can reduce the energy consumption of the base station cooling system by 90%, and CO2 emissions of the AirScale radio products by 80% including optional waste-heat re-use. Its Compact Active Antenna (https://www.nokia.com/networks/products/airscale-active-antennas/) enables the use of far less materials than any other legacy macro product. The Nokia AVA Energy Efficiency (https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2020/12/10/nokia-ava-helps-csps-reduce-energy-bills-by-up-to-20/) service can reduce energy use by 20% through cloud-based Artificial Intelligence that powers down parts of the radio network when traffic levels are low. In December 2020, the company was recognized for its contributions towards cutting emissions, mitigating climate risks and developing a low-carbon economy and included on CDP's A List in the Climate change category, the defacto standard for carbon disclosure. Emissions information and disclosure is provided in the People and Planet report. The next report will be published in April 2021. About Nokia We create the critical networks and technologies to bring together the world's intelligence, across businesses, cities, supply chains and societies. With our commitment to innovation and technology leadership, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we deliver networks at the limits of science across mobile, infrastructure, cloud, and enabling technologies. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities we need for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. About the Science Based Targets initiative The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets. The SBTi is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi call to action is one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments. Through the 2015 Paris Agreement, world governments committed to limiting global temperature rise to well-below 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that global warming must not exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change. To achieve this, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must halve by 2030 - and drop to net zero by 2050. Understanding scope 1, 2 and emissions Scope 1. Direct emissions, from sources owned or controlled by the company Scope 2. Indirect emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity, heat, and/or steam Scope 3. Indirect emissions as a consequence of the activities of the company but from sources not owned or controlled by the company 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) During his first week in office, Hunters dad, also known as Joe Biden, issued multiple executive orders that effectively hand over control of Americas energy grid to communist China. EO 13990, which purports to be about climate change, contains questionably anomalous verbiage that suspends a key security measure put in place by President Donald Trump last May. For the next 90 days, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will have full access to the United States power grid. EO 13920, which was signed by Trump and overridden by Biden, declared an official national emergency concerning the nations electric grid. It prohibited all acquisition or installation of: any bulk-power electric equipment designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary. In other words, Trump blocked adversary nations like China from having any influence over our nations power grid, which Biden quickly reversed upon being inaugurated. Trumps EO was timely because just last year the U.S. seized a Chinese-built transformer because officials believed its electronics had been secretly given malicious capabilities, possibly allowing a distant adversary to monitor or even disable it on command. Cybersecurity expert Joseph Weiss reported that officials found electronics that should not have been part of the transformer, describing them as hardware backdoors for foreign adversaries like China to effectively gain control of the transformers without any network forensics being the wiser. If the grid goes down, Americans will have Beijing Biden to blame As far back as 2001, communist China was caught trying to hack into the American energy grid. It happened in California and elsewhere, and years later intelligence reports claimed that Russia was attempting to do the same thing. Even after Bidens 90-day allowance for Chinese access to Americas grid expires, the threat to American energy continuity will still be present, warns Tommy Waller, director of infrastructure security at the Center for Security Policy. Were also worried about sensors and actuators and drives that are installed even if they are not connected to the internet, he is quoted as saying. If that hardware installed inside of them is designed at some point to send the wrong readings, it could sabotage the safety and security of that system. A 2018 report from the Presidents National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) examined Americas ability to respond to and recover from a potential outage of a magnitude beyond modern experience, exceeding prior events in severity, scale, duration, and consequence. The findings were grim. That report concluded that existing national plans, response resources, and coordination strategies would be outmatched by a catastrophic power outage, adding that this profound risk requires a new national focus. No longer can America simply plan for the catastrophes it is familiar with because foreign enemies like China are learning how to outsmart us. Meanwhile, China Joe is aiding and abetting the communist regime by give it an in into one of our most critical resources: energy. What this means, of course, is that Biden is a treasonous criminal who should not even be a free man, let alone the president. Why Americans are letting this charade persist says a lot about the state of the Union, which ironically Biden has refused to address, breaking with tradition. Despite the efforts to secure the grid from a potentially catastrophic shutdown, the threat of a devastating power disruption remains, warns George Griffin from the Consortium of Defense Analysts blog. Bidens seemingly irrational lifting of the embargo against China, and by extension anyone else that would hope to see America go down in flames, does nothing to protect the U.S. Instead Biden has opened the door to a cyber attack from any number of countries and terrorist originations that view the national power grid as a prime target. More related news about Joe Bidens America can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: CofDA.Wordpress.com NaturalNews.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Management No new OMB pick yet, White House says Shalanda Young, the Biden administration's pick for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, could lead the agency while a new nominee to service as director is sought. Young had her second nomination hearing in the Senate for the deputy position on Thursday, alongside Jason Miller, the nominee to serve as deputy director for management at the agency. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Thursday not to expect a new OMB director nominee this week to replace the scuttled nomination of Neera Tanden. The Biden administration is "certainly hopeful Congress will move forward on [confirming Young as deputy directory]," Psaki said. "And then she would be in a place to be the acting head while we go through the process of nominating a replacement for Neera." Top House Democrats have been lobbying for Shalanda Young, staff director at the House Appropriations Committee, to be swapped in for Tanden, whose combative social media presence drew negative attention from Republican senators. Republicans in the Senate Budget Committee have also said they'd support Young's promotion to the director position. Young previewed her plans for OMB during a hearing before the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee that focused in on workforce and technology issues. A critical part of strengthening and diversifying the federal workforce will be broadening the applicant pool, Young said. Young got her start as a Presidential Management Fellow, but not everyone knows about these types of opportunities, she said. "I was lucky to find a brochure in a dean's office in New Orleans," said Young, a Louisiana native. "I think we have to do a better job of where we recruit around the country. I think people will travel, they will serve their country, they just don't know a lot opportunities exist." Strengthening recruiting at community colleges could help, she said. She testified with Jason Miller, Biden's nominee for deputy director for management. He worked as an economic advisor during the Obama administration and has since served as the CEO of the Greater Washington Partnership, a nonprofit civic alliance aimed at spurring economic growth in the Washington region. If confirmed, Miller will play a central role in developing and implementing the president's management agenda, which sets priorities across the federal government for modernization. Sorting out bottlenecks in the recruitment and hiring process will be part of efforts to recruit more people into the federal workforce, he said. He'd also work with the Office of Personnel Management and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council on the recruitment issue, Miller said. "Our committed federal workers are an asset to our country, and addressing our challenges will require strengthening and energizing our federal workforce and inspiring even more Americans to serve," said Miller. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) directed the conversation to IT modernization, telling the nominees that OMB has a critical role to play in holding agencies accountable for modernizing their technology. Young assured Hassan that she'd pursue that if confirmed, but she also emphasized the importance of resources for IT modernization. "We've dealt with budget caps over the last 10 years," she said. "When your choice is between programs that impact families and IT systems, sometimes IT systems have not won out." Not fixing "lackluster information technology systems" can create problems in other areas, Young said, pointing to modernization as a key part of preventing improper payment and fraud, which have ballooned in the unemployment insurance arena since the start of the pandemic. The Technology Modernization Fund can be critical to bypassing the one year budget and appropriations cycle that often hampers modernization efforts that have a longer timeline, she said. Miller vowed to work on filling technical talent gaps in the workforce. He pointed to the example of the United States Digital Service as having success in recruiting more technically skilled workers into the federal government, but said that more work needs to be done. He'll work with chief information officers and agencies to address this need, which is especially critical in the cybersecurity realm, he said. Finally, Young and Miller both addressed the recent issuance of the Government Accountability's biennial High Risk List about places in the government susceptible to waste, fraud and abuse. OMB has a role to play in issuing guidance to agencies to ensure that they respond to GAO's recommendations, Young said. Miller also said that he planned to restart collaboration between OMB, GAO and agencies to make progress on cybersecurity and strategic human capital management in particular. [March 04, 2021] Temenos and Canadian Western Bank Break the Boundaries of SME Banking with an Explainable AI Digital Banking Solution Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announced that it is partnering with Canadian Western Bank (CWB) on a pioneering innovation to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with financial decision-making and growing their businesses. The new solution, Temenos Virtual COO, is built on Temenos Infinity, the leading omnichannel digital banking product, and leverages Temenos Analytics and Explainable AI (XAI), API-first, cloud-native technology. Temenos Virtual COO will offer relevant insights to accelerate the growth of small businesses and put business owners in control of their companies' financial destiny. SME owners will be able to simulate different business scenarios with XAI-driven modeling enabling them to identify the best course of action for their business. The new solution will aggregate financial banking and business data to provide a consolidated real-time view of an SME's financial health, and lighten the administrative burden so that business owners can spend more time on their business. Temenos Virtual COO will enable banks around the world to deliver tailored experiences that help SMEs navigate a complex and constantly changing landscape, and provide an open banking ecosystem for a centralized, next-generation experience. With this innovation, CWB will cement its position as the trusted advisor for SMEs in Canada, and a pioneer in financial services. Temenos Virtual COO emerged from Temenos SME Think Space, an open innovation event of changemakers from across the industry. Temenos brought together SME owners, banks and technology partners in a two-day design sprint and hackathon to generate new ideas on how to solve the biggest challenges for SMEs. During that event, the delegates identified needs that aren't currently being fulfilled by financial institutions - a heavy administrative burden and a lack of meaningful insight to support growth. This feedback became the driving force behind the collaboration between Temenos and CWB on Temenos Virtual COO. Following the Temenos SME Think Space event, CWB partnered with Temenos on a 12-week Innovation Proof of Concept for Virtual COO. As part of the design process, Temenos and CWB applied fedback from local small business owners into the prototype, and then validated the results. By applying Design Thinking, agile methodologies, and Lean Startup principles, Temenos and CWB confirmed the potential for Virtual COO to deliver business value to banks and their SME customers. Deloitte (News - Alert) Digital will collaborate with Temenos to take Virtual COO to market. CWB is known for the relationship-based client experience it offers Canadian business owners. The bank has been a Temenos customer since 2012 when it began its transformation with Temenos Transact, the next generation in core banking. CWB also selected Temenos to deliver personalized, end-to-end digital experiences with Temenos Data Lake and Temenos Infinity, forming a strategic relationship. Temenos Virtual COO is the next phase of CWB's ongoing commitment to deliver a differentiated digital banking experience that empowers SME owners. Chris Fowler, President and CEO, Canadian Western Bank, commented: "It's important now, more than ever to offer innovative digital solutions that ease the challenges that business owners face as they look to grow and maintain a business, especially during a pandemic. Temenos has been a key strategic partner for us on our digital transformation journey, and we are impressed with their focus and investment in innovation. We are excited to partner with Temenos to bring to market a data and intelligence-driven solution that will offer real-time insights and a holistic view, empowering SMEs to grow." Max Chuard, CEO, Temenos, said: "We are excited to bring this Innovation Proof of Concept to life with CWB. Temenos Virtual COO looks beyond what financial services banks offer to SMEs today, to what they can offer tomorrow. Running Innovation Proof of Concepts like this enables Temenos and clients like CWB to identify new opportunities to lead by example. With this collaboration on Temenos Virtual COO, CWB will take its digital offering to the next level, providing an innovative customer-centric solution tailored to the specific needs of SMEs. We are excited to work with CWB on this initiative, and inspire banks around the world to support their local communities and economies in new and exciting ways." - Ends - About Temenos Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leader in banking software. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 1.2 billion banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic and AI-driven front office, core banking, payments and fund administration software enabling banks to deliver frictionless, omnichannel customer experiences and gain operational excellence. Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve cost-income ratios of 26.8% half the industry average and returns on equity of 29%, three times the industry average. These clients also invest 51% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is double the industry average, proving the banks' IT investment is adding tangible value to their business. For more information, please visit www.temenos.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005471/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] TORONTO (AP) A national panel of vaccine experts in Canada recommended Wednesday that provinces extend the interval between the two doses of a COVID-19 shot to four months to quickly inoculate more people amid a shortage of doses in Canada. A number of provinces said they would do just that. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed optimism that vaccination timelines could be sped up. And Health Canada, the country's regulator, said emerging evidence suggests high effectiveness for several weeks after the first dose and noted the panel's recommendation in a tweet. But two top health officials called it an experiment. The current protocol is an interval of three to four weeks between doses for the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines. Johnson & Johnson is a one dose vaccine but has not been approved in Canada yet. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization said extending the dose interval to four months would allow as many as 80% of Canadians over the age of 16 to receive a single dose by the end of June simply with the expected supply of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Second doses would begin to be administered in July as more shipments arrive, the panel said, noting that 55 million doses are expected to be delivered in July, August and September. In comparison, the federal government previously said 38% of people would receive two doses by the end of June. They are making, I think, a reasonable calculation in a time of drug shortage, said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network. Its the right decision in my mind. Let me ask ... A couple are given two vaccines. Do you give two to one, or give one each one dose? Its a no brainer. The addition of the newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine to the countrys supply could mean almost all Canadians would get their first shot in that time frame. Story continues The vaccine effectiveness of the first dose will be monitored closely and the decision to delay the second dose will be continuously assessed based on surveillance and effectiveness data and post-implementation study designs, the panel wrote. Effectiveness against variants of concern will also be monitored closely, and recommendations may need to be revised, it said, adding there is currently no evidence that a longer interval will affect the emergence of the variants. The updated guidance applies to all three of the vaccines currently approved for use in Canada. The committees recommendation came hours after the Atlantic coast province of Newfoundland and Labrador said it will extend the interval between the first and second doses to four months, and days after health officials in the Pacific coast province of British Columbia announced they were doing so. Manitoba and Quebec also said Wednesday they will delay second doses. And Ontario's health minister said it would Ontario to rapidly accelerate its vaccine rollout. Earlier Wednesday, Trudeau said any change in public health guidance regarding the timing of the two doses could affect the speed of Canadas vaccine rollout, as could the approval of more vaccines like Johnson and Johnson. Canadas provinces administer health care in the country so it's ultimately up to the provinces. Dr. Brad Wouters, executive vice-president of science and research at University Health Network, cast doubt on the recommendation. Nobody in the world has been 4 months between doses. These are RNA vaccines never used before. We should use evidence to make decisions. Canada conducting a population experiment, Wouters tweeted. And Mona Nemer, the federal government's Chief Science Advisor, also said this week that the plan amounts to a population-level experiment and that the data provided so far by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech is based on an interval of three to four weeks between doses. But Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbias provincial health officer, said the manufacturers structured their clinical trials that way to get the vaccines to market as quickly as possible, but said research in British Columbia, Quebec, Israel and the United Kingdom has shown that first doses are highly effective. Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser for Health Canada, the country's regulator, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in a time of limited supply they are starting to have greater comfort with the idea of waiting for the second dose after seeing real world data versus the strict interpretation of the clinical trials. In the real world we're starting to see evidence from other countries that have delayed that second dose Oh, it looks like they still have a really good effectiveness.' We have lab studies that show its unlikely that immune response will drop off, Sharma said. The law renews the procedure for holding competitions for civil service positions of all categories. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted the law on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine regarding the resumption of competitions for holding civil service positions and other civil service issues (No. 1285-IX). The law renews the procedure for holding competitions for civil service positions of all categories, according to the president's press service. Under the law, within six months from the date of its entry into force, competitions shall be announced for positions held by persons under a civil service contract for the period of quarantine established by the government over the COVID-19 pandemic. Read alsoRada expands powers of acting ministersAlso, the law cancels the provision according to which an entity authorized to handle appointments may decide to dismiss a civil servant from 'A'- category post on their own initiative, by nomination by the prime minister of Ukraine, the relevant minister, or the head of the central executive agency (head of a government agency) within four months from the date of appointment of the prime minister or the relevant minister, or the head of the agency. What is more, the law excludes the ban on entrusting a first deputy minister and deputy ministers with a wider range of the ministers duties if the top post is vacant. More news reports Reporting by UNIAN The prime minister spoke up for tougher measures. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says the country is entering the third wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. "We need to realize the third wave of the coronavirus epidemic has begun in Ukraine. What tools do we have? Adaptive quarantine. You see, the red level and tough lockdown have been introduced in Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, and Zhytomyr regions. Vinnytsia region is next in line, the orange level is introduced in Zakarpattia, Ternopil and other regions," he said at a press conference dedicated to the anniversary of the government's work, an UNIAN correspondent reported. Read alsoCOVID-19: Two cases of UK strain officially confirmed in UkraineIn this regard, the prime minister spoke up for tougher quarantine-related measures. "Of course, if most of the regions are in the red zones, we will most likely have to return to the lockdown model that has already been introduced, which Ukraine has already used," Shmyhal added. Other related news reports Reporting by UNIAN There is a reason the statue of justice is blindfolded. It is to reflect that she will not be influenced by power, popularity or public opinion. It symbolises that everyone is supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law, including the chief law officer in the land, the Federal Attorney-General. Christian Porter has been the subject of a NSW police investigation that in 1988, then aged 17 he raped a 16-year-old friend. He denies the allegation. Last year she came forward to make a complaint to police but did not make a formal statement, taking her own life the day after informing police she did not want to proceed. Christian Porter faces the media. Credit:Getty Images The criminal case against Porter is not weak. It is now non-existent. The complainant has not made a police statement, cannot be interviewed as she has died, the alleged offender has denied the allegation; there is no forensic evidence, no witnesses, no crime scene and no CCTV. There is no case, which is why police shut the file without interviewing Porter as there was nothing of substance to put to him. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Amazon workers in Alabama and across the United States are speaking out about the ongoing union certification vote at the Bessemer, Alabama facility. Nearly 6,000 workers are voting on whether to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), with ballots due on March 29. Amazon is notorious for its exploitation of workers around the world, including half a million in the US. This is underscored by the tragic suicide of 48-year-old Paul Vilseck, who jumped to his death at the LAS7 fulfilment center in North Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday. Inside an Amazon warehouse (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) After a year that has seen more than 20,000 Amazon workers infected by COVID-19 while company owner Jeff Bezos increased his net worth by $72 billion, there is a widespread desire among workers to fight for improved wages and working conditions. There is a great variety of views among Amazon workers, however, about the unionization drive. Some hope the RWDSU will help them fight the giant corporation. Others, particularly those who have had experiences with unions, do not think conditions would change if the RWDSU was voted in. I do hope that because of the union, Jennifer Bates, a worker who helped initiate the union drive at the Bessemer warehouse (BHM1), told Elle Magazine, we will finally have a level playing field. I hope we will be able to talk to someone at HR without being dismissed. I hope that we will be able to rest more, that there will be changes in the facility to take some of the stress off our bodies. Im hoping we get a living wagenot just [Amazons] minimum wage. Its going to be a tight vote, in my opinion, Alisha, who has been working at BHM1 since the fall, told the International Amazon Workers Voice (IAWV). She used a pseudonym to protect herself, as well as other Amazon workers. I feel like the people who are voting Yes were more than likely promised things from the union. The majority of people Ive talked to are expecting wage increases. Through my own experiences with Amazon I dont believe they know how to handle certain situations, but I dont believe a union would be ideal here. She said, Its part of the union PR campaign. The union is claiming to have built Bessemer, but this city is one of the parts of Birmingham hit the hardest by poverty. Alisha has young children, and she says she can't afford more deductions on my paychecks. We pay Bessemer taxes. If the union gets voted in, we will have to pay them as well. While she voted no for the RWDSU, Alisha says there is so much she would like to see change at Amazon. The safety of employees is the main thing that really baffles me. Ive never seen a billion-dollar company treat their employees like literal slaves. I started working at Amazon for the benefits, and honestly my 20-something body feels more like 52 years old. Nina, an Amazon worker at a facility in the San Francisco Bay Area, told the IAWV, I truly believe in making Amazon a union. The workers, we have nobody on our side, and no one to hear our voices. We should be getting better pay, benefits and better advocacy for hearing our grievances. A worker from the companys Las Vegas facility said, I think Amazon needs to unionize. Individually they can just fire employees who dont fit their needs or who questions them, but they cant fire all of us. Ive worked at Amazon, Walmart and a lot of other big corporations, said Trey, an Amazon worker from Baltimore. When you meet workers and talk to them, you see that most of us are a paycheck away from poverty. Workers are under desperation, and you [the companies] get the profit from the sweat off peoples backs. Everything is so high, paying for a hospital visit or keeping your lights on. They get people under those circumstances and threaten you: listen to the status quo or lose your job. Then workers think this is the norm, when you see so many crises. Trey continued, But that is why these entities exist, to make you feel you cant fight back. You have a right to be safe, to make a decent living, you have to understand that. It is not clear what is going to happen with the vote in Alabama, Trey continued. In my experience in the unions, I didnt feel any different. I didnt see the benefits. We didnt even get included in any meetings. In an extraordinary intervention Sunday night, President Biden fully backed the unionization campaign and all but called on workers to vote the RWDSU in. This is not because Bidenwho has served big business throughout his long political careerhas suddenly decided to fight for workers rights. As the World Socialist Web Site explained, The promotion of the unions is aimed at countering the expanding movement of rank-and-file workers. It is aimed at subordinating workers to the array of laws that come into effect when the unions are established as the sole legitimate representative of the workers. In return, the union executives will be given access to the union dues that come from the institutionalization of these organizations in broader sections of industry. The combination of aggressive backing by the government and anger and opposition among Amazon workers could produce a victory for the union drive in Bessemer. Whatever the outcome of the vote, the fight to establish and build rank-and-file committees must be developed and expanded. Workers cannot allow themselves to be disciplined by the pro-capitalist and pro-imperialist trade union apparatus. The growing militancy and political radicalization of workers has been expressed in the formation of rank-and-file committees by Amazon workers in Baltimore (BWI2), along with autoworkers, educators and other sections of the working class throughout the US and internationally. Regardless of the outcome of the vote, Brian, a member of the BWI2 Rank-and-File Safety Committee, encouraged workers at the Alabama Amazon facility and other warehouses to form rank-and-file committees. Without the teachers, the nurses, the janitors, we cant operate. If the schools do not open, we cant go to work. So opening the schools is all about profit, Brian stated. That is why its important that we build rank-and-file committees in every business. You have a voice. We are here to encourage everybody to build rank-and-file committees. Jordan, another member of the BWI2 Rank-and-File Safety Committee, explained from his experience, Unionization is a no-no from the corporate perspective. Early on at BWI2, there was an effort to organize a union. Amazon is against the union, and I was shocked to see that Bessemer was doing this. I am sure there are mixed views on it. It doesnt necessarily change conditions when you join a union. Pointing to the conditions workers confront, from the man-made disaster in Texas to the dangerous school reopenings, Jordan said workers are one or two paychecks away from poverty and homelessness. They want you to bow down to the needs of capitalism. We need to find ways to bind together across the board, industry to industry, across national borders, at all levels. That is what our rank-and-file committee is fighting to do. I dont feel confident a union is the way to go for us. After becoming aware of the BWI2 Rank-and-File Committee established in December to organize against Amazon independently of the trade unions, Alisha, the worker from the Bessemer Amazon facility said, I believe us employees should form our own independent committee like Baltimore. The World Socialist Web Site and IAWV urge all Amazon workers to follow the lead of BWI2 workers, Alabama educators and many more by joining the fight to build rank-and-file safety committees at every warehouse in the US and around the world. Workers can submit this form to share your views on the unionization campaign, describe the conditions in your warehouse and get involved. New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) on Monday condemned Union minister of state for health Faggan Singh Kulaste for his remarks as he raised conspiracy factor behind the deaths of infants at Gorakhpurs BRD Medical College. On Sunday, Kulaste had said that Gorakhpur hospital tragedy may be a conspiracy of someone. JD(U) leader K C Tyagi said they cannot buy his theory and it is a time to provide relief to the victims instead making such statements which were not required. He said they condemned his statements. Rebel JD(U) leader Ali Anwar also echoed his view on the matter and slammed the minister for his statements. He demanded Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanaths resignation in the matter. He said oppositions demand is justified. Also Read: Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste says Gorakhpur hospital tragedy 'may be a conspiracy of someone' Anwar said the Prime Minister must sack Adityanath if the latter does not tender his resignation. Also Read: BJP hopeful of Nitish to 'manage' Sharad Yadav's discord For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. GAC Motor officially opened its authorised showroom in Jordan, attracting more than 400 pre-launch test drives. The event also witnessed the first unveiling of the GAC smart key watch to the Jordanian market. The sophisticated and complementary melding of smart wearables with car functions attracted much attention from both the media and consumers alike. The opening ceremony was conducted in-store and broadcast live globally on the company's official website and through local official websites and social media. Nihad, a board member of the Alayyan group, and Zaro, an influential automobile media expert, attended the ceremony. This was the first instance of a global showroom opening streamed live from Jordan. Nihad has exuded complete confidence in the development of GAC Motor in Jordan, and said: "We are thrilled with the showroom opening of GAC Motor, a leader in the Chinese automotive industry, and is sure to add diversity to the Jordanian market with their high quality and high-value vehicles." Jordan is one of the first overseas markets to introduce the GAC smart key watch. With the Smart Key Watch, functions such as controlling car doors, engines and windows can all be easily accomplished, removing the hassle of handling car keys. Additionally, the Smartwatch can also function as a "Smart Manager", monitoring our health and exercise, recording our appointments, becoming our lifestyle secretary, helping us manage our life from the comforts of our wrists. A trustworthy automobile media expert, Zaro is deeply respected in Jordan. At the opening ceremony, he gave a comprehensive analysis on GAC Motor's flagship model - the SUV GS8. During the test drive, this car expert was won over by the cross-country capacity that the GS8 exhibits on Jordan's great variety of surfaces. With the opening of this authorised store in Jordan, a cornerstone has been established in GAC Motor's far-reaching plans to develop and grow in the Middle East region. Going forward, GAC Motor will continue to bring high-quality products and services to Jordan, bringing an enjoyable automotive lifestyle to the Jordanian consumers and winning hearts as a brand of choice. -- Tradearabia News Service KY Lawmakers Set Deadline for Schools to Reopen By The Associated Press FRANKFORT - Kentucky lawmakers have set a late March deadline for schools to resume in-person instruction.The pandemic-related bill won final passage Thursday. The legislation requires that in-person classes resume by March 29.The House voted 81-15 to send the measure to Gov. Andy Beshear. Republican Rep. Regina Huff says it reflects the priority that students have face-to-face contact with teachers in class.Under the bill, school districts would need to offer at least a hybrid schedule where students attend in-person classes at least two days a week and classes are held at least four days a week. 650% increase in Account Take Over scams from Q4 2020 as compared to Q1 2020 250% increase in online banking fraud attacks 178% fraud rate increase for digital media 70% of all fraud is driven by card not present (CNP) transactions 48% drop in card present (CP) fraud attacks, though transaction volume only drops 20% SAN MATEO, Calif., March 04, 2021, the world's leading cloud-based risk management platform, has announced its Financial Crime Report Q1, 2021 . Feedzai's data from financial transactions across the world shows a stark difference in consumer behavior and financial crime in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region as compared to Europe (EU) and North America (NA). A clear image appears - a hyper-digital world where east and west are in different recovery stages, reflecting different regional financial crime trends. Overall, 2020 allowed fraudsters to rejoice at the rapid shift to digital banking and commerce while consumers got swindled by purchase, impersonation, money mule schemes, and account takeover scams. 650% Increase in Account Takeover (ATO) Scams in Q4 In an ATO attack, fraudsters obtain stolen credentials, account information, and passwords that belong to legitimate users. Once they access the account, they can transfer funds or buy goods with stolen credentials. Transfers occur when consumers move money from one account to another. The growing popularity of real-time payment functions, combined with the expansion of online banking, means that money moves quickly, and once it's gone, it's almost impossible to get back. Feedzai's fraud experts noticed an uptick of stolen credentials for sale on the dark web in 2020. The proliferation of stolen credentials, along with the exponential rise in online transactions, provided ideal conditions for fraudsters to blend in with legitimate consumer traffic without being detected. 250% Increase in Online Banking in Attempted Fraud on Online Banking Online banking isn't new, but it's newly popular. There's been a 200% increase in mobile banking, and fraudsters worked to blend in among them. Online banking experienced a 250% increase in attempted fraud. As expected, both telephone and branch fraud rates dropped to lower levels than they had been before the pandemic. 178% Fraud Rate Increase for Digital Media In Q2 2020, during the height of global lockdowns, demand for books and streaming services such as music and movies increased. Demand remained strong in the APAC region, but NA and EU eventually returned to pre-pandemic baseline levels. The story around fraud is quite different, at least for NA and EU. In these regions, attempted fraud attacks increased a whopping 178% since January 2020. 48% Drop in Card Present Fraud Attacks; Volume Only Drops 20% Card present transactions dropped by about 20% at the start of the pandemic and have consistently remained around that level. However, fraud attacks tumbled by an incredible 48%. Card not present Transactions Drive 70% of Fraud Attacks Fraudsters love CNP transactions, and without essential security measures such as machine learning, behavioral analytics, biometrics, and two-factor authentication (2FA), they likely will continue for some time to come. Top 5 Transfer Fraud Schemes Across the board, the pandemic was a boon for fraudsters and a burden for consumers. When it comes to transfers fraud, criminals were more drawn to the following five fraud schemes than to all others. Impersonation Scams - 23% Purchase Scams - 22% Account Takeover Scams - 22% Investment Scams - 6% Romance Scams - 3% Top 5 Anti Money Laundering Red Flags AML alerts don't necessarily mean a crime occurred. Financial Institutions (FIs) determine their risk thresholds and sets their alerts accordingly. However, several triggered AML alert types can indicate that money mules are funneling money obtained through illegal activities. Rapid Movement of Funds Transactions in Same or Similar Amounts High-Risk Geography Activity in Dormant Account Transactions in Round Amounts 10 Financial Crime Prevention Tips for Consumers Fraudsters are eager to separate you from your money. Here are some tips to keep your finances secure. Research retailers before you purchase and only shop on secure sites that use "https." Pay with your credit card, not a debit card, and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all online transactions. If a deal is too good to be true, it's probably a scam. This is also true for jobs promising easy money for little or no effort. Check for typos or unusual URLs in the sender's email address, such as "service@gmil.com." Avoid links that ask you to click on them to provide protected personal information (PPI) such as social security or account numbers. Do not answer calls from unfamiliar or unknown caller IDs. If your credentials are stolen or compromised, change all of your passwords and never use the stolen password again. Make sure to choose complex, unique passwords for each account, and change your passwords every few months. Do not provide PPI to anyone claiming to be a government official or from your bank; these entities will not call you and ask for this information. Legitimate employers won't ask employees to transfer money in and out of personal accounts. 7 Ways FIs can Prevent and Detect Financial Crime Banks have a role to play in keeping their customers safe from fraudsters and scammers. Here are a few steps banks can take to ensure their customers are well-protected. Create detailed customer behavior profiles so that you can recognize and differentiate authentic customer behavior from criminal behavior. Educate your customers in best practices for good digital hygiene. Implement security measures (e.g., 2FA). Combine inbound and outbound payments monitoring and include movement of payments between account rings. Capitalize on existing relationships with e-crime providers, dark web experts, and internal and external cybersecurity professionals to uncover credential testing and check customer scam reporting. Participate in consortium data at least twice a week. Leverage rules, machine learning, and data analytics to detect and prevent fraud and financial crime. "2020 was a year of rapid growth in financial crime. Fraudsters tried to take advantage of the convergence between a fast-paced digital environment and a new wave of inexperienced consumers to perpetrate a multitude of attacks that created a significant uptick in fraud," said Jaime Ferreira, Senior Director of Global Data Science at Feedzai. "Financial institutions need to further invest in technologies to protect their customers while developing educational approaches. Robust technology and informed consumers are a powerful combination when fighting financial crime." Access Feedzai's Quarterly Financial Crime Report to learn more about the latest fraud and consumer trends. About Feedzai Feedzai is the market leader in fighting financial crime with today's most advanced cloud-based risk management platform, powered by machine learning and artificial intelligence. Feedzai has one mission: to make banking and commerce safe by combining fraud prevention and anti-money laundering under one platform to manage financial crime. Founded by data scientists and aerospace engineers, Feedzai is considered best in class by Aiteand one of the most successful AI companies by Forbes. The world's largest banks, processors, and retailers use Feedzai to safeguard trillions of dollars and manage risk while improving customer experience. Press Contact - Feedzai Igor Carvalho Head of Corporate Communications, Feedzai igor.carvalho@feedzai.com OKLAHOMA CITY, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (NYSE American: REPX) (the "Company") today provided an update on its fiscal first quarter 2021 operational and financial results and announced today that its Board of Directors at a meeting held March 4, 2021 declared a quarterly cash dividend equal to $0.28 per share. The record date for the dividend is April 16, 2021 and is expected to be paid on or about May 7, 2021. Operational and Financial Highlights For First Quarter 2021 (December 31, 2021): FQ1 2021 production of 7,588 net Boe/d, up 7% over FQ4 2020. FQ1 2021 Adjusted EBITDAX of $19.7 million . . Reduced debt by $3.5 million during FQ1 2021, with $97.5 million outstanding against the Company's Senior Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020 , 1.4x Net Debt/EBITDA. during FQ1 2021, with outstanding against the Company's Senior Credit Facility as of , 1.4x Net Debt/EBITDA. Commenced Fiscal Year 2021 CAPEX plan, bringing online 5 gross (2.7 net) during the period, and drilling 2 gross (2 net) operated wells which are being completed in FQ2 2021. Declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per share, with a record date of April 16, 2021 and payable on or about May 7, 2021 . per share, with a record date of and payable on or about . Closed the previously announced merger between Tengasco, Inc. and Riley Exploration Permian LLC ("Riley Permian") on February 26, 2021 . See "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for descriptions of the above non-GAAP measures as well as a reconciliation of these measures to the associated GAAP (as defined herein) measure. Management Comments "We are pleased to announce the record date of our quarterly cash dividend." Said Bobby Riley, CEO. "While this is the first quarterly dividend we are paying as a public company following the merger, this represents the 9th straight quarter in which Riley Permian has paid a cash dividend. We continue to believe that with our solid asset base, strong balance sheet and manageable production profile that we will be able to maintain a dividend for the foreseeable future. Since we commenced our first quarterly dividend in June of 2019, Riley Permian has distributed a total of $32.6 million to our shareholders." About Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on steadily growing its reserves, production and cash flow through the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, or NGLs, in the Permian Basin. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements, other than historical facts, that address activities that the Company assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events, including the current adverse industry and macroeconomic conditions, commodity price volatility, production levels, the impact of the recent presidential and congressional elections on energy and environmental policies and regulations, any other potential regulatory actions (including those that may impose production limits in the Permian Basin), the impact and duration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, acquisitions and sales of assets, future dividends, production, drilling and capital expenditure plans, severe weather conditions (including the impact of the recent severe winter storms on production volumes), impact of impairment charges and effects of hedging arrangements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those expected by the management of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risk that the Company may reduce, suspend or totally eliminate dividend payments in the future, whether variable or fixed, due to insufficient liquidity or other factors, potential adverse reactions or changes to the business or operations of the Company resulting from the recently completed merger, including the Company's future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; changes in capital markets and the ability of the Company to finance operations in the manner expected; the risks of oil and gas activities; and the fact that operating costs and business disruption may be greater than expected following the consummation of the merger. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in Riley Permian's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Company with the SEC and declared effective by the SEC on February 2, 2021, each of which is on file with the SEC and available from the Company's website at www.rileypermian.com under the "Investor" tab, and in other documents the Company files with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available at that time. The Company does not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty to update or revise our forward-looking statements based on new information, future events or otherwise. Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement the presentation of the Company's financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), this press release contains certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, including adjusted EBITDAX and Net Debt. Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDAX to Net Income (Loss) Adjusted EBITDAX is not a measure of net income (loss) as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Adjusted EBITDAX is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDAX" as net income (loss) adjusted for certain cash and non-cash items, including depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, or DD&A, impairment of long-lived assets, provision for the carrying value of assets, exploration expenses, commodity derivative (gain) loss, settlements on commodity derivatives, premiums paid for derivatives that settled during the period, unit-based compensation expense, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs included in interest expense, income taxes, and non-recurring charges. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDAX. The Company's computations of Adjusted EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company's management believes Adjusted EBITDAX is useful because it allows us to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. The Company excludes the items listed above from net income (loss) in arriving at Adjusted EBITDAX because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within The Company's industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's cost of capital, hedging strategy and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDAX. The Company's computations of Adjusted EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measure of other companies. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDAX is a widely followed measure of operating performance. The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDAX to the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss): Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDAX FQ1 2021 FY 2020 FY 2019 FY 2018 Net Income (Loss) $ (8,858) $ 35,144 $ 51,866 $ (723) Exploration expense 424 9,923 5,074 5,992 Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion 5,990 21,479 20,182 15,714 Share-based compensation expense 413 5,299 4,924 1,707 Transaction costs 1,049 (6,962) (26,198) 9,616 Interest expense 1,235 963 898 4,000 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives 19,082 392 - - Income Tax Benefit (515) 1,431 4,553 878 Dividends on Preferred Units 917 718 1,410 - Adjusted EBITDAX $ 19,737 $ 68,387 $ 62,709 $ 37,184 Reconciliation of Net Debt to Debt The Company defines net debt as debt less cash and cash equivalents. Net debt should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management uses net debt to determine the Company's outstanding debt obligations that would not be readily satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. The Company believes this metric is useful to analysts and investors in determining the Company's leverage position because the Company has the ability to, and may decide to, use a portion of its cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt. The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of net debt to the GAAP financial measure of debt: Reconciliation of Net Debt FQ1 2021 FY 2020 FY 2019 Long-term debt $ 97,500 $ 101,000 $ 97,000 Cash and cash equivalents 1,877 1,660 3,726 Net Debt $ 95,623 $ 99,340 $ 93,274 SOURCE: Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. SOURCE Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. Building a small business is an extreme sport but a mindset shift by asset managers to start investing in startups can support promising small enterprises, which in turn should use their nimbleness to access markets that are hard to penetrate. Andile Khumalo Small businesses need a boost, so were sharing a whole lot of our big ad space with them. We believe helping small businesses creates better businesses, better communities, a better South Africa & #BetterFutures. Tag your favourite small business.#BigAdsForSmallBusines pic.twitter.com/DVIX400d3O Hollard Insurance (@Hollard) February 19, 2021 Heidi Brauer African Accent , a spaza shop distribution hub , a spaza shop distribution hub Busanimen Tailors , providing suits and formal wear for special events , providing suits and formal wear for special events Ground One Coffee , a coffee company that also provides related services , a coffee company that also provides related services Haircelerate , a local hair-care brand that promotes love and care for your hair , a local hair-care brand that promotes love and care for your hair Journey Leather , a leather brand celebrating local craft , a leather brand celebrating local craft Moja Chicken , a black-owned grilled-chicken restaurant , a black-owned grilled-chicken restaurant Ronewa Creations , a landscaping service , a landscaping service SchoolHub , a secure school payments platform , a secure school payments platform Thesis Lifestyle , a streetwear brand , a streetwear brand Next Level Learning , an early childhood and foundation phase education provider , an early childhood and foundation phase education provider Koni Wines , a local black-owned wine brand , a local black-owned wine brand All Things Laundry, a township-based laundromat This is according to entrepreneur and chartered accountant Andile Khumalo, speaking about the importance of supporting small businesses at the launch of an innovative new campaign which will see Hollard sharing its big advertising spaces with 12 SMMEs over the next six months.The idea is to help these small enterprises thrive in the long term, bolstering South Africas economy in the process.On Tuesday, Hollard launched its Big Ads for Small Business campaign on a pioneering, futuristic SMME exhibition platform. The immersive virtual world was designed in graphic detail to allow participants, through their avatars, to move around the main stage area and exhibition rooms, listen to keynote speeches and approach small-business owners at their branded booths for chats.Attendees also had the chance to network extensively, read about the various small businesses and watch videos in dedicated reading and viewing areas.Big ads are any big-budget advertisements that small businesses would otherwise struggle to afford, including billboards, street-pole advertising, radio and television spots, and digital ad spaces. Each selected business will benefit from roughly R1m in advertising spend, not counting agency fees and the cost of creative material.Considering the relatively small local market, Khumalo urged small businesses to consider expanding their operations beyond the borders of South Africa, saying, Every big business out there was once a small business, just like you.The other keynote speeches were delivered by Metro FM radio show host Mo Flava and Heavy Chef learning platform CEO Fred Roed.Flava said the story of small businesses was "the story of hope". He had already used radio, social media and other digital spaces to give deserving entrepreneurs a platform, but it was important to get more success stories out there. Theres power in using our networks, he said, encouraging participants to use their own platforms to boost local brands they like.Our core belief is that entrepreneurs can change the world for the better, added Roed, using the example of South Korea, which in just 60 years engineered a turnaround from having the GDP equivalent of Rwanda to being a future-based, digital society. He told the small businesses present, You guys are the change we want to see.Hollard chief marketing officer Heidi Brauer said Hollards purpose is to enable more people to create and secure a better future. This is one of the reasons why Hollard had decided in tough times, with many small businesses suffering on a better way to do a campaign, by sharing its advertising space with small businesses.The insurer wants to be a catalyst for positive and enduring change, she stressed. We want to inspire others to do the same.The aim is ultimately to provide the SMMEs with not only marketing support, but also business tools through partners such as Heavy Chef to ensure their long-term growth. This will create a collective knock-on effect of better futures, for communities and for South Africas economy.The selected small businesses were chosen from an initial pool of 292 SMMEs proposed by Hollard employees. Criteria included whether they would benefit from the campaign, could handle a potential rapid increase in business and were spread across the country.The 12 businesses are:Find out more about the campaign and the small businesses being promoted at hollard.co.za/bigads , and watch the campaign videos featuring the SMMEs and event presentations on YouTube Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo is amid a heated Twitter battle with Attorney General Ken Paxton, swiping at the litigators pending felony charges and questioning his trip to Utah during last month's winter storm. The exchange began Saturday when Acevedo publicly denounced Paxtons decision to sue the San Antonio police chief over his handling of releases of several immigrants in 2017. How much longer are Texans going to tolerate @KenPaxtonTX shenanigans? Acevedo posted. Suing police a police chief for difficult operational decisions? I hope the court quickly leaves Paxton in the cold like he did his fellow Texans last week during a historic freeze. That tweet kick started a series of barbs that has yet to let up. Paxton responded the next day, doubling down on his lawsuit against San Antonio Police Chief William McManus and telling Acevedo to worry about rising crime in his own city. @ArtAcevedo is flying cover for his reckless buddy, Paxton wrote. Acevedo responded that he is worried about crime and about a perceived failure of the state to enact bail and criminal justice reform. If you spend more time in the state during times of crisis instead of Utah and Florida, and remain laser focused on crime fighting, it may help, Acevedo said. Paxton hit back on Tuesday, blaming Acevedo for letting dangerous felons back on the streets to reoffend. Houston criminal justice officials such as Acevedo have spoken out about a bond epidemic over the past year, referencing an apparent increase in defendants being charged with murder while they were released on bond. Maybe you being the chief of police is the problem, the attorney general tweeted. Acevedo told his adversary that he has led the charge against letting violent offenders out on personal bonds. And as a defendant with pending felony charges, you know how easy it is to get PR bonds, Acevedo said. Acevedo was referencing Paxton's felony indictment on securities fraud in July 2015. The two-term Republican has maintained his innocence and has not been tried. Paxton is meanwhile engaged in the lawsuit attempting to oust McManus from his position. He has accused the San Antonio chief of disregarding Senate Bill 4, which requires local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, according to KSAT. That suit, filed in Travis County district court in late 2018, accuses McManus and other city officials of flouting a new state law, Senate Bill 4, that requires local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. McManus in December 2017 released 12 suspected immigrants from a tractor-trailer in east San Antonio. Chennai, March 4 : Colour television sets, mixers, grinders, mobile telephones, clothes are some of the freebies rolled out by political parties in Tamil Nadu and has always included these freebies in their election manifestos. The state of Tamil Nadu is facing a huge deficit with the revenue deficit at 65,994 crores despite being a revenue surplus state a few years ago. The state's total debt by March 2022 will be around 5.70 lakh crore, a whopping sum by any measures. Despite all these hiccups and states fortunes nose diving the political parties are on a freebie culture with one party overtaking the other in promising the people with gifts and other freebies. DMK commenced the freebie culture in 1967 with the then Chief minister and the towering leader of Dravidian politics, CN Annadurai promising 3 measures of rice for Rupees 1. This had a huge impact and DMK romped home for the first time in Tamil Nadu unseating the Congress government led by Bhakthavalsalam. In 2006 DMK supremo, Muthuvel Karunanidhi announced a highly populist scheme of free colour televisions, I kg of rice at 2 rupees, free gas connection and free gas stoves for all women in Tamil Nadu. The DMK won the election easily. Spokesman of the DMK, Saravanan Annadurai while speaking to IANS said: "These are not freebies but populist schemes and in 2006 when we provided free gas stoves and subsidized gas cylinders it was a revolutionary decision to provide women solace from spending long hours in kitchen and now the Prime minister Narendra Modi has replicated the same move after so many years". There are divided opinions on the governments dolling out such schemes to the people. Senior Journalist PK Sreenivasan while speaking to IANS said," These are populist schemes and not freebies as made out. Studies had revealed that in remote areas of Tamil Nadu after the Colour TV sets were provided by the DMK government, the crime rates had come down. In a similar vein the fixed deposit schemes for the girl child by the TN governments had increased the social indicators for the state." Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan and his Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party has announced 50 lakh jobs for the unemployed youths and this will be followed by other political parties in their manifestos. The political parties are turning into prisoners of their own ideas as voters expect freebies each and every election. Senior leader of Tamil Nadu and President of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi( VCK), Thirumavalavan while speaking to IANS over telephone said, "Please don't say that these are freebies, these are populist schemes brought into help the people of the state by towering leaders like CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and these schemes has helped raise the social indicators of Tamil Nadu. We are part of the DMK led front and is expected to bring in lot of populist schemes benefiting the people of Tamil Nadu." Former Health secretary of Tamil Nadu and retired senior bureaucrat, Sheela Rani Chunkath, IAS however said that the political parties have to be more cautious in doling out such schemes. She said ," Let us call it freebies or populist schemes. Ours is a welfare state, agreed but it means you help those who cannot help themselves. The state has to bring out such policies that leads to the improvement of economic status of the state enabling people buy these gadgets instead of doling them out on a platter." DMK leader Saravanan said that the states finances had dipped owing to the mismanagement and misgovernance of the AIADMK government. "Once we are back to power, we will reduce pilferage and stop unnecessary tenders and Tamil Nadu is a state with huge industrial growth which will pick up once there is a change in power." IQGeo's ( ) new European Regional Manager Richard Weiss joins Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam about his new role as European Regional Manager. Weiss is a geospatial industry veteran with 25 years experience and joins from 3-GIS where he was managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He explains his excitement on joining the team which is at a 'growth inflection point'. His team will be responsible for growing their position in Europe and more broadly in EMEA in both the telecom and utilities sectors. Earlier this week, Kangana Ranaut filed a plea in the Supreme Court to transfer the criminal cases against her and her sister Rangoli Chandel from Mumbai to Shimla. Now, writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court saying that he be heard in connection to the Bollywood actress's plea. According to reports, a caveat, which is filed by a litigant in High courts and in the Supreme Court is to ensure that no adverse order is passed against the party without it being heard in court. Kangana is currently seeking to transfer the case against her and her sister on their offensive tweets allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The sisters have claimed that if trials are conducted in Mumbai there would be a "material threat" to their lives and property. The plea filed through Advocate Neeraj Shekhar also stated, "It is pertinent to mention that the Maharashtra government led by Shiv Sena has been harassing the petitioners." Meanwhile, Kangana is also seeking a transfer of the case filed against her by Javed Akhtar. The veteran writer had filed a criminal complaint against Ranaut before the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate, for allegedly making defamatory and baseless comments against him in television interviews. He presented witnesses in the recent court hearing claiming that Kangana's statements have caused damage to his reputation. In an TV interview, Kangana Ranaut said "there are people like Javed Akhtar and company, who call themselves atheists." She claimed that the group is for keeping an eye on people within the industry to check whether they are pro-Islam or not. She added that the group then 'filters' Islam-friendly people in the industry and promotes them. Notably, Kangana was asked to appear before the court on March 1 to record her statement in the same case. However, after failing to do so, Metropolitan magistrate RR Khan said, "You are at liberty to challenge the order (issue of process & summons) but that cannot absolve you from appearance here." Thereafter, a bailable warrant was issued against Kangana. ALSO READ: Javed Akhtar's Defamation Case: Court Issues Bailable Warrant Against Kangana Ranaut ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut, Rangoli Chandel Move SC Seeking Transfer Of Criminal Cases To Shimla Betrayal. Thats the overwhelming sentiment GOP groups in various Michigan counties have expressed while admonishing powerful Republicans they once helped elect. The betrayal comes in the form of officials turning their backs on former President Donald Trump, their own constituents or a combination of both, say local GOP delegates who condemned their representatives in Congress and the state Legislature. Over the last month, those sentiments emerged in public censures of U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer of Grand Rapids, Fred Upton of St. Joseph, former Rep. Paul Mitchell of Dryden and Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey of Clarklake. In Cass County, Uptons betrayal of support led to two separate censures from the countys Republican Party. One: He voted to impeach Trump for the Presidents inflammatory rhetoric before the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Two: Upton voted to remove U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia from her committee assignments for, among other things, endorsement of conspiracy theories around school shootings and harassment of one of the schools survivors. Read more: Really? Upton fires back at Cass County GOP, which censured congressman over vote to remove committee member Trump has called Greene a future star in the Republican Party. For Mark Howie, chairman of the Cass County Republicans, Uptons votes were betrayals of our support. Our issue with Mr. Upton is that he doesnt seem to care what we want, at least not in Cass County, Howie wrote to MLive. His decision to impeach Pr. Trump definitely perpetuated our actions since that decision. In my opinion, it has nothing to do with who was president, it went against what we would have wanted for any President under the circumstances. We voted for Fred almost unanimously in the 2020 election, we now feel that he has betrayed our support. The censures are official statements conveying a rift within the Republican party. On one side, elected officials such as Upton and Meijer represent a policy-driven wing, while the other side clings to the momentum and tone of the Trump presidency even after hes out of the Oval Office. In this May 3, 2017, file photo, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., left, speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)AP Do GOP groups serve elected officials, or the other way around? In censures of both Upton and Meijer, the word betrayal featured prominently. When the Calhoun County group reprimanded Meijer on Feb. 19, the letter stated that Meijers impeachment vote requires our harsh condemnation of your action which betrayed the trust of so many who supported you and violates our faith in our most basic constitutional values and protections. Read more: Congressman Peter Meijer censured by Calhoun, Barry county GOP for Trump impeachment vote Meijers 3rd Congressional District encompasses Ionia, Barry and Calhoun counties, as well as parts of Montcalm and Kent counties, including Grand Rapids. Phillip Joseph, spokesperson and deputy chair of the Barry County Republican Party, previously told MLive that the group shares Calhouns sentiments. Joseph did not respond to multiple requests for further comment. In the Cass County censure letter, the group called Uptons vote against Greene a betrayal of his oath of office and core values of the Cass County Republican Party. We like Fred, we just feel he (isnt) representing us anymore, Howie told MLive. Why is it that only a small fraction of Republicans in Congress have voted the way he has? Maybe those that vote opposite of Fred listen to their constituents, or Fred knows something hes not sharing with us. Eleven Republican U.S. Representatives voted Feb. 4 to strip Greene of her committee assignments. Upton defended himself after the censure by highlighting Greenes controversial rhetoric, asking if her values reflect the Cass County GOPs. She taunted a Parkland school shooting survivor, argued that California wildfires were started by a Jewish space laser, accused Democratic politicians of running a pedophile ring out of a pizza parlor, and questioned whether 9/11 really happened, Upton said on Twitter. Upton has represented the 6th District since 1987. The district encompasses Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Cass, St. Joseph, Berrien and Allegan counties. Allegan County Republicans censured Upton on Jan. 23 for the impeachment vote. Kevin Whiteford, a former county GOP chairman who currently works for the partys 6th Congressional District team, said Upton didnt support Trump enough at any point of his presidency. Man, hes been wishy washy with the President since the President was in, Whiteford said. Lets face it, you know, his first two years of the presidency, you had a lot of Republicans who were preventing him from doing stuff. Upton voted with Trumps policies more than 78% of the time, according to the statistical analysis website FiveThirtyEight, but that is in the bottom 10% of Republican representatives in the House. The role of an elected official is to follow the majority of their constituents, said Whiteford, who added he feels Upton is getting away from them. What Ive been telling Fred... you cant get away from your constituents, he said. If you have 100,000 people in your Allegan County, and you represent Allegan County... well, if you want 65% of the votes, then you have to say, OK, who were the 65% of those people that have got me in the office? Hey, we believe that Trump was a good guy, Whiteford added. We believe in Trumps policies that less regulations is good and less government is good. Lower taxes is good. You have to look at that and say, thats what I have to pursue. While Upton voted for Trumps impeachment, he sided with the former President on issues such as repealing the Affordable Care Act and removing environmental regulations. U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, takes notes while hosting a business roundtable with minority business owners at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com While some of the rural counties in Meijers district rebuked the freshman congressman, Republicans in Kent County declined to do so. Rob VerHeulen, a former state lawmaker who now serves as the county GOP chair, said there were discussions to censure Meijer that never materialized into an official resolution. I think the vote was 38 to 9 to table the matter, VerHeulen said, referencing a county meeting last month that decided not to censure Meijer. We never really got into the merits. Contrary to Allegan County, Kent Countys Republican organization feels theres some room for disagreement with an elected official on policy choices, VerHeulen said. He pointed to former representatives such as former President Gerald Ford or U.S. Rep. Justin Amash as examples. I like to think of the Republican Party as a big tent, he said. Youre going to have people on different sides of the issue depending on the issue. Your representatives are not always going to vote even consistent with each other. We send a handful of (state) representatives to Lansing, and they dont always vote the same way. Thats the system. The responsibility of an elected official is to always be available to their constituents, VerHeulen said. If theres something that they vote that they think that many of us dont support, we let them know, he said. Hopefully in a very civil way, but thats the process. Related: Congressman Meijer defends impeachment vote in first virtual town hall meeting Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake speaks to a crowd of supporters for President Trump during a Farmers for Trump Campaign rally Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2020. Some groups feel dismissed by their reps Not all censures stemmed from anti-Trump behavior from elected officials. In Hillsdale County, the group felt a more personal betrayal. The Hillsdale County Republican Party censured Shirkey on Feb. 4 with a long list of grievances, but mostly citing policy decisions in the Michigan Senate and a dismissive attitude towards his Hillsdale constituents, said county party chair Daren Wiseley. Why am I here? Wiseley said, describing Shirkeys demeanor when handed the censure letter. I am above you guys. Your concerns are kind of small or stupid or dont matter. Related: U.S. Capitol insurrection was a hoax, Michigan Senate leader says in video The reasons listed for the censure included Shirkeys support for banning the open carry of firearms in the Michigan State Capitol, supporting Medicaid expansion and not doing enough to stop Gov. Gretchen Whitmers COVID-19 shutdown policies. When supporting a candidate, the Hillsdale Republicans start with policy and try not to choose based on personality, Wiseley said. We did support President Trump, but its because we thought he was the one who best supported our principles, he said. So when discussing policy with an elected official, were going to fight for that policy... thats why were so critical of some of our Republican officials such as Sen. Shirkey, because we expect them to espouse our principles. There were two Trump-adjacent items mentioned in the Hillsdale censure letter: Shirkey allowing the termination of the Electoral College and condemning protesters at the Jan. 6 insurrection as a bunch of jackasses. Shirkey and former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, met with Trump in the White House two weeks after the November election, and came out of the meeting saying they had not been made aware of any information that would overturn Joe Bidens win in Michigan. Read more: Michigan legislative leaders after meeting with Trump: we will follow the law In Michigan, certified results show Trump lost the state by 154,000 votes. Michigans 16 electors were statutorily obligated to cast their vote for Biden on Dec. 14. Hillsdale Republicans want more questions answered about the election, Wiseley said, and Shirkeys inaction shows an ivory tower mindset. Im realistic enough to realize one guy isnt going to be able to change the whole thing, he said. But to just be so dismissive... it just shows kind of a lack of concern with his actual constituents reasonably sincere beliefs. Whether who is correct or not, thats a whole different thing, but at least showing that you want to investigate it and get deeper would mean a lot to the constituents. One of the Michigan Senates priorities this legislative session is to ensure confidence in elections. The Senate Oversight Committee has held hearings probing the states elections system. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced on March 2 that all 250 of Michigans election audits are completed and none turned up evidence of foul play in the 2020 General Election. Related: Michigan completes general election audits, no foul play found Related: Election hearings are back as lawmakers look to clear up confusion, initiate reform The souring relationship between Shirkey and Hillsdale Republicans is really about attitude, Wiseley said. When Shirkey appeared at a county GOP meeting after the censure, Wiseley felt the censure didnt convince the senate majority leader to change. He was totally arrogant, Wiseley said. Like, You guys dont get it. You guys are stupid, you hick groups out in cornfield county. For most Michigan counties, its about betraying Trump Another example of the fallout from anti-Trump behavior is former Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell, who left the party in December. I voted for Donald Trump. I supported the administrations policies 95% to 96% of the time in my last two terms. Ive been active in the national and state party, but this party has to stand up for democracy first, for our Constitution first and not political considerations, not simply for raw political power, Mitchell said at the time. Thats what I feel thats going on and Ive had enough. Mitchells former district includes St. Clair County, where the Republican Party there made it clear: Mitchells brand of conservatism is not Trumps, and that wont be tolerated. We the Saint Clair County Republican Party (SCCGOP) are hereby resolved in our utter disgust and contempt at the recent actions of Former House Representative Paul Mitchell, who has in complete disdain for God and country has left the Republican party as a turn coat with the ilk of Benedict Arnold and is a showpony in the hopes of remaining in the good graces of the leftist media and Democrat party. As such he is further banned from future events, wrote Joel Web, an executive committee member of the county Republicans. Some of those whove crossed Trump are also facing admonishment outside their districts. Meijer and Upton are the subjects of censures in Jackson County and Macomb County. The Jackson County Republicans said Meijer and Upton turned their backs on the party. Meanwhile, the group praised U.S. Rep. Tim Wahlberg, R-Tipton, who objected to the certification of the Electoral College even after the Capitol insurrection. Michigan Republican Congressmen Fred Upton and Peter Meijer hastened a scurrilous vote... on Jan. 13, 2021 to impeach our President on ridiculous and unsubstantiated charges, wrote county party chairman Matt Dame. Multiple messages were left with Dame for comment. The rest of the Jackson County censure praises Trump for his four years in office, saying he was the most pro-life president in United States history, and he restored our God-given freedoms. Macomb Countys rebuke is a first: Its Republican delegates are pushing for the statewide party to censure Meijer and Upton. Neither Ron Weiser nor Meshawn Maddock, the Michigan GOP co-chairs, have commented on a censure of Meijer or Upton. Were the party of MAGA, said Lisa Mankiewicz, vice chairwoman of the Macomb County Republicans. We back President Donald Trump. These men pretended to be supporters of Trump and turned out to be just the opposite. Its clear, though, that with Maddock, a founder of the Republican campaign organization Women for Trump, the 45th presidents shadow will continue to loom large over Michigan Republicans for the foreseeable future. GRAND RAPIDS, MI For nearly two years, Rob Jamerson has waited for justice in the shooting death of his daughter, Leea, 20, at a Saginaw County house party. Shes never far from his thoughts. A few days ago, he was overcome by grief when an old photo of the two popped up on Facebook Memories. The suspect, Shaquille Harris, 28, arrested in Texas five weeks after the April 28, 2019, slaying, has trial set for May more than two years later. Jamerson said he just wants justice. Were tired of waiting. Tired of waiting. Hes far from alone. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, jury trials in state courts in Michigan have, with a few exceptions, been on hold for nearly a year. The backlog is expected to take years to clear in some counties. In Jackson County, the 12 murder cases involving 18 defendants currently on hold represent about three times more than usual. In Kent County, 950 criminal cases are awaiting action. In Washtenaw County, a man remains in jail awaiting trial following his 2017 arrest for allegedly killing a 19-year-old. Initially shut down due to safety concerns amid surging COVID-19 cases in Michigan, jury trials are slowly starting to resume in a few counties. Local court officials worked with community health leaders before adding jury trials to the docket. State court administrators established guideline phases to help local court officials determine when best to hold jury trials again. Each communitys COVID-19 test positivity rate and cases per million are factors. Saginaw County held its first jury trial in months this week, using the Dow Event Center to provide more spacing for safety. The countys positivity rate had dropped to 3.6 percent well below the 10 percent state guideline and its cases per million were 56 fewer than the 70 cases included in the guidelines. The long delay awaiting jury trials is affecting everyone tied to the cases. For the families of the victims, theyre left with a lack of closure. For suspects, the concern is some could be innocent. For the attorneys involved on both sides, they worry about what this delay will do to their cases. Prosecutors have tried to reach plea deals, but defendants especially those out on bond, or prefer earning jail credits before going to prison arent rushing to court for guilty pleas. Some think the deals going to get better the longer they wait, a strategy that prosecutors say is wishful thinking. Regardless, no one wants to be locked up right now, with COVID-19 spread easily in confined settings. Chronically overcrowded jails now have capacity, with authorities working to release as many as possible on bond. Still, accused criminals including dozens of murder suspects sit in jails across the state. Then, there are concerns about witnesses who may already be reluctant to testify. Prosecutors have to keep in touch with them. They also have to be concerned about young victims of sexual abuse having to testify after the long wait. A delay is never, never helpful to the prosecution, in my estimation, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said. Delay is a tactic employed by the best defense lawyers that I know. Memories fade, witnesses disappear, theyre reluctant to cooperate. It weakens the case. During COVID, its worse. RELATED: Plastic sheeting and hockey-style penalty boxes: What jury trials will look like in Michigan courtrooms Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker noted that courts have stayed open throughout the pandemic, often using video conferencing. Attorneys can work from offices and in some cases, defendants link from home. Court hearings such as preliminary examinations to determine if a defendant should stand trial for a felony charge are still held in courtrooms. But capacity is strictly limited, with hearings aired on YouTube to keep courtrooms open to the public. Statewide, courts conducted 2 million hours of virtual court action through Jan. 31. Bringing in 100 potential jurors for jury selection creates a challenge in some courthouses, too. Becker said the delay in jury trials has been a struggle for victims and witnesses. Its hanging over their heads. The pause is coming to an end but jury trials will look different. Saginaw County Circuit Court this week started a jury trial in a Jan. 27, 2018 homicide. The trial before Judge Darnell Jackson was moved to the spacious Red Room of The Dow Event Center, rather than the courthouse. Witnesses wore face shields or masks, and at least one a reluctant witness -- wore both. At one point, Jackson said not all of the jurors could see a map of the crime scene from where they were seated. Then, he said, Proceed with questioning. Well see how this goes. A little later, a witnesss voice was barely audible through the face shield. The judge asked if she had a mask and told her to put it on. The judge told a court official that the next witness should keep his mask on. He doesnt need to mess with the shields, all right? Charlevoix County prosecutors tried their first case in front of a jury in months last week. In Genesee County Circuit Court, jury trials were supposed to resume this week. But after a spike in COVID-19 cases in the community, the restart was pushed to next week. Because we have a Constitutional mandate to have jury trials, I feel we have to figure out a way to do that between now and the end of the pandemic, Jackson County Chief Circuit Judge Susan Jordan said. But Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson said: In fairness, if I was to look at all the outstanding cases Ive got right now, I know a lot of those people have said, I want a trial, because they know we cant do trials and theyre waiting until the virus gets more under control before they do anything with their case because they dont want to be locked up and have a big spreader event. State courts are beginning jury trials this month as the number of COVID-19 cases and positivity rates drop. It will be some time though before courts, and everything else, are back to normal, said Jodi Latuszek, senior director of administration for the State Court Administrative Office. Courts are working with county health officials to determine if its OK to resume jury trials but have been encouraged to continue with virtual hearings when possible. Every court conducting jury trials has to have an approved plan. Its a gradual expansion from very limited public facing and in-person activity to relatively robust public activity within the courts, Latuszek said. Some jurisdictions have used virtual technology in the jury-selection process. Charlevoix County just held a jury trial. The jury pool met at the old elementary school, with those selected going to the courthouse. In Traverse City, a jury trial was held in a gymnasium. Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing said courtrooms in Grand Haven have been modified with plexiglass and plastic sheeting for jury trials. Safety is the biggest priority, for jurors and everyone else, he said. Jurors will be spread out and isolated from witnesses, attorneys, defendants and visitors in the gallery. Hulsing said it is important that jurors feel safe and comfortable to focus on the trial. Everyone will be masked but witnesses will remove them once they are sworn in so jurors can see facial expressions. Attorneys can remove masks during opening statements and closing arguments, Hulsing said. RELATED: Restart of Genesee County jury trials delayed after county sees coronavirus spike Al Brandt, a defense attorney in Jackson County, is representing a defendant charged with murder. No trial date has been set. The client is on bond, working, monitored by electronic tether. Brandt has other clients awaiting trial who have been locked up nearly two years. This is not just Jackson County, this is the entire state of Michigan, the entire United States. This is an issue. How do courts deal with it? The backlog is going to be a nightmare, he said. It is going to be awful. There is no other way to say it. The court is required to take people in custody first. Those who have been in the longest get to the front of the line. Heres the problem: Say youve got somebody whos been in jail 22 months waiting trial. You begin to subpoena witnesses who were available 22 months ago who are no longer available. Its going to happen. It is going to happen. There will be a whole fit over request to adjourn again because witnesses arent available. We all know its going to happen. Do you then release these folks who have been waiting? Then youre going to have judges wanting to clear the backlog of their cases, the problem is like myself and my partner, Ms. (Susan) Dehncke, we can only be in one courtroom at a time. He is convinced that witnesses will have trouble remembering details or previous statements. Ottawa County Prosecutor Lee Fisher, who has prosecuted decades-old cold cases, wasnt overly concerned. I dont think thatll be an issue. In a number of cases, especially cold-case homicides that happened years and years ago, people remember facts. You can prepare witnesses for trial (by providing their) previous statements. There is also talk that defendants could claim violations of their constitutional rights to speedy trials but at least one attorney doubts they would succeed. The pandemic caused the delays, not prosecutors. Brandt said: You say, Look its a pandemic. Everybodys in the same boat. My clients being denied. Look Buckwheat, everyones being denied. It is speedy in the era of pandemics. This is as fast as we can go. I think the general society would say thats probably appropriate. Were not letting people who are clearly guilty of criminal sexual conduct or murder walk simply because we have a pandemic. For guidance on a return to jury trials, look no further than some federal courts, including the Western District of Michigan, with courthouses in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Marquette. The pace has slowed but trials havent stopped, Clerk of Court Thomas Dorwin said. Despite concerns that potential jurors would be reluctant to show up at the courthouse, that has not been the case, he said. Prospective jurors who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, as identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can have jury duty deferred. That includes those 65 and older, or any age with certain serious, underlying medical conditions. Thirteen jury trials have been held in the Western District since re-opening May 18. The courts typically would have had 20 jury trials if not for the pandemic, Dorwin said. RELATED: Trials resume in Saginaw County after COVID-19 interrupted them for a year Prospective jurors have to fill out questionnaires on coronavirus symptoms and wear masks and socially distance, Dorwin said. Plexiglass has been installed in courtrooms with hand sanitizer and face shields available. Courtrooms have been reconfigured to spread out the 12-member jury panels. Only 22 people are allowed in court. The galleries would probably hold 100 people. In cases with significant interest, the court has provided audio in secondary courtrooms and by telephone. Dorwin said a handful of prospective jurors have had concerns but most see weve done enough work to ensure their safety. In a Jan. 11 federal jury trial in Kalamazoo, visitors, attorneys, the defendant and court staff wore masks. Jurors, including two alternates, were masked and spread over four rows with some seated outside the two-row jury box. Six jurors filled every other seat and sat staggered from one another from row to row, with two long tables placed in front of the jury box. Four jurors were seated, spread apart, in each of those rows. The attorneys sat across the room from the juror box, facing jurors, rather than the judge. Charlevoix County Prosecutor Allen Telgenhof, whose office had a jury trial in February, said attorneys have to remember that jurors are spread around the courtroom. No attorney wants to turn their back to jurors. Is it rude? Prosecutors said there are concerns that prospective jurors wont show because of concerns over the virus. Attorneys have a lot of questions. Are prospective jurors vaccinated? Can they be asked that question? Do they have to answer? What about someone whos afraid of getting the virus? How about those who think the pandemic is a hoax? Is the jury going to be stacked with the vaccinated? Or anti-vaxxers? The question also (is), Do you get a cross section of people that you want? Or are you just getting the ones that say, Oh I dont care about that virus. Im not worried about it. I havent been taking many precautions, Wilson, the Jackson County judge, said. Leyton, the Genesee County prosecutor, said courtrooms are marked off for social distancing, with plexiglass protecting the judge and juries. The trouble is, trial attorneys cannot read the faces of prospective jurors wearing masks. They cant see how witnesses or arguments resonate with masked jurors, either, he said. If a prospective juror is dismissed for having coronavirus concerns, it could have a domino effect on the others, he said. He is worried, too, that there is not enough to protect for his staff or defense attorneys whose clients sit next to them and are oftentimes jailed. My concern is there is not enough physical protection in the courtroom for my staff and the defense lawyer. The defendant has to sit there on top of his or her lawyer, he said. Christopher Dennie, director of the Kent County Office of the Defender, shares those concerns. A lot of trial attorneys think they should be a priority group for vaccinations. Defense attorneys need to talk to clients during the course of trials and cant always avoid close contact, Dennie said. They often speak quietly, outside the earshot of others, while witnesses testify. Its almost an occupational hazard. There are frustrations everywhere. Dennie has a client who was 16 when he was arrested in April. Its a serious charge, armed robbery. The teen, with no trial date, cant post the $250,000 bond. Hes waiting for an adult trial in adult court in an adult jail, he said. We definitely do have people waiting in jail. Judges have tried to release those awaiting trial when possible. For instance, the average daily population at Kent County Correctional Facility is 800, down from 1,087 a year ago, sheriffs Sgt. Joy Matthews said. It was at 641 in June. Becker, the Kent County prosecutor, understands those efforts because the coronavirus can race through jail and prison populations. But he has concerns that some on bond like a repeat drunken driver pose a danger. Every action has a reaction. Jamerson, the man whose daughter, Leea, was killed nearly two years ago, said its hard to believe that so much time has passed. He wants to put the legal process behind him. He doesnt know when that will be. He knows no parent should bury a child. I dont know how long before Im ever the same, but it wont be any time soon. Read more: Michiganders 50 and older will soon be eligible for coronavirus vaccine Restart of Genesee County Circuit Court jury trials delayed after county sees coronavirus spike 6 things you need to know about new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine We are thrilled to have Shannon as our new executive director, said Dave Bohman, president of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Board of Directors. Her extensive background in management, community engagement, fundraising and volunteerism makes her a great fit for her new role. The network of local leaders that she has developed and her ongoing involvement with local nonprofits will enable her to develop strong partnerships to better serve the community. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 00:15:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man runs in a park opposite the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China hopes that Australia can safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Australia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a relevant question. According to a survey released by an Australian think tank, 18 percent of Chinese Australians say they have been physically threatened or attacked in the past year because of their ethnic background, and 37 percent of Chinese Australians reported negative treatment. Wang said that for quite some time, there has been continuous discrimination in Australia against people of Asian origins, including overseas Chinese, which poses serious threats to the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Australia. The Chinese government has previously issued a travel advisory and an alert for Chinese students going to study in Australia, hoping Chinese citizens in Australia would take precautions for their own safety, he noted. "We hope that the Australian side will own up to the problem, make their people better citizens, solve the problems of racism and discrimination at home and safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Australia," said Wang. At the last state election, Labor vowed that a re-elected Andrews government would ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and coal seam gas exploration. Only Labor will keep the ban for good, Daniel Andrews said at the time. What he meant by that was that his government was willing to go further than simply passing laws to ban fracking. It would entrench this policy in the Victorian constitution, thereby making it harder for future governments to change. Protestors against gas field developments in Victoria prior to the fracking ban being imposed. Credit:Paul Jeffers Yesterday, that bill received support from the majority of Victorias upper house. Even the Liberal Party, which has traditionally rallied against such illiberal ideas, put up little fight. In doing so, the Parliament has effectively bound future democratically elected governments to this policy. Jamming it in the constitution means any future state government will require a three-fifths majority of both houses to amend it. White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended President Joe Biden's use of the phrase 'neanderthal thinking,' which he uttered Wednesday slamming the Texas and Mississippi governors' decisions to reopen their states. Asked about it during Thursday's press briefing, Psaki said Biden was describing 'the behavior of a neanderthal. Just to be very clear. The behavior of.' 'Look, I think the president, what everybody saw yesterday, was a reflection of his frustration and exasperation, which I think many American people have, that for almost a year now people across the country have sacrificed.' Biden and members of his administration have implored Americans to wear masks and stay socially distant as the country's population get vaccinated against COVID-19. White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended President Joe Biden's use of the phrase 'neanderthal thinking' in response to the Texas and Mississippi governors reopening their states explaining that it was a 'reflection of his frustration and exasperation' President Joe Biden reacted Wednesday to Texas and Mississippi reopening and killing off mask mandates by calling it a 'big mistake.' Biden added, 'the last thing we need is neanderthal thinking' Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey broke with Republican governors in Texas and Mississippi and announced Thursday that she'll extend a mask mandate until April 9 Texas Gov Greg Abbott (left) and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (right) both announced on that their states would end mask mandates and reopen businesses without capacity limitations 'And many times they haven't had the information they need from the federal government,' she continued. 'They haven't had access to a greater understanding of what the public health guidelines should look like. And those include many, many people in Mississippi and Texas, in Ohio, Florida, in every state across the country.' Biden said 'the last thing we need is neanderthal thinking' on the heels of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announcing that their state would no longer mandate mask-wearing and businesses could reopen to full capacity. On Thursday, another southern Republican governor, Alabam's Kay Ivey, extended her state's mask mandate for another month and five days. Psaki told DailyMail.com that she was unaware Ivey's decision came from direct White House pressure. 'I'm not aware of a direct conversation between them today,' she said during Thursday's briefing. She also couldn't answer if Biden had made calls to additional Republican governors who may be flirting with reopening their states. Biden's 'neanderthal' dig was met with furor. 'President Biden said allowing Mississippians to decide how to protect themselves is "neanderthal thinking,"' Reeves tweeted Wednesdy. 'Mississippians don't need handlers. As numbers drop, they can assess their choices and listen to experts. I guess I just think we should trust Americans, not insult them.' Later on Fox News Channel, Reeves said that Biden needed to 'get outside of Washington, D.C., and actually travel to middle America.' Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw tweeted, 'Freedom of choice for Americans: "Neanderthal thinking." Opening borders to illegal immigrants with COVID: "compassion."' The White House also knocked down an allegation that COVID-positive migrants were coming into Texas, as Abbott charged. 'We're about facts around here. That is not factual,' Psaki said, explaining the current testing practices. GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee embraced the term 'neanderthal' when she appeared on Fox Business Network Thursday. 'Neanderthals are hunter-gatherers, they're protectors of their family, they're resilient, they're resourceful, they tend to their own,' she noted. 'So I think Joe Biden needs to rethink what he is saying about the states that are moving away from these mask mandates.' Despite Biden's pushback against the governors' decisions in Texas and Mississippi, the White House seemed hesitant to push for state-specific travel restrictions. Psaki also wouldn't sign-on to telling American to avoid the two states. 'I'm not aware of any discussions and I certainly wouldn't do that from here,' she answered. LONDON - With his gaunt frame, haunted face and copious tears, Mazen al-Hamada became a poster boy for the suffering of Syrian torture victims. After escaping from Syria to the Netherlands, he traveled widely, sharing with audiences across the United States and Europe stories of the horrors he endured in a Damascus prison. Then, mysteriously, inexplicably and perhaps suicidally, just over a year ago he returned to Syria, to risk once again the cruelties of the government he had so strenuously denounced. Hamada has since disappeared, leaving friends and family to agonize over what prompted a man so scarred by his experiences to return to the arms of his tormentors - and what they fear is another stint in the nightmare of Syria's prison system. Was his increasingly erratic behavior a sign that trauma had driven him to make irrational decisions? Could he have been lured back to Syria, as those who knew him suspect, by pro-government Syrians keen to silence a potential witness to war crimes? Or had he simply become so disillusioned with life in the West that he was prepared to risk going home? Had he felt betrayed by the world's indifference to his country's plight, its failure to stop the bloodshed? The answers go to the heart of the tragedy of Syria, the beautiful, tormented country where the Arab Spring protests a decade ago went most disastrously awry. Interviews with those Hamada knew and testimonies he left behind reveal a portrait of a man so haunted by the horrors he endured that he was unable to adapt to a new life in Europe, or to accept that there would be no retribution, no accountability, no justice for the suffering he had seen. - - - When the Syrian revolt erupted in 2011, Hamada, 33 at the time, was working as an oil technician near his home in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour. Syrians inspired by the toppling of presidents in Tunisia and Egypt took to the streets across the country to demand the ouster of President Bashar Assad, whose family had at the time had ruled Syria for more than four decades. Hamada was swept up in the euphoria of the moment. In interviews he later gave, his eyes lit up with rare joy as he described those heady first days of peaceful protests. "When you'd see the demonstrations, your heart would fly. I swear, no one could believe it," he told Sara Afshar, the director of the documentary "Syria's Disappeared," in 2016. His activities in Syria, as a citizen journalist who spoke to foreign news outlets and as a protester, inevitably drew him to the attention of the authorities, who had instructions to round up anyone found to be aiding the uprising. Tens of thousands of people who had participated in the peaceful demonstrations were being detained and incarcerated to quell the unexpected spirit of rebellion that had taken hold in a country cowed for decades by the oppressive regime. Hamada was briefly detained twice in his home province before relocating in 2012 to Damascus. Arrested again almost immediately, he was taken to the feared air force intelligence headquarters in the Mezzeh neighborhood, where his nightmare began. - - - Across the Middle East, the uprisings of 2011 were crushed, subdued or derailed. Protesters were shot. Activists were imprisoned and tortured. A moment of hope in a region long ruled by autocrats backfired, and the Arab world is now more firmly in the grip of tyrants than ever before. But nowhere has the scale of the suffering been greater than in Syria, where Assad's ferocious response to the revolt triggered a spiral of violence that engulfed the country in the bloodiest war of the 21st century. Security forces mowed down peaceful protesters with gunfire. When the protesters took up weapons and fired back, the army brought in tanks and artillery to bombard rebellious towns and villages into submission. When that did not work, warplanes dropped barrels stuffed with explosives that demolished whole apartment buildings. When airstrikes failed, chemical weapons were deployed against recalcitrant communities, according to the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The United Nations stopped counting the dead in 2016 at 400,000. Six million Syrians fled their homeland, escaping across its borders into neighboring countries. Five million are still stranded, barely surviving in substandard conditions. A million climbed into flimsy boats to cross the Mediterranean to Europe - including Hamada, whose journey took him from Turkey through Greece, Italy, France and eventually to the Netherlands. Away from the TV cameras, tens of thousands who had participated in the protests were being systematically rounded up and incarcerated in Syria's gulag. Of the 145,000 people detained through September 2019, 128,000 - or nearly 90% - were taken by the Syrian government, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, which documents every individual detention. Of those, 83,000 have vanished without a trace. Most probably have died under torture or have been killed in mass executions documented by human rights groups. Amnesty International described the killings as "war crimes and crimes against humanity" that were authorized at "the highest levels" of the Syrian government. The Syrian government did not respond to a request for comment about human rights abuses and the whereabouts of Hamada. - - - After arriving in the Netherlands in 2014, Hamada threw himself into publicizing the horrors of the Syrian prison system. He linked up with Syrian advocacy groups and traveled across Europe and the United States to recount his experiences. He spoke to lawmakers in Washington, generals at U.S. Central Command in Florida, students at Princeton University, human rights investigators and journalists. He described how his wrists were gouged by chains used to suspend him from the ceiling, his ribs broken by guards who jumped on him, his skin scorched by cigarettes and his body jolted by electric shocks. When he reached the part where his genitals were placed in a clamp and he was simultaneously raped with a metal pole, he invariably broke down, moving his audiences also to tears. It was at that point in the interrogation that he capitulated, he told The Washington Post in 2017. "When they started to turn the screw, I confessed everything they asked," he said. He was determined to hold the Syrian government to account for what it had done, not only to him but to those he saw die in prison beside him. "I will not rest until I take them to court," he said in the documentary "Syria's Disappeared," tears streaming down his face. "Even if it costs me my life, I will pursue them and bring them to justice, no matter what." - - - The quantity of tears Hamada shed struck those who met him, including Omar Abu Layla, a Deir al-Zour exile in Germany who frequently communicated with Hamada on social media and attended a conference with him in 2018. "I remember he cried on the stage. When we had a coffee break, he cried. The one thing you noticed about Mazen was how much he is crying. He speaks and his tears come down like a river," he said. The prolific weeping offered a clue to Hamada's mental state. Away from the public glare, his life wasn't going well. He lived alone in a sparsely furnished apartment in Amsterdam provided by the Dutch authorities. He took Dutch lessons, but struggled to learn the language. Those close to him noticed he was smoking more and more marijuana, which is legal in Holland but expensive. Friends whose lives followed somewhat similar paths have fared better. Karam al-Hamad, another refugee from Deir al-Zour, also spent more than a year in a Damascus prison. He has thrived in Germany, starting a business and meeting and marrying his wife. This summer, he will begin studying on a scholarship at Yale University. Karam said he would not have overcome his trauma without extensive therapy, antidepressants and the support of family and friends. By contrast, Hamada received some therapy in the Netherlands but complained to Karam that Western therapists did not understand what Syrians like him had been through. Although six years had passed since his release, Hamada seemed unable to shed the survivor's guilt felt by many who escape trauma, said Karam. During their last encounter in Berlin, shortly before the return to Syria, Hamada was jittery and emotional, Karam recalled. Hamada kept talking about the fate of the prisoners he had left behind, and how he felt compelled to do something to rescue them. "He was sad; he was weak. From the way he was talking, it was clear this guy was so lost," Karam said. "I was wondering, when will this guy kill himself? I felt he was on the edge of suicide." Omar al-Shogre, who spent three years under torture in Syrian prisons before fleeing to Sweden, met Hamada during visits they made to the United States. Shogre has succeeded since arriving in Europe in 2015 at age 20; he has learned three languages and later this year will begin studying for an undergraduate degree at Georgetown University. Shogre said he found inspiration in the chance to start a fresh life. Hamada, who is nearly 20 years older, seemed unable to move on. "I used my trauma as a driving force. Mazen used his trauma to become more and more depressed," he said. "For Mazen, everything got worse and worse. He was isolated. He was lonely. He isolated himself because he felt no one cared." - - - Hamada's difficulties deepened as his cause was unraveling. Syrian government forces were steadily taking back the large areas of the country seized by the rebels in the first years of the war. The Western policymakers whom he had hoped to influence were more focused on fighting the Islamic State than on challenging Assad's grip on power. Increasingly, Hamada complained to friends that telling his story was a waste of time. The tears shed by his audiences did not translate into tangible efforts to bring justice to the victims. He felt pressured, exploited even, by the organizations that invited him to appear at their events. As an Arab from the overwhelmingly Arab province of Deir al-Zour, he also started complaining about the increasing encroachment there of Kurdish forces that were working with the U.S. military to roll back the Islamic State. In a rambling, emotional video broadcast live on his Facebook page in 2017, his bitterness spilled out. He raged against the Dutch authorities, who had frozen his bank account and cut off his aid after he accepted back pay from the company he had worked for in Syria, in violation of rules applied to refugees. And he lambasted the United States and Europe for sending warplanes to bomb the Islamic State. "I want to go back to my country - enough. Even if that means going back to regime areas, it is better than here," he said, sobbing into a tissue. "I don't want to integrate! It is more honorable for me to die in my country." - - - Hamada's frustrations are shared by the many people who have campaigned, without result, for war-crimes charges to be brought against the Assad regime, said Stephen Rapp, who has been investigating Syrian war crimes since serving as ambassador at large for global criminal justice in the Obama administration, and more recently as a senior fellow at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He met Hamada on several occasions and found his testimony convincing, and deeply moving. Like so many, he recalled choking back tears as Hamada told his story. Mountains of documentary evidence of war crimes committed by the Syrian government have been gathered by investigators, including photos of the bodies of 55,000 torture victims, smuggled out of Syria by a defector known by the code name Caesar, and over 600,000 documents detailing government tactics for suppressing the revolt. Among them is an arrest warrant for Hamada, dated 2012, for participating in demonstrations, Rapp said. "There's rock-solid evidence, corroboration, of war crimes by the regime and then you don't see the world sending it to a tribunal, despite the horrors that happened to you, your friends and your country," he said. "It's hard not to feel frustrated. I feel it every day." The conviction in Germany last week of a former Syrian intelligence official accused of detaining protesters relied on the kind of eyewitness testimony that Hamada has given. If war-crimes charges are brought against people associated with the air force intelligence branch where Hamada was held, or the 601 Military Hospital, where he witnessed some of the worst horrors, Hamada "would be a very important witness," Rapp said. But realities on the ground make it unlikely that senior figures in the Syrian regime will ever be held to account, said Jeffrey Feltman, a former U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs who is now a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. He has been advocating a new direction for Syria policy, predicated on the likelihood that the Assad government will survive for the foreseeable future. "Assad deserves to be hauled before a court in The Hague or an international tribunal. He deserves to be on trial in The Hague," he said. "Is that going to happen? No it's not going to happen" - in part because Russia, Assad's most powerful ally, would veto any attempt by the U.N. Security Council to establish an international court. - - - In the last months of 2019, Hamada's financial problems came to a head. Unable to pay his rent, he was evicted from his apartment and went to stay with his sister and her husband, who were also living in Amsterdam. The humiliating experience of losing his home further embittered him and may have played a big part in his decision to return to Syria, said his brother-in-law, Amer al-Obaid. "He felt betrayed. He was in a bad mental state," Obaid said. Hamada had become combative and difficult, quarreling with almost everyone he met. "He would say: 'I see the regime as better than the likes of you,' " referring to the opposition activists who were his friends. "It reached a point where he lost trust in many people." Hamada also stayed several weeks with his nephew, Ziad al-Hamada, who lives in a town in western Germany, and spent hours telling him about the tortures endured six years earlier, Ziad recalled. For the first time, Ziad learned just how badly Hamada's genitals had been injured, to an extent not revealed in his public accounts. Ziad had met a woman he thought would make a suitable wife for Hamada and suggested they open a bottle of whiskey to celebrate the potential match. Hamada refused, became agitated, then explained why. He told Ziad he longed to have children but no longer could. He cried when he recounted how it happened, showed Ziad the damage in the bathroom, then wept again. "All the nights he and I spent together he would cry," said Ziad. "All he would talk about was his torture." - - - On the morning of Feb. 22, 2020, a Syrian refugee in Germany dropped a friend at Berlin's Schonefeld Airport for a flight to Beirut, which connected to a flight to Damascus. Among those checking in for the flight was Hamada, whom he did not know but recognized from his social media and activist appearances, said the man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears for the safety of family members in Syria. Incredulous that such a well-known critic of the Syrian government would be making such a risky journey, the man approached Hamada to ask where he was going. Hamada was evasive, defensive and denied that he was going to Syria, the man recalled. "His whole body looked exhausted. He looked sad and unwell. He wouldn't speak properly. You could just see he wasn't doing well," he said. Disturbed by the encounter, the man called a friend, Maysoun Berkdar, a renowned Syrian activist who has lived in Germany for 27 years and has a reputation for sorting out problems. She tracked down Hamada's contacts and reached him after he had landed in Beirut. The recording she made of their conversation is highly revealing. "We went to America and told them the whole story. We went to Germany and told them the whole story. We went to the Netherlands, France and even Italy. And people didn't listen. The whole world didn't listen," Hamada told Berkdar. Veering from frustration to anger, he confirmed that Damascus was his destination. He said he had tired of trying to persuade the world to turn against Assad and wanted to find ways of bringing about a political solution to the war. He also said he wanted to "kick out" the Kurds and Americans, whom he accused of occupying his home province, and to work for the release of other political prisoners. He was willing, he said, "to sacrifice myself to stop the bloodshed that is happening." Pleading with him not to go, Berkdar argued that he was more likely to be imprisoned and tortured again than welcomed as a peacemaker by a government he had publicly denounced. "We are dying anyway," he responded. - - - Hamada's relatives and friends are convinced he was persuaded to go back by loyalists of the regime, with a view to silencing his testimony about atrocities. There is no evidence of that, they acknowledge, but they cite mysterious disappearances during which he would meet with "friends" he refused to name and his apparent confidence, evident in his final conversations, that he had guarantees of safety if he returned. Hamada visited the Syrian Embassy in Berlin at least three times about a month before his departure, according to Ibrahim Aswad Khalafallah, a family friend he had stayed with. Hamada told him he had been assured he was not on any wanted list in Syria. A report submitted late last year by a London law firm to four U.N. human rights agencies accuses the Syrian government of responsibility for Hamada's "enforced disappearance" after he landed in Damascus. The report seeks U.N. help in locating Hamada and cites a Facebook post, reportedly seen by his brother-in-law, that claimed Hamada was accompanied at the airport in Berlin by a woman who works with the Syrian Embassy. If Syrian government employees or loyalists played a part in Hamada's return and subsequent detention, they could face charges of abduction, said Toby Cadman, a lawyer with Guernica 37, the London law firm. Rumors have since swirled that Hamada is being held in this or that prison, or has died in custody. None has been confirmed, said Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Washington-based Syrian Emergency Task Force, who organized Hamada's visits in the United States and became his friend. He nonetheless believes that Hamada was lured with false promises of safety, only to be taken into custody. "Pro-regime people found his vulnerability and exploited it. They connected him to the embassy. The embassy promised him something," he said. "He finally realized when he got to passport control that he was wanted for interrogation, and that meant going back into the black hole." Was Hamada fully aware he might be putting himself at risk? Two phone conversations after he landed at the Damascus airport suggest he may have indeed realized, too late, that he could be in danger. The first was with his nephew Ziad, who reached him shortly after he landed. Hamada's voice was shaking and his "teeth were clattering," Ziad recalled. There seemed to be a man beside him who was telling him what to say. "It was very clear. I heard someone tell him, 'Speak, speak,' " Ziad said. "I heard people next to him telling him 'Say this' and 'Say that.' " In the call, Hamada said airport immigration officers had told him he would be detained for interrogation if he entered the country. He said he was trying to find a ticket for the next flight out, which was to Sudan. Ziad urged him to take the flight. "Pray for me dear cousin, pray for me," Hamada said, as the line cut off. Moments later, he called an American friend in the United States. Natalie Larrison, the humanitarian aid director for the Syrian Emergency Task Force, doesn't speak Arabic, but she understood that Hamada was saying he was at the Damascus airport. She also got the impression there was someone close beside him, telling him what to say. She could hear a man breathing, and seemingly giving instructions to Hamada before he spoke. Then, Hamada hung up. Larrison said she tried reaching him several times over WhatsApp, the messaging service they used, but he did not answer. Less than three hours later, his account went offline, along with all his other social media accounts. None has been active since. - - - The Washington Post's Nader Durgham in Beirut, Munzer al-Awad in Berlin and Suzan Haidamous in Washington contributed to this report. A group of people with sleep disorders have helped researchers from Aarhus make an important discovery about Parkinson's disease. The study could pave the way for new diagnostic tools and forms of treatment in the future Parkinson's disease has always been considered a brain disorder. However, new research reveals a close link between the disease and certain immune cells in the blood. Researchers from Aarhus University have taken the first step on a path which can lead to new ways of understanding and, in the long term, possibly treating this widespread disease that affects not only motor functions but also cognition and emotions. "We know that Parkinson's disease is characterized by an inflammation in the brain, and that this is crucial for the progression of the disease. But in the study, our interest has been focused on the immune cells found outside the brain," explains Marina Romero-Ramos, who is associate professor at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University. The researchers have studied a group of patients suffering from REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD), a condition where the patients physically act vivid dreams with vocalizations and movements. If a patient e.g. dreams that they are running, their legs will move as if they were actually running. The sleep disorder is often discovered by a spouse as it results in violent movements at night, and the diagnosis is often indicative of something more. Patients with RBD have a high risk of developing Parkinson's - statistically approximately ninety per cent of them will be diagnosed with a parkinsonism related disorder over the course of 5-10 years. The blood's immune system changes very early on In Parkinson's disease, a protein called alpha-synuclein aggregates in the neurons in the brain, and this kills the cells. The same protein also aggregates in the brain of people with the RBD, and it is therefore regarded as an early form of Parkinson's disease. This has led the researchers from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University - in collaboration with a group of neurologists and experts in nuclear medicine at Aarhus University Hospital, led by Dr. Nicola Pavese - to carry out scans of the brains of 15 patients with RBD and ten healthy people. The scan revealed that the patients with the sleep disorder had inflammation and a loss of neuronal activity in the brain. Although they did not present symptoms of Parkinson's, their neurons were already ill and the brain's immune cells were activated. The groundbreaking discovery happened when Dr. Marina Romero-Ramos and her colleagues from Aarhus University analysed blood samples from these patients. It turned out that the inflammation in the brain, and the associated loss of brain cells, directly related to changes in some immune cells in the blood, the monocytes. When certain proteins increased on these immune cells, there was in parallel increased inflammation in the brain and a decrease on the neuronal activity. This is a key finding when it comes to understanding Parkinson's disease. "We could see that the blood's immune system changes very early on - even before Parkinson's is diagnosed," says Marina Romero-Ramos. "This is the first study to show that the body's immune system continuously communicates with the brain during the development of Parkinson's disease, and that changes in the body's immune system influence the condition of the neurons in the brain. In connection with Parkinson's, this presents us with new opportunities for studying the immune cells in the blood and finding new forms of treatment," she says. This means that the researchers now hope to find and investigate ways to influence Parkinson's disease by treating the blood and not the brain. Previous experiments on mice and rats suggest that this is possible, even though there is still much research to be done, as Dr. Romero-Ramos explains. "This opens up the possibility of being able to design immunotherapy that modulates cells in the blood, which subsequently would stop or delay the changes in the brain. For the patients, being able to enjoy more years with good quality of life will be very significant," she says. "It also opens up opportunities for us to be able to find biomarkers in the blood that can tell us how someone's brain is doing. Blood tests can be done more often and cheaper than a brain scan." Rare data from patients The brain is a special type of tissue, and for many years researchers believed that the immune response in the brain was independent from the rest of the body. The study has now confirmed that the immune response in the brain and the body communicate with each other during RBD, and this is a discovery that the researchers could not have made without the help of the volunteers that took part in the study. "We've had a unique combination of researchers at Aarhus University Hospital who take images of the brain, and researchers like me who analyse immune cells in the blood. It is very rare to get both analyses from a patient and it has only been possible because a group of people were willing to participate in the trial, which we're very grateful for. Participation involved two visits to the hospital for a brain scan, which itself isn't painful, but of course it requires time and patience," says Marina Romero-Ramos. The data should be now evaluated and replicated by more labs, and hopefully new groups of patients will provide blood samples, brain scans and their patience for further testing. "This lays the foundation. We can continue to build on the study, because we've now discovered that there is a change in the blood at a very early stage of Parkinson's disease, and that it's related to changes in the brain. We didn't have the data to truly say this before." ### The research results - more information The study has just been published in the American scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS): https:/ / www. pnas. org/ content/ 118/ 10/ e2020858118 The study is a case-control study of healthy individuals and patients with REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder who were recruited at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain) and Aarhus University Hospital (Denmark). The patients underwent PET scans under the supervision of Professor Nicola Pavese at the Department of Clinical Medicine - PET Centre (AUH). The blood analysis was carried out in Marina Romero-Ramos' lab at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University. The study was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Eduardo Tolosa's team at CIBERNED and The Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona in Spain. The studies were approved by the local ethics committee at both centres, and all participants gave their consent in accordance with the Helsinki declaration before registration. "Looking at the success of our other regional locations in Florida, Maryland, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, we knew it was a great opportunity to expand our reach and service model," said Jeff Beck, CEO and President of Leaf Home Solutions. "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to bring our gutter and water solutions to even more customers across these states." 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Our proprietary data-driven platforms for marketing, customer service, field services, and talent management driven by our "Today-Not-Tomorrow" culture underpin our competitive advantage and high, sustained growth. Learn more about Leaf Home Solutions at www.leafhomesolutions.com. For more information, contact: [email protected]. SOURCE Leaf Home Solutions Related Links http://www.leafhomesolutions.com Seguin, Texas (78155) Today Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm this afternoon. High 83F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Central Military Commission (CMC) has issued a circular on launching a campaign of Party history learning and education in the military. The campaign will be conducted through 2021, with all officers and soldiers taking part, and will inspire the military as it celebrates the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with great achievements, according to the circular. Officers and soldiers will study the Party history from several aspects, including the 100-year endeavor of the CPC, the major theoretical achievements made by the CPC in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, and the strength stemming from the Party's absolute leadership over the army. The circular urges efforts to arrange the campaign in a scientific manner and achieve solid and effective results. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Mohamed Reza Pahlavi, the second and last Shah of Iran from the Pahlavi dynasty, was the son of an Iranian gunnery sergeant who managed to seize control of that country in 1925 and crown himself king. Like Rajput kings who gave themselves extravagant genealogies of being descended from the sun or the moon, Mohammed Reza gave himself a 2,500-year-old lineage descending from Cyrus the Great. To him the surest and simplest way to greatness was to use Irans new petro-dollar millions to buy the latest weapons that money can buy. Iran then was a low-income country, but the Shahs vision was soaring. The Americans encouraged him. The US Air Force and the Navy loved him for he helped to defray the cost of development of new weapons. Flushed with his weapons. he grandiosely announced that after the two superpowers, Iran was the greatest military power and, encouraged by the United States, he appointed himself as the keeper of peace and order in the near region. Reza Pahlavis megalomania blinded him to the reality of Iran and a man called Ayatollah Ruhollah Nasrollah Khomeini, a Shia theologian who was banished to a Paris suburb. We know what happened next. This should be a lesson in history for all those strategists who think that weapons confer status. Indias diplomatic and military establishment seems gripped by grandiose visions of an India sitting on global high tables like the UN Security Council. Indias new middle classes blithely talk about India becoming a superpower, and against this rising tide few are willing to question why? Recent studies reveal that as much as 70 per cent of Indian households make do without the minimum standards evolved by international bodies like the UNDP to be considered above the poverty standard. Indias own poverty line is indeed a starvation line that prescribes a minimum caloric norm. Even by that self-serving standard, a quarter of India is excruciatingly poor. And not only is India poor, it is also economically backward, with a relatively small manufacturing base supporting a disproportionately large service sector, giving it the economic profile of a post-industrial society like the US or Europe. We mostly miss the irony of looking post-industrial without having industrialised! Indias pursuit of iron-clad national security and global status ambitions makes it annually import as much as $20 billion, or Rs 120,000 crores, of weapons, putting us in a league of our own. Our military leaders want even more and to this extent they now have a vested interest in weapons acquisitions. Most of our other engineering imports are to facilitate domestic production, either as plant and machinery or as components. Thus, they contribute to overall value addition. Military hardware imports are a one-way street and the only ones who benefit by it are the exporting economies. In the next decade alone, India will import over $200 billion of weapons. Consider this. This is the kind of money that can gives us a brand-new high-speed rail quadrilateral or 10 new world-class cities of 10 million people each. If we factor in the militarys wishlist, then we are really looking at infinity. And much of what is being planned for acquisition is not even required. Take, for instance, the French Dassault Rafale fighter-bomber. Each of these aircraft will cost at least Rs 1,600 crores and the IAF wants 126 of them. It just got 36 of them for now. Not being satisfied with this, the IAF is thinking ahead and is said to be contemplating large numbers of an even more costly fighter -- the American F-35. This will be in addition to the 272 SU30MKI fighter-bombers the IAF is in the process of inducting. Those who are knowledgeable will argue that the SU30MKI confers far greater lethality than the Rafale and costs about Rs 650 crores. Hence, why even buy Rafales? This is the exact question then defence minister Manohar Parrikar had posed. Besides, the SU30MKIs are already being assembled by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at Nashik and its AI-31FP turbofan engines at Koraput. Then lets consider what is the aircraft the IAF needs to urgently replace. Its the now outdated MiG-21 series. The MiG-21 is described as a frontal aviation aircraft designed mainly to intercept enemy aircraft and on occasion to drop small bombs and conduct ground attacks. It has a very limited range and endurance. The logical replacement for the MiG-21 is another light single-engine interceptor such as the Tejas LCA or even the more expensive Saab Gripfen, but not an expensive heavy twin-engine long-range fighter-bomber. Empirical evidence suggests that the survival ability of a twin-engine fighter is not better than a single engine fighter in a conflict. It gives it a bigger load carrying capacity and more range. But single engine fighters like the Gripen also have good range now. As the Pakistan Air Force showed in the post-Balakot engagement, good radar and better missiles even on an old platform like the F-16 can be more than a match for heavy fighters without them. More than numbers, India needs a strategy to keep the Chinese deterred. This strategy must threaten to disrupt Chinas economic interests and inflict huge costs on any Himalayan adventure, not just in the Himalayas but also in other theatres of our choosing. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army might have the advantage of interior lines in Tibet and Xinjiang, but the IAF and the Indian Army maintain bases and formations close to the border on the plains, giving them several tactical advantages. Just adding more troops and calling them strike formations makes little sense, as high-altitude battlefields require acclimatisation and the conflicts in all probability will be long over before they can be deployed in battle. India can never match China in the numbers game alone. To deter China, it has to show the willingness and ability to impose disproportionate costs. We must consider scenarios like this. China operates almost 20 airfields in Xinjiang, Tibet and Yunnan, from which the PLAAF can target IAF airbases in the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins. Each of these airbases is alongside a major population centre. Chinas home areas are deep in its hinterland. Do we have a plan to counter target them? Its very easy to become a Shah with poor peoples money. Clearly, India doesnt need to be inspired by a Shah. However, it does need to be inspired by Chanakya or even Sun Tzu. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 09:51:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has denied that he was blaming victims of sexual assault when he told first year cadets not to make themselves "prey." It was revealed on Wednesday that Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell told recruits at the ADF Academy in Canberra to lower the risk of sexual assault by avoiding the "four A's" - "alcohol", being out "after" midnight, "alone" and "attractive." The speech was widely condemned. Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, a child sexual abuse survivor and victims advocate, said that the advice was "not helpful at all." "That feeds the idea that this is something that a victim has to foresee and stop themselves, if they're to blame. And that is really unhelpful," she told the National Press Club. Marise Payne, minister for foreign affairs and acting minister for defence, was also critical. "My message is that it is most important that those who would seek to be sexual predators - don't," she said. "That behavior is unacceptable anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances. My message first and foremost is about stopping that behavior." In response, Campbell said that his comments has been "interpreted" in a way he "did not intend." "There is never an excuse for perpetrating sexual assault or sexual harassment and the perpetrator is always to blame," he said, according to The Australian on Thursday. The number of ADF personnel charged with sexual assault almost doubled between 2019 and 2020 with more than 1,000 complaints reporting unacceptable behavior. Enditem John Travolta and the late Kelly Preston's daughter Ella Bleu was 'very pleased to announce' she'll head up a modern-day reimagining of Alice In Wonderland titled Get Lost. The Artists First-repped actress - turning 21 next month - wrote on Tuesday that she was 'looking forward to working with Daniela Amavia and Michael Mendelsohn on this exciting new project!' Mendelsohn just so happened to have worked with Ella's two-time Oscar-nominated 67-year-old father on I Am Wrath in 2016 and Battlefield Earth in 2000. Kicking off her career: John Travolta and the late Kelly Preston's daughter Ella Bleu was 'very pleased to announce' she'll head up a modern-day reimagining of Alice In Wonderland titled Get Lost (pictured December 25) Turning 21 next month! The Artists First-repped actress wrote on Tuesday that she was 'looking forward to working with Daniela Amavia and Michael Mendelsohn on this exciting new project!' Travolta will star as Alicia/Alice, who goes on a mind-bending, magical overnight adventure while backpacking through Hungary after encountering an expat from London aristocracy. The drama also features Katja Riemann, Jella Haase, and Edouard Philipponnat with production beginning this summer in Budapest, according to Deadline. Get Lost was written and will be helmed by Daniela Amavia, whose directorial debut was the 2015 indie romance dramedy A Beautiful Now. It marks the 5ft10in brunette's third feature film role after acting opposite John in Francesco Cinquemani & George Gallo's 2019 film noir, Poison Rose. Familiar face: Mendelsohn (R) just so happened to have worked with Ella's two-time Oscar-nominated 67-year-old father (L) on I Am Wrath in 2016 and Battlefield Earth in 2000 Production starts this summer in Budapest! Travolta will star as Alicia/Alice, who goes on a mind-bending, magical overnight adventure while backpacking through Hungary At the helm! The drama was written and will be directed by Daniela Amavia (pictured in 2017), whose directorial debut was the 2015 indie romance dramedy A Beautiful Now Ella also co-starred alongside both her famous parents in Walt Becker's 2009 family comedy Old Dogs. Last month, the Travolta father-daughter duo performed a TikTok dance together for a Scotts Lawn & MiracleGro commercial, which aired during the Super Bowl. Ella is still mourning her mother who passed away, age 57, on July 12 following a secret, two-year battle with breast cancer. Kelly's final screen role - as Cassie - alongside Dame Judi Dench in Jules Williamson's European train-set dramedy Off the Rails is scheduled to be released later this year. Nepotism: Get Lost marks the 5ft10in brunette's third feature film role after acting opposite John in Francesco Cinquemani & George Gallo's 2019 film noir, Poison Rose Her first taste of fame: Ella also co-starred alongside both her famous parents in Walt Becker's 2009 family comedy Old Dogs Benchmark indices were trading with modest losses in afternoon trade. At 13:15 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, declined 236.47 points or 0.46% at 51,208.18. The Nifty 50 index lost 53.50 points or 0.35% at 15,192.10. A rise in US bond yields spoilt investor sentiment globally. HDFC (down 2.18%), HDFC Bank (down 1.23%) and Reliance Industries (down 0.74%) were major drags. The broader market was trading firm. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index added 0.79%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 1%. Buyers outpaced sellers. On the BSE, 1,585 shares rose and 1,215 shares fell. A total of 192 shares were unchanged. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 2,088.70 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 392.91 crore in the Indian equity market on 3 March 2021, provisional data showed. COVID-19 Update: Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 11,51,65,467 with 25,59,576 deaths. India reported 1,73,413 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,57,435 deaths while 1,08,26,075 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Gainers & Losers: Tata Steel (up 5.71%), Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) (up 4.14%), Bajaj Finserv (up 3.82%), JSW Steel (up 3.70%) and Axis Bank (up 3.36%) were major gainers in Nifty 50 index. Hero MotoCorp (down 1.42%), Bajaj Auto (down 1.05%), Maruti Suzuki India (down 1.03%), Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (down 0.72%) and BPCL (down 0.68%) were major losers in Nifty 50 index. Stocks in Spotlight: Bajaj Electricals was up 2.34% and Mahindra Logistics (MLL) rallied 5.64%. MLL signed an agreement with Bajaj Electricals for innovative logistics optimisation and outsourcing. This deal is a complete end-to-end re-design and outsourcing of Bajaj Electricals' entire logistics by Mahindra Logistics, with the twin objectives of achieving enhanced & industry-best service levels, coupled with a logistics cost saving in excess of 25%. The total contract value of this deal will be in excess of Rs 1,000 crore over the next 5 years. V.S.T. Tillers Tractors advanced 2.20% after the company entered into a share purchase agreement (SPA) for an investment of $1,500,000 (about Rs 11,07,15,000) in series A preferred stock of Zimeno Inc. Zimeno Inc is an unlisted company incorporated in the United States of America (USA). Zimeno Inc is in the development of electric autonomous tractor. After the allotment of Series A preferred stock, the company's shareholding in Zimeno will be about 2% on fully diluted basis. Alembic Pharmaceuticals fell 0.69%. The drug maker announced that its joint venture (JV), Aleor Dermaceuticals has received the final approval from the US drug regulator for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for testosterone gel, 1.62%. The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug product (RLD), AndroGel 1.62%, of AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie). Testosterone gel, 1.62% (20.25 mg/1.25 gm actuation) is indicated for replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone: primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired). Aleor Dermaceuticals (Aleor) had previously received tentative approval for this ANDA. Global Markets: Shares in Europe and Asia declined on Thursday following an overnight slide on the Wall Street as bond yields rose again. US stocks posted heavy losses on Wednesday as rising bond yields spooked investors. The weakness came as the 10-year Treasury yield extended gains. The benchmark rate climbed to a high of 1.49% on Wednesday before retreating slightly. Last week, the yield surged to a high of 1.6% in a move that some described as a "flash" spike. The U.S. economic recovery continued at a modest pace over the first weeks of this year, with businesses optimistic about the months to come and demand for housing "robust," but only slow improvement in the job market, the Federal Reserve reported. In oil developments, OPEC and its non-OPEC partners - an energy alliance sometimes referred to as OPEC+ - are expected to convene via video conference on Thursday to discuss how to manage supply to the market. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Related Breathlessly waiting for GEM Following lengthy negotiations, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) Board of Directors selected the Hassan Allam consortium to provide and operate services at the museum, which is set to receive visitors later this year. The consortium comprises Egyptian, British, French, and Emirati companies specialising in a variety of fields, including business administration, marketing, hospitality, promotions, quality control, and health and safety. The selection was made during the board's recent meeting, headed by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany. The decision was based on the outcomes of the Problem-Solving Committee and the Panel of Experts that were formed by a cabinet decree. In mid-2018, the GEM announced an international call to submit applications for providing and operating its services. Eight international consortiums came forward, five of which passed the preliminary qualifying round. The technical committees efforts resulted in the selection of three consortiums. The efforts of the panels in charge of the assessment process narrowed down the decision to between two consortiums. Multiple meetings were held with the finalists to negotiate the best financial and technical bid for Egypt. The museum's general supervisor, Major General Atef Muftah, stated that the decision was preceded by rounds of lengthy and meticulous negotiations to maximise Egypts returns and magnify its share in the provision and operation of services at the Grand Egyptian Museum The talks targeted reaching the highest operational level that matches the grandeur of one of the largest museums in the world. Short link: In the 1982 film, My Favorite Year, the lead character, Bengie Stone, a Jewish comedy writer who worked on a fictional version of Sid Caesars Your Show of Shows is on a date, and trying to explain to his non-Jewish date, that Jews know three things, suffering, where to find great Chinese food, and funny. That line is sort a punchline within a sterotype that so many of the great early comedians through present day are Jewish. Well, I guess we like to laugh and make people laugh. Whats wrong with that? And that sentiment is alive and well, and celebrated daily on the website Jewish Humor Central. Each day, the masterminds at this website send out a daily email, reminding us all to remember to laugh, at least once a day. ADVERTISEMENT On Thursdays the site publishes, their Throwback Thursday, which features a funny clip from the past. Check it out here on The Jewish Light every Thursday, or visit their site to sign up for their daily newsletter. Todays Chuckle Today, a trip back to the 1950s and another episode of The Hickenloopers on Your Show of Shows. Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca starred in many hilarious sketches featuring the married couple Doris and Charlie Hickenlooper. In this sketch, Sid Caesar plays a husband who picks up a Chinese dinner on the way home from work, unaware that his wife has spent the whole day in the kitchen cooking a steak dinner for them. Carl Reiner joins in the fun as their neighbor, who performs some impressive sleight-of-mouth with Chinese food. A spokesperson and adviser for former President Donald Trump shot down a report citing anonymous sources alleging Trump is currently pondering over a 2024 presidential bid without former Vice President Mike Pence. This is amid reports that advisers want him to choose another person other than Pence for his ticket. Will Trump Run for Presidency Without Pence in 2024? According to Jason Miller, "This is fake news. No such conversations are happening." He also told Bloomberg that the former president "hasn't made any decisions regarding a potential 2024 run," reported The Epoch Times. People familiar with the discussions remarked Donald Trump is telling allies he is strongly mulling over another bid for presidency in 2024. He also publicly teased at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Sunday regarding his running. According to Bloomberg, should Trump run, his advisers want him to choose someone other than Pence as his running mate. Pence has not stated whether he will run on a presidential ticket with the former president again. Anonymous sources told the news outlet that the former president is mulling over choosing a woman or a Black person to be his running mate, dropping Pence. The report comes after Trump's tumultuous last few weeks in office. This was when he publicly pressured Pence to overturn the 2020 election results amid the congressional certification process, reported The Hill. Trump allegedly discussed alternatives to Pence as he takes into consideration who he believes stood with him at the end of his tenure and who did not. Two people said this and requested anonymity due to the fact that the conversations have been private. Also Read: CPAC Celebrates Trump, Honors Him With Golden Statue There are reportedly signs that following their rupture over Pence's declining to steal the 2020 presidential election for Trump on January 6, the former vice-president may be crawling back into the camp of the man whom he used to laud. Pence has now penned an op-ed suggesting that the former president's effort to deny the president the electoral vote majority that all 50 states had certified was appropriate. This was despite being marred by all the unpleasantness surrounding the US Capitol siege, which the veep barely escaped with his life. During Trump's 90-minute speech to close out CPAC, Trump hinted at running again. Trump naturally did it by pushing the idea that he was the real winner of the 2020 election. He remarked he might even decide to beat [the Democrats] for a third time. The former vice president would have been installed as "acting president" if he had invoked the 25 Amendment declaring Trump unfit to take on his duties. Reports indicated that Trump and Pence had not spoken to each other during the US Capitol riot but met with each other a few days later. Also, according to Trump at CPAC, "With your help, we will take back the house, we will win the Senate and then a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House. And I wonder who that will be." Pence and his wife Karen were present at President Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20. Trump opted to give a short speech to a small crowd before he departed for Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Related Article: Trump Appeals to Rejoin Facebook, Instagram Oversight Board After Suspension @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- W Technologies, Inc ., ("W Tech or the Company"), ( OTC : WTCG ) announced today that Dr. Edward White will join the Board of Directors, effective on March 8, 2021. By Dr. White joining our Board, W Technologies will benefit because of his extensive knowledge and experience in the medical field said Mikael Lundgren, CEO of W Tech. Dr. White currently is a consultant in Family Practice and in Emergency Room Practice at the American Hospital in Dubai and is the owner of Princeton Medical Solutions. Dr. White has also served with the US Army Medical Corp for almost six years. He holds a DEA License for controlled substances. About W Technologies, Inc. At this time, the Company's purpose is to seek, investigate and, if such investigation warrants, acquire an interest in business opportunities presented to it by persons or firms who or which desire to seek the perceived advantages of an Exchange Act registered corporation. The Company will not restrict its search to any specific business, industry or geographical location and the Company may participate in a business venture of virtually any kind or nature. This discussion of the proposed business is purposefully general and is not meant to be restrictive of the Company's virtually unlimited discretion to search for and enter into potential business opportunities. The Company is continuing the review of several opportunities, especially in the field of medical CBD, with the intent to roll up into the Company any situation which results, after extensive review and due diligence, into a signed deal which can be consummated as a roll-up. The Company expects to have more information about specific situations within the next 30 days. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws. Words such as "may," "would," "could," "should," "potential," "will," "seek," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, based on information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. While forward-looking statements are based on data, assumption and analyses that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results, performance or developments will meet the Company's expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance and financial condition of the Company to differ materially from its expectations. Certain of the "risk factors" that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's forward-looking statements, if any, in this press release include, without limitation; general economic, market and business conditions and factors, including the risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Form 10 Registration Statement as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner or should assumptions underlying any such forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward look information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. CONTACT INFORMATION W Technologies, Inc. Mikael Lundgren, CEO Tel: 424 522 9977 SOURCE W Technologies Related Links https://www.wtechnologiescorp.com Advertisement Covid cases are continuing to drop in England but the speed of decline has slowed, another set of official data revealed today. NHS Test and Trace data showed 68,738 people tested positive for Covid in England between February 18 and 24, an 18.7 per cent decrease compared to the previous week. But the fall was not as high as that recorded during the previous seven-day spell (21.1 per cent) or the week before that (28.2 per cent), bolstering fears that Covid rates are not dropping as quickly as they were. It comes after a major surveillance study by Imperial College London academics also claimed the rate of decline in coronavirus cases has slowed, with infections rising in London and the South East. Health Secretary Matt Hancock today urged England to stay vigilant and warned the nation's 'hard-won progress' could be ruined. Experts behind the swabbing scheme said the slowdown was likely to be due to more people venturing outside as they anticipate a relaxation of restrictions. Concerns have been raised that cases are beginning to level out at high levels, despite plans to begin the easing of lockdown coming into force from Monday when schools finally reopen. Boris Johnson has promised all Covid restrictions will be dropped from June 21, at the earliest. Covid cases are continuing to drop in England but the speed of decline has slowed. There were 68,738 positive tests in the week ending February 24, down 18.7 per cent on the previous week Health Secretary Matt Hancock today urged England to stay vigilant and warned the nation's 'hard-won progress' could be ruined. Pictured today during a visit to the Centre for Virus Research at Glasgow University NHS Test and Trace figures show nine per cent more people were tested at least once between February 18 and 24, rising from 2.6million to 2.8million. But positive coronavirus tests fell from 84,546 to 68,738, with numbers continuing to fall. It was the fewest cases recorded in a week since the end of September. Positive cases have dropped consistently since the week ending January 6, where they peaked at 343,323 before more than halving by the end of the month to 160,901. The figures comes after Mr Hancock urged England to continue to obey lockdown, following a separate study that showed that the rate at which infections are falling is beginning to slow down. Researchers from Imperial College London say 1.57 per cent of the population one in 64 people were infected from January 6 to 22. But this plummeted more than two thirds to 0.49 per cent or one in 204 from February 6 to 23. The Health Secretary said the results were 'some cause for concern' that the 'hard-won progress' of the last two months could be at risk. 'It is important we remain vigilant - this is on all of us,' he added. 'We have set out a cautious, but irreversible approach to easing restrictions but until we reach each milestone, we must all remember the virus is still here, and still dangerous. 'Please continue to stay at home - practice hands, face, space - and get your jab when you receive your invite so we can bring down infections further.' Infection rates were lowest among the over-65s, who are most likely to have been vaccinated. But the REACT-1 study a key measure of the UK's outbreak warned the rate of decline appeared to be slowing, with the time taken for cases to halve climbing from 15 to 31 days during February. The paper is watched closely by ministers because it relies on random swabbing of more than 165,000 people across the country, meaning it may be able to gauge infection rates among people who aren't going for tests out of fear of being asked to self-isolate. The study found around 0.5 per cent of English population was carrying coronavirus from February 13 to 26, which was down significantly from the start of the year when it was close to 1.5 per cent one in every 67 people The researchers said infection rates were falling in most areas (highlighted in blue on the third map) but rising in some parts, particularly in London and the South East. Hotspots that stood out in earlier versions of the study had faded and new ones emerged, the top maps show The REACT study saw infection rates coming down in most regions but said there were early signs of an uptick in London and the South East. These were based on only a few days' data but the researchers said they were 80 per cent sure the trend had reversed. They could not explain why A prediction made by SAGE sub-group SPI-M at the start of February suggested daily Covid deaths in England would stay above 200 until the end of March but they are already lower. The yellow line shows SPI-M's prediction, while the red line represents the actual daily death count, calculated as a seven-day average Lockdown 'could ease earlier' in England because Covid deaths are falling FASTER than SAGE predicted thanks to vaccine success Covid deaths in England are falling faster than gloomy SAGE advisers thought they would, official data show and scientists claim lockdown rules could be loosened faster. Models produced by the SPI-M group of scientists predicting the future of the Covid outbreak in February suggested the daily death count would stay above 200 until mid-March. But the average number of victims recorded each day had dropped below this level before the end of February, statistics show. Experts told The Telegraph the progress is 'better than expected' and suggested the Government's 'data not dates' approach could see relaxations brought forward. The vaccine rollout has made immense progress, with 20million people now vaccinated across the UK, and studies suggest the jabs are working better than expected, preventing between 85 and 94 per cent of hospitalisations. SPI-M's prediction was more pessimistic about how well the vaccine would work and whether it would stop transmission, which may explain why its estimates are gloomier than the reality. Under current plans, schools will reopen next Monday, and people will be allowed to meet in groups of six outdoors from March 29. Advertisement The survey also suggested the R rate a measure of how many people an infected person passes the virus on to is around 0.86 and 'reliably' below one, indicating the epidemic is shrinking. The paper says prevalence dropped 'substantially' overall during January and early February but 'remains high'. Infection rates vary around the country, with an apparent fall in cases in four regions during February, no change in one and a rise in London and the South East. It continued: 'Continued adherence to social distancing and public health measures is required so that infection rates fall to much lower levels. 'This will help to ensure that the benefits of the vaccination roll-out programme in England are fully realised.' The study says there is clear progress but warns: 'Any large uptick in the prevalence of infections would signal a potential threat to the smooth continuation of the roadmap. The report said: 'But with high vaccine uptake and encouraging early estimates of vaccine efficacy, the link between infections and strain on healthcare services will likely be weakened in the near future.' Imperial's Professor Steven Riley said the pace of the roadmap 'seems about right'. He added: 'What we need is to keep infections really low, so that people who will get offered a vaccine, three or four weeks from now or six weeks from now don't get infected just before they get the vaccine because for those people that amazing vaccine story won't have done that much.' Professor Paul Elliott, also from Imperial, said: 'People might think that they can just relax because the vaccine programme is going so well but there is still a lot of virus out there. 'If people just change their behaviours a little bit then they are going to be more at risk of getting infection, because it's all about social contact, social distancing. 'So I think we just, in a very cautious way need to continue - but we need to keep monitoring what's happening to the virus in the population. 'It does need to get a lot lower than one in 200.' He added: 'We're still in lockdown. We're going through a cautious easing of lockdown, with taking stock, looking at interventions, and then having a chance to look at the effect of those interventions on the spread of the virus. 'So I would be very hopeful that it will continue to go down and, it does need to go down because it is still too high.' Prevalence in February ranged from 0.21 per cent in those aged 65 and over to 0.71 per cent in those aged 13 to 17. The report detail rates among different ethnicities and occupations for the first time. It found rates were highest among Pakistani participants at 2.1 per cent, compared with 0.45 per cent among those who are white and 0.45 per cent who are black. Those who work from home are a third less likely to catch the virus. This 'stresses the importance of working from home during lockdown where possible to minimise social contacts and hence reduce the risk of transmission', the report warns. The findings have not been peer-reviewed or published in a journal. Infection rates among age groups plummeted between January (grey) and February (orange and red), the study found, but the decline had slowed significantly since then The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below RTHK: Blinken vows US will stand up to China US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the United States was ready to confront China where need be, calling the Asian power the "biggest geopolitical test" of the century. In his first major speech, Blinken vowed that President Joe Biden's administration will emphasise diplomacy over military action and build cooperation with the world on global challenges such as climate change and Covid-19. "We will manage the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century: our relationship with China," Blinken said at the State Department. "China is the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to seriously challenge the stable and open international system - all the rules, values and relationships that make the world work the way we want it to," he said. "Our relationship with China will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be and adversarial when it must be. And we will engage China from a position of strength." Blinken indicated that Biden would be sparing in military action despite ordering an air strike last week in Syria against Iranian-linked Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitaries. He did not mention a fresh attack on Wednesday on a base in Iraq in which a US contractor died from a cardiac episode. "In future cases when we must take military action, we will do so only when the objectives and mission are clear and achievable, consistent with our values and laws and with the informed consent of the American people," Blinken said. "And we'll do it together with diplomacy." Blinken voiced alarm over an "erosion of democracy" worldwide that includes the United States, pointing to the January 6 siege of the Capitol by supporters of defeated president Donald Trump. Unless the United States promotes democracy, "we play right into the hands of adversaries and competitors like Russia and China who seize every opportunity to sow doubts about the strength of our democracy," Blinken said. But he said Biden had no interest in bringing democracy to the world "through costly military interventions or by attempting to overthrow authoritarian regimes by force." "We have tried these tactics in the past. However well intentioned, they haven't worked." He was likely alluding to the war in Iraq as well as the 2011 operation, which he supported, that backed an uprising that overthrow dictator Moamer Kadhafi in Libya, ushering in a decade of chaos. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan posted the following on his Facebook page today: REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA OMBUDSMAN RAISES ISSUE OF IMMEDIATE RETURN OF PRISONERS HELD IN AZERBAIJAN FOR SPECIAL DISCUSSION IN GERMAN BUNDESTAG A special online discussion on Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan was organized in the German Bundestag today during which the Armenian Human Rights Defender presented a separate report. The discussion took place under the chairmanship of Michael Brandt, Chairman of the Bundestag Standing Committee on Human Rights, and Marian Wendt, Chair of the Bundestag Petition Committee. More than 70 German deputies took part in the discussion. The Defender raised the issue of the urgency of the return of prisoners of war servicemen and civilians of the Armenian side detained in Azerbaijan. Arman Tatoyan noted that the Azerbaijani authorities are artificially delaying and politicizing the process so as to cause mental suffering to the Armenian society and especially to the families of the captives, and in order to create tension in the country. The Human Rights Defender of Armenia presented in detail the international humanitarian and human rights rules which require the immediate release of prisoners and their safe return. The Ombudsman emphasized the gross violations of international humanitarian law and the rights of prisoners who are wrongly portrayed as "terrorists" given the circumstances of ongoing armed conflict. The Ombudsman also provided information on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the war (beheadings, torture, humiliation of bodies, etc). Arman Tatoyan thanked the deputies of the German Parliament for the discussion. The Human Rights Defender considers the assistance of the Armenian Embassy in Germany in organizing this discussion to be of utmost importance. It should be noted that the evidence on the Azerbaijani atrocities and torture collected by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia was passed on by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Federal Republic of Germany Ashot Smbatyan to Amnesty International in Germany. Washington Rep. John Katko is among a group of House members invited to the White House this afternoon to discuss a possible deal for a $2 trillion bill to rebuild the nations infrastructure. President Joe Biden invited the bipartisan group to meet at 2 p.m. in the Oval Office, according to the White House. Biden will be joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as the White House begins to gather support for its second big legislative push. The president is expected to send Congress an infrastructure proposal after the passage of a Covid-19 relief package within the next week. Katko, R-Camillus, could be a key to any infrastructure bill gaining bipartisan support. He serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is chair of the Republican Governance Group, a caucus of more than 30 moderate GOP lawmakers. My message is quite simple, Katko said before the White House meeting today. I want them to know Im willing to cut a deal. Katko is among only eight House members invited to the meeting, all from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. They include the committees chair, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, and its top Republican, Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri. Katko wants to increase funding for the federal Highway Trust Fund to help pay for the infrastructure work. He has suggested raising the federal gas tax or instituting fees on trucking companies and the most frequent users of interstate highways to raise money for the projects. During his presidential campaign, Biden promised to spend $2 trillion to rebuild highways and bridges, expand broadband access, and build climate-resilient homes and other infrastructure. Katko last month invited Buttigieg to tour the Interstate 81 viaduct in Syracuse. New York state plans to tear down the elevated portion of the highway in Syracuse and replace it with a street-level boulevard known as a community grid. The Federal Highway Administration must sign off on the states plan because the federal government will pay up to 90% of the costs. Todays meeting will be the first between Katko and Buttigieg, who oversees the FHA. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 I was lured away from the safety of my church school playground and raped when I was eight years old. Thats more than 50 years ago now. I told no one. I have been under the care of a psychiatrist for more than 20 years. I have post-traumatic stress disorder and take a variety of drugs to help me appear normal. Genevieve Milton at her Sydney home. Credit:Louise Kennerley Five years ago, when I was driving home one day, something inside me told me to go instead to the police. My abuser had abducted another student from my school, raped her and held her hostage, some months after he had attacked me, so it was easy for the police to track him down. Coincident with my going to the police, other adults were coming forward, accusing this man of sexual deviancy. The evidence against him was overwhelming and he pleaded guilty. He was given three years in prison because he had to be sentenced according to the laws of the time of his attacks. He gets three years and my whole life has been blighted by what he did to me. For me, the historical nature of this crime does not consign it to history. They call us survivors. We barely survive. Flash China's achievements in poverty alleviation have created a "China example of poverty reduction," a United Nations official said Tuesday. Lenni Montiel, deputy regional director of UN Development Programme's Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, made the remarks at a briefing on China's achievements in poverty reduction by China's permanent representative to the UN Zhang Jun in New York. China has made "the most significant and substantive effort on poverty reduction in all the history of the planet, creating a fundamental contribution to the global poverty alleviation," said Montiel. He noted that China's poverty reduction experience "unquestionably" offers an important source of information to UN agencies, funds and programmes in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From China's experience, the UN official said he has found three elements fundamental for developing countries. "These are the precision of policy efforts, the national information systems, and the targeted efforts." "Poverty alleviation is possible only with precision of policy efforts," he said. China reduced poverty so significantly because of a national information system that allowed the specific targetting of populations in need, "and that guaranteed policies implemented were tailored to the specific cases in terms of geography or location, population specificities as well as causes of poverty," added Montiel. The UN official suggested China's experience in poverty reduction can be shared with other countries and via south-south cooperation to ensure the success of the 2030 Agenda. MCLEAN, Va., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FARE , the world's leading non-governmental organization engaged in food allergy advocacy and the largest private funder of food allergy research, announced that the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research (FASTER) Act, S. 578, was unanimously passed last night by the United States Senate. The bipartisan sesame labeling bill, which is FARE's highest legislative priority, was introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). "On behalf of the nearly 1.6 million Americans who are allergic to sesame and live with the fear they could unknowingly consume this dangerous allergen, I thank Senator Scott and Senator Murphy for bringing this critical piece of bipartisan legislation forward and the entire Senate for their overwhelming support," said Lisa Gable, chief executive officer of FARE. "We now look forward to the House of Representatives passing the FASTER Act and sending it on to the President for his signature and enacting it into law." The FASTER Act would require that sesame be labeled as an allergen on packaged foods. Sesame would become the ninth food allergen for which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires plain-language labeling. Sesame is often used when a label reads "natural flavors" or "natural spices," adding another layer of difficulty when consumers review product labels at their local grocery store. The bill would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a report on scientific opportunities in food allergy research that examines prevention, treatment, and new cures. In addition, the legislation establishes a risk-based scientific process and framework for establishing additional allergens covered by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. "With more than 32 million Americans living with food allergies, it's important for us to take targeted steps to address the growing challenges posed by food allergies and to protect those who are vulnerable," said Senator Scott. "Nationwide, caring for children with food allergies costs an average of $25 billion annually and can pose extreme hardships on low- and middle-income families. I'm glad that this bipartisan legislation passed the Senate and hope that we can continue to make progress for Americans affected by this issue." Said Gable, "I am delighted that Senators Collins (R-ME), Gillibrand (D-NY), Tillis (R-NC), Blumenthal (D-CT), Baldwin (D-WI), Marshall (R-KS), and Warnock (D-GA) are demonstrating their support for the food allergy community as original co sponsors of this life changing legislation." The Senate's passage comes a week after Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA-6) and Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) introduced the same bipartisan bill, Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 (H.R. 1202) in the U.S. House of Representatives. FARE will continue meeting virtually with members of the House of Representatives to gain support for the FASTER Act and will mobilize advocates to ask that they sign on as cosponsors. The legislation will be front and center when FARE hosts its second annual advocacy event, Courage at Congress 2021: Advocate for a Cure, taking place virtually from March 8-10. For more information on the importance of the FASTER Act, please visit foodallergy.org/faster. About FARE FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the world's leading non-governmental organization engaged in food allergy advocacy and the largest private funder of food allergy research. Our mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments. FARE is transforming the future of food allergy through innovative initiatives that will lead to increased awareness, new and improved treatments and prevention strategies, effective policies and legislation and novel approaches to managing the disease. To learn more about FARE, visit our Living Teal YouTube channel , or www.foodallergy.org . SOURCE Food Allergy Research & Education New survey reveals employee attitudes for workplace COVID-19 vaccination policies and approaches Three in five United States employees working for companies without a COVID-19 vaccination policy believe their companies should create one, and almost half say they wont feel comfortable returning to work unless at least 50% of all employees are vaccinated. This is according to a new study commissioned by Padilla and conducted by its research division, SMS Research Advisors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005216/en/ Spotlight Survey Results: Workplace COVID-19 Vaccine Policy (Graphic: Padilla) Employees want clarity, whether they believe in mandatory vaccinations or not, according to the survey. For surveyed employees working for companies with existing vaccination policies, 85% of employees supported the approach. Almost half of employees working for companies with 1,000 or fewer coworkers, want 75% or more of their coworkers vaccinated before they return to the workplace. In general, organizations are not requiring their employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This is especially true for smaller organizations, where the idea of employees getting a vaccine has met more resistance. "Theres an emotional underpinning thats driving the quest for clarity around company COVID-19 vaccination policies," said Matt Kucharski, Padilla president. "This pandemic has been accompanied by a deluge of conflicting information, uncertainty and ambiguity, so the desire for a clear policy even if its not one that they agree with is understandable." Employers should be prepared for disputes likely to arise between employees who want a high level of vaccination at their workplaces and those who want it to be a personal choice. The most common opposition to a mandatory workplace vaccination policy comes from employees who want to receive a vaccine, but do not think their employer should require it and those who oppose the vaccine altogether and do not want their employer to require it. Story continues "Some want vaccines to be mandatory, some want it to be a personal choice, and there are still some anti-vaxxers out there," Kucharski said. "The challenge is that theyll be sitting right next to each other in the workplace and companies will need to manage that." Incentives to vaccinate do not appear to be motivators for employees only one in three employees indicate an interest in their companies offering an incentive to vaccinate while others appear to believe immunity itself is enough incentive. When survey participants were asked in general, what is their opinion of COVID-19 vaccinations and the workplace responses included differing opinions: Pro-workplace vaccination policy: I think vaccinations should be mandatory for any job that requires human-to-human interaction. I think everyone should get it because if they don't, we will be in this situation for a very long time. I think if employees want to come back to the office, they should be required to get the vaccination first. This is a public health crisis and companies should be doing everything possible to protect their workers and their families. I am very excited about the COVID-19 vaccination and believe having workplaces developing policies around vaccine requirements is a way we can get back to normal more quickly. Anti-workplace vaccination policy: They should not be mandatory. People have a right to work and a right to choose what goes in their bodies; to be forced into a vaccination is wrong. Workplaces that are not in health care should not be able to force you to have any vaccinations. It should NOT be in the workplace. It is crossing the line of HIPAA. It is a personal matter. If I choose not to take it, I should not be hearing negative feedback from superiors. I personally want to get the vaccine, but I don't feel that a company has the right to choose for individuals health and make them get the vaccine. Workplace COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Research Results SMS Research Advisors, a division of Padilla, surveyed 1,026 people employed in the workforce of varying ages, positions/levels and industries in January 2021, with 8.4% of survey respondents working in health care. For the complete Spotlight Survey research findings visit PadillaCo.com. About Padilla Padilla is an independently operated, globally resourced public relations and communication company with offices across the United States. The agency builds, grows, and protects brands and reputations worldwide by creating purposeful connections with the people who matter most through public relations, advertising, digital and social marketing, investor relations and brand strategy. Padilla includes the brand consultancy of Joe Smith, the food and nutrition experts at FoodMinds, and the research authorities at SMS Research Advisors. Clients include 3M, Avocados From Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Dole Food Company, Mayo Clinic, Prosciutto di Parma, Rockwell Automation, Sanofi Pasteur, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and Winnebago Industries. Padilla is an AVENIR GLOBAL company and is a founding member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, a partnership of 132 independently owned partner offices in 115 cities on six continents. Connect with purpose at PadillaCo.com. About SMS Research Advisors As the independent market research firm of Padilla, SMS has helped clients make well-informed, strategic decisions about their organization and market for over 25 years. SMS offers full-suite research capabilities in quantitative and qualitative methodologies across a number of different industries, from manufacturing to health care to technology. SMS designs and conducts research that produces more than just datait leads to real strategic solutions and drives tactical planning. SMS accomplishes this through a collaborative approach that leverages research expertise with clients industry and business experiences to create a highly actionable and effective research solution. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005216/en/ Contacts Julie Behr, Julie.Behr@PadillaCo.com We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The US Senate took up President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill on Thursday but a brazen ploy by opponents - they forced the entire 628-page bill to be read aloud in the chamber - caused delays. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate Thursday so lawmakers could start debate. But, immediately, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin demanded the entire text of the 628-page bill be read aloud. A Senate clerk started the reading at 3:21 p.m. and it's expected to take 10 hours. The recitation proceeded uninterrupted deep into Thursday night with clerks taking turns reading the dry, technical language in a monotone that threatened to put lawmakers and others to sleep. Debate on the package, which Democrats argue is the best way to combat the pandemic, may only begin well after midnight. Bill readings are almost always dispensed with at the start to allow for debate, but Johnson saw it as way to register his frustration over the massive outlay of federal spending. 'I feel bad for the clerks that are going to have to read it, but it's just important,' said Johnson, who has already faced criticism this week for suggesting the deadly January 6 US Capitol riot was not an 'armed insurrection.' 'Why are we authorizing another $1.9 trillion when we still have a trillion dollars sitting on the sidelines' unspent from the previous pandemic relief bills? he told reporters. 'It's actually hard to spend this much money.' With the Senate evenly divided at 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, senators hung out on the Senate floor, chatting in small groups, as they waited for Harris to be rushed up Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to break the tie earlier Thursday. She arrived in a flurry and took her seat on the dais, announcing: 'The Senate being equally divided the vice president votes in the affirmative and the motion is agreed to.' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tried to waive the reading of the bill, which usually all senators agree to in order to save time. But any single senator can object to the waiver and Johnson did so. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in the Senate to cast a tie breaking vote so lawmakers can start debate on COVID relief measure VP Harris' vote may be needed several more times as senators debate amendments and then hold a final vote on the relief package, which is not expected to get any Republican support With the 51 yeas and 50 nays, senators could proceed to debate the COVID relief bill Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin demanded the entire text of the 628 page bill be read aloud and a Senate clerk will spend next 10 hours doing just that 'Reserving the right to object,' he said. Johnson and other Republican senators are trying to stall a final vote on the bill as part of their objection to the legislation. They are using legislative procedure to help them along. 'Is he allowed?,' Schumer demanded. Harris ruled Johnson's objection was allowed and the clerk of the Senate would have to read the bill - all 628 pages. 'The objection is heard. The clerk will continue the reading,' she said. The reading commenced as senators stood chatting, their voices growing louder than the clerk's. Harris gaveled the chamber into order and then left the room. Most senators also left, including Johnson, leaving the clerk reading to a nearly empty room. Johnson did return later to sit at his desk to listen to the reading. Johnson later tweeted, 'If they're going to add nearly $2T to the national debt at least we should know what's in the bill.' Senator Bernie Sanders appeared to joke with a colleague. 'I want to stay to hear the reading. I may have missed something,' he said letting out a loud laugh. And he told another colleague: 'Good thing we have time during a national emergency to do this.' Earlier in the day, Schumer said the only thing the reading would accomplish was sore throats for the Senate clerks. 'We all know this will merely delay the inevitable. It will accomplish little more than a few sore throats for the Senate clerks, who work very hard, day-in, day-out, to help the Senate function. And I want to thank our clerks, profoundly, for the work they do every day, including the arduous task ahead of them,' he said in remarks on the Senate floor. 'Still, we are delighted that the Senator from Wisconsin wants to give the American people another opportunity to hear what's in the American Rescue Plan,' he added. After the bill is read, senators will proceed to 20 hours of debate of the legislation. After that they will hold a vote-a-rama, a series of votes on multiple amendments to the legislation, an activity that usually goes most of the day and into the night. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer walks through the Ohio Clock Corridor in the Capitol on Thursday in route to his office Capitol remains on high alert for potential unrest from Trump supporters with members of the National Guard on patrol National Guard members on alert in front of the Capitol on Thursday ahead of reports of potential unrest from Donald Trump supporters Anti-climbing fencing topped with razor wire surrounds the Capitol Hill complex National Guard soldiers ride the underground subway in the U.S. Capitol, on a break between patrols It's unclear when there will be a final vote on the legislation but it could be this weekend. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives canceled its votes scheduled for Thursday after U.S. Capitol Police revealed it has received intelligence reports that indicated 'a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group.' Thursday was predicted by followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory to be the day that Donald Trump will take power again, returning to D.C. to be inaugurated as president once more. March 4 had been branded by QAnon loyalists as 'real Inauguration Day' as it was the date formerly scheduled for the event until 1933. Security was beefed up around the Capitol out of fears there could be a situation similar to January 6 - when pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, resulting in five dead and a wake of destruction in the building. Lawmakers were forced to flee their chambers and go into hiding as rioters swarmed the building, some waving Confederate flags or Trump signs. Some shouted 'where's Mike' as they searched for then Vice President Mike Pence, who was rushed from the Senate floor moments after the Capitol was breached. The rioters came within a hundred feet of Pence and several yelled 'Hang Mike Pence' as they searched for him. There's a much tighter security perimeter for Thursday compared to January 6th, however. Anti-climbing fencing topped with razor wire surrounds the Capitol Hill complex. Lawmakers, staff and media must enter through check points manned by armed National Guard troops. Under the heavy arm of security, the Senate will be focused on the relief package with a day of rigorous debate and parliamentary procedure. Senate Republicans have denounced the legislation as too expensive and filled with liberal priorities. They have vowed to hold up a final vote on it as long as possible. Depending on how long Republicans can stall and how many amendments are offered the legislation, a final vote on the COVID relief package may not come until the weekend. In the 50-50 chamber, Senate Democrats cannot afford to lose one vote and leaders have worked to shore up support for the legislation. President Biden already agreed to one compromise: cutting off stimulus checks to Americans who make more than $80,000 a year. He told reporters in the White House on Thursday he was comfortable with his decision cap the limit on those receiving checks. Biden made the move to sooth Senate moderates, who worried about the cost of the legislation. But the change infuriated progressives - although they are expected to still support the bill. The compromise means that 9 million fewer households would receive a stimulus payment than in the last tranche of payouts, which came out from President Donald Trump. It also lowers the cost of the legislation by $12 billion, according to Senate Democrats. Democrats also increased minimum payments to states with smaller rural populations to match the $1.25 billion minimum contained in last year's CARES Act. And they added $10 billion for infrastructure, $8.5 billion for health providers and expanded health-care subsidies for those who lose their jobs. The relief package contains several provisions that have made it popular in opinion polls, even while attracting virtually no Republican support in Congress. The House passed the COVID relief bill last week with no GOP support. Senate Republicans also are not expected to vote for it. Not a single Republican senator voted to proceed to debate on the legislation Thursday, indicating Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is keeping his senators in line in objecting to the legislation. After the Senate passes its final, amended version of the legislation, the House will have to vote on it before Biden can sign it into law. If you hit the road, you are bound to come across sign boards 'cautioning' you about the coming danger. But for Federal Bank, 'caution' in lending and managing deposits is the watch word from the word 'go'. That is one reason the old private sector bank has emerged as the Best Bank in Mid-sized Category in the BT-KPMG Best Banks Study for 2019/20. Despite being fifth in size, the bank has got the top slot in the category of banks with balance sheet of between Rs 1-3 lakh crore by topping on parameters such as growth, quality of assets, quality of earnings and capital adequacy. The bank crossed the Rs 1.80 lakh-crore balance sheet size in FY20, a 13 per cent growth year-on-year. "Banking is not a one-day game. You don't do something this year and get rewards instantly. If you are building a franchise, it is something you have to do across time, consistently. Our bank has taken that path for quite a number of years," says Shyam Srinivasan, Managing Director and CEO, Federal Bank, referring to the bank's high-quality assets and earnings. Generic Strategies Federal Bank's journey has involved taking several tough calls. "One is, between growth and quality, go for quality. Second, make sure liabilities are pretty strong. Third, consume less capital, go for less capital-intensive products," says Srinivasan. Thus, the bank has pushed products that are more secure and consume less capital. "In terms of credit cost over a 10-year period, only Kotak and HDFC will be in the same category," he adds. In the last 10 years, the bank has raised capital only once, about Rs 2,500 crore. "Our profits have been quite good, so we are able to redeploy capital net worth after paying dividend. Capital is expensive. You must buy only when you need it. This has been my personal philosophy." Pre-Covid Moves The bank delivered a net profit of Rs 1,542.78 crore in FY20, an all-time high, by adopting its well-defined generic strategies that involved balancing growth versus profitability. "During that period, we made some fairly conservative decisions. In Q4 FY20, we substantially increased provisioning, anticipating a challenging calendar 2020, given everything that was happening due to Covid. Otherwise, profitability would have been higher," says Srinivasan. In FY20, growth was reasonable in certain areas, particularly retail and small business portfolios. However, the bank did not push corporate growth substantially after early second half of FY19 as it sensed that the economy was beginning to slow down and it did not want to be caught on the wrong foot. "Federal Bank is the most granular liability-based bank in the country. Our retail liability is 93-94 per cent. We do not rely on bulk deposits. We follow the principle of 'fund before you lend'," says Srinivasan. By definition, if the bank is pursuing the strategy of lower risk and focusing on more stable segments, it will put pressure on margins. "But you are giving up the same (margins) for quality. We did drop some margins but increased profitability because our credit cost was lower," adds Srinivasan. On lagging in productivity, Srinivasan said this was mainly due to the pension cost of Rs 300-400 crore that the bank accrues religiously every year. It is a future cost. "If you take out the pensioning impact, our productivity is among the best." Pandemic Impact This fiscal, the bank has been pushing its gold loan portfolio, which has seen a remarkable 67 per cent growth in the last three quarters. That was because the rest of the portfolio was growing slowly and gold was the only asset having a bull run. Second, for small businesses, the bank had the opportunity to link loans to government-guaranteed schemes; these loans are doing well. Third, very highly rated corporates are also going strong. "In early part of Covid, the first six-seven months, these were the three areas where we focused," says Srinivasan. Last quarter, as businesses started opening up, the bank had the chance to grow small business and commercial banking products. In the coming quarters, it is expecting growth in other retail products. "However, the bank is being a little more watchful, and does not want to rush in. We can see things are picking up," says Srinivasan. By the end of the third quarter, the bank's provision coverage ratio had touched 86 per cent. Digitisation Play Covid-19 has forced all big companies to increase the pace of digitisation. Having 'digital at the fore and human at the core' as its mantra, Federal Bank has some unique achievements to its credit. These include facial recognition for employees, Blockchain technology-based solutions for remittances, video-based KYC solutions and interactive chat bot called 'Feddy'. "We are probably the only bank in the country where employee comes in, logs in, shows his face and the system recognises him," says Srinivasan. Internally, 150-180 processes are now robotic, using latest solutions. Federal Bank is one of the largest in the remittance space. For every Rs 100 that comes into India, Rs 17.5 enters through Federal Bank. To help those customers, including those from Middle East and the UK, and move money safely and swiftly, the bank has deployed a Blockchain-based digital remittance solution, a first in the country, says the bank. About 86 per cent of its transaction volume is digital. Focus Areas About five years back, the bank's credit-to-deposit ratio was 68 per cent, low by industry standards. "We grew our wholesale banking at almost 25 per cent for two-three years. We were lending to top corporates rated 'AAA' and 'AA'. So, we reached a credit-to-deposit ratio of 82 per cent a couple of years back," says Srinivasan. That time, the corporate wholesale book was about 55 per cent and retail book 45 per cent. The bank decided to have 55 per cent retail and 45 per cent wholesale. This happened by December 2020. "Within retail and wholesale, we will play with different segments and opportunities and that is where we are at this point in time," adds Srinivasan. Looking Ahead In the next three years, Federal wants to be a bank of choice for everybody. It is keeping inorganic growth options open and is interested in a microfinance portfolio. It is scheduled to launch its credit card at the end of March, which it wants to issue to employees for six months before rolling it out for customers who have a track record with the bank. The bank may find it tough to maintain its current growth rate. However, Srinivasan doesn't agree, stating within this retail-wholesale mix, there will always be opportunities in some segments, citing huge growth in gold portfolio during the last nine months. "As I see the next 12 months, as economy picks up, you will see growth opportunities in housing, automobile, commercial vehicles and segments of the market that are beginning to run with market growth," he says. However, Federal Bank is not ready to lower its guard at any cost. "There are two boundary conditions. One, we do not want to have more than 55-45 retail-wholesale mix. Second, no segment shall become disproportionate, and we shall not pursue any disproportionately high-risk segment." (The writer is a Mumbai-based journalist) Photo: reporter.mcgill.ca/ It was a little over one year ago, March 9, 2020, that Canada announced its first documented COVID-19 related death. Today, there are now more than 22,000 COVID-19 related deaths. On March 15, 2020, Canada wide lockdowns began to emerge in various provinces and territories. Over the past year, the federal government has introduced, revised, and updated many pandemic related support programs for Canadian families and businesses. With many of these programs now being extended in various ways over the past year, Statistics Canada recently released a report that provides important analysis on how these support programs have affected Canadians. This is important information given that Canada has borrowed and spent more on COVID-related programs than virtually any other developed nation. Despite this spending, we now know that Canadas economy shrank 5.4% last year. What is interesting about the data from Statistics Canada is, while it stated the obvious: households did experience notable declines both in wages and salaries, the data also revealed that the value of COVID-19 support measures provided by governments more than compensated for those losses. The Stats Can data further reported that middle income households on average, they gained roughly $2,500 more than they lost. Further reporting that young and middle-aged households gained around $3,000 more through COVID-19 support measures than they lost in wages and salaries. As Bloomberg reported on this Statistics Canada data: Canadians received C$20 in government transfers for every dollar of income lost. Ultimately, the value of the federal government transfers to households increased by $119 billion in 2020, compared to pre-pandemic 2019. However, the total decline in income for 2020 was a loss of $6 billion by comparison. In other words, the spending on the various pandemic support programs has resulted in far more money going out the door over the measured decline in actual income. Where is most of this emergency money ending up? According to the data, into savings accounts. Canadian household savings as a percentage of nominal GDP are at the highest levels since the 1980s. As with all data, it is important to recognize that not all households will be experiencing the impacts of COVID-19 and government support programs the same way. Many are indeed struggling, in particular lower income households. From a federal government perspective, this data does indicate serious challenges. Despite spending record amounts of money, Canada is falling behind in both GDP growth as well as employment. In addition, the current levels of support are financially unsustainable and further have seriously reduced Canadas fiscal capacity to respond to a future pandemic or other economic crises. The Statistics Canada data has seen critics suggesting that the federal government overspent and achieved poor results in return. The PM has insisted that the federal government went into debt so Canadians wouldn't have to. Aside from the fact that it will be future generations of Canadians who will have to pay for this debt, my question this week is this: Are you satisfied with the Government of Canada COVID support programs overall? I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711. Robert Kirk, with a bail address of Regina Park, Jonesborough, was questioned by the PSNI on August 21, 2020 Almost 50,000 has been seized by the courts from a mystery courier motorcyclist stopped by the PSNI in Newry. Robert Kirk, with a bail address of Regina Park, Jonesborough, was questioned by the PSNI on August 21, 2020. Constable Martin English told Newry Magistrates Court that he approached Kirk to check for insurance on the Old Dublin Road at around 5.45pm. Kirk had a green backpack on which he did not wish to remove. A search was conducted and 49,980 in notes was found. Kirk was arrested for the driving offence and having criminal property, but would not say who owned the cash. Mr English stated that there was virtually nothing known about the defendant, who had since left his bail address, with only an address for his mother in the Republic. Prosecutor Stewart Hindley said: "This was a large amount of money, if someone legitimately acquired it, it would be expected that they would have come forward by now." Deputy District Judge Anne Marshall granted the forfeiture, including any interest accrued. Page Content The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has delayed a final rule clarifying who is an independent contractor versus an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Rich Meneghello, an attorney with Fisher Phillips in Portland, Ore., said the move is not surprising. The prior administration issued the final rule in January, and it was slated to take effect on March 8. However, the new administration asked federal agencies to freeze pending regulations to give new leaders time to review them. The independent-contractor rule has officially been delayed for 60 days. "The delay is to really buy the DOL some time," noted James Plunkett, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Washington, D.C. The department could allow the final rule to take effect on May 7, after the new administration has a chance to review it. Meneghello said, however, that this is unlikely to happen in light of President Joe Biden's statements on the campaign trail. For instance, Biden pledged to work with Congress to establish a federal standard similar to California's stringent "ABC" test for classifying workers as independent contractors. Plunkett expects that between now and the new effective date, there will be a proposal to do something further with the rule. "They could propose to rescind it altogether or amend it," he said. Meneghello noted that the DOL may withdraw the rule and announce that the department is working on a new rule. Biden's pick for secretary of labor, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, is still pending Senate confirmation, so the DOL may wait until Walsh is on board to develop and propose a new rule. Different Tests The distinction between employees and independent contractors is significant. Employees are entitled to minimum wage, overtime pay and other benefits. Independent contractors are not entitled to such benefits, but they generally have more flexibility to set their own schedules and work for multiple companies. The delayed federal rule would apply an economic-reality test to determine whether workers are independent contractors or employees and would primarily consider the following factors: The nature and degree of control over the work. The worker's opportunity for profit or loss based on initiative and investment. Three other factors may serve as guideposts in determining employment status: The amount of skill required for the work. The degree of permanence of the working relationship between the worker and the potential employer. Whether the work is part of an integrated unit of production (or the individual works under circumstances analogous to a production line). "There is a good possibility that the regulations will be amended or potentially rescinded altogether," said Jesse Jauregui, an attorney with Alston & Bird in Los Angeles. He noted that Biden's administration may focus on a framework that broadly defines the employee-employer relationship. The president supports the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which, among other changes, would adopt an "ABC" test similar California's rule. California requires all three of the following factors to be met for a worker to be properly classified as an independent contractor: The worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work. The worker performs tasks that are outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business. The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation or business of the same nature as the work performed for the hiring entity. Other states, such as Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey, apply a similarly stringent independent-contractor test. Jauregui noted that the federal rule applies only to the DOL's interpretation of the FLSA and does not pre-empt state law. "So differing definitions and applications will continue to populate this landscape." On the Horizon Meneghello doesn't think the current Senate will make legislative changes to the independent-contractor standard. Instead, he said, employers might expect to see more regulatory action from the DOL and changes at the state level. Some states may follow California by broadly including as many workers as possible under the definition of "employee," while other states may clarify that some workers, such as those in the gig economy, are properly classified as independent contractors. "Keep an eye out for litigation," Meneghello said, noting that business groups may challenge the DOL's decision if the department withdraws the prior administration's rule. Jauregui expects litigation to continue about whether gig-economy companies are employers or technology platform providers that connect drivers and passengers. "With the DOL's final rule now in limbo, it is especially important for employers to consult with legal counsel to determine whether an individual is likely to be considered an independent contractor or an employee for purposes of the FLSA," said Steven Pockrass, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Indianapolis. Join us at the SHRM Workplace Policy Conference 2021 and learn more about employment trends and public policies. Learn more and register at https://conferences.shrm.org/workplace-policy. There has been four preliminary reports of stillbirths potentially associated with a condition called Covid Placentitis, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has said. Placentitis is an inflammation of the placenta that can lead to stillbirth. Speaking this evening, Dr Glynn said the reports should be "interpreted with caution" as the coSpeaking this evening, Dr Glynn said the reports should be "interpreted with caution" as the coroners have not yet concluded their findings. roners have not yet concluded their findings. "The HSEs National Women and Infants Programme is aware of and is monitoring the situation and has issued a related notice to obstetric departments. I would ask that the privacy of all of those affected by this disease continue to be respected at all times" he said. While it is of concern, the Deputy CMO said the international data shows that it is a very rare condition. Dr Glynn said that the advice to pregnant women has not changed at this time but advised any pregnant women that has concerns to talk to their doctor or if they have any specific concerns, they should get in touch with their local obstetrics department. "It is important to note that these findings are preliminary but we felt there was a duty on us to report those findings. As soon as we have further information we will report it". There has been 39 further deaths linked to Covid-19 and 462 new cases reported by the Department of Health this evening. Ten of these deaths occurred in March, 12 occurred in February, 13 in January, and three occurred earlier than this. One further death is under investigation. There has now been 4,396 deaths related to the virus, while there is now a total of 221,649 confirmed cases. Of the cases notified today, 207 are in Dublin, 29 in Cork, 26 in Meath, 20 in Kildare, 18 in Galway and the remaining 162 cases are spread across all other counties. As of March 1, 446,474 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland, with 303,550 people receiving their first dose and 142,924 receiving their second. It comes as HSE chief Paul Reid said Irelands incidence of Covid-19 is continuing to improve, but at a slower rate". Paul Reid said positive signs of the impact of vaccinations for older people were beginning to emerge. Of the new cases notified over the past two weeks, 478 cases had the most likely transmission source of a healthcare setting, he said. Read More That is down from over 1,050 cases in the previous two weeks. During the same time-frame the overall number of cases reduced by 24pc, but the reduction in health care setting-acquired cases was more than double that at 52pc, so it would seem we are seeing some of the early benefits of vaccinations. Mr Reid said hospital admissions were reducing, not at the pace he would like, but a continued trend downwards was being recorded. He said there were 460 people with Covid-19 being treated in hospital on Thursday, down 21pc on the same day last week, and down 78pc on the peak in January. There were 108 people in ICU, down 22pc overall on the last week. But Mr Reid said there were also 170 people receiving advanced respiratory support, many of whom would end up in ICU. He said he was truly grateful for the continued support of the public the majority of whom were adhering to the public health restrictions. But he said the actions of a smaller minority was causing a lot of hurt and frustration for everybody, for the vast majority of the public who continue to do everything that we have been asking of them. The Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed they have struck an Aramco facility in Jeddah in a missile attack, Russias Sputnik reports, citing a statement by the rebel group. The Associated Press later also reported the attack. The missile forces managed today to strike [a facility] of the Saudi Aramco company in Jeddah with a Quds 2 cruise missile. The strike was precise, a spokesman said. The news comes just days after Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile over the capital, Riyadh. The Saudi side has yet to confirm or deny the attack. The Houthis last targeted Saudi oil facilities last November. The groupwhich the outgoing U.S. administration in January designated as a terrorist groupsaid they had hit a distribution center property of Saudi Arabias state oil company. The group also warned that operations will continue, advising foreign companies and residents of Saudi Arabia to be cautious. The report came in late November, a week after Saudi Arabia said it had thwarted a Houthi attack on an oil products terminal near the border between the Kingdom and Yemen. The Saudi side confirmed the hit. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been essentially fighting a proxy war in Yemen, where the Saudis lead a military Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in the country, while the Houthi movement, which holds the capital Sanaa, is backed by Iran. The Houthi rebels have often claimed they have hit oil infrastructure assets in Saudi Arabia and have taken responsibility for several high-profile attacks in the region. The most notable attack that the Yemeni rebel group claimed responsibility for was the September 2019 attacks on Saudi Aramcos oil facilities that cut off 5 percent of daily global supply for weeks, sending oil prices soaring. But Saudi Arabia and the United States have said that it was Iranand not the Houthiswho was responsible for the attack. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.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. ADVERTISEMENT CBS has released a new clip of Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys anticipated sit-down with Oprah Winfrey. In the clip, as published and reported by the New York Post, Markle says of Buckingham Palace, I dont know how they could expect that after all of this time, we would still just be silent. How do you feel about the Palace hearing your speak your truth today? Winfrey asks as violins dramatically begin to swell in the background. I dont know how they could expect that after all of this time, we would still just be silent, if there is an active role that the Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us, Markle says, using a nickname for the royals purportedly originated by King George VI. And if that comes with risk of losing things, she adds, theres a lot thats been lost already. Ripples The newspaper also reported that much of the conversation around the interview this week has been monopolised by accusations made against Markle, 39, that she bullied at least two palace aides during her short time within the said Firm. The Times of London quoted sources as saying that the Duchess of Sussex actually reduced staffers to tears during her Kensington Palace tenure. The New York Post also reported that Markle called the claims a calculated smear campaign timed to the Winfrey tell-all, as Buckingham Palace announced a probe into the allegations Wednesday. Markle and Harry exited the Royal Family and moved Stateside in a breathlessly covered January 2020 decision dubbed Megxit. Source: New York Post Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. If youre not into liquors, they probably all taste bad to you, but theres a particular liquor that everyone agrees tastes horrible. Its called malort and, over the years, it has been compared to battery acid, pesticide and gasoline. Although Jeppsons Malort is most often associated with the American city of Chicago, its true roots are in Sweden, where where malort is the word for wormwood, the key ingredient in this ghastly spirit. Wormwood is a notoriously bitter herb known for its ability to kill stomach worms and other parasites. The Swedes started infusing it in alcohol and using it as medicine for digestive problems in the 15th century, and it reached US shores with the first Swedish immigrants. The awful taste didnt appeal to many, so its no wonder that malort faded into obscurity pretty much everywhere, except Chicago. For some reason, people here not only accepted its horrible aroma, they actually embraced it. Photo: Jeppsons Malort/Facebook Chicagoans view malort as a mascot, and a mascot has got to be tough, like Chicago, Jeppsons creative director, Sam Mechling, told NPR, adding that much of the drinks success can be attributed to the citys bartenders. They adopted as their secret handshake, and this allowed the drink to thrive, despite its terrible aroma. Another important component in the Jeppsons Malort success story is social media. The company has embraced malorts reputation as one of the most foul alcoholic drinks on the face of the Earth, promoting it with slogans like turning taste buds into taste foes for generations, and boasting about its brutal flavor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alan Blauvelt (@alanblauvelt) Interestingly, while pretty much everyone agrees that Jeppsons Malort is an unsavory drink, when it comes to identifying its taste, everyone has their own opinion. But you can be sure peoples descriptions of malort will be as nasty as its taste. It tastes like someone vomited up their gin and now youre drinking it from a shoe, one Reddit user once wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Faces of Malort (@malortable) Imagine twisting damp socks after a heavy workout and squeezing the moisture into a bottle. Fill the bottle with that, let it ferment in a warm closet. Thats Malort, another creative Reddit user commented. What can you say about drinking Malort that hasnt already saidabout drinking pesticide? Thrillists Sean Cooley once said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by April Phelan-Bryant (@morethanaphelan4) Malort tastes so bad that when Carl Jeppson started selling it during out of a suitcase on the sidewalk, during Prohibition, its awful aroma was what kept him out of jail. When police officers came to inspect the legality of his business, Jeppson would offer them a taste and they always agreed that what he was selling was most definitely not a recreational good. The countenance of first-time drinkers of this atrocious liquor has become known as Malort Face, and Chicagoans love pranking their out-of-town friends with a glass of their local spirit. Its also considered a rite of passage by locals, although no one quite knows to what View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anthony Idol (@anthonyidol) Most first-time drinkers of Jeppsons Malort reject our liquor. Its strong, sharp taste is not for everyone. Our liquor is rugged and unrelenting (even brutal) to the palatewe found only 1 out of 49 men will drink Jeppsons Malort after the first shock-glass, the original Jeppsons Malort label proudly boasted. But despite its reputation as a terribly unsavory sprit, or perhaps because of it, the malort brand has been thriving in recent years. Although still mostly consumed in Illinois, the drink has slowly been adopted by other markets as well, mostly by prankers or people curious about its turpentine-like taste. A rare and elusive bird recently found to thrive in a narrow strip of the Louisiana coast isnt getting the protections that should come with its new status under the Endangered Species Act, according to a lawsuit that environmental groups plan to file against the federal government. In a formal notice of intent to sue, the Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf on Wednesday challenged a decision made in the final months of President Donald Trumps administration to block habitat protections for the eastern black rail, a small, red-eyed bird that scientists are only now beginning to understand. The Trump administration granted the black rail "threatened" status in October after a decade of petitions and lawsuits from environmental groups. But the administration did not designate the bird's "critical habitat," areas occupied by the species and deemed essential for its conservation. The designation does not set up a preserve or refuge, nor does it prohibit most development, but it can affect federal agency actions, including funding, permits and projects. In an explanation that confounded many bird experts, federal wildlife officials said habitat protections might actually harm the bird by disclosing its few places of refuge to overzealous bird watchers, potentially frightening the birds and trampling nests that the birds hide in grasses on the ground. Center for Biological Diversity attorney Kristine Akland called the justification absurd. If the eastern black rail is going to have any chance at recovery, coastal wetlands must be protected from polluting industries, developers and sea-level rise, she said. The Trump administrations ridiculous refusal to identify critical habitat imperils these beautiful birds and should be tossed into the dustbin of history, along with the rest of his wildlife-killing policies. +10 Fire emerges as an ally in the fight to save Louisiana's marsh AVERY ISLAND - Heath Romero kills the engine on his airboat and climbs to the top of the propeller cage, the highest point in the flat expanse The center hopes the threat of its lawsuit will spur President Joe Bidens administration to consider habitat protections. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The gray, apple-sized bird rarely flies, instead preferring to creep around remote wetlands at night. It once ranged across salt and freshwater marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but these habitats have been disappearing under growing cities and farms. Black rail populations have declined by as much as 90 percent in some coastal areas. Rising seas and Louisianas coastal land loss crisis pose new challenges for the bird. With low numbers and little habitat left, regional black rail populations could be crippled or wiped out by a hurricane or flooding. Since 2017, Audubon Louisiana has collected one of the North America's richest pools of data on the bird. The research, focused in Cameron and Vermilion parishes, has more than quadrupled the number of confirmed black rail sightings in Louisiana. Its also producing new insights into how the black rail feeds, migrates and breeds, all of which could guide new endangered species protections. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service predicts the bird will likely be extinct within 50 years if wetlands continue to be lost in coastal areas. +2 Hundreds of Louisiana irises were just planted in Grand Isle -- and they'll bloom in few weeks More than 500 giant blue Louisiana irises rescued from a plot slated for development have found a new home in the wetlands along the Nature Co A Brandon father is accusing the provincial government of blatant discrimination against his teenage son, who has Down syndrome, because Manitobans with disabilities have been left off the COVID-19 immunization priority list. A Brandon father is accusing the provincial government of "blatant discrimination" against his teenage son, who has Down syndrome, because Manitobans with disabilities have been left off the COVID-19 immunization priority list. Bruce Strang said he filed a formal complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission this week to pressure the province to edit its vaccination plan. "Disability rights shouldnt be the first thing to go in a time of crisis," Strang, a father of two, told the Free Press. "Its unethical in my view. Its unconscionable in my view and I cant see how a medical professional can advocate for a plan that discriminates actively against people with disabilities." Strangs oldest son, Sean, 16, hasnt been in a classroom let alone, left his family home for any other reason for nearly a year because of his immunocompromised status. (While Health Canada has approved Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for anyone 18 and older, Pfizer-BioNTech doses can be given to patients as young as 16.) Health-care workers, seniors and staff in long-term care facilities, adults who are 80 or older and the elderly in remote and isolated Indigenous communities make up the priority population in Manitoba. The province has started to vaccinate the general population, based solely on age. Strang said his son should not get priority over an 85-year-old who lives in a nursing home, but it doesnt make sense that Sean can expect a vaccine at the same time a healthy teenager can. People with Down syndrome are nearly five times more at risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization and 10 times more likely to die after contracting the virus in comparison to the general population, according to a U.K. study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in autumn. The populations unique genetics and predisposition to respiratory illnesses are believed to be contributing factors. Ready for My Shot, a Canadawide campaign, is calling on all jurisdictions to clearly identify adults with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities as high priority patients, citing that research. Only the Northwest Territories has explicitly opened up vaccine appointments to adults with disabilities. "I would love to be able to offer vaccine to everybody everyone in Manitoba, but, certainly, everybody whos at any level of higher risk. We just dont have that luxury until we have more supply," said Joss Reimer, medical lead for Manitoba's vaccine implementation task force, when pressed on the subject during a press conference Wednesday. Reimer said all health conditions that put people at a higher risk, including Down syndrome, will be considered as more doses become available. Mike Waddingham, an organizer with Ready for My Shot, called that reasoning that this is a supply-linked issue "a red herring." "You either accept that people with Down syndrome are at higher risks and therefore should be prioritized with other people who are high risk, like elderly people or Indigenous people, or you dont," said Waddingham, when reached by phone in Burnaby, B.C., Thursday. Given the commission complaint process is a lengthy one, Strang suspects the immunization issue will have passed by the time his grievance is resolved; nevertheless, he said the act of filing a complaint sends an important message. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie Spain's national government has decided to ban all demonstrations and mass gatherings in Madrid scheduled for Sunday 7 and Monday 8 March to mark International Women's Day. "Public health" reasons have been cited to prohibit any demonstration in the region, which currently has the highest cumulative incidence rate for Covid-19 in the country with 261 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which still places it in an area of 'extreme risk'. The ban applies to any mass event in the region, whatever the reason. However, the only major demonstrations and rallies reported for those days were exclusively to celebrate International Women's Day. The order affects almost 70 requests for demonstrations that had been planned to celebrate 8 March in the region. The government said the decision had been taken "after studying in detail each of the requests presented including the routes, forecast attendance, duration and location among other details." Initially, the government delegate in Madrid, Jose Manuel Franco, had been willing to authorise demonstrations of fewer than 500 people but on Thursday 4 March, he said, A decision has been taken to prohibit, for public health reasons, all the demonstrations and gatherings organised, at a time when the region of Madrid continues to be one of the territories in Spain with the highest rate of infections as well as numbers of people hospitalised, well above the national average." The definitive ban on the feminist demonstrations in Madrid comes after two weeks of controversy, after it was claimed the coronavirus was spread at the 8-M events in 2020 which had no preventative restrictions. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has accused the UK government of undermining trust over Northern Irelands EU special trade status guaranteed under Brexit. The European Commission has accused London of breaking international law for the second time, by reneging on EU-UK special agreements on the Norths status. This followed an announcement by the UK, without consulting Brussels, that it would unilaterally extend the grace period until next October for checks on supermarket food movements from England, Scotland and Wales to the North. The Taoiseach expressed his dismay at the move. He said the ongoing problems should be worked on by the joint EU-UK joint committee set up to deal with them. We have worked continuously in support of efforts to find sensible means of implementing the Protocol that respond to challenges identified, the Taoiseach said. We will continue to do so, but unilateral action undermines the trust necessary to reach agreement. I call on the British government to engage urgently with the European Commission, and to work towards agreed outcomes, Mr Martin added. The UK secretary of state for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis had earlier said that EU certification requirements will be introduced in phases alongside the roll-out of a digital assistance scheme. "As part of the pragmatic and proportionate implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the government is taking several temporary operational steps to avoid disruptive cliff-edges as engagement with the EU continues through the joint committee, Mr Lewis said. The UK minister said business must be given time to implement new procedures, and the extension until October would help with this. He said supermarket supplies in the North and such issues as mail order deliveries from Britain must be dealt with. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said he was concerned at this unilateral move done without consultation. He relayed Irish concerns directly to Mr Lewis and the new UK Brexit minister, David Frost. Mr Frost, who took over from Michael Gove on Monday, also led the main Brexit negotiations which concluded an EU-UK deal last Christmas Eve. He is reputedly more trusted as a tough negotiator. DUP leader at Westminster Jeffrey Donaldson said the extension highlighted problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol. He also stressed that political and legal battles to permanently scrap the arrangement would continue. Speaking ahead of an online meeting with Mr Frost, European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said he would raise "strong concerns" about the UK's actions. The Slovakian Commissioner said the measure breached the Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU-UK protocol, and also amounted to a break in good faith. In Brussels the European Commission issued a hard-hitting statement suggesting future legal action. "This is the second time that the UK government is set to breach international law. "This also constitutes a clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed up until now, thereby undermining both the work of the joint committee and the mutual trust necessary for solution-oriented co-operation," the European Commission added. This is the second EU-UK clash over the North. Last September the EU threatened legal action on the issue. The body's immune response plays a crucial role in the course of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition to antibodies, the so-called T-killer cells, are also responsible for detecting viruses in the body and eliminating them. Scientists from the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Medical University of Vienna have now shown that SARS-CoV-2 can make itself unrecognizable to the immune response by T-killer cells through mutations. The findings of the research groups of Andreas Bergthaler, Judith Aberle and Johannes Huppa provide important clues for the further development of vaccines and were published in the journal Science Immunology. After a year of the pandemic, an increasingly clear picture is emerging for science and medicine of how the immune response protects people from SARS-CoV-2. Two protagonists play central roles: antibodies and T-killer cells (also called cytotoxic CD8 T cells). While antibodies dock directly onto viruses to render them harmless, T-killer cells recognize viral protein fragments on infected cells and subsequently kill them to stop virus production. More and more studies show that SARS-CoV-2 can evade the antibody immune response through mutations and thus also impair the effectiveness of vaccines. Whether such mutations also affect T-killer cells in their function had not been clarified so far. Benedikt Agerer in the laboratory of Andreas Bergthaler (CeMM), Maximilian Koblischke and Venugopal Gudipati in the research groups of Judith Aberle and Johannes Huppa (both Medical University of Vienna) have now worked together closely to investigate the effect of viral mutations in so-called T cell epitopes, i.e., in regions recognized by T-killer cells. For this purpose, they sequenced 750 SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes from infected individuals and analyzed mutations for their potential to alter T cell epitopes. "Our results show that many mutations in SARS-CoV-2 are indeed capable of doing this. With the help of bioinformatic and biochemical investigations as well as laboratory experiments with blood cells from COVID-19 patients, we were able to show that mutated viruses can no longer be recognized by T-killer cells in these regions," says Andreas Bergthaler. Focus on spike protein might be too narrow In most natural infections, several epitopes are available for recognition by T-killer cells. If the virus mutates in one place, it is likely that other epitopes indicate the presence of the virus. Most of the current vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are directed exclusively against the so-called spike protein, which is one of 26 virus proteins. This also reduces the number of epitopes that are available for recognition by T-killer cells. "The spike protein has, on average, one to six of these T cell epitopes in an infected person. If the virus mutates in one of these regions, the risk that the infected cells will not be recognized by the T-killer cells increases," explains Johannes Huppa. Judith Aberle emphasizes: "Especially for the further development of vaccines, we therefore have to keep a close eye on how the virus mutates and which mutations prevail globally. Currently, we see few indications that mutations in T killer cell epitopes are increasingly spreading." The study authors see no reason in their data to believe that SARS-CoV-2 can completely evade the human immune response. However, these results provide important insights into how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the immune system. "Furthermore, this knowledge helps to develop more effective vaccines with the potential to activate as many T-killer cells as possible via a variety of epitopes. The goal are vaccines that trigger neutralizing antibody and T killer cell responses for the broadest possible protection," the study authors say. ### Authors: Benedikt Agerer*, Maximilian Koblischke*, Venugopal Gudipati*, Luis Fernando Montano-Gutierrez, Mark Smyth, Alexandra Popa, Jakob-Wendelin Genger, Lukas Endler, David M. Florian, Vanessa Muhlgrabner, Marianne Graninger, Stephan W. Aberle, Anna-Maria Husa, Lisa Ellen Shaw, Alexander Lercher, Pia Gattinger, Ricard Torralba-Gombau, Doris Trapin, Thomas Penz, Daniele Barreca, Ingrid Fae, Sabine Wenda, Marianna Traungott, Gernot Walder, Winfried F. Pickl, Volker Thiel, Franz Allerberger, Hannes Stockinger, Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stockl, Wolfgang Weninger, Gottfried Fischer, Wolfgang Hoepler, Erich Pawelka, Alexander Zoufaly, Rudolf Valenta, Christoph Bock, Wolfgang Paster, Rene Geyeregger, Matthias Farlik, Florian Halbritter, Johannes B. Huppa**, Judith H. Aberle**, Andreas Bergthaler** *, **Equal contribution Funding: This project was funded in part by two grants from the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) as part of the WWTF COVID-19 Rapid Response Funding 2020 awarded to Andreas Bergthaler and Rene Geyeregger, respectively. Benedikt Agerer was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) DK W1212. Mark Smyth and Alexander Lercher were supported by DOC fellowships of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (No. 24813, No. 24158 and No. 24955 respectively). Venugopal Gudipati, Vanessa Muhlgrabner and Johannes B. Huppa received support from the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF, LS14-031). Judith H. Abele was supported by the Medical-Scientific fund of the Mayor of the federal capital Vienna (grant COVID003). Winfried F. Pickl. was supported by the Medical-Scientific fund of the Mayor of the federal capital Vienna (grant COVID006). Christoph Bock and Andreas Bergthaler were supported by ERC Starting Grants (European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant agreement numbers 679146 respectively 677006). Judith Aberle is a virologist and Associate Professor of Virology at the Medical University of Vienna. She studied medicine in Vienna and performed her research education at the Center for Virology. She leads a group with expertise in the areas of virology and viral immunology, working in close cooperation with other research groups at the Center for Virology. Current projects comprise investigations of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell subsets and longitudinal kinetics of antibody titers from blood of COVID-19 patients, specific mutational patterns in serial samples taken from immunosuppressed patients and their effect on disease severity. Andreas Bergthaler studied veterinary medicine in Vienna. After his doctorate under Hans Hengartner and Nobel Prize winner Rolf Zinkernagel at the University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich, he completed postdoctoral research stays at the University of Geneva and the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. Since 2011 he has been a research group leader at CeMM and ERC Start Laureate. Johannes Huppa teaches molecular immunology at the Medical University of Vienna. His primary interest revolves around the question of how T lymphocytes manage to detect minute quantities of antigens. Looking for answers he devises together with his team molecular imaging modalities to apply them in combination with biophysical and system-biological approaches. The mission of CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is to achieve maximum scientific innovation in molecular medicine to improve healthcare. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues free-minded basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment of outstanding medical tradition and practice. CeMM's research is based on post-genomic technologies and focuses on societally important diseases, such as immune disorders and infections, cancer and metabolic disorders. CeMM operates in a unique mode of super-cooperation, connecting biology with medicine, experiments with computation, discovery with translation, and science with society and the arts. The goal of CeMM is to pioneer the science that nurtures the precise, personalized, predictive and preventive medicine of the future. CeMM trains a modern blend of biomedical scientists and is located at the campus of the General Hospital and the Medical University of Vienna. http://www. cemm. at has struck a confident posture as he looks to secure Chinas prosperity and power in a post-Covid world, saying that the country is entering a time of opportunity when the East is rising and the West is declining. But behind closed doors, Chinas Communist Party leader has also issued a blunt caveat to officials: Do not count out our competitors, above all the United States. The biggest source of chaos in the present-day world is the United States, Xi said, a county official in northwest recounted in a speech published last week on a government website. He quoted Xi as saying: The US is the biggest threat to our countrys development and security. That warning, echoed in similar recent public comments by senior officials close to Xi, reinforces how he is seeking to balance confidence and caution as strides ahead while other countries continue to grapple with the pandemic. His double-sided pronouncements reflect an effort to keep on guard because, despite its success at home, it faces deep distrust in Washington and other Western capitals. Although China is growing stronger, Xi has said, there are still many ways in which the West is strong and the East is weak, officials have recounted in speeches recently issued on local party websites. Xi will unveil a long-term blueprint for navigating China in this new global environment later this week, when the Communist Party-controlled legislature, the National Peoples Congress, gathers on Friday and convenes for about a week. strikes me as ruthless but cautious in erecting a durable personal legacy, Dimitar Gueorguiev, an assistant professor of political science at Syracuse University who studies China, said in an interview. In the eyes of Chinas leaders, he said, the response to the was really a textbook example to the party of how you could bring things together in a short amount of time and force through a program. Xi and other Chinese leaders have recently described challenges, both short-term and long-term, that could hold back their ambitions. The Biden administration has signalled that it wants to press China on human rights and compete with it on technological advancements and regional influence in Asia. At home, China is grappling with an aging population and trying to overhaul an engine of economic growth that uses too much investment and energy for too little gain and too much pollution. Beijing also sees a threat in Hong Kong after anger at the Communist Partys deepening control there ignited months of antigovernment protests in 2019. Underscoring Xis hard line against any political challenges, the Chinese legislature appears poised to back plans to drastically rewrite election rules for Hong Kong, removing the vestiges of local democracy in the former British colony. China is also looking to its next big leadership shake-up next year, when Xi, 67, appears likely to claim a third five-year term in power, bulldozing past the term limits that had been put in place to restrain leaders after Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Having emerged triumphantly from the pandemic, Xi will look to further centralise his power, said Lynette H. Ong, a political scientist at the University of Toronto. The congress is part of the partys stagecraft this year to reinforce the view that Xi is essential to safely steering China through momentous changes. The looming risks and tests will not be any less than the past, Xi told an audience of younger party officials in Beijing, according to official reports. Our party has relied on struggle up to this day, and must rely on struggle to win the future. And in July, Xi will preside over the centenary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, celebrations that are likely to cast him as a historic leader like Mao and Deng. Adding to the aura of success are Chinas plans next year to hold the Winter Olympics and to have a space station in orbit. The New York Times 2021 It can continue to expand Dassa while advancing several nearby advanced and early-stage projects to realise an emerging gold district in western Burkina Faso. The shallow, mostly oxide-hosted gold mineralisation is continuous along strike and to a depth of more than 150 metres s ( ) reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Dassa gold deposit on the Divole West exploration permit in Burkina Faso has expanded gold mineralisation to a strike length of more than 900 metres. New broad, high-grade results confirm that the shallow, mostly oxide-hosted gold mineralisation is continuous along strike and to a depth of more than 150 metres. Best results are 6 metres at 4.04 g/t gold from 43 metres and 14 metres at 3.24 g/t from 23 metres. Expanding Dassa Arrow managing director Howard Golden said: These very positive results at Dassa give us confidence that the Dassa gold deposit has the continuity, grade and thickness that we were hoping for. This puts us in a position where we can continue to expand Dassa while advancing several nearby advanced and early-stage projects to realise an emerging gold district in western Burkina Faso. Confirming the mineralisation potential at Dassa is particularly significant in light of the recently signed agreement to explore on a contiguous permit block held by Trevali Minerals." Trevali exploration to start next quarter Golden said: The resulting exploration area holds high potential for additional gold mineralisation along more than 80 kilometres of the same prospective Boromo Greenstone Belt that hosts the Dassa discovery. Arrow intends to commence exploration programs on the Trevali tenements in the second quarter of 2021. Drilling results The recent drill program was focussed on the northern Dassa mineralised zone at Divole West permit in Burkina Faso and was undertaken exclusively in the northern of two gold-bearing zones. Work completed comprised infill RC drilling between existing widely spaced RC profiles as well as drilling to extend the gold mineralisation to the north, south and down-dip to the east. The latest program has tightened the drill section spacing on the northern Dassa zone to 80 metres and successfully defined a 900-metre-long zone of near-surface gold mineralisation locally exceeding 20 metres, but more typically 5-15 metres in thickness. Mineralisation has a shallow east-dip and occurs along the sheared contact between sedimentary rocks and an underlying granitic intrusion. Dassa remains open downdip and to the north, with scope to expand shallow, potentially open-pittable mineralisation. Weathering typically extends down to around 50 metres depth, and many of the existing intersections sit in oxide material. Emerging gold district The drilling in the northern Dassa zone, plus the additional mineralisation in the southern zone, bodes well for a substantial volume of gold mineralisation on the Divole West permit. Auger sampling extended significant gold anomalism a further 2 kilometres south of the current southern Dassa zone drilling and represents a further high priority target. With the Arrow footprint expanded to include a significant portion of the Boromo Belt, the highly encouraging results from Dassa provide the confidence and understanding of the mineralisation to unlock the potential of this emerging gold district. The upcoming quarter will see an expanded program to grow Dassa and the known mineralisation at nearby Divole East, as well as accessing the huge potential of the 80 kilometres long Trevali block provided by the recent agreement. Arrows strategy of highest quality targeting and value-adding cooperation with partners continues to bear fruit. Louisiana Trooper Suspended Over Violent Death of Shackled Man Two years ago, Louisiana State Police Master Trooper Kory York shackled and dragged a handcuffed Ronald Greene, a Black man, on his stomach and violently arrested him following a chase in the city of Monroe. Greene later died while in custody. This week, authorities announced they had suspended York and acknowledged that Greene was mistreated. ADVERTISEMENT The admission came after Greenes family viewed graphic body camera footage of the arrest that included York using a barrage of expletives as he detained the Black motorist. York and other troopers were seen on the video choking and beating Greene. They repeatedly used stun guns on Greene and dragged him face-down across the concrete pavement, Greenes family attorney told the Associated Press. The news service reported that State Police have repeatedly refused to release the body camera footage publicly. The agency has been tight-lipped about Greenes death and initially blamed the mans fatal injuries on a car crash outside Monroe, the report noted. York shut off his body camera, but other cameras captured him pulling at Greenes shackles and repeatedly directing profanity towards him. ADVERTISEMENT Youre gonna lay on your [expletive, expletive, expletive, expletive, expletive, expletive] belly like I told you! York yelled at one point, according to the police records. The suspension of York comes as the U.S. House of Representatives are pushing ahead with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. The bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, change law enforcement culture, empower communities, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities, seeks to address systemic racism and bias to help save lives. During the last Congress, the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act was passed by a bipartisan vote of 236 to 181. Every House Democrat and three Republicans voted in support of the bill, Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Will Hurd (R-TX). Under the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, for the first time ever, federal law would: ban chokeholds end racial and religious profiling eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement establish a national standard for the operation of police departments mandate data collection on police encounters reprogram existing funds to invest in transformative community-based policing programs and streamline federal law to prosecute excessive force and establish independent prosecutors for police investigations Last summer, hundreds of thousands took to the streets to demand change that ends police brutality, holds police officers accountable, and calls for transparency in our system of policing, Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) stated. Due to inaction, more than 100 unarmed people have been killed or brutalized by police since then. For more than 100 years, Black communities in America have sadly been marching against police abuse and calling for the police to protect and serve them as they do others, Bass added. In the Greene case, the AP added that York was suspended without pay for 50 hours following an internal investigation. The investigation also led to the termination of another trooper, Chris Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth died in a single-car crash after learning he had been fired over his role in the incident. The AP last year published a 27-second audio clip from Hollingsworths body camera in which he can be heard telling a colleague, I beat the ever-living f out of Greene before he all of a sudden he just went limp. It is now undisputed that Trooper York participated in the brutal assault that took Ronald Greenes life, said Mark Maguire, a Philadelphia civil rights attorney who represents Greenes family, told the AP. This suspension is a start, but it does not come close to the full transparency and accountability the family continues to seek. According to the report, York told investigators he turned his body-worn camera off because it was beeping loudly and that his mind was on other things after arriving at the scene. I didnt think about it, he said. According to the AP, the trooper who initially chased Greene, Dakota DeMoss, was recently arrested in connection with a separate police pursuit last year. He and two other troopers allegedly used excessive force while handcuffing a motorist. Those charges followed a months long internal investigation into use-of-force incidents involving troopers in the northern part of the state, the report continued. Its not clear whether DeMoss has been disciplined in Greenes arrest. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended unusually large severance deals for several officials who abruptly resigned in recent months. State Republicans have accused the Democratic governor of using the 'hush money' to allegedly buy the silence of three officials amid the COVID-19 pandemic after revelations they may have been forced out of the administration. 'I really bristle at that characterization. The nature of the separation agreement is that when someone leaves, there are terms to it and you cannot share every term to it. That's simply what it is,' Whitmer said, responding to questions from WJBK characterizing the severance payments as 'hush money.' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer faces growing criticism after the disclosure of another severance deal for a former top health official Robert Gordon resigned his position without explanation, just hours after signing a revised order to allow restaurants to resume indoor dining Steve Gray, former Unemployment Insurance Agency Director, resigned in November after falling out of favor with Whitmer and received $85,872 in severance, according to his agreement. About $9,200 of the payout went to his lawyer. Gray agreed to maintain confidentiality about his employment and departure as well as not sue the state. He was a classified employee with a contract through June 1, according to Thomas Shaver, Freedom of Information Act coordinator for the Department of Labor and Economic Growth - which oversees the unemployment benefits agency. Robert Gordon, former director of the Department of Health and Human Services, resigned January 22 and received a $155,000 severance deal covering nine months of salary and his health coverage, the administration acknowledged on Monday. Gordon, a key leader in the states response to the coronavirus pandemic, had issued sweeping COVID-19 restrictions after Whitmer's emergency orders were upended by an October court ruling. Whitmer would not say in January if she had sought Gordon's exit. But his severance pact, made on February 22, was uncovered Monday after newspapers filed open records requests. Gordon agreed not to sue the state and maintain confidentiality regarding his departure 'in the interest of protecting deliberations among government officials.' Gordon, left, and Sarah Esty, right, were key leaders in the states response to the coronavirus pandemic Sarah Esty, a deputy director of the DHHS, also signed a separation agreement on January 29, a week after Gordon's exit, in which she was placed on paid administrative leave until February 26, when she resigned. Esty, who made $156,060 a year, earned about $12,000 for the extra month of pay but her contract, which was first reported by The Detroit News, has no confidentiality provision. 'This pandemic has been a challenging time, there's no question. It's been hard on seniors, it's been hard on students, it's been hard on small businesses, it's been hard on everyone. To be candid, it's been hard on everyone who serves in state and local government as well,' Whitmer said, according to WJBK. Steve Gray, the former Unemployment Insurance Agency Director in Michigan, is pictured Whitmer also thanked Gordon and his team for their efforts in the pandemic, noting there were 'not any improprieties' and his was simply ready to step aside. 'There were not any improprieties in director Gordon's work. It's simply that he tendered his resignation and I accepted it,' Whitmer said. 'Separation agreements are used often in the private and public sector when someone in leadership position leaves an organization and, due to the nature of the agreement, there's not a lot more that I can say on the subject.' Republican lawmakers who have criticized Whitmer's COVID-19 restrictions and policies vowed to investigate Gordon's 'golden parachute' and threatened to issue subpoenas. 'We have an executive, a Cabinet member, who's being paid to not talk,' said Rep. Matt Hall of Marshall. 'He knows a lot about how these decisions are made. ... Why did you make these hush-money payments?' Ted Goodman, communications director for Michigan GOP, claimed to Fox News that Whitmer appeared to be 'buying the silence' of officials. 'Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appears to be buying the silence of high-level government employees during the greatest public health crisis of our time,' Goodman told the outlet. 'If there's nothing to hide, the governor and these former employees should provide details surrounding these payoffs and confidentiality agreements.' At least one GOP legislator, Rep. Annette Glenn of Midland, pledged to try to prevent Whitmer from entering into future taxpayer-funded separation deals that 'silence' departing officials. Republican Sen. Jim Runestad of Oakland County's White Lake Township said a committee considering the appointment of Gordon's successor, Elizabeth Hertel, will seek answers at a hearing on Thursday. Aides to Whitmer's predecessor, Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder, said they were unaware of similar severance arrangements with top departing officials. Snyder was known to shift people from high-level jobs to other state positions, however. Critics have also pointed to hypocrisy by the Governor, who called for an independent review while she was Senate minority leader after former state Treasurer Andy Dillon made the same salary for three months after resigning in 2014. Dillon worked as an adviser to his successor during that period. Whitmer said taxpayers deserved to know that the department was 'being run in a fiscally responsible manner.' Gordon, now a senior adviser to the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions initiative, issued a statement Tuesday. 'I've served in government a long time, and I believe that elected chief executives need to make final decisions about policy with confidential advice,' he said. 'They also need to be comfortable with their agency heads. Since the pandemic began, many leadership changes have happened in other states. Its no surprise they would happen in Michigan.' HOUSTON - (March 4, 2021) - A mutation that replaces a single amino acid in a potent tumor-suppressing protein turns it from saint to sinister. A new study by a coalition of Texas institutions shows why that is more damaging than previously known. The ubiquitous p53 protein in its natural state, sometimes called "the guardian of the genome," is a front-line protector against cancer. But the mutant form appears in 50% or more of human cancers and actively blocks cancer suppressors. Researchers led by Peter Vekilov at the University of Houston (UH) and Anatoly Kolomeisky at Rice University have discovered the same mutant protein can aggregate into clusters. These in turn nucleate the formation of amyloid fibrils, a prime suspect in cancers as well as neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. The condensation of p53 into clusters is driven by the destabilization of the protein's DNA-binding pocket when a single arginine amino acid is replaced with glutamine, they reported. "It's known that a mutation in this protein is a main source of cancer, but the mechanism is still unknown," said Kolomeisky, a professor and chair of Rice's Department of Chemistry and a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. "This knowledge gap has significantly constrained attempts to control aggregation and suggest novel cancer treatments," said Vekilov, the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry at UH. The mutant p53 clusters, which resemble those discovered by Vekilov in solutions of other proteins 15 years ago, and the amyloid fibrils they nucleate prompt the aggregation of proteins the body uses to suppress cancer. "This is similar to what happens in the brain in neurological disorders, though those are very different diseases," Kolomeisky said. The p53 mechanism described in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences may be similar to those that form functional and pathological solids like tubules, filaments, sickle cell polymers, amyloids and crystals, Vekilov said. Researchers at UH combined 3D confocal images of breast cancer cells taken in the lab of chemical and biomolecular engineer Navin Varadarajan with light scattering and optical microscopy of solutions of the purified protein carried out in the Vekilov lab. Transmission electron microscopy micrographs of cluster and fibril formation contributed by Michael Sherman at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) supported the main result of the study, as did molecular simulations by Kolomeisky's group All confirmed the p53 mutant known as R248Q goes through a two-step process to form mesoscopic condensates. Understanding the mechanism could provide insight into treating various cancers that manipulate either p53 or its associated signaling pathways, Vekilov said. In normal cell conditions, the concentration of p53 is relatively low, so the probability of aggregation is low, he said. But when a mutated p53 is present, the probability increases. "Experiments show the size of these clusters is independent of the concentration of p53," Kolomeisky said. "Mutated p53 will even take normal p53 into the aggregates. That's one of the reasons for the phenomenon known as loss of function." If even a small relative fraction of the mutant is present, it's enough to kill or lower the ability of normal, wild-type p53 to fight cancer, according to the researchers. The Rice simulations showed normal p53 proteins are compact and easily bind to DNA. "But the mutants have a more open conformation that allows them to interact with other proteins and gives them a higher tendency to produce a condensate," Kolomeisky said. "It's possible that future anti-cancer drugs will target the mutants in a way that suppresses the formation of these aggregates and allows wild-type p53 to do its job." ### UH graduate student David Yang is lead author of the paper. Co-authors are Rice graduate student Alena Klindziuk and alumnus Aram Davtyan; UH graduate student Arash Saeedi and alumni Mohsen Fathi and Mohammad Safari; and Michelle Barton, a former professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center now at Oregon Health & Science University. Varadarajan is the MD Anderson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UH. Sherman is an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at UTMB. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the Melanoma Research Alliance, NASA, Rice's Center for Theoretical Biological Physics and the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics at UTMB. Read the abstract at https:/ / www. pnas. org/ content/ 118/ 10/ e2015618118 . This news release can be found online at https:/ / news. rice. edu/ 2021/ 03/ 04/ cancer-guardian-breaks-bad-with-one-switch/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials: Kolomeisky Research Group: http://python. rice. edu/ ~kolomeisky/ Vekilov Research Group: https:/ / vekilovgroup. chee. uh. edu Image for download: https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 03/ 0308_AMYLOID-1-web. jpg A model produced by scientists at Rice University shows the conformational changes caused by a mutation in the cancer-fighting p53 protein. At top left, the red box highlights the aggregation-prone sequence protected by the N-terminus tail in wild-type p53 but exposed by the mutation of a single amino acid. The strongest deviation happens in the domain at the green asterisk. The other three models show "open" conformations at the C-terminus caused by the mutation. (Credit: Kolomeisky Research Group/Rice University) Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. AT RICE: Jeff Falk 713-348-6775 jfalk@rice.edu Mike Williams 713-348-6728 mikewilliams@rice.edu AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON: Stephen Greenwell 401-430-0476 sjgreen2@central.uh.edu Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 07:48:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Wednesday updated its fiscal policy guidance to the European Union member states, warning against a premature withdrawal of fiscal support, which it said should be maintained this year and next. The guidance provides that once health risks diminish, fiscal measures should gradually pivot to more targeted and forward-looking measures that promote a resilient and sustainable recovery and that fiscal policies should take into account the impact of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis told a press conference on Wednesday that "While the months ahead will still be difficult, there are now grounds for cautious optimism." "Growth should resume in spring and gather momentum in the second half of the year as vaccination campaigns advance, pressure on health systems subsides and containment measures ease," added Dombrovskis. Dombrovskis also urged member states to make the most of the RRF, insisting that "timely, temporary and targeted measures" will allow a smooth return to sustainable budgets in the medium-term. Expenditure financed by grants from the RRF will provide a substantial boost to the economy in the coming years, without increasing national deficits and debt, according to a Commission press release. The facility will provide 312.5 billion euros in grants and up to 360 billion euros in loans, with these funds oriented towards the economies worst affected by the economic fallout of the pandemic. (1 euro = 1.21 U.S. dollars) Enditem SAN FRANCISCO, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges XL Fleet Corp. (NYSE: XL) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. The firm is investigating possible securities law violations and certain investors may have valuable claims. Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/XL Contact An Attorney Now: [email protected] 844-916-0895 XL Fleet Corp. (NYSE: XL) Investigation: The investigation centers on XL Fleet's statements about certain financial metrics and business prospects. In past quarters, XL Fleet has touted its long-term growth potential in transforming gas-powered vehicles into hybrids, emphasizing its $220 million+ 12 month sales pipeline and growing customer base. But on Mar. 3, 2021, XL Fleet's growth story was called into question when analyst Muddy Waters Research published a scathing report calling the company "More SPAC Trash." Based on interviews with former employees, Muddy Waters claims that XL Fleet's management systemically inflates the company's backlog and grossly overstates the company's customer base, with at least 18 of 33 touted customers being inactive. Citing former sales personnel, Muddy Waters also alleges that XL misleads its customers about performance and savings and, due to these exaggerations, customer reorder rates are quite low. Finally, Muddy Waters charges the company with exaggerating sales projections and overstating its technological capabilities. In response, the price of XL shares fell sharply lower. "We're focused on investors' losses and whether XL misled investors by exaggerating its order backlog," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you are an XL investor and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding XL Fleet should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email mailto:[email protected]. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw. Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Related Links https://www.hbsslaw.com Residents of Enugu, the Enugu State capital, are facing acute water scarcity. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the situation in Enugu on Thursday, reported that the worst hit were residents of Independence Layout, Community Layout in Transekulu, Achara Layout and Emene. Some of the residents told NAN that they had not had water since the New Year, adding that they had been at the mercy of water vendors. Pat Chukwuma, who lives at Independence Layout, told NAN she has been buying water from vendors since she moved into the layout nine years ago. Ever since I moved into this area, we only had tap water twice in 2014 but from then till now, I buy water from vendors at a very costly amount, between N18,000 and N20,000. Again, we cannot do borehole due to the topography of Enugu which is covered by coal, she said. Eucharia Ukwu, who lives at the Community Layout, Transekulu, said they were not even reticulated since the area was created, adding that she relied on well water and water from vendors. In fact, the situation is worrisome and we are appealing to the state government to address the problem urgently, she said. The situation is similar in Emene and Achara layout, as residents also buy water in gallons from wells and vendors. Chima Agu, a restaurant operator in Emene, and Jonas Okereke, in Achara layout, said they bought 25-litre gallon of water at N70 as against between N30 and N50 they purchased in January. Mr Agu attributed the situation to the dry season as many wells had dried up due to the harmattan. Meanwhile, Dubem Onyia, the special adviser to the Enugu State governor on Water Resources, said the government was confronting the water challenges in the state. Mr Onyia disclosed this in Enugu on Thursday in a statement. He assured the residents that the issue of inadequate water supply, one of the key challenges Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration inherited, would soon be history. The governors aide said the present administration was doing a lot with the lean resources at its disposal to address the issue of water in Enugu metropolis. He noted that some areas in Enugu metropolis, such as Iva Valley, GRA, New Haven, Ogui, Asata, Uwani, some parts of Achara Layout, Abakpa Nike, Trans Ekulu, and Thinkers Corner, enjoyed potable water supply. Mr Onyia assured residents in other areas that they would soon enjoy adequate potable water supply. He disclosed that the state government had commenced comprehensive rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme, with solar powered boreholes. ADVERTISEMENT The governors aide said the upgrade of the 9th mile Crash Programme would ensure adequate supply of potable water from Oji River, Ajali and Iva Water schemes. Mr Onyia revealed that a N600 million contract was recently awarded to FordMarx Nigeria Limited for the rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme. The company had mobilised to site, he said. Mr Onyia said the water project, which will be solar-powered to address the peculiar challenges of power failure, would boost the volume of water being reticulated from the water schemes to Enugu metropolis. The state government had commenced the bid opening and evaluation meeting for new Okwojo Ngwo boreholes augmentation to Enugu metropolis, according to the governors aide. He said the state government had committed funds to the actualisation of the Federal Government Adada Dam Water Project in Nsukka. (NAN) Myanmar security forces were seen firing slingshots at protesters, chasing them down and even beating an ambulance crew in video showing a dramatic escalation of violence against opponents of last months military coup. A UN official said 38 people had been killed on Wednesday, a figure consistent with other reports though accounts are difficult to confirm inside the country. The increasingly deadly violence could galvanise the international community, which has responded fitfully so far. Today it was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on February 1. We have today only today 38 people died. We have now more than over 50 people who have died since the coup started and more have been wounded, said the UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener. Expand Close Anti-coup protesters take cover behind makeshift barricades in Mandalay (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anti-coup protesters take cover behind makeshift barricades in Mandalay (AP) Demonstrators have regularly flooded the streets of cities across the country since the military seized power and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Their numbers have remained high even as security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds, and arrested many protesters. The intensifying stand-off is unfortunately familiar in a country with a long history of peaceful resistance to military rule and brutal crackdowns. The coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in the Southeast Asian nation after five decades of military rule. The Democratic Voice of Burma, an independent television and online news service, also tallied 38 deaths. A toll of at least 34 was compiled by a data analyst in Yangon, Myanmars biggest city. He also collected information where he could on the victims names, ages, home towns, and where and how they were killed. Expand Close Teachers in their uniform and traditional hats participate in a demonstration in Mandalay (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Teachers in their uniform and traditional hats participate in a demonstration in Mandalay (AP) According to the data analysts list, most were in Yangon, where 18 died. In the central city of Monywa, which has turned out huge crowds, eight deaths were reported. Three deaths were reported in Mandalay, the countrys second biggest city, and two in Salin, a town in Magwe region. Mawlamyine, in the countrys southeast, and Myingyan and Kalay, both in central Myanmar, each had a single death. As part of the crackdown, security forces have also arrested hundreds of people, including journalists. On Saturday, at least eight journalists, including Thein Zaw of The Associated Press, were detained. A video showed he had moved out of the way as police charged down a street at protesters, but then was seized by police officers, who handcuffed him and held him briefly in a chokehold before marching him away. He has been charged with violating a public safety law that could see him imprisoned for up to three years. The escalation of the crackdown has led to increased diplomatic efforts to resolve Myanmars political crisis but there appear to be few viable options. Its not yet clear if Wednesdays soaring death toll could change the dynamic. Expand Close Police and soldiers armed with guns, slingshots and shields advance towards anti-coup protesters in Mandalay (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police and soldiers armed with guns, slingshots and shields advance towards anti-coup protesters in Mandalay (AP) The UN Security Council is expected to hold a closed meeting about the situation on Friday, council diplomats said. The UK requested the meeting, they said. Still, any kind of co-ordinated action at the United Nations will be difficult since two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, will almost certainly veto it. Some countries have imposed or are considering imposing their own sanctions. In addition to the deaths, there have been reports of other violence. In Yangon, a widely circulated video taken from a security camera showed police in the city beating members of an ambulance crew apparently after they were arrested. Police can be seen kicking the three crew members and thrashing them with rifle butts. Security forces are believed to single out medical workers for arrest and mistreatment because members of the medical profession launched the countrys civil disobedience movement to resist the junta. The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Xing Guangli] BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) China's top political advisory body started its annual session Thursday afternoon in Beijing. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held at the Great Hall of the People. At the meeting, the agenda for the session was reviewed and approved. Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the session. Noting that the year 2020 marks an extraordinary year in the history of the People's Republic of China, Wang said the CPPCC National Committee and its standing committee, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, have fulfilled the duties centering on the coordination of epidemic control and economic and social development, making active contributions to the accomplishment of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) tasks. For the CPPCC's work in 2021, Wang emphasized the following four aspects: focus on the centenary of the CPC to strengthen the theoretical and political guidance, concentrate on serving the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) to improve the effectiveness of consultation, further pool the wisdom and strength, and raise work performance. Attendees were also briefed on the handling of proposals submitted by political advisors. A total of 5,974 proposals have been submitted since the previous annual session of the top political advisory body, said Gu Shengzu, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, when delivering a report on the proposals. Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivers a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Wang Ye] Gu Shengzu delivers a report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei] Zhang Qingli presides over the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Li He] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Wang Ye] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Wang Ye] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Chen Jianli] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Chen Jianli] The military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs during the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Li Xin] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Li Xiang] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Li He] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] Members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Chen Jianli] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Li Xin] Chen Wei (front), a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Wang Ye] Members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Wang Ye] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Yue Yuewei] The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Yan Yan] (Source: Xinhua) Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Richard Barnett, the Arkansas man who infamously was captured with a grin, a shrug and his feet on a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office during the Capitol riots, threw a tantrum during what reporters described as routine court proceedings. A New York Times report found that Barnett burst into a fit Thursday afternoon when Judge Christopher Cooper effectively extended his time in jail until May, when his next court trial will take place. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said the fight to increase the minimum wage is 'utterly embarrassing' as McDonald's workers in Denmark earn $22 per hour so $15 in the US is a 'deep compromise'. The New York congresswoman hit out as the debate to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 rumbles on in Congress after Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled the hike should not be included in the COVID-19 relief package. AOC doubled down on her calls to 'override' MacDonough's ruling as she compared the proposed increase to the wage paid to Danish McDonald's workers. However right-wing critics pushed back on the Democratic socialist pointing out that the Nordic country does not have a statutory minimum wage. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said the fight to increase the minimum wage is 'utterly embarrassing' as McDonald's workers in Denmark earn $22 per hour so $15 in the US is a 'deep compromise' 'It is utterly embarrassing that 'pay people enough to live' is a stance that's even up for debate,' AOC tweeted Tuesday night. 'Override the parliamentarian and raise the wage. McD's workers in Denmark are paid $22/hr + 6 wks paid vacation. $15/hr is a deep compromise - a big one, considering the phase in.' Denmark does not have a federally mandated minimum wage. Instead it has a strong trade union presence where individual industries and workers negotiate fair salaries on a sector-by-sector basis. Denmark's Employment Minister Peter Hummelgaard said last year its a model that works for the nation: 'In Denmark, wages are negotiated by the trade unions and the employers' organizations alone - it has been that way for more than 100 years.' Right-wing critics clapped back at AOC saying the lack of a comparable national minimum wage between the two nations means her argument is flawed. Conservative journalist David Harsanyi tweeted: 'There is no statutory minimum wage in Denmark.' The New York congresswoman hit out as the debate to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 rumbles on in Congress after Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled the hike should not be included in the COVID-19 relief package AOC doubled down on her calls to 'override' MacDonough's ruling and compared the proposed increase to the wage paid to Danish McDonald's workers Harsanyi added that he thinks the Danish trade union system of sector-specific salary negotiations is 'a lot better idea' than a blanket minimum wage. 'Denmark, and most other Scandinavian nations have sector by sector salary negotiations -- which I think is a bad idea, but a lot better idea than a flat national minimum wage,' he wrote. Dinesh D'Souza, a right-wing commentator who was pardoned by Donald Trump in January for a 2014 campaign finance fraud conviction, slammed AOC as 'utterly embarrassing' for not knowing Denmark doesn't have a minimum wage. 'Denmark, like most Scandinavian countries, does not have a minimum wage. It is utterly embarrassing you dont seem to know that,' he tweeted. Right-wing activist and vocal Trump supporter Candace Owens also hit out at AOC on Fox News' Hannity Wednesday night saying the Democrat 'never let facts get in way of a good story'. Right-wing critics clapped back at AOC saying the lack of a comparable minimum wage structure means her argument is flawed Right-wing activist and vocal Trump supporter Candace Owens hit out at AOC on Fox News' Hannity Wednesday night saying the Democrat 'never let facts get in way of a good story' 'It's insane. I will say this. With AOC You never let facts get in way of a good story. You know what I mean? That is her motto,' Owens mocked. 'We should give her the Nobel prize in economics.' AOC did not say in her tweet that the Danish wage was a national minimum wage but simply compared the $22 rate to the $15 rate currently being fought on Capitol Hill. Democrats were aiming to get the minimum wage hike passed as part of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Parliamentarian MacDonough dealt a blow to the Democrats' plan last week when she ruled Thursday that the wage hike should not be included in the package But parliamentarian MacDonough dealt a blow to this plan last week when she ruled Thursday that it should not be included in the package. MacDonough said the provision was not compliant with the rules governing the budget process that Congress is using to pass the bill with simple majorities. Several Democrats including AOC are calling for MacDonough to be overruled - or even fired. 'I think all options should be on the table,' AOC said Friday. 'I think the parliamentarian is verging on, you know, just really intruding in this legislative process in a very concerning way.' Sen. Bernie Sanders is also pushing for Democrats to ignore the ruling while some argue Vice President Kamala Harris, in her role as president of the Senate, can overrule the parliamentarian. 'I'm sorry - an unelected parliamentarian does not get to deprive 32 million Americans the raise they deserve,' Democratic Representative Ro Khanna wrote on Twitter. 'This is an advisory, not a ruling. VP Harris needs to disregard and rule a $15 minimum wage in order. We were elected to deliver for the people. It's time we do our job.' But Joe Biden has ruled out such action saying he 'respects' the decision. Sudan's Foreign Minister Mariam Al-Saddiq Al-Mahdi expressed on Thursday her countrys keenness to enhance cooperation with Egypt, saying Khartoum's relations with Cairo are strategic to security in the region. "My first trip was to South Sudan, my second was to Egypt," said Al-Mahdi as she addressed policy experts and journalists at Egypt's Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS) in Cairo. Al-Mahdi said that Sudan's relations with Egypt are "of strategic importance to the security of the region," adding that both states share African and Islamic identities and are part of the Nile Basin group of states and the international community. She also called for establishing an Egyptian-Sudanese dialogue on how to develop relations between the two states in the future. On Tuesday, Al-Mahdi met her Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, where the latter said that Egypt supports Sudans recent suggestion regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations. Sudan recently called for international mediation in the stalled GERD talks, involving a quartet committee composed of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the United States, in order to reach a legally binding agreement with Ethiopia on the filling and operation of the dam. The second filling of the GERD endangers the lives of 20 million Sudanese citizens, the Sudanese minister said. Al-Mahdi said that both Egypt and Sudan are committed to reaching a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam before the second filling. Last month, the daughter of Sudan's former premier and Al-Umma Party leader Saddiq Al-Mahdi, was appointed as top diplomat in Abdallah Hamdok's new cabinet. Shoukry congratulated her at the time for becoming Khartoum's new prime minister in a phone call and invited her to visit Cairo at the earliest opportunity. Short link: A pangolin is shown trapped in a cage in Indonesia in a file photo. China has announced that it is now doubling the number of protected wild animals coming under its conservation rules. This is the first time that any animals have been added to the list in 32 years. Many of the new protected species are birds. Wolves were also added to the list for the first time. Under new rules, harming any one of the 980 species on the updated list would bring a hefty fine of 100,000 yuan, or U.S. $15,500. The new list will be instrumental in guiding future research funding, much of which comes from the government, said Zhang Jinshuo, vice director of the National Zoological Museum of China. The writer Li You said, it took more than three decades, but Chinese environmental groups and advocates have finally gotten their wish: an updated protected wildlife animals list with more than 500 new species on it. Chinas decision in early February to ban the trade and consumption of wild animals appears to be in part a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists suspect that COVID-19 originally came from bats located in China. They are said to have passed it on to animals, which then passed it on to humans. If well implemented, the ban could also help to combat the illegal trafficking of wild animals. List doesnt go far enough But some experts say that the new list doesnt go far enough. Debbie Banks at the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said that the updated list of protected animals is long overdue and brings greater protection to species that were previously overlooked. But she said that exemptions still exist under which species with the highest levels of protection can still be subject to commercial exploitation. The exemptions allow for the trade in animals that are captive-bred or bred for heritage conservation or other special purposes. This, she said, perpetuates the desirability of these parts and products, stimulating demand, not reducing it.... Under the exemptions, skins of captive-bred tigers can be processed into luxury home decor, and medicines containing leopard bone parts and pangolin scales can be manufactured and sold on the domestic market. Based on seizures of illegal cargo originating in Africa and intended for Asian markets, pangolins are the most trafficked animals in the world The largest of these markets include China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Illegal pangolin imports have increased tenfold since 2014, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Criminal gangs are involved in seizing and selling pangolins. Limited to animals in the wild Kyle Oberman, an environmental photographer and writer based in Chengdu, China, detects a loophole in the new list because the protection of many species was only limited to those in the wild. Oberman wrote on the subject for the website SupChina. As both he and Debbie Banks explain, legal domestic breeding programs often rely on illegally caught animals. They can make a profit by meeting Chinese middle class demands for animal parts that purportedly provide health benefits, despite any medical evidence that this is the case. But China has come a long way since the days of Mao Zedong. As described by Oberman, in 1955, Mao began to encourage people to eradicate four pests. These four were flies, mosquitoes, rats, and sparrows, all believed to be harmful to people and agriculture. Maos edict led to millions of sparrows being slaughtered. Posters and even Chinese childrens songs and books propagated the slogan eliminate sparrows. Maos goal was to conquer nature. At the time, a scientist researching birds at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Zoology Research Institute suspected that eradicating sparrows was damaging agricultural production. Zheng Zhuoxin found that as a result of the loss of the sparrows, crops were being devastated by insects. After studying the contents of sparrows stomachs, Zheng found that the majority of the content of their stomachs was made up of insects. There was no evidence that they had been living off agricultural crops. According to Oberman, Zhengs research led Mao in 1960 to terminate the sparrow elimination campaign. This in turn led to a greater appreciation among many Chinese not only of sparrows but also of other bird species. When it comes to wolves, it has taken longer for many to appreciate that wolves play a positive role in controlling and eliminating animals that threaten the ecosystem. According to the writer Li You, wolves adaptability helped them to spread through China. But the sheer size of their range and their tendency to prey on livestock brought them into constant conflict with a growing population. Li You says that wolves may now be the biggest winners from the new list of protected species, a potential indication that China is rethinking its human-centric approach to conservation According to The Economist magazine in its latest edition published on Feb. 27, a Chinese best-selling novel titled Wolf Totem, which was released in 2004, marked a turning point in popular attitudes toward wolves. The book is a semi-autobiographical story of a student who goes to live among ethnic Mongolian herders during the Cultural Revolution. He becomes fascinated by the wolves that prey on their livestock. He laments the destruction of Inner Mongolias grasslands by farmers from Chinas ethnic Han majority and their failure to recognize the positive role played by wolves in preserving the regions ecology. Wolf Warrior, a patriotic action movie released in 2015, embodies a China that is respected and self-confident. Wolf Warrior Diplomacy has meanwhile become a term used by both admirers and critics to describe the tactics of combative and aggressive Chinese ambassadors. Possible solutions John Gruetzner, vice chairman of Intercedent Limited, a Canada-based, Asian-focused investment advisory firm, thinks there should be a global ban on cross-border trade in all wildlife. But he acknowledges that when it comes to China, problems can result from the difficulty of enforcing new rules and from poverty prevailing in rural areas where profits can be made from capturing wild animals and selling them. Making things more difficult, criminal gangs in Vietnam and Africa are also involved in wild animal trafficking. Interpol, the international police organization based in Lyon, France, could have done more for a number of years to crack down on the trafficking, but its budget and operations appeared not to focus sufficiently on the wildlife trade. But all of that has now changed. Interpol now appears to be fully focused on the issues involved. One of its mandates is to share information on the criminal gangs behind most of the wildlife trafficking. The profile of the wildlife criminal has evolved, Interpols website says. Today they are organized, innovative, well-connected, and run global syndicates that commission the mass slaughter and capture of protected species in all parts of the world. The gangs import and export endangered species via the same routes that they use to smuggle weapons, drugs, and other illicit goods, Interpol says. Interpol says that it has now shifted its investigations from low-level poachers and traders to identifying the key individuals and actors behind the trade. John Gruetzner, a Canada-based expert, suggests that to curb exports and imports of captured wildlife for sale, trained dogs should be put back in all Chinese airports. And, he says, Americans should be encouraged to end trophy hunting for wild animals in places such as Africa, adding that U.S. citizens are also a major buying source for exotic pets. Gruetzner serves as co-chair of the preparatory team of E-Ranger Lab, which is exploring the use of the internet to mitigate the illegal wildlife trade. Dan Southerland is RFA's founding Executive Editor. Q. My husband and I purchased a condo before we got married in 2001 and it was placed in his name only. We got married later that year. Our marriage has been rocky for a while and seems to be getting worse. I found out my husband is trying to sell it and not give me any of the funds acquired. Can he do this? What are my legal rights? Worried A. Were sorry to hear about this situation. New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, which means that marital property is divided equitably upon divorce or fairly. Marital property is defined as the assets and debts acquired or earned during the course of the marriage, either individually or jointly, including real property, personal property, retirement accounts and bank accounts, as well as mortgages, loans, revolving debt, and the like, said Jeralyn Lawrence, a family law attorney with Lawrence Law in Watchung. She said in New Jersey, property titled in the name of one spouse rather than both spouses is not enough to exclude that property from the proverbial marital pot. By virtue of the fact that you and your husband purchased the residence together in contemplation of marriage, with the intent to live together during the marriage and enhance the marital estate, you have both acquired an interest in the marital residence in the form of equity, she said. Its also important to know the source of funding at the time you and your husband purchased the marital residence and if your name is on any mortgage, she said. In the event you contributed toward the purchase of the marital residence or named on the mortgage, these facts only further embolden your claim to the equity in the home, Lawrence said. In New Jersey, Courts recognize both financial and non-financial contributions to the upkeep, maintenance and preservation of the home when determining both partys interest, without placing significant weight on the names in which the deed is recorded, or mortgage is held, she said. Some of these relevant factors considered by the court are contributions to the utilities to maintain the home, whether improvements were made to the home utilizing marital income, whether either you or your spouse invested physical labor into the upkeep of the home, and/or what other marital efforts, if any, caused an increase in the value of the home, she said. If you did contribute to these efforts in some capacity, personally or financially, you have grounds to claim a portion of the equity in the residence. So your husband is not entitled to any greater share of the equity in the marital residence simply because he is individually named on the deed, she said. It may be possible for him to list the residence without your consent for that reason, but he is not entitled to retain all the proceeds for the sale without providing you with your share of the equity, she said. A court also has the power to restrain him from listing the sale of the home without your participation and consent, Lawrence said. Because the specifics of your case matter here, you should speak to an experienced family law attorney who can review all the details. Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com. Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter. (TNS) One of the lesser-known aspects of the SolarWinds hack that lawmakers and top U.S. cybersecurity officials are grappling with is figuring out how many American companies and federal agencies have been affected.At present, no one knows. This blind spot stems from the absence of a federal breach notification law that requires companies and federal agencies to notify the U.S. government if they have been hacked. That, however, may be about to change as congressional committees learn more about the SolarWinds hack and lawmakers in both chambers have signaled a bipartisan willingness to consider the idea.Last week, lawmakers summoned top tech company executives and the CEO of SolarWinds, the company whose software became the conduit for Russian intelligence agencies to access thousands of American companies and federal agencies.SolarWinds was hacked by Russian operatives who injected malware into routine software updates that went out to as many as 18,000 government entities and Fortune 500 companies that were clients of SolarWinds. Top U.S. government officials have said Russian intelligence services were behind the attack and that, as of now, nine federal agencies and about 100 companies were exposed but more victims are likely to be found as the probe continues.Executives from FireEye, the cybersecurity company that found the Russian attack and made it public in December, Microsoft and SolarWinds told members of Congress that while they had come forward to share details of the attack, they were not obligated to do so and wanted Congress to address that gap.Without a law and clear guidance, companies dont know whom to alert when theyre hacked, Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, said at a joint hearing of the House Oversight and Reform and House Homeland Security committees.Companies also face a legal barrier because contracts with federal agencies restrict a company like Microsoft from sharing with others in the federal government when a particular agency has been hacked in this way, Smith said.In December, after FireEye revealed the SolarWinds hack and Microsoft began examining the breach among its federal clients, the company had to go to each agency, tell them that we had identified that they were a victim of this. And then we had to say, You need to go over to this person in this other part of the government to let them know. We cannot do that for you.House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said that in the absence of federal law requiring information sharing, tech companies are unable to discuss breaches and attacks with members of Congress or the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA.Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., said the absence means theres an undeniable gap in our countrys cybersecurity posture, leaving companies without a consistent overarching incentive for industry to disclose a breach. As a result, federal agencies are often operating in the dark instead of having access to the critical aggregate data regarding the tactics, techniques and procedures of bad actors, he said.FireEye CEO Kevin Mandia told lawmakers that state laws requiring notification of data breaches address only loss of personally identifiable information of consumers. In the case of the SolarWinds attack, since no personal information was lost, companies werent obligated to even report the attack.When a large-scale attack like the SolarWinds hack is discovered, few companies want to be the first to blow the whistle, Mandia said, noting that FireEye had come forward to reveal the information out of concern for national security.Congress has tried and failed to pass a federal breach notification law before. Most recently, the House version of the Pentagons fiscal 2021 policy bill included a provision added by former Rep. Cedric L. Richmond that would have required the Department of Homeland Security to establish a cyber incident reporting program overseen by the CISA. The measure won overwhelming bipartisan approval.But the measure failed to pass the Senate and did not become law after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce objected and called for its rejection. The chamber said the amendment, which was offered during floor debate in the House, did not go through regular order in committees and that forcing companies to report breaches undercuts public-private cybersecurity collaboration and voluntary sharing of information.In light of the SolarWinds attack, theres renewed interest in Congress to enact a federal law requiring breach notifications, Thompson said.Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who previously served as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he was working with Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., one of the members of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, on a draft law that would require notifications of cyberintrusions. Under his proposal, companies could redact details of sources and methods as well as identifying details but still share baseline information on breaches and threats with CISA, McCaul said.The Solarium Commission, a bipartisan high-level study group, recommended in March 2020 that Congress enact a federal law mandating notification.Any cyberincident reporting system should include liability protection for companies so they are not subject to lawsuits when they share details of a breach, Chris Roberti, senior vice president for cybersecurity policy at the Chamber of Commerce, said in an email exchange. The House version of the 2021 Pentagon policy bill did not include such a provision, he said. The chamber also has sent letters to House and Senate Intelligence committees asking them to pass legislation that would standardize intelligence-sharing efforts between critical infrastructure operators and the government, Roberti said.When the Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing on the SolarWinds hack in February, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the panel, said it was time for Congress to consider new legislation.I would ask if we shouldnt have mandatory reporting systems, even if it requires some liability protection (for companies) so we can better understand and better mitigate future such attacks, Warner said.Tech executives have also told lawmakers that CISA should be put in charge of securing the computer networks of the entire federal government outside the military, which is handled by the U.S. Cyber Command.A majority of the 137 federal agencies lack the wherewithal to execute a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, Dmitri Alperovitch, executive chairman and founder of Silverado Policy Accelerator, a public policy organization focused on cybersecurity and national security, told the House Homeland Security Committee last month.Putting CISA in charge of the effort by expanding its budget and giving it power beyond its current advisory-only capacity would yield better outcomes, Alperovitch said. 28 February this year was the 30th anniversary of the first issue of the Al-Ahram Weekly, first published in 1991 with the phenomenal Hosny Guindy at the helm. He was chosen by the late Ibrahim Nafie, then chairman of the board of Al-Ahram, to be the Weeklys founding editor-in-chief. This was when I took my own first steps as a journalist-in-training during the entire year when preparations were underway to launch the newspaper, including appointing staff, training, deciding on format, content and layout, and looking at news production around the world to decide on the character, policies and look of the new publication. This was all before its launch into a market that was hoping to see an Egyptian newspaper in English that would cover events in Egypt and the region from an objective and Egyptian perspective. I wrote the full story of this journey five years ago during the Weeklys silver jubilee, and it can be found at http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/4/188608/Opinion/AlAhram-Weekly%E2%80%99s-silver-jubilee.aspx. The Weekly was the response provided by Al-Ahram, which issued various publications in Arabic, to the call of the Egyptian state, including official and non-government institutions, political parties and intellectual circles, for a publication that could communicate with the rest of the world in the worlds then top language. The idea was to build bridges and correct misconceptions and to present the Egyptian perspective among the many others being reported. While international press coverage lacked a full perspective, the opposition press in Egypt reported from one angle alone and the national press gave the priority to the official line. The Weekly threw a pebble in still waters. It adopted high professional standards to achieve credibility, and it used a formula that had long been absent on the media scene: to report on all viewpoints and express the entire political and intellectual spectrum of Egyptian society. A group of Egyptian, Arab and foreign writers and reporters came together, fusing Egyptian expertise with professionals from some of the worlds major news agencies, and this was joined by promising fresh graduates and several foreign nationals to maintain the newspapers sophisticated language standards. The Weekly plunged into many issues and raised the standard of reporting from one issue to the next under the protection of maintaining professional standards. For many years, it was praised in the annual report of Egypts Higher Press Council, written by experts and academics, as being a newspaper that maintained professional standards, respected the reader, clearly separated advertising and reporting and conveyed all viewpoints objectively. The dynamic Egyptian domestic scene was the top priority of the newspapers coverage, along with the regional scene with all its upheavals including the Palestinian cause, the repercussions of the Kuwait invasion, the wars on Iraq and Lebanon, and the tremors of the Arab Spring and its aftershocks. The newspaper always had the reader in mind, upholding professional and humanitarian standards, civil rights and freedoms including the rights of women and children, human development, the need to address climate change and the importance of protecting heritage and culture. I worked as a reporter at the Weekly for 27 years until I became the editor-in-chief in August 2012, leaving the position on 30 May 2017. Before becoming editor-in-chief, I was the managing editor of the newspaper for eight years beginning in 2004. The newspapers professional integrity was sometimes on the line during my years in the top job due to events in Egypt at the time, especially after the 25 January 2011 Revolution when the Weekly was the only Egyptian newspaper that did not apologise for its editorial policies before the revolution or change its policies based on events and developments. This was because the newspapers objectivity and credibility had shielded it from any need to shift its positions since it had never practised evasion or sought to deceive readers. Then came the harder test, at least for me as chief editor at the time, during the events that took place during the one-year rule of the Muslim Brotherhood beginning in June 2012 and continuing until the 30 June 2013 Revolution and its aftermath. Our decision at the Weekly was to align ourselves with citizens and readers in line with the professional values instilled in us since the newspapers inception. ## We opposed the Constitutional Declaration issued by then president Mohamed Morsi in November 2012, and we covered the activism against it on the streets and in the countrys syndicates and political parties, presenting all the viewpoints on the issue. We conveyed the heated debates and weekly protests on Fridays demanding the overthrow of Brotherhood rule and the violence used against the Egyptian people by Brotherhood groups and militias before and after 30 June 2013. There were escalating events on both the domestic and regional scenes between 30 June and the 3 July 2013 Declaration due to the tremors of the Arab Spring and contradicting stories about events in Egypt during the interim phase. The Weekly was a key source of information on what was going on inside the country, with the newspaper continuing to uphold its values and maintain its credibility with readers. We maintained these standards until I left the Weekly and my good friend Ezzat Ibrahim took over the reins. He has carried the torch and upheld the newspapers legacy and unique approach along with the Weekly family of correspondents and writers and one of the founding fathers of the newspaper, Samir Sobhi. The latter designed the newspapers original layout according to a template that has been retained until the present day. Sobhi is an iconic figure who has the sensibility, taste, compass and experience that adds and innovates. Like the rest of the press today, the Weekly is facing serious challenges with the retreat in the value and influence of print newspapers around the world. It relies on its legacy and credibility to ensure reader loyalty, carving out a niche that facilitates future growth. The newspaper has long understood the need to pivot towards the new technology, to have a digital presence, and to use the latest publishing media. It has done these things through the AhramOnline website, which was part of my dream for the newspaper that was not achieved at the time namely, to produce a daily edition of the newspaper to stay abreast of events and developments on a daily basis. As I write this piece, my mind is filled with the events, faces and figures who have participated in the unique Weekly experiment. They are the founders and innovators, those who advanced and shouldered responsibilities. They are the partners in the papers success and guardians of its values. Although some of them have passed from our world, their legacy continues, and they include Ibrahim Nafie, Hosny Guindy, Hani Shukrallah, Mursi Saad El-Din, Graham Usher, Fayza Hassan, David Blake, Fouad Al-Gohary, Wadie Kirolos, Mamdouh Al-Dakhakhny, Hamdi Saadeddin, Maurice Guindi, Nehad Selaiha, Nagui Kamel, Steven Nimr, Jenny Jobbins, Bahgat Badie, Shohdy Sorour and Gamil Shafik. Still among us are those who have given selflessly to the Weekly and continue their work in other spheres, including Mohamed Salmawy, Mona Anis, Assem El-Kersh, Makram Henein, Gamal Nkrumah, Ghada Ragab, Aziza Sami, Hala Halim, Jill Kamil, Randa Shaath, Pascal Ghazaleh, Nur Elmesseri, Amina El-Bendary, Peter Snowdon, Tarek Atia, Hala Saqr, Fayza Radi, Fatemah Farag, Dahlia Hammouda, Nevine Khalil, Injy El-Kashef, Rana Allam, Nashwa Abdel-Tawab, Samia Nkrumah, Doreen Briggs, Yasmine Al-Rashidi, Omayma Abdel-Latif, Rehab Saad, Rasha Saad, Mariz Tadros, Sherine Nasr, Sahar Al-Bahr and Soha Abdel-Aty. They also include Dena Rashed, Tamer Youssef, Ian Douglas, Lamis Andoni, Inas Hamam, Reem Nafie, Ahmed Kamal, Amira Ibrahim, Nermine Nizar, Mohamed Waseem, Nadia Abou El-Magd, Rashda Ragab, Yasmine Fathi, Magda Al-Ghitany, Eman Abdel-Moeti, William Kopycki, and Nyier Abdou. The writer is former editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Weekly (2012-2017). *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: New Delhi, March 4 : In the 11th edition of QS World University Rankings by subject released by global higher education consultancy QS Quacquarelli Symonds, 12 leading Indian universities and higher education institutions have achieved top-100 positions in their subjects. In total, 25 Indian programmes feature in the top 100 bracket, one fewer than 2020. Twelve Indian institutions have made it to the top 100 of the world - IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IISC Bangalore, IIT Guwahati, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, JNU, Anna University, University of Delhi and O.P Jindal University. The 2021 instalment of QS's global university performance comparison offers independent data on the performance of 253 programmes at 52 Indian higher education institutions across 51 academic disciplines. QS also found that two institutes of eminence achieved top 50 ranks for mineral and mining engineering: IIT Bombay (41st, no change) and IIT Kharagpur (44th, up two places). These, along with IIT Madras' 30th place rank for petroleum engineering, are the highest ranks achieved by the public institutes of eminence across this year's subject rankings. IISc Bangalore retains top 100 rank for materials science (78th) and chemistry (93rd). IIT Delhi is ranked in 13 subject tables. It achieved top 100 rank in electrical and electronic engineering (54th, down from 49th in 2020), computer science (70th), and mechanical engineering (79th). The public institutions of eminence remain significantly better-represented in the QS World University Rankings than the private ones. Of the 10 private universities selected as institutions of eminence, six have made it to the subject rankings, recording some positive results. O.P. Jindal Global University has entered the global top 100 for law at the 76th place. This is the only top 100 result achieved by a private institute of eminence. The Birla Institute of Technology and Science has entered the rankings for pharmacy and pharmacology, placing itself in the 151-200 band. It has also entered the rankings for mathematics (451-500 band) and business and management studies (451-500 band). Jamia Hamdard has entered the top 150 for pharmacy and pharmacology, while Manipal Academy of Higher Education has entered the top 200 in the same category. Vellore Institute of Technology has broken into the top 300 for electrical and electronic engineering (251-300 band). Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' has expressed his happiness and congratulated the 12 Indian institutions on securing positions in the top 100 of the QS subject rankings. He said over the last few years, the government's continuous focus on improvement and reform in Indian higher education sector has resulted in significant improvement in the representation of Indian institutions in globally acclaimed and reputed rankings like QS. These rankings and ratings have fostered healthy competition among the Indian institutions, motivating them towards global excellence, he added. The minister said India's higher education system plays a vital role in driving the nation's competitiveness. Today, India is a leading nation with the highest number of higher education institutions across the globe with significant progress made in the last few years in terms of enrolment in higher education which now stands at 37.4 million, he said. The minister also highlighted the achievements of the government in addressing the gender gap in higher education, wherein women now constitute 48.6 per cent of the total enrolment. Pokhriyal said new reforms have been brought through the National Education Policy 2020 in the Indian education system under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking on NEP, he said it stresses on transforming Indian higher education into a knowledge superpower in the 21st century. It also has a forward-looking vision for holistic and multidisciplinary education, eliminating the rigid separation of streams. It paves the way towards internationalisation of education and encourages top world-ranked universities to open campuses in India. The future roadmap for the implementation of the policy needs active participation of all the stakeholders, he added. Los Angeles, March 4 : Actor Cheyenne Jackson has revealed that staying off alcohol during lockdown required effort but his life is better off without it. "The craving for alcohol has been lifted, thankfully. But yeah, right now, I got to be fully on. Jason and I have definitely had moments because we're both sober. We've both had moments where we're like, 'If we had a glass of wine right now, nobody would blame us'," Page Six quoted Cheyenne as saying. The actor, who has four-year-old twins -- daughter Willow and son Ethan -- goes on to reveal that there are many reasons to keep their mind off alcohol. "And then we talk it through and realise that our lives are better (without alcohol) and we find something else to do. And it usually involves being with the kids, doing something to get your mind out of that. But yeah, I definitely want relief and it's Groundhog Day," he says. The actor is seen in the sitcom "Call Me Kat" and calls it a blessing. He says: "There are no words to express it. It has been the biggest gift of my career, especially during this time. I have four-and-a-half-year twins and we are homeschooling at the house, so firstly just to be on a show. Secondly, to be on a show that is just unabashedly joyful and positive. And my house is nine minutes away from the studio so I have not missed one bedtime and it is the best thing for our family right now, it's a huge, huge gift." (@ChaudhryMAli88) Yangon, March 3 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Mar, 2021 ) :Myanmar security forces fired on protesters Wednesday, as a United Nations envoy said 38 died in the Southeast Asian country's "bloodiest" day since the military coup last month. Myanmar has been in uproar since February 1 when the military ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ending the nation's decade-long experiment with democracy and sparking daily mass protests. International pressure is mounting: Western powers have repeatedly hit the generals with sanctions, and Britain has called for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday. But the junta has ignored the global condemnation, responding to the uprising with escalating strength. "Only today, 38 people died," UN envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told reporters on Wednesday, adding that more than 50 people had died in total since the military takeover, with many more wounded. "Today was the bloodiest day since the coup happened," she noted, without providing any further details, including a breakdown of the deaths. She called for the UN to take "very strong measures" against the generals, adding that in her conversations with them they had dismissed the threat of sanctions. Earlier, AFP recorded at least 17 deaths across Myanmar on Wednesday, with Monywa in the central Sagaing region registering at least seven. - 'Democracy is our cause' - "What we can confirm is seven people have died," said an emergency doctor, who declined to provide his name. Multiple medics also said they saw two other individuals being dragged away by security forces, though they could not get close enough to confirm if they had died. In the outskirts of commercial hub Yangon at least six demonstrators died, according to a rescue worker and local journalist. Parts of the city were transformed, with protesters using makeshift tyres and barbed wire barricades to block major roads. Near the famed Sule pagoda intersection, protesters pasted print-outs of junta leader Min Aung Hlaing's face on the ground -- a tactic aimed at slowing down security forces who will avoid standing on the portraits. In Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, two demonstrators were killed, a doctor confirmed to AFP, adding that one of the victims was 19 years old and was shot in the head. Another 19-year-old protester, engineering student Aung Myint Myat, died after being shot in Salin. "It was my friend who was shot in his forehead and died in the hospital," said Min Pyae Phyo, through tears. "They shouldn't have used such lethal force against the peaceful protesters. I won't forget and forgive them the rest of my life," he told AFP. And a demonstration in Myingyan turned deadly when security forces deployed tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds against protesters carrying red home-made shields emblazoned with the three-finger salute -- a symbol of resistance for the anti-coup movement. Several medics confirmed a young man was gunned down. Local media in northern Kachin state also reported similar scenes of violence, publishing images of police bearing down on protesters in Hpakant. "Some were hit with rubber bullets and some were suffocating because of tear gas," a doctor told AFP, saying his private hospital treated 10 injured. Sunday remains the bloodiest day since the military takeover, with the UN saying at least 18 protesters were killed across the country. In Dawei Wednesday, one of four gunshot victims from Sunday was cremated. Mourners held floral wreaths and portraits of Lwin Lwin Oo, 33, as coffin bearers were flanked by hundreds chanting: "We are united, yes we are... Democracy is our cause." - Journalists charged - Wednesday's violence came on the heels of news that six Myanmar journalists would be charged under a law prohibiting "causing fear, spreading false news, or agitating directly or indirectly a government employee", according to their lawyer Tin Zar Oo. Among them is Associated Press photographer Thein Zaw, who was arrested Saturday as he covered an anti-coup demonstration in Yangon. Video emerged on Wednesday of him being held in a chokehold by police as he was handcuffed. The other five are from Myanmar Now, Myanmar Photo Agency, 7Day News, Zee Kwet Online news and a freelancer. The maximum sentence for the offence has been increased from two years to three, following amendments made by the junta last month after it took power. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group, more than 1,200 people have been arrested since the coup, with about 900 still behind bars or facing charges. But the real number is likely far higher -- state-run media reported more than 1,300 people were arrested on Sunday alone. On Tuesday, media reported that about 500 have been freed in Yangon. IN the space of one month, the families of 326 people were left in shock and heartbreak after losing their loved ones to the Covid-19 virus. May 2021 was the deadliest month of the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago and the month with the highest number of Covid-19 cases. A CORK city councillor has called for stronger communication to be given to the general public and public representatives regarding the rolling out of the National Broadband Plan (NBP). This week representatives of broadband service providers attended an online meeting of Cork city councillors to give an update on the national broadband roll-out plan in Cork city. Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy had asked Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty to set up this special meeting, following numerous requests for updates on the plan from his constituents. "I certainly welcome the ambition of the National Broadband Plan but every week, Im getting emails from constituents asking for updates. "With many people working from home, the demand for broadband is so high at present. "I am getting emails that people are unable to log onto basic Zoom calls or students who cannot take part effectively in online schooling. "The areas they live in are not in far out rural areas but in the inner suburbs of Cork city. "The old copper coil cable technology is not fit for purpose for the modern world," he said. The National Broadband Plan is the Governments initiative to deliver high-speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. This will be delivered through intervention by the State in those parts of the country where private companies have indicated they have no plans to invest. The State Intervention Area for the National Broadband Plan includes 544,000 premises and over 1.1 million people and includes any new homes built in the Intervention Area over the next 25 years. "The roll-out of the National Broadband Plan is most welcome but the plan is just in year two of seven at the moment and its communication with local people needs to be improved immensely," Mr McCarthy said. "I have had constituents who are so frustrated by the lack of communication of when their neighbourhood is due to be upgraded. "I heard at the service providers online meeting this week that the roll-out of fibre cable in the city centre is being stalled due to the need to dig up the streets and the complexities that go with that. "And that it may not be looked at for several years. "We may end up with efficient broadband in the suburbs and anyone who needs effective broadband in the city centre island not being able access fast and sustainable broadband," he continued. "This is not good enough for a city of scale such as Cork." DUBAI - Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen said they launched a Quds-2 missile on a plant of the Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco. The attack, which took place at sunrise Thursday, has not been confirmed by the company or Saudi authorities. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said in a Twitter message that the attack was carried out in response to the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. The rebels have previously targeted Aramco plants in Saudi Arabia. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Five Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia's Komi Republic have been accused of organizing and taking part in the activities of an extremist group amid a continued crackdown on the religious group, which has been banned in the country since 2017. Russia's Investigative Committee said on March 4 that a court in the city of Syktyvkar ordered one suspect in the case to be placed in pretrial detention. Two Jehovah's Witnesses were placed under house arrest and another two were ordered not to leave the city while an investigation in the case takes place. Jehovah's Witnesses said a day earlier that police searched at least 14 homes of members of their congregation in Syktyvkar. The announcement came days after a court in Russia's Republic of Khakassia sentenced two Jehovahs Witnesses -- 69-year-old Valentina Baranovskaya and her son Roman Baranovsky -- to two and six years in prison respectively. The United States has condemned Russia's continued crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses and other peaceful religious minorities. 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 peninsula of Crimea on the Black Sea. According to the group, dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses have either been 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 were 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. Richard Barnett, one of the more infamous participants in the January 6 riot at the Capitol after he broke into Nancy Pelosi's office and put his feet on her desk, yelled about his perceived unfair imprisonment during a court hearing on Thursday. He said other people involved in the insurrection have been let out of jail, but that he's still being held. 'I've been here a long time another month it's not fair,' he yelled, according to KNWA. 'You're letting everyone else out I need help.' The 60-year-old had a virtual court appearance with Judge Christopher Cooper of Federal District Court in Washington. The judge pushed off a decision until May 4 - at which point Barnett started screaming. Richard Barnett put his feet up on Nancy Pelosi's desk during the Capitol riot. He isn't putting his feet up in jail, as he threw a tantrum after failing to secure his release on Thursday The judge didn't budge - and noted that his lawyers can file a new bail motion. A federal magistrate judge in Arkansas had previously approved Barnett's release, but it was blocked by a federal judge at the end of January. During that hearing, US District Chief Judge Beryl Howell called Barnett 'entitled' and 'dangerous,' as reported by The Washington Post. Unlike some others who were involved in the riots who have been let out upon waiting trial, Howell said Barnett came to the Capitol 'prepared with a weapon and cloaked with entitlement' and 'seemed happy to be one of the stars of this revolt' - only to attempt to evade law enforcement after leaving. At the January hearing, the judge read a letter Barnett had left on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk, which was said to be vulgar - and 'dangerous,' she said. If his counsel requested bail again, it would likely trigger a new hearing for the man best known for putting his feet up on Pelosi's desk in January after entering with a cattle prod. Barnett posed for a photo reclining in the House Speaker's chair before he later returned to a crowd of supporters outside and flashed a hand-written envelope he had stolen from her desk. Barnett has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, theft of government property, and parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Barnett also was seen in pictures taking a piece of mail from Nancy Pelosi's office Barnett has pled not guilty to all charges he's facing, including theft of government property During the January hearing, Barnett said he had 'some very honest and simple explanations' and 'I am a good man.' Barnett was first jailed when he voluntarily surrendered to the FBI in Bentonville, Arkansas on January 8, almost two months ago. Barnett is a native of Gravette in northwest Arkansas. On social media, he identifies as a Trump supporter, a gun rights advocate, and white nationalist. Barnett has been in jail since January 8, when he surrendered to the FBI in Arkansas The riot at the Capitol on January 6 left five dead and resulted in hundreds of people charged for violently breaching the building. Meanwhile, a U.S. judge on Wednesday ordered the release of a prominent member of the far-right Proud Boys group while he awaits trial on charges stemming from his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Calling her decision a 'close call,' Howell - the same judge in Barnett's January hearing - said the U.S. government failed to show that Ethan Nordean posed such a danger to the public that he must be jailed while his case unfolds. During the court hearing, Howell said federal prosecutors had 'backtracked' and failed to substantiate allegations that Nordean was a ringleader of the attack. Howell said other Proud Boys members have been released pending trial, and that she needed to be consistent in her rulings. The Justice Department has charged nearly 20 members or associates of the Proud Boys in the Capitol breach, and it has accused several members of spearheading early efforts to stampede police and break in to the building. While some protesters have been released pending their trials, others have remained confined for the time being. Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman, remains in jail, despite attempts to secure a release on either medical or religious grounds. He also attempted to garner a pardon from Donald Trump before the president left office, but failed to secure his release. Property prices have been spiralling out of control since the establishment of Thu Duc city, Photo: Le Toan Nguyen Minh Tuan, a resident in Phuoc Long commune of the former District 9, was interested in a land plot in Dong Tang Long New Residential Area. However, this plots price has increased by more than 40 per cent compared to mid-2019 when Thu Duc city was yet in the pipeline. The prices in this area have increased a lot; however, local landlords still predict that the prices will even further increase towards the end of the year. That is why buyers will certainly make a profit if they buy land plots right now, Tuan told VIR. Prices in the area could sit anywhere at VND30-40 million ($1,300-1,750) per square metre depending on the location in 2019, but are now usually around VND50-70 million ($2,200-3,000) per sq.m. In Tam Da street in the former District 9, a 50-sq.m land plot is now quoted at $3,000 against the $1,750 at the end of 2020. This January, when Thu Duc city was officially established on an area spanning across the old districts 2, 9, and Thu Duc, apartment prices at the King Crown Infinity a project developed by BCG Land located soared to over VND95 million ($4,100) per sq.m the highest valuation ever for an apartment in the area. A general trend of appreciation was also observed in land plots and houses in the area of the former District 9 with outstanding increases of 20-30 per cent compared to mid-2020. The most buoyant area was Truong Tho commune, the centre of Thu Duc city, where property prices are quoted at more than VND160 million ($7,000) per sq.m. This 500-hectare area is close to major transport facilities such as Metro line No.1 and Hanoi Expressway, and is planned to become a new residential area. According to Nguyen Huong, general director of Dai Phuc Land, the price increases in areas with good planning and improved infrastructure are nothing extraordinary. Mirae Asset Securities also ascribed the recent surge in Thu Ducs prices to the continuous infrastructure developments. Of the total VND350 trillion ($15.2 billion) spent on infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City since 2010, as much as 70 per cent has gone into what is now called Thu Duc city. These price hikes take into consideration the markets expectations for the future of the area in the next 10 or even 20 years, Huong said. Concerns rising Skyrocketing real estate prices steadily exceeding realistic valuations are concerning interested parties, and could cause untenable development trends in the newly established city. Huong from Dai Phuc Land also warned of realtors or brokerage agencies that are potentially driving prices higher to increase profits on properties in the area. Buyers must carefully consider all aspects of a project, including location, nearby infrastructure, facilities, and construction progress, Huong added. Right after official establishment of Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Van Nen warned of prices spiralling out of control, requesting local authorities to halt all brokerage activities which could destabilise the market. The party secretary also suggested increasing the proportion of affordable and social housing, as well as publishing information related to housing projects so that buyers can make fully informed decisions. According to Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, Thu Duc city will be developed in three phases. The first lasts from 2020 to 2022 with the target of creating land funds and setting up usage plans, while the second phase to 2030 will see the approval of projects in transport improvement, digital infrastructure, and urban design. Developers will implement projects based on these plans from 2030 to 2040 in the final phase. According to Phan Cong Chanh, a freelance real estate consultant, the formation of the city will take a long time, during which urban planning might change and adjustments could take place. Therefore, if land prices rise too quickly, they could pose many risks for investors and disrupt capital mobilisation for projects in the area, Chanh said. Buyers and sellers are all very excited. However, land prices in different areas could be subject to different dynamics and could even decrease with time, depending on factors like planning. In addition, climbing land prices would also make it difficult to attract investments in Thu Duc city later by affecting business plans and reducing profitability for those buying for investment purposes. According to Colliers International, more than 40,000 apartment units will be finished and handed over to customers in Ho Chi Minh City in the next year. Of these, Thu Duc occupies roughly 76 per cent, positioned mainly in the mid- and high-end apartment segments. Special polices required Thu Duc city, according to experts, should enjoy its specific jurisdiction to better implement Ho Chi Minh Citys specific mechanisms, with the new administrative unit set to be more active and innovative to fulfil the assigned establishment goals. Since a merger of small administrative units into a larger one means a jurisdiction upgrade, it is nonsensical for such a city with over one million residents and a surface area of more than 210 square kilometres to merely have the same jurisdiction as District 4 with 200,000 residents on an area of 4.2 sq.km, said major General Phan Anh Minh, former deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Police Department. The new jurisdiction should allow Thu Duc city to implement special policies, preferential methods, and to simplify business forming procedures to create a friendlier environment for startup activities and the innovative economy. This could, in turn, transform the city into the startup centre of the whole country, Minh said. Proper policies for financial promotion and tax exemption could also be considered to boost the growth of high-tech and scientific parks and automatic manufacturing centres. The customs-related procedures should be simplified to better exploit the strengths of Cat Lai Port. The use of traffic facilities, infrastructure, and land should be boosted to build an innovative centre inside Thu Duc city, Minh added.n WASHINGTON In her first opinion in an argued case, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the Supreme Court in October, rejected a Freedom of Information Act request from an environmental group for documents about harm to endangered species. Writing for the majority in the 7-to-2 decision, Justice Barrett said the records were protected by an exemption to the act that shields documents that would disclose deliberations inside an agency before it makes a final decision. The exemption applied, she wrote, even to documents reflecting agencies last words on a given subject. A document is not final solely because nothing else follows it, she wrote. Sometimes a proposal dies on the vine. That happens in deliberations some ideas are discarded or simply languish, she wrote. Yet documents discussing such dead-end ideas can hardly be described as reflecting the agencys chosen course. What matters, then, is not whether a document is last in line, but whether it communicates a policy on which the agency has settled. Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion has called for a full investigation into the issue of illegal adoptions, raised by last night's RTE Investigates programme. Speaking following the broadcast of RTE Investigates Who Am I - Irelands Illegal Adoptions programme, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Kathleen Funchion TD, has said the issues raised by the programme must be fully investigated. Teachta Funchion said: Tonights programme exposed another extremely unsettling chapter in this countrys treatment of women and children. We cannot ignore that a systematic and widespread illegal adoption system operated in Ireland for decades. The lives of the people featured in tonights programme have been devastated by the revelation that they are not who they thought they were. It is clearly evident that an independent, transparent and unimpeded investigation by the state into forced and illegal adoptions must now be prioritised. I was very critical of the fact that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes did not fully examine illegal adoptions as part of its wider investigation, I believed, as did many survivors, that the practice was widespread. Tonights programme clearly shows what many survivors, their families and campaigners have long argued adoptions were a lucrative business for many Mother and Baby Homes. Time and time again, I have listened to survivors recount the impact that searching for their information has had on them. "Hearing the heart-breaking stories told this evening must now focus minds and assisting survivors must be at the forefront of the Government's agenda. Next week I will bring forward my Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill which will give every adopted person the right to access their own birth certificate. I would encourage all TDs to support it and finally do right by survivors. There can be no further delays." ROSEBURG, Ore. The Brazilian variant of COVID-19 is officially in Douglas County. It's also known as the P-1 variant. Public health officials said they started an investigation in January after a person tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling. They learned that the person traveled to South America for business and brought the variant back with them. They sent a test swab to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and received confirmation on Monday. Bob Dannenhoffer, the county's public health officer, said this is one of the most contagious variants of COVID-19 in the world. Right now, there are about 11 cases in the U.S. People who are immune to COVID-19 because they already had it could be reinfected by this new variant, Dannenhoffer said. RELATED: CALIFORNIA COVID-19 VARIANT IDENTIFIED IN LANE COUNTY Most of the variants that we worry about, we worry about them because they are more contagious, he said. Variants that are less contagious tend to go away. Variants that are more contagious tend to spread among the population. Oregon Health Authority senior health expert Dr. Bukhosi Dube told KEZI 9 News that the fact that people could be reinfected is concerning because it could lead to another spike in cases and overwhelm hospitals, like what happened at the beginning of the pandemic. Although there is not enough data to prove this, he also said there is a chance this variant could be resistant to the current vaccines available. However, he said that shouldnt discourage people from getting their vaccine. When its time to get your vaccine, please go out there and get your vaccine, said Dube. This is a message to everybody that we need to get as many people as quickly as possible to ensure that we dont see any more variants. Dannenhoffer said the person who tested positive for the Brazilian variant has made a full recovery since the investigation started in January. He said that person did spread the virus to one person in their household, but they have made a full recovery as well. There is no risk of community spread right now, he said. However, hes encouraging people to be extra careful moving forward, in case the variant is spreading. This is a tricky virus, he said. "There were asymptomatic cases that were really hard to follow and we worry about the possibility that there could be community spread. So, people still need to do that same public health things wear a mask, socially distance and avoid gatherings. For more information about emerging COVID-19 variations, CLICK HERE. New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday (March 4) announced that he will seek a vote of confidence from parliament. This comes as the opposition raised questions over his leadership after the finance minister lost the senate elections. "I'm going to seek a confidence motion a day after tomorrow," Khan said in a televised address to the nation. Khan also lashed out at the opposition alliance for "making a mockery of democracy". Khan said that the vote of confidence would be an open ballot in which members of his party and his allies were welcome to vote against him if they no longer had confidence in him. "This is your democratic right. Just raise your hands that you don't have confidence and I will go into the opposition (benches)," he said. Despite Khan's coalition government has a majority in the lower house of parliament, Finance Minister Abdul Hafiz Sheikh lost the election. It is believed that many members of the ruling coalition voted against the party's candidate. Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), became the largest party in the Senate in Wednesday's poll. But although it gained ground, interim results on Thursday showed his ruling coalition was still a few seats short of a clear majority. Live TV Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: 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will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise When Disneyland announced in January that it would be ending its beloved annual pass program, the reaction was swift and strong, both from people who cherished their annual passes and people who felt that the culture of passholders detracted from their personal park experience. Due to the continued uncertainty of the pandemic and limitations around the reopening of our California theme parks, we will be issuing appropriate refunds for eligible Disneyland Resort Annual Passports and sunsetting the current program, Disneyland President Ken Potrock said in a statement shared with SFGATE. We are currently developing new membership offerings that will utilize consumer insights to deliver choice, flexibility and value for our biggest fans. Since the announcement, there has been speculation about what those membership offerings will look like, and when they could possibly be offered again. The short answer is: A new annual pass is probably not coming back until at least 2022, and when it does, it will likely be more expensive. In a quarterly earnings call on Feb. 11, Disney CEO Bob Chapek indicated that prices on Disneyland annual passes would be going up. We are now able to essentially reset many pieces of our business, both on the cost and revenue side of the business, in order to say, If we had a blank piece of paper, how would we set up our parks business and be a little bit more aggressive than we typically might be able to be without the impetus of, unfortunately, a year-long closure, Chapek said. Weve had a lot of time to think, particularly at Disneyland, about what could be. That more aggressive business stance could affect everything from prices for single-day tickets and rooms at Disneylands hotels to the cost of a Dole Whip and there are already indications that guest costs could be on the rise. For the parks upcoming event, A Touch of Disney, guests will pay $75 to get into Disney California Adventure park, just for the ability to buy food, shop and take photos. Each ticket includes a $25 credit towards food and nonalcoholic drink purchases. By contrast, Knotts Berry Farm in nearby Buena Park has been hosting food events that offer more value for the ticket price. Knotts Taste of Boysenberry Festival, which opens tomorrow and runs through early May, costs $45 for entrance, and that ticket includes five tasting portions of your choice around the park. The demand for Disneys event, though, is sure to still be there. Tickets went on sale today, and at 9 a.m. as the portal opened, the wait time to enter the site was more than an hour. As of 11 a.m., Disney had released two more weeks of ticket availability to meet the demand. Demand for annual passes will also be there, even if prices do increase. While Disneyland doesnt release any details on its membership numbers, its widely speculated that the park had roughly one million passholders before it scrapped the program. In that same call, Chapek said the company is recasting our annual pass program at Disneyland and reconsidering the overwhelming demand we have relative to supply. Limiting the number of annual passes available is also a strong indicator that prices on those passes will go up. On that financial call, Disney chief financial officer Christine McCarthy reported a double-digit increase in spending year over year at Walt Disney World, which means that even with masking and other pandemic limitations in place, people were spending more money at Disney in 2020 than they did in 2019. We want to have people have a great time when theyre in our parks, she said. When they have a good time they tend to spend more money. Disneyland has been offering some clues as to their considerations in creating a new annual pass program by surveying legacy passholders, people who had current annual passes when the park closed last March. Some of those considerations include day-parting, where passes are valid only for afternoons or evenings, and further limiting admission on weekends and high-demand days than in the past. All of the options offered in the survey included park reservations, with higher numbers of days and longer reservation booking windows for the most expensive pass, which on the survey was $1,399, about the same as the most expensive pass the last time it was available for purchase. There is also speculation that monthly payments will no longer be available. That survey, though, was released before the financial call indicating that spending and prices are on the rise. Its not all bad news, though. There are rumors that when passes do return, they could have enhanced perks, like a dedicated park entrance for passholders. If Disneyland follows Walt Disney Worlds reopening steps, it likely wont offer annual passes at all in the first several months of opening. While the Orlando resort is currently allowing existing passholders to renew their passes, it is not offering new pass sales at the moment. Four key factors will determine when Disneyland rolls out a new membership program, the OC Register wrote just after the program was canceled. 1. When Disneyland reopens, 2. When COVID-19 vaccines are widely distributed, 3. How quickly the state loosens theme park attendance capacity limits, 4. How long pent-up visitor demand lasts. If current attendance at Downtown Disney is any indication, that demand could last for quite a long time. Despite the pandemic, so many people have been visiting the shopping and dining district outside the parks that there have been extensive waits, including four-hour virtual queues to get into the new Star Wars Trading Post. The $1.9 trillion relief package passed by the House of Representatives is a step in the right direction for a third stimulus check. When signed into law, qualifying parents and their dependents of any age will be eligible for a $1,400 check each, including those aged 17 to 24 who missed the first two payments. If all stays the same, the new stimulus check may be delivered as early as the end of March. Are You Old Enough to Receive Stimulus Check? Compared to the previous two bills, this one changes the concept of a qualifying dependent, allowing citizens of all ages eligible for a check. But, whether you're between the ages of 27 and 24 or an older adult who is someone else's dependent, how does this affect you? Is it possible for you to get your own $1,400 check, or will it be applied to your family's total? Is it possible that you'll be disregarded? While all dependents will be eligible for a reward, you are unlikely to receive it in the form of a check. CNET clarifies what it means for you, if you're a student, living on your own and working, in the military, receiving SSI or SSDI, married or a spouse, or in a child-support situation. We can also discuss how certain young adults will receive the initial stimulus payment of up to $1,200, as well as the second stimulus payment of up to $600, now that tax season has arrived. Am I counted as an adult or as a dependent? The first stimulus payment made under the March CARES Act provided up to $1,200 to eligible American adults and $500 to their dependents listed on their 2019 tax returns, as long as they were 16 or younger. The IRS finished sending out the second stimulus check on January 15 under the December $900 billion package, which distributed up to $600 per eligible American adult and $600 for dependents listed on their 2019 tax returns that were 16 or younger at the time. Although the amount of money in the first check was different from the second, the criteria for counting as a child dependent were the same. To be eligible for a second stimulus check, you must have filed your 2019 taxes on your own, which means no one has claimed you as a dependent on their taxes. To claim the full amount, you have to had an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $75,000. The amount falls as the AGI rises, and this year, if you make more than $87,000 as a single taxpayer, you won't get a refund. According to Janet Holtzblatt, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, there are two sets of guidelines for qualifying as an adult or a minor under existing tax law. Read also: Claim Your Stimulus Money by Getting IRS Letter First, Here's How To Do It The support test is one of them. If you're single, don't have children, and your parents provide financial assistance equal to or greater than half of your annual salary, and you earned less than $4,200 in 2019, your parents will still claim you as a dependent. Another is the residency test: Whether you're a full-time student under the age of 24 and lives with an adult taxpayer for more than half of the year (unless you're on a college campus), you could declare yourself as a dependent, regardless of your income. If a third stimulus check is passed, the IRS will most likely use your 2019 or 2020 tax return, whichever is more recent, to decide your eligibility. We suggest filing your taxes as soon as possible and setting up direct deposit with the IRS so that the IRS has the most up-to-date records on file - particularly if 2020 was your first year as a financially stable individual who was no longer considered a dependent. Read also: Will a Fourth Stimulus Check Be Possible as the Third Nears Its Distribution To Eligible Americans? How could the third stimulus check help you financially? The possibility of a third stimulus check has inspired people's interest. However, the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill contains far more than a $1,400 stimulus check. The American Rescue Plan aims to alleviate the current pandemic's economic pain and suffering. It will do that by implementing services to help vulnerable households, cities, and small enterprises, as well as monitoring, tracing, and vaccines to halt the spread of COVID-19. Any of these actions can also result in you earning more money, as per CBS Local News. What occurs in the Senate will determine how much money is spent. The House approved the stimulus bill on Saturday, mostly unchanged from Biden's proposal, along party lines. The bill will also be debated in the Senate, with the minimum wage plan already being ruled out of bounds due to the bill's reconciliation mechanism. A third relief payment worth $422 billion out of the $1 trillion set aside to help families will be made. However, a small portion of the remaining $570 billion or so may end up in your wallet. Additional unemployment benefits, a more generous child tax credit, and other measures are proposed to help families. On March 14, the new federal unemployment benefits payment of $300 will expire. The American Rescue Plan will increase it to $400 and extend it until the end of August. It will also support those who have depleted their benefits and freelancers who were not eligible for assistance prior to the pandemic but may have received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance since then. Read also: Democrats Plan Another $2 Trillion in Stimulus Spending, Set Aside Increasing Federal Debt @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Scrum-half Kieran Hardy has been ruled out of Wales remaining Guinness Six Nations games due to a hamstring injury. Hardy, who scored a try during the Triple Crown-clinching 40-24 victory over England last Saturday, was hurt later in that match. He will miss Wales appointments with Italy and France later this month, and the Welsh Rugby Union said that he has been released from the squad. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Kieran has been released from the squad due to a hamstring injury suffered in the game versus England on Saturday, the WRU said. He will continue his rehabilitation back at the Scarlets. Hardys fellow Wales squad scrum-half Tomos Williams was laid low by a hamstring injury suffered during the opening Six Nations clash against Ireland last month and has not played since. Wales head coach Wayne Pivac (Adam Davy/PA) He could, though, be back in the frame for Six Nations leaders Wales trip to Rome on March 13, while head coach Wayne Pivac also has Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams as scrum-half options. Victories over Italy and France would give Wales a second Grand Slam in three seasons. They currently sit top of the Six Nations table by five points, although second-placed France have a game in hand following the postponement of last weekends clash against Scotland. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. It didn't take long for President Joe Biden to reverse many of former president Donald Trump's most controversial foreign policy decisions. Newly appointed U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield listed a number of those rollbacks as evidence that "America is back at the table." The United States is "recommitting to defending democracy and human rights across the board," she told reporters this week. These high-profile U-turns include rejoining the Paris agreement on climate change and ending the "Muslim ban." But one of the most contentious Trump sanctions decisions remains firmly in place: the use of measures usually reserved for dictators and terrorists against the staff of the International Criminal Court (ICC). More than a month after Biden's inauguration, a number of human rights organizations have been demanding to know: What is the holdup? The stakes of the sanctions were thrown into stark relief on Wednesday, when the ICC announced a war crimes investigation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accuse the court of hypocrisy and antisemitism. The court has been quiet since Biden entered office, hoping to give the new administration time to get itself in order. But in a statement to The Washington Post this week, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda publicly stated it was time for a "reset" with the United States and urged the Biden administration to lift all sanctions and engage constructively with the court. "These measures are usually designed and implemented against gross human rights violators[,] not legal professionals and international civil servants engaged in the fight against impunity for atrocity crimes," said Bensouda, a Gambian lawyer who saw bank accounts frozen and the assets of relatives temporarily blocked after the Trump administration announced sanctions last September. In a statement in response to a request for comment, a State Department spokesperson said, "the Administration is thoroughly reviewing sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13928 as we determine our next steps," referring to the order signed by Trump on June 11 that later led to sanctions, but did not offer any more details on the review, which was first announced in late January. Mark Kersten, founder of international law group the Wayamo Foundation, said the U.S. government's stance was "absurd, because frankly, what is there to review?" Even before Trump, the ICC had a complicated relationship with Washington. The ICC's position as court of last resort when national courts are unable, or unwilling, to prosecute major crimes has made it a lightning rod for controversy. The United States never ratified the Rome Statute that led to the establishment of the court in The Hague in 2002, and has not accepted the court's jurisdiction. This distinction puts the United States at odds with many of its allies. Most countries in Europe, North America, Latin America and much of Africa are among the 123 backers of the court. But while both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations kept their distance, neither took as aggressive a stance as Trump's administration. In 2018, then-national security adviser John Bolton, a long-running critic of the court, said that, "For all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us." In 2019, the United States imposed a travel ban on ICC personnel. The following year, after the court moved to open an investigation into possible war crimes in Afghanistan - the first investigation it has opened that could involve U.S. troops - the Trump administration admonished the ICC, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling it a "renegade, unlawful so-called court." A little more than three months later, Trump signed the executive order that authorized new sanctions against those connected to the court. The sanctions on Bensouda and another member of the ICC prosecution staff, Lesotho diplomat Phakiso Mochochoko, went into force in September. Many human rights groups and foreign governments condemned the move. Agnes Callamard, the special U.N. rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, tweeted that she was "speechless" after Trump signed the order. "Sanctions against the Prosecutor of the ICC??" After Trump lost last year's presidential election, it was generally expected that Biden would reverse the actions against the ICC. "A lot of folks are following this," said Adam Smith, a partner at law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher who worked on sanctions at the U.S. Treasury during the Obama administration. Rescinding the sanctions on Bensouda and other ICC staff could be as simple as revoking the executive order that installed them, he explained. Since Biden took office, his administration has committed to international human rights standards. In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States would seek a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council next year, reversing another Trump-era move against another divisive supranational body. Without any full explanation from the U.S. government, it remains unclear why the sanctions on ICC officials remain in place. Axios reported last month that Israel's Netanyahu had asked Biden to keep the sanctions in place. After the court announced its investigation into Israel and the Palestinian territories, Netanyahu hit out at the court again, calling it "undiluted antisemitism and the height of hypocrisy"; Blinken tweeted a few hours later that the United States "firmly opposes" the ICC investigation. The problems between the ICC and the United States go beyond Israel, however. Some critics, such as American national security lawyer John B. Bellinger III, have argued that both sides need to de-escalate, with the ICC taking a step back from actions that could implicate U.S. officials. But supporters of the court, including Kersten, argue that Biden is taking a similar hands-off approach to international justice that Obama took - what he described as "selective engagement and polite hypocrisy." "It's a lot better than Trump, no doubt, but it also leaves a lot to be desired," Kersten said. In her statement, Bensouda noted that in the past, the United States had been a major part of the movement for international justice, going back to the Nuremberg trials, and said she hoped for a new era of cooperation with the United States. "We look to the new U.S. Administration for constructive engagement and recognition of our legitimate duties under the Rome Statute," she said. The court may have some reason to feel confident. Though she remains under sanctions, Bensouda will soon be leaving her position at the ICC. British lawyer Karim Khan will replace her as ICC prosecutor on June 16 - around the time that the Biden administration will have to review the executive order that imposed sanctions on Bensouda, according to Smith. Khan is not under sanctions and so far, the court has refused to back down from either the Israel or Afghanistan investigations. As Bensouda put it, the "coercive measures against the ICC have failed to achieve stated policy objectives." So why keep them in place? Open-air markets will likely be banned again in North Korea in another sign that the regime is increasingly fraying at the seams. The markets have been a lifeline for a destitute population after the state failed to supply rations in the provinces. But now the regime wants to put them under state control, according to intelligence authorities here on Wednesday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has declared war on "anti-socialist" activities in a frantic attempt to shore up his power amid a collapsing economy and complete border closure that has made even supplies in Pyongyang, where the elite live, hard to come by. Open-air black markets were born amid the famine of the mid-1990s but gradually grew to become the heart of a nascent market economy after they were officially sanctioned by former leader Kim Jong-il in 2002. There are an estimated 500 officially sanctioned open-air markets, where 1.1 million traders sell farm produce and consumer goods mostly imported from China by open or clandestine routes. When he came into power, Kim Jong-un took economic reform measures, including giving limited autonomy to some factories, enterprises and collective farms. As a result, the number of open-air markets more than doubled from some 200 in 2010 to about 460 in 2017. But now the crackpot country's finances are close to collapse and he seems determined to turn the clock back and hold on to power by Draconian means. Photo: The Canadian Press Meng Wanzhou, Chief financial officer of Huawei leaves her home as she heads to B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward A Crown lawyer is urging a B.C. Supreme Court judge to ignore the "geopolitical winds swirling around" Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition case and focus instead on the legal context. Robert Frater told Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes that Meng's legal team is trying to bring the elephant into the room by introducing arguments centred on comments made by former U.S. president Donald Trump about the case. Frater says Holmes should focus on facts and law, while leaving politics to the politicians. He made the comments in response to claims from Meng's legal team that Trump's comments 10 days after her arrest at Vancouver's airport in December 2018 represented a threat and poisoned the Canadian proceedings. Trump was asked by media if he would intervene in the case to get a better deal in trade talks with China, and he responded that he would "certainly intervene" if he thought it was necessary. Meng is wanted in the United States on fraud charges that both she and Huawei deny. Her lawyers allege Trump's comments constitute an abuse of process and they are asking for a stay of proceedings. "Everyone in this courtroom knows that the elephant in the room in this case has always been the geopolitical winds that swirl around it," Frater told the judge. "We're confident that when you look at the facts and apply the law, you will dismiss this motion." Israel starts a pilot operation today to vaccinate Palestinian workers, apparently this evening at one of the West Bank crossing points. On March 7, the country will launch a vast campaign to vaccinate all 120,000 Palestinians legally working in Israel and in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The decision concerns 87,000 Palestinians holding work permits in Israel and 35,000 Palestinians legally working in settlements, mainly in industrial parks. According to estimates, thousands of Palestinians are working illegaly in Israel, but they will not be vaccinated by Israeli authorities. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said Feb. 28 that the vaccination drive had been "approved by the political echelon," adding that Israel will "conduct a vaccination campaign for Palestinian workers with employment licenses in Israel and in the communities across Judea and Samaria [West Bank]." In a March 3 announcement, COGATs office said it will roll out next week the vaccination campaign at checkpoints and industrial zones across the West Bank. As a first step, 12 vaccination compounds are scheduled to be set up eight at checkpoints for those employed in Israel and four at settlements for those employed in the West Bank. The vaccination centers will be staffed by Israeli medical teams. COGAT stated that vaccinations would be done on a voluntarily basis, and that Israeli employers were told they cannot force their workers to receive the shots. The employers will be the ones responsible for scheduling appointments for their workers to get vaccinated. Instructions are for the workers to get vaccinated at the end of the work day, when leaving Israeli territory, not in the morning when entering, so as not to delay their arrival to work. The medical teams will first use the 100,000 Moderna vaccine doses Israel has in surplus. These vaccines are now stocked at a depot belonging to the Israeli giant pharmaceutical Teva near Ben Gurion Airport. Until now, Israel has been reluctant to use these vaccines, since the condition of their storage and administration are different from those of the Pfizer vaccine largely used in the countrys immunization drive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended to donate the Moderna vaccine surplus to some 20 countries considered friendly to Israel, and also to the Palestinian Authority (PA). But his plan was halted after a negative legal opinion by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit on Netanyahu's authority to take such a decision on his own. Israel has been under international pressure to vaccinate Palestinian workers and to assist the PA in its vaccination drive. Senior officials at Israels Health Ministry have pointed out repeatedly that vaccinating Palestinian workers and assisting the PA are also in Israeli's interest in its efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The Israeli decision to vaccinate Palestinian workers came after a rare visit of Health Ministry officials in Ramallah on Feb. 19, where they met with their Palestinian counterparts and visited the coronavirus ward at the Ramallah hospital. The Israeli delegation included Health Ministrys director Chezy Levy, head of Public Health Services Sharon Alroy-Preis and coronavirus commissioner Nachman Ash. Eliyahu Shaviro, mayor of the West Bank settlement Ariel, said March 3 that the town will open next week a special coronavirus vaccination center for Palestinian workers. He said the Health Ministry approved the move after he exerted prolonged pressure on it. He added, It is important to emphasize that we are working with the Palestinians, and the fact that the PA does not vaccinate its citizens poses a health risk to the Israeli public. It is unclear for the moment whether the center in Ariel is part of the four compounds set to be established in settlement industrial zones. Nepals government on Thursday, March 4, signed a peace agreement with a small communist rebel group widely. Also, the government agreed to lift a ban on the group and release all their party members and supporters in jail and drop all legal cases against them. As per a statement by the government right after the peace talks, the group also agreed to give up violence and resolve any issues through peaceful dialogue. According to the reports by AP, the details of the agreement would be made public at a joint ceremony which is to take place on Friday, March 5. The joint ceremony will include Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli and the leader of the rebel group Netra Bikram Chand. The group which is known as the Nepal Communist Party had a split from the Maoist Communist party, which is known for fighting the government troops between 1996 and 2006. Read: Nepal PM Oli Goes Public With NCP Discord; Predicts What'll Happen If Prachanda Ousts Him Political turmoil in Nepal This peace agreement when Nepal is going through a political turmoil. Recently, PM Oli made his intentions clear that he will not resign following the country's Supreme Court's verdict against him. Following this, he challenged the ruling Nepal Communist Party's splinter faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to remove him from the top post if he can. Addressing an event in his home district, Jhapa, Prime Minister Oli challenged the Prachanda-led faction to table a vote of the no-confidence motion and endorse that, My Republica newspaper reported. "KP Oli is still the parliamentary party leader of the NCP. He is the party chairman as well as the Prime Minister," 69-year-old Oli said. "If you have restored parliament, remove KP Oli from the Prime Ministerial post. "Remove me if you can. If I am ousted, Ill emerge victorious with a two-thirds majority in the next election," he challenged Dahal and Nepal who have been expediting work to garner support from Nepali Congress and Janata Samajbadi parties in an apparent bid to oust Oli from power, according to the newspaper. Read: Pakistan Walking Into A Swamp Of Criminal Jihad Inspite Of FATF Grey List: Sushil Pandit Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). In a landmark ruling, a five-member constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher last week annulled the Oli government's "unconstitutional" decision to dissolve the 275-member lower house of Parliament. The court ordered the government to summon the House session within the next 13 days. The ruling party suffered a vertical split following Oli's decision to dissolve the lower house. Read: COVID-19 Vaccination Phase 2: CoWIN Registration From 9 Am Tomorrow; Here's How To Enroll Also Read: Congress-Left-ISF Kick Off Bengal Campaign With Brigade Rally; Vows To Defeat Modi, Mamata Advertisement A volcanic eruption in Iceland 'could be imminent' after more than 18,000 earthquakes hit the island in the past week, authorities have warned. On Wednesday alone, there were about 2,500 earthquake detected and since midnight on Thursday almost 800 earthquakes measured, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). The largest earthquake measured magnitude 5.6 on the Richter scale, which is enough to cause 'some damage to weak structures'. The sudden burst in seismic activity has been centred around Reykjanes Peninsula, a densely populated region in southwest Iceland just south of capital city Reykjavik. Icelandic authorities are now expecting two volcanoes on the Reykjanes Peninsula Mount Keilir and Mount Fagradalsfjall to erupt in the coming hours. A volcanic eruption would be the first in the area since the 12th century. Thankfully, experts believe it is unlikely there will be a dramatic explosion of lava and ash into the sky, but instead, an eruption would take the form of a fissure eruption a more steady emergence of lava from a fissure in the ground. Graphic from the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) shows time, magnitude of earthquakes in the last 48 hours. IMO said: A magnitude 4.5 earthquake was measured at 08:54 at Fagradalsfjall. The quake was felt in the southwest corner of the country' The reason for the unrest remains unclear, although experts suggest it may be due to an intrusion of magma into Earth's crust. Speaking to CNN, orvaldur orarson, a professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland said: 'We are battling with the "why" at the moment. Why is this happening? 'It is very likely that we have an intrusion of magma into the [Earth's] crust there. It has definitely moved closer to the surface, but we are trying to figure out if it's moving even closer to it.' How a volcanic eruption in 2010 sparked almost a month of chaos for European air travel A volcanic eruption in Iceland in 2010 sparked the worst air travel disruption since the Second World War. Chaos descended within the European travel industry when an unfortunate series of phenomenons combined from a number of relatively small volcanic events at Eyjafjallajokull, on the south side of the island. Seismic activity had started at the end of 2009 and had intensified up until March 20, when the volcano - which is covered by an ice cap - finally erupted. The eruption was small - just one out of seven on the scale used to measure eruptions. Globally, it appeared a relatively small event at the time. But around five days later, scientists began to notice unusual activity. They found evidence at magma was flowing from underneath the crust into Eyjafjallajokull's magma chamber and that pressure stemming from the process caused a huge crustal displacement. While the eruption began as an effusive eruption - where lava runs from the volcano along the ground - the volcano then entered an explosive stage on April 14. This time, the explosion was measured as a four on the volcanic scale Meanwhile, ice surrounding the volcano started melting and began flooding into the volcano. This rapid cooling caused the magma to shear into fine and jagged ash particles. It also increased the volcano's explosive power. While the eruption began as an effusive eruption - where lava runs from the volcano along the ground - the volcano then entered an explosive stage on April 14. This time, the explosion was measured as a four on the volcanic scale. A huge ash cloud was fired into the air, reaching up to nine kilometres in height. Around 250 million cubic metres of volcanic material was also spewed into the air as a result of the explosion. To make matters worse, the volcano was directly under a jet stream and the rapid cooling from the ice water gave the volcano enough power to shoot the ash directly into it. The jet stream was also unusually stable at the time and sent ash particles from the volcano continuously southeast - towards Europe. From April 14-20, ash from the volcanic eruption covered large areas of Northern Europe. About 20 countries closed their airspace to commercial jet traffic and it affected approximately 10 million travellers, with nearly 100,000 flights to and from and within Europe cancelled across the six day period. The Airport Operators Association (AOA) estimated that airports lost 80 million over the six-and-a-half days, while the knock-on disruption lasted for around a month. In the United Kingdom alone thirteen travel firms collapsed during the summer of 2010. The ash cloud disruption was cited as one of the contributing factors. A huge ash cloud was fired into the air, reaching up to nine kilometres in height. Around 250 million cubic metres of volcanic material was also spewed into the air as a result of the explosion Several sports matches were postponed, while Liverpool football club had to travel by coach to Madrid in order to play a match in the Europa League. While the travel disruption mostly ran throughout April, volcanic activity continued at Eyjafjallajokull until October, when scientists declared the eruption was over. In 2011, a volcano under the Vatnajokull glacier sent thousands of tonnes of ash into the sky in a few days, raising concerns of a repeat of the travel chaos seen across northern Europe. Though the explosion was larger than Eyjafjallajokull, the impact was not as wide-spread. A total of 900 flights (out of 90,000 in Europe) were cancelled as a result of the eruption in the period May 23-25. In 2014, Bararbunga erupted in what was the biggest eruption in Iceland in more than 200 years. However, only local travel was impacted as a result. Advertisement Seismic data is currently still being reviewed, but 'unrest is expected' in the run-up to the eruption, according to local Icelandic media. 'That does not mean that we have signs that an eruption has begun. But this looks like the turmoil we expect on the eve of an eruption,' Kristin Jonsdottir at IMO said. Icelandic news service Vikurfrettir has begun streaming live on YouTube from the area on the Reykjanes peninsula where an eruption is considered likely to occur. Richter scale Less than 1.0 to 2.9: Generally not felt by people 3.0 - 3.9: Felt by many people; no damage 4.0 - 4.9: Felt by all; minor breakage of objects 5.0 - 5.9: Some damage to weak structures 6.0 - 6.9: Moderate damage in populated areas 7.0 - 7.9: Serious damage over large areas; loss of life 8.0 and higher: Severe destruction and loss of life over large areas Advertisement As a precaution for domestic and international air travel, the volcanic aviation colour code for the Reykjanes Peninsula has been elevated from yellow (elevated unrest) to orange (heightened unrest). The orange alert represents the third-highest level, with red reserved for an imminent or ongoing volcanic eruption. In the past 14 days, Krisuvik volcano was shaken by four quakes of magnitude 5.0 or above, 41 quakes between 4.0 and 5.0, and 78 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, according to Volcano Discovery. The largest quake, a magnitude 5.6 on the Richter scale, occurred on the morning of February 24, but two larger earthquakes both registering over magnitude 5.0 also hit on February 27 and March 1. On Wednesday, the IMO announced a 'sudden increase in seismic tremor' starting from 2:40pm. 'The tremor, which comprises many small, overlapping earthquakes, is sourced from a region 2 km southwest of Keilir on the Reykjanes Peninsula,' it said in a post. 'Similar bursts of tremor have been observed ahead of previous volcanic eruptions in Iceland. 'Magma movements are a likely cause for the ongoing signal, and it is possible that an effusive (lava-producing) eruption could occur close to Keilir.' On Thursday morning, turbulence and seismic activity decreased in the middle of the night, but increased again around 5am. Intense seismic activity of this type in the last week has not been recorded in the region since digital monitoring began in 1991. Iceland's meteorologists are continuing to analyse sensor and satellite-based monitoring data 'at pace', combined with radar images from space. A sudden burst in seismic activity, which is centred around Reykjanes Peninsula, a densely populated region in southwest Iceland just south of capital city Reykjavik Such intense swarms are not unknown in Iceland's history. On June 10, 1933, five earthquakes measuring between 4.9 and 5.9 were recorded in Fagradalsfjall. Viir Reynisson, chief superintendent at Iceland's Department for Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told a news conference on Wednesday that an eruption is 'more likely than not', adding that there is 'no disaster going on and everyone can get on with their daily lives'. Satellite-based radar imaging has also shown ground deformation that can be explained by the earthquake activity alone. Mount Keilir in south Iceland. Mt. Keilir is a hyaloclastite mountain, meaning it is made from angular, glassy rock formed by volcanic eruptions underneath an ice sheet Dr Freysteinn Sigmundsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, told AFP: 'The magma is fracturing and it is so close to the surface... that we have to take it seriously. Perched atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is home to a near-constant stream of seismic activity. Many of these quakes are also linked to volcanic activity 'It is not certain [when an eruption would happen] the situation can last for hours or even longer with many small earthquakes.' Dr Freysteinn said there is unlikely to be a dramatic explosion of lava and ash into the sky, but would take the form of a fissure eruption a more steady emergence of lava from a fissure in the ground. Volcanic eruptions in Reykjanes are usually fissure eruptions on land that last for several days or weeks. Iceland is a particular hotspot for seismic activity because it sits on a tectonic plate boundary called the Mid Atlantic Ridge. The Mid Atlantic Ridge is a long chain of mountains that stretches down the Atlantic ocean, meaning most of these mountains are underground. It's gradually pushing North America and Eurasia away from each other. There are only a few places on earth where the Mid Atlantic Ridge is exposed on land, but Iceland which is slap bang in the middle of the ridge is one of them. Map shows the tectonic plates of the lithosphere (the rocky outermost shell) on Earth. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is highlighted in yellow One of Iceland's most volcanic events was in 2010, when the eruption of volcanoes near Eyjafjallajokull, located in the south of Iceland, caused chaos around the world, grounding hundreds of planes. Eruptions at Eyjafjallajokull thrust torrents of molten rock through the shattered ice sheets in the mountain crater, spewing a towering wall of ash, dust and steam high into the air. 'This event is completely different to Eyjafjallajokull it is very unlikely that it will disrupt air transport,' Freysteinn told the Guardian. 'This will probably be a lava eruption with little explosive activity.' Nevertheless, Almannavarnir, part of Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, has a dedicated advice page on what to do if eruption occurs in Reykjanes. Icelanders can protect themselves from the ashes by keeping 'all doors and windows closed at all times', 'wear goggles or eyeglasses instead of contact lenses to protect the eyes from irritation' if there is fine ash in the air' and 'avoid driving and stay indoors' if possible. 'All those living in the vicinity of volcanic eruptions should pay close attention to the media and reports of gas pollution, but this information is updated at least twice a day in accordance with the weather forecast,' it says. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The defense ministry said Thursday it has stripped a two-star Army general of his command to hold him accountable for a security failure in connection with a recent border crossing by a North Korean man. The 22nd Infantry Division guarding the east coast border with the North garnered criticism following revelations that soldiers initially failed to notice the North Korean man even though he was repeatedly caught on surveillance cameras after coming ashore by swimming across the sea border last month. The man was captured hours later and expressed a desire to defect. Following an onsite investigation, the ministry said it has relieved the general commanding the Army division in the eastern town of Goseong of his commandership and will take disciplinary measures against other senior officers responsible for the security lapse. "The division commander has a direct responsibility over the poor maritime security and counterinfiltration operations, and is also accountable for negligently overseeing the management of drainage conduits," a ministry official said. The North Korean man in his 20s, whose identity was withheld, passed through a drainage conduit beneath the barbed wire fences set up along the shore. Five officers, including the commander, will be referred to the disciplinary committee while 18 others involved in the incident will be handed over to the ground operations command for review. The chief of the Army's 8th Corps which has the 22nd division under its wing will receive a "stern warning" from the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nam Yeong-shin, the ministry said. "The defense ministry takes this situation gravely. We will intensively push forward with fundamental supplementary measures with a strong determination and do our best so that our military can regain trust from the public," it said. (Yonhap) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 NewsBytes Chebula, best known as haritaki, is one of the main ingredients used in various Ayurvedic medicines. In recent years, this wonder herb has found its way into the beauty and skincare industries owing to its anti-aging and skincare benefits. Read on to know the various effects of chebula on the skin and why you should choose products that use it as a main ingredient. Over the course of the last two weeks, the Medical Center has vaccinated over 1,200 homeowners who qualify under the State of Floridas Governors current Order for those individuals who are 65 years of age or older, the Ocean Reef Clubs message to residents read, according to the Herald. We are fortunate to have received enough vaccines to ensure both the first and second for those vaccinated. At this time, however, the majority of the State has not received an allocation of first doses of vaccines for this week and beyond, and the timing of any subsequent deliveries remains unclear. Human rights barrister Jennifer Robinson has fought free speech cases on the international stage. She has acted for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, The New York Times and Bloomberg. She studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Her springboard to all this was Bomaderry High on the NSW South Coast. I definitely would not be where I am today, and be a lawyer, were it not for public education, she said. But she was a rarity at Oxford, where she met few other publicly educated Australian students. Most of her private school peers had grown up knowing about the Rhodes Scholarships most of their lives; she only heard of them once shed left school. Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson is a proud graduate of Bomaderry High. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer I saw the privileged networks among kids from private schools, who all seemed to know judges and lawyers and politicians, she said. I want public school kids to have these discussions, the examples, and have access to these networks. Maverick politician and New Patriotic Party(NPP) MP for Assin Central, Ken Agyapong has disclosed that he cannot afford to remain quiet over actions he considers will send the party to the opposition as hell be the first casualty when the party exits power. He condemns the intense internal jostling by supporters of Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen and Vice-President Bawumia over who succeeds President Akufo-Addo two months into the Presidents second term, adding that if this campaign is not stopped it will send the party out of power. NPP people should listen to me well, if we go to opposition Im the first person who will suffer huge casualties, therefore Im not going to sit down for anybody to make a mistake to send the party to opposition. Dont think that Ill remain silent, I will definitely talk after all the ministers are appointed and approved by Parliament. If the NPP likes, let them repeat the same mistakes and see if they can control me. No, no, no, they cant, if they do. So their fixation on power at this early stage of Akufo Addos second term must be shelved. It is too early to start jostling for wholl succeed President Akufo Addo when hes even yet to form his government for the second term. We should learn from our past mistakes and stop disintegrating the party with our ambitions, it will not help the party, Hon. Ken Agyapong said in an interview on Oman FM monitored by Kasapafmonline.com. Meanwhile, The General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu has said the party will not permit the testing of waters now by party bigwigs who have ambitions of leading the party as Flagbgearer into the 2024 Presidential election. Internal jolting in the quest to seek a replacement for Akufo Addo whose tenure as President expires in the next four years has started quite early within the NPP Supporters of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry who lost to Akufo-Addo for the flagbearership slot in 2007 and 2014, and that of the current Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia have started an open campaign on social media over who leads the party in 2024 elections. Source: kasapa fm Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A reporter interviewing residents about car break-ins on Twin Peaks in San Francisco was robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight Wednesday, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. KPIX reporter Don Ford was filming an interview on the street at Twin Peaks Boulevard and Burnett Avenue at 12:37 p.m. when a white luxury sedan pulled up and three people got out, according to police and KPIX. One was armed with a gun and demanded his camera equipment, which they took before fleeing, San Francisco police said. Three guys jumped out, one had a gun, put it up to my face and said, Were taking the camera, Ford said. My whole thought at the moment was, Lets be calm. Lets not get this guy excited. Hes got the gun. I dont. So, you take the camera, its yours buddy. No one had been arrested in connection to this incident shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The reporter was not injured, Mandelman said. The camera was recovered at some point on Wednesday, San Francisco Park Station police officials said on Twitter. Mandelman said the neighborhood near Twin Peaks has been a target of burglars breaking into parked vehicles and stealing belongings while the motorists leave their vehicles unattended. Wednesdays robbery is consistent with the concerns of increasingly brazen property crimes that Mandelman said he has heard from constituents in that neighborhood but this time, a suspect used a gun. Folks who are looking to break into cars are taking that opportunity to break into cars, and that has been a source of grievance for folks in that neighborhood, Mandelman said. Weve been hearing about concerns about crime and safety increasingly through last year and into this year. Not just from that neighborhood, but pretty much everywhere in my district, and I think other neighborhoods in the city as well. In February, San Francisco police arrested two men on suspicion of robbing a local television news crews camera near the eastbound I-80 Bay Bridge Ramp. We need to adequately resource our public safety agencies, adopt better strategies to stop repeat offenders and make clear that San Francisco is not a place that you can commit crimes and put peoples lives at risk with impunity, Mandelman said on social media. Anyone with information about this incident should call the Police Department at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez Suresh V. Garimella is president of the University of Vermont. A version of this essay appeared in University Business. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer. New Delhi, March 5 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may field Union Minister Babul Supriyo from Bhowanipore against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee if she contest from there. Mamata Banerjee, currently representing Bhowanipore, announced that she might contest from Nandigram. A senior BJP leader said that it was discussed in the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) that if she contests from two constituencies then Supriyo might be fielded against her. "With strong candidates like Supriyo from Bhowanipore or Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram, we are going to defeat her in both the seats," he said. The BJP CEC finalised candidates for about 60 seats where polling will be held in first two phases. "Names of candidates for almost all the seats going for poll in first two phases has been finalised and names will be announced most likely by Friday evening," BJP West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh said. Ghosh further said that party will field strong candidate against Chief Minister whether she contests from one or two seats. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global glass coatings market size is anticipated to reach USD 5.03 billion by 2026, according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the nano glass coating segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period. Several stringent energy regulations passed by governments worldwide have boosted the adoption of glass coatings. Growing concerns regarding energy efficiency, increasing need to reduce energy consumption, and growing demand from the automotive sector further support the market growth. The increasing sale of vehicles, especially in the developing countries, along with growing adoption of solar installations supports the market growth. Additionally, the increasing adoption of energy efficient buildings and reducing operation costs would boost the market growth during the forecast period. Other factors supporting market growth include supportive government regulations, increasing awareness, and growing demand from emerging economies. Increasing investments by vendors in technological advancements coupled with research and development further boost the market growth. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/glass-coatings-market/request-for-sample The awareness regarding green buildings, and reduction in operation costs encourage the commercial sector to invest in glass coatings. Commercial structures such as manufacturing plants, offices, and institutes are adopting glass coating to reduce emissions, increase efficiency, and optimize energy use. Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue in the glass coatings market in 2018. The increasing use in vehicles, and rising awareness regarding energy efficient buildings drive the market growth in the region. The increasing sale of vehicles in countries such as China, Japan, and India, and the growing demand from the construction sector drives the growth of the glass coatings industry in the region. Numerous key players have adopted partnership and expansion strategies to increase their market share in the markets of the Asia-Pacific. The different end-users of glass coating include construction, automotive and transportation, aerospace, marine, and others. In 2018, the automotive segment accounted for the highest market share. The use of glass coatings in windows, doors, and windshields in automotive reduces the heat accumulation in vehicles, and offer high UV resistance and high optical activity. The well-known companies profiled in the report include Kyocera Corp, PPG Industries, Henkel A.G., The NSG Group, Saint-Gobain, Corning Inc, Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Valspar Corporation, Euroglas GmbH, and The Sherwin-Williams. These companies are consistently launching new products to enhance their offerings in the market. With the advancement of technologies, companies are innovating and introducing new customized products to cater the growing needs of the customers. Leading companies are also acquiring other companies, and enhancing their product offerings to improve their market reach. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/glass-coatings-market Glass Coatings End User Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 2026) Construction Automotive and Transportation Aerospace Marine Others Glass Coatings Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 2026) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Belgium Russia Netherlands Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Korea Singapore Malaysia Indonesia Thailand Philippines Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Rest of LATAM Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of MEA Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/glass-coatings-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. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Trax, a leading global provider of computer vision solutions and analytics for retail, and Roamler, a European technology company specializing in crowd-supported solutions for field marketing, today announced a new partnership to provide consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies in Europe with a store auditing service that combines the power of computer vision and the gig economy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005380/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) Roamler leverages a crowd-based workforce to capture images of retail shelves. The images are processed by Trax's proprietary computer vision platform to provide manufacturers with an accurate snapshot of in store shelf conditions. Roamler pairs experienced retail workers with CPG customers based on location, skill, and experience level. The fully integrated service acts as a cost-effective, flexible extension to brands' salesforce and field network, enabling companies to access timely insights, identify performance gaps, take corrective action to improve shopper experiences, and make informed decisions to drive revenue growth. "We are thrilled to provide our CPG customers an agile, crowdsourced workforce for better operational flexibility and enhanced insights, powered by Trax's computer vision," said Martijn Nijhuis, co-founder of Roamler. "With Trax, we can provide visibility to shelf conditions in a granular and actionable way." Trax and Roamler are collaborating to help Unilever improve on-shelf availability in hundreds of stores across Belgium and Italy. Trax analytics and insights derived from shelf images captured by Roamler's workforce allow Unilever to detect anomalies in store, take action, and measure results. As a result, Unilever's own sales reps and merchandisers can focus on higher value tasks, expand store coverage, and prioritise stores with maximum sales opportunity. "Together, Trax and Roamler offer CPGs superior value by providing a cost-effective, scalable and fully integrated store auditing service," said Karine Eloy, managing director for EMEA at Trax. "Our joint solution empowers companies to address issues affecting retail execution and product availability quickly and efficiently." Retailers and CPG manufacturers around the world leverage Trax's in-store execution and retail analytics solutions to better manage on-shelf availability and optimise merchandising. These solutions are powered by proprietary, fine-grained image recognition algorithms that convert photos of retail shelves into granular, actionable shelf and store-level insights. Trax is expanding its global crowd network and capabilities through recent acquisitions such as Survey.com in North America and LenzTech in China, as well as alliances with Snooper in Australia and New Zealand and now Roamler in Europe. Trax and Roamler's fully integrated store auditing service is currently available to CPG companies in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK. About Trax Trax is a leading provider of computer vision solutions and analytics for retail. Our proprietary computer vision, machine learning and Internet of Things-powered platform turns everyday shelf images into timely, actionable insights that our customers leverage to optimize their in-store execution strategy and product availability. Simply put, we digitise the physical world of retail. Many of the world's top CPG companies and retailers use our dynamic merchandising, in-store execution, market measurement, analytics and shelf monitoring solutions at scale to drive positive shopper experiences and unlock revenue opportunities at all points of sale. We began as pioneers in the retail computer vision space and we continue to lead the industry with innovation and excellence through our development of new advanced technologies and autonomous data collection methods. Trax is headquartered in Singapore and provides services to customers in more than 90 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.traxretail.com. About Roamler Founded in 2011, Roamler is the European leader in crowd-based field-marketing activities, performing tasks for the biggest FMCG manufacturers, consumer brands, CPGs, and retail chains. Roamler provides businesses with B2B crowd-supported solutions powered by data, answering the call of companies for efficiency with widespread, on-demand professionals. This workforce is recruited and organised according to skills, experience, and location, and activated entirely on-demand. This helps businesses increase flexibility and enables individuals to access a wider range of opportunities of personal and professional growth. To learn more, visit www.roamler.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005380/en/ Contacts: Trax Press Contact Brian Higgs Director, Corporate Communications brian.higgs@traxretail.com Roamler Press Contact Daniela Itro Communications and PR Manager daniela.itro@roamler.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) The Philippine government aims to finalize its COVID-19 vaccine supply agreement with Novavax and will appeal for its products early deployment when officials visit India this March, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Thursday. We will [be] closing yung aming supply agreement sa Novavax, Galvez told CNN Philippines The Source, pertaining to his trip to the South Asian country starting March 9. And we are appealing na magkaroon ng early deployment ang Novavax this coming second quarter, he added. [Translation: We will be closing our supply agreement with Novavax. And we are appealing to have an early deployment of Novavax this coming second quarter.] The Philippines earlier inked a term sheet to secure 30 million doses of the Covovax vaccine, which is developed by the US-based biotechnology company Novavax and manufactured at the Serum Institute of India. READ: Novavaxs COVID-19 vaccine: What we know so far Galvez earlier said the government was willing to shell out more funds if it means getting the coronavirus vaccines earlier. He later revealed that some Western manufacturers declined the countrys offer to pay more, but did not identify the concerned companies. Aside from Novavax, the country is also expecting to receive more vaccine doses from AstraZeneca by the second quarter. He added negotiations with another American company Moderna are also underway. Hopefully, ma-close namin yung supply agreement (Hopefully we can close the supply agreement), he said. (Newser) Another head has rolled following the devastating blackouts blamed for dozens of deaths in Texas. Bill Magness was fired as president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state's independent power grid, after an emergency board meeting Wednesday night, CNN reports. ERCOT says Magness has been given a 60-day termination notice and will continue to serve as CEO during the transition period. Magnesswho made almost $900,000 in 2019was strongly criticized after the system proved to be woefully unprepared for a winter storm last month and more than 4 million customers lost power for days, CBS reports. Gov. Greg Abbott accused ERCOT of misleading state leaders about the grid's readiness. story continues below Lawmakers who grilled Magness for more than five hours last week said ERCOT not only underestimated the amount of power that would be needed during a severe storm, it failed to alert the public to the scale of the problem when blackouts began, the Texas Tribune reports. Magness has said grid operators had to act quickly because they were minutes away from a "catastrophic blackout" that could have knocked power offline for months. DeAnn Walker, the state's top utilities regulator, resigned on Monday but blamed the blackouts on ERCOT. At least six members of ERCOT's 16-person board have also resigned. (Read more Texas stories.) China on Saturday unveiled its top 10 national scientific advances of 2020. More than 3,200 experts from national academies and laboratories voted for 31 nominations from four scientific fields. Here are the 10 winners recognized at an event organized by China's Ministry of Science and Technology. 1. Chinese scientists' remarkable progress in tackling COVID-19 Tackling the COVID-19 outbreak and preventing the viral transmission received overwhelming recognition. So far, China has approved four vaccines for conditional commercial use in the country and also donating it to other countries. 2. The Chang'e-5 probe's retrieval of lunar samples After 24 days of travel, Chang'e-5 mission concluded successfully, bringing back 1,731 grams of lunar samples. The probe landed in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on December 17, 2020. The mission successfully completed China's current three-step lunar exploration program of orbiting, landing and bringing back samples. 3. New descending record of China's deep-sea manned submersible The submersible, which name means "striver" in Chinese, dived to a record depth of 10,909 meters in the Mariana Trench on November 10, 2020, and returned after 18 days. The expedition team battled typhoons, heavy rains and high temperatures to conduct multiple tests and obtained a batch of sediment, rock and seabed biological samples. 4. Research on the transmission of human genetic materials DNA replication is the basis for the precise transfer of human genetic material between cells. Inaccurate or incomplete DNA replication can lead to mutations in the genetic material in the progeny cells and may cause cancer. Chinese scientists have provided a new perspective for understanding DNA replication by revealing a regulatory mechanism mediated by a histone variant. The histone variant H2A.Z has been found to be able to regulate "the licensing and activation of early replication origins and maintains replication timing," the research team led by Li Guohong and Zhu Mingzhao from the Institute of Biophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said in a report published in the journal Nature. The findings are significant in understanding many physiological processes such as growth and immune cell activation and also provide a theoretical basis for understanding cancer genesis and treatment. 5. A new material with ultrahigh piezoelectricity Led by Professor Xu Zhuo, a team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong University has developed a new type of material which is transparent ferroelectric single crystal, called Sm-doped PMN-PT (Sm-PMN-PT) single crystals. By creating the new material, the team made a breakthrough in piezoelectric properties, which has been widely applied in ultrasonic imaging, sonar equipment and micro-electronics mechanical systems. This new material can greatly improve the imaging resolution of a photoacoustic imaging system in the diagnosis of breast cancer, melanoma and blood diseases, as well as provide new key material for the development of high-performance electro-optic modulator, optical phased array and quantum optical devices. 6. Accurate measurement of Mount Qomolangma height China started a new round of measurement of Mount Qomolangma's height in collaboration with Nepal last May. The research team from both countries accurately measured the mountain's height and announced that it's 8,848.86 meters tall. The team used measurement data from satellites, accurate leveling and snow-level radar technologies, marking a new technological breakthrough. Except for the geographic difficulties, the mountain is hard to measure because the height of the summit keeps changing as the mountain sits on two tectonic plates of the Earth. As the two plates keep slowly moving toward each other, the shape of the ground can change drastically. 7. Revealing the evolution and migration history of Chinese populations with ancient DNA Researchers from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) reported in the journal Science online last May that they have retrieved DNA from 25 ancient human remains dating back 9,500 to 4,200 years and one dating back to 300 years from sites across China. The analysis of genomes sequences of the DNA revealed a significant episode of admixture of ancient humans in East Asia, suggesting that population movement played a profound role in the early genetic history of East Asians. They found that Early Neolithic East Asians were more genetically differentiated from each other than present-day East Asians are. 8. Recreating the history of over 300 million years of biodiversity changes on Earth through big data A team of scientists based mostly in China has mined a database of more than 11,000 fossil species that lived from around 540 million to 250 million years ago by using the world's fourth most powerful supercomputer, Tianhe II. Fan Junxuan, a paleontologist at Nanjing University in China, led the team to create and analyze a database of fossil marine invertebrate species that were found in more than 3,000 layers of rock, mostly from China but representing geology across the planet during the early Palaeozoic. The effort revealed for how long, and in what order, all 11,000 species had existed. It took the supercomputer around seven million processor hours. It is published in Science on 17 January, 2020. 9. Biomarkers and potential intervention targets for organ aging in mammals The in-depth study on the aging problem and scientific actions to tackle it has become a pressing issue as a major percentage of the world's population is growing old. A study jointly conducted by researchers from the Institute of Zoology of CAS, Beijing Institute of Genomics and Peking University systematically revealed the new biological markers and anti-aging targets for multi-organ aging in mammals. The study also shed light on the scientific links among metabolic interventions, immune responses and lifespan. The findings have built up a crucial foundation for the early warning and scientific response to the aging problem and age-related diseases. 10. Quantum interference in chemical reactions The essence of chemical reactions is impossible to be studied as the quantum mechanics phenomena in the reactions can hardly be observed directly. Researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences provided a research model, which helps in observing an oscillation caused by the quantum mechanical interference generated by two different pathways. This study reveals that quantum mechanics can be observed when the energy generated by the reaction is at a low level. (CGTN) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced the further loosening of Michigans coronavirus restrictions, easing capacity limits in restaurants and a host of other businesses while also allowing for larger indoor and outdoor gatherings. The revised state health department order will take effect on March 5 and last through April 19. The state also said families will immediately be able to visit nursing homes and other residential care facilities after being tested for COVID-19, unless the facility has had an infection within the previous 14 days. Visitations had been automatically prohibited in counties with high infection rates, but officials noted progress with vaccinations. All nursing home residents have been offered a first dose, and a vast majority have gotten both doses. Restaurants and bars, now limited to 25% capacity inside, will have a 50% restriction up to 100 people max. A 10 p.m. curfew will shift to 11 p.m. Retail stores will have a 50% capacity limit, up from 25%. Gyms capacity will be 30% instead of 25%. Venues such as movie theaters, bowling alleys and banquet halls will also be able to have more people up to 300 patrons within any distinct space inside or 1,000 outside. Capacity limits at indoor stadiums and arenas will rise to 375 or 750 depending on their size. A cap on indoor residential gatherings will be loosened slightly, to no more than 15 people from three households instead of 10 from two households. Were doing this incrementally, but these are all the places where we can safely do more, Whitmer said at a news conference. The increased capacity limits outlined in this order will still give us the ability to protect public health as we carefully track variants and continue leading with science and data. The Whitmer administration monitors COVID-19 case rates, testing positivity rates and hospital capacity when deciding whether to tighten or ease restrictions. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the states chief medical executive, said the case rate 91 per million residents is plateauing after having declined for six weeks. The positivity rate, 3.7%, is up slightly from last week and similar to what is was five months ago. The percentage of beds for virus patients is 3.9% after peaking at 19.6% on Dec. 4. Despite the governors announcement, Republican lawmakers were critical. They have clashed with Whitmer over the scope of the limits compared to less stringent ones in surrounding states, the pace of reopening and a lack of legislative input. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey of Clarklake called the announcement woefully inadequate, ensures we remain completely out of step regionally and nationally, and will drive more Michiganders out of their jobs and out of our state. Sen. Rick Outman of Six Lakes accused the governor and other top officials of tossing a few more crumbs to residents. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association welcomed Whitmers decision to expand restaurant, banquet and meeting space occupancy but said the six-week duration is way too long, noting the industrys fragile state, reduced hospitalizations and increased vaccinations. AARP Michigan applauded the nursing home order, which tells facilities to make efforts to allow communal dining and group activities. The previous order said they should be limited. Social interaction with families and friends is critical to the overall health and well-being of long-term care residents. The stories of separation during this time have been heart-wrenching, said AARP state director Paula Cunningham. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Michigan Senior Care Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 03:41:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has received new communication from Myanmar's UN Mission concerning the position of the country's permanent representative to the world body, said a UN spokesman on Thursday. "In addition to the communications which we have received in the past few days concerning the permanent representative of Myanmar, we have also received a communication yesterday (Wednesday) from the Permanent Mission of Myanmar, informing us that the deputy permanent representative of Myanmar, Mr. Tin Maung Naing, has submitted his letter of resignation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, and recalling that Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun remains the permanent representative of Myanmar to the United Nations," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Upon request by the chair of the UN Credentials Committee, the new communication has been circulated to the members of the committee, he said. In the past few days, the United Nations received letters that conflict with each other concerning the position of Myanmar's permanent representative to the United Nations. On Monday, Guterres received a letter from Kyaw Moe Tun, informing that he remains Myanmar's permanent representative to the United Nations. On Tuesday, Guterres received a note verbale from Myanmar's Foreign Ministry, informing that the State Administration Council of Myanmar has terminated the duties and responsibilities of Kyaw Moe Tun as permanent representative and that Tin Maung Naing has been assigned as the charge d'affaires. Kyaw Moe Tun, who spoke at a UN General Assembly meeting on Friday against the Myanmar military's detention of the country's political leaders, was fired by the military authorities the next day. Enditem Nike confirmed through a brief statement that Ann Herbert , the company's general manager for North America, was leaving her post after 25 years of working with the brand. The company will inform shortly who will take his place. Herbert's resignation comes after his 19-year-old son, Joe Hebert, will star in a Bloomberg Businessweek report on shoe reselling. 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 Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File/Reuters) Microsoft Says Chinese Hackers Targeted Groups via Server Software WASHINGTONA China-linked cyber-espionage group has been remotely plundering email inboxes using freshly discovered flaws in Microsoft mail server software, the company and outside researchers said on Tuesdayan example of how commonly used programs can be exploited to cast a wide net online. In a blog post, Microsoft said the hacking campaign made use of four previously undetected vulnerabilities in different versions of the software and was the work of a group it dubs HAFNIUM, which it described as a state-sponsored entity operating out of China. In a separate blog post, cyber-security firm Volexity said that in January it had seen the hackers use one of the vulnerabilities to remotely steal the full contents of several user mailboxes. All they needed to know were the details of Exchange server and of the account they wanted to pillage, Volexity said. The Microsoft sign is shown on top of the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2018. (Mike Blake/File/AP) Ahead of the Microsoft announcement, the hackers increasingly aggressive moves began to attract attention across the cybersecurity community. Mike McLellan, director of intelligence for Dell Technologies Incs Secureworks, said ahead of the Microsoft announcement that he had noticed a sudden spike in activity touching Exchange servers overnight on Sunday, with around 10 customers affected at his firm. Microsofts suite of products has been under scrutiny since the hack of SolarWinds, the Texas-based software firm that served as a springboard for several intrusions across government and the private sector. In other cases, hackers took advantage of the way customers had set up their Microsoft services to compromise their targets or dive further into affected networks. Hackers who went after SolarWinds also breached Microsoft itself, accessing and downloading source codeincluding elements of Exchange, the companys email, and calendaring product. McLellan said that for now, the hacking activity he had seen appeared focused on seeding malicious software and setting the stage for a potentially deeper intrusion rather than aggressively moving into networks right away. We havent seen any follow-on activity yet, he said. Were going to find a lot of companies affected but a smaller number of companies actually exploited. Microsoft said targets included infectious disease researchers, law firms, higher education institutions, defense contractors, policy think tanks, and non-governmental groups. By Raphael Satter and Christopher Bing Police have charged two men in connection with the 2019 death of Matthew Swain. Advertisement Advertise With Us Police have charged two men in connection with the 2019 death of Matthew Swain. A 34-year-old man was charged with manslaughter and a 29-year-old man charged with second-degree murder, according to Russell RCMP. Both men were arrested on Monday. Matthew Swain died Aug. 14, 2019 as the result of a brutal assualt that took place on Highway 16 near Russell. (File) Police also arrested a 24-year-old woman on Monday, but released her without charges. Swain, who was 40 years old when he died, was found by Russell RCMP on Aug. 14, 2019 near the Russell Airport. At the time, police said Swain was brutally assaulted and died as a result of his injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital. Both of the accused are from Gambler First Nation, according to police, and remain in custody. Swain was born on Dec. 19, 1978 in Yorkton, Sask., and was the youngest of five children. Approximately two dozen family members attended a December 2019 candlelight vigil to remember Swain. At the time, family members told the Sun they were determined to get justice for him. Georgina Swain, Matthews sister, told the Sun at the December vigil he was a loving family man and a generous friend. "He would give you the shirt off his back," she said. "Hed give you the last dime in his pocket. Thats just the kind of man he was." Matthew was a welder by trade but also dabbled in arts like drawing and beadwork. He was also good at fixing electronics. He also had a daughter, Dillynn. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ Jagan conducted a review meeting on cooperative sector reforms, multi-purposes centres and milk scheme in his camp office at Tadepalli on Wednesday. (Photo: Twitter@AndhraPradeshCM) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy agreed to bring in reforms in the cooperative sector and instructed that loans should be provided to the needy by district central cooperative banks. He conducted a review meeting on cooperative sector reforms, multi-purposes centres and milk scheme in his camp office at Tadepalli on Wednesday. The meeting discussed the recommendations of NABCONS (NABARD Consultancy Services-NABCON) on management methods to strengthen the co-operative services and make them more efficient. It was suggested to digitize APCOB, DCCBs and PACS for comprehensive banking services. It was suggested that the PACS should offer non-credit services along with credit services and extend its network. Proposals were made for setting up one PACS for every three Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBK) and to appoint agriculture, banking, finance and accountancy professionals as directors to boards of APCOB and DCC banks. It was also recommended to amend the APCS Act to allow half of the board to retire every two and a half years. They agreed to bring professionals on a one-third ratio in PACS, including agriculture assistants working in village secretariats. It was decided to audit PACS regularly and the Chief Minister called for an action plan on irregularities and suggested that the investigation should be done by third party agencies. He said DCC banks should lend loans in a fair manner and there should be definite procedures on the disbursement of loans. Recommendations were made to ensure DCC banks support the programmes being implemented by the government in agriculture and allied sectors. It was decided to increase the market share of cooperative banks up to 20 per cent and the planning of disbursement of loans should support the programmes of RBKs and food processing MSME units. He said the negative opinion that people have about DCC banks should go away. Towards this, banks should deliver quality and transparent services and warned that there should be no political interference, whatsoever, in financial activities. Digitisation of primary agriculture cooperative societies should be completed as per timelines. The action plan for digitization would be completed within three months and the work by March next year. The Chief Minister sought focus on the production of ethanol in sugar factories so that they would get some relief. Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday filed three separate appeals in the Supreme Court to review its verdict in the Panama Papers case that resulted in his disqualification. A five-member Supreme Court bench last month disqualified Sharif for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children over the Panama Papers scandal, forcing the prime minister to quit. Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Harris filed the three review appeals, in reply to the petitions filed by Imran Khan, Sheikh Rashid and Siraj ul Haq, in the Lahore registry of the apex court, giving 19 reasons on why he could not be disqualified. The decision to file the appeal against the verdict was taken before 67-year-old Sharif's road journey from Islamabad to Lahore but the legal team took the time to prepare the case. In the 34-page application, Sharif requested the court toreview its judgment. He also asked for an injunction to suspend the original verdict till the review petitions are decided. "As far as disqualification of Petitioner (Sharif) by way of declaration in terms of Section 99(f) of ROPA and Article62 (1)(f), for not disclosure of his un-withdrawn income from Capital FZE in his nomination papers for 2013 General Elections is concerned, it is submitted that this declaration also suffers from an error apparent on the face of the record," according to the petitioner. The petitioner said that he did not conceal the documents in his nomination papers for the 2013 polls the reason for which the court termed him not honest and trustworthy. "It is also submitted that under the Income TaxOrdinance, 2001, 'salary' is to be declared as income onlyafter it is received," the petition read. The petitioner mentioned in the application that underArticle 188 of the Constitution it was against the law todisqualify him without a trial. The petitioner also contended that being the top court, the judgment by the Supreme Court deprived him of the right of appeal which was right of every citizen. Harris also submitted relevant documents concerning the iqama a United Arab Emirates work visa that led the judges to declare Sharif "unfit to hold office", Dawn reported. Sharif has argued that the July 28 decision should have been given by a three-member bench since Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Gulzar Ahmed's jurisdiction had expired after their dissenting judgment on April 20, the paper said. "By signing the the final order of the court" on July 28, Justice Ahmed and Justice Khosa "have actually passed two judgments in the same case, which is unprecedented in judicial history," reads the appeal petition, according to the paper. Sharif also chaired a meeting of party leaders at his Raiwind estate in Lahore to prepare a strategy for his campaign to contact the masses over his disqualification. The meeting was attended by Hamza Shahbaz, ForeignMinister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, among others. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq told the media afterthe meeting that he still considers "Sharif his primeminister." Sadiq said that Sharif will fight for his rights but hewill not create any tension between the national institutions. Sharif's plan is to go to the public and garner supportfor his plan to bring changes in the country for "sanctity ofthe vote", the speaker added. The ousted prime minister has repeatedly said that he will strive hard to replace Pakistan's old and "flawed" system with a new law which will put an end to the unceremonious ouster of the prime ministers. He also seeks accountability from military dictators andjudges who he said have been sending prime ministers packinghome in the last 70 years. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. Valerii De Loach lost more than $10,000 in income last year after five of her clients permanently stopped seeking her services once the coronavirus pandemic began. Three of those clients I had for nine years, and I lost them, said De Loach, a Mobile-based and self-employed massage therapist for the past decade. When they were regulars, I could make my mortgage (payments) based on them coming in. In my business, its referred to as the bread-and-butter clients and we bank on them coming. The loss of business is only part of De Loachs frustrations with the pandemic. Her anger has only grown in recent months as government mandates restricting activities have remained, and mandates for people to wear face coverings while in public continue to persist. De Loach refuses to do so, and says she often gets dirty looks while in stores. Shes recently written to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to vent her frustrations. The governor has likely heard from others like De Loach, if the commentary on the Reopen Alabama Facebook page is any indication. More than 35,000 people follow the site, much of which is filled with anti-mask and anti-mandatory vaccination posts and commentary. Frustrations have only been elevated as Republican governors in Texas and Mississippi rescinded their states mask mandates on Tuesday, followed up with searing criticism from President Joe Biden who said on Wednesday that the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking which suggests everything is fine and take off your mask. Overall, 15 states, all led by Republican governors, currently do not have mandates requiring people to wear masks. A dozen GOP governors, including Ivey, remain holdouts, but the political pressure is mounting for them to rescind the requirements as conservatives continue to decry the moves as an affront to personal freedoms. Differing viewpoints Alabamas seven-month-old mask mandate is at a crossroads, with a Friday 5 p.m. deadline fast approaching for its expiration unless Ivey authorizes an extension. An extension, if authorized by Ivey during an 11 a.m. news conference on Thursday, would occur as new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, while still occurring, are beginning to drop as the number of people vaccinated increases. Alabamas seven-day average of new cases is at 778, down 81% since a high on January 10 of 4,281 cases. Hospitalizations are also dropping. In Daphne on Monday, the city council authorized a St. Patricks Day street party after the mayor cited local statistics that showed few people hospitalized with COVID-19. As of Wednesday, according to the website Bama Tracker, there were 559 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Alabama, which is down from 3,084 people on January 11. But health officials warn that lowering restrictions, including mask-wearing requirements, could put people in danger and slow down the ending of the pandemic. The head of the Alabama Hospital Association, on Tuesday, said that lifting the mandate would give people a false sense of comfort that the pandemic is over. Others are encouraging governors to be patient and wait until May, when Biden says the U.S. will have enough vaccines for all adults. Dr. Bernard Eichold, the health officer in Mobile County, said that Alabama has a community transmission rate of 9%, which is higher than the original White House 5% goal. He said the state needs to get to 70% of the people vaccinated before letting our guard down. Fewer than 7% of Alabamas population has received two doses of vaccine, according to data compiled by The New York Times. Eichold also said that Alabama could spend the next several weeks observing the numbers in Texas so we who live in Alabama can make a decision based on data. He added, Continued caution today is an investment for a more relaxed summer. Some right-leaning organizations are encouraging a return to normalcy as quickly as possible. In addition, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth issued a news release urging the governor to rescind the mandate. I urge Gov. Kay Ivey to immediately lift the statewide mask mandate and allow citizens and local officials the liberty to make the decisions that best fit their circumstances. See my full statement: pic.twitter.com/OYDN7DrGau Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) March 3, 2021 Phil Williams, a member of the governors coronavirus task force representing the Alabama Policy Institute, urged Ivey to rescind the mask mandate and to loosen remaining societal restrictions. He said, It is time to trust the good people of this state by giving them the opportunity to exercise personal responsibility and personal freedom. Chris Isaacson, president & CEO with the Alabama Forestry Commission, said while his organization has not taken an official position on the mask mandate, he said he feels he represents his membership by saying that we should take whatever prudent steps possible to return our communities to some semblance of normal conditions as soon as possible. He said ultimately there will be minimal impact on the operations of our industry whether the mandate is lifted and that companies will continue to implement whatever protocols they feel are necessary to protect workers. He said the forestry community has seen an impact from the pandemic on small businesses, and on schools and the sometimes-extraordinary steps taken by many schools to comply with the mandate. We know that the governor and her advisors are working diligently to evaluate all of the available information and data and will make the best decision for Alabamas citizens, businesses and schools, said Isaacson. The latest debate over mask requirements continues to mirror the political struggle that began last summer when governors began requiring the masks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they prevented the spread of the novel coronavirus. Alabama instituted its mask mandate in mid-July, after some cities such as Birmingham and Mobile - moved forward with their own mask requirements after urging from local health officials. At the time, the virus was surging nationwide. The current decline in cases/hospital (stays) indicates that the pandemic is ebbing steadily until endpoints could be reached in many counties in the U.S. by the end of the year, said Edwin Michael, a professor with the Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research at the University of South Florida. However, the major factor for this decline, according to our models, is population compliance with social measures masks, physical distancing. The vaccine rollout rate, thus far, is too low to make a significant difference re-emphasizing the impact of social measures. State approaches Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (Lynda M. Gonzalez/The Dallas Morning News via AP, Pool)AP Ivey, on Wednesday, hinted she might move on from the mandate. The governors office has called for an 11 a.m. news conference on Thursday to announce any changes to the states existing Safer at Home health order. All along, Governor Ivey has made clear that she prefers personal responsibility to government mandates, said Gina Maiola, spokeswoman for Ivey. We are optimistic the state is heading in the right direction, and we still have some work to be done. Ivey could follow Texas Gov. Greg Abbot and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves in outright rescinding the mask mandate. Alabama is surrounded by states without a mask mandate, though Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has said his states mask mandate will remain in effect. If Ivey did not want to rescind the entire order, she could also follow suit with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson who, on Friday, announced his state was extending a mask mandate until March 31. At that time, the mask mandate would be removed if the 7-day rolling average of positive tests remains below 10% after an average of 7,500 people were tested daily. Hospitalizations related to the virus will also be factored into deciding if the Arkansas mandate should be removed. It is possible that the Arkansas governor will get better compliance with a mask mandate with a 10% trigger as opposed to a lower trigger, said Steve Pendleton, an associate professor of political sciences at Buffalo State University in New York, who has written about the politics of wearing face masks during the pandemic. Certainly, the other Republican governors should not be dropping mandates so soon. The issue continues to be a polarized subject throughout the country. It is one that some political science professors blame on former President Donald Trump for helping to ignite last year. It became polarized when (Trump) clearly rejected wearing a mask despite guidance from within his administration that people should wear them, said Thomas Shaw, a political science professor at the University of South Alabama. At that point, it became a personal freedom issue and an outwardly visible sign of a level of support or opposition to the current administration. Pendleton said hes not surprised to see the persistence of masking controversies. It is linked to national politics, he said. Plus, anti-masking fits with the general American tendency to talk about rights to the near exclusion of civic responsibilities. For De Loach, she will wear a face mask for job purposes. But she said the government orders are a hassle, which includes requirements for her to change clothes every time she meets with a new client. Im a sociable person and will talk to a brick wall, I dont care, said De Loach. But now people dont even look at you. No eye contact is even made. There is something to be said about human interaction, and weve lost this. Its dehumanizing people and were all struggling out here. And were losing our freedoms. New federal recommendations suggest states include people with disabilities or cognitive decline and their caretakers on their lists of who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. On Tuesday evening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quietly updated its guidance on who should be getting the shots. CDC officials continued to stress that all three authorized vaccines - made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson - are equally recommended during this phase of the rollout when supplies are limited. However, they did add that J&J's one-dose shot, which does not need to be frozen like Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines, might be best for people who need to be fully immunized as quickly as possible or would have difficulty booking an appointment for a second dose. In updated guidance, CDC officials have recommended that states begin vaccinating people with disabilities or cognitive decline and their caretakers. Pictured: Jeanine Mucci administers the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to Susan Maxwell-Trumble, 67, at Northwell Health's South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, New York, March 2021 Currently, 15.9% of the population have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 8.1 % of the population are fully inoculated Prior the updated guidance, disability advocates had been urging the CDC to prioritize this high-risk population. Last month, a letter was addressed to CDC leadership by 16 advocacy groups urging that people with a developmental disabilities who live alone or with family be added to some of the first groups to receive the shot. The federal health agency had prioritized those in long-term care facilities, putting them in group 1A along with frontline healthcare workers. While this group often includes people with disabilities living in care facilities, the CDC did not mention those not living in congregate setting. It is estimated that there are approximately 6.5 million people in the U.S. who have an intellectual disability. The letter cited several studies showing that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at higher risk of complications and death from COVID-19, including one study that found they are three times more likely to die from the disease. 'Individuals with IDD (are at significantly higher risk compared to the general population, regardless of their living situation,' the letter read. 'We believe that at-risk individuals with IDD must be prioritized explicitly along with other high-risk diagnoses.' Currently, individuals with developmental disabilities have access to COVID-19 vaccines in 31 states, according to ANCOR, a non-profit trade association that represents private community providers of services to people with disabilities. The updated CDC guidance encouraged states to consider the 'unique needs' of those with disabilities or cognitive decline and their caretakers. The CDC said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (above) might be best for this population because it is one dose, doesn't need to frozen and is best for those who need to be fully immunized quickly The U.S. reached a seven-day rolling average of two millions vaccinations per day for the first time Officials added they might have access to technology, which means they might not have a great deal of information about vaccines, know what locations near them are offering doses, and how to schedule an appointment. The new recommendations also said the J&J vaccine might the best one to administer to this population. Because the shot is only one dose and can be refrigerated, 'it may be amenable to use in mobile clinics or sites that do not have freezer capacity necessary for storing' other vaccine. In addition, the J&J inoculation it 'may be desirable for mobile populations or populations with high turnover, such as homeless shelters or correctional facilities.' Currently, there are more than 52.8 million people - 15.9 percent of the population - have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 26.9 million - 8.1 percent of the population - are fully inoculated. It comes as the U.S. reached a seven-day rolling average of two millions vaccinations per day for the first tine. PHILADELPHIA (March 4, 2021) - Equitable implementation of COVID?19 vaccine delivery is a national and global priority, with a strong focus on reducing existing disparities and not creating new disparities. But while a framework has been recognized for equitable allocation of COVID?19 vaccine that acknowledges the rights and interests of sexual and gender minorities (SGM), it fails to identify strategies or data to achieve that goal. A new study with support from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) examined the prevalence of COVID testing and diagnosis and assessed COVID?19 vaccine acceptance among a large national sample of SGM. It showed that medical mistrust, social concern, and race were significantly associated with decreased COVID?19 vaccine acceptance by SGM participants. Results have been published in the article "COVID?19 Vaccine Acceptance Among an Online Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Men and Transgender Women" in the journal Vaccines. "Given that stigma and discrimination drive health inequities among SGM, which may result in increased risk of severe COVID?19 disease and influence COVID?19 vaccine acceptance, research examining COVID?19 vaccine acceptance among SGM is needed," says Daniel Teixeira da Silva, MD, National Clinician Scholar and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Penn Program for Sexuality, Technology and Action Research (PSTAR) and the lead investigator of the study. The psychosocial and economic impact of the COVID?19 pandemic disproportionately affects SGM compared to cisgender heterosexual populations. Studies show that since the beginning of the COVID?19 pandemic, SGM have been more likely to experience job loss, income reduction, and decreased access to gender-affirming resources. While SGM populations are disproportionately vulnerable to poor COVID?19 outcomes, little has been known about COVID?19 vaccine acceptance among this group until this study. The study showed that SGM who experienced medical mistrust were less likely to accept a COVID?19 vaccine. In addition, SGM participants in the study who identified as Black reported decreased COVID?19 vaccine acceptance. COVID?19 vaccine acceptance was greater among study participants who endorsed altruistic attitudes and were less concerned about COVID?19 social concerns. "The confluence of disproportionate psychosocial and economic burdens with increased vulnerability to minority stressors among SGM may decrease COVID?19 vaccine uptake and further deepen health inequities," says Jose A. Bauermeister, PhD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Family and Community Health at Penn Nursing, one of the co-investigators of the study. Healthcare provider recommendations have been found to be associated with increased COVID?19 acceptance. These results suggest that providers and public health efforts that approach medical mistrust with empathy and validation -- and which also address concerns about discrimination and support altruistic intentions -- may be more successful engaging SGM in COVID?19 vaccine uptake. "As the planning of COVID?19 vaccine rollout efforts is conceptualized and designed, these data may inform equitable implementation strategies and prevent worsening health inequities among SGM populations," says Bauermeister. ### Other co-authors of the study include Willey Y. Lin of Penn Nursing; Katie Biello and Pablo K. Valente of Brown University; Kenneth H. Mayer of Fenway Health; and Lisa Hightow?Weidman of the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions and the University of North Carolina/Emory Center for Innovative Technology (U19HD089881). Da Silva is supported by the National Clinician Scholar Program at the University of Pennsylvania and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (T32HS0226116). About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world's leading schools of nursing. For the fifth year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University and is consistently ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools. Penn Nursing is ranked as one of the top schools of nursing in funding from the National Institutes of Health. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Instagram. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed in a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday evening a number of regional issues of mutual interest, including energy and East Mediterranean cooperation fields. According to a statement released by Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady, El-Sisi underscored the distinctly strong ties between Egypt and Greece and the consistency of mutual interests and stances between both nations at the regional level. President El-Sisi expressed his hope to boost cooperation with Greece, particularly in economic, energy, security, and military fronts. The Greek PM reiterated his keenness on exchanging points of view with the Egyptian President in regard to regional issues of concern, according to the statement. He stressed the significance of mutual coordination in the energy and eastern Mediterranean domains in a way that contributes to achieving both countries interests, whether at the bilateral level or within the framework of the trilateral cooperation mechanism with Cyprus. Both eastern Mediterranean countries see eye to eye on a number of regional issues, including the situation in Libya. Egypt and Greece signed in August a maritime demarcation deal establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two, which permits Egypt and Greece to go ahead with maximising benefits from riches available in the exclusive economic zones of both countries, particularly promising gas and oil reserves, according to Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Short link: The promise of a community meeting, however, failed to mollify a resident who rejected any gesture that would indicate even the citys tacit support for placing former inmates in the midst of apartments, homes and youth gathering places. Having a Gray Haven meeting with city staff only adds legitimacy to an expansion plan, wrote the resident, who was identified only as a concerned neighbor and admonished the homes leadership for not volunteering to meet with residents on their own initiative. It gives the impression that the city believes a facility next to Fuller Park, in a residential neighborhood, is a good idea. Another anonymous writer echoed the criticisms of others who spoke out against Gray Havens operators for giving them no notice of their plans for the Yount mansion, which a previous owner had targeted for conversion to a bed-and-breakfast inn before the home was damaged in the 2014 earthquake. Maybe the Gray Haven people thought that since apartment people are just renters, they can just move, the writer said. For the Gray Haven operators, these people did not deserve the courtesy of knowing that soon they will be neighbors to people with mental illness. Digital equity remains a key concern of educators and parents as millions of public school students continue their courses virtually during COVID-19 school closures. But access to devices and Internet connectivity is just one component of educational equity, according to ed tech expert Ken Shelton , keynote speaker of the 2021 Consortium for School Networking Conference.Shelton, an educator of over 20 years and an Apple Distinguished Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Google Certified Innovator, said schools must also embrace a culture change to level the playing field among students. Moving beyond digital equity, the next obstacle is making sure that classroom technologies help to create an inclusive and culturally conscious learning environment.Shelton calls this techquity, or the intersectionality between technology and equity.I do not believe that its possible to have a truly equitable learning environment that is absent of technology, Shelton said during his Tuesday webinar, held as part of a series of presentations and workshops lead by educators, policy advocates and school stakeholders.Its not just the introduction of devices. Its not just the accessibility of broadband. Its also, how are you using the devices? What narratives, information and resources are we now provided access to as a result of having the technology?Shelton encouraged educators and officials to reconsider their approach to standardized pedagogies. He said its time to rethink grading systems, teaching styles and antiquated curriculum lessons that he believes often overlook the perspectives of Black, Indigenous and other people of color.If we limit ourselves to whats just simply in the books that we are mandated to use or the resources we are mandated to use, then think about how that information has been skewed, sanitized and, in some cases, whitewashed, he said during the webinar.According to research from the National Academy of Sciences , Black students in the United States are subject to disciplinary action at rates much higher than their white counterparts. Disparities such as these, which also affect neurodiverse students, have led many education policy advocates to oppose what they see as a punitive approach to misbehavior and academic performance.Shelton instead advocated a restorative approach, involving focused, positive support and being mindful of students backgrounds, to increase their chances of success.Culture is a far greater indicator of the student experience and the pathway to student success than anything else, even in terms of using the top tier technologies and using all of these different pedagogies, he said. If I enter a learning environment, and I know that Im not going to be seen, heard and loved, then what is the likelihood that Im going to be invested in my learning experience?As concerns about learning loss and the homework gap during school closures remain, Shelton said schools should reconsider the amount of homework they assign to students, noting that homework itself is inequitable by design.Think about the very nature of homework. Im making the assumption that Im giving you something you have to do outside of the support of the school and that every student is going to have the same access to the same resources human or financial to be able to do it, he said.But changing the cultural paradigm of education isnt just a matter of how things are done, according to Shelton. Its also a matter of who helps make those changes, and who benefits from them.When Shelton was a public school student, he noted that many Black students werent encouraged to take advanced placement courses at the same rate in which his white peers were, and the perspectives of students of color were often dismissed when included in assignments like essays.Shelton said many schools today still need to update their hiring practices to recruit and retain more teachers of color, as well as policies that may be holding students of color back from taking advanced honors courses.Representation is among the key concerns in anti-racist workshops that Shelton gives to those in the education community. Throughout most of his years as a student, Shelton said he hardly ever saw Black male educators.For my entire schooling experience kindergarten all the way through graduate school I only had one teacher that looked like me, and that was my sophomore year at UCLA, my sociology professor, he said, adding that he was often the only Black student in his AP courses.If you have diversity of representation of your student population, and I look at the data, am I going to find that students that look like me constitute a disproportionately high percentage of redesignation to special ed, low percentage of representation in honors and AP-level classes and a disproportionately high percentage of students that are suspended or even expelled from school? he later continued. Because if that is the case, you need to examine your habits or mind, cultural norms and look at what internalized systems are in place that allow that to endure and continue.Despite systemic issues such as these, Shelton remains hopeful that educators can use new and emerging ed tech tools to help widen the scope of the curriculum to include more perspectives and to democratize access to information."While others are skeptical about an increasingly digitized educational landscape, Shelton thinks technology could play a role in creating a new culture of inclusivity for historically marginalized populations.We can say [technology] makes us more disconnected, but we can also say that it can make us more connected, he later continued. After all, look at how all of us are together right now. If it were not for technology, we would not be able to share this same digital space together.CoSN CEO Keith Krueger said changing the culture and methodology within schools will require systemic changes on the public policy level. For too long, he said, many policymakers have not seriously been dedicated to ensuring equity for all.You can have a passionate leader or a great vision, but if the culture doesnt support that innovation, it will not succeed, Krueger said, reflecting on Sheltons talk.Shelton and Krueger believe providing universal Internet connectivity and virtual learning tools remains a crucial starting point when it comes to achieving equity in a broader sense. Krueger said todays era of remote learning has magnified digital inequity , particularly for marginalized populations.According to the Pew Research Center , digital inequity remains one of the biggest learning barriers for millions of students of color, rural students and low-income students. A 2019 Center survey also noted that nearly 30 percent of U.S. adults now believe the federal government has a responsibility to provide access to high-speed Internet to all Americans.Remote learning has clarified the chasm that some students have at home versus others, particularly those children from low-income families who are disproportionately of color or live in rural/remote [areas] where broadband access is simply not available, Krueger said. As a country, we must get serious about broadband to every home. This is comparable to what we did around rural electrification 70 years ago or did for highways 50 years ago. The market will not solve this. It will take investment as a public good. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. JESSUP A major e-commerce firm leased more than 1 million square feet of warehouse space in the Valley View Business Park, the property owner announced Wednesday. Officials from Dallas, Texas-based Trammell Crow Co. announced that the unnamed tenant signed a full-building lease to occupy its entire 1,027,660-square-foot facility, known as the Valley View Trade Center. They could not release the name of the tenant, spokeswoman Elise Maguire said. Trammell Crow and its partner, Diamond Realty, broke ground on the warehousing facility at 45 Valley View Circle in November 2018, completing construction in August. The firms built the distribution facility on speculation, meaning they built it without a specific tenant in mind. The trade center has 311 trailer parking spots, 277 car parking spots and 159 docks, which can be expanded to 209. In the planning and construction of the Valley View Trade Center, (Trammell Crow Co.) and our partners worked closely with the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company and other leaders in the region to ensure that this project would deliver high-quality industrial space that would attract top-tier users and jobs to the local community, Andrew Mele, managing director of TCCs NE Metro Business Unit, said in a statement. We are pleased to have signed a long-term commitment with a single user that will bring quality jobs to the area and contribute to growing the local economy. The unnamed e-commerce firm will be the second major online retailer to set its sights on the business park in Archbald and Jessup. Online pet retailer Chewy.com set up operations at a warehouse less than three miles away, creating more than 1,000 jobs. Chewy opened the 700,000-square-foot fulfillment center last year. Similar to Trammell Crow and its unidentified tenant, Chewy signed a 10-year lease with Kansas City, Missouri-based NorthPoint Development, who constructed the warehouse. The Midvalley has become an increasingly popular spot for warehousing and distribution. Developers often receive tax incentives from their host municipalities, and representatives of the firms cite the areas close proximity to major highways as a selling point. Just outside of the Valley View Business Park, BHR Development Group LLC received approvals from Jessup for a 750,000-square-foot warehouse on Route 247 near Alberigi Drive. Just southwest of the Valley View Business Park, crossing the border into Olyphant, Triboro Industrial Park LLC intends to build another industrial park, which Olyphant officials believe can house up to 10 1-million-square-foot warehouses. Charles DeNaples is the managing member of both BHR and Triboro, according to property transactions and a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant application with the state. With more people working in the borough, the Valley View Trade Center and the jobs it creates will have a trickle-down effect on the area, said Jessup council President Gerald Crinella. He praised Trammell Crow for diligently working with the town. Thats part of vetting out the right organization and partnering with the right groups of people, he said. From the beginning, the Trammell Crow organization, really demonstrated to us that they are the type of company that we want to do business with. March 03, 2021 Pretty much everyone these days is aware that the Internet has its own phonebook, and its called the Domain Name System (DNS). It basically maps a websites phone number or IP address to a name thats easier to remember, that is, a domain name. Think of the domain name as a persons name on a regular phonebook. Unlike a phone number that is dedicated to a single user, though, most often than not, many users can share an IP address. Thats why passive DNS (pDNS) databases, which records the history of the DNS, are necessary. It tells users when a particular domain name was last accessed even if it shares an IP address with others. But what exactly does DNS history tell you? What Is DNS History? DNS history refers to the information users can get from a pDNS database. It basically says when a domain name was first seen and last updated. It may also contain other information, including: Dates first seen and last updated Social media profile links IP addresses Nameservers Mail exchange (MX) servers Apart from a DNS history database, users can also get the same or a partial set of pDNS data from DNS and reverse IP/DNS lookup tools. A DNS lookup tool provides the same information as a pDNS database. A reverse IP/DNS lookup tool, meanwhile, just lists all the domains that resolve to an IP address of interest within a given timeframe. What Can You Use DNS History For? Details pertaining to the history of the DNS are particularly useful for conducting threat investigations. We listed down a couple of ways below. Identifying Domains That Could Be Connected to an Ongoing Malicious Campaign About two weeks ago, the IP address of perl[.]com, Tom Christiansens Perl programming language update website, was modified to 35[.]186[.]238[.]101a known malware download site. Companies that dont necessarily block access to shared IP addresses can still prevent malware infections by blocking access to related domains instead. That list is obtainable from a reverse IP/DNS lookup tool. 35[.]186[.]238[.]101, for instance, is shared by at least 300 domains (one or more of which could be responsible for the IP address being tagged malicious), such as: 0--2[.]com 01c9c7c8[.]tinybucks[.]net 01z67[.]servingwithlove[.]com 05b2sk[.]14919[.]j57lf[.]edu[.]cn[.]designlemon[.]com 084244-5045[.]omb1[.]com Securing against Unwanted Domains That Could Be Piggybacking on the Corporate IP Address Big tech companies typically use dedicated IP addresses. One way of making sure they are not sharing these with malicious actors is by monitoring a pDNS database. Google (News - Alert) , for instance, can query its google[.]com IP address 172.217.11.78 on a reverse IP/DNS lookup tool. It would get a list of 13 domains, all of which should be under its control since it uses a dedicated IP address. If thats not the case, Google can investigate who owns the unwanted or unauthorized domain and take it out from its infrastructure, especially if it proves to be malicious. Another important security protocol that protects against domain hijacking is ensuring that your DNS records are always up-to-date. Threat actors have an easier time taking control of forgotten or unused domains since these are usually insufficiently protected. Companies can monitor DNS records and ensure their safety from threats aided by a DNS lookup tool. Google can check all 12 of google[.]coms DNS records by querying a pDNS database via a DNS lookup tool. If any of them have been changed without the website administrators knowledge, that could indicate unwanted activity. --- Looking at DNS history, as weve seen in this post, is an important cybersecurity consideration. With the help of a pDNS database and related solutions like reverse IP/DNS and DNS lookup tools, any organization can steer clear of and rid its network of suspicious or malicious domains and IP addresses. March 04 : Akshay Kumar fans can look forward to a number of his releases this year as well as next year. Even during the coronavirus lockdown, the actor refused to slow down, and immediately after a little relaxation of the lockdown restrictions, the Laxmii actor returned to work and has been shooting back to back since then. Besides Bell Bottom, Atrangi Re, Bachchan Pandey, Raksha Bandhan and Prithviraj, the actor had announced Ram Setu, another of his passion projects. Akshay has also booked Diwali 2022 for the release of the film, and shoot will begin sometime in the summer this year. While the Housefull 4 actor is working closely on this project, he has reportedly finalised the leading ladies of the film. According to reports, Jacqueline Fernandez and Nushrratt Bharuccha will be seen starring in Ram Setu along with Akshay Kumar. While Jacqueline is currently working with him in Bachchan Pandey, Nushrratt will work with the actor for the first time. This Deepawali,let us endeavor to keep alive the ideals of Ram in the consciousness of all Bharatiyas by building a bridge(setu) that will connect generations to come. Taking this mammoth task ahead,here is our humble attempt - #RamSetu Wishing you & yours a very Happy Deepawali! pic.twitter.com/ZQ2VKWJ1xU Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) November 14, 2020 Last year during Diwali, Akshay had announced Ram Setu and shared his first look from the film on social media. The actor will shoot for the film in Ayodhya, and has already met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Mumbai to apprise him about the plan. Yogi Adityanath has also given the go-ahead for shooting schedule in Ayodhya for the upcoming film. Earlier, while announcing the film on his social media, the Good Newwz actor said that Ram Setu will make the effort to keep the ideals of Lord Ram alive in the consciousness of all Indians by creating a bridge (setu) that will connect one generation to the other. The film revolves around the journey of a man who tries to discover whether Ram Setu is a reality or a myth. While the film will be produced by Aruna Bhatia, Vikram Malhotra and creative producer Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, it will be directed by Abhishek Sharma, who wants to shoot the film in real locations including Ayodhya. A male barrister who asked a female clerk to perform a sex act on him during a work dinner was not 'professional misconduct', a tribunal has ruled. The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal had heard allegations the boozed-up barrister forcibly grabbed the woman's head and made her simulate oral sex on him during an alcohol-fuelled dinner at the NSW Barristers Clerks' Conference in 2017. 'Suck my d**k' - or something similar - the barrister allegedly demanded as he bobbed the woman's head up and down. A drunken incident where a male barrister told a female clerk to 'suck my d***' during a joke about oral sex was not professional misconduct, a tribunal has decided (stock image) In her application to the tribunal, the woman claimed she had never met the barrister before that night. 'It took me a few seconds to get over the shock of what was happening,' she told the tribunal. 'I then pulled away while still sitting. I remember I then awkwardly looked at (a witness) who also looked very awkward and embarrassed.' The young clerk claimed the barrister attempted to dismiss his conduct as nothing more than a joke. 'After I had pulled away the Barrister said to me in an attempted humorous way "oh dont complain about me to the Bar Association",' she told the tribunal. No other witness was able to give a direct account of the incident because they were either intoxicated or had no memory of critical aspects of the incident, the tribunal heard. The woman left the table shortly after the incident and found a work colleague from her own chambers. 'She told him that she felt angry, upset, embarrassed and humiliated,' the tribunal heard. The barrister denied the allegations, telling the tribunal he never made the alleged statement but 'may have said something that offended her'. 'I have no doubt that I said something which caused (her) offence for which I am truly sorry,' he submitted to the tribunal. 'I did not intend to offend (the victim) or to harass (her). I also accept that I briefly touched the back of her head and I do appreciate that it was an unwelcome touch. 'I did not intend for it to be sexual in nature. Again, as I have said since sending (her) my apology, I sincerely regret touching the back of her head, making a statement which caused her offence and my inappropriate conduct.' The man and his alleged victim were at a dinner as part of the NSW Barristers Clerks' Conference at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf in Sydney, on July 21 2017 The tribunal viewed CCTV footage of the incident and found the man did not move the woman's head toward his crotch. But he did move her head forward and slightly down before she moved her head back, it stated. The tribunal heard the barrister had been good friends with a man who had been seated next to his alleged victim. In an apology letter to the clerk, he told the woman he did not recall the incident, except that he had been 'horsing around' with his mate. 'Their interaction on the CCTV footage appeared to be a private joke between them,' the tribunal found. It further declared the man's actions and his words 'self-evidently had a sexual character' - but his comment was not an 'advance'. 'It seemed, rather, from the CCTV footage, that he was extending to her an abridged echo of the greeting he had offered to [his friend],' the tribunal found. 'He was including her in the horseplay he had engaged in with [his friend].' On Thursday, the tribunal found the man's behaviour did not amount to professional misconduct, but the lesser offence of unsatisfactory professional conduct. The matter had been brought before the tribunal by the Council of the New South Wales Bar Association, which has been given until next week to outline the disciplinary orders it seeks as a consequence of the finding of unsatisfactory professional conduct. Old Sturbridge Village announced Wednesday it has received a $5 million bequest the largest single gift ever in its 75-year history. The unrestricted bequest was from the estate of Helen A. (Susie) Titus of Newport Beach, California, a honorary trustee and long-time friend of OSV. She passed away last year after a short illness. I am grateful to Susie Titus for her dedication and commitment to Old Sturbridge Village, and for her confidence in our board and staff to steward such a significant gift in her memory said Jim Donahue, OSV president and CEO. Susie was incredibly supportive of the museum over the past 20 years, and we are grateful that she made such a generous provision for the village in her estate planning. Susies legacy and impact will live on for generations to come. Old Sturbridge Village, which opened to the public in 1946, is one of the countrys oldest and largest living history museums. Situated on 200 acres, the village is a collection of more than 40 historic buildings, including homes, meetinghouses, trade shops, working farms, restaurants, shops and three water-powered mills. It celebrates life in New England from 1790 to 1840. OSV plans to use Titus gift as the cornerstone of a planned capital campaign, OSV officials said. It will ensure living history continues at OSV and address capital needs on the campus, including the preservation of historic buildings and landscape. The museum has seen tremendous growth in recent years, officials said, noting the addition of a charter school and a management partnership with a Rhode Island farm. Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School, which now has over 280 students, opened in 2017. The students attend from a wide range of communities throughout central Massachusetts. Last year, OSV announced a management partnership with Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island. Critics are impressed with a new indie horror movie about the crimes of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, which hit the industry-only Berlin Film Festival on Tuesday (2 March). Titled The Scary of Sixty-First, the low-budget film is the directorial debut from Dasha Nekrasova, who co-hosts the popular podcast The Red Scare with Anna Khachiyan. The film focuses on two young women who find what The Los Angeles Times calls a suspiciously affordable, gauchely lavish apartment on New York City's Upper East Side and come to learn that it was previously owned by the convicted sex offender who died in August 2019 while in custody on federal sex-trafficking charges. I made a horror movie because it is a horrifying thing, Nekrasova told The Los Angeles Times about her film, which is currently looking for distribution. Meanwhile, Variety called the movie a brash, gutsy, morbidly funny first feature that "turn(s) enough heads with its button-pushing, of-the-moment fury and no-sacred-cows satire. READ MORE: Ghislaine Maxwell physically abused by prison guard In her interview with The Los Angeles Times, Nekrasova, 30, spoke about how she personally knew one of Epstein's victims. I went with her to the court date they had after his death where they invited the victims to sort of say what they would say if they had their day in court, basically. So I did feel a kind of closeness to it. Its not that its funny to me, even though the proliferating kind of QAnon conspiracies are interesting and amusing. I felt very, very grounded in the real kind of horror of it. And in that way, making a psychological horror movie feels truer to me than a lot of the documentaries that have come out. I think making an indie movie that deals with things in a genre-y way gets to a deeper truth about it than something like a documentary would. A trio of outside consultants hired by the new superintendent are proclaiming that bold, creative, and courageous action is necessary now or East Baton Rouge Parish public schools will be doomed to chronic financial crisis and organizational dysfunction. In a 24-page Transition Report released Wednesday, the consultants take firm stands on a variety of controversial issues that have bedeviled Baton Rouge school leaders for years. Among other things, the consultants urge that leaders do everything to keep St. George from breaking away and forming a separate school district; reverse longstanding enrollment declines by expanding an already extensive magnet school program; expand early child education for the youngest children; and embrace the benefits of charter schools with a clearer vision. At a school board meeting Thursday, Robert Lundin, a Houston-based member of Burns/Van Fleet Education Consulting, said Thursday that board members are free to accept or reject the recommendations, but he urged them to consider closely what they have to say. "We know there is a value sometimes in having a set of detached third party eyes to provide you a perspective that, when you are in the midst of it all the time it may be difficult to see," Lundin said. Board member Tramelle Howard said he agreed with "90%" of the report. What were doing now and the way were doing it is not working," Howard said. A few board members, however, raised concerns that some findings failed to capture what's happening in the school system, and they also called for more supporting data and research citations. Burns/Van Fleet produced the bulk of the new report. BKL and Associates, founded by veteran educator Janice Barkely, added an academic overview. And Clay Young Enterprises of Baton Rouge finishes with a short analysis of the school districts efforts at communications and community relations. Representatives of all three groups addressed the board Thursday. Much of the document is devoted to detailed recommendations for how to revamp and, in many ways, expand the Central Office, a reversal of past efforts to trim district bureaucracy. The consultants say past cuts, combined with a poor organizational structure, have too often left principals, especially new ones, without clear direction and support. The consultants also call for disbanding a signature reform effort of Warren Drake, Narcisses predecessor, known as the Innovation Network, which was praised in its early stages by state leaders, and instead spreading that money across the entire district. The consultants conducted scores of interviews with district staff in preparing this report. One unnamed principal told them Time is running out, and they agree: If significant changes are not made quickly, EBR runs the risk of becoming one more large urban school system that is under-resourced and full of dysfunction." Finally, the consultants criticize the board for at times unprofessional interactions and meetings that are viewed internally as either entertaining or embarrassing. It would be beyond presumptuous for the consultants to lecture the board on its behavior, according to the report. Suffice it to say that the members are setting a tone that permeates the system. Hired to make change, Baton Rouge's new school superintendent is moving fast but facing headwinds After narrowly winning over a divided School board and besting an internal candidate, Sito Narcisse wasted no time getting to work in his new The new report was commissioned by Superintendent Sito Narcisse and will serve as an initial roadmap for his plans to remake Louisianas second largest traditional school district, home to more than 40,000 students. "This is not an indictment," Narcisse said Thursday. "This is an opportunity to improve as we move our system to a greater place." The report was paid for by private, undisclosed donors and work began on it within days of the Jan. 14 hiring of Narcisse, who was previously chief of secondary schools in Washington, D.C. The board will revisit the report at a March 13 retreat aimed at developing a new strategic plan for the school system by June. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Board member Jill Dyason said the report is not as complete as she'd like and she will treat it as "just one tool to guide our strategic planning process." East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holds two-day weekend retreat to develop new strategic plan The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board is spending this weekend at a retreat at Southern University starting what promises to be an intense The consultants make no apologies for the report's sharp tone. The consultants realize that this report is harsh in places, or at least brutally honest, according to the report. Portions will cause disagreement with various groups. Unfortunately, it may lead to criticism: some legitimate, some not. The most strident recommendations involve St. George. The district should do everything to keep St. George within the EBR system, say the consultants. While it may seem like a negotiable allocation of resources in the short run, it is necessary for the continued health of the district. In that spirit, resources may have to be used to make EBR more attractive that might initially seem disproportionate but will ultimately help all students. In another section, the consultants again call for adding more resources in a controversial area presumably leaving less for others when they argue for expanding magnet schools yet again. Those schools have the potential to draw kids from private schools, and thereby bring in more state education funding, in a way that non-magnet schools cant, they argue. The demographics of EBR make it difficult, no matter how much effort, to make many of the schools attractive to all parents, they conclude. They say that Louisianas academic letter grade system makes that challenge even harder: Why should any parent send their child to an F school, especially one accruing progress grades of only a C? All families deserve a choice. While the approach has downsides, expanding magnets is necessary and cost effective, the consultants argue. They even suggest three new programs, all at high schools: a law and public policy school co-located in a government building, a language immersion school and an arts school. At the same time, the consultants urge a reexamination of magnet school admission standards, saying that the elitism and inequities that exist with regard to access must be addressed. The consultants only occasionally offer evidence, either from research or from their interviews, or historical analysis to support their recommendations. +12 Educators eye Capitol Elementary as a 'community school' - an alternative to charter schools Every morning, Karla Johnson has a special way of starting the day at Capitol Elementary. She calls it harambee, from the Swahili for all p For instance, to justify scuttling the Innovation Network, the consultants assert that outcomes are disappointing and costs are soaring, but offer no detail. The districts 10 Innovation network schools received their first and only school report cards in fall 2019 and generally outperformed other district schools. Other topics are omitted entirely, including the profound disruption caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the newfound importance on virtual instruction. Here are other recommendations in the report: Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, the Indiana State Department of Health and other state leaders will host their media briefing to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana. Posted: Mar 4, 2021 6:38 AM Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. This job expired on 1 May 2021. It's time now to meet the newest members of our Morning Mug Club -- brought to you by Holland Farms Bakery & Deli. The Lake Delta Kiwanis Club of Rome is sponsoring a fundraiser to assist the local family of a very special young man. Dominic Tebo was born with a very rare disease called MAG-2 Genetic Mutation. He is one of five people in the world to have been diagnosed with this condition, and is the youngest one. Having had 23 surgeries, Dominic has been in and out of Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, in Syracuse. So that is where the Lake Delta Kiwanis Club comes in. They have been helping Dominic and his family raise money to give the children at the hospital a nice Easter, by giving each child a festive basket. Now they need you to help make this happen! The Club is raffling off a "Basket of Cheer" at the Delta Lake Inn. It is coming up on March 24th at 7:30pm. $5.00 buys you one ticket, three tickets cost $10.00. For details on how to purchase your tickets, call 315-240-8496. Dominic will be drawing the winning name! Two years ago, the Kiwanis Club raised money for Dominic's medical costs. Then just last year, he and his family were able to go to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, all thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Try and help spread some "Easter Cheer" this year for Dominic and the other children at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, in Syracuse. The fight to renew Kansas City's earnings tax is already underway as critics denounce pandemic campaign strategy. To wit . . . KANSAS CITY EARNINGS TAX SUPPORTERS HOPE EARLY MAIL-IN BALLOTS EARN EASY VICTORY WHILST TAX FIGHTERS DENOUNCE TACTICS THAT EFFECTIVELY PURGED PREZ TRUMP FROM OFFICE!!! To be fair, KCFD also capitalized on mail-in voting during the pandemic in order to win a landslide low turnout election victory at the outset of the plague. Take a look a the E-Tax campaign kick-off and notice the effort to push early mail-in ballots as a path to keeping the largest funding source in the Kansas City budget . . . Even more interestingly, as infection rates and hospitalizations continue to decline in Kansas City, COVID-19 precautions are highlighted by E-Tax supporters. Even more context . . . Workers in Johnson County despise the KCMO earnings tax and this year the debate over work-at-home refunds amid COVID have sparked even greater controversy. Nevertheless, historically, Kansas City voters have repeatedly endorsed the E-tax time after time by margins of up to 50 points. Accordingly . . . The online E-Tax campaign seems confident and offers a seemingly "institutional" tone as supporters push for an early win that follows in the path of the current Prez and divisive pandemic politics. Take a look . . . You decide . . . Lord Hunt of Kings Heath speaks in House of Lords, in London, on Oct. 29, 2019. (Screenshot/Parliamentlive.tv) More Legislation Needed to Fight Forced Organ Harvesting: Lord Hunt After introducing a piece of legislation that regulates the use of imported human tissues in medicine, Lord Philip Hunt of Kings Heath said he would like to see more changes in UK laws to combat forced organ harvesting. Hunts amendment, which became law with the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill on Feb. 11, means that ministers have the chance now to stop organs or human tissues being brought in from other countries where proper consent has not been given, he told The Epoch Times on Tuesday. In the case of China, it means that organs from prisoners of conscience, the Uyghurs, practitioners of Falun Gong, cannot be brought into our country without the proper consent having been given, he said. Its a small step. But its an important step both in the UK and internationally to make clear that the use of enforced organ donations is totally abhorrent, and we want to see it stopped. Falun Dafa parade in Manhattan, New York City, on May 16, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) More Legislation To Follow When asked if he wanted further legislation to combat organ harvesting, Hunt said he has a shopping list of changes in the law that he would like to see, and that he and his colleagues will continue to make sure that actions will be taken. We know people from the United Kingdom travel to China in order to have an organ donation, which they pay a lot of money for. Id like to make it illegal for British people to do that, he said. Id also like to make sure that British companies cant export to other countries materials which can be used in the enforced organ donation that is taking place at the moment, and things such as preservation devices. The final item on Hunts list, he said, was to ban exhibitions of real bodies, which contain the plastinated human bodies of people who may have been prisoners whove been executed, and their organs used for this purpose. In January 2020, Hunt introduced the Organ Tourism and Cadavers on Display Bill, which would fulfill parts of his list. The bills first reading happened on Jan. 28, 2020, and the second reading is yet to be scheduled. Countries Silent For Far Too Long On Organ Harvesting In China: Expert On June 17, 2019, the China Tribunalan independent peoples tribunalunanimously concluded that prisoners of conscience have beenand continue to bekilled in China for their organs on a significant scale, and that adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong have been one of the main sources of organ supply. The tribunal on March 1, 2020, published a 160-page report, reaffirming its previous conclusion. There is no evidence of the practice having been stopped and the Tribunal is satisfied that it is continuing, the report reads. Ethan Gutmann speaking about Chinas organ harvesting in Washington. (Lisa Fan/Epoch Times) Ethan Gutmann, a China studies fellow at the Washington-based nonprofit Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC), and co-founder of the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China, said in a webinar on Feb. 24 that his investigation suggests that forced organ harvesting from the Uyghurs is now also happening at a substantial scale. My investigation in Kazakhstan, which was done just before the lockdown last year, involved extensive interviews with camp refugees, Gutmann told audiences of the webinar. Heres my preliminary conclusion, at a minimum 25,000 Uyghurs, average age 28 years old are taken from the camps to be harvested every year, and about 68 people per day, he said. The higher range of my witness statements doubles that number to 50,000 per year, approximately, about 136 a day. Also speaking at the webinar, Kristina Olney, director of government relations for VOC, said that the international community has remained silent despite the evidence for far too long 0n the issue of forced organ harvesting, The China Tribunals final report stated that the failure of governments to investigate allegations against China about organ harvesting has allowed many people to die horribly and unnecessarily. We Have To Do The Right Thing: Lord Hunt Lord Hunt said his interest in ending forced organ harvesting originated from his desire to encourage an increase in organ donations in the UK. Lord Hunt of Kings Heath speaks to The Epoch Times in a virtual interview, in the UK on March 2, 2021. (The Epoch Times/Screenshot) Its very, very important that the public trust in the system, he said, because were encouraging loved ones to agree to the organs of their relatives being donated. Hunt said when he found out about the enforced organ donation in China, he thought it was awful, and wanted to do something about it. Anything that we can do, we surely should do, to try and persuade the Chinese authorities to really stop doing this, he said. Hunt said that there is a group of people in Parliament who are very, very determined to push legislation to protect human rights. During a recent debate on the genocide amendment, Baroness Falkner argued that the UK acting unilaterally on human rights issues would not be effective. However, Hunt said that it can be more useful than some may expect. Sometimes people listen to what the UK is doing. And I think the more individual countries are prepared to do this, in the end, you build up a momentum. So, yes, lets have international agreement, thats ideal. But short of that, we as an individual country have our own responsibilities to take action, he said. In the end, we have to do the right thing. Cathy He and Frank Fang contributed to this report. H-E-B President Scott McClelland has the explanation why the store won't require customers to wear masks in light of Gov. Greg Abbott's Tuesday announcement. While it has the power to require customers to wear masks before entering, McClelland said H-E-B won't take that step in part because of belligerent customers who have caused nearly 2,000 in-store incidents surrounding masks at Houston stores alone. WEAR EVERYWHERE: Here's where you're still required to wear a mask in Houston If a customer walks into the store without a mask, a worker will ask them to put one on, McClelland said. If they don't have one, they will be offered a mask. If they still refuse to put one on, McClelland said "we are not going to escalate." Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer "What's important to me is, I've got to ensure for the physical safety of both my employees and customers in the store," McClelland said. "That's what we have been doing, and frankly it's the same thing we'll continue to do." McCelland cited the use of Plexiglass barriers in checkout lines and increased social distancing as ways to keep workers safe as more customers are expected to not wear masks. He also said customers could be metered at the door if there are too many people in the store. Early in the pandemic, H-E-B joined other Houston grocery stores and retailers who would not enforce local mask mandates, such as the one signed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Several retailers said the orders were up to individual to comply, not businesses to enforce. Zoom / Jay R. Jordan McClelland urged anyone who comes to H-E-B to wear a mask, calling it the "kind, considerate and empathetic thing to do." "Of all the issues we have dealt with over the course of the last year, masks are the most polarizing," McClelland said. "In part, because they were used as a political weapon and in part because, frankly, people don't like wearing masks. I don't like wearing a mask, but I do know it's my part in terms of what it is I need to do. I also know that after 10 months, I've become accustomed to wearing them. While it's not my favorite thing to do, I'm certainly willing to make that sacrifice not just for the good of me but for the good of other people." He acknowledged that fewer people will wear masks inside H-E-B (and any other grocery store, for that matter). But the importance of wearing a mask, which is still recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, remains paramount as cases show a steady decline. As of Wednesday, the Houston regional positivity rate fell to 8.65 percent, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. More than 3.9 million Texans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. "We still have a long way to go," McClelland said. "People need to use good common sense and practice safety." THE first doses of the newly approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive in the province mid-March, Manitoba public health officials say. THE first doses of the newly approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive in the province mid-March, Manitoba public health officials say. The vaccine was approved Feb. 26 by Health Canada; the first shipment of 500,000 doses arrived in Canada on Wednesday. Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the provinces COVID-19 vaccine task force, said Manitoba will receive its first shipment of vials sometime mid-month. An exact date has yet to be confirmed by the federal government, and the province does not know how many doses it will receive, Reimer said Wednesday. "As soon as we know that, we have an allocation plan that were going to roll out, sending doses to pharmacies and physician clinics throughout the province." Unlike other approved COVID-19 vaccines, the AstraZeneca shot is fridge-stable and can be stored between 2 C and 8 C. Johanu Botha, co-lead for the task force, said the province will provide the vaccine to pharmacists and clinics based on regional populations and yet-to-be determined eligibility criteria for the new product. "Weve looked at all the clinics and the pharmacists that have applied, we look at the population heat maps across the province. Obviously, we have to look at the supply coming in and we should be ready to deliver to those who are in the queue," Botha said. Reimer said deliberations continue as to who will be eligible for the new product. Health Canada has approved the vaccine for adults over 18 years old. However, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended AstraZeneca only be given to people under the age of 65. "Our planning is to look at the oldest age group of the younger age groups, so people probably 50 to 65, and then within that group we are trying to identify who is the highest risk," Reimer said. "Were finalizing the details of who that group would be now, and trying to really take advantage of every day that we have available to best analyze the data and get as much clinical input as we can." Data from Manitoba shows people between 50 and 64 years old who are on dialysis due to kidney failure or have severe liver damage resulting in cirrhosis are at high risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, Reimer said. "Those have really stood out in Manitoba to be particularly high risk when we look at the people ending up in hospital or those who have died related to COVID," she said. "As far as the rest of the list, we really want it to be the best possible product that it could be. "We will release it as soon as we know how much AstraZeneca is coming in, because we want providers to have as much time as possible to identify who in their practice or clientele would be the top priority." Dr. Tim Hilderman, a medical officer of health with a focus on vaccines for the provincial government, said the NACI recommendation follows clinical trials that included limited information on the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people 65 or older. However, the vaccine has been distributed widely in other countries, and emerging data from the United Kingdom has shown more than 70 per cent effectiveness after a single dose in people over 70. The AstraZeneca vaccine also requires two doses, preferably 12 weeks apart, and has been shown to be about 60 per cent effective in clinical trials. However, additional data analysis has shown administering the second dose at 12 weeks increases effectiveness to more than 80 per cent, Hilderman said. "When youre comparing vaccines that were used under different circumstances, in different clinical trials, in different populations, its really very difficult to say with certainty one is superior to the other," he said. When it comes to variants of concern, there are some coronavirus mutations that may be able to "escape" the immune response produced by a vaccine, but Hilderman said it is still too early to say how significant the decrease in effectiveness is. The doctors said they are confident in the safety and effectiveness of all Health Canada-approved vaccines, and said Manitobans should take the first vaccine made available to them. Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which use messenger RNA technology, the AstraZeneca vaccine uses viral vector technology. Neither vaccine technology contains the COVID-19 virus, public health officials said. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca Hundreds of students who gathered at a street party in Limerick are now facing suspension and even possibly expulsion from university following their deplorable behaviour. The University of Limerick is carrying out an investigation into the large gathering at the off-campus College Court estate in Castletroy on Tuesday night. Healthcare workers, government ministers and Limerick locals have condemned the chaotic scenes which unfolded. More than 50 fines have been issued for a breach of public health guidelines and two young men arrested following the incident are now due to appear in court. One man, aged in his 20s, will appear before Limerick District Court today, while another man, also in his 20s, is due in court on March 22. A third man arrested was released without charge, but received a fine. UL representatives met with gardai yesterday morning and a joint investigation into the matter is ongoing. The university is conducting an investigation to identify any UL students who took part in the gathering, which represents a serious breach of both the public health restrictions and the institutional code of conduct, a spokesperson said. Read More Students at UL are subject to a code of conduct. Any student found to have attended the gathering will face suspension, pending a full investigation, or possible expulsion. UL has already sanctioned a number of students since January who have been officially reported, investigated and found to have broken the UL code of conduct relating to the current Covid-19 environment. Justice Minister Helen McEntee warned yesterday that the country will not be able to reopen as planned if incidents like the party in Limerick continue. Frontline workers have also condemned the action of these students. A Limerick nurse described student parties which have occurred near the esteemed campus as out of control. The nurse, who lives in the general vicinity of UL, called for round-the-clock Garda patrols as well as CCTV to be installed by Limerick City and County Council following Tuesday nights disturbing scenes, in which flares and fireworks exploded near cars, houses, and groups of student revellers. Its shocking now, they have broken glass in houses, there was a fire in a house, there are holes in the walls of houses, basically the houses are being trashed, said the nurse, who did not want to be identified. The east Limerick city area currently has the sixth worst Covid infection rate in the country. Castletroy business owners said they are concerned that the careless actions of this small minority will jeopardise any reopening. A short distance from UL, the The Hurlers Bar, a hugely popular bar with students and other customers, has seen trade decimated under lockdown. Proprietor Anthony ODwyer said he is disappointed at the actions of those who breached health guidelines in the area which he agrees could lead to a rise in cases locally and prolong the closure of his pub. Meanwhile, students at NUI Galway who breached public health guidelines have been asked to write a 2,000-word reflective essay. Sanctions have been imposed on a small number of students who have not complied with the universitys code of conduct during the pandemic. Some have been asked to pay fines to the student hardship fund, which provides financial support to students who are struggling, while others had to write apologies to staff affected by the breaches. Students were also asked to write reflective essays about their actions. A NUI Galway spokesperson said: NUI Galway currently has a student community of almost 19,000. The vast majority of our students have adhered to the public health guidelines, conscious of keeping themselves, their families and the wider community safe since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The university can confirm that it has imposed sanctions under the student code of conduct on a number of students in relation to breaches of public health guidelines. In Cork, resident associations admitted they are terrified of a fourth spike in Covid-19 cases as a direct result of student parties in multi-occupancy houses with the improving weather. The Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association (MRSARA) warned they are terrified there will be a repeat of last summers raft of Covid-19 house parties in their area of Cork city. Members of the residents group last summer made history with the first prosecution against a private landlord for failing to control his tenants. Last September they revealed their community endured 221 house parties within a 1km radius over 13 weeks during the Covid-19 lockdown. MRSARA chairperson Catherine Clancy said there is a direct link between such house-street parties and spikes in Covid-19 cases. Last summer we witnessed hundreds of young people coming here and renting these (houses) and not adhering to regulations, she said. Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl speaks to reporters in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl offered to resign Thursday, after strongly objecting to the ruling party's push to create a new state agency to fully take over investigative powers from the prosecution service. "I am offering to resign as of today," Yoon said at a brief press conference held in front of the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul. "The spirits of the Constitution and the system of rule of law are crumbling. And it will cause damage to people. It is hard to watch common sense and justice collapsing," he said, adding that he has done everything he could do in his capacity as prosecutor general. His abrupt announcement came two days after he told a local newspaper that he would "stake my position for the 100th time if I could stop it." In recent days, he vehemently protested against the move by the ruling Democratic Party (DP) to set up a new agency under the Ministry of Justice to take away the prosecution's investigative authority over six serious crimes, including corruption and economic crime cases. Since the National Assembly passed a series of revision bills last year to adjust investigative authority to give more power to police, the investigative scope of the prosecution has been narrowed to those six crimes. On Wednesday, he lambasted the move as violating "the spirits of the Constitution" and amounting to "a failure of a nation and the government to fulfill the Constitutional duty." He stressed the importance of prosecutors having powers both to investigate and pursue prosecution. Otherwise, it would make it extremely hard to close a case and achieve justice, which will, he said, work against the best interest of the public. The party's move came shortly after the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) began operation earlier this year, aimed at uprooting corruption among high-ranking officials. The party's new initiative is in line with its core agenda to further reduce the power of the nation's prosecution service, which is considered to wield too much power with the authority to investigate crimes and the exclusive right to decide who to indict. That the nation's top prosecutor is offering to quit over a still fledging idea demonstrates how strongly the members of the prosecution are going to push back against the plan to separate the authority to investigate and prosecute going forward. His departure, if accepted by President Moon Jae-in, is also likely to send shock waves in the country's politics. Although he never publicly expressed his interest in politics, he has shown up strong in opinion polls as a potential presidential hopeful. During the briefing Thursday, he did not mention whether he will seek new roles in politics, but he said, "I will do my best to safeguard free democracy and to protect the people." Yoon has had rough relations with the Moon government over a series of sensitive issues and investigations. The top prosecutor was reinstated in December after a court granted an injunction against his suspension by former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae amid feuds over prosecution reforms and politically sensitive probes, ending a monthslong public display of discord. Earlier in that month, the ministry suspended Yoon from duty for two months, citing four counts of alleged misconduct, including the surveillance of judges hearing cases involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a close aide to President Moon, and some presidential officials. (Yonhap) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Volkswagen confirmed that it will now start offering over-the-air software updates for its popular VW ID.4 and VW ID.3 vehicles. The giant automobile manufacturer said that the car owners can now update their vehicles' systems using mobile networks and W-LAN. However, there's one thing they need to do first before they can benefit from this new service. Electrek reported that the car owners need to go to the dealership to get a software update to activate the company's latest over-the-air update capability. Volkswagen's new service is similar to Tesla's offered capability. Elon Musk's company pioneered over-the-air software updates in the auto industry. Aside from this service, other car manufacturers decided to follow Tesla's EV technology, including General Motors, Ford, and other giant companies. "Volkswagen is driving forward the digitalization of its products at pace and is transforming itself into a full-service provider of hardware, software, and services," said Ralf Brandstatter, Volkswagen's CEO, via Automotive World's latest report. Volkswagen's over-the-air software update release date Volkswagen confirmed that its new capability will start rolling out this summer. The giant car manufacturer explained that its new service will allow ID.4 and ID.3 owners to access the company's new capability every three months. Also Read: Porsche's New E-Fuel Allegedly as Clean as Tesla's EV Tech: Exec Claims It Cuts 85% of Carbon Emissions Aside from Volkswagen's enhanced software performance for the latest ID. models, it is also expected to offer new customization options and functions. "This will ensure that all delivered ID. Models will be kept at the same software level as new cars throughout their entire life cycle. Over-the-Air updates will also be the new normal in cars in the future," said Thomas Ulbrich, Volkswagen's technical development board member. Ulbrich added that the company's new service will keep ID.4 and ID.3 on the same software level when new VW cars arrive in the future. How Volkswagen's over-the-air software updates help car owners Volkswagen's new technology is expected to raise other car manufacturers' standards when it comes to software maintenance. Because of its new over-the-air software updates, other companies can now quickly and easily decide on new digital services and improved customer interaction. You can click here for more info about VW's latest innovation. For more news updates about Volkswagen and other popular car manufacturers, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Apple Eyes BMW as Potential Manufacturing Partner for Its EV; iPhone Supplier Also Wants to Enter EV Industry This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. The former superintendents of the Athens City and Limestone County school systems have pleaded not guilty to charges they face from a federal indictment. Trey Holladay, the former Athens superintendent, is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and identity theft. Tom Sisk, the former Limestone County superintendent, is charged with conspiracy. Those charges stem from alleged misappropriation of school funds. (Learn more about the charges and 4 other defendants HERE and HERE) The U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, U.S. Department of Education and Alabama State Department of Education all were involved in a more than two-year-long investigation into an alleged scheme, ultimately stealing money from taxpayers, officials have said. Sisk and Holladay entered the not guilty pleas Wednesday when they waived their rights to appear at arraignments, according to court records. Holladay was fired from Athens City Schools in October. He was placed on administrative leave in June of 2020 after the FBI raided his home as part of this investigation. Sisk left Limestone County Schools in September 2019 for a job in Bristol, Tenn. He has since left that job. The Redmi Note line has solidified itself as arguably Xiaomis key range. Starting its tenth edition are three phones the Note 10, Note 10 Pro and Note 10 Pro Max, which just debuted in India. Powered by the Snapdragon 732G and a 108MP main camera the Note 10 Pro Max is the leader of the pack. The regular Note 10 Pro offers the same chipset and 64MP main shooter while the vanilla Note 10 comes with the SD 678 and a 48MP camera. All three handsets come with Super AMOLED displays which is a first for the Redmi Note lineup. Redmi Note 10 Pro Max Kicking things off is the first Redmi Note with a 120Hz Super AMOLED screen the Note 10 Pro Max. It comes with a 6.67-inch FHD+ panel with a 16MP camera housed in a tiny (2.96mm) punch-hole cutout. The display also supports HDR 10 and up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness and is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Around the back we find Samsungs 108MP ISOCELL HM2 sensor inside the main shooter. It comes in at 1/1.52 in size with 0.7 m pixels and Super-PD autofocus. The default mode uses a 9-1 binning process effectively outputting 12MP shots. Theres also an 8MP ultrawide snapper, 5MP tele-macro cam with 2x zoom and a 2MP depth sensor. The Snapdragon 732G sits under the hood with 6/8GB RAM and up to 128GB storage which is still expandable via microSD. On the software front we have Android 11 based on MIUI 12. The phone also comes with an IR blaster, headphone jack, dual stereo speakers and an IP52 rating. The battery comes in at 5,020 mAh and gets 33W charging capabilities. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max starts at INR 18,999 ($261) for the 6/64GB trim. Theres a 6/128GB variant for 19,999 ($275) while the 8/128GB model will retail for 21,999 ($302). Its available in Dark Night, Glacial Blue and Vintage Bronze colors. Firsts sales in India are scheduled for March 18 from mi.com and Amazon India while the rest of Xiaomis retail partners will bring the phone at a later date. Redmi Note 10 Pro The regular Redmi Note 10 Pro features the same 6.67-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Snapdragon 732G chipset as the Pro Max. The camera setup on the back substitutes the 108MP cam for a 64MP Samsung GW3 sensor. The remaining three sensors are identical (8MP + 5MP + 2MP) to the Note 10 Pro Max. The Note 10 Pro also gets a 5,020 mAh battery with 33W charging and stereo speakers, a headphone jack and an IR blaster. RAM comes in 6/8GB while storage ranges between 64GB and 128GB and is expandable via microSD. The Redmi Note 10 Pro starts at INR 15,999 ($220) for the 6/64GB trim. Theres a 6/128GB variant for 16,999 ($234) while the 8/128GB model will retail for 18,999 ($261). Color options include Dark Night, Glacial Blue and Vintage Bronze. Firsts sales in India are scheduled for March 17 Redmi Note 10 The third Note 10 entry brings a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. Its powered by the Snapdragon 678 chipset with 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB expandable storage. The camera setup includes a 48MP Sony IMX582 main shooter alongside an 8MP ultrawide module and two 2MP sensors for macro shots and depth data. The selfie cam comes in at 13MP. Battery-wise we get a 5,000 mAh cell that does 33W fast charging like the Pro siblings and the software side is covered again by MIUI 12 on top of Android 11. The Redmi Note 10 will start at INR 11,999 ($165) for the 4/64GB trim and goes up to 13,999 ($192) for the 6/128GB variant. First sales begin on March 16 from mi.com and Amazon India. Color options include Shadow Black, Frost White and Aqua Green. In a few hours Xiaomi will also announce its Redmi Note 10 lineup for the global audiences - stay tuned, because that event may yield even more surprises! You might not have seen it until someone pointed it out. But an Amazon logo that was just quietly redesigned bore an unsettling resemblance to the face of Adolf Hitler at least according to some on social media. The much-mocked app icon, with a smile-shaped arrow beneath what looked like a toothbrush-style moustache, was unveiled in January, replacing a shopping-cart logo that had been used by the online-shopping giant for more than five years. The company refused to say on Wednesday if criticism of the new logo prompted the second redesign this year, which blunted the scraggly edges and dog-eared a corner of the blue patch, which, according to Amazon, was always intended to evoke a piece of packaging tape. We designed the new icon to spark anticipation, excitement and joy when customers start their shopping journey on their phone, just as they do when they see our boxes on their doorstep, the company said of the original change from the shopping-cart icon. 2021 Golden Globe Awards African-American Actors Took Home Multiple Trophies African-American actors took home multiple trophies at the 2021 Golden Globe Awards, as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization behind the awards were harshly criticized for its complete lack of African-American members, which was discovered by The Los Angeles Times. The 80-some voting members have long been painted as out of touch. To HFPAs credit, they fully acknowledged the need to diversify, and I am confident they will remedy the problem and create a long-term solution. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey returned as hosts. Poehler hosted the ceremony from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif, with Fey at the Rainbow Room in New York. The traditional red carpet did not exist this time around. The honorees were all at home. ADVERTISEMENT It was a thrilling start of the 2021 Globes, as the ceremony began with back-to-back honors for African-American actors. Daniel Kaluuya, for best-supporting actor (Judas and the Black Messiah), followed by John Boyega, best supporting actor in a TV series (Small Axe). Pixars Soul, co-directed by Kemp Powers won the Globe for best-animated film. The story features an African-American, aspiring jazz musician in search of his inspiration. In a surprise, Andra Day won best actress in a drama for The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Chadwick Boseman won a posthumous Globe for his lead performance in Ma Raineys Black Bottom. Taylor Simone Ledward, Bosemans widow, accepted Bosemans award in the most emotional moment of the night. Its no surprise that streaming services emerged as the big winners at the 78th Golden Globe Awards. Netflix collected 10 awards, including one for best-limited series (for The Queens Gambit), a shock, no doubt for HBO which was long dominated that category. HBO won one award. The big winners under film were Nomadland and Borat, and under TV it was Schitts Creek and The Crown for TV. Amazon won best motion picture comedy or musical, for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Apple TV+, Hulu, and Disney+ also received Globes. ADVERTISEMENT Searchlight took home the most coveted prize, best drama for Nomadland, directed by Chloe Zhao, the first Asian-American woman to win. An interesting big of fact its been 37 years since a woman won in this category. The year was 1984 and the winner was Barbra Streisand (Yentl). Here is what some of the winners had to say about winning a Golden Globe. These interviews have been edited for clarity and length. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR MOTION PICTURE Judas and the Black Messiah DANIEL KALUUYA. FAVORITE BEHIND-THE-SCENE MOMENT: DANIEL KALUUYA: The only time I have ever gone to set when I didnt have to, when I wasnt working, we drove to set and it was doing, like donuts, not donuts, but we did swerves and curves and we showed up and had lunch with everyone and it was kind of cool and we bum-rushed everyone and pretended to kidnap Algee. That was pretty funny. ON FRED HAMPTONS CONTRIBUTION DK: I thank him for his love, man, and his compassion and the amount of self-love he had and the amount of love he poured into the Black community and didnt compromise on that, you know. Hes a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant man. I have never encountered anyone like him. Sometimes I read his speeches just randomly, and thats how deep thats how much he gave. I thank him for his life. To tell the story is a privilege, you know what I am saying. Its an honor. I feel mad humble in this current moment, to be real. I feel like if I was four years old, I cant play this role. So I feel really alive. So I just feel grateful and I feel grateful for the award to allow more people to watch, you know, this film that everyone came together and made, you know, and to continue the legacy of Chairman Fred. Thank you. ON STEPPING INTO CHAIRMAN FRED HAMPTONS SHOES DK: It took everything, everything I like I found more. I had to find more. The lesson is clarity, you know, clarity of soul, clarity of feeling, clarity of giving, you know, and just self-love and how much how much they love their own. I will keep that with me forever. ON PRODUCER RYAN COOGLERS INFLUENCE DK: Yeah, I mean, we did it, you know what Im saying, we made it, you know what Im saying. It is so hard for films to be made, and thats the win for me. Thats the win. The fact that we told it from this perspective, you have to tip your hat to Ryan Coogler, when he made a billion, he pitched this. For certain so many things have to happen in order for this film to get made. Forest Whitaker tried to make it. Antoine Fuqua tried to make it. A lot of people tried to make it. The fact that we got to make it and the mainstream audience is arriving to it and arriving to this story is everything. Thank you. Appreciate it. ON THE MESSAGE TODAY DK: Is to know the people that are on the front line are really doing changes, really doing the battles. People that responded to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, are not alone. They can look in history, and theres a lot of people who really fought and believed and they had the words and the strength to implement it. And to know that, like they are not crazy. BEST ACTRESS MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA Andra Day The United States vs Billie Holliday ON DISCOVERING BILLIE HOLIDAY ANDRA DAY: Billie had a Ph.D. in cussing, and that was something Johann Hari and SLP and Lee Daniels and myself would say, what was she up there, shes definitely cussing them out. So I think right now she would be like, Hey, you motherfuckin did it, bitch, because thats just how she was. Actually she would oh, fine. ON BALANCING HER SINGING AND ACTING CAREER AD: For me, listen, I am a spiritual person and I sort of let the Holy Spirit, God lead whatever it is we do, wherever our service is. Thats why I believe we are here. The next thing we have coming up is an album we have finished, and we are releasing that. The next thing may be more music, might be another movie. I have definitely started writing, and I love to work with great writers and producers, and directors to get some of these stories more of these stories of colored, marginalized women off the ground. So it is about listening, my spirit being sensitive to the Spirit and move where we are supposed to be and we are aligned, you know. These interviews have been edited for clarity and length. BEST ACTOR MOTION PICTURE DRAMA Chadwick Boseman Ma Raineys Black Bottom Full Acceptance Speech. SIMONE LEDWARD: He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices. He would thank his incredible team, Michael Greene, Azing Chiba, Nicki Fioravante, Evelyn ONeill, Chris Huvane, Logan Coles. He would thank his team on set for this film. Deidra Dixon, Sian Richards, Craig Anthony, and Andrew Carlone. He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you you can, that tells you to keep going, that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history. He would thank Mr. George C. Wolfe, Mr. Denzel Washington, lots of people at Netflix. He would thank Miss Viola Davis, Mr. Glynn Turman, Mr. Michael Potts, Mr. Colman Domingo, Miss Taylour Page, Mr. Dusom Brown. And I dont have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love. So thank you HFPA for this opportunity to do exactly that. And, Hon, you keep em coming. Thank you. Modi govt's digital India push, how it has changed the way we transact? Pornography, filthy abuses in OTT content: Submit guidelines SC tells Centre India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 04: The Supreme Court today orally observed that there should be some screening of films and series shown on OTT platforms. Justice Ashok Bhushan said that there should be screening. There is pornography in some films. Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta told the Bench that there are filthy abuses as well. The court asked the Centre to submit the guidelines on the regulations tomorrow. The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 for the first time prescribes how digital news organisations, OTTs and social media platforms will be regulated by the government. 3 tier regulation for OTT, social media say new draft rules Social media intermediaries have to appoint grievance officer, who shall register complaints in 24 hours, the minister also said. There will be 2 categories, intermediary which can be social media intermediary and significant social media intermediary, the minister also added. Social media platforms upon being asked either by a court order or a govt authority will be required to disclose the first originator of mischievous tweet or message as the case may be. This should be only in relation to sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, relations with foreign states, or rape, sexually explicit content etc, the minister said. If there are complaints against dignity of users, particularly women - expose private parts of individuals or nudity or sexual act or impersonation etc, you'll be required to remove that within 24 hours after complaint made. This is designed to respect dignity of women, Prasad further added. We shall notify users number for a significant social media intermediary very soon. They will have to have a grievance redressal mechanism, you will also have to name a grievance officer who shall register the grievance within 24 hours and disposal in 15 days, the IT minister added. Union Minister, Prakash Javadekar said that the government has decided to have a 3 stair mechanism for OTT platforms. OTT and digital news media will have to disclose their details. We are not mandating registration, we are seeking information, Javadekar also said. There should be a grievance redressal system in OTT platforms and digital portals. OTT platforms will have to have a self-regulating body, headed by retired Supreme Court or High Court judge or a very eminent person in this category, Javadekar also said. Javadekar also said that for OTT there should be self-classification of content-13 plus, 16 plus and A categories. There has to be a mechanism of parental lock and ensuring compliance that children do not see that, he also said. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News It looks like third time's the charm for Vanessa Hudgens, who just wrapped the third Princess Switch adventure in Scotland. The 32-year-old actress celebrated the end of shooting with a festive black and white Instagram shot on Wednesday, seen sticking her tongue out while crouching down and flashing a shaka sign. The Disney Channel alum thanked the film's crew for working under the tough conditions imposed by the global pandemic in her caption. Looking back: Vanessa Hudgens celebrated the end of filming on the upcoming Netflix movie Princess Switch 3 with a fun black-and-white Instagram snap on Wednesday The message read: 'And thats a wrap on Princess Switch 3. What a whirlwind. 'Man everyone worked their a**es off. AND stayed safe. BIG thanks to @netflix for taking the extra precautions to keep us on track and bring that new new to your screens.' In the photo, the High School Musical actress was dressed in a sizable puffy overcoat to keep her nice and comfortable while filming in the chilly Scottish winter temperatures. She contrasted her outer layer with a pair of white sneakers and allowed her beautiful brunette hair to fall out from underneath a light beanie. Sticking around: Hudgens starred in both of the previous Princess Switch movies, the first of which was released in 2018 Back for more: A second entry in the film series was released in November of 2020, and that same month, a third film was announced to be in development Hudgens starred in the first two entries in the Netflix film series, the first of which was released in 2018. Many critics noticed the similarities that the movie's story shared with Mark Twain's novel The Prince And The Pauper, which was published in 1881. A second film in the series was released in November of 2020 and received mainly positive critical reviews; that same month, development on a third entry in the series was confirmed. The films follow Stacy De Novo, a baker who trades places with Lady Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro, a monarch of the fictional Kingdom of Belgravia. Possible inspiration: Many critics noticed the similarities between the Princess Switch movies and the Mark Twain novel The Prince And The Pauper Nashville actor Sam Palladio appeared as Prince Edward Wyndham in both films. Director Michael Rohl, who is best known for his work on the superhero series Smallville, helmed the first two films in the franchise. Although Hudgens formally thanked the crew of the finished production today, she made a post to her Instagram account on Monday to celebrate being reunited with her dog, Darla. The actress was seen kissing the side of her pup's face while holding her up to her chest in the snap. She also wrote a short message in the post's caption to express her excitement about being able to spend time with her pet after a period of separation. Specifically, the Bad Boys For Life actress wrote, 'REUNITED AND WOOOW IT FEELS SO GOOOOOD.' It's happening in well-to-do Pakistani households in the suburbs of Washington and among Chinese restaurant workers in Philadelphia. It's happening among weary Filipino nurses in Queens, Hmong refugee families in Minneapolis and in Silicon Valley's Asian American community. As school buildings start to reopen, Asian and Asian American families are choosing to keep their children learning from home at disproportionately high rates. They say they are worried about elderly parents in cramped, multigenerational households, distrustful of promised safety measures and afraid their children will face racist harassment at school. On the flip side, some are pleased with online learning and see no reason to risk the health of their family. In New York City, Asian American children make up the smallest share of children back in classrooms - just under 12% - even though they represent 18% of all students. In Tennessee, less than half of Asian families enrolled in Metro Nashville Public Schools opted for in-person learning, compared with nearly two-thirds of White children. In Chicago, two-thirds of White students chose in-person learning, while just a third of Asian, Black and Latino students decided to head back. And in Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest district in Virginia, just over 30% of Asian families selected face-to-face instruction this spring, by far the smallest return rate reported among any racial group. The academic consequences could be devastating, warned Mya Baker of education nonprofit TNTP, which works with school districts across the country to boost achievement among low-income and minority students. This is especially true in communities of immigrant and refugee Asian families, she said, who are often overlooked due to the pervasiveness of the "model minority myth." In reality, many Asian communities face the same kinds of challenges that hold back Black and Latino students, including poverty, language barriers and under-resourced schools. In New York City, more than 1 in 5 Asians live in poverty, the second highest of any racial or ethnic group, according to city data. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 30% of Asians in the U.S. live in intergenerational households, almost double the percentage of White households. And Asian Americans represent the most economically divided racial group in the nation, with the success of the affluent obscuring the plight of the least fortunate. "Everyone makes assumptions that, 'Oh, Asian kids are doing better with virtual learning,' " Baker said. "The reality is we're talking about families living in multigenerational households, families where English is not spoken at home, so we're increasing barriers for those students who are already not performing well." Baker said that is why it is essential for schools to work doubly hard to reach Asian families - about a third of Asians in the United States have limited English proficiency- and to reassure them that their children will not be targeted. In Virginia and Maryland, Asian American students seem to be suffering smaller academic losses than their Black and Latino classmates. But in other places, like Minneapolis, where the Southeast Asian refugee community faces steep rates of poverty, students appear to be losing ground as fast or even faster than other students of color. In fall 2019, about 7% of grades given to Asian students were F's. That percentage more than quadrupled - to 30% - in the fall of 2020, according to the Sahan Journal, which reports on Minneasota's immigrant communities. - - - Many Asian Americans have been anxious of being targeted after President Donald Trump used racist language to describe the coronavirus. Critics warned his repeated use of such phrases as "Chinese virus" and "kung flu" could escalate attacks on Asian Americans, who reported rising instances of harassment. Now, a spate of high-profile attacks on Asian Americans has many in the community on edge. In New York City, a Filipino man was slashed with a box cutter on the subway, an Asian woman was punched in the face on a subway platform, and another woman was shoved to the ground in Flushing, a predominantly Asian community in Queens. In Los Angeles, a man at a bus stop was beaten with his own cane, and a Thai grandfather died after being pushed to the ground. It's unclear whether race motivated all the crimes, but the incidents, combined with increasing reports of harassment and bullying, have heightened anxiety in many communities. The ripple effects among families weighing whether to send their children back are far-reaching. In New York City, Liz OuYang, a Columbia University adjunct professor and civil rights attorney who specializes in combating hate crimes, said some Asian American families are fearful about setting foot outside their homes. OuYang, who directs an annual hate crime prevention art project for the nonprofit OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates, said parents and kids have shared stories of strangers harassing them, yelling at them to "speak English" or "go back to your home country." It has made some families fearful of sending their children on solo commutes to school. So instead, they keep them home, learning remotely. In New York City's Chinatown, a school principal said one mother moved her child from in-person learning to remote learning after she and her child were harassed on the subway. Some families are so worried about leaving their apartments that the school has shelled out funds to ship or hand-deliver supplies and packets to them. Parents have relayed the same fears in Philadelphia. Anna Perng, co-founder of the Chinatown Disability Advocacy Project, said parents reported their children were being harassed on city buses. Then, over the summer, police arrested a homeless woman for attacking a pregnant woman in Chinatown, calling her a slur and punching her in the face. That sent the anxiety in Philadelphia's Asian American communities into overdrive, Perng said, and now threatens to deprive them of access to school-provided resources they badly need. "Families have told me they're afraid to go to the school district to get things like worksheets, learning supplies and the free meals the school district has been handing out since the pandemic started," Perng said. Lisa Liu, whose two children attend Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, said she saw little reason to send them back to classrooms when virtual learning seemed to be working well for them. But fear that they would face harassment also played into her decision. "Maybe if they go back, the other kids will say, 'You're the reason we didn't go to school for a year,' " Liu said. "I don't want my kids to experience hatred." - - - But it is not just harassment that families worry about. Asian Americans are overrepresented in medical fields, making up 6% of the population but 18% of the nation's doctors and 10% of its nurse practitioners. It means they are more likely to have had firsthand experience with the virus. Suzanne Lirazan, a 30-year-old nurse from the Philippines who lives in Queens, has seen the devastation of the pandemic firsthand. She works as a private nurse, and in April the patient she was caring for fell ill after contracting the coronavirus. She was at his bedside as he took his final breaths. Then she and the rest of the household fell ill. She was unable to see her 9-year-old son, Gabriel De La Cruz, for an entire month as she recovered and quarantined. Lirazan worries her son could bring home the virus from school, a prospect that would not only be dangerous for her, but for her patients, too. "It's the fear of him getting sick, and transmission-wise, I don't want to get sick and transmit it with my patients," Lirazan said. "My son, he's very social, he likes to study in school. But I just can't bring myself to bring him there." Lirazan said that sentiment is common in Filipino communities in New York and New Jersey, where many work in health care in jobs that put them in close contact with patients. - - - For Nancy Lin, a Philadelphia mother of two who was laid off from her restaurant job when the pandemic struck, the decision to keep her children remote was driven by something else: the school building. According to her dispatches with other parents over the messaging app WeChat, many other Chinese families are making the same decision. They had complaints about the condition of the school even before the pandemic, of mold in the basement, that bathrooms were dirty, and that heating and cooling systems were not in working order. They are the same factors that are keeping other families of color - and teachers - out of school buildings. Their concerns are not unfounded. An investigative series in 2017 by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News found widespread issues with asbestos and paint laced with lead. When the teachers union pushed the school system to delay the start date of in-person classes, its leader cited the district's "absolutely abysmal track record when it comes to addressing health and safety." At Hmong International Academy in Minneapolis, Principal Jamil Payton said only a third of students in prekindergarten through fifth grade have come back to the school building since they reopened two weeks ago. The school serves a mix of students from the city's refugee communities - Hmong, Laotian, Cambodian and Sudanese students. There were fewer than 100 students in the building the last week of February, a group whose demographics roughly matched the schools. The Hmong community has been hard-hit by the coronavirus. In June, Marny Xiong, a Hmong woman who chaired of the St. Paul Board of Education, succumbed to the virus at the age of 31, devastating the Hmong community. Xiong had worked as an administrator at Hmong International Academy and her loss was felt deeply. "We were hit like a ton of bricks by the passing of this staff member who was so beloved in our building and our community," Payton said. He believes it is contributing to the reluctance of Hmong families to send their children back to school buildings. - - - The decision for almost any family to send their children back to school can be wrenching, as they attempt to balance the benefits of sending their children back to school with the risks - all while the death toll from the pandemic mounts. So many are relying on parents from their own communities, swapping information in group chats to make decisions. Mehvish Ali, who is Pakistani American, had a lot to weigh when trying to decide whether to send her two sons back to school in Loudoun County, a northern Virginia suburb. Her oldest son, a seventh-grader, was eager to get back to school to see his friends. But he also has a medical condition that makes him more susceptible to the virus. She is close with her neighbors, most of whom are Indian American, and her children are friends with their children. The group chat had become a key source of support and information during the pandemic. On WhatsApp, the consensus was clear. "Everybody in the neighborhood that I know of said they were doing distance learning," Ali said. It made the decision easier for her and for her son, who learned his friends would also be staying home from school. When it came time for Filipino American Julius Paras to decide whether to send his child back to school outside San Jose, he and his wife, who is Chinese American, decided to convene a Zoom meeting with relatives nearby. Many of them had come together as a pandemic pod, allowing the parents to split child care duties and the cousins to continue to see each other. They realized sending their children back to classrooms could shatter their support system and possibly endanger his in-laws, who they visit for socially distanced picnics in the elderly couple's driveway. "We want our children to grow up not just with their aunts and uncles but also with their grandparents. It's just this affinity for multigenerational living that comes from my Filipino culture and from my wife's Chinese culture," Paras said. "When we thought about how to prioritize all of this, it came down to, 'Who is our family? How do we look out for them?' And we decided home is what's safest." BEIJING: Foreign visitors have been upset by China`s anal swab tests for COVID-19, prompting complaints of inconvenience and even psychological trauma, and stoking debate over their necessity. A few cities, such as the capital, Beijing, Shanghai and the port city of Qingdao require the checks, in addition to nasal or throat swab tests, for some international arrivals, state media say. WHAT ARE ANAL SWABS? The Chinese Center for Disease Control says the test is performed with a sterile cotton swab, which looks like a very long ear bud, that is inserted 3 cm to 5 cm (1.2 inches to 2 inches) into the anus before being gently rotated out. WHY ANAL SWABS? Such tests can ensure infections are spotted, since coronavirus traces can be detectable in the anus for longer than in the respiratory tract, some Chinese doctors told state media. But a positive result does not necessarily mean the person tested can spread the virus, as inactive traces unable to replicate or infect others can also show positive, Jin Dongyan, a virology professor at the University of Hong Kong, told Reuters. FOREIGNERS ONLY? Early this week, Tokyo complained about the tests on some Japanese travellers to China, saying they had caused "great psychological pain". South Korean visitors can now submit stool samples instead of "Chinese authorities taking them directly", Choi Young-Sam, a spokesman of the South Korean foreign ministry, said on Tuesday. Last month, US media outlet Vice cited a State Department official as saying U.S. diplomats had been subjected to the tests. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said that to his knowledge, such tests had not been required of US diplomats in China. In a statement to Reuters on Thursday, the ministry said the virus prevention and control measures China was taking were based on science. Anal swab tests are not exclusive to foreign visitors. During China`s last major round of infections in January, some cities performed them on unspecified segments of the local population. ONLY IN CHINA? Travellers flying into Shanghai must undertake a full battery of tests including anal swabs if more than five people on their airplane test positive for the virus, state media reported, citing one of the local CDC staff. Travellers from regions where the virus is rampant or those who test positive on arrival also need to undergo such tests, according to the staffer. While anal swabs are not compulsory for all international arrivals in China, one staffer of Beijing`s Daxing district epidemic control department told state-backed Global Times that international visitors to Beijing were subject to such testing. "If people are not familiar with the procedure for taking an anal swab test, our employees will help explain how it will be done," she said. Anal swab tests for the virus are not unique to China. Galicia, in northwest Spain, has performed them on some hospitalised patients, a few newborns and those with psychiatric illnesses for whom it was impossible to administer nasal swabs, its health department told Reuters. WHAT DOES THE WHO SAY? The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends testing respiratory tract specimens, where possible, to diagnose respiratory diseases because they give the best samples, spokesman Christian Lindmeier said in an email to Reuters. "Faecal samples may offer an alternative testing material, especially in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms," he said, but they are "less likely than respiratory samples to be positive in the first week of symptoms." 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 The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below I am honored to be named the 2021 SIA Chairmans Award winner. It has been so rewarding to work together [with SIA] in advocating on the issues that matter the most to our members and to the safety of our citizens. Craig Sharman The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Craig Sharman as the 2021 recipient of the SIA Chairmans Award, an award presented annually and selected by SIAs Board of Directors chair recognizing SIA members diligent efforts in furthering the associations mission and commitment to its future. SIA will present Sharman with the award at The Advance, SIAs annual membership meeting, which will be held March 23 as a virtual event. Craig Sharman senior director of federal government relations at Johnson Controls is a longtime member and the current chair of the SIA Government Relations Committee, which advises SIA members regarding legislation, regulations and pending government actions affecting the security industry and makes recommendations for related actions. Sharman has more than 20 years of government, association and private-sector experience; prior to his time with Johnson Controls, he served in government relations and leadership roles with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security and the National Volunteer Fire Council. He holds a masters degree in political management from the George Washington University and a bachelors degree in political science from West Virginia University. I am honored to be named the 2021 SIA Chairmans Award winner; thank you to SIA for your support and the opportunity to give back to the security industry, said Sharman. Id like to thank my colleagues on the SIA Government Relations Committee, as well as Jake Parker and SIAs government relations team, for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the industry. It has been so rewarding to work together in advocating on the issues that matter the most to our members and to the safety of our citizens. Sharman was an early recipient of the SIA Statesman Award and has helped guide SIA in developing and coordinating its advocacy and lobbying activities. In addition to expanding SIAs contacts and relationships with members of Congress and their staff, he was instrumental in helping SIA launch SecurityPAC, SIAs political action committee, and in engaging other members to participate in that effort as well as other special projects. Sharman has helped maximize participation from employees at his own company in SIA events and activities and engaged with members to help grow participation in SIAs government relations committee and working groups. Craig Sharman has been and is a key leader on SIASs Government Relations Committee and has helped drive SIAs advocacy and lobbying initiatives. He has made enormous contributions in leadership, time and effort as a volunteer with the association overall, said Pierre Trapanese, chair of the SIA Board of Directors. SIA is grateful for Craigs valuable efforts to benefit the security industry and help advance SIAs mission. We look forward to honoring him with the 2021 SIA Chairs Award. The Advance 2021 will take place on Tuesday, March 23, at 1:30 p.m. EDT and be hosted as a virtual event. At this special membership meeting, attendees will review official association business, recognize volunteer achievements in 2020 and exchange market intelligence for the year ahead. In addition to presenting the SIA Chairmans Award, SIA will honor the 2021 recipients of the Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award, the SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award, the SIA Standards Service Award and the SIA Member of the Year Award. Learn more and register to attend. About SIA SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,100 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through education and training, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA GovSummit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industrys top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking. A Utah mother, who was stopped earlier this week for allegedly driving erratically with one of her children unrestrained in the back seat, has been charged with possessing drugs and alcohol. According to the Utah County Sheriff's Office, Gabriella Ann McKenzie, 19, was pulled over by a detective in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday just after 6.30pm. The detective said he saw McKenzie driving her car 'erratically' and also 'a young child unrestrained moving around the back seat of the car'. In a statement, the sheriff's office said the detective pulled up next to the car and 'saw the driver engaged in a video phone call while she was driving'. According to the Utah County Sheriff's Office, Gabriella Ann McKenzie (pictured), 19, was pulled over by a detective in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday just after 6.30pm. Authorities said one of her kids was unrestrained as she drove erratically McKenzie (pictured) was booked into jail on multiple charges, including endangerment of a child, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of alcohol and using a handheld device while driving He then pulled her over and while speaking to McKenzie noticed the smell of marijuana in the vehicle. The sheriff's office said another deputy arrived to the scene to help. They then asked McKenzie to get her children, ages 2 and 8 months, out of the car so they could search it. 'She argued with them, telling them they could not search her car. As she reached in the back seat to remove her children the Detective and Deputy saw her take something out of a box next to one of the children and conceal it in her waistband,' the sheriff's office said in the statement. The deputy handcuffed McKenzie out of concern that it might be a weapon. That's when he reportedly saw a brown bag partially concealed in her waistband. Authorities also charged McKenzie with having a suspended driver's license 'This bag contained a small amount of white powder that was later determined to be cocaine. Also found in the car was a small amount of marijuana, a bottle of liquor, and drug paraphernalia,' authorities said. McKenzie was able to call her grandparents to come get her children and her car. McKenzie was booked into jail on multiple charges, including endangerment of a child, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of alcohol and using a handheld device while driving. Authorities also charged McKenzie with having a suspended driver's license. Investigators also said the case is being reported to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. If pre-term parliamentary elections take place I will participate in them. I think I have enough experience for that, Kocharian told Russian media outlets at a news conference in Yerevan. Am I confident that I will win? Well, I have never lost elections, he said, according to the TASS news agency. Pashinian on Monday again expressed readiness to hold snap parliamentary elections to end a post-war political crisis deepened by the Armenian militarys February 25 demands for his resignation. An alliance of opposition parties holding anti-government rallies in Yerevan wants such polls to be conducted by an interim government to be formed after his resignation. Kocharian, who is not affiliated with any party, has repeatedly encouraged his supporters to take part in the rallies that resumed on February 20. I support the format created by the opposition movement and believe that there is no need to revise it, he said on Thursday, referring to the alliance called the Homeland Salvation Movement. He again praised Vazgen Manukian, the alliances candidate to serve as an interim prime minister. Like the opposition forces, the ex-president backed the Armenian armys General Staff in its standoff with Pashinian sparked by last weeks controversial sacking of a senior general. The army top brass accused the government of misrule and demanded its resignation in an unprecedented statement issued on February 25. Pashinian rejected the demand as an attempt to stage a coup detat. I dont think that we should be very afraid of that word [coup,] another Russian news agency, RBC, quoted Kocharian as saying. If the military elite feels responsible for the countrys future, one must not rule out steps that could become fateful. But this is my view, not an appeal. Kocharian has been at loggerheads with Pashinians government ever since it took office in May 2018. He was arrested in July 2018 on coup charges rejected by him as politically motivated. The ex-president, who had ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, was released on bail in June 2020 pending the outcome of his ongoing trial. The trial resumed on January 19 nearly four months after being effectively interrupted by the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia has criticized the criminal proceedings launched against Kocharian. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made a point of congratulating him on his birthday anniversaries and praising his legacy. Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, on Thursday described Kocharian as Russias great friend. But he insisted that the Kremlin is not supporting or guiding Kocharians political activities in any way. Participants of political processes in Armenia do not need to coordinate their steps with the Russian president, Peskov said, adding that the vast majority of them stand for close ties between the two countries. Kocharian called for Armenias deeper integration with Russia after the Karabakh war stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10. He said that only Moscow can help Armenia rebuild its armed forces and confront new security challenges Pashinian announced on New Years Eve plans to further deepen the Russian-Armenian relationship, saying that his country now needs new security guarantees. Mississauga, Ontario and Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (CSE: BEE) (OTCQB: BEVVF) (CVE:BEE) (the "Company" or "BVT") today announced a progress update for entry into Europe, including key investments to accelerate timelines into this key global market. Highlights include: Switzerland established as a strategic entry point into Europe with registration in advanced stages, new HQ and R&D center operating smoothly, and more than 28 European grower trials successfully completed. EU grower community targeted through in-licensing and commercial partnerships: registration of synergistic products will possibly short-cut market entry by 1-2 years. Partnerships engaged in countries that export to Europe (e.g., Turkey and Morocco) will help meet European consumer demand for sustainably-grown produce. Deals pending final results. Started preparation for submission of BVT proprietary biological plant protection product CR-7 for pan-EU regulatory approval. More than any other region in the world, growers throughout Europe are increasingly seeking non-chemical alternatives to help with disease management, improve yields and meet an ever-vigilant consumer. This is further reinforced by the political and regulatory climate where the European Commission is pushing for sustainability in agriculture with recently announced policies under the umbrella of the European Green Deal. "BVT's natural precision agricultural system offers the European market a new natural breakthrough innovation," said Dr. Claude Flueckiger, independent director for BVT and agroindustry consultant based in Switzerland. "As a result of chemical crop protection products becoming increasingly disfavored, European growers have access to fewer and fewer tools to manage their crops. This trend creates a perfect entry point for BVT's biological solution which can meet strict environmental requirements." To meet this favorable trend, BVT has made significant progress in its European market strategy, with activity in four key areas: Building Switzerland as an R&D base and beachhead for the European market The Company is currently in the late stages of the application process for Swiss regulatory approval and has established an R&D center and European office in Switzerland's Agri & Co Innovation Center, where it joins other innovators in a flourishing ag-tech community. This facility has been in operation for more than a year now and was financed by the state of Freiburg as a part of the Agri & Co Challenge award to BVT. It will be used to showcase the Company's technology for industry partners and stakeholders, including being a likely location for demos for growers from neighboring EU countries. The center is being managed by BVT's Business Manager for Europe, Africa and Middle East, Christoph Lehnen, a well-connected industry veteran with over 35 years of experience including 17 years with Syngenta and the remaining with legacy companies in Marketing, R&D and Sales roles. "We've built up a knowledge base for European growing practices and are using the Campus to fine-tune our value proposition and fast-track our launch," said Mr. Lehnen. "The Swiss regulatory approval process is in advanced stages with requests from the authorities having been answered with reasoned cases; and we can use the work we've done there for BVT's eventual EU regulatory submission." BVT completed more than 28 successful European trials in multiple crops. One recent successful example of a field trial is with a major berry grower in Switzerland, Rass Wildbeeren, which successfully tested the system in its fields and is expanding testing of the BVT system this year. "The BVT system is easy to use and there's no need to spray water, use a tractor, or use oil or CO2," says Simon Rass, co-founder of Rass Wildbeeren. "We are happy with the results. There was no botrytis cinerea on the berries, shelf life is much better, and our crop yielded 90-95% "first class" berries - up from our standard 70-80%." Partnering and licensing activities for business acceleration The Company is in advanced discussions with potential partners in Europe covering product access and commercial go-to-market arrangements. In-licensing partnerships will give BVT product access and potentially get to revenue in the EU 1-2 years faster by bypassing certain time-consuming registration requirements, and offer EU growers third-party biocontrols delivered more precisely through the Company's proprietary system. European proof-of-concept field trials with a third-party biological insecticide and fungicide were completed successfully last fall with positive efficacy results, which means BVT is a step closer to in-licensing agreements with third parties and unlocking multiple new revenue streams. The Company is now collaborating with two EU-based partners to develop the framework for an agreement for products that already have the basic active ingredient registered in the EU. In parallel to the product access discussions, the Company is discussing commercial arrangements with potential partners who have established sales and marketing channels for the most important European markets, including for Switzerland. These could be part of, or in addition to, the in-licensing arrangements. Targeting major export-oriented countries that supply Europe with key crops BVT is also addressing European consumer demands for sustainably grown fresh produce by targeting adjacent countries which export significantly to the EU market. These countries typically have faster registration processes that will help BVT in the mid-term gain access into the European market through their exports of fresh produce. The Company is in discussion with well-established commercial partners in neighboring countries that will take the Company's system to their local market of growers. "BVT is actively pursuing a partnership in Morocco and we have on-going discussions with a company in Turkey. One potential partner that has been in the Moroccan market for decades has already rolled out a significant trial program for strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and tomato crops where results are expected in the first half of 2021, followed by contract negotiations" continued Mr. Lehnen. Preparation for submission of BVT CR-7 for regulatory approval in EU BVT is working with regulatory consultants in Europe to develop the best strategy to pursue submission for the EU regulatory approval process of its proprietary biological plant protection product CR-7 (Clonostachys rosea strain CR-7). The Company could kick start EU submission later in 2021 depending on the outcome of the current exploratory phase. "Securing approval of our own plant protection product for use in the EU will represent a significant value creation milestone," said Ashish Malik, CEO of Bee Vectoring Technologies. "This will not only represent a significant asset for the Company, but will also provide BVT with the flexibility to pursue different licensing arrangements (including licensing CR-7 out to companies in other markets) and not be wholly reliant on access to products from third parties." EU registration is a multi-stage, lengthy process that requires careful planning and strategy. The process includes an in-depth review with the EU central authorities, followed by end-use approvals with the countries where the Company plans to sell to growers. About Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. BVT, an agriculture technology company, is a market disruptor with a significant global market opportunity in the $240 billion crop protection and fertilizer market. BVT has pioneered a natural precision agriculture system that replaces chemical pesticides and wasteful plant protection product spray applications by delivering biological pesticide alternatives to crops using commercially grown bees. BVT's award-winning technology, precision vectoring, is completely harmless to bees and allows minute amounts of naturally-derived pesticides (called biologicals) to be delivered directly to blooms, providing improved crop protection and yield results than traditional chemical pesticides - and improving the health of the soil, the microbiome and the environment. Currently, BVT has over 65 granted patents, over 35 patents pending in all major agricultural countries worldwide, and has US EPA registration of its Vectorite with CR-7 (EPA Registration No. 90641-2) for sale as a registered biological fungicide for use on the labeled crops. Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.beevt.com. To receive regular news updates from the Company, subscribe at www.beevt.com/newsletter. Company Contact: Ashish Malik, President & CEO info@beevt.com Investor Contact: Babak Pedram, Investor Relations Virtus Advisory Group Tel: 416-995-8651 bpedram@virtusadvisory.com The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, "annual revenue potential", are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: planted acres, selling price of competitive chemical pesticides and the US to Canadian dollar exchange rate. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include changes in law, competition, litigation, the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities, state of the capital markets, the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations, new technologies, the ability to protect intellectual property rights, the ability to obtain patent protection for products, third-party intellectual property infringement claims, regulatory changes affecting products, failing research and development activities, the ability to reach and sustain profitability, dependence on business and technical experts, the ability to effectively manage business operations and growth, issuance of debt, dilution of existing securities, volatility of publicly traded securities, potential conflicts of interest, unlikelihood of dividend payments, the potential costs stemming from defending third-party intellectual property infringement claims, the ability to secure relationships with manufacturers and purchasers, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Filing Statement dated August 14,2020, filed with the CSE and securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. All figures are in Canadian dollars. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/75920 This photo shows a Pyongyang church in the first decade of 20th century. Courtesy of Richard Pennington By Richard Pennington Paxton, IL (60957) Today Mainly cloudy. High 72F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a shower late. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Urban League Hosts 100 Years of Black History in L.A. Achieving a century of progress is not easy, but the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL) defied the odds by celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Founded in 1921, the heralded organization has made a huge impact for the last 10 decades by promoting business opportunities, training and development and coalition building on behalf of African Americans. To commemorate the centennial milestone, LAUL kicked-off its speakers panel on February 27, which focused on 100 Years of Black History in Los Angeles. Michael Lawson, LAUL president/CEO, hosted a panel of community leaders to discuss the status of African American success in both the city and nation and how those efforts assist LAULs mission to empower communities and change lives. ADVERTISEMENT The panel featured Pamela Bakewell, COO and executive vice president of The Bakewell Company; Sandra Evers-Manley, vice president of Global Corporate Responsibility at Northrup Grumman and president of the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center; and the Rev. James Lawson, renowned civil rights activist, architect of non-violent protest and pastor emeritus of Holman United Methodist Church. Beverly White, NBC4 reporter, moderated the forum and Ashley McCullough, president of LAUL Young Professionals, facilitated the question and answer session. White opened the discussion by acknowledging the many accomplishments of LAUL and asking the panelists for ways to sustain and share the organizations history. Bakewell responded that educating our youth was critical so that the next generation does not take for granted what we have in terms of the accomplishments thus far of the Black community. In order for the Urban Leagues legacy to go on, our young people really have to grab hold of our history and understand it and want to absorb it in order for them to develop their own legacies, stressed Bakewell. Young people really need an understanding of the past in order to develop their own strategies. LAULs Lawson tied the organizations sustainability to its ability to encourage the support of Black businesses. Yes, we have to continue doing job training, but we have to move more into entrepreneurship in every area. We want to re-create Greenwood a Black Wall Street, he said, referring to the thriving African American community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was destroyed by Whites in 1921. That is our goal. That is our focus. We want a situation where a dollar dropped in our community stays in our community, Lawson explained. The example that I use is Koreatown and I have all of the respect in the world for what they have done in Los Angeles. A dollar dropped in Koreatown stays there for 50 days. Our goal is to get back to what our forefathers were already doing with Greenwood and go beyond! Diversity, equity and inclusion were the focus of the question posed to Evers-Manley by White, who inquired, How can LAUL influence better outcomes in corporate America, in regards to the hiring and promotion of Blacks. Evers-Manley answered that the community must demand that African Americans are among the decision-makers. When it comes to promotions, hiring, development and compensation, we have got to make sure that when you see African Americans present, that we are equal in every sense of those jobs as well as salaries. What we need from the Urban League is to make sure that we are present in corporate America and that we hold corporate America accountable when it comes to hiring and investment in our communities, businesses, nonprofits and educational institutions, insisted Evers-Manley. ADVERTISEMENT The Rev. Lawson urged LAUL to continue to build alliances with other groups to ensure its longevity. Recalling the environment he faced upon coming to L.A. in 1974, the pastor emeritus said he encountered a multi-racial, inter-generational, multi-credo, multi-political that called itself the Los Angeles Civil Rights Movement and represented a wide swath of people in L.A., and the group was united in pushing for change in the city. I would say the most important thing is for the Urban League to continue to be a part of such a struggle because the work that still remains to be done, which is a monumental task, cannot be done by any single section of our community. It has to be done by people who believe firmly that we hold these truths to be self-evident, the Rev. Lawson said. He also advised LAUL to imitate the approach that activist Stacy Abrams used during the recent elections in Georgia. They claimed without any reservation that they were a multi-generational, multi-racial effort with many leaders and many positions, but were going to systematically change Georgia. Its a good model for what can happen in Los Angeles, he noted. The panelists and moderator White commended the Black press for covering the issues that are important to African Americans. Evers-Manley commented, Thats why the work that the Urban League is doing is so important. Weve got to have people learning the business of Hollywood and other fields. Weve got to be in charge of our stories, so we need more individuals working behind the scenes as writers, directors, and cinematographers. She continued, This pandemic has taken a huge toll on our community, especially in the area of education. Sixty percent of our children are not connected to the web. I cant get that story told in Hollywood, but I can in the Black press like the Sentinel. Bakewell, who is also COO of the L.A. Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times, remarked, Were in the business of telling stories about our own community and I cant say enough about having the support of groups like the Urban League and people like Rev. Lawson. Were partners in this struggle to shine a light upon the achievements of our community. Were a Black community family and as long as we stick together, were going to be stronger. LAULs Lawson said the organization would present more speaker series throughout the year. In addition, he took time to thank the sponsors of the series, who included NBC4, CIT Bank, Banc of California, LISC Los Angeles, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, L.A. Sentinel, Bank of America, Union Bank and the California Endowment. We also want to acknowledge Ford, Cedars Sinai, Sempra and Wells Fargo, who provided emergency assistance to 80 Black-owned businesses over the past 11 months. Without this assistance, many of these businesses would not have survived the pandemic, said Lawson. I am blessed to be in this position. Im standing on the shoulders of the giants that came before me John Mack, Floyd Covington and those that started the LAUL in 1921. The importance of the Urban League cannot be overstated, he added. We have been involved in rebuilding coalitions because we know we cant do it alone. We have a lean staff, but everyone works so incredibly hard. We also partner with other organizations, not just African American groups, because all of us need to grow together. We are developing relationships to the benefit of our community. Visit laul.org to learn more about the Los Angeles Urban League or to view 100 Years of Black History in Los Angeles. The Amherst regional school board unanimously voted Wednesday to implement in-person learning for all students who want it, but it remains to be seen if the high school will return to the classroom this academic year. This dilemma on whether grades 9-12 would return to class was discussed extensively during meetings Tuesday and Wednesday nights. According to Superintendent Michael Morris, among the biggest concerns is that the teenagers unlike younger children may be more prone to be in contact with those COVID-19 positive, as their social circle tends to be larger and geographically more diverse. Morris said he has consulted with Amherst Health Department on this issue, and for now, it is his and their assessment high school students may be a risk factor. The three boards comprising the district, Amherst School Committee, Pelham School Committee, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee all unanimously voted Wednesday to begin full-time in-person learning next month. The timetable for kindergarten to grade 2 is no later than April 5 with grades 3-6 no later than April 12. The motion the boards approved earlier this week says April 26 for grades 7-12. At Tuesdays meeting, Morris said it is feasible for grades 7 and 8 to attend school in person two days per week next month using a hybrid model. At Wednesdays meeting, he said that the high school administrative leadership team would attend a meeting with the three school boards next week. He said that discussion could go a long way to resolving questions on the feasibility of high school students returning to class. Members of the regional committee, which governs grades 7-12 in the district, peppered Morris with questions on the high school matter. Committeeman Peter Demling said that since the district requires six feet of social distance inside the buildings, there is a built-in check addressing concerns about teenagers spreading the virus. He said that the social distancing mandate has been in place, at the district since prior to the school year starting, back in September. Demling said that the district, at the time, made the decision for six feet instead of the three feet the state education department was recommending out of an abundance of caution. The administration plans to survey parents of all grades to obtain an approximate count of how many children will return, and how many teachers would be required; and concomitantly, how many would be in remote mode. Morris said the survey results would go a long way towards putting the finishing touches on how many students and staff will be in the buildings. He said it makes sense to let parents drive this decision-making in terms of preference for remote or on-campus instruction. He also said that a not insignificant number of faculty and students are opting to remain in remote-only mode. He said some teachers possess medical exemptions permitting them to teach from home. Committee member Bethany Seeger told Morris: a lot of parents are going to want to have their kids in school. Thats right on, he replied. THE University of Limerick has confirmed it is conducting an investigation to identify any UL students who took part in a large gathering in Castletroy on Tuesday night. It says the gathering, which has generated considerable anger and outrage, represents a serious breach of both the public health restrictions and the institutional code of conduct. Three people were arrested and at least 50 Fixed Charges Penalty Notices were issued by gardai who were forced to intervene and break up the event. In a statement, the University of Limerick says representatives met with gardai this Wednesday to discuss the public order incident that took place at Carysfort Avenue, College Court. "UL has consistently liaised and worked with gardai to remind students of their personal responsibility to follow government and institutional guidelines. UL has provided resources for high visibility Covid-19 garda policing with a focus on estates in the immediate vicinity of the campus," reads the statement. UL will take action with strong disciplinary measures against any student who has been found to have breached public health guidelines. Students at UL are subject to a Code of Conduct. University Of Limerick (@UL) March 2, 2021 "UL deplores the behaviour of a small minority of students living in the off-campus estates in private rented accommodation. Students at UL are subject to a Code of Conduct. Any student found to have attended the gathering will face suspension, pending a full investigation, or possible expulsion," it adds. Derek Furtado, a sophomore at Norwich University, had just stepped out of the shower in his dormitory and was shaving, a towel wrapped around his waist, when he looked to his left and saw the figure of a man in military uniform. That was when my heart sunk, recalled Mr. Furtado, a cadet who plans to commission into the Coast Guard. He pulled himself together, stood at attention and said, Good morning, sir! The circumstances were not ideal. He has two stars on his chest, Mr. Furtado said. Im in a towel. But he would have to get used to it, because, it turned out, Col. Mark C. Anarumo, the universitys president, was his new hall mate. Among the surprising outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic was that Dr. Anarumo, newly arrived as president of the private military college in Vermont, decided that the best way to support students who were quarantining in their rooms was to move into the dorm with them. The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) says the 650,000 BPD Dangote Refinery in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos will be extremely beneficial to Nigeria when it begins production. MOMAN, however, advised the federal government against preventing marketers from importing refined petroleum products when the refinery and others come on stream in order to create an open market for the sector. Clement Isong, Executive Secretary, MOMAN, made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos. Mr Isong said there was merit on insisting on a minimum in-country investment in order to encourage investment in the oil and gas industry. However, as a core principle, MOMAN believes that free market competition remains the best protection for the final consumer and this would be our most important consideration. MOMANs position would therefore be, not to limit importation of refined products to refiners only, but allow importers with a set minimum level of investment in the oil and gas supply chain in Nigeria. MOMANs position followed a proposal by the Dangote company for the government to allow only firms that refine petroleum products in the country to import refined fuel. The company said this should be made part of the Petroleum Industry Bill. Many Nigerians have criticised the proposal, arguing that it will foster monopoly in the market and allow the Dangote Group to be a major beneficiary to the detriment of others. Mr Isong said there would also be need for the country to operate under a uniform exchange rate regime irrespective of who imports or refines. According to him, this also includes the exchange rate used for the purchase of crude in Naira or the purchase of refined products in order to ensure a level playing field. He noted that the concept of buying crude in Naira from the government and selling its refined products in Naira to Nigerians was an interesting concept that needed to be properly worked out. It is an interesting concept not just for Dangote refinery but for all refineries in Nigeria to be able to access the crude in Naira. The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria on television espoused the benefits it would bring the country in terms of foreign exchange rate management. Obviously, details would need to be worked out as several questions remain unanswered. For instance, since crude is priced internationally in US dollars, what rate would be used to convert to Naira? Secondly, is it correct to say that if you use crude locally for refining, it is not included in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota? If this is correct, to fully benefit therefore, we would need to produce enough to meet our full export quota under the OPEC regime and optimise the foreign exchange inflows as well as produce enough locally to meet local refining requirements, Mr Isong said. He said an additional benefit would be that any refined products that were excess to Nigerias needs could be exported for additional foreign exchange earnings. ADVERTISEMENT (NAN) KYODO NEWS - Mar 4, 2021 - 12:07 | All, Coronavirus, Japan The number of domestic violence consultations in Japan reached a record 82,643 in 2020, the highest since a law against spousal violence took effect in 2001, police data showed Thursday, as people spent more time at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The number of consultations over stalking stood at 20,189 last year, down 723 from 2019, but stayed above 20,000 for the eighth consecutive year since 2013. Among the total number of domestic violence consultations, which increased 436 from 2019, 76.4 percent of the alleged victims were women. By age, 23.4 percent were in their 20s, 27.0 percent in their 30s and 22.9 percent in their 40s, according to the National Police Agency. A total 75.9 percent of the alleged assailants were men. Of these, 26.3 percent were in their 30s and 23.9 percent were in their 40s. A record 5,183 domestic violence cases among the 8,778 investigated involved assault, followed by 2,626 cases of bodily harm. There were no murder cases, but 110 cases of attempted murder, the data showed. There was one case of injury resulting in death, for which a man in his 80s was arrested by Fukuoka police in July for a fatal assault on his wife in her 70s. Of the alleged stalking victims, 87.6 percent were women. Of all victims, those in their 20s constituted the largest group by age at 34.7 percent followed by those in their 30s at 23.6 percent. Related coverage: Woman arrested over injury leading to death of 3-year-old son Crime in Japan drops to lowest postwar level in 2020 amid pandemic Couple arrested over death of 3-month-old baby for alleged negligence Men made up 80.7 percent of alleged stalkers. Of all stalkers, the largest group by age consisted of those in their 40s at 19.4 percent, followed by people in their 20s and 30s at around 18 percent each and those in their 50s at 12.8 percent. Some were in their teens or were seniors aged 60 or older. As for the relationship between victim and perpetrator, 40.8 percent were those who were or had been dating, while 7.4 percent were current or previous spouses or common-law partners. Cases involving strangers made up 7.8 percent. The police investigated 2,503 stalking cases in 2020, up 148 from the previous year. Assault and bodily harm made up 1,518 cases, while 985 were violations of the anti-stalking law. There was just one murder case, in which a 45-year-old woman working in a convenience store in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, was stabbed in August by a 41-year-old man, who committed suicide immediately afterward. The government is aiming to enact a bill to revise the law against stalking at the current parliamentary session through June to ban the misuse of GPS for monitoring victims, among other measures. Zurich Insurance Group has appointed Sierra Signorelli, currently group chief underwriting officer, to the role of chief executive officer for Commercial Insurance and as a member of the executive committee with immediate effect. Signorelli succeeds James Shea, who has decided to leave Zurich to pursue opportunities outside the company. Signorellis successor will be announced in due course. Signorelli joined Zurich in July 2017 as chief underwriting officer and became group chief underwriting officer in October 2020. She successfully transformed the underwriting function, strengthened its resilience, and ensured delivery of differentiated services and solutions to Zurichs customers, said the company in a statement. Prior to Zurich, she held various senior leadership positions for American International Group where she worked for 17 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. Signorellis appointment to the executive committee is subject to regulatory approval. Source: Zurich Insurance Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance by Shafique Khokhar Civil society groups criticise the governments minority rights watchdog at a seminar organised in Karachi by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church of Pakistan. The Minority Commission is not the one we recommended. It should be based on its own bylaws, principles and criteria without state interference. Karachi (AsiaNews) The National Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church of Pakistan organised a seminar held on Monday at St Patrick's Cathedral in Karachi to discuss the role and composition of the National Minority Commission (NMC). The latter was considered a source of hope for Pakistans minorities, but it has shown its lack of independence, which is why many human rights advocates and civil society groups consider it to be ineffective. Several activists and politicians were present at the event, including Jaipal Das Chhabria, a member of the National Minority Commission, who defended the institution as better than other commissions. The NMC must be made by minorities, for minorities and of minorities, said Chhabria. The institution, he added is concerned about news coming from all over Pakistan and insists that the rights of every citizen must be equal to those granted to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari or Prime Minister Imran Khan. Our work must be to keep an eye on all violations of rights, such as forced conversions or marriages, school materials tainted by sectarian bias, discrimination at work, the destruction of religious sites. For Zahid Farooq, a Christian activist who is also director of the Urban Resource Centre in Karachi, the NMC should review its working methods and include many more members from minority religious groups, as well as more women. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education & Research (PILER), agrees, lamenting that the Minority Commission is not the one we recommended. It should be based on its own rules, principles and criteria without state interference. To this end, National Justice and Peace Commission Deputy Director Kashif Aslam noted that six members have a public role, along with 12 external representatives. We wonder in what capacity they are part of the body since the Paris Principles clearly state that such bodies must not have direct relations with the state. In addition, the Commission should play a role in the proceedings and hearings of incidents involving minorities, which is not the case. The Supreme Court itself stated that it should be the expression of Parliament, not of the government. Last year was a tough one for minorities in Pakistan, with an increase in forced conversions with little action on the part of the Pakistani government. Only Sindh Province, home to a large Sufi community, has a history of tolerance and laws in favour of local minorities, as Naveed Anthony, Member of the Provincial Assembly for the Pakistan People's Party, told the seminary. For his part, Kashif Anthony, coordinator of the Justice and Peace Commission, closed the meeting, expressing hope that more people in the country will commit to fostering brotherhood, peace, diversity, and patriotism, especially in the hearts of young people. [March 04, 2021] Advisor Team With $150 Million in Assets Joins Ameriprise from Waddell & Reed Tranquil Lakes Investment Advisors, a wealth management practice managing $150 million in client assets, joined the independent channel of Ameriprise Financial, LLC (NYSE: AMP) from Waddell & Reed in Madison, Wisconsin. The team consists of Jason Hatch, AWMA, Mark Wood, AAMS and Frank Janowitsch, APMA, Mary Weber, MBA, and Benjamin Esdaile. After their previous firm was acquired, the team thoroughly evaluated the marketplace and found that Ameriprise had the reputation, robust support for advisors and dedicated transition team that made them feel confident in making the move. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005902/en/ Jason Hatch, Mark Wood and Frank Janowitsch with Tranquil Lakes Investment Advisors, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial. Photo courtesy of Tranquil Lakes. Reflecting on the transition, Hatch said, "We were at an inflection point - our firm was changing. We prepared clients for the potential that we would move firms, and they liked that we did our research. We looked at the marketplace and found a firm that had a solid reputation and was a ood fit for our business and most importantly, our clients. And, their reaction to Ameriprise has been overwhelmingly positive. One client told me, 'Congrats, you're at a great firm and we're excited for you.'" Tranquil Lakes evaluated many independent firms against their key criteria. They wanted to affiliate with a firm that prioritizes the client experience, has accessible leaders, provides integrated technology, delivers capabilities for growth, and has a strong brand reputation for integrity and transparency. "We are excited about Ameriprise, their capabilities and our potential for growth," said Hatch, who has 15 years of experience in the industry. "We have the opportunity to do more financial planning, expand through purchasing practices, and to continue building out our client experience. We've appreciated the transition support to set up our practice the right way, so we can hit the ground running. Their expertise has allowed us to focus on servicing clients rather than transition activities." The team is supported locally by Ameriprise field vice president Brad Sabol. "Ameriprise offers personalized support for advisors. We care about what matters to them, and we are dedicated to delivering the experience each advisor wants for their clients. I'm thrilled to partner with Tranquil Lakes to grow their practice and help more people achieve their financial goals." Tranquil Lakes serves a wide variety of clients, including families, professionals, blue collar workers, Wisconsin cranberry growers, and company 401ks. More than 4,300 financial advisors have joined Ameriprise since 2008.1 To find out why experienced financial advisors are joining Ameriprise, visit ameriprise.com/why. About Ameriprise Financial At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With extensive advisory, asset management and insurance capabilities and a nationwide network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors' financial needs. For more information, or to find an Ameriprise financial advisor, visit ameriprise.com. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. 2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Company data as of Q2 2020. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005902/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: Indian auto sector is one of the most challenging market places in the world. The customers aspire to great design, fuel efficiency and reliability at a budget price. The automobile manufacturers have been providing this, but the concern towards safety was somewhere neglected. The Zee Business news team always gives more importance to passenger safety and the news impact has come out. The Ministry of road transport has proposed to make the front airbags (driver and passenger) mandatory in India. The law ministry has accepted this proposal and has given a green signal for front airbags as a standard fitment. As of now, only driver's seat airbags is compulsory for all passenger vehicles in India. Passenger safety is a crucial topic and it needs to be dealt with utmost attention. The number of accidents and deaths in a car accident is a huge concern and airbags are a step in minimizing them. The airbags will be mandatory from April 1, 2021, in India. The final notification on the front airbags will be issued by the Ministry of Roads and Transport in three working days. With this, all the existing models will require to get front passenger airbags by August 31. It was originally proposed for June 2021. Live TV Jon Sopel checks into our travel Q&A This week the BBC's North America editor, Jon Sopel, checks into our travel Q&A. He talks about travelling on Air Force One with Obama, Trump and Biden, his love of Washington DC - and more. MOST MEMORABLE HOLIDAY? Visiting Kenya with our children. My wife and I honeymooned there and thought it would be wonderful to return with them when they were grown up. It certainly was. EARLIEST HOLIDAY MEMORY? Going to New York on a family holiday when I was seven or eight. My eyes popped out of my head at the skyscrapers and the size of the cars and sandwiches. Everything seemed so vibrant, noisy and colourful. FAVOURITE CITY? Washington DC, where Ive lived for the past seven years. Its an elegant city, with lovely architecture no building is taller than the Capitol and I particularly like the Georgetown area, where Im based. FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN WASHINGTON DC? If you want somewhere brash that is popular with the Washington power elite, head for Cafe Milano. But my favourite neighbourhood restaurant is Georgetowns Chez Billy Sud. HOW MANY U.S. STATES HAVE YOU VISITED? About 40. However, Im still desperate to experience Wyoming and Montana. EVER TRAVELLED ON AIR FORCE ONE? Yes, with Obama, Trump and Biden. It feels like being in a classy hotel that hasnt been updated in recent years. EVER BEEN PULLED OVER BY U.S. COPS? Once, in Virginia, for speeding. I put on my best Englishman act and apologised. Remember to keep your hands at the ten to two position on the steering wheel so they can see youre not grabbing for a gun. 'It feels like being in a classy hotel that hasnt been updated in recent years' - Jon Sopel's verdict on Air Force One Jon said his favourite city is Washington DC, where he's lived for the past seven years. Pictured is Georgetown ANY TIPS FOR BRITONS GOING TO THE U.S.? Youll be struck by how warm and welcoming Americans are, except maybe in New York City. Remember, too, that a British accent goes a long way. HOTEL FROM HELL? A woman came to my door at a Vegas hotel. I dont think she was interested in my personality. DREAM DESTINATION? Id love to see the Canadian Rockies, the Galapagos islands and the gorillas in Rwanda. WHERE NEXT? Ive booked a family trip in the South of France in late August. Aviva Plc has exited its Italian businesses in a pair of deals totaling 873 million euros ($1.1 billion) as the UK insurer continues to pivot to its core markets. CNP Assurances and Allianz SE bought the London-based firms Italian life and general insurance units, respectively, according to a statement Thursday. Those deals, along with Avivas recent exit from France and an earlier sale in Italy, mean the company has divested its main non-core units under its new strategy. Related: UKs Aviva to Sell French Business for $3.9 Billion, Continuing Core-Market Strategy We have taken major steps forward in simplifying the business, Chief Executive Officer Amanda Blanc said in the statement. Our strategic focus is now on the U.K., Ireland and Canada where we have leading positions. Since joining last July, Blanc has moved at pace to exit businesses in Europe and Asia. The firm last month agreed to sell its French operation for 3.2 billion euros, the biggest deal yet among seven divestments that Blanc says will generate more than 5 billion pounds in cash proceeds. In the Italian deals announced Thursday, CNP Assurances paid 543 million euros and the Allianz sale was agreed at 330 million euros. Aviva, which earns most of its revenues from life insurance, had long been under pressure from investors and analysts to turn around the business. The share price remains lower than its level five years ago. The firm, which also declared a 14 pence per share final dividend in its annual results statement Thursday, said the disposals would soon be able to make a substantial return of capital to our shareholders. Aviva reported an operating profit of 3.2 billion pounds ($4.5 billion) for 2020, which was down slightly from the previous year but better than analysts had expected. The company expects to reduce its debt by 1.7 billion pounds in the first half of this year. Aviva Investors, the firms asset management arm, saw inflows of 8.5 billion pounds for the year. Operating profit at the unit fell 11% to 85 million pounds. Photograph: Aviva Plc logo shown on a window in this photo taken by Jason Alden/Bloomberg. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Mergers Allianz Anita Anand, left, Canada's Minister of Public Services and Procurement and the High Commissioner of India to Canada Ajay Bisaria pose with some of the first 500,000 of the two million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses that Canada has secured through a deal with the Serum Institute of India in partnership with Verity Pharma Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at a facility in Milton, Ontario. (Carlos Osorio/Pool Photo via AP) A national panel of vaccine experts in Canada recommended Wednesday that provinces extend the interval between the two doses of a COVID-19 shot to four months to quickly inoculate more people amid a shortage of doses in Canada. A number of provinces said they would do just that. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed optimism that vaccination timelines could be sped up. But one top health official called it an experiment and noted no other country is doing it. The current protocol is an interval of three to four weeks between doses for the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines. Johnson & Johnson is a one dose vaccine but has not been approved in Canada yet. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization said extending the dose interval to four months would allow as many as 80% of Canadians over the age of 16 to receive a single dose by the end of June simply with the expected supply of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Second doses would begin to be administered in July as more shipments arrive, the panel said, noting that 55 million doses are expected to be delivered in July, August and September. In comparison, the federal government previously said 38% of people would receive two doses by the end of June. "They are making, I think, a reasonable calculation in a time of drug shortage," said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network. "It's the right decision in my mind. Let me ask ... A couple are given two vaccines. Do you give two to one, or give one each one dose? It's a no brainer." Boxes of some of the first 500,000 of the two million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses that Canada has secured through a deal with the Serum Institute of India in partnership with Verity Pharma are displayed, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at a facility in Milton, Ontario. (Carlos Osorio/Pool Photo via AP) The addition of the newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine to the country's supply could mean almost all Canadians would get their first shot in that time frame. "The vaccine effectiveness of the first dose will be monitored closely and the decision to delay the second dose will be continuously assessed based on surveillance and effectiveness data and post-implementation study designs," the panel wrote. "Effectiveness against variants of concern will also be monitored closely, and recommendations may need to be revised," it said, adding there is currently no evidence that a longer interval will affect the emergence of the variants. The updated guidance applies to all three of the vaccines currently approved for use in Canada. The committee's recommendation came hours after the Atlantic coast province of Newfoundland and Labrador said it will extend the interval between the first and second doses to four months, and days after health officials in the Pacific coast province of British Columbia announced they were doing so. Boxes of some of the first 500,000 of the two million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses that Canada has secured through a deal with the Serum Institute of India in partnership with Verity Pharma are displayed, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at a facility in Milton, Ontario. (Carlos Osorio/Pool Photo via AP) Manitoba and Quebec also said Wednesday they will delay second doses. And Ontario's health minister said it would Ontario to rapidly accelerate its vaccine rollout. Earlier Wednesday, Trudeau said any change in public health guidance regarding the timing of the two doses could affect the speed of Canada's vaccine rollout, as could the approval of more vaccines like Johnson and Johnson. Canada's provinces administer health care in the country so it's ultimately up to the provinces. Dr. Brad Wouters, executive vice-president of science and research at University Health Network, cast doubt on the recommendation. "Nobody in the world has been 4 months between doses. These are RNA vaccines never used before. We should use evidence to make decisions. Canada conducting a population experiment," Wouters tweeted. Michael Gray moves a pallet of some of the first 500,000 of the two million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses that Canada has secured through a deal with the Serum Institute of India in partnership with Verity Pharma Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at a facility in Milton, Ontario. (Carlos Osorio/Pool Photo via AP) And Mona Nemer, the federal government's Chief Science Advisor, also said this week that the plan amounts to a "population-level experiment" and that the data provided so far by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech is based on an interval of three to four weeks between doses. But Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's provincial health officer, said the manufacturers structured their clinical trials that way to get the vaccines to market as quickly as possible, but said research in British Columbia, Quebec, Israel and the United Kingdom has shown that first doses are highly effective. Explore further Canada approves AstraZeneca Covid vaccine 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Homicide detectives are investigating a body found Thursday morning in north Houston, police said. Officers were dispatched around 5:25 a.m. to 501 Greens Road, just north of Beltway 8, where someone saw a body in the roadway, according to the Houston Police Department. Police initially thought it was a vehicular crime, but now believe the death was a homicide. The agency did not release any more details. ADVERTISEMENT The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Uguru Justus on charges of defrauding a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Edward Nkwegu, to the tune of N4.5 million. The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendant, who falsely presented himself as a member of staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, obtained the money from Mr Nkwegu under the pretext of helping him to secure a contract from the oil firm. A statement by the commissions spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Thursday said the defendant was arraigned before Phoebe Ayua of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Wednesday. According to the statement, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Petition, investigations The anti-graft agency said it began investigations into the alleged fraud after it received a petition from Mr Nkwegu alleging that Mr Justus approached him in May 2019, that he had secured a job at Chevron Nigeria Limited and requested an attestation letter which he obliged him. According to the EFCC, Mr Nkwegu said after a while, that the defendant approached him again, saying he just returned from a foreign training in the United Kingdom and had resumed work fully at Chevron. The complainant said shortly after that he found documents in his new office, indicating that Chevron was owing his company, Edon Nigeria Limited, some money. The anti-graft commission said the defendant allegedly promised the complainant that he would not only ensure that Chevron pays him, he would also help secure another contract for him. The defendant was said to have requested N4.5 million from the complainant to help him secure the new contract. According to the EFCC, the complainant gave the defendant the money but later petitioned the commission after realising that he was not a Chevron staff member, and that there was no Chevron contract in existence. Charges One of the charges later preferred against the defendant read, that you Uguru Ozoemena Justus, sometime between June 2019 and November 2019, in Ebonyi State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only (N4, 500,000.00) from Edward Nkwuegu when you presented yourself as a staff of Chevron Nigeria Ltd and capable of assisting him to get contracts and to recover his money from Chevron Nigeria Limited which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. Following the defendants not-guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Nuradeen Ingawa, urged the court to adjourn for trial. Bail In response, the defence counsel, Daniel Uwadiegwu, made an oral bail application on behalf of his client. The judge subsequently granted bail to the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety, who must be a responsible citizen and have landed property within the jurisdiction. The judge also ordered that the surety must deposit two passport photographs with the court, while his residence should be verified by the EFCC. The court court adjourned till March 23 for trial. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below About 8:15 a.m., in the 13700 block of South Brainerd Avenue in the Hegewisch neighborhood, a man was on train No. 114 when he became aggressive with a ticket collector and conductor who requested assistance from a transit police officer. When the officer, a railroad police officer with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, tried to remove the man, he became physically aggressive and a struggle ensued, and the officer discharged his weapon, Chicago police said. China's attempts to discredit the BBC show an increased sophistication in tailoring propaganda for Western audiences, an Australian research group said Thursday. Chinese officials participated in a social media campaign against the BBC after it aired a report on Feb. 2 featuring Uighur women who alleged that detainees in camps in the province of Xinjiang were systematically raped, sexually abused and tortured. China's Foreign Ministry denied the allegations and accused the BBC of making a "false report." The ensuing weeks saw a spike in social-media activity from Chinese diplomats and state media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube criticising the BBC, said Jacob Wallis, a senior analyst at the International Cyber Policy Centre, which is under the umbrella of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, or ASPI. He authored the report with researcher Albert Zhang. "This was a particularly sustained period of activity," Wallis said in an interview. "It was also novel in terms of the coordination across different media, diplomatic Twitter accounts retweeting Chinese television reports featuring Western voices based in China, because they know those voices will be effective at penetrating international discourse." Tensions between the U.K. and China increased after Beijing last year imposed a new national security law on Hong Kong and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government offered a path to citizenship for millions of the city's residents. On Feb. 4, U.K. government regulator Ofcomm revoked the license of state-run China Global Television Network after investigators found it didn't have editorial control over broadcasts in the U.K. A week later China took the BBC off the air, saying its reports weren't "truthful and fair." China's diplomats have become more aggressive in recent years in seeking to shape the narrative around Beijing's actions, leading some to describe them as "Wolf Warriors" in reference to a nationalist Chinese movie released in 2015. Whereas once Chinese officials used party talking points on Western social media to defend government policy, they are now more adept at messaging, according to the ASPI report. China's repurposing of domestic internet content to influence Chinese-language audiences around the world, along with using Western voices to resonate internationally, demonstrate its increased understanding in finding new ways to drive influence across cultural and linguistic boundaries, Wallis said. They are also using bespoke content, established social themes and shared political ideologies like anti-Western imperialism, he added. China's Foreign Ministry didn't immediately respond to ASPI's findings, and nor did the BBC. Chinese state media and diplomats have frequently attacked the credibility of the research group, which was established by the Australian government in 2001 and has disclosed additional funding from global defense contractors and Western diplomatic missions. Wallis said this report "hasn't flowed from any specific project so is untied to any specific funder." When it came to targeting the BBC, Wallis said, Chinese officials used an existing narrative around criticism of the broadcaster by its own domestic audience in the U.K. A Chinese diplomat in Lebanon named Cao Yi retweeted a tweet from the BBC defending its reporting but which had dozens of replies criticizing it. He called the BBC the "Biased Broadcasting Channel," a phrase used for years by the broadcaster's domestic critics, the ASPI report noted. Beijing's online advocates have "become a lot more like the Russians, who are very skilled at making their messages look genuine and authentic," said John Lee, a Sydney-based senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based research group. "It used to be a group of bloggers based somewhere in China, inserting themselves into conversations happening around the world," he said. "Now it's clearly people who understand the conversation very well and are tapping into it quite effectively." Health Minister Marek Krajci and PM Igor Matovic shaking hands in front of cargo plane with Sputnik V supplies on March 1. (Source: SITA) This is the Thursday, March 4, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia. Learn about politics, business, and other notable events of the day in Slovakia in less than five minutes. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. Coalition crisis is no closer to an end The coalition council meeting held on the evening of March 3 brought no answers, as the leaders of the four ruling parties agreed they will continue discussions. The meeting was convened after two coalition parties, Za Ludi and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), openly criticised PM Igor Matovic and his style of governing, asking for a cabinet reshuffle to calm the situation. The Sme Rodina party, led by Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollar, said that they are open to discussing some reshuffles in the government. The party leadership is set to meet on March 10 to discuss the current situation and its attitudes to solutions. The fate of the coalition remains unclear after evening meeting Read more Politicians welcome rolling review of Sputnik V Even though the tense situation in the coalition has been on-going for several months, it escalated after the purchase of the Sputnik V vaccines that were brought to Slovakia without EMA registration and were welcomed by the PM at Kosice airport. The EMA announced on March 4 that a rolling review process of the Sputnik V vaccine has started. If the EMAs human medicines committee decides that the data provided by the requesting party is sufficient, the requesting party may submit an official request for registration to the EMA. The chair of coalition party, Za Ludi, wrote on Twitter that for now it is enough to wait for approval and then the vaccine can be used normally, as her party suggested from the beginning. This way it can be done without bending the rules, or creating a circus and transferring the responsibility to doctors, Remisova wrote. Even if EMA grants registration to Sputnik V, this may not solve the coalition crisis. SaS chairman Richard Sulik said that even after a year in government, the prime minister still does not understand that it is impossible to govern the country via Facebook. Rolling review of Sputnik by EMA begins, a move welcomed by Slovak politicians Read more New rules Although several new, stricter anti-pandemic rules, on which the cabinet agreed on the evening of February 28, came into force on the morning of Wednesday, March 3, the respective ordinance by hygienists was missing. It was issued only on Wednesday evening. Check which measures apply in Slovakia. New rules came into force, but ordinance published late Read more Photo of the day: Bratislava Castle (Source: TASR) Covid and vaccination news: The first Slovak patients have been taken to hospital in Gorlice in Poland . With the help of Romanian healthcare workers and with the help of the University Hospital in Bratislava, the National Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases has been successful in creating new beds with lung ventilators for patients with difficult Covid-19 development , said State Secretary Peter Stachura. . With the help of and with the help of the University Hospital in Bratislava, the National Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases has been successful in , said State Secretary Peter Stachura. Slovakia will receive 15,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from France as a gift, PM Igor Matovic wrote on Facebook. Today, France has made a gesture of friendship and European solidarity towards Slovakia, in a difficult epidemiological situation, the PM wrote. Feature story for today: It is natural for states in Europe to support the education and culture of their peoples, regardless of borders. But this support must not be on condition of loyalty to political representation and should not become a tool in order to cling to power. The support system, as wielded by Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, divides people into loyal ethnic Hungarians worthy of help or traitors to their nationality. In his scheme, being a good Hungarian means turning a sympathetic ear to Orban's illiberal democracy. How Viktor Orban exports his ideology Read more Other news: PM Matovic apologised for the joke that caused uproar in Ukraine. Slovakia is your friend, he wrote. Police detained former Justice Ministry state secretary Monika Jankovska after the Supreme Court released her from custody . The police were waiting for the accused in front of the hospital for detainees in Trencin. Her latest detention is related to the Fatima case. . The police were waiting for the accused in front of the hospital for detainees in Trencin. Her latest detention is related to the Fatima case. Retail sales decreased by 16.8 percent y-o-y in January . The Statistics Office stated this was the deepest slump since 2009. Sales decreased in all nine monitored retail activities while in four of them the decline hit an all-time low . . The Statistics Office stated this was the deepest slump since 2009. Sales decreased in all nine monitored retail activities while in four of them the decline . The European Commission has approved a scheme for Slovakia to support combined heat and power plants . Slovakia plans to spend more than a billion euros on projects over 15 years. (TASR, EC) . Slovakia plans to spend more than a billion euros on projects over 15 years. (TASR, EC) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Hungarian Ambassador to explain the proceedings during the visit of the Hungarian Minister Peter Szijjarto in connection with the amendment to the Citizenship Act. "We want to have good neighbourly relations with Hungary, but I will not allow interference in our internal affairs," said Ivan Korcok. Do not miss on Spectator.sk today: Julia Hanuliakova: From campaigner against animal captivity to zoo director Read more Matovic should bear in mind that Orban courts Slovakia's Hungarians Read more Nationwide testing cost nearly 120 million Read more People from Slovakia continue flying to exotic destinations despite curfew Read more Pandemic has made logistics real estate attractive for investors Read more JK Tyre & Industries Ltd on Thursday said it has entered into a strategic partnership with CarDekho and AutoBrix for online to offline doorstep tyre delivery-cum-fitment service. Under the initiative, JK Tyre will use its existing channel network to extend its products and services to consumer's doorstep with CarDekho's automobile platform providing the online channel to purchase car tyres from JK Tyre and AutoBrix India enabling tyre delivery and fitment at customer's doorstep, the company said in a statement. The online to offline doorstep tyre delivery-cum-fitment service will be offered under 'JK Tyre Man' initiative, which will be rolled out first in Bangalore in its pilot phase from March 2021, before being rolled out to the major cities and towns in India by Q2 of 2021, it added. Commenting on the partnership, JK Tyre & Industries Director - Sales & Marketing Srinivasu Allaphan said,"Our partnership with CarDekho and AutoBrix for Tyre Man reinforces our motto of staying in Total Control, where we extend safety and convenience to our consumers and have the purchased tyres fitted right at their doorstep." There has been a dramatic shift in consumer behavior towards e-commerce in the last few months due to the ongoing pandemic, he said adding, as seen with almost every industry, automobiles, and especially tyres, are finding a strong demand online. CarDekho Co-founder and CEO Amit Jain said the launch of JK Tyre Man will ensure that the customers can not only buy a car online but can also get quality tyres delivered to their doorstep. "As a leading full stack auto tech company, we are leaving no stone unturned in helping customers across their entire car purchase, ownership and sale journey and we are confident that this too will contribute in easing their requirement in current time," he added. AutoBrix Founder Prathibha Shalini said COVID has impacted the world, including the auto services industry and today the world is looking at more doorstep services in every sector and auto services is no exception. "This partnership with JK Tyres and Car Dekho takes the tyre purchase experience to the next level with our doorstep services," Shalini added. Also Read: Maruti Suzuki's service network crosses 4,000 outlet-mark in India; 208 workshops added in FY21 A tsunami warning was issued after an 8.1 magnitude earthquake hit near the coast of New Zealand on Thursday. (US Geological Survey) Tsunami Warning Issued After 8.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near New Zealand A tsunami warning was issued after an 8.1 magnitude earthquake hit near the coast of New Zealand on Thursday. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake hit approximately 500 miles northeast of Auckland, striking in the Pacific Ocean near the Kermadec Islands. It came after a 7.3 magnitude tremor struck near Gisborne. The 8.1 quake prompted New Zealands National Emergency Management Agency to once again issue a tsunami advisory. The agency warned on Twitter: TSUNAMI WARNING issued following Kermadecs earthquake. People near coast from the BAY OF ISLANDS to WHANGAREI, from MATATA to TOLAGA BAY, and GREAT BARRIER ISLAND must MOVE IMMEDIATELY to nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. A TSUNAMI WATCH has been issued for Hawaii. A Watch means a tsunami may impact Hawaii. The threat is still being evaluated by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Monitor TV, radio and official social media. KNOW if you are in an EVACUATION RED ZONE. https://t.co/716pXxq7kb Oahu Emergency Mgmt. (@Oahu_DEM) March 4, 2021 A tsunami watch was issued for Hawaii following the 8.1 magnitude earthquake as seismologists are still calculating to see if a tsunami was created by the second temblor. In Hawaii, the tsunami could be destructive on coastal areas even far from the epicenter. Of the earlier quake, Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz told TV New Zealand, Ive heard reports of little bits of damage, nothing major at this stage. According to the USGS, at least eight aftershocks were reported after the first quake today. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit the New Zealand city of Christchurch in 2011, killing 185 people and doing significant damage. As conservatives voice outrage after six Dr. Seuss books were canceled over insensitive imagery, a culture and policy analyst with a leading conservative Christian family organization believes Christians should acknowledge some of Seuss work was problematic without demonizing him. Focus on the Familys Jeff Johnston told The Christian Post in an interview Wednesday that Christians should be objective in their approach to knee-jerk reaction issues that gain so much attention. As Christians, we want to be temperate in issues like this, and objective and not rush to judgment about Dr. Seuss or about any of his work, Johnston said. And its also important to have some perspective on this. Dr. Seuss was a product of his own time. Christians should be honest, too, that there are some aspects of his work that are problematic. But at the same time, I dont think we want to demonize Dr. Seuss. In the statement released Tuesday, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that it made the decision last year to cease publication and licensing on titles such as And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, If I Ran the Zoo, McElligots Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super! and The Cats Quizzer. The decision came after a panel of experts and educators reviewed the Dr. Seuss catalog. Source:The Christian Post STAMFORD A former city man accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile nearly a decade ago is back in custody after a judge determined he violated his conditions of release. Canai Hill, 28, was allowed to walk free in December after he posted a $250,000 bond following his arrest a month earlier on charges of first-degree sexual assault, five counts of risk of injury to a child by sexual contact and two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault of a minor. But, on Thursday, Hill was led out of Stamford Superior Court in handcuffs after Judge Bruce Hudock doubled his bond to $500,000 for alleged noncompliance with the terms of his release. Hudocks decision came at the behest of Assistant States Attorney Elizabeth Moran, who argued that Hill who has been on house arrest and under GPS monitoring since his release three months ago made at least two unauthorized trips without the permission of his probation officer. According to Moran, Hill, who has been living in New Jersey since the court determined that he could not return to his Stamford home because of its proximity to the victim in the case, has been staying at a residence that is located less than a mile from two elementary schools, one preschool and a park, which was not mentioned at the time the living arrangements were approved. Moran further claimed that Hill, when confronted by his probation officer over his alleged noncompliance, said it is hard for him to follow these conditions since he has done nothing wrong. This is not a matter of just adjusting to the conditions or simply trying to find a way to work with each other, Your Honor. It sounds like the deliberate noncompliance on Mr. Hills part, Moran said. Stamford defense attorney Andrew Gould, who represents Hill, argued that the two incidents of noncompliance were more of a misunderstanding than defiance. In the first instance, Hill was simply dropping off his mother at his sisters house, Gould said. Gould claimed that the second incident involved his client overstaying an approved trip to have his phone repaired and stop at the grocery store. He is trying to comply, Gould said. After raising Hills bond, Hudock suggested Hill should explore moving back to Stamford in order to aid in his compliance with the terms of release, should he post bond again. Im not going to put up with an individual saying they cant comply, Hudock said. According to Hills 10-page arrest affidavit, police began to investigate him last March after a 17-year-old girl and her grandmother accused Hill, their longtime neighbor, of making sexual suggestions to the girl while the grandmother was out of the house. Hill denied the allegations when interviewed by police. The teen told police initially she was able to get Hill out of the house without incident, but the girl said he returned soon after, forcing her to lock herself and her younger brother in an upstairs bathroom while they hid from him, according to the affidavit. When police asked the girl if Hill had ever made sexual advances to her before, she said he had when he was babysitting her at the age of 8 or 9, the affidavit said. That allegation led to a forensic interview with a specialist from the state Department of Children and Families as well as a Child Guidance Advocate trained in interviewing young people about sexual assault allegations. The girl said Hill continued inappropriate and violating behavior for several years, according to the affidavit. The girls 12-year-old brother was also interviewed and told the social worker that Hill rubbed his thigh one time within the past year. When police talked to Hill, he denied ever babysitting the girl and he said he was never left alone with the children. He said he was not that type of person and there were always people around when he was with the girl and her brother. Hill is next scheduled to appear in court on March 30. India Inc is against restrictions on the industry and has asked Haryana to reassess the legislation on 75 per cent jobs reservation for locals in the private sector. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said that reservation affects productivity and industry competitiveness, and that the Haryana government could have avoided imposing restrictions on the industry. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, said, "At a time when it is important to attract investments at the state level, the Haryana government could have avoided imposing restrictions on the industry. Reservation affects productivity and industry competitiveness. We hope the state government of Haryana relooks at the legislation." Author Ratan Sharda said in a tweet, "Haryana has passed a warrant for financial decline and signaled movement of private enterprise out of Haryana. What's the plan? #BJP eschewed at heavy cost. Deendayal Upadhyay ji lost only election he fought because he refused to appeal for votes in name of caste." On Tuesday, Haryana Governor Satydeo Narain Arya gave nod to the legislation providing 75 per cent reservation for jobs in the private sector to locals who have a state domicile certificate. Reservation for locals will apply for 10 years to private sector jobs offering a salary of less than Rs 50,000 a month. As per the Act, the quota applies to all companies, societies, trusts, limited liability partnership firms, partnership firms and any person employing 10 or more persons and an entity as may be notified by the government of Haryana. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. All 1,000 girls completed middle school; 275 graduated from high school and 200 from vocational schools; and 170 went on to college. It was a deeply intimate project for all the contributors, as Ms. Chung noted. They stayed with it for 15 or more years and attended all the girls graduations. The girls called Ms. Koo Grandma Koo. When Spring Bud began, thousands of girls in Shaanxi Province were not attending school, in part because the cultures gender bias favored boys. For her own part, Ms. Koo remembered wanting to be a boy from a young age, cutting her hair short and wearing boys clothes over her school uniform. When her brothers brought home C grades, they were punished. When she brought home an A, she was told not to study so hard. Rosalyn Chin-Ming Chen was born on Nov. 11, 1926, in Shanghai. Her father, K.F. Chen, was a senior executive at the Bank of China; her mother, Margaret (Sang) Chen, was a homemaker, though she was college educated, which was unusual for her generation. (Margarets father was a minister who educated all 10 of his children.) During the horrors of the Second Sino-Japanese War, when the Japanese bombed her city, Rosalyn became attuned to classism and injustice. When she was 7, she announced to her mother that she would dedicate her life to helping the poor. Her mother responded by suggesting that she learn to clean her room first. Rosalyn was sent to the prestigious McTyeire School, an all-girls boarding school in Shanghai, which she adored even though she was suspended twice. Hers was the last class to graduate, in 1947, before the Communists took over. The school deteriorated under party rule, and when Ms. Koo returned in the 1970s and saw its run-down condition, she raised funds for its rehabilitation stipulating in exchange that the school, which had become coeducational, revert to educating only girls. Beijing: Trade tensions between the United States and China heated up on Tuesday as Beijing warned that it will not sit idle if a US probe into its intellectual property practices leads to sanctions. President Donald Trump's decision to order the investigation comes on top of strains between the two nations over how to handle Beijing's ally North Korea. Trump on Monday signed a memorandum directing US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to determine whether Chinese policies hurt American investors or companies -- with retaliatory measures a possible outcome. "We will stand up to any country that unlawfully forces American companies to transfer their valuable technology as a condition of market access. We will combat the counter feiting and piracy that destroys American jobs," Trump said. "We will safeguard the copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property that is so vitalto our security and to our prosperity. "Washington will turn a blind eye no longer," Trump insisted. The president said the US would no longer tolerate Beijing's "theft" of US industrial secrets, long a concern of major foreign corporations seeking a share of the huge Chinese market. "We will engage in a thorough investigation and, if needed, take action to preserve the future of US industry,"Lighthizer said. China's commerce ministry issued a statement voicing"serious concern" and warning that any US trade protectionism "will definitely harm bilateral trade relations". "If the US side take actions that impair the mutual trade relations, disregarding the facts and disrespecting multilateral trade rules, China will not sit idle," the statement said. The ministry said the country "is definitely going to adopt all appropriate measures to vigorously defend the lawful rights and interest of China." The United States is China's second-largest trading partner after the European Union, but Washington and Beijing have seen their relations grow increasingly fraught since a promising summit between Trump and China's Xi Jinping in April. The new intellectual property inquiry joins numerous investigations launched by Washington into Chinese trade practices, notably those concerning steel and aluminum and their national security consequences, which the Trump administration began earlier this year. However, the start of a US inquiry will not immediately result in open confrontation. Lighthizer will first need to reach a preliminary finding of unfair practices by China before opening a formal investigation, which could take as much as a year, administration officials said. The Chinese commerce ministry said the country has"always been paying high attention to intellectual property right protection, continuously perfecting the legislation",and that the progress it has made on that front is "obvious to all". Since launching his successful run for the White House and then taking office, Trump has frequently accused China of undermining the US economy. The bilateral US trade deficit with China approached USD350 billion in 2016, and Trump has repeatedly blamed Chinese imports for gutting employment in US sectors such as steel. Last week, Washington announced preliminary sanctions against Chinese imports of aluminium foil. But so far, the US has not imposed heavier trade measures on Chinese goods. On Thursday, Trump reiterated the suggestion that he could often his position on trade if Beijing were to do more to help rein in nuclear-armed North Korea. "If China helps us, I feel a lot differently toward trade," he said. China said it would halt iron, iron ore and sea food imports from North Korea starting Tuesday, in accordance with new UN sanctions that Beijing voted to approve. US administration officials, however, have denied anylink between the latest trade action and Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. Beijing echoed this view Monday, with the foreign ministry saying the two matters were "totally different." Despite Monday's expected action, Trump has so farrefrained from making good on threats of retaliatory trade measures against China. This includes in particular concerns over Beijing's requirement that foreign companies establish local joint ventures. According to Washington, this can mean surrendering technological know-how to Chinese partners. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Advertisement Nicola Sturgeon's position has been plunged into further doubt after an MSP who grilled her during yesterday's eight-hour Alex Salmond inquiry hearing rubbished parts of her testimony as 'frankly not credible'. Conservative Murdo Fraser said the First Minister is 'not out of the woods' and believes the committee will find her in breach of the ministerial code by misleading Parliament on when she knew of the allegations against her predecessor. Calling on her to resign, he said: 'There have been three opinion polls showing that people in Scotland believe by a large majority that if the First Minister misled Parliament she should resign. 'I think the consequences will be very clear for the First Minister if the report makes that clear, and I believe it will, because the evidence presented to our committee... is clear that the statements made by the First Minister have been untrue.' Ms Sturgeon's allies insisted she had 'dismantled' the claims and 'conspiracy theories' made by Mr Salmond and opposition parties when she gave evidence before MSPs. But Holyrood's Tories accused her of fabricating a 'litany of lies' and have not withdrawn their vote of no confidence in her leadership. The Conservative group said it was examining a letter sent by John Swinney, Ms Sturgeon's deputy, to the inquiry last night agreeing to release more of the Scottish Government's legal advice before deciding how to proceed. That the committee was deprived of parts of the legal advice given to ministers during the Salmond investigation caused uproar yesterday and MSPs demanded Ms Sturgeon provide the critical evidence. Mr Fraser told the BBC: 'There are three key issues in particular. She didn't address the leak of the name of a complainant to Alex Salmond, and there is corroborated evidence backing up the former first minister's version of events there that were not rebutted by the First Minister. 'Second, she still didn't have a credible explanation for the events around the meeting on March 29, 2018 which she claims was the first day she knew of the allegations made against Alex Salmond. And her story there is frankly not credible, and frankly she doesn't have any corroboration to back it up. 'And third there are still major gaps in the legal advice we've seen some of the legal advice supplied, but for the whole month of November 2018, we just have a blank sheet of paper. 'And until we get some compelling evidence around what happened in that period, the First Minister is by no means out of the woods.' The inquiry has three weeks to compile its report before the Scottish Parliament breaks up. And a second inquiry by James Hamilton QC into whether Sturgeon broke the ministerial code over her handling of the affair is due to report before May's Scottish elections. In a crunch day for The First Minister's political future: Ms Sturgeon faced questions on why the committee had been deprived of crucial pieces of evidence; She dismissed Mr Salmond's 'absurd' claims there was a concerted plot to bring him down; She tore into her predecessor for not offering up 'a single word of regret' for 'inappropriate behaviour' during his own testimony last Friday; The First Minister denied that a member of her staff had leaked the name of one of the women accusers to Mr Salmond's chief of staff; Jackie Baillie MSP suggested to the inquiry the Daily Record newspaper was leaked information on Mr Salmond to spike an upcoming story about Ms Sturgeon, which Ms Sturgeon said she knew nothing about; Ms Sturgeon said that, during her tenure as deputy first minister, Mr Salmond was a 'tough' person to work for at times, but said she was 'sad' she had come to blows with her former mentor. Nicola Sturgeon's career remains on the line today after she failed to answer critical questions over her handling of complaints against Alex Salmond at a marathon eight-hour grilling in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (pictured) Conservative Murdo Fraser said the First Minister is 'not out of the woods' and believes the committee will find her in breach of the ministerial code by misleading Parliament on when she knew of the allegations against her predecessor Sturgeon fights for her career: Key quotes at the Holyrood inquiry On Alex Salmond's claims of a conspiracy to bring him down: 'I feel I may rebut the absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond. That claim is not based in any fact.' 'Alex Salmond was one of the the closest people to me in my life - I would never have wanted to get Alex Salmond. I had no motive intention or desire to get Alex .' On Alex Salmond's inappropriate behaviour: 'That he was acquitted by a jury of criminal conduct is beyond question. But I know, just from what he told me, that his behaviour was not always appropriate. 'And yet across six hours of testimony, there was not a single word of regret, reflection or a simple acknowledgment of that. I can only hope in private the reality might be different.' On the meeting at her home on March 29, 2018: The meeting 'did indicate a harassment-type issue had arisen, but my recollection is he [Salmond's chief of staff] did so in general terms.' On the meeting at her home on April 2, 2018: 'It was the detail of the complaints under the procedure that I was given on April 2 that was significant and indeed shocking'. On Mr Salmond telling her about the allegations against him: 'A moment in my life that I will never forget' On the prospect of allegations concerning Mr Salmond being made public: 'The thought of this becoming public, and I would have to comment on it, horrified me. Absolutely horrified me. It made me feel physically sick.' On the handling of complaints against Mr Salmond 'I am deeply regretful, deeply angry and will always feel incredibly bad for, principally, the two women who were let down, and the wider implications in terms of the cost to the taxpayer.' On claims the Scottish Goverment 'delayed, obstructed, obfuscated' the progress of the Holyrood Inquiry: 'I would not accept the characterisation.' On serving as deputy first minister under Mr Salmond 'He was a tough guy to work for. If he was displeased with you, you knew about it.' On a member of her staff leaking the name of one of the complainants to Mr Salmond's former chief of staff. 'I am not accepting that that happened, therefore I am clearly not accepting that was authorised' Advertisement The First Minister was ridiculed by sceptical MSPs yesterday afternoon as she claimed she 'didn't remember' a key meeting about the sexual assault allegations against her predecessor and mentor. Committee members described her claims as 'unlikely' and said they were 'struggling to believe' her, while expressing incredulity at her 'forgetfulness'. She insisted that her version of events concerning the allegations against Mr Salmond was 'not a story' but the truth. But the Scottish Tories said last night: 'Nicola Sturgeon dodged and evaded almost every difficult question. She vividly remembers the details she believes exonerate her, then forgets entirely anything that damages her. The litany of lies and abject failures is too much for any First Minister to survive. She must go.' Ms Sturgeon has maintained the first time she learned of accusations against her predecessor was on April 2, 2018, during a conversation with him in the dining room of her home. Accusations that she misled Parliament - which if proven could force her to resign - came after it emerged she had a prior meeting on March 29 with Mr Salmond's former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, about harassment claims. Ms Sturgeon previously stated she 'forgot' about this meeting and yesterday said that the gravity of the April 2 meeting had 'obliterated' her memory of the March 29 one. She told MSPs: 'What happened in my house on April 2, in my dining room with a man that's been all these things to me for thirty years, was so significant, that that was the thing that will live with me forever. Did that, in my mind, slightly obliterate what came before that? Possibly.' Ms Sturgeon added that on March 29 Mr Aberdein raised harassment claims 'in general terms' but not specifically in relation to Mr Salmond. She said: 'As you know, and it's been the subject of comment and scepticism and I understand that: I didn't remember this meeting. 'And my recollection of this meeting is still not as vivid as I'd like it to be. I won't go into the detail, but it was a colleague's birthday, we stepped into my office. 'He indicated there was a harassment issue, to the best of my recollection it was in general terms. What I remember more strongly is how worried he was about Alex and the main purpose of the discussion, as I recall it, was for him to get me to agree to see Alex.' She also said that Mr Aberdein had expressed fears that Mr Salmond was poised to quit the SNP, which prompted her to agree to meet with her predecessor a few days later. Her remarks raised eyebrows from Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton, who cast doubt on the veracity of her claims. He said: 'This massive and devastating fear and belief that you had that your friend and mentor of 30 years was about to quit your party came from a meeting that you claimed to have forgotten all about. Sorry First Minister, but do you realise how unlikely that sounds?' Mr Fraser added: 'I share Mr Cole-Hamilton's scepticism about your forgetfulness... We're struggling to believe the story that you forgot about this meeting.' Ms Sturgeon shot back: 'It's not a story, it's an account of what happened.' Allies of Ms Sturgeon rode to her defence, with justice minister Humza Yousaf accusing members of the committee of a 'house of cards conspiracy' - tweets that were condemned online, given his government position with responsibility for due process. Sturgeon in the back of a chauffeur driven car leaving the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh, on Wednesday night after a gruelling eight hours before the committee Nicola Sturgeon leaves her home yesterday, where she claimed she first learnt about claims made against Mr Salmond In six hours of brutal testimony last week, Alex Salmond laid out a case that senior SNP figures conspired to try to force him out of public life over harassment claims Ms Sturgeon, wearing a tartan mask, leaves the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday evening Allegations, discussions, denials and a 'forgotten' key meeting between Sturgeon and Salmond November 2017: Allegations regarding Alex Salmond's behaviour are raised with the SNP by Sky News. Nicola Sturgeon said she spoke to him about this and he 'denied it'. No further action was taken. March 29, 2018: Ms Sturgeon meets Geoff Aberdein - Mr Salmon's chief of staff - in her Scottish parliament office where she has admitted they discussed the possibility of a meeting with Mr Salmond. Ms Sturgeon after initially forgetting about this meeting says there was 'the suggestion that the matter might relate to allegations of a sexual nature'. April 2, 2018: Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond meet at the First Minister's home. According to Ms Sturgeon, this is the first time she heard of the complaints made against him. Despite this, she has insisted that the matters discussed were party business. No minutes were taken at the meeting. MS STURGEON'S CHANGING ACCOUNTS OF THE MARCH 29 AND APRIL 2 MEETINGS What she previously said: On January 8, 2019, Ms Sturgeon tells the Scottish Parliament she 'first heard' about sexual harassment allegations against Mr Salmond on April 2. In 2018, Andrew Marr asked Ms Sturgeon: 'Had you heard any stories about him before it broke in the press?' She responded: 'Obviously, absolutely not. Until, well I've said previously Alex Salmond informed me about these complaints in April, that was the first I had known.' And what she later said : In 2020, giving written evidence to the Holyrood into her government's handling of complaints against Mr Salmond, she said she 'forgot' about the March 29 meeting until 'late January/early February' 2019. She wrote: 'From what I recall, the discussion covered the fact that Alex Salmond wanted to see me urgently about a serious matter, and I think it did cover the suggestion that the matter might relate to allegations of a sexual nature.' What she says now: At the hearing today Ms Sturgeon claimed that Mr Aberdein raised the issue of sexual harassment with her on March 29, but did so in 'general terms' and she was not aware the allegations related to Mr Salmond. Today, she also suggested she knew about sexual assault allegations against Mr Salmond before the April 2 meeting due to media enquiries, despite previously denying this. She told MSPs: 'Since an approach from Sky News in November 2017... I had harboured a lingering suspicion that such issues in relation to Mr Salmond might rear their head. So hearing of a potential issue would not have been a massive shock.' September 14, 2018: A judicial review is launched after complaints by Mr Salmond over the fairness with how the claims against him were handled. January 8, 2019: The Scottish government conceded defeat in the judicial review a week before it was due to launch. Mr Salmond wins 500,000 in legal fees. The court ruled the probe into Mr Salmond had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias. January 2019: Ms Sturgeon tells MSPs that Mr Salmond first told her about a probe into him on April 2. March 23, 2020: Alex Salmond is cleared of all sexual assault charges and his supporters demanded a full inquiry into the Scottish Government's handling of the scandal. October 7, 2020: Ms Sturgeon claims she 'forgot' about March 29, 2018, meeting with Mr Aberdein. January 24, 2021: Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, Ms Sturgeon denies misleading the Scottish Parliament after 'forgetting' to tell MSPs about her meeting with Mr Salmond's aide on March 29, 2018. February 2021: The High Court in Edinburgh rules Mr Salmond's evidence claiming his former chief of staff met with Ms Sturgeon on March 28, 2018, to discuss sexual assault allegations against the former first minister can be released. Advertisement The First Minister is accused of lying to the Scottish Parliament about when she knew of two female civil servants' sexual assault allegations against Mr Salmond - and could be forced to resign if the claims are proven. The gravity of the allegations has left the First Minister fighting for her job, and today she came out swinging by accusing Mr Salmond of being a sex pest and dismissing his 'absurd' claims of a conspiracy against him. She slammed her predecessor for failing to offer up a 'single word of regret' for his 'inappropriate behaviour' towards women during his six hours of testimony at the Holyrood Inquiry last week. She also contested his version of events in the run-up to the Scottish Government's investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Mr Salmond, of which he was subsequently cleared. Although Ms Sturgeon 'deeply regretted' how the probe into Mr Salmond was handled, she insisted she was trying to stop 'the age old pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants.' She denied that a senior member of her team had leaked the name of one of the complainers to Geoff Aberdein, who had previously been Mr Salmond's chief of staff, and that her staff had leaked to a Scottish newspaper. And she contradicted two witnesses who back Mr Salmond's version of events at the committee hearing today, saying her 'recollection of events is different' but admitting that she wished her 'memory of it was more vivid'. The inquiry could prove fatal for Ms Sturgeon if she is found to have broken the ministerial code by misleading Parliament about a meeting with Mr Aberdein on March 29, 2018, which she failed to record before claiming she 'forgot' about it. At the hearing today she claimed that Mr Aberdein raised the issue of sexual harassment with her on March 29, but did so in 'general terms' and she was not aware the allegations related to Mr Salmond. She continued to claim that she instead first learned of the allegations against Mr Salmond at a meeting with him at her house on April 2 . And she also claimed ignorance about a total of 30 sexual harassment complaints against five SNP ministers. MSPs demand Sturgeon provides critical evidence Ms Sturgeon came under mounting pressure to produce evidence relating to the investigation into Mr Salmond. Labour's Jackie Baillie launched a blistering take-down of her failure to provide critical records of meetings and asked why no senior Government figures had resigned for the botched 2018 investigation into Mr Salmond. Ms Sturgeon has also been accused of a cover-up by Scottish Tories, who are forcing a vote of no confidence over claims she broke the ministerial code by misleading Parliament. Ms Baillie said: 'I don't think I have felt quite so frustrated in my 22 years of being on parliamentary committees as with this one,' she said. 'We have waited for information from the Scottish Government, the stuff we have received has been partial and late. 'The legal advice has taken two votes in Parliament and a motion of no confidence in John Swinney before we saw it last night at six o'clock. And there is information missing.' Ms Baillie added: 'We have waited till the 11th hour for the legal advice, we get partial legal advice.' She asked Ms Sturgeon: 'Do you understand the frustration of the committee? Do you understand that it looks as though the Government doesn't want to give us critical information?' Committee deputy convener also said Margaret Mitchell said that that it had 'faced delay, obstruction, obfuscation' from the Government in its requests for evidence, and said some documents remained outstanding. Ms Sturgeon replied: 'I would not accept the characterisation.' Sturgeon dismisses Salmond's claim of a plot Appearing before MSPs at the Scottish Parliament today, Ms Sturgeon used her opening statement to rubbish Mr Salmond's claims of a concerted conspiracy to bring him down and remove him from public life. She rubbished the 'absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond'. She said 'that claim is not based in any fact' and she had 'no motive, intention or desire' to 'get' her predecessor. The inquiry into Mr Salmond was launched after a number of women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment. Ms Sturgeon told MSPs on Wednesday the idea that those involved were 'concocting' allegations was false, and they came forward of 'their own free will'. But a successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the investigation being ruled unlawful and 'tainted by apparent bias', with a 512,250 payout being awarded to him for legal fees. Mr Salmond was later acquitted of 13 charges following a criminal trial. The Holyrood Inquiry instead puts the spotlight on Ms Sturgeon and her Government's handling of the harassment complaints. Indeed, at points the committee convener ticked off Ms Sturgeon for shifting the focus on to Mr Salmond, saying: 'He's not under trial, your actions are.' Sturgeon says probe into Salmond 'right thing to do' The First Minister said she 'deeply regretted' how the investigation into Mr Salmond was handled but stood by the decision that a probe was necessary. She added that the complaint procedures used to investigate Mr Salmond were drawn up in late 2017, in the wake of the MeToo movement, and were drafted by civil servants, not her. She said: 'The Scottish Government despite the mistake it undoubtedly made, tried to do the right thing. 'As First Minister I refused to let the age old pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants.' But she added: 'That is not the same thing as saying I wanted this to be in the public domain. 'The thought of this becoming public, and I would have to comment on it, horrified me. Absolutely horrified me. It made me feel physically sick. 'I would have been very relieved if it had never come out into the public domain. 'I had nothing to gain from it and only a lot of pain and grief associated with it.' Sturgeon hits back at claims she broke ministerial code The Scottish Conservative group in Holyrood accuses the First Minister of breaking the ministerial code on three counts. First, she misled Parliament on when she first learned of the allegations; she previously claimed April 2, but Mr Salmond says March 29. Second, Ms Sturgeon failed to record the meetings she had with Mr Salmond concerning the allegations. Third, Ms Sturgeon pressed ahead with the investigation against Mr Salmond despite being warned by her lawyers they would lose the case. Ms Sturgeon said that she was 'relieved' to be appearing before the inquiry to lay out her side of the story. Today she recalled harassment claims arising on March 29 during a meeting with Mr Aberdein, but said it was spoken about in a non-specific sense - and that she only realised it was in relation to Mr Salmond during a meeting with him on April 2. Describing the April 2 meeting in her home with Mr Salmond, she said while he denied the complaints against him he gave his account of the incident which 'he said he had apologised for at the time'. Ms Sturgeon told MSPs: 'What he described constituted in my view deeply inappropriate behaviour on his part, perhaps a reason why that moment is embedded so strongly in my mind.' She said she did not 'immediately record the April 2 meeting' as she did not want it to become public and risk 'breaching the confidentiality of the process'. She added she had no intention of intervening in the investigation process and did not intervene, saying to do so would have been an abuse of her role. Addressing the judicial review, Ms Sturgeon said there was strong prospects of defending the challenge and as late as December 11, 2018, the advice given was it was 'very clear there was no need to drop the case'. She said she followed the advice of law officers so did not breach the ministerial code, as has been claimed. Labour's Jackie Baillie launched a blistering take-down of her failure to provide critical records of meetings and asked why no senior Government figures had resigned for the botched 2018 investigation into Mr Salmond Salmond lodges formal complaint about leak of accuser's name Alex Salmond yesterday lodged a formal complaint with the Scottish Government over a leak of one of his complainants' names. While Nicola Sturgeon was giving testimony in the Scottish Parliament, a statement from Mr Salmond's spokesperson was released. It said: 'Mr Salmond has lodged a formal complaint with the permanent secretary to the Scottish Government under the civil service code, on the conduct of the official who is alleged to have breached civil service rules, by disclosing the name of a complainant in the Scottish Government process.' During her questioning, Ms Sturgeon denied she had authorised one of her staff to leak a name of the woman to Mr Salmond's former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein. Labour's Jackie Baillie pressed the First Minister on the claims and called it an 'extraordinary breach of confidentiality' and, if proven, a 'sackable offence'. But Ms Sturgeon said: 'I am not accepting that that happened, therefore I am clearly not accepting that was authorised.' Advertisement Withering assessment of Salmond's testimony In her evidence the First Minister said she felt 'sad' she had come to blows with her old political mentor, which has ripped to the heart of the SNP ahead of May's Holyrood elections. She told MSPs: 'In all the legitimate considerations of this, sometimes the human elements of this situation are lost. Alex spoke on Friday about what a nightmare the last couple of years have been for him, and I don't doubt that. 'I have thought often about the impact on him. He was someone I cared about for a long time.' However, she called into question the former first minister's character for not recognising his inappropriate behaviour during his own appearance last Friday. Ms Sturgeon said: 'I found myself searching for any sign that he recognised how difficult this has been for others too. First and foremost to the woman who believed his behaviour to be inappropriate. 'But also to those who had campaigned with him, worked with him, cared for him and considered him a friend and now stand, unfairly accused of plotting against him. 'That he was acquitted by a jury of criminal conduct is beyond question. But I know, just from what he told me, that his behaviour was not always appropriate. 'And yet across six hours of testimony, there was not a single word of regret, reflection or a simple acknowledgment of that. I can only hope in private the reality might be different.' Ms Sturgeon, 50, served for seven years as Mr Salmond's deputy before succeeding him as first minister in 2014. She told MSPs today that he 'was a tough guy to work with' and on occasions told him he had crossed a line with his behaviour. Their close relationship and strive for Scottish independence over many years also manifested in a close relationship between their staff. Claims Sturgeon's staff leaked identity of complainer to Salmond's ally Ms Sturgeon today said she regarded Mr Aberdein as a friend, but denied claims that one of her staffers had revealed the identity of one of the female accusers to him. Labour's Jackie Baillie pressed the First Minister on the claims and called it an 'extraordinary breach of confidentiality' and, if proven, a 'sackable offence'. But Ms Sturgeon said: 'I am not accepting that that happened, therefore I am clearly not accepting that was authorised.' The First Minister accepted this was a 'matter of contention'. She added: 'Certainly in relation to one of the complainants Alex Salmond was pretty clear he had found out through investigations of Scottish Government social media accounts he had found out who that was. 'And in relation to the other one, and this is the bit I am perhaps speculating on, it must have been the case when he got that letter, because he knew about the incident because he had apologised to the person. 'So my assumption would be that he would have known that without anybody having to tell him. And I know from what he told me he found out the identity of the other one through his own investigations.' A statement from Mr Salmond's spokesperson released as Mr Sturgeon was giving evidence said: 'Mr Salmond has lodged a formal complaint with the permanent secretary to the Scottish Government under the civil service code, on the conduct of the official who is alleged to have breached civil service rules, by disclosing the name of a complainant in the Scottish Government process.' Claims Sturgeon's staff leaked to Daily Record to bury bad press about her Further scrutiny focused on a leak to the Daily Record newspaper that that revealed details of the complaints against Mr Salmond. Ms Sturgeon said: 'I can tell you they didn't come from me, or anyone acting on my instruction or request.' And she said she had no knowledge of claims conveyed by Ms Baillie that the Daily Record was leaked the information to spike an upcoming story on Ms Sturgeon. 'That is a new part of the conspiracy I'm hearing for the first time,' Ms Sturgeon said. Ms Sturgeon was also confronted by Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell about her knowledge of 30 sexual harassment claims against five SNP ministers over the course of 10 years. Responding after Ms Mitchell described the complaints, Ms Sturgeon said: 'Forgive me, I don't know exactly what you're referring to in terms of five SNP ministers.' The Scots Tories' allegations about Ms Sturgeon include repeatedly misleading the Scottish Parliament about when she first knew of the allegations against Mr Salmond, delaying settling the judicial review despite legal advice, and meeting Mr Salmond on government business without any officials present or records being taken The allegations Alex Salmond was cleared of July 2008: He was accused of kissing Woman A on the mouth and touching her buttocks and breast over her clothing in June and July 2008; and sexually assaulting her in either December 2010 or December 2011 in a nightclub i, by touching her arms and hips over her clothing. October or November 2010: He was charged with indecently assaulting Woman B at Bute House, the Scottish First Minister's official residence, in October or November 2010. She had accused him of repeatedly seizing her by the wrists, pulling her towards him and trying to kiss her. February 2011 Woman C accused him of assaulting her in a car in Edinburgh during February 2011 by touching her leg with his hand over her clothing, but said that was 'impossible' with others in the car who would have seen the incident take place. Between May 2011 and June 2013 Woman D claimed he assaulted her on a number of occasions between 2011 and 2013 at various locations, including Bute House and the Scottish Parliament building. Between May 2011 and June 2013, he was alleged to have sexually assaulted her by touching her buttocks over her clothing and stroking her arms and hair. December 2013: Woman F claimed he assaulted her at Bute House in December 2013 and sexually assaulting her in either November or December 2013. He was accused of making her sit on a bed, lying on top of her, struggling with her and pulling up her dress with intent to rape her. April 2014Woman G - a Scottish Government official said he twice assaulted her - once in Glasgow during 2012 and secondly in Bute House in April 2014. She accused him of smacking her buttocks at a Glasgow restaurant in March 2012. Salmond said: 'It didn't happen.' 2014 Meanwhile, Woman H said in 2014 Salmond sexually assaulted her attempting to rape her the same year. Advertisement Last night legal documents were finally released and revealed the Scottish Government was warned that it was heading for defeat in its legal battle with Mr Salmond. Lawyers told Ms Sturgeon's administration the court fight against the former First Minister was doomed three months before he eventually won the case. The warnings were shared with senior officials including the Lord Advocate, but the Government pressed on with the case. The decision left taxpayers to pick up a bill of more than 500,000 when the investigation was branded 'unlawful' and 'tainted by apparent bias' by the Court of Session. The revelations pile pressure on Ms Sturgeon as she prepares to face a grilling from MSPs at the inquiry today, in a session expected to last at least five hours. Last night, the Conservatives said they intend to call for a motion of no confidence in Ms Sturgeon at Holyrood, putting her career on the line. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'Credible witnesses have now backed up Alex Salmond's claims and the legal advice shows the Government knew months in advance that the judicial review was doomed but they still went on to waste more than 500,000 of taxpayers' money. 'There is no longer any doubt that Nicola Sturgeon lied to the Scottish parliament and broke the ministerial code on numerous counts. 'No First Minister can be allowed to mislead the Scottish people and continue in office, especially when they have tried to cover up the truth and abused the power of their office in the process. 'The weight of the evidence is overwhelming. Nicola Sturgeon must resign.' 'No evidence she can provide tomorrow will counter the claims of numerous witnesses or refute that her Government ignored the legal advice for months and lost more than 500,000 of taxpayers' money in the process. We will be submitting a vote of no confidence in the First Minister.' Yesterday Duncan Hamilton, QC, challenged a series of Ms Sturgeon's claims about her meetings with Mr Salmond and backed up the former SNP leader's assertions. In a ten-page submission, he confirmed that the April 2 meeting between Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon in her home had been arranged to discuss the Government probe into complaints despite her claim in written evidence that she thought it was going to be about party business. Mr Hamilton, a legal adviser to Mr Salmond, also confirmed the former First Minister's claim that a senior Government official named one of the complainants to Mr Aberdein, in early March 2018. He said that his evidence was given 'to the very best' of his recollection, adding: 'I am prepared to provide the same evidence under oath in an affidavit if that is considered necessary.' Mr Hamilton said he is aware of who the official is and was told on a conference call which included former SNP spin doctor Kevin Pringle. Speaking in parliament last week, Ms Sturgeon said that to 'the very best of my knowledge, I do not think that happened'. The First Minister has repeatedly insisted she believed the meeting was to discuss SNP business and this is why no official record was made. But Mr Hamilton, who attended the meeting between Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon, said: 'I was invited to that meeting and travelled to it along with Mr Salmond and Mr Aberdein. I would further note that the letter received from the Scottish Government [informing Mr Salmond of the Government probe] was the sole focus of the meeting.' Mr Hamilton also backed up Mr Salmond's claim that Ms Sturgeon offered to intervene in the investigation as this was an 'important aspect' of discussions held at her home. After leaving the meeting, Mr Hamilton said it was discussed with Mr Salmond and Mr Aberdein as they felt mediation 'seemed very likely'. But he admitted that Ms Sturgeon later changed her mind. He added: 'I can confirm that the First Minister did offer to assist. We discussed mediation. My clear recollection is that her words were 'if it comes to it, I will intervene'. 'From a legal perspective, that was the most important aspect of the meeting. I therefore remember it clearly.' What are the key issues in the row engulfing SNP? How and why did the Scottish government mishandle allegations against Alex Salmond? The Scottish government launched an investigation in 2017 after two women made formal complaints against Alex Salmond. He launched legal action against the government's handling of the investigation and won a judicial review in January 2019, receiving 512,000 to cover his legal fees. The parliamentary inquiry is examining how ministers and civil servants conducted the probe. Mr Salmond was charged with 13 counts of sexual assault, including attempted rape, but was acquitted of all charges in March 2020. Mr Salmond has claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy by senior SNP figures to end his role in public life. What did Nicola Sturgeon know and when? Ms Sturgeon originally told MSPs she learned of complaints against Mr Salmond on April 2, 2018, when the pair met at her house. That meeting is crucial as it is unclear whether it was SNP business, or government business - which should have been officially recorded. Peter Murrell, the chief executive of the SNP and Ms Sturgeon's husband, initially said he was not at home, but later revealed that he arrived home during the discussion. He insists he did not ask what they were talking about. Ms Sturgeon has also admitted she 'forgot' about a discussion with Mr Salmond's ex-chief of staff four days earlier where they talked about the issue. The ministerial code says that 'ministers who knowingly mislead the parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the First Minister'. Ms Sturgeon is facing a separate independent investigation led by James Hamilton, who has to decide if she broke the ministerial code. However, it is thought that she is the final arbiter of whether the code has been breached. Does Mr Salmond have evidence of a conspiracy against him? Mr Salmond has said he is the victim of a 'prolonged, malicious' conspiracy by senior SNP and government figures. He has suggested Mr Murrell was part of efforts to damage him. Ms Sturgeon has demanded he presents hard evidence that is the case. However, he insisted that he is not in the dock and the government has already conceded it acted illegally. Why was Mr Salmond's evidence to the inquiry redacted? Mr Salmond's submission to the inquiry was released online on Monday, but the Crown Office raised concerns with Holyrood about it, asking for redactions. He has raised questions about why the step was taken and whether it amounted to inappropriate interference. Advertisement Mr Hamilton said that Mr Salmond had waived his legal privilege to allow the submission backing up his side of events to be published. The evidence submission made on the eve of Ms Sturgeon's appearance at committee goes through several points made by Mr Salmond in relation to the meeting at the SNP leader's home in April 2018. He also confirmed that a meeting between Ms Sturgeon and Mr Aberdein in her parliamentary office on March 29 had been pre-planned to discuss the harassment complaints against Mr Salmond. Mr Pringle, a former SNP director of communications, also wrote to the inquiry backing up key claims made by Mr Salmond. He said he could confirm, following conversations with Mr Aberdein, that he 'is in no doubt that a complainant's name was shared with him' at a meeting about the complaints. And he knows Mr Aberdein 'was clear that the purpose of the meeting on March 29, 2018, was to discuss the two complaints that had been made against Mr Salmond'. The Tories intend to submit the motion of no confidence to the parliamentary bureau today and want it to be debated as early as this afternoon or tomorrow. A Scottish Labour spokesman said: 'Nicola Sturgeon has serious questions to answer. 'We will give her the opportunity to present her evidence to the committee and answer those questions.' A Scottish Liberal Democrat source said: 'Our view is that this looks very serious for the First Minister, both in terms of the claims she has made about complainants' names being leaked to Mr Salmond's team and her Government's handling of the judicial review but Nicola Sturgeon deserves her day to respond to these allegations before we decide what to do next.' A spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said: 'The First Minister will address all of the issues raised and much more besides at the committee tomorrow, while the independent adviser on the ministerial code will report in due course. 'But to call a vote of no confidence in the middle of a pandemic, before hearing a single word of the First Minister's evidence, is utterly irresponsible. 'It is for the public to decide who they want to govern Scotland and while we continue to fight the pandemic with the election campaign starting in just 20 days, that is precisely what they will be able to do.' SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford this morning said he was confident Ms Sturgeon would be 'exonerated' after she has appeared before the Holyrood inquiry. He told BBC Radio 4's Today: 'Let these allegations be put to the First Minister and I know she will answer them. 'She is a woman of integrity and honesty and I fully expect that at the end of this process, and we are very close to that, that the First Minister will be exonerated and in particular will be exonerated by the standards commissioner.' Asked where he had asked the Lord Advocate why he followed a different 'course of action' to that recommended by his external council when it came to Mr Salmond's trial, Mr Blackford replied: 'I'm not part of the Government and these conversations take place within government. 'Of course I've had conversations with colleagues and the First Minister on a regular basis. 'I know what the Scottish Government did right through this is make sure that due process took place and crucially, when the Government reached that determination that the case wasn't stateable, that the Government moved extrajudicially to move this to an early conclusion.' The devastating proof that Nicola Sturgeon's SNP government chose to ignore its own legal advice Nicola Sturgeon claims ignorance of THIRTY sexual harassment complaints against five SNP ministers By Rory Tingle For MailOnline Nicola Sturgeon today faced incredulity as she claimed ignorance of 30 sexual harassment claims against five SNP ministers while she was in office. Facing a Holyrood Inquiry into her government's botched handling of a probe into sexual harassment allegations against Alex Salmond, Ms Sturgeon was confronted by Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell about her knowledge of claims against other ministers. The allegations were made by members of a public sector union over the last ten years, covering the period when Ms Sturgeon was deputy first minister, up to 2014, before she took over from Mr Salmond as first minister. Responding after Ms Mitchell described the complaints, Ms Sturgeon who is fighting for her job - said: 'Forgive me, I don't know exactly what you're referring to in terms of five SNP ministers.' Ms Mitchell had ticked off the first minister for discussing allegations against Mr Salmond in response to her question about complaints against other SNP ministers. The committee deputy convener said: 'It is [about] the five SNP ministers. And can I remind you, Alex Salmond is a key witness to this inquiry. He's not under trial, your actions are, and if you could focus on that that would be much appreciated...' Advertisement Lawyers warned the Scottish Government was heading for defeat in its court battle with Alex Salmond more than three months before it lost the case. In a major development which piles more pressure on Nicola Sturgeon, it emerged yesterday that they warned in September 2018 there was 'a real risk that the court may be persuaded by the petitioner's case in respect of the ground of challenge based on 'procedural unfairness'.' Legal advisers then informed officials on October 31 of a 'very real problem' which eventually led to Mr Salmond winning the case. An 'urgent note' issued by senior counsel highlighted prior contact between the official who investigated complainants and a woman making the allegations. Roddy Dunlop, QC, who wrote the note, said he had contacted the Lord Advocate, James Wolffe, QC, to alert him to his concerns, 'and, frankly, as a sense check'. Mr Wolffe shared his concerns about the potential 'repercussions' for the case, he said. The legal advice was finally published last night after Deputy First Minister John Swinney had looked likely to lose a vote of no confidence tabled by the Tories. Taxpayers were landed with a bill of more than 500,000 when the Scottish Government investigation into Mr Salmond was described as 'unlawful' and 'tainted by apparent bias' by the Court of Session in January 2019. An email sent to government officials by Mr Dunlop, now Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, at 10.50pm on October 31, said: 'I have just discussed this with the Lord Advocate, as I am very concerned indeed. He has suggested a short note setting out my concerns, and this is now attached. 'I am sorry to be sending this to you at all, let alone late at night on Halloween, but I'm afraid I see no other option.' In a detailed report headed 'URGENT note by senior counsel', he explains that one of the complainers first made the complaint to Scottish Government HR official Judith Mackinnon, who went on to become the investigating officer in December 2017. He says this is a 'concern' as the complaints procedure sets out there must be 'no prior contact'. He said: 'I consider that this presents a very real problem indeed... If I am correct in the views expressed above, then the procedure was not followed: rather, an express embargo was ignored in a way which may well vitiate the entire proceedings.' In a 13-page document to the SNP administration, the Government's lawyers were asked for their 'views on the merits of the petition [brought by Mr Salmond] and the prospects of successfully resisting the judicial review proceedings that have been raised' (left). Senior Counsel for the Scottish Government Roddy Dunlop QC of Axiom Associates then raised the prospect of conceding the point on October 3 (right) Mr Dunlop then goes on to add that 'arguably that infects all that followed thereon'. He said the Lord Advocate 'has also indicated that he shares my firm advice that this issue will have to be disclosed, and my concern as to the potential repercussions for the wider case'. Mr Dunlop also said: 'A swift decision is going to have to be taken on whether to concede (a) the issue is disclosed and any argument based thereon then resisted, or (b) the issue is disclosed and the petition then conceded as a result thereof. 'I can well understand the angst that even suggesting (b) will provoke, but if the proceedings are vitiated then it makes little sense to continue to defend the indefensible.' On December 6, 2018, legal advisers told ministers in their view the 'least worst option' would be to concede the petition. They wrote: 'We cannot let the respondents sail forth into January's hearing without the now very real risks of doing so being crystal clear to all concerned.' Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'Despite the Scottish parliament backing two Scottish Conservative motions to release the legal advice, the SNP never even bothered to lift a finger to actually try and publish it. 'It's jaw-dropping that they didn't even ask if the Lord Advocate would allow it to be published. Instead, they let the public and press think he was the block on its release, when it was SNP ministers all along. 'John Swinney refused to even consider publishing the legal advice until his job was on the line.' Mr Swinney said: 'These documents are clear. Our legal advice was optimistic about the Government's prospects for success at the start. It became gradually but progressively less optimistic over time. It was only in December that the advice concluded that our case was no longer stateable and we should concede. As late as December 11, ministers were advised that we should continue.' He added: 'Significantly, however, this comprehensively disproves claims that we had continued the case in defiance of legal advice.' I have just discussed this with the Lord Advocate, as I am very concerned indeed. He has suggested a short note setting out my concerns, and this is now attached. I am sorry to be sending this to you at all, let alone late at night on Halloween, but I'm afraid I see no other option. As presently advised, I consider that this presents a very real problem indeed... If I am correct in the views expressed above, then the procedure was not followed: rather, an express embargo was ignored in a way which may well vitiate the entire proceedings. I can well understand the angst that even suggesting (conceding the case) will provoke, but if the proceedings are vitiated then it makes little sense to continue to defend the indefensible. BLOW-BY-BLOW: THE SEVEN WARNINGS NICOLA STURGEON'S GOVERNMENT IGNORED THAT THEIR CASE WAS DOOMED by JACK WRIGHT for MailOnline Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls from Opposition MSPs to resign after her Government published bombshell legal advice relating to its botched probe into allegations of sexual harassment by Alex Salmond. Deputy First Minister John Swinney agreed to hand over the papers under threat of a no-confidence vote, and admitted 'reservations were raised' by lawyers about the way allegations about Mr Salmond were investigated. The Scottish Government launched an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by the former First Minister which was found to be unlawful, unfair and 'tainted by apparent bias' because of prior contact between the Investigating Officer and two of the women who complained. Redacted legal advice published by Mr Swinney last night showed that SNP ministers were warned they had 'a very real problem' defending their legal battle with Mr Salmond more than two months before it finally collapsed. Advice given to the Scottish Government on October 31, 2018 said there was 'an extremely concerning' issue that could gut their entire case - and that the 'least worst option' would be to concede the petition. They wrote: 'We understand how unpalatable that advice will be... But we cannot let the respondents sail forth into January's hearing without the now very real risks of doing so being crystal clear to all concerned.' MailOnline has gone through each document published by the Scottish Government to help you make sense of the political scandal which is rocking the nation. SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 : 'RISK IS THAT WITNESS STATEMENTS AND INITIAL REPORT BY INVESTIGATING OFFICER WERE NOT SHARED WITH SALMOND' In his letter published to Linda Fabiani, MSP chair of the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, Mr Swinney said legal advice from September 27, 2018 from senior and junior Counsel 'sets out an assessment of the merits of the petition brought by Mr Salmond and the Government's prospects of defending the proceedings at that point'. In a 13-page document to the SNP administration, the Government's lawyers were asked for their 'views on the merits of the petition [brought by Mr Salmond] and the prospects of successfully resisting the judicial review proceedings that have been raised'. The assessment explains that some of the grounds of challenge concern the validity and fairness of the Procedure for handling complaints against ministers and former ministers that was put in place in early 2018, while others concern the way in which the Procedure was applied to Mr Salmond. The lawyers say that 'several grounds of challenge are in our view 'time barred', arguing that 'complaints about the validity and fairness of the Procedure itself... should have been brought within 3 months of 7 March 2018, being the date on which the petitioner first became aware of the complaints and the investigation'. Though they say they believe that 'the majority of the grounds of challenge are weak and should be capable of being resisted successfully', they crucially concede: 'We think that there is a real risk that the Court may be persuaded by the petitioner's case in respect of the ground of challenge based on 'procedural unfairness''. They conclude: 'We consider that the areas of greatest risk are in relation to the fact that witness statements and the initial report prepared by the investigating officer were not shared with the petitioner'. In his letter to the Committee, Mr Swinney spun this by saying that the advice 'confirms that the majority of the grounds of challenge raised by Mr Salmond were assessed at that time as 'weak' and were considered capable of being resisted successfully'. He added: 'The document confirms that the Scottish Government was justified in defending the judicial review brought by Mr Salmond.' OCTOBER 30-31, 2018 : 'IT MAKES LITTLE SENSE TO CONTINUE TO DEFEND THE INDEFENSIBLE' Writing to the Committee, Mr Swinney said legal advice to the Scottish Government between October 30-31, 2018 demonstrated 'the development of Counsel's concerns around the issue of prior contact between the Investigating Officer and the two [Salmond sexual harassment] complainers and whether this could be reconciled with the text of paragraph 10 of the Scottish Government's Harassment Procedure'. After Mr Salmond's lawyers asked for information from the Scottish Government 'when, by what means and in what terms the complainers first initiated their complaints', lawyers advising the Scottish Government raised 'a discussion between the IO [Investigating Officer] and Complainer B'. Senior Counsel for the Scottish Government Roddy Dunlop QC of Axiom Associates then raised the prospect of conceding the point on October 31, describing the issue as 'extremely concerning'. He warned: 'The concern that arises is that the answer to the question 'when, by what means and in what terms the complainers first initiated their complaints' is that Complainer B, as I understand the position, first made her complaint to Judith McKinnon, Deputy Director of the People Directorate, in December 2017. 'That is of concern because it was, of course, Ms McKinnon that was subsequently appointed as the Investigating Officer under the Procedure which is presently under challenge. [...] I am told that it was thought that this did not present a problem to Ms McKinnon's appointment, as she had no prior involvement with the events giving rise to the complaint. 'I regret that I do not read the procedure in that way. [...] As presently advised I consider that this presents a very real problem indeed. The Petition is resisted on the basis that a fair Procedure was instituted and then followed. 'If I am correct... then the Procedure was not followed: rather, an express embargo was ignored in a way which may well vitiate the entire proceedings.' He went on: 'A swift decision is going to have to be taken thereafter as to whether (a) the issue is disclosed and any argument based thereon resisted, or (b) the issue is disclosed and the Petition is then conceded thereof. 'I can well understand the angst that even suggesting (b) will provoke, but if the proceedings are vitiated then it makes little sense to continue to defend the indefensible.' DECEMBER 6, 2018 : 'THE LEAST WORST OPTION WOULD BE TO CONCEDE THE PETITION' A letter written to Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC on December 6, 2018 stated that: 'Counsel are of the view that the 'least worst' option would be to concede the Petition. They understand how unpalatable that advice will be, and they do not tender it lightly'. Advice to the Scottish Government by Roddy Dunlop QC and Solicitor Advocate Christine O'Neill warned of 'substantial further development of the pleadings, accompanied by disclosure of a volume of information about, among other things, the discussions that took place Complainers A and B prior to them making formal complaints'. They argued that after Mr Salmond's lawyers introduced new grounds of challenge based on the Investigating Officer's prior contact with the complainers, 'with regret, we are now jointly of the view that those grounds are more likely than not to succeed'. 'At the outset, we recognise the dismay that this advice will cause,' they wrote. 'However, we feel it necessary to tender this advice, and the reasons for it, given the views which we have, independently at first and now of consensus, taken in this regard'. According to Mr Swinney: 'As the case progressed during November and early December, this issue was identified as the greatest area of risk for the Government's prospects in the judicial review.' DECEMBER 11, 2018 : LORD ADVOCATE - 'THERE ARE GOOD POLICY REASONS TO DEFEND THE CASE' The Deputy First Minister published documents showing that advice from December 6 was discussed in consultation with the Law Officers on December 11. It states that in a meeting with Lord Advocate James Wolffe (LA), the top Government lawyer was 'very clear that [there was] no question or need to drop the case' and that 'even if prospects are not certain it is important that our case is heard'. Senior Counsel Roddy Dunlop QC is said to have 'made clear that his note was not intended to convey that he didn't think we have a stateable case... They tested most of the arguments including the appointment of the IO [Investigating Officer] and concluded that we have credible arguments to make'. It went on: 'The argument on the appointment of the IO will turn on the extent to which we can persuade the court that there is an credible alternative to the objective reading test of para 10 of the procedure which is that what we had in mind was that the IO should not have had any prior involvement in the 'matters under investigation' i.e. the events being complained about.' The document also reveals that 'Counsel followed up the question of what Perm Sec [the Permanent Secretary] knew about the approaches from staff by late November'. 'While we are clear that there isn't a procedural bar to her knowing the detail at any point they are constructing an argument to the effect that early exposure to the detail resulted in her being predisposed to find against [the] FFM [former First Minister]', the emails state. 'The paper work doesn't shed much light on that.' Mr Swinney in his letter said that the minutes of December 11 showed 'that there remained good public policy reasons for continuing to defend the case and benefits in securing the clarity of a judicial finding from the Court'. DECEMBER 19, 2018 : EVIDENCE OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER'S PRIOR CONTACT WITH THE COMPLAINANTS 'MAKES A DEFENCE OF APPOINTING THE IO UNSTATEABLE' An extraordinary document presented to the Scottish Government by its lawyers showed that SNP ministers were warned that 'maintaining a defence of the appointment of the IO may be unstateable'. That morning, at the start of the first part of the Commission, the Government's lawyers said that they 'experienced extreme professional embarrassment as a result of assurances which we have given, both to our opponents and to the court, which assurances have been given on instructions, turning out to be false as a result of the revelation of further documents, highly relevant yet undisclosed'. New documents not handed to the Government's lawyers showed that the Investigating Officer had had contact with both complainants. The first document was a letter dated January 17, 2018 which stated: 'We met on 16 January 2018 to discuss your experience about the alleged misconduct of a former minister. Following this meeting you submitted a formal written complaint... I have been designated at the IO... The purpose of this letter is to invite you to a meeting to discuss your complaint in more detail'. A document presented to the Government by its lawyers showed that SNP ministers were warned 'maintaining a defence of the appointment of the IO may be unstateable' Legal advice warns: 'This letter suggests that there must have been other communications with Ms A in advance of the meeting of 16 January'. The second document referred to an email thread which showed that there 'must have been further contact undocumented in which the IO agreed to meet [complainant] Ms B. It is unclear whether this preceded or post dated the making of the complaint'. The lawyers told the Scottish Government: 'The complaint had only just been made. No one had appointed an IO for this complaint. The IO has effectively appointed herself in that regard. 'It seems inevitable, unless very prompt action indeed had been taken, [Redacted] see Ms B [Redacted] before the complaint was actually made, and accordingly before the IO could have had any legitimate interest in speaking to Ms B'. The lawyers then warned: 'As to the late nature of the revelation, this is unexplained, and frankly inexplicable. Given the nature of the searches described by as having been undertaken, we regret that we simply cannot understand why these documents have been made available only now. 'All of this gives rise to two concerns. First, we are now in a position where we think that maintaining a defence of the appointment of the IO may be unstateable. 'Given the timescales we are reluctant to take a final view on this, but there is a real risk that we so conclude. Second, we are each in a position which is, so far as dealings with the other side and the court are concerned, close to untenable'. According to Mr Swinney: 'Counsel's advice of 19 December following the Commissioner hearing that day... reflect[ed] the pressurised atmosphere of the process of identifying and handing over documents. 'As has been acknowledged in evidence to the Committee, the Scottish Government's handling of that process was flawed and this is regrettable. This, along with the subsequent Commission hearing on 21 December, was the moment at which the Scottish Government's case became no longer stateable.' DECEMBER 29, 2018 : LAWYERS OFFICIALLY ADVISE SNP MINISTERS TO CONCEDE SALMOND'S PETITION AFTER 'WATERSHED' HEARING Legal counsel advised the Scottish Government to conceded Mr Salmond's petition against its handling of its probe into sexual harassment allegations. They said: 'As you are aware, Counsel has offered advice on a number of occasions in relation to the prospects of the Scottish Government's (SG's) arguments prevailing in court. This advice has principally turned on Counsel's views on the appointment and actions of the Investigating Officer. Legal counsel advised the Scottish Government to conceded Mr Salmond's petition against its handling of its probe into sexual harassment allegations 'The key point to note is the 'watershed moment' of last Friday (21st December 2018), at which point the SG's case became, in Counsel's view, unstateable, given what emerged that day about the degree and nature of the contact between the IO and the prospective complainers prior to their formal complaints having been made. 'This information was contained in documents which were identified and produced for the Commission and Diligence Hearing last week, and had not been elicited by previous document searches. 'While there is no reason to believe that the IO was motivated by anything other than her desire to fulfil her role properly, we recognise that her actions give rise to a perception that there was an unfairness in the operation of the procedure in this case.' They also note that: 'The Lord Advocate and the Director of Legal Services share the view of Counsel about the likely prospects of success in defending the decision at Judical Review and the consequent advisability of conceding the petition at the earliest possibly opportunity.' The lawyers conclude: 'Having reviewed the material contained in this note, you may conclude that the Scottish Government is in a position where the only sensible and defensible action is to concede the petition and to plan for managing the attendant reputation and legal risks. The risks associated with proceeding to defend the Judicial Review could appear to be greater.' According to Mr Swinney: 'This was a shared view of both internal and external legal advisers. The case was reviewed and conceded quickly after this, taking account of further internal legal advice on the terms of the concession, which we are also sharing.' DECEMBER 31, 2018 : LORD ADVOCATE RECOMMENDS 'CAREFUL' CONCESSION OF SALMOND'S PETITION Lord Advocate James Wolffe told SNP ministers that 'the concession should be narrowly framed to reflect accurately and carefully the legal basis upon which Ministers are conceding the petition; and the basis of the concession should be explained as fully as it can be'. 'It may be unlikely that it will be possible to avoid the phrase 'apparent bias' being used at all, in all communications (including with the court),' Mr Wolffe went on. 'However, the use of that phrase should, in my view, be minimised, and should always be coupled with an appropriate explanation, intelligible to a lay person, of what that means - ie that the process must be seen to be impartial as well as actually impartial - and what it does not mean (ie that the process was actually tainted by bias).' Writing yesterday, the Deputy First Minister insisted: 'The documents published today demonstrate that the Scottish Government did not ignore legal advice in continuing to defend the judicial review, contrary to the terms of the Scottish Ministerial Code or the Civil Service Code. 'The documents demonstrate that there was no 'malicious' intent against Mr Salmond. The Scottish Government was within its rights to defend a judicial review raised against it by Mr Salmond and to continue to defend it whilst it still had a stateable case. There were good public policy reasons for continuing to defend the case and to seek a determination from the Court. 'Once it became clear that the Scottish Government no longer had a stateable case after the Commission hearings in late December 2018, the Government quickly reviewed the position and conceded the case. 'The view that the Government no longer had a stateable case was agreed by both internal and external advisers.' On Earth, plate tectonics is not only responsible for the rise of mountains and earthquakes. It is also an essential part of the cycle that brings material from the planet's interior to the surface and the atmosphere, and then transports it back beneath the Earth's crust. Tectonics thus has a vital influence on the conditions that ultimately make Earth habitable. Until now, researchers have found no evidence of global tectonic activity on planets outside our solar system. A team of researchers led by Tobias Meier from the Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern and with the participation of ETH Zurich, the University of Oxford and the National Center of Competence in Research NCCR PlanetS has now found evidence of the flow patterns inside a planet, located 45 light-years from Earth: LHS 3844b. Their results were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. An extreme contrast and no atmosphere "Observing signs of tectonic activity is very difficult, because they are usually hidden beneath an atmosphere", Meier explains. However, recent results suggested that LHS 3844b probably does not have an atmosphere. Slightly larger than Earth and likely similarly rocky, it orbits around its star so closely that one side of the planet is in constant daylight and the other in permanent night - just like the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. With no atmosphere shielding it from the intense radiation, the surface gets blisteringly hot: it can reach up to 800C on the dayside. The night side, on the other hand, is freezing. Temperatures there might fall below minus 250C. "We thought that this severe temperature contrast might affect material flow in the planet's interior", Meier recalls. To test their theory, the team ran computer simulations with different strengths of material and internal heating sources, such as heat from the planet's core and the decay of radioactive elements. The simulations included the large temperature contrast on the surface imposed by the host star. Flow inside the planet from one hemisphere to the other "Most simulations showed that there was only upwards flow on one side of the planet and downwards flow on the other. Material therefore flowed from one hemisphere to the other", Meier reports. Surprisingly, the direction was not always the same. "Based on what we are used to from Earth, you would expect the material on the hot dayside to be lighter and therefore flow upwards and vice versa", co-author Dan Bower at the University of Bern and the NCCR PlanetS explains. Yet, some of the teams' simulations also showed the opposite flow direction. "This initially counter-intuitive result is due to the change in viscosity with temperature: cold material is stiffer and therefore doesn't want to bend, break or subduct into the interior. Warm material, however, is less viscous - so even solid rock becomes more mobile when heated - and can readily flow towards the planet's interior", Bower elaborates. Either way, these results show how a planetary surface and interior can exchange material under conditions very different from those on Earth. A volcanic hemisphere Such material flow could have bizarre consequences. "On whichever side of the planet the material flows upwards, one would expect a large amount of volcanism on that particular side", Bower points out. He continues "similar deep upwelling flows on Earth drive volcanic activity at Hawaii and Iceland". One could therefore imagine a hemisphere with countless volcanoes - a volcanic hemisphere so to speak - and one with almost none. "Our simulations show how such patterns could manifest, but it would require more detailed observations to verify. For example, with a higher-resolution map of surface temperature that could point to enhanced outgassing from volcanism, or detection of volcanic gases. This is something we hope future research will help us to understand", Meier concludes. Bernese space exploration: With the world's elite since the first moon landing When the second man, "Buzz" Aldrin, stepped out of the lunar module on July 21, 1969, the first task he did was to set up the Bernese Solar Wind Composition experiment (SWC) also known as the "solar wind sail" by planting it in the ground of the moon, even before the American flag. This experiment, which was planned and the results analysed by Prof. Dr. Johannes Geiss and his team from the Physics Institute of the University of Bern, was the first great highlight in the history of Bernese space exploration. Ever since Bernese space exploration has been among the world's elite. The numbers are impressive: 25 times were instruments flown into the upper atmosphere and ionosphere using rockets (1967-1993), 9 times into the stratosphere with balloon flights (1991-2008), over 30 instruments were flown on space probes, and with CHEOPS the University of Bern shares responsibility with ESA for a whole mission. The successful work of the Department of Space Research and Planetary Sciences (WP)from the Physics Institute of the University of Bern was consolidated by the foundation of a university competence center, the Center for Space and Habitability (CSH). The Swiss National Fund also awarded the University of Bern the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS, which it manages together with the University of Geneva. ### London, March 4 : The Duchess of Sussex has said that she is not afraid of the consequences of speaking out in her and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey. In a second teaser clip released by CBS for the upcoming interview, Meghan said "a lot... has been lost already". She said she could not be expected to be silent if the royals had a part in "perpetuating falsehoods about us", the BBC reported. It comes as Buckingham Palace said it had launched an investigation into claims the duchess bullied royal staff. The interview with Winfrey, which will air in the US on Sunday, is expected to lift the lid on Harry and Meghan's short period as working royals together before they stepped down for a life in the US. In the 30-second teaser clip, Winfrey askes the duchess: "How do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today?" She replies: "I don't know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. "And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I...there is a lot that has been lost already." Past and present royal employees are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan as part of the palace's investigation. It follows a report in a newspaper that the duchess faced a bullying complaint when she was a working royal. According to the report, the complaint was made in October 2018, while the duke and duchess were living at Kensington Palace. A leaked email sent from a staff member, which was published by the newspaper, alleges that Meghan drove two personal assistants out of the household. The report claims she undermined the confidence of a third member of staff. In a statement, Buckingham Palace - which is responsible for the hiring of royal staff - said it was "clearly very concerned about allegations in the Times" and its HR team would look into the circumstances outlined in the article. "The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace." An earlier statement issued by Meghan's spokesman said: "The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. "She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good." Vietnamese authorities have arranged two repatriation flights for nearly 400 Vietnamese citizens wishing to return home from Myanmar. The two flights, operated by national carrier Vietnam Airlines, left Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Thursday morning and headed to Yangon where 390 Vietnamese citizens were awaiting repatriation, according to a source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The first flight left Hanoi at 9:00 am before picking up 195 Vietnamese citizens in Yangon. It is expected to land in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang at 3:10 pm the same day. The second flight left Hanoi at 10:00 am and is expected to land in Da Nang City with an additional 195 Vietnamese citizens at 4:10 pm. After passengers disembark from the two flights, the planes will be loaded with cargos and sent to Hanoi. The Embassy of Vietnam in Myanmar announced on Wednesday that it had coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities to arrange the repatriation flights. Space aboard the two flights was limited to Vietnamese citizens facing particularly difficult and urgent circumstances in Myanmar. A representative from Vietnam Airlines said that strict COVID-19 prevention and control measures would be taken on the flights. Passengers were previously required to fill in online health declarations and wear face masks and protective clothing during the repatriation process. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Southeast Texas officials are expected on Thursday to discuss how and when to expand the regions coronavirus vaccine priority group. But at least two members of the regional coalition created to attract bigger allocations of vaccine doses already have expanded their waiting list to include anyone who wants to sign up, and have seen success doing so. Jasper County for a few weeks has been accepting individuals outside the states 1A and 1B and has consistently led the region on the percentage of allocated doses administered, according to Jasper County Judge Mark Allen. As of Tuesday, Jasper County had administered 95.5% of its doses. At a glance To sign up for a vaccine waiting list in Southeast Texas*: Visit vaccine.beaumonttexas.gov; or Call (409) 550-2536. The phones will be manned from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick asked residents to be patient if they experience a busy signal or other capacity-related issue. *The city of Beaumont's 311 service is no longer taking sign-ups for the vaccine waiting list. See More Collapse I really feel like its making a difference, Allen said. We have a great system in place for people to call and come in. Were also accepting people who walk in. If someone comes in, were trying not to turn them away. Were trying to get everyone we can and not leave any vaccine on the shelf. Related: Cheers, fears greet Abbott mask decision Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel recently removed all restrictions for vaccinations after clinic appointments were extremely low. Last week, we were trying to vaccinate 300 people per day, and only 62 people came Wednesday and 187 on Thursday, he said. McDaniel said the move has worked a little too well. By Wednesday afternoon, all appointments within the next week had been claimed. He noted that Hardin County residents who are older than 65 and struggling to get an appointment can call or email his office to be manually given a vaccination appointment. McDaniel and Allen both reported they are vaccinating more than just residents from their counties. Each said they recommend other counties do the same, or at least expand eligibility before waiting for vaccine appointments to slow too much. I think were getting a lot of people from outside Jasper County - Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Allen said. If we have an opportunity to give a vaccine to someone thats driven hundreds of miles to get here, we need to give them an opportunity to get the vaccine. The goal is to stop this virus in its tracks. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox From Feb. 8 through Tuesday, the coalition of Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Orange and Newton counties, plus the cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur and Riceland Healthcare had administered more than 78% of the 44,000 received vaccine doses. The city of Beaumont has administered the most doses. McDaniel said the region next week is expecting another allocation of 11,000 first doses and an additional 11,000 second doses. Allen cautioned residents to continue to be cognizant of their surroundings and to take virus-related precautions. Everyone still needs to be responsible. We also want to respect those that still want to wear a mask, he said. They may have something going on personally that theyre trying to protect. So we shouldnt shun anyone for wearing a mask. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain The austere beauty and bleakness of the Northern Irish landscape provides the perfect backdrop for the BBC's latest thriller Bloodlands. In his first foray into television and crime noir, writer Chris Brandon says the idea for the drama, starring James Nesbitt as a detective forced to face his past when he is sent on the hunt for a mythical assassin, came from a 'distinct sense of place'. Having spent part of his life growing up in Strangford, Brandon's imagination was sparked by the 'scarred and sodden hillsides, windswept islands and bouldered shorelines' and the story he set out to tell was of a man whose journey was linked to the land. But it is not just the grey, melancholic setting that lends itself to crime noir. The legacy of violence and the omnipresence of the past gives locally-based crime fiction an added dimension. In noir fiction, right and wrong are not clearly defined and the anti-heroes, such as Nesbitt's Tom Brannick, are deeply flawed. Bloodlands' central character has one foot in the present and another in the past. Expand Close Anna Friel as Marcella Backland / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anna Friel as Marcella Backland It is this intriguing mix of history, setting and atmosphere that has brought Northern Ireland to the forefront of crime noir and crime fiction. Almost 10 years on from the first series of BBC psychological drama The Fall, Belfast is now emerging as the capital of crime noir - or Nordy Noir, as it has been dubbed in crime writing circles. Such is the growing success of the genre here, Belfast now hosts its own Noireland Crime Fiction Festival while local crime fiction writers are flying the flag for the genre both at home and abroad. The third series of ITV's Belfast-based crime drama Marcella, created by crime noir master Hans Rosenfeldt and starring Anna Friel, has just ended. And though not actually set in Belfast, cult series Line of Duty, filmed in the city, is set to return to our screens later this month. Expand Close Claire Allan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Claire Allan Chris Brandon, writer of Bloodlands, which is produced by Line of Duty's Jed Mercurio, says Northern Ireland is ideally placed to be the new capital of crime noir. "I remember when The Fall was showing, there was a lot of discussion at the time that Belfast would be a great place for crime noir," he said. "In Bloodlands, Brannick is haunted by his past. That's a noirish theme, like in Raymond Chandler's novels. There's that legacy of intrigue and violence. "Noir is like a black mirror which we reflect ourselves into. We're always looking behind us. I set out to tell a story that has a certain aspect of allegory in it. Things are so oblique. Nothing is entirely right or wrong, much like the landscape of Northern Ireland, there are grey areas. "But it's not just the landscape that lends itself to noir. The people have a dark sense of humour; a survival mechanism that has helped them get through, not just their past, but tough winters, tough conditions. "To have that dark humour coming through, along with the landscape, elevates something that could otherwise be quite dour. "Belfast's urban landscape is unique, with everyone living in the same valley. Geographically, it lends itself to good noir." In 2012, the year before The Fall first aired, Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin, who created Detective Inspector Rebus, predicted that Belfast would be the next capital of crime fiction. The novelist said crime writers had a wealth of material to draw on, post-Troubles. And he said Belfast was a fascinating city with a unique character of its own which would make for a great setting. He said: "Belfast, like Edinburgh, is a city of character. That's what crime fiction does, it gives you a great sense of place. "I find Belfast a fascinating city to walk around. It's full of great locations, great pubs, great characters. Walk around the corner and you'll find something else interesting to look at. For the writer, that's a good starting point." Angela McMahon co-directs the Noireland Festival with David Torrans, who runs Belfast's No Alibis bookshop and publishing company. Both have noticed a huge surge in the numbers of crime writers coming out of Northern Ireland over the last 20 years. Authors like Adrian McKinty, Steve Cavanagh, Eoin McNamee, Gerard Brennan, Brian McGilloway, Colin Bateman and Stuart Neville have put Northern Irish crime fiction on the literary map. But while the genre was previously male dominated, female authors such as Claire Allan, Clare McGowan, Kelly Creighton and Sharon Dempsey, who all write about Northern Ireland, have since come to the fore and are producing 'exciting' novels in the genre. "It's fantastic to see so much crime fiction coming out of Northern Ireland," said Angela. "For such a small place, we have so many brilliant writers and so much exciting fiction on page and screen. "Belfast is very much the crime noir capital now. I lived in London for 20 years and since I moved home, I've talked to many crime writers in different cities who are so excited about what is happening here. "Our past has formed us and it shouldn't hold us back. In fact, it gives us another dimension that people are fascinated by and that inspires writers. Crime fiction coming out of here is helping us digest our past and heal from it as it's addressed in a safe way. "Our writers are now addressing contemporary issues but a lot of them have links with the past. We always had a bit of an edge because of our past, but it's a creative edge now and that huge evolution is attracting a bigger audience." David Torrans, who has been credited for helping to give a platform to many local writers, cites the success of Line of Duty as a key factor in drawing crime dramas like Bloodlands and Marcella to Belfast. And he believes that timing has been a factor in allowing local writers to delve into Northern Ireland's past, in a safe and nuanced way. "Although Line of Duty isn't set here, the fact it's filmed here is a wonderful representation of the city and how it looks," he said. "On one hand we have this industrial city that appears to be prosperous and dynamic but underneath that, there's a wealth of social inequality and contained tensions which lead to conflict and a pressure build up. "People who used violence before now must find new ways of maintaining control and all these flaws allow for narratives to develop. "Many authors didn't want to write about the Troubles because it was part of everyday existence. People who weren't from here could write about it because they were writing from a distance. "Authors who live here are trying to approach it in a different way now, without appearing crass and exploitative." Derry's Brian McGilloway, author of the hugely successful Inspector Devlin and Lucy Black series, set in the North West, says both Northern Ireland's setting and its grim past sit well with noir fiction. "We've had Tartan Noir and Scandi Noir and given that we share the same dark, gloomy weather and long winters as Northern Europe, you can see why this place suits the tone of crime noir," he said. "The mood and setting are just right. From a setting point of view, we have this melancholic, grey, overcast atmosphere and a melancholic stoicism in the people that suits noir fiction. "But what's more important than that is that a crime novel starts at the end. It begins with a death and the narrative then moves forward. We are constantly looking back, reflecting on our past, "The ending brings us to a point where we understand the beginning. We're constantly moving forward and backwards simultaneously, which reflects where we are in Northern Ireland." Fellow Derry author Claire Allan has just had her crime novel The Liar's Daughter optioned for television by a major UK production company. She is currently working on the screen play for the 'domestic noir' thriller, which, like all her books, is set here. "I'm fascinated by the crime genre because it allows us to hold a looking glass up to the darker elements of society," she said. "Also, ninety nine times out of one hundred, we get justice in crime novels which we don't get in real life." Claire agrees that the geography of Northern Ireland - from the mountains to the mean streets of the cities - and the legacy of the past, present writers with the ideal noirish backdrop. "I think it was Ian Rankin who said Belfast is the most noir place in the world," she said. "We have such a rich tapestry here and so much dark humour too. We're really ripe for the picking." New Delhi: Describing the three new farm laws as "unconstitutional and illegal", former Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said it was an attack by the Centre upon the federal structure and the right of states to frame legislations. He said the new laws will lead to auctioning of land in Punjab and leave its residents as "slave" and asked the Congress government in the state to take "bold and solid steps" to meet the "aspirations" of people protesting against the legislations. Navjot Singh Sidhu "The new farm laws are unconstitutional and illegal. It's an attack by the Centre on the right of states to frame new laws and the federal structure," he told reporters here. Referring to the ongoing farmer protest against the laws, he said the peasantry has never lost a battle. The Punjab Assembly had passed Bills last year to negate the three farm laws. The bills are pending for approval of the governor. Farmers' protest Sidhu said, "Minimum support price must be given on pulses and oil seeds by the Punjab government. This will help in crop diversification." He also stressed upon providing bargaining power to farmers by way of giving them holding capacity of perishable crops through storage facilities and infrastructure development. He sought amendment in the cooperative act to giving powers to farmers to set up a cooperative body. "This will help farmers to manage crops and give them collective strength," he added. Navjot Singh Sidhu Sidhu said that farmers will be able to fix rates of their produce through cooperation and this will give them bargaining powers. He also demanded wage income on the pattern of MGNREGA to farmers. Rejecting the three new agri laws, he cautioned that what the Centre is doing is "incorrect" not only for farmers but for the entire country as well. Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat BJPs star campaigner PM Modi to address 2 rallies before each phase in Bengal India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is BJP star campaigner is expected to address more than a dozen rallies in West Bengal, where elections would be held in 8 phases. The party is yet to announce the PM's schedule, but he is expected to address two rallies before each phase. The PM's first rally is expected to be on March 7. PM Modi is the party's face in Bengal. The party rarely announces a chief ministerial candidate. In Bihar, PM Modi had addressed 12 rallies at Samastipur, Saharsa, Forbesganj, East Champaran, West Champaran, Darbhanga, Saran, Sasaram, Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Muzzaffarpur. These covered 110 constituencies and the NDA's strike rate was around 56 per cent, according to a HT report. In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections, the PM addressed 23 rallies and held two road shows which covered 118 constituencies. The BJP won 99 of the 110 seats, while its ally. Apna Dal bagged 3 seats. The strike rate was at 86.4 per cent. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 11:41 [IST] A property group that lobbied the Government for a shared equity scheme has admitted that the scheme, now a part of the Affordable Housing Bill, may lead to an increase in house prices. Property Industry Ireland (PII), a property arm of Ibec, wrote a discussion paper with a proposed structure for the scheme last year. Director of PII David Duffy told the Irish Independent that while house prices may rise for a number of reasons, this scheme may be one of them. House prices are driven by a range of things, not just an introduction of such a scheme, he said. House prices are driven by the number of people moving in to the first-time-buyer age groups, theyre driven by income, theyre driven by peoples income expectations, peoples point in the life cycle. When asked if the scheme could be one of the reasons that house prices go up, Mr Duffy answered: It is something that contributes to the demand side, yeah. He said that in the UK, the introduction of such a scheme brought an increase in house prices, but that it also brought a far greater increase in the supply of housing. Mr Duffy said that the shared equity scheme would drive demand for housing here and this would in turn drive supply. Home builders are in the business of building homes. In order to continue to operate in business, there needs to be a demand for their product. Theres a huge amount of risk involved in investing in home building. That can bring about lower levels of supply. If the group of people who can access funding [for a mortgage] is there, that enables you to increase supply, he added. A second developer group who also lobbied the Government, Irish Institutional Property (IIP), has also welcomed the shared equity scheme and disputed the ESRI warnings that it will lead to an increase in house prices. One can never forecast the dynamic of any market, CEO Pat Farrell said. This measure itself has the potential to increase supply and, should that happen, the issues raised in terms of house prices shouldnt be an issue. When asked about the Central Bank concerns in relation to the scheme and its mortgage rules, Mr Farrell said that the mortgage rules were much more conservative than in other countries. The macro-credential rules are much more conservative than the ones that apply in other markets, he said. James Benson of the Irish Home Builders Association also welcomed the shared equity scheme, saying that both supply and demand-led measures need to be introduced. It shouldnt be solely demand-led measures but we need to see a combination of both supply and demand if were going to try and have an opportunity and crack a nut and deliver homes, he said. Yesterday, the Dail debated a Sinn Fein motion to scrap the shared equity scheme within the Affordable Housing Bill. Housing Minister Darragh OBrien accused Sinn Fein of Trump-style hysteria after the shared equity scheme was compared to being like crack cocaine. Opposition housing spokespersons have called for the scheme to be scrapped so that the rest of the bill can progress through the Oireachtas. The English experience makes it very clear that short-term equity loan schemes are like crack cocaine: once you try it, youre hooked and it is very difficult to withdraw, said Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin. Mr OBrien hit back, saying that the Sinn Fein motion was deeply cynical and accusing Sinn Fein of engaging in Trump-style hysteria. Micheal Martin was pretty exultant after an EU leaders video summit in late January. After hours of talks with his 26 counterparts, the Taoiseach said that by April Ireland would have strong Covid-19 vaccine supplies and then the real challenge would be efficiently getting those jabs into arms. Mr Martin reflected that it was all good for Ireland one of the EUs smaller states to avail of the combined buying power of 27 states representing 450 million people. The alternative of going it alone in a crowded and hyper-competitive world vaccine market would leave Ireland paying more for less, to be delivered later. But spool on just six weeks and we find EU vaccine solidarity is under serious strain with slow supplies and serious resistance in France and Germany to using AstraZeneca, which is compounding their surprising sluggishness in organising their vaccination campaigns. Austria and Denmark, the star EU vaccine performers, are each eyeing up an alliance with Israel which has taken the global prize for vaccinations. Read More Hungary, whose relations with the EU deteriorated further yesterday when Premier Viktor Orban pulled his 12 MEPs out of the EPP group before they were pushed out, had already brought vaccines from Russia and China. Now the Czech, Slovak and Polish governments want to go the same route. There is no EU law against this but it is very poor politics. The problem is that the Government has totally pinned its virus remedy hopes amid an interminable stretch to Lockdown Number Three on the Brussels vaccine supply regime which right now is looking more than a little creaky. The Brussels inoculation target writ large is that 70pc of people across all member states will be fully vaccinated by September but at current rates of progress no EU country is anywhere near that. The headline on the German mass-circulation Bild this week was rather telling. Dear Britons we envy you, it read. Another simple statistic also screamed out of other media reports on mainland Europe: the EUs best vaccine rates are now around 7pc. The UK rate is nearing one in three for at least one dose administered. Little percentage just now for political leaders to recall that the worlds current three world vaccine leaders Israel, the US and the UK handled the virus itself with less effect than the EU states. As Israel announces a reopening and Boris Johnson tentatively cites June 31 as freedom day in England, this is all about the vaccines race. On the home front there is little advantage in the Taoiseach or Health Minister Stephen Donnelly citing Ireland's position being relatively high up the EU vaccine leader board. The instant riposte is that it is a pretty poor leader board just now. Research cited by Politico reporting from Paris suggested fewer than one in five French people were satisfied with their government's vaccine management. But while one in four French people were prepared to give the EU a vaccine thumbs up, just 17pc of Germans were of the same view. Public weariness is focused nearer home at government leaders rather than the EU administration in Brussels. But it is now being echoed about the EU capital that at the last online leaders summit, on Thursday and Friday of last week, several laid things on the line about faster vacccine approvals and delays with supply lines. The defence from Brussels relies heavily on asserting "teething problems will be remedied and supplies will be flowing aplenty in "quarter two of the fiscal year which starts next month. It harks back to Mr Martin's world view at the end of January. Yesterday, EU Commission vice president Valdis Dombrovskis, the man who took over Phil Hogans trade portfolio last September, strongly articulated this better vaccine times coming" in an interview on BBC World Service radio. Other Brussels officials mutter darkly about whether the national authorities will be equal to the administrative challenge if supplies begin to seriously flow. The case of Germany is cited and the contrast with its early response, involving swift lockdown, efficient testing and tracing, with current poor vaccination rates. "Morocco is vaccinating more quickly than Germany," Marco Buschmann, an MP with the Free Democrat Party said earlier this week. Its hard to avoid the conclusion that everyone must try harder to deliver hoped-for freedoms this autumn. Otherwise it might be a case of try 2022. People enjoy the sunshine in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica atop the Montmartre in Paris, France, Feb. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) The number of people who lost their lives to the coronavirus increased by 322 to reach 87,542, the seventh highest in the world. PARIS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 3,810,316 people in France have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after 26,788 positive cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours, the biggest daily increase since Feb. 24, official figures showed on Wednesday. The number of people who lost their lives to the coronavirus increased by 322 to reach 87,542, the seventh highest in the world. The number of hospitalized patients fell by 152 within a day to 25,111, while the number of serious cases rose again by 51 to 3,637, taking up 70 percent of the country's 5,100 resuscitation beds. These data marked "not an exponential rise but a continuous and worrying increase," government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said early Wednesday after a weekly cabinet meeting. "Vaccinating the most vulnerable is protecting hospitals, is to give us a chance to be able to ease as quickly as possible the restrictions which weigh on our daily life," Attal told reporters. Senior citizens wait before receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a temporary vaccination center on the first day of its opening, in Clichy, France, Jan. 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) "It is neither a distant nor uncertain horizon. It is a horizon that is getting closer and closer. We hope maybe from mid-April (we will ease restrictions), and we are preparing for it," he said. Attal added that President Emmanuel Macron has asked his ministers to propose plans allowing "a cautious re-opening of the country soon." Prime Minister Jean Castex will hold a news conference on Thursday to present an update on the country's epidemic indicators and possible remedies to the virus resurgence. Unlike some of its neighbors, France has decided against a new lockdown, betting on nightly curfew and vaccination campaign to bring the epidemic under control. A night-time ban on people's movement, in force since mid-December, was brought forward by two hours in the French territory on Jan. 16 to reduce social mixing. People line up to enter a boutique in Nice, capital of the coastal department of Alpes-Maritimes, southern France, on Feb. 23, 2021. (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua) Furthermore, it tightened border control, ordered closure of large shopping malls to reduce people's contacts, and intensified police patrols to enforce the curfew. As the situation worsened in some regions notably in the southeastern department of Alpes-Maritimes and the northern coastal area in Dunkirk, the government has introduced weekend lockdown to contain the virus spread. Twenty other regions, including Paris and its surrounding suburbs, are also under the watch due to deteriorating sanitary indicators that may imply further restrictions including partial lockdown. As of Wednesday, 3,133,478 people in France have received at least one dose of vaccine against the coronavirus, according to government data website. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines. Meanwhile, 258 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 76 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Tuesday. A policeman talks with people in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica atop the Montmartre in Paris, France, Feb. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) The winter storm that hammered Texas and left millions without power or clean water also hindered the states pandemic response by causing a sharp increase in vaccine doses that went to waste. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are required to be stored at low temperatures. When power outages rolled across the state for days, some providers were forced to improvise emergency distribution plans or risk losing thousands of critical vaccine doses. Over the past two weeks, more than 2,000 doses in Texas went to waste, with nearly 1,500 losses blamed on the blackouts, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of data from the Department of State Health Services. The wasted doses were nearly half of all the states vaccine losses for the entire year. Vaccine providers had previously reported losing vaccines due to old expiration dates, mechanical storage failures and other causes. But the widespread power outages are now the leading cause of COVID-19 vaccines going to waste in Texas. Of the 4,331 total doses in Texas that have been lost this year, more than a third were from the natural disaster knocking out power. State health officials emphasized that the number of lost vaccines is a fraction of the total number of doses that have been allocated across Texas. Less than 0.1 percent of 8.9 million doses allocated across Texas went to waste. DSHS officials said the impact from the storm did not significantly hurt the states rollout of the vaccine. Shipments were delayed and did not arrive until after the weather improved, said Lara Anton, Press Officer for DSHS. It seems like providers are back on track with vaccinations now. But the states data shows the spike in lost vaccine doses was four times higher than normal. The week before the winter storm, 220 vaccine doses went to waste in Texas. The first week of the storm, the number of lost doses quadrupled to 969. Last week, vaccine providers reported losing 1,113 doses. On HoustonChronicle.com: Use our interactive vaccine tracker to follow the rollout in Texas Before the storms arrival, DSHS officials warned providers to monitor their vaccine supplies to make sure they were stored properly. The agency advised providers to transfer doses to a more secure location if a power outage occurred. Despite the warnings from DSHS, some providers lost 30 percent or more of their current vaccine supply. One DSHS clinic in Sutton County lost half its 200 vaccine doses as a result of the storm. In Erath County, located 83 miles southwest of Fort Worth and home to more than 42,000 residents, the local vaccination programs were shelved the week of the storm due to the freezing weather, said county judge Alfonso Campos. The blackouts began the night of Feb. 14, Campos said, and many residents lost power for four to five days. On top of lack of electricity, residents also had to contend with busted pipes along with snow and ice. While a provider in Erath County, Accelhealth Stephenville, lost 120 doses of the vaccine, or 40 percent of its doses, Campos said the county and city had generators and they used them to make sure the other vaccine doses didnt spoil. Accelhealth Stephenville did not respond to requests for comment. In Harris County, the storm caused a scramble to save more than 8,000 vaccine doses after the countys public health department lost power to its vaccine storage facility and its backup generator failed. The county couldnt risk offering the doses to the general public because travel would be too risky on icy roads. Instead the vaccines were distributed to places where people were already gathered and medical staff were available to administer the shots. About 5,000 total doses were distributed, with 1,000 doses sent to Houston Methodist, 1,000 doses provided to Rice University, and 3,000 doses going to Harris County Jail inmates. The countys remaining doses were saved for future use after county leaders were reassured by Moderna that the vaccine would be safe. While the state saw a big jump in the number of vaccine doses lost, vaccinations are increasing steadily across Texas. More than 16 percent of the states population 16 years and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to DSHS data. And Texas recently set a single-day record in the number of vaccinations provided, with more than 216,000 doses administered. More than 1.9 million Texans have been fully vaccinated against COVID, an increase of more than half a million since Feb. 19, when the winter storm ended. And more help is on the way, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issuing emergency approval for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Doses of this vaccine arrived in Texas on Tuesday, with 24,000 doses going to vaccination sites in Dallas, Harris and Tarrant counties. matt.dempsey@chron.com jordan.rubio@chron.com The film "Chaos Walking" is, in some respects, what you might call a space Western: It opens in a small community of settlers - subsistence farmers, from the look of things - who carry long guns and wear pelts like 19th-century fur trappers. There's even a character called Preacher (David Oyelowo) and a horse named Whiskey. But these cliched trappings are set in a dystopian future, on a distant, Earthlike planet some 6o years' journey from our own. The natives (called Spackle, for what can only be misguided reasons) have been at war with the colonists for years, both of whom appear to coexist in an uneasy truce. This is the slightly silly cowboys-and-Indians setting that situates the movie, a sci-fi oater based on the first book of a YA trilogy by Patrick Ness, who co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher Ford. Although the screen version, directed by Doug Liman ("Edge of Tomorrow") departs in some ways from the book, it also centers on Todd (Tom Holland), a young man whose journey will entail uncovering dark secrets about the past. Although not quite 13 years old in the first book, "The Knife of Never Letting Go," the character's film counterpart is several years older here. Living in an all-male community named Prentisstown after the mayor (Mads Mikkelsen), Todd has been taught that the women were all killed by the Spackle. The remaining men, for their part, suffer from something called Noise: the general inability to keep one's thoughts private, rendered here as a kind of lavender-hued, smokelike aura - part auditory, part visual hallucination - that emanates from the head, and represents the chatter many of us here in the Old World already find hard to silence. Mayor Prentiss is very good at hiding his Noise. Preacher says it makes him look like a woman. (Women, before they disappeared, were immune to the Noise, hence unknowable and mysterious. Men are - ahem - more predictable.) "I take that as a compliment," Prentiss replies. Todd, like some others, can use his Noise to create illusions: a snake, for instance, that isn't really there. Although many understandably find the Noise, well, annoying, Preacher calls it a gift: one of truth. And yet the gift can be manipulated to lie, a feature that will figure prominently more than once. The plot swings into action when Viola (Daisy Ridley), a scout from Earth, crash-lands in the woods near Prentisstown, leading its residents to go ape. Todd, who is too young to have ever seen a girl or woman, other than his mother, behaves as you might expect, babbling like an idiot about Viola's pretty "yellow hair" and wondering aloud, as with all his thoughts, about whether she'll kiss him. Prentiss wants to use Viola to harness the power of her mothership, hovering in orbit, to destroy the Spackle. A chase ensues. There are some very interesting ideas percolating here: about gender dynamics, for instance, and colonial hegemony. (Todd calls the Spackle aliens; Viola points out that they were there first, and it's Man who is the interloper.) One not-so-interesting idea: In the book, Todd's dog, Manchee, is also afflicted with the Noise. The movie is better off without another talking-dog trope. But more often than not, these good ideas get drowned out by, for lack of a better word, the film's extraneous Noise: the Spackle, the queasy sexual objectification, the weird "Tombstone"-in-Alpha-Centauri aesthetic. (The horses were brought frozen, in cryochambers, we learn late in the film.) Too frequently and too loudly, the sci-fi bells and whistles of "Chaos Walking" overwhelm its quieter, more engrossing elements, making it hard to hear what the film really seems to be saying. - - - Two and one-half stars. Rated PG-13. Contains violence and strong language. 109 minutes. Ratings Guide: Four stars masterpiece, three stars very good, two stars OK, one star poor, no stars waste of time. 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. Chinese lawmakers will advance a proposal to overhaul Hong Kong's electoral system, according to Xinhua News Agency, pushing ahead with a controversial plan to limit the opposition's ability to win public office in the Asian financial center. The National People's Congress will review a draft resolution on "improving Hong Kong's electoral system" in the coming days, according to an agenda published Thursday by the official Xinhua News Agency. The rubber-stamp parliament is slated to begin a week-long series of annual meetings Friday in Beijing, meaning the measure could pass as soon as next week. The action is the latest step by Chinese President Xi Jinping's government to curb dissent in the former British colony following historically large and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019. The National People's Congress imposed a sweeping national security law on the city last year and used it to arrest some 100 opposition figures, former lawmakers and activists, drawing criticism from business groups and sanctions from the U.S. government. In recent weeks, Xi and other officials have called for further actions to ensure "patriots" govern Hong Kong and conducted meetings in the mainland city of Shenzhen to discuss changes to the election system. Among the scenarios being considered are plans to reduce the number of seats opposition groups and local tycoons hold on the 1,200-member committee that picks the city's powerful chief executive, local media including the South China Morning Post have reported. Kurt Tong, an Asia Group partner and former U.S. consul general to Hong Kong and Macau, said Beijing's attempts to erode Hong Kong's already-limited democracy were "likely to engender a reaction from Washington." That could take the form of sanctions, specific statements or additional congressional action. "The Congress is, at this point, even tougher on Hong Kong-related issues than even the administration," Tong said in a Feb. 24 interview with Bloomberg Television. "The question is whether sanctions actually accomplish much in terms of impacting China's behavior. Today, they haven't really." China viewed the protests in Hong Kong as an attempt to stage a "color revolution" that poses a direct challenge to Chinese Communist Party rule. Chen Yixin, the secretary general of the party's top legal body, vowed in January to "push forward implementation of the Hong Kong national security law" this year to "build an iron wall to safeguard the country's political security." While the committee that elected Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam in 2017 has long been dominated by Beijing loyalists, opposition candidates made inroads with their landslide win in District Council elections just over a year ago. A chance to build on that success evaporated after the government delayed an election for the more prominent Legislative Council in September and the entire opposition was either disqualified or resigned en masse. Numerous district councilors and former lawmakers were among 47 opposition figures charged Sunday with "conspiracy to commit subversion," in Hong Kong's most dramatic use yet of the security law. They are being prosecuted over their roles in a primary vote in July that the government argues amounted to a subversive plot to paralyze the government. Rita Fan, a former member of the NPC's powerful Standing Committee, has called for replacing the 117 Election Committee seats held largely by pro-democracy district councilors with members of Chinese national bodies. Candidates for the 70-seat Legislative Council should also require nominations from the Election Committee, Fan said, the Standard newspaper reported. Five citywide "superseats" on the Legislative Council should also be broken up, Fan said, a move that would deprive candidates of a chance to prove their popularity across the city of 7.5 million people. Separately, Hong Kong lawmaker Priscilla Leung proposed a "eligibility vetting committee" to screen candidates for public office. A heartbreaking photograph has revealed the hidden danger backyard pools pose to koalas. Professional koala rescuer Amy Wregg, shared a photo of a drowned koala lying at the bottom of a suburban pool in the Gold Coast last year. The marsupial got into trouble after trying to escape a male during mating season before finding herself trapped in the water and unable to climb to safety due to a lack of trees. Professional koala rescuer Amy Wregg, shared a heartbreaking photo of a drowned koala lying at the bottom of a suburban pool in the Gold Coast (pictured) Although the koala's joey was successfully rescued, Ms Wregg described her work as 'soul destroying'. 'Personally, it is watching them decline so rapidly and feeling like we are hitting our heads against a wall,' Ms Wregg told YahooNews. In just three months, she has saved more than 100 koalas while working tirelessly for rescue groups WIRES and WildCare. But despite her phone ringing every 20 minutes for the next rescue, Ms Wregg said finding a safe release area for koalas is the ultimate challenge. 'We rescue a sick koala which survives the disease or injury it has sustained, to be released back home which is already listed for development and translocation is not an option in older koalas,' she said. In three months, Amy Gregg has saved over 100 koalas while working tirelessly for rescue groups WIRES and WildCare (pictured) The Queensland government said there are gaps in their koala conservation, with an independent koala expert panel advising 'existing arrangements' were 'not effectively protecting koalas'. But more than $1.5billion has already been allocated to conduct a new motorway - the Coomera Connecter - which will drastically impact local koala habitats. With more than 40 koalas already living in stage one of the motorway, conservation groups fear the koalas will have nowhere to go during breeding season. Koala researcher Stephen Phillips, said he sees no future for koalas due to the government being 'spectacularly uninformed' about planning around local wildlife. 'I see it as cruel and inhumane to let animals remain in those landscapes when better planning decisions could have had a better conservation outcome,' he said. Dr Phillips is concerned that one day there will be no koalas left in some areas, leaving rescuers deflated after years of hard work. 'I'm tired of all this bleating going on about what's happening to koalas, because by-and-large it's a government responsibility and we could fix it pretty quickly, but government won't.' Murder Among the Mormons covers a lesser-known, horrifying moment in Utah history: the 1985 killing of two esteemed members of Salt Lake Citys Latter-Day Saints establishment by someone from their very own ranks. Mark Hofmann, a well-regarded dealer in historical Mormon documents who was later revealed to have forged most of his findings, was convicted for the murders, which were carried out by bombs targeted at some of his business partners, and is serving a life sentence. The story of Hofmann and his elaborate deceptionswhich also caused a brief crisis of faith within the churchis a complex tale with many interlocking parts, some reaching far beyond Utah. Advertisement But even though the story was nationally covered during its time, and the scars remain for church members, little detail of it is remembered today. Thus, the two filmmakers behind Murder Among the Mormons wanted bring it back to the national consciousness. One of those directors, Tyler Measom, is a longtime documentarian whose work has focused on religious groups, including Mormon sects. The other is a perhaps unexpected but familiar name: Jared Hess, known primarily for directing the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite as well other 2000s indie comedies like Nacho Libre and Gentlemen Broncos. Those surprised to see Hess name among the credits may not realize he is a practicing Mormon who got his start at Brigham Young Universitys film schoolwhere he made the short film that would evolve into Napoleon Dynamiteand has played roles in other Mormon-themed movies over the years. I recently spoke with Hess and Measom over Zoom to talk about how Hess switched gears to work on his first feature documentary, how he worked with Measom to give this story such a vivid platform for the first time ever, and what made these two the most apt storytellers of the Hofmann saga. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nitish Pahwa: How did you two team up? Jared Hess: Tyler and Ive known each other since film school and have been a part of the film community here in Utah. I actually worked as a camera assistant on some stuff that Tyler directed back in the day. He had started researching and working on the project years ago, and then he found out that I was obsessed with this saga as well, so we had lunch and decided to collaborate. Its been a long time in the makingI think Tyler and I have been researching this story for over a decade, but we didnt start working on it intensely until about four years ago. Jared, I know youd heard about this story during your childhood. Tyler, was this story similarly a longtime presence in your life? Advertisement Tyler Measom: Absolutely. I was raised in Utah and I was in the Mormon faith for a while, though Im no longer. I was a teenager when this occurred, so it wasnt necessarily the most important thing to me, but I vividly really remember my father one day saying at the dinner table, This Hofmann thing sure was a black eye on the church. Plus, my cousin was Mark Hofmanns college roommate. So its always been this story thats been a part of the Utah culture: Its in our DNA, in the backstory, in the setting, and the individuals are part of our community. Advertisement A lot of my films center on belief in many ways. Sons of Perdition was about kids who leave a Mormon fundamentalist group, and An Honest Liar was about deception and a man who tries to expose deception. So this story was really in my wheelhouse. Advertisement Tyler, youve been making a lot of religion and crime documentaries for a while, but Jared, this is relatively new territory for you. Your big claim to fame was Napoleon Dynamite, which has roots in your time at Brigham Young University. What made you switch gears and go from indie comedies to Netflix crime documentaries? Hess: Im a big American West history buff, and Im really into early Mormon history. I just find it completely fascinating. So many just wild, bizarre stories within that world, the salamander letter [one of Hofmanns most notorious forgeries] and Mark Hofmann being one of them. Why people believe what they do is fascinating to me. And theres really not a true crime story like this anywhere, with the elements of religion, deception, murder, forgery, the money involved. So for me, it was a very natural transition just because its something Ive been obsessed about. Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox three times a week. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. In Murder Among the Mormons, theres footage of Dan Rather covering the story, of people comparing it to the Beirut bombing the previous year. But youve both said that even in Utah, very few people seem to remember that this happened. Why do you think it became so memory-holed? Measom: This was 35 years ago, and most people in the age of Trump couldnt remember what happened last week, so I think people have forgotten about it. It was a tough, really horrible period for many people in this statemany victims, deaths, and the church had the wool pulled over its eyes. I think there was a bit of Lets just forget about that and move on from a lot of individuals. Advertisement Hess: Ultimately, I think the community wanted to heal and move on. It didnt hang around very long, and unless people have read a book on it, they might have bits and pieces of information that are pretty far off the mark. So from a storytelling standpoint, the way we were able to structure it helps keep people engaged because theyre learning new things that they didnt know about this. Advertisement A lot of the people that you talked to hadnt spoken at all about this since it happened. How were you able to get them to open up? Measom: Jared and I know all these individuals. It wasnt just that we came in and said, We want to interview you on Thursday and well talk to you then, and this is the time, and well set up a camera in your house. We met with them for yearsliterallyand we became friends with them. They trusted us that we were going to tell a good story. And I hope that we didI think it comes across that we like these individuals, that we care for them. And I think they wanted to tell this story: They all knew this was a remarkable story that has yet to really be released to the world. So everyone outside of Mark Hofmann himself, for the most part, was willing to speak to us. For a lot of them, it was therapeutic in many ways to rehash a very difficult incident in its entirety. Advertisement Theres really not a true crime story like this anywhere, with the elements of religion, deception, murder, forgery, the money involved. Jared Hess How did you find all the archival news footage you did, both on the local and national level? Advertisement Advertisement Hess: A lot of our subjects had stuff that they recorded off the TV when it happened. Measom: A lot of the people that were involved in this incident knew it was newsworthy and noteworthy. They would turn over boxes of materials to us, VHS tapes and photos. One of the boxes we got was from Dorie [Mark Hofmanns ex-wife]. And we mention in the film how Mark loved to watch himself on television. Well, he had VHS tapes of himself that he had recorded off TV. So we were able to use Marks own recordings of himself on television. Advertisement One thing that was interesting is, after Mark had gone to prison, all of the stuff that had been confiscated from his house eventually went to one of the victims, who auctioned it all off. So a lot of his journals and letters and yearbooks and photos had gone to collectors here in Utah and throughout the country. We traveled around and picked it all up. We have thousands and thousands of pieces of materiala lot of it obviously didnt make it into the film, but a lot of great stuff did. Hess: Also, the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City, Channel 5 KSL, they did incredible reporting on it back in the day. One of our subjects, Richard Turleyat the time we interviewed him, he was the director of public affairs for the entire LDS churchwas able to help us get unprecedented access to archival footage that had been sitting in a vault at KSL. It was such an incredible artifact of that time, being able to see things as they unfolded and as the community was just baffled as to what was going on, but it really kind of puts you in that moment. And we were very, very lucky to be able to get access to it. Advertisement Advertisement What is the story about the Latter-day Saints church that you wanted to convey in this documentary, and through this particular part of its history? Hess: I mean, it was such an uncomfortable time period for them. Theyve never had this level of controversial spotlight. It was uncomfortable for the membership, for the leadership, for everyone involved because these were things that were directly undermining the faith-promoting history that they taught for years. And when people suddenly started getting killed and that had some kind of connection to the white salamander letter, it was like, Whats going on? As far as the response is concerned, I think theres a lot of initial worry and concern and fear just based on the subject matter alone. But I think itll be empowering for members and people that dont know much about this: to face their fears about what occurred, and be able to understand the details of what happened and that its OK that leaders they revere make mistakes under incredible amounts of pressure. Were all human. No one is immune to deception. I think itll hopefully be healing for them in some ways. Advertisement Advertisement The church there were moments along the way that I think were difficult and embarrassing for them. But the focus is on Mark, his crimes, how heartless he was, what he did, and what he got away with. Ultimately, the church was a victim, just like everyone else who dealt with him was. Tyler, you told the Salt Lake Tribune that the story is ultimately about how Hofmann was able to utilize the culture in order to perpetuate his crimes. What do you mean by that? Measom: The Mormon faith is renowned for being stewards of their historyits a short history, but looking into and finding out their history is something thats very important to them. This community is also very trusting, and Mark was this seemingly good member of the Mormon faith who utilized this love of history and this trusting nature of these individuals to commit these crimes against them. It was because of this environment that he thrived. And there was an element of the Mormon faith trying to hide some of these documents that Mark had purchased. So he knew he could sell them a document and they may not look into it too deeply. They may not research it. They may not send it out into the world. Advertisement This is the context in which Mark Hofmann was able to make millions of dollars. And then, of course, he expanded. He knew that after a while, he could play on the joys of collecting, not just here in Utah but nationally. Above and beyond all, Mark was very, very gifted as a criminologist, as a forger, as a cold-hearted, callous person, and this environment in which he was raised, in which he lived, allowed him to thrive in that, I believe. It happens all over the place. I think today, more than ever, were being fed misinformation and faulty information, and it comes from various sources, and it basically does the same thing. Theres always going to be a person whos going to sell a certain demographic materials and lies and information and fake news that they want to hear. So theyre ready and willing to accept it and buy it. Its a problem today just as much as, if not more than, it was during Mark Hofmanns era. Advertisement This is a huge platform for both of you, a co-production of BBC and Netflix. Do you hope this will also be a chance for people to also explore your earlier work and the religious themes that pervade those films as well? Advertisement Advertisement Hess: Yeah, who knows, maybe thatll happen. Measom: Look, when you make a series for Netflix as a documentarian, youre ostensibly being called up to the bigs. And to have such a willing and wanting audience for this genre right now, were very lucky, though we did work very hard and surround ourselves with amazing individuals who helped us tell this story. If that leads people to our other work or to what our next projects will be, fantastic. But right now we hope everyone loves the dinner that we just created instead of the breakfast we made earlier this morning, if you will. Advertisement If this show is well received, do you both think youd want to do more on the story to try to cover the tracks you werent able to? Measom: There were some stories. One of them was that an Emily Dickinson poem had resurfaced, a lost one. The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts, had purchased it and had this community fundraiser. And then it was uncovered that it was a Hofmann forgery. That was a great story that I wish we could have pushed in. Itd be nice to do something more, but the best thing that I can hear upon finishing a documentary is, I wish there were more. A delegation from IFA met with Bank of Ireland head of retail banking, Gavin Kelly, today, March 4 to outline its views on the decision by the bank to close 88 branches around the country. IFA President Tim Cullinan said, We made it clear to BOI that this decision has been very badly received in rural Ireland. We previously described it as a slap in the face and that is how people in rural Ireland see it. He said that in light of the recent withdrawal of Ulster Bank and Bank of Irelands decision to close branches, its clear that rural Ireland is now more dependent than ever on the Post Office network. Tim Cullinan said access to financial services is crucial for the economic vitality of rural Ireland. IFA Farm Business Chairperson Rose Mary McDonagh said, "Farming and rural communities are disproportionately impacted by these closures since over 80% of branches are located in rural Ireland. Furthermore, the exit of Ulster Bank further erodes the diminishing level of competition in the sector. Bank of Ireland confirmed that its in talks with An Post to develop a partnership whereby withdrawal and lodgement services will be available to Bank of Ireland customers in their local post office. Ms. McDonagh concluded by calling on the Government to make the necessary investments in establishing fully-serviced community banking. "We are thrilled to be welcoming guests back to our one-of-a-kind island destination after all this time," said Luigi Romaniello, Managing Director of Rosewood Baha Mar. "Our team has been working round the clock to ensure guests feel confident and all expectations are exceeded from our new health and safety programs, to the opening of Cafe Boulud The Bahamas; a partnership that will perfectly blend Chef Daniel's creative French cuisine with quintessential Bahamian ingredients." With testing of vital importance to travel in 2021, the hotel will house a dedicated on-property testing center, allowing guests to receive complimentary COVID-19 Antigen and when required, RT-PCR tests. The property will facilitate quarantine should guests test positive on the resort, with courtesy suite accommodations and a daily resort dining credit of $150 per person per day for up to 14 days or until the guest receives a negative COVID-19 result. Most importantly, should the guest need to return earlier, Baha Mar will provide private air travel to return the guest and their immediate family to the U.S. mainland free of charge. Having the peace of mind guaranteed, guests can return to Rosewood Baha Mar's elegant island sanctuary and enjoy new tastes being served at Cafe Boulud The Bahamas. The menu at the new restaurant will feature some classical French dishes synonymous with Chef Daniel, while incorporating local ingredients and flavors, exemplifying Rosewood's A Sense of Place philosophy. Locally sources ingredients will be used throughout the menu to include market-inspired dishes such as the Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio and Strawberry Grouper. Some of Chef Daniel's signature dishes include French classics such as the Tournedos Rossini Beef Tenderloin served with Pomme Dauphine and a Black Truffle Sauce. Younger guests are welcomed back to enjoy all the new programs on offer at Rosewood Baha Mar's Explorer's Club, providing an interactive, educational adventure for children ages 4-12. Explorers are invited to board the "Ship of Wonder" and unlock the many adventures that await them at the Captain's Club and within the Captain's Quarters. Explorers can engage in fun daily programs and hands-on activities, from being a junior chef and making a variety of food creations, to being an artist and making murals, sculptures and sketches. Whether it's stories, movies or games, Junkanoo costumes, drum beating or cowbell shaking, Explorers will be entertained on board the "Ship of Wonder." Set on the pristine white sands of Nassau's Cable Beach, Rosewood Baha Mar offers the ultimate destination for a relaxing Caribbean getaway. The sophisticated beach resort offers a range of accommodations including 230 guestrooms, suites and ocean-side villas that epitomise Caribbean glamour, along with five signature-dining venues, private pools, and Sense, A Rosewood Spa. NOTES TO EDITORS A King, double occupancy room at Rosewood Baha Mar starts from USD$660 per night (approx. 508 per night). To book contact +1 800 447 3496 or visit www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/baha-mar About Rosewood Baha Mar (Nassau, The Bahamas) Set on the white sands of Nassau's Cable Beach in The Bahamas, Rosewood Baha Mar is the effortless escape offering endless possibilities and unique experiences within the new multi-property resort enclave of Baha Mar. The resort's 230 guestrooms, suites and oceanside villas epitomize Bahamian luxury, featuring architecture and interior styling reminiscent of a relaxed island estate. Rosewood Baha Mar offers four signature dining venues; private pools; and Sense, A Rosewood Spa. Rosewood Baha Mar is operated and managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, the leading hospitality group with a storied history of managing elite one-of-a-kind properties, offering Rosewood's signature personalised service and unswerving attention to detail. www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/baha-mar . About Baha Mar (Nassau, The Bahamas) Baha Mar is a master planned $4.2 billion integrated resort development operated by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE). The white sand beach destination includes three global brand operators Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood with over 2,300 rooms and features 20 restaurants and lounges, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a state-of-the-art convention centre, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Royal Blue Golf Course, the Caribbean's first and only flagship ESPA spa, and over 30 luxury retail outlets. Baha Mar is a breath-taking location with dynamic programming, activities and guest offerings in one of the most beautiful places in the world The Bahamas. For more information and reservations, visit www.bahamar.com . SOURCE Rosewood Baha Mar PORTO-NOVO, Benin, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ms. Reckya Madougou, the leader of Benin's largest opposition party and first female presidential candidate for a major party, was arrested in the capital city of Porto-Novo, according to Madougou's campaign team lawyer, Renaud Agbodjo. Despite an immense crowd that tried to form a human shield for protection, Madougou was unjustly arrested by military forces directed by President Patrice Talon. This order is part of his escalating effort to undermine democracy in Benin, according to Agbodjo. The military forces also targeted other opposition candidates meeting in the capital, including Joel "The Professor" Aivo and Moise Kerekou, son of President Mathieu Kerekou. Both opposition leaders were able to escape. Madougou's campaign team is calling on the international community to condemn President Talon's disregard for due process and demand her immediate release. Madougou is to appear at the prosecutor's office tonight. Her campaign team is calling on all Benin citizens to rally around her by appearing at the office of the prosecutor in peaceful solidarity. Benin's democratic goals cannot be undermined by President Talon's strongman tactics. Press Contact Renaud Agbodjo, Esq. Reckya Madougou's Campaign Team +33 7 53 38 79 18 [email protected] SOURCE Reckya Madougous Campaign Team Meghan Markle said she is not afraid of the consequences of speaking out in her and Harrys interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying a lot has been lost already. A second teaser clip for the heavily anticipated chat was released in the early hours of Thursday in which Meghan said she could not be expected to stay silent if the Royal Family played a part in perpetuating falsehoods about the couple. The interview with the revered television host is expected to lift the lid on Harry and Meghans short period as working royals together before they stepped down for a life in America. In the 30-second clip, Winfrey asks the duchess: How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today? Read More She replies: I dont know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I there is a lot that has been lost already. It comes as Buckingham Palace said it had launched an investigation into claims the duchess bullied former royal staff. Past and present employees are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and staff were humiliated on several occasions. The Times newspaper has reported the duchess destroyed one member of staff and another was left in tears before she departed. There has long been speculation about the atmosphere in the Sussex household, after a number of staff left, and the newspaper chronicles what it describes as turmoil within palace walls. Underlying Meghans actions, the paper claims, was the view of a number of sources that she wanted to be a victim so her unbearable experience would convince Harry they had to leave the UK something her lawyers have denied. The monarchys men in grey suits have been accused of being aware of the alleged actions of the duchess and of doing absolutely nothing to protect people. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. The royal household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace. Meghan and Harry will not be part of the process as they are not staff, and it is understood the palace hopes to start the investigation soon. Lawyers for the duke and duchess said the Sussexes believed staff were comfortable and happy. However, Jason Knauf, the Sussexes then communications secretary, made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff. A source suggested the attitude to the allegations was more about making them go away rather than addressing them, with the paper claiming Mr Knaufs complaint was never progressed. Meghans spokesman said: The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good. Up to 250,000 workers could lose their jobs when the JobKeeper wage subsidy ends this month as insolvency data reveals just three companies have used the federal governments new rules to help struggling employers restructure to avoid shutting down. The end of the $90 billion JobKeeper program on March 28 is expected to result in thousands of businesses failing, pushing 125,000 to 250,000 people out of work, University of Melbourne Professor Jeff Borland estimates. His analysis also considers revenue declines and businesses that would have closed under normal trading conditions but have been kept afloat due to the wage subsidy scheme. Business closures when JobKeeper ends could leave thousands more out of work. Credit:Tamara Voninski Prof Borland, one of the nations most respected labour market economists, warns the ending of the subsidy means some jobs will become unprofitable for firms to retain. Of course, that may be offset [by] other sources of employment growth; or exacerbated by other causes of lower employment such as another episode of reemergence of COVID19, he said. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Edinburgh: Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon choked back tears and insisted I would never have wanted to get Alex Salmond as she rejected as absurd his claims of a plot among senior party figures to destroy him. The Scottish leader strongly denied being part of a plot against her predecessor, as she testified under oath in a political saga involving a sexual misconduct investigation that is threatening both her job and her push for an independent Scotland. She told a parliamentary inquiry the simple truth was that several women had made complaints about Salmond and I refused to follow the usual pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gives evidence to a Scottish Parliament committee examining the handling of harassment allegations against her predecessor. Credit:Getty Images In an appearance over eight hours Sturgeon insisted she had seen nothing that comes within a million miles of supporting Salmonds claims of a conspiracy. [March 04, 2021] Tractable adds former Microsoft CFO and investor John Connors to board NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tractable, the AI company accelerating recovery from accidents and natural disasters, announces today that former Microsoft CFO and Ignition Partners Managing Partner, John Connors, has joined its Board of Directors. Connors brings over 30 years of experience as a builder, leader and advisor of high-growth companies in North America. At Microsoft, he led several worldwide divisions, including finance, information technology, worldwide operations and the enterprise sales group. More recently, at Ignition Partners he invests in and serves as a board member of high-growth tech companies, including Splunk and Icertis, and is a 15-year member of the Nike Inc. board. His experience in building enterprise businesses in the US will help Tractable grow and scale as it brings its AI solutions to an even wider international audience. Already, 20 of the world's largest companies - including LKQ Corp., Tokio Marine, MS&AD, Covea, PZU and Ageas - use Tractable's AI to accelerate accident recovery, and the company plans to significantly increase its impact in North America in 2021 by announcing new US customers, along with new applications of its technology within the collision industry. As a member of the board, Connors will advise Tractable's leadership on product development and delivery, market expansion, and growth planning. Mr Connors said: "Tractable has become the global leader in accelerating visual assessments with AI, gowing exceptionally quickly as companies achieve the efficiencies that its solutions create. I'm looking forward to helping the founders build a global tech champion that's applying cutting-edge technology to established problems, and restoring many more people's livelihoods more quickly in the process." In 2020, Tractable more than doubled its revenue and customer base, despite the impact of Covid on global markets, and grown in size from 90 employees to over 170. After completing its $25m Series C funding round in February 2020, bringing the total raised to $55m, the company now has offices in London, New York and Tokyo, as well as staff in France, Germany, Spain and Thailand. The addition of Connors comes as Tractable is exploring further traction with North American insurers and repairers. While Tractable's AI is already widely applied by insurers to auto claims, and has already processed over $1bn of claims across the world, the company will also use its technology to create new efficiencies within the repair industry - for example, by using AI to accelerate how quickly car parts can be recycled and reused - and outside of it, such as in helping recovery from property damage. Alex Dalyac, Tractable co-founder and chief executive, said: "We are honored to welcome John Connors, the former CFO of Microsoft, to the Tractable Board. We are already feeling his drive to build a software company of consequential scale. And I suppose that to all the Terminator fans out there, this is the alternate reality where John Connor(s) is proactively bringing AI to the real world!" About Tractable: Tractable develops artificial intelligence for accident and disaster recovery. Its AI solutions have been deployed by leading insurers across Europe, North America and Asia to accelerate accident recovery for hundreds of thousands of households. Tractable is backed by $55m in venture capital and has offices in London, New York City and Tokyo. About Ignition Partners: Ignition Partners is a top-tier venture capital firm focused on early-stage enterprise software startups with offices in Bellevue, WA and Los Altos, CA. In making investments and helping entrepreneurs build world-class companies, Ignition leverages decades of operating experience and enterprise relationships that have a global reach. Ignition has a track record of backing category-defining companies such as Splunk, DocuSign, Cloudera, Heroku, Parse, Xamarin and Xensource. More recently, our investments in Archipelago, Aviatrix, Botkeeper, Icertis, Jupiter Intelligence, Symend, and Tractable reflect our deep conviction around ML-enabled vertical industry transformation. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tractable-adds-former-microsoft-cfo-and-investor-john-connors-to-board-301240176.html SOURCE Tractable [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ADVERTISEMENT The police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested a man said to be part of a three-man gang that raped a 16-year-old girl. The gang, said to have been armed with a gun, allegedly ambushed their victim around 7 p.m. on February 18 on a road in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. She was blindfolded, taken to an uncompleted building, and raped by the three men who thereafter threatened to kill her and the mother if the case was reported to the police, the victims uncle, Prince Robinson, told PREMIUM TIMES, Friday. The victim was returning from evening classes when the incident occurred. A man, who rescued the victim when she escaped from the gang, was able to identify the suspect and one of the two other members of the gang who are at large. The suspect, identified simply as Kufre, was later arrested and detained at a local police station in Oron before he was transferred to the police headquarters in Uyo. The victim, her rescuer, and the suspect were waiting in one of the offices at the State Criminal Investigative Department when a PREMIUM TIMES reporter visited the police headquarters on Friday. The suspect, a dark-complexioned lanky man in his late 20s, was handcuffed. An orange coloured pant, sanitary pad, and a boxer-shorts were among the items handed over by a police detective from Oron to the new investigating police officer (IPO) at the police headquarters. The items were recovered from the suspects house, said the detective from the Oron police station. A medical report, indicating that the victim had been raped, was also presented to the new IPO. The police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom State, Odiko MacDon, told PREMIUM TIMES he was not aware of the case, when the paper contacted him. NTU AB aNovaturasa resumes flights from Lithuania to Turkey at the beginning of April The leading tour operator in the Baltic States Novaturas from the 1st of April resumes flights from Lithuania to Turkish resorts. From Vilnius Airport, planes will depart daily to Antalya and Gazipasa (Alanya). Turkey has always been the most popular summer holiday destination in 2019 it accounted for over 50% of the total summer holiday program and around 100 thousand travelers from all the Baltics travelled to the Turkish resorts. The first plane from Vilnius will take off on the 1st of April - the earliest from all the Baltics. Flights from Riga are planned to start on the 21st of April, and from Tallinn on the 3d of April. Depending on the period the largest number of flights is planned from Lithuania up to 10 flights per week, while four flights are planned from Latvia and five flights from Estonia per week, - says Audrone Keinyte, head of Novaturas group. Last year, the Turkish government initiated a strict Healthy Tourism Certification program, which must be followed by all tourism companies. Additionally, COVID-19 insurance is also available in the country, covering both treatment and quarantine in the country, in case the traveler is tested positive. Winter holiday season flight programs to Egyptian resorts and Tenerife will also continue in April, and flights to other popular summer holiday destinations - Greece, Bulgaria and Spain are planned from May. About Novaturas Group AB Novaturas Group is the largest tour operator in the Baltic States, offering summer and winter package holidays in more than 30 destinations worldwide and more than 100 sightseeing routes. In 2019, the group served more than 293 thousand customers. CFO Tomas Staskunas tomas.staskunas@novaturas.lt, +370 687 10426 GCHQ has invited only people 'from an ethnic minority background or women' to register their interest for a role in its IT department. The intelligence agency said that the job would be open to applicants from all backgrounds following this preliminary registration period of several weeks. The move was labelled 'completely unacceptable' by Philip Davies, MP for Shipley in West Yorkshire, who branded the agency 'morons'. GCHQ told MailOnline that their job post was in accordance with the Equality Act - which says it is illegal to discriminate on ethnicity and gender - because it is not a job advert 'but a registration of interest.' GCHQ (pictured) explicitly stated only people 'from an ethnic minority background or women from any ethnic background' should register interest in the role in a move slammed by an MP as 'completely unacceptable' Confusingly, GCHQ's posting went on to claim applications were welcome 'from everyone'. A note warning registration of interest was only open to 'those from an ethnic minority background and women' was highlighted in bold twice - at the start and end of the posting It is against the law 'to treat someone less favourably than someone else because of a personal characteristic such as religion, sex, gender reassignment or age,' the Government website states. A note warning registration of interest was only open to 'those from an ethnic minority background and women' was highlighted in bold twice - at the start and end of the posting. The GCHQ post read: 'At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. 'This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions. 'We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.' That note has since been amended to read: 'Please note this Registration of Interest is only open to those from an ethnic minority background or women from any ethnic background. 'Following a Registration of Interest period of several weeks, we will open this role for applications. At this stage, applications from candidates of all ethnicities and genders will be welcome.' Mr Davies MP slammed the decision as he called GCHQ's recruitment department 'morons'. The agency proudly displays its credentials above the posting, stating that it is a champion of the LGBT charity Stonewall and a supporter of Black History Month The note in bold has since been amended to read: 'Please note this Registration of Interest is only open to those from an ethnic minority background or women from any ethnic background. Following a Registration of Interest period of several weeks, we will open this role for applications' He told MailOnline: 'It is completely unacceptable. It is disgraceful to be perfectly honest. Why they think they should be able to discriminate on grounds of race and sex is beyond me.' Government's guidance on avoiding discrimination in job postings You must not state or imply in a job advert that you'll discriminate against anyone. This includes saying that you are not able to cater for workers with a disability. Only use phrases like 'recent graduate' or 'highly experienced' when these are actual requirements of the job. Otherwise you could discriminate against younger or older people who might not have had the opportunity to get qualifications. Where you advertise might cause indirect discrimination - for example, advertising only in men's magazines. Employing people with protected characteristics You can choose a candidate who has a protected characteristic over one who does not if they're both suitable for the job and you think that people with that characteristic: Are underrepresented in the workforce, profession or industry; Suffer a disadvantage connected to that characteristic (for example people from a certain ethnic group are not often given jobs in your sector). You can only do this if you're trying to address the under-representation or disadvantage for that particular characteristic. You must make decisions on a case by case basis and not because of a certain policy. You cannot choose a candidate who is not as suitable for the job just because they have a protected characteristic. Source: Gov.uk Advertisement He said white working class boys were 'the one category with the worst outcomes in the UK' and preferential treatment shouldn't be given to a black old Etonian or a public schoolgirl. He added: 'Most people would think it is disgusting for employers to say they will filter people out of jobs on the basis of race. It is completely and utterly unacceptable. 'It should be illegal and everybody, apart from obviously the morons at GCHQ, knows white working class boys are the one category with the worst outcomes in the UK. 'Are they really saying they want to give preferential treatment to a black old Etonian or a female public schoolgirl over a white working class boy? What possible justification could they have. 'I advise they go back to the drawing board and I hope they treat the security of our county with a less cavalier approach than they do their recruitment policy.' The agency proudly displays its credentials above the posting, stating that it is a champion of the LGBT charity Stonewall, a supporter of Black History Month and a 'disability confident leader'. Employers should not discriminate against anyone while advertising a job vacancy, according to the Government's website. It reads: 'You must not state or imply in a job advert that you'll discriminate against anyone. This includes saying that you are not able to cater for workers with a disability.' And although preference can be given to someone with a 'protected characteristic', this must be on a case-by-case basis and 'not because of a certain policy'. The Registration of Interest is not an official job application, but allows GCHQ's recruitment department to access a spreadsheet of potential applicants from diverse backgrounds, a spokesman revealed. GCHQ told MailOnline: 'Diversity and inclusion are mission critical for GCHQ, ensuring we're more representative of the communities we serve to better protect the UK. 'This registration of interest is one of a number of steps we're taking to encourage more women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds to consider careers. Employers should not discriminate against anyone while advertising a job vacancy, according to the Government's website 'When the job advert for this role does go live anyone will be able to apply for it.' A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: 'Proportionate positive action is a lawful and important way to improve equality of opportunity. We encourage organisations to use it, where appropriate, to address the disadvantages experienced by under-represented groups and to improve levels of participation. 'However, opening up jobs only to people from under-represented groups where membership of that group is not a genuine requirement of the job is unlawful discrimination.' It comes after a senior civil servant accused the Government of seeking to avoid 'reputational damage' by paying a black female colleague 52,000 more than him. Matthew Parr is suing the Home Office for sex and race discrimination after discovering he was earning less than his counterpart for doing the same job. He claimed being a white man meant he was paid a 133,983 salary, plus 7,904 living allowance, while Wendy Williams took home 185,000. Both are one of five HM Inspectors of Constabulary (HMIs) who act as watchdogs for the UK's police forces. Mr Parr, a former rear admiral, was appointed in 2016 during Theresa May's tenure as Home Secretary when Whitehall was driving down the salaries of top officials. An employment tribunal heard that at the time of Ms Williams' appointment 15 months earlier, the Treasury was also trying to reduce pay packets. Matthew Parr is suing the Home Office for sex and race discrimination after discovering he was earning less than his counterpart Wendy Williams (right) for doing the same job But it heard that mandarins agreed she would be paid the top 185,000 salary as awarding her less than existing HMIs could open the Government up to a discrimination challenge. Mr Parr said in a witness statement: 'Documents disclosed by the Respondent make clear that Wendy Williams was paid the top of the band then in force, because of concern that to pay her less than her fellow HMIs presented the Government with a risk of legal challenge on the grounds of discrimination and of reputational damage.' He claimed his 'race and sex had a clear influence' on the decision to pay him the substantially less 133,983 when he came into post. The Government denied sex and race discrimination and maintained plans to lower salaries were always going to come into force regardless of the person who took the position. The Telegraph A minister has criticised King's College London for its "silly" apology to staff for sending an email containing a photo of Prince Philip. Some staff members complained that including a photo of the Duke of Edinburgh opening its Maughan Library in 2002 in a round-robin email was "harmful" because of his "history of racist and sexist comments". Joleen Clarke, an associate director, then sent another message to staff, apologising and informing them the photograph had been meant "as a historical reference point following his death". "The inclusion of the picture was not intended to commemorate him," she wrote. "Through feedback and subsequent conversations, we have come to realise the harm that this caused members of our community, because of his history of racist and sexist comments." James Cleverly, a junior foreign office minister, tweeted on Monday: "This is just getting silly now." The duke had been a governor of the university since 1955, and visited many times, most recently in 2012 for the opening of its Somerset House East Wing. The apology, first reported by the Mail on Sunday, also drew the ire of MPs who argued that the episode was the latest example of cancel culture on campus. Sir John Hayes, the chair of the Common Sense Group of Tory backbenchers, said: "King's College London is at the extreme end of the spectrum when it comes to inhibiting free speech. We need to flush out people in our universities who are determined with an almost Maoist zeal to close minds in places which ought to be bastions of free and open debate." Nick de Bois, a former Tory MP, added: "For goodness sake King's College London grow up." In an apparent backtrack, the university put out a statement stressing the duke's "long and valued association with King's". A spokesman said: "We valued immensely, and remain very proud of, his friendship and support for King's." UPDATE: Police have released the identity of the victim. Click here for the story. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A 43-year-old man was gunned down on Bay Street in Tompkinsville in a shocking broad-daylight slaying on Thursday, according to police. The man was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton from the incident, which was reported at 11:51 a.m. on the 100 block of Bay Street near Victory Boulevard, according to a spokesman for the FDNY/EMS. The victim died after he was shot several times at that location, a spokesman for the NYPD said. Blood was splattered on the ground near shops and Tompkinsville Park. Police respond to a shooting on Bay Street in Tompkinsville on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Detectives roped off the area as they investigated the slaying. Descriptions for the suspect and a possible getaway car are not yet available from police. The incident marks the second large police response in the area in the span of just a few hours. Earlier on Thursday morning and a couple of blocks from the reported shooting, sources said that a person apparently jumped from a fence behind Bay Street, prompting a large emergency response near Tompkinsville station. Police respond to a shooting on Bay Street in Tompkinsville on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Police respond to a shooting on Bay Street in Tompkinsville on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Current issue articles for Geosphere posted online in February Boulder, Colo., USA: GSA's dynamic online journal, Geosphere, posts articles online regularly. Topics for articles posted for Geosphere this month include "a tale of five enclaves"; evidence for mantle and Moho in the Baltimore Mafic Complex (Maryland, USA); and the after effects of the 1964 Mw 9.2 megathrust rupture, Alaska. From Ordovician nascent to early Permian mature arc in the southern Altaids: Insights from the Kalatage inlier in the Eastern Tianshan, NW China Qigui Mao; Jingbin Wang; Wenjiao Xiao; Brian F. Windley; Karel Schulmann ... Abstract: The Kalatage inlier in the Dananhu-Haerlik arc is one of the most important arcs in the Eastern Tianshan, southern Altaids (or Central Asian orogenic belt). Based on outcrop maps and core logs, we report 16 new U-Pb dates in order to reconstruct the stratigraphic framework of the Dananhu-Haerlik arc. The new U-Pb ages reveal that the volcanic and intrusive rocks formed in the interval from the Ordovician to early Permian (445-299 Ma), with the oldest diorite dike at 445 3 Ma and the youngest rhyolite at 299 2 Ma. These results constrain the ages of the oldest basaltic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Ordovician Huangchaopo Group, which were intruded by granite- granodiorite-diorite plutons in the Late Ordovician to middle Silurian (445-426 Ma). The second oldest components are intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the early Silurian Hongliuxia Formation (S 1 h), which lies unconformably on the Huangchaopo Group and is unconformably overlain by Early Devonian volcanic rocks (416 Ma). From the mid- to late Silurian (S 2-3 ), all the rocks were exhumed, eroded, and overlain by polymictic pyroclastic deposits. Following subaerial to shallow subaqueous burial at 416-300 Ma by intermediate to felsic volcanic and volcaniclastics rocks, the succession was intruded by diorites, granodiorites, and granites (390-314 Ma). The arc volcanic and intrusive rocks are characterized by potassium enrichment, when they evolved from mafic to felsic and from tholeiitic via transitional and calc-alkaline to final high-K calc- alkaline compositions with relatively low initial Sr values, (87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.70391-0.70567, and positive Nd (t) values, +4.1 to +9.2. These new data suggest that the Dananhu-Haerlik arc is a long-lived arc that consequently requires a new evolutionary model. It began as a nascent (immature) intra-oceanic arc in the Ordovician to early Silurian, and it evolved into a mature island arc in the middle Silurian to early Permian. The results suggest that the construction of a juvenile-to-mature arc, in combination with its lateral attachment to an incoming arc or continent, was an important crustal growth mechanism in the southern Altaids. View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02232.1/594553/From-Ordovician-nascent-to-early-Permian-mature A tale of five enclaves: Mineral perspectives on origins of mafic enclaves in the Tuolumne Intrusive Complex C.G. Barnes; K. Werts; V. Memeti; S.R. Paterson; R. Bremer Abstract: The widespread occurrence of mafic magmatic enclaves (mme) in arc volcanic rocks attests to hybridization of mafic-intermediate magmas with felsic ones. Typically, mme and their hosts differ in mineral assemblage and the compositions of phenocrysts and matrix glass. In contrast, in many arc plutons, the mineral assemblages in mme are the same as in their host granitic rocks, and major-element mineral compositions are similar or identical. These similarities lead to difficulties in identifying mixing end members except through the use of bulk-rock compositions, which themselves may reflect various degrees of hybridization and potentially melt loss. This work describes the variety of enclave types and occurrences in the equigranular Half Dome unit (eHD) of the Tuolumne Intrusive Complex and then focuses on textural and mineral composition data on five porphyritic mme from the eHD. Specifically, major- and trace-element compositions and zoning patterns of plagioclase and hornblende were measured in the mme and their adjacent host granitic rocks. In each case, the majority of plagioclase phenocrysts in the mme (i.e., large crystals) were derived from a rhyolitic end member. The trace-element compositions and zoning patterns in these plagioclase phenocrysts indicate that each mme formed by hybridization with a distinct rhyolitic magma. In some cases, hybridization involved a single mixing event, whereas in others, evidence for at least two mixing events is preserved. In contrast, some hornblende phenocrysts grew from the enclave magma, and others were derived from the rhyolitic end member. Moreover, the composition of hornblende in the immediately adjacent host rock is distinct from hornblende typically observed in the eHD. Although primary basaltic magmas are thought to be parental to the mme, little or no evidence of such parents is preserved in the enclaves. Instead, the data indicate that hybridization of already hybrid andesitic enclave magmas with rhyolitic magmas in the eHD involved multiple andesitic and rhyolitic end members, which in turn is consistent with the eHD representing an amalgamation of numerous, compositionally distinct magma reservoirs. This conclusion applies to enclaves sampled View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02233.1/594552/A-tale-of-five-enclaves-Mineral-perspectives-on Suprasubduction zone ophiolite fragments in the central Appalachian orogen: Evidence for mantle and Moho in the Baltimore Mafic Complex (Maryland, USA) George L. Guice; Michael R. Ackerson; Robert M. Holder; Freya R. George; Joseph F. Browning-Hanson ... Abstract: Suprasubduction zone (SSZ) ophiolites of the northern Appalachians (eastern North America) have provided key constraints on the fundamental tectonic processes responsible for the evolution of the Appalachian orogen. The central and southern Appalachians, which extend from southern New York to Alabama (USA), also contain numerous ultra- mafic-mafic bodies that have been interpreted as ophiolite fragments; however, this interpretation is a matter of debate, with the origin(s) of such occurrences also attributed to layered intrusions. These disparate proposed origins, alongside the range of possible magmatic affinities, have varied potential implications for the magmatic and tectonic evolution of the central and southern Appalachian orogen and its relationship with the northern Appalachian orogen. We present the results of field observations, petrography, bulk-rock geochemistry, and spinel mineral chemistry for ultramafic portions of the Baltimore Mafic Complex, which refers to a series of ultramafic-mafic bodies that are discontinuously exposed in Maryland and southern Pennsylvania (USA). Our data indicate that the Baltimore Mafic Complex comprises SSZ ophiolite fragments. The Soldiers Delight Ultramafite displays geochemical characteristics--including highly depleted bulk-rock trace element patterns and high Cr# of spinel--characteristic of subduction-related mantle peridotites and serpentinites. The Hollofield Ultramafite likely represents the "layered ultramafics" that form the Moho. Interpretation of the Baltimore Mafic Complex as an Iapetus Ocean-derived SSZ ophiolite in the central Appalachian orogen raises the possibility that a broadly coeval suite of ophiolites is preserved along thousands of kilometers of orogenic strike. View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02289.1/594550/Suprasubduction-zone-ophiolite-fragments-in-the Detrital zircon petrochronology of central Australia, and implications for the secular record of zircon trace element composition Charles Verdel; Matthew J. Campbell; Charlotte M. Allen Abstract: Hafnium (Hf) isotope composition of zircon has been integrated with U-Pb age to form a long-term (>4 b.y.) record of the evolution of the crust. In contrast, trace element compositions of zircon are most commonly utilized in local- or regional-scale petrological studies, and the most noteworthy applications of trace element studies of detrital zircon have been in "fingerprinting" potential source lithologies. The extent to which zircon trace element compositions varied globally over geological time scales (as, for example, zircon U-Pb age abundance, O isotope composition, and Hf isotope composition seem to have varied) has been little explored, and it is a topic that is well suited to the large data sets produced by detrital zircon studies. In this study we present new detrital zircon U-Pb ages and trace element compositions from a continent-scale basin system in Australia (the Centralian Superbasin) that bear directly on the Proterozoic history of Australia and which may be applicable to broader interpretations of plate-tectonic processes in other regions. U-Pb ages of detrital zircon in the Centralian Superbasin are dominated by populations of ca. 1800, 1600, 1200, and 600 Ma, and secular variations of zircon Hf isotope ratios are correlated with some trace element parameters between these major age populations. In particular, elevated Hf(i) (i.e., radiogenic "juvenile" Hf isotope composition) of detrital zircon in the Centralian Superbasin tends to correspond with relatively high values of Yb/U, Ce anomaly, and Lu/Nd (i.e., depletion of light rare earth elements). These correlations seem to be fundamentally governed by three related factors: elemental compatibility in the continental crust versus mantle, the thickness of continental crust, and the contributions of sediment to magmas. Similar trace element versus Hf(i) patterns among a global zircon data set suggest broad applicability. One particularly intriguing aspect of the global zircon data set is a late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian period during which both zircon Hf(i) and Yb/U reached minima, marking an era of anomalous zircon geochemistry that was related to significant contributions from old continental crust. View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02300.1/594551/Detrital-zircon-petrochronology-of-central Along-strike variations in protothrust zone characteristics at the Nankai Trough subduction margin Hannah L. Tilley; Gregory F. Moore; Mikiya Yamashita; Shuichi Kodaira Abstract: Significant along-strike changes in the protothrust zone at the toe of the Nankai Trough accretionary prism were imaged in new high-resolution seismic reflection data. The width of the protothrust zone varies greatly along strike; two spatially discrete segments have a wide protothrust zone (3.3-7.8 km, 50-110 protothrusts), and two segments have almost no protothrust zone (0.5-2.8 km, View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02305.1/594554/Along-strike-variations-in-protothrust-zone The Permian Monos Formation: Stratigraphic and detrital zircon evidence for Permian Cordilleran arc development along the southwestern margin of Laurentia (northwestern Sonora, Mexico) Stephen C. Dobbs; Nancy R. Riggs; Kathleen M. Marsaglia; Carlos M. Gonzalez-Leon; M. Robinson Cecil ... Abstract: The southwestern margin of Laurentia transitioned from a left-lateral transform margin to a convergent margin by middle Permian time, which initiated the development of a subduction zone and subsequent Cordilleran arc along western Laurentia. The displaced Caborca block was translated several hundred kilometers from southern California, USA, to modern Sonora, Mexico, beginning in Pennsylvanian time (ca. 305 Ma). The Monos Formation, a ~600-m-thick assemblage of mixed bioclastic and volcaniclastic units exposed in northwestern Sonora, provides lithostratigraphic, petrographic, and geochronologic evidence for magmatic arc development associated with subduction by middle Permian time (ca. 275 Ma). The Monos Formation was deposited in a forearc basin adjacent to a magmatic arc forming along the southwestern Laurentian margin. Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology suggests that Permian volcanic centers were the primary source for the Monos Formation. These grains mixed with far-traveled zircons from both Laurentia and Gondwana. Zircon age spectra in the Monos Formation are dominated by a ca. 274 Ma population that makes up 65% of all analyzed grains. The remaining 35% of grains range from 3.3 Ga to 0.3 Ma, similar to age spectra from Permian strata deposited in the Paleozoic sequences in the western continental interior. An abundance of Paleozoic through early Neoproterozoic ages suggests that marginal Gondwanan sources from Mexico and Central America also supplied material to the basin. The Monos Formation was deposited within tropical to subtropical latitudes, yet faunal assemblages are biosiliceous and heterotrophic. The lack of photozoan assemblages suggests that cold-water coastal upwelling combined with sedimentation from the Cordilleran arc and Laurentian continent promoted conditions more suitable for fauna resilient to biogeochemically stressed environments. We propose that transform faulting and displacement of the Caborca block ceased by middle Permian time and a subduction zone developed along the southwestern margin of Laurentia as early as early Permian time. The Monos basin developed along the leading edge of the continent as a magmatic arc developed, and facies indicate a consistent shoaling trend over the span of deposition. View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02320.1/595012/The-Permian-Monos-Formation-Stratigraphic-and Detrital sanidine 40Ar/39Ar dating confirms Matthew T. Heizler; Karl E. Karlstrom; Micael Albonico; Richard Hereford; L. Sue Beard ... Abstract: Crooked Ridge and White Mesa in northeastern Arizona (southwestern United States) preserve, as inverted topography, a 57-km-long abandoned alluvial system near the present drainage divide between the Colorado, San Juan, and Little Colorado Rivers. The pathway of this paleoriver, flowing southwest toward eastern Grand Canyon, has led to provocative alternative models for its potential importance in carving Grand Canyon. The ~50-m-thick White Mesa alluvium is the only datable record of this paleoriver system. We present new 40Ar/39Ar sanidine dating that confirms a ca. 2 Ma maximum depositional age for White Mesa alluvium, supported by a large mode (n = 42) of dates from 2.06 to 1.76 Ma. Older grain modes show abundant 37-23 Ma grains mostly derived ultimately from the San Juan Mountains, as is also documented by rare volcanic and basement pebbles in the White Mesa alluvium. A tuff with an age of 1.07 0.05 Ma is inset below, and hence provides a younger age bracket for the White Mesa alluvium. Newly dated remnant deposits on Black Mesa contain similar 37-23 Ma grains and exotic pebbles, plus a large mode (n = 71) of 9.052 0.003 Ma sanidine. These deposits could be part of the White Mesa alluvium without any Pleistocene grains, but new detrital sanidine data from the upper Bidahochi Formation near Ganado, Arizona, have similar maximum depositional ages of 11.0-6.1 Ma and show similar 40-20 Ma San Juan Mountains-derived sanidine. Thus, we tentatively interpret the View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02319.1/595013/Detrital-sanidine-40Ar-39Ar-dating-confirms-lt-2 Reconstructing drainage pathways in the North Atlantic during the Triassic utilizing heavy minerals, mineral chemistry, and detrital zircon geochronology Steven D. Andrews; Andrew Morton; Audrey Decou; Dirk Frei Abstract: In this study, single-grain mineral geochemistry, detrital zircon geochronology, and conventional heavy-mineral analysis are used to elucidate sediment transport pathways that existed in the North Atlantic region during the Triassic. The presence of lateral and axial drainage systems is identified and their source regions are constrained. Axial systems are suggested to have likely delivered sediment sourced in East Greenland (Milne Land-Renland) as far south as the south Viking Graben (>800 km). Furthermore, the data highlight the existence of lateral systems issuing from Western Norway and the Shetland Platform as well as a major east-west-aligned drainage divide positioned adjacent to the Milne Land- Renland region. This divide separated the catchments that flowed north to the Boreal Ocean from those that flowed south into a series of endoreic basins and, ultimately, the Tethys Sea. A further potential drainage divide is identified to the west of Shetland. The data presented and the conclusions reached have major implications for reservoir prediction, as well as correlation, throughout the region. Furthermore, understanding the drainage networks that existed during the Triassic can help constrain paleogeographic reconstructions and provides an important framework for the construction of facies models in the region. View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02277.1/595014/Reconstructing-drainage-pathways-in-the-North Subducting oceanic basement roughness impacts on upper-plate tectonic structure and a backstop splay fault zone activated in the southern Kodiak aftershock region of the Mw 9.2, 1964 megathrust rupture, Alaska Anne Krabbenhoeft; Roland von Huene; John J. Miller; Dirk Klaeschen Abstract: In 1964, the Alaska margin ruptured in a giant Mw 9.2 megathrust earthquake, the second largest during worldwide instrumental recording. The coseismic slip and aftershock region offshore Kodiak Island was surveyed in 1977-1981 to understand the region's tectonics. We re-processed multichannel seismic (MCS) field data using current standard Kirchhoff depth migration and/or MCS traveltime tomography. Additional surveys in 1994 added P-wave velocity structure from wide-angle seismic lines and multibeam bathymetry. Published regional gravity, backscatter, and earthquake compilations also became available at this time. Beneath the trench, rough oceanic crust is covered by ~3-5-km-thick sediment. Sediment on the subducting plate modulates the plate interface relief. The imbricate thrust faults of the accreted prism have a complex P-wave velocity structure. Landward, an accelerated increase in P-wave velocities is marked by a backstop splay fault zone (BSFZ) that marks a transition from the prism to the higher rigidity rock beneath the middle and upper slope. Structures associated with this feature may indicate fluid flow. Farther upslope, another fault extends >100 km along strike across the middle slope. Erosion from subducting seamounts leaves embayments in the frontal prism. Plate interface roughness varies along the subduction zone. Beneath the lower and middle slope, 2.5D plate interface images show modest relief, whereas the oceanic basement image is rougher. The 1964 earthquake slip maximum coincides with the leading and/or landward flank of a subducting seamount and the BSFZ. The BSFZ is a potentially active structure and should be considered in tsunami hazard assessments. View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/GES02275.1/595015/Subducting-oceanic-basement-roughness-impacts-on ### GEOSPHERE articles are available at http://geosphere.geoscienceworld.org/content/early/recent . Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary copies of GEOSPHERE articles by contacting Kea Giles at the address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOSPHERE in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org. https:/ / www. geosociety. org/ This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Education Minister, Peter Weir, has announced that legislation to address bullying in schools will come into operation in Northern Ireland on September 1. The Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (NI) 2016 will bring renewed focus for schools to this very important issue and deliver greater consistency and impact in the treatment of all forms of bullying. Announcing the introduction of the new legislation, the Minister said: I am pleased to be able to finally bring this important piece of legislation, which was supported by all parties, into law. Bullying is a complex issue with no single, easy solution however, we all have a part to play in creating a society and an education system in which bullying behaviour is always challenged and dealt with effectively, as soon as it rears its head. Schools must be welcoming places and therefore issues such as bullying must be dealt with to ensure that all young people enjoy their school days and make the most of their time there to ensure they reach their full potential. The legislation will provide a legal definition of bullying; introduce a requirement for schools to record all incidents of bullying; and require Boards of Governors to take direct responsibility for developing and monitoring the effectiveness of Anti-Bullying policy and practice within schools. Moments of the virtual journey, with overlaid astronomical data. Credit: RenderArea During the past 25 years astronomers have discovered a wide variety of exoplanets, made of rock, ice and gas, thanks to the construction of astronomical instruments designed specifically for planet searches. Also, using a combination of different observing techniques they have been able to determine a large number of masses, sizes, and hence densities of the planets, which helps them to estimate their internal composition and raises the number of planets which have been discovered outside the Solar System. However, to study the atmospheres of the rocky planets, which would made it possible to characterize fully those exoplanets which are similar to Earth, is extremely difficult with currently available instruments. For that reason, the atmospheric models for rocky planets remain untested. So it is interesting that the astronomers in the CARMENES (Calar Alto high- Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exoearths with Near-infrared and optical echelle Spectrographs), consortium in which the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) is a partner, have recently published a study, led by Trifon Trifonov, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy at Heidelberg (Germany), about the discovery of a hot super-Earth in orbit around a nearby red dwarf star Gliese 486, only 26 light years from the Sun. To do this the scientists used the combined techniques of transit photometry and radial velocity spectroscopy, and used, among others, observations with the instrument MuSCAT2 (Multicolour Simultaneous Camera for studying Atmospheres of Transiting exoplanets) on the 1.52m Carlos Sanchez Telescope at the Teide Observatory. The results of this study have been published in the journal Science. This virtual journey to Gliese 486b begins with its position in the night sky. After focusing on the parent star Gliese 486b, the film depicts the measurements. Finally, we fly to the exoplanet Gliese 486b and explore its possible surface, which probably resembles Venus, with a hot and dry landscape interspersed with glowing lava flows. Credit: RenderArea The planet they discovered, named Gliese 486b, has a mass 2.8 times that of the Earth, and is only 30% bigger. "Calculating its mean density from the measurements of its mass and radius we infer that its composition is similar to that of Venus or the Earth, which have metallic nuclei inside them," explains Enric Palle, an IAC researcher and a co-author of the article. Gliese 486b orbits its host star on a circular path every 1.5 days, at a distance of 2.5 million kilometers. In spite of being so near to its star, the planet has probably conserved part of its original atmosphere (the star is much cooler than our Sun) so that it is a good candidate to observe in more detail with the next generation of space and ground telescopes. The diagram provides an estimate of the interior compositions of selected exoplanets based on their masses and radii in Earth units. The red dot represents Gliese 486b, and the orange symbols represent planets around cool stars like Gliese 486. The gray dots show planets housed by hotter stars. The color curves indicate the theoretical mass radius relationships for pure water at 700 K (blue), for the mineral enstatite (orange), for Earth (green), and pure iron (red). By comparison, the diagram also highlights Venus and Earth. Credit: Trifonov et al./ MPIA Graphics Department. For Trifonov, "the fact that this planet is so near the sun is exciting because it will be possible to study it in more detail using powerful telescopes such as the iminent James Webb Space Telescope and the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) now being built." Gliese 486b takes the same length of time to spin on its axis as to orbit its host star, so that it always has the same side facing the star. Although Gliese 486 is much fainter and cooler than the Sun, the radiation is so intense that the surface of the planet heats up to at least 700K (some 430 degrees C). Because of this, the suface of Gliese 486b is probably more like the surface of Venus that that of the Earth, with a hot dry landscape, with burning rivers of lava. However, unlike Venus, Gliese 486b may have a thin atmosphere. The graph illustrates the orbit of a transiting rocky exoplanet like Gliese 486b around its host star. During the transit, the planet eclipses the stellar disk. Simultaneously, a small portion of the starlight passes through the planet's atmosphere. As Gliese 486b continues to orbit, parts of the illuminated hemisphere become visible as phases until the planet disappears behind the star. Credit: MPIA Graphics Department. Calculations made with existing models of planetary atmospheres can be consistent with both hot surface and thin atmosphere scenarios because stellar irradiation tends to evaporate the atmosphere, while the planet's gravity tends to hold it back. Determining the balance between the two contributions is difficult today. "The discovery of Gliese 486b has been a stroke of luck. If it had been around a hundred degrees hotter all its surface would be lava, and its atmosphere would be vaporized rock," explains Jose Antonio Caballero, a researcher at the Astrobiology Centre (CAB, CSIC-INTA) and co-author of the article. "On the other hand, if Gliese 486b had been around a hundred degrees cooler, it would not have been suitable for the follow-up observations." Artist's impression of the atmosphere of Gliese 486b. Credit: RenderArea Future planned observations by the CARMENES team will try to determine its orbital inclination, which makes it possible for Gliese 486b to cross the line of sight between us and the surface of the star, oculting some of its light, and producing what are known as transits. They will also make spectroscopic measurements, using emission spectroscopy, when the areas of the hemisphere lit up by the star are visible as phases of the planet (analagous to the phases of our Moon), during the orbits of Gliese 486b, before it disappears behind the star. The spectrum observed will contain information about the conditions on the illuminated hot surface of the planet. "We can't wait until the new telescopes are available," admits Trifonov. "The results we may obtain with them will help us to get a better understanding of the atmospheres of rocky planets, their extension, their very high density, their composition, and their influence in distributing energy around the planets. Artistic impression of the surface of the newly discovered hot super-Earth Gliese 486b. With a temperature of about 700 Kelvin (430 C), Gliese 486b possibly has an atmosphere. Credit: RenderArea Colorized 2D spectra of the star Gliese 486 as seen with MAROON-X. The two spectra are from the two camera arms of MAROON-X. Each spectrum covers the 500-670 nm wavelength range and the color-coding corresponds to how a human eye would perceive the colors. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/A. Seifahrt The CARMENES project, whose consortium is made up by 11 research institutions in Spain and Germany, has the aim of monitoring a set of 350 red dwarf stars to seek planets like the Earth, using a spectrograph on the 3.5 m telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory (Spain). The present study has also used spectroscopic measurements to infer the mass of Gliese 486b. Observations were made with the MAROON-X instrument on Gemini North (8.1m) in the USA, and archive data were taken from the Keck 10 m telescope (USA) and the 3.6m telescope of ESO, (Chile). The photometric observations come from NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) space observatory, (USA), whose data were basic for obtaining the radius of the planet, from the MuSCAT2 instrument on the 1.52m Carlos Sanchez Telescope at the Teide Observatory (Spain) and from the LCOGT (Las Cumbres Observational Global Telescope) in Chile, among others. Explore further Super-Earths discovered orbiting nearby red dwarf More information: T. Trifonov el al. A nearby transiting rocky exoplanet that is suitable for atmospheric investigation. Science (2021). Journal information: Science T. Trifonov el al. A nearby transiting rocky exoplanet that is suitable for atmospheric investigation.(2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.abd7645 Thai musician and activist Chaiamorn Ammy Kaewwiboonpan, 32, receives roses as he arrives at the Attorney Generals office in Bangkok to be charged with Lese-Majeste, Feb. 17, 2021. Police on Wednesday arrested Chaiamorn Ammy Kaewwiboonpan, a Thai pop star-turned-activist, for allegedly burning a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn in front of a jail during an anti-government protest over the weekend, police and a lawyers group said. Ammy, 32, was arrested at a rented house in Ayudhya, a province north of Bangkok, hours before dawn, metropolitan police said. He admitted to setting the fire in a social media post from a hospital room. [Investigators] preliminarily charged him with arson of properties and are considering pressing a Lese-Majeste charge, Lt. Gen. Pakpong Pongpetra, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, told a press conference Wednesday, adding that the authorities have solid evidence against him. Ammys lawyer said he was charged with Lese-Majeste the nations strict royal defamation law. He is at least the 61st person to face the charge since November 2020, months after youth-led pro-democracy protests began last July. Those convicted under the law face 15 years in prison per count. Arson of government property may be subject to a maximum penalty of death, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), an NGO whose members represent protesters. Local media showed Ammy falling after climbing a scaffolding in front of Klong Prem Central Prison on Sunday, while holding a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) as he called for the release from a different prison of four protest leaders. These included Arnon Nampa and Parit Chiwarak, who were charged with Lese-Majeste and sedition on Feb. 9. At the time of his arrest, Ammys left shoulder and his left pelvis were injured. We took him to the Ayudhya Hospital and later had him under custody at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok, Lt. Gen. Pakpong Pongpetra, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, told a press conference Wednesday, adding Ammy was injured before his arrest. From his hospital room, Ammy posted a photo of himself on Instagram showing his ankle chained. The arson of the kings portrait was my work and I assume sole responsibility. It has nothing to do with any movements, he said in the posting, adding that he took frustration for not being able to help secure the release of the four activists who had been charged with Lese-Majeste. On its Facebook page, the TLHR said lawyers and Ammys relatives were not allowed to visit him in the police hospital because of COVID-19 concerns. On Sunday, about 2,000 pro-democracy demonstrators, mainly from the group Restart Democracy, or REDEM, marched from the Victory Monument toward the residence of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, but they tangled with police. Authorities arrested 22 suspects, including four minors younger than 18, according to the TLHR and the Central Juvenile and Family Court. A riot policeman, Capt. Wiwat Sertsanit, 47, died of heart failure after collapsing during clashes with protesters near the PMs residence that day, to become the first fatality linked to pro-democracy demonstrations since July. Freedom House downgrade In a report released Wednesday, U.S.-based Freedom House noted the crackdown on protesters since the demonstrations began in July 2020 for its decision to downgrade Thailand in its Freedom in the World 2021 report. Protests in Thailand calling for democratic reforms were met with arrests and use of water cannons against demonstrators. The Thai militarys violent crackdown on dissent and the abolition of a popular opposition party reversed previous democratic progress, and as a result Thailands status changed from Partly Free to Not Free, the report said. Kerala BJP chief on Thursday announced that 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan will be the party's chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming state Assembly polls. "E Sreedharan will be BJP's Chief Minister candidate in the upcoming 2021," Surendran said. Earlier in the day, E Sreedharan visited the Palarivattom flyover which is being reconstructed now. He said the people of Kerala will elect his party to power and he is expecting a "big" victory in the Assembly elections. "People know very well what is good for them and what is good for the state. I am very confident they will elect BJP to power. I am expecting a big victory," he said. "I have made only one demand to BJP that I want to contest in a constituency not far away from Ponnani where I am residing now," he added. The BJP leader also said that it is the "mental" age rather than the "physical" age that decides what responsibilities one should take up. "It is the age of the mind that matters, not only the age of the body. Mentally, I am very alert and young. So far, I don't have any issues with health. I don't think health will be much of an issue. I will not be working as a normal politician. I will continue to work like a technocrat," he said. Surendran on Wednesday announced a 16-member state election committee which included E Sreedharan, who recently joined the party. The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly will be held on April 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced. For Assembly poll 2021, the number of polling booths in Kerala has been extended from 21,498 to 40,771. The counting of votes will be held on May 2. The tenure of the 14th Kerala legislative assembly will come to an end on June 1, 2021. A total of 2,67,88,268 electors will elect the candidates in Kerala for the 15th legislative assembly. (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 National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) is currently organizing a 3-day training programme at the Institute of Local Government Studies-Accra for selected accounts-related officers selected from the 16 Regions and Head Office. The Director-General of NADMO in his opening remarks was particularly pleased that this programme was coming on because; it has been his dream to establish Internal Audit Units in all 16 Regional Directorates of our organization. To the surprise of all, apart from the Greater Accra and the Eastern region, the rest of the regions do not have Internal Audit Units even though the institution provides funds and other resources to them to manage. The Director-General of NADMO enumerated that Section 83(1) of the Public Financial Management Act 2016(Act 921) enjoins all public citizens to establish Internal Audit Units to ensure compliance in the management of public funds and resources. He further stated the importance of a well-resourced and well-motivated Internal Audit to prevent external audit queries as it helps to prevent infraction in the management of resources. Which will go a long way to reduce if not eliminated, the number of infractions the Auditor General would submit to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. Also at the event was Mr. Thomas N A Aryee, Deputy Director-General of the IAA, the mother body for Internal Auditors. He commended the management of NADMO for investing in this training programme aimed at deepening the knowledge of their members. He admonished participants to take the exercise seriously and adhere to best practices. The programme is scheduled to treat topics like Internal Control System and Auditing, Financial Statement Auditing, Contract and Project Management Auditing among, Procurement and Stores audit among others. At the opening event was the Rector for the Institution , Dr. Nicolas Awortwi as well as other facilitators. 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 With the new United States administration recently established, the US and Vietnam are expected to continue building bilateral trade and investment ties on the back of various motives including a possibility for the US to rejoin the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Projects such as Bunges agribusiness are expected to increase in number through stronger US ties. Photo: Le Toan In his first few days in office five years ago, President Donald Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was a pillar of the Barack Obama administrations pivot towards Asia. The remaining 11 member states have since reframed the agreement as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and President Joe Bidens commitment to rebuilding relations with allies has sparked speculation about the US returning to the fold. Fitch Solutions under global ratings firm Fitch Group told VIR in a statement that Vietnamese trade would receive a surefire boost should new Biden decide to rejoin the CPTPP. Biden stated in 2019 that the US should renegotiate parts of the CPTPP and re-assemble a coalition to counterbalance Chinas perceived expansionist policies. The Trump administration withdrew from the original deal in 2017 under the pretext that it would harm US workers. A scenario where the US rejoins the CPTPP would deliver substantial tailwinds to Vietnamese exports to the US from lower tariffs in major export categories, Fitch said. In fact, the CPTPP may offer great windfalls to the US. Statistics from law firm Duane Morris Vietnam LLC showed that the population of the CPTPP countries exceeded 513 million people as of October 2020. The CPTPP countries account for nearly 45 per cent of US total exports and 37.6 per cent of US general imports in 2014. By cutting over 18,000 taxes in regards to CPTPP, there would be a great benefit for American importers and exporters by enabling them to enter new markets. As the United States International Trade Commission estimates, the US exports of goods and services to the world would expand by $27.2 billion by 2032 thanks to the CPTPP, while US imports would expand by $48.9 billion. Oliver Massmann, general director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC, pointed out various benefits for the US if it rejoins the CPTPP. He took public procurement as an example. Dropping the CPTPP means that the US has lost access to government procurement of other CPTPP countries, which amounts to $1.47 trillion, he said in a letter recently sent to President Biden. Massmann cited the International Monetary Funds World Economic Outlook database in October 2019 as stating that in Vietnam, government procurements percentage of GDP in 2019 was 12 per cent or $40.87 billion. The great advance of the CPTPP will be that even Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, which have not agreed to coverage of their government procurement before and are currently not covered by an existing US free trade agreement or government procurement agreement of the World Trade Organization, have undertaken to do so. This is a key export opportunity for US goods producers and services companies. Currently Chinese companies profit the most. About 90 per cent of power, mining, manufacturing, ferrous, and chemical projects of state-owned companies in Vietnam are awarded to Chinese contractors, Massmann noted. Furthering ties Early this month, Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh held phone talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Both sides agreed bilateral ties have advanced across fields over the past 25 years, and pledged to cooperate in deepening ties in a more comprehensive manner, with a focus on economy-trade-investment, overcoming war consequences, enhancing maritime capacity, fighting COVID-19, and adapting to climate change. It is expected that in 2021, there will be more connections and talks between both nations high-level leaders, investors, and enterprises. Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi (AmCham) told VIR that he expected US-Vietnam trade and investment cooperation to further flourish thanks to several reasons including the US new administrations positive stance towards both nations bilateral ties. As major investors here, American companies have an interest in Vietnams continued success. It is a new year and we welcome the incoming leaders in both countries, Sitkoff said. American investors are optimistic about business prospects in Vietnam and we support efforts to create a modern economy that will attract future investment and high-paying jobs for Vietnamese people. We will continue to work on lowering barriers to trade, to help the Vietnamese government make it easier to do business, and to create a high-standard, transparent, and stable business environment to ensure that all investors have fair access to that opportunity. Statistics from Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment showed that as of January 20, US investors registered over $9.51 billion in Vietnam for more than 1,000 valid projects, making the US the 11th-largest foreign investor in the Southeast Asian nation. In January alone, the US ranked fourth in investment in Vietnam, with total newly-registered capital of $122.2 million. Currently many US firms are exploring opportunities in Vietnam, such as Morgan Stanley, ACORN International, General Dynamics, Nue Capital LLC, BlackRocks Asian Credit, Lockheed Martin International, Smart City Works, Google, Columbia University, and USTelecom. Positive impacts Fitch Solutions believed that the incoming Biden administration will have largely positive implications for Vietnam. The impact on Vietnams trade growth should be positive, given that Biden will take a more pragmatic approach towards Vietnams growing trade surplus with the US, which means a lower risk of punitive trade tariffs than under Trumps currency policies, the Fitch Solutions statement read. Trump-era trade tariffs on Chinese exports and rising geopolitical tensions between China and the West have also set in motion a relocation of manufacturing to Vietnam, which is likely to continue. Should the US decide to join the CPTPP in the coming years, Vietnam would also benefit from accelerated trade expansion with the US. Fitch Solutions further explained that Biden is likely to take a more pragmatic view towards trade developments with its economic partners. In particular, we believe that the Biden administration will come to understand that Vietnams trade surplus with the US will grow as more manufacturers relocate to the Southeast Asian nation due to the ongoing US-China trade war. Furthermore, while there is bipartisan support in the US for a hardline stance on trade with China, we believe that a desire by the Biden administration to rebuild its relations with its allies would see an easing of the trade tensions with allied countries generated by the Trump administration. Therefore, we believe that the Biden administration will entail lower risk of further US tariffs on Vietnamese exports. In 2020, total export-import turnover between Vietnam and the US was $90.1 billion, up from $76 billion in 2019. Hurdles need removing Sitkoff from AmCham in Hanoi told VIR that though Vietnam and the US have many common foundations to further cement their trade and investment ties, he hoped Vietnams government will take more drastic action to remove obstacles currently facing investors. It is critical that US companies and investors here in Vietnam encounter an equal, level, and predictable playing field as a solid foundation, not only to attract new investment, but also to maintain and grow the investment that is already here, Sitkoff said. In addition, we recommend that foreign investment limitations, an overly restrictive legal framework, and burdensome administrative procedures should be carefully reviewed and selectively relaxed to encourage increased US investment, he suggested. In our view, by opening its market to more US goods and services, Vietnam can help to rectify the growing trade imbalance between the two countries in a manner that benefits both countries. According to AmCham, one of the biggest hurdles for foreign firms including US ones in Vietnam is the tax system. While Vietnams corporate income tax rate of 20 per cent is competitive, data shows that filing and paying taxes in the country is still too high a burden compared to neighbouring countries. Too many companies are also suffering from what seems to be unfair and non-transparent reassessments with penalties and interest, said an AmCham statement recently sent to the government. We hope to see real progress on advanced pricing agreements which create the stability and predictability necessary for integrating into global supply chains. VIR Workers transport a batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines in Cairo International Airport, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) CAIRO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- As the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines provided by China for Egypt and the General Secretariat of Arab League arrived, the Arab world once again witnessed the determination of China to underpin international solidarity against the COVID-19 pandemic, and promote the building of a global community of health for all. "(The) Chinese government has decided to provide Egypt with a second batch of aid vaccines to continue providing support in the fight against the epidemic," Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang told an online press conference on Monday. China is willing to strengthen vaccine cooperation with Egypt, support international solidarity against the COVID-19 pandemic, and promote the building of a global community of health for all, said Liao. On Feb. 23, Liao and Egyptian Assistant Health Minister for Financial and Administrative Affairs Wael El Saaey held a handover ceremony at the Cairo International Airport upon the arrival of the vaccines developed by Sinopharm. On the same day, Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed expressed gratitude to China for its offer of COVID-19 vaccines, saying that Egypt deeply appreciates China's help given that vaccines are currently limited worldwide, and this reflects the great friendship between the Egyptian and the Chinese people. China's experience in and the central government's capability of fighting the pandemic in a country with the world's largest population is unique and has inspired the world, the minister said. Magdy Badran, a professor of virology and member of the Egyptian Association of Immunology, hailed China's suggestion for cooperation with developing countries and stressed its vital role in combating and ending COVID-19 in the future. "Vaccines are the only hope to curb and control the spread of the virus," said Badran, adding the most important thing is that they should be safe, effective, cheap and available, and the Chinese vaccines are exactly so. The Egyptian medical expert said that he was deeply impressed by China's proposal of building a global community of health for all, as the virus doesn't differentiate between the poor and rich, or developed and developing countries. China and Egypt have joined hands to launch a central business district project in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, with the 385-meter-high Iconic Tower hitting 300 meters recently. It's expected to be the tallest building in Africa upon completion. On Feb. 8, the signing ceremony for Egypt's Alamein Downtown Towers Project between China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities was held simultaneously in Cairo and Beijing. "This year marks the 65th anniversary of Egypt-China diplomatic ties. China and Egypt should better strengthen their development strategies and promote cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative," Hussein Ismail, deputy editor-in-chief of the Arabic version of China Today magazine, told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Egypt welcomes more Chinese enterprises to do business in Egypt and make concerted efforts to further enhance (the) comprehensive strategic partnership with China," he stressed. Enditem 2 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] The US carried out an airstrike on 25 February targeting what it described as Iran-backed militias in Syria in the first military operation by the new administration of US President Joe Biden. The Pentagon said that US military forces had carried out an airstrike in Syria that destroyed infrastructure used by radical groups backed by Iran in the east of the country and at a border crossing used by these groups. It said it was a calculated move aimed to prevent escalation in eastern Syria and Iraq. The US did not specify which targets it had in mind, but the airstrike was confirmed when Syria condemned the US attack, describing it as cowardly. The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the attack was a bad signal regarding the new US administrations policies, which should comply with international rules. The strikes were limited and did not result in significant damage, making them unlikely to trigger escalation any time soon. Preliminary reports by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a NGO, said the US strikes had destroyed three ammunition trucks approaching from Iraq to an illegal border crossing south of the Syrian city of Al-Bukamal. Rami Abdel-Rahman, director of the SOHR, said that some 17 combatants were killed, according to preliminary reports by the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a reference to the Iraqi paramilitary forces loyal to Iran. In a statement, Pentagon Press Spokesman John Kirby described the strikes as defensive, adding that they were authorised in response to recent attacks on US troops and coalition forces in Iraq and continued threats against them. Unofficial US sources said the strikes aimed to send the signal that the US wants to punish radical groups loyal to Iran but does not want the situation to escalate. It is unclear if the strikes will impact US efforts to convince Iran to negotiate a new nuclear deal after Washington withdrew from the original one in 2018 under former president Donald Trump, or if they are in response to the missile attacks over recent days on a military base for US troops in northern Iraq and in the Green Zone in Baghdad where the US embassy and other diplomatic missions are located. Russia condemned the US airstrikes, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying Washington had warned Moscow only four minutes before they took place. He called on the US to resume communications on Syria with Russia to clarify the position of the Biden administration. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes, describing them as in violation of international law and Syrias sovereignty. Moscow views the Iranian presence in Syria as aiding the legitimate government of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and coming in response to requests from the regime to fight against what it describes as terrorists. Russia believes the presence of other foreign troops in Syria is illegitimate since permission was not officially given by the Syrian regime. Iran described the US airstrikes as a flagrant violation of human rights and international law, warning that the action could result in military escalation and destabilise the region, according to statements by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh. These attacks are a continuation of recurring assaults by the Zionist entity on Syrian territory and came at a time when US troops have been illegitimately present in Syria for years, pillaging the countrys natural resources, including oil, which is the property of the Syrian people, Khatibzadeh said, in a reference to Israel. Firas Talal, a Syrian dissident and son of a former minister of defence, commented that I have studied the impact of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian and Syrian positions inside Syria. They were exercises on cardboard positions in empty areas. The few deaths have been nothing more than collateral damage. We must analyse the reasons behind them. Israel welcomed the US airstrikes, with Israeli officials saying it was very reassured by these attacks and sees them as a good indicator of the position of the new Biden administration towards Iran. Since the targeted weapons shipments came from Iraq, this means that information was given to the US by the Iraqis in a shift in Iraqs position since the leadership in Baghdad is closely allied to Tehran. It could mean that the US has started to gain ground in Iraq at the expense of Iran. Some commentators were surprised at how quickly Biden had moved on the Syrian issue, approving military strikes in the country just weeks after coming to office. Biden is most likely concerned about Irans movements or is making a preemptive move to curb Irans influence in Syria, which is disturbing to the US and Israel. The use of force is always an option for a Democrat administration, even though it says it prefers to take a diplomatic route in global crises. The US delivered several messages to several parties by carrying out the airstrikes. It sent a message to Iran that it is still in the crosshairs and that Washington will respond to any Iranian actions and will not appear weak in confronting threats against US soldiers. The message to Russia, Irans key ally in Syria, is that the US will not make exceptions for Russias allies and that Russia does not have any special status. The message to the Syrian regime is that it should dismantle its relationship with Iran. Finally, the strikes are a message to regional and international players in Syria that the US will remain the strongman of the region and its military presence in Syria and Iraq will continue as long as these two countries are characterised by chaos or instability. Most likely, the messages have been understood and the recipients will heed their meanings. However, if they respond, the Middle East could be in for difficult months ahead, with Syria once again becoming a battlefield to settle scores between rival regional and international players with conflicting interests. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Lone Democrat Explains Why He Sided With Republicans Against H.R. 1 Every Democrat but one voted late March 3 for H.R. 1, a massive voting reform bill that has drawn harsh criticism from the GOP. Every Republican voted against the bill. They were joined by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). Thompson told The Epoch Times that he heard from constituents who opposed certain portions of the legislation. My constituents opposed the redistricting portion of the bill as well as the section on public finances. I always listen and vote in the interest of my constituents, he said in an emailed statement. H.R. 1 would require congressional redistricting to be conducted through independent commissions, or a three-judge court. Membership on the commissions would be open to any citizen of the state through an application process, barring people who have held or hold office, candidates for office, and people who have worked on political campaigns. Six members would be chosen by a nonpartisan agency established or designated by a State, the bill states. Two from each party, and two independents, would be chosen on a random basis from the approved selection pool. Those members would then appoint three other members from each of the two major parties and three independents. Commission members would be banned from drawing maps to favor a political property and would be required to meet other criteria in deciding where lines go. They would also have to hear from the public before approving a final map. The legislation would also prohibit mid-decade redistricting. Another section deals with campaign finance. The legislation condemns the Citizens United Supreme Court decision and calls for amending the Constitution so that Congress and the States may regulate and set limits on the raising and spending of money to influence elections and may distinguish between natural persons and artificial entities, like corporations, that are created by law, including by prohibiting such artificial entities from spending money to influence elections. Additionally, it would reduce the number of members on the Federal Election Commission and limit those who could serve on the commission. Republicans on the House floor before the vote denounced the bill, including portions that would require funding for campaigns. Americans love election season. They love the endless political acts, having their phones blown up by political calls and texts, having their email inboxes littered with solicitations from wannabe politicians. My phone keeps ringing off the hook from all of my constituents just pleading for Congress to use their dollars to fund more campaign ads. This is the fantasy world that government bureaucrats and career politicians who want a federal takeover of our elections live in, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) told colleagues. They want to take Americans money and give it to campaigns in a 6:1 ratio, effectively forcing you to support political campaigns you dont support. But Democrats said the bill would bring necessary changes to elections. As a former voting rights attorney, I have seen firsthand the devastation on the faces of Americans when they are denied their ability to make their voice heard in our elections because they missed an arbitrary deadline or showed up to their old polling place. Its heartbreaking and not who we are as nation, Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) said. On todays vote, we as a Congress have the opportunity to affirmatively expand access to voting. This bill would do so by allowing for automatic and same-day voter registration and establishing a national early voting period while also enacting key reforms that will make our elections more secure and will ensure Americans and only Americans take part in them. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The first reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States occurred in January 2020. The shockwaves from the virus economically, socially, and physically continue even 14 months later. Parts of American life are different; some might never be the same. As spring approaches, however, so, too, does the most powerful weapon society has to contain the virus. Several pharmaceutical companies have developed approved vaccines, which have the power and potential to return a sense of normalcy to public life. For professional life, it might not be so simple. The federal government does not mandate vaccination; however, a state or local entity might require it. In such a scenario, employees would not need to provide medical information beyond a vaccination record. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has updated its guidance from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic to address COVID-19. Of note, employees may be entitled to exemptions from the vaccine under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The 2009 guidance suggested ADA-covered employers encourage employees to take the vaccine rather than require it, and there is no guidance that suggests otherwise for the COVID-19 vaccine. Saudi Arabia and Russia are talking about bringing back online 1 million bpd to the oil market, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. They have not reached an agreement. This is largely in line with what analysts from ING Bank expect, which is that OPEC+ will agree to boost its combined output by 500,000 barrels daily at todays meeting and add to that Saudi Arabias reversal of voluntary cuts of 1 million bpd, but are upbeat about the markets ability to absorb this. The outcome of todays OPEC+ meeting is obviously key for market direction, Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at the Dutch bank, told Bloomberg. The market can easily absorb this additional supply, in fact it would be able to absorb even more, he said. Others, however, allow for the possibility that the extended cartel may stick with current production control levels, Reuters reported, noting this mood is keeping prices stable ahead of the meeting. The news outlet cited three sources from OPEC as suggesting the meeting might end with a decision to roll over current cuts to April. According to Bloomberg sources, however, there is little chance of that happening. Start Trading On OPC Markets Today Interestingly enough, Citi analysts have said they expected Saudi Arabia to keep its voluntary cuts, at some 994,000 bpd. This may indeed happen as the Kingdom strives for a higher, not lower, oil price, on which it is a lot more dependent than some of its partners. Nothing is certain, however, until the meeting wraps or, if luck would have it, the decision gets delayed as already happened once at an earlier meeting when the cartel members failed to reach a quick decision. Meanwhile, the latest economic indicators suggest that energy demand is improving in key markets, Bloomberg noted, and this could serve as an argument for those who would insist on further relaxation of cuts. The dominant expectation is for a further 500,000-bpd relaxation with the question remaining how fast Saudi Arabia will return those 1 million bpd to the market, if it sticks to its decision to do that. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Climate change is weakening the ocean currents that shape weather on both sides of the Atlantic. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation during the 20th century has weakened more than at any other time over the last 1,000 years, new research shows. The research, which was detailed recently by Inside Climate News, suggests that the circulation will lose even more strength in coming decades, possibly causing heat and cold extremes in Europe and rapid sea level rise along the U.S. East Coast. As the circulation weakens, pools of warm water form, which can create ocean heat waves, which in turn, can be linked with droughts and heat waves on nearby land areas, according to the article. The study was published in the journal Nature Geoscience, and primarily focuses on measuring the changes in the volume of the Gulf Stream system. If we continue to drive global warming, the Gulf Stream System will weaken further, by 34 to 45 percent by 2100 according to the latest generation of climate models, co-author Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, stated. Citizen Groups, New AIG CEO Cake, balloons, and flowers welcomed new AIG CEO Peter Zaffino on his first official day on the job. However, the welcoming at AIGs New York headquarters came with a hint from a new environmentalist campaign, which wants Zaffino to end the companys support for the fossil fuel industry. Our newest CEO needs a wake-up call: AIG is torching the planet, said Pete Sikora, climate and inequality campaigns director for New York Communities for Change. Peter Zaffino should take AIG into a brighter future by pulling the plug on insuring fossil fuels, The gift-bearing delegation included leaders from several groups including 350NYC, New York Communities for Change, Public Citizen, Rise & Resist, Sunrise Kids, and XR NYC. They say that Zaffino has yet to respond to requests for meetings from the organizations. According to the groups, AIG remains one of the few companies willing to insure large coal projects. North American insurers like AIG lag behind their global peers on climate action (for more on that read the Bidens Push section below), but Liberty Mutual, The Hartford, Chubb, and AXIS Capital all have at least basic policies reducing coal underwriting, the groups note. EU & Increasing Insurance Cover The European Union is bolstering its 14-trillion-euro ($17 trillion) economy against damage caused by the impacts of climate change. The European Commission under an updated climate adaptation strategy unveiled last week, is calling for efforts such as better use of climate-risk data, smarter damage prevention and increased insurance coverage, according to a Bloomberg article in Insurance Journal. The plan is part of the EUs environmental overhaul, the Green Deal. Theres not going to be a successful Green Deal, theres not going to be climate neutrality in 2050 without a consistent effort into adaptation and mitigation, said Frans Timmermans, the commissions executive vice-president. The new plan seeks better use of data on climate-related risks, stepping up planning to prevent damages, incorporating climate risks into financial frameworks, and it aims to close the so- climate protection gap, or the share of non-insured economic losses only 35% of the climate-linked economic losses are insured on average, while proportion is as low as 5% in southern and eastern Europe, the Bloomberg article notes. Bidens Push Climate moves by President Joe Bidens administration could pave the way for more regulatory pressure from federal and state regulators this year on U.S. insurers, which lag behind their European peers in pledging action to mitigate climate change, according to a Reuters article. Climate advocates sat the insurance industrys coverage of fossil-fuel projects worsen climate problems (see the section Citizen Groups, New AIG CEO above for more on that), while industry stakeholders worry about increased asset and liability risk. Experts tell Reuters that the Biden administrations designation of climate change as a crisis could further motivate insurers to voluntarily distance themselves from the fossil fuel industry. State regulators in California, Washington and New York have already been pushing for more climate action and climate investment disclosures from the insurance community, and Bidens endorsement of climate action could push more state regulators to adopt such measures, according to Reuters. Advocates want state regulators go beyond demanding basic disclosures to seek detailed data on fossil fuel-related underwriting and investments, to establish stress tests that gauge insurers financial resiliency and to shift towards more climate-friendly investments, the article states. Past columns: Topics Europe Climate Change AIG Hundreds of thousands of British nursing hopefuls have been rejected while the NHS has recruited from abroad, a report said yesterday. During the pandemic last year, 23,000 UK applicants for nursing courses were turned down. And since 2010, more than half (348,000) of 650,000 UK applicants were turned away, the Migration Watch UK think-tank report said. Meanwhile, three out of ten nurses who joined the NHS since 2018 were from foreign countries. The report said the NHS's tendency to recruit migrants may be because they earn around a fifth less than nurses trained in Britain. Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'It is utterly unacceptable that so many UK-based nursing candidates have been rejected while the NHS has been encouraged from the top to recruit many thousands of nurses from overseas, partly to save costs. Hundreds of thousands of British nursing hopefuls have been rejected while the NHS has recruited from abroad, a report said yesterday (file image) 'Ministers' fine words about investing in young British talent are looking ever-more hollow.' The report said 20,800 applications to join nursing courses were rejected in 2018, a number that rose to 23,300 last year. Application numbers rose from around 50,000 to 60,000 over the same period, largely because a 5,000 payment to student nurses was offered in 2019. Over the same three years the number of non-UK nurses joining the NHS went up from 7,756 to 11,781, a level which amounted to 30.5 per cent of new nursing recruits. During the pandemic last year, 23,000 UK applicants for nursing courses were turned down (file image) A series of Government measures have made it easier for the NHS to recruit workers from abroad since 2016. The most recent, last month, added more than 100 countries to a list from which agencies can go looking to find overseas healthcare staff. Among these are a number of less developed countries, including Zimbabwe and South Africa, which have severe shortages of medical workers. The recruitment has been heavily criticised by leading South African doctors. The Migration Watch report said: 'The move is immoral because it risks taking much-needed health staff from countries that have much greater needs than the UK even as this country fails to train up enough of its own domestic nurses.' [March 04, 2021] Zymergen Welcomes Tech Finance Veteran Christine Gorjanc to Board of Directors EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Biofacturing leader Zymergen today announced Christine Gorjanc has joined its board of directors to help the company achieve its long term goals. As a tenured CFO with experience leading high-growth Silicon Valley businesses, Gorjanc provides extensive financial, operational and technology experience to guide Zymergen's growth as the company matures. "This year, Zymergen is moving from developing our technology to producing and marketing breakthrough products to customers," said Josh Hoffmann, Zymergen CEO. "Christine's experience innovating, scaling and shipping a wide range of hardware and software products with a global footprint will be invaluable to guide Zymergen as we look to achieve our goals for 2021 and eyond." Gorjanc also serves on the board of directors at networking and cybersecurity solutions company Juniper Networks, and on the board at genetic information company Invitae Corporation. She previously served as the CFO of home automation company, Arlo Technologies, Inc., and CFO of NETGEAR, Inc. She earned a B.A. in accounting with honors from the University of Texas at El Paso and an M.S. in taxation from Golden Gate University. "We are thrilled to welcome Christine onto the Zymergen board of directors," said Sandi Peterson, Zymergen board member and former Group Worldwide Chairwoman of Johnson & Johnson. "Her career spans one of the greatest periods of digital innovation, and we believe the company will benefit tremendously from her technical and financial expertise as we move into the next phase." "Zymergen has built an impressive business that's primed to deliver fundamentally new products across a variety of sectors," said Gorjanc. "This is an exciting time to join an innovative company that's marrying biology and technology to transform the products we use every day." Zymergen designs and develops bio-based breakthrough products that deliver value to customers in a broad range of industries. A unique combination of biology, chemistry, software and automation fuels Zymergen's high-throughput biodiscovery engine, enabling the company to discover, design and develop new materials. About Zymergen Zymergen is a biofacturing company using biology to reimagine the world. Zymergen partners with nature to create, develop and manufacture breakthrough products and materials across a broad range of industries. Learn more at zymergen.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zymergen-welcomes-tech-finance-veteran-christine-gorjanc-to-board-of-directors-301240961.html SOURCE Zymergen [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kichcha Sudeep, who is currently working on Vikrant Rona, is reportedly in talks with Saaho fame director Sujeeth for a film. According to an Indian Today report, the duo met in Bengaluru on Saturday, where they both discussed the possibilities of collaborating on a project. The meeting took place on the sets of Bigg Boss Kannada Season 8 which is hosted by the actor. Sujeeth narrated the script and the actor was quite impressed with the storyline. It is being rumoured that the film is likely to go on floors in the second half of 2021. It is touted to be an action entertainer whose major portions will be shot in Bengaluru. The yet to be confirmed project could be Sudeeps next after Vikrant Rona. However, an official announcement regarding the project is yet to be made. For the unversed, Sudeep is currently gearing up for his upcoming biggie Vikrant Rona with director Anup Bhandari. The highly anticipated film is nearing completion and the makers recently revealed the logo of the film on Burj Khalifa. It also features Nirup Bhandari and Neetha Ashok and is backed by Manjunath Gowda. Sudeep recently took to his social media account to thank everyone for making the logo reveal event a huge success in Dubai. The actor wrote, "Thanks Burj Khalifa fr personally sending me this video .. thanks #Dubai for hosting us soo well. Mch luv. Wil be posting a HD video of the same with a greater sound quality n a grander view tomorrow. Thanking all u frnzz once again fr the unconditional luv,,thru & thru (sic)." Thanks @BurjKhalifa fr personally sending me this video .. thanks #Dubai for hosting us soo well. Mch luv . Wil be posting a HD video of the same wth a greater sound quality n a grander view, tomorrow. Thanking all u frnzz once again fr the unconditional luv,,thru & thru. pic.twitter.com/XLFIbrxp2h Kichcha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) January 31, 2021 ALSO READ: Sudeep Starrer Phantom Has Now Been Titled As Vikrant Rona; Logo Launch To Take Place At The Burj Khalifa ALSO READ: Sudeep Joins Upendra In R Chandrus Multilingual Period Film Kabza, Makers Unveil His First Look Poster The officials who fed youngsters into the brutal religious-run industrial schools have to answer for their part in the harrowing ordeals suffered by abuse victims. Seamus Kelly, who runs Survivors Unite, said his own horrific story wouldn't have happened without the doctors, probation officials, gardai and teachers who wrote off him at an early age. "They need to be held accountable. Without them there would be no industrial schools," he said. A child tearaway whose attention deficit disorder went undiagnosed, Seamus was lucky to survive when in 1973 he fell from the roof of Cork city's English Market during an attempted break-in. "I was dead when I hit the ground. When I was brought to Finbarr's Hospital my side had to be ripped open. I was put into a coma for a week," he told the Sunday World. Despite being in a coma and just 11 years of age, he said his sister was furious to find him handcuffed to his hospital bed. He said he was later charged with a burglary that happened while he was still in hospital. The Cork man tells how almost every day a teacher "drew blood'" with beatings while he was still in primary school, forcing him to eventually quit. Expand Close Children in the Sean Ross Abbey mother and baby home in Tipperary / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Children in the Sean Ross Abbey mother and baby home in Tipperary Read More "I got beaten every single day because I was different to them. I had ADHD and dyslexia," he recalls. After spending two-and-a-half years at an industrial school in Dublin, Seamus left still unable to read or write. During that time he was raped and beaten. "I seen (sic) things done to kids only Nazis would do," he says. Most days Seamus was sent off on his bicycle from Finglas to Howth to make paving blocks for which he never got paid. "Every day I was given two slices of bread and butter. Every day the fat fella that was working on the machine brought me into the restaurant and had a huge dinner, making sure I looked at it." In a cruel psychological trick, one day Seamus was told he was being brought home to Cork. Instead, after driving for hours, when they got to the city a runaway from the school was collected from a garda station and they went back to Dublin. Incredibly, he saw his mother on St Patrick's Street and called out for her, only to be beaten by two nuns in the car. "Looking back on it now the only reason I was there was to make sure the escapee didn't leg it from them. If he escaped I'd have to go after him, that was the only reason I was there." The next day, back in Dublin, Seamus ran away but was caught hiding in bushes near Heuston Station where he was going to try to jump on a Cork-bound train. Despite pleading with the garda, telling him of the rape, beating and torture at the school, he was sent back again. He didn't see his parents for more than two years as a teenager in what he now believes was part of deliberate policy. While researching his book The Fuse Within, his co-author Audrey Wilson found his probation reports, some of which contained unfounded allegations. "When the reports came back to the court there was always a note on top 'not to be read out in open court' that I was the leader of a gang in Cork, I was 12, in my gang there was a girl of eight and there's good evidence he sexually molested her with her consent. "The judge read it, the inspector knew about it. My parents didn't know about it, I didn't know about it. It was on my file 40 years without me knowing about it." Seamus has no doubt that part of the violence inflicted on him was due in part to that note on his file. It was removed after a court order in recent years and an apology was issued to Seamus. "They were doing that with a lot of kids. They deserve to be held accountable for what they did," he says. Seamus said many of the impoverished working class families who looked for help instead found their children were taken away because they were judged to be unable to look after their kids. His original plan as a child was to steal food to give to the kids on his own terrace because he was "sick of looking at them eating dirt". After his time in the industrial school Seamus got a job helping out with younger kids through a scheme in Cork but was fired after being wrongly accused of breaking windows. "I got in trouble that night, I got worse. Two days later the priest came up to my house and apologised." Up until 1990 Seamus said he "was in prison all my life" serving a number of sentences in Cork Prison. His wife, who he married in 1983, is "an angel" and together they had five children and now have five grandkids. "If I didn't meet her I'd be dead. Now I help people," he says. Through his Facebook page Survivors Unite Seamus says he often talks to other people who went through similar experiences. NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Penguin Random House Audio introduces Ahab, a global online casting platform that helps content creators find and hire exactly the right actor for any voiceover project, whether it's an audiobook, video game, ad spot, animation, documentary, or podcast. The Ahab platform redefines voiceover collaboration, connecting top-notch talent and agents with content creators throughout the voiceover industry. Created by producers for producers, Ahab streamlines the entire voiceover workflow-from talent discovery to audition to offer-in one platform. Ahab was originally developed as an internal tool for Penguin Random House's audiobook producers, making it easier to find new talent and organize actor contacts as the number of Penguin Random House Audio publications rapidly expanded. Penguin Random House Audio's US team now produces more than 1,800 audiobooks a year; according to the Audio Publishers Association, more than 60,000 new audiobooks were released in the US in 2019. Penguin Random House's audio publishing teams worldwide have already adopted the platform, including in the UK, Canada, Australia, India, and Spain. This year the website has been significantly expanded with new features and is now available to content creators outside Penguin Random House, free for a limited time. Talent profiles are free; more than 9,000 actors hailing from 67 countries worldwide have joined the platform. "Ahab has been an invaluable tool for our team, both to streamline the casting process and to expand our talent pool," says Dan Zitt, co-creator of Ahab and SVP of Content Production for Penguin Random House Audio. "By democratizing the casting process, we hope to connect actors and content creators from around the world." Ahab's creators collaborated with hundreds of actors, agents, industry organizations, and fellow producers to develop the new features. The redesigned Ahab now includes: More detailed profiles allow actors to provide more information about their experience, skills, and expertise. allow actors to provide more information about their experience, skills, and expertise. Expanded search, filtering, and lists enable producers to sort and bookmark potential talent by detailed criteria, including language, accent, age range, location, home studio availability, experience level, and more. enable producers to sort and bookmark potential talent by detailed criteria, including language, accent, age range, location, home studio availability, experience level, and more. Host public or private auditions directly within the platform. directly within the platform. Share talent lists and audition submissions with other project stakeholders, both within and outside the platform. with other project stakeholders, both within and outside the platform. Find actors, message with talent, make offers, and book jobs all in one place. all in one place. Agent profiles connect to their clients' profiles in the database, enabling agents to send talent lists, message with content creators, view and recommend public auditions, and field offers on behalf of their clients directly within the tool. connect to their clients' profiles in the database, enabling agents to send talent lists, message with content creators, view and recommend public auditions, and field offers on behalf of their clients directly within the tool. Free educational and professional development resources, including the Ahab Breakdown, a monthly virtual event series featuring topical discussions with special guests, and video series with industry experts. Watch the trailer. Create a profile at www.ahabtalent.com. About Ahab Ahab is a global online casting platform that is redefining voiceover collaboration, connecting top-notch talent and agents with content creators throughout the voiceover industry. Created by producers for producers, it streamlines the entire voiceover workflow-from talent discovery to audition to offer-in one platform. Create a talent profile, search for voices, and manage auditions and offers at www.ahabtalent.com. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube @ahabtalent. Ahab is powered by Penguin Random House Audio. SOURCE Penguin Random House LLC Related Links https://www.ahabtalent.com Earth Week will also see Multiple Days Of Climate Action On Earth Day, April 22, global activists, international leaders, and influencers will come together for the second-annual multi-hour Earth Day Live WASHINGTON, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EARTHDAY.ORG along with lead organizers Education International, Hip Hop Caucus, and Earth Uprising are organizing three separate parallel climate action summits on April 20 and 21 ahead of the Biden Administration's global leaders' climate summit. The parallel summits are focused respectively on climate literacy, environmental justice, and a broad range of youth-led climate-focused issues. Earth Week will also bring thousands of groups and millions of voices together to stand up for climate action and bring awareness to humanity's greatest existential threat. On Earth Day, EARTHDAY.ORG will bring together its partners, activists, educators, researchers, musicians, artists, influencers and more for its second-annual Earth Day Live. "This Earth Day, we have an important opportunity to challenge world leaders to see climate change for what it is a pressing global security threat, one that threatens everyone and everything but particularly our most vulnerable people and places," Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG, said. April 20 The three days of climate action begin on April 20 with the global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising, in collaboration with My Future My Voice, OneMillionOfUs and hundreds of youth climate activists. The global youth summit will consist of panels, speeches, discussions, and special messages with today's youth climate activists including Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villasenor, and Licypriya Kangujam. The four-hour digital summit will address the progress that has been made on their main issues of concern, including the creation of green jobs, climate literacy, civic skill training, environmental justice, biodiversity protection and sustainable agriculture. In the lead up to the event, the youth organizers will put together a short list of demands that they want addressed at the Biden Administration's climate summit. "President Biden bringing together world leaders to discuss climate change on Earth Day is a major turning point in global climate action! This youth-led summit will bring together global youth climate activists to prepare a message for President Biden on the eve of his historic summit. Youth around the world are experiencing some of the worst effects of climate change right now. We're suffering from extreme weather, pollution, civil unrest, and the loss of lives and livelihoods. Our summit will identify the key issues and solutions most important to youth. The future of our generation is at stake and it's important for our voices to be heard!" Alexandria Villasenor, Founder of Earth Uprising said. "World leaders need to see climate change as an urgent political issue. The world is already experiencing adverse extreme weather events like floods, droughts, heat waves, cyclones, locusts and extremely polluted air at the same time. These are all the impacts of climate change. The United States must take a leadership role in the shift to sustainable production and consumption to end this crisis and shift from the carbon economy to the green economy. It must put in place policy that would draw investment into resource efficiency and reduction of waste. In doing so, it will provide a template for other developing countries as well," Licypriya Kangujam, 9-year-old Climate & Environmental Activist said. On the evening of April 20, the Hip Hop Caucus and its partners will present the "We Shall Breathe" virtual summit. This digital event will examine climate and environmental justice, connecting the climate crisis to issues of pollution, poverty, police brutality, and the pandemic, all within a racial justice framework. "Climate and environmental justice were on the ballot in November. The same Black and Brown voters that decided the election for President Biden, are the same communities that have been most impacted by environmental injustice and who are most threatened by climate disaster. This Earth Day, we expect President Biden to reinforce our affirmation that 'We Shall Breathe' by announcing bold climate action based on equity and justice domestically and globally," Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and Founder, Hip Hop Caucus said. April 21 On April 21, Education International will lead the "Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit." The multilingual virtual summit will span several time zones and feature prominent activists from every continent, focused on the crucial role that educators play in combating climate change and why we need transformative climate education now. Susan Hopgood, President of Education International, said, "The fight against climate change must have an education face and a teacher's voice in every area of the world. The planet is in crisis and I strongly believe that teachers and educators have a critical role to play in combating the environmental destruction, human suffering and social injustice that will certainly occur if climate change continues at current rates." "Teachers know that the most important long-term investment our societies can make towards a sustainable future is ensuring every student is literate about climate science and equipped with the civic knowledge and skills to change course," David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International said. "All world leaders must commit to creating the necessary educational space and resources so that students learn the world's most important lesson. In launching this campaign, the world's educators are determined to realize our students' right to know, do and exist." April 22 Parallel to the Biden Administration's global climate summit, EARTHDAY.ORG will produce its second Earth Day Live digital event on April 22. The multi-hour multi-channel livestream will include segments taking place around the world starting at noon Eastern Time. Workshops, panel discussions, and special performances will focus on Earth Day's 2021 theme, Restore Our Earth, which examines natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world's ecosystems. Topics will include climate and environmental literacy, climate restoration technologies, reforestation efforts, regenerative agriculture, equity and environmental justice, citizen science, cleanups, and beyond. World climate leaders, grassroots activists, nonprofit innovators, thought leaders, industry leaders, artists, musicians, influencers, and more will be involved. For more information about Earth Day 2021, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021/ About EARTHDAY.ORG EARTHDAY.ORG's mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world's largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at: https://www.earthday.org About Hip Hop Caucus Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today's young leaders. Learn more at: www.hiphopcaucus.org About Education International Education International is the global voice of educators and the world's largest, most representative global organization of education unions. With more than 32.5 million members in 384 organizations in 178 countries and territories, Education International works to promote peace, democracy, social justice and equity through education and the collective strength of teachers and education employees. Learn more at: https://www.ei-ie.org About Earth Uprising Earth Uprising is a global, youth-led non-profit organization focused on climate education, climate advocacy, and youth mobilization. Through its strong network of activists from all around the world, partnerships with other groups, and local, national, and international campaigns and actions, it aims to bring attention to, and spur action based on the latest science regarding the climate crisis. Earth Uprising provides the tools, resources, and connections young people need to take direct action in their communities. Learn more at earthuprising.org Related Links http://www.earthday.org SOURCE EARTHDAY.ORG The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it has arrested five suspected syndicates, forging fake COVID-19 certificates. The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command and Aviation Security (AVSEC ), Umar Bature, disclosed the arrest on Thursday at a news briefing held at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Lagos State Government on Dec. 29, 2020, raised alarm over alleged sale of fake COVID-19 test results in the state. The government warned that processes were being put in place to clamp down on both buyers and sellers. Mr Bature said that out of the five suspects, 35-year old Adewale Aderele is an alleged guarantor to one of the suspects, now at large. The syndicates are: Archibong Idorenyin, 34, owner of DAT Cyber Cafe, who allegedly forged the Virology Screening test results, Abdulmalik Ibrahim (24) and Moses Sunday (20) who are staff of DAT Internet Cafe. The other suspect is Popoola Adewale of Patovilki Airport cleaning services. Two of the suspects, 35-year-old Shehu Imam, who allegedly took illicit assignments from the airport to DAT internet cafe for the generation of fake COVID-19 certificates and Adeola Darlington of Skyblue Services Ltd, are now at large. According to the commissioner, they also lure passengers to the airport where various sums are extorted from them. In this case, N50, 000. On Feb. 18, Popoola Adewale and Adeola Darlington who have access to all the nooks and crannies of the international airport, approached one Michael Osagbogu who was on a queue of a London bound aircraft and allegedly offered to help him procure COVID-19 certificate. They, however, cornered the passenger to an isolated toilet at the airport where N50, 000 was extorted from him. Thereafter, the victim was handed over to Shehu Imam who took him to Archibong Idorenyin, owner of the internet cafe at 4, Oriyomi Street Ikeja. According to the commissioner, some of the suspects have taken to their heels but concerted efforts are being made by the combined team of detectives of the airport police command and AVSEC to track them down. He also said the suspects confessed to the crime and exhibits, including N50,000 and laptops used to generate the fake COVID-19 certificates as well as the certificates being used as exhibits. They will soon be charged to court where justice will take its course, Mr Umar said. The airport police command warned the public to follow due process in obtaining or procuring COVID-19 certificates to avoid unscrupulous syndicates. The CP said the suspects would be charged to court on Friday morning. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT Low COVID-19 vaccine supply in the state has caused delays for some in the county waiting to get their second dose. Ann Schiliro, 82, of Valley View, said she and her husband, Peter, were supposed to get their second dose from Valley View Family Practice Center on Feb. 24, but their appointments were canceled. The Schiliros received their first dose on Jan. 26, meaning they would need to receive the second dose by Wednesday, March 10. Somebody called me on the 22nd and told me not to bother coming because they didnt have the vaccine, but they were hoping to have it the following week, Schiliro said. The following week came and went, as well. Selina Spade, operations manager for the Family Practice Center, based in Selinsgrove, said Wednesday that locations would be receiving the second doses next week. Its typical right now for anyone whos waiting for second dose vaccines to be delayed by one to two weeks, Spade said. The CDC has changed their guidelines that the second dose of Moderna is now acceptable between 28 and 42 days instead of just 28 days like it had been. Schiliro said Wednesday she had not yet been contacted about rescheduling her second dose, so she still worries she, and others, might miss the 42-day period, after which the dose may not be as effective. Why should I settle for less? Schiliro said. Schiliro said she has had asthma since she was 6 years old and has had pneumonia several times. Her husband has diabetes and has survived a stoke and cancer. My doctor said to me that if I get COVID, I wont survive it, Schiliro said. I have to have the second dose or my life is at risk. Maggi Barton, deputy press secretary for the Department of Health, said providing second doses is a priority. If a facility is facing an urgent issue like this one, providers are encouraged to reach out to the department, Barton said. We are prioritizing these requests to ensure Pennsylvanians have access and receive their second dose of the vaccine. M. Michael Peckman, marketing and public affairs specialist, said Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill had to cancel some second dose appointments on Feb. 19 due to a lack of supply, but most have been rescheduled. Like the people of our community, we are frustrated that vaccine supply continues to be low, but we will continue to work with elected officials to find solutions that make vaccine more available to the communities we serve, Peckman said. We are optimistic with the introduction of a third vaccine that availability and more appointments will be made available in the days and weeks ahead. Peckman said the network has administered more than 86,000 vaccines and has never given a second dose as a first dose, which was one cause of the statewide shortage. Appointments are scheduled based on the expected supply from the Department of Health. People who have had appointments canceled can check their MyLVHN portal or call 833-LVHN-CVD if they have not already been contacted to reschedule. Peckman said if someone were to go beyond the 42-day period for their second dose, LVH-Schuylkill would still give them the second dose. The Williams Valley Pharmacy in Tower City also had delays in shipment of the second dose. Julie Letcher, pharmacist, said after postponing second dose appointments last week, she finally received an email from the Department of Health on Tuesday saying they would be getting second doses next week. I was losing sleep over it, but I was very happy to get the email that we are getting our second doses, Letcher said. Hopefully well be getting more first doses soon, too. Letcher said the Department of Health had been going through what they called a smoothing out process, in which they were trying to catch up with the demand for vaccines. They kept assuring us if we had gotten the first doses, we would definitely be getting second doses for our patients, Letcher said. We were told about two weeks ago that we would have to start pushing people back a week or two until they got through this. The pharmacy will administer second doses on March 14 to all 118 patients who have received their first dose, which will fall within the 42-day period. Letcher said the pharmacy has had a waiting list of 1,000 people at one point, but many people have called to say they were able to get the vaccine somewhere else. The pharmacy is currently vaccinating those in Phase 1A, but the waitlist is open to anyone. Everybody that calls and leaves us their information does get put on our list, no matter what category theyre in, Letcher said. Letcher said she has put in a request for more first doses with the Department of Health and, as far as she knows, the pharmacy is still eligible to be a provider. Were pretty far away from the hospitals out here, and we have a lot of elderly people that hate to drive very far, Letcher said. Letcher said it has been challenging to manage the amount of phone calls they get about vaccines while still operating normal business, but she hopes she will be able to continue to help fight the pandemic. Im just happy to be part of helping at this awful time, Letcher said. I would work seven days a week if I need to to get these people vaccinated. In Schuylkill County, 10,625 people have been partially vaccinated and 10,707 have been fully vaccinated as of Wednesday. Statewide, 1,761,703 have been partially vaccinated and 791,815 have been fully vaccinated. Remote working -- hiring people further afield and letting people work outside of a central physical office -- is looking like it will be here to stay, and today one of the startups building tools for that environment is announcing a big fundraise in response to the opportunity. Papaya Global, an Israeli startup that provides cloud-based payroll and hiring, onboarding and compliance services across 140 countries for organizations that employ full-time, part-time and contract workers outside of their home country, has picked up $100 million in funding and has confirmed that its valuation is now over $1 billion. The company targets organizations that not only have global workforces, but are expanding their employee bases quickly. They include fast-growing startups like OneTrust, nCino and Hopin (which today announced a monster $400 million round), as well as major corporates like Toyota, Microsoft, Wix and General Dynamics. Papaya is not disclosing revenue numbers but said that sales have grown 300% year-over-year for each of the last three years. Led by Greenoaks Capital Partners, this Series C also includes significant participation from IVP and Alkeon Capital. Previous backers Insight Venture Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Dynamic Loop, New Era and Workday Ventures, Access Ventures and Group 11 also chipped in. The new investment brings Papayas total funding to $190 million. Papaya has been on a fundraising tear in the last 18 months. Today's news comes less than six months after it raised a $40 million Series B. And that round came less than a year after a $45 million Series A. Why so much, so quickly? Partly because of the demands on the business, but possibly also to capitalize on an opportunity at a time when so many others are also going after it as well. The opportunity is that companies and other organizations are finding themselves needing tools to address the current state of play: Workforce growth today doesn't look like it did in 2019, and so incumbent solutions like ADP, or cobbled together solutions covering multiple geographies, either don't cut it, or are too costly to maintain. Story continues Papaya Global, in contrast, says it has built an AI-based platform that automates a lot of work and removes much of the manual activity that comes out of trying to right-size a lot of legacy payroll products to work in new paradigms. The major impact of COVID-19 for us has been changing attitudes, CEO Eynat Guez, who co-founded the company with Ruben Drong and Ofer Herman, told me in an interview last September. "People usually think that payroll works by itself, but its one of the more complex parts of the organization, covering major areas like labor, accounting, tax. Eight months ago, a lot of clients thought, it just happens. But now they realize they didnt have control of the data, some dont even have a handle on who is being paid. One challenge, however, is that many others are also chasing these customers in hopes of becoming the ADP of distributed and global work. Last month, a startup called Oyster, also aimed at distributed workforces, raised $20 million. Others in the same area that have raised lots of capital include Turing, Deel, Remote, Hibob, Personio, Factorial, Lattice, Turing and Rippling. And as we have pointed out before, these are just some of the HR startups that have raised money in the last year. There are many, many more. Investors here are hoping that as we see some consolidation emerge out of this mix, there will be a few leaders and that Papaya will be one of them. "Papaya Global has built a best in class solution to onboard new employees, automate payroll, and manage a global workforce through a single pane of glass. Both growing and established companies have dramatically changed their working practices in recent years, and Papaya has seen impressive growth as a result. Were excited to continue supporting them as they seek to simplify an increasingly complex challenge for some of the worlds biggest companies," said Patrick Backhouse, partner at Greenoaks Capital, in a statement. Early Stage is the premier "how-to" event for startup entrepreneurs and investors. Youll hear firsthand how some of the most successful founders and VCs build their businesses, raise money and manage their portfolios. Well cover every aspect of company building: Fundraising, recruiting, sales, product-market fit, PR, marketing and brand building. Each session also has audience participation built-in -- theres ample time included for audience questions and discussion. ( function() { var func = function() { var iframe = document.getElementById('wpcom-iframe-dde292b93a5f3017145419dd51bb9fce') if ( iframe ) { iframe.onload = function() { iframe.contentWindow.postMessage( { 'msg_type': 'poll_size', 'frame_id': 'wpcom-iframe-dde292b93a5f3017145419dd51bb9fce' }, "https:\/\/tcprotectedembed.com" ); } } // Autosize iframe var funcSizeResponse = function( e ) { var origin = document.createElement( 'a' ); origin.href = e.origin; // Verify message origin if ( 'tcprotectedembed.com' !== origin.host ) return; // Verify message is in a format we expect if ( 'object' !== typeof e.data || undefined === e.data.msg_type ) return; switch ( e.data.msg_type ) { case 'poll_size:response': var iframe = document.getElementById( e.data._request.frame_id ); if ( iframe && '' === iframe.width ) iframe.width = '100%'; if ( iframe && '' === iframe.height ) iframe.height = parseInt( e.data.height ); return; default: return; } } if ( 'function' === typeof window.addEventListener ) { window.addEventListener( 'message', funcSizeResponse, false ); } else if ( 'function' === typeof window.attachEvent ) { window.attachEvent( 'onmessage', funcSizeResponse ); } } if (document.readyState === 'complete') { func.apply(); /* compat for infinite scroll */ } else if ( document.addEventListener ) { document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', func, false ); } else if ( document.attachEvent ) { document.attachEvent( 'onreadystatechange', func ); } } )(); The Hamilton County Health Department has added a total of 4,405 new first dose Pfizer appointment opportunities to the schedule. Hamilton County aligns with the State of Tennessees Vaccination Plan and expands COVID-19 eligibility to Phase 1C effective Monday. March 7 at CARTA Bus Barn Current Phase Eligibility qualifies (1a1, 1a2, 1b and adults 65+) March 8-10 at CARTA Bus Barn Upcoming Phase Eligibility qualifies (1a1, 1a2, 1b, 1c and adults 65+) March 9 at Tennessee Riverpark Upcoming Phase Eligibility qualifies (1a1, 1a2, 1b, 1c and adults 65+) People in the eligible phases are encouraged to visit vaccine.hamiltontn.gov and make their appointment online. Those who do not have access to the internet can call the appointment call center for assistance: First dose appointments: 423-209-5398 Second dose appointments: 423-209-5399 A Spanish vaccine webpage and Spanish appointment call center are available for residents who speak Spanish. Spanish appointment line: 423-209-5384 Spanish vaccine webpage: health.hamiltontn.org/enus/ allservices/coronavirus( covid19)/vaccine/ vacunacioncontracovid19.aspx All three call center lines are open Monday-Friday from 8AM-4PM. Due to high call volume, callers may experience a busy signal and need to hang up and call back. General COVID-19 questions may be directed to the Health Departments hotline at 423-209-8383. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8AM-4PM and Saturday 10AM-3PM. Bilingual representatives are available. Current Phases/Eligibility COVID-19 vaccine appointments are for people who live or work in Hamilton County and meet current eligibility according to the Tennessee Department of Healths Vaccination Plan. A list of documents an individual may bring to the vaccination site to demonstrate Hamilton County residency or Hamilton County work status are available on the Health Departments FAQ page in English and on the Spanish Vaccine page in Spanish. No documentation is required to demonstrate Phase 1C status. Age Group Bracket : 65 years or older, must be a Hamilton County resident No specific medical conditions are required Phase 1a1 includes: Hospital/Free-Standing Emergency Department Staff with Direct Patient Exposure and/or Exposure to Potentially-Infectious Materials Home health care staff COVID-19 mass testing site staff Student health providers Staff & Residents of Long Term Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Centers, Homes for the Aged, DIDD Residential Centers, Group Homes) First Responders with Direct Public Exposure including Jailers Individuals >18yrs who cannot live independently due to serious chronic medical condition or intellectual or developmental disabilities Phase 1a2 includes: Other Health Care Workers with Direct Patient Exposure Primary care providers and staff Outpatient specialty providers and staff working with acute patients Pharmacists and staff Patient transport Outpatient therapists Urgent visit center providers and staff Environmental services Oral health providers Behavioral health providers Outpatient laboratory staff working with COVID-19 specimens Funeral/mortuary workers with direct decedent contact Phase 1B includes: Childcare, pre-school, and kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers School staff School bus drivers Other first responders (including dispatch, administrative personnel and other emergency communications personnel not included in Phase 1a1) Airfield operations personnel employed by primary commercial and cargo service airports Effective Monday, March 8, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will include Phase 1C: Caregivers (or household residents) of medically fragile children <16 years old (such as technologically dependent individuals, immunocompromised individuals, individuals with diabetes requiring medication, individuals with complex congenital or life-threatening cardiac conditions requiring ongoing medical management, individuals qualifying for a Katie Beckett waiver) Chronic renal disease COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis, moderate-severe asthma Diabetics who take medication for their condition Obesity (BMI >30) Heart failure, CAD, cardiomyopathies, hypertension Sickle cell (not including sickle cell trait) or thalassemia Cerebrovascular disease or stroke Dementia Liver disease Immunocompromised or weak immune system (receiving chemotherapy, taking daily oral steroid or other immunosuppressant medication, living with HIV/AIDS, history of organ, blood or bone marrow transplant) Technologically dependent (such as individuals who are ventilator dependent, oxygen-dependent, with tracheostomy, chronically wheelchair-bound, require tube feedings, parenteral nutrition, or dialysis) Pregnancy (NOTE: The CDC and World Health Organization have advised that pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied in pregnant women, and women who are pregnant are encouraged to discuss this decision with their medical provider.) Important Information to Know Prior to Appointment Do not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Wear appropriate clothing to get a shot in upper arm Bring proof of Hamilton County residency (if applicable) Bring proof of Hamilton County employment (if applicable) Bring proof of age (if applicable) Bring COVID-19 Vaccine Encounter form (if possible; form available for download on registration page) Be prepared to wait 20 minutes after shot Be prepared for the entire process to take an hour or more Vaccination Record Card When patients receive their first dose with the Health Department, they will receive a Vaccination Record Card with the following important information. The vaccine manufacturer (either Moderna or Pfizer) The date the first dose of vaccine was given The date the second vaccine dose is due. This date is not an appointment. Patient must schedule a second dose appointment. Additional Resources Stay up-to-date on new vaccine appointment information. Follow the health department via their email newsletter and social media accounts, available at this link: health.hamiltontn.org/ AllServices/Coronavirus(COVID- 19)/ConnectWithUs.aspx . Transportation is available to the vaccination site. Call 423-209-8383 to schedule a ride. China, from where the COVID-19 originated in 2019 has made a remarkable comeback even as the world continues to struggle from it. Like many countries, China is also rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens. But unlike the way China built hospitals and imposed lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus in the early days, the vaccine rollout is anything but fast. AP This is despite the fact that four Chinese companies have already developed vaccines against COVID-19. Three vaccines so far So far, China has cleared Sinovac's CoronaVac, one of Sinopharm two Covid-19 vaccines, Anhui Zhifei Longcom's vaccine, and CanSino Biologics vaccine. These are also being exported to other countries as well, while the pace of the vaccination is still slow at home. AFP But according to health experts in China their country is lagging in its coronavirus vaccination rollout because it has the disease largely under control, but plans to inoculate 40% of its population by June. Zhong Nanshan, the leader of a group of experts attached to the National Health Commission, said the country has delivered 52.52 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of Feb. 28. The target is the first China has offered publicly since it began its mass immunization campaign for key groups in mid-December. China slow to vaccinate people in comparison to others China has been slow to vaccinate its people relative to other countries, inoculating only 3.56% of its population of 1.4 billion so far, according to Zhong. Ranked first in the world in terms of percentage of population is Israel, which has vaccinated over 90% of its people. The U.S. has vaccinated about 22% of its population. AFP Chinese health experts say the country has enough vaccine supply for its population, although the country has pledged to provide close to half a billion doses abroad, roughly 10 times the number it has delivered at home. The current vaccination pace is very low due to outbreak control (being) so good in China, but I think the capacity is enough," said Zhang Wenhong, an infectious diseases expert based in Shanghai who also spoke on the panel. AFP Developers of Chinas four currently approved vaccines have said they could manufacture up to 2.6 billion doses by the end of this year. Still, vaccinating Chinas massive population will be a daunting task. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. This is the best and worst decision you will make after pandemic regulations have abated and The Hannge-Uppe reopens. And for the love of god, please dont actually get another drink. But last call at The Hangge-Uppe circa 4:45 a.m. on a Saturday, 3:45 a.m. other nights is a Chicago drinking experience I have to highlight; some of my best (albeit haziest) nights out have ended here, as we all hang on to one last 80s song, dancing as though were at the most fun wedding of all time. Then, together with your 100 new best friends, you will emerge into the dawn and remember, Oh right. There is a world outside of this bar. Think nothing good happens after 3 a.m., especially in a place where the floor is stickier than 10,000 pieces of discarded gum? My friends parents met during a late-night Hangge-Uppe adventure in the 70s, and theyre still happily married. 14 W. Elm St., 312-337-0561, hanggeuppe.com MC Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. New Delhi, March 4 : HCL America Inc, a wholly owned step-down subsidiary of HCL Technologies plans to raise $500 million by issuing fixed rate, senior unsecured notes. In a statement, HCL Technologies, said that its subsidiary intends to use the net proceeds of the sale of the notes for refinancing its existing debt and meeting its working capital requirements. The notes which will be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX-ST), have a tenure of five year as allotment would be done on March 10, 2021 and the date of maturity date is March 10, 2026. "The notes will bear interest from and including March 10, 2021 to (but excluding) March 10, 2026, at the rate of 1.375 per cent per annum on 30/360 basis, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 10 and September 10 each year," it said. Dates for interest payment are March 10 and September 10 of each year, commencing on September 10, 2021. Amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, high-risk populations are more likely to develop a severe infection. These include the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Children are mostly spared from developing severe disease, but they can still be infected. They are tagged as spreaders of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus which causes COVID-19, since they are mostly asymptomatic. To determine the increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with children, researchers at the Statens Serum Institute in Denmark compared the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection between families with children and those without young children. In the study, published on the pre-print server medRxiv*, the researchers found a slight but significantly elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children between 10 months and five years old. However, recent exposure to human coronaviruses does not reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children. COVID-19 in children Infection with SARS-CoV-2 has limited treatment options, and immunity against it is minimal. Nevertheless, it is known that recent exposure to seasonally spreading human coronaviruses, like OC43 and NL63, is prevalent among young children during winter. These past infections may result in protection from SARS-CoV-2. Also, studies showed serological evidence of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 binding antibodies and T cell immunity in people not infected with SARS-CoV-2. This may be due to a previous human coronavirus (HCoV) infection. However, like any other coronavirus, the immunity is not long-lasting, and it may become seasonal. It is, therefore, unknown if recent exposure to HCoVs reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection risk or disease severity. The study To determine the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 in households with young children, the researchers followed all adults in Denmark between the ages of 18 and 60 years from February 27 to November 15, 2020. There was a total of 3,079,736 adults who participated in the study. The researchers used the Danish Civil Registration System, which provides demographic information on the population, including household members and children. The researchers obtained data on PCR-tests for SARS-CoV-2 through MiBA, the Danish Microbiology Database, apart from the population information. Of the 449,915 adults in Denmark living in households with young children, 5,761 tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, among the 2.63 million adults without young children in the household, 33,788 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The team noted that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults living with children compared with those without children was a hazard ratio of 1.05. In terms of hospitalization among those infected, the team found a non-significant reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization among adults living in households with young children compared with those without children in the house. They concluded that living in a household with young children was not tied to a decreased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting no strong preventive effect of recent exposure to other human coronaviruses. Relative risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults living in households with children by child age and total number of children in the household relative to having one child aged six years. Adjusted for age, gender, urbanicity, ethnicity, and comorbidities. The study was the first to explore household characteristics and SARS-CoV-2 infection, which enrolled an entire population of more than three million people. Also, the study captured the majority of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Denmark, a country with one of the highest polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing rates in Europe. There is also a heightened relative risk of infection during early reopening in Denmark, where daycare facilities opened. In summary, we found no evidence of a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults living with young children, the researchers concluded. On the contrary, we found a significant, slightly increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which, however, was attenuated when taking account of older children in the same household, they added. To date, Europes COVID-19 cases continue to rise, with the United Kingdom reporting the highest number of infections. The U.K. has over 4.2 million cases and over 124,000 deaths. Globally, the total number of cases has topped 115 million. *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. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Read more about the ongoing debate in Washington over the COVID relief bill, check in on the latest coronavirus and stimulus news and see more stories trending online today. Top stories Dems tighten relief benefits, firm up support for virus bill (AP) Biden, Senate Democrats agree to limit eligibility for $1,400 checks (NBC News) Stimulus Vote Will Have Lengthy Delay After GOP Forces Bill to Be Read Aloud (Newsweek) Senate COVID-19 relief bill wont include transportation projects GOP used to voice opposition (PBS) McConnell blasts COVID relief bill as wildly out of proportion with Americas needs (Fox News) White House says it is comfortable with changes in $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill (Reuters) Cuomo apologizes for pain Ive caused, but says he wont resign as New Yorks governor (CBS) The House passed a sweeping voting rights act. Whats in it? (USA Today) Police beefing up security around Capitol amid reports of pro-Trump threat on March 4 (AP) Coronavirus news Youve been vaccinated the CDC is finalizing guidance on whats safe for you to do (CBS News) Dramatic Link Between Covid Deaths And Obesity, New Study Shows (Huffington Post) Kroger, Starbucks and Target among retailers that will still require masks in Texas despite end of state mandate (USA Today) Dr. Fauci: Texas And Mississippi Mask Mandate Rollbacks Are Ill-Advised And Risky (Forbes) The danger of a fourth wave (Axios) Dollar Tree announces new stores as demand for discount retailers skyrockets (CNN) Other trending headlines Myanmar authorities kill at least 38 peaceful protesters in bloodiest day since coup (ABC) Rumbling Reykjanes Volcano In Iceland Could Erupt At Any Minute (Forbes) Britains Prince Philip Has Successful Heart Procedure, Palace Says (US News & World Report) SpaceX Mars prototype rocket nails landing for the first time, but explodes on pad (CNN) Meghan Markle Accuses Royal Family Of Perpetuating Falsehoods About Us In New Promo For Oprah Winfrey Interview On CBS (Deadline) Catalina Lauf on Challenging Anti-Trump Rep. Kinzinger: Its Time Former President Donald Trump appointee Catalina Lauf is challenging Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), one of 10 Republicans in the lower chamber who joined Democrats in impeaching Trump. Lauf, 27, told The Epoch Times that Kinzinger, 43, appears to more focused on promoting himself than serving his constituents. Adams actually been in Congress for six terms. And its pretty clear that, number one, hes been incredibly absent from the district. And you see him on MSNBC, CNN bashing President Trump and its just so clear that he would much rather be out there building his own brand for his own personal ambition than really serving his constituents and really fighting against the far left, Lauf said, referring to Kinzingers repeated appearances on networks that align with Democrats on most issues. Hes agreeing with them in most cases, so its time that the constituents have accurate representation and people, servant leaders who are willing to put their needs and their interests first, and also be able to combat the far-left agenda on a national scale. Kinzinger, along with every Republican except for Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), voted against the first impeachment effort. But the representative and 16 others, including senators, joined Democrats in the second saga. He also recently launched a political action committee that is aimed at opposing the GOPs embrace of Trump. Lauf says Kinzinger wouldnt be in his seat without votes from pro-Trump Republicans and alleged that the only reason hes in office is that he has never been challenged before. Illinois is a very red state outside of Cook County, Lauf said. And the problem with these incumbents is that they get in there with the establishment nobody ever challenges them, nobody has the resources. This is a very Trump Republican district. So now hes in a fight, because were coming in, we have the resources and then we have the groundswell of support to be challenging him. Along with Kinzingers impeachment vote, Lauf took issue with his recent vote against pulling troops from Iraq and for stripping Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from her committee assignments. Those were votes against the president, and against fellow Republicans, she said. Lauf is running after failing in the 2020 Republican primary for Illinois House District 14 by about 2,900 votes. Jim Oberweis won the primary and went on to lose to Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.). Kinzingers campaign told The Epoch Times via email: Its a bit premature to comment when we dont even know what the district will look like. But I will say that Congressman Kinzinger has a proven record of leadership and integrity, delivering results for his constituents in IL-16 time and time again. Congressman Kinzinger serves the interests of the country and his constituentsnot the interests of one man. Kinzinger has defended his positions during television appearances and social media. On Wednesday, he wrote in a tweet: Im a Republican, and generally vote Center-right. If you want someone who only follows your policies, you help to tribalize. The battle is for HOW we lead and stop lies and fear. We need Repubs/ Dems and others to put Country first. On MSNBCs Morning Joe on Sunday, Kinzinger said that hed rather be on Trumps enemies list than be on his good side. Frankly, had he just, I think, managed even halfway decently anything, since he was an incumbent, he probably could have won [the election], but he did everything he could to blow it, and now has to blame everybody else, he added. The HSE and a US laboratory have told the High Court they deeply regret the pain, suffering and incalculable loss experienced by the family of a woman who died of cervical cancer. Aoife Mitchell Creaven (40) had to have a termination of her much-wanted IVF pregnancy at 20 weeks after she discovered she had terminal cervical cancer. Three years after her death in 2015, her family were told of a CervicalCheck audit of her 2011 smear test taken under the national screening programme showed a change in the interpretation from the original result of no abnormalities detected. Her husband sued for nervous shock over his wifes death and the alleged misinterpretation of her 2011 smear slide. His action included a claim for the costs of future surrogacy. The court heard he hopes to use the couples frozen embryos to fulfill his deceaseds wife wish for a child through surrogacy. The case opened yesterday and it was settled today. In a statement to the court as the settlement was announced, the HSE and US laboratory CPL acknowledged that this is a uniquely tragic case which has had the most devastating consequences for Aoife, her husband Padraig Creaven, and for Aoifes family. Read More It added: We deeply regret the pain, suffering and incalculable loss experienced by Aoife, Padraig and her family. The HSE also said it reiterates its sincere and unreserved apology to Mr Creaven for the failure by the CervicalCheck programme to communicate in a timely and appropriate way the results of an audit that indicated a change in the interpretation of his wifes smear taken on August 8, 2011. Noting the settlement, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy said she would like to extend her sympathy and condolences to Mr Creaven and the Mitchell family. The judge said the court was particularly struck by the opening of the case where it was stated that Mrs Marcella Mitchell had travelled to London with her daughter Aoife for the termination. The judge said one can only imagine how horrendous that was for the mother and daughter. Expand Close Padraig Creaven (right), of Menlo, Galway, widower of Aoife Mitchell Creaven, leaving the High Court with Aoifes parents, Gabriel (left) and Marcella Mitchell. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Padraig Creaven (right), of Menlo, Galway, widower of Aoife Mitchell Creaven, leaving the High Court with Aoifes parents, Gabriel (left) and Marcella Mitchell. Photo: Collins Courts Outside court, Mr Creaven from Menlo, Galway, said he was happy to have got an acknowledgement from the HSE and CPL. I feel that I have some small bit of justice for Aoife, he said. He added: I hope going forward that more women wont have to lose their lives before the system changes. He wanted to acknowledge Aoifes family for all the help and support for him and his late wife through an unimaginably difficult time. The details of the settlement are confidential. His case against the HSE, three laboratories and a hospital centred on the alleged misinterpretation of the womans cervical smear sample in 2011 taken under the CervicalCheck national screening programme. The court heard the couple had been deliriously happy when the IVF treatment was successful after several unsuccessful attempts. It was short-lived, however, and Ms Mitchell Creaven found out she had terminal cervical cancer after discovering a lump on her neck in January 2014. She and her husband had the most extraordinary and difficult dilemma and the necessary course of action was to terminate the pregnancy, the family's counsel said. Because such terminations were illegal at the time, the couple decided they would have to look outside of Ireland. Ms Mitchell Creaven along with her mother went to London in mid March 2014 and the termination took place. After that, the couple tried to find anything to prolong Aoifes life but she died in 2015. Mr Creaven, on behalf of himself and Aoifes family, sued the HSE and three laboratories, Sonic Healthcare (Ireland ) Ltd with offices at Sandyford Business Park, Dublin; MedLab Pathology Ltd also of Sandyford Business Park and US laboratory Clinical Pathology Laboratories Incorporated (CPL) of Austin, Texas. He also sued the Coombe Hospital in Dublin. It was claimed against the HSE and the three laboratories there was a failure to report that the smear slide of 2011 was abnormal and Ms Mitchell Creaven was allegedly deprived of the opportunity of timely and effective investigation and management of her condition. It was claimed against the hospital it concealed or failed to advise the Mitchell Creavens in a timely manner the result of a review of her 2011 smear slide. All the claims were denied. Read More .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Larry Willard was described by friends as a visionary, mentor, philanthropist, an education and literacy advocate, an agent for change and a tireless civic leader. The former longtime president and chief executive officer of Wells Fargo New Mexico and West Texas, died Feb. 24 in Midland, Texas, where he most recently resided. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Willard was 78. Larry was committed to making New Mexico a better place to live as much as anybody I ever knew, and was one of the most positively impactful leaders New Mexico has had in recent memory, said friend Steve Moise, the states investment officer. He worked to improve our educational system and our business climate and wanted every child to have the opportunity to receive a quality education, get a good job and move up the economic ladder. As part of that goal, Willard endowed a number of libraries, including the Willard Reading Room at the University of New Mexico Zimmerman Library, and the Gerald and Betty Ford Library at the Bosque School. Every year the students vote on their favorite place to study on campus, and Zimmerman Library always comes out No. 1 because of its wide variety of spaces, and one of the most popular is the Willard Reading Room, said Mark Emmons, interim dean for the College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences. Willard also endowed the Willard Lecture Series, whose speakers regularly fill the Willard Reading Room and the hallway beyond. Jessie Barrie, head of the Bosque School, said Willard was one of the schools earliest supporters, donating money for student financial aid as well as providing funds for the schools library, the Wells Fargo Conference Room and the Willard Room, a community learning and study space. In 1997, he received the Governors Distinguished Public Service Award. Willard was a former president of the UNM Board of Regents and chaired Albuquerque Economic Development and the Kirtland Partnership Committee. He also served on the boards of the Downtown Action Committee, Kirtland AFB Retention Task Force, Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce; Economic Forum of Albuquerque, Albuquerque Community Foundation; United Way of Central New Mexico, New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation, Boy Scouts, Governors Business Advisory Council, New Mexico Bankers Association, UNM Hospital Board of Trustees, UNMs Anderson School of Management, Albuquerque Academy and Special Olympics New Mexico. Willard grew up in Roswell. His father, Edgar Willard, was a public schools administrator and his mother, Billie Willard, was a librarian. He always attributed his success to his parents and he quoted them as saying that they removed the word cant from the dictionary, Moise said. After graduating from Roswell High School in 1960, Willard earned a degree in accounting and finance from Eastern New Mexico University and then completed graduate school programs in banking and commercial lending at the University of Colorado and the University of Oklahoma. Current UNM Board of Regents President Doug Brown called Willard the essence of the best of community bankers, who supported community projects with personal and corporate financial donations, and served as an example of an outstanding citizen. Beyond Willards personal and corporate financial support, Dr. Cheryl Willman, director and CEO of UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, said Willard was pivotal for me in thinking about how to structure the cancer center from a successful business model, and how to integrate it with our community, she said. Willard helped her form and chaired the centers first community advisory board, and he convinced her to speak publicly about why building a nationally recognized cancer center was not only good for patient care and meeting the needs of cancer patients in New Mexico, but also why it was important for economic and business development in terms of driving cancer research. In the last five years, research conducted at the cancer center has resulted in 173 patents and 10 biotech company start-ups. Larry saw that vision years ago, Willman said. Michelle Coons, New Mexico regional president for Washington Federal Bank, called Willard a great change agent who stepped forward when he saw that something needed to be done in the community, and then rallied other community leaders to get involved. Coons met Willard when she was working as a management trainee at Wells Fargo. Larry would always send every one of his employees a personal card on their birthdays and on the anniversary of their employment, and I could see how much they appreciated that recognition, she said. Coons has since adopted that gesture with her employees. Former longtime president of Albuquerque Economic Development, Gary Tonjes, said Willard was an inspiring leader, passionate philanthropist and a tireless mentor. In many ways, he said, Willard was the voice for those who wanted a job or a career and a greater life. Willard, he said, brought substantial resources and personal energy to a cause, and then used his charm, humor and persuasive abilities to bring others along. He was a force of nature, Tonjes said. A private family service will be held in Midland on Sunday and a public celebration of his life will be held in Albuquerque at a date to be announced. LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Booking an appointment for your free COVID-19 vaccine can be an exercise in managing emotions. Frustration, exhaustion, impatience and confusion come to mind. The vaccine rollout has been plagued by supply issues, delays, changing orders, chaos and inequity. And in counties with cities that have their own health departments, it can be even harder to know which plan to follow. Also, you have to make sure you're eligible. To keep track of all the moving parts, we reached out to cities and counties in the greater Los Angeles area for specifics. This is an evolving landscape, so please follow up with the resources below to confirm the most current details. Here's your guide to booking vaccine appointments in Southern California. Find your location below : L.A. County Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? The county has a list of current eligibility tiers here. How do I book an appointment? You can make an appointment at a public health "mega-POD" site, L.A. city "POD" site, community clinic/hospital or pharmacy offering the vaccine to community members here. This site is pretty dense, so feel free to pour yourself a glass of wine or do a breathing meditation before you begin. For those who don't have access to the internet, or are less web savvy, appointments can also be made via phone at 833-540-0473 between 8 a.m. and 8:30 pm. Be advised that wait times may be long. Where do I go? The county vaccine site actually has a color-coded google map for this, so you can see which vaccine location is closest to you. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? You can contact your personal doctor or health insurance company about the vaccine, or if you scroll down on this page you will get to a section on pharmacies, including Albertsons, Pavilions, Ralphs, Rite Aid and Vons, that are administering the vaccine to residents. You can schedule shots through each pharmacy's appointment system, which is linked on the same page. How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? The L.A. County Department of Public Health has a newsletter to notify residents when their turn for the vaccine comes. Use VaccinateLACounty.com to sign up. Just enter your email address in the box at the top of the screen, and you should start getting the newsletter on which groups are currently eligible to receive it. VaccinateLACounty.com also posts updates on vaccine locations, appointment openings and weather issues (e.g., when certain vaccination locations have to temporarily close due to rain or wind). You can also follow L.A. County Public Health on Twitter. Anything else I need to know? The county public health "Mega-PODs" are large-scale vaccination sites that are drive-through only. The county public health "PODs" at the Balboa and El Sereno sites are not drive-through. You can drive and park, arrive on foot, or come by public transportation or rideshare. All vaccinations are by appointment only. If appointments are full, county officials recommend checking the website frequently; if people cancel, new spots may open up. L.A. City Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? As an L.A. city resident, you'd be eligible under county guidelines (we know, it's confusing). The county has a list of current eligibility tiers here. How do I book an appointment? The city vaccination portal is operated by Carbon Health. You can sign up for an appointment here. Where do I go? The city of L.A. operates five vaccination sites. You can see them on this map: How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? The city has a newsletter that is supposed to alert residents when they are eligible for the shot. You can sign up at the bottom of the Carbon Health vaccine site (scroll down and click the black button that says 'Keep Me Updated'). The city's vaccine website is fairly thin, but it does have an FAQ section and some other links. Carbon Health also has a website with more information. The city of Los Angeles tweets about a lot of things - vaccines are one of those things. But it will often tweet important updates, e.g., if a vaccination site is closed due to a storm. Follow it here. Mayor Eric Garcetti often gives coronavirus updates on his Facebook page, and mentions vaccines. These are sporadic, but tend to happen at 5:15 p.m. on select weekdays. The mayor tweets here. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? You'd book via the L.A. County site links (see L.A. County section above). Anything else I need to know? City sites are run by the Los Angeles City Fire Department. The Dodger Stadium vaccination site is drive-through only. The other sites are walk-up so you can drive and park, or arrive on foot, by public transportation or rideshare (again, a good note for car-less or disabled folks). All of the city-run sites offer the Moderna vaccine. Long Beach Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? The city has a list of eligible groups here on its main website. If you scroll down, you'll see a bulleted list, as well as tiers/phases. How do I book an appointment? Appointments can be made here or by calling 562-570-INFO. Long Beach residents are also eligible to get vaccinated through L.A. County sites (see above). Where do I go? Long Beach doesn't have an online list or map of vaccine locations. "The 'where' changes depending on what's happening," a spokesperson told us. The city is also working on creating more small clinics, which will focus on harder-to-reach communities, but those locations will also be in flux. How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? You can sign up to find out when your turn comes via VaxLB. You can also follow the city via Twitter for major news. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? City health officials recommend that you contact your healthcare provider to see if you can get vaccinated through them. MemorialCare and Optum are both offering vaccines to members. Pharmacies in Long Beach have limited access to vaccine doses. "We will use VaxLB to connect those 65 and older, food workers and educators to first doses from pharmacies once we get more supply," a city of Long Beach spokesperson said. "Aviva, AHF Pharmacy, Ralphs and Vons are among the pharmacies that we allocate to." Pasadena Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? The city has a list of currently eligible groups here. How do I book an appointment? Officials are urging residents to contact their doctors first. The website says: "If you cannot get vaccinated through your employer or healthcare provider, call our Citizen Service Center at (626) 744-7311 or complete the online inquiry form to receive future appointment notices from Pasadena Public Health Department as more vaccine supplies become available." Pasadena does not have an appointment website. Pasadena residents can also sign up through L.A. County (see above). Keep in mind, if you receive your first dose at a distribution site managed by L.A. County, you will need to receive your second dose through L.A. County. Where do I go? Pasadena's vaccination sites change often; the city doesn't provide this information until you get an appointment. There is no map or list of vaccination sites on its website. How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? You can check Pasadena's very bare bones vaccine website here. The city occasionally posts updates on Twitter here. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? Officials say residents and the community should coordinate with their healthcare providers if they'd like to receive the vaccine that way. Anything else I need to know? A spokesperson for the city of Pasadena told us that officials don't know how much vaccine they're going to receive week to week, so they're currently focusing on second doses. Riverside County Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? You can find a list of eligible groups here. How do I book an appointment? You can find locations and available appointment times here. Seniors who need help making an appointment can call 211. Where do I go? Locations, addresses and registration info are on the county's vaccination website. How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? You can find the latest updates on Riverside's vaccination website. If you can't find what you're looking for there, email rivco.vaccines@ruhealth.org. Riverside Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser often posts vaccine updates on his Twitter page. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? The county is offering vaccinations through "community partners," including Albertsons and Ralphs. You can find more info here. Ventura County Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? You can find a list of eligible groups here. How do I book an appointment? Appointments open every Monday. You can book here. Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated but have limited computer/internet access should call this number on Mondays: 805-477-7161. Where do I go? The county doesn't provide this information; unfortunately, you'll have to wait until you get an appointment to find out exactly where to go. How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? If appointments are full, you can sign up here to get notifications from the county. Ventura also posts important updates on the county's Facebook page. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? If you scroll to the bottom of this website, you can find a list of pharmacies offering the vaccine. Anything else I need to know? You can register for vaccine updates here. The "Area Agency on Aging" provides transportation services for older adults who need transportation to a vaccine appointment (or for COVID-19 testing). The driver will even wait until the appointment is finished to take the person home. To schedule a ride, call 805-477-7300. San Bernardino County Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? The county's current tiers/phases are listed here. How do I book an appointment? You can see a list of vaccination site locations, available appointment times and registration links via CalVax here. The links allow you to book a time slot. How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? San Bernardino County residents can call (909) 387-3911 or email: coronavirus@DPH.sbcounty.gov for help scheduling appointments and/or general vaccine questions. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? The county vaccine website also has a list of hospitals and pharmacies offering the vaccine, with appointment-scheduling links. Anything else I need to know? You can sign up to volunteer here. Just be aware that volunteering doesn't necessarily mean you get a vaccine! The county website also has an FAQ page, with basic info from organizations like the CDC and WHO. Orange County Am I eligible to get a vaccine right now? Orange County has a list of those currently eligible here. How do I book an appointment? If you live and/or work in Orange County, you can register at www.Othena.com or through the Othena app. How it works: you create a profile with an email address and password (make sure you get an email confirming that you're in the system). You should get an email notification from Othena when an appointment opens up for you. When Othena first launched in January it was overloaded with traffic, and OC residents have continued to report problems with the site/app since. You can call Orange County's COVID-19 hotline if you have issues or questions about Othena: (714) 834-2000. Hours are 8am-5pm, 7 days a week. Or you can email support@compositeapps.net Where do I go? The four county-run super PODs ("points of distribution") are at Disneyland, the Anaheim Convention Center, Santa Ana College, and Soka University in Aliso Viejo. From March 4-7, the Disneyland site will be closed to convert to a drive-thru only site for people with disabilities. Tips: Don't arrive too early (no more than 30 minutes before your appointment time). You may want to bring a folding chair or stool if you have any trouble standing for long periods of time. Having the Othena app installed on your phone when you arrive for your appointment is helpful, but not required. You can also just bring a printout of your appointment confirmation or show officials the email confirmation on your phone. The Soka University location has a drive-thru option for people with disabilities who have appointments. A disabled parking placard or license plate is required. Orange County is also operating mobile PODs with a focus on "vulnerable seniors in critically underserved communities," according to the OC Health Care Agency website. How will I know when the situation changes? Where can I get the latest news about this? You can check www.CovidVaccineFacts.com, where you can sign up for a weekly email newsletter with updates from the county. Also follow @ochealth and @ocgovCA on Twitter and Facebook. What if I want to go to my doctor or a pharmacy? Orange County officials recommend that you check with your health care provider and/or your employer about getting vaccinated. CVS is distributing the vaccine at 100 California locations, with some sites in Orange County. Appointments are required. More info is available here or by calling 833-574-2273. Anything else I need to know? After some delays, the Othena app and website are now available in English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese. The city of Santa Ana is also posting information here for vaccine appointments (for residents of Santa Ana). If you've registered for an appointment through Othena but have since been vaccinated elsewhere (like at a pharmacy, community clinic, or through your health care provider), you can deactivate your profile on the Othena app or send a deactivation request to Othena at support@compositeapps.net. What Do You Want To Know? 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"With my head bowed in humiliation, I say that money did not prevail [in Senate elections]. Rather, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) ticket prevailed," Maryam Nawaz said while addressing a general council meeting of the PML-N, as quoted by Geo News. "You and your Members of the National Assembly and Members of the Provincial Assembly know, you have no future and you have no party," she said. Pakistan Prime Minister will now seek a vote of parliamentary confidence after one of his key candidates suffered a surprise defeat in the Senate elections. After suffering a blow in the recent polls, Imran Khan, today in a nationwide address raised questions over the "performance and responsibility" of the country's election body and pinned the blame on the opposition parties after losing the Islamabad seat. Khan questioned the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and said: "Your (ECP) major responsibility was transparency (during Senate polls) but why did you ask for a close ballot." This comes as the ruling PTI secured 18 seats. However, the win was watered-down as the opposition's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate defeated PTI from the Islamabad general seat. Yousaf Raza Gilani, the joint candidate of opposition parties, was elected senator from Islamabad, by defeating PTI's Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said the win of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on the general seat of the Senate from Islamabad was a "negation of democracy". "The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has unanimously decided that Prime Minister Imran Khan will seek a vote of confidence from the National Assembly," Qureshi was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune. (ANI) Cabinet Minister Michael Gove's name and address have appeared daubed on a series of hoarding boards - along with the threatening message: 'We don't forget, we don't forgive' in south Belfast's Sandy Row. The graffiti messages have appeared amid growing anger from loyalist and unionists who feel betrayed by the government because the withdrawal agreement it agreed with the EU resulted in a trade border in the Irish Sea. PSNI has said that it aware of the graffiti from Wednesday morning when it was spotted by a police patrol and have launched a criminal damage probe. DUP MLA Christopher Stalford said those responsible for spraying the Cabinet Office ministers name, address and a threatening message should be ashamed. Regardless of ones views on the Protocol there is absolutely no place for threats of violence against any person, said the South Belfast MLA, who has an office in the area. This is totally wrong. In a democracy we resolve our disputes through the ballot box, we dont resort to threats sprayed on walls. Theres no place for this and the people responsible should be ashamed of themselves. It comes amid rising tensions over the NI Protocol, designed to avoid a hard border in Ireland by having Northern Ireland continue to follow EU trade rules, thus creating a de facto border in the Irish Sea. The PSNI has said it is aware of the graffiti and are investigating. MP for the area Claire Hanna also condemned the graffiti, adding that the vast majority of people want no part in grisly politics and threats on gable walls. As anticipated, Brexit has brought us to a very difficult place but we are where we are and have to make the best of it and whatever your view on that issue, no politician should face this, she told Mail Online. Mr Gove had been involved in the Brexit talks and negotiations and he co-chairs the EU-UK Joint Committee. The Met Police has said it would not comment on matters of personal security when asked by the media in relation to the matter. Meanwhile, a PSNI spokesperson said: "At 8:35am on Tuesday police officers on patrol in south Belfast came across criminal damage at the junction of Sandy Row and Boyne Court where graffiti was sprayed on a wall. "Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, and quote reference number 311 of 02/03/21." Last month graffiti messages appeared across Northern Ireland, some of which targeted port staff - including one message which called them "targets". Ports staff were withdrawn from duty in Larne in February in light of the messages, although the Irish sea border checks have since resumed. For the first time, charter flights to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, will take off from the Sibiu International Airport this April, according to a press statement released by the airport on Thursday, according to AGERPRES. The flights that will be operated in partnership with the Cocktail Holidays tour operator and EgyptAir will depart every Saturday, between April 3 - May 8, 2021. According to the statement, the rollout of the global vaccination campaign and the strict health safety measures taken by both domestic and foreign tour operators have led to increased willingness on the part of Romanians to travel. Given the context, especially due to an increased interest in tourist destinations in Egypt, Romanian tourists from the Sibiu area now have non-stop flights to the famous resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. "The direct connection with Sharm El-Sheikh is one of the first signs of a return to our lives post COVID-19 and proof that the Sibiu Airport is making every effort to create new possibilities for air travel, adjusted for current conditions. With patience and responsibility, we will overcome this period that has tried us all and we will enjoy unrestricted freedom again!," Chair of the Sibiu County Council Daniela Cimpean is quoted as saying in the statement. The charter flights from the Sibiu Airport this April comes shortly after similar flights were launched in February from the Craiova Airport in collaboration with the same tour operator and airline. "Creating an attractive travel context during this period is a priority for the Sibiu Airport. We want to provide travel options and alternatives by diversifying the segment of holiday charters convenient to our passengers in terms of current travel conditions," according to General Manager of the Sibiu International Airport Marius Ioan Girdea. The aircraft to be used for the Sharm El-Sheikh charter flights are part of the EgyptAir's Airbus 220 Neo fleet and can seat 146. Theres still a lot being unpacked regarding the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, and it doesnt help that white supremacist militia groups are apparently planning another attack in Washington, D.C., tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. Thats according to a release issued by the U.S. Capitol Police on Wednesday, saying the department has received intelligence that a militia group is potentially plotting to breach the Capitol on Thursday, March 4. Read more The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex, the statement reads. We are taking the intelligence seriously. Thats encouraginggiven the last time Capitol Police received intelligence that white supremacists where planning to wage war on the federal building, they did not act on it because it was just raw information. The FBI Knew Ahead of Time and Did Nothing About the Capitol Insurrection: Report Like before, the intelligence about a potential attack on March 4 comes from the FBI, according to ABC News. From ABC News: An internal U.S. Capitol Police bulletin distributed Tuesday contains information about a possible militia plot to storm the Capitol on or around March 4, sources told ABC News. The information in the bulletin is sourced to an FBI intelligence report from late February that describes the an alleged plot by the Three Percenters militia group to use diversionary tactics such as detonating a bomb to draw law enforcement away from the Capitol prior to an attempt by the group to take over the U.S. Capitol, according to a law enforcement source. The credibility of the information in the bulletin remains unclear. The bulletin describes the Three Percenters alleged goal of having 50,000 members from around the country travel to D.C. on our around March 4 through March 6 and participate in a plan to overrun law enforcement and the National Guard troops at or near the Capitol Complex, the source said. Story continues Meanwhile, commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, Maj. Gen. William Walker, testified at a hearing of the Senate Homeland and Rules committees on Wednesday that it took over three hours for the Pentagon to approve the request for the National Guard to respond to insurrection on Jan. 6. His testimony backs up previous statements made by former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who told members of Congress last week that he sought army support as Trump supporters overtook law enforcement guarding the Capitol. According to NPR, Walker said Sund called him at 1:49 p.m. and, His voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency on Capitol Hill and requested the immediate assistance of as many guardsmen as I could muster. Whats especially interesting (or suspicious, though your view may vary) is the generals testimony that, before Jan. 5, he was not limited from deploying the troops under his command. The new stipulation was put in place right before Trump supporters well-publicized plans to descend on Washington, D.C. From NPR: The Army major general testified that the day before the insurrection, he received a letter with the unusual restriction from deploying any Quick Reaction Force service members, unless granted explicit approval by then-Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. I found that requirement to be unusual, as was the requirement to seek approval to move guardsmen supporting the Metropolitan Police Department to move from one traffic control point to another, Walker said. Walker said that Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt and Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn were concerned about optics of sending the National Guard to the scene of the uprising. He told the senators that there were concerns that the presence of uniformed troops might inflame the protesters. Yes, Charles Flynnthe brother of Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor who Trump pardoned for his crime of lying to the FBIwas instrumental in the decision to keep the National Guard from being in place to protect the Capitol before a mob was able to take over and cause the deaths of five people, including a police officer. Talk about suspiciousagain, my words. Walker actually said he was stunned by the restriction. When it came to the day when the MAGA troops much-trumpeted violence became a horrifying reality, Walker said it took 3 hours and 19 minutes for him to get approval from then-acting secretary of the army, Christopher Miller, to allow the National Guard to supplement the officers at the Capitol who were quickly overwhelmed by the crowd. Acting assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security, Robert Salesses testified that Miller gave the order to mobilize the National Guard at 3:04 p.m., and approval for them to go to the Capitol came at 4:32 p.m. According to Walker, he had 155 guardsmen sitting with their gear on buses nearby so they could quickly get to the Capitol when the approval finally came down. Within 20 minutes of hearing back from the Department of Defense, at 5 p.m., Walker said he was able to deploy the guardsmen who ultimately helped clear out the Capitol so Congress could return that night to vote on the certification of President Bidens election win. He said their assistance could have helped in pushing back the crowd who broke through the security perimeter earlier in the day, and that there was no similar limitation or delay for deploying National Guard troops during protests in D.C. last summer over the killing of George Floyd. As Connecticut vaccinations extend to younger age ranges this month, a Census Bureau survey suggests the vast majority of Connecticut employers are not requiring workers to flash a COVID-19 vaccination card to return to work a policy that is not expressly prohibited under federal law. In December, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued guidance that suggests employers can request proof of a vaccine with exemptions for medical and religious reasons. But the EEOC document does not state explicitly they can ban workers outright from job sites. In its own guidance updated the following month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that states can enact their own laws covering employer mandates on vaccines, without delving into potential conflicts with EEOC rules. The Connecticut General Assembly has yet to take any action on a January bill that would prevent employers from taking adverse action against any workers who decline vaccines. Bill specifics have yet to be posted online, including any scenarios in which employees are told to stay home as colleagues return to work. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Travis Simms, D-Norwalk, who was not available Thursday for comment. A larger bill addressing COVID-19 labor legislation filed this week does not address the topic of mandatory vaccines. The fact that the EEOC didnt say its prohibited from a legal standpoint thats about the best thing that you can rely on, said Gary Phelan, an attorney specializing in labor law with Mitchell & Sheahan, P.C., which has offices in Stratford and White Plains, N.Y. Unless or until there is legislation passed which prohibits it, I dont see any basis to say that somehow its unlawful. Vaccine bounties proliferate The CEO of United Airlines told employees in January that he wants a vaccine mandate for his company, and polls by LinkedIn, Ipsos and others suggest significant numbers of workers want mandates in place as well for their own protection and that of their colleagues as many as half. But other surveys show that large numbers of people do not plan to get vaccinated immediately for COVID-19, many of them on concerns over the compressed window for safety assessments of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, with Johnson & Johnson debuting this week a third vaccine. The Census Bureau survey suggests a small number of employers are issuing vaccine mandates, with only 2.2 percent indicating they are asking employees for proof of vaccination before returning from remote working. About 84 percent of Connecticut employers told the Census Bureau they have no mandate, with all but 1 percent of the rest indicating the question was not relevant to their operation. New York and Massachusetts were slightly above the U.S. average for employers mandating vaccinations of their staff. Nationally, the health sector dominated those who checked the yes box with 64 percent telling the Census Bureau they are requesting verification from workers in at least some job roles that they have received a vaccine. But Yale New-Haven Health, the largest operating in Connecticut, continues to make vaccines optional, according to a spokesperson for all staff at its health centers that include Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital and Lawrence + Memorial in New London. And spokespeople with both the Connecticut Hospital Association and a Connecticut affiliate of the health care workers union 1199 SEIU say they have not heard of mandates being implemented. As an alternative to mandates, some employers are offering cash bounties of up to a half days regular pay to employees who get inoculated. Several are significant employers in Connecticut, including Aldi, Dollar General, Instacart, McDonalds, Target and Trader Joes. Vaccination policy remains an open question for most small business owners, according to David Lewis, CEO of OperationsInc in Norwalk, which has been providing ongoing webinars in Connecticut and nationally on reopening workplaces during the pandemic. He said his firm is advising companies to avoid any vaccine mandate until clear federal or state rules are in effect. If I am a retailer or a restaurateur, it seems logical that I would want to ensure that my entire staff only is allowed to return if they have been vaccinated, Lewis stated in an email response to a query. Under what circumstances will someone I terminate, because they decided to not get the vaccine, be able to successfully challenge my decision with ... EEOC etc.? Local lawyers are frothing at the mouth to take a case like this right now. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Australians can expect to pay up to 30 per cent more for their fruit and vegetables as farmers struggle to find workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Prices of produce that flourish in summer - stone fruit such as mangoes and peaches, grapes and pome fruit such as pears and apples - and vegetables are all expected to rise by between seven and 29 per cent. The alarming statistics have been released in a new report for the March 2021 quarter by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). Australian farmers have been desperate for seasonal workers since international travel came to a grinding halt due to the global health crisis. Backpackers living in the country on working holiday visas are required to complete three months of farm work if they want to stay on beyond one year, and six months if they plan to stay for a third year. But due to borders keeping out international travellers, Australia's fruit-picking industry has lost the majority of its workers and an estimated $38million worth of produce. Australians can expect to pay up to 30 per cent more for their fruit and vegetables as farmers struggle to find workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic (stock image) 'ABARES has assumed that the overseas labour supply will be around 50% of pre-COVID-19 levels in 2020-21, which is a significant fall in the usual workforce available to horticultural enterprises,' the report said. These seasonal workers aren't expected to arrive any time soon with the peak harvest period being from February to April. On top of the rising prices, overall production of fruit is forecast to drop by 17 per cent with a 2 per cent decrease for vegetable production. Despite the increases, ABARES said it wasn't 'unusual' for fruit and vegetables to rise by as much as 30 per cent. It comes after Australians were warned the price of beef is also expected to soar in supermarkets this year. Experts have said a 'rebuild' phase in the cattle industry could mean Aussies will pay more for their meat. Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci has warned of 'volatile' price movements for Aussie beef, with consumers to expect continued price increases at their local butcher. Farming regions received heavy rainfall for the first time in several seasons last year, meaning farmers will be keeping more cattle on the newly-lush land. Farmers are expected to take advantage of greener pastures and retain breeding stock rather than offload them onto trucks, meaning slaughter levels will fall. The report predicts cattle slaughter will fall 3% to 6.9million head, with calf slaughter expected to drop by 7%. The national cattle herd is predicted to increase by 2% to 25million head, with beef production for the year forecast to be 21 million tonnes. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. CLEVELAND (March 5, 2021)--An international team of bioethicists and scientists, led by a researcher at Case Western Reserve University, contends it may be justified to go beyond the standing 14-day limit that restricts how long researchers can study human embryos in a dish. Going beyond this policy limit could lead to potential health and fertility benefits, and the authors provide a process for doing so. In an article published March 5 in Science, Insoo Hyun, a bioethics professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the paper's lead author, and colleagues urge policymakers and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) to consider "a cautious, stepwise approach" to scientific exploration beyond the 14-day limit. "But first," they write, "one must appreciate the scientific reasons for doing so. Any such proposed research must serve important goals that cannot be adequately met by other means." ISSCR is expected to soon release updated guidelines for stem cell and embryo research. Among the potential benefits of studying human embryos beyond the 14-day limit include understanding how early development disorders originate and developing therapies that address causes of infertility, developmental disorders and failed pregnancy. Since the first successful birth from in vitro fertilization in the late 1970s, human embryo research has been subject to limits of time and developmental benchmarks. The general rationale for imposing those limits was that, although considered acceptable to benefit human health and improve reproduction, in vitro research should conclude 14 days after fertilization--about when implantation in the womb is normally completed. National guidelines, laws and international norms have prohibited scientists from culturing human embryos for research after 14 days, or beyond the appearance of a structure called the "primitive streak," which defines the period when principal tissues of the body begin to form and an embryo can no longer divide into identical twins. Thus, the 14-day limit allowed research to proceed until the human embryo in a dish starts to become biologically unique. When this limit was put in place, there were no methods to culture embryos in a dish for anywhere close to two weeks. But research since 2016 shows that it is likely possible to culture human research embryos past the two-week limit, and suggests that doing so will yield scientific insights that could prove important for human health and fertility. The authors acknowledge that researchers should adhere to the 14-day limit, "unless a strong scientific justification can be offered to culture human embryos longer in locales where it would be legally permissible to do so. Any such proposed research must serve important goals that cannot be adequately met by other means." Hyun and colleagues propose six principles that can be used to weigh whether research on human embryos can move beyond the 14-day limit, in incremental, measured steps. They note their principles apply for extending the 14-day limit, but also for other complex research. Among their principles, they emphasize that extended embryo culture should begin in small steps, with frequent interim evaluations. For instance, it would first be necessary to assess feasibility of culture past 14 days, and, if so, to assess whether those newly permitted experiments were informative enough to justify the further use of human embryos. Their other principles include advocating for research proposals to be peer-reviewed by qualified and independent science and ethics committees; for public dialogue at the local institutional level and, more broadly. "Realistically," they conclude, "an incremental approach seems to be our only path forward, both from a scientific and a policy standpoint." ### The article's co-authors are: Annelien Bredenoord, at the University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University in Utrecht, Netherlands; James Briscoe, at the Francis Crick Institute in London and The Company of Biologists in Cambridge, United Kingdom; Sigal Klipstein, at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in Chicago; and Tao Tan at Kunming University of Science and Technology in Kunming, China. Case Western Reserve University is one of the country's leading private research institutions. Located in Cleveland, we offer a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Our leading-edge faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Our nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. About 5,100 undergraduate and 6,700 graduate students comprise our student body. Visit case.edu to see how Case Western Reserve thinks beyond the possible. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) announced that Candice Uzoigwe has been promoted to Senior Vice President, and Lara Miller to Senior Counsel. In their new roles, Candice and Lara will take a hands-on role in developing the strategic direction and vision for the IACC in collaboration with the IACC President and Board of Directors. "Candice and Lara have been absolutely instrumental in the IACC's ongoing success," said Bob Barchiesi, IACC President. "As they continue to drive the IACC's future trajectory, it's fitting that they be recognized as the senior leaders that they have become. Congratulations to them both." Ms. Uzoigwe has worked in intellectual property since 2001, building up her IP and association experience in China and the United States. She works with the IACC President and Board of Directors to oversee and drive the success of the organization's overall operations. Since joining in 2014, Ms. Uzoigwe has assumed various leadership roles to promote the IACC's prominence in IP protection; spearheading initiatives to significantly enhance engagement, communications, and educational and networking programs. As Senior Vice President, she will continue to ensure those areas advance the strategic direction of the organization. Ms. Miller has been instrumental in providing strategic oversight and legal support for the organization, and advancing the IACC's initiatives with intermediaries, law enforcement, associations, and rights-holders. Since joining in 2015, she has led the expansion of the IACC MarketSafe Program and IACC RogueBlock Program, launched the organization's partnership with Amazon, and developed countless relationships and programs to benefit the IP community. As Senior Counsel and Vice President of Corporate Strategy, she will provide enhanced legal support while continuing to work with the IACC president to direct the organization's strategic partnerships and vision. "Candice and Lara's experience and history of success at the IACC are invaluable to the future of the organization," said Dawn Atlas, IACC Chairperson. "I am excited to work with Candice and Lara in their new roles." About the IACC The IACC (www.iacc.org) is a not-for-profit organization representing the interests of companies concerned with intellectual property theft. The IACC membership includes many of the world's best-known brands across all sectors. The IACC is a leader in cross-industry voluntary agreements that address the online trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods, including its IACC MarketSafe and RogueBlock initiatives. SOURCE International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition Related Links http://www.iacc.org SHANGHAI, March 4, 2021 -- On Feb. 23, 2021 at MWC Shanghai, Wanxiang Blockchain and aitos.io announced they joined RISC-V International as strategic members and have formed RISC-V International's new Blockchain SIG (special interest group) in collaboration with LeapFive, StarFive and SiFive. This group will help integrate blockchain technologies with RISC-V solutions, and promote the development of trusted blockchain databases. Tu Wenhui, Senior Director of Blockchain + Technology Department at Wanxiang Blockchain, and Gary Xu, CTO of aitos.io, will take the positions of Acting Chair and Vice Chair of the Blockchain SIG, and will be in charge of the preparatory work for the official launch of the group. RISC-V is a free and open ISA enabling a new era of processor innovation through open standard collaboration. The RISC-V ISA delivers a new level of free, extensible software and hardware freedom on architecture, paving the way for the next 50 years of computing design and innovation. RISC-V International is a global nonprofit association based in Switzerland. Founded in 2015, RISC-V International now has over 1,200 members around the world. Vincent Y. Wang, Executive President of Wanxiang Blockchain, said that the RISC-V International Blockchain SIG initiated by Wanxiang Blockchain, aitos.io, LeapFive, SiFive, StarFive and other important partners will promote the integration of blockchain technologies with the RISC-V community. Wanxiang Blockchain has been committed to building a trusted database and collaborating with PlatONE, a next-generation blockchain consortium supporting privacy-preserving computing developed by Wanxiang Blockchain and Juzix. With its open and extensible architecture, the RISC-V ISA supports cryptographic algorithms and enables developers to create secure, trusted solutions. In the future, these companies will continue to build solutions to integrate different technologies so that more developers can take advantage of blockchain, which promises to help empower digital transformation across key industries and market segments like the Distributed Cognitive Industrial Internet, Digital Cities, Asset Digitization, etc. "Our new Blockchain SIG will give the RISC-V community the opportunity to collaborate on blockchain technologies in order to enable the best performance and functionality in the RISC-V ISA and software ecosystem. Blockchain is already a big disruptor for the silicon industry, and we are committed to helping our members take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead," said Mark Himelstein, CTO, RISC-V International. "Joining RISC-V International is in line with our innovative strategy of integrating IoT applications with blockchain. By creating the Blockchain SIG and rolling out an in-depth cooperation with the RISC-V community, we will optimize our BoAT blockchain application framework to provide better support for RISC-V solutions, accelerate the application of IoT devices in blockchain-based services and build a trusted IoT database to make this data valuable and open," said Leo Lin, CEO of aitos.io. Aglaia Kong, CTO of LeapFive, mentioned that as blockchain is used to track value of data, it is getting more important to ensure the origin of data is from a trusted source. By placing root of trust, ensuring each SOC having a unique DNA, having dedicated compute optimized for blockchain of where data is originated become super important. With RISC-V open and extensible architecture, combining blockchain and LeapFive' s SOC design capabilities, we are working together with Wanxiang Blockchain and aitos.io to build the "Chinese TEA ( Trusted Embedded Architecture)", so one can ensure the data origin is known, data usage is tractable and trust worthy. "In the current AIoT era with massive data being produced, processed and analyzed, data and computing security becomes one of the main driving forces of choosing the open and modern RISC-V ISA. It is an inevitable trend for RISC-V to enter blockchain, a promising industry." StarFive CEO Thomas Xu emphasized with confidence, "The scope of blockchain applications is expanding. Many applications are unexpectedly innovating because of the adoption of blockchain. No matter it is cloud computing of big data, or end to end computing applied to IoT, there is no doubt that RISC-V's diversity and outstanding functions will even flourish to the blockchain industry." "The adoption of RISC-V to develop blockchain technologies, and the use of RISC-V International working groups to encourage broad industry collaboration, demonstrates the power and flexibility of the freely available and open specification ISA," said Dr. Chris Lattner, President of Engineering and Product, SiFive. "Blockchain is an area where optimized hardware and software designed together can provide tangible benefits for secure, fast processing for supply chain, logistics, or financial operations, improving efficiency and accuracy. This demonstrates the potential for members of RISC-V International working groups to develop and build industry-wide specifications that can be broadly implemented." Wanxiang Blockchain made its debut at MWC Shanghai 2021 with CT Wing, UNISOC, LeapFive, Fibocom and aitos.io in Hall N4. On the Leader Stage, these companies discussed IoT and blockchain trends from the perspective of blockchain companies, chip and module manufacturers, operators and platform service providers. Earlier in 2020, Wanxiang Blockchain kicked off its efforts to build comprehensive solutions based on the integration of blockchain and big data, cloud computing, 5G, IoT, AI, and other digital technologies and successfully hosted the Sixth Global Blockchain Summit in Shanghai with the theme of Integrated Innovation. In January 2021, Wanxiang Blockchain established the Biological Asset Financial Service Platform with Sancai Digital Technology and Foidn Technology based on the BoAT + PlatONE IoT Data Platform developed by Wanxiang Blockchain and aitos.io. This platform was the first in China to integrate blockchain modules into biological asset monitoring for IoT devices, assigning blockchain IDs to 1000 cows at the Ashili Farm in Changji, Xinjiang, a province located in northwest China. The Biological Asset Financial Service Platform can collect key data about the whole process of beef rearing in real time, and encrypts the data and records it on blockchain to make the data tamper-proof and traceable. This allows key data about the beef rearing process to be turned into valuable digital assets that can be shared among participants across the whole industry to improve operational efficiency. This blockchain+IoT based platform can improve the efficiency of government regulation on biological assets, beef slaughter, transactions and the settlement of insurance claims, and more importantly, make beef produced in this process traceable for safety purposes. Supported by Wanxiang Trust, this platform can also make it easier for farmers to get financial support and increase their production thanks to this trusted database powered by blockchain and the IoT. With all these benefits, the Biological Asset Financial Service Platform will help accelerate the digital transformation of the traditional animal husbandry industry by building a trusted database and inspiring financial institutions to drive economic growth in new and innovative ways. Viewers in 68 countries are set to tune in to watch Meghan and Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey after its US premiere on Sunday night. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's two-hour pre-recorded sit-down interview will first be shown by CBS in the US at 1am UK time on Monday morning. The Royals have been told to 'hide behind their sofas' when the interview is released - with Miss Winfrey promising 'shocking' revelations and 'no subject off limits' in one of several over-produced teaser trailers. Deals have been struck across the globe for the rights to broadcast the Sussexes' interview, ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group said. CBS Presents Oprah With Meghan And Harry has been licensed to be shown in 68 countries in total, including in the UK where ITV will broadcast the special on Monday night - despite criticism over its timing with Prince Philip remaining in hospital. Other countries where it will be shown include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland. Viewers in 68 countries are set to tune in to watch Meghan and Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey (pictured) early next week The show has been licensed to be shown in 67 countries in addition to the UK, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, and also including 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa It will be screened on networks including Australia's Network 10 and Canada's Global TV. It will also be on RTE2 in Ireland, RTL in Germany and Croatia and Sky Italia-TV8 in Italy. Furthermore, 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa will broadcast the interview. ITV has faced furious backlash at its decision to push ahead with broadcasting the interview while Harry's 99-year-old grandfather Prince Philip recovers from heart surgery in hospital - where he is set to remain 'for a number of days'. The channel released a trailer at 4pm today ahead of the two-hour show next Monday, which featured the same footage put out by CBS in the early hours of this morning - but this time with ITV's branding in the corner. The video clip from Meghan and Harry's interview - which was filmed last month in California - saw the Duchess say she could not be expected to stay silent if the royal family played a part in 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Prince Harry. Ramping up her war of words with the royals, the Duchess of Sussex calls her husband's family 'The Firm' in the 30-second trailer released by CBS today and blames them for speaking out. The two-hour pre-recorded sit-down interview (pictured) will first be shown by CBS in the US at 1am UK time on Sunday night In a clip set to dramatic music, Ms Winfrey asks her: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' An emotional Meghan replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us'. The Duchess adds: 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already.' It is not known what 'falsehoods' Meghan is talking about because the interview was recorded before she was accused of 'driving out' two PAs and shattering the confidence of another member of Kensington Palace staff - with one former aide branding Prince Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies' in The Times earlier this week. Lawyers for the Sussexes have vehemently denied the claims. Meghan Markle spoke to Oprah Winfrey for the interview, which will air on Sunday, and is asked whether she had contemplated what the reaction would be from Buckingham Palace to the interview CBS Presents Oprah With Meghan And Harry has been licensed to be shown in 68 countries in total, including in the UK where ITV will broadcast the special on Monday night - despite criticism over its timing with Prince Philip (pictured last year) remaining in hospital Meanwhile Buckingham Palace said at 1pm today that a special Commonwealth programme would be aired just hours before the Meghan and Harry interview on the BBC. The Queen and the royal family have turned their attention to the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic for the show which will be on BBC One in the UK and globally on the BBC's YouTube channel from 5pm on Sunday. Ahead of Harry and Meghan's sit-down, the Queen, in an audio message, will pay tribute to the way in which communities across the 'family of nations' have 'come together' in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Buckingham Palace said the one-hour programme will also celebrate 'Her Majesty's lifetime commitment to the Commonwealth'. The Queen, who has reigned for nearly 70 years, is Head of the Commonwealth - a voluntary association of 54 nations. Harry and Meghan were accused of being disrespectful to the monarch's life of duty when their Megxit departure was finalised two weeks ago, with their camp saying: 'We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.' But the Sussexes' relatives have joined forces to appear in the Commonwealth tribute this weekend. The Prince of Wales recorded a message addressing 'the universal devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic', and celebrating critical work to combat climate change. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also taken part. William and Kate will be seen speaking to medical, charity and voluntary staff from across the Commonwealth and hearing about how they have adapted their efforts in response to the pandemic. The Duchess of Cornwall has chatted to presenter Clare Balding about the importance of books and reading for children in the Commonwealth. To mark Commonwealth Day and International Women's Day, Sophie, Countess of Wessex has spoken to three women from the Commonwealth about their experiences of supporting other women and their communities. The programme replaces the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey - which was the scene of Harry and Meghan's final official public engagement last year. The 2021 service was cancelled for the first time in nearly half a century, because of the pandemic. ITV released a trailer at 4pm today ahead of the two-hour show next Monday, which featured the same footage released by CBS in the early hours of this morning - but this time with ITV's branding in the corner (bottom right) ITV published a video from the Harry and Meghan interview at 4pm today (left), three hours after Buckingham Palace issued a press release about the Commonwealth service on BBC One at 1pm (right) Buckingham Palace today confirmed that the BBC would be showing a Commonwealth Day special on Sunday at 5pm Harry and Meghan, who quit last year as senior working royals and moved to the US, were hailed as the new royal stars of the Commonwealth ahead of their wedding, having pledged themselves to a lifetime of work with the family of nations in their engagement interview. But the couple were today accused of being disrespectful to the Queen and her husband after it emerged they won't delay the release of their Oprah interview despite Philip's health problems. The couple are under huge pressure to ask Oprah to delay the broadcast in the US on Sunday night and across the world on Monday after it was revealed Prince Philip underwent heart surgery yesterday. Critics including several MPs have warned them they are 'badly advised' to go along with the plan - but the couple insist that it is up to CBS, who don't have 'any intention' to delay the show set to make them millions of dollars in sales and advertising revenue. A source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex today confirmed that the screening on Sunday is still expected to go ahead, claiming the decision now lies with the broadcasters set to make millions from the two-hour show. 'There are a lot of people who are going to talk about this until the programme airs, but the programming and all the rest of it is ultimately up to CBS, we're not involved in that side of things', the source said, adding: 'As it stands, I don't think there is any intention from the programme maker to change its air date'. But there is growing anger over the broadcast, with royal experts, fans and politicians calling for a postponement. Conservative MP Bob Blackman told MailOnline today: 'The reality is I don't think the interview is appropriate at all. 'The less they say the better, irrespective of the state of health of the Duke of Edinburgh. But to be doing a tell-all interview screened in the UK when he is in hospital - fortunately he appears to have had a successful operation - they are badly advised to put it mildly. None of these royal interviews have gone well... and I can't see this going any better.' Mr Blackman said ITV has 'got a choice to make'. 'I don't think they should be showing it,' he said. 'Everyone's sympathies should be for the Queen, a remarkable lady who has given a lifetime of service.' Another Tory MP, who did not want to be named, said of Harry and Meghan: 'One day I hope those two discover what it is really like to have problems.' Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The European Union's coronavirus vaccination campaign should be able to inoculate "all those who need" by the end of summer or perhaps sooner, an EU official pledged on Thursday. EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said he was confident that "by the end of the summer, and I hope even sooner, all those who need to be vaccinated will have been". The EU has faced sharp criticism over delays in vaccine rollouts, partly due to production bottlenecks, while other countries like Israel, Britain and the United States have been much faster. Speaking in Rome after talks with Italian Economic Development Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, Breton said he was "very impressed" by how pharmaceutical companies had managed to accelerate vaccine production. "The issue is no longer about (having enough) vaccines, in Europe we have plenty of vaccines available," said the French EU official, a former businessman. In a Wednesday interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera daily, Breton said EU countries have received 43 million doses, but have not yet used about 30 percent of them. According to the commissioner, by the end of the year the EU will be able to manufacture 2-3 billion vaccine doses per year, beating the production capacity of the US, China and Russia. The commissioner called for EU unity, after several members of the bloc, including Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark and Austria, broke ranks to source vaccines from Israel, China or Russia. "No single country can have an autonomous vaccination strategy ... we all depend on one another," Breton said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP HALIFAX - An Atlantic Canadian undergarment company that quickly retooled its factory last spring to make personal protective equipment is laying off 150 workers after failing to win a new federal contract. Jon Stanfield, president and CEO of Stanfield's Ltd., stands in one of the production areas of the garment manufacturing company in Truro, N.S. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - An Atlantic Canadian undergarment company that quickly retooled its factory last spring to make personal protective equipment is laying off 150 workers after failing to win a new federal contract. Stanfield's Ltd. of Nova Scotia, famed for its long johns and boxer shorts, switched to making medical gowns for front-line health workers at the outset of the pandemic. But the historic Truro clothing manufacturer was left out of the most recent round of federal contracts. All nine of the successful bidders on a new request for proposals for medical gowns are in Canada's three most populated provinces: Ontario, Quebec and B.C. Jon Stanfield, the chief executive of the fifth-generation family firm, said he is disappointed in the tender process. "They missed a significant part of the country and a significant player within the industry," he said in an interview Thursday. The company was first to step up when the need arose for a domestic supply of medical gowns and has continued to invest in equipment, training, fabric and maintaining its factory in a ready state, Stanfield said. Rather than lay off workers last fall when its contract ended, Stanfield's continued to make medical gowns and now has about 300,000 stockpiled. "We wanted to keep our readiness factor high," he said. "We're also in rural Nova Scotia where jobs aren't plentiful and I wanted to keep people employed through this process." When the company announced it was hiring workers to make medical gowns last spring at an hourly wage of $17, Stanfield said the clothing manufacturer received about 600 applications. "People wanted to support the cause and had great passion and the wage would help their families." Truro-area MP Lenore Zann said she's "terribly concerned and disappointed" to hear of layoffs at Stanfield's. "Our community stepped up when our country was in crisis," the Cumberland-Colchester representative said in a statement on Facebook. "Im grateful and proud of the work our citizens have done in the past year to help our country at a time of great need." It's not the first time Stanfield's has stepped up to assist in a time of national need. In the 1890s, the company invented shrink-proof heavy woollen underwear used by workers during the Klondike gold rush; in the First World War, the factory was converted to provide wool blankets to keep soldiers warm in the trenches; and in Second World War, it supplied base layers of underclothing. The company's $27.9-million federal contract to make medical gowns was a small piece of the $1.87 billion Ottawa had contracted out as of Dec. 31. Nova Scotia's Minister of Inclusive Economic Growth, Labi Kousoulis, was asked what help the province could provide to Stanfield's following cabinet on Thursday. "We have purchased gowns from Stanfield's over the last year," he said, "so I would ask Stanfield's to reach out to our procurement people at the health authority. "If we are short on any type of PPE whether it be gowns, masks, or needles my anticipation is that the health authority is doing everything it can to procure those." Local MLA Dave Ritcey called the loss of 150 jobs in the largely rural area "devastating." "These aren't job numbers, they represent people getting up and going to work every day," he said in a statement on Facebook. "These were people supporting Canadian front line health workers during a global pandemic." Public Services and Procurement Canada said the request for proposals for "disposable medical isolation gowns" was issued on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada last October. The bidding process was only open to Canadian manufacturers, and the companies are required to do all cutting, sewing and assembly here in Canada, the department said in an email. The department received 71 bids and in February awarded contracts to nine manufacturers. The winning bidders include two companies in British Columbia Westcomb Outerwear Inc. in Vancouver and First Aid & Survival Technologies Ltd. in Delta three in Montreal Quartz Nature Inc., Boutique Tristan & Iseut and Samuelsohn Medical Ltd. and four in Ontario Triplewell Canada Inc. in Scarborough, Wuxly Movement in Toronto, Mahajan Canada Ltd. in Toronto and Harbour Technologies Ltd. in Windsor, Ont. Stanfield said he's not condemning the companies that won. But he said he's aware of some of the winning bidders that are now trying to source fabric and other supplies. Stanfield said the company is prepared to step in and help if there are issues with filling capacity. The winning bidders must deliver a minimum of 24,000 gowns within 60 days of the contract being awarded to demonstrate guaranteed capacity. All gowns must be delivered before the end of September 2021, Public Services and Procurement Canada said. -- With files from Keith Doucette in Halifax. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2021. Lauded chef Alejandro Paredes is casting a wider net for his Fish Lonja concept. The companion spot to Carnitas Lonja, the popular spot on Roosevelt, opened in 2019 with fresh fish and shrimp ceviches and fish tacos. The food is fresh and light, a nice counterpart to the unctuous carnitas Paredes has received plenty of accolades for, with nods in Eater and Esquire in 2018. RELATED: San Antonio restaurant owners dish on Gov. Abbott's ruling to fully reopen Texas The food and Paredes caught the attention of Chad Carey of the Empty Stomach Group behind Barbaro, Extra Fine, Rumble, Pizza Party, Little Death and Hot Joy. The result? Mutual respect for all things Empty Stomach and Carnitas, in which will now result in a partnership between Paredes and the Empty Stomach Group. RELATED: Senor Fish Seafood Bar now open on Broadway near Pearl in former Tacos and Tequila After a recent well-attended pop-up for Little Death at Fish Lonja, Carey cooked up an idea. He tapped Empty Stomach's partner and multi-hyphenate Sophie Covo to talk him out of it. Thankfully for fans of ceviche and boozy cocktails, she didn't. Paredes and the team at Empty Stomach will combine Midnight Swim and Fish Lonja starting March 17. "I'm crazy about his food, we all know he does awesome work, and we have this place that's sitting empty a lot of the time," Carey said. Midnight Swim, originally a Teka Molino that sat vacant for years before Empty Stomach turned it into Chisme, is the brainchild of Covo and Swim partner John Michael Villanueva. In the before times, the club was known for its raucous weekends filled with a packed dance floor and patio, creative house shots, dangerously tasty frozen cocktails, and more often than not, lines out the door. When COVID-19 shuttered most of the bars in San Antonio, Midnight kept at it with drive-up service. They reopened briefly last summer and closed this winter when spikes led to more closures. "They took the safety aspect seriously. It wasn't what Midnight was," Carey said of the bar's seated parties, "but it was still safe." The group hopes adding Fish Lonja to the pool of hybrid bars and restaurants along the Strip will be a win. On weekends, patios are littered with distanced parties, a long shot from previous years when bars were packed, but it's something. As of this weekend, the menu was still in the works but will feature an expanded version based around the original Fish Lonja. Paredes warns folks not to expect sides of rice, and instead think of their favorite Mexican marisqueria. "It'll be fresh fish and shrimp and we'll be able to utilize the full bar," Paredes said. Fish Lonja will still make its own tortillas, and Paredes will bring on Jose Sanchez, previously with Cured, as his sous chef. Bar offerings, designed by cocktail maven Covo, will feature the mainstays Midnight Swim is known for, along with the addition of more Mexican beers and a margarita to pair with Paredes' food. Carey will carry a few choice wines to round out the menu. "There's a lot to materialize, but the big idea is can we bring the best parts of Fish Lonja and Little Death and Midnight Swim where people can enjoy the patio and have a good time," Carey said. He expects the combination Midnight Swim/Fish Lonja (Lonja Swim?) will draw the "food intelligentsia hipster types," Midnight Swim fans, Pearl stragglers, and more. "It sounds crazy when you say it out loud, but it also sounded crazy to try and open a natural wine bar in the middle of the Strip," Carey said. Midnight Swim was open for less than a year before facing the pandemic, but Villanueva and Covo are enthusiastic about what summer plans could look like. "We know how to throw a party, so hopefully by summertime, people will be vaccinated and will listen to information so we'll be able to introduce what Alex is doing to a new group of people," Villanueva said. Fish Lonja will open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Midnight Swim will open concurrently and stay open through 2 a.m. on weekends and midnight Sunday. Jess Elizarraras is the managing editor for MySA.com. Email at jess.elizarraras@mysa.com or follow her at @jesselizarraras. Heres Hoping for Beauty in America: Classicism Versus Modernism in Architecture One of Donald Trumps final acts as the nations 45th president was to sign an executive order called Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture. He signed the order on Dec. 18, 2020, but it had been kicking around for many months since it was leaked from the White House last winter as a draft proposal with the more Trumpian title of Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again. At the time, it elicited raspberries from architects of all stripes but support from some, possibly most, classicists. Recently, on Feb. 24, Biden issued his own executive order canceling his predecessors tip of the hat toward beauty. Last October, as if to nudge Trump toward signing the draft order, the National Civic Art Society, a Washington-based organization that promotes classical architecture and had been involved in generating the draft, released a survey by the Harris Poll. It found that almost three-quarters of Americans preferred classical architecture to modernist architecture for federal buildings and courthouses. The result of the survey was no surprise. Anecdotal evidence and occasional academic research had shown such tendencies for decades. It was as if the survey had discovered, of all things, that people prefer beauty over ugliness. The Modernist Goal: We Must Kill the Street But isnt beauty in the eye of the beholder? That is certainly the official stance of the architecture community, which has been staunchly pro-modernist since World War II. But many factors affect our perception of beauty, which is also located in the object of the beheld. Unlike classical and traditional architecture, which are based on a system of ornamented structure from ancient Greek and Roman times, modern architecture arose mostly after World War I. The founding modernists, such as Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, invented a system of design based on structure shorn of ornament. Many people understandably blamed the crowned heads of Europe for the wars slaughter, but these architects took that a step further, likening the crowns of royalty to classicisms roof cornices, blaming the bloodshed on the buildings, as if the proper response was not to change Europes ruling aristocracies but to change their buildings. The public never took to modern architecture. In 1925, Le Corbusier proposed leveling central Paris and replacing the Marais district with 18 widely spaced 60-story tower blocks. The Parisian government rejected his scheme. (Oh, to be a fly on the wall at that meeting!) The model of the architect Le Corbusiers 1925 plan to level the Marais district of Paris and replace it with 18 towers. (SiefkinDR/CC BY-SA 4.0) In 1931, the popular journalist and editor H.L. Mencken wrote in an editorial for his American Mercury magazine: The New Architecture seems to be making little progress in the United States. A new suburb built according to the plans of, say, Le Corbusier would produce a great deal more mirth than admiration. Corbu, as his acolytes called him, shrugged all this off and went on in 1933 to write The Athens Charter, which promoted the construction of modernist buildings in historical settings to highlight the contrast between the old and the new, but also recommended the demolition of as many old buildings as possible. After World War II and no doubt to H.L. Menckens dismay, modernism crossed the Atlantic to America, and the charter helped shift U.S. architecture and city planning in the 1940s and 50s toward modernism and urban renewal. Yet the dirty little secret of the modernists was that the lack of ornament and the rejection of traditional beauty faced considerable skepticism among the public. For modernists, eliminating the competition represented by traditional architecture would become a lifelong obsession. That elimination would make it easier for a new society, led by architects on behalf of socialism, to make headway in a democracy. We must kill the street, wrote Corbusier, who hated the disorder represented by humans freedom to act as individuals. We shall truly enter into modern town planning only after we have accepted this preliminary determination. Most architects know little or nothing of the deconstructivist philosophies that underlie their professional practices to this day. They revere Corbusier without understanding him, and they need only build as theyve been taught to carry out Corbusiers vision as expressed in such volumes as Vers une architecture (Toward a New Architecture, 1923). Who Knows More About Architecture? In 1962, the federal government effectively mandated modernism for federal buildings and courthouses, but in 1963 a fateful decision doomed the monumentally classical Pennsylvania Station in New York City to demolition. This was a tragedy that sparked a historic preservation movement among Americans already anxious to avoid losing their neighborhoods to modern architecture and planning. And yet, backed by corporate elites, modernism firmly established itself in every center of power in the field but onethe housing industrywhere individuals rather than committees still built or purchased their own homes. As confirmed by the Harris survey, the public has resisted decades of propaganda and coercion, and remains decidedly averse to modern architecture. People prefer classic architecture. Pennsylvania Station, between 1910 and 20, as seen from the northeast. U.S. Library of Congresss Prints and Photographs division. (Public Domain) For who in society, from top to bottom, has not experienced architecture on a day-to-day basis since birth? We all have, from the houses we grew up in to the houses of neighbors we played with as children, to the schools we attended and the museums and monuments we visited with our parents, the theaters, galleries, restaurants, shops and stores, nightclubs, houses of worship, shopping districts, colleges and universities, city and town halls, government agencies, amusement parks and stadiums we worked at or enjoyed ourselves in as adults again and again, for hours every day, day in and day out, for years and years and years. Those of us who judge the other artscinema, theater, painting, sculpture, literature, and the resthave terribly limited experience on which to judge compared with that we bring to our judgments of architecture. We may not be capable of designing a house, but given a choice we can certainly decide which of two houses we find more pleasing, which of two buildings we find more efficient. People have every reason to be confident in their preference for beautiful architecture rather than architecture that professional architects have decided is functionaloften in spite of technical flaws, inefficiencies, and endless lawsuits over leaks from flat roofs. General Waiting Room in Penn Station designed by Charles McKim. (Courtesy of Richard Cameron) Among the modernists conceits is that any building deemed functional is by definition beautiful. All but a handful of architecture schools in the United States and around the world are strictly modernist in their curricula, and their first job is to eradicate traditional concepts of beauty from the minds of young students. The result is that on the basis of experience rather than training, the average individual has more sophisticated ideas about architecture than the average architect. This is confirmed by studies that demonstrate how differently buildings are judged by professional architects and the public. A Look at the Science While modernist architects claim that science supports their focus on function and technology, advances in neurobiological research indicate that human preferences reflect brain functions tracing back millions of years to survival techniques on the savanna of Africa. Specificity of detail trumps abstract generality in the ability to spot dangers in the natural environment. The perception of the shape of the nose of a lion, visible behind a distant tree trunk, could preserve a life. The human brain has evolved since then, but the need for detail remains strongconsciously and subconsciouslyexplaining at least in part the preference for ornament in buildings. Eye-tracking research demonstrates that our visual perception is drawn to detailed surfaces and avoids blank surfaces. Research shows that patterns of biological regeneration tend to reflect the slow development of traditional architectural practices, which unfold generation by generation as builders find better ways to perform age-old methods of construction and design more effectively than the modernist practice of starting from zero. Unlike modernist buildings, traditional buildings become more interesting the closer you get. This reflects nature and natural biological behavior, whereas the substitution of design practices inspired by machinery in the modernist toolkit result not only in deeply divergent results as measured by beauty, but also as measured by the efficiency that modernists claim as their lodestar. All of these factors, some newly revealed by research and others dating back centuries or millennia, have caused generations of architects to shy away from beauty as a topic in professional and academic discourse. Modernists are like Dracula confronted by the holy cross. Their incantation that beauty is in the eye of the beholder cannot be sustained for long, even after President Bidens killing of President Trumps executive order on behalf of beauty. In the end, beauty will out. David Brussat has run the Architecture Here and There blog since 2009, and wrote a weekly column on architecture for the Providence Journal from 1990 to 2014. He lives in Providence, R.I. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G) ("Maple Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Kiran Patankar to the position of Senior Vice President, Growth Strategy. Mr. Patankar is a proven mining executive with more than a decade of senior experience at growth-focused public companies and leading Canadian/global financial institutions. In this new role, he will complement the corporate development team in its pursuit of new growth opportunities. Matthew Hornor, Maple Gold's President and CEO, stated: "I am delighted to welcome Kiran to the Maple Gold team. His strong finance, capital markets and technical background will perfectly complement the skill sets of our existing team and enable us to move deftly ahead on corporate growth opportunities." Kiran Patankar, Maple Gold's SVP, Growth Strategy, stated: "I couldn't be more excited to join the team at Maple Gold. I have known Matthew for many years and we share a deep commitment to shareholder value creation as well as an optimistic yet pragmatic view of the gold mining sector. With a district scale project in the prolific Abitibi gold belt, a strategic partnership with one of the world's premier gold mining companies, and a strong balance sheet, we are well positioned to capitalize on near-term opportunities and to execute on our longer-term corporate growth priorities. I look forward to working closely with our highly experienced management team, advisors and board to build upon the Company's recent successes." Kiran Patankar - SVP, Growth Strategy Mr. Patankar brings a diverse set of technical and strategic leadership skills including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, mining project evaluation and optimization, contracts negotiation, stakeholder engagement and corporate governance. He was previously President, CEO and a Director of two TSX-V listed gold exploration and development companies, where he led growth initiatives and orchestrated successful company turnarounds. From 2007-2014, Mr. Patankar was an investment banker at Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. and Mackie Research Capital Corp., where he advised a range of public and private companies on strategic corporate matters, including internal and external growth projects as well as M&A and equity financing transactions totaling more than $3 billion. Mr. Patankar holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. Stock Option Grant In conjunction with the appointment, the Company has granted Mr. Patankar 400,000 stock options that are exercisable at a price of $0.325. The options have a 5-year term and vest one-third immediately, one-third 12 months from the date of grant and one-third 24 months from the date of grant until the options are fully vested. The Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") governs these options, as well as the terms and conditions of their exercise, which is in accordance with policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). Annual Grant of Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units Pursuant to its new Plan dated December 17, 2020, the Company has made an aggregate grant of 550,000 Deferred Share Units ("DSUs") to its Directors and an aggregate grant of 3,175,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") to its Directors, officers and employees. The RSUs will vest 1/3 on April 30, 2021, 1/3 in 12 months and 1/3 in 24 months following the date of grant. Further details regarding the Plan are set out in the Management Information Circular of the Company filed on November 23, 2020, which is available on SEDAR. About Maple Gold Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company in a 50/50 joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited to jointly advance the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The project benefits from exceptional infrastructure access and boasts ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold resource that holds significant resource expansion potential as well as the past-producing Telbel mine. The property also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55 km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the project ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is well capitalized and is currently focused on carrying out aggressive exploration programs to grow resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.com. ON BEHALF OF MAPLE GOLD MINES LTD. "Matthew Hornor" B. Matthew Hornor, President & CEO For Further Information Please Contact: Ms. Shirley Anthony Director, Corporate Communications Cell: 778.999.2771 Email: santhony@maplegoldmines.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 PRESS RELEASE. Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about corporate development opportunities. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.'s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76047 (Newser) Policing reforms are making for strange bedfellows in New Mexico as the co-founders of Ben & Jerrys ice cream and the conservative-backed nonprofit group Americans for Prosperity lobby for a bill to eliminate police immunity from lawsuits on civil rights violations. Ice cream entrepreneurs and civic activists Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield on Tuesday joined an online news conference to promote the proposed policing reforms that would allow civil right lawsuits against local officials in state courts, per the AP. Cohen said he hopes the bill will be approved and serve as a model for police accountability movements in other states. He called police brutality a white problem, saying, People who we authorize for the use of force in our name need to be more accountable, not less. The proposed Civil Rights Act from Democratic state legislators is confronting near-unified opposition from a long list of sheriffs and law enforcement associations. story continues below The bill builds on the recommendations of a civil rights commission, chartered in June as protests over police brutality and racial injustice swept the nation. The state House has endorsed the proposal, and the state Senate has until March 20 to send a bill to the governor. Recent amendments to the bill would cap damages at $2 million and allow lawsuits against agencies only. Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace warns that civil rights claims in state court would shrink available local spending on law enforcement and unfairly brand individual officers as a liability. He said officers and deputies feel they are under attack. On Monday, Americans for Prosperity announced a petition and advertising campaign in support of reforms to police immunity provisions. The group is connected to the primary political organization supported by billionaire Charles Koch, whose organizations have spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Republican candidates and conservative policies. (Read more New Mexico stories.) TUSCOLA It was one of those moments that have become rare for high-schoolers over the last year: a yearly event that sparks anticipation and joy. New York has about 128 million square feet of industrial space, far less than many smaller cities. Indianapolis, whose population is just one-tenth that of New Yorks, has nearly double the space. Chicago is the nations leader with more than 1.2 billion square feet. Many packages come to New York from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where there is room to build bigger and cheaper warehouses. And in the past year Amazon has added 14 new warehouses in New Jersey and on Long Island, totaling more than 7 million square feet. But having warehouses in the city is more cost effective and can trim roughly 20 percent off delivery expenses compared with deliveries that originate in New Jersey. We are excited to continue to invest in the state of New York by adding new delivery stations, said Deborah Bass, an Amazon spokeswoman, adding that the companys goal was to become part of the fabric of New York City by embracing the people, the needs, and the spirit of the community. Amazons rapid expansion in New York has also drawn more scrutiny to the treatment of its workers, an issue that the company has faced in other parts of the country. Amazon has sought to quash efforts by warehouse employees to form unions including on Staten Island and a high-profile battle is currently being waged in Alabama. In New York, the attorney general has sued Amazon over conditions at two of its local warehouses, accusing the company of failing to properly clean its buildings and conduct adequate contact-tracing, as well as of taking swift retaliatory action to silence employee complaints. An Amazon spokeswoman disputed the allegations and said the company cared deeply about the health and safety of its workers. Its Not Politics, Its Groupthink Commentary I was a liberal for most of my adult life, a liberal in the very liberal habitat of academia. When it came to Republicans and Democrats, progressive attitudes and conservative attitudes, I believed what everyone else believed, and that was one of the best parts of academic life. If I had a choice, I would never have wanted it to change. If youve never been a liberal, and if youve never worked in a uniformly liberal environment, this is a blandishment that you cannot imagine. You have to have experienced the comforts and satisfactions of adhering to ideas and outlooks reinforced by everyone around you to appreciate these particular joys of belonging, especially when those ideas and outlooks are controversial in other spaces. Im now a conservative who works for a conservative magazine, and the environment is no less consistent, but it has a different mood. There, and in other conservative habitats such as meetings of the National Association of Scholars, theres always a subtle doubt in the air, concern over eventual defeat, and a bit of self-examination on everyones part. Not in liberal zones, though, and not in the heads of the inhabitants. Thats what I observed in 40 years as a graduate student and professor. As I said, if youve never been there and been one of them, you cant imagine how complacent and cocksure and content everyone is. Oh, you have lots of insecurity going around, people competing for jobs and awards and prestige, comparing themselves to one another all the time, suffering the pains of non-recognition, but when it comes to politics and morals, everything is set. These people pride themselves on their critical thinking, theyre very good at analyzing words and ideas and data, but they hold their politics apart, far away from scrutiny. Its not simply that theyre intellectual and smug. On the contrary, they believe that the politics they embrace have been reached precisely through a critical process of reasoning, reflection by informed minds. If they espouse a liberal point of view, its because they have thought their way to it, applying to the world and its problems the high-achiever wits that got them through college and graduate school so well. Having cogitated political truths with the same exacting research that they bring to Modernist poems and public health data and riots in New York City during the Civil War, they see no need to question the verities theyve discerned. Why submit ideas of anti-patriarchy to more examination given that those ideas were the sophisticated and steady result of prior examinations (of bourgeois society, divisions of labor, masculinist norms)? Or so they believe. In truth, they havent studied political issues with much deliberation at all, but no matter. Their trust in their powers of judgment is super-high. Why question their political opinions? After all, the conceptions of anti-patriarchy were conceived in the smartest of settings, among people with advanced degrees and high ambition. It took a lot of work to become a tenured professor (or a successful lawyer, scientist, etc.). The general ideas they hold about man and woman, race and sex, past and future, America and the world, are as reliable as their own intelligence. Is it possible that the best and brightest could be wrong, that the common wisdom of the elite is off-base? No way. The populist uprisings of the Tea Party and, then, the election of Donald Trump could have marked a challenge to elites capable of looking in the mirror. The people who participated in these upheavals pointed their discontent precisely at these elites, but that hasnt caused a whisper of self-doubt among the credentialed ones. No, the professionals havent lost a shred of confidence in their own opinions. They may have feared for their power until the results came in last November, but never their moral-political acumen. The discontent of the rabble only confirmed the superiority of the superiors. This was not just a social thing, a clique out to reassure itself, or a way for one group to maintain its privileges. There was something psychological going on, too. Most people, even Democrat voters who arent white-collar, take the uniformity of opinion on college campuses as a problem. Conservatives and non-elite liberals may disagree over the degree of the problem, but the vast majority of America would like to see a little less political correctness in the classroom. They know that ordained conclusions and the shunning of dissenters damage the spirit of academic freedom. What they dont realize, however, is that the very uniformity of liberal thinking among the elite is itself a powerful enticement. The professors like it too much to give it up. Remember, these individuals argue and compete and win and lose all the time. Thats the nature of professional life. Within an academic department, individuals nurse grudges, they envy the stars, they resent the lack of appreciation of their own labors. Its an exhaustively aspiring condition. This one got promoted, I didnt; that one has packed classrooms, I cant draw more than a dozen kids; that one got the grant, I got nothing. The measurement of self by what others reap never stops, and it makes a lot of them bitter and miserable. Except on those occasions when professional concerns are suspended and colleagues can come together over non-collegial matters. This is the allure of monolithic liberalism in professional worlds, the bliss of conformity. Political/social agreement gives them common cause, and thats a relief, a reprieve. When Ted Cruz comes up in conversation during a faculty luncheon, all minds run in the same direction. Here they can unite, speak without worrying about displeasing a colleague. Competitions cease; community starts. Everyone can let go and relax, laugh, and affirm. And, of course, hammer the scapegoat, the figure who must pay for the unity achieved by these otherwise contentious characters. Hes instrumental to this collegiality, a common enemy enabling them to become allies. Such a figure to hate lets them like one another. The safest enemy, the current villain of choice, of course, is the conservative. Or, not just any conservative, but Trump conservatives. Liberal professionals need them in order to convert their colleagues into comrades. And to make deep-seated professional rivalries and jealousies go away, the threat has to be pretty bad, irremediably stupid, in fact, the very opposite of the smartest people in the room. It feels good; it feels very good. For one happy interval, the tension dissipates. All the hostility shoots at someone else, someone far from the campus, someone who isnt accredited to be there, of interior intelligence and taste and moral sense. Its a ritual of grouping and isolation, membership and exclusion. In the 80s and 90s, academic humanists talked about otherness all the time, even coining the verb to other, but nobody does it better than them. This is a political uniformity that runs much deeper than politics. Its an emotional thing, a coping mechanism, a brief escape from anxiety. The whole thing comes down to the assumption that professors are immune to it. Such rituals belong to high school, they believe, or to the uneducated dwellers of small towns, not to people who hit the 95th percentile on the SAT. Theyre too smart, too reflective, too critical to let social pressures steer their opinions. They have too much pride to believe otherwise. It isnt true, of course. If anything, academics are more prone to conformity, not less. I have worked in government and in publishing as well as in academia, and the first two dont come close to the timid adherence to dogma that you find among the professorate. When conservatives attack liberal bias in higher education, however, they usually overlook this aspect of group psychology, probably because few conservatives have seen it with their own eyes. They arent professors themselves, and they havent witnessed what happens in committees and behind closed doors. They arent familiar with the subtler dynamics of getting ahead, the shady underside of peer review. This is why disputing the academic elite over politics is a waste of time. The psychic factor makes objections to political correctness irrelevant. They dont want to argue the dogmas of feminism, for instance, they just want to share them, because the sharing is reassuring. In ignoring the psychological side of liberal complacency, conservatives end up addressing symptoms, not causes. In the academic world, conservatives are not up against an ideology. They face a group anxiety. Instead of berating liberal professors for their smug bias, conservatives should take a different approach. Dont critique their liberalismno, lets mock their conformity, laugh at their predictability. Or, in more sympathetic moments, post some questions: Dont you ever feel like not going with the flow? Dont you ever get bored hearing the same things said by everybody? Wouldnt it be fun to say something good about Donald Trump and watch the reactions? Dont you know that once in a while the excitement of dissent far exceeds the comforts of agreement? Mark Bauerlein is an emeritus professor of English at Emory University. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, The Washington Post, the TLS, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. 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. Apollonia Capelli, 101, gets her first shot of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine at the Martino Zanchi nursing home, in Alzano Lombardo, northern Italy. (AP) A single dose of the COVID vaccine will be all that is administered to those who have had the disease between three and six months previously, Italy has announced. In a move that follows both France and Spain, Italian officials are thought to have introduced the one-shot policy in an attempt to not run out of jabs amid the stuttering EU rollout. Two doses of the vaccines in use are usually recommended. The new recommendation applies to both people who have fallen ill with coronavirus and those who were diagnosed but had no symptoms. However, the Italian health ministrys director of prevention, Giovanni Rezza, cautioned that the measure could be reversed if any of the new variants are found to risk reinfection. Italy is now the third EU country after France and Spain to follow this path at a time when EU nations are struggling to boost their vaccination campaigns due to supply cuts imposed by drugmakers. School staff and police personnel in line for vaccination against COVID-19 at the Convention Center La Nuvola in Rome. (Getty) Italy, which has a population of around 60 million, had administered 4.76 million doses of vaccines as of Thursday, with some 1.5 million people receiving the recommended two shots. In all, it has received 6.3 million doses from manufacturers, but repeated supply delays have hampered efforts to give people the second jab. The country is now seeing around 15,000 new cases per day, putting the health system under strain. Watch: Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines 'highly effective' at preventing hospital admissions in over-80s In an attempt to remedy the ongoing vaccine issues in the EU, Italys new prime minister Mario Draghi has replaced both the special COVID commissioner and the head of the civil protection agency. Draghi also suggested at a meeting of EU leaders last week that first shots should be given priority. At present many EU countries, including Italy, are following drugmaker recommendations to give people two separate vaccinations and are holding back doses as a result. However, EU drug regulator the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Wednesday it had not yet seen enough evidence to recommend changes to the dosage regime for COVID vaccines. Story continues The new government in Italy has said it intends to speed up the vaccinations a top priority, with a target to deliver a 56 million doses by June. On Tuesday, German leaders urged doctors to use the full length of the approved interval between first and second vaccinations and to minimise stockpiling of booster shots to get more people started on the two-shot course. The EMA recommends giving Pfizer-BioNTech's injections three weeks apart and AstraZeneca's up to 12 weeks apart. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires just one dose for full protection, has not yet been approved for use in the EU. World Health Organization regional director for Europe Hans Kluge warned of rising COVID cases. (Getty) COVID in Europe While COVID cases and deaths in the UK are continuing to fall, the opposite is happening in Europe, with cases rising by 9% in the past week. Dr Hans Kluge, regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe, warned that the continent should not be in this situation and urged countries to go back to basics. He said: This brought a promising six-week decline in new cases to an end, with more than half of our region seeing increasing numbers of new infections. We are seeing a resurgence in central and eastern Europe. New cases are also on the rise in several western European countries where rates were already high. A chart shows how European countries are lagging behind in vaccinations when measured in terms of doses administered per 100 people. (Our World in Data) Kluge called for an accelerated rollout of vaccines after figures showed that most European countries are lagging behind when measured in terms of doses administered per 100 people. It is a somewhat different picture in the UK, where 21,599,027 jabs have been given so far, with 20,703,615 being first doses. The government decided to follow a strategy of delaying the second dose of vaccines to ensure as many people could be given some degree of protection against COVID as possible. The encouraging data has led Boris Johnson to lay out a path to exit lockdown, with 21 June earmarked as the date for when all restrictions are lifted. German chancellor Angela Merkel announced a three-week extension to the country's lockdown on Wednesday. (AP However, lockdown has been extended for another three weeks in Germany, where just 5.3% of the population has been vaccinated. Announcing the extension on Wednesday, German chancellor Angela Merkel said: These should be steps toward opening but at the same time steps that do not set us back. Meanwhile, France, where a 6pm to 6am curfew is already in place, could see further lockdown restrictions including strict weekend restrictions confining people to their homes. Additional reporting by James Morris. Watch: How England will leave lockdown THE UKs corporation tax rate will be double Irelands by 2023 as Britain seeks to cover the costs of Covid supports and stimulus spending. Britain will lift its corporate tax rate to 25pc in 2023 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced in his budget speech yesterday. The hike reverses a policy under former Chancellor George Osborne to cut the UK rate to compete with Irelands 12.5pc rate and marks Mr Sunak out as the biggest tax-raising Chancellor since Norman Lamont in 1993. Small businesses, with profits of 50,000 (57,775) or less, will continue to be taxed at Britains current 19pc under the UK plan, but big corporations will face the higher rate. The move will be hugely welcomed by policymakers in the Republic of Ireland, who will see it as an opportunity to attract further foreign investment here. Mr Sunaks warning that he will demand more money from companies and individual taxpayers in the coming years makes him one of the first policymakers from rich countries to address the hit from Covid to public finances. Dermot OLeary, chief economist at Goodbody Stockbrokers, said the decision by the UK to increase its rate of corporation tax will help Ireland. It will help in conjunction with, obviously, access to the European market that Ireland has, and the UK doesnt have to the same extent. I think its a further help to the Irish economy in terms of attracting foreign direct investment, particularly from North America, Mr OLeary said. Mr OLeary also pointed to what he said was the stability of corporation tax here, where the 12.5pc rate has been in place since 2003. Ireland has maintained the stability of its tax regime as well, and todays announcement in the UK just shows that theres an instability there, and firms we know like stability in tax regimes. They like low taxes, of course, but they do like to know what they will pay in the future and Ireland has maintained that stability, he added. In his speech to the House of Commons today Mr Sunak said the Covid-19 pandemic has been responsible for the largest, most comprehensive and sustained economic shocks this country has ever faced. Mr Sunak added that the UK Government has delivered one of the largest, most comprehensive and sustained responses this country has ever seen. He said the measures to support the UK economy amounted to 65bn over this year and next and would take total level of government support to 407bn. Call Elon Musk the most enigmatic leader in America's space launch history or a real-life Tony Stark. Over the last two decades the South African billionaire has become one of the tech and aerospace industries' most central and controversial figures. Now there's a new book that captures the early days of Space X entitled "Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Days That Launched Space X" by Houstonian and Space City Weather founder Eric Berger. "Liftoff" colorfully details the work of Musk and his engineers in the early days of SpaceX, and the labor it took for their group to build an orbital rocket. FIERY LANDING: SpaceX's Starship turns into a fireball after successful landing In an interview with Chron, Berger discussed some of SpaceX's most defining moments and offered a glimpse into the eccentric tech magnate's life. Yes, 49-year-old Elon has a robust, irreverent sense of humor, Berger said. Musk is also the founder of The Boring Company. How did you get involved in SpaceX? I've been writing space intensely for the last decade. Over that time, SpaceX had become the most interesting companies acting in space. At the Falcon Heavy launch, I realize I was witnessing the most transformative company of my lifetime. I wanted to get to know more. Musk was familiar with my work. A few months later I approached him and asked if he would be open to me telling the story of the Falcon 1 rocket, and he said yes. Eric Berger Your portrait of Musk paints the picture of an ambitious visionary with a "burning intensity." What's behind his drive? It's this internal energy he has. He sees problems and comes up with solutions and tries very hard to implement those solutions. Like, for example, you or I would probably look at the fact that the polar ice caps are melting or the fact that NASA has been to the moon in 50 years and say "Oh, that's really a shame." Elon would look at the problem and say, "Here's the way to fix that and invent a company that creates that solution." His drive is to move fast as possible. That's what he wakes up thinking every day. "How can I get more done, more quickly?" Eric Berger Tell me more about Elon's leadership style and the early days of SpaceX. He is extremely demanding of his employees. In the early Falcon 1 days, they worked incredibly long hours. People who came to SpaceX knew what they were signing up for. They did it willingly and gave him some of the best years of his life because they wanted to be a part of something greater. Now when he's in Boca Chica, Texas, he's head-down working from noon until after midnight everyday, meeting with his engineers, looking at the hardware. Just working. I get the sense talking with the early employees of SpaceX it was the same back then. Eric Berger How did he get the right talent at SpaceX? He's very good at identifying talent in the engineers. He looks at engineers who are not just smart, but also motivated and are willing to work hard. When he gets them on board, he's very strong at motivating them. At SpaceX, if you work hard, you get more responsibility. He looks for people who want to make a difference and then empowers them to be able to make that difference. Eric Berger What's driving his genuine interest in colonizing Mars? When he was younger, he thought when he came of age we would be in the age of ubiquitous space flight. So, after he had business success with PayPal in 2001, he had $180 million in bank [and was] trying to figure out what to do next. One of the things he looks at is space. There was a desire to do more with space flight, and then also to look at the future of humanity. Is our destiny to go to other stars and expand outward? He made the decision early on that if we're going to take the first step to expand in the cosmos, the first step is Mars. On a personal note, what are Elon's joys in life? Does he shed any light on his role as a father? He is incredibly euphoric when the company has success. He does have this great sense of humor. I would just tell you this that one of the times that we were together was flying from LA to Boca Chica, Texas. He brought three of his sons with him. He's very much a dad. He was playing games with them. When it was time to do an interview about the Falcon 1, he had [his children] gathered around, because he wanted them to hear stories about the old days when he was struggling to get his first rocket. That for me was a very human moment for him. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Swedish health authorities on Thursday recommended AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 65, following in the footsteps of several other European countries that reversed decisions on the jab. Sweden had up until now recommended use of the vaccine for people under the age of 65 on grounds the Anglo-Swedish firm producing it had not conducted enough research on that age group. "There are now three studies conducted in Britain on the AstraZeneca vaccine which show it is as effective as other vaccines that have been approved and works for people even over the age of 80," the health agency said in a statement. Germany on Thursday also recommended the vaccine for people over the age of 65 as did Belgium the day before. France for its part greenlighted the jab this week for people between the ages of 65 and 75 with a medical condition. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove Sails to Victory in 30th Senate District Race In a Special Election to fill the vacated seat of now Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Becomes Californias only African American Female Senator. As of press time, State Assembly member Sydney Kamlager-Dove was the projected winner for the 30th Senate District seat with 68% of the vote. The special election was called by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the seat vacated by current L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. Kamlager-Dove stands poised to join State Senator Steve Bradford at the State Capitol. During a period where many in the Black community have been calling for more representation especially, more Black women in government, Kamlager-Dove is filling that void. Im encouraged by the tremendous early results, and we expect them to hold, stated Kamlager-Dove. And we are excited for the rest of the votes to be counted there are many thousands left. Im proud of the broad coalition we built, bringing people from different communities together to work for change. The congratulations went out from colleagues, friends and supporters at Kamlager-Doves Zoom Rally. She had a wealth supporters and endorsements from organizations and politicians including the California Democratic Party, Black Womens Democratic Club, Service Employees International Union, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. ADVERTISEMENT I cannot think of a better leader to continue the work of serving the 30th Senate District other than Sydney Kamlager-Dove, stated Mitchell. The outstanding results of this election show us that the residents of SD30 agree. Ive seen Sydneys leadership firsthand, she knows and loves this district and tonight the voters have shown that they want her to continue fighting for them in our state legislature. I am thrilled to see her make history as the 5th Black woman to serve in our state senate. Moving forward in the Senate, Kamlager-Dove has a definite agenda that includes COVID relief and recovery, universal healthcare, criminal justice reform, employment, investment in housing and homelessness initiatives, addressing climate action, a Green New Deal, and investing in education and the arts. During her victory speech as she thanked her supporters she quoted noted author James Baldwin from a letter he wrote to then incarcerated activist Angela Davis, If they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night. The newly elected Senator of Californias 30th Senate District said that is my fight. I fight for all those who they would be coming after, single mothers, Blacks, immigrants, the LGBTQ community. That is my fight. My motivation when I am addressing criminal justice reform, state budgets, state assistance and much, much more. The 30th Senate District is one of the most racially and economically diverse districts in the state, which encompasses most of Downtown and South Los Angeles, as well as neighboring portions of Inglewood and the Westside. Kamlager-Dove represented the 54th Assembly District, which intersects with many of these areas within the 30th Senate District, of which she is well-acquainted with the dynamics of the district and its residents. As a senator, being within familiar territory works well in her favor. Kamlager-Dove has proven track record, one of which voters seemingly agree. Some of her accomplishments as Assemblywoman include: -urged banks that have business relationships in California to stop lending to gun manufacturers and worked with Treasurer Fiona Ma to create and pass Assembly Resolution 115 to halt the proliferation of guns in the state and put human lives before profit -authored the Affordable Prescription Drug Act, to bypass Big Pharma and procure low-cost medicine from Canadian suppliers -introduced new legislation this session to provide quality, affordable, single-payer healthcare to every Californian ADVERTISEMENT -worked to remove cost as a barrier to abortion and is committed to enhancing access to abortion care and birth control and fighting persistent attacks on sexual and reproductive healthcare -fought for legislation to remove carbon from the atmosphere and to ensure clean air and water for communities across California (Sydney is one of only eight California legislatorsout of 120to receive 100% on the Sierra Club 2020 scorecard) -coauthored the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (SB 54/AB 1080), which would reduce single-use plastic packaging in landfills by 75% (reintroducing a stronger SB 54 this legislative session) -passed legislation for implicit bias training of healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and court employees -is auditing the Los Angeles County, Alameda County, and Fresno County sheriffs departments use of state realignment funds and treatment of incarcerated persons -authored the most transformative probation reform law in the country (the historic bill caps probation terms for most offenses at 1 to 2 yearsreasonable limits that will help break the cycle of incarceration, reduce officers caseloads, and save millions of dollars) -introduced the CRISES Act to train community-based teams to respond to non-criminal 911 calls instead of police, making our communities safer -passed AB 987 to bring 30,000 quality jobs to our area -stepped up to lead efforts to reboot our economy safely and bring recovery money to local small businesses -as Chair of the Los Angeles County Delegation, worked to collect COVID-19 donations and supplies to protect the most vulnerable among us -supplied personal protective equipment to frontline workers when COVID-19 hit and PPE was in short supply -fought to pass the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, AB 3088 (and its subsequent extension, SB 91, which also provides $2.6 billion in rent relief) Kamlager-Dove thanked everyone for their continued support and belief in her efforts to improve life in general for everyone. For more information, please visit https://www.sydneykamlager.com/ Construction has started on a new mega-prison that will house 1000 men by 2024 in south-east Queensland. The prison being built at Gatton, in the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane, was commissioned to tackle overcrowding crisis in the states prisons. Stage two of the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre will be built next to the existing prison, near Gatton. Credit:Queensland Corrective Services The Crime and Corruption Commission Taskforce Flaxton report into jail corruption found assaults had increased because prisons were overflowing. The report found the states jails were at 125 per cent capacity and the rate of imprisonment was rising despite a drop in the crime rate. The Hidden Gem Reaches for Space [DATELINE] Kushimoto town tourist association proudly announces its most cherished attractions. Though many cultural and geographic highlights of Honshu Island (the main island) of Japan are famous, if you ask even a knowledgeable person what is the southernmost point of the island, they'd likely by stumped. The answer is the hidden gem of a township called Kushimoto in Wakayama prefecture. In addition to being a beach paradise studded with alluring and unusual rock formations, Kushimoto has a myriad of attractions and historical points of interest. The area holds some fascinating international history, much of which makes it especially welcoming to people from outside Japan. Beach: Kushimoto, Wakayama Tourism "People here have a known history of more than 1,000 years of welcoming foreigners. There are even legends that messengers came from Chinese emperors looking for medicine from plants to give eternal life," he relates. He adds people in Kushimoto "have had a long relationship with people outside of this seashore." - Naoya Sakamoto Rock Formations: Kushimoto, Wakayama Tourism The Kushimoto area can roughly be broken down to three areas, Kushimoto town, Cape Shionnomisaki, and Oshima Island. The latter of which is a picturesque isle that runs parallel to the Cape Shionnomisaki coastline of the mainland. All these areas are studded with dramatic rock formations caused by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The Yoshino-Kumano National Park showcases these dramatic rock structures. One impressive example is the Ichimai Iwa standing stone, a 100-meter tall megalith that is the largest above ground monolith in Japan. It's a breathtaking sight and it is just one of the natural wonders in the national park. These include the Umikongo rock formations and Odaigahara and Osugidani gorges. The spectacular geological creations continue on the coast of Kushimoto. Right off the shores of the main beach park in the town are the Hashigui standing rocks. They make dramatic viewing as one swims in the protected waters of this calm bay. Kushimoto has a more technological claim to fame as well. In March 2019, the space exploration firm, Space One, chose the town as the site of its new rocket launch base. A rocket launch, to put a satellite into orbit, is planned for the end of 2021 or early 2022. Hirotaka Hamaji, Director of the Planning Department of the Kushimoto Town government, explains that the town was chosen for three reasons: it is the southernmost point of Honshu island; there are no buildings or people around the launch point; and there is easy access from the factory in Honshu. Hamaji explains, "Townspeople welcome and support the rocket launch site. We are holding workshops for school students and locals on space, rockets, and launch sites. We are committed to locals gaining a great understanding of the technology." The director says the Wakayama Prefectural Government estimates the area of Kushimoto will see a 67 billion yen (about $630 million) economic boon from the project. Tourists are expected to stream in to see the launch. Space One: Kushimoto, Wakayama Tourism In addition to striking geological formations, stunning beaches, picturesque rivers and mountains, those tourists will be attracted to the many museums and deep cultural history of Kushimoto. Two episodes that stand out are the visit of American merchant ships in 1791 and the rescue of Turkish sailors in 1890. In a striking and little-known historical incident, two American merchant ships, the Lady Washington and the Grace, anchored off Oshima Island on April 29, 1791 and spent about six days in Japanese territory. Accounts say at first the Japanese were wary but before long they boarded the vessels and enjoyed food and drink with the multi-cultural crew (white and black Americans, Hawaiians, and Chinese). This is thought to be the very first contact between Japanese and Americans; an informative bilingual museum celebrates the meeting. The story is told there in great detail with many historical documents and artifacts. Another maritime incident that puts Kushimoto on the map occurred in 1890. The Turkish ship Ertugrul had made a friendship voyage to Japan, docked near Tokyo, and had then sailed south. On the night of September 16, 1890 a storm forced it near shore and it went down on rocks only 30 meters off of Oshima island. Some crew made it to the nearby Kashinozaki lighthouse (which happens to be the first stone lighthouse in Japan) and summoned help from the townspeople, who rushed into the ocean and pulled more the 60 Turkish seamen from the raging waters. This heroic action has led to a long-lasting friendship between the two countries and a museum, memorial, and statue of Kamal Ataturk to commemorate the incident. Another museum is well worth a visit in Kushimoto. Inside the tranquil and picturesque Muryo-ji Temple is the Kushimoto Okyo Rosetsu Art Museum. This small museum houses work by two famous artists of the Edo era (1603-1868), Okyo Maruyama and Rosetsu Nagasawa. The buildings of the shrine also showcase priceless works of art on fusuma (Japanese sliding doors) done by Okyo Maruyama. Temple: Kushimoto, Wakayama Tourism Right around the corner from the museum, in the old section of Kushimoto town, lays the most charming place to spend the night in Kushimoto. The Nipponia Hotel is a spectacular structure renovated from an old Japanese Minka, or tradition house of an aristocrat. The building and grounds retain all the charm of old Japan with luxurious touches like a huge soaking bath and comfy lounge chairs. All of these numerous attractions, from monoliths to beaches, museums to rocket launch sites, make Kushimoto a destination like no other. Kushimoto town Tourist Association https://ssl.cypress.ne.jp/kankou-kushimoto.jp/english/sub03.html Yohino-Kumano National Park https://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/yoshino/guide/view.html Japan-Turkish Friendship Museum https://en.visitwakayama.jp/venues/venue_834/ Kushimoto Okyo Rosetsu Art Museum https://muryoji.jp/museum/about/index.html Nipponia Hotel https://nipponia-kushimoto.jp/ Published in partnership with Honest Media, LLC info@honestmedia.com www.honestmedia.com 1 (212)-256-0315 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76120 An army helicopter crashed in eastern Turkey on Thursday, killing 11 military personnel on board and injuring two others, the Defense Ministry said. News reports said a high-ranking officer was among the victims. The Cougar type helicopter crashed near the village of Cekmece, close to the town of Tatvan, in the predominantly Kurdish-populated Bitlis province. It was on its way to Tatvan from the nearby province of Bingol when authorities lost contact with it at 2:25 pm (1125 GMT), the ministry said. The victims included Lt. Gen. Osman Erbas, an army corps commander, said Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey's main nationalist party, on Twitter. Pro-government Daily Sabah also reported that Erbas was killed. Nine of the victims died at the crash site, while two died of their injuries in hospital, officials said. The ministry described the crash as an accident, but it wasn't immediately known what caused it. HaberTurk television said the chopper is believed to have crashed in adverse weather conditions, including snow and fog. Cekmece resident Davut Bikec was one of the first people to reach the site. One of (the injured personnel) was slightly beneath the helicopter but there wasn't a lot of pressure on him. I cleaned the snow from his mouth so he could breathe," Bikec told the state-run Anadolu Agency. I asked him if he was okay and after he had recovered a little, he said: I am fine. I began digging into the snow; My hands got wounds and bruises. I dug, dug, dug and removed the wounded soldier, he said. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar departed for Tatvan together with the country's chief of military staff and the land forces' commander to inspect the area, the ministry said. The location of the crash is in an area where Turkish troops have been combating militants of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people since 1984. The PKK is considered to be a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. In 1997, PKK militants attacked a Turkish Cougar helicopter in northern Iraq, killing 11 Turkish soldiers. More recently, 13 military personnel were killed in 2017, when a Cougar helicopter crashed into power lines shortly after take-off from a base near Turkey's border with Iraq. __ Robert Badendieck contributed from Istanbul. India's top judge was facing calls to resign on Wednesday after telling an accused rapist to marry his schoolgirl victim to avoid jail. More than 5,000 people have signed a petition demanding Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde quit after he told the government technician at a hearing: 'If you want to marry (her) we can help you. If not, you lose your job and go to jail.' Bobde's comments sparked a furore and prompted women's rights activists to circulate an open letter calling for his resignation that has secured more than 5,200 signatures, campaigner Vani Subramanian said. According to the letter, the man is accused of stalking, tying up, gagging and repeatedly raping the girl before threatening to douse her in petrol, set her alight and have her brother killed. Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde attending the farewell ceremony of his predecessor in 2019. The top judge now faces calls to resign over remarks he made to an alleged rapist 'By suggesting that this rapist marry the victim-survivor, you, the Chief Justice of India, sought to condemn the victim-survivor to a lifetime of rape at the hands of the tormentor who drove her to attempt suicide,' the letter said. It later added: 'It fills us with rage that women bear the burden of having to explain the meaning of "seduction", "rape", and "marriage" even to the Chief Justice of India, who holds the power and duty to interpret the Constitution of India and sit in judgement.' India's abysmal record on sexual violence has been the focus of international attention since the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus sparked nationwide protests. Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde with his predecessor Ranjan Gogoi in 2019. The sitting justice told an alleged rapist he could skip jail if he were to marry his victim Victims are regularly subjected to sexist treatment at the hands of police and courts, including being encouraged to marry their attackers in so-called compromise solutions. The letter also drew attention to another hearing on Monday during which Bobde reportedly questioned whether sex between a married couple could ever be considered rape. 'The husband may be a brutal man, but can you call the act of sexual intercourse between a lawfully wedded man and wife as rape?' he said. 'This comment not only legitimises any kind of sexual, physical and mental violence by the husband, but it normalises the torture that Indian women have been facing within marriages for years without any legal recourse,' the letter by the rights campaigners said. Marital rape is not a crime in India. Bobde has not responded to the criticism. His predecessor Ranjan Gogoi was the highest-profile figure in India to face a #MeToo backlash after he was accused by a former staffer of sexual assault. He was cleared in 2019 after an in-house inquiry, prompting protests in the country. The Turkish government has revealed the tender's five-day schedule between March 8-12. It also specified how much capacity each of the 36 cities reached by the procurement exercise will have.Turkey"s Ministry of Energy has recently presented the details of the 1 GW tender for solar projects ranging in size from 10 to 20 MW, which it will launch on March 8. "Around 1,000 applications are expected for a total of 74 grid connection points," Eren Engur, a board member and president of the energy storage committee at the Turkish PV association Gunder, told pv magazine. The trade body represents the ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The mother of the so-called QAnon Shaman has defended her son's actions during the Capitol insurrection and repeated false claims that Donald Trump only lost the election due to voter fraud. Martha Chansley, the mother of Jacob Chansley, appeared on 60 Minutes+ to discuss her son's role in the 6 January riots. In one clip, Laurie Segall, a 60 Minutes correspondent, asks Ms Chansley if she thought her son did anything wrong. "What do you mean by wrong?" she asks, exasperated. "He went through open doors. He was escorted into the Senate. So I don't know what's wrong with that." She did not acknowledge the violent siege that preceded her son walking through the open doors of the Capitol. When Ms Segall pressed Ms Chansley on the gravity of the situation her son was involved with, Ms Chansley answered that "of course" she understood the severity of breaching the Capitol. "I feel the gravity of it, because my son is in - you know, he's, he's where he is right now," she said. "If he could take it back, he would. I know that he's sorry." She then repeated her position that her son walked through open doors, and thus did nothing wrong. When Ms Segall challenges her defence, pointing out that the doors were only open because an armed group of people overwhelmed the police and broken in, she claimed her son was not a part of that group. "Jacob wasn't a part of that," Ms Chansley said. Mr Chansley became an icon of the day, appearing in numerous photos and livestreams from the riot thanks to his horned helmet, fur costume and body paint. Ms Segall pushed back, challenging Ms Chansley's attempt to separate her son from the rest of the riot. Ms Chansley was unwilling to agree that her son's participation in the riot - even if he was not specifically violent to anyone during the assault - was "bad." "No, I don't think the process of being able to go and exercise your right to free speech and to stand up for what you believe is right [is bad]," she said. When told people do not have the right to disrupt Congress or trespass on the Capitol building outside of legal tours, Ms Chansley revealed that she - like her son - believed Mr Trump's 2020 election conspiracy theories. "I don't think it's right that it was won fraudulently," she said. "I don't believe it was won fairly at all. Absolutely not." Ms Chansley has previously defended her son in the press, largely using the same tactics. In January, she gave comments to a Phoenix broadcaster, KPNX, praising her son. "My son is a great patriot, a veteran, a person who loves this country, she said. "I was surprised. I think at the time I don't think he did anything wrong." She also questioned the ethics of breaching the Capitol, asking rhetorically during the interview "isn't it the people's house?" Her son was arrested in the wake of the Capitol riots and is still in prison. He was charged with two felonies and four misdemeanours that include civil disorder and violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) Anticipating the delivery of around 22 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines this year, the United Kingdom is working with the Philippine government to ensure "successful deployment" across the country. The UK was the first in the world to roll out a mass vaccination program in December and has since inoculated more than 20 million people, using either Oxford-AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccines. It now seeks to share best practices to the Philippines, British Ambassador Daniel Pruce told CNN Philippines in an exclusive interview on Thursday. The vaccine developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca with the University of Oxford is the second brand to officially reach the Philippines, next to the 600,000 doses of Chinese firm Sinovac's CoronaVac donated by Beijing. The first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines is composed of 487, 200 doses from the COVAX facility, to be followed by the rest of the 5 million doses from the same global initiative, Pruce said. The World Health Organization, which leads the COVAX facility along with the vaccine alliance Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, earlier said the Philippines can even get up to 9.2 million doses of AztraZeneca's vaccine. The 17 million doses secured by the country through tripartite agreements with the private sector, local government units, and AstraZeneca will be delivered "in the subsequent weeks or months," Pruce added. "So that should mean, if you take together the COVAX contribution and the tripartite agreements, something in the order of [22] million shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine being in the country by the end of the year," Pruce said. The envoy added that the British Embassy in Manila has been helping the country prepare for its local vaccination program. "It's one thing to secure your consignment of vaccines. It's another thing to actually get them into people's arms," Pruce said. "And in the embassy, we've been working in recent weeks in close partnership with governments and the LGUs, sharing our experience in administering vaccines across the country in the UK," he said, adding that discussions have been "productive" so far. While AstraZeneca was seen as among the preferred brands, some experts have warned that its efficacy has been affected by the B.1.351 variant first detected in South Africa. Early data showed the AstraZeneca vaccine provided only "minimal protection" against mild and moderate COVID-19 from the South Africa variant. OCTA Research fellow and molecular biologist Fr. Nicanor Austriaco even said on Wednesday that the South Africa variant dramatically decreases the AstraZeneca vaccine's efficacy from 70% to just 10%. READ: Millions of AstraZeneca shots 'ineffective' if South Africa variant in PH not contained, expert warns When asked about this, Pruce deferred to scientists and the company, but stressed that "research still continues, testing, emulation to the new variants." Pruce added that the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have so far worked for the UK, bringing down hospitalization rates and cases of serious illness due to the coronavirus. The UK earlier discovered another more transmissible variant, the B.1.1.7. It has reached several other countries, including the Philippines, but the Oxford-AstraZeneca team said its vaccine protects well against this variant. A package of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is shown in the state of Brandenburg where the first coronavirus vaccinations are given in doctors' surgeries, in Senftenberg, Germany, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP) Germany's independent vaccine committee has formally approved giving the AstraZeneca shot to people aged 65 and over, and recommended waiting 12 weeks between giving the first and second doses, officials said Thursday. The decision is "good news for older people who are waiting for a vaccination," German Health Minister Jens Spahn said. "They will get vaccinated faster." The vaccine made by British-Swedish company AstraZeneca is one of three authorized for use in the 27-nation European Union, though it has not yet receive the green light from U.S. regulators. Several countries, including Germany, initially restricted it to people under 65, or in some cases under 55, citing a lack of data on its effectiveness in older people. But the publication of new data on its effectiveness, and pressure to speed up the EU's slow vaccine rollout, has prompted authorities across the bloc to revise their stances. The independent committee, known by its German acronym StiKo, said its decision was based on "intensive analysis and assessment of new study data" from England and Scotland, which it said "for the first time provide robust results on the good effectiveness of the vaccine in higher-age groups already after one dose." The data published this week from England's mass vaccination program showed that both the AstraZeneca and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were around 60% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people over 70 after just a single dose. The analysis released by Public Health England, which hasn't been peer-reviewed yet, also showed that both vaccines were about 80% effective in preventing hospitalizations among people over 80. German Health Minister Jens Spahn delivers his speech during a debate of the German Parliament Bundestag about the coronavirus outbreak situation in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) The German panel said its new guidance also suggests waiting 12 weeks between administering the first and second AstraZeneca shots, as studies show this increases the vaccine's effectiveness. Britain, which has had a notably successful vaccination rollout, has been going with the 12-week spacing for vaccine shots since last year. Finally, StiKo also suggested that people who have recovered from a coronavirus infection should receive a single-dose vaccination no sooner than six months after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The panel said its previous recommendations in January were based "totally correctly on the then-available data." Spahn, the health minister, said the new recommendations will be swiftly incorporated in Germany's vaccine rules, which the government announced late Wednesday would be overhauled to get vaccine shots to more people sooner. German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves the German Parliament Bundestag after a debate about the coronavirus outbreak situation, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Restrictive rules and a rush of deliveries have left Germany sitting on a stockpile of more than 2 million AstraZeneca doses even as many who want the vaccine can't get the shots. France, Belgium and Italy already loosened their age restrictions for the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this week as European nations scramble to confront a looming third spike in COVID-19 cases. The World Health Organization's chief for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, said Thursday that new infections rose 9% across Europe in the past week, halting six weeks of declines. Germany is facing a third spike in infections, fueled by the more contagious variant first detected in Britain, Bavarian Gov. Markus Soeder said Thursday. Five of the counties with the highest rates of infection are in the southern German state, close to the border with the Czech Republic, which currently has one of the worst outbreaks in Europe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a debate of the German Parliament Bundestag about the coronavirus outbreak situation in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, speaks with German Health Minister Jens Spahn during a debate of the German Parliament Bundestag about the coronavirus outbreak situation in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) A man smokes as he waits for a train at a train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, March 4, 2021, the day after Germany decided about new coronavirus rules. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a debate of the German Parliament Bundestag about the coronavirus outbreak situation in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Germany's disease control agency reported 11,912 newly confirmed infections in the past day, taking the overall total to 2.47 million. The number of COVID-related deaths rose by 359 to 71,240, the Robert Koch Institute said. On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of Germany's 16 states agreed to extend some lockdown measures until March 28, while laying down a roadmap for relaxing rules in areas with low numbers of infections. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. By Baek Byung-yeul Japan had been a great benchmark for Korea as firms in the neighboring country have held competitive edges in every industrial sector ranging from consumer goods to high-tech businesses. Samsung Electronics, a leading player in the semiconductor and IT device sectors, also used to benchmark Japanese firms such as Sony. Japanese rivals remain highly competitive in the high-tech industry, securing source technologies in materials and components for displays, networks and semiconductors, while Samsung has surpassed its pioneering rivals in Japan by accurately assessing changing market trends and developing state-of-the-art production technologies. Samsung has continued to show its dominance in the high-tech business, while Chinese rivals, capable of manufacturing cheap but increasingly competitive products, are catching up quickly. Perceiving the 2020 Summer Olympics as a chance to leap forward again, Japan aimed to showcase its superb fifth-generation (5G) network and future car technologies to regain its fame. But it remains uncertain if the delayed Olympics can be held this summer due to the protracted coronavirus pandemic. As the tables turned, Japan, which views Samsung as a reminder of its former corporate glory, is closely monitoring what the Korean company does to overcome growing market uncertainties while staying ahead of Chinese rivals. In February, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, a Japanese economic newspaper, posted a series of articles reporting that Samsung has been struggling due to continued technology leaks to Chinese rivals as the Korean company faces a leadership vacuum. The group's Chairman Lee Kun-hee passed away in 2020 and his son Lee Jae-yong has been imprisoned on bribery charges. The Japanese newspaper pointed out that it remains to be seen whether Samsung, which used to copy Japanese technology, will be able to transform itself to further expand its leadership in the tech industry. The Japanese daily said technology leaks to Chinese companies could become the biggest risk for Samsung. Last year, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it detected and blocked 123 technology leaks to overseas countries from 2014 to 2019 and 83 of those leaks involved China. Most of the leaked technologies were related to displays, semiconductors and shipbuilding where China remains less competitive than Korea. Lee Suk-geun, a business school professor at Sogang University, said there is a chance that Samsung Electronics could follow the same route that Japanese firms took given Chinese rivals are improving their capabilities rapidly in the tech industry. "We've already seen how Chinese firms are encroaching on Samsung Electronics' territory. It's an ongoing thing. Compared to the Chinese firms, Samsung is losing its competitiveness in pricing and the Korean tech giant is increasingly sandwiched by China and Japan," the professor said. But one of the biggest differences between Samsung and Japanese firms is achieving globalization, he added. "As they had shown their dominance over the long run, Japanese firms were less aggressive in globalizing their business structures. This is different at Samsung, which has tried to transform itself to fit into a global standard." The professor stressed that Samsung is also required to shift its business strategy from focusing on quantitative growth to qualitative improvements to further boost its technological edge over Chinese competitors. "In the end, Samsung Electronics has to make a decision to outsource smartphone manufacturing, excluding phones made using next-generation technology like foldable phones. When it comes to thinking about its future business model, Samsung should focus more on achieving qualitative growth," he elaborated. On March 2, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the issuance of a new executive order, which re-opens Texas. The new order, which takes effect Wednesday, March 10, also terminates the statewide mask mandate. As a health system, we respect the governor and recognize that he has an incredibly difficult job right now; however, we disagree with the terms and the timing of this new order, and strongly encourage him to reconsider this decision. At Memorial Hermann, we have no intention of changing any of our policies and practices related to COVID-19 at this time. We will still require masks for everyone who enters our facilities, as we believe this practice is in the best interest of our front-line workers, our patients and our community all those who we are dedicated to and obligated to protect. Our position is based on hard data and science. It aligns with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the advice of leading epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, and our national, state and local medical and scientific leaders, to leave masking mandates in place for now. Social distancing and wearing masks are practices that are proven to save lives. As health care providers, we have witnessed their benefits firsthand. In fact, Abbotts decision to mandate the wearing of masks last July has been one of our strongest and most effective weapons in the fight against COVID-19 thus far. Interestingly, the governor actually acknowledges this in his new order. While we hope that this order does not lead to another spike in COVID-19 cases, we believe the evidence suggests that it will. Since our most recent COVID-19 surge peaked in January, our numbers have come down, but they remain 2.5 times what they were just last Thanksgiving. We agree with the governor about the factors that have helped drive those numbers down: good public health pandemic behaviors (masking, social distancing and handwashing); the rising levels of natural immunity (from those who have already had COVID-19); and the small, but growing impact of vaccinations. However, we still have a long way to go before we reach the ultimate goal of herd immunity and an end to this pandemic. As of March 3, Memorial Hermann has vaccinated approximately 115,000 individuals. Across Harris County, approximately half a million local residents have been given their first dose of the vaccine, as of March 1. This translates to approximately 14 percent of residents in Harris County age 16 and older. This is a great start, and we strongly support vaccination for all Texans, but until we have more supply and can vaccinate even more of our population, we must continue to utilize the proven public health measures we know have helped us limit virus transmission thus far. Additionally, we are deeply concerned about the timing of this decision, especially as we have just learned that all of the major new COVID-19 variants, which seem to be more dangerous and more transmissible, have now been identified in Houston; in fact, we are the first major U.S. city to confirm that all of these new variants are active in our community. Even more, for the first time in many weeks, the number of new cases reported around the world is higher than it was a week ago. Finally, we are gravely concerned that upcoming Spring Break gatherings will result in surges similar to those caused by holiday get-togethers, or worse. The pandemic is not over, and our safety measures should not be, either. We hope that by continuing to practice the proven safety measures and encouraging others to do so as well and as more and more people in the greater Houston area become vaccinated we can happily support lifting masking restrictions in the future, maybe even as soon as several months from now. But we feel that issuing this order at this time, considering the current environment, is premature. In the greater Houston area, it is clear that COVID-19 is not yet under community control. As health care providers, and as human beings, we have an ethical and moral responsibility to care for our community by each doing our part to keep ourselves and those around us healthy and safe. In times of crisis, Houstonians continue to prove time and again that we will step up and do what needs to be done to take care of each other. We were called upon to do it as recently as just a few weeks ago, and now it is time for us to do it again, with or without a state mandate. Callender is the president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. "I am excited to welcome this year's first batch of startups to our platform," said Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play. "With our programs running virtually again this year, startups will have greater access to our partners without geographical constraints." Plug and Play's network consists of over 30,000 startups, 500 industry-leading corporate partners, and hundreds of venture capital firms and investors. Throughout the next three months, the selected startups will have the opportunity to virtually meet with this ecosystem in private dealflow sessions, networking events, mentor sessions, focus weeks, and more to increase their chance to land exclusive pilots, POCs, new customers, and investment. There is no equity requirement for startups to participate. Graduation for these startups will commence mid-May at Plug and Play's Spring Summit 2021, which will be held virtually. Please reach out if you would like to reserve attendance. Plug and Play has also released its 2020 Company Performance Report. To see their new programs, locations, investments, and more, read the full report: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/2020-report/ About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 30 locations globally, giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 30,000 startups and 500 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $9 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, and PayPal. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ Media Contact Allison Romero [email protected] (408) 524-1457 SOURCE Plug and Play Related Links https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ ADVERTISEMENT The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja extended working from home directive for civil servants from GL 12 and below until the end of March. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), made the announcement in a statement issued by Abdulganiyu Aminu, Director Press and Public Relations, office of the HOCSF. All public servants on GL12 and below have been directed to continue working from home till the end of March 2021, the statement said. Mrs Yemi-Esan said the latest directive was in adherence to the advice of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. She stressed that the COVID-19 downward trend needed to be maintained, therefore, there was need for the extension of the work-from-home directive. The Head of Service also emphasised the need for all public servants to continue to ensure strict compliance with the existing guidelines on the prevention and spread of the pandemic. She enjoined all Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive officers to bring the content of the circular to all concerned and ensure strict compliance. (NAN) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Cowtown country music history endures with this story of an icon and her local visit. Read more . . . Almost everybody knows the Patsy Cline-comes-to-Kansas City story. Fewer people know the "Cactus" Jack Call story. Cline died on March 5, 1963. She and three others, flying in a private plane, crashed in Tennessee on their way home to Nashville from Kansas City. The company has received strong results from detailed coal quality test-work completed on large diameter core samples from Chinook Vicary, with product coal quality equal to that of globally traded Tier 1 hard coking coal. An updated Chinook Vicary JORC resource estimate is expected in quarter two of 2021. Montem Resources Limited's ( ) coal quality testing on drilling samples from Chinook Vicary area of its Chinook Project in Alberta, Canada, have confirmed the presence of Tier 1 hard coking coal (HCC). Results from tests on large-diameter core samples carried out in the December quarter of 2020 have been analysed, with coal quality and carbonisation results confirming the occurrence of high-quality low volatile HCC. Samples returned exceptional coke strength results with values ranging from 67 to 74. The working section clean coal composite produced high simulated plant yields with low ash at 9.1%, low volatile matter at 21.4%, low total sulphur at 0.48%, a favourable rank (RoMax) at 1.31%, and an outstanding CSR of 70. Exceptional coal quality The results validate historical coal quality test-work and mined product coal specifications at Chinook, confirming that the product coal quality aligns with the quality of globally traded Tier 1 HCC, including those product coals produced at nearby (TSE:TECK) (NYSE:TECK) mines in the Elk Valley. Montem managing director and CEO Peter Doyle said: We are excited the Chinook Vicary coal quality results confirm Tier 1 hard coking coal. The historical Vicary mine sold 100% of its product to Japanese steelmakers in the 1970s. When we met with these same steel making companies in Tokyo, they remarked on the exceptional quality of the coal from Vicary and showed us the product specification from the old mine. So, we always knew there was potential for high-quality coal at Chinook, and we are really pleased to confirm this with the current drilling. To get CSRs over 70 for a low-volatile hard coking coal, puts Vicary firmly in the top bracket of hard coking coal available on the global market. Shares have been as much as 6.5% higher this morning to A$0.175. Impressive washability results In total, 53 raw samples, 23 sizing and washability samples, and six clean coal samples were collected from the three coal seams. The results varied by seam, but overall were encouraging, with excellent washability and clean coal results for Seam 2 and Seam 4 in addition to exceptional carbonization results for Seam 4. Doyle said: The washability results from Seam 2 and Seam 4 are impressive, with simulated plant yields around 75%. Seam 4 in the area drilled was over 15 metres thick and accounts for approximately 45% of the total resource in the scoping study Vicary pits. With these results, and the scoping study mine plan, the potential for a high-quality, low cost, Tier 1 hard coking coal mine is now confirmed. Cross-section B-B showing potential low strip-ratio pit shell at Chinook Vicary. Additional test-work planned Montem plans to complete additional test-work on intersections of Seam 2 to further define its product coal carbonisation potential and marketability. The 2020 clean coal results and historical coal quality results for Seam 2 at Chinook Vicary are indicative of potentially favourable high CSR results (>65%) from proposed future test-work. Additionally, Seam 5 also requires further test-work to confirm the low yielding nature of the 2020 washability samples is a localised event. The companys proposed 2021 Chinook exploration program, commencing in the second half of this year, will complete these works and produce a comprehensive coal and carbonisation assessment inclusive of details on individual coal seams and typical product blend characterisation. Looking forward The project is made up of two areas, Chinook Vicary and Chinook South, and contains a coal resource estimate of 149.1 million tonnes (103.8 million tonnes indicated and 45.3 million tonnes inferred) and a coal exploration target estimate of an additional 125-450 million tonnes at Chinook Vicary. Notably, the entire Chinook Project is within Alberta Coal Policy Category 4 lands, where surface mining is contemplated. Doyle said: The next step, later this year, is to drill out the remaining areas included in the scoping study mine plan, and progress to a pre-feasibility study. As the entire Chinook Project lies within Alberta Coal Policy Category 4 lands, we will continue exploration and mine planning. We are excited by Chinook and look forward to the next phase of development. The company will now use the coal quality results and new geological information from the 2020 exploration program to update the Chinook Vicary JORC resource estimate, expected in quarter two of 2021. French bulldogs have become a hugely popular dog breed over the past decade particularly on social media because of their looks, size and adaptability. Theyre also expensive, ranging from $1,500 to $6,000. That could be why the breed has become a target for thieves, some of whom snatched the dogs from their owners after violent attacks, according to experts. The issue got national attention last week after Lady Gagas dogwalker was shot and the artists two French bulldogs were stolen in Hollywood. In a social media post Monday, Ryan Fischer, pop stars dogwalker, described the incident and his recovery from a very close call with death. Gagas dogs were returned unharmed last week, but an investigation was still ongoing, the Los Angeles Times reported. In January, three men allegedly assaulted a woman in San Franciscos Russian Hill neighborhood and robbed her 5-month-old French bulldog. Sarah Vorhaus said it was the most traumatic 24 hours of my life. Vorhaus has not responded to requests by The Chronicle. The investigation was ongoing as of Wednesday, police said. No arrests have been made, and the dog has not been returned. In San Jose, a familys French bulldog was stolen from their front yard Sunday, ABC7 reported. On Monday, a woman in San Lorenzo reunited with her puppy after it wandered off and was found four weeks later in Mexico. The man who returned the dog said he bought it for $1,000 and did not know it was stolen. With French bulldogs in such high demand, it isnt surprising that people have been stealing the breed, experts said. More for you Local San Francisco woman robbed of puppy, assaulted at... French bulldogs are considered a high-value ticket item, San Francisco police spokesman Robert Rueca said. The breed was the fourth-most popular in the U.S. in 2019, according to the most recent data available from the American Kennel Club. French bulldogs are usually between 11 and 13 inches long, weigh under 28 pounds and have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Experts describe the breed as playful, adaptable and cute as a button, said Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, president of the animal shelter San Francisco SPCA. When you just think about all the things that make up a great companion animal, the Frenchies click off a lot of those items, Scarlett said. The breed is also popular among celebrities and on social media, with several accounts made for them. One is Manny The Frenchie, described by his owners as the Worlds Most Followed Bulldog, with over 1 million followers on Instagram. French bulldogs get more of a higher profile because there are plenty of celebrities that own them, AKC spokeswoman Brandi Hunter said. Theyre a very attractive breed for a dog owner, especially a first time dog owner because theyre a very easy dog to own. If you plan on purchasing a French bulldog, experts urge individuals to research and buy from a reputable breeder who isnt selling a dog that has been stolen. Experts also recommend owners to properly tag and microchip their dogs. Dogs shouldnt be left in front yards or in cars without supervision. If youve been attacked or assaulted for your puppy, police urge people to call local law enforcement or ask nearby residents or businesses for help. Frenchies are in right now, Scarlett said. If I had a Frenchie, I wouldnt let it out of my sightright now. Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores I came to this great city for the first time on St. Patricks Day as a college freshman. So I get it, Lightfoot said last year ahead of the holiday. But this year, this time, is different. It must be different to save lives. I do not want to see hordes of people out in the streets. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2021) UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener said Wednesday is the bloodiest day since the military coup in Myanmar as 38 people were killed during protests against the military rule in the country. "Today was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the first of February. Only today, 38 people died," Schraner Burgener said during a press briefing. "Now, more than 50 people died since the coup started." The special envoy said she showed videos of security forces' crackdown on protesters to experts on weapons, who confirmed that the authorities used live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators. Moreover, Myanmar's authorities have already detained around 1,200 protesters, whose whereabouts are unknown. Schraner Burgener expressed hope that she still could undertake her visit the Southeast Asian country at the soonest convenience, adding that she has "some ideas" she wished to discuss with the military and other stakeholders. The special envoy urged the UN Security Council and the international community to take "very strong" measures to stop the violence and reverse the coup. "I had a discussion with the army, and I warned them that member states and the [UN] Security Council might take huge strong measures," Schraner Burgene said. "And the answer was, 'We are used to sanctions and we have survived those sanctions in the past,'" she added. Myanmar has been rocked by protests against the military after it overthrew the government and declared a year-long state of emergency on February 1. Opened in 2016 by South Korean-born chef Sun Kim, Meta a shortening of metamorphosis celebrates authentic Asian flavours and high-end European cooking techniques. The progressive menu reflects Kim's cultural upbringing, travels and influences. His interest in cooking began as a teenager while working in his mother's restaurant in Seoul and, in 2011, he travelled to Australia to enroll at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney. Feeling a strong affinity with chef Tetsuya Wakuda's philosophy upon reading one of his books, Kim secured a job at iconic Tetsuya's in Sydney, where he worked under the tutelage of the culinary legend. In 2014, he was seconded to Wakuda's award-winning Waku Ghin in Singapore, eventually calling the city-state his home. Since Meta's launch, Kim's culinary style has evolved and matured, drawing increased inspiration from his Korean heritage, alongside the delicate artistry of Japanese cuisine and his education in Western cooking techniques. Admired for its technical expertise and creative flair, Meta's menu distinguishes itself with subtle flavours, elegant presentations and inspired combinations of seasonal ingredients, as evident in Chef Kim's Kinmedai dish, featuring foie gras, shimeji mushroom and black truffle. Having relocated to an airier location at 1 Keong Saik Road in October 2018, the restaurant features low tables and a cosy four-seat counter, creating an intimate atmosphere. William Drew, Director of Content at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "While Meta honours Chef Kim's Korean heritage and the traditional dishes of his childhood, the menu boldly integrates elements of Japanese and French cuisines. Chef Kim's progressive cooking techniques and creative execution, combined with a serene dining experience, make Meta a worthy winner of the American Express One To Watch Award 2021." Responding to the honour, chef Kim says: "I am very humbled and honoured to receive this award from Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. I couldn't have achieved this without the support and hard work of the Meta team." Chris Cracchiolo, Senior Vice President of Global Membership Rewards & Loyalty Benefits at American Express, says: "American Express is proud to support this award, which champions innovation, ingenuity and excellence in dining. We are honoured to present this award to the team at Meta, who have created a one-of-kind dining experience that combines Chef Kim's passion for Korean, Japanese and French cuisines." Meta joins a prestigious line-up of recent One To Watch award winners including Masque in Mumbai (2020), JL Studio in Taichung (2019), Toyo Eatery in Manila (2018), TocToc in Seoul (2017) and Florilege in Tokyo (2016). Chef Kim's achievements will be celebrated as part of the online ceremony for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2021 on 25 March, from 4.30pm HK/SG (5.30pm JPN), which will be broadcast to a global audience via Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Facebook and the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel. How the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled The annual list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants is created from the votes of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and regional culinary experts, with a 50/50 gender balance. 50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. For more details on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants voting process, visit: https://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/voting/the-voting-system. Essence of Asia 2021 marks the launch of the Essence of Asia collection in parallel to this year's list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. Unveiled on Tuesday, 16 March, the Essence of Asia collection recognises establishments that represent the spirit of Asian gastronomy. This unranked collection turns the spotlight on restaurants that have had a positive impact on their communities and local cuisine, whether during the recent crisis or over a sustained period. Integral to Asia's culinary ecosystem, these casual restaurants preserve culinary traditions, honour authentic flavours and provide a vital link to their communities. 50 Best for Recovery 2021: Opportunity for Change The 50 Best organisation will reinforce its commitment to supporting and promoting restaurants and bars across the world through its 50 Best for Recovery 2021 programme. This year also brings opportunities for positive change as the sector rebuilds and remodels itself with a greater focus on inclusivity and long-term sustainability. 50 Best will use its global platform to highlight even more great restaurants and bars worldwide through its 50 Best lists, special awards, unranked collections and content series as well as showcase individuals shaping the future of gastronomy through its new 50 Next list, which will debut later this year. 50 Best will take the opportunity in 2021 and beyond to amplify diverse voices and positive messages, foster progressive discussion and cross-border collaboration, and encourage greater gastronomic discovery and exploration. Notes to Editors: William Reed Business Media The Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is published by William Reed Business Media, which also publishes The World's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2002, and Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in September 2013, as well as The World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's 50 Best Bars. William Reed Business Media is entirely responsible for the organisation of the awards, the voting system and the list. Award sponsor: American Express American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. American Express, along with restaurant reservation platform Resy, are trusted sources for diners and connect the best restaurants and guests at global digital scale. Main sponsor: S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors and official water partners of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being. Other partners: Inedit Damm Official Beer Partner and sponsor of Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award Gin Mare Official Premium Gin Partner and sponsor of Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award Beronia Official Wine Partner and sponsor of the Beronia Highest Climber Award Cinco Jotas Official Iberico Ham Partner and sponsor of Asia's Best Female Chef Award Flor de Cana Official Rum Partner and sponsor of the Flor de Cana Sustainable Restaurant Award Aspire Lifestyles Official Concierge Partner and sponsor of Highest New Entry Award Asia's 50 Best Restaurants social media Follow on Twitter: @The Worlds50Best #Asias50Best Follow on Instagram: @TheWorlds50Best Become a Facebook fan: https://www.facebook.com/Asias50BestRestaurants Subscribe to 50 Best Restaurants TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/worlds50best The awards ceremony will be streamed live on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Facebook page and the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel on 25 March from 4.30pm HK/SG (5.30pm JPN). This release is also available in the following languages: English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. The official language of the press office is English. Note to media: To register for and access the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants online media centre, please visit https://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/media-centre-registration.html For press enquiries, please contact CatchOn, A Finn Partners Company, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +852 2566 8988 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449677/Meta___Chef_Sun_Kim.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1441574/Asias50Best_Logo.jpg SOURCE Asia's 50 Best Restaurants From snowshoeing and fire starting to wilderness survival, turkey hunting and fly fishing, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Becoming an Outdoors Woman program is offering some great educational experiences over the next several weeks. The DNR's BOW program gives women, 18 and older, an opportunity to improve their outdoors skills in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere. Typically, a BOW winter weekend event is held in February and a summer session is staged in June. This year, the DNR was forced to cancel the February session given coronavirus restrictions. A decision on the summer program will be made in the weeks to come. "With our winter program cancelled this year, some of our very talented, volunteer BOW instructors are teaming up to offer some tips and instruction for women hoping to learn more about a range of popular subjects," said Michelle Zellar, BOW coordinator with the DNR. "We have an initial slate of these instructional sessions set up as Instagram live events during March and April, with additional sessions being discussed." The program's workshops are taught by volunteers, many from the DNR, giving women from across the Midwest and elsewhere in the country, valuable opportunities to learn about and try outdoor recreation activities in a nurturing environment, thereby boosting their self-esteem, confidence and abilities. Here is the schedule for the five upcoming Instagram live events: 5 p.m. EST, Thursday, March 11 - Basic Snowshoeing with instructor Sandra Kivela. Learn the basics of snowshoeing, snowshoe selection, how to dress for snowshoeing and more. 5 p.m. EDT, Thursday, March 18 - Talking Turkey with instructor Jen Davis. Spring turkey hunting tactics will be explained, including scouting, calling, tools of the trade, turkey behavior and a little about field care and cooking. 5:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, March 25 - Fly Fishing with instructor Nome Buckman. Discussions will include being prepared and choosing the right fly. 5 p.m. EDT, Thursday, April 1 - Wilderness Survival Pack Preparation with Instructor Tara Gluski. Always be prepared. Learn what to carry in your daypack when you venture into the woods. 5 p.m. EDT, Thursday, April 8 - The Basics of Fire Starting with instructor Dave Kalishek. Tips and techniques for building a fire while in the backcountry will be presented. For the latest BOW news, sign-up to receive BOW email notifications, via the DNR's BOW webpage at Michigan.gov/BOW. Registration for the program's summer workshop typically opens in spring and fills up quickly. Email notifications are the best way to stay informed. For news about the upcoming BOW Instagram events, follow the BOW program on the platform at Instagram.com/BOW_Michigan/. For outdoor tips, pics and BOW features past and present, follow the program on Facebook at Facebook.com/BecomingAnOutdoorsWomanMichigan. Details still pending on third agreement between Emmet and Bay Bluffs Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 11:45:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Montenegrin Health Minister Jelena Borovinic Bojovic and Chinese Ambassador to Montenegro Liu Jin attend the handover ceremony of China's Sinopharm vaccines in Podgorica, Montenegro, March 3, 2021. The first batch of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China arrived here Wednesday and was welcomed by Montenegrin Health Minister Jelena Borovinic Bojovic and Chinese Ambassador to Montenegro Liu Jin. (Government of Montenegro/Handout via Xinhua) PODGORICA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China arrived here Wednesday and was welcomed by Montenegrin Health Minister Jelena Borovinic Bojovic and Chinese Ambassador to Montenegro Liu Jin. On behalf of Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic and his government, Bojovic thanked Chinese leaders and Chinese people at the handover ceremony, calling the donation "another proof of the friendship and solidarity between the two countries and two peoples." Krivokapic on Wednesday tweeted on the arrival of the Chinese vaccines, saying that his country is "continuing with the procurement of vaccines and immunization of our population." Montenegro is among the first countries in Europe to receive vaccine donation from China, which "embodies the good wishes of the Chinese people and the traditional friendship between the two countries," Ambassador Liu said in his speech. "Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two peoples have been sincerely supporting each other. We believe the Chinese vaccines will help Montenegro win the fight against the pandemic and recover its economy," he said. Montenegro by Wednesday registered over 77,000 COVID-19 cases, more than 1,000 resulting deaths, while over 8,600 people are currently infected. Enditem Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. You are the owner of this article. (Natural News) Hundreds of residents in Florida have reported various side effects after they got the Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. Fevers, chills, headaches, severely sore arms and even hallucinations were among the adverse reactions recorded in the state. Given the reports, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that some people might experience side effects enough to make them miss work for a few days. The adverse reactions occurred after they got either the first or second shots of the two-dose vaccine. Michael Whitworth was among those who got the Wuhan coronavirus jab. He experienced just soreness in the arm after the first dose, leading him to expect the same with the second dose. Whitworth described the second shot as a completely different story after he felt severe pain and soreness at the injection site that prevented him from moving. The adverse effects worsened 10 hours after he received the jab. Whitworth experienced low-grade fever, shaking, chills and pale lips. He also started hallucinating, which he described as similar to being given an injection of [psychedelic] mushrooms. According to the CDCs Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the reaction Whitworth experienced is a very rare case. The VAERS database tracks adverse reactions following any kind of vaccination. It was created more than three decades ago in response to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. The database aims to serve as a national early warning system to detect possible safety problems in U.S. vaccines and is co-managed by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS reports are voluntary, which has led to the Department of Health and Human Services to comment that adverse reactions being under-reported is one of its main limitations. Whitworth was among those who got the Moderna vaccine, one of two mRNA COVID-19 jabs which the FDA authorized for emergency use. The other candidate made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech was also linked to a number of adverse reactions. According to the CDC, 21 cases of life-threatening anaphylaxis connected to the Pfizer/BioNTech jab were reported between Dec. 14 and Dec. 23 last year. The coronavirus vaccines have also been linked to the death of a Florida doctor Several deaths within days or hours following vaccination were also reported even among young and otherwise healthy adults. In fact, it has been linked to the death of 56-year-old medical professional Dr. Gregory Michael. The obstetrician-gynecologist from Miami Beach died in early January 2021, 16 days after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in December of last year. (Related: At least 55 people have died in the US after receiving coronavirus vaccine, according to federal database.) Three days after receiving the vaccine, Michael noticed red spots on his hands and feet. He sought treatment at the Mount Sinai Medical Center where he worked. Following diagnostic tests, doctors discovered that Michael developed acute immune thrombocytopenia. This rare disorder is characterized by a decreased number of blood platelets which are responsible for blood clotting due to the immune system attacking them. The doctor then received treatments including blood platelet transfusions, but to no avail as his platelet count kept dropping to zero. Michael was then informed that he had to undergo surgery to remove his spleen as a last-ditch measure. He was originally not a candidate as his bloods inability to clot made the procedure risky. However, Michael died of a hemorrhagic stroke on Jan. 3, before he could go under the knife. Michaels widow Heidi Neckelmann told British paper The Daily Mail that her husbands death was 100 percent linked to the jab he got. In my mind, his death was 100 percent linked to the vaccine, she said. According to Neckelmann, doctors talking to her late husband said it was highly probable the vaccine instructed his body to attack the wrong thing. Both the CDC and Pfizer have conducted an investigation over Michaels death. The public health agency said in a statement that it would evaluate the case and provide timely updates on what is known and any necessary actions. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical firm said it is actively investigating the incident. In a statement to The New York Times, Pfizer said it was closely monitoring all adverse events in individuals being vaccinated with its jab. But the drug manufacturer added it does not believe Michaels death had any links to the Wuhan coronavirus jab. There have been no related safety signals identified in our clinical trials [or] the post-marketing experience thus far, Pfizers statement read. (Related: mRNA vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus caused blood disorder in at least 36 people.) Visit VaccineInjuryNews.com to read more news about serious adverse reactions from the COVID-19 vaccines. Sources include: NaturalHealth365.com ABCActionNews.com DailyMail.co.uk NYTimes.com Lithuania will open an enterprise office in Taiwan by the end of the year, its Ministry of Economy and Innovation said on Wednesday, a move that risks irking Beijing at a troubled time for the European countrys relations with China. The office will be aimed at strengthening and diversifying of economic diplomacy in the Asian region, a department spokesperson said, confirming an earlier Reuters report. The move by Lithuania is just the latest sign of discontent by a member state in the 17+1, an informal trade group of China and 17 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries founded in 2012. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. Also on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told the local news outlet LRT.lt that Lithuania gets almost no benefits from the group. I am not saying that we are leaving and its the end, but we should really consider what is the useful way of building a relationship with China, Landsbergis said. Though Landsbergis held off endorsing a departure, analysts said it might be imminent: I believe it could be next week but it might come earlier, said Konstantinas Andrijauskas, an associate professor in Asian Studies at Vilnius University. It is rather apparent that the parliament, the government, they are settled. So the big question is about coordination among the Baltic states and the big question is whether the Estonian-Latvian Alliance will move together, he said. A disillusionment with the lack of tangible outcomes of engagement in both the 17+1 and Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, combined with the changing perception of Chinas security risk and human rights records, has led some member nations to reassess the blocs viability, said Alicja Bachulska, an analyst at the Asia Research Centre of the War Studies University in Poland. As the economic results of cooperation are minimal and the political costs are increasingly higher, CEE states are reassessing their attitude towards Beijing, she said. Story continues The most recent 17+1 summit held in February and attended online by Chinese President Xi Jinping was snubbed by the leaders of six member states: the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia. Xis offer to double imports over the next five years appears to have done little to endear the Baltic nations. Since the event, the Estonian foreign intelligence service issued a scathing report on alleged Chinese attempts at influence in the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to double imports over the next five years to member states in the 17+1. Photo: Xinhua Earlier, Lithuania drew criticism from Beijing for banning Nuctech, a Chinese state-owned maker of security-screening equipment, from providing equipment to three airports in the country. The Chinese embassy in Vilnius did not respond to a request for comment. Richard Bush, a Brookings Institution senior fellow specialising in Taiwan, said that should Vilnius open a representative trade office there, it could expect repercussions from China. Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. I think there will be blowback, Lithuanias leaders will need to be prepared for that. They will need to work out in advance what their response is going to be, he said, adding that while many other countries have similar presences in Taiwan, those were mostly established in calmer times. Of the 17+1 grouping, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have trade missions in Taiwan, along with a handful of other European states. Other countries that have fallen foul of China due to diplomatic spats including Australia, Norway and Canada have often faced economic consequences because of significant reliance on China for trade and investment. Lithuania, though, has less exposure, analysts said, and is thus more emboldened to work with Taiwan without fear of major economic reprisals from Beijing. Chinese customs data indicate that Lithuania sold less than US$500 million worth of goods to China last year, and Bank of Lithuania statistics show that in the first three quarters of 2020, just 8.76 million (US$10.58 million) in Chinese investment flowed into Lithuania. The fear of possible Chinese retaliation will always be part of the calculation. However, recent events show that China lacks proper leverage vis-a-vis Central and Eastern European countries, said Matej Simalcik, executive director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies in Slovakia. He noted that when the president of the Czech senate, Milos Vystrcil, visited Taiwan last year and when then-Slovak President Andrej Kiska met the Dalai Lama in 2016, Chinas reaction was mostly rhetorical. Other CEE nations are keen to retain strong ties with Beijing, including Hungary, Serbia and other in the Balkan nations that are not members of the European Union. For this reason, there is unlikely to be a total dissolution of the format. China is still seen as a valuable partner for the vast majority of 17+1 members, and while the format might not get them much, they probably also see maintaining any sort of ties with China as in their interests, said Austin Doehler, an independent analyst of Europe-China affairs. More from South China Morning Post: This article Lithuania to open Taiwan trade office, the latest sign of discontent with China by a 17+1 member first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2021. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Atmospheric radon concentration observed before the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Periodic analysis was performed on the data between 1984 and 1988 and the data between 1990 and 1994. Missing data is from 1989. Credit: Yasutaka Omori Tohoku University researchers have unearthed further details about radon concentration in the atmosphere before and after earthquakes, moving us closer to being able to anticipate when large earthquakes may hit. The results of their research were published in the journal Science Reports on February 18, 2021. Radon is a radioactive noble gas derived from radioactive decays of radium-226 in the ground. Radon bubbles up to the surface and is expelled into the atmosphere. It has long been known that elevated levels of radon underneath the ground can be detected before and after earthquakes. But the relationship between the mechanisms that cause abnormal changes in radon concentration and the occurrence of earthquakes requires greater understanding in order to predict earthquakes accurately. Professor Hiroyuki Nagahama and associate professor Jun Muto of the Graduate School of Science at Tohoku University, in collaboration with Fukushima Medical University and Kobe Pharmaceutical University, analyzed radon concentration data observed before the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. "We found that there were changes in radon concentration data that originated from tides," said Muto. "This caused periodic loading on the earth's crust." They also noticed that crustal compression rates on faults near the radon observation point had decreased, and this may have triggered the periodic change in radon concentration. Radioisotope facilities, which measure the atmospheric radon, exist across Japan. Muto hopes that their research leads to an increase in radon monitoring across the globe. "We believe that further examination of seismological and geological conditions that differ from Japan will lead to a better understanding of the physical and chemical processes that cause radon concentration variations preceding earthquakes." Explore further Test your home for radon: EPA More information: Yasutaka Omori et al, Radon degassing triggered by tidal loading before an earthquake, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Yasutaka Omori et al, Radon degassing triggered by tidal loading before an earthquake,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83499-0 A teenager has died after he was stung by a box jellyfish while swimming at a far north Queensland beach, in what an expert described as a senseless death that could have been prevented with stinger nets and education. Police confirmed on Thursday a 17-year-old boy from Bamaga, a town 40 kilometres south of Cape York, died on March 1 in Townsville Hospital. Tommy Johnson was swimming at Patterson Point when he was stung by the jellyfish. The incident is believed to be the first box jellyfish fatality since 2006. The death has prompted calls for rural and remote areas to have stinger nets like other parts of Queensland, and for more education in schools about the dangers of jellyfish. In line with the previous government's China policy, the Biden administration has announced that the US will support China's neighbours, Taiwan and human rights in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. The interim US national security strategic guidance signed by President Joe Biden, which was released on Wednesday said that today, more than ever, America's fate is inextricably linked to events beyond its shores where it faces a world of rising nationalism, receding democracy, growing rivalry with China, Russia, and other authoritarian states, and a technological revolution that is reshaping every aspect of life. The US, the 24-page document said, must also contend with the reality that the distribution of power across the world is changing, creating new threats. "China, in particular, has rapidly become more assertive. It is the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system." Russia, it said, remains determined to enhance its global influence and play a disruptive role on the world stage. Both Beijing and Moscow have invested heavily in efforts meant to check US strengths and prevent the US from defending its interests and allies around the world. Regional actors like Iran and North Korea continue to pursue game-changing capabilities and technologies, while threatening US allies and partners and challenging regional stability. The Biden administration in its vision document said that in many areas, China's leaders seek unfair advantages, behave aggressively and coercively, and undermine the rules and values at the heart of an open and stable international system. "When the Chinese government's behaviour directly threatens our interests and values, we will answer Beijing's challenge. We will confront unfair and illegal trade practices, cyber theft, and coercive economic practices that hurt American workers, undercut our advanced and emerging technologies, and seek to erode our strategic advantage and national competitiveness." The US, it said, will ensure that its supply chains for critical national security technologies and medical supplies are secure. The Biden government will continue to defend access to the global commons, including freedom of navigation and overflight rights, under international law. "We will position ourselves, diplomatically and militarily, to defend our allies," the Biden government said adding that it will support China's neighbours and commercial partners in defending their rights to make independent political choices free of coercion or undue foreign influence. It will also promote locally-led development to combat the manipulation of local priorities. "We will support Taiwan, a leading democracy and a critical economic and security partner, in line with longstanding American commitments. We will ensure that US companies do not sacrifice American values in doing business in China. And we will stand up for democracy, human rights, and human dignity, including in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. On all these issues, we will work to forge a common approach with like- minded countries." This work is urgent, the government said, arguing that the alliances, institutions, agreements, and norms underwriting the international order the US helped to establish are being tested. Amid rapid change and mounting crisis, the system's flaws and inequities have become apparent, and gridlock and inter-state rivalry have caused many around the world-including many Americans-to question its continued relevance. "The US cannot return to business as usual, and the past order cannot simply be restored," the Biden administration said. "Our democratic alliances," the US government said, "enable us to present a common front, produce a unified vision, and pool our strength to promote high standards, establish effective international rules, and hold countries like China to account." That is why the US will reaffirm, invest in, and modernise the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and our alliances with Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea - which, along with our other global alliances and partnerships, are America's greatest strategic asset, the document said. DALLAS, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (USOTC: ALYI) today announced its finance partner RevoltTOKEN is today making Revolt Tokens (RVLT) available for purchase. The following is an introduction From RevoltTOKEN CEO Henryk Dabrowski on how to purchase Revolt Tokens (RVLT): Dear Prospective Revolt Token (RVLT) Buyer: Beginning March 4th, 2021, Revolt Tokens (RVLT) will officially be for sale, through the Revolt Token web site (www.revolttoken.com). The funds raised through the sale of Revolt Tokens will be dedicated to the funding of Alternet Systems Electric Vehicle Platform. Learn more about Alternet Systems' Electric Vehicle Platform Learn more about Alternet Revolt Electric Motorcycle that kick started the EV Ecosystem The purchase price is U.S. $1.00 per RVLT, which will be delivered to an ERC20 Compatible Wallet of your choice (we personally like Trust Wallet, but that's just us). Currently Revolt Tokens (RVLT) can be purchased in exchange for other tokens or cryptocurrency, or in exchange for funds delivered into an escrow account via wire transfer. The purchase process will require you to follow 3 simple steps. The first one is to create your User ID and your password follow the link below to get started: http://www.revolttoken.com/RVLTICO We will then send you a link to register and provide us with some basic information about you (we need this for our Know Your Customer review). Once we receive your information, our back-office team will verify your information. Once verified, you will receive an email confirmation to proceed and complete your purchase of the Revolt Token. You can buy multiple times with your same ID. Registration and purchase requests will be processed on a first come, first serve basis. If you have any questions or issues during any step of the process, please email our customer support at [email protected]. Soon, Revolt Token will also be available to trade via a cryptocurrency exchange listing. We are working swiftly and diligently toward that purpose! Anyone interested in Revolt Token (RVLT) should review the information available on the Revolt Token (RVLT) website and continue to monitor the Revolt Token (RVLT) website for updates regarding the availability of new Revolt Token (RVLT) purchasing functionality, and the listing of Revolt Token (RVLT) on the cryptocurrency exchanges. The Revolt Token (www.revolttoken.com) website will also include the evolving information regarding the exchangeability of Revolt Token (RVLT) for other Alternet System Electric Vehicle Ecosystem components intended to include Alternet's Revolt Electric Motorcycles, and/or entry into participation in Alternet's annual Electric Vehicle Race (EV Grand Prix) and Electric Vehicle Technology Symposium. Visit Revolt Token (RVLT)'s website at www.RevoltToken.com. Please do not hesitate to email any questions to [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in Revolt Token (RVLT). For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com. Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact: Randell Torno [email protected] +1-800-713-0297 SOURCE Alternet Systems, Inc. Related Links https://www.alternetsystemsinc.com A true hallmark of the Vogue "73 Questions" video genre is Kim Kardashian's impromptu house tour, an offshoot from her May 2019 cover story moment. (The one where she revealed she was going to law school.) Kanye opens the door, then Kim takes the question guy through several vast but mostly empty beige rooms designed by Axel Vervoordt. With the Belgian interior designer's help, we learn that she and Kanye have converted their Hidden Hills McMansion into something not quite tasteful but certainly... unique. A 2020 Architectural Digest cover story delves even deeper into the hardcore minimalism of it all, with some readers going so far as to describe the stark interiors as "terrifying." Kim looks happy to show off her $30,000 kitchen sink, but even casual fans of the couple will be aware that all this was absolutely Kanye's idea. He and Vervoordt are friends and collaborators, and all those big white circular objects are extremely his shit. Sadly, he won't be accidentally leaving dirty fingerprints on them for much longer: Kim is reportedly receiving the house (if you can call it that) in the couple's much-publicized divorce settlement, according to TMZ. The outlet also notes that this means the kids will get to stay in their childhood home, which is conveniently placed close by to the rest of the Kardashian clan. Related | Kim Finally Files for Divorce From Kanye After months of speculation, Kim finally filed for divorce from Kanye last month. Even though she has enlisted notorious Hollywood divorce lawyer Laura Wasser to protect her assets, the separation is supposedly pretty amicable, and the couple are aided by a pre-nup, which won't be contested. Truly, the divorce didn't feel real until this moment. Whew. We don't yet know the fate of the family's Wyoming ranch residence (the one with the 14 gorgeous Freesian horses), but something tells us that Kanye's getting the farm and Kim's getting the city. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise [March 04, 2021] Premier LogiTech Named to SMU Cox Dallas 100 List of DFW's Fastest Growing Private Companies Premier LogiTech is proud to announce their inclusion on the SMU Cox (News - Alert) School of Business list of the fastest growing independent, privately held companies in Dallas-Fort Worth. The honor was announced last week at The Dallas 100 Entrepreneur Awards. To qualify for the Dallas 100, companies must be headquartered in DFW, be independent, privately held corporations, proprietorships or partnerships, and are judged on their sales growth over the last three years. "We are pleased to be included on this prestigious list as #58 of the fastest growing companies in the area," added Scott Paul, President and CEO. "We plan for continued growth and our vision is to position Premier LogiTech to become the largest services and solutions platform for logistics and technology in the United States. I'm thankful for our loyal customers and hardworking employees that helped make this happen. We will continue to strategically augment current customer needs and industry-leading solutions." This year marks the 30th anniversary that the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship at the SMU Cox School of Business and the Dallas 100 sponsors have celebrated the innovative spirit, determination and business savvy of area entrepreneurs. They salute the diversity, creativity and esolve it takes to create and sustain a successful business in today's competitive environment. About The Dallas 100 Entrepreneur Awards Co-founded by the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship in 1990, the Dallas 100 Awards is an annual event that identifies and honors the 100 fastest-growing privately held companies in the Dallas area. For more information on The Dallas 100, visit http://www.smu.edu/Cox/CentersAndInstitutes/CaruthInstituteForEntrepreneurship/Dallas100 About Premier LogiTech Premier LogiTech is an award-winning services and solutions provider of logistics and technology. They efficiently integrate with an organization's global supply chain by creating custom solutions that fit within the client's operations and budget. They deliver technology simply and effectively. Their team builds tailored solutions that save customers time and money. Their expertise includes sourcing, warehousing, asset management, configuration, fulfillment, onsite delivery, managed services, recycle, and on-the-spot repair services to keep technology systems performing flawlessly and without interruption. They start with a client's business needs and ensure that business operations run smoothly long after delivery. They are a Certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). For more information visit www.premierss.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005073/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Thank you for Reading. As a community service, our obituaries are always free to view. In order to better know our audience, we ask that you register to continuing viewing. Controversial businessman Clive Palmer has foreshadowed referring the Electoral Commission of Queensland to the states corruption watchdog amid attempts to determine whether he is banned from making political donations. In December, the ECQ filed an application in the Supreme Court asking for a ruling on whether Mr Palmer, also a former federal MP, was a property developer. The Electoral Commission of Queensland has taken businessman and former MP Clive Palmer to court to determine whether he is a property developer. Credit:Attila Csaszar Under laws passed by the Palaszczuk government in 2018, and backdated until before the 2017 Queensland election, property developers are banned from donating money to state and council politicians, candidates and parties. Mr Palmer has launched a counter-claim against the ECQ, arguing the original case was an abuse of process. The Allahabad High Court Thursday asked the central and state governments not to establish the Appellate Tribunal in without its permission. A bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice R R Awasthi gave the direction here in Lucknow on a public interest lawsuit by Awadh Bar Association and posted the matter for the next hearing on March 15. The lawyers of the Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow bench are at daggers drawn on the issue of establishment of the main seat of tribunals including the tribunal, education tribunal and the company law tribunal. Lucknow lawyers plead the tribunals should be in the state capital while the Allahabad lawyers want them there. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sony's PlayStation has a new patent, and the detail shows it is a banana, which could be PS5's newest controller. Sony has recently filed a patent for a new controller device, and many pointed out that it looked like a banana when the document was revealed. PlayStation banana controller First revealed by GameIndustry.biz, Sony has been working on the way to turn household items into PS5 controllers. This is for a new application for PSVR 2, which is a system that would track the user's own items and their changes through contours and pixels to control all in-game actions. The technical application of this patent is basically to turn anything into a PlayStation controller. The patent details that it would be desirable to use simple, non-electronic, and inexpensive devices as a video game peripheral. Also Read: PlayStation to Exclude Some Games as it Expands to PC The original patent filing description also reads that the present disclosure wants to address or alleviate some of the identified issues. Also, Sony's solution to this issue is a non-luminous passive object held by a gamer and could be an item as simple and random as a banana. Currently, there is not much evidence to suggest that the patent will actually follow the shape and form of a Sony PlayStation product, but users hope that one day they can play games with a banana due to its unusual yet fun nature. Patent filings are not new, as Sony and other video game companies have used them in the past. In 2020, there were a couple of patent filings done by Sony for PlayStation projects. Some of them have taken shape, such as the PSVR patent that preceded the announcement of the PS5 PSVR headset. The haptics-related patent was also announced, which could eventually bring controller haptics to streams. Some patents do eventually lead to real initiatvies, while others are just precautions against a potential idea that is being shaped, according to Reddit. What is a patent? Game developers and publishers take extra steps in order to safeguard ideas and inventions. Game developers can file patents to get the rights to a new creation or invention and protect them from being used by their competitors. This could come in the form of a new feature developed for hardware, a kind of game feature, or even an original gameplay aspect. If a patent request is approved, other companies can't use or create the same feature or copy it would ask for the owner's permission. The world of video games has a very long and unusual history of patented features and systems throughout the years, according to GamesRadar. Some patents even raised eyebrows when it was released, such as the Nemesis system created for "Shadow of War," the dual-reality gameplay created for "The Medium," the dialogue wheel developed for "Mass Effect Legendary Edition," the play while you wait, the directional arrows, the sanity system, the Nintendo D-Pad and the unlocking secrets in video games developed by Midway Amusement Games. This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sieeka Khan 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at UNSC Briefing on South Sudan Statement Thank you Madame President; best wishes to you in your role as President this month and thank you to the UK for their presidency in February. Thank you, David, for your informative brief, for your leadership of UNMISS in such challenging circumstances over four years, and for your reflections today. We also appreciate our second briefer, Jackline Nasiwa, for her insights. Madam President, As the Secretary General has told us, the peace process is at a critical juncture. There has been some progress in areas of the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement, such as the appointment of 10 state governors, announcements in relation to the establishment of long-awaited transitional justice mechanisms and the Governments intention to move forward on establishing a transitional legislature. Concrete follow up to such announcements is now needed. A positive move would be for example, signing the MOU with the African Union on the hybrid Court. We certainly see engagement by regional bodies such as the AU and IGAD as key, but it must be accompanied by all parties maintaining their commitment to the ceasefire. Equally, we expect non-signatories to lay down their arms and to join the political process. The unfortunate reality remains, that levels of subnational violence remain unacceptably high. Madam President, The bloodshed faced by civilians is quite simply tragic. During 2020, [as we have heard], more than 2,000 civilians were killed in local conflicts. Ireland expresses serious concern over this violence. It results in a challenging human rights and protection environment, particularly for women and girls, as we heard in some detail today from Jackline. Ireland strongly condemns all acts of conflict-related sexual violence in South Sudan. Such violence should never happen in the first place. However, when it does, South Sudanese authorities have a responsibility to protect victims and survivors, and to ensure the provision of holistic and survivor-centred support services, including sexual and reproductive health services. Perpetrators, regardless of rank or seniority, must be brought to justice. Prosecutions for conflict related sexual violence are welcome, but with under-reporting, and limited accountability, we fear these cases are but the tip of the iceberg. Ireland urges the South Sudanese authorities to accelerate the establishment of all institutions of government, and to implement the 35% quota for women. We recognise the critical role of women and youth in peace-making and peacebuilding efforts, and urge the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at every stage of the constitution-making process. The truth is that there may be a link between the recent upsurge in violence and the gaps in state administration, including below the level of governor. So, Ireland encourages authorities to urgently establish the reconstituted legislative assembly and transitional security arrangements, with a particular need for policing services to be strengthened. Women should be fully represented in the arrangements. Their contribution will need to more sustainable outcomes. We all know that. An overall security strategy that provides an inclusive and comprehensive framework for decision-making is fundamental critical for peace in South Sudan. The lack of movement on the establishment of the unified forces must also be rectified. Ireland also expresses serious concern over the worrying humanitarian situation. Latest reports indicate that a staggering 48 per cent of the population are projected to face severe acute food insecurity this month. While we know that the causes of this situation are many and varied, it seems clear that climate change is having a negative impact. We need to help address this situation. Madam President, As this Council considers the renewal of the UNMISS mandate this month, Ireland believes one of the missions key roles continues to be the protection of civilians. It is critical that UNMISS to patrol areas where populations face most risk and threats. The Government of South Sudan has the responsibility to protect its citizens. We urge the government to fully protect its citizens in the transitioned camps and throughout the country where civilians are still suffering the effects of insecurity. We would also urge the mission to ensure that any future transitions are carried out in full consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including the humanitarian community and transition only take place when the security situation allows, accompanied by robust risk assessment and mitigation. Experience alone teaches us that. Finally, the reported Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) violations, especially in and around Juba, are deeply worrying. Such violations place the protection of civilians in jeopardy. Ireland calls on the South Sudanese authorities to ensure unhindered access to all UN operations in order to ensure essential support and protection to those in need, as enshrined in the SOFA Agreement. Thank you, Madam President. Previous Item | Next Item 2018 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz The two flagship wines that lead this collection, 2018 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, each can be referred to as 'Wine of the World', a Penfolds term used to describe the wine's taste profile, because of the way it has been blended. Made from predominantly Napa Valley cabernet parcels, each wine contains a significant addition of flagship-worthy shiraz (Quantum) and cabernet (Bin 149) of the highest quality from South Australia. Wine of the World wines are blended across continents and hemisphere's - possessing an 'otherness' that can best be described as 'worldly'. Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago said, "A quality-first approach underpins this inaugural release, led by 2018 Quantum. This blend assembles parcels of prized cabernet sauvignon from some of the Napa Valley's best vineyards and pedigreed shiraz from South Australia. This is a first for Penfolds." Penfolds California journey started decades ago in the Camatta Hills vineyard, Paso Robles. In the 1980's, Penfolds initiated an ambitious viticultural program in Australia called 'Heritage Selections'. From its most prized vineyards, winemakers sought to identify single vineyards, blocks and vines that produced the best quality fruit. Cuttings from these exceptional Heritage Selections were then propagated and eventually sent across the world to California. During 1998 1999, a selection of Magill Estate and Kalimna Heritage Selection vines were planted in Californian soil, at Block 30 of the newly purchased Camatta Hills Estate, Paso Robles. Formerly known as Creston 600 Ranch.The 11.5-acre Block 30 (the original and most prized block on the Estate) was fully propagated and planted by 2001. While planting the vineyards, viticulturists discovered another bonus: prized limestone or, in geological terms, "Camatta" soils hence, the name "Camatta Hills". While experimental Camatta Hills vintages occurred in 2006 and 2007, the bottles were never commercially released by Penfolds. More recently in 2018, Chief Winemaker Peter Gago, Senior Winemaker Stephanie Dutton and Winemaker Andrew Baldwin reestablished Penfolds footprint within the northern hemisphere and embarked on the 2018 California harvest. Over the past three years, Penfolds has sourced grapes from some of the best Californian vineyards to complement Penfolds House Style and deliver exceptional and distinctive quality wine. Winemakers spent time meticulously selecting fruit from Californian vineyards including Napa Valley AVAs: Oakville, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain and Rutherford. Grapes were also sourced from Camatta Hills, Paso Robles, from the original vine cuttings planted in 1998 and 1999. "The wines made in California pay respect to California terroir, yet one thing remains overtly consistentthe red Penfolds stamp. AP John barrels, open fermenters and time-honoured Penfolds winemaking techniques have been applied. Being global isn't just about selling wine around the world, it is about working with both feet on the soil. We will have the Californian sun above and soil beneath, but everything in between will be Penfolds," said Peter. Penfolds has a multi-regional winemaking style unrestricted by region or vineyard, one that is now able to select grapes from one of the world's most premium winemaking regions. Curiosity and creative desire is not limited by border or continent. The right soils, climate and fruit quality drive sourcing. Penfolds House Style allows and embraces the freedom to explore premium viticultural regions across Australia and the world, including California. Penfolds is also investigating winemaking opportunities in Bordeaux (and Champagne). All will be revealed in good time. Penfolds California Collection is available from Thursday 4th March 2021 at www.penfolds.com, Penfolds Cellar Doors (Magill Estate Winery and Barossa Valley Cellar Door) and select fine wine stores globally. Visit www.penfolds.com for more information. The Penfolds California Collection 2021 SRP USD: 2018 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon $700.00 2018 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon $149.00 2018 Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon $70.00 2018 Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz $50.00 Editor's Notes About Penfolds: Since 1844, Penfolds commitment to quality has been underpinned by a 'House Style'. An approach that permits us to venture across borders to find the best grapes from the finest regions. Our uncompromising commitment to quality and experimentation to create wines has been passed down through generations of Penfolds winemakers, from the secret (experimental) bottling of Grange in 1951 and the unbroken line of vintages of what is now Australia's best-known wine. It's this constant pursuit and curiosity that drives us to always push beyond boundaries to try new things. Setting our sights on Napa Valley and California is a realisation of an ambition we set out to achieve more than twenty years ago, when Penfolds imported a Heritage Selection of vine cuttings from South Australia's esteemed Kalimna and Magill Estate vineyard, and planted them in Californian soil. This new chapter encapsulates a bold alliance between the northern and southern hemispheres. A continuum of endeavour unbound by country, vine or time. For more information visit: www.penfolds.com Facebook/Penfolds Twitter/Penfolds Instagram/Penfolds and YouTube/PenfoldsEST1844 SOURCE Penfolds Former UPS Executive Pledges $20 Million Gift to Baltimore Historically Black University Philanthropist Calvin Tyler Jr., and his wife, Tina, pledged $20 million Monday to his alma mater Morgan State University, which the university said is the largest gift to any HBCU ever made by one of its former students. The gift will fund scholarships that were established under the Tylers name at the historically black university in 2002. Its the second largest private donation the school in Baltimore has received following philanthropist MacKenzie Scotts $40 million gift in December. The donation is personal to Tyler, who grew up in a low-income family and was forced to drop out of Morgan State in 1963 because he couldnt pay for the costs. Calvin Tyler Jr. and his wife, Tina, smile at each other after signing a pledge for $20 million to his alma mater, Morgan State University, as the universitys president, David K. Wilson, looks on at the Tylers home in Las Vegas on Feb. 20, 2021. (Paul P.A. Greene/Morgan State University via AP) I didnt have a scholarship, so I was struggling to pay tuition and working and trying to take care of myself at the same time, Tyler told The Associated Press. So I stayed there as long as I could and learned as much as I could, but I had to drop out and go to work. The following year, Tyler saw a job advertisement in a Baltimore newspaper from United Parcel Service and got a job with the company as a driver. He rose up through the ranks during his 34-year career at the global shipping company to become senior vice president of U.S. operations and a member of the companys board of directors before retiring in 1998. Tyler and his wife, also of Baltimore, have lived all across the country but he says theyve never forgotten their humble beginnings. Their latest pledge follows a $5 million commitment they made in 2016 for the fund, which to date has supported 222 students with full or partial scholarships. These gifts are critical to the school, which says 90 percent of its students receive financial aid. The couple were keenly aware of the effect of the pandemic on students, Tyler said, and expanded their giving to offer more full scholarships so students can graduate from college and enter the next stage of their life debt free. Marybeth Gasman, a professor at Rutgers University who studies HBCUs, says the gift is significant because public HBCUs like Morgan State University tend to have a lower alumni-giving rate compared to private ones. For a long time, they werent asking alumni to give, she said. But that has changed in the past couple decades, she adds, noting that the schools have started asking alumni to give and creating a culture of philanthropy on campus. Gasman says black people tend to donate a higher percentage of their discretionary income, and this might be the largest gift from an alum. The scholarship fund, which was originally set up to provide need-based scholarships to students from Baltimore, will now be offered to students from across the United States, the school said. David K. Wilson, the president of Morgan State University, says it will help students for years to come. Morgan is so proud to call this son and daughter of the great city of Baltimore our own, he said in a statement. And through their historic giving, the doors of higher education will most certainly be kept open for generations of aspiring leaders whose financial shortfalls may have kept them from realizing their academic dreams. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends the unveiling of the installation "Pandemic Classroom," a model classroom made up of 168 empty desks, at the UN headquarters in New York on March 2, 2021, to call attention to the need for governments to prioritize the reopening of schools. Schools for more than 168 million children worldwide have been completely closed for almost a full year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Schools for more than 168 million children worldwide have been completely closed for almost a full year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, about 214 million children around the world, or one in seven, have missed more than three quarters of their in-person learning, according to new data released by UNICEF. The analysis on school closures report shows that 14 countries globally have remained largely closed from March 2020 to February 2021, two thirds of which are in Latin America and the Caribbean, affecting nearly 98 million schoolchildren. "As we approach the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are again reminded of the catastrophic education emergency worldwide lockdowns have created. With every day that goes by, children unable to access in-person schooling fall further and further behind, with the most marginalized paying the heaviest price," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. "We cannot afford to move into year two of limited or even no in-school learning for these children. No effort should be spared to keep schools open, or prioritize them in reopening plans," added Fore. According to the latest data released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, more than 888 million children globally continue to face disruptions to their education because of full and partial school closures. Also on Tuesday, UNICEF unveiled "Pandemic Classroom," a model classroom made up of 168 empty desks, to call attention to the education emergency and raise governments' awareness to keep schools open. Each of the 168 empty desks represents one million children living in countries where schools have been almost entirely closed. "We do not want shuttered doors and closed buildings to obscure the fact that our children's futures are being put on indefinite pause," said Fore. "This installation is a message to governments: We must prioritize reopening schools, and we must prioritize reopening them better than they were before." UNICEF also urges governments to prioritize every student's unique needs, with comprehensive services covering remedial learning, health and nutrition, mental health and protection measures in schools. INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Department of Health announced today that it has filled four days of appointments for a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In total, 16,800 people have signed up to be vaccinated between Friday and Monday. No one who has not registered in advance or who does not meet current eligibility requirements will receive a vaccine. Participants should enter through Gate 2 off 16th Street and wear masks while being vaccinated. Proof of Indiana residency and eligibility will be required upon check-in. Separate instructions for media attending the event will be issued this afternoon. Indiana COVID-19 Dashboard & Map As of today, 1,061,173 first doses of vaccine have been administered in Indiana and 633,123 individuals are fully vaccinated. To find testing sites around the state, click here. Hoosiers age 55 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. Also on Thursday, the health department announced that 962 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 664,446 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous days dashboard. A total of 12,231 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 32 from the previous day. Another 432 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. To date, 3,133,323 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,127,593 on Wednesday. A total of 8,133,596 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020. 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. YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned Thursday of the alarming growth in numbers of new cases of COVID-19 in Armenia. In turn, Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan said they are re-launching two dedicated hospitals for COVID-19 patients. Avanesyan called for strict adherence of preventive measures and wearing face masks. If we want to protect our loved ones and avoid new restrictions, then we must do everything we can to prevent the spread of the disease, Avanesyan said at the Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Pashinyan. She called for supervision in trade centers, public transport and guest homes given that the March 8 holiday is expected to see a growth in movement. Over the past 24 hours, 491 new cases were recorded out of 2922 conducted tests. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan The bears made a comeback on Dalal Street, reminding investors of last week's drubbing, as concerns over spike in bond yields rekindled on Thursday. The US bond yields which have become influential on stock prices, globally, spiked to 1.48 per cent, while in India, the yield on 10-year benchmark government bonds rose to 6.26 per cent today, its highest level since April 2020. Effectively, the Euro STOXX 600 was down 0.5 per cent and London's FTSE slipped 0.6 per cent. In Asia, the MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 49 countries, lost 0.5 per cent, the MSCI's ex-Japan Asian-Pacific shares lost 1.8 per cent, and Japan's Nikkei fell 2.1 per cent. Back home, the benchmark indices tumbled over 1 per cent to end the session at day's low. The S&P BSE Sensex settled the day at 50,846 levels, down 598 points or 1.16 per cent. The Nifty50, meanwhile, defended the 15,000-mark and closed at 15,081 levels, down 165 points or 1.08 per cent. As per technical charts, any breach below the 15,000-mark on the Nifty may create shorting opportunities. As regards Sensex, any decisive breakdown below the 50,000-mark may eradicate upside bias. Among individual stocks, UltraTech Cement, Dr Reddy's Labs, Asian Paints, HUL, and Maruti Suzuki, all up between 0.02 per cent and 4 per cent, were the only gainers on the Sensex. Adani Ports, Shree Cement, Grasim, SBI Life, and Wipro, up in the range of 0.8 per cent to 3 per cent, were the additional gainers on the Nifty. On the downside, HDFC, Bajaj Finance, L&T, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and SBI tanked up to 2.5 per cent to end the day as top laggards on the BSE barometer. JSW Steel, Hindalco, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, and Coal India, meanwhile, dragged the Nifty index lower today. Let's now look at some of the outperforming stocks of the day: Shares of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation hit an all-time high of Rs 2,015, up 7 per cent on the BSE in the intra-day trade on Thursday, as analysts remain bullish on the counter. The stock of the Indian Railways' catering and ticketing company has appreciated 32 per cent over the past one month as compared to less than 1 per cent gain the S&P BSE Sensex. The stock settled 4 per cent higher, at Rs 1961, on the BSE today. That apart, shares Equitas Small Finance Bank rallied 14 per cent to Rs 56.50, hitting its highest level since listing on November 2, 2020. With todays rally, the stock has surged 71 per cent against the issue price of Rs 33 per share. Shares of cement makers were in demand in an otherwise subdued market on Thursday, with the industry giants UltraTech Cement and Ambuja Cements, as well as Ramco Cement, hitting their respective record highs on the BSE on robust demand and price hike reports. Orient Cement rallied 13 per cent to Rs 113.65; while India Cements hit a 52-week high of Rs 187, up 7 per cent on the BSE. UltraTech Cement, Star Cement, Shree Cement, Ambuja Cements, ACC, JK Cement and JK Lakshmi Cement gained between 3 per cent and 5 per cent in the intra-day trade today. Shares of gold financing firms, Muthoot Finance and Manappuram Finance, have traded largely in-line with the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex so far in the calendar year 2021 amid correction in gold prices owing to improving US treasury yields, backed by swift economic recovery. Now, amid expectation that the gold prices may fall to Rs 40,000 levels in the short-term, and low margin of safety for gold loans analysts have turned cautious on Muthoot Finance and Manappuram Finance over the short-term. Presidente @FSagasti: El Hospital de Rioja ya esta en funcionamiento. Hemos supervisado sus operaciones y el proceso de vacunacion. Mediante decreto de urgencia, destinamos 21 millones de soles para este hospital y 11 millones para el funcionamiento del Hospital de Bellavista. pic.twitter.com/owbO5vlwLW U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley went first, asking FBI Director Christopher Wray about the death of Brian Sicknick, the police officer who collapsed the night of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol after physically engaging with rioters. We all want to know what happened to Officer Brian Sicknick, the Republican from Iowa said Tuesday during a hearing on the insurrection. Theres been conflicting reports about his cause of his death. Have you determined the exact cause of death? And is there a homicide investigation? Wray said Sicknicks death remains under active investigation and that he could not elaborate. The director said he understands and appreciates the keen interest in the search for what happened to Sicknick. After all, he was here protecting all of you. As soon as the FBI could share information, it would, Wray said, but not now, The investigation is still ongoing, he said. Later, Sen. Ted Cruz, referencing Grassleys questions, tried it this way: Is there any information that the FBI can share with the American people about what we know of the circumstances surrounding his tragic death? the Republican from Texas asked. Again, Wray said it was an ongoing matter, and again said he appreciated the interest. Theres nothing I can share right now. Nearly two months after the death of Sicknick, a South River native, officials remain mum on the investigation, following early and now-retracted reports that Sicknick likely died of a blow to the head on Jan. 6. The 42-year-old officer died the next day. In early February, CNN reported investigators were struggling, vexed by a lack of evidence that could prove someone caused his death as he defended the Capitol during last months insurrection. The CNN report, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the matter, said medical examiners did not find signs Sicknick suffered blunt force trauma, and that early reports he was struck by a fire extinguisher were not true. He may have been struck with bear spray, or a chemical irritant. Then, last week, the New York Times reported investigators have a suspect, and think Sicknick inhaled bear spray. On the official front, Wray refused to budge Tuesday with Grasserly, and the questions were detailed. Because its an ongoing investigation, Grassley pressed, Does that mean you have not determined exact cause of death? That means we cannot yet disclose a cause of death, Wray responded. But you have determined a cause of death, Grassley said. I didnt say that, Wray responded. Were not at a point where we can disclose or confirm the cause of death, Wray said. The U.S. Capitol Police Department has ruled Sicknick died a line of duty death, a statement the departments Acting Chief Yogananda D. Pittman confirmed under questioning during a Feb. 25 House of Representatives committee hearing. Pittman testified Wednesday during another Congressional hearing and the Sicknick investigation was not raised. On Feb. 26, the Capitol police issued a statement, saying the medical examiners report on Sicknicks death was not yet complete. We are awaiting toxicology results and continue to work with other government agencies regarding the death investigation, it said. Officer Sicknicks family has asked for privacy during this difficult time and that the spreading of misinformation stop regarding the cause of his death. The Department and the Sicknick family appreciate the outpouring of support for our fallen officer. At left, Brian Sicknick while he was deployed in Iraq with the New Jersey Air National Guard, and on the right, as a U.S. Capitol Police OfficerNJ National Guard and United States Capitol Police via AP Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday called for boosting trade exchanges among the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states, particularly in the post-pandemic era, Tasnim News Agency reported. Rouhani made the remarks when addressing via video links the 14th summit of the ECO, themed "regional economic cooperation in the aftermath of COVID-19." Saying the ECO is a successful model of regional convergence, he called for accelerated implementation of the ECO goals and its inter-state trade agreements. The Iranian president proposed the idea of activating and supporting the ECO subsidiary organizations, such as the ECO bank, insurance, standards, and chamber of commerce. The ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joined the organization later. Short link: Recently Renamed Graphex Group forms new indirect wholly-owned subsidiary in China in order to increase production capacity NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Earthasia International Holdings Ltd. (the "Company") ("Earthasia") (OTCQX:ETIHY); (HKEX:6128), a leader in graphene products and technologies and a manufacturer of spherical graphite and graphene technology for the renewable energy sector, is pleased to announce that on February 22, 2021 The board of directors of the Company (the "Board") approved the foundation of a new indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Heilongjiang Province Graphex New Material Technology Company Limited ("HLJ Province Graphex") at Qitaihe City of the Heilongjiang Province of China. The Company's current annual production capacity for spherical graphite, an essential material to produce anodes for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, is 10,000 tons. It is the Company's plan to invest in and develop a new production facility for spherical graphite through HLJ Province Graphex with a planned additional production capacity of up to 30,000 tonnes that will come into operation in phases. "Earthasia intends to fully leverage its Graphene Division's patented high-volume manufacturing capability and product technology to capitalize on the forecasted growth of EV and stored energy lithium ion batteries, in addition to developing future graphene applications," said Chan Yick Yan Andross, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Earthasia International Holdings Ltd. The demand for electric vehicles and energy storage are key demand drivers for lithium ion batteries and therefore the Company's products. The Company's main product, spherical graphite, is an essential material for production of Lithium Ion battery anodes. These powerful market drivers should provide robust demand for the Company's graphene products in the foreseeable future. The recent Board approval to change the Company's name from Earthasia International Holdings Ltd. to Graphex Group was the first of a number of strategic actions being taken to accurately reflect the Company's focus on graphene research, manufacturing and development and further capitalize on the opportunities the graphene sector presents. The Company remains committed to its strategy of achieving leadership in the graphene business. The Company's spherical graphite manufacturing facility is strategically located in Heilongjiang Province, which has significant high-quality natural graphite reserves. Once HLJ Province Graphex's new production facility is fully operational, the Company expects to increase annual production by 30,000 tons to a total of 40,000 tons. About Earthasia International Holdings Ltd. (Graphex Group) Earthasia International Holdings Ltd. (Graphex Group) is a publicly traded company, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the OTCQX Best Market. Based in the People's Republic of China (PRC), and strategically located near the largest supply source of high quality natural graphite anywhere in the world, the Company is a leading supplier of graphene products. Earthasia owns 25 patents in the PRC, including products, production methods, machinery design, and environmental protection. The Company's spherical graphite is an essential anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Media Contact: Gavin Davidson investrel@earthasia.com.hk This release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding our prospective performance and strategies 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. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this statement for purposes of said safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, and expectations of our company, are generally identified by use of words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "seek," "strive," "try," or future or conditional verbs such as "could," "may," "should," "will," "would," or similar expressions. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effects of its plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and based, in part, on third party market research which the Company's assumed to be accurate. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Some of the factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from its expectations or beliefs include, without limitation, the risks of its businesses, the assumed significant growth of graphene related products and spherical graphite products. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statements were made. SOURCE: Earthasia International Holdings Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633457/Earthasia-International-Holdings-Ltd-ETIHY-Announces-Expansion Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs has spoken candidly about the moment she told her ultra-religious Christian family she was gay. The 45-year-old, who is set to host SBS's coverage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras this year, revealed she finally came out to her family at 21 after struggling to accept her sexuality. 'I grew up with evangelical teachings that gays are going to hell and HIV is brought by God as punishment. I buried my sexuality deep down,' she told TV Tonight. Candid: Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs (pictured) has spoken candidly about coming out to her Christian family 'But I was introduced to some lesbians in a workplace in the public service, who took me out one night, and my eyes were opened,' she said. Narelda, whose father is a reverend in a Uniting Church, said it took her three years to come out to her family. 'When I came out, my mum said, "I'll never be able to accept this, but I will always love you." At the time I thought that's as far as it would go,' she explained. Struggles: The 45-year-old, who is set to host SBS's coverage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras this year, revealed she finally came out to her family at 21 after struggling to accept her sexuality. Pictured: Narelda with her partner, filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin Narelda is in a long-term relationship with her partner, filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin. She will be hosting coverage of the Mardi Gras parade on SBS on Saturday. The journalist will be joined by co-hosts Joel Creasey. Courtney Act and Zoe Coombs Marr. Experience: Narelda, whose father (right) is a reverend in a Uniting Church, said it took her three years to come out to her family Narelda was announced as Studio 10's newsreader in December 2019, following the departure of Jessica Rowe and Ita Buttrose. She said at the time she was 'excited' to join the team. The former 10 News First Perth anchor, who was Western Australia's first Indigenous newsreader, moved to Sydney for her role on the panel. [March 04, 2021] Teachers Remain Passionate for the Profession One Year into Pandemic MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This March marks one year of remote learning for many teachers, parents, and students. To reflect on the unprecedented year, Study.com surveyed teachers and parents to understand their virtual learning experience over the past year and how that impacted their confidence, engagement, and interactions. Teachers have more confidence in online education ad are engaging more with students and parents over the past year. The results from Study.com's research revealed the following: Teachers are still passionate about teaching and their students 91 percent report being passionate or very passionate about teaching now vs. 93 percent pre-pandemic Confidence in online teaching grows for teachers, shrinks for students Teacher's confidence in teaching online grew significantly (96 percent v 78 percent), despite many of them indicating they could have used more training to teach an online environment. Interestedly, parents who said their student was very confident in online learning a year ago decreased by 10 percent. Parents and teachers report more engagement and interactions Majority of parents and teachers report an increase in teacher/parent interaction over the past year (80 percent parents and 65 percent teachers) 91 percent of teachers checked in with their students frequently or very frequently on their online learning progress 82 percent of parent say interactions with their child related to schoolwork increased over the past year Teachers are superheros to parents and students 9 out of 10 parents consider their child's teacher to be a superhero Over the past year, parents appreciated teachers the most for: Flexibility on due dates/assignments Spending extra time with their students Increased interaction with parents on student progress Teachers' positivity in transitioning to teach in an online environment This survey is part of monthly research projects conducted by Study.com to provide regular snapshots of teachers, parents, and students' perspectives on the world of learning. Study.com surveyed 152 K-12 teachers and 242 parents from February 15-19, 2021. About Study.com Study.com is a leading online education platform helping learners of all ages excel academically and close skills gaps. Study.com's online courses, short animated video lessons, and study tools make learning simple for over 30 million students, teachers, and working professionals. Study.com was founded in 2002 and is a privately held company located in Mountain View, Calif. Learn more at http://www.study.com or download the mobile app from the iOS app store or Google Play. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teachers-remain-passionate-for-the-profession-one-year-into-pandemic-301240468.html SOURCE Study.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Images A new path toward sending and receiving information with single photons of light has been discovered by an international team of researchers led by the University of Michigan. Their experiment demonstrated the possibility of using an effect known as nonlinearity to modify and detect extremely weak light signals, taking advantage of distinct changes to a quantum system to advance next generation computing. Today, as silicon-electronics-based information technology becomes increasingly throttled by heating and energy consumption, nonlinear optics is under intense investigation as a potential solution. The quantum egg carton captures and releases photons, supporting "excited" quantum states while it possesses the extra energy. As the energy in the system rises, it takes a bigger jump in energy to get to that next excited state--that's the nonlinearity. "Researchers have wondered whether detectable nonlinear effects can be sustained at extremely low power levels--down to individual photons. This would bring us to the fundamental lower limit of power consumption in information processing," said Hui Deng, professor of physics and senior author of the paper in Nature. "We demonstrated a new type of hybrid state to bring us to that regime, linking light and matter through an array of quantum dots," she added. The physicists and engineers used a new kind of semiconductor to create quantum dots arranged like an egg carton. Quantum dots are essentially tiny structures that can isolate and confine individual quantum particles, such as electrons and other, stranger things. These dots are the pockets in the egg carton. In this case, they confine excitons, quasi-particles made up of an electron and a "hole." A hole appears when an electron in a semiconductor is kicked into a higher energy band, leaving a positive charge behind in its usual spot. If the hole shadows the electron in its parallel energy band, the two are considered as a single entity, an exciton. In conventional devices--with little to no nonlinearity--the excitons roam freely and scarcely meet with each other. These materials can contain many identical excitons at the same time without researchers noticing any change to the material properties. However, if the exciton is confined to a quantum dot, it becomes impossible to put in a second identical exciton in the same pocket. You'll need an exciton with a higher energy if you want to get another one in there, which means you'll need a higher energy photon to make it. This is known as quantum blockade, and it's the cause of the nonlinearity. But typical quantum dots are only a few atoms across--they aren't on a usable scale. As a solution, Deng's team created an array of quantum dots that contribute to the nonlinearity all at once. The team produced this egg carton energy landscape with two flakes of semiconductor, which are considered two-dimensional materials because they are made of a single molecular layer, just a few atoms thick. 2D semiconductors have quantum properties that are very different from larger chunks. One flake was tungsten disulfide and the other was molybdenum diselenide. Laid with an angle of about 56.5 degrees between their atomic lattices, the two intertwined electronic structures created a larger electronic lattice, with pockets about 10 atoms across. In order for the array of quantum dots inside the 2D semiconductor to be controlled as a group with light, the team built a resonator by making one mirror at the bottom, laying the semiconductor on top of it, and then depositing a second mirror on top of the semiconductor. "You need to control the thickness very tightly so that the semiconductor is at the maximum of the optical field," said Zhang Long, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Deng lab and first author on the paper. With the quantum egg carton embedded in the mirrored "cavity" that enabled red laser light to resonate, the team observed the formation of another quantum state, called a polariton. Polaritons are a hybrid of the excitons and the light in the cavity. This confirmed all the quantum dots interact with light in concert. In this system, Deng's team showed that putting a few excitons into the carton led to a measurable change of the polariton's energy--demonstrating nonlinearity and showing that quantum blockade was occurring. "Engineers can use that nonlinearity to discern energy deposited into the system, potentially down to that of a single photon, which makes the system promising as an ultra-low energy switch," Deng said. Switches are among the devices needed to achieve ultralow power computing, and they can be built into more complex gates. "Professor Deng's research describes how polariton nonlinearities can be tailored to consume less energy," said Michael Gerhold, program manager at the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory. "Control of polaritons is aimed at future integrated photonics used for ultra-low energy computing and information processing that could be used for neuromorphic processing for vision systems, natural language processing or autonomous robots." The quantum blockade also means a similar system could possibly be used for qubits, the building blocks for quantum information processing. One forward path is figuring out how to address each quantum dot in the array as an individual qubit. Another way would be to achieve polariton blockade, similar to the exciton blockade seen here. In this version, the array of excitons, resonating in time with the light wave, would be the qubit. Used in these ways, the new 2D semiconductors have potential for bringing quantum devices up to room temperature, rather than the extreme cold of liquid nitrogen or liquid helium. "We are coming to the end of Moore's Law," said Steve Forrest, the Peter A. Franken Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering and co-author of the paper, referring to the trend of the density of transistors on a chip doubling every two years. "Two dimensional materials have many exciting electronic and optical properties that may, in fact, lead us to that land beyond silicon." ### The paper is titled "Van der Waals heterostructure polaritons with moire-induced nonlinearity." The research is funded by the U.S. Army Research Office, U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the University of Maryland, Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan, and Japanese funding agencies MEXT, JSPS and JST. Paper abstract: Van der Waals heterostructure polaritons with moire-induced nonlinearity Deng Lab Optoelectronic Components and Materials Group Now, the Woke-minded snitches had power to bully Anyone or thing with a reputation to sully. With reasoning flawed and logic scattered, Nothing mattered but traditional values shattered. And because they were woke, all the woke-minded snitches Were like race-crazed Salemites looking for witches. Their goal was clear, destruction and degradation of anything highly regarded in western civilization. "Burn down the churches, they're racist it's clear!" "along with the flag, the anthem, and anything people revere." They pulled out their brushes, with bristles so broad they painted Columbus, Jefferson and Washington as frauds. "We won the election, with some smoke and mirrors," "We control Congress and White House, so bow down in terror." The people, battered by media and woke political power seeing decency cancelled, they grew weary and cowered. Folks gave in to the woke-minded snitches again and again, but it was never enough because being drunk with power was better than gin. White privilege justified looting, based on woke morality. And burning down cities was the mostly peaceful protest of police brutality. To many the woke-mind snitches looked like Frankenstein teens But the woke-minded partied like it was 1619. Someone spotted a woke-minded snitch carrying a noose, Who was it for? Why, none other than Dr. Seuss! "He stands for hatred and bigotry," the snitch did cry "Why who but a racist would with ham green eggs fry?" "Seuss was clever and male and white and respected So, trashing his name and burning his books is expected." "Only woke-minded authors can write from now on, Like a woman who uses a urinal or a man who wears a tampon." "And though they be boring, lacking anything fanciful, Children will read them because Dr. Seuss has been cancelled." There were a few who lamented the good doctor's demise But mostly people surrendered, to no one's surprise. And if five hundred years from now Dr. Seuss is rediscovered And someone wonders why he was not more loved You can blame it on racism as the primary reason The racism of Bolsheviks who lynched a man for all seasons. Graphic credit: Pixy.org. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 19:57:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A villager walks on a newly-built bridge over a river in Wuying Miao Village, a remote village inhabited by the Miao ethnic group on the border between south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) A Greek expert expressed his belief that the "two sessions" will further demonstrate China's determination and measures to build a new development pattern. BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's annual "two sessions," a major political event, opened here Thursday, with experts around the world expecting positive signals from China's development blueprint and its benefits for global development. The sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference take place at a time when China marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), embarking on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country. George Tzogopoulos, director of EU-China programs and senior research fellow at the International Center for European Studies, a think tank based in Nice, France, said this year witnessed China's victory against absolute poverty. The Greek expert expressed his belief that the "two sessions" will further demonstrate China's determination and measures to build a new development pattern. People wave Chinese national flags after a grand national flag-raising ceremony was held at the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Alexander Pevzner, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the founding director of Israel's Chinese Media Center, told Xinhua that he pays great attention to the "two sessions." The year 2021 is the centennial of the establishment of the CPC, he said, adding that he hopes to see positive signals from China that would demonstrate a way forward for the benefit of mankind. The Israeli researcher said he hopes that the 14th Five-Year Plan will bring opportunities for Israel and China to strengthen cooperation, especially on climate change and food security. Zarko Obradovic, a member of the Serbian parliament and president of the Friendship Group with China, said China is fostering a new development pattern featuring "dual circulation," in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. Aerial photo taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows a cargo ship loaded with containers at Dalian port in northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua/Yao Jianfeng) He noted that it would help China take advantage of the development of the domestic market and make China an ideal economic partner. Moreover, China's victory against absolute poverty is of extreme importance not only for China, but also for the rest of the world, said Marios Mavrides, a Cypriot economist and an accounting and finance associate professor at the European University of Cyprus. Boga Thura Manatsha, senior lecturer at the Department of History of University of Botswana, said that China needs the world for its economy to continue growing and the global economy also needs China to make a sustained comeback. "It is basically a win-win scenario," he said, noting that as the whole world, especially developing countries, has been hit hard by COVID-19, China has a critical role to play in reviving the world economy. A claim by Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill that Northern Ireland has "much, much higher" case rates of Covid-19 than the rest of the UK has been challenged. While discussing the Executive's roadmap out of lockdown Ms O'Neill said Northern Ireland's health service was still under "huge pressure". "If you compare what's happening in England, Scotland, Wales, our cases here are still much, much higher even though we are on a downward trajectory and that's a very positive thing," the Mid Ulster MLA said. The Sinn Fein deputy leader made the comments on Good Morning Ulster on BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday. However, speaking at a Department of Health Press conference yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride presented data comparing the four nations of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. "The differences between the different parts of these islands is also narrowing, with less marked variation," Dr McBride said. "Northern Ireland currently has a lower total seven-day cumulative total number of cases per 100,000 as compared to England and the Republic of Ireland and still higher than Wales and Scotland." Data published by the Department of Health yesterday shows that Northern Ireland's seven-day rate of the virus per 100,000 people is now 75.4. Scotland currently has a case rate of 76.5 per 100,000 people, while Wales has 57. DUP MLA Pam Cameron said with the Executive's approach to lifting lockdown being driven by data, it is important that ministers do not misunderstand or misrepresent it. "There does not seem to be evidence for a claim that Northern Ireland's case numbers are 'much, much higher' than other parts of the UK. "At present, new cases in Northern Ireland, whilst being higher than those in Wales, appear similar to levels in Scotland and slightly lower than in England. Rates in Northern Ireland are also lower than those in the Republic, with the vaccination programme also more advanced here," the Assembly Health Committee vice-chair said. "There may be differences in opinion on how to move forward on the basis of the data available. If there is not even an accurate reflection of what the figures are then it will not help public confidence and the messaging which everyone accepts is so important." UUP leader Steve Aiken said it wasn't "the first time the Deputy First Minister has not been quite over the detail". "We know the First Minister has on occasion not been over the jot and tittle, nobody could really expect the Deputy First Minister to be either, because quite frankly she's not," Mr Aiken said. "You deal with it all the time, whether you're dealing with the Finance Minister or whoever it is, the actual grasp of the details and the facts is not always there. "I'm so used to it now, it's just like water off a duck's back unfortunately." The Executive Office was contacted to clarify Ms O'Neill's comments, but did not respond. Gunpowder Cove is an amazing facility, says Dan Cowens, CEO and Founder, Oasis Marinas. We are thrilled to continue our growth in the Chesapeake Bay and add another great destination for our boaters. Oasis Marinas, a marina management company, announced today that they have been awarded the management contract for Gunpowder Cove Marina (https://www.gunpowdercovemarina.com/) located in Joppa, Maryland. Gunpowder Cove, formerly Joppatowne Marina, is located just north of Baltimore near Bel Air, Maryland. The marina originally opened in 1966 and stands as a full service facility on the Gunpowder River off the Chesapeake Bay. Gunpowder Marina has stood as a premium location for boaters in the area throughout the years and gives boaters easy access to nearby attractions such as Gunpowder Falls State Park, Mariner Point Park, and the Loch Raven Reservoir. Oasis Marinas began management on January 1, 2021 and will oversee the day-to-day slip and marina management activities, boat services, facilities and grounds maintenance, marketing activities, new development, and more at Gunpowder Cove as part of their agreement. Oasis Marinas was founded by a group of boaters with executive expertise in hospitality and technology who are dedicated to creating a high-quality experience. The Oasis Marinas portfolio is closing on nearly 40 amazing properties, 6,500 wet & dry slips under management, and hundreds of RV pads, spanning from the Northeast, the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac, down to the coast of Florida. Gunpowder Cove is an amazing facility, says Dan Cowens, CEO and Founder, Oasis Marinas. We are thrilled to continue our growth in the Chesapeake Bay and add another great destination for our boaters. Our team looks forward to building upon the already great reputation and getting to know the Gunpowder Cove community. For more information regarding Gunpowder Cove Marina, please contact gunpowdercove@oasismarinas.com. About Oasis Marinas Oasis Marinas was founded in 2014 and is a privately held marina management company based out of Annapolis, MD. The company provides marina management services to marina owners that support all aspects of the marina, including boat slips, provisions, fuel docks and the associated contracts with the vendors running the maintenance services, restaurants, and other business services such as marina redevelopment and construction. At the COSMIC Microscopy beamline, researchers probed the oxidation state of the chemical element cerium using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) under operando conditions. It was a first demonstration of this capability at COSMIC. The results confirmed how cerium particles dictated the size and locations of the reaction sites of platinum particles. In this artistic depiction, hybrid CeOX-TiO2 nanoparticles (silver spheres) are shown evenly covered with platinum and cerium pairs (yellow and blue) while conventional titanium dioxide particles are shown less densely covered with larger platinum clusters (gold). Credit: Chungnam National University COSMIC, a multipurpose X-ray instrument at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's (Berkeley Lab's) Advanced Light Source (ALS), has made headway in the scientific community since its launch less than 2 years ago, with groundbreaking contributions in fields ranging from batteries to biominerals. COSMIC is the brightest X-ray beamline at the ALS, a synchrotron that generates intense lightfrom infrared to X-raysand delivers it to dozens of beamlines to carry out a range of simultaneous science experiments. COSMIC's name is derived from coherent scattering and microscopy, which are two overarching X-ray techniques it is designed to carry out. Its capabilities include world-leading soft X-ray microscopy resolution below 10 nanometers (billionths of a meter), extreme chemical sensitivity, ultrafast scanning speed as well as the ability to measure nanoscale chemical changes in samples in real time, and to facilitate the exploration of samples with a combination of X-ray and electron microscopy. Soft X-rays represent a low range in X-ray energies, while hard X-rays are higher in energy. Each type can address a different range of experiments. COSMIC is setting the stage for a long-term project to upgrade the decades-old ALS. The effort, known as the ALS Upgrade (ALS-U), will replace most of the existing accelerator components with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring capabilities that will enable world-leading soft X-ray science for years to come. The upgrade will also further enhance COSMIC's ability to capture nanoscale details in the structure and chemistry of a broad range of samples. The expected 100-fold increase in X-ray brightness that ALS-U will deliver will provide a similar increase in imaging speed at COSMIC, and a more than threefold improvement in imaging resolution, enabling microscopy with single-nanometer resolution. Further, the technologies being developed now at COSMIC will be deployed at other beamlines at the upgraded ALS, making possible microscopy with higher X-ray energies for many more experiments. The instrument is one of many highly specialized resources available to scientists from around the world for free through a peer-reviewed proposal process. A journal article, published Dec. 16, 2020, in Science Advances, highlights some of COSMIC's existing capabilities and those that are on the way. The paper offers examples of 8-nanometer resolution achieved in imaging magnetic nanoparticles, the high-resolution chemical mapping of a battery cathode material during heating, and the high-resolution imaging of a frozen-hydrated yeast cell at COSMIC. (A cathode is one type of battery electrode, a component through which current flows.) These results serve as demonstration cases, revealing critical information about the structure and inner workings of these materials and opening the door for further insights across many fields of science. Another journal article, published Jan. 19, 2021), in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrated the first-ever use of X-ray linear dichroic ptychography, a specialized high-resolution imaging technique available at COSMIC, to map the orientations of a crystal known as aragonite that is present in coral skeletons at 35-nanometer resolution. The technique shows promise for mapping other biomineral samples at high resolution and in 3-D, which will provide new insights into their unique attributes and how to mimic and control them. Some biominerals have inspired humanmade materials and nanomaterials due to their strength, resilience, and other desirable properties. "We use this user-friendly, unique platform for materials characterization to demonstrate world-leading spatial resolution, in conjunction with operando and cryogenic microscopy," said David Shapiro, the paper's lead author and the lead scientist for COSMIC's microscopy experiments. He also leads the ALS Microscopy Program. "Operando" describes the ability to measure changes in samples as they are occurring. "There's no other instrument that has these capabilities co-located for X-ray microscopy at this resolution," Shapiro said. COSMIC can provide new clues to the nanoscale inner workings of materials, even as they actively function, that will lead to a deeper understanding and better designsfor batteries, catalysts, or biological materials. Equipping COSMIC with such a diversity of capabilities required an equally broad collaboration across scientific disciplines, he noted. COSMIC contributors included members of Berkeley Lab's CAMERA (Center for Advanced Mathematics for Energy Research Applications) team, which includes computer scientists, software engineers, applied mathematicians, and others; information technology experts; detector specialists; engineers; scientists at the Molecular Foundry's National Center for Electron Microscopy; ALS scientists; and outside collaborators from the National Science Foundation's STROBE Science and Technology Center and Stanford University. Several advanced technologies developed by different groups were integrated into this one instrument. Key to the demonstrations at COSMIC reported in the paper is the implementation of X-ray ptychography, which is a computer-aided image reconstruction technique that can exceed the resolution of conventional techniques by up to about 10 times. With traditional methods, spatial resolution - the ability to distinguish tiny features in samplesis limited by the quality of the X-ray optics and their ability to focus the X-ray beam into a tiny spot. But conventional X-ray optics, which are the instruments used to manipulate X-ray light to see samples more clearly, are difficult to make, inefficient, and have short focal lengths. Instead of relying on imperfect optics, ptychography records a large number of physically overlapping diffraction patternswhich are images produced as X-ray light scatters from the sampleeach offering a small piece of the full picture. Rather than being limited by optics quality, the ptychography technique is limited by the brightness of the X-ray sourceprecisely the parameter that ALS-U is expected to improve a hundredfold. To capture and process the enormous amount of data and reconstruct the final image requires data processing facilities, computer algorithms, and specialized fast pixel detectors like those developed at Berkeley Lab. A conceptual drawing of the COSMIC microscope, with X-rays shown in purple. All equipment is mounted to a central cylinder. The zone plate, a type of X-ray optic, is scanned relative to this cylinder while the sample is held stationary. The instrument allows for rapid switching between conventional microscopy and an enhanced imaging technique called ptychography. Credit: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory "X-ray ptychography is a detector-enabled techniquefirst deployed with hard (high-energy) X-rays using hybrid pixel detectors, and then at the ALS with the FastCCD we developed," said Peter Denes, the ALS detector program lead who worked with lead engineer John Joseph on the implementation at COSMIC. "Much of the COSMIC technology benefited from the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program, as did the FastCCD, which translated tools for cosmology into COSMIC observations." Berkeley Lab's LDRD Program supports innovative research activities that keep the Lab at the forefront of science and technology. Ptychography utilizes a sequence of scattering patterns, produced as X-ray light scatters from a sample. These scattering patterns are analyzed by a computer running high-performance algorithms, which convert them into a high-resolution image. In the Dec. 16, 2020, paper, researchers highlighted how ptychographic images made it possible to see the high-resolution chemical distribution in microscopic particles of a lithium iron phosphate battery cathode material (Li 0.5 FePo 4 ). The ptychographic images showed nanoscale chemical features in the interior of the particles that were not visible using the conventional form of the imaging technique, called spectromicroscopy. In a separate demonstration of ptychography at COSMIC, researchers noted chemical changes in a collection of LixFePO4 nanoparticles when subjected to heating. Ptychography is also a source of COSMIC's heavy data demands. The beamline can produce several terabytes of data per day, or enough to fill a few laptop computers. The intensive computations required for COSMIC's imaging necessitate a dedicated cluster of GPUs (graphical processing units), which are specialized computer processors. The ALS Upgrade will further drive its data demands up to an expected 100 terabytes per day, Shapiro noted. Plans are already being discussed for using more resources at Berkeley Lab's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) to accommodate this pending ramp-up in data. COSMIC is a stellar example of Berkeley Lab's Superfacility Project, which is designed to link light sources like the ALS and cutting-edge instrumentation including microscopes and telescopes with data and high-performance computing resources in real time, said Bjoern Enders, a data science workflows architect in NERSC's Data Science Engagement Group. "We love data and computing challenges from instruments like COSMIC that venture beyond facility borders," Enders said. "We are working toward a future where it will be as easy as a button click to use NERSC's resources from a beamline." The addition of the new Perlmutter supercomputer at NERSC, he added, "will be an ideal partner for COSMIC in team science." COSMIC started up in commissioning mode in March 2017, and opened to general scientific experiments about 2 years ago. Since this time, instrument staff have launched the operando capabilities that measure active chemical processes, for example, and rolled out linear and circular dichroic microscopy and tomography capabilities that further extend COSMIC's range of imaging experiments. Its coherent scattering branch is now undergoing testing and is not yet available to external users. Work is also in progress to correlate its X-ray microscopy results with electron microscopy results for active processes, and to further develop its cryogenic capabilities, which will allow biological samples and other soft materials to be protected from damage by the ultrabright X-ray beam while they are being imaged. The combination of X-ray and electron microscopy can provide a powerful tool for gathering detailed chemical and structural information on samples, as demonstrated in an experiment involving COSMIC that was highlighted in the journal Science Advances. Shapiro noted that there are plans to introduce a new experimental station to the beamline, timed with ALS-U, to accommodate more experiments. One secret to COSMIC's success is that the instrument is designed for compatibility with standard sample-handling components. Shapiro said this user-friendly approach "has been really important for us," and makes it easier for researchers from academia and industry to design COSMIC-compatible experiments. "Users can just show up and plug (the samples) in. It increases our reach, scientifically," he said. While COSMIC is loaded with features, it isn't bulky, and Shapiro described it as "streamlined in size and cost." He said he hopes it will be a model for future beamlines, both at ALS-U and at other synchrotron facilities. "I think what is really attractive about it is that it is a very compact instrument. It is high-performance and very stable," he said. "It is very manageable and not very expensive. In that sense it should be very attractive for synchrotrons." Notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's palatial New York City pad has gone under contractafter a massive price cut. The opulent seven-story townhouse is under contract for an eye-popping sum of about $50 million, sources told the Wall Street Journal. However, that price is far lower than the initial $88 million price tag slapped onto the French Neoclassical mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan when it went up for sale in July. The price was reduced to $65 million in January. The money from the sale is slated to go to the victims of Epstein who filed claims against the disgraced financier's estate. He died by suicide in prison in 2019. When the sale of the 28,000-square-foot home closes, it will be the most expensive sale in Manhattan this year, says New York City luxury real estate broker Donna Olshan. It will also be one of the most expensive townhome sales ever in the city. "It's very reasonable for one of the most prime locations and private residences in New York City," says Olshan, touting the home's size. "It sounds crazy because the numbers are so big. ... [But] the buyer got a very good deal." Olshan, who has no connection to the sale, believes the initial $88 million price tag on the property was wildly overpriced. "They started at a very unrealistic number. Once the price was lowered, it showed the market they were willing to negotiate," she says. Olshan also doesn't think the Epstein connection hurt the sale price. "Buyers for this kind of property are going to put their stamp on it," she says. "They're going to make it their headquarters or home, and all traces of Jeffrey Epstein and his notorious behavior will [be] eradicated." The townhouse was commissioned by Macy's department store heir Herbert N. Straus on one of Manhattan's most prestigious blocks. It sits on East 71st Street, between Fifth and Madison avenues. Construction was finished in the 1930s. In the mid-1940s, the home became an extension of the St. Claire Hospital. Two decades later it was transformed into the Birch Wathen School. It last changed hands in 1989 for $13.2 million, according to realtor.com data. The Manhattan home was Epstein's most expensive piece of real estate, according to the Journal. He also owned properties in Paris, New Mexico, and Florida. The post Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan Townhouse Sells at a Big Discount appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo took time out from a press conference to insist that when it came to harassing women, he didn't do anything wrong, honest! He even squeezed out some tears. He clearly hopes that, like Joe Biden, he can make everything go away by saying he didn't mean to upset anybody. My bet is that he's wrong and that he'll be out of office soon. On Wednesday, during a press conference, Cuomo spent almost four minutes giving a ritual apology for his alleged misconduct. First, he denied it completely. Then he said that, if he did it, he didn't mean to do it. And then he lied outright, saying he never touched anyone inappropriately "and never knew at the time I was making anyone feel uncomfortable." Why is that claim a lie? Because of this picture: That touch was inappropriate, and she was uncomfortable. Cuomo closed by saying the whole experience has made him a better person. Gov. Cuomo basically just admitted to all of the accusations of sexual harassment made against him, pretended to cry, then insisted he never touched anyone inappropriately despite the NYT having a photo of him doing the opposite. pic.twitter.com/NLu7EqJZ0o Caleb Hull (I'm With the CCP Don't Ban Me) (@CalebJHull) March 3, 2021 What struck me so forcefully about Cuomo's abasement was that it echoed the "apology" Joe Biden made in April 2019, when the noise about his grabby hands became too loud to ignore. (Note that no one mentioned his grabby hands around children.) Like Cuomo, Biden also said he never sexually harassed women but, if he did, he certainly didn't intend to, and he'll learn from the experience and be a better person: Social norms are changing. I understand that, and Ive heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. Thats my responsibility and I will meet it. pic.twitter.com/Ya2mf5ODts Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 3, 2019 Joe got a pass. Cuomo probably thinks he will, too. If so, he misunderstands the situation. Joe got a pass because no one took him seriously back then. In Cuomo's case, though, he's being taken very seriously. Beginning in 2020, conservative sites began calling out Cuomo's nursing home policy because it was proving to be deadly for elderly people in his state. He might originally have instituted the policy of warehousing COVID-infected elderly patients in nursing homes because it was a way of limiting deaths in New York. However, when it became apparent that the policy was terribly wrong, he didn't stop it, and for that, he is morally culpable and should be criminally liable, too. Democrats ignored these concerns. They became an issue only when New York's attorney general, Letitia James, who is politically on Cuomo's left, attacked him by pointing out that he'd lied about the number of elderly people who'd died under his aegis. In fact, 50% more nursing home residents died than Cuomo's office had originally identified. This news, one would think, would have resulted in an instant uproar that would have driven Cuomo from office in the dead of night. Instead, Cuomo's alleged sexual peccadilloes suddenly hit the news. One of these stories had been floating around and been mostly ignored since December. The media and the Democrat party's abrupt turn to sexual harassment is peculiar at first glance. Are they really saying making sleazy remarks to women is worse than causing the deaths of several thousand people? Well, probably not. Even Democrats aren't that bad. John Nolte suspects and Thomas Lifson agrees that Cuomo is the patsy: by keeping the focus on him and his sexual misconduct, the Democrats hope to avoid opening the Pandora's box attendant on governors seeding nursing homes with COVID. After all, governors in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and California (all Democrats) did the same thing. If they can make Cuomo the sacrificial lamb whose sexual misconduct sucks all the energy out of the manslaughter allegations, that preserves the other governors. As the apology shows, Cuomo has no intention of being the fall guy. He thinks he'll get the same pass Biden did. If I were a betting woman, though, I'd put my money on Cuomo being out of office soon. The Democrats need to punish one of the deadly governors, and Cuomo's been tagged as "it." Image: Andrew Cuomo. Twitter screen grab. Berlin: The far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has been designated a suspected extremist threat by German intelligence and placed under surveillance. The move on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) comes as other parties and Jewish groups accuse the AfD of fanning the flames of far-right violence and anti-Semitism, and bearing responsibility for a wave of attacks against the Jewish community and migrants. AfD leaders denounced the decision as purely political and aimed at massively damaging the party, especially in an election year. An election poster of AfD party Alternative fuer Deutschland in Mainz, Germany in 2016. Credit:AP It is the first party in the Bundestag to be designated a suspected extremist threat. The domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), was unable to comment on the decision because of continuing legal action, but it was confirmed by intelligence sources. Intelligence officials and members of Congress are on high alert Thursday after warnings were issued regarding a possible plot by a militia group to invade the U.S. Capitol, according to the Associated Press. Intelligence officials uncovered chatter amongst the Three Percenters, an anti-government militia group, that suggests a plot could be underway. This caused intelligence agencies to increase their alertness. The plot appears to involve a conspiracy theory which includes the uprising of former President Donald Trump to retake office on March 4. That conspiracy has been heavily discussed among QAnon supporters who believe Trump would retake the office today because the original Inauguration Day for the U.S. was on March 4, the AP said. Inauguration Day was changed in 1933 to Jan. 20. The concerns at the Capitol come less than two months after thousands of rioters invaded the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 Presidential election. Rioters ransacked offices, destroyed property and hunted for lawmakers such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D, N.Y. The House finished its business for the week Wednesday night, ahead of the speculated plot date of March 4. However, the Senate is expected to be in session Thursday. Lawmakers were briefed on the latest threat earlier in the week and at least one member expects a problem at the Capitol. I think well see some violence here, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. McCaul went on to say security measures at the Capitol that were not installed prior to the Jan. 6 riot makes him feel better about being on the grounds. We have the razor wire, we have the National Guard. We didnt have that January 6. So I feel very confident in the security, McCaul said. A large fence topped with razor wire has been erected outside the Capitol and approximately 5,200 National Guard members remain in D.C., according to the AP. READ MORE: Michigan Sen. Gary Peters questions why National Guard response to Capitol riot took hours Fueled by rage over a stolen election, a Michigan man breached the U.S. Capitol after Trumps call to action County GOP groups feel betrayed by Michigan Republicans who went against grain Chanel West Coast has been hard at work in the recording studio, recently dropping her debut album America's Sweetheart. And the Ridiculousness co-host is enjoying her downtime, after sharing the video for her track Eazy. She served body Wednesday in a plunging turquoise one-piece swimsuit, as she was spotted showing off her sunburnt while lying out on the beach during a gorgeous day in Miami. Beach bod: Chanel West Coast served body Wednesday in a plunging turquoise one-piece swimsuit, as she was spotted showing off her sunburnt while lying out on the beach during a gorgeous day in Miami The 32-year-old layered the banana leaf-printed number with a pair of high-waisted cut-off blue jean shorts. She finished the look with some silver-framed sunglasses and matching necklace and layers of bracelets. Chanel took off her shades and let her hair down, after taking off her shorts and getting cozy in her beach chair. She revealed a bright red sunburn, exposed by the backless swimsuit, as she stood up to order a cocktail from a waiter. Blue jean baby: The 32-year-old layered the banana leaf-printed number with a pair of high-waisted cut-off blue jean shorts Sun and sand: She finished the look with some silver-framed sunglasses and matching necklace and layers of bracelets. Chanel took off her shades and let her hair down, after taking off her shorts and getting cozy in her beach chair Red hot: She revealed a bright red sunburn, exposed by the backless swimsuit, as she stood up to order a cocktail from a waiter Spring Breakers: The Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star is celebrating Spring Break in South Beach, as partiers risk COVID to descend upon the beach destination The Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star is celebrating Spring Break in South Beach, as partiers risk COVID to descend upon the beach destination. It comes after she dropped the video for her track Eazy last week, featuring Anaya Lovenote and Salma Slims. She told Complex of the visual: 'Eazy is one of my favorite records off my album, so I had to make sure the visual was an absolute vibe. 'I wanted the video to have the feel of a '90s skate video, and I think my boy Damien Sandoval did an amazing job executing my vision.' Chanel dropped her debut album in October, writing in a statement: 'I called this album America's Sweetheart because it's an oxymoron and contradicts the perception that many have of me.' The materials essential for life on Earth including organic matter and water have been discovered on the surface of an asteroid for the first time, a study shows. Planetary scientists from Royal Holloway University of London examined a single grain of dust returned to Earth from asteroid Itokawa by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as part of its first Hayabusa mission in 2010. The water and organic matter originated on the asteroid itself, rather than arriving as part of a collision, suggesting it evolved chemically over billions of years. It is the first time such material has been found on the surface of an asteroid, according to the British team behind the new study. This is a major discovery that could 're-write the history of life on our planet,' scientists claim, as it is so similar to the evolution pathway on the early Earth. 'Although the organic matter is not directly suggesting life is carried on the asteroid, it tells us the asteroid carries the same raw materials that provided initial feedstock for the origin of life on Earth,' lead author Dr Queenie Chan told MailOnline. Planetary scientists from Royal Holloway University of London examined a single grain of dust returned to Earth from asteroid Itokawa by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as part of its first Hayabusa mission in 2010 The water and organic matter originated on the asteroid itself, rather than arriving as part of a collision, suggesting it evolved chemically over billions of years ITOKAWA: A NEAR EARTH ASTEROID VISITED BY JAXA The 'near-Earth' asteroid Itokawa is about 330 metres in diameter and shaped roughly like a peanut. It orbits between 0.9 AU and 1.7 AU - with 1 AU the distance between the Earth and the sun. It was the first asteroid to be the target of a sample return mission - that is a spaceflight to take bits of rock and bring them back to Earth. In 2005 the Japanese Hayabusa probe collected dust particles from the asteroid and returned them to Earth. It has been extensively studied and findings have shown evidence of water and organic material 'native' to the asteroid itself. Advertisement The asteroid has been slowly incorporating the liquid and organic materials in much the same way the Earth does, according to the researchers. Itokawa has been constantly evolving over billions of years by incorporating water and organic materials from foreign extra-terrestrial material, just like the Earth. In the past, the asteroid will have gone through extreme heating, dehydration and shattering due to catastrophic impact, the study authors explained. However, despite this, the asteroid came back together from the shattered fragments and rehydrated itself with water that was delivered via the in fall of dust or carbon-rich meteorites. This study shows that S-type asteroids, where most of Earth's meteorites come from, such as Itokawa, contain the raw ingredients of life. 'S-type asteroids the 'stony' type asteroids might not contain as high abundance of carbon rich material as the carbonaceous asteroids, however, their chemistry and water content evolved in a similar way to our prebiotic Earth,' Chan told MailOnline. 'If other systems elsewhere in the wider universe had the same favourable conditions like the early Earth, these raw ingredients that carried by these asteroids could have kick-started life elsewhere.' The analysis of this asteroid changes traditional views on the origin of life on Earth which have previously heavily focussed on C-type carbon-rich asteroids. Dr Chan said this shows the value of bringing samples of space rock back to Earth. 'After being studied in great detail by an international team of researchers, our analysis of a single grain, nicknamed 'Amazon', has preserved both primitive (unheated) and processed (heated) organic matter,' she said. 'The organic matter that has been heated indicates that the asteroid had been heated to over 600C in the past. 'The presence of unheated organic matter very close to it, means that the in fall of primitive organics arrived on the surface of Itokawa after the asteroid had cooled.' Dr Chan, said studying the 'Amazon' sample allowed them to better understand how the asteroid constantly evolved by adding new water and organic compounds. 'These findings are really exciting as they reveal complex details of an asteroid's history and how its evolution pathway is so similar to that of the prebiotic Earth.' It is the first time such material has been found on the surface of an asteroid, according to the British team behind the new study This is a major discovery that could 're-write the history of life on our planet,' scientists claim, as it is so similar to the evolution pathway on the early Earth DIFFERENT TYPES OF ASTEROIDS FROM THE SOLAR SYSTEM Asteroid classification has proved controversial, with a number of letter-based systems developed. According to NASA the three main types are labelled C, S and M. C-type (chondrite) asteroids are the most common in the solar system and likely consist of clay and silicate rocks. They are darker than other asteroids and the most ancient objects in the solar system - dating back to its birth. S-type (stony) asteroids are made of silicate materials as well as nickel-iron and are the most common visitors to the Earth of the asteroid types. M-type (nickel-iron) asteroids vary depending on how far from the sun they formed. Some are partly melted with iron sinking to the centre and forcing volcanic lava to the surface. Advertisement Chan said the findings were both surprising and not particularly surprising at the same time - in part due to observations from 2005 of Itokawa. Surprising because S-type asteroids generally contain very few water and organic material chemicals, she explained to MailOnline. 'In a mission like Hayabusa, which picked samples up from the asteroid surface by quick touchdowns, it would be difficult to sample carbonaceous material. 'Researchers have been attempting to look for organic matter from Hayabusa samples in the past, and it was very difficult to prove that the organic material was indigenous to the asteroid,' she told MailOnline. 'Only one group of scientists managed to find water in Hayabusa sample in 2019, but they did not look at the organic content.' It wasn't particularly surprising to her that they found the material as the mission observed a 'huge black boulder' on the surface of the space rock in 2005. 'Scientists think that this big boulder is a huge carbonaceous meteorite, but never get to prove it. So, we expected that there would possibly be carbonaceous material on the surface of asteroid Itokawa,' she said. The success of this mission and the analysis of the sample that returned to Earth has since paved the way for a more detailed analysis of material returned by missions such as JAXA's Hayabusa2 and NASA's OSIRIS-Rex missions. These are other sample-return missions, with Hayabusa2 returning larger amounts of rock samples from the asteroid Ryugu in 2020 and OSIRIS-Rex expected to return samples of the asteroid Bennu in 2023. 'Both of these missions have identified exogeneous materials on the target asteroids Ryugu and Bennu, respectively,' said Chan. 'Our findings suggest that mixing of materials is a common process in our solar system,' adding studying more samples will hopefully confirm those findings. The findings have been published in the journal Scientific Reports. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Alabama's Senate reportedly passed on Tuesday a bill protecting minors from transgender treatments. Advance Local (AL.com) reported that the Alabama Senate passed a bill banning the use of puberty blockers, hormone medications, and transgender surgeries for people below age 19 with a vote of 23-4. Senators Bobby Singleton, Bill Beasley, Vivian Davis Figures, and Rodger Smitherman voted against the bill. Entitled, Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, the bill is sponsored by Senator Shay Shelnutt who provided definitions of gender dysphoria on Tuesday. "I didn't think this was going on in Alabama, had no idea," Shelnutt told AL.com when he first heard the issue more than a year ago. "I've been educated since then. I just think it's wrong for this to happen to children. Children aren't mature enough to make this decision on surgeries and drugs. The whole point is to protect kids," he stressed. "Science shows that children that are going through this gender dysphoria, most of them mature or grow out of this stage if they are given the chance," he explained. "So why is (this bill) needed? It's just to stop these surgeries and these drugs on our children. It's to protect our children. That's my simple explanation." Shelnutt pointed out to AL.com that he hasn't heard of any transgender surgeries in Alabama and wants to ensure it never happens there through the bill. He raised that he doesn't want children to be affirmed of their gender identity conflict through counseling but he does want them to get the help they need. "There's no medical diagnosis. There's no medical condition that these kids have. It's just in their mind," he said. AL.com said the bill will now move to the House of Representatives who have their own version of it. Metro Weekly reported that the House of Representatives version of the bill is under the sponsorship of Representative Wes Allen and goes by the title "Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act." Like the Senate version, Metro Weekly said the bill will subject violators--any medical professional who "prescribes, dispenses, or administers puberty blockers and hormones or performs transgender surgeries" to minors to Class C felony, which is subject to a 10-year imprisonment. The House bill also intends to protect the youth from making "an impulsive, life-altering decision that they will come to regret" based on studies that "pre-pubescent children who claim a gender identity different from their biological sex will ultimately identify with their biological sex by young adulthood or sooner when supported through their natural puberty." In short, it just delays youths experiencing gender dysphoria from deciding on it until they are mature enough to do so. The House bill version, unlike the Senate's, is reported by Metro Weekly to have a provision for schools to mandatorily report to parents on their transgender children stating that "no nurse, counselor, teacher, principal, or other administrative official at a public or private school attended by a minor shall" encourage or coerce a minor regarding their gender dysphoria and "withhold from a minor's parent or legal guardian information" related to the gender dysphoria. AL.com said opponents lobbied against the bill through a rally held outside the legislature. Opponents were composed of parents, advocates, and organizations such as the ACLU of Alabama, the Southern Poverty Lw Center Action Fund, AIDS Alabama, and the Alabama Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics. As to the senators who opposed the bill, AL.com said Singleton pointed out it would interfere with how children experiencing gender dysphoria could be helped by parents and medical professionals. A French court has acquitted former Prime Minister Edouard Balladur on corruption charges over an arms deal with Pakistan in the mid-1990s. However, the Court of Justice of the Republic on March 4 handed a suspended two-year prison term and a fine of 100,000 euros ($120,000) to his former defense minister, Francois Leotard, for complicity in misusing assets. Six people were jailed over the so-called "Karachi affair" last year. Balladur, 91, and Leotard, 78, were charged in 2017 with "complicity in misuse of corporate assets and concealment" over the sale of submarines to Pakistan. Balladur was accused of using commissions from the deal to fund his unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1995. Investigations into the matter began after 11 French engineers were killed in a bombing in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi in 2002. Pakistani authorities blamed Islamist militants, but there were suspicions that the attack was an act of revenge after then-French President Jacques Chirac allegedly ordered the payments of the commissions to stop. The verdict comes three days after ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted for bribery and influence peddling, and handed a three-year sentence -- including one year of prison time and two more years of a suspended sentence. His predecessor, Chirac, was found guilty in 2011 of misuse of public money as Paris mayor and given a two-year suspended prison sentence. Based on reporting by AFP and the BBC Titular de la PCM: Durante este periodo, del 31 de enero al 28 de febrero, la movilidad bajo en los lugares de riesgo extremo en un promedio de 40 %. La pendiente de fallecidos por la #COVID?19 viene mostrando una ligera desaceleracion en todo el pais. pic.twitter.com/dDTP4sWdZk Walmart Inc.s is exploring going public in the US through a merger with a blank-check company as it seeks to quicken its listing process, according to people familiar with the matter. The Bengaluru-based online retailer has been weighing a US initial public offering and its now also looking at other options, the people said. Flipkarts advisers have approached several SPACs, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is not public. could seek a valuation of at least $35 billion in a blank-check transaction, the people said. Deliberations are at an early stage and could still explore other options, the people said. A representative for Flipkart had no immediate comment. The e-commerce firm is joining other Indian firms like online grocer Grofers in exploring a US listing through SPAC deals. ReNew Power last week agreed to merge with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company in a deal that will give Indias biggest renewable power producer an enterprise value of $8 billion. Merging with SPACs, which are shell that raise money from public investors intending to acquire a business within two years, will allow Walmart to take its India unit to market at a faster pace than the usual IPO route. As many as 10 Indian could go public through SPAC deals before the end of the year, Utpal Oza, head of investment banking for India at Nomura Holdings Inc., said in an interview. Flipkart, which is battling with e-commerce arch-rival Amazon.com Inc. and Mukesh Ambanis retail venture for market share in India, started operations in 2007 and now sells 80 million products on its platforms. Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart in a $16 billion deal in 2018. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Very hot. High 106F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 74F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. President Joe Biden is calling for all teachers to get at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine by the end of the month. Teachers in Alabama have been eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine for weeks now, giving Alabama a jump start in the goal to vaccinate all educators. However, the decision to get a vaccine is personal, and ultimately, the teacher's choice, meaning there's no real way of tracking how close we are to getting all teachers vaccinated. Huntsville Hospital says they've had 4,700 teachers sign up for vaccines at the John Hunt Park clinic. So far, around 3,000 have gotten their doses. "I think they're a great part of our society. I think they do a great job teaching our children. They're definitely people you want to take care of," Huntsville Hospital Senior Vice President Tracy Doughty said. The clinic expects to administer more vaccines starting Monday. A portion of the 500 new doses per day is set aside for teachers. "One bucket will be health care workers. One bucket is teachers, one bucket is clergy and other frontline members. One bucket is industrial workers, so we are trying to pull equally from those buckets, so we don't leave any group behind," Doughty said. Still, school districts are doing what they can to encourage teachers to get the shot. "It made a huge difference," Stiles said. Donna Stiles is the lead nurse for Madison County Schools. She's gotten her two doses of the vaccine, which has made her work much easier. "It's been a game changer. It's been great," Stiles said. For the next 90 days, Stiles no longer has to quarantine if she's exposed to the virus. She can also socialize with less risk. While the district is taking safety precautions, Stiles says vaccination is needed. "I think it's a critical component for mitigating the virus," Stiles explained. That's why she's working with the district to answer questions about the vaccine. "Certainly want to educate everyone on the benefits of the vaccine. There's lots of research out there that supports that any vaccine is a good vaccine," Stiles said. But, she says she understands if a person chooses not to get vaccinated. "That is a personal decision. We will continue to check temps, and make sure people are well when they come in to school, socially distance and continue to wear masks," Stiles said. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - GoldHaven Resources Corp. (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS) ("GoldHaven", "GOH" or the "Company") reports that Phase I drilling continues to advance as planned at Rio Loa. The Rio Loa Project is located 25 km south of Gold Field's Salares Norte deposit (5.2 million ounces equivalent of Gold scheduled to produce 450,000oz of Gold per annum1) and 6 km south of Gold Field's Horizonte discovery. The GOH drill-team is actively drilling hole RCRL-003 which is currently in argillic altered limonite-rich volcanic rocks. Silicified volcaniclastic rocks with incipient vuggy silica were intersected at various intervals to the current depth of 300 meters. RCRL-003 continues to be strongly oxidized with abundant disseminated limonite and is presently within a zone of silicification. This hole has a projected depth of 350m. Daniel Schieber GoldHaven's CEO comments: "This is the right step in our development to unlock the potential of our 251 square km Maricunga district play. The drilling continues as planned and has been providing us with what we want to see at this stage. The Alicia project is next-up for drilling which will provide consistent news-flow after we complete at Rio Loa." In addition, GOH's geology crew has been mobilized to the high sulfidation epithermal Alicia project, which will be drilled next. The 6,200 hectare Alicia project is located approximately 30 km SE of Salares Norte (Gold Fields) where GOH has completed geologic mapping, geochemical sampling and TerraSpec 4 Hi-Res mineral analyzer SWIR alteration analyses (522 samples) along a geochemical grid (~200 meter lines with 100 to 200 meter stations) to quantify the size of the alteration footprint and its intensity. The Alicia Project contains two large, argillic to advanced argillic alteration zones including the Alicia Norte footprint measuring 5 x 3 kilometers and the Alicia Sur which is 3 x 2 kilometers. Both alteration footprints contain multiple targets and are partially covered by post-mineral volcanic (dacite) flows and domes. Locally, the targets are characterized by intense hematite-jarosite (after disseminated pyrite) and goethite limonites accompanied by alunite. Prospective damage zones including NW-SE trending and secondary NE-SW trending brittle faults are present in the project area. These structures exhibit intense opaline-silica +/- alunite alteration and contain native sulphur. Anomalous gold values up to 84 ppb (ranging from detection limit to 84 ppb) were returned from rock chip samples of silica-alunite-kaolinite-native sulphur in altered dacitic volcanic rocks. Soil samples returned the anomalous pathfinder element suite: Mo-Sb-Te-Hg-Pb. In addition to Rio Loa and Alicia, the Company has five additional high priority assets to test and drill. This will keep the Company busy through 2021. The Company is advancing its Apolo Project's Roma and Alicia properties as well as its Coya assets and preparing them for drill testing. These targets have been designated high-priority based on extensive and pervasive alteration, favorable geology, highly anomalous rock geochemistry results, and their relative proximity to existing deposits. References to other Mines and Deposits References to other mines and deposits made in this news release provide context for the Rio Loa and Alicia projects which occur in similar geologic settings. Rio Loa and Alicia do not necessarily host similar grades and tonnages of mineralization. Qualified Person Daniel MacNeil, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release. About GoldHaven Resources Corp. GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration Company active in the Maricunga Gold Belt of northern Chile. The Maricunga Belt measures 150 km north-south and 30 km east-west and is host to numerous discoveries over the past twenty years and has a prolific gold, silver copper metal endowment. The Company has agreements in place to acquire seven high priority exploration targets which were identified by geological studies. To date, GoldHaven has considers four of these seven properties "High Priority" targets and will commence drilling during the first quarter of 2021. The four priority targets include Coya, located approximately 16 km northeast of the La Coipa mine where Kinross announced a mining re-start in 20202; the second is Rio Loa, a project located 25 km south of Gold Field's Salares Norte deposit (5.2 million ounces of Gold equivalent1; the third and fourth projects are Alicia and Roma which are approximately 35 km. south of the Salares Norte deposit. These exploration targets have been designated High Priority due to extensive, pervasive alteration, favourable geology, highly anomalous rock geochemical results, and their relative proximity to existing deposits. We Seek Safe Harbor. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Daniel Schieber For further information, please contact: Daniel Schieber CEO & Director www.goldhavenresources.com Office Direct: (604) 638-5938 Cell Direct: (604) 722-5798 Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the intended use of the proceeds received from the Offering, the possible acquisition of the Projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that investor interest will be sufficient to close the Offering, and the receipt of any necessary regulatory or corporate approvals in connection with the Offering and the Assignment, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the inability to close the Offering, the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of the Letters of Intent which are the subject of the Assignment, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. 1 Jamasmie, C., 2019. Gold Field's Salares Norte project in Chile granted environmental permit. December 18, 2019, 9:29am. Exploration Intelligence Latin America Gold Silver. https://www.mining.com/gold-fields-salares-norte-project-in-chile-granted-environmental-permit/ 2 Chen, J., 2020. Kinross to restart La Coipa mine. February 13, 2020, 9:54 am Exploration Top Companies Canada Latin America Gold Silver. https://www.mining.com/kinross-to-proceed-with-la-coipa-mine-restart/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76061 Islamabad, March 4 : Pakistan's economic situation continues to worsen with each passing month as the country's exports have plunged for a successive second month to slightly over $2 billion in February 2021. As per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), contrary to over 4 per cent contraction in exports, the imports increased one-tenth to $4.6 billion last month on an annualised basis, which resulted in further widening of trade deficit by almost 24 per cent in February 2021 on a year-to-year basis. Economists say that the latest plunge has proven that the recent peak in exports was the result of some external factors and policy measures, which includes 30 per cent currency devaluation. "The gap between imports and exports increased to $2.5 billion in February over a year ago, a jump of $486 million of 24 per cent", maintained PBS. Exports had started picking up early in the current fiscal year and peaked up to $2.4 billion in December, prompting a celebratory response from the ruling government. However, the short-term achievement proved to be adversely affective as the exports again started falling down previous historic band of around $2 billion. Experts say "every successive government has doled out billions of rupees in subsidies to the exporters every year on account of cheap loans, electricity and gas. The exporters also pay a nominal tax on their income. Yet, they have failed and the government does not seem ready to review its flawed strategy of pampering few hundred exporters". Exporters say that the increase in exports during the previous months was due to shifting of global trade from China towards South Asian countries and replacing the dried out inventories by the buyers in the US and Europe after the global economy gradually started recovering from the effects of novel coronavirus. "One a month-to-month basis, the exports decreased over 4.5 per cent to $2.4 billion", maintained PBS. "There was a $97 million in export receipts in February as compared to the previous month. The imports also registered a decline of 5.2 per cent last month", the PBS added. The ruling government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has already fallen short of its annual export target consistently in its first two years of ruling. For the current year, the government has set export target at $22.7 billion, which experts say will require a 6.2 per cent growth. "This seems like an uphill task, given the fact that the little growth in exports have been disputed by the central bank. Exports in the first six months were equal to only 72 per cent of the annual target", said economic expert Shahbaz Rana. Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Vice President Kamala Harris leaves the U.S. Capitol after casting a tiebreaking vote on the Senate floor in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Senate Advances Bidens $1.9 Trillion Relief Package, as VP Harris Casts Tiebreaking Vote The Senate on March 4 advanced President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan, with Vice President Kamala Harris providing the tiebreaking vote. All Republicans voted against beginning the debate on the plan, while all Democrats, including two nominal independents, voted for it. That left the decision up to Harris, the president of the upper chamber. On this vote, the yeas are 50. The nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the motion to proceed is agreed to, Harris told the body. Harris has broken three ties since being sworn in on Jan. 20, compared to former Vice President Mike Pences 13 tiebreaking votes across four years. After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) shook his head up and down and appeared to smile, reporters in the room said. He and other Senate Democrats reached an agreement with Biden about crucial details in the package earlier this week. Following the vote, the Senate clerk began reading the legislation. Schumer tried to waive the reading, although Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) objected, forcing a full reading of the 600-page measure. Johnson was also leading an effort to arrange shifts of lawmakers to offer a flurry of amendments to the package to prolong the debate. Historically, whats happened in vote-a-ramas isI dont have exact figures, but it seems like weve always offered a couple of hundred amendments on the Republican side. You get a couple of those voted on and people tire out. Im just setting up a process that keeps us from tiring out, he told reporters on Capitol Hill. A vote-a-rama is a process during which the party in the minority can force on-the-record votes on amendments, which are added to the bill if they receive a simple majority. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) leaves the Senate GOP policy luncheon in the Rayburn Senate Office Building in Washington on March 2, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said he and some fellow Republicans are working on several amendments and are hopeful they can get some support among Democrats. But my guess is its not likely that many of our amendments will get any Democrat support, so I think its very unlikely that any Republicans will support the final bill, he said. One example is requiring that funding only go to states or municipalities that either had a reduction in revenues or unreimbursed COVID-19 expenses. It would probably mean less money would go to states and localities, Romney said. California, for instance, has a huge surplus this year, and yet under the $1.9 trillion plan, theyre supposed to get another [approximately $20 billion] more. That doesnt make a lot of sense to go borrow that money to give to a state that doesnt need it. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), perhaps the most moderate Democrat in the Senate, told reporters that he was considering the amendment. He signaled that he will support the final package. Republicans largely oppose including funding to states and municipalities at all in the relief package. Democrats failed to get it included in the last bill, which was passed in December 2020 and signed by President Donald Trump. The lower chamber passed the relief package last week through the budget reconciliation process, a procedural move that enables Democrats to pass it in the upper chamber with no Republican support. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has said shes open to voting for the bill, voted against advancing it but maintained a willingness to support it. She told reporters after the vote that the latest version of the bill had just hit her inbox, so she hadnt gotten a chance to read it. So Ive said, Im going to look and see whats in it, she said, noting that some of the provisions already included are clearly not COVID-related. New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has approached the election commission seeking an order to restrain Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from campaigning in the state for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. The party's state in-charge, election liaison committee, V Balachandran also urged the commission to direct the police to register an FIR against Gandhi for "inciting the youth to another freedom struggle." In a memorandum submitted to the chief electoral officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo, the BJP alleged that Gandhi's campaign in St.Joseph's Matric Higher Secondary School in Mulagumoodu in Kanyakumari district on March 1 was akin to an election campaign in school premises. Asserting that his political campaign in the educational institution violated provisions of the model code of conduct, the BJP demanded strict action including "prohibitory orders for his poll campaign in Tamil Nadu." The memorandum also stated that Gandhi committed offences under sections 109 (punishment for abetment) and 124 A (sedition) of the IPC for his remarks. During his interaction with students, Rahul Gandhi had said, "There is a lot of anger being spread in the country, a lot of fear, and that is what we have to fight. We have to fight the division, anger, fear and once again make India happy, comfortable, fearless and united." The memorandum further said that the Congress leaders' "comparison of the current situation with that of pre-Independence during the British rule and inciting the youth for another freedom struggle has been made with the intent to cause hatred, contempt and excite disaffection towards the government established bylaws." The assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. Live TV If it seems like the loudest calls for action and accountability in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment against Gov. Andrew Cuomo have been coming from women, it might be because Albanys growing contingent of female lawmakers have a deeper understanding of harassment. We get it. We understand the wrong that has happened here, said Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez, a legislator from the Bronx who was elected to the Assembly in 2018. We're trying to let everybody else understand or at least asking them, and trying to get them to understand. A series of accusations of sexual harassment and, in some cases, unwanted touching first from former Cuomo aides Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett, and then from another young woman have rocked Albany, leading Cuomos office to grant Attorney General Letitia James the authority to oversee an independent investigation into the allegations. And while calls for Cuomo to be investigated or even to step down from office have crossed both gender and party lines, Albanys female lawmakers are at the forefront of the charge to hold Cuomo accountable. As Micah Sifry, co-founder of the technology for the public good nonprofit Civic Hall pointed out on his Substack, a greater share of New Yorks female legislators have called for an investigation into the allegations than the share of Albanys male legislators. As of Wednesday morning, a crowdsourced spreadsheet reported that 29 women in the Assembly called for an independent investigation, compared with 8 men in the body, while 12 of the Senates 18 female members have called for an independent investigation, compared to 19 of the bodys 45 male members. (This count may miss legislators who have spoken up more recently.) On Monday, over two dozen women in the Assembly released a statement calling for an investigation with subpoena power which James investigation now has. That list included longtime legislators such as Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, alongside freshman lawmakers such as Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas. Six of the Legislature's socialist members including state Sen. Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes went further, saying that impeachment proceedings should begin. Some of the Legislatures female members said that increased representation of women in Albany is contributing to a shift in the capitals culture, which may aid the quest for accountability for allegations of sexual harassment. While female representation in the Legislature is still disproportionately male, it has steadily increased in recent years. According to Rutgers Universitys Center for American Women and Politics, women make up just over 34% of the New York Legislature in 2021, compared to just over 21% a decade ago. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who was elected to the Senate in 2018, but who has had an inside look at Albany since she started working in New York City politics more than a decade ago, said that increased representation has empowered women to speak out. It's been quite an experience to see not only how the influx of women into the state Legislature has certainly impacted what we choose to comment on, what we choose to fight, what we choose to legislate about, hold hearings about. she said. I would argue also that some of the female legislators who were there before we arrived, before the new class arrived, seems to me feel much more empowered now too. Fernandez echoed that notion. There's more women here, so we're less alone, she said. There's more understanding of these circumstances and the situations. Both Ramos and Fernandez have called for Cuomo to resign in the wake of these allegations, coming down on the harsher side of those calling for accountability, along with other progressive Democrats and some Republicans. Most members of the Democratic political establishment however, havent gone that far, calling instead for an investigation into Cuomos alleged actions, or staying silent. As one example of this phenomenon, Ramos pointed to the first joint legislative hearing on sexual harassment in over 25 years, which was held in 2019. That year, the Legislature took sweeping action to reform the states sexual harassment laws, including lowering the longstanding severe and pervasive standard for harassment. Rita Pasarell, a co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group an organization of former legislative staffers who campaign for sexual harassment policy reform said its not just that the culture is shifting because there are more women in office, but that those kinds of reforms make it more likely that women can succeed and stick around in Albany. More women are in office because weve had a measure of increased sexual harassment protections over the years, she said. I think it has become safer and easier for victims to talk about that because the laws have improved. Cuomo spoke to reporters for the first time in over a week on Wednesday afternoon, addressing the allegations made against him, after previously releasing written statements in which he denied Boylans accusation that he forcibly kissed her, but acknowledged that he sometimes makes comments on peoples personal lives and said he was sorry if those were misinterpreted as unwanted flirtation. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable, Cuomo said Wednesday. It was unintentional and I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it and frankly embarrassed by it and thats not easy to say but thats the truth. Cuomo added that he never touched anyone inappropriately. Phara Souffrant Forrest, a new member of the Assembly from Brooklyn, noted that its not just the allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo that have put him in the hot seat, but the ongoing controversy over his administrations handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes. Souffrant Forrest, whose father is currently in a nursing home, said that womens voices have been important in drawing attention to that issue too. Its women of color and working-class women in the Legislature whose concerns about this have been most acute, she said. Like Ramos and Fernandez, Souffrant Forrest has called for Cuomos resignation. A large share of those calling for Cuomos resignation are progressive Democrats, such as Ramos, Souffrant Forrest and Fernandez, and those who have butted heads with Cuomo including Assembly Member Ron Kim and state Sen. Gustavo Rivera. Many of the lawmakers who were first to call for an investigation into Cuomos alleged actions also fall into these categories, though those calling for accountability have now moved beyond just Republicans and progressive Democrats. More moderate Democrats have also called for an independent investigation, including state Sen. Diane Savino and Assembly Member Amy Paulin both of whom have served in the Legislature for more than a decade. While Cuomo gave no signal on Wednesday that hes ready to step down, Fernandez said that this moment is the product of a long-coming cultural shift in Albany. Weve all said it, and we know it: Government was started by men, and originally white men, she said. So we're changing what used to be comfortable and normal, and demanding it to be better. The death of a 24-year-old man hours after his release from police custody remains a mystery today after a post-mortem failed to establish how he died. Mohamud Hassan was found dead at his home on January 9 just hours after he was released from Cardiff Bay police station without charge. An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) probe said there was 'no evidence' he was Tasered when he was arrested at his flat on the evening of January 8 on suspicion of a breach of the peace. Mr Hassan's family claim he was assaulted while in custody and Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations were held outside the police station in January. Last month, the IOPC said it was investigating whether a police officer failed to relay Mr Hassan's complaints of having a fit and being in pain to custody staff. Mohamud Hassan (pictured) was arrested in January after a disturbance at his home in Cardiff. He was taken into custody but was later released without charge before he was found dead at home The coroner's court in Pontypridd was told that his cause of death, following a post-mortem by pathologist Dr Deryk James, had been given as 'unascertained'. Coroner Graeme Hughes said: 'Given that Dr James has indicated in his most recent report that he is unable to advance a medical cause of death at this time, it falls upon me to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Hassan's death, and then conclude that investigation by way of an inquest.' Earlier this week the IOPC revealed police were called to a flat because five men were allegedly fighting five occupants of the property. It said: 'The officers body worn video footage shows that on arrival a number of the occupants had injuries, and officers sought explanations about where the injuries came from. 'From a search of the flat, reviewing footage, officer accounts, pathology information, and an audit trail of Taser use within the South Wales Police force area we requested, there is no evidence to suggest that Mr Hassan was Tasered at any stage either prior to or during his detention.' In February, the matter was referred by South Wales Police to the IOPC for an independent investigation. Campaigners' calls for CCTV and police bodycam footage to be made public have been refused in case they are needed for potential criminal, misconduct, or inquest proceedings. The IOPC previously said in a statement an officer who attended Mr Hassan's home and accompanied him to custody in a police van had been served a misconduct notice. Multiple protests and demonstrations took place outside Cardiff Bay police station in the days after Mr Hassan's death following his arrest by police officers in January this year The spokesperson said: 'The officer attended the Newport Road, Cardiff, address on January 8 and accompanied Mr Hassan to Cardiff Bay custody unit in the rear of a police van. 'During this time period, Mr Hassan was heard on body worn camera to complain of having a fit, suffering a migraine, and displayed signs of experiencing pain. 'The misconduct notice relates to this information potentially not being passed to custody staff in charge of Mr Hassan's welfare.' The spokesperson said the misconduct notice 'does not necessarily mean an officer has committed any wrongdoing' but that an officer's conduct was being investigated. The most serious sanction that can be imposed if an officer is found to have breached professional standards at misconduct level is a written warning. Pictured: A woman holds a sign during a candlelight vigil for Mr Hassan outside Cardiff Bay police station on February 9 as public called for footage to be released IOPC director for Wales, Catrin Evans said: 'There is much more work to do to complete our investigation and our investigators continue to gather and review evidence to help us establish the events leading up to Mr Hassans death. 'We need to ensure we have spoken to anyone who may possibly have useful information to help us build a picture of what happened. 'We have concentrated on the footage from police body worn video and from CCTV at the custody suite which covers the time Mr Hassan spent there and his release from the police station. 'As our review of this material nears completion, we intend to move on to scrutinise street and private footage which has been secured, which we hope will assist in identifying Mr Hassans movements following his release from custody, and may open up further lines of enquiry. 'An investigation like this does take time and we would ask people to be patient while the investigation runs its course.' Lawyer Hilary Brown, who is representing Mr Hassan's family, said the family were 'hugely distressed' to hear that he had been in pain or was injured during his time in custody. Ms Brown said: 'We don't know the source of those injuries. Pictured: Protesters made their way from Cardiff city centre to the police station in January 'But conveying that to a police officer, who should have then highlighted this to a custody sergeant, one thinks that if that had been done then maybe medical attention would have been sought for him. 'I can't see how they say this could lead to misconduct. This is gross misconduct that is so serious it could have contributed to the loss of somebody's life.' She said the family had called for the immediate suspension of the officer involved, and that a potential written warning 'in no way reflects the seriousness of the negligence'. Ms Brown added that Mr Hassan had no prior history of suffering from fits. A statement from South Wales Police said: 'The force continues to fully co-operate with the IOPC investigation and is providing them with information and material, including CCTV footage and body-worn video. 'We acknowledge the impact Mr Hassan's death has had on his family, friends and the wider community. Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with them.' Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 20:16:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A staff member performs random sample check on inactivated COVID-19 vaccines at a packing line of the Sinovac Research & Development Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) - "Vaccine nationalism will backfire. Only global collaboration against the virus can lead to global recovery," said Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. - China and the U.S. should hold on to a "four Cs" principle -- collaboration, competition, communication and coordination -- to jointly curb the spread of COVID-19 and restore normal life, said Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC). BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Leading public health experts from China and the United States called on the world's two largest economies to cooperate in COVID-19 vaccination for a steady recovery at a recent webinar co-hosted by China's Tsinghua University and Washington-based think tank the Brookings Institution. Tsinghua University President Qiu Yong and Brookings President John R. Allen delivered their opening remarks at the online event themed "Fast Track to Recovery: U.S.-China Collaboration on COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment," which was held on Monday. Qiu said Tsinghua is looking forward to working together with Brookings and the global community to facilitate a faster recovery from the pandemic through academic exchanges and research collaboration. "As we enter the period of vaccine distribution, it is vital that we work together to develop and form concrete policy recommendations for the next stage," he said, adding that the rapid development of several vaccines offers the promise of an effective solution to the pandemic. Photo taken in Los Angeles County, on March 26, 2020 shows donations from the Chinese-American community in Palos Verdes in Southern California, the United States. (Photo by Maggie Wang/Xinhua) Allen, for his part, noted that the change in the U.S. administration offers an opportunity for leaders from both sides to examine what can be done differently and set a new course for how the United States and China can address the shared threat of COVID-19. In his eyes, when the two countries join hands to fight COVID-19, the world will have a better chance to emerge from the pandemic stronger, on the basis of a long history of the two countries working together to combat epidemics such as SARS and Ebola. Several renowned public health experts also shared their views during the webinar, including Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a leading expert in China's respiratory disease research, W. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, and Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC). As multiple virus variants emerging around the world posed a huge challenge to the global fight against COVID-19, Zhong stressed the urgency of close collaboration between the two countries to improve COVID-19 vaccines and cocktail therapy, and prepare for a potential new wave of outbreaks in the near future. He added that China-U.S. collaboration on COVID-19 prevention and treatment should be based on science and evidence rather than politicization. "We need to work together in a global fashion," said Lipkin, stressing the need for a global mechanism of testing and distribution of diagnostics, drugs and vaccines. He also suggested that the public health crisis needs more data sharing and efforts to strengthen global health institutions. Workers unload boxes containing COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 2, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) Gao said the two countries should work together to promote COVAX, a multilateral vaccine initiative backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. It is unlikely for the world to return to complete normality as pre-pandemic, but possible to regain relative normality by next summer if the current trends persist, he said. He also said the two countries should hold on to a "four Cs" principle -- collaboration, competition, communication and coordination -- to jointly curb the spread of COVID-19 and restore normal life. China and the United States could collaborate to develop global real-time surveillance and response systems to detect outbreaks, according to Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Vaccine nationalism will backfire. Only global collaboration against the virus can lead to global recovery," he said. Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with China CDC, said the prospects for the anti-pandemic fight hinge on the preventive measures taken by countries, the progress of their vaccination campaigns, and vaccines' effectiveness and duration of protection. Zhang Wenhong, head of Shanghai's COVID-19 clinical expert team, said he believes that China and the United States, as two major vaccine producers of the world, have a responsibility to help the least developed countries get access to COVID-19 vaccines. The webinar, which was live-streamed on various social media platforms, was viewed by millions of people worldwide. 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. Shahin Sean Solimon as Sinbad the Sailor in Sinbad: VI (2023) we will be pushing towards maximum efforts to produce it as creative as possible, collaborating, and once again planning on filming in California in order to help the local economy. The title will be a continuation of Sinbad the Sailors fairytale adventures and an exciting live action film loosely based on the Arabian Nights. Shahin (Sean) Solimon, who has been acknowledged as the first Persian-American actor to play Sinbad the Sailor in an American made film and has been mentioned in conversations as a modern-day Orson Welles, will be developing the title to be commercially appealing and designed for fans of sword and sandal epics. I am very excited and looking forward to developing and extending this Universe of Sinbad the Sailor. I have always been a fan of the Arabian Nights as are many fans around the globe. We will be putting our efforts in creating yet another fun adventure. Our budget was minimal on the Fifth Voyage and many hurdles were jumped to produce the title. I accepted the challenge to create what we had to work with using imagination and minimal resources. The learning curve was awesome, and I feel it was the best experience. On this next one, we will be pushing towards maximum efforts to produce it as creative as possible, collaborating, and once again planning on filming in California in order to help the local economy. I am truly grateful for the chance to be a part of this creative process on both sides of the camera, once again. - said Solimon. The plan is to keep the nostalgia of this swashbuckling character but looking to upgrade with tons of storyline and visuals. We will also be looking to partner with major providers or studios and distribute on a large scale for the fans to enjoy, we may even open it up to fans to get involved. Stay tuned the script is looking good, so far! Solimon is rumored to also be open to developing a series based on the legendary character and wants to create something unique, yet commercially appealing. You can get more info from the directors social media: https://www.facebook.com/shahinsolimon - https://www.instagram.com/shahinsolimon More information about the Sinbad movies and where to watch them can be found at: https://giantflick.com/ About Giant Flick Films: With core genres of Fantasy, Sci-fi, Horror and Action-Adventure Giant Flick LLC is a down-to-Earth production and distribution company based in Hollywood, CA and run by artists that believe in social equality, green renewable energy and great storytelling! Retail, banking and financial technology experts join the Signifyd team to provide guidance and seamless solutions for merchants facing Strong Customer Authentication regulations Signifyd, the market leader in ecommerce guaranteed fraud and consumer abuse protection, introduced an expanded team of veteran SCA experts today from the retail, banking and financial technology fields to serve as trusted advisors to merchants struggling to comply with the new payment regulations under PSD2. The EMEA team expansion is the next step in the evolution of Signifyd's European mission, which benefits well-known retailers including Samsung, Emma, Mango, The WatchShop, Maplin, Pure Electric, Public Desire, CurrentBody, FOREO and Natural Baby Shower. The added expertise around PSD2's Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirement complements a core of experts already established across the UK and Europe, while the added marketing capabilities will continue to expand operations within Europe. SCA rolled out across most of Europe on the 1st of January 2021. Its UK enforcement is set to begin on the 14th of September. The assembled team will help merchants across Europe better understand SCA and further strengthen the Signifyd Seamless SCA solution. To that end, Signifyd is pleased to announce the addition of Shagun Varshney, Okan Ozaltin and Amal Ahmed to the EMEA team. Signifyd Senior Product Manager Shagun Varshney was a strategy consultant at Accenture before joining Signifyd. At Accenture, Varshney held the primary responsibility for designing, implementing and evaluating the strategy that brought UK Challenger Bank's digital commercial banking into compliance with PSD2's SCA requirement. She also helped develop the SCA solution for contactless credit cards for one of the UK's top high street banks. The Challenger Bank system that Varshney successfully implemented affects 1.8 million customers and anticipates 130 different SCA-affected customer journeys, including log-in, international and domestic payments and other high-risk processes. Okan Ozaltin, Signifyd's General Manager, Payment Solutions, has deep experience in both financial services and consumer products, which places him at the intersection of payments security and consumer experience. His vantage point is particularly apt for the dramatic shift SCA represents for brands and merchants. Ozaltin comes to Signifyd from Fiserv, a payments and financial technology company, where he was vice president of product management acquiring. Among the many efforts he led were the initiatives around PSD2 and customer digital experience. He also served as a non-executive director for the NetPay Solutions Group and as an executive director for J.P. Morgan Chase. Amal Ahmed, Signifyd's Head of EMEA Marketing, has extensive experience presenting complicated technology and its intersection with complex regulation in clear, actionable ways. Prior to Signifyd, she was senior marketing manager at Orc Group, where she also worked on the rollout of Orc Group's suite of products for MIFID II, a key piece of financial markets regulation. When the company rebranded as Itiviti, Ahmed led its content marketing, public relations and communications efforts. Prior to Itiviti, Ahmed helped lead marketing at Imprima, which developed an AI-based system for conducting due diligence in complex business transactions. "The European ecommerce market is one of the most innovative in the world," Signifyd Managing Director, EMEA Ed Whitehead said in announcing the enhanced team. "The expansion of the EMEA team will enable us to continue our work with merchants to build incredible customer experiences while increasing payment security. Getting SCA right provides a fantastic opportunity for brands to differentiate themselves by providing a seamless shopping journey from end-to-end." SCA, which requires robust two-factor authentication for many transactions, is aimed at protecting consumers from online fraud in a time when online fraud is increasing in frequency and scope. While merchants and consumers alike would welcome extra protection against fraud, navigating a post-SCA landscape without adding friction to the checkout experience is proving to be much more of a challenge than many anticipated. To learn more about SCA and Signifyd's initiatives to support merchants in implementing it, register to join EMEA team member Varshney and Forrester Senior Analyst eBusiness Channel Strategy Jacob Morgan on the 31st of March for "Moving Beyond Compliance: How to Take Advantage of the New Opportunities Provided by PSD2 and Create a Winning SCA Strategy in 2021." About Signifyd Signifyd provides an end-to-end Commerce Protection Platform that leverages its Commerce Network to maximize conversion, automate customer experience and eliminate fraud and customer abuse for retailers. Signifyd counts among its customers a number of companies on the Fortune 1000 and Internet Retailer Top 500 lists. Signifyd is headquartered in San Jose, CA., with locations in Denver, New York, Mexico City, Belfast and London. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005224/en/ Contacts: Amal Ahmed Signifyd +44 7960 379091 amal.ahmed@signifyd.com Mike Cassidy Signifyd mike.cassidy@signifyd.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy got heads turning last month when his administration imposed what it described as sanctions against individuals and entities with strong ties to Russia, including three television stations and an influential tycoon who is close to President Vladimir Putin, in a surprise show of force. Advocates of reform hope the unprecedented actions are signs that Zelenskiy is getting serious about delivering on the aggressive agenda of political and economic change that he outlined during the 2019 presidential campaign but struggled to implement last year amid concerns about backsliding. However, some observers suspect that the punitive measures -- as well as the high-profile arrest last month of bankers in an alleged $5.5 billion fraud case -- may be driven more by the presidents desire to bolster his sagging ratings and score points with the new U.S. administration than by an intention to improve the rule of law and advance other reforms. Morgan Williams, the president of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, an association that represents dozens of foreign investors operating in Ukraine, said the business community has reacted favorably to Zelenskiys steps to weaken the political clout of figures seen by critics as agents of Russian influence but remains concerned about what comes next. All this occurred so suddenly, without advance notice, that there are questions about what happened to trigger the actions -- and why now, Williams, who is U.S.-based but travels frequently to Ukraine, said in a telephone interview with RFE/RL. Business leaders hope the moves are not meant to distract domestic and international audiences from the tough judicial reform choices Zelenskiy should make, he said. That international audience includes U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration has promised to support Ukraine in the face of Russian interference but is also expected to press Kyiv for progress on issues including judicial reform and fighting corruption. The series of steps was set in motion on February 2, when Zelenskiy signed off on measures proposed a day earlier by the National Security and Defense Council, imposing sanctions on Taras Kozak, a lawmaker from the Moscow-friendly Opposition Platform-For Life party, and shutting down three television stations he owns. Many in Ukraine who back integration with Europe see the stations -- 112, NewsOne, and ZIK -- as a Russian Trojan horse, an instrument for planting pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation from within. The perception of an influence campaign coming from inside Ukraine comes hand-in-hand with pressure from across the border. Russia seized control of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and has given military, political, and financial support to militants who control parts of two provinces in the eastern region known as the Donbas, where a deadly separatist war is almost seven years old. Opposition Platform-For Life, whose support largely comes from eastern and southern provinces where Russian-speakers predominate, promotes closer economic and political ties with Moscow and is the second-largest party in the parliament. Zelenskiy next signed off on sanctions proposed by his national-security council against Viktor Medvedchuk, one of Ukraines richest and most powerful figures and a longtime friend of Putins, as well as 19 companies and eight individuals associated with him. Medvedchuk, who chose Putin to be the godfather of his daughter, is one of the highest-ranking members of the Opposition Platform-For Life party. The tycoon is also believed to be the true owner of the television stations that were shut down. The measures targeting Medvedchuk freeze his assets in Ukraine, including his bank accounts. The day after they were imposed, the U.S. Embassy tweeted support for Ukraine's efforts to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity through sanctions. The embassy pointed out that Medvedchuk has been under U.S. sanctions since 2014 for undermining Ukraines security, territorial integrity, and democratic institutions -- a reference to measures imposed by the Treasury Department in connection with Russias takeover of Crimea. In announcing the measures against Medvedchuk, the national-security council accused him of financing terrorism. Zelenskiys administration claimed the tycoon is channeling money from his Russia-based refinery to the separatists in eastern Ukraine. The national-security council accuses Kozak of financing propaganda, claiming his television stations receive money from the sale to Russia of coal produced in the separatist-controlled regions. Medvedchuk has denied the accusations, calling them nonsense. It is just a provocation in order to first close the three TV stations, and then restrict me so that I either quit politics or leave the country, he told the BBC in an interview published on March 2. A television star and comedian with no political experience when he campaigned for the presidency in 2019, Zelenskiy promised to enact reforms recommended by Western governments, curb corruption, take on the powerful tycoons known as oligarchs, and do his best to end the war in eastern Ukraine -- a vow that resonated with voters weary of a conflict that has killed more than 13,000 people since 2014. Medvedchuk had served as a broker in peace negotiations and prisoner exchanges over the years, shuttling between Ukraine and Moscow on his private jet for talks with Putin, but was sidelined when Zelenskiy came to power. Zelenskiys administration claims that he is acting in the interests of Russia, not Ukraine, and has been undermining the peace process through the media assets -- assertions he denies. We have come to the conclusion that as long as Medvedchuk openly subverts the chances of Kyivs efforts for a peaceful resolution, as long as he is able to seed discord, promote the Kremlins agenda, and spread disinformation in Ukraine, our country will remain at war, Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiys chief of staff, said in a statement posted February 26 on the website of the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, and aimed at policymakers and analysts in the United States. Zelenskiys moves targeting Medvedchuk come at a time when the president may feel a mixture of encouragement and pressure from the United States to lessen Moscows influence and pursue political and economic reforms that Western officials say would also help shorten Russias levers of power over Kyiv. Kyivs relations with the Trump administration were badly strained. Biden -- who pushed Kyiv to enact reforms in Ukraine as vice president in 2009-2017 -- has vowed to be tough on Moscow and said on February 26 that the United States would stand with Ukraine against Russias aggressive acts. The dual message -- support for sovereignty and pressure for reform -- has been sent again since Bidens election in November 2020. In a Senate confirmation hearing on January 19, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that standing up to Russia was only half the battle: Unless Ukraine tackles corruption and improves the rule of law, he said, it will struggle to build a durable democracy. Zelenskiy would have had little to show the new U.S. administration on that front when Biden took office the following day. Critics say the Ukrainian president has so far largely failed to implement the economic and political changes urged by the United States and European Union since his inauguration in May 2019. He fired his pro-reform government in March 2020, just six months after its formation, despite what people like Williams say was noticeable progress on long-awaited policies. Among those who lost their job during the reshuffle was Prosecutor-General Ruslan Ryaboshapka, who was admired in the West as tough on corruption. In an announcement that analysts say was a clear message by the Biden administration to Zelenskiy that he is not doing enough to curb graft, the State Department on February 23 named Ryaboshapka one of its 12 global anti-corruption champions. A day before that, Ukrainian authorities made their first arrest ever in the alleged embezzlement of $5.5 billion from PrivatBank, once the nations largest bank. The United States and Europe have pushed Ukraine to investigate the alleged theft ever since Kyiv nationalized the bank in 2016. The United States has opened a criminal investigation into its owners, including influential tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskiy, on suspicion of money laundering. Courageous actions like these are an important step in the fight against corruption, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv tweeted following the first arrest. Geopolitical factors notwithstanding, some analysts suspect the timing of Zelenskiys moves is aimed at reversing a sharp drop in his poll ratings. A survey conducted in January by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed that 23 percent of Ukrainians voters would choose Zelenskiy from a list of potential presidential candidates, down from more than 70 percent at the start of his term in 2019 and 27 percent in December 2020. Former President Petro Poroshenko, whom Zelenskiy crushed in a runoff in April 2019, was not far behind at nearly 18 percent. Zelenskiys Servant of the People party has also experienced a drop in support. Its approval rating is 16 percent, behind both Poroshenkos party, European Solidarity, and Medvedchuks party, which have 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Zelenskiy has now obviously realized that pro-Russia television stations and politicians are causing a significant influence on his rating, Yevhen Mahda, a political analyst at the Ukrainian Institute of Politics in Kyiv, told RFE/RL. Mahda said that Zelenskiy had taken no action after hinting early in his term that he had information about alleged ties between Medvedchuks party and the Russian business world. In response to an August 31, 2019 question about Medvedchuks party, Zelenskiy told reporters we have the answers about the amount of cash it receives and from where. He said it would become a very high-profile story that will end very badly. The governments move against Medvedchuk also comes amid a struggle for control of the judicial system and concerns about backsliding on efforts to reform it. The outcome of that battle is likely to have major consequences for Zelenskiy and his relations with Western governments and voters seeking change. The Constitutional Court, which many in Ukraine suspect is under the influence of magnates like Medvedchuk, in October 2020 dismantled key elements of the nations anti-corruption legislation. The court case that led to that development was initiated by members of Medvedchuks party and suspected by critics to be aimed at undermining Ukraines relations with the West. The October 27 decision ruling has resulted in a months-long standoff between the Constitutional Court and the Zelenskiy administration over the future of anti-corruption legislation. Steven Pifer, who was the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from January 1998 to October 2000, said the decline in Zelenskiys approval ratings coincided with his backsliding last year on political and economic changes. Reining in Medvedchuk is one way to reinvigorate that reform program and potentially boost his popularity, he said. I think he needs to re-instill a sense in the Ukrainian population that he is carrying out the agenda he campaigned on two years ago. He still has an opportunity to do this and I hope that these things we have seen mean that he is now going to get serious about that, said Pifer, now a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Additional reporting by RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondents Liubomyra Remazhevska and Natalia Sedletska in Kyiv "We are proud to receive Platinum level recognition as a family friendly employer in New Mexico. Flow Science continues to be a great place to work, offering best-in-class benefits and generous policies," said Aimee Abby, Flow Sciences HR Manager Flow Science, Inc. has earned Platinum level distinction for its workplace policies by Family Friendly New Mexico, a statewide initiative developed to recognize employers that have adopted policies that give New Mexico businesses an advantage in recruiting and retaining the best employees. This is Flow Sciences fifth year in a row winning a Family Friendly New Mexico award. We are proud to receive Platinum level recognition as a family friendly employer in New Mexico. Flow Science continues to be a great place to work, offering best-in-class benefits and generous policies. In 2021, Flow Science added even more policies and benefits that support our employees in community volunteerism and charitable giving, which has taken us from Gold to Platinum level recognition, said Aimee Abby, Flow Sciences HR Manager. The Family Friendly New Mexico initiative offers training, support and resources to businesses on how to implement family friendly policies, provides recognition to businesses and organizations that offer their employees family friendly benefits, and acts as a resource for businesses and community leaders as they develop policies on issues such as paid family leave and childcare assistance. As we grow the states economy, we have the opportunity to be a national leader in offering New Mexicans workplaces that help companies attract and keep the best workers, said Giovanna Rossi, founder and Director of Family Friendly New Mexico. Implementing family friendly policies can be a simple, concrete investment a company can make to ensure it can compete for highly qualified employees. Studies have shown that costs associated with creating family friendly benefits are more than made up for in improved productivity, employee morale and employee retention. We are happy to recognize Flow Science as a distinguished leader in implementing family friendly policies. Flow Science offers its employees medical, dental and vision insurance plans employer-paid at 90%, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, retirement and financial planning assistance, a 401(k) plan with generous employer matching contributions, vacation and sick pay, maternity and paternity leave, commuter benefit, training and education, and a wellness benefit. A new program implemented in 2021 encourages employee volunteerism and offers a charitable matching program. About Flow Science, Inc. Flow Science, Inc. is a privately-held software company specializing in computational fluid dynamics software for industrial and scientific applications worldwide. Flow Science has distributors and technical support services for its FLOW-3D products in nations throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. Flow Science can be found online at https://www.flow3d.com. FLOW-3D is a registered trademark in the USA and other countries. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 21:47:41|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Zhang Yesui (C), spokesperson for the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), speaks in a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference Thursday night, ahead of the opening of its annual session. Zhang Yesui took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters on the agenda of the session and the work of the NPC via video link. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held a press conference Thursday night, ahead of the opening of its annual session. Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 13th NPC, took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters on the agenda of the session and the work of the NPC via video link. Enditem Central China's Hubei province, the former epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic, is inviting people across the country, especially medical workers who fought on the anti-epidemic frontline, to enjoy its cherry blossoms, according to a press conference held by the provincial government on March 3. Photo shows the cherry blossoms at Wuhan East Lake Cherry Blossom Park in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province. (People's Daily Online/Zhao Li) The province will launch a cherry blossom-themed event from March 8, releasing a list of more than 40 scenic areas where the gorgeous cherry blooms can be enjoyed, including famous spots such as Wuhan University and Wuhan East Lake Cherry Blossom Park in the provincial capital Wuhan, as well as in other cities. Hubei also recommended 10 travel routes for tourists looking to enjoy spring blossoms, including cherry, plum, azalea, peach, peony, and magnolia. The province will receive more than 100 tourist groups across the country and put on over 200 art performances. Last year, over 42,000 healthcare workers in more than 340 medical teams from across the country bravely joined in the fight against the virus, putting themselves in harms way in Hubei, and had no time to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Wuhan, Xu Yong, deputy director of the provinces department of culture and tourism, said at the press conference. To make up for that missed opportunity, Hubei will invite representatives of medical workers who assisted the province during the epidemic to enjoy its spring blossoms, Xu added. Wuhan University will launch special events for medical workers and will not receive bookings from other visitors on March 13 and 14, Wu Ping, deputy president of the university, said at the press conference. In addition to arranging a welcoming ceremony for medical workers, the university will recommend the best routes and offer pick-up and guide services as well as performances for them, Wu explained. Medical workers can also enter the campus during the cherry blossom viewing season after making appointments through designated online channels (its official website and WeChat account), which will open at 8 p.m. on March 5, Wu added. Medical workers who assisted Hubei in the anti-virus fight can also enjoy special discounts while shopping at large shopping malls, supermarkets, major business districts, and e-commerce platforms in the province, Hu Zhonghai, deputy director of the provinces department of commerce, said at the press conference. However, COVID-19 prevention measures should be implemented at tourist spots, restaurants and hotels in Hubei, and reservation policies at scenic spots should be observed regularly, with visitor caps and staggered access put in place. A 22-year-old driver died after crashing into a tree early Sunday in Southwest Portland, police say. Portland police said Jose Ignacio Contreras, a Salem resident, was driving north on Barbur Boulevard near Duniway Park when he went off the road and hit a tree. He died at the scene. Investigators think the speed he was driving may have factored into the incident, which was the 12th fatal crash in Portland so far this year. Fifty-four people were killed in Portland traffic crashes in 2020 the most since 1996. The Oregonian/OregonLive Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer. Photo: Fox News/YouTube Glenn Greenwalds long intellectual journey from center left to far left to, well, somewhere is a subject of fascination in elite circles. Greenwald comes out of a tradition of progressive journalism that focused primarily on attacking liberals and the Democratic Party from the left. Like many progressives, he latched on to Bernie Sanderss two presidential campaigns as a righteous crusade to liberate the Democratic Party from the nefarious grip of its corporate, neoliberal masters. After that, things got weird. Some Bernie fans remained embittered with the Democratic Party. A handful of them broke with it not only from the left, on foreign policy and economics, but also from the right on social policy, coming to believe the partys elitist program was deliberately using facile identity politics to divert voters from a true working-class agenda. Greenwald took this impulse even further by positioning himself as a frequent guest on Fox News, where he would reliably bash the Democrats from the standpoint of the good progressive. The distinction between Greenwalds attacks on the Democratic Party from the left and the Fox News attacks on Democrats from the right has grown increasingly difficult to discern. Greenwald has finally erased the line, and perhaps completed his voyage of discovery across the ideological spectrum, in a new interview with the right-wing Daily Caller. In it, he declares that he considers the Donald Trump of 2016 along with Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson to be authentic socialists, unlike the center left, which is about nothing more than trying to sandpaper the edges off neoliberalism: I would describe a lot of people on the right as being socialist. I would consider Steve Bannon to be socialist. I would consider the 2016 iteration of Donald Trump the candidate to be a socialist, based on what he was saying. I would consider Tucker Carlson to be a socialist. Greenwalds primary focus is on foreign policy and national security, where the ideological lines really are blurry enough to construct a halfway-plausible case that Trump is to the left of the Democratic Party. Its certainly true that Trump has more dovish views on Russia, though his motives for cozying up to it and repeating Vladimir Putins propaganda are obviously deeply corrupt, a reality Greenwald has fanatically refused to concede. But Greenwald is now going well beyond that to define figures like Trump circa 2016 version, Bannon, and Carlson as socialists, not merely as enemies of the national security state. Pinning down a precise definition of socialism is a question that entire forests worth of books and articles have given their lives to answer, largely in vain. Suffice it to say that any sane definition of socialism involves some combination of government regulation, redistribution of resources, and the power to effect more economic equality. How, exactly, do the likes of Trump, Carlson, and Bannon qualify as socialists? Greenwald explains or at least tries to: I think the vision is, you know, you have this kind of right-wing populism, which really is socialism, that says we should close our borders, not allow unconstrained immigration, and then take better care of our own working-class people and not allow this kind of transnational, global, corporatist elite to take everything for themselves under the guise of neoliberalism. All the work here is being done by the brief reference to tak[ing] better care of our own working-class people. The lack of detail in this crucial clause is striking. Its true that, on some issues, Carlson has positioned himself to the left of Trump and the Republican Party. He criticized Trumps plan to repeal Obamacare as well as his corporate tax cuts. The problem is that every single Democrat also opposes Trumps tax cuts and the repeal of Obamacare. Whats more, the Democratic Party proposes not just to keep Obamacare and repeal Trumps tax cuts but to tax the rich even more and expand health-care coverage. Bannon and Carlson dont believe in any of those things. Carlson likewise opposes increasing the minimum wage, enthusiastically supports fossil-fuel companies rights to dump carbon pollution into the atmosphere at no cost, and likes to use socialist as a term of abuse, a habit that usually indicates youre not a socialist. Note, however, that we have proven only that Carlson, Bannon, and Trump fail any sane definition of socialism. There is still an insane definition, favored in parts of the right, which claims that Adolph Hitler was actually a socialist. By this definition, the political spectrum is a simple line, with one pole being laissez-faire capitalism as articulated by the American right and the other being any form of big government. Since fascism employs a great deal of government power and sometimes even uses the term socialist in its self-definition, fascism is actually on the left. This was always a ridiculous way to understand fascism. It has become more obviously ridiculous over the past five years, which have brought actual, self-identified Nazis into a broad coalition with laissez-faire conservatives. (Theres a reason the Nazis called their 2017 Charlottesville torchlight rally Unite the Right, not Unite the Left. Its because theyre on the political right.) But yes, if you consider demagogic attacks on immigrants and the transnational, global, corporatist elite combined with substance-free promises to take better care of our own working class to be socialism, then you can describe Carlsons brand of demagogic hate-mongering as socialist. In place of a redistribution of wealth, it offers working-class people the chance to direct their resentment at cosmopolitan elites [tugs collar nervously] and various brown-skinned people. Propelled by his unshakable conviction that the Democratic Party is the main obstacle to the progressive agenda, Greenwald has successfully completed his orbit around the political spectrum. He now finds himself hailing the socialist bona fides of a wealthy heir who uses racial resentment to redirect the white working class away from material concerns. Its a (National Socialist German) workers party now. ai Jordan O'Donnell, 19, found with knife wounds to his legs in Croydon, London Police investigating the murder of a man who was stabbed to death in broad daylight yesterday have named him as Tai Jordan O'Donnell. The 19-year-old was found with knife wounds to his legs on Alpha Road in Croydon, south London, at around midday yesterday. Officers raced to the scene after being called by London Ambulance Service but Mr O'Donnell was pronounced dead five minutes later. Detectives from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command arrested a 22-year-old woman today on suspicion of murder. She was taken to a police station in south London, where she remains, the force said. Tai Jordan O'Donnell, 19, was found with knife wounds to his legs on Alpha Road in Croydon at around midday yesterday (crime scene pictured today) Forensic officers pictured at the scene today. Detectives from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command have arrested a 22-year-old female on suspicion of murder Homicide Detective Chief Inspector Mick Norman, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Although we haven't yet had a formal identification we are confident that the deceased is Tai Jordan O'Donnell from Croydon who was just 19 years old. 'While our enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident continue our thoughts are with Tai's family and friends who are, no doubt, struggling to come to terms with what has happened. 'It is too early to speculate regarding any potential motive. Despite the fact that an arrest has been made, I am very keen to hear from anyone who has information and hasn't yet spoken with officers. 'I understand that some people may be reluctant to speak directly to police. If that is the case please contact Crimestoppers where you won't even be asked for your name.' A spokesperson for the Met Police said that officers were called at 12.12pm on Wednesday and found Mr O'Donnell 'suffering a number of knife wounds to his legs'. He was pronounced dead five minutes later, at 12.17pm. Officers raced to the scene after being called by London Ambulance Service but Mr O'Donnell was pronounced dead five minutes later (police cordon pictured last night) Police pictured at the scene yesterday evening. The 22-year-old female suspect was taken to a police station in south London, where she remains, the force said In a statement, the force said: 'His family have been notified and are being supported by specialist officers. 'A post-mortem examination will take place in due course. A crime scene remains in place. 'A 22-year-old female was arrested on Thursday, 4 March on suspicion of murder. She was taken to a south London police station where she remains at this time.' Detectives are appealing for anyone with information to come forward and call the incident room on 0208 721 4005 or 101, quoting the reference CAD2875/3MAR, or to contact anonymously via Crimestoppers. A daring character-driven crime drama about motherhood, Snow Angels is one of the highlights of this years Berlinale Series selection. Set in wintertime Stockholm, the gripping story follows three women a mother, a policewoman and a child nurse whose fates become intertwined following the disappearance of a 5-week-old infant. The series is headlined by Josefin Asplund (Vikings), Eva Melander (Border), Maria Rossing (Splitting Up Together) and Ardalan Esmaili (The Charmer). Produced by Swedens Yellow Bird and Denmarks Happy Ending Film, the six-part show is being represented in international markets by REinvent which unveiled a sale to Germanys ARD Degeto at the start of market. More from Variety Variety talked to the strong female duo behind the gripping drama, the creator and writer Mette Heeno (Splitting Up Together), and the director Anna Zackrisson (White Wall, The Restaurant). Whats the genesis of Snow Angels? Mette Heeno: I wanted to explore the theme of motherhood and different stage of becoming a mother; the fear and happiness and all the emotions that come to you when you have a baby and start a family. I thought it was a strong starting point. Then expanding on that I wondered what it feels like to lose the child and if turns out that its your fault if the child is missing. For some women, becoming a mother can mean losing your sense of self and for others, its a life goal that can never be achieved. Once I had this narrative threat, I weaved all the other characters into the story. All of them are connected to the theme of motherhood in a different way. The structure of the narration is not chronological. Why did you want to tell the story this way? Story continues Heeno: The story goes back in time so it starts with Jenni being pregnant and you see everything that surrounds her before the child is born and understand all the nuances of this theme and story. Zackrisson: The further you go back in time, the more you get to know the characters and the details of the plot reveal themselves. Anna, what compelled you to come on board as a director? Anna Zackrisson: I was drawn to the fact that its not another crime or detective story. When I read the script I found it both complex and strange. The characters all seem different from you and at the same time theyre human. The danger that these characters come across lies within themselves rather than outside, and were getting to know their fears and dreams. Heeno: Yes, its not so much of a whodunnit-type show. Its more about why these things happen than who did it. Its both a relationship drama and thriller. We have a lot of empathy for the characters, we dont judge them. They have a lot of flaws and they ended up in bad relationships, but they are trying to be good people. What does the series say about Swedish society today? Heeno: I think the series explores what it means to be a women today. Through the gaze of the policewoman, we see how Swedish society functions and judges women about the way they behave as mothers. As a mother in Sweden, youre supposed to do things a certain way, and if you dont youre put in a certain box and it generates a lot of guilt and fear within women. The character of Jenni is seen as a sort of white trash. Zackrisson: Sweden is advanced in many regards but its still a patriarchal society and it will take a few hundred years to break down that patriarchal social structure. Its still taboo for a woman to say that she doesnt want a child. How did you manage to shoot the series during the pandemic? Mette Heeno: We started in February when COVID-19 was only a vague rumour but we never had a lockdown in Sweden so we kept working. But shooting during this pandemic gave a special atmosphere on set. Every day we didnt know if would have to shut down, or if someone was going to get ill. In the end we managed to get it through. Anna Zackrisson: Still we had to change locations and reschedule things, for instance when places we were supposed to shoot in were shut down or when people had small colds. We also had scenes with small babies which we had to reschedule to the fall because we didnt want to bring them on set last winter. It took enormous flexibility to make it work. What are you working on next? Mette Heeno: Im going to start shooting a TV series for DR in August. Its set in 1960s in Denmark and its about the invention of the electric curler. It was a revolution for women because it was very cheap, saved them hours and they didnt need to be rich to use it. It also got women to leave farms and start working at factories! Im very excited about this show. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 3.30 am ET Thursday, IHS Markit releases Germany's construction PMI data for February. Ahead of the data, the euro traded mixed against its major rivals. While it dropped against the greenback and the pound, it rose against the yen and the franc. The euro was worth 129.14 against the yen, 1.2043 against the greenback, 0.8637 against the pound and 1.1089 against the franc as of 3:25 am ET. 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. One year ago, state lawmakers approved sweeping new emergency powers for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to confront the impending COVID-19 crisis. Since then, he has issued a multitude of orders that have affected everything from hospital capacity to public schools to the ability of everyday New Yorkers to grab a cocktail on the go. But his reign as the effective pandemic king of New York is coming to an end. Democratic state lawmakers could vote as soon as Friday on new legislation that would increase legislative oversight over the states response to the pandemic, but its biggest effect could be symbolic as Cuomo faces increasing pressure to resign over allegations of sexual harassment and his handling of coronavirus deaths in nursing homes. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie have framed the issue more as a response to the ongoing decrease of COVID-19 cases rather than a direct rebuke of the governor. These temporary emergency powers were granted as New York was devastated by a virus we knew nothing about, Heastie said in a press release. Now it is time for our government to return to regular order. A spokesperson for both leaders confirmed that their respective chambers will take up the legislation either on Friday or Monday. The new legislation will allow current executive orders to remain in place for an additional 30 days. Cuomo would have to notify Stewart-Cousins and Heastie of any plans to extend or modify those orders and give legislators a chance to respond. Local governments would be given a similar role when gubernatorial orders are specific to them. All current directives will be posted online 15 days after the legislation is passed and any executive order that would be expanded beyond this additional 30 days would have to be explicitly related to the pandemic, according to the press release. But in his first public appearance since Feb. 24, Cuomo today framed the agreement on curbing his emergency powers as an extension. The legislation extends the emergency power to the point where the federal government declares an end to pandemic, he said. He continued: Well give the Legislature notice of any changes were making five days prior to effect. If it is an emergency change, as determined by the Department of Health, it will be a shorter period of time. While Cuomo has exerted great power during the pandemic, lawmakers have always had the opportunity to overrule his pandemic orders by a majority vote of both chambers. They have not exercised that right, though they have passed numerous pieces of legislation codifying gubernatorial orders or directly legislating pandemic policy on issues like eviction moratoriums and election law. But bombshell revelations about Cuomos withholding of nursing home data from state lawmakers, as well as the ongoing sexual harassment allegations, have made a growing number of Democratic lawmakers eager to assert their power over Cuomo as the state approaches the April 1 budget deadline. Reducing his emergency powers, however, has hardly tamed the push by some Democrats for Cuomo to resign, as a federal probe of nursing homes continues and an investigation into sexual harassment allegations overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James gets underway. Calls for his resignation have been loudest on the political left and right, but there are growing signs that more centrist lawmakers are tiring of Cuomo just weeks after he began tumbling off his pandemic pedestal as the straight-talking, can-do governor who got New York through the worst of COVID-19. My preference is to let the independent investigation proceed, state Sen. Rachel May of Central New York said today. It is getting harder and harder to see a way forward to doing our jobs with this governor in place. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The area surrounding one of the citys most iconic vistas now has an idea of its future, though its not the radical transformation many hoped for. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors voted Tuesday to compromise on proposed changes to the traffic flow on Twin Peaks Boulevard, settling on a partially car-free option. The Burnett Avenue gate will remain closed to traffic except for emergency vehicles, bicycles, walkers and skaters, while the Portola Drive access will reopen for all-day use by motor vehicles. Car travelers will be able to again use the Christmas Tree Road parking lot and viewing area. The eastern side of the figure-eight road will remain car-free, which it was even before the pandemic. The roads have been mostly closed to traffic since March 2020, including to tour buses, which frequently utilized the area for its scenic views. The addition of car-free streets in San Francisco amid the pandemic have not appeared without debate. Some love the additional space to recreate safely, without the dangers of traffic passing by. Others, such as those with disabilities, argue certain car-free spaces can leave them out, which has been an argument against car-free Twin Peaks. Some nearby residents located near the Burnett Avenue entrance complained that crime and excessive noise had relocated down the hill and closer to their homes after the car-free adjustments. SFMTA officials had devised five roadway options for the future of Twin Peaks and collected opinions from the public in a survey and later held a meeting on Zoom to collect more feedback. Respondents mostly supported closing the gate at Portola Drive to cars, with 52% of people ranking this as their top choice. Returning to the pre-pandemic traffic pattern with both gates open was ranked as the least favorable option by 64% of respondents. TRAVERSE CITY Tax season is here, and the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency is offering free tax preparation services in a year when many people may be facing new tax situations related to the pandemic. NMCAA has IRS-certified professionals trained to get filers the credits and refund they are eligible for as well as help with those new pandemic-related tax issues. Anybody who made less than $72,000 in 2020, all senior citizens, people with disabilities, and those who speak limited English living in Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Kalkaska, Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Missaukee, Wexford and Roscommon are eligible to choose from two service options. One is to file tax returns with NMCAA with a virtual service featuring online filing, contactless communication and drop box locations. The program is free, includes guidance from IRS certified experts, guarantees 100% accurate returns, maximum refund and security for personal information. The process is usually completed in a few days. Visit nmcaa.net/taxes, call (800) 632-7334 or email taxes@nmcaa.net to get started. NMCAA's tax experts can help people with some tax situations brought on by the pandemic such as taxes on unemployment payments, home office deductions, recovering money if a stimulus check was not received or what to do about lost wages, or even lost jobs, in 2020. NMCAA tax preparers can also help "gig" workers and warn taxpayers about scams. The second option is do-it-yourself tax preparation through myfreetaxes.com, which is offered by United Way and backed by the IRS. The service is free for many people, and for others who are self-employed or have other common tax situations, there is a low fee, on average $200 less than other tax preparers. The program covers common tax situations (unemployment, self-employment, Earned Income Credit, mortgage and student loan deductions and more) and most people can finish preparation in under and hour. Tax help can also be found locally in Benzie and Manistee counties. BENZIE COUNTY Benzie Senior Resources is working with NMCAA to help people prepare and file their taxes. People can call Benzie Senior Resources and they will email a packet with all the necessary tax forms and instruction. "Call us and we will mail you a packet of formwork with instructions," said Doug Durand, executive director of BSR. "Then when you complete the formwork and gather your documents, either mail them to the NMCAA (their address will be enclosed in the packet) or drop them off in our drop box on the west side of the BSR Administrative Office. If they are dropped here in our drop box, we will get them to the NMCAA tax program coordinator and/or preparer and they will then prepare your return and contact you with any questions." NMCAA will print and mail a tax return to the filer and instruct them to call NMCAA to review the prepared taxes. Once reviewed, NMCAA will electronically file the return and the original documents will be returned to the filer. MANISTEE COUNTY FiveCAP Inc is offering free tax assistance to eligible low-income residents in Manistee County. Low-income is considered by FiveCAP to be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. Individuals interested in these services can reach out to the Manistee County FiveCAP office by calling (231) 723-8327 to set up an appointment. Not only will eligible residents receive help with federal and state-earned credits and returns, but also will receive assistance filing homestead property tax/rent credit, home heating credit and child tax credit. Residents who aren't required to file taxes are encouraged to do so, to receive money back to help offset yearly living costs. When individuals who qualify for assistance contact FiveCAP to set up an appointment, they will be given a list of documents to bring to prepare their taxes. The Manistee County Council on Aging usually helps with tax preparation, but will not offer that service this year. Jo Hall, receptionist for the MCCOA, said volunteers would have had to go through training in the fall, but did not, because of of uncertainty surrounding what kind of COVID-19 restrictions might be in place. She said the Council on Aging plans to offer tax help in 2022. iStock/wellesenterprises (WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- With the January 6 riot at the U.S. State Capitol not even two months in the past, U.S. Capitol Police officials say they are taking a new threat "seriously." Capitol Police say they have "obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4." The plot is said to be circulating among far-right conspiracy theorists, who believe storming the Capitol will return former President Donald Trump to power -- firmly believing the repeatedly debunked statements that the election was "stolen." According to an FBI bulletin, the "Three Percenters" group that is circulating the March 4 plot has placed authorities on high alert. The group is labeled an extremist organization by prosecutors. In a statement on Twitter, the Capitol Police informed, "Our Department is working with our local, state, and federal partners to stop any threats to the Capitol. We are taking the intelligence seriously. Due to the sensitive nature of this information, we cannot provide additional details at this time." The credibility of the information in the bulletin remains unclear. The 5,000 National Guard troops will remain on the premises, as well as the temporary fencing topped with razor wire that surrounds the Capitol complex. The House will not be in session Thursday, as it changed its schedule Wednesday night following the intelligence and security concerns. Thursday was to be a vote on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, a massive police reform bill. Instead, the vote was held Wednesday. No changes have been made to the Senate schedule and plans for a vote on the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package remain unchanged. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 07:01:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on March 3, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. U.S. Capitol Police said on Wednesday that it has learned of a "possible plot to breach the Capitol" by a militia group driven by a conspiracy theory suggesting former President Donald Trump would return to power on March 4. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Capitol Police said on Wednesday that it has learned of a "possible plot to breach the Capitol" by a militia group driven by a conspiracy theory suggesting former President Donald Trump would return to power on March 4. The Capitol Police said in a statement that it has obtained intelligence about the plot planned by an "identified militia group" and already made "significant security upgrades" to the Capitol starting earlier this week. The security upgrades include "establishing a physical structure and increasing manpower to ensure the protection of Congress, the public and our police officers," said the statement, adding that the force is "working with our local, state, and federal partners to stop any threats to the Capitol." "We are taking the intelligence seriously. Due to the sensitive nature of this information, we cannot provide additional details at this time," the statement said. Some QAnon conspiracy theorists have said that Trump will be inaugurated on March 4 because that was the original Inauguration Day for presidents until 1933, when it was moved to Jan. 20. However, a source told CNN that it is mostly online talk and not necessarily an indication anyone is coming to Washington to act on it. During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Melissa Smislova, acting intelligence chief of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), confirmed to lawmakers that the DHS and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had internally issued a joint intelligence bulletin about "extremists discussing March 4, and March 6." Security has been tight around the Capitol since the Jan. 6 riot which interrupted Congress' electoral vote count of U.S. President Joe Biden's victory. Five people died in the attack, including a Capitol police officer. Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, said on Tuesday that the law enforcement agency classifies the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by Trump's supporters as domestic terrorism. Enditem One year after the arrival of the pandemic in Chile, the country has received 8.5 million vaccines: 7.8 million from the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac and 730,000 from the American firm Pfizer, officials said on Wednesday. The last 230,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived on Wednesday. "We are leaders in vaccination in Latin America ... and in third place in the world in giving vaccine jabs in relation to our population," declared Health Minister Enrique Paris, during a small ceremony at the company that keeps Pfizer vaccines refrigerated at the required minus 70 degrees Celcius. The government of President Sebastian Pinera negotiated early and simultaneously the acquisition of vaccines with Pfizer, AstraZeneca / Oxford, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and with Covax, an international mechanism that seeks the equitable distribution of immunizers. Pinera affirms that 36 million vaccines are insured for the 80% of Chileans he wants to immunize. He is currently negotiating the purchase of more doses of Sinovac and the purchase of Russia's Sputnik V. Chile registers 835,552 infected and 20,700 deaths, to which the statistics department of the Ministry of Health adds another 6,000 people who died with all the symptoms of COVID.19, but who do not have the tests that verify the presence of the virus. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 18:45:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Russia registered 11,385 more COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, up from 10,535 a day earlier, the country's COVID-19 response center said Thursday. The national tally has thus increased to 4,290,135 with 87,823 deaths and 3,869,857 recoveries, the center said. Moscow, Russia's worst-hit region, reported 2,150 new cases, taking its total to 985,284. Nearly 112.2 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted across the country. Russia's Health Minister Mikhail Murashko warned on Wednesday that it is crucial for the population to observe coronavirus restrictions to avoid a possible third wave of infections. Enditem An upbeat opposition on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan "to resign in an honourable way" after the defeat of the government's candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh at the hands of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Senate elections, reported Dawn. Hours after the results of the elections on the Senate seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asked Imran Khan, "If he (the prime minister) has honour then he should himself resign (from the office). Imran Khan should submit his resignation today as the demand for his resignation is no more only the opposition's demand but it has now become a demand of the government members as well." The PPP chairman said that Gilani's victory was also an expression of a no-confidence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-dictated budget and a reaction of the people over the prevailing price hike and unemployment in the country. Bilawal spoke at a news conference at the Zardari House with Gilani and other senior party leaders. Moreover, Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that PM Imran Khan will seek a vote of confidence from the parliament following the results of the Senate polls, reported Geo News. Earlier, the PPP chairman had tweeted "Democracy is the best revenge Jiye Bhutto" soon after the announcement of the result, reported Dawn. Later, a number of other opposition leaders, including the supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif, through their social media accounts on Twitter, also felicitated Gilani and termed his election a "glorious victory". PML-N president and opposition leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement, said that Gilani's victory was the expression of a no-confidence by lawmakers in Imran Khan's government, reported Dawn. "Those who have destroyed the people and the country's economy and the vote thieves, sugar thieves and flour thieves have been exposed," said Sharif. Shehbaz Sharif also presided over a meeting of the party's parliamentary group and senior leaders in which he bitterly criticised the government's performance, saying that he had never seen such a "worst government" in the country's history. PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz also tweeted, congratulating Gilani as well as the PDM leadership. "Well done the PML-N.... congratulations to PML-N members who upheld the narrative of Nawaz Sharif... future is yours," said Maryam in her tweet. In another post, she claimed that "the fake mandate has been snatched back by the people's representatives. Their own people, despite the pressure on them, refused to vote for [...] (Prime Minister) Imran Khan," she said, adding that the premier now had no right to occupy the Prime Minister House. Vote chor (thief), leave the chair." Meanwhile, Gilani thanked the PDM leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Akhtar Mengal and others and said that he would personally visit these leaders to offer his gratitude. (ANI) Also Read: UNGA President welcomes ceasefire agreement between India, Pakistan The biggest gasoline draw since 1990 amid refinery shutdowns due to the Texas Freeze could push up the U.S. national average gasoline price to $3 a gallon for the first time since 2014, especially after the OPEC+ group decided on Thursday not to ramp up collective production in April. The EIA estimated in its inventory report on Wednesday a 13.6-million-barrel decline in gasoline stocks for the last week of February and a massive crude build of 21.6 million barrels, with data highly distorted by the disruptions to U.S. crude oil and gasoline production during the cold snap in February. At the same time, U.S gasoline demand jumped last week to the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic started, according to GasBuddy data. According to final numbers from Sunday, Pay with GasBuddy showed that U.S. gasoline demand rose by 18.2 percent versus the prior Sunday, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, tweeted on Tuesday. Sundays gasoline demand was 5.7 percent higher than the previously highest Sunday since the pandemic started, which was October 18, 2020. According to Pay with GasBuddy data, last weeks total gasoline demand soared to the highest level since the pandemic began as COVD-19 cases continue to drop and Americans are filling up more, De Haan said on Monday. The still low refinery runsbecause of shutdownsand the rising demand risk lifting the U.S. average gasoline price to $3 a gallon. As of March 4, the national average was $2.745 a gallon, according to AAA data. I feel like the market needs at least 750,000bpd, but 1 million+ would basically take a $3/gal national average off the table in the US, De Haan tweeted on Tuesday, referring to the OPEC+ decision expected on Thursday. If OPEC+ doesnt return a substantial volume on the market, This could be bad for motorists this summer and raises the prospects of a $3/gal national average from even weight to likely, he said on Wednesday. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: TuneCore Rewards TuneCore Rewards places a roadmap to success in the artists hands, eliminating the guesswork. We provide them with the tools and guidelines they need to grow their careers to avoid pitfalls and progress more quickly. Its the first program of its kind and Im happy to announce its completely free Leading independent digital music distributor TuneCore, owned by Paris-based digital music company Believe, has launched two new groundbreaking programs created to empower independent artists: TuneCore Rewards and TuneCore Certified. The announcement was made today by Andreea Gleeson, Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Head of TuneCore. TuneCore Certified awards artists with digital plaques to celebrate milestones for total streams achieved by a single or an album. The awards program was inspired by traditional music industry artist recognition plaques. The personalized awards are achieved once a given streaming threshold from 100 all the way to 1billion is reached across all streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube. The badges are social media ready so that artists can easily share their streaming milestones. Stated Gleeson, We created this program in order to celebrate independent artists success. Its the modern iteration of the plaques artists get when their album or single has sold or equivalently streamed - 500,000 or 1 million copies or more. For as much as TuneCore democratized the music industry and made it easy for independent artists to distribute their music, these badges democratize the recognition of success and achievement, making it attainable for all levels of artists, from hobbyists and beginners to full-time creators. TuneCore Rewards is a first of its kind, multi-level educational program where artists can unlock rewards and VIP status through career education (launching at the end of March, currently in Beta). This is a free program for TuneCore artists and part of the companys ongoing efforts to be more than just a distribution company, by providing more value for independent artists who choose TuneCore as their distributor. Early levels of TuneCore Rewards provide high quality curated Master Class education videos from industry experts that take the guesswork out of best practices for independent artists. The Master Classes cover a wide range of key areas including: Music Promotion'', Social Media for Musicians, and Release Planning to name a few. Completion of the classes allows artists to receive credit and unlock points which can be used toward a variety of rewards and discounts. Gleeson commented, These days independent artists often behave like entrepreneurs, managing many if not all aspects of their own careers, beyond just the music. TuneCore Rewards places a roadmap to success in the artists hands, eliminating the guesswork. We provide them with the tools and guidelines they need to grow their careers to avoid pitfalls and progress more quickly. Its the first program of its kind and Im happy to announce its completely free to TuneCore artists. The award levels are broken out into: New, Emerging, Rising, and Breakout, with two exclusive top tiers - Accelerator and Legend. Artists can bypass the first 3 tiers and reach the 4th level by either earning over $1,000 from their music or distributing 25 releases. Stated Nicholas Krus, Senior Director of Client Marketing, TuneCore, Weve loosely modeled the TuneCore Rewards program on those of airlines and hotels. The more you use and learn, the higher point level achieved, the more rewards you get. Theres nothing else even close to it in the music industry, in any sector. Its the most thoughtful, value-driven program of its kind in the industry, and demonstrates TuneCores continued commitment to help artists grow their careers. The Accelerator level features a 1on1 mentoring program by TuneCores Artists and Partner Relations team. These artists will also gain analysis and advice on their social media presence, guidance on their listings in digital stores and streaming partners, as well as assistance with digital marketing and release planning for their music. The top level of the TuneCore Rewards program for artists to achieve is Legend status. This is an exclusive tier for top earners. These independent artists will gain access to the Artist and Partner Relations Team, VIP Artist Support & Content Review, are offered exclusive education sessions and other high level artist support benefits. About TuneCore TuneCore is the global platform for independent musicians to build audiences and careers -- with technology and services across distribution, publishing administration and a range of promotional services. TuneCore Music Distribution services help artists, labels and managers sell their music through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, JioSaavn, Deezer, TikTok and more than 150 download and streaming stores worldwide, while retaining 100 percent of their sales revenue and rights for a low annual flat fee. TuneCore Music Publishing Administration assists songwriters by administering their compositions through licensing, registration, worldwide royalty collections, and placement opportunities in film, TV, commercials, video games and more. The TuneCore Artist Services portal offers a suite of tools and services that enable artists to promote their craft, connect with fans, and get their music heard. TuneCore, part of Believe, is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, with offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta, and Austin, and global operations in the UK, Australia, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, India, Brazil as well as the LATAM, Africa and SEA markets. http://www.tunecore.com The most appetising supermarket tomatoes are often the least flavoursome and now we might know why and who is to blame. Murdoch University associate professor of food science and nutrition, Vicky Solah, said tomatoes at Coles and Woolworths were bred for characteristics other than flavour - and McDonalds is partly to blame. 'Supermarket tomatoes have been bred for yield and to make them look beautiful becauses consumers like them to look beautiful,' she said. 'Unfortunately, some of the flavour is lost in that breeding for yield.' Looking good, tasting average - the humble tomato has lost flavour because of how they are grown according to a Western Australian associate professor Vicky Solah Ms Solah said McDonald's was partly to blame because some tomato growing techniques, such as making them fit perfectly into a burger, don't add to flavour Ms Solah told The West Live podcast that the way tomatoes were grown had been influenced by the fast food giant. The podcast's host, Ben O'Shea, started the conversation saying he found many big red and supermarket tomatoes sometimes tasted 'like cardboard' and even 'terrible' 'I think it's kind of the McDonalds transformation of tomatoes, so that they fit in the bun and those sorts of things, has had an influence which is not good,' Ms Solah replied. Ms Solah said not all supermarket tomatoes were flavourless and recommended the Roma variety. 'Roma tomatoes are probably your best bet for getting flavour, that's what I buy, so they're pretty good still,' she said. The egg-shaped Roma tomatoes are typically more expensive than truss or standard round tomatoes. Ms Solah, whose university research is about 'how flavour adds to satisfaction', said a bowl of well-made pasta with cheese can kill food cravings. 'If people have a great meal on paste with tomato and cheese they feel really satisfied and they don't crave something else,' she said. 'Even children they seem really happy at the end of it, and messy. Ms Solah said experts were working to try and get more flavour back into supermarket tomatoes. Vicky Solah says the more expensive Roma variety of tomatoes is tastier than standard types The new Yoom tomato - described as 'a flavour experience' - has a dark purple exterior and was developed by Swiss agribusiness, Syngenta Perth is hosting a tomato festival on March 6 and 7 to showcase the produce of local growers. It is not known whether the newest variety of tomato to Australia - the 'Yoom' - will be included. The Yoom tomato has a dark purple exterior and was developed by Swiss agribusiness, Syngenta. The Yoom tomato gets its name from its Umami flavour, which has been described as savory or 'meaty'. Daily Mail Australia contacted McDonalds for comment. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Google announced on Mar. 3 that it will now halt all operations in tracking users through targeted ads. By early 2022, the tech giant also decided to end support in using browser cookies for users' safe browsing experience. Google Will Not Rely Anymore on Tracking Ads for its Users Director of Product Management, Ads Privacy and Trust David Temkin posted on a blog post that the company will not be leaning on the targeted ads in tracking users' activity and information. Before, the company has been reliant on utilizing its third-party cookies for tracking purposes, but now, the said method is removed from its book. Last year, the California-based corporation said that it was now on its plan to delete the browser cookies two years from now. This was a huge initiative for Google, specifically named Privacy Sandbox. This plan is headed towards improving privacy security among its users. "Today, we're making explicit that once third-party cookies are phased out, we will not build alternate identifiers to track individuals as they browse across the web, nor will we use them in our products," Temkin said in a blog post. The browser cookies in the past month have been the big issue when it comes to building ads for business concerns. The removal of the cookies was prompted after the Markers group requested a review for the tech giant's action. Furthermore, Temkin said that the 'privacy-preserving APIs' will now be assigned to generating ads for the publishers and advertisers. These will not track the users' data in Google products. Read Also: Mozilla Firefox 86: 'Total Cookie Protection' to Safeguard Users From Online Tracking Temkin added that people should be keen on what they clicked on the web. He continued that there is no need for the advertisers to track the consumers to acquire the full benefits from the ads. For instance, he exemplified that a method such as 'group clustering' will render ads to people with the same interests. It will also provide the relevance that people seek compared to the method that only targets people. How Google Will Fare With the Loss of Browser Cookies? Reuters reported that some options stated how Google can cope up with the removal of the browser cookies in targeting users through advertisements. For the first option, it should be understood that sharing data without the user's permission has been rampant across all webs. The move, however, should prompt a company to instead tighten its browsing security for its users, instead of exploiting their data. On the other hand, the competition between companies has been steady in the past years. The browser cookies are used for targeting users through ads. However, what's bad with these cookies is that they are sometimes used in tracking for branding. Other options include antitrust accusations and common interests among people. Related Article: Google Phases Out User-Tracking Cookies, May Pursue FLoC as Replacement This article is owned by Tech Times. Written by Joen Coronel 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. - After a month-long investigation, authorities arrested a correctional deputy from the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. 27-year-old Ricardo Tranquilino Aguirre, of Eureka, was taken into custody inside the Correctional Facility for being in possession of a controlled substance while armed, smuggling contraband into a jail, possession of a controlled substance for sales and transportation/sale of a controlled substance, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. In February of 2021, the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office received information that Aguirre was involved in smuggling contraband for inmates. Aguirre had been a correctional deputy with the sheriffs office since September of 2019 and resigned from his position as of his arrest. There was further evidence that authorities said proved that Aguirre had been smuggling drugs into the facility for the past several months, and he acted alone. Correctional Deputies are hired to protect and serve those that are in the care and custody of the Correctional Facility. As members of the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards of conduct, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said. Ricardo Aguirres criminal and disgraceful conduct is the antithesis of the professional standards, ethics and organizational values of the Sheriffs Office. Mr. Aguirres actions do not represent the principles that are the foundation of our organization. He will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and I will be working with the District Attorney to ensure this case is fully prosecuted. The investigation is being referred to the District Attorneys Office for prosecution. A former Connecticut State Police officer was killed in Las Vegas over the weekend after he was punched once during an altercation that began on the strip, multiple outlets reported. Thomas Driscoll, 57, fell to the ground during the alleged assault and suffered a fatal wound to the back of his skull, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported based on a copy of the police report. John Locher / Associated Press Authorities said Driscoll, a Chicopee, Mass., resident, was walking with a woman on a pedestrian bridge between The Cromwell and Ballys casinos Sunday when a man made a comment at them. The man, later identified by police as Brandon Leath, 33, followed the pair and waited for them at the bottom of an escalator, the outlet reported. Leath then took a fighting stance and threw a punch at Driscoll, knocking him over backward. Leath was later found by authorities based on surveillance camera footage of the incident. Driscoll was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, Fox 61 television reported. A spokesman for the Connecticut State Police said Driscoll retired from the agency in 2009 after 22 years. He served most of his career in patrol at Troop H in Hartford and Troop B in North Canaan, and was also stationed at Bradley International Airport, state police said It saddens us to hear that he died after being assaulted. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends, the agency said in a statement. Annie Chong, Driscolls friend and ex-girlfriend, told the Review Journal Driscoll was planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail at the time of his death. ADVERTISEMENT An Iyaganku Magistrates Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday ordered that seven men be remanded in Abolongo Correctional facility in Oyo, for alleged arson and murder during the Sasha market crisis. The police charged Tajudeen Oladunni, 50; Saburi Lawal, 37; Ojo Joshua, 25; Adekunle Olanrewaju, 38; Olagunju James, 24; Rasaq Yahya, 32 and Olaide Olawuyi, 20 with six counts bordering on conspiracy, arson and murder. Magistrate I.O. Osho, did not take the plea of the suspects for want in jurisdiction. She ordered the police to return the case file to the Office of the Oyo State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Ms Osho adjourned the matter until May 11, for mention. Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Foluke Oladosu, told the court that the suspects conspired with others, at large, to commit the offence. Ms Oladosu said, on February 12, at about 10 a.m., at Sasha market, Ibadan, the suspects caused the death of Adeola Shakirudeen, when they beat him up. The police also alleged that the suspects caused the death of 31 others. The prosecution also alleged that the suspects set fire on two houses, belonging to Adelabu Ibrahim and caused N50 million damage. The police also alleged that the suspects also burnt down a house, belonging to Osuolale Akindele and destroyed property worth N20 million. The offence, the police said, contravened the provisions of sections 6, and 316 and punishable under sections 443 and 319 and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State 2000. (NAN) A top Oregon official told state legislators Wednesday that the number of pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccinations is about to dramatically increase, with Bi-Mart stores in the state possibly starting to offer coronavirus inoculations by Thursday and Walmart stores by Saturday or Sunday. Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said 15,400 of the 34,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that the state has already received are headed to pharmacies run by the two chains. Bi-Mart should start being able to administer those doses really soon, potentially as soon as tomorrow, Allen told a state House COVID-19 subcommittee. Walmart needed a little longer to get set up and it should be over the coming weekend. Don Leber, Bi-Marts vice president of advertising and marketing, said some of the companys pharmacies in past weeks had received a small amount of vaccine from their local counties and had been vaccinating people. But Leber said the company is gearing up for much wider scale vaccinations, and people can start checking with their local Bi-Mart pharmacies Thursday to see if the pharmacies have doses. The companys online scheduling system could start showing appointments in the next week to 10 days, Leber said. There are 47 Bi-Mart pharmacies in Oregon. Those in the Portland area closed more than a year ago, leaving the closest locations to Portland in McMinnville and Forest Grove. The Oregonian also reached out to Walmart about its vaccination plans in Oregon, but didnt immediately hear back. There are 45 Walmart stores in Oregon, according to the companys website, which didnt make clear if each store of those stores has a pharmacy. Allen said pharmacies will become of vital importance in delivering vaccines to Oregonians. Thats a channel that has been used a little so far, to the tune of about 12,000 doses a week, Allen said. That number is going to start skyrocketing, as is the number of pharmacies involved. Allen said a little more than 130 pharmacies across the state are delivering shots to the arms of Oregonians now. He said there are close to 600 pharmacies statewide, on every corner, and their proximity within communities across the state will prove to be a major benefit. Oregon pharmacies that are currently administering doses are Albertsons, Safeway, Costco, Walgreens and Health Mart. The website vaccinefinder.org shows participating pharmacies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the Johnson & Johnson vaccine emergency use authorization last Saturday. A trial estimated the vaccines efficacy at 72% in the United States with its one-dose regimen. Vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna are estimated at close to 95% efficacy after two doses. But Allen stressed that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine cant be compared head to head with Pfizer and Moderna because their trials were held at a time when the South African variant played no role in the United States. A trial held later for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in South Africa showed it was effective at reducing hospitalizations and death. The vaccine had a 64% efficacy in South Africa. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter -- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee Building materials giant CRH reported a rise in earning last year, despite lower levels of activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Albert Manifold-headed company reported earnings of $4.6bn (3.8bn) in 2020, a 5pc increase on the prior year, according to annual results. The performance was driven by a strong focus on costs and actions taken to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic, the company said. Sales revenue for the year fell by 2pc to $27.6bn (22.8bn). In its Americas Materials division, the company experienced good price progression, focused cost control, lower energy costs and operational efficiencies, and delivered like-for-like earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth that was 10pc ahead of 2019. Like-for-like EBITDA was 7pc behind 2019 in its Europe Materials arm, mainly reflecting the significant impact of Covid-19 restrictions in a number of countries across Western Europe, which was only partly offset by price progress and cost control, CRH said. Albert Manifold, chief executive of CRH, said: "Through the repositioning of our business in recent years and our relentless focus on continuous business improvement, we have delivered record levels of profitability, margins and cash generation. Although the near-term outlook remains uncertain, our unique portfolio of businesses together with the strength of our balance sheet leaves us well positioned to capitalise on the growth opportunities that lie ahead." CRHs operating cash flow increased 1pc to $3.9bn. Looking forward, the company said market recovery is expected to continue across North America and Europe as the health situation improves. Merex Investment, a joint venture between Dubai Holding and Brookfield Asset Management, has signed an agreement with leading UAE business conglomerate Gargash Group, for setting up its key facilities at City Walk, a leading lifestyle destination in the heart of Dubai. By mid-2021, the new AMG Store and Gargashs F&B brand Weslodge will open their doors in City Walk, that sharing a vibrant location with major attractions including the Coca-Cola Arena and The Green Planet. With this agreement, Gargash Group will be able to extend its Mercedes-Benz sales network with a new format that offers performance luxury and unmatched lifestyle customer experience. The AMG Store facility will also have an exclusive selection of high-quality lifestyle accessories. The service mix offered will be the first of its kind worldwide and the differentiated offering will allow AMG to attract new customer segments for the brand. A wide range of vehicles encompassing the very latest models will be available for test drives and visitors will be able to experience the true fascination of motor racing. The architecture of the upcoming AMG Store builds on the familiar and established design features of the AMG Brand Centres, while also integrating a series of individual elements that emphasise the unique character of the format. Reflecting the experience-based focus of the facility, the image of the brand conveyed here is very much oriented towards motorsport and performance luxury, allowing visitors an authentic sense of being part of the "Worlds Fastest Family". Gargash is setting a new benchmark in delivering Mercedes-AMG brand experience with the worlds first AMG Store being launched in the UAE, in an arrangement with Merex Investment, said a top official. "City Walk as a destination is representative of the culminative and inclusive lifestyle experience that todays consumers are looking for. Brands in todays world are selling experiences which are beyond the regular product acquisition journey and therefore need to expand their brand touchpoints to lifestyle destinations such as these," remarked Group MD & CEO Shehab M. Gargash. "The launch of our first standalone AMG Store with its unique lifestyle format will be a significant addition to our well-developed UAE network offering an exclusive brand experience to AMG lovers," he stated. "We are also pleased to announce the arrival of our F&B brand, Weslodge to the City Walk premises. Gargash remains committed to enhancing our customer experience and our strategic expansion plans are all reflective of this commitment," he added. Merex Investment CEO Shahram Shamsaee said: "City Walk is a destination that has been designed mindfully to showcase brands and experiences to its visitors and residents. We welcome the addition of the AMG Store to Happiness Street at City Walk." "Our connection with automotive has been formed through our annual showcases of vintage and modified cars, and events that cater to auto-enthusiasts. The destination has been a natural hub for luxury automotive lifestyle, and we believe that the AMG Store will only underpin our commitment to growing this part of our community," noted Shamsaee. "Representing F&B alongside AMG Store and its exclusive Cafe, Weslodge combines warm hospitality with intricate details taking the customers on an authentic and innovative culinary journey with tables filled with generosity and plates filled with flavors," he added.-TradeArabia News Service By Wang Peng The British Royal Navy recently posted photos of its HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier strike group on social media, demonstrating the core maritime force it is determined to form. According to an official agreement previously signed by the British and American defense officials, a combined strike group, led by the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, will be deployed to the Asia-Pacific in the spring of 2021. Londons decision to merge forces with Washington to form a new carrier strike group has captured extensive attention. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the parliament, Next year HMS Queen Elizabeth will lead a British and allied task group on our most ambitious deployment for two decades, encompassing the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and East Asia, where we will carry out joint military exercises and patrols with our allied naval ships. There are two reasons why the UK is eager to deploy its newly formed combat force to the Asia Pacific. For one thing, it is intensifying its presence by enhancing and showcasing its military strengths and participating in global hotspot issues. Worried about its increasing isolation from the international community since Brexit, the country is anxious to restore its international standing in a proactive or even aggressive posture. In 2019, the then Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said Britain might build new military bases in the South China Sea and the Caribbean Sea, which would get his country back to the international stage as a 'true global player'. For another, the UK wants to tighten its alliance with the US by taking aggressive steps toward China, which is one of the most effective ways for it to restore its international standing quickly. That Londons 2021 defense budget reached 16.5 billion pounds the largest for the country since the end of the Cold War, the highest in Europe, and second in NATO showed how committed it is to strengthen the ties with Washington. This, coupled with a reciprocal eagerness from the US, has laid a solid political foundation for them to deepen and broaden their military alliance. But global deployment is no piece of cake for the British navy, which is more willing than able given its current naval force. British media reported that capital warships of the Royal Navy have many problems to be solved, such as the serious leaking on HMS Queen Elizabeth and the risk of a breakdown in the power systems of six Type-45 destroyers. In fact, the planned operation involves half of its surface vessels, which, no wonder, is commented as quite a stretch by critics. According to a Russian military expert on Asia-Pacific issues, the Brits cannot wait to flex muscles when they are not in the place yet thats very dangerous. According to British media coverage, this British naval expeditionary fleet would carry out joint maritime exercises with the Indian, the ROK, and American navies in sea areas around China, including the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, focusing on raising ocean-going combat force and war-preparedness. The British government has also announced that the replenishment base for the HMS Queen Elizabeth group will be set in Japan during its operations in the Asia-Pacific. Its clear that the US-UK combined carrier strike group will operate mainly in the Asian-Pacific region, particularly around the South China Sea. They have chosen this hotspot region because for a long time, the US has been carrying out the so-called freedom of navigation operations here on a high profile to flaunt its military hegemony and strength, and the US has been recruiting allies to help share the burden. London proposed to return to the Asia-Pacific to meet this strategic demand of the US. In response to British Royal Navys announcement to dispatch the HMS Queen Elizabeth to the South China Sea, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of National Defense, told a regular press conference on December 31, 2020, that the South China Sea should be neither an arena for major-power wrestling nor a sea dominated by warships. At present, the South China Sea maintains generally stable thanks to the joint efforts made by China and ASEAN countries. Some countries outside the region come from afar to flex their military muscles, ignite confrontations, and create tensions in the South China Sea, which is the root reason for the militarization of this region. The Chinese military will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region, said the spokesperson. Editor's note: This article is originally published on www.cyol.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID Mother Irene Gibson leaves Skibbereen District Court carrying a Child of Prague statue, followed by Sister Anne Marie. The nuns were told that they must vacate their religious retreat near Leap, Co Cork. Photo: Daragh McSweeney/Cork Courts A nun who was ordered to leave a religious retreat she built without planning permission has found a new place to live and worship. Mother Irene Gibson, of a group called the Carmelite Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus, was ordered to leave a compound at Corran South near the village of Leap in west Cork by June, along with her colleague, Sister Anne Marie. The pair are hermits. They were ordered to leave the site following a 2019 conviction for breaching planning regulations in relation to the premises which she set up as a religious retreat in 2016. According to a February update on their website, the women have put down a deposit and signed papers for a larger piece of land close to where they have been living and need raw building material from suppliers, voluntary skilled labourers to repair the house, funds and many prayers. The new foundation will be called, St Josephs Hermitage and the women look forward to taking up residence on this land as soon as we are able. The women managed to raise more than 78,000 for the new property on a GoFundme webpage, with individual donations as high as 4,575. Separately, Mother Irene has a fundraising goal of 25,000 on the Christian Crowdfunding site Give send Go. To date, 1,380 in donations have been made. Mother Irene, now in her sixties, was Irelands first consecrated hermit. She established her first hermitage in a valley near Croagh Patrick in southwest Mayo in the 1990s, where she lived alone. She estimated spending about IR250,000, donated by well-wishers, on the site called Mount Tabor Hermitage. She closed the site in 2011, saying she wanted to move to a location where she could avail of a Tridentine, Latin-rite mass. She moved to west Cork in 2016. In November, The Southern Star newspaper quoted a spokesman for the Bishop of Cork and Ross, saying that the women do not belong to any community connected to the Irish Catholic Church. Mother Irene and Sister Anne Marie were among a group of people who took part in an exorcism of the Dail before Christmas. The exorcism took place on December 8, when the country was under Level 5 lockdown similar to the one in place now, with travelling further than 5km from home banned. It was followed by a mass in Herbert Park, attended by around 70 people, when lockdown rules allowed no more than 15 people to meet outdoors. An online video of the exorcism and mass shows Fr Giacomo Ballini telling those gathered that no human power can take away the right to say mass. Both Fr Ballini, who operates from a shed in Co Cork, and the Carmelite Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus, operate independently from the Catholic Church and did not seek permission from the relevant diocese to hold the exorcism and mass. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A potentially ground-breaking settlement with a major oil and gas company to help restore Louisianas disappearing coast will take a big step forward Thursday when Attorney General Jeff Landry publicly authorizes the agreement, said sources familiar with the deal. The proposed $100 million settlement with Freeport-McMoRan Inc. requires the signature of both Landry, a Republican, and Thomas Harris, the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, representing Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat. Harris has already signed it. +11 Take a close look at this abandoned Plaquemines oil field, why it's source of major legal battle A black-headed gull stood atop an abandoned oil wellhead on a recent afternoon in a waterway known locally as Pencil Canal. Nearby, a rusted o John Carmouche, the Baton Rouge attorney who negotiated the deal on behalf of parish governments, believes the Freeport settlement will become a blueprint for agreements with other oil and gas companies that would end lawsuits against them by parishes and the state. In return, the companies would deliver billions of dollars for coastal restoration over perhaps two decades. In all, the Carmouche law firm has accused Freeport and more than 200 other oil and gas companies of destroying coastal wetlands and marshes through their drilling and exploration activities. This is real, and its a big deal, Carmouche said on Wednesday about Landrys move. Its also an important day when this big deal can be done in a nonpartisan way and respect the economy, energy companies and the environment all at the same time. Landry, generally an energy industry ally, is holding a press conference Thursday morning to explain why he is signing the deal, given that oil and gas companies have strongly opposed such settlements. Last year, oil and gas companies sought to have the state Legislature kill the lawsuits filed by the Carmouche law firm. That effort failed, but the bills main sponsor, state Sen. Mike Fesi, R-Houma, vowed immediately afterward to try again this year. Landrys office would not comment on his thinking Wednesday. While the Freeport settlement is taking a big step forward, it still faces several significant hurdles before it can take effect. +4 In first for energy industry, Freeport-McMoRan to settle Louisiana lawsuits aimed at restoring coast Lawyers representing coastal Louisiana parishes have negotiated their first settlement with one of the oil and gas companies accused in court The first is that 12 coastal parishes must all agree to it. Freeport faces potential legal liability in those parishes. Those that have signed the agreement so far are Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Jefferson, St. John, Vermilion, Cameron and St. Charles, according to Carmouche. Terrebonne is the eighth one, according to Charles Bourque, a private attorney in Houma who is representing the district attorney there, Joseph Waitz Jr. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up That signature is in dispute, however, because Gordon Dove, the Terrebonne Parish president, believes that he, not Waitz, has decision-making authority over the settlement. I have not seen it, Dove said Wednesday. A ninth parish is Lafourche. Its parish council is meeting in executive session on Tuesday to discuss the proposed settlement, said Jerald Block, a private attorney in Thibodaux who is representing the parish council on coastal issues. The final three parishes are St. Mary, Iberia and St. Martin, and they all have the same district attorney, Bofill Duhe. He did not return a phone call or text Wednesday; nor did Gladstone Jones, a private attorney in New Orleans who is representing Duhe in the matter. Besides needing approval from all 12 parishes to take effect, the settlement also requires state lawmakers to approve legislation that would enable the state coastal authority to receive the money and spend it. A bill to do this failed in 2020, but Landrys blessing for the Republican-majority Legislature could be enough for it to win passage this year. +3 Coastal lawsuit settlement with Freeport-McMoran delayed; will go to parishes in February, lawyer says A landmark settlement with an oil and gas company that could potentially begin to unlock billions of dollars to help restore Louisianas disap Under the proposed deal, which Carmouche has not yet made public, Freeport would no longer face legal liabilities for its past drilling and exploration activities in Louisiana. In exchange, the company would pay up to $100 million in cash and in what Carmouche calls environmental credits. The company would make those payments over 20 years, beginning with a $15 million upfront payment. The 12 parishes would divide $23.5 million in cash and up to $76.5 million generated by selling environmental credits to other companies looking for environmental offsets for projects. Carmouche said his law firm, which has been a major donor to Edwards, has spent $9 million pursuing the 43 lawsuits, but would collect nothing under the Freeport deal. Payments to the Carmouche firm would begin only if it reaches agreement with other oil and gas companies, Carmouche said. At the heart of the lawsuits, from a public policy standpoint, is the grim fact that Louisiana has lost 1,900 square miles of coastline since 1930, an area bigger than Rhode Island. New Orleans files wetland damage suit against oil, gas companies New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell filed a lawsuit Friday (March 29) against Entergy New Orleans, Chevron U.S.A. Inc, ExxonMobil Pipeline Compa Note: The article has been updated to reflect that the Carmouche law firm has filed 43 lawsuits against more than 200 oil and gas companies. New Delhi, March 4 : To strengthen its regional reach airline major IndiGo will commence operations to Bareilly from April. Accordingly, the city will become the 67th domestic destination in its network. The airline said it will connect Bareilly to Mumbai and Bengaluru through direct flights, effective April 29, 2021. According to Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo: "Identified in the Prime Minister's ambitious 100 smart city plan, Bareilly has a huge potential for setting up industries in the city. This vision will be amply supported by enhanced connectivity, thereby promoting tourism, trade, and commerce in the region." In addition, the airline said post securing all regulatory approvals and specific flight schedules for Bareilly, IndiGo will soon take the overall number of domestic destinations in the 6E network to 68 by opening its last destination, Rajkot, in the coming months. Consular Services Information News Updated 8 April Passports In line with the Irish Government's announcment regarding a move to Level 5 restrictions in December, which have been extended to April 2021, all passport processing has been paused. Currently online passport applications can be submitted, but will only be processed when restrictions are moved to a lower level - Level 4 for online applications. For passport applications already within the system, these will be process with restrictions are moved to Level 3. For full information, as well as information on the emergency passport service at this time, visit www.dfa.ie/passports Renewals All passport renewal applications must use Passport Online, except for passports that expired more than 5 years ago. If you are already eligible to renew online, please visit Passport Online (https://www.dfa.ie/passportonline/) to find out more information about how to apply, what documentation is needed etc. The Frequently Asked Questions section (https://www.dfa.ie/passportonline/onlinefaqs/) provides detailed information on the process including on how to take photos, fees and answers to many other common questions. If your passport expired more than 5 years ago, traditionally applications would be made using a paper form, however the Passport Service will be rolling out an online passport application system for such applicants shortly. This will be live by late-April and details will be up on our website closer to the launch date. Given that Ireland is unlikely to restart processing of paper applications before late-April due to the public health situation, we are no longer sending out paper application forms, as it will be faster to apply through the new online system. First Time Applicants The Passport Service will be rolling out an online passport application system for all applicants applying from the US, including first time applicants. This will be live by late-April and details will be up on our website closer to the launch date. Given that Ireland is unlikely to restart processing of paper applications before late-April, we are no longer sending out paper application forms, as it will be faster to apply through the new online system. Foreign Birth Registrations The processing of Foreign Birth Registrations or FBRs (through which Irish citizenship can be claimed by persons with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland) is currently suspended due to Level 5 restrictions under Irelands National Framework on Living with COVID-19. When processing operations resume, due to the complex nature of FBR it will take between 12 to 18 months to process a completed FBR application. Visas The acceptance of all new visa/preclearance applications globally with the exception of those in the Emergency/Priority list is suspended as of 29th of January 2021. While it is still be possible to apply for an Irish visa/preclearance online, applicants will not be able to complete their application process. Please note that any application made online will remain valid until such time as restrictions are lifted. You will find further updates at the website of the Immigration Service Delivery website at http://inis.gov.ie/ Priority/Emergency cases as defined on the Immigration Service Delivery website will still be processed. For enquiries relating to priority or emergency visa applications, please visit the website of the Consulate of Ireland in New York or Chicago depending on your state of residence: Residents of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida should contact the Consulate General of Ireland in New York. Residents of Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi should contact the Consulate General of Ireland in Chicago. Contact Us The Atlanta Consulate is fully operational, however the public office is closed until further notice. For all general travel and consular enquiries, please email us directly at atlantacg@dfa.ie. A member of the Consulate team will answer all emails received. If you are an Irish citizen in need of emergency consular assistance, you may contact the Consulate in Atlanta at +1 404 554 4980. Please leave a voicemail and your call will be returned as soon as possible if it is deemed an emergency. Previous Item | Next Item Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Alex Bonilla, 51, (pictured) from Florida, who tied up his wife's lover and hacked off his penis with a pair of scissors has been sentenced to 20 years in prison A man from Florida who tied up his wife's lover and hacked off his penis with a pair of scissors has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Alex Bonilla, 51, had been charged with kidnapping to inflict bodily harm, burglary while armed, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a firearm for the incident on July 14, 2019. Last month he entered a plea of no contest on these charges, meaning he admitted no guilt for the crimes but allowed the court to determine his punishment for the charges. At Gilcrest County Court the father-of-five, who is employed as a dairy worker, was handed a 20-year prison sentence, 10 years of probation and ordered to pay more than $251,000. Bonilla has been jailed since July 2019, when he was arrested for allegedly mutilating his wife's 32-year-old lover and next-door neighbor at his home in Gainesville. The Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office said the victim called 911 around 11am on July 14, 2019, and said Bonilla, who was his neighbor, had broken into his home armed with a gun. The victim claimed that Bonilla had told him if he tried to resist, he would kill him. From there, deputies said Bonilla forced the victim into the bedroom and tied him up then 'forcefully cut off the victim's penis with a pair of scissors.' Records show Bonilla took the severed appendage and ran off across the street to his own home. The incident took place in July 2019 at the victim's home in Florida (pictured), which is located just 50 yards away from Bonilla's trailer Doctors have been unable to re-attach the victim's sex organ, leaving the married father-of-two unable to urinate normally, or have intercourse with his wife, according to court documents. Deputies said Bonilla had discovered the victim having sex with his wife about two months prior. Previously, Bonilla claimed on the day of the confrontation he had seen his neighbor looking at his house and decided to go talk to him. Bonilla claimed they spoke in the victim's bedroom, he told his rival: 'You need to stay away from my wife and leave her alone,' which allegedly angered the other man and prompted him to physically tackle Bonilla. Deputies said Bonilla forced the victim into the bedroom and tied him up then 'forcefully cut off the victim's penis with a pair of scissors' 'The defendant stated he then blacked out and doesn't remember anything from that point until he was at work and was arrested,' according to the document. But the victim's statement to the authorities told a different story. According to the mutilated man, on the day of the attack Bonilla entered his home without permission while the victim was making breakfast for his two daughters. Standing in the doorway with a gun tucked under his arm, Bonilla declared to him, 'I came here to fix something,' and then led him to a bedroom and closed the door behind them. From there, the victim claimed Bonilla bound man to stand up and pulled down his underwear before tying a rubber band around the base of the victim's penis and cutting it off with a pair of scissors. Court records show Bonilla's friends and relatives had written to a county judge asking for leniency - including one of his son's who said he needed his dad back home to help the household financially and to help his younger sister learn to read. Charges of child abuse related to the trauma of the event against Bonilla were dropped. Bonilla emigrated from El Salvador to the US in 1990 and had worked at a dairy for 20 years. He has two children from his first marriage in his native country and three children with his second wife. FOOD SLOW RISE: A BREAD-MAKING ADVENTURE by Robert Penn (Particular 17.99, 240 pp) Is there any smell more delicious than that of freshly baked bread? No wonder supermarkets pump the aroma through their stores to entice shoppers to spend more. As a nation we love our bread, gobbling nearly 12 million loaves a day. Humans have been eating it for almost 15,000 years the earliest version was probably baked in the Middle East, although harvesting the wheat and making the bread was so labour-intensive that it would have been eaten only on special occasions rather than as an everyday food. In ancient Egypt, state workers wages were paid partially in loaves; the French Revolution was triggered in part by a lack of the stuff, and Napoleon, whose armies travelled with field bakeries, once declared: To defeat the Russians is childs play, provided I can get bread. Although so familiar to us, theres something mysterious about bread. Scientists still dont completely understand the sequence of physical and chemical reactions that happen to bread mixture when its in the oven, rippling and rising before finally developing that lovely crust. Robert Penn gives a deep dive into world of heritage baking in Slow Rise, as he grows his own wheat, harvests it by hand and mills it the old-fashioned way when he makes bread (stock photo) As a child, journalist Robert Penn was addicted to medium-sliced, white velvet slivers of tasteless bread, and well into his adult years he remained partial to the spongy supermarket kind. He gave up eating bread after a spell of illness, believing he was gluten intolerant, although nobly kept baking loaves for his family. When his resolve cracked and he tried his homemade bakes he found, to his surprise, that he suffered no ill effects. It wasnt all bread that had made him ill, he realised, but poor quality bread. Penn, who lives in the Black Mountains in South Wales, became so obsessed with bread that he decided to go back to baking basics; he began growing his own wheat, harvesting it by hand and milling it the old-fashioned way. He also built an oven in which to bake it. Do you really want us all to live like Amish farmers? his wife asked plaintively. Penn sowed two 'heritage' varieties in an acre of land borrowed from a neighbour and read poetry to his crop as well as bringing a speaker to the field so that he could play music for it (stock photo) Penn chose two heritage varieties of wheat and sowed them in an acre of land borrowed from a neighbour. As he waited anxiously for his crop to grow, he read poetry to it and took a speaker into the field so he could play Beethoven and the Ramones to the wheat. Finally, the field turned tawny, then gold. The plants became recognisable as wheat. Harvesting it with a sickle unknown muscles in my lower back raged then threshing, winnowing and finally separating the grain from the chaff, he achieved a mere 100kg of flour, barely enough to make his family bread for the year. SLOW RISE: A BREAD-MAKING ADVENTURE by Robert Penn (Particular 17.99, 240 pp) If I had been a Bronze Age farmer, he reflected gloomily, a crop failure on this scale would have meant disaster. But at least his flour was something special. With a flourish worthy of the most pretentious of wine snobs, Penn describes it as smelling of hazelnuts, fresh grass, the earth. The first few loaves he made were so flat and hard that his son compared them to a Stone Age frisbee. But soon Penn was turning out perfect loaves, and he discovered that he could lure his teenagers away from their computers when the smell of fresh bread wafted into their bedrooms. He even won first prize at the fiercely contested Llanthony Valley and District Show. Although most consumers still opt for industrially produced white bread, Penn says optimistically that we are slowly becoming more discerning about the bread we eat, and points to the increasing number of artisan millers selling varieties of flour with names such as Kent Old Hoary and Devon Orange Blue Rough Chaff. Slow Rise is never less than entertaining, but there is something slightly contrived about Penns deep dive into the world of heritage baking. Yet reading it is a reminder of how remarkable bread is: familiar though it may be, a loaf of bread is also an everyday miracle. [March 04, 2021] Snapshot of the COVID-19 American Workforce: Employees like working remotely; Employers cite greater workforce productivity; How to increase diversity remains top concern - New research from the Milken Institute in partnership with Infosys analyzes attitudes towards the sudden shift to remote work created by COVID-19 NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ -- Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the launch of the Milken Institute and Infosys report 'Future of Work: Insights for 2021 and Beyond'. The new report highlights insights about remote work based on original research; it examines the pandemic's impact on the workforce and offers recommendations for employers and employees moving forward. The report, based upon surveys of employees and managers of large US-based companies, found that 80% of respondents are very or somewhat satisfied with remote work, despite higher workloads and a lack of social interactions with colleagues. Eighty-two percent of managers said their employees are working more than they were before the pandemic, with over half saying employees were working 'a lot' more. However, access to remote work options remains inequitable across income brackets with lower-income employees seeing fewer remote job roles. Specifically, 69% of those with an income below $50k / year said they saw increased remote working opportunity, compared to 86% of those making over $75k / year. The report finds that the shift to remote work has allowed employers to hire talent beyond where they physically operate. Some firms have used this opportunity to double down on diversity and inclusion. The report further explores differing sentiments among demographic groups toward remote work, including a breakdown by gender. Key findings from the report include: 93% of women said they were satisfied with remote work, compared to 88% of men. There is an increased focus on skills training, and more than half of respondents cited training in some form as a benefit of remote work. Most respondents (including employees themselves) believed that employees should look for their own training opportunities, regardless of income level. Companies responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in a number of ways, from cutting jobs to reducing salaries. Some industries increased their efforts towards diversity hiring. Employers reported a high level of trust in their employees to be productive. Directors, senior management and C-suites all said they trust that employees are working efficiently, but acknowledged they have higher expectations and expect more frequent check-ins from those they manage. Most employees saw increased job opportunities from remote hiring, and employers were more willing to hire workers from elsewhere. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed employment forecasts for different sectors. Although utility companies experienced the smallest decline in employment during COVID-19, it is projected to have the largest decline of any sector over the next decade. By contrast, while leisure and hospitality have been hardest hit, the industry nonetheless expects strong employment growth. "While the full impact of the pndemic remains unknown, it's clear that the shift towards digitalization has altered the shape, focus, and geographical dispersion of the American workforce," said Michael Klowden, CEO, Milken Institute. "This research provides insights into how Americans view these changes. We hope to provide companies with a deeper understanding of the pandemic's impact on employee sentiment to manage their workforces through stronger and more equitable approaches." "The pandemic has accelerated trends we had already been seeing and provided a rare opportunity to clearly envision the future of work in a way that benefits the largest number of people," said Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys. "As training and reskilling become increasingly important, companies that provide their employees with the greatest advancement opportunities will continue to have a competitive edge. They will also be able to meet the diversity, equity, and inclusivity challenges the world is facing with greater impact." The study concludes that the future of the workplacewhether in-office, remote, or hybridis already heralding significant changes in the relationships between employers and employees. Employees are particularly focused on adapting to the increased use of technology, adjusting their work-life balance, and developing trust and camaraderie in a remote setting. Drawing upon the survey's results, the report outlines recommendations that address both the rise of inequality and disruption stemming from the pandemic. These include strengthening the relationships between businesses and educational institutions, providing employees with financial support for their training, and the need for agility in business as we navigate the future of work and iterate on the best solutions to the unique issues it raises. About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. About the Milken Institute The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that helps people build meaningful lives in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/snapshot-of-the-covid-19-american-workforce-employees-like-working-remotely-employers-cite-greater-workforce-productivity-how-to-increase-diversity-remains-top-concern-301240265.html SOURCE Infosys [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A HOSPITAL has offered heartfelt apologies to a 35-year-old mother with terminal cervical cancer for the failings in her care after she was referred to it for treatment following a smear test. A letter of apology to Eileen Rushe, the mother of a 14-year-old boy, was read to the High Court today as she settled her action against the HSE. Her counsel Oonah McCrann SC, instructed by solicitor Michael Fitzsimons, told the court the tragedy in Ms Rushes case is that her smear test in 2017 was read correctly as abnormal but the hospital failed to properly treat her with a certain procedure which would have been curative. In the letter to court, the general manager of Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, on behalf of the Colposcopy Unit and hospital management offered my most sincere apology to you for the failings which occurred while you were under our care. The manager went on: I understand that this has had the most serious consequences for you and for that I wish to offer you and your family my heartfelt apologies. It said it appreciated that this has been a very difficult time for Ms Rushe and her family and it was hoped the resolution of the proceedings gives her some comfort. Ms Rushe from Termonfeckin, Co Louth, who blogs about her cancer journey, said outside court the outcome of her legal action was bittersweet and the apology gave her and her family some closure and peace of mind. Todays result is ultimately the reason why I started this journey to allow me to focus on my fight against cancer and more importantly to provide financial security for my son Seamus, she said. She added: In 2017 my wonderful son Seamus lost his father John. That year our lives changed forever because of cancer and mistakes in my care. Ms Rushe said she believed the apology would help her move forward and focus on being a mother to Seamus. For this I thank the HSE. Screening programmes and vaccines save lives. I want to encourage everyone to participate in any screening programmes available to them and vaccinate their children, both boys and girls against HPV, she said. Ms Rushe also called on the Government to act now to alleviate the worst impacts of the Supreme Court judgment in the Ruth Morrissey case relating to providing for care for children and families left behind. Ms Rushe had sued the HSE over her care after she was referred to the North East Regional Colposcopy Service at the Louth hospital by her GP in 2017. It was claimed from May 2017, there was a failure to diagnose or refer Ms Rushe to the appropriate specialist for the purpose of diagnosing cervical cancer and cytological cell changes went untreated until December 2018 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive cervical cancer. It was claimed she was deprived of the opportunity of timely and effective investigation, diagnosis, management and treatment of her condition. Read More After a smear test in April 2017, she attended the Louth hospital in August 2017 where she had a colposcopy and a punch biopsy. This showed abnormal cells which had potential to develop into cancerous cells. In October of that year, she attended the hospital again where she had a further colposcopy and a cold coagulation procedure. A follow-up plan for review in six months time was put in place. In May 2018, Ms Rushe had a repeat smear test and in October of that year had a further colposcopy and a punch biopsy. She was invited to attend for treatment. In December of that year an examination under anaesthetic and an MRI showed up the presence of a mass. A PET scan in a Dublin hospital the next day confirmed a 6cm cervical tumour and she was advised to undergo radical chemoradiation therapy and brachytherapy. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to properly carefully and adequately assess or investigate Ms Rushes condition and an alleged failure to give or procure any adequate or sufficient or timely treatment to her following her referral to the hospital for colposcopy in May 2017. Mr Justice Kevin Cross was told that negligence was admitted in the case. The details of the settlement are confidential. Counsel told the court that as part of the settlement the right is reserved for Ms Rushes son Seamus to bring his own proceedings. The state of California said Wednesday it cannot substantiate claims made by a KTVU report that a vaccine dose issue at the Oakland Coliseum mass vaccine site on Monday resulted in thousands of people receiving smaller doses of the Pfizer vaccine than recommended. "We are not aware of any instance of even a single individual being under vaccinated on the Oakland Coliseum site," Brian Ferguson a spokesperson for Cal OES that manages the site, wrote in an email statement. Anonymous sources in the KTVU report said that some vaccine recipients received less than the optimal 0.3 ml dose because the syringe's plunger would not go all the way down into the plastic barrel. As a result, people were injected with less than 0.3 ml of vaccine. One source told KTVU an estimated 4,300 people received less than the optimal dose. There are some 6,000 people vaccinated a day at the site. The less-than-0.3 ml doses were administered before 2 p.m. Monday, according to the KTVU sources, who were both identified as EMTs. The vaccines administered were made by Pfizer, which requires two doses given three weeks apart. The syringes used to administer them are provided by the federal government. "The state and federal partners providing vaccinations at this site have been working closely with the California Department of Public Health, US Health and Human Services, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention as well as the vaccine manufacture Pfizer to ensure the highest levels of medical care and are adhered to at this site," Ferguson said. Dr. John Swartzberg, a professor of infectious disease at UC Berkeley, said if there were people at the Oakland Coliseum who received a smaller dose, "As a physician and knowing how vaccines work, Im not alarmed by that and I think my patient would be protected, but I want to hear that from people who know more than I do. I would have the FDA scientists and Pfizer advise what we should be doing as theyre going to know what we should do." Swartzberg said if he had a patient who received a smaller dose, he wouldn't advise them to get an additional vaccine or a larger booster shot. He would check with the experts, thinking that maybe a third shot could be needed three or four months down the road. Pfizer declined to comment for this story. The California Department of Public Health and U.S. Health and Human Services weren't immediately available for comment. In Baghdad, the Chaldean patriarch led a prayer vigil on the eve of the Popes arrival. For many, his presence is considered an invitation to remain in the country and build bridges with the world. Young people have the task of keeping their presence alive. The warning to politicians to overturn their "Pharisaic" attitude (Part II). Baghdad (AsiaNews) - In Iraq, everything is ready for the upcoming apostolic journey of Pope Francis, expected tomorrow in a nation that is struggling notwithstanding difficulties - to recover from years of conflicts and sectarian violence. The visit will unfold along three lines: Meeting the Christian community, relations and dialogue with different religions, in particular Christians and Shiite Islam, and the political and institutional crisis that the Arab nation has been experiencing for almost twenty years. . Yesterday the Chaldean patriarchate organized an evening of prayer in the cathedral of St. Joseph, in Baghdad, led by the patriarch Card. Louis Raphael Sako (photo 4). AsiaNews has gathered a series of voices and testimonies, to better understand the themes that characterize the apostolic journey and the strength of a nation attempting to recover and feel a little joy, after a year of lockdown due to the new coronavirus pandemic. We share these thoughts and expectations thanks to the collaboration of Fr Paolo Thabit Mekko, head of the Christian community in Karamles, in the Nineveh plain, and of Fr. Samir Youssef, pastor of the diocese of Amadiya, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Here are their words (Part II. For Part I click here): Eshak Yaqo Esho, farmer and pensioner, 72 years old, from Enishle (Iraqi Kurdistan) The Pope's visit is an invitation to all of us Christians, to remain in Iraq, to remain firm in our land, the land of our fathers and grandfathers, so that our children can keep this cultural and faith heritage alive. And so that they can continue this living faith in the land of Mesopotamia. On a personal level, I am very happy: when I was a child, in the old village when we talked about the pope we imagined someone who lives in another world, or in heaven. However very far away, close to Christ. Despite the coronavirus, I want to follow this visit and pray for its success, because it's a divine blessing right now. I also hope it can strengthen peaceful coexistence, as brothers in humanity: we have suffered a lot, but we want to live in peace and I expect the pope to remind us that we are responsible for this land. Especially the young, it is up to them to keep the Christian presence alive. Rami Saddeeq, 30 years old university teacher, Karamles We are very excited about the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq. This event has great significance and special importance for Christians living in Iraq, because it will give them hope, strength and courage to stay in this country. We have our roots here and we say to his holiness "Welcome to Iraq, welcome to Mesopotamia". Marvin Zaya Shamoon, 32-year-old government employee from Amadya I consider the Popes visit above all a sign of support for Iraqs Christians and a confirmation of the importance of their presence. Their existence continues, despite all the difficulties. It has always been my dream to see a pontiff, but due to visa difficulties I have never been able to go to the Vatican and attend mass. Now the pope is coming here making my dream come true, I will be able to see the man of peace, the successor of Peter, our rock, our rock on which the Lord built his Church up close. All the stages of the journey are very interesting and I hope that all the religious and political leaders listen well to his words, learning what we are all brothers means. I expect the pope to tell the leaders of our country, especially those in Baghdad, to preserve the Christian presence in Iraq and in the Middle East, because we are the origin and civilization of this ancient nation, in science and wisdom. Ashwaq Hannani 48, parish secretary, Karamles My greatest hope is that the pope, with his trip to Iraq, can bring about changes in the mentality of the country's politicians. First of all by overturning their Pharisaic attitude, so that they will truly work for a service to the nation and its people. Zenna Yousif Toma, 30, teacher, Baghdad We waited for the coming of His Holiness with enthusiasm, joy and participation. The first time for a pontiff in Iraq, itis a historic event. And the stages of his visit are a further motivation to work with a view to dialogue and coexistence among all Iraqis. We wait, and we hope in this visit, to spread peace across the nation. Samer Moner Butros, 25 year old singer of the parish choir, Mosul The popes visit will change the worlds perspective on Iraq, which is not just a nation of war but aspires to peace and coexistence. We await full of joy, especially in this unstable and difficult situation for the new coronavirus pandemic. We need this joy, after a difficult year of many lockdowns. His presence will help to revive a new country, thanks also to the union of intentions between all ethnic groups, sects and religions. And from the pope I expect speeches marked by concrete and true coexistence, a law that is the same for all, the common foundation of citizenship and the creation of bridges between Iraqis and the world. HOUSTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What's the future of healthcare? What do the pandemic and Biden administration mean for Medicare and your health? Americans ages 64 and older are invited to learn more during a free, virtual event featuring Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner; Seema Verma, former CMS Administrator; and Dr. Clive Fields, Chief Medical Officer of Village Medical and co-founder of VillageMD; and Dr. Caroline Carter, Medical Director, Quality and Clinical Operations at Village Medical. With COVID-19 dominating today's healthcare conversations, many older Americans are wondering how the pandemic may impact Medicare and their access to healthcare. Hosted by Advise Insurance, Medicare 2021 and Beyond will answer their questions and help them navigate these challenging times. The event will be held at 1 p.m. ET, March 25, 2021. "Healthcare, and Medicare in particular, can be challenging to understand at the best of times, and the current pandemic and political changes facing Americans have only heightened concerns," said Dr. Fields. "This free virtual event is a great opportunity to get insights and clarity on some of the top questions we receive from our patients every day." This event is open to the general public. Interested individuals may register online at www.AdviseInsurance.com/2021webinar. Event agenda: Discussion between Dr. Scott Gottlieb, 23 rd commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Seema Verma, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Seema Verma, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conversation with Village Medical's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Clive Fields, and Medical Director, Quality and Clinical Operations, Dr. Caroline Carter Medicare 2021 and Beyond is sponsored by Advise Insurance, a licensed Medicare agency that provides Medicare education and helps beneficiaries select a plan that meets their healthcare needs and includes their trusted doctor. To learn more or schedule a free Medicare consultation, go to AdviseInsurance.com. SOURCE VillageMD Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic has apologized to Ukraine for a bad joke about his promise to transfer Ukraine's Zakarpattia region to Russians in exchange for a COVID-19 vaccine. According to Ukrinform, he wrote this on his Twitter account. "Slovakia's position on Ukraine's territorial integrity has always been very clear. Respect for international law is a must. Apologies to all Ukrainians for my inappropriate reaction which could undermine their just efforts," Matovic wrote. He also added that Slovakia is a friend of Ukraine. Earlier, Slovakia's Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok apologized to Ukraine for the unsuccessful joke of the Slovak prime minister. On March 3, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry invited Charge d'Affaires of the Slovak Republic in Ukraine Matus Korba to express to him its protest over inappropriate remarks made by Matovic during his interview on Slovakia's Radio Expres. "Regardless of motives, genre or context, such remarks of the Head of the Slovak Government, which directly allude to the territorial integrity of Ukraine, are categorically unacceptable and have a negative impact on the friendly and good-neighborly atmosphere of the Ukrainian-Slovak relations," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. op The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. The Indian equity market snapped its three-session gaining streak on Thursday as global markets were weighed down by the rising US bond yields. Sensex tanked 598 points, or 1.16 per cent, to end at 50,846, while Nifty closed 164 points, or 1.08 per cent, lower at 15,080. Asian shares tumbled on Thursday after an overnight surge in bond yields dragged Wall Street lower. US government bond yields rebounded after easing earlier in the week. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped back to 1.45% on Thursday after rising to 1.48% earlier in the day. The market will look for cues from US markets and bond yields. Rising yields can again put pressure on the market. However, the view looks positive on technical chart. "The short-term uptrend status remains intact and the display of positive market breadth of Thursday signal that the market is not willing to give up easily. We expect market to sustain the support of 15,000-14,900 levels, before showing upside bounce again. Immediate resistance is placed at 15,200 levels," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities said. Nifty is seen getting support at 14,950 levels, while it is facing resistance at around 15,200. It is likely to consolidate in this range. Also read: Top losers today: Five stocks fall upto 3%; HDFC, L&T, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv, HDFC Bank President Joe Biden likes to say America is back. But six weeks weeks into office, that's not the case at the International Criminal Court, despite his stated push to renew the US role in global institutions. On Wednesday, the chief prosecutor of the Hague-based tribunal announced a formal investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories. The inquiry is expected to focus on the actions of both Israel and militant group Hamas during the Gaza war in 2014 as well as Israels settlement expansion in the West Bank. In a strongly worded statement issued late Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States firmly opposes the investigation and has serious concerns about the ICCs attempts to exercise its jurisdiction over Israeli personnel. Neither the United States nor Israel are party to the Rome Statute, the international treaty that established the ICC. They argue the court lacks jurisdiction to take up the case because the Palestinians, despite joining the ICC in 2015, arent an independent sovereign state. The courts announcement on Wednesday, while welcomed by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry as one that serves Palestines tireless pursuit of justice and accountability, was swiftly condemned by Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin called the ICC's decision undiluted antisemitism and the height of hypocrisy. His government is, meanwhile, said to be quietly lobbying the Biden administration to keep the Donald Trump administrations sanctions on ICC officials and their families. During their phone call last month, Axios reports that Netanyahu asked Biden to maintain the measures as a point of leverage against the court. Angered over the ICCs probe into possible war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan, Trump authorized asset freezes and travel bans against ICC officials and their families last year. The courts chief prosecutor, Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda, and one of her top deputies remain blacklisted. The executive order should have been rescinded on Day 1, said Katherine Gallagher, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights who is representing victims in both the Afghan and the Palestinian cases. Both administrations have the first female African chief prosecutor on a sanctions list, Gallagher said. It is concerning that a policy that was so extreme by the Trump administration wasnt immediately denounced and rescinded by the Biden administration. The State Department has repeatedly stated that it is still evaluating the sanctions. Much as we disagree with the ICC's actions relating to the Palestinian situation, and of course to Afghanistan we are thoroughly reviewing sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13928 as we determine our next steps, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday. Advocates of the court want to know whats taking so long. Last month, more than 80 nongovernmental organizations, faith-based groups and academic institutions called on the administration to reverse the sanctions or risk transforming a shameful but temporary action into a standing license for other governments to attack multilateral institutions. Biden has so far rejoined the World Health Organization, reentered the Paris Agreement on climate change and announced it would reengage with the UN Human Rights Council before seeking full membership later this year. In a Wednesday address outlining the Biden administrations foreign policy strategy, Blinken committed the United States to leading with diplomacy. Issuing sanctions against an independent prosecutor elected through the multilateral system isn't exactly a diplomatic maneuver, said Akila Radhakrishnan, president of the New York-based Global Justice Center. While the Biden administration may disagree with some of the decisions that are being made by the prosecutor on the court, its not in line with their own professed values around human rights, around accountability, to take measures against an independent prosecutor." Upcoming staffing changes at the ICC may force Bidens hand. If sanctions are still on the books in June, the Biden administration will have to decide whether to remove Bensouda from the blacklist when her nine-year-term expires and add Karim Khan, the British attorney who is replacing her. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Highlights Google has said that it will phase out the third-party cookies. The search giant mentioned in the blog that it will not build alternate identifiers to track individuals when they browse the web. Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari have already made their plans to phase-out third-party cookies official. Google has said that it will phase out the third-party cookies but once that it is done, it would not replace the cookies with any other tracking tech. The search giant mentioned in the blog that it will not build alternate identifiers to track individuals when they browse the web nor will they be used in any of the Google products. So far Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari have already made their plans to phase-out third-party cookies official. In simple terms, this means that Google will now stop selling web ads to users based on their browsing history. The Chrome browser will prohibit the cookies from collecting that information. However, the change is only applicable on the web version of Chrome, Google will continue tracking users on the mobile version of the Chrome browser. The companies that use third-party cookies to track the activities of users on the web will have to find new ways or new trackers to do that. The cookies build a profile of a user on the internet based on his searches, the products he has viewed, and then sell ads based on the information that is collected from the browser. "Chrome announced its intent to remove support for third-party cookies, and why we've been working with the broader industry on the Privacy Sandbox to build innovations that protect anonymity while still delivering results for advertisers and publishers. Even so, we continue to get questions about whether Google will join others in the ad tech industry who plan to replace third-party cookies with alternative user-level identifiers. Today, we're making explicit that once third-party cookies are phased out, we will not build alternate identifiers to track individuals as they browse across the web, nor will we use them in our products," David Temkin, Director of Product Management, Ads Privacy and Trust said in a blog post. Temkin said in the blog that Google will continue to support first-party relationships on their ad platforms for partners, in which the sellers will have direct connections with their own customers. "We remain committed to preserving a vibrant and open ecosystem where people can access a broad range of ad-supported content with confidence that their privacy and choices are respected. We look forward to working with others in the industry on the path forward," he said. Murray Woman Injured in Highway 641 Collision By West Kentucky Star Staff CALLOWAY COUNTY - A Murray woman was injured in a two-vehicle collision Wednesday afternoon in Calloway County.According to the Calloway County Sheriff's Office, 78-year-old Doris Darcus was on Highway 641 and attempted to make a left turn onto Tabard Drive. Deputies said Darcus failed to yield the right of way to a vehicle driven by Devontae Wilson of New Concord.Darcus was transported to Murray-Calloway County Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Facing several variants of the COVID-19 virus, we continue to wonder how and when the pandemic will resolve itself. Vaccines are crucial, but even more important is the community resolve to do what is necessary to bring the crisis to an end. Opinion Facing several variants of the COVID-19 virus, we continue to wonder how and when the pandemic will resolve itself. Vaccines are crucial, but even more important is the community resolve to do what is necessary to bring the crisis to an end. Social mobilization is the key to combat a pandemic. This was certainly the case during the Ebola virus disease epidemic in the West African states of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in 2014-16. By the end of the pandemic, there were 28,000 cases of the disease and more than 11,000 deaths. In mid-2014, at the pandemics peak, the exponential spread of new cases far outstripped available health workers, burial teams, contact tracers, laboratory staff and personal protective equipment in Liberia. The social fabric was ruptured, because everyday routine intimacies such as hand shaking and hugging were feared and the social and moral good of caring for the sick and deceased brought in its wake sickness and disease. By Aug. 31, 2014, a total of 3,685 probable, confirmed or suspected cases had been reported. It was predicted that if these developments continued, by Sept. 30 Sierra Leone and Liberia alone would have 8,000 cases. Reported cases in Liberia were doubling every 15 to 20 days. These dire predictions failed to fully materialize. Ebola virus epidemics are regulated by quickly separating symptomatic persons, locating their contacts and, above all, shifting public behaviour toward better defensive practices. The backing and collaboration of the public is crucial. During the Ebola outbreak in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, prevention included: 1) a sharp increase in the quality and specificity of community-based training to prevent Ebola infection; 2) improved hygiene and sanitation, and the distribution of cleaning and protective materials; 3) the creation of a system of surveillance; 4) safely transporting infected individuals from the community into isolation in hospitals or Ebola treatment units; 5) removal of the dead; and 6) establishing a community-based infrastructure to care for the people who were sick with Ebola. The narrative of 22-year-old Fatu Kekula underlined the urgent need for enhanced medical and hospital capacity, as well the effective power of local initiative in responding to the pandemic. Kekula is an almost iconic figure representing the movement toward wide-spread social mobilization. This young woman successfully operated an Ebola treatment unit in her own home, where her father, mother, sister and cousin all fell ill with Ebola. Singlehandedly and without contracting the disease herself, she fed them, cleaned them and gave them their medications. Three out of four members of her family survived, thanks to Fatus nursing care. Fatus own survival was despite the fact she did not have personal protective equipment. Fatu, who at the time was in her final year in nursing school, designed her own equipment: several times every day for several weeks, Fatu put on green garbage bags over her stockings, and tied them over her calves. She wore a pair of rubber boots with another set of garbage bags over the boots; she covered her hair with a pair of stockings, and over that put another garbage bag; and finally, she put on a raincoat, four pairs of gloves and a mask. All this took a long time, but Fatu never cut corners. Fatu had called for an ambulance asking for help during these two weeks. None came. "No one came near me. No one. I were (sic) all alone," she said. Sarah Crowe, a UNICEF spokeswoman, described Fatu as amazing: "Essentially, this is a tale of how communities are doing things for themselves. Our approach is to listen and work with communities to do the best they can with what they have." The declining rates of Ebola virus infection in Liberia in 2014 were due, in large part, to local concurrence with safe burials and the deployment of communities to segregate and send infected individuals to Ebola response teams, Ebola treatment units and community care centres. Eventually two highly effective vaccines, one developed here in Winnipeg, were also key to bringing an end to the epidemic. Sadly, five years after the initial epidemic ended in West Africa, Ebola has made an unwelcome return to the Guinean town of Nzerekore near the northern border of Liberia. But the vaccines are on their way to protect the health-care workers from the virus. John Perry is a Jesuit and a senior scholar at St. Pauls College. He lived in Monrovia, Liberia, during the Ebola virus epidemic while teaching at the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation. AKRON, Ohio Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has sanctioned the Summit County Board of Elections, in part for its poor handling of the November presidential election. At the same time, LaRose rejected the reappointment of board member Bryan Williams, also chair of the Summit County Republican Party, citing his conduct in how the board conducted the election and maintained its voter rolls. The problems at the board, LaRose contends, likely led to disenfranchisement of qualified voters namely, people convicted of a felony but not incarcerated and eligible to vote and at least one instance of voter fraud through a dead persons active registration. Amanda Grandjean, LaRoses director of elections and a deputy assistant secretary of state, penned an email to the Summit County Board of Elections listing several reasons for the decision, including: The board did not adequately prepare for and execute efficient early in-person voting and control traffic issues during early voting for the November 3, 2020 General Election. The board failed to follow the Secretary of States guidance to expect a doubling in absentee and early voting and to make changes to accommodate increased traffic, even after LaRose personally contacted the board regarding the unacceptable mismanagement of ballot drop-off traffic. Wait times for voters to drop off their ballots were often longer than an hour LaRoses office received complaints about workplace hostility, unprofessionalism and a politically charged environment at the board of elections. The complaints describe a pattern of political quid pro quo spanning many years, Grandjean wrote. Audits of the boards process for maintaining voter lists show numerous errors in processing death reports given monthly to boards of elections. The failure to cancel voter registrations for deceased voters enabled at least one instance of documented voter fraud, Grandjean said. This failure of oversight, which led to the error, likely occurred for years. The board appears to have improperly cancelled the voter registration of people convicted of felonies but not incarcerated. This likely led to the disenfranchisement of legally qualified voters in Summit County, Grandjean wrote. Not only is this clearly unacceptable but obviously exposes the board to the risk of litigation. The board did not ensure bipartisan control of election administration, including inadequate oversight over the process of list maintenance. The Summit County board adopted an anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy in 2004 but did not train staff on the policy, distribute it to staff or update it in 17 years. The board did not cross-train employees on election administration tasks and failed to ensure correct continuity of operations when there is turnover in staffing. While under state oversight, the board must submit biweekly reports and participate in regular meetings with LaRoses office. It must also follow directives from the state, including orders to improve its safeguarding of elections and workplace issues. LaRose, a Republican, said in an email to Williams that he determined that you do not demonstrate commitment to your duties or competence in service to the voters of your county and should not be re-appointed. Williams had been on the board since 2014. The Summit County GOPs Executive Committee can recommend another candidate for appointment to Williams post by March 12, and if they fail to do so, LaRose will select the new member. Due to the systemic issues outlined in LaRoses letter, the board should not nominate anyone who has been involved in managing the board in recent years. Williams did not immediately respond to a request for comment from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Williams was one of five appointees at Ohio boards of elections rejected Wednesday by LaRose, including three Democrats in Lorain, Vinton and Hocking counties and two Republicans in Summit and Vinton counties. Summit County was the only board placed on administrative oversight. This year will be a good opportunity for Vietnams wellness tourism market, especially the country is emerging as a safe destination for pandemic control. Islands, beach cities and famous tourist cities are expected to come on top of mind of Vietnamese travelers in 2021 as Covid-19 is being rolled back. Phu Quoc Island is one of the most favorite destinations among Vietnamese travelers. Photo: Sun Group Vietnamese tourists often opt for a two-to-three-day tour when they have a long weekend or short holidays. Their preferred destinations are those in the proximity of their cities and easily accessible by road, according to a recent report conducted by Outbox Consulting, a research & consulting firm in Vietnam. Regarding beach cities, Vung Tau in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Nha Trang in the southern province of Khanh Hoa are among popular destinations that domestic travelers would visit at their convenience. Ha Long in the northern province Quang Ninh, Sapa in the northern province of Lao Cai, Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang or Da Lat in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highland) province of Lam Dong are expected enjoy a high number of tourist arrivals this year. Four trend groups in 2021 In 2020, the four factors that affected Vietnam tourism sector include vaccine, the governments policies, economy and environment, according to Outbox Consulting. The number of Covid-19 infections continues to increase and WHO officials warn that health systems are collapsing under coronavirus. The availability of Covid-19 vaccines and tourism policies of each country are prerequisites for boosting travel demand. Finance also has a part to play in consumers travel motivation. Given income contraction, travelers start to vote with their wallets when weighing destinations. The pandemic was not the only tragedy in 2020 as many people were killed but also natural disasters as the consequences of climate change which displaced millions. These events have raised environmental awareness and responsibility. Sapa in the northern province of Lao Cai. Photo: Sun Group The Vietnam Travel Trends 2021 report revealed that Covid-19 extended the impact of these effects on the Vietnamese tourism industry and influenced a great deal in form four trend groups including travel, planning and booking, technology and destination in 2021. Regarding travel trends, this year will be a good opportunity for Vietnams wellness tourism market, especially the country is emerging as a safe destination for pandemic control. During the pandemic, fatigue and stress have become almost familiar to everyone. Regarding planning and booking trends, in times of disruption and uncertainty, travelers are in dire need of an invaluable source of information to stay informed of the latest coronavirus news. Covid-19 underlines the critical role of travel agents, they not only sell tours and events like before but also have fountains of knowledge and information. Therefore, destinations, airlines, hotels, and car rental companies should collaborate closely with travel agents to ensure they all have the details they need to increase consumer base and handle any potential disturbances. Regarding technology trends, online tours are seeing a surge in popularity as they take advantage of virtual reality technology. In the future, virtual experiences can become a standard for each enterprise, enabling visitors to connect with their tour guides and experience services prior to booking. This type of experience will help local businesses hook customers and run direct marketing effectively. Regarding destination trends, travelers will be more cognizant of the need to travel to places and pick tours that make it easy to maintain health and safety. Hanoitimes Michigan businesses still arent allowed to have employees spend their days at offices if their work can be done remotely, and some are concerned the ban could be extended. The six-month ban expires April 14, and state law allows the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration to extend the set of emergency rules one more time for up to six months. A group of Michigan business organizations announced a new campaign Thursday, March 4, to end the ban, called Reopen Michigan Safely. Zoom is nice, but it simply doesnt replace the need for in-person work in complex situations, said Veronica Horn, president and CEO of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. I think weve all learned its hard to innovate and collaborate from our kitchen tables. The business groups want Michigan to leave office return decisions in the hands of employers and employees. Trust businesses and employees to follow safety protocols, Horn said. MIOSHA has cited 126 businesses of all types for not following COVID-19 protocols during the pandemic, although the agency said more than 95% of inspections have not led to citations. RELATED: Michigan fines state prison, hospital, 19 others for COVID-19 violations Business leaders from the campaign say office spaces are some of the safest, low-risk environments. Per the state, offices have contributed to 22 COVID-19 outbreaks that are currently ongoing. Thats more outbreaks than in retail and restaurant settings, but far fewer than in schools and manufacturing/construction spaces. Remote work is helpful in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by reducing in-person contacts, said Sean Egan, director of Michigan COVID-19 workplace safety, in a statement. MIOSHAs emergency rules do not prohibit in-person work, Egan said. Rather, they require employers to determine whether remote work for employees is feasible to help ensure that COVID-19 transmission is mitigated to the maximum extent possible. Leaders want offices reopened for a handful of reasons. Downtown businesses that rely on office-worker foot traffic have suffered during the pandemic. Cities that collect local income taxes are losing millions, as taxpayers dont have to pay as much if theyre working from home and live outside city limits. Our downtown business districts depend on the patronage of thousands of office workers who work in our city centers every day, said Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Daman in a news release. Without them, city buildings and parking structures remain deserted and restaurants, coffee houses and shops remain closed or on the brink of bankruptcy. For other businesses, the remote work requirement is stifling innovation and hampering new product development, said Scott Ryan, vice president at Gentex an automotive technology supplier in Zeeland. Extending the office ban would be devastating for his company and many others, Ryan said. Michigan should also clarify its remote work mandate, Ryan said. Per the rule, employers must require remote work if that work can feasibly be completed remotely. Theres no guidance about how feasibly is defined. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced this week shes putting together a task force to decide how best to re-engage office workers. Grand Rapids Chamber President and CEO Rick Baker questions the authenticity of why its being created. Other business leaders said its a little late to start the conversation. If the business community truly does have a voice in this plan, then thats great, Baker said. Lets celebrate that and lets be engaged and help develop a strategy. The following chambers and business groups are part of the Reopen Michigan Safely campaign. Michigan Chamber of Commerce Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Traverse Connect Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. RELATED STORIES Michigan ready for graduated reopening of restaurants, groups say in letter to Whitmer Business leaders to Whitmer: Its time to let employees work in offices again COVID-19 income tax losses could drive Grand Rapids into budget deficit without cuts Restaurants, casinos, gyms, nursing homes: All the changes Michigan made to COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 17:37:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CONAKRY, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Conakry, capital of Guinea, on Wednesday. Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahima Khalil Kaba, Guinean Minister of Health Remy Lamah and Chinese Ambassador to Guinea Huang Wei attended the handover ceremony held at the airport. Kaba expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government and people in his speech. He said that after Guinea raised its demand for vaccines to China, the Chinese side responded quickly and actively and offered help as soon as possible. "I believe that with the support of China, Guinea will surely overcome the epidemic," said Kaba. Huang Wei said that the COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading, and vaccines are an effective "weapon" for mankind to overcome the epidemic. Although the current global supply of vaccines is tight and China is facing huge demand for vaccination, China is doing everything to promote the availability and affordability of vaccines for developing countries, said Huang. Guinea is one of the first countries to receive vaccine assistance from China. It is China's latest concrete measure to actively implement the declaration of vaccines as a global public product, which can help Guinean people to overcome the epidemic as soon as possible, said Huang. It is also another vivid interpretation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Guinea, said Huang. Guinea has so far reported a total of 16,154 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 91 deaths, and 15,033 cured cases. Enditem FORT COLLINS, Colo., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DH2i, the leading provider of multi-platform Software Defined Perimeter (SDP) and Smart Availability software, today announced it will join with Microsoft's Tejas Shah, Principal Program Manager, SQL Enterprise Team Azure Data Services, to present a live webinar titled, "Paving the Way to SQL Server HA on Linux in Azure." When: Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Eastern Time (10:00 am - 10:30 am Pacific Time) Why Attend: Whether you're already running SQL Server on Linux, contemplating it, or haven't even considered it, it's no secret how challenging maintaining high availability (HA) can be. SQL Server on Linux has been supported since the release of SQL Server 2017, bringing all of the advantages of SQL Server to Linux users. Many organizations have considered SQL Server on Linux but have yet to take the plunge as they seek more complete HA clustering solutions that ensure optimal HA without complex setup and management. In this webinar, Microsoft Principal Program Manager Tejas Shah and DH2i's Connor Cox will show you the easiest way to get the highest levels of availability for SQL Server on Linux in Azure. You'll see a live demo of DxEnterprise and learn how this technology offers: Peak high availability with unmatched management simplicity Infrastructure and platform flexibility with full support Advanced fault detection and automated failover for nearest-to-zero downtime About Tejas Shah, Principal Program Manager, SQL Enterprise Team Azure Data Services, Microsoft: Tejas Shah is a principal program manager in Azure Data Platform team. He leads SQL Server on Linux and containers strategy across all versions. He has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Engineering and 20 years of industry experience. He has been part of Microsoft for over 17 years. He also works with several Tier 1 SQL Server customers and partners in the field to ensure successful implementation of the SQL Server database platform. He works with many resources including support, field and community to understand the product usage and get feedback from the engagements to drive improvements in the product. He has in-depth technical knowledge and experience of the SQL Server product spanning 10 versions of SQL Server including the latest release. Learn more and register here: https://dh2i.com/paving-the-way-to-sql-server-ha-on-linux-in-azure-with-microsofts-tejas-shah/ Tweet this: @DH2i and @Microsoft to Present, "Paving the Way to SQL Server HA on Linux in Azure" https://dh2i.com/paving-the-way-to-sql-server-ha-on-linux-in-azure-with-microsofts-tejas-shah/ #HighAvailability #ManagementSimplicity #FaultDetection #AutomatedFailover #NearZeroDowntime About DH2i DH2i Company is the leading provider of multi-platform Software Defined Perimeter (SDP) and Smart Availability software for Windows and Linux. DH2i software products DxOdyssey and DxEnterprise enable customers to create an entire IT infrastructure that is "always-secure and always-on." To learn more, please visit: www.dh2i.com, call: 800-380-5405 or +44 20 3318 9204, or email: [email protected]. PR Contact: Nicole Gorman Corp. Comm./PR DH2i M: 508-397-0131 [email protected] SOURCE DH2i Related Links http://www.dh2i.com CNN, March 3, 2021 By Reuters and CNN staff Three female media workers were shot dead in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday, government officials said, amid a wave of killings that is spreading fear among professional workers in urban centers. Zalmai Latifi, head of local broadcaster Enikas TV, said the three women were recent high school graduates aged between 18 and 20 who worked in the station's dubbing department.Government sources said the women were killed on their way home from work, and witnesses said gunmen shot the women in the head before fleeing. A fourth woman was injured, and a hospital spokesman said she had been admitted to hospital and was fighting for her life. Provincial police chief Juma Gul Hemat said that the suspected lead attacker had been arrested and that he was connected to the insurgent Taliban.A Taliban spokesman denied the group had any involvement in the attack. A wave of shootings and small bombs attached to vehicles in Afghanistan have targeted journalists, civil society workers and mid-level government employees in recent months, as the government and Taliban negotiators try to broker a peace deal and the United States withdraws some of its troops.The director of Enikass-TV, Zalmai Latifi, was kidnapped for ransom in 2018. In November 2020, two journalists -- Elyas Dayee at Radio Azadi, and former TOLO news presenter Yama Siawash -- were killed in two separate bomb blasts. Also in November, gunmen stormed Kabul University, killing over a dozen people, including students.In December 2020, female journalist Malalai Maiwand, who also worked for Enikass-TV, was killed alongside her driver in Jalalabad on her way to the office. Her mother, who was an activist for women's rights, was also killed five years earlier by unknown gunmen.Enikas TV's Latifi said the channel, which was set up in 2018, had employed 10 women but four had now been killed. The Afghan government and some foreign powers have blamed the attacks largely on the Taliban, which denies involvement. The Islamic State group also has a presence in the eastern Afghan province of Nangahar, of which Jalalabad is the capital. "The targeted killing of journalists could cause a state of fear in the journalistic community, and this could lead to self-censorship, abandonment of media activities, and even leaving the country," said Mujib Khalwatgar, head of Afghan media advocacy group Nai.The Taliban and Afghan government are carrying out peace talks in Doha, though progress has slowed while US President Joe Biden's administration is reviewing its plans for the peace process and the US troop withdrawal. If anyone has the ability to surprise the world with his ambitious projects, it is Elon Musk . The billionaire announced that he is building a new city in Texas to be called Starbase , around the rocket launch site of his company SpaceX . Used to causing a stir by typing just a few words, Musk posted on Twitter that he is "creating the city of Starbase , Texas ." FAA INVESTIGATES: Elon Musk's SpaceX in hot water for reportedly violating FAA license Later, he alluded to his project to colonize the red planet, hinting that Starbase would be just the beginning to go further. From there to Mars. And hence the Stars , detailed the CEO of Tesla . From thence to Mars, And hence the Stars. - Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2021 The tycoon, who is currently the second richest person in the world , said that his city will occupy an area "much larger" than Boca Chica , a place that houses a launch site for SpaceX and where the company is building its Starship rocket. Elon Musk shared some characteristics that his new city would have, such as that it will be friendly to dogs. He also hinted that it would be directed by "the Doge" , which can be interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, it is a reference to the Doges, former rulers of Venice and Genoa. He could also be talking about Dogecoin , the cryptocurrency inspired by the 'Cheems' meme that Musk has long endorsed, which would be more interesting. TIME TO TEX UP: If Elon Musk wants to be a Texans, it's time he embrace our ways Eddie Trevino, judge for Cameron County, Texas, confirmed that SpaceX informed the authorities of Elon Musk's intention: to incorporate Boca Chica into the city of Starbase . The official noted that the mogul and his company must comply with all state statutes of incorporation and clarified that the county will process any petition in accordance with the law. The 49-year-old billionaire is determined to make Texas his main base of operations. In addition to its launch center in Boca Chica, SpaceX has a rocket test facility in the town of McGregor and they plan to build a manufacturing plant in Austin. In July 2020, it was announced that Tesla's next gigafactory would be built outside of Austin. Last December, Musk confirmed that he would be moving from California to Texas and, at the same time, auctioned all his properties in Los Angeles to finance his Mars colonization project . Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON The Capitol Police have requested that members of the National Guard continue to provide security at the U.S. Capitol for another two months, The Associated Press has learned. Defense officials say the new proposal is being reviewed by the Pentagon, and negotiations between the department, the police and congressional authorities are ongoing. The request to keep as many as 2,200 Guard troops in D.C. underscores the continuing concerns about security and the potential for violence at the Capitol, two months after rioters breached the building in violence that left five people dead. And it came as law enforcement was on high alert Thursday around the Capitol after intelligence uncovered a possible plot by a militia group to storm the building. The potential plot was tied to the far-right conspiracy theory promoted by QAnon supporters that former President Donald Trump would rise again to power on March 4, the original presidential inauguration day. There were no signs of disturbance Thursday, but the Capitol Polices request for extended Guard assistance appeared mired in confusion within various congressional oversight authorities, according to letters obtained by The AP. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said she learned that the request for a 60-day extension was made in the last 36 hours, and that the Guard is now seeking volunteers from states around the country to fill the need. Defense officials confirmed that the request is under review at the Pentagon, and that the Guard has started checking states for availability of their troops, in an effort to be prepared if final Defense Department approval is given. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. According to a memo from the Capitol Police to congressional leaders, the new draft proposal asks to keep up to 2,200 Guard members in D.C. initially, and reduce the number incrementally and rationally based on the threat. As part of the plan, Capitol Police shall employ readily available technology and utilize mutual aid agreements to reduce the Guard footprint to a battalion size of approximately 900 soldiers as recommended by the Department of Defense on February 22, 2021. The request got a sharp rebuke from Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. Its outrageous, he said. Thats not what theyre supposed to be, thats not their mission. We have the Capitol Police, that is their mission. The more than 5,000 Guard members currently in Washington, D.C., are all slated to go home March 12, ending the mission. Slotkin said some members of Congress have been concerned about whether there is a solid plan to provide security for members and staff going forward. We want to understand what the plan is, she said. None of us like looking at the fencing, the gates, the uniformed presence around the Capitol. We cant depend on the National Guard for our security. She said there has to be a plan that provides the needed security for the buildings and personnel by the Capitol Police and local law enforcement. Slotkin said it was telling that House members hastened to complete major votes Wednesday so they wouldnt have to be in the building that violent rioters besieged in January. Lawmakers, she said, dont feel totally secure in the Capitol. Capitol Police officials have also told congressional leaders the razor-wire-topped fencing around the Capitol should remain in place for several more months. Slotkin said, however, that she was going to her office to work Thursday. Im not going to let these guys scare me away, she said. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined to rule out a run for the White House if former President Donald Trump does not seek the office in 2024, telling Fox News' "Hannity" he was "always up for a fight." "I care deeply about America," Pompeo told host Sean Hannity. "You and I have been part of the conservative movement for an awfully long time now. I aim to keep at it." Hannity said he would take Pompeos answer as "a strong maybe," to which Pompeo responded, "Thats perfect." Hannity pressed the former Trump Cabinet member about the threats facing the United States under the Biden administration. Pompeo said that under the Democrat, foreign policy has gone from "America First" to "blame America first". Pompeo expressed concern when discussing how Biden is being perceived by world leaders. "World leaders and my counterparts all across the world are watching closely," Pompeo said, "Senior leadership all across the world, they watch every statement that is made, they watch every move. They see what their patterns are like, the kinds of behaviors they exhibit when times are tough and when the pressure is really on." Pompeo compared Trumps constant engagement with members of the press with the lack of access under President Biden. "President Trump would be out there. He talked to the media all the time, probably more than any modern president," he said. "He was out engaging with the media on a broad range of topics ... When a leader cant do that, when they cant take questions, when they cant explain the policies they are engaged in, when they seem to be hiding behind -- whether thats staff or just the fact that they dont have time. Leaders watch that and they wonder. Former President Donald Trump hinted at a possible presidential run in 2024 on February 28, 2021 at the annual Conservative Political Action Campaign conference in Florida. EDWARDSVILLE Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler has been named chair of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments board of directors. Announced at the organizations January meeting, Prenzler will serve for one year. Prenzler, who recently won a second term as board chair, said although he had been part of the organization he had been more focused on the county. Its an opportunity for me, now that Ive been through one term (as board chairman), he said Theres a lot for me to learn about the metropolitan issues. Its a good time for me to learn more. The council formed in 1965 serves as a clearinghouse for federal funding for transportation, homeland security and other regional issues in a seven-county region. Not many people know about it, but its a very important organization, Prenzler said. A lot of federal transportation dollars, which is just a very important thing, goes through East-West Gateway. Youre talking about phenomenal amounts of money. The council includes Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties in Illinois and St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin and St. Louis counties in Missouri, as well as the city of St. Louis. The chairmanship rotates among the leaders of those bodies. People in Madison County may not realize where the money comes from oftentimes to repair different roads, but this is very expensive and usually involves percentages of federal money, Prenzler said. Its a good thing you have this organization that covers both sides of the river. He cited projects like the proposed new Interstate 270 Chain of Rocks Bridge and projects related to that along I-270 in both Illinois and Missouri from Illinois 111 to Lindbergh Boulevard. The total for all the improvements is expected to cost around $1 billion, with much of that coming from the federal government. There are so many things that are really regional, he said. The council also participates in studies on topics ranging from air quality to employment. Prenzler cited several issues that are regional, including healthcare because many Illinois residents will go to St. Louis hospitals, especially for more serious cases, and employment, with many Illinois residents working in Missouri. Prenzler said that Madison County is truly impacted by these regional issues. Another important aspect of the organization is the ability to meet with others in the region. If there is one thing that Americans are good at, its networking, he said. We are informal and relate to each other easily. We make quick associations, which is good for business. He noted the need for remote meetings because of the COVID-19 pandemic has made networking more difficult. I think this is really frustrating, he said. There are those little conversations that take place before and after a meeting. Just as we communicate as people, its difficult when we have to communicate over the internet. Im sure thats frustrating for every organization. People are really starved for human interaction right now. One concern right now is the security issue on MetroLink. Prenzler said that has been a topic of discussion and he expects that to continue. The Madison County Board recently passed a resolution, the second in less than a year, asking that the Bi-State Development Board take a closer look at security, and consider rearming its private security or expanding the role of police. This comes after an unarmed security guard was shot and killed at a MetroLink station in Missouri. Another issue he hopes to get a chance to work on is the perception of a limited regionalism of some Missouri officials. There is a common perception among Illinois politicians, developers and others that for many residents and officials in Missouri, the region ends halfway across the Mississippi River. We just have to speak up and remind our neighbors in Missouri were here and have something good to offer, he said. Advertisement The SpaceX team is clearing a mangled Starship from the launch after the rocket exploded following its first high latitude test Wednesday evening. Starship Serial Number 10 (SN10) exploded 10 minutes after its soft landing, and crews returned to the site Thursday along some help Zeus the robotic dog. The yellow, four-legged robot was spotted prancing around SpaceXs testing facility in Boca Chica, Texas Thursday as it inspected the aftermath of the fallen rocket. Images of the wreckage have also surfaced on Twitter, showing the crushed body of SN10 and smashed Raptor engines each of which costs $1 million. Scroll down for videos SpaceX returned to the site the day after Starship Serial Number 10 (SN10) exploded 10 minutes following its soft landing and they brought along some help Zeus the robotic dog SpaceX has yet to reveal what caused SN10 to burst into flames, but some speculate it was caused by landing legs that did not deploy. SN10 took off at 6:15pm ET and just 15 minutes later, it was on its side and burning on the launch pad. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk praised the rocket when it touched down in one piece, but returned to Twitter after it exploded saying, RIP SN10, honorable discharge. The prototype's mission was to gather data on controlling the rocket during re-entry and it was also the only one out of three to stick the landing so many are calling the launch a success rather than another Starship failure. The yellow, four-legged robot was spotted prancing around SpaceXs testing facility in Boca Chica, Texas Thursday as it inspected the aftermath of the fallen rocket Images of the wreckage have also surfaced on Twitter, showing the crushed body of SN10 and smashed Raptor engines each of which costs $1 million Regardless of how the missions is seen, the SpaceX crew returned to the site to pick up the pieces. The 165-foot tall rocket was seen laying on the ground, with its nose cone shredded to pieces and only one wing flap is still attached. The three Raptor engines, which cost $1 million each, are mangled among wires and their once round design looks more like a half opened clam. Image show the team expecting the scene and parts that are littering the launch pad and robot dog Zeus trailing behind. The robot was designed by Boston Dynamics, which is now owned by Hyundai, and first appeared at SpaceXs facility in June 2020 when the firm was conducting a cryogenic pressure test on the Starship SN7 dome tank prototype. The robot, which costs $75,000, is suited for indoor or outdoor use, can map its environment, sense and avoid obstacles, climb stairs and open doors. It can be charged with sniffing out hydrocarbon leaks, inspecting equipment, taking mechanical readings and completing inspections in areas that might be too dangerous for human workers which may be why SpaceX unleashed it Thursday. The SpaceX team is clearing a mangled Starship from the launch after the rocket exploded following its first high latitude test Wednesday evening The 165-foot tall rocket was seen laying on the ground, with its nose cone shredded to pieces and only one wing flap is still attached Sources suggest force of the explosion was enough to send the body of the large rocket - which was slightly tilted to one side after landing - into the air, which caused it to flip and land on the ground on its side. An object that could be a methane tank was seen lying on the Boca Chica landing area after the fire and smoke from the massive explosion had cleared. It's possible that the robot dog, which is equipped with cameras and sensors, is being used to explore environments that no human SpaceX worker can withstand such as the intense heat or chemicals that may have been still lingering after SN10 exploded. Even though SN10 is still laying in rubble on the launch pad, SpaceX is already gearing up to move the next prototype, SN11, to the launch pad for its own high altitude test. After learning SN11 is getting ready to head to the launch pad, many may wonder what the fate of the rocket will be - as its three predecessors are nothing more than bits of steel debris. SN8 took to the skies on December 10 - marking the first high altitude attempt of a Starship prototype. The three Raptor engines, which cost $1 million each, are mangled among wires and their once round design looks more like a half opened clam It's possible that the robot dog, which is equipped with cameras and sensors, is being used to explore environments that no human SpaceX worker can withstand such as the intense heat or chemicals that may have been still lingering after SN10 exploded Even though SN10 is still laying in rubble on the launch pad, SpaceX is already gearing up to move the next prototype, SN11, to the launch pad its high altitude test. After learning SN11 is getting ready to head to the launch pad, many may wonder what the fate of the rocket will be - as its three predecessors are nothing more than bits of steel debris The rocket hit all the marks including shutting down its Raptor engines, reaching an altitude of 7.8 miles and performing the belly flop. The only thing it was unable to perfect was the landing, but Musk said previously that the rocket was unlikely to land safely. The moment the rocket touched down, it ignited in flames and left nothing behind but its nose cone. Then came the next prototype, SN9, which SpaceX had high hopes of landing when it attempted its high altitude test flight in February. This time the rocket was unable to maneuver into the vertical position before landing on the launch pad, hindering its ability to stick the landing. It landed with a deafening crash, and exploded into bright orange flames and a dust cloud, but the fire did not spread. SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced that members of its management team will present at the Oppenheimer 31st Annual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 10:40 a.m. Eastern / 7:40 a.m. Pacific. The live webcast of the fireside chat may be accessed by visiting the investors section of the company website at ir.invitae.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the fireside chat. About Invitae Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company, whose mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate the world's genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time, and lower prices. For more information, visit the company's website at invitae.com. Contact: Laura D'Angelo [email protected] (628) 213-3369 SOURCE Invitae Corporation This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Fresh warning issued after new reports of scam covid-19 text messages This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 4th, 2021 A fresh warning has been issued about scam covid-19 texts after fresh reports of fake messages being sent claiming to offer financial support. Wrexham Trading Standards say the messages, which claim to be from the government, advise that you are eligible for a grant and ask you to follow a link to claim a specific amount of money. The text message reads: GOVUK: Due to the new lockdown circumstances you are available for a COVID-19 grant of 277.59. It then asks you to click a link to claim this money. The amount of money you are offered may differ from the amount, however its likely to be in the hundreds of pounds. Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: Unfortunately we are seeing a lot of scams which are looking to profit from the pandemic, and this is the latest one weve come across. We know anything telling you that you are due a large sum of money can be tempting to follow up, but this is just another attempt to steal your personal information. Dont click on any links, never give any details such as passwords or bank account numbers and remember that youre within your rights to ignore any suspicious messages. Always take the time you need to identify whether something could be a scam first. If youre not sure, you can always contact the company or organisation directly. The following advice has also been issued by Wrexham Trading Standards to help be scam aware: STOP Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. CHALLENGE Could it be fake? Its OK to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. PROTECT Contact your bank immediately if you think youve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud. If you think you may have been the victim of fraud or cyber-crime, you should report this to Action Fraud via their website or by calling 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud is the UKs National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre. Consumer advice can be obtained from the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. They can be contacted on 0808 223 1144 (Welsh) or 0808 223 1133 (English). Brazos Electric Power Files For Bankruptcy After Storm Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc. announced Monday, March 1, that it filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. A press release from the company stated that it initiated this financial restructuring to maintain the stability and integrity of its entire electric cooperative system. Brazos Electric Power Cooperative is Texas oldest and largest generation and transmission power cooperative serving 16 distribution member cooperatives, including HILCO Electric, that serve more than 1.5 million Texans. "Before the severe cold weather that blanketed Texas with sub-freezing temperatures February 13-19, Brazos Electric was in all respects a financially robust, stable company with a clear vision for its future and a strong A to A+ credit rating," a press release from the company stated. "As a result of the catastrophic failures due to the storm, Brazos Electric was presented with excessively high invoices by ERCOT for collateral and for purported cost of electric service, payment of which was required within days. As a cooperative whose costs are passed through to its members, and which are ultimately borne by Texas retail consumers served by its member cooperatives, Brazos Electric determined that it cannot and will not foist this catastrophic financial event on its members and those consumers." Chapter 11 is a protective measure that will allow Brazos to maintain the stability and integrity of its entire electric cooperative system and allow the cooperative to continue to provide reliable power and transmission service to its member cooperatives. Let me emphasize that this action by Brazos Electric was necessary to protect its member cooperatives and their more than 1.5 million retail members from unaffordable electric bills as we continue to provide electric service throughout the court-supervised process, said Clifton Karnei, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Brazos Electric. We will prioritize what matters most to our member cooperatives and their retail members as we, and they, work to return to normalcy. We expect this court-supervised process will provide us with the protections and mechanism to protect and preserve our assets and operations and satisfy obligations to our creditors. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 23:43:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Prime Minister Kasim Majaliwa said on Thursday he was satisfied with efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture to fight off locusts that invaded some parts of the country's northern zone. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said Majaliwa also paid tribute to the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa and the International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa for their support in fighting the locusts. "I have been pleased by efforts to control further spread of the locusts," said the premier, urging the Ministry of Agriculture to continue staying on alert in case other swarms of locusts invade the country. "We must make sure that locusts are wiped out. They can travel for 200 kilometers a day," he said. Adolf Mkenda, the Minister for Agriculture, said the locusts that invaded in Monduli, Longido, Simanjiro, Siha and Mwanga in northern Tanzania beginning last month have been wiped out. In early January, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a warning over a new wave of locust swarms in neighboring Kenya. The FAO said in its update that new swarms of locusts spreading from northern Kenya have reached Taita-Taveta County and could reach Tanzania. Enditem The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that China and Pakistan would be holding 100 events to celebrate 70 years of bilateral ties between both the countries. The spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry commented that China and Pakistan perceived each other as 'Iron Brothers'. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on 3th March, 2021 that China and Pakistan would be holding 100 events to celebrate 70 years of bilateral ties between both the countries which was established on May 21, 1951. Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry commented that China and Pakistan perceived each other as Iron Brothers. To commemorate 70 years of diplomatic ties, 100 events would be held covering politics, economics, trade, humanities and military. To both, India remains a hostile neighbor. Wang Yi, the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister commented that the ties between both the countries should only deepen. In addition to that, Wang stated that participation from all section of the society are welcome in both the countries, specially the younger generation who must play an active role. The announcement was made virtually when these remarks were made by Wang, directed at his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Also Read: US acts tough on Russia: announces sanctions over Navalnys assassination Also Read: Dream to see India and Pakistan become good friends: Malala Yousafza Pakistan lend its support by stating that she believes in the One-China Policy, the Belt-Road initiative and espouses that the corridor will become the paradigm project of the BRIs high quality development. In the Chinese State Run paper, Quereshi said, As iron brothers, we have always stood by each other in most trying times. Our relationship has become an all-weather strategic corporation partnership . Wang Wenbin said, With our concerted efforts, we will surely carry forward the traditional friendship, expand and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, bring the two peoples closer, and achieve greater development in the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan . On Tuesday, a logo was unveiled in the Wang-Quereshi event that embodies Pakistan-China relationship. Also Read: India defuses Pak Balakot propaganda: IAF squadron makes long-range strike A warning by Republican Bill Hagerty reminded the Biden Administration that CPP intends to malign to get its ways. This comes after the Trump policy considers China an adversary, but Biden seems inclined to be lenient with China's recent statement. From the Senators to the House members, many GOP members agree that China should not be allowed to get away scot-free. Especially the Biden administration that has yet to lean on the CCP hard. One of these GOPS, Sen. Hagerty, declared that the Trump administration's gains should not be forgotten, especially by the Biden administration, which shows mixed signals regarding the malign intentions of CCP, reported the Epoch Times. Hagerty was interviewed by NTD at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida. He said that China is predatory and too aggressive as its military forces itself in the Indo-Pacific Region. Their diplomacy is bullying to get what they want. Overall, the Chinese CCP is causing instability in that sector of the globe. The senator indicated how Beijing uses force against Hong Kong and Taiwan, with Taiwan as an important ally. In the Indo-Pacific, China has been coercing other nations and illegally claiming parts of the South China Sea. Hagerty said that the CCP has outmaneuvered Biden and got to jack up their aggression more. China is afraid of a united and strong America because the CCP won't fight normally. The CCP will use other methods to defeat the US but not with force. If the administration wavers, Beijing will move in. Also read: Jury Still Out on China's Transparency to the WHO Probe, State Department not Convinced A Trump-less White House has emboldened China to be more audacious after January 20. Shortly after Trump's exit, China became bolder and more aggrandized to Taiwan further. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own land and even hinted at an invasion. No country except the US, India, Australia, and Japan called the QUAD would stand off the Indo-Pacific PLA. Acting warlike, Beijing sent planes into the Taiwan air defense identification zone (ADIZ) to test its defenses. By bothering the island on March 2, sending a spy plane in the southwestern ADIZ of Taiwan. China has been sending planes often, said the Ministry of National Defense (Taiwan). Not satisfied with threatening an invasion, China banned Taiwanese pineapple's export with the excuse some organisms can cause sickness. Sources say that Taiwan had 90% of all pineapple exports to China in 2020. On February 28, Beijing arrested and charged 47 opposition figures accused of subversion with the pro-Beijing national security law. Many governments call the law evil and deplored by everyone. Hagerty added that China stole territory and used might as the right approach. The PLA and PLAN occupy islands that are not theirs and place weapons on the stolen islands. Intentionally occupying and building artificial islands to threaten sea lanes for trade, these installations control the sea and affect the trade that is not well-intentioned. China, acting like an outlaw regime, will not concede its claims in the South China Sea. It is not valid according to the United Nations ruling at the Hague in 2016. In 2020, Trump told the CCP their claims are rejected. Republican Bill Hagerty said China should not be trusted; it wants to permanently disadvantage the United States. Related article: China Apologizes for Unnecessary Invasive COVID-19 Anal Swab Tests on US Diplomats @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tory Burch Earlier this week, Governor Greg Abbott issued an order ending our statewide mask mandate, and while some are jumping for joy, many pro-maskers are upset at the shocking announcement. If youre planning to continue wearing a mask, we picked out some designer masks we think youll love. For those who prefer a neutral look, check out Kim Kardashian Wests brand Skims for a mask that is minimal yet chic. But if you love a more traditional look, these designer masks by Tory Burch and Ralph Lauren offer timeless, classic patterns. Want to really kick things up a notch? Grab a super cute mask chain from Kendra Scott available in multiple tones and colors. Northern Ireland's interim Mental Health Champion has appealed to people to those who might be struggling to get help as she warned of the impact of the pandemic. Professor Siobhan O'Neill made the call as she joined Health Minister Robin Swann and chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride at their weekly Stormont briefing on Wednesday. Prof O'Neill said that while there was no indication suicide rates had increased during the Covid-19 crisis, there was data that indicated more people in Northern Ireland were having suicidal thoughts. The warning comes as four new deaths linked to coronavirus have been reported in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours, the Department of Health has said. This brings the total deaths in Northern Ireland to 2,063 as of 10am on Wednesday. A further 226 positive cases of the virus have been reported, meaning there have been 113,006 positive cases confirmed in Northern Ireland since the start of the pandemic. Wednesday's case number is a rise of 77 on the 149 reported on Tuesday. Read More This includes 1,419 positive cases in the last seven days which shows a decrease of 459 compared to the previous week. In Northern Ireland hospitals there are now 307 Covid-19 patients, including 31 patients in intensive care. A total of 65 patients are on ventilators, including 29 with Covid-19. Hospital occupancy is currently at 95% and there 23 active outbreaks of the virus in Northern Ireland care homes. It comes as the Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlines a 65billion funding packing to rebuild the economy after the coronavirus impact. Read More Live Updates Below: This Friday night on RTE Late Late Show, host Ryan Tubridy will be joined by the stars of the 2020 Toy Show Saoirse Ruane, Adam King, and Michael Moloney. They will update viewers on what has been happening in their worlds since appearing on the show last November, and Ryan will have news on the distribution of millions of euros raised by generous viewers for the RTE Toy Show Appeal. Ryan will speak with Zoe Holohan, the Dubliner whose life was torn apart during the Greek wildfires of 2018, which claimed the life of her new husband Brian just days into their honeymoon. Dermot O'Leary will discuss embracing fatherhood and precious time in lockdown with the new addition to his family in London, and missing his family in Wexford. Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore will discuss the perils of fame, carving out a successful career in Britain on TV and radio, and turning her hand to writing with a new book, released this week. Una Healy will be in studio to discuss her new music, leaving the UK for life back home in Tipperary with her two children, and her hopes about The Saturdays reuniting. Una will also debut her brand-new single, Swear It All Again. And there will be more music from Picturehouse will be in studio for a performance of their classic hit single, Sunburst. A one-year-old child who was sat in the back of its mother's car has been critically injured by police gunfire after an officer opened fire on a robbery suspect who was trying to carjack the vehicle at a Houston gas station. Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said officers had been chasing a Mercedes Benz that was suspected in at least two aggravated robberies The chase began just after 11.23pm on the 10200 block of Sugar Branch in Houston and proceeded along Beltway 8 and then the Southwest Freeway. But after three miles the driver crashed his getaway car into a Chevron gas station off Beechnut, jumping out of the vehicle. The man rushed to the mother, who was pumping gas at the station, and attempted to take her vehicle. The one year old was sitting in the back seat at the time. Responding officers noticed that the man had a gun and told him to drop the weapon but he refused, Finner shared. An officer with 15 years in the department fired several bullets into the vehicle, striking the man and the baby. The cop had been unaware that the baby was in the backseat. Scroll down for video Houston police had engaged in a late night chase on Wednesday involving a Mercedes Benz (pictured left) that was suspected in at least two aggravated robberies When the driver crashed his getaway car, he tried to steal a car belonging to a mother who had just been filling her gas tank up at Chevron gas station While police say that the baby was grazed by a bullet, Finner stated during the press conference that the baby was in critical condition at the hospital. Police tried to administer first aid to the suspect at the scene but he succumbed to his injuries and died, Finner added. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative duty, as per protocol. Investigators will look at body camera and surveillance footage to analyse the events around the shooting. Finner shared that the veteran is distraught and 'deeply concerned about this baby.' 'Our entire city prays for that one year old and that mother,' Finner said at the press conference. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Rio de Janeiro announced new restrictions Thursday on bars, restaurants and beaches, seeking to contain a surge of COVID-19 that is pushing Brazil's hospitals to the breaking point. The city of 6.7 million people is the latest to go back on partial lockdown in Brazil, which has registered record COVID-19 death tolls the past two days and is having its deadliest week of the pandemic. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro continues to downplay the new coronavirus, leaving cities and states to implement a patchwork of containment measures on their own. Rio's new decree, which takes effect Friday for one week, orders bars and restaurants to close at 5:00 pm, shuts all commercial activity on the city's famed beaches, and bans night clubs, "samba circles" and other parties. "All the measures we are announcing today have a single objective: to make sure 2021 is not a repeat of the genocide that happened in Rio de Janeiro in 2020," said Mayor Eduardo Paes, who took office in January, ousting Bolsonaro ally Marcelo Crivella. The decree also forbids people from lingering in public spaces from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am, though traffic will not be restricted. Shops will be allowed to remain open until 8:00 pm, but, like bars and restaurants, must limit customers to 40 percent of capacity. Paes said a sharp rise in severe respiratory emergencies led to the decision, though he said the city's hospitals were not facing imminent collapse, as they are in many parts of Brazil. The measures come after Sao Paulo stateBrazil's largest, with 46 million peopledeclared a new "code red" Wednesday, ordering non-essential businesses closed for two weeks starting Saturday. Brazil's health ministry has recorded an average of more than 1,300 COVID-19 deaths per day over the past week, the worst yet for the hard-hit country of 212 million people. An explosion of cases blamed partly on a new variant of the virus that emerged in the Amazon rainforest has filled intensive care units almost to capacity in many areas. Nearly 260,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Brazil, the second-highest death toll in the pandemic, after the United States. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A small bowl bought for $35 at a Connecticut yard sale was identified as a 600-year-old Chinese antique and is expected to sell for up to $500,000 at auction. ADVERTISEMENT Sotheby's auction house in New York said the seller, a man who is not being identified, purchased a floral bowl for $35 at a yard sale in New Haven in 2020 and sent photos of the object to auction specialists to see if it was a genuine antique. The porcelain bowl was identified as a "lotus bowl" from the court of the Yongle Emperor, who ruled from 1403 until 1424. Sotheby's said only six other lotus bowls from the same period are known to still exist. The bowl is scheduled to be auctioned March 17. The auction house said the bowl is expected to fetch a high bid of $300,000 to $500,000 -- up to 14,300 times the amount of money it sold for at the yard sale. The principle of transparency should apply to all those in powerful positions, including the media. When journalist Roy Greenslade addressed an international press awards dinner in 2009 and spoke of the importance of journalistic 'transparency', I wonder if he blushed, even a little. Transparency in the media was something that he wrote about and spoke about many times and he has been described as a 'prominent transparency advocate'. He backed calls for the New York Times to be more 'transparent' about the experts it cited and endorsed concerns about "the closeness of politicians, media executives and senior journalists". Yet all the while Greenslade, who was a senior journalist himself, was falling far short of the transparency that he demanded of others. At the same time that he was advocating transparency about relationships between journalists and politicians, he was extremely close to some politicians and not just any politicians, for these were Sinn Fein politicians. He even wrote articles for the republican newspaper An Phoblacht (Republican News) but covered his tracks by writing under the pseudonym George King. The paper was a propaganda sheet for the Provisional IRA and proudly reported IRA murders in a section entitled 'War News'. Yet Roy Greenslade was prepared to write for a newspaper which glorified such slaughter. He was eventually outed in 2008 and in 2011 he spoke at a Sinn Fein conference on the 30th anniversary of the IRA hunger strikes. The extent of his association with and support for physical-force republicanism has been revealed gradually over the past decade and now, at the age of 74 he has finally admitted that he secretly but explicitly supported the IRA bombing campaign from the early 1970s. Of course there were indications that something was amiss long before he was outed as a Sinn Fein supporter. Roy Greenslade was educated at a school in Dagenham and then around 1964, at the age of 17, he entered journalism with a local newspaper in that area. He was an early member of the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), which was formed in 1968 as a hard-line breakaway from the Communist Party of Great Britain. It described itself as Marxist-Leninist but was also described as Maoist and supported militant Irish republicanism. By 1969 he had moved to Fleet Street and in 1972 he was a journalist with the Daily Mirror. That was, of course, also the year of Bloody Friday, when the IRA exploded 22 car bombs in Belfast and murdered nine people. After taking time out to study politics at university he returned to become a senior journalist at the Sunday Times and then editor of the Daily Mirror. The man who was advocating transparency in journalism was at the same time doing the very thing for which he criticised others. I wrote about journalistic transparency in this column in April 2015, using Roy Greenslade as an example of the lack of transparency. Since then the situation has not really improved, especially in the area of broadcast news, and yet we are entitled to expect greater transparency. After all it is a public service broadcaster and is funded by the public. There is a particular problem with the increased use of 'expert comment'. It could be the university academic or the 'labour activist' who is brought on to a current affairs programme to comment on some area of social policy but we are not told if they are connected to any political party. It is right that the case of Roy Greenslade should be properly interrogated and investigative journalists, columnists and political historians will want to look back over his career and read what he wrote about Sinn Fein and the IRA. But this is simply an example and illustration of the need for greater journalistic and media transparency. The last sentence of the column I wrote in 2015 is still valid. 'In these days when there is such a focus on transparency in government, (and rightly so), surely the principle of transparency should apply to all those who have influence, including the media.' Monday is International Womens Day. Marked annually on March 8, International Womens Day celebrates womens social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, raises awareness about the ongoing fight for gender parity and inspires everyone around the globe to act in a way to lift female-focused charities and women-led businesses. The latter is an easy to mark the occasion. You can bolster the global effort by supporting companies and organizations that champion womens causes throughout the month of March and beyond. These events and campaigns you see below, compiled with the help of money-saving site CouponFollow.com, arent just sales pegged to the salient day. These are partnerships, fundraising endeavors and, sure, a bargain opportunity or two from strong, women-owned businesses. Copper Cow Coffee: Founded by Vietnamese-American Debbie Wei Mullin, the company features Vietnamese-style coffee, Thai tea and more. It is still a minority and female-owned business to this day. They are part of the small percentage (just under 3 percent) of women-owned companies with venture funding. Use code WOMENSDAY10 for 10 percent off all orders through Monday. coppercowcoffee.com. Gap: The brand will be donating $25,000 to Girls Inc., a non-profit dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. Gap has also released a limited-edition tee for International Womens Day, inspired by women who defy convention and featuring the message First But Not Last. Available in womens and childrens sizes, the shirt is made from organic cotton with prices starting at $17. Several other designs honoring female trailblazers are also available. gap.com . Gem-Water: This female-owned business provides an eclectic collection of products that encourage people to hydrate mindfully, all while donating $5.28 per piece of 528 CfH jewelry (their own brand) sold to non-profit organizations that support women and communities around the world. Use code WOMENSDAY for 25 percent off straws and jewelry through Monday. gem-water.com/. Fuchsia Shoes: The Seattle-based brand was founded by ex Microsoft engineer, Afshan Abbas. She started the company with a mission to empower local economies and scale ethical fashion. She began to organize shoemakers in her hometown in Pakistan, especially women artisans. Fuchsias shoes are co-designed by the American and Pakistani designers, sustainable and comfortable. Each pair is made by a group of skilled craftspeople in South Asia that takes home three times more than what they make in the local markets. Use code GIRLPOWER for 20 percent off your purchase of $99 or more. fuchsiashoes.com/. Jane: The boutique daily deal site designed a collection of graphic tees championing the wonderful strength of women. From now through May 14, get the Female Empowerment Tee in sizes youth to adult for 53 percent off. One hundred percent of the profits will be donated to Girls Inc. jane.com. Old Navy: The retailer has partnered with NYC-based artist Jade Purple Brown for its second edition of the International Womens Day Project WE tee shirt. The colorful graphic shirt features three women and was designed to celebrate the collective power of women coming together as WE. The tee is available online only. It comes in children and adult sizes and retails for $6 and $15, respectively. To celebrate the collection, Old Navy will donate $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support youth arts programs in communities across the country. oldnavy.com. The Original MakeUp Eraser: Use code GIRLPOWER to take 20 percent off all orders through March 15. The company was founded by Elexsis McCarthy in 2013 after she discovered a way to remove all her makeup with just water no chemicals, oils or soaps. Seven years later, the brand still remains woman-owned, family-oriented, and selling in some of the largest retailers in the world. makeuperaser.com/. Ryka: The female-owned fitness shoe brand Ryka is offering 20 percent off sitewide and free shipping. Make a purchase on International Womens Day and youll also receive an additional 20 percent off coupon valid through the end of March to share with a friend. ryka.com/ SkinStore: Take 25 percent off female-founded brands like GRANDE Cosmetics, Eve Lom, Dr. Loretta, Omorovicza, KORRES, By Terry, Pai, & more through Monday. No code needed. skinstore.com. [March 04, 2021] In Support of Consumer Protection Week, ARDA-ROC Commends Attorneys General on Their Fight Against Timeshare Exit Fraud & Cautions Consumers When Looking to Exit Their Timeshare In light of Consumer Protection Week, the ARDA-Resort Owners' Coalition (ARDA-ROC), the leading political advocacy organization fighting on behalf of timeshare owners nationwide, today commended the work of attorneys general and Better Business Bureaus nationwide for their help in fighting fraud in the timeshare resale and exit arena. "In recognition of Consumer Protection Week, I'd like to thank, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery III, and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, for bringing actions to stop fraudulent resale and exit company activity and eliminate its harmful effects on timeshare owners nationwide," said Jason Gamel, president and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). "We urge consumers to exercise extreme caution when doing business with third-party companies who guarantee they can get you out of your timeshare." ARDA-ROC recommends owners always contact their timeshare developer, resort management company or HOA as their first source of information regarding exit options. The Coalition for Responsible Exit is also a place for owners to safely explore exit options that are supported by timeshare developers and can be accessed by visiting ResponsibleExit.com. ARDA-ROC has also teamed upwith Lisa Ann Schreier, The Timeshare Crusader, to release a collaborative 'Important Information to Know When Buying a Timeshare,' in order to help people become better educated about making a timeshare purchase. "ARDA-ROC is excited to work with The Timeshare Crusader to help people become better educated about buying a timeshare," said Gamel. "I strive to be a catalyst for positive change in the timeshare industry and help consumers make educated choices, and I think teaming up with ARDA-ROC checks both of those boxes," said Schreier. "There's important information that all potential buyers need to consider before purchasing a timeshare, besides the beautiful views, and a big purchase should always be thoroughly researched beforehand." The collaborative 'Important Information to Know When Buying a Timeshare' can be accessed by clicking here. ARDA-ROC is a 501(c)4 non-profit entity funded by over 1.5 million individual timeshare owner's voluntary contributions. ARDA-ROC is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing vacation ownership through smart policy and sensible regulation. ARDA-ROC advocates for local, state, and federal policies that enable the vacation ownership industry to thrive and provide consumers with an enriched vacation ownership experience. For more information, visit ARDAROC.org. Lisa Ann Schreier, The Timeshare Crusader, has been writing about the timeshare industry for 20 years. She is the author of two consumer books and the co-author of a college text on timeshare. The driving force behind International Timeshare Appreciation Day held each November 1, she is a frequent contributor to media outlets. Her blog is regarded as a no-holds barred look at the industry and its consumers. For more information, visit https://thetimesharecrusader.blogspot.com or follow her at @LisaLooksAt. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005732/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Photo shows Chinese and U.S. national flags. (Xinhua) WASHINGTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. export restrictions on Chinese tech companies, citing national security concerns, hurt both U.S. companies and Chinese businesses, said a renowned economist, calling for an international agreement on technology flow across countries. "These security restrictions, restricting the flow of high-tech products to China, (bring) major negative consequence, both for U.S. companies and Chinese companies," Yukon Huang, a senior fellow with the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Xinhua in a recent video interview. Huang, who served as the World Bank's country director for China from 1997 to 2004, noted that if the United States prevents Chinese companies from getting high-tech products from their U.S. counterparts, it could jeopardize the future prospects of Chinese enterprises. "But to the same extent, when you actually restrict American exports of these high-tech products to China, U.S. companies suffer a lot," Huang said, noting that 20 to 50 percent of the revenues of these high-tech U.S. companies come from exporting to China. "So if they no longer can sell to China, then you have a major problem in America," because the financial position of the high-tech companies significantly weakens, and they can no longer invest, he said. The economist noted that "a chaotic decoupling process" during the Trump administration led to less engagement between the United States and China, from which both sides have suffered. With Joe Biden in office, Huang said he believes the new president is trying to forge a more "sensible" and "constructive" approach to strategic issues. In the case of TikTok, Huang said "I think they're going to look at the key question, how can (the) United States protect its interests in terms of data security in a way that doesn't cut off the economic activities" of foreign investors. Huang said rather than decoupling, both sides should search for an intermediate solution, because decoupling reduces the flow of knowledge across countries, which will undermine economic growth. "Knowledge spread is the reason that growth (in) countries and the world has soared over the last 10 or 20 years," Huang said. If a "technology trade war" continues, he said, "global growth will stagnate, they're going to go back to the dark ages in some way, because nobody by themselves can create all that knowledge." The economist said countries must allow knowledge to move across borders, while noting that security issues should be addressed through an international agreement. Huang said countries are within their right to consider security when it comes to investment flows. "But we don't want that right to prohibit economic investment flows or technology transfer, because if we did growth would stop globally." Commenting on the China-U.S. phase-one trade deal, Huang said the Trump administration failed to achieve its intended goals, one of which was to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China, as America's overall trade deficit actually expanded. One of the major issues in phase-two negotiations, Huang said, is subsidies. "The definition of competitive neutrality has not been agreed upon," he said. The economist noted that in the Boeing-Airbus subsidy dispute, the World Trade Organization (WTO) determined that both the United States and Europe subsidized their aircraft manufacturers. "So if America complains about China state subsidies, the West also subsidizes its own companies, but they do it in different ways," Huang said, adding that "we don't yet have an agreement of what is a sensible policy." "And then the question is, can WTO bridge this difference, the answer, yes, but not very quickly," he said. "It's going to take a lot (of) discussions about what are the principles." The economist said he thinks both China and the United States have a vested interest in reviving the WTO, the World Health Organization and other multilateral institutions to address major concerns. Huang noted that China was the only major economy to achieve positive growth last year. The former World Bank country director for China said despite a robust recovery in the short term, China should strive for higher returns on investment in order to boost its long-term growth rate. Huang laid out a few reasons for relatively lower investment returns in recent years, one of which is that a large share of government investment is channeled into the interior provinces, as opposed to the coastal provinces. "China's emphasis over the last several decades has been to push more money into rural areas, to push more money into the interior provinces and to narrow these differences," Huang said, noting that the country has done "a great job" at alleviating poverty. Another major factor is innovation, Huang said. "When you try to become more innovative, and you invest in more high-tech activities, your growth rate actually falls," said the economist. "Because innovation requires a lot of capital investment, but generates relatively modest productivity increases." Noting that the same is true in innovative economies such as South Korea, Israel and the United States, Huang said China needs to figure out that the solution to rapid growth "is not just innovation." "The solution to rapid growth is job creation of more highly skilled jobs across a broader group of people," said the economist. "And that has a lot more to do with investment policies." An Orange County Sheriff's Department vehicle is parked at the Saddleback Station on Sept. 14, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Orange County Deputies Cleared in Laguna Niguel Shooting The Orange County District Attorneys office (OCDA) has vindicated two police officers who were under investigation for a fatal Laguna Niguel shooting. In a letter to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, OCDA Todd Spitzer said the deputies use of force was consistent with the law. The letter included a report prepared by Senior Deputy District Attorney Janine Madera, stating that the officers actions were justified under the circumstances. Officer-Involved Shooting Stephan Curtis McCulloch, 32, was shot by police last May as he was about to strike his girlfriend with a hammer, the OCDA report said. On May 11, 2020, Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) deputies Craig Sanders and Mark Dent responded to reports of a couple screaming and smashing objects inside a 50 Coral Sea apartment. Sanders brought an AR-15 rifle, and Dent brought a less-than-lethal super sock 12-gauge shotgun. Sanders and Dent reportedly heard muffled sounds of a struggle emanating from inside the location. Somebody was in danger and it didnt matter what type of call it was that somebody needed help and that I had to do something, the report said. The deputies pounded on McCullochs door demanding he open it. McCullochs reportedly walked to the door yelling, Im coming for you. One neighbor saw McCulloch walk to the front door and strike the door repeatedly with a hammer, Madera said in her report. Sanders immediately thought, Somebodys gonna come through this door and try to kill me or seriously, seriously hurt me or my partners. According to the report, when McCulloch opened the door, he began screaming at the deputies: Come on, come on, shoot, shoot! and Shoot me, I have a hammer, shoot me! Deputies saw that he was wielding a heavy construction-type hammer, with a white-knuckle grip very tightly, the report said. After repeated demands to drop the hammer, according to the report, Dent fired one super-sock 12-gauge round, which struck McCulloch in the waist, causing him to flee into the apartment. Deputies entered the apartment upon hearing McCullochs girlfriend screaming bloody murder, the report said. McCulloch was standing with the hammer in his left hand near the dining room, said the report. Deputies recalled McCulloch with his right arm wrapped around his girlfriend, holding the hammer in a ready striking position at mid-torso height. His girlfriend was repeatedly screaming help me trying to escape McCullochs hold. A Ring camera audio captured screams of help me as deputies entered the apartment, Madera said. Sanders fired three shots of the AR-15 at McCulloch, two in the back and one in the chest. Dent fired one round of the super-sock at McCullochs head at a lethal distance, but couldnt tell whether the gun discharged because Sanders had fired at the same time. McCulloch fell to the ground, still holding the woman and hammer. He was pronounced dead by paramedics about 12:50 p.m. Investigators from the OCDA special assignment unit gathered information from the scene and interviewed 18 individuals, including several neighbors. A toxicology report found methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system, the report to the OCDA stated. He had been arrested for two felonies since January 2020 with charges including robbery; obstructing, resisting, or delaying a police officer; evading a peace officer in a vehicle; possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia; and petty theft. Deputy Sanders and Deputy Dent were justified when they shot at McCulloch, Madera said. Simply stated, Deputy Sanders and Deputy Dent did not commit a crime. To the contrary, they carried out their duties as peace officers in a reasonable and justifiable manner. Some women welcome the privacy that allows them to go on with their lives out of the spotlight. Others might feel abandoned. Amid the scandal, women dont always realize that their virtuous cause is being co-opted by a political ideological movement that has nothing to do with the sexual misconduct. Reopening 4 March 2021 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona will reopen its doors to guests on 12 March 2021, following a temporary closure due to coronavirus-related restrictions. An array of tempting offers and personalized experiences are now available, including gifts and delights for children, complimentary transfers to and from the hotel and courtesy nights. When booking a Staycation by M.O., guests can enjoy the charm of Barcelona through this dream-like package that includes an indulgent breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, parking and EUR100 credit that can be used on hotel services or toward the accommodation rate. The hotel has much to celebrate, having recently received a myriad of accolades, including: Travel + Leisure magazine selected the hotel as one of the 100 best hotels in the world, strengthening its position as the leading luxury hotel in Barcelona. Forbes awarded its five-star rating to the property, making it the only hotel and Spa in Spain with this rating in its Forbes Travel Guide. Elite Traveler selected its Penthouse Suite as one of the 100 best suites in the world. The gastronomic proposal is exceptional, and led by Blanc, which has celebrated Chef Carme Ruscalleda at the helm. Two menus have been designed for all tastes. On weekdays, guests can sample the indulgent Menus de Carme, and at weekends, the Domingos con Carme, which celebrates traditional dishes, such as Chef Carme's legendary cannelloni. The reopening of Moments, the hotel's two-Michelin-starred restaurant, run by Chef Carme and her son Raul Balam, will be confirmed in due course. An oasis of calm in the heart of the bustling city, the hotel's renowned Spa is ideal for guests seeking a reprieve to balance body, mind and soul with Mandarin Oriental's expert practitioners, signature treatments and therapies. The hotel has implemented Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group's 'We Care' programme of health and safety practices and precautionary measures to continue to uphold its commitment towards the comfort, safety and health of its guests and colleagues. Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is back to charm the days and nights of locals and tourists alike. Now there's something to celebrate. For further information, visit www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Overview The Global Bonded Abrasives Market was valued at around USD 19.8 billion in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of approximately 5.8% during the forecast period, 20192025. Bonded abrasives are abrasives grains and fillers bonded together through bonding materials such as vitreous, resin, rubber, shellac, epoxy, magnesite, and others. Numerous improvements in tools and machinery processes have been made with the help of new abrasive grains and bond advancements to increase the performance of bonded abrasive products. The prime role is played by the bonding agent that holds the structural abrasives in a specific array giving uniqueness to every bonded adhesive. The bond offers high-strength and thermal-resistance for grinding and cutting, or it can be weak and thermal sensitive for polishing. Each product is made to serve a specific purpose, such as giving a precise finish, cutting, rough grinding, stock removal, and others. Moreover, they have a significant demand in the different hand-held machines like angle grinders, vertical grinders, and petrol saws for cutting and grinding purposes. Additionally, the continuous advancement in technology and using machines in the industries over human labor has increased the demand for these machines in the industrial segment. Hence, propelling the growth of the global bonded abrasives market. Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2642 Key Players Some of the prominent players in the global bonded abrasives market are Saint-Gobain (US), 3M (US), Buffalo Abrasives Inc (US), Abrasives Manhattan, SA (Spain), Marrose Abrasives (UK), Grinding Techniques (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), SAK Abrasives Limited (India), Sia Abrasives Industries AG (Switzerland), Flexovit (US), Carborundum Universal Limited (India), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), NIPPON RESIBON CORPORATION (Japan), DRONCO GmbH (Germany), KWH Mirka (Finland), and Fujimi Incorporated (Japan). Segmentation The global bonded adhesive market report has been bifurcated into type, application, end-use industry, and region. Based on type, the global bonded adhesive market has been divided into depressed center wheels, cup-shaped wheels, recessed or relieved wheels, and tapered body wheel. Based on application, the global bonded adhesive market has been classified as precision grinding, cutting, rough grinding, fabrication, polishing, and others. By end-use industry, the global bonded adhesive market has been segregated into automotive, marine, aerospace, construction, general metalworking, and others. Regional Analysis North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa are the region analyzed under the scope of the global bonded adhesive market. Asia-Pacific holds the largest market share for bonded abrasives in 2018 and is expected to be the dominant region during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the rapid industrialization and booming automotive and construction industry there has been a massive demand of machinery for cutting, grinding, and polishing leading to high consumption of bonded adhesive in these industries. Hence, propelling the overall growth of bonded adhesive in the region. Europe had the second-largest share in the global bonded adhesive market in 2018 and is expected to show positive growth during the forecast period. Europe has the largest automotive sector and needs machinery advancement for faster assembling of their products adding to the need of a significant quantity of bonded abrasives while manufacturing of their products, hence boosting the overall growth of the bonded adhesive in the regional market. North America has a prominent market share in the global bonded adhesive market, driven by the automotive and aerospace segment. The applications of bonded abrasives in cutting, polishing, fabrication, and others it has a significant impact on the automotive and aerospace industry. According to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the aerospace market was estimated at USD 865 million in 2017, which is further expected to propel the growth of bonded abrasives market in the regional market. The Middle East and Africa are expected to witness a composed growth in the bonded abrasives market which is accounted to the growing industrialization in the region leading to the high demand for bonded abrasives in the construction and general metalworking industry. The Latin America region is expected to have a steady growth in the bonded abrasives market during the forecast period, owing to the strong growth in the automotive and marine industry. New Delhi, March 4 : Filmmaker Paul WS Anderson and his wife, Hollywood star Milla Jovovich, have collaborated several times on his films, notably the "Resident Evil" franchise, but it was their latest release "Monster Hunter" that tested the actress's patience. She told him "this is the worst thing" he had ever done to her, claimed Anderson. "Her commitment is always surprising. She always really gives her all to every movie she makes and this movie was a harder movie to make from the others we have done. Just because of the technical challenges that it threw up.I wanted to shoot in real landscapes and the landscapes I chose were in the middle of nowhere!" he recalled, speaking to IANS. The film is their fifth collaboration. "The entire cast crew would be sleeping in tents and during the day the temperature would get upto 50 degrees and during the night freezing cold below 0. Big storms would come up and threaten to wipe away all the tents we would be living in," he added. "It was a hard shoot physically and at one point Milla came up to me and said 'You know I think this is the worst thing you have ever done to me' which I kind of took as a badge of honour that I finally kind of I done something terrible to her but she kind of loved it because her as an actor what it did was that it immersed her in this world," he said. He says that "Monster Hunter", which released in the US in December 2020, is about discovering a new world and fighting for survival. The film also stars Tony Jaa, Tip "T. I." Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta, Josh Helman, Jin Au-Yeung, and Ron Perlman along with Jovovich. "For all of these actors they actually even though it was difficult they loved it much more than just acting in front of the green screen because these challenges and these real landscapes brought the world to life for them so they actually felt that they crossed over into the Monster Hunter world and I think that their performances really benefited from that," he said. The director feels the look of the movie benefited from it as they have created a very realistic looking other world. How did "Monster Hunter" challenge Anderson as a filmmaker, compared to other films he has made before? "Going to these landscapes and shooting for real was something I have never really done before because I have done a lot of movies in studios and cities. Think about 'Resident Evil', it is a very urban franchise. You are in a lot of industrial dereliction, you tend to be based in cities. This time I had really gone out and did a landscape picture where you are in these vast landscapes," Anderson said. He had very limited lighting. "So, you start shooting when the sun goes up and you stop shooting when the sun goes down. Having to plan your entire day with the pathway of the sun and kind of shoot in these wild locations was an adventure and really different for me. It tested me as a filmmaker but it was very exciting. I think it produced a very unique look for the film," he said. (Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durga.c@ians.in) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 (@FahadShabbir) MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2021) The leader of the opposition in Belarus, ex-presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya suggested that Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto open an embassy in Belarus "after free elections," Tikhanovskaya's press service said in a statement. Finland has an embassy office in Belarus, which is operated by the Finnish Embassy in Vilnius. The opposition politician is in Helsinki from March 1 to 4, where she met with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Prime Minister Sanna Marin, former President Tarja Halonen, OSCE PA Honorary President Ilkka Kanerva and representatives of the Finnish parliament. Then Tikhanovskaya plans to go to Switzerland. "During her meetings with Finnish politicians, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya ... suggested that the Finnish foreign minister consider opening a Finnish embassy in Minsk after free elections, develop a long-term plan for bilateral cooperation between Finland and democratic Belarus," according to a statement on Tikhanovskaya's website. Presidential elections were held in Belarus on August 9, 2020. According to the Central Election Commission, President Alexander Lukashenko won them with 80. 1 percent of the vote. The Belarusian opposition claimed Tikhanovskaya, not Lukashenko, had won. Mass opposition protests began across Belarus after the presidential elections. In the first days, the rallies were crushed by law enforcement officers: tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets were used against the protesters who did not agree with the election results. In line with official data, over 6,700 people were detained in the first days. Hundreds of people were injured during riots, including over 130 law enforcement officers. Three protesters died. The Belarusian opposition demands new elections and initiates the expansion of international sanctions against Minsk, previously adopted by Western countries. In Belarus, criminal cases have been opened against a number of members of the opposition coordinating council created on the initiative of Tikhanovskaya. Tikhanovskaya, who left for Lithuania after the elections, is also a defendant in the case of the creation of an extremist group and an attempt to seize power. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Researchers studying sharks near New Zealand have found out that three giant deep-sea sharks shine in the dark, which includes the one that is now known as the largest luminous vertebrate. Bioluminescence, which means the release of visible light by living organisms via a chemical reaction is a common fact among marine life but it is being recorded and analyzed in the black belly lantern shark, and the southern lantern shark, kitefin shark for the very first time. The Largest Known Luminous Shark The luminous sharks were collected amid a fish survey in January 2020 at the Chatham Rise near the east coast of New Zealand. The kitefin, which is now the largest known luminous shark, can expand to 180cm, and scientists referred to it as a "giant luminous shark". The scientists, all the way from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand and Universite Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, disclosed that this studies had effects on our understanding of how life is in the deep sea, being one of the ecosystems on the planet that is barely studied. The giant sharks all coexist in what is referred to as the twilight or mesopelagic zone of the ocean, with deep meters between 200 and 1,000, far from which sunlight does not enter. As shown below, the sharks emerge sunny opposing the bright surface of the water, leaving them unsecured to possible predators without any place to find cover. Scientists advocate that these three giant sharks glowing underwater may help conceal them from any threats that might arise from underneath. ALSO READ: Monstrous Shark with Goblin-Like Jaws Found in the Deep Sea Kitefin Shark As regards to the kitefin shark, which has little or no animals of prey, it is viable that the species moving slowly make use of its natural glow to light up the ocean floor while searching for food, or to hide while getting closer to animals it wants to feed on. Further research would be required to authenticate the two hypotheses, the scientists pen down in a paper released in the Marine Science journal frontiers, and to have a better understanding of how the shark's bioluminescence worked and likely results for prey-predation affairs. The scientists wrote that taking into consideration the size of the deep sea and the affairs of glowing organisms in this zone, it is now more and more clear that releasing light at deep-sea must play a crucial role in forming the biggest ecosystem on our planet. The Luminous Pattern Wasn't Known The lead researcher from the Marine Biology Laboratory, Jerome Mallefet from the Universite Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, disclosed that "The luminous pattern of the Kitefin shark was not known and we are still very amazed by the glow on the dorsal fin. Why and for which purpose?" The magnitude of the territories occupied by the sharks is what makes this kind of research very difficult, Mallefet said the two other Etmopterus sharks were also not recorded so it is the first time, but he hopes to come back to sea very soon, so as to continue the work and look out for other luminous species. RELATED ARTICLE: Glowing Sharks Light up to Threaten Potential Predators For more news, update about sharks and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! WE are now reading that the Minister of Sport has come out with a statement regarding our participation in the Tokyo Olympics. As with the usual run-of-the-mill political type, the statement vacillates, kicks the can down the road and seeks to avoid the issue. Let us be clear on what the situation is regarding these Olympics. New research shows that people diagnosed with a genetic condition, called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), are far more likely to stop smoking and therefore prevent the development of lung disease. The study, led by researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science, is published in COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It is estimated that 265,000 people on the island of Ireland are affected by either severe or moderate AATD, but the vast majority of people with AATD have not been diagnosed. Previously, it was assumed that only people with severe AATD were at risk of lung disease. Recent Irish research has shown that people with the far more common moderate form of AATD are also at risk of lung disease if they are smokers. With the smoking rate in the general population in Ireland at 17%, this means there are approximately 45,000 current smokers with either severe or moderate AATD who are at increased risk of lung damage due to cigarettes. According to the latest figures from the national targeted detection programme for AATD based at RCSI Beaumont Hospital, 90% of these smokers with AATD remain undiagnosed. The researchers surveyed patients enrolled in the National AATD Registry with a questionnaire relating to demographics, parental smoking history, personal smoking history, AATD awareness and personal medical history. Of the 293 respondents, 58 reported being smokers at the time of their AATD diagnosis. Their subsequent reported quit rate was 70.7%. Our study has shown that those who receive a diagnosis of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are far more likely to stop smoking. We hope this study will lead to increased testing for AATD, with more people being diagnosed and choosing to stop or completely avoid smoking in order to prevent lung disease from developing. People with AATD who use electronic cigarettes are also potentially at risk, but more research is needed." Dr Tomas Carroll, Senior Lecturer at RCSI and Study's Corresponding Author The research also found that people who reported having a parent who smoked were far more likely to become smokers themselves. Those with a parent who smoked were 84% more likely to smoke than those who did not. For a diagnosis of AATD, a simple blood test is available in most large hospitals in Ireland that can identify those who need further testing. The more precise definitive test is provided for free by Alpha-1 Foundation Ireland as part of a HSE funded national targeted detection programme. Police today ruled out a criminal investigation into BBC journalist Martin Bashir's Princess Diana interview. Pressure had been mounting on the Metropolitan Police to launch its own probe into background of the bombshell 1995 Panorama chat. It was alleged Mr Bashir created a string of lies - including ordering a graphic artist to create fake bank statements - to trick the Princess into the world exclusive. But Met Commander Alex Murray said today: 'In recent months the Metropolitan Police Service received correspondence alleging unlawful activity in connection with a documentary broadcast in 1995. This was carefully assessed by specialist detectives. 'They obtained legal advice from Metropolitan Police lawyers, independent counsel and from the Crown Prosecution Service. 'Following this detailed assessment and in view of the advice we received, we have determined that it is not appropriate to begin a criminal investigation into these allegations. No further action will be taken. 'In this matter, as in any other, should any significant new evidence come to light we will assess it.' It is alleged Mr Bashir created a string of lies - including ordering a graphic artist to create fake bank statements - to trick the Princess into the world exclusive (pictured: A still from the 1995 interview) Mr van Dellen said the faked bank statements, which were allegedly commissioned by Mr Bashir (pictured) had caused 'significant reputational and financial loss' to his client Lord Dyson, a former Master of the Rolls and Head of the Court of Appeal, is already leading an independent investigation into the circumstances around the interview. The Met Police had received a complaint by Earl Spencer's former security chief Alan Waller over the alleged faking of his bank statements. Mr Waller's lawyer Anton van Dellen accused Mr Bashir, who is now the BBC's religious affairs editor, of 'dishonest conduct' and claimed the BBC 'benefited' while knowing the reporter's actions were 'unlawful', according to reports in the Telegraph Mr Waller, 57, a former British Army paratrooper and an ex-US Marine, previously said he was considering making a complaint to police. The statements forged for Mr Bashir wrongly showed Mr Waller had been taking payments from the press in return for information about Diana. Mr Waller said in November that the faked bank statements had a 'devastating effect' on him. He described how he contemplated suicide while working outside the UK. Lord Dyson, a former Master of the Rolls and Head of the Court of Appeal, is leading an independent investigation into the circumstances around the interview Earl Spencer's former security chief Alan Waller (pictured) has complained to police over the faking of his bank statements which were used by Martin Bashir to gain an interview with Princess Diana Mr van Dellen's letter, which the Telegraph said it had seen, was said to say: 'In 1995, two BBC employees or agents engaged in a conspiracy to create an instrument of fraud, namely a purported copy of Mr Alan Waller's bank statements. 'Mr Martin Bashir agreed with a graphic artist, Matt Wiessler, to create a bank statement purporting to belong to Mr Alan Waller. 'The fraudulent bank statement was then used to persuade Charles Spencer of Mr Bashir's purported credentials and Mr Bashir subsequently gained an inteview with the late Princess Diana to conduct the most significant interview to date for the BBC.' Mr van Dellen reportedly said the faked bank statements had caused 'significant reputational and financial loss' to his client. The letter added that the BBC 'wrongfully benefited' from Mr Bashir's actions and claimed the corporation knew it was engaged in 'unlawful activity'. Earl Spencer has alleged Mr Bashir showed him the fake financial documents and told untrue stories about the royal family to gain access to his sister Graphic designer Mr Wiessler previously said he mocked up the statements in the belief they were faithful reproductions of genuine documents. His explosive revelations triggered the scandal involving Mr Bashir. The BBC has appointed retired judge and former master of the rolls, Lord Dyson, to lead an inquiry into what steps the BBC and Mr Bashir took to land the interview with Diana. Earl Spencer has alleged Mr Bashir showed him the fake financial documents and told untrue stories about the royal family to gain access to his sister. The documents also falsely suggested that Diana's then private secretary - Patrick Jephson - and another royal household member were being paid by the security services to spy on the Princess. The claims fuelled her fears about her safety and privacy. Former BBC director-general Lord Hall in 1996 led an internal BBC investigation into the circumstances surrounding the interview, which led news bulletins around the world and sent shockwaves through the royal family. The BBC previously said in a statement that Mr Bashir had admitted commissioning the bank statements. It is understood the journalist was found to have 'done wrong' at the end of the process. It is not known if he faced any sanction. The BBC has previously said Mr Bashir is seriously ill with Covid-19-related complications and was not in a position to respond to Earl Spencer's allegations. He was however pictured near his home at the end of last year carrying a takeaway meal. A spokeswoman for the corporation previously said: 'A lot has been written and broadcast about the Princess of Wales's interview in recent weeks. It is important that we have a view of what happened based on the evidence of everyone involved. Clearly that has not yet been able to happen. 'But to be absolutely clear, the BBC is determined to get to the truth of what happened. That's why we have appointed Lord Dyson to lead a fully independent investigation. 'It is vital that everyone with information shares that with Lord Dyson, so that he can investigate thoroughly and draw his conclusions having heard all the evidence. Last year it emerged the BBC's inquiry was scrutinising a handwritten letter from Diana which apparently showered Mr Bashir with praise. The note went missing for more than 20 years after a Panorama staff member took it home as a souvenir. It was however handed in in November. The BBC is now using the letter to suggest Diana never saw the faked financial documents commissioned by Mr Bashir. The letter on Kensington Palace stationery also purports to heap praise on the BBC's shamed religion editor. The contents of the letter has not been made public, but was examined by the previous 1996 internal investigation. New York, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "North America Organoids Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis By Type, Application, and Source, and Country" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06027846/?utm_source=GNW However, the lack of skilled professionals is likely to restrain the market growth during the forecast period. The advantages of organoids have attracted various investors, market players, researchers, and organizations to invest in the research studies.For instance, Prellis Biologics, a San Fransico-based biotechnology company, announced completing its Series A investment round in August 2019. The Khosla Venture has invested US$ 8.7 million in Prellis Biologics, and then it could raise a total capital of US$ 10.5 million (EUR 9.39 million). With the capital investment, the company aims to support research and developments of new therapeutic techniques through its holographic 3D printing technology by delivering biocompatible vascularized tissue bank to healthcare institutes and organizations. According to the company, the 3D printing technology would allow up to 90% reduced time for drug screening in 3D organoids than other 3D cell culture technologies. Similarly, the Canadian government has allocated ~US$ 42.11 million (CAD$ 54.2 million) to various research studies. The Canadian government has also invested an additional amount of US$ 20.05 million (CAD$ 25.8 million) in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak. Among this additional amount, US$ 665 064 (CAD$ 856, 000) was allocated to a research title Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Targeting Human Type II Transmembrane Serine Protease Activity. The research would include a study about the SARS-CoV-2 virus protein, spike glycoprotein (S protein), and virus virulence in the human host cells. The project is likely to test protease inhibitors in models to analyze where the cells express the S protein. The study also analyzes the potent molecules, which would be then validated in lung organoids to verify their efficacy at reducing viral propagation. Thus, growing investments in R&D are likely to demand the use of organoids and offer various innovative therapeutics in the market. Growing demand for organoids in research is expected to influence the growth of the market during the forecast period. Based on type, the North America organoids market is segmented into stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, lung, brain, kidney, and others. The intestine segment held the largest share of the market in 2019, whereas the kidney segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. In terms of application, the North America organoids market is segmented into developmental biology, disease pathology of infectious disease, regenerative medicine, drug toxicity and efficacy testing, drug discovery and personalized medicine, and others. The developmental biology segment held the largest share of the market in 2019; however, the drug discovery and personalized medicine segment is expected to register CAGR during the forecast period. Based on source, the North America organoids market is segmented into pluripotent stem cells and organ-specific adult stem cells. The pluripotent stem cells segment held the largest share of the market in 2019 and it is estimated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. Food and Drug Administration, North American Society of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition, and World Health Organization are among the major primary and secondary sources for the North America organoids market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06027846/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ LIMA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2021) Peru has received the first batch of the Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus, Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez said. "The government is fulfilling its promises, and the vaccines continue to arrive in the country. We will not stop the vaccination campaign that started on February 9, and we will continue it until the last day of our rule," the prime minister said on late Wednesday. The Latin American nation has received 50,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Peru is due to get 20 million doses of this vaccine. Last month, Peru launched the vaccination campaign after receiving the first batch of 300,000 doses of the vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm. The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11. To date, more than 115.12 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 2.55 million fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University. Peru has confirmed more than 1.33 million COVID-19 cases so far, with over 46,000 fatalities. Turkey will provide the necessary support for the newly created Crimean Platform. The Parliament of Turkey supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and Turkish and Ukrainian parliamentarians work in concert on various international platforms. "I can say that all political parties represented in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey are unanimous in supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. In addition, I know that many of our lawmakers, who represent the provinces where our citizens of Crimean origin live, are closely following the events in Ukraine and the issues of Crimea. They take an active position and advocate that these issues should be raised at the international level," Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop said in an interview with Ukrinform on the eve of his official visit to Ukraine. He noted that Ukrainian and Turkish parliamentarians worked in concert in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. "Turkish MPs work in concert with Ukrainian colleagues, support them and take note of the illegal actions against Crimean Tatars. You can be sure that Turkey will provide the necessary support for the newly created Crimean Platform, as well as in other issues," he said. The Turkish politician noted that it is important to raise awareness of the problem, especially in the international arena, and to ensure that the issue of attempted annexation is raised on all possible international platforms and the voice of Crimean Tatars is heard. The visit of the Turkish delegation led by Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop will take place on March 5-6 at the invitation of Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov. The program of the visit includes meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, representatives of business and the diaspora. ol A seminar on employment and labor rights in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held online on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The seminar was sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, and the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland. Organized by the Institute for Communication and Borderland Governance and the School of Journalism and Communication of the Guangzhou-based Jinan University, the event drew experts and scholars from relevant human rights research institutions in China. The participants focused on discussions and exchanges on Xinjiang's efforts to protect the employment and labor rights of people of all ethnic groups, and shared Xinjiang's practical experience in helping people of all ethnic groups secure prosperity through employment while continuously improving the concept of human rights development. The experts agreed that Xinjiang's policies and practices concerning employment and job security comply with China's Constitution and relevant laws, and conform to international labor and human rights standards. They have laid a solid foundation for protecting the rights to life and development of all ethnic groups while promoting social fairness and justice. Zulhayat Ismail, vice-president of Xinjiang University, said Xinjiang has brought the whole process of the establishment, operation, supervision and mediation of labor relations under the rule of law, providing a solid legal guarantee for people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to enjoy equal rights to labor and employment. Cao Yan, a researcher at the Human Rights Research Institute in Northwest University of Political Science and Law, said Xinjiang has implemented various national labor policies and regulations, issued a number of local laws and regulations, and legalized various proactive policies and measures on the labor market through local legislation, thus forming a relatively complete system for guaranteeing labor rights. Shang Haiming, an associate professor at the Human Rights Research Institute in Southwest University of Political Science and Law, said some Western scholars' studies on "forced labor" in Xinjiang contain flaws such as a lack of field research, strong ideology, and stigmatizing the protection of labor rights in Xinjiang. The existence of so-called "forced labor" in Xinjiang is a lie influenced by ideological bias. Nilufer Gheyret, a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Communication Studies, Communication University of China, shared her research results on Xinjiang ethnic minorities working in Guangdong. According to her field investigation of 70 ethnic minority workers in five enterprises in Guangdong last year, these workers from Xinjiang chose to work out of personal choice, and all their labor rights have been fully guaranteed. Working outside of Xinjiang also helped them increase their family incomes, broaden their horizons, improve their language skills and vocational and technical levels, and enabled their children to enjoy better educational resources. Zheng Liang, director of the Institute for Communication and Borderland Governance at Jinan University, said the research results presented and exchanged by experts attending the seminar will help clarify the facts, help the international academic circles to better understand the falsehood of the lie of "forced labor", and better show the true situation, which is that the labor and employment situation in Xinjiang has been greatly improved and people of all ethnic groups have created a better life together. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Kathmandu, March 4 The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 274,488 as of Thursday afternoon. The ministry says 107 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours. In this period, 5,536 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million and 179,047 people have been tested in the country. As of today, 795 cases are active. Of the total cases so far, 270,683 people have achieved recovery whereas 3,010 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 62 people have achieved recoveries whereas no deaths have been reported. Over 50 people are quarantined across the country. BRIDGEPORT Charges were upgraded Thursday against an Easton volunteer firefighter accused of driving drunk and killing a woman last July 4 as she walked her dog in Fairfield. Declan Kot, 22, is now charged with second-degree manslaughter in addition to previous charges of evading responsibility in a death and tampering with evidence. The new charge is a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Senior Assistant States Attorney Tiffany Lockshier filed notice in Superior Court of the addition of the manslaughter charge. She declined comment. Kots lawyer, John R. Gulash, also declined comment on the new charge. The case is scheduled for a virtual pretrial conference on March 23. Marileidy Morel-Araujo, 32, of Pennsylvania, had been visiting her husbands family on Redding Road in Fairfield, when police said Morel-Araujo decided to take a walk with her dog Coal. Police said Morel-Araujo was struck from behind as she walked with her dog along Redding Road by a white pickup truck with a large American flag waving on the back. The truck did not stop after the collision, police said. On July 7, Fairfield Police Officer Virgil Procaccini was on routine patrol when he spotted a pickup matching the description and pulled it over. The driver, Kot, agreed to go to police headquarters. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Kot admitted he had been driving his pickup after consuming six alcoholic drinks. He drove off the road near some bushes/trees and heard a loud bang on the side of his vehicle which startled him; he thought he hit a tree branch at the time, police stated in the affidavit, noting the area of the collision does not have any shrubbery or trees. The affidavit states that Kot said when he got home, he noticed missing pieces on his passenger side mirror and replaced the mirror. During this interview, Kot began to cry. Then, police said, Kot admitted seeing the victim on the side of the road. Christchurch: Armed police have raided two Christchurch homes after a person allegedly made a series of online posts threatening a terrorist attack involving car bombs on March 15, the second anniversary of the mosque massacre. Members of the armed offenders squad carried out search warrants at the properties in St Albans and Linwood shortly before 6pm, Christchurch time, on Thursday. Armed police raid a Christchurch home after a person allegedly made a series of online posts threatening a terrorist attack on mosques involving car bombs on March 15. Credit: John Kirk-Anderson, Stuff Two men were arrested. A 27-year-old man was later charged with threatening to kill, police said. He would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Friday morning. The other man was released without charge. 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. Norwich student to climb Kilimanjaro for charity Norwich student to climb Kilimanjaro for charity Julia Hull from St Georges parish in Sprowston, Norwich will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in summer 2022 to raise money for charity. Julia is a mature student at UEA in her first year of a Psychology degree. A few weeks into starting her course she stumbled across an opportunity to support the National Autistic Society through climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, which had been on her list of places to get to one day. As she was growing up, her family were members of the St Johns Cathedral parish. They were very much involved with Faith and Light, the network founded by Jean Vanier to support families where a member has a learning disability. As an adult Julia has worked in schools with children with social, emotional and behavioural challenges, some of whom were autistic. It reinforced her opinion that awareness and understanding were key. The National Autistic Society provides support to individuals and their families, but also has an aim to raise awareness and campaign for change. I am a little apprehensive, said Julia. This isnt like anything Ive ever done before. But the apprehension is totally outweighed by the excitement to get out there and push myself to achieve something amazing. Julias fundraising target is 2,500. All sponsorship will go to the charity, as she is paying the cost of the trip herself. You can sponsor her via: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julia-hull Pictured above is Julia Hull Eldred Willey, 04/03/2021 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Researchers (BGU) have found for the first time that cigarette smoke toxicity impacts the protective biofilm in the lungs, particularly concerning when paired with COVID-19 respiratory issues. Though many health factors are known about smoking, little is known about the overall toxicity potential of its ingredients. Researchers developed a new smoke testing system called a bacterial panel with genetically modified bioluminescent bacteria to measure both filtered and unfiltered cigarette smoke's complex molecular mixture. According to the new study published in the journal Talanta, the researchers found that cigarette smoke affects communication between bacteria, which can affect microorganisms in the body and cause a negative effect on the formation of biofilm, which protects lung bacterial colonies. The study examined 12 distinct types of commercial cigarettes of varying prices bought at local Israeli stores, revealing that filters helped somewhat in lowering toxicity. The experiment proved that the filter is a crucial element in reducing the harm of smoking so therefore, new filters need to be developed to reduce toxicity." Prof. Robert Marks, Head of the BGU Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering Prof. Robert Marks is a leading expert in the study of genetically engineered bacteria. His work focuses on finding the specific mechanisms of toxins in a variety of materials and their impact on the environment. Tobacco companies, research organizations, and academics can use the bacterial panel and its accompanying system to cost-effectively monitor the overall toxicity of various commercial cigarettes and test their filter effectiveness. "The recently developed smoke testing system, based on our bacterial panel, is a new system for researchers that need to analyze toxicity of smoke at a reasonable cost," says Prof. Marks. Reliance Power and JERA Co. Inc. (JERA), through their joint venture project company, are developing a new gas-fired power generation project in Bangladesh. The project company has achieved financial closure for the project with a group of lenders that includes Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) & Asian Development Bank (ADB) and all requisite conditions for availing drawdown under the loan agreements have been satisfied. The Project is to build, own, and operate a 745 MW (net output: 718 MW) natural gas combined-cycle power project in Meghnaghat, Narayanganj, located approximately 40 km southeast of Dhaka (the Project / Phase 1). Reliance Power's wholly owned subsidiary Samalkot Power (Samalkot Power) has received the approval from the Export Import Bank of the United States (US Exim Bank) to sell one module of equipment (Module 1) to Samsung C&T Corporation (Samsung C&T) of South Korea, who is the EPC contractor for the Project, for Rs. 1540 crore. Notice to Proceed has been issued by the Project Company to Samsung C&T, who in turn has issued the Notice to Proceed to Samalkot Power for supply of equipment. Samalkot Power will supply one module of world-class equipment procured from internationally reputed original equipment manufacturers to the Phase 1 Project in Bangladesh. Reliance Power's net worth is Rs. 12,063 crore and Debt to Equity Ratio is 2.24:1, which is among the lowest in the industry (31 December 2020). Reliance Power will achieve a total debt reduction of upto Rs. 3,000 crore by March 2021 Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Every power worth its portion of salt in the Levant these days seems to be doing it. On February 25, President Joe Biden ordered airstrikes against Syria. The premise for the attacks was implausible. These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq, claimed Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, and to ongoing threats to those personnel. More specifically, the strikes were in retaliation for rocket attacks in northern Iraq on the airport of Erbil that left a Filipino contractor working for the US military dead and six others injured, including a Louisiana National Guard soldier. The targets in Syria were facilities used by Iranian-backed militia groups, including Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack left up to 22 people dead. The Biden administration has resorted to tactics long embraced by US presidents. To be noticed, you need to bomb a country. The measure, more a sign of raging impotence than stark virility, is always larded with jargon and bureaucratic platitudes. We said a number of times that we will respond on our timeline, explained Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reporters keeping him company on a flight from California to Washington. We wanted to be sure of the connectivity and we wanted to be sure about the right targets. He was convinced that the target was being used by the same Shia militants that conducted the [February 15] strikes. Seven 500-pound bombs were used in the operation, though Stars and Stripes initially reported that the type of weaponry used was not disclosed. The Pentagon had been keen to push a larger range of targets, but Biden was being presidential in restraint, approving, as the New York Times puts it, a less aggressive option. Kirby insisted the operation had been the sensible outcome of discussions with coalition partners. The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel. Defying credulity, the spokesman suggested that the US had acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq. Congress, the peoples chamber, was left out in the cold, though not for the first time by this administration. Press outlets such as the Associated Press had ingested the fable that this was the first military action undertaken by the Biden administration. But on January 27, the New York Times reported that the US Air Force had killed 10 ISIS members near Kirkuk in Iraq, including Abu Yasser al-Issawi. A spokesman for the US-led coalition against Islamic State, Colonel Wayne Marotto, was satisfied with the bloody result. Yassers death is another significant blow to Daesh resurgence efforts in Iraq. Such casual non-reporting, even during the incipient stages of a presidential administration, should have received a tongue-lashing. Instead, there were a good number in the press stable who could only see the figure of the previous White House occupant, and feel relief that Biden was being so sensible. The Daily Beast suggested, with little substance, that the airstrike lacked the recklessness of the Trump administration. Bobby Ghosh for Bloomberg, also falling into error in claiming this as Bidens first military attack, was convinced that the actions were sound in letting those naughty Iranians know that the president wasnt bluffing.: [Iran and its] proxies were caught completely off guard. They had been lulled into a sense of impunity by the administrations early reticence in attributing blame for the attacks in Iraq and the White Houses determination not to lash out and risk and escalation. Ghosh even goes so far as to laud the February 25 military strike as a necessary antidote against paralysing and unproductive diplomacy, ignoring accounts suggesting that Iran has encouraged Shiite militias in Iraq to refrain from excessive violence. The US, including its allies, Britain, France, and Germany, had initially embraced a posture of studied calm. Thankfully, that period of studiousness was over: Biden has now demonstrated that he can walk and chew gum at the same time. And so, a vigilante act in violation of a States sovereignty comes to be praised. Not all have sanitised the act as a necessitous one. Mary Ellen OConnell of Notre Dame Law School thought that the strike failed to meet the necessary elements of a necessary use of force: The United Nations Charter makes absolutely clear that the use of military force on the territory of a foreign sovereign state is lawful only in response to an armed attack on the defending state for which the target is responsible. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was also troubled by the strike, worried that it put: our country on the path of continuing the Forever War instead of ending it. This is the same path weve been on for almost two decades. Maine Democrat Senator Tim Kaine turned to the role of Congressional power: Offensive military action without congressional approval is not constitutional absent extraordinary military circumstances. Minnesota Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar also pointed out that the current White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had herself criticised President Donald Trump in 2017 for authorising a strike in retaliation of a chemical weapons attack. Assad is a brutal dictator, tweeted Psaki at the time. But Syria is a sovereign country. Another sentiment forgotten in an increasingly amnesiac administration. Unfortunately, war apologists tend to find ongoing justifications in the elastic imperial provisions found in the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). The 2001 AUMF was focused on perpetrators of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. The 2002 AUMF was directed to Iraq. Their sheer broadness has irked the sole person to vote against them. Nearly 20 years after I cast the sole no vote on the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), stated Californian House Representative Barbara Lee, both the 2002 and 2002 AUMFs have been employed by three successive Presidents to wage war in ways well beyond the scope that Congress initially intended. Biden does not even go so far as to cite such authorities, instead stating that the strikes were: consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens both home and abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. Overly stretching his argument, Biden opined that his action was also consistent with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, acknowledging a states right to self-defense. Not even Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama or Trump had bothered to push the international law line for such thuggish intervention, confining themselves to domestic sources of power. But such virtue signalling did evoke some praise, notably from former legal adviser to the State Department, John B. Bellinger III. The Presidents inaugural war powers report was a model of war powers practice and transparency. Congress has made a few efforts in recent years to restrain the Commander-in-Chief for overzealous commitments. The War Powers Resolution sought to end US participation in the Yemen conflict. In 2020, members of Congress resolved to modestly shackle Trump from commencing a full-blown war with Iran. But the February 25 attacks show that the misuse and abuse of US military might by the imperial executive remains a dangerous orthodoxy, and one that continues to have its defenders. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected] The Budget has created winners, who may find themselves better off, and losers, who could be worse off, but which are you? Winners Home movers who missed out on stamp duty savings The stamp duty holiday in Northern Ireland will now remain fully in place until the end of June but will taper off. First-time buyers and home movers with small deposits A new 5% deposit mortgage guarantee scheme will be available to current homeowners as well as first-time buyers looking to buy a house for up to 600,000. Furloughed workers The furlough scheme is being extended until the end of September. Employees will continue to receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked. Some self-employed people The Government's Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is to be extended until the end of September. Low-paid workers From April 1, the National Living Wage will rise from 8.72 to 8.91. There is also a six-month extension to the 20-a-week Universal Credit uplift. Motorists Fuel duty is being frozen for the 11th year in a row. Alcohol drinkers Alcohol duties will be frozen. Losers Income tax payers More people will be dragged into paying larger amounts of tax as wages increase. Pension savers The pensions lifetime allowance - the amount that people can save before tax charges kick in - will be held at its current level of 1,073,100 until April 2026. Pensions experts have described this as a stealth tax and have warned that more of middle Britain, including NHS doctors, could be caught in the tax net. Those inheriting wealth The inheritance tax 'nil rate' band will remain at its current level of 325,000 until April 2026, which could see yet more people paying out. HARRISON, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Sapience Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide therapeutics to address difficult to treat oncology indications, today announced that Dr. Barry Kappel, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present an overview of the company and provide an update on the ST101 clinical trial at the upcoming 2021 Spring Private Company Showcase hosted by Credit Suisse, Solebury Trout, and Cooley. During the 20-minute presentation, participants will be able to submit questions electronically with answers provided at the discretion of the company on an individual basis afterwards. Details are as follows: 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. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Frances former right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday vowed to go all the way to clear his name, two days after being handed a three-year sentence for corruption following a trial he portrayed as a travesty of justice. A Paris court ruled that the 66-year-old right-winger had formed a corruption pact with his lawyer Thierry Herzog to convince a judge to obtain and share information about an inquiry into the financing of Sarkozys 2007 presidential campaign. Sarkozy, who in December became Frances first modern head of state to appear in the dock, has announced plans to appeal. In two interviews Wednesday he lambasted the verdict and said he was mulling filing a complaint with Europes top rights court. I never betrayed the trust of the French people, Frances president from 2007 to 2012 told TF1 channel in a primetime interview, noting that the French court had convicted him of corruption despite concluding that not a cent had changed hands and that no favours had been granted. With three other legal cases pending against him, Mondays conviction deals a blow to any hope Sarkozy has of making another political comeback after a failed bid to win a presidential nomination in 2016. >> Explainer: After guilty verdict, Sarkozy faces more trials and tribulations Sarkozy, a polarising presence who is a hate figure for many on the left but remains popular on the right, told TF1 he had turned the page on his political career. Despite being given a three-year jail term Sarkozy is not expected to serve time: two of the three years were suspended by the court with the remaining year set to be served at home with an electronic bracelet. Painful for me Handing down the sentence, the court said Sarkozys crime was particularly serious having been committed by a former president who was the guarantor of the independence of the judiciary. In an interview with Le Figaro daily Sarkozy, a trained lawyer, said the ruling was riddled with inconsistencies and was based on a bunch of circumstantial evidence. Perhaps it will be necessary to take this battle to the (Strasbourg-based) European Court of Human Rights, he said. It would be painful for me to have my own country condemned, but I am ready because that would be the price of democracy. The judgement is far from marking the end of Sarkozys legal woes. On March 17, the ex-president is scheduled to face a second trial over accusations of fraudulently overspending in his failed 2012 re-election bid. In a strongly-worded editorial, the newspaper Le Monde urged Sarkozy to put an end to his confrontation with the French legal system and stop whipping up the anger of his supporters towards judges. Today, he is reaping what he has sowed and must consider the advisability of continuing this populist excess, which has not only become a trap for him but a risk for the country, it said. But Le Parisien newspaper voiced sympathy for Sarkozy in an editorial by its director condemning the relentless intransigence of the judiciary towards the ex-politician. ADVERTISEMENT Staff at the newspaper distanced themselves from the editorial. Play politics Right-wing allies of Sarkozy have rushed to his defence, portraying him as the victim of a witch-hunt by Frances national financial prosecutors. When some judges start to play politics, the role of lawmakers is to strongly denounce it, Guillaume Peltier, the deputy leader of right-wing opposition party The Republicans, told LCI television. >> Sarkozy conviction triggers right-wing backlash against judges republic Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, a former member of Sarkozys Republicans party who was poached by President Emmanuel Macron, also expressed support for the defendant. I know hes an honest man, Darmanin declared. France 24 is Premium Times syndication partner. We have permission to republish. She worked as a model before finding fame on the 2019 series of Love Island. And Arabella Chi commanded attention as she took to Instagram on Wednesday to post a slew of sizzling snaps. The former Love Island star, 29, posed braless in a nude pink ribbed vest top that had stitching detail around the bust. Racy: Arabella Chi commanded attention as she took to Instagram on Wednesday to post a slew of sizzling snaps Arabella teamed her revealing top with light wash denim jeans and a chunky chain padlock necklace. She swept her blonde locks back and showed off her bronzed tan as she posed up a storm for the camera. Arabella has returned to London after she was one of the many influencers who jetted off to Dubai for a 'work trip'. Catching the eye: The former Love Island star, 29, posed braless in a nude pink ribbed vest top that had stitching detail around the bust The reality star returned to the U.K before the mandatory hotel quarantine was enforced. Arabella has been focusing on her modelling career after she split from her boyfriend Wes Nelson in April 2020. Wes, 22, recently took a swipe at his previous girlfriends in a TikTok video and admitted how he believes he moved in with his exes too quickly. Tanned: Arabella has returned to London after she was one of the many influencers who jetted off to Dubai for a 'work trip' He said: 'The type of girls I've gone for personality-wise and looks-wise has been completely different the last couple of years. 'But what has definitely changed is I want someone whos very easygoing and chilled, easy to get on with. 'I can't deal with super, super intense craziness all the time.' As well as Arabella, Wes dated Megan Barton Hanson, 26, after meeting in the Love Island villa. Arabella seems to be embracing single life and in December bought her own flat. 02/03/2021. The Central Bank has fined stockbroker Davy 4.13m for breaching market rules in relation to a transaction involving the broker's own staff. Pictured is the Davy Brokers Offices on Dawson street. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Rollingnews.ie Officials from the Central Bank have been called before the Oireachtas Committee on Finance next Tuesday to address several issues, including this week's 4.13m fine against Davy Group and potential new powers for holding senior financial figures accountable for misconduct. The committee has invited senior Central Bank executives to give testimony on a range of recent actions taken by the regulator. It is understood members of the committee will be questioning officials on the Central Bank's handling of mortgage arrears, its framework for business interruption insurance supervision, and proposals for a new senior executive accountability regime (SEAR). The invitation follows some significant interventions by the Central Bank's enforcement division in recent weeks. Read More On Tuesday, the CBI announced a record fine against Davy for conflict of interest violations in relation to a bond transaction in 2014. Two weeks ago, the regulator issued risk mitigation programmes ordering insurance companies to pay business interruption claims in line with last month's Commercial Court ruling against FBD. Committee members are also expected to scrutinise the Central Bank's proposals for enhanced powers under SEAR. Under current rules, senior individuals in financial firms can only be held personally accountable for wrongdoing if their misconduct is linked to a breach by their firm. The SEAR proposals would make it easier for regulators to take action against senior executives based exclusively on their own conduct. Legal and compliance sources say the Central Bank's low number of enforcement actions against individuals is due to the current high bar. The Central Bank has made the case for several years that its regulators need a stronger toolkit to enhance their effectiveness. Read More 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. CAMBRIDGE, MA -- In the era of social distancing, using robots for some health care interactions is a promising way to reduce in-person contact between health care workers and sick patients. However, a key question that needs to be answered is how patients will react to a robot entering the exam room. Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital recently set out to answer that question. In a study performed in the emergency department at Brigham and Women's, the team found that a large majority of patients reported that interacting with a health care provider via a video screen mounted on a robot was similar to an in-person interaction with a health care worker. "We're actively working on robots that can help provide care to maximize the safety of both the patient and the health care workforce. The results of this study give us some confidence that people are ready and willing to engage with us on those fronts," says Giovanni Traverso, an MIT assistant professor of mechanical engineering, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the senior author of the study. In a larger online survey conducted nationwide, the researchers also found that a majority of respondents were open to having robots not only assist with patient triage but also perform minor procedures such as taking a nose swab. Peter Chai, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a research affiliate in Traverso's lab, is the lead author of the study, which appears today in JAMA Network Open. Triage by robot After the Covid-19 pandemic began early last year, Traverso and his colleagues turned their attention toward new strategies to minimize interactions between potentially sick patients and health care workers. To that end, they worked with Boston Dynamics to create a mobile robot that could interact with patients as they waited in the emergency department. The robots were equipped with sensors that allow them to measure vital signs, including skin temperature, breathing rate, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation. The robots also carried an iPad that allowed for remote video communication with a health care provider. This kind of robot could reduce health care workers' risk of exposure to Covid-19 and help to conserve the personal protective equipment that is needed for each interaction. However, the question still remained whether patients would be receptive to this type of interaction. "Often as engineers, we think about different solutions, but sometimes they may not be adopted because people are not fully accepting of them," Traverso says. "So, in this study we were trying to tease that out and understand if the population is receptive to a solution like this one." The researchers first conducted a nationwide survey of about 1,000 people, working with a market research company called YouGov. They asked questions regarding the acceptability of robots in health care, including whether people would be comfortable with robots performing not only triage but also other tasks such as performing nasal swabs, inserting a catheter, or turning a patient over in bed. On average, the respondents stated that they were open to these types of interactions. The researchers then tested one of their robots in the emergency department at Brigham and Women's Hospital last spring, when Covid-19 cases were surging in Massachusetts. Fifty-one patients were approached in the waiting room or a triage tent and asked if they would be willing to participate in the study, and 41 agreed. These patients were interviewed about their symptoms via video connection, using an iPad carried by a quadruped, dog-like robot developed by Boston Dynamics. More than 90 percent of the participants reported that they were satisfied with the robotic system. "For the purposes of gathering quick triage information, the patients found the experience to be similar to what they would have experienced talking to a person," Chai says. Robotic assistants The numbers from the study suggest that it could be worthwhile to try to develop robots that can perform procedures that currently require a lot of human effort, such as turning a patient over in bed, the researchers say. Turning Covid-19 patients onto their stomachs, also known as "proning," has been shown to boost their blood oxygen levels and make breathing easier. Currently the process requires several people to perform. Administering Covid-19 tests is another task that requires a lot of time and effort from health care workers, who could be deployed for other tasks if robots could help perform swabs. "Surprisingly, people were pretty accepting of the idea of having a robot do a nasal swab, which suggests that potential engineering efforts could go into thinking about building some of these systems," Chai says. The MIT team is continuing to develop sensors that can obtain vital sign data from patients remotely, and they are working on integrating these systems into smaller robots that could operate in a variety of environments, such as field hospitals or ambulances. ### Other authors of the paper include Farah Dadabhoy, Hen-wei Huang, Jacqueline Chu, Annie Feng, Hien Le, Joy Collins, Marco da Silva, Marc Raibert, Chin Hur, and Edward Boyer. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Hans and Mavis Lopater Psychosocial Foundation, e-ink corporation, the Karl Van Tassel (1925) Career Development Professorship, MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Gastroenterology. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he is more optimistic than ever for a great British summer (Jane Barlow/PA) Matt Hancock has said he is more optimistic than ever for a great British summer. The Health Secretary said he is confident that coronavirus restrictions will be lifted to allow leisure travel this summer because of the rollout of coronavirus vaccines. Mr Hancock has already booked a summer holiday in Cornwall. The Governments road map for easing Englands lockdown rules includes self-contained accommodation such as holiday lets potentially reopening from April 12, while hotel stays and foreign travel could be permitted from May 17. I'm now more optimistic about having a great British summer than I have been at any time Health Secretary Matt Hancock On a visit to a laboratory in Glasgow, Mr Hancock said: I very much hope that as we are able to lift restrictions, then we are all able to travel across the UK. Im confident, because of the vaccine, we will be able to make that progress and then be able to, all of us, to travel freely wherever we are within these islands. One of the factors that we have to be vigilant about in that road map is the emergence of new variants, in case the current vaccines are not as effective. Ive said before that Im optimistic for a great British summer and Im now more optimistic about having a great British summer than I have been at any time, thanks to the speed and the effectiveness of the vaccine rollout. By great British summer, I absolutely mean people being able to enjoy travel across the whole of the UK. Travel restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are determined by the devolved administrations. New Delhi: UPSC Civil Services Exam 2018 to select IAS and IPS officers among others has been scheduled to be held on June 3 next year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has said. Except for this year's test, which was held on June 18,the preliminary tests for 2016, 2015 and 2014 were held during the month of August, as per UPSC records. The preliminary exam for 2013 was held on May 26. The civil services preliminary examination, 2018, is scheduled to be held on June 3, as per the UPSC's programme ofexaminations for 2018. The notification for next year's exam will be issued on February 7. The last date for receipt of applications would be March 6, 2018, it said. The civil services examination is conducted annually by the UPSC in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview --to select officers for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS),among others. The number of vacancies to be filled on the result of the 2017 civil services examination is expected to be approximately 980 which include 27 vacancies reserved forthose in physically handicapped category. The result of civil services preliminary examination 2017was declared on July 27. For all the Latest Education News, Jobs News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ron Adar / SOPA Images / AP Earlier this week, House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy used the House floor to falsely blame Democrats for trying to cancel and outlaw Dr. Seuss, a dead author whose best-selling childrens books are still available to read. The decision to stop publishing six of his old, racist books was in fact made by the publisher and his estate, which admitted the books portray peopleincluding Asians"in ways that are hurtful and wrong. Still, the rage of frenzied masses who are still mourning the loss of Potato Heads pronouns but are fine canceling democratic elections had to be satiated with another straw man to shoot. Unfortunately, some of them are aiming at Asian American communities across the country, who are enduring a stunning spike in violent attacks. I didnt hear McCarthy rage about more than 3,000 incidents that have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based reporting center for Asian American Pacific Islanders, or the 150 percent increase over the previous year in anti-Asian American hate crimes in 16 of the countrys most populous cities in 2020. Sen. Tom Cotton promised to take a very hard look as to why we are giving visas to Chinese students. I havent heard Cotton plan to take a very hard look at what compelled a man to almost stab to death a father and his two young boys a year ago in a grocery store in Midland, Texas after he falsely accused them of being from China. The man, who is now visibly scarred, is from Myanmar. You might be wondering why I, a Muslim son of Pakistani immigrants, am using my column to discuss hate against another ethnic community. Its because Ive been through it. In 2021, my Muslim and South Asian communities are still told to go back to our country. We just endured a Trump administration that ran on and enacted a Muslim Ban. Twenty years after 9/11, our acceptance is still conditional and under permanent surveillance. To some, we are perpetual suspects and villains, invaders on a caravan along with undocumented immigrants, who will replace and cancel real American culture, which apparently includes racist childrens books. Hate doesnt require logic, it feeds on fear, misinformation, and anger. Story continues When I read about the elderly Thai man recently killed in San Francisco, I remembered Balbir Singh Sodhi, the first victim of a post-9/11 hate crime. He was a bearded Sikh man who wore a turban and ran a gas station in Arizona, whose murderer boasted that he was going to go out and shoot some towel-heads. Bigots and white supremacists are not nuanced in their hate, and all of us who will never achieve whiteness will always be in their target sights. After 9/11, Muslims in America knew what it felt like to wear an Away jersey in their Home country. Now in the aftermath of COVID-19, we are seeing racial discrimination, targeting, bullying, and a rise in hate crimes towards our Asian American brothers and sisters, comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj told me. He believes Muslim communities have a responsibility to look out for and protect Asian Americans who currently feel terrified, scared, and vulnerable to go out in public. President Trump and his federal officials repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the China virus or the Kung Flu. Since then, Asian Americans have been spit on, yelled at, pushed, and attacked since the beginning of COVID-19. Theyve been made scapegoats for a virus that has no ethnicity, gender, religion, or political ideology. However, graphic novelist Thi Bui, who came to America with her family as a refugee from Vietnam, said whats being lost in the current conversation is that this hate isnt a new phenomenon. I guess Id like to remind people who are newly sensitized to anti-Asian violence and want to do something about it that there is a long and documented history of anti-Asian violence in the U.S., going back to the angry mobs and exclusionary immigration policies of the 1800s, she told me. In fact, one of the first immigration laws to be passed in this country was the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited all legal immigration of Chinese laborers due to the economic anxiety of white workers at the time and the promotion of dangerous myths and stereotypes that portrayed Chinese and Asian immigrants as a Yellow Peril who would replace and conquer Western civilization. Bigots arent original thinkers and often recycle the same material in the 21st century. These same gross stereotypes and fears persisted and were used to imprison nearly 120,000 innocent American citizens of Japanese descent in relocation centers across the Western states under the pretext of national security. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, these fellow Americans without whiteness became them overnight. Jap hunting licenses began circulating around the country, and in a 1944 opinion poll, 13 percent of the public was fine with exterminating all Japanese people. Actor Kumail Nanjiani, originally an immigrant, empathizes with whats happening to Asian American communities. He said Trumps hateful rhetoric does not happen in a vacuum. It affects the lives of actual people, mentioning his Pakistani family members are viewed as suspects by neighbors whove known them for 20 years. Hes also critical of Hollywood's representation of Asians and South Asians in general that has mainstreamed these villainous stereotypes. Historically, he told me, we are either sexless/non-threatening nerds or murderous terrorists with nothing in between. We either play the model minority or the worst of humanity. In If I Ran the Zoo, one of the six Dr. Seuss books that will no longer be published, an illustration depicts a white boy holding a large gun while standing on the head of three Asian Men. Subtle. The model minority myth that Nanjiani mentioned has been one of the enduring and harmful tools used by white supremacy as a wedge to divide communities of color. It flattens the ethnic diversity and economic challenges faced by Asian and South Americans, in particular, and instead elevates us as the ideal immigrant and American minority that should be emulated by all others. We allegedly work hard, don't complain, succeed through grit, pursue academic and economic excellence, and never complain, all while being politically neutered and smiling through the pain. We are used to systemic racism and discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. America asks, why cant they be models like us? It should come as no surprise that the corrupted Department of Justice under Bill Barr used Asian American candidates to attack affirmative action in their case against Yale University, which has since been dropped by the Biden DOJ. Megan Black, who heads the Common Good program at the Western States Center, told me its heartbreaking but unsurprising to see that some of the assailants of Asian Americans have been Black and people of color. She told me the recent spike in anti-Asian violence tracks a similar rise in anti-Semitic violence. Blame the Jew, she said, becomes a disturbingly effective decoy tactic that has a track record of successfully distracting and dismantling racial solidarity efforts, leaving the actual perpetrators of white supremacist power untouched while putting Jews and Jewish communities at risk. She says Blame China rhetoric, which has become so prominent in our political discourse over the past few years, is simply following the same playbook with the same results. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is not having any of the divide and conquer tactics, and instead urges communities of color to stand in solidarity with Asian Americans. Omar is a Black Muslim woman who wears a hijab and is a former refugee, and as such has emerged as the ideal bogeyman for the right-wing and a frequent target of their hate. She was also told by President Trump to go back to where she came from. There is a concerted effort by white nationalists to target and divide minority communities by pitting us against each other, she told me. We must remember that our destinies are tied. An attack on one community is an attack on all. Bui agrees, but she believes that in order to truly address the violence, we have to speak out about root causes and name them. For her, this includes white supremacy, the common foe of all our communities, but also chaotic political leadership, income inequality, and a meager social safety net that creates conditions where people of color, who should be allies, turn on each other. With this divided Congress that can barely pass a stimulus package during a crippling pandemic, thats a tall order. Still, in a welcomed relief compared to Trumps persistent racism, President Biden in late January signed an executive action asking the Justice Department to combat xenophobia and hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. But in the end, as always, its up to us. All of us. At the very least, we have to do our part to stand up and speak out against this rising, organized hate, which has Republican champions in Congress and on Fox News, and work towards creating an America where an Asian American child and senior citizen can walk the streets and be fully seen and embraced as us. Dont take my word for it. Since America is currently obsessed with Dr. Seuss, maybe itll be more helpful if you just listen to the Lorax: Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. Its not. 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. Australias competition tsar Rod Sims has shot down Regional Express (Rex) claims that Qantas is dumping capacity on marginal routes to crush its smaller competitors, saying the airline is making money from its expanded network. Qantas and its Jetstar subsiduary have launched 26 new domestic and regional routes since June last year, as the airline tries to milk the local travel market while its international fleet remains mothballed due to COVID-19. The Qantas group has launched 26 new routes since the middle of last year. Credit:Getty Images Country airline Rex has accused Qantas of launching loss-making services onto some of its monopoly routes to weaken it as a competitor following Rexs newly launched Sydney-Melbourne jet service. However, Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) chairman Rod Sims told a senate inquiry into the future of aviation post-COVID on Thursday that he did not think Qantas was engaging in predatory behaviour. 73 Columbia City apartments move closer to groundbreaking Real Estate Editor By BRIAN MILLER Real Estate Editor Rendering by Studio Meng Strazzara [enlarge] Cyzners site is about a 10-minute walk east from Columbia City Station. Pho Bo is not much longer for this world. The Columbia City Vietnamese restaurant will soon be removed, per the recently filed demolition plan at 3710 S. Angeline St. There, on the corner of Rainier Avenue South, owner Cyzner Properties is planning a new five-story, 73-unit apartment building. Final permits appear to be close for the project, currently dubbed Angeline, which has passed through design review. The team includes Studio Meng Strazzara, architect; Karen Kiest Landscape Architects; Yu & Trochalakis, structural engineer; Terrane, surveyor; PacLand, civil engineer; and Earth Solutions NW, geotechnical. Cyzner will apparently build the project. Units will run from studios to two-bedrooms. Angeline will also have about 4,200 square feet of retail/commercial space facing Rainier in three bays. The garage entrance for two underground levels of parking, with 78 stalls, will be on Angeline. Seventy tenant bike stalls are planned. Total project size, including the parking, is about 100,500 square feet. A roof deck will have about 2,200 square feet. A gym is also planned. The Mandatory Housing Affordability payment is calculated at about $985,000. Cyzner acquired the site about two years ago for almost $3 million. Cyzner recently completed the 36-unit Point apartments on a triangular First Hill parcel, which it also built. Brian Miller can be reached by email at brian.miller@djc.com or by phone at (206) 219-6517. Some 45 mobile immunization teams are involved in the vaccination campaign. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Health Insurance Mykhailo Radutsky says 126 Ukrainians have complained of side effects after the vaccination against COVID-19, while one person has been hospitalized. "Some 126 reports on side effects have been filed, i.e. just over 1% of all those vaccinated. One case was qualified as serious and resulted in hospitalization," he wrote on Facebook on March 4. Read alsoOver 9,500 Ukrainians vaccinated against COVID-19 since launch of campaignAccording to Radutsky, 2,680 people got vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine over the past day. The smallest number of vaccine shots were administered in Zakarpattia region (30), while the largest number was recorded in Dnipropetrovsk region (350). The official added 45 mobile immunization teams were involved in the vaccination campaign. Vaccination in Ukraine On February 22, 2021, the Ukrainian Health Ministry registered the Oxford/AstraZeneca (Covishield) COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. The vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford in partnership with the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and authorized by the UK, the European Union, and India. On February 23, 2021, the first batch of the Covishield vaccine arrived in Ukraine. On February 24, 2021, Ukraine launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign. About 160 healthcare workers were first who got vaccinated. On March 1, 2021, Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov had had his COVID-19 vaccine shot, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was vaccinated against COVID-19 during a trip to the Donbas warzone on March 2. Reporting by UNIAN Fairhope police responded to a call of an ostrich on the loose when officers instead encountered an emu, and are looking to reunite the feathered, flightless friend to its owner. If you are missing your emu, please give us a call at [251]-928-2385, police said in a Facebook post Wednesday. UPDATE: The emu's owners have been located. Thank you! If you are missing your emu, please give us a call at... Posted by Fairhope Police Department on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 The emu was found on Baldwin County Road 3 in Fairhope. Police rattled off animal facts comparing an ostrich with an emu. What is the difference between an ostrich and an emu? An ostrich is the largest flightless bird. An emu is the second largest. Ostriches can get up to 9-feet tall and just over 300 pounds. The emu can grow about 5-feet 6-inches tall and their weight ranges from 40 to 130 pounds. The ostrich is native to Africa. The emu is native to Australia, police said. An ostrich has two toes on each foot. An emu has three toes on each foot, police added. An ostrich can run 40 mph. An emu can run 30 mph. Both can run faster than an animal control officer. 8 Sobh, February 27, 2021 Security sources in Ghor province confirmed that five members of the family of Bismillah Adel, a journalist who was recently killed, were shot by gunmen. An unnamed government source in Ghor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told 8 Sobh newspaper that three members of the journalists family were killed and two others were injured in the incident. According to the sources, a brother and two nephews of Bismillah Adel were killed and two other members of his family were injured. Bismillah Adel was recently killed by gunmen in Ghor. Local authorities in Ghor said gunmen opened fire on the family in a village of Ghor province on Thursday night. One of the brothers of the journalist that was killed by gunmen, was a police officer in the province. Bismillah Adel, a journalist and director of Radio Azadi was assassinated two months ago by unknown individuals near the city of Firuzkuh, the capital of Ghor province. When NASA's Perseverance rover begins surveying the Martian surface in the coming months, the robotic explorer will be searching for signs of ancient life. Then, "Percy," as she's known to her team on Earth, will actually collect those samples, and future missions will return them to Earth. Perseverance is NASA's first true astrobiology mission in the search for evidence of life on another planet in our solar system. The rover is looking for clues that will help answer a question that has intrigued humans for millennia: Is there life beyond Earth? While samples from Mars could reveal the planet's past, future missions to other intriguing worlds in our solar system could illuminate something else. In 2017, NASA announced that ocean worlds, like Saturn's moons of Titan and Enceladus and Jupiter's moon Europa, may be the most likely places to find life beyond Earth. Two missions are scheduled to launch this decade to explore Titan and Europa in an effort to understand if these intriguing worlds could host life within their subsurface oceans and reservoirs. Europa Clipper is set to launch in 2024, while Dragonfly is slated for 2027. "Perseverance will get people thinking in terms of astrobiology and the strategy of looking for signs of past life," said Jorge Nunez, astrobiologist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, who is working on teams for both Perseverance and Dragonfly. "Missions to outer planets, like Europa and Dragonfly, will take a lot of time. But we have to be open to what we might be able to find in terms of possibilities for life. These missions are part of this strategy in trying to understand how environments evolve. Is life a more common thing, or is it rare? And what is out there?" Searching for ancient fossils on Mars Currently, Mars seems like an inhospitable place for humans -- and its global dust storms haven't been too kind to previous rovers, either. The planet is a frozen desert with a thin atmosphere. It's hard to imagine life existing there. However, 3.9 billion years ago, it was a different story. Jezero Crater, where Perseverance has landed, was once filled with water and may have been surrounded by white sandy beaches, as indicated by a "bathtub ring" of minerals left behind in the dry lake bed today. A river delta fed in to one side of the lake and another river channel of overflow from the lake emerged on the other side. For the next two years, Perseverance will traverse the crater floor and river delta, studying rocks, minerals and dirt and their chemical compositions. Microfossils of ancient microbial life could be trapped inside of them. "We study the formation, preservation and detection of signs of life and planetary evolution in geologic samples," said astrobiologist Ken Williford, the deputy project scientist for the Perseverance rover. "The instruments on rover missions are sort of portable versions of instruments we have in labs like mine and other labs that work on ancient rocks and measure the chemistry and shapes preserved in them," added Williford, who is also the director for the abcLab at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The "abc" in abcLab is short for astrobiogeochemistry. Rocks are a wealth of information, preserving notes from when they were formed. They include clues about chemistry, climate change and if organisms were present. While much of the lab work focuses on Earth, this approach can also be used to interpret possible signs of life elsewhere, like Mars. Using Perseverance's advanced suite of instruments and cameras, the science team on Earth will have their best look yet at rocks on Mars that could reveal the planet's past. "We're looking for lifelike compositions and shapes that occur together," Williford said. "Carbon-based life is made of organic matter. They fossilize, get buried, squished and squeezed and turned into organic goo like oil or coal." This goo ends up in rocks, so "ancient organic matter may be the very old bodies of Martian microbes," he said. Scientists aren't expecting to find fossils like those belonging to dinosaurs on Mars, but microbial life is a much better possibility if it ever existed on Mars. Just look at Earth. Microbial life existed for a long time before more complex types of life evolved. In Earth's earliest fossil record, scientists study fossilized pond scum rather than bones or shells. Fossilized pond scum is basically a group of photosynthetic bacteria that stuck to sediment, forming microbial mats. After the water in their environment dries up, the minerals are left behind and entomb those microbes, forming stromatolites. Stromatolites are the oldest fossils on Earth. These layered rocks can be traced back 3.5 billion years ago. "It would be exciting if we find wrinkly layers of rock that looks like stromatolites on Mars," Williford said. Williford is most excited for Perseverance to explore the edges of the ancient lake, where water met land. "Every boundary is important," he said. "Life loves to live at interfaces, where there is disequilibrium and things are a little out of balance. Life thrives at those areas and hopes to put them into balance." Even if NASA researchers use Perseverance's instruments to measure the chemical composition and patterns of the rocks and then find suggestions that life may have been involved in the formation of them, these are only potential biosignatures. Returning samples of them to Earth and studying them with bigger, better and more powerful instruments in environments like the abcLab is the best way to confirm evidence of past life on Mars, if it ever existed, Williford said. Much like when the first lunar samples were returned to Earth in 1969 following the successful landing of the Apollo 11 mission, returning samples from Mars will lead to a "transformative scientific revolution," he said. On the wings of Dragonfly and Europa Clipper The Dragonfly mission won't reach Titan until 2035, given the extraordinary distance between Earth and Saturn, but it's worth the wait. Dragonfly will be a rover-size drone that flies through Titan's thick atmosphere to observe the moon's diverse environments, which include a subsurface liquid water ocean, as well as clouds, rain, rivers and lakes composed of methane. Titan is the only moon with a thick atmosphere, which is four times more dense than Earth's. The moon is also rich in organic material, which falls from the atmosphere like snow on the plains. The icy moon has an average surface temperature of negative 290 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists know that complex organics are present on Titan, but how much did this prelife chemistry progress? There are building blocks of life on Titan that are very similar to what was once present on Earth before life began. "Titan is similar to Earth in the sense that it has an atmosphere and hydrological cycle but it's a cycle of natural gas, like methane and ethane," Nunez said. "But you still see similar features. Besides this organic chemistry right on surface, we have this atmosphere of natural gas. Reactions from the sun makes these chemicals that are more complex. Dragonfly is looking for prebiotic chemistry." Underneath the moon's icy shells is a liquid water ocean. Holes in the ice shell suggest that organics from the surface could be interacting in the water. While life has expanded everywhere on Earth for billions of years, erasing just where life originated exactly, Titan is different. "Titan is a natural laboratory that allows us to explore how that initial chemistry came into being," Nunez said. Europa is another icy moon possibly concealing a subsurface ocean, and Europa Clipper will explore if that ocean could harbor life. Across 45 planned flybys of Europa, the spacecraft will eventually move from 1,700 miles from the surface to just 16 miles above it. The spacecraft will orbit Jupiter to study Europa and carry nine instruments, including cameras and ice-penetrating radar, to study the moon's ice shell and ocean. Previous missions have spied plumes erupting up through the ice shell. "Europa is the most likely place to find life in our solar system today because we think there's a liquid water ocean beneath its surface, and we know on Earth everywhere that there's water we find life," said Robert Pappalardo, mission project scientist, in a NASA video. "Could Europa have the ingredients to support life? If there is life in Europa, it almost certainly was completely independent from the origin of life on Earth. That would mean the origin of life must be pretty easy throughout the galaxy and beyond." If the plumes captured in images by the Hubble Space Telescope are truly sending columns of water high into space, "then we could fly through those plumes with a spacecraft and literally taste it to understand the composition of Europa's interior," he said. Europa is so intriguing because life could potentially still be present. "We might be actually looking at a body that is presently alive, presently active and presently undergoing its geology," said Claudia Alexander, Galileo mission project manager between 1999 to 2003, in a NASA video. "There is too much evidence right now lying around on the surface, the red stuff, that suggests something's going on there. Is that an environment that is habitable for any sort of life form? We'll have enough instrumentation to really pinpoint exactly how the mechanisms would work for replenishing the nutrients in a subsurface ocean." The firearm used to kill Gold Coast man Omega Ruston is linked to Sydney outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime syndicates, police believe. Queensland detectives, with the help of the NSW police, searched the Parramatta River on Thursday to find the firearm as part of their investigation into the drive-by shooting of Mr Ruston in 2009. A number of items were found in the search of the Parramatta River, but police would not specify what they were. Credit:New South Wales Police Force The detectives travelled to Sydney with new information days after a fresh appeal to the public from Mr Rustons family. Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn confirmed the link between the firearm and a second drive-by shooting in Sydney a year before Mr Rustons death. SHANGHAI, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Electric (the "Company") (SEHK: 02727, SSE: 601727), the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of electric power generation equipment, industrial equipment and integration services, has received the Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the Karachi branch of the All-Pakistan Chinese Enterprises' Association (APCEA). The award recognizes the Company's contribution to the social development of the region in 2020, and its active commitment to CSR. "We are truly honored to receive this recognition from the APCEA. Shanghai Electric will continue to promote the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the future and strive to ensure the smooth construction and operation of the Thar Block-1 Integrated Mining-Power project. At the same time, we remain steadfastly committed to promoting the advancement of Pakistan's energy projects, in order to benefit more people in the local community," said Meng Donghai, CEO of Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company. The Thar Block-1 Integrated Mining-Power project ("the Project") was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, which in turn affected the local community in Mithi City and the wider Sindh Province. As the project developer, Shanghai Electric swiftly responded when the Pakistani government implemented lockdown measures in March 2020, working closely with the Sindh Government to assist locals during the challenging period. In April, the Company donated essential supplies to Pakistan's 441 Infantry Brigade to ensure the safety of the army. Shanghai Electric also donated supplies to Mithi City, and distributed protective materials, grain and oil to help local teams address food and clothing shortages in impoverished villages. Later in July, Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company together with the Sino Sindh Resources Company on behalf of Shanghai Electric donated 6 million rupees to Sindh Province to found Corona Virus Emergency Fund, which aims to help the local government and community tackle the epidemic challenges. At the same time, the Project is trying to overcome numerous difficulties and accelerated implementation, whilst ensuring compliance with pandemic prevention and control measures. The entry and opening of the main plant's steel structure was completed in July 2020, laying a solid foundation for the on-time completion of subsequent project nodes. The national lockdown and travel restriction slowed down the construction progress of the project at the height of the pandemic in Pakistan last year. To swiftly respond to the emergency, Shanghai Electric arranged charter flights to dispatch engineers and workers to accelerate the project progress, alongside 4 tonnes of personal protective equipment, essential supplies, office supplies and emergency medicine also to on-site employees. Over the past year, Shanghai Electric has made continuous efforts to promote local employment in Sindh Province. As of January 2021, the Project had more than 5,000 employees working on the site - over 75% of whom are local staff. Shanghai Electric organized dedicated pre-job training to help workers improve their working skills, and brought senior Chinese technicians on board to pass on their skills, knowledge and experience to locally hired workers. In October 2020, the power company held a soldering competition to encourage local welders to demonstrate their professional expertise in the spirit of pursuing perfection. The Thar Block-1 Integrated Mining-Power Project was developed by Shanghai Electric under the Belt and Road Initiative and a priority energy cooperation project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It is also part of an effort by the Government of Pakistan to improve energy security and reduce the average cost of power generation by moving from imported fuel to local coal. The Project is developed with an annual production capacity of 7.8 million tons of coal and features two 660-megawatt coal-fired power plants that can deliver affordable and reliable electricity for approximately 4 million Pakistani households with environment-friendly technology. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1448851/video.mp4 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1190744/Logo.jpg The author says that some of the product categories that have been really hurt by supply-chain disruption amid the coronavirus pandemic might surprise you. The Food and Drug Administration is monitoring certain medicines and prescription drugs, especially some generic brands, since certain ingredients are manufactured in China and India. By Vinny Vella, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) PHILADELPHIA An Eagleville man who authorities say fired a handgun into the headquarters of the Montgomery County Democratic Party on Jan. 20 out of frustration over COVID-19 restrictions and Donald Trumps loss in the presidential election was taken into federal custody Wednesday. Anthony Nero, 48, faces charges of threatening communications and cyberstalking in connection with the shooting and for sending a threatening email to party leaders weeks before, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest. Previously, county prosecutors had charged him with terrorism, terroristic threats, carrying a gun without a license, and related offenses, but withdrew those charges Wednesday in anticipation of the federal charges. Nero appeared as scheduled for his preliminary hearing in the local case Wednesday morning before Magisterial District Judge Margaret Hunsicker. But the proceeding ended quickly when Assistant District Attorney Kathleen McLaughlin withdrew the charges and federal agents took him to a detention center in Philadelphia. Nero was arrested so abruptly that he left his car and suit behind at Hunsickers Norristown office, according to his attorney, Timothy Woodward. Woodward said he was caught off guard by the upgrading of the charges. Its a difficult case, but I dont think its something that necessarily rises to the federal level, he said. But given the current political climate, and the polarizing nature of our culture today, it makes sense. Investigators in Montgomery County said Nero, a self-described Trump supporter, sent an expletive-filled email to the county Democratic Committee on Jan. 7. In the email, Nero warned the Democrats to beef up security at their Norristown headquarters and said that random acts of violence are difficult to investigate. With this stolen election and coup detat, violence is the only language you bloodsuckers understand, Nero allegedly wrote in the email, which authorities say he signed Silent Majority. He also sent a Facebook message Jan. 6 in which he joked about going to go find a local Democrat Office and shoot it up, authorities said. On Jan. 20, prosecutors say, Nero drove from his home to the party headquarters and shot into the building three times with a .45-caliber handgun. The office was empty at the time. Using the IP address from the cellphone used to send the email, detectives traced the message back to Nero, who owns a gun matching the caliber of the one used in the shooting, according to the affidavit. In an interview with detectives, Nero admitted to both sending the email and shooting into the office, the affidavit said. He said he did so because he was frustrated by the COVID-19-related shutdowns and the abundant evidence available relating to the theft of the election by President Joe Biden, the document said. More: Trump weighs 2024 run for the White House without Mike Pence, allies say Pa. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman enters 2022 Senate race, but plenty of rivals are on the launchpad George Mylander 58, 70, 03 (Hon.) Bowling Green State University mourns the loss of alumnus and long-time friend Dr. George Mylander 58, 70, 03 (Hon.) who passed away Sunday morning in Sandusky, Ohio, at the age of 83. Mylander was a visionary supporter of BGSU Firelands and nurtured opportunities for students from the beginning. His support came full circle when, in September 2014, the University broke ground for an addition to the North Building and commemorated the renaming of the West Building as George Mylander Hall in honor of his educational leadership and generosity. At the ceremony, Mylander gave a passionate recital of the alma mater, leaving many audience members teary-eyed, which Mylander later said showed how much BGSU means to all of us. George Mylander was instrumental in the success of BGSU Firelands from the very beginning and a strong supporter of both of our campuses, said President Mary Ellen Mazey. His vision, commitment and generosity has meant so much to our University, the community, and most importantly to the generations of students who received support from the scholarships he established. Its rare that one individual has such a dramatic effect on the outcome of an institution, but I can say without hesitation that Dr. George Mylander was one of the most instrumental figures in the success of BGSU Firelands throughout its history, said former Firelands Dean Bill Balzer at the dedication. Run backwards, a film of Mylanders influence on both campuses would stop first at 2003 and the opening of the signature building on campus, the 30,000-square-foot Cedar Point Center, to which he contributed a leadership gift. It would continue with his 15 years as a member of the BGSU Foundation Board of Directors, including two years as chair, and all the way back to 1968, when Mylander, acting with a group of other civic leaders on the conviction that the region needed a higher education institution, became a driving force in the establishment of the regional campus of BGSU, his alma mater. Mylander earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1958 and a master's degree in education in 1970 from BGSU. In 2003 the University awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in public service. Recognizing that simply having a college nearby is not always enough, Mylander contributed generously to scholarships. He established the George L. Mylander Scholarship at Firelands, the George L. Mylander Alumni Laureate Scholarship, and the Mylander Foundation Scholarship. Collectively the three scholarships have aided 157 students in reaching their academic goals. Mylanders contributions to BGSU, both personally and through his foundation, totaled more than $3 million. We are grateful for Georges many contributions. His impact is demonstrated throughout the campus; however, he will be most remembered for the lasting and meaningful impact he has had on our students, said BGSU Firelands Dean Andrew Kurtz. I cannot express in mere words just how great an impact Mr. Mylanders has made on my life through his scholarship. He has helped me feel special and I was able to continue on into my senior year, said Brittany Graves, an inclusive early childhood education major at BGSU Firelands. For his accomplishments and contributions to the University, Mylander received the BGSU Alumni Community Award and BGSU Accomplished Graduate Award, both in 1997. He was also named to the BGSU 100 Most Prominent Alumni list in 2010 and received a 50th Anniversary Award from BGSU Firelands in 2015. Mylander was also deeply committed to the community at large. He served the Sandusky City Schools for 27 years as a teacher and administrator. He worked tirelessly to improve health care facilities and service in Sandusky and was honored in 2006 by the Ohio Hospital Association with its highest recognition. A civic leader, he was for 16 years as a Sandusky City Commissioner, including six years as ex-officio mayor, helping create a better place to live for the community. Under his leadership, two business parks were started and progress was made in the improvement of the Sandusky Bay shoreline. George demonstrated throughout his life that one person could make a significant difference in bettering a community and the lives of so many, Mazey said. Bowling Green State University has lost a tremendous champion and friend. He will be deeply missed. Mylanders funeral will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 315 Wayne St in downtown Sandusky. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 15, from 1 - 4 p.m. at the city building on Meigs Street, Sandusky. Per Dr. Mylanders instruction, he will be put to rest in his University regalia from when he received his honorary doctorate. He will also have on his BGSU lapel pins that he always proudly wore. Over 9,500 Ukrainians vaccinated against COVID-19 since launch of campaign The largest number of vaccine shots as of now has been administered in Donetsk region (840 people). Since the launch of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ukraine, 9,568 people have received their first shot of the Covishield vaccine. Read alsoCOVID-19: Two cases of UK strain officially confirmed in UkraineSome 2,680 people got vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine on Wednesday, March 3, alone, according to the Ukrainian Health Ministry's Coronavirus_info channel on Telegram. Number of vaccinations per region in the past day: 350 in Dnipropetrovsk region; 310 in Kyiv region; 228 in Ternopil region; 220 in Donetsk region; 200 in Rivne region; 120 in Mykolaiv region; 100 in Odesa region; 100 in Chernihiv region; 90 in Volyn region; 90 in the city of Kyiv; 88 in Khmelnytsky region; 80 in Kirovohrad region; 80 in Luhansk region; 70 in Poltava region; 60 in Lviv region; 60 in Kharkiv region; 60 in Cherkasy region; 54 in Ivano-Frankivsk region; 50 in Zhytomyr region; 50 in Zaporizhia region; 50 in Kherson region; 40 in Sumy region; 40 in Chernivtsi region; 30 in Zaporizhia region; 30 in Zakarpattia region. The largest number of vaccine shots as of now has been administered in Donetsk region (840 people). Vaccination in Ukraine On February 24, 2021, Ukraine launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign. An emergency room doctor in Cherkasy region was the first who got vaccinated. Ukraine uses the Covishield vaccine, which was developed by the University of Oxford in partnership with the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca. It is produced in India under a licensing agreement. Ukraine has received 500,000 doses of the vaccine so far. The vaccination campaign in Ukraine was originally expected to start with the use of a vaccine produced by Pfizer/ BioNTech, which Ukraine was supposed to receive during the first wave of distribution under the global COVAX Facility. The supply of 117,000 doses of that vaccine to Ukraine has been booked. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter A middle school in Mississippi has been blasted after setting an 'extremely tone deaf' slave letter writing assignment for one of its classes. The activity, set for a group of eighth graders at Purvis Middle School, Mississippi, on Wednesday, encouraged them to pretend to be a slave and 'write a letter to your family back in Africa or in another American state' about 'the journey to America'. It was also suggested to the pupils that they write about 'how you pass the time when you aren't working', according to the Daily Beast. A picture of the assignment was shared on Twitter by Black Lives Matter Mississippi, and their social media manager Jeremy Marquell said it was 'not helpful. It's hurtful'. Purvis Middle School in Mississippi has been blasted after setting an 'extremely tone deaf' 'slave letter writing' assignment (pictured) to one of its classes Speaking to the Daily Beast, Marquell said: 'I don't know how a logical person teaches this. 'Like someone who went to school to teach children could think this exercise was helpful in any way.' Lamar County School District Superintendent Dr. Steven Hampton told WDAM that the assignment had been the last section of a 12-slide presentation on the 'atrocities and negatives of slavery'. Hampton said the aim of the activity had been to show pupils how horrible slavery had been and that: 'We do not discriminate against race.' He also said that Purvis Middle School administrators had already spoken with the teacher who set the assignment and that further talks would be held. Purvis Middle School did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Beast, but in a letter to parents, seen by the outlet, Principal Frank Bunnell apologized. The activity, set for a group of eighth graders at Purvis Middle School (pictured), encouraged them to pretend to be a slave and write about 'the journey to America' In the letter, he said: 'A person could read just the assignment and draw a very unrealistic view of the true tragedies that occurred. That was not intended. 'However, the intent does not excuse anything,' he added. 'There is no excuse to downplay a practice that (even after abolished) spurs unjust laws, unfair economic practices, inhumane treatment, and suppression of people.' Also criticizing the assignment, Jarrius Adams, president of Young Democrats Mississippi, described it as 'extremely tone deaf and inappropriate'. He said that there are appropriate ways to approach the subject when teaching about slavery, but that this assignment wasn't one of them. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A dyslexic student who defied expectations and achieved a first-class honours degree has revealed how he was sent on a course on 'how avoid a criminal life' at school. William Carter, 22, from Southwark, south London, was unable to read until the age of 13 due to his severe dyslexia and dyspraxia, and was put in the bottom sets of his primary school. After his family fought for a diagnosis, William had an incredible academic turnaround and achieved A*A*A at A-level, receiving the London Schools and the Black Child outstanding achievement awards. Appearing on This Morning, William told how he felt 'alienated and isolated' at primary school, and believes that he was 'misframed' by teachers because of his mixed raced heritage. William, pictured in primary school, was unable to read until the age of 13 due to his severe dyslexia and dyspraxia, and was put in the bottom sets William Carter, 22, from Southwark, south London revealed how he was sent on a course on 'how avoid a criminal life' at school - despite having achieved a first-class honours degree Now, after achieving a first in politics and international relations at Bristol University, William is studying for a PhD in political geography at the University of California, Berkley, where he received a Fulbright Scholarship. 'I think my mixed raced heritage and the fact I was raised differently to other children with dyslexia in the class, it meant that rather than using the prism of special educational needs, they used the prism of criminality,' William explained. 'They were sending me on courses on how avoid a criminal life. I look back on Facebook of the people who attended that group with me, I was the only one to pass secondary school, do A-levels and go to university. 'So you see from an early age how race and specific learning disabilities can mould together, and we misframe kids and I think that's one of the largest issues.' Now, after achieving a first in politics and international relations at Bristol University, William is studying for a PhD in political geography at the University of California, Berkley In primary school William was teased because he couldn't read, and told how he thought the colour of his skin was the reason he was behind in class and struggling to make friends. 'Starting in primary school I felt alienated and isolated', said William, 'I felt I couldn't work out the reason I was being held back ,why did I feel so stupid and so slow? 'And it got to the stage I was around six or seven in the bathtub and trying to scrub the pigment off my skin, looking at my skin tone thinking that was the problem. 'This internalised racism had really attached to me, I thought the reason I was behind in class and couldn't make friends was because of my skin tone.' William's mother and auntie fought for him to get a diagnosis, but admitted that secondary school was his 'hardest transition'. 'The thing that unites every child with special educational needs is parents or carers who fight for them and that first diagnosis is always the hardest one', said William. 'My mum grew up with learning difficulties and it runs elsewhere in my family, so my mum and my aunt together kind of fought the school and said "You can't quit on that kid yet why is it taking him so long?" In primary school William was teased because he couldn't read, and told hosts Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield how he thought the colour of his skin was the reason he was behind in class He says he 'fell through the cracks' because the school were unconcerned with his academic performance while meeting their five A-C grade quota He added: 'The diagnosis doesn't fix everything...personally I found the hardest transition to make was going into secondary school.' Despite being academically gifted, William was still struggling to read and write, meaning his grades at secondary school were average. He says he 'fell through the cracks' because the school were unconcerned with his academic performance while meeting their five A-C grade quota. 'They would say "William, we have children getting Fs and Us we have kids failing who need more support". 'When you're at that borderline with Cs and Ds and you will pass, but not with a high pass you're kind of lost in the middle and I found myself falling into the cracks and just managing to get by and I think a lot of kids find themselves in that situation.' During his time at Bristol University, William and his academic adviser started an initiative to have political theory taught more widely across UK secondary schools, which he is hoping to launch soon. Egypts Ministry of International Cooperation and the African Development Bank (AfDB) inked on Thursday a development financing deal worth 109 million that aims to provide sanitation services in residential communities in Luxors rural areas. The signing took place in the presence of the Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Assam El-Gazzar; the Head of the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW), Mamdouh Raslan; Head of Luxors Potable Water and Sanitation Company, Mohamed Soliman; the AfDBs Deputy Regional Director for North Africa and Country Manager for Egypt, Malinne Blomberg; Chairman of the Housing Committee at the House of Representatives, Imad Hammouda; and several representatives from the Luxor Governorate. According to the deal, AfDB will provide 108 million alongside a 1 million grant to the project which will benefit 22 thousand homes in Luxor. The financing will also go to building on the capacities of workers at the Potable Water and Sanitation Company in Luxor. Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat said that the strategic relationship between the AfDB and the ministry has contributed to the provision of many development funds across various sectors that have enhanced Egypt's efforts in achieving sustainable development. Al-Mashat noted that the ministry is keen on coordinating with multilateral and bilateral development partners to support state projects with regards to drinking water and the sanitation sector, as both are vital to the countrys 2030 National Agenda in terms of water resource management and sustainable development. The minister added that this development financing deal helps achieve several of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); chiefly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. There is less than a decade left until 2030 and the Ministry of International Cooperation is accelerating the pace of development in Egypt towards the SDGs through economic diplomacy and its three pillars: Multi-Stakeholder Platforms, Mapping the SDGs, and the Global Partnerships Narrative. Al-Mashat explained that the water and sewage networks were among the sectors that benefited the most from development funds provided by the ministry through development partners during 2020 with $1.4 billion, including $500 million went to social housing projects and $900 million directed to water and sewage networks. The AfDB is among the development partners that made these projects possible, said Al-Mashat She added that the government of Egypt is supporting efforts aiming to develop the sanitation sector across all governorates to enhance the lifestyle of rural communities by improving living conditions and by improving their ability to achieve food security. Minister of Housing Assam El-Gazzar pointed out that the project, implemented in Luxor through AfDB, is important because 162 thousand citizens will receive immediate benefits, while 236 thousand citizens will benefit in the long run, alongside 30 thousand farmers. The project is also in line with the Decent Life presidential initiative, which was issued by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, as it strengthens water and sanitation services. This complements the states efforts in upgrading and ensuring proper water and sanitation services across all governorates in the next 3 years, said El-Gazzar. On her side, AfDBs Deputy Regional Director for North Africa and Country Manager for Egypt, Malinne Blomberg noted that continued cooperation with the Ministry of International Cooperation and government entities is a positive step towards ensuring that all citizens are benefiting from clean water and sanitation services, alongside helping Egypt achieve sustainable development. In the same context, Chairman of the Housing Committee at the House of Representatives Imad Hammouda applauded the states efforts in developing Upper Egypt and for the role played by the Ministry of International Cooperation in securing the necessary development funds for implementing projects that will improve the living conditions of citizens. The ongoing cooperation portfolio between the Ministry of International Cooperation and the AfDB amounts to about $640.8 million, covering various development sectors such as electricity, health, research, entrepreneurship, budget support, and water and sanitation. Short link: TARAZ, Kazakhstan -- A court in southern Kazakhstan has handed parole-like sentences to two women for their links with the banned organizations Koshe (Street) Party and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement amid an ongoing crackdown on individuals supporting the two opposition groups. On March 4, a city court in Taraz sentenced both Nazira Lesova and Nazira Lepesova to two years of "freedom limitation" after finding them guilty of organizing and participating in the activities of the groups. Lepesova was also sentenced to 100 hours of community work. Both women rejected the charges, calling them politically motivated. They also said they would the rulings. Two days earlier, the same court sentenced another activist, Zhazira Qambarova, to two years of "freedom limitation" on the same charge. Several activists across the Central Asian nation have been handed "freedom limitation" sentences for their involvement in the activities of the Koshe Party and DVK, as well as for taking part in rallies organized by the two groups. The DVK is led by Mukhtar Ablyazov, the fugitive former head of Kazakhstans BTA Bank and an outspoken critic of the Kazakh government. Kazakh authorities labeled the DVK extremist and banned the group in March 2018. Human rights groups have said that Kazakhstan's law on public gatherings contradicts international standards as it requires preliminary permission from authorities to hold rallies. It also envisions prosecution for organizing and attending unsanctioned demonstrations even though the nation's constitution guarantees its citizens the right of free assembly. BOULDER, Colo., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Mortgage Group, a division of Cherry Creek Mortgage, announced the launch of its Premier Community program. The program empowers Premier Mortgage Group (PMG) employees and clients to get involved in their community and support causes that are close to their hearts. As part of their partnership with numerous community organizations, PMG offers clients the option to make a donation in a client's name as part of their home loan process. Premier Community also offers volunteer opportunities for its employees. "We have the honor of helping home owners and home buyers every day, and this program is a fantastic way to deepen our support of this community," said Melanie Nygren, PMG Division Manager. "We feel that investing back into our local nonprofit organizations is not only our responsibility, it's also a privilege to support their work." Premier Community is overseen by Leah Colby Alexis, a long-time Northern Colorado resident and passionate advocate for local nonprofit organizations. This new initiative is an exciting way for PMG to help communities and businesses come together to learn and create long-lasting, symbiotic partnerships. Over the past year, key highlights of the program include: Contributions of more than $65,000 to local nonprofits (including $13,000 from the 2020 employee holiday giving program) to local nonprofits (including from the 2020 employee holiday giving program) Partnerships with more than 25 nonprofit organizations Over 370 volunteer hours from PMG employees Premier Mortgage Group has been locally owned and operated since 1986, and they take pride in being a part of the Front Range business community. The company 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. 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 Media Contact: Kimberly Holliday [email protected] SOURCE Premier Mortgage Group Related Links https://www.pmglending.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 19:52:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport on Thursday reopened its main landing runway after three huge cranes placed at a nearby construction site were lowered, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) said. This is one of the three runways at the country's main airport, located near the coastal city of Tel Aviv. The runway was closed by the IAA on Feb. 17 to avoid the possibility that planes landing at the airport might collide with the cranes. The IAA went to the court requesting an order directing the construction company to lower or dismantle the cranes. Being ordered to reduce the hazard immediately by the court, the company announced on Wednesday that it had completed the task. The company informed the court that the cranes were lowered to less than 86 meters. The cranes were set up as part of a real estate project in the city of Or Yehuda. The project includes the construction of an area of 400,000 square meters accommodating 13 office towers, shops, hotels, parks, and an artificial lake. Enditem Fort Campbell Begins Work on New Family Homes By The Associated Press FORT CAMPBELL - Fort Campbell is building or renovating hundreds of military family homes in an $87.4 million project.The project calls for building 144 new three- and four-bedroom homes, renovating 170 houses and demolishing 250 homes over the next five years.The Army and its private housing partner, Landlease, are breaking ground on the project Thursday at the sprawling post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.Fort Campbell Garrison Commander Col. Jeremy Bell says theres more to come. The Army recently approved a $1.1 billion capital investment plan.Fort Campbell will receive housing investments under the plan, along with Fort Knox, Kentucky, and four other posts. Campaign Provides Virtual Backgrounds to Call Out Bias in the Workplace NEW YORK, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst is observing International Women's Day (IWD) 2021 by challenging companies to join its #BiasCorrect "Make the Invisible Visible" global campaign, providing virtual backgrounds that encourage courageous conversations about unconscious bias in meetings. Catalyst research shows that invisible barriers for women in the workplace, particularly women of color, have proliferated in remote working during the pandemic: 1 in 5 women has felt ignored and overlooked by coworkers during virtual meetings; 45% of women business leaders say it's difficult for women to speak up in virtual meetings; and 1 in 5 working people has witnessed more discrimination at work since the outbreak of Covid-19. Catalyst's Make the Invisible Visible campaign, created in collaboration with the Burns Group, allows individuals to select and download virtual backgrounds that ask challenging questions to spark important conversations on how to address these experiences of unconscious bias in the workplace: Have you ever felt judged when your child interrupted a meeting? Have you ever been talked over in a meeting? Have you ever been the "only" in the room? Have you ever been asked, "Where are you really from?" Have you ever had to check your authentic self at the door? The virtual backgrounds are available in English, French, German, and Spanish. This year's campaign builds on Catalyst's 2019 and 2020 IWD #BiasCorrect campaign, which focused on the biased words used to describe women in the workplace, demonstrating that women and men with the same talents and skills often are described in very different ways, creating barriers that can adversely impact women's advancement. "Make the Invisible Visible really showcases the experiences of bias women have in remote work during the Covid-19 crisis," said Lorraine Hariton, Catalyst President and CEO. "Unconscious bias is persistent, so we want to engage companies and their employeesincluding men as gender partnersto #BiasCorrect and create more inclusive workplace cultures." Catalyst invites individuals and companies to visit the #BiasCorrect webpage on March 8, which provides resources for everyone to help understand, interrupt, and correct unconscious bias. Bank of America and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America are sponsors for this campaign. About Catalyst Catalyst is a global nonprofit working with some of the world's most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with pioneering research, practical tools, and proven solutions to accelerate and advance women into leadershipbecause progress for women is progress for everyone. About Burns Group Burns Group is a brand transformation company that bravely co-creates the future of brands, young and old. We bring bravery to established brands and experience to startups. To learn more, visit burnsgroupnyc.com Media Contacts Naomi R. Patton Vice President, Global Communications Catalyst [email protected] Stephanie Wolf US Communications Consultant Catalyst [email protected] Francine Beck Canada Communications Consultant Catalyst [email protected] Frances Knox Europe Communications Consultant Catalyst france[email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/732308/Catalyst_Tagline_Logo.jpg Related Links www.catalyst.org SOURCE Catalyst EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 Humanitys Enemies Are Willing To Start War Rather Than Give InTo What Will You Commit Yourself? March 3 , 2021 (EIRNS)After the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, Iran is being told that it must return entirely to the agreement before the U.S. will rejoin it. In Syria, Biden last week launched a bombing attack that left two dozen dead; far from preventing further attacks, it draws on still others, such as the ten missiles launched at a U.S. base in Iraq. Sanctions by the U.S. and barbaric attacks by Saudi Arabia have brought Yemen to an unimaginably perilous situation, with great portions of its population facing food insecurity and starvation. Why is all of this happening? Is this all an unfortunate historical coincidence? Does anyone benefit from such chaos? Lets consider Southwest Asia in the context of the future of the world. The World Land-Bridge proposal of the Lyndon and Helga LaRouche and the Schiller Institute sees a great potential for the world through the creation of infrastructure- and technology-focused development corridors, linking the nations of the world not through the seas (although maritime trade will continue to be extremely important), but through creating and liberating the potential of inland development, through the creation of a better infrastructure platform, of an environment unlocking new levels of productivity. Southwest Asia is a crossroads of the world, possessing a significant youth population, and able to see enormous growth. Who benefits from preventing such a future? Then consider the cases of Russia, which has with great effort restored its dignity as a nationan independent and sovereign nationafter the shock therapy depredations of the 1990s, and in the face of an expanding NATO, drawing ever closer to its borders over the past three decades. Is Russia your enemy? Why? Last, look to China. It has seen economic growth, improvements in lifespan and health, and enormous social advancement over the past few decades. Possessed of significant foreign reserves, a healthy physical economy, and the resources and intention to develop other markets and nations around the world, China has become a major player in infrastructure and manufacturing development in such parts of the world as Africa. How does the British financial-military-intelligence empire see Southwest Asia? Russias independence? Chinas growth? Listen to the words of U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, speaking Wednesday: The challenge posed by China is different. China is the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to seriously challenge ... the rules, values, and relationships that make the world work the way we want it to.... Our relationship with China will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be, and adversarial when it must be.... That requires working with allies and partners ... because where we have pulled back, China has filled in. It requires standing up for our values when human rights are abused in Xinjiang or when democracy is trampled in Hong Kong, because if we dont, China will act with even greater impunity. The Chinese daily Global Times has responded sharply to efforts by the U.S. (acting in British interests) to restrain Chinas growth, such as through trade restrictions, writing: Restricting China from the perspective of intellectual property rights protection is different from jeopardizing Chinas scientific and technological research and development capabilities. The former is part of the intellectual property rights protection regime, while the latter is an evil result of the geopolitical mentality. China has 1.4 billion people, more than the West combined, and much more than the population of the major Western countries combined. Chinas development is the grandest project of the global human rights cause.... It is malicious to take tough measures to suppress the ability of developing countries, and to tell large countries like China that you deserve to be poor.... This kind of malicious policy cannot be followed up in a broad and lasting way in the 21st century. We hope the U.S. ruling team can see clearly the general trend, stop talking about human rights when it is trying to deprive the sacred rights of 1.4 billion Chinese people.... At last, we have to say that such evil is doomed to failure in the 21st century. China is not the enemy of the West. Neither is Russia. The common enemy faced by all people of the world is the Satanic, anti-human ideology that says that growth itself is evil, by virtue of its changing the natural state of the worldwhether through claims of catastrophic climate change, of doomsday destruction of biodiversity through using land to grow food, or through the more overtly religious-like beliefs of considering human beings as essentially equivalent to animals, under the watchful reign of a jealous Mother Earth who must be placated by pledging obedience to her dictates (as interpreted by such gruesome priests as Larry Fink, Mark Carney, and David Attenborough). To overcome this death-cult, the nations of the world can throw off the chains of the Paris Climate Accord, the blinders of geopolitical conflict, and the abusive concept of limits to growthto instead collaborate on the opportunities that lie all around us to build the infrastructure and productive economies to develop the world, master the secrets of atomic fusion, and chart a course to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. NASHVILLE Tobi Adeyeye Amosun, MD, FAAP, has been named assistant commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health Division of Family Health and Wellness. In this position, Amosun will lead TDH efforts in maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, health promotion and supplemental nutrition. Were very pleased to have Dr. Amosun join our team in this important role supporting the health of Tennessee families, said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. Her experience and passion for serving children, promoting preventive services and expanding care for underserved populations have her well-positioned to lead the work of our Division of Family Health and Wellness. As assistant commissioner, Amosun will direct activities to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of Tennessee families. Services provided by this division include adolescent pregnancy prevention, breastfeeding promotion and support, breast and cervical cancer screening, diabetes prevention, early childhood programs, violence and injury prevention, newborn screening, tobacco prevention and the Women, Infants and Children nutritrion program. These programs serve Tennesseans in all 95 counties of the state through a network of local and regional health departments. I am very excited to serve Tennessee in an even bigger capacity than I was doing previously, said Amosun. As someone whose family used many social services in her early childhood, but also placed a tremendous importance on education, I believe I am paying forward what was given to me to the families and children of Tennessee. Amosun comes to TDH after serving as medical director for a large pediatric clinic serving Medicaid patients in Tennessee, a position she held since 2014. In this role, she oversaw the clinics growth from 2,000 to more than 15,000 patients in six years, and helped increase access to timely autism evaluations, improved clinic efficiency and engaged in community research efforts on smoking cessation and vaccine access. Amosun has also served as an assistant professor of pediatrics at both the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Vanderbilt University, where she focused on urgent care and care to underserved populations. Dr. Amosun brings a wealth of expertise in pediatric and adolescent care and community engagement. We could not be more thankful to have her on board to improve the health of all families in Tennessee, said TDH Deputy Commissioner for Population Health Morgan McDonald, MD, FACP, FAAP. Amosun is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has served as a pediatrician for more than 15 years. In addition to clinical care, she has been focused on patient advocacy, quality initiatives, access to care, staff development, servant leadership and community engagement. She serves on several state and national boards advocating for children, and has a particular interest in addressing social determinants of health and their impact on the care of underserved and medically at-risk populations. Amosun graduated with honors with undergraduate degrees in Biology and Art History from Vanderbilt University as a Deans Select Scholar and Chancellors Scholar. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine as a recipient of the Richard King Mellon Foundation award and completed her residency at the Childrens Hospital Pittsburgh. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a board member of numerous professional organizations. She has been recognized for community service and serves as a mentor to premedical and medical students. She currently sits on the Tennessee Health Disparities task force. She also is a speaker and writer focusing on pediatric issues whose work has been featured by Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital, the Tennessean, local news stations and national parenting websites. The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health. Connect with TDH on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @TNDeptofHealth! Ryan Thomas had admitted travelling to Manchester to visit daughter Scarlett has put a 'strain' on his relationship with fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh. The former Coronation Street star, 36, lives in Essex with his former TOWIE star partner Lucy, 29, and their son Roman, 11 months, but Scarlett, 12, lives in Manchester with her mother Tina O'Brien, 37. Speaking in his podcast Mancs on the Mic with brothers Scott and Adam Thomas, Ryan explained how it's important to make things work and balance his family life between the two cities. He said: 'I know I've got Scarlett [who] I have to keep going back and forward for That puts a strain on our relationship because I'm not with her [Lucy] because I've gotta get back for Scarlett. Honesty: Ryan Thomas had admitted travelling to Manchester to visit daughter Scarlett has put a 'strain' on his relationship with fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh (pictured in 2019) 'There is that trying to find a mix of making both work and working out where you're going to end.' Ryan admitted he would like to relocate to Manchester with Lucy and Roman on a full-time basis in the future, but for the time being it's 'easier' for the family to be in Essex. He continued: 'I think eventually I'd like to be in Manchester with both my kids, but at the moment it's having that help at hand in London it's just easier. 'But I think eventually I would love to be back where I started with all my brothers and all our kids. Family: The former Coronation Street star, 36, lives in Essex with his former TOWIE star partner Lucy, 29, and their 11-month-old son Roman, but Scarlett, 12, lives in Manchester with her mum Tina O'Brien, 37 'I think that's what'll happen eventually but we're just taking it a day at a time. I think that's what you've got to do with this family life.' Lucy and Ryan have been together since meeting on reality show Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017. The former soap actor proposed during a romantic trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy in June 2019, with Lucy finding out she was pregnant with Roman soon after they returned. The TV star recently purchased a new family home in Manchester, which will no doubt make it easier to juggle family life. Revealing all: Speaking in his podcast Mancs on the Mic, Ryan told how it's important to make things work and balance his family life between the two cities Lucy recently shared a glimpse of their new home that they plan to renovate and branded her fiance a 'brave man' after he purchased the home without her seeing it. This week, Lucy and Ryan have shared a glimpse of their renovation process on social media, with Ryan seen working hard stripping off wallpaper and pulling up carpet. Meanwhile, Ryan revealed he quit acting after a slew of failed auditions and being trolled for his Neighbours stint. The former Corrie star admitted he 'lost the bug' for performing after struggling to land roles, just days after revealing he'd been working as a delivery driver for his brother Adam's restaurant. Candid: 'I know I've got Scarlett [who] I have to keep going back and forward for That puts a strain on our relationship because I'm not with her [Lucy] because I've gotta get back for Scarlett' Ryan added that he found it 'really hard' being criticised for his performances and has no intention to act again, instead focusing on other TV projects with his brothers Scott and Adam. Speaking on the siblings' Mancs On The Mic podcast, Ryan said: 'It's so hard for me. I started off acting, I started off in that game and I really lost the bug for it. 'I feel the reason for losing the bug is rejection and going to auditions and not getting them.' Making it work: 'I think that's what'll happen eventually but we're just taking it a day at a time. I think that's what you've got to do with this family life' New home: The TV star recently purchased a new family home in Manchester, which will no doubt make it easier to juggle family life Ryan added that he struggled with the criticism from Australian viewers when he appeared on Neighbours in 2018 as Rafael Humphreys. He said: 'I went over to do Neighbours and I just saw on social media that there were just quite negative comments towards me and my acting. 'I've never had that before because social media wasn't around. I never got it in Corrie because I never had social media when I was in Corrie. 'If I did, it was at the end but I was so established there that people saw me as fixtures and fittings, so I never really got that sort of negative criticism. He's done! Ryan recently revealed he quit acting after a slew of failed auditions and being trolled for his Neighbours stint Divisive: The former Coronation Street star admitted he 'lost the bug' for performing after struggling to land roles and being criticised online for his stint on the Aussie soap (pictured) 'It happens in all aspects but I just found it really really hard to deal with at first. 'I always think, 'Oh, it'll [the desire to act] come back at some point and maybe it will and it's still something that I have in my locker if I want to explore it again. Right now I'm really happy with the direction I'm going.' Ryan starred on Coronation Street as Jason Grimshaw for 16 years, but quit the soap in 2016 to explore other acting roles. In recent months he starred alongside his brothers in the documentary Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai, which has been picked up for a second series. Throwback: Ryan starred on Coronation Street as Jason Grimshaw for 16 years, but quit the soap in 2016 to explore other acting roles (pictured in 2007) MEDFORD An Ashland woman was ordered to pay almost $500 for her role in a downtown Medford demonstration that involved temporary sidewalk chalk. A Jackson County judge sided with a Medford Municipal Court ruling last week, ruling that $493.04 was a reasonable amount for Teresa Safay to pay for cleaning up spray chalk on the sidewalk outside former Congressman Greg Waldens office in 2019, The Mail Tribune reported. Safay was among demonstrators who gathered outside Waldens office and wrote messages in chalk urging him to vote to impeach then-President Donald Trump, according to a ruling filed Feb. 26 in Jackson County Circuit Court. Safay was later cited for defacing streets or sidewalks by purchasing spray sidewalk chalk and distributing it to other demonstrators during the demonstration. Safays lawyer, Lauren Regan of the Civil Liberties Defense Center in Eugene, sought to have the citation dismissed, arguing Safay specifically used a sidewalk chalk designed to be temporary and argued the code was intended to apply to permanent or semi-permanent marks. In December, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia found Safay guilty of the code violation. In his ruling, Mejia said the spray container had the message Durable spray lasts up to seven days and found it was semi-permanent enough to come under the prohibition of the code. A person spent seven hours at $50 per hour to clean up about three car lengths of sidewalk chalk, according to court filings. Safays lawyer then disputed the $493.04 restitution amount for the cleanup saying the building overpaid the contractor, and that the contractor didnt follow instructions on the cleaning product. In February, Mejia ruled that the $493.04 restitution amount was reasonable, saying the contractors job was made much more difficult by the fact that he did not know what substance had been sprayed on the sidewalk. Court records showed Wednesday that Safay had paid all fines and fees in the case. --The Associated Press Israels leadership has been preparing itself for some time for International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's decision to open an investigation over alleged war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. Still, Bensoudas announcement sent shock waves through Israel and abroad, generating livid reactions from Israeli lawmakers across almost the entire political map. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set the tone, tweeting a video where he said, "The decision of the international court to open an investigation against Israel today for war crimes is absurd. It's undiluted antisemitism and the height of hypocrisy. Without any jurisdiction, it decided that our brave soldiers, who take every precaution to avoid civilian casualties against the worst terrorists in the world who deliberately target civilians, it's our soldiers who are war criminals. This court, that was established to prevent the repetition of the Nazi horrific crimes committed against the Jewish people, is now turning its guns against the one and only state of the Jewish people, said Netanyahu. Benny Gantz, who serves both as defense minister and justice minister, said the decision was a "reward for terrorism. His Blue and White party colleague Gabi Ashkenazi, who is Israel's foreign minister, tweeted that the decision was "an act of moral and legal bankruptcy. It is a political decision that turns the court into a tool in the hands of extremists who back terrorist organizations and antisemitic bodies. Both Ashkenazi and Gantz served as chiefs of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Opposition leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party adopted a tone not unlike Netanyahus, calling the decision an anti-Semitic disgrace that would deepen the conflict and encourage Palestinian intransigence. He also said that he is proud of Israels army and that Israel would never allow any international court to judge its soldiers. Even the leader of the left-wing Meretz party, Nitzan Horowitz, did not outright welcome the decision. Instead, he blamed settlement construction and right-wing lawmakers for dragging Israel to the ICC, saying that continued settlement and building and threats of annexation endanger Israel and turn it into a war crimes defendant. But the most revealing statement was that of President Reuven Rivlin, usually cautious about interfering with political issues. The decision of the International Criminal Court at the Hague to commence investigations against the State of Israel is scandalous. We will not accept claims against the exercise of our right and our obligation to defend our citizens. We are proud of our soldiers, our sons and daughters, the essence of our people, who stand guard for their country generation after generation, Rivlin said. Clearly, Israel feels under attack. Its a small country, where military service is obligatory. Practically every family has a son or a daughter serving in the IDF. The military service network is central in friendships, education and careers. For many Israelis, soldiers are the red line. This explains why for Israelis, the ICC prosecutions decision is tantamount to a declaration of war. Jerusalem considers Bensouda personally responsible for the decision. She explained in her announcement the very many moves she made since 2019 on the way to this final act. Bensouda will soon finish her nine-year term in office. Her replacement has already been appointed. It is British lawyer Karim Khan. Jerusalem had hoped that with the end of her term approaching, Bensouda would leave the Israel-probe issue for her successor to decide upon. Indeed, even though Israel is not member of the ICC, it tried pushing behind the scenes for Khan to be picked for the job. Khan has no ties to Israel or to Judaism, but Jerusalem estimated he would be a more professional and less political figure than Bensouda. Be that as it may, Bensouda decided to go ahead with the decision. For Jerusalem, this was further proof that Bensouda was politically motivated. Last but not least on Jerusalems list of concerns is Washington. Like Israel, and for somewhat similar reasons, the United States is not member of the ICC. Last year, Washington decided to sanction ICC officials, including Bensouda. But that was under the presidency of Donald Trump. Washington under President Joe Biden is not expected to join the ICC, but the new administration might try to warm up Americas very chilly relations with this international institution. Jerusalem now fears that Washington wont stand by its side in its upcoming battle against the ICC. The death of a man who lost consciousness while being restrained on the ground by police officers "has cast a bright light" on acute behavioural disorder (ABD), changing the way the PSNI handles people with the condition, an inquest has been told. Gerard McMahon (36), from Short Strand in Belfast, was known to have had the disorder, which is recognised as a medical emergency. As such, three police officers who detained Mr McMahon should have called for an ambulance when they attended a "violent incident" in the early hours of September 8, 2016 on Great Victoria Street involving him. Instead, they placed him in handcuffs, moved him onto the footpath, and after he tried to escape, restrained him in the prone position - a move that can be fatal for people with ABD. In her final submission to the inquest into Mr McMahon's death, the legal representative for the PSNI said she hoped Mr McMahon's family were able to find "some comfort in knowing his death has cast a bright light" on a condition that was previously under-appreciated. She said that while the PSNI accepted training in terms of refresher programmes was "less than perfect in 2016", lessons had been learned and that "hopefully out of this tragedy there will be some benefits for other families or individuals who find themselves in similar circumstances". She said that since Mr McMahon's death there had been an increased awareness of ABD within the PSNI and "developments and improvements" were specifically linked to his death. The legal representative for Mr McMahon's family said while they recognised the efforts of the police officers who administered first aid to Mr McMahon after he lost consciousness, they came to the inquest with questions about the use of CS spray on him and the manner in which he was detained and restrained. He also said the family had concerns about the training given to officers about ABD when confronted by someone demonstrating the "bizarre and erratic behaviour" that Mr McMahon had shown for several hours prior to the arrival of the police. He added that after listening to evidence from the three officers directly involved in restraining Mr McMahon and other officers at the scene, it could be said "with a degree of confidence, that doing the right thing would have been no problem for them had they known the right thing to do". The inquest heard that Gerard was a son, a brother and an uncle, and that he had led a very productive life until a year prior to his death when "Gerard had demonstrated an addiction to cocaine". His family had tried to get him to recognise his problem and had sought help for him with an addiction service six months before his passing. The family's lawyer said the inquest had also highlighted a lack of resources within a number of services including the PSNI, Ambulance Service and addiction services, which he and Mr McMahon's family hoped would be addressed by Coroner Joe McCrisken. Mr McCrisken will deliver his findings into the death of Mr McMahon on March 12. KYODO NEWS - Mar 4, 2021 - 23:20 | World, All Protesters in Myanmar took to the streets again Thursday, one day after security forces shot dead 38 people in the deadliest day since the military seized power in a coup, local media reported. Despite the escalation of violence and threat of death, protesters reportedly were out again in several cities, including the largest city Yangon, the second-largest city Mandalay and the capital Naypyitaw, but no deaths or injuries have been reported. Security forces used tear gas and gunfire to try to disperse the crowds, the media reported. Also, in Mandalay, over a thousand people attended the funeral of a 19-year-old female protester who died Wednesday after being shot in the head, according to reports. Meanwhile, Singapore's Foreign Ministry on Thursday advised its nationals to consider leaving Myanmar as soon as possible due to the rising violence and avoid travel to the country. "In view of the rapidly escalating clashes between protesters and the Myanmar security forces and increasing number of civilian casualties in Myanmar, Singaporeans are strongly advised to defer all travel to Myanmar at this time," the ministry said in a statement. Christine Schraner Burgener, the U.N. special envoy on the Southeast Asian country, on Wednesday called for coordinated efforts by the international community to increase pressure on the military regime to end the ongoing crackdown on protesters, as the cumulative death toll since the Feb. 1 coup has now exceeded 50. Wednesday "was the bloodiest day since the coup happened," Burgener said at an online news briefing, adding that video footage appeared to show police using 9 mm submachine guns to fire live rounds. Around 1,200 people have been detained in the country, leaving many of their families unsure where they are being held or whether they are in good health, she added. Security forces have increasingly resorted to using violence against protesters who have gathered daily in the weeks following the coup that ousted the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. According to a diplomatic source, the U.N. Security Council is expected to hold a closed-door session Friday to discuss the Myanmar situation. However, it remains unclear whether the Security Council can take a unified stance on the matter, as China, one of the five veto-wielding permanent members, continues to show reluctance to criticize the Myanmar military. Regarding the reported deaths of 38 people, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman only said Thursday that Beijing is working to "ease and calm the situation" in Myanmar by contacting people in the country's various sectors. "We are appalled and revulsed to see the horrific violence perpetrated against the people of Burma for their peaceful calls to restore civilian governance," U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a news briefing, using Myanmar's other name. "We call on all countries to speak with one voice to condemn brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people and to promote accountability for the military's actions that have led to the...loss of life of so many people in Burma." On Sunday, a crackdown by security forces killed at least 18 demonstrators and wounded over 30 others around the country, according to a U.N. human rights agency. Heightened tensions in a member country have spurred diplomatic efforts within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN foreign ministers held a virtual meeting on Tuesday and called for a de-escalation of the Myanmar situation and dialogue to peacefully resolve the political crisis. "We are concerned about the situation and demand the suppression of violence," the chairman's statement said. New Delhi, March 4 : An important rediscovered portrait by celebrated Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil of her close friend and French art critic Denyse Proutau is estimated to go under the hammer for a price between $1.8-2.8 million (approximately Rs 13.1 crore to Rs 20.4 crore) at a Christie's New York auction on March 17. Painted circa 1932, the painting is one of four known portraits of Denyse Proutaux, and the only documented example in private hands. The portrait is not only an exceptional painting by Sher-Gil, completed when the artist was barely nineteen years old, it is also a testament of the beautiful friendship between the Sher-Gil sisters and Denyse that was built on mutual admiration and love for each other and lasted well beyond the time they lived in the same country. During their time in Paris from 1929 to 1934, the Sher-Gil sisters, Indira and Amrita, became close friends with Denyse Proutaux, an art writer and critic, who met and befriended Indira at a drawing class they both attended. Together, the three young women explored the Parisian art scene and regularly holidayed at the seafront in Royan. Denyse was a particular inspiration for Sher-Gil during the artist's time in France, sitting for her in her most acclaimed paintings. Sher-Gil painted four portraits of Denyse that are known to us. These include the most famous painting, Young Girls from 1932, which depicts Denyse partially undressed alongside the artist's dressed sister, Indira, and won a Gold Medal at the Grand Salon that year. The same year, Sher-Gil painted another portrait of Denyse in profile wearing a black beret. Both these paintings are now in the collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. Sher-Gil began a third large composition in 1933, that included Denyse, Indira, herself and a model. She later cut Denyse's seated figure from this canvas, the largest work she ever attempted, and gifted it to Denyse. Unfortunately, this life size work was lost during the Second World War. Set against what appears to be a window with colourful sprays of flowers on either side, the present composition is a beautiful portrayal of a Parisian lady of style and attitude. The portrait Sher-Gil painted of her friend, presents Denyse as a self-assured, young Parisian who she respected and admired. Denyse's gaze is confident, confronting the viewer, while the flowers around her add lightness and charm to her seemingly unflappable expression. The warm, red tones resonate across the foliage, curtain, tightly set hair and rouged skin, imbuing the sitter with a sense of controlled dynamism and silent resolve. Her gaze imbues the painting with an ancient solemnity, while her red velvet dress with its lace collar and the delicate floral pendant around her neck ease the tension of the gaze between subject and viewer. In this work and several others from the period, Sher-Gil masters the psychological portrait, able to capture a plethora of conflicting emotions and identities with ease and sophistication. Nishad Avari, Specialist and Head of Sale for South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art said: "It is an honour to present this rediscovered work by Amrita Sher-Gil in our March auction. With very few paintings by Sher-Gil still in private collections, it is truly a privilege to discover a painting by this talented artist that was previously unknown to her collectors and admirers, and to bring it to its full glory and offer it the world stage it deserves." Previously unknown, this exceptional portrait has remained in France since the time it was painted, says Christie's. Piecing together the history of this painting through the letters Denyse exchanged with her partner, Philippe Dyvorne, and the Sher-Gil sisters, it has been possible to date this work to circa 1932. In these letters, Denyse refers to several sittings she did for Sher-Gil. This painting is most likely the one she refers to as the painting in 'Russian Style' in a letter to Philippe dated 22 February 1932. "Did I tell you about my Hindu friend? Imagine that her sister has been at the Beaux-Arts for two years and is very talented and very knowledgeable. So when she saw me, she went crazy about my hair and absolutely wanted to do my portrait with my hair loose. As it was for a competition and she had very little time, I posed almost non-stop for three days, and that's why I couldn't write to you as I had promised you. I've never known such an amazing girl, you know Phil? She has an intelligence and a personality like I had never met in a woman before, and also a very great talent, very powerful and robust, all her works seem to be made by a man. And she's only eighteen with it all," reads the letter excerpt released by the auction house. Celebrating the many achievements and contributions to modern Indian art Amrita Sher-Gil made in her short life, the Indian Government recognized her as a National Treasure artist in 1976. Today, the majority of her 172 documented works reside in the collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. (Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) OCHO RIOS, Jamaica, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ejamhire.com provides world-wide employers from every type of industry a recruitment medium to find talent throughout Jamaica for full time, part time, and freelance employment in skilled and unskilled labor. In today's fast paced, globalized world, ejamhire.com provides a short-cut to efficient business management by simplifying the search for new talent. e-JAM's employer portal delivers the ability to post job ads, view candidate profiles, and manage applicants who are applying to service business needs. Employers can browse through talent profiles that contain reviews written by previous employers that illustrate how other businesses assessed and evaluated the individual. Moreover, candidates have the ability to rate their skill sets through a 5-star rating system allowing employers to gauge their level of competency. When time is of the essence, e-JAM's full-service recruitment plan offers employers the ability to minimalize stress, time, and unnecessary costs. e-JAM recruiters utilize their expertise to find potential candidates through a rigorous verification process. This ensures that the candidate is work-ready by guaranteeing the following: A profile highlighting talent and skill-set complete with a professional photo. An up-to-date resume Copies of valid certificates or degrees Valid photo identification The reference provided by the job seeker has been contacted Assurance that they are ready to work immediately These vital features provide peace of mind that the talent is a trustworthy and dependable asset to a growing company. ejamhire.com takes care of the frustrating and time-consuming work of hiring new talent, so managers can get back to business! Contact: Yvette White e-business manager tel: 876-974-3526 tel: 876-496-0000 tel: 954-272-8233 ejamhire.com | ejamjobs.com Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram SOURCE e-JAM Kolkata, March 4 : The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) has said their talks with the Centre is back on track, despite what they described as 'reckless statements' by Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi. "The Indo-Naga political talk teams are back on the table and the talk is progressing. The historic Framework Agreement (FA) signed on the 3rd August, 2015 is being brought back to life in order to remove any misinterpretation and thereby hasten the signing of Naga solution agreement," the NSCN (I-M) said in a statement . The statement was issued on the letterhead of the 'Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim' which the rebel group have used to administer areas under their control since 1980, when the Naga rebel movement split over the 1975 Shillong Accord. Muivah and Issac Swu, both China-trained guerrillas, broke away from the Naga National Council after it signed the Shillong Accord and called it 'a betrayal of the Naga cause'. But the two leaders who have led the NSCN since its formation in 1980 started negotiations with the Centre in 1997 and they signed the 'Framework Agreement' with the Modi government in 2015 to pave the way for a final settlement of India's longest-running ethnic insurgency. The NSCN(I-M) statement debunked Governor R.N. Ravi's claims that that negotiations have concluded. "Recently, unnecessary confusion was thrown into the air because of the reckless statement made by Mr. R.N. Ravi, the Governor of Nagaland in Nagaland Assembly that the Indo-Naga political talks has concluded. "It is needless to say that in many points his statements and conclusions reflected his role as Nagaland Governor and not as Interlocutor. It is a matter of regret that his role as interlocutor is nothing less than disparaging and dismal. The NSCN (I-M) statement said that the 'Indo-Naga political talks ... were at an advanced stage' and that has been confirmed by the Union government. "No doubt, this is the ground reality of the Indo-Naga political talk and NSCN talk team is leaving no stone unturned to safeguard the political identity of the Naga people," the statement said. It said that Ravi's statement have misled the Indian government, Parliament and 'entire Indian people' and that he should desist from such statements. "In the matter of Naga political issue he (Ravi) should be cautious of every single word he uttered lest his credibility is damned. Significantly, it is to be noted that the Indo-Naga political talk is being handled by both the parties to take the Naga people and the GoI to the point that is honourable and acceptable. This is the official understanding and the only way to conclude the talk." Last month, the NSCN leaders said the talks must be raised to Prime Minister's level and moved to a third country. "In order to save the political dialogue, the talks should resumed at the PM level without pre-condition and outside India in a third country. And if our stay in India is no more welcome, all necessary arrangements must be made for us to leave India and the political talks be resumed in a third country," Muivah, who is also the "Ato Kioonser" (Prime Minister) of the Naga rebel government, said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He raised 'issues of serious concern' about the Home Ministry, the NIA and the Assam Rifles and it was shocking that some Indian officials were branding the NSCN as 'terrorists'. The NSCN started negotiations with the Indian government in 1997. The progress has slow and it hit a roadblock last year over the insistence of the rebel leaders that India should consider a separate flag and a separate Constitution for Nagaland. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Los Angeles, Hollywood actor-filmmaker Alec Baldwin posted an Instagram video on Thursday to express disappointment at being trolled after his tweet about Gillian Anderson's accent. "Wanted to post a quick video to say that I deactivated my Twitter account today. I just wrote, 'Oh, that's interesting'. And of course, you can't do any irony on -- you can't do any irony in the United States anymore because the United States is such (an) uptight, stressed-out place and such an unpleasant place right now," Baldwin says in the video. He added: "But I find that, of course, on Twitter, which is where all the a--holes in the United States and beyond go to get their advanced degrees in a--hole-iness, that I had used it as a news aggregator, and I suppose I will do my best to find other places that are similar in their news aggregation in real time and periodicals I like." In December, Baldwin's wife Hilaria was accused on Twitter for faking a Spanish accent and misrepresenting her background. All Republican members of the Illinois House are protesting House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welchs recent call to revisit the graduated-rate income tax proposal, which voters soundly rejected in November. Switching from the current fixed-rate income tax to a graduated one would require the passage of an amendment to the Illinois Constitution. House Resolution 135, filed Tuesday, opposes reconsidering the proposal. State Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, is a co-sponsor of HR 135. Illinois voters rejected the Pritzker tax hike amendment last November, Hammond said in a statement. The graduated income tax amendment would have raised taxes on Illinois families and businesses by at least $3.4 billion. The bills synopsis says it opposes a graduated income tax law in Illinois and oppose(s) the reconsideration by the Illinois General Assembly of any constitutional measure intended to yet again reopen the flat-rate income tax debate. State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, frequently argues the need for a balanced state budget in tandem with the need to lower the state debt, which is in the billions. As a co-sponsor of the bill, Davidsmeyer echoed Hammonds position that a graduated tax would take the state in the wrong direction and already has been rejected by voters. In remarks made to the Economic Club of Chicago, House Speaker Chris Welch suggested a do-over on higher taxes, Davidsmeyer said. The results of the November election were very clear: Illinoisans overwhelmingly voted down the Democrats graduated tax increase. They do not want a do-over. Reintroducing another income tax hike just keeps Democrats focus on raising taxes, rather than coming up with new ideas on how to get out of the mess that they created. A graduated tax is not going to fix the states unfunded pension problem, Hammond said. Its long past time to take a hard look at state spending and make the difficult decisions necessary to balance the budget, without raising taxes on Illinois families who are already struggling to make ends meet, Hammond said. DAYTON, Ohio, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Winsupply Inc., one of the nation's largest distributors, has opened Winsupply of Rio Grande Valley, in Mission, Texas. The new company serves heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas. Ernesto "Ernie" Pena is the president of Winsupply of Rio Grande Valley. Pena has been in the HVAC industry for more than 10 years. He previously worked for Carrier where he was in sales. Pena is joined by an equity partner at Winsupply of Rio Grande Valley in Joseph Midkiff, who was also previously at Carrier and leads non-sales related operations at the new company. "Ernie, Joe and the rest of their team have 40-plus years of experience in the HVAC industry," said Rob Ferguson, president of Winsupply Local Company Group. "As owners of their own company, they have autonomy and local decision-making to decide how to meet the needs of their customers in the Rio Grande Valley." In the Winsupply co-ownership business model, Winsupply Inc. has majority equity in each of its locations, while the local company presidents and sometimes employees own substantial equity. In addition to local decision making, they also share uncapped financial rewards and risks of ownership. Winsupply Inc. provides the local company locations purchasing power, sourcing distribution, digital commerce, IT, business consulting, marketing, accounting and payroll, among other services. About Winsupply Inc. Winsupply Inc. ( www.winsupplyinc.com ) is a leading supplier of residential and commercial construction and industrial supplies and equipment headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. The privately-held company has more than 600 wholesaling locations in 45 states and offers entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to own a meaningful part of the local business. Collectively, Winsupply is known as "The Winsupply Family of Companies" and includes Win-branded locations, Noland Company, Carr Supply, Security Plumbing & Heating Supply, APCO, and other regional suppliers the company has acquired. In the family are companies conducting business-to-business wholesale distribution of supplies and equipment in plumbing and heating; hydronics; pipe, valves and fittings; HVAC and refrigeration; electrical; fastening hardware; waterworks and utility; pumps; turf irrigation and landscape; and fire system fabrication. Follow Winsupply on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Contact: Winsupply Maury Williams [email protected] 937-531-4554 SOURCE Winsupply Inc. A bill to revise the state law that restricts the removal of Confederate monuments was rejected today in the Alabama House Judiciary Committee, leading to accusations of racism by the bills sponsor. The bill, by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, would have given cities and counties more options to remove monuments and statues by amending the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, which the Legislature passed four years ago on a vote split along party and racial lines. The law came at a time when Confederate statues were coming down in other states. It had strong support from Republicans in the Legislature, who are all white, and staunch opposition from Democrats, most of whom are Black. It came to the forefront last year as Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and other communities removed Confederate monuments during the wave of protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. Under the Memorial Preservation Act, local governments face $25,000 fines for removal of monuments from taxpayer-owned property that have been in place 40 years or more. The law set up a committee to hear applications for waivers from local governments who want to move monuments. But the waiver authority is limited to monuments in place less than 40 years. Givans bill would increase the authority for cities and counties to move monuments. They could move those any in place for less that 50 years. For those in place 50 years or more, the bill would set up a process where cities and counties could apply to the committee for waivers to move monuments to cemeteries, parks, or other communities under agreements to preserve and publicly display them. This is a reasonable compromise to what has been a very difficult bill and piece of legislation, Givan said. Steve Murray, director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, who helped develop the bill, told the committee it provided a way for local governments to respond to groundswells to remove monuments from prominent places like courthouse lawns while also providing for the preservation of those monuments at new locations. The committee rejected the bill on a 6-4 vote, with all six no votes coming from Republicans. Givan said she believed those who voted against the bill were motivated by racism. It just shows you that we have, and I want you to quote this, that we have racist members in the House of Representatives, especially in the Republican Party, Givan said. This is a vote that shows that the bigotry of members of the Alabama House of Representatives. Givan mentioned several of the lawmakers who voted against the bill, including Reps. Mike Holmes of Wetumpka, Dickie Drake of Leeds, Allen Farley of McCalla, and Wes Allen of Troy. Thats just false, Holmes said. It has nothing to do with race. It has to do with history. Holmes said polling shows that most Alabamians oppose removals of monuments. In the inner cities, its controversial, Holmes said. But theres a whole lot of Alabama thats rural and not in these inner cities that are highly, highly respectful of their history and they value that history. The Memorial Preservation Act as it stands now makes no distinction between urban areas where residents support removal of Confederate monuments from taxpayer-owned property and the rural areas that Holmes mentioned. Givans bill would have given those urban areas more options. Givans bill would have also removed from the Memorial Preservation Act restrictions on cities and counties to remove, relocate, or rename architecturally significant buildings, memorial buildings, memorial streets, or memorial schools. It took away over half of what we were protecting in the 2017 bill, Holmes said. Our monuments under her bill would have been a lot more exposed. Drake and Farley said their votes came in response to hearing from many people in their district who oppose moving monuments. I had people calling me, texting me, emailing me, asking me not to, and as they put it, Do not do anything that will allow somebody to remove these historical monuments. This is a part of our history, Farley said. In some communities they look at it as a bad part of history for them. It still happened. Its still history. Drake said, Racism had absolutely nothing to do with her bill being turned down. I was sent down here to represent the people of my district. And I promise you I have eliminated or deleted a hundred texts and emails today concerning that one bill, saying dont vote on it. And thats the will of my district, ad thats the way Im going to vote. Allen issued this statement: It is unfortunate that we have come to a point where anyone who disagrees is labeled as racist. I do not believe in erasing history. I believe it is important to remember and learn from our history. The committee first considered the bill three weeks ago but sent it to a subcommittee for more work, resulting in the compromise version that Givan offered today. Holmes has a bill that would revise the Memorial Preservation Act differently, raising the penalties against cities and counties for moving monuments. His bill has not come up for consideration in the committee. A total of 12 Confederate symbols came down in Alabama last year, the third most among states, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Givan said she was not giving up on the bill. In a press release from the House Democratic Caucus, she said the committee should have been moved to the full House for discussion. This bill would have allowed city leaders, after listening to their communities, make choices in the best interests of their constituents, Givan said. For those concerned about the preservation of historical monuments, the Director of Archives was at the meeting to explain how relocation would help better preserve and safeguard monuments. It gives communities flexibility. This bill was supported by the SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) and the League of Municipalities. Im going to keep bringing it back, she said. Voting for the bill were Reps. Jim Hill, R-Moody, the committee chair; and Reps. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma; Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove; and Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa. Voting no were Allen, Drake, Farley, Holmes, and Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley; and Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga. This story was edited at 8:12 p.m. to add more information about the bill and a quote from Rep. Mike Holmes. Edited at 8:18 p.m. to add quote from Rep. Juandalynn Givan from a press release from the House Democratic Caucus. MIDDLETOWN, Ohio A woman accused of killing her young son while attempting to abandon him at a park, then reporting him missing, has told investigators that she felt pressured by her boyfriend to get rid of her three kids, reports say. According to Fox 19, a report from the Preble County Sheriffs Office says Brittany Gosney, 29, is blaming her boyfriend, James Hamilton, 42, for her decision to drive to Rush Run Wildlife Area in Preble County last Friday and attempt to abandon her kids, including 6-year-old son James Hutchinson. Investigators say Gosney told them her three kids were out of her minivan and she tried to speed away. Her son tried to get back in as she pulled away and she ended up dragging him, eventually running him over, authorities tell WCPO Channel 9. She told investigators that when she returned to check on Hutchinson, he was dead. She then picked up his body and returned to her home in Middletown with her two other children. James Hamilton, 42, is charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of 6-year-old James Hutchinson. (Middletown Police Department) Reports say Hamilton was not present when Hutchinson was killed. Gosney and Hamilton are accused of taking the boys body and dumping it in the Ohio River near Lawrencebrug, Indiana, at about 3 a.m. Sunday, then reporting the boy missing later that morning. Gosney is now being held on a $1 million bond on multiple charges, including murder. Hamilton is charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. He is in jail on an $800,000 bond. Meanwhile, search teams have paused the search for Hutchinsons body because of high water levels on the Ohio River, WCPO reports. The high water and fast current has made the river unsafe, reports say. It is frustrating, because you think that if not much time goes by, youll have a better indication of where the person may be, said Tracy Campbell, a spokesperson for North Star International Search and Recovery. But with this water and the time going past, you dont know. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Ohio mother dragged 6-year-old son with car during attempt to abandon him, reports say Ohio mother charged with murder after reporting 6-year-old boy missing University Heights woman charged in retaliation shooting that killed 6-year-old girl in Cleveland Case of North Royalton woman accused of killing two Lakewood men in crash heads to Cuyahoga County grand jury Ukraine, Italy to step up fight against counterfeits This refers to fake Italian products, which are in demand in Ukraine. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. WE are now reading that the Minister of Sport has come out with a statement regarding our participation in the Tokyo Olympics. As with the usual run-of-the-mill political type, the statement vacillates, kicks the can down the road and seeks to avoid the issue. Let us be clear on what the situation is regarding these Olympics. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise [March 04, 2021] MINDCURE Discovers Potential Opportunity for Ibogaine-Assisted Psychotherapy to Treat Neuropathic Pain and Traumatic Brain Injury This potential treatment opportunity was confirmed by the company's bioinformatics platform, PsyCollage VANCOUVER, BC, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Mind Cure Health Inc. (CSE: MCUR) (OTCQB: MCURF) (FRA: 6MH) ("MINDCURE" or the "Company") a leader in developing technology to advance psychedelic-related treatments, is pleased to announce that the Company's bioinformatics platform, PsyCollage, has identified opportunities for ibogaine to support neuroregenerative pathways that the Company believes could be pivotal in treating neuropathic pain and brain trauma. Ibogaine is a psychoactive substance extracted from the iboga shrub native to West Africa. Contributing to its powerful anti-addiction actions, ibogaine is associated with increases in the levels of brain neurotrophic factors, particularly GDNF and BDNF, which have potent neuroregenerative and neuroprotective properties.1 Ibogaine is thought to repair and reset the brain's reward system, facilitating detoxification in the context of addiction. In addition, it may stimulate the growth of new dopamine neurons, which further supports its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.1 For these reasons, MINDCURE is synthesizing ibogaine, as announced in a news release dated March 3, 2021, to be used in the Company's preclinical and clinical trials. Recently, the Company's PsyCollage platform has identified the opportunity for the use of ibogaine to address neuropathic pain and brain trauma. "PsyCollage ensures we are moving in the right direction in our mission to provide alternative and effective treatment options for psychological and physiological pain," said Kelsey Ramsden, President & CEO, MINDCURE. "Ibogaine has centuries of therapeutic history reinforcing its potential to heal pain. As one of the first companies to manufacture synthetic ibogaine, we're confident our research and development teams can help contribute to the drug's uses and develop protocols that ultimately progress healing in Canada and around the world." Ibogaine has been used by West African communities for centuries in rituals and healing ceremonies. It was first introduced to the western world in 1864, and later marketed in France as a "neuromuscular stimulant" to combat fatigue, depression, and infectious disease between 1939-1970.2 The U.S. made possession of ibogaine illegal in 1967, and the U.S. FDA classified ibogaine as a schedule I drug in 1970, along with psilocybin and LSD. In Canada, Ibogaine was unregulated until 2017 when Health Canada added it to the Prescription Drug List, severely limiting legal access; however, more recently, the regulatory landscape is again becoming more favourable. ___________________________________ 1 Soledad Marton et al., "Ibogaine Administration Modifies GDNF and BDNF Expression in Brain Regions Involved in Mesocorticolimbic and Nigral Dopaminergic Circuits," Frontiers in Pharmacology 10 (May 2019), https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00193. 2 Thomas Brown, "Ibogaine in the Treatment of Substance Dependence," Current Drug Abuse Reviews 6, no. 1 (May 1, 2013): pp. 3, https://doi.org/10.2174/15672050113109990001. "Ibogaine's therapeutic potential isn't a new concept. MINDCURE's bioinformatics platform, PsyCollage, however, gives us a starting point and a plethora of research to continue guiding us as we investigate ibogaine's regenerative potential for healing, with a primary focus on brain trauma and neuropathic pain," said Ryan Hartwell, Chief Scientific Officer, MINDCURE. About PsyCollage PsyCollage is MINDCURE's proprietary bioinformatics platform used to direct MINDCURE's research team in product discovery activities and decision-making. PsyCollage works by compiling predictive correlative statistical analytics from decades of documented clinical research. PsyCollage has developed into a turnkey resource for discovering target receptors and methods, managing clinical trial data, and mapping strategic business partnerships. About Mind Cure Health (MINDCURE) Inc. MINDCURE exists as a response to the current mental health crisis and urgent calls for effective treatments. MINDCURE believes in the need to reinvent the mental health care model for patients and practitioners to allow psychedelics to advance into common and accepted care. MINDCURE is focused on identifying and developing pathways and products that ease suffering, increase productivity, and enhance mental health. MINDCURE is interested in exploring diverse therapeutic areas beyond psychiatry, including digital therapeutics, neuro-supports, and psychedelics, all to improve mental health. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Kelsey Ramsden, President & CEO Phone: 1-888-593-8995 Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (also known as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and may cause actual results, performance or achievements or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or industry results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "feel", "intend", "may", "plan", "predict", "project", "subject to", "will", "would", and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Some of the specific forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the opportunities for ibogaine to support neuroregenerative pathways that MINDCURE believes could be pivotal in treating neuropathic pain and brain trauma; MINDCURE synthesizing ibogaine to be used in the Company's preclinical and clinical trials; Ibogaine repairing and resetting the brain's reward system, facilitating detoxification in the context of addiction, stimulating the growth of new dopamine neurons, and supporting neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease; MINDCURE's mission to provide alternative and effective treatment options for psychological and physiological pain; MINDCURE becoming one of the first companies to manufacture synthetic ibogaine, and contributing to the drug's uses and develop protocols that ultimately progress healing in Canada and around the world. Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by MINDCURE, including, without limitation: the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Canadian economy and MINDCURE's business, and the extent and duration of such impact; no change to laws or regulations that negatively affect MINDCURE's business; there will be a demand for MINDCURE's products in the future; no unanticipated expenses or costs arise; MINDCURE will be able to continue to identify products that make them ideal candidates for providing solutions for treating mental health; that the functional mushroom industry will continue to grow; ibogaine's ability to address neuropathic pain, neuroregeneration, and brain trauama will help MINDCURE achieve its research and business goals; and MINDCURE will be able to operate its business as planned. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what MINDCURE believes to be reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such information. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information involves significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to: the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Canadian economy, MINDCURE's industry and MINDCURE's business, which may negatively impact, and may continue to negatively impact, MINDCURE and may materially adversely affect MINDCURE's investments, results of operations, financial condition, and MINDCURE's ability to obtain additional equity or debt financing, and satisfy its financial obligations; general economic conditions; future growth potential; competition for mental health and wellness investments; ibogaine's ability to address neuropathic pain, neuroregeneration, and brain trauama will not help MINDCURE achieve its research and business goals; and changes in legislation or regulations. Management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information contained herein are based upon reasonable assumptions and information currently available; however, management can give no assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. Additional information on the risk factors that could affect MINDCURE can be found under "Risk Factors" in MINDCURE's final prospectus which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to MINDCURE. The forward-looking information is stated as of the date of this news release and MINDCURE assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release and the CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mindcure-discovers-potential-opportunity-for-ibogaine-assisted-psychotherapy-to-treat-neuropathic-pain-and-traumatic-brain-injury-301240305.html SOURCE Mind Cure Health Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] "Batter" up, yall! With adjustments required due to COVID, Charleston Wine + Food will kick off its 16th annual festival with the beloved, but this time virtual, Waffle House Smackdown, March 4. Competing this year for the title of Master Blaster are past winner Chris Shepherd, chef with Georgia James and UB Preserv of Houston, and Claudette Zepeda of Top Chef, both making signature Waffle House dishes under the guidance of emcee Ashley Christensen, famed North Carolina chef and restaurateur. Virtual attendees will help pick the winner along with local chef Mike Lata (FIG, The Ordinary). Additional free virtual festival events will be offered throughout March, including a cocktail class with Frank Arevalo of The Obstinate Daughter, a cooking class with Carrie Morey of Callies Hot Little Biscuit, and a baking class with Rashaunda Grant of The Carolina Cookery. There also will be a panel discussion with World Central Kitchen and Heritage Network Radio at the end of the month. Sign up for the Charleston Hot Sheet Get a weekly list of tips on pop-ups, last minute tickets and little-known experiences hand-selected by our newsroom in your inbox each Thursday. Email Sign Up! WHEN: 8 p.m. March 4; Register in advance for Zoom link PRICE: $20 general; $15 Visa cardholders MORE INFO: 843-727-9998, bit.ly/3b88zo7, charlestonwineandfood.com Additional free (admission) food and family nugget: Goose Creek is getting a head start on its St. Patricks Day celebrations with its annual BBQ & Brews Festival, 3-7 p.m. March 6 at the Green Barn at Carnes Crossroads. In addition to an evening of live Irish music, expect barbecue food vendors, beer trailers, kids activities and holiday-themed crafts. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and your mask. 843-569-4242, cityofgoosecreek.com/event/bbq-brews-0 Ahoy, maties! Scavengers wanted for Folly fun Channel your inner Blackbeard, Bluebeard, Barbarossa ("red-beard") brother or Graybeard and head to Folly Beach for the Coffin Island Loot Route scavenger hunt, continuing through March 10. You can register a team of up to four folks and kids under 12 can get their Goonies on too, as they can be added to a team free of charge. Your captain will receive a treasure map with all the clues, which can be solved at local businesses and landmarks across the Edge of America. Correct answers get you pirate booty points more points mean youre eligible for more prizes, which range from dining gift cards and kayak rentals to handmade jewelry and a spa visit. Heres an example of a clue: "I am the famous house where Gershwin spent some time. Take a pic of me and think of 'Summertime.'" Teams will upload a photo of their answers to an assigned Google photo album or via Facebook Messenger, so someone in your crew will need to be relatively tech-savvy. Also, dressing up as a pirate during your treasure hunt is encouraged. PRICE: $5 per team member (age 12 and older; no fee for additional team members 11 and younger) MORE INFO: visitfolly.com/Loot-Route Lifting up the ladies for International Women's Day International Womens Day, March 8, celebrated since 1911, is for recognizing womens achievements, raising awareness about womens equality, lobbying for accelerated gender equality and fundraising for female-focused charities. Heres what you can do locally to uplift the cause: Exquisite Enterprises will host its Exquisite Women Empowerment Day weekend, March 5-7, a free virtual celebration for women of all backgrounds to engage in empowering dialogue and activities, featuring female-owned small-business vendors, a female leaders speakers roundtable and a virtual happy hour. This years themes are female entrepreneurship, setting and achieving goals, and womens health. For more information, call 843-945-3562 or visit bit.ly/3bcuDhG, exquisiteenterprisesinc.com The Polish American Society will celebrate Dzien Kobiet with A Day in the Park, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 7 at the Picnic Center Porch at James Island County Park (871 Riverland Drive), featuring a noontime lunch, flower-making workshop and book swap. $30 ticket (and $2 park entry fee); polishcharleston.org, info@polishcharleston.org You also can drop some dough at some women-owned businesses around town: Get some grub at Hannibals Kitchen, Taco Boy, EVO Pizzeria, Berthas Kitchen or Baguette Magic; grab a cup o joe at Coastal Coffee Roasters or some sassy spirits from High Wire Distilling Co.; reward the kiddos with a little something from Wonder Works; reward yourself with some smellies as I call them from Charleston Candle Co. or some threads from Red Rose Vintage, Runaround Sue Vintage or Threads Todisco. For more info on female-owned establishments, visit lowcountrylocalfirst.org Additional nugget: Niecy Blues is selling/reissuing cassette tapes from her 2020 EP, Cry at citruscityrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cry Rep. Lance Gooden (C), on the House floor in Washington on Jan. 3, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Sole GOP Voter for House Police Reform Bill Says He Pressed Wrong Button The only Republican to vote yes for a Democrat police reform bill in the House of Representatives said he did so by accident, and has changed his vote in the record. I accidentally pressed the wrong voting button and realized it too late, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) wrote in a tweet that he later deleted. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition to the partisan George Floyd Policing Act. Gooden shared a photograph of himself holding a piece of paper, titled personal explanation, in which he said he intended to vote no. I have arguably the most conservative/America First voting record in Congress! Of course I wouldnt support the radical lefts Anti-Police Act. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition! he wrote on Twitter. According to GovTracks ideology score, Gooden is the 36th most conservative representative. The Democratic-controlled House passed the legislation, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, by a vote of 220212. Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody last year after being arrested for allegedly using fake money at a convenience store. His death was ruled a homicide and four police officers involved in the arrest are facing charges for his death. The record shows that Gooden and 219 Democrats voted yes for the bill, while 210 Republicans and two DemocratsReps. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) voted no. Kind hasnt explained his vote. Golden said in a statement, Every American should be treated equally before the law, regardless of race, gender, economic status, or any other factor. Our country needs to reckon with the racism and inequality which have persisted for far too long. And there must be accountability for gross negligence in the use of force by a law enforcement officer like what took place in Minneapolis with the killing of George Floyd. Golden argued the bill includes many good provisions but that last year, when the bill was passed in the previous Congress, he held significant concerns about how the House bill eliminated qualified immunity protections for law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, there have been no negotiations since the legislations first passage, and the bill before us retains those same problematic changes. Because I understand what it is like to make split-second, life-and-death decisions under pressure, and out of respect for the difficult decisions confronting law enforcement officers in the line of duty, I will not support this legislation today, he wrote. Qualified immunity protects law enforcement officers from most lawsuits. Golden said he believes that the Supreme Court should examine qualified immunity, but not eliminate it entirely. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. [March 04, 2021] ZEISS Receives ACEC Award for Wixom Quality Excellence Center New Facility Showcases Interconnectivity Between Quality and Smart Factories WIXOM, Mich., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The interconnectivity of quality inspection equipment with the infrastructure of modern smart factory environments is becoming increasingly critical. ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions opened its Wixom, Michigan Quality Excellence Center to demonstrate that interconnectivity with a modern work environment and state-of-the-art setting enhances insight into quality assurance for customers. The new facility has been honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) with an Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award for the 2021 Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Competition. The Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards recognize outstanding projects, honor industry leaders, and present scholarships to the next generation of engineering talent while showing firsthand the impact engineering and surveying has on everyday lives. The ACEC recognized ZEISS and its goal for applying holistic engineering disciplines to the design of the building, located in the Detroit metro area. "Like ZEISS products, the design of this facility is taut and precise. Its sleek silhouette is reflective of the company's strong, collaborative workforce and brand identity, and provides the exacting conditions needed to test and operate ZEISS equipment," shares Bob Varga, AIA, LEED AP, project designer for SmithGroup, the architect and engineering firm responsible for the project. The result is a new standard in designing sophisticated lab systems while simultaneously using strategies to improve the user experience. During the virtual Engineer & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on February 26, the building also qualified for the 2021 Grand Conceptor Award. This award signifies the year's best overall engineering achievement and will be announced during the upcoming virtual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, scheduled for June 17, 2021. The new ZEISS Quality Excellence Center contains a customer demonstration area with new technologies and systems. Customers gain access to comprehensive training, support and metrology services. The center's broad portfolio of dimensional metrology and inspection equipment and services cover a wide variety of industries and applications, including: Automotive including car body and powertrain New energy vehicles Medical Aerospace and defense Additive manufacturing Electronics Visual inspection General manufacturing ZEISS measuring specialists can perform proof-of-capability demonstrations for multidimensional measurement equipment, surface form and geometry equipment, and non-destructive testing and surface defect detection equipment. Reducing the center's carbon footprint was also a key consideration that wnt hand in hand with the user experience. "As sustainability is one of our core values, we wanted to make sure that our green spaces adhered to the ZEISS tradition," says Michael Kirchner, President of ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions. "We are utilizing solar power to support our facility and have EUV charging stations for our employees and guests. We also produce large systems and measure very large components for our customers, so access and transport paths had to be optimized." Kirchner accepted the Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award during a virtual event broadcast on Friday, February 26. "I would like to thank the American Council of Engineering Companies for recognizing our new building project," said Kirchner during his acceptance speech. "This project perfectly reflects our identity and is a great representation of the ZEISS Brand, both leading and precise. It demonstrates exemplary engineering design by the SmithGroup along with inspiring concepts for our staff and customers. The elevated workplace environment encourages creativity, innovation, collaboration and offers comfortable and efficient customer spaces." ZEISS' goal is to always provide smarter working environments for better results. ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions looks forward to many years of serving and supporting North American customers with the Wixom Quality Excellence Center. The facility is currently open for essential business including metrology services, training, and product demonstrations. A grand opening event will take place in the late Summer / Fall of 2021 or as soon as COVID-19 safety is assured. To learn more about ZEISS, visit www.zeiss.com/metrology About ZEISS ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling 6.3 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology and Consumer Markets (status: 30 September 2020). For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars. With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 13 percent of its revenue in research and development this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future. With over 32,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 30 production sites, 60 sales and service companies and 27 research and development facilities. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG. Further information at www.zeiss.com ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions is a leading manufacturer of multidimensional metrology solutions. These include coordinate measuring machines, optical and multisensor systems, microscopy systems for industrial quality assurance as well as metrology software for the automotive, aircraft, mechanical engineering, plastics and medical technology industries. Innovative technologies such as 3D X-ray metrology for quality inspection round off the portfolio. In addition, ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions offers a broad global spectrum of customer services with ZEISS Quality Excellence Centers close to its customers. The company is headquartered in Oberkochen. Production and development sites outside Germany are located in Minneapolis in the USA, Shanghai (China) and Bangalore (India). ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions is part of the Industrial Quality & Research segment. About SmithGroup SmithGroup is one of the world's preeminent integrated design firms. Working across a network of 15 offices in the U.S. and China, a team of 1,200 experts is committed to excellence in strategy, design and delivery. The scale of the firm's thinking and organization produces partnerships with forward-looking clients that maximize opportunities, minimize risk and solve their most complex problems. SmithGroup creates exceptional design solutions for healthcare, science and technology organizations, higher education and cultural institutions, urban environments, diverse workplaces, mixed-use and waterfront developments, and parks and open spaces. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zeiss-receives-acec-award-for-wixom-quality-excellence-center-301240640.html SOURCE Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Zac Efron's younger brother Dylan completed his 14 days of hotel quarantine in Sydney on Thursday. The TV producer, 29, literally jumped for joy outside of the hotel as a friend filmed him on an iPhone. He dressed casually for his first day of freedom in a black T-shirt and navy pants. Quarantine complete! Zac Efron's brother Dylan completed his 14 days of hotel quarantine in Sydney on Thursday The Instagram influencer teamed his outfit with Vans sneakers and a backwards-facing black cap. Outside of the hotel, he was seen leaping into the air and swinging up his arms. His photographer friend crouched down just ahead of him, capturing Dylan's mid-air moment. One for the 'gram! He jumped for joy outside of the hotel as a friend filmed him on an iPhone He's outta here! His photographer friend crouched down just ahead of him, capturing Dylan's mid-air moment He later showed Dylan the footage for him to approve, and he looked impressed. The younger Efron and his pal enjoyed the city breeze as they chatted outside the building, before gathering their things and heading to their next location. Dylan's arrival from the U.S. sparked fury when the government granted him entry while thousands of Australian citizens and residents are still stranded overseas. For the 'gram: He later showed Dylan the footage for him to approve, and he looked impressed Chatting: The younger Efron and his pal enjoyed the city breeze as they chatted outside the building, before gathering their things and heading to their next location Casual: He dressed casually for his first day of freedom in a black T-shirt and navy pants 'Can someone please explain why Dylan Efron is able to travel to Australia while 40,000 stranded Aussies are still locked out of their own country due to arrival caps and quarantine limitations?' one person tweeted. 'Okay so you can travel to Australia all good, but people from New Zealand can't even go visit dying relatives?' another asked. A third wrote: 'Why is Zac's brother able to come in as a non-Aussie and we can't see our parents for two to three years? Great.' Anger: Dylan's arrival from the U.S. sparked fury when the government granted him entry while thousands of Australian citizens and residents are still stranded overseas Frustrated: 'Can someone please explain why Dylan Efron is able to travel to Australia while 40,000 stranded Aussies are still locked out of their own country due to arrival caps and quarantine limitations?' one person tweeted Australians in a private Facebook group for people in hotel quarantine asked the same question, with one woman writing: 'How essential was his entry?' Since arriving in Sydney, Dylan has been sharing his experience in quarantine with his 607,800 followers on Instagram. 'Pretty uneventful day, I got a great workout in which was my goal coming in... I'd say the weirdest thing that has happened is that they keep sending me milk. I don't really know what to do with all this milk,' he said in one video. 'I also hardly wore clothes today, which felt great but isn't great if you're shooting content or because there's a big office building across from us and I'm sure they all know me by now,' Dylan said in another update. Updates: Since arriving in Sydney, Dylan has been sharing his experience in quarantine with his 607,800 followers on Instagram Last month, Dylan told Bro Bible he had planned a trip Down Under to help produce the second season of Zac's Netflix series, Down to Earth. It comes as thousands of Australians remain stranded overseas and desperate to come home. An Australian Border Force spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au that travel exemptions may be granted for a number of purposes. Down Under for work: Last month, Dylan told Bro Bible he had planned a trip Down Under to help produce the second season of Zac's (right) Netflix series, Down to Earth 'Stimulating the Australian economy is an important part of post-Covid-19 recovery, which is why the ABF is committed to keeping the economy moving as much as possible, while at the same time ensuring our borders remain strong and protected from the transmission of COVID-19,' the spokesman said. On January 8, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the number of permitted international arrivals would be slashed for New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, dashing hopes for the 40,000 Australians languishing in limbo abroad. The reduction was made in a bid to stamp out the UK's new mutant strain of Covid that appears more transmissible than the original strain, although numbers of infections have dropped sharply in Britain since. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Revolution Cafe a Mission District fixture where you could sway your hips to the sounds of a Cuban band while sipping sangria has a for-rent sign posted in its window. Mission Local reported that the bar and live music venue on 22nd and Bartlett streets is closing, as more businesses across San Francisco shut their doors amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Revolution Cafe opened in 2006 with a romantic vibe you'd expect to find in a cafe on a lively corner in Barcelona or a tree-lined street in Buenos Aires. The spot attracted a mixed-age, international crowd and the live music on tap always varied whether a local folk band, a group visiting from Ecuador, a jazz trio or a string quartet. It wasn't unusual to find people salsa dancing outside on the sidewalk. The New York Times ran a story on the cafe in 2008, quoting a regular who called it a "bohemian, transglobal hole-in-the-wall. "Besides its copasetic house-party vibe, this snug cafe-bar has a reputation for unstudied eclecticism," the story read. "Oil paintings hang on the wine-red walls and graffiti murals decorate the exterior." Before the pandemic, on Thursday nights, when a farmers' market takes over 22nd Street, a crowd always spilled out of the Revolution, patrons chatting with tall glasses of beer in their hands. The cafe owners Jennifer and Andre Larzul also own the Alamo Square Seafood Grill, and a GoFundMe to support their workers at both businesses was launched in May. "Its been a crazy few weeks!" Jennifer wrote on May 13. "Lets begin with your generosity; with the additional funds raised we were able to send another $279 to each of our employees....merci mille fois! We also received some PPP funding and first put some staff back to work last week at Revolution offering to-go sandwiches and salads. Today we are reopening Alamo Square for take-out dinners." Many patrons left messages on the GoFundMe page. "My fiance and I had our first kiss at revolution," wrote one. "Our friend's band plays there every now and then. We've had so many beautiful memories there, thanks to everyone who makes that place great. Sending love to the whole team." Louise Dawson is a partner at Vandermade, the commercial real estate company that manages tenants for the space at 22nd and Bartlett, and she is sad to see Revolution Cafe go. "We're losing iconic places, music venues, in this city, and it's affecting the arts and the culture of our city," Dawson said. "Hopefully, whoever takes over the space will be community minded with an art and music vein in them. It doesn't give me pleasure to broker these places in these times. It's really heartbreaking." She added, "I believe the landlord and the owner worked very hard to try to work everything out. In the end, they're committing to something they don't even know if they can support. It's a big question into the future. These businesses don't want to negotiate and then renegotiate again. What's happening here is what's happening to a lot of restaurants that are closing. While debt is mounting on the back-end, they're being asked to make these negotiations. This story here is being duplicated 100 times over." SFGATE was unable to reach Jennifer and Andre Larzul for this story. Editor's note: This story was updated March 4 at 9:20 a.m. with comment from Vandermade, which manages rentals for the space at 22nd and Bartlett. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 01:39:33|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference Thursday night, ahead of the opening of its annual session. Zhang Yesui took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters on the agenda of the session and the work of the NPC via video link. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China will consider measures to improve the electoral system of Hong Kong to ensure that the Asian financial hub is governed by patriots, as the most important annual event on the country's political calendar kicks off. The 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will deliberate a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during its fourth annual session running from March 5 to 11, according to the agenda unveiled Thursday. Speaking at a press conference, Zhang Yesui, the session's spokesperson, said the NPC has both the power and the responsibility to make the decision at the constitutional level to improve the electoral system of the HKSAR. Calling the electoral system of the HKSAR an important part of its political structure, Zhang said what happened in recent years has proven the need to improve the system in steps with the times in order to provide a sound institutional guarantee for fully and faithfully implementing "one country, two systems" and fully implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong." Over the past weeks, legal experts and policy advisors have ramped up calls for changes to Hong Kong's electoral system to plug its loopholes. Addressing a high-level symposium in late February, senior official on Hong Kong affairs Xia Baolong said that Hong Kong must be governed by "staunch patriots," warning of the risk of anti-China disruptors, "Hong Kong independence" elements and other radical separatists entering into the governance architecture of the HKSAR through elections. "Members of the executive, legislative and judicial organs of the HKSAR and chief officials of its major statutory bodies must be genuine patriots," said Xia, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. The principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" was first laid down by late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s. One of the root causes of the chaos afflicting the social and political arenas of Hong Kong is the fact that the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" has yet to be fully implemented, said attendees to a recent symposium held by the central authorities to hear opinions on improving systems related to the principle. In last year's NPC annual session held in May, the legislature adopted a decision on "establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security," after months of unrest and street violence originated from an ordinance amendment bill plunged Hong Kong into the "gravest" situation since its return to the motherland in 1997. On June 30, 2020, the NPC Standing Committee adopted the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR before it was promulgated and enacted locally by the HKSAR government. Lawmakers from Hong Kong attending the upcoming NPC annual session have lauded the national security law for safeguarding prosperity and stability in the city. Condemning the violent activities in 2019 that brought "disastrous damages" to Hong Kong, Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, said since the enforcement of the national security law, the Hong Kong society has gradually restored peace and stability. The change has proven the necessity and significance of the law, Tam said. Enditem remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Houston became the first city in Texas on Thursday to add a certification for LGBT-owned businesses in city contracting. Mayor Sylvester Turner signed an executive order adding the certification during an event with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and its Houston affiliate. The Chamber will manage the certification process. The move ultimately could help the city direct more contracts to LGBT-owned businesses, which make up a small portion of the regions 130,000 companies. Some 173 businesses belong to the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and 70 businesses in Texas including 38 in Houston have been certified by the national chamber as LGBT-owned, though the organization said that number often grows after governments recognize them. The number in California tripled in one year after it added the certification. Houston already has certifications for small businesses and businesses owned by minorities and women, as part of a remedial program intended to boost their participation in city contracting. It places goals for how much of certain contracts are directed toward those entities. The new LGBT-owned business certification will not be included in those goals, but the executive order says the city will monitor their participation in contracts and produce an annual report about its findings. It is possible goals could be added in the future. Marsha Murray, the director of the citys Office of Business Opportunity, said government programs based on sex, like those based on race or national origin, are subject to strict constitutional scrutiny, which means the city has to demonstrate that remedial action is necessary before it can enact goals. The citys new initiative is the beginning step to identify and monitor the level of participation by LGBT business enterprises in city contracting, she said. The order also adds the businesses to the citys firm directory, which means prime contractors will be able to seek out LGBT subcontractors. The city also is launching an outreach campaign to educate LGBT business owners about resources from the Office of Business Opportunity, such as development counseling, legal assistance, and networking events. Turner said the certification will help Houston diversify its vendors, which he said helps save taxpayer money by expanding the bidding process for city contracts. This initiative is a win for our city in so many ways, Turner said. Marilyn Jordan and Naomi Scales, managing partners MarFran Cleaning in Houston, which is certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, said the status has symbolic importance, as well. MarFran, like the 37 other businesses in Houston with the national certification, will be entered into the citys firm directory now. What this executive order and this type of legislation says is, if you want to do business with the City of Houston, you must be willing to see and accept all of us, Jordan said. What it says to the LGBTQ community is, we dont have to force fit into a group that does not address our authenticity. Jonathan Lovitz, a senior vice president at the National LGBT Chamber, said Houston joins a growing number of more than 20 cities and states that have recognized the certifications. California was the first, adopting a public mandate to include certified LGBT businesses in contracting in 2014, according to Lovitz. The state has been analyzing the data around participation and is preparing to adopt its first goals this fall. In the meantime, the Houston businesses will benefit from programming and being included in the citys directory, he said. We always talk about being invited to the table. Well, now LGBT businesses have their name on the invite to the table, Lovitz said. Tammi Wallace, founder and CEO of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, praised the order. She said it will help show that LGBT business owners are a critical part of the citys economic fabric. Its an historic announcement on any measure, and certainly another step toward LGBTQ economic inclusion, Wallace said. dylan.mcguinness@chron.com Egypt and the US formally launched relations under the new US Biden administration this month, and the Egyptian Embassy in Washington launched a charm offensive with the US Congress in January, aiming to promote as much understanding as possible in the US for the new Egypt that is being built as a modern and stable state. Later in the same month, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi received Commander of US Central Command Kenneth F McKenzie a few days after the Biden administration approved a new package of arms to Egypt and a possible $197 million sale of missiles. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Egypts top diplomat Sameh Shoukri to discuss the future of bilateral relations between the two countries. According to an informed diplomatic source, the position of the new US administration is that Egypt is a strategic partner of the US. The issue of human rights is a key issue for this administration, but it is not going to hijack the entire relationship, which is important to both sides, he said. According to the diplomat, the topic of human rights in Egypt has been coming up at almost every meeting that a member of the Egyptian Embassy in Washington has conducted with the US Congress or elsewhere in the US capital. It was also referenced in the phone call that Blinken had with Shoukri. It is there in a clear way and sometimes in an assertive way, but it is never addressed out of the context of the overall character of the Egyptian-US relationship that has so many other elements that are crucial to both countries, the diplomat said. It is always important to remember that the pursuit of regional peace and stability as launched by [late president Anwar] Al-Sadat has been the basis for this relationship since its re-launch in the 1970s. The issue of regional peace and stability has always been an issue of interest for both countries, and the two countries will continue to work together to address this issue, he added. According to the Egyptian narrative, Cairo knows that the issue of human rights will be more central to the new US administration than to the previous one. However, it also knows that this is not the first time that the human rights situation in Egypt has become important in bilateral relations. It also happened under the second administration of former US president George W Bush. But it never muted cooperation on other fronts, including the political and military. It is important to remember that for the US the issue of human rights is a foreign policy tool. Today more than ever before, perhaps, Washington needs this tool to control the spread of Russian and Chinese influence across the south of the Mediterranean, East Africa, and the Gulf, the diplomat argued. So, all the countries of the region will come under some sort of pressure from Washington in relation to the human rights situation. However, this will not mean that the US is planning to put sanctions on or sever relations with any country in the region whose human rights situation is not up to US standards, he added. This week, the US released a report on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. However, according to a Washington-based diplomatic source, the release of the report came only after Biden had spoken with Saudi monarch Salman bin Abdel-Aziz. So, there will always be give-and-take. The new administration will be clearly pressing on the human rights issue with all its partners in the region, and this pressure will be accommodated, but only to an extent, the diplomat said. Meanwhile, relations will continue on all other fronts almost uninterrupted, he added. For example, he said that the release of Saudi activist Loujain Al-Hathloul was a sign that Riyadh knows that with the Biden administration some high-profile cases will have to be managed in a different way than they were under the previous US administration of Donald Trump. In Egypt, he said, the lines are clear and cannot be blurred. Egypt is not going to compromise on any case of terrorism, either directly or indirectly, he explained. The message that we will put across to the US administration is that we have a tough war against terrorism in Sinai and we have to continue to be vigilant. We will also explain that the battle against terrorism is not just about Egypt, a direct neighbour of Israel, but also about all of North and East Africa, he said. The fact that the US administration decided to approve the recent missiles sale is a clear sign that Washington knows very well the kind of tough battle that Egypt is having with terrorism, he argued. US President Joe Bidens administration on Tuesday approved a nearly $200 million tactical missiles sale to Egypt. The weapons shipment to Egypt goes to strengthening Egypts maritime power in the Red Sea and Suez Canal, experts said. Meanwhile, Egyptian and US businessmen and officials this week renewed their commitment to expanding trade and investment between the two countries. A change in the administration hardly ever affects business, said one businessman who preferred to remain anonymous, clarifying that what guided the business sector was the attractiveness of domestic rules and regulations. Acknowledging that the business environment in Egypt had come a long way, he said more was needed to facilitate trade and attract greater US and foreign investment. It all came down to bureaucracy and red tape, said the source, explaining that processes had improved but that more could be done. Another major issue, he said, were lengthy and slow litigation processes, as well as procedures to exit the market. Egypts competitive edge in terms of location and a trained labour force would be better taken advantage of if these issues were tackled, he stressed. Other countries such as Morocco and Kenya could be attractive alternatives to investment, he pointed out. The Egyptian government has said it is intent on tackling obstacles to investment. Addressing the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Egypt, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said that the government continued to exert continuous efforts to improve the investment climate through economic, financial, and institutional reforms to attract capital and remove obstacles facing investors. Mobilising adequate private capital is necessary to achieve high and inclusive growth over the medium term and help us maintain and safeguard macroeconomic stability through injecting new investment, stressed Madbouli, adding that more active private-sector participation was necessary if Egypt were to regain its pre-pandemic economic growth levels and achieve its development plans. Greater private sector inclusion in the economy is one of the main issues that Egypt needs to work on, according to experts and international financial institutions. The intention to work on growing Egypt-US bilateral relations was also reflected by US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan Cohen. Addressing AmCham a week earlier, Cohen reiterated the US commitment to strengthening the US-Egypt partnership. Referring to Egypts reform efforts, Cohen said Egypt was the only country in the region whose economy actually grew over the past year despite the pandemic, translating into opportunities for US businesses. Were seeing considerable optimism about Egypts economy and a great desire to tap into these opportunities, Cohen said, outlining opportunities in everything from transport and infrastructure projects to ICT, education, healthcare, agriculture, and renewable energy. Cohen stressed that a strong and empowered private sector was the best way to generate jobs and deliver economic growth, development, and prosperity. Every day, we advocate with the government of Egypt to remove or reduce specific barriers and improve the overall business environment, Cohen said. He recognised that Egypt has undertaken a number of critical reforms in recent years, but important work remained. We want to help reduce red tape and barriers to international trade and enhance trade facilitation, he said, stressing the importance of intellectual property rights so that innovation can thrive. America means business in Egypt, Cohen said, adding that more US business will benefit the peoples of both countries. Myron Brilliant, executive vice-president and head of international affairs at AmCham, speaking during the same webinar as Madbouli, said the US business community was encouraged by Egypts dedication to economic reform. Pointing out that the pandemic has accelerated progress in areas such as healthcare, the digital economy, and finance with new products, services and technologies, Brilliant said intellectual property, data privacy, and data governance were big issues to work through, and we want to work with you to make sure the right policies are in place to achieve the economic transformation you seek. Egypt imports around $5.5 billion worth of products from the US while exporting around $2.5 billion worth of goods. According to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), the US was the third-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Egypt during fiscal year 2018-19 behind the United Kingdom and Belgium. The US invested $1.6 billion, accounting for 19 per cent of total FDI in the country. AmCham Egypt runs an annual door knock mission to the US where it carries out meetings with US policy-makers and the business community. In 2020, there was no mission for the first time since 1984 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A number of meetings were held virtually, and the continued Covid-19 situation will mean more virtual meetings this year. The players who decide the mode of bilateral relations between Egypt and the US are not just officials there is also a great role for the business community whose influence cannot be overlooked, the Egyptian diplomat said. He added that while the initial phase might not be the easiest, things will come round. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: The European Union's special envoy on Wednesday told Serbia and Kosovo that they must resume talks on normalizing relations to advance toward membership of the bloc. Miroslav Lajcak arrived in Belgrade after previously visiting Pristina at the start of his tour in the region. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Serbia does not accept this. The EU has brokered talks to normalize ties but after a White House summit and talks in Brussels in September, the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo has stalled. Lajcak said after a meeting with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic that a "status quo" is unattainable and that EU member states expect the two sides to move on. "Dialogue is key for both sides to advance on their European path," said Lajcak. "We have no interest to preserve a status quo and we are ready to bring the process to a successful end as fast as the two sides are ready to go." Lajcak added that the EU is working closely with the U.S. with a common goal for Serbia and Kosovo in sight, which is membership in the EU. Most EU nations and the United States have recognized Kosovo's independence while Serbia has had support from its allies Russia and China in insisting the predominantly-ethnic Albanian territory remains part of the country. Serbia was forced to cede control over Kosovo in 1999 after a U.S.-led NATO intervention ended Belgrade's crackdown against Kosovo separatists. More than 10,000 people died in the 1998-99 Kosovo conflict. Vucic said after talks with Lajcak that Serbia is ready to resume the talks and insists on reaching a compromise solution. "We believe that a compromise agreement means no one gets everything and everyone gets enough," said Vucic. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) A rapid microbiological point-of-care test to diagnose respiratory infections has proved popular with GPs and could reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care, according to a National Institute for Health Research funded study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol. There are high rates of antibiotic prescribing in primary care and the UK government has called for the introduction of rapid diagnostics to curb overuse. The RAPID-TEST study, published in the journal Family Practice today [4 March] evaluated the use of the BioFire Filmarray v1.7 (bioMerieux) microbiological point-of-care test in four GP practices in the South West of England over a six-week period. The test uses swabs from the nose and back of the throat and gives results in around 65 minutes. It can detect 17 different types of respiratory virus and three atypical respiratory bacteria. It does not test for the most typical bacteria that cause respiratory infections because these can also live harmlessly in the nose and throat. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of using the test in primary care in preparation for a clinical trial, to find out what GPs and nurses thought about using it, and whether test results changed clinical decisions about diagnosis and treatment. Of the 93 patients tested (median age 29), 58 per cent had at least one virus, 37 per cent tested negative for any virus or bacteria, three per cent had an inconclusive result and two per cent had an atypical bacteria. Before the test, clinicians prescribed antibiotics to 35 per cent of patients who, after the test, were found to have no pathogen, and to 25 per cent of patients who, after the test, were found to have a virus, demonstrating the potential of the tests to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing. The study also found that clinicians changed the diagnosis in one in five patients following testing, and they were more certain of the diagnosis after testing, especially when a virus or bacterium was detected. During interviews, GPs and nurses said they liked the test and found it easy to use but wanted results faster and to be able to test for typical bacteria. Alastair Hay, Professor of Primary Care at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, who led the study, said: "Point-of-care tests for multiple respiratory viruses and bacteria are available in the UK but mainly used in hospital settings. Our study is the first to assess the feasibility of their use in primary care. The results show the potential of these tests to improve diagnostic certainty and reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing, which is vital in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance. "This was a small-scale feasibility study and clinical trials are now needed to see if these point-of-care tests can safely and cost-effectively reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care." Lord Jim O'Neill, Chair Chatham House, who led an independent review into antimicrobial resistance in the UK from late 2014 to September 2016, said: "I have long since believed in quick, affordable, state-of-the-art, point-of-care diagnostics, so I hugely welcome this study and its findings. I hope this unlocks so much more in the area, which is crucial to meeting the challenge of antimicrobial resistance." ### Paper 'Novel multi-virus rapid respiratory microbiological point-of-care testing in primary care: a mixed methods feasibility evaluation' by Tanzeela Y Kahlid, Lorna J Duncan, Hannah V Thornton, Gemma Lasseter, Peter Muir, Zara Abigail Toney and Alastair D Hay Family Practice Advertisement Boris Johnson is likely to face more pressure to end lockdown early after another infection survey showed Covid cases are continuing to tumble. Rates have fallen by more than two thirds in England since the middle of January and more than halved in every age group, the study shows. Researchers from Imperial College London say 1.57 per cent of the population - one in 64 people - were infected from January 6 to 22. But this had plummeted to 0.49 per cent - one in 204 - from February 6 to 23, swab samples from 165,456 people suggest. Rates were lowest among the over-65s, who are most likely to have been vaccinated. The findings will be a boost for the Prime Minister's roadmap to end lockdown on June 21, starting with the reopening of schools next week. The rate of decline appears to be slowing, with the halving time climbing from 15 days to 31 days during February. But the researchers are hopeful rates will continue to fall even as society opens up again. The slowdown is likely to be due to more people venturing outside as they anticipate a relaxation of restrictions, they add. The study found around 0.5 per cent of English population was carrying coronavirus from February 13 to 26, which was down significantly from the start of the year when it was close to 1.5 per cent one in every 67 people The researchers said infection rates were falling in most areas (highlighted in blue on the third map) but rising in some parts, particularly in London and the South East. Hotspots that stood out in earlier versions of the study had faded and new ones emerged, the top maps show The REACT study saw infection rates coming down in most regions but said there were early signs of an uptick in London and the South East. These were based on only a few days' data but the researchers said they were 80 per cent sure the trend had reversed. They could not explain why A prediction made by SAGE sub-group SPI-M at the start of February suggested daily Covid deaths in England would stay above 200 until the end of March but they are already lower. The yellow line shows SPI-M's prediction, while the red line represents the actual daily death count, calculated as a seven-day average Lockdown 'could ease earlier' in England because Covid deaths are falling FASTER than SAGE predicted thanks to vaccine success Covid deaths in England are falling faster than gloomy SAGE advisers thought they would, official data show and scientists claim lockdown rules could be loosened faster. Models produced by the SPI-M group of scientists predicting the future of the Covid outbreak in February suggested the daily death count would stay above 200 until mid-March. But the average number of victims recorded each day had dropped below this level before the end of February, statistics show. Experts told The Telegraph the progress is 'better than expected' and suggested the Government's 'data not dates' approach could see relaxations brought forward. The vaccine rollout has made immense progress, with 20million people now vaccinated across the UK, and studies suggest the jabs are working better than expected, preventing between 85 and 94 per cent of hospitalisations. SPI-M's prediction was more pessimistic about how well the vaccine would work and whether it would stop transmission, which may explain why its estimates are gloomier than the reality. Under current plans, schools will reopen next Monday, and people will be allowed to meet in groups of six outdoors from March 29. Advertisement The survey suggests the R rate - a measure of how many people an infected person passes the virus on to - is around 0.86 and 'reliably' below one, indicating the epidemic is shrinking. The paper says prevalence dropped 'substantially' overall during January and early February but 'remains high'. Infection rates vary around the country, with an apparent fall in cases in four regions during February, no change in one and a rise in London and the South East. It continues: 'Continued adherence to social distancing and public health measures is required so that infection rates fall to much lower levels. 'This will help to ensure that the benefits of the vaccination roll-out programme in England are fully realised.' The study says there is clear progress but warns: 'Any large uptick in the prevalence of infections would signal a potential threat to the smooth continuation of the roadmap. 'But with high vaccine uptake and encouraging early estimates of vaccine efficacy, the link between infections and strain on healthcare services will likely be weakened in the near future.' Imperial's Professor Steven Riley said the pace of the roadmap 'seems about right'. He added: 'What we need is to keep infections really low, so that people who will get offered a vaccine, three or four weeks from now or six weeks from now don't get infected just before they get the vaccine because for those people that amazing vaccine story won't have done that much.' Professor Paul Elliott, also from Imperial, said: 'People might think that they can just relax because the vaccine programme is going so well but there is still a lot of virus out there. 'If people just change their behaviours a little bit then they are going to be more at risk of getting infection, because it's all about social contact, social distancing. 'So I think we just, in a very cautious way need to continue - but we need to keep monitoring what's happening to the virus in the population. 'It does need to get a lot lower than one in 200.' He added: 'We're still in lockdown. We're going through a cautious easing of lockdown, with taking stock, looking at interventions, and then having a chance to look at the effect of those interventions on the spread of the virus. 'So I would be very hopeful that it will continue to go down and, it does need to go down because it is still too high.' Prevalence in February ranged from 0.21 per cent in those aged 65 and over to 0.71 per cent in those aged 13 to 17. The report detail rates among different ethnicities and occupations for the first time. It found rates were highest among Pakistani participants at 2.1 per cent, compared with 0.45 per cent among those who are white and 0.45 per cent who are black. Those who work from home are a third less likely to catch the virus. This 'stresses the importance of working from home during lockdown where possible to minimise social contacts and hence reduce the risk of transmission', the report warns. The findings have not been peer-reviewed or published in a journal. Infection rates among age groups plummeted between January (grey) and February (orange and red), the study found, but the decline had slowed significantly since then Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore has raised concerns about a five turbine wind farm proposed for Kilranelagh Hill, Baltinglass. She has submitted an observation to Wicklow County Council in relation to the ABO Wind Ireland Ltd planning application which affects the townlands of Kilranelagh, Colvinstown Upper and Boleycarrigeen. The archaeological quality of the area is vulnerable to large scale development and can be easily compromised. Kilranelagh Hill is an integral part of one of Irelands most unique and ancient landscapes, the Baltinglass Hillfort Complex. Given the reference to this area in the County Development Plan, the potential for further excavation and other archaeological finds as well as the lack of sufficient reference to the Hillfort Complex as a whole, I believe much greater consideration of this context must be given by the Council," she said. There are also broader environmental and ecological concerns associated with this type of development. Kilranelagh is a refuge for flora and fauna and in close proximity to numerous of rivers and streams. According to local community groups and residents, buzzards and peregrines are a daily sight over Kilranelagh and curlews have nested there recently. I would have concerns that if development is not carried out sustainably with the full environmental impact considered, this could have negative impacts on the archaeological value of the area." She also highlighted the potential for sustainable tourism as well as educational and economic benefits from the archaeological value of Hill Fort area (including Kilranelagh) which has not been fully appreciated to date. "In absence of this I would urge the Council to proceed with caution in relation to this development until the full potential of the area has been considered and until it has been confirmed that any large- scale development would not compromise the culture heritage of this area, she concluded. 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 infamous al-Hol camp has recorded 31 murders so far in 2021, reports Asharq Al-Awsat. At least 31 killings have rocked a camp holding families linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group in Syria since early January, a Kurdish official said Wednesday, with aid groups warning of a nightmare. It was the latest evidence of deteriorating security at the al-Hol camp in the Kurdish-run northeast, where Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) had to temporarily suspend operations this week after the killing of one of its team members. Since the start of 2021, 31 people have been killed six of whom were murdered with a sharp object, while the rest were shot dead, said camp official Jaber Sheikh Mustafa. The toll has more than doubled since February 8 when it stood at 14, according to Kurdish authorities. We believe that ISIS sleeper cells are behind these murders that especially target Iraqi residents of the camp, Mustafa told AFP. But a humanitarian source said recently that tribal score-settling between residents could also be to blame for some murders. Al-Hol holds almost 62,000 people, mostly women and children, including Syrians, Iraqis and thousands from Europe and Asia accused of family ties with ISIS fighters. Most camp inhabitants are Syrians or Iraqis displaced by the Kurdish-led battle against ISIS that took back the groups last scrap of territory in March 2019. MSF said Tuesday that it was suspending its operations in the camp after one of its local team members was shot dead in his tent on February 24. People are being killed with a brutal frequency, often in the tents where they live, said MSFs emergency manager, Will Turner. This is not a safe environment and certainly not a suitable place for children to grow up in. This nightmare must stop. Despite chronic overcrowding at al-Hol, the number of camp guards was reduced from 1,500 in mid-2019 to 400 in late 2020, the UN said in a February report. Some detainees see the camp as the last vestige of the cross-border caliphate ISIS declared in Syria and neighboring Iraq in 2014, it said. Apart from murders, a camp blaze on Saturday killed six people, including five children, the Kurdish administration said. At least 36 others were injured in the fire, officials told a press conference on Wednesday. Following the deaths, UN childrens agency UNICEF called for the safe reintegration and repatriation of all children in al-Hol. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA warned that no one most of all innocent children should be living under the challenging and potentially dangerous humanitarian conditions [in the camp]. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Progressive Conservative government admitted Wednesday that 19 bills it introduced but did not distribute last fall were not all fully prepared at the time. The Progressive Conservative government admitted Wednesday that 19 bills it introduced but did not distribute last fall were not all fully prepared at the time. Government house leader Kelvin Goertzen said it was his understanding at least some would still have needed to be translated into French. He didn't say whether they had all been entirely written. "I think the hope was that we, certainly, would have them ready for distribution in January and February," Goertzen said as the legislature resumed sitting after a three-month break. The government asked for the unanimous consent of the legislature in November to allow the bills to be distributed while MLAs were on hiatus. The Liberals refused. The government did distribute two of the 19 bills Wednesday: one (Bill 61) would amend the Apprenticeship and Certification Act; the other (Bill 55) would amend various laws in the name of reducing red tape. Six prominent Manitobans from across the political spectrum sent a letter Tuesday to the three main party leaders, urging them to stop their political wrangling and respect the public's right to be informed about government legislation. They urged the contents of all 19 bills be revealed no later than Thursday. Goertzen told reporters Wednesday he expected the government would distribute all the bills including one that would reform the public education system and another that would overhaul portions of the Police Services Act over the next five or six sitting days. That would mean Manitobans would be in the dark about the contents of some bills until well into next week. On Wednesday, the NDP accused the government of trying to "game the system" by introducing the bills soon enough they would be guaranteed passage, according to house rules even though Manitobans could not read their contents. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS NDP's Wab Kinew, Leader of the Opposition during question period Wednesday. NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine said the rules also require second reading of the bills by March 17. That will give MLAs little time to digest their contents. "That's undemocratic," Fontaine said. "How can we do our job properly when we don't have the information, nor do we have the time for second reading debate?" The rules of the legislature allow for passage of all bills introduced by a certain date by the end of the spring sitting June 1. The rules also allow the Opposition to select five government bills to be put off for approval until fall. The government has said it introduced the bills last fall to ensure the NDP did not continue to hold up its legislative agenda, as it did last spring, when it used procedural tactics to stall bills and delay introduction of the 2020 budget. The Manitoba Liberals drew attention Wednesday to a Facebook post Tuesday by PC backbencher James Teitsma, who said most of the 19 bills "hadn't even been finalized" by the time they were introduced. "The point of introduction (of the bills) was to parry the NDPs tactic of preventing introduction," wrote the Radisson MLA, who sits on the powerful Treasury Board. "That is not how things are supposed to work," Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont told reporters. "When the government denies me the information I need to do my job like read legislation that is a violation of my privilege," Lamont said. "The government is trying to stop us from doing our jobs." He also dismissed the government's reasoning it ought to be able to defy convention and release the contents of bills when the house is not in session. "To say, We know we have a ton of legislation we want to ram through. We dont know what its going to be, but we know we want to do all this stuff and we want to make sure its done by June, so well put in a bunch of placeholders thats not acceptable in a democracy," Lamont said. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Carol Sanders Legislature reporter After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020. Read full biography The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Known offstage as Mario Marchese, he executes this and other tricks in Marios Virtual Punk Rock Magic Party, which he will host on Sunday and March 21 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Marchese, who has appeared on Sesame Street, presents as much silly comedy as sleight of hand in this 40-minute Zoom production. (The punk rock is G-rated.) A high-energy performer he can make Gilbert Gottfried look mellow Marchese specializes in the kind of slapstick that gets children under 10 giggling. They especially welcome the invitations to assist him, as much as the format allows, and to dance wildly at the end. Families, who can buy tickets at Eventbrite.com for $25 a household, will see some cool illusions that involve not only coins but also playing cards, milk and a few handmade robots. This is magic with a soupcon of science. LAUREL GRAEBER Art & Museums From the Periphery to the Fore Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). LeChase Construction Services LLC announced two recent promotions: Laird Updyke has been promoted to project executive in Syracuse. In the role, Updyke will manage multiple projects for core clients, with accountability for quality, value and safety, as well as responsibility for overseeing recruitment and training of project team members. He joined LeChase as a senior project manager in 2018. He has more than 20 years of project management and facilities management experience, largely in Syracuse and Central New York. Updyke earned a bachelors degree in construction management and an associates degree in architectural engineering, both from Alfred State College. He currently serves as an advisory board member for the schools construction management program. Justin Brown has been promoted to regional safety manager in Syracuse. In this role, he will ensure the companys safety program which continues to target a goal of zero incidents is consistent across all job sites in Central New York. Specifically, he will lead efforts around safety training, tracking and reporting. He will also ensure operations across that area comply with site safety plans and applicable regulatory standards, and act as a liaison to clients and subcontractors on matters related to health, safety and the environment. Brown started his construction career in 2008. He joined LeChase as a project engineer in 2017, and was named an assistant superintendent in 2019. In 2020, he earned a construction safety professional certificate from the RIT OSHA Training Institute Education Center. Brown currently resides in his hometown of Seneca Falls. LeChase was established in 1944. It operates across the East Coast. 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. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. In addition to our traditional advice, every Thursday we feature an assortment of teachers from across the country answering your education questions. Have a question for our teachers? Email askateacher@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. My daughter is a kindergartner, and her school has been virtual all year. In general, we love her teacher and she has done well in class. However, her teacher has not updated the small groups that she uses for reading instruction all year. When my daughter started in the fall, she had just gotten the hang of CVC words. Something clicked with her reading in the fall and winter, and she is now reading chapter books on her own. Advertisement But her small group is still reading just a few short sentences like, Nat the frog lived in the pond once a week. I know there is another reading group in her class that is working on more complex texts. Do I ask her teacher whether she can move to a different group? I dont want to be that parent, and clearly she is doing fine with her reading despite (or because of?) this, but she is also bored during small group work. I am sure that her teacher is also stressed with the upcoming transition to hybrid school, so I dont want to add to her stress, especially for an issue that is so minor in the scheme of things. Is it normal not to change reading groups for the whole year? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Need a Change Dear Need a Change, You can absolutely ask that your daughters reading group be reconsidered, and if asked in the spirt of a teacher-parent partnership, I dont expect that youll come across as that parent. Some assessment may be required to make the switch, but I suspect that this is probably a part of the problem. Assessing a students ability remotely is incredibly challenging, especially in a performance-based skill like reading. Your daughters teacher probably doesnt have as firm a handle on your daughters skill as she would if she was teaching your daughter in-person. Im the husband of a kindergarten teacher, so I know that your daughters teacher may also be overwhelmed by the challenge of planning and delivering remote instruction for 5- and 6-year-olds. Your daughters elevated reading skills may have simply slipped past her. My wife describes teaching this age group remotely as putting on a show. That can be exhausting, both mentally and physically. Advertisement As a partner in your daughters education, you are in a better position to see some things that her teacher cannot, so I think you are justified in reaching out to ask for a reassessment, and your request will likely be appreciated. Good luck. Mr. Dicks (fifth grade teacher, Connecticut) Slate needs your support right now. Sign up for Slate Plus to keep reading the advice you crave every week. Ive noticed a weird, frustrating phenomenon in my school, and Id like to know if this is something you see in your own school. I am a mildly autistic sophomore, and I mask it pretty well at school. However, there are several other autistic kids in my grade who cant/dont hide it, which is finethey shouldnt have to. My issue is with how the other kids treat these students. They (neurotypical kids) pitch their voices way up and sound extra cheery when talking to them, especially when adults are around. However, they otherwise ignore, exclude, and laugh about them behind their backs. Essentially, they treat them like 3-year-olds, when in fact a lot of the autistic kids are in higher level courses (and no one deserves to be treated like a 3-year-old, regardless of intellectual ability). Is this something that you witness at your school? Is there anything I can do about it? Advertisement Not 3 Dear Not 3, You are absolutely correctno high schooler deserves to be treated like a toddler. Unfortunately, I have witnessed this from time to time. I think this behavior often stems from discomfort or ignorance, but it can also come from simple cruelty. I have a few thoughts on what you can do and what your school should do. Advertisement First, you can practice being an upstander. When you witness this behavior, interrupt it by saying something like, You know, you dont have to talk to him like hes a little kid. You can speak normally to him. Or, Its cruel to mock autistic students behind their back. You shouldnt do that. I realize this isnt easy to do, but speaking up in the moment can be effective, and if you have a few phrases ready at your fingertips, it may be easier to do. Advertisement If you notice a pattern of cruelty or exclusion in a class, meaning there are particular students who are repeat offenders, speak to the teacher about it. In a true bullying situation, adults must intervene. If the teacher has noticed but hasnt responded, this will put her on the spot to do something about it. If the teacher didnt realize it was happening, youve given her a heads up so that she can respond. However, it sounds like this is more pervasive than one or two students; it sounds like a school culture issue, which has no quick fix. That said, there are concrete actions a school can take to be more inclusive. Advertisement Your school counseling department should develop a lesson for the student body on the topic of autism or neurodiversity. If your school has an advisory or social and emotional learning program, that would be the perfect place for such a lesson. The Autism Self Advocacy Network has a wealth of resources.* The purpose here is to help neurotypical students better understand their autistic peers and the importance of inclusion. Advertisement To truly change the culture of a school, though, you need to enlist the support of student leaders. At my own school, the Link Crew has been integral to promoting a positive school climate; Link Crews typically help freshmen acclimate to high school, but our Link Crew also works with students who have intellectual disabilities. If your school does not have a Link Crew, the student council, volunteer club, or National Honor Society might be good partners. (And your principal should start a Link Crew! Its fantastic.) Student leaders can help facilitate discussions during the lesson I mentioned above and model the inclusive, respectful behaviors we wish to see. They can brainstorm ways to help autistic students to be more included in the school and classroom, perhaps by eating lunch together or helping interested students to join a club or extracurricular activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OK, I know Ive just laid a lot on you. Of course, you cannot single-handedly do all of this, Not 3! But you can request a meeting with your schools principal to discuss this issue to bring forth the suggestions Ive laid out here (or even print out my response and take it along). Or you could meet with your class representative on the student council and request that she take this concern before the student government. Choose one suggestion from my letter and start there. See where it takes you. Thank you for standing up for your peers! Im proud of you. Ms. Holbrook (high school teacher, Texas) My family moved to our current town when our oldest child was a baby. The public schools here are highly rated with excellent test scores. Weve been lucky to make friends with a lot of other families here. But what weve seen and heard from friends with elementary-age kids is giving us pause. Advertisement It seems like theres quite a lot of academic pressure put on kids at an early age here. Just at the kindergarten level, kids are tested every few weeks, and most of the day is spent on focused academics with little time for free exploration or practicing socioemotional skills, in a full seven-hour school day with only 30 total minutes of recess, which can be taken away for misbehavior. Kids have nightly homework, and I dont mean, Draw a picture of something in your house that begins with the letter B. I mean up to an hour of addition/subtraction worksheets, flashcards, copying sentences, etc. Weve heard about teachers who have retired rather than continue teaching in the new, intensive system. Whats worse, the pressure doesnt seem to have let up much even in this pandemic year. In short, this seems like too much. Advertisement Advertisement The highly rated school system is part of why we moved here, and wed always planned to send our kids to the local public schools. But now that its time to enroll our oldest child in kindergarten, were hesitating. Im feeling misgivings that go beyond my baby is growing up. Im concerned enough about putting our kids into this high-pressure environment that Ive even been looking into private schools that take a more experiential approach. Is there a middle ground here? Something were missing? Is it worth approaching someone at our local public elementary school (who? individual teachers? the principal?) and discussing our concerns with them before we make an enrollment decision? Is it even possible to compromise on things like too much homework, too much testing, and certain disciplinary methods (like withholding recess), especially in the youngest grades? Can we opt out of any portion of it? How do we even bring this up in a way thats respectful and leaves space for discussion? Advertisement I feel like we really need some perspective. We genuinely just want to do right by our kids. Any advice/insight is greatly appreciated. Too Much, Too Young Advertisement Dear Too Much, Too Young, You are correct. What you describe is too much, too young. My wife, who as I mentioned is a kindergarten teacher, is appalled at what you describe, and I am, too. Perhaps this is a difference in philosophies, but I believe that what you describe is bad for kids, and I would not enroll my children in a school system like this. I want my children to do well, but I want them to also be children. I want ample time for play, exploration, social connection, experimentation, and silliness. I want them to love school. I want them to be happy about going to school on most days. Advertisement This school does not sound happy or silly. I suspect that you wont get much accommodation from teachers or administrators in terms of the amount and type of work required or their testing regimen, but its worth a conversation. I would approach the meeting as a fact-finding mission. What is the schools philosophy? How do they approach testing? What do they do to promote social and emotional health? How much play are the children afforded? Its unlikely that they will restructure their philosophy to meet your needs, but finding out exactly what your child will experience moving forward will help you decide if this school is right for you and your children. Mr. Dicks (fifth grade teacher, Connecticut) Advertisement My 6-year-old has pretty severe ADHD, and weve been working on finding a medication that works for him. But even before his kindergarten switched to remote learning last March, he was struggling, especially with reading. He barely participated in remote learning last spring, and we felt the anticipated changes from in-person to hybrid to fully remote learning would not work for him in the current school year, so we made the choice to home-school him for 202021. Hes doing much better now and is improving on his reading skills. But how do we decide if hes really able to go on to second grade in the fall? (This is assuming in-person school is back/safeotherwise we will likely continue home-schooling, because his ADHD really prevents him from sitting in front of a computer for hours, which is whats required for our districts remote learning plan.) Hes one of the younger kids in his class already, so weve been thinking about having him attend first grade in the fall to catch up on what he missed during this school year, and also during kindergarten when he was struggling to sit down in a seat. That said, hes also in the 99th percentile for height and is a strong, physical kid, so Im a little concerned about whether hed fit in in a class with even younger kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats your take on how to tell if my kid will fit right in with all the other kids whose academic progress has been a little disrupted, or if he needs to redo first grade with a better medication regime in place? Move Forward or Stay Back? Dear Move Forward or Stay Back, My first suggestion is to talk to your local school, because I dont know the specifics of your district and what they have to offer in terms of special education support. As for how else to tell if your kid is going to be able to succeed in second grade, Id take a look at standards or expectations for the grade. Some states use a modified version of the Common Core, and it will lay out midyear expectations, which would provide you with some helpful metrics. But if your state doesnt, just look at the standards for first grade and assume that at this point in the school year kids would need to be close (though not quite able yet) to meeting those benchmarks. For example, if your state standard said that at the end of the year students need to be at reading level I, and your son is at an F but making progress, hell probably be fine. Advertisement Advertisement I generally recommend against holding a student back if you dont have to, but if you do a frank assessment of his skills and decide that hes going to struggle, holding him back wont be the end of the world. I cant imagine being big for his age would be an issue, especially if he is on the younger side (meaning hed only be a little bit older than the kids in his class if you do hold him back). The pandemic is going to leave a lasting impression on the children who are students now, and I think it leaves parents with some tough choices. I think the key in your case, since reading and self-esteem tend to be tied up, is to pick the option that will allow your son to continue feeling successful as he grows his reading skills. Advertisement Ms. Sarnell (early childhood special education teacher, New York) More Advice From Slate Due to COVID, my childs public school is all online, which is understandable, and Im all for it. However, during distance learning my child has to use a program called Acellus to learn on their own. A teacher comes on for 30 minutes at the beginning of class, then leaves for the rest of the day, and then jumps back in 30 minutes before class ends to make sure work has been turned in and to say, See you tomorrow. This does not seem at all adequate for my child to learn effectively. What should I do? Update, March 4, 2021: A sentence in this post was updated with a different resource on autism and neurodiversity. 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 COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 crude oil price crash and ongoing global petroleum supply glut have done little to slow the growth of South Americas massive offshore oil boom. The colossal oil boom underway in the tiny South American nation of Guyana is gaining momentum, while Suriname is on the cusp of experiencing its own and the regions largest economy Brazil is now the worlds tenth largest oil producer. It is their booming offshore oil industries which will be responsible for South America becoming the worlds leading offshore petroleum producing regions, even surpassing North America. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 oil price crash, Brazils offshore oil industry experienced strong growth. Annual average hydrocarbon output grew 5% year over year to barrels of oil equivalent daily. It was Brazils pre-salt oilfields and national oil company Petrobras focus on developing those ultra-deep-water fields which was responsible for that healthy growth. Pre-salt oil output soared by almost 18% to 2.6 million barrels daily to make up 69% of Brazils total hydrocarbon output. Petrobras announced its best-yet operational results, including record exports and annual average oil production of 2.28 million barrels per day. For January 2021, Brazils national oil companys exports reached a new peak of 19.3 million barrels through its Angra dos Reis terminal. Unflagging demand from China, even at the height of the global pandemic, was responsible for Brazils strong 2020 performance. Latin Americas largest oil producer, by the end of 2020, was the fourth largest petroleum supplier to the worlds second largest economy. This can be attributed, in part, to the January 2020 introduction of IMO2020 which significantly reduced the sulfur content of maritime fuels causing the popularity of Brazils pre-salt Buzios and Lula crude oil varieties to soar. It is the attractive economics of Brazils pre-salt oil region which will drive greater investment and production growth. Many of those assets are pumping sweet medium grade crude oil at a breakeven price of $35 per barrel or even less, making them highly profitable in an operating environment where Brent is expected to average $60 to $70 per barrel. Start Trading On OPC Markets Today Petrobras has committed to investing $55 billion between 2021 and 2025 of which 84.5% or $46.5 billion will be directed to exploration and production activities with $8.1 billion being spent on E&P in 2021. The national oil company plans to spend 70% of its five-year $46.5 billion E&P budget, which is $33.5 billion, on its pre-salt oilfields with $13 billion earmarked for the Campos Basin and $11.7 billion on the Buzios oilfield in the Santos Basin. Even after selling a significant portion of its shallow water and non-core assets Petrobras oil production will average 2.3 million barrels daily by 2025, which is 3% greater than 2020. Foreign energy majors are also investing in Brazils pre-salt oilfields alongside Petrobras because of the favorable economics. Industry consultancy Rystad Energy predicted Brazils crude oil output will reach an average of over 3.5 million barrels daily over the medium to long-term. It is not only Brazils petroleum industry which is attracting considerable investment and driving higher regional hydrocarbon production. Offshore Guyana is experiencing its own major oil boom with particularly low estimated breakeven prices of anywhere between $23 to $35 per barrel boosting the attention the former British colony is receiving from energy investors. Global oil supermajor Exxon has made 18 oil discoveries in offshore Guyana since the start of 2015 and estimates that it has over eight billion barrels of recoverable crude oil resources. Despite drilling two dry wells during November 2020 and January 2021 in the Kaieteur and Stabroek blocks, Exxon is pressing ahead with its exploration plan in offshore Guyana. The oil supermajor, last month, spudded the Bulletwood-1 well in the Canje Block which could hold more than 500 million barrels of oil equivalent. Canje borders the prolific Stabroek Block as well as offshore Suriname blocks 58, where Apache and Total have made four discoveries since January 2020 and 42 where operator Kosmos has planned an exploration well for 2021. The 2020 approval of Exxons Payara development and the start-up of Liza 2 in the Stabroek block will see the oil major pumping at least 750,000 barrels daily by 2026. Related: The U.S. Grid Isnt Ready For A Major Shift To Renewables Surinames state-controlled oil company and hydrocarbon regulator Staatsolie expects the former Dutch colony to be producing crude oil offshore by 2025. According to industry consultancy GlobalData the Maka Central-1 field in Suriname offshore Block 58, Apaches first discovery in the Guyana-Suriname Basin, holds at least 300 million barrels of crude oil. There is speculation from analysts and industry insiders that the oilfield could be even larger than Exxons Liza reservoir in the Stabroek block which holds over 800 million barrels of crude oil. Apache expects to be pumping crude oil from Block 58 by around 2025. While Brazil, Guyana and Suriname are the leading offshore drilling jurisdictions in South America, nearby Colombia is hoping to join the fray. The Andean country is struggling to kickstart its hydrocarbon sector since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdown ended. Part of Colombias initiatives to bolster economic growth along with crucial hydrocarbon reserves was to implement a new framework for its offshore petroleum industry during 2020. The energy ministry claims to have secured $1.6 billion of investment in offshore oil and natural gas projects for Colombia. That will not only bolster the Andean countrys oil and natural gas reserves but drive greater production, particularly with Bogota focused on attracting further investment in the economically crucial petroleum industry. Like Guyana, Suriname and Brazil, offshore Colombia offers attractive economics with the Natural Resource Governance Institute estimating an average breakeven price of $31.77 per barrel. When coupled with Bogotas favorable petroleum industry policies and political stability, Colombia should successfully coax offshore investment from international energy companies. The volume of offshore oil discoveries in Latin America has risen steadily since 2012, according to consultancy IHS Markit, to see the volume of conventional oil reserve discoveries being made predominantly offshore. For these reasons, industry consultancy GlobalData, in a November 2020 media release, claimed South Americas offshore oil production will overtake North Americas offshore oil output by 2024. Rystad expects South America to lead the post-pandemic recovery of offshore, primarily because of the regions advantageous economics with Brazil and Guyana earmarked to receive over a third of all offshore oil investment between now and 2025. For these reasons South Americas offshore hydrocarbon output will soar over the coming years, seeing it potentially become the worlds leading offshore drilling region. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Florence police seek help finding armed and dangerous attempted murder suspect The Florence Police Department is looking for an armed and dangerous attempted murder suspect. Davontae Montrell Goodloe, 24, is a suspect in a Feb. 27 shooting at Cherry Hill Homes that left a 33-year-old man with a gunshot wound. Police said an arrest warrant on an attempted murder charge for Goodloe has been issued, and that he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Goodloe is asked to contact the Florence Police Department at 256-760-6610 or Detective White 256-760-6595. You also can call Shoals Area Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685 or use FPD Text-A-Tip at 274637 using keyword FPDTIP plus your message. The Junta de Andalucia has announced some changes to its general measures to curb the spread of coronavirus after a meeting with its committee of experts advising on Covid-19 issues this Wednesday, 3 March. The number of people permitted at social gatherings has been increased from four to six, in private homes and outside bars and restaurants. There are also changes to opening hours that affect municipalities only when they are in Covid-19 risk level 2. These include extending the opening hours of non-essential businesses until 9.30pm (the current closing time is 6pm). The regional government, however, has decided to maintain the majority of its current restrictions in an attempt to prevent a fourth wave of the disease. The land border of the region of Andalucia will remain closed except for justified journeys - and travel will still be banned between the provinces within Andalucia. As until now, municipal borders must close when the incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days rises above 500. Non-essential business have to close completely if the rate rises above 1,000. The night curfew remains at 10pm to 6am throughout Andalucia. In towns where the Covid-19 infection risk level is 2 or below, commercial acitivity including hospitality businesses can open until 9.30pm. The sale of alcohol in shops will also be permitted until that time at this risk level. At present none of the municipalities in Malaga province is in level 2, most of them being in 3 or 4. The risk levels will be reviewed, tomorrow, Thursday, and from then on weekly. Restrictions will change as municipalities move from one level to another. During a working visit to Warsaw within the Lublin Triangle format, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov will meet with Head of the National Security Bureau of the Republic of Poland (BBN) Pawel Solokh and the national security advisor to the President of Lithuania, Darius Kuliesius. Representatives of the national security agencies of the three countries will also meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. We intend to discuss, in particular, our interaction, the security situation in the region, especially in the context of our common neighbor Belarus, as well as the prospects for deepening cooperation between Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic structures, Solokh said in a commentary to PAP. According to him, Poland wants "issues of NATO's Eastern Flank, conflict in Ukraine, and situation in Belarus to be actively emphasized in the international dimension." Solokh also said that a personal meeting during a pandemic indicates the desire of the Lublin Triangle participants to deepen cooperation. He added that the presidents of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine are interested in holding a meeting at highest level. As a reminder, the Lublin Triangle was founded in July 2020 at the meeting of the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the Union of Lublin. ish University of Alaska Board of Regents member Andy Teuber listens to a discussion during a meeting at UAA in Anchorage, Alaska, on Sept. 12, 2019. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Coast Guard Ends Search for Helicopter in Waters Off Alaska ANCHORAGE, AlaskaThe U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday suspended the search in waters off Alaska for an overdue helicopter piloted by the former head of Alaskas largest tribal health care organization, who resigned last week after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him. Andy Teuber, 52, former head of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, left Anchorage about 2 p.m. Tuesday in a Robinson R66 helicopter enroute to Kodiak Island, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The Coast Guard was contacted about three hours later by family when he didnt arrive in Kodiak, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Anchorage. After an extensive search with our available assets resulting in inconclusive findings, its with a heavy heart that we have to suspend this search pending any new information. I offer my deepest condolences to those affected by this incident, Cmdr. Matthew Hobbie, the Coast Guard search and rescue coordinator, said in a statement. The Coast Guard used a helicopter, HC-130 Hercules airplane, and the cutter Stratton to search about 1,022 square miles (2,647 square kilometers) over 13 hours. Coast Guard Petty Officer Lexie Preston said ending searches is based upon weather, water temperatures, and the survivability rate of the missing person. Preston said that planes searching for Teuber on Tuesday found a debris field in the Gulf of Alaska, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Kodiak. However, she said searchers could not confirm that was that helicopter. Crews searching Wednesday did not locate the debris, Preston said. The debris that was initially located yesterday evening was consistent with debris that would have been found on the overdue helicopter, Hobbie said. Wednesday night, the National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that it is investigating the crash. Teuber owns the helicopter, which is used for sightseeing and charter trips through his company, Kodiak Helicopters LLC, according to state records. Teuber abruptly resigned on Feb. 23 from the health care organization and as a member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents. At the time, no reason was given. However, his former assistant described a pattern of abusive behavior, harassment, and coerced sexual counters by Teuber in a three-page letter to consortium officials that was obtained by the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica. She resigned the same day. Andy unrelentingly coerced, forced, and required sex of me, Savanah Evans said in the letter. The Associated Press does not usually name victims of alleged sexual misconduct, but the Anchorage Daily News said she gave permission to use her name. Their story was published online Tuesday. She claimed the abuse, much of which took place in consortium offices, derailed her personal and professional life. In an email to the newspaper on Monday, Teuber denied Evanss allegations, calling it a completely consensual personal relationship. The allegations of wrongdoing that I have been made aware of are false, and these allegations and their timing appear designed to portray me unjustly and falsely; to damage my personal and family relationships; but especially to sabotage my recent engagement and new marriage; and to undermine my professional prospects, Teuber wrote. Teuber led the consortium for over a decade and was paid more than $1 million per year. The consortium is co-owner and manages the Alaska Native Medical Center, one of three hospitals in Anchorage. The health organization provides services to more than 170,000 Alaska Natives and employs more than 3,000 people. The consortium said it will conduct its own independent, outside investigation. Teuber had headed the health consortium since 2008, according to a biography posted on the Alaska Federation of Natives webpage. Teuber also served on the federations board and has been president of the Kodiak Area Native Association since 2006. By Mark Thiessen Amaravati, March 4 : Following a stellar show in the recent panchayat elections, the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders have started claiming unanimous wins in majority of the ward and division elections in the urban local bodies polls with the polling process yet to be completed. Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, political affairs adviser to the state government has already claimed that the YSRCP will sweep the municipal elections. Party leaders claimed that YSRCP unanimously won 571 wards. Out of a total of 2,794 wards, the party leaders said 578 have gone for unanimous polls in which YSRCP claimed the lion's share of 571 wards and divisions. In Pulivendula, Punganuru and Macherla municipalities, the ruling party leaders claimed that YSRCP made a clean sweep in all the wards, including registering impressive wins in Rayachoti, Palamaneru, Naidupeta Atmakuru and Dhone municipalities. As the urban local bodies elections are scheduled on March 10, campaigning is still on at several places. On Wednesday, YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP V. Vijayasai Reddy campaigned in Visakhapatnam and oversaw the crossing over of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Y. Varalakshmi into the party, along with 200 of her followers at Madhava Swamy Kalyana Mandapam in Madhava Dhara locality of the city. Similarly, he oversaw the joining of Hari Krishna from Janasena into the party along with 300 other people from various other parties. Andhra Pradesh BJP president Somu Veerraju claimed that YSRCP is orchestrating fake withdrawal procedures which allegedly started during the panchayat polls. "This is continuing in Tirupati municipal corporation elections as well. When YSRCP experimented with the fake withdrawal on a BJP candidate, BJP leaders blocked it," claimed Veerraju. He also alleged that YSRCP leaders forged a Janasena party aligned councilor candidate's signature to withdraw his nomination. "When BJP leaders are asking for justice, police have resorted to blatant injustice. Is this democracy or Hitler's rule? BJP does not tolerate this kind of actions," claimed Veerraju. Germany's far-right AfD party has been put under formal surveillance on suspicion of seeking to undermine the democratic post-war constitution. The move will allow the Federal Office for Protection of the Constitution (BfV) to eavesdrop on AfD members and scrutinise party funding, making it the first party to be monitored in this way since the end of World War II. The AfD was propelled into the German parliament in 2017 by voters angry with Angela Merkel's open-door refugee policy, but it is shunned by mainstream parties who blame it for stirring up hatred and violence against immigrants. The party, whose full name is Alternative for Germany, has also caused outrage by demanding an end to Germany's culture of atonement for its Nazi crimes. Protesters wave German flags at a Berlin rally organised by the AfD, which is now under formal surveillance for allegedly seeking to undermine the post-war constitution (file photo) The Central Council of Jews in Germany welcomed the decision, saying: 'The AfD's destructive politics undermine our democratic institutions and discredit democracy among citizens.' The BfV's move follows a two-year review of the AfD's political platform, and could potentially allow authorities to monitor the party with undercover informants. Investigators gathered 1,000 pages of evidence, including several hundred speeches and statements by AfD members at all party levels, German media said. But current lawmakers and national political candidates will be excluded from the monitoring, parliamentary sources said. A spokeswoman for the BfV declined to comment, citing a court case brought by the AfD, but the party was furious. One of the heads of the party, Alexander Gauland, accused the BfV of playing politics and trying to bring about the 'destruction' of the AfD. 'The agenda is clear. First we are made a 'case to investigate', now we are a 'suspected case' and are under surveillance - and at some point there will be a request to ban our party,' he said. 'That, thank God, will be a decision for the Constitutional Court and not the BfV.' Gauland and AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla told a news conference that they had only learnt about the decision from media reports. They also accused authorities of trying to damage the AfD's chances in a September election that will see Merkel bow out of politics after 16 years at the helm. The AfD first entered the German parliament in 2017, riding a wave of anger at Angela Merkel (pictured) and her open-door refugee policies The AfD won 12.6 per cent at the last election to become the third-biggest party in the Bundestag, and also has lawmakers in all 16 regional assemblies. But its support has fallen in recent polls, dented by infighting and its opposition to lockdown measures to stem the coronavirus pandemic. One of its co-leaders, Joerg Meuthen, has opened a rift by arguing that the AfD needs to expel members suspected of sympathising with violent far-right groups. The BfV had already placed a radical fringe of the party known as The Wing under surveillance last year because of its links with known neo-Nazis. The faction, led by firebrand politician Bjoern Hoecke, dissolved itself last March but many of its 7,000 members remain active in the AfD. The AfD's regional branches in Thuringia, Brandenburg, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt have also been designated as 'suspected cases' of right-wing extremism. Four years ago, the German government failed to ban the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD), which had won a handful of seats in local elections. The constitutional court ruled that, while it resembled Adolf Hitler's Nazi party, it was too weak to endanger Germany's post-war democracy. The National Guard will stick with its current food contractor after calls from more than a dozen lawmakers to sever ties following reports of undercooked food, laced with metal shavings and worms, being fed to troops defending the U.S. Capitol. "It is completely unacceptable that our men and women serving in Washington D.C. are being hospitalized due to the food they're being provided," states a letter from 14 House members to National Guard chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson. To feed the thousands of troops on the D.C. mission, the Guard awarded an $11.5 million contract to Sardi's Catering in College Park, Maryland, according to Maj. Matt Murphy, a Guard spokesman. But now there are 5,200 Guardsmen in D.C., versus 26,000 at the mission's peak. Murphy said the Guard is continuing with the contract. Read Next: Marine Corps Gets Rid of Male-Only Underwear Allowance After Review ABC 7 WXYZ in Detroit first reported that nearly 75 meals were thrown out Sunday after metal shavings were found; other meals were undercooked, making service members sick. Some posts on social media showed live worms in the food. A staff sergeant informed ABC that the troops were told not to eat the food for two days and were given Meals, Ready to Eat instead. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to investigate the matter. In a letter sent to her Wednesday, he wrote, "Some troops have even reported vomiting in the Senate parking lot. ... Furthermore, the provision of this food, whether intentional or not, warrants a thorough investigation." A spokesperson for Sardi's Catering said that, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the company is required to pre-package individual meals at its own facilities instead of setting up a kitchen on site for the troops. It's unclear why the catering company can't use the Washington, D.C., National Guard armory's kitchen or why the Guard can't facilitate a spot for the workers to cook. Each food delivery is inspected by a National Guard representative before being approved for distribution. "We have no further control over the meals once they are dropped off. ... The National Guard has estimated about less than .01 percent of the 1.2 million total meals we have served since January 2021 have been undercooked. ... We are proud to serve our food to the National Guard troops who have deployed to Washington from around the U.S., and we stand by the quality and safety of the food we deliver to the National Guard troops," the catering company's spokesperson said. The Army's top enlisted leader called the food quality "unacceptable" and said the Guard has designated more staff for food inspection. "I'm working closely with the Guard [senior] enlisted leaders and am confident in the immediate, preventative actions they're taking," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston said in a statement Wednesday. Murphy said 50 service members have been treated for gastrointestinal issues. Six were treated as outpatients at military treatment facilities; others were handled by military medics. The sick troops were from Michigan, Illinois and New Jersey. "The firsthand accounts and pictures of undercooked food being served clearly shows that what is being given to Michigan's service members is unacceptable," according to a statement from the Michigan National Guard. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., wrote in his own letter to Hokanson and Army Secretary John Whitley that the food issue has become so bad, soldiers and airmen are having to spend their own money on meals. He called the incident a "horrible mismanagement of basic nutrition." National Guard troops have been defending the Capitol since a pro-Trump mob assault on Jan. 6. It is unclear when the Guard's mission will end. U.S. Capitol Police believe there could be a second attack on Thursday; March 4 is the date some far-right conspiracy theorists believe former President Donald Trump will seize power and return to the White House. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include comment from the catering company. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: Police Request 60-Day Extension of Guard at US Capitol The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results 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 number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose slightly last week to 745,000 as the Senate prepares to vote on President Joe Biden's $1.9trillion coronavirus stimulus package. Applications for benefits declined 9,000 from the previous week's 736,000 to a seasonally adjusted 745,000 in the week ended February 27, the Labor Department said Thursday. The latest figure was below the 750,000 applications economists had expected, citing brutal winter storms in the South as a main reason for the anticipated week-on-week increase. The four-week moving average fell by 16,750 to 790,750 in the Thursday's report. The Labor Department had initially reported 730,000 applications in the week ended February 20, but later revised that number up by 6,000. Experts say the storms likely contributed to data collection issues. The job market has made scant progress in the past three months but joblessness remains at a historic high. Before the virus erupted in the United States last March, weekly applications for unemployment benefits had never topped 700,000, even during the Great Recession of 2008-2009. Weekly applications have remained below one million since mid-August but have continued to oscillate week-on-week since then. All told, more than 18 million Americans are receiving some form of unemployment aid - including 4.3 million receiving traditional state benefits. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose slightly last week to 745,000 as the economic recovery grinds forward at an unpredictable pace The labor market has lagged the acceleration in overall economic activity, which has been driven by nearly $900billion in additional pandemic relief provided by the government in late December. Consumer spending rebounded strongly in January as daily coronavirus cases and hospitalizations dropped sharply. Though the pace of decline in infections has stalled, economists believe the labor market will accelerate in the spring and through summer, noting that vaccinations were increasing daily. A boost to hiring is also expected from Biden's $1.9trillion recovery plan, which passed in the House on Saturday and is expected to be voted on by the Senate this week. Biden's legislation includes extensions on two federal unemployment aid programs - one which would provide up to an extra 24 weeks of support and another that covers self-employed and gig workers through August. Those programs were already extended once late last year but are set to expire on March 14. Biden's legislation would also provide an additional $400 a week in federal jobless aid, on top of state benefits. That money would replace a $300-a-week benefit that was included in the relief package approved last year. All told, more than 18 million Americans are receiving some form of unemployment aid - including 4.3 million receiving traditional state benefits. Pictured: People line up for food stamps in New York in May 2020 Last week's claims data has no bearing on February's employment report as it falls outside the period during which the government surveyed establishments and households. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the government will likely report on Friday that nonfarm payrolls increased by 180,000 jobs in February after rising only 49,000 in January. Hopes for a pick-up in hiring last month were supported by a survey last week showing consumers' perceptions of the labor market improved in February after deteriorating in January and December. In addition, a measure of manufacturing employment increased to a two-year high in February. But those expectations were tempered by reports on Wednesday showing private employers hiring fewer-than-expected workers in February. The labor market has lagged the acceleration in overall economic activity, which has been driven by nearly $900billion in additional pandemic relief provided by the government in late December. Pictured: A shopper walks past a hiring sign at a Target in Westwood, Massachusetts, on February 9 Employment growth in the services industry retreated last month, with businesses reporting they were 'unable to fill vacant positions with qualified applicants'. The year-long COVID-19 pandemic is keeping some workers at home, fearful of accepting or returning to jobs that could expose them to the virus. These workers are now allowed to apply for government-funded unemployment benefits. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book report noted 'continued difficulties attracting and retaining qualified workers' reported by many of the US central bank's contacts last month, with labor shortages 'most acute among low-skill occupations and skilled trade positions'. The Fed's contacts cited the coronavirus, childcare, and unemployment benefits as factors behind the labor supply problem. Hiring averaged just 29,000 a month from November through January. Though the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in January, a broader measure that includes people who have given up on their job searches is closer to 10 percent. Key sectors of the economy, though, are showing signs of picking up as vaccinations increase and government rescue aid works its way through the economy. The Federal Reserve's ultra-low-rate policy is providing key support, too. Teenagers are being recruited to Islamist terror groups in 'worrying' numbers during the pandemic, Dominic Raab warned today. The Foreign Secretary highlighted the problem as he made a statement updating the House of Commons on the threat from Daesh. He said although the extremist organisation had been 'weakened' its propaganda still needed to be tackled 'head on'. In December the volume of terrorist content online went up by 7 per cent as lockdown provided a 'perfect storm' for young people vulnerable to indoctrination, according to Mr Raab. 'This is a critical moment. Yes, Daesh's brand has weakened it remains, nonetheless, globally recognised,' he said. Mr Raab continued: 'In December 2020, the UK Counter-Terrorism Referral Unit saw a 7 per cent rise in the volume of terrorist content online and we can see a worrying rise in the proportion of children and teenagers that are now being arrested for terrorism offences. Dominic Raab highlighted the problem as he made a statement updating the House of Commons on the threat from Daesh Mr Raab suggested lockdown provided a 'perfect storm' for young people vulnerable to indoctrination. Pictured, central London last week 'And it was Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu (of the Metropolitan Police) who described lockdown and the accessibility of terrorist content online as a perfect storm because terrorists have digital access to those who are probably the most susceptible to extremist narratives. 'So we are tackling Daesh's propaganda head on and I am proud the FCDO leads on this work on behalf of the global coalition.' He added that the UK Government has 'carried out a range of targeted and effective cyber operations'. Mr Raab warned MPs that Islamic State are 'still able to carry out lethal attacks'. 'The safety and the security of our citizens is obviously the Government's highest priority, it is at the core of our work in tackling Daesh which remains our most significant terrorist threat both at home and abroad,' he said. Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy asked what steps the Government is taking to protect children from Daesh propaganda. 'I was deeply troubled to hear the Foreign Secretary outline the way that children are being targeted by Daesh propaganda,' she said. 'Does he agree that it is appalling that British children in the UK are being groomed to join Daesh? And can he therefore tell me what steps the Government is taking to protect children from this threat?' Mr Raab responded: 'I think this is particularly important because of the moral duty that we recognise and the first thing to say is obviously we advise anyone against travel to Syria, there's no consular support there, certainly not the kind of regular consular service that we'd be able to provide, that's obvious, the conditions on the ground make that impossible. 'And as I have said to the House previously, we continue to work with all of those concerned to facilitate the return of unaccompanied or orphaned children where that's feasible, where that can be done where there's no risk to security and where practically it can be done. 'I won't comment on the numbers, it's obviously very sensitive but I take that very seriously. We regard those children as the innocents of the scourge of war and wherever it's safe and possible, we will put our protective arms around them.' Veo has operated more than forty micro-mobility programs in cities and universities around the United States, including multiple similar-sized universities to Texas A&M. It has been actively cooperating with Transportation Service and operating the bike share program on campus since Jan. 2019. Veo's focus on growing micro-mobility programs through responsible and long-term partnerships enables the scale-up and upgrade of the Texas A&M Bike Share service. "We are excited to add our throttle e-bikes to Texas A&M University's alternative transportation family. As a trusted vendor, we have helped Texas A&M University transform shared mobility, and regain trust and confidence with the community, while providing a popular service with high ridership," said Candice Xie, CEO, Veo. "We continue to be committed to providing the Texas A&M community access to the highest quality and most reliable shared micro-mobility vehicles and services, and we look forward to continuing our long-lasting partnership with Transportation Services to promote the bike culture and foster alternative transportation mode growth." The addition of the Cosmo will bring the Veo fleet to a mix of 2,500 pedal and throttle e-bikes available for users to rent, making the Texas A&M University Micro-Mobility program the largest system of its kind in North America. Incorporating learnings from millions of e-bike trips across the nation, the Veo throttle e-bike brings parking compliance, safety, and accessibility to another level. The throttle e-bike offers a smooth and sweat-free riding experience that will introduce even more people to the fun of commuting and getting to their destination easier. "Veo has been an excellent partner since the program launched and we are very pleased to see our relationship and the system continue to grow," said Ron Steedly, Transportation Services. "Bike share has been widely accepted by our community, and we are pleased that we can continue to expand our fleet type and offer more sustainable modes of travel to the campus community." Since the launch, Veo bikes have travelled close to one million miles on the Texas A&M University campus and in the College Station community, and been utilized by more than 50,000 registered users. About Transportation Services Transportation Services is an empowered team of professionals dedicated to providing efficient, dynamic and innovative fleet, parking and transit services to the Texas A&M University community. Transportation Services supports the teaching, research and public service mission of Texas A&M University, with focus on customer service and communication. About Veo Headquartered in Chicago, Veo, is one of the micromobility industry's most innovative and fastest growing companies. With its unique e-swappable-battery technology which enables safe charging, the company designs and manufactures e-scooters, e-bikes, and bikes specifically built for the rigors of shared use. Veo products lead the industry in terms of lifetime sustainability, and are also widely recognized as the most comfortable and safe to ride. Veo has dozens of cities nationwide as partners in its mobility share programs, and is adding additional municipalities and universities every month. For more information, please visit www.veoride.com. Contact: Amy Hesser 312-933-8324 [email protected] SOURCE Veo Combined Commanders Conference will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will be attended by Junior Commissioned Officers and Jawans. The three day conference would commence after PM would be delivering his address on March 6. Indias top military conference will be attended by Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) and Jawans which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarats Kevadia this weekend. Combined Commanders Conference would be held in front of the Saradar Vallabhai Patels Statue of Unity. Indeed, the inclusion of Junior Commissioned Officers and the Non-Commissioned Officers for a session on Morale and Motivation is welcomed as an innovative step. The PM after taking office in 2014 has always pushed for organizing conferences like the CCC. The top brass of the military officers would be housed in tents for the duration of the conference. The three day conference would commence after PM would be delivering his address on March 6 which would be attended by Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and Commander in Chief ranked officers of the armed forces. Presentations will be made by JCOs and Jawans on some military topics during a segment of the Combined Commanders Conference. The jawans would be taking part in different discussions which involves the functioning of operations. The PM will be reviewing the operational situation in China and Pakistan fronts and the progress of the tri-Service integrated commands. The suggestion of involving jawans was put forward by the Prime Ministers Office itself. The insights of the Junior Commissioned Officers, Non- Commissioned Officers and the jawans will be valuable as they are very much aware of how the forces function and building defences against the Chinese. The Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh would be addressing the commanders of the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy on March 5. Also Read: Indira Gandhis emergency was a mistake: Rahul Gandhi speaks on emergency Also Read: EAM S. Jaishankar to arrive in Dhaka ahead of PM Modis expected visit to Bangladesh A Government source told IANS, During the conference, the setting up a new air defence command and maritime command will be discussed at length. Implementation of the air defence command timeline will be deliberated upon. The newly established Department of Military Affairs has been working towards the creation of joint military commands for the last one year. Also Read: Karnataka Minister gets covid-19 vaccine shot at home, Centre asks for report A group of escaped monkeys from a Venezuelan zoo have taken to raiding kitchens in private homes for food. The "Las Delicias" zoo in Maracay in Aragua province has been closed for the past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. People living near the zoo, like Carmen Lugo, aren't sure if the monekys escaped or were released by zoo keepers who couldn't afford to carry on feeding them. "Either they were released or they escaped, but if they escaped it is because they are hungry," she said. One of the monkeys has set up camp inside her covered patio. "The one that is out there is quiet, you give him anything to eat, he grabs it, eats and leaves," she said. They're not always cute and cuddly, though. Lugo said one of the monkeys bit a neighbour who had yelled at the animal. Thankfully, the zoo keepers had previously cut back his teeth, so the woman was unharmed. The monkeys' plight is yet another reflection of Venezuela's deep economic crisis. Esmeralda Mujica, who used to run the country's Zoological Parks and Aquariums Association, said it was now "very, very difficult" to keep zoos going. In the meantime, the freed monkeys continue to roam the neighborhood of "El Toro" near the zoo, looking for their next meal. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - AllStar Health Brands Inc. (OTC Pink: ALST) a specialty pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements company is pleased to announce it has entered into agreements with all debt holders to lock up their debt for up to six months, followed by a leak-out of common shares over a period of time. Dr. Daniel Bagi, President of AllStar stated, "The debt holders of AllStar wish for the Company to succeed and this lock-up and leak-out will allow AllStar options such as refinancing, restructuring the Balance Sheet, and pursuing acquisitions already in the pipeline, and hope to build shareholder value. We are extremely pleased with the Lock-up and Leak-out terms and appreciate the cooperation of the debt holders." About AllStar Health Brands Inc.: AllStar Health Brands Inc. is a Nevada Corporation established in 2017 and headquartered in Miami, Florida. AllStar is a specialty Health Care Products Company dedicated to improving health and quality of life by offering select nutritional supplements, over the counter remedies, and medicines all across the Americas and Europe. AllStar's goal is to bring additional products to the market and provide new, innovative options for better health and well-being. For more information, please contact Investor Relations at (305) 423 7028. Safe Harbor Statement Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. The above information contains information relating to the Company that is based on the beliefs of the Company and/or its management, as well as assumptions made by any information currently available to the Company or its management. When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plans," "projects," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the Company regarding future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties noted. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or projected. In each instance, forward-looking information should be considered in light of the accompanying meaningful cautionary statements herein. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, successful performance of internal plans, the impact of competitive services and pricing and general economic risks and uncertainties. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76082 Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Police brutality on pro-democracy demonstrators has only been rising since last month when a violent attack by forces on shipyard workers was condemned by the international community and the United Nations. On Wednesday, the demonstrators were out again peacefully protesting against the military when the police used live ammunition and rubber bullets, which this time left 38 people dead while many were critically injured. Many towns and cities witnessed violent attacks on protestors on Wednesday including the city of Monywa where six people were brutally shot and at least thirty were injured, after being hit by live bullets fired by the police. The police firing killed over eight in Yangon, while a protester who witnessed the horrific event in North Okkalapa was quoted by the US daily as saying "I will still go out and protest. If I get shot, so be it. I can't stand it anymore." READ | On Myanmar, UN Chief & US Govt Condemn Police Brutality On Agitating Shipyard Workers 'Police thrashes medics helping the injured' Amid continued police brutality in Myanmar, disturbing reports of the forces allegedly sexually assaulting detainee women have also surfaced. Another video that was shared by Radio Free Asia on its Twitter handle shows the police thrashing the medics who were trying to rescue and help the injured protesters. Here's the tweet: Exclusive RFA video shows police beating medics who helped anti-coup protesters. The beating occurred on a day when security forces killed at least 26 anti-coup protesters across Myanmar the deadliest day since a military junta seized power on February 1. pic.twitter.com/rA6EMoP6cJ Radio Free Asia (@RadioFreeAsia) March 3, 2021 The UN has observed the violence by Mynamar police on Wednesday as the most brutal attack on civilians to date. Efforts by the global body seemingly remain to be unheard even as the UN has issued a statement attributed to the spokesperson for the Secretary-General of Myanmar. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared it on Twitter and appealed, "I urge the international community to send a clear signal to the military that it must respect the will of the people of Myanmar." I strongly condemn the deadly crackdown in Myanmar. I urge the international community to send a clear signal to the military that it must respect the will of the people of Myanmar as expressed through the election and stop the repression. https://t.co/eZYcKFuSrN Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 1, 2021 READ | Myanmar Coup Crisis Grows After Years Of US Neglect The Joint Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights' group, Ko Bo Kyi warned that the killings are suspected to increase further as he listed the cities where violence claimed lives on Wednesday. He tweeted "As of now, so-called military killed at least 18 deaths from North Okkalapa in RGN, Mandalay, Monywa, Myingyan, Pyin Oo Lwin and Salin in Magwe." Here's the tweet As of now, so called military killed at least 18 deaths from North Okkalapa in RGN, Mandalay, Monywa, Myingyan, Pyin Oo Lwin and Salin in Magwe. The death list may increase later. In addition, many got injuries. Some are critical situation. Ko Bo Kyi (@kobokyi) March 3, 2021 Police brutality after UN Special Envoy warned the military The Special Envoy to UN, Christine Schraner Burgener also observed the event as the 'bloodiest day since the coup first happened in Myanmar.' She recalled that she had warned Myanmar's deputy military chief Soe Win that the military will face strong action by the international community and 'isolation in retaliation for the coup' if the violence does not end. She pointed that at least 38 were killed on Wednesday and tweeted: My heartfelt condolences on the loss of the people who peacefully stood up for democracy and freedom. My thoughts are with them and their families. As a mother and friend of #Myanmar , I suffer with you. pic.twitter.com/f2cJxoPFdN Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General on Myanmar (@SchranerBurgen1) March 3, 2021 READ | Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Faces 2 New Criminal Charges, Lawyer Says 'anything Can Happen' A human rights activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi called the violence by police as 'daily slaughter' and in return called out on the protesters to save themselves from the brutality. He tweeted: Why we r still on streets daily amidst Live ammunitions threats?! To ensure we keep the pressure on Military, Politicians & Intl Communities to take necessary measures to stop whats going on. We HATE whats going on too. Junta must b held accountable. https://t.co/gvUzMo74gA pic.twitter.com/wox60Uzze1 Thinzar Shunlei Yi (@thinzashunleiyi) March 3, 2021 Ministers appointed to act on behalf of detained NDL authorities The activist also shared an official document by the Myanmar government which confirmed a list of 'Acting' Union Ministers who will be appointed to take forward the duties of those members in the NDL government who have been detained. Here's the document: I welcome the appointment of Acting Ministers to overwrite Mitary Rule. Yet, all key ministries r now being held only by NLD. What about other parliamentarian parties frm Ethnic Areas? Then I see a long way to go 4 Federal Democratic Nation.#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/3CxEIFJRD4 Thinzar Shunlei Yi (@thinzashunleiyi) March 2, 2021 With the world being witness to the unjust policing in Myanmar using brutal force, killing people, Pope Francis on Wednesday has urged the authorities to involve in dialogues and end the violence. He tweeted: Sad news of bloody clashes and loss of life reach us from Myanmar. I appeal to the authorities involved that dialogue may prevail over repression, and ask the international community to ensure that the aspirations of the people of Myanmar are not stifled. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 3, 2021 READ | Myanmar Witnesses Massive Protests Demanding Aung San Suu Kyi's Release With so much happening in Myanmar for days, the NDL members and Aung San Suu Kyi are still under arrest. The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold a closed session on Friday, to discuss the rising violence. However, China and Russia are likely to block efforts by the international community as they have earlier posed a hurdle in efforts to mount pressure on Myanmar's military. A bill seeking to ban chokeholds that passed the House Wednesday night is already facing obstacles in the Senate and the lone Republican who backed it in the House said he did so in error. The House passed the bill, designated the 'George Floyd Justice in Policing Act' in one of the last votes of the week amid an ongoing security threat to the Capitol. It seeks to stop 'choke-holds' by tying federal funds to police tactics and passed the chamber on a vote of 220-212. Rep. Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican, announced late Wednesday he didn't vote as he intended something not entirely uncommon in the House, where members vote with electronic cards, but where clerks always give lawmakers the opportunity to change their vote before the result is gaveled down. MISFIRE: Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) voted for the police reform bill, but says he meant to vote against it 'I have arguably the most conservative/America First voting record in Congress!' Gooden tweeted. 'Of course I wouldnt support the radical lefts, Anti-Police Act. I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition!' He tweeted out an image of his 'personal explanation' to the Speaker explaining the error. 'I was shown voting Aye on roll call #60. I intended to vote NO,' he wrote. The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where it would be subject to a 60-vote filibuster hurdle like other legislation. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the lone black Republican in the chamber, has his own bill, and labeled the House bill 'partisan.' 'I hope my friends on the other side of the aisle will come to the table to find common ground where we can make meaningful changes that will bring us closer to the goal of a more just country,' he said. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), whose state was home to Breonna Taylor, who died in a nighttime police raid, has his own bill on 'no-knock' warrants. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a Thursday press conference cheered passage of the bill. 'It was pretty exciting to have a big strong Democratic vote for that. We had wished it would be bipartisan,' she said. 'It is something we all take great pride in. Millions of people worldwide marched, came out, peacefully demonstrated to say: Enough. When they saw George Floyd lynched before their very eyes, for eight minutes and 48 seconds,' she said. The House passed the bill to ban controversial policing tactics as the city of Minneapolis braced itself for the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of killing him. The death of George Floyd after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck sparked nationwide protests last summer Gooden's Twitter page features a picture with former President Donald Trump Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) called the House bill 'partisan' And the protests of the this past summer were featured in a hearing on Capitol security Wednesday, when the head of the D.C. National Guard and a top Pentagon official each testified that the events of the summer where federal forces got in violent clashes with protesters may have impacted delayed decisions to dispatch the Guard to protect the Capitol on Jan. 6th. The bill restricts some funds to local governments that allow choke holds and other techniques, bans 'no-knock warrants' by police, and modifies 'qualified immunity' for police. 'How many more people have to die, how many more people have to be brutalized on videotape,' asked Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), a principle bill sponsor. According to a Statement of Administration Position issued before the House vote, 'To make our communities safer, we must begin by rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the people they are entrusted to serve and protect. We cannot rebuild that trust if we do not hold police officers accountable for abuses of power and tackle systemic misconduct and systemic racism in police departments.' 'President Biden has a long record of championing meaningful policing reform and previously called for the Congress to enact provisions like those' in the bill. 'The Administration encourages the House to pass this legislation, and looks forward to working with the Congress to enact a landmark policing reform law.' Gooden blasted the 'radical left's Anti-police Act' and printed a paper lawmakers submit when the vote other than how they intended President Biden encouraged the House to pass the bill Chauvin's trial begins with jury selection beginning on Monday - a process that could take up to three weeks. He will be tried separately from the three other former Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's death. Their trial is in August. Downtown Minneapolis has begun boarding up businesses, ahead of one of the most high-profile trials in years. The City Center shopping mall is reusing plywood barricades erected during the summer's protests, and the managers will add more private security and likely reduce hours during the trial, The Star Tribune reported. Derek Chauvin will be tried at Hennepin County Government Center from Monday Floyd died on May 25 after he was arrested for using a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis and Chauvin (right) placed his knee on Floyd's neck Officers involved in Floyd's death, L-R: Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao Floyd, 46, an African-American man, died when he was detained with Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nearly eight minutes. His killing sparked weeks of nationwide and global protests, many of which were led by Black Lives Matter activists. Businesses and government buildings are seen boarded up in Minneapolis on Wednesday Barricades, razor wire and barbed wires fences are seen in front of the courthouse The area surrounding the courthouse has been reinforced ahead of the March 8 trial Steve Cramer, president of the Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District, encouraged business owners to have faith in authorities. 'Downtown will continue to fully function during this period, and that's largely a result of a really thorough preparation,' he said. Yet the city's Community Planning and Economic Development department warned business owners to take emergency precautions and make sure insurance policies are up to date. 'You might want to consider adding physical barriers, such as boarding or permanent security gates,' said Erik Hansen, Economic Policy and Development Director, at a recent news conference. As Minneapolis prepared for the trial, in Washington DC the House of Representatives passed the bill through a vote 220-212, with the support of only one Republican. Officially known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, it now moves to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain. Protesters outside the site of Floyd's killing, the day after the 46-year-old died A woman weeps outside the George Floyd memorial on May 20, four days after he was killed A man takes a photo of protest signs in Los Angeles on June 3 during the George Floyd protests 'How many more people have to die, how many more people have to be brutalized on videotape' before police reforms become law, asked Democratic Representative Karen Bass, who wrote the legislation with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler. She said the bill would hold police 'accountable' when constitutional rights are violated but would also support local law enforcement by fostering improvements in community policing, especially for minority neighborhoods. One of its most controversial provisions would change 'qualified immunity' for police, further opening the door for lawsuits over the use of excessive force. Reuters in May 2020 published an investigation revealing how qualified immunity, with the Supreme Court's continual refinements, had made it easier for police officers to kill or injure civilians with impunity. Conservative Republicans have attacked the Democratic bill, saying it would put law enforcement lives in danger and make communities less safe. The police reform effort sputtered in Congress last summer after the House passed the so-called George Floyd bill and Democrats blocked a Senate Republican bill. While it also addressed issues such as police choke holds, no-knock warrants and use of police body cameras, Democrats complained it relied on incentives rather than mandating changes. Senator Tim Scott, the author of the Republican bill, told Reuters in a statement he welcomed conversations with Democrats over qualified immunity. Sweeping election reform bill passes the House to update voting procedures and require states to turn over the task of redrawing congressional districts to independent commissions The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed an election reform bill on Wednesday, which they argue is essential to expanding voting access and improving accountability and transparency in Washington. The bill is one of a handful which have been singled out as priorities - such as the Equality Act, and the George Floyd police reform bill. Officially known as HR1, the election reform bill would update voting procedures and require states to turn over the task of redrawing congressional districts to independent commissions. The bill passed by a mostly bipartisan vote of 220 to 210. John Sarbanes, the Maryland congressman who sponsored the bill, said it was 'designed to restore the voices of Americans who felt left out and locked out for too long.' Nancy Pelosi is seen on Wednesday speaking to support the bill, known as HR1 House Democrats are seen gathering on the steps of Congress on Wednesday He added: 'I don't think the urgency has ever been greater. 'When you look at what Republicans are doing across the country in statehouses to roll back access to the ballot box, we need to do what we can to establish baseline standards and best practices that allow people to register and vote in America without it being an obstacle course for them.' House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, another Maryland Democrat, said: 'We believe that HR 1 needs to pass because the Republican state legislators, concerned about their losses, either in their own states or in the country, are again upping their efforts to make it more difficult for people to vote.' Republicans, however, argue that the legislation limits political speech and represents an overreach and a federal power grab that Democrats are advancing in an effort to gain an advantage in elections. House Republicans have urged their members to vote against it. HR1 has been described by supporters as a way of holding Washington accountable HR1 is designed to improve electoral access for U.S. citizens and look at Congressional districts President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill into law if it cleared both the House and the Senate. But the bills face long odds in the Senate, where all 48 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them would need to be joined by 10 Republican senators to overcome a filibuster. 'We're going to do everything in our power - I think Chuck Schumer's going to do everything in his power - to make sure that the agenda that we are working on and promised the people will in fact be the agenda we put forward and hopefully pass,' said Hoyer. Already, some Democrats have trained fire on the filibuster and called for its elimination. Hoyer called it 'undemocratic' on Tuesday, while James Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat, described how it had been used to deny rights to black citizens. A move to destroy the filibuster would face severe opposition. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has repeatedly said he would 'never' vote to get rid of it, while Biden has said he opposes overturning it. Some Democrats have suggested a compromise of a carve-out could be possible. Electoral officials are seen counting votes in Philadelphia on November 4 Asked about the possibility of a carve-out for voting rights issues, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock told a reporter on Tuesday: 'I think that the issues are urgent enough to leave all options on the table.' The bill has particular importance this year because the U.S. Census Bureau is set to turn over population data states use to redraw congressional district maps ahead of the 2022 elections, in which every House lawmaker's seat is up for grabs. States use different criteria and procedures for drawing the maps. In 33 states, state legislatures control at least part of the process, the National Conference of State Legislatures says. Parties in control of state legislatures have often wielded the power to draw the maps in a way that benefits the party in power. Some states have also used this process to target black voters. The measure also comes as lawmakers in 43 states have introduced legislation to place more limits on voting, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Several states, including Georgia, where Warnock and Democrat Jon Ossoff were elected in a political upset in January, have since introduced legislation to change election procedures that activists say make it harder for people to vote. 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. All right. Its a real pleasure to welcome Kris Bowers, our composer, who has written a concerto, For a Younger Self. Welcome. [APPLAUSE] Can I ask a question? All right, Granddaddy. Can you tell me, just what is a concerto? So its basically this piece that has a soloist and an ensemble, an orchestra. The two are having a conversation. And so sometimes that conversation can be this person speaking, and now this person speaking. Sometimes the conversation Its a question. is at the same time. Yeah. And it really depends on how the composer wants to, or how I want to frame that conversation. Did you ever picture yourself doing what youre doing now? Huh. [MUSIC PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] Im very aware of the fact that Im a Black composer, and lately actually Ive been wondering whether or not Im supposed to be in the spaces that Im in, or supposed to have gotten to the point that Ive gotten to. Well, I can tell you one thing. Never think that youre not supposed to be there. Cause you wouldnt be there if you wasnt supposed to be there. It goes back to slavery. [MUSIC PLAYING] My grandfather, who I found out has cancer a little while ago, I wanted to spend some more time with him and talk to him about his life, about our family, ask him as much as I can before he passes. [BELL RINGING] Granddaddy. Mm-hm? Need a bit of help with this. Do what? Getting this seamed out for the show. OK. Dont step on the pedals. Push it right in the corner. OK. Wow. OK. Were going to make it real handsome here. Youre going to be ready to go. Thank you, sir. Growing up in the South was quite a thing for me. Bascom, Florida, as far back as I can remember, I think the plantation was the Bowers plantation. All 13 of you all grew up in that house? Mm-hm. Wow. How all of us stayed in two rooms, I dont know. We would start on the porch singing. And there were people, I dont know how they could hear it that far, would come drive in the front yard and listen to us sing at night. People in that area was, the Blacks were Bowers, and the whites was Beavers. Beavers had the grocery store. But when Dad would walk in the store, this kid about my size, small kid How old were you about this point? Like how old? I probably was 6 or 7 years old. Oh, wow. And he would go up to my dad and say, what could I get for you, boy? That stuck with me forever. Why are you calling my dad a boy? And Daddy would answer him, sir, yes sir, no sir. But it was something that stayed with me because I knew then when I got of age I was going to leave there. I didnt want no parts of the farm. I didnt want no parts of that part of the country. I just wanted to leave. Wherever I could get a ride to, thats where I was headed to. [MUSIC PLAYING] What was that process like, hitchhiking as a Black man in America in the 1940s? I had to be crazy. Now, the first place I remember being is in Detroit. A man picked me up. He was saying that he could get me a job and a place to stay and all this. I asked him, does it snow there? And he said yes. And that was the end of that, because I didnt want to be any place that was cold. But I hitchhiked from there to Denver, Colorado. And I was in this Greyhound bus station, cause they had two counters, white and Black. So I could get something to eat. And I heard somebody say, Los Angeles, California. I said, thats where I want to go. Never heard of Los Angeles before. I had $27 or $28. I didnt know how I was going to make it, but I knew I was going to make it. So I said well, Im going to pretend to be an employment agency and call around to get a job. Wow. I got the telephone book, started at the As. A Cleaners. And I dont think I made more than five calls, and the phone rang, and it was the A Cleaners, and they said they needed a presser. I got all the information. I said, OK, Ill send someone right out. And that was me. [LAUGHING] Thats where I met your grandmother. [MUSIC PLAYING] How old were you when you bought the cleaners? I was 20. Wow. So within two years I had gone from homeless to I was in business. [MUSIC PLAYING] But I never could get a loan. And I owned the place. I said, something wrong with this picture. I told them I come in for the loan, and he said no, I dont have anything. And I left later, and picked up an application, and I mailed it in. A few days later, I got a call, your loan is approved. I said, its the color of my skin. I said in the South they tell you. In Los Angeles they show you. From then on we started buying property, I would get things at the cleaner, everything, but nobody ever saw me. Everything was done by mail. People are constantly throwing up things to stop you in life. But youve got to know you cannot stop me. [MUSIC PLAYING] My name is Kristopher Bowers, and I want to play Shining Star in Atlantic City. My parents decided before I was born they wanted me to play piano. Literally, I think its called like Piano Sampler No. 5 that they used to put on my moms stomach every day. Actually, one of the first pieces of music I ever wrote was on this piano. And I remember, you know, just playing around here all the time. But we were up at a restaurant one, I believe it was a Sunday. At Marie Callendars? Marie Callendars. They had a piano in there, and I asked the guy could you play it. And they said yes. I carried you over there, and you were playing it, and I was proud of you. [LAUGHING] [MUSIC PLAYING] There arent that many opportunities for young kids of color to showcase their talents or to interact with other kids of color playing music and doing those things, and you talking about being my manager, essentially, from the very beginning. If I didnt have that, I probably wouldnt have been as confident pursuing music. I remember where were you in school at that I was up there? What, in New York? At Juilliard? Juilliard? Wherever it was, you enjoyed it. So thats all I was thinking. If you enjoyed making a living at it. I knew that, boy. And the winner is Kris Bowers. Green Book. [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC PLAYING] What do you think your biggest challenge is today? My biggest challenge today, being honest, is my health. Its just trying to stay healthy. That would be my challenge today. [MUSIC PLAYING] Ive got a few more years to go, but Im almost to the top. [LAUGHING] Ten more years, Ill be at the top. [LAUGHING] So now I just keep trying to do the best I can. Yeah. And enjoy seeing my children and grandchildren being successful. Thats glory in itself. Its just something that I hope I had a little something to do with it. [MUSIC PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] (SINGING) Then sings my soul, my savior, my God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art. You did it! You did it! You did it! [LAUGHING] See, it surprised you. [LAUGHING] Pune, India, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The worldwide electronic data interchange (EDI) software market size is projected to arrive at USD 3,451.3 million by 2028, showing a CAGR of 10.7% during the conjecture time frame. Expanding appropriation of EDI arrangements in the medical care area will go about as one of the essential variables driving the development of this market, states Fortune Business Insights in its report, named Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Cloud Based, and On-Premise), By Industry (Healthcare, Automotive, Financial Services, High-Tech/ Manufacturing, Retail, Logistics, and Others (Telecom, etc.), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028. Electronic data interchange software encourages the virtual transmission of data between colleagues, eliminating the requirement for paper-based information trade. In the medical care area, where a lot of information is created every day, EDI programming can empower the productive exchange of data between medical services foundations, experts, and patients. The advantages of this innovation have been significantly more complemented during the current COVID-19 pandemic as EDI is helping medical care experts to convey administrations to patients other than those experiencing COVID-19. For example, in April 2021, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, the main emergency clinic chain in India, joined forces with Dunzo, a day in and day out online stage, to give fundamental medications to anticipating moms and their babies at the doorstep. Accordingly, the reception of EDI arrangements is probably going to get supported in the midst of the current wellbeing emergency. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Electrolyzer Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/electronic-data-interchange-edi-software-market-103690 As per the report, the global market value stood at USD 1,547.2 million in 2021. The other highlights of the report include: Granular investigation of the different market drivers and patterns; Nitty-gritty investigation of the market limitations; Minuscule assessment of the territorial elements of the market; An exhaustive assessment of the serious scene of the market; and An exhaustive appraisal of all the market portions. Leading Driver Financial & Operational Feasibility of EDI to Stoke Demand from SMEs An unmistakable factor driving the electronic information trade programming market development is the monetary and operational benefits offered by EDI answers for little and medium undertakings (SMEs). These ventures need to work on limited spending plans and have a solid necessity for productive systems to direct business in a savvy way. Since EDI helps in accomplishing these objectives, its interest in SMEs is consistently developing. For instance, as EDI exchanges are finished electronically and promptly, they wipe out the costs that are regularly caused regarding paper writing material, delivering expenses, and work. Regulatory expenses are likewise shunned as the capacity of data is virtual, eliminating the need to spend on extra room. Also, the exact following of requests through paper-based cycles is dreary and profoundly wasteful. EDI programming can work on these undertakings and enhance inventory network activities, permitting SMEs to finish projects on schedule and convey the most noteworthy consumer loyalty. Subsequently, electronic information trade programming can considerably improve the benefit of SMEs in a limited capacity to focus time. Get Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/electronic-data-interchange-edi-software-market-103690 Regional Insights Speedy Growth of E-Commerce Industry to Fuel Market Growth in Asia Pacific The e-commerce industry in Asia Pacific has grown exponentially in the past few years, underpinned by rapid economic development in India and China. As a result, the demand for technologies boosting supply-chain efficiencies has surged, laying the foundation for the EDI software market growth in the region. Additionally, expansion of manufacturing activities and governmental support to industrial digitization will further propel the regional market. North America is expected to dominate the electronic data interchange software market share during the forecast period on account of active uptake of advanced EDI technologies powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). In 2019, the regions market size stood at USD 896.4 million. In Europe, the key market driver will be the strong presence of EDI solutions providers in the region. Competitive Landscape Development of Next-Gen Integrated EDI Solutions to Animate Competition The competitive landscape of this market is being increasingly characterized by activities of key players focusing on developing cutting-edge EDI solutions with wide applicability. In pursuit of this end, companies are collaborating with each other and broadening their sales horizons by diversifying their offerings. Request for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/electronic-data-interchange-edi-software-market-103690 List of Key Players Covered in the EDI Software Market Report: Babelway (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) Rocket Software, Inc. (Massachusetts, United States) Epicor Software Corporation (Texas, United States) Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany) SPS Commerce, Inc. (Minnesota, United States) Open Text Corporation (Waterloo, Canada) TrueCommerce Inc. (Pennsylvania, United States) MuleSoft LLC (California, United States) DiCentral Corporation (Texas, United States) Boomi Inc. (Dell Boomi) (Pennsylvania, United States) Industry Developments: June 2021: MuleSoft announced the launch of MuleSoft Accelerator for Healthcare, featuring a set of integrations and prebuilt APIs to retrieve public health data from external sources and common electronic health record systems. The reusable APIs and integrations will allow entities to save money and time and efficiently utilize resources. MuleSoft announced the launch of MuleSoft Accelerator for Healthcare, featuring a set of integrations and prebuilt APIs to retrieve public health data from external sources and common electronic health record systems. The reusable APIs and integrations will allow entities to save money and time and efficiently utilize resources. May 2021: DiCentral Corporation, a supply chain management specialist, collaborated with Tokyo-based Nippon Information and Communication (NI+C). The partnership will allow NI+C to augment its EDI capabilities to meet the rising demand for supply chain automation and outsourced B2B integration. Quick Buy - EDI Software Market Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/103690 Table of Contents Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources Executive Summary Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 Short-term Impact Long-term Impact Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Porters Five Force Analysis Global Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software Market Share Analysis and Matrix, 2019 Key Market Insights and Analysis, By Segments Global Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2016-2027 By Product Type (Value) Cloud Based On-Premise By Industry (Value) Healthcare Automotive Financial Services High-Tech/ Manufacturing Retail Logistics Others (Telecom, etc.) By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America TOC Continued! Speak To Our Analyst- https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/electronic-data-interchange-edi-software-market-103690 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Energy Management System Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (System and Services), By End User (Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Building Automation, Energy & Utilities, Automotive, Pharmaceutical, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 Cloud Managed Services Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Service Type (Managed Business Services, Managed Network Services, Managed Infrastructure Services, Managed Security Services, Managed Mobility Services, and Managed Communication and Collaboration Services), By Deployment (Public Cloud, Private Cloud), By Enterprise Size (SMEs, Large Enterprises), By Vertical and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 Enterprise Governance, Risk, and Compliance (eGRC) Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Software and Services), By Deployment Model (Cloud-based, On-premise), By Enterprises Size (Large Enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprises), By Vertical (BFSI, Healthcare, Government, Energy & Utilities, Manufacturing, Retail & Consumer Goods, Telecom & IT, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 Digital Signature Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Software, Hardware, and Services), By Deployment (Cloud, and On-Premises), By Enterprise Size (Large Enterprises and Small & Medium Enterprises), By Industry (BFSI, IT and Telecommunications, Government, Healthcare & Life Science, Education, Retail, Real Estate, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 Video Conferencing Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Solution and Services), By Conference Type (Telepresence, Integrated, Desktop, and Service-based Video Conferencing System), By Deployment (Cloud, On-premises), By Enterprises Size (Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises), By Application (Small Rooms, Huddle Rooms, Middle Rooms, and Large Rooms), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. 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Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1-424-253-0390 UK: +44-2071-939123 APAC: +91-744-740-1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Fortune Business Insights LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs China has made great efforts to promote poverty alleviation through culture and tourism since 2012, giving the cultural and tourism industry a huge role in benefiting and enriching people. During the past five years, the country invested a total of more than 6.36 billion yuan ($980 million) of tourism development fund, and dispatched over 132,000 personnel from cultural industries to former revolutionary base areas, ethnic minorities areas, border areas and impoverished areas, turning cultural and natural resources into wealth and creating jobs for impoverished residents. It has greatly promoted the economic and social development of impoverished regions. Simola is a village inhabited by Va people surrounded by green mountains and clear creeks in southwest China's Yunnan Province. In recent years, the village has developed into a key tourism village on national level, receiving 210,000 visits in 2020. Li Shunfa, a villager who was once trapped in poverty, has embraced a well-off life thanks to local tourism development. According to the man, he can sell more than 300 rice cakes per day. Bashan Grand Canyon, lying on the northwest of Xuanhan County, Dazhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, has paved a new path for local residents to get rid of poverty through cultural tourism. It has lifted 102 villages and 91,000 residents out of poverty, and increased income for 25 townships and 500,000 residents in Sichuan's adjacent province Shaanxi and municipality Chongqing. Many impoverished regions in China boast rich ecological resources. The development of rural tourism is turning green mountains and lucid water into invaluable assets. As China gradually improves its system of tourism-driven poverty alleviation, it has constantly expanded the ways to eradicate poverty. Farmlands and scenic spots have been well integrated across China, and production, ecology and daily life are also closely connected, which has effectively turned resources into assets, capital into equities, and villagers into shareholders. More and more residents are beginning enjoying the dividends of tourism development after shaking off poverty. According to an official with China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the ministry and other relevant departments will invest 6.5 billion yuan to support 656 tourism infrastructure projects in "three regions" (Tibet, the four prefectures of Hotan, Aksu, Kashgar, and Kizilsu in southern Xinjiang, and the ethnic Tibetan areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai) and "three prefectures" (Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan, and Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu). Besides, the ministry will also facilitate the issuance of loans worth 70 billion yuan to continue improving rural environment and advance rural tourism in impoverished regions, the official said. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism also attaches high importance on talent cultivation, helping people increase confidence in their own ability to lift themselves out of poverty and see that they can access the education they need. The ministry implemented a talent support plan in former revolutionary base areas, ethnic minorities areas, border areas and impoverished areas, introduced professionals to these areas based on their actual demands, and implemented a program to nurture rural cultural and tourism entrepreneurial leaders. It offered over 700 training sessions in impoverished regions, which significantly stimulated the endogenous power for development of these regions. In remote villages of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, traditional ethnic crafts are revitalized. Thanks to the efforts made by local government, the inheritors of intangible cultural heritage items, including bamboo weaving and brocading, joined training courses held by Jiangnan University and other institutions of higher education. Luo Weiying, after learning from two training sessions, established a cooperative that employs 132 residents of her village, creating an annual income of 580,000 yuan. The value and connotation of cultural tourism is also further explored by relevant departments and enterprises to extend the value chain for poverty alleviation industries. "Many craftsmen in remote rural areas have unique expertise, but lack access to the market, so we must help them cooperate with more parties," said Xia Hua, chairman of board of garment producer Eve Group. The group has launched standardized training programs in impoverished villages in Yunnan Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Guizhou Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, making traditional handiworks more artistic, trendy and international. It has helped over 13,000 local residents increase income. The pandemic has exposed the unstable foundation of Australias agriculture industry, a $54 billion-a-year goliath that has long been underpinned by the work of young, transient foreigners. Border closures and other measures to keep the coronavirus out of the country have left Australia with a deficit of 26,000 farmworkers, according to the nations top agriculture association. As a result, tens of millions of dollars in crops have gone to waste from coast to coast. Weve never faced a worker shortage like this in my 40 years, said Peter Hall, who owns an orchard in southeastern Australia. I suspect for each lot of crop, well just not get there in time. This enormous crop destruction has fueled rising calls for Australia to rethink how it secures farm labor, with many pushing for an immigration overhaul that would give agricultural workers a pathway to permanent residency. UBCO researchers are concerned about how the actions of some scientists, advocacy groups and the public are eroding efforts to conserve biodiversity, including grizzly bears, wild bees and salmon. Credit: UBC Okanagan A group of researchers, spanning six universities and three continents, are sounding the alarm on a topic not often discussed in the context of conservationmisinformation. In a recent study published in FACETS, the team, including Dr. Adam Ford, Canada Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology, and Dr. Clayton Lamb, Liber Ero Fellow, both based in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, explain how the actions of some scientists, advocacy groups and the public are eroding efforts to conserve biodiversity. "Outcomes, not intentions, should be the basis for how we view success in conservation," says Dr. Ford. "Misinformation related to vaccines, climate change, and links between smoking and cancer has made it harder for science to create better policies for people," he says. "Weaponizing information to attack other groups impedes our ability to solve problems that affect almost everyone. We wanted to know if these issues were also a problem for people working to conserve biodiversity. "Conservation is not perfect and things can go wrong. Sometimes people mean well, and harm ensues by accident. Sometimes people's actions are much more sinister." The study points to multiple examples of good intentions ending badly from across the globe, including the case of the Huemul deer in Patagonia National Park, Chile. "We reviewed one case where the primary objective of a newly-established park was to protect the endangered Huemul deer. The goal was to make the landscape a little better for these deer in hopes of increasing the population," explains Dr. Lamb. "In doing so, they removed the domestic livestock from the park, and as a result, the natural predators in the system lost their usual food source and ate many of the deer, causing the population to decline further. It's a textbook case of misplaced conservation." Dr. Lamb points to other cases including mass petitions against shark finning in Florida, although the practice was previously banned there; planting a species of milkweed in an attempt to save monarch butterflies, only to ultimately harm them; and closer to home, the sharing of misinformation in regards to the British Columbia grizzly bear hunt. "When we see province-wide policies like banning grizzly hunting, those go against the wishes of some local communities in some parts of the provinceand choosing to steamroll their perspectives is damaging relationships and alienating the partners we need on board to protect biodiversity," says Dr. Ford. He suggests using a 'big tent' approach may help combat some of the problems. "We need to work together on the 90 percent of goals that we share in common, as opposed to focusing on the 10 percent of issues where we disagree. There are many clear wins for people and wildlife waiting to be actioned right now, we need to work together to make those happen," says Dr. Ford. Dr. Lamb says doing so is likely to improve cooperation among parties and increase the use of evidence-based approaches in conservation; ultimately suppressing the spread of misinformation and occurrences of polarization. "Although we're seeing some misplaced efforts, we're also seeing genuine care and good community energy in many of these caseswe just need to find a way to harness this energy in the right direction." More information: Adam T. Ford et al, Understanding and avoiding misplaced efforts in conservation, FACETS (2021). Adam T. Ford et al, Understanding and avoiding misplaced efforts in conservation,(2021). DOI: 10.1139/facets-2020-0058 According to the top cop the operation on Monday went smoothly except for a few reports received by the Command Centre that persons going to and from their essential jobs, were turned back by certain police officers in error. [March 04, 2021] 2600Hz Announces Gold Sponsorship of Cavell's Cloud Comms Summit Europe HENDERSON, Nev., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 2600Hz , a leading provider of unified business communications and the world-renowned KAZOO platform, is excited to announce it will be a Gold Sponsor of Cavell's Cloud Comms Summit Europe virtual event. The summit, which is the biggest Service Provider event in Europe, will be held virtually on March 17th and 18th and will feature main stage keynotes, breakout sessions, and panel discussions, as well as opportunities for attendees to explore the virtual expo. On March 17th, 2600Hz COO and Co-Founder Patrick Sullivan will take the main stage to present "Staying Ahea in a Competitive Market" a keynote presentation in which he will share how Service Providers can differentiate their offering and will discuss the importance of integrations, automations, and customizations in creating growth opportunities. Sullivan will also participate in the panel discussion "Innovation in the Roaring 20's" where he will provide insight into what developments the industry should be expecting and what impact they will have on Service Providers. "We are thrilled to be part of this industry-leading event as a Gold Sponsor and look forward to connecting with Service Providers across Europe," said Sullivan. "Cavell's events are always exceptional, and we are excited to support this important summit, while also sharing key insights with attendees that will enable them to strategically create growth opportunities." Dominic Black, Director of Research at Cavell, said "the event comes at a time when service providers need to figure out what impact the changes that have taken place over the past year, such as the way people work and how they communicate, will have on their customers' ongoing requirements. We are delighted to have 2600Hz join us as one of our gold sponsors at the event and we look forward to having them share their views on recent developments alongside other key thought-leaders in our industry." About 2600Hz: 2600Hz's UC platform KAZOO modernizes how businesses provide communications services. With thoughtfully engineered tools built by leaders in the telecom industry, KAZOO offers feature-rich UCaaS, CPaaS, and CCaaS as well as 300+ APIs. For more information, visit http://www.2600Hz.com. 2600Hz is a privately owned company with a distributed team worldwide. 2600Hz Contact: Alisa Bartash Head of Marketing alisa@2600hz.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2600hz-announces-gold-sponsorship-of-cavells-cloud-comms-summit-europe-301239943.html SOURCE 2600hz, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 'The biggest defender': Why Wolf's legacy matters in 2022 Gov. Tom Wolf's veto pen has frequently been the only thing to stop legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature from becoming law. One of the most tourism-dependent countries in the world, Thailand is eyeing plans for vaccine passports and quarantine waivers as the global covid-19 inoculation drive gathers pace. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha this week ordered officials to look into vaccine certificates for international travel after signaling the nation -- famed for its palm-fringed beaches, temples and backpacker culture -- is open to scrapping the two-week quarantine for inoculated visitors. The local tourism industry wants mandatory quarantines to be lifted from as early as July 1 so it can open to potentially millions of vaccinated tourists. A successful reopening by Thailand could spur other tourism-reliant nations to follow suit, as countries like the U.K. set out ambitious timelines for easing restrictions on their populations and resuming international travel. While the World Health Organization warned this week about the risks of loosening up too fast, places like Thailand -- which saw almost 40 million overseas visitors in 2019 -- are seeing long-lasting damage to their economies with global travel paralyzed and borders closed a year into the pandemic. "A gradual reopening, with the appropriate cautionary steps taken, will undoubtedly save businesses, jobs and bolster the economy," said John Blanco, general manager at luxury hotel Capella Bangkok, in Thailand's capital. "Given the building global momentum of vaccination, it would make sense to begin planning for the necessary steps." Thailand's central bank says tourism, which accounted for about a fifth of the country's gross domestic product pre-pandemic, is key to returning Southeast Asia's second-largest economy to growth. Thailand's GDP contracted 6.1% in 2020, the most this century. Despite a flare-up in infections earlier this year, Thailand has largely contained covid-19, with just 85 deaths over the course of the pandemic. The country needs to balance keeping the virus out and protecting the local population with countering the economic hit. While it's already made some efforts to reopen borders to foreign tourists, strict quarantine rules have kept most away. William Heinecke, chairman of Minor International, which operates 500 hotels worldwide, is leading a campaign to petition the Thai government to reopen the borders from the third quarter after the pandemic forced hundreds of hotels and tourism businesses to close. "The current situation is unsustainable," says the online petition, which got almost 7,500 signatories in three days. "The July 1 reopening would be a strategic opportunity for Thailand to show a leadership role among Asian countries and prepare the way for a solid recovery of the Thai economy in 2022." Prime Minister Prayuth has cautioned against rushing to issue vaccine passports and wants more coordination with other countries. On track to have vaccinated most of its population soon, Israel is making deals to allow its citizens to travel to a number of countries, including Greece. While months away from issuing them, the European Union is also prioritizing immunity certificates, and Britain is expected to conclude a review of "covid status certification," but only by June 21. Europeans, including people from the U.K., made up 16% of the foreign tourists into Thailand in 2019. The country started to roll out vaccines this week and aims to inoculate 50% of its population by the end of this year. There are also plans to distribute vaccines in tourist hotspots such as Phuket and Koh Samui in preparation for a wider reopening. The government eased curbs on businesses and travel after bringing the recent virus resurgence under control. But having skipped a nationwide lockdown to tackle the resurgence, Thailand may not return to zero cases anytime soon, according to Thira Woratanarat, an associate professor at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine. "Figuring out how to reopen for tourists is as important as planning vaccine distribution," said Somprawin Manprasert, chief economist at Bank of Ayudhya Pcl. "The sooner the country can reopen for tourists, the sooner the recovery." "The second wave just delayed the recovery, rather than derailed it," he said. "Even though we're still in the dark, there's light at the end of the tunnel." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated its zombie apocalypse preparedness section on its website, which was originally published in 2011. What makes it interesting is that the Zombie Preparedness section was updated at a time when millions of people are experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also came to a year that French astrologer Nostradamus predicted a zombie apocalypse. Many are claiming that Nostradamus predicted a zombie apocalypse in 2021. The CDC ties back preparedness advice to zombies with a blog post listing out the things needed, such as necessary supplies at home, in case of a zombie apocalypse, Yahoo Life reported. The CDC said they launched the zombie apocalypse survival guidelines to draw new audiences that have been proven to be an effective strategy in tackling disaster preparedness. With this, the agency noted that they could continue to reach and engage various audiences on all hazard's preparedness. CDC is also offering lesson plans for educators on zombie apocalypse preparedness. "Once you've made your emergency kit, you should sit down with your family and come up with an emergency plan. This includes where you would go and who you would call if zombies started appearing outside your door step," the CDC wrote on its site. The CDC added that people could also use the zombie apocalypse survival guide if there is a flood, earthquake, or other emergencies. The agency has also created the CDC Foundation that offers Zombie Task Force t-shirts. The CDC said proceeds would go to benefit disaster relief efforts and other important health programs. RELATED ARTICLE: Pentagon Uses Zombie Scenario for Training: US Military Has Elaborate Response to Apocalypse in Document 'CONOP 8888' What Experts Say About the CDC's Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guidelines Disaster preparedness experts and doctors lauded the CDC campaign, saying it is actually pretty smart. Here are some tips given by the CDC for an emergency situation like a zombie attack: make an emergency kit with water and food lasting for several days, plan your evacuation route, identify your emergency contacts, and "pick a meeting place for your family to regroup in case zombies invade your home." John Sellick, a professor in the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, said that he thinks it is "great," adding that disaster preparedness is crucial. Cheryl Nelson, a FEMA-certified natural disaster preparedness instructor and founder of Prepare with Cher, said the idea is brilliant because it could gain attention and it makes preparing fun. Mitchel Rosen, an associate professor in the Department of Urban and Global Public Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health, noted that the CDC is only trying to make disaster preparedness relatable to all populations and fun to learn. Lee Clarke, a sociology professor at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, told Yahoo Life that substituting "zombie" for "hurricane" or "flood" is interesting, and "it draws people in." The CDC admits that the scenario is just fictional. However, the agency said the zombie apocalypse survival guidelines are still useful for teaching legitimate emergency preparedness skills, Newsweek reported. Sellick noted that the underlying message, which is to be prepared for the unexpected, is important and relevant nowadays. Meanwhile, a Reuters investigation earlier found that there was no evidence to support claims that Nostradamus had predicted the COVID-19 pandemic. READ ALSO: CDC Releases New Guidance When to Continue and Stop Home Isolation The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Patna, March 4 : Amid a surge in crime cases in Bihar, the leders of the ruling coalition in the state have advocated to endorse the Uttar Pradesh model in a bid to create fear in the minds of the criminals. BJP MLA Pawan Jaiswal said: "The state government is taking strict action against criminals, which is appreciable. It would be more appreciable if we overturn the vehicles of the criminals on the lines of the Uttar Pradesh model." "It is up to you to extract the meaning of overturning the vehicles of the criminals on the lines of the Uttar Pradesh model. I am not saying encounter," Jaiswal added. When reporters asked him if he is advocating the Bihar government to endorse the UP model of crime prevention, he said the models of UP CM Yogi Adityanath or Bihar CM Nitish Kumar were not different. JD(U) MLA Sanjeev Kumar said: "The Nitish Kumar government has zero tolerance for crime and criminals. At the same time, it is equally important to overturn the vehicles of the criminals. There is no harm in it. The actual goal is to reduce crime and create fear in the minds of the criminals." Meanwhile, RJD MLA Alok Mehta said: "This is not the Germany of Hitler. This is the land of socialist ideology. If it remains the same, it will be better for everyone." Limited ("Reliance Power") and JERA Co. Inc. ("JERA"), through their joint venture project company, are developing a new gas-fired power generation project in Bangladesh. The project company has achieved financial closure for the project with a group of lenders that includes Japan Bank for International Cooperation ("JBIC") & Asian Development Bank ("ADB") and all requisite conditions for availing drawdown under the loan agreements have been satisfied. The Project is to build, own, and operate a 745 MW (net output: 718 MW) natural gas combined-cycle power project in Meghnaghat, Narayanganj, located approximately 40 km southeast of Dhaka (the "Project" / "Phase 1"). Reliance Power's wholly owned subsidiary Samalkot Power Limited ("Samalkot Power") has received the approval from the Export Import Bank of the United States ("US Exim Bank") to sell one module of equipment (Module 1) to Samsung C&T Corporation ("Samsung C&T") of South Korea, who is the EPC contractor for the Project, for Rs. 1540 Crore. Notice to Proceed has been issued by the Project Company to Samsung C&T, who in turn has issued the Notice to Proceed to Samalkot Power for supply of equipment. Samalkot Power will supply one module of world-class equipment procured from internationally reputed original equipment manufacturers to the Phase 1 Project in Bangladesh. Reliance Power's net worth is Rs. 12,063 Crore and Debt to Equity Ratio is 2.24:1, which is among the lowest in the industry (31st Dec. 2020). will achieve a total debt reduction of upto Rs. 3,000 Crore by March 2021. Limited, a part of the Reliance Group, is India's leading private sector power generation and coal resources company. The company has one of the largest portfolios of power projects in the private sector in India, based on coal, gas and renewable energy, with an operating portfolio of 5,945 megawatts. (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 Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below FORT WORTH, Texas, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone knows the cost of a four-year college education is rising faster than other expenses. What isn't common knowledge yet: a two-year community college associate degree has never been a better route to a four-year college bachelor's degree than it is today. But which community colleges stand out from the pack? Looking to get equipped for the job market faster? Want an alternative start to a bachelor's degree by getting an associate degree first? AcademicInfluence.com ranks the 50 best community colleges for you. AcademicInfluence.com ranks the leading two-year community college programs in the United States here: 50 Best Community Colleges of 2021 Criteria for the schools in this ranking include a minimum of 1,000 enrolled students, full accreditation, and exclusively two-year (or associate) degree programs. The following schools rank among the top 50: Anne Arundel Community College Baltimore City Community College BGSU Firelands Bossier Parish Community College Bronx Community College Brookdale Community College Bunker Hill Community College Butler Community College College Canada College Capital Community College Central Wyoming College Chabot College City College of San Francisco College of Marin Columbia College (California) Community College of Beaver County County College of Morris De Anza College Eastern Arizona College Eastern Maine Community College Fullerton College Holyoke Community College KennedyKing College LaGuardia Community College Lamar Institute of Technology Lamar State CollegePort Arthur Lassen College Lewis and Clark Community College Los Angeles City College Los Angeles Valley College Massachusetts Bay Community College Merritt College Mesa Community College Mitchell Community College Montgomery College Nassau Community College North Dakota State College of Science Northern Essex Community College Northwest Mississippi Community College Pulaski Technical College Richland Community College Roxbury Community College Sacramento City College Santa Fe Community College Scottsdale Community College Springfield Technical Community College Trinity Valley Community College West Kentucky Community and Technical College and Technical College West Valley College Western Piedmont Community College Visit the link above to view the final ranking order, find top schools by state, and see additional schools outside the top 50. "In rankings on other sites, students typically see only the largest community colleges. We believe we take a smarter and more comprehensive approach," says Dr. Jed Macosko, academic director of AcademicInfluence.com and professor of physics at Wake Forest University. "We look at how influential the school's faculty is and then factor in the student body size. We call this metric 'Concentrated Influence.' Those community colleges with a strong faculty but comparatively fewer students, schools that might otherwise get lost in the shadows of their larger competitors, now have an opportunity to shine," says Macosko. "Because students often choose to attend a school nearby, this kind of illumination provides a truer view of how influential their neighborhood community college may actually be, regardless of its size." Students who graduate from a community college often get a head start in the job market, earning a salary that can help defray the costs of transitioning to a more expensive four-year school. And for some, an associate degree may be all they need. "Two-year or four-year, associate, bachelor's, master's, or even doctorate, AcademicInfluence.com can help you chart a degree path that suits you," says Macosko. "We offer multiple resources to students, from our College Strategist and Desirability Score to our Custom College Rankings and helpful college-related articles. Visit our site and get the help you need, whatever your next educational step might be." AcademicInfluence.com generates rankings through its unique InfluenceRanking Engine, which scans the web and maps the impact of a school's thought leadership across a variety of disciplines. For details on this high-tech ranking system, see the AcademicInfluence.com About page . AcademicInfluence.com is the preeminent technology-driven rankings site dedicated to students, researchers, and inquirers from high school through college and beyond, offering resources that connect learners to leaders. AcademicInfluence.com is a part of the EducationAccess group, a family of sites dedicated to lifelong learning and personal growth, including Influence Networks, InfluencePublishers.com (nonfiction publishing and publishers of Bright Notes), IntelligentEducation.com (instructional video library), AlexandriaLibrary.com (free, online library and reader), and soon, Success Portraits (personalized strengths inventory for college and career). Contact: Jed Macosko, Ph.D. Academic Director AcademicInfluence.com [email protected] (682) 302-4945 SOURCE AcademicInfluence.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A Los Angeles mom pushing for schools to reopen has accused a teachers union of racial profiling after they asked for her ethnicity in an email and later blamed 'white wealthy parents' for a 'rushed return' to classrooms. Maryam Qudrat, who is of Afghan descent, says she received an email from United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the union which represents staff in the LA Unified School District, asking how she identifies after she spoke with the press. Cecily Myart-Cruz, head of UTLA, then slammed a reopening plan proposed Monday, arguing it was being driven largely by 'white wealthy parents'. In January - shortly before Qudrat received her email - Myart-Cruz said union members have been 'stalked on social media by wealthy white and Middle Eastern parents' about the reopenings. Qudrat, whose son is in seventh grade, told Fox11: 'Their conclusion is if you want schools to reopen right now, then that means you are racist against African Americans and Latinos.' She was emailed by the union, who said they were conducting a survey on people who have spoken to the media about the reopenings. Qudrat added: 'I felt very targeted. 'I think that they are very clearly case building, they are trying to collect data on folks like me who have been quoted in the LA Times, and they're trying to say that if you are in favor the kids coming back to school, you're racist. 'Anybody who spends 30 seconds reading that email would see that it is very clear pointed racism, they are racial profiling. If it was sent out to somebody who was African American or Latino, they would have a lawsuit on their hands.' Maryam Qudrat has accused United Teachers Los Angeles of racial profiling her after they blamed 'white wealthy parents' for the rush to get back in classrooms Qudrat was emailed by the union, who said they were conducting a survey on people who have spoken to the media about the reopenings Qudrat has been behind calls for schools to reopen in the district. On Monday California Gov Gavin Newsom said that the state had reached a deal to fund getting children back in classrooms. She added: 'I'm a mom and an educator and I want our kids to come back to school.' She says she received an email asking her about her race and class as part of a 'research project' on those who have spoken to the media on the issue. The UTLA said in a statement: 'The email in question is from a UTLA researcher who was attempting to ascertain the race of individuals quoted in order to assess whether or not that is a factor we could evaluate. 'This outreach by the researcher was not authorized and nothing from that outreach is contained in the report. We understand this type of email could be taken out of context.' Qudrat, whose son is in seventh grade, told Fox11 : 'Their conclusion is if you want schools to reopen right now, then that means you are racist against African Americans and Latinos' Cecily Myart-Cruz, head of UTLA, this week slammed a reopening plan proposed Monday and argued that it was being driven largely by 'white wealthy parents'. In January she posted to Facebook that union members have been 'stalked on social media by wealthy white and Middle Eastern parents' about the reopenings The UTLA has already said it fears that Newsom's school reopening plan will favor 'white and wealthier schools' in neighborhoods where COVID-19 is less prevalent. It's the latest in a series of controversial statements from school boards in California, with the entire Oakley Union Elementary School District resigning last month after a member said parents wanted schools open so they could sit home and smoke pot. Meanwhile, a teacher who runs the union in Oakland said last month that 'rich white parents' complaining about schools being shut should 'take a seat.' Newsom and lawmakers have been under increasing pressure to come up with a statewide plan to allow students to return for in-person classes given most have been learning from home for the past year. If approved by the Legislature, the plan announced on Monday would see $2 billion set aside to pay districts that get select groups of students into classrooms by the end of the month. Cecily Myart-Cruz, head of UTLA, has slammed the plan and argued that it was being driven largely by 'white wealthy parents'. Cecily Myart-Cruz, head of United Teachers Los Angeles, has slammed Gov Gavin Newsom's plan and argued that it was being driven largely by 'white wealthy parents'. 'Some voices are being allowed to speak louder than others. We have to call out the privilege behind the largely white wealthy parents driving the push for a rushed return,' she told KABC. She said their experiences amid the pandemic was not the same as those endured by the families of students of color. 'Unfortunately, the plan reverts to deeply flawed ideas in Gavin Newsom's proposal in December to offer school districts more money if they open faster,' Myart-Cruz said. 'If you condition funding on the reopening of schools, that money will only go to white and wealthier schools that do not have the transmission rates that low income black and brown communities do.' The Los Angeles Unified School District has more than 650,000 students, according to district materials, and is 74 percent Latino, 10 percent white and 7.8 percent black. California's budget package, which is $6.6 billion in total, marks the latest effort by a US state to get schoolchildren back in class after nearly a year confined to home learning. The United Teachers Los Angeles, which is the union that represents staff in the Los Angeles Unified School District, fears that Newsom's school reopening plan will favor 'white and wealthier schools' in neighborhoods where COVID-19 is less prevalent Newsom and lawmakers have been under increasing pressure to come up with a statewide plan to allow students to return for in-person classes given most have been learning from home for the past year. Pictured are protesters in Los Angeles California teachers' union president is filmed dropping off his daughter, two, at her private preschool - despite leading the charge that it's UNSAFE to open public schools Matt Meyer (above), president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers The president of a California teacher's union has been branded a hypocrite after he was caught dropping off his two-year-old daughter at her private preschool - despite saying it was unsafe for kids to be in classrooms. Matt Meyer, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, has fought for what he called the 'gold standard' for educators in his district - insisting public schools should reopen for in-person learning only when the teachers are vaccinated, among other criteria, according to KQED. However, he has since come under fire from angry parents after a group known as Guerrilla Momz followed Meyer and his daughter to her pre-school, where they captured him dropping her off for in-person lessons on February 18. 'Meet Matt Meyer. White man with dreads and president of the local teachers' union,' the group wrote on Twitter. 'He's been saying it is unsafe for *your kid* to be back at school, all the while dropping his kid off at private school.' In a separate post to YouTube, the group added: 'Matt Meyer Berkeley Federation of Teachers President blocks opening public schools in-person, yet has had his own child in in-person school since June 2020. Stop the hypocrisy. Our children are suffering. Open schools full-time Now.' Meyer called the actions of Guerrilla Momz 'very inappropriate' and an intrusion on his daughter's privacy, though her face is blurred in the video. The embattled union president also added that there were 'no public options for kids her age'. 'There are major differences in running a small preschool and a 10,000 student public school district in terms of size, facilities, public health guidance and services that legally have to be provided,' Meyer told Fox News. Advertisement To get their slice of the $2 billion, districts in counties under the state's most restrictive set of COVID rules - known as the purple tier - must offer in-person learning for transitional kindergarten through second grade, plus certain vulnerable students in all grades. This includes students who are disabled, homeless, in foster care, learning English, don't have access to technology or are at risk of abuse and neglect. Counties in the next group, known as the red tier, must offer in-person instruction for all elementary school grades, plus at least one grade each in middle and high schools. With new COVID cases falling, Newsom said he expects most counties to be in the red tier by the end of the month. Districts that meet the March 31 deadline get full compensation based on a complicated formula, while those that meet the standards after April 1 get less money. Districts that fail to have children back in classrooms before May 15 won't get any money. The bill does not say how long students must be in the classroom each week. The legislation announced by Newsom does not require districts to have an agreement with teachers' unions on a plan for in-person instruction. That is a barrier that many districts, including the nation's second-largest district in Los Angeles, have not been able to overcome. The plan also doesn't require all teachers be vaccinated, which teacher unions had urged and that could take months given the nation's limited supply of vaccine. The legislation would make it state law that 10 percent of the state's vaccine supply be set aside specifically for teachers and school staff. The plan does not order districts to make the return compulsory and no parents would be compelled to send their kids back to school in-person. 'You can't reopen your economy unless you get your schools reopened for in-person instruction,' Gov Newsom said. 'We expect all of our transitional kindergarten to grade two classrooms open within the next month. 'And our core belief is this: Once you dip your toe in... once you build trust, then we will start to see a cadence of reopening across the spectrum.' The announcement comes at a critical time for Newsom, who could face a recall election later this year fueled by anger over his response to the pandemic. Newsom has imposed some of the harshest restrictions of any state on California's roughly 40 million residents, and many businesses still remain closed. The state's two largest teachers unions mostly praised the agreement, with California Federation of Teachers President Jeff Freitas calling the prioritization of vaccines for teachers 'a huge victory.' Kevin Gordon, a lobbyist representing many of the state's school districts, called the plan 'a grand slam home run,' saying it 'dismantled every impediment to reopening that we've had so far.' AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" of Kuwait Insurance Company S.A.K.P. (KIC) (Kuwait). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect KIC's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. KIC's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Further support to the balance sheet strength assessment stems from KIC's consistent internal capital generation and prudent reserving. Offsetting factors include KIC's high dependence on reinsurance, although the associated counterparty risk is partially mitigated by the use of a reinsurance panel of strong credit quality. In addition, KIC's capital position is exposed to potential volatility through the company's high-risk investment strategy, with Gulf Cooperation Council equities accounting for a significant proportion of total assets. KIC's strong level of operating performance, demonstrated by a five-year average (2015-2019) return-on-equity ratio of 8.4%, is driven by the company's solid technical results. Non-life underwriting profitability has been strong, with combined ratios below 85% in each of the past five years, and life operations have been a positive contributor to earnings, albeit moderate. Investment performance provides a significant and largely positive contribution to earnings with a five-year (2015-2019) net investment return (excluding gains and losses) of 3.8%. However, investment returns remain subject to volatility from regional equity market performance. KIC holds a well-established position within its domestic insurance market, from which it sources all premium. The company has good product diversification, offering a comprehensive range of non-life, life and takaful products, and maintains a strong presence in corporate business lines, including general accident and property. In 2019, KIC generated gross written premiums of KD 37.6 million (USD 124.1 million), compared with KD 36.3 million in 2018. The business profile assessment remains constrained by the company's geographic concentration and modest scale by international standards. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005911/en/ Contacts: Emily Thompson Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0291 emily.thompson@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Michael Dunckley, CFA Associate Director +44 20 7397 0276 michael.dunckley@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com Deepak Sekar founded Chowbotics, a food prep company that makes a refrigerator-sized robot called Sally, which prepares salads and other meals. The Indian American entrepreneur (right) is seen with Akshet Tewari, CEO of Barsys, which has a line of automated cocktail makers. (chowbotics.com photo) Hyderabad, March 4 : Rockwell Industries, a pioneering commercial cold chain appliances manufacturer, on Thursday launched Chillermill, the world's first chiller/freezer powered by hybrid (solar and wind) renewable energy, that would be ideal for storing vaccines including Covid-19 vaccines at the desired temperature. The company also rolled out their new Covid-19 vaccine freezer series. World Health Organization PQS certified freezer series, will be manufactured at Rockwell's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Medchal, Hyderabad. The entire system is certified by the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) Hyderabad. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Government of Telangana for the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT), formally launched the new range of Covid-19 vaccines chillers, a simple plug and play standalone unit, powered by SolarMill, a hybrid (wind & solar) energy solution, manufactured by WindStream Energy Technologies ideal for remote areas where availability of electricity is not stable. The Hybrid Renewable System comprising Savonius vertical axis wind turbines, along with a solar module enables the refrigerator to run 24/7 on power stored in batteries. SolarMills are also being used in powering critical applications of defence forces, Railways and Telecom domain. Commending Rockwell for its need of the hour technological innovation, and its new Covid-19 vaccine focussed hybrid renewable energy driven Chillermill and the WHO certified new Covid-19 Freezer series, Jayesh Ranjan said government's and immunization programmes rely on a complicated cold chain of freezers and temperature-controlled conditions and Rockwell has developed the much-needed refrigeration technology to address these challenges to preserve vaccine, healthcare products, and other deep-freezing applications. "There are places especially, many rural hospitals and immunization sites that can't depend on the unreliable power supply. With our new renewable energy-supported freezers/chillers, we are in a position to help the health sector overcome these challenges. Technologically they meet the strictest biosafety, biomedical needs and solve the pain points in the cold chain," said Ashok Gupta, Managing Director, Rockwell Industries. The company is in active discussion with leading vaccine players nationally and internationally to supply Chillermill. "We expect to close in orders worth Rs 25 crore this year and hope to achieve Rs 50 crore by the end of 2022," Ashok added Rockwell, which has a size of over Rs 125 crore in the segment, may touch Rs 350 crore in the next few years, Ashok Gupta, revealed. Rockwell's fully operational plants in Medchal, Hyderabad, can produce over 400,000 units per annum. Further, the company has earmarked an investment of Rs 50 crore towards R&D, new capacities and adding a new marketing network to its existing network of over 500 outlets. The company plans to participate in several tenders of Central and state governments, public and private enterprises for refrigerators and freezers. Rockwell has the widest range of commercial and medical refrigeration appliances in the industry ideal for use in diverse environments and energy conditions, it sells about 100,000 units of its range of products to customers in India and different parts of the world. In an initiative to increase their green footprint, Rockwell has partnered with WindStream Energy Technologies for providing unique hybrid (solar wind) Renewable energy solutions for the power needs of refrigerators and chillers/freezers. Rockwell's Chillermill and the new Covid-19 vaccine freezer series meet the temperature protocols of currently available vaccines for Covid-19 including India's Covaxin, AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, Moderna, and the Sputnik Vaccine temperature requirement of storage temperature between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. The new Chillermill can also meet the minus 40 degrees Celsius requirement. With the nationwide coronavirus vaccination drive getting far bigger for the second phase covering 50 plus age groups, the demand and need for commercial refrigeration to ensure a sustainable supply chain is growing across the globe. Further, as vaccines begin to receive commercial licensure, Rockwell anticipates the requirement for its products is bound to grow even more, from major healthcare manufacturers, R&D facilities, and rising healthcare expenditure. According to the data from the WHO, due to the lack of temperature control or continuous cold chain during vaccine transportation, 5-20 per cent of vaccine loses its potency. A recent market research report published early this year by Meticulous Research mentioned the vaccine storage equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.6 per cent from 2020 to reach $1.83 billion by 2027. The demand for cold storage solutions from pharma and other segments is expected to post a 17 per cent growth in 2021 to Rs 1.7 trillion, according to market research firm IMARC Services. In addition to the demand for cold storage to house Covid-19 vaccines, there is a rush in demand from pharma and allied sectors for cold chain products. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chandigarh, March 4 : Expressing concern over the depleting groundwater level in the state, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution urging the state government to take immediate steps for saving it. Speaker Rana K.P. Singh announced to constitute a high-level committee for exploring the ways and means to recharge the water table. The decision came after member Kuldeep Singh Vaid, while participating in the debate on deteriorating ground water table, proposed the constitution of a committee to study the matter. Immediately swinging into action, the Speaker announced to constitute the committee which would submit the report within three months. The Speaker said the matter was too serious and as the members of the House have taken up this issue so it is the moral duty of the House to intervene in the matter. He urged the state to depute the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department for assisting the committee. He said besides looking into this grave matter, the committee would also propose ways and means to recharge the water table so that this precious natural resource can be saved for the coming generations. Unanimously welcoming the announcement of the Speaker, the entire House thanked him by thumping the tables. Taking part in discussion, Cabinet Ministers Manpreet Singh Badal and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said water is the most precious resource for human existence. They said the state led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is duty-bound to save the water "for our coming generations". Both the ministers said the government is already sensitised towards this issue and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause. Earlier, the discussion on this crucial issue was initiated by member Harminder Singh Gill whereas Leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema and legislators Rana Gurjit Singh, Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, Kuldeep Singh Vaid, Gurpratap Singh Wadala, Aman Arora, Kanwar Sandhu and others took part in discussion. Go ahead, Easter and Christmas - be the religious holidays that dominate the candy aisles. But when it comes to the school calendar and what we consider official holidays? Time for Santa and the Bunny to step aside and let the holidays that other Americans celebrate have a chance. This is what the Fairfax County, Va., School Board is wrestling with in a drawn-out, contorted debate about whether to expand the holiday calendar to add Jewish and Muslim holidays, something school districts across the nation already have done. "We have elementary schools [where kids] are a quarter absent" on Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, school board member Abrar Omeish said in a meeting last month on the matter. A meeting where, yet again, nothing was resolved. "We're actually behind," Omeish said. "New York, New Jersey, you guys mentioned Henrico. Other localities do this." But wait! What about learning? The kids must learn! How many days are we going to give them off, and where does it end? March 26 is Zoroaster's birthday - are we going to close schools that day, too? I know - in a region where schools close at the fall of a single snowflake, it's outrageous that districts would consider closing schools even more, even if thousands of kids are being forced to choose between their religion and their studies every year. School districts across the nation have already made Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Eid al-Fitr, and Diwali regular school holidays, reflecting their changing populations. Heck, schools in Louisiana have been closed on Mardi Gras for decades, acknowledging the region's religious (but mainly cultural) practices. A calendar should serve the population, rather than the population bowing to the calendar. Fairfax County was 95.7% White in 1970, according to the county's 1977 profile of itself. Today? Just 50% of residents are non-Hispanic Whites, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Jewish population in northern Virginia has grown 80% between 2003 and 2017, according to a study by Brandeis University. And the commonwealth as a whole has the second-largest Muslim population in America, behind Illinois, according to World Population Review. But nope, the school board is still dithering. Jewish and Muslim parents of Fairfax County kids formed task forces to address the issue and present their arguments to the school board after years of trying to explain to teachers how having school on Rosh Hashanah or Eid al-Fitr is like school on Christmas. Of course, schools somehow think they fixed this by rebranding Easter and Christmas vacations as spring and winter breaks. But the fact is, Christians still get the day off for their big holidays (and all those extra days to get the ski trip or beach vacay in), and the region's growing, diverse populations get, well, bubkis. But it's not only about the learning loss that happens when non-Christian kids miss a regular school day to practice their religions. It's about acknowledging that these diverse beliefs exist - and deserve to be acknowledged, respected and celebrated, too. Some of the folks arguing against the change said this disastrous year of school pandemic-style is the wrong time to prioritize more days off, after F's skyrocketed and learning has been marginal. "For me, the trauma and remediation needs from covid. . . . I think that is the primary factor this year and should be the primary factor in looking at our calendar," board member Rachna Sizemore Heizer said at that Feb. 2 meeting. But remember - all they're talking about right now is two days. Two missed days that can be made up at the end of the school year. And by doing that, Muslim and Jewish kids won't be weirdos who randomly miss regular days of school. They'll be celebrating their faith while getting the day off, just like Christians have done their whole lives. And Christian kids will benefit, too. With those bonus days comes a way to expand the world of kids who have no familiarity with most of the world's great religions. "Having days off is a way for children to learn to appreciate the diversity in their community and show respect," said Fairfax County parent Anna Stolley Persky, who is working to get Jewish holidays recognized. "Understanding different holidays becomes normalized." The board is planning to pick this debate up again this month. And let's hope this time it won't be a difficult decision. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 02:10:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), will deliberate a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during its annual session that is scheduled to open on Friday, according to the newly-released agenda. The NPC, as the highest organ of state power in China, has the power and responsibility to make the decision at the constitutional level to improve the electoral system of the HKSAR, said Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fourth annual session of the 13th NPC, at a press conference on Thursday night. The move bears profound significance in plugging the loopholes in Hong Kong's electoral system, implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong," safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, advancing "one country, two systems," and ensuring long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. The electoral system is an important component of the political system, as the elected public officers concern the rise and fall of a country or a region. After Hong Kong's return to the motherland, a group of disruptors who entered the governance architecture of Hong Kong under the pretense of public officers have in recent years been acting openly and unlawfully against China. One direct reason behind the chaos in Hong Kong is that the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" has yet to be fully implemented. To implement "the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong," the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" must be upheld. It is a universal practice to enforce strict requirements on governing personnel's patriotic stance as well as their political qualifications. For years, anti-China forces seeking to disrupt Hong Kong have been colluding with external forces in an attempt to seize the jurisdiction over Hong Kong, with clear goals and concrete actions. Effective measures must be taken to block these pawns of anti-China forces from being elected to HKSAR's governance architecture, and knock them out once and for all. The best electoral system for Hong Kong is the one that suits its conditions and helps safeguard national security and maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. The Hong Kong society should build consensus to support the improvement of the region's electoral system and ensure that the jurisdiction over Hong Kong must stay in the hands of those who love the country and Hong Kong. Enditem A local organization in decatur is helping people impacted by flooding in Kentucky. Buckets of supplies will be heading to parts of Eastern Kentucky. They include cleaning and hygiene supplies. The buckets will be shipped out of the United Methodist Disaster Response Warehouse on Monday. In total, 300 cleaning buckets and hygiene kits will be given out to help families in need. "Just a variety of things to kind of clean a house up and get it ready so they don't have to worry about trying to find supplies to do that," said Cindy Sandlin, United Methodist Disaster Response in Decatur. The organization is always looking for supplies and volunteers. Click here to learn more about how you can help. The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Continues Investigation of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) on Behalf of Investors The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz continues investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Sonic Automotive, Inc. ("Sonic" or the "Company") (NYSE: SAH) concerning whether the board breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders. If you are a shareholder, click here o participate. On or about October 7, 2020, Sonic's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), David Smith (News - Alert) , was charged with assault and felony assault by strangulation, in addition to misdemeanor offenses. Sonic's Board of Directors issued a statement that the company "remains steadfast in its support of [its] CEO." Our investigation concerns whether the Company's board of directors breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders and/or grossly mismanaged the Company in connection with the above alleged misconduct. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you still hold Sonic shares purchased before June, 2020 and wish to discuss this matter with us, or have any questions concerning your rights and interests with regards to this matter, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210303006041/en/ Green drive: Dame Clara Furse will establish a group to turn the City into the world's biggest hub for trading carbon offsets A former chief executive of the London Stock Exchange has been put in charge of a task force to boost Britain's green credentials. Dame Clara Furse who ran the LSE from 2001 to 2009, will establish a group to turn the City into the world's biggest hub for trading carbon offsets. These are schemes that allow companies and individuals to offset the emissions they have produced by investing in environmental projects such as tree planting. Ministers said the group would tap into the UK's 'financial expertise and entrepreneurship'. Pushing the City of London to the forefront of the global market would have the double effect of bolstering the UK's green credentials and carving out a new role for the financial services industry, which many still worry is at risk of losing its competitive edge post Brexit. Furse, 63, is the chairman of HSBC UK and sits on the board of Vodafone. Estimates about the size of the market vary wildly, but figures from Ecosystem Marketplace put voluntary trading at about 215million in 2018 and it is expected to grow exponentially. A Baptist pastor has come under fire after delivering a 'sexist' sermon urging married women to practice 'weight control' and look less 'butch' to keep their husbands' attention though he admitted that not everyone can be an 'epic trophy wife' like Melania Trump. Stewart-Allen Clark, 55, a preacher at the First General Baptist Church in Malden, Missouri, delivered his damning speech on Sunday, February 21, holding what appeared to be a Bible as he targeted the female members of the congregation. The Friendly Atheist was the first to report on the now-viral video of Clark's controversial sermon claiming each man needs 'an attractive wife' prompting wide-spread outrage over his 'misogynistic' and 'offensive' message. Scroll down for video Under fire: Stewart-Allen Clark, a preacher at the First General Baptist Church in Malden, Missouri, is facing backlash for his 'sexist' sermon telling women to focus on 'weight control' Thoughts: Clark noted that not every woman can be 'the epic trophy wife of all time, like Melania Trump,' but they 'don't need to look like a butch, either' At the start of the clip, he pulled up a popular meme on the screen behind him that shows a man checking out another woman. 'Ladies, heres the thing you need to know about men: Dont give him a reason to be like this "distracted boyfriend." You hear me? Don't give him a reason to be looking around,' he said, asking: 'Why is it so many times that women after they get married let themselves go?' Clark went on to say that women don't have to be the epitome of beauty, but they should try harder to look attractive. 'Now, look, Im not saying every woman can be the epic, the epic trophy wife of all time, like Melania Trump Im not saying that at all,' he continued. 'Most women can't be trophy wives... but maybe a participation trophy. 'I don't know, but all I can say is not everybody looks like that! Amen! But you dont need to look like a butch, either!' Questions: Clark is reportedly taking a leave of absence following the backlash. It's unclear if he will continue to be a pastor at First General Baptist Church (pictured) Clark - who, according to a Facebook user who said they knew him, is 'married to a beautiful woman with three beautiful children' - admitted that he no longer provides counseling to couples before sharing the first piece of advice he'd give to married women. 'If you were sitting in my office, here's the first thing I'd say to you, and boy I'd hate to say it this is why I don't do marital counseling anymore and that is "weight control,"' he said. 'So how important is this? Let me tell you something, I have a friend. He has put a "divorce weight" on his wife that's how important this is. ''You know makeup? Makeup is a good thing!' he continued. 'My little boy said, "Why do girls wear makeup and perfume?" Because they're ugly and they stink. You don't want to be ugly and stink.' Clark also sprinkled in a misogynistic joke at the end, saying: 'Scientists have discovered, by the way, a food that diminishes a woman's sex drive: It's called wedding cake.' Hitting back: Critics took to the comments to slam the pastor and mock his appearance, with many noting that he needs to heed his own advice if he's so concerned about looks First General Baptist Church has since shuttered its social media accounts and removed past content, including contact details and clips of Clark's previous sermons, according to the New York Post. But the video shared by the Friendly Atheist is still posted on YouTube, where it has been viewed more than 22,000 times. Critics took to the comments to slam the pastor and mock his appearance, with many noting that he needs to heed his own advice if he's so concerned about looks. 'This is so inappropriate on so many levels. Imagine telling sexist and misogynist jokes as a PASTOR in front of a CONGREGATION. Not very Christian like is it????' one person wrote. Another replied: 'Given how the Pastor isn't exactly God's gift to the human race in the looks department, he has a goddam nerve to pronounce on others.' Not a one off: Clark has shared similar messages in previous sermons, which have been deleted by the church Say what? Clark allegedly shared these memes in his Mother's Day 2019 sermon 'Disgusting, this man should be removed from his congregation. His fat shaming stand-up routine has no place in the house of God or in society.' someone else commented. Apparently, Clark's insulting sermon wasn't a one-off. Before the videos of him were removed, an unverified clip featuring the pastor's alleged Mother's Day 2019 sermon was shared on Facebook. Clark claimed in the speech that all women want to be beautiful, adding: 'I wouldn't want to just be beautiful. I'd want to be hot.' 'There's not a man alive that doesn't want a beautiful woman on his arm,' he continued, saying that if he were a woman he wouldn't 'mind being arm candy.' Clark said he'd want to be a size zero to four and be a 'natural blonde' but he's not against women dying their hair to look more attractive. He also advised that they 'know their body type' and 'know their skinny jeans aint working.' Official: General Baptist Ministries, First General Baptist's national organization, issued a statement on Facebook about Clark's recent sermon Following backlash over the pastor's sermon from February 21, General Baptist Ministries First General Baptist's national organization issued a statement on Facebook saying Clark's speech 'included comments that are not consistent with the positions and values of General Baptists.' 'In keeping with our structure, the Executive Committee recommended that the Council of Associations and the MoArk Presbytery research the statements and take appropriate action,' the organization wrote on March 2. The post stated that Pastor Clark was supposed to be the moderator of the General Association of General Baptist meeting in July 2022, but 'he has resigned from that position.' 'General Baptists believe that every woman was created in the image of God, and they should be valued for that reason. Furthermore, we believe that all individuals regardless of any other factors are so loved by God that Christ died for them,' the organization added. 'Each General Baptist church has autonomy from the national organization, and as a result General Baptist Ministries does not have authority related to the employment of any pastor or church leader in a local congregation.' Clark has also reportedly 'taken a leave of absence and is seeking professional counseling' as of March 2. It's unclear if he will continue to be a pastor at First General Baptist Church. General Baptist Ministries told DailyMal.com that they don't have any additional comments at this time. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Kentuckys governor toured parts of his state hard by heavy rains Tuesday and pledged to seek federal assistance after massive flooding inundated several areas. Gov. Andy Beshear said parts of cities are underwater in eastern Kentucky and Kentucky National Guard members are assisting local and county officials. The governor visited a hard-hit area in Calloway County in western Kentucky on Tuesday. Aerial photos showed cars and other vehicles nearly under water, and dark waters swirling in streets of some cities. These weather events have been brutal on Kentucky, Beshear said at a news briefing Tuesday afternoon. Floodwaters were receding in many parts of Kentucky on Tuesday, but problems remained. State officials said the Kentucky River in Breathitt County was putting pressure on an earthen dam there, forcing the county to call for about 1,000 residents in Jackson to evacuate. Beshear said the evacuations were a precaution. The state sent engineers to assess the problem and emergency officials are placing sandbags to help control the erosion, state Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said. Nearly 50 counties and cities in Kentucky have issued disaster declarations, according to state Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett. Dossett said the state has reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and asked them to send an investigator to Kentucky to view the damage. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The proposed bill to ban cryptocurrency in India has caused great confusion among cryptocurrency players. While it has spooked existing Bitcoin and other crypto investors, it is also keeping prospective investors at bay. However, some crypto experts see a silver lining. They say at least the government has finally started discussing cryptocurrency. "I look at this whole development as more of a positive direction for the crypto sector in India. The reason being that before this we had no understanding of what the Government was thinking, and if the Government was even thinking of cryptocurrency as a sector in India," says Nischal Shetty, founder, CEO, WazirX. Cryptocurrencies are usually classified into four categories - currency, commodity, utility or security. But the cryptocurrency bill of 2019 referred to Bitcoin more as a currency and not in any other form or as an asset class. That is where the problem lies, say industry experts. "I don't think any other crypto should be allowed to compete with the INR. But, the part which has been really left out, and where all the confusion is, and the reason why we all are fighting for regulation is the fact that it should be allowed as an asset class," says Shetty. Just like an investor likes to keep some part of his portfolio in gold for diversification, keeping some part say five to 10 per cent of an investor's portfolio or higher in a Bitcoin or some other cypto should not be a problem. Just like any other asset class, it will serve the purpose of diversification, the industry experts opine. Cryptocurrency players believe there is a communication gap between the Government and them. The industry participants say none of them have been approached for suggestions. "There's not much dialogue that happened between the industry and the regulators (Government). This area may be a very small thing for the Government at the moment so whenever we try to do a discussion, it does not materialise," says Sumit Gupta, Co-founder, CEO, CoinDCX. "None of us in the industry have been approached for a presentation or suggestions by the Government while drafting the bill," says Shetty. However, the industry is growing rapidly and it does not look like a very small segment anymore. According to Sumit Gupta, currently there are close to 75 lakh crypto investors in India. A crypto bill is incomplete without industry participation, according to industry players. They say they know the ground realities that should be considered before deciding the fate of the crypto sector in the country. "Currently, the whole aspect of the bill comes only from theoretical knowledge of those involved, not practical because, only the industry has practical knowledge, the ones who have been working. We have got our hands dirty in this technology to build it. Discussions with the industry are crucial to have a combination of practical and theoretical expertise," says Shetty. Once the two mix, we will get into the middle path which is regulation of cryptocurrency, he adds. ALSO READ: Sin tax on Bitcoin? How cryptocurrencies could be taxed ALSO READ: 'Don't want to join every party in town': Rakesh Jhunjhunwala backs Bitcoin ban If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below TEL AVIV, Israel, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As climate change continues to impact agriculture worldwide, a conference aimed at advancing technological cooperation in agriculture and water was held in Tel Aviv this week with senior government representatives from Israel and Africa along with investors from the United Arab Emirates and Israeli agricultural technology companies. From left to right: Irina Nevzlin, Founder and Chairman of IMPROVATE, and Ronit Hasin Hochman, CEO of IMPROVATE (Photo: Yanni Yacial) IMPROVATE Agriculture and Water discussed the challenges facing the UAE and African nations in ensuring food security in the face of adverse climate conditions, and the opportunities for Israeli companies in these countries. To watch the full broadcast of Improvate Agriculture & Water In Arid Areas Conference Click Here. IMPROVATE Founder and Chair Irina Nevzlin said the Abraham Accords, as well as bringing big changes in the Middle East and strengthening relationships, had brought about an opportunity for countries to cooperate and exchange knowledge and expertise. "As Israel's landscape is very similar to that of the UAE, including the desert areas, the innovative methods developed for agricultural technology in Israel can be a valuable asset and focal point for partnering with the UAE and other Middle East countries." Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alon Schuster said Israel's desert climate and limited natural resources had led it to develop advanced agricultural technologies that today are at the forefront of global development: "The Israeli agricultural sector offers agricultural technologies to increase efficiency and yields, while generating maximum returns in all fields of agriculture, in challenging climate and soil conditions... Fruitful collaboration will enable us to share our experiences with our partners to a desert climate and to a reality of increasing desertification, and to learn together and share our knowledge and experience to create more efficient and sustainable agriculture that will ensure global food security." Yesh Atid Chairman and leader of the opposition, MK Yair Lapid addressed the global coronavirus crisis: "When the pandemic is finally over, we will be left with the global economic crisis. The solution to that crisis will be twofold: Technology and cooperation. The countries that innovate, that upgrade, that look forward, and that work together, will surge ahead. Israel is one of those countries, and so is the UAE." Former Mossad deputy director, MK Ram Ben Barak said the world needs to look ahead and understand that in some 35 years' time its current population will double and there is an urgent need to make plans to feed those people: "We need to support agriculture, we need to develop new technologies to get more out of one acre than we do today, and we need to develop use of water, because in the future there could be a day when there is not enough food in the world." Senior UAE officials, bankers and investors who participated in the conference said Israeli technologies had much to offer Gulf nations as they seek to increase local food production and ensure food security. Dr. Kamel Abdallah, Senior managing director and executive board advisor at Vita F&B capital, said that national food security has been a long-term objective for the UAE for many years and that the government's focus has shifted from availability and affordability to self-sufficiency and local production: "We are investing in companies that can bring technology so that we can bypass the harsh environment so that we can produce food locally. We are looking at different technologies for production in our harsh climate, focusing on reducing water use and building an environment for high yields per hectare." Sheikha Hend Faisal Al Qasimi, an Emirati royal, businesswoman and philanthropist, said the UAE is heavily invested in food security and is investing in agricultural and water technologies: "With technology you can grow everything. By investing water and time and technology we can really turn things around and make the desert bloom." Rahul Kale, Founder and CEO, Sunpower Renewables said urban and vertical farming would play a huge role in making sustainable communities a reality: "With solar storage becoming commercially viable, you can have vertical farming 24/7. I think the advent of solar storage will see a huge uptake in vertical greenery. Our products can add a lot of value to this industry." IMPROVATE CEO, Ronit Hasin-Hochman: "Israeli water management and agricultural technologies can provide outstanding solutions for countries around the world. We are very pleased that recent peace agreements enable us to facilitate collaborations across countries and continents." Attending the conference from Africa were Mr. Joseph Antoine Kasonga Mukuta, Minister of Agriculture from The Democratic Republic of Congo; Dr Deo-Guide Rurema, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment of Burundi; Mrs. Hadija Jabiri, the Founder and managing director of GBRI business solutions, EATFRESH from Tanzania; Mr. Tom Sillayo, General Manager of Faida Market Link Company, also from Tanzania; Mr. Lazare Ossende-Essanga, Director of Partnerships Promotion and Rural Entrepreneurship at the Gabon National Agricultural Development Agency. Speaking from the studio in Tel Aviv, His Excellency Job Masima, Ambassador of Tanzania to Israel called on Israeli companies to come to Africa, noting that the continent has a rapidly growing population, is more stable politically than in the past, and that its economy is on the rise, with five out of 10 of the world's fastest growing economies located in Africa: "Once you come to Africa, you are coming to a vast land that is like all of China, all of the United States and all of Europe, so this is where you should be looking. Thirty percent of the world's arable land is in Africa. With this arable land we are capable of feeding 9 billion people. Africa is the future global powerhouse, come to Africa." Among the companies presenting at the conference was Netafim, which for over 50 years has been a global leader in the advanced agriculture sector, and provides innovative agriculture solutions to millions of farmers, focusing on maximizing yields while saving on water and resources. Elad Levi, Vice President Middle East & Africa at Netafim, said: "I strongly believe that the Middle East presents substantial opportunities for collaborations, with the fundamental purpose to ensure a sustainable and sufficient supply of high-quality fresh food produced within the region. Netafim is an expert in desert farming in the neighborhood in the Middle East and is willing to leverage this knowledge for the prosperity of the entire region and all its people." Agricultural technology and research companies presenting at the conference: SupPlant is an Israeli Ag-Tech company that translates plants into actionable insights to assist farmers around the world in making the best use of resources, increasing yields and saving water in an unpredictable climate reality. GES is a veteran player in the water and wastewater treatment market. In its 31 years of activity, GES has successfully completed more than 300 projects in Israel and abroad. NRGene is a software company, using artificial intelligence to analyze genomic big data, to optimize and accelerate natural breeding of plants and animals used for agricultural uses. AlgaHealth is an Israeli biotech company pioneering the development of smart, cost-effective applications of microalgae. WFI Group transforms water challenges into opportunities, via fresh thinking, breakthrough technologies, profound know-how and a dedicated caring team of water experts. Promoting the circular economy and creating financial and environmental value from water, and shifting from savings to growth. Ramat Negev Desert Agro Research Center is an Agricultural research and development center, specializing in agriculture under desert conditions for over 60 years, in the Ramat Hanegev Regional Council. About IMPROVATE IMPROVATE is a platform that makes technology and innovation accessible to countries worldwide, with an emphasis on advancing Israeli technologies. Launched in September 2020, IMPROVATE operates out of London and Tel Aviv and connects leaders and decision-makers, and companies and investors with technology and innovation companies. IMPROVATE works through international conferences and business delegations and promotes deals between governments, organizations, and investors with innovation companies. Among IMPROVATE's Board members are former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, President Rosen Plevneliev President of Bulgaria from 2010-2017, and IDF Major Gen. (Ret.) Amos Gilad. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1448842/IMPROVATE.jpg Related Links https://improvate.net SOURCE IMPROVATE That decision would make research similar to the 2019 mass shootings study impossible, Wintemute said, because the study relied heavily on identifying information other public records don't include. The law has also expanded to allow co-workers, employers and school employees people to request restraining orders, which requires updated research. Another project to study "very atypical patterns of firearm purchasing" by mass shooters in California hangs in the balance, as does the expansion of a Stanford University study that found handgun ownership increases suicide risk. The Stanford team was also told to halt their study and wipe their dataset clean, said Wintemute, who co-wrote the report. Former Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, who wrote the 2016 law and now serves as chair of the center's advisory board, said the restrictions jeopardize California's standing as a national leader of gun violence research. "The importance of data and research is to create successful policy outcomes," Wolk said. "Without it, you are flying blind. Whatever is happening with respect to stopping research has to end." Both Wintemute and Wolk said the department has not offered a legal explanation as to why it has contested data requests. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Yes, Theyre Open is a web series highlighting local bars and restaurants that are open for takeout, delivery, pickup or dining during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Live streams from the featured restaurants are broadcast on the Advance Facebook page every weekday at around 3 p.m. On Thursday, the Advance/SILive.com visited Jodys Club Forest at 372 Forest Ave., which is open for pickup and indoor dining from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. For more information, call 718-727-6338 or visit jodysclubforest.com. YES, THEYRE OPEN: Jodys Club Forest is open for indoor dining and pickup at 372 Forest Avenue. The restaurants hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily . For more information, the restaurant can be reached at 718-727-6338 or jodysclubforest.com. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Thursday, March 4, 2021 Staten Island restaurant owners: If you would like your establishment featured for free as part of Yes, Theyre Open, email reporter Victoria Priola at vpriola@siadvance.com. WANT MORE YES, THEYRE OPEN? Check out the listings below or check out all of our previous coverage here. Tinas Whiskey Tavern, 4060 Hylan Blvd. Montalbanos Pork & Italian Specialty Store, 1 Gunton Place Shawafel House, 1419 Forest Ave. Grand Sahara Mediterranean Grill, 1828 Hylan Blvd. Plans are being considered to allow a caretaker to take the licence at Gordon Elliott's stable with growing acceptance that the trainer faces a ban at an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board hearing on Friday. It is understood Elliott intends to accept any punishment and will not drag out the case by lodging an appeal. The British Horseracing Authority have said Elliott will not be able to have runners in Britain while the case is being dealt with by the IHRB. Gordon Elliott faces a ban at an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board hearing on Friday Someone new at the helm would allow owners who keep their horses at Elliott's County Meath base to have their entries run at the Cheltenham Festival, which starts a week on Tuesday. It could also mean some form of the business will still exist for Elliott to return to after he has served his punishment. Around 80 staff work for him and there is rising sympathy and concern for their situation as innocent victims of the furore. Elliott's main backer, Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud, continue to support Elliott after he apologised over a photograph of him sitting on a dead horse, which surfaced at the weekend to shock racing and the wider world. The disgraced trainer has apologised over a photograph of him sitting on a dead horse Elliott has also received support from owner Philip Reynolds, who has eight horses at the stable, including talented chaser Presenting Percy. In a statement, Reynolds said: 'None of us has a monopoly on shock, horror, disappointment, anger and sadness and having spent my life owning horses and in the pet industry, believe me, in this case I own as much of those feelings as anyone else. 'My professional relationship with Gordon dates back more than five years. His facilities are world class and as a trainer his record speaks for itself. Elliott's horses could run at the Cheltenham Festival this month under a caretaker 'The authorities will deal with Gordon but his trial has already played out. We have stripped him bare and flogged him in public. The scars of this week are his ultimate punishment. 'For all these reasons, and accepting this is a one-time error of judgment, I will stay with Gordon and I hope we can all find it in our hearts not to destroy him.' The British-based Cheveley Park Stud moved their eight horses, including dual Cheltenham Festival winner Envoi Allen, from Elliott's stable on Tuesday. But Noel and Valerie Moran, who have more than 20 horses with Elliott, including Triumph Hurdle favourite Zanahiyr, dismissed rumours their horses had left the yard despite their company eCOMM Merchant Solutions terminating a contract as the stable's sponsor. Sanctions against two persons were not extended, the report notes. The European Union has prolonged restrictive measures targeting seven persons over the misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds. The EU Council on Thursday, March 4, prolonged for one more year, until March 6, 2022, "the existing asset freezes directed against 7 individuals identified as responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds or for the abuse of office causing a loss to Ukrainian public funds," reads the report on the Council's website. The restrictive measures against one more person were prolonged until September 6, 2021. Read alsoUkraine slaps sanctions on ex-senior officers over support of Russian aggression in 2014Sanctions against two persons were not extended, the report notes, adding that the decision was taken based on the annual review of the measures. The legal acts will be published in the Official Journal on March 5, 2021. Background The sanctions were initially introduced on March 6, 2014, against ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and his government officials for misappropriation of budget funds and human rights violations. The restrictions have been extended on a yearly basis since then. In 2020, the EU decided to lift sanctions off ex-PM Mykola Azarov and former energy and coal minister Eduard Stavytsky. As per RFE/RL's own correspondent in Brussels, Rikard Jozwiak, this year's lifting would concern ex-first deputy prime minister Serhiy Arbuzov and ex-education minister Dmytro Tabachnyk. Reporting by UNIAN (Natural News) An investigative research group has pointed out that Microsoft founder Bill Gates plan of a Green Revolution in Africa will do more harm than good. Public health group U.S. Right To Know (USRTK) said Gates is pushing to model Africas food systems after that of Indias in order to address rampant hunger in the continent. But the promotion of a Green Revolution through industrial agriculture in India has harmed both the ecosystem and worsened the predicament of smallholder farmers. In a Feb. 25 piece, USRTK Co-Founder and Managing Editor Stacy Malkan cited Gates plans to model African farming after that of India. The Microsoft founder wrote in his book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: If we can help poor farmers raise their crop yields, theyll earn more money and have more to eat. [Millions] of people in some of the worlds poorest countries will be able to get more food and the nutrients they need. He asserted that the only thing preventing a similar Green Revolution in Africa is the fact that most farmers cannot buy fertilizers. Malkan remarked that Gates failed to mention that hunger is largely caused by poverty and inequality. She also pointed out the Microsoft founders apparent ignorance of the Green Revolutions detrimental legacy in India. Aside from the damage it caused to the ecosystem, it worsened the predicament of small farmers who have taken to the streets to air their grievances. Ashoka University environmental studies professor Aniket Aga appeared to share Malkans sentiment. He wrote in a Jan. 24 piece for Scientific American that the farmer protests in New Delhi are writing the Green Revolutions obituary. Aga noted that decades after the industrial agriculture strategy was put in place, it is evident that new problems have added to the old problems of hunger and malnutrition. He continued: No amount of tinkering on the marketing end will fix a fundamentally warped and unsustainable production model. Aga explained the history and the aftermath of the Green Revolution in India The professor also outlined the Green Revolutions history, stemming from its roots as a Cold War strategy. Following Indias 1947 independence from the British, peasant movements led by communists had put pressure on the ruling Indian National Congress party to redistribute land from landlords to peasants. However, the party was unwilling to implement comprehensive land reform as it was beholden to landlords for support in rural areas. The U.S. government that time promoted the Green Revolution as a possible solution for India. It involved subsidized fertilizers and irrigation, rice and wheat varieties bred to absorb high fertilizer doses and government training programs to help farmers transition into new practices. Given the expense, it was rolled out in a few places such as the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. The actual extent of the damage caused by the Green Revolution reflected in the ecosystem of the places where it was rolled out. These areas saw falling groundwater tables, saline and degraded soils, biodiversity loss and health disorders from pesticide use. The revolution culminated in a full-blown agrarian crisis by the 1990s marked by many farmers taking their own lives. (Related: Bill Gates, the World Bank and crony capitalism all waging war against Indian farmers.) Bill Gates plan for agriculture involving synthetic fertilizers will impact climate Synthetic fertilizers play a role in industrial agriculture, and Malkan noted Gates espousal of their use. The Microsoft founder did not conceal his support for synthetic fertilizer, calling it a magical invention that can help lift millions of people out of poverty. He wrote in a November 2018 blog featuring the Yara Tanzania fertilizer distribution plant: Watching workers fill bags with the tiny white pellets [of synthetic fertilizer] was a powerful reminder of how every ounce has the potential to transform lives in Africa. (Related: African farmers fight against Gates Foundations attempts to implement ecologically destructive industrial agriculture.) But the problem with synthetic fertilizers is that their transformative nature causes more harm than good. The fertilizers produced by Yara are responsible for worrying increases in nitrous oxide emissions, according to scientists from the University of California, Berkeley. Chemistry professor Kristie Boering suggested limiting the amount of nitrous oxide emissions as a possible first step against greenhouse gases. On a pound for pound basis, it is really worthwhile to figure out how to limit our emissions of [nitrous oxide] and methane. Limiting [nitrous oxide] emissions can buy us a little more time in figuring out how to reduce [carbon dioxide] emissions. The Microsoft founder acknowledged the impact of synthetic fertilizers on climate. Instead of curbing the use of these fertilizers due to lack of evidence that they did increase yields, Gates placed his hope on technological innovation to dramatically reduce the need for fertilizer and all the emissions its responsible for. Visit Harvest.news to read more about the negative effects of industrial agriculture. Sources include: USRTK.org Frontline.TheHindu.com ScientificAmerican.com GatesNotes.com News.Berkeley.Edu BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler (SCFLF.OB) reported fiscal 2020 group revenue of about 12.6 billion euros, lower than the previous year's 14.4 billion euros, hit by the global coronavirus pandemic. Revenue was down 10.4% at constant currency rate. The net loss attributable to shareholders of the parent company for the reporting period was 424 million euros compared to a profit of 428 million euros in the prior year. Earnings per common non-voting share were 0.63 euros versus 0.65 euros in the previous year. Before special items, net income attributable to shareholders of the parent company was 325 million euros compared to 686 million euros earned in the year 2019. Further, the company noted that its Board would propose a dividend of 25 cents per common non-voting share to the annual general meeting. This represents a dividend payout ratio of about 50% of net income before special items attributable to shareholders. 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. Ruban says almost 60% of the intensive care units in Kyiv are filled. Head of the Ukrainian State Food Safety and Consumer Protection Service's Main Department in the city of Kyiv Oleh Ruban says a recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Kyiv has been facilitated by the spread of the infection in families and organized teams. "Today there are reasons for concern about the spread of the infection in families and organized teams and a delay in seeking medical help by patients with the coronavirus," he told the RBC Ukraine news agency. Read alsoCOVID-19: Two cases of UK strain officially confirmed in UkraineAccording to Ruban, severe and mild cases are being recorded in Kyiv due to late seeking medical attention. "Today, almost 60% of the intensive care units in Kyiv are filled, while the loading of hospitals is 30-40%. Therefore, the main advice is that if there are symptoms of the disease, one should immediately consult a doctor," the official added. More news reports Reporting by UNIAN Tohoku University researchers have unearthed further details about radon concentration in the atmosphere before and after earthquakes, moving us closer to being able to anticipate when large earthquakes may hit. The results of their research were published in the journal Science Reports on February 18, 2021. Radon is a radioactive noble gas derived from radioactive decays of radium-226 in the ground. Radon bubbles up to the surface and is expelled into the atmosphere. It has long been known that elevated levels of radon underneath the ground can be detected before and after earthquakes. But the relationship between the mechanisms that cause abnormal changes in radon concentration and the occurrence of earthquakes requires greater understanding in order to predict earthquakes accurately. Professor Hiroyuki Nagahama and associate professor Jun Muto of the Graduate School of Science at Tohoku University, in collaboration with Fukushima Medical University and Kobe Pharmaceutical University, analyzed radon concentration data observed before the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. "We found that there were changes in radon concentration data that originated from tides," said Muto. "This caused periodic loading on the earth's crust." They also noticed that crustal compression rates on faults near the radon observation point had decreased, and this may have triggered the periodic change in radon concentration. Radioisotope facilities, which measure the atmospheric radon, exist across Japan. Muto hopes that their research leads to an increase in radon monitoring across the globe. "We believe that further examination of seismological and geological conditions that differ from Japan will lead to a better understanding of the physical and chemical processes that cause radon concentration variations preceding earthquakes." ### A run down garage has gone on the market for more than half a million dollars in a pricey Toronto neighborhood. The 20ft by 100ft lot of land has no bedrooms, bathrooms or kitchen. But it is 'conveniently located with subway, schools, shops and other amenities nearby', according to the listing. Images show the 'single family' garage nestled between two homes with a parking space. It is on sale for $729,000 Canadian dollars, or $576,613 in US dollars. The 20ft by 100ft lot of land is on the market for $576,613 in US dollars The listing says the plot is 'conveniently located with subway, schools, shops' Images show the 'single family' garage nestled between two homes Property taxes will cost its new owner $2,091 US dollars a year. According to the listing: 'Opportunity In Desirable Danforth Village. Attention Builders, Investors. 20 X 100 Ft. Lot. Conveniently Located With Subway, Schools, Shops And Other Amenities Nearby. Property Is Being Sold For Land Value Only.' The garage was last on sale in 2019 when it was listed for $474,579 US dollars, CTV reports. The garage was last on sale in 2019 when it was listed for $474,579 Property taxes will cost its new owner $2,091 US dollars a year It was described then as a 'rare opportunity for someone looking to build in desirable Danforth Village'. John Pasalis, president of Realosophy, told the website in 2019: 'There aren't a lot of lots that are 20-by-100 feet because, if you imagine, in East York there are houses everywhere. 'This is basically a vacant lot. If someone wants to build on it, they are going to spend half a million and have a decent house.' The average house price in Toronto in 2020 was $735,359 US dollars; that's up 13.5 percent from 2019 when it stood at $648,021, the Toronto Real Estate Board said. According to the listing: 'Opportunity In Desirable Danforth Village. Attention Builders, Investors. 20 X 100 Ft. Lot. Conveniently Located With Subway, Schools, Shops And Other Amenities Nearby. Property Is Being Sold For Land Value Only' As small-business owners and managers across Texas went to work Wednesday morning, they faced yet another 2021 headache: deal with losing business from customers who dont want to wear face masks during the pandemic or from patrons who will only frequent places that require them. The dilemma was abruptly thrust upon them after Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the state will lift its mask mandate and allow all businesses to operate at 100% capacity starting March 10. Some businesses barely had an opportunity to reopen after last months deadly winter storm and power outage crisis before hearing about this massive change to the states COVID-19 safety protocols. I do feel that well probably lose guests based on whatever decision we do make, but I guess thats just part of the environment that we are in now, said Jessica Johnson, general manager of Sichuan House in San Antonio. Its either you wear masks and piss a couple people off, or you dont wear masks and you piss a couple people off. At least one business owner, Macy Moore of HopFusion Ale Works in Fort Worth, said on CNN that he had not slept since Abbotts announcement because hes so worried about the health and safety of his staff. Others, like Anne Ng of Bakery Lorraine in San Antonio, have decided to keep mask requirements in place for staff and customers regardless of what Abbott and the state government say. By repealing the mandate, the government is putting everyone at risk, and foodservice workers are sadly at the front lines in facing potential hostility from folks who will refuse to respect our mask policy, Ng said. We dont deserve that. Meanwhile, Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, has filed legislation that would prevent any business entities from being held liable for exposing people to pandemic illnesses. That provision in House Bill 3 is one of Abbotts top priorities for this years legislative session. The governor was joined by Burrows in Lubbock when announcing plans to rescind many coronavirus restrictions against the advice of federal and local health officials. Health experts are still urging Texans to keep wearing masks as new and more contagious variants of the virus emerge. Hospitalizations continue to decrease after January record highs, but the state is also still averaging more than 200 deaths a day. Because the states mask mandate will officially end, mask requirements around the state now largely come down to the decisions made by Texas businesses. Many took to social media to announce their intentions to continue requiring masks, while others have said they feel powerless to enforce a rule without the states protection or support. Christine Ha, a partner and co-executive chef at Xin Chao in Houston, sent out a notice to her staff that the restaurant would continue requiring masks and operating at a reduced capacity. She expressed concern about enforcing those policies, though, because local agencies and law enforcement no longer have to support her restaurants safety requirements. This leaves it up to my team to enforce these policies, and they are in the business of hospitality, not policing, Ha said. Still, other business owners emphasized that all they can do right now is try to keep both themselves and their staff healthy and safe. In a pandemic world full of so many unknowns, many are choosing to focus on what they can control. Kristina Zhao, the owner of Sichuan House in San Antonio, said most of her customers have remained loyal and supportive over the last year, and deciding to maintain a mask mandate would not deter that encouragement. From my standpoint, I cant really worry about upsetting people because were trying to make a decision thats best for our team and for the long-term sustainability of our business, Zhao said. Zhao also questioned whether Abbotts announcement would actually change the current living dynamic in Texas. Many grocery stores and other businesses around the state have already faced frequent confrontations with customers who refused to wear masks, and anyone who wants to dine indoors has already had the opportunity to do so, albeit with a mask when theyre not seated and with reduced capacity. Still, some businesses have already reported backlash from social media users over their decision to keep a mask requirement in place despite the governors move yesterday. Jennifer Dobbertin, who runs a restaurant called Best Quality Daughter in San Antonio, said that an anti masker crowd has already established itself in the restaurants social media comments. If you dont want to wear a mask, fine, we can respect that, Dobbertin said. Please dont come eat at our establishments, but dont come to the restaurant and try to fight us on it. Some grocery stores have even made opposing decisions about the mask mandate. Tuesday, H-E-B announced that customers would no longer have to wear a mask starting March 10, in accordance with Abbotts order, though the chain is encouraging customers to still do so. Kroger, however, will still require any employees and customers to wear masks until all grocery workers have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to corporate affairs manager April Martin. Most low-wage workers in Texas, who are often people of color, have not had opportunities to work from home during the pandemic. Front-line workers in industries like health care, building and cleaning services, social services, public transit, grocery, and delivery and warehouse work are predominantly women and people of color. Texans of color have been disproportionately killed by the virus and impacted by its accompanying recession during the last year. Advocates have reported that these communities have also fallen behind in the vaccination efforts. And Black and Hispanic Texans are far more worried about the coronavirus compared to white Texans, according to a Texas Tribune-University of Texas poll released this week. Christine Ha from Houstons Xin Chao said maintaining the safest and healthiest practices certainly remains worth the small price of rubbing some customers the wrong way. There are plenty of people who prefer restaurants continue to follow COVID safety protocols, and these folks will be more likely to frequent and support restaurants like ours, Ha said. So we lose some, well win others. Thats fine by me. Disclosure: H-E-B and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Texas businesses must decide whether to require face masks. Some worry they could lose customers either way. was first published at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/03/texas-businesses-mask-mandate/ by The Texas Tribune. Topics Texas Paula Leeson, 47, (pictured) drowned in a 4ft-deep swimming pool while on holiday in Denmark A property developer accused of drowning his 'besotted' wife to claim 3.5million life insurance told a friend she had 'died in her sleep', a court has heard. Donald McPherson also invited the friend, Joseph Ennis-Cole, to pretend he was also a widower to join him in a group called Widowed and Young - which he described as 'like Tinder for widows' and where he had met another woman four months after the death of his wife. Mr Ennis-Cole declined the offer, Manchester Crown Court heard. McPherson, 47, is accused of a 'sinister, pre-planned killing' of his wife Paula Leeson, 47, who drowned in a 4ft-deep swimming pool at a cottage they rented while on holiday in a remote part of western Denmark. After a whirlwind romance, mother-of-one Ms Leeson, whose family from County Wicklow, Ireland, own a successful construction business in Sale, Greater Manchester, wed the defendant at a no expense spared ceremony at a Cheshire castle in 2014. He stood to gain a 'vast fortune' in insurance pay-outs after secretly taking out seven life insurance policies on his wife and forging her will, it is alleged. McPherson, born Alexander James Lang in Takapuna, New Zealand, denies murder on June 6, 2017. He told police that while on holiday, the couple had been in bed and when he got up he found her face down in the pool and dragged her out. Mr Ennis-Cole, who met McPherson at a flying school while training him to become a pilot, told the jury: 'Don said she had died in her sleep. 'It changed to she had an issue with her teeth and was allergic to medication. Property developer Donald McPherson is accused of drowning his 'besotted' wife to claim 3.5million life insurance (Manchester Crown Court pictured) 'Then later, closer to the inquest, it became clear she actually drowned. Don did not actually tell me that.' The witness said McPherson claimed later he did not mention the drowning so as not to 'spook' him. The court heard McPherson often carried a bundle of notes wrapped in an elastic band - spending around 17,000 on flight lessons and tests before he got his licence to be a private pilot. But the lessons were kept from his wife who he told another witness was 'besotted' with him. Mr Ennis-Cole added: 'The flying was a secret, a private hobby. 'It was also a bit of a laugh at the flying school. He would get a call and play his drill and say, 'I'm just in the loft Paula, I will ring you back.' He also told the jury that McPherson would on occasion use another name for himself, Rob Jones, both online and in person. Lynn Dale, one of Ms Leeson's best friends, told the court about signing two 'Trust' documents, which would divert around 800,000 life insurance from Ms Leeson's son to McPherson in the event of her death. Ms Dale said: 'I do not recognise the document at all. I can categorically state this is not my signature and not my handwriting, I have no knowledge of ever having been asked to complete this.' The death was initially treated as a tragic accident by the Danish authorities but McPherson was later arrested in the UK as police looked into his financial background. The trial continues. Bigg Boss Malayalam 3 house witnessed a major drama on the episode of March 3, Wednesday during the luxury budget task. As suggested in the promos, Sai Vishnu and Sajna Firoz involved in an ugly fight during the task. However, things took an ugly turn after an aggressive Sai Vishnu injured Sajna, by allegedly hitting her. As reported earlier, the luxury budget task of Bigg Boss Malayalam 3 this week had the contestants turning into farmers and police officers, in search of gold. Sajna Firoz, who was appointed as the cop, got into an argument with Sai Vishnu, who played a farmer, during the task. However, things went overboard and Sajna alleged that Sai hit her, which led to severe back pain. Sai, on the other hand, accused that Sajna touched him inappropriately. However, it was later revealed that Sajna also sustained some minor facial injuries, which were visible on her face. She immediately complained to Bigg Boss and demanded justice. As a result, Bigg Boss decided to cancel the luxury budget task this week and informed the contestants of the same. Later, Bigg Boss called both Sai Vishnu and Sajna Firoz to the confession room and instructed the former to control his anger and aggression. Even though things end peacefully in the confession room, Sajna's husband Firoz Khan has requested Bigg Boss to take strong action, as it is the case of violence against a woman. Sai Vishnu has created quite a stir in the Bigg Boss Malayalam 3 house, with his aggressiveness. The aspiring actor had recently got into an argument with Dimpal Bhal and captain Manikuttan, over various issues. The Bigg Boss Malayalam 3 contestants, especially women, have been constantly complaining about Sai's misbehaviour and usage of foul language for the past few days. The audiences too have been expressing their displeasure over Sai's behaviour on social media. Also Read: Bigg Boss Malayalam Voting Process: Here's How You Can Vote For Soorya Menon, Sai Vishnu & Others Bigg Boss Malayalam 3: Angel Thomas' Love Track With Adoney John Surprises Housemates; Promo Goes Viral These are anxious times for Gov. Gavin Newsom. The prospect of a recall election seems to be rising by the day with signatures and perhaps, most important, the money flowing against him. If the election does happen, its almost certain to be a referendum on his response to the pandemic, which his detractors suggest has been unsteady: lockdowns on, lockdowns off, surges of optimism giving way to dashes of cold reality. Newsom stepped forward Monday with his boldest move to date: announcing a $6.6 billion package to help schools reopening, with some districts bringing back students for in-person instruction by April 1. Newsom put his distinct rhetorical flourish on the latest surge of optimism: Once you dip your toe in, once you build a cohort confidently, once you build trust, he said, then we will start to see a cadence of reopening across the spectrum. Speaking of Newsomisms, my colleague Joe Garofoli had a brilliantly observant column on where Saturday Night Live missed the mark on its Newsom parody. As Garofoli wrote, the one thing the comedy got right was the governors affinity for his jacket with the California bear logo. I wont give away all the great lines in Garofolis piece, which noted that neither brevity nor clarity has ever been the governors strong suit. What were saying in editorials Overdue reform: After a year of federal excavation of the City Hall swamp, San Francisco officials face the formidable task of persuading the public that local government will not continue to be greased by gifts of overseas vacations and expensive jewelry. City Attorney Dennis Herreras exclusion of suspect contractors from future business begins to contend with that challenge. Read our editorial Back to school? The states latest plan to encourage shuttered public schools to reopen this spring sets the right goal without acceding to the most unreasonable demands of teachers unions. But it offers parents and students too little reassurance that school districts and their employees will comply. Read our editorial Guest opinions Vaccine equity: As a group of UC Berkeley School of Public Health students, faculty, and alumni committed to the goals of antiracism in COVID-19 Response, we advocate a more concerted focus on race and ethnicity in Californias COVID-19 vaccine efforts. Read their piece Whats working in New Zealand: The specific policy of universal isolation and quarantine for people entering a country is impractical in places with porous land borders; it can really only work in an island nation. But the broader lesson to be taken from New Zealands approach is that there are things only a competent national government can do effectively, like containing a massive public health crisis. Read the piece Will Newsom plan really work? Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have unveiled another plan to prod public schools across California to reopen. It provides $2 billion to districts that resume in-person instruction by March 31, another $4.6 billion to address learning loss, and punishes districts that fail to reopen by the deadline. The plan is bound to fail. Read the piece Letter of the Week Anne Marie Di Domenico of Berkeley took issue with our Feb. 28 editorial, S.F. supervisors killjoy caucus. I was dismayed by your editorial Sunday trivializing the opposition to the Ferris wheel and calling out our supervisors for meddling, which is exactly what supervisors are supposed to do. Further, people should be concerned about the impact on owls and other wildlife, and residents in a quiet neighborhood have every right to oppose noise and flashing lights after dark. These are real, complex issues, deserving careful review, as does determining what the ambience of our park should be: a sanctuary that encourages us to disconnect from devices and enjoy nature and outdoor play, or an amusement park with an expensive, flashy, modern ride with strobe lights? For me, the answer is clear: I lived at the foot of the park for years, and it served as my natural sanctuary during daily walks. The park has traditionally hosted noisy one-time free events such as concerts, but never permanent fixtures like this. How about the wheel runs during daytime for a year, then is relocated to an area intended for ongoing events and crowds, such as Fishermans Wharf or China Basin? 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 This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Newsfrom Japan Tokyo, March 4 (Jiji Press)--Japanese police took action against 8,778 domestic violence cases in 2020, down by 383 from the previous year, the first fall since statistics began in 2003, National Police Agency data showed Thursday. The agency said there is concern that the decrease may have resulted from a situation where people had fewer opportunities to meet with non-family members amid the coronavirus pandemic and many domestic violence cases were kept under cover as a result. Well work on actively collecting information, an agency official said. On the back of rising public awareness of domestic violence and a law revision in 2014 that added abuse against unmarried partners living together to the list of domestic violence, the overall number of domestic violence cases against which police took action had kept increasing every year since comparable data, including on criminal assault cases, became available in 2003. The cases in 2020 included an incident of injury resulting in death and 110 attempted murder cases. As many as 5,183 incidents were established as criminal assault cases, reflecting police efforts to actively build cases against violence incidents before they develop into more serious situations. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has launched a search for eight people to join him on a trip around the moon with the American space travel company SpaceX. Maezawa announced the passenger search on Wednesday. The trip is set to take place in 2023. The selected group would become the first private passengers to travel around the moon. Back in 2018, Maezawa said he would invite only artists for the weeklong trip. But on Wednesday, he said he expanded the search to give more people from around the globe the chance to join this journey. If you see yourself as an artist, then you are an artist. Maezawa, a former musician, is one of Japan's most colorful business leaders. The Japanese media often write about his collections of foreign and Japanese art and fast cars. Maezawa is paying the full cost of the trip on SpaceXs next-generation vehicle called Starship. Maezawa has not said how much the trip will cost him. But he says it is more than the $110 million he spent on a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting. Later this year, four private citizens will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) at the cost of $55 million each on another SpaceX vehicle, Crew Dragon. The first part of Maezawas selection process for the moon trip runs until March 14. Candidates for the trip will need to pass medical checks first and then meet with Maezawa. I thought there might be delays but everything is on schedule, Maezawa told reporters. Elon Musk says there is no problem and I believe him. Musk is the billionaire founder of SpaceX. Two recent Starship models have exploded during testing. This shows the risks of space travel for Maezawa and other private passengers. The passengers also will have to deal with the physical demands of traveling outside Earths orbit. Maezawa said he is not in training, which he expects to take a few months at most. But he added that he is drinking less alcohol and exercising more. Im only preparing mentally, said Maezawa, who had considered a trip to the ISS before choosing the more difficult trip to the moon. The distance from Earth to the moon is about 382,500 kilometers. Astronauts last visited the moon during NASAs Apollo program. Twenty-four men flew to the moon from 1968 through 1972. About half of them were able to reach the lunar surface. Maezawas trip around the moon will use SpaceXs reusable Big Falcon Rocket. Musk announced the development of the 118-meter rocket in 2018. He said it is designed to send passengers to the moon and, later, to Mars. Musk said the development of the rocket is expected to cost about $5 billion. He did not say how much Maezawa is paying for the lunar trip. But he said that the Japanese businessmans payment would help the cost of development. SpaceX is competing with two other companies for space tourism money. They are Blue Origin, founded by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, and businessman Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic. I'm Jill Robbins. Reuters reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story globe - n. the earth journey - n. trip schedule - n. a plan of things to be done and the times when they will be done tourism - n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure Unraveling the three-dimensional structure of the glycine transporter, researchers have now come a big step closer to understanding the regulation of glycine in the brain. These result open up opportunities to find effective drugs that inhibit GlyT1 function, with major implications for the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Credit: Azadeh Shahsavar Glycine can stimulate or inhibit neurons in the brain, thereby controlling complex functions. Unraveling the three-dimensional structure of the glycine transporter, researchers have now come a big step closer to understanding the regulation of glycine in the brain. These results, which have been published in Nature, open up opportunities to find effective drugs that inhibit GlyT1 function, with major implications for the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Glycine is the smallest amino acid and a building block of proteins, and also a critical neurotransmitter that can both stimulate or inhibit neurons in the brain and thereby control complex brain functions. Termination of a glycine signal is mediated by glycine transporters that reuptake and clear glycine from the synapses between neurons. Glycine transporter GlyT1 is the main regulator of neurotransmitter glycine levels in the brain, and also important for e.g. blood cells, where glycine is required for the synthesis of heme. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is activated by glycine, and its poor performance is implicated in schizophrenia. Over the past twenty years, many pharmaceutical companies and academic research laboratories therefore have focused on influencing glycinergic signaling and glycine reuptake delay as a way of activating the NMDA receptor in search of a cure for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Indeed, several potent and selective GlyT1 inhibitors achieve antipsychotic and pro-cognitive effects alleviating many symptoms of schizophrenia, and have advanced into clinical trials. However, a successful drug candidate has yet to emerge, and GlyT1 inhibition in blood cells is a concern for side effects. Structural insight into the binding of inhibitors to GlyT1 would provide insight in finding new strategies in drug design. To gain better knowledge about the three-dimensional structure and inhibition mechanisms of the GlyT1 transporter, researchers from the companies Roche and Linkster, and from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, University of Zurich and Aarhus University, have therefore collaborated on investigating one of the most advanced GlyT1 inhibitors. Using a synthetic single-domain antibody (Linkster therapeutics' sybody) for GlyT1, the research team managed to grow microcrystals of the inhibited GlyT1 complex. By employing a Serial Synchrotron Crystallography (SSX) approach, the team lead by Assistant Professor Azadeh Shahsavar and Professor Poul Nissen from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics/DANDRITE, Aarhus University, determined the structure of human GlyT1 using X-ray diffraction data from hundreds of microcrystals. The SSX method is particularly suitable as a method fornew, powerful X-ray sources and opens up for new approaches to, among other things, the development of drugs for various purposes. The structure is reported in the leading scientific journal Nature and also unveils a new mechanism of inhibition in neurotransmitter transporters in general. Mechanisms have previously been uncovered for, for example, inhibition of the serotonin transporter (which has many similarities to GlyT1) with antidepressant drugs, but it is a quite different inhibition mechanism now found for GlyT1. It provides background knowledge for the further development of small molecules and antibodies as selective inhibitors targeted at GlyT1 and possibly also for new ideas for the development of inhibitors of other neurotrandmitter carriers that can be used to treat other mental disorders. Azadeh Shahsavar's team continues the studies of GlyT1 and will be investigating further aspects of its function and inhibition and the effect of GlyT1 inhibitors in the body. Explore further New Alzheimer's research could inspire better treatments and earlier diagnosis More information: Azadeh Shahsavar et al, Structural insights into the inhibition of glycine reuptake, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Azadeh Shahsavar et al, Structural insights into the inhibition of glycine reuptake,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03274-z Mattel announced on Wednesday a new Eleanor Roosevelt Barbie doll in honor of Women's History Month. ADVERTISEMENT The Roosevelt doll is a part of Barbie's Inspiring Women line, which pays tribute to heroines of their time. "A champion of policies around civil and economic rights, her passionate advocacy was unwavering, even when faced with resistance," Mattel said. " Earning the title 'First Lady of the World' for her hard work and dedication to humanitarian efforts, Eleanor Roosevelt's perseverance redefined the role of women in politics and public life." The doll, which is available for $29.99, is fully poseable and created in Roosevelt's likeness with an Iris print dress. Barbie dolls based on Ella Fitzgerald Billie Jean King , Florence Nightingale, Sally Ride, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earheart, Katherine Johnson and Frida Kahlo were previously released as part of the Inspiring Women line. Benson Celebrates Michigan Winners of U.S. Election Assistance Commission's Clearinghouse Awards Benson Celebrates Michigan Winners of U.S. Election Assistance Commission's Clearinghouse Awards MARCH 4, 2021 Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson celebrated three Michigan winners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commissions (EAC) Clearinghouse Awards announced today. Countless individuals across Michigan worked extremely hard to carry out a safe, secure and accurate election, but so many also went above and beyond to inform and engage voters and innovate the way elections are conducted, Benson said. I am extremely proud of the winners announced today, their recognition is well-deserved. Congratulations to all. The three Michigan winners of the 2020 Clearinghouse Awards include: The Canton Township Clerks Office , which received an Outstanding Innovations in Elections for Small Jurisdictions Award for their Four Tools to Enhance Election Services , which received an Outstanding Innovations in Elections for Small Jurisdictions Award for their Four Tools to Enhance Election Services The City of Ann Arbor , which received an award for Creative and Original I Voted Sticker Design , which received an award for Creative and Original I Voted Sticker Design The Ottawa County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office, Elections Division, which received an Outstanding Innovations in Election Cybersecurity and Technology award in recognition of their #OttawaVotes Voter Information Campaign. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. Each year the EAC invites submissions for its national Clearinghouse Awards. The full list of this years winners can be found here. # # # For media questions, contact Aneta Kiersnowski at 517-342-4592. We welcome questions and comments at the Contact the Secretary of State page. Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424). 04 March 2021 Interoil Exploration and Production ASA (Interoil) is pleased to announce two transactions which strengthen the companys production growth outlook in both Colombia and Argentina. In Colombia, Interoil has signed a farm-out agreement with SLS and Quantum Resources for the drilling of the remaining committed exploratory well (Mazorca) in the Altair block. This agreement is subject to Interoils obtainment of the funding required to meet its obligations under the farm-out agreement. The subscription of the small private placement (the Private Placement) announced herein constitutes a Company action aimed at securing such funding. In Argentina, Interoil has signed an agreement with Velitec SA to invest in the re-opening of 15 wells in the Mata Magallanes Oeste (MMO) oil field, including the reconditioning of the nearby dispatch battery at the Las Mesetas #3 (LM#3), located within Las Mesetas Field treatment facility (currently owned and operated by YPF). Interoil is further announcing a Private Placement of new shares of up to (NOK equivalent) EUR 999,999. The successful completion of this share issue shall provide the Company with funds required to trigger the start of drilling activities at the Mazorca well in the Altair Block. Leandro Carbone, CEO of Interoil, commented: We are very enthusiastic about these agreements, which squarely position the company for organic growth in a prolific hydrocarbon area in Colombia, unlock valuable oil production in Argentina and further strengthen Interoils financial flexibility. We look forward to a successful collaboration with our partners SLS and Quantum Resources as well as Velitec SA. Exploration Colombia Drilling of the Mazorca well in the Altair block will commence shortly. As part of the agreement, SLS and Quantum Resources will retain a 22 percent equity interest in the well and cover 50 percent of the drilling expense. The cost of the well is estimated at between US$ 3.0 million (for dry well) and US$ 3.3 million (for a successful discovery). Story continues The well will target multiple objectives along its path where the primary exploration target is the Gacheta formation (3,000 meters depth), which is an important producing formation in the Llanos Basin and has shown hydrocarbon potential in the Altair Block, specially the Mizar-1 well which has produced sweet 20 API oil at 337 bopd and Altair-1 which has shown oil but never tested due to mechanical problems when casing the well for testing. Interoil estimates Mazorcas prospective resources to reach 1.5 MMbbls with a 36 percent Probability of Success (PoS). Interoils exploration commitment at Altair will be fulfilled with this new well. If the well results in commercial discovery and production, 100% of the net oil operating income (oil sales after royalties and lifting costs) will be allocated to repay the investments. Once investment pay-out is reached, then the net oil operating income will be split as per equity interest with 78% share to Interoil. Argentina MMO re-opening Plans in Argentina involve downhole intervention in two wells in MMO plus the refurbishing and certification approval of the surface facilities in LM#3. The gas produced will then be used to fuel surface facilities (production and treatment equipment) for the re-opening of oil production from an initial 15 wells aiming at reaching around 120 bopd, up from the current 17 bopd. The investment of this program is estimated at US$ 0.85 million, which will be funded and carried out 100 percent by Velitec SA, and repaid with 50% of the net oil sales. Interoil will retain all equity in the license. MMOs oil production will be trucked to LM#3, a dispatch battery placed in the nearby Las Mesetas field and then either sold directly at site or pumped through a YPF oil pipeline to TERMAP, an export terminal, located in the city of Caleta Olivia. The LM#3 export alternative further strengthens MMOs economic and operational performance. Private Placement The Company is announcing a small private placement of new shares in the Company with gross proceeds of up to the NOK equivalent of EUR 999,999. The Private Placement is directed towards Norwegian investors and international institutional investors pursuant to and in compliance with applicable exemptions from relevant registration, filing and prospectus requirements, and subject to other applicable selling restrictions. The minimum subscription amount in the private placement will be NOK 10,000. The Private Placement will be exempt from prospectus requirements in Norway as the maximum offer size is below EUR 10,000,000. The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for capital investments in the well farmed-out to SLS and Quantum Resources. The Company decided that the best alternative is to raise the necessary funding for the exploration wells through this Private Placement. The subscription price in the Private Placement is established at 1.33 NOK per share. This price was calculated on the basis of a 90-day, volume-weighted average price plus a 10 percent discount, as of close of business 3 March 2021. The application period commences on 8 March 2021 at 09:00 (CET) and will close on 15 March 2021 at 16:30 hours (CET). The Company reserves the right to close or extend the application period at any time at its sole discretion, at short notice. Instructions on how to submit applications in the private placement, as well as expected timeline for settlement and delivery of shares will be published by the Company in a separate release prior to commencement of the application period. The final allocation will be made at the discretion of the Board. The completion of the Private Placement is conditional upon approval by the Board. The Company has considered the Private Placement in light of the equal treatment obligations under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and the rules on equal treatment under Oslo Rule Book II for companies listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and the Oslo Stock Exchange's Guidelines on the rule of equal treatment, and the Board is of the opinion that the contemplated transaction is in compliance with these requirements and guidelines. Taking into consideration the time, costs and expected terms of alternative methods of the securing the desired funding, the Board has concluded that offering new shares in a private placement on acceptable terms at this time is in the common interest of the shareholders of the Company. Advokatfirmaet Schjdt AS is acting as legal advisor to the Company in connection with the Private Placement. *************************** Interoil Exploration and Production ASA is a Norwegian based exploration and production company - listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange - with focus on Latin America. The Company is operator and license holder of several production and exploration assets in Colombia and Argentina. Interoil currently employs approximately 50 people and is headquartered in Oslo. SLS is a Colombian drilling services company. Quantum Resources is a Colombian E&P company. Velitec SA is an Argentine drilling services company. This notice contains information which is considered inside information pursuant to the European Market Abuse Regulation. The notice has been published by Mr. Geir Arne Drangeid (Partner and Senior Advisor, First House AS) at 09:00 CET on 4 March 2021. The notice is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. An Iowa pizzeria is at the center of a massive online controversy after social media users got wind of its Froot Loops Pizza. Fong's Pizza, a restaurant that 'combines flavors & inspiration from the Far East & the West,' has permanently added the unusual novelty pizza to its breakfast menu in Des Moines. It's made with a sweet cream cheese sauce base, mozzarella cheese, actual Froot loops, and drizzles of Greek yogurt and condensed milk ingredients that many Twitter users say should never, ever be on a pizza. Inventive! Fong's Pizza in Iowa is going viral for its Froot Loops Pizza Sweet: It's made with a sweet cream cheese sauce based, mozzarella cheese, actual Froot loops, and drizzles of Greek yogurt and condensed milk 'Making pizzas that are outside the box has always been a staple of Fong's,' owner Gwen Page said 'Making pizzas that are outside the box has always been a staple of Fong's,' owner Gwen Page told the Des Moines Register. 'Now we're trying things out for breakfast pizzas.' The dish actually made its debut at another of the restaurant's locations five or six years ago, but only recently became a permanent offering at its Forest Avenue location. 'I guess this in its funny little quirky way because thats Fongs to a T is a way of spreading kindness,'Page told Today. 'You look at this pizza and its a rainbow. It should bring a smile to your face, even in the form of, "Wow, thats crazy, I gotta try that" or "Wow, those guys are crazy! I cant believe theyre doing that."' 'We wanted to provide an option that we thought would be fun for children because of the suburban market,' she added. 'But also we love doing things that are just off-the-wall. Like what can we do to give people that truly unique experience? Thats what we strive for at Fongs.' Mixing it up: The restaurant is known for getting experimental with pizza, like this Ramen Pizza Other unique varieties include Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza (left) and King Pao Chicken Pizza(right) Bright idea? They have also sold a Nacho Pizza (pictured) and Street Taco Pizza Unique: This Bahn Mi pizza is made with pork, garlic butter, mozzarella, asiago, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, and a spicy mayo Would you try it? Their Peanut Butter and Jelly pizza is made with Thai peanut sauce, Gouda and cheddar, candied cashews, and hoisin grape jam In fact, the restaurant has served quite a few unconventional pizza dishes, including Ramen Pizza, Loaded Potato Pie, Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Pizza, Dill Pickle Pizza, and a Thai Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza. Its Crab Rangoon pizza appeared on the Food Network's 'Best Thing I Ever Ate, while their General Tsos Pizza appeared on 'Man v. Food.' But while locals may love it enough to keep it on the menu, some social media users are horrified. 'Hard pass for me, too love #fruitloops, love #pizza, but some things are best savored separately!' wrote one. 'Ok, personally, Im drawing the line with cereal & yogurt in pizza,' said another, while a third simply wrote: 'Iowa, man, I don't know.' Oh no! But while locals may love it enough to keep it on the menu, some social media users are horrified 'Terrible pizza topping ideas have to be one of the plagues in the bible,' tweeted one more, while yet another quipped, 'This might be so offensive, the selection committee refuses to put Iowa into the NCAA Tournament this year.' Grocery store brand DiGiorno said that the Froot Loop pie is not pizza, tweeting: 'Please do not disrespect the word pizza like this.' 'Clearly giving Iowa as much influence over our presidential elections as it had was giving it too much responsibility,' another Twitter user wrote. 'I am opposed to capital punishment generally but I can see now why there would be exceptions,' said one more. Controversial: In 2019, Papa John's in South Korea debuted an 'American Hot Dog Pizza' made with eight whole hot dogs, with one fitting on every slice Oh no... South Korean Papa John's restaurants have sold some other strange toppings in the past, including a pizza with shrimp and lemon on top Yikes... Images on the brand's Instagram account show someone plucking off the lemon to squeeze juice Pizzerias around the world have been concocting some questionable versions of the beloved dish for years. In 2019, Papa John's in South Korea has debuted a limited-edition 'American Hot Dog Pizza' pizza that left most Americans absolutely horrified. Made with eight whole hot dogs with one fitting on every slice the pizza is also topped with chili salsa sauce, mozzarella cheese, cheddar potato mousseline, onions, dijon mustard sauce, pickle relish, and parsley, according to Chew Boom. While it may have been a hit in Asia, English-speaking commenters were aghast by the creation, calling it 'gross' and an 'abomination.' 'Most disgusting thing I have ever seen,' wrote one, while another chimed in: 'No, no, no. Dont call that thing American.' South Korean Papa John's restaurants have sold some other strange toppings in the past, including a pizza with shrimp and lemon on top. Yes or no? QC Pizza in Mahtomedi, Minnesota sells a dish called the Big Dill Pizza Ingredients: It is made with dill garlic sauce, 48-hour smoked Canadian bacon, pickles, and lots of cheese Odd: Unlike traditional pizza, there's no red sauce which is likely a good thing, considering the pickles Meanwhile, QC Pizza in Mahtomedi, Minnesota sells a dish called the Big Dill Pizza, which is made with dill garlic sauce, 48-hour smoked Canadian bacon, pickles, and lots of cheese. The pickle pizza certainly has its enthusiastic fans, but to tomato sauce and mozzarella traditionalists, the unexpected topping is something tantamount to blasphemy. 'It is becoming more and more clear to me that we need a national conversation around what we call a pizza. This is not a pizza,' wrote one Twitter user. 'If you put pickles on your pizza get the F*** out of my face,' wrote another, while a third said: 'Pickle Pizza prob the nastiest thing Ive ever witnessed.' QC Pizza has some other unconventional pies, including taco pizza (made with sausage, taco-seasoned cheddar, onions, lettuce, tomato and Doritos) and the 'sour pig' pizza (made with Canadian bacon, sauerkraut, red sauce, and mozzarella). That's interesting... New York City eatery Lions and Tigers and Squares is serving up mustard pizza Saucy: Instead of tomato sauce, the dough is topped with mustard before it goes in the oven Using their noodle: Tony Boloney's in Hoboken and Atlantic City, New Jersey went viral for a ramen pizza In 2018, Lions and Tigers and Squares in New York City sparked a debate with its Detroit-style pies, which were made with a layer of mustard instead of tomato sauce. 'In Sicily, this is punishable by stoning,' wrote one critic at the time. 'This makes me want to gag,' wrote another, while a third added: 'This is why the aliens wont visit us.' Months before, Tony Boloney's, which has locations in Hoboken and Atlantic City, New Jersey, unveiled its Devour Ramen Pizza. Made with a ramen noodle crust, it's topped with shoyu broth, pickled soy boiled egg, rayu (a Japanese chili oil), shichimi tougarashi (a spice mixture), wageri togarashi (another spice mixture, nori flakes, spicy chili oil, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. Owner Mike Hauke, 37, created it in collaboration with Instagram food couple Devour Power, made up of Greg Remmey and Rebecca Leigh West-Remmey. Sparkle! In 2017, DagWoods , an Italian restaurant on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, began serving up glittery rainbow slices In 2017, DagWoods, an Italian restaurant on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, began serving up glittery rainbow slices. The 'Magical AF' pizza is just a regular cheese-and-tomato-sauce pie, except the mozzarella on top is saturated in edible glitter sprinkled on in a rainbow design. The pie has pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple glitter starting at the crust and circling in to the middle. While some social media commenters were skeptical that a pizza covered in glitter could taste good, those who tried it and posted pictures online promised it's just like a regular cheese pizza. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice fined Trinity Bible Chapel, a Canadian church, $83,000 for holding a physical Sunday service, violating their restrictions on COVID-19. On January 22, the Superior Court ordered the Trinity Bible Chapel to temporarily halt indoor gatherings in compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocols. The order had certain provisions: if a gathering can't be averted, the church must limit its guest to no more than 10 persons. But only days after the notice, Pastor Jacob Reaume, the leader of the Trinity Bible Chapel since 2009, invited believers to attend the Sunday service in their church. He explained the reason why he was willing to violate the order in a blog post on their church's website. He argued that these are the times that fellow believers need each other and he was doing it out of "love for God and neighbor." Pastor Reaume stated in his invitation to the believers that, "people are lonely, afraid, despairing of life itself, and facing financial ruin, among many other deprivations and tribulations. This is all during the darkest and coldest season of the year. If ever our fellow Ontarians needed hope, it is now." "Risking reputation and financial viability to offer eternal hope and warm Christian fellowship to a world in despair is an act of love that I am certain Jesus smiles on," he added. Pastor Reaume does not seem to regret his actions as 13 new believers were baptized on February 21, following their Sunday service held on January 24. He claims that he felt the strong presence of God during the public worship. As a result of their violation, the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice fined them a total of $83,000. The breakdown of the fine is as follows: Pastor Will Schuurman and Pastor Reaume were fined $5,000 each; a pastor named Randy was fined $4,000; the elders involved were each fined $3,000; the church itself was fined $15,000; the church was fined with an additional amount of $45,000 to cover the legal fees of the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG), who claims that their attorneys spent a total of 104 hours to prosecute the church for their violations on the 24th of January, in which the church pleaded guilty for. "These fines will not and cannot be appealed. They are final." Pastor Reaume assured. Pastor Will Schuurman, one of the pastors who were fined by the Supreme Court, tweeted several testimonies about the Sunday service they held on January 24th. He even claimed that some believers mentioned how the January 24th service was the best Sunday service they have attended. In his second tweet, he shared a testimony of a man, who has been addicted to alcohol and adult films in the past, that gave his life to Christ, Christian Headlines wrote. Despite participating in various churches in the past, the man "was never truly born again." But after the Sunday service that the Trinity Bible Chapel held, the man felt forgiven of his past sins "like he never felt before." Pastor Reaume, for his part, said they will pay the fine because it is worth paying to worship God together for - and that the amount is nothing compared to what Christ gave in order for Christians to be God's children. Spencer Platt Democrats may appear Sisyphus-like in attempting to rid our politics of the evil that is former President Donald Trump. Although the acquittal in the second impeachment trial was another backslide, it demonstrated with no reasonable doubt that the Republican Party is rife with Trump clones -- those to whom their title is more important than the constituents who elected them or the oath they took or the country they swore to serve. With the likes of Josh Hawley, Kevin McCarthy and Elise Stefanik, the Republican Party can only deteriorate further as it looks to Trump for leadership. Even Mitch McConnell, after denigrating Trump, could not find the inner strength to make his actions match his words as he voted to acquit. If the Republicans were really serious about a desire to move away from the cult that is Trumpism, all of them would have voted to convict. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Very hot. High 106F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 74F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. 01 Jun 2021 | 7:19 PM Shillong, Jun 1 (UNI) The cases of COVID-19 infection have been slightly on the decline but fatality figures continue to remain a case of concern in Meghalaya, which reported 467 new positive cases, taking up the number of active cases to 6606 and 14 more deaths raising the casualty count to 592, even as the number of recoveries mounted up to 28,867 after 760 more patients were cured of the viral infection on Tuesday. Unionist confidence and support for the Good Friday Agreement is diminishing rapidly, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said. The DUP MPs warning on Thursday comes after the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), an organisation which represents the views of loyalist paramilitary groups, said they are withdrawing their support for the Good Friday Agreement until the Irish Sea border is removed. Sir Jeffreys party colleague, Ian Paisley told the Belfast Telegraph he feared the letter sent by the LCC to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson was a genie getting of its bottle, and the Tory leader now must respond swiftly and effectively. The paramilitaries said on Wednesday they were temporarily withdrawing their backing of the Belfast/Good Friday accord amid mounting concerns about the arrangements governing Irish Sea trade post-Brexit. Read More UK ministers are facing a backlash from unionists who fear the post-Brexit protocol, which necessitates checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, threatens Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market. The DUP and other unionist parties are pushing for the protocol to be ditched, claiming it has driven an economic wedge between the region and Great Britain, which undermines the union. The LCC leadership stressed that unionist opposition to the protocol should remain peaceful and democratic. However, the letter warned that the protocol undermines the basis on which the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) agreed their 1994 ceasefire and subsequent support for the Belfast Agreement. Speaking to the BBC today, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted unionist confidence and support for the Good Friday Agreement is diminishing rapidly. People have lost confidence because they believe that no one is listening to the concerns of unionists, the Lagan Valley MP said. I am not in any way, nor is my party, advocating that there should be the threat of violence or anything like it for any reason, there can be no justification for anyone doing that. The LCC statement makes clear that their opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol will be peaceful and democratic. Mr Paisley said that while he did not read any overt or implied threat in the LCC letter, it cannot be ignored amid the ongoing problems with the protocol. Put it this way: if this letter was saying the complete opposite and it was supporting the protocol we would have everyone out there welcoming that and I think when it goes the other way, I think the government has got to be cognizant of what is happening on the ground, said the North Antrim MP. And I fear the genies getting of the bottle and we need really to do our best and put it back away again. And the only way we can do that really is for the Prime Minister to stand up and make a statement about all of these things that are happening and how he intends to move beyond extending the grace period. The MP was referring to the unilateral action taken by the government on Wednesday to extend a grace period that has been limiting the volume of red tape associated with moving agri-food goods from GB into Northern Ireland. The EU has criticised the UK move to extend the exemption period, which was due to run out at the end of the month, until October, claiming it risked breaching the terms of the protocol. Mr Paisley insisted Mr Johnson must build on the steps the government has taken with the extension period. Sooner or later the PM needs to respond to our demands that he addresses this protocol issue. He has said positive things, that he will, if necessary invoke Article 16. Yesterday was the first welcome step and lets get more action out of him. Article 16 of the protocol allows the EU or UK to unilaterally suspend aspects of its operations if either side considers that aspect to be causing economic, societal or environmental difficulties. He added: If he actually took steps to respond to how elected unionism has been demanding then that would go to some way of alleviating tension and he probably wouldnt need direct meetings. If this gets out of hand then thats when direct meetings become a reaction to things. And youre far better setting the agenda than reacting to it. However, Alliance MP Stephen Farry said the action taken by the LCC is probably symbolic rather than something with any practical impact. In effect the [Good Friday] agreement gets it legitimacy from the dual referendums north and south in 1998, they are not dependent on any loyalist, paramilitary or terrorist organisation, he told the Belfast Telegraph. Obviously theres a much deeper tension in society around Brexit and the workings over the protocol. I think the tenor of the letter is increasingly reflecting what are unrealistic expectations within unionism regarding the potential replacement of the protocol, which is not tenable in the absence of any plausible alternative that have not been presented so far. It is also engaging with a false representation of the threat to the constitutional position. I think a profound mistake has been made dressing this up as a constitutional crisis, in that regard. The principle of consent remains; Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, until or unless, the people of Northern Ireland decide otherwise. Meanwhile, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has said he does not believe loyalists are likely to return to violence, telling the Policing Board on Thursday its initial assessment is that this is a political move. We dont see the prospect of a return to protest or violence. We are prudently looking at an assessment of what that means in terms of a policing response or indeed any need to change our posture over the weeks ahead, he said. Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has also told the media that the letter is clear in seeking a democratic and non-violent resolution to the issue. For me thats were our focus is. All of our credence should be focused on those who can take this forward in a way which doesnt resort to violence, because that doesnt help anybody, he said. Downing Street restated its commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement following the withdrawal of loyalist paramilitary support for Northern Irelands historic peace deal. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: We are fully committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The Government will continue to work to safeguard Northern Irelands integral place in the United Kingdom and to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland. We are determined to protect the agreement in all of its dimensions. Officials on Wednesday said two Paterson city councilmen were indicted on voting fraud charges stemming from the alleged mishandling of mail-in ballots in the citys May 2020 election, a case used in former President Donald Trumps failed effort to stop widespread vote-by-mail in the state. Michael Jackson, 49, who represents the citys First Ward, and Alex Mendez, 45, a Third Ward councilman, face charges, including election fraud, fraud in casting mail-in vote, tampering with public records and unauthorized possession of ballots, the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office announced. Both men were initially charged in June after they won a race for seats on the citys governing body. Voter fraud claims soon emerged in the election, and state investigators launched a probe after hundreds of mail-in ballots were discovered in a mailbox in Paterson and nearby Haledon, officials said. The allegations largely relate to rules around voters ability to designate a bearer of their ballot - meaning a person who could deliver a ballot for the voter - and the handling of mail-in ballots. Paterson held its local election by mail amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic last year. A lawsuit filed the Republican National Committee and Trumps campaign cited the allegations in Paterson as a danger of using expanded mail-in voting. A federal judge dismissed that suit, noting anti-fraud features in elections. The Paterson criminal case gained attention among supporters of the former president, who argued voting by mail would lead to fraud. Ultimately, election experts and authorities said the presidential race was secure. These indictments are an important step in our prosecution of these two sitting city councilmen on charges including second-degree election fraud, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement. As we have seen all too clearly in recent months, public confidence in our democratic process is critical. If anyone tampers with an election in New Jersey and threatens that process, we will hold them accountable. State law mandates that a bearer may collect and deliver ballots for no more than three voters in an election, and a candidate is barred from acting as a bearer. Prosecutors alleged the council members collected ballots from voters and brought them to the county election office. Other allegations in the case include that mail-in ballots were delivered without identifying the bearer, and that a voter registration application was submitted for an individual not eligible to vote in the district listed on the form, according to prosecutors. New Jerseys criminal code includes various indictable offenses related to election fraud and, in particular, fraud involving mail-in ballots, said Thomas Eicher, director of the Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity & Accountability, which is handling the case. With these indictments, were using those laws for their intended purpose defending free and fair elections by prosecuting those accused of seeking to undermine them. Two other men - Shelim Khalique, 52, of Wayne, and Abu Razyen, 23, of Prospect Park - were also charged last year with mail-in vote fraud in the case. Those charges are pending, officials said. Jackson and Mendez, the council members, continue to hold their elected offices in the states third largest city. A judge initially stopped Mendez from taking office before he won a new election last fall. My client has maintained his innocence through out this process and will enter a plea of not guilty to the charges and will continue to serve the citizens of Paterson, Mendezs lawyer, Paul Brickfield, of Brickfield & Donahue, said in an email Wednesday night. An attorney for Jackson, Theodore Kyles, said he could not immediately comment on the allegations. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Senate Democrats agree to provide $1,400 stimulus checks to fewer Americans under a deal with President Joe Biden, as per the two sources familiar with the plan. Fewer Americans would receive the $1,400 stimulus checks Every American who filed an individual tax return and earns up to $75,000 will get the entire sum until it starts to decrease at salaries higher than that. However, the Senate bill will break off benefits at $80,000, rather than zeroing out at $100,000 earnings as the previous COVID-19 relief bill did. According to NBC News, incomes up to $150,000 for married couples filing jointly will also get the same amount. Rather than stopping payments at $200,000, the Senate bill would stop them at $160,000 in earnings. The new plan will make the entire $1,400 stimulus checks open to taxpayers filing as heads of households that receive less than $112,500, with the allowance zeroing out at $120,000. The stimulus payments would essentially be phased out faster under the proposed plan, which came one day after Biden met with moderate Democratic senators who expressed some reservations and suggested that the relief be more specifically tailored. According to one of the outlets, the Senate bill, like the House bill that passed early Saturday, would keep federal unemployment benefits at $400 a week until August. The $1.9 trillion stimulus bill is set to go forward in the Democratic-controlled Senate as early as Thursday, with a final vote possible by the end of the week. Party leaders are also waiting on a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirming that the bill complies with reconciliation law, allowing Democrats in an equally divided Senate to circumvent the filibuster and enact the bill with a simple majority. The latest round of $1,400 stimulus checks has been limited for the second time by Democrats. To please progressives, the House bill phased out the $1,400 payments a little faster than previous measures, with families earning $199,000 getting no money instead of any money in previous bills. The agreement will also affect the $1,400 stimulus checks for individuals with dependent. Some Democrats protested against narrowing the qualifying requirements, claiming that it would enrage individuals who had received cash bonuses in prior rounds under Trump's presidency and didn't want to be left out this time. Read: Wonder If You Are Old Enough to Receive Stimulus Check? These Rules Could Change the Payments $1,400 stimulus checks would phase out at $80,000 instead of $100,000 The change was made in response to moderates' concerns that the checks would go to wealthy Americans. Individual stimulus checks will start to phase out at $75,000 and fully phase out at $80,000 in salary, as compared to around $100,000 in the House-passed version of the bill last week. Joint filers' stimulus checks will be phased out beginning at $150,000 and fully at $160,000, as per USA Today. Many Americans who should have received at least some money could now receive a zero due to the move. According to the reports, the agreement held a federal increase to unemployment benefits at $400 per week through August rather than September, as liberals like Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., had hoped. The agreement opens the way for the bill to go forward in the Senate. They could vote on a procedural resolution to start a discussion on the bill as early as Wednesday evening, implying that it could pass the Senate by the end of the week. By mid-March, as the federal boost to unemployment benefits expires, Democrats hope to have passed the bill through the Senate and back through the House. Read also: Claim Your Stimulus Money by Getting IRS Letter First, Here's How To Do It McConnell opposes Democrats' $1,400 Stimulus Checks Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell explained on Wednesday why he opposes President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion economic recovery bill's $1,400 stimulus checks, Newsweek via MSN reported. McConnell cited fears that the payments would discourage Americans from functioning. In a Fox News interview, McConnell said he expected that Democrats would band together to eventually bring the American Rescue Plan into Congress. When asked whether the $1,400 would stop "few workers from wanting to work," McConnell said it was one reason he opposed the direct payments. Read also: $350B State, Local Government Aid in Biden's COVID-19 Relief Package: Enough, or Too Much? @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. [March 04, 2021] Ambra Health Provides Enhanced Imaging Access to Patients NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambra Health , makers of the leading cloud-based, medical image management suite, today announced the image-enablement of the Cerner EHR patient portal leading to enhanced interoperability and virtual access at Baptist Health South Florida. The platform offers patients direct access to their own medical imaging through a secure, HIPAA-compliant online portal. The announcement comes as Ambra Health kicks off a three-part educational series to help providers enable seamless, online imaging access to patients , referring providers and clinical staff . Baptist Health South Florida has been a trailblazer for leveraging cloud-based solutions for medical imaging. Cerne's health information technologies connect people, information, and systems at more than 27,000 provider facilities worldwide. For physicians, the integration with Ambra enables one-click access to patient images directly from within the Cerner Electronic Health Record (EHR) patient jacket. For patients, Ambra embeds directly into Cerner's patient portal enabling patients to upload and access their images remotely. The patient portal at Baptist Health South Florida, myBaptistHealth, is a free service that provides secure, online access to patient's health information and medical health records. Now, patients can access, view, download, and share their medical images from within their health record. "Patients today increasingly want to take the reins of their own healthcare journey. Providing anywhere, anytime access to medical imaging data is a critical piece of their overall health informationfor both patients and physicians alike," said Chantel Hopper, VP of Customer Success of Ambra Health. "We are proud to support leading facilities such as Baptist Health South Florida as they continue to leverage technology for improved patient care." The Ambra Health platform provides facilities with a suite of tools designed to eliminate CDs, streamline image management, and speed up time-to-care delivery. One of Ambra's core capabilities is image-enabling leading EHR systems. Imaging is often the missing piece of the puzzle in the patient record causing physicians to login into separate systems and toggle between browsers. Consolidating imaging within the EHR eliminates the need to login to separate systems, and physicians are able to securely search for prior imaging, providing the best health outcome. In September 2020, Ambra Health was shortlisted at the UCSF Digital Health Awards for "Best EHR Advance" technology. Learn more about Ambra Health's patient portal capabilities here . About Ambra Health Ambra Health is a medical data and image management SaaS company. Intuitive, flexible, scalable and highly interoperable, the Ambra cloud platform is designed to serve as the backbone of imaging innovation and progress for healthcare providers. It empowers some of the largest health systems such as Memorial Hermann, Johns Hopkins Medicine, UC San Diego and New York Presbyterian, as well as radiology practices, subspecialty practices, and life sciences organizations to dramatically improve imaging and collaborative care workflows. As expert partners, we listen to our customers, understand their needs, and apply our extensive knowledge to deliver innovative medical image management solutions for the future of healthcare, now. Discover what the Ambra medical imaging cloud can do for you at www.ambrahealth.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ambra-health-provides-enhanced-imaging-access-to-patients-301240302.html SOURCE Ambra Health [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] But questions remain as to how those proposals will be translated into policies, as well as to how the state will address the rise of new types of employment such as gig work which went largely unmentioned in the report. "Really, the goal of the commission was to tackle big questions with bold thinking, to do it in a way that would require multiple actors to participate," said California Labor Secretary Julie Su, a member of the commission. "Questions that have arisen because of the report are heartening to those who worked on it because the point is to spur action, spur thinking and to get lots of people in different sectors of the civil society interested." Jobs guarantee In its report, the commission laid out five "moonshot" goals to achieve by 2030, such as having enough jobs guaranteed for all Californians who want to work. The commission also called for eliminating working poverty among hospitality, retail and care workers, as well as doubling the share of workers who have access to benefits such as paid time off. The state should also create at least 1.5 new "high-quality" jobs for every one new "low-quality" job and grow the number of workers prepared for future jobs by two to three times, the commission said. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. OTTAWA, ON, March 3, 2021 /CNW/ - All individuals have the right to a safe workplace with fair treatment for all. Sexual harassment impacts the health and well-being of those involved, as well as their ability to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Creating and maintaining workplaces where everyone no matter their gender identity or expression can be safe, respected and able to focus on their work is a priority for the Government of Canada. Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the Government of Canada's support to Botler AI for the Pan-Canadian Triage System for Sexual Harassment, Misconduct & Violence. Botler AI has created an artificial intelligence system that anonymously sorts sexual misconduct complaints across Canada based on the details of individual situations and provides users with a personalized set of resources relevant to their own case. The process also references the appropriate laws at both the federal and provincial or territorial level, based on the location of the incident, allowing victims of sexual harassment to access the legal information they need. Botler AI is a company that focuses on utilizing technology to develop products in the legal space and increase legal education. The Department of Justice Canada is providing $371,000 over five years in funding to Botler AI for this project. Today's announcement is part of the Budget 2018's $50 million over five years of funding to address workplace sexual harassment. Of this amount, $25 million is dedicated to organizations so that they can increase their ability to provide legal advice and information to support complainants of sexual harassment in the workplace. Another $25 million is dedicated to organizations to enable them to provide public legal education and information to workers. Quotes "Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their workplace. I am proud to support Botler AI's innovative project, which will ensure that individuals who have experienced workplace sexual harassment can find the legal resources they need to get justice. We all have important roles to play in creating and maintaining workspaces where everyone can feel safe and respected." The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada "It is truly unacceptable that, in 2021, we still hear stories every day about sexual misconduct in workplaces right across the country. When sexual harassment occurs, it impacts the health and well-being of those involved, as well as their ability to perform their jobs, and creates a negative, environment for all. I am proud to be supporting Montreal-based Botler AI in its efforts to harness digital technology to address sexual harassment in the workplace." The Honourable Marc Miller Minister of Indigenous Services "Botler for Citizen's mission is to empower all individuals encountering traumatic harassment, violence and misconduct in the workplace and in society to pursue their legal rights, through our secure, confidential and personalized first response system. With the support of the Department of Justice Canada, Botler's Artificial Intelligence-powered hybrid legal service delivery model is establishing the pioneering, definitive global precedent for citizen-empowerment, and democratizing access to the largest legal support network, of this kind, on the planet. It is an honour and privilege for Botler to partner with the Department of Justice Canada to establish Canadian leadership in the global arena." Ritika Dutt. Chief Executive Officer, Botler AI Quick Facts In 2018, Statistics Canada released a study on all forms of harassment in Canadian workplaces. Statistics Canada found 19% of women and 13% of men reported that they had experienced harassment in their workplace. Women were more likely to report sexual harassment in their workplaces. In 2016, 48% of workers in Canada were women (Statistics Canada, 2017), and in a survey conducted by Employment and Social Development Canada in 2017, 94% of respondents who reported experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace were women. Associated links Stay connected Follow the Department of Justice Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. Follow Minister Lametti on Twitter: @MinJusticeEn. Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/rss.html SOURCE Department of Justice Canada For further information: For more information, media may contact: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Justice, 613-992-6568, [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected] Related Links http://www.justice.gc.ca Travel to Thailand from as early as July looks possible with the Thai Government warming to a plan proposed by struggling local tourism operators. An online campaign has campaigned for Thai borders to reopen by July 1 on the basis that vaccination programs will be well underway by then. The Thai Government is believed to be interested in backing the plan on one condition - that vaccines are proving effective in halting the spread of Covid. Travel to Thailand from as early as July looks possible with the Thai government warming up to a plan proposed by struggling local tourism operators. Pictured: Tourists in Bangkok's red light district, 2018 An online campaign has campaigned for Thai borders to reopen by July 1 on the basis that vaccination programs will be well underway by then (Stock) Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has begun a review of vaccinations to ensure they are effective before relaxing travel restrictions. 'I have already ordered the study so we can be prepared, but it's also important that we proceed in line with other countries,' Mr Prayuth said in a post on Facebook. 'Those in the tourism business would like to get certified soon. But there is still a lot to be uncertain about. 'The main thing is we have to go along with other countries as well. 'For people who have already been vaccinated there will be a certificate of vaccination,' he said, referring to Thai citizens. Tourism is one of Thailand's biggest industries and major employers, accounting for an estimated 13 per cent of GDP. Earlier this month it was reported Australians could be banned from travelling overseas for a holiday in 2021 despite the start of the Covid vaccination program. Despite the vaccine having an efficacy rate of 95 per cent, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced on Tuesday specialist powers letting the government restrictions on international travel will remain until at least June 17. This means the do-not-travel order is likely to remain until the second half of 2021, although the measure can be repealed or amended. The Thai government is believed to be interested in backing the plan on one condition - that vaccines are proving effective in halting the spread of Covid (Stock) Upko chief calls on Anwar to form shadow cabinet ahead of general election Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau has challenged opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to form a shadow cabinet ahead of the next general election. At a webinar organised by Bersih 2.0 today, the Tuaran parliamentarian said a shadow cabinet platform would allow the opposition to scrutinise the government's policies and at the same time formulate its alternative policies for the voters. Madius (above) said Anwar should stop giving reasons not to form a shadow. "I want to put this challenge to Anwar. The opposition leader is the prime minister in waiting and a candidate for the prime minister (post). "He must start this process and stop saying that the parties are fragmented, and everybody wants this position and that position," he said. "How can we achieve unity? You can achieve unity by starting the process. I am saying start the process before it is too late. "When you start this process, you will identify various challenges, such as whether a certain party will demand certain posts," he said. Madius said Anwar would be doing a disservice to the country if he fails to create a shadow cabinet as it is an important platform, particularly when Parliament is suspended during the current nationwide emergency, which will only end in August. He said a shadow cabinet would allow the opposition to present alternative policies to the people. "If we want to develop Malaysia into a mature democracy, where the people vote based on policies offered by parties, I don't see how we can do this without a shadow cabinet," he said. Maidus said a shadow cabinet would also play a part as check and balance on the government. Similarly, he called all state opposition leaders to form their respective state-level shadow cabinets. The webinar was held in conjunction with a research report launched by Bersih 2.0 on the importance of having a shadow cabinet. The report, entitled "A Framework for a Shadow Cabinet in Malaysia", was written by independent researcher Mala Balakrishnan. Story continues The report recommended the formation of shadow cabinets at both federal and state levels and its members to be selected based on merit. "They should have experience in the area that they have been appointed to. The lineup of any shadow cabinet should also reflect the diversity of the society it represents in terms of political parties, factions, ethnicities, gender, age, and regions," she said. "A single shadow minister should be appointed to shadow each ministry or exco of the government. The shadow minister should be the lead spokesperson for the issue from the opposition. "The shadow cabinet should have regular meetings, at least weekly, to shadow the actual cabinet of the government," Mala said. Meanwhile, Bersih called on the federal and state governments to officially recognise and institutionalise the practice of shadow cabinets as part of the country's democratic process. The electoral watchdog demanded that Parliament amend its Standing Orders to give the shadow ministers privileges and advantages during parliamentary procedures such as parliamentary questioning and legislative debates. "It should formalise the power and authority of the leader of the opposition and a representative of the shadow cabinet to be consulted on decisions relating to scheduling and timetabling of the business in the House," said Bersih. While Harapan has yet to form a shadow cabinet, PKR, in July 2020, appointed a list of parliamentary and assistant parliamentary spokespersons to shadow the Perikatan Nasional government and raise the effectiveness of PKR MPs. It was also reported Johor Harapan agreed to establish a state shadow cabinet last year. An employee of the Dayton, Tn., Post Office has been found with a large collection of stolen mail, the Rhea County Sheriff's Office said. Melissa Chance was stopped in a red mail Jeep on Saturday around 3:37 p.m. by Detective Charlie Jenkins and Sgt. Stephen Husky. The stop on Highway 60 was for a suspected impaired driver. The officers said it is believed Ms. Chance was impaired from drug use. She had with her numerous pieces of U.S. mail from addresses ranging from Ooltewah, Hixson, Soddy Daisy, Sale Creek and Dayton. The items were addressed to various individuals. The officers said there were approximately 175 unopened pieces of mail and approximately 100 open pieces. Ms. Chance was also found with numerous prescriptions, gift cards, etc. that had been sent through the mail to other individuals. United States Postal Inspectors were contacted about the mail theft and the mail was turned over to them for an Office of Inspector Generals investigation. Authorities said Ms. Chance was an employee of the Dayton Post Office, but she had also worked for other locations in the Hamilton County area. Syracuse, N.Y. Schools in Onondaga County now have the ability to bring students back into the classrooms five days a week after the county today announced it is changing social distancing rules. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, in conjunction with Health Commissioner Indu Gupta, said data shows its safe for students to return to in-person instruction if schools adopt some extra safety rules during the coronavirus pandemic. Under the new rules, students can now be three feet apart in classrooms, instead of six feet. Schools will have to install barriers or shields to separate the desks. Masks will be required for all students and staff. Three feet apart is the spacing in classes normally, one superintendent said, so that means all students could technically come back. McMahon said the county will underwrite the cost of barriers for school districts so that wont be an obstacle. Some districts already have them. It may take a couple of weeks for schools to get the barriers and figure out how to bring more students back under the new guidance, he said. In gym, students will have to stay six feet apart. Previously, the rule was 12 feet. Guidance was not released for bus transportation or lunch, but county officials said three feet on buses can typically work. The county also suggested schools work on assigned seating, and limiting the time a student sits next to another student to curb any exposures. Schools can make their own decisions to follow the new rules or stick with six feet social distancing, officials said. Teachers and staff will still have to be six feet from students. Schools can take a graduated approach if they like, officials said. In addition, staggered schedules should be evaluated and considered if possible, they said. The new rules will be a gamechanger for most schools. Parents have been urging schools to offer in-person instruction five days a week, saying remote learning doesnt work for their children. Some parents who been pushing for in-person learning wanted to see three feet of social distance in classrooms with masks, without barriers. In fact, McMahon has said this could have happened in September, but everyone worried kids wouldnt keep their masks on. In the past month, cases of Covid-19 have been declining, there has been little to no spread of the virus within schools and many teachers and school staff are now vaccinated. All these factors point to this being the right time for kids to return to the classroom if parents want to send them, county officials said. In addition, the number of cases is about the same for in-person learners as it is for remote students, McMahon said. He also said testing will continue at the schools. Testing also has shown a seven-day positivity rate of less than 1 percent in Onondaga County, officials said. The county will continue to monitor daily cases of the virus in school, and monitor new cases community-wide. The regions leading coronavirus experts, who are also parents, recently told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that it is safe to bring more kids back to the classroom. Until now, school districts have been required to keep students separated by six feet of social distancing in classrooms. That greatly reduced the number of in-person students most schools can accommodate because they dont have enough space. Students in most Central New York districts, after switching to remote instruction in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic struck, were able to return students to classrooms on a hybrid schedule in the fall. Students would go to school on some days and do remote learning on the other days each week. The impact of remote learning has hurt everyone, particularly those students with disabilities, Gupta said. Some smaller districts - Jordan-Elbridge, Fabius-Pompey and LaFayette - had space to offer five-days-a-week of in-person instruction since September. Other schools have been bringing elementary school students for classroom learning every day, but didnt have space to bring middle and high school students back five days a week. Under the new rules announced today, schools are not mandated to bring students back five days a week, county officials said. It will be up to each district to determine if and how they implement any changes, they said. The Syracuse City School District has started surveying parents to determine their interest in having their children return up to four days a week for elementary and middle-schoolers, and two days for high schoolers. Other districts have said they are looking at bringing kids back four days a week at this time. Liverpool and North Syracuse districts are also surveying parents. Students who wish to remain remote can do so throughout the rest of the academic year, officials said. Teachers unions, which at times have opposed opening classrooms, have been advocating for barriers between desks to keep schools as safe as possible. They say vaccinations are only part of the solution. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS CNYs top coronavirus doctors: Kids need to get back to school A few Central NY districts bringing more students back into classrooms: Will others follow? Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources NYs amazing big wedding rules: Covid tests for everyone, dancing only in your pod Third Covid vaccine available soon in CNY: What you need to know about each Covid vaccine site at NY State Fairgrounds to run 24 hours a day, add thousands of appointments Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.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. As one of the longest-running nameplates in Toyotas portfolio (it ran from 1971 to 2006), the Celica is certainly part of the group of cars hidden inside American garages, awaiting either rescue or the crusher. We have no idea how many of them are out there, but it sure is nice to see one getting rescued.The Celica we have here, a 1981 model year, is once again out in the open after being stored in a temperature-controlled garage ever since 1994. And that shows, as, despite the occasional (and minor) signs of use and small dents, the thing is in almost perfect shape.More importantly, its all-original as well. Except for a new fuel pump installed when the car was fired up this year (and now it does so flawlessly every time, were told), everything else is the hardware Toyota originally put on it.Titled 1981 Toyota Celica ST Sport Coupe, it rocks a 2.4-liter 22R powerplant and a 5-speed manual transmission, showing 55,000 miles (88,500 km) of use, all purportedly original. The paint on the body is the native one as well, and so is the interior, down to the dashboard and instrument cluster.This rather unique piece of Toyota history is waiting for a buyer on Classic Cars . Despite its condition, the asking price is set at just $8,295.Sure, Toyotas, except for the Supra and some Land Cruisers, are not exactly setting the tone on the pre-owned market, so even that could be too much for most. Probably not for die-hard Toyota fans, though. (ANSA) - ROME, MAR 3 - Italy on Wednesday moved to defend its iconic balsamic vinegar after Slovenia said any vinegar mixture wit concentrated must could be called balsamic vinegar. The farm ministry wrote to the European Commission contesting Slovenia's move. Agriculture Minister Stefano Patuanelli said last month that the government will take action to defend Balsamic vinegar of Modena from attempts by the Slovenia authorities to get around the system that protects its authenticity. The consortium of producers of Balsamic vinegar of Modena has sounded that alarm after the Slovenian government notified the European Commission of a national law which aims to transform the denomination "balsamic vinegar" into a product standard. This consortium says this conflicts with EU law and undermines the PDO and PGI labelling system protecting the authenticity of foods produced in a specific geographical area. "The protection of Italian wine and gastronomy is one of the government's priorities," said Patuanelli. "So, we will do everything possible to defend Balsamic vinegar of Modena from these illicit attacks". (ANSA). Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below New Delhi, March 4: Security and intelligence agencies have unearthed a major terror-funding racket pumping funds to the militants in Jammu and Kashmir via Nepal-Bihar-UP route, aAccording to knowledgeable sources. "We have observed the terror-funding operatives using the services of certain jewellers, shopping mall owners and other traders in Nepal and sending money with the help of youths operating in villages of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, bordering Nepal", said an official. According to these sources, substantial amounts of money have already been pumped for some militant organisations in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials insist that a number of over-ground workers and their sympathisers working at the instance of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Army, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen are involved in the racket and all of them would be rounded up. The network, according to these officials, came to light when Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), guarding the Indian international borders with Nepal in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh spotted mysterious activities of the local youths and detained them. Their revelations during sustained questioning made it clear that they were part of a hawala ring engaged in passage of funds to the militants in Kashmir. A number of them had already made multiple trips to Jammu and Kashmir. The ISI operatives, the Pakistani army and some militant commanders are now known to have deposited cash in different bank accounts of certain Nepal-based traders including jewellers and shopping mall owners. The Nepal businessmen through their couriers have been engaging youths in the villages of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, bordering Nepal, and passing to them cash between Rs 2-5 lakh in the Indian currency. These youths of normal criminal background would pass on the money to the militants in J&K against a fixed commission. Efforts are said to be underway to gain access of the Indian security and investigating agencies to the Nepal-based businessperson and other functionaries of the terror-funding network with the involvement of the Union Ministry of External Affairs. Most of the identified traders, according to sources, were not linked to militancy but have been indulging in hawala trade for the sake of making easy money. The dramatic arrest of Hidayatullah Malik of Shopian, the founder-chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad front and the Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) has led to the arrest of at least five of his alleged associates. One among them is Javaid Alam Ansari who was arrested from his house at Deobahuara village of Chapra and was brought to Jammu on 20 February on transit remand for sustained interrogation. Working on specific information about his presence and activities in Jammu, Delhi and other places in India, the special operations group of Jammu and Kashmir Police claims to have arrested Hidayatullah from a shopping mall in Kunjwani outskirts of the winter capital of Jammu on 6 February. His revelations have, among others, led to the arrest of two important terror operatives from Bihar and Chandigarh. Authorities have learned that at least seven country-made pistols have been smuggled in through this network from Bihar and UP for carrying out terrorist activities in Jammu, Delhi and other places. Two such pistols with some ammunition have been seized by the J&K Police before this case's transfer to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a broader investigation on Tuesday, 2 March 2021. Working on Hidayatullah's disclosures, the Jammu Police got Javid Alam Ansari arrested from Chapra in Bihar. He has admitted to having supplied seven country-made pistols to the JeM operatives working under the cover of LeM. The supplier of the arms and ammunition, according to sources however was an ordinary criminal and not a militant. He is among the five detainees being handed over to the NIA for further investigation. The J&K Police were still investigating as to where the LeM militants had spent or concealed the cash of Rs 60 lakh which they had looted from a cash delivery van of the J&K Bank in the Shopian township in November 2020. Nothing of that money has been recovered. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) Jeff Sessions, in an interview on Tuesday, expressed regret over the way the Trump administration handled the separation and reuniting of detained migrants and their children. It turned out to be more of a problem than I think any of us imagined it would be, the former U.S. Attorney General told Reuters. It was unfortunate, very unfortunate, that somehow the government was not able to manage those children in a way that they could be reunited properly, Sessions said in that interview. Sessions stopped short of saying the migrants should not have been prosecuted for illegally entering the country, saying a person traveling with a child shouldnt be given immunity. Sessions was clear in May 2018 that then-President Donald Trump wanted to separate undocumented immigrant children from their parents in a conference call with the five U.S. attorneys whose states border Mexico, according to a draft report by the Department of Justice inspector general, the New York Times reported in October. We need to take away children, Sessions told the U.S. attorneys on that conference call, the Times reported, citing the notes of some of the people on the call. Sessions served as an Alabama-based federal prosecutor, Alabamas Attorney General and went on to represent the state in the U.S. Senate. He came out early in support of former president Trump and appeared on stage with him during a 2015 campaign stop in Mobile. Trump named Sessions his attorney general, a position Sessions resigned from in 2018 after his recusal in the Russia investigation. Sessions in July lost his bid to reclaim the Senate seat he once held for 20 years, losing to future senator Tommy Tuberville in a Republican primary runoff. Zack Snyder will be given an extraordinary award from The Hollywood Critics Association, an organization of film critics supporting underrepresented voices. The award ceremony offers numerous awards, including the Star on the Rise Award, the Trailblazer Award, and the Inspire Award. But the beloved director is not going to be presented with any of those awards, as the one he'll be receiving is a new one. According to the Hollywood Reporter (via Screen Rant), The Hollywood Critics Association is presenting Zac Snyder with a Valiant Award, and he will be the first person to receive it. It will be presented to him during the 4th HCA Film Awards on Mar. 5, 2021. The Valiant Award is to honor Snyder and his wife, a producer, Deborah Snyder, with how they responded to their 20-year-old daughter's suicide three years ago. According to a statement from one of the co-founders, "I was extremely moved by how Zack and his wife and business partner Deborah turned their incommensurable pain into altruistic action, spearheading an effort that has helped countless individuals and family." Zack Snyder's daughter's death also left a massive impact on the director, even deciding to step down from "Justice League" and taking time off from filmmaking to grieve and focus on his family. Since 2017, the Synders have been supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and continuously donate to the charity. With Snyder's popularity, fans quickly followed suit, with the Snyder Cut movement even raising about $250,000 in donations for the charity. Though he and his wife still get their fair share of "unkind press," critics have appreciated Zack Snyder's creative choices even though some of them don't enjoy the movie. Not only is the Valiant Award a sign of something massive than movies, but the association has honored a man who makes them. Though the award can never replace Autumn's death, it will still stand in honor of her memory. 'Justice League' Snyder Cut Chapter Titles Finally Revealed The release of the highly-anticipated movie" Justice League" Snyder cut is only a few weeks away. Fans have been dying to see a director's cut of the 2017 movie since it debuted in theaters that year. With only two weeks left separating the fans from Zack Snyder's epic vision, the movie's official Twitter account finally revealed all six chapter titles. Most of the titles are cryptic, but it allowed the fans to infer the film's plot. See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles Several people with active arrest warrants were detained Wednesday after they were found in an Allegheny County hotel while police were investigating an abduction. Police were first called about an abduction in progress in the 300 block of Bausman Street around 2:55 p.m., Pittsburgh Public Safety said in a statement. Shortly after, a vehicle associated with the abduction report was found in the 1000 block of Banksville Road, police said. KDKA reports that officers, including SWAT, swarmed the Days Inn Hotel, which is about 10 minutes from the abduction scene. Pittsburgh police spokesman Chris Togneri told KDKA the original call was for a woman who was being abducted by two other adults. The woman, the suspects and others were found at the hotel and no one was injured, police said. Investigators found several people rented several rooms in two neighboring hotels on Banksville Road. Several people associated with the rooms had warrants for their arrest. The police spokesman told KDKA that there was some illegal activity including drug use and possibly other things going on in these hotel rooms. Police said mulitple people were detained for questioning, and the investigation is ongoing. Read more PennLive: HT Imam, the political adviser to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, died on Thursday at a military hospital here.Imam, 81, breathed his last at 1.15 am. He was undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka, Awami League Office Secretary Biplab Barua said in a social media post.Imam, who was the cabinet secretary to the 1971 wartime government, was hospitalised with various age-related problems, Dhaka Tribune reported. After the Awami League headed by Hasina formed the government following the 2008 election, Imam was appointed as the public administration affairs adviser to the prime minister.Following the 2014 elections, he was made the political affairs adviser to the prime minister.President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Imam, the report said. In a condolence message, the president said the role of Imam was very important in the Great Liberation War.Hasina prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family, United News of Bangladesh reported. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Galveston, TX (77553) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with isolated thunderstorms developing late. Low 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. The report, based upon surveys of employees and managers of large US-based companies, found that 80% of respondents are very or somewhat satisfied with remote work, despite higher workloads and a lack of social interactions with colleagues. Eighty-two percent of managers said their employees are working more than they were before the pandemic, with over half saying employees were working "a lot" more. However, access to remote work options remains inequitable across income brackets with lower-income employees seeing fewer remote job roles. Specifically, 69% of those with an income below $50k / year said they saw increased remote working opportunity, compared to 86% of those making over $75k / year. The report finds that the shift to remote work has allowed employers to hire talent beyond where they physically operate. Some firms have used this opportunity to double down on diversity and inclusion. The report further explores differing sentiments among demographic groups toward remote work, including a breakdown by gender. Key findings from the report include: 93% of women said they were satisfied with remote work, compared to 88% of men. There is an increased focus on skills training, and more than half of respondents cited training in some form as a benefit of remote work. Most respondents (including employees themselves) believed that employees should look for their own training opportunities, regardless of income level. Companies responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in a number of ways, from cutting jobs to reducing salaries. Some industries increased their efforts towards diversity hiring. Employers reported a high level of trust in their employees to be productive. Directors, senior management and C-suites all said they trust that employees are working efficiently, but acknowledged they have higher expectations and expect more frequent check-ins from those they manage. Most employees saw increased job opportunities from remote hiring, and employers were more willing to hire workers from elsewhere. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed employment forecasts for different sectors. Although utility companies experienced the smallest decline in employment during COVID-19, it is projected to have the largest decline of any sector over the next decade. By contrast, while leisure and hospitality have been hardest hit, the industry nonetheless expects strong employment growth. "While the full impact of the pandemic remains unknown, it's clear that the shift towards digitalization has altered the shape, focus, and geographical dispersion of the American workforce," said Michael Klowden, CEO, Milken Institute. "This research provides insights into how Americans view these changes. We hope to provide companies with a deeper understanding of the pandemic's impact on employee sentiment to manage their workforces through stronger and more equitable approaches." "The pandemic has accelerated trends we had already been seeing and provided a rare opportunity to clearly envision the future of work in a way that benefits the largest number of people," said Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys. "As training and reskilling become increasingly important, companies that provide their employees with the greatest advancement opportunities will continue to have a competitive edge. They will also be able to meet the diversity, equity, and inclusivity challenges the world is facing with greater impact." The study concludes that the future of the workplacewhether in-office, remote, or hybridis already heralding significant changes in the relationships between employers and employees. Employees are particularly focused on adapting to the increased use of technology, adjusting their work-life balance, and developing trust and camaraderie in a remote setting. Drawing upon the survey's results, the report outlines recommendations that address both the rise of inequality and disruption stemming from the pandemic. These include strengthening the relationships between businesses and educational institutions, providing employees with financial support for their training, and the need for agility in business as we navigate the future of work and iterate on the best solutions to the unique issues it raises. For more information, please visit, https://www.infosys.com/navigate-your-next/research/future-work-report.html About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. About the Milken Institute The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that helps people build meaningful lives in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. SOURCE Infosys Marked on 3 March, World Hearing Day puts in the limelight a medical condition that devastates the lives of many people. Fortunately, the damage of hearing loss can be largely downsized through awareness and early intervention. World Health Organization (WHO) announced the immediate need for actions that would save many countries the costs of dealing with this problem if it was tackled at an early stage. Main causes of hearing loss According to WHO, almost 60 percent of hearing loss in children can be prevented through measures such as immunisation for prevention of rubella and meningitis, improved maternal and neonatal care, and screening for, and early management of, diseases of the middle ear. In adults, noise control, safe listening, and surveillance of particular medicines, together with good ear hygiene, can help maintain good hearing and reduce the potential for hearing loss. Identification is the first step in addressing hearing loss and related ear diseases. Clinical screening at strategic points in life ensures that hearing loss and ear diseases can be identified as early as possible. Hearing loss in Egypt According to the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, some 4.5 million people in Egypt (approximately five percent of the population) are living with partial or complete hearing loss. Children make up around 130,000 of these figures. The past five years saw intensive efforts by NGOs, such as Misr El-Kheir, in preventing and the early detection of hearing loss. In addition, Egyptian medical universities have been collaborating with the private sector to launch awareness campaigns and send convoys to inspect the hearing abilities of children in various governorates, including Assiut, Qena, and Aswan. Egypts General Authority for Health Insurance signed a protocol to build rehabilitation centres and audiology units in health insurance hospitals, including five rehabilitation centers to be built in the following years. The role of rehabilitation for kids and parents was brought to the forefront, highlighting its importance after cochlear implants procedures. Many celebrities have engaged in efforts to shed light on the importance of the cause and raise awareness regarding early detection. The celebrities include prominent actor Mohamed Sobhi and star Yousra El-Lozy, who bravely shared the story of her daughter who is suffering from the ailment. Alarming figures The WHO released yesterday its first World Report on Hearing, stating that at least 700 million people will require access to ear and hearing care and other rehabilitation services unless action is taken. The report contains several alarming figures, saying that nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide or one in four people will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050. The report stresses that in most countries, ear and hearing care is still not integrated into national healthcare services. Moreover, access to ear and hearing care is poorly measured and documented, and relevant indicators are lacking in the health information system. But the most glaring gap in the health system capacity is in human resources. Among low-income countries, about 78 percent have fewer than one ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist per million population; 93 percent have fewer than one audiologist per million; only 17 percent have one or more speech therapist per million; and 50 percent have one or more teacher for the deaf per million. The report states that recent technological advances, including accurate and easy-to-use tools, can identify ear disease and hearing loss at any age, in clinical or community settings, and with limited training and resources. Screening can even take place in challenging situations, such as those encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and those living in underserved and remote areas of the world. Access to timely and appropriate care The report stresses that once diagnosed, early intervention is key. Medical and surgical treatment can cure most ear diseases, potentially reversing the associated hearing loss. However, where hearing loss is irreversible, rehabilitation can ensure that those affected avoid the adverse consequences of hearing loss. A range of effective options are available. Hearing technology, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, when accompanied by appropriate support services and rehabilitative therapy are effective and cost-effective and can benefit children and adults alike. The report notes that the use of sign language and other means of sensory substitution, such as speech reading, are important options for many deaf people; hearing assistive technology and services such as captioning and sign language interpretation can further improve access to communication and education for those with hearing loss. In a statement commenting on the report, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "Our ability to hear is precious. Untreated hearing loss can have a devastating impact on peoples ability to communicate, to study and to earn a living. It can also impact peoples mental health and their ability to sustain relationships. This new report outlines the scale of the problem, but also offers solutions in the form of evidence-based interventions that we encourage all countries to integrate into their health systems as part of their journey towards universal health coverage, he added. Short link: Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday rejected calls for launching an independent probe into the allegations against his attorney-general that he raped a woman. The woman presumably took her own life last year after reporting the incident to the New South Wales Police in 2019. Porter strenuously denied the rape claims as he confronted the Australian press in Perth, saying, Nothing in the allegations that have been printed ever happened, proclaiming his innocence, and clarifying that he would not step down. Meanwhile, Australias PM dismissed the calls to investigate Porter and slammed 'mob justice'. Morrison told local reporters that he will welcome' his attorney general back, adding that 'the rule of law must prevail' in a televised statement. At the press conference in Perth, Australia's PM backed Porter expressing concern that he [Christian Porter] has "obviously" been through a very traumatic series of events. And he can't wait for his attorney general to resume his duties. Porter has been on medical leaves citing that he needed emotional support to deal with the current circumstances. Saying that an appeal for probe into the rape allegation from the family and friends of the deceased victim would risk Australia's rule of law and the presumption of innocence, Australia's PM reiterated that the NSW police had already closed the case citing "insufficient admissible evidence". At the end of the day, do we have confidence that Christian Porter is fit to remain as the Attorney General, the first law officer of Australia if there is no independent enquiry into the rape allegations? I say no#afternoonbriefing #auspol Stella Yee (@Stella4Menzies) March 4, 2021 With his appalling handling of these serious rape allegations, PM is insulting victims & the country. If PM & A-G won't even read the accusations against Porter, then an independent inquiry must. Women's statements must be heard & taken seriously. We need an inquiry. Today. Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) March 3, 2021 Read: South Australia Bans Some Single-use Plastic Items Read: Queen Leads Statue's Virtual Unveiling In Australia Morrison: Police 'relevant authority' Speaking at the NSW Hunter region press conference, Australia's leader defended Porter saying that it was the fundamental principle of liberal democracy that the police is the 'relevant authority'. "I don't agree with the precedent or the prima facie case for there being such a process [independent probe], that would say that our rule of law and our police are not competent to deal with these issues," Morrison said in a televised address. "This is not mob process, this is not the tribe-has-spoken process, that's not how we run the rule of law in Australia," PM Morrison added. PM saying rule of law is why hell do nothing about rape allegations against Porter. But rule of law is not under threat from an independent inquiry! Police investigation was closed as the woman killed herself & AFP have no jurisdiction, so indep inquiry is only way fwd #auspol Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) March 3, 2021 Meanwhile, the lawyer for the dead woman at the center of a historical rape allegation who had alleged to the police that she was raped by Porter when she was just 16, told the press that a "cloud is hanging over" the Cabinet minister and he wouldnt want a probe. Michael Bradley told Today that PM Morrison must not rule out an investigation. "The prime minister has a choice, and that is either accept that this matter is closed based on Porter's denial of the allegation, or initiate a process to deal with it, gather evidence, test it, it weighs it up, then it reaches a determination," the lawyer said in a live-streamed address. Read: 'Vitally Important': Australia's Former PM Says Rape Accused Minister Must Come Forward Read: UKs Sonnenkrieg Division To Be 1st Right-wing Terrorist Group Listed In Australia: Report SK Group's building located in central Seoul / Korea Times file By Anna J. Park SK Group plans to list its real estate investment trust (REIT) on the Korean stock market sometime within this year, drawing investors' attention whether the initial public offering (IPO) of the energy-telecom conglomerate's REIT could reignite the market's interest in real estate funds. According to industry officials, SK selected Korea Investment & Securities recently as the lead manager for the IPO, aiming to complete the process this year. The land ministry is expected to give the green light to the move later this month. SK Group's REIT includes the conglomerate's major assets such as Seorin Building in central Seoul. The 38-story building has been used as the group's headquarters for the past 20 years since opening in 1999. It was sold to Bank of America-Merrill Lynch in 2005 for 450 billion won ($400 million) to raise capital to acquire what became now SK Incheon Petrochem. The building was later sold to Hana Alternative Asset Management in 2011 for 550 billion won, and SK plans to repurchase it soon. The current price for the building is estimated at 990 billion won. "Seorin Building is highly likely to be the first asset to be included by SK REIT, as the building is connected with the group's history, and we are hoping to repurchase it," an official from SK said. SK Energy's hundreds of gas stations nationwide are expected to be included as the main assets of the REIT. SK Group is said to have been preparing for the REIT IPO since last July. Once some of SK affiliates' properties are sold to the REIT, it will receive rent from the affiliates, which could invest the proceeds from the sale in research and development, or purchases. Market watchers expect the REIT IPO to raise 500 billion won, outdoing Lotte Group's REIT which was listed in October 2019 for 429 billion won. Attention is also being focused on whether the REIT IPO will attract investors' interest, as REITs have been shunned in the past year. On the U.S. stock market, however, REITs gained an average of 4.1 percent since the beginning of the year amid expectations of an economic recovery. Almost 40 Belarusian IT companies with a total of about 2,000 employees have already relocated to Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov has said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. "So far, almost 40 Belarusian companies have relocated to Ukraine. That's about 2,000 employees. In my opinion, in order to attract tens of times more IT professionals, we need to launch the Diia City project, which creates the best conditions for IT business," Fedorov said. He noted that convenient tax conditions can attract professionals from around the world. "Why has their IT project in Belarus become so successful? Because there was maximum liberalization of tax relations, it was the same with Silicon Valley, and now it's the same in Dubai. We need to radically change our tax system to become more attractive," he said. Fedorov recalled that Diia City is a virtual zone, a certain register. If an IT company meets its criteria (certain activities, the average salary, and the minimum number of employees), it becomes a resident of Diia City and pays 5% of personal income tax plus military duty. All criteria are checked automatically by registers without the participation of officials, i.e. without a regulator. In this way, employees of these companies legalize their salaries, companies can get in on IPOs, and they become more understandable to investors. Fedorov noted that participation in the Diia City project would be completely voluntary. According to him, the bill on Diia City is currently being finalized in accordance with the comments of the industry and will be put to the first vote in March. "We really hear the IT market, and therefore, 70% of the recommendations for the bill will be taken into account," Fedorov said. The IT Relocate Belarus project is being implemented by a team of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine with the support of President Volodymyr Zelensky and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov. It offers 90 days of continuous stay for 180 days without obtaining a visa, an average salary of $2,000, 4G in all major cities, more than 5,600 service and technology companies, affordable housing and office rent. In early June 2020, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine announced the launch of the Diia City project - the world's first virtual business country. The purpose of the project is to create favorable conditions for the development of innovative and technological business. It is expected that by 2025 the project will help create an additional 450,000 jobs in the country. The project will attract more than $11.8 billion to the IT industry. It is planned that the project will be of interest to Ukrainian and international IT companies, investment funds, startups, and educational organizations. The project will cover such technological areas as AgroTech, Fintech, and Blockchain, AI and cloud computing technologies, medical neural networks and biotechnology, etc. Bill No. 4303 "On Stimulating the Development of the Digital Economy in Ukraine" was registered in the Verkhovna Rada in November 2020. op Good morning. This is a look at our daily Express Briefing newsletter. Sign up for Express Briefing here. Subscribers get access to the full version of our Express Briefing newsletter, which includes exclusive insight and links to more of our best stories. To become a subscriber, take advantage of this special offer today. TOP STORIES During his lifetime, former Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. amassed a ranching empire in South Texas only surpassed in acreage by the storied King Ranch. The land and cattle baron assembled more than 600,000 acres stretching over 10 counties and owned some 15,000 cattle, part of a family fortune that Forbes valued at $1.3 billion six years ago. Briscoe died at 87 in 2010 in Uvalde, leaving the family business to his three children to share equally. But after one died in 2018 at the age of 68, a fight erupted over control of the family business. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake in the family feud. Patrick Danner breaks down the legal dispute between Dolph Chip Briscoe III and the late magnates youngest daughter, Cele Carpenter. The imminent lifting of the states mask mandate has polarized business owners in San Antonio, causing some to celebrate their coming freedom from coronavirus restrictions and others to dread conflicts among patrons and staff provoked by an absence of statewide rules. On Wednesday, the fractured landscape was taking shape a day after Gov. Greg Abbott declared that Texas businesses could open at full capacity and make their own decisions on whether to require face coverings starting March 10. Lucy Coopers Texas Ice House owner Braunda Smith a staunch advocate for bars and restaurants throughout the pandemic said Abbotts order had made her heart so full of joy. Meanwhile, south of downtown, Pharm Table owner Elizabeth Johnson was mulling how she might enact even more safeguards to protect her customers and staff from COVID-19. Find out why one business owner said "Youre always darned if you do and darned if you dont." Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he was lifting all COVID-19 restrictions, including mask requirements and capacity limits for restaurants, stores and other businesses. The move stunned San Antonio officials, who called it premature and dangerous. We talked to Dr. Junda Woo, medical director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, about the governors order. Read our Q&A here. And we want to know: Will you still wear a mask in public? Take our poll here. NEED TO KNOW THE FUN STUFF Dont worry, tacos. Youll always be king in San Antonio. But right now, the citys spotlight is directly on another delectable edible: the fried-chicken sandwich. It is undoubtedly having a moment here. We rounded up nine of the best in the city for this list. Arts: Several of San Antonios performing arts organizations, museums and other attractions plan to stay the course with COVID-19 safety measures in the wake of Gov. Greg Abbotts announcement that state mandates will be lifted March 10. Pets: A dog trainer shares her tips for getting dogs to ignore doorbells and other noises in the latest Animals Matter column. Spurs: The Spurs close the first half with a revenge game against Oklahoma City and a chance to head into the All-Star break on a high note. Here's our preview of Thursday night's game. CHECK OUT OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS SA Inc.: Get local business news updates from behind the scenes, delivered twice a week. Texas Take: The latest in state, local and national politics, delivered every weekday morning. Real Estate: Get a sneak peek of luxe San Antonio properties, local market trends and homebuying/selling tips. Taste: Hungry for restaurant reviews and recipes? Get the free Taste newsletter, delivered once a week. Toronto: A man who ploughed a rented van into dozens of people in Toronto in 2018 is guilty of murdering 10 people and attempting to murder 16, a judge ruled on Wednesday (Canada-time), dismissing a defence argument that the suspects mental disorder left him with no idea how horrific his actions were. Alek Minassian, 28, told police he was motivated by a desire to punish society for his perceived status as an incel - short for involuntary celibate - because he believed women would not have sex with him. Minassian had pleaded not criminally responsible. In a courtroom sketch from a 2018 hearing Alek Minassian is in orange. Credit:AP But the defence failed to prove Minassians autism spectrum disorder deprived him of the capacity to know his actions were wrong, Judge Anne Molloy said in a verdict that was privately live-streamed on YouTube following a trial held virtually due to the pandemic. Molloy referred to Minassian as John Doe to try to deny the accused the notoriety he said he desired. Amanda Blanc took over as Aviva chief executive last year (Aviva/PA) Aviva has exited Italy with two deals that will let the insurance giant focus on its key markets as part of an international withdrawal. The firm, which has been on a selling spree for months, said that it had netted a combined 873 million euros (754 million) from the sale of two arms. CNP Assurances will buy Avivas Italian life insurance business, while Allianz snaps up the general insurance business. It is less than four months since the firm sold its 80% in Aviva Vita, an Italian life insurance joint venture. Together the three sales have netted the company 1.3 billion euros (1.1 billion). It follows further sales in Turkey, France, Singapore and Vietnam, all in the last six months. 2020 was a year of significant change for Aviva Amanda Blanc, chief executive The business said it is also looking at its options in Poland and other international joint ventures. 2020 was a year of significant change for Aviva. We have taken major steps forward in simplifying the business, most recently with the sale of Aviva France and todays announcement of the sale of the rest of our Italian operations, said chief executive Amanda Blanc. Our strategic focus is now on the UK, Ireland and Canada where we have leading positions. The announcement came alongside Avivas results for the year, showing a 23 million drop in operating profit to around 3.2 billion. It declared a total dividend of 21p for 2020, up from 15.5p a year earlier. Ms Blanc said that the performance in 2020 demonstrated the growth potential in its core markets. It saw record sales in several areas. In the UK, the companys savings and retirement business saw a 1 billion jump in net flows to a record 8.5 billion. The firm said that the economic outlook is still uncertain, but noted that the progress on global vaccinations was positive. It said: Aviva has responded incredibly well to the challenge in 2020 presented by Covid-19 and Brexit. Our core markets have proven to be resilient and our customer service has been very strong. New Delhi: Thirty-eight people were killed in Myanmar as the military quelled protests in several towns and cities on Wednesday, the United Nations said, the most violent day since demonstrations against last month`s military coup first broke out. Police and soldiers opened fire with live rounds with little warning, witnesses said. The bloodshed occurred one day after neighbouring countries had called for restraint in the aftermath of the military`s overthrow of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. "It`s horrific, it`s a massacre. No words can describe the situation and our feelings," youth activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi told Reuters via a messaging app. The dead included four children, an aid agency said. Hundreds of protesters were arrested, local media reported. "Today it was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the 1st of February. We had today only today 38 people died. We have now more than over 50 people died since the coup started, and many are wounded," United Nations special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said in New York. A spokesman for the ruling military council did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. Schraner Burgener said that in conversations with Myanmar`s deputy military chief Soe Win, she had warned him that the military was likely to face strong measures from some countries and isolation in retaliation for the coup. "The answer was: `We are used to sanctions, and we survived`," she told reporters in New York. "When I also warned they will go (into) isolation, the answer was: `We have to learn to walk with only few friends`." The UN Security Council is due to discuss the situation on Friday in a closed meeting, diplomats said. SUSTAINED SHOOTING Ko Bo Kyi, joint secretary of Myanmar`s Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights group, had said earlier the military killed at least 18. But the toll rose by the end of the day. In the main city Yangon, witnesses said at least eight people were killed, seven of them when security forces opened sustained fire in a neighbourhood in the north of the city in the early evening. "I heard so much continuous firing. I lay down on the ground, they shot a lot," protester Kaung Pyae Sone Tun, 23, told Reuters. In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was "appalled" by the increase in violence. The administration of President Joe Biden was evaluating "appropriate" measures to respond and any actions would be targeted at Myanmar`s military, he added. The United States has conveyed to China that it is looking for Beijing to play a constructive role in Myanmar, the spokesman said. The European Union said the shootings of unarmed civilians and medical workers were clear breaches of international law. It also said the military was stepping up repression of the media, with a growing number of journalists arrested and charged. In the central town of Monywa, six people were killed, the Monywa Gazette reported. Others were killed in the second-biggest city Mandalay, the northern town of Hpakant, and the central town of Myingyan. Save the Children said in a statement four children were among the dead, including a 14-year-old boy who Radio Free Asia reported was shot dead by a soldier on a passing convoy of military trucks. The soldiers loaded his body onto a truck and left the scene, according to the report. Live TV `WE SHALL OVERCOME` Security forces breaking up protests in Yangon detained about 300 protesters, Myanmar Now news agency reported. Video posted on social media showed lines of young men, hands-on heads, filing into army trucks as police and soldiers stood guard. Reuters was unable to verify the footage. Images of a 19-year-old woman, one of two shot dead in Mandalay, showed her wearing a T-shirt that read "Everything will be OK". Police in Yangon ordered three medics out of an ambulance, shot up the windscreen, and then kicked and beat the workers with gun butts and batons, video broadcast by U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia showed. Reuters was unable to verify the video independently. Democracy activist Esther Ze Naw told Reuters that the sacrifices of those who died would not be in vain. "We shall overcome this and win," she said. On Tuesday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to make a breakthrough in a virtual foreign ministers` meeting on Myanmar. While united in a call for restraint, only four members - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore - called for the release of Suu Kyi and other detainees. "We expressed ASEAN`s readiness to assist Myanmar in a positive, peaceful and constructive manner," the ASEAN chair, Brunei, said in a statement. Myanmar`s state media said the military-appointed foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, attended and "apprised the meeting of voting irregularities" in the November election. The military justified the coup by saying its complaints of voter fraud in the Nov. 8 vote were ignored. Suu Kyi`s party won by a landslide, earning a second term. The election commission said the vote was fair. Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has pledged to hold new elections but given no time frame. UN envoy Schraner Burgener said his deputy Soe Win told her that "after a year they want to have another election." Suu Kyi, 75, has been held incommunicado since the coup but appeared at a court hearing via video conferencing this week and looked in good health, a lawyer said. Alia Bhatt Rooted For Vijay Verma To Be Cast In Her Debut Production Darlings After Working Together In Gully Boy Vijay Varma recently announced his upcoming film Darlings by Red Chillies opposite Alia Bhatt. After his spectacular performance in Gully Boy one person was left so impressed that they wanted him to be a part of Darlings and hence, recommended his name. A source close to Vijay informed, "Alia and Vijay had worked together for Gully Boy the first time and she was so impressed by his performance that she actually recommended him for Darlings since she was co-producing the film. And everyone in the team immediately hopped on board for Vijay". Darlings was recently announced by Red Chillies as a dark comedy coming soon and fans are super excited to see two talented stars like Alia Bhatt and Vijay Varma to be paired opposite each other for the first time on screen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt (@aliaabhatt) Vijay had multiple releases in the year of the pandemic with projects like She, Mirzapur 2, A Suitable Boy, Ghost Stories, Baaghi 3 etc. to name a few as he has been a busy bee ever since his spectacular performance in Gully Boy as Moeen. 2021 seems quite significant for the talented actor who is currently shooting for Reema Kagti's Fallen with Sonakshi Sinha in Rajasthan. He will also be seen in Ok Computer with Radhika Apte and Hurdang with Nushrratt Bharuccha and Sunny Kaushal besides Fallen and Darlings. This effect was evident after the Great Recession. States that experienced higher increases in unemployment experienced larger declines in birthrates; a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate was associated with a subsequent drop in births of 1 percent. Estimates suggest that U.S. unemployment will have risen by around 5.5 percentage points in the year following the start of the pandemic. From the unemployment effect alone, we might therefore expect a 5.5 percent reduction in births on account of the Covid pandemic. Of course, this pandemic is causing more than just a recession. The public health element is also likely to lead some couples to postpone or avoid childbearing. Here, the demographic history of the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic is instructive. That pandemic was not associated with a major recession in the United States, and contraceptive options were much more limited at the time. Yet, every spike in pandemic-related deaths was associated with a large drop in births exactly nine months later. We also incorporated this evidence into our forecast. School closures, public-gathering limits and social-distancing mandates are also likely to have an effect. Millions of parents are dealing with the stress of combining their work responsibilities with the need to supervise and teach their children, who no longer attend school five days a week. This raises the cost of rearing children and can be expected to lead to fewer siblings being conceived this year. Moreover, restrictions on social activities also mean some relationships that would have started in 2020 (and might have led to babies someday) never took root. We have no precedent to estimate changes in birthrates from these disruptions, but they will undoubtedly also contribute to a large reduction in overall births. Recent data confirms the likelihood of a sizable baby bust. Surveys conducted this summer revealed that couples were intentionally putting their pregnancy plans on hold and having sex less often. Google searches for pregnancy-related terms, such as pregnancy tests, were down. Averted conceptions starting with the pandemics arrival in March 2020 would show up as missing births starting in December 2020. Official birth data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics will not be available for many more months, but some states have already released provisional birth data. In January 2021, which would be the first month in which all full-term babies born were conceived after the lockdown began, births fell by 7.2 percent in Florida and 10.5 percent in California, after adjusting for secular trends, seasonal variation and the use of provisional birth data. AirAsia ramps up Bangkok-Phuket flights to six a day PHUKET: AirAsia has increased its number of flights between Bangkok and Phuket to six a day to serve what the airline calls pent up demand for travel following the COVID lockdowns earlier this year. tourismtransport By The Phuket News Thursday 4 March 2021, 05:56PM The news also came as Phuket International Airport today released its monthly schedule of flights for March 2021. Image: AoT Phuket The news also came as Phuket International Airport today released its monthly schedule of flights for March 2021. Image: AoT Phuket The news also came as Phuket International Airport today released its monthly schedule of flights for March 2021. Image: AoT Phuket The news also came as Phuket International Airport today released its monthly schedule of flights for March 2021. Image: AoT Phuket The news also came as Phuket International Airport today released its monthly schedule of flights for March 2021. Image: AoT Phuket AirAsia has increased its Bangkok-Phuket flights to six a day to serve pent up demand. Photo: AirAsia The news came at an event today (Mar 4) joined by TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn to thank the TAT for promoting safe domestic tourism. Photo: TAT AirAsia has increased its Bangkok-Phuket flights to six a day to serve pent up demand. Photo: AirAsia AirAsia has increased its Bangkok-Phuket flights to six a day to serve pent up demand. Photo: AirAsia The move to ramp up flight services to Phuket comes ahead of upcoming holidays that are expected to see a surge in demand, AirAsia said in a release today (Mar 4). At an event also held today for AirAsia to thank the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for its support in promoting safe domestic tourism, AirAsia Thailand Chief Executive Officer Santisuk Klongchaiya, said, We wish to thank TAT for their continued support to promote safe domestic travel. We expect tourism to recover continuously from this March and April, when Songkran and other long holidays will provide more opportunities for travel. AirAsia is preparing to bring back 100% of its domestic network by April, including domestic cross-region connections, to meet an expected surge in demand. Higher frequencies are expected for popular routes as well, with seven flights daily from Don Mueang-Chiang Mai, three flights daily for Suvarnabhumi-Chiang Mai, six flights daily from Don Mueang-Phuket, five flights daily from Don Mueang-Hat Yai, and four flights daily from Don Mueang-Khon Kaen, while Don Mueang-Udon Thani will have three flights daily, Mr Santisuk said. At the event today, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stated, Now that the government has relaxed COVID-19 prevention measures in many areas, tourists can travel more confidently and conveniently We are assured tourism industry operators in both major and secondary cities are fully ready to accommodate visitors, especially during the upcoming holiday periods when demand is usually highest. Recently, [the] TAT promoted travel under the New Normal and Amazing Thailand campaigns, leveraging Safety and Health Administration (SHA) standards, looking to boost the local economy. We look forward to working closely with AirAsia to stimulate and grow domestic travel demand in the coming months. AirAsia has continued to ensure strict health and safety measures are in place while providing excellent service to passengers. The airline encourages travelers to use contactless travel options such as online check-in, all staff must wear protective equipment such as gloves and face masks and regularly disinfect necessary areas, said the release today. Combined with the personal hygiene practices most passengers have grown accustomed to, the airline is well prepared to ensure safe air travel for all guests to the nations tourism destinations, the release added. There is much pent up demand for travel and the recent release of our #FlyRuaRuaPass promotion, which saw all 80,000 privileges snapped up in just 48 hours is testament to that, noted Mr Santisuk. Relaxed health measures, a lift on 14-day quarantine in most provinces and vaccinations have significantly added to consumer travel confidence, he added. The news of increased flights to Phuket came as Phuket International Airport today also released its full monthly schedule of domestic flights, showing Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air, Vietjet, Nok Air and Thai Smile all flying to and from Phuket. (See image gallery above.) Phuket International Airport has issued important preventive measures for passengers, employees and outsourced personnel to strictly follow, Airports of Thailand management at Phuket airport (AoT Phuket) announced in its release. As such, people must wear face masks at all times while in the airport area, and all travellers must register their travel details via gophuget.com and install the Mor Chana app, in accordance with a provincial order issued by the Phuket Governor, AoT Phuket noted. Also, no people with body temperatures over 37.3C will be allowed to enter the airport. All people will have their body temperatures checked when entering airport buildings, AoT Phuket also noted. Cleaning and sanitizing have been stepped up at all touchpoints (escalator handrails and luggage cart handles, etc.), and hand sanitizers have been placed throughout the airport, AoT Phuket also assured. Passengers should arrive at the airport at least 1-2 hours before departure time, the airport management advised. The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on childhood cancer care worldwide, according to a survey of more than 300 clinicians from 200 hospitals worldwide published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. The first global assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on paediatric cancer care reveals that paediatric cancer care was affected at more than three quarters of surveyed hospitals (78%). Almost half (43%) reported diagnosing fewer new cases than expected, while around one third (34%) reported a rise in the number of patients who abandoned treatment. The survey also found that nearly one in ten (7%) closed their paediatric cancer units completely at some stage during the pandemic. Of the 15 units that closed, 13 (87%) were in LMICs, and mean closure time was 10 days. COVID-19 has placed huge pressures on hospitals and healthcare systems around the world. Previous studies have reported delays in the presentation and care of paediatric cancer patients during the pandemic at the national or regional level. The survey published today adds the views of health care workers from around the world on the care their hospitals are able to deliver. Daniel Moreira, M.D., of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, U.S., said: "Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has had a greater impact on childhood cancer care globally than single-region studies had suggested, with centres in LMICs particularly hard hit. Hospitals in LMICs were under strain even before the pandemic, with fewer resources and less access to care for children with cancer, so our results seem to reflect the relative strength of different healthcare systems around the world." Wide-ranging impacts were identified worldwide, including reductions in available clinical staff, paediatric cancer beds and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, the results suggest the effects in LMICs were more pronounced, with changes to chemotherapy due to treatment agent shortages, treatment abandonment, and disruptions to radiotherapy among issues frequently reported. The authors of the new study assessed the global impacts of COVID-19 on childhood cancer care by designing a cross-sectional survey that was distributed to hundreds of healthcare workers worldwide through international and regional networks. The survey covered the period from June 22nd to August 21st, 2020, and included a range of questions to assess hospital characteristics, the number of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and disruptions and adaptations to cancer care. The survey was completed by 311 healthcare workers at 213 institutions in 79 countries. Countries were grouped as low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, and high-income. Responses were analysed at the institutional level. Most hospitals (83%) were in LMICs and the vast majority (88%) were able to test for COVID-19. The authors found that effects of the pandemic on paediatric cancer care were largely independent of the number of COVID-19 cases in individual hospitals or at national levels. The findings suggest that paediatric cancer care globally has been affected by COVID-19, with more than three quarters of hospitals (78%) reporting some impact on their capacity to provide care. Considerable disruption to cancer diagnosis was reported, with almost half of hospitals (43%) diagnosing fewer new cases than expected. Effects on hospitals' ability to provide cancer treatment were also noted, with one in three (34%) reporting a rise in the numbers of patients whose therapy did not begin or was delayed by four weeks or longerknown as treatment abandonment. Several impacts on the management of paediatric cancer were reported, including a reduction in surgery at most hospitals (79%). More than half noted shortages in blood products, while a similar proportion modified chemotherapy because of treatment agent shortages (60% and 57%, respectively). Disruption to radiotherapy was also considerable, with almost one third (28%) reporting treatment disruption. Hospital resources were significantly affected, with one third (32%) noting decreased financial support, while two thirds (66%) reported a reduction in available clinical staff. Around one in five hospitals (19%) noted a reduction in availability of paediatric cancer beds. Nearly one in ten hospitals (7%) had to close their paediatric cancer unit completely at some point, with an average period of closure of 10 days. The vast majority of these (87%) were in LMICs, and while some impacts on paediatric cancer care did not vary based on country income level, LMICs were disproportionately affected in a number of areas. This included changes to chemotherapy due to treatment agent shortages (40%, 45%, and 40% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income countries, respectively, compared with 11% for high-income), higher rates of treatment abandonment (38%, 52%, and 33% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 8% for high-income), and more frequent disruptions to radiotherapy (78%, 68%, and 46% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 10% for high-income). Hospitals in LMICs also reported decreased access to life-saving interventions more frequently (8%, 33%, and 16% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 3% for high-income), and unexpected deaths (31%, 36%, and 13% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 8% for high-income). Hospitals in LMICs were also more likely to report decreases in their usual government funding for cancer care (15%, 52%, and 31% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 8% for high-income). Dylan Graetz, M.D., of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, U.S., said: "The long-term impacts on childhood cancer outcomes are not yet clear. Our findings highlight the need for ongoing assessment of resource needs during the pandemic and the sharing of successful strategies to tackle the negative effects on paediatric cancer care." Most hospitals put in place new policies and guidelines to support paediatric cancer care during the pandemic, with more than two thirds (69%) using new or adapted patient and staff safety checklists, while new processes for communication with patients and families (63%) and new guidance on essential services (56%) were also common. The authors found that many of these were well received by hospital staff and may be beneficial beyond the pandemic. Professor Laila Hessissen, of Mohammed V University, Morocco, said: "Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional barriers to childhood cancer care, we have proven we are a resilient community and can translate some of the adaptations forced by the pandemic to the future of cancer care." The authors note a number of limitations. The survey results reflect only the knowledge and opinions of respondents at one stage during a fast-changing pandemic. As the survey was in English and distributed within two paediatric oncology networks, the results may not be generalizable to small, low-resource settings where staff do not speak English and are not part of these networks. The survey covered a range of topics and took around 60 minutes to complete, which may have caused survey fatigue leading to relatively high number of incomplete responses. Nonetheless, the authors believe this study captured a comprehensive description of the global effect of this pandemic on paediatric oncology care. This report is part of the COVIMPACT study, which aims to capture the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care. Furthermore, this work is linked to The Global COVID-19 Observatory and Resource Center for Childhood Cancer (COVID19childhoodcancer.org), a collaboration of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP). Writing in a linked Comment, Dr. Soad Fuentes-Alabi, of Ayudame a Vivir Foundation Medical Center, and National Children's Hospital Benjamin Bloom, El Salvador, says studies such as this emphasise the challenges of delivering childhood cancer care in LMICs during public health emergencies: "In low-income and middle-income countries, including in Latin America, the common issues of late diagnosis and treatment abandonment or interruptions have worsened during the pandemic." Explore further Better post-surgery care would dramatically improve cancer survival More information: Global effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care: a cross-sectional study, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(21)00031-6 , www.thelancet.com/journals/lan (21)00031-6/fulltext Global effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care: a cross-sectional study, In recent weeks, large portions of the South, including Alabama, were hit with unseasonably cold weather that brought cold temperatures, snow and ice to the region. In Texas, millions of people were without power, forced to huddle inside of their homes without heat or water in freezing temperatures. Alabama had unusually low temperatures too, but there were no blackouts. There were no spikes in energy costs. We may have had cold weather, but Alabamians were able to heat their homes with no interruption in service. What is the difference between our two states? Texas has a deregulated energy market that created a wild west of private energy providers and a grid that is largely an island of its own. Wind turbines make up nearly a quarter of the states generation capacity. More than half the states actual power generation comes from natural gas, a fuel source that has grown in importance in Texas as operators have shuttered coal-fired plants. By contrast, Alabamas power mix is more balanced, with 36 percent of the electricity Alabamians use coming from natural gas, 30 percent coming from coal, 27 percent coming from nuclear, and 5 percent coming from hydropower. And while the states utilities have integrated wind and solar power through contracts or joint ventures with the U.S. military, Alabamians depend much less on renewables to meet power demand than does Texas. Importantly, while Texas is largely an electricity island, Alabamas power system is also much more closely connected to our neighbors. That means utilities in the state are much better equipped to absorb higher demand from extreme winter by borrowing electricity from nearby states and power pools. If power demand in Alabama exceeds what were capable of generating, we simply ask our neighbors for temporary help. We do the same for them. In the case of Texas, the state had multiple failures at generating facilities and was left without outside facilities to produce enough electricity to make up for the losses. In Alabama, we have TVA, Alabama Power and PowerSouth that deliver power to customers and serve electric cooperatives and municipalities. All are closely supervised by institutions or boards with a high degree of accountability to how they operate and how well prepared they are for the future. This regulated market provides a high degree of reliability and helps prevent some of the problems weve seen in Texas. Energy providers in Alabama dont merely look at the bottom line as they might in a deregulated market; they also value reliability highly and take the necessary steps to produce enough power well in the future. The reliability of Alabamas power structure during extreme weather is not by accident. Years of investment and planning have gone into making Alabamas infrastructure reliable. For example, the polar vortex of 2014 hit Alabama and surrounding states hard, leading utilities to assess their winter reserve margins. Alabama Power, for example, found that its winter peak demand had exceeded its summer peak since 2010. For that reason, Alabama Power sought permission from the Public Service Commission to add new energy assets for future winters. This past June, regulators granted Alabama Power that permission, which will add around 2 gigawatts of new generation capacity from natural gas plants. All companies across the country have a reserve margin, representing the extra cushion they need to meet demand in extreme circumstances. In Texas, the average winter reserve margin is around 15 percent, which we now know turned out to be too small. With new additions approved by Alabama regulators, Alabama Powers winter margin in coming years will be around 25%, meaning customers of that utility can continue to trust that power will be available in almost any weather conditions. This is one of many things that are being done and part of a broader strategy from Alabamas energy providers to make sure we never end up with a failed power grid like Texas. With a regulated market, we can rest assured that there are no fly-by-night energy companies looking to make a quick profit on the backs of consumers. Instead, our energy providers are overseen by elected officials on the local, state and federal level, which helps ensure consumers are getting quality service at an affordable price. The result is that Alabamas regulated system has some of the best and most reliable electricity service in the country. By working hand in hand with public officials, our states electricity providers can continue to avoid tragic situations such as the one that unfolded in Texas. Seth Hammett is the chairman of the Energy Institute of Alabama and vice president of business development for PowerSouth Energy. Previously, he served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives for 32 years, including 12 years as Speaker of the House. Paris, TX (75460) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net [March 04, 2021] Eco Innovation and Marijuana Company of America Deepen Partnership Around Supercritical Extraction Technology Through Share Exchange Agreement VAN NUYS, Calif., March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eco Innovation Group, Inc. (OTC: ECOX) ("ECOX" or the "Company"), an innovative company aggregating investments in new technologies that promote environmental and social well-being and the advancement of green energy solutions, is pleased to announce the signing of a Share Exchange Agreement (the Agreement) with Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA). The Agreement represents the shared commitment by both companies to drive further strategic value by deepening the cooperative relationship between the two companies through a mutual investment. Board votes were unanimously in favor of the Agreement for both companies. This Agreement follows the Companys January 28, 2021 announcement of the signing of an exclusive license agreement with Glytech, LLC (Glytech) to use and market Glytechs specialized supercritical extraction technology for bioactive compounds. Glytechs technology has strong application for CBD and licensed marijuana extraction and utilizes a non-CO2 solvent to extract valuable bioactive compounds from plant-based materials to create a fluid output that is superior in viscosity to the output of standard CO2-based extraction methods. The nontoxic and natural focus of this extraction methodology is in-line with ECOXs core philosophy of promoting social well-being and environmentally friendly technology. We see a number of strong synergies to be gained from a deeper strategic association with MCOA and its wide distribution footprint and commercial engagement with natural wellness including hemp-based extraction, noted Julia Otey-Raudes, President and CEO of Eco Innovation Group. Our recent exclusive license agreement with Glytech has opened the door to an expanded range of strategic options with companies, both in the US and Canada, seeking an edge in market-leading extraction technology for products derived from CBD and licensed marijuana. This gives us exposure to a rapidly growing space while making use of our proprietary licensed technology. According to the Agreement, Marijuana Company of America issued $650k in MCOA common stock to Eco Innovation Group on March 1, 2021 in exchange for $650k in ECOX common stock, with the number of shares being determined by a reference price based on recent trading activity, as established in the Agreement. Please review the 8-K filing that both Companys made with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the following links for more details: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1144169/000107997321000139/ecox_8k.htm https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1078799/000107997321000131/mcoa_8k-030221.htm About Eco Innovation Group Eco Innovation Group was founded by Inventors and Business Professionals to help nurture and catalyze the most innovative and impactful products and services, and to deliver those innovations to the world, improving the quality of life in our communities and the world around us, while delivering value to our shareholders. At ECOX, we are dedicated to developing and commercializing successful products. But we will never lose sight of the fact that we exist, first and foremost, to help people and improve life on the planet we all share. We take our Social Responsibility Contract seriously in all our endeavors. It is not only what we do. It is who we are. For more information, visit www.ecoig.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements also may be included in other publicly available documents issued by the Company and in oral statements made by our officers and representatives from time to time. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide management's current expectations or plans for our future operating and financial performance, based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. They can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "would," "could," "will" and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to future sales, earnings, cash flows, results of operations, uses of cash and other measures of financial performance. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others such as, but not limited to economic conditions, changes in the laws or regulations, demand for products and services of the company, the effects of competition and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or represented in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking information provided in this release should be considered with these factors in mind. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this report. Corporate Contact: Eco Innovation Group, Inc. Julia.Otey@ecoig.com www.ecoig.com Public Relations: EDM Media, LLC https://edm.media (800) 301-7883 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Bengaluru, March 4 : Karnataka assembly speaker, Vishweshwara Hegde Kaageri on Thursday suspended Congress MLA B. K. Sangamesh for one week for displaying 'indecent and disrespectful' behaviour in the Assembly by taking off his shirt. Sangamesh, who won the Assembly seat from Bhadravati constituency in Shivamogga district, will not be allowed to enter the Legislature till March 12. This incident took place when the Congress party was in front of the speaker to Oppose the ruling party's decision to take-up debate on - one nation one election - for two days starting from Thursday. However, Sangamesh had his own reasons to oppose in this manner alleging that ruling party BJP leaders were harassing his family members and him by filing false complaints against them. Sangamesh protesting by removing his shirt was similar to a 2010 protest in which Goolihatti Shekhar a minister in Yediyurappa's cabinet ripped off his shirt in the Assembly and was disqualified. Furious over the Sangamesh's way to protest, the speaker Kaageri adjourned the house soon after and suspended the MLA from Bhadravati, for a week. Karnataka leader of the opposition, Siddaramaiah, described the 'One Nation, One Election' push as being part of the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP, as his party MLAs raised slogans against the issue. The idea mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after taking office in 2014, many BJP leaders have backed the proposal to hold all elections together, from Lok Sabha to state assemblies and local bodies, arguing that this will orient various elected bodies fully towards development as the current cycle of frequent polls across the country hampers work. But Congress members decided to protest against the ruling party decision to hold two-day special session on - one nation one elections and trooped into the well in front of the speaker. The moment, Sangmesh removed his shirt, KPCC president and Congress MLA J. N. Ganesh who rushed towards him made him wear his shirt besides covering him. Taking serious note of this, Law and parliamentary affairs minister, Basavaraj Bommai moved a motion to seek suspension of MLA for his indecent and disrespectful behaviour inside the house. Even as Siddaramiah came in support of Sangamesh, Kasageri shot back and said that unruly behaviour can not be tolerated in this house. "How can a leader of your stature defend him. This is not done, I am suspending him for a week," he pronounced his ruling. After his suspension, an angry Sangmesh told reporters in the lobby that he will come to legislature regularly to seek justice from the ruling party. "It is clear that the BJP is letting its hooligans on me and my family. I need protection. Therefore I will continue to raise this issue. Speaker is acting in partisan manner in my case," he alleged. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Haiti - FLASH : Mobile offices to provide CIN to Haitians in DR Louis Gonzague Edner Day, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) began a tour of the Dominican Republic until March 10 to promote an official documentation campaign for Haitians residing in the Dominican Republic. On Tuesday, Minister Day held a first working meeting with the Ambassador of Haiti in Santo-Domingo Smith Augustin, as well as with leaders of the Haitian community, to whom he asked to work intensively, so that citizens Haitians who do not have or who have lost their National Identity Card (CIN) can obtain one for free without going to Haiti. "On instruction from the Haitian Government, we are in the Dominican Republic to meet with the authorities, local Haitian leaders, organizations that work with Haitian migrant populations to inform them of the documentation plan. We want all our compatriots to have their documents up to date, so that they can carry out their legal activities without problem wherever they live, work or study," declared the Minister. During his stay on Dominican soil, Day will meet with each of the accredited Haitian consuls and participate in meetings with representatives of the diaspora to encourage them to actively participate in the documentation campaign. For his part, Ambassador Augustin, indicated that they are in the process of setting up mobile and fixed offices where Haitians can go to change their identity card or obtain it for the first time, as in Headquarters of the Haitian Embassy located rue Juan Sanchez Ramirez No 33, University Zone. He said the locations where the mobile offices will be located in Santo Domingo, Barahona, Santiago, Higuey, Dajabon and other provinces where there is a strong Haitian presence will be specified in the coming days. To be continued... SL/ HaitiLibre Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do With Red Sox Opening Day near, the mass COVID vaccination at Fenway Park will move to Hynes Convention Center, Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday afternoon. CIC Health, the vendor running the Fenway Park site, will work with the state to open Hynes for vaccine appointments as early as March 18, a Thursday, Baker said. The vaccine site at Fenway Park will take patients until March 27, a Saturday, before shutting down altogether. There will be additional outreach to make sure that they know where they need to go and when they need to be there, the Republican governor said Thursday afternoon after touring a senior vaccination site at St. Patricks Church Parish Center in Lawrence. CIC Health said in a statement it plans to contact people who scheduled second-dose appointments past March 27 at Fenway Park so they can get their second shot of the Pfizer vaccine at Hynes. The vendor estimates it will administer 55,000 shots before moving the site to Hynes. So far, its staff has administered 25,000 shots at the site. Once at Hynes, the vendor plans to quickly ramp up to 5,000 vaccine shots a day. We look forward to applying the critical lessons learned at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium and the Reggie Lewis Center to our new mass vaccination site scheduled to soft launch at the Hynes Convention Center on March 18, CIC Healths statement reads. Massachusetts plans to move into Phase 4 in late March, allowing large stadiums to open at 12%. Fenway Park could have nearly 5,000 fans on Opening Day, which falls on April 1, under the guidance in Phase 4. The Red Sox are scheduled to play the Baltimore Orioles. While Massachusetts plans to move into Phase 4, state health officials continue to report thousands of new COVID-19 cases each week. The state Department of Public Health reported 1,553 new COVID-19 cases and 66 deaths on Wednesday alone. The state now has roughly 28,550 active cases. Bakers visit comes after a hectic morning for Massachusetts residents seeking appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. The state tweeted it made 12,000 first-dose COVID-19 vaccination appointments available, citing limited supply and the need to fulfill second-dose appointments. By 10:40 a.m., less than three hours after appointments opened up, the state tweeted all appointments for next week had been booked. Educators, school staff and child care workers are allowed to get vaccines appointments as early as March 11, following President Joe Bidens call to prioritize educators if theyre expected to teach in person. On Thursday, Baker said, we wont be diverting large amounts for this group, citing limited federal supply. On Wednesday, Baker was asked whether doses would be set aside for educators. He said there would be special days for educators to get vaccinated and some doses reserved for that. It is unclear whether the Baker administration still plans to reserve any doses for this group, or whether that has changed. The governors office declined to clarify whether any vaccine doses at all would be reserved for educators. Related Content: Guyana said on Wednesday that Venezuelan fighter jets had violated its airspace and flown over military and police installations near the border between the two South American countries Georgetown (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ) :Guyana said on Wednesday that Venezuelan fighter jets had violated its airspace and flown over military and police installations near the border between the two South American countries. Foreign Minister Hugh Todd summoned Venezuela's ambassador Luis Edgardo Diaz Monclus and handed him a note to "register the government of Guyana's condemnation of the recent violation of Guyana's sovereignty," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Two Venezuelan Sukhoi Su-30 fighters had flown over Guyana's Eterinbang at a very low altitude, it said. "The fighter jets then circled the location once before proceeding in an easterly direction," the statement said. Venezuela rejected the accusations. "Absurdly, the government of Guyana wants to create false information about regular patrol operations on the Venezuelan borders carried out by the air force," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in a statement. These surveillance operations were "strictly limited to Venezuelan territory," he said. Caracas accuses Guyana of inventing "an alleged act of aggression" and of carrying out "a smear campaign" against Venezuela, in the context of a border dispute that dates back more than a century and which has flared up again with the discovery of oil. Caracas has been pressing a historic claim to Guyana's Essequibo region, which encompasses two-thirds of the former British colony, since US oil giant Exxon Mobil discovered crude off its coast in 2015. Guyana maintains that valid land borders were set in 1899 by an arbitration court decision in Paris, a decision Venezuela has never recognized. Guyana has asked the International Court of Justice to rule on the matter, but Venezuela has said the ICJ has no jurisdiction and will not participate. str-erc/yow/mtp/jfx Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 59F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. The online payments platform development company Stripe announced last year that it will buy the Nigerian-based Fintech company Paystack. Stripe is one of the highly valued privately-owned tech startups. Paystack provides service for about 60,000 businesses in Africa. Stripe didn't disclose the real worth of the merger and acquisition, but a TechCrunch source put the deal at over $200 million. Fintech industry watchers see this move as one of the most significant in the online payments industry. With Paystack already processing payments for close to 50% of the online transactions in Nigeria and Ghana, its acquisition by Stripe will boost the expansion of its service to other African countries. So, what will one of the largest tech acquisitions of a Nigerian-based startup do for Fintech in Africa? Here are more details about the recent merger and its potential to expand online payment processing in Africa. A Rundown of the Merge From Stripe's own newsroom, we learn that acquiring Paystack is a move to accelerate online business across Africa. African businesses will grow and global companies will move into the continent with the fastest growth in mobile telephony. The online economy in Africa is expanding rapidly, with online commerce growth estimated at 21 percent year-on-year. This growth rate is 75 percent higher than the current global average. The agreement Stripe made to acquire Paystack can lead to a sharp increase in the online GDP of the continent. Paystack's payment solution and APIs make it easy for businesses of varied sizes to process payments online and offline from different parts of the world. Paystack clients use their platform to develop new business models and build better customer relationships. Presently, Paystack's platform processes over 50 percent of the online transactions in their home country. The company also has plans for rapid growth across Africa and recently started a pilot scheme with South African businesses. The popularity of online businesses in South Africa has risen in recent years. Having the capability to receive payments online is now a prerequisite for businesses of all sizes. From online shopping sites to bill payments, to online gaming and casinos, the importance of electronic payment systems cannot be overemphasized. With the ever-increasing number of internet-enabled mobile devices in South Africa, many online casinos are available to gamers within and outside the country. While most of them accept USD as their currency for transactions, many South African casinos now accept the Rand. Accepting South African Rand for transactions makes it easy for gamers to avoid the additional currency conversion fees when making a withdrawal or deposit. With payment gateways like Paystack, gamblers can take advantage of the most convenient payment method that offers low fees and fast transactions. What Comes After the Acquisition of Paystack? The merger will most likely be successful. Paystack and Stripe have had a close working relationship. Stripe led the Series A funding of Paystack in 2018 and has offered professional guidance for the company to scale its operations. Stripe's business team lead, Matt Henderson, said that the company has achieved in five years what other companies have not been able to achieve in decades. He said that the technology-first approach, the values, and ambition of Paystack align with those at Stripe. As a result, they believe that acquiring Paystack is a smart decision. The acquisition will allow Paystack to develop new solutions, support new businesses and reduce the fragmentation in the African online payments market. Paystack's acquisition will not stop them from operating independently. The company will have the freedom to add more global payment methods and scale its operations on the continent. Over the next few years, Paystack's capabilities will be added to the Global Payments and Treasury Network managed by Stripe. This programmable platform for international monetary movement is now available in over 40 countries. On his part, Shola Akinlade, CEO of Paystack, is delighted to combine forces with Stripe to nurture creative businesses in Africa. From the Paystack blog, he said he has a firm belief that African tech creators and entrepreneurs can do amazing things when they have access to the right tools. With the resources obtained from Stripe, the company is set to speed up its geographical expansion, launch additional payment channels, and deepen integrations with other global payment platforms. Benefits of Online Payments in Africa A robust payment gateway, like the one offered by Paystack, gives a merchant the ability to expand outside of their local base and boost revenue. Using online payment systems improves security, reduces costs, and increases the number of payment options. It also appeals to impulse buyers and it helps to increase sales through affiliates. For companies whose business is based on a subscription model like software-as-a-service, online payment is the most effective way of collecting recurring revenues. The acquisition of Paystack by Stripe and the growth of various locally developed payment gateways like M-Pesa will boost e-commerce in Africa. Many new businesses will spring up and use these payment platforms to broaden their reach and increase revenue. 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 Yugabyte, the leader in open source distributed SQL databases, today announced a $48 million funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with additional participation by Greenspring Associates, Dell Technologies Capital, Wipro Ventures and 8VC. Coming on the heels of a $30 million capital raise announced in June 2020, the round brings Yugabytes total funding to $103 million. The funding will be used to expand Yugabytes R&D, sales and customer functions in the EMEA and APAC markets. To support its aggressive expansion plans, Yugabyte will double its headcount in 2021. With the new infusion of capital, Yugabyte is building out its engineering, DevOps and support staff in India, Russia and Canada. To turbo-charge these efforts, it recently acquired India-based Falarica.io to accelerate its development and recruiting efforts in the APAC region. The company is also expanding its sales teams in EMEA and APAC because of strong demand for its open source distributed SQL database, and related products and services. Enterprise adoption of YugabyteDB continues to accelerate, particularly in the e-commerce, financial services and telecommunications verticals where geographic data distribution, transactional capabilities and horizontal scalability are critical for systems of record. Yugabyte customers include Hudson River Trading, Kroger, Narvar, Turvo, Manetu and Xignite, among others. Todays business environment demands flexibility and elasticity from database solutions, and distributed SQL is now critical for any organization where developer productivity and application uptime are top priorities. YugabyteDB makes something as fundamental and feature rich as PostgreSQL truly cloud native, resilient, elastic, and distributed, said Kannan Muthukkaruppan, Co-Founder and President, Yugabyte. With companies of all kinds accelerating their digital transformation initiatives, technologies that help them accelerate, like YugabyteDB, are in high demand. This new round of funding will position Yugabyte to meet this increased enterprise demand and power our global expansion into key markets. Over the past year, organizations have transitioned more work and non-work activities to the cloud, increasing the demand for cloud-native relational database management systems to ensure data is always available and can be accessed at the lowest possible latency. Enterprises and startups in need of increased flexibility turn to YugabyteDB for its PostgreSQL-compatibility and out-of-the-box support for multi-cloud deployments, enabling them to experience the full benefits of true cloud elasticity. Several different trends are intersecting in the enterprisethe exponential growth of data, the acceleration of digital transformation, and the move to cloudforcing organizations to rethink how they manage their data and creating an opportunity for organizations like Yugabyte, said Ravi Mhatre, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners. With its unique combination of advanced RDBMS features, high availability, horizontal scalability, and ability to distribute data anywhere in the world, YugabyteDB is already the beating heart of many mission-critical global applications and will soon underpin many more. We're excited for this next stage of the company's growth. The funding will also be used to further accelerate enterprise adoption of Yugabytes commercial products. Yugabyte Platform, a self-managed private database-as-a-service offering available on any public, private, or hybrid cloud or Kubernetes infrastructure and Yugabyte Cloud, a fully-managed database service currently available on AWS and Google Cloud, have seen broad adoption in the past 12 months. Yugabyte also recently announced YugabyteDB 2.4, a major update including hardened enterprise-grade security features, enhanced multi-region deployment capabilities and significant performance improvements. Yugabyte is true open source with its permissive Apache 2.0 license, a position that has helped win customers and drive strong open source community growth. Yugabytes open source community members have now deployed more 600,000 clusters to-date and the projects contributor count is now over 170, with +2,600 community Slack members and over 300 certifications granted in the last 90 days. For more information, visit www.yugabyte.com or check out the company blog: https://blog.yugabyte.com/yugabyte-secures-48m-in-funding/. About Yugabyte Yugabyte is the company behind YugabyteDB, the open source, high-performance distributed SQL database for building global, internet-scale applications. YugabyteDB serves business-critical applications with SQL query flexibility, high performance and cloud native agility, thus allowing enterprises to focus on business growth instead of complex data infrastructure management. It is trusted by companies in cybersecurity, financial markets, IoT, retail, e-commerce, and other verticals. Founded in 2016 by former Facebook and Oracle engineers, Yugabyte was named a 2020 Cool Vendor by Gartner and is backed by 8VC, Wipro Ventures, Greenspring Associates, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Dell Technologies Capital. www.yugabyte.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210303005585/en/ The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Treasury: First Adult-Use Marijuana Payments Distributed to Michigan Municipalities, Counties Treasury: First Adult-Use Marijuana Payments Distributed to Michigan Municipalities, Counties March 4, 2021 The Michigan Department of Treasury is distributing nearly $10 million to more than 100 municipalities and counties as a part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. This week, 38 cities, seven villages, 21 townships and 38 counties began receiving payments from the Marihuana Regulation Fund for every licensed retail store and microbusiness within its jurisdiction. For the states 2020 fiscal year, this means each eligible municipality and county will receive around $28,000 for every licensed retail store or microbusiness. The revenue generated from marijuana taxes and fees is important to our local governments, State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. In this extraordinary time, our staff is working to get those payments to impacted municipalities and counties. Every dollar helps right now. For the state of Michigans 2020 fiscal year, more than $31 million was collected from the 10% adult-use marijuana excise tax. Combined with fees, there was a total of $45.7 million available for distribution from the fund. State law outlines how much is distributed from the Marihuana Regulation Fund. Aside from the nearly $10 million in disbursements to municipalities and counties, around $11.6 million will be sent to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and another $11.6 million to the Michigan Transportation Fund, upon appropriation. The remaining $12.5 million amount will be used toward start-up and administrative costs. In total, more than $341 million in adult-use marijuana sales was reported for fiscal year 2020. The team at the Marijuana Regulatory Agency did a tremendous job getting the adult-use licensing program established and operating efficiently, said MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo. Infusing over $28,000 per retailer and microbusiness into local government budgets across the state is very impactful and shows how strong and successful the industry is becoming. For more information about adult-use marijuana tax distributions including a breakdown of how much municipalities and counties received go to www.Michigan.gov/RevenueSharing. To learn more about Michigans adult-use marijuana industry, go to www.Michigan.gov/MRA. ### Contacts: Ms. Danelle Gittus (gittusd@michigan.gov) or Mr. Ron Leix (leixr@michigan.gov) Press Hotline: 517-335-2167 BOSTON - New treatments for Alzheimer's disease are desperately needed, but numerous clinical trials of investigational drugs have failed to generate promising options. Now a team at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS) has developed an artificial intelligence-based method to screen currently available medications as possible treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The method could represent a rapid and inexpensive way to repurpose existing therapies into new treatments for this progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative condition. Importantly, it could also help reveal new, unexplored targets for therapy by pointing to mechanisms of drug action. "Repurposing FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease is an attractive idea that can help accelerate the arrival of effective treatment--but unfortunately, even for previously approved drugs, clinical trials require substantial resources, making it impossible to evaluate every drug in patients with Alzheimer's disease," explains Artem Sokolov, PhD, director of Informatics and Modeling at the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology at HMS. "We therefore built a framework for prioritizing drugs, helping clinical studies to focus on the most promising ones." In an article published in Nature Communications, Sokolov and his colleagues describe their framework, called DRIAD (Drug Repurposing In Alzheimer's Disease), which relies on machine learning--a branch of artificial intelligence in which systems are "trained" on vast amounts of data, "learn" to identify telltale patterns and augment researchers' and clinicians' decision-making. DRIAD works by measuring what happens to human brain neural cells when treated with a drug. The method then determines whether the changes induced by a drug correlate with molecular markers of disease severity. The approach also allowed the researchers to identify drugs that had protective as well as damaging effects on brain cells. "We also approximate the directionality of such correlations, helping to identify and filter out neurotoxic drugs that accelerate neuronal death instead of preventing it," says co-first author Steve Rodriguez, PhD, an investigator in the Department of Neurology at MGH and an instructor at HMS. DRIAD also allows researchers to examine which proteins are targeted by the most promising drugs and if there are common trends among the targets, an approach designed by Clemens Hug, PhD, a research associate in the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and a co-first author. The team applied the screening method to 80 FDA-approved and clinically tested drugs for a wide range of conditions. The analysis yielded a ranked list of candidates, with several anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and blood cancers emerging as top contenders. These drugs belong to a class of medications known as Janus kinase inhibitors. The drugs work by blocking the action of inflammation-fueling Janus kinase proteins, suspected to play a role in Alzheimer's disease and known for their role in autoimmune conditions. The team's analyses also pointed to other potential treatment targets for further investigation. "We are excited to share these results with the academic and pharmaceutical research communities. Our hope is that further validation by other researchers will refine the prioritization of these drugs for clinical investigation," says Mark Albers, MD, PhD, the Frank Wilkins Jr. and Family Endowed Scholar and associate director of the Massachusetts Center for Alzheimer Therapeutic Science at MGH and a faculty member of the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology at HMS. One of these drugs, baricitinib, will be investigated by Albers in a clinical trial for patients with subjective cognitive complaints, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease that will be launching soon at MGH in Boston and at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "In addition, independent validation of the nominated drug targets could provide new insights into the mechanisms behind Alzheimer's disease and lead to novel therapies," says Albers. ### This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging, the CART fund and the Harvard Catalyst Program for Faculty Development and Diversity Inclusion. Disclosures P.K.S. is a member of the SAB or Board of Directors of Applied Biomath, RareCyte, NanoString and Glencoe Software and has equity in some of these companies. In the last five years, the Sorger lab has received research funding from Novartis and Merck. P.K.S. declares that none of these relationships are directly or indirectly related to the content of this manuscript. B.T.H. has stock in Novartis and Dewpoint. N.T.J. is an employee of H3 Biomedicine, a subsidiary of Eisai Inc. that develops therapies for Alzheimer's. S.R., P.K.S., M.W.A., and A.S. are inventors on a patent application (WO/2017/173451) for novel targets in neurodegenerative diseases. About the Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The Mass General Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with annual research operations of more than $1 billion and comprises more than 9,500 researchers working across more than 30 institutes, centers and departments. In August 2020, Mass General was named #6 in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals." Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Justin Herdman, the former federal prosecutor who made his name fighting violent crime, is now working to free a man convicted in the slayings of three people. Within weeks of leaving the U.S. attorneys office, Herdman has joined lawyers representing Kevin Keith, who was convicted in 1994 in Bucyrus, about 100 miles southwest of Cleveland. A judge initially sentenced him to death, but then-Gov. Ted Strickland, citing issues with the case, commuted Keiths sentence 13 days before his scheduled execution in 2010. Keith, 57, is serving life in prison at the Marion Correctional Institution. Late Wednesday, Herdman filed a request for a hearing before U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver involving Keith. Herdman joins James Wooley and other Jones Day attorneys, as well as state public defender Rachel Troutman and former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, in seeking an oral argument. Indeed, after 27 years of wrongful imprisonment, Keith deserves his day in court, Herdman wrote. He asked Oliver to have a hearing that would help in distilling the evidence and analyzing the parties various arguments. Oliver can decide whether to overturn the convictions and grant Keith a new trial. Keith was convicted of killing Marichell Chatman, her 4-year-old daughter, Marchae, and Marichells aunt, Linda Chatman, in a Bucyrus apartment. Three others survived the shootings. Keiths case is one of the most disturbing and complicated in Ohio courts. Wooley and Troutman have questioned Keiths conviction for years, based on undisclosed evidence that defense attorneys never saw before the trial. In 2018, a panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said prosecutors withheld key information about G. Michele Yezzo, a former forensic scientist with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She testified at Keiths trial about impressions from a license plate and tire tracks that authorities said linked Keith to the slayings. The appeals court said authorities failed to provide internal documents and memos from 1989 to 1994 that reveal significant concerns about Yezzos mental state and professional integrity. Keiths attorneys were unable to use any of this evidence to impeach Yezzos credibility and contest her forensic analysis that linked Keith to the scene of the crime, the appeals court wrote. Yezzos testimony was particularly important because no physical evidence linked Keith to the murders. Herdmans role in representing Keith is a departure from his former job as the U.S. attorney for northern Ohio. Herdman fought an increase in Clevelands violent crime and often followed the Trump administrations strict law-and-order policies. His office pushed hard to convict those accused of federal gun crimes, a move that saw a 160 percent spike in the number of people charged in the past five years. Then-President Trump appointed Herdman in 2017 to be the regions top federal prosecutor. He left the office Jan. 8 and returned to Jones Day, where he had been before his appointment. President Biden will select his successor in the coming months. Wooley called Herdman a valuable addition to Keiths appellate team. This is an extremely talented attorney whose integrity and credibility are beyond question, said Wooley, a former longtime federal prosecutor who handled public corruption before leaving for private practice. Herdman did not return an email seeking comment. Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew Crall said the convictions should stand. He said several courts had found overwhelming evidence of Keiths guilt. He downplayed Yezzos role in the case, but he stressed that eyewitness testimony played the key role in Keiths conviction. You are here: Arts Thailand may celebrate its traditional new year Songkran as usual around mid-April, Culture Minister Itthiphol Khunpluem said Wednesday. The water-splashing festival was canceled last year due to COVID-19 concerns. This year, it might be allowed to organize nationwide from April 13 to 15, given the improvement in the local pandemic situation, according to the culture minister. Nevertheless, the authorities are yet to apply social distancing measures against a possible spread among Songkran revelers at any crowded venues, Itthiphol said. The annual festival is believed to help stimulate the tourist industry throughout the country, he said. Thailand reported 35 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, which marks the 12th day of double-digit daily new cases. Enditem A former White House national security adviser has warned that the North Korean regime is trying to force the pullout of U.S. troops from South Korea in order to take over the country. H. R. McMaster made the remarks in a statement to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of a hearing on March 2. "It is likely that North Korea would engage in nuclear blackmail and attempt to force the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the peninsula as the first step in accomplishing the Kim family dictatorships goal of 'red colored unification.'" McMaster was former U.S. President Donald Trump's second ill-fated security adviser. He added the U.S. and likeminded nations should maintain a "strategy of maximum pressure" and "demonstrate the will and capability, if necessary, to employ military force against North Korea." "Military exercises and preparation for a swift and overwhelming response to North Korean aggression are critical for successful diplomacy," he said. North Korean leader Kim Jung-un "must know that the United States and its allies possess the capability and, if faced with a potential nuclear strike, the will to impose denuclearization militarily without his cooperation." He also gave the current South Korean government an indirect drubbing, warning against a "forlorn hope that opening up to North Korea would change the nature of the regime... This is sometimes called the 'Sunshine Policy.'" "But while the Kim family was happy to accept payoffs in exchange for limited opening, once it pocketed the money, it slammed the door shut lest the North Korean people gain access to information other than the systematic propaganda and brainwashing to which they are subjected," he recalled. "North Korea has never developed a weapon that it did not try to sell, including the sale of its nuclear technology to Syria," he added. "It seems clear that U.S. strategy should be to sustain international support behind a strategy of maximum pressure to test the thesis that Kim Jong-un can be convinced that his regime is safer without nuclear weapons than it is with them." He suggested three principles for putting maximum pressure on the regime: "First, not to accede to initial agreements and payoffs just to get to the negotiating table, second, convince China to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions," and "third, demonstrate the will and capability, if necessary, to employ military force against North Korea." Time is ticking for Alabamas COVID mask order. Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday the order requiring Alabamians to wear facial coverings in public places will be allowed to expire April 9 at 5 p.m. The order was first put in place in July and has been extended several times. Ivey said the lower case and hospitalization numbers prompts the changes. Folks, were not there yet, but goodness knows were getting closer, she said, adding the month extension allows for businesses to put plans in place. While the mask order will remain at least temporarily Ivey did announce other changes. Heres what you need to know: Mask order ending Alabamas order for facial coverings requires people to wear masks in public places. That order will expire April 9 and after that, wearing a mask will be a matter of personal responsibility instead of a government mandate. Will some places still require masks? Yes. Several large retailers, including Target, CVS and Kroger, announced they will continue to require them. Also, an order by President Joe Biden will require masks in federal buildings and properties as well as public transportation. What about schools? Local school boards will be able to determine if students and teachers will be required to wear masks. You can see more on that here. Hospitals and nursing home changes Patients and residents of hospitals and nursing homes will be allowed as many as two caregivers or visitors at a time. Previously, that was capped at one. Federal restrictions regarding nursing homes will remain and can substantially impact if visitors are allowed. You can see more on those requirements here. Senior citizen centers Senior centers will be allowed to resume programming but will be limited to outdoor activities. Congregate meals will not be allowed to resume but food will still be available by curbside pick-up or delivery. The Alabama Department of Senior Services will develop guidelines for activities. The change goes into effect March 6. Restaurants, bars and breweries Restaurant, bars and breweries may remain open but with no limit on party sizes at tables. The previous order limited parties to eight people. Partitions or leaving 6 feet between tables are still required. The change goes into effect March 6. You can see more on that here. Summer camps Summer camps may open subject to social distancing and sanitation rules. The social distancing requirement was changed to mirror the one used for schools, the governors office said. SAMARA, Russia -- A court in the Russian city of Samara has found civil rights activist Karim Yamadayev guilty but said he should be released after spending more than a year in detention for mocking President Vladimir Putin and two of his close associates online. The Central District Military Court on March 4 found Karim Yamadayev guilty of public calls for terrorism and insulting authorities and ordered him to pay a fine of 300,000 rubles ($4,000). The court also barred Yamadayev, who was held in the Tatarstan region before being moved to Samara, from being an administrator on social networks for 2 1/2 years. Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Yamadayev to six years and seven months in prison, but no jail time was included in the sentence. Yamadayev, a former police officer in Tatarstan, was arrested in January 2020and charged over a video he posted in late 2019 on his YouTube channel, Judge Gramm. The video in question features Yamadayev, dressed as a judge, reading death sentences to two men whose heads are covered with black sacks. White signs hang from their necks with the names "Dmitry Peskov" and "Igor Sechin." Peskov is Putin's long-serving press spokesman, while Sechin is the powerful chief of the state-owned oil giant Rosneft. Another man in the show portrays a third defendant, who also has his head covered with a black sack and a sign with the name "Vladimir Putin." Dr Claire Dunne is a general practitioner and humanitarian from Abbeyleix. She recently returned from 18 months of working with people trapped in notoriously inhumane refugee camps on the Greek islands. Dr Dunne studied medicine in UCD. She then completed general practice training on the North Dublin City GP programme with a special focus on working with marginalised groups of people, and in areas of deprivation. This informed much of her primary care career once she qualified. She worked as GP clinical lead developing a primary care inreach service into homeless hostels with an NGO called Safetynet Primary Care. After completing a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Dr Dunne then embarked on her first mission with MSF (Doctors without Borders) on Lesvos island in Greece. During her time on Lesvos she saw the devastating impact that EU containment camps such as Moria camp have on peoples mental and physical health, their dignity and their humanity. She learned that the root cause of this is not a lack of resources, or more decent solutions, but a lack of political will and inhumane European migration policies. She became involved in campaigning and advocacy work. After a fire destroyed Moria camp leaving 12,000 people destitute she allied with a group of Irish women, and a campaign called #400Welcomes. The campaign asks the Irish government to relocate at least 400 of those affected by the fire on Lesvos urgently and to do more in solidarity with those suffering on the Greek islands. She is currently working in general practice and with Spirasi, an organisation for survivors of extreme forms of human cruelty namely torture. She hopes to undertake another mission with MSF. The Tanzania drugs authority is investigating a company that has reportedly been collecting urine from pregnant women to make human medicine, local newspaper The Citizen reports. The Tanzania Medicines and Drugs Authority (TMDA) is quoted as saying it does not recognise and has never registered Polai (Tz) Co Ltd - the company said to be behind the business. The Citizen newspaper reported that its investigation showed the collection of the urine was being done secretly. It quoted an employee of the company admitting to getting the urine from pregnant women for production of drugs to treat conditions associated with infertility. There is no scientific evidence to show that urine has any medical benefits. The TMDA said it would take necessary action once it completes investigations. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Solution to Trump, White Privilege and The Republican Party We know from the appearance of former President Trump at the conservative Republican gathering in Florida over the weekend that their agenda against America continues. We see over 28 states with Republican controlled legislatures have introduced more than 100 bills aimed at voter suppression. These include restricting the number of Voting sites, limiting the hours of voting from 9 till 59pm Monday through Fridays with no weekend voting; There is also legislation to limit the number of drop boxes for return of mail in ballots and the requirement of state issued voting I.D. cards. But the solution to this assault on democracy has already been demonstrated in both the state of Georgia with its massive voter turnout that produced two U.S. Senators to change the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and thereby empowering our Vice President, Kamala Harris to be the tie breaking vote as the President of the U.S. Senate. We have also seen the State of Virginia pass a state version of the Voting Rights Act amendments that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. ADVERTISEMENT African Americans, Africans who have become naturalized citizens with the right to vote, Latinos, Asians who are now under massive hate crime attacks, Native Americans and any other people of color who now make up the growing majority of Americans, must become politically active. We must follow the Stacey Abrams approach of voter outreach, education and turnout that Georgia used to elect two U.S. Senators. We must do this in every state starting now with a look at who will run for Congress and the U.S. Senate in 2022. We must change the approach of civic now being taught in our schools starting with an understanding of the political process at the very local level. We must come to understand that every vote counts and that we can not wait until there are more homicides and abuse of political power from racist law enforcement personnel and White Supremacist who think that democracy means only them and their interest. The Republican Party has demonstrated its lack of concern for human life other than their own throughout this pandemic. Now that a 1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Bill is before the Senate, a Bill that can mean the difference between life and death for millions of Americans, we see a solid and lockstep Republican block in the Senate determined to vote against the bill and further continue the suffering of All people in this country regardless of their color. This is the Party opposed to Food Stamps to feed starving families, but yet believes in subsidies and tax benefits to corporations and big business with those same dollars that could be used to save lives. We must remember that the Republican Party is the Party of White Privilege, even though some mis-guided Blacks belong to it. We must learn the track records of those who say they will represent us just as the FBI is learning the identity of those 57 white local elected officials that participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. We must start a collective movement because the Republican Party, its members, the White Supremist and those who use the term Make American Great Again (MAGA) to disguise their racist, don;t think we are capable of long range planning. We too must both plan now and act now as if the 2022 elections were tomorrow. Lets beat them at their own game. For a dozen years, Ryan Michele Woods and Jeffrey Lee Woods rented a two-bedroom apartment in a two-family house in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, facing Green-Wood Cemetery. The ground-floor unit had a deck and a paved backyard. Our landlords didnt raise our rent $2,100 a month as long as we kept up with improvements, Ms. Woods said. When Isaac, now 5, was born, the couple added a temporary wall to section off the main bedrooms alcove. When they had to find space for Ruby, now 2, they moved their own sleeping quarters to the office off the kitchen. They suffered through the surrounding noise and a sheet-metal shop behind them. We could see the future, Mr. Woods said. It was loud and claustrophobic and that was before the pandemic arrived. The time had come to find a new home, preferably a house with plenty of space and a layout suitable for a family of four and pets, plus a yard and a parking spot. [Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com] Ms. Woods, 41, grew up on Staten Island, left for college in Boston and returned to Brooklyn. She is now an English teacher at the same Park Slope middle school that she attended, where her mother also taught. Through a common friend, she met Mr. Woods, 52, who is from Florida and joined the Coast Guard when he was young, later working in film. With their budget, up to $700,000, they knew their new home would not be close to Windsor Terrace. Over time, they had watched as older residents died, investors flipped houses, and buyers priced out of other Brooklyn neighborhoods arrived. The middle class got pushed out, Ms. Woods said. So they headed south in search of something they could afford. Among their options: The equity barometers were trading in a narrow range with modest losses in early afternoon trade. A rise in US bond yields spoilt investor sentiment globally. The Nifty was trading above 15,150 mark. At 12:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, dropped 335.06 points or 0.65% at 51,109.59. The Nifty 50 index slipped 89.75 points or 0.59% at 15,155.85. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.79% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index added 0.94%. The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1,566 shares rose and 1,207 shares fell. A total of 176 shares were unchanged. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, jumped 5.69% to 23.3475. The Nifty 25 March 2021 futures were trading at 15,155, at a discount of 0.85 point as compared with the spot at 15,155.85. The Nifty option chain for 25 March 2021 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 21.2 lakh contracts at the 16,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 32.3 lakh contracts was seen at 14,000 strike price. Coronavirus Update: Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 11,51,74,302 with 25,59,473 deaths. India reported 1,73,413 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,57,435 deaths while 1,08,26,075 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Metal index corrected 1.60% to 3,993.60. The index surged 6.17% in the past three sessions. Hindustan Copper (down 4.31%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 3.03%), SAIL (down 2.74%), JSW Steel (down 2.60%) and Tata Steel (down 2.08%) declined. Stocks in Spotlight: Great Eastern Shipping Company (G E Shipping) fell 0.08%. The company has signed a contract to buy a secondhand Supramax Bulk Carrier of about 56,103 deadweight tonnage (dwt). The 2013 Japanese built vessel is expected to join the company's fleet in Q1 FY22. Infosys rose 0.49%. The IT major announced that it would be bringing 500 jobs to Calgary over the next three years, doubling its Canadian workforce to 4,000 employees by 2023. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below South Africa: President: Digital revolution should also happen in rural areas President Cyril Ramaphosa says as people adapt to new ways of working and as they make use of technology to do their work, the digital revolution should also happen in rural areas. The President said this when he addressed the opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders at the Old Assembly Chamber in Parliament on Thursday. He said COVID-19 has changed peoples lives - it has changed the way everyone does things and people have also adapted. We have adopted new ways of working, new ways of doing things. We have also adopted technology processes that enable us to be able to meet rather cost effectively, but to carry on doing the work that needs to be done. And it is in this regard that some of the more important economic recovery processes such as the digital revolution that must take place in our country also needs to be focused on rural communities because quite often, the temptation, and it is the temptation that even private sector companies that usually control this fall into, they will tend to focus on the urban areas and leave out the rural areas. But in our country, through the work that you do, through the focus on the important things that should happen to improve the lives of our people, to get us to move away from poverty, inequality and unemployment, we rely on you to be able to work with us, he said. Calls for partnerships to rebuild the economy The President said, meanwhile, that the Coronavirus pandemic will continue to be around for some time to come. He said the task of rebuilding the country is an immense one. The partnerships between government, traditional leaders, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders will be key to our success. We have demonstrated over the past year that when we work together we can achieve more, he said. Government committed to hosting Presidential land summit At the opening of the House last year, the President announced that the Presidency would host the Presidential Land Summit. He said provincial engagements that were mooted to take place ahead of the summit had to be halted because of the pandemic. I am, however, pleased that even under these difficult circumstances, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform chaired by the Deputy President has continued to do further work on the key issues. For example, analyses have been done on experiences and lessons from Ghana to supplement what was learned last year during study tours to Botswana and Uganda. The Inter-Ministerial Committee has continued to oversee work on policy research around the important issue of communal land tenure. We remain committed to hosting the Presidential Summit on Land and it is critical that we resuscitate the initial plans to convene provincial engagements beforehand. He said the institution of traditional leadership must be at the forefront of both land reform and the agrarian revolution. The National House partnered with the Solidarity Fund to implement the Farming Inputs Voucher project, which helped mitigate the impact of the pandemic on traditional farming communities. I have further been advised that the Department of Traditional Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development now have a Memorandum of Understanding in support of agricultural projects in rural communities. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. House Democrats passed a sweeping federal policing overhaul on Wednesday that would combat racial discrimination and excessive use of force in law enforcement, as lawmakers seek to rekindle bipartisan negotiations on the issue. The House first passed the legislation last summer, in an effort to respond to an outpouring of demands for racial justice after the killings of Black Americans across the country, including George Floyd, for whom the bill was named. But in the months since, Republican opposition in the House and Senate has only hardened, making its passage through the Senate exceedingly unlikely for now. The House vote was 220 to 212, with two Democrats joining Republicans to vote no. One Republican voted to pass the overhaul, but quickly said it had been a mistake. Progressives are plotting to use the opposition as an example of Republican obstruction as they build their case for Senate Democrats to jettison the legislative filibuster, to lower the threshold for Senate passage from 60 to just a simple majority. But Representative Karen Bass, Democrat of California and the bills principal author, said in an interview this week that she held out hope she could reach common ground with a cadre of Senate Republicans, led by Tim Scott of South Carolina, who had put together their own more modest proposal last summer. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Heliostar Metals Limited (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the company has commenced exploration on its three gold-silver epithermal projects in northern Sonora State, Mexico; a region that is host to many high-grade gold and silver deposits. The company has begun an initial 1,500-meter drilling program at the La Lola project and surface exploration and drill target generation is underway at the Cumaro and Oso Negro properties. Program Highlights At La Lola, the main La Barra vein attains widths up to 40 meters. The company's drill program will attempt to reach deeper, into the heart of the system where the Company's geologists interpret higher grade mineralization would be located. The epithermal veins on Heliostar's Cumaro project extend onto the property from the El Picacho project to the immediate northwest where SilverCrest Metals reported high gold and silver drill results in February 2021. Heliostar will map and sample these vein extensions to prioritize targets. Exploration at the Oso Negro project will focus on mapping and sampling outcropping veins that yielded samples up to 2,680 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 100.5 g/t gold. These veins have never been drilled. The current program will focus on finalizing the best drill targets. Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, "We are excited to get our geologists in the field on our three projects in Mexico. This district is a new hotspot for gold and silver discoveries with two operating precious metals mines, a third in construction and multiple discoveries within the last few years. The Heliostar team has over 50 years of cumulative experience in this area and we acquired La Lola, Cumaro and Oso Negro based on their similarities to the recent discoveries. The company believes all three of the projects have considerable potential for discovery. We look forward to reporting results over the coming weeks." La Lola The La Lola property is a 63.6 square kilometer land package near Equinox Gold's Mercedes mine, First Majestic Silver's Santa Elena mine, SilverCrest's Las Chispas deposit, Silver Tiger Metals' El Tigre deposit and Grupo Mexico's giant La Caridad mine (Figure 1). The property includes the prospective La Barra vein, a 5 kilometre-long quartz-carbonate-fluorite vein with elevated values of gold, silver and pathfinder elements. Despite being a prominent target, the vein has never been drilled. In outcrop the vein is up to 40 metres wide and has textures typical of shallow epithermal formation. Broad clay alteration, fluorite and low temperature textures suggest that the surface expression of the La Barra vein is the top of an epithermal system and that the metal-rich zone of the epithermal system may exist at depth. Precious metals values in rocks generally contain low values as would be expected based on the shallow level expression of the geological model. However, values up to 56.6 g/t gold and up to 424 g/t silver have been found within the larger vein zone and are believed to represent stronger pulses of mineralization which were able to propagate closer to the surface. Historic mining on the vein has focused on fluorite that occurs near surface within the vein zone and is a shallow level feature of other productive systems such as at the Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. Drilling at La Lola has commenced and a total of 1,500m of core drilling is planned. Several other vein zones are present and have received little historical sampling or mapping and represent further exploration opportunities. Figure 1:Location of Heliostar's projects in northern Sonora, Mexico To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/76035_8692c57ef40db8ae_003full.jpg Cumaro Cumaro is a five square kilometre claim lying within SilverCrest's actively explored El Picacho district and hosts the extensions of the El Picacho, Dos Amigos, and Basaitegui Veins. In February SilverCrest announced the completion of 42 holes with 21 holes intercepting an average of 4.1 metres estimated true vein width grading 8.14 g/t gold and 49.7 g/t silver1. The best hole reported, PI-20-006, returned 7.25 metres of estimated true vein width grading 40.49 g/t gold and 260.4 g/t silver. These intercepts are approximately 1,800 metres along strike from Heliostar's Cumaro claim. The El Picacho Project is a nearby project that is not owned by Heliostar Metals Limited. There is no guarantee Heliostar will return similar exploration results as at El Picacho. The geology of the El Picacho - Cumaro district can be considered as two halves, with the western half comprising outcropping precious-metal bearing veins that project directly from the El Picacho claim on to the Cumaro claim. The eastern half is interpreted to have been downthrown relative to the western half, thus potentially preserving the El Picacho mineralized level at shallow depth. Surface alteration at Cumaro comprises corridors of clay, quartz and calcite; assemblages that support the shallow level geological interpretation of the western block at Cumaro. The vein extensions on the Cumaro claim have received little exploration work and no known drilling. Work is currently underway to advance exploration at the vein extensions to drill ready status. Oso Negro Oso Negro is a historic mining district with outcropping veins returning samples up to 2,680 g/t silver and 100.5 g/t gold from dump samples. Within the district, numerous veins are known and can be traced for hundreds of metres at surface, including the El Sahuaro, El Prospecto, Santa Rosa, Del Monte, Tere, and El Manchuri Veins. Systematic exploration work is underway and will advance the known vein occurrences to a drill decision point. About Heliostar Metals Ltd. Heliostar is a well-financed junior exploration and development company with a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Alaska and Mexico. The company's flagship asset is the 100% controlled Unga Gold Project on Unga and Popof Islands in Alaska. The project hosts an intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, located within the district-scale property that encompasses 240km2 across the two islands. Additional targets on the property include porphyry, high sulphidation and intermediate sulphidation epithermal veins. On Unga Island, priority targets include: the SH-1 and Aquila, both on the Shumagin Trend, the former Apollo-Sitka mine, which was Alaska's first underground gold mine and the Zachary Bay porphyry gold-copper prospect. Gold mineralization at the Centennial Zone is located on neighbouring Popof Island within four kilometres of infrastructure and services at Sand Point. In Mexico, the company owns 100% of three early stage epithermal projects in Sonora that are highly prospective for gold and silver. Cumaro forms part of the El Picacho district, while the Oso Negro and La Lola projects are also prospective for epithermal gold-silver mineralization. Note 1: SilverCrest Metals Inc. news release dated February 24, 2021 https://www.silvercrestmetals.com/news/2021/index.php?content_id=462 Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Stewart Harris, P.Geo., Exploration Manager for the Company. Mr. Harris is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. For additional information please contact: Charles Funk Chief Executive Officer Heliostar Metals Limited Email: charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com Rob Grey Investor Relations Manager Heliostar Metals Limited Email: rob.grey@heliostarmetals.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. Forward-Looking Information. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this press release include Heliostar's plans to continue aggressive exploration at Unga in 2021 and its goal of defining a resource in excess of one million ounces, its plan to continue infill drilling to expand to depth where the system remains open, and its belief that the SH-1 prospect has considerable potential for expansion. Although Heliostar believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, weather, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76035 The withdrawal of loyalist paramilitary support for Northern Irelands historic peace agreement does not signal an intent to return to violence, a DUP MP has insisted. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, whose party leadership recently met an umbrella group representing the outlawed paramilitary groups, said there was no evidence the groups planned to resist the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol by violent means. His comments come after the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) umbrella group wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson telling him the main loyalist paramilitary groups were withdrawing support for the Good Friday/Belfast agreement. The paramilitaries said they were temporarily withdrawing their backing of the Belfast/Good Friday accord amid mounting concerns about the arrangements governing Irish Sea trade post-Brexit. The DUPs Jeffrey Donaldson (PA) The LCC leadership stressed that unionist opposition to the protocol should remain peaceful and democratic. However, the letter warned that the protocol undermines the basis on which the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) agreed their 1994 ceasefire and subsequent support for the Belfast Agreement. Sir Jeffrey said the letter to Mr Johnson was unequivocal that opposition to the protocol had to remain peaceful. He told BBC Radio Ulster that his party colleagues came away from their meeting with the LCC with no sense that loyalist paramilitaries were going to revert to violence in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. I think that is reflected in this statement, he added. Of course we are very clear that choosing the path of violence is not the way to go in any circumstances. The 1998 agreement that loyalist paramilitaries endorsed 23 years ago ended decades of violence and established devolved powersharing at Stormont. Graffiti on the A2 outside Carrickfergus in Belfast (PA) UK ministers are facing a backlash from unionists who fear the post-Brexit protocol threatens Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market. The DUP and other unionist parties are pushing for the protocol to be ditched, claiming it has driven an economic wedge between the region and Great Britain, which undermines the union. Story continues In the letter, which was first reported by the Irish News, the paramilitary groups said their stance in respect of the Belfast Agreement would continue until the protocol was amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the United Kingdom. It added: If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement. The development came as the UK Government took unilateral action on Wednesday to extend a grace period that has been limiting the volume of red tape associated with moving agri-food goods from GB into Northern Ireland. The EU criticised the Government move to extend the exemption period, which was due to run out at the end of the month, until October, claiming it risked breaching the terms of the protocol. The European Commission is considering legal action against the UK. On Thursday, Irish Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney said the EU is negotiating with a partner it simply cannot trust. Mr Coveney described the UKs Governments unilateral decision as very frustrating. This is not the first time this has happened, that they (the EU) are negotiating with a partner that they simply cannot trust, he told RTE. Goods arriving into Northern Ireland from GB have been subjected to added processes and checks since the Brexit transition period ended on December 31. That bureaucracy is set to intensify significantly when the grace period ends, as from that point supermarkets and other retailers will require EU export health certificates for agri-food products brought in from GB. The letter to the Prime Minister was written by the Loyalist Communities Council (Victoria Jones/PA) The letter to the Prime Minister was written by David Campbell, chairman of the LCC. Mr Campbell has penned a similar letter to Irish premier Micheal Martin. The LCC represents the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando, which were responsible for many deaths during 30 years of conflict. The main loyalist and republican armed groups signed up to principles such as commitment to non-violence during discussions which led to the signing of the Belfast Agreement in exchange for early release of prisoners. The letter says: We are concerned about the disruption to trade and commerce between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that is occurring, but our core objection is much more fundamental. It said during the Brexit negotiations the Government and the EU said it was paramount to protect the Belfast Agreement and its built-in safeguards for the two main communities in Northern Ireland. The letter said the operation of the protocol repeatedly breaches those objectives. Mr Campbell insisted the LCC leadership is determined that opposition to the protocol should be peaceful and democratic. However, please do not underestimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family, he adds. The only time I can remember such unanimity of opposition was following the imposition of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985. Accordingly, I have been instructed to advise you that the loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement until our rights under the agreement are restored and the protocol is amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the United Kingdom. If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement. The British Government has defended its unilateral decision to continue Irish Sea border grace periods until October (Niall Carson/PA) The protocol is designed to prevent the imposition of a hard border on the island of Ireland by keeping Northern Ireland following EU trade rules. It has caused disruption to some goods travelling from the rest of the UK as suppliers have struggled to overcome extra red tape. Police have noted growing discontent in unionist communities. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne previously warned of a febrile atmosphere and urged people to step back from the brink of violence. Inspection staff at ports were temporarily withdrawn from duties earlier this year in response to sinister graffiti, but they later resumed their work after police insisted there was no credible threat against them. Last week, Stormonts DUP Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons stopped preparatory work on building permanent Irish Sea trade checks at the ports. That move, the legality of which has been disputed by executive colleagues, did not impact ongoing checks, as those are happening at temporary port facilities. Lauded chef Alejandro Paredes is casting a wider net for his Fish Lonja concept. The companion spot to Carnitas Lonja, the popular spot on Roosevelt, opened in 2019 with fresh fish and shrimp ceviches and fish tacos. The food is fresh and light, a nice counterpart to the unctuous carnitas Paredes has received plenty of accolades for, with nods in Eater and Esquire in 2018. RELATED: San Antonio restaurant owners dish on Gov. Abbott's ruling to fully reopen Texas The food and Paredes caught the attention of Chad Carey of the Empty Stomach Group behind Barbaro, Extra Fine, Rumble, Pizza Party, Little Death and Hot Joy. The result? Mutual respect for all things Empty Stomach and Carnitas, in which will now result in a partnership between Paredes and the Empty Stomach Group. RELATED: Senor Fish Seafood Bar now open on Broadway near Pearl in former Tacos and Tequila After a recent well-attended pop-up for Little Death at Fish Lonja, Carey cooked up an idea. He tapped Empty Stomach's partner and multi-hyphenate Sophie Covo to talk him out of it. Thankfully for fans of ceviche and boozy cocktails, she didn't. Paredes and the team at Empty Stomach will combine Midnight Swim and Fish Lonja starting March 17. "I'm crazy about his food, we all know he does awesome work, and we have this place that's sitting empty a lot of the time," Carey said. Midnight Swim, originally a Teka Molino that sat vacant for years before Empty Stomach turned it into Chisme, is the brainchild of Covo and Swim partner John Michael Villanueva. In the before times, the club was known for its raucous weekends filled with a packed dance floor and patio, creative house shots, dangerously tasty frozen cocktails, and more often than not, lines out the door. When COVID-19 shuttered most of the bars in San Antonio, Midnight kept at it with drive-up service. They reopened briefly last summer and closed this winter when spikes led to more closures. "They took the safety aspect seriously. It wasn't what Midnight was," Carey said of the bar's seated parties, "but it was still safe." The group hopes adding Fish Lonja to the pool of hybrid bars and restaurants along the Strip will be a win. On weekends, patios are littered with distanced parties, a long shot from previous years when bars were packed, but it's something. As of this weekend, the menu was still in the works but will feature an expanded version based around the original Fish Lonja. Paredes warns folks not to expect sides of rice, and instead think of their favorite Mexican marisqueria. "It'll be fresh fish and shrimp and we'll be able to utilize the full bar," Paredes said. Fish Lonja will still make its own tortillas, and Paredes will bring on Jose Sanchez, previously with Cured, as his sous chef. Bar offerings, designed by cocktail maven Covo, will feature the mainstays Midnight Swim is known for, along with the addition of more Mexican beers and a margarita to pair with Paredes' food. Carey will carry a few choice wines to round out the menu. "There's a lot to materialize, but the big idea is can we bring the best parts of Fish Lonja and Little Death and Midnight Swim where people can enjoy the patio and have a good time," Carey said. He expects the combination Midnight Swim/Fish Lonja (Lonja Swim?) will draw the "food intelligentsia hipster types," Midnight Swim fans, Pearl stragglers, and more. "It sounds crazy when you say it out loud, but it also sounded crazy to try and open a natural wine bar in the middle of the Strip," Carey said. Midnight Swim was open for less than a year before facing the pandemic, but Villanueva and Covo are enthusiastic about what summer plans could look like. "We know how to throw a party, so hopefully by summertime, people will be vaccinated and will listen to information so we'll be able to introduce what Alex is doing to a new group of people," Villanueva said. Fish Lonja will open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Midnight Swim will open concurrently and stay open through 2 a.m. on weekends and midnight Sunday. Jess Elizarraras is the managing editor for MySA.com. Email at jess.elizarraras@mysa.com or follow her at @jesselizarraras. 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. Confidence among firms in Britains services sector has risen to its highest level for nearly 15 years as bosses eye the end of the Covid lockdown. In its latest health check on the economy, IHS Markit said: Business expectations for the next 12 months improved in February, with vaccine rollouts and hopes of a sustained economic recovery leading to the highest level of confidence since December 2006. The report suggested that the services sector stabilised in February following a sharp contraction in January. Vaccine hopes: A report from IHS Markit suggested that Britain's services sector 'stabilised' in February following a sharp contraction in January The so-called purchasing managers index where scores below 50 show decline rose from an eight-month low of 39.5 in January to 49.5 in February. The report noted that restrictions on travel, leisure and hospitality due to the national lockdown continued to curtail overall activity, but there were some pockets of growth in technology and business services. Hopes are rising that the lifting of lockdown restrictions over the coming months will kick-start the economy. Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, which published the report with IHS Markit, said: The dominant services sector bounced back in February. Dhaka, Mar 4 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here and conveyed the warm greetings of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, and praised her sagacity and leadership that inspire the bilateral ties. Jaishankar, who arrived here on a day-long visit to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Modi's visit to Dhaka later this month to participate in the celebrations of 50th anniversary of Bangladeshs Independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations, held talks with his Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen. During the meeting with Hasina, Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Modis greetings to his Bangladeshi counterpart. Thank PM Sheikh Hasina for receiving me today. Conveyed warm greetings of PM @narendramodi. Her sagacity and leadership continues to inspire our relationship, Jaishankar said in a tweet. According to Indias High Commission in Dhaka, the meeting took at Ganobhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Jaishankar also presented her with two books on Bangladesh written by his late father K Subrahmanyam, a prominent international strategic affairs analyst. These are amongst the first books written on Bangladesh in early 1972. He wouldve been proud to see Bangladeshs remarkable progress, Jaishankar said in another tweet. Jaishankar, at a joint press conference with his Bangladeshi counterpart Momen said: I would also like to express our admiration and pride, as your closest neighbour and friend, at Bangladeshs graduation from LDC (Least Developed Countries) status: it is truly a tribute to your miraculous socio-economic progress, and a reflection of the statesmanship and leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 'We are working so hard to expand our relationship in all dimensions, ranging from security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people to people ties, energy, joint development of our shared resources and defence. Story continues 'Our comfort levels are now so high that we have shown that there is no issue that we cannot discuss and resolve through amicable dialogue,' Jaishankar said. It is a matter of satisfaction that despite the pandemic, the interactions and consultations continued unabated between the two countries, he said. 'We have done a Virtual Summit in December last year, a Joint Consultative Commission which the two of us did in September, meetings of Foreign Secretaries, Power Secretaries, Home Secretaries, Police Chiefs, BSF-BGB and defence visits. Our Commerce, Water Resources and Shipping Secretaries are due to meet soon. This demonstrates the commitment of both sides to progress the relationship,' he added. PTI CPS AKJ CPS (Reuters) - Australian Glenn Maxwell's seat-shattering assault on New Zealand's bowlers during Wednesday's T20 win over the Black Caps not only helped his team to victory, but is also set to give a boost to a local Wellington charity. The explosive all-rounder hit five sixes in an innings that yielded 71 runs from 31 balls, including a strike that punched a hole in one of the seats at Wellington Stadium, which was empty due to New Zealand's current COVID-19 restrictions. Stadium chief executive Shane Harmon had the damaged seat removed and, after asking Maxwell to sign the broken plastic, pledged to post it on online auction site Trade Me, with proceeds going to the Wellington Homeless Women's Trust. "I'll make a donation, and an apology for breaking a seat," Maxwell told the New Zealand Herald. "I hadn't hit too many in the middle, so I was happy to get it over the fence." Australia won the third match of the five-game series by 64 runs, but trail New Zealand 2-1 in the series, with the next game to take place on Friday. (Reporting by Michael Church; editing by Richard Pullin) The American Petroleum Institute is preparing to endorse, in principle, a price on carbon emissions, according to a draft statement first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Why it matters: The endorsement of carbon pricing, which API said in its draft statement would "lead to the most economic paths to achieve the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, would signal an evolving climate stance from the oil industry's top lobbying group. Yes, but: The Journal reports that API's draft statement supports pricing "instead of mandates or prescriptive regulatory action," meaning it likely wouldn't be backed by Democrats in Congress. The posture comes as the Biden administration is planning a suite of new climate rules, and pricing is not a high climate priority in Congress. It also remains to be seen whether API will aggressively lobby for carbon pricing or just voice its support, which would be a key distinction. What they're saying: An API spokesperson told Axios that the group and its membership "continue to discuss and consider carbon pricing among other policy solutions to reduce emissions and reach the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, as reported by the WSJ." What to watch: API's executive committee is set to discuss the proposed statement this week, according to the Journal. Since February, three women, including two former staffers, have come forward to accuse Gov. Andrew Cuomo of inappropriate behavior. Hes accused of making lewd suggestions and jokes and of unwanted touching and kissing. In his first public remarks since the latest accusations, Cuomo insisted Wednesday he never touched anyone inappropriately and said he never meant to make anyone feel uncomfortable. If they were hurt by it, I apologize. If they felt pain from it, I apologize, he said. Cuomo, a Democrat, is facing unprecedented backlash from his own party, which he has typically ruled with an iron fist. Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, has opened an investigation into the claims against him. In the state legislature, at least 14 Democrats have called for his resignation. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the governor should resign if the allegations are true. Other candidates for New York mayor are also calling for resignation. Central New Yorks Democratic state legislators are not coming down quite so hard on Cuomo. Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, said he believes Cuomos apology and comments on Wednesday were sincere. I tend to believe what hes saying, he said. It doesnt take away from what happened. Magnarelli said he supports the investigation. He also said theres no excuse for behavior that makes others uncomfortable, no matter how high you are. Like Cuomo, Magnarelli said the accusations are also a time for learning. He has an opportunity to really tell other people, whether male or female, this kind of stuff just cannot be tolerated anymore, Magnarelli said. We have to learn with the changing times. Magnarelli, who was first elected to the Assembly in 1998, said he thinks calls from fellow Democrats for Cuomos resignation are premature. I think theyre wrong, until we find out how the investigation turns out, the lawmaker said. There might be something in the investigation that makes me think theyre right. But Magnarelli lambasted Republicans who are also calling for Cuomos resignation, saying their outrage is hypocritical when compared with the allegations and boasting from former President Donald Trump in regards to women and workplace harassment. Those allegations against Trump, some of which included claims of sexual crimes, are not comparable to the allegations against Cuomo, Magnarelli said. Youve got to be kidding me, he said. This is nowhere near what he did, he said of Trump. Assemblyman Al Stirpe, D-North Syracuse, said he thought Cuomo chose his moment shrewdly to speak to the allegation. I think that he picked a venue that hes very comfortable with, Stirpe said of the governors routine rundown of Covid-19 data surrounded by many in his inner circle. I think the people that hate Gov. Cuomo will still hate him, Stirpe said. I think the people who like him will give him the benefit of the doubt. Stirpe said he counts himself in the middle, a group he says are waiting to see what the attorney generals investigation brings. I am waiting for that to come out, he said. Im just kind of tired of all this stuff. That investigation could take weeks, Stirpe said. And its possible more allegations could arise, he added. No one knows whats going to happen, he said. Its a very fluid situation. Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, who is also chair of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee, has been silent on the most recent allegations against Cuomo. She did not respond to inquiries Wednesday. State Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, said earlier this week that shes almost there on resignation, but would prefer to see the results of the attorney generals investigation first. My preference is to let the independent investigation proceed, and proceed quickly, May said in a news release. But it is getting harder and harder to see a way forward to doing our jobs with this governor in place. State Sen. John Mannion, D-Geddes, also has not spoken publicly, except for a statement last month calling the accusations troubling. No local elected Democrats in Central New York have publicly called for Cuomo to resign. Several Republicans, however, and at least one Democratic Party leader, are demanding he step down. Cayuga County Democratic Committee Chairman Ian Phillips is the only local Democrat who has called for the governors resignation. We cant have an executive who is focused on political retribution, Phillips said Wednesday. Its hard to see how he continues. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, is among the Republicans calling on Cuomo to resign. So is U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Republican from New Hartford. Governor Andrew Cuomos house of cards is crumbling before our eyes, Tenney said. The allegations of sexual harassment made against Governor Cuomo are deeply disturbing. They expose the climate of fear, bullying, and abuse that Governor Cuomo has used to silence critics and escape accountability. U.S. Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, said the legislature must hold Cuomo responsible if he doesnt plan to resign. The women who have made allegations against Governor Cuomo must be heard and taken seriously, he said. A thorough and independent investigation is warranted and should follow the facts, wherever they lead. With the governor clearly stating he does not intend on resigning, the Democrat-controlled state Legislature must hold Governor Cuomo accountable upon release of the investigations findings. In Syracuse, Mayor Ben Walsh, an independent, said Monday he supports the investigation into Cuomos behavior and called the allegations troubling. He made no mention of resignation. Democrat Michael Greene, who is seeking the nomination to run against Walsh for mayor, said he trusts the attorney general to do her work and will wait to see how the investigation plays out. His Democratic opponent, Khalid Bey, said he, too, would wait to see the results of an AG investigation before calling for the governors resignation. I would think if the AG findings are not favorable then certainly that call for resignation may be warranted, he said. Its tough sometimes to make an assessment third, fourth or fifth hand so Im careful not to make a judgment without any intimate detail. I understand the reason for the call, Bey added. If people were made to feel uncomfortable in a workplace, particularly if the actions were purposeful, then thats problematic. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement that the behavior described by Cuomos accusers is completely unacceptable and the allegations must be taken seriously. That is why I called for the attorney general to conduct an independent investigation with subpoena power, she said. Im confident that it will be comprehensive and will cover all allegations against the governor in order to get the answers we need. Gillibrand has drawn attention for her handling of the accusations against Cuomo. Many have compared it with how she led the charge against Democratic Sen. Al Franken, who was accused of sexual misconduct. Gillibrand was the first Democratic senator to call for Frankens resignation in 2017, before any investigation was completed. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer also has not called for Cuomos resignation. He issued a statement through a spokeswoman. Sen. Schumer has long believed sexual harassment is wrong and must not be tolerated, and (he) supports Attorney General Jamess independent investigation and trusts it will be executed thoroughly and without interference, said Schumer spokesperson Allison Biasotti. Read more: The government estimates that the Taliban have 30,000 paid gunmen in action plus thousands of armed civilians who are compelled (under threat of attack on families) to participate in some combat operations. The government claims they kill twice as many enemy fighters (mostly Taliban) than security forces lose each year. Taliban losses have increased more sharply (more than doubling) since 2014 than those of the security forces, which have increased nearly 50 percent. The government believes it can negotiate from a position of strength with the Taliban, who seem to think getting all foreign troops out of the country by the May 1st deadline will dramatically change their chances of defeating the Afghan government and opposition forces in general and take control of the entire country. That wont happen because most of the population backs armed resistance to the Taliban. Its not just the numbers, but superior equipment, weapons and training that favor the anti-Taliban forces. This is not a unique situation nor is it the first time it occurred. From the late 1990s to late 2001 the Taliban were struggling to take control of the entire country and financing that effort with cash from Pakistan backed-drug gangs. The Taliban thought that because the Afghan government had been destroyed in the early 1990s, while Pakistani support for the Taliban remained, the entire country could be conquered eventually. They were wrong then and are in a worse position now. Unlike the 1990s, the Taliban face a national government that has the support of most Afghans and lots of financial support from foreign donors. Nearly half the government budget is provided by this aid and 36 percent of the budget goes to maintain the security forces, which have ten times as many armed men as the Taliban. In the 1990s the government the Russians left behind when they withdrew all their troops in the late 1980s was still functioning because of Russian financial support. That support ended after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 and, without the Russian cash, the Afghan government could not maintain enough security forces to make a difference. Yet the Taliban believe that withdrawal of foreign troops will make a difference now when it didnt in the late 1980s. This pattern of Taliban self-deception was first observed in 2015 when the Taliban told its followers that an easy victory was theirs because most foreign troops were being withdrawn in 2014. By the end of 2014, some 300,000 Afghan police and soldiers had assumed responsibility for security all over the country and as a result took a lot more casualties getting that done. At least 5,000 soldiers and police died in 2014, the first year the Afghans had to provide security nationwide. That produced a loss rate of about 2,400 dead per 100,000 troops per year. In 2013 it was about 1,890 which was a big increase from 2007, when the Afghan rate was about 700 dead per 100,000. The rate for 2015 was over 3,000 dead per 100,000, the first full year after most foreign troops had withdrawn. This loss rate was about twice that suffered by American troops during World War II but not unusual for recent Afghan history. Most Afghans will fight if there is the prospect of reward and that has come to mean army or police salary or payments from drug gangs or Taliban criminal activities. The Purge The Taliban recently issued a public declaration that foreigners were no longer allowed in the Taliban. This was a response to public criticism about the growing number of foreigners in Taliban ranks. Even pro-Taliban civilians oppose long-time Taliban use of foreigners in their combat units. The presence of foreigners also reminds everyone that Taliban have long been criticized as controlled by the Pakistani army. This was the case from the beginning, when the original (mid-1990) Taliban were recruited from among Afghan refugees who fled the 1980s Russian invasion but were still in Pakistan. The refugee camps were in border areas where the local population were also Pushtun tribes, as were most of the refugees. The Pakistan army, which organized the formation of the Taliban, sent in men dressed as civilians, to advise and keep an eye on this new faction meant to end the civil war that broke out after the Russians left in the late 1980s. These Pakistani Taliban were ordered to leave as soon as it appeared Taliban rule was collapsing after the U.S. intervened on the side of anti-Taliban Northern Alliance in late 2001. The Northern Alliance (of northern non-Pushtun tribes) were the first to publicize the presence of Pakistanis in the Taliban and the control Pakistan always had over the Taliban. That support became more obvious after 2001 when Pakistan provided sanctuary for the Taliban leadership in southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan), something the Taliban were unable to hide given the number of prominent Taliban living openly in the Baluchistan capital. Pakistan always denied that there was any sanctuary arrangement or any Pakistani members of the Taliban. That was always considered a lie because of the Afghan security forces custom of returning the dead to their families for burial. This was accepted as an ancient Afghan custom and it led to a lot of the Afghan dead being taken to a border crossing where Pakistani family members to claim them. While this was a constant embarrassment for the Taliban and Pakistan but interfering with return of the dead to their families was considered likely to stir up Pushtun unrest in Pakistan. One way to avoid this embarrassment was for the Taliban to take their dead, as well as their wounded with them when they retreated. Identifying dead Afghan Taliban gave the security forces information on where the Taliban were recruiting and which families might be the source of Taliban support. Over the last few years the Taliban have been suffering more casualties, with large numbers of dead left on the battlefield. The army identifies the dead and the number of foreigners is always newsworthy in Afghanistan where most people blame Pakistan for all this violence. In some recent incidents most of the dead were Pakistanis or Islamic terrorists from other parts of the world, like Chechnya and Central Asia. The percentage of Pakistani members has been increasing. The Exodus Thousands of Afghans a month are using people smugglers to get them out of the country, usually via Iran. At the same time nearly as many Afghan refugees still in Iran since the 1980s are being forced or persuaded to return to Afghanistan. Too many of those who can afford to pay the smuggler fees are personnel with practical or formal training who know their skills will earn them a lot more outside Afghanistan. Its also a lot safer outside Afghanistan. The steady loss of skilled Afghans makes it harder to operate an efficient government or effective security forces. The loss of military advisors, if the May 1 departure deadline actually happens, will accelerate the departure of trained Afghans from the air force and army support services. The American and NATO advisors filled in for the insufficient number of Afghans and kept the aircraft flying, the pilots being trained and all manner of complex operations working. Loss of these advisors will be felt gradually as airstrikes and air transport are less available and moving personnel and supplies to where they are needed becomes a lot more difficult. March 3, 2021: In the west (Herat province) Afghan commandos raided a Taliban prison and freed 34 hostages. These included 11 soldiers, seven police, three airmen and 13 civilians. Six Taliban were killed during the operation, which also captured weapons and ammunition. Some of the prisoners had been tortured for information and all were being kept for use exchanges for imprisoned Taliban or cash ransoms. March 2, 2021: In the east (Nangarhar Province) Afghan commandos located and raided the main Taliban headquarters in the province. This facility controlled the movement of personnel and goods into and out of Pakistan, which borders Nangarhar. Among the items captured during the raid was some of the drugs that the Taliban is paid to get across the border into Pakistan. Not surprisingly this headquarters raid was followed by similar operations against Taliban storage sites for weapons and other items of value. This rapid-follow-up technique was learned from the Americans who shared their database and intel analysis tools with the Afghans, especially the Afghan commandos, who are now equipped to rapidly verify and exploit information found in a raid so they can go capture other sites before the word gets around that the purpose of those other sites is now revealed and a raid is on the way. The window of opportunity of often less than an hour or a few hours or days. February 27, 2021: Afghan media reported that Mirza Katawazai, the deputy chairman of the Afghan parliament, was being investigated for months old smuggling attempt uncovered in Tajikistan. At the time of the revelations Katawazai had just arrived in Tajikistan on an official visit. Katawazai is believed to be in Tajikistan not so much for official business but to see what he can do to get rid of this corruption investigation. The smuggling attempt was discovered in November 2020 and involved $15 million in cash plus 90 kg (198 pounds) of gold bars worth $5 million and believed to come from a legal, but often plundered, Afghan gold mine. Investigators managed to uncover that the money was going to the UAE by air, which was a method also favored by drug smugglers. The investigators were motivated more by the drug connection because addiction is a growing problem in Tajikistan while corrupt politicians are considered less of a public health issue. The drug gangs usually move money out of Afghanistan and Tajikistan to places where it can be banked and laundered for use anywhere. The investigation discovered the involvement of Afghan politicians, which wasnt unusual but in this case the drug connection turned out to be absent. Since then, the Afghan politicians involved have been scrambling to suppress the story by bribing Tajik investigators and officials as well as inventing a cover story to explain their involvement if that could not be bribed away. Afghan media got hold of the story from Tajik media and police sources. Now the Afghan government is launching an official investigation, which may or may not be a real investigation rather than part of the cover-up. February 24, 2021: In Kabul the U.S. turned over another 640 vehicles to the Afghan army. Most (63 percent) were hummers or motorcycles (26 percent). The rest were specialist vehicles like ambulances or Ford Ranger pickups as modified for police use. February 23, 2021: A UN analysis of war casualties in Afghanistan concluded that civilian victims in 2020 were fifteen percent less than in 2019. The civilian deaths began to decline in 2018 and are now below 3,000 a year. Back in 2014 nearly 4,000 civilians a year were being killed, most often by the Taliban, which is usually responsible for 70-80 percent of such deaths. The security forces account for 10-20 percent, 3-10 percent by ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and the rest (often as many as ten percent) by unknown perpetrators. For most of 2019 it looked like the annual total would be higher but Taliban violence against civilians (and in general) greatly declined in the last three months of the year. That trend continued into 2020 as the Taliban concentrated on hurting Americans and Afghan security forces, which was a lot more dangerous for the Taliban. In late 2020, when peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban began, civilian casualties increased as the Taliban switched to more terror attacks on civilians to encourage support for giving the Taliban whatever they wanted. The Taliban were supposed to halt their attacks on Americans after the February 2020 ceasefire agreement with the United States. The Taliban attacks on U.S. troops declined but never stopped completely. In 2020 eleven American troops died in Afghanistan. Thats way down from the 26 in 2019. February 20, 2021: In Kabul there were three vehicle explosions, caused by bombs attached to automobiles by magnets and detonated using a wireless command or a timer. Five people were killed and two wounded. These sticky bombs have been used frequently in Kabul since late 2020 to intimidate government officials who oppose any Taliban control of the government. These bombs are a deliberate Taliban tactic to murder individuals without killing a lot of nearby civilians. Usually, only people in the car are killed or injured. People standing next to the vehicle, like police at a checkpoint, are also vulnerable. Since there bombs first showed up security forces have arrested over 400 of those responsible for placing the bombs or supervising the manufacture and placement of the bombs. Many of the bomb placers were coerced by the Taliban to do it to avoid their families being harmed. In the north (Balkh Province) a Taliban bomb making class held in a mosque ended when a bomb went off, killing at least 30 students and instructors. Present were several known bomb builders but, as has happened several times before, someone made a fatal error during a how to demonstration. Six of the dead were foreigners. February 14, 2021: Pakistani media reported that the Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada, had apparently been killed in late 2020 while presiding over a meeting of senior Taliban personnel in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan in southwest Pakistan where the Afghan Taliban have had sanctuary since 2002. The Taliban denied that Akhundzada was dead but he has not been seen in public for months and the explosion was reported in local media. If true, it would not be the first time someone tried to kill Akhundzada with a bomb. In 2019 rivals planted a bomb with a timer in a Baluchistan Mosque that Akhundzada and other family members regularly attended. On the day the bomb went off Akhundzada was late arriving. The bomb went off killing a brother of Akhundzada and four others while wounding over twenty. At first no one took credit for the bombing and the rival Rasool faction was blamed. Akhundzada is unpopular with many Taliban faction leaders, in part because Akhundzada is seen as a figurehead and his chief deputy, the head of the Haqqani Network, is actually in charge. February 13, 2021: In the west (Herat province) two explosion at the Islam Qala Iran border crossing caused about five hundred trucks carrying fuel or compressed natural gas to burn up or explode. Another 500 trucks were damaged. At one point the chain explosion was so large that an American photo satellite detected it. Seven people died and 60 were wounded. No one immediately took credit for planting bombs, and it appears that the two explosions were accidental, with at least one of them the result of gunfire. The large queue of trucks waiting to clear customs and enter Afghanistan made easy for one truck fire to quicky spread. The crowded conditions at the Islam Qala crossing were the result of corruption and incompetence on the Iraqi side, where border control officials were more concerned about extracting bribes from drivers than moving traffic as quickly as possible. This disaster disrupted the main source of hydrocarbon fuels for western Afghanistan. As news of the truck losses spread petroleum prices in western Afghanistan increased 25 percent or more. The cargoes destroyed in ruined or damaged trucks were worth over $10 million and were uninsured. The loss of so many vehicles at once and unexpectedly will increase transport costs until replacement vehicles arrive, a process that will take months to complete. The impact of this conflagration will be felt in western Afghanistan for a long time. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 15:41:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Workers pack mussels at a port in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, March 3, 2021. With an annual yield of two hundred million kilograms, mussels produced from Rizhao accounts for over 60 percent market share in China. (Xinhua/Wang Kai) MUMBAI/ DUBAI : Indian merchants have almost entirely stopped signing new export contracts with Iranian buyers for commodities such as rice, sugar and tea, due to caution about Tehran's dwindling rupee reserves with Indian banks, six industry officials told Reuters. "Exporters are avoiding dealing with Iran since payments are getting delayed for months," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading house. Iran's rupee reserves in India's UCO and IDBI Bank, the two lenders authorised to facilitate rupee trade, have depleted significantly and exporters are not sure whether they would be paid on time for new shipments, the dealer said. Under US sanctions, Tehran is unable to use US dollars to transact oil sales. Iran previously had a deal to sell oil to India in exchange for rupees, which it used to import critical goods, including agricultural commodities, but New Delhi stopped buying Tehran's oil in May 2019 after a US sanctions waiver expired. Tehran continued using its rupees to buy goods from India, but after 22 months of no crude sales, Iran's rupee reserves have fallen, said the sources, who asked not to be named, citing business privacy. Iran's reserves have reduced significantly and "will be over soon probably because trade has stopped," said a senior official with IDBI Bank. The Islamic Republic was buying mainly basmati rice, tea, sugar, soymeal and medicines from India. "Rice exporters are concerned about the current payment mechanism," said Vijay Setia, a rice exporter and former president of the All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA). "There was too much of delay in payments from last year's shipments. Exporters received payments six months after shipments," Setia said. In the first quarter of 2020 Iran imported nearly 700,000 tonnes of basmati rice from India, but in the same period this year shipments would be "very negligible," Setia said. Last year, Iran was the biggest buyer of India's basmati rice and sugar. Iran fulfils more than one-third of its sugar and rice demand through imports, traders estimate. Iran's trade ministry and Central Bank of Iran declined to comment on the matter. Payments hit by sanctions "We are in talks with Indian government and Indian traders to resolve these payment issues and I believe it will be resolved soon," said a senior Iranian official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. "The delay in payments are due to US sanctions on Iran's financial system that has made such payments very difficult," he said. As rupee reserves have depleted and dollar trade is not allowed, sugar exporters are exploring options to conduct trade in euros, Rahil Shaikh, managing director of MEIR Commodities India, said. Sugar exporters are focusing on other destinations like Indonesia and Sri Lanka, as Iran is unlikely to buy significant quantities this year, said Shaikh. India's overall exports to Tehran fell 42% in 2020 from a year ago to $2.2 billion, the lowest in over a decade, said an official with India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The fall is continuing in 2021 and in January this year exports more than halved from a year ago to $100.20 million, the official said. India's ministry of commerce and industry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trading houses and exporters were hoping new U.S. President Joe Biden could reverse sanctions imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump on the oil-rich country. "Exports would rebound even if Biden administration provides a few concessions to Iran like allowing oil trade in rupees," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Thirty-four state legislators, all Republican, asked Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards to end the statewide mask mandate and fully reopen businesses in Louisiana. "It is time to lift statewide restrictions on the capacity of all businesses and facilities and lift the statewide mask mandate," state Rep. Rick Edmonds wrote the governor in correspondence to which 23.6% of the state's 144 legislators also signed. "Our businesses, both large and small, will continue to fight against COVID-19. We are certain that their continued commitment and direction as it relates to capacity issues and enforcement of other virus safety precautions will be done safely and professionally without any additional government mandates." Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, added, With access to vaccinations on the rise, hospitalizations on the decline, and a variety of better treatment options, now is time to end the mandates. Mask Letter 030421 State Rep Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, letter to Gov. John Bel Edwards Edmonds told The Advocate / The Times-Picayune that he was influenced by the Republican governors of Texas and Mississippi, neighbors to the west and the east of Louisiana, who orders earlier this week returned both states to full business without restrictions and without masks on Wednesday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves rescinded pandemic restrictions saying the situation has gotten better. Mississippi, for instance, is getting out of the business of telling people what they can and cannot do, Reeves told reporters, citing that positive tests and hospitalizations have declined in recent days. COVID-19 is bigger, way bigger than politics. This is what I personally believe," Edmonds said. "After watching other leaders, I think this is the right move for our governor to make and I hope he will do that. Edwards loosened restrictions starting Wednesday. He kept the states mask mandate in place. But restaurants, salons and most businesses can open their establishments to customers up to 75% of the structure's occupancy limits at any one time. Religious services no longer have capacity limits. Festivals can open as can most bars at 50% capacity. Indoor music venues and event centers can open at 50% capacity or 250 people. Gov. Edwards hasnt read the letter, but he has consistently relied on recommendations from the CDC, LDH and other medical experts none of whom have recommended removing the mask mandate, said Shauna Sanford, the governors communications director, referring to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Louisiana Department of Health. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up I appreciate the care in which Rep. Edmonds drafted the letter," said Rep. Barry Ivey, a Central Republican who is a signatory. "It certainly wasnt demanding. He brought up certain circumstances and information and requested of the governor. "Rep. Edmonds' request reflected the practical nature of where we stand now and recognized the governors contributions. But we can trust our businesses and citizens to do the right thing from here on," Ivey added. A majority of the House, all Republicans, last year signed a petition to clip the governors emergency powers to address the pandemic. Supporters of the petition drive often used strong language to make their point. But nobody from the Senate joined them. Eventually, a state district court sided with Edwards. Thirty-three legislators signed the letter that was delivered to the governor Thursday morning. A 34th state representative, Daryl Deshotel, R-Marksville, asked to sign on after news reports of the letter were circulated. Sixty-seven of the House's 105 representatives are Republican. Twenty-seven of the 39 senators are Republican. Only three state senators signed the letter and that included Sen. Bodi White, of Central and head of the Senate Finance Committee that oversees the states budget. His counterpart in the lower chamber Rep. Jerome Zee Zeringue, of Houma, chair of the House Appropriations Committee also put his signature to Edmonds letter. Neither House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, nor Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, were among the signatories. [March 04, 2021] Carnegie Learning Launches Bold New Brand Highlighting Its Innovative Approach to Improving Student Outcomes Carnegie Learning, the leader in artificial intelligence for education and formative assessment, announced today a new evolution of its brand that brings its mission to deliver groundbreaking education solutions to an even wider array of subject areas. Carnegie Learning provides powerful personalized learning technology, quality content, and innovative professional learning services that support all educators and students, whether the learning takes place in-person, remotely, or a hybrid of the two. Born from cognitive and learning science research at Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Learning has been providing school districts with award-winning AI mathematics solutions for more than 30 years. Over the past few years, the company has also added innovative solutions for literacy and ELA, world languages, and applied sciences. Barry Malkin, CEO of Carnegie Learning, says, "As much as we've grown, we still see many opportunities to innovate in support of educators, and we'll continue to build solutions that enable great learning experiences and deliver the right results for both teachers and students." The company's new tagline, "Shaping the Future of Learning," speaks to its leading role in the K-12 educational technology space, its forward-thinking approach, and its commitment to innovation in: Math World Languages Literacy and ELA Applied Sciences Professional Learning Peter LaCasse, Chief Product Officer, states, "Teachers need high quality solutions that provide them with critical insight so they can best support student learning. We are excited to partner with school districts across the country to develop and implement these solutions in multiple key subjects and drive better learning outcomes." Visit the company's brand new website at www.carnegielearning.com to learn more. ABOUT CARNEGIE LEARNING, INC. Carnegie Learning is shaping the future of education. Born from more than 30 years of learning science research at Carnegie Mellon University, the company has become a recognized leader in the ed tech space, using artificial intelligence, formative assessment, and adaptive learning to deliver groundbreaking solutions to education's toughest challenges. With the highest quality offerings for K-12 math, ELA, literacy, world languages, professional learning and more, Carnegie Learning is changing the way we think about education, and creating powerful results for teachers and students alike. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005945/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The crisis engulfing Greensill Capital and steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta intensified last night. Greensill Bank, the lender's German division, is facing a criminal lawsuit after the country's regulator BaFin filed a complaint with prosecutors accusing directors of manipulating its finances. At the same time, the Bank of England ordered a bank owned by Gupta to repay deposits to its savings account customers. Greensill Bank is facing a criminal lawsuit after Germany's regulator BaFin filed a complaint with prosecutors accusing directors of manipulating its finances The moves by German and British regulators came amid mounting scrutiny on Gupta's finances and Greensill, which counts former prime minister David Cameron as an adviser and is on the brink of filing for insolvency in the UK. Gupta's business empire, GFG Alliance a group of loosely connected companies which includes vast swathes of the UK's remaining steel industry has relied heavily on Greensill for loans. But Greensill was plunged into crisis this week when a number of major backers walked away. Addressing the prospect of criminal complaints last night, it said it had complied with a request from BaFin earlier this year to change the way some assets were classified. A spokesman added: 'Greensill Bank has at all times been transparent with its regulators and auditors about its approach to classifying assets and the methodologies for determining such classifications.' But the concerns spell a dramatic fall from grace for 44-year-old founder Lex Greensill, who grew up on a modest Australian farm and became a billionaire on paper as he built up the supply chain lender. Through his networking, he has fostered relationships with several influential figures including Cameron and Gupta, who was the 'saviour of UK steel' after a spending spree that saw him buy up plants in Rotherham, Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire, Newport and Hartlepool. In Britain, Gupta's group employs around 3,000 at its steel plants and another 2,000 work in its engineering businesses. He also owns Wyelands Bank, which is based in Mayfair and is understood to have lent money to other groups in the tycoon's empire. In an unprecedented move, regulators at the Bank of England ordered Wyelands to repay deposits to all its savings account customers. Gupta announced yesterday that he had supplied Wyelands with a 75million cash injection, so it could pay back savers. He added that Wyelands would be pursuing a new strategy 'following conversations with regulators', but did not go into further detail. The bank is understood to have around 4,000 savers with deposits of around 210million down from more than 15,000 depositors with 726million in 2019. It stopped taking deposits last year. A spokesman for the Bank of England's regulatory arm, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), said it had been 'engaging closely with Wyelands Bank' and 'required it to operationalise an orderly repayment of its deposits'. WASHINGTON Democrats who represent communities along the border are ratcheting up the pressure on President Joe Biden to take action as a wave of migrants has started crossing into Texas. We are weeks, maybe even days, away from a crisis on the southern border. Inaction is simply not an option, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said Thursday. Our country is currently unprepared to handle a surge in migrants in the middle of the pandemic. The Laredo Democrat released figures showing Border Patrol in the Rio Grande Valley had arrested 10,000 migrants in the last week 2,500 in the last two days alone. Experts said those figures offer only a limited snapshot, but fit with broader data trends that suggest the border could be on the verge of another migration surge especially of unaccompanied minors on par with those in 2019 and 2014. We are approaching the numbers that have characterized past peaks or surges, said Jessica Bolter, an analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. Whether or not its a crisis is determined by how the government manages it. NEANDERTHAL THINKING: President Biden decries Gov. Abbotts decision to drop COVID restrictions The Biden administration has said its focus is establishing an orderly and humane immigration system. The administration ended Trump-era policies requiring migrants to remain in Mexico while their cases are processed and is preparing to convert its immigrant family detention centers in South Texas into rapid-processing hubs to screen migrant parents and children with a goal of releasing them into the United States within 72 hours. Republicans have slammed the shift in immigration policy and sought to cast the situation at the border as the first major crisis of Bidens term. All of the signals the Biden administration is sending is that border security and enforcement of our immigration laws come second to their desire to see as many people who show up at the border make their way into the United States and then get lost in the backlog of asylum cases, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said. At least one Democrat in a border district is now sounding similar warnings. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen told CNN that if the administration follows through with its plan to quickly release migrants seeking asylum, it will send a message to Central Americans that tens of thousands of people can show up to the border. That would be catastrophic for our party, for our country, for my region, for my district, in the middle of a pandemic. Cuellar, however, noted that even as hes warning the administration of rising apprehensions, those figures started growing during the final months of the Trump administration. The Biden administration, too, has said it inherited the situation, which officials have said is a challenge and not yet a crisis. What we are seeing now at the border is the immediate result of the dismantlement of the system and the time that it takes to rebuild it virtually from scratch, said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. This is a challenge that the border communities, the non-governmental organizations, the people who care for individuals seeking humanitarian relief all understand it is an imperative, Mayorkas said. Everyone understands what occurred before us, what we need to do now. And we are getting it done. The bulk of the apprehensions in recent months have been single adults, though apprehensions of unaccompanied children are also on the rise and could be on the cusp of a surge, experts said. Border Patrol apprehended 5,700 unaccompanied child migrants in January, the most recent data available, and anecdotal evidence suggests that number rose considerably in February, said Bolter of the Migration Policy Institute. The 2014 and 2019 surges saw between 7,000 and 9,000 apprehensions a month with peaks above 10,000, she said. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox But the number of families crossing the border appear to be far from the past surges, especially in 2019, which included several months when Border Patrol apprehended between 50,000 and 60,000 family members. The peak that year was 84,000. In January, there were just 7,300 apprehensions of family members, Bolter said. And Bolter said it appears that the Biden administration is trying to manage this actively. Cuellar, meanwhile, has called for Biden to continue using a Trump administration public health order to quickly expel migrants during the pandemic, a practice that immigration activists have urged the president to scrap. COVID-19 concerns Cuellar voiced concern that some of those entering the country may be bringing the coronavirus with them echoing comments that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott made on Wednesday as he sought to deflect criticism from the White House over his decision to rescind the states COVID restrictions. Migrants are illegally crossing, potentially exposing border communities to the coronavirus and putting us at risk, Cuellar said. I urge the Biden administration to listen and work with the communities on the southern border who are dealing with the surge of migrants. While Cuellar said Border Patrol has not been testing for coronavirus, some border cities and shelters have been testing migrants once they are released. The city of Brownsville, for instance, had tested 1,267 migrants as of March 3 and 169 tested positive, a city spokesman said. CNN reported Thursday that the Department of Homeland Security is planning to use Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to bolster community efforts to test, isolate and quarantine migrants released from Border Patrol custody. But the grant money needs to be approved by the state before it can be distributed to border communities. Gov. Abbott has so far declined the FEMA aid. Border security is strictly a federal responsibility. The federal government alone has the responsibility to test, screen and quarantine illegal immigrants crossing our border who may have COVID, Abbott said in a statement. Instead of doing their job, the Biden administration suggested it did not have the sufficient resources and, remarkably, asked Texas to assist them in aiding their illegal immigration program. Texas refused. Instead, Abbott blames the White House. The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities. The Biden Admin. must IMMEDIATELY end this callous act that exposes Texans & Americans to COVID, Abbott tweeted on Wednesday, apparently ignoring the distinction between those who enter the country illegally and those seeking asylum. Cuellar, meanwhile, said he has been stressing to the White House that federal officials need to engage more with local leaders on the border to get a better understanding of the situation and not only to the immigration activists where a lot of them live thousands of miles away. I sincerely feel theyre not listening to the border communities, he said. Jessica Cisneros, an immigration attorney who lost to Cuellar by 4 percentage points in the Democratic primary last year, accused him of trying to generate a fake crisis on the border for attention. Of course the numbers are higher than previous months because our country was committing human rights violations by not following our own laws and treaties, Cisneros tweeted. This is a slap in the face to on-the-ground organizations which have been raising the issue of proper and safe processing for asylum seekers during the pandemic AT LEAST six months in advance. ben.wermund@chron.com Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. A stone sculpture representing a Hindu deity is making its way back to Nepal nearly 40 years after it disappeared from a temple shrine and ended up in the Dallas Museum of Art. For more than eight centuries, the sacred stele of Lakshmi-Narayana, a manifestation of the Hindu deities Vishnu and Lakshmi, watched over devotees in the Nepalese city of Patan until it suddenly disappeared, stolen by looters in 1984. Six years later, the eight-armed figure reappeared at auction at Sothebys, selling to a collector, who then lent it to the Dallas museum. A spokesman for Sothebys said it did not have records from the 1990 sale on hand to clarify what provenance had been presented to it at the time the antiquity was put up for auction, but it said it was researching the matter. But it wasnt until late 2019, when an expert raised concerns about the Kathmandu Valley icon, that curators re-examined its provenance. Thats when the F.B.I. got involved, collaborating on a transfer of the sacred statue, with permission from its lender, from the museum to Nepals embassy in Washington that is taking place this week. Monroe at Hazeltine - Living Room Our sales success at Monroe at Hazeltine is a key indicator that homebuyers have recognized the value of these homes and the opportunity to put down roots in one of Los Angeles' most attractive submarkets etco Homes, a privately held homebuilding company with a focus on boutique urban infill condominium development, officially announced the complete sellout of Monroe at Hazeltine, a residential community in Van Nuys comprised of 23 single-family townhomes and one exclusive single-family home, The Leadwell Residence. Monroe at Hazeltine notably achieved 65 percent sold prior to its grand opening in fall 2020, making it the fast-selling new construction in Van Nuys since launching sales. Delivering contemporary architecture with the San Fernando Valleys traditional charm, the development features dramatic, open-concept tri-level floor plans showcasing contemporary style, all located within a prime Los Angeles location. "Our sales success at Monroe at Hazeltine is a key indicator that homebuyers have recognized the value of these homes and the opportunity to put down roots in one of Los Angeles' most attractive submarkets," said Afshin Etebar, President of etco Homes. "While buyers continue to seek new homes in this competitive market, we are confident in the long-term demand and success of the Southern California residential market as we look ahead in 2021." The 23 tri-level homes range from three to four bedrooms, spanning approximately 1,961 2,600 square feet. Residences within the townhomes include three floor plans: The Harland, The Whitley and The Chandler. Homes feature frameless flat-panel European style cabinetry, LED recessed can lighting, USB charging outlets in the kitchen, quartz countertops and kitchen islands, Whirlpool stainless steel appliance packages, Ring Video doorbell at entry, Kwikset Kevo keyless entry at front door, and NEST Thermostats. Each home offers two-car garages and a private patio. Homes were priced from the low $700,000s, representing a last frontier for affordably priced new construction homes in the greater Los Angeles area. Meanwhile, spanning 2,600 square feet and four bedrooms, The Leadwell Residence sold for $899,000 in just two weeks after its release. Situated at 7327 Hazeltine Ave in Van Nuys, Monroe at Hazeltine lies provides central access to the 405, 101, 134 and 170 freeways with easy access to Lake Balboa Park, Westfield Topanga and The Village shopping center, Universal Studios and Griffith Park and Observatory. About etco Homes etco Homes is a privately held, homebuilding company with a focus on boutique urban infill condominium development. With a proven track record spanning more than three decades, etco Homes prides itself on building communities that embrace the character of the neighborhood in sought-after locations from the Southern California coast to Pasadena, downtown Los Angeles to West Hollywood. Each etco Homes community features contemporary design, thoughtful floorplans and generous amenities and services. For more information, visit http://www.etcohomes.com. Media Contact Julia Yuryev | Alyssa Lawrence | Brandon Muratalla | Molly Bailey-Andrade Murphy OBrien Public Relations etcohomes@murphyobrien.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 05:50:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wearing face masks walk on the street in San Francisco, the United States, March 3, 2021. U.S. San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Wednesday announced the launch of a new initiative to promote small business economic recovery and community vibrancy in the city. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) SAN FRANCISCO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Wednesday announced the launch of a new initiative to promote small business economic recovery and community vibrancy in the city. The initiative, "Avenue Greenlight," will deploy privately donated dollars to San Francisco merchant associations to be used for projects to improve commercial corridors. The ultimate goal of Avenue Greenlight is to uplift local small businesses to help them adapt and recover from the current challenges. Over the coming months, all 34 of San Francisco's merchants associations will individually receive a 50,000-U.S.-dollar grant of new resources allocated from Avenue Greenlight, starting with the Castro, Bayview, Chinatown, and Clement Street commercial corridors. Grants will total 1.7 million dollars and will be administered in a tiered format with three to four new merchant association grants released each subsequent month moving forward based on diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations, the announcement said. "Now more than ever we need everyone to step up and support their neighbors," said Breed. "Our small businesses are struggling and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that San Francisco comes out of this pandemic even stronger than before." Enditem Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A groundbreaking study published in 2017 found that artificial light from the Tribute in Light installation at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City had a dramatic effect on bird migration. Colorado State University's Kyle Horton, now an assistant professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, was a co-author on this study, which found that lights in the night altered the behaviors of birds migrating through the area. Researchers successfully used radar data to count as many as 1.1 million birds moving in and out of the light over the course of seven years, measuring the one day each year when the twin beams were active. A new project led by Horton aims to learn even more about the effects of cities as ecological traps for migrating birds. The scientist recently received a $780,000 award from NASA, one of nine projects funded by the agency's Biological Diversity program. He will team up with Michigan State University's Geoffrey Henebry, professor in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences and the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations. Henebry brings years of experience working with diverse types of remote sensing data to characterize patterns and changes in land surface. Horton said the new project - which will focus on urban areas in the Central Flyway, primarily in the Great Plains - aims to provide researchers and advocacy groups with more information on the impact of artificial light on bird behaviors and populations at a large scale. Ecological traps While art installations and city lights in places like Las Vegas have not resulted in mass mortality events, the birds' temporary detour remains a concern. Thanks to data gathered by scientists including Horton and volunteers, the Tribute of Light installation is now turned off for 20 minutes when the number of birds in the area reaches around 1,000, allowing them to disperse. Birds have been attracted to manmade light sources for hundreds of years, including lighthouses and fishing vessels working at night, said Horton. But the notion of an ecological trap comes to mind when thinking about birds and light pollution from large cities. The lights from urban centers in the United States attract migrating birds in a way similar to plastics in the ocean attracting seabirds, and detouring from their usual migration route may ultimately hurt the birds' fitness, Horton explained. The research team is applying that lens to better understand the risks for migratory birds. "Light is attracting these migratory birds for some reason, and we don't fully understand why," said Horton. "However, it's clear that birds get pulled into sub-optimal habitats in places like downtown Houston, New York City or Chicago, where the risk of them colliding with buildings elevates." Horton said during the detour, the birds might encounter predators like cats or have difficulties foraging for food. "Birds are burning all of this energy to go north and south," he said. "If they can't get enough energy and nutrition from the landscape, it could hurt their chance of getting to their final destination." Weather radar data, community science and more The research project will use community science data through eBird, an online database of bird observations created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It will also use several NASA products, including ECOSTRESS, which looks at land surface temperature and emissivity, evapotranspiration and evaporative stress index, and GEDI for geolocated waveforms, canopy cover fraction and leaf area index profiles. At the heart of their research, Horton and Henebry will use more than 25 years of NEXRAD weather radar data to gauge the number of airborne migratory birds, speed and direction of nightly movements and land use during stopovers. "We have a tremendous opportunity to bring together unique modern remote sensing datasets to learn what is happening to migratory birds in cities across the U.S.," Horton said. ### Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Erica Fernandes, who made debut on television with Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi as Sonakshi, has completed five years in the television industry. Although she was seen in only a couple of television shows (other one being Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2 as Prerna), she has done a remarkable job. Her amazing style and acting skills have impressed the viewers. The actress has completed five years in the television industry and took to social media to thank her fans for all their love and support. Erica's fans, who call themselves Ejfians, have been making the occasion even more special by sending her gifts and congratulatory messages. The Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2 actress shared a picture on her Instagram account, in which she was seen surrounded with colourful balloons and gifts and wrote, "I can't express the love and gratitude i feel at this very moment. There is so much love pouring in every single year as I complete another year in the industry and my #Ejfians religiously continue this tradition of celebrating my journey in the Indian Television Industry. It surprises me to see the details that have been taken care of by all my ejfians , you'll know exactly what i like and how i like it." She promised her fans that she will try her best to entertain her fans. Erica concluded by writing, "Having said that ,this also makes me feel that i am somewhere on the right track and like always I will try my level best to deliver ( in my best capacity) and entertain you all until i can." On the work front, it is being said that Erica will be re-uniting with her Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi co-stars in season 3. Well, we are waiting for this to happen! We congratulate Erica and hope that the actress entertains us in the same way in the coming years too. Also Read: Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi 3: Shaheer Sheikh & Erica Fernandes To Reunite? Supriya Pilgaonkar To Join Them! Also Read: Rahul Vaidya & Disha Parmar's Friendship Started From Instagram Chat; Couple To Get Married Soon Medicortex Finland Oy, a Finnish biotechnology company focusing on brain injury diagnostics and drug development, announces receiving funding from the Finnish government innovation funding branch Business Finland. The funds are meant to expedite the development of a medical diagnostic test to improve detection of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion. Medicortex has discovered novel biomarkers of head injury in body fluids such as saliva and urine. The funding which covers 50% of the expenses will support a project consisting of the development of a test kit for easy and rapid detection of brain injury and concussion. The objective of the company's biomarker program is to generate new means for early detection of brain injury, which is a global unresolved issue. Current methods of brain injury diagnostics which are based on neurological examination and imaging do not reliably detect mild injury, yet they can have implications that are fatal or develop into a chronic condition if not recognized. The market potential for a new diagnostic tool is substantial with more than 60 million people globally who suffer head injuries each year. Winning this highly competitive funding is a valuable recognition of the company's efforts and affirms the urgent need to be able to rapidly and reliably diagnose TBI and concussions. About Medicortex Medicortex Finland Oy is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving the diagnostics and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Its current focus is on developing biomarker diagnostics to detect head injury in an easy way. The company has the technology to capture biomarkers from urine and saliva and to develop them into an affordable diagnostic tool. Medicortex was established by an Israeli neurobiologist Adrian Harel (Ph.D., MBA) in 2014, and the company is based in Turku, Finland. TBI braininjury Medicortex Business Finland concussion View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005647/en/ Contacts: Dr. Adrian Harel CEO Medicortex Finland Oy PharmaCity Itainen Pitkakatu 4 B FI-20520 Turku Finland Tel. +358 (0) 400 488 817 adrian.harel@medicortex.fi http://www.medicortex.fi New Delhi: Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor is not on any social media platform, officially. But the Kapoor lad has several dedicated fan pages on Twitter and Instagram, who dole out information about the star. One of the most active fan clubs of Ranbir Kapoor on Twitter dropped some behind-the-scenes (BTS) pictures of the star shooting for a TVC commercial. Take a look here: Behind the scenes : Ranbir Kapoor's look for Asian Paints TVC. pic.twitter.com/1V3uIpggJe Ranbir Kapoor Universe (@RanbirKUniverse) March 3, 2021 The actor's massive transformation from how he actually looks to turning into an old man donning a bald patch is incredible. He can be seen posing with his hair and make-up expert. On the work front, Ranbir has some plum offers in his kitty. From the much-awaited Brahmastra with ladylove Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy to Shamshera with Sanjay Dutt and Vaani Kapoor - his fans are eager to watch him on the big screens. Also, Ranbir has a Luv Ranjan-backed project with Shraddha Kapoor. The title of the romantic drama has not been revealed as yet. PET scan of a human brain with Alzheimer's disease. Credit: public domain New treatments for Alzheimer's disease are desperately needed, but numerous clinical trials of investigational drugs have failed to generate promising options. Now a team at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS) has developed an artificial intelligence-based method to screen currently available medications as possible treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The method could represent a rapid and inexpensive way to repurpose existing therapies into new treatments for this progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative condition. Importantly, it could also help reveal new, unexplored targets for therapy by pointing to mechanisms of drug action. "Repurposing FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease is an attractive idea that can help accelerate the arrival of effective treatmentbut unfortunately, even for previously approved drugs, clinical trials require substantial resources, making it impossible to evaluate every drug in patients with Alzheimer's disease," explains Artem Sokolov, Ph.D., director of Informatics and Modeling at the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology at HMS. "We therefore built a framework for prioritizing drugs, helping clinical studies to focus on the most promising ones." In an article published in Nature Communications, Sokolov and his colleagues describe their framework, called DRIAD (Drug Repurposing In Alzheimer's Disease), which relies on machine learninga branch of artificial intelligence in which systems are "trained" on vast amounts of data, "learn" to identify telltale patterns and augment researchers' and clinicians' decision-making. DRIAD works by measuring what happens to human brain neural cells when treated with a drug. The method then determines whether the changes induced by a drug correlate with molecular markers of disease severity. The approach also allowed the researchers to identify drugs that had protective as well as damaging effects on brain cells. "We also approximate the directionality of such correlations, helping to identify and filter out neurotoxic drugs that accelerate neuronal death instead of preventing it," says co-first author Steve Rodriguez, Ph.D., an investigator in the Department of Neurology at MGH and an instructor at HMS. DRIAD also allows researchers to examine which proteins are targeted by the most promising drugs and if there are common trends among the targets, an approach designed by Clemens Hug, Ph.D., a research associate in the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and a co-first author. The team applied the screening method to 80 FDA-approved and clinically tested drugs for a wide range of conditions. The analysis yielded a ranked list of candidates, with several anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and blood cancers emerging as top contenders. These drugs belong to a class of medications known as Janus kinase inhibitors. The drugs work by blocking the action of inflammation-fueling Janus kinase proteins, suspected to play a role in Alzheimer's disease and known for their role in autoimmune conditions. The team's analyses also pointed to other potential treatment targets for further investigation. "We are excited to share these results with the academic and pharmaceutical research communities. Our hope is that further validation by other researchers will refine the prioritization of these drugs for clinical investigation," says Mark Albers, MD, Ph.D., the Frank Wilkins Jr. and Family Endowed Scholar and associate director of the Massachusetts Center for Alzheimer Therapeutic Science at MGH and a faculty member of the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology at HMS. One of these drugs, baricitinib, will be investigated by Albers in a clinical trial for patients with subjective cognitive complaints, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease that will be launching soon at MGH in Boston and at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "In addition, independent validation of the nominated drug targets could provide new insights into the mechanisms behind Alzheimer's disease and lead to novel therapies," says Albers. More information: Steve Rodriguez et al, Machine learning identifies candidates for drug repurposing in Alzheimer's disease, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Steve Rodriguez et al, Machine learning identifies candidates for drug repurposing in Alzheimer's disease,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21330-0 The feeling of exhaustion after a day of video calls has become so commonplace during the pandemic that it spawned the popular term Zoom fatigue. And according to a Stanford University researcher, the effect is quite real. Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab, examined the psychological effects of spending a prolonged amount of time on the videoconferencing platform. He found that the ways we present ourselves on Zoom are unnatural compared to face-to-face daily interactions. The resulting nonverbal overload can cause stress and fatigue, according to Bailensons peer-reviewed article published last month in the journal Technology, Mind and Behavior. Currently the medium is designed to allow various forms of exhaustion and fatigue socially, emotionally, and physically, said Bailenson in an email interview. One of the things I worry about is that the medium is changing the way we communicate. Think about the exaggerated nods and the holding ones thumb up. How long until those become tools we use in everyday, face-to-face interaction? The idea for the study appropriately came after a call Bailenson had last spring with a reporter, who scheduled it on Zoom. After 10 minutes, he realized the meeting could have been audio-only, and afterward wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed about how video meetings can be draining. Bailenson said he focused on Zoom not to disparage the company, but because its become the default platform, jumping from 10 million users in December 2019 to 300 million users just five months later. He noted that his arguments are based on academic theory, not scientific findings. His article identifies four causes of fatigue: excessive eye gaze, seeing yourself reflected back to you for many hours a day, being tethered to one physical location for extended periods of time, and increased difficulty in interpreting nonverbal cues. Too much eye contact During Zoom work meetings, users have an extended amount of close-up eye contact, often with acquaintances and sometimes strangers. This type of interaction is normally reserved for more intimate relationships. During in-person meetings, Bailenson said, direct eye contact is actually used sparingly and attendees are usually doing a variety of things including taking notes, looking at the projector screen or scanning the room. Zooms platform shows everyones faces to each other constantly, which can be intense. During in-person meetings, people dont typically stare at others, especially those who are not speaking. From a perceptual standpoint, Zoom effectively transforms listeners into speakers and smothers everyone with eye gaze, he wrote. Looking in a mirror constantly When entering a Zoom meeting with video enabled, a self-view is automatically applied. Bailenson likened this feature to an assistant following you around all day with a mirror so you could look at yourself. Zoom users are seeing reflections of themselves at a frequency and duration that hasnt been seen before in the history of media and likely the history of people, he wrote in the article. Limited mobility During face-to-face meetings and on phone calls, people tend to move around. In person, they may get up and stretch, get up and write something on the board or get a drink. When talking on the phone, people might be walking or completing tasks around the house. In video meetings, people can still make gestures, but they are generally sitting down and staring straight ahead, which inhibits movement, Bailenson said. A high cognitive load When were interacting in person, nonverbal communication tends to be natural, so much so that people are subconsciously interpreting gestures and cues. During Zoom calls, people have to work harder to both send and receive cues. Users have to put a lot of thought into interacting on video chats, from centering yourself for the camera, nodding for an extended period of time to show agreement, and even talking louder. In a 2019 study cited in the article, users of videoconferencing technology tended to speak 15% louder than during in-person interactions. Users are constantly receiving nonverbal cues that would have a specific meaning in a face-to-face context but have different meanings on Zoom, he wrote. While of course people do adapt to media over time ... it is often difficult to overcome automatic reactions to nonverbal cues. What can users do? Bailenson hopes Zoom will change the platform to make it more user-friendly during extended use. But in the meantime, he has offered solutions for users at home to help combat fatigue. Hide the self-view once your face is framed correctly. Minimize the Zoom screen so its about one-third the size of your monitor. That way other peoples faces arent uncomfortably close-up. Set the camera farther away or use an external camera so you can have more flexibility to move around. An external keyboard can also help you create some distance. Turn off the camera from time to time and give yourself an audio-only break. Bailenson said his article is to encourage Zoom and other platforms to consider design improvements. He and his colleagues are also conducting a large study that surveys videoconferencing users about their experiences in order to examine population norms. Its great for the planet that were going to reduce commutes as we become more comfortable with remote work, he said. As with most things in life, moderation is important and it will take some time for us to find the right balance. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang Linganore Winecellars has joined in a raffle to help raise money for a fellow winemaking family out in Oregon who needs assistance. Drew Herman, a former assistant winemaker at Division Winemaking, and Johan Vineyards Elise Hansen are expecting their first baby in the spring. But recently, the couple received devastating news: Herman has a brain tumor. Drew recently had emergency surgery to remove the tumor and this raffle is raising money for his treatment. Weve donated our wines to the cause. If youre able to, please consider purchasing a ticket to the raffle to help this family in need. Winners will receive a mixed 6-pack of wines from various wineries. The wines in the 6-packs range from Champagne to magnums, cellared bottles to current releases. Each ticket is only $10 and 100% of the funds will go to the family. Tickets will be available for purchase until March 5th at 6 pm, and winners will be notified on March 6th. You may purchase a ticket here: Wine Raffle for Drew & Elise Bar Norman Read more about Drew and Elise here: Portlands Wine Industry Hosts Raffle to Raise Money for a Local Winemakers Brain Tumor Treatment Eater Portland Winners will receive a mixed 6-pack of wines from various wineries. The wines in the 6-packs range from Champagne to magnums, cellared bottles to current releases. The Diocese of Allentown on Wednesday joined other Roman Catholic leaders advising Catholics that the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, newly approved for use in the U.S., is morally compromised because it is produced using a cell line derived from an aborted fetus. Other vaccines are available that are more morally acceptable, Bishop Alfred Schlert said in an article posted by the dioceses AD Today. The advice to the Lehigh Valley faithful voices concerns similar to those aired by Catholic leaders in St. Louis and New Orleans. The New Orleans archdiocese says the decision to receive a vaccine is one of individual conscience. In its statement late last week, it stopped short of advising Catholics not to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but adds that Catholics should choose coronavirus vaccines made by Moderna or Pfizer if they are available. The Archdiocese of St. Louis on Tuesday encouraged Catholics to seek out the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and avoid the Johnson & Johnson version if possible. Like the New Orleans archdiocese statement, the St. Louis statement called the Johnson & Johnson vaccine morally compromised. However, the St. Louis statement stressed that Catholics can get that vaccine in good conscience if no other alternative is available. Later Tuesday, a statement issued by chairmen of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committees on doctrine and abortion issues issued a statement reiterating the moral concerns. It said the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are preferable if one has the ability to choose a vaccine. While not disputing the church officials contention that an abortion-derived cell line is used in the production, Johnson & Johnson issued a statement Tuesday stressing that there is no fetal tissue in its vaccine. Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine is made using a harmless cold virus, called an adenovirus, the same technology it used to produce a successful Ebola vaccine. The adenovirus is grown using whats called an immortalized cell line, and the virus then is pulled out and purified. Several types of cell lines created decades ago using fetal tissue exist and are widely used in medical manufacturing but the cells in them today are clones of the early cells, not the original tissue. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a January statement that abortion-derived cell lines were used to test the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines but not in their development or production. The Archdiocese statements renewed religious discussions about the vaccine and the use of abortion-derived cells. In December, the Vatican said that it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in the research and production process when ethically irreproachable vaccines arent available to the public. Pope Francis has frequently spoken about the need to ensure that vaccines are widely available, especially to the poor and marginalized. And, last month, a decree signed by the governor of the Vatican city-state said that Vatican employees who opt out of vaccination without a proven medical reason could be subject to sanctions, including being fired. The Archdiocese of New Orleans posted its statement Friday, the day before the Food and Drug Administration cleared the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for use in the U.S. Asked Tuesday about the New Orleans Archdiocese statement, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards a rare anti-abortion Democrat stressed the need for people to use any of the approved vaccines available in order to stop the spread of the virus. Edwards said he spoke Sunday with Archbishop Gregory Aymond about the statement. I dont read his statement as completely telling people who are Catholic or otherwise not to avail themselves of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, said Edwards. Im encouraging everyone out there to take the first vaccine that is available to them. He noted a statement issue Monday by Bishop Michael Duca of Baton Rouge. Duca acknowledged moral concerns about the newly approved vaccine. But, he added if for any reasonable circumstance you are only able to receive the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, you should feel free to do so for your safety and for the common good. That is similar to guidance the U.S. bishops conference issued in January. Given that the COVID-19 virus can involve serious health risks, it can be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that uses abortion-derived cell lines if no other available vaccines comparable in safety and efficacy with no connection to abortion, the January guidance said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. The Associated Press and supervising reporter Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report. Reach him at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register We are living in a time where there is so little of this vaccine available, we need to use every dose, said Craig Klugman, professor of bioethics at DePaul University. So the idea that at the end of the day when all the appointments are gone theres still some left over, making sure it goes into arms I think is proper and appropriate action. Better to be in an arm than be thrown away, even if the arm is somebody whos not in the priority group. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise "We recognize the impact of COVID and remote learning on student literacy and want to give educators a turnkey way to support young readers," said Felix Lloyd, Zoobean Co-Founder. "The Level Up reading challenge is a great way to keep students motivated, engaged and reading throughout the summer and we are excited to partner with Thorndike and Mark Cuban who share our vision and commitment to helping students achieve their reading goals." Students can choose to read books from any genre or format to participate. Large print books will be among the formats featured in the challenge, which studies show improve reading speed, boost reading comprehension and work especially well with readers who are below their grade level. In order for books read to count toward the challenge, readers must track their reading progress using the Beanstack app. Students can access the app via web or mobile to log their reading, earn virtual badges, track stats, engage with friends and discover their next favorite book. Additionally, parents can download the app and link directly to their child's school. "Schools and parents are always searching for ways to better engage with students during the summer," said Mark Cuban, billionaire investor and Shark Tank personality. "The Level Up reading challenge is a great way to keep students reading, even when they're not in the classroom." Winning schools will be determined by the most amount of time their students spent reading. Cash prizes are being provided by Mark Cuban with Thorndike Press awarding prize packs of large print book collections to winning schools as well as a virtual visit from Newbery award-winning author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Prizes include: Grand Prize: $5,000 and $1,000 of large print books and a virtual author chat with the school. and of large print books and a virtual author chat with the school. Second Place: $2,500 and $500 of large print books. and of large print books. Four (4) Runner Ups: $2,500 and $250 of large print books. "During the summer, many students lose up to two months of learning, and with the disruption COVID has caused, reading programs are even more critical," said Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager at Gale. "Public libraries have seen great success in retaining and building literacy skills through summer reading programs. The Level Up challenge gives schools an amazing opportunity to support student literacy this summer and we are thrilled to partner with Beanstack and Mark Cuban to make it happen." Gale and Beanstack will host a live webinar on the Level Up Summer 2021 Reading Challenge on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 3pm ET/12pm PT. To register, visit the webinar registration page. For more information about the 2021 Level Up Summer Reading Challenge, visit the challenge webpage. About Zoobean Zoobean, Inc. is the creator of apps and retail products that help people achieve reading goals by tracking reading and participating in reading challenges. The company's flagship product, Beanstack, helps public libraries and school districts create, manage and measure reading challenges. A sister product, Beanbright, offers school buildings a free, streamlined, out-of-the-box version of the reading challenge service. Most recently, the company has introduced Badge Books, which are sticker books that work hand in hand with the free Beanstack mobile app. Zoobean's investors include Kapor Capital, Mark Cuban, RevUp Capital, the AT&T Aspire Accelerator, and Amazon's Alexa Fund. Its founders were previously Washington D.C.'s teacher of the year and Google's first head of K-12 education outreach. About Thorndike Press As the leading large print publisher, Thorndike Press from Gale, a Cengage company, helps readers of all ages enjoy books. Publishing unabridged reprints in large print format for middle grade and young adult readers started in 1999 and our catalog of more than 600 titles grows monthly with high-interest fiction and nonfiction books, including contemporary classics, award-winners and bestsellers. Our commitment to producing high quality, 100% guaranteed large print books supports young readers as they develop the skills necessary to become successful, confident, lifelong readers. Follow Thorndike Press on: About Cengage and Gale Cengage, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. The company currently serves the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, a Cengage company, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 60 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com. Follow Gale on: Media Contact: Kayla Siefker, Gale, a Cengage company 248-915-9624 [email protected] SOURCE Gale, a Cengage company Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The latest MyBroadband Insights report reveals that Cool Ideas, Afrihost, and RSAWEB are the best Internet service providers (ISPs) in South Africa. MyBroadband Insights is the research arm of MyBroadband.co.za and provides industry-leading reports on the South African ICT industry. Its latest report compared Internet service providers on network performance and customer satisfaction. This report used data from MyBroadbands Speed Test App which offers an easy way for South Africans to test their broadband speed. The app is free to download and use and allows users to test the download speed, upload speed, and latency of their Internet connection. After a user performed a speed test, they can also rate their ISP based on their overall satisfaction with the service they receive. To ensure a neutral testing environment, MyBroadbands speed test servers are hosted in Teracos vendor-neutral data centres. MyBroadband has speed test servers at NAPAfricas peering points in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The data for this report was collected between 1 January 2021 and 28 February 2021 and included speed test results from 416,618 tests conducted across South Africa. Only speed tests which were performed over a Wi-Fi connection were used, which means it is representative of fixed-broadband connections. The data showed that South Africa had an average download speed of 8.95Mbps during January and February 2021. The average customer satisfaction rating for all South African ISPs was 6.94 (out of 10). There were three ISPs with an average customer satisfaction rating over 80% Cool Ideas (8.87), Afrihost (8.11), and RSAWEB (8.03). Rain had the worst customer satisfaction rating on 5.61, followed by Telkom on 6.12 and Herotel on 6.28. The table below provides an overview of the best and worst Internet service providers in South Africa. It should be noted that only ISPs with a significant number of speed test results were included in the report. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration would promote democracy abroad but not through costly military interventions, which he said had failed in the past. "We will not promote democracy through costly military interventions or by attempting to overthrow authoritarian regimes by force," Blinken said. "We have tried these tactics in the past. However well-intentioned, they havent worked." Blinken said Biden would use force only "when the objectives and mission are clear and achievable, consistent with our values and laws, and with the informed consent of the American people," USA TODAY reported. Ambassador Korniychuk attracted ASHRA to the selection of Israeli companies for the implementation of various projects in Ukraine The Embassy The Israel Foreign Trade Risks Insurance Corporation Ltd. (ASHRA) is ready to assist in the search and selection of Israeli companies to participate in the implementation of bilateral projects in Ukraine in various fields. This was stated during the meeting of the H.E. Mr. Yevhen Korniychuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Israel with the leaders of the ASHRA, the Embassy reported at Facebook. During the meeting it was discussed the state and prospects of cooperation between ASHRA and Ukraine. The company expressed its readiness to assist in the search and selection of Israeli companies to participate in the implementation of bilateral projects in Ukraine in various fields - medicine, agriculture, processing industry, etc., - the statement says. The parties also agreed to work out the issue of signing a memorandum on bilateral cooperation. Billie Piper has candidly discussed her 'reckless 20s' and the 'abandonment issues' she endured in past relationships in a new interview. The I Hate Suzie actress, 38, said she had rebelled in her 20s and 'fell apart' as a reaction to spending her teenage years as a 'flashy sales girl' when her music career took off aged 15. Speaking to Red Magazine, she said: My 20s were quite wild, and that was likely to be a reaction to [teenage years spent] working all the hours that God sent, being very performative and treated sort of like a flashy sales girl; a really young one. I really needed to fall apart in that sort of reckless 20s way. Candid: Billie Piper has candidly discussed her 'reckless 20s' and the 'abandonment issues' she endured in past relationships in a new interview with Red Magazine 'To not care about looking put-together every waking moment of my life or saying the wrong things as a role model to children. Billie was a fresh-faced Swindon teen when she burst onto the music scene in 1998 with her chart-topping hit, Because We Want To. Aged 18, she shocked fans when she secretly wed Chris Evans in Las Vegas in 2001, sparking controversy due to their sixteen-year age gap. The couple split three years later in 2004, but have remained close friends ever since. Interview: The I Hate Suzie actress, 38, said she had rebelled in her 20s and 'fell apart' as a reaction to spending her teenage years as a 'flashy sales girl' when her music career took off aged 15 Teen sensation: She said: My 20s were quite wild, and that was likely to be a reaction to [teenage years spent] working all the hours that God sent, being very performative and treated sort of like a flashy sales girl' (above in 1998) The star then forged a career in acting with Doctor Who and Secret Life of a Call Girl - before moving into theatre. After divorcing Chris, she wed actor Laurence Fox in 2007 before the couple divorced in 2016. They share sons Winston and Eugene. Billie also enjoyed high profile romances with Ritchie Neville, Matt Smith and Amadu Sowe. She is now in a long-term relationship with rocker Johnny Lloyd, the couple share a daughter Tallulah, two. Discussing her past romances, she said:I think a lot of my issues romantically have come from being on my own a lot when I was very young. As they were: Aged 18, she shocked fans when she secretly wed Chris Evans in Las Vegas in 2001, sparking controversy due to their sixteen-year age gap (pictured 2001) 'So its sort of an extreme desire to feel loved and safe. I guess on some level its like abandonment issues even though I wasnt particularly abandoned; I lead myself largely but I think that has affected relationships. 'Ive [since] learned about attachment issues and co-dependency, which I never saw as a problem, until I did that work on myself. On the key to her current relationship with Johnny, Billie said:I really dont know what the key is. I think on some level, Im always going to be interested in love in a way that throws logic to the floor. 'Part of me doesnt ever just want to see it as this rational thing where Im making sure I have date night on a Wednesday; although I think there are merits in doing that. Relationships: Discussing her past romances, she said:I think a lot of my issues romantically have come from being on my own a lot when I was very young She said: 'So its sort of an extreme desire to feel loved and safe. I guess on some level its like abandonment issues even though I wasnt particularly abandoned' 'But the thought immediately makes me feel a bit heavy-hearted and bored. I dont know if I can ever really be fully practical and healthy around love. In October, Billie recalled how she got 'completely hammered for three years' with ex-husband Chris when she was feeling burnt out from her teen pop career. Speaking on the David Tennant Does A Podcast With... podcast, Billie said she had an 'amazing time' with Chris and likened their relationship to being in 'your university years'. Happier times: After divorcing Chris, she wed actor Laurence Fox in 2007 before the couple divorced in 2016. They share sons Winston and Eugene (pictured 2014) Recalling how she desired a more normal life after finding fame as a teen pop star, Billie said: 'I would say I was in a dark place and just ready to have a bit of a normal life, whatever that meant for me. I was just so tired. Coming soon: The April issue of Red is on sale from March 4 'If I'm honest, I was really burnt out. I also wanted to have some freedom. I wanted to stay at home and learn how to cook properly and do what felt like healing things. Also, I went and got completely hammered for three years with Chris Evans.' David then asked her about her marriage to Chris, with Billie describing the relationship as 'very loving'. She said: 'We had a really amazing time together, you know? I imagine it's what your uni years feel like. Sort of reckless, but you're learning a lot. 'It was an incredible time and not to undermine our relationship because we also had a very loving relationship. It wasn't just, oh we're getting, going out, getting f****d. We had a very caring, loving relationship.' Billie added that Chris also gave her valuable advice on ignoring criticism, citing his words of wisdom to her when some doubted a former pop star was the right choice to be cast in sci-fi series Doctor Who, where she worked alongside David. She said: 'I didn't pay much attention to it. He taught me how to not do that. And then, with Doctor Who, I had a sniff of it, but I didn't really know. 'Of course, we didn't have smartphones, so you weren't constantly being reminded... So I just went for it. I wanted to prove myself as an actress. That was my goal. I wanted to prove it to myself, to my family and to the dream I had as a child.' The April issue of Red is on sale from March 4. 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. [March 04, 2021] Absolunet Expands to Europe, Opens Office in Ireland Strong growth and increasing European sales fast-track eCommerce and digital transformation firm's expansion MONTREAL and CORK, Ireland, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Absolunet, a professional services firm that has helped some of North America's most iconic brands with their digital transformations, eCommerce and digital revenue growth, announced this week that it is opening a European office in Cork, Ireland. The move comes as Absolunet continues to experience significant growth internationally, with multinational clients today representing more than 30% of the firm's client base, all of which are brand manufacturers or distributors (B2B). "As our clients and client list continue to grow and scale through digital, so too does the demand for us to scale along with them, including into Europe and the U.K.," says Charles Desjardins, Absolunet CEO. "In this context, Cork and Ireland seem like a perfect fit for Absolunet's culture as well as our plans to expand our European footprint." Absolunet has steadily increased its client portfolio to become a leading digital transformation and eCommerce consulting firm. With over 25 in-house practice, Absolunet provides consulting and implementation across 3 main areas of expertise; "Our agile approach to 'fast-forwarding digital maturity' has paid off for clients, and our expansion into Europe has been the object of an ongoing discussion with our partners, who have been a key element of our growth. Our mastery of multiple languages, PIM, change management and proven track record has led to sustained growth over the past few years," adds Desjardins. "We are a year ahead of our own growth plan, in part due to the massive acceleration of digital adoption brought on by the global pandemic." Absolunet's European activities will be led by Chandan Raj, Senior Program Director. Previously, Raj led Global Digital IT Delivery at Johnson Controls and managed Cork University Business School's digital transformation. "Absolunet's methodology and approach can help large organizations accelerate digital initiatives and become more agile in the process," says Raj, who started his career as a Software Engineering Analyst at Accenture. "This approach has helped our clients accelerate hundreds of millions in revenue and bridge the digital gap to what their users, units and customers expect from them." Absolunet's Keystone Partners : About Absolunet Absolunet is a professional services firm specializing in commerce and digital transformations. We help some of North America's iconic brands and distributors fast-forward their digital transformation, bridge the eCommerce gap and put customers at the heart of their experience, profitably. Contact: Bernard Dahl, +1-514-982-6560 x2331, bdahl@absolunet.com The F-15 E Strike Eagle Mounts Extra JDAMs for bombing ground targets in all-weather condition. Modified to carry these weapons adds to how dangerous the 50-year design is. One of its missions in the precision strike role is similar to bombers, but the F-15 is a fighter adapted for the job. Conceptually a fighter bomber does not need escort fighters to shift to air-to-air against enemy fighters when bombs are dropped. The U.S. Air Force tweak the F-15 to carry more bombs for its recent mission in Iraq. Loaded with Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMS) mounted on the wings, it proved the old fighter can carry more than expected. It boosts the U.S. Air Force (USAF) versatility with added JDAMS to its load, reported Military. Adapting the twin-engine fighter lessens what is needed to carry out the mission. The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron did tests at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. It took a month of testing and trials to see if the fighter can load up to 15 JDAMS. Normally, the limit for an F-15 is nine of the directed munitions, said the project's officials. One of the advantages gained with 15 JDAMS used for active combat missions is the units can land in another airstrip, re-arm, and add more munitions for other planes. Newer fighters like the F-35 and F-22 can share with the payload needed for more combat sorties. This was mentioned by Lt. Col. Jacob Lindaman, commander of the squadron. Also read: The New F-15EX Eagle Flies for the First Time, to Replace Older Variant. The 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron conducted at Synthetic Aperture Radar Map Bomb Hit Assessment. During this test, F-15Es dropped live JDAMs, while other weapons systems and joint partners used SAR Mapping technology to track success. #ReadyAF https://t.co/gstLhWsv2W pic.twitter.com/nd5W9FIC70 U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) December 29, 2020 Besides advantages as a good dogfighter, the Strike Eagle carries nuclear or ordinary weapons and can carry 500-lb, 1000-lb, 2000-lb smart bombs that can wreck runways or structures with guidance the targets. Included for attacking targets are the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles. According to 1st Lt. Savanah Bray, spokeswoman for Eglin's 53rd Wing said six 500-pound class JDAMs are mounted on the wing. Three extra bombs are equipped on the top row for dumb bombs. Overall, the wigs pylons carry six each for 12 JDAMS, with three types of 500, 1000, 2000 in the center of the aircraft's belly. Another bomb on the wing stations can be added, said Bray. These many guided munitions add to a destructive payload. She added that sometimes all 15 of the guided bombs would not be used in just one sortie. Only the needed bombs are released, while other JDAMS are for other missions. This enables the F-15 E's load to increase, lessening the need for extra human resources and transport planes to lug the needed munitions to the location. It saves resources and time to get weapons ready for the F-15 E better. JDAMs need to be transported and assembled. Because of this, only one C-130 Hercules is needed to get bombs ready. This is part of the Agile Combat Employment concept that will allow quick reaction forces to operate anywhere, even without special facilities. The development of these initiatives lessens U.S. assets' clustering that can be targeted dangerously in one location. The F-15 E Strike Eagle Mounts Extra JDAMs on pylons with an upgrade program use smart bombs. It adds to how dangerous an F-15 E can get. Related article: US Air Force F-15 E-Strike Eagle: America's Hammer Against Adversaries Fights Again in 2021 @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 16:09:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is planning to reopen its air border from May 1 to resume international passenger flights, according to the country's government press office. "At the direction given by Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, it is planned to reopen Buyant-Ukhaa international airport from May 1 to resume international passenger air traffic," the press office said in a statement Thursday. All preparations for the prevention of COVID-19 infection, including immunizing border control staff and setting up glass barriers separating passengers and temporary isolation rooms at the port for suspected cases, are now underway, the statement said. Mongolia suspended international passenger flights in mid-February 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. So far, Mongolia has registered 3,076 COVID-19 cases, with six deaths, and around 80 percent of patients in the country have recovered from the disease. The Asian country launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country last week, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 percent of its 3.3 million people. Enditem Kerala polls: BJP may get absolute majority or enough seats to become kingmaker, says E Sreedharan Metro Man E Sreedharan will be BJPs CM candidate in Kerala says Union Minister India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 03: E Sreedharan, also known as 'Metro Man' will be the BJP's chief ministerial candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly Elections 2021, according to Union Minister, V Muraleedharan. @BJP4Keralam will fight #Keralapolls with E Sreedharan Ji as its Chief Ministerial Candidate. We will defeat both @CPIMKerala & @INCKerala to provide a corruption-free, development-oriented Governance for the people of Kerala, the minister said in a tweet. @BJP4India under the able leadership of PM Shri @NarendraModi Ji will strive to take care of the needs of the People of Kerala. The New Kerala under E Sreedharan Ji will pave the way for an efficient & effective Govt in the state. #ESreedharan, he said in another tweet. Earlier BJP's state head, K Surendran said that the Kerala BJP requests party's national leadership to declare "Metroman" E Sreedharan as NDA's chief ministerial candidate for upcoming assembly elections. Sreedharan had joined the BJP in February and had evinced interest in being the CM candidate for the upcoming elections. "If the BJP wins Kerala Assembly polls, the focus will be on bringing the state out of debt trap and develop infrastructure there," Sreedharan said, according to a PTI report. Sreedharan had said he was joining the BJP to ensure justice for the people of Kerala who were being deprived of the fruits of development due to the self-centric attitude of the present CPI(M)-led LDF government. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News The 88-year old Sreedharan, who played a major role in executing Kerala''s ambitious Kochi metro rail project, also said he would contest the Assembly polls if the party decides so. The constituency will be decided by the BJP, he added. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. SBS has confirmed Montaigne will perform her new song Technicolour as Australias entry into the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. A snippet has been released (below) with the full song available tomorrow. She will perform the track at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday. Montaigne co-wrote the song alongside Sydney-based songwriter and producer, Dave Hammer (Lime Cordiale, Thundamentals). Eurovision will be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and broadcast on SBS from 19 to 23 May. Montaigne said: Im so excited to present Technicolour to the world! I think it does it all makes you want to cry, makes you want to dance, makes you want to take on a malignant corporate power and I think that it is both forward-thinking and suitable for Eurovision. SBS Commissioning Editor and Australian Head of Delegation Josh Martin said: We love this song! SBS has always celebrated the technicolour nature of Australia and the world, and Montaigne has written an anthem that encapsulates all that we stand for as a broadcaster and a country. Where better to premiere it, than one of the worlds most loved Pride events the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras! The song is positive, purposeful and lets face it fun! It will be right at home at the worlds largest, inclusive technicolour song contest where, to borrow a line from the chorus if we stand together, we can do whatever. Creative Director of Eurovision: Australia Decides and Director of Blink TV Paul Clarke said: Technicolour begins by addressing the universal and personal challenges of the pandemic, then it empowers you to be a superhero and rise above. Its all done with Montaignes cheeky sense of humour, at once vulnerable and kinda fierce. Im expecting some deep and moving music this year at Eurovision, but we are flicking the switch to empowerment with Montaigne and turning the volume right up. Technicolour is released worldwide on Friday by Sony Music / Wonderlick Recording Company. Related New Delhi, March 4 : A cyber security researcher has claimed that a security flaw in a portal run by the West Bengal government has allegedly leaked lab results data of millions of people who went for coronavirus testing, the media reported on Thursday. Security researcher Sourajeet Majumder told TechCrunch that the website is part of the West Bengal government's mass coronavirus testing programme. Once a Covid-19 test result is ready, the government sends a text message to the patient, with a link to its website containing their test results. The leaked test lab results contain the patient's name, sex, age, postal address, lab test results (positive, negative on inconclusive). A hacker can access the data and exploit innocent users, warned the cyber security researcher. "This is a privacy violation if somebody else gets access to my private information," Majumder was quoted as saying in the report. The state government was yet to react to the claim by the cyber security researcher. Majumder reported the vulnerability to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in), which acknowledged the problem. The website managing team, however, did not respond to Majumder's email. The website went offline thereafter and by that time, the state government had tested more than 8.5 million residents for Covid-19. It's still not known how many Covid lab results were exposed because of this security vulnerability. According to the report, the website bug "meant that anyone could change that number in their browser's address bar and view other patients' test results". Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Djibouti: IOM, 20 migrants drowned, were headed to Yemen Pushed into sea by human traffickers, five bodies recovered (ANSAmed) - ROME, 04 MAR - At least 20 people drowned after human traffickers threw dozens of migrants overboard on Wednesday morning during a journey from Djibouti to Yemen, in the third episode of this type in six months in the Gulf of Aden, said the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in a statement on its website. The survivors - who received medical treatment at the IOM centre in Obock, Djibouti - said at least 200 migrants, including children, were crowded aboard the vessel when it departed. Thirty minutes into the journey the smugglers pushed about 80 people into the sea. Five bodies were recovered on Wednesday. Two similar incidents in October claimed the lives of at least 50 migrants, IOM said. Mobility restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic have drastically reduced journeys from the Horn of Africa to Yemen and the Gulf countries: from 138,000 people in 2019, the number has gone to 37,500 in 2020. In January 2021, over 2,500 migrants reached Yemen from Djibouti and IOM fears that as restrictions ease, the prospect of future tragedies will increase. In Yemen itself, thousands of migrants are believed to be stranded, facing exploitation and abuse. In both Djibouti and Yemen, IOM has been providing emergency medical care, food, water and counselling to stranded migrants. In August 2020, IOM called for 84 million dollars to respond to the needs of migrants on the Horn of Africa and Yemen. (ANSAmed). 7-Eleven Celebrates Pi Day with $3.14 Pizza Deal, Helps Provide a Meal* to Feeding America for Every Pie Sold IRVING, Texas, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to 7-Eleven Inc., Americans can have some "pizza mind" and a great pizza deal on National Pi Day this year. Participating 7-Eleven stores are serving up large pizzas for $3.14 each on March 14, aka 3/14.** The Pi Day deal is available in stores through the 7Rewards loyalty program in the 7-Eleven app or can be ordered on the retailer's 7NOW delivery app for home on-demand delivery or order-ahead pickup. Participating 7-Eleven stores are serving up large pizzas for $3.14 each on March 14, aka 3/14.** The Pi Day deal is available in stores through the 7Rewards loyalty program in the 7-Eleven app or can be ordered on the retailers 7NOW delivery app for home on-demand delivery or order-ahead pickup. The one-day offer will be live in the two apps from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time Sunday, March 14. Even better, for every whole pizza purchased at participating stores on Pi Day, the convenience retailer will help provide a meal to Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country, helping the company reach its goal of providing approximately 20 million meals to people facing hunger, in addition to other initiatives, this spring. "A year into the pandemic, we reflect on the essential role 7-Eleven plays in its local communities. This year we wanted to do something more while celebrating Pi Day by helping provide one meal for every pizza purchased," said 7-Eleven Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Marissa Jarratt. "Many families and individuals are facing hunger for the first time in their lives. As a food destination, we can be part of the solution." 7-Eleven pizzas are made with signature sauce made from vine-ripened, California tomatoes and are piled high with 100% Real Mozzarella made from whole milk. Available ready to eat or ready to bake, the discounted pizzas are limited to two per person, in-store or delivered. Hungry pizza-lovers can complement any cheese, pepperoni or extreme meat "pi" with a fruit cup, salad, snack, Big Gulp, Slurpee drink or alcoholic beverage (for customers 21 years and older in participating markets). National Pi Day is the informal math holiday celebrated each year on 3/14. Pi measures the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The first three digits of the mathematical constant with infinite decimal points are 3.14. The decimal points may continue to infinity, but the Pi Day pizza deal at participating 7-Eleven stores does not, so customers who love pizza and want an easy way to give back should mark their calendars. The one-day offer will be live in the two apps from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time Sunday, March 14. Story continues "This is the third year 7-Eleven has offered $3.14 pizzas on Pi Day, and thousands of pizza-lovers enthusiastically celebrate the math holiday with us each year," said 7-Eleven Senior Vice President of Digital Raghu Mahadevan. "Today, millions of households across the country can have their favorite products brought right to their doorstep via 7NOW with the iconic 24/7, 7-Eleven-style convenience on Pi Day and, really, every other day of the year." The 7NOW delivery app is available to download from Google Play, the App Store or visit 7NOW.com. 7NOW delivery is available 24/7 in approximately 1,300 cities. Real-time tracking lets customers know when to expect their 7NOW app orders. 7-Eleven customers can earn 7Rewards points on almost every purchase in-store to redeem for free stuff. To sign up and earn points, customers can download the 7-Eleven app from the App Store or Google Play, or visit 7Rewards.com. For a contactless checkout experience, customers can pay using 7-Eleven Wallet found in the 7-Eleven app.*** To use, load funds into a 7Rewards account with cash at the register, or in-app with a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or a prepaid 7-Eleven gift card, and simply scan the 7Rewards barcode upon checkout. * 7-Eleven, Inc. will help provide 1 meal to Feeding America for every whole pizza purchased at participating 7-Eleven locations on 3/14/21 (maximum 150,000 meals) to benefit member food banks. 1 pizza purchased helps provide 1 meal; $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of member food banks. See 7-eleven.com for more information. ** $3.14 Pizza offer valid on 3/14/21. Valid on any Large Pepperoni Pizza, Extreme Meat Pizza or Triple Cheese Pizza. Limit 2 per customer. Available while supplies last at participating U.S. 7-Eleven stores, excludes Hawaii. Offer not valid with any other coupon or discount. No cash value. Consumer pays applicable fees & sales taxes. COPIES OR REPRODUCTION BY ANY MEANS IS PROHIBITED AND SHALL VOID THE COUPON. 2021 7-Eleven, Inc. All rights reserved. ***7-Eleven Wallet is available at participating locations. To find out if Wallet is accepted at a 7-Eleven near you, tap on the map icon on the top right corner of your 7-Eleven app home screen and filter for "7-Eleven Wallet" stores. About 7-Eleven, Inc. Are you still reading this? Awesome. Most people stop when they get to the small print. But not you! You get to read the cool stuff. 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the convenience-retailing industry. They don't like to brag, but they invented convenience stores. For real. Google it. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 71,800 stores in 17 countries, including 12,000 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. Mmmmm, tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites at an outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards loyalty program with more than 40 million members, place an order in the 7NOW delivery app in over 1,300 cities, or rely on 7-Eleven for bill payment service, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards customer loyalty platform on the 7Eleven mobile app, or on social media at Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Also, they trademarked the word "Brainfreeze." No lie. Thanks for sticking with this. You're unstoppable. Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/7-eleven-pizza-deal-is-as-nice-as-pi-301240712.html SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc. KYODO NEWS - Mar 4, 2021 - 13:32 | 3/11 Fukushima, All, Feature, Japan A large photo on display at a memorial museum for the 2011 earthquake-tsunami disaster in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, shows a 10-year-old boy walking in front of a pile of rubble, his jaw clenched and a bottle of water in each hand. The picture of Kaito Matsumoto carrying water from a well at an evacuation center was one of the images shown around the world following the March 11 disaster that killed more than 15,000. Now aged 20, Matsumoto said he has received more than 300 letters of support from people across Japan who have seen the photo, including one from the late veteran actor Ken Takakura. Among others that offered support was 81-year-old Natsu Kamada, who saw an article on Matsumoto in a local newspaper in Hokkaido. Kamada initially sent Matsumoto and his family a box of potatoes and other vegetables that she had harvested six months after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck. Fast forward 10 years and Matsumoto -- who lives away from home while he studies at a vocational school in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture -- is still eating rice grown by Kamada. Matsumoto is studying to be a physical therapist and has two more years before he qualifies. He said the decision to follow that career path was made after he heard that many people with disabilities were unable to escape when the tsunami struck. "I'd like to return the favor by showing my best efforts," Matsumoto said, referring to the encouragement he has received. In 2015, Fumitoshi Kamino, his wife and three daughters began visiting areas in Japan that had been hit by natural disasters, so they could help serve food at evacuation centers. The Kaminos lost their home in the 2011 disaster, but a year later opened an eatery in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, in a building that is adorned with two reddish brown tiles found at the site of their former home. Kamino's daughters still get upset by words associated with the disaster such as "tsunami" and "3/11," but Kamino says he still asks them questions like "Where would you flee to from here?" in the hope that they always have a sense of danger and convey the lessons learned to others. Minori Sato, a 25-year-old physical therapist in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, asks herself almost every day what her elder brother would do if he were in her place. Takanori Sato, who was 20 years old at the time, had initially escaped to higher ground after the earthquake struck. But he returned to help some elderly people and was swept away by the tsunami. A shy teenager who tended to rely on her elder sibling, Minori Sato now helps people in need, just as her brother did. Related coverage: Japan firms send canned fish to poor kids in gratitude for 2011 aid Tsunami-hit Japan railway runs cars symbolizing Kuwait as gratitude for aid FEATURE: Car submerged by massive 2011 tsunami nurturing new lives Almost one in every four Alabamians does not have an internet connection and barely more than half of the state can get a high-speed online connection. Those statistics from the American Community Survey 2019 five-year estimates are perhaps a startling reminder that as prevalent as the internet may be in everyday life, there are whats described as digital gaps that leave Alabama near the bottom nationally in terms of being able to reach even the most basic of services. And the coronavirus pandemic has crystallized the relevance of the internet in seemingly everything. We used to think about the internet as being extra nice to have, said Angela Siefer, director of the Ohio-based National Digital Inclusion Alliance. And I think the pandemic has really put this spotlight on the fact that it is essential. Do I want to go to school? Better have the internet. Do you want a vaccine? Guess you better have the internet. You want your unemployment benefits? Youre going to need the internet. Its not a luxury the way it used to be if you want to survive. You need the internet. Related: Why are kids doing their homework in McDonalds parking lot? Siefer spoke this week as part of a weeklong series of webinars produced by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA). The annual forum this week is titled Alabama Online: Failure to Connect and will feature a keynote address Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey. Preceding Iveys speech, U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt and Terri Sewell will join former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones and others in how best to expand broadband access across the state. According to the American Consumer Survey, 23 percent of Alabamians do not have an internet connection though access may be available. Of homes with an internet connection, only 57 percent have access to high-speed or broadband internet. Only Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma have a lower percentage of broadband access. If you live in the right neighborhood or have the right job or in the right income bracket, you and most everyone you know have all the broadband capacity that you need, said Ryan Hankins, executive director of PARCA. Thats not true for everyone in our state. Internet access, though, goes beyond living in a remote area, Siefer said. Other obstacles include cost and outright rejection because of, Siefer said, a lack of digital literacy skills. Those of us who have it, its hard to think about what its like to not have it, she said. Aderholt has long been an advocate for increased broadband connection and building out infrastructure to support it. And he has compared the need to internet access today to the days when electricity became available to households a century ago. Abe Harper, president of Harper Technologies in Mobile, made a similar comparison this week on the PARCA webinar. It sounds like its being painted as a utility, he said. It sounds like its no longer optional. It sounds like something as critical and essential as water, power, some type of sanitation system. It doesnt sound like its optional any longer. Its an essential service, Siefer responded. And as an essential service it is up to government and our society to make sure everyone has access to that essential service. To that end, Siefer pointed to the $900 billion stimulus package signed into law by former President Donald Trump in December that included $3.2 billion for internet subsidies for low-income Americans. That was a landmark decision by Congress, Siefer said. Its the first time the federal government has said, yes, cost is a barrier, she said. The state legislature is also considering a bill by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, that would create the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority as part of a wide-ranging proposal that would include a broadband infrastructure package. The state gambling bill Marsh has separately proposed earmarks money for broadband expansion. The federal stimulus money is also a sort of confirmation that internet access has obstacles to overcome beyond simply making sure the technology is available to every household. There are homes, Siefer said, that have access to broadband internet but chose not to subscribe. The reason the research tells us folks dont subscribe, its expensive, she said. I have to feed my kids, so this is not going to happen. And why spend money on something that may be a source of endless frustration? If you dont have the digital literacy skills, its going to intimidate you and youre going to say, I dont need it, Siefer said, pointing in particular to senior citizens. All of us have gone through times where technology has frustrated us. Just throw this out the window. But you cant because you rely upon it every day. Barriers are cost of the internet, a device and then the digital literacy skills and tech support. Again, think of life during the pandemic. The internet is how children attended school and how to register for the vaccine. Its how people safely remained at home by shopping online for groceries and, well, most anything. And its how a significant number of people went to work each day by turning on their computers. We may be in full economic depression without ability to conduct business on internet, Harper said. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Endrit Geci Wins the 2021 partypoker MILLIONS Online $5,300 Main Event ($774,838) The 2021 partypoker MILLIONS Online $5,300 Main Event has crowned its winner. Start-of-the-day chip leader Endrit Geci took it down for $774,838 after having had agreed upon a heads-up deal with Francisco Correia. Runner-up Correia walked away $731,960 richer. Daniel Dvoress and partypoker sponsored pro Dzmitry Urbanovich finished in third and fourth place, respectively, while high roller Christian Rudolph ended up in sixth. The tournament attracted a total 1,084 entries to get to a prize pool of $5,420,000. Geci's previous biggest recorded cash on The Hendon Mob is a runner-up finish in last summer's online WSOP bracelet series ($223,978), while his biggest live score stands at ~$55K. Needless to say, this score dwarfs all his previous accomplishments and establishes the Brit's name with a bang. 2021 partypoker MILLIONS Online $5,300 Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Endrit Geci United Kingdom $774,838* 2 Francisco Correia Brazil $731,960* 3 Daniel Dvoress Canada $422,422 4 Dzmitry Urbanovich Poland $276,128 5 Hermogenes Gelonezi Brazil $189,320 6 Christian Rudolph Germany $146,300 7 Richard Mullen Canada $115,425 8 Martin Brinkmann United Kingdom $91,542 9 Jonathan Proudfoot United Kingdom $72,260 *reflects a heads-up deal Relive blow-by-blow coverage of the Main Event Final Table Action Jonathan Proudfoot came back for the final table with the second-shortest stack and saw his day end after a mere twenty minutes when he called the four-bet of Gelonezi with ace-queen suited. Gelonezi held pocket tens and even though Proudfoot picked up a gutshot to a straight on the turn, it didn't materialize on the river. Another twenty minutes later, Martin Brinkmann left the final table stage when he ran his queen-jack into the aces of Geci. Brinkman flopped a lot of outs when Geci had hit a set. The turn gave Geci a full house to leave Brinkmann with one out for a royal flush but he bricked the river to see him cash $91,542 after having qualified through a $530 satellite. Richard Mullen was another player who got his Main Event seat by qualifying in a $530 satellite and departed with queen-jack as well, unable to improve against Rudolph's ace-nine. Rudolph, however, subsequently lost all of it to Geci after bricking with ace-king against tens. partypoker Team Pro Dzmitry Urbanovich finished in 4th place ($276,128) With the elimination, Geci had a commanding chip lead with 45% of all the chips in play with five players left in the tournament. After Hermogenes Gelonezi ran pocket sevens into the eights of Dvoress. Dvoress made a sizable double through Geci with ace-queen versus ace-jack and the pair traded the chip lead back and forth during four-handed action. Urbanovich saw his bid to take the title home for his sponsor come to an end in fourth place after Dvoress flopped a set with pocket queens to leave his ace-queen drawing all but dead on the flop. Correia then doubled through both Geci and Dvoress to leave the latter short-stacked and dealt the final blow minutes later with a straight-over-straight to send the Canadian star out in third. It took two attempts for Correia and Geci to settle on a deal, but once agreed both players took home over $700k, leaving $50,000 in the middle to play for. After Correia had dwindled down to the short stack, he lost his final nine big blinds in a limped pot. Correia check-called the min-bet of Geci on the trey-ace-six-ten board. The river was a king and Correia check-tank-called the shove of Geci with ten-deuce but Geci held ace-king for top two for the pot, the win, the title, and the extra $50,000. Another major cash for Daniel Dvoress ($422,422), who finished 3rd This concludes the PokerNews coverage of this event. Keep checking back every Sunday, as we'll deliver weekly updates from all partypoker Sunday action in a dedicated blog. Until then! ALBANY Former President Donald Trump may have saved Gov. Andrew Cuomo from having to spend millions of dollars in his $193 billion state budget plan. But not everyone is happy about it. Cuomo's state budget office said Wednesday that the governor did not include a $3 million proposal to do a comprehensive study and mapping of the availability of high speed internet in New York because Trump had agreed to spend $65 million to upgrade the federal government's own broadband maps. Cuomo killed a bill earlier this year that had been passed by the state Legislature last summer to create a detailed map of the availability of high-speed, or broadband, internet service across the state. The bill was called the Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act. Cuomo is one of the biggest proponents in the country of expanding high-speed internet to rural areas with his $500 million New NY Broadband Program launched in 2015 to provide subsidies to cable TV, phone and satellite companies to build out internet infrastructure in hard-to-reach places. Cuomo's current budget proposal would force internet providers in New York to provide a $15-a-month plan to low-income households. The governor and his staff repeatedly say the broadband gap has effectively been closed, with less than two percent of the state lacking high-speed internet today, down from 30 percent when the program was launched. "The governor has invested $500 million in expanding the availability of broadband and is advancing legislation this year to drastically increase its affordability," Freeman Klopott, a spokesman for Cuomo's budget office told the Times Union. "Meanwhile, the new (Federal Communications Commission) chair has said accurate mapping is a top priority, and Congress has already provided the FCC with $65 million to support it, making any state effort in the short-term redundant. Trump signed the bill that approved the FCC broadband mapping funding before he left office. But consumer groups and political leaders that supported the Legislature's bill say that suggestions that 98 percent of New Yorkers have access to high-speed internet is dubious and that a detailed study is required to ensure the state is spending its broadband funding wisely, despite the FCC's plans to update its broadband maps, which are widely considered to be inaccurate and overly simplified. "It's outdated, and it doesn't work," Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, told the Times Union Wednesday, stressing his disappointment that Cuomo's office had promised to include the $3 million broadband mapping funding in his budget proposal but didn't. "This needs to be in the budget." Santabarbara says he is distraught that students in his district can't participate in remote learning during the pandemic because they can't get adequate internet connections, and businesses have been forced to close due to pandemic regulations issued by Cuomo since they can't sell online. He suggests Cuomo's political advisers don't want accurate mapping done because it may show that broadband accessibility is much lower than 98 percent. "It's insulting," Santabarbara said. "These rural communities have suffered long enough." Eric Gertler, who effectively leads Cuomo's broadband efforts as CEO of Empire State Development, the governor's economic development office, said at a budget hearing last month that the 98 percent coverage rate is accurate. "We have everything verified by third-party providers," Gertler said. If there is a deal between the US and Iran, it will be a new deal. Circumstances in the Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean have moved on since the agreement five years ago between the US and other world powers and Iran on how to deal with the latters nuclear programme. Today, the two countries are assessing the potential of a new and larger agreement primarily about security arrangements in the Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean. But as much as there are factors opposing such a grand deal, there are also ones favouring it. FACTORS IN FAVOUR There are five main factors in favour of a new deal between the US and Iran. One: The US Biden administration recognises that the US has entered a grand strategic struggle with China. Because of this, it needs to put in place arrangements favourable to the US in the regions it considers to be its spheres of interest. It also wants to deny China the ability to entrench a serious presence in regions it is not already in. And the Gulf fits these two criteria. The Gulf has been an American sphere of influence for over seven decades, and it is the only region from the East China Sea to East Africa where China has not yet managed to establish a strong industrial or maritime presence that could be transformed into a military one. In addition, the Gulf has become one of Chinas main sources of energy. Continued American supremacy there cemented through an agreement with Iran would add to US leverage over China. Two: The Biden administration recognises that Iran has been the most strategically successful country in this part of the world over the past 15 years. It has established strong, and in some cases decisive, influence in a number of Arab countries. It has managed through allies and proxies to arrive at a balance of deterrence with Israel. And it has established a political and military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, an age-old Iranian objective. These successes not only give Iran weight, but they have also empowered it to challenge US interests in the Gulf and the Levant. Three: For over a decade there has been the view inside the American Democratic Party that the US needs to change its alliances in the Gulf. According to this view, whereas Iran has repeatedly proven its success, traditional allies of the US have not. Some voices in the Democratic Party go as far as to cast doubts on the future prospects of several Gulf states. And so, in this view, there is a need to rebalance US positioning in the region. Four: Iran wants a grand deal with the US for tactical as well as strategic reasons. The tactical reason is that the sanctions the former US Trump administration imposed on Iran have exacted serious pain on the Iranian economy and society, as well as on the capabilities of Irans allies and proxies in the region. Whereas this pain is far from being fatal, Iran needs this difficult situation to end. The Iranian strategic reasons are even more compelling. Iran wants to entrench the expansion it has successfully pursued over the past 15 years, and it knows that only the US can strip it of those gains. Iran has been fighting to expand and to secure its gains, but a deal with the US could save it enormous resources and energy. Iran also sees troubles brewing at home. Over the past decade, Iran has witnessed two large waves of demonstrations against the regime. Repression has worked, but as the regimes economic resources dwindle as oil becomes less valuable in global markets Iran needs to lessen the costs of sustaining its foreign presence. In addition, there are also Iranian assessments that its presence in a number of countries in the region does not necessarily fly in the face of US interests. This view is clear in important Iranian circles, and not only in the traditionally West-looking Iranian diplomatic service. Five: Chemistry there are personal connections and prior acquaintances between members of the Biden administration and Iranian policy-makers that have left good impressions. And despite all the talk about strategic considerations, in politics, as in everything else in life, personal chemistry is important. It is interesting to note that a number of current senior US policy-makers have long-held views about civilisational characteristics and their geographical footprints and lasting social impacts. There is a not-so-hidden admiration for the indeed marvelous Iranian civilisation as a result. This point might appear superfluous, but it is not, as Iran has always craved respect from others and not so much from its neighbours, most of which it has condescending views towards, but from the West. Such soft factors might pave the way towards a grand deal. FACTORS AGAINST However, there are also factors opposing a new deal between the US and Iran. One: There are clashing mindsets between the US empire and Iran as a regional expansionist power. Irrespective of the conciliatory rhetoric that often characterises Democratic administrations, the US continues to see the Middle East through imperialist eyes. Iran, on the other hand, thinks that its successes over the past decade have given it the right to some sort of reciprocity. This clash of mindsets transcends other attitudes and goes to the heart of each sides view of Irans position in the region. Two: There is a clash concerning limits. Irrespective of Irans view that its presence in different countries in the region is not necessarily against US strategic objectives, the US will not accept that Iran, directly or through its allies and proxies, continues to pose a serious threat to Israel. This will present Iran with a difficult dilemma, because the ability to threaten Israel has been one of Irans prized achievements in the past 15 years. Three: Another factor makes Irans calculations even more complicated. While Iran wants a deal with the US, it also wants continued cooperation with Russia and flexible and friendly relationships with China. However, it understands that the US incentive for having a deal stems from a desire to sort out security arrangements in the region that are favourable to the US in its strategic confrontation with China. A deal with the US would make it difficult for Iran to navigate this foggy landscape of dealings with the major powers. Four: Negotiations concerning Irans nuclear programme are now more complicated than they were five years ago. This is because Iran, after its experience with the Trump administration, will not accept short-term sacrifices and long delays to its capabilities without significant short-term benefits and strict guarantees. Even if some in the Biden administration are inclined to offer such benefits and guarantees, the administration as a whole will find it difficult to sell those internally in Congress and to the US media. Five: There are powerful lobbies in Washington working against any grand US-Iran deal. Although the Biden administration is still in its early months, any US administration and the party behind it are always cognisant of electoral costs. The dynamics between the factors favouring and those opposing a deal between the US and Iran are complicated. But observers of the region must think carefully about them, for these dynamics will determine the most important development in the regions politics in the medium term. *The writer is the author of Islamisim: A History of Political Islam (2017) and Egypt on the Brink (2010). *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Egypt signed an agreement on Wednesday with the multinational conglomerate Samsung Group to localise the production of tablet devices required for the Egyptian educational process. Egypt relies on tablets as part of its modern educational methods for school students in various grades. Students use tablets in classes and during exams. Samsung has been a major provider for tablets to Egypt, especially the Samsung T585 model, for educational purposes. The step comes in coordination with the Egyptian Ministry of Education. The Wednesday agreement with Samsung stipulates the establishment of a factory in Beni Suef governorate with total investments of $30 million to contribute to Egypts localisation plans, cabinet spokesman Nader Saad said. Under the agreement, the Beni Suef factory will manufacture the T505N of 2020 to replace the T585 tablets handed to the students. Production lines in the factory will release tablets with the seal Made in Egypt starting 2022, Saad said. According to the agreement, the factory will produce newer tablet models with better specifications every two years. Samsung will commit to providing technical support and maintenance services for tablet owners through more than 45 maintenance centres nationwide, Saad noted. The new factory will contribute to providing 500 job opportunities, 1,000 training opportunities for students in the factory and other Samsung centres nationwide, Saad said. Short link: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Over the next month, 209 U.S. counties in the United States will need to implement crisis workforce strategies to deal with potentially dangerous shortfalls of intensive care unit doctors, according to a new analysis published today. The analysis draws on data from a just launched county-level hospital workforce estimator, one that takes into account the strain on staffing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The shortages could occur just as public health officials warn that variants of the coronavirus are spreading in the United States and could trigger a sharp rise in the number of Americans infected," Clese Erikson, the principal investigator on the project and deputy director of the Health Equity Workforce Research Center at the George Washington University, said. "Our new online estimator will help county and local public health officials project shortages in the near future and take steps to help keep staffing at safe levels." The analysis shows that ICU doctors in those 209 counties will be taking care of more than 24 severely ill patients at one time. Typically, an ICU doctor will care for half that number of patients or less at the same timeand, at 24 or higher, hospitals will have to quickly organize and train non-ICU providers to step in and help provide care. Erikson and her team are part of the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, which is based at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. To develop the new toolthe first to look at hospital workforce strain at the county levelthey collaborated with Premier Inc., a healthcare improvement company, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and IQVIA, a healthcare data and analytics organization. "This new ability to drill down to the county level is important for local leaders," Erikson said. A previous Mullan Institute tool estimated the hospital workforce shortages at the state level. An analysis using data from the County Hospital Workforce Estimator estimates that 7% of all U.S. counties will experience significant strains in their hospital workforce due to longstanding patterns of maldistribution and the added strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the analysis suggests that 12 U.S. counties will need to put in place contingency strategies within the next month in order to cope with a surge in severely ill patients, including those with new variants of COVID-19. Local leaders can use the tool to assess the need for additional public health measures, such as social distancing guidelines. Research shows that if 95% of the population wears a mask, future cases of COVID-19 are prevented and that can help avoid a crisis in the local hospital. "The work of public health and health care are complementary. Even as vaccination programs scale-up, traditional public health measures are critical to reducing suffering and ensuring our healthcare infrastructure is not overwhelmed," Lori Freeman, chief executive officer of NACCHO, said. "This tool can help localities better understand the strain faced by the hospital workforce and adjust public health recommendations accordingly." Past media reports have largely focused on the dangers of a surge in COVID-19 cases and a shortfall in ICU beds. However, workforce shortages can be a much more difficult problem to solve. Hospitals can create a new COVID-19 unit by taking over an underused floor or wing, but they have more difficulty finding trained doctors and others to fill in when health care workers get sick or must quarantine. "Premier has been scaling up our predictive analytics capabilities throughout the pandemic to help healthcare providers predict COVID-19 cases, supply resources, and now, workforce levels so they can ensure safe patient care," Angela Lanning, informatics and technology services chief operating officer at Premier, said. "Our models are fueled by data from more than 4,000 hospitals and health systems across the U.S., and we're thrilled to contribute to tools like this that enable business intelligence that's immediately actionable and meaningful in the healthcare setting." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak A Gallup Reports survey revealed the generally high level of satisfaction among Americans in 2019, right before the coronavirus pandemic hit, allowing the Left to take advantage of the situation. A lookback at a report by Gallup published in February 2020, just right before the coronavirus pandemic struck the country, revealed that Americans' satisfaction with their personal lives hit the highest in 40 years, with two out of three Americans believing they are "very satisfied." The report revealed that 90% of Americans were happy and "satisfied with the way things are going in their personal life," seven points higher than the 88% recorded in 2003. Gallup's Mood of the Nation poll, which was conducted in January 2020, also revealed a 20-year high in Americans' confidence in the U.S. economy. Interestingly, the report took into consideration household income, political party affiliation, and marital status to determine how Americans were happy at the time. According to the poll, "95% of Americans who live in high-income households, who identify as Republicans and who are married say they are satisfied with their personal life," with 75% among each of these groups admitting to be "very satisfied." According to LifeSite News, this all-time-high satisfaction rate can be alluded to former President Donald Trump's presidency, which helped usher the country into a new era, away from an eight-year era under the Obama and Biden-led administration. However, mainstream media would not heavily report on the accomplishments of the Trump administration. Trump was victim to the MSM's "mudslinging" and false reporting, LifeSite noted. Despite that, Americans were happy during Trump's first term because he was able to strengthen national security and not just by building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. According to Politico, former President Trump's National Defense Strategy was in fact "one of the most important defense policy shifts of the last generation, reorienting the American military to confront rising and increasingly aggressive powers Russia and China." Former President Trump shifted the military's focus from battling it out in the Middle East to anticipate "long-term strategic competition" with Russia and China and ensure that the military training, technology, and geography are all up to speed to anticipate conflict. Safety is indeed a primary concern for the average American citizen and the president was able to bolster security on a national level. However, security came into question when the coronavirus pandemic broke out and the left-wing leaders took this advantage to create highly restrictive mandates and regulations that barred communities from gathering and prevented people of faith from participating in fellowship. Instead of encouraging unity to go back to a time when Americans were happy, the left decided to weaponize the pandemic. Much to the Democrats' dismay, the decision of former President Trump to realign national security to focus on communist China was a vital move in keeping the country safe. The coronavirus originated from China and to this date, details about the actual origins of the deadly virus remain hidden from the global public. The Gallup report highlighted another interesting fact that was drawn from the data: while the happiness and satisfaction came as confidence in the U.S. economy and their personal finances soared, a group of individuals expressed their dissatisfaction. Lower-income Americans, Democrats and those who are unmarried were the ones who expressed the most dissatisfaction. Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia lashed out at the Congress party for casting aspersions over the novel coronavirus vaccine. He highlighted that the ICMR, the Health Ministry and scientists under the leadership of PM Modi developed two vaccines within a year's time. Accusing Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi of perpetuating the politics of "lies, deception and anarchy", he called upon them to render an explanation in the wake of PM Modi taking COVAXIN. Hailing the Centre for ensuring priority vaccination of the COVID warriors, he alleged that the Gandhi family would have got vaccinated first if there was a Congress government. Revealing that more than 10 lakh doses of COVAXIN have been administered so far, he questioned the opposition on why it still had a problem with the COVID-19 vaccination. It is pertinent to note that Congress had linked the PM's inoculation to the election campaign in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal. A day earlier, Bharat Biotech announced that COVAXIN showed 81% interim efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection after the second dose during the Phase 3 clinical trial. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia remarked, "Initially, the same people questioned why the PM is not taking the vaccine. After the PM took the vaccine, the confusion spread by these people over the efficacy of the vaccine has come to an end. Despite this, the opposition parties are not happy." Read: Kushboo Receives COVID-19 Vaccine, Has Message For Those Who'd Say She 'jumped The Lane' Shri @gauravbh addresses a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. https://t.co/3LVl96g6P5 BJP (@BJP4India) March 4, 2021 2nd COVID-19 vaccination phase commences On January 3, the Drugs Controller General of India accepted the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, paving way for the approval of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN. Manufactured by the Serum Institute of India with technology transfer from Oxford University-AstraZeneca, COVISHIELD is a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine with its overall efficacy of 70.42 percent. On the other hand, COVAXIN is a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and NIV. Countering the charge that COVAXIN was approved hastily, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has made it clear that all the recipients of this vaccine will be tracked and monitored as if they are in clinical trial mode. On January 16, PM Modi launched the pan-India rollout of the novel coronavirus vaccination drive via video conferencing whereby the healthcare and frontline workers would get vaccinated in the first phase. Marking the commencement of the second phase of the inoculation drive on Monday, the PM was administered the first dose of COVAXIN by Puducherry nurse V Niveda while nurse Rosamma Anil hailing from Kerala was present on this occasion. He will be given the second dose 28 days later. All persons aged above 60 and those above 45 with comorbidities are eligible to get themselves vaccinated by registering on the Co-Win portal. So far, 1,59,85,802 beneficiaries have been inoculated out of which 29,82,416 persons have been administered the second dose of the vaccine too. Read: 'Coronavirus May Never Go Away': WHO Shares Update On COVID-19 Pandemic Instead, the group of oil producers opted for caution, and their decision in favor of supply restraint quickly sent crude oil prices even higher. The U.S. contract, which had plunged below zero last year as the pandemic restrictions on businesses devastated demand for energy, jumped about 5% on the day to over $64 a barrel. World Health organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meeting, delayed last year, could be the venue to push a global vape ban in November MANILA, Philippines, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of vapers across Asia could feel forced to return to smoking if a proposal from the World Health Organization (WHO) way on e-cigarettes and other smokeless products is passed by lawmakers. A new report published by WHO's tobacco regulatory committee recommends nearly all vapes be banned, especially so-called 'open' systems. Not regulated - but banned . It also demands the same restrictions on cigarettes be applied to other emerging products, presumably so smokers can never know about them. In the open system, which is the preferred way of vaping for many people across Asia, the consumer manually refills the liquid to be vaporized. According to the WHO, this system allows for the addition of substances which could make the product more harmful. "The latest recommendation from WHO defies all logic," said Nancy Loucas, the Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA. "If countries adopt the recommendation to ban open-system vapes, years of hard work by ex-smokers as well as good public policy will be rendered meaningless." "Let there be no doubt: vapers will then go back to cigarettes, which is the worst possible outcome." "Banning any product is not the answer, nor is applying blanket cigarette rules to all emerging products. Bans encourage the black market. Bans do not allow for proper consumer protection," Loucas said. CAPHRA is calling on governments to adopt evidence-based, common sense regulations for all vaping products. "Just last week, the UK's leading health agency, Public Health England (PHE), concluded that nicotine vaping products were the most popular aid used by smokers trying to quit," Loucas said. "On the one hand, you have a local public health agency looking into the evidence and ways in which smokers can be encouraged to quit smoking and vape, and on the other you have a global agency stuck in their old ways of believing prohibition is the answer to everything." "WHO's attitude to e-cigarettes has been devastating for millions and millions of smokers and vapers alike all around the world," Loucas said. CAPHRA said it's only through regulating products can vapers remain protected, encouraged to stop smoking, and as a result, achieve good public health outcomes. About CAPHRA The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates (CAPHRA) is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organizations. Its mission is to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use products that reduce harm from tobacco use. For more inquiries, please contact: Jena F. Fetalino JFPRC [email protected] www.jfprc.com Related Images caphra-coalition-of-asia-pacific.png CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates) CAPHRA is calling on governments to adopt evidence-based, common-sense regulations for all vaping products. nancy-loucas-caphra-executive.jpg Nancy Loucas - CAPHRA Executive Director According to Loucas, the latest recommendation from WHO defies all logic. SOURCE CAPHRA After the first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine arrived in Louisiana, the state Health Department on Wednesday released a list of mass vaccination sites. The Health Department said the single-dose vaccine, more durable than the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna versions, will be convenient for many people. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Saturday approved the vaccine for emergency use. Mass vaccination site opens at Convention Center: Here's what to know, how to sign up The mass vaccination site at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will begin administering shots on Wednesday, adding another avenue for are The Health Department said it allocated the first shipment to Louisiana's nine public health regions based on population, but it provided information on only six of them. It said it will add dates as more vaccines become available. Here are the initial dates and locations for mass vaccinations: NEW ORLEANS, METAIRIE DAYS, TIME, TYPE LOCATION / ADDRESS REGISTRATION WEEKLY DOSES Thursday-Tuesday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Walk up Ernest N. Morial Convention Center: Hall J 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans https://www.lcmchealth.org/vaccine/ 2,700 Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Drive-thru Alario Center 2000 Segnette Blvd, Westwego Call: 504-518-4020 https://covidvaccinations.jeffparish.net/ 1,440 Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Shrine on Airline 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie Call: 844-888-2772 myochsner.org 2,700 ACADIANA DAYS, TIME, TYPE LOCATION / ADDRESS REGISTRATION WEEKLY DOSES Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Walk-up Robicheaux Recreation Center 1919 Eraste Landry Road, Lafayette Full 750 Monday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Drive-thru SugArena 713 NW Bypass Highway, New Iberia Call (337) 374-7420 or email covid19@iberiamedicalcenter.com 750 Tuesday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Walk-thru, walk-up, drive-thru Rayne Civic Center 210 Frog Festival Drive, Rayne OPH4.timetap.com 750 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 LAKE CHARLES DAYS, TIME, TYPE LOCATION / ADDRESS REGISTRATION WEEKLY DOSES Thursday-Wednesday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Drive-thru Lake Charles Civic Center 900 Lakeshore Drive https://laredcap.oph.dhh.la.gov/surveys/?s=Y34M3X4TPN 1,200 BOSSIER CITY DAY, TIME, TYPE LOCATION / ADDRESS REGISTRATION WEEKLY DOSES Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Drive-thru Brookshire Grocery Event Center 2000 CenturyLink Center Drive https://redcap.lsuhscs.edu/surveys 4,300 MONROE DAY, TIME, TYPE LOCATION / ADDRESS REGISTRATION WEEKLY DOSES March 16 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monroe Civic Center 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway Not available 750 NORTH SHORE DAYS, TIME, TYPE LOCATION / ADDRESS REGISTRATION WEEKLY DOSES Thursday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Walk-up St. Tammany Physicians Network 1520 Louisiana 22, Madisonville Call (985) 898-4001 1,000 Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Walk-up Ochsner Medical Center 105 Medical Center Drive, Slidell Through MyChart app or call (844) 888-2772 1,000 Monday-Tuesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Walk-up St. Tammany Physicians Network 201 St. Ann Drive, Suite B, Mandeville Call (985) 898-4001 1,000 3/11/21 - 3/12/21 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Walk-up North Oaks Hospital main campus 15790 Paul Vega MD Drive, Hammond Through MyChart app or call (844) 888-2772 1,200 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. (@ChaudhryMAli88) AL AIN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Mar, 2021) As part of its ongoing efforts to increase awareness about conserving wildlife, Al Ain Zoo celebrated World Wildlife Day. Since its inception, the Zoo has made continued efforts to conserve nature and wildlife becoming a sanctuary for more than 4000 animals. Over recent decades, Al Ain Zoo has become one of the leading institutions when it comes to breeding threatened species, utilising its expertise in bringing the count of Arabian Oryx up to 180. Al Ain Zoo was also successful in breeding and conserving Arabian Sand Cat, increasing their number to 38. Other work includes routine studies into the numerous species of threatened migrating birds arriving in the UAE and butterflies in the wild, in order to assess their count and improve the environment. In total, 14 species of wild butterflies have been recorded so far. It has also taken part in setting strategies and plans to the Dama Gazelle Conservation Strategy 2019-2028, in partnership with several local, regional and international organisations in order to reduce its extinction risk. The Dama Gazelle is listed as a critically endangered species on IUCN, and Al Ain Zoo is home to around 80, which belong to the mhorr gazelle and addra gazelle subspecies. The Zoo also succeeded in breeding one of the most threatened plants locally. The Ghadhaf grows slowly, taking several months to sprout. Al Ain Zoo works to propagate these types of native plants, along with several others, in order to preserve them from extinction. Al Ain Zoo does not limit its efforts to research and specialised elements only, it supports the community by educating the public on several topics by organising a series of activations throughout the year, including camping, hosting events and media appearances. In addition, many academic and educational publications highlight the importance of conserving threatened animals and plants to maintain biodiversity and conserve nature. BANGALORE, India, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Same Day Delivery Market is Segmented by Type (B2B, B2C, Others), and Application (Food, Consumer, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2026. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the Mail & Package Delivery Category. The global Same Day Delivery market size is projected to reach USD 132380 Million by 2026, from USD 7546.6 million in 2019, at a CAGR of 50.0% during 2021-2026. Major factors driving Same Day Delivery Market size are the increasing demand for e-commerce and growth in prevalence for the utilization of smartphones across the world, and awareness of the Internet of Things. The Same Day Delivery Market report offers a comprehensive overview of the industry leaders and provides information on the expertise and capabilities of these businesses. The study also covers details of the industry's competitive environment and provides information on the products provided by different businesses. Request a Sample Copy of the Report For COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Same Day Delivery Market : https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-18U764/Global_Same_day_Delivery_Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE SAME DAY DELIVERY MARKET SIZE The same-day delivery market size is expected to increase drastically due to increased online purchases, combined with the growth in the e-commerce businesses. Same day delivery service integrates the convenience of online retail shopping with the immediacy of physical retail stores. Ease of ordering through online platforms and reduced shipping time drives the Same Day Delivery Market size. Also, the ongoing replacement of online sales through e-commerce platforms for stationary retail sales has led to a substantial increase in B2C shipments. Thus, the increase in shipments, coupled with customer demand for faster delivery services, is expected to fuel the same day delivery market size. It is anticipated that the need for complex distribution infrastructure, combined with the high initial investment, would curb the growth of same day delivery market size. To prevent late deliveries, businesses operating in the same day delivery industry need to concentrate on building effective delivery infrastructure. In addition, to provide consumers with distribution facilities, the big e-commerce platforms are setting up their own logistics operations. View Report Details Before Purchasing: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-18U764/global-same-day-delivery COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERY MARKET SIZE E-commerce is facing new obstacles in customer behavior and broad supply chain problems due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which is expected to take a very long time to get resolved. This time of isolation and confusion shifts consumers ' purchasing habits overnight as customers move from bulk-buying to online shopping, where individuals change what they purchase, where, and how. Many governments worldwide demand that e-commerce businesses only fulfill orders for vital items, such as groceries, which are likely to impact the industry's profitability. SAME DAY DELIVERY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS The B2B segment is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. The B2B segment caters to end-use customers, such as manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers. Business development is positively influenced by the advent of online B2B e-commerce platforms. Moreover, due to the heavyweight of the packages, the market share of the B2B category is higher, resulting in high shipping costs for the packages. The Asia Pacific dominates the same day delivery market share due to an increasing number of e-commerce companies, along with the rising number of online shoppers. The rise in rapid urbanization, internet penetration, and smartphone adoption has led to this region dominating over the market share. North America is expected to see substantial growth over the forecast period because of the presence of significant players, like FedEx, A1 Express Services Inc., and United Parcel Service of America, Inc., in the region. Inquire for Regional Report : https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-18U764/Global_Same_day_Delivery_Market TOP COMPANIES IN THE SAME DAY DELIVERY MARKET Due to the involvement of well-established firms operating internationally, the industry is consolidated. In order to hold a competitive place in the industry, businesses rely predominantly on mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures or partnerships. In addition, by following different growth strategies, the market players concentrate on improving their market presence. These tactics help companies globally broaden their market and reinforce their products in specific regions. The top companies in the same day delivery market are : A-1 Express DHL FedEx TForce Final Mile UPS USA Couriers Couriers American Expediting Aramex Deliv Express Courier LaserShip Parcelforce Worldwide NAPAREX Power Link Delivery Prestige Delivery CitySprint Others "We can also add the other companies as you want" Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-18U764&lic=single-user Buy Now for Enterprise License + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-18U764&lic=enterprise-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS : - This report focuses on the global Package Delivery status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market, and key players. The study objectives are to present the Package Delivery development in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, and Central & South America. - The global Automated Parcel Delivery Terminals market size is projected to reach USD 1743.9 Million by 2027, from USD 1045.6 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period 2022-2027. - The Last-Mile Delivery market size is projected to reach USD 66000 Million by 2026, from USD 39570 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.9% during 2021-2026. - In 2019, the First and Last Mile Delivery market size was USD 335.3 Million, and it is expected to reach USD 592.4 Million by the end of 2026, with a CAGR of 8.4% during 2021-2026. - Autonomous last-mile delivery market size is expected to be valued at USD 11.90 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 84.72 Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 24.4% during the forecast period. - Drone Logistics and Transportation market size is projected to reach USD 10990 million by 2026, from USD 5308.5 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 10.8% during 2021-2026. - Parcel Delivery Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( B2B, B2C, other), By Application (Online trading, Offline trading) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast. - The global Last Mile Delivery for E-commerce market size is projected to reach USD 7046.1 Million by 2026, from USD 4043.1 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 9.7% during 2021-2026. - Contactless Parcel Delivery System Industry Research Report Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( One-side, Double-side), By Application (Residential Area, School Area, Office Area, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast. To see the full list of related reports on the Transportation & Logistics ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains detail research methodology employed to generate the report, Please also reach to our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call +1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports SOURCE Valuates Reports RTHK: Italy blocks export of AstraZeneca jabs to Australia Italy has blocked a shipment to Australia of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine in the first such export ban under an EU vaccine monitoring scheme, an EU source said on Thursday. Rome's order blocking the dispatch of 250,000 doses was accepted by the European Commission, which has fiercely criticised the Anglo-Swedish company this year for supplying just a fraction of the vaccine doses it had promised to deliver to the bloc. The doses came from a plant in Italy operated by AstraZeneca to produce some of its vaccine, one of three authorised for use in the EU alongside the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna versions. The Italian government declined to comment on the export block, as did the European Commission. Under the commission's "transparency and authorisation mechanism" EU member states vet planned exports out of the bloc of authorised Covid-19 vaccines. The scheme started on January 30 and is to run until at least the end of March. That period corresponds to a sharp shortfall in the first three months of this year of deliveries the EU had been counting on to kickstart its vaccine roll-out. Most the shortfall is because AstraZeneca has pledged "best reasonable efforts" to deliver around 100 million doses in that time, but is now on track to supply just 40 percent of that. At the same time, the UK-based company is fully supplying former EU member Britain with doses for its world-leading vaccination programme. Australia started its inoculation rollout last week using the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. It is scheduled to start jabs with the AstraZeneca vaccine from Friday. The World Health Organisation in January said the EU export vetting scheme is part of a "very worrying trend" that could jeopardise global supply chains for vaccines. The EU is one of the world's vaccine-producing powerhouses. Under the EU scheme, a company wanting to export doses out of the bloc needs to apply to the member state government to do so. That government then notifies the commission, which looks to see if the company is respecting its contracts, including with the EU, and if any production shortages are equally spread out between the EU and the export destination. The member state can authorise or refuse the export in line with the commission's opinion. A European official said the ban proposed by Rome was "approved by the European Commission," which offered no objection. The Italian foreign ministry issued the export denial "the same day" that the commission said it agreed with the measure, the official said. The commission and Italy's government have come in for sharp criticism by Italians for a slow vaccination rollout, which started in December but has been held up by a lack of doses. So far, 1.5 million adults, mainly the elderly and health workers, have been fully vaccinated in the country of 60 million. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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. Google Maps has now started providing travel time adjustments that take railroad crossings into account. Thats based on a recent report stemming from a Reddit post by user AutoEvolution. As might be expected, the change is relatively subtle. So it wont necessarily be making an appearance for every Maps user. But, where it does appear, it appears as a banner-style pop-up during navigation. And more specifically when they approach a railroad crossing. In the image shared by the Redditor, the banner header reads Expect Delays, next to a railroad crossing icon. The message embedded next to that simply reads Railroad crossing. Advertisement Why wont Railroad Crossings alerts appear for every Google Maps user? Now, the reason most users wont likely see the message is it appears contingent on what users are doing. It is not to say that it wont work for every user. But users do need to be navigating and their route needs to cross a railroad. And beyond that, this appears to be part of an ongoing slow rollout. Potentially over several recent updates and future ones. So it may not be available everywhere, even for those who meet the criteria. Conversely, Google itself hasnt announced the change just yet either. At least not in an official capacity. The company likely wont provide a presser or announcement until it is ready to roll the change out more widely. Google Maps isnt the first to get this feature Google also rolled out this feature in its other mapping application, namely Waze, last year. So the Maps variant likely builds on details gathered since that apps launch. Advertisement That data also probably feeds back into exactly how the railroad crossings banner UI works in Google Maps. The full extent of that wont likely be known until Google makes an official announcement. But, for now, it isnt immediately apparent whether the railroad crossings need to be in use by a train or not for the alert to appear. Google may also be relying on data about how often a given railroad crossing is active. Or it may simply place the alert on any and all railroad crossings that arent out of service. The decision by loyalist paramilitary groups to withdraw their support for the Good Friday Agreement until the Irish Sea border is removed demonstrates that unionist support for the 1998 peace accord is "diminishing rapidly", a senior DUP MP has said. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was speaking after the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) claimed that the basis on which the paramilitaries committed to end violence in 1994 had been undermined. Read More The two-page letter from LCC chairman David Campbell calls on the Prime Minister to trigger Article 16. Meanwhile Irelands EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness has said there are voices in Northern Ireland who dont want a protocol, they want trouble. And Ireland's foreign affairs minister has said the EU is negotiating with a partner it "simply cannot trust" after the UK's latest Brexit move. Simon Coveney described the UK's Government's unilateral decision to continue Irish Sea border grace periods until October as "very frustrating". The EU has angrily objected to the move and threatened to resort to legal action over what it said was the second time the UK had sought to breach international law in relation to the special arrangements put in place for Northern Ireland. Read More Arlene Foster, Michelle O'Neill, European Commission vice-president Maros Sefkovic and the US consul-general are copied into the LCC's correspondence to Boris Johnson. Mr Campbell said that he had been "instructed to write in similar terms to the Irish Taoiseach". He told the Prime Minister the protocol "gives effect to the Irish nationalist position at the expense of the unionist position". "This renders it in variance with the Agreement it purports to uphold and undermines the basis on which the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) agreed their 1994 ceasefire and subsequent support for the Belfast Agreement." He added: "If the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the Agreement then it will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the Agreement." Mr Campbell rounded on EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier for "repeatedly (refusing) to meet with our representatives, who were signatories to the Belfast Agreement, even though we pointed out the one-sided and disingenuous representations being made to him from republicans and the Irish Government". He was also scathing of Mr Coveney, who did meet the LCC but "chose to ignore" its views. Expand Close LCCs David Campbell / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp LCCs David Campbell Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Sir Jeffrey Donldson said unionist confidence and support for the Good Friday Agreement "is diminishing rapidly". The Lagan Valley MP said: "People have lost confidence because they believe that no one is listening to the concerns of unionists. "I am not in any way, nor is my party, advocating that there should be the threat of violence or anything like it for any reason, there can be no justification for anyone doing that. "The LCC statement makes clear that their opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol will be peaceful and democratic." Meanwhile speaking on RTE Radio 1 this morning, Simon Coveney said the British Government is breaking the Northern Ireland Protocol and its own commitments with its unilateral decision to continue Irish Sea border grace periods until October. "This is not the first time this has happened that they are negotiating with a partner that they simply cannot trust," Mr Coveney said. "That is why the EU is now looking at legal options and legal actions which effectively means a much more formalised and rigid negotiation process as opposed to a process of partnership where you try to solve problems together, so this is really unwelcome." Read More Ms McGuinness told the same programme that trust was required in talks, but said that was difficult when one party left the room "to do their own thing". She said the UK was negotiating with itself rather than with the EU and there needed to be respect on both sides. Businesses in Northern Ireland needed solutions; "were working on it," she said. Ms McGuinness said the UKs behaviour was not appropriate and had to be "called out", adding that it would also raise questions about global Britain and how they would behave in the future with other global partners. An agreement for an extension had been reached last December after lengthy negotiations, added Ms McGuinness, but there were voices in Northern Ireland who didnt want a solution: "They want trouble.". Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 16:54:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - LONDON -- The British government will fund what it believes to be the world's first study assessing the effectiveness of a third dose of vaccine to combat COVID-19, the UK Budget revealed on Wednesday. The government is committing 22 million pounds (30.70 million U.S. dollars) to studies that test the effectiveness of a combination of different COVID-19 vaccines. This will also fund the world's first study assessing the effectiveness of a third dose of vaccine to improve the response against current and future variants of COVID-19, according to the Budget. - - - - ULAN BATOR -- Mongolia reported 44 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking its nationwide tally to 3,076, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Thursday. Forty-two of the latest confirmed cases were detected in the country's capital city Ulan Bator, and the remaining two were reported in the western province of Zavkhan, the NCCD said in a statement. - - - - KIGALI -- Rwanda has budgeted 50 billion Rwandan francs (about 51.2 million U.S. dollars) to buy COVID-19 vaccines for over 7.8 million people by 2022, Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said Wednesday. The government will spend at least two-thirds of the total budget, as some vaccines are expected to come in as donations or via COVAX, a mechanism led by the United Nations which aims to provide equitable access to COVID-19 jabs for poorer countries, Ngamije told national broadcaster Rwanda Television during a news program. - - - - SEOUL -- Nine more U.S. soldiers and four civilians in South Korea tested positive for COVID-19, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday. The USFK said in a statement that 13 USFK-affiliated individuals were confirmed with the COVID-19 after they arrived in South Korea between Feb. 12 and March 1. - - - - MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday 2,452 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 584,667. The death toll climbed to 12,404 after 15 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. It added 266 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 535,037. - - - - BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN -- Brunei reported one new imported case of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the national tally to 188. According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, Case 188 is a 35-year-old man who arrived in the country from India via Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 19. - - - - ADDIS ABABA -- Ethiopia registered 1,161 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 161,974 as of Wednesday evening, the country's Ministry of Health said. The ministry said five new deaths from the coronavirus were reported across the country during the same period, bringing the national death toll to 2,391. Enditem Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Chris Lilley knocked back a couple of XXXX Gold beers on Bronte Beach, Sydney, during a date with girlfriend Gabriella Pereira. The Angry Boys star, 46, and Gabriella looked cosy as they sat side by side in the sand, enjoying their drinks. The lovebirds held hands and at one point even exchanged a kiss. Thirsty work: Comedian Chris Lilley and girlfriend Gabriella Pereira [both pictured] enjoyed a sneaky can of XXXX Gold at a beach in Sydney before sharing a passionate kiss Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Lilley's reps for comment. The Lunatics star went casual for the day at the beach, wearing boardshorts and a T-shirt. He was barefoot during the outing and covered his long hair with a blue bucket hat. His ladylove went similarly casual in a white T-shirt, denim cutoff shorts and no footwear. Refreshing: The Angry Boys star, 46, and Gabriella looked cosy as they sat side by side in the sand, enjoying their drinks Casual chic: The Lunatics star went casual for the day at the beach, wearing boardshorts and a T-shirt. He was barefoot during the outing and covered his long hair with a blue bucket hat After finishing their beverages, the couple strolled along the boardwalk, holding hands and occasionally stopping to canoodle. Chris is a writer, director and performer of many successful TV projects. However, last year most of Chris' shows were removed from Netflix in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. PDA: The lovebirds held hands and at one point even exchanged a kiss Loved-up: After finishing their beverages, the couple strolled along the boardwalk, holding hands and occasionally stopping to canoodle Dressing down: The couple lovingly strolled along without a care in the world Summer Heights High, Jonah from Tonga, Angry Boys and We Can be Heroes were pulled on June 11, as streaming services worldwide removed offensive content in response to George Floyd protests. In the dumped mockumentary-style shows, Chris appeared in brownface as Tongan schoolboy Jonah Takalua, in blackface as US rapper S.mouse, and mocked up as stereotypical Chinese-Australian physics student Ricky Wong. Chris then came under fire after real-life Sydney student Filipe Mahe revealed his appearance in ABC documentary Our Boys was the inspiration for controversial Tongan character Jonah, leaving him feeling 'angry and exploited'. Carfree: Chris looked comfortable in as he pounded the pavement after his refreshing drink Kissy Kissy: Nothing says 'I love you' like a cheeky peck on the cheek The comedian chose not to acknowledge any of the backlash, but instead chose to share a deleted scene from Jonah From Tonga on his Facebook page. Despite the removal of four of his shows, Chris still has two series available on Netflix. They are Ja'mie: Private School Girl and Lunatics, in which he dons brownface to play dog whisperer Jana Melhoopen-Jonks. The SIR network closed $150B in sales in 2020, thanks to 24,000 brokers in 1,000 offices spanning 75 countries. For its part, RSIRs gross sales volumes swelled by 69% to $2.8B in 2020. Jones has polled his brokers and believes the brokerage's total listings and sales volumes will double in the next 60 days. Our brokers and our staff are very busy preparing for a boom in March and April as we enter the spring sales season. Realogics Sotheby's International Realty (RSIR) announced the fast-growing real estate brand offers more than $500 million in active inventory todayincluding new construction listingsthe second-highest such market share in the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) and more than twice the listing volume per broker compared to the next largest residential real estate brands in the region. The global real estate network closed $150 billion in sales in 2020, through 24,000 brokers in 1,000 offices located in 75 countries and territories. For its part, RSIRs gross sales volumes swelled by 69 percent to $2.8 billion in 2020. Such tremendous growth in listing representation is a clear demonstration of consumer trust, said Dean Jones, President and CEO of RSIR. "As we celebrate our 11th anniversary since joining the Sothebys International Realty network, we look ahead to another decade with great enthusiasm and respect for our 350+ brokers and employees that comprise the RSIR Nation. According to Trendgraphix research, which aggregates data from the NWMLS, RSIR offers 77 percent of the active inventory for the brand, making it the largest affiliate in Washington. Jones has polled his brokers and believes RSIRs total listings and sales volumes will double in the next 60 days. Our brokers and our staff are very busy preparing for a boom in March and April as we enter the spring sales season, added Jones. We are investing in our infrastructure to support the increases in our broker roster and approaching listing volumes. During a leadership event held on February 24 in the newly opened Bellevue branch office, RSIR executives welcomed recent additions to the team including: Denise Seavitt Branch Manager of Mercer Island and Madison Park Samantha Fetter Broker Care of Eastside Branches Ami Bumia Executive Director of Sales I New Developments Jessica Kameron Project Manager I New Developments Freddy Delgadillo Business Development Associate To be sure, the regional real estate market is very active and highly competitive. Year-to-date 2021, total listings recorded by the NWMLS in King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap counties have dropped 52 percent from 2020 levels with just 2,640 homes for sale, while pending sales are increased by 12 percent to 10,674 contracts so far this year, clearly indicating demand is outstripping supply. According to the latest report by S&P/Case-Shillers Home Price Index, as of December 2020 the median home prices for the Seattle metro area have swelled by 13.6 percentsecond only to Phoenix for the largest percentage value gains in the U.S. in 2020. However, Seattle tops the nation in absolute value growth because home prices are twice the price compared to Phoenix. Working with an experienced real estate broker has never been more critical, said Stacia Smith, Chief Sales Officer and Designated Broker for RSIR. Its only going to get more competitive out there, but our team is well-positioned to support our buyers and sellers with extraordinary service and results. Smith acknowledges her brokers are facing an increase in multiple offersin fact, 80 percent of RSIR buyers, so far in 2021, are competing on homes yet still logging many notable triumphs. Likewise, listing presentations are increasingly successful, thanks to exclusive marketing advantages that drive more buyers to homes for sale. Weve developed a matchless marketing system thats changed the conversation for our brokers and as a result, theyre winning more listings and were selling more homes, said Stacy Jones, Chief People Officer for RSIR. RSIR is proving that we dont need a high volume of brokers to represent a high volume of salesits all about supporting our team and using innovations like RSIR Connect and leveraging our exceptional broker care department, so agents can work more efficiently and grow. RSIR executives point to other exclusive property listing platforms such as the Home of the Day featured on both GeekWire.com and online and in print with Puget Sound Business Journal, as well as property syndication on more than 80 other listing aggregator websites worldwide in dozens of languages. Recently, the brokerages website, https://www.RSIR.com won Best Website by Real Trends, an industry authority of residential real estate, while the global website https://www.SothebysRealty.com garnered 37 million unique views in 2020, with property videos played just under 13 million times, comprised of 90,000 hours of property footage. YouTube subscribers top all other brands while earned media attention recorded more than 34,900 editorial placements in 2020. In addition to expanding RSIRs listing exposure and market share, the brokerage is adding brokers to their roster across branch offices in Belltown, Madison Park, Bainbridge Island, Mercer Island, Kirkland, and Bellevue. Its really an exciting time to join the team and become a global leader in local real estate, said Robyn Hsu, Executive Director of Business Development for RSIR. Im thrilled Freddy Delgadillo will be supporting me in welcoming new broker appointments to the RSIR Nation. Hsu believes brokers today require unique advantages in order to stand out in whats otherwise become a very commoditized industry. According to the 2020 year-end report released by the NWMLS, there were a whopping 32,888 licensed members that closed on $95.8 billion in sales volume. RSIR executives confirmed their firm recorded the highest sales volume per broker, compared to the top ten largest brands. About Realogics Sothebys International Realty (RSIR) (https://www.rsir.com) A leading global sales and marketing brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest, RSIR is a boutique real estate firm of 300+ brokers, with service branches in downtown Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Madison Park. RSIR is a leading project marketing specialist throughout the Puget Sound region. The New York Times has been criticised on Twitter over a job advert seeking an opinion editor with a 'spine of steel', months after three editors were forced out of the newspaper for promoting unpopular debate. Posted on Wednesday, the job advert for a Deputy Opinion Editor said the ideal candidate would be someone with a 'sense of humor and a spine of steel, a confident point of view and an open mind, an appetite for risk and exacting standards for excellence in writing and visual presentation.' The posting comes months after the liberal publication saw three editors leave the company - op-ed staff editor Bari Weiss, page editor James Bennet and editorial assistant Adam Rubenstein. Newsweek deputy opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon was among those to point out the irony of the job posting, calling it 'totally shameless' and noting that the three people who left their posts at the newspaper were guilty of 'doing this exact thing.' 'In 6 months, @nytimes lost 3 opinion editors w/ spines of steel, open minds, an appetite for risk, and exacting standards - @bariweiss, @RubensteinAdam, and @JBennet - because their colleagues couldn't handle a single one of these attributes and their bosses were amoral cowards,' she wrote on Twitter Wednesday. The New York Times has been criticised on Twitter of a job advert seeking an opinion editor with a 'spine of steel', months after three editors were forced out of the newspaper for promoting unpopular debate. Pictured: The New York Times building in Manhattan Newsweek deputy opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon was among those to point out the irony of the job posting, calling it 'totally shameless' and noting that the three people who left their posts at the newspaper were guilty of 'doing this exact thing' The Times' former editorial page editor, James Bennet, resigned on June 7, 2020 after more than 1,000 staffers signed a letter in protest of his publication on an opinion piece written by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, and published on June 3. Cotton had advocated to 'send in the troops' to quell Black Lives Matter protests seen across America in the summer, saying 'rioters have plunged many American cities into anarchy.' Following the article's publication, Times staffers were said to be in 'open revolt', with several of the paper's writers taking to twitter to criticise their employer. Bennet initially defended the column, saying the opinion page's mission is to show readers readers the 'counter-arguments, particularly those made by people in a position to set policy.' He added: 'We understand that many readers find Senator Cotton's argument painful, even dangerous. We believe that is one reason it requires public scrutiny and debate.' However, he later backtracked his stance, apologising for the column before resigning days later. In the weeks that followed, Bari Weiss categorised the internal controversy as an on-going 'civil war' between what she called young 'social justice warriors' and what she identified older staffers as - 'free speech advocates.' This categorization was disputed by a number of other journalists and opinion writers at the newspaper, with some calling her out for 'willful misrepresentation', and for not listening to her black colleagues over the issue. Weiss, in turn, accused the paper in July of 'unlawful discrimination, hostile work environment, and constructive discharge,' and spoke on journalist Megyn Kelly's podcast, saying that the Times is 'a place where people are fired for running' articles written by conservatives.' Left: Former Times page editor James Bennet, who resigned on June 7, 2020 after the publication of the infamous 'Send in the Troop's opinion piece written by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton. On July 14, Bari Weiss (right) also resigned, citing bullying On July 14, Weiss published a resignation letter on her website, in which she slammed The Times for giving in to criticism on Twitter, and for not supporting her when she claims she was bullied by her colleagues. In her letter Weiss said, 'Stories are chosen and told in a way to satisfy the narrowest of audiences, rather than to allow a curious public to read about the world and then draw their own conclusions.' 'Twitter is not on the masthead of The New York Times, but Twitter has become its ultimate editor,' she added. Weiss was praised by a number of conservative commentators and politicians, including U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Kelly Loeffler, Donald Trump Jr., and political commentator Ben Shapiro. Later in 2020, on December 11, it was reported by The Daily Beast that a young editorial assistant Adam Rubenstein had also resigned, after it came to light that he was the one who edited Cotton's article. Ungar-Sargon highlighted The Time's commitment - detailed in the job advert - to 'promote the most important and provocative debate across a range of subjects.' Ungar-Sargon highlighted The Time's commitment - detailed in the job advert - to 'promote the most important and provocative debate across a range of subjects', saying that the editors had been pushed out of the publication for 'this exact thing; Posted on Wednesday, the job advert (pictured) said the ideal candidate would someone with a 'sense of humor and a spine of steel, a confident point of view and an open mind, an appetite for risk and exacting standards for excellence in writing and visual presentation' 'The NYT literally fired James Bennet for doing this exact thing. It outed Adam Rubenstein and tossed him to the wolves for doing this exact thing. It allowed Bari Weiss to be bullied out of the newsroom for doing this exact thing. Just totally shameless,' she wrote on Wednesday. At the time of the article's publication, Bennet and Rubenstein both faced criticism from staffers for putting the newspaper's black staff in 'danger'. The job listing comes one week after Times executive sent a note to its staff detailing an eight-month investigation into the diversity and inclusion at the publication, and vowed to make 'fundamental changes' to the paper's workplace culture. The probe came after New York Magazine published a scathing article in November that detailed the Time's culture, saying it was an 'open secret' that the paper is 'published by and for coastal liberals.' Pictured: People took to Twitter to point out the irony of the Times' job advert New York Magazine's piece pointed out that several of The Times' staffers supported Weiss' claim that the paper had developed a liberal bias. Cotton's 'Send in the Troops' op-ed remains on the New York Times website, with a long editor's note added on June 5 - two days before Bennet's resignation. After publication, this essay met strong criticism from many readers (and many Times colleagues), prompting editors to review the piece and the editing process. Based on that review, we have concluded that the essay fell short of our standards and should not have been published,' the editor's note says. 'The basic arguments advanced by Senator Cotton however objectionable people may find them represent a newsworthy part of the current debate. 'But given the life-and-death importance of the topic, the senator's influential position and the gravity of the steps he advocates, the essay should have undergone the highest level of scrutiny.' The New York Times has also published articles penned by other controversial figures, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani. Publican Charlie Chawke has lodged 186m fast track plans to construct 299 apartments on a site beside his Goat Grill bar, in Goatstown, south Dublin. In the plan, Mr Chawke's Charjon Investments has sought permission from An Bord Pleanala for the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme made up of 299 apartments, a 22 bedroom hotel, six retail outlets, child-care facilities along with the renovation and extension of the Goat Grill. The development on the 4.6 acre site is made up of four apartment blocks ranging from five to eight storeys in height. Mr Chawke said today: I am very happy with what is planned and we have given it our best chance." Mr Chawke said the Goat Grill has always been the gateway to south Dublin and what we are planning will enhance the area. He said: We are offering something to Goatstown that it hasnt had before. It is always something I always wished to do - put a hotel and apartments there and clean up that site. It is lying idle for an awful long time now. On the density of the development, Mr Chawke said: You cant be building low density developments nowadays. It is going to be beautiful and please God everyone will be happy about it. Mr Chawke said if planning is granted he hopes that construction work will commence before the end of this year. Mr Chawkes pub group remains shut due to Covid-19 and he described the Covid impact as terribly depressing. "At least this development is something that we can feel a bit excited about, he said. As part of the plan, Mr Chawke's firm has put an indicative price tag of 16.4m on 30 apartments it is proposing selling to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council to comply with social housing requirements This is based on Charjon putting an estimated value of 186m on the proposed 299 apartments that includes a value of 12.5m on the site. The company is planning to sell 17 one-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom apartments to the council and has put an indicative price range of 408,237 to 595,028 on the one-bedroom apartments. The indicative cost of the two bedroom apartments is 676,169 to 768,297. The council local area plan for the Goat Grill site specifies only developments of three storeys with an additional set-back storey can be built. However, planning consultants for Mr Chawke, Tom Phillips & Associates argue the eight storey height is justified. Mr Phillips argued the scheme presents an important opportunity to complete and revitalise an established suburban site in a prime location. He said the scheme's density is clearly in line with national policy that has set out the need for increased residential densities in appropriate locations. Mr Phillips said the current height limitation for the site in the Goatstown Local Area Plan acts as a barrier against this". He said given the importance of housing delivery in order to meet the ongoing serious under-provision of homes, it is critical that an allowance for the contravention of inappropriate height restrictions can be facilitated. This can be done where it has been demonstrated that a scheme, such as the one before the board, comprises a high quality proposal which will create an exemplary living environment for existing and future residents; and where such a proposal constitutes the provision of an active and vibrant neighbourhood centre. Mr Phillips said there is ample justification for An Bord Pleanala to permit a material contravention of the Local Area Plan in terms of the planned density. A separate report lodged with the planssaid the development will provide homes to a wide range of occupiers including families, students, professionals and those looking to downsize. The report said the site is within 2km of the site are UCD, Sandyford Business Park, Dundrum Shopping Centre, The Beacon Hospital, as well as 3 separate Luas stops and a number of bus routes. A decision is due on the application in June. President Joe Biden is struggling to head off a potential humanitarian and political crisis on the U.S. southern border, where a spike in migrant crossings -- particularly by unaccompanied children -- threatens to overwhelm government shelters. White House officials briefed Biden earlier this week on the surge, and the administration has held multiple briefings with House and Senate lawmakers on the situation, according to congressional aides. Homeland Security officials are giving weekly updates to several Capitol Hill offices. "We'll be able to handle it, God willing," Biden said Tuesday. But asked whether the surge constituted a crisis, the president was clear: "No." The administration has taken steps to clear shelter space by speeding the release of unaccompanied minors to relatives or sponsors in the U.S., and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said additional measures are on the table. But the situation could worsen if the flow of migrants continues to rise. More than 5,700 unaccompanied minors were apprehended at the border in January, the highest total for that month in recent years, according to the Department of Homeland Security. At the end of the month, about 5,100 children and teenagers were in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, which runs the shelters. By late February, the number of minors in custody had risen to 7,000, a sign that the influx isn't abating. About 90% of shelter capacity was occupied, stretched not only by the influx of migrants but also by space restrictions due to the pandemic, according to a congressional aide familiar with the administration's briefings. To assist the refugee office, HHS awarded a $3.34 million sole-source contract for child advocates to help deliver care that is required by law, according to Bloomberg Government contracting data. HHS cited a "significant increase in referrals" to the Unaccompanied Alien Children program and "unpredictability in influx numbers" to justify the six-month, non-competitive contract that went into effect Feb. 26. The situation poses a challenge for Biden, whose promise to implement a more humane immigration system has given way to an acknowledgment that it could take more time due to the health and economic problems facing the U.S. The president is also facing criticism from Republicans and a handful of Democrats that his policies are to blame for the influx and that he is downplaying a national crisis. "Do we have a crisis? No. Are we getting there? At this rate, yes we are," Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, said in an interview. Biden's decision to stop expelling children who arrived alone at the border -- as former President Donald Trump's administration did after the pandemic began -- meant that the government needed more space in permanent shelters to house them. The situation has prompted the Biden administration to re-open a Trump-era temporary facility for child migrants in Carrizo Springs, Texas, that prompted protests from immigrant-rights advocates. "It's clear that they're already facing significant problems because nobody wants to open an influx facility, but they've had to," said Mark Greenberg, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute who led HHS's Administration for Children and Families, which oversees ORR, under President Barack Obama. "So there's no question that they will be facing continuing challenges in how to manage arrivals, even at the current level." The administration is confronting the problem without key officials in place at two central agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protections. Biden's nominee for HHS secretary, Xavier Becerra, still hasn't won Senate confirmation, though Cindy Huang was recently installed as the new director of ORR. Republicans have blamed the situation at the border on Biden, saying that his efforts to reverse Trump's hard-line immigration policies and introduction of a bill that would offer a path to citizenship to 11 million undocumented immigrants have encouraged migrants from Central America to make the journey north. "If this isn't a crisis, with unaccompanied kids pouring in and exceeding capacity amid a pandemic, then I'd sure hate to see one," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a Wednesday floor speech. "The cause of this emergency is not some mystery. Everyone knows what's happened." Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter on Thursday to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the Democratic chairwoman of the panel's immigration subcommittee, asking her to hold a hearing on the influx of unaccompanied children at the border and the Biden administration's response. White House officials have repeatedly said now is not the time to migrate to the U.S. and that migrants are driven north by conditions in Central America, not Biden's policies. A Homeland Security official said that overall border encounters have been rising since April 2020, eight months before Biden took office. Violence and natural disasters in the Northern Triangle countries -- Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador -- have driven the increase, according to the official. Biden has not yet implemented many of his proposed immigration policy changes. The vast majority of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are turned away. Congress has not passed his immigration overhaul that includes a citizenship path, which many Republicans have derided as an inappropriate "amnesty" for unauthorized immigrants. Yet some Democrats representing areas along the border have said Biden's aggressive push to unwind Trump's policies is nonetheless causing confusion and could lead migrants to believe they will be allowed into the U.S. They cite the administration's welcoming rhetoric and measures such as speeding entry for certain asylum seekers who have waited for months in Mexico under the Trump administration. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Texas Democrat, urged Biden to change course, warning that his party could find itself in a political bind if tens of thousands of migrants show up at the border. "It will be catastrophic for our party, for our country, for my region and for my district in the middle of a pandemic," Gonzalez said this week on CNN. "So, I think we need to have a better plan in place." Cuellar said that migrants have the impression Biden is "letting undocumented people come into the United States and you're not letting those legal visa holders come in" due to pandemic-related border restriction. There is a danger that human smugglers could use Biden's policy and messaging shift to persuade migrants to travel to the U.S., he added. "Even though the Biden administration is saying 'don't come,' the bad guys, they're on a different wavelength," he said. Obama faced a political crisis in 2014, when the first major exodus of unaccompanied children from Central America caused the administration to build an influx center with chain-link fencing inside an Arizona warehouse. Images of children behind the fences shocked the nation. Biden's decision to re-open the Carrizo Springs camp angered liberals, who said migrant children live there in poor conditions. "This is not okay, never has been okay, never will be okay - no matter the administration or party," Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter. White House officials said the facilities has been revamped to include teachers and expanded medical services. "Well, it's much different in terms of more people there helping them," Biden said in Feb. 26 interview with Univision. "We have people that are in those facilities taking care of them. But my hope is they all are able to get out, all are able to get into licensed facilities and/or be united with family members here in the United States." Immigration policy experts say that it's no guarantee the number of unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. will stay on its current trajectory and reach record highs. The number of children who cross the border alone typically increases in the spring, then recedes, according to Homeland Security data. A Customs and Border Patrol official said the number of individuals crossing the border continues to fluctuate and the agency will adapt accordingly. The political crisis in Slovakia deepened on March 4 after a member of the ruling coalition demanded reconstruction of the cabinet. A conflict in the country emerged after Prime Minister Igor Matovic secretly ordered doses of Russias Sputnik V vaccine despite opposition from his coalition partners. This irked the other members of his coalition, who eventually called for the dissolution of the current cabinet. Read: Slovakia Signs Deal To Acquire 2 Million Doses Of Sputnik V Read: Slovakia To Ask EU For Urgent Vaccine Delivery Richard Sulk, head of the Freedom and Solidarity party said the situation in the coalition that we can hardly continue this way. He further reasoned that the coalition has evidently not succeeded in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore certain unspecified changes were needed. Meanwhile, For the People Party, another coalition partner did not comment on the crisis but also did not rule out the possibility of leaving the coalition. Slovakia, a member of the European Union started innovating its population in late December. However, the PM, in an attempt to speed up the process inked a deal with Russian authorities to secure 2 million doses of the vaccine. However, his move faced resistance from Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok who said that it was a tool in Russias hybrid war against the West. While Sputnik V has not applied for EUs approval, Slovakias deputy PM Veronika Remisova said that any vaccine to be used in the country would require approval by the bloc. Read: Slovakia Signs Deal To Acquire 2 Million Doses Of Sputnik V Read: 'Most COVID-19 Deaths': Slovakia Coronavirus Deaths Surge Rapidly Due To UK Variant Sputnik V in Europe Slovakia is the second European Union country to use the vaccine, which hasn't been approved by the European Medicines Agency, after Hungary. It hasn't been registered by Slovakias drug authority, but the deal was made possible by Health Minister Marek Krajcis approval. As of now, the European bloc has approved only three vaccines for mass use. They include the one manufactured by AstraZeneca/Oxford, Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech. The Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is based on a modified version of adenovirus, a common cold virus. The vector stripped of its disease-causing genes and modified to carry genetic instructions for making the coronavirus spike protein. This prompts the cells to cause an immune response which eventually protects against the SARS-CoV-2. A rocky planet discovered in the Virgo constellation could change how we look for life in the universe A newly discovered planet could be our best chance yet of studying rocky planet atmospheres outside the solar system, a new international study involving UNSW Sydney shows. The planet, called Gliese 486b (pronounced Glee-seh), is a 'super-Earth': that is, a rocky planet bigger than Earth but smaller than ice giants like Neptune and Uranus. It orbits a red dwarf star around 26 light-years away, making it a close neighbour - galactically speaking. With a piping-hot surface temperature of 430 degrees Celsius, Gliese 486b is too hot to support human life. But studying its atmosphere could help us learn whether similar planets might be habitable for humans - or if they're likely to hold other signs of life. The findings are published today in Science. "This is the kind of planet we've been dreaming about for decades," says Dr Ben Montet, an astronomer and Scientia Lecturer at UNSW Science and co-author of the study. "We've known for a long time that rocky super-Earths must exist around the nearby stars, but we haven't had the technology to search for them until recently. "This finding has the potential to transform our understanding of planetary atmospheres." Like Earth, Gliese 486b is a rocky planet - but that's where the similarities end. Our neighbour is 30 per cent bigger and almost three times heavier than Earth. It's possible that its surface - which is hot enough to melt lead - may even be scattered with glowing lava rivers. Super-Earths themselves aren't rare, but Gliese 486b special for two key reasons: firstly, its heat 'puffs up' the atmosphere, helping astronomers take atmospheric measurements; and secondly, it's a transiting planet, which means it crosses over its star from Earth's perspective - making it possible for scientists to conduct in-depth analysis of its atmosphere. "Understanding super-Earths is challenging because we don't have any examples in our backyard," says Dr Montet. "Gliese 486b is the type of planet we'll be studying for the next 20 years." Lessons from the atmosphere A planet's atmosphere can reveal a lot about its ability to support life. For example, a lack of atmosphere might suggest the planet's nearby star is volatile and prone to high stellar activity - making it unlikely that life will have a chance to develop. On the other hand, a healthy, long-lived atmosphere could suggest conditions are stable enough to support life. Both options help astronomers solve a piece of the planetary formation puzzle. "We think Gliese 486b could have kept a part of its original atmosphere, despite being so close to its red dwarf star," says Dr Montet. "Whatever we learn about the atmosphere will help us better understand how rocky planets form." As a transiting planet, Gliese 486b gives scientists two unique opportunities to study its atmosphere: first when the planet passes in front of its star and a fraction of starlight shines through its atmospheric layer (a technique called 'transmission spectroscopy'); and then when starlight illuminates the surface of the planet as it orbits around and behind the star (called 'emission spectroscopy'). In both cases, scientists use a spectrograph - a tool that splits light according to its wavelengths - to decode the chemical makeup of the atmosphere. "This is the single best planet for studying emission spectroscopy of all the rocky planets we know," says Dr Montet. "It's also the second-best planet to study transmission spectroscopy." Life on Gliese 486b Gliese 486b is a great catch for astronomers - but you wouldn't want to live there, says Dr Montet. "With a surface of 430 degrees Celsius, you wouldn't be able to go outside without some kind of spacesuit," he says. "The gravity is also 70 per cent stronger than on Earth, making it harder to walk and jump. Someone who weighed 50 kilograms on Earth would feel like they weighed 85 kilograms on Gliese 486b." On the plus side, the quick transition of the planet around its star means that interstellar visitors would have a birthday every 36 hours. They would just need to expect the party to be interrupted. "The planet is really close to its star, which means you'd really have to watch out for stellar storms," says Dr Montet. "The impacts could be as innocuous as beautiful aurorae covering the sky, or they could completely wipe out electromagnetic systems." But despite these dangers of living on Gliese 486b, Dr Montet says it's too valuable a planet to cross off our interstellar bucket list just yet. "If humans are able to travel to other star systems in the future, this is one of the planets that would be on our list," he says. "It's so nearby and so different than the planets in our own solar system." Narrowing the search for habitable planets The study was part of the CARMENES project, a consortium of eleven Spanish and German research institutions that look for signs of low-mass planets around red dwarf stars. Red dwarfs are the most common type of star, making up around 70 per cent of all stars in the universe. They are also much more likely to have rocky planets than Sun-like stars. Based on these numbers, the best chance for finding life in the universe may be looking around red dwarfs, says Dr Montet - but this comes with a catch. "Red dwarfs are known to have a lot of stellar activity, like flares and coronal mass ejections," says Dr Montet. "This kind of activity threatens to destroy a planet's atmosphere. "Measuring Gliese 486b's atmosphere will go a long way towards deciding if we should consider looking for signs of life around red dwarfs." From an Aussie backyard to NASA The findings were made possible using data from NASA's all-sky survey called the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission and telescopes in Spain, USA, Chile and Hawaii. Almost 70 people were involved in the study, including two Australians: Dr Montet from UNSW Science, and Thiam-Guan (TG) Tan, a citizen astronomer who built an observatory in his own backyard in Perth. Mr Tan helped confirm the planet by observing a transit of Gliese 486b. "I built my observatory more than 10 years ago to see if I could participate in the search for planets," says Mr Tan. "It has been very satisfying to be able to confirm that a bloke in a backyard can contribute to significant discoveries, such as Gliese 486b." In addition to Gliese 486b, Mr Tan has helped discover more than 70 planets using his observatory. "It's an interesting time in astronomy," says Dr Montet. "TESS is producing all of this data, but it's more information than any person or group can look at. "Citizen scientists have an opportunity to get involved in testing astronomical data, whether it's confirming a planet sighting or looking for transiting planets. "These kind of collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers are really helping advance the scientific field." People interested in getting involved in astronomical research can look at the Planet Hunters website, says Dr Montet. TESS data is made available to the community only two months after its collected. "The easiest way to get involved is to create an account and start looking at TESS data," he says. "You don't even need a fancy telescope. "Who knows - you might even be able to find the next Earth-sized planet." ### The Supreme Court on Thursday told two witnesses of John Dramani Mahama, the petitioner in the 2020 election petition, Rojo Mettle Nunoo and Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte to blame themselves for abandoning their duties in the strongroom of the Electoral Commission (EC). In fact, regarding the testimonies of PW2 and PW3, if their evidence is to be believed then they had to blame themselves for abandoning their post at the national collation centre at the time the verification and certification of the results were ongoing and PW3 had then verified and certified the regional collation results out of the 16, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah said when delivering the judgement of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Anin Yeboah added, The testimonies would have carried some little weight if the purpose of the petition was to change entries made on the collation forms or summary sheets but that is not the case. Their testimonies were therefore of no relevance to the said issues set out for determination and so we find them unworthy for consideration whatsoever, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah said. Mahamas claims John Mahama, the petitioner had claimed that none of the candidates who contested the polls obtained more than 50% of the votes cast. Mahama alleged that the second respondent, President Akufo-Addo won the election through vote padding. He also claimed the candidate benefitted from arithmetic and computational errors. He concludes that the ECs declaration of President Akufo-Addo is unconstitutional since he did not obtain more than 50% of the votes cast. Source: asaaseradio Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A teenager has revealed how she didn't know she was pregnant until she was in labour. While pregnant Siobhan Buchanan, then 17, from Perth Scotland, was still a trim size six, had no bump, and had been using condoms when having sex with her boyfriend, Kieran Millar. But her mother Yvonne was convinced her daughter was pregnant, picking up on signs like a 'puffy' face, unusual breakouts and a 'pregnancy glow'. Siobhan took three pregnancy tests to satisfy her mother, which were all negative. In March 2019 Siobhan went to bed with excruciating back pain and the next day was rushed to hospital where she was told she was pregnant just moments before giving birth to her son, Oscar. Eight months pregnant: Siobhan Buchanan, then 17, from Perth Scotland, was still a trim size six, had no bump, and used condoms when having sex with her boyfriend, Kieran Millar Surprise! In March 2019 Siobhan went to bed with excruciating back pain and the next day was rushed to hospital where she was told she was pregnant just moments before giving birth to her son, Oscar. Pictured, Siobhan, now 19, with Oscar, who turns two this month Moments to prepare: Siobhan only discovered she was pregnant when she was in labour 'I couldn't believe I'd carried a baby for nine months without knowing,' she said. 'Thankfully, he was a healthy little boy.' At six months pregnant Siobhan, now 19 and a stay-at-home mother, developed spots on her face and observant Yvonne, 31, a shop assistant, noticed her daughter looked 'puffier' than usual. 'I laughed and told her not to be ridiculous,' Siobhan said. Kieran and I used condoms and were extremely careful. Plus, my periods were regular so it was impossible.' However it later transpired that what Siobhan took to be light periods was actually spotting, which can occur during pregnancy. Yvonne 'wouldn't let it go' and in January 2019, by which point Siobhan was seven months pregnant, she convinced her daughter to take a pregnancy test. Siobhan continued: 'Like I thought, it was negative. Mum was shocked and kept saying I looked like I had glowing pregnancy skin. I told her to drop it. Seven months pregnant: Siobhan had no sign of a bump and a flat stomach two months before her son was born Unaware: Siobhan at six months pregnant (left) and with then boyfriend Kieran, Oscar's father New arrival: Siobhan and Kieran with their son Oscar. The couple are no longer together but remain on good terms and Siobhan says her ex is an 'amazing father' to their boy 'Soon after, I started to crave bagels and Irn-Bru. I looked at my stomach and it was completely flat. I knew I wasn't pregnant. 'Mum was still adamant and she bought me two different brands of pregnancy tests again. To keep her quiet, I took them and again, they were negative.' Two months later, in March 2019, Siobhan was at work when she experienced terrible lower back pain. 'Out of nowhere, I had a horrible pain in my back. I thought it was my uncomfortable chair,' she recalled. 'Later that night, at home, I kept complaining to my parents that my back was killing. Mum gave me some ibuprofen. Dad thought I might be constipated. I decided to just get an early night and sleep it off.' Happy and healthy: Baby Oscar at home at two weeks old (left) and at three months Fast labour: Siobhan delivered Oscar (pictured at three months) just moments after discovering she was pregnant The following morning, Siobhan was doubled over in pain. 'I dragged myself to the toilet and as I sat down, I felt a gush of water between my legs,' she continued. 'I was so confused. Mum and Dad were out so I called them. I told them something was wrong and that I needed to go to the hospital.' Siobhan's parents rushed her to Perth Royal Infirmary Hospital. There, a doctor asked her to take a pregnancy test. She continued: 'I was fed up of taking them. I knew it'd be negative, but I had no choice. A few minutes after, I was told I needed to be taken to another hospital. 'They wheeled me into an ambulance and I had no idea what was going on. Mum jumped in with me while Dad went back to work.' Siobhan was taken to Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, where she was rushed to the maternity ward and given an ultrasound. Mummy's boy: Siobhan now lives in her own flat with her toddler son, who is almost two Playful: Cheeky Oscar smiling at home. Siobhan said she 'can't wait' to tell him about his birth 'Suddenly, I heard the thumping sound of a heartbeat,' Siobhan said. 'I looked at the screen and there was a baby. I was in labour. Before I could react, I felt burning between my legs and the nurses told me I was crowning.' Ten minutes later, Siobhan gave birth to her son Oscar, weighing 5lb 5oz. Siobhan said: 'I stared at my son in disbelief. Mum was crying and cradled him. The doctor explained that he'd been lying back to back, which is why I didn't have a bump. 'For months, I'd mistaken spotting for light periods. As Mum quickly called Dad to tell him the news, I messaged Kieran. 'I said I'd had a baby and he was a dad. He thought I was joking but then it finally sunk in. He was gobsmacked. Sadly he was stuck at work, so he couldn't come straight away.' Siobhan and Kieran, who are no longer together, were supported by their families who rallied to buy supplies. Siobhan added: 'Kieran really got into being a dad but in time, we eventually broke up. He's still an amazing father.' Now, Oscar is 23 months old and he and Siobhan have their own home. Siobhan says: 'I can't wait to tell Oscar the story about his birth when he's older. He surprised us all. Now, my mum constantly gets to say "I told you so"!' To overquote Albert Einstein: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Which brings us to Anthony Albanese, who trotted off to News Corps Holt Street headquarters in Sydney on Wednesday to sit down with Rupert Murdochs best and brightest. Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers. Credit:John Shakespeare These sorts of gatherings are as predictable as they are pointless. Labor leaders such as Albanese (this time accompanied by deputy Richard Marles, treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers, and Senators Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally) meet with a collection of News Corp executives and editors (big boss Michael Miller, Sky News chief Paul Whittaker, The Australians editor-in-chief Chris Dore and editor Michelle Gunn, Daily Telegraph editor Ben English, news.com.au editor-in-chief Lisa Muxworthy, corporate affairs boss Campbell Reid and national executive editor Peter Blunden. Frank views are exchanged. Each side commits to engaging constructively. And a few weeks later News goes back to bashing up Labor. To think Whittaker - the man who has turned Sky into a right-wing YouTube hot take generator - or Blunden - a conservative so ancient he probably voted for John Gorton - are going to give the federal opposition a free kick is a fantasy. Christian Porter is more likely to be the next PM. NEW YORK, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) decried today's announcement by the International Criminal Court prosecutor to formally open an investigation into "The Situation in Palestine," with a focus on alleged Israeli crimes in Palestinian territories. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's statement referred extensively to the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber decision last month "that the Court may exercise its criminal jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine, and that the territorial scope of this jurisdiction extends to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem." The probe, she said, will examine "crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court that are alleged to have been committed" since June 13, 2014. AJC had expressed deep regret over the Pre-Trial Chamber's February 5 decision, adopted by two in favor to one against, and welcomed the State Department's expression of "serious concerns" about the Court's attempted over-reach. "Prosecutor Bensouda has once again given credence to the myth that the ICC is an appropriate forum to adjudicate Palestinian claims, even though 'Palestine' is not a state," said AJC CEO David Harris. "The ICC has a deep and long record of bias regarding Israel, and undoubtedly spurious allegations will be replayed with predictable results in the new inquiry. Today's announcement is nothing less than a parting gift of injustice from the outgoing ICC prosecutor, whose term ends June 15." SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org After the series smashed ratings for Channel 4 in the UK, subscription VOD service Starzplay has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with all3media International for the five-part drama Its A Sin for Germany and Italy. From RED Production Company and commissioner Channel 4 with HBO Max, USA, the series is written and executive produced by Russell T Davies with Nicola Shindler also executive producing. Its 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. Launching to critical acclaim on 22 January the entire series was made immediately available to stream on All 4, contributing towards its biggest ever week and month of viewing.The drama launched to drive a record for Channel 4s All 4 streaming service. Commenting on the move, Superna Kalle, executive vice president, Starz International Digital Networks, said: Its A Sin has everything that Starzplay looks to offer our audience who has come to expect edgy and provocative content from our service. An award-winning writer, an extremely talented cast, and not least of all, a beautiful and poignant story with complex characters set in an important time in history. Were very proud to add Its a Sin to our content offering. Added Paul Corney, SVP global digital sales at All3Media International: Starzplay is a great partner for a number of All3Media International series and we are delighted they will be presenting this beautiful piece of storytelling by Russell T Davies to their subscribers on their service in Europe. The show will have audiences laughing and crying and we have every confidence they will love it as much as we do. PHILIPSBURG:--- On 1 September 2017, The Public Prosecutor's Office submitted a request with the Joint Court of Justice (the Court) for an inquiry into the Sint Maarten Harbour Group (the Port): a so-called civil inquiry (civiele enquete). The Public Prosecutors Office deemed it necessary for reasons of public interest to make the Port subject to an in-depth investigation as there were well-grounded reasons to doubt the corporate policy pursued throughout the last decade. The importance of such investigation was emphasized by the results of the criminal investigations codenamed Emerald and Larimar. These investigations revealed - among other things - that the Port has been subject to serious malpractices for an extended period of time. Invoice fraud resulted in a financial loss of more than ten million American dollars. Systematic corruption occurred, for example around the bidding process in relation to tenders for infrastructure projects such as the Causeway Bridge. These events underline the importance for the community to have transparency on the state of affairs within this public company. More insight may prevent similar malpractices in the future. In the Emerald case, the former CEO of the Port was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in early 2020. Shortly after that, an influential politician was given a prison sentence of 5 years for his part in the Larimar investigation. The Court rejected the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office to institute an inquiry. The Public Prosecutors Office does not agree with this and believes that there are legal grounds to request the Supreme Court to overturn that decision. Earlier today, Thursday the 4th of March 2021, an application for cassation was filed with the Supreme Court in The Hague on behalf of the Public Prosecutors Office. Prosecutor's Office Press Release. They recently confirmed they are dating after meeting on this year's Celebs Go Dating. And Sophie Hermann and Tom Zanetti looked happier than ever as they posed in matching dressing gowns in new loved-up snaps on Thursday. The cosy pictures, shared to 34-year-old Made In Chelsea star Sophie's Instagram, sees her and the DJ, 31, gaze into each others eyes as he wraps his arm around her shoulder. New couple: Sophie Hermann and Tom Zanetti looked happier than ever as they posed in matching dressing gowns in new loved-up snaps on Thursday The new couple looked very relaxed with each other as they posed in their plush green and navy gowns while standing in front of a swimming pool. While another image sees them holding hands as they walked off together, with the duo also slipping into black sliders. Captioning her snaps, Sophie penned: 'Mob wife. // @tomzanettitz.' The post garnered several comments from excited fans who were thrilled to see their romance blossoming. Cosy: The cosy new pictures, shared to 34-year-old Made In Chelsea star Sophie's Instagram, sees her and the DJ, 31, gaze into each others eyes as he wraps his arm around her shoulder. Happy: Captioning her snaps, Sophie penned: 'Mob wife. // @tomzanettitz.' The post garnered several comments from excited fans who were thrilled to see their romance blossoming Earlier this month, Sophie shared the news they were a couple during an Instagram Live with co-star Chloe Ferry, just weeks after MailOnline exclusively revealed they shared a 'sexual attraction' during their time in the Surrey mansion for the E4 series. 'We're cute, right?', a loved-up Sophie told her social media followers, before she joked her new friend Chloe, 25, would be her 'number one bridesmaid' if she was to tie the knot to the DJ in the future. The Geordie Shore star praised the socialite's new relationship with the producer as she said: 'I'm really enjoying watching you and Tom, it's really nice to see, very cute. Can I be a bridesmaid? Will there be cake?' Beaming with delight, the German fashion designer gushed: 'We're cute, right? If we get married, absolutely bridesmaid number one.' 'We're cute, right?' Sophie recently confirmed she's dating Tom after meeting on this year's Celebs Go Dating (pictured on the series) The influencer pointed out her raucous ways as she chimed in: 'I'm never allowed at a wedding because I get too drunk and I ruin it', before Sophie laughed: 'My concern is that you'll get absolutely sloshed before anything starts.' Last month, sources revealed the businesswoman and the musician enjoyed a secret romance during filming. The singletons started to privately message while living in the lavish property, where the cast of Celebs Go Dating stayed for a month as they filmed the show. Off the market! Earlier this month, Sophie shared the news they were a couple during an Instagram Live with co-star Chloe Ferry 'Sparks were flying between them': MailOnline exclusively revealed they shared a 'sexual attraction' during their time in the Surrey mansion for the E4 series (pictured with Chloe) A TV insider told MailOnline: 'Sparks were flying between them from the minute they walked into the mansion. 'Tom had no idea who Sophie was to begin with and that seemed to be an aphrodisiac for her she loved being teased by him and the banter they shared together. 'They couldn't keep their hands off each other and became the talk of the house, especially when the rest of the cast found out they had been secretly texting. Close: The singletons started to privately message while living in the lavish property, where the cast of Celebs Go Dating stayed for a month as they filmed the show 'Despite coming from very different backgrounds, they really got on and couldn't resist spending as much time together as they could in the house.' The blonde previously enjoyed a fling with Skype's Ones to Watch and Lewis Hamilton's close pal, Jonny Hynes, while Tom previously dated Katie Price, Love Island's Hayley Hughes and model Daisey O'Donnell. Earlier this month, the new couple seemingly broke lockdown rules to spend a romantic evening together on Valentine's Day. The British rapper and his love interest accidentally revealed their date night at home through videos posted to Instagram, reports The Sun. Tom lives 220 miles away from Sophie's West London base, in Leeds, with the pair's romantic evening suggesting they flouted government guidelines which forbid non-essential travel and household mixing. Canadian immigration for tech workers: Express Entry, PNPs, and work permits ANALYSIS: Tech talent is in high demand in Canada. Michael Schwartz Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canada offers multiple immigration and work permit programs for highly-skilled tech workers. Tech workers, with their education and experience, do well in many of Canadas leading broad economic immigration pathways, both at the federal and provincial or territorial levels. These multilayers of government have developed innovative and specific programs to attract and retain tech workers, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and a host of provincial programs, such as the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). Lets have a look at some more of these programs across Canada. Federal If one looks at the programs managed under Express Entry, the importance of technology workers is clear. These programs have no explicit preference for technology workers, although certain provincial streams aligned with these programs do have such preferences. But in the most recent Express Entry Annual Report, the three most common occupations of individuals who received invitations to apply under Express Entry were all technology occupations. Global Talent Stream In Summer 2017, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the Canadian Global Skills Strategy. A major component of this plan is the Global Talent Stream (GTS), which is part of Canadas Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. The idea behind the GTS is to allow for two-week work permit processing for temporary high-skilled workers. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration There are two categories under the GTS. Category A is for high-growth companies that can demonstrate a need to recruit unique specialized talent from abroad. Employers in this category must be referred to the Global Talent Stream by a designated referral partner, which is generally a governmental or quasi-governmental organization devoted to incubating business or developing in a given area. Category B is for employers looking to hire certain highly skilled foreign workers for occupations found on the Global Talent Occupations List, which have been determined to be in-demand and for which there is insufficient domestic labour supply. This may change periodically, but it is currently composed of jobs falling within 12 National Occupation Classification (NOC) Codes, all of which are technology occupations. For both categories, the employer must pay the employee a salary that is comparable to the average salary in Canada for that position. Category A employers are required to create jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents either directly or indirectly. Category B employers are required to commit to increasing investments in skills and training for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Once one is present and working in Canada, they have the options to either extend temporary status or apply for permanent residence. Many permanent immigration programs place a high value on Canadian work experience, and some require it. So even as a temporary option for coming to Canada, arriving as a tech worker is an excellent way to prepare for ones permanent move. CUSMA Professionals Citizens of the U.S. or Mexico with job offers in certain occupations may be eligible for a work permit under the Canada-United-States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). This is an expedited program for Canadian employers who hire foreign workers , as they do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). There are 63 occupations that could qualify under the CUSMA Professional work permit. Eligible occupations in the technology field include computer systems analysts, computer engineers, graphic designers, and technical publications writers. Intra-Company Transfer Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) is for workers who are employed with a company that has a qualifying relationship with a location in Canada, meaning a subsidiary, affiliate, parent, or branch. The Canadian employers do not need an LMIA to secure workers under this work permit program. The foreign worker must have been employed at that company for at least one year. There is no list of eligible occupations, but workers must hold a managerial position, or else demonstrate that they have specialized and proprietary knowledge of the company or its products. This may include programmers and developers who have designed a companys software products, or computer engineers who have designed specific programs for the companys internal use. British Columbia British Columbia launched its Tech Pilot in May 2017. The BC PNP Tech Pilot is not a stand-alone program per se. Rather, it is an expedited system for processing applications submitted made to existing streams, and which also meet the specific requirements of the Pilot. In this sense, the BC Tech Pilot is quite similar to the federal Express Entry system. The major difference is that the BC Tech Pilot, as the name suggests, processes only tech workers, whereas Express Entry handles all applications for Federal Skilled Immigration. Two of the five BC immigration streams that can qualify for the Tech Pilot are aligned with Express Entry, and three are not. The BC Tech Pilot identifies 29 specific technology occupations that qualify. Every week, the program issues invitations to candidates who qualify. A candidate must: qualify one of the five allied existing streams, and have a job offer (lasting for at least one year, with a minimum 120 days left at the time of application) in one of the 29 identified fields. The benefits of this pilot include priority processing over other immigration applications; weekly draws; and dedicated concierge service to guide employers. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration Saskatchewan Saskatchewan does not have a dedicated tech worker immigration stream as such. However, the province, like others, can choose to restrict a specific round of invitations to apply for provincial nomination to a specific occupation or group thereof. Saskatchewan has done exactly this. Last September, it issued invitations to apply to 621 workers who had applied to either the Occupations-in-Demand or Express Entry streams of the provinces International Skilled Worker category. Saskatchewan limited its invitations to workers who had work experience in three tech occupations. Manitoba The Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (MBPNP) conducted a Tech Talent Recruitment Mission to Buenos Aires from October 18 to 21, 2019. The trip was an excellent example of organizations, both public and private, working together to attract tech talent. Two other partners in the voyage were YES! Winnipeg, the economic development hub for Manitobas capital city, and Bold Commerce, a private, Manitoba-based company which provides online shopping platforms. Ontario Ontario operates a special technology talent recruitment system that operates in tandem with existing immigration streams. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has identified work experience in specific technology occupations as being eligible for periodic tech-only draws. Applications selected in such tech draws benefit from fast treatment and enhanced service. In 2020 alone, Ontario issued no fewer than 4,385 invitations through this program. Quebec The most recent, and perhaps most unusual, major development in technology worker pathways has occurred in Quebec. The province already boasts a flourishing technology industry. Accordingly, Quebec announced a dedicated new immigration pathway for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies, and visual effects sectors. Annual intake for this entire pilot is set at 550 applicants. Conclusion Tech workers have at their disposal a plethora of options for coming to Canada. Just as technology grows and evolves, no doubt, will Canadas means of identifying, selecting, and integrating foreign tech workers. The developments of the recent past years are exciting, but the best may be yet to come. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. My State Needs Relief, Says Sen. Murkowski on COVID-19 Relief Package as Alaska Struggles From Actions Like Keystone Ban Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters Wednesday that her state needs relief when asked what was needed for her to support of Bidens $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that is headed to a vote in the Senate. So, my whole point for COVID relief, whether it was the five packages that we moved through in 2020, or this one, is to make sure that its targeted, targeted to the need. And whether it is relief for your small businesses, your tourism sector thats been just brought to its knees, these are the types of things that Im looking at saying, so show me in this huge $1.9 trillion proposal, how this helps a state like Alaska, Murkowski told reporters. The House of Representatives on Feb. 27 passed Bidens $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, with no Republican support and two Democrats voting against it. The package now moves to the Senate where Democrats and Republicans will debate and vote on the legislation. Most Republicans have said the package is too costly and untargeted, and while Murkowski agrees, she wants a chance to negotiate for her state. What Im saying is that I am looking to this relief package, my state needs relief. If Congress is going to move this much money out the door, how am I going to make sure that states like Alaska, who have been significantly impacted, who are still in need of rescue, if thats the term that theyre using for this package, that we, in fact, get access to those rescue dollars, continued Murkowski. The Alaska Senator told reporters that if the Biden administration wants her votes for nominees and their American Rescue Plan, then they will have to help her state recover from all of the executive actions that have ended Alaskan jobs. Murkowski said the Biden administration has had seven executive orders that have had a direct and destructive effect on Alaskas economic development projects. I am going to use every opportunity that I have, and if that means getting the administrations attention, because they want to make sure that theyve got my vote on this nominee, or that nominee, Im going to take the time to sit with them and tell them or talk with them on the telephone and tell them about my state, Murkowski added. Murkowski said while other states are showing movement toward economic recovery and economic growth, Alaska is not and will need a lot of help. I can tell you that if you look at Alaskas economy, and when the nation has been doing well, my state has been in recession. We are not in sync with the lower 48, with our economy, and so, nobody gets it, nobody understands it. So, Ive got to be that pushy advocate. In January, Murkowski expressed her disappointment with the Bidens order to stop oil and gas leasing on federal lands, saying, I support a transition to clean, sustainable energy, but pulling the rug out from under Alaskas economy is not the way to go about it. Alaskans are already struggling to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inhibiting Alaskas resource development will only hamper our ability to recover. Melanie Sun contributed to this article. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) The Philippines can expect to receive one million more doses of Chinas Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine towards the end of March, appointed vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Thursday. In an interview with CNN Philippines, Galvez said the deal to secure the doses will be signed today. Maybe March 21 and onwards [delivery], Galvez told The Source. Maaasahan po natin, March 21 to 30, darating na po yung one million (We can expect the one million to arrive by March 21 o 30). Sinovac was the first vaccine against COVID-19 to reach Philippine shores, with its arrival last weekend paving the way for the start of the countrys much-anticipated inoculation drive against the coronavirus. The initial 600,000-dose shipment was donated by the Chinese government and military, China's envoy to the Philippines disclosed during a welcome ceremony for the vaccines. Aside from the donation, the country earlier reached an agreement with Sinovac to secure 25 million doses of the product. According to Galvez, the government will request for two million doses by April, and three million doses by May. And maybe 5 million sa June and August. To complete yung 25 million na kanilang pangako sa atin (to complete the 25 million they promised us), he said. The prudential regulator had been monitoring Insurance Australia Groups potential multi-billion dollar exposure to troubled finance house Greensill since last year, despite the insurance giant privately insisting it doesnt carry the risk for the policies. Two sources close to the situation but without authority to comment on the record confirmed the Australian Prudential and Regulatory Authority (APRA) had concerns about IAG Insurance Australia Limiteds relationship with Greensill, over what threatened to amount to an exposure of over $US4 billion, since November. Tough week for Bundaberg-born Lex Greensill. Credit:AFR Sources said IAG was quick to assure APRA that while its name appears on the insurance paperwork, the risk of those policies was transferred to its former partner Tokio Marine in 2019 during its exit from its joint venture BCC Trade Credit. APRA and IAG declined to comment. Greensill and its insurers ,Tokio Marine and IAG, settled their dispute in the NSW Supreme Court late yesterday. Earlier on Thursday, Justice James Stevenson threw out a request by one of the parties to suppress court documents relating to the case. The court documents laid bare Greensills problems but also allegations by IAG that the policies were signed off by an employee of an IAG subsidiary without designated authority. The official says Russia-backed illegal armed formations are fully liable for the violation of the peace deal. Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Donbas Leonid Kravchuk says Ukraine will have to fire back if Russian proxies violate the ceasefire in Donbas. "If they do that way, firing at our servicemen along the contact line, we will act respectively. In retaliation. We have no other choice. We cannot watch them shooting, killing us and saying they were provoked. That's not provocation that's war," he told the Suspilne.Media outlet. Kravchuk says Russia-backed illegal armed formations are fully liable for the violation of the peace deal. "They will not comply with the Minsk agreements. They are rejecting the truce that has been introduced. They are rejecting a package of measures approved by the United Nations Security Council. Everyone comes to the conclusion that they are the ones who have been violating the agreements," the official added. Read also Kravchuk: Success of Donbas peace process depends on implementation of Normandy Four decisions by Russia 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 In its continual bid to deliver an extraordinary customer experience across all touchpoints, Vodafone Ghana has relocated its Osu retail shop to a new, ultra-modern facility on 11th Lane, off Oxford Street in Osu, Accra. The exquisitely branded, spacious and futuristic shop presents customers with automated facilities and digitalized interventions to boost convenience and enable effortless self-service. The shop has a concierge who acts as the first point of reference and welcomes customers. Its various Retail Advisor stations and dedicated Vodafone Business desk guarantee quick service delivery and enquiries for enterprise, fixed and mobile customers. The retail shop also has a multi-zoned Internet Cafe and Document Centre for customers to access and experience Vodafones ultra-fast internet service. Additionally, the shop has a mobile device display lounge, which stocks the latest smartphones; a Tech Zone for dealing with mobile device issues; and a waiting area for customers. To ensure full alignment with COVID-19 safety protocols, the shop has also incorporated clever spacing and automated temperature-check, handwashing and sanitizing measures. Opening the ultra-modern retail shop, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, explained that the launch of the new retail shop forms part of the firms strategy to deliver exceptionally seamless customer experience across all of Vodafones touchpoints through the magic of innovation. The unveiling of this new retail shop is certainly a proud moment for us; it further demonstrates our relentless obsession with our customers. Our incessant quest to continue to provide them with the tools necessary to make their lives easier and progressive. Our customers are at the very heart of all we do, and we seek to emphasize this across all customer touchpoints within the organisation including our Retail Shops. Every single offer, product or service that we unveil bears the foremost brand attribute that differentiates us on the market Innovation. Indeed, customer-centric innovation is the life-blood and the driving force behind all our undertakings at Vodafone, and this has been brought to the fore, once again, with this new Retail Shop, she asserted. Present at the brief unveiling ceremony were customers, members of Vodafone Ghanas senior management team, the staff of the Osu retail shop as well as selected staff from other stakeholder teams. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The United States welcomes the conviction of Former Ugandan Lords Resistance Army, or LRA, commander Dominic Ongwen for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. U.S. President Joe Biden has extended by one year the effect of sanctions imposed against Russia in light of the situation in Ukraine, according to a document published in the U.S. Federal Register on Wednesday. According to the statement, the situation around Ukraine "continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the emergency regime introduced on March 6, 2014, as well as the measures taken [...] in response to crisis should remain in force after March 6, 2021." Sanctions against Russia based on the situation in Ukraine were imposed by the administration of President Barack Obama in 2014. The first restrictive measures came into force on March 6, 2014, later on March 16, March 20 and December 19, 2014 the sanctions were expanded. Since the imposition of the sanctions, they have been extended annually by 12 months. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below SYDNEY, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Auraya, a world leader in voice biometric technology, announced its EVA Voice Biometrics deployment into SuperChoice's platform. SuperChoice is one of Australia's largest digital service providers, enabling millions of digital transactions each year. They sought Auraya's help to add another layer of multi-factor identity verification for users of their solutions. Recognising that the way customers do business is changing, such as flexible working arrangements, the shift to mobile and the increased digital services, meant that their clients needed more identity verification options. SuperChoice selected EVA Voice Biometrics allowing users to verify their identity on all devices by simply using their voice. A voiceprint is unique and gives customers a secure and convenient way to verify who they are. Employers can feel confident that the right people are accessing the right functions and have the authority to transact. John Halls, the CTO at SuperChoice, says "Making decisions about security is not a decision we make lightly at SuperChoice. Our reputation and our customer's reputation depend on us getting it right. We chose Auraya's voice biometric technology because it can seamlessly integrate with our platform, adding another layer of multi-factor authentication to our user experience. One that's secure, easy and convenient for the user." Paul Magee, the CEO of Auraya, commented "EVA, Auraya's voice biometric system for Multi factor-factor authentication, is helping organizations provide a convenient method for legitimate users to access their data whilst preventing fraudsters from accessing records to do account takeovers and perpetrate cybercrime. SuperChoice is a leader in their industry with millions of transactions going through their platform. We are proud to have been selected to add another layer of security and convenience into their systems." About SuperChoice SuperChoice is part of the CPS group of companies and is proud to be a long-established member of the FinTech industry. When SuperChoice started its pioneering service in 1996, many customers had not heard of a business that offered Software as a Service (SaaS). SuperChoice built its solutions from the ground up and helped educate the industry it serves about the benefits of cloud-based SAAS solutions. SuperChoice's initial goal was to transform the way the superannuation industry did things. And we have played a big part in making that happen. Especially our involvement in bringing to market a SuperStream compliant Clearinghouse solution in 2014 and being the first Tax Office accredited Sending Service Provider to go live with Single Touch Payroll in 2018. Our reputation may have been built on our robust SuperStream clearinghouse solution, but we have not stopped there. There is a growing need for digital transactions for every size and shape of business and a continued need to comply with ever-changing government regulations. We provide market-leading transaction solutions designed to make things easier, simpler, and streamlined for everyone. Connecting the industry: Employers, Super Funds and their administrators, Life Insurers, Payroll Solution Providers, Accounting Software Providers, and ultimately employees. About Auraya Auraya is a world leader in voice biometric technology with the mission of empowering people and organizations to interact and engage with convenience and security in all channels and languages. Auraya develops next-gen voice biometrics technology to deliver easy to use and highly secure authentication and fraud detection capabilities. Auraya provides its technology to a global network of partners who incorporate Auraya's voice biometric technology into their secure, customer-facing applications and fraud detection solutions. The ecosystem of partners delivers solutions in all industries including government, education, healthcare, financial services, retail services and telecommunications. If you would like to talk to the team at Auraya, send us an email at [email protected]. SOURCE Auraya Systems Related Links https://aurayasystems.com/ Was there ever a food as destructive of family harmony as the Kelloggs Variety Pack? There were eight tiny packets, ranging from the relatively healthy to virtual candy. In a fair and just world, the candy the Coco Pops would have been reserved for the youngest child. Often, however, that equitable outcome was not achieved. Some of the brands that feature in the Kelloggs variety pack. Credit:Fairfax Media And, so, the put-upon five-year-old would be left morosely chomping down on the Sultana Bran, solving a constipation problem which was still 50 years into his future. Meanwhile, his older, stronger and faster siblings would make merry with the good stuff. The family holiday the Kelloggs Variety Pack was only purchased during holidays was already ruined, at least for the familys youngest member. People often talk about food as an expression of love, but it can be weaponised as well. By Robin Stanton Gerrow Geoffrey Radbill '68 found his experience at BGSU life changing and believes his time at the university helped set the stage for his future success. He retired in 2003 as senior vice president and chief operating officer of retail distribution at AXA-Equitable after 36 years with the company. Radbill has been named a national trustee of Bowling Green State University. The BGSU Board of Trustees voted at its Feb. 23 meeting to approve his three-year term, effective May 6, 2018. National trustees are alumni or friends of BGSU who do not live in Ohio but who can advocate for higher education and are nationally prominent in their fields. Radbill grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia a long way from Bowling Green, Ohio. "My parents thought it would be a good idea to go away for college," Radbill said. "A friend of the family was a professor and spoke highly of BGSU. So, off I went! "I was younger than most of my classmates, and I was pretty immature," he said. "I really struggled the first year, and it was tough until my fourth semester. But then I really engaged with some of my professors, university administrators, fraternity advisors, fraternity brothers and fellow students. Once I started getting involved, everything turned around for me." Before his retirement, Radbill was approached to make a gift to secure naming rights for a four-person office in the future Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Shortly thereafter, Radbill began a 12-year process of endowing scholarships in Finance, Accounting, Management and Insurance. Today, these scholarships are awarded to as many as 13 students per year. Radbill's estate plan also includes a major bequest to BGSU for scholarships and College of Business infrastructure. Getting involved has changed a lot of things for Radbill, and for those around him. But philanthropy was something that did not come naturally to him. It was a mentor at one of his jobs that stressed the importance of giving back. "I was so fortunate to work for an extraordinary individual, who saw community engagement as part of the job," Radbill said. "My late wife had multiple sclerosis, so it was an easy decision to get involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I volunteered and was almost immediately invited to take a seat on the board." It was that experience that really made Radbill open to the idea of getting involved with the University when he was approached. "I'm involved for a reason," he said. "I feel the University was so important to me in regard to my success and who I am today. I decided I wanted to do something in a big way, with a focus on the students through scholarships and the like." His long record of service to BGSU also included having served on the BGSU Foundation Board from 2005-2011, as development committee chair and on the executive committee. In 2006, Radbill received the Accomplished Graduate Award (College of Business). Next, in 2010, Radbill was recognized as one of 100 of the most prominent alumni and received the Centennial Alumni Award. Additionally, in 2015, Radbill became a founding member of the Insurance and Risk Management Institute , a program within the Department of Finance that offers students a curriculum that specializes in insurance. His most recent contribution to the University, reflecting his career in finance, was a gift to name the Geoffrey and Linda Radbill Trading/Simulation Lab in the new Robert W. and Patricia A. Maurer Center in the College of Business. The lab will be a state-of-the-art, mock Wall Street trading floor setting, allowing students to buy and sell stock in real time. Radbill's idea of philanthropy with the University doesn't stop with financial contributions. Rather, he sees his engagement with students as one of the more important and rewarding things he does, including visiting with as many of his scholarship recipients as time permits. "About 15 years ago, I began coming back to BGSU once or twice a year," he said. "I make myself available to speak to classes and try to do six to 10 during each visit. My favorites are finance, insurance, accounting and management the first time, I didn't know what to expect, and I spent 70 hours just preparing! "I've learned that my 'value-add' is not in sharing academic stuff; it is in sharing life experiences. Now, I try to be more strategic what can I discuss that the professors aren't talking about? I talk about knowing yourself, personality profiles, forming teams, how do you motivate your team and why diverse teams are important." While Radbill's commitment to philanthropy may not have started until 20 years into his professional life, his passion about diversity started much sooner, while he was at BGSU. "I was treasurer and then president of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, and back then, 'diversity' was not a word in our vocabulary," he said. "But by the time I left, we were the most diversified group on campus. We went from a mediocre fraternity to one of the best houses on campus because of our diverse membership." And when he meets with his scholarship recipients there are a few key things he always addresses. "I like to ask a couple of questions," he said. " 'What do you love about BGSU?' and 'What would you suggest the University do to become even better?' But, equally important, I point out that they should remember that someone helped them through scholarships, so when they graduate, it is time to give back for the next person in need. It is why I do what I do to help someone get an education they may not have been able to afford without that support." Colorectal Cancer Screening: Remote Area Medical (RAM): Funding 400 FIT screening kits for RAM mobile health clinics and telehealth program. 2 Funding 400 FIT screening kits for RAM mobile health clinics and telehealth program. Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA): Sponsoring CCA's National Awareness Campaign in response to the dramatic decrease in screening rates due to COVID-19. 3 Sponsoring CCA's National Awareness Campaign in response to the dramatic decrease in screening rates due to COVID-19. Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center: Funding a campaign to promote awareness and bridge healthcare disparity gaps within the LGBTQ community.4 Awareness Building Opportunities: Colon Cancer Coalition: Sponsoring the "Tour de Tush" virtual cyclist event in May and "Get Your Rear in Gear" run/walk events. Sponsoring the "Tour de Tush" virtual cyclist event in May and "Get Your Rear in Gear" run/walk events. General Education: Continuing patient education outreach via updates to colonoscopytoday.com and truetolife.com/blog. Continuing patient education outreach via updates to colonoscopytoday.com and truetolife.com/blog. Inspiring Stories Webinar: Sponsoring the Colon Cancer Coalition's Your Story Can Save a Life: How to Craft Your Story to Inspire Colorectal Cancer Screening webinar on March 11 th at 1:00 PM (EST) . Register for the webinar, here. Sponsoring the Colon Cancer Coalition's webinar on at . Register for the webinar, here. Survivor Video Testimonials: Gathering 100 colorectal cancer survivor video stories to put faces to the milestone number that early detection and medical advancement have made possible: more than 1 million people have survived colon cancer. Gathering 100 colorectal cancer survivor video stories to put faces to the milestone number that early detection and medical advancement have made possible: more than 1 million people have survived colon cancer. AdvaMed Health Equity Pledge: Pledging to ensure that Olympus is doing its part to mitigate the adverse impacts of health disparities among people and communities of color through the AdvaMed Health Equity Initiative pledge. "This past year, we saw a number of unexpected challenges," said Julien Sauvagnargues, President of Olympus Corporation of the Americas. "Spreading awareness on the rise of colorectal cancer in the United States is a priority for Olympus this year more than ever before. Through our valued partnerships with Colon Cancer Coalition, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Remote Area Medical and Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center, we aim to get screening rates back on the right track and increase awareness on the importance of early detection." In 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended screening for colorectal cancer with one of several available tests, including colonoscopy, beginning at age 50 and continuing until age 75. Given the rise in early onset CRC cases, the USPSTF has drafted a recommendation to lower the recommended screening age for people at average risk of colon cancer to 45 in alignment with the American Cancer Society. 5,6 Considered the "gold standard for detection of colon cancer,"7 colonoscopy gives physicians the opportunity to detect and remove precancerous polyps during screening, potentially before they become malignant. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer among men and women combined and is largely preventable through screening and early detection.8 One measure of effective colorectal cancer screening is the rate of detection for cancerous polyps in the colon, known as the adenoma detection rate (ADR). With assistive technologies, physicians can improve their ADR and reduce colorectal cancer incidences. One such assistive technology is the Olympus ENDOCUFF VISION diagnostic device, which is attached to the distal tip of the colonoscope and increases visibility of the colon surface by flattening mucosal folds. Research has shown that use of the ENDOCUFF VISION improves the effectiveness and efficiency of colonoscopies by increasing adenoma detection rates by up to 11% compared to a standard colonoscopy.9,10 For every 1% increase in ADR, there is a 3% reduction in the risk of interval colorectal cancer and a 5% reduction in the risk of fatal colorectal cancer.11 Higher detection rates and more accurate diagnosis could, therefore, help reduce the number of deaths from preventable digestive cancers, such as CRC. Olympus joins the health care community in increasing public awareness of this deadly disease in order to improve patient care with the goal of saving lives. To learn more about colorectal cancer visit, https://www.colonoscopytoday.com/. ### About Olympus Olympus is passionate about the solutions it creates for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries. For more than 100 years, Olympus has focused on making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling by helping detect, prevent, and treat disease, furthering scientific research, ensuring public safety, and capturing images of the world. Olympus Corporation is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with more than 35,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Olympus Corporation of the Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation, is headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs more than 5,500 employees throughout locations in North and South America. _________________ 1 Respaut R, Nelson DJ. Exclusive: Research Finds Concerning Drop in U.S. Colorectal Cancer Screenings and Surgeries. U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-05-27/exclusive-research-finds-concerning-drop-in-us-colorectal-cancer-screenings-and-surgeries. Published May 27, 2020. 2 https://www.ramusa.org/ 3 https://www.ccalliance.org/ 4 https://www.bradburysullivancenter.org/ 5 Howard J. US task force proposes starting colorectal cancer screening at age 45. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/27/health/colorectal-cancer-screening-draft-recommendations-uspstf-wellness/index.html. Published October 27, 2020. 6 American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Updates Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines. https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/american-cancer-society-updates-colorectal-cancer-screening-guideline.html. Accessed February 20, 2020. 7 Colon Cancer Coalition. Colon Cancer Screening Options. https://coloncancercoalition.org/get-educated/get-screened/colon-cancer-screening-options/. Accessed February 19, 2020. 8 American Cancer Society. Key statistics for colorectal cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed February 18, 2020. 9 Ngu WS, Bevan R, Tsiamoulos ZP, et al. Improved adenoma detection with Endocuff Vision: the ADENOMA randomised controlled trial. Gut 2019;68:280-288. 10 Williet, N., Tournier, Q., et al. Effect of Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy on adenoma detection rate: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Endoscopy. 2018;50(9), 846-860. Doi: 10.1055/a-0577-3500. 11 Corley DA, Jensen CD, Marks AR, et al. Adenoma Detection Rate and Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Death. N Engl J Med. 2014; 370:12981306. Doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1309086. SOURCE Olympus Related Links http://www.olympus.com/ Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. (CSE: OILS) (OTCQB: OILFF) (FSE: L0MA) ("Nextleaf", "OILS", or the "Company"), the world's most innovative cannabis processor, is pleased to announce the initial order of Nextleaf's Rapid Emulsion Technology by OILS ("Rapid") THC and CBD to cannabis-infused beverage manufacturer, BevCanna Enterprises Inc. ("BevCanna"). With this initial order, Nextleaf's Rapid concentrate becomes one of BevCanna's preferred ingredients, available for use in both their brands and their partner brands. Rapid is Nextleaf's patent pending delivery technology. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX20nljmrDA BevCanna develops and manufactures a range of cannabis-infused beverages for both in-house brands and white-label clients, and is the exclusive Canadian licensee for the award winning, #1 selling brand in the U.S., Keef Brands. Additionally, via its wholly-owned subsidiary Naturo Group's TRACE plant-based mineral beverages and supplements, BevCanna has a sales and distribution network of over 3,000 points of retail and online across Canada. The Company anticipates that in addition to BevCanna's licensed points of distribution, BevCanna will eventually distribute cannabinoid beverages through their existing traditional retail channels should Health Canada regulate the sale of CBD products under the new proposed Cannabis Health Product category. "Nextleaf and BevCanna have a long-standing relationship, and our inaugural order of Rapid reflects nearly two years of working together," said Nextleaf Solutions CEO, Paul Pedersen. "With a predictable onset and offset time, Rapid Emulsion Technology by OILS provides a significant differentiator for BevCanna to develop a wide range of infused beverages." Made with Nextleaf's high purity cannabis distillate, Rapid's unique structure and composition allows the final ingredient to achieve optical transparency with neutral characteristics ideal for formulating. Ten years of prior R&D has resulted in a patent pending emulsion technology adapted to cannabinoids, to deliver rapid onset of THC and CBD. Rapid extends Nextleaf's capabilities along the value-added product spectrum. Complementing the Company's demonstrated excellence in efficiently producing high purity distillate, Rapid solves an industry need for cannabis-infused products with predictable and reliable outcomes. BevCanna owns and operates one of the highest-capacity cannabis beverage manufacturing facilities in Canada, located near Osoyoos, B.C., which was granted a Standard Processing Licence by Health Canada on February 12, 2021. About BevCanna Enterprises Inc. BevCanna Enterprises Inc. (CSE: BEV) (OTCQB: BVNNF) (FSE: 7BC) is a diversified health & wellness beverage and natural products company. BevCanna develops and manufactures a range of plant-based and cannabinoid beverages and supplements for both in-house brands and white-label clients. With decades of experience creating, manufacturing and distributing iconic brands that resonate with consumers on a global scale, the team demonstrates an expertise unmatched in the nutraceutical and cannabis-infused beverage categories. Based in British Columbia, Canada, BevCanna owns a pristine alkaline spring water aquifer and a world-class 40,000-square-foot, HACCP certified manufacturing facility, with a bottling capacity of up to 210M bottles annually. BevCanna's extensive distribution network includes more than 3,000 points of retail distribution through its market-leading TRACE brand, its Pure Therapy natural health and wellness e-commerce platform, its fully licensed Canadian cannabis manufacturing and distribution network, and a partnership with #1 U.S. cannabis beverage company Keef Brands. About Nextleaf Nextleaf Solutions is an innovative cannabis processor that owns one of the largest portfolios of U.S. patents for the extraction, distillation, and delivery of cannabinoids. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Nextleaf Labs Ltd, a licensed processor, the Company is a low-cost producer of cannabis distillate and private label THC & CBD oils. Nextleaf's proprietary closed-loop automated extraction plant in Metro Vancouver has a design capacity to process 600 kilos of dried cannabis into oil per day. The Company owns 12 U.S. patents and has been issued over 70 patents globally. Nextleaf is developing delivery technology through its Health Canada research licence with sensory evaluation of cannabis via human testing. The Company's patent pending Rapid Emulsion Technology by OILS powers differentiated ingestible cannabis products. Nextleaf is commercializing its issued and pending patents through licensing of intellectual property, extraction services, and supplying cannabis oils to qualified Canadian and international business-to-business partners under their own brand. Nextleaf Solutions trades as OILS on the Canadian Securities Exchange, OILFF on the OTCQB Market in the United States, and L0MA on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Follow OILS across social media platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. www.nextleafsolutions.com For more information please contact: Jason McBride 604-283-2301 (ext. 219) investors@nextleafsolutions.com On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, Paul Pedersen, CEO Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's ability to capitalize on its IP portfolio,the Company's strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Company's MD&A for the most recent fiscal period. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. The CSE has not reviewed or approved the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76051 WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Thursday to open debate on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, as Democrats moved forward with no GOP support after failing to win over a single Republican senator on the new president's first major legislative initiative. The vote was 51 to 50, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the 50-to-50 tie. GOP unity against the procedural motion suggested that no Republican will vote in favor of the legislation on final passage, which will come after hours of debate and an amendment free-for-all that could drag into the weekend. Once it passes the Senate, the legislation will have to go back to the House for final approval before being sent to Biden's desk for his signature. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has guaranteed the House will pass the Senate's version of the bill, despite some changes that liberals dislike, including narrowing eligibility for $1,400 relief checks and excluding a $15 minimum wage. Democrats had been holding out hope that Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would vote with them, but she did not, despite a handful of last-minute changes that could benefit her state. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had made clear he wanted Republican senators to stay unified against the legislation, and they did. However, Murkowski told reporters later that she was still examining the final version of the legislation, which was unveiled just moments before Thursday's vote and could change further during the amendment process. "I'm going to look and see what's in it. We already know some of the things that have been pointed out that are clearly not covid-related," Murkowski said. "But I'm looking at some of the things that will provide a level of relief for a state like Alaska." The vote Thursday came after the last-minute negotiations appeared to succeed in locking down support from wavering moderate Democrats - even if no Republicans were immediately convinced. In addition to limiting the relief checks, the legislation includes new limits on a $350 billion pot of state and local aid, setting aside $10 billion of it for infrastructure needs that could include broadband, and including a rule barring cities and states from using any new federal money to pay down pension costs or offset new attempts to cut taxes. It also includes new provisions to ensure that smaller-population states, like Alaska, would receive adequate funding, and directs increased funding to tourism and outdoor-recreation industries. As soon as the Senate voted to proceed to the bill, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., insisted on a full reading of S.B. 628, which commenced immediately and could take hours. Senators normally waive a full reading of legislation but Johnson has described this as part of his plan to resist the legislation. He also intends to try to force votes on multiple amendments. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he welcomed Johnson's move to have the bill read aloud so Americans could hear the contents of a measure that has polled well with the public - and he vowed the Senate would stay at work until passing the legislation. "No matter how long it takes, the Senate is going to stay in session to finish the bill this week," Schumer said. "It is time to tell the American people that help is on the way." The Senate chamber quickly emptied out as clerks began to take turns reading the lengthy and highly technical bill - although Johnson remained at his desk. "Good thing we have time during a national emergency to do this," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., loudly remarked before exiting the chamber. In addition to stimulus checks and state and local funding, the legislation also includes $130 billion for schools and some $160 billion for vaccines, testing and other assistance for the health-care system, as well as rental assistance, an enhanced child tax credit, and an increase and extension of emergency federal unemployment benefits that would otherwise expire on March 14. Democrats and the Biden administration have vowed to finalize the legislation ahead of that March 14 deadline. Biden's plan would increase the current $300 weekly federal unemployment benefit to $400, and extend it through August. Republicans railed against the legislation, saying it was replete with excess spending that was unrelated to the coronavirus and unnecessary after Congress already devoted some $4 trillion last year to fighting the pandemic. "Calling this a coronavirus bill is like calling Harvey Weinstein a feminist," Sen. John Neely Kennedy, R-La., said on the Senate floor. Before the Senate can vote on final passage of the bill, there will be an open amendment process called a "vote-a-rama" with amendments expected from all sides. Johnson said he was trying to ensure as many amendments as possible were voted on, dragging out the process as long as possible. Republicans were also working on amendments aimed at getting some Democratic support. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said he was crafting an amendment aimed at targeting state and local funding to places that actually experienced revenue losses. Some state budgets have shown greater resilience than expected. "If states had rising revenues and have already had reimbursement for their covid expenses, I don't see why we should be borrowing money from China to send them more money," Romney said. Democrats are pushing the legislation through the Senate under a process called "budget reconciliation" that allows it to pass with a simple majority vote, rather than the 60 normally required. That means no GOP votes are needed, but it also limits what can be included in the bill, excluding provisions that don't have a certain impact on the federal budget. The $15 minimum wage Biden had included in the bill was ruled out by the Senate parliamentarian on the grounds it did not comply with the rules of budget reconciliation. That decision infuriated liberals, and Sanders said he would offer an amendment aimed at restoring it. However, the exclusion of the $15 minimum wage will probably help ease its passage through the Senate, since two moderate Democrats - Sens. Joe Manchin III (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) - had declared they did not support the $15 minimum wage. Despite some changes made around the margins, the White House never backed off the overall $1.9 trillion price tag of the bill, or its core components. Republicans accused Biden of reneging on his campaign promises to govern with bipartisanship and unity, but the White House insisted the measure is popular with Republican officeholders across the nation - if not those on Capitol Hill - and that the president continues to reach out to Republicans. "I've been talking to a lot of my Republican friends in the House and the Senate and continue to do that," Biden told reporters Thursday. - - - The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim contributed to this report. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you 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Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise President Joe Biden's big immigration bill will be delayed until April as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggles to find enough Democratic votes. Politico reported Thursday that Democrats took a whip count this week and found that the package wouldn't pass as-is. Instead, they'll send the legislation through the Judiciary Committee and pass smaller immigration bills this month. President Joe Biden's big immigration package doesn't even have enough Democratic votes in the House to pass, so it will go through the Judiciary Committee, with the process starting in April House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to find enough Democratic votes to pass President Joe Biden's big immigration bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for nearly all of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Yadiel Garcia and his father Fabricio, who are from Honduras, kneel in prayer during a migrant demonstration in Tijuana, Mexico earlier this week. They are demanding clearer migration policies from the Biden administration wearing shirts saying 'Let us in!' The Hill newspaper reported that one of those bills will be legislation that provides a path to citizenship for the so-called 'Dreamers' - immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. On inauguration day, Biden signed an executive order fortifying DACA - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The Obama-era program, that came under legal assault during the Trump years, deferred deportation for Dreamers who met certain criteria. Congressional legislation would take Dreamers out of limbo and allow them to become U.S. citizens. Another smaller bill the House will likely take up, according to the Hill, is one that would expand visa and citizenship opportunities for migrant farmworkers. Biden's broader bill on immigration provides an eight year path to citizenship for most of the 11 million undocumented people living in the United States. It also makes family-based or 'chain' immigration easier. The package also expands the number of worker visas, allowing foreigners to come to the United States for jobs. The bill isn't focused, as much, on border enforcement. Last month, Biden sent a letter to Congress rescinding the national emergency order that allowed for the financing of former President Donald Trump's border wall. During his first public speech since leaving office, it was Biden's immigration policy that Trump hammered the Democrat on the most. 'The Biden people are pushing a bill that would grant mass amnesty for millions of illegal aliens, while massively expanding chain migration,' Trump said Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida. 'That's where you come in and everybody comes in - your grandmother, your father, your mother, your brother, your cousins.' Trump called the Biden plan 'so crazy, so crazy.' 'And Republicans must ensure that it is never allowed to become federal law,' the former president said. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey talks to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on April 3, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Arizona Gov. Ducey Orders Schools to Offer In-Person Learning Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order on Wednesday to have schools offer in-person learning by March 15 or after spring break. Students can still continue in virtual instruction if their parent or guardian approves. Middle and high schools in counties deemed to have high transmission of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, are exempt from the order, Duceys office announced. The counties are Coconino, Yavapai, and Pinal. The remaining 12 of 15 Arizona counties are in phases where schools are safe to reopen, according to metrics from the Centers for Disease Conrol and Prevention (CDC). This includes Maricopa and Pima, the states two largest counties. Arizonas students need to be back in the classroom. More than half of Arizonas schools are open and offering in-person options. More schools need to follow their lead, and pave the way for equitable education options for every Arizona student, Ducey said in a statement. The CDC and numerous health officials have said time and time again that schools are safe and kids can go back to the classroom. We prioritized teachers in our vaccine distribution, and many have already received their second dose. The science is clear: its time all kids have the option to return to school so they can get back on track and we can close the achievement gap. The order comes about a year after schools across the country shut down in-person learning in efforts to slow the spread of the CCP virus. Decisions to reopen have since been under the discretion of local governments. A sign indicating school closure due to the spread of the CCP virus is displayed at Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Arizona, on April 2, 2020. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) According to the CDC, a first step in determining when and how it is safe to reopen involves assessing the level of community transmission. A table on the CDC website lists what the agency defines as low, moderate, substantial, and high transmission levels, which outlines how schools at each of the transmission levels can work toward reopening. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said last month, there is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely. Vaccinations of teachers is not a prerequisite for safely reopening schools. According to Duceys office, Arizona has included teachers in the 1B priority group for vaccination, which means that many teachers have already received their second dose of a vaccine. According to a report published in late January in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission. The report noted that within-school transmission was very rare in North Carolina in the fall of 2020 when 11 school districts in the state with more than 90,000 students and staff reopened for in-person learning for nine weeks. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkeley Research Group (BRG) announced today that Dustin Palmer and Christopher Sidler have joined the firm as managing directors in its Financial Institutions Advisory practice. As part of BRG's growing team, Palmer and Sidler will help financial institutions transform their regulatory compliance programs. Palmer and Sidler are experts in regulatory compliance, with a focus on AML, know your customer (KYC), sanctions, fraud, anti-bribery and -corruption and related areas. They assist clients in regulatory and enforcement matters, with an emphasis on remediation, data science and machine learning, suspicious activity monitoring, risk assessment, and transaction monitoring and sanctions reviews and lookbacks. Their work will help transform compliance processes to drive efficiency and effectiveness. Before joining BRG, Palmer and Sidler spent ten and thirteen years, respectively, at Promontory Financial Group, where they most recently led the financial crimes compliance practice. Palmer and Sidler have advised clients extensively throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Central and South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. "BRG is a global leader focused on the issues facing financial services clients," said BRG Principal Executive Officer and President Tri MacDonald. "With the addition of Dustin and Chris, we continue to deepen our bench with two of the most talented experts in the industry." Previously, Palmer was senior advisor to the general counsel and senior counsel for enforcement and intelligence at the US Department of the Treasury. He worked closely with FinCEN, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the departments of Commerce, State and Justice to implement policies and regulations to reduce organized crime and help secure the US financial system. He also was integrally involved in Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), along with interpreting and establishing data protection and privacy standards. "I'm excited to join a firm uniquely positioned to assist financial institutions in dealing with unprecedented disruption," said Palmer. "With a global platform that leverages advanced data analytics with extensive sector experience, we'll bring world-class resources to address our clients' most complex problems." Sidler has overseen and executed large-scale KYC due diligence reviews and transaction lookbacks covering, among others, correspondent banking and trade finance. He has played a key role in applying regtech and suptech to strengthen financial institutions and the financial system against abuse. Earlier in his career, he worked with the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Tanzania through the UN Association in Canada. "BRG offers an opportunity to deliver leading-edge services to financial institutions and fintechs," said Sidler. "Its regtech and investigations capabilities and expertise-led advisory philosophy give our clients access to cutting-edge and creative problem-solving in the financial crime space." About BRG Berkeley Research Group, LLC is a global consulting firm that helps leading organizations advance in three key areas: disputes and investigations, corporate finance, and performance improvement and advisory. Headquartered in California with offices around the world, we are an integrated group of experts, industry leaders, academics, data scientists and professionals working across borders and disciplines. We harness our collective expertise to deliver the inspired insights and practical strategies our clients need to stay ahead of what's next. Visit thinkbrg.com to learn more. SOURCE Berkeley Research Group, LLC Related Links https://www.thinkbrg.com 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 | March 4, 2021 Teachers and school staff throughout the state will be able to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine starting mid-March. Meanwhile, Governor Tom Wolf has officially signed a bill that allows for the National Guard to assist with the vaccines distribution process. A woman living in senior housing was arrested and charged for delivering crack cocaine. And one mans $35 yard sale bowl is anothers six-figure Chinese artifact. 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. Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat PM Modi to hold virtual summit with Swedish counterpart today India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual summit with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven on Friday during which they will deliberate on the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and exchange views on regional and global issues, including further strengthening of cooperation in the post-COVID era. India and Sweden have warm and friendly relations based on shared values of democracy, freedom, pluralism and rules-based international order, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Both countries have very close cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, innovation, science and technology as well as research and development, it said. During the summit, the two leaders will hold comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues, including further strengthening of cooperation in the post-COVID era, the MEA said. This will be the fifth interaction between the two leaders since 2015, according to the statement. PM Modi to receive CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award Prime Minister Modi had visited Stockholm in April 2018 for the First India Nordic Summit, while Lofven had visited India in February 2016 for the special Make in India week, it noted. Earlier, the two leaders had met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2015. In April last year, the two prime ministers had a telephonic conversation to discuss the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Their Majesties Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden had visited India in December 2019. Around 250 Swedish companies are actively operating in India in various sectors such as health and life sciences, auto industry, clean technology, defence, heavy machinery and equipment, the statement said. Around 75 Indian companies are also active in Sweden, it said. Marjorie Nixon Smith Vote For Marj, The Teflon Woman With the disenfranchisement of blacks at the turn of the 20th century after the Reconstruction era, Alabama Democrats suppressed populist challenges and the state became part of the Solid South. This constitution was not initially supported by the majority of Whites, but Democrats used the call of white supremacy to gain passage.[1] In addition to wanting to affirm white supremacy, the planter and business elite were concerned about voting by lower-class and uneducated Whites. Historian J. Morgan Kousser found, They disfranchised these Whites as willingly as they deprived Blacks of the vote. Mrs. Marjorie Nixon Smith agreed to tell me her story. Her close family call her Marj. Marj was born in Hale County, Greensboro, Alabama. Her parents: Virginia Nixon and Ed Brown, who were also from Greensboro, Alabama. At a very young high school age, Marj graduated from Hale County High School in 1956. At age six, Marjorie attended Bates Elementary School as well as her brothers and sisters who also attended Bates Elementary School. She was one of seven children: five girls and two boys. From as far back as Marj can remember, she was an aggressive, outspoken person. But, typical of other Blacks, monetary resources and other limitations hindered her progress economically and career wise. Being hampered by the intense segregation in the South was a major setback in spite of her willingness to strive and get ahead. Her story is interesting, so I asked her some questions. ADVERTISEMENT Do you ever think about what more you would like to have done during your life? I was going to Wennoah Vocational School to become a certified beautician cosmetologist. I couldnt go any longer due to the death of my sister, Catherine who died in 1958. This was very shocking to me, my whole family and the three boys without their mother who had the small children, Donzell, William and Clark (Richard). I had my mind made up and was happily anticipating to become an expert cosmetologist. Although, I never regretted having met this challenge of a lifetime, I did well. How many children do you have? Do you want to mention their names? I had two children at that time: Erskine and Glen. But, although, you may have wanted to accomplish more in your life, tell me about the great education successes of other family members, who you influenced to be catapulted to their success, if you would like to. I have unrelentingly encouraged other family members to finish college. This has been a major interest and we all family members have contributed to nephews and nieces, encouraging college and higher education. They have become successful businessmen and women too. Clark, successful businessman, as well, Joe Lewis got a doctorate degree and other successful young people of the family: Jacqueline, Leon all gone on to college and graduate school, Mark too. This is very gratifying to me and they are part of my success, because I never gave up and I never gave up on them. I always like to ask this question, because when I observe the discipline exercised by seniors, I like to know what helped you to become so disciplined? My wisdom came from God, The Lord Jesus Christ. I was always determined to make the best of my life. No spanking, or rough discipline. Tell us something about your elementary and high school education. Did your teachers talk about the disadvantages of living in the South? ADVERTISEMENT They were living there as a way of life. Big disadvantage is not being educated. Comprehension is critical. Dont just take their word for research to find out. Learn to read well, not just calling out words, but understanding what is being read. Did you feel you were at a disadvantage when growing up in the South? Even at 82 years, Im still going to church and encouraging others, especially to make the best of their lives, go to school. Tell me about one of the most discouraging and discriminating experiences in your life. I have heard you tell this story many times about your painful voting experience, which you never forgot. Its pierced in your memory. Well, I went to vote. It was a horrible experience! The tall White guy, skinny and maybe two black people. His appearance alone was intimidating! They asked the kind of questions that you would have to be presently enrolled in school to be able to answer the questions. They were questions about the government, questions requiring prior study and schooling. I knew all the answers. We were in a classroom with the little desks with seats. This tall White guy was strict and stern, saying, Dont look to your left, dont look to the right, I will put you out. Look straight at me. He was overwhelming tall and skinny. Most people in the classroom were White. I was breastfeeding my son, Junior at the time. He said, Bring your paper up to me. I gave him the papers. He said Follow the line. When you open the second set of doors, a Judge will be sitting at the desk. He will give you more papers. I had to swear on the Bible! To uphold the constitution. I put my hand on the Bible. Then I had to go out to more double doors and more double doors. He said, you will see two signsYou will see property taxes/toll taxes. I had to pay poll taxes. You go to downtown to pay the poll taxes. They made it hard for the people to vote. They didnt want you to vote! They had things on that test exam that you learn about in school. It was horrible! After paying the poll taxes, I was eligible to vote. I had to go downtown. Now show social security. We were afraid in Alabama just sitting on the porch. People would throw eggs at you. It was rough. We stress now the importance of going to school and comprehend what is being read. AfraidKKK would stand around downtown on 5th avenue Federal Building (White people). I had to register downtown at the court house and go to Washington school in the gym to vote with a voting machine. The line was very long. Many people. Polls closed. George Wallace went to the court house. People didnt even get a chance to vote. Polls closed. White poll watchers. Questions: first president pertaining to government, things that didnt make sense. If you had not been to school, you might not know the answers. Who cut down the cherry tree? Unnecessary and senseless questions not pertaining to who you want to vote for. They dont want more mail in ballots (Georgia trying to make this restrictive law). What about people in wheelchairs to vote disabled. He was interviewing people at 16th street church. Called to alert within two minutes bomb went off. There was no time to evacuate the church. I think it was planned like that. We were afraid to sit on the porch with eggs thrown and before and after 16th street bombing. Couldnt go any where. Black people couldnt shop for more than a yearwouldnt allow Blacks to sit at Newberrys. They would run children down. They were on horses, hitting them with the billy club. My brother said, Im going to take you downtown. Children were going to integrate. They told them not to get out of school. Police were down there. Children walking hosed with fire hoses. Police on horses. Terrifying circumstances. I saw a woman pregnant, fire hose knocked here down. I had to pay poll taxes in order to vote. The exam was out of this world. May be 100 questions to take exam. Everyone got one and gave you a pencil too! Look up. No looking to left or right or I will put you out (excuse you out). Therefore, if you got put out, you couldnt take the test get out. A Judge sitting with his robe on through the double doors. In the courtroom alone and he opened the Bible and I had to repeat after him. I declared this and that. Go through more double doors. Had to pay $1.50- or $3.00. But, thats why I called Marjorie Nixon Smith The Teflon Woman. Shes tough and survived despite of the many obstacles and saw many of her relatives take advantage of the later opportunities. Thanks for reading! Teach the children! Jeanette Grattan Parker, Founder-Superintendent Todays Fresh Start Charter School 323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org; [email protected] [email protected] Inquiring Minds Want To Know. All rights reservedAskdrjeanetteparker.comtm TodaysFreshStart.org Todays Fresh Start Charter School 323-293-9826. Contemporary crises, ranging from COVID to economic and political upheaval, have revealed the fragility of our freedom, and brought into view perhaps two of the greatest threats to liberty in our time judicial usurpation and presidential Executive Order. In the hands of people who either dont understand, or give little regard to Constitutional principle, these can be instruments of national suicide. They underscore that the greatest threats to liberty often come from within. In 1838, twenty-eight-year-old Abraham Lincoln felt he was watching his country tear itself apart. Riots had broken out over slavery, and no doubt Lincoln also had in mind the 1837 assassination of abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy. In that precarious period Lincoln spoke to the Young Mens Lyceum, a gathering of rising leaders in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln said that if ever there were a serious threat to American freedom it would spring up amongst us... If destruction be our lot, we (would) ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we (will) live through all time or die by suicide. Source:The Christian Post Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Nashville- Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, the Secretary of States office, along with the Federal Trade Commission and multiple state agencies, has stopped a massive fundraising operation that collected more than $110 million through deceptive robocalls. Associated Community Services (ACS) and a number of related defendants have agreed to settle charges by the FTC and state agencies. The complaint names ACS and its sister companies Central Processing Services and Community Services Appeal; their owners, Dick Cole, Bill Burland, Barbara Cole, and Amy Burland; and ACS senior managers Nikole Gilstorf, Tony Lia, John Lucidi, and Scot Stepek. In addition, the complaint names two fundraising companies allegedly operated by Gilstorf and Lia as spin-offs of ACS, Directele, and The Dale Corporation. According to the complaint, the defendants knew that the organizations for which they were fundraising spent little or no money on the charitable causes they claimed to supportin some cases as little as one-tenth of one percent. The defendants kept as much 90 cents of every dollar they solicited on behalf of the charities. The defendants used illegal robocalls to take advantage of the generosity of Tennesseans, said General Slatery. We appreciate the opportunity to work together with our Secretary of State, multiple other state agencies and the FTC to put a stop to it. "This type of fraud will not be tolerated in our state or anywhere else," Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. This settlement is about protecting Tennesseans from people or organizations determined to scam them out of their hard-earned dollars intended to help others in need." The complaint alleges that the defendants made their deceptive pitches since at least 2008 on behalf of numerous organizations that claimed to support homeless veterans, victims of house fires, breast cancer patients, children with autism, and other causes. ACS was also the major fundraiser for the sham Cancer Fund charities that were shut down by the FTC and states in 2015. In many instances, the complaint alleges, ACS and later Directele knowingly violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by using soundboard technology. With that technology, an operator plays pre-recorded messages to consumers. Using pre-recorded messages in calls to first time donors violates the TSR. The complaint also charges ACS with making harassing calls, noting that ACS called more than 1.3 million phone numbers more than ten times in a single week and 7.8 million numbers more than twice in an hour. More than 500 phone numbers were called 5,000 times or more. The ACS defendants were the subject of 20 prior law enforcement actions for their fundraising practices. The ACS defendants stopped operating in September 2019. Gilstorf purchased Directele and Dale Corp in October 2019 and, with Lia, the Directele defendants allegedly continued the deceptive fundraising and illegal telemarketing practices. The terms of the settlements, which are not pending court approval, include the following: Associated Community Services Defendants Defendants are prohibited from fundraising and telemarketing and are subject to the following monetary judgments: Associated Community Services, Inc.; Community Services, Inc.; Central Processing Services, Inc.; and Richard Dick Cole are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is suspended due to an inability to pay. Community Services Appeal, Inc. and Barbara Cole are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Barbara Cole also will be required to turn over the proceeds of the sale of a vacation home in Michigan. Robert W. Bill Burland and Amy J. Burland are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Amy Burland will be required to turn over $450,000. Directele Defendants and ACS Senior Managers Scot Stepek and John Lucidi Defendants are prohibited from fundraising and consulting on behalf of any charitable or non-profit organization that claims to work on behalf of causes similar to those outlined in the complaint. They will also be prohibited from using robocalls for any form of telemarketing. In addition, the two corporate defendantsDirectele Inc. and The Dale Corporationwill be required to cease operations and dissolve. The defendants will also be subject to the following monetary judgments: Scot Stepek will be subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Stepek will be required to sell a ski boat in his possession and turn over the net proceeds from the sale. Directele Inc., The Dale Corporation, Nikole Gilstorf, and Antonio Lia will be subject to a monetary judgment of $1.6 million. Gilstorf and Lia also will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843. The judgments are partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Gilstorf and Lia will each be required to turn over $10,000. John Lucidi will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. He will be required to turn over $25,000. Other state agencies joining in the case include the attorneys general of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; the secretaries of state of Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina; and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. The funds being surrendered will be paid to an escrow fund held by the State of Florida and, following a motion by the participating states and approval by the court, be contributed to one or more legitimate charities that support causes similar to those for which the defendants solicited. The FTC has more information for consumers about charitable giving, including tips on how to spot sham charities at https://ftc.gov/charity. In addition, consumers are encouraged to let the FTC know about charity fraud, robocalls, and other consumer issues at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and stipulated final orders was 5-0. The FTC filed the complaint and final orders in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. ### #21-09: AG Slatery and the Secretary of States Office Halt Fraudulent Charity Telefunding Operation in Multistate Action with FTC The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Here are the key questions to ask and processes to follow before technology implementation. cost of compliance; potential risk of transgression of regulation or suffering a data breach; the expenses related to securing, storing, and processing data; the impact on the trust relationship with the customer related to data harvesting; and the potential PR consequences of overstepping. growing market share; expanding share of wallet; enhancing the customer lifetime value; operational and capital allocation efficiency gains; de-risking your business; optimising price based on risk and value for customers; development of new products and services to diversify your offering; and enhanced customer satisfaction. With many organisations increasingly turning to technology and data to unlock value, it is becoming more important to have a clear understanding of the liabilities and risks associated with data harvesting and data ownership. The global newsstream is awash with stories of data mismanagement and theft, as well as abuses of customer and employee privacy making it critical for business decision-makers to guard against reputational and financial risks in relation to their data strategies.As a starting point, lets provide some context to this discussion and the dangers were tackling. Arguably, the big data race started with everyone collecting as much data as they could. More often than not, big tech and consultants sold the dream. The technology quickly became able to store and process obscene volumes of data at unprecedented velocity. However, as discussed in the first part of this article series, we started with a technology solution to what is essentially a strategy and coordination problem (a very common pattern). Indeed, we logged everything without asking ourselves what we wanted to do with it; whether we should be doing it; and what the consequences could be of owning all of this data.Now, there is such an obvious paradox that I love referring to. The scenario above can be likened to people saying that a house is an asset. If it is a bonded house, it is a liability: you must pay off the principal and interest balances, and consider the net asset value should you sell the property. Similarly, owning all this personal information and customer data is a liability that is, until you find useful mechanisms to create value and then you need to consider the net asset value, taking stock of the downsides.These downsides most often include:Then, you need to offset your liability and risk with the potential benefits of running a data activation programme. These benefits encompass:Logically, at the beginning of a data programme, you are sitting on a significant liability and you need to start offsetting the liability and risks with the upside. The upside is significant, if you have a solid understanding, get your foundations in place, and then execute accurately and at pace.As discussed in the previous installation, any data programme needs to be properly planned and structured to reduce the time to value, and also to allow you to service your risk at pace. Most importantly, dont incur the liability without having a clear route to value that exceeds the risk.Now, dont get me wrong: I am a strong proponent of creating rich and vast data ecosystems that harvest relevant data for the legitimate purpose to create value for the organisation and customers alike. However, some organisations are overly risk-averse, which stifles a companys ability to be competitive - and, ultimately, useful to its consumers. As a business leader, you must find the balance in order to unlock the right type of value with acceptable risk, whilst always being fair to the customer and complying with regulations.Ultimately, our role as business leaders is to optimise shareholder value, consistently and intelligently. With that in mind, lets look at how you develop a clear route to value for your data strategy having considered the risks outlined above.The first step is knowing what you want to do with the data: this understanding will inform what data you should collect to keep things simple; to avoid wasting unnecessary time and resources; and to ensure you collect what you need to execute with impact. Critically, dont store data without the intent to use it; thats always a risky idea.These questions can guide you in the early stages of data collection: Do we know what we want? What do you want to say? To whom do you want to say it? What value does the conversation have? What data do you need to initiate and drive your conversation?Without a doubt, you are going to be embarrassed and found wanting if you dont know which sales conversations to have, and what drives each message in the conversation. Ultimately, you cannot deploy a marketing automation programme without this knowledge, even if your data and trust foundations are in place.We so often dont take a breath to really consider what we want to achieve with our data and technology strategies. So, to begin with, understand what you want: these are your goals. The next step is to determine the drivers of the ultimate behaviours: these are your objectives.Then, design the conversations you want to have: these are your journeys. From there, each conversation will have different messages to move the user to action. Each message should contain personalised content-based data and engagement. Messages are set up on various channels such as email, SMS, automated voice, web push, app push, website promo cards and, soon, instant messaging. Each channel has its context and it drives coherent frequency. Importantly, all layers and every interaction should be driven by a data network with assistance by the automation platform. Then there are transition flows between messages, journeys, objectives and goals based on your data, and their interaction with your messages.The above illustration is a very straightforward example. You need to identify your goals and map all potential objectives that may contribute to achieving your goals to them. Then, you need to map out your sales conversations and determine the entry and exit criteria that will govern the flows between conversations and messages. This becomes your database marketing asset.From there, you need to create further capacity - whether copywriters and designers sit within your data executives team, or they have prioritised access to such resources. Marketing automation with personalisation has a significant upfront capacity investment that will continue to serve you well going forward, requiring only incremental and modest capacity pledges.In short, creating a route to value involves plotting your strategy, tactics, conversations and transitions. Once it has become clear what types of acrobatics your marketing programme requires, you can start shopping for a marketing tech platform. Again, dont start with the tech, start with the strategy and foundations.Our previous installment in the series positioned the importance and mechanics of your data foundations and internal coordination. This article has shared the importance of your trust foundations and developing and organising your sales conversations in the context of your overarching goals.The next and final part of this article series will address marketing technology in more depth and will cover the key business benefits of harnessing automation and personalisation within your data activation programme. This is arguably the most exciting and dynamic part of the process, so stay tuned! WASHINGTON - The Biden administration is preparing to convert its immigrant family detention centers in South Texas into Ellis Island-style rapid-processing hubs that will screen migrant parents and children with a goal of releasing them into the United States within 72 hours, according to Department of Homeland Security draft plans obtained by The Washington Post. The plans show the Biden administration is racing to absorb a growing number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border amid shortages of bed space and personnel. Republicans and some Democrats fear that relaxing detention policies will exacerbate a surge that is already straining the Biden administration. Russell Hott, a senior official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, notified staff of the rapid-processing plan in an email Thursday that said arrivals by unaccompanied minors and families this year "are expected to be the highest numbers observed in over 20 years." If U.S. border officials continue to take in more than 500 family members per day, the change in use to the family detention centers "may not be sufficient to keep pace with apprehensions," Hott warned in his email, which was reviewed by The Post. Individuals who cannot be housed in one of the rapid-processing centers may need to be placed in hotels, Hott wrote. MVM, an ICE contractor, will help transport the families to hotels if there is no longer capacity at the rapid-processing centers, he said, adding that the company plans to use hotels in McAllen and El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix. "We welcome the change, because the detention of families - we never thought that was a good system or a good policy at all," said Edna Yang, co-executive director of American Gateways, an immigration legal aid organization in Texas. "They shouldn't be detained, and they should be given the opportunity to go before the immigration judge and be released in the community and not held like prisoners." The plans come as Republicans are criticizing President Joe Biden for relaxing immigration policies, saying he could encourage more migrants to travel to the border. "There is no question there's a crisis at the border," Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said Thursday on Fox News. "It's Joe Biden's fault. Joe Biden has signaled to the world that he's not going to take border security seriously." Transforming family detention amounts to a wholesale repudiation of not only Donald Trump's policies but also Barack Obama's and presents a significantly different vision of how to handle the fast-changing character of mass migration at the southern border. For decades, single adults - particularly men - dominated the flows northward into the United States, but the number of families and minors traveling without their parents has increased substantially in recent years. Before the coronavirus pandemic, migrant families and unaccompanied minors were a majority of those taken into custody at the southwest border, a trend that more closely resembles refugee streams worldwide. During the Obama and Trump administrations, most families were quickly released or deported. But some were held in dormitory-style facilities for weeks or months, if not longer, for immigration proceedings. Advocates for these families have long said they are fleeing violence and poverty and shouldn't be detained at all - a sentiment Biden echoed on the campaign trail last year. "Children should be released from ICE detention with their parents immediately," Biden wrote on Twitter in June. "This is pretty simple, and I can't believe I have to say it: Families belong together." Six weeks into Biden's presidency, advocates are frustrated that his administration has continued to detain families and expel them from the border under a public-health order. The number of detained family members more than doubled, from 228 adults and children before Biden took office to 476 last week, federal records show. Although the tally is a fraction of the combined capacity of 3,300 people at three family residential centers, the uptick baffled child-welfare advocates who hoped that the detention centers would finally close. They noted that Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas, now the homeland security secretary, helped to expand use of these detention centers during the Obama administration. "There needs to be open expression of what they're going to do with these facilities," said Bridget Cambria, a lawyer representing migrant families in Pennsylvania. "They shouldn't detain families or children even for one second." ICE oversees three family residential centers for immigrants facing deportation: the 96-bed Berks Family Residential Center in Leesport, Pa., and a pair of larger facilities outside San Antonio, a 2,400-bed center in Dilley and an 839-bed center in Karnes City. The Biden administration has said it is reviewing the way it uses family detention facilities and told a federal judge last week in a lawsuit over the detentions that the policies had not changed. "A detention center is not where a family belongs," Mayorkas told NBC News in an interview this week, hinting at the plans. DHS officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe the unpublicized plans, said the transition to rapid-release centers is already underway. ICE emptied out the Berks center Feb. 26, releasing all 21 people there. ICE confirmed that the facility is empty but would not say why. Officials are considering turning Berks into a women-only center, a DHS official said, while Dilley and Karnes would serve as quick-release intake facilities that would screen migrant families, check their backgrounds and release them pending an immigration court hearing. Some would enroll in "alternatives to detention," such as ankle-monitoring programs. Families would undergo coronavirus testing, and nonprofits would then help them secure airplane or bus tickets to their final destinations in the United States, typically with relatives or friends. The goal is to process and release 100 families per day, the plans show. Migrants who test positive for the coronavirus would be quarantined for 10 days. Advocates for immigrants have cheered the preliminary plans in recent days - albeit cautiously because DHS has not made a formal announcement. In Texas, advocates said the region's top immigration officials held an emergency conference call with them on Feb. 20 to discuss plans to transform the centers into shorter-term facilities. Officials told them to prepare for more migrants to be released from Dilley and Karnes. "It's incredibly encouraging to hear a completely different philosophy and attitude for people coming into this country," said Daniel Klein, board chairman for the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, who was on the call, which was first reported by the San Antonio Express-News. Klein said that the nonprofit has added more volunteers at the bus station in downtown San Antonio to help migrants find shelter or make travel plans and that it has sometimes spent $1,000 a night on food, water and bus tickets. Biden has pledged to create a more humane immigration system and restore the asylum process, but he is also eager to skirt a border crisis that could imperil his legislative agenda, including an effort to legalize 11 million longtime undocumented immigrants. Some Democrats from southern border communities worried that rising migration would burden communities reeling from the coronavirus and a winter storm that cut power to millions and killed more than 30 in Texas. "Our country is currently unprepared to handle a surge in migrants in the middle of this pandemic," Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, tweeted Thursday. "I urge the Biden administration to listen and work with the communities on the southern border who are dealing with this influx. Inaction is not an option." The Biden administration has not detailed how it would handle another influx. In 2014 - when Biden was vice president and Mayorkas was deputy DHS secretary - the United States received an influx of 68,000 families, up from 14,800 the year before. At the time, Biden said the "crisis" was "untenable and unsustainable," and he and Mayorkas worked to stem flows from Central America and expanded family detention by opening the facilities in Dilley and Karnes. Mayorkas said then that he would ensure that "the detention of adults with children is done as humanely as possible." After the centers expanded, the number of migrant families apprehended at the border dropped below 40,000, but detention did not stop the flows. After a judge ruled that officials could not detain children in unlicensed facilities for more than 20 days, the numbers began to rise again. Advocates for immigrants said detention had little impact because of the severe conditions in Central America and the Caribbean that are driving migrants north, such as violence, climate change, poverty and government corruption. The numbers have only continued to grow. More than 470,000 migrant families and 76,000 unaccompanied minors arrived in fiscal 2019, a record on both counts, and most were released into the United States pending a court hearing. Dora Schriro, who led ICE's office of detention policy and planning, said ICE's experience with family detention shows that it is harmful to children and their parents by placing them in conditions where they are afraid. She said she reduced the capacity in Pennsylvania to 84 beds before leaving in 2009. After the Obama administration expanded the detention centers to more than 3,300 beds, she said, DHS asked her and others to issue recommendations in a report published in late 2016. Their first recommendation: "Detention is never in the best interest of children." "DHS should discontinue the general use of family detention, reserving it for rare cases when necessary," such as because someone is a flight risk or a danger to the community, the report said. Soon after, Trump took office. He sought to detain families and separated parents from their children in a failed attempt to stem the rising flows of migrants. Schriro said the Biden administration faces dual challenges at the border: keeping its international obligations to offer refuge to people feeling harm, and making sure Americans are safe. "You've got two really critical commitments, and this administration is finding a path to honor both of those obligations," she said. "The trick is not sacrificing one for the other." Pictured: Alleged rape survivor Brittany Higgins Brittany Higgins has threatened to sue Defence Minister Linda Reynolds for calling her a 'lying cow' when she went public with Parliament House rape claims. Ms Reynolds made the tasteless comments in her office area within earshot of several staff members and public servants on February 15. It was the same day Ms Higgins went public with allegations a senior colleague raped her in Senator Reynolds' Parliament House office after a night out in March, 2019. On Thursday, Ms Higgins asked her lawyer to prepare a defamation case against the defence minister unless she apologises for the 'distasteful character assassination'. In a letter to Senator Reynolds, lawyer Rebekah Giles called the statement 'demeaning and belittling' and 'highly defamatory of our client's good character and unblemished reputation'. 'The cavalier manner in which those words were spoken make it plain that they were not spoken privately or in confidence,' she wrote, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. 'You are also aware that this distasteful character assassination of our client has been republished widely, causing her immense hurt and distress. 'Your comments are particularly malicious in view of the assault on our client that took place in your office, which is now the subject of a police investigation.' The prime minister said Senator Linda Reynolds (pictured) was frustrated over suggestions she did not give enough support to Ms Higgins at the time of the incident Senator Reynolds (pictured with Ms Higgins) has known about the alleged rape for more than two years but did not inform the prime minister to respect Ms Higgins' privacy and welfare Ms Higgins said the comments were 'incredibly hurtful', and hit back at Ms Reynolds' statement to The Australian on Wednesday that blamed the remark on 'stress'. 'I appreciate that it has been a stressful time but that sort of behaviour and language is never excusable,'Ms Higgins said in a statement. 'It's just further evidence of the toxic workplace culture that occurs behind closed doors in Parliament House.' Senator Reynolds apologised to staff shortly after making the comment, and told Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday it was 'inappropriate and wrong'. She also said the remark was not in reference to the rape allegation, but to separate reports detailing her own response to the incident. Brittany Higgins, then 24, has alleged she was raped by a colleague inside Parliament House in March 2019 Scott Morrison said the remark was made in a private office and she later apologised to staff for the outburst DEFENCE MINISTER LINDA REYNOLDS' FULL STATEMENT 'A report in The Australian attributed some remarks to me regarding the very serious allegations made by my former staff member, Ms Brittany Higgins. 'I have never questioned Ms Higgins account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter. 'I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented. 'I have consistently respected Ms Higgins's agency and privacy and said this is her story to tell and no one else's. 'Ms Higgins's allegations are very serious and that is how they must be treated to ensure her legal rights are protected. I welcome her decision to progress this matter with the Australian Federal Police.' Advertisement Ms Reynolds - who is on medical leave - denied questioning Ms Higgins' allegations or besmirching her character. 'I have never questioned Ms Higgins' account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter,' she said in a statement. 'I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented.' Ms Higgins didn't proceed with the police complaint in 2019 out of fear she would lose her job as a media adviser. Brittany Higgins, then 24, alleged she was raped by a colleague inside Parliament House in March 2019 Former NSW Liberal staffer Dhanya Mani said the Ms Reynolds should be 'disciplined' for the comments, and asked her to consider whether she had 'internalised misogyny' due to her work in federal politics. 'For there to be an environment that exists in which an extremely senior woman in politics felt that she would be able to say that somebody who... has come forward with rape allegations is a "lying cow" is a reflection of just how broken our parliaments are,' she said on ABC's Q&A on Thursday night. 'How misogynistic our parliaments can be and of the gaslighting an abuse that parliamentarians are prepared to put at the feet of survivors. 'Linda Reynolds is part of the problem. Usually there would be disciplinary action. There needs to be disciplinary action.' Mr Morrison criticised Ms Reynolds for the comment, but refused to sack her. Speaking at a battery factory in the New South Wales Hunter Valley on Thursday, the prime minister said she was under 'significant stress' when she made comments. 'She deeply regrets it. They were offensive remarks. She should never have made them. I don't condone them,' Mr Morrison said. Ms Higgins says the comments made by Ms Reynolds were 'incredibly hurtful' Independent senator Jacqui Lambie is calling for the minister to quit over the remark. 'She's gone this morning. She needs to resign immediately,' Senator Lambie told Sky News. 'If she's not coming out denying that, if she's trying to smooth it over and throw it somewhere else then I think she's finished. Her career's done.' Senior Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said Senator Reynolds needed to explain herself. 'It's obviously not an acceptable comment and I think the minister needs to respond publicly,' she told ABC radio. Independent MP Zali Steggall said she was shocked to hear Senator Reynolds used the derogatory term towards Ms Higgins. 'That's incredibly disappointing and inappropriate of Linda Reynolds and the minister should know better,' she told the Nine Network. 'It makes her position all the more untenable.' Brittany Higgins has hit back at Linda Reynolds after it was revealed she called her a 'lying cow' Ms Higgins has recently reinstated her official complaint with the Australian Federal Police. Three other women have since alleged they were assaulted by the same man. He was sacked as a ministerial adviser because of a security breach on the night of Ms Higgins' alleged rape. Foreign Minister Marise Payne has taken over Defence duties while Ms Reynolds is on leave. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton previously admitted he was told about the alleged rape but chose not to tell the prime minister about it to avoid compromising a potential police investigation. Mr Dutton confirmed Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw informed him about the alleged assault on February 11, four days before Mr Morrison says he was told. Ms Higgins spoke to police on February 5, with the AFP then informing Mr Dutton. [March 04, 2021] SpiderOak wins Air Force contract for OrbitSecure trial WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Maintaining America's space dominance requires new approaches to secure software and communications, and SpiderOak is developing novel solutions for the U.S. Air Force. We have just been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to adapt our OrbitSecure protocol to meet critical military needs. Until recently, the traditional approach to operating spacecraft involved a single party operating the craft, the payload, and its ground network. This vertical integration allowed for the information security of the spacecraft to be built around the trust within an organization. We are moving into an era where operators are now using third-party ground stations, splitting the roles of spacecraft, and even sharing payload operators with other entities. In this hybrid, multi-party environment, security can no longer be based on trust. Updated communications software is crucial. Our OrbitSecure protocol provides a strong assurance of the authority, identity, integrity, and confidentiality of the space architecture data and systems entrusted to it. Furthermore, OrbitSecure can integrate with both legacy systems in space, and new systems that are yet to launch. Our SBR contract from the Air Force will provide initial funding for research to integrate OrbitSecure into Air Force and Space Force systems, and to subject the system to a rigorous assessment. This will help fulfil a need of the Armed Services for zero-trust software to create secure cryptographic communication channels in an ephemeral manner. Steve Nixon, President of the SmallSat Alliance, remarked, "This award is great news for SpiderOak and for the United States Space Force's future Hybrid Space Architecture. Having the ability to employ different space systems, whether commercial or government, with varying levels of trust while finely tuning who gets to see what, is absolutely critical to this future vision. I hope SpiderOak hits this out of the park!" Michael Campanelli, Vice President of Federal for SpiderOak, added, "This contract is a key waypoint in the evolution of our company and our success in space. We see this as a vote of confidence in our technology by the Air Force, and the chance to demonstrate that success in military applications will follow our recent advances with commercial clients. Satellites and space travel are poised to expand dramatically and we expect that our software will play a major role in this new world." About SpiderOak Mission Systems SpiderOak builds need-to-know technology that supports customers working in hostile environments. Traditional systems trust traditional infrastructure to maintain the whole security system, even though the news is rife with evidence that this model does not work. Our software combines end to end encryption with a distributed ledger technology to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our clients' most sensitive data in any environment from space to ground and back again. For more information about SpiderOak Mission Systems, check us out at http://www.spideroak-ms.com Editorial Contact For inquiries, please call SpiderOak at (866) 432-9888 ext. 6 or write PR@SPIDEROAK-INC.COM View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spideroak-wins-air-force-contract-for-orbitsecure-trial-301240813.html SOURCE SpiderOak Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] At a time of transformational change in higher education, Naomi brings tremendous value to our higher education team and our partners. Her vast experience in building partnerships with higher education institutions will allow LearningMate to continue to grow our university and college partnerships. LearningMate Solutions, a leading provider of technology, specialty content, and consulting services for the K-12, higher education, professional, and corporate learning communities, announced Naomi Brezis appointment as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for its Higher Education division. In this role, Naomi will focus on growing strategic business-to-business and university relationships. LearningMate has experienced a rapid increase in inquiries from colleges seeking partners with a proven track record in providing faculty with the support and tools necessary to enhance the student experience within their courses. Leveraging learning design best practices, data, and the college technology infrastructure, LearningMate has supported more than 50 higher education institutions in their time of need, including traditional programs, competency-based programs, certification, and micro-credentials, Abhijeet Sethi, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, LearningMate commented. At a time of transformational change in higher education, Naomi brings tremendous value to our higher education team and our partners. Her vast experience in building partnerships with higher education institutions will allow LearningMate to continue to grow our university and college partnerships. Naomi has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles supporting higher education and corporate businesses alike. She is a trusted advisor and passionate about helping educational organizations achieve their objectives and solve complex business issues. About LearningMate Solutions, Inc. LearningMate focuses on the needs of next-generation learners. The company builds on a strong foundation of learning design with progressive technology, digital media, and engineering solutions to connect todays learners, educators, administrators, policymakers, and content creators with the information, tools, and solutions they need to be successful. With six consulting offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, LearningMate serves a global clientele of education publishers, traditional and nontraditional EdTech companies, K-20 schools, universities and career colleges, government agencies, non-profits, corporate learning departments, and education consortia. For more information, visit learningmate.com. ### If you would like more information about this release or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Taya Bures at 605.838.8108 or via email at taya.bures@learningmate.com. President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday asked Minister of Justice Stelian Ion to "urgently" explain to the public how the "August 10" case file ended up being closed, according to AGERPRES. "I call on the Minister of Justice to urgently explain to the public how the case file concerning the events of August 10, 2018 ended up being closed. Romanians have every right to know who are those guilty of acts of violence against peaceful protesters. Things cannot end here and, therefore, I asked the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Interior to find the solutions so that the truth about August 10 is found out, and those responsible are held accountable," Iohannis wrote on Facebook. The Bucharest tribunal rejected on Tuesday the the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT)'s request to reopen the investigation against the former heads of the Gendarmerie in the "August 10" case. The court's decision, which is final, was taken by Judge Daniela Isabela Mihet. Basically, through this decision, the case was closed, and the former heads of the Gendarmerie will not be prosecuted for their intervention against the demonstrators at the rally in Victoriei Square on August 2018. Initially, in June 2020, DIICOT closed the file regarding the protest of August 10, 2018, both the part in which the heads of the Gendarmerie were investigated, and the notification regarding an attempted coup. Following this decision, charges were dropped Colonel Gheorghe Sebastian Cucos - former first deputy inspector of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Major Laurentiu Cazan - former general director of the Bucharest Gendarmerie General Directorate, Colonel Catalin Sindile - former head of the Romanian Gendarmerie; chief Police commissioner Mihai Dan Chirica, former Secretary of State for liaison with the prefects at the Ministry of the Interior. Subsequently, in August 2020, former DIICOT chief prosecutor Giorgiana Hosu partially overturned, last week, the solution to close the 'August 10' rally case and ordered the reopening of the criminal investigation in the case of the former chiefs of the Gendarmerie. They were to be investigated for the offenses of abuse of office, abusive conduct, participation in the use of forgery, complicity in abuse of office and complicity in participation in abusive conduct. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared Christian Porter is looking forward to returning from medical leave and rejected renewed calls for an independent investigation into the rape allegation denied by the Attorney-General on Wednesday. Mr Morrison said calls for an independent investigation from friends of the woman who accused Mr Porter, independent MPs and the Greens after NSW Police closed its investigation this week risked Australias rule of law and the presumption of innocence. That would say that our rule of law and our police are not competent to deal with these issues, Mr Morrison said. And they are competent to deal with these issues. They have reviewed the materials and theyve formed their assessment. Im pleased that [Mr Porter] is taking some time to get support to deal with what has obviously been a very traumatic series of events. (I sense women and overseas readers of this column nodding sagely to themselves.) I wonder if we liberals, having helped to preserve American democracy over the last four years, are getting cocky and self-righteous and the boast in the first half of this sentence might be an example of that. Both left and right often see the world, indignantly, through a tidy moral prism, but the world is messier than that. After #MeToo, progressives embraced the slogan believe women but struggled when a woman accused Joe Biden of sexual harassment. Some liberals embraced the slogan defund the police and hurt the election prospects of Democratic candidates who actually favored alternative social spending. Moving further to the left, utopians in Seattle last year set up a six-block no-cop zone that would be free of police violence, but the subsequent shootings there of six people in 10 days confirmed the value of the police. A much-read New York Times article last week chronicled how Smith College rushed to apologize and suspend a white janitor whom a Black student accused of racism; an investigation found no basis for the accusation. The world is complicated, and we should all be cautious about shoehorning facts into our ideological constructs. Thats one reason for intellectual humility: The search for truth is bumpy and complicated. My favorite philosopher, Sir Isaiah Berlin, emphasized that were fated to live in a world with competing and incommensurate values; thats not terrain suitable for grandstanding. Another reason to recalibrate is that if Democrats want to get things done, they need to win over undecided voters in swing states. And theres evidence that preaching from the moral high ground alienates those voters. President Biden seems to understand all this better than some others in his party: He gets that every time Democrats brandish their wokeness and wag fingers or call people bigots, they manufacture more Republicans. Humility is often a more effective persuasive tool, Grant told me. Research suggests that what wins people over is listening, asking questions and appealing to their values, not your own. Grant cites evidence for complexifying issues so they become less binary and more nuanced, enabling someone on the other side to acknowledge areas of ambivalence. Authorities are trying to find an armed robber who shot a Birmingham store clerk earlier this week. The holdup happened at 8 p.m. Monday at The Korner Kupboard on Lawson Road. Birmingham police say the man entered the store and held the clerk at gunpoint. He then demanded cash from the register. During the robbery, the suspect and the clerk got into a physical altercation behind the front counter. The video shows the struggle, so forceful that items were falling off the counter. The suspect then shot clerk and fled on foot. The clerks injuries were not life-threatening. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said investigators believe the assailant arrived at the store in a white sedan with tinted windows. The white sedan left the location when the suspect entered the store. Anyone with information is asked to call robbery detectives at 205-254-1753 or remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Ukraine and Turkey are working to finalize a free trade agreement, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said. He said this during a press conference dedicated to the results of the year of the government's work under his chairmanship, an Ukrinform correspondent reports "Literally last and this week, the free trade agreement with Turkey is being finalized," the head of the government said. He also recalled that Ukraine is negotiating with Canada to expand the free trade agreement. Shmyhal stressed that Ukraine will continue to integrate with Europe through synchronized energy grids, open airspace, an industrial visa-free regime, and a full comprehensive free trade area. The prime minister expressed confidence that Europe will more and more open its markets to Ukrainian producers. ish NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Today's Daily Dose brings you news about KemPharm scoring regulatory nod for its ADHD drug, expanded FDA approval for Pfizer's Lorbrena, United Therapeutics scrapping the development of Trevyent, Vir Biotechnology closing the enrollment in VIR-7831 arm of ACTIV-3 trial, and Takeda securing global rights to Ovid's investigational medicine Soticlestat. Read on. 1.KemPharm Scores FDA Nod For ADHD Drug KemPharm Inc. (KMPH) soared more than 42% on Wednesday, following FDA approval of AZSTARYS (formerly referred to as KP415), a once-daily product for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients age six years and older. AZSTARYS consists of Serdexmethylphenidate (SDX) co-formulated with immediate-release d-methylphenidate (d-MPH). The drug will compete against currently marketed, branded and generic methylphenidate products for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some of these currently marketed products include Johnson & Johnson's Concerta, Novartis AG's Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Focalin and Focalin XR, UCB S.A.'s Metadate CD, and Noven Pharmaceuticals' Daytrana. The peak sales of AZSTARYS are pegged at over $300 million by analysts. AZSTARYS is expected to be commercially available in the U.S. as early as the second half of 2021. Corium Inc. , a portfolio company of Gurnet Point Capital (GPC), will lead the commercialization of AZSTARYS. KMPH closed Wednesday's trading at $13.47, up 42.84%. 2. MediciNova Quits the COVID-19 Vaccine Race MediciNova Inc. (MNOV) has decided to discontinue the development of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for COVID-19 after a careful review. The company, along with BioComo, was developing an intranasal Respiratory Syncytial (RS) virus vaccine using BC-PIV technology, for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The vaccine is under preclinical testing. MediciNova has decided to quit the COVID-19 vaccine race in order to maintain adequate resources for its other development programs which have indications with larger unmet medical needs and market opportunities. MNOV closed Wednesday's trading at $5.59, down 1.93%. 3. Ocugen's Partner Releases first interim results of COVAXIN Ocugen Inc.'s (OCGN) co-development partner, Bharat Biotech, has shared the first interim results of COVAXIN, which has demonstrated nearly 81% efficacy in a phase III trial in India. COVAXIN, a whole virion inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidate, is under a phase III trial in India, which is being conducted by Bharat Biotech. The phase III clinical trial enrolled 25,800 participants between 18-91 years of age, including 2,433 over the age of 60 and 4,500 participants with comorbidities. The primary endpoint of the Phase 3 clinical trial is based on the first occurrence of PCR-confirmed symptomatic (mild, moderate or severe) COVID-19 with onset at least 14 days after the second study vaccination in serologically negative (to SARS-CoV-2) adult participants at baseline. The first interim analysis is based on 43 cases, of which 36 cases of COVID-19 were observed in the placebo group compared to just 7 cases observed in the COVAXIN group, which translates to an efficacy rate of 80.6%. COVAXIN was authorized for emergency use in India on January 3, 2021. Bharat Biotech plans to release further details of the trial results as additional data become available. OCGN closed Wednesday's trading at $10.46, up 8.96%. 4. Takeda Secures Global Rights to Ovid's Soticlestat Shares of Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (OVID) soared more than 36% on Wednesday, on news of Takeda securing global rights to the company's investigational medicine Soticlestat. Soticlestat, discovered at Takeda's Shonan, Japan research center, was licensed to Ovid in 2017. This drug candidate is being developed for the treatment of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, including Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Under the 2017 collaboration agreement, Takeda received equity in Ovid and was eligible to receive up to $85 million in payments for regulatory milestones, including the initiation of Phase 3 clinical trials. Now that Takeda has secured all the global rights to Soticlestat, Ovid will have no further development or milestone obligations. Ovid is now eligible to receive from Takeda up to $856 million in payments, including a $196 million upfront payment, regulatory and commercial milestone payments and tiered double-digit royalties on product sales. Takeda plans to initiate Phase 3 studies of Soticlestat in children and adults with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome next quarter. OVID closed Wednesday's trading at $4.04, up 36.49%. 5. FDA Approves Expanded Indication for Pfizer's Lorbrena The FDA has approved the expanded label for Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) Lorbrena as first-line treatment for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The expanded approval was based on results of a phase III trial in patients with previously untreated advanced ALK-positive NSCLC who were randomized to receive LORBRENA monotherapy or XALKORI monotherapy. In the trial, dubbed CROWN, there was a 72% reduction in risk of progression or death for treatment with LORBRENA compared to XALKORI. (XALKORI, developed by Pfizer, is an approved drug for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are ALK-positive or ROS1-positive). Lorbrena received accelerated approval from the FDA in 2018 for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC whose disease has progressed on Crizotinib and at least one other ALK inhibitor for metastatic disease; or whose disease has progressed on Alectinib or Ceritinib as the first ALK inhibitor therapy for metastatic disease. Now, with the FDA approving the expanded use, the 2018 accelerated approval has also been converted to full approval. Sales of Lorbrena are not reported individually in the company's financial statement. PFE closed Wednesday's trading at $34.39, up 2.63%. 6. United Therapeutics Throws In the Towel on Trevyent United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) has decided to discontinue the development of its drug device combination product candidate Trevyent, proposed for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Trevyent was denied FDA approval in April 2020, and following a meeting with the regulatory agency, the company has now received its feedback. The FDA has indicated that the company would need to both redesign the product to improve pump accuracy in certain respects and conduct a clinical study of the redesigned product - all of which would cause considerable additional delay and additional development efforts may not ultimately be successful in addressing the FDA's comments. Since the development of Trevyent is no longer commercially reasonable in light of the additional FDA feedback, the company has decided to scrap its development. UTHR closed Wednesday's trading at $163.21, down 2.03%. 7. Vir Biotechnology To Close Enrollment in VIR-7831 arm of COVID-19 Trial Shares of Vir Biotechnology Inc. (VIR) plunged over 27% on Wednesday, following an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board's recommendation to close enrollment in the VIR-7831 arm of ACTIV-3 trial while the data mature. ACTIV-3, a global Phase 3 trial, is one of several ongoing trials in the National Institutes of Health's Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) Program. This trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VIR-7831 for the treatment of hospitalized adults with COVID-19. Following a routine, pre-planned safety and efficacy data review of the first 300 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 enrolled in the ACTIV-3 trial, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board has found that while VIR-7831 met initial pre-specified criteria to continue to the next phase of the ACTIV-3 trial and there were no reported safety signals, sensitivity analyses of the available data raised concerns about the magnitude of potential benefit. Vir Biotechnology is partnered with GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) to develop VIR-7831. The companies will continue discussions with the NIH about the best ways to further evaluate the potential of VIR-7831 in the hospitalized population as all parties gain a fuller understanding of the still-emerging data. VIR closed Wednesday's trading at $41.78, down 27.64%. 8. Stocks That Gained/Lost The Most In a Day Asensus Surgical Inc. (TRXC) closed Wednesday's (Mar.3, 2021) trading at $4.54, up 15.82%. Guardion Health Sciences Inc. (GHSI) closed at $2.82, up 12.80%. Magenta Therapeutics Inc. (MGTA) closed at $13.18, up 11.60%. Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (SANA) closed at $24.48, down 18.02%. Lucira Health Inc. (LHDX) closed at $15.45, down 15.44%. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX KEMPHARM-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Searchlight Resources Inc. ("Searchlight" or the "Company") (TSXV:SCLT) (US:CNYCF) is pleased to announce a private placement financing of flow-through shares and non-flow-through units (the "Private Placement"). The Company will issue up to 12,008,750 units at a price of $0.08 per unit (the "Unit") for aggregate proceeds of $960,700. Each Unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (the "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.12 per common share for a period of 2 years from the date of issue. The Company also will issue 100,000 flow-through ("FT") shares at a price of $0.10 per FT share for aggregate proceeds of $10,000. FT shares will entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares, in accordance with provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada). The Company expects to incur cash commissions and finders' fees of $67,354 and 708,925 broker and finders warrants which will expire 2 years from the date of closing. The financing is subject to TSXV approval. All the securities issued are subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing. Searchlight intends to use the proceeds of the Private Placement to fund exploration expenditures on its portfolio of mineral properties and for general working capital. The Company also announces that it has granted incentive stock options to consultants under its Stock Option Plan entitling them to purchase an aggregate of up to 500,000 common shares of the Company. The stock options are exercisable on or before March 4th, 2023 at a price of $0.09 per common share. About Searchlight Resources Inc. Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV:SCLT; US:CYNCF) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Exploration focus is on gold and battery minerals throughout the Province, concentrating on projects with road access. Searchlight holds a 427.6 square kilometre land position within the gold and base metal rich Flin Flon - Snow Lake Greenstone Belt. The Company is currently advancing its Bootleg Lake Gold Project located in Saskatchewan, less than 10 km from Flin Flon, Manitoba, and which hosts four past producing high-grade gold mines. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Stephen Wallace" Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.searchlightresources.com or contact: Searchlight Resources Inc. Alf Stewart, VP Corporate Development (604) 331-9326 info@searchlightresources.com Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. 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: Searchlight Resources Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633426/Searchlight-Resources-Announces-Private-Placement-Financing Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, delivered some good news about Prince Philip's condition. On Wednesday, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall visited a coronavirus vaccination center in London. During that time, she revealed that the Duke of Edinburgh's health status is slightly improving. According to the broadcasters who covered her visit, Camilla added that the royal family is keeping their fingers crossed for Prince Philip's recovery. Although the duke is feeling better, he reportedly still "hurts at moments." The comments from Prince Charles' wife came after Buckingham Palace said on Monday that Prince Philip was comfortable and is responding to the treatment. Despite the good news, he is expected to remain hospitalized until, at least, at the end of this week. For what it's worth, this has been his longest-ever stint in hospital. To recall, Prince Philip rarely appears in public ever since he retired from royal duties in 2017. He has been staying at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth II to safeguard themselves from the dreaded virus. Only last month, the royal consort entered a medical facility. He reportedly traveled by car alone to the King Edward VII Hospital in central London after feeling unwell. During that time, a palace source clarified that it was not an emergency admission or COVID-19 related. But the Royal Family Looks Closely At Prince Philip Although Camilla assured that Prince Philip is doing well, what the recent reports said actually reveal different things. Last week, Prince of Wales traveled a 200-mile round trip from Gloucestershire to the hospital. He also spent 40 minutes with Prince Philip and went out with teary eyes. Upon seeing the heir to the throne, royal watchers speculating that Prince Philip's health might be deteriorating. But royal commentator Dickie Arbiter clarified through Royal Beat on True Royalty TV the real reason behind the emotional-looking royal prince. "To lay the ground. Look the man is 99, he is in with an infection. My guess is that he will come out, he will walk out and he will go back to Windsor," he said, ensuring that the father-and-son only talked about the future of the monarchy. Prince Harry, on the other hand, was reportedly advised to jet back to the U.K. to say goodbye to his grandfather. An insider revealed to The Royal Observer the royal family is preparing for the worst about Prince Philip's health. This contradicted what Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said. Arbiter's claims that Prince Charles also talked about the future of monarchy clearly indicates that Prince Philip already gave his advices already. See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles A bomb squad has set off controlled explosions in a Gold Coast neighbourhood after a hazardous chemical was found at a home. An emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act was made about 3.20pm after police found a hazardous chemical at a home on Pacific Parade, Bilinga. It was revoked just after 5pm. Police said the bomb squad was conducting controlled explosions after the chemical was found and deemed unstable. Four Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews were on scene after arriving about 12.50pm and helped police remove the chemical. 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. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Help India! Ajmal Khan is a poet from Kerala whose new collection of poems called The Mappila Verses marks the identity of resistance and poetic assertion and a breakthrough in English poetry written in India. This is the story of his journey from a dreamy teenager to a published poet. Suprakash Majumdar, TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles New Delhi: The nature of Indian English writing is changing from a marginalized perspective. It is a small change but its a good change, says Ajmal Khan, a Kerala based poet. Khan, 31, is the author of The Mappila Verses, a collection of poems that as per its blurb takes the reader to a different experience and marks it as a breakthrough in English poetry written in India. Ajmal dubs the publication marking the identity of resistance and poetic assertion. Ajmal comes from an economically weak family, with low income and literacy levels. His father was a tailor and Ajmal would help him out at the shop after school. Ajmal told TwoCircles.net that he never thought of becoming a writer when he was younger and didnt even know that it was possible. Till 10th standard, he was an average student. I was also shocked that I cleared 10th standard with a bare minimum, he laughs. That was the turning point for me. When he passed the 12th standard, he joined Calicut University in 2007 for Bachelors in English Literature. Recalling the time at Calicut University, he says, The teaching system was so different back in Calicut that we used to read classic English literature like Shakespeare in Malayalam. Very few people in his college were fluent in English and therefore couldnt understand literature written in English. In college, Ajmal caught his flair for writing. He used to write short stories and poems in Malayalam. He also started to write a few articles in some small magazines in the region. My work was noticed in places like Kerala, Bengal and in places where the Bahujan movement is strong, where you will find the culture of these small magazines and publications, he said. The magazines where Ajmals work appeared would give space to many marginalized writers. Ajmal had now found a place to publish his work in such magazines and thats how his writing journey started. After completing his bachelors, Ajmal knew that he had to get out of his hometown to get a proper education. Fond of travelling and exploring new places & culture, he noticed that many people from his hometown were going to different places to get an education. However, given his familys weak economic strength, this seemed like a farfetched reality for him. Facing this, Ajmal started looking for any opportunity that would lower his expenditure. I was only looking for opportunities to get out of my hometown and higher education was only my secondary concern. I should note that where I am from, women would never get such an opportunity that I got. If I was a woman, I would have probably been married off and would be taking care of my children instead of writing, Ajmal says. He finally decided to join the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai. He thought this was a viable option for him given that TISS had fee waivers for SC/ST/OBC students. This was also when he started to write in English. Ajmal experienced first-hand the socioeconomic marginalization of Muslims and Dalits after arriving in TISS. It was a cultural shock for me, he says. Back home, Ajmal had read about this but now witnessed clear parallels for the first time. With a history of communal mobilization and riots in Mumbai, its obvious to see this, he says. He started actively participating in-campus and off-campus events and observing politics. Marathi Dalit Sahitya Sammelan could be seen all across Maharashtra. Ajmal started to observe the politics of caste in Marathi Literature, where the language and Dalit articulation in Marathi literature could see anti-caste histories. He wanted to understand who these writers are, and how they tone their craft and caste. I could not read Namdeo Dhasal in Marathi, but I read translations and I was shaken by his work, says Ajmal. Most of the poems I wrote in Mappila Verses were written during my time in TISS. I have written 2 books of poetry before the Mappila Verses. It was around this time that Ajmal started reading English literature, which wasnt required for his course. He was interested in writing poetry, but he decided not to write in Malayalam, because English could make his voice reach a large audience. He struggled to write in English. In college, he saw only people from metropolitans spoke really good English and their articulation was nuanced, which was not the case for him. Thats when I understood the dynamics of English and why I thought it was important for Bahujans to grasp the language, much before Kancha Illaiah talked of the same politics of English, he says. Ajmal comments on how the Muslim population in India generally ignores what women have to offer. Muslims in this country have not paid attention to their history. For instance, take the case of Fatima Sheikh, who shaped the education of women in this country, barely finds a credible record of her work and contributions, he says. Most of Ajmals work traverses his deeply personal experiences as an Indian Muslim. He writes about his experiences travelling in Delhi Metro, the streets of Mumbai or New York, or what his mother, an Indian Muslim woman, has to say about CAA and NRC. He wishes to be an activist and a writer. English writing is dominated mostly by upper-caste Hindu men, who were introduced to the language because of university systems and privilege of occupying spaces. English language and literature are now being occupied by Bahujan communities, and its not a large change, but a small one with huge impact, he says. I wrote a poem in Arabic, which is something that most people do not identify with because of negative connotations associated with the language, he says about his poem on the language politics of Arabic, adding, I worked on the book during the lockdown and I did not think it would be read at all. Surprisingly, it became a best-seller on Amazon. Ajmals poem Write me down, I am an Indian, which he wrote in response to the CAA-NRC protests was widely read on social media. Ajmal says the poem was written in the vein of Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwishs celebrated poem Write me down, I am an Arab. The poem received much acclaim and has been translated into many regional languages, including into Hindi by lyricist Varun Grover. Editor Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His three books are available on amazon.com [March 03, 2021] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS APA, EH, FUBO, MPLN INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits NEW ORLEANS, March 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: EHang Holdings Limited (EH) Class Period: 12/12/2019 - 2/16/2021 (and on February 16, 2021, only for those who purchased shares at or above the price of $112.00). Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 19, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-ehang-holdings-limited-american-depositary-shares-securities-litigation fuboTV Inc. (FUBO) Class Period: 3/23/2020 - 1/4/2021 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 19, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit htps://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-fubotv-inc-securities-litigation Apache Corporation (APA) Class Period: 9/7/2016 - 3/13/2020 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 26, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-apache-corporation-securities-litigation MultiPlan Corporation f/k/a Churchill Capital Corp. III (MPLN) Class Period: 7/12/2020 - 11/10/2020 and/or were holders of Churchill Capital Corp. III (Churchill) Class A common stock entitled to vote on Churchills merger with and acquisition of Polaris Parent Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries completed in October 2020. Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 26, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-multiplan-corporation-securities-litigation If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] JOHANNESBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2021) An umbrella group of Christian churches in southern Africa has sounded the alarm over a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the north of Mozambique, where a quarter of the population has been displaced by what the UN calls a perfect storm of fighting and natural disasters. The Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa met by video this week to discuss the situation on Mozambique's Cabo Delgado, a resources-rich region that has been under siege by Islamist insurgents since 2017. The UN estimates that over 530,000 people have been displaced by December, many of them in the past few months. More than 1,300 civilians have been killed. "The insurgency in northern Mozambique is not just a Mozambican problem, it is a southern Africa regional emergency, thus an African burden that cannot be globally ignored," the organization's senior clerics said in a joint statement. Nearly half of the population in Cabo Delgado are Christians. The Islamist militancy, known locally as al-Shabaab despite having no connection to Somalia, is calling for a strict Sharia law across Mozambique. But Jao Elias, of the Church of Mozambique, insisted this was not a sectarian strife. "People there are Islamic and many of them are dying... This is not a religious war. Cabo Delgado is rich in minerals. Mozambican people were not divided. We are one. This is not a Mozambican problem alone. It is a continental problem," he said. Emmanuel Chikoya of Zambia warned that history had proven that smaller conflicts could easily blow up into genocide, despite the Mozambican government dismissing it as "not as serious as thought to be." He said the African Union needed to step up to the plate after all forms of lower-level diplomacy failed. "The African Union has not been as active as it ought to be and we are making the call to say 'step up and engage the Mozambican government'," he said. Kenneth Mtata, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, agreed that the UN and the African Union needed to address the issue, which he linked to a growing dissatisfaction and economic woes. "This is not a provincial issue it is national, regional and continental. We must sustain communities to co-exist. Insurgents are taking advantage of Africa because the people of Africa are dissatisfied with how resources are not equitably distributed as well as economic injustices leading to instability," he said. Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, an associate professor at South Africa's Wits University school of Governance, echoed this in a comment to Sputnik. He accused Mozambique of ignoring the region's need for good governance and social services. "The Mozambican government had long neglected Cabo Delgado in terms of service delivery and governance. Unlike Mozambican citizens, terrorists never had to travel far to get there," he said. The government needs to address porous borders that promote an influx of extremists as well as an outpour of resources and drug smuggling, the expert said. He criticized the plan to send troops to Cabo Delgado in the coming weeks as reactionary and prone to generate more tensions. "Soldiers can't bring governance and have no resources to bring stability in Cabo Delgado. We need a regional response as it spills over the borders of Tanzania, the Comoros and Malawi. We need a Southern African Development Community response and then a multilateral response," he stressed. Update 3/10: Davis has provided the funds to the district as of Wednesday, March 10. Read more here. SAGINAW, MI - A local rapper who announced a $5,000 yearly scholarship at Saginaw Public School Districts Arthur Hill High School has not provided the funds to the district, Superintendent Ramont Roberts said in a statement released Wednesday, March 3. Las Vegas-based rapper Corey Corey Dollaz Davis made multiple social media posts in early February announcing a yearly scholarship at Arthur Hill, his alma mater, to help offset costs for a college-bound student with financial difficulties. Davis previously said he hoped the scholarship enabled someone to follow their passions, and that he didnt want to wait to blow up before giving back to his hometown. However, weeks later, the district has yet to receive the donation after multiple attempts to communicate with Davis, Roberts said in his statement. Davis told the district he would be in town Monday to deliver a check, then said Tuesday he would wire the funds to a family member who would deliver them. As of noon on Wednesday, March 3, the district still does not have the money. Saginaw Public Schools welcomes financial contributions that any individual in the community would like to provide in an effort to support students, Roberts said in the statement. However, it is also our civic and fiduciary responsibility to be transparent, relative to our operations and finances... Saginaw Public Schools would like to be clear that after several attempts to communicate with the individual, after learning of the information through social media, we have not received the aforementioned donation. When reached for comment Tuesday evening, Davis said through text he was working to talk with the district to see if he could do a wire transfer. He could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday, according to the district. Attempts to reach Davis by MLive on March 3, were unsuccessful. The full statement from the district reads: Saginaw Public Schools welcomes financial contributions that any individual in the community would like to provide in an effort to support students. However, it is also our civic and fiduciary responsibility to be transparent, relative to our operations and finances. It has been reported in the media that a former student donated $5,000 to Arthur Hill High School to be utilized to fund scholarships for students. Saginaw Public Schools would like to be clear that after several attempts to communicate with the individual, after learning of the information through social media, we have not received the aforementioned donation. We will always maintain our integrity as an organization and be forthright with our community as it relates to our operations and finances. Thank you. Read more on MLive: Saginaw students return to classes as district begins hybrid learning Former Saginaw High standout Algevon Eichelberger becomes March Madness hero Michiganders 50 and older will soon be eligible for coronavirus vaccine Police block civil society members and activists protesting the Digital Security Act from marching toward the prime ministers office in Dhaka, March 3, 2021. A Bangladeshi court granted bail Wednesday to cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore who has been tortured during 10 months in custody under the countrys Digital Security Act, his lawyer said. Kishore was granted a six-month bail on his seventh attempt to be freed from jail but he will not walk free for a few more days, the attorney said. The cartoonist was arrested in May along with 53-year-old writer Mushtaq Ahmed, whose death in custody last week prompted days of protest at home and an international outcry over the repression of free speech in Bangladesh. A report on the cause of Ahmeds death will be issued on Thursday, the home minister told reporters Wednesday. One [of the reasons for bail] was Kishores health, while the other was that two others accused in the same case are out on bail, Deputy Attorney-General Sarwar Hossain said. Ahmeds death in custody on Feb. 25 angered the international community. Many groups such as PEN America, Cartoonists Rights Network International, and the Committee to Protect Journalists called for the ailing Kishore to be freed. Kishores lawyer, Jyotirmoy Barua, said he had filed bail applications in several courts since the cartoonist and Ahmed were arrested. Different courts earlier rejected the bail petitions filed by Ahmed and Kishore six times and finally the High Court has granted our plea today, Barua told BenarNews. The court accepted our plea for bail and now there is no bar to set him free, as he is not an accused in any other case, Barua said, adding that the procedure to convey the bail order to prison authorities takes a few days. Kishore, who is diabetic, had reported abuse by prison guards, according to Barua and the advocacy group Cartoonists Rights Network International. We told the court that Kishore was mercilessly tortured by law enforcers while in custody. He sustained injuries to his ears, left leg and he cannot walk properly due to the torture. Now he is critically ill, as his ear got badly infected, the lawyer said. Separately, an investigation into Ahmeds death by corrections authorities concluded there was no negligence on their part, The Daily Star, a local publication, reported on Wednesday. It cited Brig. Gen. Md. Mominur Rahman Mamun, the inspector general of prisons. The report on the investigation has been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rahman Mamun said. Bangladesh is only partly free After Ahmeds death, international rights groups and foreign envoys voiced grave concern about the Digital Security Act (DSA) being used to repress free speech and target those who criticize the Awami League government. Their concern was shared by United States-based democracy research NGO Freedom House, which on Wednesday released its annual Freedom in the World report. Bangladesh is still classified as partly free, according to Freedom House, which tracked developments in 2020. Bangladeshs ruling Awami League has consolidated political power through sustained harassment of the opposition and those perceived to be allied with it, as well as of critical media and voices in civil society, the report said. For instance, Ahmed had published an article on Facebook criticizing the shortage of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, PEN America and Human Rights Watch had said. Ahmed had also shared Kishores cartoons about alleged corruption in the government response to the pandemic. They were arrested under the act on charges of spreading anti-government remarks and rumors regarding the coronavirus situation and various law enforcement agencies, on social media, police said last May. The DSA allows police to arrest people without a warrant. It also punishes those who produce or distribute content that hurts religious sentiments or religious values or destroys communal harmony, or creates unrest or disorder with up to 10 years in prison. Last year, at least 142 people faced cases under the law, which was passed by the ruling Awami League government in October 2018, according to rights group Odhikar. Most of the cases were filed by the law enforcement agencies or the leaders of the ruling party and their front organization, Odhikar said. Bail for six months is not enough Anger over Ahmeds death and Kishores alleged torture spilled onto the streets of Dhaka for a sixth straight day Wednesday, as protesters demanded that the government withdraw the case against Kishore and scrap the Digital Security Act. Protesters formed a human-chain in front of the National Press Club, and began marching toward Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas office. Police thwarted this attempt by setting up barricades much like they did earlier this week to prevent protesters from surrounding government buildings. The right to expression is guaranteed by our constitution. It cannot be curtailed by enacting a law. We are here to reestablish this right and protest the death of writer Mushtaq, Badiul Alam Majumdar, of the citizens group Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik, told BenarNews. The news of cartoonist Kishores bail is good, but an interim bail for six months is not enough. The government must withdraw the case filed against him under the Digital Security Act. Meanwhile, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud defended the law. The [act] is meant to provide digital security to the people of the country to give digital security to someone whose character is assassinated, Mahmud said. The death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed is unfortunate. I am also hurt by this incident. However, the manner in which attempts are being made to create a situation over his death is even more unfortunate. A semitruck on Tuesday crashed into an SUV carrying 25 people on a Southern California highway, killing 13 and leaving others injured, authorities said. California Highway Patrol Chief Omar Watson said 12 people died at the scene, which is about 11 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, and another died after arriving at the hospital. Hospital officials earlier reported there were 15 killed and more people in the SUV. Highway Patrol said its not clear what caused the crash between the SUV and a tractor-trailer full of gravel on a highway through fields in the agricultural southeastern corner of California, about 100 miles east of San Diego. Its unclear if the SUV had stopped at a stop sign before crossing into the path of the semitruck around 6:15 a.m., Watson said. The truck struck the left side of the SUV, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. Obviously, that vehicles not meant for that many people, Watson said. Its unfortunate that that many people were put into that vehicle because theres not enough safety constraints to safely keep those people in that vehicle. He said numerous people were ejected. The SUV was a Ford Expedition that would typically seat eight to nine people legally. Multiple people from the SUV were flown or sent to hospitals for injuries that included fractures and head trauma. Four were flown to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where is in critical condition and the others are stable, spokesman Todd Burke said. The truck driver was hospitalized with moderate injuries. Macario Mora, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection in Yuma and El Centro, said the Border Patrol was helping other law enforcement with the crash. He said the immigration status of those in the SUV was unknown and being investigated. It was an unusual number of people in an SUV, but we dont know who they were, Mora said, adding that they could have been farmworkers. A harvest is underway in the region of most of the winter lettuce and other leafy greens eaten in the United States. Officials from the Holtville and Imperial County fire departments, as well as the California Highway Patrol spokesperson for the area, could not immediately be reached. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Auto The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. Northern Ireland should aim to set its own low rate of corporation tax after a jump in the UK levy to 25% in the Budget, it has been claimed. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said to help rebalance the public finances, the levy for big firms with profits of over 250,000 will be put up from 19% to 25% in 2023. Angela McGowan, Northern Ireland director of business group the CBI, said the move would prompt a "sharp intake of breath". Companies with profits of 50,000 or less will continue to pay at 19%, with staggered increases for those with profits over that level. He also announced plans for free ports where special tax rates will apply around the UK, including here. However, only locations in England were confirmed. Mr Sunak also said Northern Ireland would receive another 410m for its Covid response and confirmed an extension of the furlough scheme until September, with firms required to contribute 10% of wages for hours not worked from July. Business groups here said that should prompt the Executive here to ensure its reopening plan enabled firms using furlough to at least be trading in part by July. There was also renewed support for self-employed people, with those who have just filed tax returns for 2019/20 now eligible for grants. Mr Sunak unveiled a new "super-deduction" enabling firms who invest in their business to offset the cost, plus another 30%, against their tax. Economy Minister Diane Dodds said more information was needed on how Northern Ireland firms would benefit from other initiatives, including a scheme for companies to boost management and digital skills. Chartered Accountants Ireland said the rise in corporation tax should prompt Northern Ireland to set its own low rate, enabling it to compete with the Republic's 12.5%. Last night the tax increase was being lauded as good news for the Republic as it also offered European market access lacking in the UK. Dermot O'Leary of Goodbody Stockbrokers said it demonstrated the "stability" of Ireland's corporation tax in contrast to UK "instability". Finance Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the extension of furlough, support for newly self-employed, and additional funding for the Covid response. But he said money for everyday public spending had only increased by 4.2m, and that there was no new capital funding while the requirement on firms to contribute to furlough pay from July could be counter-productive. "I am concerned that asking employers who may not be fully operational to find the cash for these wage costs could lead to redundancies." The Budget also contained measures ostensibly confined to England, including an extension of the business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and tourism. But Mr Murphy said he will bring proposals to Executive colleagues on his plans for next year's rates holiday in NI. Ann McGregor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said many aspects of the Budget were welcome but that there was "scant specific reference to NI". "Businesses here face a set of unique challenges post-EU exit and there was no indication of any support measures to help them cope with this." Ms McGowan said the corporation tax increase sent a worrying signal to anyone preparing to invest in the UK. "This is a particularly acute concern for Northern Ireland's post-Brexit competitiveness on the island of Ireland." And she urged a "relook" at how NI competes with the Republic's 12.5% rate. NI has held the power to set a lower rate of corporation tax since 2015 although it has not used the power. Norah Collender, professional tax leader at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said: "A lower rate of corporation tax in the region coupled with the dual benefit of having access to both the UK and the EU's single market for goods could put NI in a unique position to attract foreign direct investment into the region, particularly in the manufacturing and distribution sectors." Estate agent Simon Brien said the extension to the stamp duty holiday would be well received by the market. He added: "However, it has by no means been the main driver to market confidence and people's lifestyle choices are undoubtedly the dominant factor." New York prosecutors investigating Donald Trump and the Trump Organization are sharpening their focus on the company's long-serving chief financial officer, delving into his personal and financial affairs, according to reports. The increasing focus on CFO Allen Weisselberg is aimed at 'flipping' him to cooperate with the investigation - an attempt to turn one of Trump's most important aides into a witness against him, according to the Washington Post. Weisselberg, 73, has served as CFO to the Trump Organization for more than two decades and could provide prosecutors invaluable information about the inner workings of the company. Over the last few weeks, prosecutors working for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. have been interviewing witnesses who know Weisselberg, and have also asked them questions about his two adult children, Barry and Jack Weisselberg. Barry Weisselberg works for the Trump Organization, where he manages the company's ice rinks in Central Park; Jack Weisselberg works at Ladder Capital Finance, one of Trump's biggest lenders. The district attorneys office is examining transactions involving the Weisselberg sons as part of a probe of their father, the New York Times reported. Those transactions include a Trump-owned apartment that Barry reportedly lived in rent free for seven years, and loans amounting to $270 million from Ladder Capital to the Trump Organization since 2012. Neither Allen Weisselberg nor his sons have been accused of wrongdoing, however investigators believe the CFO may have an incentive to cooperate with Vance's office should prosecutors find any evidence to suggest otherwise. The probe is also said to have accelerated recently after Vance brought in Mark F. Pomerantz - an attorney who prosecuted the son of John Gotti, head of the Gambino crime family, in the 1990s - to lead witness interviews. Allen Weisselberg (above), 73, has served as CFO to the Trump Organization for more than two decades and could provide prosecutors invaluable information about the inner workings of the company Prosecutors working for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. have been interviewing witnesses who know Weisselberg, and have also been asking questions about his two adult children, Barry (right) and Jack (left) Weisselberg. Who is Allen Weisselberg? Allen Weisselberg, 73, is the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Trump Organization, a position he's held since 2000. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Weisselberg began his career in the Trump dynasty as an account for real state magnate Fred Trump in the 1970s. By the late 1980s, he was appointed controller of the organization, working under then-CFO Stephen Bollenbach. Just over a decade later, in 2000, he succeeded Bollenbach as CFO and was also appointed Vice President of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. After Trump's inauguration in 2017, the Trump Organization announced that Weisselberg would manage the company with Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. for the duration of his presidency. Weisselberg was also a board member and severed as treasurer for the Donald J. Trump Foundation, set up during Trump's White House bid. In a 2017 deposition, Weisselberg told NY investigators that the charity's board never met, the organization had 'no policy' for determining whether its spending followed nonprofit laws, and charity had been co-opted by Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, in violation of a ban preventing charities from being mixed with politics. Advertisement If the DA's office secures Weisselberg's cooperation, it could prove a significant boost to the long-running investigation and deliver a blow to Trump, who has long depended on his CFO's loyalty. Weisselberg has been CFO of the Trump Organization since 2000 and handles nearly all of the company's financial transactions. According to the Washington Post, he once described himself during a deposition as Trump's 'eyes and ears ... from an economic standpoint.' Vance's investigation into Trump and his company initially began with a focus on the Trump Organization's reimbursement, through Weisselberg's office, of a 2016 hush-money payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, to women claiming to have had affairs with him. In that instance, Weisselberg was given limited immunity as part of a federal investigation that resulted in Cohen pleading guilty to campaign-finance violations and being jailed for three years. The investigation has since broadened into a wider review of the company's dealings with a variety of external entities, including Deutsche Bank and Ladder Capital - Jack Weisselberg's employer. And last month, Vance's team won big when the Supreme Court rejected a last ditch attempt by Trump to block a subpoena for his financial records, allowing them to obtain eight years of the former president's tax returns. Now, prosecutors have turned their attentions to Weisselberg, scrutinizing his work in helping to assess the value of Trump buildings as the company sought to obtain loans from the likes of Deutsche Bank and Ladder Capital and reduce property taxes, the Washington Post reported. The DA's office is examining whether the Trump Organization inflated the value of some of its most prominent properties - including Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue - to obtain the best possible loan, while low-balling values to reduce taxes. Vance's team have also made inquiries about a Trump-owned luxury apartment where Weisselbergs son Barry lived for seven years, beginning in 2005. Weisselberg has been CFO of the Trump Organization since 2000 and handles nearly all of the company's financial transactions The probe is said to have accelerated in recent weeks after Vance (left) brought in Mark F. Pomerantz (right) - an attorney who prosecuted the son of John Gotti, head of the Gambino crime family, in the 1990s - to lead witness interviews Trump and Rudy Giuliani are served in lawsuit that accuses them of inciting Jan. 6 riots Former President Donald Trump and his ex-lawyer Rudy Giuliani have been served in a civil rights lawsuit that alleges the former president conspired with Giuliani and members of far-right extremist groups to prevent Congress from certifying the election. The Daily Beast reported Wednesday that attorneys for Rep. Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and the NAACP delivered the lawsuit to the former president at Mar-a-Lago. Giuliani's lawyer, Joseph D. Sibley, accepted the papers on behalf of the former mayor of New York. The federal lawsuit accuses Trump of inciting the deadly insurrection at the Capitol and conspiring with his lawyer, Giuliani, and extremsit groups to try and prevent Congress from certifying the results of the presidential election he lost to now President Joe Biden. Thompson's lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by a member of Congress. It seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages. The case also names as defendants Giuliani and groups including the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, extremist organizations that had members charged by the Justice Department with taking part in the siege. Lawyers for Trump have denied that he incited the riot. Advertisement Located in the Trump Parc East building, on Central Park South, last year Jennifer Weisselberg, Barry's ex-wife, told Bloomberg that the couple had lived there rent free. She said she believed at the time the apartment was a wedding gift from Donald and Melania Trump. Records observed by the Post show the unit belonged to a Trump-owned entity, Trump CPS LLC., and was later sold in 2014 for $2.8 million. Market rent on the apartment would have totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars over the seven years Barry and his ex-wife lived there for. According to the IRS, if an employer provides an apartment rent-free to a worker, it should typically be considered part of the employee's compensation and is therefore subject to income tax. It's not known how Barry Weisselberg or the Trump Organization treated the apartment for tax purposes, but prosecutors are said to be examining portions of Barry Weisselberg's tax returns. Vance's team has also been analyzing the finances of the Trump cash-only skating rink in Central Park where Barry Weisselberg works. All the while, investigators have been asking details about Allen Weisselberg's financial history and his feelings about Trump. 'All the real estate that hes had. Every house, every car, every perk. The way his lifestyle goes. Is he frugal? Is he generous?,' one of the people interviewed recalled being asked to the Post. 'Whats his relationship with Donald? . . . How loyal is each person to each other?' Vance's Trump inquiry is said to have taken on new urgency since the recent hiring of Mark Pomerantz, an attorney who prosecuted the Gambino crime family boss in the 1990s. Vance has sat in on recent interviews but let Pomerantz lead the questioning, sources told the Post. In those sessions, Pomerantz has focused on Weisselberg, asking wide-ranging questions about the accountant, in an apparent effort to build a broader profile of him. One interviewee recounted being asked if they had met his wife, or if they'd ever been invited over to his home. Prosecutors are said to be examining portions of Barry Weisselberg's (above) tax returns, though he has not been accused of any wrongdoing A Trump-owned luxury apartment where Weisselbergs son Barry lived for several years, beginning in 2005, is also being probed (seen above) Vance's team has also been analyzing the finances of the Trump cash-only skating rink in Central Park where Barry Weisselberg works Investigators have also asked witnesses about loans made by Ladder Capital Finance - Jack Weisselberg's employer - to the Trump Organization, including questions about the financial health of the company's buildings, including occupancy levels and total rent paid by tenants. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Ladder Capital has loaned the Trump Organization more than $270 million related to four buildings in Manhattan since 2012. However those deals were signed by other executives, not Jack Weisselberg. It's unclear if Allen Weisselberg has so far provided any testimony to Vance's office. The 73-year-old has, however, testified in previous investigations, including a 2017 probe into Trump's charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation. Weisselberg told investigators for the New York attorney general that the charity's board never met, and that the organization had 'no policy' for determining whether its spending followed nonprofit laws. He also revealed that the charity had been co-opted by Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, in violation of a ban preventing charities from being mixed with politics. Weisselberg's testimony was later used against Trump in a lawsuit that ended up with the former president being ordered by a judge to stump up $2 million. A source close to the Trump Organization told the Post the company's executives are confident in Weisselberg's loyalty The CFO also previously accepted a deal from federal prosecutors focused on Cohens hush-money payments. Neither Weisselberg, his sons, or the Trump Organization has spoken publicly on the apparent new focus of Vance's investigation. Trump himself has previously lamented the probe, calling it a 'witch hunt' and a 'fishing expedition'. A source close to the Trump Organization told the Post the company's executives are confident in Weisselberg's loyalty. Michael Cohen, meanwhile, who Weisselberg testified against in the hush money probe tweeted Tuesday: 'Remember that Allen Weisselberg received (federal) immunity from the SDNY to provide information and testify against me for the @StormyDaniels payment #KarmaBoomerang.' MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Grand Capital Ventures, Inc.'s (OTC PINK:GRCVD) ("the Company") wholly-owned subsidiary Yuka E-Commerce ("YUKA") continues to gain momentum having recently finalized exclusive distribution rights in the USA, England, Australia, and Switzerland for a large Israeli based skin care manufacturer "Sea of Spa Labs LTD". Owner of the brand; Sea of Spa. With more than 240 products in their assortment, Sea of Spa's addition to YUKA's portfolio is expected to positively impact the company's ability to successfully secure placement both online and for TV. Amid the Covid-19 crisis, the global market for Cosmetic Skin Care for the year 2020 was estimated at $145.3B with the US Market estimated at $39.2B according to a 197 page Global Market Trajectory & Analytics report published by Research and Markets. For GRCV's YUKA, the Beauty category equated to approx. 35% of overall revenue translating into over $3M in sales and more than 225,000 individual products shipped in 2020. "Thanks to the close relationships we have cultivated over the years, our buyers are always excited about new brands we on-board and "Sea of Spa" is no exception." noted Meir Avitan, President of Grand Capital Ventures Inc. "We look forward to many years of solid growth with this brand and our many other Beauty brands. Cosmetics is a very strong category for us; our portfolio is comprised of more than 80 terrific Beauty Brands and we will continue to source and add many more this year. YUKA intends on growing its beauty portfolio to account for 40% of its overall offered assortment and is aiming to hit $4.5M+ in 2021 from sales generated in the category". He added. About Yuka E-Commerce Yuka is an e-commerce company dedicated to providing strategic sales channels for brands looking to enter or expand in the global e-commerce market. YUKA provides a full spectrum of brand building and sales-and-marketing services to expand a client's brand reach. Services offered include not only comprehensive sales and marketing services, but also operational sales and fulfillment logistics, and product and brand photography. For more information, visit our website at www.yukaecom.com About Grand Capital Ventures, Inc. Grand Capital Ventures is a company with a historic focus in the nurturing of companies demonstrating a positive upside while striving to bring new technologies and unique products to their respective markets. For more information, visit our website at www.GR-CV.com Safe Harbor Statement: This release includes "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. Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "estimate," "project," "intend," "forecast," "anticipate," "plan," "planning," "expect," "believe," "will likely," "should," "could," "would," "may," or words or expressions of similar meaning. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results and financial position to differ materially from those included within the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Company's ability to grow its business. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the Company's limited operating history, the limited financial resources, domestic or global economic conditions -- activities of competitors and the presence of new or additional competition and conditions of equity markets. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciy0_sGrfAc CONTACT: Grand Capital Ventures, Inc. 1815 NE 144th St. North Miami, FL 33181 Office: 786-657-2446 | Contact@yukaecom.com SOURCE: Grand Capital Ventures, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633400/Grand-Capital-Ventures-Incs-Yuka-E-Commerce-Unveils-Plans-to-Significantly-Expand-Beauty-Portfolio Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Richard Barnett, the Arkansas man who infamously was captured with a grin, a shrug and his feet on a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office during the Capitol riots, threw a tantrum during what reporters described as routine court proceedings. A New York Times report found that Barnett burst into a fit Thursday afternoon when Judge Christopher Cooper effectively extended his time in jail until May, when his next court trial will take place. Though Microsoft was a bit slow compared to the Zoom app to join the race to offer video conference solutions, it has steadily got higher traction among corporates. Now, Microsoft getting serious with security and announced to bring end-to-end encryption to 1:1 video calls later this year. "Over the last year, we have gathered feedback from global customers, analysts, and the security community around particular industries and specific cases where end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for online collaboration might be important. To help support customer security and compliance obligations, Microsoft is planning to support E2EE for Teams 1:1 calls to provide additional options for conducting sensitive online conversations," Microsoft said. Currently, the company relies on SharePoint encryption to offer secure transit for mails, screen sharing contents such as PPTs. Now, the video calls will be fully secured communication. End-to-End encryption for Microsoft Teams will be arriving in the first half of 2021. Also, Microsoft revealed that it securing the Teams apps from uninvited people entering the video conference. It has launched a new lobby setting available in Teams Meeting Options where only meeting participants who were explicitly invited to the meeting can join it directly. In a related development, Redmond-based software giant is bringing Artificial Intelligence-powered predictive text completion for Microsoft 365 this month. It will be similar to the Google 'Smart Compose' feature on Gmail. The AI-powered algorithm in the application will be able to understand the context of the sentence and predict the word, which makes sense and also grammatically correct. Must read | Microsoft Office 365 to get predictive text feature soon Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech. Credit: University of Oxford COVID-19 could reverse important gains in educational attainment and future life chances for young people in developing countriesparticularly the poorest and most vulnerable, according to Oxford-led research. Despite many young people in developing countries now returning to education or employment, interrupted learning, less reliable work, food shortages and significant mental health issues are widening inequalities, according to a COVID-19 phone survey from the long-standing Young Lives research team. This latest research shows that, despite encouraging signs, many young people are getting their lives back on track, a complex and uneven picture is unfolding. "On the surface, things are improving for many, following the initial shock of the pandemic, but beneath that, inequalities are clearly widening. COVID-19 could not only halt progress but could reverse important gains in educational attainment and future life changes," says Dr. Marta Favara, Deputy Director, Young Lives at Work. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Girls' Education, Helen Grant, MP, says, "Coronavirus has made girls' education an even more urgent priority, with 1.6 billion children around the world out of education at the peak of school closures. For the world's poorest girls, being out of school puts them at even greater risk of early marriage, forced labor and violence. "The UK is backing research by Young Lives better to understand how to overcome the barriers stopping girls from realizing their full potential. We are determined to get 40 million more girls in school in low and middle income countries by 2025 and a third more girls reading by the age of 10. "That is why UK and Kenya are co-hosting a Global Education Summit in July to urge world leaders to invest in getting children into school and learningto help economies grow, tackle poverty and empower women everywhere." Young Lives' researchers asked more than 9,000 young people in two cohorts aged 19 and 26 years old in, India (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), Peru and Vietnam about their education, employment, access to food, mental health and well-being. They found: Education: Encouraging signs of return, but learning issues remain. Gender: Poorest girls and young women may find it particularly hard to return to education. Employment: Return to work continues but less reliable and informal and a clear gender gap emerging. Food security: The poorest households are most likely to go hungry. Mental Health: The pandemic is taking a heavy toll on mental health. Dr. Favara says, "Our findings show that the poorest, most vulnerable young people are struggling to recover from the pandemic. Additional stress caused by interruptions in their education, increased food insecurity and increased household duties may be directly contributing to worsening mental health amongst the poorest young women." Explore further New Zealand to issue free period products in schools More information: Young Lives at Work Phone Survey results Young Lives at Work (YLAW) | Young Lives at Work Phone Survey results Young Lives at Work (YLAW) | www.younglives.org.uk Newly released Scottish Government legal advice appears to contradict Alex Salmonds claim of a plot to delay a civil case in the hope it would be overtaken by criminal proceedings he faced. But the Scottish Conservatives said the four documents released on Thursday fall far short of what the Scottish Parliament and Salmond inquiry demanded, and called on the Scottish Government to end the secrecy and release all the advice. The documents relate to the botched investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by the former first minister. A successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the investigation being ruled unlawful and tainted by apparent bias, with a 512,250 payout being awarded to him for legal fees in 2019. Mr Salmond was acquitted of 13 charges following a criminal trial last year. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross called on the Scottish Government to release all the legal advice (Andrew Milligan/PA) Giving evidence to a Holyrood inquiry into the governments handling of complaints last Friday, Mr Salmond claimed the Scottish Government hoped a criminal trial would ride to the rescue and prevent its unlawful investigation of him suffering a cataclysmic civil court defeat. Explaining his belief that a looming criminal trial was the reason the government did not admit defeat in the case sooner, Mr Salmond said: Conceding in October [2018] would be embarrassing, it would be difficult, but it wouldnt be as cataclysmic as an open court case in January [2019]. What other motivation could there possibly have been than the belief that something might happen and intervene which meant that the judicial review never came to court? He added: If the criminal case had been advanced, then the civil case wouldnt have gone ahead pending the outcome of the criminal case. Many people seemed to invest a great deal of hope that the criminal case would ride to the rescue, like the cavalry over the hill, and the civil case would never be heard. In a document dated September 4 2018, Roddy Dunlop QC and Solicitor Advocate Christine ONeill, counsel for the Scottish Government, said they could see strength in the argument that the criminal investigation may make the entire petition pointless. The Scottish Tories have submitted no confidence votes in Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) He wrote: If there is a criminal conviction then surely this case will not proceed; and if there is a trial and an acquittal then the Ministers would be faced with a very different situation than that which presently obtains. Deputy First Minister John Swinney released a first batch of legal advice on Tuesday under threat of a no-confidence vote and further documents were published on Thursday evening. However Mr Swinney said the newly released documents make clear that delaying the case known as sisting was only considered as an option in order to minimise the impact of the case on the ongoing police investigation. In a letter dated September 17 2018, the Lord Advocate said that the other option would be reporting restrictions and that this would be preferable. He said: I am satisfied that, if reporting restrictions are competent, these would adequately protect the public interest in any future criminal proceedings. On that basis, that would clearly be the preferable and appropriate route, since it would enable the issues raised by the petition to be addressed whilst protecting any future criminal process. Mr Swinney said: This puts beyond any doubt that there was any attempt to delay the judicial review so that it would be overtaken by criminal proceedings. The Scottish Conservatives have lodged votes of no confidence in Mr Swinney and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: The limited documents that John Swinney has just published falls far short of the demands of the Scottish Parliament and of the Salmond inquiry. There is still nothing for the whole month of November. This is not good enough. End the secrecy and release all the legal advice. A statement issued on behalf of Mr Salmond said: The documents released tonight confirm that sisting (postponing) the Judicial Review was indeed under active consideration by the Scottish Government in September 2018. John Swinney must now be the only person in Scotland who believes that the piecemeal release of these extraordinary legal documents have done anything other than demolish the Governments pretence that they were not warned months in advance that they were on course to lose the judicial review. The more they release the more threadbare the governments position becomes. He said that they look forward to further revelations in the next instalment. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 05:50:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Rwandan Minister of Health Daniel Ngamije (1st R) looks at the COVID-19 vaccines at the Kigali International Airport in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, March 3, 2021. Rwanda on Wednesday morning received the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua) The vaccines have now arrived in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal, said a UN spokesman. UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has delivered million of doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Africa through COVAX, the global tool to procure and deliver vaccines for low- and middle-income countries, said a spokesman on Wednesday. The vaccines have now arrived in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. More than 1 million doses arrived in Kenya on Wednesday, transported by the UN Children's Fund. The vaccine roll-out kicks off on Friday in the country, he told a daily press briefing in New York. Rwanda received 340,000 doses, with UN Resident Coordinator Fode Ndiaye hailing this historic moment as a big boost for hope and recovery. Senegal got 320,000 doses. That will help authorities' efforts to vaccinate 20 percent of the population, he said. The DRC received more than 1.7 million doses of vaccines, with the UN team's support. In the Gambia, the first shipment of 36,000 doses of COVAX-backed vaccines arrived on Tuesday night. With the support of the UN team, the government is preparing to kick-start the vaccination with health care workers, those with underlying medical conditions, and people aged 65 years and above. More than 620,000 doses arrived in Angola on Tuesday, with UN support. This will help cover an initial 10 percent of the country's first phase of vaccine needs. The vaccination effort in Angola began Tuesday with a 71-year-old lady receiving the first shot, said the spokesman. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. New Delhi, March 4 : The Bharatiya Janata Party's Central Election Committee (CEC) will meet on Thursday to finalise the first list of party candidates for the Assembly polls in the four states and one union territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the CEC meeting. Assembly polls will be held in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in different phases from March 27 to April 29. About 824 seats are going for polls in four states and one UT. Counting of votes will take place on May 2. Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santosh and other senior leaders will attend the CEC meeting to be held at the party's national headquarters in the evening. On Wednesday, the BJP leaderships from West Bengal and Assam have already arrived in the national capital to discuss the names of probables shortlisted by the state units with Nadda and Shah. Sources said that the BJP's CEC is likely to finalise candidates for seats going for polls in first two phases. A total of 60 seats of West Bengal are going for polls in the first two phases. One of the high profile constituencies in West Bengal which will go to the polls in the second phase is Nandigram from where chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to contest. The BJP is likely to field once Banerjee's close aide and former West Bengal minister Suvendu Adikari from there. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, his deputy Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP in-charge for state Jay Panda also arrived here on Wednesday and met Shah and Nadda. BJP National General Secretary and West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, National Vice President Mukul Roy, state unit chief Dilip Ghosh and other members of core committee of West Bengal unit have also reached Delhi. When the Texas power grid buckled and cut off power to millions of households during a severe winter freeze last month, Bernadette Del Chiaro saw some troubling similarities to what had played out in California six months before. Del Chiaro, who leads a solar energy advocacy group in Sacramento, felt Texas was going through the cold version of Aug. 15, one of two days California implemented rolling blackouts because energy supplies ran short during a widespread heat wave. She noticed that in both grid emergencies, some politicians and other observers had blamed a familiar foe: renewable energy. In California, they said, solar panels couldnt meet demand after the sun set; in the Lone Star State, wind turbines froze. The reality in each case was far more complicated, with energy experts insisting renewables werent the sole cause. In fact, both states had a variety of problems beyond solar and wind power, including planning failures, structural constraints and trouble with gas-fired power plants. Still, Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association, was concerned. Theres a pattern with the legacy fossil fuel industry. They point the finger at renewables, Del Chiaro said. Most people may buy that for a second. But once they think about it, once they hear facts to the contrary, I think its pretty obvious to most people that the system we have today is not delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy, and that we need a different approach. She is among a chorus of clean energy advocates who believe the power grid crises that unfolded in the nations two largest states should be a rallying cry to embrace carbon-free electricity sources more aggressively. Advocates also see the blackouts as evidence that states must do more to prepare their grids for extreme weather events, which are becoming more common with climate change. But advancing those goals will require persuading both policymakers and everyday Americans to see severe weather and climate change as requiring speedy and dramatic changes to long-running infrastructure problems. Were not preparing for these extreme weather events, and because of our unpreparedness, were laying the groundwork for a predictable crisis by failing to lead and act with the urgency that the crisis demands, said Luis Amezcua, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Clubs My Generation campaign, which aims for an equitable move to 100% renewable power in California. Amezcua acknowledges that California needs to better ensure it can reliably supply power while defending its grid against climate change. But he sees renewable energy as the solution, not the cause. We need to be making sure that were building a resilient and reliable grid for a hotter and drier California not a grid that makes California hotter and drier, he said. Environmentalists like Amezcua insist that California can and must simultaneously achieve its dual goals of preventing more power shortages and getting 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045. Theyre pushing for more investments to expand the states renewable power supplies, like fleets of batteries that can store energy for use in the evening when solar panels are offline. More ambitious projects could include wind turbines off the coast that would add clean energy to the grid while making the power supply more diverse and potentially more resistant to erratic weather. As calls mount to accelerate the grids abandonment of fossil fuels, some organizers want states to prioritize lower-income communities, which often have greater exposure to pollution and less ability to endure electricity interruptions. Such communities are of the utmost importance to Bay Area activist Jessica Tovar of the Local Clean Energy Alliance and the East Bay Clean Power Alliance. Tovar believes state officials must pay more attention to frontline urban communities during a transition away from fossil fuels. Her dream is that the state will bring more solar panels and batteries to low-income communities of color that may not be able to install that technology otherwise. She wants urban neighborhoods to be able to island themselves from the primary electric grid so they arent as susceptible to blackouts or power shut-offs. I feel like were in this generation at a crossroads, Tovar said. Do we learn from our mistakes and change those wrongs into rights? Or are we going to continue down this destructive path of sacrificing people? Nationwide, policymakers likely wont act until a sufficient number view climate change as an urgent threat. In California, climate changes have become almost impossible to ignore amid recurring drought years and the states dramatically worsening wildfire seasons. But its a tougher task in the conservative and fossil fuel-dominant strongholds of Texas. Del Chiaro, of the California solar association, said that for the average person, climate change is becoming more real and more immediate every year. We are seeing an increase in consumer interest, and I think its driven in large part by people feeling the urgency of climate change, she said. At the same time, she has noticed a perverse pushback that can take root among policymakers who buy into this idea that renewables are to blame. She saw it happen in August, when critics blamed the rolling blackouts on the states commitment to renewable energy and regulators subsequently extended the lifespan of several gas-fired power plants.She saw similar critiques play out in Texas last month, when Gov. Greg Abbott pinned his states grid problems on issues with renewable energy, saying the crisis shows that fossil fuel is necessary. That trips up the conversation, so were delayed for months and months and months until strides are made to debunk that myth, Del Chiaro said. Policymakers batten down the hatches and circle the wagons around the legacy industry. Even after all the extreme fires and hurricanes the country has weathered in recent years, persuading climate skeptics to act can be a delicate task. Michael Ranney, a UC Berkeley education and psychology professor who has studied how the public understands climate change, said an important step is to communicate the technical underpinnings of global warming. His research has shown that people are more likely to accept climate science once they understand exactly how greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat and warm the planet. Empathy is also important to changing minds, Ranney has found. He used the example of a man who once saw him working on climate change issues on his laptop during a flight. The man confronted Ranney about a false belief that volcanoes were more to blame than carbon emissions. Ranney explained why that wasnt true, and after some discussion realized that family may have played a part in his fellow passengers belief. You have to listen sensitively to what people are saying, and often its very fear-based, Ranney said. He didnt want to imagine a world where hed leave behind this problem for his kids and grandkids, and so hed rather just stick his head in the sand and not worry about it. But no one event not a single explanation or a single event like a massive heat wave or freak winter storm is likely to be sufficiently persuasive by itself. I dont think theres a silver bullet by which you can just change somebodys mind about climate change, Ranney said. It turns out that theres a lot of bullets that can change somebodys mind a little bit ... but unlike some things that are really hard to change peoples minds about, like evolution, you can see climate change happening within a generation. Despite criticism about regulators actions in the short run, Amezcua, of the Sierra Club, has a more optimistic outlook for the long run. Over the next two to four years, he said, regulators seem very interested in building out clean energy, and thats the kind of leadership we need to see. We have to act with some urgency, and I think the positive news is that we do have time to make a difference, he said. Right now is really our shot to meet the moment. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris Benchmarks megafactory tracker points to the extent of the rise in demand reflected in Chinas battery production figures, which totalled 12 GWh in January, an increase of nearly 320% compared to the same month last year when the country was in the first stages of the pandemic. The surge was led by production of LFP batteries which is growing at a breakneck speed, up nearly 500% year- on-year. Surging Chinese lithium carbonate prices, which now hold a premium over hydroxide prices for the first time since April 2018, helped push the Benchmark Lithium Price Index up by 14.4% in February 2021, its second-largest move on record after January 2021, the London-headquartered research and price reporting agency said. While the most rapid gains were in China, Benchmarks global weighted average lithium hydroxide prices are up 8% year-to-date and ex-Chinese carbonate prices up by an average of 17.1% in February: Related Video: Why & How To Trade Lithium An aide claiming to have been bullied by Meghan Markle today welcomed the Queen's investigation into her and Harry's alleged mistreatment of staff and declared: 'We will finally be able to tell the truth'. The unnamed palace worker's claim will pile even more pressure on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to give evidence to the probe after they were invited to take part by Buckingham Palace. The Sussexes are accused of leaving behind a 'lot of broken people' with 'young women broken by their behaviour' and a source describing one member of their staff as 'completely destroyed' by the ordeal. The Queen has now launched an unprecedented inquiry into allegations that Meghan and Harry bullied their staff - leaving royal employees 'shaken' by 'unhappy memories' being brought up about a 'toxic period' before the couple emigrated. Devastating claims that the Duchess of Sussex inflicted 'emotional cruelty' on underlings and 'drove them out' were 'very' concerning, Buckingham Palace said. The whistleblower told The Times: 'We will finally be able to tell the truth. It's not going to be easy, but this is very welcome and long overdue. We don't have to be silent any more'. Lawyers for the Sussexes have vehemently denied they have bullied or mistreated staff. It came as Meghan Markle accused the Royal Family of 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry in their interview with Oprah Winfrey in a new teaser clip released just hours after Buckingham Palace launched a probe into her alleged bullying of staff. Ramping up her war of words with the royals, the Duchess of Sussex calls her husband's family 'The Firm' in the 30-second trailer released by CBS today and blames them for speaking out in a show set to be watched by millions around the globe. Hours after she made the claims, Buckingham Palace revealed the Duke of Edinburgh has undergone a 'successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition' and will remain in hospital for 'treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days'. Prince Philip, 99, had the operation yesterday at St Bartholomew's Hospital in the City of London, where he was transferred to on Monday after spending 14 days at King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone due to an infection. Harry's grandfather's ill health will again increase calls for the couple to postpone its broadcast on CBS in the US on Sunday and on ITV1 in the UK on Monday. As hostilities between the Sussexes and the palace ramped up, it also emerged: Buckingham Palace says it is 'very concerned' about claims Meghan mistreated staff and allegations some were forced out and others left 'shaking' and sobbing because of her alleged 'emotional cruelty and manipulation' A royal insider scotched hopes they could one day return for royal events such as Trooping the Colour, saying: 'I can't ever see those two back on the balcony'; New claims that Meghan 'hissed' at staff and reduced one aide to tears on a royal tour emerge; Prince Philip's daughter-in-law Camilla that the Duke was 'slightly improving' and that everyone in the Royal Family was 'keeping our fingers crossed'. Today it emerged he had surgery on his heart; The Queen (pictured with the couple in 2018) launched an unprecedented inquiry last night into allegations that Meghan and Harry bullied their staff Devastating claims that the Duchess of Sussex (pictured during her Oprah interview airing next week) inflicted 'emotional cruelty' on aides and 'drove them out' were 'very' concerning, Buckingham Palace said In an extraordinary statement (pictured), Buckingham Palace announced a formal probe into the allegations surrounding the Queen's grandson and his wife. Members of staff will be invited to contribute in confidence Will Harry and Meghan give evidence to the Queen's bullying probe - and will William and Kate be dragged into it? And how will the Buckingham Palace investigation be run? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be under huge pressure to give evidence to the Queen's inquiry into allegations they bullied staff, forced two PAs out of their jobs and palace officials brushed it all under the carpet. The couple may wait until members of staff are invited to contribute in confidence before having their say on allegations, or could choose not to take part all. Lawyers for the Sussexes have vehemently denied they have bullied or mistreated staff. Harry's brother William and his wife Kate could also be asked to give evidence, because several of the aides at the centre of the row were shared between the Sussexes and the Cambridges. Evidence could be submitted in written or in a formal interview in person or on Zoom. It was claimed in The Times yesterday that the couple's treatment of aides worried William so much that he and his most senior advisor, Simon Case, hastened the split between the Sussex and the Cambridge households and the destruction of their joint foundation. Jason Knauf, who now works for William and raised the bullying claims in 2018, would be central to the investigation. HR officials would also want to speak to their old boss Samantha Carruthers, the Palace's HR chief, who was emailed by Mr Knauf along with Mr Case, who now works for Boris Johnson. Mr Knauf's email also described his worries about the stress the Sussexes' private secretary Samantha Cohen was placed under, and Ms Cohen, who now works for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, will also be approached. Melissa Touabti, the duchess' former personal assistant, who quit six months after the royal wedding would also be asked to give evidence. One whistleblower told The Times today: 'We will finally be able to tell the truth. It's not going to be easy, but this is very welcome and long overdue. We don't have to be silent any more'. There is no timetable to the investigation but it is understood that any changes in policies and procedures will be shared publicly in an annual review expected later in the year. Palace officials will be asked why the initial claims of bullying that were made in October 2018 were not acted on at the time. Advertisement It came as a royal outsider scotched hopes they could one day return for royal events such as Trooping the Colour, saying: 'I can't ever see those two back on the balcony.' Harry and his wife were both labelled 'outrageous bullies', according to sensational claims reported yesterday. 'Broken' royal aides told of feeling humiliated, 'sick', 'terrified', left 'shaking' with fear, and being reduced to tears by the duchess. In an extraordinary statement, Buckingham Palace announced a formal probe into the allegations surrounding the Queen's grandson and his wife. Members of staff will be invited to contribute in confidence. The Palace said: 'We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 'Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Royal Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. 'The household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.' It does not appear that the duke and duchess will be consulted at this stage. However, Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, have strenuously denied any bullying. Aides at the centre of palace intrigue Melissa Touabti (right) is pictured with Robbie Williams' wife Ayda for whom she previously worked PA WHO QUIT AFTER WEDDING: Melissa Touabti, the duchess's former personal assistant, had previously worked for Robbie Williams and Madonna. She played a key role in preparations for Meghan and Harry's wedding in May 2018, but quit after just six months. The Frenchwoman, 41, took a job with the billionaire Livingstone family owners of the stately home Cliveden. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf joined the royals in 2014, having acted as a 'crisis management expert' at the Royal Bank of Scotland. The 36- year-old American, who completed his master's at the London School of Economics, served as communications secretary to the 'Fab Four' of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan before the Cambridges and Sussexes created separate offices in March 2019. Mr Knauf now heads William and Kate's charitable foundation. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf (left) walks behind the couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto Simon Case in Dundee in 2019 THE WHIZ-KID WHO RUNS WHITEHALL: Simon Case became the youngest head of the civil service for over a century when he took the post at the tender age of 41. The Cambridge history graduate a noted fan of tweed suits and Barbour jackets had previously been the principal private secretary to successive Tory prime ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May. He also worked at spying centre GCHQ as a director of strategy. His most recent role before becoming Cabinet Secretary last year was serving as private secretary to Prince William. THE TOUGH TALKING AUSTRALIAN: Formerly the Queens assistant private secretary, Samantha Cohen had planned to quit Buckingham Palace in 2018. Instead, she agreed to stay on and help the duchess through her first months in the Royal Family. The well-liked but tough-talking Australian became the Sussexes private secretary, but left in 2019 to work for the environmental charity Cool Earth. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II (accompanied by Samantha Cohen) attend a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018 in Widnes, England THE PRINCES' HR HEAD HONCHO: Experienced human resources director Samantha Carruthers worked for De Beers and investment bank Lazard before joining the royals. Head of HR for Prince Charles and Prince William until 2019, she is now deputy chairman of the board of trustees for child bereavement charity Winstons Wish. Samantha Carruthers worked for De Beers and investment bank Lazard before joining the royal Advertisement In response to the reports, they accused the Queen's staff of orchestrating a 'calculated smear campaign' ahead of their explosive two-hour 'tell-all' interview with Oprah Winfrey being broadcast this weekend. But Palace sources last night slapped down the smear claim as utterly 'disingenuous'. The allegations and resulting probe as well as accusations by the duchess that Buckingham Palace, and therefore the Queen, are deliberately moving against her sees a new low in relations between the two parties. When the couple acrimoniously quit last year as working royals, the elderly monarch made clear her regret and made a point of saying they were still much loved members of her family. Aides said the hope was that they could still return for family events such as Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of the Queen's birthday when royals gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, and other important occasions. Last night a royal insider commented: 'I can't ever see those two back on the balcony.' There is no timetable to the investigation but it is understood that any changes in policies and procedures will be shared publicly in an annual review expected later in the year. Palace officials will be asked why the initial claims of bullying that were made in October 2018 were not acted on at the time. A royal source told the Daily Mail last night that the emergence of the bullying claims yesterday had 'shaken' many staff, both past and present, and brought up 'many unhappy memories' about a particularly 'toxic period'. The Times revealed allegations that the duchess bullied two assistants and shattered the confidence of another member of staff, and 'drove them out' of Kensington Palace. It published a litany of alleged bullying and 'emotional cruelty'. A Palace source told the paper: 'There were a lot of broken people. Young women were broken by their behaviour.' The source described one member of staff as 'completely destroyed'. A former aide branded both Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies'. Another source claimed that Samantha Cohen, the couple's private secretary, had also been picked on. In October 2018, an official complaint was lodged by Jason Knauf, himself one the couple's most senior advisers. He wrote: 'I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of [X] was totally unacceptable. 'The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. 'We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards [Y].' Harry and Meghan, whose 'no holds barred' CBS interview with Miss Winfrey will be broadcast on Sunday in America and in the UK on Monday at 9pm on ITV which reportedly paid 1million hit back at the allegations in The Times. A spokesman claimed the newspaper was being 'used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative' before the interview. Yesterday a senior Palace source told the Mail: 'This is absolutely untrue. We haven't been 'peddling' anything. It's disingenuous [to suggest that]. There are far more important things going on in the world [a reference to the pandemic and Prince Philip's hospitalisation] that have been focusing our attention, rather than the circus around a media interview.' Another source added: 'The Palace has 100 per cent refused to discuss in any way, shape or form the interview. 'Every journalist that has been asking them about it for the last week or so knows that. 'The view from the start is that nothing good is to be gained from doing that. Their view has not changed. The suggestion that this is a Palace-orchestrated smear campaign is deeply offensive and patently false.' Mr Knauf, who worked as communications secretary to Harry and Meghan and now heads the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's charitable foundation, sent his 2018 email of complaint to Simon Case, then William's private secretary and now the Cabinet Secretary at Downing Street. Mr Case, who is said to have had no managerial responsibility for Harry's staff but took a keen interest in what was happening, passed it to human resources director Samantha Carruthers. According to the report in The Times, Mr Knauf, who had already consulted Miss Carruthers, said in his email that she 'agreed with me on all counts that the situation was very serious'. Harry had 'pleaded' with Mr Knauf not to pursue the allegations, The Times claimed. Lawyers for the couple deny this happened. The newspaper said it had been approached by former staff to tell their story before the couple's interview with Miss Winfrey. They claimed that when Meghan was urged to support Palace staff she replied: 'It's not my job to coddle people.' Meghan's lawyers have vehemently denied she was a bully and claimed that one of the staff had left the job because of misconduct. They said the former actress was 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma'. They added: 'Let's just call this what it is a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation.' Meghan and Harry have today been accused of being disrespectful to the Queen and her husband after it emerged they won't delay the release of their Oprah Winfrey interview despite Prince Philip's health problems. The couple are under huge pressure to ask Ms Winfrey to delay the broadcast in the US on Sunday night and across the world on Monday after it was revealed Harry's 99-year-old grandfather underwent heart surgery yesterday. Critics including several MPs have warned them they are 'badly advised' to go along with the plan - but the couple insist that it is up to CBS, who don't have 'any intention' to delay the show set to make them millions of dollars in sales and advertising revenue. A source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex today confirmed that the screening on Sunday night is still expected to go ahead, claiming the decision now lies with the broadcasters set to make millions from the two-hour show. 'There are a lot of people who are going to talk about this until the programme airs, but the programming and all the rest of it is ultimately up to CBS, we're not involved in that side of things', the source said, adding: 'As it stands, I don't think there is any intention from the programme maker to change its air date'. The Times revealed allegations that the duchess (pictured in a trailer for her Oprah interview with Harry) bullied two assistants and shattered the confidence of another member of staff, and 'drove them out' of Kensington Palace. It published a litany of alleged bullying and 'emotional cruelty' In October 2018, an official complaint was lodged by Jason Knauf, (pictured on Meghan and Harry's wedding day) himself one the couple's most senior advisers And in a further indication that the programme will be going ahead in Britain, ITV today shared the same clip that was released by CBS in the early hours of this morning but this time with the UK broadcaster's branding in the bottom corner. There is growing anger over the broadcast going ahead, with royal experts, fans and MPs calling for its postponement. Tory MP Bob Blackman told MailOnline: 'The reality is I don't think the interview is appropriate at all. The less they say the better, irrespective of the state of health of the Duke of Edinburgh. But to be doing a tell-all interview screened in the UK when he is in hospital fortunately he appears to have had a successful operation they are badly advised to put it mildly. None of these royal interviews have gone well... and I can't see this going any better.' Mr Blackman said ITV has 'got a choice to make'. 'I don't think they should be showing it,' he said. 'Everyone's sympathies should be for the Queen, a remarkable lady who has given a lifetime of service.' Another Tory MP, who did not want to be named, said of Harry and Meghan: 'One day I hope those two discover what it is really like to have problems.' Deals have been struck across the globe for the rights to broadcast the Sussexes' Oprah Winfrey interview, ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group said. The show has been licensed to be shown in more than 17 countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, as well as in sub-Saharan Africa, following its US premiere on Sunday. CBS Presents Oprah With Meghan And Harry will be screened on networks including Australia's Network 10 and Canada's Global TV. Meghan makes jaw-dropping claim the Royal Family has 'perpetuated falsehoods' about her and Harry in Oprah interview teaser released just hours after Palace launched sensational probe into allegations she bullied staff Meghan Markle has accused the Royal Family of 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry in their interview with Oprah Winfrey in a new teaser clip released just hours after Buckingham Palace launched a probe into her alleged bullying of staff. Ramping up her war of words with the royals, the Duchess of Sussex calls her husband's family 'The Firm' in the 30-second trailer released by CBS today and blames them for speaking out in a show set to be watched by millions around the globe. In a clip set to dramatic music, Ms Winfrey asks her: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' And an emotional Meghan replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us'. The Duchess adds: 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already.' It is not known what 'falsehoods' Meghan is talking about because the interview was recorded before she was accused of 'driving out' two PAs and shattering the confidence of another member of Kensington Palace staff - with one former aide branding Prince Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies' in The Times yesterday. And last night the Queen launched an unprecedented inquiry into allegations that the couple bullied their staff and devastating claims that the Duchess of Sussex inflicted 'emotional cruelty' on aides who accuse her of playing the victim. Today new claims emerged that royal staff say they are members of the 'Sussex Survivors' Club' after working for the couple, with some claiming they have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety because of their treatment by Harry and Meghan. And senior palace sources said aides are 'incandescent' the Sussexes claimed they were orchestrating a 'smear campaign' against the Duchess. One told the Mirror: 'It is totally disingenuous, frankly ludicrous and wholly untrue to suggest anyone at the Palace has been peddling disinformation and has been briefing on these matters. There are far, far more important things going on right now than the circus surrounding a media appearance'. Meghan's ramping up of the war of words with the palace came as: Meghan and Harry's war of words with his family and the royal household has stepped up a gear after Ms Markle said that they were 'perpetuating falsehoods' about them in a clip released hours after the Queen launched an inquiry into claims she bullied staff out of their jobs Meghan Markle spoke to Oprah Winfrey for the interview, which will air on Sunday, and is asked whether she had contemplated what the reaction would be from Buckingham Palace to the interview Meghan suggests she has no fears about losing her royal privileges by speaking out, claiming: 'If that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already' Meghan Markle wore a pair of striking diamond earrings that were allegedly a wedding gift from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. She is pictured wearing them at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji, on October 23, 2018, three weeks after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul Meghan Markle will talk about her experience of race issues in Britain during her interview with Oprah Winfrey. And in dramatic promotional clips released on Monday, Miss Winfrey is seen asking Meghan if she was silent or silenced, with the duchess answer not revealed. In response to a comment by the duchess, the presenter says: Almost unsurvivable. Sounds like there was a breaking point? At one point in the trailer, Miss Winfrey tells viewers: Just to make it clear to everybody, there is no subject that is off-limits, as Meghan nods in agreement. The clip then cuts to Harry, 36, in a grey suit and white shirt with no tie, as he says: My biggest fear was history repeating itself. The teaser then shows Harry and Meghan sitting side by side holding hands as Miss Winfrey says: You have said some pretty shocking things here. In a second clip, also set to dramatic music, Prince Harry compares his mothers situation to the one he says he and Meghan found themselves in. As he speaks, a picture is shown of him with his mother when he was a little boy. For me, Im just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side, because I cant begin to imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago because its been unbelievably tough for the two of us. But at least we have each other, he says. Revenge of the Sussex survivors' club: The extraordinary inside story of how a fairytale turned into a nightmare of 'traumatised' staff - by Royal Editor REBECCA ENGLISH, who saw so much of it herself It is the one royal group that no one wants to join. Referred to only half-jokingly as the 'Sussex Survivors' Club', its membership is sadly rising. But its select band of members have one thing in common: all have worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and lived to tell the tale. Joking aside, some even believe they may have a form of post-traumatic stress, defined by doctors as an anxiety disorder caused by distressing or frightening events. Such experiences, of course, are now widely acknowledged not to be limited to soldiers who have undergone traumatic experiences on the battlefield, but also to people at work. Even if that work is in a palace. And today, many former palace staff look back on the moment that Prince Harry introduced to the world his beautiful, intelligent and passionate bride-to-be as the beginning of one of the most traumatic periods in their lives. Let us be clear: Harry is a complex man but one with a strong sense of natural justice and charity, given to acts of compassion and kindness. 'He wears his heart on his sleeve and genuinely wants to do good in the world,' one admirer tells me. But he is also equally capable, say those who know him well and like him, of behaving 'like an absolute brat'. It had been clear for years to anyone he came into contact with that he wasn't happy working with the palace machinery or, particularly, the British media (sometimes understandably so). He was, they say, always capable of self-destructively 'pressing the nuclear button' on his royal life. Meghan, they stress, was simply the catalyst. But the result was more toxic, more personally harmful, than anyone could ever have imagined. To begin with, however, the atmosphere at Kensington Palace was heady and exciting. Here was a glamorous couple, clearly deeply in love. Meghan was the missing piece of the jigsaw that poor, motherless Harry had been searching for all those years. Famously she once paid for an ice cream stand for her new staff at Kensington Palace, with the event later surprise! being breathlessly revealed in People, a 'pro-Sussex' American magazine, as the 'best day of work, ever'. More than that, they were a couple determined to do good on a world stage at the same time sprinkling a little stardust on Britain's 'fusty' old Royal Family. And their small team of loyal staff believed in them until, that is, the scales fell from their eyes. Notoriously, within a few weeks of Meghan's arrival in England and the announcement of the couple's engagement in November 2017, word was leaking out about the couple's 'autocratic' and 'difficult' behaviour. Occasionally it slipped into print: that Meghan (a claim robustly sourced by the Mail) had refused to wear a hat on her first official engagement with the Queen in Chester, despite being strongly advised it would be appropriate and respectful to do so. Then came the famous row over which tiara she wanted to wear to the couple's wedding, resulting in Harry publicly admonishing one of the Queen's most senior members of staff, Angela Kelly: 'What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.' There were also claims that the Duchess of Cambridge had told Meghan she shouldn't speak to her staff so dismissively and that there was so much friction at a pre-wedding bridesmaid fitting that Kate was left in tears. The Times has reported that the 'febrile' atmosphere within Kensington Palace saw staff, on occasion, weeping. Two say they were bullied by the duchess, a third that they had been 'humiliated' by her. The paper quotes one aide, who was anticipating a confrontation with Meghan, as saying: 'I can't stop shaking.' At first, my sources tell me, Harry tried to keep the peace, gently placating his wife and quietly apologising to staff. On one occasion described to me by several sources, he even gently admonished Meghan about the way she behaved with palace staff many of whom work long hours for relatively little money out of pride for the institution after a particularly explosive encounter. The details are subject to conjecture (and have become something of a palace legend) but resulted in Harry speaking to one of his close protection officers, who confirmed his fiancee's behaviour. But as the weeks went on, the prince became increasingly hostile to his once-loyal aides. Rebecca English with Prince Harry to learn about the work of his new charity Sentebale in Lesotho in 2006 The Times has claimed Harry knew of a complaint made by the couple's former communications secretary, Jason Knauf, that Meghan had driven two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member. Harry is said to have had a meeting with Mr Knauf in which he begged him not to pursue it. The Sussexes deny this. They also describe the allegations as 'old', 'distorted' and aimed at 'undermining' Meghan. It has been suggested by others that staff may have 'misunderstood' Meghan's more direct, American style. But I have personally witnessed more than one member of staff driven to tears by the treatment they were subjected to by the duke and duchess before the couple acrimoniously quit as working royals. One person sobbed down the phone to me after a particularly harrowing day. They clearly felt emotionally broken and could no longer cope with the pressure they were being subjected to. Revealed: Meghan's 500,000 diamond earrings were NOT 'borrowed' but a 'wedding gift from Saudi Crown Prince' Meghan Markle wore a pair of striking diamond earrings that were a wedding gift from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, who approved the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, it was claimed today. Kensington Palace had said at the time of the formal dinner in Fiji in October 2018 - which took place three weeks after the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul - that the jewelery was 'borrowed', without stating from whom. The Duchess of Sussex was again seen wearing the earrings one month later on November 14, 2018 as she was photographed leaving Kensington Palace to attend Prince Charles's 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace Lawyers for the Duchess of Sussex have now told The Times that she may have stated they were borrowed, but did not say they were borrowed from a jeweler - and denied that she had misled anyone about their provenance. The newspaper was also told by Meghan's team that every relevant member of royal staff knew who the earrings were from, and the duchess was unaware of rumors at the time that bin Salman was involved in the killing. Bin Salman is not thought to have met Meghan or given her the earrings in person. The jewelery is considered Crown property because it was a gift from a foreign head of state, and she would not be allowed to sell them. The earrings Meghan wore for the black tie reception at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, which was hosted by Fiji's president Jioji Konrote, were later revealed as being made by celebrity designer Butani. Advertisement Others have indicated to me they were being asked to behave in a manner they did not feel professionally comfortable with, particularly in their dealings with the media. Several aides have also told me that Meghan in particular was very good at 'drawing' staff into her confidence, flattering them as if they were the only person in the world she could trust and asking them to help her with various duties. Often these were things that were far beyond the scope of their normal work in one case being instructed to make plans for her father Thomas to be flown from his home in Mexico before the wedding and taken to a fully-stocked 'safe house' in LA for a few days in order to fool any waiting media. And then, when things didn't go to plan, the sun would no longer shine on them. It was made 'horribly clear' they were out of favour. Toxic, hostile, distrustful, poisonous: all words I have heard regularly used over the past few years to describe people's experiences working in the Sussexes' household. The Times reports matters became so bad that Mr Knauf, an experienced PR operator who cut his teeth defending the bank RBS at the height of its financial scandal, decided to put his strongly held concerns in writing. He made clear in October 2018, little more than six months after the couple married, that he believed the duchess had already driven two members of staff out and another was being targeted. 'I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of [redacted] was totally unacceptable,' he wrote. 'The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying 'Y' and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.' The Times has chosen not to match incidents to individual names, but the members of staff leaving the Sussexes' employment were all women and all seasoned professionals. A well-placed source said: '[One woman's] job was highly pressurised and in the end it became too much. She put up with quite a lot. Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.' One member of staff, a seasoned professional, was initially said to have left on good terms. But I have since been told that this popular aide was deeply unhappy about her experience working for the duchess and had been 'desperate' to get out as long as she could professionally put a brave face on it. Likewise a third member of staff. Mr Knauf makes clear in his email, as reported by The Times, that he was also concerned about the couple's hugely experienced deputy private secretary, Samantha Cohen. She had worked for the Queen for more than 20 years and was personally persuaded by the monarch to stay on and help the couple navigate their first few years of royal life. He indicated that she was experiencing extreme stress and said: 'I questioned if the Household policy on bullying and harassment applies to principals [the term used to refer to a member of the royal family].' One source tells me wryly, with an eye to Meghan's much-hyped championing of female empowerment: 'Note that everyone concerned was a woman.' Another adds: 'Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers. They were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.' The Times also makes reference to an incident during the couple's tour to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga in 2018, which was a particularly difficult one for all concerned, Meghan included. She was, of course, pregnant at the time. The newspaper reports how Meghan cut short a visit to a market in Fiji because she was concerned about the presence of a UN organisation promoting women, with which she had worked before and made clear she no longer wished to have anything to do with. At the time officials had suggested that it was because it was humid and the crowd was oppressive in the market. I was there at the time and witnessed Meghan turn and 'hiss' at a member of her entourage, clearly incandescent with rage about something, and demand to leave. I later saw that same female highly distressed member of staff sitting in an official car, with tears running down her face. Our eyes met and she lowered hers, humiliation etched on her features. Meghan and Harry's war of words with his family and the royal household has stepped up a gear after Ms Markle said that they were 'perpetuating falsehoods' about them in a clip released hours after the Queen launched an inquiry into claims she bullied staff out of their jobs At the time I was unable to document anything as I couldn't conclusively link the two incidents together, despite my suspicions. I have subsequently found out from other sources that my instincts were right. It should be stressed that lawyers for the duchess said she met other leaders from UN Women later on the tour and denied she left for the reason alleged. So why has this all come out now, you might ask? The Times makes clear that these aides have 'hit back' before Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey this Sunday. The newspaper says it was approached by sources because they felt 'only a partial version had emerged of Meghan's two years as a working member of the royal family and they wished to tell their side'. They were also concerned at how such matters were handled by the palace. One source put it more succinctly to me yesterday. 'Those concerned are fed up with the sheer hypocrisy of it all. The suggestion that they [the Sussexes] were being bullied and forced out when others were experiencing that very treatment at their hands!' exclaimed the source. Another insider told me they believed some staff had even sought psychological therapy over their experiences something that Harry, who moved the nation when he revealed how he had himself sought professional help to cope with the emotional fall-out over his mother's death and has long campaigned on mental health issues, should know all about. 'People have been broken by this, genuinely so. Absolutely traumatised,' I am told. Lawyers for the duchess say she wished to fit in and be accepted and had left her life in North America to commit to her new role. What a sad, sorry mess. The irony, another source says, is that no one wanted a battle. But the Sussexes have waged this war and enough is enough. Those aides who have broken the royal omerta say they refuse to sit by and watch Harry and Meghan's 'duplicitous' behaviour, especially when 'good people and brilliant professionals' are having their reputations unfairly traduced. One source warns: 'The royals cannot fight back. 'Never complain, never explain.' But they can.' A spokesman for the Sussexes has told The Times that they are the victims of a 'calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful information'. They have said the duchess is 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.' Royals' Meghan 'bully' crisis: As Buckingham Palace launches an unprecedented investigation into sensational bullying claims against Meghan, make no mistake this is a crisis that echoes the Abdication, writes RICHARD KAY When Jason Knauf left the Treasury to go and work for RBS the bank that had been bailed out with 45 billion of taxpayers' money following the 2008 financial crisis he was dubbed 'gamekeeper turned poacher'. But his silky skills in crisis management were never tested there as they were in his next big job working for Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. Yesterday, the quietly spoken American was revealed to have been the author of a sensational bullying complaint against former actress Meghan, which threatens a new royal crisis every bit as divisive as the War of the Waleses. That, of course, was the bitter and acrimonious battle for public sympathy waged between Princess Diana and Prince Charles throughout the 1990s. A sensational bullying complaint against former actress Meghan threatens a new royal crisis every bit as divisive as the War of the Waleses The crisis has echoes of the dramas that followed the Abdication of Edward VIII in 1936 after he chose to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson (pictured) Mr Knauf's email, alleging that the Duchess's intimidating behaviour had driven two personal assistants out of the household, reopens a rift far more critical and damaging for the future of the monarchy: the split between Harry and his brother, Prince William. But last night the email had an even more shocking immediate effect. Stung by Meghan's astonishing statement in response to allegations of bullying that she was the victim of a 'smear' and that the newspaper that published the email was 'being used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative' the Queen hit back. Announcing an inquiry into the claims about the two employees who left their jobs and a third whose confidence was said to have been undermined is an astonishing development. Never before has the Palace held a member of the Royal Family to account, and its move represents a serious blow to the Duchess's carefully curated status of victimhood. It also shows that the Queen's deep reserve of patience for her grandson, Harry, has reached a tipping point. The move was not just a result of the incendiary remarks of the Sussexes' American public relations team, but also because of the implications that the Palace could face legal action over nothing being done when the complaints were first raised. In other words, a cover-up. I also understand that individuals who fear their reputations will be damaged in the Sussexes' upcoming Oprah Winfrey TV interview have demanded the protection of the Palace. 'The Palace is taking the gravity of the situation extremely seriously,' I am told. Even to the most neutral and fair-minded of observers, the bombshell revelations coming just four days before the Oprah interview is broadcast, represent a moment of potential danger for the Royal Family. It has echoes, too, of the dramas that followed the Abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, when the Queen's father reluctantly took the throne as George VI, triggering years of hostility between the brothers and, crucially, their wives. The Queen Mother blamed, and never forgave, the Duchess of Windsor the former Wallis Simpson for the premature death of her husband. The Queen's father (pictured) reluctantly took the throne as George VI, triggering years of hostility between the brothers and, crucially, their wives Just who leaked Mr Knauf's 2018 email to The Times scarcely matters. Its very existence suggests an escalation in the fraught relationship between William and Harry. The reason? Mr Knauf's current job as the Duke of Cambridge's right-hand man. For more than two years he has worked exclusively for Prince William, and is now chief executive of the Cambridges' Royal Foundation. His email was one of a series of claims about Meghan's treatment of staff after former aides accused her of 'emotional cruelty and manipulation', which had reduced them to tears and left them 'shaking' with fear. The fact aides had managed to keep a lid on these troubling claims for so long demonstrates the unease over what might be unleashed when the Oprah interview is broadcast in the U.S. on Sunday night. It is also a sign that the Palace will not sit back and allow the Sussexes' partial and highly selective account of their brief life as working royals to go unchallenged. Yesterday, royal officials were insisting that the complaints about Meghan, which began to surface within weeks of her and Harry's starry Windsor wedding, were not being orchestrated by Buckingham Palace or by members of the Queen's family. Their focus, they said, was on 99-year-old Prince Philip, who remains a patient at Barts Hospital in London. Complaints about Meghan began to surface within weeks of her and Harry's starry Windsor wedding. Pictured: Harry and Meghan at Ascot in July 2018 All the same, some courtiers are privately describing developments as 'the Crown getting its revenge in first'. Whatever the case, you don't have to be much of a conspiracy theorist to see a pattern in the revelations. For on any reading of the claims, what appears to emerge is a streak of wilfulness in Meghan and a pusillanimous Harry torn between his family and his wife. As someone who has reported on the royals for 35 years, I have heard of complaints about the failings of the royals' internal human resources departments on a number of occasions and they were a key factor in the war of words between Charles and Diana. This probably accounts for Mr Knauf's pointed observation in a 2018 email leaked to The Times this week. It said that while the household's head of human resources, Samantha Carruthers, had 'agreed with me on all counts that the situation was serious . . . I remain concerned that nothing will be done'. The intervention of the Queen last night indicates that was almost certainly true. Sources quoted by The Times claim HR attitudes were 'How can we make this go away?', rather that addressing it. The Queen Mother blamed, and never forgave, the Duchess of Windsor the former Wallis Simpson (pictured) for the premature death of her husband According to insiders, senior figures in all the major royal households knew of the reports that young women were being bullied to the point of tears. 'The institution just protected Meghan,' it was claimed. How ironic that it should be 'the men in grey suits' the very people whom the Duchess of Sussex has complained had been so hostile to her who protected her from these sulphurous claims. By now stories of Meghan's behaviour were circulating openly. One story that reached my ears was of a very junior assistant who had gone from being Meghan's favourite to being told that she had become 'over familiar'. Another was how morning staff meetings over coffee, which Harry himself made, had stopped when Meghan apparently engaged a butler, ending the informality at a stroke. Harmless enough, you may think, but there were other accounts, too. One figure, working in a different part of the royal estate, was alleged to have been reprimanded for giving Harry a present to mark his engagement. And there have been claims that behind the glowing headlines of the couple's first big overseas tour, in October 2018, all was not well at Admiralty House, Australia's governor general's residence which hosted Harry and Meghan. The bombshell revelations coming just four days before the Oprah interview (pictured) is broadcast represent a moment of potential danger for the Royal Family How conflicting this must all have been for Harry, who had been brought up by both his mother and father to respect the staff who work for the Royal Family. But it was Mr Knauf's devastating conclusion about bullying by 'principals' that was to have the greatest impact. Prince William was appalled by the reports that reached his ears, and many now wonder whether it was this that ultimately led to the split between the brothers. Initially, I understand, Harry acknowledged that something was not right, but he swiftly backed his wife. At the time William and Harry shared their staff, but the issue of their treatment became so acute that William and his aides accelerated the process of splitting the household in two. 'What was a long-term plan became an immediate plan,' said a source. Suddenly the 'Fab Four', as the two couples had been dubbed, were no longer quite so fabulous. Harry and Meghan moved out of Kensington Palace and went to live at their new home, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, taking their own staff with them. Mr Knauf, meanwhile, took up a job as an adviser to the Duke of Cambridge. To the public, the unravelling of the special relationship of two brothers who had been so close because of adversity as well as their unique circumstance was as perplexing as it was heartbreaking. The picture of the princes and their wives barely acknowledging one another at last year's Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey could not have contrasted more than with that joyful Christmas Day at Sandringham in 2017, when all four had been wreathed in smiles. William has looked on with mounting dismay as his brother and sister-in-law have used their new Californian pulpit to wage war on the Press and, more recently, on their own family and the institution that serves it. His hope that Harry, who more than anyone else knows the burdens William faces as the future king, would be at his side has vanished to be replaced by a fear that his disgruntled brother and sister-in-law are morphing ever more into a modern-day version of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. That may also indicate William's hand in last night's Palace intervention. Bullying and remedies to prevent it, are, after all, at the heart of his mental health charity, Heads Together. Even when such damaging allegations are made on the Palace's own doorstep, doing nothing is not an option. Palace probes claims Meghan bullied staff: Sensation as Queen orders investigation as aide alleges that duchess drove staff out By Rebecca English and Sam Greenhill for the Daily Mail The Queen launched an unprecedented inquiry last night into allegations that Meghan and Harry bullied their staff. Devastating claims that the Duchess of Sussex inflicted 'emotional cruelty' on aides and 'drove them out' were 'very' concerning, Buckingham Palace said. Harry and his wife were both also labelled 'outrageous bullies', according to sensational claims reported yesterday. 'Broken' royal aides told of feeling humiliated, 'sick', 'terrified', left 'shaking' with fear, and being reduced to tears by the duchess. In an extraordinary statement, Buckingham Palace announced a formal probe into the allegations surrounding the Queen's grandson and his wife. Members of staff will be invited to contribute in confidence. The Palace said: 'We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 'Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Royal Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. The Queen (pictured with the couple in 2018) launched an unprecedented inquiry last night into allegations that Meghan and Harry bullied their staff Devastating claims that the Duchess of Sussex (pictured during her Oprah interview airing next week) inflicted 'emotional cruelty' on aides and 'drove them out' were 'very' concerning, Buckingham Palace said In an extraordinary statement (pictured), Buckingham Palace announced a formal probe into the allegations surrounding the Queen's grandson and his wife. Members of staff will be invited to contribute in confidence 'The household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.' Daily Mail scoop that signalled a scandal The first sign there was a problem within the Sussexes household came in a Daily Mail story from November 2018. This newspapers Eden Confidential diary column reported that Meghans personal assistant had quit suddenly just six months after the duchess married into the Royal Family. The aide was later named as Melissa Touabti. Advertisement It does not appear that the duke and duchess will be consulted at this stage. However, Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, have strenuously denied any bullying. In response to the reports, they accused the Queen's staff of orchestrating a 'calculated smear campaign' ahead of their explosive two-hour 'tell-all' interview with Oprah Winfrey being broadcast this weekend. But Palace sources last night slapped down the smear claim as utterly 'disingenuous'. The allegations and resulting probe as well as accusations by the duchess that Buckingham Palace, and therefore the Queen, are deliberately moving against her sees a new low in relations between the two parties. When the couple acrimoniously quit last year as working royals, the elderly monarch made clear her regret and made a point of saying they were still much loved members of her family. Aides said the hope was that they could still return for family events such as Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of the Queen's birthday when royals gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, and other important occasions. Last night a royal insider commented: 'I can't ever see those two back on the balcony.' There is no timetable to the investigation but it is understood that any changes in policies and procedures will be shared publicly in an annual review expected later in the year. Palace officials will be asked why the initial claims of bullying that were made in October 2018 were not acted on at the time. The Times revealed allegations that the duchess (pictured in a trailer for her Oprah interview with Harry) bullied two assistants and shattered the confidence of another member of staff, and 'drove them out' of Kensington Palace. It published a litany of alleged bullying and 'emotional cruelty' In October 2018, an official complaint was lodged by Jason Knauf, (pictured on Meghan and Harry's wedding day) himself one the couple's most senior advisers A royal source told the Daily Mail last night that the emergence of the bullying claims yesterday had 'shaken' many staff, both past and present, and brought up 'many unhappy memories' about a particularly 'toxic period'. The Times revealed allegations that the duchess bullied two assistants and shattered the confidence of another member of staff, and 'drove them out' of Kensington Palace. It published a litany of alleged bullying and 'emotional cruelty'. A Palace source told the paper: 'There were a lot of broken people. Young women were broken by their behaviour.' The source described one member of staff as 'completely destroyed'. A former aide branded both Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies'. Another source claimed that Samantha Cohen, the couple's private secretary, had also been picked on. In October 2018, an official complaint was lodged by Jason Knauf, himself one the couple's most senior advisers. Mr Knauf, who worked as communications secretary to Harry and Meghan and now heads the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's charitable foundation, sent his 2018 email of complaint to Simon Case (left), then William's private secretary and now the Cabinet Secretary at Downing Street He wrote: 'I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of [X] was totally unacceptable. 'The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. 'We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards [Y].' Harry and Meghan, whose 'no holds barred' CBS interview with Miss Winfrey will be broadcast on Sunday in America and in the UK on Monday at 9pm on ITV which reportedly paid 1million hit back at the allegations in The Times. A spokesman claimed the newspaper was being 'used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative' before the interview. Yesterday a senior Palace source told the Mail: 'This is absolutely untrue. We haven't been 'peddling' anything. It's disingenuous [to suggest that]. There are far more important things going on in the world [a reference to the pandemic and Prince Philip's hospitalisation] that have been focusing our attention, rather than the circus around a media interview.' Another source added: 'The Palace has 100 per cent refused to discuss in any way, shape or form the interview. 'Every journalist that has been asking them about it for the last week or so knows that. 'The view from the start is that nothing good is to be gained from doing that. Their view has not changed. The suggestion that this is a Palace-orchestrated smear campaign is deeply offensive and patently false.' Mr Knauf, who worked as communications secretary to Harry and Meghan and now heads the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's charitable foundation, sent his 2018 email of complaint to Simon Case, then William's private secretary and now the Cabinet Secretary at Downing Street. Mr Case, who is said to have had no managerial responsibility for Harry's staff but took a keen interest in what was happening, passed it to human resources director Samantha Carruthers. Harry had 'pleaded' with Mr Knauf (pictured left with the duke) not to pursue the allegations, The Times claimed. Lawyers for the couple deny this happened According to the report in The Times, Mr Knauf, who had already consulted Miss Carruthers, said in his email that she 'agreed with me on all counts that the situation was very serious'. Harry had 'pleaded' with Mr Knauf not to pursue the allegations, The Times claimed. Lawyers for the couple deny this happened. The newspaper said it had been approached by former staff to tell their story before the couple's interview with Miss Winfrey. They claimed that when Meghan was urged to support Palace staff she replied: 'It's not my job to coddle people.' Meghan's lawyers have vehemently denied she was a bully and claimed that one of the staff had left the job because of misconduct.They said the former actress was 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma'. They added: 'Let's just call this what it is a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation.' Revenge of the Sussex survivors' club: The extraordinary inside story of how a fairytale turned into a nightmare of 'traumatised' staff - by Royal Editor REBECCA ENGLISH, who saw so much of it herself It is the one royal group that no one wants to join. Referred to only half-jokingly as the 'Sussex Survivors' Club', its membership is sadly rising. But its select band of members have one thing in common: all have worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and lived to tell the tale. Joking aside, some even believe they may have a form of post-traumatic stress, defined by doctors as an anxiety disorder caused by distressing or frightening events. Such experiences, of course, are now widely acknowledged not to be limited to soldiers who have undergone traumatic experiences on the battlefield, but also to people at work. Even if that work is in a palace. And today, many former palace staff look back on the moment that Prince Harry introduced to the world his beautiful, intelligent and passionate bride-to-be as the beginning of one of the most traumatic periods in their lives. Let us be clear: Harry is a complex man but one with a strong sense of natural justice and charity, given to acts of compassion and kindness. 'He wears his heart on his sleeve and genuinely wants to do good in the world,' one admirer tells me. But he is also equally capable, say those who know him well and like him, of behaving 'like an absolute brat'. Aides at the centre of palace intrigue Melissa Touabti (right) is pictured with Robbie Williams' wife Ayda for whom she previously worked PA WHO QUIT AFTER WEDDING: Melissa Touabti, the duchess's former personal assistant, had previously worked for Robbie Williams and Madonna. She played a key role in preparations for Meghan and Harry's wedding in May 2018, but quit after just six months. The Frenchwoman, 41, took a job with the billionaire Livingstone family owners of the stately home Cliveden. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf joined the royals in 2014, having acted as a 'crisis management expert' at the Royal Bank of Scotland. The 36- year-old American, who completed his master's at the London School of Economics, served as communications secretary to the 'Fab Four' of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan before the Cambridges and Sussexes created separate offices in March 2019. Mr Knauf now heads William and Kate's charitable foundation. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf (left) walks behind the couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto Simon Case in Dundee in 2019 THE WHIZ-KID WHO RUNS WHITEHALL: Simon Case became the youngest head of the civil service for over a century when he took the post at the tender age of 41. The Cambridge history graduate a noted fan of tweed suits and Barbour jackets had previously been the principal private secretary to successive Tory prime ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May. He also worked at spying centre GCHQ as a director of strategy. His most recent role before becoming Cabinet Secretary last year was serving as private secretary to Prince William. THE TOUGH TALKING AUSTRALIAN: Formerly the Queens assistant private secretary, Samantha Cohen had planned to quit Buckingham Palace in 2018. Instead, she agreed to stay on and help the duchess through her first months in the Royal Family. The well-liked but tough-talking Australian became the Sussexes private secretary, but left in 2019 to work for the environmental charity Cool Earth. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II (accompanied by Samantha Cohen) attend a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018 in Widnes, England THE PRINCES' HR HEAD HONCHO: Experienced human resources director Samantha Carruthers worked for De Beers and investment bank Lazard before joining the royals. Head of HR for Prince Charles and Prince William until 2019, she is now deputy chairman of the board of trustees for child bereavement charity Winstons Wish. Samantha Carruthers worked for De Beers and investment bank Lazard before joining the royal Advertisement It had been clear for years to anyone he came into contact with that he wasn't happy working with the palace machinery or, particularly, the British media (sometimes understandably so). He was, they say, always capable of self-destructively 'pressing the nuclear button' on his royal life. Meghan, they stress, was simply the catalyst. But the result was more toxic, more personally harmful, than anyone could ever have imagined. To begin with, however, the atmosphere at Kensington Palace was heady and exciting. Here was a glamorous couple, clearly deeply in love. Meghan was the missing piece of the jigsaw that poor, motherless Harry had been searching for all those years. Famously she once paid for an ice cream stand for her new staff at Kensington Palace, with the event later surprise! being breathlessly revealed in People, a 'pro-Sussex' American magazine, as the 'best day of work, ever'. More than that, they were a couple determined to do good on a world stage at the same time sprinkling a little stardust on Britain's 'fusty' old Royal Family. And their small team of loyal staff believed in them until, that is, the scales fell from their eyes. Notoriously, within a few weeks of Meghan's arrival in England and the announcement of the couple's engagement in November 2017, word was leaking out about the couple's 'autocratic' and 'difficult' behaviour. Occasionally it slipped into print: that Meghan (a claim robustly sourced by the Mail) had refused to wear a hat on her first official engagement with the Queen in Chester, despite being strongly advised it would be appropriate and respectful to do so. Then came the famous row over which tiara she wanted to wear to the couple's wedding, resulting in Harry publicly admonishing one of the Queen's most senior members of staff, Angela Kelly: 'What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.' There were also claims that the Duchess of Cambridge had told Meghan she shouldn't speak to her staff so dismissively and that there was so much friction at a pre-wedding bridesmaid fitting that Kate was left in tears. The Times has reported that the 'febrile' atmosphere within Kensington Palace saw staff, on occasion, weeping. Two say they were bullied by the duchess, a third that they had been 'humiliated' by her. The paper quotes one aide, who was anticipating a confrontation with Meghan, as saying: 'I can't stop shaking.' At first, my sources tell me, Harry tried to keep the peace, gently placating his wife and quietly apologising to staff. On one occasion described to me by several sources, he even gently admonished Meghan about the way she behaved with palace staff many of whom work long hours for relatively little money out of pride for the institution after a particularly explosive encounter. The details are subject to conjecture (and have become something of a palace legend) but resulted in Harry speaking to one of his close protection officers, who confirmed his fiancee's behaviour. But as the weeks went on, the prince became increasingly hostile to his once-loyal aides. The Times has claimed Harry knew of a complaint made by the couple's former communications secretary, Jason Knauf, that Meghan had driven two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member. Harry is said to have had a meeting with Mr Knauf in which he begged him not to pursue it. The Sussexes deny this. They also describe the allegations as 'old', 'distorted' and aimed at 'undermining' Meghan. It has been suggested by others that staff may have 'misunderstood' Meghan's more direct, American style. But I have personally witnessed more than one member of staff driven to tears by the treatment they were subjected to by the duke and duchess before the couple acrimoniously quit as working royals. One person sobbed down the phone to me after a particularly harrowing day. They clearly felt emotionally broken and could no longer cope with the pressure they were being subjected to. Others have indicated to me they were being asked to behave in a manner they did not feel professionally comfortable with, particularly in their dealings with the media. Several aides have also told me that Meghan in particular was very good at 'drawing' staff into her confidence, flattering them as if they were the only person in the world she could trust and asking them to help her with various duties. Often these were things that were far beyond the scope of their normal work in one case being instructed to make plans for her father Thomas to be flown from his home in Mexico before the wedding and taken to a fully-stocked 'safe house' in LA for a few days in order to fool any waiting media. And then, when things didn't go to plan, the sun would no longer shine on them. It was made 'horribly clear' they were out of favour. Toxic, hostile, distrustful, poisonous: all words I have heard regularly used over the past few years to describe people's experiences working in the Sussexes' household. The Times reports matters became so bad that Mr Knauf, an experienced PR operator who cut his teeth defending the bank RBS at the height of its financial scandal, decided to put his strongly held concerns in writing. He made clear in October 2018, little more than six months after the couple married, that he believed the duchess had already driven two members of staff out and another was being targeted. 'I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of [redacted] was totally unacceptable,' he wrote. 'The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying 'Y' and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.' The Times has chosen not to match incidents to individual names, but the members of staff leaving the Sussexes' employment were all women and all seasoned professionals. A well-placed source said: '[One woman's] job was highly pressurised and in the end it became too much. She put up with quite a lot. Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.' One member of staff, a seasoned professional, was initially said to have left on good terms. But I have since been told that this popular aide was deeply unhappy about her experience working for the duchess and had been 'desperate' to get out as long as she could professionally put a brave face on it. Likewise a third member of staff. Mr Knauf makes clear in his email, as reported by The Times, that he was also concerned about the couple's hugely experienced deputy private secretary, Samantha Cohen. She had worked for the Queen for more than 20 years and was personally persuaded by the monarch to stay on and help the couple navigate their first few years of royal life. He indicated that she was experiencing extreme stress and said: 'I questioned if the Household policy on bullying and harassment applies to principals [the term used to refer to a member of the royal family].' Rebecca English with Prince Harry to learn about the work of his new charity Sentebale in Lesotho in 2006 One source tells me wryly, with an eye to Meghan's much-hyped championing of female empowerment: 'Note that everyone concerned was a woman.' Another adds: 'Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers. They were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.' Wedding gems from 'murderous' ruler Meghan Markle was criticised last night for preaching about human rights in Saudi Arabia yet wearing priceless earrings from its rulers. She was photographed wearing the earrings, a wedding gift from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, three weeks after the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose death the prince has accepted responsibility for. Meghan was claimed to have been unaware of the global outrage at the time about reports the prince had ordered the murder. She wore them at a dinner in a visit to Fiji in October 2018. Meghan Markle wears the earrings at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji, on October 23, 2018, three weeks after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul Her staff told journalists the jewellery was borrowed, without stating from whom. Meghan has campaigned for women in Saudi Arabia to be allowed to drive, appearing with Loujain al-Hathloul, an activist who has since been jailed. Lawyers for the duchess denied to The Times that she had misled anyone about the provenance of the earrings. The Duchess of Sussex was again seen wearing the earrings one month later on November 14, 2018 as she was photographed leaving Kensington Palace to attend Prince Charles's 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace Advertisement The Times also makes reference to an incident during the couple's tour to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga in 2018, which was a particularly difficult one for all concerned, Meghan included. She was, of course, pregnant at the time. The newspaper reports how Meghan cut short a visit to a market in Fiji because she was concerned about the presence of a UN organisation promoting women, with which she had worked before and made clear she no longer wished to have anything to do with. At the time officials had suggested that it was because it was humid and the crowd was oppressive in the market. I was there at the time and witnessed Meghan turn and 'hiss' at a member of her entourage, clearly incandescent with rage about something, and demand to leave. I later saw that same female highly distressed member of staff sitting in an official car, with tears running down her face. Our eyes met and she lowered hers, humiliation etched on her features. At the time I was unable to document anything as I couldn't conclusively link the two incidents together, despite my suspicions. I have subsequently found out from other sources that my instincts were right. It should be stressed that lawyers for the duchess said she met other leaders from UN Women later on the tour and denied she left for the reason alleged. So why has this all come out now, you might ask? The Times makes clear that these aides have 'hit back' before Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey this Sunday. The newspaper says it was approached by sources because they felt 'only a partial version had emerged of Meghan's two years as a working member of the royal family and they wished to tell their side'. They were also concerned at how such matters were handled by the palace. One source put it more succinctly to me yesterday. 'Those concerned are fed up with the sheer hypocrisy of it all. The suggestion that they [the Sussexes] were being bullied and forced out when others were experiencing that very treatment at their hands!' exclaimed the source. Another insider told me they believed some staff had even sought psychological therapy over their experiences something that Harry, who moved the nation when he revealed how he had himself sought professional help to cope with the emotional fall-out over his mother's death and has long campaigned on mental health issues, should know all about. 'People have been broken by this, genuinely so. Absolutely traumatised,' I am told. Lawyers for the duchess say she wished to fit in and be accepted and had left her life in North America to commit to her new role. What a sad, sorry mess. The irony, another source says, is that no one wanted a battle. But the Sussexes have waged this war and enough is enough. Those aides who have broken the royal omerta say they refuse to sit by and watch Harry and Meghan's 'duplicitous' behaviour, especially when 'good people and brilliant professionals' are having their reputations unfairly traduced. One source warns: 'The royals cannot fight back. 'Never complain, never explain.' But they can.' A spokesman for the Sussexes has told The Times that they are the victims of a 'calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful information'. They have said the duchess is 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.' Meghan makes jaw-dropping claim the Royal Family has 'perpetuated falsehoods' about her and Harry in Oprah interview teaser released just hours after Palace launched sensational probe into allegations she bullied staff By Harriet Alexander for Dailymail.com, Jemma Carr and Martin Robinson for MailOnline Meghan Markle has accused the Royal Family of 'perpetuating falsehoods' about them in her interview with Oprah Winfrey in a new teaser clip released just hours after Buckingham Palace launched a prope into her alleged bullying of staff. The Duchess of Sussex calls her husband's family 'The Firm' in the 30-second trailer released by CBS today and blames the royals for speaking out in a show set to be watched by millions around the globe. Winfrey asks Markle: 'How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?' And an emotional Meghan replies: 'I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us'. The Duchess adds: 'And, if that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already.' It is not known what 'falsehoods' Meghan is talking about because the clip was recorded before her she was accused of 'driving out' two PAs and shattering the confidence of another member of Kensington Palace staff - with one former aide branding Prince Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies' in The Times on Wednesday. And last night the Queen launched an unprecedented inquiry last night into allegations that the couple bullied their staff and devastating claims that the Duchess of Sussex inflicted emotional cruelty on aides who accuse her of playing the victim. Meghan's ramping up of the war of words with the palace came as: Buckingham Palace says it is 'very concerned' about claims Meghan mistreated staff and allegations some were forced out and others left 'shaking' and sobbing because of her alleged 'emotional cruelty and manipulation' New claims that Meghan 'hissed' at staff and reduced one aide to tears on a royal tour emerge; Prince Philip spends another night in hospital as he heads towards three weeks as a patient needing heart treatment; Meghan Markle spoke to Oprah Winfrey for the interview, which will air on Sunday, and is asked whether she had contemplated what the reaction would be from Buckingham Palace to the interview Meghan suggests she has no fears about losing her royal privileges by speaking out, claiming: 'If that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already' The new clip came as Buckingham Palace announced they will launch an investigation into allegations that Markle bullied royal aides. The Duchess of Sussex is accused of 'driving out' two PAs and shattering the confidence of another member of Kensington Palace staff - with one former aide branding Prince Harry and his wife 'outrageous bullies' in The Times on Wednesday. It also claimed the monarchy's 'men in gray suits' were aware of the purported actions of the duchess - but did 'absolutely nothing to protect people'. Meghan has denied the allegations and accused the newspaper of being 'used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative' about her. Royal officials initially refused to comment, with sources telling MailOnline that aides and senior family members are focused on Prince Philip's health problems in hospital. But on Wednesday night, the Palace confirmed that its HR team will 'look into' the allegations, saying it 'does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace'. A spokesperson said: 'We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 'Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. 'Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. 'The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.' A bullying complaint was lodged against the Duchess of Sussex by a senior member of Kensington Palace staff before she and Prince Harry quit as working royals, it was dramatically claimed on Tuesday On Wednesday night, the Palace confirmed that its HR team will 'look into' the allegations, saying it 'does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace' It is understood the palace hopes to start the investigation soon. Any changes in policies or procedures will be shared in the Sovereign Grant report which is published annually and documents royal accounts for the year. Meghan said The Times is being 'used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative based on misleading and harmful misinformation' about her treatment of staff after former aides accused her of 'emotional cruelty and manipulation', reducing them to tears and leaving them 'shaking' with fear. Her lawyers said the former actress was 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma'. Jason Knauf - the Sussexes' then communications secretary who now heads the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's charitable foundation - made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff. A source told the newspaper Harry begged his senior aide not to take the matter further, but it also reported lawyers for the duke and duchess deny the meeting took place and that Harry would not have interfered with staff matters. Knauf reportedly sent an email outlining the duchess's alleged actions to Simon Case - the Duke of Cambridge's then private secretary and now the cabinet secretary - after conversations with Samantha Carruthers, the head of human resources. Case then forwarded it to Carruthers, who was based at Clarence House. The Times reported Knauf wrote in his email: 'I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable. 'The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. 'She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. 'We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y.' NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DLA Piper represented an ad hoc bondholder committee comprising some of the largest holders of the international notes of Argentine leading energy company, YPF S.A. ("YPF"), in YPF's recent US$6.2 billion exchange offers and consent solicitation constituting the largest corporate liability management transaction in Argentina to date. As a result of the successful transaction, approximately 60 percent of holders of YPF's 2021 notes exchanged their debt for approximately US$775 million of new secured notes due 2026 and US$101 million in cash, thereby securing access to the Argentine foreign exchange market and averting the risk of default. Noteholders across six other series of notes who agreed to exchange received approximately US$748 million of new notes due 2029 and US$576 million of new notes due 2033. 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For decades, the firm has represented organizations operating in the sector throughout the world, with a global team serving clients in the power, oil and gas, renewable, nuclear, energy trading, climate change and water markets. In addition to energy companies, the firm's clients also include project sponsors, corporations, developers, financial institutions, governments, utilities and regulatory bodies. About DLA Piper DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising. dlapiper.com SOURCE DLA Piper Related Links http://www.dlapiper.com Sudan received its first batch of coronavirus vaccines on Wednesday from the United Nations-backed COVAX initiative. The over 800,000-dose shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine was shipped to the capital Khartoum in coordination with the World Health Organization and UNICEF. Sudan is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to receive coronavirus vaccines through the COVAX initiative, UNICEF said. The program was formed to ensure fair access to vaccines by low- and middle-income countries, but it has been hampered by the severely limited global supply of doses and logistical problems. The shipment, produced by the Serum Institute in India, was part of 3.4 million doses Sudan is due to receive from COVAX. Health Minister Omar Ahmed al-Najib said the country's vaccination campaign would begin soon and prioritize health care workers and elderly people. Sudan, a country of around 43 million people, has reported more than 28,500 cases, including 1,895 deaths. However, the actual number of COVID-19 cases, like elsewhere in the world, are thought to be far higher, in part due to limited testing. Sudan is one of over 90 countries that will receive vaccines for free through the COVAX initiative. Another 90 countries and eight territories have agreed to pay for their doses. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) An animation depicting how baby sea turtles likely disperse from a nesting site in Japan into the open ocean. The "turtles" are green particles in this simulation, which was run using a high-resolution version of the NCAR-based Community Earth System Model. Credit: Cheryl Harrison An exquisitely detailed global ocean model simulation from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has given scientists rare insight into where baby sea turtles may go in their "lost years" after they scramble off the sandy beaches where they are born and swim into the open ocean. This look at a critically important period in the life cycle of endangered loggerhead turtles could help inform more comprehensive conservation efforts that encompass regions of the open ocean where young turtles grow, and not just the nesting beaches. It also pinpoints regions of the ocean that are important to study to better understand how to protect sea turtles. "To understand where sea turtle hatchlings are being swept to when they enter the open oceanand how favorable that habitat is to turtle survivalwe need to simulate smaller scale ocean features, the jets and eddies that transport these younglings," said Cheryl Harrison, a researcher at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who led the study. "The models typically used to simulate global ocean movement are too coarse for us to resolve these important features. The really exciting thing about this study is we were able to use a high-resolution, eddy-resolving model to track where turtles are traveling." The ocean simulation used for the new study, published in the Journal of The Royal Society Interface, was run using the NCAR-based Community Earth System Model at a resolution that is an order of magnitude higher than standard global modeling runs. The model also contains complex biogeochemistry, which allowed the researchers to estimate food availability along the turtles' path. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, which is NCAR's sponsor, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Harrison began work on the study as a postdoctoral researcher at NCAR, working with oceanographer Matthew Long, who co-authored the study. Harrison is now an assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Finding the lost years Loggerhead turtles nest on specific beaches scattered around the globe, often where strong currents come close to land. After hatching, the baby turtles head for the ocean, where they spend the next several years as they mature. Once they reach sexual maturity decades later, the turtles eventually return to the beach where they were born to mate and lay their own eggs before the cycle begins again. For the new study, Harrison and her colleagues studied how hatchlings are likely to disperse during the first year of their lives from nesting sites on the coasts of Japan, Florida, Cape Verde, Oman, west Australia, east Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. Because the baby sea turtles must stay near the surface of the ocean to breatheand because they are not yet able to swim for significant periodsthe researchers were able to emulate their possible journeys using a method known as particle tracking, which follows how particles "released" into the model move with simulated water trajectories over time. The results show that at many of the nesting sites, strong nearby currentsincluding the Kuroshio, Gulf Stream, Brazil, and Agulhas currentssweep the turtles poleward to a region of ocean where two circular ocean currents (known as gyres) come together. This boundary between the subpolar and subtropical gyres is warm enough for the hatchlings to survive and also rich with zooplankton and other food that turtles depend on to survive. The study results help demarcate the regions where turtles from each beach are going in their "lost years" when ecologists cannot easily keep tabs on them. For example, turtles born in southeastern Florida travel with the Gulf Stream all the way to the Azores, a productive and warm ocean habitat perfect for nurturing them. At other nesting sites, such as the one on the coast of Oman, the hatchlings do not hitch a ride on a strong current to far-off ocean habitats. Instead, they use a local current that disperses them relatively nearby because the area waters are already suitable for the young turtles. This understanding of where the turtles go allows scientists to better understand what threats the turtles may be facing. "Sea turtle hatchlings are very difficult to track and observe as they have high mortality rates and grow out of tags quickly," Harrison said. "Modelling studies help us close this observational gap and predict where they are going in the 'lost years.' Identifying ocean habitat helps us understand what factors are important for their survival in this life stage." Explore further Indonesian baby sea turtles make a break for freedom More information: Cheryl S. Harrison et al, Identifying global favourable habitat for early juvenile loggerhead sea turtles, Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2021). Cheryl S. Harrison et al, Identifying global favourable habitat for early juvenile loggerhead sea turtles,(2021). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0799 In response to an urgent inquiry addressed to the European Commission by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Loucas Fourlas (Cyprus, EPP), High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell condemned, on behalf of the European Commission, the bombing of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by the Azerbaijani armed forces, reported the official website of the European Armenian Cause office of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party. The urgent inquiry by MEP Fourlas stated that the Azerbaijani armed forces, in violation of international law of war, targeted and struck the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral on October 8, 2020. The MEP asked the European Commission whether it intends to take steps to protect the civilian population and religious places of worship of Artsakh. In response to the MEP, the European Commission stated that it strongly condemns the destruction of religious and historical monuments in Artsakh, and stresses the importance of preserving and restoring cultural and religious heritage. In his response, the High Representative of the European Commission also referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2347 (2017), which defines the targeting of religious, educational, and cultural centers as war crimes. Also, the European Commission welcomes the mission initiated by UNESCO to the Artsakh regions currently under Azerbaijani control. This mission is aimed at the preliminary documentary assessment of the Armenian cultural heritage there. The mission will also support the preservation and restoration of Armenian cultural sites. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Monday that 36 outstanding stage plays will be broadcast via ministry's official website. [For China Daily] The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Monday that 36 outstanding stage plays will be broadcast via the official website of the ministry. The free online shows will go online March 2, and will run through April 15. According to the announcement, themes of the plays will be celebration of 100th anniversary of the founding of Communist Party of China and the Chinese people's effort to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. China's recent history of revolution, reform and opening-up and social development will be the main focus. Various genres will be included in the performance season, including Peking Opera, dance drama, local opera genres, ballets and musicals. The performances will also be presented through Kuaishou, a video-sharing app for mobile devices. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Monday that 36 outstanding stage plays will be broadcast via ministry's official website. [For China Daily] The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Monday that 36 outstanding stage plays will be broadcast via ministry's official website. [For China Daily] The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Monday that 36 outstanding stage plays will be broadcast via ministry's official website. [For China Daily] The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Monday that 36 outstanding stage plays will be broadcast via ministry's official website. [For China Daily] (Source: China Daily) New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday (March 4) received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj, Delhi. Union Minister said that she is fortunate to be in India, where development and dissemination have been prompt and affordable. "Got my first dose of the vaccination against COVID-19 this morning. Thanking Sister Ramya PC for her care and professionalism. Fortunate to be in India, where development and dissemination have been prompt and affordable. #vaccinated," Sitharaman tweeted. Got my first dose of the vaccination against COVID-19 this morning. Thanking sister Ramya PC, for her care and professionalism. Fortunate to be in India, where development and dissemination has been prompt and affordable. #vaccinated pic.twitter.com/4ejylZdv1U Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 4, 2021 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on March 1 kicked off the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country by getting the vaccine shot. India on March 1 commenced its second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive to inoculate people above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities against the coronavirus. President Ram Nath Kovind, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan have already been vaccinated against COVID-19. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021, and the vaccination of the Frontline Workers (FLWs) started on February 2. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specific co-morbid conditions. As per the Health Ministry, a total of 1,66,16,048 vaccine doses have been given to the beneficiaries in the country against COVID-19 till today. Meanwhile, as many as 17,407 new COVID-19 cases and 89 deaths were reported from India in the last 24 hours. Live TV An 18-year-old Jacksonville, Florida, woman died in an early morning car crash on Interstate 95 Saturday, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Trooper D.J. Brake said this afternoon he has drawn up criminal summonses for the driver of the vehicle, who sustained trauma and is currently hospitalized in Greenville. Another occupant in the 2001 Acura SUV sustained a shoulder injury and possible neck injury. Brake said the crash occurred shortly before 3:15 a.m. as Angela Vasquez, 21, of Jacksonville, Florida, was driving north near the 168 mile marker about five miles from Roanoke Rapids at a speed unsafe for the rainy and wet conditions. The trooper estimated her speed at the time of the crash was approximately 110 miles per hour. Vasquez ran off the road to the right and collided with a tree which split the vehicle in half. A rear passenger, Michelle Angulo, was pronounced dead at the scene, Brake said. Brake said he has not yet served Vasquez. The criminal summonses are for misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, exceeding safe speed for conditions, careless and reckless driving, failure to maintain lane control, no operators license and unsafe tires. He said the tires on the vehicle were bald and showing wires. The driver and the occupants were headed to New York from Florida when the crash occurred. Ryanairs return to Belfast City Airport after more than a decade to offer flights to six sunshine destinations in Spain and one each in Italy and Portugal is another twist in chief executive Michael OLearys love-hate relationship with our two biggest airports. It is great timing for Belfast City Airport to land such a big prize exactly one year ago, it was facing the collapse of regional airline Flybe, then its biggest customer. But rather than a complete break-up with the International after five years in a steady relationship, Ryanair will maintain its base there in the short term at least. A Ryanair spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph that it was offered very favourable terms to come back to the City Airport. Read More He implied that it is now down to the International to come up with the goods ie, better terms. For now, the routes of Malaga, Alicante and Milan Bergamo are on sale at both airports, along with three Poland routes from the International. The City Airport is also offering Mallorca, Faro, Barcelona, Ibiza and Valencia. But the spokesman adds that it is not so much falling in and out of love as in and out of discussions. I would always say, we fall in and fall out of discussions of airports but we never actually fall out long term, were very pragmatic, always very open to discussions. The move tells us that the Covid-19 crisis may work in airlines favour when it comes to negotiating with airports. Airports will be so desperate to get going again after a year of virtually no international travel that extremely favourable conditions will be offered to airlines. That will be to get people through the airport and spending money in the newsagents, coffee shops, souvenir shops and bars which are a huge part of an airports commercial offer. For years Ryanairs colourful boss OLeary labelled Belfast International Airport Lough Neagh Airport in a disparaging reference to its out of town location. His dealings with Belfast City were pretty turbulent, too. He announced its withdrawal from the airport in 2010 after three years after losing patience over a public inquiry on a planning application to extend its runway. Turning the air blue with his usual flair, Mr OLeary fumed: If Belfast doesnt want (it) and the authorities up here dont recognise that Ryanair wants to invest in Belfast, wants to invest in Northern Ireland tourism, but were not going to beat our head against the bloody wall for more than three years to do it, then to hell with you. But back then, he wasnt ruling out a comeback though probably didnt imagine then that it would take 11 years. He vowed that well come back if somebody at some point in time up here makes a f****** decision and delivers us a very small, very modest runway extension to allow us to do nothing other than fly safely from Belfast City to continental Europe. But there has been no runway extension since then, and instead the airline spokesman has said ways have been found around the runway size, and that the runway limitations dont affect all the routes. Ryanairs gesture of confidence also puts the company at odds with Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill. Last week, as holiday bookings from England jumped six-fold after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his countrys reopening dates, the DFM said: I dont think I could stand here today and say to people its okay, go and book your holiday. But Ryanair feels that the success of the vaccine roll-out so far suggests well be in an even better position to resume foreign holidays by June. If not, you can change your flight at no extra cost a useful insurance policy for even the most optimistic of sun-seekers these days. 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. JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - Mississippi's governor says the state is expanding vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 years of age or older. Gov. Tate Reeves made the announcement Thursday morning. We are officially expanding vaccination eligibility to anyone fifty years of age or older! Reach out to our partners like your local healthcare provider, hospital, or pharmacy. Or keep watching https://t.co/ONejOtoyMZ for drive-through appointments statewide! Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 4, 2021 The questions have already started popping up in New Jersey social media groups for people trying to get COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Does anyone know what facilities will be getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? said one post in Facebooks New Jersey Vaccine Hunters group from a user trying to track down a site with the new one-shot vaccine. Pfizer or Moderna in Edison? said another, asking which vaccine is being administered at the mega site at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Middlesex County. As the first doses of the newly-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrive in New Jersey, there are now three different vaccines residents can get to protect them from COVID-19. That is raising questions about whether people should shop around for which vaccine might be best for them or if thats even ethical in the midst of a global pandemic. Some people hunting for vaccines appointments are comparing the vaccines efficacy rates from clinical trials and debating the benefits of a single dose vaccine over those that require a second booster shot. Others are weighing the moral implications of getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement earlier this week that said the new one-dose vaccine was developed, tested and produced using abortion-derived cell lines. Getting any of the vaccines is morally acceptable, the U.S. Bishops Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has ruled. But, if you have a choice, Catholics should select carefully, the bishops said. If one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Modernas vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnsons, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops statement said. So, should people be shopping around for a particular vaccine either for moral, health or convenience reasons? No, says Dr. Arthur Caplan, one of the nations top bioethicists. They should not be shopping. Period ... They should take what they can get, said Caplan, founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. In the middle of a pandemic, the right thing to do is to get the first vaccine you can find, Caplan said. All three of the vaccines will keep you out of the hospital and reduce your chances of dying to nearly zero. And, even if you have moral concerns about how a vaccine is manufactured, all religions allow you to do a minor wrong if its for the greater good, like saving lives, he noted. That becomes the overriding moral obligation, said Caplan, who has chaired multiple national and international bioethics committees, including the Advisory Committee to the United Nations on Human Cloning. At this point, trying to track down one vaccine over another in New Jersey may be a waste of time, said Dr. Jeffrey Carson, a provost at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and a principal investigator for the clinical research trials for Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine. Because the three vaccines were developed and tested at different times, there are no real head-to-head comparisons and its impossible to know which is truly the most effective. My advice to everyone is just to get the first vaccine you can get, Carson said. What I will tell my children is get the first one you can get ... Thats what Im telling my patients. At some point, when the vaccine is more widely available and infection rates are lower, people may want to make an educated choice between Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, Carson said. But, for now, just getting vaccinated is most ethical choice for slowing the spread of the disease and your own safety. We still have really high rates of infection, said Carson, a professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. People are still dying from this disease. The three vaccines have differences: Johnson & Johnson: The newest vaccine, approved by the FDA over the weekend, is the only one-dose vaccine. That means you dont have to go back for a second shot. Developed by the Janssen division of New Jersey-based J&J, the vaccine was 66% effective worldwide and 72% effective in the U.S. in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 cases within 28 days after the vaccination. It was 85% effective in preventing critical cases in clinical trials. The doses do not require freezers and can be kept in regular refrigerators. Pfizer: Approved in December, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires two doses three weeks apart. It was 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 in clinical trials. It is the only vaccine available for people ages 16 and older. The others are only authorized for people ages 18 and up. The Pfizer vaccine was initially the most difficult to store because it required ultra-cold freezers, but the FDA now says it can be stored in standard freezers, allowing it to be used at more sites. Moderna: Approved shortly after the Pfizer vaccine, Modernas vaccine requires two doses four weeks apart. The vaccine was 94.1% effective in preventing COVID-19 in clinical trials. It is stored in regular freezers. The vaccines also differ in how they fight the coronavirus. Both the Pfizer and Moderna versions use a new technology called messenger RNA that instructs your body to make a harmless piece of a protein that prompts your immune system to respond strongly if you get the actual virus. Johnson & Johnsons vaccine is similar, but it is engineered differently. It uses a modified cold virus called an adenovirus to stimulate an immune response in your body to fight the coronavirus. J&J used a similar method to create its Ebola vaccine. Both technologies work, according to the clinical trials. But experts caution against comparing the vaccine effectiveness rates too closely. From the numbers, it seems like the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with its 72% effectiveness rate in the U.S. and 66% worldwide against moderate to severe cases, is far less effective than the other two vaccines, which were more than 90% effective overall. But those trials were structured differently, collected different data and were not done at the same time. The Pfizer and Moderna trials were done last year, well before variants of the virus began emerging in Europe, South Africa and other parts of the world. Its possible if those vaccines were tested again today they would not perform any better than the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was tested against some of the variants, experts say. As the vaccines were being developed, some Catholic officials and anti-abortion advocates began questioning when and if abortion-derived cells were being used to develop and manufacturer the doses. Pfizer and Modernas vaccines raised concerns because an abortion-derived cell line was used for testing them, but not in their production. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, however, was developed, tested and is produced with abortion-derived cell lines raising additional moral concerns, said Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, chairman of the groups Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Some Catholic dioceses have put out similar statements, encouraging parishioners to avoid the Johnson & Johnson vaccine if they can. In a statement, Johnson & Johnson did not deny it used abortion-derived cells in developing its vaccine, but the company said there is no fetal tissue in the doses. We are able to manufacture hundreds of millions of doses using our engineered cell-line system and look forward to delivering those doses around the world and help meet the critical need, the company said. Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict were both vaccinated in January, though the Vatican did not specify which vaccine they received. Getting the vaccine is an ethical action, because you are gambling with your health, you are gambling with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others, Pope Francis said at the time. The Catholic Church is not condemning the J&J vaccine or any other vaccine, said the Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, director of education at the the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. But people get the vaccine despite their moral objections to how it was produced have a duty to push back and make their concerns known, he said. We can do this in various ways. We can write letters to the editor to heighten public awareness, share our concerns via social media or directly contact the pharmaceutical companies that make vaccines, urging them to discontinue their use of abortion-derived cell lines, Pacholczyk said. Whether they are seeking out a specific vaccine for moral or health reasons, public officials have been warning people against getting too picky about which shot they receive. Its a mistake to compare apples to oranges, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday at his coronavirus press conference, cautioning the public from using the clinical trial data to determine which vaccine is best. Judith Persichilli, the states health commissioner, noted that three vaccines were not studied in head-to-head comparison or trial, therefore they should not be compared to each other. Still, some people are said they are looking for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it requires a single shot and avoids the difficulty of having to get a second booster shot. New Jerseys initial shipment of 73,600 doses of Johnson & Johnsons vaccine are arriving this week, though the state has not specified where they are going. New Jersey ShopRite pharmacies listed locations in 14 counties that received some of the initial Johnson & Johnson shipment this week. CVS and Rite Aid locations are also expected to receive some of the J&J vaccines through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Many vaccine sites tell you which vaccine you are getting when you make the appointment, but they dont guarantee you will get a particular vaccine once you show up. RWJ Barnabas Health, which is operating several COVID-19 vaccine clinics and the Middlesex County mega-site in Edison, has been warning people they may get either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine if they register for an appointment. It is unclear if or when their sites will get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. People can walk out of vaccine clinics if they do not want the type of vaccine being offered. But, considering how difficult it is to get an appointment in New Jersey, it may not be wise to give up your appointment, officials said. People should take the vaccine that is available to them, Persichilli said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. MERIDEN, Conn. Having told educators that they would soon be vaccinated, the Biden administration began an aggressive push on Wednesday to drum up support for reopening schools, putting on a show of unity with the leaders of teachers unions and highlighting measures to keep students and staff safe from the coronavirus. A day after President Biden announced a new federal program to give teachers nationwide access to at least a first dose of the vaccine by the end of March, the administration sought to position itself as intent on opening schools as soon as possible while also addressing the concerns of teachers that their fears were being ignored. To carry the message, the White House dispatched the first lady, Jill Biden, and the newly confirmed education secretary, Miguel Cardona, on a trip to Connecticut and Pennsylvania to emphasize that teachers should no longer fear returning unprotected to the classroom. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that teachers do not have to be vaccinated for schools to reopen safely. Getting shots into the arms of educators and school staff would be his top priority as education secretary, Dr. Cardona said in Connecticut, where he and the first lady were joined by Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers. Britain's Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has had a "successful procedure" for a pre-existing heart condition at a London hospital where he was moved earlier this week, said on Thursday. The 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II has now spent 16 nights in hospital first at the private King Edward VII's Hospital and now at St. Bartholomew's Hospital where he was transferred for further tests and observation for a pre-existing heart condition. "The Duke of Edinburgh yesterday [Wednesday] underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St. Bartholomew's Hospital," said in a statement. "His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days," the statement added. St. Bartholomew's Hospital in the City of London is a National Health Service (NHS) hospital and home to Europe's largest specialised cardiovascular unit. The Duke of Edinburgh, who turns 100 in June, is the UK's longest-serving monarch's consort. He was initially admitted to hospital on February 16 as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell. The exact reason for his admission was not disclosed, but it was confirmed that it did not relate to coronavirus. Four days later, he was visited by his eldest son Prince Charles, who made a round trip from his home in Highgrove residence in Gloucestershire, south-west England, and stayed for around 30 minutes. During a visit to a vaccination centre in London on Wednesday, Prince Charles' wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, said had slightly improved. "So, that's very good news. We'll keep our fingers crossed," she said. The senior royal has spent most of lockdown residing at Windsor Castle with the Queen, alongside a reduced household of staff dubbed HMS Bubble. In 2011, was taken to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham after suffering chest pains as the royal family was preparing for Christmas. He was treated for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire and had a stent fitted. He retired from official royal duties in 2017. Mike Bishop just had elbow surgery. The first week the couple was without water, he still had staples in his arm and was hauling 5-gallon containers from his truck, his wife said. Bonnie Bishop said she told him not to strain himself, but he wouldnt listen. They feel they have no choice. Thousands of National Guard troops will continue to be deployed at the Capitol for at least the next two months, as lawmakers face ongoing threats in the wake of the 6 January insurrection. The House of Representatives worked late into the evening on Wednesday to wrap up its work so members could avoid going into the legislature on Thursday amid active threats from a right-wing militia group and QAnon conspiracy theorists planned for this weekend. The US Capitol Police the legislative branch security force charged with securing the Capitol complex and protecting members of Congress has asked for a 60-day extension of the current National Guard troop deployment that expires on 12 March. The Guard is in the process of soliciting states to send contributions, Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst, tweeted on Thursday. Thursdays proposed reauthorisation for another two months of the National Guard mission at the Capitol reflects continued concerns about threats of violence against lawmakers, their staff, and the building in which they work. Law enforcement officials have beefed up security at the legislature this week after receiving intelligence that some of Donald Trumps most hardcore fans were considering coming to Washington on Thursday, 4 March, to breach the building and harm Democratic lawmakers. Security officials have also issued warnings of threats made for Saturday, 6 March. We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4, the USCP said in a statement on Wednesday. We are taking the intelligence seriously, the statement said, adding that the USCP has surged manpower and other resources to the perimeter surrounding the Capitol complex. A joint bulletin from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security this week warned that far-right elements have discussed plans to take control of the US Capitol and remove Democratic lawmakers on or about 4 March. Thursdays date, 4 March, is when most US presidents were inaugurated, before Congress passed a law in 1933 changing Inauguration Day to 20 January. The date has taken on significance among adherents to the QAnon conspiracy theory and other pro-Trump groups who believe the ex-president will return to DC on Thursday and retake his former office. Mr Trumps supporters have referred to 4 March as true Inauguration Day, according to an internal security bulletin this week from from House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett, obtained by CBS News and other outlets. Since the Capitol riot in January, thousands of National Guard troops have been patrolling the perimeter of the Capitol, where a fence topped with coils of barbed wire now stands. The Guardsmen and Guardswomen are armed with black assault rifles from the Pentagon and stalk entryways in units of roughly four to eight. More than 25,000 troops were in Washington for Joe Bidens inauguration on 20 January. The vague but ongoing threats of violence underscore the difficult decisions confronting officials at the Capitol for balancing security, government transparency, and tourism. Last month, the acting USCP chief called for the fencing surrounding the complex to remain permanently, which caused an uproar from lawmakers. At a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing with Capitol security officials last week, Senator Angus King highlighted the dilemma facing members and those responsible for their safety. How do we allow the American people to go in the rotunda, to tour the Capitol, to picnic on the grounds, to play with their kids? he said. It seems to me that going forward, that is one of our challenges. We want security, but I would hate to see the US Capitol turned into a fortress. An Australian ex-Muslim activist who was charged with blasphemy in Tanzania claims she received rape and death threats after she was arrested. Zara Kay, who was born in the African country, was locked up in Dar es Salaam on December 28 for 32 hours where she was allegedly questioned as to why she left Islam. Two months later on Thursday, Ms Kay finally arrived in Brisbane claiming that she was 'put through hell' trying to leave the country. Zara Kay (pictured) was placed in custody on December 28 where she was allegedly questioned as to why she left Islam 'I have been put through hell since December 2020. I was arrested, detained and threatened with criminal proceedings for social media posts, for my activism and my human rights work,' she said in a statement. 'I was trapped in Tanzania because the police seized, then ''lost'', my Australian passport. 'I received regular threats, including rape and death threats. The Tanzanian police and immigration officers tried to stop me leaving the country.' She said the ordeal was not only 'terrifying to me but for my family'. When Ms Kay was detained, her personal belongings, including her passport, were confiscated. A Tanzanian police officer patrols outside Garagara Playground polling station in Mtoni, Zanzibar, on October 28, 2020 Ms Kay was detained for 32 hours where she was allegedly questioned why she left Islam and about a social media post where she criticised Tanzania's response to the coronavirus Officers grilled her about why she left Islam, as well as about a social media post she made about the nation's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. She was eventually charged over a satirical post she allegedly made about the country's coronavirus response and let go after three days. However, despite being released, Ms Kay could not leave the country with out her passport. The Department of Foreign Affairs at the time confirmed consular assistance was provided to an Australian passport holder in Tanzania. Ms Kay arrived in Brisbane on Thursday and revealed that she received rape and death threats in the past two months The Monash University-educated activist founded Faithless Hijabi, an organisation dedicated to supporting women as they transition away from Islam, in 2018. The foundation works closely with women who have been ostracised from family and friends or even abused for choosing to renounce their faith. Ms Kay believes her treatment was because she renounced Islam, criticised her Islamic community Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat, and the 'blasphemous' content she posts. 'Unfortunately, even in countries that claim to be secular, ex-Muslims remain at risk,' she explained. Following her stint in custody, officers claimed to have 'lost' Ms Kay's passport causing her to stay in the country longer than she expected Ms Kay is the founder of Faithless Hijabi, an organisation dedicated to supporting women as they transition away from Islam Ms Kay was actually supposed to leave Tanzania last Friday but was once again detained at the airport despite filling in all the required documents. Her lawyers issued a statement upon her arrival back in Australia saying they were 'delighted that Zara has finally been able to leave Tanzania after what can only be described as a traumatic three months for her and her family. 'No charges have ever been laid against Zara yet she and her family have been the subject of threats and intimidation of the most serious kind because of her religious choices, exercising her right to freedom of expression, and her human rights work.' They also thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs for its assistance in bringing Ms Kay home. 2021-03-03 Maeci On 3 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, held telephone talks with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov. The talks centred on the implementation of the 9/11 Trilateral Declaration and on Italy's participation in the reconstruction effort in Azerbaijan. Other topics included the economic and energy relations between the two countries, ecological transition and Italy's contribution to the future UNESCO mission in Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding areas. Donald Trump's third Supreme Court pick Justice Amy Coney Barrett was snubbed in her first written opinion for the majority Thursday, as the court not only departed from tradition by not voting unanimously but also eliminated the word 'respectfully' from its dissent. Coney Barrett wrote in the majority 7-2 opinion that the Sierra Club could not obtain access to documents regarding structures used to cool industrial equipment, which the group argues could potentially harm wildlife. All six conservative justices ruled against the Sierra Club and were joined in the majority opinion by Obama-appointed liberal Justice Elena Kagan. The two remaining liberal Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissenting opinion. Coney Barrett wrote in the ruling that while the Freedom of Information Act does make 'records available to the public upon request,' she argues that this particular case falls 'within one of nine exemptions.' Those exemptions include 'documents generated during an agencys deliberations about a policy, as opposed to documents that embody or explain a policy that the agency adopts,' she wrote. The Sierra Club is a massive environmental group with chapters in all 50 states it was suing to be granted access to documents. It's somewhat of a tradition for a new Supreme Court justice to be assigned a case where the court reaches a unanimous opinion but this isn't always the case, as evident by Coney Barrett's first opinion. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett released her first majority opinion on Thursday where the court ruled 7-2 against the environmental group Sierra Club Associate Justice Stephen Breyer (left) wrote the 7-2 minority decision and departed from the norm of 'respectfully' dissenting from the majority - he merely dissented. He was joined by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor Coney Barrett is Trump's third pick for Supreme Court in just four years in the White House. Both of the former president's other nominees, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, wrote unanimous first opinions. Sotomayor also got a unanimous opinion for her first assignment. Former President Barack Obama's other nominee, Justice Elena Kagan, was assigned a first opinion where the court divided 8-1. Barrett's predecessor, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, liked to recount that she was assigned a 'miserable' case involving a federal law about pensions for her first opinion. In that particular case the court was divided 6-3. She said that though she and the court's first female justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, were on different sides of the case, when she announced the opinion in court, O'Connor passed her a note that said: 'This is your first opinion for the Court, it is a fine one, I look forward to many more.' The Sierra Club minority opinion, authored by Breyer, does not employ the closing salutation of 'I respectfully dissent' in favor of the terse 'I dissent,' a sign that the disagreement is sharp. Coney Barrett was Trump's third and final nominee to the court in just four years as president. She was the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's successor During Trump's presidency he first appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch (left) to take the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia's seat and controversial nominee Brett Kavanaugh (right) to take retiring Republican-appointed Justice Anthony Kennedy's seats Coney Barrett argued in her first opinion that certain draft documents do not have to be revealed under FOIA requests a bash to the Sierra Club, which claimed if this was adopted, several federal agencies would start labeling documents as drafts to avoid disclosure. The majority opinion reads: 'It is not always self-evident whether a document represents an agency's final decision, but one thing is clear: A document is not final solely because nothing else follows it. 'Sometimes a proposal dies on the vine. That happens in deliberationssome ideas are discarded or simply languish. Yet documents discussing such dead-end ideas can hardly be described as reflecting the agency's chosen course. What matters, then, is not whether a document is last in line, but whether it communicates a policy on which the agency has settled,' Coney Barrett's decision reads. Breyer, a Bill Clinton nominee who has served on the high court since 1994, wrote in the somewhat sarcastic dissent: 'If further deliberation about the draft's content is likely, the document is not a Draft Biological Opinion. 'It is a Draft of a Draft. I recognize that in principle [an agency] might change its mind about the content of even the most final of Draft Biological Opinions. It might then prepare a new Draft Biological Opinion. But, in principle, [an agency] could also change its mind about a Final Biological Opinion, withdrawing a Final Biological Opinion already issued and substituting a new one in its place,' Breyer wrote. The case was the first one Barrett heard after joining the court in late October 2020, and it took four months for the 11-page opinion to be released. Barrett said the documents the Sierra Club were seeking were just draft documents that did not need to be disclosed. She dismissed Sierra Club's concerns that ruling against it would encourage officials to 'stamp every document `draft'. Barrett said that if 'evidence establishes that an agency has hidden a functionally final decision in draft form' then it won't be protected from disclosure requirements. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the justices are not currently announcing their decisions in the courtroom but only posting them online. New Delhi, March 4 : One of the best known private schools in India, Sherwood College, Nainital, boasting of alumni, including Amitabh Bachchan, Kabir Bedi, and politician Jitendra Prasada, besides a host of civil servants recently advertised for admissions for the session 2021-22, much to the surprise of many. Though they have advertised in the past too, it is not very often that one comes across an advertisement for admissions from one of the oldest schools in India, established in 1869, which has always had a high rejection rate considering its immense popularity. The 'Old Sherwoodians' society, however, feels that it is the consistent falling of standards under the management and the never-ending controversies that has resulted in many parents taking their wards out of the school, thus forcing the institution to advertise. It may be noted that a row erupted at the school in October last year when the current Principal, Amandeep Sandhu was suspended over allegations of financial irregularities. In December, the interim Principal, Peter Dhiraj Emmanuel, the police and representatives of the diocese of Agra were not allowed to enter. The gates were locked, and a notice pasted that those without a Covid negative test would not be allowed to enter the campus. At that time, the principal, Amandeep Sandhu had told the media that the school did not have any Chairman of the society and the Bishop of Agra had no authority, therefore Emmanuel was not correct. Speaking to IANS, Sunil Issar, secretary of Old Sherwoodians claimed that the school was going through its lowest phase. "The utter mismanagement and self-goals of the school administration has rendered a huge blow to the school's reputation. No wonder, we are witnessing many parents taking their wards out. Thus, the advertisements," he said. Although admitting that owing to pandemic, the popularity of boarding schools around the country is not really high, Issar feels that the recent controversies surrounding the school have done an irreparable damage to the brand. "There are a number of church factions fighting for control over the trust that manages the school. Several self-appointed bishops have come up. The current Principal has aligned himself with them and what has ensued is utter chaos," laments Issar. Demanding that the government should step in take interim control of the school till the ownership controversy is solved, Issar, adds, "I studied there from Class 3 to 12, and it hurts me tremendously to see the current standard of the institution which is not only losing students but also failing to attract the best of them owing to all the controversies surrounding it." Jangveer Singh, media adviser to MP Sukhbir Badal (President of Shiromani Akali Dal), a former student of Sherwood College feels that not just the controversies surrounding the institution, it is the diminishing popularity of boarding schools that is also forcing such institutions to now advertise heavily for admissions. "There are excellent schools even in tier-II cities now, so why would parents want their children to go to hostels? When it comes to Sherwood, and many other top boarding schools, they are getting a lot of students from tier-III cities, so anyways the standard of intake has gone down, forcing many parents to think twice about sending their wards there." Adding that boardings were mostly known for overall development and not focus on academics alone, Singh feels that most parents are now looking for academic excellence. Talking about the current state of Sherwood College and the controversy surrounding the school, he tells IANS, "Like in other boarding schools, the principal is all in all. The Old Boys' associations have no powers in the functioning of the school. In contemporary times, it is important that power is not centered around one individual. Also, when former students have a say in the running of institutions, it translates into more funds and development." Despite repeated attempts and calls to Sherwood College, the principal, Amandeep Sandhu could not be contacted. Over the past day, March 3, four ceasefire violations were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in Donbas. The Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of different systems near the village of Vodiane in the Sea of Azov area. In addition, the enemy fired several unaimed shots on Ukrainian positions near Vodiane, outside Donetsk, using tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, and near Kamyanka (62km south of Donetsk), using small arms, the press center of the JFO Headquarters informs. Not far from the village of Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk), the Russian occupation forces once again violated the ceasefire and fired on Ukrainian positions, using an under-barrel grenade launcher and small arms. A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received a gunshot wound in the attack. The defender was taken to a medical facility, where he was provided with the necessary medical care. Ukrainian troops fired back in response to the enemy's shelling. The OSCE representatives were informed about the actions of the armed formations of the Russian Federation and its mercenaries through the Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC). The main purpose of the actions of the armed formations of the Russian Federation is to provoke the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine into returning fire to further accuse them of violating the ceasefire. In some cases, the enemy fired on Ukrainian positions and at the same time requested ceasefire regime, allegedly due to shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This testifies to the widespread manipulation by the enemy and distortion of information to achieve its goals. Today, March 4, two ceasefire violations have been recorded in the JFO area. No casualties among Ukrainian troops have been reported. Ukrainian troops continue to control the situation in the JFO area and adhere to the ceasefire, the Headquarters informs. ol BETHLEHEM With plans for a wind turbine tower factory here, the Capital Region has established itself as a center in the states growing alternative energy industry. Now a group of local lawmakers want to build on that with a call for the actual wind turbines used in offshore development to be made in New York. "I am thrilled that the Port of Albany was selected as New York State's first offshore wind tower assembly site, Democratic Sen. Neil Breslin said in rolling out legislation that would require turbines to be built in the Empire State. Now we must ensure that the components which go into these towers are manufactured in New York State as well. Democratic Assembly members Patricia Fahy, John McDonald and Phil Steck support the measure as do the states two U.S. senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer as well as a number of labor unions. The state should do all it can to ensure that in addition to construction work and ongoing operations, manufacturing of offshore wind turbines create good jobs for New Yorkers, added state AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento. But is it feasible to demand that turbines feeding New Yorks grid be built in the state? Currently the massive turbines that power offshore wind projects are made primarily in Europe where that industry has a 30-year history. Actually, the proposal for a made in New York clause says it would where feasible, according to a memo about the bill. And the offshore wind energy industry is just getting started in the U.S., noted Joe Martens, a former state environmental commissioner and head of the state Offshore Wind Alliance. Offshore towers are planned up and down the East Coast but they still need final federal approval, said Martens. It is realistic, but what the industry is waiting for is an actual pipeline of projects, Martens said of the chance that companies would build turbines in New York. Moreover, other states are like New York, looking to lure offshore wind turbines as well. We all hope that is the case and there is tremendous competition between the states, said Martens. Wind turbines, whose towers can be up to 800 feet tall, are larger than the on-shore wind farms going in across upstate and other spots across the U.S. While GE makes turbines in Schenectady, those are for far larger traditional combined cycle power plants, with steam turbines and generators manufactured in Schenectady and the gas turbines elsewhere. Schenectady, however, is home to a remote operation that monitors the operation of thousands of on-shore turbines throughout the United States. One thing is for certain: New York has placed a big bet on off-shore wind going forward. The state is looking to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind production off the coast of Long Island by 2035. That could power about 5 million homes. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form JUPITER, Fla., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Marizyme, Inc. (OTCQB:MRZM), a publicly traded global biotechnology company developing products to reduce the burden of ischemia-reperfusion injury in tissue grafting, organ transplant, and other surgical indications, announced today that it has entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Abdera Financial, Inc., a Chilean based distributor, to distribute Marizyme's DuraGraft product in Chile, with potential expansion into other countries and regions of the South American market. Dr. Neil J. Campbell, Marizyme's CEO, President and Board Member, said, "The agreement with Abdera in Chile is both strategic and tactical to set up a market channel, KOL establishment for the South American market and customer support for Marizyme's product line starting with DuraGraft and has the potential to follow on with future platform products." "We are excited to partner with Marizyme and bring this pivotal product DuraGraft to the Chilean health care market," said Konrad Ziller, Managing Director for Abdera. "DuraGraft will enhance coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgical outcomes by significantly reducing major adverse cardiac events such as repeat revascularization and myocardial infarction, providing better patient care, and potentially lowering the impact on the overall cost of health care in CABG procedures." About Abdera, Inc. Abdera Financial, Inc. is a Chile based distributor with access to the Chilean market to supply and distribute health care and life science products. Abdera has a long and established track record in the successful certification, distribution and marketing of medical and health care products. About Marizyme, Inc. Marizyme is an integrated life sciences company dedicated to the acquisition, development and commercialization of therapies that minimize mortality and costs in the acute care space. The Company's flagship product, DuraGraft, is an intra-operative vascular graft storage solution that inhibits endothelial damage and leads to improved clinical outcomes by reducing the incidence of complications associated with vein graft failure in bypass surgery. DuraGraft enhances coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgical outcomes by significantly reducing major adverse cardiac events such as repeat revascularization and myocardial infarction. DuraGraft is approved for use in the EU and several Asian countries but is not yet approved for use in the U.S. Marizyme is also focused on the development and marketing of products based on its clinically tested and previously patented protease-based therapeutic Krillase platform. Krillase is not approved for use in the U.S. For more information about Marizyme, visit www.marizyme.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements, including those relating to Marizyme's product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. The Company has made every reasonable effort to ensure the information and assumptions on which these statements are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the Company's operations, performance, business strategy and results and there can be no assurances that the Company's actual results will not differ materially from those indicated herein. Additional written and oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time. Forward-looking statements may be identified using forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, including those risks set forth in the Company's risk factor disclosure in the reports that Marizyme files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 000-53223), uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. CONTACT Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Investors Miriam Weber Miller 212-375-2694 [email protected] Media Ingrid Mezo 646-604-5150 [email protected] SOURCE Marizyme, Inc. Related Links http://www.marizyme.com Why so much work for kids?: 6-year-old's adorable appeal to PM Modi Delimitation panel gets extension India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 04: The Delimitation Commission, set up in March last year to redraw the electoral constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, got an extension to complete its work, an official notification said on Wednesday. The notification said the term has been extended by one year and now the panel would look only into the delimitation of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The panel was tasked to redraw the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the four northeastern states and work on increasing the number of assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Khelo India Winter Games: Jammu and Kashmir will become 'Winter Sports Hub', says PM Modi "In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 . . . the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in the notification . . . dated the 06th March, 2020, namely:- In the said notification, (i) in the opening paragraph, (a) the words, ? and the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland, shall be omitted," the notification read. Last year, the Lok Sabha speaker had nominated 15 MPs as associate members of the Delimitation Commission. The members included Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Jitendra Singh, who will assist in redrawing the constituencies. Members of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states for which the commission has been set up are drawn in as associate members to assist the panel in its task. Jammu and Kashmir at present has no legislative assembly. It is a union territory with a provision for a legislature. The government had, on March 6 last year, constituted the commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai. Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and the state election commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir and the four states were its ex-officio members. Now, besides Chandra, only the state election commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir is its ex-officio member. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News So far, the state election commissioners of the four northeastern states were also ex-officio members. Johannesburg, March 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ) :Over 4,000 children have been hospitalised for malnutrition in southern Madagascar this year due to severe drought, Action Against Hunger said Thursday, as food insecurity spirals in the most vulnerable parts of the country. The Indian Ocean island nation is grappling with the effects of three consequence years of below-average rainfall compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the impact is felt in the impoverished Grand Sud region, where the majority of the population survives off agriculture. Global charity Action Against Hunger on Thursday warned that more than 4,000 malnourished children under the age of five had been admitted to its mobile health centres in Grand Sud so far this year. That figure is more than double the number recorded over the same period in 2020, when food insecurity was already widespread. "This is a humanitarian emergency where children will die if we do not take them into our care," Action Against Hunger southern Africa operations director Valerie Ceylon said in a statement. "We are currently one of the few actors present on the ground to support local health authorities," she added. While southern Madagascar usually faces a yearly hunger season, Ceylon noted the current situation was "much more serious than other years". Lack of rain caused households to run out of food stock as early as September 2020. Deforestation has meanwhile increased the intensity of sandstorms that have destroyed crops, undermining agricultural production for the year ahead. Action Against Hunger said its teams on the ground had observed "desperate feeding practices" such as eating clay and unripe mangoes, and called for more funding. The UN's World Food Programme in January appealed for emergency aid of $35 million (29 million Euros) to fight the hunger crisis. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Before World War II, San Franciscos Japantown spread out over nearly 40 blocks of the citys Western Addition. Born from the 1906 earthquake, the neighborhood was home to 5,000 people, hundreds of businesses and more than a dozen schools and places of worship. Japanese characters covered the buildings, and Nihonmachi, as the area is also known, began to look something like a miniature Ginza, a bustling district in Tokyo. In the decades since, the communitys boundaries have shifted and shrunk, devastated by forced Japanese removal and internment in the 1940s and by large-scale redevelopment in the 70s. But San Franciscos Japantown persisted, even as others throughout the United States faded away. Today, Nihonmachi is the countrys oldest and largest Japantown, one of three remaining, but it covers only about six blocks and many worry it is in danger of disappearing. The pandemic has hit neighborhood businesses particularly hard, and this year an agreement with the areas largest landowner to keep the Japan Center malls Japanese-themed is set to expire. I think everybody is very concerned about Japantown, says Kenji Taguma, editor-in-chief of Nichi Bei Weekly, a Japanese-American newspaper based in the neighborhood. Were in danger of losing a lot of our cultural identity if these places close. We may lose Japantown as we know it. For decades, Japantown has remained one of the citys most vibrant cultural hubs, both a destination for tourists and home to generations of Japanese Americans. The National California Cherry Blossom Festival draws more than 200,000 people every year, and in the early mornings, older couples walk through the neighborhood hand-in-hand as businesses, some run by the grandchildren of the original owners, open shop. At the heart of Nihonmachi are the three Japantown malls. Together they hold more than 70 shops and restaurants, the vast majority of the neighborhoods businesses. Before the pandemic, they were busy commercial centers, seemingly immune to broader retail decline. As recently as June 2019, they were nearly fully leased. Inside, small family-owned shops and restaurants sold anime figurines, mochi doughnuts and cast-iron teapots. Marlena Sloss / Special to The Chronicle The pandemic has changed all that. Businesses everywhere have been hard-hit, but those in the Japantown malls face unique challenges. Up until June, the malls were closed entirely. While businesses inside them reopened this summer for sidewalk pickups, the malls didnt open to the public until September. There was no way to move operations outdoors into a curbside parklet, and restaurants have had to rely entirely on takeout. Some tenants also struggled to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers with the landlords. Japantown is particularly vulnerable because you have about 80% of the area of Japantown controlled by two landlords, says Allan Low, a partner at the Perkins Coie law firm. Along with Diane Matsuda, a staff attorney with Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Low is representing more than 40 businesses across the three malls, as they push to get the landlords to the negotiating table. Theyd like to see fees waived and rent forgiven, particularly for the months the mall was closed. As of now, a city ordinance protecting businesses from eviction is set to expire at the end of March, adding additional urgency to the negotiations. Beverly Hills-based 3D Investments, which operates Japan Center East and West, has entered into preliminary talks, Low says. Whether theyll result in the sort of rent forgiveness tenants say is necessary to keep the businesses viable remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Kinokuniya USA, which owns the mall west of Webster Street, has so far ignored requests from Low and Matsuda for negotiations. Kinokuniya declined an interview request via email, adding, We are working to take appropriate measures according to the related regulations. A representative for 3D Investments did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Already, more than 10 businesses have closed for good, their bright storefronts covered with butcher paper. One of them was once PikaPika, San Franciscos first and only purikura (or Japanese photo booth) shop. Couples on dates and kids roaming the malls would stop in to take pictures in the ever-changing lineup of booths. After 14 years, PikaPika closed in December. Marlena Sloss/Special to The Chronicle In Japantown, shops like PikaPika help shape the character of the neighborhood, and families pour decades of their lives and livelihoods into the places they own. It was almost like a family member, says Ryan Kimura, whose family owned PikaPika. It was this 14-year relationship we held with this shop. But the shop also provided this conduit to the Japantown community and all the visitors and guests who love Japanese culture. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle By Low and Matsudas calculations, the average store is losing $4,300 a month, while the average restaurant bleeds $11,000. All of this is complicated by the fact that some older business owners, about a third of their clients, face linguistic and cultural barriers when negotiating with the landlords or applying for financial aid. The public resources that people feel are available to others are not really in practice available to communities of color, particularly communities where English is not their first language, Low says. He and Matsuda have sometimes translated city documents for their clients. The Japanese restaurant Kui Shin Bo is tucked away in a corner on the second floor of Japan Center East. Its a small place, not quite 10 tables. Two bright red lanterns hang out front below faded pictures of ramen and shrimp tempura and pot stickers. William Lee opened the place in 2009 and says he pays a little more than $5,000 a month in rent. Before the pandemic, even on a slow day the restaurant would get 80 orders. Locals came in for bento boxes and sushi at lunch; tourists dined in for dinner. Now, he says, he can go hours without a single customer. Hes been able to make rent since he reopened in June for takeout, but its back rent for the three months of closure that hes struggling with. He owes nearly $20,000 when fees for common-area maintenance (electricity, water, garbage) and, in the case of the East and West malls, advertising are factored in. Right now we cannot pay for advertising, Lee says. Hes talked to the landlord, but what theyve offered, he says, isnt a good deal. They should do something, anything for the restaurants. Without a broad agreement, Low and Matsuda say, dozens of the businesses will close. If that happens, the few places that manage to hold on will be stuck in a blighted and empty mall. The entire ecosystem could fail. Marlena Sloss / Special to The Chronicle This crisis couldnt have come at a worse time for Japantown. Fifteen years ago, when 3D Investments bought the East and West malls, the group entered into a covenant agreement with the city essentially promising to preserve the cultural heritage of the mall and keep it Japanese-themed. That agreement expires in May. After that, says Paul Osaki, executive director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, they can do anything you want with it. You know, they can sell it. They can tear it down. They could change the whole complexity of it if they wanted to. As recently as summer 2019, 3D Investments said they planned to maintain the malls unique mix of Japanese shops and restaurants, but Osaki worries the pandemic may have changed the equation. The concern is with small businesses leaving or tenants being asked to leave, theres not a whole lot of (Japanese) businesses ready to take over the spaces, he said. The question is, well, what happens post-COVID? Everything is kind of up in the air now. Renewing the current agreement or something like it had been top of mind for the Japantown community and Supervisor Dean Preston before the coronavirus changed everything. With the pandemic, weve all shifted focus to the immediate survival, Preston said. His office has also been involved in trying to get the two landowners to sit down with their tenants. Once that happens, theyll get back to the covenant. It is not an option from my perspective for Japantown not to survive this pandemic and this period, Preston said. I think this is one of the most important cultural areas in the city and on the West Coast. Even amid all the uncertainty, there are some reasons for optimism. Taguma, the editor of Nichi Bei Weekly, says hes noticed more people both in the malls and eating out in the restaurants along Buchanan Street since the winter shelter-in-place measures lifted and vaccine distribution began. The community has rallied, too, with a big push to buy local. Over the summer, Picnic at the Plaza drew thousands to Peace Plaza, where they shopped and ate under Japantowns pagoda. At Matcha Cafe Maiko, business has been slowly increasing. Chris and Melissa Chin opened their first franchise three years ago in the Kinokuniya mall, now they have three. They specialize in matcha teas, lattes and Instagram-perfect matcha soft-serve, all bright green and smooth swirls. They closed all their shops at the outset of the pandemic. The first to reopen, three months later, was the Japantown location. It was super slow, Chris says. There was confusion about whether people could be in the mall we didnt have that much staff to help. Ever since its been like one long game of trial-and-error, the rules constantly changing. As with so many other places in the malls, its led to back rent. Now I think were OKish, he says. The weather is getting better. Were coming into the red tiers, Melissa says. Its just a little bit more optimistic. The main thing, Chris says, is that were just waiting to hear back from our landlord. Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @RyanKost Ranchi, March 4 : Three Jharkhand Police personnel were killed and two others injured, including one from CRPF, as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off in West Singhbum district on Thursday morning. The explosive device was planted by the Maoists. The incident took place around 8.45 a.m. when a "pressure IED blast" took place in thick forested area near Hoyahatu village under Toklo police station area in West Singhbhum. Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) 197 Battalion along with the Jharkhand Jaguar (AG 11) of the state police were on an operation in the area when the incident took place, said CRPF Spokesperson Dalip Ambesh said. "Reportedly three 'jawans' (personnel) of JJ martyred, one jawan of JJ sustained serious injury and one jawan of 197 Battalion of CRPF sustained minor injury in IED Blast," Ambesh initially said. As Jharkhand is afflicted by the scourge of extremism, the state government on February 19, 2008 sanctioned the creation of 20 Assault Groups (AGs) of Special Task Force (STF) for eradication of extremist activities. This force was later given the distinctive name of Jharkhand Jaguar (JJ), and also a distinctive uniform. Currently 22 Assault Groups in JJ are functional, and three more AGs are likely to be created shortly. All the deceased belong to Jharkhand Jaguar's AG-11 unit. Head Constable Devendra Kumar Pandit and Constables Hardwar Shah, Kiran Surin of Jharkhand Police lost their lives while Constables Deep Topno and Nikku Oraon suffered injuries, the official said. Two lost their lives at the spot and one succumbed to injuries at the hospital. A massive hunt was launched soon after the incident. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday that he shared concerns about risks and uncertainties on the global oil markets, but added that the situation has improved. "I undoubtedly share the concerns which we have heard today... over lots of uncertainties and risks, the lockdowns," he was quoted as saying to a state-run TV station. "However, if (we) look at the situation, it is much better than a year ago, than it was in autumn," RIA Novosti cited Novak as saying. His comments were published as the monitoring committee of the OPEC+ group of leading oil producers met online earlier on Wednesday. OPEC+ ministers hold a full meeting on Thursday in order to decide on production policy. Diabolique Paris Johnson, 34, has been charged with the murder of a 39-year-old videographer An Indianapolis rapper and porn star, 34, has been charged with the murder of a 39-year-old videographer after he allegedly targeted members of the LGBTQ community through dating apps before robbing them at gunpoint. Diabolique Paris Johnson is accused of shooting dead Joshua J. Smelser inside the victim's home in Detroit back in September. Johnson, who goes by the rap name Chuck Da MF Buck, is also accused of carrying out a separate armed robbery of a 26-year-old man at a hotel in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn four days earlier. Both victims are members of the LGBTQ community and were located and targeted by the suspect through online dating apps, authorities said. Johnson allegedly shot and killed Smelser inside his home in the 16800 block of Woodbine Street on the city's west side during an armed robbery on September 5. Detroit police were called to reports of multiple shots fired at the property at around 10pm that night. Neighbors said they heard gunfire followed by a person leaving the house with Smelser's backpack, which contained his laptop, credit cards and phone, reported Click on Detroit. Two neighbors said they tried to pursue the suspect but lost him. Officers found Smelser with fatal gunshot wounds inside his home and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Four days earlier on September 1, Johnson allegedly committed an armed robbery of the 26-year-old male, who has not been named, at a hotel in the 24130 block of Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. The suspect made off with some of the man's personal property. Police said both victims were targeted because they were members of the LGBTQ community. Johnson is accused of shooting dead Joshua J. Smelser (pictured) inside the victim's home in Detroit back in September Johnson allegedly shot and killed Smelser inside his home in the 16800 block of Woodbine Street on September 5 during an armed robbery (pictured) Smelser, a videographer who was known for his love of animals and music, had only moved to Detroit six months before his death. His devastated father Steven told Click on Detroit in the days after his killing that his son 'was such a kind and caring person that had friends all over the world.' His son's alleged killer is a self-proclaimed rapper who goes by the name Chuck Da MF Buck. Johnson's YouTube channel, which has just 15 subscribers, features a handful of rap songs and an album called 'Eyes Wide Shut.' The album photo shows Johnson posing with a pistol. His social media pages also contain several images of him holding guns. Johnson also features in several porn movies on Pornhub under the name Chuck Da Dollasign. The net closed in on Johnson following an investigation involving Wayne County Prosecutors and the Fair Michigan Justice Project (FMJP), an organization that helps law enforcement investigate serious crimes against members of the LGBTQ community. Johnson is a self-proclaimed rapper who goes by the name Chuck Da MF Buck. His Facebook page also contains several images of him holding guns (above) Johnson's YouTube channel, which has just 15 subscribers, features a handful of rap songs and an album called 'Eyes Wide Shut.' The album photo shows Johnson posing with a pistol (above) Johnson, who goes by the rap name Chuck Da MF Buck, is also accused of carrying out a separate armed robbery of a 26-year-old man at a hotel in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn four days earlier Fair Michigan President Alanna Maguire described the suspect's targeting of LGBTQ men 'troubling'. 'It is troubling that the perpetrator of these vicious acts apparently used online dating apps to locate and target his victims,' Maguire said in a statement. 'Michigan's LGBTQ communities know that the Fair Michigan Justice Project, along with Michigan's county prosecutors and law enforcement officials, stand ready to aggressively investigate and prosecute these brutal crimes.' The investigation comes less than two years after Attorney General Dana Nessel created a Hate Crimes Unit to investigate hate crimes including those targeting victims due to their sexual orientation or identity. As part of this, her office offers support to county prosecutors with hate crime cases. Nessel said in a press release that this case is the first joint undertaking between the unit and Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy's office. Smelser pictured. He and the armed robbery victim were both members of the LGBTQ community and were located and targeted by the suspect through online dating apps, authorities said Smelser, a videographer who was known for his love of animals and music, had only moved to Detroit six months before his death 'I'm proud to stand with Prosecutor Worthy and the Fair Michigan Justice Project to announce these charges today. It's my hope that this case marks the beginning of a long partnership focused on providing justice to some of our most vulnerable communities,' Nessel said. Worthy said her office will continue to work the FMJP on the case. 'It is my pleasure to announce that our recent agreement with Attorney General Dana Nessel that will allow us to receive assistance from her office on FMJP cases. 'I am also pleased to announce that veteran Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor LaDonna Logan will be working with FMJP to prosecute these important cases,' Worthy said. Johnson was charged with one count of armed robbery on September 21 over the September 1 incident at the hotel but remained at large for more than two months. He was finally arrested in Indianapolis on December 4 and extradited to Michigan this week. Johnson was then charged Tuesday with one count of first-degree murder and one count of felony firearm over the slaying of 39-year-old Smelser, the Wayne County prosecutor's office said. Johnson was arraigned on the armed robbery charge Wednesday and is set to be arraigned on the other charges Thursday in the 36th District Court in Detroit. In a recent research paper currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, a diverse group of researchers has examined the immunogenicity of antibodies against the variant B.1.1.7 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2) initially found in the United Kingdom and revealed diminished recognition and neutralization of either parental strains or the South African variant. The ceaseless pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 still has a major impact on human health globally, as it can give rise to severe disease and accompanying long-term health consequences. Recently, there was a surge of unusual public health events that may result from variants of SARS-CoV-2. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) routinely monitors whether these viral variants result in changes in transmission patterns, disease severity, or vaccine efficacy. One notable SARS-CoV-2 variant is the infamous B.1.1.7 strain, which was initially detected in the United Kingdom in September 2020 and has since spread to more than fifty countries. In South Africa, another variant emerged independently of B.1.1.7, and there is also a Brazil variant known as P.1. The problem is that mutations in the aforementioned variants may reduce recognition by antibodies elicited by natural infection with parental or original strains. This is why a large group of researchers, led by Dr. George Kassiotis from the Francis Crick Institute and the Imperial College London, decided to examine the degree of immunogenicity and heterotypic immunity the new variants may afford. Appraising inhibitory concentrations of human sera The sera for this study has been collected from 29 patients that were admitted to University London College Hospital for unrelated reasons, but with subsequently confirmed B.1.1.7 infection. The majority (i.e., 79%) of these patients displayed relatively mild COVID19 symptoms, while a smaller fraction of 21% remained asymptomatic. To appraise potentially reduced antibody recognition and its functional consequence, the researchers have measured the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (usually abbreviated as IC50) of D614G and B.1.1.7 sera, utilizing an in vitro neutralization process of authentic Wuhan, B.1.1.7 (UK variant) and/or B.1.351 (South African variant) SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Overall, IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies to the spike glycoprotein of the Wuhan strain but also of variants D614G (this mutated version basically replaced the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain found in China), B.1.1.7 or B.1.351 were expressed on human HEK293T cell line and subsequently detected by a flow cytometrybased technique. Different cross-neutralization patterns This study has shown that the infection with D614G induced substantial and long-lasting cross-neutralization of the B.1.1.7 variant; however, the reverse was not true. In other words, the neutralization of the parental Wuhan strain by B.1.1.7 sera was significantly reduced in comparison to the neutralization properties of the infecting B.1.1.7 variant Similar findings were independently found in a recent study with a rather small number of B.1.1.7 convalescent sera. Such a unidirectional pattern of crossreactivity implies that the likely culprit for the emergence of B.1.1.7 was not the process known as 'antibody escape.' Furthermore, the difference in the cross-neutralization drop was also statistically significant. More specifically, both D614G and B.1.1.7 sera demonstrated significantly lower neutralization of the B.1.351 variant with a fold change of -8.2 and -7.7, respectively. Recognition of distinct SARSCoV2 spike glycoproteins by antibodies in D614G and B.1.1.7 sera. ac, Correlation of IgG (a), IgM (b) and IgA (c) antibody levels to D614G and B.1.1.7 or B.1.351 spikes in the indicated groups of donors infected either with the D614G or B.1.1.7 strains. Each symbol represents an individual sample and levels are expressed as a percentage of the positive control. Black lines denote complete correlation and grey lines a 25% change in either direction. df, Comparison of IgG (d), IgM (e) and IgA (f) antibody levels to the indicated spikes in groups of donors acutely infected either with the D614G or B.1.1.7 strains. Connected symbols represent individual donors. Numbers above the plots denote the average binding to each spike, expressed as a percentage of binding to the infecting spike. The era of multivalent vaccines? In a nutshell, these results suggest that natural infection with each strain of SARS-CoV-2 prompts the formation of antibodies that recognize the infecting strain most robustly, with various degrees of cross-recognition of other strains. "Although a quantifiable correlation between in vitro neutralization of infectious SARSCoV2 and in vivo protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 remains to be defined, the reduced neutralization of other SARSCoV2 strains by B.1.1.7 sera would suggest that the recent wave of global B.1.1.7 infections may not completely protect against re-infection with other SARSCoV2 strains", say study authors in this bioRxiv paper. The degree of heterotypic immunity will have to be considered when selecting spike variants as vaccine candidates, with B.1.1.7 spike demonstrating lower potential when directly compared to other variants. In conclusion, such antigenic variation linked to SARSCoV2 evolution means that we may turn to the use of multivalent vaccines. Sir Desmond Swayne has had his Covid vaccination weeks after he refused to apologise for telling vaccine sceptics to 'persist' with their campaign against lockdown restrictions. The 64-year-old Tory MP posted a picture on Twitter of him in jogging bottoms and a t-shirt while getting the jab from a nurse. He wrote this morning: 'I've just had my jab: make sure you can get yours, so that we can all get back to normal life.' He later told MailOnline he had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at St Thomas's Hospital in central London. It comes after Sir Desmond refused to apologise for promoting vaccine sceptics by telling people to 'persist' with their campaign against lockdown restrictions. The New Forest West MP later clarified he was unaware of the movement's position on jabs. The 64-year-old posted a picture on Twitter of him getting the jab from a nurse while wearing jogging bottoms and a t-shirt The then Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove told him to retract his remarks and apologise, condemning his Conservative colleague as 'completely out of order'. The Conservative Party declined to suspend the lockdown-sceptic over his comments, or for a separate interview with anti-vaxxer Del Bigtree. Sir Desmond reportedly made the comments to Save Our Rights UK, which argues vaccines are 'being rushed through safety testing'. Sir Desmond said he is 'evangelical' in his support for the vaccination programme and pointed out he is on record in the House of Commons criticising the way in which the Government has presented data. Michael Gove told Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne to apologise after he allegedly claimed coronavirus statistics had been 'manipulated' He said in January: 'I have always had a great deal of respect for Michael but I'm not sure precisely what I'm being asked to apologise for. 'I had no idea, indeed I am not aware, of any baggage they hold on anti-vaxx, it's never been discussed, never been raised.' He said he was telling the campaigners to 'persist' in the campaign against restrictions, but insisted they should stick to the rules. Due to his age, Sir Desmond was clear to get the vaccine as the current phase of the rollout targets over 60s. But on Monday former Prime Minister David Cameron raised eyebrows when he got his vaccine after he was called up 'in the normal way' - despite being 54. The former Tory leader said he was 'proud' to have received the jab and hailed the NHS for its 'deeply impressive' roll-out. David Cameron today became the latest former Prime Minister to get a coronavirus vaccine He tweeted a photograph of himself being injected at a clinic, understood to be in London, adding: 'Huge 'thank you' to our brilliant NHS and all the amazing staff.' He wrote: 'Huge ''thank you'' to our brilliant NHS & all the amazing staff & volunteers working on the UK's deeply impressive vaccine programme. 'I was proud to have my jab this morning & encourage everyone to take theirs when the call comes - it's crucial we look after ourselves & each other.' His successor Theresa May - 10 years his senior - tweeted about being jabbed last Friday while Tony Blair, 67, revealed he got his first dose on February 20. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, 54, also got his coronavirus vaccine on Monday. He tweeted: 'Jab done! Thanks to Penny O'Hara and the brilliant volunteers at the RHS Hall including Shreya who actually vaccinated me.' He added: 'Brilliantly organised programme - congrats @MattHancock & @nadhimzahawi'. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, 54, also tweeted he got his coronavirus jab today Mr Cameron's successor Theresa May 10 years his elder tweeted about being jabbed on Friday For Labour leader and Prime Minister Tony Blair, 67, revealed he got his first dose on February 20 It is unclear why Mr Cameron was invited for the jab, given that the programme was only officially expanded to people over 60 on Monday. Local vaccination teams have been moving down through the age groups if they are ahead of schedule or if not enough people higher on the priority list come forward. The latter has been a particular problem in London, where uptake has lagged behind the rest of the country. Vaccine hesitancy among black, Asian and ethnic minority groups is thought to be behind poorer rates in the capital's boroughs. Representatives for Mr Cameron - who lives in Holland Park, West London but also has a home in the Cotswolds - said he did not have an undisclosed health condition and that he 'got the call in the normal way and went as soon as he could'. It will nonetheless fuel concerns that the vaccine roll out has become a 'postcode lottery'. Healthy people in their twenties and thirties have already been jabbed in some parts of the country. Sir Desmond has been approached for further details on his vaccination. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 22:24:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, March 4 (Xinhua) -- World food prices continued to climb for the ninth consecutive month in February, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Thursday. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the global prices of food commodities, rose 2.4 percent higher in February from the previous month, and 26.5 percent higher from a year ago. The overall index is at its highest level since July 2014, led by big gains in prices for vegetable oil and sugar. The cereal price index rose an average 1.2-percent from January. Sorghum prices rose the most in February, climbing 17.4 percent during the month and up 82.1 percent over last year. FAO said the biggest factor behind the rise was strong demand from China. Corn prices rose just 0.9 percent in February but were still up 45.5 percent from the previous year. Wheat prices were stable in February, FAO said. The dairy price index climbed 1.7 percent for the month, pushed by limited supply from Europe and higher imports from China. The meat price index saw the smallest gain for the month, rising 0.6 percent, remaining 4.0 percent below its level from a year earlier. Vegetable oil and sugar were the big movers in the index. FAO said vegetable oil price index gained 6.2 percent for the month fueled by speculation over falling supplies. The most pressure came from rapeseed and sunflower seed oils, pushed by supply worries from Europe and South America. With the latest gains, prices reached their highest point since April 2012. Sugar, meanwhile, gained 6.4 percent to its highest levels since April 2017. Greater demand from Asian countries combined with continued supply worries -- especially from Brazil, which is using more of its sugar crop to produce ethanol. But the gains were tempered by expected increases in production from Thailand and India, FAO said. The monthly FAO Food Price Index is based on worldwide prices for 23 food commodity categories covering prices for 73 different products compared to a baseline year. The next index is scheduled for release on April 8, 2021. Enditem Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In tomatoes, a developmental gene called WOX9 produces flowers. However, this gene's role was unknown in groundcherries, a close relative to the tomato plant, with sweet and sour fruit. Using the genome-editing tool CRISPR to change when, where, or how much WOX9 is made, flowering can also be increased in the groundcherry, as pictured here. The red arrows point to extra flower branches when compared to the original plant. Credit: Hendelman/Lippman lab/CSHL, 2021 Over evolutionary time scales, a single gene may acquire different roles in diverging species. However, revealing the multiple hidden roles of a gene was not possible before genome editing came along. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Professor and HHMI Investigator Zach Lippman and CSHL postdoctoral fellow Anat Hendelman collaborated with Idan Efroni, HHMI International Investigator at Hebrew University Faculty of Agriculture in Israel, to uncover this mystery. They dissected the activity of a developmental gene, WOX9, in different plants and at different moments in development. Using genome editing, they found that without changing the protein produced by the gene, they could change a plant's traits by changing the gene's regulation. "Genes" are the DNA that code for proteins, but other nearby stretches of DNA regulate the activity of genes, instructing them where, when, and to what degree they should be active. With the genome-editing tool CRISPR, scientists can introduce precise mutations into DNA, including these regulatory regions. Though scientists would like to use CRISPR to fine-tune plant traits, the technique sometimes yields surprising results; some genes turn out to have functions that were previously unknown. WOX9 is one of several "homeobox" genes that help plants and animals set borders in developing structures. While the gene plays a role in early development in arabidopsis, a weedy relative of broccoli, it influences later developmentreproduction and floweringin tomatoes. Lippman and Hendelman used CRISPR to create a series of mutations in the regulatory DNA surrounding WOX9 to reveal additional functions in tomato, groundcherry, and arabidopsis plants. Given the right regulatory sequence, the gene could induce more flowers to form in all three species. WOX9 is thus a candidate to increase yields in these and other crop plants just by changing its regulation. This discovery suggests that other genes may also have hidden multiple roles. Lippman says: "We know about a whole bunch of genes that you might want to target with genome editing to improve crops, but there's a whole other set of genes for which they might have really useful functions that could also help improve crops. And so by using this approach, you can expose those roles and then you can predictably fine-tune the activity of that gene for that specific role to get the desired trait modification." The WOX9 'master regulator' gene and its protein product can do different things related to growth and development in different plants. Researchers revealed conserved common roles for the gene by changing the regulatory DNA controlling WOX9. They used the genome-editing tool CRISPR. In tomatoes (left), changing the gene's regulation changed seed viability and could increase the number of branches that make flowers. The same edits in groundcherries, a relative of tomato (middle), also increased the number of branches and flowers made. In arabidopsis, a relative of broccoli (right), the increased flowering and branching were so exuberant that flowers branched out of the insides of other flowers. Credit: Hendelman/Lippman lab/CSHL, 2021 Lippman's team published their findings in the journal Cell. Explore further Tweaking corn kernels with CRISPR More guns = more gun crimes in 2020? | Main | US Sentencing Commission issues big new report on "Federal Armed Career Criminals: Prevalence, Patterns, and Pathways" March 3, 2021 Effective review of research on the effectiveness of indigent defense systems I recently tripped across this interesting document authored by Maggie Bailey for the UNC School of Government Criminal Justice Innovation Lab titled "Empirical Research on the Effectiveness of Indigent Defense Delivery Systems." Here are parts of the introduction and conclusion of this notable research review: While the Constitution provides indigent defendants with the right to counsel, states have flexibility in determining how to administer that right. States use a variety of approaches for providing indigent defense services, including employing public defenders, appointing private attorneys on a case-by-case basis, and contracting with private attorneys (collectively, delivery systems), often using a combination of these approaches to handle caseloads (Cohen 2012, 30). In this paper, I summarize seven empirical studies of the effectiveness of different types of indigent defense delivery systems. These analyses compare case outcomes, collectively suggesting that appointed counsel achieve less favorable outcomes for indigent defendants, and discuss some explanatory factors for gaps in attorney performance across the different delivery systems. A summary table of each studys findings is provided at the end of the document.... Taken together, the studies discussed here suggest that, when compared to public defenders, appointed counsel generally achieve less favorable outcomes for their defendants. However, the severity of this performance gap varies across studies. Scholars offer a number of a number of variables that may explain some of these differences, including low wages, lack of experience, variable caseloads, lack of resources, and law school quality. There are opportunities for more research, including repetition of previous studies, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the pros and cons of these systems. For example, while the studies in this paper discuss variables like wages and attorney experience, there are not consistent findings to parse out the extent to which these variables impact attorney performance and case outcomes. The availability of sufficient, high-quality data appears to be a barrier to empirical research. Additionally, while focusing on case outcomes is a critical part of measuring attorney performance, attorney quality is a multifaceted concept, and more research can contribute to identifying criteria for performance measurement. Finally, it is worth examining and comparing the administrative structures of indigent defense systems to understand how elements such as qualification standards, funding, support services, and level of oversight influence outcomes for different delivery systems, although access to data may complicate this level of analysis. Further research can help determine reforms that might enhance these systems to ensure the provision of equitable, high-quality representation for indigent defendants. March 3, 2021 at 03:08 PM | Permalink Comments I have been appointed counsel in federal cases for over 30 years. The authors of the study may not have taken into account that in multi-defendant cases federal defenders usually are representing the first person who is arrested or served a target letter. In my experience those types of defendants are targeted by the government because they are perceived to be weak links who are prone to cooperate. So, the federal defender ends up in multi-defendant cases with persons who cooperate early and often who receive the best deals. In context, appointed counsel usually end up representing the most culpable persons in multi-defendant cases. My 2-cents. Posted by: ? | Mar 3, 2021 4:29:02 PM Post a comment ROCHESTER, Minn. - One in three nonprofits are in jeopardy of not surviving, according to a study done by Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. KIMT News 3 spoke with Bear Creek Services about how the pandemic is impacting the nonprofit. Between staffing, having to readjust with fundraisers, and having to buy a bunch of new COVID-19 safety supplies, Bear Creek Services says the pandemic has definitely taken a toll. The nonprofit serves individuals with developmental disabilities and brain injuries. Pam Alberts says the organization has had to get creative during the pandemic, as they've had to dramatically increase staff. "The people we support used to go out in the community for at least 8 hours a day. Now, we are filling the houses with 24-hour staffing of two or three people instead of 10 or 12 hours a day. So that's a huge hit on the budget," says Alberts. Alberts says Bear Creek Services has spent about $50,000 on different safety supplies for COVID-19 during this pandemic. Bear Creek Services's largest fundraiser will be held virtually this year on April 16th. The nonprofit is partnering with Canadian Honker to sell appetizer boxes, wine, and a front row seat to a virtual concert. The sign up for this event will be open Friday. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 59F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. TORONTO, ON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison" or the "Company") (TSX: DML) (NYSE American: DNN) today filed its Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2020. Both documents can be found on the Company's website at www.denisonmines.com or on SEDAR (at www.sedar.com) and EDGAR (at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml). The highlights provided below are derived from these documents and should be read in conjunction with them. All amounts in this release are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. View PDF version David Cates, President and CEO of Denison commented, "Confronted with the varied challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Denison's resilient teams excelled in 2020 and early 2021 accomplishing a significant de-risking of our flagship Wheeler River project and the Company's balance sheet. At Wheeler River, our technical team achieved a key milestone, receiving an independent confirmation of 'Proof of Concept' for the application of the In-Situ Recovery ('ISR') mining method at the high-grade Phoenix deposit. We also completed an important trade-off study leading to the adoption of a freeze 'wall' design for containment of the ISR operation at Phoenix a decision that is expected to be favourable from an environmental standpoint, reduce technical complexity and operational risks, allow for a phased mining approach with lower up-front capital costs, and strengthen project sustainability. With the Environmental Assessment process fully resumed and a $21.8 million budget (Denison's share $19.4 million) approved and funded for evaluation and environmental assessment work at Wheeler River in 2021, the entire team is now focused on advancing Phoenix through the regulatory and community consultation process to support a future Feasibility Study ("FS"), with the objective of pairing Phoenix, the world's highest grade undeveloped uranium deposit, with ISR mining, the world's lowest cost uranium mining method. In 2020, the technical team also delivered positive results from the Waterbury Lake Preliminary Economic Assessment ('PEA'), which considered the potential future development of the Tthe Heldeth Tue ('THT') uranium deposit as Denison's second ISR amendable project in the Athabasca Basin region. The results were highlighted by low initial capital costs and globally competitive operating costs. Adding to Wheeler River's Phoenix and Gryphon deposits, THT represents Denison's third development asset with fully loaded costs (including initial capital costs, sustaining capital costs, and operating costs) estimated at under US$25 per pound U 3 O 8 . On the Corporate side, the Company's financial situation has also been significantly de-risked, having completed a round of critical capital raising over the last 12 months that has positioned the company with approximately $85 million in cash and investments, while remaining debt-free. Taken together, Denison is uniquely positioned as a well-capitalized uranium developer, with multiple low-cost assets, at a time when the uranium market is showing signs of incremental improvement underpinned by growing calls for nuclear energy to re-emerge as a leading technology important to a sustainable global energy transition." HIGHLIGHTS Significant progress de-risking the Wheeler River project in 2020 In 2020, the Company made significant progress on systematically de-risking the technical risks identified for the ISR mining operation planned for the Phoenix uranium deposit (' Phoenix ') following completion of the 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study ('PFS') for the Company's 90% owned Wheeler River Uranium Project ('Wheeler River') (see Denison news releases dated June 4, 2020 , Feb. 19, 2020 , Oct. 28, 2020 , and Dec. 1, 2020 , respectively): In 2020, the Company made significant progress on systematically de-risking the technical risks identified for the ISR mining operation planned for the uranium deposit (' ') following completion of the 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study ('PFS') for the Company's 90% owned Wheeler River Uranium Project ('Wheeler River') (see Denison news releases dated , , , and , respectively): Achieved independent "Proof of Concept" for application of ISR mining method at Phoenix ; ; Completed initial core leach tests, reporting uranium concentrations up to four times the amount assumed in the PFS for the Phoenix ISR operation; Completed a 2020 ISR Field Program designed to build additional confidence in the results of the independent hydrogeologic model developed by Petrotek Corporation ('Petrotek'), and to support the design and permitting of further field work expected to be incorporated into a future FS; and Completed a trade-off study demonstrating the merit of adopting a freeze wall design, rather than the freeze "dome" design included in the PFS, as part of the ISR mining approach planned for Phoenix . . Restarted the formal Environmental Assessment ('EA') process for Wheeler Rive In January 2021 , Denison restarted the formal EA process for Wheeler River. The decision to resume the EA process marked the end of the temporary suspension announced in March 2020 amidst the significant social and economic disruption that emerged as a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In , Denison restarted the formal EA process for Wheeler River. The decision to resume the EA process marked the end of the temporary suspension announced in amidst the significant social and economic disruption that emerged as a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Successful series of equity financings to fund the EA and FS process for Wheeler River Denison completed equity financings for gross proceeds of over US$56 million (including approximately US$3 million from an At-the-Market ('ATM') offering, excluding the flow-through financings) in 2020 and early 2021. Subject to a decision to advance to a formal FS for Phoenix , the proceeds from the offerings are expected, based on current estimates, to be sufficient to complete such FS process and the EA process. Denison completed equity financings for gross proceeds of over (including approximately from an At-the-Market ('ATM') offering, excluding the flow-through financings) in 2020 and early 2021. Subject to a decision to advance to a formal FS for , the proceeds from the offerings are expected, based on current estimates, to be sufficient to complete such FS process and the EA process. Completed flow-through equity financings to fund Canadian exploration The Company completed flow-through equity financings of $8.9 million in late 2020 and early 2021. Proceeds of the financings are expected to be used for eligible Canadian exploration activities in 2021 and 2022. The Company completed flow-through equity financings of in late 2020 and early 2021. Proceeds of the financings are expected to be used for eligible Canadian exploration activities in 2021 and 2022. 2020 Phoenix expansion drilling returns best results to date at Zone C The primary focus of the Company's 2020 exploration drilling program at Wheeler River centered on the area proximal to the Phoenix deposit with the potential to expand the extent of mineralization currently estimated for Phoenix . Expansion drilling in the Zone C area of Phoenix , which does not currently have an estimate of mineral resources, returned high grade mineralization including 5.69% U 3 O 8 over 5.0 metres in WR-328D1, which represents the best mineralized intersection at Zone C to date (see Denison press release dated February 9, 2021 ). The primary focus of the Company's 2020 exploration drilling program at Wheeler River centered on the area proximal to the deposit with the potential to expand the extent of mineralization currently estimated for . Expansion drilling in the Zone C area of , which does not currently have an estimate of mineral resources, returned high grade mineralization including 5.69% U O over 5.0 metres in WR-328D1, which represents the best mineralized intersection at Zone C to date (see Denison press release dated ). Discovery of new high-grade uranium mineralization four kilometres from Phoenix at Wheeler River As part of the Company's 2020 exploration drilling program at Wheeler River, certain regional target areas were also tested, which resulted in the discovery of new high-grade unconformity-hosted uranium mineralization up to 7.66% U 3 O 8 along the K-West conductive trend (see Denison press release dated January 28, 2021 ). As part of the Company's 2020 exploration drilling program at Wheeler River, certain regional target areas were also tested, which resulted in the discovery of new high-grade unconformity-hosted uranium mineralization up to 7.66% U O along the K-West conductive trend (see Denison press release dated ). Completed a Preliminary THT deposit on the Waterbury Lake Property On Dec. 30, 2020 , Denison filed the technical report "Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Tthe Heldeth Tue (J Zone) Deposit, Waterbury Lake Property, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada ", with an effective date of October 30, 2020 for the 66.90% Denison-owned Waterbury Lake property. The technical report includes a PEA that demonstrates robust economics for the potential future development of THT as a small-scale Athabasca Basin ISR uranium mining project including low initial capital costs, low average cash operating costs and globally competitive all-in costs under US$25 per pound U 3 O 8 . About Wheeler River Wheeler River is the largest undeveloped uranium project in the infrastructure rich eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin region, in northern Saskatchewan and is a joint venture between Denison (90% and operator) and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited (10%). The project is host to the high-grade Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits, discovered by Denison in 2008 and 2014, respectively, estimated to have combined Indicated Mineral Resources of 132.1 million pounds U 3 O 8 (1,809,000 tonnes at an average grade of 3.3% U 3 O 8 ), plus combined Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.0 million pounds U 3 O 8 (82,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.7% U 3 O 8 ). The PFS was completed in late 2018, considering the potential economic merit of developing the Phoenix deposit as an ISR operation and the Gryphon deposit as a conventional underground mining operation. Taken together, the project is estimated to have mine production of 109.4 million pounds U 3 O 8 over a 14-year mine life, with a base case pre-tax net present value ('NPV') of $1.31 billion (8% discount rate), Internal Rate of Return ('IRR') of 38.7%, and initial pre-production capital expenditures of $322.5 million. The Phoenix ISR operation is estimated to have a stand-alone base case pre-tax NPV of $930.4 million (8% discount rate), IRR of 43.3%, initial pre-production capital expenditures of $322.5 million, and industry leading average operating costs of US$3.33/lb U 3 O 8 . The PFS was prepared on a project (100% ownership) and pre-tax basis, as each of the partners to the Wheeler River Joint Venture are subject to different tax and other obligations. Further details regarding the PFS, including additional scientific and technical information, as well as after-tax results attributable to Denison's ownership interest, are described in greater detail in the NI 43-101 Technical Report titled "Pre-feasibility Study for the Wheeler River Uranium Project, Saskatchewan, Canada" dated October 30, 2018 with an effective date of September 24, 2018. A copy of this report is available on Denison's website and under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Given the social, financial and market disruptions related to COVID-19, and certain fiscally prudent measures, Denison temporarily suspended certain activities at Wheeler River starting in April 2020, including the formal parts of the EA program, which is on the critical path to achieving the project development schedule outlined in the PFS Technical Report. While the formal EA process has resumed in early 2021, the Company is not currently able to estimate the impact to the project development schedule, outlined in the PFS Technical Report, and users are cautioned that certain of the estimates provided therein, particularly regarding the start of pre-production activities in 2021 and first production in 2024 should not be relied upon. About Denison Denison Mines Corp. was formed under the laws of Ontario and is a reporting issuer in all Canadian provinces. Denison's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the 'TSX') under the symbol 'DML' and on the NYSE American exchange under the symbol 'DNN'. Denison is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. In addition to the Company's flagship project, Wheeler River, Denison's interests in Saskatchewan include a 22.5% ownership interest in the McClean Lake Joint Venture ('MLJV'), which includes several uranium deposits and the McClean Lake uranium mill, which is currently processing ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement, plus a 25.17% interest in the Midwest deposits and a 66.90% interest in the THT and Huskie deposits on the Waterbury Lake property. The Midwest, THT and Huskie deposits are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill. In addition, Denison has an extensive portfolio of exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin region. Denison is engaged in mine decommissioning and environmental services through its Closed Mines group (formerly Denison Environmental Services), which manages Denison's Elliot Lake reclamation projects and provides post-closure mine and maintenance services to a variety of industry and government clients. Denison is also the manager of Uranium Participation Corporation ('UPC'), a publicly traded company listed on the TSX under the symbol 'U', which invests in uranium oxide in concentrates ('U 3 O 8 ') and uranium hexafluoride ('UF 6 '). Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person The technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by David Bronkhorst, P.Eng, Denison's Vice President, Operations and/or Andrew Yackulic, P. Geo, Denison's Director, Exploration, each of whom is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain information contained in this press release constitutes 'forward-looking information', within the meaning of the applicable United States and Canadian legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates', or 'believes', or the negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur', 'be achieved' or 'has the potential to'. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: exploration, development and expansion plans and objectives, including the results of, and estimates and assumptions within, the PFS, the plans and objectives for ISR and the related field and hydrogeological testing results, models, "proof of concept", plans and objectives; expectations, plans and objectives of a future FS for Wheeler and any work to be undertaken in respect thereto, including any "de-risking" and the EA process; the impact of COVID-19 on Denison's operations; the results of, and estimates and assumptions within, the PEA for the THT deposit at Waterbury Lake; projections with respect to use of proceeds of recent financings; the estimates of Denison's mineral reserves and mineral resources; expectations regarding Denison's joint venture ownership interests; expectations regarding the continuity of its agreements with third parties; and its interpretations of, and expectations for, nuclear power and uranium supply, demand and related market factors. Statements relating to 'mineral reserves' or 'mineral resources' are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the mineral reserves and mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For example, the results and underlying assumptions and interpretations of the PFS as well as de-risking efforts such as the ISR field tests and hydrogeological test programs discussed herein may not be maintained after further testing or be representative of actual conditions within the applicable deposits. In addition, Denison may decide or otherwise be required to extend the EA and/or otherwise discontinue testing, evaluation and development work, including a FS at Wheeler River, if it is unable to maintain or otherwise secure the necessary approvals or resources (such as testing facilities, capital funding, etc.). Denison believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate and results may differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information. For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the factors discussed in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading 'Risk Factors'. These factors are not, and should not be, construed as being exhaustive. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking information and the assumptions made with respect thereto speaks only as of the date of this press release. Denison does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this press release to conform such information to actual results or to changes in Denison's expectations except as otherwise required by applicable legislation. Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves: This press release may use terms such as "measured", "indicated" and/or "inferred" mineral resources and "proven" or "probable" mineral reserves, which are terms defined with reference to the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves ("CIM Standards"). The Company's descriptions of its projects using CIM Standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. . United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. Follow Denison on Twitter @DenisonMinesCo SOURCE Denison Mines Corp. Related Links http://denisonmines.com/s/Home.asp The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. Emma, five years old, slim build with a gentle demeanour, is looking for love overseas. Hobbies include hanging with friends and studying Japanese. Seeks fellow rhino for companionship and mating. It's been a busy and exciting time at Taiwan's Leofoo Safari Park where zookeepers have been preparing to send one of their southern white rhinos over to Japan. Part of an attempt to widen the gene pool of Asia's captive-bred white rhinos, it is the first time Taiwan will send a rhino overseas to breed. The safari park scoured their 23 strong herd to find a suitable candidate and settled on "Emma" who ticked all the right boxes. "Emma was chosen because of her mild personality... and her smaller size also makes it easier to ship overseas," Sean Wu, the park's chief veterinarian and animal manager, told AFP. "She seldom get into fights with other rhinos or snatch other's food." Visa and paperwork depending, Emma will soon travel to Japan's Tobu Zoo in Saitama where a 10-year-old fellow rhino "Moran" has been lined up to be her first suitor. To help her adapt to her future new home, zookeepers have started using Japanese instructions for commands such as "come" and "no". "We have added Japanese commands in our daily animal training so that slowly when she (Emma) arrives in Japan she can more quickly adjust to the new language," Wu added. The rhino has also been trained to get used to "outdoor ambient sounds" such as aeroplane engines and trucks to prepare her for any noise during the upcoming journey. Her trip originally set for this month has been postponed to late April at the earliest due to Japan's border restrictions imposed over the COVID-19 pandemic, the park said. A vet and a zookeeper will fly from Taiwan two weeks ahead of her departure to undergo quarantine. They will stay in Japan for at least a week to ensure Emma adjusts to the new environment. The southern white rhino -- found in the wild across southern Africa -- currently number less than 19,000 according to the animal conservation group Save the Rhino. The southern white rhino, found in the wild across southern Africa, currently number less than 19,000. Photo: AFP They were nearly wiped out in last century but managed to recover thanks to conservation efforts. Their northern cousins were not so lucky. Only two remain, both female, rendering the species functionally extinct. Other rhino species such as the Javan rhino and Sumatran rhino have less than 100 herds left. Zoo breeding programmes played a crucial role in repopulating southern white rhino herds. Southern white rhinos were nearly wiped out in last century but managed to recover thanks to conservation efforts. Photo: AFP Leofoo Safari Park imported eight rhinos from Africa in 1979 and now has the most successful breeding programme in Asia with 23 animals in its herd. Rhino poaching is fuelled by a market for their horns in Asia -- especially China and Vietnam. Horns are made of nothing more than keratin, the same material as fingernails and hair. But scammers erroneously market horns as an aphrodisiac or cancer cure. China's spending on basic research nearly doubled during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), said an official with the country's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) during a press conference held on Feb. 26. Ye Yujiang, head of the Department of Basic Research at the MOST briefed the media about the development of China's basic research at the press conference. He introduced that the development of the discipline demonstrated a good momentum and a number of major original results have been achieved, and the country also significantly increased investment in basic research, which nearly doubled during the past five years and is expected to exceed 150 billion yuan ($23.18 billion) in 2020. Besides, the policies and systems which support basic R&D have been continuously improved, and important progress has been made in the construction of scientific research bases, he added. Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang told the press conference that China has systematically promoted basic research and achieved breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas. As a result, China's science and technology innovation capacity have increased significantly, he added. For the first time, investment in basic research accounted for more than 6 percent of spending on R&D. Meanwhile, China has promoted the application of scientific and technological achievements in the development of the economy and society in an all-round manner, so as to foster "new growth drivers" for high-quality development, he remarked, adding that the number of high-tech enterprises has exceeded 200,000. According to the MOST chief, China has also increased the pool of qualified scientific and technological personnel. Talent development of the country has been accelerated, which is indicated by its full-time equivalent of R&D personnel reaching 4.8 million man-years. China has deepened reforms of the science and technology system in key areas and formed a "new ecology" for innovation and entrepreneurship, and actively joined the global innovation network, making new advances in scientific and technological cooperation, Wang said. Besides, the country has acted swiftly and tackled the scientific and technological difficulties in emergent response to the COVID-19 pandemic, making new contributions to the world's efforts to address common global challenges. Wang stressed China will give full play to the supporting role of technological innovation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). To promote the high-end development of the industrial chain, the country will step up to make breakthroughs in key technologies and intensify the arrangement of frontier technologies. It will also push forward the large-scale application of technological advances to support the development of the real economy. In order to safeguard people's health and lives, the country is planning to enhance R&D and application in the prevention and treatment of major diseases, as well as innovative medicines and medical equipment, Wang introduced. According to him, the country will also advance technological breakthroughs and promote their application in pollution prevention and control to realize its goals in peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. Besides, to improve the overall efficiency of the innovative system, China will put emphasis on stimulating the vitality of talents and launch a new round of reforms in the scientific and technological system. In the next five years, China will continue to support the development of Beijing, Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into international science and technology innovation centers. In addition, it will also support qualified regions to establish regional innovation centers and build sources for regional innovation. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Pittsfield O&R OKs HR Reclassification, Three New City Positions PITTSFIELD, Mass. Monday's Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee meeting saw a heated conversation resulting in Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio and Mayor Linda Tyer raising their voices followed by power outages of many members due to a sudden snowstorm. The topic sparking controversy was the reclassification of Human Resource Director Michael Taylor's position and a salary increase of roughly $7,500. It passed 4-1 with Maffuccio voting in opposition. Maffuccio asked Taylor, an eight-year employee, if he was considering leaving his position because of the pay after hypothetical discussions transpired that outlined his value to the city and what a great loss he would be. Tyer found the question out of line. "That's a bit of an awkward question," Taylor said to Maffuccio before Tyer interjected. "If I may, Councilor Maffuccio I can't allow this line of questioning to take place," Tyer said before Maffuccio began to yell "point of order." Taylor's salary adjustment will be implemented on July 1 so the city can budget accordingly. Currently, his position is an M7 classification with a salary ranging from $68,000 annually to around $89,000, Taylor confirmed that he is compensated around $75,000 annually. The human resource director position was reclassified to an M9 classification, adjusting the salary range from about $83,000 to $108,000 at the maximum end of the compensation spectrum. This was essential to make Taylor's pay match his responsibilities, said Tyer. "The director of human resources is a vital, critical position within the senior leadership team and it has been misclassified in relation to those responsibilities for far too long," the mayor said. She highlighted some of the essential responsibilities Taylor holds including working with herself and the labor attorney when it comes to collective bargaining agreements, serving as a Civil Service agent, and updating and drafting personnel policies that accurately affect laws and regulations. With the onset of COVID-19, Taylor has also taken on the responsibility of ensuring compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and co-leading the Safety and Security Committee to ensure employees have a safe and secure work environment. Maffuccio made it clear that he was admirable of Taylor's work and believes him to be a valuable asset, but cannot support a budget increase for the Department of Human Resources within the city's current $170 million budget during a pandemic. "We can look across the board throughout the whole city of Pittsfield and see that a lot of our staff are underpaid," he said. "There's not just one individual who is important to an organization, you all collectively make a team, you all collectively should be fairly treated." Maffuccio said Taylor's position is a managerial position and not a union position, meaning he is not in a bargaining unit. Bikini-clad animal rights activists have dressed up in crocodile masks to protest against designer bag store Hermes' use of reptile skin. The trio wearing pale green two-pieces held up up signs in the shape of handbags as the campaigned on Sydney's King Street in the CBD on Thursday. The women, representing PETA, were campaigning against the French luxury brand's use of crocodile skins and their plans to build a crocodile farm in Darwin. The bikini clad women stood out the front holding handbag shaped placards with anti-crocodile skin slogans The women protesting wore nothing but crocodile masks and bikinis during their protest in Sydney The protest was a reaction to Hermes continuing to use crocodile skins in their products and its plans to build a crocodile farm in Darwin, Northern Territory The three signs read: 'Cruelty to crocs unmasked', 'Animals die for exotic skins' and 'Hermes bin crocodile skin'. In Novemeber last year Hermes has come under fire after it was revealed it has plans to build Australia's biggest crocodile factory farm at a site near Darwin. The French luxury fashion house partnered with farmer Mick Burns, known as the Crocodile King, to buy The Sweet Life, a former melon and banana farm at Lambells Lagoon, for $7.25 million reported the ABC. The controversial investment was expected to increase the number of farmed crocodiles in the Northern Territory by 50 per cent, with some 50,000 saltwater crocodiles being farmed for skin and meat products. Animal activists from PETA preparing for the protests with their eye-catching crocodile masks In 2015 Australian model Rochelle Relf participated in a similar protest outside the Sydney Hermes store about the use of crocodile skins in fashion This is not the first protest of this type at the Sydney Hermes store. In 2015, Rochelle Relf posed as a slaughtered crocodile during a similar protest. PETA has also held crocodile or alligator related protests at Hermes stores in London, Tokyo and Paris. Hermes Australia was contacted but made no comment. If you thought the election in 2020 was bad, you'd better reach out to your senator to fight H.R. 1, which passed the House last night. H.R. 1 takes every bad idea blue states adopted in 2020 all with an eye to facilitating election fraud and increasing the number of otherwise ineligible Democrat voters and nationalizes all of them. It isn't just that this bill will mean that Republicans will have an even more uphill battle than usual in every election. It also means that no federal election will ever be trustworthy and an untrustworthy system is one that will inevitably fail. John Fund says H.R. 1 "is the worst piece of legislation I have ever seen in my 40 years reporting from Washington." According to him, the bill, if it becomes law, "would cement all of the worst changes in election law made in blue states in 2020 and nationalize them." He quotes Hans von Spakovsky, who summarized some of the worst aspects of the bill. (The link Fund gives for Spakovsky is here, but it goes to a dead page. [Update: This page contains the same summary.]) H.R. 1 would make fraud easier by forcing states to implement early voting, automatic voter registration, same-day registration, online voter registration and no-fault absentee balloting Degrade the accuracy of registration lists by requiring states to automatically register all individuals on state and federal databases. This would include many ineligible voters, including aliens It would require states to allow 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to register. Combined with a ban on voter ID, this would allow underage individuals to vote Require states to count ballots cast by voters outside of their assigned precincts, a recipe for election fraud Mandate no-fault absentee ballots, which are the tool of choice for vote thieves, force states to accept absentee ballots received up to 10 days after Election Day and force states allow 'ballot harvesting' Prevent election officials from checking the eligibility and qualifications of voters and removing ineligible voters Ban state-voter ID laws by forcing states to allow individuals to vote without an ID and merely signing a statement in which they claim they are who they say they are Create vague and broad language that could be used to criminally charge someone who questions the eligibility of a voter Destroy the bipartisan composition of the Federal Election Commission and places a partisan majority in control of every aspect of our federal elections Require states to restore the ability of felons to vote the moment they are out of prison Force disclosure of names of Americans who donate to nonprofit organizations thus subjecting them to political harassment Declare statehood for Washington DC to be 'constitutional' despite evidence it is not And finally, HR 1 would effectively ban nonprofits from contacting a member of Congress or their staff about pending legislation a direct assault on the right of Americans to petition their government. House minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy put together a short video explaining some of the other problems with the bill: Democrats did not design #HR1 to protect your vote. They designed it to put a thumb on the scale of every election in America and keep the Swamp swampy. pic.twitter.com/Csyu9AX6Ce Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) March 3, 2021 Because Republicans are honorable enough (or stupid enough) to believe that election fraud is wrong, the bill is an election boondoggle for Democrats. It is they who are constantly trying to register everyone, from the newborn babe to the murderer to the irresponsible teen to the granddad who died decades ago. Having all those names on the voter rolls, and making them impossible to purge, creates huge vistas for fraud something we saw happen in blue states that have already implemented many of these changes. And allowing the election to extend indefinitely ensures that Democrats will always win. They'll just see how many votes they need after Election Day and keep submitting more ballots. Eventually, in self-defense, Republicans will do the same. At that point, citizens can just stop voting at all, because elections will have devolved into battles between crooks rather than the voice of the people. Contact your senators and make let them know that, in the interests of American democracy, you are completely opposed to steps that will weaken Americans' ability to trust the integrity of their elections. It's not just Republicans who should care. Democrats should, too. In D.C., the continued presence of the National Guard shows that the Democrats are frightened. They fear that people who feel that they don't have a truly representative government will make themselves heard by other means. If the Democrats continue with this mad plan to destroy voter integrity, they will become increasingly fearful of the American people. It creates a volatile situation when the government fears the people because the government knows that it has done wrong. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Update (4:28 p.m.): A man was shot and killed by police in the incident on Apulia Road, the district attorney said. Read the full update here. Update (2:50 p.m.): An officer was involved in a shooting in the area of Apulia Road in Jamesville Thursday afternoon, an Onondaga County sheriffs spokesman said. Apulia Road between Coye and Cook Farm roads is closed to traffic while police continue to investigate, Sgt. Jon Seeber said. Law enforcement is expected to remain on scene for a while, he said. The Onondaga County District Attorneys Office was also sending a representative to the scene. There is no threat to the public at this time, Seeber said. Original post: Jamesville, N.Y. Dozens of police vehicles have responded to a report of a shooting in Jamesville Thursday afternoon. A shooting was first reported to the Onondaga County 911 Center at 1:27 p.m. Police continue to respond to the scene. DeWitt Town Supervisor Edward Michalenko said DeWitt police were involved in the shooting. He made the statement while apologizing for being late to a Zoom meeting on a proposed inland port in the town. The incident was reported to have happened on Hedgerow Lane, a short street between Roberts and Timothy drives, off of Apulia Road, near Jamesville Reservoir. First responders have shut down Apulia Road near at Coye Road. Volunteer firefighters have set up burning red flares along the road, directing traffic away from the incident. Dozens of police officers from the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office, the DeWitt Police Department and the New York State Police are on scene. Officials on scene declined to comment. Check back for updates on this developing story. Joe Biden was set to take questions from Democrat members of the House on Wednesday, when the White House inexplicably cut the feed of the live event. Biden, 78, is yet to hold a formal press conference since taking office six weeks ago, on January 20. The president's lack of press conferences is an obvious juxtaposition to Donald Trump who basked in his time in front of the cameras and press. When he wasnt holding formal press conferences, the former president would spend a lengthy amount of time speaking to reporters before departing for trips on the South Lawn. Trump held his first solo press conference as president on February 16, 2017, just short of a month after his inauguration. Throughout his presidency, he held 44 solo news conferences and another 44 joint pressers. Biden has still not held either a solo or joint press conference, and there is no indication he plans to do so any time soon. He has answered questions from reporters, but in a limited fashion - frustrating his critics who are demanding that he be more forthcoming. On Wednesday, he participated in a gathering of House Democrats, held virtually due to the pandemic. Joe Biden addressed a virtual meeting of House Democrats on Wednesday night Biden, 78, spoke for much of the 15-minute session, but was cut off at the very end Introduced by Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, Biden spoke about the COVID-19 relief bill, which is currently being fought over in Congress. He explained why it was so essential, and urged Democrats to make the case to their constituents. 'I'm happy to take questions, if that's what I'm supposed to do, Nance,' he says. 'Whatever you want me to do.' The feed then cuts off. Biden is facing mounting calls to hold a full press conference. On Tuesday night Kayleigh McEnany, Donald Trump's press secretary from April 2020 until his departure, pointed out that both Trump and Barack Obama had met the press at this point in their presidencies. Obama held one 20 days after he was inaugurated and Trump took questions 27 days in. Biden was introduced at the event by Speaker Pelosi, who he affectionately called 'Nance' At one point Biden was seen giggling during the virtual event, held with House Democrats McEnany attacked Joe Biden and called on him to hold a press conference 'My question is: where's Joe?' she asked, on Fox News. 'It's been 41 days - at this point, President Trump had multiple press appearances, press conferences - President Barack Obama had as well. 'Joe Biden needs to step up. We need to hear from him. He needs to engage in the transparency that he promised us: he has not thus far.' Kevin Liptak, CNN White House reporter, wrote to his colleagues on Wednesday: 'As we await word on when President Biden will hold his first solo press conference, an analysis of the past 100 years shows he is behind his 15 most recent predecessors, who all held a solo press conference within 33 days of taking office.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday he will hold a press conference soon but she did not give a specific date or any indication of when that would happen Thursday will be Biden's 43rd day in office. 'While he has taken questions from reporters on a few occasions, including during sprays and a more formal Q&A session following an event in January, he has not held a formal press conference,' Liptak noted. 'That includes both a solo press conference or a 2+2 news conference during his two virtual 'bilateral' meetings with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.' Dan Gainor, a conservative commentator, wrote on FoxNews.com: 'Hes like the opposite of the Energizer Bunny. He hides out. Its his leftist policies that keep on going.' He added: 'It would be easy to make a joke about the president being in his dotage here. 'Only this is the anti-Trump strategy that got Biden into the White House. Dont tweet. Dont say controversial things. Dont be seen as doing much in public at all.' Biden's press secretary, Jen Psaki, said on Wednesday: 'We look forward to holding a full formal press conference, but in the meantime the President takes questions from the reporters covering the White House regularly, including this morning. 'And his focus day in and day out is on getting the pandemic under control and putting people back to work. That's what people elected him to do.' remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in 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 Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Element 25 starts pre-commissioning at Butcherbird Manganese Project with completion on track for this quarter Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) (FRA:QFP) has confirmed delivery of the first stage of a planned multi-stage development at its 100%-owned world-class Butcherbird Manganese Project in WA, with completion on track and in line with the original target of the first quarter of 2021. Pre-commissioning activities have started on schedule with electrical systems and instrument loop checking underway utilising temporary power. Sequential rotational checking of drives is expected to begin today while the power station is due to arrive at site today, with installation and power-up scheduled for later in the week. This is the first stage of a multi-stage development strategy for the project, which will be expanded to produce high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) for electric vehicle (EV) batteries to power the global transition away from fossil fuel-powered mobility. Important ingredient for EV batteries Manganese is emerging as an increasingly important ingredient for EV batteries. Potential supply constraints for nickel and cobalt are forcing battery manufacturers to look to high manganese cathodes to produce the vast amount of cathode material required by the EV industry in the coming years. E25's share price and market capitalisation growth in the past 12 months reflect the quality of the Butcherbird project along with the important role of manganese in a cleaner and greener global future. Market capitalisation sits at approximately $252.7 million while the share price stands at $1.92 after hitting a new high of $2 this week - a considerable climb from 11.5 cents almost one year ago. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Since eligibility expanded Monday, more than 156,000 people most of them between the ages of 55 and 64 have registered and gained access to Connecticuts system to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, according to the state Department of Public Health. From there, it becomes less clear how many of them scheduled an appointment. Connecticut officials say there is no centralized tracking method with two state systems the Vaccine Administration Management System and the Vaccine Appointment Access Line along with health care providers and pharmacies that independently make appointments. Since eligibility expanded at 12:01 a.m. Monday, more than 140,000 people between the ages of 55 and 64 gained access to the VAMS, according to DPH data. The amount of registrations, which could exhaust nearly a weeks worth of the states vaccine supply, represents more than a quarter of all Connecticut residents in the age group, though thousands of them have already been vaccinated during earlier stages of the rollout. Hours after those 55 to 64 as well as school and child care workers became eligible, state officials said tens of thousands of new appointments were made on Monday, but they did not have a definitive number. According to DPH, the states vaccine access line has helped facilitate 12,600 appointments the first two days of the expanded eligibility, but the ages of those who secured appointments were not available. State officials also say the experience has improved after some on Monday reported having difficulty making appointments or struggling to find a slot before late April or early May. We think its smoothed out a little. We are aware of people getting earlier appointments people booked into April and later getting into appointments as early as next week, Max Reiss, a spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont, said Wednesday. We are confident that the process is moving forward as we anticipated. As Lamont is expected on Thursday to announce easing COVID restrictions, Connecticut reported a 2.23 percent daily positivity rate Wednesday when hospitalizations increased by 38 patients to 451. There were 20 more COVID-related deaths recorded, bringing the total to 7,678. With focus on Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts sweeping order that lifted his states mask mandate and reopened businesses 100 percent, Connecticut officials have hinted at loosening restrictions here. Lamonts office, however, offered little specifics other than saying COVID-19-related metrics were trending in the right direction. Dont expect a Texas-like reopening, but the governor is weighing options to ease restrictions in a sensible way, Reiss said Wednesday. The governors office said Lamont and key advisors have been meeting regularly, including on Wednesday, about easing restrictions. Lamont has also hinted at relaxing the states travel advisory, which requires people traveling from most states to quarantine for 10 days. Despite Abbott lifting restrictions in his state, Connecticut officials said Wednesday they are not planning to change travel protocol for those coming here from Texas. Other states have moved to relax restrictions in recent days. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo increased the cap on gatherings in his state, while Gov. Charlie Baker in Massachusetts allowed for 100 percent occupancy in restaurants. But one of the nations top health officials, referencing delayed case statistics, was concerned about lifting restrictions. With these statistics, I am really worried about more states rolling back the exact public health measures we have recommended to protect people from COVID-19, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a White House briefing on Monday. Johnson & Johnson vaccines arrive Providers across Connecticut have started receiving the first doses of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine as they start filling appointments for a staggering group of newly eligible people. State officials said Connecticut is expected to receive this week a total of 39,000 doses of the vaccine, likely to speed up vaccination efforts because it requires a single dose, unlike the more widely administered Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Everytime we do one of these launches of a new vaccine, it really represents hope for everyone another vaccine, another option, more vaccines, our ability to increase how quickly to vaccinate everyone and return to a better state than we were in the past, said Eric Arlia, director of systems pharmacy at Hartford HealthCare. Arlia said the health care network received 7,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We have tremendous faith in the J&J vaccine. I want everyone to remember that all of the vaccines prevent serious illness and death, 100 percent in all of the trials done, Arlia said. He said they have a number of plans for the doses, including earmarking some for teachers, community clinics and for the general public. Yale New Haven Health said Tuesday it received 7,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We believe we can get all the doses into arms this week, said Tom Balcezak, chief medical officer for Yale New Haven Hospital. Danbury Hospital expects to get a shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week, but does not yet know how many doses will arrive, said Dr. John Murphy, president and CEO of Nuvance Health But Murphy said he anticipates a fair amount. Johnson & Johnson shipped 4 million doses of the vaccine across the country on Sunday night, with another 16 million doses delivered by the end of March and 100 million total by the end of June, the Associated Press reported. I think there will be a surge and then a dip [in Johnson & Johnson doses], but it will be nice to have a flow of J&J vaccines, Murphy said. Monitoring glaciers, rivers, weather in general. The flood forecasting of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and also the state governments are very weak and need revamping. Restricting entry/footfalls in the Higher Himalayas, where the restriction on the height can be debated and discussed. There is a strong climatic link to disasters. Out of the thousands of glaciers present in Uttarakhand, only a few are monitored in terms of disaster response and subsequent action. With the access to basic resources like water, sanitation, roads, etc. being quite low, some infrastructure and development projects are therefore required and makes sense but those which directly affects the ecology of the place should be checked and regulated upon. Focus on mitigation policies. Local governing bodies should incorporate these mitigating guidelines. Enforcement of Law, Regulation and Accountability. Specific set of guidelines or policies involving only the Himalayas. Way forward Aftermath of the Chamoli disaster 2021, it has become essential to not to alter the environment. The environmental change is taking lives and livelihoods of people which is compensated with the meager amount of financial aid. Headlines reported that 70 people have been dead and 139 are missing. State government promised to provide financial aid of Rs 4 lakh to family of deceased. The disasters in Uttarakhand dates back to 1990s and the series continues. Thirty years have not been enough for economic developers to prevent such massacres.With this background, Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Impact and Policy Research Institute ( IMPRI ), New Delhi, India Water Portal and Tarun Bharat Sangh , Alwar organized a panel discussion on Uttarakhand Flood Disaster 2.0: From Analysis to Action . The session was chaired by Rajender Singh, Chairman, Tarun Bharat Singh, Alwar and Waterman of India.The Himalayan Rivers exist in steep slopes and seismic zones. The government has to tradeoff between promoting tourism or contemplating on the fact that the superfluous rivers should be favored back either as means of conservation or pilgrimage. Every river conservation policy should have incorporated the factors of climate change. Overexploitation of such rivers and natural resources at the source or origin will produce devastating results, said Rajender Singh.Construction of dams and hydro-electric projects in these geologically sensitive areas involving steep slopes amounts to a huge economic loss. Such losses are mounted if the project cost and the ecological cost is also considered and can be as high as Rs 18 per unit. Comparatively, the usual cost per unit of solar energy is Rs 4. For decades, people have been protesting against the construction of such projects.However, the major reasons as stated by government are capacity building for defense and promoting tourism sector. These reasons are incessant, but a cost-benefit analysis wont be infertile to assess the economic and social impact of the disasters and economic returns from tourism.The supercomputer available currently only accommodates and counts one blast in the mountain of which the factors are analyzed but fails to take into account the subsequent series of blasts that take place. These blasts shake up the mountain core which then affects the river ecology, the latter getting highly disturbed mostly in terms of volume of flow. The consequence of this thus becomes disastrous.He further urged the flag-bearers of science in this country to have a holistic perspective and to analyze things via sense and common sense. Viewing science only through the lens of calculations and equations and to be able to manipulate the same to achieve project go-ahead by the government is a regressive thought. Further, naming it natural disasters and not man-made is nothing but greed that mankind hasnt been able to contain. Nature never justifies and accommodates lies in the name of facts, he said.Development while also contributing to the rejuvenation of nature is possible only when people start respecting - - (Water, Woman and River).Prof Milap Punia, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) shared his experience of Satopanth-Bhagirathi region in the Upper Himalayas that carried a drain that seeped water into a natural lake downstream, got completely demolished post-2013 floods.He shared some of the recommendations from his paper governance and disaster on the land-use policies in Uttarakhand. These include revision of hydro-power policy, incorporating Environmental Impact Assessment and environmental flow, lock-gate operations, mandatory installations of automatic weather stations and real-time flood forecasting systems at every medium to large hydro-power plants, strict implementation of Dam Safety Bill of 2005.He highlights the regions prone to landslides in the state including a place near between Joshimath and Badrinath and leading to the Valley of Flowers which although have been silent for some time but would be disastrous if a landslide does happen to strike, and the chances being even more with the Char Dham project construction underway. He advocated the need to regulate such development projects and also the public administration.If we cannot handle the wrath, we shouldnt dare to disturb these ecologically sensitive places, he said, emphasising for a resilience program to cope with vulnerabilities of such projects and also the after-effects of a disaster (mental shock).Commenting on the loopholes in the 2021 glacial break disaster, he said that usually in the upstream of any flow, an advanced warning system should be installed to warn of any possible overflow or unusual behavior in the stream which was not the case with the Rishi Ganga flood.Citing the observations of ground level workers and GIS experts, he concluded the fact that the disaster was worsened due to the sudden impact of the falling of rock debris which collected ice along its way and thus forming a sludge (height 1800m) turning it into a catastrophe.He further advised coordination amongst the different agencies and they should avoid overlapping agendas, be it a research institute, government body, policy firm, academicians or individual experts. Such practice will lead to develop clear roles among institutions.Nivedita Khandekar, independent journalist, resented the government defense to the Char Dham project. Only after seven years of Kedarnath tragedy did Uttarakhand get its first Doppler radar which is an essential Early Warning tool, she mentioned. This shows the ineffectiveness, slow action and tardy rate of implementation of measures focusing on disaster mitigation.She recommended two specific actions:Common Alerting Protocol, a centralized system of information and warning dissemination by collecting data from various government bodies and sources, has been on the pipeline for some years with the Government of India and one that needs to be phased out to practice sooner. The information will not just be sent personally to individuals but also broadcasted and communicated in a larger scale like a public place.Highlighting the disruptive livelihoods due to disasters, she says, various techniques like homestay based tourism to avoid foreign and commercial exploitation of land and resources, Processing and marketing of local products, et cetera needs to be done.Hemant Dhyani, convenor, Ganga Ahwan Movement, and member, High Powered Committee of Supreme Court on Chardham project, was saddened that no practical lessons have been learnt from the 2013 deluge. He vouched for accountability for such criminal negligence. His two-step solution build Early Warning Systems at Upper Himalayas and regulate or stop the Hydro-electric power plants at para glacial zones.On the state of dams, he started by saying that the situation could have been much worse if some of the other projects which were cancelled were allowed to run. A dam constructed in a sensitive area will only add to the problem and havoc of probable disasters. He visualize the apathy and the terror that the workers faced due to the mismanagement; he raised the question that why not even a single siren was called on to help the workers get to a higher altitude to save their lives.He requests and appeals to the government to let go of the greed and the unrequired shift from Dham to Dam, the whole catchment area where the Ganga meets its tributaries to be declared as eco-sensitive zones and, a strong regulation against the growing township and urbanization that has led to deforestation, soil degradation and, loss of water quality.In his closing statements by citing the fact that deposition of Black carbon on the glaciers has led to tremendous climate change and an increase in disasters, he raises the question of what does development actually mean? Sustainable approach comes from a sustainable mindset, he said.Dr Anjal Prakash, research director and adjunct associate professor, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, highlighted findings and inference from three studies trying to understand anthropogenic activities effect on the social and physical strata of the region (report published in 2019). The findings include:He further dwelled that masculine development projects have only extracted as much as they can from nature and its elements and thus, more feminity is required in the decision-making process and an acceptable proportion is desirable for women in central roles.Highlighting the best practices from Indias neighbouring countries, Nepal and Bhutan, he said, decision-making process for building dams and other commercial activities in the mountainous regions involve strict monitoring even from the highest governor themselves and assurance to the citizens and the locals that the environmental impact will be at the most minimum.Ranjan Borah, disaster management specialist, Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPPGG), Government of Uttarakhand, recommended micro-level planning of training and building capacity amongst the local communities along with empowering the Panchayat Raj will build a strong resilience. He stated that the government is working on the shift from response oriented action to disaster preparedness. There is need to incorporate people as valuable stakeholder.He spoke of some of the important points in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines to cope with disasters:There is need to receive feedback from all stakeholders, most importantly the communities while exploring any project in the region. Students and community needs to be involved in tracking the local weather along with the designated authority. Train the Glaciologists working in the state and in the region by the locals who are expert in exploring the area around them.Real-time flow of information and the density of observations should be high. There is a need to look forward to newer and equally important technologies like Sensor-based alert system which will give information to the concerned agencies and which then will pass the adequate and necessary information to the public as and when required.India being a signatory of the Sendai Framework should abide by it cover to cover and not deviate from it for shrewd development purposes.--- Systemic fungal infections are much rarer than other illnesses, but they are potentially deadly, with limited options for treatment. In fact, fungi are becoming increasingly resistant to the few drugs that are available, and infections are growing more common. A cover story in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, details how scientists are working to improve our antifungal arsenal. At present, there are only four types of antifungal drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and some infections are resistant to those drugs, making surgery the only option for treatment, writes Senior Correspondent Bethany Halford. Fungi can be found almost everywhere, but only a few hundred species are able to infect humans, and most people's immune systems can fight them off. However, people with compromised immune systems (for instance, cancer patients being treated with certain chemotherapies) are at a higher risk for developing fungal infections. The FDA has not approved a drug from a new antifungal class in 20 years, and the ones available all have downsides, including drug resistance and kidney toxicity. This dearth of treatments has doctors concerned that the problem will only get worse as time goes on. Creating a new antifungal drug is challenging because of the biological similarities between humans and fungi. Many molecules that are harmful to fungi are also harmful to people. Experts say that exploiting the differences between humans and fungi is key to developing new treatments; for example, fungal cells have walls, but human cells do not. In addition to developing new treatments, pharmaceutical researchers are working to improve established antifungal drugs to make them more potent and have fewer side effects. Although scientists and doctors are hopeful that new antifungals will be approved, establishing clinical trials has proven challenging because most of the people who get fungal infections are already very sick. However, the COVID-19 pandemic could change how pharmaceutical companies think about therapies for infectious diseases, prioritizing them in the future. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. MUMBAI: Senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that his party wont contest the upcoming assembly election in West Bengal. The Shiv Sena leader further said that his party stands in solidarity with Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. Shiv Sena has decided not to contest the West Bengal polls and stand in solidarity with Mamata Banerjee, Raut said. Raut took to Twitter and tweeted that at the moment, it appears to be a Didi vs All fight. He added that all Ms money, muscle, and media - are being used against the Mamata Didi. Hence the party has decided to not contest the Bengal assembly polls and support her. Meanwhile, BJP central election committee will meet on Thursday to finalise the partys first list of candidates for the crucial West Bengal assembly election 2021. The CEC meeting will take place at the party headquarter in Delhi around 7 PM and it will be attended by PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, senior BL Santosh and others. CEC will clear the name of the candidates for the polls and will also release the list of the candidates for the West Bengal assembly polls. Ahead of Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address 20 rallies in poll-bound West Bengal, responding to the huge demand of local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of these two states. According to sources, the rallies are planned in such a way that all the 23 districts of West Bengal will be covered in these rallies. BJP functionaries including Kailash Vijayvargiya, national General Secretary, Mukul Roy, national Vice-President, Sanjay Singh, General Secretary and Swapan Dasgupta, MP, Rajya Sabha are looking into the preparations at Brigade Parade Ground, where PM Modi will address a public meeting on March 7 at Brigade Ground, Kolkata. This will be PM Modi's first rally in West Bengal post the announcement of election dates by the Election Commission of India (ECI). West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance, and BJP in the fray. While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is seeking her third consecutive term, BJP has set a target of winning 200 seats in the 294-member state Assembly. Congress and the Left have stitched the alliance for the polls and had already finalised the seat-sharing agreement. They are also in touch with the Indian Secular Front (ISF), recently floated by influential minority leader Abbas Siddique. In the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, out of the 294 seats, Congress had managed to win 44 seats while the Left Front bagged 33 seats. The ruling TMC secured 211 seats and the BJP had won 3 seats. Live TV How clever and subtle a politician Rishi Sunak is! If he hadn't been head boy of Winchester, and married to the daughter of a billionaire, he could perhaps have had a successful career as a master juggler. During his Budget speech yesterday he seemed to have so many balls flying around that I was sure he would sooner or later drop one. He didn't. The more he spoke of fairness and honesty words that peppered his very fluent oration the more I was dazzled by the rapid movements of his mind. On the surface, things were straightforward enough. The Government plans to spend a further 65 billion (to add to the 342 billion already borrowed this tax year) on shoring up jobs and businesses until the pandemic is knocked on the head. During Rishi Sunak's Budget speech he seemed to have so many balls flying around that I was sure he would sooner or later drop one And then but not immediately the nation is going to have to pay for his humongous spending. This is bound to be painful, though the only overt tax increase announced yesterday will be borne by business. In April 2023 corporation tax will soar from 19 to 25 per cent. So far, so clear. But at a deeper level than economics there was a political agenda to which Mr Sunak naturally never alluded. This Budget was about keeping the Tories in power beyond the next election. You may say that similar motivations lie behind every Budget. That is true. But Chancellors are seldom so cunning as Rishi Sunak was yesterday. The question is whether his calculations will bear fruit. The Tories have a problem that must be dealt with. They were catapulted to power in December 2019 because so many 'Red Wall' electors lent (Boris Johnson's word) them their vote. What has been loaned can be taken back. So long as Brexit remained a live issue there was no question of this happening. But now Britain has broken free of the EU's chains, it is thought vital that these ex-Labour voters are kept firmly on the Conservative bandwagon. Many of these people, of course, are among the biggest casualties of the pandemic, though the Government has done its utmost to soften the blow. Now it intends to protect them as best it can during the recovery, and beyond. Responding on the hoof to a Budget speech is always a challenge, but the Labour leader was especially hopeless What would I think of the Budget if I were a Red Wall voter? I think I might be rather happy. I'd be pleased that all alcohol duties and fuel duties are to be frozen for the second consecutive year. Depending on my income, I might be relieved that the 20 increase in Universal Credit payments is to be extended for a further six months. I would be concerned that the personal income tax allowance will be frozen at 12,570 from 2022 until 2026, though I'd reflect that higher rate taxpayers will be worst hit. I also expect I would be reassured by Mr Sunak's announcement that a new Treasury campus is to be built at Darlington in County Durham, and I might also be glad to hear that Leeds in Yorkshire will be the home of a new UK infrastructure bank. All this might persuade me that the Tories are sincere when they say they will no longer act as though England north of Watford doesn't really exist. In a similar vein, I would applaud the announcement that seven of the eight new free low-tax ports will be outside London and the South East. Granted, none of these announcements would cause sane Red Wall voters to dance a jig by way of celebration. But the unspoken message from Rishi Sunak is that he is trying to protect such people from the worst effects of paying off the massive Covid debt. What, by contrast, would I think as a perennial Tory voter living in the countryside or suburbs? I daresay I would be just as happy that fuel and alcohol duty aren't going up. However, I would probably be alarmed by the freezing of the higher income tax threshold at 50,270 for four years from 2022. And it is also likely that I would be troubled that inheritance tax thresholds, pensions relief and the capital gains allowance are all being put on hold for five years until 2026. Such measures might be said to amount to a stealth wealth tax. Benjamin Disraeli famously wrote of 'two nations'. We now have two Tory parties or at any rate two Tory constituencies which were briefly yoked together by Brexit. The underlying purpose of yesterday's Budget was to keep them together by favouring the new Red Wall element over the traditional Conservative one. Agreeable and charming though he is, Rishi Sunak isn't offering a degree of protection to ex-Labour voters because the milk of human kindness is running through his veins. He is doing so for pragmatic reasons. The very privileged Mr Sunak has put himself on the same political wavelength as people much less fortunate than himself The very privileged Mr Sunak who unlike Boris Johnson could easily lay his hands on tens of thousands to refurbish the PM's Downing Street flat, and is the proud owner of a 200 'smart' coffee mug has put himself on the same political wavelength as people much less fortunate than himself. And in this, of course, he is absolutely at one with the Prime Minister, whatever his ambitions may be regarding Mr Johnson's job. This was a Boris Budget every bit as much as a Rishi one. Both men are determined to hang on to those Red Wall voters. Moreover, it is a policy which threatens to shoot Sir Keir Starmer's fox. Responding on the hoof to a Budget speech is always a challenge, but the Labour leader was especially hopeless yesterday, waffling on about how it 'papered over the cracks'. He was ineffectual because Mr Sunak had adopted the measures he would have himself proposed. Will it work? I suppose the calculation is that disgruntled traditional Tory voters (according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the tax burden will soon stand at the highest level in the country's history) are unlikely to run into the arms of Keir Starmer. That is probably true. Nonetheless, politics is not just about politics. To put it another way, a political party which continually puts electoral calculation above consistent principle may run into difficulties. The most worrying aspect of the Budget was the whopping increase in corporation tax to a rate only one per cent less than was proposed, to Tory dismay and cries of ridicule, by the Hard Left Jeremy Corbyn before the 2019 Election. Admittedly, the full 25 per cent rate will only be paid by larger companies. All right, we live in extraordinary times. The old rule book has seemingly been thrown out. People can probably appreciate that once a gruelling pandemic has faded away, as after a war, even a Conservative Chancellor may be forced to raise tax to near- stratospheric levels. But the Tories are supposed to be a low-tax party. They are meant to be pro-enterprise. Those who dream of a dynamic, post-Brexit Singapore-on-Thames will have found little to cheer in Mr Sunak's speech, though free ports and 'super-deduction' (a significant investment incentive for companies) were bright spots. The Boris-Rishi combination act must always listen to the Conservative Party's ancestral voices. Nor should they so strive to appease their Red Wall converts that they end up by hammering their loyal and natural supporters. CANTON, Ohio, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TimkenSteel Corp. (NYSE: TMST), a leader in customized alloy steel products and services, today announced it will increase prices on carbon and quench and temper alloy seamless mechanical tubing (SMT) products by $40 per ton. These increases are effective for all shipments beginning July 5, 2021. All surcharge mechanisms remain in effect. About TimkenSteel Corporation TimkenSteel (NYSE: TMST) manufactures high-performance carbon and alloy steel products in Canton, OH serving demanding applications in automotive, energy and a variety of industrial end markets. The company is a premier U.S. producer of alloy steel bars (up to 16 inches in diameter), seamless mechanical tubing and precision components. In the business of making high-quality steel primarily from recycled materials for more than 100 years, TimkenSteel's proven expertise contributes to the performance of our customers' products. The company employs approximately 2,000 people and had sales of $831 million in 2020. For more information, please visit us at www.timkensteel.com. SOURCE TimkenSteel Corp. Related Links http://www.timkensteel.com Temenos Virtual COO offers open banking-driven data aggregation with real-time insights for SME owners to take control of their business growth, ultimately enabling smarter funding First Explainable AI-driven solution in the market empowers SMEs by providing a Virtual Chief Operating Officer in your pocket a digital advisor for smart decision-making helping SMEs run the business, freeing up time and providing insights to grow With Temenos Virtual COO, financial institutions around the world will be able to empower SMEs with intelligent business banking, and drive growth with funding innovation as business owners navigate the challenges of the pandemic Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announced that it is partnering with Canadian Western Bank (CWB) on a pioneering innovation to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with financial decision-making and growing their businesses. The new solution, Temenos Virtual COO, is built on Temenos Infinity, the leading omnichannel digital banking product, and leverages Temenos Analytics and Explainable AI (XAI), API-first, cloud-native technology. Temenos Virtual COO will offer relevant insights to accelerate the growth of small businesses and put business owners in control of their companies' financial destiny. SME owners will be able to simulate different business scenarios with XAI-driven modeling enabling them to identify the best course of action for their business. The new solution will aggregate financial banking and business data to provide a consolidated real-time view of an SME's financial health, and lighten the administrative burden so that business owners can spend more time on their business. Temenos Virtual COO will enable banks around the world to deliver tailored experiences that help SMEs navigate a complex and constantly changing landscape, and provide an open banking ecosystem for a centralized, next-generation experience. With this innovation, CWB will cement its position as the trusted advisor for SMEs in Canada, and a pioneer in financial services. Temenos Virtual COO emerged from Temenos SME Think Space, an open innovation event of changemakers from across the industry. Temenos brought together SME owners, banks and technology partners in a two-day design sprint and hackathon to generate new ideas on how to solve the biggest challenges for SMEs. During that event, the delegates identified needs that aren't currently being fulfilled by financial institutions a heavy administrative burden and a lack of meaningful insight to support growth. This feedback became the driving force behind the collaboration between Temenos and CWB on Temenos Virtual COO. Following the Temenos SME Think Space event, CWB partnered with Temenos on a 12-week Innovation Proof of Concept for Virtual COO. As part of the design process, Temenos and CWB applied feedback from local small business owners into the prototype, and then validated the results. By applying Design Thinking, agile methodologies, and Lean Startup principles, Temenos and CWB confirmed the potential for Virtual COO to deliver business value to banks and their SME customers. Deloitte Digital will collaborate with Temenos to take Virtual COO to market. CWB is known for the relationship-based client experience it offers Canadian business owners. The bank has been a Temenos customer since 2012 when it began its transformation with Temenos Transact, the next generation in core banking. CWB also selected Temenos to deliver personalized, end-to-end digital experiences with Temenos Data Lake and Temenos Infinity, forming a strategic relationship. Temenos Virtual COO is the next phase of CWB's ongoing commitment to deliver a differentiated digital banking experience that empowers SME owners. Chris Fowler, President and CEO, Canadian Western Bank, commented: "It's important now, more than ever to offer innovative digital solutions that ease the challenges that business owners face as they look to grow and maintain a business, especially during a pandemic. Temenos has been a key strategic partner for us on our digital transformation journey, and we are impressed with their focus and investment in innovation. We are excited to partner with Temenos to bring to market a data and intelligence-driven solution that will offer real-time insights and a holistic view, empowering SMEs to grow." Max Chuard, CEO, Temenos, said: "We are excited to bring this Innovation Proof of Concept to life with CWB. Temenos Virtual COO looks beyond what financial services banks offer to SMEs today, to what they can offer tomorrow. Running Innovation Proof of Concepts like this enables Temenos and clients like CWB to identify new opportunities to lead by example. With this collaboration on Temenos Virtual COO, CWB will take its digital offering to the next level, providing an innovative customer-centric solution tailored to the specific needs of SMEs. We are excited to work with CWB on this initiative, and inspire banks around the world to support their local communities and economies in new and exciting ways." Ends About Temenos Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leader in banking software. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 1.2 billion banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic and AI-driven front office, core banking, payments and fund administration software enabling banks to deliver frictionless, omnichannel customer experiences and gain operational excellence. Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve cost-income ratios of 26.8% half the industry average and returns on equity of 29%, three times the industry average. These clients also invest 51% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is double the industry average, proving the banks' IT investment is adding tangible value to their business. For more information, please visit www.temenos.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005471/en/ Contacts: Jessica Wolfe Scott Rowe Temenos Global Public Relations Tel: +1 610 232 2793 +44 20 7423 3857 Email: press@temenos.com Alistair Kellie Andrew Adie Newgate Communications on behalf of Temenos Tel: +44 20 7680 6550 Email: allnewgatetemenos@newgatecomms.com "Fidelity Bank has long term strategic plans to transform into a digital bank and tap into the tech-savvy millennial market segment, among others, with the help of a unified onboarding platform. Newgen's online self-service account opening solution is very easy to use and it has enabled us to expand our reach, digitally, beyond our banking halls," said Edward Opare-Donkor, Deputy Managing Director (Operations and Support Functions) at Fidelity Bank. "Our post-implementation assessment indicates that we were able to reach 50% more customers, we reduced turnaround time from 4 days to as low as 15 minutes and we reduced customer waiting time by 75%," he further added. "This award is a testament to Newgen's consistent efforts to provide the best-in-class banking solutions to our customers. We understand Fidelity Bank's vision and will continue to help them achieve their business goals through our technical expertise and culture of innovation," said Diwakar Nigam, MD and Chairman, Newgen Software. The awards ceremony was held virtually on November 5, 2020. About Fidelity Bank Ghana In a little over a decade, Fidelity Bank Ghana has grown from a discount house to a Tier One Bank and is now the largest privately-owned Ghanaian Bank. The bank currently serves its customers in 75 branches across Ghana and is a leader in the digital banking revolution. Fidelity Bank also revolutionized the agency banking space in Ghana with over 4,000 Agents across the country and is the undisputed champion of inclusive banking in the country. The bank has two subsidiaries, Fidelity Asia Bank Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary in Malaysia and Fidelity Securities Limited. In a short period of time, Fidelity Bank has become a household name in Ghana by adopting a customer-centric culture and delivering consistently on the promise of making a difference in the lives of all stakeholders. The Fidelity Bank brand has an infinitely positive outlook on life and the brand's tagline of "Believe with Us" speaks to this. The bank believes that if all stakeholders come together, nothing can stand in the way of progress because "Together, We're More". For more details, visit: Website: www.fidelitybank.com.gh Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @fidelitybankgh LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fidelity-bank-ghana-b32505139 About Newgen Software Technologies Limited Newgen is a leading provider of low code digital automation platform. Globally, successful financial institutions, insurance, government, and shared services organizations rely on Newgen's industry-recognized products and applicationsto manage their processes (BPM), content (ECM), and communications (CCM)for connected operations. From customer onboarding to service requests, from loans and deposits to underwriting, and many more, Newgen's industry applications transform business-critical operations with agility. Newgen's cloud-based platform enables digital transformation initiatives for superior customer experience, optimized costs, and improved efficiencies. For more details, visit www.newgensoft.com Media Contact: Asif Khan asif.khan@newgensoft.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/676258/Newgen_Logo.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449669/Fidelity_Bank_Logo.jpg SOURCE Newgen Software Technologies Limited 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. HOLTVILLE, Calif. A deadly crash near the Mexico border here that killed 13 suspected illegal migrants should shine a spotlight on America's border problems and how reform is badly needed, local leaders said Thursday. Eight people remained hospitalized and a teen was unconscious Thursday after an SUV carrying 25 migrants from Mexico and Guatemala collided with a semitruck near the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this week, killing at least 13 and critically injuring many others. Border Patrol officials said all the victims of the crash are suspected to have entered the country illegally, and the agency was investigating potential ties to human smuggling. The deadly collision occurred early Tuesday in Southern California just 10 miles north of the border, where two vehicles entered the U.S. through a 10-foot hole in the fence, Customs and Border Protection said. The driver of the 1997 Ford Expedition, which was carrying 25 passengers with its rear seats removed, was from Mexicali, Mexico, California Highway Patrol said. The other SUV that crossed the border, a Chevrolet Suburban that was carrying 19 people, caught fire after entering the U.S., but all passengers were able to escape before they were taken into Border Patrol custody. Read more: The crash explained visually | Leer en espanol The tragedy has brought calls by some for a more thorough look at the humanitarian crisis at the border. Cheryl Viegas-Walker, mayor of El Centro and city council member of more than two decades, said she has never seen or heard of an accident of this magnitude in the area. It was a horrific accident in its magnitude and impacts on the victims and their families, Viegas-Walker said. Its going to take time for all of us just to digest the tremendous loss of life within our community. Viegas-Walker said residents are waiting to learn more about the circumstances of the accident. She said the U.S. should encourage a more holistic and rational approach to immigration and foreign aid. Story continues In a statement, Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, whose 56th Assembly District includes Holtville, offered condolences for the victims and stressed "comprehensive immigration reform" is necessary to prevent the dangers people face while crossing the border. "Our broken immigration system is a humanitarian, public and economic crisis impacting communities on both sides of the border," he said. "Tragedies like this place wider public attention on the dark realities of our immigration struggle in the United States and the danger immigrant families face for a chance at a better life." Investigators look over the scene of a crash between an SUV and a semi-truck full of gravel near Holtville, California on March 2, 2021. Here's what we know: Who was killed and injured in the crash? The ages of the passengers in the Expedition ranged from 15 to 53. No children were killed, police said. At least 10 of the 13 people killed in the crash were Mexican nationals, the Mexican Consulate in Calexico said. Three were from the state of Oaxaca, three from Michoacan, and one each from the states of Baja California, Guerrero, Morelos and Nayarit. The Consulate said Thursday it had contacted the families of all the Mexican nationals killed. At least three people from Guatemala were also in the crash, according to Tekandi Paniagua, the Guatemalan Consul in Los Angeles. A 23-year-old woman from Guatemala died in the crash, and her mother, 46, was injured and released from the hospital Thursday, Paniagua said. The third person is a 22-year-old woman who remains hospitalized in stable condition. Paniagua said the consulate contacted the family members of the 23-year-old woman killed in the crash who live in New York and in Guatemala. Five of the people injured in the crash were in San Diego area hospitals Thursday, including two Mexican adults in stable condition, with fractures, and a male minor from Mexico who was intubated, the Consulate said. Three other migrants, including two adults from Mexico and a minor, were hospitalized in Palm Springs. The two Mexican adults also had fractures but were in stable condition, and one tested positive for COVID-19, the consulate said. The female minor was unconscious, and the consulate said they have been unable to determine her identity or nationality. Mario Beltran Mainero, press officer for the Mexican Consulate in Calexico, said at least one of the six families they located is in San Diego; the remaining families are in Mexico. Four Mexican nationals injured in the crash were released from the hospital in El Centro on Tuesday, but they were not in federal custody, he added. One man, Tony Hernandez, told Univision his relatives from Michoacan, 25 and 32, died in the crash. He said they were on their way to Los Angeles. "I already talked to my relatives. They are devastated," Hernandez said. Paniagua, the Guatemalan Consul in Los Angeles, said that in addition to the one woman killed and the two injured, there were between eight to 10 people whose identities had not been confirmed yet. He said it was almost certain that some of the other migrants killed or injured in the crash are also from Guatemala. "Since yesterday, weve been receiving and establishing an intra-consular coordination among our sister consulates in New York, in Dallas and in Houston because several family members had reported their suspicions that their relatives were on board that truck," Paniagua said Wednesday. The semitruck driver, Joe Beltran, 68, of El Centro, was also taken to the hospital with "major injuries," the preliminary crash report said. What do authorities know about possible ties to human smuggling? Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that 44 people entered the U.S. between the SUVs. Two cars were seen on surveillance video leaving the area of the fence hole around 6 a.m. PT Tuesday, according to the agency. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents reported a 10-foot breach in the International Boundary Fence between Mexico and the United States on March 2, 2021. The Suburban traveled 30 miles to the intersection of Interstate 8 and State Route 115 before it caught fire, the agency said. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. The Expedition was only 10 miles from the border when the big rig struck the side of the vehicle at State Route 115 and Norrish Road near Holtville, California, said Omar Watson, Highway Patrol Division chief. "At no point" did Border Patrol "attempt to stop or pursue either vehicle," the agency said. The opening in the fence was about 30 miles east of the crash in the heart of Californias Imperial Valley, a major farming region. The area has long been a significant route for illegal border crossings. "We pray for the accident victims and their families during this difficult time," Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrols El Centro sector chief, said in a statement Wednesday. "Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life. Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with." According to information provided by family members to the Guatemalan consulate, some of the migrants involved in the crash had left Guatemala on Feb. 2 on their way to the U.S., Paniagua said. They made their way to Mexicali, where they were kept inside a home for eight days, before smugglers transported them across the U.S.-Mexico border, he added. Paniagua cast some of the blame for Tuesday's crash on misinformation circulating among migrants, and also coming from smugglers, about the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. "They have to know that the border remains just as guarded as it has always been. I think there has been some bad messaging, and that has stimulated in certain ways the migration flows in the last few days," he said. "There are some policy changes, but they are so small that they dont really benefit in any way these migrants, who may have received a message that is very different from what is really happening." A USA TODAY NETWORK special report | Win: A 2,000-mile search for answers He feared a possible increase in similar incidents in the future and said that the consulate in Los Angeles would be paying close attention should California emerge as an alternate migration route to south Texas. That remains the principal crossing point along the U.S.-Mexico border for migrants from Guatemala and Central America, including large numbers of accompanied and unaccompanied minors. What to know about the El Centro Sector Tuesdays breach in the border fence, prior to the deadly crash, occurred in an area with older fencing built after 2007. It was made of steel bollards that were built before former President Donald Trump blanketed much of the border with taller barriers that go deeper into the ground. While apprehensions have decreased in El Centro in recent months, the number of migrants that border agents have encountered along the entire U.S.-Mexico border is up. In January, agents apprehended more than 75,000 migrants, the highest numbers since the 2019 surge in migrant families overwhelmed border officials. In the early 2000s, the El Centro Sector, which covers most of Imperial Countys border with Mexico, was among the busiest smuggling routes along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Border Patrol statistics. But apprehensions began to decrease significantly after 2007, when the U.S. government installed border fence upgrades along the region. The number of migrant apprehensions remained steady since then. They bottomed out after Trump took office in 2017. But they climbed steadily once again, and peaked in October 2020, despite restrictions at the border over the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump administration installed more than 20 miles of 30-foot bollard fencing in the El Centro Sector, including the first sections of new barriers completed under his term. Another 11 miles of fencing are under contract, and 13 miles of secondary barriers are in the pre-construction phase, according to CBP. But it remains unclear if those sections will get built, since President Joe Biden has pledged to stop border wall construction. The area is also a large commuter stretch for thousands of farmworkers who legally cross the border each day. Imperial Valley, which provides much of the lettuce, onions, broccoli and winter vegetables to U.S. supermarkets, is wrapping up its winter harvest. Many workers commute daily from Mexico during the harvest, taking buses and SUVs to the fields from downtown Calexico just before dawn. Contributing: Kate Cimini, Emily LeCoz, Christal Hayes, USA TODAY; The Associated Press; Colin Atagi, (Palm Springs) Desert Sun; Javier Arce, La Voz Arizona Crosses are seen near the scene of a crash between an SUV and a semi-truck full of gravel near Holtville, California on March 2, 2021. 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Tucker Hill employs licensed, bonded and insured technicians are available 24/7 and are highly trained, background checked and experienced. Tucker Hill specializes in residential and commercial maintenance, repairs, and installation for all of your air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical systems. Tucker Hill is committed to industry leading customer service with daily training for both technicians and office staff. Tucker Hill Air, Plumbing & Electric protects and serves the seniors in all the areas it services. Chennai, March 4 : The AIADMK leadership is skeptical about the sudden decision of V.K. Sasikala to quit from active politics. A senior AIADMK leader on conditions of anonymity told IANS said, "Sasikala had come with a bang and the vehicle cavalcade from Bangaluru to Chennai was proof on how seriously she wanted to be in politics. The sudden decision to quit active politics defies logic and I am sure that something is up the sleeve." Sasikala and her nephew T.T.V. Dinakaran was actively involved in the political process and had even been speaking with sitting AIADMK legislators and trying to split the party. The sudden decision seems to be prompted by the fact that if the AIADMK votes split owing to her presence and if the front loses power, it may not go down well with the BJP central leadership. This theory is being circulated among the political circles of Chennai regarding her sudden decision as Sasikala has several economic offenses cases pending against her. BJP state president L. Murugan had welcomed the decision of Sasikala immediately after her press release and said that Sasikala had done a great disfavour to those who were trying to grab power by creating political confusion. This is seen as the thought process within the BJP and that the party does not want the AIADMK-led front of which it is a part, to lose power in the state. However, there is a section who are of the opinion that Sasikala's nephew Dhinakaran's political outfit, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam( AMMK) will contest in maximum number of seats in the strongholds of the Thevar community and try and win these seats. This would lead to the party turning as a power centre and a pressure group and the AIADMK may require its support to gain power. Sources say that this was not to the liking of the BJP even though it was in favour of Sasikala and her group aligning with the AIADMK which, however, was not accepted by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam. The RSS ideologue and noted Chartered Accountant S.Gurumurthy has been trying to rope in Sasikala faction with the AIADMK but the adamant stand taken by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister has led to the failure of that mission. Sasikala had called it a day from politics owing to pressure from the BJP following the AIADMK's political positioning. However, observers are of the opinion that she may bounce back once the situation changes and the BJP leadership has assured her of that support for her present silence. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text This is an opinion column. I often disagree with Gov. Kay Iveys decisions, but she makes her own decisions. She wont be bullied by folks who really just want her job. And today Alabama is better off for it. On Thursday, Ivey resisted a push from within her own party to drop a statewide mask ordinance. Instead, she said she would keep the mask ordinance in place for five more weeks, only. She also relaxed some restrictions for restaurants. There are good reasons to keep the mask mandate in place, both practically and politically. First, and most important, masks are an effective tool for keeping the coronavirus under control until enough folks have immunity through vaccinations or exposures to the virus. One recent projection by a UAB epidemiologist forecasts Alabama could reach herd immunity as early as May. As Ivey said this week, the end seems to be in sight. Folks, were not there yet, but goodness knows were getting closer, she said. Second, a statewide mask mandate benefits businesses by letting the government be the bad guy. Instead of having to tell customers no masks, no service, proprietors can say, Im sorry, but its the law. No matter what anyone says, the customers are not always right. Third, mask-wearing polls well, even among Republicans. Throughout the pandemic, polls have consistently shown the public thinks getting the virus under control should be the priority. It even polls ahead of the economy something that typically happens only in wartime. Finally, the mandate sends an important message. As Ivey herself has said, the mandate is not easily enforceable. Instead, its a signal to Alabamians to be cautious. If she were to lift it now, she would be telling Alabamians its OK to relax when its not. Not everybody is on board with that message. A day before Ivey made her announcement, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth called for Ivey to end her Big Brother-style government mandate looming over us. The Senate also passed a resolution asking Ivey to end the order. Throughout the pandemic, Ainsworth has been all over the board regarding the states coronavirus response, but in one regard, hes been consistent whichever side of an issue Ivey has been on, Ainsworth has been on the other. Its not hard to figure out why. Late last month, after Richard Shelby announced he wouldnt seek another term in the United States Senate, Ainsworth said publicly he wouldnt be seeking that seat. In a post on his Facebook page, he said that hed given it some thought, but he wouldnt be running. He hasnt said any such thing about the governors office, even though both seats will be up for election at the same time. When asked about officials calling for her to end the mandate, Ivey said they must not have seen the same data she had, and she didnt give it any further comment. Like I said, I often disagree with Ivey, and this was one of those times. She should have let Ainsworth have it. Instead, she was nice. For now. That was her decision, too. If Id been Ivey, Id have dared him to say what hes really up to. If Ainsworth would like to run for governor, hes welcome to do so. But if thats his intention, he needs to say so. Rather than throwing rocks at Ivey and hiding his hand, he needs to be a grown-up and own it. He needs to walk down to the capitol steps and announce his candidacy. He needs to be clear with the people about what hes really doing and why. Put his family money where his mouth is or let the governor be governor. 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 Alabama doesnt have a gambling problem. Its worse than that. Tuscaloosa named street for slain officer. Lawmaker wants to rename it for Nick Saban. The Medicaid Civil War is over. Quit fighting, Kay Ivey. Just keep talking, Tommy Tuberville Richard Shelby, Mo Brooks and the death of Alabama pork politics Alabama lawmaker has a health care plan for lawmakers, not you Alabama prison plan went from $900 million to $3.7 billion. How? Thats still a secret. What have you done now, Tommy Tuberville? Heres the scariest thing about Mo Brooks Want healing, Kay Ivey? Repeal the monuments law. Alabamas Three Stooges. And Shemp. Alabama owes Richard Shelby a big thank you. Doug Jones, too. LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Celebrate Cinespia's return -- to the drive-in. Watch animators show off their short stuff. Meet Oscar Quintero and his alter-ego Kay Sedia. Compete in Outfest's virtual trivia night. Stay home and read a book for a good cause. And check out tons of Restaurant Week dining deals in both Orange County and Los Angeles. Friday, March 5 - Saturday, March 6 Cinespia Drive-In at The Greek Theatre 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Griffith Park Catch a drive-in movie screening at the Greek. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure screens on Friday night. On Saturday, Crossroads (yes, the Britney Spears film) screens as the early show and Men in Black screens later that night. There's a limit of four people in each car and occupants must be from the same household. Bring your own food and drink, no alcohol permitted. Masks must be worn if exiting the vehicle for restroom use. COST: $45; MORE INFO Friday, March 5 - Sunday, March 7 Titmouse 5-Second Animation Night 2021 Now in its eighth year with the American Cinematheque, this event gives Titmouse Studio animators a chance to showcase their short-format cartoons. The night also includes screenings of rare films from the studio, which is known for its work on The Venture Bros., Metalocalypse, Superjail! and Big Mouth. Founder Chris Prynoski introduces the program, which will be available to watch only through the weekend. COST: $5; MORE INFO LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes' Friday happy hour features Oscar Quintero who also performs as Kay Sedia. (Courtesy of the artist) Friday, March 5; 7 p.m. PT Dan Guerrero Happy Hour with Oscar Quintero/Kay Sedia LA Plaza's virtual happy hour series continues with performer Quintero joining host Dan Guerrero for a tell-all about his career. Quintero's alter-ego, Kay Sedia, star of Chico's Angels, also gets a turn in the hot seat. Register to view on Zoom or watch on Facebook. COST: FREE; MORE INFO Behind the scenes with Aaron Sorkin, writer-director of 'The Trial of the Chicago 7.' (Nico Tavenise/Netflix) Friday, March 5; 6 p.m. PT Tribute to Aaron Sorkin with Retrospective Q&A Writer-director Sorkin, the mind behind The West Wing, The Newsroom and the new film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, sits down for a Zoom conversation and Q&A about his work. The American Cinematheque will send the link on the day of the event. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO Friday, March 5 - Saturday, March 6 Da 5 Bloods Hollywood Legion Theater Drive-In 2035 North Highland Ave., Hollywood Director Spike Lee's critically acclaimed Vietnam war drama plays for two nights at the drive-in, marking the first time the movie has been theatrically presented in Los Angeles. The film stars Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Jonathan Majors and Chadwick Boseman. Tickets include candy, soda and unlimited popcorn for all guests. COST: Tickets start at $65 per carload; MORE INFO The LA Phil opens the second season of its 'Sound/Stage' series with the online release of the first episode on Friday. (Courtesy of the LA Phil) Friday, March 5 - Friday, June 25 L.A. Phil: Sound/Stage The L.A. Phil presents the second season of its online concert and conversation series. Gustavo Dudamel hosts. Look for artist, activist and actor Common, gospel duo Mary Mary, opera star Nadine Sierra, musician Carlos Vives, and pianists Yuja Wang and David Fung. The first episode, "Carnival of the Animals," launches this week with animations from around the world and special co-host Martin Dudamel, the maestro's 9-year-old son. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO CaltechLive! presents an on-demand presentation of Herbert Siguenza's 'A Weekend with Pablo Picasso.' (Daren Scott) Saturday, March 6 - Sunday, April 4 Herbert Siguenza's A Weekend with Pablo Picasso CaltechLive! presents an on-demand film adaptation of a solo show written and performed by Siguenza. He draws and paints in real time during the performance, taking the audience back to 1957 to spend three days with Picasso inside his private studio on the southern coast of France. Siguenza assembled the script from Picasso's writings. This weekend, attend two free live talk-backs with Siguenza on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m., PT. COST: $35; MORE INFO A grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) emerges from the waters of the Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, Baja California Sur state, Mexico. (OMAR TORRES/AFP via Getty Images) Saturday, March 6 - Sunday, March 7 50th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales Dana Point Harbor 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point During whale-watching season, California gray whales make a 10,000+ mile round-trip along the California coast. Dana Point offers several safe, physically distanced activities for its annual festival -- fishing clinics for kids, an art show, virtual tours and marine mammal lectures. COST: Varies; MORE INFO Saturdays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27; 7 p.m. PT Sister Groundling: Online Improv Show The Groundlings hosts several performances to celebrate Women's History Month, including a weekly show by the women of the Main Company. Directed Deanna Oliver, the rotating cast includes Lauren Burns (This Is Us), Samantha DeSurra (Yeoja), Allison Dunbar (Yellowstone), Patty Guggenheim (Florida Girls), Lyric Lewis (A.P. Bio), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Emily Pendergast (Veep), Jessica Pohly (S.W.A.T.), Ariane Price (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), Annie Sertich (Silicon Valley) and Lisa Schurga (Dead to Me). Each show features an audience "Cocktails and Questions" session with the cast. COST: $12; MORE INFO CAP UCLA presents an online program 'Maestro de Barra,' with dancer Israel Galvan. (Jean-Louis Duzert) Saturday, March 6; 7 p.m. PST Israel Galvan's Maestro de Barra CAP UCLA commissioned flamenco artist Galvan to servir el baile (serve the dance) and explore different spaces for dancing during the past year's lockdown. In this work, he uses public spaces and natural sounds to provide the setting and score for dance. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO Saturday, March 6; 5 p.m. Sacred Sites Audio Theater: Launch Event Join 18th Street Arts Center's artist in residence, Susan Suntree, as she launches an audio theater project based on her book, Sacred Sites: The Secret History of Southern California. Steeped in both science and mythology, the event includes an "audio-visual portrait" of the Los Angeles River and the Ballona Wetlands read by Suntree. It also features an audio clip from Book Two (Indigenous Myths and Songs) read by Native American actor Kalani Queypo (Blackfeet, Native Hawaiian). A Q&A and discussion follows. The event streams on Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube Live. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO Thinkspace Projects opens two solo shows in its galleries including Ken Nwadiogbu's 'UBUNTU, I Am Because We Are.' ('You Messed with the Wrong Generation,' courtesy of the artist) Saturday, March 6 - Saturday, March 27 Ken Nwadiogbu and Fumi Nakamura Art Openings Thinkspace Projects 4217 W. Jefferson Blvd., Culver City Thinkspace presents two new solo exhibitions. Gallery One features 20 new hyperrealist works by Nigerian-born artist Fumi Nwadiogbu in UBUNTU, I Am Because We Are, his first U.S. solo exhibition. Ken Nakamura's Look Towards the Future, But Not So Far As To Miss Today features a new body of work by the artist in Gallery Two. The exhibitions are available to view via appointment. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO Saturday, March 6; 12 p.m. PT French Sisterhood - The Evolution of French Feminism Coucou French Classes, a cultural center and language school that opened in Silver Lake in 2019, offers a workshop that examines the impact of French and American culture on feminist movements. The discussion explores Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex and looks at actor Adele Haenel's protest of Roman Polanski's win at the 2020 Cesar ceremony. COST: $45; MORE INFO A woman wearing a 9501+ mask. (Chava Sanchez/Laist) Sunday, March 7; 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. PST 3rd Annual Westside Safety and Preparedness Fair This virtual fair offers Angelenos a chance to learn how to prepare for and survive major disasters. There are five simultaneous live streams featuring three keynote speakers and 12 presentations about safety and preparedness, including sessions for children. Topics include COVID-19, viruses, earthquakes, first aid for pets and "hands-only" CPR. Pre-registration required. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO Sunday, March 7; 11 a.m. PST Doyin Richards: Watch Me: A Story of Immigration and Inspiration Village Well bookstore in Culver City hosts a virtual reading of the new picture book by the anti-racism author and activist. With illustrations by Joe Cepeda, the book tells the story of the author's father who came to America from Africa as a child. A Q&A with the author follows. Signed copies of the book are available for purchase at Village Well. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO Sunday, March 7; 5 p.m. PT Virtual Trivia Night Outfest holds a five-round, pub-style trivia game on Zoom that tests knowledge of LGBTQIA+ film and TV. Outfest's Mike Dougherty hosts with special guests. Slots are limited for teams (of no more than four people). Play to earn prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. COST: $5 - $10 suggested donation; MORE INFO Skylight Books presents a book launch for Annabelle Gurwitch, who'll be in conversation with Andie MacDowell. (Courtesy of Dynasty Typewriter) Sunday, March 7; 6 p.m. PT Annabelle Gurwitch in Conversation with Andie MacDowell Skylight Books and Dynasty Typewriter team up for the book launch of actress, activist and author Gurwitch's You're Leaving When? The collection of essays focuses on her home-sharing -- in which she welcomes a housing-insecure young couple and a bunny rabbit into her home. She also relearns to parent as a mother to a college student in recovery who sheds the binary pronouns. Gurwich's stories focus on resilience, adaptability and the kindness of strangers. She'll talk with actress MacDowell. COST: $5 - $54.20; MORE INFO Sunday, March 7 The Stay Home and Read a Book Ball The Library Foundation of Los Angeles holds the 33rd edition of its "nonevent" that asks guests to stay home, read a book and have a ball any way they see fit. Join chair Claudia Rankine and honorary chairs Misty Copeland, Valeria Luiselli, Michelle Tea and Charles Yu in raising funds for the LAPL's free virtual programming, which has expanded during the pandemic. COST: By donation; MORE INFO Eddie Murphy stars as King Akeem in 'Coming 2 America,' the long-awaited sequel to his 1988 comedy, 'Coming to America.' (Quantrell D. Colbert/Amazon Studios) Streaming Pick Coming 2 America All hail King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) as he leaves Zamunda with his trusted aide, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), and returns to Queens, New York, in search of his long lost son. They return to Zamunda to prepare the new heir but his three daughters, wife and archrival might have something to say about that. The plot is secondary. We're just excited to see Murphy, Hall, Shari Headley and James Earl Jones reunite then team up with Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne and Wesley Snipes. The sequel to the hugely popular Coming to America (1988) debuts on Friday, March 5 on Amazon Prime Video. Towsley Canyon on April 28, 2014. (Juan Bendana/Flickr Creative Commons) Outdoor Pick Towsley Canyon 24335 The Old Road, Newhall The weather's getting nicer, and we're all sick of being cooped up inside. If you want to get out of the house, Towsley Canyon is our pick of the week. Head north on the I-5 to Santa Clarita's Towsley Canyon (20 minutes from Hollywood on good traffic days). The 2-mile and 5-mile loops are both challenging calf-burners with great views. Other trails are also available to explore. Poppy & Seed in Anaheim's Packing District is now open to diners for a sneak peek. A limited menu is available for takeout and delivery. (Max Milla) Dine & Drink Deals Who doesn't miss going out to eat or stopping by a bar for a drink? Here are a few options from restaurants and bars as we work our way back toward normal. Orange County Restaurant Week starts this Sunday, March 7 and runs through Saturday, March 13. Sample OC's restaurants with crafted menus, family meals, to-go cocktails and wine specials. Participating deals include a $25 mai tai and burger special from Billy's at the Beach in Newport Beach and fried chicken family meals from the Crack Shack in Costa Mesa. For a fancy, old school treat with a view, the Summit House is offering a $50 prix fixe dinner. Plan your itinerary and check out the more than 100 participating restaurants. Don't forget L.A.'s restaurant week, which continues through March 14. It's a perfect time to try chef David Myers' famed burger with a side of housemade truffle chips ($15) at Adrift Burger Bar in Venice. If you've wanted to try Sushi Tsujita but didn't have the dough, the lauded Sawtelle restaurant has a $35 dinner deal that includes soup, chawan mushi and eight pieces of omakase sushi. Mama D's African Cuisine is now open on Soto St. in Boyle Heights (h/t L.A. Taco), specializing in the food and pastries of Cameroon. Dorothy Wanki and her daughter Claudia Bih Wanki-Flinn serve African meat pies, puff puff (beignets), ndole (peanut butter vegetable stew with meat or shrimp) and a Classic African Lunch (white rice and tomato stew or peanut soup). Tiago Coffee and Kitchen (at Hollywood and La Brea) collaborated with Guerrilla Tacos to revamp the coffee shop's menu. New this week are the Bimbibomb Bowl (short rib, brown rice, jammy egg) and the Chori Pan (Argentinian sausage). Michael and Kwini Reed of DTLA's beloved brunch spot Poppy & Rose have opened their latest venture -- Poppy & Seed -- in Anaheim's Packing District. Situated in a greenhouse, the restaurant focuses on local ingredients and microgreens. While it gears up for a full opening in April, it's open for a limited sneak peek through March 6 then again March 10 -14 for takeout and delivery. Its limited menu currently includes housemade cacio e pepe, roasted sea bass and a fried chicken sandwich. The Tasting Kitchen in Venice has reopened for outdoor dinner service from Wednesdays through Sundays (no takeout or delivery). Executive Chef Travis Passerotti's menu focuses on handmade pastas, charcuteries and veggies. Dinner highlights include spaghetti with lobster ragu ($35), mussels and fries ($25) and tagliata aka Italian sliced steak (8oz, $38). All Season Brewing Company has opened in the historic 1938 Firestone tire shop at 800 S. La Brea Ave. in the Mid-Wilshire neighborhood. They brew beers on-site and they have a full bar with a dozen classic cocktails including the Rickey, Sazerac and Penicillin. Nosh on tacos, burritos, nachos and plant-based offerings from Chica's Tacos. Niki Nakayama, chef-owner of n/naka in Palms, has joined MasterClass to teach modern Japanese cooking. She'll share her take on incorporating fresh California ingredients with the traditional culinary artform of kaiseki. Nakayama is joined in teaching the class by her sous chef and real-life partner, Carole Iida-Nakayama. The MasterClass platform costs $15/month, billed annually at $180. WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. After Katherine Angel, a British academic, published a book about desire, Unmastered, in 2012, she noticed how often other women told her she was brave for doing so. An aphoristic meditation on erotic longing, Unmastered included much of Angels own experience, and she knew what they meant. Writing publicly about my sexuality, she observes in her intriguing, philosophical new book, Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again: Women and Desire in the Age of Consent, could, until the day I die, be used as evidence against me. In rape trials, for example, the victims expressed interest in sex at some past date has often been used to argue that she must always be available for it. If, Angel writes, I ever have to accuse a man of assault, my exploration of my sexuality on the page could bring me harmcould let a man off the hook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox three times a week. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. To Angel, this reality seems at loggerheads with what she calls consent culturethe widespread rhetoric asserting that consent is the locus for transforming the ills of our sexual culture. Consent culture originated in 1990, with Antioch Colleges famous affirmative consent policy, which dictated that members of the campus community obtain verbal consent before initiating each level of sexual activity. At the time, Antioch was ridiculed for the policy, but it has increasingly become a model in college communities. In Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again, Angel argues that consent culture, and the assertion of female desire it demands, is not the panacea that its most energetic proponents proclaim it to be. Its not just that exhortations to sexual frankness clash with womens uneasy awareness that they could later be punished for speaking openly of their desires. Angel also believes that those desires are poorly served by a campaign designed to stem sexual abusethat women are being urged to experience their sexuality in a way that lessens their pleasure, freedom, and intimacy. Advertisement Angel does agree that consent is the bare minimum to achieving all our emancipatory desires. What she objects to is consent rhetoric, a self-help-like insistence that women be able to understand and fully articulate their desires to a partner from the outset of every sexual encounter. (Because Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again is primarily about the effects of power imbalances and rigid gender norms on how we think about sex and violence, it mostly deals with relations between cis men and women.) One book she quotes argues that if you cant admit to yourself what you want and dont want when it comes to sex, youre in no condition to share that information with anyone else, a seemingly uncontroversial statement that gets Angels back up. The purpose of such advice is to foreclose the kind of misunderstanding that often leads to bad sex as well as to murky situations in which two parties walk away from a sexual encounter with very different beliefs about how consensual it was. But sometimes, Angel argues, you dont know what you want, and having sex is a process of discovery. Why should women feel obliged to arrive in bed armed with a fully developed sexual profile in order to feel safe from being forced? Advertisement Advertisement Paradoxically, both the champions of consent culture and its criticswho complain that such rules and regulations treat women like fragile children who can be traumatized by a night of crummy sextout the role model of an idealized, gutsy woman who knows what she wants and can shout it from the rooftops. This reminds Angel of the confidence culture feminism of figures like Sheryl Sandberg, whose Lean In has been widely criticized for implying that much of the gender-based power imbalance in the workplace can be solved by women being more assertive about and committed to their own ambitions. Angel insists that both the advocates for and dissenters on this emerging standard of consent are the products of a form of post-feminism in which weakness or insecurity must be avoided at all costs; where self-expression and poses of sassy confidence are imperative, and where individual self-work will ward off sexual violence. Advertisement Good sex involves improvisation and surprise and ever-shifting contexts. Angel is bending each sides argument to nearly the breaking point here. Nobody actually believes that sassy self-assertion is enough to shield a woman from a determined rapist. Proponents of affirmative consentwhich dictates that each partner must explicitly (or in some cases enthusiastically) agree to each element of a sexual encountersee themselves as helping to avoid miscommunications that leave one partner feeling violated, not as preventing the deliberate use of force. Objectors to new campus sexual assault policies, like Laura Kipnis, are far more concerned with how fairly institutions handle alleged transgressors than they are with the rise of consent protocols. Nevertheless, Angel does have a point when she complains that consent culture is a sexual ethics shaped by the threat of violation because its primary purpose, what it was designed to do, is to prevent assault. Why, she asks, should women be expected to organize their entire sexuality around protecting themselves from mens aggression? Advertisement Advertisement Good sex involves improvisation and surprise and ever-shifting contexts, Angel points out persuasively, which cant be done justice by an ideal that privileges a robust self-knowledge about desire, and a capacity for vocal expression of it. The notion that what we desire can be a fixed, known quantity, formulated inside ourselves and brought forth complete into the world when a potential partner shows up strikes her as misguided. Its delusional, she maintains, to believe that we have a sexuality that can be discovered separately from interaction with others. We might embrace an opportunity in a particular time or place and with a particular person that wed otherwise reject. In Claire Denis 2002 film Vendredi Soir, a young woman about to move in with her boyfriend has a one-night stand with a stranger. Her desire for this man, Angel writes of the film, or for anonymous sex, does not live inside her, waiting to be fished out. It emerges, in the hinge moment that is her last night of living alone, the transition to a more coupled life. Advertisement If good sex should be a conversation, isnt that exactly what asking someone for their consent initiates? Angel elaborates: We need to be vulnerableto take risks, to be open to the unknownif we are to experience joy and transformation. Thats the bind: pleasure involves risk, and that can never be foreclosed or avoided. But, she says, women are being urged to formulate a prefab menu of desires as a way to fortify themselves against the risk of coercion, donning a verbal coat of armor that will prevent them from ever becoming fully naked. Rigidity like this is what Angel most objects to, and although she mentions it only briefly, the infamous story published on Babe.net about a pseudonymous womans spectacularly terrible date with comic Aziz Ansari presents an excellent example of how anti-erotic it can be when each partner sticks to a preexisting script. In that case, his was a porn scenario and hers an indie rom-com. Advertisement Advertisement Angel has a point: A lot of bad sex and possibly all sexual assault result from one or more parties trying to impose acts and their meanings onto someone without concern for that persons feelings or desires. Rape is a solipsistic one-man show intended to turn its victim into a thing. Why then emulate what seems like the failed masculine practice of entering into sex with a to-do list devised alone and beforehand, a set of desires and preferences that apply regardless of partner? Except that Angel hasnt really convinced me that consent culture does this. It doesnt, for example, always insist that women map out their preferences beforehand. The Antioch policy allows for couples to negotiate throughout sex, deciding on the fly whether both of them are game to try this or that. This seems to allow for what Angel claims consent culture denies: that you might start out thinking you do or dont want to do something, but change your mind along the way. Good sex should be, as Angel writes, a conversation, and isnt that exactly what asking someone for their consent initiates? Advertisement And after all, wouldnt observing affirmative consent protocols have rescued Ansari and Grace from an experience that hurt her and embarrassed him? His desire, baldly stated, amounted to I want you to perform raunchy, commitment-free sex with me to prove what a big shot I am, while hers was along the lines of I want you to fall in love with me to prove how special I am. Those positions are irreconcilable, and the process of negotiation might have led one of them to realize that and call the whole thing off. Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the emphasis on assertive desire in women, as Angel writes, obscures the tender, fraught negotiation of what is unknownspecifically, the parts of ourselves and our desires we arent aware of (yet). But such negotiations can only transpire gratifyingly in a context of trust, specifically the trust that each partner can hear and accept the others no without retaliation or anger. This, obviously, is very difficult for some men, raised to believe that women are merely the means to an end. The women who have sex with men like that are not in a position to view sex as a realm of wondrous self-discovery. They need a more forceful intervention than fraught tenderness. Its true that women shouldnt have to make themselves more like men in order to feel safe and get what they want, but until men change, what choice do they have? Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 'The biggest defender': Why Wolf's legacy matters in 2022 Gov. Tom Wolf's veto pen has frequently been the only thing to stop legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature from becoming law. Four Christian men in Venezuela experienced a horrid attack where they were not only badly beaten, but were also forced to chew on Bible pages and had crosses etched on their bare flesh. Open Doors reported this on February 26 and have since asked Christians worldwide to also include Venezuelan believers in their prayers. "The criminals covered our faces and started to beat and stab us," one of the victims said. "They drew 'X' on our bodies and forced us to eat the Bible." The victims were attacked inside the Restoration House - a drug rehabilitation center run by a church- in Merida State on February 16. Open Doors explained that Christian initiatives like the Restoration House are deemed as obstacles to the illegal operations of drug gangs in Latin America. The organization also noted that while Venezuela is not in its 2021 World Watch List of the Top 50 countries where Christian persecution is rampant, violence against believers in Latin America is on the rise. The four men have been discharged from the hospital but are still in slow recovery. One of them had two broken ribs and sustained serious injuries on his head and lungs. Two men also had casts on their legs and arms. Founder Pastor Dugarte said that weeks before the attack, two men openly declared their intent to shut down the Restoration House. "In the middle of a meeting discussing neighborhood issues, two men said they were going to end the Restoration House because they did not agree with this type of program," Pastor Dugarte told Open Doors For peace' sake, Pastor Dugarte agreed to meet the conditions of the neighborhood council. But apparently, these two men had another motive. They asked Pastor Dugarte for a list of people in the rehabilitation centre, but he refused to give it to them. Despite their horrific experience, Pastor Dugarte is still determined to continue his ministry of helping people avoid the path of crime. He has also filed a complaint against the two men present during the neighborhood meeting whom he suspects as the instigators of the violence. In light of the recent attack, the Evangelical Council of Venezuela called for an investigation. According to Premier Christian News, the council attributed the attack as "hatred towards religion." Dr. David Landrum, Open Doors UK's director of advocacy and public affairs, said that the cutting of crosses into the bodies of young Christians, and the forced eating of pages of the Bible is deeply disturbing. "This premeditated attack has all the hallmarks of the local 'collectives' of the Maduro regime. This shows how Venezuela has become a dictatorial narco-state which is violently opposed to the drugs rehabilitation work of the church," he said. President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Venezuelan government under Maduro's administration has "deliberately and repeatedly abused the rights of citizens through the use of violence, repression, and criminalization of demonstrations." "At his (Maduro) direction, the regime's security forces have systematically repressed and criminalized opposition parties through arbitrary detention, military prosecution of civilians, and the excessive use of force against demonstrators. Any member of the opposition or critic of the regime risks being detained, imprisoned, assaulted, tortured, and assassinated," the Department stated further. Thus in 2017, the Department imposed sanctions against Venezuelan government officials for their systemic "undermining of democracy in Venezuela." Maduro's re-election in 2018 was also labeled as fraudulent, not recognized by several countries. Christians are urged to pray for the victims' healing and grace to continue in their walk towards freedom in Christ. Believers are also urged to pray for Restoration House and Pastor Dugarte's ministry's protection. YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. The former First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. General Tiran Khachatryan has filed a lawsuit to the administrative court requesting to invalidate the presidential decree that relieved him from duties. The lawsuit was lodged on March 3 and is assigned to Judge Meri Hambardumyan, according to court documents released online. Khachatryan was sacked from office as First Deputy Chief of the General Staff on February 24 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's annual "two sessions," a major political event that brings together some 5,000 national lawmakers and political advisors in Beijing, will convene this week. The fourth sessions of the 13th National People's Congress and the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which will open on Friday and Thursday respectively, will offer a glimpse of how China protects and promotes human rights. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has spoken of human rights on multiple occasions. The following are some highlights: -- The ultimate human right is that people can lead a happy life. Since the first day of its founding in 1921, the CPC has fully committed itself to the wellbeing of the Chinese people and human development. -- China regards development as the key to solving all problems and the primary task for the CPC in governing and rejuvenating the country. -- China insists on a combination of the principle of human rights' universality and the nation's actual conditions, and insists that the rights to subsistence and development are primary basic human rights. -- For years China has put the people first during its development, increasing their benefits, ensuring the people are their own masters and supporting development in an all-round way. These are both the starting points and the goals of development. China has effectively safeguarded the people's right to development and carved out a human rights development path with Chinese characteristics. -- The Chinese people would like to work in concert with people in other developing countries and beyond to advance development through cooperation, promote human rights through development, and build a community with a shared future for humanity. -- There is no universal path to human rights development in the world. In terms of human rights protection, there is no best way, only the better one. -- Chinese people will not accept "an instructor" on human rights and oppose "double standards." Pre-Stabilisation notice 4 March 2021 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Commerzbank AG 500 million senior preferred due 2025 Pre-Stabilisation Notice Commerzbank AG (contact: Daniela Olt-Farrelly; telephone: +49 69 136-20) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: Commerzbank AG Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: 500,000,000 Description: fixed rate, senior preferred Notes due 11 Sep 2025 Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: payment date 11 Mar 2021, denoms 1k/1k, short first coupon Stabilisation: Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG BBVA CACIB Helaba Societe Generale Stabilisation period expected to start on: 4th March 2021 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Frankfurt In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. END As South Carolina prepares to move into its next phase of vaccinating the public, the state is expecting to receive more vaccine doses in a week than it has all year. Deliveries of first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should total about 111,000 for the week of March 8, the day appointments open to people 55 and older, front-line workers and people with medical conditions or disabilities that put them at a higher risk for COVID-19. South Carolina is also expecting a shipment of 41,100 vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson next week, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Although that is an increase of about 46,000 first doses compared with the week before, hospitals and other vaccinators in the state say they are still experiencing shortages in vaccine as they try to work through their waitlists. The majority of doses South Carolina has received but not given out yet are made by Moderna. Those vaccines are going primarily to retail pharmacies, with Ingles, Walmart and Publix receiving the most so far. Statewide numbers New cases reported: 819 confirmed, 374 probable. Total cases in S.C.: 447,085 confirmed, 74,478 probable. Percent positive: 5.5 percent. New deaths reported: 38 confirmed, seven probable. Total deaths in S.C.: 7,660 confirmed, 1,000 probable. Percent of ICU beds filled: 73 percent. How does S.C. rank in vaccines administered per 100,000 people? Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email Sign Up! 44th as of March 3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hardest-hit areas In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (130), Richland County (74) and Spartanburg County (63) saw the highest totals. What about the tri-county? Charleston County had 55 new cases on March 4, while Berkeley and Dorchester counties both had 21. Deaths Seven of the new confirmed deaths reported were people age 35 to 64 and the remaining 31 were patients age 65 and older. Hospitalizations Of the 734 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of March 4, 180 were in the ICU and 91 were using ventilators. What do experts say? According to a weekly report created by the White House's coronavirus task force, South Carolina's rates of new COVID-19 cases are improving. South Carolina ranked fifth in new cases per 100,000 people an improvement over prior weeks. The Palmetto State was 37th in new deaths in the report, which covers the week starting Feb. 28. The White House's nationwide assessment still notes that most of South Carolina is considered a "sustained hot spot." It called out Sumter, in particular, as one of the small communities in the United States where cases are rising fastest. WHITESBORO, N.Y. A Whitesboro man is facing felony charges after allegedly uploading child pornography images online. David M. Beauharnois, 34, of Gould Street, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, a D felony. According to New York State Police, the arrest came after an investigation into someone at Beauharnois address uploading pornographic photos of children to the internet. He was taken to the Oneida County jail to await arraignment. New Delhi, March 4 : The Congress is yet to release the list of its star campaigners for the assembly polls in which Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka are likely to be included. All eyes will be on the names of the leaders led by Ghulam Nabi Azad whose Rajya Sabha term ended recently. Besides, if leaders like Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Bhupinder Singh Hooda make it into the list of the Congress' star campaigners, it would imply that the party has tried to make peace with the group. Veerappa Moily has been asked to look after the management of the Tamil Nadu election while Prithviraj Chavan has been made Assam screening committee Chairman. Others like Jitin Prasada have been accommodated in the organisation. Sources within the camp said that they have not refused any campaign or task given to them. Anand Sharma, the most vocal in the group, has already said that they will campaign for the party but now the party has to decide on the list. One of the state in-charges in the poll-bound states said on the condition of anonymity that the request for the campaigners comes from the state unit as demanded by the district units and the candidates as per local equations. The recent trend has been a demand for Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi but since they cannot go everywhere, other leaders will be sent accordingly. The Congress has high stakes in Assam, Puducherry and Kerala, where it is contesting against the BJP and Left respectively. In Tamil Nadu, the Congress is likely to go in alliance with the DMK but there is still no clarity on a seat sharing agreement. In West Bengal, where a high-pitched battle is on between the BJP and the ruling TMC, the Congress is trying to make the battle triangular. Rahul Gandhi has visited Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala while Priyanka Gandhi has been in Assam for two days. However the situation is not normal since August 2020 when 23 leaders chose to write a letter to party president Sonia Gandhi asking for sweeping reforms. Since then many rounds of meetings have taken place with the latest in January when the CWC decided to conduct elections for the President's post but the situation has not normalised. VANCOUVER - A Crown lawyer is urging a B.C. Supreme Court judge to ignore the "geopolitical winds swirling around" Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition case and focus instead on the legal context. Meng Wanzhou, Chief financial officer of Huawei leaves her home as she heads to B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward VANCOUVER - A Crown lawyer is urging a B.C. Supreme Court judge to ignore the "geopolitical winds swirling around" Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition case and focus instead on the legal context. Robert Frater told Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes that Meng's legal team is trying to bring the elephant into the room by introducing arguments centred on comments made by former U.S. president Donald Trump about the case. "With respect, we urge you to focus on the facts and the law and leave the politics to the politicians," Frater said Thursday. He made the comments in response to claims from Meng's legal team that Trump's words 10 days after her arrest at Vancouver's airport in December 2018 represented a threat and poisoned the Canadian proceedings. Trump was asked by media if he would intervene in the case to get a better deal in trade talks with China, and he responded that he would "certainly intervene" if he thought it was necessary. Meng is wanted in the United States on fraud charges that both she and Huawei deny. Her lawyers allege Trump's comments constitute an abuse of process and they are asking for a stay of proceedings. It is the first of four branches of abuse of process arguments that the court will hear ahead of the actual extradition or committal hearing in May. "Everyone in this courtroom knows that the elephant in the room in this case has always been the geopolitical winds that swirl around it," Frater told the judge. "We're confident that when you look at the facts and apply the law, you will dismiss this motion." On Wednesday, Meng's team sought to tie her case to a long-brewing technological race between the United States and China. Huawei's success in establishing 5G wireless technology worldwide represents an "existential threat" to the United States and Meng's case is unfolding amid an effort by the U.S. government to "debilitate, if not destroy, Huawei," her lawyer Richard Peck said. Peck noted that in February 2020, then-U. S. attorney general William Barr said the stakes could not be higher and likened the race to the Cold War. Democrat Nancy Pelosi has warned against doing business with Huawei and White House press secretary Jen Psaki has described Huawei as a "threat to the security of the U.S.," Peck said. "This campaign is bipartisan and continues in full vigour today," he said. Frater, representing Canada's attorney general, sought to redirect the judge's attention Thursday. There is a rigorous test to meet the threshold of an abuse of process claim that warrants a stay of proceedings and Meng's argument doesn't pass it, he said. The threshold outlined by the Supreme Court of Canada says there must be prejudice to the accused's right to a fair trial or to the integrity of the justice system and there must be no alternative remedy. Where there is still uncertainty, the court must balance the interests of the accused and the societal interest in having the case heard, Frater said. In the balancing act, he argued the court should consider that the fraud charges are serious and Meng, the chief financial officer of one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, isn't a "powerless" person. Someone with "the resources to hire a battalion of lawyers, who has the full backing of a powerful state, is in a different position factually than an indigent or vulnerable individual," Frater said. Another lawyer for Meng, Eric Gottardi, countered that Meng's celebrity makes her a "higher value target" for interference, adding that a person's resources shouldn't affect how they are treated by the court. Frater told the court that comments by politicians about the case have not approached the level of threat required to compromise the legal process. And Trump's failure to win re-election has only weakened the argument, he said. "This application, in our submission, was based on the thinnest of evidence. That evidence only got worse over time, there's been material changes in circumstance that have removed the basis for it," Frater said. The political commentary has in no way affected the proceedings, he said. "They've had a hearing which has observed and continues to observe the highest standards of fairness." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2021. The petitioner in the just ended 2020 Election Petition, John Dramani Mahama, has reacted to the Supreme Court's ruling which dismissed his case. The ruling which was read by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah stated that "the petitioner did not demonstrate how the alleged errors affected the validity of the declaration on the 9th. The petitioner has not produced any evidence . . . we have therefore no reason to order a re-run, we accordingly dismiss the petition" Reacting to this decision, the former President said "much as I am aware that we are legally bound by the decision of the Supreme Court, I disagree with the process of trial and ruling of the court". Below is the full text of what he said at a Press conference after the ruling Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, Earlier today, the Supreme Court of Ghana delivered its verdict on a petition we filed against the declaration made on the evening of 9th December 2020 by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mrs. Jean Mensa, on the Presidential Elections of December 7, 2020. My brothers and sisters, I did not take the decision to go to court lightly. In fact, many were those who expressed misgivings about my decision, not because we did not have a strong case, but because of the times we live in. I still believe that no matter the circumstances, it was the right thing to do. It is gratifying that the courts proceedings were broadcast live. Ghanaians followed the hearings diligently. They understood what was happening even if the legal terminologies were not always easy to grasp. Even though the petition to the Supreme Court stood in my name, it nonetheless represented the desire of an overwhelming number of Ghanaians, anxious for answers from the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission as the Returning Officer of the December 2020 Presidential Election. Ghanaians were hoping to hear her testify and many are still baffled by the refusal of Mrs. Jean Mensa to be held to account by testifying in this case unfortunately, with the unanimous agreement of the justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana. This vital part of the process to establish the truth and hold Mrs. Jean Mensa accountable was blocked time and again by a protective cordon and firewall that I am sure have confounded many Ghanaians. The refusal of the Chairperson is in sharp contrast to the readiness with which Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, then Chairman of the Electoral Commission willingly testified in the 2013 Election petition filed by then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP. Speaking as a Ghanaian, with no legal training, I believe that the refusal of the Electoral Commission Chairperson to testify in this election petition, leaves a bad precedent for the future. I disagree with the suggestion of our Justices that an election petition is akin to any other civil litigation and therefore an EC Chairperson, whose functions go to the heart of our democracy, can by a legal sleight of hand avoid accounting for her stewardship in an appropriate forum such as the highest court of the land. Our legal team, led by Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, put together our case in a clear manner, which left no one in doubt about what the issues were. Apart from seeking to ensure compliance with the constitution and for the true choice of the people of Ghana to be respected, the Petition sought to provide opportunity for transparency and accountability in the management of our electoral processes. But no one who followed the proceedings in the Supreme Court will be surprised with the judgement pronounced some hours ago. Much as I am aware that we are legally bound by the decision of the Supreme Court, I disagree with the process of trial and ruling of the court. Ladies and Gentlemen, our 1992 Constitution says very directly in Article 125 Section 1 that: Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary, which shall be independent and subject only to this constitution. I believe that the law should not be an instrument for partisan purposes. I also believe that the rule of law should mean one rule for all. What anchors the rule of law is equality and fairness to all, irrespective of creed, background, or political coloration. Justice, we must remember, is rooted in moral foundations. Ghanaians will always remember that moment when my lead counsel, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, quoted from the Holy Bible urging the Justices of the Supreme Court to be faithful to their Judicial Oath and their conscience, only for the lawyer representing Nana Akufo-Addo, the 2nd Respondent, to argue for the exclusion of God in the matter. Yet, in the courts of Ghana, we swear on the Bible or the Cross, as we also do with the Holy Koran, to speak the truth and nothing but the truth. Ghanaians will also remember this 2021 Election Petition for that profound moment when the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission opted to evade public scrutiny. Everything was done in this trial to prevent the Commission from accounting to the people in whose name they hold office. Requests for Interrogatories were dismissed. A request to inspect documents in the possession of the Commission was turned down. The request for admission of facts was ignored. Worse still, she was aided by her counsel and the court to avoid explaining to the good people of Ghana from her own testimony, under oath in a properly constituted court of law, the errors she herself admits to have committed in the declaration of the 2020 Presidential election results. This is a clear stab in the heart of transparency and accountability to the sovereign people of Ghana. Whatever the reasons for not allowing Mrs. Jean Mensa to testify or answer any questions, it leaves an embarrassing stain, not only on our justice delivery system but also, on the nations electoral system, which has deepened the grave doubts harboured by many Ghanaians about the true outcome of the December 2020 Presidential Election. The motto of Ghanas Electoral Commission is Transparency, Fairness and Integrity principles the key actors clearly failed to live up to on this occasion. The refusal to account to Ghanaians, further, sets the worrying precedent and I do really worry about this dangerous precedent that may allow other heads of state institutions to adopt an approach of opacity and non-accountability in their work. Just because they can rely on unconvincing interpretations of our laws to shield them from scrutiny in the near future. I hope and pray that time will prove me wrong. There is a famous legal maxim brought into common use by Lord Chief Justice Hewart in 1924, that Justice must not only be done but should manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done. While judgement was given in this petition, it cannot be said by many to have been seen to be done by the constant unanimous strictures placed on the petitioner in laying out his case. I have followed the proceedings of this petition and listened to the testimony of our General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah from beginning to end. I am quite alarmed at the mutilation of his testimony in the Supreme Court ruling. Indeed, the ruling I heard today, virtually makes him the star witness of the 1st and 2nd Respondents. Many answers of his testimony in cross examination were taken out of context to create the basis for the dismissal of our election petition. Ladies and Gentlemen, this case will go into the Ghana Law Reports for the future, and academics and students of law alike will clearly find befuddling, the internal contradictions in our jurisprudence. At the appropriate time, the legal team will come out with detailed comments on the judgment. The Supreme Court has given its verdict, but the national debate on the dismal state of our democracy and the increasing weakness of its institutions has only just begun. It is time we all come together to confront those who seek to destroy the very democratic system that brought them into office. It is our patriotic duty to do so. Ladies and Gentlemen, it bears reiterating that our grievances with the conduct of the 2020 elections was not limited to just the Presidential elections. Doubts about the Commissions commitment to fairness and transparency have lingered much longer than the duration of this Petition. The doubts have attended their every action, and rightly so, because of their posturing and sometimes duplicitous conduct. As I have alluded to in the past, the current leadership of the Commission, was installed after the politically motivated removal of the previous leadership. Since then, every step they have taken has appeared to be calculated at ensuring the retention of the appointing authority in power. Aside from the compilation of a new voter register in the midst of a pandemic, one that many Civil Society Organisations, political and governance experts insist was more procurement-induced than need-based, the time-tested process of consultation and dialogue among stakeholders through the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) was supplanted by unilateralism. This has not boded well for harmonious relations with stakeholders. Compared to the two previous leaderships of the Commission, what we have now does not meet even the minimum requirements of neutrality and non-partisanship that are essential for consolidating our democracy. The much-touted independence of the Electoral Commission exists only in name now. This should give all Ghanaians cause to worry. Today, we still have as a member of the Commission, someone who publicly stated that the political party, which I led into the December 2020 election is an existential threat to Ghanas democracy. And yet that same member presided over an election in which the same political party participated. In the Parliamentary elections, the NDC won majority of seats. However, through devious manipulation by officials of the Electoral Commission, a number of these seats were illegally declared for the NPP. In some instances, the manipulation was so glaring and brazen that simple intervention by the leadership of the Electoral Commission as has been done by previous Commissioners could have addressed the issues and righted the wrongs to make court actions completely unnecessary. Therefore, it is not surprising that International Election Observers captured collation and tallying of results as one of the challenges of our 2020 elections. The posture and approach of this current Electoral Commission does not inspire the confidence needed to preside over any transparent, free and fair election. They have absolutely no reason to remain in office. This is because the Electoral Commission must remain a neutral arbiter and the organizer of elections. They must not hold a vested interest in the dubious victory of one party over another. The loyalty of the Electoral Commission must be to the people of Ghana and the Constitution from which it derives its mandate, and not the President or party under whose tenure the leadership is appointed. Immediate reforms, reflecting the long-standing image and reputation of our Electoral Commission as one of the finest and most credible on the continent and indeed the world, must be one of the focuses of public advocacy, if future elections are to be devoid of needless tensions and anxiety. My brothers and sisters, we cannot forget the burning issue of the deliberate exclusion of the good people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi (SALL) from the Parliamentary election of 2020. This constitutes perhaps, the gravest injustice of the 2020 elections. It can easily fit into the worst forms of electoral trickery ever witnessed in our nations history. Despite the shenanigans employed by the conspirators in this issue, it is abundantly clear that the rights of the people of SALL to vote, was intentionally violated as part of a move to ensure the predetermined election outcome of a particular Parliamentary constituency. This represents unparalleled abuse of power by both the government and its handmaiden, the Electoral Commission, to influence the outcome of the Parliamentary election in Hohoe. It is even more staggering that no one has stepped forward to take responsibility for this unjustifiable action nor indicated any clear remedy for the harm caused. We cannot as a people countenance this kind of gerrymandering and chicanery in our politics. We must with one accord, demand immediate resolution of the impasse in the SALL area and take urgent steps to afford the people their right to vote and be represented. My brothers and sisters, we entered the 2020 elections against an incumbent that was determined to abuse power and misuse state resources and institutions to achieve electoral victory. The run- up to the election and some of the processes involved were characterized by intimidation and harassment from state security agents and others loyal to the current regime. Selective deployment of military personnel was used as a tool to instil fear in some of our citizens to dissuade them from taking part in the voter registration and other processes. Others were falsely branded as foreigners and their citizenship called into question unjustly an abhorrent nation-wrecking prejudice which has been directed especially against certain ethic groups of this country and has continued till date and has even recently been visited crudely on the Auditor General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo. In the last election, unprecedented levels of state funds and resources were doled out by the ruling party, and unprovoked, deadly violence inflicted on our citizens in several cases. In the process, eight of our compatriots were murdered in cold blood and several others maimed during the process of the elections. We have designated these compatriots, whose blood was shed just because they sought to participate in what was a purely civil exercise as MARTYRS OF DEMOCRACY to whom we shall dedicate an appropriate monument when the time comes. I hope we can count on all well-meaning Ghanaians to support our efforts to bring the perpetrators of these murders to justice. Never must a government be allowed to turn the simple process of an election into a bloodbath. Never must impunity of this magnitude be allowed to fester in our democracy. Our independence and the current democracy we enjoy were fought for and attained through the sacrifice and blood of our founding fathers, mothers and our compatriots. Never must we accept convenience over principle. I take this opportunity to express my deep-seated appreciation to our lawyers, led by the colossus of a legal mind, Tsatsu Tsikata, for a valiant fight, which has won the admiration of many. Against considerable odds, they persisted and drove home our point in a manner that convinced all fair- minded observers about the just cause we had embarked on. I express similar gratitude to all who played diverse roles in putting our case together. I salute our three key witnesses our General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Dr. Michael Kpessah Whyte and Rojo Mettle-Nunoo for helping to unravel a part of the untold story of the flawed 2020 elections. I also wish to place on record that the service rendered to me by my legal team in this petition was gratis free. We may not have been successful. But your hard work and sacrifice will not go unheralded when the full story is told. I am very much aware that there are millions watching and listening to me who are disappointed at the outcome of this case. For those millions, like myself, who held out hope that our democracy would be advanced by the process and outcome of this petition, you must be disappointed. But I encourage you to hold your heads up high and channel your disappointment into hard work that will ensure that, come next election, we will achieve a truly transparent and fair election, which we all as Ghanaians can be proud of. To all my compatriots and supporters, we may have lost the temporary battle of the 2020 election and the Petition that followed, but the larger struggle to create a society that lives up to our national motto of freedom and justice still rages on. It is a struggle, which requires even more commitment than before, and it is one that we will not shirk from until our patriotic aim is achieved. To the millions of NDC supporters who have stood by me, my running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, our National Chairman, General Secretary, Campaign Chairman, FEC, NEC, Parliamentary Candidates, Sponsors and all activists and supporters who gave their all in the hope that we will win and form the next government to save our nation and meet your aspirations, do not despair at this outcome. I repeat. Do not despair! Never, ever lose hope. We achieved an impressive showing in the last election, and despite the intimidation, obscene abuse of incumbency advantage and the massive use of funds and resources we can be proud that we gave it our best. Our have become stepping-stones on which the NDC can build to secure victory in the next elections. The NDC will survive and grow from strength to strength. The sun may have set on our hopes for the just ended election today, but it will rise tomorrow and illuminate our path to a better outcome next time around. To the Council of Elders, members of the National Executive Committee of the NDC, the Functional Executive Committee, the Election 2020 Campaign team, my Staff, party executives at all levels, volunteers, polling agents and all who played roles in our campaign, no matter how small, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The NDC will always remain the party of the people. The party was established to empower the people of Ghana to be architects of our own destiny. We blazed the trail for participatory democracy. And I am confident that out of the ashes of this legal setback, we will mobilize and rekindle the struggle for a better democratic Ghana. We will be law abiding and do nothing to compromise the stability of the country. We will however continue to be the voice of the voiceless and will not be distracted demanding justice and fairness at all times. Neither will we surrender or fail to champion the rights of all our people to enjoy the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under our constitution. To the over six million Ghanaians who entrusted me with their votes, I cannot thank you enough for this honour. I value your votes so much. It reflects the confidence you have in the ideology, the ethos and importantly the 2020 Peoples Manifesto of the NDC. We have proven to be the most viable path to rapid socio-economic development. I can assure you that even though this was not the outcome we expected, I am sure your votes will spur us on to victory in the future elections. I also wish to acknowledge and commend the courage and commitment of Civil Society Organisations, journalists and individuals who have dedicated their lives to speak truth to power irrespective of which party sits at the Flagstaff House. Whiles in office, my administration tolerated your views even when we disagreed. We did not hound your souls. In similar vein, we encourage you to continue to hold all governments accountable as you have done in the past for it is your right to do so. My brothers and sisters, I have had a relatively long and fulfilling journey of public life and service during which I have had the privilege to serve in various capacities. I have had my ups and downs like all humans, but I have at all times promoted unity and inclusion and not division; and I have always placed the interest and well-being of Ghana first. I will continue to do same even at this moment and beyond. We have only one nation, Ghana, and we must work together to ensure progress and growth of our dear nation. We can only do this, if we ensure equality, freedom and justice for all our citizens. Long Live the NDC! Long Live Ghana! I thank you all for your attention. May God bless our homeland Ghana. 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 Egypt started vaccinating seniors and patients with chronic diseases against COVID-19 on Thursday, almost one month after hundreds of frontline healthcare workers at coronavirus quarantine and triage hospitals began the process. A number of seniors and patients with chronic diseases were administered the first shot of the vaccine at a Cairo medical centre earlier today, in an event attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed, among others. kidney failure, cancer patients, and the elderly come second in the countrys vaccination priority list, with medical workers battling the contagion at isolation, fever, chest, and screening hospitals being the first to take the vaccine in late January. Zayed said Egypt was the first African country to receive coronavirus vaccines and the first to commence with inoculating citizens against the deadly virus in the continent. All citizens above the age of 18 could apply for vaccination online on the website (https://egcovac.mohp.gov.eg/#/home) but the priority would be given to those above 65 and those suffering chronic diseases per the country's vaccination priority list. Valid vaccination requests being processed within 72 hours of submission. Applicants are sent a text on their phones confirming the date and location for receiving the first shot, as the country allocated as many as 40 centres nationwide where citizens can head to receive their jabs. Citizens who cannot access the website could register for vaccination at the nearest hospital. Some 152,892 citizens have signed up on the designated website for registration to obtain coronavirus vaccines since the platform was officially launched five days ago, Zayed told reporters at Thursdays event. The vaccination campaign currently uses the Chinese Sinopharm and British-Swedish Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, both of which were granted emergency use authorisation by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) in January, alongside the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine that was authorised for emergency use in February. Zayed said the two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine will be administered 3 weeks apart, while the two of AstraZeneca will be administered 3 months apart. Egypt has so far received 350,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine and 50,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Sputnik vaccines have not arrived in Egypt. The Egyptian government has been in talks with different international drug makers to boost its supply of COVID-19 vaccines and to secure a total of 100 million doses of vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation. During the event, PM Madbouly said Egypt is pressing on with securing the largest quantities of doses from all vaccine manufacturers, whose shots were granted the emergency approval by the EDA, read a cabinet statement. Concerning the vaccination process, Madbouly said that Egypt has a scientific approach that starts with approving the vaccine by the EDA, followed by contracting the manufacturing companies, and then distributing the shots based on the priority list. The state is working on augmenting the numbers of citizens allowed to get the vaccines, the prime minister stressed. Short link: Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. REHOVOT, Israel, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aleph Farms, Ltd. ("Aleph" or "company"), and BRF S.A. ("BRF"), a global Brazilian meat and food company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring cultivated meat to Brazilian tables. Under this new agreement, Aleph and BRF will co-develop and produce cultivated meat using Aleph's patented production platforms (BioFarm). BRF will also distribute Aleph-backed cultivated beef products in Brazil. This partnership will strengthen BRF's supply chain and reduce its environmental impact, while diversifying the company's product offering to meet the growing consumer demands for a variety of meat products. Aleph Farms and BRF Partner to Bring Cultivated Meat to Brazil "We are thrilled to join forces with BRF, a global food and meat industries leader. This new partnership advances Aleph Farms' strategy to integrate into the existing ecosystem as part of our go-to-market plans. Leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of leading food and meat companies will drive a faster scale-up of cultivated meat and eventually lead to a broader positive impact. As one of the largest beef producers in the world, Brazil is a strategic market for us. We have been impressed by the strong commitment from BRF management to innovation and sustainability. We are convinced that shared values are the key to a successful long-term partnership," shares Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. BRF is one of the largest meat producers in the world, with over 30 brands in its portfolio. Reporting revenue of approximately BRL 39 billion (approximately USD 7.25 billion) and investing over BRL 155 million in 2020 (approximately USD 28.81 million) in projects to reduce environmental impact, the partnership with Aleph is part of BRF's 2030 Vision strategy. Unveiled in December 2020, the initiative is expected to garner revenues in excess of BRL 100 billion by 2030 (approximately USD 18.5 billion). "BRF is ready and charged to play a leading role in this food revolution and be an active participant in one the greatest industry transformations of this generation," enthuses Lorival Luz, CEO of BRF. "Since 2014, we have witnessed an increasing global demand for new sources of protein driven by several factors, namely environmental concerns, new diets and lifestyles, which has spurred the growth of new dietary genres including flexitarianism, vegetarianism and more," Luz points out. Beyond the commercial potential of cultivated meat in the Brazilian market, this alignment also enables both companies in their missions regarding sustainability and food security. Brazil recently reaffirmed to the UN (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - UNFCCC) the country's commitment to reducing total net greenhouse gas emissions by 43% in 2030. In April 2020, Aleph Farms committed to eliminating emissions associated with its meat production by 2025 and reach net-zero emissions across its entire supply chain by 2030. With livestock accounting for significant greenhouse gas emissions and demand for meat expected to continue growing, Aleph Farms' partnerships with industry incumbents demonstrates how incorporating innovation into the local agricultural ecosystem can help companies and countries reach their climate goals. "This is yet another step that strengthens the innovative journey of BRF to offer a choice of alternatives to consumers, optimize efficiency and at the same time reduce the strain on the production chain," explains Sergio Pinto, Director of Innovation at BRF. "We are a food company that invests in advanced technology and respects and combines new trends associated with social and environmental sustainability. By producing high-quality sustainable cultivated meat, we can further establish our role as agents of transformation in the food industry, by offering the latest innovations in the production of meat," adds Pinto. About Aleph Farms Aleph Farms is a food company that is paving a new way forward as a leader of the global sustainable food ecosystem, working passionately to grow delicious beef steaks from non-genetically engineered cells, isolated from a cow, using a fraction of the resources required for raising an entire animal for meat, and without antibiotics. Aleph Farms was co-founded with The Kitchen Hub of the Strauss Group and with Professor Shulamit Levenberg, Dean of the Biomedical Engineering faculty of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Aleph Farms is backed by some of the world's most innovative food producers, such as Cargill, Migros, and the Strauss Group. The company has recently received top accolades for its contribution to the global sustainability movement from the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, Netexplo Forum and EIT Food. Twitter/LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/Medium: @AlephFarms About BRF One of the world's largest food companies, BRF is present in over 130 countries and owns iconic brands, including Sadia, Perdigao and Qualy. Its purpose is to offer increasingly tasty, practical, good-quality food to people around the world through the sustainable management of a vivid, long and complex chain that provides everyone with a better life, from farm to fork. Based on fundamental commitments of safety, quality and integrity, the Company's strategy is based on a long-term vision and is designed to generate value for over 95,000 employees based around the world, more than 300,000 clients and nearly 10,000 integrated partners in Brazil, all of its shareholders, and society. For further information, please contact: Company Contact: Aleph Farms Mr. Yoav Reisler External Relations Manager at Aleph Farms Tel: +972-52-4559924 [email protected] https://aleph-farms.com Press Contact NutriPR Ms. Liat Simha Tel: +972-9-974-2893 [email protected] www.nutripr.com Twitter: @LiatSimha Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449692/Aleph_Farms_and_BRF.jpg SOURCE Aleph Farms; BRF S.A. [March 04, 2021] Aquarius Financial Technologies partners with CQG LONDON and CHICAGO and DENVER, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquarius Financial Technologies Ltd. (Aquarius), a next generation trading technology provider, today announced a strategic partnership with CQG, a leading global provider of high-performance technology solutions for traders, brokers, commercial hedgers, and exchanges. The partnership will support Aquarius' vision to launch an institutional-grade global cryptocurrency exchange using CQG's proprietary technology. Under the partnership, CQG will provide Aquarius with its trading interfaces, infrastructure, and API connectivity, as well as access to more than 45 tradable, global exchanges and more than 85 market data sources. The exchange is scheduled to launch in the third quarter. "We are delighted to welcome CQG as a key go-to-market partner," said Richard Lane, co-founder of Aquarius. "We are soon to close our series A investment round at the end of March 2021, and this agreement marks another important milestone for Aquarius, enabling us to realise our ambition to launch and grow a fairer trading environment of institutional-grade standard for all customer types. We are excited to align our unique trade matching technology with CQG's market-leading technical and operational excellence." CQG President Ryan Moroney said: "We are excited about the opportunity to play a role in supporting this innovative new exchange. We look frward to contributing to the future success of Aquarius with our broad network and deep technological and market expertise." About Aquarius Financial Technologies The Aquarius team of technologists and traders have been developing next generation trade matching technologies for over 20 years. Its forthcoming product is the Aquarius cryptocurrency exchange. Aquarius' team is based in Zurich and London and draws on its team members' former experience at Goldman Sachs and UBS to set new standards for the world's currency exchange industry. About CQG CQG provides the industry's highest performing solutions for traders, brokers, commercial hedgers, and exchanges for their market-related activities globally, including trading, market data, advanced technical analysis, risk management, and account administration. The firm partners with the vast majority of futures brokerage and clearing firms and provides Direct Market Access (DMA) to more than 45 exchanges through its global network of co-located Hosted Exchange Gateways. CQG technology serves as the front end for a variety of exchanges and is increasingly employed as the over-the-counter matching engine for important new markets. CQG's server-side order management tools for spreading, market aggregation, and smart orders are unsurpassed for speed and ease of use. Its market data feed consolidates 85 sources, including exchanges worldwide for futures, options, fixed income, foreign exchange, and equities, as well as data on debt securities, industry reports, and financial indices. One of the longest-serving technology solutions providers in the industry, CQG has won numerous awards for its trading software, technical analysis and multi-asset trading platform. CQG is headquartered in Denver, with 16 sales and support offices and data centers in key markets globally. For more information, visit www.cqg.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449116/AQUARIUS_LOGO_GREY_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/562279/CQG_Logo.jpg SOURCE CQG; Aquarius Financial Technologies Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The restrictions of lockdown appeared to be a distant memory as Kimberley Garner enjoyed another day on paradise on Wednesday. The former Made In Chelsea cast-member, who divides her time between homes in London and Miami, is currently enjoying a sunshine break on the picturesque island of Anguilla in the British West Indies. And with spring temperatures climbing to a welcome 25 degrees, Kimberley, 30, made the most of her current stay by engaging in an outdoor yoga session. The good life: The restrictions of lockdown appeared to be a distant memory as Kimberley Garner enjoyed another day on the paradise island of Anguilla on Wednesday With the sweeping Caribbean Sea providing an impressive backdrop, the ex reality TV personality - now a successful swimwear designer - showed off a series of accomplished postures. Kimberley has been staying on the luxury Malliouhana Auberge Resort since flying to the island from Miami. While international travel is currently prohibited from her native Britain, the designer has been able to fly without restriction after basing herself at her second home on the Florida coast. Here we go: With spring temperatures climbing to a welcome 25 degrees, Kimberley, 30, made the most of her current stay by engaging in an outdoor yoga session Looking good: With the sweeping Caribbean Sea providing an impressive backdrop, the ex reality TV personality showed off a series of accomplished postures Reach for the sky: Kimberley has been staying on the luxury Malliouhana Auberge Resort since flying to the island from Miami in February Kimberley has previously been sunning it up in Miami with her boyfriend since late December, after spending Christmas in Barbados. But it hasn't all been carefree partying as she took to Instagram to defend herself from backlash over her international travel. The swimwear designer said she jetted out of the UK on December 14 a week before London moved into Tier 4 to 'check on my apartment'. Good times: The swimwear designer has been able to fly without restriction after basing herself at her second home on the Florida coast Balancing act: Kimberley revealed impressive poise by using her hands to elevate her body Don't mind me: Kimberley has shared a series of Instagram posts since landing in Anguilla at the beginning of March It's a bum deal: The fitness mad Brit flashed her bottom after returning from a recent trip to the beach in Anguilla The star wrote: 'I bought my place here this time two years ago. It was a massive achievement, still really can't believe it sometimes. I run a business - I'm not an influencer.' However she also revealed that she had turned down all invitations to socialise on a big scale while in Miami amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She wrote: 'I am here, but I am very very strict still. I see people in Tulum and all over going to parties and it doesn't feel right to me. Happy days: Kimberley appeared to drink a beer while relaxing on the sand in another social media post shared from the paradise island 'I haven't been out to any parties and turned down invites from friends as feel it's just not right to be in a crowd - it's not OK at the moment. 'I'm really lucky to be in the sun and outdoors, and am valuing that totally, but not going to live normally as it's not a normal world at the moment. 'I really think and feel for everyone home at the moment, it really sucks, please be brave, please be kind to each other.' The said Wednesday that Britain's "unilateral action" on trade rules will breach law and is threatening legal action as post- tensions continue to escalate between the two sides. Commission vice-president Maro efcovic said in a statement that UK's decision to unilaterally extend a grace period on checks for goods moving between Great and Northern Ireland amounts to "a violation" of the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol. The Protocol was designed to ensure an open border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after "This is the second time that the UK government is set to breach law," efcovic said. "This also constitutes a clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed up until now." The EU's anger was sparked by the British government's decision to extend until October a grace period for checks on agri-food entering Northern Ireland that was set to expire at the end of the month. In September last year, the UK had already upset the 27-nation bloc when it considered then backpedaled legislation that would have given the Boris Johnson's government the power to override part of the withdrawal agreement relating to Northern Ireland. The sensitivity of Northern Ireland's status was underscored earlier this year when the EU threatened to ban shipments of coronavirus vaccines to Northern Ireland as part of moves to shore up the bloc's supply. That would have drawn a hard border on the island of Ireland - exactly the scenario the Brexit deal was crafted to avoid. efcovic held discussions Wednesday with cabinet minister David Frost, the former chief Brexit negotiator now responsible for EU relations. "Lord Frost explained that the measures announced today, following official-level notification to the Commission earlier this week, were temporary technical steps, which largely continued measures already in place, to provide more time for businesses such as supermarkets and parcel operators to adapt to and implement the new requirements in the Protocol," a UK government spokesperson said. Before their talks, efcovic said he would tell Frost "the European Commission will respond to these developments in accordance with the legal means established by the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. (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.) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. -- In the face of production shortfalls across the world, some rich countries are hoarding vaccines, leaving poorer ones defenseless in the face of the deadly pathogen. As of mid-January, high-income countries, which represent only 16 percent of the world's population, had taken 60 percent of available doses. -- Experts said closing the immunity gap is not only about morality and conscience, but also the key to stopping the pandemic by cutting risk of more new variants. -- In the spirit of "working together as one global family," China is actively cooperating with other countries to speed up vaccine development and production, so as to help relieve the global shortfalls of life-saving vaccines and address disparities in vaccine distribution. -- As of Feb. 25, China has provided vaccine assistance to 53 developing countries in need, and is exporting vaccines to 27 countries. It has also decided to provide 10 million vaccine doses to multilateral vaccine alliance COVAX to meet the urgent needs of developing countries. HONG KONG, March 3 (Xinhua) -- "United we stand, divided we fall" -- the choice that was put in front of the international community time and again now popped up once more in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed more than 2 million lives worldwide. Although the successful development of vaccines in less than a year has been a "stunning scientific achievement" that is giving the world hope to end the pandemic, it has at the same time added a "brick in the wall of inequality between the world's haves and have-nots," said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. To fight together with the international community in solidarity against the common health crisis, China has been making an all-out effort to promote the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, honoring its commitment to making Chinese COVID-19 vaccines a "global public good" accessible and affordable to people around the world. A medical worker prepares a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Sabiha Uzun Maternal Child Health Center in Ankara, Turkey, on Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) EMERGING VACCINE NATIONALISM Last month, Japan kicked off its vaccination campaign with imported vaccines. While healthcare workers and elderly citizens are put in the first place to be inoculated, others have to wait until summer, if only vaccine import could be stable. According to a report in early February by Japanese news agency Kyodo News, Taro Kono, Japan's minister in charge of vaccination efforts, said the restriction the European Union (EU) put on vaccine export may delay Japan's vaccination plan. Growing nationalism over supplies of COVID-19 vaccine shots could lead to retaliation and disruptions to global supplies, Kono said, adding if the public cannot receive the shots as planned, the Japanese government will face a great challenge on how to inaugurate the already delayed Tokyo Olympics in July. A medical worker receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine as the country launches its inoculation campaign at Tokyo Medical Center in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 17, 2021. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool via Xinhua) Japan is not the only country struggling for a stable vaccine supply. In January, the EU said AstraZeneca's new schedule in which the British company's supply of COVID-19 vaccine would fall short of expectation was "not acceptable," and threatened to use legal actions to address the issue. In the face of production shortfalls across the world, some rich countries are hoarding vaccines, leaving poorer ones defenseless in the face of the deadly pathogen. According to Duke University's Global Health Innovation Center, as of mid-January, high-income countries, which represent only 16 percent of the world's population, had taken 60 percent of available doses. Vaccine nationalism and over-stocking of all sorts of necessary supplies to the disbenefit of others are among the clear weaknesses in how the international community has dealt with a range of important issues ever since the outbreak, said Anthony Zwi, a professor of global health and development at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Some countries have demonstrated "a high degree of selfishness" in how they have used their power and resources, said Zwi, adding that pandemic control is a global public health issue that needs a shared responsibility and global cooperation at different levels and in different ways to achieve. DEEPENING IMMUNITY GAP Junaid Iqbal, a 29-year-old young doctor, joined a field hospital last year in northern Pakistan's Gilgit to fight the pandemic, and his battle has lasted for almost one year. "Never in my life had I wished to be vaccinated and immune from the virus like I did in the hardest of those days," Iqbal told Xinhua, recalling the time when his mother was infected with the virus at home, but he could not go back to look after her. However, when he realized that rich countries had started rolling out vaccinations for their citizens, he became concerned that it would take a long time for him, a frontline health worker in a third-world country, to be vaccinated. A handover ceremony of a batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccine is held at Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad, Pakistan, Feb. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Tian) What concerns Iqbal has also worried Tedros, who noted in January that the comparison between administered doses in higher-income countries and one of the lowest-income countries had been 39 million versus 25. "Not 25 million, not 25,000, just 25," he said. "The world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure," and it will be paid "with lives and livelihoods in the world's poorest countries," he has warned. "We can't beat COVID without vaccine equity. Our world will not recover fast enough without vaccine equity." "It's very surprising. It's very unjust that Western countries are having piles of vaccine which they don't require," said Talat Shabbir, a senior researcher at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, Pakistan. Experts said closing the immunity gap is not only about morality and conscience, but also the key to stopping the pandemic by cutting risk of more new variants. "It's a moment of help, the moment that we need to help countries or those who cannot afford a vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine has to be inclusive. It's just humanistic to have it inclusive," said Shabbir. Margaret Chan, a former WHO chief, said COVID-19 vaccines are in short supply, but equitable vaccine distribution, especially to developing countries, is critical as the pandemic will not be controlled until it is controlled everywhere. "In a globalized world, our vulnerability is universal and the international community must work together in solidarity in the face of a common health crisis," she said. PROMOTING FAIR DISTRIBUTION A batch of the Sinovac vaccines donated by China arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, the first COVID-19 vaccine to reach the Southeast Asian country. President Rodrigo Duterte went to the airport to welcome the arrival of the vaccines. Duterte said receiving the vaccines from China made another step forward in the Philippines' ongoing fight against COVID-19. "I convey my sincere gratitude to the Chinese people and the government of China for this gesture of friendship and solidarity -- the hallmark of the Philippines-China partnership." A day before, Malaysia also received its first delivery of China's Sinovac vaccine, days after the country kicked off its inoculation program, which aims to inoculate at least 80 percent of the country's total population. The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech is unloaded upon its arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, Feb. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) Zulkarnain Md Eusope, managing director of Malaysia's leading pharmaceutical company Pharmaniaga which inked a deal in January with Sinovac for delivery of its inactivated vaccine to the country, called the arrival "a historic moment for Malaysia and an important milestone for the company's venture into vaccine manufacturing." Last month, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan approved the single-dose vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company CanSino Biologics for emergency use. The third phase trials of the vaccine were carried out in Pakistan, which offered a new experience to many Pakistani doctors, and helped the country work on its vaccine development. In fact, Pakistan already approved China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in January 2020 after evaluating its safety and quality. The country officially launched its vaccination drive on Feb. 3 after receiving China-donated COVID-19 vaccines. In the spirit of "working together as one global family," China is actively cooperating with other countries to speed up vaccine development and production, so as to help relieve the global shortfalls of life-saving vaccines and address disparities in vaccine distribution. As of Feb. 25, China has provided vaccine assistance to 53 developing countries in need, and is exporting vaccines to 27 countries. It has also decided to provide 10 million vaccine doses to multilateral vaccine alliance COVAX to meet the urgent needs of developing countries. Regarding vaccine cooperation with other countries, mostly with developing ones, China has demonstrated an approach that acts on human development and the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, which is different from the zero-sum mentality of some countries, said Khalid Rehman, director-general of Islamabad-based think tank Institute of Policy Studies. The organisation representing the views of loyalist paramilitary groups has told Boris Johnson that they are withdrawing their support for the Good Friday Agreement until the Irish Sea border is removed. The letter to the Prime Minister from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) will raise fears about the future of the loyalist ceasefire. It claimed that the basis on which the paramilitaries committed to end violence in 1994 had been undermined. The LCC is an umbrella organisation representing the views of groups including the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando. The two-page letter from its chairman David Campbell calls on the Prime Minister to trigger Article 16. Mr Campbell said that he had been "instructed to write in similar terms to the Irish Taoiseach". Arlene Foster, Michelle O'Neill, European Commission vice-president Maros Sefkovic and the US consul-general are copied into the correspondence. Mr Campbell told the Prime Minister: "The protocol gives effect to the Irish nationalist position at the expense of the unionist position. This renders it in variance with the Agreement it purports to uphold and undermines the basis on which the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) agreed their 1994 ceasefire and subsequent support for the Belfast Agreement. "The LCC leadership is determined that unionist opposition to the protocol should be peaceful and democratic. However, please do not underestimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family. "The only time I can remember such unanimity of opposition was following the imposition of the Anglo-lrish Agreement in 1985." He continued: "Accordingly, I have been instructed to advise you that the loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement and its institutions until our rights under the Agreement are restored and the protocol is amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services, and citizens throughout the UK. "If the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the Agreement then it will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the Agreement." He rounded on EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier for "repeatedly (refusing) to meet with our representatives, who were signatories to the Belfast Agreement, even though we pointed out the one-sided and disingenuous representations being made to him from republicans and the Irish Government". He was scathing of Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who did meet the LCC but "chose to ignore" its views. "Indeed, his actions and remarks served to heighten tensions in Northern Ireland throughout the negotiations and he is responsible for destroying the positive relationships with the Irish Government built up over the past 20 years," the letter stated. Mr Campbell said he wished to "place on record the unanimous opposition of all the groups that are represented by the LCC to the protocol and our determination that it should be replaced". Expand Close LCCs David Campbell / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp LCCs David Campbell He stressed that the organisation's concerns were "much more fundamental" than the trade disruption caused by the protocol. The LCC told the Prime Minister that "no consent" had been sought for the protocol from the people of Northern Ireland, "and our political representatives are unanimous in their opposition to it". The organisation said it understood nationalist arguments that there must be no hard border in Ireland. "Equally, it should be self-evident that there should be no hard border, either physical or regulatory, between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK," it added. The LCC told the Prime Minister that it was "prepared to play a meaningful role in seeking a workable solution". "However, a starting point has to be the acceptance that a hard border on the island of Ireland, or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, has no cross-community support here and is therefore untenable. "It must be patently obvious to you that the triggers detailed in Article 16 of the protocol, ie the extreme economic and societal difficulties, now pertain and must be acted upon without further delay." Expand Close Threat: Graffiti targeting Michael Gove / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Threat: Graffiti targeting Michael Gove The announcement came after graffiti threatening Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove appeared in a loyalist area of south Belfast. DUP MLA Christopher Stalford said those responsible for spraying the minister's name, address and a threatening message saying 'we don't forget, we don't forgive' across a series of hoardings should be ashamed. 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. [March 04, 2021] FireEye Names Carahsoft Global Distributor of the Year for 2020 RESTON, Va., March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, today announced that it has been named the 2020 Global Distributor of the Year by FireEye. The 2020 Partner Awards recognize the achievements of top FireEye partners who have helped protect customers around the world and grow their security business with FireEye. This award was presented to Carahsoft at FireEyes virtual Momentum partner and sales conference. We are honored to be named FireEyes Global Distributor of the Year for 2020, said Chris Clarke, Director of Sales for the FireEye team at Carahsoft. As organizations extend their commitment to remote working, the threat surface for cybersecurity attacks has dramatically expanded. We share FireEyes customer-centric approach to ensure our public sector customers are protected and secure. Carahsoft and FireEye are long-standing partners, and we will continue to collaborate to deliver trusted detection and prevention solutions to government agencies with the support of our reseller partners. Carahsoft and FireEye began their relationship in 2012 and Carahsoft has since supported FireEyes public sector growth through strategic sales and marketing activities. In 2020, Carahsofts FireEye team, along with the companys reseller partners, contributed to substantial growth in public sector business and increased partner deal registrations over the previou year. Carahsoft remains committed to furthering FireEyes business momentum and building FireEyes reseller ecosystem. Carahsoft has been an integral contributor to our year-over-year growth in the U.S. public sector market. Their progressive and innovative sales and marketing approach and dedication truly define them as a value-added distributor, said Chris Carter, Vice President of Americas Channels at FireEye. We are pleased to present Carahsoft with the Global Distributor of the Year Award, recognizing their ongoing support and commitment to delivering threat intelligence and security solutions to the public sector. Since its founding in 2004, Carahsoft has partnered with hundreds of technology vendors and thousands of value added resellers and system integrators to provide the public sector market with unparalleled IT solutions. In 2020, the company delivered over $8 billion in sales and expanded its team to more than 1,800 sales, marketing, customer service and contracts professionals. About Carahsoft Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider. As a top-performing GSA Schedule, SEWP and ITES-SW2 contract holder, Carahsoft serves as the Master Government Aggregator for many of its best-of-breed technology vendors, supporting an extensive ecosystem of manufacturers, value-added resellers, system integrators and consulting partners committed to helping government agencies select and implement the best solution at the best possible value. The company's dedicated Solutions Divisions proactively market, sell and deliver FireEye, VMware, AWS, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, Veritas, McAfee, Dell, Adobe, F5 Networks, Google Cloud, ServiceNow, Open Source, Micro Focus Government Solutions, SAP, Salesforce, and Innovative and Intelligence products and services, among others. Carahsoft is consistently recognized by its partners as a top revenue producer and is listed annually among the industry's fastest growing and largest firms by CRN, Inc., Forbes, Washington Technology, The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, and Bloomberg Government. Visit us at www.carahsoft.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Contact Mary Lange (703) 230-7434 PR@carahsoft.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] COLUMBUS, OhioAs Ohio House Republicans dither about whether to expel indicted state Rep. Larry Householder, the ex-House speaker is bringing new legislation aimed at expanding powers to override coronavirus health orders and executive orders from the governor. Householder, a Perry County Republican whom authorities claim oversaw the largest bribery scheme in state history to pass a controversial utility law, announced Thursday he has introduced a bill and a resolution. The bill would allow county commissioners to block or modify any countywide order issued by their countys board of health. Unelected boards need to be held accountable by elected officials, such as our county commissioners who are chosen by the people they serve, to make decisions, said Householder, who stands accused of using the bribe money to expand his political power and fix up a home in Florida. The resolution seeks to hold a statewide referendum next year on allowing the Ohio General Assembly to terminate or change any executive order from the governor on any issue. Householder, who could face up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, said in a release that such a measure would exemplify a true checks and balances system in Ohio government, something we havent seen in a very long time. Householder hasnt introduced legislation that would make substantial policy changes since October 2017 -- though, since then, he has sponsored numerous legislative housekeeping measures and honorary resolutions. Neither the bill nor the resolution have yet been assigned a number or referred to a House committee. Householders successor as speaker, Republican Bob Cupp of Lima, has told reporters that talks are still continuing about whether to kick Householder out of office. Despite his arrest, Householder easily won re-election last November over a handful of write-in opponents. When asked for his reaction to Householders bills, Cupp -- in keeping with his soft-spoken style -- said he didnt have any reaction at all, quite frankly. Cupp continued: It just happened in the matter of course. Well handle the bills as we would with any other according to the rules of the House. Householders bill and resolution were publicized Thursday morning via press releases sent out by the House GOPs communications office. Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer reporter Andrew J. Tobias contributed to this story. Read more Ohio politics and government stories: Ohio Secretary of State sanctions Summit County elections board over handling of November election, rejects board chair reappointment Ohio reduces coronavirus death toll at nursing homes by 860 after abandoning efforts for timely reporting How much coronavirus is left in your ZIP code? See details for every Ohio ZIP Ohio Senate votes to repeal nuclear subsidies in House Bill 6 Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno has backing from Trump adviser in expected U.S. Senate bid Why is it that we can so clearly see the mistakes of others, and yet repeat these same mistakes in our own lives? I am convinced we are meant to learn from the experiences of others. Wisdom is the overriding theme of the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs we are repeatedly warned to avoid foolish behaviour. For instance, Proverbs chapter 4, verses 14 and 15 say: Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. Recently, in doing my devotions I came across a baffling account in 1 Samuel chapter 8 verses 1-3. To understand why I found this story so baffling, you have to understand context. Long before he was a mighty prophet of God, Samuel was a boy being raised by a priest named Eli. Samuel had a divine mission. His mother, Hannah had prayed for a child after years of childlessness and vowed to God to give the child back to God (1 Samuel Chapter 1 verse 11). The womans cry was heard by God. Samuels birth meant the end of her unhappiness and pain caused by years of being jeered by her husbands other wife, Peninnah over her infertility (1 Samuel chapter 1 verse 6). Hannah kept her promise to God. As soon as the baby was weaned, she brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh where he was raised. There he ministered under the guidance of Eli. Samuel had favour with God and man. In contrast, Elis two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests serving in the temple, were self-serving. The Bible describes them as scoundrels who had no regard for the Lord or their priestly duties (1 Samuel chapter 2 verses 12-13). When Samuel was a boy, during a time when were told the word of God and visions were rare (1 Samuel chapter 3 verse 1) God came to Samuel and gave him a message of doom for his mentor, Eli. A message the boy was afraid to deliver. God told Samuel that He was about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he [Eli] did not restrain them (1 Samuel chapter 3 verses 11-14), sacrifice would not appease God. Eli had the power to correct and stop his sons and didnt. Samuel saw God fulfill the prophesy. After Israels enemies, the Philistines, captured the ark of God, Elis sons were killed in battle (1 Samuel chapter 4 verse 11). After hearing of his sons death and the capture of the ark, Eli fell off a chair, broke his neck and died (1 Samuel chapter 4 verses 13-18). It seems the lesson here is: be obedient to God and raise your children to do the same. Discipline them by training them in the right way to go. Simple enough. How did this happen? Now here comes the most confusing part. 1 Samuel chapter 8 verses 1-3 which says: When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba. Yet his sons did not follow in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice. [Emphasis added] This struck me as history repeating. How can Samuel allow his sons to become evil? Wouldnt he have seen how the story ended for Eli and his sons? Wouldnt he have told his own sons about Hophni and Phinehas? Wouldnt he have warned them what can happen when a persons heart turns away from God and toward evil? We can only speculate and ask questions, as the Bible didnt spell out these answers. I dont know what kind of father Samuel was or how he raised his children. What I do know is that it was the Israelite elders recognition that Samuels sons could not lead them after Samuels death that prompted them to demand that Samuel appoint a king. They told him his sons didnt follow in his ways (see 1 Samuel chapter 8 verses 4-8). Samuel didnt deny what they said about his sons. Instead, he warned them how a King would take advantage of them and yet despite news of this exploitation, they still wanted one, since other nations had kings. They rejected God as their king. This move led them to fall out of favour with God. I couldnt help wondering: what if? What if Samuels sons were God-honouring men who were considered righteous and good enough to ably take over the mantle of judge from their father? What if they were obedient to God? They would be judges. But there would be no King Saul, no King David nor King Solomon either. God uses every path we take, every wrong turn. His purpose is never thwarted. Yet there is a hard path; there is a rough road He doesnt want us to take. One that leads to emotional turmoil and pain. All of which can be avoided. Learn from the mistakes of others and choose another way. I pray God will open our eyes to the blunders we dont need to make. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 22:34:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Construction works of communications towers meant to boost mobile phone coverage in rural areas of Zambia has reached an advanced stage, a state-run firm responsible for the implementation of the project has said. Sydney Mupeta, Zamtel chief executive officer, said the project was nearing completion with 790 out of 1,009 towers installed so far. The official was speaking during the installation of two towers in Petauke district in eastern Zambia, according to a release. He said the completion of the project will result in over 90 percent of the country having adequate communication coverage. According to him, the remaining towers will be installed before the end of this year, adding that improved access to communication services in rural areas will help transform livelihoods. In 2017, Zambia and China signed a framework agreement for phase two of the construction of communication towers. The construction of the towers is being implemented by China's telecommunication giant Huawei Technologies. Enditem Leo Koretz projected himself as wealthy almost beyond imagination. He entertained royally, belonged to tony private clubs, had a box at the opera and drove a Rolls-Royce. What people didn't know at the time was that Koretz was a con man who had bilked naive investors to the tune of at least $2 million through a Ponzi scheme. Born to Jewish parents in what is now the Czech Republic, Koretz was brought to Chicago as a small child. He excelled at debate at Lakeview High School, went on to graduate from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1901, and by 1917 he was selling stock in the Bayano River Syndicate that purportedly owned 5 million acres in Panama that were gushing with oil. Koretz was lauded as an oil king as he lived a life of luxury in Evanston. But as Chicago detectives and business owners started catching on to his scheme, Koretz ran to Nova Scotia and assumed the alias of Lou Keyte, a moneybags literary critic. The police nabbed him in November 1924, and he was brought back to Chicago where he was exposed as a master swindler Chicagos very own Charles Ponzi. Harry Dunn's family have been given the go-ahead to proceed with a civil claim for damages against the teenager's alleged killer and her husband in the US. A judge's ruling in the Alexandria district court in Virginia has taken the Dunn family a step closer to a legal showdown with suspect Anne Sacoolas, 18 months on from the 19-year-old's death. Should there be no settlement in the case, the next legal step would be a 'deposition', in which Sacoolas and her husband would be forced to provide their account of events outside of court. Mr Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, father Tim Dunn and twin brother Niall Dunn, would have the option to attend the deposition. The US Government asserted diplomatic immunity on behalf of 43-year-old Sacoolas following the road crash which killed Mr Dunn outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019. She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but an extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by the US State Department in January last year. A US judge at a district court in Virginia has ruled that the family of Harry Dunn (pictured) can proceed with a civil claim against Anne Sacoolas and her husband in relation to his death The judge dismissed an application by Anne Sacoolas (pictured) to dismiss the claim and cited her 'refusal' to return to UK where she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving On Wednesday, Judge Thomas Ellis ruled the Dunn family could proceed with their civil claim against both Mr and Mrs Sacoolas - allowing a claim of 'vicarious liability' to be brought against the suspect's husband. The Virginia State law of vicarious liability means Mr Sacoolas could be liable for the teenager's death by allowing his wife to use the car which killed him. The judge told Sacoolas's lawyer, John McGavin, he 'would probably have read the case a little bit differently' if the pre-trial procedure of 'discovery', or the compilation of evidence, was 'easier to come by'. Reacting to the judge's ruling, the Dunn family's spokesman Radd Seiger said: 'Harry's family are very pleased at the ruling today and that their claims have been allowed to proceed in full. 'They are also pleased that Mr Sacoolas will also have to be deposed so that they can learn the full account of what happened on the night Harry died. 'The Sacoolases and their insurers, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), have sought to deny Harry's family justice at absolutely every turn along the way. 'Common sense has prevailed tonight.' Mr Seiger continued: 'The Dunn family are entitled to pursue their legal rights to the fullest extent possible, ultimately to be determined by the court at trial. Family spokesman Radd Seigler (pictured, centre, with Harry's family in 2019 outside the Ministry of Justice) said 'it is time to get on with delivering justice' to Harry Dunn's family 'It is time to get on with delivering justice to this family and to put these petty attempts to deprive them of their rights behind us. 'The USAA have done themselves a huge disservice in their handling of the claims to date.' In February, Judge Ellis ruled the substantive claim against Mrs Sacoolas can go ahead in the US, despite the suspect's motion to dismiss it. While making the application, lawyers acting on behalf of Mrs Sacoolas made admissions about her employment at the time of the road crash which killed Mr Dunn, saying she and her husband worked for the US state department and 'fled' the UK due to 'issues of security'. Judge Ellis allowed the case to remain in the US and dismissed Sacoolas's application against the substantive civil claim, citing her 'refusal' to return to the UK. Handing his judgment down last month, the judge said: 'While it is commendable that defendant Anne Sacoolas admits that she was negligent and that her negligence caused Harry Dunn's death, this does not equate acceptance of responsibility. Harry Dunn, 19, who was killed in a fatal crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire 'Full acceptance of responsibility entails facing those harmed by her negligence and taking responsibility for her acts where they occurred, in the United Kingdom.' During a short hearing on Wednesday, Judge Ellis told the parties the case could be settled outside of court if both sides agreed to have those discussions. Before the hearing, the Prime Minister said the Foreign Secretary had raised the case with the US secretary of state. The PM earlier confirmed to the Dunn family's constituency MP, Andrea Leadsom, that the UK Government continues to raise the case 'at the highest level'. Asked at Prime Minister's Questions if he could try to persuade President Joe Biden to deliver justice for Mr Dunn, Boris Johnson said: 'She's completely right to continue to raise the case of Harry Dunn and we sympathise deeply with his family. 'It's a case that we continue to raise at the highest level and I know that my Right Honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has only just raised it now with Tony Blinken, the US secretary of state.' Premiers Call on Federal Government to Increase Health Funding Share in Coming Budget Canadas premiers again called on Ottawa to increase its funding share for provincial and territorial health care as it prepares its upcoming federal budget. In a virtual news conference hosted by Quebec Premier Francois Legault on Thursday, premiers across Canada once again outlined their cases urging the Trudeau government to increase its funding share to cover health care costs in their provinces from 22 percent to 35 percent. Rebuilding our health system after a once-in-a-century pandemic requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement Thursday. With wait times for backlogged surgeries growing and our long-term care homes in desperate need of more support, its never been more important that the federal government work with the provinces. All of the Premiers urge the Prime Minister to become a true funding partner and increase the federal governments share of total health care spending to 35 percent through the Canada Health Transfer, and to maintain this level over time with a minimum annual escalator of at least 5 percent, he added. Under the Medical Care Act that was passed in 1966, Ottawa had covered 50 percent of hospital and physicians costs. But the federal share has since been reduced to 22 percent. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said there should be fairness in health funding from the federal level. The past year of COVID-19 had the province finding different ways to control spending in their entire healthcare system. But even in that context, we had to increase our budget for surgeries by a billion above and beyond the COVID crisis, and add hundreds of millions of dollars to address the mental health and addictions crisis that weve been living through here in this province, Kenney said. So even with extraordinarily difficult efforts to control spending, we still have to spend more to address an aging population and a growing population. And the federal government is not participating. Its not helping us carry that burden, even though it has much greater fiscal debt. B.C. Premier John Horgan said the issue has to be fixed now as nobody can tell the true costs the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the country. COVID-19 is the disease the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus causes. The costs of COVID-19 are not just today, theyll be for the long term. We have not any idea yet what the cost, the long-term cost will be for those who will suffer long-term symptoms from COVID-19. We do not know yet what the cost will be to catch up on the surgeries that have been delayed, Horgan said. When Legault was asked what he would do if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doesnt agree to increase the share, he said the existing health care system problems will continue, while adding that the federal government will have the money available in the next few years to finance more of the health costs in provinces. I think its important before announcing new programmes in other areas that we first settle this problem, which is the top priority of Canadians, Legault said. Volocopter GmbH raised 200 million euros ($242 million) in additional capital, the latest move in the increasingly competitive race to be the first electric air-taxi firm to start commercial flights. The so-called Series D funding brings in new investors including toll road and airport operator Atlantia SpA, tire maker Continental AG, NTT, Avala Capital and funds managed by BlackRock, Volocopter said in a statement Wednesday. The fund-raising is oversubscribed, with all existing investors taking part. Volocopter plans to start commercial operations in Singapore by 2023, with tickets for 15-minute tourist flights already on sale for 300 euros. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is also considering a type-certification application, opening up the possibility of flights in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington in the next two to three years. The fund-raising comes amid a flurry of investment in the emerging urban air-mobility sector as would-be air-taxi firms jostle to bring rival technologies to the market. Joby Aviation last month agreed to merge with Reinvent Technology Partners, a blank-check company formed by the founders of LinkedIn Corp. and Zynga Inc., taking it public. The transaction is expected to provide about $1.6 billion. Earlier in February, investment banker Ken Moelis struck another SPAC deal to list California-based flying-taxi developer Archer. The transaction is expected to generate about $1.1 billion in gross proceeds and involves a $20 million investment from United Airlines Holdings Inc., which said it could buy 200 of the companys craft to whisk customers to the airport. Volocopter, which has raised 322 million euros in total, said the new funding will solidify its position in urban air-mobility, helping its VoloCity craft through certification and accelerating the launch of commercial routes. The two-seat model, powered by multiple electric rotors, performed its first manned test in 2011 and has since completed more than 1,000 flights. The company, whose existing backers include carmakers Daimler AG and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, as well as logistics firm DB Schenker and the venture-capital arm of chipmaker Intel Corp., is seeking FAA approval alongside an earlier application to the European Aviation Safety Agency, as well as Singaporean authorities. About the photo: A Volocopter unmanned air taxi transport flies over Marina Bay during test flight in Singapore. Photographer: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below LOS ANGELES Thirteen people killed in a traffic collision in a remote stretch of Southern California near the Mexican border were among 44 migrants apparently smuggled through a large breach in the border wall, the U.S. Border Patrol said on Wednesday. The migrants were traveling in a pair of S.U.V.s that crossed from Mexico into Californias Imperial Valley before dawn on Tuesday, border officials said. One of the vehicles, a red Chevrolet Suburban, burst into flames shortly after crossing, they said. The other, a maroon Ford Expedition crammed with 25 people, traveled about 30 miles west to the town of Holtville, Calif., where shortly after sunrise it drove through an intersection and into the path of a large tractor-trailer rig. Initial investigation into the origins of the vehicles indicate a potential nexus to the breach in the border wall, said Gregory Bovino, chief of the El Centro sector of the Border Patrol, which patrols the vast agricultural region in southeastern California. A man who was told 'it's Taser time, d**khead' before being zapped and thrown to the ground by police has had most charges against him dropped. Mathew Gale was pulled over by officers in an unmarked car in Broadbeach Waters on the Gold Coast at 8.30pm on May 21. Body cam footage showed the 38-year-old, who was allegedly travelling 20km/h over the limit, stop the car and get out. A tussle broke out between the trio which ended with Mr Gale being forced to the ground (pictured) 'Please don't ever tailgate me like that,' he told police in the video. Police asked for Gale's licence and went to take it out of his wallet, prompting to driver to say, 'do not snatch, ever,' according to footage released in October. A scuffle broke out between the trio which ended with Mr Gale being forced to the ground. 'Righto, it's Taser time d**khead,' one officer said. 'Roll over on your stomach. Roll over on your stomach!' he yelled over the Gale's screams. Matthew Gale stopped the vehicle and got out of the car, telling police: 'Please don't ever tailgate me like that.' The motorist initially faced five charges, including obstructing police and speeding, with police also claiming he was drink driving. On Thursday, Gale appeared in the Southport Magistrate's Court prepared to face five charges, including obstructing police and speeding, with police also claiming he was drink driving. But most of those charges were dropped on the morning of the hearing, and Gale pleaded guilty to a single speeding charge, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. Police prosecutor Senior Constable Dan McShane alleged the driver was caught moving 20km/h above the limit, but did not know exactly how fast he was going. Defence barrister Bernard Reilly said his client was physically manhandled and spend hours in the watchhouse. The court heard Gale went to the doctor the following day, who found cuts and grazes on his forehead, temple, arms and elbows. There were also red lines from the handcuffs around his wrists that were still visible about 16 hours after the arrest. Outside court, his solicitor said it was unfortunate that it took so long for the charges to be dropped against Gale (pictured) 'He found the whole episode painful and distressing,' Mr Reilly said. Magistrate Dooley fined Gale $80 and no conviction was recorded. Outside court, his solicitor said it was unfortunate that it took so long for the charges to be dropped. 'Most importantly Mr Gale can now move on, his name has been cleared, his reputation has been cleared and he can try to put this ordeal behind him,' he said. Gale said he was 'very thankful'. Coming at the heels of the well-received launch of digital lifestyle experience realme TechLife and the recent cutback on the realme 7 Pro selling price, the leading smart technology company reinforces its aim of making interconnectivity attainable for every Filipino with another price drop, this time on the realme 7. The midrange model is available for only Php11,990 beginning March 5 via Lazada, Shopee, and official realme dealers and stores across the country. realme follows TechLife launch with a Php3,000 price drop on one of its most powerful smartphones starting March 5 The realme 7 is the first smartphone in the world to be powered by the MediaTek Helio G95 Gaming Processor. Boasting industry-leading features and cutting-edge capabilities, the realme 7 is also the first to receive the TUV Rheinland Smartphone Reliability Verification. This certification, which includes 22 major and 38 minor tests, vouches for the products durability and reliability for various daily-use scenarios. Introducing the models new cut-rate price tag is among realmes steps to make Smart Living more accessible to all. With digital increasingly becoming the primary platform and norm for our modern communities, realme is working to make sure that a highly efficient and enjoyable Smart Living ecosystem is available in the market at a competitive rate, Austine Huang, realme Philippines VP for Marketing said. We want to bring the wonders of tech to the Filipinos fingertips. And that, of course, begins with the most-used device: the smartphone. Premium Specs for Premium Experience on a budget The realme 7 packs value for money with its Octa-core CPU paired with a super Carbon Fiber Cooling System. This combo makes for a device with the power to host large apps and massive games, with zero lag. Users can finally say goodbye to AFKs and an overheating unit! Capture a sharper and smoother reality Users are also enabled to snap a carbon copy of reality with the help of realme 7s Sony 64MP Quad Cam. This produces ultra-high resolution pictures with unparalleled clarity. The smartphones seamless 6.5 mirror-designed screen also lets you enjoy your photos, watch your favorite films, join video conferences, and view other displays in incredible detail. Your favorite digital activity, for hours on end realme 7s massive 5,000mAh battery can support extended hours, giving users time to immerse in and maximize the phones capabilities, with a low turnover time for charging. On a single full-charge, digital natives can game for 9 hours, binge movies for 15 hours, or listen to their favorite music for 81 hours -- all uninterrupted. The realme 7 series is fully integrated into the realme Smart Living ecosystem, with capabilities and applications that work with and complement both the recently launched realme Smart TV and the realme Watch S Pro. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) walks through Statuary Hall to the House Chamber for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Pelosi: National Guard to Stay at Capitol As Long as They Are Needed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said thousands of National Guard troops deployed at the U.S. Capitol may remain as long as they are needed, following a report that said the Capitol Police requested the Guard to stay in place for two more months. We have to have what we need when we need it, and in the numbers that we need, the California Democrat said in a news conference on March 4. She then deferred to Capitol Police leadership, saying thats a security decision, not hers. This issue of the National Guard is one that will be made by the Capitol Police, and the Police Board and the rest, she added. But Im not in a position to respond to that [question]. But we should have them here as long as they are needed. Thousands of National Guard members remain stationed at the Capitol. They were deployed after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, and more than 20,000 were reportedly on hand during the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Joe Biden. At the same time, officials also set up a non-scalable fence topped with razor wire around the Capitol facility. Pelosi, however, downplayed claims that the House changed its schedule and wouldnt hold votes on March 4 due to an alleged threat. I dont think anybody should take any encouragement that, because some trouble-makers might show up, that we changed our whole schedule, Pelosi told reporters. No, we just moved it a few hours, and it largely will accommodate the Republicans going to their own [conference]. Separately, the Senate remained in session on March 4. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a former CIA official, wrote she had heard that National Guard members were asked by Capitol Police to extend their mission for 60 days. Capitol Police officials didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. No one likes seeing the fortress-like security around the Capitol. And no one wants to again have a security problem in and around this symbolic place, Slotkin wrote on Twitter. But whether an extension has been requested or the mission is indeed terminating on March 12, its critical that members of Congress get a briefing on whats behind these decisions. In recent days, Republican lawmakers have been critical of the continued deployment of the National Guard troops, while there have been bipartisan concerns about how Guard members have been treated in the nations capital. Earlier this week, the National Guard confirmed that some troops in Washington were served undercooked food. There have been no cases of food-borne illness reported. Were working with our contractors to address concerns. We go to their places of business and spot-check meals for cooking temperature and overall quality. We examine the kitchens for safety and cleanliness. Vendor facilities have been inspected multiple times, and no substantial issues have been recorded. Contracting personnel visit the D.C. Armory daily during the delivery of meals. We observe the deliveries, take pictures of the meals and talk to soldiers on the line about the food they get, Col. Robert Carver, director of the DC Joint Information Center, told The Epoch Times via email. Democracy Protection Campaign launched by URJ's Religious Action Center of Texas Ever since Jewish voters in Houston performed a mitzvot when casting their ballot in the historic 2020 election, the Reform Jewish Movement has been doing its part in ensuring the nations most vulnerable communities can continue to take part in their civic duty of voting. The national Every Voice, Every Vote campaign by the URJ Religious Action Center (RAC) made an influential impact in turning out low-propensity voters during the November 2020 General Election season. Young people and voters of color from a variety of states, including Texas, were the focus of this campaign in an effort to reach 100% voting in URJ congregations and to combat voter suppression. The Texas chapter of RAC pushed this campaign in congregations across the state, turning out its members to vote through email communications, postcards, phone calls and more. Harris County offered drive-thru voting for the first time, providing a convenient way of voting for many people to make their voice heard. Although this method of voting received backlash from political leaders nationwide, RAC has expressed support for protecting the right to vote. In Harris County, our lay and professional leaders encouraged our congregants to vote, provided up-to-date information on voting by mail and drive-thru voting and volunteered at polling places to ensure that everyones rights were protected, RAC Houston organizer fredi Bleeker Franks told the JHV. After divisive rhetoric stirred controversies during the 2020 election season, issues regarding elections and voting will be targeted by legislators on a federal and state level. The Texas GOP has made it clear that they will be advocating for measures that strengthen the security of voting and limit the convenient opportunities for people to vote. On the other hand, the Texas Democratic Party has asserted its opposition for any measure that would infringe on an individuals right to vote. Meanwhile, RAC-TX has looked very carefully into this issue. In November, RAC-TX created a team of leaders to research key political issues that aligned with Jewish values and would be hot topics of debate during the then-upcoming Texas Legislative Session. Meeting with state legislators and advocacy organizations to discuss these topics, research was conducted into the issues of health care, criminal justice and election integrity. Texas Rep. Ann Johnson, representing West University Place and Bellaire, met with Houston organizers in December to discuss the Texas Legislatures George Floyd Act and criminal justice reform. Former Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus, of Temple Beth-El in San Antonio, also met with RAC organizers. Teen organizer Shayna Levy of Austin was invited, among others, to participate in the research team on behalf of NFTY. Working with legislators and adult organizers has been so incredible and such an amazing opportunity, Levy told the JHV. They have taught me valuable lessons about organizing, what it means to put on a meaningful program and how to make lasting change. At RAC-TXs townhall event in January, democracy protection was chosen as the issue of focus for 2021. Because of the current political climate, the campaign will be taking a defensive approach to its advocacy, aiming to ensure that voting rights will not be limited by legislation. Although there is not expected to be significant headway for expanding voting rights, RAC-TX is hoping to support proactive policies regarding voter registration, absentee ballots and voting accessibility. There have been several bills to establish online voter registration, as well as polling locations on college campuses. The Crystal Mason Act, by Texas Rep. Celia Israel, will ensure that honest mistakes in the election process will not be criminally punished. This bill is hoping to bring justice to Texas voters like Crystal Mason who was sentenced to five years in prison for casting a provisional ballot one that did not even count in the election results. The campaigns launch and first trainings took place virtually last week, outlining the campaigns agenda and ambitions. Speakers discussed the policies RAC will focus on this session, and a training on Texas government taught participants how they can take action and be part of the movement for voting rights. At the start of the Zoom meeting, participants were asked by Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel of Colleyville, Texas, what was Jewish about voting. Counting and being counted and showing up to be part of your community were some of the many responses. We have to care for the communities in which we live, the rabbi said to the audience while sharing a collection of Jewish texts on democratic ideals via the Sefaria website. Leslie Tramer from San Antonio said at the event that she has voted in every election she was eligible for several decades. She has a prosthetic leg that hindered her ability to vote in one election, but she spoke out to officials in an effort to make it more accessible to her and others who may face that same issue. She was worried that no one else would have spoken up if they were in her same situation, and that is why she has joined the RAC-TX Democracy Protection Campaign. One participant at the event, McAllen, Texas voter Rosalie Weisfeld, discussed in a breakout room that her absentee ballot was rejected in the 2018 election. She currently is being represented by the Texas Civil Rights Project, but the case has been delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Rejected ballots are common for thousands of Texas voters each election season, but this also is a core reason why she is participating in the campaign. From now until later this month, the goal for the campaign will be outreach to county election officials to build an advocacy coalition. The second phase will follow with legislator meetings to advocate for the policies supported by RAC. Anyone interested in participating in the campaign is welcome to sign up at rac.org/TXCampaignSignUp. Within the campaign, webinars will take place online for congregants and organizers to check in with each other and provide relative information regarding the progress of the campaign. Most recently, Greene Family Camp and NFTYs Texas and Oklahoma region are partnering with RAC-TX to include teens in this campaign. A Texas Government 101 training was scheduled on March 3 for teens and adults, alike, strengthening the coalition RAC has with its younger community members. Others interested in advocating for issues like democracy protection can get involved with RAC-TXs Democracy Protection Campaign, by talking to their representatives about changes they want to see in the government, or can get in touch with organizations doing advocacy work in issues they are interested in, teen leader Levy said. We hope to inspire change that not only benefits the members of our congregations, but the people of Texas, Houston organizer Lisa Stone noted at the campaign launch. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Syracuse, N.Y. To hear Gov. Andrew Cuomos critics tell it, March 25 is a date that will live in infamy. On that date, Cuomos health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, sent a memo directing nursing homes to help free up hospital beds by taking Covid-19 patients into their facilities. Now many of Cuomos detractors say the directive was the reason for New Yorks nation-leading tragedy of more than 15,000 nursing home deaths from the coronavirus. It was not. Cuomos policy was ill-advised, some experts say. And there are still plenty of questions about how the health department supervised nursing homes during the pandemic. But the simple notion that by sending Covid-19 patients to nursing homes Cuomo flooded them with virus and caused thousands of unnecessary deaths does not hold up. The evidence thus far indicates that the March 25 memo had a minor impact on nursing home deaths. And even that is hard to pin down. The coronavirus was mainly brought into nursing homes by employees, many of whom never developed symptoms, said David Grabowski, a health care policy professor at Harvard Medical School. Although the mandate was unfortunate, I do not think it was the major driver in nursing home fatalities in the state,' Grabowski said in an email. You wouldnt know that from the superheated accusations aimed at the governor. Governor Cuomos disastrous March order knowingly sent Covid-positive patients into nursing homes, which led to the deaths of thousands of the states parents and grandparents,' said U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, a Republican who is considering a run for governor. In a Feb. 18 conference call with reporters, Reed blamed Cuomos death order for every nursing home fatality in the state. Fifteen thousand of our residents of New York were killed as a result of the Covid-19 order back in March,' he said. Cuomo brought some of this hyperbole on himself. The March 25 directive to nursing homes was delivered in his typical top-down, heavy-handed style. And for months his administration refused to provide realistic fatality data for nursing homes, sparking outrage and making it impossible to evaluate the policy in real time. But the reality that Cuomo underreported thousands of nursing home deaths has too often blended with an unsupported assumption that his controversial March 25 directive caused those deaths. Democratic Assemblyman Ron Kim, for example, said Cuomos order led to the spread of the disease among New Yorks most vulnerable population. And then, to cover his tracks, the governor may have obstructed justice. Most evidence indicates the March 25 directive played a minor role in spreading the disease. Even The Empire Center for Public Policy, one of Cuomos chief critics on the issue, said the March policy was not the sole or primary cause of the heavy death toll in nursing homes.' Cuomo is in trouble, including over recent accusations of sexual harassment. His multiple crises have attracted national attention. Amid the furor, it may be too easy to gloss over how much we still dont know about the governors alleged death order. Further investigation is warranted. What follows is a look at what we know so far. 1. Sending Covid patients to nursing homes was not the major factor in spreading the virus. On March 25, faced with a potentially disastrous shortage of hospital beds, Zucker directed nursing homes to help by admitting medically stable hospital patients who had Covid-19. The policy was reversed May 10. After that, hospital patients had to test negative for coronavirus before they could be admitted to nursing homes. Dr. Howard Zucker, state health commissioner, foreground left, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo speak during coronavirus briefing March 4 at the State Capitol in Albany.(Mike Groll/Office of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo) In the six weeks before the guidance changed, nursing homes took in more than 6,300 Covid-positive patients who had not previously been in their facilities. Another 2,700 residents who initially got sick in nursing homes were returned to those facilities after being treated for Covid-19 at a hospital. That sounded like a recipe for disaster, given the vulnerability of frail nursing home residents. But the coronavirus had more of a head start than anybody knew at the time. It was already spreading through most of the nursing homes in the hardest-hit areas. The strongest indication that Cuomos policy may have increased the death toll in nursing homes comes from the Empire Center, the conservative think tank. In an analysis of limited data on hospital discharges, the Empire Center said nursing homes that accepted Covid hospital patients were more likely, on average, to have Covid deaths. Statistically, their calculations indicated that several hundred to possibly more than 1,000 deaths might be attributed to hospital discharges spurred by the March 25 memo. Or they might not. Its important to be cautious about reading too much into it,' said Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center. First of all, correlation does not equal causation. There are confounding factors that could be clouding the situation.' Here is one important caveat: In the New York City area, where the vast majority of hospital discharges and nursing home deaths occurred, the data showed no connection between the two, the Empire Center concluded. Thats huge. Downstate areas New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley accounted for 95% of the hospital patients sent to nursing homes while the March 25 guidance was in effect, Hammond said. Those areas accounted for 82% of the nursing home deaths during the period. Hammond speculated that the coronavirus was already spreading so rampantly Downstate that admitting hospital patients to nursing homes made no difference. Cuomos health department agreed. Of the 310 nursing homes that accepted hospital patients under the March 25 guidance, 304 of them 98% told state officials in a survey they already had confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19 before hospital patients were admitted, according to the health department. At the time, the virus was especially widespread in Downstate nursing homes, said James Clyne, president of LeadingAge New York, a group that represents nonprofit nursing homes. They all had Covid in their buildings,' Clyne said. Spread of it was not from discharged hospital residents. It simply wasnt. In Upstate areas not yet saturated with the virus, sending Covid-19 patients to nursing homes may have increased transmission of the virus, Hammond said. John Bacheller, a blogger and retired state policy analyst, reviewed the Empire Center data and came to similar conclusions: The March 25 guidance had no effect on Downstate deaths. Bachellers review of the data produced a smaller estimate of the Upstate impact: The states policy contributed to between 27 and 165 of the 966 deaths of Upstate nursing home residents, he estimated. But thats only half the picture, he said. Its hard to estimate the positive effect of the policy in hospitals. Although people probably did die in nursing homes because of this, you dont know how many people would have died because they couldnt get into hospitals, Bacheller said. It was not until late fall long after the March 25 memo was moot that nursing homes in Central New York and other Upstate area suffered most of their fatalities. As the virus spread through communities, nursing homes suffered catastrophic losses. Zuckers order was a minor factor in the tragedy. 2. Other states also sent Covid-19 patients to nursing homes. The potential for the coronavirus to overwhelm hospitals was real. In early March, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes said they should be part of the solution. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued guidance March 13 saying nursing homes could accept Covid-19 patients from hospitals if the nursing homes were equipped to properly care for them. Zuckers March 25 memo stated the case more urgently and left out any reference to conditioning the transfer on whether the nursing home was adequately prepared. In addition, Cuomo signed legislation around that time granting health-care facilities immunity from lawsuits related to Covid-19, further encouraging them to take patients. That combination made some queasy. It seemed to open the door for nursing homes to admit patients without enough concern for safety. New Yorks policy was a mistake, but one shared by several states, said Grabowski, the Harvard Medical School expert. The March 25 memo also was consistent with guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control at the time, he said. The March 25 mandate erred because while certain nursing homes had the capacity to care for Covid patients safely, many did not,' Grabowski said. The memo basically pushed the problem from overcrowded hospitals to under-resourced nursing homes,' he said. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan adopted similar policies. Other states drafted proposals like New Yorks but softened them after pushback. In many states, the push-and-pull between hospitals and nursing homes caused friction. In the early part of the pandemic, I am not certain I would suggest any of the states did a great job,' Grabowski said. A better solution would have been to create standalone, specialized facilities where Covid-19 patients could recuperate after leaving the hospital, Grabowski said. That would improve care and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to uninfected patients. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, echoed the sentiments of many critics who questioned sending Covid patients to nursing homes where they could infect others. How, he said, could that not make things worse? After all, it was Cuomo who said the virus could sweep through nursing homes like fire through dry grass. If youre putting Covid-infected patients into a nursing home certainly thats not going to help the situation,' Barclay said. And I would suspect that it makes it worse. I think thats why theres so much controversy around this. Thats not hard to think that thats going to be the case, right? New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued a report Jan. 28 criticizing the health department for under-reporting deaths from nursing homes.AP Hammond said the Empire Centers study was predicated on the same idea. Even if hospital patients didnt introduce the virus when they moved to nursing homes, they added to the load. Its just true that its harder to handle 10 infected patients than it is to handle three,' Hammond said. So the more you have, the greater the risk. How much the admission of hospital patients added to virus transmission in nursing homes is impossible to know without more detailed analysis, Grabowski said. Most cases were spread by staff, but a smaller share probably stemmed from hospital patients, and those likely caused some deaths, he said. Other factors, including staff turnover and nursing home staffing levels, also were critically important. In her Jan. 28 report on nursing home deaths, state Attorney General Letitia James said the March 25 policy may have put residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities.' But Jamess investigation showed that nursing home staffing played a more predictable role. The AG discovered numerous problems at nursing homes that increased the risk to residents, including a lack of personal protective equipment, inadequate testing and poor compliance with infection control rules. Most of the problems were exacerbated by low staffing levels. Nursing homes with smaller staff-to-resident ratios consistently had more Covid deaths, James reported. (Update: The Empire Center today issued a report that questioned the AGs findings on staffing levels. Using the more complete fatality data recently released by the state, The Empire Center found no clear correlation between staffing levels and deaths.) 3. Most Onondaga County nursing homes were unaffected by the memo. Eight nursing homes in Onondaga County had residents die of Covid-19 while the March 25 order was in effect. Only two took in Covid-19 patients from hospitals that had not previously lived at their facilities. That suggests that the virus was already spreading through at least some local nursing homes without help from hospital discharges. Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center, the largest nursing home in Syracuse with 583 beds, accepted 20 new residents from hospitals, state records show. Loretto also readmitted one resident who had gone to the hospital after contracting Covid-19 at the nursing home. Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, which has 440 beds, took in eight new Covid-positive patients from hospitals, state records show. Bishop also readmitted 10 residents who had gone to the hospital and recovered. (Two other local homes, Central Park and Van Duyn, readmitted residents who returned after being treated for Covid-19 at hospitals.) During the period following the March 25 order, and for 25 days after it ended, there were 115 Covid-19 deaths involving residents at eight Onondaga County nursing homes. They accounted for 77% of all county deaths during the period. Bishop and Loretto the two facilities that took in hospital patients accounted for 46 deaths. Both nursing homes had established separate units in their buildings where Covid-19 patients were isolated with negative-pressure ventilation to prevent the virus from spreading. Loretto staffed its coronavirus unit with employees who did not work elsewhere in the facility, said Julie Sheedy, a Loretto official. Thanks to the precautions, Sheedy said, she does not believe the hospital transfers spread the virus at Loretto. We were already well-prepared and had an environment to care for our residents safely, so we did not see a significant spread in our facility,' she said. Loretto had four coronavirus deaths during the period. Bishop had 42 deaths, the most among the eight facilities. But Bishop also actively worked with hospitals to admit Covid-19 patients at its isolation unit, according to previous news reporting. Many of the patients transferred to Bishop were not expected to survive, making the facility something of a Covid hospice. That may partially explain its high death count. In its reports to federal regulators, Bishop reported taking in 40 hospital patients as of May 24. Its not clear why that number is more than double what state records show. Facility officials declined to comment for this report. We are in the business of patient care, not politics, and therefore have no comment on this, said Dawn Harsch, a company spokesperson. Onondaga County suffered most of its nursing home deaths long after the March 25 guidance was moot. Two out of every three nursing home deaths in the county occurred after the state changed its policy and required hospital patients to test negative for Covid-19 before going to a nursing home. Those deaths occurred even though, since early May, the state has required frequent testing of nursing home workers. In December, when a surge of Covid-19 hit Central New York, Loretto converted an entire building to a Covid-only facility to relieve pressure on local hospital capacity. Its one of 19 such facilities in the state. More than 230 patients have been treated there, Sheedy said. 4. Cuomo brought the skepticism on himself. The March 25 memo was issued during a chaotic, scary time as the pandemic was killing hundreds of people a day in New York. Cuomo and Zucker focused on the potential that hospitals could quickly run out of space to treat the most serious cases. At the time, the state projected a need for up to 110,000 hospital beds. It had 53,000. During this global health emergency, all NHs (nursing homes) must comply with the expedited receipt of residents returning from hospitals to NHs,' the March 25 memo said. No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. NHs are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission.' On May 10, the policy was abruptly reversed. Suddenly, no hospital patient with Covid-19 could be discharged to a nursing home without first testing negative. The Fahey building at Loretto (foreground) was converted in December 2020 to a Covid-only facility to take patients from hospitals.Brian Phillips The top-down governing style of the Cuomo administration is at least partly to blame for the intense blowback his policy is taking. The March 25 memo took nursing homes by surprise, said Christopher Laxton, executive director of a national organization representing nursing home physicians. Laxton and other critics say New York officials should have sought input from nursing homes before issuing the directive. Instead, Laxtons group, AMDA-The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term-Care Medicine, attacked the directive after it came out, saying it was not in the least consistent with patient safety principles.' The health department put out the March 25 memo at a time when it was still struggling to get a grasp on how many residents were dying in nursing homes. Nursing home deaths peaked April 8, according to a health department report in July. But it wasnt until a week later that the health department asked nursing homes to start reporting daily how many residents died of Covid-19 in their facilities. The March 25 directive was because the governor was focused on hospitals and frankly didnt give a crap about nursing homes,' said Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, which advocates for nursing home residents. Mollots group did not support the policy. And Cuomos resistance to providing complete fatality data showed his ongoing disregard for nursing homes, he said. But its not clear from the data whether the March 25 policy increased the death toll, he said. Its hard to say,' Mollot said. 'I dont think it was a good idea, but its hard to say.' State officials have repeatedly said the March 25 directive did not force nursing homes to accept Covid-19 patients. Under existing state law, it was incumbent on nursing homes to refuse Covid patients from hospitals if they were not equipped to care for them safely, they say. Laxton said nursing homes saw it differently. The fact is, the nursing homes took that order as a mandate, and they started accepting patients,' he said. Sheedy, of the Loretto nursing home, agreed. We were required to take them,' she said. After the state health department took flak over the March 25 policy, it produced a report in July exonerating itself. Among other things, the departments report said most Covid patients discharged from hospitals were no longer infectious, based on the average length of hospital stays. The department also said that the peak number of nursing home deaths preceded the peak number of patients admitted from hospitals. That in-house report met with skepticism. Some states hit hard by nursing home deaths, including Connecticut and New Jersey, hired outside consultants to review their actions. In the end, it was the Cuomo teams unwillingness to answer longstanding demands for fatality data that caused the greatest outrage. When the numbers were finally forced out, concerns over the March 25 memo escalated and went national. If that leads to an investigation of nursing home deaths and how to prevent them, it could yield positive results, say advocates for residents. But several advocates said the opportunity will be lost if the focus remains solely on the March 25 memo. I hope that perhaps we can channel some of this energy around the Cuomo scandal into finally improving things for residents,' said Nina Kohn, a Syracuse University law professor who specializes in the civil rights of older adults. But we cant let all of our focus be about who to blame for what. We really need to be thinking about how do we solve the suffering. 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 A soldier who raped a mother just days after she gave birth has today been sentenced to six years in prison. Thomas Cowley, 21, a former soldier at the Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, sexually assaulted the first-time mother just days after she left hospital having undergone a caesarean section operation. After a trial at Oxford Crown Court, Cowley was convicted of one count of rape and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and jailed for six years. Judge Michael Gledhill QC said today: 'This rape was inflicted upon this woman within days of her giving birth. You forced yourself upon her.' Thomas Cowley, 21, who sexually assaulted the first-time mother just days after she left hospital, was sentenced to six years in prison Prosecutor David Beard said that the serviceman had also strangled the woman at her 21st birthday party in front of horrified guests - clasping his hands around her neck and throwing her across the room. The judge remarked: 'The assault was a disgrace. On her 21st birthday party you took hold of her and threw her across the room, causing bruising and red marks.' The victim, her partner and a dozen of her friends and family were all sat in the public gallery in support today. The mother of Cowley was heard sobbing as the victim's horrific ordeal was read to the judge. In the emotional statement, the young woman explained that following the attack, she was left a nervous wreck and was forced to quit her job, before spiralling into suicidal thoughts. Defending Cowley, Claire Fraser said: 'In his public life, Thomas Cowley was ambitious, driven and determined. 'He expressed sadness and recognises it is not the type of behaviour that he condones, nor which he would carry forward. 'In support of him are both his parents who sit in court. They have remained incredibly supportive of him and he has a significant respect to them. 'He spent his 21st birthday in custody and custody in the current climate is an incredibly difficult place. He recognises this as a period he needs to get through and to make sure that this type of behaviour does not happen again.' Cowley had previously admitted controlling and coercive behaviour before the trial in which the jury convicted him of one count of rape and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The former solider was based at the Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Pictured: GV os the barracks Sitting at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Gledhill said: 'It is painful for everybody in this court, including me, to see you standing in the dock having pleaded guilty to or found guilty of very serious offences indeed. 'You are aged 21 years and the offences began in 2017. That is four years ago and you were somebody who had just left school. People speak highly of you, your colleagues in the Army claimed you were a good soldier and respected you. 'Those who wrote character references are horrified that you are here because they see you as they have seen you since you were a little boy, a kind and caring young man who would not hurt anybody. 'You have wrecked your life, you have to recognise what you did was wholly wrong. You do not treat anybody in the way you treated that woman. The most important aspect of your life was the Army, which is gone and it is entirely your own fault.' The judge sentenced Cowley to six years in prison and he was made subject to an indefinite restraining order against the victim. Samsung has introduced their next generation image sensor technology called ISOCELL 2.0. It builds upon their ISOCELL Plus technology, which was announced back in 2018, further enhancing the light capture capabilities, colour fidelity and allowing the creation of sensors with greater pixel density. With the first generation of ISOCELL, Samsung introduced a barrier between the individual pixels that prevented a phenomena called color crosstalk. This phenomena would result from light bleeding between neighboring pixels and thus reduce overall image quality. While the technology helped Samsung release sensors that packed up to a massive 108MP, they discovered that the barriers between pixels were imperfect and still contributed to the colour crosstalk effect. To solve this, Samsung replaced the existing metal barrier with an optimized new material that is more reflective. This new material reportedly lowers the optical loss in each pixel and drastically improves light sensitivity, especially for smaller pixels. Smartphone cameras utilizing these sensors will be able to capture more light and produce images with a greater number of pixels. There is no information as to when Samsung is planning to ship sensors with ISOCELL 2.0 technology, but we can assume it should appear in smartphone later this year. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said In a press conference with the President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo in Cairo on Thursday that he discussed with his counterpart the latest developments in the Grand Ethiopian Rennaisance Dam (GERD) dispute as well as issues of bilateral cooperation. El-Sisi reiterated during the press conference that the Egyptian stance in the GERD dispute is based on reaching a fair legal binding agreement to fill and operate the dam in a way that does not harm the downstream countries. The Egyptian president stated that he also discussed with Embalo bilateral cooperation as well as the latest regional developments, including counter terrorism efforts. Meanwhile, Embalo, who is on his first official visit to Cairo, praised during the press conference the inspiring Egyptian experience and Egypts vital role in achieving development, economic growth, and protecting peace and security in Africa through sharing its various expertise. Addressing President El-Sisi, Embalo said You are an African, and we remember the struggle of the late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser on behalf of the African continent, and you are walking on the same path. Embalo added that "while at one point in the past Egypt was absent in Africa," but today Egypt is back and we all feel the role of the Egyptian presidency and Egyptian diplomacy in the continent." According to the Egyptian presidency, the two presidents discussed boosting cooperation on various levels to promote development efforts in Guinea-Bissau, especially in trade exchange, investment, and infrastructure domains. Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said that El-Sisi highlightedthe importance Egypt attaches to enrolling cadres from Guinea-Bissau in capacity building and technical support programmes organised by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, with a view to upgrading the abilities of participants in various fields to cater to the African country's needs. Short link: A CT-scan study of the mummy of King Seqenenre-Taa-II, whose death eventually helped the expulsion of Egypts invaders and reunited the kingdom, revealed new details about how the King died. The study by Zahi Hawass and Sahar Saleem has been published on February 17th in a scientific Journal (Frontiers in Medicine). Hawass and Saleem suggest that the pharaoh died close to the battlefield and was ceremoniously executed by several attackers using Hyksos weapons. The 3D CT images revealed that the embalmers had skillfully concealed some of the wounds, implying professional mummification of the body in the royal Theban mummification workshop Modern medical technology helped tell the story of a king in ancient Egypt who was martyred for the sake of reunifying Egypt in the 16th century BC. Pharaoh Seqenenre Taa II the Brave, ruled southern Egypt during the occupation of the country by the Hyksos, a foreign ruling dynasty that seized the delta in northern Egypt for about a century (1650-1550 BC). The mummy of Seqenenre was discovered in Deir Al-Bahri Royal Cachette in 1881 and was examined then for the first time; in the 1960s, the mummy was studied using X-rays. These examinations indicated that the deceased King had suffered several severe head injuries; however, there were no injuries to the rest of the body. Theories have differed as to the cause of the death of the King, as some believed that the king was killed in a battle, perhaps by the hands of the Hyksos king himself. Others indicated that Seqenenre may have been killed by a conspiracy while sleeping in his palace. Due to the poor condition of the mummy, some suggested that the mummification may have taken place in a hurry away from the royal mummification workshop. CT scan technology is one of the medical imaging techniques used to study archaeological remains, including mummies, safely and non-invasively, which helps to preserve them. CT scans helped study many Egyptian royal mummies and determine age at death, sex, as well as how they died. In their research, Hawass and Saleem presented a new interpretation of the events before and after the death of King Seqenenre, based on two- and three-dimensional CT image reconstruction using advanced computer technologies. The deformed hands indicate that Seqenenre may have been captured on the battlefield and his hands were tied behind his back, preventing him from deflecting the fierce attack from his face. The CT scan of Seqenenres mummy revealed details of the head injuries, including wounds that had not been discovered in previous examinations and had been skillfully hidden by embalmers. The research included a study of various Hyksos weapons stored at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, including an axe, a spear, and several daggers. Saleem and Hawass confirmed the compatibility of these weapons with the wounds of Seqenenre. The results indicate that Seqenenre was killed by multiple hits from different angles by several Hyksos attackers who used different weapons. Seqenenre was rather killed in a ceremonial execution. This indicates that Seqenenre was really on the front line, risking his life with his soldiers to liberate Egypt. This CT study also determined that Seqenenre was about forty years old at the time of his death, based on the shape of the bones (such as the pubic symphysis joint) providing the most accurate estimate to date. Zahi Hawass, the former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, and Sahar Saleem, a professor of radiology, are pioneers in the use of CT scans to study several royal mummies of the New Kingdom, including reputable warriors such as Thutmose III, Ramses II, and Ramses III; however, Seqenenre appears to be the only one among them who was on the front line of the battlefield. In addition, this study revealed important details about the embalming of the body of Seqenenre. For example, embalmers used a sophisticated method of hiding wounds on the king's head under a layer of embalming material that works similarly to the fillings used in modern plastic surgery. This means that the mummification was actually done in a royal mummification workshop rather than a poorly prepared place, as was previously suggested. This study provides important new details about a pivotal point in Egypt's long history. The death of Seqenenre inspired his successors to continue the struggle to unify Egypt and to found the New Kingdom. In a stela known as the Tablet of Carnavaron, found in the Temple of Thebes of Karnak, the battles fought by Kamos, son of Seqenenre against the Hyksos is recorded. Kamos fell dead during the war against the Hyksos, and it was Ahmose, the second son of Seqenenre, who completed the expulsion of the Hyksos. He fought them, defeated them, and chased them until Gaza in Palestine and reunited Egypt. Short link: The MDI Biological Laboratory will collaborate with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an office of the state Department of Health and Human Services, on a five-year grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to improve access to safe drinking water in Maine. The mitigation of contaminants, especially arsenic, in well water is the subject of the laboratory's federally funded SEPA (Science Education Partnership Award) program, which teaches data literacy to secondary school students by analyzing data from well water collected from their homes. The grant from the Maine CDC will fund the testing of 500 wells from student households in Maine in coordination with the SEPA program. Previous testing conducted under the SEPA program has found that water from private wells in Maine is frequently contaminated with high levels of naturally occurring arsenic, which can have serious adverse health effects, including cancer, heart disease and developmental and reproductive problems. The program has also found that a large proportion of homeowners have not had their wells tested for arsenic. Arsenic has been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the environmental contaminant with the biggest impact on human health. The grant will also fund a pilot project to develop tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the program at reducing environmental health hazards with the goal of using it as a model for other school- and community-based programs in Maine and the country. We are very grateful to the Maine CDC. Their support will help us take the SEPA program to the next level by identifying barriers to mitigation for households whose wells test high for environmental contaminants." Jane E. Disney, Ph.D., Director of research training and director of the Community Environmental Health Laboratory, MDI Biological Laboratory and principal investigator of the SEPA program The five-year SEPA program, which involves schools in Maine and New Hampshire, is funded through a $1.2 million award to the MDI Biological Laboratory from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an institute of the National Institutes of Health. "The SEPA program is the most recent example of the MDI Biological Laboratory's long and distinguished history of leadership in the field of environmental health," said Hermann Haller, M.D., president. "The grant from the Maine CDC will allow us to build on this extraordinarily successful program, which, in addition to addressing the arsenic threat, is helping students gain valuable expertise in data literacy." Since the inception of the SEPA program in 2018, students from 17 Maine and 10 New Hampshire schools working one-on-one with 18 scientist partners from Maine and New Hampshire colleges and universities have analyzed more than 1,500 well water samples in collaboration with the Trace Element Analysis Core at Dartmouth College. Results are shared with the Maine CDC and the N.H. Department of Environmental Services to help them monitor public health implications. Maine and New Hampshire have among the highest per capita reliance on private wells for drinking water in the nation at 56 percent and 46 percent respectively, representing a total of approximately 1.4 million people on private well water. The public health threat posed by arsenic and other harmful well water contaminants has been a focus of education and research at the MDI Biological Laboratory since a 2014 "arsenic summit" held in collaboration with Dartmouth to address approaches to limiting arsenic exposure. The summit led to an educational program entitled "All About Arsenic," which in turn gave rise to the SEPA program and now to the CDC grant. "One of the goals of the summit was to develop novel programs to address the arsenic problem," Disney said. "I am gratified to say we have realized this goal by developing a program that we hope will serve as a national model. This achievement represents the collaborative effort of many individuals and organizations with whom we have worked to improve access to safe drinking water." Alec Baldwin deleted his Twitter account AGAIN on Wednesday, because of the 'a**holes' on the platform, after being skewered for commenting on Gillian Anderson 'switching accents'. The actor, 62, released a 10-minute Instagram video explaining his decision to leave after he was criticised for tweeting a link to a CNN piece about Gillian, writing, 'Switching accents ? That sounds...fascinating.' His post seemed to be a subtle reference to the row surrounding his wife Hilaria's fake Spanish background scandal back in January - leading Alec to quit Twitter over the controversy but soon rejoin. He also quit the social media network in 2017, 2014, 2012 and 2011. The latest: Alec Baldwin, 62, (pictured left) DELETED his Twitter account (again) after being skewered for commenting on Gillian Anderson 'switching accents' - just weeks after wife Hilaria's fake Spanish background scandal Anderson won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Series for her portrayal of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on The Crown on Sunday. The star, who speaks with an English accent on both Netflix's The Crown and the Sex Education, surprised some fans when she delivered her acceptance speech in an American accent. This prompted a surprise from social media users who did not know she was born in Chicago, raised in London and later moved to Michigan at the age of 11. That comes in contrast to the scandal involving Hilaria, who has just welcomed her sixth child via surrogate, that began late last year, who came under fire as she was accused of faking a Spanish heritage and accent when she was born and raised in Boston. The response drew the ire of a number of online users who pointed out the differences between Anderson and his spouse Hilaria. 'This is no way comparable to your wife pretending to be from Spain,' one user wrote. 'Gillian Anderson IS American. How did people not know that? 'She was born in Chicago and never pretended, outside her acting, to be British. As Thatcher, that was a role. You should know that.' One user said that Hilaria 'pretending to have a foreign accent in order to lay claim to a culture and life story that isn't hers just to exoticize herself is NOT the same thing as Gillian Anderson reasonably speaking two different dialects of English due to her (actual) life story.' No more: A search of Baldwin's account Tuesday revealed it had been deleted - he also quit the site in January over his wife's heritage scandal but rejoined soon after Another said: 'Gillian Anderson is an actress that is often hired to do roles that require her to speak with a British accent. She spent half her childhood in England and has lived there for 20 years.' Another acknowledged that the Academy Award nominee's response was ostensibly to his wife's defense. 'Gillian was raised in London from shortly after birth to age 11,' the user wrote. 'She adopted an American accent in high school because her peers mocked her. Not the same as a white women raised primarily in the US claiming to be a person of color. But your dedication to your wife is noted.' Alec shared a 10-minute Instagram video on Thursday detailing why he was leaving the platform once again, clarifying that he is a big fan of Gillian's. Feedback: Some social media users refuted Alec Baldwin's implied comparison of the situations, writing: 'This is no way comparable to your wife pretending to be from Spain' (pictured: Hilaria) He said that Twitter 'is where all the a**holes in the United States and beyond go to get their advanced degrees in a**holiness.' He added: 'The problem with Twitter is, Twitter is a lot of haters.' He thanked his devoted followers for embracing him, his wife, and his family, before saying there were also haters on the platform. Alec said: 'We just welcomed our daughter and one of the things that is just so simple and so basic, is that yes I'm significantly older than my wife. 'And the unpleasant people, even on Instagram, don't hesitate to hit me with that stick as much as possible like they're giving me some new information.' Alec and Hilaria welcomed their sixth child via surrogate, a source has confirmed to DailyMail.com on Wednesday. His side of the story: Alec shared a 10-minute Instagram video on Thursday, detailing why he was leaving the platform once again, clarifying that he is a big fan of Gillian's The announcement comes just two days after the couple shocked the world with news of the baby's arrival six months after the yoga guru gave birth to their fifth child Eduardo. There has been days of speculation around the circumstances of Lucia's arrival; no details about the surrogate's identity have been revealed, nor have the couple shared whether they used their own embryo, or relied on donors. Alec and Hilaria announced the surprise arrival of the baby girl on Monday, posting an image of the newborn with her mother and siblings - but sharing no other information about her identity or her birth, prompting some critics to accuse them of 'attention-seeking.' The announcement kicked off furious speculation over the circumstances of baby Lucia's birth, which led SNL star Alec, 62, to unleash a profanity-filled rant at Instagram users who urged him to reveal the identity of the child's mother while accusing him and his wife, 37, of sharing images of the baby girl as 'clickbait'. Revealed: Alec and Hilaria announced on Monday they have welcomed their sixth child via surrogate six months after the birth of their fifth child Eduardo, a source has confirmed Surprise: The couple made the shock announcement of their newborn daughter's arrival, and Hilaria then shared her daughter's Spanish-inspired name a day later Alec, whose wife suffered two miscarriages in 2019, slammed several people who questioned Lucia's paternity on Monday, telling one commenter to 'shut the f*** up' when they asked about the arrival of his youngest child. Baldwin and Hilaria are also parents to daughter Carmen, seven, and sons Rafael, five, Leonardo, four, Romeo, two, and Eduardo, six months. But though the actor refused to take the bait when questioned by Instagram commenters, a source has now revealed that Lucia was, in fact, welcomed via surrogate. Baldwin also last left Twitter in January, weeks after Hilaria's heritage controversy unfolded, writing at the time. He had written: 'Twitter is like a party where everyone is screaming. Not much of a party. Goodbye for now.' Hilaria's heritage fell under question in December after a social media thread pointed out inconsistencies in stories she had told the media about her upbringing. Upset: The 37-year-old initially revealed the news by sharing a photo of herself cradling the newborn alongside her five other children - which prompted furious speculation online Fury: SNL star Alec told one critic to 'shut the f**k up' after they accused the couple of posting the photo of their baby as 'clickbait' - however he since appears to have deleted the comment Speaking out: In other comment replies however, he claimed that 'America is fueled by hate' and said anyone who questions Hilaria's Spanish heritage is 'not very smart' Family life: On Tuesday evening, Hilaria shared a photo of herself pumping breast milk while Alec did the dishes, before posting another snap of Lucia and Eduardo sleeping together Family: Lucia, which means 'light' in Spanish, has five older siblings - all of whom have Spanish-inspired names - Eduardo, Romeo, Leonardo, Rafael, and Carmen A number of her childhood peers said she grew up in Boston under the name Hillary Hayward-Thomas, and did not speak with a Spanish accent in those years. She was seen in a 2015 Today show clip seemingly forgetting the world 'cucumber' in a cooking segment, which became a social media focal point as the scandal contained to make headlines. She told The New York Times of the scandal, 'There is not something I'm doing wrong, and I think there is a difference between hiding and creating a boundary. 'I was born in Boston. I spent time in Boston and in Spain. My family now lives in Spain. I moved to New York when I was 19 years old and I have lived here ever since,' she told the paper. 'For me, I feel like I have spent 10 years sharing that story over and over again. And now it seems like its not enough.' Hilaria on issued an apology on February 5 over the scandal, saying on social media, 'The way I've spoken about myself and my deep connection to two cultures could have been better explained - I should have been more clear and I'm sorry. 'I'm proud of the way I was raised, and we're raising our children to share the same love and respect for both.' The response drew the ire of a number of online users who pointed out the differences between Anderson and his spouse Hilaria Alec clearly has a love-hate relationship with Twitter. After quitting the social media platform twice this year, he also quit in 2017. The actor removed himself from the site that year, after being accused of 'victim blaming' for controversial comments he made about Rose McGowan accepting a $100,000 settlement from Harvey Weinstein in 1997. In an interview with PBS at the time, Baldwin admitted hearing a 'rumor' McGowan had been raped by Weinstein but doing nothing about it along with the rest of Hollywood. He said it was 'for' McGowan to prosecute it and later said it was an 'issue' that victims of sexual harassment were sometimes silenced by cash settlements because it thwarted the course of justice. 'You heard the rumor that he raped Rose McGowan. You heard that over and over. We have heard that for decades. 'But what happened was that Rose McGowan took a payment of $100,000 and settled her case with him. And it was for Rose McGowan to prosecute that case,' he said. McGowan, who has led an unrelenting commentary on the Weinstein sexual assault scandal since it erupted, responded furiously to his remarks. 'Told you everyone knew. No one cared. Men ran the show. Women toed the line. No more,' she said. Announcing his Twitter hiatus, Baldwin said it was 'never his intention' to 'blame the victim' and said that his 'heart goes out' to anyone affected by sexual harassment. And back in 2014, Alec quit after he sent out a slew of homophobic tweets targeted at the Daily Mail, which reported that his wife, Hilaria, had sent tweets while attending James Gandolfini's funeral service in New York. 'Someone wrote that my wife was tweeting at a funeral. Hey. That's not true. But I'm gonna tweet at your funeral,'. In July 2012, he quit Twitter again, two days after marrying Hilaria, with a final tweet reading: 'It's been fun.' In December 2011, Baldwin deleted his Twitter account yet again following a row with American Airlines over the game Words With Friends. He had tweeted that he was 'reamed' by a flight attendant for playing the game on his cell phone just before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport and was removed from the flight. He then tweeted: 'Let's play a game called Mass Unfollowing. I want to crash this acct and start again. But, tonight at 10 PM NY time, unfollow me.' The next day, his account was listed as 'deactivated.' Controversial: Alec quit Twitter in 2017 after being accused of 'victim blaming' for controversial comments he made about Rose McGowan accepting a $100,000 settlement from Harvey Weinstein in 1997 (pictured in 2007) (TNS) Majority white areas of California received more money from the federal Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses than majority Latino areas did, according to a study by UCLA researchers.The disparities arose primarily because the loans, which are awarded to businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis by big banks, said Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, director of research for the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative.Larger businesses that had relationships with the big banks were better equipped to get the loans than smaller Latino businesses with fewer banking ties and less knowledge about how to apply, he said.The disproportionate amount of PPP money going to wealthier, whiter areas may make economic and racial disparities worse across California, said the study by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, released on Wednesday. The difficulty of obtaining the federal loans, which can be forgiven if a business uses the money to keep workers on the payroll, is a further blow to Latino communities where people are disproportionately falling ill and dying from the coronavirus.The study "adds to a lot of other evidence that shows that not only is the Latino population being disproportionately affected by the health and economic impacts of the pandemic, but that policymakers are not responding in ways that would allow Latino communities to recover from the pandemic," Dominguez-Villegas said.President Biden recently announced a two-week period, from Feb. 24 to March 9, where all PPP loans will go to businesses with fewer than 20 employees. The Biden administration is also trying to make access more equitable by lifting some restrictions and increasing loan amounts to sole proprietors.The program ends March 31, but Congress is negotiating a new coronavirus stimulus package.The UCLA researchers analyzed PPP funding in California by congressional district.Of the 14 majority-Latino districts in California, none were in the quintile that received the most PPP loan dollars.Congressional districts 44 and 40, home to cities such as Compton, South Gate, Huntington Park and Cudahy, were among the districts that received the least amount of PPP aid.The 10 districts that received the least funding have a median annual household income of slightly more than $66,000, compared to more than $108,000 for the 10 districts with the most funding.Rep. Nanette Barragan (D- San Pedro) of the 44th District said in a statement that her constituents, many of whom are working class, low income and people of color, have contracted COVID-19 at higher rates and have been more likely to face economic hardship in the pandemic."As a result, many mom-and-pop, minority-owned businesses in our communities have been devastated," she said. "It is wrong that we have received less in PPP loans than businesses in wealthier neighborhoods that may be better connected. We need to fix this."Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association, said she does not think the disparities stemmed from race but from the amount of help that local legislators offered to small businesses to navigate the process.The association needs to do a better job of educating legislators, especially newly elected ones, on the needs of the small-business community, she said."A lot of people that were eligible for the federal funding didn't get it because of the fact they thought they weren't eligible," she said. "This was disappointing, but they felt it was too complicated. I think there were not simple, clear instructions."In another recent study, focusing on L.A. County, the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative and the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge found that predominantly Latino neighborhoods got $367 in PPP loan money per resident, compared to $666 per resident in white neighborhoods.Researchers said they hope that analyzing the data by congressional district will help lawmakers ask for changes that will benefit their constituents.After the first UCLA study on PPP disparities was published in December, lawmakers earmarked a chunk of the second round of PPP funds to be distributed through community development financial institutions, Dominguez-Villegas said.As lawmakers wrangle over the next stimulus package, the UCLA researchers gave three recommendations: that some funds are allocated to businesses owned by underrepresented groups, that those businesses are provided with application assistance and that data is quickly available for researchers to analyze."The Latino population in California is one of the fastest growing and youngest in the state." Dominguez-Villegas said. "What that means is that Latinos are the future of California." A tractor which accidentally collided with an electricity pole subsequently caused power cuts to over 800 houses in the Worcester area. The incident happened on Martley Road, Lower Broadheath on Monday 1 March, fire crews confirmed. The collision caused power cuts to around 848 addresses in the area, according to Western Power Distribution, particularly in St Johns and Hallow. The driver of the tractor was not injured in the collision, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said. 01/03 18:25 crews from @HWFireWorcs and @HWFireDroitwich attended an incident involving a tractor and telegraph pole. Martley Rod, Lower Broadheath, Worcester. HWFireControl (@HWFireControl) March 2, 2021 A fire service spokesperson said at the time of the incident: A tractor has collided with an electricity pole. "We are in attendance with three crews and we are working with Western Power Distribution to isolate the electricity so the uninjured driver can exit the vehicle. According to Northern Powergrid, every year people are killed and injured when their vehicle or equipment comes into contact, or gets too close, to power lines. The company said it was essential that agricultural workers were aware of the dangers and take preventive action. Thirteen people killed after the SUV they were crammed into collided with a semi-truck early Tuesday morning in southern California had entered the United States illegally though a hole cut in the border fence, authorities revealed Wednesday. The SUV, a Ford Expedition, had been modified with the backseats removed so that 25 people in total could be packed inside, in what is now believed to have been part of a larger smuggling operation. It was one of the deadliest crashes involving migrants sneaking into the U.S. Border Patrol's El Centro sector released pictures of the 10-foot breach in the International Boundary Fence on Wednesday, as it revealed that surveillance footage picked up the SUV and a Chevrolet Suburban driving through the gap before 6am Tuesday. That section of the fence, consisting of steel bars 18 feet tall, was installed in 2009, some eight years before the Trump administration took office calling for a border wall. In total, 44 people crossed the border through the hole, including at least ten Mexicans and two Guatemalans. 'All are suspected to have entered the U.S. illegally,' US Border and Customs Protection said in a statement. 'Border Patrol is investigating the smuggling events.' This photo provided by the US Customs and Border Protection shows a hole cut into Southern California's border fence with Mexico through which 44 people crossed into the country in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Thirteen of them died in a crash just an hour later Construction equipment is used to fix a border fence after two vehicles crossed into the US on Tuesday morning. One of the vehicles, an SUV carrying 25 people, was involved in a collision that was one of the deadliest crashes involving migrants sneaking into the U.S. US Customs and Border Protection revealed on Wednesday that the Mexican migrants involved in the crash had entered the country illegally through this gap in the border fence The SUV pictured above crossed over the US-Mexican border illegally on Tuesday morning before crashing into a gravel truck in a fatal collision that killed 13 people The Suburban, carrying 19 people, caught fire for unknown reasons on a nearby interstate after entering the U.S. Timeline of 44 migrants crossing U.S. border through gap in fence ahead of fatal crash 5.56 am Tuesday: Agents patrolling the Calexico area alerted that a red Suburban was on fire near Interstate 8 and State Route 115 6.05 am: Agents find a 10-foot hole in the border fence near Gordon's Well exit/Schneider's Bride area, 30 miles east of Highway 115. 6.06 am: Border Patrol Agents reviewed surveillance footage which yielded images of two different vehicles leaving the area in proximity of the fence breach. 6.30 am: Agents assisting with the burning red Suburban encountered 19 individuals hiding in the brush nearby and determined they had entered the country illegally through the breach in the border fence. 7.05 am: Border Patrol assistance requested to SUV crash where 25 more people who crossed the border where identified. Advertisement All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents after they received a call about the fire at around 5:56 a.m. Agents arrived at the scene at around 6.30am where they found the vehicle engulfed in flames and 19 people hiding behind a nearby bush. The SUV had traveled further before it drove into an intersection in front of the truck. Twelve people were killed at the scene, including the 22-year-old driver of the Expedition who was a Mexican national. Another passenger in the SUV died in hospital bringing the total death toll to 13. Ten of the 13 killed in that crash have been identified as Mexican citizens although some of their families are located in the U.S. Guatemalan authorities said they had preliminary information that one Guatemalan national died and another was injured in the crash. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the wreck. The driver of the truck has now been identified as Joe Beltran, 68, of El Centro. He was taken to hospital with major injuries. The opening in the fence was about 30 miles east of the crash in the heart of California's Imperial Valley, a major farming region now at the height of a harvest that provides much of the lettuce, onions, broccoli and winter vegetables to U.S. supermarkets. It was made of steel bollards that were built before former President Donald Trump blanketed much of the border with taller barriers that go deeper into the ground. Photos show a panel of eight steel poles was lifted out and left on the ground in the desert next to an old tire and other debris. 'Initial investigation into the origins of the vehicles indicate a potential nexus to the aforementioned breach in the border wall. Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life,' Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol's El Centro sector chief said in a statement Wednesday. 'Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy, tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with.' Border Patrol is still working to track down the families of those who crossed the border. There were 19 people in a second car who were taken into custody after the car set on fire Law enforcement work at the scene of the deadly crash on Tuesday A California Highway Patrol officer examines the scene on Tuesday 'We pray for the accident victims and their families during this difficult time,' he added. It was also confirmed on Wednesday that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has opened a human smuggling investigation into Tuesday's horror crash. In a statement, an ICE spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com that 'Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations San Diego responded [to the scene]... and have initiated a human smuggling investigation.' ICE declined to comment further at to what led the agency to believe human trafficking was suspected, adding that additional details aren't being released at this time. When police arrived Tuesday at the crash site about 125 miles east of San Diego, some passengers were trying to crawl out of the crumpled SUV. Others were wandering around the nearby fields. The big rig's front end was pushed into the SUVs left side and two empty trailers were jackknifed behind it. The men and women in the SUV ranged in age from 15 to 53, and those who survived had injuries that were minor to severe, including fractures and head trauma, officials said. The driver was from Mexicali, Mexico, just across the border, and was immediately killed in the collision. In total, paramedics took 11 people to area hospitals, police said. At least two are still being treated for life-threatening injuries. Four Mexican nationals were released from hospital in El Centro on Tuesday but were not taken into custody of U.S. immigration or border officials. None of the names of the victims have been released as authorities work to identify them and contact their families. 'We know that there are families in the United States, as well as in several states in Mexico. The consulate has reached out to six families of the deceased individuals,' Mario Beltran Mainero, press officer for the Mexican consulate in Calexico told USA Today. He added at least one of the six families they located is in San Diego; the remaining families are in Mexico. The consulate would not confirm if the ten Mexican nationals killed were part of a smuggling operation. Investigators were trying to determine if the victims of the crash were immigrants or farm workers. The site of the crash is in southeastern California, about 10 miles east of El Centro and about 11 miles north of the Mexican border. The SUV had crossed the border illegally that morning 'It was a pretty chaotic scene,' California Highway Patrol Chief Omar Watson said 'All are suspected to have entered the U.S. illegally,' Custom Patrol said in a statement of the 25 people crammed into the SUV. 'Border Patrol is investigating the smuggling events' The impact of the crash ejected several passengers from the vehicle (car seat pictured above) Tony Hernandez told USA Today that two of his relatives from Michoacan, a 25-year-old and a 32-year-old, had died in the crash. 'I already talked to my relatives. They are devastated,' Hernandez said, as he revealed that they had been on their way to Los Angeles. The crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. under a clear, sunny sky at an intersection just outside the community of Holtville, about 11 miles north of the border. Authorities said the tractor-trailer was heading north on a highway when the SUV pulled in front of it from a road with a stop sign. It's not clear if the SUV ran the stop sign or had stopped before entering the highway. How fast both vehicles were going also wasn't yet known. A 1997 Ford Expedition can carry a maximum payload of 2,000 pounds. If it had 25 people inside, that would easily exceed the payload limit, taxing the brakes and making it tougher to steer the vehicle, said Frank Borris, former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations Office of Defects Investigation. 'You're going to have extended stopping distances, delayed reactions to steering inputs and potential overreaction to any type of high-speed lane change,' said Borris, who now runs a safety consulting business. The breach occurred in a busy area for illegal crossings near the Imperial Sand Dunes where migrants often climb over an aging barrier and wait for drivers to pick them up, hoping to avoid the scrutiny of Border Patrol agents at checkpoints on highways leading to Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix. A pandemic-related measure that allows the Border Patrol to expel people without an opportunity to seek asylum potentially leads some to try to evade authorities instead of surrendering, sometimes with fatal consequences. Hugo Chavez, an activist with the Coalition for Human Immigration Rights, places crosses at the scene where the SUV carrying 25 people collided with the semi-truck An ICE spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com that 'Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations San Diego responded ... and have initiated a human smuggling investigation' A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection told DC Examiner journalist Anna Giaritelli that CBP personnel were not involved in the collision and the SUV was not being chased The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced expulsion powers nearly a year ago under Trump, and the Biden administration has signaled no plans to lift them anytime soon. The cause of Tuesday's collision wasn't yet known, authorities said. The Expedition is built to hold eight people safely, but smugglers are known to pack people into vehicles in extremely unsafe conditions to maximize their profits. Seats in the SUV had been removed except for those for the driver and front passenger, said Omar Watson, chief of the California Highway Patrols border division. The crash happened in an area that became a major route for illegal border crossings in the late 1990s after heightened enforcement in San Diego pushed migrants to more remote areas. Barely a mile from the crash, there is a cemetery with rows of unmarked bricks that is a burial ground for migrants who died crossing the border. In 2001, John Hunter founded Water Station, a volunteer group that leaves jugs of water in giant plastic drums for dehydrated migrants. 'I was trying to figure out how to stop the deaths,' said Hunter, whose brother Duncan strongly advocated for border wall construction as a congressman. Illegal crossings in the area fell sharply in the mid-2000s but the area has remained a draw for migrants and was a priority for wall construction under Trump. His administration's first wall project was in Calexico. [March 04, 2021] James Goldfinger Joins the PepUp Tech Board NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In November 2020, Customertimes announced a partnership with PepUp Tech, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of tech leaders through education. Now, Customertimes is pleased to announce that James Goldfinger, Chief Customer Officer at CT, has joined the Board of Directors at PepUp Tech in order to help drive the organization's mission while making an impact on their current students. "We'll provide content for their online learning system and offer mentorship to their graduates," says Goldfinger. "Graduates can turn to an experienced mentor from CT which will help them be more successful in their careers and provide confidence to prospective employers. "I also hope to support the organization in establishing and driving new funding sources," he continues. "PepUp Tech was largely dependent on live events for fundraising in the past, so this new focus is critical given the negative impact of the pandemic." Says Selina Suarez, Executive Director at PepUp Tech, "We're glad to be able to leverage the financial support of Customertimes, but more importantly, we welcome Jim's guidance and the experience of his team. With this extended network, our students will have greater opportunities to learn, which translates to greater opportnities for future employment." Goldfinger hopes similar organizations will join him in partnering with PepUp Tech. "Salesforce recently introduced the Lead program for Equality and Sustainable Development, which gives partner weighting around these initiatives," he says. "I can think of no better organization than PepUp Tech for a Salesforce partner to work with in order to align their company with this initiative. They can volunteer hours as mentors, hire their diverse graduates, or provide funding for an incredibly worthy Salesforce-oriented cause." Get involved on their site, and join Customertimes in working with this impactful group. Additional Resources Follow Customertimes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/customertimes/ Follow Customertimes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/customertimes Follow PepUp Tech on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pepuptech/ Follow PepUp Tech on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pepuptech?lang=en About Customertimes Customertimes Corp. is a global consulting firm dedicated to making the top IT technologies accessible to customers. With more than 4000 projects completed and 1000+ highly skilled experts, their solutions are engineered to help clients realize true business transformation and achieve maximum value from their technology investments. An early entrant into the Salesforce consulting and implementation space in Eastern Europe, Customertimes Corp. currently has headquarters in New York City, along with regional offices in London, Paris, Toronto, Kyiv, Minsk, Riga, and Moscow. For more information, visit www.customertimes.com. About PepUp Tech PepUp Tech is a non-profit that gives motivated, underserved students the access, skills, mentors, and confidence needed to begin careers in tech and help diversify the industry. They offer an intensive ten-week Salesforce Academy training designed to train students for careers in the fast-growing Salesforce ecosystem. Students have access to top notch training, industry professionals, and workforce placement services. For more information, visit pepuptech.org. CONTACT: Val Tika, val.tika@customertimes.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/james-goldfinger-joins-the-pepup-tech-board-301240137.html SOURCE Customertimes Corp [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] AFT Pharmaceuticals today announces it has signed an exclusive Maxigesic IV licensing agreement for eight new European markets. The agreement, which due to COVID-19 restrictions was negotiated and sealed entirely online, is with the Lyon, France-based Aguettant. It means Maxigesic IV will now be available in 20 of the 27 EU member states, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain as well as the UK. AFT Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Dr Hartley Atkinson said: We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Aguettant, which specialises in injectable pharmaceuticals and has a strong sales record in the hospital sector across the EU. The agreement extends Maxigesic IVs footprint across Europe and significantly expands the market for the medicine. In Spain, for instance, more than 2.5 million surgeries are performed annually, while a further 1.1 million surgical procedures are completed in the Nordic countries. Maxigesic IV offers a non-opiate therapeutic alternative for many of these cases. The potential for Maxigesic IV and other dose forms of the medicine is significant. The market for post-operative pain, which is a subset of Maxigesics total addressable market, is growing rapidly and is forecast by independent market research to reach US$553 million in 2028 across the 5 major markets of Europe (up from US$178 million in 2019). Particularly, this research has suggested that our Maxigesic IV platform in the same geographies and market has the potential to grow to generate annual in- market sales of more than US$88 million. We are looking forward to working with Aguettant to help us realise its potential, Dr Atkinson said. Dr Atkinson also thanked the teams from both companies for their commitment to the deal in the face of the commercial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of both Aguettant and AFT. Despite the difference in time zones and the challenges of the current travel bans we have put together an agreement that will improve health outcomes in Europe and drive increases in shareholder value. Please see the link below for details: MAXIGESIC IV LICENSED IN EIGHT NEW EUROPEAN MARKETS Source: AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: Infratil Limited (NZX: IFT) Update on Infratil Infrastructure Bond Offer 1st June 2021 Morning Report Synlait Milk Limited (NZX: SML) Update Following Canterbury Flooding Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Full Year Results to 31 March 2021 31st May 2021 Morning Report The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) Media Reporting Regarding Potential Class Action Synlait Milk Limited (NZX: SML) Forecast Milk Price Update General Capital Limited (NZX: GEN) Continues on Its Strong Growth Path Third Age Health Services Limited (NZX: TAH) Announces Preliminary Full Year Result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) Better Positioned for Future Growth The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd will be live streamed by Court TV when it commences this Monday morning. I think the live stream is accessible online here. Court TV otherwise explains how to watch here. I plan on covering the trial from the Media Business Center across the street from the Hennepin County Government Center where the trial is to be held before Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill. The court communications staff hosted the press for a walkaround of the media set-up yesterday morning. The Government Center is a 24-story building that sits on two city blocks with a tunnel in the middle where it spans Sixth Street. Concrete barricades and fencing topped with concertina wire now surround the entire building. Sixth Street has been closed. Indeed, regular business has been shut down inside the Government Center itself. Entering and exiting the Government Center, jurors all residents of Hennepin County will necessarily understand that unprotected areas outside Government Center stand in sufferance to their verdict. Any prospect of peace requires findings of guilt. Incidentally, it is not the supporters of Donald Trump who threaten the safety of the Twin Cities. The idea that Derek Chauvin can get a fair trial under the circumstances seems hypothetical at best. Forty media outlets have been assigned seats to cover the trial from the Media Business Center across the street from the Government Center. The seats are assigned in eight rows of five. The outlets with assigned seats give an idea of the worldwide interest in the trial: Row 1: Chronicle Fashion Guide, Georgia Fort, Courthouse News Service, Peoples World, Der Spiegel Row 2: GeorgeFloyd.com, Asahi Shimbum, Thomson Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Axios Row 3: Mainichi Newspapers, Associated Press, Power Line, Minnesota Daily, Agence France-Presse Row 4: New York Times, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, USA Today Row 5: WCCO Radio, KMOJ-FM, MPR News, NPR, Washington Post Row 6: CGTN America, ITN, Law & Crime Productions, Telemundo, Ruptly Row 7: Court TV, FOX News, NBC News, KARE 11, Black News Channel Row 8: Frontline PBS, FOX 9, WCCO-TV, Minneapolis Television Network, KSTP The Minnesota courts generally prohibit television coverage. The live stream of the trial follows the motion of defendants (including Chauvin), opposed by the state, granted by Judge Cahill in a memorandum and order dated November 4. Modified vaccines to protect against new variants of coronavirus can be fast-tracked through the approval system, the UK's independent medicines regulator said on Thursday. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said this is because authorised COVID-19 vaccines that? are modified in response to new variants will not need a brand new? approval or lengthy clinical studies, according to guidance from the Access Consortium a coalition of regulatory authorities from the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Switzerland. The guidance, developed by the MHRA and Access, lays out? what information? the medicines regulators would need to approve any modifications to authorised COVID-19 vaccines, should virus mutations make them less effective at preventing the disease.?? Our priority is to get effective vaccines to the public in as short a? time? as? possible, without? compromising on safety.?Should any modifications to authorised COVID-19 vaccines be necessary, this regulatory approach should help to do just that, said Dr Christian Schneider, MHRA Chief Scientific Officer. The announcement today also demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with other regulators and how our global work can help ensure faster access to life-saving vaccines in the UK and around the world. The public should be confident that no vaccine would be approved unless the expected high standards of safety, quality and effectiveness are met, he said. The approach will be based on the tried and tested regulatory process used for seasonal flu vaccines, for which annual modifications are needed to match the strains circulating each?year.?? According to the latest guidance, vaccine manufacturers would need to provide robust evidence that the modified vaccine produces an immune response,?but time-consuming clinical studies that do not add to the regulatory understanding of a?vaccine safety, quality or effectiveness would not be needed. This is because? researchers are now better able to measure protection? by looking at antibodies in the blood following vaccination, reducing the need to? wait? and? see? whether or not? people in a trial become infected with the? disease, the MHRA explained.? This would significantly reduce the length of time taken for the modified vaccine to be ready for use. Alongside data on the immune response, the vaccine manufacturer would also be expected to provide evidence? showing the modified vaccine is safe and is of the expected quality. In addition, data from the original robust clinical trials and the ongoing studies on real-world use in millions of people could be used to support any? decision by the regulators.?? The MHRA joined the Access Consortium in October last year to be part of a worldwide effort is to maximise cooperation between partners in the consortium, reduce duplication, and increase each agency's capacity to ensure patients have timely access to high quality, safe and effective therapeutic products.?? Currently, the Brazilian variant of coronavirus, first detected in the city of Manaus, is causing the greatest concern over whether the current vaccines being administered will work to protect against it. Scientists have said that the current vaccines, especially those involving mRNA gene-based technology such as Pfizer/BioNTech, are relatively simple to reconfigure and adapt if required. (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.) China has improved its innovation system and environment and greatly enhanced its innovation ability during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), with sci-tech innovation playing an increasingly prominent role in supporting and guiding the country's efforts to foster a new development pattern and promote high-quality development. A Mars probe is launched on a Long March-5 rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, July 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Over the past five years, the contribution made by technological advances to economic growth increased from 55.3 percent to 59.5 percent in the country. China has given higher priority to basic research and its applications and made technological breakthroughs in key and core areas. Its research and development spending reached 2.21 trillion yuan ($341.5 billion) in 2019, a significant increase from 1.42 trillion yuan in 2015. Of the total R&D budget last year, 133.6 billion yuan was used for basic research, double the figure of 2015. A number of achievements that have impressed the world have emerged in fields such as iron-based superconductivity, quantum communication, stem cell technology, and synthetic biology. Last year, Chinese scientists established a quantum computer prototype named "Jiuzhang," which can perform a calculation in 200 seconds with Gaussian boson sampling (GBS), a classical simulation algorithm. A similar calculation would take 600 million years on the worlds current classical supercomputers. The breakthrough shows that China has realized "quantum supremacy", making the country the second in the world to achieve the feat. After travelling about 475 million km in space, Chinas first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 entered the orbit of the Red Planet on Feb. 10, 2021, and will carry out orbiting, landing and roving in one mission as planned. The Chang'e-4 probe touched down on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, 2019, while the return capsule of the Chang'e-5 lunar probe landed in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Dec. 17, 2020, bringing back the country's first samples collected from the moon. China also launched the last BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) satellite, marking the completion of a global navigation constellation. It also launched the Dark Matter Particle Explorer Wukong and quantum science satellite Mozi. The countrys C919 passenger aircraft also made its maiden flight. Photo taken on Jan. 11, 2020 shows China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) Chinas Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope, has discovered 279 pulsars since it started operation in September 2016. Chinas deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe, or Striver, set a national record by diving to a depth of 10,909 meters in the Mariana Trench on Nov. 10, 2020. Over the past five years, China has deepened the integration of science and technology with overall economic and social development and made fresh progress in supporting and leading high-quality development. The country has made breakthroughs in the field of information and communication technologies, including 5G, optoelectronics, and integrated circuits, enhancing its independent innovation capacity. China has put 5G into commercial use, setting up 718,000 5G base stations, which make up about 70 percent of the global total. During this period, Chinese enterprises have continued to play a dominant role in the development of technological innovation. In 2019, enterprises expenditure on R&D hit 1.69 trillion yuan, accounting for 76.4 percent of the total. Last year, 246,000 Chinese companies held valid invention patents, while high-tech enterprises held 922,000 valid invention patents. Photo taken on Sept. 5, 2020 shows a view of the 5G communication services exhibition area of the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) Over the past five years, China has further reformed the management system for science and technology to tap into potential for innovation among researchers. Significant progress has been made in reform in key areas, while a complete implementation system integrating laws, policies, measures and action has been established, said Wang Zhigang, minister of science and technology. Wang added that the potential of science and technology as the primary forces of production has been further unleashed, and so has that of innovation as the primary driving force, and talent as the primary resource. During this period, China has enhanced its capability in the transfer and commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. In 2019, the total value of contracted technology transactions in more than 1,000 technology trading markets in China exceeded 2 trillion yuan for the first time, 3.5 times that of 2012. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. This is the first in a series of occasional profiles on potential 2024 White House hopefuls. In this economy, even a sitting United States senator can use a second job. So Marco Rubio teaches every Friday at Florida International University. An upper-level seminar for undergraduates, the course is online, which makes it easy enough for him to hop from Congress to the classroom. Rubio lectures on politics, appropriately enough, and many of the students give their politician-professor high marks. But unlike the more than 13 million Americans who have multiple jobs to make ends meet, Rubio doesnt do it for the money. He likes teaching because he likes learning, and he likes learning, he says, because Im not dead. If you're alive, that means every single day you're seeing new things and learning new things, Rubio told RealClearPolitics during a recent interview. The only point at which people should stop growing and evolving is the day you're no longer alive. The not-dead, very-much-alive senator once heralded for his youth and dynamism will turn 50 this year, and says he has learned a lot, particularly in the last half decade. You cant travel the entire country, meet as many people as I did, see as many communities as I did, and not be influenced by it, he says, referencing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015/16. Nor can you look at what happened with Trumps nomination and election without wondering, Okay, well, whats behind this? And in this economy, where the majority of Americans believe the next generation will be worse off than their parents, and at this moment, when Republicans are struggling with their post-Trump identity, Rubio has an answer. It is called common good conservatism, an agenda to make the GOP the party of common-sense wisdom and working-class values. If he runs for president again, the country will decide what to make of the renewed Rubio, the populist ideas man on the right. A handful of his students have already weighed in. Most love him and his lectures. Super interesting, reads an anonymous review on the website RateMyProfessor, where Rubio has earned an impressive 4.4 out of 5 stars. Some were less enthusiastic. So boring, one moaned. Couldnt stay awake. Rubios idea certainly has an academic quality, but it is also deeply personal in that it challenges the free-market fundamentalism long embedded in the DNA of modern conservatism. Controversy followed when the two-term senator called for a more equitable kind of capitalism in a speech at Catholic University in November 2019. A National Review writer likened the response to that seen at the Republican National Convention in 1988, the one where George H.W. Bush called for a kinder and gentler nation. An icy Nancy Reagan reportedly whispered, Kinder and gentler than whom? Rubio knows the feeling. He confronts an entrenched status quo skeptical of government action. The free market is just fine, thank you very much, say his libertarian and conservative critics (when theyre being polite). He believes the opposite. He thinks the American carnage that Donald Trump described is real: Corporations are unbolting and shipping factories overseas at an alarming rate; global competitors such as China are all too happy to gorge on the remains; and the federal government does little to bind up the wounds of the workforce left behind, let alone prepare them with the skills needed to get ahead. In this economy, Rubio says there is no way that his mother the maid and his father the bartender, the parents he referenced again and again on the campaign trail, could succeed. He is not a complete apostate, however: "Generally speaking, he explains, the free market should decide where investment flows and where decisions are made. But he is questioning GOP orthodoxy. Every now and then, the market is going to reach an outcome that's bad for Americans or bad for America, he says. At that point, as a policymaker my loyalty is not to the market; my loyalty is to the American people. Nikki Haley, a potential 2024 candidate for president, takes a dim view of Rubio's new economic philosophy. Challenging the absolute good of a self-interested market has been enough to turn the invisible hand into a clenched fist. To conservative columnist George Will, Rubio is a heretical anti-capitalist conservative who doesnt realize that his agenda requires an imprudent leap of faith. To Nikki Haley, Rubio is worse. In what was seen as a veiled shot, the former Southern Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador -- and presumed 2024 presidential hopeful -- dismissed his proposed common-good capitalism as hyphenated capitalism. That, she said, is no capitalism at all. The better name for it is socialism lite. The son of Cuban exiles bristles when asked about the Haley-hyphenation. He welcomes debate but not that barb. He called it a lazy argument, adding, I'm not somebody that needs to be lectured on socialism. I live in a community, surrounded by people constantly who had their lives destroyed by it, he continued, referencing the Cuban Americans in Florida who fled communism and make up his most loyal constituency. This is not socialism, he said of his policy vision, or anything remotely close to it. What makes him different from others on the right is that, while he reveres the blessings that flow from free markets, he isnt willing to totally entrust the fate of the nation or its workers to an economic creed that in its most unadulterated form consists of offering alms to Wall Street and hoping for the best. I believe in private ownership driven by incentives to make investment decisions in the marketplace, he insists. The fallacy, though, is that we dont create incentives. We already do. Create the wrong incentives through taxation or regulation, he argues, and the market will provide the wrong outcomes. This often leads to a mismatch in the corporate versus national interest. So my argument is that we have to have a capitalist economy, Rubio explains, but it has to be a capitalist economy guided by the principle that the market exists to serve the people, not the people to serve the market. What, then, is the difference between Rubios common-good capitalism and, say, the accountable capitalism of Sen. Elizabeth Warren? Its a question that more conservative critics have asked. Sen. Elizabeth Warren advocates for accountable capitalism, a concept from which Rubio is quick to distinguish his idea for "common good capitalism." The difference is that the approach Bernie [Sanders] and Warren and others take is more punitive, he responds. It's more, you know, We think these companies make too much money or We're going to use government to force outcomes. By contrast, his approach is that we need to use the power of incentives to drive the market to reach outcomes that are good for America. That openness to government action is a big deal, says Oren Cass. A member of Rubios brain trust, he tells RCP that Republican thinkers reflexively think that tax cuts and free trade, increased immigration and a restricted government are good. They can be, Cass says, but over the past 40 years they have hardened into a dogma totally disconnected from the actual challenges that America faces. The Rubio project, as Cass sees it, is an argument for a return to actual conservatism, one where markets are a means to the end of a strong, stable, prosperous society, not an end in and of themselves. Rubio recognizes those distinctions, he says. Moreover, common-good conservatism requires policymakers to reach consensus on a shared goal for American society and to pursue those ends through politics, Cass says, as opposed to the libertarian view that the outcome of free and atomized individuals making unconstrained choices is, per se, the right outcome. Finding that common good then, has been the work of Rubio in the Trump era, or as Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who once likened the senator to the Michael Jordan of politics, puts it, Rubio has spent the last four years working on his jump shot. The fundamentals of that shot, the application of his common-good conservatism to actionable policy, has centered around improving life for working-class families and, in turn, bolstering an American economy threatened by a rising China. On these twin fronts, Rubio has been prodigious. He led the successful effort to double the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 in order to ease the cost of raising a child, threatening to vote against Republican tax credits if the party didnt get on board. He even suggested shrinking the amount of a proposed corporate tax cut to pay for it. Meanwhile, he balked at the supply-side theory at the heart of those corporate cuts. Instead of helping businesses expand, lower corporate taxes often lead to stock buy-backs, Rubio argued. So the Florida lawmaker introduced a proposal that allows companies to use tax cuts for capital investment (i.e. building a new factory or buying new equipment) but removes tax advantages for buying back its own stock shares. He has voiced support for private-sector unions, a rarity on the right. He urged his colleagues to consider rethinking their opposition to organized labor, perhaps backing co-ops like those in Europe, as the decline in unionization has coincided with anemic growth in living standards. Rubio has also called for an industrial policy to create partnerships between the state and private businesses wherever national security is involved, another policy anathema to libertarian conservatives. Rather than let a global market determine which company to support -- lest that corporation go overseas in search of lower labor costs and higher profit margins -- the senator would have the federal government prop up domestic manufacturing in critical sectors. Think steel, semiconductors components and, of particular concern during the pandemic, pharmaceuticals. When you have a nation-state stepping in and subsidizing an industry to undercut their competitors, their goal is to put you out of business so they dominate the industry, Rubio says in explaining the need for government industrial policy. The rare-earth minerals industry is dominated by China, to the great concern of Rubio and others. We are playing by one set of rules while they are playing by another set. Now, maybe that doesn't matter if you're making T-shirts, he added. But it does matter when you talk about rare-earth minerals, or any of these other critical capacities that are going to define the 21st century economy. In a December 2019 speech at the National Defense University, he said the fact that China controls 80% of rare-earth mineral production was the best example of a scenario where an industry is critical to our national interest, yet the market determines it is more efficient for China to dominate it. But is that a market failure or a government failure? A rare-earth deposit discovered in Round Top, Texas, promises a centurys worth of supply. Meanwhile, industry leaders complain that it is the governments environmental regulations that make it too expensive to bring this precious resource to market. Wouldnt the conservative answer, then, be to loosen federal regulations rather than get the state involved? Yes, we make it more expensive than it needs to be potentially -- we certainly don't want to do anything that's harmful to the environment or public safety, Rubio says of his best example of a market failure. But he insists again that an industrial policy is needed because the U.S. is making a mistake when we think we can approach it as a free-market product but [the Chinese] are going to approach it as a strategic nation-state investment. He has plenty of other ideas. Some of them are wonky, and most require a more muscular federal government. New thinking is required, Rubio insists, because the Republican Party is undergoing a realignment. We had a voting block that relied on working-class Americans, he says, and then sort of our governing and finance class that had a very different view of the world. Cobbled together, that coalition worked for a while and we won some elections. Beneath the surface, though, Rubio admits there was a tension that eventually was unsustainable. Republicans can ignore the rumblings. They can just bask in the unity that comes from being the opposition party. But this would be a mistake, says Newt Gingrich. The formula I've been advocating is to say no 20% of the time, the former House speaker told RCP, then 80% of the time you have to be positive and offer better ideas. And something new is needed, given that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections. That should be a pretty good signal that we need to find some other message to appeal to more than a minority of the country, Ayres says. In a government of the people, by the people, for the people, he quipped, it helps to have the majority of people behind where youre trying to go. What is stopping Republicans from becoming the party of ideas? They talk about them plenty, and every other year it seems that a new face finds a new way to rewarm old talking points. The reoccurring problem, according to Gingrich, is the pure nihilist wing of the party. There are two factions of the party, as he sees it. One is a hide-bound right-wingism which has decided that any change since the late 18th century is probably bad. The other is defined by a commitment to get up every morning yelling no against whatever Democrats are doing. Neither leads to much, Gingrich argues. What the country wants is a problem-solving, solution-oriented conservatism that recognizes you can use civil society, free enterprise, and classic traditional values to create a far better future. Newt Gingrich says Rubio's ideas fulfill those in his own Contract With America. Rubio has that vision, Gingrich believes, one that flows naturally through Ronald Reagan and fulfills his own 1994 Contract With America. The task now is to sharpen it during the Biden administration. While chairing the Senate Intelligence Committee and Small Business Committee at the end of the last Congress, Rubio got a head start on his GOP competition before Biden even took office. He churned out speeches and op-eds and two lengthy reports on domestic investment and Chinese competition. Maybe the average voter doesnt do the Rubio reading, but tens of millions of Americans have benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program. The program Rubio helped create was perhaps the perfect confluence of the senators thinking. Left to its own devices during the pandemic, the market likely would have determined that massive layoffs were necessary. What was best for business in the short term, though, likely wasnt best for the nation. Enter public policy and billions of taxpayer dollars. The party of Ronald Reagan spent big, and Rubio helped mail the checks. At the end of his tenure as chairman, the program had helped support as many as 55 million jobs during the pandemic, a number that included up to 4.5 million in manufacturing jobs. According to Republicans, it was a smashing success. According to Rubio, he would have never supported it in normal times. When you have a pandemic, and people are going to be out of work, you have one of two choices, he said of the expressly big government action. A) You can help those people by pouring money into the unemployment system; or b) you can keep them attached to work. Inaction in the crisis wasnt an option, he says, likening the mandated lockdowns to a government taking. If you lose these companies, not only do you lose entire swaths of industry, but if the contagion becomes extraordinary, they can now say we're behind on commercial rents, and then it just starts to cascade from there, he explained. But Rubio is careful to qualify the success. He wouldnt typically support that kind of action because ordinarily there wouldnt be a national emergency requiring that level of intervention. Arguments about the role of government, debates about the size of the state, are inherently American. And conservatives especially enjoy that kind debate. But do voters? This isnt the first time Republicans in the minority have come to the conclusion that ideological purity tests are political non-starters. Our average voter is not John Galt, Sen. Mitch McConnell said back in 2014, referencing the individualist hero of Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged. That same year, Sen. Mike Lee, a close ally of Rubio and a Tea Party stalwart, declared that hymns to entrepreneurialism are, as a practical matter, largely irrelevant. They had no idea a year before a real estate mogul descended on the Trump Tower escalator into American political history -- just how right, and how wrong, they were. Trump bull-rushed the primary field to win the Republican nomination and later the presidency, not by making ideological overtures but by insisting that the country was falling behind and the D.C. elite wasnt doing enough to stop the decline. An analysis of the Trump coalition by Emily Ekins of the Cato Institute found it wasnt the traditional conservative voter alone who delivered the Oval Office. There is no singular type of Trump supporter, surveys have found, which may benefit Rubio. There is no one kind of Trump voter, Ekins wrote after surveying more than 8,000 of them. True, more than half fit into the familiar conservative and libertarian divide, 31% and 25%, respectively. But the rest were an eclectic coalition not normally at home in the GOP. There were the so-called American preservationists who were more economically progressive and suspicious of the social-political status quo (20%). Another 19% were anti-elite, similarly suspicious of the establishment and generally progressive, and 5% were just disengaged. Looking at those numbers, Ayers surmises, it's pretty clear that traditional Republican orthodoxy can be adjusted to political effect. This doesnt necessarily mean abandoning all economic principles, though. Gingrich argues that it requires, instead, that the GOP reject a purely negative conservatism that has no new ideas, no positive answers, and doesnt deal with the problems of the average American, the kind of conservatives who want to stand somewhere and yell no. Both Ayers and Gingrich like Rubios alternative. His common-good philosophy has plenty of potential answers, and Rubio hopes that by enacting such an agenda, Republicans can become the party of common-sense wisdom and working-class values. But all of this invites an inevitable question: How involved should the former president be? He is going to play whatever role he wants, Rubio told RCP the day before a golden idol of Trump was rolled onto the ballroom floor of CPAC and two days before he addressed thousands of adoring fans gathered in Orlando for that conference. On the question of how the party should move forward, Rubio is a realist: He is going to be part of that conversation. It was Trump, he said, who ripped off the blinders of the party and expressed what voters were feeling. You don't have to like the way Donald Trump expressed himself to recognize that he hit on something that's legitimate and valid. And for millions of Americans, the loyalty and the support they've shown him is because he gave voice to what they have been feeling and thinking for a long time, Rubio said. What a lot of people miss, Rubio explained, is that when Trump was attacked for talking about tariffs or bringing back jobs, voters didnt view it as an attack on Trump; they viewed it as an attack on them This is what theyve been doing to us for all this time. Of that sentiment, Rubio concluded, I don't know how you can ignore it, unless the Republican Party doesn't want to win any more elections. With or without Trump, those voter anxieties arent going anywhere. And theyll only compound as younger, less ideologically inclined voters come of age. I'm still a member of that generation that bridges the two, that remembers a time when a bartender and a maid could own a home, Rubio says of that Republican problem. But my kids are growing up at a time in which two college graduates arent guaranteed to be able to make enough to own a home, much less start a family and retire with dignity. He warns that after weathering seismic moments like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, millennials and members of Gen Z are looking for a sense of security. They are more likely to embrace the promise of Andrew Yangs guaranteed monthly income than a libertarians lecture about the power of free markets. I don't think they're lazy. I don't think theyre looking for a handout in the traditional sense, Rubio says of Yangs young followers. I just think the human instinct is to want security, and if they believe the market and the economy aren't providing it, but the government can, that is appealing. Countering the subversive appeal of a benevolent government is perhaps an extreme encapsulation of the problem Rubio is trying to solve. We need to have an alternative that shows how, in fact, we can have a market that provides [security] again, Rubio said. The professor-politician, the populist ideas man, has been working on answers. He has a good idea of what he wants to do. Does he have a good idea of how to accomplish it? More specifically, Rubio is asked if he still wants to run for president. For me to tell you [that] I have no interest at all is silly, he admits. I ran for president once, so clearly at some point I had interest and could have in the future, he says. I think what has probably changed me over the last few years is I recognize that I have no idea what the world or my life would look like in four years, he continues before pausing to qualify even more: I dont know what my life is going to look like in one year. Rubio says he will focus on two things in the immediate future. His job in the opposition and getting reelected to the Senate in 2022. He has plans, and he is good at teaching them to others. His future, and the future of his party, could very well depend on whether fellow Republicans listen. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. After a full year with no Marvel Cinematic Universe movies in 2020, MCU fans embraced WandaVision and made it a huge hit... though star Paul Bettany had no idea it would become so big. Bettany, 49, has been part of the MCU since the beginning, voicing J.A.R.V.I.S. in 2008's Iron Man before he became Vision in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. The British actor appeared in a virtual interview on Thursday's episode of Ellen, where he spoke about how the show unexpectedly blew up. No idea: After a full year with no Marvel Cinematic Universe movies in 2020, MCU fans embraced WandaVision and made it a huge hit... though star Paul Bettany had no idea it would become so big When asked if he was expecting it to be as big of a hit as it is, Bettany plainly responded, 'Absolutely not.' 'We thought that we were going to be sort of the kooky cousin in the Marvel universe, and it's been really extraordinary,' he said. He added it's really been the fans who have, 'made it this phenomenon and I am so thankful for that,' adding it's been an 'incredible ride.' Absolutely not: When asked if he was expecting it to be as big of a hit as it is, Bettany plainly responded, 'Absolutely not' Ellen mentioned that it's such a difficult show to try and explain to someone who has not seen it yet, but it's funnier to hear fans try and explain. Stephen 'tWitch' Boss is a huge fan of the show, and Ellen had him try to describe the show himself. Boss began by explaining the show picked up with 'two Avengers after the events of Avengers: Endgame,' adding that Bettany's Vision died in that movie. Difficult: Ellen mentioned that it's such a difficult show to try and explain to someone who has not seen it yet, but it's funnier to hear fans try and explain 'Picking up with them living this suburban life is kind of unexplained at first, and from episode to episode, we revisit different eras of sitcoms, which raises another question: how is this happening?' Boss said. Bettany added that Boss' description was, 'so accurate' which made him wonder how the show even got 'greenlit because that idea is mad.' When he's in his full outfit as Vision, Bettany also explained that it can be quite time consuming to get the makeup just right. Mad: Bettany added that Boss' description was, 'so accurate' which made him wonder how the show even got 'greenlit because that idea is mad' 'Well, the Vision look, when we get really practiced with it, we're about an hour and a half in, and an hour and a half out,' he added. The final episode of WandaVision airs Friday on Disney Plus, though Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige recently said there are no immediate plans for a new season. Elizabeth Olsen's character Wanda Maximoff (a.k.a. Scarlet Witch) will go straight from this show to film the new Marvel movie Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness with Benedict Cumberbatch. NORTHAMPTON - A suspect in last weeks robbery of a downtown Northampton bank was denied the right to bail on Wednesday after a court hearing determined he was too dangerous to the community to be released before trial. David Jones, 38, of Charlemont, is charged with armed robbery while masked in connection with Thursdays robbery of the Peoples United Bank branch on King Street. He slipped a note to a teller that said he had a gun but no weapon was shown. He was apprehended a little more than an hour later in Charlemont after a state trooper found him with a truck that was seen fleeing the scene of the robbery. He has pleaded innocent to the charge. A dangerousness hearing determined that there are no conditions under which Jones could be released without endangering the public. He is due back in court on March 31. Patna, March 4 : Bihar Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday took a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad in the Bihar assembly over the water crisis and directed him to reply to all the online queries of legislators. During question hour in the Bihar assembly, Sanjay Saraogi, the BJP MLA from Darbhanga raised a question on the water scarcity in his constituency. "There are 65,000 houses in my constituency affected by lack of drinking water. Even CM Nitish Kumar has expressed concern over it. He has an ambitious project of Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal programme to facilitate drinking water. As installation is yet to be done at several places and the summer season is close, I want the deputy CM to tell us when the project will be completed?" Saraogi said. Prasad replied: "The honourable member should understand my intent rather than just look at my answer. Let the budget session continue. We will sit together and complete the work in time after analysing it. Due to the pandemic, installations have been delayed but we are working on it." Following the deputy CM's reply, Speaker responded: "Your intent is appreciable but you must use the same intent in your own department and execute the work in time. You should use the intent and ask officials why just 25% of legislator's queries are being answered. The department under you should give direct answers to these questions." Humans were present in Florida by 14,000 years ago, and until recently, it was believed The Bahamas located only a few km away were not colonized until about 1,000 years ago. New evidence indicates that Lucayans an Arawakan-speaking Taino people, whose name translates as island men in the native Arawakan language arrived in the northern Bahamas by about 830 CE after expanding rapidly throughout The Bahamas in less than 100 years. The first explorers and settlers in the Caribbean islands were Amerindians from South America, who migrated north through the Lesser Antilles and eventually into the Bahamian archipelago. At European contact, the inhabitants of The Bahamas were the Lucayans. It has been debated whether they originated from Cuba or Hispaniola, but a recent study suggests they migrated into the Bahamian archipelago from Hispaniola and Jamaica by 800 CE. The earliest known Lucayan settlements in The Bahamas are the Three Dog Site on San Salvador, which was occupied from 600 to 900 CE, and the Coralie Site on Grand Turk, occupied 650 to 885 CE. The Bahamas were the last place colonized by people in the Caribbean region, and previous physical evidence indicated that it may have taken hundreds of years for the Lucayans to move through the Bahamian archipelago that spans about 805 km (500 miles), said Dr. Peter van Hengstum, a researcher in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science and the Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University. While people were present in Florida more than 14,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, these people never crossed the Florida Straits to nearby Bahamian islands, only 80 to 105 km (50-65 miles) away. Meanwhile, the Caribbean islands were populated by people migrating from South American northward. The oldest archaeological sites in the southernmost Bahamian archipelago from the Turks and Caicos Islands indicate human arrival likely by 700 CE, he added. But in the northern Bahamian Great Abaco Island, the earliest physical evidence of human occupation are skeletons preserved in sinkholes and blueholes. These two skeletons from Abaco date from 1200 to 1300 CE. Our new record of landscape disturbance from people indicates that slash-and-burn agriculture likely began around 830 CE, meaning the Lucayans rapidly migrated through the Bahamian archipelago in likely a century, or spanning just a few human generations. In the study, the researchers generated a new environmental record from the Blackwood Sinkhole, which is flooded with 36.5 m (120 feet) of groundwater without dissolved oxygen. This is important because it has pristinely preserved organic material for the last 3,000 years. Using core samples and radiocarbon dating, they examined charcoal deposits from human fires thousands of years ago. According to the team, the arrival of Lucayans by about 830 CE is demarcated by increased burning and followed by landscape disturbance and a shift from hardwoods and palms to the modern pine forest. Considering that Lucayan settlements in the southern Bahamian archipelago are dated to about 750 CE, these results demonstrate that Lucayans spread rapidly through the archipelago in less than 100 years. Although precontact landscapes would have been influenced by storms and climatic trends, the most pronounced changes follow more directly from landscape burning and ecosystem shifts after Lucayan arrival. The pine forests of Abaco declined substantially between 1500 and 1670 CE, a period of increased regional hurricane activity, coupled with fires on an already human-impacted landscape. The pollen record indicates that the pre-contact forest was not significantly impacted earlier in the record during known times when intense hurricane strike events were more frequent, Dr. van Hengstum said. In our current world where the intensity of the largest hurricanes is expected to increase over the coming decades, the current pine trees in the northern Bahamas may not be as resilient to environmental impacts of these changes in hurricane activity. The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. _____ Patricia L. Fall et al. 2021. Human arrival and landscape dynamics in the northern Bahamas. PNAS 118 (10): e2015764118; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2015764118 ChurnZero The last 12 months have brought extraordinary challenges for all of us, but we have seen firsthand from our customers the inextricable link between Customer Success and the resilience of subscription businesses. ChurnZero, the highest-rated and fastest-growing Customer Success platform for subscription businesses, today announced that it has received $25 million in Series B funding led by JMI Equity, a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Returning investors in the round include Baird Capital and Grotech Ventures. To date, this investment brings the total funding that ChurnZero has raised to $35 million. The investment will be used to support ChurnZeros mission to drive Customer Success throughout subscription businesses, helping them to drive adoption, expand accounts, and fight churn. With the added resources from JMI and existing investors, the ChurnZero team will continue to invest in growing the Customer Success ecosystem, expanding the team, fueling go-to-market programs, and accelerating and deepening product development in the award-winning ChurnZero platform. The last 12 months have brought extraordinary challenges for all of us, but we have seen firsthand from our customers the inextricable link between Customer Success and the resilience of subscription businesses, said You Mon Tsang, Co-founder and CEO of ChurnZero. We expect Customer Success to gain even more strength as a department as a result of this increased attention on the customer and revenue retention, and we are steadfast in providing our customers with a strong return on investment. The growth of Customer Success software has been driven by the accelerating adoption of Customer Success teams, the prevalence of subscription-based revenue models, and the increased focus on retention and upsell as key business metrics. As the system of record for Customer Success, ChurnZero integrates customer account data from multiple sources and enables Customer Success teams to be proactive in managing customer relationships and identifying renewal issues or upsell opportunities. At Mailchimp, we pride ourselves on making innovative products that empower businesses to gain and retain customers, said Erica Swint-Williams, Senior Manager, Customer Success at Mailchimp. When looking for a provider to partner with us on our Customer Success efforts, we expected the same level of dedication in both product and service we have found that in ChurnZero. Being able to have a single source of truth for our Customer Success Managers is immensely valuable and has enabled them to be proactive and more productive for the good of our subscribers. ChurnZero has made impressive strides to become a leading provider of Customer Success software, said Larry Contrella, General Partner at JMI Equity, who has joined ChurnZeros board of directors in connection with the investment. As growth software investors, we have seen firsthand the rise of Customer Success as a function, and the power of software to help Customer Success teams better engage and retain their end customers. We are excited to partner with You Mon and his team to continue to enhance the ChurnZero platform. About ChurnZero ChurnZero helps subscription businesses fight customer churn. Its software solutions allow businesses to understand how their customers use their product, asses their health and their likelihood to renew, and give businesses the means to personalize the customer experience through timely and relevant touchpoints. ChurnZero is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is backed by leading investment firms such as JMI Equity, Baird Capital, Grotech Ventures and Middleland Capital. For more information visit https://churnzero.net/. About JMI Equity JMI Equity is a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Founded in 1992, JMI has invested in over 155 businesses in its target markets, successfully completed over 105 exits and raised more than $6 billion of committed capital. JMI partners with exceptional management teams to help build their companies into industry leaders. For more information visit https://jmi.com/. About Baird Capital Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors around the world. Having invested in more than 320 companies over its history, Baird Capital partners with entrepreneurs and, leveraging its executive networks, strives to build exceptional companies. Baird Capital provides operational support to its portfolio companies through teams on the ground in the United States, Europe and Asia, a proactive portfolio operations team and a deep network of relationships, which together strive to deliver enhanced shareholder value. Baird Capital is the direct private investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. For more information, please visit https://bairdcapital.com/. About Grotech Ventures Founded in 1984, Grotech seeks innovative, early-stage investments across the IT landscape and continues to invest and add value throughout the life cycle of each portfolio company. The firm has a strong combination of financial backing, industry relationships and deep domain and operational expertise to accelerate growth. With more than $1.0 billion in committed capital, Grotech supports early-stage companies through investments starting at $500,000. For more information, visit https://www.grotech.com/. Updated administration protocol means Sculptra offers the fastest reconstitution of any injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) available in Europe offers the fastest reconstitution of any injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) available in Europe Updated protocol allows for faster and more convenient administration of Sculptra with the optional addition of lidocaine to increase patient comfort with the optional addition of lidocaine to increase patient comfort Update is based on new data from physiochemical and clinical studies evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Sculptra Virtual event held with European healthcare professionals to mark re-launch provided additional education and support on new protocol Galderma today announced a European re-launch of Sculptra (injectable poly-L-lactic acid) a collagen stimulator with an updated administration protocol. This means that the product is ready for use more quickly following reconstitution, with increased levels of comfort for patients. Sculptra can now be used immediately following a two-minute reconstitution and with the optional addition of lidocaine for patient comfort. Previously, healthcare professionals had to wait two hours following reconstitution to administer the product. Sculptra now has the fastest reconstitution protocol of any injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) available in Europe, representing a significant growth opportunity for Galderma. "Sculptrahas been my go-to tool for treating skin laxity resulting from aging and collagen loss in my patients' skin, helping restore a youthful appearance," said Dr. Christoph Martschin, Dermatologist, Akademikliniken, Department of Dermatology, Stockholm, and a featured speaker at the SculptraEuropean re-launch virtual event. "This new reconstitution protocol for Sculptrarepresents an exciting benefit as we are able to save valuable clinic time for clinicians while improving overall procedure comfort for our patients." Collagen provides structure and support to the skin. With facial aging, the skin's natural collagen supply may decrease and could lead to skin laxity, wrinkles and roughness as skin quality worsens.1,2 Sculptra is a collagen stimulator that may help replenish lost collagen by gradually stimulating and increasing an individual's own natural collagen production, helping restore skin quality and firmness.2-5 The updated protocol is based on new data from physiochemical studies,6 as well as results from a randomized, evaluator-blinded, parallel-group, multi-center study (NCT03780244) evaluating the safety and effectiveness of two different dilutions of Sculptra. This study demonstrated that treatment immediately following a two-minute reconstitution using the higher reconstitution volume (9 mL including lidocaine) was well tolerated, caused less pain on injection and was comparable to that of the reference group (Sculptra5 mL) in reducing wrinkle severity of nasolabial folds (NLF) at Week 48 (n=80). Additionally, the mean change in wrinkle assessment scale (WAS) from baseline (assessed by Blinded Evaluator) was similar in both Sculptrastudy groups across 48 weeks and investigator assessed improvement using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) was 90% in both Sculptra study groups. As part of this European re-launch and in line with the company's intensified commitment to Sculptra, Galderma held a dedicated interactive, virtual event with over 1,000 healthcare professionals to provide additional training and support related to this new administration protocol. The event also facilitated best practice sharing among physicians based on their clinical experiences. "We are delighted to bring this expanded Sculptraoffering to healthcare professionals in Europe, and yesterday's launch event was an exciting, well-attended re-introduction to Sculptraand Galderma's larger aesthetics portfolio," said Alexandre Brennan, Global Business Unit Head, Aesthetics. "We continue to build a unique and extensive aesthetics offering at Galderma, and are proud to re-launch Sculptrain Europe as the foundation of our portfolio alongside a range of complementary treatments to deliver impressive and long-lasting results for healthcare professionals and their patients." Sculptra was first approved in Europe in 1999, in the United States in 2009 and in Brazil in 2004. Sculptra is now available in more than 40 countries globally, and additional regulatory reviews of applications for Sculptra in various regions are ongoing. About Sculptra Sculptra works to stimulate the skin's own collagen production and is suitable for increasing the volume of depressed areas, particularly to correct skin depressions such as skin creases, wrinkles, folds, scars and for skin aging. Sculptra is also suitable for large volume corrections of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy). Sculptrais an injectable biostimulator containing microparticles of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) which gradually revitalizes the skin's structural foundation, providing natural-looking, long-term results for up to 25 months. Sculptra was first approved in 1999 in Europe and it is currently available in more than 40 countries globally. To learn more about Sculptra products, visit www.galdermaaesthetics.com About Galderma Galderma, the world's largest independent global dermatology company, was created in 1981 and is now present in approximately 100 countries with an extensive product portfolio of prescription medicines, aesthetic solutions and consumer care products. The company partners with healthcare professionals around the world to meet the skin health needs of people throughout their lifetime. Galderma is a leader in research and development of scientifically-defined and medically-proven solutions for the skin. For more information, please visit www.galderma.com Shuster S, Black MM, McVitie E. The influence of age and sex on skin thickness, skin collagen and density. Br J Dermatol. 1975;93:639-643. Bohnert K et al. Plast Reconstr Surg 2019;127(4):1684-92. Stein P et al. J Dermatol Sci 2015;78(1):26-33.9. Goldberg D et al. Dermatol Surg 2013;39(6):915-22. Vleggaar D et al. J Drugs Dermatol 2014;13 (4 suppl):s29-31. Baumann K et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(12):1199-1203. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210303006096/en/ Contacts: Investor and media relations Christian Marcoux, M.Sc. Chief Communications Officer christian.marcoux@galderma.com +41 76 315 26 50 Media Contact Lauren Starr Head of Franchise Communications media@galderma.com +41 79 771 52 45 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly going after a small-time Filipino businessman for using the word Archewell on one of his products, but the said entrepreneur has vowed that he would fight the couple to the death. Cobblestone Lane LLC, which represents the couple, is going after a certain Victor Martin Soriano, to dispute his decision to name his powdered deodorant (AKA tawas) Archewell Harvatera. Soriano filed for a trademark application for the brand in July 2020 and learned four months later about Cobblestones opposition to his plan. Cobblestone also asked the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines for additional time to notarize and apostille the documents in the United States and have these sent to Manila. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex own a non-profit foundation called Archewell, named after their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. They filed for trademarks for the term Archewell in the United Kingdom, the U.S., and the European Union. But this didnt deter Soriano, who even came up with choreography for Archewell Harvatera deodorant. Soriano, who owns a company called Cyclone Trading, told British tabloid The Sun that he would have changed his deodorants name if it was Queen Elizabeth II who asked him to do so. He added that he felt like Roxie Hart as she was being put on trial in the musical Chicago. Read: Shell or Shoe? Netflixs The Crown makes fun of Imelda Marcos If the Queen asks me to withdraw, I will do it promptly, no questions asked. But Meghan, we call her the Wicked Witch of the West, he said. Were really nice people here [in the Philippines]. This affects me but Im willing to fight to the death out of principle. I think I should win because Im a small guy from a poor small country about to be swallowed by a greedy monster. I must succeed in this fight, he added. In a separate interview with World Trademark Review, Soriano said that Markle must be taught a lesson and accused the former Suits actress of bullying Buckingham Palace. Story continues You bet I can slug it out with them when it comes to legality, which I will. Fresh from her legal victories, I expect Meghan to take me head-on. All I can say is bring it on Ill fight you, youll see. We both have active marks so its a showdown and Im not backing out if thats how they handle things. Its a duel to the death, I will never give up! Soriano said. Markle successfully sued a newspaper for publishing a letter she sent to her father, Thomas Markle. A judge declared in February that Mail on Sunday breached her privacy for printing the contents of the said letter. In January, the royal couple said that they will step back from being senior royals and try to become financially independent, a move that reportedly disappointed Buckingham Palace. This article, Filipino businessman vows to fight to the death Prince Harry, Meghan Markle over Archewell deodorant, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Apart but united, Disney's new critically acclaimed animated feature "Raya and the Last Dragon" was made remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with strong Asian elements. The film from Academy Award-winning director Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estrada, Paul Briggs and John Ripa, tells the story of a lone warrior, Raya, who must track down the legendary last dragon to stop an evil force returning after 500 years to threaten her home - Kumandra, a fantasy world where humans and dragons once lived together in harmony. Raya's journey in the film takes her through the five lands of Kumandra, a world in the shape of a dragon. Each land has its own physical characteristics and each clan its own ethos; thus, in essence, the filmmakers were creating five completely different environments with varying structures and topography, each filled with people clothed and styled differently. As the first Disney film to have a Southeast Asia setting, it is inspired by the cultures and people of the region. As the artists and filmmakers designed the look of the various lands of Kumandra, they were inspired by fabrics, colors and decor suggestive of the region to build a sense of reality and relatable authenticity to the film, with particular attention to tradition and customs. As the story of Raya's journey evolved over the years of developing the film, a theme of unity and togetherness began to emerge, being further honed and defined when directors Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada came on board. "There had been some great exploration by the team into the concept of unity and togetherness," said Hall. "However, Carlos and I felt that honing in on the trust required to achieve unity would lay a firm groundwork from which to make every decision in our lead character's journey." And there's an iconic symbol from Asian culture: the dragon. Screenplay writer Qui Nguyen, offered insight into Sisu, the legendary water dragon, who is integral to the story. "The East has a very strong love and affection for dragons, but these are very different from what you see in 'Game of Thrones', for example. They mean luck. They signify life-affirming powers and fortitude, and those aspects were important to expand on since Raya is a Southeast Asian-inspired heroine. Sisu is highly revered and super powerful, but at the same time, we wanted to subvert our expectations of what a dragon could be like." Throughout the making of the movie, filmmakers consulted with a group consisting of anthropologists, architects, dancers, linguists, and musicians, a group the filmmakers call the Raya Southeast Asia Story Trust. They provided invaluable assistance to the entire production team throughout the making process of the film. Two groups of filmmakers even made research trips throughout Southeast Asia - including Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore - in order to experience the cultures. The research trips became a profound experience for those within the team who had never visited Southeast Asia in such an immersive way before. "We're making a movie that is inspired by the cultures of Southeast Asia, and we wanted to ensure that aspect, when people from the region see this," director Estrada said. "And they can feel the love and respect the team had for the incredible real places that inspired us. We worked hard to make sure that this world we created feels dynamic, that the inspirations affecting the story really come through and that nothing is lost. We want to pay tribute to these cultures." The film features the voices of many actors and actresses of Asian descent, including Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong, Ross Butler and Gemma Chan. The Chinese version casts famous actress Zhao Liying providing the voice of Raya. Nearly all the shot production for the film took place from the homes of more than 450 artists and crew members. In total, more than 900 Walt Disney Animation Studios employees worked remotely contributing to this film and other upcoming projects. As Raya joins Disney's collection of culturally iconic female characters, the film also boasts an all-female technical leadership team, which oversees all technology needs for the film, ensuring the artists have the tools and technical resources they need to achieve the directors' vision. When audiences sit down to watch "Raya and the Last Dragon," filmmakers hope that they will be swept into the fantastical lands of Kumandra and mentally join Raya on her courageous journey of hope and self-discovery. Co-director Paul Briggs said, "I want my son, and my grandson, and my great-great grandchildren to understand that this film is about the need for trust in each other so that we can come together to make this world a better place." Producer Osnat Shurer agreed. She said, "divisiveness in the world and the need to come together for the greater good, despite our differences, is something that is top of mind for so many of us. We all are excited to bring out a film that provides a space for that conversation." On the film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, "Raya and the Last Dragon" has already received a high approval rating of 96% based on 114 reviews. It will be released simultaneously in Chinese and American theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5, 2021. Glycine can stimulate or inhibit neurons in the brain, thereby controlling complex functions. Unraveling the three-dimensional structure of the glycine transporter, researchers have now come a big step closer to understanding the regulation of glycine in the brain. These results, which have been published in Nature, open up opportunities to find effective drugs that inhibit GlyT1 function, with major implications for the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Glycine is the smallest amino acid and a building block of proteins, and also a critical neurotransmitter that can both stimulate or inhibit neurons in the brain and thereby control complex brain functions. Termination of a glycine signal is mediated by glycine transporters that reuptake and clear glycine from the synapses between neurons. Glycine transporter GlyT1 is the main regulator of neurotransmitter glycine levels in the brain, and also important for e.g. blood cells, where glycine is required for the synthesis of heme. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is activated by glycine, and its poor performance is implicated in schizophrenia. Over the past twenty years, many pharmaceutical companies and academic research laboratories therefore have focused on influencing glycinergic signaling and glycine reuptake delay as a way of activating the NMDA receptor in search of a cure for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Indeed, several potent and selective GlyT1 inhibitors achieve antipsychotic and pro-cognitive effects alleviating many symptoms of schizophrenia, and have advanced into clinical trials. However, a successful drug candidate has yet to emerge, and GlyT1 inhibition in blood cells is a concern for side effects. Structural insight into the binding of inhibitors to GlyT1 would provide insight in finding new strategies in drug design. To gain better knowledge about the three-dimensional structure and inhibition mechanisms of the GlyT1 transporter, researchers from the companies Roche and Linkster, and from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, University of Zurich and Aarhus University, have therefore collaborated on investigating one of the most advanced GlyT1 inhibitors. Using a synthetic single-domain antibody (Linkster therapeutics'sybody) for GlyT1, the research team managed to grow microcrystals of the inhibited GlyT1 complex. By employing a Serial Synchrotron Crystallography (SSX) approach, the team lead by Assistant Professor Azadeh Shahsavar and Professor Poul Nissen from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics/DANDRITE, Aarhus University, determined the structure of human GlyT1 using X-ray diffraction data from hundreds of microcrystals. The SSX method is particularly suitable as a method fornew, powerful X-ray sources and opens up for new approaches to, among other things, the development of drugs for various purposes. The structure is reported in the leading scientific journal Nature and also unveils a new mechanism of inhibition in neurotransmitter transporters in general. Mechanisms have previously been uncovered for, for example, inhibition of the serotonin transporter (which has many similarities to GlyT1) with antidepressant drugs, but it is a quite different inhibition mechanism now found for GlyT1. It provides background knowledge for the further development of small molecules and antibodies as selective inhibitors targeted at GlyT1 and possibly also for new ideas for the development of inhibitors of other neurotrandmitter carriers that can be used to treat other mental disorders. Azadeh Shahsavar's team continues the studies of GlyT1 and will be investigating further aspects of its function and inhibition and the effect of GlyT1 inhibitors in the body. ### The studies have received financial support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, the EU-Marie Sklodowska Curie Cofund (EMBL EIPOD postdoc fellowship) and Roche. The results have been published in the international journal Nature: Structural insights into the inhibition of glycine reuptake Azadeh Shahsavar, Peter Stohler, Gleb Bourenkov, Iwan Zimmermann, Martin Siegrist, Wolfgang Guba, Emmanuel Pinard, Steffen Sinning, Markus A. Seeger, Thomas R. Schneider, Roger J. P. Dawson & Poul Nissen https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41586-021-03274-z For further information, please contact Assistant Professor Azadeh Shahsavar - ash@mbg.au.dk Professor Poul Nissen - pn@mbg.au.dk - +45 28992295 Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience--DANDRITE Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Aarhus University, Denmark The McGowan Companies, based in Fairview Park, Ohio, has acquired the assets of the wholesale division of Liberty Corner, N.J.-headquartered Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group Inc. (CBIG), effective February 1, 2021. CBIGs wholesale division will be re-branded under the McGowan brand. CBIGs wholesale division specializes in writing lawyers professional liability (LPL). CBIG administers multiple, exclusive LPL programs through carriers rated A or better by A.M. Best. After the transaction, the staff of CBIGs LPL programs will remain in place, led by Neil P. McGowan. All of CBIGs brokers will receive automatic, initial appointments with McGowan and its full range of products and capabilities. Coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Source: The McGowan Companies Topics Mergers Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. A California-based startup has revealed an EV charging network where drivers will only need to spend 10 minutes to get fully charged battery, Business Insider reports. The company, Ample, partnered with Uber on the project alongside private investors who collectively raised $70 million for the network. Currently, Ample has two charging stations in San Francisco, which service the Uber fleet of EVs. Fast charging is a top priority for EV makers as it is one of the biggest reasons many drivers are still skeptical about electric cars. With a decades-old habit of filling up with gasoline or diesel in minutes, the idea of waiting for half an hour or more until the EV charges is hardly an appealing one. Because of the importance of fast charging, it is an area of very active research, with scientists reporting promising results but mostly from the lab. A year ago, for example, a team from the Center for Energy Storage Research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology said they had developed a new anode material that could increase an EVs range twice and shorten charging times to just five minutes or so. Amole, however, has taken a very different route: the company does not offer charging up your battery in minutes. What it does offer is a replacement battery, fully charged, while you leave the empty one at the station to be recharged. Whats more, Business Insider reports, the system is autonomous, and drivers will not even need to get out of the car to get the full battery. Plans for the future include setting up several more stations in different California cities, in line with the states plans to add some 28,000 EV charging stations in the coming years. This is part of efforts to reduce emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels, chiefly by replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with EVs. The state has a target of as many as 5 million electric cars by 2030. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.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. One day after Gov. Greg Abbott lifted coronavirus restrictions and said he would open Texas 100%, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar is also voicing his concerns for locals. Cuellar said he understands the importance the economy plays in the state, and he strongly supports businesses. However, I am in total disagreement with Gov. Abbott lifting the mask mandate. This is political, Cuellar said in a statement. Why is it so difficult for him to just leave the mask mandate? Im not saying to cite someone and fine them. All Im saying is to enforce the masks. This is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We have come this far in helping curtail the spread, that is absurd to think that all our efforts are being tossed out the door. Gov. Abbott is going against CDC recommendations from health experts, and instead of uniting us, he is dividing the state. Cuellar further stated that Abbott is thinking more about politics than the people. And this is not the time to lift the mask mandate, the sheriff stressed. Eased restrictions leads to higher infection rates, which leads to hospitalizations and ultimately leads to more deaths, Cuellar stated. Very few Texans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As of Tuesday evening, only 2.06 million have received the second dose; this is just 7.13% of our states population. Cuellar is urging the community to continue wearing masks. I urge the public to still practice all safety measures and continue to wear your masks, the sheriff stated. This is the best way we will be able to help contain this silent killer. Please dont let your guard down. Continue to also practice social distancing and continuously wash your hands. [March 04, 2021] Experience Matters: Idaho Virtual Academy Now Accepting Enrollments for 2021-2022 School Year After an academic year like no other, Idaho Virtual Academy (IDVA), a full-time online public-school academy serving students throughout the state, is welcoming students to enroll for the 2021-2022 school year. IDVA is the state leader in providing safe, alternative education options, while giving your student a personalized experience and providing them with what they need to succeed. IDVA is tuition-free to all students who reside in Idaho, staffed by state-licensed teachers, and is an authorized online public-school program of the Idaho public school system. They offer a personalized approach to learning, delivering rich, engaging curriculum designed to assist students who seek alternative pathways to education. "One of the biggest things this pandemic showed us is that students, and parents, need consistency in their education," said Kelly Edginton, ead of school. "Our world-class technology and student-focused curriculum will give your children the reliable advantage they need to succeed throughout high school, and beyond." Students choose online school for a variety of reasons including advanced learning, a bullying-free environment, and the ability to support extracurricular pursuits or medical needs. IDVA's online platform gives students the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in a supportive environment and at an appropriate pace for their learning style. IDVA is now accepting enrollments for the 2021-2022 school year. Families are encouraged to attend an online information session hosted by the school. More information, how to enroll, and a schedule of upcoming events can be found at https://idva.k12.com/. About Idaho Virtual Academy Idaho Virtual Academy (IDVA) is an online public charter school serving students statewide in kindergarten through 12th grade. As part of the Idaho public school system, IDVA is tuition-free and provides families the choice to access the curriculum and tools provided by K12, a Stride Company (NYSE: LRN). Stride offers learners of all ages a more effective way to learn and build skills for their future. Learn more at idva.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005002/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] English nationalists can be protected from discrimination in the same way followers of a religion or philosophical belief are, a judge has ruled. Those holding firm political views regarding the culture, identity and politics of England could qualify to sue under equality laws, Judge Christiana Hyde said. But expressing anti-Muslim opinions as a part of their beliefs disqualifies them from protection because it infringes on the rights of others, she added. The landmark decision to make English Nationalism a 'protected characteristic' came after a tribunal hearing involving right wing political figure Steven Thomas. Mr Thomas, who under his previous name Steven Uncles campaigned for the English Democrat party, was trying to sue the NHS for discrimination. The 56-year-old from Kent had claimed a trust's decision to terminate his contract with them was due to his political views. The conclusion English Nationalism could be a 'protected characteristic' came after a tribunal hearing involving right wing political figure Steven Thomas (pictured) The hearing in south London was told Mr Thomas was appointed via a recruitment agency as a consultant to Surrey and Borders NHS Trust in May 2018. But in July his employment was terminated after it was discovered he had been convicted the previous year of electoral fraud. Mr Thomas tried to persuade the judge he was the victim of discrimination because his support for English nationalism was equivalent to a philosophical belief. In her ruling, Judge Hyde - one of Britain's only black female judges - said she accepted his claim his beliefs were real. She said: 'Mr Thomas outlined the history of how he had discovered his English identity, from about the age of eight in the context of supporting a national sporting team. 'He then described how his sense of his English identity grew as he grew older, influenced, for example by learning about the problems in Ireland. 'At the age of 38 his English identity moved out of the realms of international sport and into the world of politics. He believed that the country was being poorly run. 'He rejected the three main UK parties as vehicles for his political involvement as they were just that - parties of the whole United Kingdom. 'He identified that the other nations of the United Kingdom all had nationalist parties i.e. parties just representing that nation. Thus, he selected The English Democrat Party and joined it.' The hearing in south London (file photo) was told Mr Thomas was appointed via a recruitment agency as a consultant to Surrey and Borders NHS Trust in May 2018 Mr Thomas's lawyer said: 'To [him], English nationalism is the nationalism that asserts that the English are a nation and promotes the cultural unity of English people. 'In a general sense, it comprises political and social movements and sentiment inspired by a love for English culture, language and history, and a sense of pride in England and the English people. '[His] English nationalism, in its full flowering, welcomes the inclusion of those who choose to live in England to adopt English identity and with it, allegiance to England.' Despite the apparent sincerity of his beliefs, Mr Thomas's entitlement to claim discrimination was undermined by his anti-Muslim views, Judge Hyde said. What does the Equality Act 2010 say and why is it relevant? Steven Thomas claimed in his tribunal case he lost his job due to the NHS's discrimination against his political views. The judge ruled his views were sincerely held - which would open the possibility his claim could win - but added he would not due to his anti-Muslim views. The Equality Act 2010 says in the provisions relating to work section 'extending protection in private clubs to sex, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment'. These are called 'protected characteristics' that cannot be used against a person at work. The judge said his belief had to be: genuinely held, be a belief and not an opinion or viewpoint, be a belief as to a weighty and substantial aspect of human life and behaviour, attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance, be worthy of respect in a democratic society, be incompatible with human dignity and not conflict with the fundamental rights of others. She said Mr Thomas's argument matched the first four criteria, but not the fifth. She said his views on Islam conflicted with the fundamental rights of others, so voided his argument. Advertisement She said: 'Had this been the extent of [his] English Nationalism beliefs however, the issues which arise in this case as to his entitlement to claim that his English Nationalism was a philosophical belief were unlikely to have arisen.' The hearing was presented with hundreds of pages of tweets and retweets expressing hostility to Muslims and illegal immigrants. These included criticism of their 'insane' toilet habits, calling for a ban on the burka and the use of #RemoveAllMuslims after the 2017 London Bridge terror attack. Giving evidence, Mr Thomas denied being anti-Islamic but said he was opposed to multiculturalism. He told the the tribunal 'this is England' and that there were 'cultural challenges' to having people of the Islamic faith living here. Judge Hyde said: 'He clearly had a very static and somewhat simplistic view of what constituted all things English.' To qualify as a ''protected characteristic'' a belief must fulfil five criteria. It must be genuinely held; it must be a belief and not an opinion or viewpoint; it must be a belief as to a weighty and substantial aspect of human life and behaviour; it must attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance; must be worthy of respect in a democratic society, must not be incompatible with human dignity and not conflict with the fundamental rights of others. Judge Hyde ruled while Mr Thomas - who has unsuccessfully run for Parliament and other public offices at least six times - had succeeded on the first four points, his anti Islamic views meant he had failed on the fifth. She said: '[His] belief included views about the way in which a society in which those of varied racial origins, religions and cultures should be ordered. 'His belief in English nationalism goes to the heart of how a democracy, in his view, should be run. He has a clear understanding of what his belief entails. 'Whilst it was clear that the terms in which [he] expressed his views were, on the evidence before me, usually offensive and disparaging, I considered that the subject matter was not outside the bounds of democratic debate. Judge Hyde said: 'English Nationalism is capable of constituting a philosophical belief under... the Equality Act.' But Mr Thomas's anti Muslim opinions meant he himself was disqualified from claiming protection under the law. She added: '[His] disdainful and prejudiced focus on Islam, to the exclusion of all other religions or belief systems, and the language in which this was consistently cloaked meant that the belief did not meet the fifth criterion.' New Delhi, March 4 : The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed displeasure on streaming of films on web platforms without any prior screening of the content and also cited some films having pornographic content. The observation was made by the top court during the hearing of a plea by Amazon Prime Video India head Aparna Purohit against Allahabad High Court order, which declined to entertain her anticipatory bail in connection with the FIRs lodged against her over the web series 'Tandav'. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said: "There should be some screening (of content on web platforms). There is pornography in some films." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, said some programs have filthy abuses. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Purohit, contended this "as a matter of free speech" and cited that his client is not the producer of the show, instead an employee of the company which is streaming the web series Tandav. Justice Bhushan replied that a balance needs to be struck in such matters and reiterated there should be some screening by somebody. The top court indicated that there should be a body like censor board which screens the films. A counsel in the matter informed the top court that the government has recently notified OTT guidelines. The top court scheduled the matter for further hearing on Friday. In January, the top court refused to grant interim protection to Tandav crew from any coercive action and had asked them to move the concerned courts to seek bail in the matter. Purohit has been accused of inappropriate depiction of Hindu deities, Uttar Pradesh Police personnel and for adverse portrayal of a character in the role of prime minister in the web series. On February 25, the Allahabad High Court declined to grant her anticipatory bail in the matter. The high court had observed, "Western filmmakers have refrained from ridiculing Lord Jesus or the Prophet but Hindi filmmakers have done this repeatedly and are still doing this most unabashedly with Hindu gods and goddesses". One Balbir Azad lodged an FIR on January 19, 2021, at Rabupura police station of Greater Noida. Azad had alleged that the web series had deliberately denigrated Hindu gods and goddesses and depicted Uttar Pradesh and its police in a poor light. Several other FIRs have also been lodged in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar and Delhi against the web series. 'Tandav', a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood A-listers Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming recently on Amazon. The top court on Friday saying will see the new OTT guidelines issued by the Centre. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text US lawmakers reintroduced legislation on Wednesday that would ban some Chinese companies from accessing US capital markets. Five Republican colleagues joined Senator Marco Rubio of Florida in proposing the American Financial Markets Integrity and Security Act, which Rubio first introduced in October. A version was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin. The bill would ban companies that are listed on the Department of Commerces Entity List or a Department of Defence list of Communist Chinese military companies from raising capital in the US. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. The Chinese Communist Partys exploitation of US capital markets is a clear and ongoing risk to US economic and national security that must be addressed, Rubio said. The initial legislation was introduced last October but never got to a vote in the House or Senate. It was proposed after former president Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting US investment in blacklisted Chinese firms that the Defence Department said had ties to the Chinese military. In January, the Biden administration delayed the ban imposed by that executive action, extending the date of implementation to May 27 as the order is reviewed. The Defence Departments list includes 45 Chinese companies, including Huawei Technologies and Hikvision. More than 30 of them are tapping US markets for capital, Rubio said in his statement. The legislation also proposes that the US commerce secretary and the director of national intelligence have the authority to add to the Defences Departments list of companies. More from South China Morning Post: This article US lawmakers reintroduce bill to bar some Chinese firms from capital markets first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2021. London, March 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Mar, 2021 ) :Meghan Markle has accused the British royal family of peddling lies against herself and her husband Prince Harry, in an escalating transatlantic war of words before a tell-all interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey. The explosive claim is the latest salvo in an increasingly heated public relations battle between the British institution and the US-based couple. Harry and Meghan, who married in a fairytale wedding in 2018, stepped down from frontline royal duties last year, in part blaming media intrusion for their decision to move to North America. But a steady drip of stories in Britain about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they are formally known -- and tit-for-tat responses -- is becoming a torrent as the broadcast approaches this weekend. The new clip released by US broadcaster CBS came just hours after Buckingham Palace said it was probing claims that Meghan had bullied royal household staff during her time in Britain. "I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there's an active role that 'The Firm' (the royal family) is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us," she told Winfrey in the clip from the upcoming interview. - Battle for public sympathy - There was no immediate response from Buckingham Palace but comments sparked a predictable frenzy in the British media. Veteran royal commentator Richard Kay likened the row to the "War of the Waleses" in the 1990s when the marriage of Harry's parents crumbled. Heir-to-the-throne Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Diana, princess of Wales, gave unprecedented television interviews that lifted the lid on their troubled relationship -- and extra-marital affairs. That was a similar "bitter and acrimonious battle for public sympathy" to Harry and Meghan, he wrote in the Daily Mail. But Omid Scobie, royal editor of Harper's Bazaar US, and co-author of a sympathetic biography of Harry and Meghan, "Finding Freedom", said it was merely a chance for them to tell their side of the story. He told AFP that Meghan, a mixed-race former television actress, was likely to address the racism she faced in the British press and on social media, as well as their "troubles" in the monarchy itself. But he added: "I think, as is often the case, the noise usually happens before the event itself when it comes to the royal family and the coverage surrounding it. "In the end it ends up being OK and I think that that'll be exactly the same with this Oprah special. Ultimately Harry and Meghan want to start their next chapter on a positive note." Royal biographer Penny Junor, however, said the couple's interview, scheduled to be broadcast in the United States on Sunday, and in Britain early Monday, was "obviously very bad timing". Harry's grandfather, Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, 99, has been in hospital for more than two weeks, and on Wednesday underwent a procedure on a pre-existing heart condition. "I would have thought he'd be aware of it and it's not helpful," Junor said, accusing the couple of spending the last year "courting publicity". "I don't think doing this interview was a good idea in the first place." - 'History repeating itself' - Harry and Meghan's acrimonious split from the royal family was made permanent last month, when the queen removed their honorary titles and patronages. That followed nearly 12 months in which both sides have tried to control the narrative of their departure, which has polarised opinion on both sides of the Atlantic. Harry, 36, said in a clip of the Winfrey interview released earlier this week that he feared "history repeating itself" had they stayed, in a reference to the press hounding of his mother. Diana died in a high-speed car crash after being relentlessly pursued by photographers through Paris in August 1997. The bullying allegations, first reported in The Times newspaper on Wednesday, however, step up the war of words, with some commentators likening it to the constitutional crisis of 1936. Then, king Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, who like Meghan was an American divorcee. Meghan, who is 39 and pregnant with the couple's second child, said the latest claims against her were a character assassination, and an attempt to "peddle a wholly false narrative" before the Winfrey interview is broadcast. Since relocating to the US, Harry and Meghan have launched legal action against a number of media publications, alleging invasion of privacy. Hillarie Galazka is being hailed as a hero after protecting her twin boys during a car crash that killed her in Michigan. The crash happened on Monday night on the entrance ramp of the I-96 when an unidentified 25-year-old who was speeding rear-ended the Saturn Ion belonging to the Lincoln Park mother. Jodie Kelley, the 29-year-old Galazka's mother, says Galazka used her body to shield her five-year-old boys from the impact of the crash, allowing them to escape with only minor injuries. A family is in mourning after Hillarie Galazka, 29, lost her life protecting her twin sons, seen as babies The two boys in the fatal car crash were hospitalized, but suffered just minor injuries A third son, an eight-year-old, was not in the car at the time of the fatal crash. 'Her body saved them,' Kelley told FOX 2 Detroit. 'The boys say they saw her open her eyes, and look at them and then she closed her eyes, never opened them again. They remember that.' 'I'm just glad the babies survived a tragedy for the family,' Hillarie's brother, Jacob, said while mourning his sister. 'She is a good-hearted, strong, beautiful woman. She didn't deserve this death.' Fox News reports Hillarie died at the scene of the crash. The two boys were hospitalized for their injuries. The driver of the other car in the accident reportedly fled the scene and was later found at a hospital. Galazka's Saturn Ion was rear-ended Monday by a speeding driver as she on an entrance ramp Police are investigating the driver, who had a suspended license, in addition to five current suspensions, two local warrants, and two prior convictions. It's not clear what charges the driver will be facing once the investigation is complete. 'I can't believe he was behind the wheel doing 90 miles per hour in an SUV,' Hillarie's mother said. The driver of the vehicle, who hasn't been identified, was driving on a suspended license Kelley has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for her daughter's funeral. She also shared on the page that the suspect is in custody. The suspect hasn't been named. The fundraiser has received over $15,000 in donations since it was put together on March 2. 'She was my best friend she's gone now,' Kelly said. A San Francisco TV reporter who was preparing to film a segment about a spate of car robberies was mugged at gunpoint as he set up for the segment by thieves who stole his crew's camera equipment. Don Ford, a veteran journalist for KPIX was setting up to interview neighbors in the Twin Peaks about the recent car thefts when the thieves jumped out of their luxury car. One pointed a Glock pistol in his face and demanded his camera. It's unclear if Don was alone or if he had a crew with him, or if he had started rolling. Don Ford, a veteran journalist for KPIX was setting up to interview neighbors in the Twin Peaks about the recent car thefts when the thieves jumped out of their luxury car. He is shown reenacting the incident but there is no footage of it actually happening The thieves pointed a gun at him and demanded the equipment. Ford stood with his hands up, allowing them to take the equipment, and was not harmed. A neighbor who watched the robbery unfold told KPIX that he stood from afar, hoping that no one would be shot. Ford later recounted the ordeal. He said: 'Three guys jumped out, one of them with a gun, put it up to my face and said: "We're taking the camera." Ford said he did not hesitate in handing over the camera when the thieves approached him 'My whole thought was, let's be calm, let's not get this guy excited. He's got the gun. I don't. So, you take the camera. It's yours buddy. 'I'm not sure my adrenaline has settled quite yet.' The neighbor who watched it all unfolded said he watched from afar but did not want to intervene. 'I just looked and I said "I'm not going to get shot today." Police have since revealed that the camera was recovered, but the thieves have not been caught. It's unclear if they dumped it somewhere or how it was found. Emory President Gregory L. Fenves sent the following message to the university community on March 4, 2021. Dear Emory Faculty, Staff, and Students, On Tuesday, March 23, at 3 p.m., I will deliver my first address to our university community. I plan to discuss the unprecedented journey weve undertaken during the past yearadapting to the COVID-19 pandemic with resilience and creativity, pulling together to take a stand for social justice, and carrying forward our education, research, and health care missions in spite of extraordinary circumstances. I will also speak about our bright future as a university and how we can build on our rich legacy of excellence and impact. The speech will be livestreamed on Emory.edu and all members of the Emory community are welcome to attend. I hope youll join us! Sincerely, Gregory L. Fenves President New Service Allows Tracking of Viral Variants and Vaccine Resistance with A Single Sample IRVINE, Calif., March 4 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zymo Research announced today the launch of its Environ COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Service. This service facilitates daily community-wide monitoring of COVID-19 cases and variants from a single wastewater sample. Daily case estimates and detected SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern are provided via a secure digital report. The Environ COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Service uses daily wastewater samples to provide institutions with the means to monitor COVID-19 variants and case levels. Participants will be provided with sample collection devices, enabling daily wastewater sample submission, and materials for secure, pre-paid overnight shipping. Within 24 hours of each sample submission, users will receive an electronic report containing their trend and case estimate analysis. Data pertaining to SARS-CoV-2 variants will be processed weekly. Case estimates are provided as well as daily concentration trends and the detection of variant strains of concern, relating to those found in Brazil, the UK, and South Africa. A Zymo Research Environ wastewater scientist guides every step of the process, from sample collection to interpretation of results. "COVID-19 variants pose a significant risk to vaccination strategies making fast, reliable SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance at scale more critical than ever before," said Michael Lisek, Project Manager, Environmental Microbiomics at Zymo Research. "We are grateful for the opportunity to help universities, public health agencies, and communities with limited testing resources monitor COVID-19 cases and variants at scale in a way that has not been possible before." Institutions of higher education, schools with on-campus housing, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and hospitals are ideal candidates for wastewater testing due to the need for focused monitoring of populations at higher risk for COVID-19. By sampling in wastewater from group-living situations, organizations can quickly identify COVID-19 outbreaks up to a week before symptomatic cases appear with the Environ COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Service. The data from the service may be used to guide health strategies for public and private institutions. As vaccine rollouts continue, the Environ COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Service will serve a critical role in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic by providing insight into case levels and variants present in communities. For more information and pricing visit Zymo Research's website or contact them via email at environservices@zymoresearch.com. About Zymo Research Corp. Zymo Research is a privately owned company that has been serving the scientific and diagnostics community with state-of-the-art molecular biology tools since 1994. "The Beauty of Science is to Make Things Simple" is their motto, which is reflected in all of their products, from epigenetics to DNA/RNA purification technologies. Historically recognized as the leader in epigenetics, Zymo Research is breaking boundaries with novel solutions for sample collection, microbiomic measurements, diagnostic devices, and NGS technologies that are high quality and simple to use. Follow Zymo Research on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information about Zymo Research's COVID-19 products, check out the following links: Zymo Research Releases Free Software to Streamline COVID-19 Test Reporting Zymo Research Obtains CE IVD Mark for its Quick SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Kit Zymo Research Obtains Emergency Use Authorization from FDA for Their Quick SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR Kit Zymo Research Receives CE IVD Mark for its Quick-DNA/RNA Viral MagBead Kit Viral MagBead Kit Zymo Research Launches COVID-19 Sequencing Service for the Detection and Surveillance of Emerging SARS-CoV- Variants Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449489/Wastewater_Service.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/364743/Zymo_Research_Corp_Logo.jpg LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadvoice, an award-winning provider of hosted voice, unified communications (UC), texting and SIP trunking services for businesses, announced today that TMC has named Broadvoice as a winner of the 2020 INTERNET TELEPHONY Friend of the Channel Award, presented by INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. Broadvoice Named a Winner of the 2020 INTERNET TELEPHONY Friend of the Channel Award The INTERNET TELEPHONY Friend of the Channel Award recognizes organizations running world-class channel programs that attract the top telecom/communications VARs, MSPs and agents to their programs. The award highlights the best of the channel and acknowledges companies that go the extra mile to support the channel with tools, information, education and remuneration. "On behalf of TMC and the editors of INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine, we are honored to recognize Broadvoice as a winner of the INTERNET TELEPHONY Friend of the Channel Award for its distinguished program," said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. "We look forward to seeing continued excellence from Broadvoice in the future." Broadvoice has built a go-to-market strategy with partners in mind. Among many perks, the Broadvoice Partner Program offers: Sales Incentives , including industry-leading evergreen commissions, lucrative SPIFFs and a luxury Presidents' Club experience. , including industry-leading evergreen commissions, lucrative SPIFFs and a luxury Presidents' Club experience. Creative Revenue Opportunities , including a Markup Program that enables partners to make money on installation and hardware provided by Broadvoice as well as residual revenue on hardware rentals. , including a Markup Program that enables partners to make money on installation and hardware provided by Broadvoice as well as residual revenue on hardware rentals. Certified Installer Program , that enables partners to train and be certified to take full control of the customer implementation (and the associated fees) without third parties involved. , that enables partners to train and be certified to take full control of the customer implementation (and the associated fees) without third parties involved. Comprehensive Marketing Resources , including partner marketing kits that include flyers, blogs and emails that partners can use to jumpstart sales. , including partner marketing kits that include flyers, blogs and emails that partners can use to jumpstart sales. Complementary Demo Accounts , to better show customers the ease of use and feature functionality of the Broadvoice cloud PBX, UC and call center solutions. , to better show customers the ease of use and feature functionality of the Broadvoice cloud PBX, UC and call center solutions. Intuitive Partner Quoting Tool, which leverages proprietary on-switch quoting so partners can build quotes in as little as a minute. "Broadvoice is honored to be a winner of the 2020 Friend of the Channel Award," said Kim McLachlan, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Broadvoice. "Our partner community is the backbone of our company. Our channel team understands this and provides the incentives, support and resources needed to thrive for our partners and their customers." For more information on the Broadvoice Partner Program, please call 866.697.9112, or visit the Broadvoice Partner Program. About Broadvoice Broadvoice simplifies communications for small and medium businesses (SMBs) by combining powerful cloud PBX, UC and collaboration features with virtual call center in one award-winning Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform that delivers enterprise-class features at affordable rates. The platform is connected to Broadvoice's secure, redundant network and hosting infrastructure, enabling SMBs to connect with customers securely anytime, anywhere and with any device. Broadvoice is ranked in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. For more information, please visit www.broadvoice.com. Media Contacts: Kimberly Way Email Marketing Manager Broadvoice 970.289.0854 [email protected] SOURCE Broadvoice Related Links http://www.broadvoice.com In this post we share quite a bit of info, news, opinion and slap fighting amid what is HOPEFULLY is the end of the virus that shut down the world. Cowtown Plague Cure Delivery Kansas City COVID Vaccine Task Force provides update on distribution KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Kansas City's COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force is gearing up to report to the city council Thursday after one month of discussion. At their meeting Wednesday, they reported that their first targeted large-scale clinic in collaboration with the YMCA was booked solid. They vaccinated 1,170 people over five days. So-So Vaxx News Social media playing big role in hunt for COVID-19 vaccine in Kansas City metro KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Obsessively refreshing a webpage or starting to plan a road-trip? These are the main options for a lot of people trying to track down an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine. As it often does, desperation has led to innovation. Social media is now playing a role in the hunt. Kansas Fights To Reopen COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES: Kansas lawmakers mull governor's power, closing businesses Kansas City metro area health officials are grappling with how to handle continuing case count increases after reopening businesses more than six months ago. What you need to know:The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday the state has 295,109 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and there have been 4,816 deaths since the outbreak started. Show-Me Expanded Vaxx Operation Safe urging Tier 3 Missouri residents to apply, reapply for vaccination NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Officials advocating with Operation Safe are urging Missouri residents in the Kansas City metro to apply to get vaccinated at their mass inoculation site. Clay County officials are especially asking those who are considered Phase 1B, Tier 3 residents, to sign up through the Operation Safe Interest Form. Families Hope For Golden Ghetto Old School Comeback After a year in lockdown, families able to reunite at Johnson County nursing home OLATHE, Kan. - Emotional reunions are unfolding are some metro nursing homes, after nearly a year in lockdown. "I just look forward to every minute I have now. It's almost like you take it for granted and that's what's really hard. I'm so thankful now," Megan Miller said, whose mother lives in a nursing home. Double Down Awaits Data shows more than 56,000 Missourians overdue for 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose Roughly one of every 16 Missouri residents - 6.5% - who have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose are overdue to received their second dose. Data from the Missouri Hospital Association shows 56,720 Missourians have not received their second dose within the manufacturer-prescribed window of 21 days for the Pfizer offering and 28 days for the Moderna vaccine. Troops Help Cure Missouri National Guard Soldiers assist North Kansas City mass vaccination site NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Soldiers from the Missouri National Guard are helping give out the Pfizer vaccine Wednesday at Cerner's world headquarters. The Cerner campus is where Operation Safe, the Clay County coalition, has been staging its mass vaccination clinics to fight the coronavirus. Local Life Lessons Contd KC metro high schoolers feel mental health relief with return to classroom KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City metro school districts are giving high school students some relief with a return to in-person learning this semester. "I also understand it's going to be no where near normal," Maria Heath, a Shawnee Mission South High School senior, said. Urban Core Weekend Care Swope Health Central to hold COVID-19 vaccination event Saturday KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Swope Health Central will hold a COVID-19 vaccination event on Saturday, according to an announcement from Sen. Barbara Anne Washington (D-Kansas City). Washington said in a news release that the event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday for eligible residents. Kansas City Fights COVID Vaccinations efforts help tamp down COVID-19 cases in KC, KS, MO The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in February fell precipitously in Kansas, Missouri and the Kansas City region. The stark declines since the pandemic reached a crescendo in the two-state region late last year is welcome news, but health experts said the COVID-19 threat has not passed. Developing . . . Though Mr. Trump significantly relaxed limits on counterterrorism strikes outside war zones, fewer occurred on his watch than under Mr. Obama. That is largely because the nature of the war against Al Qaeda and its splintering, morphing progeny keeps changing. In particular, during Mr. Obamas first term, there was a sharp escalation in drone strikes targeting Qaeda suspects in the tribal region of Pakistan and in rural Yemen. Mr. Obama broke new ground by deciding to approve the deliberate killing in 2011 of an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Muslim cleric who was part of Al Qaedas Yemen branch. Then, after the Islamic State arose in Iraq and Syria, its caliphate became a magnet for jihadists during Mr. Obamas final years and much of Mr. Trumps presidency. But the region ISIS controlled was considered a conventional war zone, so airstrikes there did not raise the same novel legal and policy issues as targeted killings away from so-called hot battlefields. The Biden administrations review of legal and policy frameworks governing targeting is still in preliminary stages. Officials are said to be gathering data, like official estimates of civilian casualties in both military and C.I.A. strikes outside of battlefield zones during the Trump era. No decisions have been made about what the new rules will be, Ms. Horne said. This review includes an examination of previous approaches in the context of evolving counterterrorism threats in order to refine our approach going forward, she said. In addition, the review will seek to ensure appropriate transparency measures. Among the issues said to be under consideration is whether to tighten a limit intended to prevent civilian bystander casualties in such operations. The current rules generally require near certainty that no women or children are present in the strike zone, but the Trump team apparently permitted operators to use a lower standard of merely reasonable certainty that no civilian adult men were likely to be killed, the officials said. Permitting that greater risk of killing civilian men made it easier for the military and the C.I.A. to meet the standards to fire missiles. But it is also routine for civilian men to be armed in the kinds of lawless badlands and failed states for which the rules are written. Winston Churchill, recognized as one of the most luminous figures of the 20th century, is also known for his enthusiasm for painting. Even when he devoted all his energy to the wartime work during World War II, Churchill managed to execute a landscape depicting a breathtaking view of Marrakesh, Morocco, in 1943. The work titled Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque, owned by Angelina Jolie, fetched 8.285 million pound ($11.59 million) at Christie's sale in London on March 1, a record for any work by the British politician at auction. Churchill produced the painting, the only canvas he made during WWII, after he attended the Casablanca conference. He persuaded Franklin D. Roosevelt, who prepared to leave, to visit Marrakesh. It is said Churchill told Roosevelt that, "You can't come all this way to North Africa without seeing MarrakeshI must be with you when you see the sun set on the Atlas Mountains." From a tower of the place where they stayed, the two leaders enjoyed a view of Marrakesh and its landmarks, the Koutoubia Mosque and Atlas Mountains. After Roosevelt left, Churchill stayed one more day to make the painting, and gave it to Roosevelt as a gift. Churchill's interest in painting began when he was 40 and experienced a well-documented career setback. Marrakesh was a place where Churchill loved to paint. Scene at Marrakesh, a painting he made on his first visit there around 1935, sold for 1.88 million pounds at the same auction. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Bharat Book Bureau Provides the Trending Market Research Report on COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Natural and Organic Food Industry Market Report-Development Trends, Threats, Opportunities and Competitive Landscape in 2020under Food & Beverage Category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and Market reports. Organic food is food produced by methods that comply with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming in general features practices that strive to cycle resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Natural foods and all natural foods are widely used terms in food labeling and marketing with a variety of definitions, most of which are vague. The term is often assumed to imply foods that are not processed and whose ingredients are all natural products (in the chemist's sense of that term), thus conveying an appeal to nature. The Natural and Organic Food Market revenue was xx.xx Million USD in 2019, and will reach xx.xx Million USD in 2025, with a CAGR of x.x% during 2020-2025. Under COVID-19 outbreak globally, this report provides 360 degrees of analysis from supply chain, import and export control to regional government policy and future influence on the industry. Detailed analysis about market status (2015-2020), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise products, industry development trends (2020-2025), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also been included. From raw materials to end users of this industry are analyzed scientifically, the trends of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. Considering COVID-19, this report provides comprehensive and in-depth analysis on how the epidemic push this industry transformation and reform. Request a free sample copy of Natural and Organic Food Industry Market Report @ https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2354831 The Natural and Organic Food market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important countries as follows: Key players in the global Natural and Organic Food market covered in Chapter 12: Organic Valley United Natural Foods Hain Celestial Quaker Oats Whole Foods Dean Foods Frito-Lay Natures Path Foods Dole Food Newmans Amys Kitchen Clif Bar & Company General Mills Kroger In Chapter 4 and 14.1, on the basis of types, the Natural and Organic Food market from 2015 to 2025 is primarily split into: Natural Food Organic Food In Chapter 5 and 14.2, on the basis of applications, the Natural and Organic Food market from 2015 to 2025 covers: Mass Merchandise Natural Health Farms Online Others Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, historic and forecast (2015-2025) of the following regions are covered in Chapter 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14: North America (Covered in Chapter 7 and 14) United States Canada Mexico Europe (Covered in Chapter 8 and 14) Germany UK France Italy Spain Russia Others Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 9 and 14) China Japan South Korea Australia India Southeast Asia Others Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 10 and 14) Saudi Arabia UAE Egypt Nigeria South Africa Others South America (Covered in Chapter 11 and 14) Brazil Argentina Columbia Chile Others Years considered for this report: Historical Years: 2015-2019 Base Year: 2019 Estimated Year: 2020 Forecast Period: 2020-2025 Browse our full report with Table of Content : https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/covid-19-outbreak-global-natural-and-organic-food-industry-market-report-development-trends-threats-opportunities-and-/2354831 About Bharat Book Bureau: Bharat Book is Your One-Stop-Shop with an exhaustive coverage of 15,00,0000 reports and insights that includes latest Market Study, Market Trends & Analysis, Forecasts Customized Intelligence, Newsletters and Online Databases. Overall a comprehensive coverage of major industries with a further segmentation of 100+ subsectors. Contact us at: Bharat Book Bureau Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: poonam@bharatbook.com Website: www.bharatbook.com For the first time in history, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, will visit Iraq March 5-8. Tomorrow I will go to Iraq for a three-day pilgrimage, the pope tweeted today. I have long wanted to meet those people who have suffered so much. Iraqis have also been waiting a long time for this moment. The former pope, St. John Paul II, had expressed a wish to visit Iraq in 2000 and carry a message of unity among Abrahamic religions on a trip from southern Iraq to the Holy Land. "If it be God's will, I would like to go to Ur of the Chaldees, the present-day Tell el-Muqayyar in southern Iraq, the city where, according to the biblical account, Abraham heard the word of the Lord," the late pope said. The trip never took place at the time, during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Iraq has remained the only place of strong biblical significance that has not been visited by a pope. Pope Francis will land at Baghdad's airport tomorrow afternoon and be welcomed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. They will exchange gifts and discuss Iraq's progress toward a stable state and its unique multicultural society. The pope will visit several places in Iraq, promoting tolerance and coexistence in the birthplace of Abraham and the historical home of the three main Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam in addition to offshoots and affiliates like Sabianism and Bahaism. The pope expressed hope to take another step forward in fraternity amongst believers together with Iraqi religious leaders. I ask you to accompany this apostolic journey with your prayers, so that it may unfold in the best possible way and bear the hoped-for fruits," he said. Baghdad and other Iraqi cities are covered with posters and decorations for the visit. After meeting Iraq's president and other Iraqi political and civil society leaders Friday evening, the pope will visit the church of Our Lady of Salvation to meet Iraqi religious leaders of different denominations. The church had witnessed a horrible massacre in 2010, when six suicide jihadists attacked the church during Sunday evening Mass, killing 58 worshipers and injuring other dozens. On Saturday morning he will travel to Najaf, the heart of the Shiite world, where he will meet the highest Shiite authority, Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Then he will travel south to visit Ur, Abrahams homeland. He will be accompanied by top religious authorities from different Iraqi religions and denominations. Mosul will be another stop. The city was one of the main Christian centers before the Islamic State took over the area in 2014 and expelled Christians and confiscated their properties. A small number of them have returned, but most remain cautious out of concern for a lack of security and services. The visit will be a gesture of support for Iraqi Christians, encouraging them to stay in the home of one of Christianitys earliest communities. Now, after the defeat of IS in Iraq and most of the region, the pope's visit will deliver a powerful message not just to Christians but to all nations in the region who have been suffering under extremism and dictatorships. Iraqi Kurdistan will be the final stop before the pope leaves Iraq Monday morning. The visit is a great opportunity not just for Iraqi government but also for religious institutions and civil society to invest in promoting tolerance and coexistence in the Middle East. Defiant anti-coup protesters returned to cities and towns across Myanmar on Thursday after dozens of people were killed on the deadliest day of the juntas crackdown, with global powers condemning the brutal violence. At least 38 people died on Wednesday, according to the United Nations, when online images streamed out of Myanmar showing security forces firing into crowds and blood-covered bodies of protesters with bullet wounds in their heads. Myanmars military staged its coup on February 1, ending a decade-long experiment with democracy and triggering a mass uprising that the junta has increasingly sought to quash with lethal force. ADVERTISING Wednesdays violence left the United States appalled and revulsed, State Department spokesman Ned Price said. We call on all countries to speak with one voice to condemn the brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people, he said, referring to the country by its former name. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate end of the repression in Myanmar. More than 50 people have been killed since the military takeover, UN envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told reporters. On Thursday, protesters hit the streets again in Yangon and Mandalay, the nations two biggest cities, as well as other towns that have been hotspots for unrest. Its dangerous to be here after about 9:30am. They are shooting in the streets, one food vendor in Yangon told AFP on Thursday morning. In a district where protests have occurred almost daily in Yangon, the protesters had built barriers with old tires, bricks, sandbags, bamboo and barbed wire. Fear, false news The junta has sought to hide its crackdown from the rest of the world, choking the internet and banning Facebook the most popular social media platform. Six journalists were also arrested on the weekend and charged under a law prohibiting causing fear, spreading false news, or agitating directly or indirectly a government employee, according to their lawyer Tin Zar Oo. Among them was Associated Press photographer Thein Zaw, who was arrested Saturday as he covered an anti-coup demonstration in Yangon. Video emerged on Wednesday of him being held in a chokehold by police as he was handcuffed. However protesters, citizen journalists and some media groups have continued to send images out of Myanmar, and on Thursday the funeral of a 19-year-old woman killed in Mandalay was streamed live on Facebook. The victim, Ma Kyay Sin, had been wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with Everything will be OK in big letters on the front when she was shot in the head. Security forces have arrested nearly 1,500 people since the start of the coup, with 1,200 of them still in detention, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group. The group said it had documented more than 50 deaths, as it detailed teenagers and people aged in their 20s who had been shot in the head and chest. One of the first people detained at the start of the coup was Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the civilian government and a heroine for most people in Myanmar for leading the resistance against the previous dictatorship. ADVERTISEMENT The junta justified its coup by making unfounded allegations that Suu Kyis party rigged the election. Suu Kyi, 75, is reportedly being detained in Naypyidaw, the isolated capital that the military built during its previous, decades-long dictatorship. France 24 is Premium Times syndication partners. We have permission to republish. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. When you become a dissident, it's never a normal life for you any more, says Omar Abdulaziz. Speaking over Zoom from Montreal, Canada, where he has been in exile since claiming political asylum in 2014, the plucky and voluble 29-year-old Saudi activist says he wakes up each morning not knowing what to expect. Every day, you're learning that one of your friends is missing because hes been jailed. Maybe its one of your relatives who is jailed. Or there is an assassination team coming after you. This is my daily life. Today, he logged-on 30-minutes late for our interview because a dissident friend (later reported as Ahmed Abdullah al-Harbi), who'd mysteriously vanished during a visit to the Saudi embassy in Ottawa, had reappeared suddenly in Saudi Arabia. He recorded a video of himself there, says Abdulaziz. We're worried, because when he went to the embassy he called me and other friends, and said: 'They threatened me and my family members. Guys, please help me.' And then he disappeared. Anybody can go back to the country, but he was a political refugee. He was granted asylum here in Canada. And for the Saudis to be in touch or to drag somebody to the Saudi embassy, that means something fishy is happening. NASHVILLE The State Soil Conservation Committee (SSCC) will meet and conduct business March 23, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. CDT by electronic means. The meeting is open to the public to attend via an internet-based teleconferencing system. There is no cost to participants. Instructions and alternative methods of communication are at the bottom of this notice. The agenda includes approval of the previous meetings minutes, reports from partner agencies and organizations, approval of soil conservation district supervisor appointments, and an update on soil conservation district statutes. The SSCC was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1939 for the purpose of assisting in the development of local soil conservation districts. The committee advises the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on matters pertaining to soil conservation and water quality improvement. For more information, contact John McClurkan at 615-837-5305 or john.mcclurkan@tn.gov. Microsoft Team link to join on computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting Or call in (audio only) +1 629-209-4396, 48514668# phone conference ID 485 146 68# Click the Raise Hand button to be recognized by the Chairman. Connect to Microsoft Teams session at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting to make sure your connection works. Proposed Agenda Call to Order - Chairman Neal Approve minutes of previous meeting - Members Report from Partner Agencies/Organizations - NRCS, TACD Reports from Ex-Officio Members - TDEC, UTIA, TDA Approve Appointments of SCD Supervisors - Members Old Business - SCD Statute Revision Update New Business General Discussion - Members Adjourn Video of Tennessee Soil Conservation Committee meeting Those entering the buildings will still be required to wear masks and have their temperature taken, he said. Were in yellow. Weve been in yellow for some time, Snedecor said, adding, We need to start opening up to the public. Christian Porter has admitted it is possible he met his rape accuser again years after their night out in Sydney's Kings Cross. The attorney-general outed himself on Wednesday as the federal minister accused of raping a teenage girl in 1988 to emphatically deny even sleeping with the woman, who took her own life last June. The 50-year-old former public prosecutor confirmed he attended a debating competition at Sydney University with his accuser when he was 17 and she was 16. An emotional Mr Porter told reporters at a gruelling press conference he'd never met the 'bright, happy' woman after that night. Attorney General Christian Porter can't recall meeting his alleged rape accuser after the pair met in 1988 but has since conceded it's possible they met again. He's pictured with wife Jennifer, whom in separated from in early 2020 His claim contradicts woman's unsworn affidavit stating they had dinner together in Perth six years later in 1994. Mr Porter's office said on Thursday that though he can't recall any specific contact with the woman since 1988, he conceded it was possible the pair may have met up again. 'The minister said at his media conference on Wednesday that to the best of his recollection he hadn't had any contact from the person in question since January 1988,' his office told News Corp. 'If there is some information that there was some form of contact in the early 1990s, that is not impossible and it's not a case of disputing that possibility. 'As noted by the attorney-general on Wednesday, he has never seen the anonymous letter sent to Members of Parliament and then to police and has absolutely no idea what claims are made in it other than what has been reported in the media.' Tearful: Christian Porter has outed himself as the cabinet minister accused of rape to categorically deny the accusation and has insist he will not stand down Mr Porter categorically denied raping the woman who took her own life last year just one day after calling off her plan to issue a formal statement to police. He is not under investigation and refused to stand down from his cabinet position. Former NSW Liberal staffer Dhanya Mani, who is a friend of the rape accuser, called for the allegations to be 'heard and justly inquired into in a legal process'. 'The statement that my friend completed but was unable to sign because of Covid-19, no fault of her own, because of Covid, should be deemed admissible for the purposes of that inquiry,' she told ABC's Q&A on Thursday night. 'There's precedent for a deceased individual's allegations to be heard and justly inquired into in a legal process.' She also called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to hold an independent inquiry. 'I think there should be a High Court inquiry, we're talking about the chief law officer of this country,' Ms Mani said. 'I think it's appropriate as a result that the High Court is the body to examine the veracity of my friend's allegations.' Porter is pictured during his time in the debating team The woman claimed in an unsworn affidavit she and Christian Porter met again over dinner six years later in Perth (pictured) Another Q&A panellist, News Corp reporter Samantha Maiden, went to school with the woman, whom she recalled as 'the most brilliant girl at school'. The South Australian Coroner asked the police to further investigate the woman's death and hasn't ruled out an inquest. Coroner David Whittle received an 'incomplete' brief of evidence from police on Monday in relation to the 49-year-old woman's death last year. Mr Whittle assigned one of his senior lawyers to liaise with police to collect more evidence such as letters and unsworn statements from the woman before she took her own life. 'I determined that the investigation is incomplete. This was particularly evident having regard to information contained in recent media reports,' Mr Whittle said in a statement late on Wednesday. Former Liberal staffer Dhanya Mani (pictured) who was a friend of the rape accuser, called for an independent inquiry 'Counsel Assisting the State Coroner was allocated to assist SAPOL in the direction of the further investigations which I have requested. 'The investigation is continuing and once that investigation has been completed to my satisfaction, I shall determine whether to hold an inquest.' The woman's family have thrown their support behind 'any inquiry' which sheds light on the circumstances surrounding their loved one's suicide. 'They (the family) are supportive of any inquiry which would potentially shed light on the circumstances surrounding the deceased's passing,' the spokeswoman said. For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. [March 04, 2021] RLI Announces Leadership Promotions and Changes RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) -- RLI Corp. announced today that it has promoted or named several leaders to new roles. Product Leadership Promotions and Changes Eric Raudins, Vice President, Personal Lines, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Transactional Insurance Solutions, and will oversee RLI's Personal Lines and Commercial Transactional Insurance Solutions products. Raudins joined RLI in 2012 as Assistant Vice President, Specialty Markets and was promoted to Vice President, Personal Lines in 2014. Prior to joining RLI, he served as Chief Operating Officer for RIS Holdings, LLC. Raudins has 30 years of industry experience. Jill Johnson, Vice President, Branch Operations, has assumed the role of Vice President, Personal Lines and will oversee RLI's Personal Umbrella, Hawaii Homeowners and Home Business products. Johnson joined RLI in 1993 as Underwriter, Specialty Markets, and held several underwriting and operations roles before being promoted to Vice President, Branch Operations in 2016. Prior to joining RLI, she served as Personal Lines Underwriter and Call Center Supervisor at CIGNA. Johnson has 37 years of industry experience. Eric White, Assistant Vice President, Risk Services, has been promoted to Vice President, Commercial Transactional Insurance Solutions and will oversee RLI's Easy Excess, Environmental Liability, General Binding Authority and Security Guard Liability products. White joined RLI in 2007 as Assistant Manager, Property, and held several risk services leadership roles befor being promoted to Assistant Vice President, Risk Services in 2014. Prior to joining RLI, he served as Senior Underwriter at Pekin Insurance. White has 20 years of industry experience. Justin Doss, Assistant Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Specialty Personal Lines, has been promoted to Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Transactional Insurance Solutions, and is responsible for leading the group's sales and marketing initiatives. Doss joined RLI in 2016 as Manager, Sales for Specialty Personal Lines and held several sales leadership roles before being promoted to Assistant Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Specialty Personal Lines in 2019. Prior to RLI, he served as Senior District Sales Manager at Erie Insurance Group. Doss has 20 years of industry experience. Executive Leadership Changes Kevin Horwitz, Vice President, Claim, has assumed the role of Vice President, Innovation Management and Policy Development. In this newly created position, Horwitz is responsible for identifying, evaluating and supporting emerging product, policy, InsurTech and innovation opportunities. Horwitz joined RLI in 2010 as Manager, Claim, and held several Claim leadership roles before being promoted to Vice President, Claim in 2015. Prior to joining RLI, he served as Claim Consultant at CNA. Horwitz has 20 years of industry experience. "Each of these leaders brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and proven leadership to their new roles," said RLI Corp. President & COO Craig Kliethermes. "These changes will help position RLI for continued growth, advance the customer experience and enhance our focus on providing innovative products and solutions." ABOUT RLI RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) is a specialty insurer serving niche property, casualty and surety markets. The company provides deep underwriting expertise and superior service to commercial and personal lines customers nationwide. RLI's products are offered through its insurance subsidiaries RLI Insurance Company, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company. All of RLI's subsidiaries are rated A+ "Superior" by AM Best Company. RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 45 consecutive years and delivered underwriting profits for 25 consecutive years. To learn more about RLI, visit www.rlicorp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304006102/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Renault Group headquarters in France / Courtesy of Renault Samsung By Nam Hyun-woo Renault Group Executive Vice President Jose Vicente de los Mozos / Courtesy of Renault Samsung It has been one of the biggest unknowns of the pandemic: how many seniors in care homes have died due to the coronavirus. One year on, the Spanish government has finally released an official figure. According to data from Spains regions, systemized and collated by the Social Rights, Health and Science ministries, 29,408 seniors living in care homes have died due to the virus or with compatible symptoms as of February 21. The official number of Covid-19-related deaths in all social service residences, including those for people with disabilities and for other collectives, stands at 29,782. The newly released data confirms the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on senior residences in Spain, which are home to those most vulnerable to the virus, given the age of residents and their pre-existing medical conditions. From now on, the Spanish government will report every Friday the number of victims in social services facilities with confirmed coronavirus or with compatible symptoms, according to sources from the public agency Imserso, which is in charge of senior and social affairs. These figures will be provisional, the sources explain, as the data from the regions must later be refined. Last year, between March and June 22, 19,835 seniors in care homes died with a confirmed coronavirus diagnosis or with compatible symptoms, according to the new figures. This is more than double the number reported between June 23 and February 21 of this year: 9,573. A total of 86,219 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in senior residences since the beginning of the pandemic. Of this number, nearly 69,000 were detected in 2020. According to the figures, 23.7% of seniors who tested positive for the coronavirus last year died. This number, however, is likely to be much higher as many residents died without being tested for the coronavirus due to the shortage of tests, and were not included in the official toll. With respect to 2021, 18.7% of the coronavirus cases in senior residences did not survive the virus. According to sources from Imserso, three key moments of the pandemic are reflected in the data. The first phase was between March and June, when senior residences were severely impacted. Afterward, there were more resources, the information improved and with the preventive work carried out in the centers, the impact was reduced, but still serious. And there is a third stage from the end of January, one month after Christmas, when the impact of the vaccination drive can be seen, explain these sources. According to the Health Ministry report released on Wednesday, Spain has recorded more than 70,000 deaths after a positive Covid infection was detected. It is difficult to compare this figure to the death toll in senior residences due to the underreporting during the first wave. But comparisons can be made from June, when Spains diagnostic capacity and reporting improved. The Health Ministry reported 38,776 fatalities between June and February 21. Of this figure, one in four (9,782) were registered in senior residences. Madrid is the Spanish region that has recorded the highest number of deaths in senior homes, with 6,187 fatalities, according to the new data. It is followed by Catalonia (5,418), Castilla y Leon (3,987) and Castilla-La Mancha (2,803). Enormous error The data on deaths in senior homes reflects the severity of the health crisis in Spain. The healthcare system in the regions hardest hit by the virus was completely overwhelmed, and many senior residents died without receiving medical attention. In Madrid, for instance, there were even protocols advising against transferring care home residents to hospitals. Residences were left until very late and it was an enormous error, says Eloisa del Pino, who leads a project called Mc Covid-19 which analyzes how government and care homes managed the crisis in 15 countries in the European Union. According to Del Pino, the protocols designed by the Health Ministry were difficult to apply in residences, which do not work like hospitals. Residences have been especially impacted because they group over-80s, with lots of pre-existing pathologies, explains Joseba Zalakain, the director of the Center of Documentation and Research on Social Services and Social Policy (SIIS). They are places where lots of workers are coming and going and are vectors of transmission. And the residents lead a communal life, they share spaces, utensils. He adds: We estimate that we are one of the countries where the highest percentage of residents have died, between 7% and 9%. But there are countries like Belgium and Scotland [which is part of the United Kingdom], where the figure is more than 9%. And many are around 4% and 5%. Five Spanish regions report no new coronavirus cases The number of coronavirus cases in senior residences has plummeted in a month thanks to the Covid-19 vaccination drive. According to an Imserso report, new infections fell 94% between January 24 and February 21. Whats more, five regions Asturias, Cantabria, Murcia, Navarre and La Rioja did not record a single new coronavirus case between February 15 and 21, the last week included in the report. During this period, another five regions Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Extremadura, Madrid and the Basque Country recorded fewer than 10 new infections, and several regions reported no Covid-19-related fatalities. Last Friday, for the first time since the summer, senior residences in Catalonia did not record a single death. According to the regional health department, 88% of residents in care homes have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and 94% have received the first. Last Friday, for the first time since the summer, senior residences in Catalonia did not record a single death. According to the regional health department, 88% of residents in care homes have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and 94% have received the first. With reporting by Bernat Coll. English version by Melissa Kitson. For centuries, archaeologists have puzzled over how Stonehenge was built. Turns out all you need is a toaster and possibly a tin opener. But quite what our prehistoric ancestors would have made of this beans on toast version of the 5,000-year-old Wiltshire monument is anyones guess. It was just one of the sculptures crafted using the simple dish by GCSE pupils at Frome College in Somerset. They were asked to plate their beans on toast in an exciting and imaginative way. Swan fake: Gil Privett with his ballet inspired birds. It was just having a play with what we had at home in the kitchen, really, he said. They took about 40 minutes to make' The 14-year-old also built Stonehenge (pictured above) and has spent lockdown studying at home while parents Hester, 45 and Jon, 48, work at their bronze foundry And Gil Privett won the contest by fusing high culture and everyday nosh with his Tchaikovsky-inspired swans on a lake of beans. The 14-year-old who also built Stonehenge and has spent lockdown studying at home while parents Hester, 45 and Jon, 48, work at their bronze foundry used muffin cases to bake the swans. It was just having a play with what we had at home in the kitchen, really, he said. They took about 40 minutes to make. The school donated the winners height in baked bean tins 15 in all to a food bank following the contest, which also produced a beans on toast Nessie, a pirate rowing a boat and a spooky spider. A spokesman said: We are delighted with the effort and enthusiasm shown by them all. Me hearty breakfast: This pirates toast. The contest also produced a beans on toast Nessie, a pirate rowing a boat (above) and a spooky spider Loch mess: The monsters bean spotted. The school donated the winners height in baked bean tins 15 in all to a food bank following the contest Ali asked all MLAs of various constituencies in the graduates constituency to work together and ensure the victory of Vani. DC file photo HYDERABAD: Home minister Mahmood Ali on Tuesday asserted that TRS candidate Surabhi Vani will win the MLC poll from the Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahbubnagar constituency on the strength of welfare initiatives undertaken by the KCR government. He was speaking after cutting a cake to mark his birthday at the Banjara Hills Ministers Quarters in the presence of ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Gangula Kamalakar. Mahmood Ali pointed out that TRS activists are spreading information about the welfare measures that people are getting after Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao came to power in 2014. He asked all MLAs of various constituencies in the graduates constituency to work together and ensure the victory of Vani. All party activists must make it a point to bring voters to the polling booth on the day of elections, Mahmood Ali underlined, assuring that all problems being faced by graduates will soon be resolved by the TRS. Minister Srinivas Yadav said if development of Hyderabad is to continue people need to elect Vani. He pointed out that BJP and Congress candidates, who had previously got elected, have ignored the problems of youth in the MLC constituency. Human beings are living inside an ocean of signals. These signals enable human beings to demonstrate intelligence. Similarly, machines are also surrounded by signals. Artificial intelligence (AI) or machine intelligence has become a hot topic for many decades due to the high expectation of the public on the emergence of smart machines and smart products. However, the AI research community is still struggling to determine the foci of machine intelligence. For instance, the low-level focus of AI is to advocate computer-aided human intelligence. We believe that the more challenging focus should aim at creating machines that can achieve human-like self-intelligence by themselves. The development of machine's self-intelligence faces two fundamental issues. The first one is to discover, or formulate, the physical principles behind the transformation of visual signals to cognitive states of knowing the meanings of these visual signals. The second one is to discover, or formulate, the physical principles behind the transformation of audio signals to cognitive states of knowing the meanings of these audio signals. New Foundation of Artificial Intelligence lays out the new foundation of AI with two objectives in mind. The first objective is to shed light on this new direction which is founded on the use of human languages together with an extension into a technical language (i.e. mathematics) and programming languages. In this way, the answer to the question of knowledge representation becomes obvious to all researchers in the AI community. The second objective is to provide the teaching materials which will guide students in AI to master the fundamentals of achieving computer-aided human intelligence, as well as to prepare students to venture into the achievements of machine's self-intelligence. New Foundation of Artificial Intelligence retails for US$88 / 73 (hardcover) and is also available in electronic formats. To order or know more about the book, visit http://www. worldscientific. com/ worldscibooks/ 10. 1142/ 7264 . ### About the Authors Xie Ming received his B.Eng. degree in control and automation engineering from the East-China Institute of Textile Technology (now Donghua University, Shanghai, China). Subsequently, under the prestigious overseas scholarship of the Chinese government, he completed both postgraduate studies and doctorate research works, and has received his Master degree from the University of Valenciennes, France in 1986 as well as his Ph.D. degree from University of Rennes, France in 1989. Since 1986, he has worked as Research Assistant at IRISA-INRIA Rennes, Expert Engineer (1990-1993) at INRIA Sophia-Antipolis, Lecturer (1996-1997)/Senior Lecturer (1998)/Associate Professor (since 1999) of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is also Fellow (2000-2002) of the Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA) (Affiliated with Innovation in Manufacturing Systems and Technology Program), Guest Professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (2002, 2006), University Professor (awarded by China's Jiangsu Provincial Government) (2014), Entrepreneurship Professor (awarded by China's Jiangsu Provincial Government) (2020-2022), and Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Control Science at Nanjing Tech University, China (2014-2016). In terms of social services, Ming XIE is a member of the People's Action Party (PAP), Singapore the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Humanoid Robotics (IJHR which is SCI/SCIE indexed), the Founding President of the Robotics Society of Singapore (RSS), Founding President of the Science-Technology Alliance between Singapore and China (STASC), Founding Member of GD-HK-MC Greater Bay Area International Chamber of Commerce (Macau) (GHMBIC), and was the General Chair of the 2007 International Conference on Climbing and Walking Robots (CLAWAR), and the General Chair of the 2009 International Conference on Intelligent Robotics and Applications (ICIRA). When he was at the College of Electrical Engineering and Control Science of Nanjing Tech University, he undertook a holistic reform of the undergraduate education program as well as postgraduate education program. In addition, he has also reformed the governance and reward systems at the same college. In terms of industrial services, he has worked as Assistant Engineer (internship) at Renault Automation in Paris, Application Engineer attached to Development Center of Renault Automobile in Paris, Technical Consultant for projects of Asia Electronics Pte Ltd, Technical Consultant for projects of the Port of Singapore Authority, Technical Consultant for the training of engineers of Delphi Automotive Systems Pte Ltd, Technical Consultant for the training of engineers of ST Aerospace Ltd, Technical Consultant for the training of engineers of MuRata Electronics Pte Ltd, Technical Consultant for projects of Sony Electronics Pte Ltd, and Technical Consultant of Singapore Power Ltd. In terms of high education, he has taught courses such as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Machine Vision, Measurement and Sensing Systems, Microprocessor Systems, and University Physics. In terms of scientific research, Ming XIE has published two authored books, two edited books, several book chapters, over 10 patents of invention, over 30 research papers in scientific journals and over 100 research papers in international conferences. Ming XIE has been a recipient of the best conference paper award from World Automation Congress, the best conference paper award from CLAWAR, the outstanding paper award from International Journal of Industrial Robot, the Gold Prize (S$8K) from CrayQuest, the Grand Champion Prize (S$15K) from CrayQuest, A-Star's Best Research Idea Prize (S$5K), and the Silver Medal from Dragon Design Foundation. Ming XIE was the lead co-founder of the Laboratory of Intelligent Vehicle (now known as the Intelligent Systems Center) at Nanyang Technological University, and the lead co-founder of the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics at Nanjing Tech University. Ming XIE's research interests include machine intelligence (cognitive vision, natural language understanding), humanoid robotics (design, control, biped walking, mobile manipulation) and autonomous vehicles (perception, planning, and control). In terms of techno-entrepreneurship, Ming XIE was the founder of iCar Electronics Co. Ltd., the founder of Humanoid Robotics Pte. Ltd., and the founder of SMAROBOT Co. Ltd. Ming XIE was one of recipients of the Second Prize from the 2009 Spring Techno-entrepreneurship Competition organized by the Chinese Ministry of Education, one of the recipients of the First Prize from the 2010 Spring Techno-entrepreneurship Competition organized by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and one of recipients of the Thousand Elite Plan's Expert Title awarded by Shanghai's Municipal Government. Hui Chen is Director of China Society of Automotive Engineering, Secretary-General of the Automobile Intelligent Transportation Branch, Member of the Steering Technology Branch, Member of the National Automotive Standardization Technical Committee Steering System Subcommittee, and Member of SAE International, the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE), and IEEE. In 1985, he graduated from the Automation Department of China Textile University (now Donghua University, Shanghai, China) with a bachelor's degree. After obtaining a master's degree in automation from the university in 1988, he stayed on as a teaching assistant. In 1993, he went to Yokohama National University, Japan to study for a doctorate degree. In 1996, he received a doctorate degree in electronics and information engineering from Yokohama National University. In 1996, he joined NSK Co., Ltd. (NSK) and served as Assistant Manager of the Research and Development Center of the Electric Power Steering System (EPS) Division. In 2002, he returned to China and served as a professor and director of the Chassis Electronic Control System Research Office of Tongji University. In 2005, he was selected as the "New Century Excellent Talent Support Program" by the Ministry of Education. In 2010, he established "Tongji University Automobile College-JTEKT Automotive Active Safety Technology Joint Laboratory" and served as the laboratory leader. In 2013, he won the "Good Tutor in My Mind" Spring Weather Award from Tongji University and the first prize of Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award "Key Technologies and Application of Integrated Control of Automobile Multi-source Powertrain". Zhencheng Hu is Founder and CEO of Edge Perception Technology in Shanghai, China. Dr Hu successfully founded WiSSEN Intelligent Sensing Technology in 2011, which has grown into an important worldwide supplier of automotive camera modules. Dr Hu has been working in Kumamoto University, Japan for 13 years as an Associate Professor. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Kumamoto University in 2001 and held different positions in the image processing frontier industry before he joined the faculty team in ITS Lab in Kumamoto University. Dr Hu has been involved over the last 22 years in the field of computer vision, intelligent vehicles, sensor fusion and augmented reality, and have published more than 100 technical papers in relative journals and conferences since 1996. Dr. Hu holds more than 20 patents (pending included) in Japan, US, and Europe. About World Scientific Publishing Co. World Scientific Publishing is a leading international independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research and professional communities. World Scientific collaborates with prestigious organisations like the Nobel Foundation and US National Academies Press to bring high quality academic and professional content to researchers and academics worldwide. The company publishes about 600 books and over 140 journals in various fields annually. To find out more about World Scientific, please visit http://www. worldscientific. com . For more information, contact Amanda at heyun@wspc.com. Authorities in Michigan came to the rescue of a horse that was trapped in the frigid waters of an icy pond on its owner's property. ADVERTISEMENT The Allegan County Sheriff's Office said an animal control officer responded to the property in Wayland Township and requested help from the Wayland Fire Department. Firefighters donned rescue gear and ventured out into the pond to break up the ice and make a path for the horse to be led to safety. The horse, named Missy, was escorted out of the water at the end of the 30-minute rescue. The IT World Awards are industry and peer recognitions from Network Products Guide honoring achievements of world's best in organizational performance, product and service innovations, hot technologies, executives and management teams, successful deployments, product management and engineering, customer satisfaction, and public relations in information technology and cybersecurity. Judges from a broad spectrum of industry from around the world participated, and their average scores determined the 2020 award winners. Winners will be celebrated and presented their awards during a virtual awards ceremony in November. "It's an honor to be named a winner by IT World Awards for this esteemed industry and peer recognition," said Sanjay Deo. "This further validates our position as a company poised to successfully provide CMMC Readiness services to ensure that appropriate levels of cybersecurity practices and processes are in place for the vendor base of the Department of Defense." In upcoming months, the Department of Defense will require all companies that form its Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to be certified against CMMC standards. In response to increased cybersecurity threats across the defense supply chain, the Department of Defense has established this new security measure to protect sensitive data residing on systems and networks owned by defense contractors. The 24By7Security team is experienced in preparing organizations for cybersecurity audits, regulatory compliance, and certification readiness. Certification readiness and preparation are the most arduous part of the certification process. The company's CMMC readiness assessment will help organizations identify their gaps against CMMC requirements and can guide organizations through the process of readiness leading to certification. For a complete list of the 2020 IT World Award winners announced this week, visit this LINK. About 24By7Security, Inc. 24By7Security provides a robust menu of Cybersecurity and Compliance services, contemplating security and privacy needs in a variety of industries, including those which are regulated such as Healthcare, Financial Services, Education and others. 24By7Security leverages relevant industry standards such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171 and CMMC. To learn more, visit www.24By7Security.com. #DontRiskITSecureIT Press Contact: Rema Deo 844-55-CYBER ext. 708 https://24By7Security.com SOURCE 24By7Security, Inc. Related Links https://www.24by7security.com/ Panaji, March 4 : The BJP in Goa on Thursday welcomed the order of the Supreme Court of India, staying a March 2 order of the Bombay High Court bench in Panaji, which had postponed polls in five municipal councils. The SC order on Thursday followed the Goa government's appeal in the apex court, challenging the High Court order. "The government had sought restoration of democracy. Our appeal against HC order has been accepted. The opposition was rattled by the BJP which is why they were creating obstacles in the path of these municipal elections," Goa Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Damu Naik told reporters here. Earlier this week, the Bombay High Court bench, which was hearing a petition related to irregularities in reservation of municipal wards for women and Scheduled Caste categories, had postponed elections to five municipal councils (in all 11 municipal councils and one municipal corporation were scheduled to go to polls on March 20). In wake of the order, the State Election Commission had also kept in abeyance a government notification related to polls in the five municipal areas. The SC order on Thursday, not only stays the HC order postponing polls in the five municipalities, namely Margao, Mapusa, Mormugao, Sanguem and Quepem, but also stayed the order of the Commission keeping the five polls in abeyance. The matter is expected to be disposed on Tuesday (March 10). Naik said that in light of the SC order, the Goa government would bring a proper notification allowing the polls in the five municipal councils, which were earlier kept in abeyance. The municipal polls assume significance in Goa because it is the last round of local body polls ahead of the state assembly elections which are scheduled for early 2022. Czechs launch mass testing to battle Covid surge Czech soldiers wearing protective equipment (PPE) wait for patients at a testing station in Chodova Plana town, western Bohemia, on March 3, 2021, during the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic The Czech Republic launched mass coronavirus testing at business premises on Wednesday, in a bid to stem the world's highest infection rate. The government also enabled regions to call up private doctors and other medical staff to work in public Covid hospitals, many of which have reached capacity. "The situation in our hospitals is really critical. We have to employ all reserves to save lives," Health Minister Jan Blatny told reporters. The Czech Republic, which has a population of 10.7 million, has registered 1.27 million Covid-19 cases and almost 21,000 deaths since the pandemic began. The case rate is at 1,424 per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14 days and the death rate is the second highest in the world after neighbouring Slovakia. The government is in talks to receive assistance from other European countries including Germany, Poland and Switzerland, which have all offered hospital beds. Mass testing kicked off on Wednesday at companies with more than 250 members of staff. They must test their employees by March 12, with defaulters facing hefty fines or even closures. Mobile army testing teams have been deployed in the worst-hit regions. Billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Wednesday that vaccine supplies for the month ahead looked promising. A spokesman for President Milos Zeman said the head of state had asked his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a supply of the Sinopharm vaccine and that China had agreed. Zeman had already asked Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier to provide his country with the Sputnik V vaccine. Last week, Babis's government banned people from leaving their districts and ordered them to wear face masks in busy workplaces and outdoors in inhabited areas. A curfew, a limit on gatherings, and restaurant closures have been in place since last year. But the government decided not to impose the kind of full lockdown which helped it steer through the first Covid wave last spring with relative ease. Sociologist Daniel Prokop has blamed the uncontrolled spread on the high proportion of people still going into work, along with the government's lukewarm response, and some Czechs' reluctance to play by the rules. "The countries that have handled the new strains well, such as Britain and Portugal, have reduced the presence of people in workplaces," Prokop told AFP. On Friday, Alabama's current statewide mask mandate is set to expire and questions about if Gov. Kay Ivey will extend it are already looming. North Alabama business owners are already making plans on if they'll require masks to be worn if the order expires. "We're encouraged that hopefully, we've come through this far enough that the governor can release any state-issued Safer at Home orders and leave it up to the people of the state of Alabama," Travis Duehring, the owner of Just Love Coffee Cafe, said. Duehring's business opened up just a month before the pandemic began, so a majority of the time the doors have been open, employees and customers were required to wear a mask. But, he says if the governor doesn't extend the statewide mask mandate, that'll change. "If there was no requirement from the state, we would not require it. We would also not prohibit it," he said. Duehring said the mask requirement has impacted customer and employee interactions at his cafe and says lifting the requirement will help improve that. He said Plexiglas barriers and other safety measures taken will still continue even if the mask mandate expires. Duehring said he won't discourage customers and employees from wearing a mask, but will simply leave it up for them to decide if they want to or not. Another business owner WAAY 31 spoke with says regardless of what decision is made, he'd still wear a mask. "If it expires, I'll still wear it. I'll still wear it in my customers' houses. I'll still try to keep them safe and my family safe as much as possible," Adrien Caballero, a local business owner, said. Duehring believes no matter what decision is made in regard to the mandate, there will still be unhappy people on either side. "Whatever the decision is going to be, they're going to face backlash on one side or the other, and I just pray for them that they will make the best decision with the information they have available," he said. Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to announce her decision on if she will extend or let the mandate expire during a news conference on Thursday at 11 a.m. You can watch this live on WAAYTV.com and on air on WAAY 31. Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Vietnam's Permanent Representative to the UN, on March 3 called on the government and relevant sides in South Sudan to accelerate the transitional process and take effective measures to handle violence among communities. At the UNSC meeting. (Photo: VNA) Speaking at an online meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the ambassador spoke highly of positive developments in South Sudan given difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, flood and food insecurity. He hailed the role of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), neighbouring countries and regional organisations in promoting the peace process and development in South Sudan. Vietnam will make more contributions to UNMISS activities and promote womens participation in the mission, while calling for optimal material facilities for women in the mission, he pledged. David Shearer, head of the UNMISS, said Because of the collective efforts of so manySouth Sudan is in a better state. However, he stated that it is inching forward frustratingly slowly with still so much to do. Despite recently marking the one-year anniversary of the transitional government, progress is lagging including in reconstituting a Transitional National Legislature, constitution-making, transitional justice, and economic reform, according to Shearer, he pointed out. Other UNSC member countries called on the transitional government and relevant sides in South Sudan to continue with efforts in realising the 2018 peace agreement, and building the Transitional National Legislature. Vietnam officially joined UN peace-keeping operations and sent representatives to the UNMISS in 2014. The country has deployed a level-2 field hospital No. 2 in Bentiu, South Sudan, and will launch another field hospital later this month. VNA The election petition hearing has come to an end as the Supreme Court has delivered its verdict in favour of President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Electoral Commission (EC). By default, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has lost his bid to nullify the declaration of the December 7 election for a re-run. Reacting to the Supreme Court ruling, suspended former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho, defended the party and not Mr Mahama. In series of tweets, Mr Anyidoho said the fight was not about the party, but not an individual [John Dramani Mahama] and the EC and charged Ghanaians to target their weapons at the appropriate person. Mr Anyidoho suggested that Mr Mahama be left alone to fight his battles, independent from the party he serves. But, some aggrieved stalwarts of the NDC challenged his notion and explained that their motto suggests unity and stability. Let John Mahama fight his own battles and leave the NDC alone to exist. Samuel Koku Anyidoho (@KokuAnyidoho) March 4, 2021 John Manama is NOT the President of the Republic of Ghana. His Excellency President Akufo-Addo is the President of the Republic of Ghana. Samuel Koku Anyidoho (@KokuAnyidoho) March 4, 2021 People should pls remember that it is not the NDC which is in court ooo: it is an individual who is in court! Samuel Koku Anyidoho (@KokuAnyidoho) March 4, 2021 Source: twitter/adomonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Pelosi Meets With Uyghur Activists, Speaks Out Against Genocide House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) recently met with Uyghur advocates to discuss the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. Pelosi attended a virtual meeting on March 1 with Campaign for Uyghur (CFU), a Washington-based advocacy group, to be briefed on recent measures aimed at stopping the CCPs repression, according to the groups press release. If we dont speak out clearly for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights any place in the world, she wrote in a tweet after the meeting. Dr. Rishat Abbas, a senior advisor to CFU told Pelosi in the meeting that Uyghurs are facing unprecedented atrocities, so horrific that the United States and the Canadian Parliament declared Chinas actions against the Uyghurs as genocide, according to the press release. The CCP has detained more than 1 million Uyghur and other Muslim minorities across a network of internment camps in the far western region of Xinjiang. Inside the camps, detainees are subjected to torture, rape, forced labor, and political indoctrination. This year, the United States, Canadian and Dutch Parliaments have declared the CCPs actions against the Uyghurs a genocide. Last year, 39 countries expressed grave concern about the regimes abuses in Xinjiang. The CCP has denied committing atrocities in the region, claiming that its campaign is aimed at combating extremism. The Trump administration last year sanctioned several CCP officials and entities over the role in overseeing the persecution in Xinjiang and blacklisted a spate of Chinese companies that aid the CCPs mass surveillance of the regions ethnic Muslim population. It also banned all cotton and tomato product imports from Xinjiang, citing the CCPs use for forced labor. Last June, then-President Donald Trump also signed into law the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, which authorizes the sanctioning of Chinese officials responsible for the repression campaign in Xinjiang. Nine headmasters of Sydney's elite private schools named in a damning petition highlighting a sexual abuse epidemic have agreed there is a 'toxic culture' among students - as they vow to overhaul their sex education classes. Chanel Contos, the 22-year-old former Kambala School student who drew attention to the crisis, met with the schools on Tuesday night to discuss necessary changes to the curriculum. The meeting was called after more than 5,000 women shared harrowing stories of abuse at the hands of first boyfriends, male friends or older schoolboys in a viral petition demanding better sex education in schools. On Thursday morning Dr Ian Lambert, the principal at the prestigious Scots College in Bellevue Hill, sent an email to parents and carers vowing to implement changes. Dr Lambert said Scots hosted the headmasters of Cranbrook, Kambala, Kincoppal-Rose Bay, Waverley College, St Vincent's College, Sydney Grammar School, St Catherine's and Ascham to discuss a collective plan moving forward. Chanel Contos, the 22-year-old former Kambala School students who drew attention to the crisis, met with the schools on Tuesday night to discuss necessary changes to the curriculum On Thursday morning, Dr Ian Lambert, the principal at the prestigious Scots College in Bellevue Hill, sent an email to parents and carers vowing to implement changes 'The testimonies have lifted the lid on a toxic culture which has shocked us all,' he admitted. The schools - which are all single sex - have agreed to integrate more with each other to give male and female students a chance to get to know one another. 'We will find ways for our young men and women to spend more time together in school settings so they can get to know each other for the good young men and women they are,' Dr Lambert said. He also said the teachers have 'made a commitment to audit our programs and share best practice with each other'. '[Chanel] said it was important schools use their position to challenge a culture that objectifies women, normalises sexual abuse and assault and shames the victims. Ms Contos believes earlier education in schools and at home would be beneficial for both boys and girls The principal for Sydney Grammar School signed the letter addressed to parents 'It was a very valuable meeting, giving us the opportunity to talk candidly about the scale of the problem.' Dr Lambert and his colleagues agreed 'there is much more we can do, and do earlier'. Ms Contos said the meeting - and subsequent email - was a success and urged alumni to continue contacting their schools to demand change. The 22-year-old previously identified eight topics that are crucial to a teenager's education, including enthusiastic consent, sexual coercion and the harms of sl*t shaming. In a survey conducted by Ms Contos, 87 per cent of participants said they weren't taught about sexual coercion, the act of pressuring someone into sex, in class. Ninety four per cent said they wished they were taught more about the topic. At least 22,000 people have signed the petition or shared stories of their own alleged assaults. Pictured: Chantel Contos, who said she was forced to perform oral sex on a boy Kambala School was also included in the meeting - and is the college Ms Contos attended when she was a teenager and first exposed to sexual abuse What does Ms Contos want taught in sex education programs? Sexual Coercion Sexual coercion is characterised as an act which pressures a victim into performing a sex act or makes them feel guilty for choosing to not participate. Victim Blaming Victim blaming is an attitude or implication that the victim of the assault was partially or entirely responsible rather than the accused. This includes when a victim is told they somehow provoked the assault - usually based on the way they dressed, acted or spoke. Toxic Masculinity Toxic masculinity is a relatively new phrase used to explain the traditional societal and cultural norms men are expected to conform to. This culture does not condemn bad behaviour among men and instead hypes it up while simultaneously degrading or belittling women. Sl*t Shaming Young women - and occasionally men - are 'shamed' or criticised based on the amount of sexual partners they've had, their sexual history or even for things as trivial as the way they dress or act. Enthusiastic Consent 'If it's not hell yes! It's no', is the mantra that should be enforced to both boys and girls in the classroom, Jacqueline Hendriks, who runs Curtin University's sexology curriculum, explained. Enthusiastic consent is the process of repeatedly, openly and excitedly being engaged in a sexual act, rather than simply 'going along with it' or 'waiting for a partner to say no'. Rape Culture There are concerns that conversations about female pleasure and sexualisation help to stimulate a rape culture in which society is no longer shocked or outraged when a person is sexually assaulted. Among thousands of female testimonies about sexual abuse in private Sydney schools, several young men admitted that they were aware of assaults happening but it had become normalised and was not frowned upon among peers. 'I can recall countless instances of boys with stories of both sexually harassing and assaulting women. Looking back, the way it's bragged about amongst peers is also extremely frightening,' one former Scots College student said. Female Pleasure Lessons on female pleasure should teach women how they might feel before, during and after sex. Dr Hendriks explained that current curriculum in schools is 'negatively skewed' and often discusses the potential ramifications of sex - like pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections - without properly clarifying the positive outcomes. Queer Sex Education The final topic Ms Contos raised as of crucial importance is queer sex education and a deviation from the hetero-normative lessons being delivered in schools. As an increasing amount of students no longer publicly identify as straight, it is important that every student in the classroom feels educated and included in sex ed discussions. Advertisement An overwhelming number of women who shared their own stories of sexual abuse in the petition said they were coerced into having sex with their abuser. 'I was dating a boy from Sydney Grammar who would constantly pester me for sex and when I would say no he would coax me into changing my mind by saying things such as ''it's only because I am so into you'', ''I can't help how you make me feel'' or most concerningly, ''if you actually cared about me or loved me you would do this'',' one woman recalled. 'It would make me feel guilty and cave even when I knew in my head that I definitely did not want to have sex with him.' Ms Contos said in depth conversations about enthusiastic consent paired with coercion would go a long way in helping young girls recognise whether they were being taken advantage of. This should also cover when and why a person may not be able to give informed consent - including if they're intoxicated or under a certain age. Meanwhile, hundreds more women said they felt they couldn't report their experience of abuse because of rampant victim blaming and sl*t shaming. Ascham School also signed the letter after attending the meeting on Tuesday night Several victims explained that she was pressured into having sex because a boy told her he would be in physical pain if she didn't 'help him finish' after arousing him In Ms Contos' survey, 89 per cent said they were not taught about victim blaming, and 97 per cent wish they had a better understanding of it. Ms Contos' original petition revealed that most of the private schoolboys in question often considered women conquests or prizes, and were rewarded for 'sleeping with other girls, regardless of how they made it happen'. For many of the women now anonymously coming forward to share their sexual abuse stories in school, they were sl*t shamed for acts they later learned were not even consensual. 'My rapist said I ''couldn't say no to sex'' because I was a ''slut'' who'd already had sex with other people,' one of the young women recalled. In Ms Contos' Instagram survey, 97 per cent of respondents said it must be taught in the classroom and the concept of a 'sl*t' must be dispelled by having in depth conversations about sex and healthy relationships. To read more harrowing submissions from victims or to sign Ms Contos' petition, visit the Teach Us Consent website. If this story has raised issues for you, please contact 1800 Respect 1800 737 732, Lifeline 13 11 14, beyondblue 1300 224 636, Domestic Violence Line 1800 65 64 63 Thousands of girls who attended Sydney private schools has claimed they were sexually assaulted and raped by private school boys. Pictured: Chanel Contos is calling for better sex education By Raymond Lesniak Some Catholic church leaders have raised concerns about the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which was recently approved for use in the United States. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Doctrine: The approval of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine for use in the United States again raises questions about the moral permissibility of using vaccines developed, tested, and/or produced with the help of abortion-derived cell lines. The statement went on to say, " [W]e should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines... I couldnt disagree more. Abortion is legal in the United States and in many countries throughout the world. No woman is getting an abortion to produce cell lines for medical research. The bishops tempered their remarks by saying, While we should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines, given the world-wide suffering that this pandemic is causing, we affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good, thereby giving Catholics the OK to the get a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination while favoring the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines because they only used abortion derived cell lines for research and not for production. A distinction without a difference. This advice runs contrary to what Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and all public health experts urge. As Dr. Fauci said, I would take whatever vaccine would be available to me. Thankfully, the Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Doctrines opinion has not been universally accepted by the Catholic leadership. San Diegos bishop told local Catholics that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was morally legitimate. Bishop Robert W. McElroy said, I want to make clear to the Catholic communities of San Diego and Imperial counties that in the current pandemic moment, with limited vaccine options available to achieve healing for our nation and our world, it is entirely morally legitimate to receive any of these four vaccines, he said, referring to vaccines by Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Astra-Zeneca. And, he continued, ... to recognize, as Pope Francis has noted, that in receiving them we are truly showing love for our neighbor and our God. Even with the wealth of America and that of other countries, resources will be strained to vaccinate the poor in Africa and South America. Unfortunately, the bishops ignored Pope Francis who said on August 19, 2020 in his weekly statement that it would be sad if priority for a vaccine were to be given to the richest. It would be sad if this vaccine were to become the property of this nation or another, rather than universal and for all. Following the bishops advice that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines for medical research would be a disaster for the publics health worldwide. The bishops should reconvene posthaste and change their position on abortion-derived cell medical research and its opinion that Catholics should try to get other vaccines when possible other than the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Its not just my opinion, ask Dr. Fauci and Pope Francis. Raymond (Ray) Lesniak served in the State Senate from 1983 to 2018 and in the General Assembly from 1978 to 1983. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2021. (Screenshot/CPAC via NTD) Right Side Broadcasting Network Suspended by YouTube Over Trump CPAC Speech Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN) said it has been suspended by YouTube for two weeks because it broadcast former President Donald Trumps Feb. 28 speech. The media outlet wrote that YouTube claimed the video violated their guidelines on election misinformation. The video was approaching 4 million views. They have also removed it from their platform, RSBN wrote on Twitter. Trump delivered a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 28, during which he briefly touched on the Nov. 3 election. RSBN wrote on Twitter on Feb. 28 that we try to play by the rules, but we will not censor President Trump. Were not going to remove or edit this video. Just so were all clear- if it gets removed, we didnt do it, the broadcaster said. Update: YouTube removed the CPAC Trump speech and suspended us for two weeks. https://t.co/nyh2vCOHVJ RSBN (@RSBNetwork) March 4, 2021 A search of YouTube suggests that other live streams of Trumps speech were also taken down. The Epoch Times has reached out to the Google-owned video hosting platform for comment. Earlier this week, YouTube suspended the channel of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for a second time because Giuliani allegedly violated the platforms policies in nicotine use and the election, most likely in reference to his promotion of cigars during his videos. We removed content from the Rudy W. Giuliani channel for violating our sale of regulated goods policy, which prohibits content facilitating the use of nicotine, and our presidential election integrity policy, a YouTube spokeswoman said in a statement. About a week ago, YouTube also removed a Newsmax video that included an interview with Trump, and around the same time, removed a video of an attorney testifying to the Ohio legislature, claiming it included COVID-19 misinformation. The Epoch Times itself was demonetized by YouTube in late January without prior warning or a specific reason outlining why. The founders of The Epoch Times are Chinese Americans who fled communist China and embraced their First Amendment rights here in the United States to create an independent and uncensored news organization. We believe that freedom of speech is the cornerstone of a free society and key for our republic to flourish, The Epoch Times said in a statement in late January. The move against RSBNwhich broadcast most of Trumps rallies during his 2016 campaign and while he was presidentis certain to trigger even more criticism of Big Techs censorship of dissenting viewpoints. Trump himself offered a warning about the potentially unchecked power of Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and others in his speech, saying they should face punishment if they silence conservative voices. All of the election integrity measures in the world will mean nothing if we dont have free speech, Trump said. If Republicans can be censored for speaking the truth and calling out corruption, we will not have democracy and we will only have left-wing tyranny. After the prolonged Covid-19 lockdowns, theatres were allowed to resume shows with 50 per cent occupancy from December 4. They were permitted to have full occupancy from February 12. (Photo: AFP) Hyderabad: Theatre owners and movie exhibitors have reminded the state government about the implementation of its promise of a relief package for the industry and urged the government to at least allow them to collect a parking fee from vehicle owners. After the prolonged Covid-19 lockdowns, theatres were allowed to resume shows with 50 per cent occupancy from December 4. They were permitted to have full occupancy from February 12. Be it the movie Tenet that was screened from December 4 or Uppena that hit the screens on February 12, more and more people have started reaching movie theatres to watch films. About 80 per cent of the total 550 theatres are currently functioning in the state, say owners. According to Balgovind Raj, joint secretary of the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, who also owns a theatre at RTC crossroads, the state government announced a relief package to the theatre industry on November 24, shortly before the GHMC elections. Till now, nothing has come of it. We have been asking for waiver of demand charges on electricity bills during the lockdown period, and even that did not happen. He appealed to the government that the owners be allowed to collect at least the nominal parking charges. It is Rs 20 for a bike for three hours. Despite losses and increase in operational costs, we also have to pay taxes as these are commercial properties, he said. Sunil Narang of Asian Theatres said, When the properties are paying high rates of taxes, they should at least be allowed to charge nominal parking fees. That helps us get some revenue, at least to pay salaries to the parking attendants and meet sundry expenses. Theatres are already in a bad state in terms of earnings. The overheads of salaries, interest on bank loans and other maintenance charges are heavy. I was aware of a rumour, he said. But no one has ever put the specifics of an allegation to me from the media. From the media. That is very careful. What we know now is that Porter did not have to wait for the media. To labour the point because it is so fundamental he could have asked for the allegations on that Wednesday night last week. Porter did not have to see the document to deny the rape, of course. His denial is emphatic and complete: It just did not happen. It is wrong for his accusers to gloss over his denial as if it means nothing as if his press conference was mere performance. There is a good case for cynicism in politics, but it should take more than cynicism to convict a politician in the dubious court of public opinion. However, it was Porter, and nobody else, who complained that he had not seen the allegations. Loading Only now do we know why NSW Police did not interview Porter and put the claim to him after the woman came forward in February last year. She never signed a formal statement and she withdrew the claim in an email on June 23. The woman very clearly articulated in that email that she did not want to proceed with the complaint, the police said. She took her life in Adelaide on June 24. This did not stop Porter from reading the allegations and responding when he had the chance in that meeting with Morrison about the worst accusation ever made against a federal minister. (Thomas Ley, politician and murderer, never made it to the federal frontbench.) Nobody can be faulted for referring a claim to the AFP. No doubt it was a safe political move to avoid reading the document. All too often, the golden rule is to make sure you do not know something. But it could be dangerous to his credibility. Australians are being asked to make a judgment on whether they trust Porter when he tells them he is innocent. So they might have a common-sense question: Wouldnt you want to read the allegations against you? Remember, too, the same letter and document went directly to the Prime Ministers Office in Canberra two days later, on the Friday. Again, Morrison did not read it. He did not arrange for Porter to read it. (This is not the 1920s. Politicians have photocopiers. They have fax machines.) Everything comes down to trust. One of the womans friends, Dhanya Mani, says Porter and Morrison should have read her friends words. She wants an inquiry to pursue what the police did not. The problem with that call is that an inquiry would break with the obvious federal precedent. Bill Shorten was able to draw a line under a rape allegation when Victorian police closed their investigation in 2014. Most of the media dropped the matter. One difference is that Shorten was interviewed by police in response to a formal statement. This did not happen with Porter. Is the contrast enough to justify an entire inquiry? Or is it an excuse for politicians and journalists to throw Porter in the dock when they did not do the same to Shorten? Loading There is another precedent. Former NSW Labor premier Neville Wran stepped aside in 1983 when accused of interfering in a trial. He was exonerated by a royal commission two months later. In that case, however, there was no police strike force: the inquiry did not duplicate an investigation. And the commission could go to witnesses about events that were only six years old. The next step is the South Australian coroners decision. The womans family wants an inquiry of some sort into what led to her death, so the grounds for an inquest are strong. But those who want a wider inquiry into the claim of rape in 1988 will have to make a stronger case. Do they merely want a lower burden of proof so they can convict on unsworn statement? This is about whether Porter is a fit and proper person to hold his job. So the forum that counts most is the Parliament. That is where the government must defend its minister and convince Australians he is innocent. Morrison makes no such declaration. Asked on Thursday whether he believed Porter, he dodged: My judgement is based on the report of the police. He did not say what that judgment was. Australians saw the same evasion when Morrison was asked on Monday whether he believed his cabinet minister, who was not named at that time. That is a matter for police, he said. It is all very lawyerly just like that meeting on Wednesday of last week. If Morrison believes Porter, he should say so. If he does not, he should ask him to resign. You might call that common sense. National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732. Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au) and beyondblue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au). CARLINVILLE In a March 2 ruling, the Fourth District Appellate Court of Illinois reversed the decision of a lower court and ordered the district court to issue a summary judgment that the Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. can continue to operate as a valid corporation. In a released statement, the water companys board of directors said they can now move forward with the development of the project to provide high-quality potable water to their members at the lowest possible cost. The board is now inviting any additional parties such as municipalities, water districts or other nonprofit organizations that distribute water and might be interested in membership to contact Sue Campbell at 618-795-9116 for details. Its next meeting is planned March 25. The city of Carlinville is delighted by the Fourth District Appellate Courts decisive and unanimous ruling in the citys favor, Carlinville Mayor Sarah Oswald said in a released statement. We thank the court for its quick, decisive decision and look forward to delivering what the goal has been all along providing clean, affordable drinking water to Carlinville residents, and the region. Carlinville joined the village of Dorchester, the city of Bunker Hill and Jersey County Rural Water Co. in establishing Alluvial, a nonprofit corporation, to operate a $66 million aquifer-fed system. On July 7, 2020, Circuit Court Judge April Troemper declared Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. Inc. a private company begun by Carlinville and a handful of smaller communities was created in violation of the law and is a void corporation. On appeal, the higher court ruled in Carlinvilles favor in an original lawsuit filed by Carlinville residents Camille and Wayne Brotze. According to lawsuit documents, the couple sued the city for creating a private company the Brotzes alleged was not subject to the states public information rules. On July 22, the Illinois Secretary of State dissolved the corporation. Carlinville resisted and, under the leadership of former Mayor Deanna Demuzio who died Oct. 22, 2020, requested a stay on the judges order. At that time the stay was denied by both the circuit court and the appellate court. In September 2020, Demuzio noted the appellate court had not ruled on the matter. The trial court shall vacate its prior order, enter judgment in favor of Carlinville consistent with the reasoning of this opinion, and make clear that Alluvial may continue operating as a valid corporation, according the Fourth District Appellate Courts ruling. Oswald, an alderwoman at the time, succeeded Demuzio as mayor, stating that her top priority was getting Carlinville fresh water. This decision ensures the city of Carlinville is able to provide clean, reliable drinking water to our citizens while maintaining a seat at the table with voting power to ensure control over our rates, Oswald said. The city and its partners are excited to resume planning and construction after a nearly eight-month delay. In October 2018 the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a $24 million grant and $42 million loan to Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. to fund the project. At the time, the projects cost was estimated at $66 million by the citys engineering company, MECO-Heneghan. The federal grants and loans will be used for the construction of a new water plant and more than 40 miles of pipe to transport the aquifer-fed water supply. Carlinville Lake, the citys existing source of water, is highly silted and no longer permits boating. About eight years ago the city began searching for alternative water sources. The city of Litchfield, 12 miles away, offered to sell water to Carlinville for $2.73 per 1,000 gallons, less than rates estimated by the proposed private project. The new treatment plant and aquifer supply are critical to addressing Carlinvilles water supply issues due to reduced capacity and water quality in its current lakes. The Illinois Alluvial Regional Water project was developed to obtain alluvial water from wells proposed in Jerseyville. Many residents, the Macoupin County Board and the citys largest water user, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., supported buying water through Litchfield as a much simpler, quicker and lower-cost answer to Carlinvilles water problems, said Carlinville resident Bill Armstrong, a critic of the private company plan, last September. The legal problems started when the city decided to pursue the water project through a private corporation instead of through a water district, a water commission or one of other entities that the Illinois Constitution specifies. Some Carlinville aldermen also said they felt excluded from information on the water project, since Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Co. Inc. leadership prohibited the public from attending its meetings. Only one council member, Cindy Campbell appointed to represent Carlinville on the companys board was allowed. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Pompeo on Possible 2024 Bid: Im Always up for a Good Fight Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is keeping open the possibility of running for president in 2024 if former President Donald Trump decides not to, saying late March 3, Im always up for a good fight. I care deeply about America. You and I have been part of the conservative movement for an awfully long time now. I aim to keep at it, Pompeo said during an appearance on Fox News Hannity. Ill take that as a strong maybe,' host Sean Hannity responded. I dont know how to interpret that. Thats perfect, Pompeo said, smiling. Pompeo, 57, served as the CIA director and secretary of state during the Trump administration. Before that, he was a U.S. representative for a Kansas district in the lower chamber. Pompeo has also served as an officer in the U.S. Army. Potential Republican 2024 candidates are largely waiting to see if Trump will run for a third time after winning in 2016 and losing in 2020. Most Republicans believe Trump will win the nomination if he launches a third bid. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2021. (John Raoux/AP Photo) Trump, 74, told a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida over the weekend that he was considering another run. Democrats should suffer withering losses in the midterms and to lose the White House decisively four years from now I may decide to beat them for a third time, he said, repeating his claim that he actually was victorious in the last election. Trump also ruled out starting a third party, telling supporters, Im going to continue to fight right by your side. Meanwhile, Pompeo, a staunch Trump backer, said on March 3 that hes concerned about how President Joe Biden is being seen by counterparts around the world. World leaders and my counterparts all across the world are watching closely, Pompeo said. Senior leadership all across the world, they watch every statement that is made, they watch every move. They see what their patterns are like, the kinds of behaviors they exhibit when times are tough and when the pressure is really on. When the United States exhibits weakness, it creates real risk for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines all across the world, Pompeo said. Weakness begets wars and strength determines whether an adversary is going to be deterred, and it also determines whether allies really want to toss in with us when the times get most difficult. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. A pastor in India was attacked after refusing to give money for worship of tribal deities, leading to the threat of the Christians' expulsion from the village. After helping settle the issue, the local police denied the incident occurred. Pastor Lakshman Oraon, a local of Manika in India's state of Jharkhand, revealed to Morning Star News that the animist elders of Jungur village have beaten him after he refused to help fund their ritual worship. He said that he and other Christians were summoned by the elders. After having verbally abused for his refusal to contribute money, Pastor Oraon was threatened with expulsion from the village, along with his fellow Christians. Then, they tied his hands on his back and the leaders kicked him on the floor, in the presence of almost a hundred pagan worshipers. "When they tied me and started kicking me, I was not at all angry. The Lord reminded me of the verses in Matt. 5:11-12. I received great strength from these words. There was a smile on my face all through," Pastor Oraon stated. "I did not shout or cry before them. I was praying, praising the Lord, remembering His sacrifice for me on the cross," he also said. He further said that a mob surrounded him and took turns to kick and punch him, continuing for more than an hour. His Christian companions were warned not to take photos or their phones will be seized and they will be beaten like him. They were only allowed to return home when one of the village elders requested the mob to release him. To address their possible expulsion from Jungur village, they took information from Alliance Defending Freedom India. Pastor Oraon then coordinated with Manika police station to help settle the issue. "We sent petitions to the Station House Officer (SHO) at Manika Police Station, the superintendent of police and also the district collector. The SHO called both parties to the police station and effected a compromise that we would not file any case against them, and that they will not excommunicate us from the village," he said. The tribal leaders continued their demand for money and the SHO told the pastor's group to give in to their request. The pastor and his Christian companions followed the SHO and gave the money. "We are praying for the salvation of village leaders and the devotees of tribal deities. The police assured us that they will be a phone call away if any problem arises, and that we will not face any troubles from the villagers after giving the money," he added. Morning Star News tried to ask information about the pastor's harassment in Jungur village, but the Manika Police Station's SHO denied that the incident took place. The pastor said that his family used to be bothered by evil spirits and to get rid of one, they had to perform rituals and recite spells. But it would only result to more evil spirits bothering them. Also, this led to his family members getting sick and dying, which deeply grieved them. But in 2011, he came to know Jesus Christ when a Christian shared him the gospel. He and his wife then turned their lives to Christ. "Since then, the neighbors started noticing the transformation in our lives - we were free from all the evil spirits. We went to church as a family and sang joyfully at home. This was something new for the people who knew us. They asked us to share the gospel with them, and today we have at least 35 members gathering for worship on Sundays at our home church," the pastor revealed. Believers in India are heavily persecuted. The Telegraph said that violence against Christians is linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Religious advocates also stated that persecution of Christians intensified after Modi came into power in 2014. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI An unexpected shipment of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will help some of the most vulnerable citizens of Muskegon County. Kathy Moore, director of the Muskegon County Health Department, said the unexpected shipment of 1,500 doses will help reach transient residents without stable housing who are staying at local shelters. Others who may be offered the vaccine that, unlike the two others, doesnt require a return for a second dose are those who are unable to leave their homes due to medical conditions and inmates of the Muskegon County Jail, Moore said. This weeks shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was approved for use late last week, comes as providers in Muskegon County feel they have reached many of those who are 65 and older and want to be vaccinated, Moore said. Older citizens remain a priority and should contact the health department at 231-724-8856 if they still need to be vaccinated. The health department is also striving to reach underserved populations with special clinics, including one Wednesday, March 3, in Muskegon Heights. Other clinics serving residents ages 65 and older in the eastern and northern portions of the county are planned for Saturday, March 6, in Egelston Township, and Wednesday, March 10, in Holton. The Michigan National Guard has been requested to help with those clinics, which are part of a goal to prevent residents from having to drive more than 20 minutes to be vaccinated, Moore said. Related: COVID-19 vaccine clinic is a breath of fresh air for Muskegon Heights community Starting Monday, March 8, those age 50 and older who have medical conditions will be eligible for the vaccine, according to a state order issued Wednesday, March 3. Regardless of health condition, those age 50 and older will be eligible starting March 22. While Muskegon County will follow those eligibility guidelines, it will ration the vaccine it sets aside for younger residents while older ones and such prioritized essential frontline workers as teachers and health care workers are still in need of the vaccine, Moore told MLive. But other workers considered essential are frustrated they are being passed over by those ages 50-64, Moore said. Statewide, those in such industries as grocery stores and restaurants have expressed frustration about not being able to receive the vaccine. So far, about 44,866 doses of vaccine have been administered in Muskegon County, Moore said. I think were making an amazing dent in getting the people who want to be vaccinated vaccinated, with the exception of essential workers, Moore said. The spread of the virus has slowed considerably in Muskegon County, which has some of the lowest test positivity rates and case rates in the state. Its the 11th lowest, of 83 counties, for new cases per million residents, according to state statistics. The county is 17th lowest for test positivity, with an average rate of 2 percent between Feb. 24 and March 2, according to state statistics. Of 2,453 tests administered, 50 were positive during that timeframe, according to the state. The county also has not had any additional deaths from COVID-19 for the past month, according to the health department. Total deaths stand at 296, according to county figures. Also on MLive: When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines? Michigan residents can schedule COVID-19 vaccinations at local Rite-Aid stores Thursday, March 4, coronavirus data by Michigan county: 59 counties below 5% positivity rate Zelensky has enacted the relevant decision by the NSDC. President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, March 4, put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on countering threats in the field of citizenship issues. The head of state has signed the corresponding decree, No. 85/2021, the President's Office reports. The NSDC decision of February 26 stipulates that the Cabinet, together with the Central Election Commission and the SBU security agency, shall within two months complete an inventory and analyze legislation on issues related to dual (multiple) citizenship. In particular, it is necessary to establish legal certainty of the ban for Ukrainian citizens who have also obtained citizenship of a foreign state, to hold certain government and political positions. Read alsoAbout 300,000 Ukrainians forced to obtain Russian passports in occupied Donbas ReznikovBased on such an analysis, the government must, within six months, submit to the Verkhovna Rada draft laws that would bar citizens of Ukraine who have acquired other citizenship (or have submitted an application to acquire it) from being candidates for government or local government posts, hold leading positions at strategic companies, gain access to state secrets, be members of the election commission, and the like. Also, the NSDC decision instructs the government to start an interstate dialogue to conclude bilateral agreements with interested powers, except for the aggressor state, aimed at resolving issues related to dual citizenship. Threats of dual citizenship On February 26, NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said that the Cabinet was instructed to develop a bill on dual citizenship. Danilov recalled that the Russian Federation had applied the instrument of dual citizenship against Ukraine: "when the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, minister of internal affairs, minister of defense, and head of the General Staff were citizens of the Russian Federation." Reporting by UNIAN Despite the Covid-19 crisis and the first anniversary of the start of the pandemic, Mr. Cuomo did not hold a news briefing for nine days. That ended on Wednesday when Mr. Cuomo appeared at a news conference in Albany with comments regarding the allegations. Along with giving an apology, the governor made one thing clear: Im not going to resign. [Cuomo, contrite over sexual harassment allegations, refuses to resign.] Heres what you need to know: The details In recent weeks, three women have come forward. Two were former state workers who accused the governor of sexual harassment, and a third woman accused him of unwanted touching and kissing at a wedding. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable, Mr. Cuomo said at the Wednesday news conference. It was unintentional and I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it and frankly embarrassed by it, and thats not easy to say, but thats the truth. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A group of researchers, spanning six universities and three continents, are sounding the alarm on a topic not often discussed in the context of conservation--misinformation. In a recent study published in FACETS, the team, including Dr. Adam Ford, Canada Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology, and Dr. Clayton Lamb, Liber Ero Fellow, both based in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, explain how the actions of some scientists, advocacy groups and the public are eroding efforts to conserve biodiversity. "Outcomes, not intentions, should be the basis for how we view success in conservation," says Dr. Ford. "Misinformation related to vaccines, climate change, and links between smoking and cancer has made it harder for science to create better policies for people," he says. "Weaponizing information to attack other groups impedes our ability to solve problems that affect almost everyone. We wanted to know if these issues were also a problem for people working to conserve biodiversity. "Conservation is not perfect and things can go wrong. Sometimes people mean well, and harm ensues by accident. Sometimes people's actions are much more sinister." The study points to multiple examples of good intentions ending badly from across the globe, including the case of the Huemul deer in Patagonia National Park, Chile. "We reviewed one case where the primary objective of a newly-established park was to protect the endangered Huemul deer. The goal was to make the landscape a little better for these deer in hopes of increasing the population," explains Dr. Lamb. "In doing so, they removed the domestic livestock from the park, and as a result, the natural predators in the system lost their usual food source and ate many of the deer, causing the population to decline further. It's a textbook case of misplaced conservation." Dr. Lamb points to other cases including mass petitions against shark finning in Florida, although the practice was previously banned there; planting a species of milkweed in an attempt to save monarch butterflies, only to ultimately harm them; and closer to home, the sharing of misinformation in regards to the British Columbia grizzly bear hunt. "When we see province-wide policies like banning grizzly hunting, those go against the wishes of some local communities in some parts of the province--and choosing to steamroll their perspectives is damaging relationships and alienating the partners we need on board to protect biodiversity," says Dr. Ford. He suggests using a 'big tent' approach may help combat some of the problems. "We need to work together on the 90 per cent of goals that we share in common, as opposed to focusing on the 10 per cent of issues where we disagree. There are many clear wins for people and wildlife waiting to be actioned right now, we need to work together to make those happen," says Dr. Ford. Dr. Lamb says doing so is likely to improve cooperation among parties and increase the use of evidence-based approaches in conservation; ultimately suppressing the spread of misinformation and occurrences of polarization. "Although we're seeing some misplaced efforts, we're also seeing genuine care and good community energy in many of these cases--we just need to find a way to harness this energy in the right direction." ### The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below This Saturday, Lucretia and I are going to record our weekly Three Whisky Happy Hour in a live Zoom session open to all comersnot just VIP members. The event will go off at 4 pm Pacific time/7 pm Eastern timewhich happens to coincide with happy hour just about everywhere except for our Australian listeners, except in my experience most Australians dont need a later afternoon neon-advertised happy hour sign to imbibe. Our agenda for this episode will include two new features: our two magic numbers to track as we proceed further into the heavily lidded Biden Era, and a segment were tentatively calling Circleback Mountain. And after covering the obligatory Weekly News in Whisky (quite a lot this weekhint in the nearby pic), well continue with our American political thought seminar series, this week looking closely at the troublesome and formidable John C. Calhoun. And well be taking your questions and comments along the way, so do your homework! Heres the link youll need to use to join in: https://zoom.us/j/91414759944 Ill post a reminder mid-day Saturday. And for people who arent able to tune in live, the episode will be posted in regular podcast form Sunday morning. Perfect listening on your way to church to repent for the prior evenings whisky. I have one question for Gov. Tom Wolf after hearing his proposal for one of the biggest tax and spending increases in Pennsylvania history: Have we all not suffered enough? Under the governors proposed budget, Pennsylvanias personal income tax rate would increase by almost 50% as residents continue to struggle with the economic downturn caused by the pandemic and the long-term shutdown of the economy. One group that would specifically be affected by this new tax would be the 1 million small-business owners that operate in our state. Gordon Denlinger, the director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Pennsylvania, said most small businesses are taxed at the personal income tax rate instead of corporate tax rate. The NFIB is strongly opposed to any tax increase that lands on small business and we were disappointed to see Governor Wolf propose a hike in the personal income tax, Denlinger said. At a time when small businesses are in bad financial shape, Governor Wolfs idea is the wrong idea at the worst possible time. How does the governor think a small diner in Pine Grove, Port Clinton or Womelsdorf can afford a 50% tax increase? Theyve already been struggling for months under the restrictions that came with the pandemic, while big box stores have thrived under lighter restrictions. This proposal clearly shows how out of touch he is with normal Pennsylvanians. We should be doing all we can to support our smaller employers right now. All of us know a friend or a neighbor or a family member who has poured years of their life into building a business from the ground up. Many of these people have been hurt tremendously this year by factors outside of their control. They were the ones who had to bear the brunt of the economic distress that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. Small-business owners are the lifeblood of our economies. They provide character to our towns and meaningful employment for those who live there. Placing further economic burdens on them now risks forcing even more of them to close their doors. State Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Fulton, vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, put it best when he said, The best thing we can do for students is get them back in the classroom, and the worst thing we can do for Pennsylvanians is enact the largest income tax increase in history. I do not think these proposals will find any support from Republicans in the General Assembly. They may not even be supported by Democrats once they hear from their constituents. My prediction regarding the governors proposed tax increases: dead on arrival. (Argall represents the state Senates 29th District) The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that elderly people be given priority in admissions at private hospitals besides at government medical institutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A bench of justices Ashok Bhushan and R S Reddy modified its earlier order of August 4, 2020, by which it had directed only government hospitals to give priority in admission and treatment of elderly people looking at their vulnerability to We direct that the priority with reference to admission contemplated in order dated August 4, 2020 to the elderly people should also be given in the private hospitals. List the matter after four weeks, the bench said in its order. During the hearing, senior advocate Ashwani Kumar, petitioner in-person, told the bench that in order dated August 4, last year this Court had directed that priority with reference to admission be given to the elderly people in the Government hospital only. He said that priority in admission to the elderly people should be given in all private hospitals as well since it is mostly private hospitals which cater most of the population in the country. The bench took note of submissions made by Kumar that except Odisha and Punjab no other state has given details about the steps taken in pursuance of the earlier directions issued by the top court on his plea. The top court granted three weeks' time to all the States to respond to the fresh suggestions made by Kumar to provide relief to the elderly people. Kumar submitted that the states need to issue fresh Memorandum of Procedures (MoPs) in pursuance to the directions issued by the court. He submitted that all the State Governments be directed to issue necessary procedures incorporating the directions issued by this Court regarding two Departments that is Health Department and Social Welfare Department. He said that incorporating the directions in the MoP shall serve greater public interest and purpose. Kumar, who is a former union minister, has sought directions with regard to elderly people saying they need more care and protection amid the pandemic. The top court had last year directed that all eligible old age persons should be regularly paid pension and states should provide them necessary medicines, masks, sanitisers and other essential goods in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The apex court had said that looking at their vulnerability to coronavirus, elderly people should be given priority in admission in government hospitals and in the event of any complaint made by them, the hospital administration shall take immediate steps to remedy their grievances. Kumar had earlier submitted that older people, who are living alone, are "worst sufferers" and they are not able to get medicines, masks, sanitisers and other essential goods. While seeking direction for timely payment of old age pension to those who are receiving it, he had said that "caregivers of these people" are not equipped with personal protection equipment and are untrained. The top court had said that it had already issued directions on December 13, 2018 in the matter and those directives were needed to be complied with by all concerned, including the states. In its December 2018 verdict, the apex court had said that statutory rights of over 10 crore elderly persons in India must be recognised and implemented. It had directed the Centre to obtain information from all states and Union Territories about the number of old age homes in each district and had also suggested a relook at the pension for the elderly so as to make it more realistic. Emphasising on the social justice aspect, the apex court had said that the state is obligated to ensure that right to live with dignity, shelter and health of citizens, including the elderly, are not only protected but also enforced. It had also directed the Centre to obtain information from all the states about the medical facilities and geriatric care available to senior citizens in each district. (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, March 4 : Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Thursday ridiculed Punjab government argument that gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari can tried in cases virtually. Mehta said if video-conferencing is the only mode of trial for an accused to appear from anywhere, then Vijay Mallya can face trial from the United Kingdom. Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, contended before a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan cited there are several cases pending against Ansari. Mehta slammed Ansari for making incorrect assertions that his life is in danger in UP, therefore he should be allowed be in a jail in Punjab. "A convict who has disobeyed the law of the land, cannot say that he cannot be transferred. Courts are not to be helpless bystanders when the laws are being challenged with impunity", submitted Mehta. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the Punjab government, argued that the state government is upholding the Constitution and it does not care anything about Ansari. Dave contested Mehta's argument that there was some conspiracy between the Punjab government and Ansari. "Punjab FIR is credible allegation of conspiracy is a figment of imagination", submitted Dave, insisting on trial through video conferencing. Ansari is lodged in district jail Rupnagar since January 2019, in connection with an extortion case. Mehta shot back saying that if video-conference is that favourable, then even Vijay Mallya would not be extradited to India, and he can face trial from UK. Mehta submitted before the bench that he agrees that state does not have fundamental rights, but state as a prosecution represents the citizens and victims, and can seek justice on their behalf. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Ansari, argued before the bench that his client was appearing in all courts and there is no complaint against that. He added his client apprehends that he is sent to UP, he will be done away with. "There are threats to my life. I am a 5-time MP...my co-accused was encountered, and they are trying to shoot a gun from the shoulders of this court. This should not be allowed", said Rohatgi. Dave submitted before the top court that Punjab respects the state of UP and the same should be shown towards it too. "But, instead potshots were taken against us and newspapers reported it," added Dave. After a detailed argument in the matter, the top court reserved its judgment on the plea of UP government seeking a direction to the Punjab government and Rupnagar jail authority to immediately hand over the custody of Ansari, an MLA from Mau constituency, to district jail Banda. The UP government said there are more than 30 FIRs and more than 14 criminal trial including heinous crimes of murder and Gangster Act pending against Ansari in various MP/MLA courts, where his personal appearance is sought. IN NUMBERS: Over 17,000 fresh cases reported India reported 17,407 fresh infections on Thursday, taking the cumulative caseload to 11,156,923, according to a report in the Scroll. Maharashtra accounted for nearly 10,000 of those infections. The country saw 89 new deaths due to the pandemic, taking the death toll to 157,435, according to central health ministry data. The active caseload is at 173,413, while the total recoveries have surged to 10,826,075. As many as 16,616,048 people have been inoculated since the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off on January 16. Of these, 994,452 received their shots on Wednesday. Read more here New Delhi: Hundreds of beds earmarked for Covid going empty Hospitals in New Delhi are still keeping hundreds of beds on standby to treat Covid-19 patients even though most are going empty, a report in ThePrint said. Of the 5,711 beds across all government and private hospitals in the city earmarked for Covid treatment, only 516 or 9 per cent were occupied as of March 2, the report said citing data from the Delhi Fights Corona app set up by the Delhi government. We have so many patients, who can be benefitted from those beds, but we have to refer them elsewhere because of lack of space, a doctor at RML hospital told ThePrint. Read more here Mumbai-based drugmaker gets nod to test arthritis drug in Covid treatment The central government's expert panel on drug approval has given its nod to Mumbai-based drugmaker Lupin to test its auto-immune drug called Etanercept in the treatment of Covid-19, a report in ThePrint said. The drugmaker has been given permission to carry out phase 2 clinical trials on Etanercept by the subject expert committee (SEC) which advises the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on applications seeking approvals for new drugs, vaccines, and clinical trials. Etanercept is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some other inflammatory conditions. Read more here First few days of vaccination programme see long wait times, Co-Win glitches The first few days in the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme saw long waiting times, people being turned away as the vaccines had not arrived in time at vaccination centres, and persistent glitches in the Co-Win platform, a report in Hindustan Times said. The Co-Win platform can get very slow, which is why we turned away some appointments. I think it is not able to take the load. Most people prefer coming to the hospital directly for registration, which leads to overcrowding, a staff member at a private Delhi hospital told the Hindustan Times. Read more here Algorithm shows promise of creating a pan-influenza vaccine A new computer algorithm could offer a path towards creating a pan-influenza vaccine and possibly a pan- vaccine as well, a report in The Indian Express said citing a new research paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications. The algorithm called Epigraph has previously been used to predict therapeutic HIV vaccine candidates. Read more here Trader Joes fired an employee in New York, and as a result is facing calls for a boycott. Business Insider reports that on Friday, Ben Bonnema shared on Twitter that he was fired from his job at the Trader Joes on the Upper West Side after he asked the company to better protect its workers against the coronavirus. He also included the letter he had sent to the grocery chains CEO, which comprised five COVID-19-related changes. Among those changes were stricter mask requirements, enhanced store filtration, and a three strike policy for dealing with uncooperative shoppers, the report said. trader joe's just fired me for sending this letter to the ceo, saying i don't share the company values. i guess advocating for a safer workplace isn't a company value? pic.twitter.com/3TKi5B8HSJ Ben Bonnema (@BenBonnema) February 26, 2021 The report cited Bonnema, who said in the letter, We put our lives on the line everyday by showing up to work. He added, please, show up for us by adopting these policies. Shortly after sending his requests, Business Insider said Bonnema received a termination letter, which he shared on Twitter. The termination letter Bonnema posted suggested his requests did not reflect the grocery chains core Values. here's the letter they gave me pic.twitter.com/BeYmopbmJ3 Ben Bonnema (@BenBonnema) February 26, 2021 In a recent email, you suggest adopting a 3 strike policy against customers and a policy enforcing the same accommodation for every customer with a medical condition that precludes them from wearing a mask, the termination letter read. These suggestions are not in line with our core Values. In addition, you state that Trader Joes is not showing up for us without adopting your policies. It is clear that you do not understand our Values. As a result, we are no longer comfortable having you work for Trader Joes. Trader Joes response to Bonnema propelled Twitter users to call for a boycott of the grocery chain. Time to start a boycott of Trader Joes. Disgusting way to treat their staff https://t.co/nIepVrckLd Damian Keenan (@NorthWestEU) February 28, 2021 And another user promptly agreed, it was indeed time to boycott. Another user who advocated for the boycott tweeted their thanks to Bonnema for letting them know what is happening at Trader Joes. Thanks for stepping up to let us know what is happening at Trader Joes. Boycott these bastards. Michelle Jones (@Michell49685689) February 27, 2021 Someone else tweeted that Trader Joes actions may be considered unlawful, and called for Bonnemas reinstatement. I was going to shop at #TraderJoes this afternoon -- but now I'm going to take my business elsewhere. I too was one of the Scientists who wrote the letter. Now, I'm going to #BoycottTraderJoes until @BenBonnema is reinstated. Don Milton (@Don_Milton) February 27, 2021 The sentiment against Trader Joes continued, with users calling for a boycott until Bonnema is reinstated. Business Insider reported that a Twitter account associated with a workers union for the grocery chain expressed support for Bonnema. Weve spoken with @BenBonnema and are extending unequivocal support and solidarity. We will not be providing comment outside what Ben decides to share, but are supporting him in every way possible in this fight. An injury to one is an injury to all. Crew for a Trader Joes Union (@TraderJoesUnion) February 27, 2021 Business Insider said Trader Joes did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the calls for a boycott, however, a representative for the grocery chain told Insider in a statement on Saturday that the store leaderships decision to terminate Bonnema stemmed from the disrespect he showed toward our customers. The representative said: We have never, and would never, terminate a Crew Members employment for raising safety concerns, adding that, Nothing is more important at Trader Joes than the safety of our Crew Members and customers, Business Insider cited. Trader Joes has more than 500 locations across the U.S., the report said. READ MORE: The Servant of People faction supports a decrease in the number of MPs to 300 parliamentarians, First Deputy Head of the Servant of the People faction and leader of the eponymous party Oleksandr Korniyenko has said. "We are ready at least one more time to discuss [bill amending to the Constitution of Ukraine on reducing the number of MPs] in the faction, but I do not think that many MPs will be against it, because there is a repeatedly voiced position of the President, it was also mentioned in the pre-election program of the party," Korniyenko said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. He stressed that the bill was drafted and can be submitted for voting. "Let's wait for the bill to be presented in the parliament, and let's see how colleagues will vote for it," the MP said. Korniyenko also reminded that citizens of Ukraine supported the decrease in the composition of the parliament to 300 MPs, according to a poll initiated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in October last year. As reported, the Committee on Legal Policy on January 14 proposed the Verkhovna Rada to pass at the second reading (final version of the amendments) to the Constitution of Ukraine on the decrease in the number of MPs. Obituary: Remembering Dr. Wille P. Blair, California Civic Leader, Dad and Mentor Dr. Willie Blair, 69, a former U.S. Navy officer who served during combat in Vietnam and later became a champion of racial equity for African Americans in California, passed away in San Diego on Feb. 25. His family has not released his cause of death. In 2017, Blair was elected president of the Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC), a statewide public policy think tank and civic engagement organization committed to solving economic, political and social problems that confront African Americans. Before that, from 2008 to 2017, he served as BAPACs board chair. ADVERTISEMENT His daughter and only child, Deborah Smith, an active-duty officer in the U.S. Air Force, says she cherishes many memories of her father, who was a mentor, advisor and avuncular figure for so many San Diegans and Californians, particularly in African American political circles. He was very much about trying to close the achievement gap for Black Americans, and improve the standing to the Black community in San Diego and California, Smith told the San Diego Union Tribune. Ellen Nash, chair of the San Diego Chapter of BAPAC, says she is still trying to wrap her mind around the news of her dear friends death. He was a big influence on my love for the community and politics. I joined BAPAC-SD as a lifetime member because of him, she said. He dedicated every working minute on this earth to helping folks to advance in life. He would say, If youre not at the table, youre on the menu. We truly lost a giant in our community. Born and raised in Knoxville, Tenn., Blair moved to San Diego in 1981 after serving in Vietnam. There, he earned an MBA and doctorate from Point Loma Nazarene University from San Diegos National University. Blair completed his undergraduate studies at Maryville University in Tennessee. After college, the Officers Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island, gave him an officers commission into the Navy. ADVERTISEMENT In San Diego, he became active in politics. In 1985, he worked on the campaign of former San Diego Mayor Maureen OConnor and served in her administration for two terms working in a communications role until 1991. After that, he became a special assistant to former U.S Congressman Bob Filner, a Democrat. In that role he focused on national policy involving veterans. In 2013, Blair retired from the Congressmans office. On Saturday, San Diego mayor Todd Gloria paid tribute to Blair on Twitter. Willie Blair was many things to our city, the mayor said. Ill always think of him as an orator. He would speak with such clarity and forcefulness, often on behalf of those who needed to be heard. His voice in our community will be sorely missed. Godspeed Dr. Blair. Taisha Brown, chair of the California Democratic Party Black Caucus (CDPBC) said she is devastated. Dr. Blair touched so many lives in San Diego. He mentored everyone the young and old, she said. He was a true leader and civil rights hero. He personally took me under his wing and guided me through the Politics of San Diego. He was very instrumental in my success in the political arena, and he will be greatly missed. In seven heartfelt tweets, Shane Harris, a social activist, civic leader and founder of the Peoples Alliance for Justice, who was based in San Diego before recently moving to Washington, honored Blair. Harris remembered his mentor as encouraging but firm. I attended and spoke at BAPAC San Diego when he was President of the chapter multiple times and I believe those were the chapters best days. Dr. Blair was a power broker and understood the political process, Harris praised Blair. He is one of the people who got me started and gave me the opportunities to make my case around various community issues that occurred, Harris continued. He embraced me when sometimes others would steer clear of me and he called me to challenge me to be more diplomatic and thoughtful of how I was doing my work. Dr. Blair gave nearly half of his life to the Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC). Northern Ireland is to be the setting for yet another new crime drama, it was revealed on Thursday. Hope Street, a daytime series which will air on BBC1, will focus on the police department in the fictional town of Port Devine on the Northern Irish coast and the arrival of English Detective Constable Alimah Kahn, the first Muslim police officer in the towns history. The character-led drama will combine a long-running serial narrative with self-contained crime stories in each episode. It stars local actors Brid Brennan, Ciaran McMenamin, Des McAleer and London-born Amara Karan. Read More The shows executive producers, Paul Marquess, from Belfast, and Donna Wiffen, both have backgrounds in crime drama. As well as having both worked on the long-running ITV police series, The Bill, Paul wrote London Kills, while Donnas back catalogue include Crime Stories and Murder Investigation Team. Hope Street is a co-production with BritBox North America and will be made with support from Northern Ireland Screen. Hope Street, which sets out to celebrate the warm-hearted and good-humoured people of Port Devine as they look to the future rather than the past, is the latest crime drama to come out of Northern Ireland. It follows on from The Fall, which was first broadcast on BBC2 in 2013 and ran for three series, starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, the recent series of ITV crime noir Marcella and BBC Ones current crime show, Bloodlands, with James Nesbitt playing the lead role. Cult crime drama Line of Duty, though not set in Belfast, is filmed in the city and is set to return to BBC One on Sunday, March 21. Carla-Maria Lawson, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak, said: Im thrilled that well be bringing the beautiful backdrop of Northern Ireland to BBC One Daytime viewers in this exciting new drama, which is coming from such a stellar team. Im sure our audiences will love the intriguing characters who inhabit Hope Street and relish soaking in their surroundings. Paul Marquess, of Long Story TV, said he was beyond excited to be heading home to make Hope Street, after producing drama in England for nearly 30 years. Set on Northern Irelands stunning coastline, the series is a celebration of local writing, acting and production talent, he said. Warm, engaging and funny, Hope Street presents Northern Ireland to the world in a fresh new light. The new daytime series is the latest commission to be announced as part of the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen Partnership Agreement. The successful partnership, which is soon to be renewed for its third term, continues to support the screen industry in Northern Ireland and help ensure that Northern Ireland is better represented to audiences across the UK and internationally. Richard Williams, chief executive, Northern Ireland Screen said: For many years Northern Ireland Screen has been keen to develop a returning drama series which could create invaluable skills development opportunities for local writers, directors and crew. Hope Street will act as a crucial training ground for those behind the camera as well as providing an excellent opportunity for our homegrown acting talent. Eddie Doyle, head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland, added: Audiences are really going to fall in love with Hope Streets gripping storylines and cast of colourful characters. Filming on Hope Street will begin later this month. Series one will air on BBC Daytime and BBC One Northern Ireland in 2022 and will exclusively premiere on BritBox in North America. A top European Union official on March 3, promised to extend support for Ukraine. He said that there is no Europe without Ukraine. Speaking at Kyiv during his maiden visit to Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel remarked that the EU-Ukraine association agreement is the most ambitious, comprehensive agreement the EU has with another country, he said, adding as part of this Agreement, Ukraine has agreed to serious commitments to sweeping reforms. The EU has provided unprecedented support to Ukraine and its reform process 16 billion euros since 2014, Michel said. And we will continue to support your efforts. Read: Russia Calls Elon Musk's Clubhouse Invitation To Vladimir Putin A 'misunderstanding' Read: Ukraine's President Zelenskiy Gets His Vaccination As a part of his visit, Michel also held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv a day after they visited the area near the separatist conflict in the countrys east. Promising support to Kyiv, Michel asked the countrys administration to step up long-awaited reforms and bolster the anti-corruption agenda. The EU diplomat also highlighted EU support to the pandemic hit country stating that the bloc had already provided 190 million euros in aid to speed up its procurement of vaccines. I will personally engage to speed up the delivery, Michel said. The EU stands with you, President Zelenskiy, in restoring the Ukrainian peoples trust in your judicial system and anti-corruption agenda, Michel said, wrapping up the two-day visit. It is essential to continue the fight against corruption, and to continue other reforms at full speed. Ukraine-Russia conflict Tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated following its invasion of Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent support to Pro Russia separatists in Eastern Ukraine. In a bid to resolve the conflict, both the nations inked Minsk peace plan brokered by France and Germany in 2014. However, Russias UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, last month, accused Ukraine of failing to implement the 2015 Minsk agreement. Speaking at its sixth anniversary, he said Over those six years, we still havent gotten an answer to two very important questions: How exactly does Ukraine intend to peacefully resolve the conflict, and how does Kiev envisage special status of Donbass within Ukraine? Read: Russia Opposes US Sanctions Over Navalny Poisoning, Tells Allies To 'not Play With Fire' Read: Russia Imposes Economic Sanctions On 9 Ukrainian Firms As Ties Severe Rep. Crenshaw: Commonsense ID Laws Are Not Voter Suppression Some GOP lawmakers are calling out Democrats efforts to label voter ID laws as voter suppression. Second-term Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said Republicans and Democrats must work together to regain the trust of all voters, strengthen laws like national voter ID requirements, and ensure election integrity. Theres this mythology amongst Democrats that commonsense rules in an election are synonymous with voter suppression. They make it sound like you have to go through an obstacle course to go vote. This isnt true. Its nonsense and everybody knows it. [The] truth is that four out of five Americans support voter ID laws, said Crenshaw on the House floor Wednesday. Countless Americans have expressed concern because they receive mail-in ballots for other people, addressed to their homes. They want this fix. They dont want the problem to get worse. Democrats H.R.1 would require states to use an automatic voter registration system for federal elections and allow same-day voter registration. Some Republicans have said the bill would ensure that GOP candidates would never get elected again during presidential races. Crenshaw said H.R.1 makes elections less secure because it does not address the issues that millions of Americans were concerned about after the 2020 elections, like universal mail-in ballots, and careless voter ID verification processes. But instead, this bill makes permanent the problematic election practices that cause distrust. For example ballot harvesting, which creates a serious chain-of-custody issues; universal mail-in voting without safeguards, which creates the kind of chaos where your ballot ends up in somebody elses hands; or forcing states to disregard their own voter ID laws and use sworn statements instead of an ID, said Crenshaw. The integrity of our elections must be self-evident, where the mere possibility of fraud is improbable because the process itself is airtight and secure. Many states do not meet this standard. We should be working together to make elections more secure, not less, he added. Meanwhile, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), chair of the House Administration Committee, said on Wednesday during a press conference in support of H.R.1 that Republicans in state legislatures are trying to suppress voters, particularly those from communities of color. After that [Nov. 3 election], enormous turnout we saw Republican legislatures all over the country try and stop that voting, to stop the absentee voting, to impose barriers to make it harder for Americans to vote, said Lofgren. While Democrats are praising H.R.1 as the answer to voter suppression and election integrity, Republicans are saying they will not vote for the bill in its current form because it invites voter fraud. I hope that all for all [the GOPs] cynical arguments against [H.R.1], some of our friends across the aisle will get a grip and understand that it is in everyones interest, added Lofgren. Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), who replaced civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis in Georgia, also called Republicans efforts to verify voter registration rolls and ID as voter suppression. In my home state of Georgia, Republican state legislators have unleashed an unprecedented torrent of voter oppression schemes to make it incredibly hard to vote, and to silence our voices, especially communities of color, said Williams. HR.1, the For the People Act, will put a stop to the voter suppression that were seeing being debated right now in Georgia, by taking an aim at the institutional barriers to voting, added Williams. The bill is being debated in the House this week and will likely pass along party lines. As consumer VR begins to have a moment following years of heavy investment from Facebook and other tech giants, corporate America is similarly beginning to find more utility in the technology, as well. Bank of America announced today that they'll be working with Bay Area-based VR startup Strivr to bring more of their workplace training into virtual reality. The financial institution has already used the startup's tech in a pilot effort with about 400 employees, but a wide-scale rollout would mean scaling the VR learning platform to more of the company's 50,000 client-facing employees and potentially bringing thousands of VR headsets to its bank branches. Bank of America exec John Jordan has plenty of ideas of where it will be able to implement the technology most effectively, but is open to experimenting early-on, noting that they've developed VR lessons for everything from notary services to fraud detection. Jordan also says that they're working on more ambitious tasks like helping employees practice empathy with customers dealing with sensitive matters like the death of a relative. Jordan says the scope of the company's corporate learning program, "The Academy," is largely unmatched among other major companies in the U.S., except perhaps by the employee instruction programs at Walmart, he notes. Walmart has been Strivr's largest customer since the startup signed the retail behemoth back in 2017 to bring VR instruction to their 200 "Walmart Academy" instruction centers and all Walmart stores. Virtual reality is a technology that lends itself to capturing undivided attention, something that is undoubtedly positive for increasing learning retention, which Jordan says was one of the central appeals for adopting the tech. For Bank of America, VR offers a platform change to reexamine some of the pitfalls of conventional corporate learning. At the same time, they acknowledge that the tech isn't a silver bullet and that there are plenty of best practices for VR that are still unknown. Story continues "Were just taking it slow to be honest," Jordan says. "We already feel pretty great about how weve made investments, but we view this as a way to get better." Enterprise VR startups have seen varying levels of success over the years as they've aimed to find paying customers that can tolerate the limitations of the technology while buying in on the broader vision. Strivr has raised more than $51 million, including a $30 million Series B last year, as it has aimed to become a leader in the workplace training space. CEO Derek Belch tells TechCrunch that the company has big plans as it looks toward raising more funding and works to build out its software toolsets to help simplify VR content creation for its partners. Update 3/4 11:55am PT: Article updated to reflect more accurate scope of bank rollout. Early Stage is the premier "how-to" event for startup entrepreneurs and investors. Youll hear firsthand how some of the most successful founders and VCs build their businesses, raise money and manage their portfolios. Well cover every aspect of company building: Fundraising, recruiting, sales, legal, PR, marketing and brand building. Each session also has audience participation built-in -- theres ample time included in each for audience questions and discussion. 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SEBI had directed the audit after the fund house discontinued six debt mutual fund schemes in April 2020. The regulator, in its show-cause notices to Franklin Templeton AMC and its trustees, alleged code of conduct breaches. SEBI also asked the fund house why action should not be taken against them for not carrying out their fiduciary duties towards investors and for lapses in the risk-management process. The notices have been served to key managerial employees comprising Vivek Kudva, head of Asia Pacific (APAC) for Franklin Templeton, his mother, and his wife Roopa Kudva, MD, Omidyar Network India, the Economic Times reported. Also Read: ED to investigate Franklin Templeton, senior officials for money laundering The notices alleged contravention of the Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices as well as mutual fund regulations. Meanwhile, Franklin Templeton told the publication that detailed replies have been sent to SEBI. "None of the key persons has redeemed any units post the trustees taking the in-principal decision to wind-up the schemes," said a company spokesperson in an email. "Schemes under winding up continue to have significant investment from employees and management of Franklin Templeton. All redemption applications submitted by unitholders until April 23, 2020, were processed in the normal course of business. Our interests remain aligned with those of our investors," the spokesperson added. According to the forensic audit report, Kudva and his family members as well as some senior Franklin Templeton personnel pulled out some of their investments between March and April 2020. The auditor also highlighted that some of the directors on the AMC's board and the trustee company also drew out a portion of their investments from the stressed schemes shortly before they were frozen for redemptions on April 23, 2020. Glenda Andrew pulls a tray of salmon from the oven, filling the kitchen with the aroma of garlic, cayenne and lemon. It is the scent of memory, of family dinners and church socials - the warmth of the Caribbean in the middle of a grey English winter made gloomier by COVID-19. Andrew calls it "food for the soul" and and it's needed now more than ever by Britain's older immigrants who have been isolated from friends and family by the pandemic. She and other volunteers prepare hot meals with the zing of the islands, which they distribute to people in Preston and surrounding communities in northwestern England that have recorded some of the U.K.'s highest coronavirus infection rates. "(It's) what you call soul food so of course you are going to feel good. And not only that someone else has cooked it for you so you don't have to stand in the kitchen all day," said Andrew. "So the idea is to save you time and enjoy it especially if you are older and you can't stand up as much. You might have a partner, your husband might not be well or vice versa." Once a week, for the last 42 weeks, the lucky seniors on Andrew's list have been treated to delicacies such as jerk pork, curry pork and cow foot soup accompanied by rice and peas, yams and plantains. Portions are hefty, so there's enough to go in the freezer for another day. Last week, some 400 meals were packed into yellow foam packages and delivered by volunteers. The meal program grew out of Andrew's work with Preston Windrush Generation & Descendants, a group organized to fight for the rights of early immigrants from the Caribbean and other former British colonies who found themselves threatened with deportation in recent years. The Windrush Generation, named after the ship that carried the first migrants from Jamaica in 1948, came to Britain in response to a government call for workers from throughout the Empire to help rebuild the country after World War II. The Windrush Scandal rocked Britain in 2018 amid a crackdown on illegal immigration. Long-term legal residents lost jobs, homes and rights to medical care because many arrived as children and couldn't produce paperwork proving their right to live in the U.K. Some were detained, and an unknown number were deported to countries they barely remembered. When the coronavirus pandemic struck Britain, the free-spirited Andrew didn't want the community to be victimized again. She decided to create her own food program tailored to the taste buds of the people she grew up with. Volunteers like Dave Williams drive dozens of miles delivering the food. In addition to food, the volunteers offer a little bit of human contact. "The response from the people we deliver the food to is incredible," Williams said. "The smiles, they want to chat to you. Some of them haven't met you but they just want to talk to you, you talk to them and they want to find out what is going on. It gives me such a buzz." The loneliness and isolation of the past year is painful for many of the seniors. When deliveries arrive, they pepper the volunteers for friendly gossip about what their neighbours are up to. Sylius Toussaint, 81, who came from Dominica in 1960, said chatting with volunteers like Williams helps as much as the food. "When the deliverers like Dave and others come to the door they say hello and give you a meal and maybe for just a few seconds at least you see someone new," Toussaint said. "If you are on your own it is so nice to see a fresh face especially bringing gifts," he said. For carers such as Marlene Clarke, who looks after her mother 24-7, the meals are a lifeline. "For one day a week I don't have to worry about a nutritional meal, custom made and culturally appropriate," said Clarke. Even as optimism grows that Britain's mass vaccination programme may soon allow lockdown restrictions to be eased, Andrew wants to keep the meals flowing. For now, they use a donated kitchen, but there's a glimmer of hope for a more permanent venue at some point - maybe a place the community can gather. But that's in the future. For now, the volunteers plan to just keep going, gluing the community together with plates of rice and peas. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Behind the Liberals Latest China Approach News Analysis Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said publicly last week that China is a main source of the fentanyl thats fuelling a deadly opioid crisis in Canada. Blairs remarks marked a shift in the Liberal governments public tone on the fentanyl issue and Chinas role. When asked by The Epoch Times for comment in the past, Blairs ministry made no mention of China, merely saying the government is committed to doing everything we can to address the drug crisis. This stood in contrast to calls by the Opposition Conservatives and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney for Ottawa to hold Beijing to account for the crisis. Yet in his address at the parliamentary Canada-China relations committee on Feb. 25, Blair still refused to talk about Huawei and security concerns and whether the Chinese telecom giant with links to Beijing will be banned from Canadas 5G networks. Im obviously not going to talk about a specific company because our work is not relevant to a specific company, but rather to ensuring that we take the steps necessary to protect all Canadian interests, he said in response to a question from a Conservative MP. Blairs carefully chosen words are consistent with the Liberals latest approach on the China file, where increasingly stronger language is used, but there are some lines that the government is not willing to cross. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Toward the end of last year, Trudeau began using stronger language when talking about Chinas global conduct, in one case saying that Beijing uses coercive diplomacy. Previously, he would typically first tout the economic benefits China presents before expressing concern about the regimes detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service also recently said directly that China imposes a threat to Canada on all fronts, whereas previously the non-political organization more commonly talked in general terms about risks from foreign governments rather than pinpointing China, save for when referring to specific threats. On the Hong Kong file, after Beijings clampdown on the pro-democracy demonstrators intensified, Canada stood out from other allies for its soft language, in one case urging all sides involved in the crisis to exercise restraint. That has changed of late, with Ottawa issuing more strongly worded statements against Beijings actions in Hong Kong. But despite repeated calls by the opposition, the Liberals have so far not slapped any Magnitsky sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong and China. Neither have they ruled out using Huawei in Canadas 5G networks, in contrast to its allies in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which have either already shut out Huawei or plan to eliminate it from their 5G networks. As well, the Liberal government has maintained Canadas $250 million investment in Chinas Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. More recently, the Liberal cabinet abstained from voting on a parliamentary motion to declare Beijings actions against Uyghur Muslims a genocide. The motion was passed in a 266-0 unanimous vote by the MPs from all parties who voted including Liberal backbenchers. The Liberal governments announcements most recently have been more aggressive in criticizing China. However, its mostly a rhetorical change. Were still not seeing very much action, Terry Russell, a senior scholar with the University of Manitobas Asian Studies Centre, told The Epoch Times. Russell says the federal governments change in tone is due to the fact that public opinion in Canada as well as internationally is increasingly turning against the Chinese regime, given its human rights abuses domestically and its outward hostility, such as the imprisonment of Canadian citizens. A Nanos survey released last month showed that only 3 percent of Canadians have a positive view of China as a partner for Canada, while 12 percent have a somewhat positive view. If the Liberal government is to maintain any kind of standing in the eyes of the public, it finds that it is absolutely necessary to speak out against some of these atrocities [in China], Russell says. But what explains the lack of meaningful action, he says, is that fundamentally the Liberal Party is still very sympathetic to China, or at least to the amount of business that Canada is doing in China, and their vested interests within the Liberal Party. They dont want to see the relationship with China damaged, he says, adding that another factor is concern for the safety of Kovrig and Spavor as well as other Canadian citizens living in China or Hong Kong. Russell points to Australia as an example of a country that has stood up to China, such as passing legislation meant to curb the regimes foreign interference or holding it accountable for the COVID-19 outbreak, even though it has suffered consequences to its export sector as well as harassment and even imprisonment of one of its citizens in China. Theyre willing to stand up for their convictions. They deserve admiration, he says. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 17, 2020. (Reuters/Issei Kato) Jacob Kovalio, an associate professor in the Department of History at Carleton University, says the vote on the Uyghur genocide declaration, where Liberal backbenchers were allowed to vote freely on the issue but the cabinet abstained, shows a political calculation by the Liberal government. This is a political move that is designed to satisfy both those who are fervently critical of the Uyghur situation and at the same time sending the message to [the Chinese regime] that under the circumstances they are pursuing their traditional line of supporting China, he says. Besides business interests, another factor influencing the Liberal Partys position on the China file is the legacy left by former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, Kovalio says. Pierre Trudeau started relations with the Chinese Communist Party in the 1970s, which helped pave the way for other Western countries including the United States to establish diplomatic ties with the regime. Former Chinese consul-general in Toronto Chen Wenzhao once pointed to the elder Trudeaus ideological leanings and noted that he intended to distance Canadas China policy from that of the United States after taking office. Kovalio says this legacy continued through the different Liberal governments, including that of Jean Chretienwho reinvigorated ties with Beijing after the world had shunned it for its bloody Tiananmen Square massacreand the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The baggage that the Liberal Party has goes back to Pierre Trudeau, and to Chretien, and continues to this day, he says. Kovalio says Chinas rise has not been a peaceful one as publicly stated by Beijing in years prior and repeated by some in the West, and notes that the business and political class should be held to account if they turn a blind eye to the implications of a more powerful China. He advises more vigilance in the face of Beijings latest tactics to lure politicians and the business class, including the EU-China investment deal signed at the turn of last year, and the regimes use of investment incentives to derail plans by the United States and Japan to decouple from China. This is all a trick that [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping has done many times before, as have his predecessors, he says. Besides strategic and geopolitical considerations, theres a major humanitarian aspect to the equation that should not be sidelined, Kovalio adds. There is the Uyghur humanitarian crime issue, [the persecution of] Tibetans, and the Falun Gong issue and the organ harvesting thats continuing, he says. When you look at the bigger picture, how can you ignore what the Chinese [regime is] doing right now? The Volkswagen Groups Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen brands are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify sustainability risks such as environmental pollution, human rights abuses and corruption at an early stagenot only among direct business partners but also at the lower levels of their supply chain. The basis for this monitoring system is an intelligent algorithm developed by the Austrian start-up Prewave. The technology is capable of identifying and analyzing supplier-related news from publicly available media and social networks in more than 50 languages and more than 150 countries. If there is any indication of a sustainability risk in the supply chain, the brands are notified. Procurement then looks at the facts of the situation and considers initiating countermeasures. In this way, AI provides a proactive early warning system for breaches of the Volkswagen Groups sustainability requirements. It therefore supplements traditional reactive complaint channels such as mailboxes and ombudspersons. Since the pilot project began in October 2020, the brands have analyzed more than 5,000 keywords and are monitoring more than 4,000 suppliers. Prewave enables us to manage risks in a targeted mannereven in the lower-level supply chains. For us, this is about transparency. Artificial Intelligence simplifies the complex analysis of data, allowing us to address partners directly and request improvements in sustainability. The goal is to achieve this in partnership with suppliers. In the event of escalation, however, termination of business relations is certainly also an option. Markus Wagner, Head of Procurement Strategy and Sustainability at Porsche AG The key advantage of AI is the speed at which it can recognise relevant news online and transmit this in bundled form. This enables us to find out about sustainability risks much earlier on, so we can respond more quickly. AI is an ideal example of how digitalization can contribute to greater transparency in the supply chain. Marco Philippi, Head of Procurement Strategy at Audi We are meeting our responsibility for ensuring a sustainable and fair supply chainwe established sustainability criteria for our suppliers on a contractual basis as long ago as 2014. Since 2019, we have checked compliance with our standards as part of the award process. By partnering with Prewave, we now have another tool to uncover and investigate potential violations, thereby contributing to improved social and environmental conditions at our suppliers production sites. Ullrich Gereke, Head of Procurement Strategy for the Volkswagen Group The Volkswagen Groups sustainability requirements are summarized in the Code of Conduct for Business Partners. The Group takes well-founded reports of violations seriously and systematically follows up on them. From 2019, the S-Ratinga sustainability rating for supplierswas successively introduced by the individual Group brands as a mandatory order award criterion. Tessy produced an initial order of 30,000 shields for the county, followed by another 54,000 for local health care facilities, Director of Sales Eric Yando said. However, as companies that normally make personal protective equipment began to ramp up production as the pandemic continued, Tessy retired its molds. It hasn't made any face shields since. Progress 2021 Progress 2021 is a special section published in the March 3 print edition and e-edition of The Citizen that is highlighting Cayuga County comp "It was truly about helping out the local businesses and the community with an immediate need," Yando said. "We knew we were a stopgap." Theron Blair, an account manager for Tessy, added, "We were excited to help the local heroes and first responders with anything we could." Tessy staff declined comment about the company's COVID-19 test kit production, citing customer confidentiality. Tessy previously said it is partnering with a "major medical company" to make the kits. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Ex-CEO of distillery to spend 5.5 years behind bars for failure to pay $13.5 mln in taxes flickr.com/ Tanel Teemusk 13:45 04/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 4 (RAPSI) A court in the city of Omsk has sentenced Andrey Averchenko, a former CEO of OSHA Distillery, to 5.5 years in prison for tax evasion, the press service of Russias Investigative Committee informs RAPSI on Thursday. Investigators and the court established that in 2014 through 2016 the convicted person evaded taxes by concealing the company's proceeds from the sale of not registered alcoholic beverages in the amount of about 53 million liters and reporting deliberately false information about the amount of taxes payable in tax declarations; as a result, the total amount of not paid value added tax and excise duty made more than 1 billion rubles ($13.5 million at the current exchange rate). The defendant pleaded not guilty, the statement reads. Averchenko was found guilty of evasion of taxes due from an organization on an especially large scale. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A previously unnoticed disclosure by FirstEnergy Corp. says the millions of dollars the company says it paid to someone shortly before they were hired as a top state utility regulator led to that person taking actions on the companys behalf in their new state job. In densely-worded legal disclosures filed in November, the Akron-based company said the $4.3 million payment the company made in January 2019 led to conduct corresponding to such payment, and to that person acting at the request or for the benefit of FirstEnergy as a consequence of receiving such payment. The company said the payment was a noncompliance event that violated its terms with banks that lend it money, as was conduct by FirstEnergy officials during the time period after such payment during which the Individual was acting in any governmental or regulatory capacity. The filings document updates to FirstEnergys agreements with its lenders, including new language describing the companys compliance with anti-corruption laws. FirstEnergy updated its terms with its lenders to account for the $4.3 million payment on Nov. 17, according to the documents. The day before, the FBI raided then-Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzos home in Columbus. Randazzo quit on Nov. 20, the day after FirstEnergy disclosed the payment in its quarterly report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Here is the full passage, which appears at the bottom of two updated lending agreements, that refers to the $4.3 million payment: The language in an SEC filing from FirstEnergy that describes the results of a $4.3 million payment the company made to someone shortly before they became a top Ohio state regulator. The FBI searched Randazzos home amid a federal investigation into the passage of House Bill 6, a nuclear bailout bill prosecutors say FirstEnergy helped secure thanks to $60 million in bribes the company paid to former House Speaker Larry Householder and his associates. FirstEnergy has said its discovery of the $4 million payment, uncovered during a review launched in response to the federal probe, prompted it to fire then-CEO Chuck Jones and two other top company executives in late October. On Nov. 20, Fitch, the ratings agency, downgraded FirstEnergys corporate credit while citing the payment, saying the disclosure significantly deepens regulatory, political, legal and liquidity risks already heightened by investigations underway at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and SEC. The Energy and Policy Institute, a pro-renewable energy organization that regularly produces research scrutinizing fossil-fuel companies, published an article on Thursday calling attention to the previously little-noticed language describing the connection between the $4.3 million and the regulators subsequent actions. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has said the payment appears to have gone to the Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio, a company owned by Randazzo, whom Gov. Mike DeWine hired in January 2019 to head the PUCO, which regulates state utilities. FirstEnergy initially said the payment was made to terminate a 2013 consulting agreement with the company tied to the person who appears to be Randazzo. The language FirstEnergy has used to describe the payment in its regulatory filings has grown increasingly skeptical over time. The initial language said the company could not determine if the payments were for the purposes represented within the consulting agreement. Language in a February filing says the company believes that payments under the consulting agreement may have been for purposes other than those represented within the consulting agreement. Randazzo didnt respond to a request for comment, while Jennifer Young, a FirstEnergy spokeswoman, declined to comment, citing the ongoing federal investigation. When describing issues emanating from the HB6 investigation, the company generally has stuck closely to its written disclosures, which are heavily reviewed by lawyers. House Bill 6, signed into law by DeWine in July 2019, provided subsidies worth $1 billion to two Ohio nuclear plants owned by Energy Harbor, a former FirstEnergy subsidiary. It also contained language benefitting FirstEnergy, including a decoupling fee that effectively guaranteed the companys revenue at 2018 levels. A chain of events upending HB6 began in July 2020, when the FBI arrested Householder and four others, charging them with corruptly conspiring to get the bill passed. Householder has pleaded not guilty and said he did nothing wrong. He was removed from his leadership position but remains in the Ohio House, and was re-elected in November. Two operatives who worked to pass House Bill 6, Juan Cespedes and Jeff Longstreth, have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, as has a pro-Householder political group. Prosecutors say the $60 million in bribes from FirstEnergy and its affiliates went to political groups that helped Householder get his leadership position, and was spent to pressure lawmakers to pass the law and then defend it against a repeal attempt. The Ohio Senate on Wednesday voted to repeal the nuclear subsidies in HB6, with the measure now heading to the House for consideration. While FirstEnergy has agreed to forfeit the decoupling fee in the future, the Ohio Senate also has passed a bill seeking a refund on fees that were already charged. Thursday, the Tennessee State Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 29 which would allow first responders to live where they choose. The measure, sponsored by State Senator Brian Kelsey, would ban residency requirements for police officers, firefighters and emergency medical services workers. This bill as amended does not affect Hamilton county. Senator Kelsey says the bill is a matter of public safety and will allow police and fire departments to recruit top tier first responder candidates, regardless of where they live. The lawmaker says, in particular, it will help Tennessee address a deficit of police officers occurring throughout the country. "This bill will support our police, fire officers and emergency medical service workers who keep us safe by allowing them to live where they choose," said Senator Kelsey. This bill will increase public safety by enabling us to hire more police officers, which will help us fight our rising crime rates. This bill addresses the needs of our local law enforcement and emergency services agencies, ensuring they have one of the most valuable resources sufficient personnel to protect our citizens and keep our communities safe, said Representative Jerome Moon, who is sponsoring the bill in the House of Representatives. Removing residency requirements will greatly expand the pool of highly-qualified applicants. In Memphis, major violent crime rates are up nine percent, and the city suffered from a record of over 300 homicides in 2020. In addition, a recent analysis by Drs. Richard Janikowski and Phyllis Betts of Strategic City Solutions revealed that the Memphis Police Department is understaffed by several hundred officers and that as the number of officers in the police force increases, the levels of violent crime in Memphis decrease. In December, the City Council adopted a resolution acknowledging that the city is over 400 officers short of its hiring goal. The new bill would seek to remedy the lack of law enforcement officers by applying the practices adopted by many local police departments statewide. The Municipal Technical Advisory Service, which provides assistance and training to municipal officials and employees as part of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service, says that most cities in Tennessee have moved away from residency requirements due to difficulties in recruiting. The measure has received broad support from legislators and community leaders throughout Shelby County and across the state. I strongly lend my support to this common-sense legislation, said Senator Paul Rose. Law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency personnel across our state are on the front lines protecting us every day. They need the support of all citizens and legislators, and I believe when this legislation is passed, the leadership of these departments will be enabled to hire the staff they desperately need. Reducing violent crime, public safety and safe streets are the number one priority of the residents of Memphis, said Representative Mark White. This legislation enables Memphis to have a fully staffed law enforcement agency to give us those safer streets. Now more than ever, Memphis is in need of police officers to protect our community, said Representative Tom Leatherwood. This piece of legislation will give more qualified men and women the opportunity to serve their neighbors and keep Memphis safe. I think it is a mistake to limit ourselves when it comes to recruiting good men and women to serve and protect our communities, said Representative John Gillespie. We should be thinking regionally. This legislation will help to expand our pool of highly-qualified applicants, resulting in more boots on the ground serving constituents. "Like many police departments, we continue to struggle with staffing, said Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings. Although we work hard to hire within Shelby County, it is unrealistic to believe that we will be able to increase our number of officers if we do not broaden our scope of candidates. Dropping the residency requirement would allow us to hire more individuals who want to serve our great city." Eliminating residency requirements provides public safety agencies with an opportunity to consider a broader selection of candidates who have a desire to serve the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County, said Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner. This public safety-focused measure supports the interest of law enforcement and fire services leaders from across the state in providing safe communities for all Tennesseans. The bill also has support from the Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission. During our discussion, it was obvious that many Board members were sensitive to the issue of state government preempting local decision-making, said Ben Adams, board chair. However, most board members see enactment of the legislation as a necessary step to address the severe shortage of local law enforcement officers. This law will help us keep our citizens safe by allowing us to hire an untapped group of the best and brightest candidates from across the entire region, said Thomas Malone, president of the Memphis Fire Fighters Association. Potential fire fighters wont need to weigh their desire to protect the public against forcing their family to uproot and move due to an antiquated residency requirement. When it comes to protecting the safety and well-being of the public, no stone can be left unturned. Citizens want and deserve the best services possible, said Essica Cage, president of the Memphis Police Association. This law is an essential step in leveling the playing field and allowing us to be more competitive in recruiting, hiring and retaining police officers from a larger geographic area. Simply put, the lifting of residency requirements will translate into more boots on the ground to help curb rising violent crime rates and keep citizens safer. In addition to increasing public safety, this measure will also save taxpayer dollars, officials said. Last fiscal year, the City of Memphis spent over $25 million on overtime pay for officers. Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks to the media outside of the Chatham County Health Department in Savannah, Georgia, on Dec. 15, 2020. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Georgia Gov. Kemp Says He Would Absolutely Back Trump for President in 2024 Georgias Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said he would absolutely back President Donald Trump if he became the GOP nominee for the White House in 2024. Absolutely, I will support the nominee, Kemp told Fox News on March 3. As I said, again, I worked very hard for the president. I think his ideas will be part of our party for a long time in the future and Republicans, we need to have a big tent. Republicans, theres a lot of great ideas out there, Kemp continued. Were not always going to get along. But I think the president deserves a lot of credit and hes not going away. Trump criticized Kemp harshly in the weeks following the general election on Nov. 3 last year. The president went after Kemp due to his apparent lack of cooperation with Trumps efforts to validate the results of the election in the Peach State. On Jan. 5, the day before Congress certified the results of the 2020 presidential race, Trump said he would campaign against Kemp in 2022. Ill be here in about a year-and-a-half campaigning against your governor, I guarantee you, he said at a rally for Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Republican Senate candidate David Perdue, drawing cheers. Trump noted how he endorsed Kemp in 2018. He was in last place and I endorsed him. He went to first place very, like, immediately and then he won the primary, and then I gave him a couple of rallies, which I dont like doing for other people, Trump said. Im going to be here in a year-and-a-half and Im going to be campaigning against your governor and your crazy secretary of state, and you have great candidates, Trump added. Trump again expressed regret over endorsing Kemp in an interview with Newsmax on Sunday. In the case of Gov. Kemp, he was in last place or just about in last place. I endorsed him, he ended up winning the election and he certainly was not very effective for the Republican Party, to put it nicely, Trump said. So I think that was an endorsement that hurt us. But sometimes that will happen. During a much-anticipated speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 28, Trump suggested that he may run again in 2024. With your help, we will take back the House. We will win the Senate. And then, a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House. And I wonder who that will be? I wonder who that will be? Who, who, who will that be? I wonder, Trump said. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Turkmenistan Special Forces troopers are learning enhanced combat skills at India's specialised military training institute, the Army said on Thursday. Image Source: IANS News Turkmenistan Special Forces troopers are learning enhanced combat skills at India's specialised military training institute, the Army said on Thursday. Image Source: IANS News Turkmenistan Special Forces troopers are learning enhanced combat skills at India's specialised military training institute, the Army said on Thursday. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, March 4 : Turkmenistan Special Forces troopers are learning enhanced combat skills at India's specialised military training institute, the Army said on Thursday. Based on a request from the Turkmenistan Special Forces, the Special Forces Training School (SFTS) of the Indian Army has commenced training of their paratroopers. SFTS is based at Nahan, a hill town in Himachal Pradesh, and is a unique institution providing training to the Indian Army's Special Forces. Turkmenistan Special Forces troopers learns Combat Free Fall as a precursor to a series of other customised professional courses which will assist in capability enhancement. The first phase of training would culminate on March 27. In August this year, the personnel will go for the second phase of training so that they can develop a strong winning attitude for carrying out special operations in the entire spectrum of contemporary warfare. The Indian Special Forces (SF) have over a period of time earned immense respect and reputation of being one of the finest Special Forces in the world due to its professionalism, operational expertise, and sacrifice. Special Forces of friendly nations including the US, Australia, countries of Central Asian Region and the Middle East have increasingly shown their desire to train with the battle-hardened Indian Special Forces troops. In response, the Indian Army's Special Forces have increased their engagement with their counterparts from friendly nations. The United States cannot independently approve a decision on Ukraine's integration into NATO, but nothing prevents it from granting the country the status of a major non-NATO ally, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor has said. He stated this during the webinar "U.S.-Ukraine Security Dialogue XII" on Wednesday, March 3, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Taylor said that last week he spoke with a U.S. government team dealing with the Ukraine issue and several people mentioned a Membership Action Plan (MAP), which would ensure Ukraine's accession to NATO. He noted that there were difficulties in this matter as there are NATO members who still need to be convinced that Ukrainians are ready for the MAP. However, the diplomat said that this moment would come sooner or later and Ukraine would join NATO, as was promised at the 2008 Bucharest Summit. At the same time, Taylor said, the United States can show its strong support and strong relations with Ukraine, granting it the status of a major non-NATO ally. According to him, this does not require approval from any other NATO member. This is entirely within the competence of the U.S. government, Taylor said. Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to close allies that have strategic working relationships with the U.S. Armed Forces but are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The status, currently held by 18 states (including Australia, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, Japan), does not automatically include a mutual defense pact with the United States, but it still confers a variety of military and financial advantages that otherwise are not obtainable by non-NATO countries. op Digital solutions including remote monitoring can help chronic pain sufferers manage their pain and reduce the probability of misuse of prescription opioids. For chronic pain sufferers an app may be just the tool they need to manage their pain. In a UHN-led study that used the app "Manage My Pain" enrolled patients saw clinically significant reductions in key areas that drive increased medical needs, potential abuse of prescription opioids and of course, pain. Toronto (March 4, 2021) - For the first time, an app has been shown to reduce key symptoms of chronic pain. A UHN-led study evaluated the impact of Manage My Pain (MMP), a digital health solution developed by ManagingLife, on patients seen at the Iroquois Falls Family Health Team, and the Toronto Western and Toronto General Hospitals. Published today in JMIR mHealth, a leading peer-reviewed journal focused on health and biomedical applications, the study showed patients who used the MMP app saw a clinically significant reduction in anxiety and pain catastrophizing, two key areas that drive increased medical needs and potential abuse of prescription opioid. "Manage My Pain has helped our patients tell their story," says Dr. Hance Clarke, Director Pain Services, Medical Director of The Pain Research Unit, Toronto General Hospital, UHN. "As a result, this has empowered them to engage in discussions that enabled us to come up with patient-centered treatment plans to help manage their pain." 246 participants with chronic pain were enrolled in the study and more than 70 per cent of the group agreed to use the app along with their medication, psychological therapy, and physiotherapy, the other 30 per cent were the control group. The app allowed them to track their pain, create reports that facilitated better communication with their care providers, and through a virtual portal, give clinicians the ability to remotely monitor their patients and use advanced analytics to spot any negative trends weeks and months in advance. "Prior to Manage My Pain, our clinic was dependent on paper-based questionnaires to understand a patient's pain experience and response to treatment," says Dr. Anuj Bhatia, Site Director, Anesthesia - Interventional Pain Service, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN. "The app allows us to capture even more information than we had previously, while doing so digitally and remotely. The app also allowed us to study trends in intensity of pain and its impact on the patients' lives." Patients were prompted daily to record their reflections in the app. In less than a minute, they could input the activities they were able to accomplish and rate the pain they felt. In return, they received charts and graphs that highlighted patterns and trends that could increase their self-awareness, and provide insight into triggers and interventions. For the rural patients involved in this study, the benefits of MMP were remarkably clear from the beginning. Lacking a speciality pain centre, patients in Iroquois Falls must rely on their primary caregivers and the app made the communication between the patient-clinician easier and more productive. "Chronic pain isn't like a broken arm," says Dr. Auri Bruno-Petrina, rural Physician, Iroquois Falls. "It can be invisible to the naked eye, so people who suffer from it can find it very frustrating to explain how they are feeling and how much it is impacting their lives. This app strengthened my ability to help my patients because we had more nuanced data and we could really dig into the details." For both rural and urban patients suffering from chronic pain, the use of MMP encouraged tracking and reflecting, both of which are important components of most self-management programs. The ease of adoption also presents a positive opportunity for engaging with patients during significant challenges like the one presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how essential it is for patients to have a role in managing healthcare conditions," says Dr. Clarke. "Digital tools like Manage My Pain are a great way to empower self-management in patients, which is one of the hallmarks of successful clinical care." ### This study was funded by the Health technologies Fund (HTF), a program of the government of Ontario's Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS), administered by the Ontario Centres for Excellence (OCE). Contact for Media: Rosa Kim, Senior Public Affairs Advisor Toronto General Hospital and Peter Munk Cardiac Centre Phone: 647 669 8416 Email: rosa.kim@uhn.ca About University Health Network University Health Network consists of Toronto General, recently ranked the #4 Hospital in the World according to Newsweek Magazine, and Toronto Western Hospital, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and the Michener Institute of Education at UHN. The scope of research and complexity of cases at University Health Network has made it a national and international source of discovery, education and patient care. It has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. University Health Network is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. Bay Future Inc. has awarded $675,000 to some 128 Bay County businesses through a state grant program. Bay Future and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced the Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program has been launched to support the needs of businesses in the state that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Gathering restrictions and other mandates have put a severe strain on many local businesses, officials said. Funding to support our local businesses in Bay County is critical right now, said Trevor Keyes, Bay Future president and CEO. The last few months have been difficult and have created financial burdens on the businesses that play a key role in the quality of life we experience here in our community. Bay Future received about 220 applications from a wide range of Bay County businesses seeking grant assistance through the new program. In tandem with regional partners at Saginaw Future, Inc., Bay Future prioritized helping local industries that have been most adversely affected by the gatherings and mask order. These include food service establishments, health clubs, recreational facilities and places of public amusement. The Michigan Small Business Survival Program is providing significant support to small businesses to help them get through this critical time and on the path to economic recovery, said MEDC CEO Mark A. Burton. We are thankful for the efforts of our economic development partners, who worked swiftly and diligently to deliver these vital resources within their regions and create a path toward economic recovery for small businesses throughout Michigan. The average award amount for Bay County recipients is $5,200. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last March, Bay Future has executed 13 financial support programs for Bay County businesses with nearly 500 company awards granted totaling nearly $3 million, Keyes noted. We encourage our community members to continue to do their part in supporting small businesses, he added. Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group on settlement of the conflict in Donbas says that a decrease in the level of escalation on the disengagement line between Ukraine and ORDLO will directly depend on the strengthening of US and European Union sanctions against Russia. "There will be an aggravation, until the sanctions mechanism against Russia, in general, both in Europe and in the United States, starts actively working, until Russia feels real united diplomatic pressure from all sides, until we all together force Russia to live and act the way the state living in a civilized global world should act," Kravchuk said on Wednesday evening, March 3, on the air of the Ukraine 24 TV channel. As reported, a regular meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group was held in the mode of videoconference on March 3, during which Leonid Kravchuk protested against the so-called "People's militia of the DPR" report on allegedly obtaining "permits to conduct warning fire to suppress enemy firing points." The head of the Ukrainian delegation assessed this statement as a threat to the unilateral withdrawal of the Russian side from the ceasefire and a threat to the implementation of the Minsk agreements. It is also reported that the day before [for the period from March 2 to 3], the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) recorded 150 violations of the ceasefire in Donetsk region. Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham | Photo: Carolina Journal This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is David N. Bass Gov. Roy Cooper's 11th-hour veto of a school reopening bill Friday isn't sitting well with nearly half of North Carolina likely voters, a Civitas Flash Poll shows.More than 49% of respondents to the poll say they oppose Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 37 , a measure that requires school districts to offer in-person instruction for K-12 students for the remainder of the scheduled 2020-21 school year. Forty-one percent support the veto.Roughly the same percentage want their state legislator to vote to override the veto. Overall, 60% of respondents support S.B. 37, and just 28% are opposed. Nearly three-in-four respondents said a child's parent or legal guardian, not a local school board, should be the decision maker when it comes to in-person versus virtual school.Support for the bill runs the political spectrum, with 80% of Republicans, 56% of Unaffiliateds, and 43% of Democrats affirming their backing of the bill. Alternatively, only 8% of Republicans, 30% of Unaffiliateds, and 43% of Democrats oppose the bill.In an 11th hour move about 10 minutes before 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed the bill. The General Assembly has vowed to override the move, indicating a number of Democratic legislators will break rank and vote in favor of at least partial in-person learning for children.Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said in a news release.The governor's objection to the bill is that it allows school districts to choose to operate under Plan A if they wish, a news release from state Republicans says. Sen. Deanna Ballard, R-Watauga, said last week This veto override would come on the tails of a release of statewide test results , which indicate a marked decline in student proficiency since school shutdowns began last year. The results showed that three-fourths of third-graders are not proficient in reading and that the majority of high school students failed Math I, Math 3, and biology exams. Third-grade students were also significantly behind in reading proficiency, with 58% of those tested scoring a Level I, which is the lowest grade possible.Of likely voters surveyed in the Civitas Flash Poll, an overwhelming majority (77%) believe students should be either partially or fully re-opened for in-person instruction. Only 18% believe schools should be closed, solely offering virtual instruction. Another survey , conducted earlier by the Carolina Partnership for Reform, showed that 73% of respondents said the state should require that all school systems offer an in-person learning option for students. Only 22% said the state should not require that option.The General Assembly passed S.B. 37 in a bi-partisan vote in mid-February. By law, Cooper had 10 days to either sign or veto the bill before it became law automatically. He vetoed the measure on the ninth day.Cooper wrote in his veto message.The Senate is expected to take up that vote at 7 tonight. If the original tally holds, both chambers of the legislature would have the sufficient two-thirds majority to override Cooper's veto, which would require 72 votes in the House and 30 in the Senate.Senate Bill 37 originally passed with the support of three Democrats in the Senate for a final vote tally of 31-16 and eight Democrats in the House for a 77-42 split. To sustain Cooper's veto, two Democrats in the Senate and six Democrats in the House would need to flip their votes.The Civitas poll, conducted by Cygnal , surveyed 600 likely N.C. voters Feb. 27-28. The margin of error is plus or minus 4%. Alabama could be the next state to lift its mask mandate. It is set to expire Friday. On Thursday, Gov. Kay Ivey will give an update regarding the state's health order. However, health officials are warning it is too soon to lift the order. "It certainly makes us very uncomfortable," Huntsville Hospital Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Hafsa Siddiqui said. "We fear what's going to happen if we are going to have another spike." Siddiqui said it is too soon to ease up on coronavirus restrictions, especially since not enough people in our state are vaccinated. "If two people, if everyone is vaccinated in the room, everyone has protection, you don't need to wear a mask," Siddiqui said. "Right now, the mask we're mandating or trying to say to keep doing it, because we don't have the population around more than 70 to 80 percent vaccinated." She adds, even though you are vaccinated, it does not mean you can't contract coronavirus. You may just not show any symptoms. Therefore, wearing a mask would be more about protecting those around you. "Because of my immunity, I won't develop any symptoms, but I may be carrying the virus, and I can give it to somebody who does not have immunity, who hasn't received the vaccine yet," Siddiqui said. Coronavirus variants are also a cause for concern. Right now, Alabama has 37 confirmed cases of the variant believed to have originated in the U.K. "New and newer strains are emerging, so there are also concerns that those new strains may not be covered by the current vaccine, may not be covered by the antibody treatment that we have," Siddiqui said. Even if the governor decides to lift the mask mandate, Siddiqui said that does not mean Alabamians have to become less cautious. "We form communities by individuals, so if individuals are working, are taking the right step, then we should be okay. Nobody's going to force us not to wear a mask, right?" Siddiqui said. Gov. Kay Ivey's news conference is at 11 a.m. Thursday. WAAY 31 will carry it live on air and online. Melissa McCarthy has been friends with Octavia Spencer for a quarter of a century. And the duo is giving their friendship the long overdue Netflix treatment it so obviously deserves. McCarthy gains accidental superpowers as she teams up with Spencer to fight crime in the trailer for their new superhero comedy Thunder Force, which premieres April 9 on the streaming platform. Super pals: Melissa McCarthy gains accidental superpowers as she teams up with Octavia Spencer to fight crime in the trailer for their new superhero comedy Thunder Force, which premieres April 9 on the streaming platform Reunited: The real life pals play estranged childhood best friends who reunite as adults, shortly before Lydia (McCarthy) accidentally injects herself with a super serum developed by Emily (Spencer) They play estranged childhood best friends who reunite as adults, shortly before Lydia (McCarthy) accidentally injects herself with a super serum developed by Emily (Spencer). The old pals then team up as Thunder Force to battle the super-powered Miscreants, saving Chicago from the villainous King (Bobby Cannavale). The trailer opens on the ladies singing along to Seal's 1994 hit Kiss from a Rose, which is known for its appearance on the Batman Forever soundtrack. Just before they get into the chorus, the warehouse they're guarding explodes into a big blue light, throwing them off the loading dock. Soundtrack material: The trailer opens on the ladies singing along to Seal's 1994 hit Kiss from a Rose, which is known for its appearance on the Batman Forever soundtrack Big bang: Just before they get into the chorus, the warehouse they're guarding explodes into a big blue light, throwing them off the loading dock Reconnecting: It then flashes back to four weeks before, when McCarthy's Lydia arrives at Stanton 4.0, a massive corporation owned by her long lost friend It's complicated: 'I'm her best friend,' she tells the receptionist, before clarifying: 'We're not currently what I would say "best friends" or "friends"' Lab tour: Spencer's Emily gives her a tour of the lab, where she's been 'developing a genetic platform that will allow us to give ordinary people superpowers' Oops: She tells Lydia not to touch anything, before leaving her alone in the lab, where she sure enough plays with some buttons and switches, before getting locked into a chair and injected in the cheeks with the super serum It then flashes back to four weeks before, when McCarthy's Lydia arrives at Stanton 4.0, a massive corporation owned by her long lost friend. 'I'm her best friend,' she tells the receptionist, before clarifying: 'We're not currently what I would say "best friends" or "friends."' Spencer's Emily gives her a tour of the lab, where she's been 'developing a genetic platform that will allow us to give ordinary people superpowers.' She tells Lydia not to touch anything, before leaving her alone in the lab, where she sure enough plays with some buttons and switches, before getting locked into a chair and injected in the cheeks with the super serum. Cue the Rocky training montage, as Lydia gets a handle on her super strength, with the help of Emily and her team. Training montage: Cue the Rocky training montage, as Lydia gets a handle on her super strength, with the help of Emily and her team Impressive strength: In one impressive but ill-advised feat, she lifts a city bus over her head and tosses it a good couple of miles away Invisibility: Emily also demonstrates her own superpower of invisibility, before they suit up in some cool black leather costumes Busted: In what appears to be one of their first outings, they thwart a gas station robbery, as Emily stun guns a thief (played by McCarthy's husband and writer/director Ben Falcone) until his face is burnt to a crisp In one impressive but ill-advised feat, she lifts a city bus over her head and tosses it a good couple of miles away. Emily also demonstrates her own superpower of invisibility, before they suit up in some cool black leather costumes. In what appears to be one of their first outings, they thwart a gas station robbery, as Emily stun guns a thief (played by McCarthy's husband and writer/director Ben Falcone) until his face is burnt to a crisp. 'For the first time in history, we're seeing real life superheroes fighting crime,' a new anchor says, before adding: 'But we're also seeing a new kind of criminal.' Enter a suit-clad Bobby Cannavale as The King, a red-eyed villain who offers a sinister message in a press conference: 'This city deserves what's coming to it.' 'What's that smell?' he asks, while squaring off against a suited-up Lydia, who responds: 'It's the suits. We can't wash them.' Bad guy: Enter a suit-clad Bobby Cannavale as The King, a red-eyed villain who offers a sinister message in a press conference: 'This city deserves what's coming to it' Something smells: 'What's that smell?' he asks, while squaring off against a suited-up Lydia, who responds: 'It's the suits. We can't wash them' Super minions: The film also stars Pom Klementieff as a blue orb-throwing villain and Jason Bateman as The Crab, a henchman with crab claws for hands Crab jokes: 'What the hell are you?' Lydia asks him, as he offers some cheeky innuendo: 'You'd think Cancer, but Capricorn actually Sag moon... and all kinds of things rising' Fearless talent: Spencer applauded her longtime friend and costar McCarthy for doing her own stunts, when they appeared Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show The film also stars Pom Klementieff as a blue orb-throwing villain and Jason Bateman as The Crab, a henchman with crab claws for hands. 'What the hell are you?' Lydia asks him, as he offers some cheeky innuendo: 'You'd think Cancer, but Capricorn actually Sag moon... and all kinds of things rising.' Spencer applauded her longtime friend and costar McCarthy for doing her own stunts, when they appeared Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 'Melissa does a lot of her own stunts. Where Melissa is fearless, I am fearful, she said, as McCarthy Chimed in: 'I love a harness. Throw me around, swing me against walls.' McCarthy also told People: 'Working with someone you've known for over two decades is the best. We had the greatest time on set.' Joe Exotic has been enjoying the glow of fame since the Netflix true crime documentary series about him premiered last year. But the Tiger King star's notoriety wasn't enough to sway fellow reality show star Donald Trump to issue him a presidential pardon. He recently called out his young husband Dillon Passage for neglecting him during his prison sentence, as he prepares to celebrate his 58th birthday behind bars, after beginning his 22-year sentence in 2019. Feeling neglected: Joe Exotic recently called out his young husband Dillon Passage for neglecting him during his prison sentence, as he prepares to celebrate his 58th birthday behind bars, after beginning his 22-year sentence in 2019 The 57-year-old took to Twitter Monday with a throwback of himself handing out with some of his tigers, accompanied by a somber message. He wrote: 'Money destroyed my entire family. I won't allow it to kill my soul. You win, Dillon, Jeff Duncan, Carole.' Joe (whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage) was referring to his husband Dillon Passage, 25, Dillon's manager Jeff Duncan and Joe's sworn nemesis Carole Baskin, 59. He also made mention of his late husband Travis Maldonado, who died in 2017: 'Come March 22nd for Travis's Birthday I am going to keep his promise I made the day he died. I don't need the fame, the money or the bulls***, you can have it all...' Somber message: The 57-year-old took to Twitter Monday with a throwback of himself handing out with some of his tigers, accompanied by a somber message Namedropping: Joe (whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage) was referring to his husband Dillon Passage, 25, Dillon's manager Jeff Duncan and Joe's sworn nemesis Carole Baskin, 59 Sad birthday: He also made mention of his late husband Travis Maldonado, who died in 2017: 'Come March 22nd for Travis's Birthday I am going to keep his promise I made the day he died. I don't need the fame, the money or the bulls***, you can have it all...' In response: Dillon took to Instagram with a lengthy statement in response, which he posted with a photo of himself and his dogs The former zoo operator wrote in another tweet: '...It's pretty sad to be in prison and still mean f***ing nothing that ya can't even answer a phone. I see where I stand. #justiceforjoeexotic #tigerking' Dillon took to Instagram with a lengthy statement in response, which he posted with a photo of himself and his dogs. He wrote: 'I wanted to get a post up to address Joe's recent activity on social media. He and I, like everyone in any relationship, go through their ups and downs. This is magnified by the fact that our relationship is very public and the fact that one of his only outlets is social media. 'Unfortunately it isn't the healthiest place to deal with personal affairs and not how I normally handle my relationship challenges. Joe is obviously having a difficult time in prison and I don't think any of us can fault him for that. I've never spoken poorly of Joe, through the ups and the downs and through his good and his bad. I see through all of this and recognize and realize it for what it is; a man in prison just trying to do his best.' The Florida bartender added: 'The presidential pardon we were all waiting for never came and our hopes were dashed. I remain in support of Joe and want to be there for him. At 25, I also need to make sure I'm healthy, both body and mind. I know even though Joe may rant, he wants the best for me as I do for him. I am certain he wants me to lead a full life as all of you do for the people you love. Wedding bells: Dillon and Joe tied the knot in December of 2017, just two months after Travis died at 23 years old of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound Three's company: Joe was in a polyamorous relationship with Travis and John Finlay, 36, at the time they had an unofficial three-partner wedding in 2015, before he and Finlay had a falling out 'Social media is not natural to me and if I'm quiet it's usually because I'm working through all of this and processing to the best of my ability. I didn't and don't want the spotlight. I've been thrown into this and just doing my best to support Joe, live my life, and love my dogs.' He concluded: 'Be gentle to people on social; you never know the challenges they are dealing with and the hardships they carry. There is always a hidden struggle for all of us.' Dillon and Joe tied the knot in December of 2017, just two months after Travis died at 23 years old of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. Joe was in a polyamorous relationship with Travis and John Finlay, 36, at the time they had an unofficial three-partner wedding in 2015, before he and Finlay had a falling out. He was arrested in September of 2018 and later convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill Baskin. The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort. Behind bars: He was arrested in September of 2018 and later convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill Baskin Presidential pardon: The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort (pictured in August, 2013) Legal action: He most recently hired a new legal team Phillips & Hunt, who previously represented the family of Baskin's missing husband Don Lewis, as they plan to use unaired Tiger King footage to push for a new trial He most recently hired a new legal team, as they plan to use unaired Tiger King footage to push for a new trial. Attorney John Phillips of Phillips & Hunt, who previously represented the family of Baskin's missing husband Don Lewis, made the announcement in a video on Joe's Twitter. He said: 'We are honored to announce that Joe has retained our firm. We're going to seek a new trial, and justice in the criminal and civil courts.' Joe has also promised some juicy secrets in Tiger King: The Official Tell-All Memoir, which is set to set to be published in November. He told E! News of the book: 'It's going to be a truth-tell book... Everybody that's ever done anything good, it's going to be in there and anybody that's got bones in your closet, you better look out.' The shomrim, a nonprofit organization, is staffed by unarmed ultra-Orthodox Jewish volunteers and functions as a kind of auxiliary police force in the area, where it is viewed as a source of local pride. Sister patrols exist in other Brooklyn neighborhoods with large ultra-Orthodox populations, including Crown Heights and Williamsburg. Today, the patrol keeps a close eye on anti-Semitic attacks, which have become a pressing concern again in recent years, particularly those targeting ultra-Orthodox Jews. It has also evolved to handle tasks like crowd control, searching for missing persons and providing security at weddings, religious services and other events. The Borough Park patrol enjoys a close relationship with law enforcement authorities and elected officials, who have helped steer public money its way to help pay for equipment. In 2012, the City Council distributed money to the group for a $300,000 mobile command center that included a 12-person conference room and advanced communications technology. Some shomrim members have been accused of showing more interest in breaking the law than upholding it. In 2016, two men linked to the Williamsburg patrol pleaded guilty to assaulting a Black man in the neighborhood. A Borough Park shomrim member was arrested the same year on federal charges of trying to bribe police officers in exchange for handgun permits. He later pleaded guilty. In a 2016 interview, Mr. Daskal dismissed the episodes as the work of a few bad apples. Its a very sad reality in our community that you have many people dedicated to helping and a small minority of critics on the sidelines questioning our motives, he said. Its always the good ones who get criticized. Community leaders said on Thursday that they believed the shomrim had removed Mr. Daskal from his leadership position after the initial allegations, but his current role was not immediately clear. A prosecutor said in court that she did not believe Mr. Daskal was still involved with the patrol. Two Hasidic men who live on Mr. Daskals block said on Thursday that they he believed he was innocent. The mayor earned a few nice headlines for TALK of getting tough on illegal street racing. However, behind the scenes, concern about 'equity' in terms of enforcement has delayed any new legislative action. To be fair, it's still pretty illegal to block streets and drive recklessly in order to garner social media status and po-po seem to be pushing back against cowtown Internets celebrities. Read more . . . Bill Lyons, the longtime owner of two storied downtown restaurants Casa Rio on the River Walk and the street-level delicatessen Schilos isnt retiring anytime soon. He said he still finds his employees a joy to work with. And he still enjoys greeting regulars at his restaurants, which he has owned for more than four decades. Its fun being here and being part of downtown and the city, said Lyons, 82. I have been blessed. On ExpressNews.com: Flux: River Walk food and drink king is optimistic about future Casa Rio, one of the first restaurants on the River Walk, dates back to 1946. His grandfather, Alfred Beyer, opened the eatery in his late 50s, after his San Antonio appliance store began losing customers to big department stores. He opened the restaurant in desperation, to find something that worked, Lyons said. The appliance business was being taken over by the big guys, Montgomery Ward and Sears. He was just a little independent guy, and the handwriting was on the wall. Beyers former appliance store on East Commerce Street now houses Casa Rios party rooms. The main restaurant sits on the River Walk. Lyons other restaurant, German delicatessen Schilos, is next door to Casa Rio. Schilos is the oldest operating restaurant in San Antonio, dating back to 1917. The restaurant has been in its East Commerce Street location since 1942. Lyons purchased it in 1980. Lyons took over Casa Rio in 1977 after the death of his father, Bill, who had taken over the restaurant from Beyer, his father-in-law, in 1972. Billy Calzada, Staff / Staff Photographer In addition to the restaurant, Beyer started another River Walk tradition: shuttling tourists on the San Antonio River. He began with canoes, gondolas and paddle boats but eventually traded them in for barges. Lyons continued in the business until 1995. Lyons said the restaurants have been going strong for years. However, over the past several decades, tourists and conventioneers have largely replaced downtown workers in the dining rooms as numerous companies moved their offices from the inner city to the suburbs. Lyons said hed been fine relying on out-of-towners for his business at least until the pandemic hit a year ago. Business slowed last year, of course, as COVID-19 choked off the convention business and severely reduced the number of tourists on the River Walk. Yet Lyons is optimistic about the future. He spoke recently with the Express-News about his business successes and more recent struggles. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and length. Q: After your fathers death in 1977 you took over Casa Rio. Did you have experience in the restaurant business? What changes did you make? A: I was in the food business but not the restaurant business. I was a manufacturers representative representing national food companies, helping them get shelf space in local supermarkets. I enjoyed what I was doing (at Casa Rio), but I had never worked in the restaurant business. I did not change things. We had good people. My dad and grandfather just knew how to develop individuals to be responsible and trustworthy, so, no, I did not make a bunch of changes. We were doing well at Casa Rio. I tried to be more like Lee Iacocca and pat everyone on the back. The restaurant business is horrible you work when everyone else plays. We have had a wonderful management staff. We pay them well. We give them a lot of responsibility. And that works better. Im not really a restaurateur. I am really just a good business owner. Billy Calzada /Staff photographer Q: In 1980, three years after you took over Casa Rio, you purchased Schilos next door. Why did you purchase a second restaurant? A: The owners were having financial problems. It was just a very interesting place and such a San Antonio tradition, and we just wanted to see that carried on. Plus the conveniences of being right next door to Casa Rio. We used the same dumpster and loading dock. It was logical for us to take it. They had tried a bunch of things that werent working. They were doing steaks and mixed drinks, and just delaying that business lunch crowd from getting back to work. Somebody ordered something that took a lot longer than it should. And so we got in there, we just got rid of those things. We got rid of the deep fat fryer, the steaks and the mixed drinks. It just went back to where we can really get that lunch out to the businesspeople in a timely manner. That was the main transition when we got in. Q: What makes you proud about being a restaurant owner? A: We got what is the original Mexican food place in San Antonio at Casa Rio. Our Regular Plate, which we have served since 1946, is rice, beans, chili, enchiladas and tamales. That has been our main plate throughout the course of our history. We want to represent San Antonio and maintain its history with what we serve. One of the basic items is the chili con carne made with chili meat, which supposedly originated in San Antonio. The longhorn cattle, which are prevalent in this area, are not very good beef. So to make it more palatable, we boil the hell out of it and put a whole bunch of spices in it. We have tried to keep that chili item the way it was back in the 1800s. On ExpressNews.com: Many visitors go without masks on the River Walk Q: Do you have a lot of longtime employees? A: Weve had one employee that worked here for 60 years. Our longest-term employee now is a person whos been here for 43 years. A number of employees have also worked here 20 to 30 years. We treat our employees well. We have a great, full fringe-benefit program. Weve got a health insurance program that includes medical, vision and dental. So many of our employees are Hispanic and Catholic, and so their family and Christian holidays are very important. So we close Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. We just try to let our employees have a quality of life by balancing work, family, church and recreation. We also take care of our managers. We try not to work our managers over a 40-hour week so they can have the time they need with their family. Theres a lot of restaurants that just work those poor salaried managers 60 or 70 hours a week. Q: How did COVID-19 affect your operations? A: We have had to really economize and keep our overhead low. Weve got half our normal staff at Casa Rio. We normally employ about 175 people there, and we are at 90 right now. Weve had to cut our menu back, cut our hours back and shut down a couple of days to try to keep our heads above water financially. We are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays now. At Schilos, we normally employ 32 or 33 people, but we have about 17 employees. So less business makes you tighten your belt. Business is running 40 percent below normal at both restaurants. We got around $1 million in PPP loans, and without them we would have been closed. We would have closed because I was not going to drain all of my personal assets to keep the businesses running. Q: As people get vaccinated, do you feel the situation will improve? A: We are a resilient society. I think we will bounce back, but I think it is going to be very slow. As long as there are some cases, I think people are going to be somewhat reluctant to move around like they used to. It is going to take a while for the conventions to come back. They usually plan way ahead, but I think they are going to want to come back because conventions were the big fundraiser for the organizations. So I think they are going to try to get those back in action as soon as they feel it is reasonably safe. COVID-19 will continue for a period of time because we keep on hearing about new strains. Then it starts to get better, but then someone pulls the plug again, whether that be the governor or the mayor, and they scare everyone again in the end. randy.diamond@express-news.net A photographer has revealed the 'best' spot in Sydney to watch the sunset, and it boasts direct and unparalleled views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Circular Quay. Jeffrey Street Wharf, in the Lower North Shore suburb of Kirribilli, has long been a favourite spot for locals to enjoy a picnic, party, proposal or barbecue. Now, Sydney photographer Andrew Zhao has named it the 'best spot in Sydney' to watch the sun slip down. Scroll down for video A photographer has revealed the 'best' spot in Sydney to watch the sunset, and it boasts direct and unparalleled views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Circular Quay (pictured) Jeffrey Street Wharf (pictured), in the Lower North Shore suburb of Kirribilli, has long been a favourite spot for locals to enjoy a picnic, proposal or barbecue Stunning photos snapped by visitors show the bridge and city skyline contrasting with the candy floss skies (pictured) Andrew captured Jeffrey Street Wharf in a TikTok video where he showed the dusk views off in a pink/orange light. Many who saw the clip said they had never considered visiting Kirribilli for sunset, while others said they already have it down as their 'favourite sundowner location'. Stunning photos snapped by visitors show the bridge and city skyline contrasting with the candy floss skies. The spot is popular on days like Australia Day and New Year's Eve, when revellers line the foreshore to celebrate. Andrew captured Jeffrey Street Wharf in a TikTok video where he showed the dusk views off in a pink/orange light (pictured) Jeffrey Street Wharf and Jeffrey Street itself are notable for a number of reasons. One of these is the fact that there are 19 heritage listed properties along the street, one of the highest concentrations in Australia. There is also a row of 17 terrace houses that have remained virtually unchanged for over 100 years. This is the longest row remaining on Sydney's North Shore and the second longest row in Australia. Reviews on Tripadvisor for Jeffrey Street are glowing, where many have described it as 'breathtaking' for views (pictured) Reviews on Tripadvisor for Jeffrey Street are glowing, where many have described it as 'breathtaking'. 'This is the best view of Sydney and for that ultimate shot with Sydney Opera House in the background and the magnificence of the Harbour Bridge, this is not beaten,' one recent reviewer said. Another added: 'This is a lovely area for getting some of the best views of Sydney Harbour. 'There is a small park where you can have a seat and just sit back, absorb the fresh air and totally enjoy the view, practically right underneath the Harbour Bridge. 'The Opera House is right in front of you, not too far away, just across the other side of the water. Luna Park is next door.' The second president of Armenia suspects that the current authorities had intentionally prevented his planned visit to Moscowduring the recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) warto meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Robert Kocharyan stated about this at Thursdays press conference for Russian media, Sputnik-Armenia reports. "In fact, this was a very dark story; the story related to my [coronavirus] test. I will tell about it one day; but only after the change of power. I do not want to put people in a bad situation who told me the details of that story. The thing is that I later gave an antibody test, the result of which was negative," Kocharyan said. Given this, he has reasonable doubts that in fact, he was simply not allowed to go to Russia. Kocharyan added that he did not have direct contacts with the Russian president during the war, but had the opportunity to convey to the Russian leadership his views and position on the situation. At the end of last October, it became known that the Armenian investigative body had returned Kocharyan his passport, as he was to go to Russia to discuss the issues of organizing aid during the war. However, it was later reported that Kocharyan's visit to Moscow was canceled because he had tested positive for COVID-19. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below 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 Mariano Regidor/RedfernsGhost has released a video for "Life Eternal," the closing track off the band's latest album, 2018's Prequelle. The clip, which is streaming now on YouTube, arrives on the one-year anniversary of Ghost's last show on the Prequelle tour: March 3, 2020, at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City. Of course, that would also turn out to be the last Ghost show before the touring industry shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the video, you get glimpses of Tobias Forge and his Nameless Ghoul band mates preparing for the show, as well as shots of fans pumped for the concert. A fun game is to try and count how many fans in the crowd you see throwing up metal horns. Also during the Mexico City show, Forge introduced his new character, Papa Emeritus IV, who will be taking the place of Cardinal Copia for the next Ghost album. By Josh Johnson Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. TORONTO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Nickel Institute has elected as Chairperson Tina Litzinger, Vice President, Marketing, Sherritt International Corporation. Her appointment is for a one-year term, renewable for a second year. Ms. Litzinger succeeds Dan Chandler who has left the nickel industry. Tina Litzinger is currently responsible for Sherritt International Corporation's joint venture and wholly-owned sales and marketing teams for sales of commodity nickel, cobalt and fertilizer by-products. She is also Vice Chair of the Cobalt Institute, a member of the London Metal Exchange Cobalt committee as well as a member of Women in Mining Canada and the Institute of Corporate Directors. Nickel Institute President, Dr. Hudson Bates thanked Dan Chandler for his many years' contribution to the Nickel Institute. Welcoming Tina Litzinger to the Chairperson role he said, "We are delighted that the Nickel Institute will be led by a nickel industry professional of Tina's calibre. With more than twenty years' experience in the nickel industry and several years as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Nickel Institute, Tina has a proven track record. The staff and I look forward to working more closely with her to promote and support the proper use of nickel in appropriate applications." Tina Litzinger said, "I am honoured by the appointment. As the spotlight on nickel shines brighter given its integral role in the growing electric vehicle market, I look forward to leading the Institute's efforts in advocating for the effective use of nickel and educating various stakeholders on the industry's responsible and sustainable production practices. As well, as the first female chairperson of the Nickel Institute Board of Directors, I hope to influence increased diversity and inclusion within the industry's member companies, as can be seen in the makeup of the Institute itself." About Nickel Institute Nickel Institute is the global association of leading primary nickel producers. Our mission is to promote and support the proper use of nickel in appropriate applications. NI grows and supports markets for new and existing nickel applications including stainless steel; and promotes sound science, risk management, and socio-economic benefit as the basis for public policy and regulation. Through our science division NiPERA Inc. (https://nipera.org/), we also undertake leading edge scientific research relevant to human health and the environment. NI is the centre of excellence for information on nickel and nickel-containing materials and has offices in Asia, Europe and North America. www.nickelinstitute.org About Sherritt International Corporation Sherritt International Corporation is a world leader in the mining and refining of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores with projects and operations in Canada and Cuba. The Corporation is the largest independent energy producer in Cuba, with extensive oil and power operations across the island. Sherritt licenses its proprietary technologies and provides metallurgical services to mining and refining operations worldwide. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "S". Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449892/Tina_Litzinger_Nickel_Institute.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1020738/Nickel_Institute_Logo.jpg Minister-designate of Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen could be delivering the 2021 government budget statement in Parliament on 12 March, sources at the Office of the President have told Asaase News. Popularly known as Alan Cash, the minister-designate is expected to be sworn into office soon by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Traditionally, it is the Minister for Finance who does the presentation of the annual budget statement on behalf of the government, however, Ken Ofori-Atta, who is the presidents representative at the ministry is yet to be vetted by Parliaments Appointments Committee due to ill-health. Ofori-Atta is currently in Minnesota, USA, undergoing treatment for post-COVID-19 complications. Longer stay in USA Information available to Asaase News indicate that Ofori-Atta is responding to treatment. However, his doctors have requested to observe his recovery for another two weeks. Our source also confirmed Ofori-Atta has been participating and contributing virtually in all the ongoing preparatory work ahead of the budget presentation to Parliament. Ahead of the budget presentation, Cabinet will meet to finalise it. Ofori-Atta left Ghana for the United States on Sunday 14 February 2021. The Ministry of Finance in a press statement explained that he was traveling for treatment following complications after recovering from COVID-19. He recovered from the virus last December and has since had some medical complications. After recovering from COVID-19 last December, Ofori-Atta has had medical complications which doctors advise, require further interventions not currently available in Ghana, the statement from the Ministry said. He was expected to be vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday 8 March 2021. In light of his unavailability in the country, the date for his vetting is certainly going to be rescheduled. Source: asaaseradio Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Upgrade of the Theraxium Platform with the integration of the Zendesk software suite to power state-of-the-art global customer support services Highly personalized support provided for patients and healthcare professionals using Voluntis' digital therapeutics Improved scalability of Voluntis' operations by supporting the commercial rollout of the growing number of solutions co-developed with life sciences partners in new geographies Regulatory News: Voluntis (Paris:ALVTX) (Euronext Growth Paris, Ticker: ALVTX ISIN: FR0004183960)a leader in digital therapeutics, today announces the upgrade of its global customer support infrastructure in collaboration with customer service software company Zendesk. Thanks to the new collaboration, Voluntis will leverage Zendesk's capabilities to integrate and streamline the support services it provides for its pharma partners as part of the commercialization of co-developed digital therapeutics and in full compliance with applicable regulations. The new support infrastructure will notably ensure a better coordination of all activities related to support and maintenance of its digital therapeutics thanks to user assistance services including technical support, complaint handling and device vigilance services regrouped under a unified platform. It will also offer new abilities to enhance self-service and omni-channel support options for patients and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, new data-driven capabilities for fostering continuous product and process improvement have been integrated into the platform. The new service infrastructure is designed to be compliant with HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 standards, in line with Voluntis's global compliance and quality policies. "We are glad to offer state-of-the-art global support capabilities to our life sciences partners in conjunction with the operation of our digital therapeutics" said Pierre Leurent, Chief Executive Officer, Voluntis. "Thanks to our collaboration with Zendesk, an industry leader in the field of customer service, we look forward to delivering optimal treatment experiences to patients and their care teams around the world". Next meeting: publication of the 2020 annual results on March 30, 2021, after the close of trading. About Voluntis Voluntis creates digital therapeutics that empower people with chronic conditions to self-manage their treatment every day, thus improving real-world outcomes. Voluntis' solutions, combining mobile and web apps, use clinical algorithms to deliver personalized recommendations to patients and their care teams. For example, these recommendations are used to adjust treatment dosage, manage side effects or monitor symptoms. Leveraging its Theraxium technology platform, Voluntis has designed and operates multiple digital therapeutics, especially in oncology and diabetes. Voluntis has long-standing partnerships with leading life science companies. Based in Cambridge, MA, and Paris, France, Voluntis is a founding member of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance. For more information, please visit: www.voluntis.com Mnemo: ALVTX ISIN: FR0004183960 Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Voluntis group and its business, including its prospects and product candidate development. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Voluntis considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the 2019 annual financial report and the 2020 half-year financial report published by Voluntis respectively on April 30, 2020 and September 29, 2020 (a copy of which is available on www.voluntis.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Voluntis operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Voluntis or not currently considered material by Voluntis. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Voluntis to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. Voluntis expressly declines any obligation to update such forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005486/en/ Contacts: ACTUS Media Relations Vivien Ferran vferran@actus.fr +33 (0)1 53 67 36 34 ACTUS Investor Relations Jerome Fabreguettes-Leib voluntis@actus.fr +33 (0)1 53 67 36 78 Voluntis Chief Financial Officer Guillaume Floch investisseurs@voluntis.com +33 (0)1 41 38 39 20 BERLIN European authorities will offer a coronavirus vaccine to every adult in an Austrian district battered by a surge in infections to determine how effective the inoculation is against the variant first found in South Africa. Starting next week, everyone aged 16 and older living in the Schwaz district, near the western Austrian city of Innsbruck, will be eligible for free shots of the vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech, as part of the unique drive to learn more about fighting the variant. The study in Austria is part of a much broader global effort to answer a crucial question as the virus mutates and new variants emerge: Do vaccinations designed last year work against more recent mutations? If not, scientists will have to keep developing new versions of the inoculations. Laboratory studies have shown that some vaccines that work well against earlier variants are less effective though they still offer significant protection against the variant known as B.1.351, which was first found in South Africa in December and has become the dominant one there. GOVERNMENT received a total of $7.37 billion from oil, gas and quarrying/mining companies in fiscal 2018, with the largest payment of $2 billion coming from majority State-owned National Gas Company (NGC). However, for the period 2019 to 2020, unaudited figures indicate a declining trend in revenue. A court in Iran has ordered the dissolution of a prominent Iranian NGO that fights poverty. Imam Ali's Popular Students Relief Society (IAPSRS) announced the court decision on Twitter on March 3 without providing details, including whether it plans on appealing the ruling. The decision came after Iran's Interior Ministry filed a complaint against the NGO and called on the judiciary to order its dissolution, a move that Human Rights Watch (HRW) said "fits a broader pattern of repression faced by civil society, but with the targeting of IAPSRS, authorities are now even shuttering groups that have been officially registered with the government." The NGO has come under increasing pressure from the authorities, who last year arrested the group's founder, Sharmin Meymandinejad, and two other members, including the media-relations director. Meymandinejad was charged with "insulting the [supreme] leader and founder of the Islamic republic," HRW reported. He was released on bail in October 2020. His health had reportedly deteriorated in jail, where he was held in solitary confinement. Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said last year that she was alarmed by the Iranian government's increased pressure on IAPSRS. "For over 20 years this NGO has provided crucial support to marginalized sections of Irans society, in particular vulnerable children," Bachelet said in a July 2020 statement. "Children's lives will be at stake if the authorities proceed to force their hand over how it is managed, and lock up their staff." The hard-line Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), had accused Meymandinejad, whom it identified only by his initials, of contacts with "anti-Iran centers outside the country" under the cover of a charity group. The IRGC has in recent months arrested dual nationals, environmentalists, and others on charges of espionage that have been widely dismissed by critics and civil rights activists as baseless. Hard-liners have in recent years criticized the charity and accused it of being misused for political purposes and damaging the Islamic republic by highlighting problems, as well as working with foreign countries and international bodies. The charity organizes university students and other volunteers to help the poor and others in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda and AP The narratives of leapfrogging to new technologies are pervasive when it comes to development in Africa. One example is skipping cord phones and landlines to advance directly from limited phone coverage to wide mobile phone usage. Another thats frequently discussed is Africas potential for a quick transition to renewable energy. This is important both from a climate change and an economic development perspective. Providing affordable clean energy is big on the UN Sustainable Development Agenda (Goal 7). Several drivers could prepare the way to Africas energy transition. Renewables are becoming increasingly competitive, with their costs rapidly declining both globally and in Africa. The prices of batteries to balance intermittent supply from renewables are also declining steeply. The average market price of lithium-ion battery packs has fallen to US$137 per kWh installed in 2020. This is a 89 per cent decline since 2010. This downward trend in technology costs is coupled with Africas renewable energy abundance. The continent has 40 per cent of the worlds solar resources. And renewables are flexible in scale. For example, solar can power both industrial demand at a gigawatt scale as well as a small mini-grid in a remote village. But our recently published study shows that, within this decade, there is currently limited evidence for a quick transition to renewables in Africa. Though the study predicts overall generation to more than double, solar and wind are likely to account for less than 10 per cent of the electricity mix in 2030. According to our estimates, the share of generation based on fossil fuels, especially natural gas, will decline only slightly. These results were predicted by a machine-learning model we built using a state-of-the-art algorithm for predictive analytics. First, we trained the model to examine drivers behind the successful commissioning of past projects. Then, we applied the model to a pipeline of 2,500 planned power plants across 54 African countries to estimate whether these planned plants would be successfully realised. What drives successful power plant commissioning Our analysis examined the importance of different project characteristics and country-level development indicators for the successful realisation of power plants. We found that the factors relating to project design are especially pertinent. For instance, smaller project sizes, government or well-designed independent power producer (IPP) ownership structure, and the participation of development finance institutions all have a positive effect on a project. Technology type also plays an important role. For example, gas and oil power plants have historically had better success chances than most renewable energy projects, with the exception of more recent solar power plants. Countries favourable governance and socio-economic outcomes may also help but appear to be of relatively lower importance. Our research highlighted large and critical regional as well as national variations. First, there were significant geographical disparities in the chances of successful commissioning of planned projects. Some countries and regions are planning generation projects that combine more of the success factors mentioned above than others. We predict 91 per cent of the planned capacity in North Africa will be successfully commissioned. This decreases to 78%, 76% and 71% for Southern, West and East Africa, respectively, and drops to only 52% for Central Africa. Such differences can similarly be strong within a region. For instance, in East Africa, the pipelines in Madagascar and South Sudan are predicted to have a success chance of below 30 per cent. Ethiopias pipeline on the other hand, which comprises a large share of East Africas planned capacity, has a predicted success rate of 85%. Second, there are spatial differences in the share of non-hydro renewables in the generation mix. For example, while non-hydro renewables are predicted to account for 3% and 6% in all newly added generation in Central and West Africa, respectively, this number increases to 19% and 25% in Southern and East Africa. ADVERTISEMENT Third, the predicted pace of the transition to renewables might also vary by country. South Africa is a notable example. Traditionally heavily reliant on fossil fuels, the country is predicted to account for roughly 40 per cent of all new solar generation commissioned on the continent by 2030, aided by its Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme. Economic risks and benefits The results of our study suggest that as things currently stand, a significant number of African countries might not make a decisive leap to renewables this decade. This implies that countries might lock their economies into a future of relatively carbon-intensive power generation. Power stations usually operate for decades, locking in capital. This makes the switch from fossil-fuel plants, once built, more challenging and costly than to attract investments into new renewable energy projects. In view of the cost reductions of clean technologies, continued investments in fossil-fuel plants face risks of asset stranding. This is when assets can no longer earn a return, given market and regulatory changes brought about by the climate change agenda. Therefore, it seems worth closely considering the economic rationale for relying on fossil-fuel-based generation, paying close attention to country-specific endowments and development needs. If clean energy is to power Africas growing energy demand, considerably more renewable energy projects will have to be planned and their success chances should be improved. The shooting happened about 10 a.m. April 10, 2019, in the 600 block of North St. Louis Avenue, near Ohio Street, leaving two older teens dead and a 29-year-old man in Stroger Hospital with critical injuries, as well as an 18-year-old shot in the chest. Larryon Brown, charged as an adult, was ordered held without bail in a hearing Thursday, said Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County states attorneys office. [March 04, 2021] Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services Industry | Discover, Track, Compare, Evaluate Companies on BizVibe NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has expanded the number of companies which can now be discovered and tracked for their management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry group. Discover 190,000+ management, scientific, and technical consulting services company profiles on BizVibe. 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Track the latest news of all your followed companies including: Financial News M&A Partnerships Product/Service Launches Management Moves Compliance and Legal News Professional Services Industry Companies The management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry group is a part of BizVibe's professional, scientific, and technical services industry. There are nine industry groups in total. Discover companies for related industry groups: Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services Computer Systems Design Services Specialized Design Services Legal Services Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services View all professional, scientific, and technical services categories BizVibe for Buyers and Sellers BizVibe is the modern B2B platform dedicated to connecting global buyers and sellers. Powered by the latest best-in-class solutions, BizVibe provides outstanding product features for both category managers and sales professionals. 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Contact BizVibe Jesse Maida Email: jesse@bizvibe.com +1 855-897-5880 Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/management-scientific-and-technical-consulting-services-industry--discover-track-compare-evaluate-companies-on-bizvibe-301240313.html SOURCE BizVibe [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is under criticism for her extravagant lifestyle, after several photos of her wearing expensive clothing and accessories surfaced on social media. The photos show Bun Rany, who is president of the Cambodian Red Cross, wearing an expensive dress, a Versace T-shirt, a Hermes belt, and several luxurious watches. Criticism of Hun Sen and his family for their alleged corruption has been ongoing in recent years. RFA reported in July that the Prime Minister had been drawing attention for his taste in watches that cost more than a million U.S. dollars. As part of a family that rules a country where some hardly have enough food to eat, critics say Bun Rany is drawing the ire of citizens by showing off her lavish lifestyle. They suspect the familys fortune comes from corruption and the embezzlement of national wealth. Sadat Samarthy, a Cambodian of the Cham ethnic minority who fled persecution to Malaysia, told RFAs Khmer Service that the photos are a clear example of the familys indifference to the plight of the Cambodian poor, many of whom have lost their jobs or are going abroad to find work. The Cambodian leaders dont pay attention to the people. They are using expensive things and dont consider the people who are living in miserable situations, Sadat Samarthy said, adding, Arent they unsuitable to be leaders or parents? This is a question that citizens should consider. Prumh Soprek, a villager from Siem Reap province in the countrys northwest, told RFA that the cost of the lavish goods flaunted by Bun Rany does not match her official salary. They should not show off or be so materialistic, he said. Look at the poor people [in Cambodia]. Do poor people have enough food for the day? If they are good leaders, our leaders should spend money on their own people. He urged the prime minister and his wife to donate large sums of money to help alleviate the suffering of the people due to the COVID-19 crisis instead of wasting so much money on themselves. An undated photo, published Feb. 25, 2021 on Facebook, shows Cambodian First Lady Bun Rany wearing luxury clothing and accessories. Photo: Facebook account of Bun Rany's close aide Government denial Sok Ey San, a spokesman for the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, told RFA that people who oppose and criticize the party are merely jealous. He pointed out that Cambodia has an Anti-Corruption Unit in place to monitor and investigate irregularities in the declaration of assets of civil servants twice each year. He said that Bun Ranys accusers lack evidence. Please find the evidence to show corruption. What is the corruption about? What has been stolen? What has been robbed? What has been sold and for how much money? If they can present this to the courts, the courts will investigate, he said. Meanwhile, Kim Sok, a political analyst currently living in exile in Finland, told RFA it is common for the family members of dictatorial leaders worldwide to lead extravagant lives while their people face poverty. When a dictatorfor example, Hun Senhas a multi-million-dollar watch, and his family shows off their expensive villas in front of the Cambodian people who are suffering, and the government cannot find a way to solve the issue, it means the government does not care about the people, he said. He added that Cambodias Anti-Corruption Unit lacks the courage to open an investigation into Hun Sens family because the governments institutions only strengthen the familys power. RFA attempted to contact officials of the Anti-Corruption Unit to discuss Bun Ranys photos but were not successful. Luxury watch scandals, often sparked by photographs of leaders wearing pricey timepieces that then set off internet sleuthing campaigns, have dogged politicians in China, Thailand, and Russia in recent years. As prime minister, [Hun Sen] has presided over a kleptocratic system of state looting that has involved the forced and violent eviction of Cambodians to free up land for tycoon-dominated industries like logging, mining, and agribusiness, the environmental and human rights watchdog Global Witness said in a July 20, 2018 report. The resulting impoverishment of ordinary Cambodians has [made] a small, corrupt elite vastly wealthy, Global Witness said. An investigative series by RFA examining the overseas real estate holdings of Cambodias ruling elite has turned up properties worth $30 million. In 2016 alone, at least $1.8 billion was laundered out of Cambodia, according to an analysis by U.S. think tank Global Financial Integrity. Cambodia ranked 162 out of 198 countries, close to the bottom, in Transparency Internationals 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. RTHK: Seven hurt in suspected terrorist attack in Sweden Swedish police are investigating a possible terror incident after a man stabbed and injured at least seven people in the city of Vetlanda. A police statement early on Thursday revised the number of injured in the attack to seven from eight but did not give further details. The suspect, who is in his twenties, was taken to hospital after being shot in the leg by police following the mid-afternoon attack on Wednesday in the southern city of 13,000 inhabitants. Police said the man had used a "sharp weapon", while local media reported that he had brandished a knife. Police initially treated the incident as "attempted murder" but later changed it in a statement to include a "suspected terrorist crime," without giving further details. Three of those attacked were said to have suffered life-threatening injuries, while two others were in serious condition, according to information coming out of the hospital in Jonkoping where they were being treated. Speaking at a press conference, regional police chief Malena Grann later clarified that a preliminary investigation was still under the designation "attempted murder", but details had emerged that meant they were also looking into "potential terror motives". "There are details in the investigation that have led us to investigate whether there was a terror motive," Grann said, without giving details. Grann added the police was working closely with the Swedish intelligence service Sapo. The suspect was a resident of the area and previously known to police, but in the past had only been suspected of "petty crimes".Police did not specify if he was a Swedish citizen. The extent of his injuries were also unknown but police said they believed they would be able question him. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven condemned the "horrific violence" in a statement published on his Facebook page. "We face these despicable actions with the combined force of the community," Lofven said. "We are reminded of how frail our safe existence is," Lofven added, encouraging people to have the victims in their thoughts, as well as health workers and police tending to wounded and working to restore peace. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. [March 04, 2021] BitGo Receives NY Trust Charter from the New York State Department of Financial Services BitGo, the leader in digital asset financial services, today announced that it has obtained a New York Trust license to operate as an independent, regulated qualified custodian under New York State Banking Law. The charter was issued by The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) enabling BitGo to provide custodial services for New York clients, who are seeking to secure large amounts of digital assets with the highest level of security, regulatory oversight and operational efficiency. "We are extremely proud to receive the approval for a trust charter from NYDFS to serve the world's premier financial organizations that are based in New York State," said Mike Belshe, CEO, BitGo. "The past year has been exceptional for BitGo and the digital asset markets overall, primarily due to the influx of large financial services institutions that bring a new level of credibility, liquidity and stability to the crypto ecosystem. Our new charter is an important milestone to serve these clients within New York State's regulatory framework," says Pete Najarian, Chief Revenue Officer, BitGo. BitGo Trust Company is a leading qualified custodian for digital assets regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking. New York-based financial institutions are critical for the accelerated adoption and acceptance of digital assets and BitGo has received tremendous interest from institutional investors in the State for its products and services from banks, pension funds, hedge funds and other fiduciaries. In 2018, BitGo Trust Company became the first qualified custodian purpose-built for storing digital assets through the South Dakota Division of Banking. Built on BitGo's pioneering, battle-tested, mlti-signature protocols, BitGo Custody delivers modern security for modern assets. BitGo Custody offerings provide strict policies, procedures, controls, and disclosures that are only guaranteed with a qualified custodian. BitGo New York Trust will offer: Regulatory oversight from one of the preeminent state regulators (NYSDFS) KYC/AML compliance controls Independently verified system controls (SOC 2 Type 2) Offline "Cold" storage of cryptographic keys in bank-grade Class III vaults Most transparent and comprehensive insurance coverage on the market today up to $100M in digital assets Ability to purchase Excess Specie Coverage Depth and breadth of cryptocurrency experience Multi-Signature cryptographic technology Fast onboarding 24/7 support BitGo pioneered multi-signature security in 2013 and, since then, has become an industry standard for security of digital wallets. Multi-signature is an open source protocol, and has been subject to thorough testing and evaluation by the security community. Multi-signature makes use of distinct private keys specifically assigned to individuals for increased accountability, transparency and security not available through other technologies. About BitGo BitGo is the leader in digital asset financial services, providing institutional investors with liquidity, custody, and security solutions. In 2020, BitGo launched Prime Trading and Lending, as well as BitGo Portfolio and Tax, providing clients with a full-stack solution for digital assets. In 2018, it launched BitGo Trust Company, the first qualified custodian purpose-built for storing digital assets. BitGo processes over 20% of all global Bitcoin transactions, and supports over 400 coins and tokens. BitGo's customer base includes the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges and institutional investors and spans more than 50 countries. BitGo is backed by Goldman Sachs, Craft Ventures, Digital Currency Group, DRW, Galaxy Digital Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, and Valor Equity Partners. For more information, please visit https://bitgo.com Disclaimer The information in this press release is not an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any investment or for the provision of any investment management or advisory services. Custody services are offered through BitGo Trust Company, a South Dakota chartered trust company and BitGo New York Trust. BitGo is not registered with the SEC (News - Alert) as an investment advisor or custodian, and does not offer legal, tax, investment, or other advice. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. BitGo Trust Company, , and BitGo Prime LLC are separately operated, wholly-owned subsidiaries of BitGo Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert) , CA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005299/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] TOKYO, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Japanese alternative meat company Next Meats Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, CEO: Hideyuki Sasaki) just announced the launch of the "Next Meats Accelerator Program," which proposes and serves as a platform to conduct worldwide open innovation among the players in the alternative protein industry as well as all individuals and companies who are serious about tackling the climate crisis problem. This accelerator program aims to unite researchers, experts of all walks of businesses, and companies in and outside the alternative protein industry who are serious about counteracting climate change, and together cultivate worldwide business opportunities that benefit the planet and everyone involved. The program will be held simultaneously in Japanese, English, and Chinese. Next Meats believes that the fight against climate change can be much more effective and swift if skilled, passionate entities came together and combined their technologies, expertise, network, and various other resources. In order to address the urgency of the climate crisis facing humanity on a global scale, Next Meats believes that we must cooperate and rapidly co-create our future, rather than compete amongst one another for profitability, small market shares, and minimal environmental impact. This is why the Next Meats Accelerator Program was launched. Application Overview Seeking: All companies, researchers, and experienced individuals who take climate action seriously and are interested in developing cutting-edge, never before seen alternative meat products and environmental solutions with us and participating global companies. Industry: Food-tech, Bio-tech, Agri-tech, Hardware, AI, IoT Big Data We do not require that you currently specialize in alternative meats, as long as it is in your mutual interest to contribute to the research and development of the products that will come out of this program. Application Period: March 1st~March 31st Application page: https://nextmeats.co.jp/en-US/accelarator *Every step of the application process will be held online due to COVID. About Next Meats Next Meats is a food-tech venture company based in Tokyo, with the company mission "Not letting the Earth End". Their research began in 2017 and the company was officially founded in June of 2020. Next Meats is known for launching the world's first plant-based Japanese BBQ meats "NEXT Yakiniku" series as well as the plant-based Japanese beef bowl, "NEXT Gyudon". In December of 2020 they announced their partnership with Toyota-Tsusho Corporation, and was listed on the American OTCBB in January of 2021. In addition to the facilities in Japan, Next Meats has a production line in Vietnam and has also signed a joint development contract with Hoya Foods of Taiwan, and is rapidly expanding their business to the United States, Singapore, Italy, and other countries. They plan to research various types of alternative proteins in the future and aim to replace all animal meats by 2050. Next Meats Co., Ltd. CEO: Hideyuki Sasaki Established: June, 2020 Company Headquarters: 1 Chome-34-16 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo Shimizu Bldg 2F Website: https://nextmeats.co.jp/en-US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextmeats/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeatsNext Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextMeats Japanese PR Articles: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/62184 SOURCE Next Meats Co., Ltd. Related Links https://nextmeats.co.jp 30.09.2020 University of Limerick President Professor Kerstin Mey has taken to the streets with local gardai in off-campus housing estates to remind students to follow public health guidelines. As students make a return to learning this week, members of ULs senior leadership have engaged in walking tours of local residential estates at night in conjunction with An Garda Siochana, who are on patrol in the area. Pictured in Castletroy were, University of Limerick President Professor Kerstin Mey and Sgt. Kevin Balfe, Henry Street Garda Station. Picture: Alan Place Hundreds of students who gathered at a street party in Limerick are now facing suspension and even possibly expulsion from university following their deplorable behaviour. The University of Limerick is carrying out an investigation into the large gathering at the off-campus College Court estate in Castletroy on Tuesday night. Healthcare workers, government ministers and Limerick locals have condemned the chaotic scenes which unfolded. More than 50 fines have been issued for a breach of public health guidelines and two young men arrested following the incident are now due to appear in court. One man, aged in his 20s, will appear before Limerick District Court today, while another man, also in his 20s, is due in court on March 22. A third man arrested was released without charge, but received a fine. UL representatives met with gardai yesterday morning and a joint investigation into the matter is ongoing. The university is conducting an investigation to identify any UL students who took part in the gathering, which represents a serious breach of both the public health restrictions and the institutional code of conduct, a spokesperson said. Students at UL are subject to a code of conduct. Any student found to have attended the gathering will face suspension, pending a full investigation, or possible expulsion. UL has already sanctioned a number of students since January who have been officially reported, investigated and found to have broken the UL code of conduct relating to the current Covid-19 environment. Justice Minister Helen McEntee warned yesterday that the country will not be able to reopen as planned if incidents like the party in Limerick continue. Frontline workers have also condemned the action of these students. A Limerick nurse described student parties which have occurred near the esteemed campus as out of control. The nurse, who lives in the general vicinity of UL, called for round-the-clock Garda patrols as well as CCTV to be installed by Limerick City and County Council following Tuesday nights disturbing scenes, in which flares and fireworks exploded near cars, houses, and groups of student revellers. Its shocking now, they have broken glass in houses, there was a fire in a house, there are holes in the walls of houses, basically the houses are being thrashed, said the nurse, who did not want to be identified. The east Limerick city area currently has the sixth worst Covid infection rate in the country. Castletroy business owners said they are concerned that the careless actions of this small minority will jeopardise any reopening. A short distance from UL, the The Hurlers Bar, a hugely popular bar with students and other customers, has seen trade decimated under lockdown. Proprietor Anthony ODwyer said he is disappointed at the actions of those who breached health guidelines in the area which he agrees could lead to a rise in cases locally and prolong the closure of his pub. Meanwhile, students at NUI Galway who breached public health guidelines have been asked to write a 2,000-word reflective essay. Sanctions have been imposed on a small number of students who have not complied with the universitys code of conduct during the pandemic. Some have been asked to pay fines to the student hardship fund, which provides financial support to students who are struggling, while others had to write apologies to staff affected by the breaches. Students were also asked to write reflective essays about their actions. A NUI Galway spokesperson said: NUI Galway currently has a student community of almost 19,000. The vast majority of our students have adhered to the public health guidelines, conscious of keeping themselves, their families and the wider community safe since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The university can confirm that it has imposed sanctions under the student code of conduct on a number of students in relation to breaches of public health guidelines. In Cork, resident associations admitted they are terrified of a fourth spike in Covid-19 cases as a direct result of student parties in multi-occupancy houses with the improving weather. The Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association (MRSARA) warned they are terrified there will be a repeat of last summers raft of Covid-19 house parties in their area of Cork city. Members of the residents group last summer made history with the first prosecution against a private landlord for failing to control his tenants. Last September they revealed their community endured 221 house parties within a 1km radius over 13 weeks during the Covid-19 lockdown. MRSARA chairperson Catherine Clancy said there is a direct link between such house-street parties and spikes in Covid-19 cases. Last summer we witnessed hundreds of young people coming here and renting these (houses) and not adhering to regulations, she said. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. ROME, MAR 4 - Industry Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said after meeting European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton in Rome Thursday he was confident about Italian and European vaccine production. "I think there are elements, albeit in a situation of great concern, that delineate a future for the supply and production of vaccines on an Italian and European level, which can inspire confidence," said the nationalist League party No.2. Breton said "Italy was one of the first countries I have managed to meet. No country can be called autonomous in the field of vaccine strategy". He said all European would be vaccinated by the end of the summer. Giorgetti on Wednesday hosted a meeting with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry to talk about producing COVID-19 vaccines in Italy. The meeting also featured the head of Italian medicines agency AIFA and the nation's new COVID-19 Emergency Commissioner, Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, who has been tasked with speeding the vaccine rollout. A statement by the industry ministry said many firms are ready to start producing a vaccine here. Giorgetti gave a mandate to the firms to identify enterprises that can help them be ready to produce vaccines before the end of the autumn. (ANSA). No consensus has been reached on any issue, related to holding snap parliamentary polls, leader of the opposition parliament-represented Bright Armenia party Edmon Marukyan told journalists after a meeting today with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. According to Marukyan, the Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan should also meet with Pashinyan, "since the processes cannot proceed only taking into account the position of Bright Armenia". "When they meet or when the Prosperous Armenia clarifies its position, new negotiations will be held. At the moment, we have not reached consensus on any issue, but there is an understanding of what we must say and look for ways out of the current situation," Marukyan said. Marukyan said he was deeply concerned with the ongoing standoff between the top army brass and the government. "Elections are the most fundamental issue that solves the problem, because if early parliamentary elections are not held, we will not be able to get out of this crisis. I do not see any other way out of this situation," ARKA cited him as saying. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 03:58:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Egypt started on Thursday vaccinating the elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against COVID-19. Meanwhile, Palestine extended its coronavirus-related state of emergency by a month following an increase in COVID-19 cases. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centers to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shot of the anti-coronavirus vaccine. Madbouly noted that the Health Ministry has launched a website to register those who would like to be vaccinated, adding that the government will work to increase the number of recipients of the vaccines. In Palestine, a decree was issued by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to extend the state of emergency for one month, effective immediately, so to give the government enough power to tackle the rise in coronavirus cases. Palestine on Thursday recorded 2,300 new coronavirus cases and 18 more deaths, raising its total infections to 216,802 and its death toll to 2,314. In Turkey, the tally of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed to 2,746,158 after 11,322 new infections, including 685 with symptoms, were detected, according to Turkish Health Ministry. The COVID-19 death toll in Turkey surged by 68 to 28,839, while its total recoveries increased by 7,873 to 2,601,137, the ministry said. So far, a total of 7.4 million people in Turkey have been vaccinated, including 2.25 million who have received two doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine. Iran reported 8,404 daily COVID-19 cases, raising the total nationwide infections to 1,665,103. The pandemic has so far claimed 60,431 lives in Iran, up by 78 in the past 24 hours, while a total of 1,420,958 people have recovered from the disease and been discharged from hospitals. Iraq reported 5,043 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total nationwide infections to 713,994. It also reported 24 new deaths, raising the death toll to 13,507, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 3,396 to 650,015. In Israel, 3,817 new COVID-19 cases were reported, raising the total tally in the country to 792,686. The death toll from the COVID-19 in Israel rose to 5,821 after 19 new fatalities were added, while the total recoveries surged by 4,997 to 745,731. The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Israel have so far surpassed 4.88 million, or 52.5 percent of its total population. Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 485,147 after 394 new cases were registered. Meanwhile, Morocco's death toll climbed to 8,669 as 16 more patients died, while its total number of recoveries increased by 508 to 470,933. A total of 3,820,097 people have received the first vaccine shot in Morocco, including 413,032 who have received the second dose, since the North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of China's Sinopharm vaccines. Lebanon registered 3,369 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 386,851. Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus deaths in Lebanon went up by 53 to 4,919. Kuwait reported 1,716 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 196,497. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced eight more deaths, taking the death toll to 1,105, while the tally of recoveries nationwide rose by 1,125 to 183,321. Kuwait's government decided on Thursday to impose a partial curfew, start on Sunday from 5 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) to 5 a.m., until April 8, as part of its efforts to curb the COVID-19 spread. The Omani health ministry announced 369 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases to 142,896. The tally of recoveries in Oman rose by 353 to 133,491, while no new death was reported, keeping the tally at 1,583. In Qatar, 475 new COVID-19 infections were announced, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 165,546. Qatar's tally of recoveries soared by 318 to 155,070, while the total fatalities remained at 260 for the second day running. Enditem Credit: CC0 Public Domain Irish health officials are investigating four stillbirths potentially linked to COVID-19, the Republic's deputy chief medical officer said Thursday. Ronan Glynn said officials have been "made aware of four preliminary reports of stillbirths potentially associated with a condition called COVID Placentitis". Glynn told reporters in Dublin that coroners had reported the cases, in which pregnant women have tested positive for the coronavirus and subsequently suffered stillbirths. The cause of the stillbirth in such cases is infection of the placenta, he said. Glynn cautioned that "further work needs to be done" before the findings can be confirmed. "I can't give too much detail because there's not too much more details to give at this point," he said. Ireland has suffered 4,396 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic according to latest official figures. The nation is currently in the midst of its third lockdown after suffering the highest rate of infection per capita in the world in early January. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP [March 04, 2021] Golden Leaf Holdings Announces Partial Close of Non-Brokered Private Placement NOT FOR RELEASE IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES PORTLAND, Ore., March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF) (Golden Leaf or the Company), a premier, consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in production, processing, wholesale, distribution and retail, is pleased to announce the closing of C$9.8 million of its non-brokered private placement (the Non-Brokered Offering) of units (Units) previously announced on February 17, 2021 for gross proceeds of up to approximately C$11 million. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a Common Share) and one Common Share purchase warrant (a Warrant). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of C$0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the applicable closing. The Units will have a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. The Company will pay to certain eligible finders in respect of subscriptions for Units referred by such finder a cash finder's fee and/or issue finder's warrants (the "Finders Warrants"), as agreed with the finder. Each Finders Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to C$0.10 per Common Share at any time up to 24 months following closing. The Company plans to keep this ofering open until no later than March 31, 2021. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. We are moving swiftly on due diligence related to the Letter of Intent announced on February 26, 2021. Should we achieve our goal of reaching a definitive agreement with the sellers, this first close provides the Company with sufficient funds to allow it to fund the transaction, commented John Varghese, Executive Chairman of GLH. About Golden Leaf Holdings Golden Leaf Holdings is a premier consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in production, processing, wholesale, distribution and retail, with seven dispensaries in Portland, Oregon. The company is committed to developing a dynamic portfolio built around the recognized brands of Chalice Farms, with a focus on health and wellness. Markets served include Oregon, California, Nevada, and Washington. Visit glhmonthly.com for regular updates. Investor Relations: John Varghese Executive Chairman Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. 971-371-2685 ir@goldenleafholdings.com Neither the Canadian Securities 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 release. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Like so many people in late March, Lucas Ferrin found himself wondering if he'd be able to keep his job. Ferrin had built a successful career as a real estate agent in central New York, but when the economy shut down in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the housing market froze. "It was a scary time," Ferrin said in an interview last month. "I was thinking about a Plan B." But amid that fear, Ferrin and his colleagues in the industry also had resolve. The need for people to be able to buy and sell homes wasn't going to disappear, so the key was figuring out how to make the process work in the middle of a pandemic. Progress 2021 Progress 2021 is a special section published in the March 3 print edition and e-edition of The Citizen that is highlighting Cayuga County comp "Everything went out the window," Ferrin said. "Every industry had to adapt." For those in real estate, it meant the use of virtual showings instead of in-person tours. Open houses became obsolete. Drive-by lender appraisals became the norm. Some home inspectors would look over a property without the prospective buyer tagging along. There was also a lot of complicated scheduling with attorneys and lenders and others when it came time for closing a sale. New Delhi: There are several organisations that are operating business in the name of 'freedom' and 'democracy' and governments, institutions and NGOs of many big countries rest on these two words. One such organisation is Freedom House and it is one of the oldest NGOs in America. The thing to note here is that these NGOs report on the freedom index of other countries of the world every year. On Thursday, Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary did an analysis on a 'shop' which sells 'freedom and democracy' like a product in the form of rating every year. And many weak and poor countries are forced to accept these ratings. The Freedom House released ratings of 210 countries for the year 2020 and it has classified India as 'partly free' from the earlier 'free' category. That is, India has been described as a country where there is very little freedom for the people. The NGO report makes gives the impression that democracy has ended and the freedom of citizens has been limited in most countries including India. After reading this report, one can easily be mislead. This NGO, named Freedom House, builds the Global Freedom Index based on 25 things which includes political freedom, fundamental rights of citizens, free media, right to protest, freedom to work for foreign NGOs, and the issue of free elections. And the important thing is that this time Freedom House has given India a low rating on all these parameters. According to this report, India has tumbled down five places in the Global Freedom Index of 210 countries and now ranks at 88 from 83. This NGO has given India 34 out of 40 for freedom of political rights and 33 out of 60 in the matter of free rights of citizens. But the same NGO, which gave India 67 out of 100, has given 83 points out of 100 to the US and has placed it in the category of countries where there is political freedom as well as full freedom for the citizens. And the reason for this is that NGO gets 80 per cent of its funding from America. That is, if this NGO gets Rs 100 then Rs 80 come from the US government which explains why America passed with good marks in this ratings. If the ratings were fair, America would not have got such good numbers in terms of democracy and freedom of citizens and the most recent example is Capitol Hill violence that rocked US on January 6, 2021. At least six people were killed and one among them was killed by a police bullet. Also, 25 people were killed last year in the violence against black people in America. Despite this, the NGO finds the democracy of America more secure and practical than the democracy of India. Why are these ratings needed and how are are used? Firstly, the Freedom House Ratings are used mostly by media institutions and MPs of America and by doing this, the image of those countries whose ratings are not good. Secondly, under these ratings the US government decides which countries will be given financial aid, nations that are at the top of this list, receive a lot of money and those who are at the bottom, either get less funding or are not given financial aid. According to a report, between 2004 and 2016, the US government has given $10 Billion i.e. Rs 70,000 crore to many countries of the world and among these, the highest funding was given to those countries whose ratings were good. Thirdly, the World Bank creates a list named Worldwide Governance Indicators based on these ratings which means how many countries will get help from World Bank, it also depends to a large extent on this report. And the fourth thing is that America also uses this kind of rating agency to maintain its foreign policy. That is, a country which is in confrontantion with the US the rating is reduced and the countries that support it, are given top position in the list. Following the syndication, the Taurus investment will be reduced to US$35 million and CEFC investment to US$39 million. The US$138 million senior debt facility is supporting the development of the Lake Wells SOP Project ( ) ( ) ( ) (FRA:W1D) has syndicated its US$138 million senior debt facility with ( ) and the ( ) joining the facility. SEQI and CBA will invest US$39 million and US$25 million respectively into the facility, complementing existing investments led, and arranged by Taurus Mining Finance Fund No. 2 L.P and the Australian Governments Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). Following the syndication, the Taurus investment will be reduced to US$35 million from US$91 million and CEFC to US$39 million from US$47 million. Robust financial characteristics Salt Lake Potash chief executive officer Tony Swiericzuk said: I am extremely pleased to welcome SEQI, an experienced global debt investor and leading Australian bank CBA into our Senior Debt Facility. The breadth and quality of investors that have been attracted to this facility is testament to the robust financial characteristics and positive environmental credentials of the project and its proficient execution by the SO4 team. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Sequoia and CBA as we pursue our vision of a multi-lake SOP province in WA. UK-based lender SEQI, advised by Sequoia Investment Management, is a UK-based lender with 1.8 billion under management. It has been a leader in the infrastructure sector, transforming it from a lending asset class to an investment asset class, working closely with investors and other key counterparties. It is listed on the FTSE 250 Index of the London Stock Exchange. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is Australias leading provider of integrated financial services, including retail, premium, business and institutional banking, funds management, superannuation, insurance, investment and share broking products and services. Lucknow, March 4 : The Lucknow Police have announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 on absconding mafia don and former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Dhananjay Singh. Singh is wanted in the murder of history-sheeter Ajit Singh, who was shot dead on January 6, allegedly at his behest. He has been charged with conspiracy in the murder. The police on Thursday raided the former MP's residence on Sultanpur Road besides searching several hideouts, but could not find him. According to a statement issued by the Lucknow Police, the police have identified six flats and two farmhouses in Lucknow and various properties in Delhi, Jaunpur, Varanasi, Mau, Barabanki and Jharkhand, belonging to Dhananjay Singh. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Malaysian stocks dropped and the ringgit weakened after the government imposed a two-week nationwide lockdown to curb a relentless surge in Covid-19 infections.The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index fell as much as 1.6% on Monday, before paring losses to 0.7% at the close in Kuala Lumpur. The ringgit slid as much as 0.4% to 4.1480 per dollar, while 10-year bond yields rose three basis points to 3.25%. The government said on Friday that most businesses will be shut from June 1 except for essential economic and service sectors.The government is finally biting the bullet, said Alexander Chia, an analyst at RHB Investment Bank Bhd. Clearly, there are downside risks to FY21 earnings growth, even if it is essentially a postponement of growth to FY22.Malaysias return to a hard lockdown comes in the wake of record daily infections that saw cases top 9,000 on Saturday. A resurgence in virus outbreaks in Asia has spurred some countries including Vietnam and Singapore to tighten restrictions. A similar lockdown in Malaysia last year cost the country an estimated 63 billion ringgit ($15 billion).Vietnam tightened social distancing measures in Ho Chi Minh City for 15 days from May 31, while Singapore this month reissued some lockdown-like conditions that it put in place a year ago.Recovery DimsMalaysias lockdown will drag on the countrys recovery, with a good chance that 2Q GDP growth will contract on a sequential basis, said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. We will likely see the ringgit continuing to underperform in the region, but its weakness is being put in check by a soft U.S. dollar.READ: Covid Zero Havens Find Reopening Harder Than Taming VirusPrime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is due to announce an aid package at 9 p.m. local time Monday, according to his Facebook post.Still, Mondays market drop pales in comparison with last year when the KLCI plunged as much as 5% a day after a nationwide lockdown was announced then.Expectations of a mild reaction is due to the availability of vaccines and a government plan to ramp up daily vaccination rates in the second half of 2021, Ivy Ng Lee Fang, an analyst at CGS-CIMB Securities, said in a report. Strong export sales, robust market liquidity, and low interest rates have also helped limit the market drop, she said.GDP OutlookMalaysias gross domestic product shrank 0.5% in the first quarter from a year earlier, the central bank said earlier in May, adding that it expects growth to remain within the 6% to 7.5% forecast range for the full year.Banks including Public Bank Bhd. and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. dropped, while Maxis Bhd. and Supermax Corp. were among the biggest decliners in the benchmark gauge, falling more than 2%. Top Glove Corp. was the top gainer in the key stock gauge, up 1.8%.The Malaysian stock benchmark is down 6% from a December high as investor concerns about the impact of stricter curbs on movement weigh on riskier assets.The recovery plays in the cyclical sectors will require a longer term investment perspective with a focus on achieving a favorable entry price, said Chia of RHB Investment. The trading angle will remain an enduring theme in the coming quarters that continues to focus on small-mid caps with resilient growth attributes.(Updates with PMs broadcast in seventh paragraph)More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P. Dear Amy: Im so sad. My husband says he doesnt want to be in our marriage anymore. He states that my mood and ways of reacting to situations are not what he expected. Weve been married for 22 years now and lately he cant seem to tolerate me. In October last year, former surgeon Afif Hadj was standing outside one of the four aged care homes he owns watching potentially dangerous clinical waste blow into his car park. The home, in Sunshine West, is next door to another aged care centre where 64 residents, staff and close contacts caught coronavirus and eight residents died. Afif Hadj from Hope Aged Care with resident Mei Mei Chiang, who has lived at the companys Brunswick centre for eight years. Credit:Jason South Their car park and my car park, there was no fence in between, Professor Hadj said. I employed a builder on a Sunday, I said, I dont care what youre doing, come and put a bloody fence up. Across the three homes owned by Hope Aged Care that are located in the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne the areas hardest hit by the deadly second wave nobody caught coronavirus. Their 255 residents, the staff and their contacts all remained COVID-free. VANCOUVER, Wash., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey from Banfield Pet Hospital the leading provider of preventive veterinary care and part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices found that owners are concerned about leaving their pets behind when returning to the workplace, and employers are listening. According to Banfield's new survey, 1 in 3 people and nearly 1 in 2 Gen Zers say they got a new pet during the pandemic. While quarantine has come with many challenges, it's only brought pets and their people closer together, with nearly 80% saying they were able to bond with their pet more during this time. Now, pet owners are wondering and worrying about what a post-pandemic life may look like for them and their pets. 63% say increased time at home has made them think more about how their pets can fit into their workday post-pandemic, and 57% agree they'll be most happy returning to their workplace if they can bring their pets with them. While some owners are considering rehoming their pets, Banfield expresses hope and shares resources Many are hopeful about the prospect of bringing their pets to work with them, but others have concerns about what pet ownership might look like when they can't be home as often. In fact, 1 in 5 owners including 1 in 3 Gen Zers and 1 in 5 millennials are considering rehoming their pets if they can't bring them to the office when they return to work. While these numbers are staggering, Banfield is encouraged by the following: 32% of owners including 48% of Gen Zers and 35% millennials said they've recently reached out to their veterinarian for advice on making the transition back to the workplace easier on their pets. Further, 68% of Gen Zers and 42% of millennials plan to hire a dogwalker, take their pet to daycare or do a combination of both once they return to the workplace, which will hopefully relieve some worry for owners about leaving pets at home. Banfield's blog also offers tips to help set owners and pets up for success in 2021. "At Banfield, we understand that pet ownership is incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with its challenges. Our goal is to not only be there for the tail wags and snuggles, but also to help prevent issues wherever and whenever we can," said Molly McAllister, chief medical officer of Banfield Pet Hospital. "If pet owners are feeling overwhelmed or have questions or concerns, in addition to taking care of your pet's health, veterinary teams can advise on all aspects of caring for your pet to help ensure pets and their families stay together." In addition to partnering with their veterinarian, if owners are worried about leaving their pets at home when returning to the workplace, Banfield doctors recommend the below tips to help make the transition easier: Ease your pet into a new routine. Avoid emotional departures or greetings. Ensure daily exercise continues. Give your dog a favorite distraction several minutes prior to leaving the house including long lasting food treats or a favorite toy. Pet owners and employers alike are thinking about pet-friendly workplaces 1 in 2 C-suite executives surveyed said they're planning to allow pets in the workplace upon return to the office, and 59% said they'll allow more flexibility for workers wanting to stay remote with their pets. Among those who are considering implementing a pet-friendly policy: 59% said they're doing so because of employee requests; 58% cite understanding their staff has gotten used to spending all day with their pets during the pandemic; And 42% say they want to entice their employees back into the office. Of pet owners who wish to bring their pets to the office: 38% cite being worried their pet will experience separation anxiety; 37% want the companionship of their pet at work; 28% think their pets can help keep them calm during those stressful workdays; And 23% say they'll be more productive with their pet as a desk mate. With nearly 1 in 2 Gen Zers and 1 in 3 millennials saying they would consider looking for another job post-pandemic if their workplace was not pet-friendly, 20% of business leaders are hoping allowing pets in the office will also increase employee retention. Considering implementing a pet-friendly policy and not sure where to start? This Pets Work at Work Toolkit from Mars Petcare's Better Cities For Pets program includes the benefits of pet-friendly workplaces, leadership and legal considerations, tips for communicating the program to employees, and much more. The program also provides a toolkit for businesses like stores, events and restaurants aiming to go pet-friendly. If business leaders haven't heard from their staff about pets in the workplace yet, there's a good chance they might. 71% of Gen Zers and 48% millennials have or are planning to reach out to their employer requesting they implement a pet-friendly policy once offices open back up. With 75% of C-suite execs saying being a pet owner has made them a better, more compassionate business leader, it's likely these requests will be carefully considered. "We've seen the human-animal bond only get stronger during the pandemic, and it's no surprise that owners are thinking about how they can best be here for their pets when they start to spend more time outside of home," said Brian Garish, president of Banfield Pet Hospital. "We believe we can advance human health through pet health, elevating societal well-being. That's why we'll continue to be here for pets and their owners as they adjust to this next normal, providing high-quality preventive care, no matter what 2021 brings." Executives make the case for pet-friendly policies According to survey findings, C-suite executives have good reason to believe a pet-friendly policy will come with benefits. While the pandemic likely led to many leaders considering pets in the workplace for the first time, there were a number of employers (48%) who already had a policy in place. Of those: 67% saw increased socializing between employees when pets were around; 61% say employees were more willing to come to work; 42% saw increased productivity among staff; 41% say employees were more willing to stay at work later; 31% saw increased retention; And 24% say employees seem happier in the office/workplace. Allowing pets to tag along with their owners to work isn't the only benefit employers are offering. In fact: 45% provide financial support for veterinary care; 37% offer pet bereavement leave; 41% offer "pet-ernity" leave for new pet owners; And 40% also offer paid time off to take a pet to the veterinarian. This survey was conducted by OnePoll in partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital. About Banfield Pet Hospital Banfield Pet Hospital was founded in Portland, Ore. in 1955 and today is a pioneer in preventive veterinary care with more than 1,000 general veterinary hospitals in 42 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Mexico. More than 3,600 Banfield veterinarians are committed to providing high-quality veterinary care to over three million pets annually. Banfield collects data from each of these visits in the U.S.'s largest electronic veterinary health records system. Our goal is to be here for pets, people and society. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices, Banfield is committed to its purposeA BETTER WORLD FOR PETSbecause pets make a better world for us. Press seeking additional information are invited to call the Media Hotline: (888) 355-0595. About Better Cities for Pets Better Cities for Pets is a research-based program created by Mars Petcare in partnership with experts in city planning and key government stakeholders to help communities be more pet-friendly. It offers best practices and policy recommendations to help end pet homelessness, encourage pet-friendly housing and make pets welcome in public spaces. The program includes a playbook for pet-friendliness, city certification program and online resources. More info at BetterCitiesForPets.com. SOURCE Banfield Pet Hospital Related Links https://www.banfield.com/ Whole classes will no longer be sent home when a single pupil tests positive for Covid, under plans being considered by ministers. Classmates of the infected child would be able to take a rapid test each morning and attend school as normal, provided they are found to be negative. Currently, an entire bubble is sent home from school for ten days if there is positive case, disrupting the education for dozens of children. Whole classes will no longer be sent home when a single pupil tests positive for Covid, under plans being considered by ministers. Students are seen taking part in an online lesson at a school in Halifax But researchers from the University of Oxford are now recruiting 200 secondary schools in England to try out the new system. They hope to establish if quarantine-release will encourage more pupils to take the tests and identify more infections. Study leader Professor Tim Peto told an online lecture: Because quarantine is unpopular, we know that lots of people refuse to take up voluntary mass screening, so you didnt pick up all the positives in school. The idea is that you have daily contact testing, allowing people to continue at school in spite of being a contact. The pilot works if the uptake of voluntary testing is increased. A teacher is seen above getting a coronavirus test at a school in Halifax. The Government says secondary pupils should wear masks in class but this is not mandatory The results of the study, sponsored by the Department of Health are expected in June. News of the proposal came as head teachers demanded that the Government clear up its confused and unhelpful guidelines over masks in classrooms. Some say the advice has left them wondering whether they can insist on pupils using masks while others have threatened to segregate those without them. The Government says secondary pupils should wear masks in class but this is not mandatory. In the absence of firm rules, some schools have decided their own policies. Catmose College in Oakham, Rutland, has said that any student not wearing a face covering without the permission of the college will not be allowed to attend lessons. A school in Essex has reportedly said that children without masks will be told to eat their meals outside regardless of the weather. Others have said children will be turned away unless parents fill out a mask exemption form for them. Geoff Barton of heads union ASCL, said: The guidance on face coverings is confused and unhelpful in that it says they are not mandatory but that their use must be implemented. We have asked the Government for clearer guidance. (Newser) Late last year, Janet Winbush joined in on the search for her missing husband, Deric Davis, whose body was later found wrapped in garbage bags and duct tape and placed under a deflated air mattress near the front porch of the couples Pittsburgh duplex. Now, Winbush is a suspect in his death, WPXI reports. Authorities on Monday charged Winbush, 50, with homicide and abuse of a corpse, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She turned herself into authorities on Tuesday. Earlier, she had told police that she stabbed Davis, 53, in self-defense during a fight. But those close to Davis arent buying the self-defense claim. My brother was mild-mannered, he had all the friends in the world, he wouldnt hurt a flea, Davis sister, Stacey Davis, tells WPXI. story continues below He was just all around a good person. That self-defense she is claiming is a lie. She stalked him his whole life. She harassed him his whole life, she said. According to a criminal complaint, witnesses said that Davis lived with Winbush part time and that the couple, who had a daughter together, had a tumultuous, on-again/off-again relationship, per the Post-Gazette. Relatives, including the daughter, told authorities that Davis planned to divorce Winbush, who they described as aggressive and threatening. Davis went missing in December. His family began searching for him. Winbush joined them, even calling hospitals to ostensibly try to locate him. After about two weeks, Davis brother reported him missing. Arriving at Winbushs home, police noted an overwhelming stench of decaying flesh and found Davis body. (Read more Pittsburgh stories.) The US-based think tank Freedom House has downrated India from free to partially free. The think tank also expressed apprehensions that the world's largest democracy is moving towards authoritarianism under the NDA government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Under Modi, India appears to have abandoned its potential to serve as a global democratic leader, elevating narrow Hindu nationalist interests at the expense of its founding values of inclusion and equal rights for all," Freedom House stated in its report. The annual report by Freedom House also talks about the threats for Indian Muslims. "Attacks against Muslims and others in connection with the alleged slaughter or mistreatment of cows, which are held to be sacred by Hindus, continued in 2020," the report states. The think tank also talks about scapegoating Muslims as "potential spreaders of the virus". The report reads, "In 2020, during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's Muslims were widely and speciously blamed for spreading the coronavirus, including by ruling-party officials." It also talked about the "ham-fisted" nationwide lockdown imposed to control the spread of coronavirus. Under this lockdown, many labourers were forced to walk miles on foot since they did not have access to basic supplies and services in the cities. "In September, 32 individuals charged with orchestrating the illegal 1992 demolition of a prominent mosque in the state of Uttar Pradesh were acquitted by a special court, despite substantial evidence of their culpability. Among those exonerated were several high-profile members of the BJP. Modi had laid the foundation stone for a new Hindu temple on the site a month earlier, after a long-awaited 2019 Supreme Court judgment had permitted the construction of a temple there. The mosque had stood on the site for centuries prior to its unlawful destruction," the American think tank said on the Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya. Also read: EC asks petrol pumps to remove hoardings, advertisements with PM Modi's photos in 72 hours Also read: Bharat Biotech to begin clinical trial of COVID-19 intranasal vaccine next week BUCHAREST -- The death of a 6-week-old infant after he was submerged while being baptized has sparked public outrage in Romania and led to calls for the centuries-old rite to be changed. The drama of the tragic event -- which has been headline news in Romania for weeks -- has been quite impersonal, with few details published about the baby or his family. But it has provided a snapshot of the divisions in contemporary Romania. The influential Romanian Orthodox Church has resisted calls to reform the ceremony and has stayed true to its roots, pitting it against those in Romania who are demanding that some church traditions be altered or modernized as other Christian denominations have done in recent decades. On January 31, baby Iustin went into cardiac arrest shortly after he was baptized by an Orthodox priest in the northeast city of Suceava. He died in the hospital the next day. Doctors found about a deciliter of liquid in his lungs. The result of an autopsy is expected in a couple of weeks, according to a lawyer for Iustin's parents, Ioan Bulboaca. He added that the priest, the emergency-room doctor, parents, and guests at the baptism have all been questioned by prosecutors. The priest who performed the baptism, Alexandru Mazarache, has been named as a suspect in a probe into involuntary manslaughter for Iustin's death. Mazarache's lawyer, Marcel Balatchi, told RFE/RL on February 11 that his client "is innocent" and said he had "performed the ritual according to church canons." In the wake of Iustin's death, tens of thousands have signed a petition calling for three full immersions in water necessary for a baptism in the Orthodox Church to be changed. In an unprecedented step, Romania's ombudsman met with church clerics on February 17 and recommended some health and safety measures -- including better training in baptisms for new priests and refresher courses for veterans. It wants the health of the infant to be considered and for the church to baptize babies when they are slightly older. Holy Synod But the public pressure hasn't swayed the church, at least in the essential matter of baptism -- a ritual signifying admission into Christianity and considered a sacrament in most denominations. The Romanian Orthodox Church's Holy Synod, the church's decision-making body, met on February 25 and announced that the baptism ritual would not be changed and altered. But it did say it would urge priests to be more responsible when performing the ritual. The synod also ruled that priests will be required to meet with parents before a baptism and discuss their children's health, while theology schools will ensure "increased attention" is given to teaching future priests about the immersion practice, a church website said. Teodosie, the archbishop of Tomis, a leader of the church's conservative wing who has been in the public eye for flouting coronavirus lockdown rules, indicated soon after the infant's death that the church wouldn't bow to public outrage. "We won't be intimidated," he said sternly on February 2 in an interview with Antena 3. "These canons related to faith have been valid for more than 1,000 years. This is why we won't change." Vladimir Dumitru, a biology teacher from the eastern town of Macin and author of the petition demanding changes to the baptism ritual, told RFE/RL on February 28 that the concessions made by the synod were "a small step forward, but it's not the right step." He said he would initiate another petition and send it to parliament asking the authorities to carry out a medical assessment to determine what risks exist in Orthodox baptisms. "When we handed the petition to the church [on February 15] there were demonstrators outside the patriarchy calling us neo-Marxists and satanists," he said of the opposition he encountered for challenging the powerful church. 'Byzantine Times' Many observers were not surprised by the church's response to the call for changes that could improve safety for infants during baptism. Victoria Clark, author of Why Angels Fall, a 2000 book on Eastern Orthodoxy, told RFE/RL on February 12 that "so much of the faith [in the Orthodox Church] is based on its unchanging, eternal nature, and that you can trace its rituals and hymns all the way back to Byzantine times." "If you lose these unchanging rituals, you lose something integral to the faith...rather like in the same way a magician has the need to [perform a trick precisely], otherwise it is not effective," she told RFE/RL. "It is important that rituals are followed to the letter and the total immersion goes back to John the Baptist and the River Jordan; he didn't just flick a bit of water on them, he was immersing them totally." John the Baptist's baptism of Jesus in the Jordan in the first century is the primary event the long-held tradition is based upon. Baptisms are performed in virtually every Christian denomination, though the Orthodox Church and protestant Baptists are most known for the full-immersion baptism. Most Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and the majority of other protestant churches perform a sprinkling or pouring of water on the head of someone being baptized, posing no danger to the newly christened. Public Criticism More than 85 percent of Romanians belong to the Orthodox Church, though many nominal Orthodox question the church's influential role in society. Some also balk at religion classes in schools, which they say focus on the Orthodox Church to the exclusion of other denominations and faiths. Others say the church unfairly benefits from state funding. But Iustin's death during his baptism has led to fresh criticism about the full-immersion procedure during the ritual. Dumitru's petition urging a "moderate and constructive" approach to baptism had been signed by more than 65,000 people by March 3. Signatories want the child's head to be symbolically sprinkled with water "rather like Catholic and Protestant christenings and not with force and even brutality (there are isolated cases, but they exist)," it says. "The death of babies caused by such practices, even if it's accidental, is a never-ending tragedy that brings sorrow instead of joy. This risk should be eliminated in the future." Baptism 'Nonnegotiable' Church spokesman Vasile Banescu responded on February 15 that people had a right to sign a petition but "the way a religious ritual is carried out exclusively depends on the huge individual and community responsibility of the church cleric," Agerpres reported. "Baptism is nonnegotiable," Archbishop Teodosie said bluntly in an interview with Radio Dobrogea on February 19. "It's God's work. Are we going to correct God?" Cristian Parvulescu, the dean of the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, predicted before the synod meeting that the church wouldn't alter the ritual. "The church doesn't accept Catholic practices," he told RFE/RL on February 18. "This would mean a surrender to public opinion and they are not prepared to do this." He said the actual ritual was "an extraordinary trauma for the child...a trauma that has never been investigated and is probably the cause of many problems in our society." "The problem is that the church has two branches -- the parish priests and the monks -- and there are tensions [between them]," he added. "The monks run the church and the parish priests come into direct contact with society and are more likely to adapt [or change]. I've seen a priest [baptize a child] by sprinkling water on its head." He added, "The question is, when will pressure come from within the church to change things?" Change From Within There does appear to be some openness for modifying the ritual at the top levels of the church. The archbishop of Arges, Calinic, a member of the Holy Synod, said on February 12 that he supported a gentler form of baptism "to avoid unwanted accidents." He is the first senior cleric to offer a less rigid interpretation of the ceremony. An archbishop since 2009, Calinic in January baptized the daughter of Nicolas of Romania, the grandson of the late King Michael, and said he dipped her feet in water and sprinkled water on her forehead, a ceremony similar to those performed in non-Orthodox Christian churches. But while his opinion was welcomed by some, it was in the minority during the Holy Synod. Unchanging Ritual Dan Ciachir, a commentator on Orthodox affairs and a church defender, explained that baptism was one of seven sacraments and of fundamental importance in Christian life. "The idea is for the person [be baptized before dying]," he said. "There have been millions of Orthodox baptisms like this and sometimes there are [tragic] incidents, but you can't change the ritual." He emphasized the importance put upon a baby being baptized before dying. "In the past, when there weren't cars...and a newborn [was ill and appeared as if] he was about to die, a lay person could take water and pour it on him. If the child was in the desert, it could be baptized with sand," he told RFE/RL on February 10. "There are nuances [to the ritual], of course," he added. "When an infant is ill, you don't plunge him [into the baptismal font]." He said priests were taught how to hold the baby in theological training, using dolls instead of actual infants. Ciachir said there was a proper way to perform an Orthodox christening and Calinic's baptism of King Michael's great-granddaughter was not only wrong but "he should have brought [his concerns] up in the synod, not in...the press." However, he added "more precautions, more attention" could be taken during baptisms in the future. Family Tragedy For Iustin's family, his death goes beyond the immediate personal tragedy. The infant's father, Alexandru Ungureanu, told RFE/RL on February 11 that the baptism ritual "should have been changed long ago," saying there had been a similar case in the northeastern city of Iasi in 2017 that didn't receive much media attention. Bulboaca, the parents' lawyer, claimed the way the baptism was done "goes against deontological norms." "The child was crying; he was put in the font with his face up, anyone would swallow water. This is a secondary (delayed) drowning," he told RFE/RL on February 16. "When he came out, he wasn't crying. It was a sound, like a cry for help, that's all he could do.... [And his] death came later." While the Orthodox baptism ritual remains unchanged for now, many believe the dispute with the church is not over. "A Pandora's box has been opened," Dumitru said on February 28. "When there is another [tragic case resulting in a death], as I'm convinced there sadly will be, there will be a really, really ugly reaction from society." * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! The industry execs on FCW's Federal 100 list for 2021 Each year our sibling publication FCW releases its Federal 100 -- a list of the women and men who personify whats possible in federal IT. Thats how FCW Editor-in-Chief Troy Schneider described it last week when the the 2021 winners were announced. Hundreds of nominations were submitted. A panel of government and industry judges winnowed submissions down to the 100. FCW will be reporting on the winners over the coming months and it all culminates in the Fed 100 gala on Aug. 27. Yes: the plan is to do it in person. Fingers crossed. Its always a great night. You can find the list of all 100 winners here. Out of those, 28 winners hail from industry with a few from nonprofit or academic organizations. The industry winners are: Craig Abod, President, Carahsoft Technology Corp. Eric Adolphe, CEO, Forward Edge-AI Alan Balutis, Senior Director and Distinguished Fellow, Cisco Nicole Carey, Vice President, Strategic Communications and Integrated Marketing, Dynamic Integrated Services Sandy Carter, Vice President, Global Public Sector Partners and Programs, Amazon Web Services Mignon Clyburn, Principal, MLC Strategies Ed DeSeve, Coordinator, Agile Government Center, National Academy of Public Administration Frank Dimina, Vice President, Americas & Public Sector, Splunk Siobhan Dullea, Chief Executive Officer, MassChallenge Emily Frye, Director for Cyber Integration, MITRE Rebecca Gevalt, Managing Director, Dcode Zach Graves, Head of Policy, Lincoln Network Todd Hager, Vice President, Macro Solutions Shawn Henry, President, Services Division, and Chief Security Officer, CrowdStrike Nathan Jones, Vice President, Federal, Red Hat Tina Kang, Senior Director, Federal Civil, Brillient Corp. Nazzic Keene, Chief Executive Officer, Science Applications International Corp. Donna Klecka, Vice President & General Manager, Information Systems and Technology Division, ASRC Federal Brad Medairy, Executive Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton Mark F. Newsome, Partner, U.S. Federal Healthcare, IBM Global Business Services Jim Richberg, Public Sector Field Chief Information Security Officer, Fortinet Federal Gissa Sateri, Director, REI Systems Inc. Andrew Schnabel, Vice President, Zscaler Sonal Shah, Executive Director, Georgetown Beeck Center Robert Shea, National Managing Principal, Public Policy, Grant Thornton Nicholas Speece, Chief Federal Technologist, Snowflake Robert Stein, Senior Vice President, North America Public Sector, Salesforce Zachary Trojak, Area Vice President, Medallia Rick Wagner, President, Microsoft Federal CBC Despite the storied history of both clubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens to face off in Game 7 for just the second time in 16 playoff series (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET). The winner advances to battle the Winnipeg Jets in the next round of the postseason. Here's a look at some of the storylines: The history The tribal loyalties of the two clubs have been well established on and off the ice, the latter perhaps most famously in Roch Carrier's children's book The Sweater, which was then animated by the National Film Board of Canada. The playoff matchup pits the two NHL clubs with the most championships in league history. The Canadiens as a franchise have won 24 Stanley Cups, while the Maple Leafs hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup on 13 occasions. But that history, in a modern context, can mislead. Toronto famously hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1967, so any Leafs fan under the age of, say, 54, likely has no memory of their club being the NHL champs. While a 54-year-old Habs fan can laugh gleefully at that, given the fact their club has won 11 Stanley Cups since 1967, the Canadiens themselves are in a franchise-long 27-years-and counting championship drought. Such are the the perils of playing in a league that has 30-plus clubs, not just six. WATCH | How the Leafs-Habs playoff rivalry came to be: The Canadiens have won eight of 15 playoff meetings between the clubs historically. A couple of generations of NHL players have come and gone since the last meeting in 1979, when little-used Cam Connor, with the only playoff goal he ever scored for Montreal, helping to sink the dagger in for Leafs fans then with a key overtime winner. The two clubs last faced off in a Game 7 in a playoff series in 1964. The Leafs won that one, and then went on to beat Detroit for the Cup. The stakes The winner of this series advances to the North Division final and takes on the Winnipeg Jets, idle since May 24 after a sweep of the Edmonton Oilers. Either Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe or Canadiens bench boss Dominique Ducharme will celebrate their first-ever NHL playoff series win on Monday night. "We're confident. We're going to Toronto to head to Winnipeg," Ducharme said on Sunday. WATCH | Canadiens tie playoff series with Quebec reopening: Montreal has good reason to be confident, or at least feel like they have nothing to lose. The Canadiens overcame a coaching change in February, shrugged off a dispirited Game 4 defeat that represented their eighth loss in their last nine games at that point, and then survived the late rallies by Toronto in the fifth and sixth games. The Leafs, meanwhile, are dealing with the metaphorical monkey on the back, and not just because they finished with 18 more points than the Habs in the regular season. Toronto last won a playoff series in 2004. To put that time span in context, in 2004, Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber was a teen winning a Memorial Cup with Kelowna Rockets and Leafs forward Auston Matthews was not yet seven years old, starting his ascension through the Arizona minor hockey system. John Tortorella lifted the Stanley Cup that season with Tampa Bay, the fourth-last NHL team he's coached. But despite the relative youth of the Toronto club, one veteran sports wag in the city has written that Game 7 is nothing less than the stage for Matthews and Mitch Marner to "salvage their reputations." The fans The game on Saturday at Bell Centre in Montreal saw fans in a major Canadian sports venue for the first time since before the pandemic in early 2020. Quebec officials signed off on a scenario in which 2,500 fans were allowed into the 21,000-plus capacity building. On Monday morning, the Ontario government announced that 550 fully vaccinated frontline health-care workers would be able to attend Game 7 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. "This small token of appreciation doesn't measure up to the sacrifices they've made during COVID-19, but it is an opportunity for us to recognize their heroic efforts to keep each and every one of us safe," said Premier Doug Ford in a statement. How we got here The last two games have offered a cavalcade of emotions for fans of both clubs. Toronto had been one shot away from eliminating the Canadiens and advancing to the second round of the playoffs in each game, but it's also true that Montreal outplayed the Leafs for long stretches in both of those contests. Leafs fans feared the worst given their recent franchise history when captain John Tavares suffered head and knee injuries early in Game 1 in a scary incident and was hospitalized. The Leafs did well to keep their composure after that, but Habs goalie Carey Price was, in the words of teammate Josh Anderson, "an absolute wall" in a 2-1 Montreal win. WATCH | Kotkaniemi propels Habs to OT victory over Leafs in Game 6: Toronto's William Nylander scored in the first four games of the series and the rest of the Maple Leafs rallied in Tavares's absence as the Ontario club took a 3-1 series lead. The Canadiens controlled the play for much of Game 5 but coughed up a three-goal lead to lead to overtime. Two Toronto players then made mistakes on the same play, with Nick Suzuki converting on the rare overtime 2-on-0 to give the Habs new life in the series. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell makes a save on Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson in their contest May 20. Campbell will be starting in the first playoff Game 7 of his career. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press) Game 6 was more competitive, but Montreal again neutralized Toronto for much of the game, with Price stopping anything coming his way. The Canadiens scored two in the third period, but Toronto then matched that. Toronto appeared to be carrying the play for the most part in overtime, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi snapped a shot past Leafs goalie Jack Campbell to force Game 7. Who to watch in Game 7 Matthews rallied the troops in the wake of the Tavares injury with a four-point effort in the Game 2 victory for Toronto. He's tallied just one assist in the subsequent four games. To call him a disappointment would be a stretch he's fired 20 shots on net in the last four and won more faceoffs than he lost but players of his calibre are asked to produce in moments like this. Fans watch the warmup before Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at Bell Centre. Quebec's easing of COVID-19 restrictions saw 2,500 mostly partisan fans to attend in the building for the first time in 14 months. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) Obviously the play between the pipes will be critical. Price and Campbell have both impressed in the series, but there's a disparity in big game experience. The Montreal goalie has played a trio of elimination games in the NHL playoffs in addition to a wealth of big international contests, while Campbell is starting his first Game 7 in the NHL postseason. Price has allowed just one first-period goal in the series thus far. Then there's the Toronto blue line. It's unclear if the banged-up Jake Muzzin is good to go, so how he'll look if he suits up or how the Leafs pairings will be configured in his absence will be of note. The future The NHL hasn't set a date for Game 1 of the North final, but the league has wasted little time in getting the postseason rounds rolling. The Vegas Golden Knights, for example, played Colorado on Sunday in their second-round opener after just one full day off following a seven-game first-round victory. Toronto won six of 10 games during this regular season against Winnipeg, while Montreal lost six of nine against the Jets. Winnipeg, in both incarnations of the Jets, has never faced Montreal or Toronto in the postseason. The reconfiguration of divisions this season due to COVID-19 guarantees a Canadian team will be among the final four teams competing for the Stanley Cup, for the first time since the Jets reached that stage in 2018. A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since the 1992-1993 run of the Canadiens. The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education will devote $1.5 million in federal relief funds to mental health services for higher ed students coping with stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Tuesday news release The initiative will use more than $900,000 to help expand campuses mental health programs, along with efforts to train campus mental health professionals and provide Web-based support. The council will also establish a virtual support network for high school seniors in the GEAR UP Kentucky program, which helps prepare low-income students for college.The funding comes from the Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund, known as GEER, which has used nearly $14 million in CARES Act funds to assist campuses in responding to the pandemic. Since May, the council has allocated $12.3 million directly to campuses for COVID-related expenses like remote learning. The remaining $1.5 million was in reserve until Tuesday.According to the council, Kentuckys higher ed institutions have experienced a growing demand for counseling resources during the public health crisis, reporting increasing rates of anxiety and depression.We are going to beat COVID-19 this year, but the emotional scars from this pandemic will take longer to heal, Gov. Andy Beshear said in a Tuesday statement. Our students have sacrificed so much to ensure their safety and protect others in their communities. We need to show up for them now to make sure they have the support they need to come out of this crisis safely physically and mentally. Ghana and the UK have signed a new trade agreement worth 1.2bn ($1.6bn) that will allow free access and tariff reductions for certain goods between the countries. Before Brexit, the UK was automatically part of any trade deal the European Union had negotiated with another country. In its negotiations to leave the EU, the UK government managed to roll over most of the third-country trade deals it had as part of the union, but that did not include Ghana's - meaning importers faced tariffs and extra paperwork. For example, in January a shipment of bananas arriving into Portsmouth from Ghana was charged a tariff of 17,500. This meant the UK was no longer a profitable market for Ghanaian banana producers. But now Ghanaian products including bananas, tinned tuna and cocoa will benefit from tariff-free access to the UK. The UK's exports, including machinery, electronics and chemical products, will also benefit from a reduction in import duty taxes. "This deal secures tariff-free access for products that British shoppers love - and supports jobs in Ghana - paving the way for further economic growth as we build back better from Covid-19," said Ranil Jayawardena, the UK's minister for international trade. Ghanas largest exports to the UK include mineral fuels and oil, preparations of fish, fruit, cocoa and cocoa preparations, a statement from the UK government website noted. Its top imports from the UK include textiles, machinery and mechanical appliances, and chemical products. We have just signed a trade deal with Ghana, building on a trade relationship worth 1.2bn The agreement secures certainty for business, supports jobs in both nations, and sets the stage for closer trading ties in the years to come. Trade = Jobs@AlanKyerematen pic.twitter.com/51ZlYFeM8e Liz Truss (@trussliz) March 2, 2021 Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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. Many K-drama fans always look forward to the roles of their favorite actors, maybe a character of a CEO, policeman, agent, or even a lawyer. Through the years of producing drama content, these are the notable Korean heartthrobs who fairly gave justice to their roles as lawyer. There is something magical about lawyers that is incredibly appealing. More than their passion of seeking justice and helping those who are in need, they are also extremely good looking while standing in trial. I bet you focus too much looking at them rather than listening to their cases right? We are sure you're having the same struggles. Check out some of your favorite K-drama lawyers below! Song Joong Ki - " Vincenzo" After portraying as Big Boss in 2016 drama "Descendants of the Sun" Song Joong Ki is back to give justice to all his fans as a Korean-Italian consigliere. Serving the viewers lots of visuals and mind-blowing stunts in his new drama "Vincenzo," Song Joong Ki will be the new definition of a perfect lawyer. His masculinity and charismatic poise while wearing that suit was already lauded by the audience, plus he is fluent in Italian! Vincenzo Cassano is indeed the newest and hottest lawyer in K-drama town. Ji Chang Wook - "Suspicious Partner" Of course, making it to the list is the young and smart actor Ji Chang Wook. He has captivated the eyes of the viewers in every role that he portrays, but one thing that stands out the most was his character as a lawyer in the drama "Suspicious Partner", he played the character of Noh Ji Uk. From being a prosecutor, he ends up becoming an attorney after defending Eun Bong Hui. He is the kind of lawyer with conscience and won't blame innocent people for the sake of his career. He may be having a hard time due to his life experiences, but was able to overcome his fears and unexpectedly finds love. His chemistry with actress Nam Ji Hyun is just too perfect! Lee Dong Wook - "Touch Your Heart" "Goblin" actor Lee Dong Wook played the role of Kwon Jung Rok, a cold-hearted and workaholic lawyer in the drama "Touch Your Heart." He may have great skills in defending his people, but he lacks the experience when it comes to defending his feelings. Behind his strong personality hides a sweet and caring lawyer. And of course, his handsome look is already a plus! Ju Ji Hoon - "Hyena" Oozing with strong charisma while in trial, no one can make it like Ju Ji Hoon in tha drama "Hyena." He portrayed the role of Yoon Hee Jae, a successful and prominent lawyer who defends his clients fiercely and in a way that he knows how. Witty and hardworking lawyer that is always ready to save you anytime of the day. Park Hyung Sik - "Suits" Who wouldn't fall in his charm. Former idol and now actor Park Hyung Sik made a good role in the drama "Suits." He played the character of Go Yeon U, a student dropout who had the opportunity to work in a prestigious law firm in Suits. He is not like any other normal lawyer, aside from his amazing photographic memory, he can be a monster when it comes to dealing with cases. He proves to his colleagues that being young is not a hindrance to pursue his dream, he has been through many struggles, but was able to show what he really got. With his adorable and puppy eyes, anyone can be captured by his charm. Who among these lawyers are you willing to choose to defend you in real life? 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. Representatives of Armenias government and legislature, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Armenia and members of civil society today attended an event dedicated to the entry into force of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia reports. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ara Aivazian delivered their welcoming remarks at the event. In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan stated the following: The end of ratification of the Agreement and its entry into force are truly important for the deepening of Armenia-European Union relations. It should be mentioned that effective implementation of the Agreement will have a tangible impact on our citizens lives and various sectors of business. In her speech, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin emphasized that the European Union is willing to assist Armenia in the process of reforms for the development of Armenia and its citizens. Congratulating his colleagues on the entry into force of the Agreement, Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian highly appreciated the efforts of the task forces of Armenia and the European Union for making the entry into force of the Agreement possible. Aivazian emphasized that the strengthening of relations with the EU and its member states that are hinged on common values and mutual pretensions, is a key priority for Armenia. Taking about common values, we cant overlook how those values were repressed and violated through the use of force against peaceful civilians in Artsakh. The large-scale military aggression of Azerbaijan against the population of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) lasted 44 days and led to the emergence of a new and unstable situation in the region, with all the possible negative consequences. We are truly facing new challenges, but alongside this, our determination to support exercise of the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination has not been undermined. I would like to stress that, in the context of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement clearly cites the mentioned right which is particularly important now since the main goal of the war that Azerbaijan unleashed was to deprive the people of Nagorno-Karabakh of their rights, particularly the right to self-determination. Minister Aivazian also called the attendees attention to an issue that is of primary importance for Armenia, that is, the immediate release and safe return of prisoners of war and civilians being kept as hostages by Azerbaijan, including women, and in this regard, he highly appreciated the EUs position. Armenia believes the EU and EU member states should have a lot more to say about this because this concerns not only regional security and stability, but also the lives of certain people, Aivazian emphasized. A clump of tar is seen on the sand after an offshore oil spill drenched much of Israel's Mediterranean shoreline with tar, at a beach in Ashdod, southern Israel, on Feb. 21, 2021. (Amir Cohen/File/Reuters) Israel Finds Ship Behind Oil Spill Off Its Coast, Ministry Says TEL AVIVIsrael has located the ship responsible for an oil spill that blackened its beaches with tar last month, the environment ministry said on Wednesday, without giving details. The countrys investigation has focused on an unidentified ship that passed about 50 km (30 miles) off the coast on Feb. 11 as the likely source of what environmentalist groups are calling an ecological disaster that could take years to clean up. Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel will give more details about the ship later on Wednesday, her ministry said. Clumps of sticky black tar from the spill have also washed up on the coasts of south Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The ministry, which has been working with European agencies, had conducted a broad search that it said included dozens of vessels. By Rami Ayyub The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Several K-pop fans conscious of climate change and its impending crisis have taken initiatives and launched Kpop4Planet, a website where followers of different K-pop artists and fanclubs can learn about eco-friendly daily practices together. Courtesy of Kpop4Planet By Ko Dong-hwan Imagine what could be done if the approximately 100 million K-pop fans worldwide acted together under a common purpose. Imagine if that purpose was keeping the earth environmentally clean and safe with daily eco-friendly practices and supporting stars who publicly promote climate action. That was what organizers of the new website Kpop4Planet had in mind. The fan-driven climate action platform was launched on Mar. 3, eight months before the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is scheduled to take place in Scotland's Glasgow. Kpop4Planet's head organizer Nurul Sarifah launched the site so it could become a platform for K-pop fans to gather and learn about the climate crisis and take action with other like-minded fans. The site will also harness K-pop's unique crowd-driven activism to persuade businesses and governments to take climate action. "Climate change is the crisis of our generation," said Sarifah. "With K-pop fans mostly consisting of Generation Z (those born between mid-1990s and early 2010s) and millennials, we are the ones who will be most severely affected by decisions taken or not taken today. Fighting for climate justice means fighting for our future." The site features artists engaging in action against climate change as inspiration for visitors, including BLACKPINK , who in February called for action as the official advocates for COP26, and Red Velvet , who in August 2020 called for clean air as an ambassador of the UN International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The honor roll also includes Paul Kim, Park Ji-hoon, Eric Nam, Minzy and VIXX who either donated to the cause or raised awareness in real-time online discussions. Red Velvet members released a video campaigning for clean air in September 2020 as the ambassadors of the UN International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. Screen capture from YouTube Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in office for 36 years, said on Thursday that he would head Cambodias government indefinitely, an announcement described by his ruling party spokesperson as political rhetoric. Speaking at Phnom Penhs Calmette Hospital, where Hun Sen was getting vaccinated along with senior cabinet ministers and officials with the recently-arrived AstraZeneca vaccine, he revised his previously-stated timeline to transition to new leadership. Hun Sen, who is 68 and now the worlds longest-serving prime minister, said he would not be defeated. I will not die anytime soon. And now that my body is vaccinated, I will not easily die, he said. I will stop making announcements about [stepping down] in ten or twenty years. I will rule until a point that I feel I no longer want to rule, Hun Sen said. The prime minister had previously said he would likely step down from prime ministership after the 2028 general election. While observers say he will likely hand over power to his oldest son, Army Commander Hun Manet, Hun Sen has said his son would have to compete with other party stalwarts. In December 2020, Hun Sen again revised his plans to leave as head of the government in 2030. He named Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth as a likely successor, but only after some media speculated that Pornmonioth was a potential successor to Hun Sen. Sok Eysan, a spokesperson for the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, said Hun Sens comments on being in power indefinitely was just political rhetoric, and aimed at critics who alleged that Hun Sen was making the prime ministership a family affair. According to my understanding and my opinion, it was because Khmer-service broadcasting of foreign radio stations is trying to smear the Hun family for building a dynastic rule to transfer powers to the generations of prime ministers children and grandchildren, he said. This is not reasonable and runs in contradiction to the principles of the CPP. Thus, the prime minister is fed up which is why he responded like this. Sok Eysan pointed to a February 27 report from Radio Free Asias Khmer Service, which reported that Hun Manet was taking a more active role in the government COVID-19 recovery efforts to boost his political capital. The CPP spokesperson said he was unaware if Hun Sen had changed his mind and no longer planned to retire by 2030. I, too, do not know. You have to ask the prime minister on this matter because he knows best, Sok Eysan said. But according to the CPPs principles in its guidelines and bylaws, when and who to nominate as a prime ministerial candidate shall only be decided by the partys congress and we cannot make any presumptions about that, he said. Political commentator Meas Nee said that despite Hun Sens announcement to govern indefinitely, there was a clear path being laid out for Hun Manet to take over from his father. For the Prime Ministers speech, I think he is fed up with the critics [commenting] on this matter, Meas Nee said. But in reality, we observe that this effort [to groom Manet] is underway. It is a matter of time, but we do not know when. FILE PHOTO: Labourers lift a sack filled with sugar to load it onto a handcart at a wholesale market in Kolkata By Rajendra Jadhav, Nupur Anand and Parisa Hafezi MUMBAI/ DUBAI (Reuters) - Indian merchants have almost entirely stopped signing new export contracts with Iranian buyers for commodities such as rice, sugar and tea, due to caution about Tehran's dwindling rupee reserves with Indian banks, six industry officials told Reuters. "Exporters are avoiding dealing with Iran since payments are getting delayed for months," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading house. Iran's rupee reserves in India's UCO and IDBI Bank, the two lenders authorised to facilitate rupee trade, have depleted significantly and exporters are not sure whether they would be paid on time for new shipments, the dealer said. Under U.S. sanctions, Tehran is unable to use U.S. dollars to transact oil sales. Iran previously had a deal to sell oil to India in exchange for rupees, which it used to import critical goods, including agricultural commodities, but New Delhi stopped buying Tehran's oil in May 2019 after a U.S. sanctions waiver expired. Tehran continued using its rupees to buy goods from India, but after 22 months of no crude sales, Iran's rupee reserves have fallen, said the sources, who asked not to be named, citing business privacy. Iran's reserves have reduced significantly and "will be over soon probably because trade has stopped," said a senior official with IDBI Bank. The Islamic Republic was buying mainly basmati rice, tea, sugar, soymeal and medicines from India. "Rice exporters are concerned about the current payment mechanism," said Vijay Setia, a rice exporter and former president of the All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA). "There was too much of delay in payments from last year's shipments. Exporters received payments six months after shipments," Setia said. In the first quarter of 2020 Iran imported nearly 700,000 tonnes of basmati rice from India, but in the same period this year shipments would be "very negligible," Setia said. Story continues Last year, Iran was the biggest buyer of India's basmati rice and sugar. Iran fulfils more than one-third of its sugar and rice demand through imports, traders estimate. Iran's trade ministry and Central Bank of Iran declined to comment on the matter. PAYMENTS HIT BY SANCTIONS "We are in talks with Indian government and Indian traders to resolve these payment issues and I believe it will be resolved soon," said a senior Iranian official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. "The delay in payments are due to U.S. sanctions on Iran's financial system that has made such payments very difficult," he said. As rupee reserves have depleted and dollar trade is not allowed, sugar exporters are exploring options to conduct trade in euros, Rahil Shaikh, managing director of MEIR Commodities India, said. Sugar exporters are focusing on other destinations like Indonesia and Sri Lanka, as Iran is unlikely to buy significant quantities this year, said Shaikh. India's overall exports to Tehran fell 42% in 2020 from a year ago to $2.2 billion, the lowest in over a decade, said an official with India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The fall is continuing in 2021 and in January this year exports more than halved from a year ago to $100.20 million, the official said. India's ministry of commerce and industry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trading houses and exporters were hoping new U.S. President Joe Biden could reverse sanctions imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump on the oil-rich country. "Exports would rebound even if Biden administration provides a few concessions to Iran like allowing oil trade in rupees," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, Nupur Anand in MUMBAI and Parisa Hafezi in DUBAI; Additional reporting by Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Euan Rocha, Sanjeev Miglani, William Maclean) EUGENE, Ore. Families in Eugene School District 4J have an important choice to make: whether to enroll their children in hybrid or online learning. The deadline for middle and high school families to enter their choice is this Thursday. However, district officials said families only need to respond if they want to change their existing enrollment option. With in-person learning on the horizon, this is the last chance families will have to change their selection. Elementary families were able to select their choice in February. Students who opt in to hybrid learning are expected to return to school buildings this spring, starting with the youngest grades. School staff have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, and schools will comply with Oregons advisory metrics for reopening schools, district officials said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 00:45:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The creation of employment opportunities, the upskilling of the workforce and supporting at least 15 million people at risk of poverty are at the heart of a three-pronged plan for a "more social Europe" unveiled by the European Commission here on Thursday. The targets are part of a plan that focuses on jobs and skills for the future and paves the way for a fair, inclusive and resilient socio-economic recovery, the Commission said in a statement. The action plan sets three headline targets for the European Union (EU) to be achieved by 2030: at least 78 percent of people aged 20 to 64 should be in employment; at least 60 percent of all adults should participate in training every year; and the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should be reduced by at least 15 million. The plan aims to further implement the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights as a joint effort by the members states and the EU, with the active involvement of social partners and civil society, the Commission said. "Our economic recovery must be inclusive, fair and job-rich. With this [plan], we want to signal the importance of a gradual transition from emergency to recovery policies for our labor markets, which the EU will support through its available funding sources," said the Commission's Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People, Valdis Dombrovskis. "As we gradually start to move out of the health crisis in the coming months, it is essential to give a very strong political signal to all Europeans that the EU is concerned for their livelihoods, their jobs and their well-being. We need a longer term, concrete and comprehensive approach on how we want to shape social policies in a context of deep economic, technological and demographic transformations," European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit added. As one of the concrete actions, the Commission made a recommendation on Thursday on an initiative called EASE (Effective Active Support to Employment) for the post-COVID-19 crisis period. Through EASE, the Commission will offer guidance to member states on policy measures to gradually transition from the emergency measures taken to preserve jobs in the current crisis to new measures needed for a job-rich recovery backed by EU funding possibilities, according to the statement. The EASE initiative will promote job creation and job-to-job transitions from declining sectors towards expanding sectors, notably the digital and green ones, the Commission said. New measures would include hiring incentives and entrepreneurial support, upskilling and reskilling opportunities and enhanced support by employment services. Enditem Yves here. Normally the big action in litigation is when cases are first filed and courts issue rulings. But sometimes the byplay can be entertaining and revealing. Even though the mavens seem to think the Arizona case before the Supreme Court on its restrictions on voting rights is bound to yield some concessions to the right wing, it appears the conservative forces scored an own goal yesterday. Its not clear if this fumble will ultimately matter much. Nevertheless, it appears even the GOP realizes there are some practices that it cant justify, which then raises the uncomfortable question of how to defend drawing other lines. By run75441. Originally published at Angry Bear Tuesday brief update on Arizona and GOP oral arguments in SCOTUS. Hardcore GOP Position For Defanging VRA Falls Apart Under SCOTUS Questioning, Tierney Sneed, TPM The Arizona case before the Supreme Court involves two restrictive voting practices in the state which invalidates a vote: Arizonas 2016 ban on most third-party mail-ballot collection, and its longstanding policy of discarding a voters entire ballot if she casts it at the wrong precinct. Many states have a similar rule, while in other places, an out-of-precinct voters ballot counts for non-local races. Beyond the question of whether those specific policies which the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals struck down should be reinstated, the bigger potential consequence of the case is whether the Supreme Court uses it as a vehicle to further narrow the scope of the Voting Rights Act. The state Republican party, at least in its briefs, argued that it should. It wanted to severely limit the use of Voting Rights Act Section 2 results test, which prohibits policies that have the effect of discriminating against minority voters (as opposed to those that are proven to be intentionally discriminatory). The test should only be applied in a redistricting context or for voter qualification measures, the GOP said in its brief. Election regulations i.e. the measures that dictate the time, place and manner in which the ballots are cast should be off the table for results test cases, the GOP was arguing. Or, at least, that was the state partys position until Carvin was thrown a series of hypotheticals by Justice Elena Kagan. She asked him if each example would be compliant under the interpretation of the Voting Rights Act he was putting forward. Carvin said that permissible under the VRA were examples of policies that ended Sunday in-person early voting or that limited polling places hours to 9-5. But faced with her hypothetical about counties of vastly different sizes being restricted to one polling place each, as well as an example of a policy that put polling places only in country clubs, Carvin waffled. He said the former would likely be illegal under the relevant VRA provision, because it has to take into account demographic realities. The latter scenario would provide minorities with less opportunity to vote than non-minorities, Carvin said. With those answers, Carvin cut against his own briefs argument about election regulations not being covered under the relevant part of Section 2. That flip-flop attracted scrutiny from two conservative justices. Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Carvin to elaborate on how the results test, under his interpretation, is supposed to take into account demographic realities. Justice Coney Barrett said his answers to Kagans examples suggested some contradictions in his position. I dont understand why you conceded, in your examples to Justice Kagan, that some of those time, place and manner restrictions like time-place-and-manner you can only vote at a country club, or time-place-and-manner this is the placement of the polls and theyre going to be placed in areas that are burdensome to minorities arent those time, place and manner restrictions? Coney Barrett asked, later adding that the distinctions made in the brief were not relevant to what Carvin was now arguing Tuesday. In questions posed to other lawyers arguing the case, both Kagan and Kavanaugh made snide remarks about the theory laid out in the GOPs brief being different than what Carvin had argued in court on Tuesday. The longer this argument goes on, the less clear I am as to how the parties standards differ, Kagan said at one point, addressing Jessica Ring Amunson, a lawyer for Arizonas Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D). So if I understood what Mr. Carvin said at argument, as opposed to what he said in his brief, he said, of course, you should look at demographic realities, she continued. Coney Barretts harsh exchange with Carvin suggested that there were not five votes on the court for the state GOPs original position that put election regulations out of reach for the results test of the VRA. The potential that the Court would take the state GOPs suggestion and say that the results test did not cover election regulations was the absolute doomsday scenario for federal voting rights enforcement. There were plenty other ways, however, that the conservatives flirted with limiting the scope of that provision. Several Republican appointees appeared focused on a standard (since withdrawn) laid out by the Trump administration. That standard would raise the bar on the kind of evidence challengers would have to bring in alleging an election measure had a discriminatory effect. Here is where I believe we see the real intent of the Arizona GOP being in SCOTUS along with the state came out if you did not know previously. How Carvin wavered on his even more hostile take on the VRA was not the only surprising moment from the hearing. He was surprisingly candid when he was asked by Justice Coney Barrett why the GOP should be allowed to be in the case in the first place. (Its opponents have argued that striking down the measures does not inflict the kind of harm to the GOP that would allow it to defend the measures in court.) Carvin justified the GOP presence in the case by saying that A Syrian minister has attributed the countrys economic challenges to distortion campaigns broadcast by the hostile media, writes Al-Watan. Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Talal al-Barazi chaired a meeting that brought together the heads of chambers of commerce, industry, agriculture, and craftsmanship. During the meeting, the importance of revitalizing markets to secure the needs of citizens with suitable prices for people with limited income was highlighted. The minister emphasized that all basic food commodities such as subsidized bread and flour, and regulated materials such as sugar, rice, and tea are available and that the government is working hard to continue providing for its citizens needs, despite the economic and financial burdens. He highlighted the governments keenness to provide various forms of support to federations of chambers of all economic sectors to address the obstacles that hinder their activity to provide the best services for the good and interest of citizens. Barazi said, it is our duty to protect the citizens not only from the toll of high prices but also from corrupt, unknown sources and recycled materials. We should work to keep our markets safe and clean, especially with regard to foodstuffs and commodities. He stressed that the most severe penalties will be taken against anyone who tries to create chaos in the markets, who carries out illegal trade, issues illegal invoices, or controls the currency. He called on all economic sectors to cooperate and be ready to meet the requirements of citizens and face the repercussions of the economic war, imposed through unilateral coercive economic measures and the Caesar Act. Barazi affirmed that his team is working to launch initiatives that reflect positively on citizens and contribute to reducing economic and living burdens. The team is also working to uncover anomalies and take deterrent measures, in addition to assuring that the economic situation will soon be better now that a set of economic measures are in the pipeline. He pointed to the economic challenges that neighboring countries are witnessing and the fluctuation of the exchange rate. Barazi furthermore called for dispelling rumors, disinformation, and distortion campaigns broadcast by the hostile media, related to the economic reality in Syria, indicating that the information aims to create confusion and anxiety, especially amid the current circumstances. He finished off by stressing the importance of joining forces in the face of everything that might harm the interest of the homeland, the citizens, and their livelihoods. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The leader of an Armenian opposition parliamentary faction says talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on holding early parliamentary elections have failed to reach a deal so far. Pashinian, who faces a political crisis and a call from the army to resign, has said he is open to holding snap elections, but only if the opposition agrees to certain conditions. "We have held negotiations. No understanding has been reached with the prime minister," Bright Armenia leader Edmond Marukian told reporters after meeting with Pashinian on March 4. Political tensions in Armenia have been high, with supporters of Pashinian and the opposition staging competing rallies in the capital. Pashinian has faced mounting protests and calls from the opposition for his resignation following a six-week conflict between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh last year. At the heart of the turmoil is the Russian-brokered deal Pashinian signed in November that brought an end to the fighting after Armenian forces suffered territorial and battlefield losses from Azerbaijan's Turkish-backed military. Under the deal, Armenia ceded control over parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan that had been occupied by Armenian forces since the early 1990s. Marukian said more talks, which should also involve other political forces, might move the sides closer to an agreement on an early vote. "We agreed that the topic cannot be closed solely by us," Marukian said. "Other forces are needed, because we cannot dissolve the parliament based only on our position." The talks on March 4 were held a day after thousands of opposition supporters rallied in the capital, Yerevan, to demand Pashinian's resignation. That rally came after Armenia's political crisis was plunged into deeper uncertainty following the presidents refusal to sign an order to dismiss the head of the military. Pashinian moved to dismiss the chief of the General Staff after accusing top military brass last week of attempting a coup when they called on Pashinian to resign over his handling of last year's war with Azerbaijan. On March 2, for a second time, Armenias largely ceremonial president, Armen Sarkisian, refused to approve the order dismissing the chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparian. However, the president did not ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the order to fire Gasparian complies with the constitution, a technicality that legal experts said means the dismissal would likely take effect automatically if the head of state does not appeal to the top court by March 4. Last week, the discontent spilled over into the military after Pashinian dismissed Tiran Khachatrian, the first deputy chief of the general staff, who mocked the prime minister's analysis of Russian weapons used in the war against Azerbaijan. In response, several dozen high-ranking military officers signed a letter accusing Pashinian and his government of bringing the country "to the brink of collapse" and calling for his resignation. Pashinian said the move amounted to "an attempted military coup" and immediately moved to fire Gasparian, adding a new layer to the political crisis. Pashinian, whose My Step faction dominates parliament, has refused opposition demands to resign but has hinted at accepting early parliamentary elections under certain conditions. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and Interfax Chair of the Oireachtas Finance Committee John McGuinness is urging Bank of Ireland to reconsider its plans to close 88 branches in the Republic of Ireland, including four in Kilkenny, until a full plan is agreed with the Government. Deputy McGuinness has described the current situation as farcical . He says there appears to be no plan for revising the banking landscape in the coming years, which was to the detriment of small businesses, farmers and rural communities. Bank of Ireland announced this week that is closing 88 branches in the Republic of Ireland including branches in Graignamanagh, Callan, Urlingford and Thomastown leaving just two branches remaining open in Kilkenny the city and Castlecomer. The affected branches are due to close in September. Bank of Ireland has outlined a new partnership with An Post which will offer customers access to a range of banking services including withdrawing cash and making cash and cheque lodgements. However, Deputy McGuinness has met with postmasters and says that the post office network are scepticalof Bank of Irelands proposal. Also noting the significant properties involved, the local TD says Bank of Ireland should reconsider until local authorities are informed of the plans that they have for each building they own. Likewise for Ulster Bank in Kilkenny it is a building that is important,he said. The call Im making is they would stand back from closing, and engage with the government to determine a longer process and work on this. Local communities are being deprived of these services because they are being allowed to close down, and then its online banking but theres no broadband in some of these areas. Its farcical, he said. Deputy McGuinness says a community banking model should be considered. The Fianna Fail TD says there are a lot of problems with the banking sector, and what is needed is a combination of restructuring the post office network for the government to provide a public service. All it would need, he says, is government funding to ensure there is a viable third and fourth pillar of banking to compete. Successive governments have brought about this situation. They have overseen this, he said. Ive raised it in the Dail and will be raising it again. The whole issue for rural Ireland is at a crisis stage. There is no plan for revising how the banking landscape will look over the next ten to 15 years. Ordinary small businesses, farmers are being negatively affected as a result. It is wrong, he added. Meanwhile North Kilkenny county councillor Pat Fitzpatrick branded the closures as shameful. It is shameful to hear of these closures for the people of rural Ireland,he said. It is shameful that Bank of Ireland is turning its back on the people of rural Ireland who have supported them It is devastating and in North Kilkenny the closure of the branch in Urlingford will have a terrible impact on the town and the wider hinterland. It will affect local businesses, he added. PANDEMIC Meanwhile SIPTU Organiser, Peadar Nolan said the closures came as a complete bolt out of the blue and called on the bank to halt any plans to close these branches, particularly while people are trying to cope during the pandemic. 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. Too Mitt to quit. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images Donald Trump is gone from D.C., but the divisions he sowed among congressional Republicans remain. There is no GOP civil war. Proudly anti-Trump Republicans are a marginal prescence on Capitol Hill. There was a moment in the immediate aftermath of the January 6 riot when the GOP old-guard appeared to contemplate a clean break with the insurrectionist-in-chief; their polling swiftly vetoed that possibility. Nevertheless, some congressional Republicans devoutly worship at the altar of Americas true president, while others insist that the party must establish an identity thats distinct from Trumps. Its important that we not be a personality-based party, Senate Minority Whip John Thune told Politico this week. Durability as a political party is based around a set of ideas. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy one of the few Republicans to vote for Trumps conviction in the impeachment trial last month articulated a stronger version of Thunes position in an interview with CNN. Over the last four years, [Republicans] lost the House of Representatives, the Senate and the presidency. That has not happened since Herbert Hoover, Cassidy observed. If we plan to win in 2022 and 2024, we have to listen to the voters. Not just those who really like President Trump, but also those who perhaps are less sure. In Congresss other chamber, meanwhile, the GOP caucuss Trumpist majority insists that its Cassidy & Co. who are ignoring the will of the people, with Alabama congressman Mo Brooks telling Politico, Our more liberal, establishment brethren in the Senate have not been faring very well. Those were the only ones that lost in 2020. As Politico emphasizes, the split between the GOP Establishment and its rising Trumpist contingent overlaps quite a bit with the split between the two chambers: While Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to support reelection bids of incumbent Republicans who voted for Trumps impeachment, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has declined to extend any such reassurance to anti-insurrectionist Republicans in the House. Partisans of the Trump contingent have sanctified this divide as a populist conflict between Red Americas blue-collar many and its country-club few. As congressman Jim Jordan, the Platonic ideal of a Trump apostle, tweeted last month, The Republican Party is no longer the wine and cheese party. Its the beer and blue jeans party. Less intellectually constrained conservatives have made more elaborate versions of this argument, arguing that both parties Establishments constitute an aristocratic counter-revolutionary class arrayed against a set of voters with a revolutionary consciousness who believe in the possibility of transformative change (or, as Trump prefers to call them, beautiful boaters). Phrased in these terms, the Trumpists case is absurd. But their perspective isnt entirely without a factual basis. Donald Trump did change the composition of the GOP coalition in a manner thats left the partys voting base less affluent than it was previously. And during his 2016 primary campaign, the mogul did endorse some heretical economic policies that would benefit the Trumpenproletariat at the GOP donor classs expense. Once in office, however, Trump governed as a hard-right Republican. He devoted his first year in office to failed efforts at slashing public health insurance for the poor and a more successful bid to cut taxes for the wealthy. He prioritized the profit margins of coal-fired power plants over the respiratory health of working-class Republicans who live in their vicinity. He made it easier for payday lenders to fleece cash-strapped veterans. Every once in a while, the fact that Trump was not molded by conservative institutions and thus had no ideological commitment to the rights laissez-faire agenda would assert itself, as it did at the very end of his presidency, when the lame duckin-chief called for $2,000 relief checks. But now that Trump is back in Mar-a-Lago, the idiosyncratic impulses of the erstwhile New York Democrat (who once called for $5.7 trillion wealth tax) no longer inform his factions outlook on Capitol Hill. To the contrary, the Congressional Republicans most worshipful of Trump also tend to be among the most orthodox in their economic views. This is because House Republicans in deep-red districts have the strongest incentives to guard their right flanks both by genuflecting to Trumps cult of personality and by upholding conservative purity on all manner of policies. After all, Trump is not going to make trouble for any GOP incumbent who licks his boots no matter their ideological inclinations. The mogul does not care about public policy and has no animating political ambition beyond self-aggrandizement. By contrast, the still formidable Republican big-dollar donor network will give GOP incumbents a headache if they decide to take their own blue jeans party rhetoric seriously. Thus, as Politico reports, it is the Establishment Republican Trump skeptics in the Senate who evince interest in supporting a modest minimum wage increase, while the pro-Trump populists hold the line on $7.25 in the House: Senate Republicans are open to cutting a deal on raising the minimum wage and are warmer toward earmarks, in addition to some presidential nominees, than House Republicans would like. House Republicans are mulling taking a strong position against earmarks and have little interest in raising the minimum wage, one of the hottest debates in Washington right now. You will always have a handful of Republicans that vote to raise the minimum wage, but its only a handful, said Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), noting that more House GOP members tend to live in districts where the cost of living is cheaper. Broadly speaking, there is belief among Republicans we shouldnt get into this on the federal level. If one posits that Trumpist Republicans true constituents the voters to whom they feel themselves accountable and with whom they share a social world are miserly small business owners, then their position on the minimum wage is a defense of their constituents material interests. On the other hand, if you insist that Trumpists represent the working people of this country as the Trumpists themselves are wont to do then the lawmakers opposition to raising the wage floor is a grave betrayal of their base. As the Washington Posts Greg Sargent notes, the roughly 24 million U.S. workers who earn less than $15 an hour are disproportionately concentrated in red America. Graphic: Brookings Institute/The Washington Post To be sure, no GOP senators support a $15 minimum wage either. And the senator who has done the most to define himself as a Trumpian populist, Josh Hawley, has actually taken a heterodox, vaguely progressive (if dumb) position on raising the wage floor. Nevertheless, the congressional Republican who has done the most to advance the interests of the partys working-class constituents in defiance of GOP orthodoxy is not Hawley or any congressional Trumpist, but rather the most anti-Trump and immaculately Establishment Republican on Capitol Hill: Mitt Romney. The Utah Senator is the only Republican in the upper chamber to have voted for Trumps impeachment twice. As the GOPs last pre-Trump nominee and the standard-bearer of the most unabashedly pro-plutocrat presidential campaign Republicans have run this century Romney is a walking antithesis of all that House Trumpists claim to stand for. And yet it is Romney who is pushing to help working-class conservatives sustain the large families they often favor by providing them with a monthly child allowance. Were Romneys bill enacted, the parents of a child born next year would receive $62,600 in child support from Uncle Sam by the time that kid turned 18. That is exponentially more than Jim Jordan has ever contemplated doing for a beer and blue jeans type of family. And yet, for endorsing such a generous program, Romney has earned criticism from many of his partys self-avowed pro-worker conservatives. One can understand why Republicans who have embraced Trump sycophancy for careerist reasons would wish to cast their allegiance as a brave stand for the working class rather than a craven capitulation to car-dealership owners in tinfoil hats. But theres no reason for anyone else to play along. Vietnams attraction of overseas electronics and technology conglomerates cannot be overlooked. However, as the government is focusing on long-term acceleration of research and development and incentives for this sector, a shift from merely manufacturing to creating may soon take place among foreign-invested enterprises. Instead of purely offering foreign investors a manufacturing base, Vietnam places more and more emphasis on R&D. South Korean conglomerate LG in early February declared to add about $750 million to its LG Display Vietnam facility in the northern port city of Haiphong, raising its total investment capital to $3.25 billion. The move took place as COVID-19 returned. Suk Myung Su, general director of LG Display Vietnam said that this subsidiary is one of LGs key projects across the globe. In the coming time, we expect the local authorities to keep facilitating a safe investment climate, thus assuring stability for our long-term plans. Sus statement partially reflects how important the Vietnamese market to the entire corporation is, especially as its LG Electronics branch has suffered tremendous losses in overseas markets. As of the end of December, LG Electronics recorded accumulated losses of $4.5 billion over 24 consecutive quarters. As a result, the parent company has been attempting to restructure its entire operations, including shifting the majority of its business segments to Vietnam. According to Korea Times, LG targets the country as its average labour cost is much lower than in South Korea, helping the company to save a sizable expense. Moreover, the growing living standards in Vietnam are also appeasing. Tran Anh Tuan, founder of research and development (R&D) company MESLAB, told VIR that the local electronics and home appliances market is very promising, as it is driven by the growing expenditures for these items. Therefore, LG chose to accelerate many projects in Vietnam, thus using it as its main supply base for products and new tech. Furthermore, its arch rival South Korean Samsung has poured immense capital into Vietnam, so LG cannot stand around with its arms crossed, added Tuan. Following a string of big foreign-invested ventures in Vietnam, LG is working with local authorities to receive plentiful incentives similar to what overseas giants are enjoying here. Shared ideas Similar to LG, its competitors like Samsung, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Intel, and lately Foxconn Apples largest assemblers have massively stimulated investments in Vietnam. Late last year, Foxconn announced to pour an extra $700 million into the country and thereby provide around 10,000 new jobs in 2021. At the same time, the Taiwanese assembler kicked off two projects in the northern province of Bac Giang. On January 18, Bac Giang Peoples Committee also licensed its new project to manufacture tablets and laptops, worth $270 million. As of the end of 2020, Foxconns total investment in Vietnam reached about $1.5 billion. Last week, Foxconn Singapore Pte. Ltd. also decided to pour an additional $23 million into the Fukang Technology Factory in the northern province of Bac Ninh, bringing the total capital of this project to $293 million. The project was previously granted its investment certificate in mid-January. Foxconn is also recruiting additional 1,000 electronic assembly workers for its factories in Vietnam, who will work at the industrial zones of Dinh Tram, Quang Chau, Van Trung in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces. Last March, Samsung started its $220 million R&D project in Hanoi. The establishment will be the largest in Southeast Asia and responsible for all of its R&D activities. After 12 years of presence in Vietnam, Samsung has increased its total investment in the nation by as much as 26 times to $17.3 billion, which places it as the biggest overseas investor in the country. Intel in January also added $475 million to the first phase of Intel Products Vietnam for its chip assembly and manufacturing facility. Along with the $1-billion chipset assembling facility in Saigon Hi-tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City that was built 15 years ago, the US company has invested around $1.5 billion here. Contrary to the previous incentives applied to all foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), the government has recently reviewed adjusting incentives for investments in high-tech projects. Last year, the government issued several incentives as mentioned in Decree No.94/2020/ND-CP regulating the preferential mechanisms and policies for the National Innovation Centre (NIC). Talking to VIR, Vu Quoc Huy, deputy director of the NIC, said that the criteria will include key requirements like sectors and niche markets, products, technology, business models, and human resources. These are basic standards to select appropriate businesses that focus on the core values of businesses instead of their profitability, so startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises with promising ideas have great chances to join the NIC, said Huy. Manufacturing and assembling establishments which previously had enjoyed a prolonged focus in Vietnam may no longer be approached with favourable conditions. A VIR source revealed that Intel has been in talks with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to receive enormous incentives for its latest project. When Intel entered Vietnam in 2007, the company was offered great incentives for its chip assembling and manufacturing facility. Pham Chanh Truc, head of the high-tech park in Ho Chi Minh City at the time, said Intel would not pay corporate income tax (CIT) for the first four years of operation and enjoy a 50 per cent tax break for the nine years following that. After that, Intel was set to pay only 10 per cent CIT, compared with the then-normal 28 per cent rate. R&D in focus According to the amended Law on Enterprises, R&D activities are classified as industries entitled to incentives. Article 20 stipulates that such projects with a scale of more than VND3 trillion ($130.4 million), and disbursements of at least VND1 trillion ($43.47 million) within three years, can apply for a particular incentive mechanism that is higher than the current provisions of the law and decided by the prime minister. For now, operators are investigating the incentives as stipulated in Decree 94. Those include fewer administrative procedures and a 50-year exemption from land leasing costs in high-tech areas. Establishments at the NIC will also be exempt from land clearance expenses and infrastructure usage fees at the areas they lease. Moreover, startups will be able to enjoy a preferential CIT rate of 10 per cent over the first 30 years, instead of the previous 20 per cent. The NIC will provide programmes focusing on supporting innovative companies, including promoting technology transfer between overseas and local businesses as well as assisting them with research and commercialisation of their products under a sandbox mechanism. Among foreign-invested projects, Samsung continues to enjoy the most favourable conditions for its R&D centre. LG, however, does not stand still as it is already researching locations near Danang to set up similar establishments. Vietnam annually spends a mere 0.4 per cent of its GDP on R&D activities, which is seen as a possible magnet for luring FIEs to the country. Tuan from MESLAB said that with global IT players R&D establishments, Vietnam could gain such benefits as creating suitable jobs for high-skilled employees. Shifting to R&D activities is an inevitable trend as local labour cost and their working skills keep improving, demanding higher-quality investment flows, Tuan said. VIR A military bombing killed 10 guerrillas and injured three at a base of dissidents of the former FARC rebel group in southeast Colombia, official sources said Tuesday. Defence Minister Diego Molano said on Twitter the military action "neutralised" 13 FARC dissidents under the command of a man who goes by the alias "Gentil Duarte." These dissidents have distanced themselves from Colombia's 2016 peace pact, which ended a half-century civil war and saw the FARC disarm the following year. Molano did not say when the assault happened. A source told AFP 10 died and three were wounded. The bombing was conducted in the municipal area of Calamar in the jungle of northern Colombia, where former FARC dissidents still operate. "These narco-criminals are responsible for the recruitment of minors, attacks against our public forces, kidnapping and illegal mining," said Molano. He added the government will "not rest" until it finds Duarte, one of the most wanted rebel commanders in Colombia. Last Friday, the country launched a 7,000-strong elite force to fight rebels financed by drug trafficking and other illegal activities. It said the force would pursue members of the ELN -- the last active guerrilla group in Colombia -- as well as drug gangs and ex-FARC rebels who have abandoned the peace terms. In December, the UN said the Colombian government had killed 244 former FARC fighters since the signing of the peace accords. Colombia continues to battle a multi-faceted armed conflict involving leftist guerrillas, drug-traffickers and right-wing paramilitaries competing for control of the lucrative cocaine and illegal mineral extraction industries. (AFP) More than 100,000 Australians have been allowed to leave the country since the borders were closed in March due to Covid-19. Business travellers, students and people seeking medical treatment are among those to have obtained exemptions to the travel ban. Roughly half those who departed up to December 31 - a total of 51,793 - were exempted because they were leaving for more than three months. Roughly half those who departed up to December 31 were exempted because they were leaving for more than three months. Pictured: Passengers at Sydney Airport Travel exemptions to leave Australia: 25 March - 31 December 2021 Exemption category Number Response to the COVID-19 outbreak 438 Critical industries and business (including business travel, FIFO workers) 8963 Urgent medical treatment not available in Australia 882 Travelling overseas for at least three months (including students) 51,793 Urgent and unavoidable personal business 11,686 Compassionate and compelling grounds (including death/serious illness of family member, travel for adoption or surrogacy) 31,091 National interest 175 Total 105,028 Some 31,091 were granted an exemption for compassionate reasons and 8,963 were released for business and work trips, according to Home Affairs data provided to 9News. A total of 882 travellers left for medical treatment and 175 people were allowed to fly because their travel was in the national interest. Australians and permanent residents can apply for a travel exemption online and must do so two weeks before their flight. On Tuesday the federal government extended its ban on international travel by a further three months until at least June 17, citing an 'unacceptable public health risk'. March 17 will mark one year since Australia slammed its borders shut due to the coronavirus pandemic. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the extension of the 'human biosecurity emergency period' was based on specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer. Some 31,091 were granted an exemption for compassionate reasons and 8,963 were released for business and work trips 'The AHPPC has advised the Australian government the Covid-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants,' he said. 'The extension of the emergency period for a further three months is about mitigating that risk for everyone's health and safety.' The international travel ban was due to end last December before the government extended the ban by a further three months, which was extended even further on Tuesday night. Cruise ships are also banned from entering Australia's shores in the wake of the Ruby Princess disaster in NSW a year ago which resulted in almost 900 infections and 28 deaths. Opposition's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong called on the federal government to take responsibility for the ramifications of the 15-month border closure. 'When Scott Morrison closed the borders he had no plan for the consequences,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'A year later, 40,000 Australians are still stranded overseas, the border closure has been extended and there's still no plan for safe, national quarantine.' Simon Westaway from the Australian Tourism Industry Council called on the government to provide a roadmap for reopening international borders. 'The time is nigh to consider a targeted reopening with key and willing markets,' he told the publication. The border ban extension comes a week after Qantas hinted the airline could be flying travellers overseas as early as October 31. Airline boss Alan Joyce said travel would resume to 22 of the 25 destinations, including Los Angeles, London, Singapore and Johannesburg, despite the super-infectious South African strain. New York, Santiago and Osaka will remain off limits, though the airline has promised to fly holidaymakers over as soon as possible. Australia is expected to complete its rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of October. Children across China participated in various themed activities, including sports challenges and parent-child games, over the last few days to celebrate the International Childrens Day, which falls on Tuesday this year. China established the day in 1949 and made it a full-day holiday for children under 14 in 1956 as an occasion to celebrate the spirit of youth Jun 01, 2021 05:38 PM Multimedia Specialist Anthony Zilis is a multimedia specialist at The News-Gazette. His email is azilis@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@adzilis). YouTube's CEO has confirmed Donald Trump's suspension from the platform will only lift when it's determined the risk violence has decreased. Susan Wojcicki said Thursday: 'The channel remains suspended due to the risk of incitement to violence. I do want to confirm that we will lift the suspension of the channel... when we determine that the risk of violence has decreased.' YouTube suspended Trump's channel for violating policies against inciting violence after the assault on the U.S. Capitol by the former president's supporters in January. Speaking in an interview with the head of the Atlantic Council think tank Wojcicki said recent warnings by the Capitol police about a potential new attack showed that an 'elevated violence risk still remains.' 'Where we stand today it's hard for me to say when that's going to be, but it's pretty clear that right now where we stand that there still is that elevated risk of violence,' she added. Wojcicki said the platform will heed government warnings and statements, law enforcement presence and rhetoric seen in their site in making their decision. 'We will turn the account back on,' Wojcicki said. 'But it will be when we see the reduced law enforcement in capitals in the U.S, if we don't see different warnings coming out of government agencies, those would all be signals to us that it would be safe to turn the channel back on.' YouTube's CEO has confirmed Donald Trump's suspension from the platform will only lift when it's determined the risk violence has decreased YouTube suspended Trump's channel for violating policies against inciting violence after the assault on the U.S. Capitol by the former president's supporters in January While YouTube have said Trump's ban is temporary Twitter banned him permanently and Facebook said the move was 'indefinite' while their oversight board investigates. Nancy Pelosi was on Thursday forced to downplayed a threat to the Capitol by Trump supporters, calling it 'silliness'. March 4 marks the day predicted by followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory to be when Donald Trump will take power again, returning to D.C. to be inaugurated as president once more. It as been branded by them as the 'real Inauguration Day' as it was the date formerly scheduled for the event until 1933. U.S. Capitol Police revealed Wednesday it has received intelligence reports that indicated 'a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group' on the fourth. Security has been heightened around the Capitol out of caution. YouTube first suspended Trump's page in January and removed a video for violating its policy against inciting violence, joining other social media platforms in banning his accounts after the deadly Capitol riot. Trump's access to the social media platforms he has used as a megaphone during his presidency has been largely cut off since a violent mob of his supporters stormed Washington DC on January 6. The Capitol is being guarded by almost 5,000 troops with DC on heightened alert Facebook suspended Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts. In announcing the suspension, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said Trump used the platform to incite violence and was concerned he would continue to do so. Twitter went a step further by deleting Trump's account, depriving him of his favorite platform. It was already marking his tweets disputing the election outcome with warnings. His supporters were also hit with bans. Wojcicki said the platform will heed government warnings and statements, law enforcement presence and rhetoric seen in their site in making their decision While YouTube have said Trump's ban is temporary, Twitter banned him permanently and Facebook said the move was 'indefinite' Trump also was hit with suspensions by services like Snapchat and Twitch. Google and Apple pulled Parler apps from their shops for digital content shops stating that the right-leaning social network was allowing users to promote violence. Amazon Web Services later ousted Parler from its data-centers, essentially forcing the social network offline due to lack of hosting services. The supporters of Trump who attacked the US Capitol were 'provoked' by the president and 'fed lies,' Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the building following a speech by the then president outside the White House in which he repeated his false claims to have won the election. Five people died in the mayhem and it lead to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeaching Trump for a second time; he was later acquitted. A Stormont official has said the number of regulatory checks currently required on goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain equates to 20% of the total undertaken by the entire EU (Liam McBurney/PA) The number of regulatory checks currently required on goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain equates to 20% of the total undertaken by the entire EU, a Stormont official has said. Denis McMahon, permanent secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera), said the Northern Ireland Protocol is requiring the region to carry out more documentary checks than any European member state. Dr McMahon highlighted that the huge levels of bureaucracy are being witnessed during grace periods, when red tape necessitated by the protocol is limited. Giving evidence to the Assemblys Agriculture Committee, the senior official said his department is also seeking legal advice on a decision by Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons to halt work on permanent checking facilities at Northern Irelands four main ports. Expand Close DAERA permanent secretary Denis McMahon has warned / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp DAERA permanent secretary Denis McMahon has warned He said planned works, such as contractors moving equipment on to the proposed sites, have been temporarily rescheduled pending the outcome of the advice. Dr McMahon made clear that the department will ultimately have to comply with the law in regard to the construction. He also confirmed that an external legal challenge against the ministers decision has been initiated. The permanent border control posts are due to open in spring 2022, with ongoing checks taking place at temporary facilities in the ports. Dr McMahon said food and plant safety checks currently only apply to 30% of the agri-food goods which will be potentially subject to the new processes when an exemption period for retail and supermarket goods expires. He said 13,629 documentary checks were completed in January and February, with the weekly total rising steadily throughout those months. It is worth saying that the scale of documentary checks is huge by any standards, he said. By way of illustration, our population is under half a percent of that across the European Union yet the documentary checks, according to the systems, completed so far would represent one fifth of the equivalent documentation right across the EU. He said that is because the protocol is affecting domestic food supply chains, whereas regulatory checks on EU imports are mainly bulk movements of international trade commodities. Expand Close Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons has ordered a halt to work on permanent checking facilities at Northern Ireland ports (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons has ordered a halt to work on permanent checking facilities at Northern Ireland ports (Liam McBurney/PA) Dr McMahon told committee members: What is clear is that were handling a burden of work which is stretching us to the limit, which can only get less sustainable as we move beyond the grace period, again depending on what happens. The senior official said that of the shipments currently requiring documentary checks, 88% of them also undergo identity checks requiring the back of the lorry to be opened up and around 5% full physical inspections. There can be no doubt whatsoever that Daera staff are conducting very significant numbers of checks, including documentary, identity and physical checks and this within the context of the pandemic, he said. The demand is huge and is reflected in the fact that we in Northern Ireland process documentation on a scale larger than all other entire countries across the European Union, according to the system. He added: Were achieving this ahead of a major change when the retail grace period ends, and there will be a huge increase in demand, building on current levels, which will not be sustainable with the staff and resources currently available to Daera. Dr McMahon questioned whether the department could even source the required number of vets and other professionals if it was to try. There will need to be some form of accommodation which can render the task doable, as well as the recognition that, as things stand, its not doable in its present form. Stockholm: As many as eight people have been injured in a knife attack in southern Sweden on Wednesday. According to a report by Anadolu Agency, the attacker, identified as a 20-year-old male by the Jonkoping county police department, was shot and wounded by police in the Vetlanda locality, where the incident took place. Some of the victims were in serious condition and the suspect, a man in his 20s, was hospitalised after his arrest, a police spokeswoman told a news conference. The attacker was previously known to police for minor crimes, she said. All eight victims were hospitalised and three had life-threatening injuries, the Jonkoping regional council said on its website. Police said the suspect attacked at least five different locations in Vetlanda. We have started a preliminary investigation of attempted murder but there are details in the investigation that make us investigate possible terror motives, regional head of police Malena Grann told a news conference. Police were alerted to the attack in Vetlanda, a town of around 13,000 people, around 3 PM and initially said it did not appear to be an act of terrorism. Though the authorities have not given further details about the incident, a probe into the matter has been launched under suspected terrorism. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven condemned the incident. We confront such heinous acts with the combined force of our society, he said in a statement, adding he was in constant contact with both the police and the security service. In April 2017, a radical Islamist drove a truck into crowds of shoppers on a busy street in central Stockholm, killing five people before crashing into a department store. He was arrested and later sentenced to life in prison. Live TV 10ZiG Technology expands its reach in the federal space with support for CAC and Hi-Assurance smartcard authentication in its firmware for 10ZiG Zero Client endpoints. The integration of 90meters SCM and 10ZiG Thin Clients ensures a secure, smooth, and easy-to-use endpoint solution for those protecting our national security. Known for the sole focus of Thin & Zero Client endpoint hardware and software for over 17 years now, 10ZiG Technology has effectively supported every industry sector - including Federal - as part of their virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) custom solutions. Adding to the 10ZiG Federal line-up of successes is the highly anticipated, latest addition of CAC and Hi-Assurance smartcard authentication for hi-side network access, built into NOS Zero Client firmware. With 10ZiG and 90meter together, secure authentication no longer has to mean slow. Smarter, faster smart card software combined with the power, speed, and performance of 10ZiG endpoints, is technology that federal entities can really put into operation. 90meter software complies with applicable standards, including: FIPS 201-1, US DoD CAC Middleware Requirements, GlobalPlatform, PKCS 7-12, 2048-bit RSA, and Section 508. The PIV Minidriver, is Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201 certified middleware, meeting Personal Identity Verification (PIV) I & II standards and meets SP 800-73 for technical specifications to interface with the smart card to retrieve and use identity credentials. Matthew Vanselow, 90meter Inc General Manager, Delivering solutions to the U.S. government in order to achieve their mission is our top focus at 90meter. The integration of 90meters SCM and 10ZiG Thin Clients ensures a secure, smooth, and easy-to-use endpoint solution for those protecting our national security. Ben Burris, 10ZiG Director of Federal Sales, The benefits of the smart card authentication are of course, extremely safe access to Hi-Assurance networks, but add to that the benefits of 10ZiG, and you have the potential for large numbers of devices with the highest security, management, and performance standards for military use. Additionally, the 90meter partnership is ongoing, so smart cards now and smart cards in the future will be adapted. 10ZiG endpoints are specifically designed to fit the needs of governmental/federal entities. The broad selection of VMware Certified ready endpoints with free enterprise management software are proving to be in demand for military and government installations. Devices are available on Linux and Windows 10 IoT based platforms on x86 Intel/AMD hardware and with features including the free 10ZiG Manager, advance warranty, acclaimed tech support, and renowned R&D response to leading VDI firmware upgrades. About 10ZiG 10ZiG Technology is a world-market leader in Thin & Zero Client endpoint devices for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. They provide leading Intel and AMD based Dual and Quad Core Thin & Zero Clients for VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft, etc., environments, in addition to the widest range of Teradici PCoIP Zero Clients on the market. Free, no-obligation demo devices, US & EMEA based Tech Support, and the free 10ZiG Manager software solution with Cloud capabilities and unlimited user licenses, gives them their cutting edge. Contact Us To learn more about cutting-edge VDI technology from 10ZiG, or to arrange for a free Thin or Zero Client demonstration device, please contact 10ZiG below. Corporate Headquarters, US 10ZiG Technology Inc. 23309 N. 17th Drive #100 Phoenix, AZ 85027, USA P. +1 (866) 865-5250 | Email: info@10ZiG.com | Web: http://www.10ZiG.com EMEA Headquarters 10ZiG Technology Ltd. 7 Highcliffe Road Leicester LE5 1TY, UK P. +44 (0) 116 2148650 | Email: info@10ZiG.eu | Web: http://www.10ZiG.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. Nepal's government signed a peace agreement Thursday with a small communist rebel group widely feared because they were known for violent attacks, extortion and bombings. The government agreed to lift a ban on the group, release all their party members and supporters in jail and drop all legal cases against them, while the group agreed to give up all violence and resolve any issues through peaceful dialogue, the government said in a statement after peace talks. Details of the agreement would be made public at a joint ceremony Friday with Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli and the leader of the rebel group Netra Bikram Chand, who is better known by his guerrilla name, Biplav. The rebels also call themselves the Communist Party. This group is known for violence, threats and enforcing general strikes. It had split from the Maoist Communist party, which fought government troops between 1996 and 2006 when it gave up its armed revolt, agreed to UN-monitored peace talks and joined mainstream The Maoist fighting had left 17,000 people killed, hundreds missing and many more maimed. The peace agreement with the rebel group comes at a time when the prime minister and his government are facing a political crisis since a split developed in his own ruling party and the Supreme Court reinstated the Parliament he had dissolved. (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.) Persian Gulf Tensions FILE - This Sept. 15, 2019, file photo, shows storage tanks at the North Jiddah bulk plant, an Aramco oil facility, in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Yemen's Houthi rebels said they struck a Saudi oil facility in the port city of Jiddah on Thursday, March 4, 2021, the latest in a series of cross-border attacks the group has claimed against the kingdom amid the grinding war in Yemen. A Houthi military spokesman, tweeted that the rebels fired a new Quds-2 cruise missile at the facility. He posted a satellite image online that matched Aramcos North Jiddah Bulk Plant, where oil products are stored in tanks. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Yemens Houthi rebels said they attacked a Saudi oil facility in the port city of Jiddah on Thursday amid their campaign of drone and missile attacks on the kingdom, though satellite pictures later analyzed by The Associated Press showed no new apparent damage at the site. Saudi Arabias state-owned media did not acknowledge any incident in Jiddah. But overnight, a military coalition led by the Saudis announced that the Houthis launched two explosives-laden drones toward Khamis Mushait, a southwestern city home to the King Khalid Air Base, and later two ballistic missiles toward the southern province of Jizan. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarie, a Houthi military spokesman, tweeted that the rebels fired a new Quds-2 cruise missile at the facility. He posted a satellite image online that matched Aramcos North Jiddah Bulk Plant, where oil products are stored in tanks. The Iran-backed rebels claimed they hit the same facility last November, an attack the Saudi-led coalition later acknowledged had ignited a fire at the plant. While such attacks rarely cause damage or casualties, strikes on major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, have shaken energy markets and the world economy. The Jiddah plant serves as a temporary storage facility for gasoline, diesel and other petrochemicals before distribution. The facility sits just southeast of the city's King Abdulaziz International Airport, a major airfield that handles Muslim pilgrims heading to Mecca. Flights coming into the airport diverted or otherwise flew in circles early Thursday morning without explanation, according to tracking data from website FlightRadar24.com. An Associated Press journalist at the scene did not see any smoke immediately rising from the installation Thursday morning. On Friday, the AP analyzed satellite photos of the area taken by Planet Labs Inc. The images Thursday showed char marks on a tank struck in the November attack that had been present in previous days' images, but no other signs of a disruption or damage at the facility. Story continues Saudi Aramco, the kingdoms oil giant that now has a sliver of its worth traded publicly on the stock market, did not respond to a request for comment. Its stock traded slightly up Thursday on Riyadhs Tadawul stock exchange as the international crude benchmark, Brent, rose to more than $64 a barrel. U.S. diplomats in Saudi Arabia issued warnings to Americans citing the claimed attack on the Aramco facility, among other reported drone strikes on the kingdom's south. It said it wasn't aware of any casualties and urged Americans to review immediate precautions to take in the event of an attack." These attacks have occurred with little or no warning, impacting airports, energy infrastructure and other civilian facilities, American diplomats said in a new warning early Friday. Violence associated with Iran-supported groups represents a significant threat. U.S. citizens living and working near military bases and critical civilian infrastructure, including airports, are at heightened risk of missile and drone attack. Since 2015, the Houthis battling the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen have targeted international airports, along with military installations and critical oil infrastructure, within Saudi Arabia. In recent months the rebels have escalated their attacks, repeatedly crashing drones and missiles into the kingdoms Patriot missile batteries. Earlier this week, a ballistic missile reached as far as the capital, Riyadh, where it was intercepted and exploded in the sky, scattering shrapnel debris over the city. The conflict in Yemen erupted nearly six years ago, after the Houthis swept into the capital and seized much of the country's north. A Saudi-led military coalition launched a bombing campaign to dislodge the Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government. Now mired in stalemate, the war has killed more than 12,000 civilians, pushed millions to the brink of famine and spawned the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Saudi Arabia has faced widespread international criticism for its airstrikes that have killed civilians and hit non-military targets in Yemen. Both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis have made conflicting claims on the effect of the rebels' attacks and the kingdom's ability to intercept those strikes, making discerning their impact that much more difficult in the war. ___ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. Editor: From time to time letters from loyalists decry that The Times-Tribune and other news sources never give credit to former President Trump for the many great things that he did or accomplished. Every one of those letters states pretty much the same way the many supposed successes. However, there is hardly even one example, let alone many, of those great things. I think its because writers merely parrot the phrase many things from what they hear on the Fox misinformation channel, as well as other far right media. In foreign affairs North Korea continues to build its nuclear capability and is more dangerous than when Trump took office. In Europe, Russia was allowed to be aggressive against its neighbors, hack sensitive computer networks here, meddle in our elections and even place a bounty on U.S. troops in Afghanistan without consequences. There was never a word of rebuke from Trump. The tariff war with China accomplished nothing and the Trump administration lavished large payments from taxpayers to farmers and agricultural businesses to make up for losses because of his failed tariffs. Domestically, the handling of the pandemic was a disaster. Trump spent more time and effort trying to deny it than organizing an attack on it. This has carried over to the chaotic vaccine distribution system that the Biden White House inherited. The only notable action over the last four years that I can remember is a massive tax cut that primarily favored big businesses and the wealthy. The many great accomplishments under Trump seem to exist only in the minds of his most ardent supporters but not in reality as the rest of us know it. TOM MIELCZAREK MADISONVILLE Editor: Admittedly, I am the nearest thing there may be to an archenemy of Scranton Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland. But her statements of Feb. 8 about minority students in the district were correct and factual. Boland owes no apologies to anyone because of their interpretation of what she said. Our society has become effeminate to the point that anyone who opposes anothers viewpoint seems to become the object of seemingly every adversity known to man. This is wrong when people cant speak their mind. Scranton School Director Sarah Cruz apparently lives in an utopian dream world and when some reality enters it, this apparently causes her episodes of heart-wrenching distress and unpleasantness. Maybe she needs another endeavor outside of government. We need people who are elected on their merits and experience, not because of them being a person of color. Now that the bleeding hearts have had your 15 minutes, please allow the school board and union to get back to the business at hand. RON ELLMAN SCRANTON Editor: So Scranton Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland feels unsafe because, to paraphrase her, you just dont know where those kids or their families have been. Chances are, any student could have been anywhere. They even could have been lucky enough to have their daddy fly the whole family to Cancun, Mexico, while Rome burned; err, excuse me, while Texas froze. What, or who, will you blame the districts air quality controversy on, the homeless? JUDITH SENKOW-RICHARDS DICKSON CITY Editor: In support of Scranton Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland, I dont read minds. We live in a depressed area. I dont read her recent comments as racial, but as those of a caring individual who knows the difficulties of the area. Many here need our support verbally and economically, Black, brown, Spanish, Asian and white. This is how I read her words, not racially, as the lady who condemned her apparently did. I am the mother of teachers who have gone out of their way to help students in need. I know other teachers have done so. They did not do it for recognition, but for the good of the children. I really feel as though Boland deserves an apology for the unkind people who put her in jeopardy rather than analyzing her words as they should have. BETTY STEFANI SCRANTON Editor: Let me recount the negative experience I had recently with the Scranton Single Tax Office. It began with trying to answer the 20 questions put to me by the front gatekeeper. After repeating that I simply wanted to pay my current year real estate tax and request a receipt for my 2020 taxes, I was told to call the office and explain my situation. I was granted permission to pass through and advance to my destination. Upon arriving at the offices second floor lobby, I found three other unfortunate souls waiting endlessly for their turn to make a payment. I observed a couple making multiple-year payments, tying up an employee for 30 minutes or more. Another person who also was making multiple-year payments occupied the last remaining employee. Heres a few observations: Why werent there more front-end employees scheduled to work? After all this is prime tax season. Second, people paying multiple-year payments should make an appointment or be directed to a separate line. These are suggestions with potentially easy implementation. Please take note and find out why the tax office is so dysfunctional. FREDA WEINERTH SCRANTON Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 16:52:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Leading public health experts from China and the United States called on the world's two largest economies to cooperate in COVID-19 vaccination for a steady recovery at a recent webinar co-hosted by China's Tsinghua University and Washington-based think tank the Brookings Institution. Tsinghua University President Qiu Yong and Brookings President John R. Allen delivered their opening remarks at the online event themed "Fast Track to Recovery: U.S.-China Collaboration on COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment," which was held on Monday. Qiu said Tsinghua is looking forward to working together with Brookings and the global community to facilitate a faster recovery from the pandemic through academic exchanges and research collaboration. "As we enter the period of vaccine distribution, it is vital that we work together to develop and form concrete policy recommendations for the next stage," he said, adding that the rapid development of several vaccines offers the promise of an effective solution to the pandemic. Allen, for his part, noted that the change in the U.S. administration offers an opportunity for leaders from both sides to examine what can be done differently and set a new course for how the United States and China can address the shared threat of COVID-19. In his eyes, when the two countries join hands to fight COVID-19, the world will have a better chance to emerge from the pandemic stronger, on the basis of a long history of the two countries working together to combat epidemics such as SARS and Ebola. Several renowned public health experts also shared their views during the webinar, including Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a leading expert in China's respiratory disease research, W. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, and Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC). As multiple virus variants emerging around the world posed a huge challenge to the global fight against COVID-19, Zhong stressed the urgency of close collaboration between the two countries to improve COVID-19 vaccines and cocktail therapy, and prepare for a potential new wave of outbreaks in the near future. He added that China-U.S. collaboration on COVID-19 prevention and treatment should be based on science and evidence rather than politicization. "We need to work together in a global fashion," said Lipkin, stressing the need for a global mechanism of testing and distribution of diagnostics, drugs and vaccines. He also suggested that the public health crisis needs more data sharing and efforts to strengthen global health institutions. Gao said the two countries should work together to promote COVAX, a multilateral vaccine initiative backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. It is unlikely for the world to return to complete normality as pre-pandemic, but possible to regain relative normality by next summer if the current trends persist, he said. He also said the two countries should hold on to a "four Cs" principle -- collaboration, competition, communication and coordination -- to jointly curb the spread of COVID-19 and restore normal life. China and the United States could collaborate to develop global real-time surveillance and response systems to detect outbreaks, according to Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Vaccine nationalism will backfire. Only global collaboration against the virus can lead to global recovery," he said. Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with China CDC, said the prospects for the anti-pandemic fight hinge on the preventive measures taken by countries, the progress of their vaccination campaigns, and vaccines' effectiveness and duration of protection. Zhang Wenhong, head of Shanghai's COVID-19 clinical experts team, said he believes that China and the United States, as two major vaccine producers of the world, have a responsibility to help the least developed countries get access to COVID-19 vaccines. The webinar, which was live-streamed on various social media platforms, was viewed by millions of people worldwide. Enditem * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below MILAN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin Packaging, the world's largest hybrid packaging supplier, announced today the acquisition of Roma International, a leading supplier of bottles, jars and closures for high-end cosmetics and personal care products. Founded in 1965, Roma International began as a supplier of nail polish bottles, later expanding its offering to include containers and closures for perfumes, skincare, aromatherapy, and other personal care products. Today, Roma International has a large portfolio of glass and plastic bottles and jars, and pumps, sprayers, caps, and other closures, as well as custom designs and bespoke products to service luxury brands and high-end customers. "The acquisition of Roma International will enable Berlin Packaging to further extend its range of packaging in the cosmetics and personal care sectors," said Paolo Recrosio, CEO Berlin Packaging Europe. "I am also excited about the company's industry knowledge and strong relationships with clients across the beauty sector, which will help create significant business opportunities for our group." "Becoming part of the Berlin Packaging group offers Roma International huge opportunities, and I know our employees, customers, and suppliers will all thrive as a result," said Steve Excell, Managing Director of Roma International. "I am immensely proud of having led, nurtured, and developed Roma International for 30 years, as well as bringing the next generation of my family into the business. I am thrilled to have secured this opportunity to combine my business with the world's largest hybrid packaging supplier and all its resources and capabilities." This is Berlin Packaging's twelfth acquisition in Europe since 2016, confirming its commitment to offering packaging solutions in all segments of the market throughout Europe. "Targeted acquisitions, like Roma International, ultimately help us to grow faster organically in Europe," said Bill Hayes, CEO and President of Berlin Packaging. "We are excited to expand our capabilities in the cosmetics and personal care space and utilise Roma International's capabilities in these verticals across our group." Berlin Packaging Berlin Packaging is the world's largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies billions of items annually along with package design, financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Berlin Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and services. See BerlinPackaging.com for more information. About Bruni Glass, a Berlin Packaging Company Bruni Glass, the largest packaging distributor in Europe, has 40+ years' experience supplying premium and specialty glass packaging to the wine, spirits, food, and gourmet markets. Headquartered in Italy and with locations across Europe, Bruni offers thousands of custom-designed products along with popular standard items. The company has a world-class design studio, a network of high-quality manufacturing partners, a team dedicated to thrilling service, and is certified by CISQ- IMQ (Italian Institute for the Quality Mark) to ISO 9001 standards. See BruniGlass.com for more information. For more information: Press Office Omnicom PR Group Italy Barbara Papini, [email protected] +335 6113555 Ilaria Sala, [email protected] +39 335 8112968 Berlin Packaging Elena Franzetti, [email protected] +39 02 48436611 +39 3401204145 Julie Saltzman, [email protected] +1 312 869 7554 for North America. SOURCE Berlin Packaging Related Links http://www.BerlinPackaging.com In a report summary released today Thomas McAndrew, a computational scientist and assistant professor at Lehigh University's College of Health includes probabilistic forecasts of the impact of vaccines and variants on the U.S. COVID trajectory over the next few weeks. The goal of the report, says McAndrew, is "to support public health officials, infectious disease modeling groups, and the general public" Report highlights: A consensus of 91 forecasters predicts that the B.1.1.7. variant will be found in 42% of all genetic sequences with an S-gene mutation in the first two weeks of March and in 72% in all sequences between March 29 and April 4, 2021. The consensus among experts in the modeling of infectious disease and trained forecasters from Metaculus is that by Feb 28th, 55,420,000 people will have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Generalist forecasters from Good Judgment Open (GJO) - an online forecasting platform open to any interested member of the public - responded similarly with an implied median of 52,200,000 people receiving one or more vaccine doses. Preliminary data from the CDC shows 49,772,180 people have received an initial dose on Feb. 28th. Consensus forecasts from both Metaculus and Good Judgment Open predicted a decrease in the rate of cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the last week of Feb (21st-27th). The team will share with members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and members of MIDAS. McAndrew's approach to forecasting is different from the traditional approach. Rather than build a computational model to predict cases, deaths, and hospitalizations due to COVID, he asks experts and trained forecasters to predict these targets and combines their predictions into a single consensus forecast. In addition he and his team produce a metaforecast, which is a combination of an ensemble of computational models and their consensus forecast. Perhaps youre wondering what the hell is going on with Andrew Cuomo. Of course you are. Youve been in deeply dull pandemic lockdown for more than a year. And now, heres a drama involving politics, ethics, sex and remorse featuring one of the biggest political names in the country. In which citizens are challenged to decide whether, say, kissing a female subordinate on the mouth after a private meeting could count as a customary way of greeting. Can I hear you say, Nah? Cuomo was the hero of an earlier stage of the pandemic the truth-telling, Trump-challenging star who won an Emmy for his daily coronavirus briefings. Remember when you deliberately tuned in to watch the New York governor show you a bunch of charts? We will think of this in retrospect as the era when people were buying the Andrew Cuomo Celebrity Prayer Candle on Amazon. But wow, how fast things changed. It turns out that the stellar accomplishments Cuomo was pointing to every day were, um, fudged. Somewhat. The question was whether a nursing home patient who is hospitalized and dies from Covid-19 counts as a nursing home fatality. Obviously, if youre the patients family, that doesnt matter a heck of a lot. But if youre a governor trying to demonstrate how well you oversee the nursing homes, its a big deal. Cuomos star power was dimmed, for people who were paying attention. But this new scandal has gotten everybodys interest. New York has a long record of this kind of political crisis. In 1881, enemies of Senator Thomas Platt managed to grab a hotel room next to the one where Platt was having an assignation. They watched the whole thing over the transom and dutifully reported all the details to an Albany newspaper. It's worth remembering that throughout the pandemic there has NEVER been a Missouri mask mandate and local municipalities were required to devise and enforce their own rules. A worthwhile flex from Guv Parson mostly escapes culture war dress code criticism: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson lauds lack of mask mandate as COVID-19 cases decline By contrast here's a glimpse at the national uproar as masks quickly come off across the nation . . . Forbes: Dr. Fauci - Texas And Mississippi Mask Mandate Rollbacks Are Ill-Advised And Risky' NBC: 'Neanderthal thinking' - (Prez) Biden criticizes Texas, Mississippi for lifting mask mandates UST: Four states have rolled back mask mandates. More could be on the way. Here's what it could mean for all of us. Interestingly . . . A TKC reader remembers a rally for future Prez Biden about one year ago wherein masks were not required of progressive supporters and unseen amongst the crowd in close company. Even better, in order to mark a moment in time and before it's too late . . .We'd like to share this funny clip from Missouri jokers at The Mystery Hour who offered a bit of satire amid 'scientific' debate: Developing . . . Language of persecution and hate permeated government websites, press releases and laws for much of the last four years. No more. In Four Large Cities, California Homicides Increase Los Angeles recorded over 300 homicides in 2020, a statistical high mark it had not reached in 11 years. Now, a little over a year later, the body count from that sharp homicide increase continues to stack up not only in Californias largest city but also in other major cities across the state. As authorities begin to investigate the uptick in crime-related deaths, one thing is clear: a majority of those homicides have occurred in urban areas of the state where large numbers of African Americans live. ADVERTISEMENT Within the 15-day period before 2021 began, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported 19 murders. During the first few days of the new year, that number doubled. By the seventh day, 45 people had been shot and killed, the LAPD reports. After crunching the 2020 data, the LAPD reported a 38 % uptick in homicides. Among them, there were more than 350 shooting victims, indicating an increase in the use of firearms. This is just over twice the rate of the same period last year, LAPD chief Michel Moore said during a January press briefing. As of Jan. 29, Sacramento reported that six people had been shot and killed during five different incidents. Before that, during the last six months of 2020, there was a slew of killings involving young people in the state capital, ending a 24-month stretch since 2018 when not one youth was murdered. Last year, Sacramento saw 43 homicides, up from 34 in 2019, and the most since 2015, according to the Sacramento Police Department (SPD). Eight of those homicides were gang-related, and four of them involved juvenile victims. One victim was a nine-year-old girl who was shot and killed by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting. There were 192 firearm-related assaults in 2020, a nearly 30% increase over the previous year. SPD police officers made over 50 arrests and seized over 60 illegally possessed firearms in the month of January alone. In 2019, officers seized a total of 974 illegal firearms. In 2020, this number increased to 1,235. ADVERTISEMENT The year 2020 was a challenging year for our community (and) our department, said SPD public information representative Karl Chan. The last year saw a strain on the polices resources like never before, Chan continued. Officers were often pulled from policing our communities to stop major demonstrations around our (State) Capitol. Oakland is also off to a violent start this year. The Oakland Police Department (OPD) reports that January was the deadliest month in almost 20 years. A total of 15 murders were recorded during the first month of 2021. Only one homicide was committed in January of 2020. Overall, Oakland had 64 murders in January alone, a 129% increase. The citys mayor Libby Schaaf said Oakland is at a point where emotions are high. The violence is caused by overall stress, she believes. Schaaf also blames the spike in homicides on an influx of weapons. We are seeing more and more powerful guns on our streets than we have ever seen before, Schaaf said. In San Diego County, 52 murders were registered in the first six months of 2020 with sharp increases in March and April, according to the San Diego Association of Governments. San Diego County experienced 38 homicides during the same six-month period in 2019. Homicide detectives said 41 % of those killings were connected to arguments, 22% to robberies and 3% to gang violence. Another 34 % were attributed to other factors. In Chula Vista, a city10 miles south of San Diego, there were 10 homicides in 2020. That number represents more than a 300 % increase over the citys average of three homicides a year. San Francisco has neither experienced an uptick nor a decrease in homicides in 2021. The three murders committed in the city so far this year happened in January the exact number that occurred in January of 2020, according to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). The first of the San Francisco homicides in 2020 was a Black woman, Emma Hunt, a 32-year-old a mother of two. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely one culprit helping to trigger the increase in homicides in the state over the last 24 months. Stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout and the national racial reckoning centered around protests that erupted after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are considered factors as well, crime experts say. This year, were really seeing something really unprecedented, said Jeff Asher, a co-founder of AH Datalytics, a national data analysis firm, during a television interview with NBC 7 in San Diego. Asher, who studies national crime numbers every year, stated that 57 police departments across the country saw homicides climb 36.7% last year over 2019 figures. This really is a national trend, Asher said. With the largest population in the country, California recorded the largest number of homicides in 2019: 1,690 for the year, according to Statista.com, a national market research and consumer data company. In 2019, of the California homicides where the victims race or ethnicity was identified, 44.2 % of victims were Hispanic, 28.6 %were Black, 19.8 % were white, and 7.4% were from other race or ethnic groups, according to the California Attorney Generals 2019 annual report Additionally, firearms continue to be the most common weapon used in homicides, the report found. On Feb. 19, the SPDs SWAT team and Sacramento District Attorneys Office Investigators announced the arrest of two individuals charged with two counts of possession of assault weapons with extended magazines and handguns. By taking these guns off the streets, our officers have made our city safer for the community and our officers, said Daniel Hahn, California Capital citys first African American police chief. These investigations are important, as they not only address violence occurring in our community, but also can lead to other serious crimes. San Francisco, March 4 : A court in the US ordered chip-making giant Intel to pay nearly $2.18 billion to VLSI Technology, an affiliate of SoftBank-owned Fortress Investment Group, for alleged infringement of two patents. Intel vowed to fight the judgement, the Mobile World Live, published by GSMA, reported on Wednesday. An Intel representative said "we will prevail" in an appeal and that it "strongly disagrees with today's jury verdict." The federal jury in Texas found that Intel infringed two patents owned by VLSI Technology covering ways to accelerate speed and power of computing chips. Professor Mark Lemley of Stanford Law School said in a tweet the award was the "second largest patent verdict ever." However, he added that "I believe every patent verdict over $1 billion has been overturned or reduced on appeal. We'll see if this one survives". Intel had earlier requested the postponement of the lawsuit, citing the Covid-19 crisis, but a federal judge rejected the plea. The hefty fine, could have serious implications for Intel which is facing tough competitions from companies like AMD and NVIDIA. However, Intel said that it will appeal the verdict. WHO Wont Release Interim Report on COVID-19 Origins Amid Growing Scientific Concerns Over Legitimacy of Its Investigation The World Health Organization team that announced in February it was extremely unlikely that COVID-19 could have accidentally leaked from a Wuhan lab has scrapped previously announced plans to release an interim report on its findings. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Feb. 10 that the report would be released in coming days, but the teams lead researcher, Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that it will not release an interim report and will instead publish a comprehensive report that in coming weeks and will include key findings. By definition a summary report does not have all the details, Embarek said. So since there [is] so much interest in this report, a summary only would not satisfy the curiosity of the readers. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had previously said on Feb. 12 that an interim report on its investigation into the origins of COVID-19 could be released as soon as the following week, according to The Journal. The WHOs delay in reporting its findings from its investigation in Wuhan comes amid growing criticism from the scientific community over the legitimacy of the mission. A group of two dozen scientists issued an open letter on Thursday stating that the WHOs mission in China, which was accompanied by Chinese citizens whose scientific independence may be limited, did not have the mandate, the independence, or the necessary accesses to fully investigate all potential origins of COVID-19, including the theory that the virus could have accidentally leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The scientists called for a new investigation in China carried out by a truly independent team with no unresolved conflicts of interests, an apparent reference to the sole U.S. member of the WHO team, Dr. Peter Daszak, who routed $600,000 in taxpayer funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology prior to the pandemic to study bat-based coronaviruses. Daszak also orchestrated a statement in The Lancet medical journal at the onset of the pandemic that condemned conspiracy theories suggesting COVID-19 does not have a natural origin, indicating he had made up his mind on the lab leak theory long before being invited to partake in the WHOs pandemic origins investigation. Daszak criticized President Joe Bidens state department after it announced on Feb. 9 it was waiting to review the WHOs report before coming to any conclusions. Daszak suggested in a tweet the White House should blindly accept the WHOs determination that the lab leak theory was highly unlikely before having the opportunity to review the underlying evidence. The scientists also said in their open letter a new investigation must have no full or partial control by any specific agenda or country, and must have full or significant access to all laboratories, Chinese and international, that are known to have worked on coronaviruses prior to the pandemic. With more than two million deaths, more than a hundred million infected by COVID-19 worldwide, and a massive global disruption impacting some of the worlds most vulnerable populations, we cannot afford an investigation into the origins of the pandemic that is anything less than absolutely thorough and credible, the scientists said. If we fail to fully and courageously examine the origins of this pandemic, we risk being unprepared for a potentially worse pandemic in the future. The drive for a new investigation in China is unlikely to gain traction, according to The Journal, which noted that any future probes will need to receive approval from the Chinese government. By Andrew Kerr From The Daily Caller News Foundation Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. In Iran's conservative Islamic society, prostitution is illegal, immoral, and rarely discussed. But in an investigative documentary by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, sex workers in Tehran describe a routine business where clients are easily found and family members turn a blind eye. They also speak of the crushing economic pressures that have driven them into dangerous work. TL;DR: Just when you thought the global semiconductor shortage couldn't get any worse, we're now hearing that the winter storm in Texas last month has left chip makers in the area dealing with the consequences of temporarily shutting down their fabs. It will take several weeks before production can restart, exacerbating the ongoing industry problems and possibly leading to more price hikes for some products. As reported by Reuters, Samsung, NXP Semiconductors, and Infineon Technologies were all ordered to close their factories in Austin, Texas, last month so power could be prioritized for people's homes, a result of the winter storm that killed at least 21 people. As we've seen in the past, even the slightest disruption in a fabrication plant's power can have far-reaching consequences, given the time and money required to restart manufacturing. "Chipmakers now have the power, water, and gas they need to operate, but they need time to restart tools and clean the factories," said Edward Latson, CEO of the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association. Samsung confirmed that it "may require more time to reach normal levels as we inspect and reconfigure the facility." Latson warned that the automotive industry, one of those hit hardest by the chip shortages, will feel the shutdown's effects in around five months. The Austin fabs count automakers among their customers. "The impact is almost immediate, as the chip inventories are low and customers need them as soon as possible," he said. "We are now looking at about one month of lost production." Samsung's factory makes chips for its own LSI division, Tesla, and Qualcomm. While these customers could turn to other fabs for their chips, that's easier said than done right now. There's a lengthy backlog as plants struggle to fulfil orders, and any excess capacity costs a premiumTSMC auctioned off its excess wafer capacity at 15 20 percent more than usual. Central image credit: Roschetzky Photography By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/03/2021 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Yara Zaya has launched her own online clothing store.Ever since Yara began appearing on Season 8 of with Jovi Dufren , she has amassed thousands of Instagram followers who frequently ask Yara for beauty tips and gush about her cool and sexy style in the comments.And now, Yara is sharing her personal style with fans because she has launched a website on which people can shop and purchase clothing -- including several of her favorite dresses and ensembles."Hey guys, TODAY will be the launch of Yarazaya Shop," Yara, a 25-year-old from Ukraine, captioned a photo of herself in a tight, long-sleeve taupe dress on Instagram over the weekend."This has truly taken so much time and work and it's not 100% yet, but I want you guys to have access to all these amazing items. Each week I will be bringing new items to keep you up to date in all the latest fashion trends."Yara continued, "Dare you jackets will be available for your purchase. The best news about this jacket is everyone sold in the first week will be sent with a hand written letter signed by me!!!!""Get them fast as there will be a limited amount!!! Stay tuned guys and I hope you will enjoy. 2PM CST LAUNCH!!!!!!!!! Also, this dress in my picture will be featured with my favorite items," she concluded.This week, Yara has been posting photos of herself in certain pieces that are for sale.On Tuesday, Yara posted a photo of herself in a long-sleeve purple minidress and captioned it, "Soon in yarazaya.com we will have many options plus size clothing #90dayfianceseason8 #90dayfiance #90dayfianceyara."And one day before that, the TLC reality star shared an image of herself in a tight green knee-length dress with spaghetti straps and a gold belt."Love this dress. yarazaya.com," Yara wrote alongside the image.The items in Yara's online store, such as fuzzy sweaters and leather jackets, range in price from around $40 to $100. Yara apparently decided not to sell any bottoms such as jeans, skirts or pants.As shown on Season 8 of , Yara met Jovi, a 29-year-old who works in underwater robotics from New Orleans, LA, through a travel app."Really good sex" in Budapest, according to Jovi, resulted in the couple dating and traveling the world together.Six months into their relationship, Yara got pregnant but later experienced a miscarriage. Despite the pain and hurt the incident caused, the couple stayed together and Jovi filed for a K-1 visa so Yara could move to New Orleans and marry him.Once Yara moved to America, she said she loved Jovi but the pair had to work through some issues. Yara accused Jovi of drinking too much, and Yara disappointed Jovi's mother Gwen by wanting a quickie wedding in Las Vegas instead of a big wedding for family and friends.Yara then got pregnant again and didn't exactly feel ready for a baby, especially because she and Jovi couldn't seem to stop fighting -- even at their own engagement party.Yara therefore gave Jovi an ultimatum, saying he needed to cut back drastically on his drinking and partying or she'd fly back to Ukraine and raise their child as a single mother. She also told Jovi that she couldn't envision herself living in New Orleans permanently.In the latest episode, Jovi promised Yara he would be more sympathetic, supportive, caring and attentive, and so the couple seemed to be getting back on the right track.To read spoilers on Yara and Jovi's pregnancy and relationship and whether they are still together, click here Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! The following report compiles all significant security incidents confirmed by New York Times reporters throughout Afghanistan for the month. It is necessarily incomplete as many local officials refuse to confirm casualty information. The report includes government claims of insurgent casualty figures, but in most cases these cannot be independently verified by The Times. Similarly, the reports do not include Taliban claims for their attacks on the government unless they can be verified. Both sides routinely inflate casualty totals for their opponents. March 26-April 1, 2021 At least 64 pro-government forces and 20 civilians were killed in Afghanistan the past week. The deadliest attack took place in Helmand Province, where 11 police officers, including the police chief of Sangin District, were killed in an insider attack in a security outpost in Nahr-e- Siraj area of Greshk District. Three Taliban infiltrators managed to steal all of the military gear and join the insurgency. Also in Helmand, a Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Camp Bastion in Washir District, killing four police officers and critically wounding two others. According to officials, the helicopter crashed due to a technical problem, but the Taliban claimed that it was shot down by their fighters. In Herat Province, the Taliban attacked a group of pro-government militia members who were patrolling a village in Kohsan District, killing five of them. Insurgents seized the rifles of those killed and their vehicle. [Read the Afghan War Casualty Report from previous months.] April 1 Nangarhar Province: one police officer killed Unknown gunmen shot and killed a woman police officer in the Third Police District of Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar. Two suspects were arrested after the killing. April 1 Herat Province: two police officers killed Two police officers were killed and two others were wounded by a roadside bomb explosion in the Kamar Kalagh village of Injil District. Despite ongoing concerns about the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, career military families are continuing to save for and feel confident in their financial futures. The latest results from the First Command Financial Behaviors Index reveal that nine out of 10 survey respondents are concerned about the pandemic and roughly half are worried about the financial impact. Many of these families are responding to their COVID-19 concerns by maintaining monthly contributions to savings and retirement accounts, and those positive behaviors are contributing to strong levels of financial confidence. January 2021 survey results reveal that 52 percent of career military families (commissioned officers and senior NCOs in pay grades E-5 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) feel extremely or very financially secure month to month. Thats up slightly from 46 percent in January 2020. Seventy-three percent of military families feel extremely or very confident in their ability to retire comfortably. That compares to 63 percent the previous year. "One year into the pandemic military families are maintaining their hope and optimism by continuing to invest for the long term," said First Command President/CEO Mark Steffe. "These positive behaviors are helping them weather the uncertainty of today and feel greater confidence in their financial futures." The trend is particularly notable among those who partner with a financial coach. During the fourth quarter of 2020, military families with a financial advisor contributed more to retirement and long-term savings accounts than their do-it-yourself counterparts $1,714 per month versus $906. They also put more dollars into short-term savings $667 per month versus $483. Military families who work with a financial advisor ended the year with average savings and retirement holdings of $191,158. Thats about $84,000 more than those without an advisor. Story continues These higher savings amounts align with greater levels of financial confidence. The January 2021 survey reveals that 79 percent of military families with an advisor feel extremely or very confident that their financial situation will improve in the next year. That compares to just 40 percent of families without an advisor. And 78 percent of families with a financial coach report feeling extremely or very confident in their ability to retire comfortably, compared to only 41 percent of military families without an advisor. Notably, military families who work with a financial advisor are more prepared for emergency expenses related to the virus. The Index reveals that 62 percent report having three months or more of savings to fall back on to cover monthly household expenses. That compares to 54 percent of military families without an advisor. "Military families who partner with a financial coach are better prepared for the pandemic and feeling more confident in their financial future than their do-it-yourself colleagues," Steffe said. "Working with a financial advisor can help reinforce the value of saving for today and increase feelings of security and confidence for tomorrow." Looking ahead, military families who work with an advisor are more likely than their DIY counterparts to say they intend to increase their monthly contributions to savings and investments. These positive savings intentions helped drive the latest quarterly Index score to 179 for those with an advisor versus 117 for those without an advisor. The Index is set to a benchmark of 100, which was assigned when the Index was launched in 2008. About the First Command Financial Behaviors Index Compiled by Sentient Decision Science, Inc., the First Command Financial Behaviors Index assesses trends among the American publics financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions through a monthly survey of approximately 530 U.S. consumers aged 25 to 70 with annual household incomes of at least $50,000. Results are reported quarterly. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. For more details on our research, please email MarketingInbox@firstcommand.com. http://www.firstcommand.com/fbi/ About Sentient Decision Science, Inc. Sentient Decision Science was commissioned by First Command to compile the Financial Behaviors Index. SDS is a behavioral science and consumer psychology consulting firm with special vertical expertise within the financial services industry. SDS specializes in advanced research methods and statistical analysis of behavioral and attitudinal data. About First Command First Command Financial Services and its subsidiaries, including First Command Brokerage Services and First Command Bank, coach our Nations military families in their pursuit of financial security. Since 1958, First Command Financial Advisors have been shaping positive financial behaviors through face-to-face coaching with hundreds of thousands of client families. 2021 First Command Financial Services, Inc. is the parent company of First Command Brokerage Services, Inc. (Member SIPC, FINRA), First Command Advisory Services, Inc., First Command Insurance Services, Inc. and First Command Bank. Securities products and brokerage services are provided by First Command Brokerage Services, Inc., a broker-dealer. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by First Command Advisory Services, Inc., an investment adviser. Insurance products and services are provided by First Command Insurance Services, Inc. Banking products and services are provided by First Command Bank (Member FDIC). Securities are not FDIC insured, have no bank guarantee and may lose value. A financial plan, by itself, cannot assure that retirement or other financial goals will be met. First Command Financial Services, Inc. and its related entities are not affiliated with, authorized to sell or represent on behalf of or otherwise endorsed by any federal employee benefits programs referenced, by the U.S. government, or the U.S. Armed Forces. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210303005793/en/ Contacts Mark Leach Media Relations 817-569-2419 msleach@firstcommand.com Dhaka, March 4 : Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday congratulated Bangladesh on behalf of his country for exiting the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) status, crediting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the country's "expected graduation". The Indian minister arrived in Dhaka by a special aircraft on Thursday morning and was welcomed by Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen at the Bangabandhu Air Base. Jaishankar is visiting Dhaka on the invitation of Momen, aiming to deepen the ties between the two countries. He said the significance of his country's ties with Bangladesh lie in the centrality for their 'Neighbourhood First' motto and the growing relevance of the 'Act East' policy. "It is a tribute to your miraculous socio-economic progress, and the statesmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Jaishankar said. "We see Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued partner not only in South Asia, but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Every outcome and achievement in our relationship resonates through the region. This is why we are working to expand our partnership in all dimensions, ranging from security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people to people tie, to energy, joint development of our shared resources and defence ties," Jaishankar added. Both the countries highlighted their shared objective with an approach of "no crime, no death" to end killing along the borders, noting that every death is regrettable. On the water sharing issue of Teesta, Jaishankar said all know the position of India and that position has not changed Jaishankar. Bangladesh and India also discussed ways to take forward the "rock-solid friendly relations" as the two countries are set to celebrate the 50 years of Bangladesh independence together this month. While speaking at the state guesthouse Padma, Jaishankar said that he is delighted to visit Bangladesh after a gap of nearly one-and-a half years. Mentioning that Indian Prime Minister's upcoming visit in Bangladesh will be "very memorable". Jaishankar said this is the first travel of Modi outside India since the Coronavirus pandemic as well as his second as a Prime Minister to Bangladesh. "We know that this is a very special year, when both countries mark the 'Mujib Barsho', 50 years of the Liberation of Bangladesh and 50 years of our bilateral relations." Talking about the Covid-19 vaccine, he said the pandemic has provided an opportunity to reaffirm friendship. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Made in India vaccines -- 2 million. Momen said: "We discussed a wide range of ongoing bilateral issues as well as bilateral interests that we can take forward in the days ahead. "We focused on possible ways to materialize our commitments and how to prioritize and accommodate each other's priorities in a mutually beneficial manner. Covid-19 cooperation, connectivity, trade, water, security, border and lines of credit are some of the areas we discussed," he said. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Father Nazeer Dako places a poster welcoming Pope Francis to St Josephs Chaldean Church in preparation for the Popes visit, in Baghdad, Iraq (AP) Intense preparations are being carried out as the Pope prepares to meet a revered Shia cleric in Iraqs holiest city. Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani will seek to make history in Najaf with a message of coexistence in an area plagued by bitter divisions. Al-Sistani is a pre-eminent figure in Shia Islam, whose opinion holds powerful sway on the Iraqi streets and beyond. Their encounter will resonate across Iraq, even crossing borders into mainly-Shia Iran. The head of the Catholic church and the Grand Ayatollah are scheduled to meet on Saturday for around 40 minutes, spending part of the time alone except for interpreters, in the Shia clerics modest home in the city of Najaf. Let us #PrayTogether that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the forgiveness and infinite mercy of God. #PrayerIntentions pic.twitter.com/f6wrayko76 Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 2, 2021 Every detail is being scrutinised ahead of time in painstaking, behind-the-scenes preparations that touched on everything from shoes to seating arrangements. The geopolitical undertones weigh heavy on the meeting, along with twin threats from the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing tensions involving Iranian-backed rogue groups. For Iraqs dwindling Christian minority, a show of solidarity from al-Sistani could help secure their place in Iraq after years of displacement and, they hope, ease intimidation from Shia militiamen against their community. Iraqi officials in government, too, see the meetings symbolic power as does Tehran. The 90-year-old al-Sistani has been a consistent counterweight to Irans influence. With the meeting, Francis is implicitly recognising him as the chief interlocutor of Shia Islam over his rival, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. News of the meeting heightened long-standing rivalries between the Shia seminaries of Najaf and Irans city of Qom, which stands at the centre of the Shia world. Expand Close Municipal workers repair the streets around St Josephs Chaldean Church during preparations for the Popes visit (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Municipal workers repair the streets around St Josephs Chaldean Church during preparations for the Popes visit (AP) One official involved in the planning said: It will be a private visit without precedent in history, and it will not have an equal to any previous visits. For the Vatican, it is a meeting decades in the making, and one that eluded Francis predecessors. Najaf did not make it easy, said one Christian religious official close to the planning from the Vatican side. Al-Sistani rarely weighs in on governance matters, but when he has, it has shifted the course of Iraqs modern history. An edict from him provided many Iraqis reason to participate in the January 2005 elections, the first after the 2003 US-led invasion. His 2014 fatwa calling on able-bodied men to fight the so-called Islamic State group massively swelled the ranks of Shia militias. Expand Close The visit has been painstakingly planned (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The visit has been painstakingly planned (AP) In 2019, as anti-government demonstrations gripped the country, his sermon led to the resignation of then-prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. The Vaticans hope is that Francis will sign a document with al-Sistani pledging human fraternity, just as he did with Sunni Islams influential grand imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, based in Egypt. The signature is among many elements the two sides negotiated over extensively. In the end, Shia religious officials in Najaf told the AP a signing was not on the agenda, and al-Sistani will issue a verbal statement instead. Each minute of Saturdays meeting is likely to unfold as meticulously as a scripted stage play. The 84-year-old pontiffs convoy will pull up along Najafs busy column-lined Rasool Street, which culminates at the Imam Ali Shrine, one of the most revered sites in the world for Shias. To the side is an alleyway too narrow for cars. Here, Francis will walk the 30 yards to al-Sistanis modest home, which the cleric has rented for decades. Waiting to greet him at the entrance will be al-Sistanis influential son, Mohammed Ridha. Expand Close The visit will be keenly watched in Iraq, Iran and beyond (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The visit will be keenly watched in Iraq, Iran and beyond (AP) Inside, and some steps to the right, the pontiff will come face-to-face with the ayatollah. Each will make a simple gesture of mutual respect. Francis will remove his shoes before entering al-Sistanis room. Al-Sistani, who normally remains seated for visitors, will stand to greet Francis at the door and walk him to an L-shaped blue sofa, inviting him to take a seat. This has not taken place by his Eminence with any guest before, said a Najaf religious official. He will stand despite his fragile health, said the religious officials. Since fracturing his thigh last year, the cleric has largely remained indoors. Francis suffers from sciatica. The Pope will then be offered tea. His Eminence will provide His Holiness a message of peace and love for all humanity, said the official, before gifts are exchanged. Until now, papal plans to visit Iraq have ended in failure. The late Pope John Paul II was unable to go in 2000, when negotiations broke down with the government of then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Politics and rivalries aside, many people across Iraq will have something to gain from the short encounter. I see the popes visit to Najaf as the culmination of a global movement in the Islamic-Christian tradition to promote security and peace in our country, Iraqs culture minister Hassan Nadhem told the press recently, as we are still tinged with tendencies toward violence and intolerance. This is one for workers in the field Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Xcover 5. Its a tough little phone that can bounce back after falls from 1.5m (5 ft) thanks to its enhanced shock absorbers. Also, it is rated IP68 meaning it can spend over 30 minutes below 1m of water and is completely sealed against dust. It has a MIL-STD810H certification too. The handset measures 147.1 x 71.6 x 9.2 mm and has a small 5.3 LCD with 720p+ resolution. Biometric security is provided by the 5 MP front-facing camera built into the bezel above the display. Samsung worked with partners to provide integration usable in a wide variety of business scenarios. The push-to-talk function allows you to use the Xcover 5 as a walkie-talkie with the Microsoft Teams app. Also, the Xcover Key can be customized to launch any app you like. The Samsung Knox Capture feature turns the rear 16 MP camera into an enterprise-grade barcode scanner. The phone runs Android 11 with all the Knox security features, so it can carry sensitive information. The phone is powered by an Exynos 850 chipset is paired with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB storage. The rugged Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 The 3,000 mAh battery is user-replaceable. It can be charged through the USB-C port at 15W or using a cradle that connects to the two pogo pins. With NFC the phone can be used as a transportation card to help workers commute to work. The phone will be available in single and dual SIM configurations (this is region dependent). The Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 will become available later this month, coming to select markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America first. Later it will expand to other regions. In the UK in particular the phone will go on sale on March 12 and will be available online at the Samsung Business Shop for 330. You can find the Xcover 5 and Samsungs other rugged devices here. These Galaxy Rugged devices will be available at Samsung Experience Stores as soon as it is safe to reopen. In Belgium, the phone should be available later today for 290. Source San Francisco, March 4 : San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced the launch of a new initiative to promote small business economic recovery and community vibrancy in the city. The initiative, "Avenue Greenlight," will deploy privately donated dollars to San Francisco merchant associations to be used for projects to improve commercial corridors. The ultimate goal of Avenue Greenlight is to uplift local small businesses to help them adapt and recover from the current challenges, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. Over the coming months, all 34 of San Francisco's merchants associations will individually receive a $50,000 dollar grant of new resources allocated from Avenue Greenlight, starting with the Castro, Bayview, Chinatown, and Clement Street commercial corridors. Grants will total 1.7 million dollars and will be administered in a tiered format with three to four new merchant association grants released each subsequent month moving forward based on diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations, the announcement said. "Now more than ever we need everyone to step up and support their neighbours," said Breed. "Our small businesses are struggling and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that San Francisco comes out of this pandemic even stronger than before." Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 18:00:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MAIMANA -- A total of 23 militants were killed as fighting planes struck Taliban hideouts in Qaisar and Almar districts of northern Faryab province on Wednesday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Thursday. At least seven more militants were also injured in the raid, the official said, adding the security forces would continue to target the insurgents elsewhere in the country. (Afghanistan-Raid-Taliban Toll) - - - - COLOMBO -- The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on Thursday said that the country's vaccination program has bolstered economic sentiments, paving the way for an economic revival in 2021. "Positive sentiments fuelled by the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country and the impact of growth-promoting policies are expected to support the economic revival over the short to medium term," the CBSL said in a statement. (Sri Lanka-Vaccine-Economy) - - - - MALE -- The Maldives is facing capacity constraints as the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized for treatment is reaching critical levels, local media reported here Thursday. Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) Spokesperson Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq was quoted in state media saying that if the current trend of daily cases continues, hospitals may be forced to reject patients due to lack of beds and other resources. The Maldives currently has 2,615 active cases of COVID-19, out of which 187 have been hospitalized for treatment according to data from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) updated on Wednesday afternoon. (Maldives-Capacity Constraints-Pandemic) - - - - SEOUL-- Nine more U.S. soldiers and four civilians in South Korea tested positive for COVID-19, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday. The USFK said in a statement that 13 USFK-affiliated individuals were confirmed with the COVID-19 after they arrived in South Korea between Feb. 12 and March 1. (South Korea-US Soldiers-Pandemic) Enditem The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below While the health departments system has an option in Spanish, Mano a Manos educational efforts have extended to assist and facilitate the registration process for those who may not feel versed in the use of online technology, or are confused and wary of the information the portal asks users to divulge. A unique dairying opportunity on the Isle of Bute is now available for an entrepreneurial individual or family following the retirement of the farm's previous tenants. The Mount Stuart Trust is offering productive grassland to a person, family or company to help them establish a new dairy business. They are open to applications from existing and potential tenants, but are also keen to encourage interest in a joint venture. There are two dairy farm steadings available, and the new business could be based at either Kerrytonlia or Drumachloy. Both have suitable buildings and good productive grassland for grazing and ensiling, according to the Trust. A milk contract is in place, and production must commence by September 2021. Farming is a major industry on the Isle of Bute, with the majority of the land area being used for beef, sheep or dairy farming. There are currently nine dairy farms on the island. Property agency Strutt & Parker is working with Mount Stuart Trust to find a suitable business partner. Mary Munro, head of farming in Scotland for Strutt & Parker, said it was an opportunity to farm what is arguably some of the best agricultural land on the island. "The area available ranges in size depending on the ambition of the successful applicant," she explained. There are currently nine dairy farms on the Isle of Bute Historically, the dairy sector has been the islands agricultural backbone and the Trust is keen to maintain this tradition." She said the ideal candidate would be someone with an innovative approach who wanted to live on the island and integrate with the local community. "Wed be particularly open to approaches from applicants with interesting ideas for adding value or processing some of the milk, as this is a strategy that would be encouraged by the Trust. Applications will be considered from individuals, family farms, new entrants or a commercial agribusiness, and existing tenants looking to expand. The Trust said it was willing to consider all proposals that demonstrated a shared vision for a successful dairy sector on the island. Other facilities are available within the whole offering, and interested parties will be able to view the alternatives. NEW DELHI: BJP central election committee will meet on Thursday to finalise the partys first list of candidates for the crucial West Bengal assembly election 2021. The CEC meeting will take place at the party headquarter in Delhi around 7 PM and it will be attended by PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, senior leader BL Santosh and others. CEC will clear the name of the candidates for the assembly polls and will also release the list of the candidates for the West Bengal assembly polls. BJP West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh had on Tuesday said that the core committee of the party will soon declare names of the candidates for the first and second phase of elections in West Bengal. "Core Committee discussed candidates for the first and second phase of the election here in West Bengal. It will soon name declare the names," Ghosh said. Ahead of Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address 20 rallies in poll-bound West Bengal, responding to the huge demand of local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of these two states. According to sources, the rallies are planned in such a way that all the 23 districts of West Bengal will be covered in these rallies. BJP functionaries including Kailash Vijayvargiya, national General Secretary, Mukul Roy, national Vice-President, Sanjay Singh, General Secretary and Swapan Dasgupta, MP, Rajya Sabha are looking into the preparations at Brigade Parade Ground, where PM Modi will address a public meeting on March 7 at Brigade Ground, Kolkata. This will be PM Modi's first rally in West Bengal post the announcement of election dates by the Election Commission of India (ECI). West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and BJP in the fray. While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is seeking her third consecutive term, BJP has set a target of winning 200 seats in the 294-member state Assembly. Congress and the Left have stitched the alliance for the polls and had already finalised the seat-sharing agreement. They are also in touch with the Indian Secular Front (ISF), recently floated by influential minority leader Abbas Siddique. In the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, out of the 294 seats, Congress had managed to win 44 seats while the Left Front bagged 33 seats. The ruling TMC secured 211 seats and the BJP had won 3 seats. The BJP made deep inroads in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats and reducing TMC's tally to 22. Out of the total 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, Congress won two seats, the Left drew a blank. After BJP's performance in the 2019 polls, several TMC leaders have joined the party led by JP Nadda. Live TV Mumbai, March 4 : Actress Tara Sutaria looks stunning in a new black and white picture she has shared on social media. Tara posted the picture on Instagram. In the image, she is seen posing in front of a mirror. "Back to the 90's Back to black and white for our routine #PostPackUpShot," she wrote as caption. Tara will soon be seen in the Bollywood remake of the Telugu hit "Rx100", which is also going to mark the debut of Suniel Shetty's son Ahaan Shetty. Besides this, she has been roped in for "Ek Villain" and "Heropanti 2". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text H.I.G. Capital, LLC ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with over 35 billion of equity capital under management, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has signed a definitive agreement to acquire KPMG's UK restructuring business, a leading provider of insolvency, financial restructuring and turnaround services in the UK and globally. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to complete in April 2021, were not disclosed. KPMG UK Restructuring is a leading multidisciplinary practice of approximately 22 partners and 528 staff located across the full breadth of the UK. The group advises companies, lenders, equity holders and a wide range of other stakeholders including Government, regulators and pension trustees to navigate through the issues associated with economic disruption and overcome financial and operational challenges. Following completion of the transaction, the business will rebrand to Interpath Advisory, becoming the largest independent restructuring and turnaround team in the UK. The new business will be led by Blair Nimmo, Will Wright and Mark Raddan, who have also led the transaction as three of the senior partners in KPMG's UK Restructuring practice. They will be supported by an experienced group of partners who will remain as significant shareholders in the business. H.I.G.'s investment will support Interpath Advisory in its transition to an independent business and strengthen its existing capabilities as it continues to grow its advisory offering in the UK and beyond. H.I.G. has a successful international track record of investing in and supporting the long-term growth of consulting and professional services businesses across Europe and the US. Blair Nimmo said: "This is tremendously exciting news for our business and our people and opens up enormous potential for growth. With over 500 people based across the full breadth of the UK, Interpath Advisory will become the largest independent restructuring and turnaround business in the country. From the strong foundations that we've built over the past 50 years, we're looking forward to building a market-leading international advisory business that is capable of servicing the largest and most complex engagements." Markus Noe-Nordberg, Managing Director and Head of the H.I.G. European Middle Market LBO team, which led the transaction, commented: "We are thrilled to welcome Interpath Advisory to the H.I.G. family. H.I.G. has had great success investing in leading professional services firms, and we will use this experience to help Interpath maximise its potential. This transaction is an ideal fit with our investment mandate and underscores once more H.I.G.'s ability to execute on complex transactions such as carve-outs." Nishant Nayyar, Managing Director at H.I.G. Europe, added: "We have been impressed by Interpath's track record, deep client relationships and above all its collaborative culture. Interpath will be ideally positioned to support its clients in their recovery from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud to partner with Blair, Mark, Will and the entire team and look forward to supporting Interpath's continued growth." About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global alternative assets investment firm with over 35 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, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Bogota, 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 27 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/20210304005512/en/ Contacts: Markus Noe-Nordberg Managing Director mnordberg@higcapital.com Nishant Nayyar Managing Director nnayyar@higcapital.com well John McGuigan, 20, taunted a couple in Bondi last June A Bondi lifeguard and Bra Boy has narrowly avoided a stint behind bars after assaulting the daughter of a top cop and her boyfriend during a night out on the famous strip. Maxwell John McGuigan, 20, was instead handed a two-year good behaviour bond at Waverley Local Court, in Sydney's east, on Thursday. The former junior surfing prodigy previously pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault. McGuigan was charged after he assaulted NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCuskers daughter Charli - as well as her her boyfriend Joshua Ralph - outside Hotel Bondi on June 21 last year. Bondi lifeguard and Bra Boy Maxwell John McGuigan has narrowly avoided a stint behind bars after assaulting the daughter of a top cop and her boyfriend in Sydney's east Charli McCusker is the daughter of NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker Charli McCusker was the victim of assault following an incident in Bondi last year McCusker and her partner left the popular watering hole moments after being subjected to verbal abuse by McGuigan, who then followed them outside the venue, the court was told. McGuigan and Ralph then engaged in a scuffle outside, where the agitated Bondi Lifeguard flipped Ralph, a one-time junior rugby league star, to the ground after placing him in a headlock. In the midst of the fight, McCusker attempted to stop the situation from escalating, only to be knocked to the ground herself. Eventually, the two men were pulled apart by bystanders at the scene. McGuigan later told police he was in an 'angry mood' after spotting McCusker with a new man. She previously had dated one of his friends. Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman pointed out to McGuigan that he only had avoided a jail term due to his age. 'I will give you a chance today, but I do not excuse your behaviour,' Magistrate Huntsman said, according to the Daily Telegraph. 'You will be placed on a conditional release order without conviction to be of good behaviour for two years.' McGuigans mother, Lisa McGuigan, was Australia's first ironwoman as well as a highly accomplished big wave surfer. The Bra Boys are a bunch of locals who live for surf culture and are based in Maroubra, in Sydney's affluent east. The gang has gained notoriety through violence and alleged links to organised crime, with many members sporting distinctive body tattoos as a display of their loyalty. Notable members include the Abberton brothers - Jai, Sunny and Koby - as well as former NRL stars John Sutton and Reni Maitua. Josh Ralph and Charli McCusker were victims of an assault by Bra Boy Maxwell John McGuigan last year Josh Ralph, a former junior rugby league star, was assaulted in Bondi with his girlfriend Charli McCusker in 2020 An East Bay freelance journalist who was shot by police with a rubber bullet while covering a protest over the George Floyd killing has sued the city of Richmond, saying she was wearing her press badge and posed no threat when an unidentified officer opened fire. Police used excessive force to prevent (Sarah Belle Lin) from exercising her right to document public protests as a member of the press and in retaliation for her presence, said the lawsuit, filed last month in federal court in San Francisco. It seeks damages against Richmond and the officer or officers involved in the shooting. Lin, an independent reporter and photographer for local publications in the East Bay for several years, covered a nighttime protest May 30 in downtown Oakland over the death of Floyd in Minneapolis five days earlier, when a policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. She said police started shooting rubber bullets at protesters shortly before midnight, and they withdrew 30 to 40 feet from where she was standing. Lin said she then started walking across a street, carrying her cell phone, with a camera strapped around her neck and wearing a press badge, when a rubber bullet struck her in the inner thigh. She said she managed to pull herself up and stagger across the street, where she was forcibly shoved by police using their riot shields. She said they expressed no concern and offered no medical assistance. Lin was in excruciating pain for several weeks when she tried to walk, suffered nerve damage and has lost significant income and work opportunities because of her injury, the suit said. It said Oakland officials told her the shot had been fired by an officer from Richmond, whose police had been summoned to aid in monitoring the protest, but they refused to identify the officer. Richmond likewise declined to name the shooter, Lin said. Richmond referred questions Wednesday to the city managers office, which did not respond to a request for comment. We dont know what caused them to fire on her, said Lins lawyer, Adante Pointer. She hadnt interacted with any of the protesters, hadnt done anything disruptive, any chanting or yelling. Lin said Wednesday she wasnt sure why she had been shot. But Pointer said Lin was a small, non-threatening woman who was clearly identified as a member of the press. Why else would they target her? he asked. The suit also accuses police of battery and unlawful detention and seeks punitive damages for a malicious shooting. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Supreme Court Wont Disturb Deportation Order Against Man Who Fraudulently Used Social Security Card The Supreme Court left in place a deportation order against an illegal alien from Mexico who was convicted of fraudulently using a Social Security card to gain employment, because he failed to establish he was entitled to relief from removal. The 53 ruling in Pereida v. Wilkinson on March 4 was a win for the former Trump administration, which had argued last year in favor of affirming the removal order. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, upholding a decision by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. The three liberal justices all dissented. The Supreme Court bench had only eight members when oral arguments were heard telephonically on Oct. 13, 2020, because Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died the month before. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who didnt participate in the decision, hadnt yet been confirmed. Clemente Avelino Pereida, a married Mexican citizen now with three children who illegally entered the United States in 1995, was convicted in Nebraska of attempted criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor offense, for fraudulently using a Social Security card to gain employment, something illegal aliens are frequently accused of doing. Immigration officials formally alleged that Pereida was eligible for deportation. He conceded the allegations and his removability but, in 2011, filed for whats known as a 42B cancellation from removal. But to qualify for it, the applicant has to establish four things. He must show the attorney general that he has been present in the United States for at least 10 years, has been a person of good moral character, hasnt been convicted of an offense that would make him inadmissible or removable, and that deporting him would result in what the law calls exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a close relative who is either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. In 2014, the government asked an immigration judge to reject Pereidas application because, officials said, he had been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude. The judge agreed that using a Social Security card fraudulently was an offense that involved moral turpitude and threw out his request to have his removal stayed. Moral turpitude is a legal term that describes an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community. The term is used in deportation, disbarment, and disciplinary proceedings. But, as judicial officers throughout the process discovered, it wasnt exactly clear which part of the Nebraska statute Pereida was convicted under. That was important, Pereida argued, because he may have been convicted under a subsection of the law that didnt deal with moral turpitude. And it was, the tribunals have found, Pereidas legal responsibility to demonstrate that he wasnt convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), certain nonpermanent aliens seeking to cancel a lawful removal order must prove that they have not been convicted of a disqualifying crime, Gorsuch wrote for the court. Record-keeping problems promise to occur from time to time, regardless who bears the burden of proof, Gorsuch wrote. And, as in most cases that come our way, both sides can offer strong policy arguments to support their positions. The fact that the court records were unclear as to a moral turpitude-related conviction doesnt work in Pereidas favor, the Supreme Court ruled, finding that in such circumstances a person isnt entitled to the benefit of a doubt. Any lingering uncertainty about whether Mr. Pereida stands convicted of a crime of moral turpitude would appear enough to defeat his application for relief, exactly as the lower courts held, the justice wrote. Convincing the attorney general regarding the four criteria is only the beginning of the relief process. Establishing all this still yields no guarantees; it only renders an alien eligible to have his removal order canceled, Gorsuch wrote, noting that Congress allows the attorney general to cancel no more than 4,000 removal orders each year. The INA expressly requires individuals seeking relief from lawful removal orders to prove all aspects of their eligibility. That includes proving they do not stand convicted of a disqualifying criminal offense, the justice wrote. Mr. Pereida bore the burden of proving his eligibility for relief, so it was up to him to show that his crime of conviction did not involve moral turpitude. Because Mr. Pereida had not carried that burden, he was ineligible for discretionary relief all the same. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote a dissenting opinion, which Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined. Breyer wrote that a categorical approach in which the immigration judge looks at elements of the statutory offense would have yielded a better result in this case. Immigration judges and sentencing judges have limited time and limited access to information about prior convictions, the justice wrote. The vast majority of prior convictions reflect simple guilty pleas to the crime charged, and, where the record papers are silent, efforts to uncover which of several crimes was really at issue can force litigation that the guilty plea avoided. A millionaire sausage firm boss has been branded 'greedy' by her own mother in a bitter court battle over a 500,000 home after building an empire when she was released from jail for a drug smuggling plot. Tracy Mackness, 55, owns foodie firm The Giggly Pig Company, which is based around a sprawling 800-head farm and shop near Romford, Essex that employs more than 20 staff and turns over 500,000 a year. Ms Mackness built up her valuable empire following a spectacular transformation after a troubled past, which saw her serve a ten-year jail term for conspiracy to import a 4m haul of cannabis when she was 37. Now she is being sued by her 77-year-old mother Caroline Mackness in a property row which the pensioner says has left her a 'guest in her own home' of 50 years and fearing she could be kicked out. Tracy Mackness, 55, (pictured ) owns foodie firm The Giggly Pig Company, which is based around a sprawling 800-head farm and shop near Romford, Essex Now she is being sued by her 77-year-old mother Caroline Mackness in a property row which the pensioner says has left her a 'guest in her own home' of 50 years (pictured) and fearing she could be kicked out Caroline signed her 500,000 house in Harold Wood, Romford, over to Tracy in 2016, in a deal Tracy says was designed to ensure her mother would have a place to live until the end of her days. But Caroline is suing her daughter to get the house back, claiming the deal was signed off under circumstances of 'undue influence or lack of capacity'. Tracy's extraordinary turnaround from jailbird to businesswoman began while she was behind bars at East Sutton Park Open Prison, doing time for her part in a drug smuggling conspiracy. She qualified in pig husbandry while working with Saddleback pigs on the prison farm and set up Giggly Pig after she was released in 2007. Six years later, her stormy life story hit the bookshelves after she penned a no-holds-barred biography 'Jail Bird: The Life and Crimes of An Essex Bad Girl'. She is now 'probably a millionaire,' her barrister told Central London County Court. For decades she and her mother, Caroline Mackness, had an 'excellent' relationship, the court heard, and Caroline even worked for her daughter for ten years at her farm shop. But a deep rift has now developed between the pair over the deal in August 2016 by which Caroline signed over her home. Caroline has now gone to court, asking Judge Mark Raeside QC to wipe out the property transfer. The gift to Tracy cut her son, and Tracy's brother, Garry Mackness, out of inheriting a stake in the property, said Caroline, adding: 'I would never have wanted to do that, how would it be fair to my son?' She told the court she was confused at the time she signed the deal and 'never wanted' to gift her home of 50 years to Tracy. 'At this time I was very mentally agitated due to all the stress I'd gone through with Tracy,' said Caroline. 'It's not fair or right for her to have the property for herself because she has lots of properties everywhere - all around the country. 'She is a very greedy person.' The gift to Tracy cut her son, and Tracy's brother, Garry Mackness, out of inheriting a stake in the property, said Caroline, adding: 'I would never have wanted to do that, how would it be fair to my son?' But Tracy insists her mother's claim is completely groundless, the 2016 property transfer was legitimate and it took place after an extensive family discussion. She says everyone knew that, although the house would be in her name, Caroline would have the right to live there for life and it would ultimately be split between Tracy and Garry when their mother dies. Tracy told the court she had wanted to 'safeguard' her mother through the house transfer. She said: 'My main concern was her being able to stay in her own home. I didn't want her to have to go into a home if it came to it and for her house to be sold. 'I want my mother to be able to stay in her own home for the rest of her life.' 'All I'm doing is safeguarding it so that it doesn't get into the wrong hands down the line.' She and her mother had been very close for many years, she added, telling the judge: 'She knows that I would never chuck her out. 'She has everything she needs and she lives in her own home. She doesn't pay most of her bills, I do.' In evidence, Caroline said one of her concerns was that she could be 'kicked out', but in cross-examination agreed that Tracy did not plan to do that. Tracy's barrister, Philip Williams, said his client was also motivated by 'good estate planning', wishing to escape any punishing inheritance tax and 'avoid having to sell the property to pay for her mother's care costs'. Tracy qualified in pig husbandry while working with Saddleback pigs on the prison farm and set up Giggly Pig after she was released in 2007 Tracy was further concerned for her mother's mental state as she had a history of bipolar episodes, the court heard. 'At that time Caroline was still vulnerable to being exploited by strangers and third parties, as the medical evidence demonstrates,' Mr Williams explained. 'The decision was taken to protect her.' And it made no sense for Garry to share a stake in the house because back then he was an undischarged bankrupt who Mr Williams said was 'not considered to be financially responsible'. 'He was then living with Tracy and working for her at weekends,' the barrister added. There was a clear understanding by all involved 'that the property was to be held on trust for both Tracy and Garry, with Caroline to hold a life interest', he told the judge. Both Tracy and her mother agreed that Caroline should be free to live in the property for the rest of her days, said Mr Williams, and the transaction had therefore caused her no harm. He told the judge that Tracy has a 'suspicion' that her mother's claim against her is being partially driven by her brother Garry. Mr Williams told the court: 'In or around Christmas 2016, Garry says that there was a large family argument between Tracy, Garry, and [his wife] Haley.. Garry confirms that: 'This perhaps marked the start of the downturn in our relationship'. 'In April/May 2017, Garry says that there was a further argument regarding work rotas at Tracy's farm. The dispute ended with Garry and Haley's employment being terminated, and Garry says that Haley was forced to return her car to Tracy.' Garry Mackness said the first he knew about the property transfer was when his mother discovered a carrier bag in a cupboard at home containing legal papers in October 2017. In 2013, Tracy's stormy life story hit the bookshelves after she penned a no-holds-barred biography 'Jail Bird: The Life and Crimes of An Essex Bad Girl' His mother contacted him and he came round to look at the documents - 'and that's when we found out it had been transferred', he testified. 'Around this time Caroline changed her mind on the transfer to Tracy, believing it to be unfair to Garry,' Mr Williams continued. 'Tracy suspects that pressure is being placed upon her from Garry....to unravel the transaction. 'Tracy says that Caroline is simply motivated by guilt and/or pressure from Garry' - with Garry now discharged from bankruptcy 'seeking to claim back what he considers to be his lost inheritance'. Giving evidence, Garry Mackness denied playing any part in driving his mother's case and said he had no interest in her property. 'She can leave it to the dogs' home for all I care. I'm not money-orientated like some people,' he told the court. Rose Fetherstonhaugh, Caroline's barrister, argued that the 'disadvantages of the transaction were obvious' and left the pensioner without 'security of tenure'. 'Caroline is now a guest in her own home in which she has lived for over 50 years and which she owned for 16 years,' she told Judge Raeside. Nor had she received proper independent legal advice about gifting the property to her daughter, said the barrister. She had raised her family in the house, added Ms Fetherstonhaugh, and told the judge: 'she loves her home and would never voluntarily give it away during her lifetime'. The case continues. Attorney Lin Wood has been banned from a private lawyer's club in Atlanta after he called for former Vice President Mike Pence to be executed by firing squad. The pro-Trump lawyer, who was behind several failed attempts in courtrooms to overturn the presidential election in favour of the former president, lost his membership to the Lawyers Club of Atlanta on Wednesday. A ruling from the club published online by Wood himself cited several reasons to remove him as a member, but the issue the group appeared most aggrieved by was Wood's call during the January 6 Capitol riots. As protesters were storming the Capitol building in DC, Wood said that Trump supporters should 'get the firing squads ready' and make sure 'Pence goes first.' Pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood has been banned from a private lawyer's club in Atlanta after he called for former Vice President Mike Pence to be executed by firing squad on January 6 'Mr. Wood's call for the summary execution of the Vice President is an attack not only on the Vice President performing his Constitutionally required obligation, but also is an attack on the rule of law and the Constitution itself,' the club wrote in its ruling. The statement also described Wood's execution demand as conduct that would 'bring discredit to the Club.' The club also said that it disapproved of Wood's social media posts in which he accused Chief Justice John Roberts of somehow being involved in the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. He had also previously accused Roberts of belonging to a 'cabal' involved in the sexual abuse of children, a theory that echoes the unfounded claims made by supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory, popular among Trump supporters. Wood provided the club with a video on an 'anonymous' whistle-blower to support his unfounded claims against Roberts. The person in the video appears to be a promoter of QAnon who was previously convicted of committing healthcare fraud in an attempt to acquire huge amounts of opiods, according to the Daily Beast. Wood has vowed to appeal the decision of the club to remove him, telling his social media followers 'I will not go quietly in the night. I have done nothing wrong.' Finding no reason to believe Wood's whistle-blower however, The Lawyers Club wrote in its decision: 'Under any reasonable measurement of conduct unbecoming, Mr. Wood has crossed that line by a wide margin. 'Mr. Wood's continued membership in the Club would bring discredit to the Club and its members,' it added. Lin Wood, pictured left in the Oval Office with Trump, is also reportedly facing the prospect of being disbarred by the State Bar of Georgia if he does not submit a mental health evaluation Wood is also facing the prospect of being disbarred by the State Bar of Georgia if he does not submit a mental health evaluation. Last month, he appealed to his followers on social media site Telegram for information that could prevent him from being disbarred. Mr Wood shared the 1,600-page disciplinary complaint, asking supported to find any information that could question the 'competency, qualifications or objectivity' of any member of the State Disciplinary Board,' The Independent reported. The complaint was marked confidential, with Wood saying he had only 10 days to file a complaint that could in theory stop the disciplinary process. 'I could use the help of an Army of Patriots,' Wood wrote on Telegram. The State Bar of Georgia said Wood 'may have violated one or more of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct'. 'If you have any information that might impact the 'competency, qualifications or objectivity' of any members, would you email the information to me,' Wood asked his followers. A ruling from the club published online by Wood cited several reasons to remove him as a member, but the issue the group appeared most aggrieved by was Wood's call during the January 6 Capitol riots. Pictured: Supporters of US President Donald Trump gather on the West side of the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, in front of a noose that has been set up Last month, wood appealed to his followers on social media site Telegram for information that could prevent him from being disbarred He said information he was looking for included anything that may tie board members to Dominion - the voting system firm - whose lawsuit against another pro-Trump lawyer, Sidney Powell, will be defended by Wood. 'Their social media posts, political affiliations, representative clients (for example, what if one or more of them represent Dominion), lawsuits filed against them, etc. would all potentially provide me with relevant information that could form the basis of a challenge,' Wood wrote. Georgia State Bar rules that 'mental illness, cognitive impairment, alcohol abuse, or substance abuse, to the extent of impairing competency as a lawyer,' are all grounds for stripping a lawyer's license to practice law, according to Forbes. If the lawyer refuses a mental health evaluation, it 'may be grounds for further proceedings...including emergency suspension proceedings.' The pro-Trump defamation lawyer supported the same election conspiracy theories pedalled by Trump after the former president lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. Powell, as well as Trump's former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, have also supported the unfounded theories. Lawyer to former US President Donald J. Trump Rudy Giuliani, who has been hit with multiple professional conduct complaints, is also facing the prospect of being expelled from the New York State Bar Association, a voluntary organization. It cannot prevent him from practising law Michigans Attorney General is also pushing for Sidney Powell (pictured) to be disbarred after she filed a number of long-shot lawsuits alleging widespread voter fraud in Michigan and other states, which were repeatedly rebuffed in court Both been singled out by Dominion in a lawsuit against Giuliani, that says he was 'determined to promote' claims that Dominion voting machines were rigged. Michigans Attorney General is also pushing for Sidney Powell to be disbarred after she filed a number of long-shot lawsuits alleging widespread voter fraud in Michigan and other states, which were repeatedly rebuffed in court. Giuliani, who has been hit with multiple professional conduct complaints, is also facing the prospect of being expelled from the New York State Bar Association, a voluntary organization. It cannot prevent him from practising law. As Trump was following the events of January 6, Wood, along with Powell and Giuliani, have all been banned from Twitter. Two years ago, Egypt marked the centenary of the 1919 Revolution, which transformed the country in the first half of the 20th century, ushering in its golden age and standing in the region. The only surviving and undisputed authority on the subject was Tarek El-Beshri, Egypts influential historian. This might have been the last time I saw him in his cosy and strikingly neat Dokki apartment in western Cairo. Dressed in a casual sweater over a button-up shirt and wearing dark trousers, notes and pen in hand, El-Beshri, 85 at the time, sat on the chair opposite in his classic slouched posture, ready for questions. Despite our familiarity (I had interviewed him multiple times over the years), his unassuming energy, gentle and quiet voice betrayed a subtle shyness, as if we had exchanged roles and I was the scholarly authority in the room and not him. For the next hour, El-Beshri explained the meaning of the 1919 Revolution beyond contemporary perceptions that it was just against the British occupation of Egypt after World War I. It was, he argued, a nationalist movement with the dual causes of independence and democracy in mind, whose reverberations spanned three decades. It ended, El-Beshri said, in 1952 with the Free Officers coup-turned-movement-turned-revolution. The 1919 Revolutions centenary had a special resonance throughout 2019, as both official and non-official Egypt celebrated the anniversary. To the many generations of Egyptians who were introduced to that significant chapter in history for the first time, echoes of the 2011 uprising and its visceral aftermath cast a shadow over the anniversary. The centenary, viewed through the inevitable prism of 2011, brought feelings of nostalgia and connection. While El-Beshris remarkable historiography of Egypts 19th and 20th-century nationalist and political movements in over a dozen books made him the foremost chronicler of the 1919 period, the revolution defined his political consciousness even though he was born 14 years after the event. In the first lines of his 1998 book on the leader of the 1919 Revolution Saad Zaghloul, El-Beshri writes that to those who ask me who I am, I tell them I am a son of Egypts nationalist movement. I hail from the generation that was raised in the embrace of the 1919 Revolution. This remains, in the historical and political consciousness of those who were raised in its shadow, the nucleus or first political cell. El-Beshri was thus a son of the 1919 Revolution. But in his life that spanned 87 years and during which he was labelled, among other things, as a secularist-turned-Islamist, a prominent judge, a philosopher of Islamic jurisprudence, a national icon, a distinguished intellectual and a Sufi, he died with a legacy etched in what was probably the most critical chapter of the 2011 Revolutions history. While he witnessed 1919 from afar from history books and was inspired by its leaders and came of age in its shadow, El-Beshri, instrumental in the opposition movement against former president Hosni Mubarak, was in many ways one of the fathers of the 2011 Revolution. He witnessed and was one of the harbingers of change that led to the uprising, and for a brief moment that seemed to become an eternity he was both the icon and anti-hero (depending on the ideological divide) of the transitional period following Mubaraks ouster. El-Beshri was born in Cairo in 1933 to a prestigious middle-class family of judges. His father, Abdel-Fattah El-Beshri, was president of the Court of Appeal. His grandfather was Selim El-Beshri, an Al-Azhar sheikh and a proud scholar who refused to bow to the pressures of then khedive Abbas Helmi and was consequently replaced in 1904. After graduating from Cairo Universitys Law School in 1953, El-Beshri joined the State Council, the highest administrative court in Egypt with jurisdiction on issues relating to the exercise of government power. But before he made a name for himself as a fiercely independent judge and Mubarak critic, El-Beshri became famous for his distinguished book Al-Haraka Al-Siyasia Fi Masr 1945-1952 (Egypts Political Movements, 1945-1952) published in 1972, followed by Democracy and Nasserism (1975), Saad Zaghlouls Negotiations with British Colonialism (1977), Muslims and Copts Within the Framework of the National Group (1981) and Democracy and the 23 July 1952-1970 Regime (1987) among other titles. El-Beshris early publications in Al-Taleea magazine, the leftist platform of 1960s Egypt, placed him in mainstream left-leaning intellectual circles. His embrace of contemporary Islamist thought in the late 1970s following the 1967 military defeat of Egypt by Israel which traumatised his generation seemed to signal an ideological shift as he rose to become one of Egypts most prominent intellectuals of the time. His work continued to focus on the questions of democracy, Arab nationalism, Islamic Sharia Law, religious minorities, freedoms and diversity. Omaima Aboubakr, an academic who also writes about gender issues in Islamic discourse, described El-Beshris books on Islam and Arabism, the Islamist-Secular Dialogue, and Islamist Thought in Contemporary History, all published in the 1990s, as foreshadowing debates that have consumed Egypts intelligentsia since the 2000s. The books are intellectual and cultural studies in their own right, she says, an endeavour in decolonising culture and intellectual history long before decolonisation became fashionable. During his time as vice-president of the State Council, El-Beshri contributed to reports and rulings by the body challenging the Mubarak regime, including declaring the referral of civilians to military courts null and void. It is believed that this and other independent stands attributed to El-Beshri resulted in his being denied promotion to become president of the council in 1992. He remained its vice-president until his retirement. In 2004, El-Beshri published a commentary article under the title A Call for Civil Disobedience that inspired the tactics of the anti-Mubarak opposition movement that appeared in 2005. His reputation and instrumental role during the period made him the Movement for Changes (Kifaya) choice as presidential candidate, a proposal he turned down. In 2006, he published Masr Bayna Al-Osian wal Tafakuk (Egypt between Dissent and Disintegration), a scathing critique of what he characterised as the collapse of the Egyptian state. Following Mubaraks ouster in February 2011, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) appointed El-Beshri president of a committee tasked with amending elections-related constitutional articles, with the possibility of drafting an entirely new constitution left until after both the new parliament and president had been elected. The committee drafted amendments with the clear intention of minimising the length of the transitional period at the height of the revolutionary fervour by organising general elections in six months. The SCAF put a version of the amendments to a referendum that was approved by a majority 77 per cent of the vote. Parliamentary elections would be held, after which the elected legislative body would in turn choose members of the assembly tasked with writing a new constitution. After the constitution was approved, presidential elections would be held so that Egypts new president would assume office after the constitution had already been established and not before. That way, the new president would not be able to influence the drafting of the document. To El-Beshri, this entirely elected process was the ultimate democratic roadmap. To his critics, however, his intentions were questionable. They proclaimed that the amendments were designed to ensure the Muslim Brotherhoods rise to power, as the group was the most organised political force at the time and would likely win any election (which it predictably did in the two votes that followed). In the liberal-led campaign against the constitutional amendments that followed, the moral assassination of El-Beshri, by now an easy target after the Brotherhood put its weight behind the roadmap, seemed irreversible. Islamist and anti-Islamist polarisation had sowed divisions in the revolutions ranks. Even after the Brotherhoods brief period in power ended in 2013, and for years to come, El-Beshri remained, singlehandedly perhaps, the scapegoat for the revolutions failures in the eyes of some or many Egyptians. This pained El-Beshri, who believed that his integrity as a committed judge should not be questioned, and nor should his intentions. But personal injury aside, he believed that the uproar over his committees roadmap was driven by a fear of democracy and what it might bring. In a 2011 commentary entitled Those who Fear Democracy, he reminded readers that two years after the 1952 military coup, which had suspended political life in the country including the parliament and 1923 constitution, the military officers had yielded to pressure from within and outside the Armed Forces to unfreeze Egypts democracy. The Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) had dissolved itself, suspended martial law, and announced steps to reinstate democracy. But the prospect of again active political parties alarmed many Egyptians, who feared that this could usher in a return of the previous ruling elite and the abhorrent class-based system entrenched by the monarchy. After a series of massive demonstrations and labour strikes protesting against the return of the disbanded parties, the RCC reversed its decision. For the next three decades, Egypt would remain without a multiparty political system or any real form of democratic process. El-Beshris 1954 analogy and reminder had no effect on the fallout of the 2011 Revolution. Even so, he did not waver, and he continued to publish commentaries and a book reflecting on the 2011 uprising and the struggle for power. His death on Friday 26 February, a month after the 10th anniversary of 2011, marks the end of an era and of a decade that changed the face of Egypt, making it almost unrecognisable. His life, spanning almost nine decades, was a journey between two revolutions a century apart. As a judge, historian, and intellectual who refused to remain shielded as a commentator, but who became actively embroiled in the uprising he believed in and paid the price for, there were no regrets. The public outpouring of grief over El-Beshris passing both on social media and in obituaries from across the political divide in the Egyptian press, speak to the legacy he leaves behind. Words used recurrently to describe him - kind, soft spoken, sweet natured, sincere, upright, humble, astute- capture the essence of the gentle soul I was fortunate to know. El-Beshri is survived by his wife Aida El-Azab and two sons Emad and Ziyad. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Kyrgyz President's press secretary Galina Baiterek explained the situation concerning the last comments on Sadyr Japarov's Facebook page. Facebook users found insulting comments on Japarov's page addressed presumably to MP Dastan Bekeshev. "The personal page of President Sadyr Japarov was hacked by unknown people. Perpetrators made comments on the page under various posts. The President has nothing to do with the last comments that were made on his Facebook page," Galina Baiterek said. "Sadyr Japarov respects all opinions voiced in the society, including critical ones, and he will never make such insulting statements," AKIpress cited her as saying. Emily Seebohm and David 'Luttsy' Lutteral have reportedly broken up after almost two years together. According to a report by The Courier Mail on Thursday, the couple's 'differing lifestyles' are to blame for the split. The couple confirmed their relationship in late 2019, but radio host Luttsy first shared a cosy photo with the 28-year-old Olympic swimmer on Instagram in March 2019. The way they were: Emily Seebohm and David 'Luttsy' Lutteral [both pictured] have reportedly broken up after almost two years together Emily and Luttsy, 44, are believed to have split sometime last month, with the couple even discussing marriage before going their separate ways. In a post on Instagram Stories in February last year, Emily shared a selfie with a filter that supposedly predicted her future, which read: 'You'll get proposed to'. 'Well well well @Luttsy your move now,' she captioned the photo. Over: According to a report by The Courier Mail on Thursday, the couple's 'differing lifestyles' are to blame for the split Speaking about the post on his Nova FM radio show, Ash, Kip & Luttsy, Luttsy said he was open to the possibility of getting married. 'She's suggesting it's my move, my move would obviously be to propose... It's nice to know that's where her head's at,' he said at the time. According to The Courier Mail, sources close to the couple claimed 'they argued over their clashing lifestyles'. Split: The couple confirmed their relationship in late 2019, but radio host Luttsy first shared a cosy photo with the 28-year-old Olympic swimmer on Instagram in March 2019 They were forced to endure a long distance relationship late last year, with Emily competing in Budapest for the International Swimming League. The couple was last seen together in December, and Emily has since removed all photos of Luttsy from her Instagram page. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Emily and Luttsy for comment. Ex factor: Before dating Luttsy, Emily was in a relationship with fellow Olympic swimmer, Mitch Larkin (left) Before dating Luttsy, Emily was in a long-term relationship with fellow Olympic swimmer, Mitch Larkin. The high-profile couple split back in 2018 amid allegations he cheated on her. Emily and Mitch were together for nearly three years, and even lived together before their acrimonious split. A university lecturer with autism has won a 170,000 discrimination payout after her boss said she was as 'mad as a box of frogs.' Elizabeth Aylott successfully sued BPP university, a private organisation in London, for disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal last year. Mrs Aylott has Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which went undiagnosed until months after she resigned from her role in April 2019, having been repeatedly signed off work by her doctor with depression and anxiety. London Central Employment Tribunal previously heard Mrs Aylott's boss, Juliette Wagner, described her as 'mad as a box of frogs but a good worker'. Judge Timothy Adkins said the comment was 'inappropriate and unprofessional'. Mrs Aylott has now been awarded 168,047 for financial loss and injury to feelings. Elizabeth Aylott (pictured) successfully sued BPP university, a private organisation in London , for disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal last year The lecturer had claimed she was so overworked and stressed in her role that she suffered panic attacks and was driven to drink. Mrs Aylott, who specialises in HR and employment law, told the hearing she had been 'crying out for help' and suffered a breakdown 'from which she does not think she can ever recover from'. At the tribunal, it was said Mrs Aylott had become a widow two years before she started working for BPP in 2009. She also had an ill son and had lost her father as pressures at work mounted. It was added there was a 'long hours' culture at the University, and Mrs Aylott had worked up to 60 hours per week including on Bank Holidays. She admitted 'drinking three glasses of wine to help her stop work and sleep' and was later having 'four to five gin and tonics every night to self-medicate'. The mother-of-two pleaded with her boss Steven Shaw to have her referred to a medical professional, however he brushed her stress aside as just 'her perception' and was of the view that working excess hours was 'normal'. London Central Employment Tribunal previously heard Mrs Aylott's boss, Juliette Wagner (pictured), described her as 'mad as a box of frogs but a good worker' The judge criticised BPP for its 'surprising' failure to assist a worker in desperate need of help. In a statement provided for the remedy hearing, Mrs Aylott said: 'I think it is reasonable to conclude that I was crying out for help, possibly throughout 2018, but certainly from 19 or 20 September 2018. 'It led to a much more severe breakdown, and a vulnerability that I do not think I can fully recover from. 'By the time I was finally referred to occupational health (OH) I had severe depressive illness with anxiety and panic attacks, with thoughts of self-harm and suicidal ideation and drinking heavily. 'If I had received OH support earlier, I could have recovered quietly, as I wished to do, and returned to BPP, so there is a direct correlation between the lack of OH support and my financial and career status now.' Judge Adkin said: 'The claimant said that she had suffered a breakdown, felt overloaded and could no longer cope. 'She mentioned being a widow and raising two children. Mr Shaw suggested that her feelings of stress were based on her perception. 'Mr Shaw was plainly of the view that managers working in excess of contractual hours was "normal". 'He also seemed to be of the view that the claimant was experienced enough to manage her workload.' The judge said BPP should have referred Mrs Aylott to obtain Occupational Health advice but 'Mr Shaw did not want to... nor to make adjustments... and instead was focused on terminating the claimant's employment by means of a settlement agreement.' Mrs Aylott added: 'I believe I was treated differently because my issue was a mental health issue... I was relying on alcohol to support me.' She successfully sued the university, which specialises in different fields including law and business, for disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal. At the conclusion of the remedy hearing, Judge Adkin said the 168,047 Mrs Aylott had been awarded was subject to taxation and invited the parties to agree an amount. He said if that was not possible a further hearing would be held in due course. Kolkata, March 4 : With the stage set for a battle royale in West Bengal, all eyes are fixed on East Midnapore's Nandigram Assembly constituency as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that she would contest from there in the forthcoming polls. Nandigram is a stronghold of newly-inducted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who was elected on a Trinamool ticket from the high profile seat in 2016 and became a minister in the Mamata Banerjee-led state Cabinet. The saffron camp is likely to announce the names of its candidates for the first two phases of the high-voltage Bengal Assembly polls later on Thursday. West Bengal will go to the polls in eight phases between March 27 and April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 2. It is widely acknowledged that the anti-farmland acquisition movement in Nandigram had galvanised public opinion in favour of Banerjee when she was in the opposition. She could overthrow the CPI-M-led Left Front government in Bengal following a prolonged protest against the proposed chemical hub SEZ project there in 2007. The police firing that had killed at least 13 villagers, including women, had rocked the state, grabbing headlines in the international media. In the 2016 state Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress had secured about 67 per cent votes in Nandigram, while the BJP got only around 5 per cent. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had made deep inroads in the local vote bank there, winning around 30 per cent of the votes in Nandigram, making a significant dent into the once Trinamool bastion in East Midnapore district. Meanwhile, the BJP's core committee met on Wednesday and discussed the candidates for the first and second phase of the elections in Bengal. The party's Central Election Committee (CEC), that takes the final call on who will contest from which constituency, is supposed to finalise the candidates' list for 60 Assembly seats that will go to the polls in the first two phases on Thursday night. Adhikari's name is doing the rounds for the Nandigram seat which he had won in 2016. He was the legislator from the constituency before resigning from Trinamool Congress and joining the saffron brigade in December last year. Trinamool Congress supremo Banerjee had also declared that she would contest from Nandigram this time. The Trinamool chief is likely to file her nomination for Nandigram on March 10. A house has also been taken on rent in Nandigram by the party for Banerjee, sources said. "I will contest from Nandigram. It is my lucky place," Banerjee had declared at a rally in Nandigram in January this year. Quite naturally, the Nandigram Assembly seat has turned out to be the centre of attraction for the voters of Bengal ahead of the high octane political battle. Nandigram will go to polls in the second phase. Now one must wait and see if the BJP fields Adhikari from there. On Tuesday, the police had carried out a sudden raid at a factory and recovered some unfinished improvised firearms from Hossainpur in Nandigram Block-1. The incident sparked tension in the area as BJP state unit chief Dilip Ghosh pointed fingers at the ruling Trinamool Congress for being involved in the incident. Two persons were arrested in connection with the case, the police said. "A few days back, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declared that she would contest from Nandigram. Now arms factories are being busted there at the residence of Sheikh Rukumuddin. Is it just a coincidence," Ghosh asked. He also pointed out that Trinamool Congress is trying take the oath of violence as the party knows it will not be able to win from Nandigram democratically. Sisir Adhikari, veteran Trinamool leader and father of Suvendu Adhikari, seems to have become inactive in the region ever since his elder son joined the saffron camp. According to Trinamool insiders, senior Adhikari taking a political backstage on health grounds will impact the ruling party's electoral fate in the forthcoming battle. The saffron party has emerged as Trinamool's main rival by winning 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the 2019 general elections. With the BJP's strength increasing in the state in the last few years, its leaders are upbeat that the party will end Banerjee's 10-year rule in the sate. Aviva has departed the Italian insurance market with a 750million sell-off in its latest divestment aimed at enhancing its balance sheet and refocusing operations on its core markets. The insurer said it had offloaded its Italian life insurance wing to CNP Assurances for 543million and had received 330million for its general insurance business from German financial services giant Allianz. It added that the sale's proceeds will go towards investment and paying down debts, while shareholders will receive excess capital. The deal is now subject to regulatory approval, which Aviva expects to be accpeted in the latter half of this year. The insurer said it had offloaded its Italian life insurance wing to CNP Assurances for 543million and had received 330million for its general insurance business from Allianz On top of UBI Banca's purchase of Aviva's 80 per cent stake in Aviva Vita last November, it means the group has received more than 1.3billion in total from selling its Italian subsidiaries. It comes a week after the group declared it had sold its French division to Aema Groupe for 2.8billion, followed a day later with the 122million sale of its stake in a Turkish joint venture to Ageas Insurance. The FTSE 100 firm has now sold seven of its international offshoots since Amanda Blanc took over as chief executive last summer, which has netted them over 5billion in the process. Full-year results released today by Aviva showed its net profits growing by almost 250million to 2.91billion in 2020 on the back of record sales of bulk purchase annuities and net flows into its UK and Ireland savings and retirement business. It added that it would pay down 800million in debt and was on track to slash its overall debts by 1.7billion in the first half of 2021. 'We have taken major steps forward in simplifying the business, most recently with the sale of Aviva France and today's announcement of the sale of the rest of our Italian operations,' remarked Amanda Blanc. Since Amanda Blanc (pictured) took over as chief executive last summer, the FTSE 100 firm has netted over 5billion from the sale of its international businesses 'Our strategic focus is now on the UK, Ireland and Canada, where we have leading positions. We are putting customers at the heart of everything we do, and I am confident we will transform Aviva's financial performance and deliver greater value for our shareholders.' Aside from its Italian, French and Turkish divisions, the group jettisoned its entire Vietnamese division for an undisclosed sum, its Singaporean outfit for 1.6billion, and a joint venture stake in Indonesia. Blanc's predecessor Maurice Tulloch, who stepped down for health reasons last July, also oversaw a cost-cutting programme that cut jobs and lowered spending on contractors, consultants, and projects, among other fields. Nicholas Hyett, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said 2020 was 'a pretty good year for Aviva all things considered. Aviva has vowed to put 10billion from pension funds into green investments and stop offering insurance to firms that make over 5 per cent of their revenue from coal by the end of 2022 'The sizeable cash infusion from the French and Italian sales means the balance sheet ratios will be back within the group's target range, providing fuel for growth and potential shareholder returns.' He added: 'There are interesting growth opportunities in the core business too, such as bulk annuities, and we think Aviva investors is a bit underutilised at the moment. A slimmer, more capital-rich Aviva has the tools to make the most of the opportunities ahead.' The London-based firm outlined its plan this week to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, a whole decade ahead of the UK government's target. It said it would put 10billion from workers' auto-enrolment pension funds into green investments and stop offering insurance to any companies that make over 5 per cent of their revenue from coal by the end of 2022. Asset management arm Aviva Investors is due to plant 6billion into green assets by 2025, while another 2.5billion from the company will go towards low carbon and renewable energy infrastructure. Lloyds of London, pension scheme Nest, and M&G have made similar vows to decarbonise their portfolios, with the former announcing a 5billion fund to back companies that are developing green technology. Shares in Aviva ended the day 1.2 per cent higher at 387.9p. The first shipment of coronavirus vaccines manufactured in India arrived in Toronto on Wednesday morning. The consignment of 5 lakh doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine was sent by Pune-based Serum Institute of India. It was received by its Canadian partner, Verity Pharmaceuticals, located in Greater Toronto Area town of Mississauga. During a media interaction, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, "Very early this morning, our first half a million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine from the Serum Institute arrived in Canada. Already, the national operations centre has worked with provinces and territories to coordinate shipments of these vaccines across the country. Our priority is to get doses into arms as soon as possible." There is an expiry date of about a month from now due to which Canadian health authorities are accelerating the process of administering the vaccine. Member of Parliament for Oakville, and Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anita Anand shared a picture with the shipment of vaccine and said, "The AZ/CoviShield vaccine is now in. The first tranche of 500k doses arrived this morning from Serum Institute with 1.5 million more doses to follow. Thank you to all whose hard work made this happen. We look forward to future collaboration." The AZ/CoviShield vaccine is now in . The first tranche of 500k doses arrived this morning from @SerumInstIndia with 1.5 million more doses to follow. Thank you to all whose hard work made this happen. We look forward to future collaboration. pic.twitter.com/OL4s0vlcdU Anita Anand (@AnitaOakville) March 3, 2021 Member of Parliament for Pickering-Uxbridge Jennifer O'Connell said, "This is incredible work - AstraZeneca was approved this past Friday & thanks to Minister Anita Anand, her team & the many others involved, 5 days later we've received 500,000 doses with 1.5M more on the way! We're now set to receive more than 6.5M doses by the end of March!" Canada had authorised the Serum vaccine last week. It is the first Western nation and only G7 country to receive vaccines from India under the Vaccine Maitri initiative. After Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, AstraZeneca vaccine is the third vaccine to be cleared by Canada. Also read: Bharat Biotech's Covaxin 81% effective, works against UK variant Also read: Serum to supply 110 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine globally under COVAX P2 Science Inc., a green chemistry company, announced that Patrick Foley has transitioned to a new full-time role leading strategic technology advisory programs as part of its Scientific Advisory Board. Foley will join Paul Anastas, who currently chairs the Scientific Advisory Board. Most recently, Foley, a co-founder of P2, served as the companys Chief Science Officer until the end of 2020. Patrick has been a huge creative force from day one of P2 and has built for us a world class technology portfolio. Today, the company is seeing great success in commercializing that technology in markets including cosmetics, fragrances and polymers, said Neil Burns, P2s CEO. Last year, Patrick came to me with the idea of moving into a more strategic role where he could focus on big new technology ideas and keep in closer touch with our major collaborators. I was thrilled to be able to facilitate this transition. Foley graduated with a PhD from Yale University where he was a member of the first doctoral class at the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. It was at Yale that Foley and Professor Anastas formed P2 Science. Its great to be continuing the important work of green chemistry innovation at P2 where we have a track record of commercializing meaningful new technology, said Foley. About P2 Science P2 Science is a green chemistry company, co-founded by Dr. Patrick Foley and Professor Paul Anastas, head of the Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. P2 has developed and patented technologies for converting renewable feedstocks into high-value specialty products. Investors in P2 include BASF Venture Capital, Xeraya Capital, Elm Street Ventures, Connecticut Innovations, Ironwood Capital, HG Ventures and Chanel. The company started up its first manufacturing plant in September of 2018 which produces novel renewable aroma chemicals and cosmetic ingredients. For more information, visit http://www.p2science.com. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. TORRINGTON The citys grand list of taxable properties grew by 2.22 percent in 2020, to more than $2.1 billion, according to a report by Assessor Thomas DiStasio. According to DiStasios report, Eversource holds the top spot on the grand list with taxable property of $51 million. Increases to the citys real estate holdings, including residential, commercial, industrial and public utilities, are a result of improvements to those properties, in addition to a few commercial properties that are no longer tax exempt, DiStasio said. Personal property increased, due to the continued improvement of infrastructure, and relocation of equipment, he said. But DiStasio also said, Motor vehicle property values have also increased due to new vehicle purchases, which was a direct result of many new incentives and decreasing gas prices. The grand list of taxable property for 2020 totals $2,084,631,732, an increase of $45,278,850 over 2019s total of $2,039,352,882. Real estate increased by $24,012,610, or 1.48 percent. Personal property holdings increased by $7,677,330, or 3.85 percent; and motor vehicle holdings increased by $13,588,910, or 6.11 percent, DiStasios report shows. The citys top taxpayer for 2020 is Eversource, formerly Connecticut Light and Power, with $51, 077,010 in total taxable property. Yankee Gas is second, with $39,552,450, the report shows. Others at the top of the list are: the Torrington Water Co., $22,146,260; Dudrow Torrington LLC, $17,499,200; TIC & GG Torrington LLC, $15,347,139; SL Torrington LLC, TIC; O & G Industries Inc., $11,440,420; Target Corp., $ 9,687,510; Torrington Commons Improvements LLC, $ 9,576,200; Keystone Place at Newbury Brook LLC, $ 9,250,690; and Northbridge Torrington Assisted Living, $8,619,523. City officials, led by Mayor Elinor Carbone, continue to find ways to improve vacant properties to bring them back on the tax rolls. The city is trying to put its non-profit Torrington Development Corporation in charge of the shuttered Yankee Pedlar Inn on Main Street. Public Act 19-92, CGA 8-169AA, allows a municipality to petition for receivership to rehabilitate a building and prepare it for sale or to return it to the owner. The citys expenses to do the work would be reimbursed either by the sale of the property or by the owner, Carbone said. This week, Carbone showed her support of an effort to ease the burden on city and town dependence on property taxes through the states Payment in Lieu of Taxes program. Carbone on Tuesday joined other municipal and state leaders to show support for more state funding to help Torrington and others continue to grow. The mayor joined New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, state Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and others to talk about recently approved legislation that would re-tier the historically underfunded Payment in Lieu of Taxes program and provide much-needed relief for cities and towns. If we are going to recover from the pandemic, we need to make sure all our towns and cities can be made whole without pushing a greater tax burden on our residents and businesses, Carbone said. This is a critical step forward that recognizes the budget constraints we all face, but still responsibly delivers essential aid to towns and cities. A large coalition of mayors and first selectmen, including Carbone, have gotten behind HB 6516 to get it passed. Just over 85% of care home residents in Spain have now received the two Covid-19 vaccine doses needed for the full protection offered by the medication, according to the latest data presented on Wednesday by the Health Ministry. Another 11%, meanwhile, have received the first shot. In absolute terms, there are 330,461 people from this group who are completely protected and another 42,875 who are partly protected. Another 15,096 people (3.9%) are yet to start the process. The data in the ministry report leads to the conclusion that another 956,541 people have received their full vaccination against Covid, including healthcare staff and essential workers, among others, for a grand total of 1,287,002 who have got the two doses. Of the 5,583,955 doses that have been delivered to the countrys regions, 72.7% have been administered. A total of 2.7 million people across Spain have received their first dose. All three of the vaccines that have been authorized for use so far in Spain Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna require two injections. A total of 1,779 deaths were reported over the last seven days, down from 2,152 a week ago Wednesday marked the first time that the Health Ministry had presented this data on vaccinations, and the report was compiled in response to a request from the European authorities. In the future, the figures will include a breakdown of population groups, the ministry explained this week. Meanwhile, in terms of the progress of the pandemic, the daily number of Covid-19 deaths shot back up again in Wednesdays figures after having posted a record low for the year of 192 on Tuesday. Last night the ministry added 442 fatalities to the overall death toll, which is the worst number in two weeks. This has brought the total since the pandemic began above 70,000 70,247 to be exact. After a year of the pandemic, this figure puts Covid as the third cause of death in Spain. Looking at figures for 2018, only cancer (112,000) and respiratory issues (120,000) caused more fatalities, according to data from the National Statistics Institute. Despite Wednesdays high fatality figure, in terms of the number of deaths reported over the last seven days, that data point came in at 1,779. This is still very high, but is in fact the second-lowest total since January 21. The best figure since then, 1,722, was reported on Tuesday. This confirms that despite the daily fluctuations, there is a falling trend. Last Wednesday, the figure came in at 2,152. The 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants continues to fall, according to Wednesdays report, coming in at 159.57. That is still three times the symbolic target the central government has set of 50, and whats more the descent of this data point is starting to slow. In the last week, it has fallen 27.3%, compared to 37.9% a week ago. As is habitual, there are major differences between regions. The Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Valencia, Extremadura, Murcia and La Rioja are all below 100 cases, although none has yet to fall below 50 (Extremadura is at 50.58). Madrid and the North African exclave cities of Ceuta and Melilla, meanwhile, are still above 250 considered to be the extreme risk level by the Health Ministry. The Canary Islands is at 106.76, but the figure there has been rising for two days now. The Health Ministry reported 6,137 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday a new low for 2021 The two-week parameter is expected to keep falling the seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants is still doing so, which is a good sign. The number of infections is also falling. On Wednesday, 6,137 were reported thats a new low for 2021 and at the level of August last year, when the second wave began. Hospitals are also reporting falling stress levels due to the pandemic. A total of 8.57% of beds are currently occupied by Covid-19 patients, down from 10.67% a week ago. However, as with the incidence rate, this fall is also slowing. Its gone from a descent of 21.14% a week ago to 15.65% in this latest report. Something similar is happening for intensive care units (ICUs), albeit at a slower rate and from a worse situation. On Wednesday, 26.26% of beds were dedicated to Covid patients. A week ago, this figure was 30.55%. In Ceuta and Madrid, the percentages are 42.48% and 40.69%, respectively. Before the pandemic, that 40% was the percentage of beds reserved in case of an emergency, although now, with 2.5 times more beds than there were then (the total has gone from 4,400 to 10,000), there is greater capacity to maintain treatment of non-Covid patients. English version by Simon Hunter. ALLEN, Texas, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rachel H. Graham recently spoke at the TEDxTaraBlvd, event in Jonesboro, GA, held on February 22, 2021. The TEDx Talk, Secrets: Unpacking Your Lock Box to Live A More Joyful Life has recently been released for the public to enjoy. "I am excited to share my second official TEDx talk with TEDxTaraBlvd. This incredible opportunity has given me the ability to use my voice to empower and create meaning and purpose in so many lives," said Rachel H. Graham, CEO and Founder of Evolve and Transform, and CEO and Co-founder of Healing Springs Ranch. Graham's talk focuses on the half-truths we tell others and ourselves; the secrets we keep hidden in our "lockbox" and the power that comes from unpacking what's inside. This TEDx talk was filmed in Beavers Bend State Park by the incredibly talented Jason Ward Photography. "When I heard Rachel's idea, I knew her perspective of the new essential was highly relatable and transformational. What she and her team did to add context and layering of the idea through filming was sheer genius and an unforgettable delight," said Dena Wiggins, curator, and organizer of TEDxTaraBlvd. The independently organized event, licensed by TED, featured local voices and TED Talks videos under the theme: The New Essential from Multiple Perspectives. Like many communities, the TEDxTaraBlvd community experienced unprecedented change, ambiguity, and uncertainty individually, in community, and as a part of our evolving humanity. Small communities made and continue to make pivots from the point of the new essential. Humanity witnessed overnight shifts about what is essential in the light of now. What is the new essential-- the lasting big ideas that we take with us as we rebuild? The Tara Blvd community is no stranger to change, rebuilding, reinvention, and rebirth. About TEDx, x = independently organized event Tedx was born out of a desire to spread ideas within communities. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.) About TED TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas from inspired thinkers, often in the form of short talks. Many of these talks are given at TED conferences, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organized TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of TED Talks are published to TED Talks Daily, available on all podcast platforms. TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; The Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TED Translators, which crowdsources the subtitling of TED Talks so that big ideas can spread across languages and borders; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also offers [email protected], a program that reimagines TED Talks for workplace learning. TED also has a growing library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, WorkLife with Adam Grant, Pindrop and TEDxSHORTS. Follow TED on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and on LinkedIn. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Evolve and Transform Mel Gibson recovered from a severe bout of COVID-19 last year. The 65-year-old opened up about battling the virus and what it has been like parenting his four-year-old 'little Viking' son Lars during the unprecedented lockdown. Mel's candid chat came while promoting his new project Boss Level alongside co-star Frank Grillo during an appearance with Extra's Terri Seymour. Talking COVID: Mel Gibson opened up about battling coronavirus and what it has been like parenting his four-year-old during lockdown alongside co-star Frank Grillo during an appearance with Extra's Terri Seymour Visit Extra for more 'It doesn't feel like anything else you have ever had,' Mel said of getting COVID-19. Gibson contracted the virus last April, spent a week in the hospital and was treated with an anti-viral medication. The director has been spending the pandemic at his home with partner Rosalind Ross and their four-year-old son Lars. 'We're doing all right.' Mel joked, 'I still get to the bathroom by myself.' 'It doesn't feel like anything else you have ever had,' Mel said of getting COVID-19. 'Well, it's good, because you get to know him pretty well,' the Hacksaw Ridge director said of parenting during the pandemic. Adding: 'But having a four-year-old, a four-year-old boy who is a little Viking, it's just a handful anyway no matter if it's a pandemic, no matter if he's at home, no matter if he's raiding distant shores, it doesn't matter.' Mel certainly knows a thing or two about being a dad as the Australian actor has nine children in total from three relationships: Hannah Gibson, 41, Christian Gibson & Edward Gibson, 38, William Gibson, 36, Louis Gibson, 33, Milo Gibson, 31, Thomas Gibson, 22, Lucia Gibson, 11, and Lars Gibson, four. 'But having a four-year-old, a four-year-old boy who is a little Viking, it's just a handful anyway no matter if it's a pandemic, no matter if he's at home, no matter if he's raiding distant shores, it doesn't matter.' (Pictured in 2019) He is currently promoting his new Hulu project Boss Level which is about a former Special Forces agent stuck in a time loop. Extra's Terri Seymour asked Mel, 'If you could relive any of your days over and over again, which day would you pick?' 'Any mistake I've ever made,' he said in response. 'I'd have to go through the litany of bad decisions and mistakes and then grade them and find the worst one and do that.' New project: Mel is currently promoting his new Hulu project Boss Level which is about a former Special Forces agent stuck in a time loop Some of the What Women Want actor's worst decisions have been very publicly documented in the media. In 2006, Mel's now infamous anti-semetic tirade made headlines when he was arrested for driving under the influence following a night of drinking at Moonshadows in Malibu. Later, in 2010, Gibson was accused of domestic violence by his then-partner Oksana Grigorieva and he subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. (Newser) Authorities say a Ford Expedition crammed with 25 people crossed into the US from Mexico, likely through a breach in the border fence, before it was struck by a tractor-trailer near Holtville, Calif., on Tuesday morning, killing 13 people in the SUV, the Los Angeles Times reports. Surveillance footage shows two vehicles in the area of a 10-foot breach in the border fence, US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. One of them, a Chevrolet Suburban carrying 19 people, caught fire for reasons unknown on a nearby interstate, the AP reports. The people in the SUV escaped the fire and Border patrol agents took them into custody. The Ford Expedition reportedly continued on only to be struck by the big rig a short time later. The Border Patrol said that its agents did not attempt to stop or pursue either SUV. The California Highway Patrol is investigating that accident, and the Border Patrol has launched an investigation into human smuggling, the agency said. story continues below "Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life," the Border Patrols Gregory Bovino said. "Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy." In a preliminary report on the accident, authorities say the Expeditiondriven by a 28-year-old from Mexico who was killed in the crashpulled directly in front of the tractor-trailer at an intersection, per USA Today. Several people were ejected from the SUV, others were able to get out on their own, and some had to be freed from the wreckage. The rear seats of the Expedition, which is designed to hold eight people, reportedly had been removed to allow for more passengers. The area where the crash occurred has been a major route for illegal crossings for some two decades, per the AP, which notes that the accident happened at the height of harvest season in the agricultural area. (Read more human smuggling stories.) Advertisement The US may have suffered the highest coronavirus death toll in the world because almost 70 per cent of its adult population is overweight, according to a major report. Research by the World Obesity Federation found Covid deaths have been 10 times higher in countries where over half of adults are overweight, and they have accounted for a staggering 90 per cent of global deaths. So far almost 518,500 Americans have died from the virus, which is the highest death toll of any nation and double the number of victims in second worst-hit Brazil. The US has the eighth worst Covid death rate globally when the size of its population is factored in, with 152.5 victims per 100,000 people. It is also home to the highest percentage of overweight people, according to the WOF, with more than two-thirds (67.9 per cent) of adults having a body mass index (BMI) above 25. A healthy range is between 18 and 24 and people with a BMI of over 30 are considered obese. More than 70 million Americans are obese. Many US states have included obesity in their lists of chronic conditions that make people eligible for earlier access to Covid vaccines, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended. But vaccines come too late for thousands of Americans who struggled with obesity and died of COVID-19. Thousands of lives might have been saved if the population was slimmer, experts said, and lockdown measures may not have needed to be as drastic if fewer people were overweight or obese and had a lower risk of ending up in hospital. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned the finding was a 'wake-up call' for the West, where sedentary jobs and processed foods mean being overweight has become the norm for the majority of adults. Source: Covid-19 deaths from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus pandemic tracker and World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Observatory adult overweight estimates A breakdown of self-reported obesity in each state by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2019. Some of the hardest-hit states are the same ones that have obesity rates of 30% or higher The report, which compared countries' obesity rates and Covid death tolls, found that the Covid death rate was 10 times higher in countries where 50 per cent or more of the population is overweight. It saw that 2.2million of the world's 2.5million deaths so far had happened in countries with these high obesity rates. 'Increased body weight is the second greatest predictor of hospitalization and a high risk of death for people suffering from Covid-19,' the report said. WHY DOES BEING OVERWEIGHT MAKE COVID WORSE? People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop severe Covid-19 and die from it because they are generally less healthy and have worse immune systems. The coronavirus has been found to prey on people who don't have good health it causes fluid build-up in the lungs, blood clotting, swelling in the airways and blood vessels, intense fever and can trigger immune over-reaction. All of these can seriously damage vital organs. Overweight people are more likely to suffer severe versions of these effects because their bodies are already struggling to cope as a result of the strain of carrying excess fat, hormonal and chemical changes triggered by obesity, and higher rates of long-term illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure. Fat in the belly pushes up on the diaphragm the breathing muscle and compresses the lungs, making them weaker and less able to chuck out the viruses when they get in, Science magazine explains. Blood is also more likely to clot because vessels are damaged and don't work properly, partly because of constant swelling and irritation caused by chemicals released by fat. One researcher told Science obese people with Covid had 'the stickiest blood I have ever seen'. These clots then travel to the lungs and other organs and can be deadly. The immune system is also weaker in overweight people because fat cells intrude on organs that would normally make white blood cells, such as the bone marrow, meaning their capacity to work as normal is reduced. This means it takes longer to fight off the virus, if the body is able to do it at all. And any organ dysfunction, such as that caused by heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or dementia, has been found to make Covid-19 worse as it preys on damaged parts of the body and worsens existing problems. All of these are reported to be more common in obese people. Advertisement 'Only old age rates as a higher risk factor. The unprecedented economic costs of Covid-19 are largely due to the measures taken to avoid the excess hospitalization and need for treatment of the disease. 'Reducing one major risk factor, overweight, would have resulted in far less stress on health services and reduced the need to protect those services from being overwhelmed.' It's not the first signal that obesity has been a major driver of the toll COVID-19 has taken on the US. A recent Tufts University study estimated that about two thirds of US COVID-19 hospitalizations were attributable to four chronic conditions: obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Obesity raises risks of the other three conditions as well, and complications from all three can be lessened with healthy diets and exercise. 'We know that changes in diet quality alone, even without weight loss, rapidly improve metabolic health within just six to eight weeks. It's crucial to test such lifestyle approaches for reducing severe COVID-19 infections, both for this pandemic and future pandemics likely to come,' said Dr Dariush Mozaffarian, lead author and dean of the Friedman School at Tufts. And countries where healthy lifestyles are more common - and where governments have prioritized initiatives to encourage them - have fared better against COVID-19. Data from the John Hopkins University on Covid deaths and the WHO's Global Health Observatory adult overweight estimates shows that the UK had the third highest coronavirus death rate per person at 182 per 100,000 people, lower only than Slovenia (183) and Belgium (192) and the fourth highest overweight rate, at 64 percent. A total of 123,783 people have died of Covid-19 in the UK, according to the Department of Health. The Czech Republic (180.8 deaths per 100,000), Italy (158.4), Portugal (155.3) and Montenegro (152.7), all had higher rates than the US. The rate of overweight people in all eight nations was above 56 per cent. Scientists say overweight or obese people are more likely to develop severe Covid and die from it because they are generally less healthy and have worse immune systems. They also have higher baseline levels of inflammation. Inflammation from the body's attempt to fend of coronavirus has been shown to be as damaging as the virus itself, if not more so. The compounding effects are especially dangerous for obese people. The coronavirus has been found to prey on people who are in poor health it causes fluid build-up in the lungs, blood clotting, swelling in the airways and blood vessels, intense fever and can trigger immune overreaction. All of these can seriously damage vital organs. Overweight people are more likely to suffer severe versions of these effects because their bodies are already struggling to cope as a result of the strain of carrying excess fat, hormonal and chemical changes triggered by obesity, and higher rates of long-term illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure. No country where less than 40 percent of the population is overweight has Covid-19 death rates above 10 per 100,000, the report showed. The country with the lowest Covid death rate was Vietnam, which has one of the lowest global rates of obesity at 7.3 percent. Japan and Singapore were also singled out for their low levels of obesity and deaths from Covid-19. Two thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations were 'attributable' to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes or heart failure, meaning they likely could have been avoided if the patients hadn't had these preventable conditions, the Tufts University study estimates These countries managed to avoid disaster during the pandemic despite being close to China and having some of the first international coronavirus cases in early 2020. In 2008, Japan introduced the 'Metabo law' which requires everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 to get annual measurements of their waist circumference. Employers of those with waistlines above approved limits are required to provide weight loss classes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the report should act as a 'wake-up call' for governments, particularly in wealthier countries, to tackle their obesity problems. Director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: 'This report must act as a wake-up call to governments globally. The correlation between obesity and mortality rates from Covid-19 is clear and compelling. 'Investment in public health and coordinated, international action to tackle the root causes of obesity is one of the best ways for countries to build resilience in health systems post-pandemic. We urge all countries to seize this moment.' Author of the report Dr Tim Lobstein, senior policy adviser to the World Obesity Federation and visiting professor at the University of Sydney, said: 'We now know that an overweight population is the next pandemic waiting to happen. 'Look at countries like Japan and South Korea where they have very low levels of Covid-19 deaths as well as very low levels of adult obesity. 'They have prioritized public health across a range of measures, including population weight, and it has paid off in the pandemic. 'Governments have been negligent and ignored the economic value of a healthy population at their peril. 'For the last decade they have failed to tackle obesity, despite setting themselves targets at United Nations meetings. 'Covid-19 is only the latest infection exacerbated by weight issues, but the warning signs were there. We have seen it in the past with Mers, H1N1 and other respiratory diseases.' Johanna Ralston, chief executive of the World Obesity Federation, said: 'The failure to address the root causes of obesity over many decades is clearly responsible for hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths.' Catherine Zeta-Jones has revealed that her 'beautiful cousin' Gemma has died. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday night, the Welsh actress, 51, paid tribute to her 'extraordinary' cousin in an emotional post after she passed away on 13 February. Catherine posted a picture of Gemma alongside a moving photo of a light which had the caption: 'Gemma 1983-2021' followed by a heart emoji. Tragic: Catherine Zeta-Jones has revealed that her 'beautiful cousin' Gemma has died (Catherine pictured in 2019) The actress revealed that Gemma would be taking her 'final resting place' on Thursday as she encouraged her followers to 'leave a light on' in her memory. Catherine penned: 'On February 13th my beautiful cousin Gemma left us in this world. She was truly a "Gem" to us all and she was truly an extraordinary mother to her five children. 'Tomorrow she will take her final resting place. Join my family and I and leave a light on for Gemma tonight.' Catherine's 3.6million followers were quick to send their love and condolences to the star over her loss. So sad: Taking to Instagram on Wednesday night, the Welsh actress, 51, paid tribute to her 'extraordinary' cousin (pictured) in an emotional post after she passed away on 13 February RIP: Catherine posted a picture of Gemma alongside a moving photo of a light which had the caption: 'Gemma 1983-2021' followed by a heart emoji One person said: 'I'm so sorry C. My front porch lights will stay on tonight in her honour.' A different fan put: 'My condolences. May she Rest In Peace.' Another follower commented: 'My condolences to you and your family.' While a different account added: ' Prayers and sending much Love to you and the family.' Tribute: The actress revealed that Gemma would be taking her 'final resting place' on Thursday as she encouraged her followers to 'leave a light on' in her memory Support: Catherine's 3.6million followers were quick to send their love and condolences to the star over her loss It's been an emotional few months for Catherine after the star mourned the loss of her father-in-law, Kirk Douglas, who died at age 103 on February 5 2020. The actress - who has been married to the star's son Michael Douglas since 2000 - said she will love Kirk for the 'rest of [her] life'. She wrote on Instagram at the time: 'To my darling Kirk, I shall love you for the rest of my life. I miss you already. Sleep tight... (sic)' Heartbreaking: It's been an emotional few months for Catherine after the star mourned the loss of her father-in-law, Kirk Douglas, who died at age 103 on February 5 2020 (pictured together in 2001) Kirk, who died on February 5, 2020, had two sons, Michael, 76, and Joel, 74, with his first wife Diana Dill before divorcing in 1951. Kirk's eldest son Michael married Catherine, 51, who is exactly 25 years younger than him, back in 2000. The couple announced their engagement in December 1999 before marrying at New York's Plaza Hotel, after Michael finalised his divorce from first wife Diandra Luker. Michael and Catherine, who marked their 20th anniversary last year, have two children together - son Dylan 20, and daughter Carys, 17. Almost half of Ukrainians in favor of implementation of Minsk Agreements on Donbas poll KYIV. March 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) Some 45.3% of Ukrainians consider it necessary to implement the Minsk Agreements to settle the conflict in Donbas, according to the data of a sociological survey of respondents conducted by the Social Monitoring Center from February 19 to February 28. According to the sociological survey, presented at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday, 28.7% of respondents advocate Ukraine's withdrawal from the negotiation process, and 26% of respondents found it difficult to answer. The sociological survey was conducted by the Social Monitoring Center from February 19 to February 28 by the method of individual interviews at the place of residence among 3,017 respondents throughout Ukraine, excluding the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea. The margin of error ranges from 1.1% to 1.9%. JOHANNESBURG, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Absa Bank, one of Africa's largest financial groups, has transformed its collections operations working with global analytics software firm FICO. After three months of deploying FICO Customer Communication Services (CCS) and making process changes, self-paying customers nearly doubled, from 23 percent to 43 percent, and immediately reduced impairment charges, resulting in a three-month ROI of 29:1. As COVID-19 hit Africa, the FICO solution enabled Absa to roll out payment relief initiatives and communicate with distressed customers, meeting its vision of 'Housing the Nation'. For its achievements, Absa Bank has won the 2021 FICO Decisions Award for Debt Collection. More information: https://www.fico.com/en/solutions/customer-communications-for-debt-collection-and-recovery "Recently, Absa embarked on a three-year journey to transform its collections estate into the best-in-class in the world," said Sibulelo Ncamani, a change lead in the Collections Transformation Programme at Absa. "We selected FICO as our strategic partner for this journey, focusing mainly on analytics, operations and technology. "One of the solutions we chose is the FICO Customer Communications Services, which our Home Loans portfolio implemented first. We sought to achieve a digital, omnichannel capability that will enable 24/7 access to our distressed customers to assist in their time of need. This capability was a crucial component to the Absa Home Loans business vision of 'Housing the Nation' and more specifically for Home Loans collections and recoveries." Improving Communications in Collections Communications is the key to effective collections, and Absa needed to break down siloed communication channels, create profile-specific communication strategies, and execute real-time processes. Automation was important, as was learning from response and interaction data to see what worked and which channels customers preferred. FICO Customer Communication Services (CCS), integrated with FICO Debt Manager, enabled Absa to set up different treatment strategies for customers who were at different risk levels and who had different reasons for being in arrears, including: Technical arrears, such as delayed inter-bank payments. Salary dates that had moved. Customers who simply forgot to pay and require a nudge or reminder for payment. More severe types of distress such as reduced working hours or even unemployment. Using FICO CCS's omnichannel capability, Absa sent customers different combinations of static messages, interactive messages and interactive voice recordings, allowing customers to self-pay before being worked by an agent. Customers could also make a payment arrangement without having to talk to an agent. "We saw fantastic results from our initial trial," said Ncamani. "Removing accounts from the dialler resulted in a 26 percent reduction in call center effort, without a reduction in customers' payment performance. By automating more work, we also saw our team's morale improve, as more meaningful work was provided to agents." Meeting the COVID-19 Challenge When South Africa went into hard lockdown at the end of March 2020, it placed a severe constraint on the collection team's operational capacity, at a time of unprecedented distress for customers. "More of our customers than ever were in danger of losing their homes due to non-payment," said Ncamani. "Again, FICO CCS was able to accommodate Absa Home Loans. By increasing our capacity through automation, we were able to focus on severely distressed customers and roll out payment relief initiatives as part of our COVID-19 response. FICO CCS also acted as a channel of engagement for distressed customers looking for assistance on managing their bond repayments. FICO CCS enabled us to do 'business as usual' collections in a period that was anything but usual." Absa plans to expand FICO CCS to more customer segments as it prepares for any future increase in delinquencies following post-COVID-19 stress. The capacity saving expected from FICO CCS will allow the business to promote agents from pre-legal collections to legal recoveries. "This will further improve the colleague experience and assist our business in the area that is expected to be under strain for an extended period of time post-COVID-19," said Ncamani. "In addition, we will expand FICO CCS strategies to include automated forbearance offerings and deceased estate management, which are highly manual processes today. And we will use the data generated by CCS to develop interaction models that will allow us to offer the right customer the right solution through the right communication channel." "Absa Bank kept more customers in their homes during an unprecedented period of anxiety and financial stress," said Nikhil Behl, chief marketing officer at FICO. "That is an achievement that goes beyond profit margins the bank is truly a force for social good. We at FICO are honored that our technology could play a part." "ABSA understands the sensitivity of the collection process and the importance of reaching a customer as quickly as possible," said Tiffani Montez, banking analyst at Aite and one of the FICO Decisions Awards judges. "They were able to take a manual collections process and automate customer outreach with a high-touch, flexible communication model. In addition, they were able to reduce reliance on having an agent take payment by giving the customer the ability to review options and make payment." FICO Customer Communication Services, part of FICO's solutions for debt collection and recovery, enables businesses to orchestrate communication strategies with different channel mixes, follow consumers if they switch channels, and measure results in a unified approach across channels. Collections teams can conduct any number of dialogues through online and mobile channels with the efficiency, courtesy, and compliance of their best agents. About Absa Bank Absa is one of Africa's largest diversified financial services groups with a presence in 12 countries across the continent and around 42 000 employees. The company is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and was founded in 1991. The company offers it clients a range of retail, business, corporate and investment, and wealth management solutions. https://www.absa.co.za/personal/ About the FICO Decisions Awards The FICO Decisions Awards recognize organizations that are achieving remarkable success using FICO solutions. A panel of independent judges with deep industry expertise evaluates nominations based upon measurable improvement in key metrics; demonstrated use of best practices; project scale, depth and breadth; and innovative uses of technology. The 2021 judges are: Prasanna Dhore, Chief Data & Analytics and Innovation Officer, Equifax Chief Data & Analytics and Innovation Officer, David Dittmann , vice president, Data & Analytics, P&G (2019 winner) vice president, Data & Analytics, Rene Javier Guzman, market & liquidity risks director at Banreservas (2019 winner) market & liquidity risks director at Tomas Klinger , decision science and data director at Home Credit (2019 winner) decision science and data director at Marcel Le Gouais, managing editor at Credit Strategy managing editor at Tiffani Montez , banking analyst at Aite banking analyst at Lisa Morgan , journalist & analyst at InformationWeek journalist & analyst at Ignazio Provinzano , head of risk operations at Swisscard (2019 winner) The winners of the FICO Decisions Awards will be spotlighted at and win tickets to FICO World 2021, the Decisions Conference, November 2021 in Orlando, Florida. About FICO FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 195 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 120 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time. Learn more at www.fico.com . FICO and Debt Manager are registered trademarks or trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries. SOURCE FICO Related Links https://www.fico.com/ Various reports indicate that the vaccines cause more injuries and deaths than natural COVID-19 infections. According to LifeSite, the different experimental vaccines' death rate for Israel's elderly is 40 times higher than COVID-19 deaths according to data presented by researchers. Pfizer's vaccine is said to have caused 40 times more death in elderly people and 260 times more deaths in the young than "what the COVID-19 virus would have claimed during the given time frame" of five weeks. This was based on the research conducted by Aix-Marseille University Faculty Member Dr. Herve Seligmann and Engineer Haim Yativ. "Those vaccinated and above 65, 0.2% died during the three-week period between doses, hence about 200 among 100,000 vaccinated. This is to be compared to the 4.91 dead among 100,000 dying from COVID-19 without vaccination," the research paper read. "This scary picture also extends to those below 65," the researchers continued. During the five-week vaccination process "0.05 percent, meaning 50 among 100,000, died. This is to be compared to the 0.19 per 100,000 dying from COVID-19 (who) are not vaccinated," the authors added. "Hence the death rate of this age group increased by 260 (times) during this five-week period of the vaccination process, as compared to their natural COVID-19 death rate." As per LifeSite, Seligmann and Yativ said that the "estimated numbers of deaths from the vaccine are probably much lower than actual numbers as it accounts only for those defined as COVID-19 deaths for that short time period and does not include AVC and cardiac (and other) events resulting from the inflammatory reactions." This information does not take into account the "long-term complications" the vaccine may have on the person. The authors also said hat those who were administered with the Pfizer vaccine should expect "mid- and long-term adverse effects since the Antibody-dependent Enhancement manifests itself on the patient. LifeSite also reported similar effects of the Pfizer vaccine in the United States where 56% of the reported 1,095 deaths received the Pfizer vaccine and 43% received the Moderna vaccine based on reports released by the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between December 14, 2020 and February 18, 2021. Data also show that 48% of the people who died in the United States became ill after 48 hours of vaccination and a third of the deaths happened within 48 hours of vaccination. There are actually a total of 19,907 reports of adverse events due to the vaccination for the said time period. Roughly 21% of the deaths were cardiac-related. This echoes the warning given by Pediatric Rheumatologist Dr. J. Patrick Whelan to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last December that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could cause brain and heart inflammation along with other injuries that were assessed from the safety trials. In addition, LifeSite revealed that the United Kingdom's YellowCard reported that there were 402 deaths after Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were administered for the period between December 9, 2020 and February 14, 2021. YellowCard is the United Kingdom's counterpart for the United States VAERS, which reports side effects to COVID-related medications, devices, products, and vaccines. LifeSite pointed out that despite the reported cases of deaths and adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccinations, authorities show no concern or alarm. Chennai, March 4 : Even as the BJP is going full throttle to capture power in Puducherry, there is a road block in front of it. Former Chief minister of Puducherry, N Rangaswamy who has floated the AINR Congress, is sulking over the public statement made by the Union home minister Amit Shah that Pudcherry will have a BJP Chief minister, during a programme last week. Rangaswamy's camp is of the opinion that other than nominated legislators, BJP has yet to open an account in the state and that Shah's statement is an overambitious one and that this would do more harm than good for the party. Rangaswamy, who was on a spiritual tour, had communicated to BJP national president JP Nadda that his party may have to contest alone given the situation. Sources in the BJP indicated that the situation is not out of control and the party is trying to patch up the differences with the powerful leader. While the saffron camp is expecting a landslide with the support of AINR congress and AIADMK, the contention of those close to Rangaswamy is that the BJP has less than 3% vote share in the previous assembly elections and that the party will have to strive hard to make any dent in the state politics. Rangaswamy wants to become the Chief minister and if the BJP national leadership agrees on this, there will not be much difficulties in forming a government. The DMK, Congress camp is also in uncertainty after the V Narayanaswamy government resigned and several legislators jumping fence. It may be noted that AINR Congress had won 7 seats in the last assembly elections, even after going it alone in the fighting against an AIADMK, BJP alliance and a DMK,Congress alliance and this proves the clout of Rangaswamy in Puducherry politics. This is exactly what Rangaswamy and his associates are banking upon to wrest the state from the Congress, DMK combine and requires the support of the BJP, AIADMK combine for that. BJP national general secretary in charge of Puducherry, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, while speaking to IANS over telephone said, "The NDA is strong in Puducherry and there is no ambiguity on what Home minister Amit Shah has said. He has clearly said that it will be an NDA government and there is no confusion in this. We will form the government with NR Congress and AIADMK." With Chandrashekhar landing at Puducherry as the representative of the BJP national leadership, it seems things will be sorted out and Rangaswamy will fall in line. Before he was 25, former professional poker player Philip Newall wrote two books on Limit Hold Em poker and bought two houses with cash. His future wasnt in the cards, though. Now 33 and a behavioural economist, Dr Newall has published new research which shows gambling can make you unhappy, sleepless and lose your house. Philip Newall used to play poker professionally now he is an academic studying gambling. Credit:James Brickwood A 10 per cent increase in spending on gambling doubles a persons chance of missing a mortgage payment, found a study published this month in the journal Nature Human Research by Dr Newall and co-authors from the United Kingdom. Higher levels of gambling were also found to be associated with substantially increased rates of mortality, disability, unemployment and resorting to payday loans. Gamblers are also less likely to participate in things which make most people happy playing sport, travelling or enjoying time with others. Dennis R. DePerro, 62, died Monday at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse from complications of Covid-19. A native of Buffalo, he was president of St. Bonaventure University since 2017. He spent 39 years in higher education, including eight years (1982-1990) in admissions and alumni relations at his alma mater Canisius College, five years (1990-1995) as dean of admissions and financial aid at Marietta College in Ohio, and 18 years at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, beginning in 1995. Student population at Le Moyne rose sharply during his 18 years as vice president for enrollment, according to his obituary. At Le Moyne, he was named the inaugural dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies in 2013. His experience developing health care programs helped guide the graduate schools efforts to bolster its new School of Health Professions, which welcomed its first class of graduate students this January. Related story: He was beloved and touched so many lives at Le Moyne An accomplished pianist and organist, he loved music and played organ at churches in Buffalo to help pay for college, his obituary said. Dennis loved boating with the family on Owasco Lake. While in Syracuse, he served the boards of Christian Brothers Academy, Elmcrest Childrens Center, Francis House, and St. Josephs College of Nursing. If you have a suggestion for a feature obituary, please email the link and any other information youd like to share to bduncan@syracuse.com More recent feature obituaries: Contact Brenda Duncan anytime: 315-470-2265 | Email | Twitter More than half of U.S. military installations have now lifted travel restrictions imposed to try to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 1, according to the Defense Department's latest statistics, 117 of 231 military installations, or 51%, have lifted their constraints. The Marine Corps and Air Force have lifted restrictions on the greatest proportion of their installations. Out of 17 Marine Corps facilities, 15 have had travel restrictions lifted, or 88%. And the Air Force has lifted restrictions on 58 of 80 installations, or nearly 73% of its bases and Air Reserve stations. Read Next: Navy Debunks Top 10 COVID-19 Vaccine Myths The Navy is the most cautious of the services, with travel restrictions lifted on just seven out of 62 installations, or 11%. And the Army has lifted restrictions on a little more than half its installations -- 36 of 68. Three Defense Finance and Accounting Service locations have not had their travel restrictions lifted, but they've been ended for the Pentagon itself. Twelve installations lifted restrictions this week, according to the latest update, but one -- Patrick Space Force Base, located east of Orlando, Florida -- actually reinstituted them. Installations lifting restrictions in the last week include Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Before an installation's travel restrictions can be lifted, the state or country in which it is located must show a 14-day declining trend in symptoms and cases of COVID-19, and there can be no stay-at-home order in place. The installation then must meet additional criteria, including a health protection condition, or HPCON, level below Charlie, and essential services have to be available. Once those first steps are met, a senior leader such as a chief management officer, service secretary or combatant commander can approve lifting travel restrictions. Service members or civilians at an installation with no restrictions in place may then travel freely to another location that also has had its restrictions lifted, according to the military's update. But if either installation has not yet met the criteria for lifting restrictions, travelers will need an exemption or waiver before proceeding. -- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey. Related: Military May Revisit Making COVID-19 Vaccines Mandatory After FDA Grants Approval The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Moroccan officials recently met to advance the organization of the 24th UNWTO General Assembly in October 2021, the first global high-level UN 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 organizing an 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 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 Islamabad: Several websites of the Pakistan government were defaced on Monday allegedly by hackers from India. The hackers attacked websites of some key ministries on the day the country celebrated its 70th Independence Day. The sites hacked included Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Inter-provincial coordination, Ministry of Water and Power, Ministry of Information Technology and others. An official of the Ministry of Information Technology said the attack was carried out by a group calling themselves "LuluSec India". The hackers posted pro-India material on the web pages of hacked websites. Read more: China-Pak friendship 'stronger than steel, sweeter than honey': Wang Several websites are still not functional. There was no formal reaction by the government so far. It is not the first incident of cyber-attack by hackers targeting the Pakistani government websites. Such attacks have occurred in the past also. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The friends of an alleged rape victim have revealed it is just the 'tip of the iceberg' in their fight against Attorney-General Christian Porter. An emotional Mr Porter fronted the nation on Wednesday to confirm he was the unnamed cabinet minister that sexual assault allegations were levelled against. Mr Porter strongly denied the claims and said he never had any form of sexual relationship with the woman, whom he said he knew briefly when they were both teenagers 33 years ago. The alleged sexual assault occurred in 1988 when he was 17 and the woman was 16, while both were in Sydney for a debating competition. Christian Porter (pictured with estranged wife Jennifer) fronted the media on Wednesday afternoon to confirm he was the unnamed cabinet minister that sexual assault allegations were levelled against She went to police last year but withdrew the complaint before taking her own life in June. Friends of the alleged victim have pledged that Mr Porter's tearful press conference will not stop them from pressing forward with the allegations. A man, who was friends with the woman for 30 years and was in close contact with her right up to her death, said the pressure on the Morrison government would only increase. 'I implore the government to understand that the pressure will only go up and not down and that this is not the iceberg, this is only the tip of the iceberg,' he told The Australian. Labor and the Greens argue the issue is not resolved and have urged the prime minister to take further action with an inquiry. The alleged sexual assault occurred in 1988 when he was 17 and the woman was 16, while both were in Sydney for a debating competition Mr Porter is expected to be on stress leave for about two weeks, but has stated he won't quit after vehemently denying the allegations. NSW Police closed an investigation into the matter because of a lack of admissible evidence. 'The matter is at an end because the police have spoken,' Mr Frydenberg told Sky News on Thursday. 'It's the police whose judgement and whose decision is the most important here.' The deputy Liberal leader rejected calls for an investigation to review the historical allegations, saying Mr Porter's critics will never be satisfied. 'Christian Porter has emphatically denied the events and he's entitled to the presumption of innocence,' Mr Frydenberg said. Mr Porter declared the allegations 'just didn't happen'. 'Could I have forgotten or misconstrued the things that I have read, which are said to have occurred? Absolutely not.' A second Russian pipelaying vessel is set to join the operation to lay the almost-complete Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany in Danish waters, the pipeline development company said March 4, S&P Global reports. The Adakemik Cherskiy -- which has dynamic positioning capabilities allowing for accelerated pipelaying -- will join the Fortuna pipelayer carrying out work south of the Danish island of Bornholm in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Fortuna, which uses anchors in pipelaying meaning a slower rate of work, resumed operations in Danish waters on Feb. 6. "The Akademik Cherskiy departed from the port of Wismar in Germany and transited in the direction of Kaliningrad to undergo sea trials," the developer said in emailed comments. "Upon the sea trials completion, the vessel will start pipelay works in the Danish EEZ," it said. Being able to use two pipelaying vessels will speed up work on completing Nord Stream 2, which before the Fortuna resumed work had around 150 km left to lay out of a total 2,460 km of the two-string pipeline. The Akademik Cherskiy has long been considered as a likely candidate to lay the remaining pipeline. It arrived at the port of Wismar on Jan. 24, according to S&P Global Platts trade flow software, cFlow. Wismar was also the last port of call for the Fortuna before it resumed pipelaying work in Danish waters last month. Vsyqf.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 29 Sep 2014, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the vsyqf homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the vsyqf homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the vsyqf homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if vsyqf has a Facebook fan page). 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Edit Close Up to 800 people aged 85 and older will not get the Covid-19 vaccine until next week as HSE chief Paul Reid admitted today significant issueshave arisen in the roll out in recent days. The patients who are due to get the jab next week are attached to around 65 GP practices which have low numbers of people in this age category. These are GPs mainly in rural areas who cannot buddy up with other practices. Vaccination is also to begin next week on the over 70s who are house bound. GPs or the National Ambulance Service will bring the vaccine to the around 4,000 to 5,000 in that catagory. Mr Reid was speaking after anger among a number of GPs who had expected deliveries which failed to materialise while others received too little doses. Read More There were also major issues trying to get through to the HSE to get clarification leaving their older patients deeply disappointed at the failure of the vaccines to arrive. Mr Reid said: I acknowledge significant frustration this week. I accept the issues that need to be addressed and we will address them. He said 160 GP practices which have not yet received vaccine will get them today and tomorrow while the 65 smaller practices will have the vaccines next week. There were logistical and coordination issues which led to confusion in around twenty to twenty five practices, he acknowledged. The roll out worked well in the first two weeks but the difficulties arose this week. Commenting on the shortage of AstraZeneca vaccine for healthcare workers he said two scheduled deliveries of 64,000 dose last week and 12,000 this week were impacted. The delays are expected to be made up before the end of March. Meanwhile, the HSE confirmed it is to start vaccinating people with underlying illnesses who are at high risk of Covid-19 from next week, beginning with the first 10,000. There are around 160,000 patients in this group and hospitals have been told to identify them and notify them when a vaccine is ready. They will be given the AstraZeneca vaccine instead of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee said this group should get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines but if there was a delay of three weeks they could be given the AstraZeneca jab. Dr Colm Henry chief clinical officer of the HSE said if they were to wait to have enough of Pfizer or Moderna the vaccination of this group would not start until mid April. He acknowledged it is going to be tricky to identify all the relevant people in this group. He said the early signals are that the vaccines are already contributing to a significant drop in infections and deaths in long term care facilities. There is also a dramatic drop in infections in healthcare workers. Dr Abbie Collins, a HSE public health specialist, said public health doctors were called to around 1,150 education facilities due to Covid-19 in the last term around 28pc . Meanwhile Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is denying that vaccine targets are being missed by the HSE or the State and is blaming AstraZeneca for changing its promised supply. "The HSEs target is to get out what it gets in, the HSE is not missing its target at all, he said. Mr Donnelly denied in the Dail that the HSE or the State have failed to meet vaccination targets, but then blamed AstraZeneca for changing the numbers of doses it promised to deliver. He claimed AstraZeneca changed its figures three times in a week at one point. This week, a figure was given out that the hope was to vaccinate 120,000 people this week. Itll be lower than that because AstraZeneca, at the last minute, mid-week, said actually, youre not getting what you need. He said this is being portrayed as targets being missed, but that this isnt the case at all. Unfortunately, how that is being portrayed by some is that the HSE has missed its targets and the state has missed its targets, whereas in fact, its not the case at all. He was responding to Labour leader Alan Kellys urge to publish weekly vaccine targets in an effort to be more transparent with the public. The minister warned this could erode public confidence. If we publish the forecast at that level of detail it will change regularly and my concern that it will cause a lot of concern among the general public and that it may erode trust and it could be down to one company moving around its supplies all the time, he said. Minister Donnelly said that in good faith, several weeks ago he said that most people would be vaccinated by September. He said that this target has now been potentially moved again because of AstraZeneca and that he was accused of making false promises. Within an hour I was being accused of making false promises. If we are going to use forecast information, my ask back is that all of us in the House use it accordingly because it has not always been used in that way. Speaking at Leinster House, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was very clear that vaccine targets had not been met. I think Stephen Donnelly has to accept that if they're going to state targets there will be an expectation that they're met, she said. Asked if she had confidence in Mr Donnelly to deliver the vaccination programme, Ms McDonald said: I dont have confidence in this government full stop. I wouldnt have confidence in many of them to deliver a pint of milk to my front door, quite frankly. She said supplies from pharma companies had been an issue from the start, but that the Government was obligated to ensure "continuity of supply". "Other countries and other jurisdictions are now looking to establish all of their options in terms of secure supply of vaccine and I think Stephen Donnelly needs to do similarly," she said. Read More Israel has blamed the recent oil spill in the eastern Mediterranean on Iran, but many details are still unclear. Beaches in Israel and Lebanon turned black last month following a spill in the sea. On Wednesday, Israels Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel said the spill emanated from a ship carrying pirated cargo from Iran to Syria, Reuters reported. Gamliel named the ship as the oil tanker Emerald, which flies the flag of Panama. The ship sailed through the Gulf and the Red Sea without radio contact, then turned on its tracking devices before the Suez Canal. It turned off the tracking devices again before entering Israeli waters and allegedly dumped the oil on Feb. 1-2. The minister called the event terrorism and blamed Iran, according to Reuters. Iran is damaging the environment; it isnt just hurting the State of Israel, she said at a press conference. The Iranian government had not commented on the accusation as of Wednesday evening. A Panama-flagged vessel named Emerald reached Dubai on Jan. 1 and the Suez Canal on Jan. 31. It went to Egypts Port Said on Feb. 15 and is now en route to Iraq, according to the ship tracking website VesselFinder. Many facts remain unknown. Gamliel said the ship is owned by a Libya company but did not name anyone. She also did not explain how exactly Iran was involved. Some security officials have doubted her assessment, according to Israeli media outlets. Israel blamed Iran for another incident at sea recently. The Israeli government also said Iran was behind last weeks explosion aboard an Israeli owned ship in the Gulf of Oman. After 9/11, combatting terrorist financing has been an important mission of the FATF. This became even more significant after 2015 when the scale of terrorist activities intensified across the world by K.M. Seethi There is a great deal of disappointment in Pakistan with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a Paris-based global money laundering watchdog, having resolved to put Pakistan again on its terrorism financing list of Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring (JUIM)often referred to as the grey list. Pakistan figured in the list of 19 countries, identified under JUIM, at the recently concluded meeting of FATF. These countries (which also included Indias another neighbour, Myanmar) were acknowledged as having failed to tackle terror financing. The decision of the FATF has come as a setback to Islamabad at a critical juncture when the country is reeling under tremendous economic pressure. The FATFformed in 1989 and currently having 39 membersis an inter-governmental body that sets international standards that would prevent illegal activities like terrorism within and across countries. It makes sustained efforts to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas. The FATF makes recommendations (called FATF Standards) which will ensure a co-ordinated global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism. It also helps governments track the funds of terrorists and criminals indulging in terrorism, illegal drugs, human trafficking and other crimes, besides working to halt funding for weapons of mass destruction. After 9/11, combatting terrorist financing has been an important mission of the FATF. This became even more significant after 2015 when the scale of terrorist activities intensified across the world, particularly with the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh), and the renewed activities of Al-Qaeda and their affiliated terrorist organisations. The FATF works with global agencies and international organisations, including the UN and other regional formations. There are two sets of countries in FATFs Country-Specific Processes.' The list of High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action is generally called black list. The other one, often called grey list, comes under Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring. Once appeared in these lists, the countries are expected to follow an action plan in compliance with the FATF Standards within a certain time period. The FATF brings out the deliberations and resolutions of its plenary through two major public documentsStrategic Initiatives and Country-Specific Processesnotified after each plenary held three times a year. The plenary that concluded this year on February 25 continued to maintain North Korea and Iran in the black list and countries like Pakistan, Myanmar, Burkina Faso, Syria et al. in the grey list. Pakistan emerged in the grey list three times since 2009. The last time Pakistan was placed under the JUIM was in June 2018 when the FATF called on Islamabad to put in place a plan of action to check money laundering and terror financing by the end of 2019. In October last year, the FATF recommenced its work to identify new countries fight Against Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) deficiencies and to prioritise the review of listed countries with expired or expiring deadlines. The latest plenary considered the credentials of these countries with respect to AML/CFT. The FATFs resolution reads as follows: Since June 2018, when Pakistan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) to strengthen its AML/CFT regime and to address its strategic counter-terrorist financing-related deficiencies, Pakistans continued political commitment has led to significant progress across a comprehensive CFT action plan, including by: demonstrating that law enforcement agencies are identifying and investigating the widest range of TF activity, demonstrating enforcement against TFS violations, and working to prevent the raising and moving of funds including by controlling facilities and services owned or controlled by designated persons and entities. The FATF concluded: Pakistan should continue to work on implementing the three remaining items in its action plan to address its strategically important deficiencies, namely by: (1) demonstrating that TF investigations and prosecutions target persons and entities acting on behalf or at the direction of the designated persons or entities; (2) demonstrating that TF prosecutions result in effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions; and (3) demonstrating effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions against all 1267 and 1373 designated terrorists, specifically those acting for or on their behalf. The FATF takes note of the significant progress made on the entire action plan. To date, Pakistan has made progress across all action plan items and has now largely addressed 24 of the 27 action items. As all action plan deadlines have expired, the FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan before June 2021. A major reason that prompted the FATF to maintain Pakistan in the grey list was its noncompliance in respect of taking action against all the UN-designated terrorists which include terror brains like Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) mastermind, and LeTs terror commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. They were already designated as the most-wanted terrorists in India with their involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the 2019 bombing of a CRPF bus in Pulwama I Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40 Indian soldiers. The decision of the FATF was also a sequel to a number of developments in Pakistan in the past few months. It may be recalled that in early February 2021, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-born militant who was convicted for the kidnapping and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. The apex court turned down all charges against Omar Sheikh who has been in jail in Pakistan for the crime. Daniel Pearl was serving as South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal. He was captured in Karachi in January 2002 while investigating on Pakistani terror groups linked to Al Qaeda. The US and many other countries criticised this action of the apex court in Pakistan. The South Asia Terrorism Portal estimated that Pakistan saw more than 300 terrorism-related incidents in 2020, and 169 associated deaths of civilians. In the first two months in 2021 alone, there were 48 incidents of killing which also involved 39 civilians. It was only recently that masked militants shot dead four women aid workers in North Waziristan district. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the killing and urged the state to "book the perpetrators of this heinous crime. It said: The re-emergence of terror groups in the area is a matter of grave concern. It is the responsibility of the authorities to protect the lives and property of citizens at all costs." The killing of several Hazara miners in early January this year also reminded of the continuing sectarian violence unleashed by terror groups. In July 2020, a UN report indicated that there were as many as 6,000 Pakistani militants in Afghanistan, and most of them had affiliation with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the deadliest terror group in Pakistan. However, sensing the implications of ignoring the global terror watchdogs repeated call for compliance, Pakistan took a few steps which sought to appease the FATF. It sentenced LeT chief Hafiz Saeed to 11 years in prison for terrorism financing. Lakhvi was also sentenced to five years for terrorism financing. While acknowledging these measures, many doubted if all these were a mere eye-wash to satisfy the global agencies. The United States even reminded that Pakistan should hold these terror leaders accountable for more than terrorism financing. There were also reservations about Islamabads soft approach towards Jaish-e-Mohammad, the terrorist outfit responsible for the Pulwama attack in February 2019. Even as Pakistan ran into trouble for its history of terrorism and sectarian violence, the leaders of the country sought to externalise many such incidents with an obvious intent to escape from domestic and international criticism. For instance, after the gruesome killing of Hazara coal miners, Prime Minister Imran Khan sought to shift the responsibility on India saying that New Delhi was backing the militant Islamic State (IS) group to cause turmoil in Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan also ran into trouble after telling parliament that the US "martyred" Osama Bin Laden. He said: "I will never forget how we Pakistanis were embarrassed when the Americans came into Abbottabad and killed Osama Bin Laden, martyred him. Opposition leaders criticised Khan for calling Bin Laden, an ultimate terrorist, a martyr and thereby appeasing violent extremism. It was in this background that in August 2020, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti, called Pakistan a nerve centre of terrorism. In an interview, he lashed out at Islamabad for sheltering terror groups, saying it was home to the largest number of listed terrorists internationally and designated terrorist entities. He referred to the activities and operations of Jamat-ud Dawah, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen. Ambassador TS Tirumurti pointed that the United Nations' 26th Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS had indicated that there was clear admission that the leadership and funding for the terrorist entities like Al-Qaeda and ISIS had their origin from Pakistan. Now that the FATF has given another lease of life (for three months) for establishing Pakistans credentials, the political leadership in Islamabad is engrossed in meeting the deadline. The National Executive Committee (NEC) on Anti-Money Laundering is reported to have taken decisions to act in close coordination to ensure appropriate measures to be put in place in the coming months. The leaders are well aware of the fact that Pakistan, which is already facing severe resource crunch, will have to make compromises at different levels. Even international credit and financial agencies will keep away from investment and other transactions if FATF standards are not met. If the study report of an Islamabad-based think-tank is to be believed, the country already suffered a huge loss of $38 billion in the wake of FATFs listing of Pakistan under JUIM. It also caused decline in exports and inward FDI. Pakistan is currently grappling with its huge public debt which has already crossed Rs. 36.5 trillion. It remains to be seen if the Imran Government can tackle this economic instability with a firm hand. However, FATFs grey listing will certainly put Pakistan in a tight-rope walking'terror financing or financing the countrys most pressing needs. The author is Director, Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension (IUCSSRE), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. He also served as Dean of Social Sciences and Professor of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University. He can be contacted at kmseethimgu@gmail.com Children have been told if they refuse to wear masks when they return to school, they may be kept apart from their friends. Parents have criticised the plans to segregate those pupils who wear masks and those who do not when they return to schools on March 8, with one parent branding it 'mask apartheid'. Last week, it was announced secondary school pupils will have to wear masks if they cannot maintain social distancing in No10's ultra-cautious 'roadmap' out of England's third Covid lockdown. Though masks and regular tests are strongly encouraged, officials insisted they are not legal requirements and students should not be 'denied education' as a result of non-compliance. Pupils will also be tested three times at school and once at home for two weeks after schools reopen on March 8, before being asked to test themselves twice a week at home and report the results to their teachers. But ministers have said both these measures are voluntary, and that students must not be kicked out of the classroom if they refuse to comply. Parents have branded some schools' measures to ensure face masks are worn in secondary schools as 'appalling' and 'mask apartheid' as a number have warned of measures including isolating those without masks and banning them from certain activities such as PE and drama The guidance concerned many parents with some preparing to keep their children home if they would be forced to wear face masks. Although government guidance states that no child should be denied education, some schools are preparing to implement strict measures that include separating or even expelling students who refuse to wear a mask. In a letter sent home to parents, the Stonehenge School in Amesbury said: 'Students who do not wear face coverings may be asked to sit near open doors or windows and must understand that their peers may not wish to sit with or work with them'. According to the Telegraph, the Warwick School, in Redhill, told parents 'alternative arrangements' would be made for maskless students. Meanwhile, a school in Rayleigh, Essex, said those without masks would not be allowed to eat their packed lunch in the canteen and instead will be made to eat outside regardless of the weather, the newspaper reports. Students without masks at another school have been told they will have to use a separate entrance and may not be allowed to sit with friends in the canteen or take part in group activities such as drama and PE. Government issued guidance which said masks should be worn at all times in schools where social distancing cannot be maintained but has said no child should be 'denied education' One parent said: 'I am appalled and feel blackmailed into accepting these measures so that my children can partake in exercise, class learning and their social groups at school.' Some schools have threatened to bar students from lessons if they turn up without a mask. Catmose College in Oakham, Rutland, said it would 'reluctantly resort to imposing sanctions' and added: 'Any student not wearing a face covering without the permission of the College will not be allowed to attend lessons due to the risk it will cause others.' Meanwhile, students at Park Academy in London have been told they may have to 'wait outside' if they arrive without a mask until one is brought to them or they may be sent home to get one themselves. A secondary school in Worcester told parents that students who did not wear masks, including those who are exempt, will be required to sit two metres from other students and will be moved to a separate room if that is not possible. One parent has accused schools of creating a 'mask apartheid', before adding: 'If you start treating children differently, it will impact on their ability to learn. Rob halfon (right) demanded ministers introduce 'definitive regulations' that avoid all doubt for parents, pupils and teachers. But Schools minister Nick Gibb (left) replied: 'We said clearly that we strongly recommend students in secondary schools wear face coverings in classrooms' 'The Government needs to be very clear that no pupils should be discriminated against in this way'. Allyson Pollock, a professor of public health at the Newcastle University, told the Telegraph that schools were contravening children's rights. She said: 'This is not informed consent, its coercion and other harms are emerging as a result psychological trauma, isolation, segregation stigmatising children and its a form of abuse and harassment and intimidation of children and parents.' She added that there is 'no evidence' that wearing masks in class prevents transmission. On Monday, the Government was warned the guidance may cause 'mask anarchy' as it is left up to schools to determine how best to implement it. Tory MP Rob Halfon, the chairman of the Education Committee demanded ministers introduce 'definitive regulations' that avoid all doubt for parents, pupils and teachers. Speaking in the Commons on Monday he said: 'Given that the schools minister (Nick Gibb) said that the wearing of masks by pupils on the school estate is advisory guidance, if a pupil or a parent on behalf of a pupil objects to comply with the wishes of a headteacher to wear a mask, are we not in danger of creating mask anarchy? Government announced it's roadmap out of lockdown with schools heading back on March 8 'Enormous pressure is being put on head teachers in Harlow because of the confusion, like Vic Goddard, head teacher of Harlow Passmores School. 'Is it not better to come down firmly on one side or another and provide clearly definitive regulations to help teaching staff?' Mr Gibb responded: 'Well we said very clearly that we strongly recommend students in secondary schools to wear face coverings in classrooms where it's not possible to keep social distances between pupils. 'And we've also said for quite a number of months that where in communal areas of a school it's not possible to maintain social distance, then staff and adults and students in secondary schools should also wear face masks.' Last week, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News said it was right to let schools determine how they implement the guidance. He said: 'The position is it is recommended that masks are worn. I think it's right for the Government not to be too prescriptive about this. 'We need to trust headteachers and staff to ensure that not only their school is safe, but that the practicalities are understood. 'It's right to give that element of flexibility. I think they can be trusted to make the right decisions for the circumstances they find.' by Ngoc Lan Faced with the Chinese naval exercises that will continue throughout the month of March, the foreign ministries of Vietnam and Thailand are seeking compliance with UN conventions on maritime law. And they hope that ASEAN will be strengthened, while commercial relations between the two countries advance. Hanoi (Asianews) - Vietnam and Thailand are geopolitically very close countries: they established bilateral relations in 1976 and are both members of ASEAN. Over 100,000 citizens of Vienamite origin live in Thailand and represent a bridge for friendship and economic development in both countries. In this context, this week the two governments have also reiterated their cooperation on the issue of defending sovereignty on the East Sea (the name by which Vietnam refers to the South China Sea), threatened by Chinese expansionism. While Vietnam and neighbouring countries have to deal with a second wave of the pandemic, China has started its own military exercises in the South China Sea since March 1 that will last throughout the month. The manoeuvres touch a stretch of sea extending up to 5 km west of the Leizhou peninsula, in the province of Guangdong, in which the Chinese government has ordered all foreign ships not to enter until March 31. The Chinese television channel CCTV specified that the operations are taking place in the Huang-hai (Yellow Sea), in the South China Sea and in the East China Sea. In an online meeting on February 24, the foreign ministers of Vietnam and Thailand discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and the regional and international situation, taking stock of the situation in the Eastern Sea. Reiterating the role of ASEAN in the region, the two countries stressed the importance of respecting maritime laws and conventions, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). Many experts believe that the situation of the Eastern Sea and of the entire region has become complicated and unpredictable: competition between the great powers for influence in the Pacific and Southeast Asia is growing. Faced with this, the demand for cooperation is also increasing. As many as 13 Vietnamese and Thai provinces and cities have twined: in particular, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok have entered into cooperation agreements in the field of trade, culture and education. In 2019 Thailand was one of the 10 largest investors in Vietnam, with a total of 12.3 billion dollars in investments, while the turnover between the two countries reached 17.5 billion dollars. In 2020 - as reported by the Consul General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City - the pandemic complicated these relations, but the two countries continued to demonstrate their friendship, supporting each other for example in the procurement of masks and other protective clothing for Covid-19. In the bilateral summit with Thailand, Vietnams vice-minister of foreign affairs expressed the need for ASEAN to strengthen the mechanisms of solidarity, affirming its central role in the region. The hypothesis - supported by the two countries - of a real Asean Community also goes in this direction with the ratification and concrete launch of a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (Rcep). Finally, Vietnam and Thailand announced that in 2021 they will celebrate the 45th anniversary of bilateral relations by signing a cooperation agreement between the two foreign ministries for the period 2021-2025. The goal is to soon bring the turnover of trade to 20 billion dollars a year. Health Minister Brad Hazzard has supported calls from the Premier to start moving beyond measuring daily coronavirus case numbers, saying the metric would be a bit redundant once vaccine coverage is widespread. The comments come as NSW Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce described the daily case numbers as a crude metric that was causing border closures. Ahead of Fridays national cabinet meeting, Premier Gladys Berejiklian told The Australian the nation needed to think very differently moving forward about how we measure our success in the pandemic. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard believes we will reach a point where daily numbers updates are a bit redundant. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Asked about the comments at a budget estimates inquiry on Thursday, Mr Hazzard said he was not aware of the comments, but he agreed with whatever she said. They filmed half a season of their popular show in a COVID-19-safe bubble in Las Vegas, Nevada. But the cast of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation is reportedly heading back east to Pennsylvania to finish filming season four. It appears as though members of the hit MTV program are locked down inside Pennsylvania's Woodloch Resort, as is evidenced by similar social media snaps. Stoked: The cast of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation is reportedly heading back east to Pennsylvania to finish filming season four, according to TMZ Pauly D, Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni JWoww Farley, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Deena Nicole Cortese, Angelina Pivarnick, Michael The Situation Sorrentino and his wife Lauren were all part of the Family Vacation. Part of the move back east may be due to the fact that Lauren and Deena are both set to give birth to babies in the coming months. Also of note, Snooki is taking another stab at reality television as she was spotted filming with Angelina Pivarnick last week. Friends: Pauly D, Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni JWoww Farley, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Deena Nicole Cortese, Angelina Pivarnick, Michael The Situation Sorrentino and his wife Lauren were all part of the Family Vacation GTL: Jersey Shore first debuted in Dec 2009 and showed the lives of a group of college-aged kids as they enjoyed a summer on the shore Yikes: The 33-year-old has been absent from filming since she stepped aside from the Jersey Shore after roasting Angelina on her wedding day infront of all of her friends and family, a comedic routine that went sour and was not well received by the guests The 33-year-old has been absent from filming since she stepped aside from the Jersey Shore after roasting Angelina on her wedding day infront of all of her friends and family, a comedic routine that went sour and was not well received by the guests. The girls were spotted at Lucco Cucina + Bar in Florham Park, New Jersey last week with producers sitting nearby, according to TMZ. Cameras were reportedly rolling and the restaurant was well-lit for the women's conversation over cocktails. It's unclear in what capacity Snooki will return to the Shore as she's been absent for the most recent Family Vacation spin-off, a first since she debuted on the MTV program more than 10 years ago in the original cast. In the past: It's unclear in what capacity Snooki will return to the Shore as she's been absent for the most recent Family Vacation spin-off, a first since she debuted on the MTV program more than 10 years ago in the original cast Oh no: JWoww, Snooki and Deena notoriously roasted Angelina in front of camera crews and her entire wedding party during an episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, which received such negative feedback that Snooki reportedly left the show JWoww, Snooki and Deena notoriously roasted Angelina in front of camera crews and her entire wedding party during an episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, which received such negative feedback that Snooki reportedly left the show. The trio ruined her wedding with a disastrous bridesmaid speech by calling Angelina the 'fly' to their 's***,' bashing Staten Island and joking about Pivarnick's previous engagements. After the wedding, the women reportedly received heavy social media backlash which caused Snooki to leave the show after more than a decade, but Jenni 'JWoww' Farley claimed Angelina wanted to be roasted all along. Not great: The trio ruined her wedding with a disastrous bridesmaid speech by calling Angelina the 'fly' to their 's***,' bashing Staten Island and joking about Pivarnick's previous engagements Eek: After the wedding, the women reportedly received heavy social media backlash which caused Snooki to leave the show after more than a decade, but Jenni 'JWoww' Farley claimed Angelina wanted to be roasted all along Snooki announced she was leaving the show last year when filming came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'She always had one foot basically out the door,' Angelina claimed in an interview with Jenny McCarthy. 'I'm not talking negative about her. Honestly. I haven't even seen her. Like I said, I would like to sit down with her, but she's like, "I'm not going back cause Angelina."' Jersey Shore first aired on MTV in 2009 and with multiple seasons running until 2012. The show received several spin-offs and was revived for Family Vacations in 2018. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. North Carolina church building amphitheater in preparation for future pandemics Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A North Carolina church that already boasts a 6-acre lake on their property announced Sunday that they will add an amphitheater to their sprawling 75-acre campus in Gastonia this summer to be ready for future pandemics that could prevent them from worshiping indoors. Nothing we can do about this virus. This virus is probably not going to go anywhere. Theres going to be a COVID-32, a COVID-45; thats just the way it works. Its called a virus, Dickie Spargo, lead pastor of City Church, told his congregation during a Facebook Live broadcast Sunday about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For the next one, however, according to Spargo, his church can be better prepared. Its going to happen, but we can ... adjust. One of the things as a church that weve chosen to do is, we say, OK, weve got 75 acres here, lets worship outdoors. Weve got a beautiful lake, you may or may not even know that. Weve got a 6-acre lake. Lets take it outside, he said before announcing the project. Spargo was not immediately available to discuss the amphitheater when The Christian Post contacted his church Thursday, but he told WCNC that they are working on engineering plans and are in the process of fundraising $500,000 to cover the estimated construction costs. He said the facility will be something unique for Gaston County because they do not currently have an amphitheater in the area. Spargo also suggested that it could be used as a community resource for the school system or hospital for training. We want to be used for our community because this land doesnt belong to us. This land belongs to God. This building doesnt belong to us; it belongs to God. And so were excited about the opportunities well have even this summer, he told his congregation about worshiping outdoors, especially for those who are not yet comfortable with worshiping indoors. He said even when the threat of the coronavirus is gone, the amphitheater will continue to be an option to take their worship services outdoors. The only problem being outdoors is the birds sometimes, you know what Im saying? They got to go. ... You got to be careful. We might want to bring back those Sunday hats we use to wear, he quipped. Everything is better when its outdoors. Its hard to believe that in five weeks, its going to be Easter, he added, recalling how they couldnt have church last Easter because of the pandemic. City Church, which has two campuses, was among several churches in North Carolina that quickly shifted to online services as soon as the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020. Spargo said in an interview with the Gaston Gazette at the time that he wanted people to be patient and not become stressed. What we want people to do is to choose what your attitude is going to be toward this, he said. Were going to make it, so dont panic or get anxious. Thats what the Bible tells us: Dont live in fear or worry. Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, the winner of the International Booker Prize for the debut novel The Discomfort of Evening, has been forced to resign as translator of Amanda Gormans poetry into Dutch. Gorman is the young African-American woman who recited a work at Joe Bidens inauguration January 20, to undeserved media acclaim. Amanda Gorman, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (Source: Facebook) Rijneveld, who is transgender, was chosen by Gorman herself, and approved by the publisher, Meulenhoff. Rising to prominence in 2015 with their poetry collection Kalfslives, they worked with translator Michelle Hutchinson on the prize-winning English translation of The Discomfort of Evening. Remarkably, Gormans own choice of translator did not hold up in the face of the racialist hysteria affecting layers of the petty bourgeoisie in North America, Europe and elsewhere. Writing in the Dutch daily de Volksrant, Janice Deul, a fashion writer and activist, demanded that Meulenhoff re-assign the translation work, as Rijneveld lacked the most important qualification for such work, blackness. Deul wrote: An incomprehensible choice, in my view and that of many others who expressed their pain, frustration, anger and disappointment via social media. Harvard alumna Gorman describes herself as skinny Black girl. And her work and life are colored by her experiences and identity as a black woman. Isnt itto say the leasta missed opportunity to hire Marieke Lucas Rijneveld for this job? She is white, non-binary, has no experience in this field, but according to Meulenhoff is still the translator of dreams? Deul then listed some more deserving choices in her opinion, and all from my personal network. After the absurd furor at Gormans incomprehensible choice erupted, Rijneveld bowed out, commenting in a statement that I am shocked by the uproar surrounding my involvement in the spread of Amanda Gormans message and I understand the people who feel hurt by Meulenhoffs choice to ask me. The publishers, for their part, pledged to learn from this. Bowing down to the outrageous demands of moralizing racialists will teach everyone the wrong lesson. In the first place, to be blunt, Meulenhoff could have saved a good deal of time, controversy and effort by simply running Gormans entire oeuvre through Google Translate. No special literary sensitivity or exceptional imaginative intelligence would be required to render Gormans banalities into Dutch or any other language. Except for the arbitrary line breaks, there is absolutely nothing poetic about her verse. Leaving that issue aside, it is remarkable that Deul and her supporters inserted themselves between the writer and her professional translator, against Gormans own wishes. Their militant racialism, cynicism and self-seeking are poisonous, artistically and politically. What does ones race have to do with ones ability to translate literature? Not only do Rijnevelds critics posit that it is an important factor, for them it seems to be virtually the only factor. The racialists take, as their starting premise, that Gormans experiences and identity as a black woman are so unique they cannot possibly be understood by anyone else. Furthermore, they assume that these experiences are so uniquely expressed in her poetry (a dubious assumption), so very untranslatable, that only those with Gormans experiences can possibly be qualified to translate the art work into a foreign language. The translators experience in the foreign language and its idioms the critics do not even deign to explore. They simply assume that Gormans attempt at art is a direct expression of her blackness. One wonders where the art is in such a conception. Deul and her ilk hold that these experiences are their private property, which they reserve the right to exploit for profit, based on race. This is a debased notion of culture, rooted in blood and race, a notion associated historically with the extreme right. The logic of this argument is staggering, and horrifying. If one race is intrinsically incapable of understanding the other, why should this only apply to the translation of poetry? In fact, this would signify that white readers were intrinsically incapable of reading black writers in general (and vice versa). The complete marginalization of black poets and novelists follows from this. This is the perspective of cultural segregation, artistic apartheid. How can a black person direct white actors, unfamiliar as they must be with white experience? And so forth. This is a path that leads in the most sinister direction. To be consistent, these critics should now demand, for example, that we boycott Jordan Stumps translation of French novelist Marie NDiayes Ladivine (2013), a masterpiece of narrative ingenuity and emotional extremes, according to the New York Times, which apparently reviewed the book before the editors realized they should have called for its banning. NDiaye is a black woman. Stump is a white man. Who knows what damage Stump did to NDiayes work! La Bastarda (2016), a novel by Trifonia Melibea Obono, a black woman, is the first novel by a female Equatorial Guinean writer to be translated into English. The translator was Lawrence Schimel, a science fiction and fantasy writer, born in New York City. The book, according to Good Reads, is the story of the orphaned teen Okomo, who lives under the watchful eye of her grandmother and dreams of finding her father. Forbidden from seeking him out, she enlists the help of other village outcasts: her gay uncle and a gang of mysterious girls reveling in their so-called indecency. Drawn into their illicit trysts, Okomo finds herself falling in love with their leader and rebelling against the rigid norms of Fang [an ethnic group in Equatorial Guinea] culture. What could a white, Jewish American know about any of thisunless of course he were gifted with some feeling for language and some understanding of human beings and their complex, contradictory behavior? If racialist notions were implemented as a principle, how many black translators of white authors would now be unable to translate the unique experiences of white people? Black American writers have been translated into foreign languages for decades. Did any of the authors ever register a complaint? Should those translations retroactively be judged inaccurate because the white, Asian or Indian translators missed the ineffable experience of the authors blackness? Richard Wrights Native Son (1940), for instance, has been translated into approximately 50 languages, making it accessible to great numbers of people around the globe. Poet Langston Hughes verse has been translated into a dozen languages. Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B. Du Bois has been translated into dozens of languages. So too were James Baldwins Nobody Knows My Name, Another Country and The Fire Next Time. C.L.R. Jamess The Black Jacobins has lived on by being translated into other languages, inspiring visual art, and even an opera. Nigerian author Chinua Achebes famed Things Fall Apart, written in English, has sold more than 20 million copies around the world and been translated into more than 50 languages. Art is comprehensible and enduring insofar as it partakes of universal human experiences. Those universal qualities allow us to translate the peculiarities of one culture, or set of human experiences, however imperfectly, into the particular idioms of another. Translation is always an artistic approximation of sometimes unusual concepts into a new language where they do not neatly fit. That is the very art of translation itself. The campaign against Rijneveld is thoroughly reactionary. Every possible voice should be raised against it. Researchers in Japan have developed the first wearable devices to precisely monitor jaundice, a yellowing of the skin caused by elevated bilirubin levels in the blood that can cause severe medical conditions in newborns. Jaundice can be treated easily by irradiating the infant with blue light that breaks bilirubin down to be excreted through urine. The treatment itself, however, can disrupt bonding time, cause dehydration and increase the risks of allergic diseases. Neonatal jaundice is one of the leading causes of death and brain damage in infants in low- and middle-income countries. To address the tricky balance of administering the precise amount of blue light needed to counteract the exact levels of bilirubin, researchers have developed the first wearable sensor for newborns that is capable of continuously measuring bilirubin. In addition to bilirubin detection, the device can simultaneously detect pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation in real time. Led by Hiroki Ota, associate professor of mechanical engineering in Yokohama National University's Graduate School of System Integration, and Shuichi Ito, professor of department of Pediatrics in Yokohama City University's Graduate School of Medicine, the team published their results on March 3 in Science Advances. "We have developed the world's first wearable multi-vital device for newborns that can simultaneously measure neonatal jaundice, blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate," Ota said, noting that jaundice occurs in 60 to 80% of all newborns. "The real-time monitoring of jaundice is critical for neonatal care. Continuous measurements of bilirubin levels may contribute to the improvement of quality of phototherapy and patient outcome." Currently, medical professionals use handheld bilirubinometers to measure bilirubin levels, but there is not a device that can simultaneously measure jaundice and vitals in real time. "In this study, we succeeded in miniaturizing the device to a size that can be worn on the forehead of a newborn baby," Ota said. "By adding the function of a pulse oximeter to the device, multiple vitals can easily be detected." Held to the baby's forehead by a silicone interface, the device has a lens capable of efficiently transmitting lights to neonatal skin via battery-powered light-emitting diodes, commonly known as LEDs. "At the present stage, coin cell batteries are used, and the overall shape is very thick," Ota said. "In the future, it will be necessary to further reduce the thickness and weight by using thin-film batteries and organic materials." The researchers tested the device on 50 babies, and they found that the device is not currently accurate enough to suffice for clinical decision-making. According to Ota, they will reduce the thickness and increase the flexibility of the device, as well as improve the silicone interface to facilitate better skin contact. In the future, the researchers plan to develop a combined treatment approach that pairs a wearable bilirubinometer with a phototherapy device to optimize the amount and duration of light therapy based on continuous measurements of bilirubin levels. ### Co-authors include first author Go Inamori, Umihiro Kamoto, Fumika Nakamura, Ryosuke Matsuda and Masaki Shimamura, Department of Mechanical Engineering at Yokohama National University; Yutaka Isoda, Graduate School of System Integration at Yokohama National University; Azusa Uozumi and Shuichi Ito, Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University; and Yusuke Okubo, Division of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Biological Safety and Research Center, National Institute of Health Sciences. The Japanese Science and Technology Agency, Takeda Science Foundation Life Science Research Grants, MIC/SCOPE, the Ogasawara research grant and Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development funded this work. Yachats Then and Now: The Old and Newer Oregon Coast Frozen in Time Published 03/04/21 at 4:55 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Yachats, Oregon) The digital world has given us numerous things: some good, some bad. It certainly has enhanced our understanding of history, however. Without it a lot of Oregon coast historical photos would probably be gone now. Old photographs of Yachats inspire particular delight, as they show an area that has changed very little in many ways, thanks to all those rocky blobs and shelves that are some 40 million years old or so. Unlike many Oregon coast towns, the landscape itself has not been altered much by the building of jetties or other structures that moved sand around. Places like Seaside, Coos Bay or even Newport have seen drastic changes. Way back when the 804 Trail wasnt the 804 at all - but merely a tract of beachside rocky shelves someone caught this shot of the fascinating little Oregon coast detail (at top). Somewhere in the mid century, the photographer called it a land bridge, but thats a stretch. Its really just a kind of arch over a giant groove. Clearly, the eons have not been kind to this little feature, wearing it down into a hole. Looking at it today (above), little has changed. Now, just as back then, you could sometimes see sunlight glinting off the waves as they scooted their way underneath. Its interesting to note the sand levels havent changed much here, judging from the appearance of the older shot. It looks largely the same as when water levels are higher. Along the mouth of the Yachats River, back around the 50s or so, this was the view of somewhere in Yachats. However, it seems likely its not the bay mouth as indicated in the photo but rather northern Yachats where theres lots of sand. In either case, this is what Yachats bay looks like now, with a little secret patch near the main access providing some raucous waves but mostly a calming river scene. Pictures of a bench can sometimes speak a thousand words. Back in 1927, the tiny town of Yachats looked like this from the bridge over the river. It almost seems as if theres little difference in the amount of buildings. Fast forward in time and even the same tree is in that spot. Way back in the 1910s, that stunning viewpoint just south of town looked like this. The rocky forms are the same, but some little set of roads is visible and no buildings. 100 years later and this spot is as stunning as ever. Its now an oceanfront neighborhood near Yachats. Also somewhere in the 1920s, this shot shows the burgeoning little tourist town just as it was becoming one. See Yachats Life In 1920s: A Rough But Quirky Oregon Coast. In 1927, one newspaper describes the place: One of the prettiest beaches in Oregon is at the Yachats. Noting there is no touristy aspect here at all, including no hot dog stand. 100 years later and this view hasnt changed too much, partially because youre looking at the state wayside. Head farther to the right of this modern photo and youll still find those sand flats and slightly pebbly spots. See Gruesome / Rock n Roll History of Yachats for full history. Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Yachats Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Patna, March 4 : After the death of a final year student of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), the students of first year demanded cancellation of their ongoing examination. The student are scared about the spread of Corona infection in the campus. Following the death of Subhendu Shekher, nine students, who came in contact with him turned Corona positive and were admitted in NMCH. There protests on Thursday morning and students claimed that the infection numbers have a high chance of rising. The students demanded the NMCH administration to develop separate isolation center for medical students inside the campus. The administration has initiated RT-PCR test for all students residing in old and new hostels. Their reports are awaited. Amid panic inside the campus, Pratyay Amrit, principal secretary of health department in Bihar government visited NMCH on Thursday morning. "We are taking adequate measure. No need to panic. The situation is under control," Amrit said. Subhendu Shekhar, 23, who had taken Corona vaccine in first week of February this year and had complained about cold and cough on February 24, was immediately sent for RT-PCR test and his report came positive on Sunday. Shekher went into home isolation in Begusarai district and died on Monday night. NMCH is the place where Corona vaccines are stored. The distribution of vaccines is taking place to all 38 districts of the country. Man Utd to join Liverpool in not releasing internationals Patrick van Aarnholt (left) missed by far the best chance as Manchester United were held 0-0 at Crystal Palace Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said it "doesn't make sense" for his players to travel for international duty later this month if they have to quarantine on their return and miss games as a result. Arrivals in Britain from "Red List" countries are subject to 10 days' hotel confinement. South American countries and Portugal are among the nations on that list meaning United stars Bruno Fernandes of Portugal and Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani could be missing for World Cup qualifiers. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his club will also withdraw players if they are forced to quarantine, casting the participation of Brazilian trio Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Fabinho and Portugal forward Diogo Jota into doubt. In normal circumstances, clubs must release players for international duty on specific dates. However, FIFA has given clubs dispensation to prevent players who may be affected by the regulations from joining up with their countries for the matches. "It doesn't make sense to travel, when we are paying them, if they come back and are away for 10 days " said Solskjaer. "That's a chat we'll have with the players." Fernandes is among the United stars who looks like he needs a break in any case as the Red Devils' main man put in another jaded performance in a dismal 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Wednesday. In foggy conditions at Selhurst Park, United failed to see a clear route to goal as they were involved in a sixth goalless draw in 27 Premier League games this season and a third in a row in all competitions. A point edges Solskjaer's men back a point clear of Leicester in second place, but the gap to runaway leaders Manchester City is now 14 points ahead of a derby clash between the two on Sunday. United's priority is now just clinging onto a place in the top four as a run of two wins in eight league games, allied to City's record-breaking 21 game winning streak, has ended any semblance of a title race. Story continues "It's not what we want, but we need to play better to win games" added Solskjaer. "We know we are in a battle to be as high in the table as possible. "We know we are in a fight and need every point we can. It'll definitely be a difficult challenge (against City) and we need to be better to win that one." Nemanja Matic's deflected effort came closest to breaking the deadlock as Vicente Guaita produced a brilliant save to turn the Serb's shot behind before Cavani fired over from the resulting corner. United's record unbeaten run away from home in the Premier League stretches to 21 games, but a deluge of draws is doing little to aid their chances of ending the season on a high. That run nearly came to an end in the final minute when Patrick van Aanholt fired straight at Dean Henderson with just the goalkeeper to beat with the best chance of the game. "That's a Man Utd goalkeeper," said Solskjaer. "Sometimes you have to keep concentration and he's growing into that. I thank him for the one point." A draw takes Roy Hodgson's men 11 points clear of the drop zone in 13th. kca/dj Authentic is a word that food writers try their best not to use. It implies that there is one right and never-changing way to make a dish, often determined by someone who doesnt belong to the culture originally responsible for it. So Im not going to tell you that Isaac Jimenez Navas tacos are authentic. But I will say theyre closer in spirit to tacos Ive eaten in Mexico than just about any other taco Ive tasted in South Carolina. Thats because Nava, who spent a decade at Hudsons Seafood House in Hilton Head before last year giving up his executive chef post, is laser-focused on tortillas. There are plenty of other taco sellers in the state who shun industrial tortillas, but even they tend to emphasize meat over masa. Their tortillas are peripheral to their fillings, bookending the main attraction like stepparents and siblings-in-law at the edges of a family picture. By contrast, Nava sources his heirloom corn from Masienda, a California company that buys directly from independent Oaxacan farmers. Nava mixes up his orders for Maiz Taqueria, a food truck based in Bluffton, so customers see an array of colors over the course of a few weeks. Sometimes the corn is blue, sometimes its red, sometimes its yellow, sometimes its white. Always, though, its nixtamalized by Nava, which means he soaks the kernels overnight in slaked lime water, then grinds the softened fruits. His wife, Irma Jimenez Morales, wakes up at 6 a.m. every day to turn the stone-ground corn into tortillas. Shes gotten a lot faster, Nava said. Its a good thing, since Maizs first few months in business have been exceedingly successful. Nava is now buying a second truck for his operation and hopes to have a permanent location with a more elaborate menu within five years. Sign up for our food & dining newsletter. We publish our free Food & Dining newsletter every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to keep you informed on everything happening in the Charleston culinary scene. Sign up today! Email Sign Up! Maizs popularity was helped along by Navas network of loyal fans and fellow chefs, including BJ Dennis, who has invited Nava to sell tortillas and teach cooking classes at the forthcoming Lowcountry Fresh Market & Cafe. But a few adulatory Instagram posts havent done half as much for Maiz as Navas own talent. Each of his vibrant tacos reflects an uncommon appreciation of local ingredients and knack for harmonizing flavors, as well as a control of presentation that takes years in a professional kitchen to master. For instance, Nava makes his carnitas in a Michoacan copper pot, allowing the pork to simmer in its own fat for hours. The result is gorgeous depth, but so much richness requires a counterpoint. Here, it comes in the form of vinegary carrots, neatly julienned. Time is a component of all of Navas tacos, but it cant be measured merely in the number of hours he takes to marinate his birria. The hours he invested over his Hudsons career in getting to know local fishermen, and earning his pick of their catch, is deliciously evident in his shrimp tacos. (The birria is an eight-hour process, by the way. Its served with a consomme that incorporates eight different chili peppers.) I know Im supporting farmers down in Mexico, said Nava, who 17 years ago moved with his mother to Hilton Head from Chilpancingo, Guerreco, Mexico. But Im going more for like supporting the local community. Nava is now buying pork from Marvin Ross of Peculiar Pig Farm. But as he looks toward April, when he plans to offer an entree special each day, he plans to buy chicken and goat from the Dorchester County grower, too. In the meantime, the tacos are special enough. COLUMBUS, Ohio - When Ohio gets down to 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, all health orders will come off, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday evening in a public address. Achieving this goal is very doable, DeWine said. We can and we will do this, and I know we will. DeWine updated the public in a special address because its the one-year mark of the pandemic entering the state. On Tuesday, it will be a year since DeWine created a state of emergency due to the outbreak, which brought about dozens of public health orders. DeWine said that he can provide the benchmark, thanks to the vaccines and the collective sacrifices of Ohioans -- such as wearing masks -- which is reducing the number of new cases and hospitalizations. The 14-minute address was shorter than previous evening public addresses that DeWine, a Republican, has provided throughout the pandemic. As with many governors, who have recently made promises about when vaccines will be available to all residents, for instance, DeWine too is offering a benchmark as the pandemic appears to be ending. DeWines announcement may also head off a confrontation with the Ohio General Assembly, which wants to limit his ability to declare public emergencies and other executive orders. Just two weeks ago, for instance, the Ohio Senate passed a bill that would lawmakers to rescind states of emergency, as well as invalidate emergency rules. DeWine has promised to veto the bill, but Senate Bill 22, which is now in the Ohio House, passed with a veto-proof majority. Cases per 100,000 The statewide average of cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks is on the Ohio coronavirus dashboard. As of Wednesday, the average was 179.6 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks. This, according to DeWine, is compared to: -A month ago, on Feb. 3, when Ohios cases were 445 per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days. -Dec. 3, when Ohio had 731 cases per 100,000 people over the previous two weeks. Symptom onset The rate DeWine mentioned is not directly tied to the number of new cases reported each day by the Ohio Department of Health. Rather, it involves a two-week lookback for the number of known cases in which symptoms began during the time period, and excludes incarcerated individuals. Masks will continue Unlike Texas and Mississippi, whose governors have decided to end mask mandates, Ohioans will remained covered up, for now. Part of the recent downward trend of cases per 100,000 can be credited to Ohioans wearing masks in public, DeWine said. Yet, people continue to die with COVID-19 each day. There are new variants of the coronavirus that may be more contagious, he said. DeWine defended the effectiveness of masks. Study after study has shown that masks work, DeWine said. In fact, we did our own study in schools and learned that even when kids were not six feet apart -even closer than six feet -- and they were in a classroom together for a long time, as long as they were wearing a mask, the virus simply, simply did not spread. Rich Exner contributed to this report. LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill is back in the Ohio General Assembly for the 10th time Ohio reports 1,875 new coronavirus cases: Thursday update Gov. Mike DeWine to address Ohio Thursday evening on states progress in coronavirus fight Ohio Senate removes nuclear subsidies from House Bill 6: Capitol Letter Larson was of the generation that was rejecting property, monetarism and, well, the acquisition of useless stuff. He wrote songs of experience, of families formed of friends, of a determination to love without judgment. Perhaps more than any other composer in a single moment, he found an entirely new audience and charted the future course of Broadway, and maybe even New York itself. A militia supporting the Assad regime has cut wages by 5,000 Syrian pounds, writes SY 24. The Palestine Liberation Army militia, which supports the regime forces in their battles against the Syrians, announced a reduction in the salaries of its members in Syria under the pretext of a decrease in the readiness rate and thus a decrease in the readiness allowance. A source in the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria confirmed to SY-24 that salaries were reduced between 4,000 and 5,000 Syrian pounds, and the officers were informed of the decision to reduce their salaries to 38,000 pounds per month for reserve personnel after it was 43,000 pounds. As for the volunteer personnel, their salaries have been decreased from 65,000 to 60,000 pounds. The source drew attention to the fact that the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Army militia has abandoned its members who were injured in the ongoing battles in Syria and have become handicapped and dependent on their families and society. According to the source, the number of the Palestine Liberation Army members in Syria is about 6,000 Palestinians, fighting in more than 16 locations in Syria, of whom 3,000 are involved in battles. The source pointed out that thousands of Palestinian youth have fled from the area under the control of this militia in order not to be forced into fighting within its ranks. Earlier, dozens of fighters of the Palestine Liberation Army militia appeared in a picture circulated by pro-Syrian media outlets, while they were participating in the battles of the besieged eastern Ghouta, which is being attacked by forces from the Fourth Division, the Republican Guard, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, in 2018. The Chief of Staff of the Palestinian Liberation Army in Syria confirmed at the time that the participation of the regimes army in the battle for control of eastern Ghouta is a great honor and a fundamental position to end the presence of terrorist organizations in Syria, which depend on the support of the West and the forces hostile to the Arab nation and the Palestinian cause. 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. [March 04, 2021] Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital to Deploy Novari ATC System KINGSTON, ON, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Novari Health is pleased to announce Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (OSMH) has joined the growing list of hospitals implementing its surgical wait list management and eBooking technology. The Novari ATC software is being implemented at Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital. The technology is being provided as software as a service (SaaS) to the hospital and all surgical offices. The system will provide surgeons and their office staff access to a standardized electronic wait list management system and the ability to electronically coordinate the scheduling of surgeries and procedures with the hospital. The software enhances the ability for collaboration and management of pooled lists of patients waiting for surgery as well as supporting a regional view of the demand for surgical services. The Ontario Ministry ofHealth, Ontario Health and hospitals across the province have been working to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients waiting for surgery. Having a modern wait list management system complements these efforts. The implementation of the award winning Novari ATC system includes integration to OSMH's installation of Cerner and will automate the surgical booking process. Novari Health's innovative and unique access to care technologies are live or being implemented at dozens of hospitals and regional health authorities across five Canadian provinces. "COVID-19 has impacted surgical wait times in much of Canada. Having a digital wait list management system was important before the pandemic. Now it's even more important". - John Sinclair, CPHIMS-CA President Novari Health About Novari Health Novari Health designs, builds, and implements award-winning enterprise scale SaaS solutions that improve access to care, coordination of care, and the delivery of healthcare services. Based in Kingston Ontario and with offices in Vancouver, Australia, and New Zealand, Novari has become one of the largest Canadian based digital health solution providers. ISO 27001 certified, Novari Health is a Microsoft Gold Partner, with software solutions hosted on Microsoft Azure Canadian and Australian cloud data centres. For more information visit www.novarihealth.com. About Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (OSMH) is located in Orillia, Ontario and serves the residents of North Simcoe Muskoka and beyond. OSMH is focused on ensuring a healthier future for our communities by providing high quality care closer to home. Medical, surgical and critical care, seniors healthcare services, adult mental health, and paediatric and perinatal care are among the Hospital's recognized areas of expertise. It also specializes in orthopaedic surgery and kidney care. For more information visit www.osmh.on.ca . SOURCE Novari Health Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] There will be consequences, warned Justice Minister Helen McEntee as she scolded a group of college students who had the audacity to drink too much and act boisterous at a now well-publicised street party in Limerick. Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said the party was completely unacceptable and a slap in the face to everyone sacrificing so much. Minister of State Niall Collins also weighed in, branding the scenes in College Court as beyond shocking. Meanwhile, University of Limerick Professor Kerstin Mey said students found to have broken their code of conduct will face the full rigour of our disciplinary process including temporary suspension and possible expulsion. It goes without saying that the street party should not have happened in the midst of a global pandemic and it was a breach of public health rules. Your heart would also go out to the local residents who have to put up with that sort of behaviour on their doorstep on a weekly basis. But the political rhetoric towards students being students was over the top. Especially given the more grievous breaches of restrictions which do not receive a passing comment from our esteemed leaders. Gardai broke up a birthday party of more than 100 people in a machinery shed in Bantry, Co Cork, last month and there were no political tweets. Read More Unsurprisingly, Sinn Fein didnt go in two-footed on the students. Why would they, when students are a significant part of their voter base? The Green Party didnt really get involved in the outrage over the antics in Limerick, either. So the finger wagging was left to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Fine Gael are popular among young voters the most recent Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll had one-third (34pc) of all 18- to 24-year-olds saying they would vote for Tanaiste Leo Varadkars party in a general election. You would wonder how politically astute it is, then, to target voting-age students with such vitriol when you may be relying on their support in a few years time. You can be sure it is not the only group of Covid-confined students across the country who are breaching regulations after a year of lockdowns. The same poll showed Fianna Fail were at 6pc among this group of young voters, so they dont have anything to lose, but it might be worth working on a strategy to build support among the voters of the future. The behaviour of a small group of students during their college years will annoy a lot of people who have been following the Government-enforced restrictions for the last year. Others will understand what it is to be young and away from home for the first time in your life. You dont always make great decisions during your college years. Most people who made bad decisions in their late teens or early 20s were not criticised by politicians on the national airwaves. The time of Government ministers may be better spent ensuring the vaccination programme operates at full capacity, seven days a week, rather than scapegoating students who dont know when they will receive their first jab. THE consumer protection agency has warned consumers not to engage with a potential pyramid scheme that is circulating on social media channels. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission said it has been contacted by consumers who have been invited to take part in what they suspect is a pyramid scheme. Consumers have reported that they were encouraged to make an initial investment of 150 and then recruit others to invest. Students and younger people are being targeted, with the particular scheme currently being reported using the image of a flower, and may refer to flowers or petals. Read More They were told that once they recruited more people they would move to the next tier of the model. This supposedly continues until the participant reaches the centre of the model and makes a return on their investment, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said. Pyramid schemes generally work by offering individuals the opportunity to buy into a scheme. This money goes to those above the individual in the pyramid. Participants in the scheme can recoup their original investments and qualify for a pay-out by recruiting new members who join the pyramid below them. CCPC said that in theory, the further up the pyramid a participant is, the more money they get. As is the case in all pyramid schemes, inevitably the supply of potential investors runs out and the pyramid scheme collapses leading to the majority of those involved losing their money. Pyramid schemes are illegal and those who knowingly participate in them are liable for prosecution, the consumer body said. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2007, it is an offence for anyone to establish, operate, promote or knowingly participate in such a scheme. The CCPC investigates potential breaches of consumer protection law by Irish registered businesses. The CCPC said it is currently investigating this scheme and are warning consumers not to engage with it. Anyone approached to join any kind of pyramid promotional scheme, please contact the CCPC immediately through our helpline on 01 402 5555 or by clicking on ccpc.ie. Recently the CCPC warned people to be aware of scams when booking a staycation. It is appealing to people to request copies of the terms and conditions and to always check what payment options are available. Holidaymakers are also being advised to find out what they are entitled to if plans change due to Covid-19. The CCPC says scammers sometimes go to a genuine holiday website and put up a fake listing for a place to rent. You might not have seen it until someone pointed it out. But an Amazon logo that was just quietly redesigned bore an unsettling resemblance to the face of Adolf Hitler at least according to some on social media. The much-mocked app icon, with a smile-shaped arrow beneath what looked like a toothbrush-style moustache, was unveiled in January, replacing a shopping-cart logo that had been used by the online-shopping giant for more than five years. The company refused to say on Wednesday if criticism of the new logo prompted the second redesign this year, which blunted the scraggly edges and dog-eared a corner of the blue patch, which, according to Amazon, was always intended to evoke a piece of packaging tape. We designed the new icon to spark anticipation, excitement and joy when customers start their shopping journey on their phone, just as they do when they see our boxes on their doorstep, the company said of the original change from the shopping-cart icon. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Thursday she will lift the statewide mask mandate on April 9. Its unclear whether schools will still require masks for students and staff, but officials said local school boards can if they want to continue to follow federal best practices. In a press conference, Ivey detailed changes for restaurants, businesses and health care facilities, but did not mention schools, which currently require children, staff and visitors to wear masks. Alabama Association of School Boards Director Sally Smith told AL.com that school boards have the authority to continue to mandate masks for students and staff if they choose to do so. State Superintendent Eric Mackey tweeted support of the move, but did not indicate that he will encourage local school boards to require masks. We are very pleased and fully support the Governors decision to extend the face covering mandate, he wrote. We are also glad that she has given schools a little more than a month to adjust for our next step in returning to a more normal school day. In a written statement, Smith said waiting until April 9 should give school boards enough time to determine whether they want to continue to require masks for students and staff. We encourage school boards to make decisions based on data, Smith wrote. We hope school boards will continue to evaluate trends in their communities to make decisions that ensure the health and safety of students and staff. Read more: Even if mask mandate drops, many places can still require them Governors in a dozen states have lifted statewide mask orders, with varying impacts on schools and businesses. Republican governors in Texas and Mississippi rescinded their states mask mandates on Tuesday, and were met with searing criticism from President Joe Biden, who said on Wednesday that the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking which suggests everything is fine and take off your mask. The Texas Education Agency will still require masks at all Texas schools, but school boards can opt out of the requirement if they choose to do so. In Montana, where the governor lifted the mask mandate last month, some school districts are already dropping masks, while others are maintaining the requirement. In Mississippi, the state mask mandate was lifted for everyone except K-12 schools and indoor arenas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted consistent and correct mask wearing as essential for getting the countrys schools back to in-person learning. MINNEAPOLIS, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SynerFuse, a developer of a novel implantable neurostimulator intended to treat chronic low-back pain without the use of addictive opioids, today announced a strategic development and manufacturing relationship with Cirtec Medical Corporation to support their current investigational and future commercial technology needs. The partnership is focused on the development of the NeuroFuse DRG therapy, which uniquely integrates spinal fusion and neuromodulation in order to attack the problem of chronic low-back pain with a preemptive, drug-free pain management solution. SynerFuse is currently investigating its therapy in a pilot trial at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. The study is being led by neurosurgeons Dr. Matthew Hunt and Dr. Michael Park. More information is available at www.synerfuse.com. There are approximately 500,000 low-back fusion procedures performed annually in the United States. Spinal fusion does not always relieve pain as intended; residual neuropathic pain after successful spinal fusion occurs after as many as 50% of spinal surgeries and severely reduces the quality of life for patients. Patients are often prescribed opioids to combat residual pain, which are not effective for long term use or targeting neuropathic pain but have contributed to the current opioid epidemic. "SynerFuse aims to make traditional spine implants more successful by embedding active neuromodulation therapy at the time surgeons are performing fusion back surgery," said Justin Zenanko, CPA/MACS, SynerFuse co-founder and CEO. "We are pleased to be able to work with the outstanding team at Cirtec to develop the NeuroFuse DRG system to support future clinical trials and bring long term back relief to back surgery patients." According to Dr. Greg Molnar, PhD, SynerFuse co-founder, CSO and board director "Pain is not Pain is not Pain" further, "There are many types of pain with different biological mechanisms involved in lower back pain and in the residual pain after lumbar fusion. Some pains called nociceptive / mechanical pain are often addressed by the surgery whereas neuropathic pain can only be effectively addressed by neuromodulation. Our ongoing clinical trial will work to provide evidence for proactive, preemptive pain management and holds the promise of a more desirable solution to long-term pain relief." "Cirtec is excited to partner with SynerFuse to develop and commercialize this innovative life changing therapy. The ability for SynerFuse to leverage our neuromodulation platform technology to bring their therapy to market quickly and cost effectively validates the investments we have made over the past several years to support this very exciting market," said Brian Highley, Cirtec's CEO. Cirtec is a leading provider of outsourced medical device design, engineering, and manufacturing. For over 25 years, Cirtec has offered outsourced solutions for complex medical devices by providing a uniquely comprehensive range of resources and expertise that includes the design and manufacture of neuromodulation, drug delivery, cardiac rhythm management, mechanical circulatory support, and interventional devices. About SynerFuse SynerFuse is a Delaware corporation based in Minnesotathe heart of Medical Alley. SynerFuse believes that individuals with chronic back pain and their providers deserve a better option than spinal fusion alone. Even when spinal fusion is successful, it can often result in residual chronic pain and use of addictive opioids. The company is working to create a new future of non-narcotic pain management for lower back pain with a patented therapy that integrates spinal fusion hardware, an active neuromodulation system, and sensors in a novel "smart" device. About Cirtec Medical Corporation Cirtec is headquartered in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and has been in operation for over 25 years. It operates nine facilities across the United States, Costa Rica and Germany and has over 1,000 employees. Cirtec has been providing design, development, manufacturing, and product transfer services for the medical device industry. With facilities in Los Gatos CA, Chandler, AZ, Brooklyn Park, MN, Enfield CT, Lowell, MA, Birkenfeld, Germany and Costa Rica, the company specializes in outsourced solutions for active implantable devices in the areas of neuromodulation, drug delivery, cardiac rhythm management, ventricular assist, and minimally invasive devices. Companies rely on Cirtec expertise throughout the entire development cycle to bring life-enhancing therapies to market. More information is available at http://cirtecmed.com. SOURCE SynerFuse TrialScope, the global leader in clinical trial disclosure and transparency technology, recently added Alexion to its rapidly expanding roster of customers. Alexion joins the ranks of other industry leaders that rely on TrialScope Disclose to help manage global clinical trial disclosure. TrialScopes customers run the gamut from specialized biotechs to global pharmaceutical companies. Collectively, TrialScope customers are responsible for more than 40 percent of all industry trials on ClinicalTrials.gov and the EU-CTR. More than 12,000 users manage 67,000-plus trials using TrialScope technology. In order to keep the public informed and trial participants engaged, Alexion also will post study results on the Trial Results Summaries portal, hosted by TrialScope. The unbranded website is in keeping with best practices for plain-language summaries (PLS), which dictate that study results be presented in a non-commercial, easily understood format. Catering to a global audience, the portal is enhancing its content to include 45 languages. Alexion was seeking a complete, robust solution to manage clinical trial transparency and registry posting, one that could accommodate the companys anticipated growth. The TrialScope Disclose platform, which syncs data across forms and registries, automates submission to ClinicalTrials.gov and supports an additional 36 global clinical trial registries. TrialScope was the obvious choice, for both its intuitive technology and the deep knowledge of its staff, said Jim Armbrust, Esq., Alexion Director, Clinical Trial Transparency and Disclosure. At Alexion, we take clinical trial disclosure compliance and trial transparency very seriously. I think our decision to work with TrialScope and its subject-matter experts is a reflection of that. We salute Alexions continued efforts to improve the lives of patients with rare diseases, said TrialScope Chief Commercial Officer Chris Venezia. Alexion is not merely a customer but a true partner. We are proud to work alongside the Alexion team to help promote clinical trial transparency and accessibility. About TrialScope TrialScope gives your clinical trial data superpowers. We make centralizing, structuring and activating clinical trial information simple, for use across the organization and at every stage of the study. Our integrated platform is used by 17 of the top 20 clinical trial sponsors in the world, who rely on TrialScope to ensure disclosure compliance, maximize trial transparency, improve patient engagement and accelerate study recruitment. To learn more, visit TrialScope.com. TrialScope was acquired by Informa Pharma Intelligence in 2020, combining its powerful technology for disclosure, transparency and recruitment with leading brands, data and solutions for the clinical trials and broader pharmaceutical and biomedical industry. About Informa Pharma Intelligence Informa Pharma Intelligence powers a full suite of analysis productsDatamonitor Healthcare, Sitetrove, Trialtrove, Pharmaprojects, Medtrack, Biomedtracker, Scrip, Pink Sheet In Vivo and most recently TrialScopeto deliver the data needed by the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry to make decisions and create real-world opportunities for growth. With more than 500 analysts keeping their fingers on the pulse of the industry, no key disease, clinical trial, drug approval or R&D project isnt covered through the breadth and depth of data available to customers. For more information visit pharmaintelligence.informa.com. About Alexion Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions through the discovery, development and commercialization of life-changing medicines. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Refinery29 June is a major astrological month filled with thrills, chills, drama, big love and every feeling in between. Lovely Venus enters Cancer on June 2, softening up our hearts and tightening up our wallets. The solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 is a time of reflection, change, and implanting new desires into our lives. Action planet Mars enters Leo on June 11, motivating us to fight for what we love. Soon after, on June 14, austere Saturn and rebellious Uranus square off for the second of three times in 2021. (The first time was February 17 and the third connection will be December 24.) This is a very fraught and intense energy that will create shakeups, breakups, and breakdowns. We are knocking down old structures or beliefs and building new ones then. Be kind to others and yourselves around this time, as this energy can be argumentative. Lucky planet Jupiter commences its retrograde journey in Pisces and Aquarius from June 20 to October 18, urging us to reflect on our spiritual and philosophical development. The summer solstice begins on June 20, the same day Gemini season ends and Cancer season starts, kicking off our beachy plans and festivities. Also, making us more emotional and tender. Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 in Gemini (yay!). But dont take a sigh of relief quite yet. The retroshade period officially ends the retrograde on July 7. Then, all Mercurial mishaps such as technological meltdowns, miscommunications, and our pesky exes will be truly gone until next time. The Capricorn full moon occurs on June 24, urging us work hard for attention and affection. Elusive Neptune begins its retrograde journey in Pisces from June 25 to December 1. This will allow us to align with our subconscious dreams. Romantic planet Venus enters Leo on June 27, adding passion to love and flamboyance to how we spend our money.AriesLately youve been feeling as though your friends and bosses have been acting kinda shady, which is impacting your romantic relationships. The solar eclipse on June 10 is making you wish that you didnt stir the pot with your squad by rehashing past drama. Marss movement into Leo on June 11 will push you to fight for the relationships that you want to keep in your life and the people that you love, but with a cost. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will end friendships, much to your sadness. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 can be a reset button at work; however, it's more likely a time for you to step away from a current professional partnership.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoTaurusJune is an intense month for you, Taurus. An argument stemming from a financial loss during the solar eclipse on June 10 will escalate on June 14 (when Saturn and Uranus square off). The following few days will require you to relax, which makes the summer solstice on June 20 a sweet time to simmer down. The Capricorn full moon on June 24 is a moment for you to find reprieve and think about the recent events from a higher minded perspective. Jupiter's and Neptunes planetary backstrokes on June 20 and 25, respectively, will help in healing and mending all the messy drama that began on June 14 but only if you tone down your frustrations and choose not to say unforgivable things that you will certainly regret.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoGeminiNormally, your attention is on point and youre able to take on all of the tasks that you have to do, Gemini. But Mercury retrograde is making you too exhausted to keep up with your workload. The low energy youre feeling, compounded with the solar eclipse on June 10, is going to make you want to curl up in bed and watch The Hills reruns nonstop. Lean in to that urge and take time to chill this month. Dont fight the cosmos and take on more than you can chew. Yes, youve had an amazing run recently, but that can change during Jupiter's and Neptunes retrogrades on June 20 and 25. To avoid issues that may be coming your way, dont try to push your luck before Mercury retrograde ends on June 22.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCancerFor the past few months, youve been in duck-and-cover mode when the monthly credit card statements arrive in your inbox. But the tides are changing for the better. Venuss ingress into Cancer on June 2 and Leo on June 27 will procure extra cash for your bank account. The infamous Saturn and Uranus square that occurs on June 14 will give you a windfall of money from an unexpected payback on a former creative venture too. The only setback is that Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which ends June 22) could delay the repayment of these funds. Be patient! The cash will come during June 24s Capricorn full moon, if dont stress it so hard.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLeoCommitment takes a lot of work and time all of which youre happy to give to those you care about. You have become a creature or comfort, knowing that you can always rely on certain people. All of that is about to get shaken up. You will feel as though the foundation youve built with friends, a crush, or your SO is shifting on June 14 (an effect of the Saturn and Uranus square) and you dont like that. Remember: Relationships and situations cant stay the same forever. Everything is subject to evolution. Change is the one constant in life, and its something you need to get used to (especially when Venus enters Leo on June 27, setting off the fraught vibe from June 14).Illustration by Stefhany LozanoVirgoYouve recently spent a lot of time burning the midnight oil at work. Now, the time has come for you to ask for a raise. (Considering how much extra time you put in, you should!) Venuss movement into Cancer on June 2 is an auspicious time to get the ball rolling in accelerating your income. The caveat is that the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will scare you into not asserting your voice when it comes to asking for a raise, which means that youll opt to hold back. When Mercury retrograde ends on June 22 and Neptune begins its planetary moonwalk on June 25, youll begin to speak up and make sure you get paid what youre worth and then some!Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLibraLets start with the positives of June: Work will be plentiful and fulfilling as the month starts off, especially when graceful Venus enters the career sector of your chart on June 2. The solar eclipse on June 10 in Gemini will make you stop and think about the next professional direction you want to take. You dont have to make decisions, as Mercury is retrograde. Therefore, plans can change. The downfall is that youll feel creatively blocked when Saturn and Uranus square off on June 14, as well as on June 24s Capricorn Full Moon. When Neptune turns retrograde on June 25 and Venus enters Leo on June 27, itll be wise to consider taking time off from work to rejuvenate your artistic talents.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoScorpioYour intuition is always lit. However, this month you will be second guessing your gut feelings during Mercurys planetary moonwalk (which started on May 29) and the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Reality will come crashing down hard on June 14 during the Saturn and Uranus square, making you wish that youd listened to the voice within the week before. The good news is that Jupiter and Neptunes backsplash will boost your confidence in listening to your inner sentiments. June 24s full moon will make you see that you should never doubt yourself again. This will allow you to head into July on a high note and feeling yourself. Words to the wise: Never doubt yourself again. You know the score, try to use it to your advantage.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoSagittariusYour wanderlust sentiments are making you thirst for adventure and excitement. While you may not feel like traveling far, youll be able to find thrills in your local neighborhood during June 14s Saturn and Uranus square. If youre wanting to head out of town, the full moon on June 24 is a great time for an economical mini road trip. The caveat is that you may get swept away in the moment and temporarily forget about your friends and family. Its okay to get lost in your own world, Sag. Just dont live too much with your head in the clouds. Come down for air every now and again especially on June 20 and 25 when Jupiter and Neptune, respectively, begin their planetary retrogrades.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoCapricornDont be afraid to walk away from a proposition that doesn't seem worth the trouble. A business arrangement may lose its appeal on June 2, when Venus enters Cancer. If youre not wanting to continue the partnership, then the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10 will set you free. TBH, you are seeing that the gig isnt offering up the cash that they promised, which is frustrating to you considering all the time and work youve put into it. The Saturn and Uranus square on June 14 will remind you that its better to cut your losses ASAP before matters get worse. Youll be proud of yourself during June 24s full moon for letting go of the situation and moving onto the next project with ease and no additional drama.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoAquariusIts been a minute since youve spoken to old flames. But Mercurys backspin is bringing all of your exes out of the woodwork. Unlike past retrogrades, youre wanting to connect with them when Mars enters Leo on June 11. Although youre intrigued by what they have to say, the conversation may not go as planned on the 14th, when Saturn and Uranus square off, and youll be reminded as to why you broke up with them in the first place. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Be sure that you're open and willing to hear their feedback before responding. If you take the conversations at face value, you can create a new foundation with them on June 27, during the Venusian shift into Leo.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoPiscesAll work and no play isnt good for your imagination, Pisces. In fact, it can make you feel as though youre stuck behind a desk and not integrating your soulful sentiments into the world. Junes celestial energies urge you to take a step back from your career and have fun. Venuss entrance into Cancer on June 2 and the summer solstice on June 20 offer you a chance to laugh off the stresses brought on by the solar eclipse in Gemini on June 10. Just dont overdo the celebrating, as the Saturn and Uranus square on June 14, as well as Jupiter and Neptunes planetary moonwalk on your Sun which begin on June 20 and 25, respectively, can exhaust your spirited vibe while depleting your energies.Illustration by Stefhany LozanoLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Jupiter In Pisces The Best Transit Of 2021?Black & Brown Women Are Reviving Tarot & AstrologyObsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok & COVID "We are thrilled to be welcoming guests back to our one-of-a-kind island destination after all this time," said Luigi Romaniello, Managing Director of Rosewood Baha Mar. "Our team has been working round the clock to ensure guests feel confident and all expectations are exceeded from our new health and safety programs, to the opening of Cafe Boulud The Bahamas; a partnership that will perfectly blend Chef Daniel's creative French cuisine with quintessential Bahamian ingredients." With testing of vital importance to travel in 2021, the hotel will house a dedicated on-property testing center, allowing guests to receive complimentary COVID-19 Antigen and when required, RT-PCR tests. The property will facilitate quarantine should guests test positive on the resort, with courtesy suite accommodations and a daily resort dining credit of $150 per person per day for up to 14 days or until the guest receives a negative COVID-19 result. Most importantly, should the guest need to return earlier, Baha Mar will provide private air travel to return the guest and their immediate family to the U.S. mainland free of charge. Having the peace of mind guaranteed, guests can return to Rosewood Baha Mar's elegant island sanctuary and enjoy new tastes being served at Cafe Boulud The Bahamas. The menu at the new restaurant will feature some classical French dishes synonymous with Chef Daniel, while incorporating local ingredients and flavors, exemplifying Rosewood's A Sense of Place philosophy. Locally sources ingredients will be used throughout the menu to include market-inspired dishes such as the Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio and Strawberry Grouper. Some of Chef Daniel's signature dishes include French classics such as the Tournedos Rossini Beef Tenderloin served with Pomme Dauphine and a Black Truffle Sauce. Younger guests are welcomed back to enjoy all the new programs on offer at Rosewood Baha Mar's Explorer's Club, providing an interactive, educational adventure for children ages 4-12. Explorers are invited to board the "Ship of Wonder" and unlock the many adventures that await them at the Captain's Club and within the Captain's Quarters. Explorers can engage in fun daily programs and hands-on activities, from being a junior chef and making a variety of food creations, to being an artist and making murals, sculptures and sketches. Whether it's stories, movies or games, Junkanoo costumes, drum beating or cowbell shaking, Explorers will be entertained on board the "Ship of Wonder." Set on the pristine white sands of Nassau's Cable Beach, Rosewood Baha Mar offers the ultimate destination for a relaxing Caribbean getaway. The sophisticated beach resort offers a range of accommodations including 230 guestrooms, suites and ocean-side villas that epitomise Caribbean glamour, along with five signature-dining venues, private pools, and Sense, A Rosewood Spa. NOTES TO EDITORS A King, double occupancy room at Rosewood Baha Mar starts from USD$660 per night (approx. 508 per night). To book contact +1 800 447 3496 or visit www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/baha-mar About Rosewood Baha Mar (Nassau, The Bahamas) Set on the white sands of Nassau's Cable Beach in The Bahamas, Rosewood Baha Mar is the effortless escape offering endless possibilities and unique experiences within the new multi-property resort enclave of Baha Mar. The resort's 230 guestrooms, suites and oceanside villas epitomize Bahamian luxury, featuring architecture and interior styling reminiscent of a relaxed island estate. Rosewood Baha Mar offers four signature dining venues; private pools; and Sense, A Rosewood Spa. Rosewood Baha Mar is operated and managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, the leading hospitality group with a storied history of managing elite one-of-a-kind properties, offering Rosewood's signature personalised service and unswerving attention to detail. www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/baha-mar . About Baha Mar (Nassau, The Bahamas) Baha Mar is a master planned $4.2 billion integrated resort development operated by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE). The white sand beach destination includes three global brand operators Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood with over 2,300 rooms and features 20 restaurants and lounges, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a state-of-the-art convention centre, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Royal Blue Golf Course, the Caribbean's first and only flagship ESPA spa, and over 30 luxury retail outlets. Baha Mar is a breath-taking location with dynamic programming, activities and guest offerings in one of the most beautiful places in the world The Bahamas. For more information and reservations, visit www.bahamar.com . SOURCE Rosewood Baha Mar ATLANTA and MONTERREY, Mexico, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PrimeRevenue, Inc., the leading provider of technology-enabled working capital solutions, and eFactor Network, a Mexican fintech and leader in electronic supply chain finance, announce they have renewed their partnership for four more years. The renewed partnership allows eFactor Network to continue licensing PrimeRevenue's trade finance technology to offer customers in Latin America innovative, sustainable cash flow solutions. Since 2009, eFactor Network has leveraged PrimeRevenue's technology to help than 12,000 buyers and suppliers across Latin America unlock more than USD$4.2 billion (MXN 80 billion) in free cash flow. The company's digital solutions, powered by PrimeRevenue, help clients in more than 21 countries unlock material cash to fortify the supply chain and strengthen relationships. With more than 35 funding partners, eFactor Network's multi-funder approach ensures buyers and suppliers have uninterrupted access to liquidity that is not reliant on a single funder. Supply chain disruption caused by the global pandemic dramatically increased demand for early payment. Trade activity on eFactor programs was up approximately 20% in Q4 2020 compared to 2019. To support a broader range of companies with critical cash flow needs, eFactor network has strategically expanded its offering within the region to include additional Latin American countries, the Caribbean, and Spain. "Companies of all sizes are looking for new ways to solve the cash flow challenges created by widespread disruption," said Hector De La Garza, Director General at eFactor Network. "We are honored that our solutions, powered by PrimeRevenue's technology, are helping businesses navigate the challenges of today while preparing for tomorrow's innovation. We look forward to expanding our capabilities to a greater number of businesses in the years ahead." "We are excited for four more years of partnership with eFactor Network and the opportunity to expand PrimeRevenue's solutions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean," said PJ Bain, CEO of PrimeRevenue. "We have a joint mission to ensure buyers and suppliers in the region have access to the tools they need to improve cash flow and diversify their access to liquidity, and eFactor Network has proven they have the skills and expertise to execute on those goals." About PrimeRevenue PrimeRevenue's supply chain finance (approved payables financing) solutions help organizations in 80+ countries optimize their working capital to efficiently fund strategic initiatives, gain a competitive advantage and strengthen relationships throughout the supply chain. As the leading provider of working capital financial technology solutions, PrimeRevenue's diverse multi-funder platform processes more than USD$250 billion in payment transactions per year. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, with offices in London, Prague, Hong Kong and Melbourne. Additional information about PrimeRevenue can be found at www.primerevenue.com | Twitter: @primerevenue | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/primerevenue. About eFactor Network eFactor Network (EFN) is a Mexican FINTECH company, leader in electronic Supply Chain Finance (SCF) solutions. EFN provides its clients a market-place where large enterprises, suppliers and financial institutions converge in one of the most robust and award-winner platforms in the world. It offers a multi-funder, multi-region and multi-currency environment, all under one single technology and a first class pre-and-post sale customer service. EFNs clients benefit by optimizing their working capital and liquidity needs, as well as their suppliers need for financing, by providing access to a network of more than 35 domestic and international banks and financial institutions. The company operates in more than 21 countries and is based in San Pedro Garza Garcia, N.L., with offices in Mexico City, Celaya and Spain. PrimeRevenue Media Contact Ariane Wolff Warner Communications [email protected] +1. 978.729.3542 (U.S.) eFactor Network Media Contact Miguel Angel Hernandez [email protected] +52 81 8248 0800 ext. 3398 SOURCE PrimeRevenue, Inc. Related Links http://www.primerevenue.com Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Swiss Federal Councillor and Finance Minister Ueli Maurer via video link, March 3, 2021. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on practical cooperation in finance and other fields during the meeting. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu He met with Swiss Federal Councillor and Finance Minister Ueli Maurer via video link on Wednesday. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on practical cooperation in finance and other fields during the meeting. China-Switzerland relations feature mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, said Liu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Under China's push for the establishment of a new development pattern and high-quality development, China-Switzerland financial cooperation has a broad prospect and will enhance the well-being of the two countries and the two peoples, Liu added. Maurer said Switzerland will use its advantage to deepen cooperation with China in multiple fields, including sustainable finance, stock exchange interconnection and wealth management, and advance the bilateral ties to a higher level. Enditem [ Editor: SRQ ] Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. THE DOCKET: True crime, legal buzz, courtroom news and more. Delivered to your inbox. During his lifetime, former Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. amassed a South Texas ranching empire surpassed in size only by the storied King Ranch. The land and cattle baron assembled more than 600,000 acres stretching over 10 counties. He owned some 15,000 cattle, part of a family fortune that Forbes valued at $1.3 billion six years ago. Briscoe died in 2010 at 87, leaving the family business to his three children to share equally. The Briscoe family remains a force in Uvalde, the slow-beating heart of the regions agricultural industry. Dolph Chip Briscoe III, 67, runs Briscoe Ranch Inc. from an office there, and the family still controls the First State Bank of Uvalde. Now, Uvalde is one front in a legal battle between Chip Briscoe and the late magnates youngest daughter, Cele Carpenter, 64. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake. Carpenter and her three children have sued Briscoe, alleging that he persuaded sister Janey Marmion who was seriously ill for the last decade of her life to modify her will in 2014, effectively cutting the Carpenter heirs out of a portion of their inheritance. Marmion died in 2018 at age 68. The Carpenters contend that behind (Celes) back, Chip engineered a change in Janeys estate documents so none of Janeys assets would go to Celes children and Chips family would seize control of the business. The Carpenters live in Dallas and filed a lawsuit there. Carpenters three children also filed suit in Uvalde County, challenging the validity of Marmions will. Briscoe has yet to file an answer to his sisters lawsuit in Dallas. But he disputed the allegations made by his niece and two nephews in the Uvalde case. He accuses them of trying to take more than $500 million from a charitable foundation Marmion and her father established to honor her late daughter Kate, who died in 2008 at age 20. Marmion had no other children. Whether the Carpenters think leaving money to charity is rational or not, that is exactly what Janey wanted; it was her money, Briscoe says in his response. Although not a beneficiary of her will, as executor of Janeys estate, I will defend Janeys estate plan and preserve Kates memory and Janeys wishes for the Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation. Briscoes court filing doesnt address the allegation that the Carpenter children were cut out of the will to benefit his two sons. Rancher and banker A Uvalde native, Dolph Briscoe Jr. graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1942 and served in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. Briscoe launched his political career in 1948 when he was elected to the Texas House. He sponsored legislation that gave Texas its statewide paved farm-to-market road system. He served four terms until 1957. He ran for governor in 1968 and lost but was elected when he tried again four years later. He was the first Texas governor to serve a four-year term. Governors served two-year terms until 1974. Winning re-election, he led the state during its oil and gas boom years. He sought a third term but was upset in the Democratic primary by Attorney General John Hill. Briscoe returned to Uvalde, where he worked as a rancher and banker. Texas largest individual landowner, he kept his ranch headquarters at his office at the First State Bank of Uvalde. The bank, with nearly $1.9 billion in assets and eight branches today, remains a part of the Briscoe family business and is chaired by Chip Briscoe. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey, who died in 2000, considered San Antonio a second home. They were among the biggest benefactors of the University of Texas at San Antonio. San Antonios Briscoe Western Art Museum was named in the couples honor. The museum features art, history and culture of the American West. The family business Briscoe died of kidney failure and pneumonia in his hometown. In an amended lawsuit filed last month, Cele Carpenter and her children say her father was scrupulous in his estate planning to ensure that his three children share equally in the ownership and benefits of the familys assets, its vast ranching operations, valuable oil and gas interests and large banking business. Chip Briscoe, though, wanted to make decisions about the family business unilaterally and was particularly disdainful of Carpenter and her family because they live in Dallas and, in his view, know nothing about ranching, the Carpenters assert. Carpenters husband is real estate developer John W. Carpenter III. Briscoe and Cele Carpenters sister, Marmion, learned she had cancer not long after her fathers death, according to documents filed in her probate case by Carpenters three children. The three siblings sons Benjamin Carpenter II and Austin Carpenter and daughter Bonner Acker say their aunts illnesses, the deaths of her daughter and father, and the end of her second marriage took a toll on her mental and physical health. Marmion suffered from anorexia, arthritis and depression, the Carpenters say. In 2011, the three contend, Marmion executed a will that provided for half of the family trusts assets to be divvied up equally among her niece and four nephews. The other half would be placed in a charitable trust for the benefit of a foundation established to support causes important to her daughter Kate. Kate Marmion died from a gunshot wound to the chest at close range. Her death was ruled an accident. The Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation was created to support nonprofits in Uvalde and South Texas. A 2019 tax filing shows that its beneficiaries have included Uvalde Memorial Hospital, Uvalde County Jr. Livestock Association and the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas in San Antonio. Cele Carpenter says her brother kept her away from Marmion prior to her death so Carpenter wouldnt learn about Marmions revised will. New will At Marmions funeral in 2018, Carpenter and her children contend, Briscoe presented his sister with new estate documents that Marmion allegedly executed in 2014. Under the revised documents, the foundation was to receive almost all of Marmions estate and some trusts. The foundation also received a third of a 2012 trust, with Chip Briscoes two sons Dolph D.B. Briscoe IV and James Leigh Briscoe each getting a third. The already substantial assets became even more valuable as a result of the oil and gas boom in the Eagle Ford Shale. Marmions original 2011 will directed her assets to be placed in a revocable trust. The foundation would have received income from half of her wealth for 22 years, with the remainder going to Carpenters three children and Briscoes sons. That arrangement would have given the Carpenters majority control of the family business, the Carpenters say. The prospect that Celes family would actually control the family business after (Chip Briscoe) died was anathema to him, the Carpenters say in the Dallas lawsuit. The 2014 estate documents named Briscoe the wills sole executor, rather than him sharing those duties with Cele Carpenter, her children say. Another change, the Carpenters say, called for the assets in the charitable trust Marmion created to be entirely and immediately granted to the foundation. Briscoe and his sons control the foundation, the Carpenters say. The original trust called for the assets to be paid out at about 6 percent a year. Marmions legacy Briscoe says his niece and nephews claims are without merit. The three, although already wealthy in their own right, filed this will contest seeking to overturn Janeys estate plan and take in excess of half a billion dollars from Kates foundation to put in their own coffers, Briscoe says in a Feb. 11 court filing. In what can only be described as breathtaking audacity, they attack their aunt for leaving so much money to charity instead of to them, he adds. Waiting until Janey can no longer defend herself, they allege that Janey lacked the necessary capacity to execute her estate plan. The Carpenter children say in their lawsuit that after 2012 their aunt lost her grasp of reality (and) suffered from insane delusions. David Beck, a Houston lawyer representing Briscoe, called those allegations hurtful and untrue. Beck said that after Marmion changed her will in 2014, she continued to manage her sizable assets, sold stocks and bonds and sat on various boards, including at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. She was a wonderful person who deserves better than to have her good name drug through the mud, Beck said. Marmion changed her will to give a substantial portion of her wealth to the Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation, he said. Why did Marmion cut the Carpenter children out of her will? Because she decided she wanted more to go to her foundation, Beck said. Splitting assets In a Feb. 15 letter to the foundation and the Texas attorney generals office, the Carpenter children say that under no circumstances will they take assets that otherwise would go to the foundation. Beck, however, dismissed as baloney any suggestion that the Carpenters are not seeking to seize the foundations assets. The same day the letter was filed, the Carpenters filed an amended complaint in Dallas that seeks the return of $27 million that Briscoe distributed to the foundation on behalf of the trust Dec. 31 over Cele Carpenters objection. For over two years, the Carpenter family has held hostage Janey Briscoe Marmions $500 million gift to the Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation, said James Hartnett Jr., a Dallas attorney for the foundation. It is tragic that the foundation has been deprived of its ability to provide significantly more financial support to South Texans during this difficult pandemic. Also in their Feb. 15 letter, the Carpenter children proposed a settlement that would involve an equitable split of the remaining assets in the family business between the Carpenter and Briscoe families. Beck dismissed the proposal, recalling a 1998 interview in Texas Monthly in which the former governor said he hated to see big ranches broken up and subdivided. The Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation filed a counterclaim Feb. 25 in the Uvalde case. The foundation alleges that the Carpenter children and their mother seek to undermine the legacy that Janey and Gov. Briscoe created for Kate by contesting the 2014 will. It calls their legal challenge a backdoor attempt to unwind Janeys estate plan and her legacy to honor her deceased daughter. The foundation wants the court to declare the 2014 will valid, while the Carpenter children want it set aside. They say that if Marmion signed it, she did so as the result of fraud. If the Carpenter children cant get the will invalidated, they will seek to have Chip Briscoe removed as the wills executor. Family lawyer In their Dallas lawsuit, the Carpenters say Chip Briscoe enlisted the Briscoe familys longtime lawyer to carry out his alleged scheme. R. James Curphy, of the San Antonio law firm Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan, allegedly prepared Marmions new will and trust and concealed the changes from Cele Carpenter. The Carpenters say Curphy should have disclosed his conflict of interest to Cele Carpenter. Mr. Curphy and his law firm had to choose sides, and they chose Chips side because he had provided, and would provide, a much more lucrative source of attorneys fees than Cele, the Carpenters say in the lawsuit. The suit accuses Curphy and his firm of fraud, legal malpractice and conspiring to divert assets from the Carpenter children to Chip Briscoes children and the foundation. Curphy didnt respond to requests for comment. Others named in the suit include Briscoes sons and the Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation. Briscoe is accused of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust and conspiring with Curphy. The suit seeks more than $1 million in damages. News researcher Misty Harris contributed to this report. pdanner@express-news.net Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) With the country expected to receive more coronavirus vaccines this week, the government is setting its sights on the simultaneous rollout of both Sinovac and AstraZenecain a bid to address the continuous spike in infections, and contain the threat of the more contagious variants. "Ang gagawin po natin, titignan po natin na kung just in case magkakaroon tayo ng simultaneous deployment also with AstraZeneca," Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. told CNN Philippines' The Source. [Translation: What we're going to do is, just in case, we'll see if we can have a simultaneous deployment also with AstraZeneca.] The country launched its much-anticipated vaccination drive earlier this week, with frontliners and some government officials receiving the first shots of the China-donated Sinovac. The Philippines is set to receive its second shipment of vaccines on Thursday eveningalmost half a million AstraZeneca doses supplied by the COVAX facility. According to Galvez, the current distribution of vaccines has been concentrated in Pasay and other high-risk areas, especially with Metro Manila facing a new threat in the South Africa variant. Over 200,000 Sinovac doses were allocated for the National Capital Region, he noted. "Ang ginagawa po natin sa distribution po natin sa Sinovac ngayon at saka sa ating future vaccines, talagang concentrated po tayo sa Pasay and other areas na nakita natin tumataas," Galvez said, noting that the national government immediately sent out more vaccines to the city. [Translation: What we're doing now for the distribution of Sinovac and for our future vaccines, it's really concentrated in Pasay and other areas where cases have been increasing.] As of Wednesday, Pasay City has recorded 8,278 COVID-19 infections, with 543 active or currently ill patients. Metro Manila has so far logged over 230,000 coronavirus cases. In a finding that suggests overweight people should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines, a new report released Thursday shows the risk of death from coronavirus infection is about 10 times higher in countries where most of the population is overweight. The World Obesity Federation report found that 88 percent of deaths due to COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic were in countries where more than half of the population is classified as overweight, the Washington Post reported. Having a body mass index (BMI) above 25 is considered overweight. The results prompted the London-based federation to urge governments to prioritize overweight and obese people for both coronavirus testing and vaccinations, the Post reported. Among the nations with overweight populations above the 50 percent threshold were also those with some of the largest proportions of coronavirus deathsincluding countries such as Britain, Italy and the United States, the Post reported. In the United States, nearly three-quarters of the population is considered overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, more than 518,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Conversely, in countries where less than half of the adult population is classified as overweight, the risk of death from COVID-19 was about one-tenth of the levels in countries with higher shares of overweight adults. A higher BMI was also associated with increased risk of hospitalization, admission to intensive or critical care and the need for mechanically assisted ventilation, the Post said. These findings were fairly uniform across the globe, the report said. In fact, increased body weight was the second greatest predictorafter old ageof hospitalization and higher risk of death of COVID-19. To reach that conclusion, the researchers examined mortality data on 160 countries from Johns Hopkins University and the World Health Organization. Of the 2.5 million COVID-19 deaths reported by the end of February, 2.2 million were in countries where more than half the population is overweight, CNN reported. Every country where less than 40% of the population was overweight had a COVID-19 death rate of no more than 10 people per 100,000. But in countries where more than 50% of the population was overweight, the COVID-19 death rate was much highermore than 100 per 100,000. "An overweight population is an unhealthy population, and a pandemic waiting to happen," the group wrote in its report. All American adults can get vaccines by end of May: Biden The United States is now poised to have enough COVID-19 vaccines for every American adult by the end of May, President Joe Biden said this week. The announcement, which came during a brief speech at the White House on Tuesday, accelerates the country's vaccination goals by two months. "As a consequence of the stepped-up process that I've ordered and just outlined, this country will have enough vaccine supplyI'll say it againfor every adult in America by the end of May," Biden said. "By the end of May. That's progressimportant progress." How was it possible to speed up the U.S. vaccine rollout? Biden said his administration provided support to Johnson & Johnson so the company and its partners can make vaccines around the clock, The New York Times reported. In addition to that, the administration brokered a deal in which the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. would help manufacture the newly approved Johnson & Johnson single-shot coronavirus vaccine. Although its own attempt at making a COVID-19 vaccine failed, Merck is the world's second-largest vaccine manufacturer, according to the Times. White House officials described the partnership between the two competitors as historic and said it harkens back to the wartime manufacturing campaigns that former President Franklin D. Roosevelt put into place. Biden also said Tuesday that he wanted all teachers to receive at least one shot by the end of this month, the Times reported. Biden's announcement came days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. As of Thursday, 80.5 million Americans had been vaccinated, with nearly 27 million getting their second shot. Even as vaccinations ramp up, public health officials worry about another surge of coronavirus cases, as new, more infectious variants emerge and states like Texas and Mississippi lift their mask mandates and roll back many of their coronavirus restrictions. Although cases have dropped significantly since January, they are now leveling off, the Times reported. "We cannot let our guard down now or assure that victory is inevitable," Biden said Tuesday. "We can't assume that." U.S. will stick with two doses of Pfizer, Moderna vaccines: Fauci The United States will stick with its plan to give millions of Americans two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday. The nation's top infectious diseases expert told the Post that shifting to a single-dose strategy for those two vaccines could leave people less protected, allow more contagious variants to spread and make Americans already hesitant to get the shots even more wary. "We're telling people [two shots] is what you should do and then we say, "Oops, we changed our mind'?" Fauci said. "I think that would be a messaging challenge, to say the least." Fauci said he spoke on Monday with health officials in the United Kingdom, who are delaying second doses to give more people shots more quickly. He said that although he understands the strategy, it wouldn't make sense in America. "We both agreed that both of our approaches were quite reasonable," Fauci told the Post. Some public health experts have asked U.S. policymakers to reconsider whether millions of doses intended as second shots could be distributed as first doses insteadto offer at least some protection to a greater number of people. The issue gained steam after a CDC advisory committee on Monday tackled the question while approving Johnson & Johnson's single-shot coronavirus vaccine. About 80 percent of adults have yet to get a single dose, according to CDC data. Fauci told the Post the science shows that a two-shot regimen creates enough protection to fend off more contagious coronavirus variants, while a single shot could leave Americans at risk from these variants. There is insufficient data showing how long the immunity provided by one shot would last. "You don't know how durable that protection is," he noted. Fauci also argued that Pfizer's and Moderna's recent commitment to deliver 220 million total doses by the end of March, in addition to Johnson & Johnson's pledge to deliver nearly 20 million shots this month, should make the issue moot. "Very quickly the gap between supply and demand is going to be diminished and then overcome in this country," he said. "The rationale for a single doseand use all your doses for the single doseis when you have a very severe gap between supply and demand." A global scourge By Thursday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 28.8 million while the death toll passed 518,000, according to a Times tally. On Thursday, the top five states for coronavirus infections were: California with nearly 3.6 million cases; Texas with nearly 2.7 million cases; Florida with over 1.9 million cases; New York with over 1.6 million cases; and Illinois with nearly 1.2 million cases. Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging. In India, the coronavirus case count was more than 11.1 million by Thursday, a Johns Hopkins University tally showed. Brazil had over 10.7 million cases and more than 259,000 deaths as of Thursday, the Hopkins tally showed. Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 115.3 million on Thursday, with over 2.5 million deaths recorded, according to the Hopkins tally. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus. Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Then-President Donald Trump at the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jenny Jing/The Epoch Times) Trump: Republicans Lost Georgia Senate Races Because of Kemp, McConnell Former President Donald Trump on March 4 alleged that Republicans lost two U.S. Senate seats representing Georgia in the 2020 election because of state Republican leadership and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Trump said in a written statement that Republicans did not turn out to vote because they were so angry and disappointed with Georgia Republican leadership and Governor [Brian] Kemp for failing to stand up to Stacey Abrams and the disastrous Consent Decree that virtually eliminates signature verification requirements across the state (and much worse), and was not approved by the State Legislature as required by the Constitution. McConnells refusal to support a proposal to send $2,000 stimulus checks was the other reason, Trump alleged. That refusal was used against our Senators, and the $2,000 will be approved anyway by the Democrats who bought the Georgia electionand McConnell let them do it! The offices of McConnell and Kemp didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment. Control of the Senate came down to the two races in Georgia, which both went to runoffs after no candidates reached a majority in the Nov. 4, 2020, results. Republicans held both seats. David Perdue, a businessman, won his election in 2014. Kelly Loeffler, a businesswoman, was appointed to a seat after Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) retired due to failing health. Perdue beat filmmaker Jon Ossoff in the general election by more than 88,000 votes, but came just short of avoiding a runoff. Loeffler and pastor Raphael Warnock emerged from a free-for-all jungle election for the remaining two years of Isaksons term, with Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) getting third. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) (C) walks with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) (L) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) on their way to a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 11, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Ossoff in the runoffs triumphed over Perdue by about 55,000 votes while Warnock beat Loeffler by more than 1 percent. They were sworn in on Jan. 20, the same day President Joe Biden was inaugurated. The wins gave Democrats control of the Senate, despite it being divided evenly between the parties, including two nominal independents who caucus with Democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris can cast tiebreaking votes in her role as president of the upper chamber. Trump, many Democrats, and some Republicans supported a plan late last year to send a round of $2,000 stimulus checks to most Americans. McConnell on the Senate floor referred to the direct payments as socialism for rich people. Kemp has defended his post-election actions, saying he couldnt legally intervene in the election process despite pressure from Trump. Trump has since called for Collins to challenge Kemp in 2022, and early polls show the former would win. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) It is time again to consider plans for your education. Experts from across Indiana are ready to help you through the financial aid process. College Goal Sunday is this weekend, March 7th. This event is being offered exclusively online. Students and families can log onto CollegeGoalSunday.org between 2 and 4 Sunday afternoon and be connected with a financial aid expert from anywhere in the state. If you need help paying for school and want to be eligible for loans, grants and other awards you have to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. Julie Wonderlin is the Director of Financial Aid at Ivy Tech Community College in Terre Haute. She says the virtual process is easy. "We can share screens. They can share their screen, show us where they're at so that we can help them through the process and get them through their FAFSA." You'll need your 2019 tax and income information to file but there are ways to get more help if that information does not reflect your current financial situation. Wonderlin says, "If their income has changed, we don't want that to be a barrier for them going to school. If they had issues because of COVID and job availability, then they need to talk to the school." You must file by April 15th to qualify for state aid. Advertisement Coronavirus cases and deaths in the UK fell again today to just 6,573 more positive tests and 242 fatalities, with both measures down more than a quarter on the same time last week. Infections were down 34 per cent compared to last Thursday while deaths dropped 25 per cent, continuing the shrinking of the country's outbreak. Another 278,956 people received a Covid vaccine for the first time yesterday, along with 68,450 people getting a second dose. A total of 20.9million have now been immunised, with 964,000 of them receiving a full two doses. Separate Public Health England data show positive tests done through NHS Test and Trace have now been falling in every region and age group for seven weeks in a row. A weekly report showed cases are in freefall across the country and only two out of 149 local authorities recorded an increase last week Hull and Wokingham. The good news adds to a report published overnight that found infections were down two thirds since the start of January, but cautioned the rate of decline has slowed down. Matt Hancock has urged England to stay vigilant in the wake of the study after the Imperial College London researchers who did the study said infections could be rising in London and the South East. The Health Secretary admitted the results were 'some cause for concern' that the 'hard-won progress' of the last two months could be at risk. He added: 'It is important we remain vigilant this is on all of us. 'We have set out a cautious, but irreversible approach to easing restrictions but until we reach each milestone, we must all remember the virus is still here, and still dangerous. Please continue to stay at home practice hands, face, space and get your jab when you receive your invite so we can bring down infections further.' Separate NHS Test and Trace statistics today also showed Covid cases are still falling in England but the speed of decline has slowed. Some 68,738 people tested positive between February 18 and 24, down 18.7 per cent on the week before. But the fall was smaller than that recorded during the previous seven-day spell (21.1 per cent) or the week before that (28.2 per cent), bolstering fears that Covid rates are not dropping as quickly as they were. Imperial College experts claimed the slowdown was likely to be due to more people venturing outside as they anticipate a relaxation of restrictions. They estimated the time taken for cases to halve climbed from just 15 to 31 days during February, meaning the outbreak is shrinking about half as fast as it was a month ago. Their results showed 1.57 per cent of the population one in 64 people were infected from January 6-22. This plummeted to 0.49 per cent or one in 204 from February 6-23. Infection rates were lowest among the over-65s, who are most likely to have been vaccinated. Public Health England data show that coronavirus positive test rates fell in all but two areas of the country in the week ending February 28 Hull in Yorkshire and Wokingham in Berkshire (shown in yellow) PHE figures show that the number of people testing positive for coronavirus has been falling consistently in all regions of England since the second week of January, dropping from a sky-high peak at the end of December 2020 Cases are also declining in all age groups, with rates coming down since the new year among under-70s, and from the second week of January for the elderly The study found around 0.5 per cent of English population was carrying coronavirus from February 13 to 26, which was down significantly from the start of the year when it was close to 1.5 per cent one in every 67 people Health Secretary Matt Hancock today urged England to stay vigilant and warned the nation's 'hard-won progress' could be ruined. Pictured today during a visit to the Centre for Virus Research at Glasgow University Public Health England's report found that there was a decline in cases in almost all counties and districts in the most recent week, with three areas seeing their infection numbers drop by half Torbay in Devon, Rutland in the East Midlands, and the Isle of Wight. And all age groups saw the case numbers come down again, for the seventh week in a row with consistent declines since the second week of January, tumbling from staggering heights at the end of 2020. Regionally, infections are down consistently again, too, with the lowest rates in the South East and South West, as well as in London and the East of England. Cases are around twice as high in the northern and Midlands regions but are still declining, the report showed. In other coronavirus developments today: Two in five over-80s have broken lockdown rules by meeting up with others indoors after getting vaccinated against Covid, figures suggest. GPs said they will prescribe more than 700,000 people diet plans, apps and wearable activity trackers in a Government anti-obesity drive after an alarming study revealed a high obesity rate was partly to blame for Britain's devastating coronavirus death toll. Wetherspoon is to open beer gardens, rooftop gardens and patios at 394 of its pubs in England when the lockdown continues to ease from April 12, the chain announced. Booster jabs to tackle mutated coronavirus variants will be fast-tracked and won't need to go through massive clinical trials, Britain's regulator has ruled. A health worker has been admitted to intensive care after suffering anaphylactic shock after receiving the Pfizer Covid vaccine in Australia . China has expanded its use of anal swabs to screen for Covid-19 with anyone flying into Beijing now vulnerable to the tests despite growing protests from foreign governments. The Imperial College London survey last night suggested the R rate in England - a measure of how many people an infected person passes the virus on to - is around 0.86 and 'reliably' below one, indicating the epidemic is shrinking. The paper says prevalence dropped 'substantially' overall during January and early February but 'remains high'. Infection rates vary around the country, with an apparent fall in cases in four regions during February, no change in one and a rise in London and the South East. Lockdown 'could ease earlier' in England because Covid deaths are falling FASTER than SAGE predicted thanks to vaccine success Covid deaths in England are falling faster than gloomy SAGE advisers thought they would, official data show and scientists claim lockdown rules could be loosened faster. Models produced by the SPI-M group of scientists predicting the future of the Covid outbreak in February suggested the daily death count would stay above 200 until mid-March. But the average number of victims recorded each day had dropped below this level before the end of February, statistics show. Experts told The Telegraph the progress is 'better than expected' and suggested the Government's 'data not dates' approach could see relaxations brought forward. The vaccine rollout has made immense progress, with 20million people now vaccinated across the UK, and studies suggest the jabs are working better than expected, preventing between 85 and 94 per cent of hospitalisations. SPI-M's prediction was more pessimistic about how well the vaccine would work and whether it would stop transmission, which may explain why its estimates are gloomier than the reality. Under current plans, schools will reopen next Monday, and people will be allowed to meet in groups of six outdoors from March 29. Advertisement It continues: 'Continued adherence to social distancing and public health measures is required so that infection rates fall to much lower levels. 'This will help to ensure that the benefits of the vaccination roll-out programme in England are fully realised.' The study says there is clear progress but warns: 'Any large uptick in the prevalence of infections would signal a potential threat to the smooth continuation of the roadmap. 'But with high vaccine uptake and encouraging early estimates of vaccine efficacy, the link between infections and strain on healthcare services will likely be weakened in the near future.' Imperial's Professor Steven Riley said the pace of the roadmap 'seems about right'. He added: 'What we need is to keep infections really low, so that people who will get offered a vaccine, three or four weeks from now or six weeks from now don't get infected just before they get the vaccine because for those people that amazing vaccine story won't have done that much.' Professor Paul Elliott, also from Imperial, said: 'People might think that they can just relax because the vaccine programme is going so well but there is still a lot of virus out there. 'If people just change their behaviours a little bit then they are going to be more at risk of getting infection, because it's all about social contact, social distancing. 'So I think we just, in a very cautious way need to continue - but we need to keep monitoring what's happening to the virus in the population. 'It does need to get a lot lower than one in 200.' He added: 'We're still in lockdown. We're going through a cautious easing of lockdown, with taking stock, looking at interventions, and then having a chance to look at the effect of those interventions on the spread of the virus. 'So I would be very hopeful that it will continue to go down and, it does need to go down because it is still too high.' Prevalence in February ranged from 0.21 per cent in those aged 65 and over to 0.71 per cent in those aged 13 to 17. The report detail rates among different ethnicities and occupations for the first time. It found rates were highest among Pakistani participants at 2.1 per cent, compared with 0.45 per cent among those who are white and 0.45 per cent who are black. Those who work from home are a third less likely to catch the virus. This 'stresses the importance of working from home during lockdown where possible to minimise social contacts and hence reduce the risk of transmission', the report warns. The findings have not been peer-reviewed or published in a journal. Covid cases are continuing to drop in England but the speed of decline has slowed. There were 68,738 positive tests in the week ending February 24, down 18.7 per cent on the previous week Imperial researchers said infection rates were falling in most areas (highlighted in blue on the third map) but rising in some parts, particularly in London and the South East. Hotspots that stood out in earlier versions of the study had faded and new ones emerged, the top maps show The REACT study saw infection rates coming down in most regions but said there were early signs of an uptick in London and the South East. These were based on only a few days' data but the researchers said they were 80 per cent sure the trend had reversed. They could not explain why A prediction made by SAGE sub-group SPI-M at the start of February suggested daily Covid deaths in England would stay above 200 until the end of March but they are already lower. The yellow line shows SPI-M's prediction, while the red line represents the actual daily death count, calculated as a seven-day average Infection rates among age groups plummeted between January (grey) and February (orange and red), the study found, but the decline had slowed significantly since then Most regions saw a huge drop in infections when lockdown hit, with early case rates in grey and later ones in orange and red It comes as figures show two in five over-80s have broken lockdown rules by meeting up with others indoors after getting vaccinated against Covid, figures suggest. Office for National Statistics polling data released today revealed 43 per cent of the elderly have flouted virus-controlling restrictions after having a jab. Nearly half admitted to meeting friends or family indoors after receiving both doses of the vaccine, even though this is still not allowed. GPs to prescribe DIETS for more than 700,000 people to fight Covid GPs will prescribe more than 700,000 people diet plans, apps and wearable activity trackers in a Government anti-obesity drive. Ministers said they are committed to slimming the country's waistlines, after an alarming study revealed a high obesity rate was partly to blame for Britain's devastating coronavirus death toll. World Obesity Federation research found Covid deaths have been 10 times higher in countries where at least half of adults are overweight, and they have accounted for a staggering 90 per cent of global deaths. Thousands of lives may have been saved if the population was slimmer, experts said, and lockdown measures may not have needed to be as drastic if people were not as fat and had a lower risk of ending up in hospital. The World Health Organization warned the findings were a 'wake-up call' for the West, where sedentary jobs and processed foods mean being overweight has become the norm for many. Downing Street said it would pump money into NHS-led schemes to help people of all ages lose weight, with the drive particularly targeting children and people living in poorer areas. Prime Minister Boris Johnson who previously admitted he was 'too fat' when he was hospitalised with Covid last spring said: 'Losing weight is hard, but making small changes can make a big difference. 'Being overweight increases the risk of becoming ill with Covid. If we all do our bit, we can reduce our own health risks but also help take pressure off the NHS.' The WOF report found that significant proportions of Covid deaths happened in fatter countries like the UK and US which, combined, have suffered around 643,000 deaths from the virus a quarter of the world's total. Advertisement Under rules introduced in England in January, family or friends cannot meet socially indoors unless they are in the same household or support bubble. Separate households will not be allowed to meet inside in groups until May 17 at the earliest in England, according to Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown. But 878 of the 2,041 vaccinated over-80s surveyed across England between February 15 and 20 admitted to either visiting a friend or having someone over to their home since being jabbed The group were 'appearing to break lockdown regulations', according to the ONS. Some 2.6million over-80s had been vaccinated in England by February 21, according to the latest data. A small number of over-80s received their coronavirus vaccine before the national lockdown was reintroduced but the vast majority will have been jabbed after January 5. The poll showed 23 per cent of inoculated over-80s met up with their children and nine per cent felt safe enough to see their grandchildren. Six per cent met up with friends indoors but a third had not seen anyone including their support bubble or carers despite having had a jab. Almost half (49 per cent) of the over-80s surveyed said they felt Covid was a major risk to them personally before having the vaccine. But 81 per cent felt the risk was less after receiving one dose of the vaccine and 95 per cent said they would feel safer after receiving both doses. Of all over-80s surveyed, 96 per cent said they would be very or somewhat likely to encourage others to get a jab. Some 99.8 per cent of respondents said they had been offered a jab, and 78 per cent had received their first dose more than three weeks ago. This is despite ministers saying jabs had been offered to everyone over the age of 80. Tim Gibbs, from the ONS, said: 'The rollout of the Covid vaccination is, no doubt, a huge relief to many people aged over 80. 'We can see almost half of all them, when asked, considered Covid to be a major or significant personal risk before receiving the vaccination. 'This decreases to just five per cent having the same concern after hypothetically receiving both doses of the vaccine. 'It will hopefully also improve a wider quality of life for this group. 'We hope to start to see these wider positive effects of the vaccine rollout as it continues across more age groups in the coming weeks.' Two out of five over-80s have broken lockdown by meeting up with others indoors since having a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine BISD workers helped distribute food boxes and cases of water to residents at Autumn Oaks apartments during a pair of north-end stops Wednesday. BISD partnered with the Food Bank of Southeast Texas to distribute the food and water. Advertisement New York City has been blighted by graffiti leaving some areas of the Big Apple 'looking like war zones' reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a barrage of vandalism complaints. As part of a major clean-up operation announced on Wednesday, NYPD officers will examine graffiti tags for clues about gang activity in the city after the department said it had received over 6,000 complaints in 2020 alone. The explosion of graffiti has left parts of New York City looking like it did in the 70s and 80s, before CCTV cameras acted as a deterrent and clean-up initiatives were implemented by mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudi Giuliani. In a sign that the Big Apple is sliding back to the bad old days, graffiti has been appearing all over the city on storefonts, building exteriors, construction equipment, vehicles, road signs and most visibly on the surrogates court and David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building near City Hall, painted by City Hall protesters. Now, much like former mayor Bloomberg's initiative which offered people $500 to snitch on taggers, the NYPD wants citizens to report heavily-tagged properties in their neighborhoods. The tips received by the NYPD will be investigated by local precincts and community leaders who will examine the graffiti for tags made by gangs and prioritize removing those with hateful and offensive messages and symbols. However, residents and business owners have complained that the initiative comes too little, too late. 'This has been going on too long and I've asked on several occasions what can I use to remove the graffiti from the glass of an establishment in Crown Heights to no avail,' @Dewarrestaurant tweeted after the NYPD's statement. 'The graffiti on the walls and shutters are easy to remove by painting. Nostrand Ave looks like a war zone.' However, since there is not budget for the operation, the department has pleaded with New Yorkers, calling for volunteers to join the clean-up effort by taking part in clean-up days. Scroll down for video New York City has been blighted by graffiti leaving some areas of the Big Apple 'looking like war zones' reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a barrage of vandalism complaints.. Pictured: Trash sits underneath the stairs of a building covered in graffiti near Broadway and White Street in the ritzy Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan Mike's Diner, a 24-hour restaurant on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn has been overrun with graffiti as the city launches an initiative to clean up the worsening problem. NYPD officers will examine graffiti tags for clues about gang activity in the city after the department said it had received over 6,000 complaints in 2020 alone BEFORE: Mikes Diner in Brooklyn, pictured on Google Street view before it was covered in graffiti. Much like former mayor Bloomberg's initiative - which offered people $500 to snitch on taggers - the NYPD wants citizens to report vandalism Two store fronts available for rent in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan are pictured covered in graffiti on Wednesday A former Pret a Manger location at the corner of West 27th and 7th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is covered in graffiti. The tips received by the NYPD will be investigated by local precincts and community leaders who will examine the graffiti for tags made by gangs and prioritize removing those with hateful and offensive messages and symbols BEFORE: The Pret on the corner of West 27th and 7th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, before it was covered in graffiti Multiple officials hailed the initiative to remove graffiti citywide as a means to building relationships and trust with the community Graffiti covers the outside of a building near Broadway and White Street in the ritzy Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan The clean up days will comprise of teams made up of auxiliary police officers, cadets and the young members of the NYPD's Law Enforcement Explorers Program and community volunteers. In 1995, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani signed the Mayoral Executive Order No. 24 - which formally established the Mayor's Anti-Graffiti Task Force to clean up graffiti which decorated the city through much of the 1970s and 80s. In 2005, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg expanded the task force and created the graffiti rewards program which awarded up to $500 to people who reported graffiti vandalism in progress through 911. Chief of Department Rodney Harrison, who is beginning in his new role after the departure of Terence Monahan, said the city takes graffiti 'seriously,' the New York Post reported. 'We do have a vandals task force team already in place making sure that they're out there engaging individuals that choose to dirty up the city,' Harrison said, according to the Post. 'So it's something that we take seriously we have to juggle a lot of different balls, one of them being violence, but we also have to address minor things.' Graffiti covers a closed barbershop and a sign store in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn on Wednesday BEFORE: The shop fronts in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, before the shutters were covered in graffiti Graffiti covers a truck parked at the corner of Broadway and 28th Street in Manhattan on Wednesday amid a worsening problem Graffiti covers a truck parked at the corner of Broadway and 28th Street in Manhattan on Wednesday amid a worsening problem Residents walk past shuttered businesses covered in graffiti at the corner of 7th Avenue and 26th Street in Manhattan on Wednesday BEFORE: The corner of 7th Avenue and 26th Street in Manhattan, before it was covered in graffiti Commissioner Shea said that the graffiti initiative has been in the works for months while acknowledging that the city has seen a surge in violent crime through the pandemic and in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd last May. 'It's been a tough year, not just for New York City but across this whole country. This is about moving forward, it's about the recovery, it's about coming out together and cleaning up. That's the big statement we want to make,' Shea said. According to the New York Daily News, the top cops refuted that the rise in violent crime should of greater focus for the department and argued that the graffiti initiative will give officers a chance to 'reform and reinvent.' 'We often speak about that. We speak about reform and re-invention,' Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes said, according to the Daily News. A dad pushes his daughter on a bicycle in front of a storefront covered in graffiti at the corner of 7th Avenue and 26th Street Residents walk past shuttered businesses covered in graffiti at the corner of 7th Avenue and 26th Street in Manhattan Graffiti covers a wall at the corner of Varick Street and Canal Street in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan on Wednesday Graffiti covers the face of a building underneath scaffolding at the corner of 7th Avenue and 25th Street in Manhattan on Wednesday 'Gothem' graffiti covers the outside of a building in the ritzy Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan on Wednesday However, it was reported in July last year by CBS New York that the city's budget for graffiti removal was zero, with Mayor Bill de Blasio deciding not to allocate money to fix it, other than for cleaning government buildings. Manhattan City Councilman Ben Kallos said at the time that 'the city has zeroed out the budget for graffiti removal city-wide. This is a problem, and it means graffiti is only going to get worse.' 'We've been getting a lot of complaints about graffiti,' Kallos said. 'We're seeing more graffiti complaints now than ever before since I've been a council member.' In January 2021, it was reported by an industry group that property sales in New York City had plunged 46 percent in 2020 from the prior year's level, costing $1.6 billion in lost city and state tax revenue. The report January 22 from the Real Estate Board of New York said that property sales in the city totaled $47 billion last year, down nearly half from the 2019 sales volume of $86 billion. The steep decline in real estate transactions came as residents fled the city in a mass exodus amid pandemic fears, punishing lockdowns and soaring crime. New York City tax revenue from real estate transactions totaled $1.9 billion in 2020, representing a 38 percent decline from 2019, while state tax revenue from such transactions totaled $785 million in 2020, a 32 percent drop. The real estate industry generates more than half of New York City's total annual tax revenue, while personal income tax accounts for just one-fifth of tax receipts. Desperate to plug the state budget gap, Governor Andrew Cuomo demanded a $15 billion federal bailout from President Joe Biden's new administration. The NYPD will schedule regular 'paint-in' days, with the first on the books for April 10, to clean up the graffiti with paint cans and rollers donated by local businesses. 'As I'm driving over here today, I think it's apparent to everyone why we're out here when we look around. It's spring, we're coming out of COVID, but New York City needs a little sprucing up today, so that's what we aim to do,' Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said. He added: 'We think it's a great opportunity to continue to build trust and relationships in New York City, it's everything we are trying to do. So why not combine two things that we need. We need to work closer with the community and we're asking today for something really simple: we need your help.' Ryan Chadwick told the Daily News that he has to spend $5,000 to remove tags on his Lower East Side seafood restaurant Grey Lady. Chadwick said his restaurant can't reopen until the graffiti is cleaned up and his insurance company isn't helping. 'We have to take care of the graffiti ourselves. It costs money,' he said. Speaking to CBS New York, Chadwick said: 'How do we open when our view is some guy's name spray painted on my wall?' New York State prohibits the act of 'making graffiti', which it defines as 'the etching, painting, covering, drawing upon or otherwise placing of a mark upon public or private property with intent to damage such property.' NYPD officials announced a new initiative on Wednesday, asking citizens to report and help clean up neighborhood graffiti Officials hold up a T-shirt designed for the citywide initiative to clean up graffiti, which is often related to drug and gang violence Participants in the Law Enforcement Explorers program will participate in the citywide graffiti cleanup. The Explorers program provides young men and women ages 14 to 20 an introduction to a career in criminal justice The act of making graffiti is classified as a class A misdemeanor, for which a New York court can sentence an individual to a maximum of one year in jail or three years probation, or a fine of up to $1,000. The uptick in graffiti can also be attributed to the huge blow the pandemic has dealt to the city's retail industry. According to The Partnership for New York City estimates that roughly one-third of the citys 240,000 small businesses may never recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 140,000 restaurant jobs were lost last year in New York City as thousands of businesses closed. Nationwide, the industry has lost some 110,000 restaurants and 2.5 million jobs, 372,000 jobs of which were lost in December alone. In June, there were 795,300 city residents who claimed unemployment benefits - the highest last year. That number has since gone down gradually. In November, 252,400 unemployed New Yorkers claimed benefits. New York City saw a record one in seven chain store branches, including Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, close in 2020 with Manhattan suffering the biggest blow as nearly 600 businesses shut their doors. According to the Center for an Urban Futures 2020 State of the Chains that was released in late December, the number of chain stores in the Big Apple declined by 13.3 per cent, which means some 1,057 businesses closed. Two per cent have closed temporarily and 11.3 per cent haven't indicated whether the closures are permanent or temporary. Duane Reade has shuttered 70 of its 317 stores, according to the report, while GNC took a hit of closing 51 of its 99 locations. Other retail stores took similar hits. MAC Cosmetics closed 25 of its 34 stores and Victoria's Secret shut 10 of its 23 locations. Skechers temporarily closed some of its locations due to health guidelines. Those locations are now open. Metro PCS is still the second-largest national retailer in the city with 334 stores despite losing 134 stores over the past year, largely due to their consolidations with parent company T-Mobile, the report shows. This is by far the largest yearover-year decline in chain stores since the Center for an Urban Future began our annual analysis of the citys national retailers thirteen years ago, eclipsing last years 3.7 per cent drop and the 0.3 per cent decline in 2018,' researchers said in the report. While each borough reported significant declines in chain stores, Manhattan had the largest loss of them all. The press conference for the NYPD's graffiti cleanup initiative happened outside MOSCOT, which is pictured covered in graffiti BEFORE: Moscot, outside which the NYPD held their Wednesday press conference, before it was covered in Grafiti Chief Rodney Harrison speaks during a press conference with Police Commissioner Dermot Shea about the effort to combat graffiti Manhattan's chain stores shrank by 17.4 per cent, of which 2.8 per cent were closed temporarily. The report shows that Manhattan accounted for nearly half of all chain store closures citywide with 520 out of 1,057. Queens had the second largest decline with an 11.2 per cent decrease, of which 0.6 per cent of those were temporarily shuttered. Gyms also took a hard hit due to the pandemic, which forced such businesses to close their doors for months. SoulCycle has closed all 21 of its indoor facilities in the city, but offers classes online and at three outdoor locations. Meanwhile, some chains added branches to the city. About 40 companies saw an increase, including Popeyes. The chain added 10 locations. The striking statistics are largely due to the coronavirus pandemic that shut down the Big Apple in March of last year when the city became the epicenter for the virus in the United States. The economy shed a shocking 22 million jobs after the pandemic struck. Many employers have since recalled some of their furloughed workers. Yet the recovery has slowed. New York City saw a record one in seven chain store branches, including Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, close in 2020 with Manhattan suffering the biggest blow as nearly 600 businesses shut their doors According to the Center for an Urban Futures 2020 State of the Chains that was released Wednesday, the number of chain stores in the Big Apple declined by 13.3 per cent, which means some 1,057 businesses closed (a Manhattan Starbucks location pictured) One study done jointly by Harvard and Brown Universities tracking the economic recovery found that in New York State, there was a decrease of 36.6 per cent in the number of small businesses open. In 2020, there were an estimated 2.2 million small businesses operating in the state. A small business is defined as a firm that employs less than 500 workers. That means the pandemic has forced 800,000 businesses statewide to shut its doors either temporarily or permanently. Not until the end of 2023 does Moodys Analytics foresee the US economy regaining its pre-pandemic employment level. In the most bruised sectors - hotels, for example, and retail - changing economic habits mean that employers may never need as many workers as they did before the pandemic. Even after vaccines have conquered the virus, economies have restored their health and jobless people have found work again, the economic landscape will almost surely look different. Among the many life-altering consequences of the year 2020, the coronavirus reshaped how people and businesses engage economically. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on businesses, including storefront and restaurants and other retail, in New York City. According to the New York State Comptrollers Office, the New York City retail sector comprised 32,600 businesses that employed 344,600 people in 2019. Those businesses paid $16billion in total wages across the five boroughs while contributing $55billion in taxable sales to the citys economy. Nearly half of all retail jobs in 2019 were located in Manhattan. Those jobs paid an average wage of $59,400 - which is higher than the city average of $46,600. The citys retail sector employed 214,600 residents of the five boroughs. The image above shows the exterior of a subway car covered with graffiti in New York City in the 1970s New York City has come a long way since the 1970s and 1980s, when urban blight was a common sight. The image above shows the headquarters of the Manhattan chapter of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club on East Third Street in Manhattan in 1981 The 1970s and 1980s were a time when the city was beset by debt brought about by the flight of residents to the suburbs The graffiti above that was spray painted on a building in New York City depicts the Joker character from the DC Comics series Batman Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of those businesses were food and beverage; one-fifth was clothing and clothing accessories; 13 per cent was health and personal care; another 13 per cent was general merchandise; 5 per cent was electronics and appliances; and another 5 per cent were nonstore retailers. When New York City was ordered into lockdown due to the spread of coronavirus last spring, all non-essential retail locations were ordered to shut down. In February of last year, 338,000 people were working in the New York City retail industry - a slight drop from February 2019. When Cuomos statewide stay-at-home order went into effect on March 22, employment declined to 245,000 jobs. Workers considered essential - including grocery stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and others - were allowed to continue in their jobs. One study done jointly by Harvard and Brown Universities tracking the economic recovery found that in New York State, there was a decrease of 36.6 per cent in the number of small businesses open. In 2020, there were an estimated 2.2 million small businesses operating in the state. A small business is defined as a firm that employs less than 500 workers. That means the pandemic has forced 800,000 businesses statewide to shut its doors either temporarily or permanently. Concerned residents can send photos of problematic graffiti to the new graffiti@nypd.org email address. 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. Ahmedabad, March 4 : Thanks to a bit of grass, the pitch for the fourth and final Test is likely to hold up for a bit longer than the surfaces did in the preceding two Tests which had led to a lot of debate. The first day's play in the fourth Test here showed that batting was a bit easier and puffs of dust did not emanate as much as they had done in the preceding Tests early on. The ongoing fourth Test is being played on a red soil pitch just like the previous Test which was played on the centre-strip, the sixth strip on the 11-pitch square. The current match's surface is the seventh pitch from the Adani End - the pavilion end - and is just to the right of the centre strip. "There is grass binding. It won't play that bad. Green tinge is there, the root (of the grass) is holding the soil so it will not play funny like it did in the last match. Because the grip of the grass with the soil is there, cracks will also not develop so much. There is no crack at the start. It won't become dusty," an official in the know of pitch preparation told IANS. Some puffs of dust though were evident right after tea even on the first day but it didn't seem bad. However, the pitch will continue to help spinners more as the match progresses making it difficult for batsmen. Despite a better pitch, spinners had a dominant presence on the first day's play of this Test. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel was brought in as early as the sixth over of the day and he managed a wicket in his first over again. The first session saw spinners bowling almost 50 per cent of the overs - 12 out of 25. The three spinners - Patel, R. Ashwin and Washington Sundar - bowled 70.6 per cent of overs in England's first innings that ended just after tea. The trio combined to pick eight of the 10 wickets. The newly-built stadium at Motera, that has been renamed as the Narendra Modi Stadium, has 11 strips with six of them red soil and five black soil. There had been criticism from former players and experts of the pitches dished out for the first second and third Tests that saw the ball spinning from the first session onwards. The players from the two sides had, however, refrained from lashing out at the pitches. First Minister Arlene Foster broke down as she paid tribute to former DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt who died aged 69 following a long illness. Mr Spratt stepped down as an Assembly Member in 2015 following a lengthy and very public battle with bowel cancer. The former Police Federation chairman had represented South Belfast since 2007. Speaking at Thursdays Covid-19 press conference, an emotional Mrs Foster passed on her condolences to Mr Spratts family. When devolution returned to Northern Ireland in 2007 after the St Andrews Agreement, I sat beside Jimmy in that now famous photograph in the long gallery when Dr Paisley sat down with the leadership of Sinn Fein for the first time, she said. I mention that because Jimmy, like me, believed very much in building a shared future so he wanted everyone here to feel at home in Northern Ireland and he wanted to make devolution work. He never shied away from the challenge of trying to keep Northern Ireland moving in the right direction and I just want to acknowledge that today. I will miss him and his quiet determined support but it was comforting for me, and indeed for my DUP colleagues, that the comments from other ministers at todays Executive meeting reflected Jimmys qualities and the contribution he made here to Northern Ireland. On his illness, which was diagnosed in 2011, Mr Spratt previously warned people are dying of "embarrassment" rather than coming forward for treatment. A former police officer who became chair of the rank-and-file Police Federation for several years, Mr Spratt was elected to the former Castlereagh Borough Council in 2005before entering the Stormont Assembly two years later. Before entering politics, he joined the RUC in 1972 where he remained for 30 years. His son, Cllr Gareth Spratt represents the Balmoral DEA on Belfast City Council. Among those paying tribute today were DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster who said Mr Spratt had dedicated much of his life to trying to move Northern Ireland forward. Mrs Foster said: "I talked with Jimmy after his last consultation when the news was not good, and we recognised it may be one of our last conversations. Yet in the face of such news, Jimmy spoke so touchingly about the tough days ahead for his family rather than him. His focus was on Lynda (his wife) and the children. "Jimmy believed in peace making. He believed in building a shared future so everyone who lived here could feel at home. He wanted to make devolution work. He recognised that to get there would involve heavy lifting and tough conversations, but he never shied away from the challenge. Indeed, even in our final conversation Jimmy was unstinting in his support and encouragement to keep Northern Ireland moving in the right direction. "The Spratt family will be in our prayers as they mourn his passing." Ulster Unionist Party chair, Danny Kennedy, who worked with Mr Spratt on many Assembly committees, added: He was a dedicated public representative having had a long and successful career in poIicing beforehand. I liked and respected him and offer my sincere sympathy to his wife, sons and family circle at this sad and difficult time. I am sorry to hear of the death of Jimmy Spratt, who of course served South Belfast. My sincere condolences to Linda and his family and friends. I hope they draw some comfort from the admirable dignity with which he handled his illness. Paula Bradshaw MLA (@PaulaJaneB) March 4, 2021 Education Minister Peter Weir tweeted: "Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jimmy Spratt. Jimmy gave great service to the people of Northern Ireland as a police officer and then a public rep. I worked alongside Jimmy in the Assembly, Police Board, NILGA and SEELB. Thoughts and prayers with Lynda and the family." The Chief Constable Simon Byrne wrote: "My sincere condolences to the family of the late Jimmy Spratt RIP. Jimmy made a considerable and important contribution to policing in Northern Ireland as a Police Officer, MLA, Chair of @PoliceFedforNI and member of @NIPolicingBoard." Our Chair has recorded condolences on the passing of former Board Member Jimmy Spratt. He was a political rep on the Board for 4 years & as a former officer a passionate voice on policing issues, particularly around officer welfare. Thoughts are with his family & friends. NI Policing Board (@NIPolicingBoard) March 4, 2021 A spokesperson for the Police Federation for Northern Ireland added: "Deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of our former Chairman. Jimmy was Chair of @PoliceFedforNI between 2001-2002 and our thoughts and prayers are with Linda and his entire family circle. " Last November he accused his ex-DUP colleague Sammy Wilson of "irresponsible" criticism of Dr Tom Black after the senior medic called for tougher coronavirus restrictions. The GP, chairman of the BMA in Northern Ireland, had suggested in a BBC interview that reopening the hospitality industry here would be "an act of careless vandalism". But East Antrim MP Mr Wilson said of Executive ministers: "I hope that they ignore him and I hope they ignore his one-sided view of what the needs of society are and take a balanced approach." Hitting back at the comments, Mr Spratt said: "I think it's irresponsible to criticise somebody at the coal face of the medical profession and the medical profession in general, with the warnings they've been giving us." Reports are surfacing among Chinese analysts and on social media suggesting that the US could ease sanctions on Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), the countrys most advanced chip maker, so that it can fast-track production of mature 14-nm and 28-nm chips to help ease the current global shortage. SMIC, which is listed in Hong Kong, did not directly confirm if the reports were accurate, but it said in a statement on Tuesday that it would cooperate with its supply partners to ensure the continuity in production and its capacity expansion, adding that uncertainties still remain. The Shanghai-based semiconductor foundry is building a 28-nm wafer production line in the Beijing Yizhuang economic development zone, with planned capacity for 100,000 12-inch wafers per month upon completion of the projects first phase. Relaxed US restrictions on SMIC, if confirmed, would be an important sign of easing in US-China tech tensions under US President Joe Bidens administration. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. The speculation has emerged against the backdrop of chip shortages that have hurt the automobile industry, with US carmakers including Ford, General Motors and Tesla reportedly cutting back on production. Unlike iPhones and other advanced electronics that require 7-nm or smaller chips, the microcontrollers and driver integrated circuits (ICs) typically used in cars are fabricated with mature technologies like 14-nm and 28-nm. Gu Wenjun, chief analyst at Shanghai-based semiconductor research firm ICwise, wrote in a social media post on Monday that some American equipment suppliers have obtained licenses to export certain types of equipment to SMIC, but he did not provide the source of his information. The US Department of Commerce has not made any announcement regarding approval of export licenses to SMIC, nor have any US equipment suppliers. Story continues Email inquiries sent outside US business hours to chip equipment suppliers Applied Materials, Lam Research and the commerce department were not immediately answered on Wednesday. SMIC counts Applied Materials and Lam Research as two of its three top foreign equipment suppliers, alongside Dutch lithography supplier ASML, according to SMICs IPO prospectus. However, industry insiders said a relaxation in the US restrictions is possible and that such a move would secure SMICs production capability for mature nodes. China still cannot build a wafer production line using its home-grown technologies despite domestic substitutes for a small amount of materials and equipment, said a semiconductor analyst with a commercial bank, who declined to be identified. This view was echoed by an executive at STMicroelectronics, a European auto chip supplier, who said China will probably not be able to operate lines with mature nodes such as 45-nm without foreign suppliers. During its fourth-quarter earnings conference call in February, SMICs co-CEO Zhao Haijun said the company would invest US$4.3 billion in capital expenditure this year, which exceeds its 2020 total revenue of US$3.9 billion, with most of the money supporting the expansion of mature processing capacity. In the fourth quarter, mature nodes such as 55- and 65-nm contributed 34 per cent of total wafer revenue, the biggest contributor to revenue across all nodes, up from 31 per cent in the same period a year earlier. Semiconductor prices are on the rise as demand is outstripping supply, with wafer fabs unable to quickly ramp up production due to the complex process involved in making chips. Consumer devices are starting to see price/margin pressure at the retail level, said Paul Gagnon, senior research director at Omdia, a technology research firm, in a report issued on Tuesday. He said constraints on driver ICs are putting pressure on display panel producers that are raising prices, and in turn pressuring consumer devices at the retail level. More from South China Morning Post: This article US-China tech war: hopes rise for Washington to ease restrictions on SMIC amid chip shortage first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2021. ADVERTISEMENT The Police in Osun says it has intensified manhunt to arrest the gunmen who attacked travellers on the Obokun-Osogbo road at Ajebandele Village, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun. The gunmen were reported to have killed a traveller while some other passengers were kidnapped and taken into the bush. A statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Commands Spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, led officers, vigilantes, and local hunters to comb the bushes the criminals retreated into. Sequel to the incident of Tuesday, where a gang of criminals, at about 7:40 p.m., emerged from the bush and blocked Ibokun/Osogbo road, along Oja-Tuntun area, Egbeda town, to rob and kidnap travellers, the police, while responding to the distress call, rescued two female passengers with bullet wounds. A driver was however killed by the criminals while attempting to manoeuvre and escape their blockade, but the two rescued injured females were taken to the hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, in his assiduous task in ensuring that the state is not a safe haven for criminals; personally led the combined team of Police officers, vigilante and local hunters to comb bushes to ensure the perpetrators are arrested. The CP reiterated his resolute that, all forms of criminal incendiary will be checkmated in all nook and crannies of the state. He warned criminals to have a rethink as the Command has declared total war on unscrupulous elements, she said. (NAN) SINGAPORE, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meta in Singapore is the recipient of the 2021 American Express One To Watch Award. Selected by the organisers of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, in collaboration with its regional experts, the American Express One To Watch Award is presented to a restaurant that is outside the main Asia's 50 Best list but is identified as the rising star of the region. Opened in 2016 by South Korean-born chef Sun Kim, Meta - a shortening of metamorphosis - celebrates authentic Asian flavours and high-end European cooking techniques. The progressive menu reflects Kim's cultural upbringing, travels and influences. His interest in cooking began as a teenager while working in his mother's restaurant in Seoul and, in 2011, he travelled to Australia to enroll at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney. Feeling a strong affinity with chef Tetsuya Wakuda's philosophy upon reading one of his books, Kim secured a job at iconic Tetsuya's in Sydney, where he worked under the tutelage of the culinary legend. In 2014, he was seconded to Wakuda's award-winning Waku Ghin in Singapore, eventually calling the city-state his home. Since Meta's launch, Kim's culinary style has evolved and matured, drawing increased inspiration from his Korean heritage, alongside the delicate artistry of Japanese cuisine and his education in Western cooking techniques. Admired for its technical expertise and creative flair, Meta's menu distinguishes itself with subtle flavours, elegant presentations and inspired combinations of seasonal ingredients, as evident in Chef Kim's Kinmedai dish, featuring foie gras, shimeji mushroom and black truffle. Having relocated to an airier location at 1 Keong Saik Road in October 2018, the restaurant features low tables and a cosy four-seat counter, creating an intimate atmosphere. William Drew, Director of Content at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "While Meta honours Chef Kim's Korean heritage and the traditional dishes of his childhood, the menu boldly integrates elements of Japanese and French cuisines. Chef Kim's progressive cooking techniques and creative execution, combined with a serene dining experience, make Meta a worthy winner of the American Express One To Watch Award 2021." Responding to the honour, chef Kim says: "I am very humbled and honoured to receive this award from Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. I couldn't have achieved this without the support and hard work of the Meta team." Chris Cracchiolo, Senior Vice President of Global Membership Rewards & Loyalty Benefits at American Express, says: "American Express is proud to support this award, which champions innovation, ingenuity and excellence in dining. We are honoured to present this award to the team at Meta, who have created a one-of-kind dining experience that combines Chef Kim's passion for Korean, Japanese and French cuisines." Meta joins a prestigious line-up of recent One To Watch award winners including Masque in Mumbai (2020), JL Studio in Taichung (2019), Toyo Eatery in Manila (2018), TocToc in Seoul (2017) and Florilege in Tokyo (2016). Chef Kim's achievements will be celebrated as part of the online ceremony for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2021 on 25 March, from 4.30pm HK/SG (5.30pm JPN), which will be broadcast to a global audience via Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Facebook and the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel. How the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled The annual list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants is created from the votes of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and regional culinary experts, with a 50/50 gender balance. 50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. For more details on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants voting process, visit: https://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/voting/the-voting-system. Essence of Asia 2021 marks the launch of the Essence of Asia collection in parallel to this year's list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. Unveiled on Tuesday, 16 March, the Essence of Asia collection recognises establishments that represent the spirit of Asian gastronomy. This unranked collection turns the spotlight on restaurants that have had a positive impact on their communities and local cuisine, whether during the recent crisis or over a sustained period. Integral to Asia's culinary ecosystem, these casual restaurants preserve culinary traditions, honour authentic flavours and provide a vital link to their communities. 50 Best for Recovery 2021: Opportunity for Change The 50 Best organisation will reinforce its commitment to supporting and promoting restaurants and bars across the world through its 50 Best for Recovery 2021 programme. This year also brings opportunities for positive change as the sector rebuilds and remodels itself with a greater focus on inclusivity and long-term sustainability. 50 Best will use its global platform to highlight even more great restaurants and bars worldwide - through its 50 Best lists, special awards, unranked collections and content series - as well as showcase individuals shaping the future of gastronomy through its new 50 Next list, which will debut later this year. 50 Best will take the opportunity in 2021 and beyond to amplify diverse voices and positive messages, foster progressive discussion and cross-border collaboration, and encourage greater gastronomic discovery and exploration. Notes to Editors: William Reed Business Media The Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is published by William Reed Business Media, which also publishes The World's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2002, and Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in September 2013, as well as The World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's 50 Best Bars. William Reed Business Media is entirely responsible for the organisation of the awards, the voting system and the list. Award sponsor: American Express American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. American Express, along with restaurant reservation platform Resy, are trusted sources for diners and connect the best restaurants and guests at global digital scale. Main sponsor: S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors and official water partners of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being. Other partners: Inedit Damm - Official Beer Partner and sponsor of Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award Gin Mare - Official Premium Gin Partner and sponsor of Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award Beronia - Official Wine Partner and sponsor of the Beronia Highest Climber Award Cinco Jotas - Official Iberico Ham Partner and sponsor of Asia's Best Female Chef Award Flor de Cana - Official Rum Partner and sponsor of the Flor de Cana Sustainable Restaurant Award Aspire Lifestyles - Official Concierge Partner and sponsor of Highest New Entry Award Asia's 50 Best Restaurants - social media Follow on Twitter: @The Worlds50Best Asias50Best Follow on Instagram: @TheWorlds50Best Become a Facebook fan: https://www.facebook.com/Asias50BestRestaurants Subscribe to 50 Best Restaurants TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/worlds50best The awards ceremony will be streamed live on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Facebook page and the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel on 25 March from 4.30pm HK/SG (5.30pm JPN). This release is also available in the following languages: English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. The official language of the press office is English. Note to media: To register for and access the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants online media centre, please visithttps://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/media-centre-registration.html For press enquiries, please contact CatchOn, A Finn Partners Company, Email: asias50best@finnpartners.com, Telephone: +852 2566 8988 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449677/Meta___Chef_Sun_Kim.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1441574/Asias50Best_Logo.jpg MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Kisses from Italy Inc. (OTCQB:KITL), a U.S.-based restaurant chain operator, Franchisor, and product distributor (the "Company"), proudly announces that following its Kisses From Italy branded product launch in November of 2020, the products bearing the Kisses From Italy logo are now available in 20 retail stores across Quebec and Ontario, Canada. Kisses From Italy's retail products currently include a gluten-free pasta line with flavors such as yellow corn, black bean, beetroot, or red-lentil. Also available are various flavors of organic gluten-free gnocchi made with potato, spinach, butternut squash, or beetroot and a gluten-free lasagna product line that comes in a choice vegetarian, plant-based, and lasagna which includes Beyond Meat as an ingredient. Also bearing the Kisses From Italy brand is the Company's initial line of organic, extra virgin, olive oil made with the highest quality olives and produced and imported directly from Italy. Most recently the Company has launched a line of all-natural tomato-based sauces which include flavors such as Marinara, Roasted Garlic, Arrabiata (Spicy Sauce), Vodka Cream Sauce, and Pizza Sauce. "Our sauces are produced using only the finest tomatoes which are imported directly from Italy", commented Michele Di Turi, co-founder, President, and co-CEO of Kisses from Italy. Kisses From Italy also recently announced a strategic exclusive North American co-Branding agreement with manufacturing partner Mastro Vinci, based in Mississauga, Ontario. "We began the initiative involving the Kisses From Italy branded products in late November of 2020 and we were hoping to be in two or three retail stores by the end of 2020. In mid-December, we had surprisingly already entered nine retail stores and the count continued to climb. We are delighted to provide an update that as of the end of February 2021, Kisses From Italy and Mastro Vinci branded products can now be found in 20 stores across Quebec and Ontario and we strongly believe that the store count carrying our products will continue to climb", added Di Turi, "In addition, we continue to search for the best products at competitive prices to add to our Kisses From Italy branded products stable. We will definitely continue to branch out into product lines that complement our current offerings and remain in-line with the Company's vision." Kisses From Italy's focus remains on the main business lines of being a restaurant chain operator, Franchisor, and product distributor and continues to move forward in growing the brand and streamlining its efficiencies which includes its current retail stores in South Florida, Bari (Italy) and soon to be open the Company's first franchise in the State of California which has been unexpectedly delayed due to the onset of COVID. The Company is also currently working with Demasar management in developing its restaurant locations, following a multi-unit development deal that was entered with Demasar in June of 2020, for the territory of Canada. "Given the challenges we faced in 2020 we continue to emerge as a stronger and better positioned Company as we move through 2021", commented Di Turi. Quebec, Canada Retail Locations: Fruits du Jour, 1655 Mont-Royal Ave E, Montreal, QC H2J 1Z6 Euro Marche DDO, 1125 Hyman St, Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Quebec H9B 1M5 Euro Marche Laval, 134 Bellerose Blvd E, Laval, Quebec H7K 1S7 Berchicci, 6205 Boulevard Couture, Saint-Leonard, QC H1P 3G7 Fruiterie Milano, 6862 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3C7 L'Intermarche Lagoria RDP, 9025 Boul. Maurice Duplessis, Montreal, QC, H1E 6M3 L'intermarche Langelier, 8700 Boul Langelier, Saint-Leonard, QC H1P 3C6 L'intermarche Jarry, 5001 Rue Jarry E, Saint-Leonard, QC H1R 1Y1 B il Taglio, 248 Rue Jean-Talon O, Montreal, QC H2R 2X5 Pharmacie Brunet Thai Lam, 7200 Blvd. des Roseraies, Anjou, QC, H1M 2T5 Le Fruit Shop, 230 Avenue Fairmount O, Montreal, QC H2T 2M7 Cavallaro Fine Foods, 4701 Boul Saint-Jean, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC H9H 2A7 Marche 3 Freres, 37 Boulevard Sainte-Rose, Laval, QC H7L 3J9 Romeo e Caffe, 46 Rue Beaubien E, Montreal, QC H2S 3A5 Olio & CIE, 7020 Avenue Casgrain, Montreal, QC, H2S 3A2 Ontario, Canada Retail Locations: Mastro Vinci Retail Store, 1075 Queensway E unit #15, Mississauga, ON L4Y 4C8 Only Pasta, 457 Jevlan Dr, Woodbridge, ON L4L 7Z9 Natures Emporium, 8401 Weston Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4L 0K8 Coppa's Fresh Market, 4750 Dufferin St, North York, ON M3H 5S7 Grande Cheese, 468 Jevlan Dr, Woodbridge, ON L4L 8L4 A Kisses From Italy product stand at Euro Marche Laval Located at 134 Bellerose Blvd E, Laval, Quebec H7K 1S7 Kisses From Italy Organic and Gluten-Free Gnocchi (Butternut Squash, Beetroot, Potato, and Spinach) Kisses From Italy Gluten-Free Pasta (Beetroot, Yellow Corn, Black Bean, Yellow-Lentil, and Red-Lentil) Kisses From Italy All-Natural Tomato Sauce Made with the finest tomatoes imported directly from Italy (Vodka Cream Sauce, Pizza Sauce, Roasted Garlic, Marinara, and Arrabiata) Kisses From Italy Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Lasagna (Gluten-free lasagna product line that comes in a choice vegetarian, plant-based and one which includes Beyond Meat as an ingredient.) Kisses From Italy - Organic Olive Oil (Made with high-quality olives, produced and imported directly from Italy) About Kisses from Italy Inc. Kisses from Italy Inc. is a U.S.-based restaurant chain operator, franchisor and product distributor with locations in North America and Europe. The Company offers a quick-service menu and a unique take on traditional Italian delicacies with an All-American flair. Kisses from Italy offerings include sandwiches, salads, Italian roasted coffee, coffee-related beverage and an array of other products. The Company currently operates four corporate-owned stores. It successfully commenced operations in May 2015 with the opening of its flagship location in Ft. Lauderdale at 3146 NE 9th St. This was followed by three additional sites across the greater Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach area. The Company recently opened its inaugural European location in Ceglie del Campo, Bari, Italy in October of 2019. In September of 2019, Kisses from Italy Inc. was given the approval by FINRA to trade its common stock and was approved for up-listing by the OTC Markets Group to the OTCQB in mid-October 2019 under the ticker symbol KITL. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues and any payment of dividends on our common and preferred stock, statements related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Among other matters, the Company may not be able to sustain growth or achieve profitability based upon many factors including, but not limited to, general stock market conditions. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Company's most recent SEC filings. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses in the expansion of our existing and new service lines, noting there is no assurance that we will generate enough revenues to offset those costs in both the near and long term. Additional service offerings may expose us to additional legal and regulatory costs and unknown exposure(s) based upon the various geopolitical locations where we will be providing services, the impact of which cannot be predicted at this time. Additionally, the ultimate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our company's operations continues to evolve, is highly uncertain and subject to change. For more information, please visit www.kissesfromitaly.com Contact Information: Kisses from Italy Inc. 305-423-7129 info@kissesfromitaly.com SOURCE: Kisses from Italy Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633434/Kisses-From-Italy-Branded-Products-Now-in-20-Retail-Stores In 1959, nearly three decades before the U.S. Congress established March as Womens History Month, a war of the sexes broke out in Portlands post office. The U.S. Postal Service, then called the U.S. Post Office Department, had decided that more women should be hired. Not everyone -- i.e., some of the men working at the post office -- was happy about this. Its not really a war of the sexes, local union president Dick Robedeau told The Oregonian, after weeks of internal brouhaha about the national order. We dont really object to women as such. Who does? But men in the Portland office worried that more women in the service would drive down salaries. (A woman worker at the time earned, on average, barely more than 50 cents for every dollar a man earned. The wage gap has consistently narrowed over the past six decades but still exists.) Dick Panage and Mrs. Ethel Smith at the downtown Portland Post Office in 1959. In that era, when long-distance phone calls were prohibitively expensive for many people and the internet didnt exist, the postal service was central to American life. Every day the Post Office handles one piece of mail for every man, woman and child in the U.S., Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield said that year. No wonder it has been described as the lifeblood of commerce, handmaiden of the free press and the bond that keeps the great American family together. This statement was meant to justify the push to bring more women into the department, but it didnt ward off opposition. In Portland, the war of the sexes appeared to be particularly hot, causing newspaper reporters from both of the citys dailies to try to find out just how bloody this battle was. They are tearing down what men have spent a lot of time building up, postal clerk Dick Panage said. The worker sitting next to Panage didnt let that statement pass. Mrs. Ethel Smith cracked: Men? Men? Come back and tell me about it when you are one. The insult did not deter Panage, who riposted: Women are not entitled to work in a mans occupation. They are not capable of pushing the dollies around, picking up the sacks. All we will be is glorified mail handlers and probably get lower pay. Mary Anne Brown said she "would not want a man sitting next to me making more money than I was." Mrs. Smith snorted at the notion that the job required being a he-man, insisting it was easier than that of a stay-at-home wife. Did you ever know a woman who got tired doing eight hours work when she does 16 hours at home? she said. Its not as if women working for the local Post Office was a new thing in 1959. Nearly 50 years earlier, The Oregonian had profiled Hildegarde Butz, the first Portland woman to sign a contract to carry mail for Uncle Sam. (The article, headlined Mere Girl Carries Mail Over Difficult Route, was written by Louise Bryant, whod go on to become a noted foreign correspondent, marry radical journalist John Reed and write Six Red Months in Russia.) But there had never been many women in the department, and so theyd never been a threat to the established order of things. Letter sorter Mary Anne Brown said the men were just out of touch with reality. She didnt put the men at ease about their fears of lowered pay, however. I would not want a man sitting next to me making more money than I was, she said. Reporter Gerry Pratt asked the downtown swing-shift supervisor Lee Stauffer whether men or women in the office were better at examining, sorting and moving the mail. Stauffer, no doubt giving the reporter the fish eye, answered: Im not prepared to make any comment. One woman postal clerk, Bettey Hackworth, said not all of the men in the office were opposed to more women joining the ranks. I know one old fellow here who cant wait until they hire more women, she said. Hes just afraid hes going to have to retire before they all get here. -- Douglas Perry dperry@oregonian.com @douglasmperry Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) The World Health Organization has asked Pfizer to "honor" its promise of delivering COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines, the country's vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. disclosed on Thursday. Galvez told CNN Philippines' The Source that the government received a letter from the WHO, which relayed its recent conversation with the CEO of the US drugmaker. "Binigyan po tayo ng letter ng WHO, na nakausap po nila 'yung CEO ng Pfizer," Galvez replied when asked for updates on the deal. "And the WHO Director said they should honor 'yung pangako dito sa Pilipinas." [Translation: WHO sent us a letter, saying they spoke to the CEO of Pfizer. And the WHO Director said they should honor their promise to the Philippines.] "They promised that the Pfizer volumes that have been promised to us will be givenas promised also by the CEO of Pfizer," he added. The initial Pfizer shipment the country expects to receive will be supplied by the COVAX facility, a global initiative led by the WHO seeking to ensure equitable coronavirus vaccine access among participating nations. The 117,000-dose parcel was initially pegged to arrive in the country in February, but the delivery got delayed due to the absence of an indemnification deal between the parties. READ: Galvez eyes 'remedy' for Pfizer indemnification stalemate While the country has already complied with the requirements to secure the vaccines, WHO country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said access to Pfizer supply has been a challenge. The sentiment was echoed by Galvez. "Ang nakikita ko pa rin talaga ay 'yung supply problem," Galvez said. [Translation: There's really a supply problem.] "Because alam po natin na 'yung (we know the) US, majority of the vaccines that they're using are Pfizer and Moderna," he added. "Nakita natin talaga yung (We've seen that the) US and other countries in Europe, they have really still a problem of their own. Galvez likewise expressed hope big nations will soon "loosen up their hold" on the Pfizer vaccine supply. Girl In The Basement is one of the most controversial films to have come out in 2021. The film follows the story of Sara who has plans of moving out of her parents' house when she turns 18 but is kidnapped by her father and locked up in the basement for years. The film is based on the real-life story of Elizabeth Fritz who was kidnapped by her father and abused for 24 years before she escaped. Read on to find how did Elisabeth Fritzl escape. How Did Elisabeth Fritzl Escape? Also Read: How Does 'Girl In The Basement' End? Find Out What Happens To Sara And Her Children As reported by the Guardian, Josef Fritzl's daughter Elizabeth was locked up by Josef's in the town of Amstetten in Austria, where Josef lived with his family. Josef kidnapped and locked up Elisabeth Fritzl just after she turned 18 in 1984 as he knew she was going to leave the house. Josef couldn't handle losing control over her life and locked her in his basement, which he had been preparing for two years for this occasion. He kept her locked up for 24 years and sexually abused her all that time. He ended up fathering seven children with Elisabeth Fritzl. He raised three of the kids with his family in his house while the other three resided down below in the basement with Elisabeth. One child had died during childbirth due to complications. Joself kept Elisabeth hidden away by telling his family and neighbours that she had run away and possibly joined a religious cult, as reported by the Independent. Also Read: Is 'Girl In The Basement' A True Story? Find Out Real Story Of Elisabeth Fritzl One of Elisabeth Fritzl's children, the 19-year-old Kerstin Fritz fell ill and collapsed unconscious on the floor. Josef took Kerstin and Elisabeth to the hospital to get her checked out. When the doctors noticed Kerstin's abysmal health conditions, they became concerned about her well being and involved the police, after suspecting child abuse and neglect on the part of Josef. When the police investigated, Josef, they came to know about the extent of his terrible crimes. Josef was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to life in prison. Elisabeth Fritzl was finally free from her captor, after 24 years of abuse. Also Read: Golden Globes: Jane Fonda Gets Lifetime Achievement Award, Says Hollywood Needs Diversity About Girl In The Basement Girl in The Basement follows the true story of Elizabeth Fritzl's life and how she suffered at the hands of her father. The names and identities of the characters were changed in the film. However, the film stayed true to the story of Elisabeth and the children, of their lives inside the basement, their poor living conditions. It's a harrowing film to watch and imagine that this actually happened to a real person. As per IMDb, the director made this film to create awareness about sexual abuse and violent assault on women. Also Read: Dwayne Johnson Feels 'deeply Honored' For Hollywood Critics Association Trailblazer Award 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. SELBYVILLE, Del., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Market Insights Inc. has recently added a new report on the Telecommunication Relay Service market, which estimates the market valuation for TRS will cross US $6 billion by 2027. An upsurge in government efforts to facilitate telecommunication relay services and the growing demand from large populations are expected to significantly contribute to the market growth. Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) Market size is set to surpass USD 6 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. The growing demand for communication services from individuals with speech and hearing difficulties is supporting telecommunication relay services' market growth. The government organizations across geographies are emphasizing more on enabling communication infrastructure to cater to the large deaf community. The telecommunication relay services help individuals and enterprises to enable effective communication. The increasing need to provide communication infrastructure to populations with difficulty in speaking and hearing is expected to support the market growth. Request a sample of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4960 The captioned telephone service segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of above 5.0% from 2021 to 2027. The captioned telephones feature a display interface to view real-time captions to deaf individuals. The captioned telephone services are provided with support to both traditional telephone and VoIP connectivity. The emergence of internet protocol technology has enabled enterprises to provide captioned telephone services on multiple devices including tablets, smartphones, etc. The IP relay technology segment is projected to witness exponential growth over the forecast timeline i.e., from 2021 to 2027. The expansive penetration of mobile devices and internet services is supporting the technology growth. The IP relay technology provides additional accessibility to services through computers, smartphones, tablets, etc. Additionally, the enhanced service quality and capability to initiate calls simultaneously are driving individuals to prefer IP-based telecommunication relay services. The demand for TRS in personal end use is anticipated to grow exponentially from 2021 to 2027. The enterprises operating in the market are witnessing an upsurge in video relay service traffic and demand for other relay services. The companies including Bell Canada, KCOM Group Ltd., and BT Relay UK have witnessed a significant increase in the adoption of relay services across individual customers. The lack of communication channels to collaborate with other individuals is contributing to the rise in demand for telecommunication relay services. Asia Pacific is projected to grow significantly in the global telecommunication relay service market with over a 6.0% CAGR over the forecast timeline. The growth is attributed to favorable government partnerships with private enterprises and increasing digitization. For instance, in September 2019, the Singapore Association for the Deaf signed an agreement with Grab, a technology company, to promote the awareness for the deaf community. In addition, the company focused on facilitating its Grab platform to be more accessible to individuals with hearing difficulties to communicate effectively with the public. The companies operating in the market are focusing on strategic partnerships for providing telecommunications relay services across geographies. For instance, in April 2020, Convo Communications LLC partnered with Communication Service for the Deaf and Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Inc. to provide relay services in White House press conferences. The company provided American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services to the hard of hearing and deaf community. This helped the company to strengthen its brand equity across government agencies. Some major findings of the telecommunication relay service market report include: The growing technology advancements in internet protocols and mobile devices are expected to contribute to market growth. North America is expected to hold a major market share for telecommunication relay services due to the expansive presence of enterprises and the penetration of diverse relay services. is expected to hold a major market share for telecommunication relay services due to the expansive presence of enterprises and the penetration of diverse relay services. Major players operating in the telecommunication relay service market are Avaya Inc., Bell Canada , Cisco Systems Inc., Relay UK BT, and Sprint Relay. , Cisco Systems Inc., Relay UK BT, and Sprint Relay. Companies operating in the market are focusing on strategic collaborations with government agencies to enhance the market position. Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4960 Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC): Chapter 3. Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) Industry Insights 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Industry segmentation 3.3. Impact of COVID-19 outbreak 3.3.1. By region 3.3.1.1. North America 3.3.1.2. Europe 3.3.1.3. Asia Pacific 3.3.1.4. Latin America 3.3.1.5. Middle East & Africa 3.3.2. Industry value chain 3.3.2.1. Telecommunication relay technology providers 3.3.2.2. Marketing & distribution channels 3.3.3. Competitive landscape 3.3.3.1. Strategy 3.3.3.2. Distribution network 3.3.3.3. Business growth 3.4. Telecommunication relay service industry ecosystem analysis 3.5. Technology & innovation landscape 3.5.1. VoIP 3.5.2. Unified communication and collaboration 3.6. Regulatory landscape 3.6.1. Federal Communications Commission (U.S.) 3.6.2. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 3.6.3. Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission [CRTC] 3.6.4. The Communications Act, 2003 (UK Electronic Program Guide) 3.6.5. The European Commission Universal Service Directive (Directive 2002/22/EC), 173 3.7. Industry impact forces 3.7.1. Growth drivers 3.7.1.1. Rapid adoption of mobile devices 3.7.1.2. Rising demand for unified communications 3.7.1.3. Growing penetration of VoIP devices 3.7.1.4. Favorable government initiatives to facilitate telecommunication relay services 3.7.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.7.2.1. Limited in-house capabilities 3.7.2.2. Concerns regarding frauds and cybersecurity 3.8. Growth potential analysis 3.9. Porter's analysis 3.10. PESTEL analysis About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] Related Images telecommunication-relay-service.jpg Telecommunication Relay Service Market size worth $6 Bn by 2027 Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) Market size is set to surpass USD 6 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Related Links Behavior Analytics Market Network Traffic Analytics Market SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 09:03:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A science research released on Thursday showed seabirds spend almost 40 percent of their time on the high seas, highlighting the need for international cooperation to ensure their survival. A global effort by seabird researchers, including those from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), has resulted in the first assessment of where the world's most threatened seabirds spend their time. The researchers tracked the movements of 5,775 individual birds belonging to 39 species using miniature electronic tags. The tracked birds were tagged at 87 breeding sites in many countries. The results showed that all species regularly cross into the waters of other countries, meaning that no single nation can adequately ensure their conservation. Furthermore, all species depended on the high seas, which are areas of international waters covering half of the world's oceans and a third of the earth's surface. The study came as the United Nations is discussing a global treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in international waters. Albatrosses and their close relatives, the large petrels, are among the world's most-threatened animals, with over half of the species at risk of extinction. Approximately 168 seabird taxa have been recorded in New Zealand waters, many of which breed nowhere else. In fact, New Zealand hosts the largest number of breeding species of seabirds anywhere in the world, including 25 species of albatrosses and large petrels. "While seabird tracking research has not been carried out for all albatrosses and large petrels in New Zealand, we know that several species also spend time in Chile and Peru, in Japan and the USA in the north Pacific Ocean, while others visit Namibia and South Africa," said NIWA seabird ecologist David Thompson. Thompson said he hopes the research will highlight how little control countries have over seabirds when they are using the high seas. "A very large proportion of seabird tracking researchers globally were involved in this work, which has quantified for the first time the extent to which albatrosses and large petrels use Exclusive Economic Zones of different countries and the high seas. "It's hugely important because now we have a comprehensive international framework that allows different countries to collaborate on the conservation issues facing this group of seabirds, and for all countries that have breeding populations of these species to take collective responsibility for their conservation in the high seas. This type of research could not have been produced any other way," Thompson said. Martin Beal, the Portugal-based lead author of the research, described albatrosses as "the ultimate globetrotters." "However, this incredible lifestyle makes them vulnerable to threats in places where legal protection is inadequate," he said. Enditem About 20 Percent of Adult Californians Are Vaccinated, Newsom Says During Long Beach Visit California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a press conference March 3 at California State UniversityLong Beach, where he discussed the states rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations. The conference came shortly after Newsom toured the universitys two vaccination sites. During his visit, the governor touted the states inoculation efforts. Weve designed a system that currently provides the ability to administer 2.7 million doses every single week, Newsom told reporters. As I said last week, last seven days 1.73 [million doses]. Our goal is to design a system that can do 4 million vaccines every single week. Again, the only constraint is manufacture supply at this point, thats really the issue. Beginning this week, the state will reserve at least 75,000 doses as well as 10 percent of all new vaccines for educators, in an effort to reopen schools as quickly and safely as possible, Newsom said. So far, California has administered 9.45 million vaccine doses, Newsom said, accounting for about 20 percent of the states adult population. No other state comes close, in fact, no other nation comes close, there are just six others in the world that have administered as many doses of vaccines, he said. The state has received 21,000 doses of the new Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, which will be distributed to Los Angeles and Alameda counties, he said. The only restraint of us providing more vaccine to more people in a much quicker and expedited manner and also in an equitable manner is manufacture supply, Newsom said. Were in 2.2 percent positivity today. [There are] only a few states in America with lower positivity rates than California. [There were] 3,500 cases reported todayamong the lowest in American cases. We are making progress, but its not mission accomplished. The governor also reminded residents to be aware of variants, which can be resistant to the vaccine. He said the first case of the COVID-19 New York variant was discovered in Southern California. The Epoch Times also asked Newsom about his response to efforts to recall him. [Im] focused on vaccines, focusing on bringing down case rates, focused on safely reopening our economy, making tremendous progress, focused on getting this school bill to my desk on Friday and your kids safely back into school, focused on how we address the highest reserves in our states history, balanced short-term and long-term fiscal health in our economy. Lets enjoy one of the biggest surpluses in our states history, Newsom said. We addressed the issue of homelessness, issues of affordability and housing. Thats my response. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. (Newser) The House of Representatives has canceled its Thursday session over reports of a possible plot by an identified militia group to attempt a repeat of the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. One Democratic lawmaker tells the Hill that there is growing concern about threats to the Capitol and Democratic lawmakers in particular tomorrow. Votes that had been planned for Thursday have been moved to Wednesday, including a police reform bill named in honor of George Floyd, per USA Today. The Capitol Police said in a Wednesday statement: We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4. Our Department is working with our local, state, and federal partners to stop any threats to the Capitol. We are taking the intelligence seriously. story continues below According to a far-right conspiracy theory, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the countrys 19th president Thursday, per Fox News. The fringe theory is based on the belief that the US secretly became a corporation in 1871, making Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president, the last real president of the US. Presidential inaugurations were held on March 4 until 1933, which is why the date is significant to believers of conspiracy theory. There are no reports of the Senate canceling its Thursday session. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin tells USA Today, In light of what we went through on Jan. 6, it's understandable that people are concerned, adding, "I'm not going to second-guess Speaker Pelosi. At this point, Sen. Schumer has not released the same conclusion." (Read more House of Representatives stories.) Mobile app helps young adults talk with friends about risky drug, alcohol use CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A smartphone app called Harbor, currently under development by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, teaches young adults how to talk to a peer if they are concerned about that other person's drinking or drug use. Designed for people ages 18-29, Harbor teaches young adults how they can "act as first responders for their close friends who demonstrate risky substance use behaviors," according to the app's lead developer, social work professor Douglas C. Smith. Smith, the director of the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the U. of I., focuses his research on substance use and interventions for young people. While young adults have the highest rates of substance use, they are also the people least likely to seek treatment, he said. "If you're an individual who gets referred to treatment, or who is in need of treatment, it's pretty likely that people in your social network are worried about you," he said. "And there's probably a mix of people in your social network who also have elevated substance use as well." In an online survey of more than 450 young adults conducted for the current study, 45% of the respondents indicated that they were concerned about a close friend's drug or alcohol use. The study was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. "If they're responding affirmatively to that question, there's a good chance their friend is probably using at some sort of risky level," said graduate student Kyle M. Bennett, the first author of the study. "They're probably not just an occasional user; they're probably going out frequently and experiencing some of those nasty side effects of whatever substance they may be using." However, while many young people may be troubled by friends' drug or alcohol use, many of them are also uncertain how to talk with them about it, Bennett said. "You hear this often: 'I would have done something, but I just didn't know what to do or I didn't know what to say or how to approach the topic,'" Bennett said. "The Harbor app guides them in supporting their friend without being confrontational or enabling." The app prompts the user to answer several questions about their friend's substance use behaviors and provides feedback on the potential seriousness - a feature that may be especially helpful to people who feel conflicted about intervening, Smith said. Smith said the idea for the mobile phone app sprang from a prior project, funded by a five-year grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, that explored the efficacy of having young people with alcohol or marijuana problems invite a close friend to participate in some of their treatment sessions with them to provide social support. "Since young adults have really low rates of coming to treatment, we thought that this peer model might be a way of expanding the benefits of treatment to people who don't usually seek it," Smith said. "A surprising finding from that study was that both the client and their friend made changes in their substance use behaviors and got better within six months." That study, published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment in 2015, found that both the client and their friend reduced their binge drinking and increased the number of days that they abstained. Smith's co-authors were Western Ontario University psychology professor Tara Dumas and then-U. of I. graduate students Jordan P. Davis and the late Daniel J. Ureche. Harbor provides the app user with possible text messages and dialogues for conveying their concerns to their friend. Smith said a challenge for the team was writing messages that could be applied in differing situations without being overly generic and that also sounded conversational and reflected young people's speech patterns. "Ultimately, you're trying to communicate a message while encouraging them to adopt some of these practices and empowering them to put it in their own words when they talk with their friend," Smith said. When young adults in the study reviewed the sample scripts and messages, "more than 95% of them indicated the scripts would be useful in talking with their friends about their substance use," Bennett said. "And about 98% of respondents rated the script dialogues as realistic. If young adults felt the language in the scripts was inauthentic, I think it's safe to assume they would be less likely to use the app." Participants also were asked to evaluate the language in the app's messages and rate each of them as supportive, enabling or confrontational. While most of the participants accurately identified the enabling and confrontational responses, they were less consistent at recognizing the supportive responses, Smith said. The researchers were uncertain why that occurred but said it may have been because participants had not been given the app's educational module first and lacked the information or personal experience to accurately interpret supportive responses. The team is currently refining and beta-testing the Harbor app to deploy it in a controlled trial with young adults and their friends in a clinic setting this spring. ### In addition to Smith, the co-authors of the study included social work professor Kelly Lynn Clary of Texas State University and U. of I. graduate student Carol Ann Lee. The study was supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration and the U. of I. Office of Technology Management. This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Germany today opened up AstraZeneca vaccines to over-65s in a major U-turn to revive its faltering vaccine programme - as the EU looked for another lifeline by beginning the approval process for Russia's Sputnik V jab. Five weeks after blocking the AstraZeneca shot for older people, German regulators submitted their revised verdict on Thursday - a move which Angela Merkel's health minister Jens Spahn had pleaded for on Wednesday. Germany is also facing calls to use Sputnik V to speed up a vaccine drive hampered by EU supply chaos and public doubts over the AstraZeneca shot, with one state premier saying the country should do 'everything possible' to quicken the pace. Reiner Haseloff, the leader of Saxony-Anhalt, said he would 'take Sputnik V any time', having had a Soviet-made polio shot as a child in East Germany - adding that he was open to making vaccines compulsory like they were in the Communist-ruled state. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) today began a rolling review of Sputnik V but Hungary and Slovakia have already jumped ahead to buy their own shots while the Czech Republic is mulling a similar move. It tees up a potential propaganda coup for Vladimir Putin, who was widely scorned for approving the vaccine last August before clinical trials were complete but may have the last laugh after testing showed it to be 91.6 per cent effective. Two months after starting their vaccine roll-out, EU countries are still nowhere near Britain - leading some politicians to look to Vladimir Putin's Sputnik V vaccine as a potential lifeline Angela Merkel, pictured, said last month that she was not eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine because she is 66 years old - a position which could be about to change The Sputnik V vaccine, pictured, was widely scorned by the West after what scientists saw as a premature approval but Europe is now warming to the product The EMA began its review today based on clinical studies and lab tests which 'indicate that Sputnik V triggers the production of antibodies and immune cells' that can protect against Covid-19. Slovakia has already ordered two million doses of Sputnik V and received its first shipment of 200,000 shots on a military plane from Moscow. The neighbouring Czech Republic could also press Sputnik V into service even without approval from the EMA, its prime minister has said. And Hungary, which has broken away even further by bringing in the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, has also received its first deliveries of Sputnik V. Russia gloated today that it expected several EU countries to approve Sputnik V this month, saying it could provide 50million shots starting from June if required. Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, said the jab could act as a bridge between Russia and Europe and should not get bogged down in politics - just as Western countries clash with Moscow over the jailing of Alexei Navalny. The RDIF sovereign wealth fund which helped finance the development of Sputnik V, said on Thursday that 42 countries have registered the vaccine so far. The Kremlin says that Merkel herself has discussed the possibility of 'joint vaccine production' with Putin. Merkel has come under fire at home for letting Brussels and her former cabinet colleague Ursula von der Leyen take charge of the vaccine programme. The EU chaos has been made worse by public reluctance to take the AstraZeneca shot after several countries including Germany cast doubt on its efficacy by refusing to recommend it for over-65s. Merkel's health minister Jens Spahn yesterday urged regulators to act on the real-world findings from the UK which prove that the jab is highly effective in older people. 'We now have very good data from England and Scotland showing that AstraZeneca works very, very well in over-65s,' Spahn told ARD television on Wednesday. A separate University of Bristol study published on Wednesday found one shot of the AstraZeneca jab reducing severe cases of Covid-19 by 80.4 per cent. The findings, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, also showed a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech product cutting severe illness by 71.4 per cent. Spahn has also called for Germany to delay second doses as far as regulators will allow - six weeks for the Pfizer jab and 12 weeks for AstraZeneca - in another move to emulate Britain's success in handing out millions of first doses. Vladimir Putin, pictured, has touted the success of the Sputnik V vaccine which was shown by trial results to be 91.6 per cent effective Reiner Haseloff (pictured), the state premier of Saxony-Anhalt, called for Sputnik V to be used in Germany and said he would be willing to take it himself It came as a survey by Kekst CNC found 77 per cent of Britons saying their country has handled the vaccine roll-out well - compared to 23 per cent in Germany, 19 per cent in Sweden and 18 per cent in France. According to the poll, only 17 per cent in Germany and 24 per cent in France say the EU has done a good job of trying to immunise its 447million population. The findings are unsurprising given the much faster pace of the roll-out in Britain, where more than 30 per cent of the entire population has had at least one dose. The poll of 1,000 adults in each nation also found that Britons were the most likely to take the jab, with 89 per cent saying they would get one or had already done so. That compared to 76 per cent in Sweden, 73 per cent in Germany and only 59 per cent in France where vaccine scepticism has long been a concern. More than half of those surveyed in the three EU nations said vaccination progress was too slow in their country, a view shared by only 14 per cent of Britons. The UK is moving at one of the fastest rates in the world after approving both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines before any other country. By contrast, the EU did not get started at all until late December and did not approve the Oxford jab until the end of January after feuding with AstraZeneca over supplies. Macron poured fuel on the fire by claiming the vaccine was 'quasi-ineffective' in older people following sensational but widely-debunked claims about its efficacy. German health minister Jens Spahn, pictured, has called for regulators to let over-65s take the AstraZeneca jab after real-world data from England and Scotland proved that it works In Britain, 77 per cent of people praise their country's efforts in the vaccine roll-out (in green), but the figures are much lower in Germany (23 per cent), Sweden (19 per cent) and France (18 per cent) which are all lagging far behind the UK The poll also found Britons (far left) the most likely to take a vaccine, with 89 per cent saying they would take a jab or have already done so. The figure is only 59 per cent in France According to the poll, 23 per cent of Germans said their country had done a good job with vaccines while 46 per cent said it had done badly. Merkel has been left pleading with people to take the AstraZeneca jab with many Germans preferring the Pfizer/BioNTech product co-developed in Germany. The chancellor says she cannot set an example by taking the AstraZeneca jab herself because she is 66 years old and not currently eligible. France's vaccine efforts were praised by 18 per cent and criticised by 39 per cent, after scientists said the roll-out was too slow to prevent a third wave of severe cases. The slow progress has left France teetering on the bring of a third national lockdown which Macron has tried to prevent with a nationwide 6pm curfew. And in Sweden, 51 per cent said their country had handled the roll-out badly, compared to 19 per cent who said it had done well. The findings are a blow to the Nordic country which has long cited the 'high level of trust in government agencies' as justification for its no-lockdown policies. The survey shows a slump in approval ratings for Swedish PM Stefan Lofven, who is now 17 points underwater in the public's assessment of his virus response. Macron is at minus 15 per cent, while Merkel is still up by 23 per cent but her ratings have dropped significantly since Germany's relative success in the first wave. By contrast, Boris Johnson has enjoyed something of a revival after long being criticised for his handling of the crisis, although his rating is still minus 13 per cent. The PM last week laid out detailed plans for lifting the lockdown which could see all limits on gatherings scrapped by June 21 in England. All adults are expected to be given a first dose of the vaccine by July 31, while the EU has a more modest aim of vaccinating 70 per cent of adults by September. WASHINGTON (AP) Law enforcement was on high alert Thursday around the U.S. Capitol after intelligence uncovered a "possible plot" by a militia group to storm the iconic building again, two months after a mob of Donald Trump supporters smashed through windows and doors to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden's victory. The threat appears to be connected to a far-right conspiracy theory, mainly promoted by supporters of QAnon, that former President Trump will rise again to power on March 4 and that thousands will come to Washington, D.C., to try to remove Democrats from office. March 4 was the original presidential inauguration day until 1933, when it was moved to Jan. 20. Online chatter identified by authorities included discussions among members of the Three Percenters, an anti-government militia group, concerning possible plots against the Capitol on Thursday, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Members of the Three Percenters were among the extremists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. The threat came as the Capitol police and other law enforcement agencies were taking heat from Congress in contentious hearings this week on their poor handling of the Jan. 6 riot. Police were ill-prepared for the mass of Trump supporters in tactical gear, some armed, and it took hours for National Guard reinforcements to come. By then, rioters had broken and smashed their way into the building and roamed the halls for hours, stalling Congress' certification effort temporarily and sending lawmakers into hiding. Lawmakers, congressional staffers and law enforcement officials are still on edge after the attack on Jan. 6, even as the security posture around the Capitol remains at an unprecedented level. The U.S. House wrapped up its work for the week Wednesday night, but the U.S. Senate still had a busy day scheduled for Thursday with votes going well into the evening. Police beefed up their presence in and around the Capitol. About 5,200 National Guard members remain in D.C., the remainder of the roughly 26,000 that were brought in for President Biden's inauguration in January, which went off with no problems. +2 Louisiana man arrested for Capitol riot after posting videos, comments about attack on social media A second person from Louisiana has been arrested in connection with the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Jan. There's also a very large fence around the U.S. Capitol perimeter that walls off all avenues of entry including on the streets around the building, put in place after Jan. 6. And Trump is in Florida. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and among those briefed about the new threat, said lawmakers were braced. "I think we'll see some violence here," he said in an interview. But unlike on Jan. 6, the Capitol is now fortified against intrusions. "We have the razor wire, we have the National Guard. We didn't have that January 6. So I feel very confident in the security." Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy votes to convict Trump in impeachment trial; Trump acquitted Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted Saturday to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. Sen. John Kennedy of L McCaul warned there could be another diversionary tactic much like the pipe bombs discovered at the political campaign offices on Jan. 6 appeared to be an attempt to lure law enforcement away from the Capitol ahead of the insurrection. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Initially it seemed as though the online chatter did not rise to the level of serious concern; an advisory sent earlier this week to members of Congress by Timothy Blodgett, the acting House sergeant-at-arms, said the Capitol Police had "no indication that groups will travel to Washington D.C. to protest or commit acts of violence." But that advisory was updated in a note to lawmakers Wednesday morning. Blodgett wrote that the Capitol Police had received "new and concerning information and intelligence indicating additional interest in the Capitol for the dates of March 4th 6th by a militia group." Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said during House testimony Wednesday that her investigators had collected "some concerning intelligence," but declined to provide any details publicly, saying that it was "law enforcement sensitive" and that she would provide a private briefing for the subcommittee members. Meanwhile, federal agents found no significant increases in the number of hotel rooms being rented in Washington, as well as monitoring flights to the area, car rental reservations and any buses being chartered to bring groups into the capital, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person could not publicly discuss details of the security planning and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security also sent a joint intelligence bulletin to local law enforcement officials Tuesday warning that a group of militia extremists had discussed trying to take control of the Capitol on March 4 and encouraging thousands of people to come to D.C. to try to remove Democrats from power. But there has been a noticeable decline in online activity on some social media platforms surrounding efforts on March 4, and there was already considerably less online chatter than during the lead-up to Jan. 6, a day that Trump repeatedly had promoted for a his rally and encouraged thousands to come to the nation's capital. Several QAnon groups still operating on the social media messaging platform Telegram warned followers to stay away from any events on March 4, claiming it was a setup for Trump supporters. Also, thousands of accounts that promoted the Jan. 6 event that led to a violent storming of the U.S. Capitol have since been suspended by major tech companies like Facebook and Twitter, making it far more difficult for QAnon and far-right groups to organize a repeat of the mass gathering. Twitter banned more than 70,000 accounts after the riots, while Facebook and Instagram removed posts mentioning "stop the steal," a pro-Trump rallying cry used to mobilize his supporters in January. And the conservative social media platform Parler, which many of Trump's supporters joined to promote false election fraud conspiracy theories and encourage friends to "storm" the Capitol on Jan. 6, was booted off the internet following the siege. So far, about 300 people have been charged with federal crimes for their roles in the riot. Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died. Since his defeat, Trump has been promoting lies that the election was stolen from him through mass voter fraud, even though such claims have been rejected by judges, Republican state officials and Trump's own administration. He was impeached by the House after the Jan. 6 riot on a c harge of incitement of insurrection but was acquitted by the Senate. Trial highlights: Harrowing footage, focus on Trump's words WASHINGTON (AP) House Democrats opened their first day of arguments in former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial Wednesday with sear By MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press Associated Press writers Nomaan Merchant in Houston; Colleen Long, Alan Fram, and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington; and Amanda Seitz in Chicago contributed to this report. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Businesses throughout Texas still have time to decide how they will grapple with COVID-19 protocols such as wearing masks before Gov. Greg Abbotts amended executive orders go into effect March 10. Its time that some are gladly taking, but others in Southeast Texas have already made decisions. Frankie Randazzo, who operates four establishments in Southeast Texas and others across Texas and Louisiana, was quick to announce on Tuesday that masks would be optional for customers and staff when occupancy for all Texas businesses returns to 100% next week. We are still going to practice sanitization guidelines that are probably above and beyond what is recommended, but people should also recognize restaurants are probably one of the most frequently inspected consumer businesses, he said. While customers will be able to visit restaurants such as Madisons without a mask, Randazzo said his businesses will be a place without judgment for those who want to wear them. Ricky Martinez, owner of Tia Juanitas, said he and his partners were making their six locations in Southeast and East Texas mask optional but were still considering what policies would be for staff. Other restaurateurs have tried to draw a line between policies for employees and customers. John Wilson, owner of J. Wilsons and JWs Patio in Beaumont, said he wouldnt put his staff in a position to keep enforcing a mask mandate for guests, but employees would still wear masks while serving and in the kitchen. Im happy that it happened, but I think it was probably a little early, he said. Either way, I know that people will feel strongly about it and I dont want people to feel uncomfortable. If that means wearing a mask until vaccines are readily available for anyone, then that just means less risks. Wilson has already had to deal with those risks. In the summer of 2020, J. Wilsons shut down briefly after a staff member reported possibly being exposed to the virus. The restaurant went through a deep cleaning, and Wilson ordered tests for his staff while the dining room sat empty. Wilson said taking care of staff and ensuring customer safety was the best thing to do, but dealing with COVID infections means using a lot of time and money that a lot of businesses just dont have anymore. Like most things with the pandemic, though, Wilson said he cant predict exactly how the lack of restrictions will impact business. With Beaumonts Restaurant Week starting Thursday and warmer weather, restaurateurs can probably expect increased business, but it isnt sure how much the ability to go maskless will add to the much-needed patronage. I think about 75% occupancy is the most realistic expectation for a busy night about now, Wilson said. The people happy to have masks off are already going out, and I dont think ending the mandate will change much of that. While some businesses are expected to get closer to what normal used to be, the repeal of mask mandates could mean more change for Southeast Texas businesses and their owners lives. Customers shopping at Down to Earth, an all-natural apothecary in Nederland and downtown Beaumont, in the past year are probably aware of how serious staff have been taking the mandates. Owner Vanlam Nguyen has been consistently stocking masks for staff to give to customers if they dont bring one and has been expanding capabilities for online shipping and pickups, but it hasnt just been about complying with state orders. Nguyens 4-year-old daughter Adelaide was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 and has been receiving chemotherapy treatments, which means she is considered immuno-compromised and highly vulnerable to illnesses, including the coronavirus. Nguyen has told staff that both locations will continue to make masks part of the uniform for employees, but now, without any support from Texas law, she said she feels like there isnt much she can do if customers decide not to wear one inside the stores. I know that we have already lost at least a few customers that simply refused to wear a mask under the executive order, she said. The way I see it, we probably have about half our customers that want to wear one and half that only wear one because they have to. I dont think I can risk losing 50% of our customers. Down to Earth will continue to carry orders to customers curbside or ship orders, a service that has been seeing more demand in the last few weeks, according to Nguyen. She said she also hopes that the easily visible storefronts at both locations will let customers see when the store is empty if they feel uncomfortable. Feeling uncomfortable is something Nguyens been all too familiar with lately. She said she knows she will probably have to be more cautious about working the front of the stores for the sake of her daughter, but other everyday considerations add to the anxiety for instance, whether staff preparing food at restaurants for her family will be wearing masks. Nguyen said one of Adelaides favorite things was to have Sunday brunch with the family, something theyve had to replicate through takeout. In 2019, the familys story was featured on Good Morning America when J. Wilsons closed its dining room to all but the family so she could enjoy brunch out with the family. Nguyen said she has been talking about how much she cant wait to do that again, but she is afraid about what she will have to tell her. What am I supposed to tell her if this is still going on? she said. How is she going to feel when she doesnt have any more chemotherapy, but we still cant go out? Blanc on Boston in Nederland also announced policies for its store, urging customers to wear masks to protect employees and other shoppers. Although Abbott has lifted the mask mandate in Texas, Blanc kindly asks that for the safety of our families, coworkers and loved ones, customers and clients please wear masks, Daniella and Julie Blanco wrote in an announcement to customers. In some places in Southeast Texas, little will change after next week. Baptist of Southeast Texas and Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital have both announced masks will still be required for visitors and personnel inside the hospitals and medical offices of both systems. Although we are encouraged by declining COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations, along with the availability of vaccines, we have chosen to continue to follow evidence-based practices that have proven positive this past year, according to a statement by Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas. At this time, all patients, visitors, staff and physicians are still required to be screened and wear a mask in our facilities, even once vaccinated. Despite some concerns of mask enforcement, Mary Poole, a Baptist Hospitals public affairs officer, is confident the standard the hospital has set and enforced during the pandemic means there will be no problems enforcing its policies after March 10, when the statewide mask mandate is set to expire. Both Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas and Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital have resumed performing elective surgeries, and Abbotts decision to end the mask mandate will not change their current policies on such surgeries. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/byjorgeramos Not the time to fight with state governments: Arvind Kejriwal on West Bengal chief secretary transfer Two observers to arrive in West Bengal today, oversee poll preparedness India oi-Madhuri Adnal Kolkata, Mar 4: Special observer for the assembly elections in West Bengal Ajay Nayak and police observer Vivek Dubey will arrive here on Friday to overview preparedness for the polls, a senior official said. "They will be meeting officials in districts where the first phase of polling will be held and take stock of the situation," he said. Mamata Banerjee 'real Bengal tigress': Shiv Sena The official also said the chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state, after receiving complaints from officials being trained for the elections about not getting proper lunch in a few districts, has decided to transfer Rs 170 each to their bank accounts for the duration of the training. The 8-phase West Bengal Assembly elections will begin from March 27. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 23:34 [IST] FILE PHOTO: Security forces loyal to the separatist Southern Transitional Council stand guard as they are deployed in the southern port city of Aden By Mohammed Ghobari ADEN (Reuters) - A roadside bomb killed a civilian and two fighters travelling in a convoy of vehicles belonging to Yemen's main southern separatist forces in Aden city on Thursday, the militia said. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces had earlier said that a car bomb struck the convoy carrying a general, but the armed forces command later said in a statement that it was a roadside bomb. "Terrorist elements planted an explosive device ... and detonated it when the general's convoy passed and then opened fire," it said, adding that the civilian killed had been in the vicinity. It said several people were injured but gave no figure. Video footage shared by STC activists on Facebook showed a white four-wheel-drive vehicle with extensive damage. Aden is the seat of Yemen's internationally recognised government, which in December formed a new power-sharing cabinet including the STC under a deal brokered by Saudi Arabia. The STC said in a statement that those behind the attack are "declaring that their battle is not against the Houthi enemy ... but against the south, its leadership and forces" but did not specify which Yemeni party it was referring to. Riyadh is leading a military coalition fighting to oust the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement that controls much of north Yemen and the capital Sanaa, and restore the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. On Dec. 30, at least 22 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on Aden airport moments after a plane landed with members of the new cabinet. The coalition blamed the Houthi movement, who denied responsibility. The power-sharing deal ended a standoff that had triggered clashes in Aden and complicated United Nations efforts to broker a permanent ceasefire in the overall conflict. The war has killed more than 100,000 people and caused the world's largest humanitarian crisis. (Additional reporting by Mohammed Mokhashef in Aden and Maher Chmaytelli in Dubai; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Kevin Liffey, William Maclean) MUNCIE, IN -- Police have arrested a suspect wanted in the shooting deaths of three Detroit men found dead in an Indiana apartment last month. According to the Associated Press, 18-year-old Chandler Willard Harris II was taken into custody Thursday morning and is being held on charges of murder and robbery. Harris is being held without bond at the Delaware County Jail according to jail records. Harris, who turned 18 on Thursday, was arrested in connection to the deaths of Adrian Demarlo George Jr., 30; Devonte Earl Hollis, 25, and Terence Thomas, 27. The three victims were found shot to death on Feb. 19 in a unit at the Elgin Manor Apartment in Muncie, Ind.. Police were alerted to the shooting by another teenager, Juniyah Yvette Simmons, 18 of Anderson, Ind. who was also eventually arrested on obstruction of justice charges. Simmons is accused of lying to investigators and of also removing evidence from the scene and taking it to her place in Anderson. A search warrant recovered some of that evidence, according to police. Police have not said if there is a connection between Harris and Simmons. Uzbekistan is embarking on a mass coronavirus inoculation campaign with a vaccine that is still months away from completing its third stage of tests, Eurasianet writes. Millions are being offered the option of getting a jab for free, but it is far from clear how many will be eager. And the fact that life largely returned to normal a long time ago may rob the drive of a sense of urgency. Local news outlets on March 1 trumpeted the news of the certification of Uzbekistans own home-grown vaccine. This might be something of an overstatement, though. The vaccine has in reality largely been developed by Chinas Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, and some of the crucial third-stage testing is taking place in Uzbekistan. It appears to be on that basis that the resulting vaccine has earned the local brand name of ZF-UZ-VAC 2001. Health officials said on March 1 that 4.1 million people will get their jab free of charge in the first round of vaccinations. That is equal to more than one-tenth of the population. It is uncertain how long this stage will take to complete. Categories eligible for the initial round will comprise people aged 65 and over, medical workers, people suffering from chronic medical conditions, schoolteachers, and law enforcement and military personnel. While the Uzbek government has tried to give its inoculation initiative a patriotic booster by planting its flag on ZF-UZ-VAC 2001, China is also trying to ensure Beijing gets its fair share of the plaudits. Several Uzbeks interviewed for a feature by state-run Xinhua news agency about the Chinese-led vaccine development program gushed with praise. "The development and start of trials of a Chinese vaccine, including in Uzbekistan, gave hope to many, Nargis Kosimova, a lecturer at the Uzbekistan State University of World Languages, told Xinhua. I think that the Chinese vaccine is of high quality. If our government decided to buy this vaccine, I would support that. It is probably safe to assume that Kosimova would not have been included in the article had she not supported Chinese vaccines. Indeed, nobody featured in the Xinhua article expresses anything short of full-blown enthusiasm. Murodzhon Sadullayev, a volunteer who took part in test trials for the Sino-Uzbek vaccine, was another keen interviewee. I wish to express my deep gratitude to the Chinese specialists who developed this vaccine, as well as to the Chinese doctors who have been so helpful in ensuring the safety of the Uzbek people and our overall victory over the coronavirus, he told Xinhua. The job of hard-selling ZF-UZ-VAC 2001 in Uzbekistan has been done by Shahlo Turdikulova, the first Deputy Minister for Innovative Development. She has said that 7,000 people in Uzbekistan took part in the third stage of trials and that results showed the vaccine to be more than 99 percent safe. She has not, in her public statements, indicated what categories of people would potentially be exposed to the risk implied by that figure. According to RFE/RLs Uzbek service, Radio Ozodlik, third-stage testing on ZF-UZ-VAC 2001 is only expected to be fully completed by May a fact that the government does not advertise. Unlike most of the best-known vaccines developed to date, ZF-UZ-VAC 2001 could require up to three jabs to reach peak effectiveness. Of all the people tested in Uzbekistan, more than 4,400 have only received two injections. As of March 2, around 300 people had got the third jab. Then again, Turdikulova is bullish about even a two-dose approach. If we talk about the effectiveness of the vaccine, its immunogenicity is 97 percent. The level of antibody production after the second dose increased 11 times, she said. One significant stated advantage of ZF-UZ-VAC 2001 is that it can be stored in a regular refrigerator and does not, for example, need the minus-70 degree Celsius storage conditions required by Pfizer's shots. But where will all these millions of doses come from? There is something of a question mark on this matter. For the foreseeable future, the vials will probably have to be delivered from China. As Radio Ozodlik reported on February 25, negotiations were still ongoing over having the Chinese-developed vaccine produced in Uzbekistan itself. A company in Tashkent called Jurabek Laboratories is said to be exploring the possibility of producing ZF-UZ-VAC 2001. Russia is eager not to be left out of the goodwill party. Its Sputnik V is also envisioned as playing a big role in the mass inoculation campaign. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on March 2 that Russia is considering the option of allowing Uzbekistan to produce Sputnik V under license. Lavrov made his remarks during a visit to Moscow from Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov. A government commission on February 17 gave Russia approval to begin the process of certifying Sputnik V in Uzbekistan, but no announcement has been made as of yet. And that isnt all. Dilorom Tursunova, a vaccines expert at the Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance and Public Health Service, says there are also plans for Uzbekistan to take receipt of 2.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab. It is unknown when that might happen. If all goes to plan and the vaccines prove as effective as is being promised, Uzbekistan might be in relatively good shape by the second half of the year. The only possible fly in the ointment might be resistance to taking the vaccines. There is scant understanding of public sentiment on the subject, but Uzbekistan is no stranger to grassroots skepticism-boosting. Deputy Prime Minister Behzod Musayev appeared to hint at this fact when he told reporters late last month that nobody would be penalized for refusing to accept the jab. If a person does not want the vaccination, no measures will be taken against them, he said in remarks broadcast on UzReport TV station. Experience in neighboring Kazakhstan, where some medics have faced censure and threats of dismissal for rejecting the jab, suggests such liberal sentiments may not reflect realities on the ground, however. Musayev said the proper approach would instead be to educate the public about the usefulness of getting the vaccination. The case for this has been somewhat weakened, though, by the almost total reversion to normality in daily life across Uzbekistan. Social distancing guidelines have mostly been forgotten and mask-wearing, even indoors, is a decidedly minority pursuit. Many stores and cafes still carry signs at the door forbidding entry to people not wearing masks, but this injunction is usually disregarded by customers and staff alike. Washington/New Delhi, March 4 : In line with the previous government's China policy, the Biden administration has announced that the US will support China's neighbours, Taiwan and human rights in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. The interim US national security strategic guidance signed by President Joe Biden, which was released on Wednesday said that today, more than ever, America's fate is inextricably linked to events beyond its shores where it faces a world of rising nationalism, receding democracy, growing rivalry with China, Russia, and other authoritarian states, and a technological revolution that is reshaping every aspect of life. The US, the 24-page document said, must also contend with the reality that the distribution of power across the world is changing, creating new threats. "China, in particular, has rapidly become more assertive. It is the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system." Russia, it said, remains determined to enhance its global influence and play a disruptive role on the world stage. Both Beijing and Moscow have invested heavily in efforts meant to check US strengths and prevent the US from defending its interests and allies around the world. Regional actors like Iran and North Korea continue to pursue game-changing capabilities and technologies, while threatening US allies and partners and challenging regional stability. The Biden administration in its vision document said that in many areas, China's leaders seek unfair advantages, behave aggressively and coercively, and undermine the rules and values at the heart of an open and stable international system. "When the Chinese government's behaviour directly threatens our interests and values, we will answer Beijing's challenge. We will confront unfair and illegal trade practices, cyber theft, and coercive economic practices that hurt American workers, undercut our advanced and emerging technologies, and seek to erode our strategic advantage and national competitiveness." The US, it said, will ensure that its supply chains for critical national security technologies and medical supplies are secure. The Biden government will continue to defend access to the global commons, including freedom of navigation and overflight rights, under international law. "We will position ourselves, diplomatically and militarily, to defend our allies," the Biden government said adding that it will support China's neighbours and commercial partners in defending their rights to make independent political choices free of coercion or undue foreign influence. It will also promote locally-led development to combat the manipulation of local priorities. "We will support Taiwan, a leading democracy and a critical economic and security partner, in line with longstanding American commitments. We will ensure that US companies do not sacrifice American values in doing business in China. And we will stand up for democracy, human rights, and human dignity, including in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. On all these issues, we will work to forge a common approach with like- minded countries." This work is urgent, the government said, arguing that the alliances, institutions, agreements, and norms underwriting the international order the US helped to establish are being tested. Amid rapid change and mounting crisis, the system's flaws and inequities have become apparent, and gridlock and inter-state rivalry have caused many around the world-including many Americans-to question its continued relevance. "The US cannot return to business as usual, and the past order cannot simply be restored," the Biden administration said. "Our democratic alliances," the US government said, "enable us to present a common front, produce a unified vision, and pool our strength to promote high standards, establish effective international rules, and hold countries like China to account." That is why the US will reaffirm, invest in, and modernise the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and our alliances with Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea - which, along with our other global alliances and partnerships, are America's greatest strategic asset, the document said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text One of the primary responsibilities of management is to arrive at effective decision-making in the least possible time. Effective decisions made on time can do wonders for companies and result in significant savings. However, if the table is turned, companies can suffer considerable losses in monetary terms and brand value due to one wrong decision. The effectiveness of decisions highly relies on the data it is based upon. The absence of correct data or wrong interpretation of data can result in incorrect or delayed decisions. Data generation takes place at an unprecedented rate and scale to help in decision-making or resolve critical issues. Vast amounts of data are posing several challenges for companies across industries. Some of the key challenges include collections, storage, and handling of large volume, variety, the velocity of data, summarizing the finding, and making meaningful inferences from data. Another challenge is handling both volume and variety of data together since most of the data collected nowadays belong to unstructured categories from various sources and in multiple formats. Companies rely on the latest tools, techniques, and best practices to counter the challenges along with skilled resources. Most companies are adopting big data technologies for processing raw data and are increasing spending to develop infrastructures and employees skills. As a result, roles such as Big data analytics and data engineer courses have evolved in recent years. The present article will try to focus on the data engineering role and major skills required. Who is a Data Engineer? A data engineer primarily works on developing infrastructure and data pipelines for data transformation in a format suitable for other experts to process further. Data engineers need to ensure data availability at all times to other team members. In other words, data engineers work to prepare, clean, manipulate data obtained from multiple sources using moderate to complex scripts. Data Engineering Skill Set A data engineer is a dynamic and challenging role that requires ample skills and knowledge of numerous tools. Major skills required for data engineers to secure a successful career are as follows. Programming Skills: Sound programming knowledge is one of the primary skills for a data engineer role. Expert level is recommended in programming as one will be required to code ETL processes and build data pipelines. Scripting allows data engineers to communicate with numerous machines. Many popular languages are available such as Python, Scala, Java, and R. Among which Python is the easiest to learn and has the richest library. Python is extensively used for data preprocessing in conjunction with Spark, machine learning, web scraping, and a default language for airflow. Storage Systems: Storing structured or unstructured data is one of the core requirements in data engineering. Database knowledge is vital for aspiring individuals to be successful data engineers. One needs to learn how to store and retrieve data from databases. SQL is the major scripting language used to manage relational database systems (RDBMS) for handling structured data. RDBMS contains data in the form of tables of rows and columns. SQL is a must-learn language for data experts of all kinds. However, it is not enough to handle unstructured data. NoSQL databases are designed to handle such data, which are non-tabular and random. NoSQL databases are of different types depending on their data model. Some common forms are key-value data stores, document stores, wide column stores, and graph stores. Some advanced NoSQL database systems work on multiple node models and store/retrieve vast amounts of data. Data engineers have to select the appropriate database based on use-case. Few popular and extensive databases are MongoDb, Cassandra and, ApacheHBase, etc. Big Data FrameWork: Experience of Big data framework and understanding tools like Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, is compulsory. Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark are open-source big data processing frameworks with few fundamental differences. Hadoop utilizes MapReduce to process raw data, whereas Spark utilizes resilient distributed datasets (RDDs). Apache Spark addresses various Apache Hadoops shortcomings and very fast. It uses in-memory processing and has libraries built on top of it for big data analytics. Automation: Automation plays a critical role in improving functional efficiency. Experience in one of the automation tools such as Azkaban, Luigi, and Airflow is essential. Automation tools help set up data pipelines, trigger processes at pre-defined times, and run processes in the desired order. Machine Learning: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are future technologies that data scientists mostly use. For data engineers, basic knowledge should be acquired. It comes in handy for data pipeline development as data engineers work closely with Data scientists. Data Warehousing Solutions: Data warehouses are used to store volumes of data for query and analysis. Experience in Amazon Redshift is preferred, which is available at AWS cloud computing platform. Redshift is an extensively used data warehouse system wherein you can query vast amounts of structured and semi-structured data. APIs Creations: An API is an interface used by software applications to access data. API enables two applications to communicate with each other and accomplish various tasks. Data engineers are required to create APIs to allow data scientists or analysts to query the data. A typical example for APIs is web applications which enable the front-end user to access back-end data. In addition to the above skills, data engineers need to develop the following soft skills. Communication Skill: Good communication is paramount for data engineers. Data engineers are in constant contact with various data experts such as data scientists, machine learning engineers, data analysts, developers, or subject matter experts. It depends on the strength of the team and the type of organization. In some organizations, data engineers might need to work on other data experts responsibilities and may need to interface with customers for requirement gathering. Team Player: Data engineers mostly work in teams of diverse expertise wherein everyone depends on each other. To run a project seamlessly, collaboration within a group is of utmost importance. Team player skills are critical in such scenarios. Presentation Skills: Data engineers are frequently required to present their work to other specialists in teams. Public speaking and presentations skills come in handy for summarising and sharing the work in teams. Final Words The data engineering space is expanding faster and offers ample opportunities for newcomers and laterals. One may easily leverage the opportunities by gaining the required skills. Online courses are helpful to train individuals to become promising data engineers. Lessons are suitable for both newcomers and laterals as curated based on the experience and understanding of candidates. The recommendation is to take a course and start the journey. Combination of Phase One and Phase Two Expansion More Than Doubles Companys Cultivation Capacity in Commonwealth Companys Expanded Facility Supports B2B Brand Strategy While Addressing Massachusetts Growing Marketplace Demands PHOENIX, March 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TILT Holdings Inc. (TILT or the Company) ( CSE: TILT ) ( OTCQX: TLLTF ), a provider of business solutions to the global cannabis industry that includes inhalation technologies, cultivation, manufacturing, processing, brand development, distribution and retail, announced it received regulatory approval from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) to commence operation of eight additional grow rooms at its subsidiary, Commonwealth Alternative Care, Inc. (CAC). The Company intends to begin cultivation operations in the newly approved space later this month. We are pleased to announce the regulatory approval of the second phase of the planned expansion of our 117,000 sq ft cultivation and manufacturing facility in Taunton, Massachusetts, said Gary Santo, president of TILT . We now have more than 56,000 sq. ft. of cultivation space with the ability to add a second grow tier to each of the eight new rooms, pending regulatory approval. Once planted, these additional rooms will fortify the supply of premium flower for our Taunton dispensary, and together with our award-winning kitchen and state-of-the art extraction and processing lab, will support the production and distribution of high-quality, consistent products for our brand partners. As we continue to solidify CACs presence in the state, we remain committed to working with the CCC to achieve final state licenses permitting medical dispensary operations at our Brockton and Cambridge locations, as well as adult-use operations at both our Brockton and Taunton locations. To learn more about TILT, visit www.tiltholdings.com . About TILT Holdings Inc. TILT helps cannabis businesses build brands. Through a portfolio of companies providing technology, hardware, cultivation and production, TILT services brands and cannabis retailers across 35 states in the U.S., as well as Canada, Israel, Mexico, South America and the European Union. TILTs core businesses include Jupiter Research LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary and leader in the vaporization segment focused on hardware design, research, development and manufacturing; and cannabis operations, Commonwealth Alternative Care, Inc. in Massachusetts and Standard Farms, LLC in Pennsylvania. TILT is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.tiltholdings.com. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about managements current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward looking information may include, without limitation, anticipated timelines associated with planting in new grow rooms and expansion of two-tier grow system, expected licensure for the Brockton, Taunton and Cambridge locations, CACs ability to successfully manufacture and distribute cannabis products in Massachusetts, the success of TILTs brand strategy, the receipt of any regulatory approvals, the anticipated growth of cannabis markets, the opinions or beliefs of management, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, milestones, strategies and outlook of TILT, and includes statements about, among other things, future developments, the future operations, strengths and strategy of TILT. Generally, forward looking information 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 state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. These statements are based upon certain material factors, assumptions and analyses that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including TILTs experience and perceptions of historical trends, the ability of TILT to maximize shareholder value, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that are believed to be reasonable in the circumstances. Although such statements are based on managements reasonable assumptions at the date such statements are made, there can be no assurance that it will be completed on the terms described above and that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. TILT assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties, and there are a variety of material factors, many of which are beyond the control of TILT, and that may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. For additional information regarding forward-looking statements and their related risks, please refer to the Risk Factors and Uncertainties section in the Management Discussion and Analysis of the Company for the quarter ended on September 30, 2020, which is available on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com . The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Investor Relations Contact: Taylor Allison investors@tiltholdings.com Protesters set off smoke grenades to block the view from snipers in Sanchaung, Yangon, Burma, on March 3, 2021. (Reuters) Burma Security Forces Shoot Dead 13 Anti-Coup Protesters Despite Calls for Restraint Burma (also known as Myanmar) security forces opened fire on protests against the military rule on Wednesday, killing at least 18 people, a human rights group said, a day after neighboring countries called for restraint and offered to help Burma resolve the crisis. The security forces resorted to live fire with little warning in several towns and cities, witnesses said, as the junta appeared more determined than ever to stamp out protests against the Feb. 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Its horrific, its a massacre. No words can describe the situation and our feelings, youth activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi told Reuters via a messaging app. A spokesman for the ruling military council did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. Ko Bo Kyi, joint secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights group, said in a post on Twitter: As of now, so-called military killed at least 18. Protesters cover with makeshift shields during an anti-coup protest in Yangon, Burma, on March 3, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters) In the main city Yangon, witnesses said at least eight people were killed, one early in the day and seven others when security forces opened sustained fire with automatic weapons in a neighborhood in the north of the city in the early evening. I heard so much continuous firing. I lay down on the ground, they shot a lot, protester Kaung Pyae Sone Tun, 23, told Reuters. A protest leader in the community, Htut Paing, said the hospital there had told him seven people had been killed. Hospital administrators were not immediately available for comment. Another heavy toll was in the central town of Monywa, where six people were killed, the Monywa Gazette reported. Others were killed in various places including the second-biggest city Mandalay, the northern town of Hpakant, and the central town of Myingyan. At least 40 people have been killed since the coup. The violence came a day after foreign ministers from Southeast Asian neighbors urged restraint but failed to unite behind a call for the release of Suu Kyi and the restoration of democracy. The country is like Tiananmen Square in most of its major cities, the Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, said on Twitter, referring to the violent suppression of student-led protests in Beijing in 1989. Burma is predominantly Buddhist but has small Christian communities. Pope Francis, who visited Burma in 2017, said on Twitter: Sad news of bloody clashes and loss of life I appeal to the authorities involved that dialogue may prevail over repression. We Shall Overcome Protesters lie on the ground after police open fire to disperse an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Burma, on March 3, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters) Security forces breaking up protests in Yangon detained about 300 protesters, the Myanmar Now news agency reported. Video posted on social media showed lines of young men, hands on heads, filing into army trucks as police and soldiers stood guard. Reuters was unable to verify the footage. Images of a 19-year-old woman, one of the two shot dead in Mandalay, showed her wearing a T-shirt that read Everything will be OK. Police in Yangon ordered three medics out of an ambulance, shot up the windscreen, and then kicked and beat the workers with gun butts and batons, video broadcast by U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia showed. Reuters was unable to verify the video independently. Democracy activist Esther Ze Naw told Reuters that the sacrifices of those who died would not be in vain. We shall overcome this and win, she said. On Tuesday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to make a breakthrough in a virtual foreign ministers meeting on Burma. While united in a call for restraint, only four membersIndonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singaporecalled for the release of Suu Kyi and other detainees. We expressed ASEANs readiness to assist Burma in a positive, peaceful, and constructive manner, the ASEAN chair, Brunei, said in a statement. Burmas state media said the military-appointed foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, attended and apprised the meeting of voting irregularities in the November election. The military justified the coup by saying its complaints of voter fraud in the Nov. 8 vote were ignored. Suu Kyis party won by a landslide, earning a second term. The election commission said the vote was fair. Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has pledged to hold new elections but gave no time frame. Foreign firms should suspend all business in Burma to send a clear message to the military, Chris Sidoti, a former UN expert on the country, said. Suu Kyi, 75, has been held incommunicado since the coup but appeared at a court hearing via video conferencing this week and looked in good health, a lawyer said. A millionaire sailor made a 'beeline' for a young woman and left her in tears after sexually assaulting her at an exclusive yacht club, a court heard yesterday. The alleged victim said she was in such shock after Peter Bonham Christie, 39, groped her with such force she 'stopped breathing'. The 27-year-old had been attending a drinks reception at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, London. Speaking from behind a screen at Isleworth Crown Court, she said she had been introduced to Bonham Christie before going outside for a cigarette with a mutual friend Andrew Sutherland. She said the pair were soon followed by Bonham Christie, who once broke the offshore powerboat world speed record and represented Great Britain in sailing until 2010. Peter Bonham Christie, 39, made a 'beeline' for a young woman and left her in tears after sexually assaulting her at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, London, a court heard She said: 'He came through the doors and made a beeline towards me and put his hand between my legs and grabbed my crotch. I was almost lifted off the ground. 'It was not just a hand... it was more forceful. It felt quick but at the same time it didn't. I don't know how long it took for me to push him away... seconds.' Asked how the attack made her feel she replied: 'I couldn't really speak for a while. It was disbelief. It all just happened really quickly and I couldn't really process that it happened. I think I stopped breathing for a bit. I just stood there.' She told the court that Mr Sutherland, 60, immediately expressed his horror and demanded an apology. She said Bonham Christie's girlfriend then approached her to ask her not to take matters further. The alleged victim's evidence was cut short after she broke down under cross-examination and was unable to answer questions. She became increasingly distressed when the defence suggested she had been drunk and asked her whether she had taken cocaine that night. Bonham Christie denied touching her, but admitted he had been drinking 'I'm only here because of what he did,' she cried before appearing to have a panic attack and having to leave the court. The defence claims Bonham Christie went outside only to have a cigarette and confront Mr Sutherland over a disagreement. He was said to have assaulted the woman after an evening dining at auctioneers Bonhams where he gave a speech and a visit to the five-star hotel Claridge's in Mayfair with his girlfriend and business guests. Following the alleged attack in November 2018, the woman reported the incident to the club and to police in March 2019. Bonham Christie denied touching her, but admitted he had been drinking. Bonham Christie is a scion of a wealthy family that once owned Brownsea Island off the coast of Dorset. Educated at 40,000-a-year Millfield School, he made his first 1million selling an office water cooler company. Bonham Christie denies sexual assault. The trial continues. A piece of Gov. Kay Iveys extended coronavirus-related Safer At Home order announced Thursday may not be allowed by the federal government. Iveys extension through April 9 called for an immediate slight increase in the number of caregivers and visitors allowed in Alabama hospitals and nursing homes. (Read more about the order's changes HERE) Subject to reasonable restrictions, patients and residents will be allowed visits from as many as two caregivers (up from one) or as many as two visitors (up from one) at a time, the order states. But judging by a statement from the Alabama Nursing Home Association, Ivey may not be able to change rules in nursing homes. That statement included: Despite the drop in cases and vaccine rollout in Alabama and nationwide, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has not revised its visitation restrictions. Nursing homes must continue to follow the CMS visitation guidance issued September 17, 2020. Failure to follow the guidance can result in penalties for the nursing home. We appreciate Governor Ivey and Dr. Harris for continuing to work with nursing homes and helping us open visitation for our residents and families. We know how important it is for nursing home residents to be able to visit their loved ones in-person and have been working to reopen our doors since CMS first restricted visitation in March 2020. We hope the federal government will soon review and revise the guidance in light of the declining cases and vaccine uptake. Until then, we are encouraging our members to hold in-person visits as long as the nursing home can meet the federal requirements, Farmer said. The federal guidance states nursing homes must meet the following criteria to allow limited indoor visitation: Have no new onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days and not be currently conducting outbreak testing. Limit the number of visitors per resident, limit the number of visitors in the building at one time and limit visitors movement inside the building. Visitors must wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose and practice social distancing while visiting their loved one during their entire visit. Even if the nursing home meets these criteria, it cant allow indoor visitation if the county COVID-19 positivity rate is greater than 10%. CMS allows nursing homes to require additional infection control measures such as COVID-19 testing or proof of a recent negative test. The public can visit https://anha.org/visits/ for an easy-to-understand guide for facility visits. Stay with WAAY 31 for updates In recent weeks, ever since Marc Lacey started running the Live platform at the New York Times, Sandy, his labradoodle, has been getting more walks. Im sure shes wondering, Oh my god, what happened? Lacey said. He used to be gone all day at the office, and now hes home and hes walking me like mad. What happened is a lot: Live is an intense stream of briefings, blogs, and chats meant to update the Times audience as stories break; plus, the newsroom has had a turbulent year. Dog-walking is a good way to decompress. Lacey, who is fifty-five, has spent the pandemic hunkered down at home in Montclair, New Jersey, a short train ride across the river from Midtown Manhattan. An avuncular presence on staffMarc commands tremendous respect in the newsroom, Dean Baquet, the executive editor, said; he is also truly open mindedhes been at the Times for twenty-one years, having arrived shortly after the website debuted. Throughout his tenure, Lacey has been closely involved in the newsrooms digital transformation. In 2016, when he was the editor of the national desk, he joined the 2020 Committee alongside seven colleagues; together they produced a report detailing their aspirations for an ever more digital Times. When Live launched, it was primarily used for the roller coaster of political news during the Trump administration. By January, when he took the helm, Lacey felt like hed become an air traffic controller. Theres all this incoming chatter, he said. Reporters send in constant updates from the ground, which then need to be written, edited, and checked before theyre seen by millions of readers. It really is scrambling to get it ready, people reading over each other, making sure its right. The big stories of 2020the coronavirus, the election, and the uprisings against police brutality and systemic oppressionpresented particular challenges to Live, as each grew exponentially. Rather than producing incremental news articles, Live works by updating a single piece of coverage; tracking the pandemic, for instance, has required input from the papers China correspondents, then from reporters on the science desk, and then from politics. The news is everywhere, and therefore every newsroom department is involved, Lacey said. Soon, Live accumulated the longest thread of continual pandemic coverage found anywhere online. In the long term, Lacey expects that Live will become a routine part of every desks work. Laceys new role also made him an assistant managing editor, placing him on the masthead and in a prominent position among Black leaders at the Times as the newsroom confronted its handling of racism in coverage and internally. In June, Black employees led the Times staff in protest of an opinion piece by Tom Cotton, a senator from Arkansas, that had called for military force to be used against racial-justice demonstrators; James Bennet, the editorial editor, quickly resigned. Two more high-profile departures followed: Don McNeil Jr., a science and health journalist, left after it was reported that hed used an anti-Black slur on a Times-sponsored trip to Peru for high school students; Andy Mills, an audio producer, stepped down for his role in the discredited Caliphate podcast and misconduct reported at his past workplaces. Last week, the Times released the results of a staff-wide audit, which found that the Times is too often a difficult place to work for people of all backgroundsparticularly colleagues of color, and especially Black and Latino colleagues. Lacey has been taking part in discussions about the Times work environment; in the aftermath of the Cotton piece, he moderated a company-wide Zoom meeting. A whole lot of people want to be heard on changing the culture of the newsroom, he said. That really requires the leaders of the New York Times to be good listeners and to just hear people out. When the top of the masthead released its staff review, which called for sweeping change, Lacey was encouraged. Ive worked on past efforts to diversify the Times, and this one seems different in that were being frank about where we are and laying out specific plans, he said. Its possible that he could take on an even larger role: Baquet is approaching the end of his term, and Laceys name has been earmarked as one to watch as a contender for succession. He listens, and he is willing to challenge some of journalisms established orthodoxies, Baquet said. Lacey, for his part, declined to indulge in speculation about his prospects. I guess Ive been around long enough to know that the best thing, the healthiest thing for me, is to try to focus on what I can control, he explained. Theres a whole lot to focus on that has nothing to do with the machinations in our building. Sign up for CJR 's daily email ICYMI: The New York Times and the unending blizzard of takes Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Feven Merid is a CJR fellow. The Oswego County Health Department will host two more COVID-19 vaccination clinics this weekend for eligible essential workers, those with qualifying comorbidities and people who are aged 65 and older. The clinics are scheduled to run on Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7 at the G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton. Appointments are required for all COVID-19 vaccination clinics and can be made online at https://health.oswegocounty.com/ by clicking on the link for Local Information About the COVID-19 Vaccination. MOSCOW, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PhosAgro, one of the world's leading phosphate-based fertilizer producers, welcomes the European Commission's adoption of official guidelines on the use of voluntary green labelling for fertilizers that are free from harmful concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and other heavy metals that are hazardous to human health and soils. The voluntary labels proposed by the European Commission are a direct outcome of the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on the use of agrochemicals in the EU. Adopted in June 2019 by the European Parliament and the European Council, this regulation was the result of a historic decision introduce an EU-wide ban on the trade in phosphate-based fertilizers containing hazardous levels of heavy metals and arsenic. Starting from 16 July 2022, the sale of phosphate-based fertilizers containing more than 60 mg of cadmium per kg of P 2 O 5 will be barred throughout the EU. Moreover, in July 2026, the European Commission will consider in its next report further tightening of restrictions on cadmium. At the same time, a number of European countries, recognising the importance of limiting cadmium content in fertilizers as early as the 1980s, unilaterally introduced stricter regulations. Such national derogations are in place in 21 EU countries, including Switzerland, where the limit for cadmium was set at 21 mg per kg of P 2 O 5 back in 1986; in Sweden, 44 mg per kg of P 2 O 5 ; the Netherlands, 31 mg per kg of P 2 O 5 ; Hungary and Slovakia, 20 mg per kg of P 2 O 5 ; and Finland, 22 mg per kg of P 2 O 5 . In addition, Regulation 2019/1009 on the use of agrochemicals in the EU states that manufacturers of mineral fertilizers with cadmium content below the benchmark of 20 mg of Cd per kg of P 2 O 5 may use a voluntary green label on their packaging. The right to add a green label with a special symbol applies to this group of mineral fertilizers. The document published by the Commission provides detailed information on the appearance of labels and examples thereof. Declarations of the absence of cadmium concentrations harmful to human health and soil (less than 20 mg per kg of P 2 O 5 ) can be presented in two possible ways: text and/or a visual representation: as one example, an image of the chemical element cadmium, Cd, is shown with a down-facing arrow alongside it. The voluntary green labelling is in line with both the European Green Deal and the new Farm to Fork Strategy goal of limiting the impact on arable land of fertilizers with high levels of harmful contaminants. The labels underscore the Commission's commitment to transitioning to sustainable agriculture and to maintaining healthy soils that are not contaminated with heavy metals, which, in the long term, will protect the health of plants, animals and humans, thanks to the production of higher-quality food. The voluntary labelling will enable producers like PhosAgro to inform consumers that their products meet strict low-cadmium standards. Phosphate rock from the Murmansk region the core of PhosAgro's phosphate-based and NPK fertilizer production sets quality benchmarks and adheres to the ISO 9001 quality management system as well as corporate standards for fertilizer production. Corporate standards ensure a traceability chain from the extraction of apatite-nepheline ore to the supply to consumers of phosphate-based fertilizers that set the benchmark for cleanliness. This factor is a prerequisite for the transition to a new platform for sustainable agriculture and food systems with affordable food that has improved characteristics. PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev said: "PhosAgro always welcomes measures to increase the transparency of fertilizer production and supply chains for end consumers. Farmers have the right to choose their crop nutrients based on all available information about their composition, especially when it comes to the absence of concentrations of toxic substances, such as cadmium, that are harmful to health and soils. And for producers of phosphate-based fertilizers around the world, additional incentives are being created to improve production technologies to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and to take care of soil fertility and public health." Independent Director and Chair of PhosAgro's Sustainable Development Committee Irina Bokova said: "The introduction of labelling is a responsible policy in light of both the increasing demand for safe, healthy foods and the ever-growing base of scientific research that shows that reducing the concentration of cadmium in fertilizers will contribute to the long-term health of soils and reduced intake of this toxic substance into the human body through food. It is important that people, not only in the EU but all over the world, can make more informed choices when buying food, with a better understanding of what they are made of and how they are produced, and what nutrients were used for the cultivation of agricultural products." Xavier Rolet, Chairman of PhosAgro's Board of Directors, said: "I welcome the fact that at a time when food supplies in numerous countries are at risk and the pandemic rages, the European Commission has maintained its unswerving focus on food safety and quality. We at PhosAgro are confident that the key beneficiaries of this green labelling decision will be the people of Europe and consumers in all those countries that import EU agricultural products. "Playing our role to ensure global food security and the supply of healthy food is at the heart of PhosAgro's mission and commitment to consumers in the 102 countries where the Company supplies its sustainable and eco-efficient products." It should be noted that in Russia, since March last year, the cadmium content in mineral fertilizers has been regulated by the Russian national standard GOST R 58658-2019 on environmentally friendly fertilizers, and these limits are stricter than in Europe. The maximum concentration of cadmium in mineral fertilizers approved for sale in Russia under the above-mentioned regulation is 20 mg per kg of P 2 O 5 . This national standard is included in the package of requirements for the national Green Standard, which was developed at the behest of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. 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 Thales in Northern Ireland employs hundreds of people in the defence and space sectors (Thales/PA) More than 100 jobs have been secured at a Belfast plant with a new Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract to maintain an air defence system. Thales won the 98.4 million contract, supporting 119 jobs, to maintain short-range air defence (Shorad) for the British Army and Royal Marines. Shorad is made up of high velocity and lightweight multi-role missile systems that can intercept air threats including fast jets, attack helicopters and unmanned air systems in a matter of seconds. Fantastic news for our Belfast site today, securing a contract worth nearly A100 million. We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with @DefenceHQ @RoyalMarines @NIOgov @BritishArmy https://t.co/nBItt1jt0u Thales UK (@ThalesUK) March 4, 2021 Philip McBride, general manager at Thales Belfast, said it followed previous contracts and extends to 2026. Thales has supplied weapons systems to the UK MoD for 60 years, he told the PA news agency. This equipment includes shoulder launchers, tripod launchers, vehicle boost launchers and the management of the firing camps that the MoD run. Mr McBride said the plant had learned a lot about the equipment, how it is utilised and its maintenance which he said puts the firm in a great position for what happens beyond 2026. This isnt just about the sustaining of the workforce on this contract, its about preparing the way for what happens after this contract, he said. Expand Close Philip McBride, general manager at Thales Belfast, (Thales/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Philip McBride, general manager at Thales Belfast, (Thales/PA) Thales employs more than 550 people at its Belfast plant and also has a sizeable workforce in the south-west of England. Mr McBride said the Thales operation in Belfast had grown substantially in recent years, primarily down to investing in the business at the right time. Thales UK has come close to trebling our revenue in the last six to seven years, he said. Our workforce has grown from around 400 to 550 in Belfast alone. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis welcomed the announcement. During these uncertain times, I am delighted that the investment of over 98 million will protect over 100 skilled jobs in Belfast. I would like to congratulate all those involved who have secured this vital investment, he said. Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Thales of the Starstreak missile being fired by the British Army. PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Thales of the Starstreak missile being fired by the British Army. Defence minister procurement Jeremy Quin described the contract as ensuring that vital air defence capabilities, capable of dealing with a multitude of threats, are maintained and readily available to deploy. The 98.4m investment is the second major contract awarded to Northern Irelands defence industry in less than three months, highlighting Northern Irelands important contribution to the delivery of our critical defence capabilities, he said. In January, Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast won a 30 million contract for the UKs first uncrewed fighter aircraft, supporting over 100 local jobs. Teaming up: Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy and Declan Kelly CEO of team sponsor Teneo, celebrate following victory over Kilkenny in the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile TIPPERARYS All-Ireland-winning hurling manager Liam Sheedy is to run the Irish arm of a new division of Declan Kellys Teneo that will advise corporate leaders on improving their performance. Sheedy was a senior executive at Bank of Ireland in Munster until the end of last year and is joining Teneo in a full-time role as vice chairman of Teneo Ireland. The ties between Liam Sheedy and Teneo CEO Declan Kelly go back decades. Teneo founder and chief executive Kelly and Sheedy, the former banker and sports star, are both natives of the small village Portroe in north Tipperary. Kellys brother Alan is the Labour Party leader. Read More Teneo has sponsored the Tipperary senior and minor hurling teams since 2018, despite being headquartered in New York and serving a market of global business leaders. Former Ireland and Lions rugby captain Brian ODriscoll, a senior adviser to Teneo, will also work with the new division. Teneo is a US-headquartered global business with divisions that advise corporate leaders on everything from communications to finance. Declan Kelly is a former journalist and public relations expert who served as US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland at the US Department of State in the Clinton era and has close ties at the upper reaches of Washington DC as well as on Wall Street. Just this week, Teneo named US Senator Chris Dodd as a senior adviser. Dodd has been tipped as a possible next US ambassador to Ireland. The new Teneo Performance arm says it aims to help companies navigate the long-term social and business impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The lessons from high-performance sport, including decision-making under pressure and bouncing back from failure have long been seen by business leaders as relevant to commercial resilience. Teneo Performance says it will help CEOs improve performance across all levels of their organisation through programmes and organisational changes. Alongside Sheedy and advisers like ODriscoll, the team in Ireland will also include Teneo Senior Managing Director Mary Dunphy and performance advisers James Bowen and Brian MacNeice, who joined Teneo last year through the acquisition of Kotinos Partners. The speed of vaccination against coronavirus (COVID-19) is calculated on the basis of the amount of vaccine in Ukraine and will increase when new batches of vaccine arrive, Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Viktor Liashko has said. "The speed of vaccination is calculated on the basis of the amount of vaccines that are in Ukraine at present. If there is a new supply, the vaccination plan will be increased, we will additionally attract vaccination points and mobile brigades," he said. Liashko said that the Ministry of Health plans from March 10 to reach the dynamics of 10,000-15,000-20,000 vaccinations per day, and in the future it will depend on the volume of available vaccine. The deputy minister noted that, as of Wednesday, vaccination was carried out by 45 mobile brigades. The main category of persons who have been vaccinated is medical institutions that treat the patients with COVID-19. Somatic branches, emergency medical care workers are also involved. "We expand coverage and add mobile brigades," he said. At the same time, he stressed that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective for persons over the age of 70. "Some 15% of all people vaccinated in Ukraine accounts for persons over the age of 70, it is 1,436 people," he said. UPDATE 6.27AM: A tsunami threat issued for New Zealand has been cancelled. The warning was issued earlier this morning following a magnitude 7.3 earthquake off the east of the North Island. The quake woke many people around the country, including the Bay of Plenty. People reported feeling a long and strong quake around 2.30am. The National Emergency Management Agency issued a tsunami threat at about 3.30am. This has now been cancelled as the agency says the threat has mostly passed. "Based on GNS Science's modelling and ocean observations on tide gauges and the New Zealand DART Buoys, our science advice is that the threat of strong and unusual currents has now passed for all parts of New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands," says a statement from the agency. UPDATE 3.33AM: A tsunami warning has been issued for New Zealand. National Emergency Management Agency, also known as Civil Defence, says they have issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas following a 7.3 earthquake near the East of the North Island of New Zealand. "There is a land and marine threat. An EMA will be issued under land and marine tsunami threat." Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas) is expected in the following areas: The East Coast of the North Island from CAPE RUNAWAY to TOLAGA BAY. Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges near the shore are expected in the following areas. This means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities, says the Civil Defence. The East Coast of the North Island from PORT CHARLES to CAPE RUNAWAY including Tauranga, Whakatane and Opotiki, and from TOLAGA BAY to MAHIA including Gisborne, and GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, and the CHATHAM ISLANDS. The first waves may reach New Zealand in the areas around East Cape at around 3:14am New Zealand Standard Time. The severity of currents and surges will vary within a particular coastal area and over the period this warning is in effect. The first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled. People in all New Zealand coastal areas should: Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz Listen to local Civil Defence authorities and follow any instructions regarding evacuation of your area Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, this includes boats) Stay off beaches and shore areas Do not go sightseeing Share this information with family, neighbours and friends It is currently an outgoing tide in the Bay of Plenty, with low tide due around 6.37am. High tide is not due again until around 12.56pm. This warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued by the National Emergency Management Agency. EARLIER: 3.28AM: A tsunami threat to New Zealand is still being assessed following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake off the East Coast this morning. The National Emergency Management Agency and GNS Science are assessing the earthquake parameters to determine if there is a tsunami risk to New Zealand, says the NZ Civil Defence. A Bay of Plenty Civil Defence spokesperson says, to be safe, all those on the coast who felt the quake or had trouble standing up should immediately move to higher ground. "People near the coast from CAPE RUNAWAY to TOLAGA BAY should MOVE IMMEDIATELY to the nearest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. Do not return until an official all-clear message is given by Civil Defence," reads a post on Twitter. GeoNet reported a 7.2 magnitude earthquake east of Te Araroa around 2.30am. "The quake lasted for a good 30 seconds," says a SunLive reader who lives at Mount Maunganui. "It was rolling back and forth." The earthquake occurred at 2.27am, at a depth of 94km, 100km east of Te Araroa. Within minutes, there were more than 34,000 reports of the quake sent in to the GeoNet website, with over 13000 reporting it as a light quake, and nearly 10,000 as a moderate quake. Facebook group members from Whakamarama to Whakatane have posted online saying they felt the quake. One person describes the shaking "quite long" and "very noticeable". "My bed was rocking and I could hear my rocking chair outside moving." GeoNet is classing this as a severe earthquake. The National Emergency Management Agency and GNS Science are assessing the earthquake parameters to determine if there is a tsunami risk to New Zealand. 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. Disclosing the details of these projects, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh said that the 138 projects under FCA include 20 hydropower projects, 88 roads, three bus stands, two degree colleges, one Manali ropeway, one helipad, one Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), one cowshed, one Shiv Dham temple, one school and many more. Out of the total projects, 465 got clearance from FRA 2006 by the Supreme Court, including 334 road projects, 53 schools, 20 community centers, 10 dispensaries, seven Anganwadi Centers to name a few. The bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justice A S Bopanna, and Justice V Ramasubramanian also approved the Rs 1,337 crore Green Corridor National Highway Sirmaur and a two-lane national highway in Dharamshala. Lag in development of state pertains to delays in infrastructural development projects is a worldly notion. The Supreme Court's verdict is commendable since it approves of development projects. However, only time will tell how the government of Himachal Pradesh will implement it. The state of Himachal Pradesh, like Uttarakhand state, is mountainous, earthquake-prone, rich in forests, and covered with snow. It is essential to seek geologists, environmentalists, and locals before any development can occur here. Failing to do so, Himachal Pradesh may have to bear the brunt of the tragic tragedies of Kedarnath (2013) and Chamoli (2021). Development work in mountainous areas requires removing/cutting of forest cover and mountains/hills. The absence of forests erodes the topsoil cover while cutting off mountains/hills disturb the balance/stability of mountains/hills, increasing probability of landslides, resulting in the massive loss of life and property. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh said that he discussed this issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The state government also filed five petitions in Supreme Court, one in 2019 and four in 2020, seeking these projects' commissioning.Disclosing the details of these projects, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh said that the 138 projects under FCA include 20 hydropower projects, 88 roads, three bus stands, two degree colleges, one Manali ropeway, one helipad, one Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), one cowshed, one Shiv Dham temple, one school and many more. Out of the total projects, 465 got clearance from FRA 2006 by the Supreme Court, including 334 road projects, 53 schools, 20 community centers, 10 dispensaries, seven Anganwadi Centers to name a few.The bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justice A S Bopanna, and Justice V Ramasubramanian also approved the Rs 1,337 crore Green Corridor National Highway Sirmaur and a two-lane national highway in Dharamshala.Lag in development of state pertains to delays in infrastructural development projects is a worldly notion. The Supreme Court's verdict is commendable since it approves of development projects. However, only time will tell how the government of Himachal Pradesh will implement it. The state of Himachal Pradesh, like Uttarakhand state, is mountainous, earthquake-prone, rich in forests, and covered with snow. It is essential to seek geologists, environmentalists, and locals before any development can occur here. Failing to do so, Himachal Pradesh may have to bear the brunt of the tragic tragedies of Kedarnath (2013) and Chamoli (2021).Development work in mountainous areas requires removing/cutting of forest cover and mountains/hills. The absence of forests erodes the topsoil cover while cutting off mountains/hills disturb the balance/stability of mountains/hills, increasing probability of landslides, resulting in the massive loss of life and property. Feeling delighted with the projects' approval, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh said that the state would proliferate. But such projects fall in the jurisdiction of FCA 1980 or FRA 2006. It is essential to mention here that if the reserved forests or eco-sensitive zones are used for hydropower projects and multi-lane road development projects, this area could be devastated like Uttarakhand. The construction of a one-kilometer road in the hilly area would extract at least 30,000 to 40,000 cubic meters of soil and stones. During the construction of roads and dams, mountains are usually blown up with explosives causing cracks in them. Consequently, they slide down during the monsoon season either by excessive rainfall or heavy snowfall in winters. This leads to heavy loss of life and property. On average, in the Himalayan region, one person is killed every year by landslides in an area of 100 square kilometers. In the mountainous district of Darjeeling in West Bengal, a 60-kilometer road length collapsed in 1968, and thousands of people were crushed to death. In Kerala, 40 people died in 2001 and 60 in 2020, while 67 people died in Mumbai due to landslide incidents. In 2013, about 4200 villages in Uttarakhand were affected, and countless locals were buried under the mountains. Landslides in Malin (2014) in Maharashtra, Kedarnath (2013), and Chamoli (2021) in Uttarakhand have been caused by the construction of dams in environmentally sensitive areas. Himachal Pradesh state also falls in the seismic sensitive zone. The Indian and Arabian tectonic plates are continually pushing India towards the Eurasian plate, which is likely to cause significant earthquakes from Jammu and Kashmir in the north-western region to Mizoram in the north-eastern region of the country. Geologists had expressed concern after the earthquake in Nepal, 2015 and stated that a major earthquake could strike in the Himalayan region at any time. A renowned scientist from the University of London, Dr Kesho warned in 2015 that a massive earthquake could hit Himalayan region. An earthquake's jolts were felt in Himachal Pradesh even more recently in 2021 on 12 February at 10:34 p.m. and 14 February at 3:49 p.m. It is pertinent to recall here that Nepal's earthquake of 2015 killed 30 people in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Even the earthquake's epicenter was at a distance of 300-400 kilometers away from the Indian border. This earthquake shook 11 states of our country. The state of Himachal Pradesh is nestled in the Himalayas. Himalayan mountains are also called the third pole of the world as it contains a considerable amount of glacial ice. This third pole melting at a rapid rate due to an increasing average temperature of the earth. Rapid melting of glaciers creating glacial lakes could lead to a tragedy in the state like the recent tragedy of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh acknowledged that the state would take up the issue of the Chamoli incident while implementing a plan for hydropower projects. Indiscriminate deforestation could lead to severe water shortages in the state in coming years as trees' roots absorb excess rain and snow water and gradually release this water which flows into rivers, springs, and waterfalls. These projects even include those forest areas which fall under FRA 2006. The law covers the tribal people who are dependent on forests for their basic needs and development rights. The use of their land for development works means the complete displacement of these people. Even if these people appeal for a lawful hearing in such situations, it often goes unheard. In this regard, based on his research Dr Sujeet has brought out that in the state of Himachal Pradesh, 2,223 appeals were made under the Act in 2018 out of which only 136 were settled. In this way, by using the forestland for development, falling under FCA and FRA is harming the environment and the rights of tribal people. Sometimes, public welfare institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities are built on forestland. Later on, it comes out that these constructions were not for general welfare but corporate-houses. For example, Manav Bharti University in Solan is involved in about 36,000 fake degrees scandals. While using the forestland for development purposes, the governments should keep in mind that economic development should benefit people, and people shouldn't be sacrificed for the development. The development should be sustainable and protect the working-class people's interests and not the corporate sector. The Himachal Pradesh government should now seek the opinion and advice of geologists, meteorologists, environmentalists, and local people before embarking on these projects and develop them in such a way as to sustain the natural resources of the state. --- *Professor, Department of Geography, Punjabi University, Patiala; visiting professor, Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), New Delhi In 2014, landslides killed 500 people in the country. A recent avalanche in Uttarakhand has killed 58 people and left 150 missing unaccounted for in the tunnel. A landslide on February 16, 2021 near Garola on Kharamukh-Holi road in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh jammed vehicles for several hours.Road widening work was underway at the site, and some part of the mountain blowed up a day earlier with explosives. There are many incidents of landslides that have occured in the country. The landslides destroyed an entire village in Guwahati district of Assam on 18 September 1948, Malpa village of Uttarakhand in 1999, and Malin village of Maharashtra in 2014.In the mountainous district of Darjeeling in West Bengal, a 60-kilometer road length collapsed in 1968, and thousands of people were crushed to death. In Kerala, 40 people died in 2001 and 60 in 2020, while 67 people died in Mumbai due to landslide incidents. In 2013, about 4200 villages in Uttarakhand were affected, and countless locals were buried under the mountains. Landslides in Malin (2014) in Maharashtra, Kedarnath (2013), and Chamoli (2021) in Uttarakhand have been caused by the construction of dams in environmentally sensitive areas.Himachal Pradesh state also falls in the seismic sensitive zone. The Indian and Arabian tectonic plates are continually pushing India towards the Eurasian plate, which is likely to cause significant earthquakes from Jammu and Kashmir in the north-western region to Mizoram in the north-eastern region of the country. Geologists had expressed concern after the earthquake in Nepal, 2015 and stated that a major earthquake could strike in the Himalayan region at any time.A renowned scientist from the University of London, Dr Kesho warned in 2015 that a massive earthquake could hit Himalayan region. An earthquake's jolts were felt in Himachal Pradesh even more recently in 2021 on 12 February at 10:34 p.m. and 14 February at 3:49 p.m. It is pertinent to recall here that Nepal's earthquake of 2015 killed 30 people in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Even the earthquake's epicenter was at a distance of 300-400 kilometers away from the Indian border. This earthquake shook 11 states of our country.The state of Himachal Pradesh is nestled in the Himalayas. Himalayan mountains are also called the third pole of the world as it contains a considerable amount of glacial ice. This third pole melting at a rapid rate due to an increasing average temperature of the earth. Rapid melting of glaciers creating glacial lakes could lead to a tragedy in the state like the recent tragedy of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh acknowledged that the state would take up the issue of the Chamoli incident while implementing a plan for hydropower projects.Indiscriminate deforestation could lead to severe water shortages in the state in coming years as trees' roots absorb excess rain and snow water and gradually release this water which flows into rivers, springs, and waterfalls. These projects even include those forest areas which fall under FRA 2006. The law covers the tribal people who are dependent on forests for their basic needs and development rights. The use of their land for development works means the complete displacement of these people.Even if these people appeal for a lawful hearing in such situations, it often goes unheard. In this regard, based on his research Dr Sujeet has brought out that in the state of Himachal Pradesh, 2,223 appeals were made under the Act in 2018 out of which only 136 were settled. In this way, by using the forestland for development, falling under FCA and FRA is harming the environment and the rights of tribal people.Sometimes, public welfare institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities are built on forestland. Later on, it comes out that these constructions were not for general welfare but corporate-houses. For example, Manav Bharti University in Solan is involved in about 36,000 fake degrees scandals.While using the forestland for development purposes, the governments should keep in mind that economic development should benefit people, and people shouldn't be sacrificed for the development. The development should be sustainable and protect the working-class people's interests and not the corporate sector. The Himachal Pradesh government should now seek the opinion and advice of geologists, meteorologists, environmentalists, and local people before embarking on these projects and develop them in such a way as to sustain the natural resources of the state.--- On February 15, 2021, a three-judge green bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde allowed the Himachal Pradesh government to clear 614 hectares of forest and move ahead with 138 currently existing infrastructure projects. Apart from this, the bench also approved 289 other projects involving the diversion of 122 hectares of forest land subjected to certain conditions. Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. These projects were previously suspended from March 11, 2019 as the Supreme Court barred them under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980 and the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006. Like many people this past year, teenager Tyona Montgomery began experiencing a sore throat and a loss of sense of smell and taste in November that suggested she might have COVID-19. A positive test confirmed it, but she quickly felt better. Then, just two weeks later, new symptoms surged. She was disoriented, with a headache that was so bad she called an Uber to take her to a hospital in Baltimore. At first, doctors thought she might have meningitis or pneumonia. She developed a fever, an abnormally fast heartbeat, labored breathing, vomiting, and red eyes and lips. When her major organs appeared to be shutting down, Montgomery, who had turned 18 a couple of weeks before, was quickly transferred to Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Her heart functionthe ability to pump bloodwas severely diminished. Specialists were ready as soon as she arrived, rushing to treat her for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in childrenalso known as MIS-C. It's an exaggerated inflammatory response that appears in some children and teens weeks after they've contracted or been exposed to COVID-19. "[She was] very critical," said Dr. Ekemini Ogbu, a pediatric rheumatologist at the hospital and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Before she came in, I was already called," Ogbu said. "The critical care team anticipated she was going to need immune suppression and wanted to get all that right off the bat." The medical team started really high doses of steroids, intravenous immunoglobin and the immunosuppressant anakinra to tamp down her inflammation rapidly. At Hopkins, doctors also treated Montgomery with bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) using a breathing machine. The fact that Montgomery survived, with how severely ill she was, was an incredible feat, Ogbu said. Close brush with death Both Montgomery and her mom, Kristia Reynolds, who happens to be a rehabilitation technician for Johns Hopkins Medicine, remember those early, scary moments when they arrived at the children's hospital. "I was on a bed and all these people just rushed in there. I was feeling sleepy. And then a lady said, I just heard her saying, "Push seven units of epi' and she kept rubbing me, saying "Tyona, talk to me, baby, stay with me, baby,'" Montgomery recalls. When Reynolds arrived, she remembers how many people were in her daughter's room, so many that she knew her condition was extremely serious. She recalls someone telling her to be strong because her daughter needed her. Reynolds said the medical team later told her that if her daughter hadn't been transferred to the children's center, where she could get more specialized care for her rapidly declining condition, she would have died. "I thank God that Hopkins saved her life," Reynolds said. "I think it helped that they had seen it before. So, they knew what to do." MIS-C is a condition that causes widespread inflammation throughout the body, including in the heart, lungs, kidneys, blood, brain, skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract. It's linked to exposure to COVID-19, but experts still aren't certain why it happens and why it only happens in some children. More than 2,000 children and adolescents have been diagnosed with MIS-C since May in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Johns Hopkins Children's Center has seen dozens of cases, Ogbu estimated. "We're just learning about this disease. For some patients, the symptoms start gradually where they have a little diarrhea and maybe a few days after they have a fever and then some other symptoms. Then, for some people it's one day they have a headache and fever, and it's more rapid onset," Ogbu said. "We have followed many of those kids longitudinally at our clinic, so I can say for the most part many kids do well without any obvious sequalae [related conditions], but we're still following them, particularly with their heart function, because some remain with abnormal coronary arteries, which are the arteries that supply the heart," she explained. Scientists race to figure out cause of MIS-C The disease is most like another inflammatory illness known as Kawasaki disease, but there are also many differences. It's still not clear why this happens in some children. "We don't have the answer to that because even in a family of many children who all had COVID or are exposed to COVID, maybe one child in the family will have MIS-C, so we don't know and we don't see the correlation between siblings," Ogbu said. Researchers are now trying to identify risk factors for developing MIS-C. Among the areas of research investigators are pursuing is whether different antibodies in the blood, known as IgG and IgA, can shed light on this issue. In one study, published recently in the journal Nature Medicine, scientists pinpointed the types of antibodies that may be driving these inflammatory responses, including one specific to severe disease in adults and another specific to MIS-C in children. "We noticed children who developed MIS-C after COVID disease or exposure had high levels of a specific type of antibody called IgG," study co-author Dr. Lael Yonker, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Center, said in a hospital news release. "Normally, IgG acts to control an infection, but with MIS-C, the IgG is triggering activation of immune cells, which may be driving the severe illness seen in MIS-C." A second study, published March 2 in the journal Science, found that MIS-C patients showed increased activation of a blood vessel-patrolling CD8+ killer T-cells. Black and Hispanic children do seem to be disproportionally affected, but whether that's because there is a higher prevalence of severe disease in the adult population in those communities isn't clear. According to Ogbu, "What we are actually seeing is more severe forms of MIS-C, where many of our patients have to be admitted to the ICU [intensive care unit] rather than just the inpatient floor." In a recent story in The New York Times, Dr. Roberta DeBiasi, chief of infectious diseases at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., said that in the first wave of MIS-C cases, about half of patients needed treatment in the hospital's ICU. Now, 80% to 90% do, she added. What the danger signs are Children's Hospital Colorado has also treated dozens of children for MIS-Cabout 78 kids who had confirmed or suspected cases of the illnesssince last spring. They've also seen that number climb more rapidly. "It simply reflects the growing epidemiology. We saw a huge surge in cases here in the U.S. in October, November, December, January, and so at the same time, we also saw a lot more cases of MIS-C," said Dr. Sean O'Leary, who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at the hospital and is vice chair on the committee on infectious diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics. In most of the cases, the children had mild or asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, O'Leary said, before presenting with MIS-C. "We've been telling providers if you see a child that's had fever for, some people use three days, some people use four days, with symptoms that could be consistent with this condition, they should consider getting labs in that setting," O'Leary said. "If your child is looking sicker than you would expect with the typical illness, then you need to call your pediatrician." Other signs to look for include gastrointestinal distress, redness of the eyes and rash, even without a clear history of COVID-19 infection. Ogbu said, "There is a COVID-associated disease that's severe in children and it does happen. It's not as rare as we thought. We've seen a good deal of it and it's going to be here for a while." The American Academy of Pediatrics has been advocating strongly for vaccine studies in children, O'Leary said. One of the companies that is making a vaccine for adults now, Pfizer, has a vaccine study in children that could be submitting data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in one or two months, he noted. After nine days in the hospital, a warning for other teens Montgomery was released from the children's hospital on Christmas Eve, nine days after she arrived. There were some concerns that she might have lingering neurological symptoms, similar to a seizure she experienced while hospitalized, but testing was reassuring. Her heart function is normal now, but doctors will continue to monitor that. "It has been a rocky road," Reynolds said. "She still has good days and bad days. She sits here now, it's a good day. When we hang up, you don't know what to expect. That's the scary part." Before COVID-19 and MIS-C, Montgomery was just an average teenager who liked drawing, fashion and dancing. She had a goal of meeting Justin Bieber, and still does. "I feel good," Montgomery said. "So, my next thing is to meet Justin Bieber." Reynolds, who wanted to talk publicly about her daughter's illness to help others identify it before it's too late, said, "We're blessed because she's still here. So, we take the good with the bad and we just roll with the punches." Montgomery is concerned that people still aren't taking COVID-19 seriously enough. Before she had it, and MIS-C, she said she never realized how real it was. "I see a lot of people that are doing stuff without masks," Montgomery said. "I just want people to take it serious and be aware because it's scary." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. The Bachelorette vet Mike Johnson says Chris Harrison is 'learning' after coming under fire for comments made regarding a contestant who attended a plantation-themed college party. Harrison, 49, who sparked controversy after defending Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell and the 'Old South' party she attended in 2018, broke his silence about the scandal during an interview on Good Morning America. Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com, Johnson, 33, admitted he had not yet seen Harrison's interview, but was 'happy' to learn the long-time host had appeared on the show. 'I'm happy that he spoke on Good Morning America': The Bachelorette vet Mike Johnson says Chris Harrison is 'learning' after coming under fire for comments made regarding a contestant who attended a plantation-themed college party 'I have said in the past that I would love to see him go onto these different platforms and speak and say what he's learned, and I'm happy that he definitely spoke on Good Morning America. 'I haven't been able to see it yet though, but I know that the Chris that I know, that he's learning.' Harrison has come under fire after defending Kirkconnell, 24, who was pictured attending an 'Old South' party in 2018. In an interview with Rachael Lindsay, the show's first Black Bachelorette, Harrison attempted to claim the three-year-old photo should be seen in the context of the time. Under fire: Chris Harrison has faced major backlash after defending Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell and the 'Old South' party she attended in college Breaking his silence: Harrison addressed the scandal during an appearance on Good Morning America Harrison quickly faced backlash for the comments, apologized for 'not listening' to Lindsay during the interview and for 'speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism.' He also announced he would be 'stepping aside for a period of time' from the show. Emmanual Acho will now be stepping in for Harrison as the host of the upcoming After The Final Rose special. Johnson rose to fame two years ago as a contestant on Hannah Brown's season of The Bachelorette, and the fan favorite returned to small screens looking for love on Bachelor In Paradise. Now that he's single again, Johnson hasn't ruled out returning to the beaches of Mexico once again for a run on Bachelor In Paradise. Will you accept this rose? Mike rose to fame two years ago as a contestant on Hannah Brown's season of The Bachelorette Back for more: Johnson continued his search for love on the beaches of Mexico in the hit series, Bachelor In Paraidse 'I think that we have a lot of beautiful, diverse individuals from Peter's season, from Matt's season, from Clare and Tayshia's season that need a shot at love, and I will say, I ain't working out for no reason!' Asked if there was anyone in particular he had his eye on, he said: 'If I were to go on there, I'd definitely coming after someone in particular.' Johnson refrained from revealing the identity of this individual. For now, the Texas native has been meeting prospective girlfriends the quarantine way - over FaceTime. Despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic, Johnson has gotten creative with these virtual dates, even meeting one woman for wine at sunset. 'I ain't working out for no reason!' Johnson says he's open to returning to Bachelor In Paradise 'We were riding bikes, we packed a backpack full of picnic stuff, and we rode bikes out to our prospective location in the city that we were in, and we watched the sunset while drinking some wine on FaceTime together,' he explained. On top of looking for love, Johnson has also stayed busy professionally with his new partnership with Schick Razor Stubble Eraser. Johnson, who spent years shaving on a daily basis in the Air Force, raved about the product. 'I spent eight years in the Air Force, I had to shave every single day, and my hair texture is curly, so I've tried every razor under the sun,' he said. 'Quite honestly it's doing wonders for me. So I'm looking good, I'm feeling good. Now it's my new thing.' The Pound to Euro rose 0.32% today following the publication of the Eurozones latest Retail Sales report for January, which fell below forecasts by -5.9%. GBPEUR is currently fluctuating around 1.15. Bert Colijn, the Senior Economist at the Eurozone, commented on the data: Clearly, the restrictive measures on retail in some of the larger eurozone economies continue to bite. The retail shutdown in Netherlands and Germany started mid-December and lasted for all of January, which caused another sharp decline in activity. In France, sales also contracted sharply, again related to the canceled sales period and curfew put in place. As a result, the EURGBP slipped as the outlook for the Eurozones economy looking increasingly bleak. Now that Germany is expected to remain in lockdown until late March, EUR traders are becoming more cautious about the outlook for the Eurozones economy. Added to this, the European Unions (EU) vaccination rollout is leaving Eurozone markets cautious, as the nations now seek an overdrive to catch up with the rest of the world. UK Construction Beats Forecasts The Pound (GBP) rose against the single currency today following the publication of the latest UK Construction PMI for February. The figure beat forecasts and emerged out of contraction territory at 53.3. Tim Moore, the Economics Director at IHS Markit, commented on the report: Construction work regained its position as the fastest-growing major category of UK private-sector output in February. The rebound was supported by the largest rise in commercial development activity since last September as the successful vaccine rollout spurred contract awards on projects that had been delayed at an earlier stage of the pandemic. As a result, GBP investors are becoming increasingly confident about the outlook for Britains economy, now that both the services and manufacturing sector seem to be headed for a recovery in the months ahead. Additionally, Chancellor Rishi Sunaks 2021 Budget has also added to the growing optimism that easing lockdown measures will see a cautious recovery of the economy. Today also saw the UKs Covid-19 vaccinations rise to 31% of the population, while daily cases of Covid-19 are down -3,553 against last week. Could Growing UK Economic Confidence Buoy the Pound? Euro (EUR) will be looking ahead to tomorrows release of Germanys Factory Orders. Any improvement in the outlook for the Eurozones largest economy would be EUR-positive. Tomorrow will also see the latest French Trade Balance report for January. If this points to an improvement in the Eurozones economy, then the EUR/GBP exchange rate would head higher. The GBP/EUR exchange rate will continue to be driven by UK Covid-19 news in the coming days. As a result, we could see Sterling continue to head higher as UK market confidence improves as the nation draws nearer to easing lockdown restrictions. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A municipal worker walks near posters of Pope Francis, as he cleans a street next to St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral, where Pope Francis will hold a mass, ahead of his planned visit to Iraq, in Baghdad By Amina Ismail and Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq is deploying thousands of additional security personnel to protect Pope Francis during his four-day visit, which comes after a spate of rocket and suicide bomb attacks raised fears for the Catholic leader's safety. A senior security official who has been briefed on the security plan said that forces involved had been trained to deal with worst-case scenarios, from street battles to bombings and rocket attacks. The hypothetical threats were part of large-scale exercises in preparation for the March 5-8 visit, the first ever by a pope to Iraq. As well as concerns over violence, the country has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, further complicating preparations. Francis said he was making the trip to show solidarity with the country's devastated Christian community of around 300,000, just one fifth of the number before the U.S. invasion in 2003 and the brutal Islamist militant violence that followed. Pope John Paul II came close to visiting, but had to cancel a planned trip in 2000 after talks with the government of then-leader Saddam Hussein broke down. Over the past two months, attacks on civilians and military targets have increased. In January, Baghdad suffered its first major suicide bombing for three years when two people detonated themselves in a crowded market, killing at least 32. On Wednesday morning, 10 rockets landed on an airbase that hosts U.S., coalition and Iraqi forces. Hours after that attack, the pope reaffirmed he would be going to Iraq. The 84-year-old will visit four cities, including the former Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, where churches and other buildings still bear the scars of conflict. Francis will also visit Ur, birthplace of the prophet Abraham who is revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews, and meet Iraq's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric, 90-year-old Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. ARMOURED CARS Interior ministry special forces and the army will set up a security cordon around the pope wherever he goes, while the air force will operate drones around the clock to monitor the routes he will take. Story continues There will be an explosives team and counter-terrorism personnel on standby in case of any suspicious devices or street battles. Undercover intelligence and national security officers will also be deployed at gatherings attended by the pope, said the source, who declined to be named while discussing security matters. A technical team can also jam or cut off suspicious phone calls or radio communications, he added. Vatican officials and local Church leaders say they are satisfied that Iraqi forces will be able to provide adequate protection for the pope and his entourage. About 10,000 security personnel will be deployed to protect Francis, who may travel in armoured cars in what would be a departure from the norm for him. "Clearly, we are now talking about a trip where security needs are different than other trips, so it is much more probable, possible that an armoured car will be used," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Tuesday. SPRUCING UP THE STREETS Preparations for the pope's trip have been in high gear for weeks. Fresh asphalt has been laid on some roads he is expected to use, and dozens of workers have been applying fresh paint to sidewalks and planting flowers around churches he will visit. Billboards and posters depicting Francis have been erected, and pristine Iraqi and Vatican flags flutter side by side on buildings. Christians are generally excited about the historic trip, seeing it as a sign of solidarity after years of persecution, threats and exodus. But many ordinary Iraqis are less enthusiastic. "We appreciate that he's coming, but I don't understand why there is so much attention given to this trip," said Nour Ahmed, 21, a university student in Baghdad. Security forces and armoured vehicles filled otherwise empty streets surrounding two cordoned-off churches the pope is scheduled to go to in central Baghdad. "Our preparations from the security forces' standpoint are enough ... it's under the supervision of the Vatican delegation," said the joint operation's spokesman Tahseen al-Khafaji. Nearly two weeks ago, the Iraqi government banned most travel between provinces and imposed a nationwide curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and for 24 hours a day on Friday to Sunday, following a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections. A police official said the coronavirus precautions had made beefing up protection for the pope easier. "The potential risk comes from people's movements. Limiting people's movement will help us a lot in our work," said Khaled al-Mohanna, interior ministry spokesman. (Additional reporting by Philip Pullella in Rome and Jamal al-Badrani in Mosul; writing by Amina Ismail; Editing by Mike Collett-White) The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Tina Litzinger is currently responsible for Sherritt International Corporation's joint venture and wholly-owned sales and marketing teams for sales of commodity nickel, cobalt and fertilizer by-products. She is also Vice Chair of the Cobalt Institute, a member of the London Metal Exchange Cobalt committee as well as a member of Women in Mining Canada and the Institute of Corporate Directors. Nickel Institute President, Dr. Hudson Bates thanked Dan Chandler for his many years' contribution to the Nickel Institute. Welcoming Tina Litzinger to the Chairperson role he said, "We are delighted that the Nickel Institute will be led by a nickel industry professional of Tina's calibre. With more than twenty years' experience in the nickel industry and several years as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Nickel Institute, Tina has a proven track record. The staff and I look forward to working more closely with her to promote and support the proper use of nickel in appropriate applications." Tina Litzinger said, "I am honoured by the appointment. As the spotlight on nickel shines brighter given its integral role in the growing electric vehicle market, I look forward to leading the Institute's efforts in advocating for the effective use of nickel and educating various stakeholders on the industry's responsible and sustainable production practices. As well, as the first female chairperson of the Nickel Institute Board of Directors, I hope to influence increased diversity and inclusion within the industry's member companies, as can be seen in the makeup of the Institute itself." About Nickel Institute Nickel Institute is the global association of leading primary nickel producers. Our mission is to promote and support the proper use of nickel in appropriate applications. NI grows and supports markets for new and existing nickel applications including stainless steel; and promotes sound science, risk management, and socio-economic benefit as the basis for public policy and regulation. Through our science division NiPERA Inc. (https://nipera.org/), we also undertake leading edge scientific research relevant to human health and the environment. NI is the centre of excellence for information on nickel and nickel-containing materials and has offices in Asia, Europe and North America. www.nickelinstitute.org About Sherritt International Corporation Sherritt International Corporation is a world leader in the mining and refining of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores with projects and operations in Canada and Cuba. The Corporation is the largest independent energy producer in Cuba, with extensive oil and power operations across the island. Sherritt licenses its proprietary technologies and provides metallurgical services to mining and refining operations worldwide. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "S". Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1449892/Tina_Litzinger_Nickel_Institute.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1020738/Nickel_Institute_Logo.jpg SOURCE Nickel Institute Florida authorities say an Alabama man who was asked to give a urine sample in a Pensacola hospital barricaded himself inside a room with another patient and fought deputies following a standoff. The Pensacola News Journal is reporting that Timothy Rains, 26, of Loxley, was arrested Tuesday and charged with resisting arrest, obstructing police, kidnap-false imprisonment, four counts of battering law enforcement officers and two counts of aggravated assault on an officer or EMT. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with a $155,000 bond. According to public records, Escambia County deputies were dispatched to the hospital at about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday on a possible hostage situation. Earlier that afternoon, Rains had voluntarily checked himself into the hospital for an undisclosed medical condition. He was routed to the hospitals Behavior Unit because of a lack of available beds in the emergency room. After he was asked to change into a hospital gown and provide a urine sample, he reportedly became irate. Authorities say Rains became verbally aggressive toward hospital staff, punched a hole in a wall, ripped a scanning device off of a wall and threw it down a hallway. He then entered a female patients room and kept others from entering by placing his feet against the door and his back against the bed. He refused to let the woman leave the room. The female patient got off her bed and curled up into a ball in one corner of the room, while hospital maintenance staff members attempted to break a window to gain access to the room. Hospital maintenance workers attempted to use an aluminum crutch as a pry bar to wrench open the door. Then Rains grabbed the crutch and used as a weapon against them. Rains began swinging the crutch at people and attempting to stab people with it before staff was able to get it away from him, the report stated. When law enforcement arrived, two deputies reached through the broken window and grabbed Rains left arm. Other deputies forced the door open. Rains then began hitting and kicking the deputies near him, according to the report. One deputy wrestled with Rains, and Rains grabbed that deputys gun before a second deputy pinned Rains hand and kept him unable to pull the weapon from its holster. Rains was unaffected by a Taser shot, authorities said, and was able to gain control of another deputys Taser and pulled the trigger several times. Rains was shot a second time with a Taser to no effect, but then deputies were able to subdue him and arrest him. Hospitals around the state have started allowing visitors again for the first time in months. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 01:45:11|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over a preparatory meeting for the fourth session of the 13th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, on Thursday elected the presidium and set the agenda for the fourth session of the 13th NPC. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the preparatory meeting for the session. All the preparations for the annual session are completed, Li said, calling for efforts to ensure a good start for China's economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). A 174-member presidium was elected, with Wang Chen as the secretary-general of the NPC session. The meeting also adopted the agenda of the session: -- Deliberate the report on the work of the government; -- Review the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives through the year 2035; -- Review the report on the implementation of the 2020 plan and on the 2021 draft plan for national economic and social development, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2021; -- Review the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2020 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2021, and the draft central and local budgets for 2021; -- Deliberate the draft amendment to the Organic Law of the NPC; -- Deliberate the draft amendment to the Rules of Procedure for the NPC; -- Deliberate a draft NPC decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; -- Deliberate the work report of the NPC Standing Committee; -- Deliberate the work report of the Supreme People's Court; -- Deliberate the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. The presidium of the session met shortly after the preparatory meeting was closed. Attendees to the presidium meeting decided on the schedule of the NPC session, among other matters. The NPC will be in session for seven days this year from March 5 to 11. Prior to the preparatory meeting, the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee met for the meeting's preparation. Enditem A High Court action brought by a South Dublin woman against Facebook after a hacker took over and locked her out of her account have been resolved. The action was brought by Sylvia O'Mahoney who in proceedings against Facebook claimed that her constitutional right to privacy and GDPR rights have been breached. Ms O'Mahoney from Brighton Place, Foxrock, Co Dublin had also sought injunctions, including ones requiring Facebook Ireland Ltd to retrieve and return any data take from Ms O'Mahoney's account from the hacker, and that she be provided with all the activity on her account from January 1st last. The action was opposed by Facebook, which denied all of the claims made against it. It accepted that her account was hacked, but argued that it moved quicky to restore full control to her, and that all information she had sought concerning the hack had been provided to her. Ms O'Mahoney's action was launched last January, and was mentioned before the High Court on several subsequent occasions. When the matter came before the High Court on Thursday Ms O'Mahoney's counsel Jack Fitzgerald SC told Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds that matter had been resolved and court be stuck out. Rossa Fanning SC for Facebook said his side was consenting to the strike out. No details of the terms of settlement, which is understood to be confidential, ware given to the court. In her action Ms O'Mahoney claimed she first became aware of the hack in mid-December 2020 when her social media contacts started receiving messages from her account that she did not send, brought the proceedings against the social media company. Ms O'Mahoney, who had a Facebook account for many years claimed that after becoming aware that messages were being sent from her account, she tried to change her password on her account. She said she was unable to do so, and was denied access to her account. In a sworn statement to the court, she said her friends started getting messages from her account. including invitations to like the business page of a decking company. In addition, her name profile changed to a 'Luo Yihan' instead of Sylvia O'Mahoney, and was concerned about the nature of some of content of the messages. She reported this through Facebook's automated complaints system due to her concerns about the unknown person's access to her private information including photos and personal messages. She followed the instructions, including uploading picture ID, on at least two occasions, but said she claims she only got messages back in Chinese saying her issue had been resolved, which it had not. In reply Facebook said like all other internet and e-commerce entities it has issues with online security, and said it had taken steps to address her complaints within days of becoming aware of the problem. Facebook also said was no evidence before the court that Facebook could be held culpable for accounts being hacked. New York, NY, March 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To commemorate Womens History Month and International Womens Day, Silpada, the online destination for artisan sterling silver jewelry created by women for women, has partnered with The Loveland Foundation to help bring opportunities and healing to Black Women and girls across the country. Silpada will donate 40% of March proceeds from a specialty curated collection to The Loveland Foundation with a goal of raising $20,000. Through this partnership, Silpada is eager to connect its own social community with women in underserved communities, helping to provide financial support and access to therapy without stigma. In celebration of female strength and spirit, the charity collection will feature a new energy-inspired line of sterling silver designs featuring colorful stones. Each stone carries a unique meaning, such as Amazonite, a symbol of healing and good fortune, or Lapis, a symbol of wisdom and truth. The stones properties are meant to inspire and empower female wellness, self-care, and mental health in support of The Loveland Foundations mission. "Silpada is honored to be partnering with The Loveland Foundation on such an important cause that affects so many women and girls around the world. At the essence of Silpadas mission and community we believe strongly in the issues plaguing women from feeling empowered, connected, accepted, and beautiful. Mental health is a topic that needs a lot more attention, and particularly within our worlds most underserved communities. We strive every day to lift people up through fabulous jewelry and partnerships with organizations like The Loveland Foundation that are focused on richening communities and empowering women from diverse backgrounds. Were thrilled for this partnership and cant wait to see what kind of difference we can make together." Kayla Sirkin, VP Richline Digital About Silpada: Silpada was founded in 1997 by two friends with a mission to unite silver with sisterhood, celebrating uniqueness with artisan collaborations and jewelry finished with handmade details, built to last. In 2016, Silpada joined Richline Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company and the largest jewelry manufacturer in the U.S., enabling the brand to bring more jewelry to more people around the world. Today, the predominantly female-driven Silpada team remains committed to building upon its founders original vision: remaining the destination for unique, sterling silver jewelry while leading by example as a platform for community building and female empowerment. For more information, visit silpada.com. About The Loveland Foundation: The Loveland Foundation was established in 2018 by Rachel Cagle in response to her widely successful birthday wish fundraiser, Therapy for Black Women and Girls. Her enthusiastic social media community raised over $250,000, which made it possible for Black women and girls nationally to receive therapy support. Black women and girls deserve access to healing, and that healing will impact generations. The Loveland Foundation is the official continuation of this effort to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls. Through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours and more, ultimately, we hope to contribute to both the empowerment and the liberation of the communities we serve. For information, visit thelovelandfoundation.org. Attachments The Legend is extremely important for the Japanese carmaker, and that is why it was chosen to be the first recipient of a new safety system called Sensing Elite. Packed with features, it is supposed to take Honda into the world of Level 3 automated cars.Based on the widely available Sensing technology, the new suite comes with a wide number of features, ranging from active lane change assist with hands-off function to traffic jam pilot.The latter is, according to Honda, the first Level 3 automated technology to be recognized by Japanese authorities. It kicks in when the car runs in something called Adaptive in Lane Driving, and when it detects the car got caught in a traffic jam, it takes over acceleration, braking, and steering.Jam pilot is capable of driving and stopping repeatedly, maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front. For the duration of the crawling trip, the driver can watch television/DVD on the navigation screen or operate the navigation system to search for a destination address, which helps mitigate driver fatigue and stress while driving in a traffic jam.Honda seems to be planning a limited run of the Legend with the Sensing Elite, with 100 units to be sold in Japan only, starting March 5, for 11 million yen ($102,000).In its effort to realize a collision-free society based on its global safety slogan, 'Safety for Everyone,' Honda has long been at the forefront of the research and development of safety technologies, said the carmaker in a statement.The introduction of Legend equipped with the Honda SENSING Elite represents the next step forward in the area of advanced safety technology."For now, Honda did not say when it plans to offer the jam pilot on other cars it makes. DaBaby is spotted out for the first time since he and his associates were accused of perpetrating a violent attack on a 64-year-old homeowner over terms of a rental agreement. The rapper, 29, and several cohorts were seen casually shopped for sneakers at a streetwear store on Wednesday. DaBaby, born Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, had on a black bucket hat, a long-sleeve Burberry shirt, and cargo pants. Spotted: DaBaby is spotted out for the first time since he and his associates were accused of perpetrating a violent attack on a 64-year-old homeowner over terms of a rental agreement Shopping trip: The rapper, 29, and several cohorts casually shopped for sneakers at a streetwear store on Wednesday He also had a hefty chain around his neck and diamond studs in his ears. The BOP hitmaker made his way around the streetwear store with his cellphone in hand. In court documents filed in Los Angeles, 64-year-old Gary Pagar claimed he was 'beat, punched, spat on, threatened, shoved, and robbed' by DaBaby and his crew in confronting the rapper over the terms of their rental agreement. Pagar, said that he had rented the home to DaBaby for the purposes of 'a private vacation' with nine friends for an agreed-upon fee of $43,706. Violent brawl: In court documents filed in Los Angeles, 64-year-old Gary Pagar claimed he was 'beat, punched, spat on, threatened, shoved, and robbed' by DaBaby and his crew in confronting the rapper over the terms of their rental agreement Pagar said in legal docs that the entertainer violated the terms by shooting a music video at the abode instead, which included about 40 people, including a film crew. Pagar said that when he confronted the rapper on the day of the December 2, 2020 shoot, he was thrown to the ground by an associate of the rapper identified in court docs as DOE 1. About 30 people were on hand at the time of the incident, Pagar said, and no one came to his aid amid the onslaught from his much-larger attacker. The Charlotte, North Carolina native was seen in a nearby convertible in the clip as the confrontation unfolded. Casual: DaBaby, born Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, had on a black bucket hat, a long-sleeve Burberry shirt, and cargo pants Bling: He also had a hefty chain around his neck and diamond studs in his ears Pagar told the court that the rapper exited the vehicle to 'taunt, threaten and punch' him, stole his phone, and threatened him not to call the police. He told the court DaBaby 'sucker-punched' him in the face in a 'cowardly and despicable act,' bloodying him and knocking out his tooth. Pagar - who told the court his tooth was knocked out in the incident - said after he contacted authorities, DaBaby and his associates 'fled the scene leaving behind a damaged house and stealing valuable kitchenware as they left.' Pagar is asking for $117,910.48 in damages for the incident, as he said the upholstery and floor on the property were also defaced, a sculpture was broken and garbage was all over the place. Hefty sum: Pagar is asking for $117,910.48 in damages for the incident, as he said the upholstery and floor on the property were also defaced, a sculpture was broken and garbage was all over the place In other social media clips of the property, the rapper's associates are seen brandishing large sets of firearms on the premises. Also linked to the incident is Jake Paul, who was on hand for the video shoot, seated in a red convertible. Paul did not get physically involved in the skirmish. Dailymail.com has reacted out to DaBaby's reps for comment on the incident. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Former Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has cautioned drunkards not to take the Coronavirus vaccine and drink afterwards. Dr. Okoe Boye advised that a person is only permitted to take alcohol, two or three days after being vaccinated. The former Deputy Health Minister made this comment during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" on Wednesday, March 3. Various vaccines have so far been developed and passed through clinical examinations aimed to build a strong immunity against the disease. The Government of Ghana has currently procured 600,000 vaccines under the COVAX vaccine programme and is expected to take delivery of 42 million more vaccines to inoculate the citizenry against the deadly viral disease. However, some Ghanaians have raised concerns over the efficacy and how long the vaccines could last in the human body. Speaking to this on "Kokrokoo", Dr Oko Boye noted that alcohol create chemical reactions, so it's not advisable for persons to drink alcohol after taking the vaccine until after 48 hours. "48 to 72 hours after the vaccine, even if you're someone who drinks daily; avoid . . . so that when the vaccine triggers its process, at least in 48 hours (two days to three days), the foundation for producing your 'soldiers'; it is well on course," he stated. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sonu Sood is making everyone happy with his work at the moment. He is coming forward every day to help people. You must know that he helps needy people every day and this is why they remain in the headlines. However, this time a young man from Nepal has sought help from Sonu Sood. In fact, for the last 10 years, a young man has been struggling with a serious disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis, and due to this disease, he is unable to walk or sit properly. Doctors have asked her for surgery but she has no money. Now he has sought help from Sonu Sood in this matter. @ As soon as Sonu came to know about this, he immediately assured the help in his style. He responded to the Nepali youth and wrote in the tweet, "Atithi Dev Bhava: From India to our country Nepal will go running without sticks. Jai Hind." Now a lot of reactions are coming on this tweet by Sonu. By the way, if you remember, Sonu Sood has also overcome the problem of water in a village in the past. Actually, the actor is continuously winning the hearts of people with his work. Let us also tell all of you that Sonu Sood is seen helping people in their studies, treatment, work, jobs and everything. With this, people give him a lot of respect. You will be aware that if their idol is made in the village, then it is also worshiped elsewhere. By the way, Sonu has won a lot of hearts with his work and during the entire lockdown he also helped people a lot. Famous singer Shreya Ghoshal is pregnant, share photo showing baby bump Shraddha Kapoor's birthday video going viral, Rohan Shrestha seen holding the actress Shraddha Kapoor, who was seen with boyfriend Rohan Shrestha on his birthday, is engaged? Singer Kirtidan Gadhvi bags the Best Singer Male Award at Film Excellence Awards Gujarat 2019-2020 for 'Jai Maa Bhavani' 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. OMAHA, Neb., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Linx , the leading private jet management and Jet Card membership company in the United States, today announced the opening of its new private terminal in San Antonio, Texas. The new facilities for the Jet Linx San Antonio Base location, which first opened in 2011, follows a series of recent growth and expansion initiatives, including the grand opening of Jet Linx Minneapolis. The announcement was made by Jamie Walker, President and CEO of Jet Linx. "San Antonio has proven to be an extremely impactful market for Jet Linx, having doubled in membership within its first three years of operating and witnessing consistent growth," said Jamie Walker, President and CEO of Jet Linx. "For the past decade, our San Antonio Base team has excelled in providing both luxury and convenience to our local clients and we are excited to deliver an enhanced Five-Star experience, from arrival to take-off." In response to this growing demand, Jet Linx relocated the San Antonio Base to a new, standalone building at San Antonio International Airport. Planning for the new private terminal officially kicked off in July 2018, and the space came to final fruition in the fall of 2020. Spanning 4,000 square feet, the new private jet terminal comprises of a central lobby with individual workstations, a private conference room, fully stocked kitchenette and refreshment bar, as well as four large office spaces. Designed with a customer-first approach, the new facility features ample open space and large glass windows that line the building, amplifying natural light to create a warm and relaxed environment for Jet Card members and aircraft owners. The building also houses a 30,000 square-foot hangar, built with two industrial fans to maintain a comfortable temperature and accommodate clients' parked vehicles. "Our new location allows us to deliver an elevated private jet experience and an expanded array of amenities," said Steve Gentry, Jet Linx San Antonio Base Vice President. "Every aspect of our Jet Linx San Antonio terminal has been designed to meet and exceed the needs of our customers and team, and we look forward to providing our high-end personalized services, convenience and safety to new and existing clients in the region." The new terminal in San Antonio follows a record year of significant strategic growth for Jet Linx, during which time the Company launched Jet Linx Minneapolis, introduced two new Jet Card programs (the Affiliate Jet Card and the Enterprise Jet Card) and heightened its partnership portfolio. An industry leader in safety, Jet Linx also became the first aviation company to treat its fleet of aircraft and every private terminal with the BIOPROTECTUs System from ViaClean Technologies, which disinfects and provides long term antimicrobial protection for up to 90 days. Recent studies by two Centers of Excellence of the Global Virus Network (GVN) have proven the products efficacy against SARS-COV-2 for more than six weeks. In 2021, Jet Linx will continue expanding to new markets, and remains dedicated to enhancing its position, service, offerings and safety within the private aviation industry. For more information on Jet Linx San Antonio, please visit www.jetlinx.com/san-antonio . About Jet Linx Aviation Jet Linx Aviation is a locally-focused private jet company founded in Omaha, NE in 1999 as a more personalized approach to national private jet companies. Jet Linx offers two different ways to experience private aviation a guaranteed jet card and private jet management program providing its clients with an all-encompassing, local solution to all of their private jet travel needs. Jet Linx is an IS-BAO Stage 3, ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman safety rated operator, an accomplishment earned by less than one percent of all aircraft operators in the world. In 2019, Jet Linx became the only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star trained and accredited private aviation company in the world. In addition to establishing the independent global rating system's preeminent and unparalleled service standards for the in-flight experience, Jet Linx also collaborated with Forbes Travel Guide to develop their own customized, proprietary Jet Linx standards of service excellence. Jet Linx is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and has base locations in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Omaha, San Antonio, Scottsdale, St Louis, Tulsa and Washington D.C. For additional information, please visit the Jet Linx website ( www.jetlinx.com ). SOURCE Jet Linx Related Links https://www.jetlinx.com FAQ: What you need to know about Abbott's new mask order Sign up for our breaking newsletter or download the Express-News app to receive alerts. After four consecutive days without new coronavirus deaths, six people were reported Wednesday to have died from the virus. In the year since the virus has spread locally, it has killed 2,676 residents of Bexar County. Another 255 deaths are under investigation as to whether the coronavirus was a factor. . The six deaths occurred within the past two weeks. Among them were a Hispanic woman in her 60s at Northeast Baptist Hospital, a Hispanic man in his 60s at Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, a white man in his 80s at North Central Baptist Hospital, two Hispanic men one in his 80s and another in his 90s both at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital and a white woman in her 90s who was a resident of the Haven in Stone Oak assisted living facility. On ExpressNews.com: Tracking COVID-19 - coronavirus by the numbers in San Antonio and across the country At the daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday, officials commented on Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to discontinue the state mask mandate, effective in a week. Were trying to use every tool in the toolbox to combat this disease, said Rita Espinoza, Metro Healths chief of epidemiology. With the new mandate, it is setting up the possibility to start seeing an increase in cases. We know when that happens, a few weeks later well start to see an increase in hospitalizations and, again, well see an increase in deaths, she said. Metro Health reported 190 new coronavirus cases Wednesday a decrease from 249 cases the day before. In all, 197,255 people have been diagnosed with the virus since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations continued to improve Wednesday with 401 coronavirus patients being treated in local facilities 17 fewer than Tuesday. Forty-nine of those coronavirus patients were admitted within the past 24 hours. About 9.8 percent of all hospital patients Wednesday are being treated for COVID-19. Of the total patient count, 148 were in intensive care down 10 from Tuesday. The number of patients needing ventilators to breathe also decreased, from 90 Tuesday to 86 Wednesday. Vaccines School teachers and child care workers will be able to get vaccinated now, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday. The move was prompted by a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directing states to expand eligibility. The group includes those who work in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, as well as teachers, staff and bus drivers for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Licensed child care providers, as well as those who work for them, are also in this group, including center-based and family care providers. On ExpressNews.com: When and where Texans can get the COVID vaccine Currently front-line healthcare workers, residents and staff at long-term care facilities and people 65 years or older can get vaccinated. Those who are 16 years or older with certain health conditions like cancer, heart conditions, obesity, pregnancy and Type 2 diabetes, as well as other ailments, can also get the vaccine. About 14,000 local teachers and school personnel have already been vaccinated through University Health, according to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. Those individuals still had to meet the previous eligibility requirements. University Health will start prioritizing teachers and school staff March 22, Wolff said. Despite this new group having access to the vaccine, many who have been eligible are still struggling to book an appointment. Were now putting more people through a pipeline that hasnt been opened up by more vaccine supply, Nirenberg said. We have a disproportionate number that were already eligible - were thankful that teachers and other school staff now dont have to wait - but we need more supply to match that demand. WellMed, which manages two of the areas vaccine centers, has temporarily closed its reservation hotline but plans to reopen it Friday with the expectation it will receive 9,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. All appointment slots this week are full. To schedule an appointment once the hotline is back up, call 833-968-1745. The relatively affluent neighborhood in Montgomery County, Maryland where I live is experiencing something of a crime wave. Reports of crimes like carjacking and break-ins appear regularly on the neighborhood listserves my wife is on. And each week, it seems like the location of the crimes gets closer to our house. Sometimes the reports complain about the police. The complaint isnt that the cops are racist or too aggressive. Its that they arent proactive or responsive enough. My sense that theres a crime wave in our area is based on anecdotes. But the existence of a crime wave in the County is supported by numbers. According to a local news station: A significant increase in homicides and other crimes in Montgomery County, Maryland, so far this year has led county police Chief Marcus Jones to label it a disturbing trend. There have been eight homicides in 2021 already, with seven occurring in January, Jones said during a Montgomery County Council committee meeting Thursday. Its unprecedented in its own right, Jones said. Weve never had seven homicides in one month. Carjackings are on the rise, particularly in the Silver Spring and Bethesda areas, and robberies are also up, according to Jones. We have had nearly a 40% jump in armed robberies in the county, Jones said. Its something we really dont want to take our eyes off. Have my neighbors including the many with Black Lives Matter and other virtue-signaling signs on their lawns drawn a connection between the crime wave and the demonization of, and lack of support for, the police? I doubt it. (Maybe some neighbors figure their signs will protect them against crime, so they dont need the police.) The connection seems clear, nonetheless. The local news stations article continues: The [crime] spike comes as the police department faces challenges of recruiting and retaining officers. There are always going to be officers who have other career goals in mind, Jones said. More officers are resigning or retiring for a variety of reasons, including spouses finding careers in other areas, and intense public and media scrutiny of policing practices. Jones suggested that such scrutiny in the D.C. region is too much for some officers to handle, prompting them to leave the D.C. region for other parts of Maryland or other states entirely. Some of it is because they are actively looking for another police department where communities are more accepting of law enforcement, Jones said. Its not so much about whether or not theyre earning more pay. There are some who have completely left the profession. However, salary is sometimes a factor, Jones said, noting that new officers are paid more in other nearby jurisdictions, including Fairfax County, Virginia. The starting salary in Montgomery County for a police officer is among the lowest in the region. (Emphasis added) The chief didnt quite say it, but the Montgomery County government does not prioritize public safety in its thinking about policing. Thats clear, for example, from its search for a police chief, which I discussed here. Voters here elected a far-left County Executive, Marc Elrich. Will he rethink his views on policing, criminal sentencing, and illegal immigration in light of the current crime wave? I doubt it. Will voters rethink their preference in a County Executive in light not only of the crime wave, but also the jurisdictions lackluster performance in vaccinating people against the coronavirus? That seems more likely, but Im not betting on it, either. Lithuanian Foreign Minister to review relations with the Chinese. Observers predict the Baltic country will leave 17 + 1. Small EU nations increasingly dissatisfied with relations with China. Another blow to Beijing: Lithuania will open a commercial office in Taiwan. Vilnius (AsiaNews) - Lithuania has not benefited from the 17 + 1 forum which gathers China and 16 countries in central and eastern Europe, 12 of which belong to the European Union. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis words shared yesterday with local media confirm AsiaNews prediction that Vilnius wanted to review relations with Beijing on the basis of respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. According to Landsbergis, China is using 17 + 1 to divide Europe, a claim also shared by Estonian intelligence. He did not announce the country's withdrawal from the 17 + 1 group, but stated that his government is evaluating "the useful way to build one's relationship with China". Lithuanian experts and analysts, believe the divorce is imminent. Last month the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Parliament asked the nation leave the forum: the final decision could be taken jointly with the other two Baltic republics (Latvia and Estonia). Most of the EU nations in the 17 + 1 are dissatisfied with relations with Beijing. They show that Chinese investments, especially those linked to the new Silk Roads (the Belt and Road Initiative), have decreased instead of increasing, while the trade deficit with the Asian partner has widened. Six EU member states (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria) were represented by second-tier ministers at the annual summit of the 17 + 1 group, held online on 9 February, in what several observers interpret as an affront to Xi Jinping. In another setback for China, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy announced yesterday that the government will open a commercial office in Taiwan by the end of the year. Beijing considers the island a "rebel province" and opposes any diplomatic relationship between the Taiwanese authorities and those of other countries. According to various experts, after this move, Vilnius will have to prepare for the probable Chinese retaliation. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in opposition to the nomination of Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services: "FAIR's strong concerns about the fitness of Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are clearly reflected in the Senate Finance Committee's failure to support his nomination. "HHS is faced with unprecedented strains on its resources as the lead federal agency tasked with dealing with the COVID crisis. The Biden administration's reckless immigration policies have triggered another border crisis and a growing surge of people coming across our borders and multiplying demands on public health resources. Moreover, because HHS is also responsible for the care and housing of unaccompanied children entering the country illegally, the burden on agency personnel and resources will be even greater. "Unfortunately, Becerra repeatedly demonstrated during his time in Congress and as attorney general of California that his interests rest with those of illegal aliens not the American people. In California, Becerra was among those leading the effort to divert state resources to provide publicly subsidized health care coverage to illegal aliens, even as countless other urgent needs were neglected. "As secretary of HHS, it is almost certain that Becerra will divert much-needed assets to accommodate the needs of a growing number of illegal aliens, and away from Americans affected by the COVID pandemic. "As such, FAIR urges the U.S. Senate to reject his nomination as HHS secretary and demand that President Biden appoint someone who will serve the needs of the American people to lead the department." Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 or [email protected] ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Related Links http://www.fairus.org Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 00:52:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, as well as the starting point on a new journey to fully building a modern socialist China -- Premier Li Keqiang is expected to deliver a government work report, which will be closely watched as China has emerged among the first countries to restore economic growth. -- This year's two sessions are expected to garner more attention from home and abroad as lawmakers will deliberate a blueprint for China's development in the next five to 15 years. -- Topics including high-quality economic development, sci-tech innovation, rural vitalization, eco-protection and "dual circulation" development paradigm will draw much attention. -- The two sessions returning to its traditional March schedule is an embodiment of China's success in effectively containing the COVID-19 epidemic. BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body started its annual session Thursday in Beijing, kicking off the country's major political season of the year that will pool the strength for fully building a modern socialist country. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting of the session at the Great Hall of the People. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) "This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the starting point on a new journey to fully building a modern socialist China," Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told a gathering of more than 2,000 political advisors. Wang called on political advisors to devote their wisdom and strength to the construction of a modern socialist country. The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will begin its annual session on Friday. The dual meetings, also known as the "two sessions," will set the general national agenda for the whole year and beyond. Premier Li Keqiang is expected to deliver a government work report, which will be closely watched as China has emerged among the first countries to effectively contain the COVID-19 pandemic, reopen the economy safely, and restore economic growth. The country's development goals and plan for 2021 are expected to be unveiled in the report. China's GDP grew 2.3 percent year on year to hit 101.6 trillion yuan (about 15.7 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2020. The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Zhang Liqun, a research fellow with the Development Research Center of the State Council, said China's economy is resilient, has potential and will maintain sustained growth in 2021. Zhang, however, noted that the primary goal of economic development is not to seek a nice-looking GDP figure but to raise the quality of the growth and ensure people's well-being. This year's two sessions are expected to garner more attention from home and abroad as lawmakers will deliberate a blueprint for China's development in the next five to 15 years -- the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and the long-range objectives through the year 2035. "This year's two sessions do not just serve for the work in 2021, but also the goals and tasks set by the 14th Five-Year Plan. We must fulfill the great mission of our times," said Bai Chongen, a CPPCC National Committee member and dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University. The draft outline will be under the spotlight for its comprehensive and targeted measures echoing China's new development philosophy, said Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). Workers are busy at the factory of Zhuolang Intelligent Machinery Co., Ltd. in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Topics including high-quality economic development, sci-tech innovation, rural vitalization and eco-protection will also draw much attention, Xin said, adding that "dual circulation" development paradigm will be another highlight, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. The 14th Five-Year Plan will further clarify how China will implement the dual circulation strategy and achieve high-quality development, observers say, noting that unleashing domestic demand is crucial to driving China's growth, but this new development paradigm does not mean China will backpedal on its opening-up drive. China's pursuit of self-reliance "is never to close its doors but to build a new development paradigm based on wider and higher-level opening-up," explained Wang Yiming, a member of the CPPCC National Committee. Photo shows a China-Europe freight train bound for Helsinki, Finland, departing from Putian Station of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) During the past year, China had actively cooperated with other countries and regions. It signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement in November and completed investment agreement negotiations with the European Union in December. "China's economy has been deeply integrated into the global economy. As China enters the new stage of development, its ties with the world economy will get even closer," said Ji Zhiye, former head of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations who is also a member of the CPPCC National Committee. Ji said the international capitals are optimistic about the Chinese market thanks to the country's business environment and economic resilience. The two sessions returning to its traditional March schedule is an embodiment of China's success in effectively containing the COVID-19 epidemic. The arrangement reconfirms that China's political, economic and social life is returning to normal, injecting confidence into the world amid the fight against the virus. Zhang Wenhong, head of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the Shanghai-based Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, said he is hopeful that China will not have any major COVID-19 resurgence this year thanks to its anti-epidemic experience and strong control measures. Promoting vaccination across the country is the focus of the next stage of epidemic control, according to Zhang, who also heads Shanghai's COVID-19 clinical expert team. As of the end of February, more than 52 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China. The world today is caught between a pandemic of the century and momentous changes never seen over the past one hundred years, bringing about many risks and challenges for China on its way ahead. Members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) China's nationwide unity is the most solid support for overcoming all kinds of difficulties, and the two sessions are an important platform to pool the country's strength, said Luo Jie, an NPC deputy and head of the Taihe Hospital in Shiyan, central China's Hubei Province. Embarking on the new journey, this year's two sessions will unite the people to concertedly strive toward a brighter future with great opportunities, said another NPC deputy Cui Genliang. (Video editor: Zhang Xinyi) "Claudine's extensive expertise in multicultural marketing, data-driven research and producing diversity events at the ANA and on the agency side will be invaluable to the continued evolution of AdvancingDiversity.org and the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors ," said Myers. "Together with Phil and our MediaVillage team, we can fast forward toward our goal of activating real change in advancing diversity and belonging within the advertising, media and marketing industry." Prior to being named AdvancingDiversity.org's Head of Partner Development, Waite (pictured) was Director of Content Marketing in the Conferences and Committees division at the Association of National Advertisers (ANA). Before the ANA, she worked at Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, leading research, consumer insights and content strategy, and while at Time Inc., led brand-building programs for a multitude of clients. Waite holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Africana Studies from Vassar College. "I am excited to join in the work MediaVillage and AdvancingDiversity.org have been pushing forward for years," added Waite. "So many companies only pay lip service on the diversity equation but Jack has been ahead of the curve on Advancing Diversity from Advocacy to Activism." Waite will lead AdvancingDiversity.org membership development and support Advancing Diversity Council committees (Research & Measurement, Education, Communications, Financial Solutions) and Experiences (Hall of Honors, 1stFive, Conversations with the Community). She will serve as a spokesperson, advancing the media and advertising industry as a welcoming home for diverse team members. "I'm looking forward to collaborating with Claudine to create our 2021 Advancing Diversity Week in May and strengthen partnerships with our over 150 member organizations through MediaVillage's unique value proposition," said McKenzie. For additional background on AdvancingDiversity.org, read Myers' call to action to the media industry titled "Black Leaders Matters: Four Immediate Actions to End Systemic Bias in the Media Business." For content created to explore diversity issues within the industry, visit The Pool podcast hosted by McKenzie; the WomenAdvancing video interview series; and the Multicultural Media and LGBT+Advancing columns. For interviews with Claudine Waite, Philip McKenzie, and Jack Myers, or for more information on AdvancingDiversity.org, please contact Diane Stefani at [email protected]. ABOUT MEDIAVILLAGE + ADVANCINGDIVERSITY.ORG: At MediaVillage + AdvancingDiversity.org, we've built the most sophisticated platform for B2B marketing, focused on advancing revenue growth through education (stakeholder and team) and diversity. Our proven platform is enabling more than 150 leading companies, organizations, and non-profits to reinvent their B2B investments, generating measurably increased effectiveness and improved cost efficiencies. In a turn-key tech-enabled managed services and fully integrated model dedicated to activating results, we optimize our members' investments in earned media, paid media, digital advertising, social media, perceptions research, market intelligence, programming/content promotion and diverse talent advancement. Our membership model empowers activation at levels appropriate to each members' B2B goals. Underpinned by the MeetingPrep.com content recommendation engine, MediaVillage Knowledge Exchange, AdvancingDiversity.org, Watch Listen & Learn, TV/Video Download, and The Myers Report enable our members' teams to integrate across responsibilities, break down time-wasting silos, and bring B2B marketing into a cost efficient, and future-facing platform. Become a MediaVillage subscriber here and learn more about us at www.AboutMediaVillage.com. Follow @mediavillagecom @advdiversity @jackmyersbiz SOURCE MediaVillage Related Links mediavillage.com Islamabad, Mar 4 (PTI) Pakistan said on Thursday that it never shied away from talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues. Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry made the comments at the weekly media briefing when asked about the possibility of talks with India in the wake of new understanding between the Directors General Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries. 'Pakistan has never shied away from talks and has always called for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes' including Jammu and Kashmir, he said. India last month said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility. 'Our position is well-known. India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence,' External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. 'The onus is on Pakistan for creating such an environment.' Chaudhry said that the DGMOs of India and Pakistan in their recently held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact reviewed the situation along the Line of Control (LOC) and all other sectors, agreeing to strictly observe all agreements, understandings and ceasefire. India and Pakistan had announced on February 25 that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors. Chaudhry said Pakistan has consistently underscored the need for implementation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding in letter and spirit for maintenance of peace along the Line of Control. 'We have also maintained that escalation along the LOC is a threat to regional peace and security. The recent development is very much in line with Pakistans consistent position,' he said. To a question about the US terming Kashmir as union territory of India, he said Pakistan already conveyed to the US side that 'the reference is inconsistent with disputed status' of the region. Story continues Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship. The relationship dipped further after India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The relations deteriorated after India in August 2019 announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories. PTI SH ZH ZH Rishi Sunak was under pressure today to explain a 30billion cut in cash for the NHS hidden in his Budget. Documents released alongside his fiscal showcase yesterday revealed there is a planned cut of 30 billion in day-to-day spending at the Department for Health and Social Care from April of this year, falling from 199.2 billion to 169.1 billion. NHS England will see funding fall from 147.7 billion to 139.1 billion from next year, unless ministers commit to more funding for the health service. It came as the head of the independent spending watchdog revealed that the Budget offered no cash past the end of the 2021-22 financial year to deal with the legacy of the pandemic. Richard Hughes, chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said the Government had provided 'no explicit additional resources' for things like catching up on all the operations that have been delayed, as well as an ongoing vaccination programme. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer lashed out at the cut in funding on a visit to a hospital in the Midlands today. 'I think a lot of people will be pretty astonished to know that the day-to-day funding for the NHS is being cut in yesterday's Budget, hidden in that Budget was that cut,' he said while touring the Royal Derby Hospital, which he said was 'still struggling with Covid cases'. 'What's coming next is the backlog of cases - 4.5 million people on waiting lists, understandably not been dealt with in the last year, so the NHS is going to have a really hard year and I think most people will be pretty astonished that the funding is being cut. Documents released alongside his fiscal showcase yesterday revealed there is a planned cut of 30 billion in day-to-day spending at the Department for Health and Social Care from April. Mr Sunak pictured with the PM in Middlesbrough today Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer lashed out at the cut in funding on a visit to a hospital in the Midlands today. 'If you don't fund the NHS day-to-day you are heading for trouble and if we have a health crisis we are going to have an economic crisis and so the two are linked.' Boris Johnson said the Government has already invested 'huge quantities' into health and social care throughout the coronavirus pandemic when asked what the sector's workers had to do to get a pay rise or investment. The Prime Minister, speaking to reporters on a visit to Teesport, Middlesbrough, said: 'We have invested already in the health and social care sector in huge quantities throughout the pandemic. 'And I think the whole country is massively grateful to healthcare workers and social care workers for what they have done. 'About 52 billion went into the NHS just to help cope with the pandemic, 1.5 billion into social care, and 35 billion to support local councils in all sorts of ways.' Pressed on why there was no pay rise for health and social care workers in the Budget, Mr Johnson said: 'A lot of these are obviously in the private sector, the care home workers. 'What we've done is had record increases in the living wage, and again the living wage will be going up, which will be supported by the Government, again in April. Our debt to those workers is massive.' Mr Hughes said the Government has provided a lot of additional resources over the last year to deal with the cost of the pandemic. But speaking on BC Radio 4's Today programme he added: 'But it's provided basically no explicit additional resources beyond the coming financial year for the legacy of the pandemic for public services. 'So if we think we're going to need an annual revaccination programme, an ongoing test and trace capacity, to catch up on all the operations which the NHS hasn't been able to do over the past year... 'At the moment the Government hasn't set aside any additional resources for that activity, and in fact what it's done is cut about 15 billion of non-Covid spending beyond next year. 'So it's actually set itself up for more difficult spending rounds coming up this autumn, because it's put aside even fewer resources to deal with those those legacy issues coming out of the pandemic.' Supporting Indonesian SMEs to Thrive in E-commerce Era and Aiming for Regional Expansion JAKARTA, Indonesian, March 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese New Year marks the closing for the SiCepat Series B Financing Round totaling 170 Million USD, which makes this round the largest Series B in Southeast Asia. Participants of this round are Falcon house Partners, Kejora Capital, DEG (the German Development Finance Institution), Asia-based Insurer, MDI Ventures (by Telkom Indonesia), Indies Capital, Pavilion Capital (Temasek Holdings subsidiary), Tri Hill and Daiwa Securities. SiCepat supporting Millions of Indonesian SMEs to Thrive in E-commerce Era and Aiming for Regional Expansion Southeast Asia digital economy especially e-commerce and social commerce industry are accelerated during the pandemic, which increase the demand of logistic services with better service quality. "This financing round is designed to further fortify SiCepat's position as the leading end-to-end logistics service provider in the Indonesian market and potentially to explore expansion to other markets in Southeast Asia. We are even more prepared to support and empower millions of SMEs and local businesses not only to survive, but to thrive during these challenging times." said The Kim Hai, Founder and CEO of the parent company Onstar Express. The profitable company aims to further invest into its logistics services and infrastructure. It currently provides Last-mile, Warehousing & Fulfillment, Commerce-Enabling Services, Online Distribution and Middle-Mile Logistics. With this unique set-up, Sicepat is considered one of the few players in the Indonesian logistics market that provides end-to-end logistics services for the new age economy serving e-commerce and social commerce. Sebastian Togelang, Managing Partner of Kejora Capital and Director of the company strongly believes that these market segments create favorable growth opportunities. He adds, "Indonesian e-commerce market stood at US$32 billion in 2020 with a projected 5-year CAGR of 21% to become US$82 billion industry by 2025. We believe that SiCepat is ideally positioned to serve customers from e-commerce giants to uprising social commerce players which contribute an estimated 25% to the total digital commerce economy." Story continues SiCepat was bootstrapped in 2014 as a last-mile delivery services company for social commerce merchants in Indonesia. Since then, it has expanded its last-mile delivery to cater some of the largest e-commerce platforms in Indonesia. Recently, the company has undergone consolidation of its key logistics assets across warehousing, fulfillment and e-Distribution to provide a comprehensive suite of logistics services to the market. The company has been profitable and able to fulfill more than 1.4 Million packages per day in 2020. After only a few years of operation in this market, it has already positioned itself as one of the leading players among the last mile delivery service providers with timely delivery and high customer satisfaction. SiCepat is expected to continue to build upon its robust infrastructure and enhanced customer experience to serve more entrepreneurs and tap into neighboring countries. SOURCE KEJORA VENTURES Former Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder is taking her career trajectory into her own hands after being fired from the Bravo series due to resurfaced racist statements in June. On Thursday the 32-year-old reality star announced her latest venture a parenting podcast called The Good The Bad The Baby on the exclusive pay-for platform Patreon. A smart move on her part after comments made on her last podcast contributed to her firing, Schroeder said she plans to talking about embracing what she calls 'the good the bad and the messy' parts of parenthood. Latest venture: Stassi Schroeder Clark, 33, announces her new pay-for parenting podcast on Patreon called The Good The Bad The Baby with husband Beau Clark as they promise fans exclusive videos and listening experiences for $8.99 a month Parenting mode: The former Vanderpump Rules star was fired in June on account of racist and controversial comments made on her last podcast Straight Up With Stassi which was removed from all platforms subsequently Stassi teed up a bit about what her subscribers could expect if they pay for access to she, husband Beau Clark, and their newborn Hartford's lives for $8.99 a month. 'Becoming a parent is literally the best, most f***ing overwhelming magical chaotic incredible thing that's ever happened to me and I am so excited to start sharing the good, the bad, the messy, the little moments, the wtf?! and everything in between. 'Join our family on Patreon where we have started a brand new exclusive podcast called The Good The Bad The Baby. We'll be sharing the real moments as they happen, as well as exclusive videos and more once we figure this s**t out!,' she wrote. Schroeder shared that listeners could expect '3 podcasts per month' and 'exclusive videos,' announcing the venture while sharing a montage of her journey to parenthood. Figuring it out: Schroeder teed up what her fans could expect to see as she said, 'We'll be sharing the real moments as they happen, as well as exclusive videos and more once we figure this s**t out!' Bump it: Schroeder shared that listeners could expect '3 podcasts per month' and 'exclusive videos,' announcing the venture while sharing a montage of her journey to parenthood Wholesome content: Perhaps in an effort to continue to do damage control after her controversial past, Stassi has been playing up her new role as a mother Her last podcast Straight Up With Stassi was subsequently removed from all streaming platforms when her controversial statements resurfaced in June (amid the Black Lives Matter movement), prompting her firing from Vanderpump Rules. A laundry list of offenses that caused her to be dropped from the show, endorsement deals, and her talent agency, the downward spiral started when her former Black castmate Faith Stowers revealed Stassi and castmate Kristen Doute had jokingly called the cops on her (due to her skin color) for a crime she never committed. 'I guess this woman was robbing people. And they called the cops and said it was me. This is like, a true story. I heard this from actually Stassi during an interview,' Stowers said. Additionally Schroeder tweeted a link to the Daily Mail article that detailed the incident and wrote, 'hey tweeties, doesn't this ex #pumprules thief look familiar? someone put her on mtv & gave her a platform for press. I didn't wanna go there but I'm going there.' In 2017 she and a Summer House cast member discussed the '#OscarsSoWhite' hashtag on her podcast where more controversial statements ensued. Privileged past: Her downward spiral started when her former Black castmate Faith revealed Stassi had jokingly called the cops on her (due to her skin color) for a crime she never committed; Stowers pictured 2017 Bad behavior: Stassi and her castmate Doute were given the axe from Bravo in June after their racist cop-calling behavior resurfaced, prompting the series to clean house along with two other castmates who tweeted racist things; pictured with Doute 2018 'I'm like, really sick of everyone making everything about race. I'm kind of over it,' she said, adding 'Everyone giving their impassioned speeches about race and all of that stuff, I'm like, 'Why is it always just about African Americans?'' Additionally she had posted a signature 'OOTD' (outfit of the day) photo where she dubbed her look as 'Nazi chic' in 2017, later downplaying any offense as she called it a 'joke.' In June she acknowledged her past shortcomings ahead of her firing via Instagram while apologizing to Faith. 'It is important that I continue to take accountability for what I have said and done, while pushing myself to do better. I have grown significantly from the person I was then, and I am still filled with remorse and regret for the hurt I caused.' She has now been playing up the mommy content on social media after announcing her pregnancy just a week after getting fired from Bravo, welcoming her daughter Hartford with Beau in January. We are fortunate to have CBGF as an investor in Xello. This additional funding will help us increase top line growth and fully recognize our goal to help make every student, regardless of background, ability, or pathway, future-ready," said Xello CEO and Co-Founder Matt McQuillen. To support expansion of its college and career readiness initiatives, Xello, the award-winning program that helps K-12 students prepare for college, career and future success, has secured a follow-on investment round from the Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF). Xello received an initial minority equity investment from CBGF in May 2020. We are fortunate to have CBGF as an investor in Xello. This additional funding will help us increase top line growth and fully recognize our goal to help make every student, regardless of background, ability, or pathway, future-ready," said Xello CEO and Co-Founder Matt McQuillen. "The entire team at CBGF have been incredibly supportive and thoughtful partners for Xello. Were flattered by how much they believe in our vision and cant wait to unlock new opportunities with this investment. The latest round of funding will fuel Xellos strategic growth opportunities, including investments in sales and marketing, new partnerships, and enhanced program capabilities. We are proud to continue to support Matt McQuillen and the Xello team who continue to execute on their growth strategy despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic. We believe that Matt McQuillen and his team will be able to accelerate their plans with this additional capital, and be positioned to accelerate their offering in a post-pandemic world, said George Rossolatos, CEO of CBGF. Over 9 million students and educators use Xello, and the company continues to grow. In 2020, Xello added new strategic partners, K-12 district customers, and add-on revenue streams to better support and scale its college and career readiness programs. To learn more about Xello, please visit https://www.xello.world About Xello Xello is a modern K-12 college, career and future readiness program that helps students achieve a deeper understanding of themselves, explore pathways, and plan for the future. Using Xello's discovery-based model, students build knowledge, real-world skills and confidence to prepare for the rapidly evolving world of post-secondary academics and work. Xello supports multiple student pathways and helps students build essential skills. Over 9 million students and educators work with Xello in their efforts to become future-ready. Learn more at https://www.xello.world. About Canadian Business Growth Fund The Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF) provides long-term, patient, minority capital to ambitious entrepreneurs to fund growth and expansion of mid-market businesses with investments between $3 and $20 million. An evergreen investment fund with capital commitments of $545 million, CBGF is committed to long-term partnerships with the companies it invests in. As part of its mission to drive growth, CBGF connects business leaders and sector experts to help its partner businesses achieve their full potential. For companies seeking investment opportunities, please email us at contact@cbgf.com. To learn more, please visit us at http://www.cbgf.com. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this year that construction would begin in 2022. Katko said while in the Oval Office, he again invited Buttigieg to visit Syracuse to tour I-81. He sent a letter in February inviting Buttigieg to visit central New York. "I told him he's a rockstar in Syracuse. Everyone wants to meet him," Katko said with a laugh. "He was very receptive to coming up. I talked to him about how we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something transformative with that highway. We need to do it. I would love to have him come up and hear from all sides. He said he would love to." But the main focus of the meeting was the pursuit of a large infrastructure package. Katko agrees with Biden that it must be "substantial." But he told the president that while he's prepared to make a deal and willing to compromise, Biden must urge Democratic leaders in Congress to allow House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members to work in a bipartisan manner. Biden, he said, is willing to do that. China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), has the power and responsibility to make a decision at the constitutional level to improve the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), a spokesperson said Thursday. Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fourth annual session of the 13th NPC, made the remarks one day before the top legislature's annual session begins. Calling the electoral system of the HKSAR an important part of its political structure, Zhang said what happened in recent years has proven the need to improve the system in steps with the times in order to provide a sound institutional guarantee for fully and faithfully implementing "one country, two systems" and fully implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong." The NPC will deliberate a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR during the upcoming session, according to the agenda. On October 25, 1942, he writes from New Guinea to say he had been in action against the Japanese and had been missing in action for about seven weeks and lost all his photos of Dorothy. He says any hopes of being with her for Christmas seemed unlikely because the Army has different ideas from mine. Dorothy Banfield. Little more than a month later, on November 29, 1942, he was involved in heavy engagements near Gona Mission. In the late afternoon, as he and several mates made their way towards a Japanese bunker, he was shot in the head and killed instantly. He is believed to have been 21. Dorothy then writes to Reginald Saunders, who is serving with the 2/7th Battalion, telling him she was Harrys girlfriend. Reginald, somewhere in New Guinea, writes back in May 1943, saying: I received your letter today, I was very surprised to hear from you as I did not know Harry had any particular girlfriend. I have been in action against the Japanese and have been able to avenge Harry a couple or more times ... If I have the chance when I am in Melbourne again I will come out and see you. And he did. On April 3, 1944, at St Matthews Church of England, Prahran, Melbourne, Reginald married Dorothy Mary Banfield, who was serving in the Womens Auxiliary Australian Air Force. But, as later letters reveal, the relationship appears challenged by the distance of his service. From the Korean War in January 1950, he writes: I am sorry I wrote you such a nasty old letter, but ... [erased] I still love you with all my heart and soul. Further on: Please dont take any notice of my sour letters because I cant help it if I get lonely and homesick ... Believe me dear I love and I trust you in spite of what I say. Lieutenants Reginald Saunders and Tom Derrick VC congratulate each other on receiving their commissions in November 1944. The two men shared a tent during their officer training. Credit:Australian War Memorial He spends most of a letter in December 1951 affirming his love for Dorothy and the three girls and ends with a poem to her. Michael Bell, Indigenous liaison officer at the memorial said the letters were moving and emotional, written from the field of battle. You can see the human side of him. Head researcher Robyn van Dyk said she could see that the distance had created some tension. One letter [January 1950] looks to me like it has been kept and folded and unfolded a lot. The letters were certainly something that was held on to and valued. I see two people who love each other but time and distance is taking its toll on their relationship ... I think as a society it is something we really do need to come to terms with. Aunty Glenda Humes, daughter of Reginald Saunders and Dorothy Banfield. Credit:Summer Humes Auntie Glenda Humes said she wished she had known Harry. She said her mother would read the letters every Anzac Day. SEOUL, South Korea A transgender woman who was expelled by the South Korean military last year after her gender-reassignment surgery has been found dead at her home south of Seoul, the police said on Thursday. The authorities said they were investigating the cause of death of the woman, Byeon Hee-su, 23, whose body was found on Wednesday at her home in the city of Cheongju by emergency responders. They were alerted after a local mental health center that had been counseling her reported that it could not contact her. Ms. Byeon, who had been a staff sergeant in an army tank unit, was discharged from the military in January 2020 following her surgery. She had wanted to continue her service in the army, but a military panel declared her unfit to serve. She became the first active-duty soldier in South Korea to be referred to such a panel because she had had a sex-change operation. Since her dismissal, Ms. Byeon had campaigned vigorously to be reinstated, arguing that there was no reason she could not fulfill her duties. Denmark has refused to acknowledge Assad as the victor of the Syrian war, writes Sowt Al-Asima. The Danish government rejected a proposal put forward by a liberal opposition party, calling for communication with the Syrian regime to return the Syrian refugees on the deportation lists. We do not support the proposal of the Liberal Party, said Danish Foreign Minister, Jeppe Kofod, in a written comment. The foreign affairs rapporteur, Rasmus Stocklund, considered that accepting the proposal would send the wrong message, that Denmark views the regimes head, Bashar al-Assad, as the victor, according to the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, in late February. Former Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lkke Rasmussen, also rejected his partys proposal, saying, my position has not changed. We should not cooperate with the Assad regime. At the present time, Denmark cannot send rejected asylum seekers to Syria by force, due to the European Convention on Human Rights. Denmark has signed the convention, stating that it would not send rejected asylum seekers if they would be at risk of torture or political persecution in their countries of origin. The foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition party, Mads Vogled, had called on the government to agree with the regime to return the rejected refugees, including guarantees that the returnees would not be persecuted. Vogled called for pressure on his countrys government to enter into dialogue with the regime at the level of the European Union, despite his acknowledgment that the regime is a criminal dictatorship, as he described it. He wrote on his Facebook account, last Monday: I would like to emphasize that the Liberal Party does not believe that Denmark should recognize the Assad regime () it is a criminal dictatorship, but we should discuss what we do with all the Syrian asylum seekers in Europe as Syria becomes safer around Damascus and how they can safely return to their country. The Danish Refugee Council had decided earlier to stop granting renewal of temporary residency for refugees pending deportation to their country. The government began to actually withdraw residency permits from some refugees, but the Refugee Complaints Board did not approve the deportation of Syrians for several reasons, including the risks to their lives. Strict policies The number of Syrian refugees in Denmark is estimated at 44,000, of whom 35,000 entered the country after 2011. Some refugees obtained political asylum, temporary residency, and temporary protection residency status. However, in 2020, the European country recorded a significant decrease in the number of asylum applications, by 57%, due to its strict immigration policies, according to the Ministry of Immigration. According to the ministry, 1,547 people applied for asylum in Denmark in 2020, while 2015 saw the submission of 21,316 applications. Denmark announced in July of last year that some asylum seekers from Syria could be returned to the governorate of Damascus, after an assessment made by the Immigration Department. The assessment decided that the region was no longer dangerous enough to grant its residents asylum, which led to the cancellation of some asylum claims. 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. L.A. Praise Network Now Broadcasting on Channel 6.2 L.A. Praise Network, a 24-hour gospel digital television station, is on the air with ongoing programming on Channel 6.2. The Black-owned channel, which reaches five counties in Southern California, is also simulcast at www.lapraise.network. Thanks to the Internet, our channel is available worldwide, taking the wings of praise, preaching and powerful testimonies to the four corners of the earth, said Minister Gregg Bynum, founder and president of L.A. Praise Network. A native of the Watts district in South Los Angeles, Bynum has a long history of working with local churches and their outreach ministries. He also has extensive broadcasting experience and after receiving the vision to start a gospel channel in L.A., Bynum immediately sought out opportunities to make it a reality. Joining Bynum is Bishop Ernest Johnson of Hosanna Ministries, who will serve as vice president of operations. Johnson, who brings decades of broadcasting skills, worked over the years at Comptons Religious Access Channel, Philadelphia TV and with Paul Crouch and Terry Hicky of TBN. ADVERTISEMENT I have traveled the world sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also produced spots for Oprah Winfrey, Maury Povich, Marylyn Kagen and many other national talk shows as well as produced films and television programs, said Johnson. The L.A. Praise Networks vision is to reach souls with the inspiration of Gods music with its uplifting praise and worship and also give a platform to local ministries to reach a larger audience outside their churches and extend their pulpits via outreach efforts, reaching the lost at any cost, he added. For more information or to join the soul winning efforts of L.A. Praise Network, log onto our website at www.lapraise.network or lapraise.tv, Johnson said. You can also call us at (213) 400-2448. We are available for 24-hour prayer needs. Come praise with us is our motto! U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, refuses to be intimidated by domestic terrorists. Even though the House of Representatives canceled its scheduled votes following a credible threat against the U.S. Capitol, Green, the U.S. representative for Texas District 9, vowed to remain on the steps of the Capitol building. Green spoke as he sat on the steps of the Capitol building today, looking out across the Supreme Court building and the Library of Congress. The area was swarmed with members of the National Guard and Capitol police in anticipation of potential violence. MORE FROM CLAIRE GOODMAN: Texas Congressman Michael McCaul speaks from behind barricades in Capitol Green said he was about to return to his district, located in Fort Bend County and parts of south Houston, when he heard the news that extremist right-wing domestic terrorists might be attempting another attack on the Capitol, believing that March 4 should be former President Donald Trumps inauguration day. At that moment, Green said, he decided to take a stand. I decided that I just would not leave, Green said. I think that its important for me personally, as a matter of principle, to just be here to send a message to peoples who would do harm that we wont be moved. He added, I love my freedom. And Im not going to allow this freedom to be taken away. Green acknowledged that he is facing potential violence, but he is less concerned for his personal safety than he is for the nations democracy. Safety is not the issue. Sending the message is what is important, he said. And Im here to send the message. That message, Green stated, is that domestic terrorists will not frighten him away from upholding his duty. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'Mob mentality': Some Texans arrested in Capitol riot blame Trump I will not give up my freedom to be on these Capitol grounds to any insurrectionist or any person who has dishonorable intentions, he said. I just wont do it. Green recalled the violence of Jan. 6, when pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol building in an effort to overthrow the vote accepting President Joe Bidens victory in the election. It was unbelievable, he said. Youd actually have to see it to disbelieve it. Green praised the National Guard and Capitol Police for protecting his safety and that of the building, as he held his position on the Capitol steps. Im here on the ground with them, as I trust that they will make sure that all who are here are safe, he said. Green concluded, I wont be moved. I wont be intimidated. Im going to enjoy my freedom to be on these grounds. claire.goodman@chron.com The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The defence team of Alieu Kosiah has pointed to errors and contradictions between stories witnesses told Swiss investigators in the war crimes case and the testimonies they have given in court, saying the inconsistencies undermine the case against their client and the Swiss Federal Criminal Court should acquit their client. Dmitri Gianoli, Mr Kosiahs main lawyer, told the court the stories of the seven Liberians that focused on crimes allegedly committed in Lofa by Mr Kosiah and ULIMO rebels under his command, were different from what they told investigators in the case in the Swiss capital city of Bern in 2014. Furthermore, the witnesses did not agree with each other. The pleadings of the complainants are full of errors, Gianoli told the three-judge panel in a final argument that lasted more than six hours. Theres a music box, but the music clashes. There were small inconsistencies in the plaintiffs testimonies but they broadly agreed with each other and with other prosecution witnesses in their memories of those events. Mr Gianoli sought to minimize any damage caused by Mr Kosiahs outbursts in earlier proceedings that disrupted the court and risked giving the impression that he still believed he could intimidate people to follow his will. In the face of all this, it is normal for Kosiah to be angry because no one recognizes all these contradictions, Mr Gianoli said. When accusations are made against someone, those accusations must be credible and consistent, especially since the events took place more than 30 years ago in a distant land. Everyone (plaintiffs) has seen it all, but no one has seen anything. Everyone has heard it all, but no one knows anything. And everyone is everyones brother. Mr Kosiah, who faces a maximum 20-year imprisonment (including the six he has already served while awaiting the trial), is charged with 25 counts of murder, cannibalism, rape, sexual enslavement, forced transportation and recruitment of a child-soldier. His seven accusers are also asking the court for 8,000 Swiss Francs (about $US8500) in compensation. Mr Kosiah denies the charges, and Mr Gianoli says he was not in Lofa county between 1993 and 1994 when the alleged crimes were committed. The defence has stayed with that claim even after Mr Kosiahs own defence witnesses testified that he was there at that time. On Monday plaintiffs lawyers Alain Werner, Romain Wavre, Raphael Jakob, and Zeina Wakim urged the court to give Mr Kosiah the maximum sentence, revoke his Swiss residency and bar him from entering the country for 15 years. Presiding judge Jean-Luc Bacher will announce on Friday when the verdict will be handed down. It would normally take several months but the court will face pressure to bring that forward because of the long time Mr Kosiah has already been imprisoned while waiting for trial. Racking up testimonies against Kosiah Mr Gianoli devoted a significant portion of his final argument to attacking Civitas Maxima and the Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP), which helped the plaintiffs bring their case here. The Geneva-based Civitas Maxima headed by Alain Werner, the lawyer for four of the plaintiffs, represents victims of war crimes, while Monrovia-based GJRP documents human rights violations in Liberia. The defence attorney accused the groups of making up the case against Mr Kosiah. It was Civitas Maxima who asked for evidence on Kosiah, and then it was GJRP who activated on the ground saying they lived up to what is required, he said. At first, GJRP didnt have anything about Kosiah, and all of a sudden it starts racking up testimonies, following Werners request. Mr Gianoli cited a case with the lone female plaintiff who alleges Kosiah raped her after raiding her village and killing her father and brother in the 1990s. He told the court the woman had said in her initial complaint in 2014 that she knew Kosiah was a ULIMO commander but said in her pretrial hearings in Bern later that she did not know the faction he belonged to. ADVERTISEMENT Forced Transport Mr Kosiah is accused of ordering civilians to carry looted goods long distances on foot in Lofa and to the Guinea borders in Voinjama and Foya. Three plaintiffs spoke about the looting of a generator in Pasolahun, Kolahun District. However, Gianoli said the plaintiffs testimonies were not credible because they had all written in their initial complaints that the event occurred in 1994 and 1995 and changed it when they testified last month. The events mentioned in the complaint, and in particular also the transport, are meaningless and can be attributed to someone other than Alieu Kosiah with the same profile, Mr Gianoli said. Popped eyes Gianoli put a lot of emphasis on the failure of six of the seven plaintiffs to recognize Kosiah in photographs of ex-ULIMO generals during their pretrial investigation in Bern. The witnesses claimed the photos were blurry. Gianoli denied this pointing out that both defence witnesses had recognized the defendant. With the traumatic events experienced by the complainants, their statements should then be more precise and more constant over time. It is not so, Gianoli told judges. He pointed to the repeated description of pop eyes a term used in Liberia to refer to people with large eyes. The particularity of the pop eyes, which concerns 4% of the population in Liberia, is mentioned by all the complainants. But why not have chosen the person on the photographic boards with popped eyes? Because they had never seen or met him, Mr Gianoli said. Targeted Because he is a Mandingo Mr Gianoli said Mr Kosiah was being targeted because he is a Mandingo, an ethnic group that is predominantly Muslim and is only recognized the 16th ethnic group in Liberia in the 1980s. Mr Gianoli told the court that ethnic hatred was one of the root causes of the Liberian Civil War. He said the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) and ULIMO were an offshoot of tribalism. Although time has done its work, rivalries remain, and testimonies will have been directed, unfortunately, he told the judges. The Mandingos are considered foreigners by other Liberians, according to Kosiah. The ethnic component can strongly orient the testimonies. The trial is historic both in Liberia and Switzerland. It is the first war crimes trial in connection to the West African nations bloody civil war, which killed an estimated 250,000 people and displaced a million. It is also the first time the central European country is trying a person for war crimes in a civilian court. The trial continues on Thursday. This report was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Nine Turkish soldiers and one commanding general were killed in a helicopter crash in the countrys eastern Bingol province on Thursday, Turkeys Defense Ministry announced. Three other personnel were injured after ground forces lost contact with the Cougar helicopter around 2:25 p.m. local time, according to the Defense Ministry's statement. Among those killed was the commander of Turkeys 8th Army Corps, Lt. Gen. Osman Erbas. Erbas survived the crash but died of his wounds shortly after, state-run Daily Sabah reported. Rescue personnel and unmanned aircraft were deployed to the scene to recover survivors. Turkeys Defense Ministry suggested the crash was an accident and noted that an investigation is underway. The helicopter was en route to the town of Tatvan in the majority-Kurdish Bitlis province. The area has seen fighting between Turkeys armed forces and the insurgent Kurdistan Workers Party for years, though there was no immediate indication that Thursdays crash was combat-related. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed sorrow for the victims after being informed of the incident by Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, according to state-run Anadolu News Agency. I wish Allahs mercy on our nine martyred soldiers and patience to their families in sorrow, presidential spokesperson and national security adviser Ibrahim Kalin tweeted, adding, I wish immediate recovery to our four wounded soldiers. Our pain is great. HOUSTON - (March 4, 2021) - Federal and state governments auction leases to oil and gas companies to extract natural resources from public land. A revamp of the auction system -- utilizing a new model developed by a Rice University economist -- could lead to more competitive bids and, ultimately, more money for governments. Yunmi Kong, an assistant professor of economics at Rice and the study's author, discussed her model in "Sequential Auctions with Synergy and Affiliation Across Auctions." The article appeared in the January 2021 edition of the Journal of Political Economy. "Much of the oil- and gas-producing land in the U.S. is on state or federal property," Kong said. "And there's a lot of interest from oversight organizations in how the government utilizes and makes money from these resources. My desire to make this process more efficient is what led to the development of this model." Kong's model evaluates the synergy of oil and gas properties going up for auction, or the degree to which the parcels of land complement one another. Parcels located next to each other that could utilize the same workers and equipment, for example, have greater synergy than properties that are not. Knowing the synergy of these properties, Kong said, can help governments decide if it's more advantageous to package them or auction them separately. "Bundling property guarantees that whatever synergy there is between two pieces of land can be realized," Kong said. "If these pieces of land are leased separately, firms might be afraid of winning one property but not getting the complementary property. This means they wouldn't get the full value of both properties, and this might lead them to not bid as aggressively." Properties with less synergy that are packaged together may be less attractive for bidders. "Bundling properties gives up the flexibility of allocating these items to different bidders, especially if there's a bidder who values one property very highly but a second property not as much," Kong said. "This is a definite downside to bundling, because you're forcing one bidder to take all of the properties when it might be more profitable to auction each piece of land separately." ### The paper is available online at https:/ / www. journals. uchicago. edu/ doi/ 10. 1086/ 711402 . This news release can be found online at news.rice.edu. Follow Rice News and Media Relations on Twitter @RiceUNews. Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Jeff Falk 713-348-6775 jfalk@rice.edu Amy McCaig 713-348-6777 amym@rice.edu Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Despite serious concerns by experts that the vaccine was rushed out without the necessary trials, more than 40 countries have so far decided to put their faith in it and, to varying degrees, have approved Sputnik V for use. Here's what you need to know about it. In 1957, the world's first manmade object entered into orbit around the Earth. It was called Sputnik and it was launched by the Soviet Union. Sixty-three years later, Russia launched another Sputnik: Sputnik V, the first vaccine registered against the coronavirus. How Does Sputnik V Work? Sputnik V is a viral-vector vaccine. That means that it uses a modified version of a different virus as a tool to transport genetic material to a cell. Sputnik V was developed using adenoviruses, which normally causes respiratory infections, but other viruses (including the influenza or measles virus) have also been used in other viral-vector therapies. The virus, which is used as a vector, is altered so it poses no threat of causing an illness. It is also inserted with an extra gene that is unique to the virus being targeted. For COVID-19 vaccines, this gene contains instructions on how to make a spike protein, which is found on the surface of the coronavirus. Once a person gets the vaccine, the vector enters a cell and uses it to make spike proteins. As soon as the immune system recognizes the spike proteins, it starts producing antibodies and activates other immune processes in the body. If the system interacts with the actual virus in the future, it already knows how to fight it. What Was The Process Of Developing Sputnik V? Russia started clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine in June 2020. Less than two months later, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology had registered the world's first COVID-19 vaccine for use. Phase 3 trials, which usually involve thousands of people and last several months, hadn't even started at that point. Therefore, many health experts warned that the data was not conclusive and questioned the vaccine's safety. Shortly after that, Russia announced that it would expand trials for the vaccine and include up to 40,000 volunteers. Phase 3 trials then began in September 2020. After vaccinating some of the country's medical workers, a large-scale rollout started in December 2020. At this point, the vaccine was still undergoing testing. Two weeks later, Belarus became the first foreign country to register the Russian vaccine for use. In February 2021, the medical journal The Lancet published a study that said the Sputnik V vaccine was 91.6 percent effective. It also concluded that the vaccine was safe and could protect against hospitalization and death. While Sputnik V has been approved (to some extent) in more than 40 countries so far, it hasn't yet been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Despite this, Hungary registered the vaccine for use on January 21 as the first country in the European Union. In early March 2021, a deal for 2 million doses was also signed in Slovakia, another EU member. On March 4, 2021, the EMA announced it had started a rolling review of Sputnik V. How Does Sputnik V Compare To Other Vaccines? Sputnik V can be kept in a standard refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius, which makes it a bit easier to store than some other vaccines -- the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius, the Moderna vaccine at minus 20 degrees Celsius. According to The Lancet, its effectiveness is 91.6 percent -- slightly lower than Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, but higher than AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, for example. However, some scientists say the effectiveness of vaccines is difficult to compare, as they were tested during various stages of the pandemic and haven't been tested against each other. Unlike other vaccines, the first dose of Sputnik V is not identical to the second dose. They vary slightly, as each uses a different virus as a vector: There is adenovirus Ad26 in the first dose and adenovirus Ad5 in the second dose. The Gamaleya Center believes this might help to boost the immune response. Comparing prices of vaccines is tricky because the data varies based on the country the vaccine is imported to. For example, the European Union was able to negotiate a price of $2.16 for each dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is less than half of the price in South Africa, according to some reports. In general, vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna tend to be more expensive, while the vaccine by Johnson & Johnson might be the most cost-effective, as it requires just a single shot. A price of around $10 puts Sputnik V somewhere in the middle price range. Which Countries Want To Use Sputnik V? As of March 4, 2021, Sputnik V has been registered or approved for emergency use in more than 40 countries around the world. The list includes many countries in Latin America, but also several countries in Africa and Asia. In Europe, the vaccine has been approved (to some extent) in Belarus, Republika Srpska of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, and Slovakia. While most EU members want to see if the vaccine gets the green light from the European Medicines Agency first, some have considered buying it sooner. Hungary and Slovakia have already received their first doses. On the other hand, Ukraine's government announced on February 10, 2021, that it had banned the registration of vaccines for COVID-19 from "aggressor states," a designation it has applied to Russia since 2015. Altogether, more than 1.2 billion doses have been preordered from Russia. And with the growing list of countries approving Sputnik V, the question remains: Will Russia be able to deliver all of the vaccines on time? Several vaccine producers have been dealing with production delays and the Gamaleya Center is no exception. In January for example, Russia warned of delays in supplies to countries in Latin America, including vaccines for Argentina and Mexico. Outside of Russia, at least six countries plan to produce Sputnik V on their territory, including India, South Korea, and Brazil. Sputnik V Around The World (as of March 4, 2021) What Do Russians Think About Sputnik V? When it comes to vaccines in general, Russians seem to be quite skeptical. According to a study published by The Lancet in September 2020, only 21 percent of Russians said they believed vaccines are safe and just 35 percent agreed that vaccines are effective. Based on that data, Russia ranked among the countries with the lowest confidence in vaccines in the world. It should come as no surprise that the perception of COVID-19 vaccines is no different. In August 2020, only about one-quarter of Russian medical professionals said they were ready to take the vaccine that Russia had started manufacturing. Do Russian Doctors Want To Get Vaccinated? (August 2020) In late January 2021, when Russians were asked whether they would get a coronavirus vaccine if it was available, 42 percent said yes. It was the lowest share among countries surveyed by Ipsos. In February 2021, the Levada Center asked Russians whether they want to get the Sputnik V vaccine. Only 30 percent of them said yes. Those who said no cited a lack of testing and possible side effects as the main reasons. Do Russians Want To Get Vaccinated? (February 2021) In January 2021, YouGov asked people in 17 countries whether they would tend to think more positively or negatively about a COVID-19 vaccine if it was developed in a certain country. The results showed that people would trust a hypothetical vaccine developed in Germany the most, followed by vaccines developed in Canada and the United Kingdom. Russia, India, China, and Iran got negative scores, which means that people would feel more worried than reassured by a vaccine coming from these countries. People from Denmark and the United Kingdom were among those who would feel the least comfortable about a vaccine developed in Russia. The perceptions of a Russian vaccine were most positive in Mexico and India. Feelings About Possible Vaccine Development (A higher score shows people would think more positively about a vaccine developed in this country.) How Is The Vaccination Process Going In Russia? Russian authorities don't release data on vaccination rates regularly. However, according to the latest estimates, about 1.5 percent of Russia's population has received at least one dose of the Sputnik V vaccine as of February 10, 2021. Although Russia was the first country in the world to begin vaccinations, it lags behind Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States, and many other countries where the process started later than in Russia. Percentage Of People Who Received At Least One Dose Of A COVID-19 Vaccine (Selected countries as of February 10, 2021) According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the speed of the vaccination campaign in Russia is "normal." Nevertheless, it was estimated in the middle of February that vaccinations were occurring in Russia at one-quarter of the speed than in the United States, for example. And with more countries wanting to order Sputnik V, questions have arisen about Russia's strategy: "We still wonder why Russia is offering, theoretically, millions and millions of doses while not sufficiently progressing in vaccinating its own people," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news conference on February 17. Russia plans to vaccinate 68 million people this year, but the combination of skepticism towards vaccines and possible production hurdles might make that goal difficult to reach. On top of that, President Vladimir Putin has been reluctant to get the vaccine himself, which hasn't helped build confidence in Sputnik V. Vaccines As A Tool Of Diplomacy While the Russian vaccine ultimately seems to have proven its effectiveness, some experts are worried that it was rushed out and that priority was given to boosting national pride over safety. Some have even warned that the vaccine has become an effective tool of diplomacy, with Russia trying to gain wider geopolitical influence through vaccine deliveries. Sputnik V has already caused tension within the European Union after Hungary started to use the vaccine even before it was approved by the EMA. Russia has also supplied the vaccine to the separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine despite a ban by Kyiv. Moreover, there were allegations of a Russian disinformation campaign targeting Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, in an effort to persuade people that Russian vaccines worked better than those from the United States. The Future Of Sputnik V Due to shortages of Western-manufactured COVID-19 vaccines, more countries are now turning to the vaccine developed by Russia. This is happening despite concerns about Russia's insufficient transparency, the lack of approval for Sputnik V by the European Medicines Agency, possible production issues, and the low confidence of Russians in their own vaccine. Russia is currently among the top five countries with the highest number of COVID-19 cases. The big question is: Will it be able to vaccinate its own population while also delivering the vaccines that it has promised abroad? Credit: CC0 Public Domain The number of new coronavirus cases has risen in Europe after six weeks of decline, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. "Last week, new cases of COVID-19 in Europe rose nine percent to just above one million. This brought a promising six-week decline in new cases to an end, with more than half of our region seeing increasing numbers of new infections," WHO Europe's regional director Hans Kluge told a news conference. "We are seeing a resurgence in central and Eastern Europe. New cases are also on the rise in several western European countries where rates were already high," he said. "We need to get back to the basics. We need to enlarge" the vaccine portfolio, he said. WHO's Europe region comprises 53 nations and vaccination drives have begun in 45. According to an AFP tally based on official numbers, 2.6 percent of the European Union's population have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines and 5.4 percent have got one dose. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP New Delhi: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday (March 3) unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by India to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The resolution was initiated by India with Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia and Senegal and was co-sponsored by over 70 nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (March 4) expressed gratitude to all the nations who initiated and co-sponsored the resolution. "India is honoured to be at the forefront of popularising Millets, whose consumption furthers nutrition, food security and welfare of farmers," Modi said in a tweet. "This also offers research and innovation opportunities for agriculture scientists and start-up communities," he added. India is honoured to be at the forefront of popularising Millets, whose consumption furthers nutrition, food security and welfare of farmers. This also offers research and innovation opportunities for agriculture scientists and start-up communities. https://t.co/cHcDK1JKN2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 4, 2021 The resolution aims at raising awareness about the health benefits of the grain and its suitability for cultivation under changing climatic conditions. UN member states lauded India for the initiative and its leadership in facilitating negotiations on the resolution. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said that there is an urgent need to promote the nutritional and ecological benefit of millets to consumers, producers, and decision-makers, to improve production efficiencies, research, and development investments and food sector linkages. Tirumurti further said that it will contribute to food security, nutrition, ensuring livelihoods and incomes of farmers, poverty eradication and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in regions that are drought-prone or threatened by climate change. He expressed confidence that the commemoration of the International Year of Millets will help in creating greater awareness of millet production. Live TV Hilaria Baldwin says her children 'craved so much to have a sister' after she miscarried her unborn daughter at the end of 2019, as she finally opens up about welcoming her sixth child, newborn baby girl Lucia, just sixth months after the birth of her fifth child, son Eduardo. The 37-year-old shocked fans on Monday when she and husband Alec, 62, announced the arrival of their baby daughter, and she has since remained very tight-lipped about the details of Lucia's birth including the identity of the surrogate who carried her. However, Hilaria has now shared some information about why the family chose to welcome another newborn just six months after the yoga guru gave birth to fifth child Eduardo, revealing that her children 'craved' a little sister, particularly after she miscarried her unborn daughter four months into her pregnancy at the end of 2019. In an Instagram post shared on Thursday, Hilaria posted a picture of Lucia and her older sibling Eduardo, while hinting at her youngest daughter's date of birth and her paternity by describing the siblings as being 'almost like twins.' Thus far, neither Alec nor Hilaria has revealed whether they used donor eggs and sperm to conceived Lucia, however, the mother-of-six's latest post on Instagram could be seen as confirmation that they are both the biological parents of the little girl, who was carried by an unnamed surrogate. 'Maria Lucia Victoria and Eduardo Pau Lucas: our babies who bring light into our livesalmost like twins, we love you so much,' she wrote in the caption. Ta-da! Hilaria Baldwin opening up about the 'very special angels who helped bring Lucia into the world' via surrogate just six months after Hilaria herself gave birth to a son, Eduardo Surprise! Hilaria, 37, and Alex, 62, had shocked fans on Monday by revealing that they'd already welcomed a sixth child nearly six months after baby Eduardo was born Hilaria shared a post that referenced her family's 'tremendous grief' over her miscarriage, the 'blessing' of rainbow baby Edu, and how their two youngest are 'almost like twins' It is not known exactly when Lucia was born or conceived, though it is likely that the surrogate got pregnant in mid-2020, after Hilaria had announced that she was pregnant with her fifth child Eduardo. The couple already had one girl, seven-year-old eldest child Carmen, as well as three other boys, Rafael, five, Leonardo, four, and Romeo, two. In her Instagram post, Hilaria did not offer up any more detailed information about the surrogacy, though she did pay tribute to the 'angels' who helped to bring their newborn baby into the world. 'Our hearts are filled with so much gratitude,' Hilaria wrote. 'The Baldwinitos craved so much to have a little sister,' she went on, using a Spanish suffix to indicate her children, or the 'little Baldwins.' 'Many of you may remember the loss of their sister at 4 months in the end of 2019. There isnt a day that goes by where we dont ache for our daughter,' she went on. 'When I found out our baby had died, I told our children that their sister was going to come, just not at that time. Nothing will ever replace her, but two wonderful souls have come into our lives, and we are humbled to know them.' Hilaria had candidly documented the miscarriage her second that year on Instagram, even snapping a photo at her D&C at the doctor's office. 'Our children were brave during our time of tremendous grief braver than us...and they held out hope. To experience and accept lifes ups and downs is challenging, but a reality that all of us have no choice but to receive and process,' she wrote today. 'I have learned that often our children are wiser than we are and their wisdom has guided us. New baby: She shared her 'gratitude' for her new daughter, writing that her other children 'craved' a little sister Sis: She wrote that the whole family continues to 'ache' from the miscarriage that Hilaria suffered in 2019 at four months gestation (oldest daughter Carmen with Lucia) Hilaria wrote: 'Our rainbow baby, Edu, is such a blessing we are overwhelmed by how fortunate we are to have him' Never too busy post! Even with six kids at home, Hilaria has found time to post lots of pictures She concluded: 'Maria Lucia Victoria and Eduardo Pau Lucas: our babies who bring light into our lives almost like twins, we love you so much' New normal: Hilaria posted a photo of baby Lucia sleeping alongside her brother Edu on Tuesday morning after joking that the couple's bed was 'getting rather crowded' How does surrogacy work and how much does it cost? Surrogacy is when a woman carries a baby for a couple who are unable to conceive or carry a child themselves. The process can cost upwards of $100,000 for a couple, depending on the exact procedure they choose. Couples who opt to welcome a child via a surrogate may include those who have suffered recurrent miscarriages, repeated IVF failures, premature menopause or a hysterectomy. The risks of being a surrogate mother are the same as for every pregnancy, and include nausea, heart burn and back ache. In extreme cases, surrogates can suffer high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. Straight surrogacy This involves using the surrogate's egg and the intended father's sperm. It is the least expensive and simplest form of the procedure. Host surrogacy Host surrogacy requires IVF with either the intended mother's eggs or donor eggs rather than those of the surrogate. In this case, the surrogate is genetically unrelated to the baby. Donor eggs can be from friends or relatives, or anonymously donated. What are the laws? The laws around surrogacy vary from state to state, however across the majority of the US surrogacy is legal for all parents, but may be 'dependent on various factors or venue'. In some states, parents are required to carry out additional post-birth legal procedures with their surrogate to define the terms of the agreement, and the paternity of the child. In New York state, where Hilaria and Alec live, paid gestational surrogacy - in which a surrogate receives payment from a couple in return for carrying their baby - was only made legal from February of this year as per legislation that was passed in April 2020. Therefore, if the couple's surrogacy arrangement was made in New York, they will not have been able to give their chosen surrogate a fee in addition to paying for her medical expenses and other incurred costs. Advertisement 'Our rainbow baby, Edu, is such a blessing we are overwhelmed by how fortunate we are to have him. We are living each day, bonding, and grateful for all of the very special angels who helped bring Lucia into the world.' She concluded: 'Maria Lucia Victoria and Eduardo Pau Lucas: our babies who bring light into our lives almost like twins, we love you so much.' While Hilaria only referred to the 'angels' who helped bring Lucia into the world, a source has confirmed to DailyMail.com yesterday that she and Alec used a surrogate. The identity of the surrogate is not known, and a spokesperson for the couple declined to comment on the details of Lucia's conception and birth. Surrogacy in the US can cost upwards of $100,000, depending on the options used by the parents and their surrogate. If Alec and Hilaria chose to use a 'host' surrogate which is when a woman carries an embryo from the mother's egg and the father's sperm Hilaria will have had to undergo IVF ahead of the egg retrieval. This could well have been done before she conceived her son Eduardo in late 2019; she and Alec could also have made the decision to freeze eggs, sperm, or fertilized embryos, which could also have been used in the surrogacy. However, if Hilaria and Alec chose to do a 'straight' surrogacy, this will have meant that the surrogate's egg was used, along with the SNL star's sperm. Couples who choose surrogacy also have the option to use a donor egg instead of one from their surrogate. It is likely that Lucia was conceived in mid-2020, although her exact age has not yet been shared. Her brother Eduardo, who is six months old, was likely conceived in December 2019, one month after Hilaria suffered her second miscarriage. Instagram followers had plenty of questions when Alec and Hilaria first revealed Lucia's arrival, given that she came so shortly after the birth of baby Eduardo six months ago. Hilaria, who has always heavily documented each of her pregnancies and miscarriages hadn't said anything about being pregnant again, and of course, the six months between Eduardo and Lucia's births were not enough to bring a baby to term. But though Hilaria has been remarkably open about her pregnancies, she and Alec kept their surrogacy journey a secret, and refused to comment on it publicly for several days. Their silence inspired furious speculation on Monday, after Hilaria posted an image of herself with all of her children. Critics accused the couple of 'attention-seeking' behavior and posting 'clickbait,' prompting Alec to go off on a profanity-filled commenting spree. He had strong words for a commenter who wrote 'yikes' beneath the photo that he shared of his wife and their six children: Carmen, seven, Rafael, five, Leonardo, four, Romeo, two, Eduardo, six months, and newborn Lucia. Doting dad? Alec, pictured with his newborn and his eldest child Carmen, unleashed a profanity-filled rant at Instagram users who questions Lucia's paternity on Monday night Fury: The SNL star told one critic to 'shut the f**k up' after they accused the couple of posting the photo of their baby as 'clickbait,' though he appears to have deleted the comment Speaking out: He also claimed that 'America is fueled by hate' and said anyone who questions Hilaria's Spanish heritage is 'not very smart' 'I believe that people should simply say "Congratulations" or just shut the f**k up. Thats it,' Alec wrote, before ultimately deleting the comment. A timeline of Alec and Hilaria's youngest child April 2019: Hilaria revealed to the world that she had suffered a first-trimester miscarriage November 2019: The yoga guru shared that she had experienced a second miscarriage, four months into her pregnancy December 2019: Alec and Hilaria likely conceived their fifth child Eduardo around this time April 2020: Hilaria announces that she is pregnant with the couple's fifth baby Summer 2020: Lucia's conception likely took place midway through the year, although it is not known whether Alec and Hilaria used their own egg and sperm, or chose to rely on donors. If they used Hilaria's egg, she will have had to undergo IVF ahead of the retrieval. She could have done this before conceiving Eduardo March 2021: The couple announce the arrival of sixth child Lucia, who was born via a surrogate Advertisement 'Whos the mother?' asked another commenter. 'She wasnt pregnant. She gave birth six months ago. If it was a surrogate just say that. If the baby was adopted just say that. If the baby was a product of an affair and you've decided to raise it with your wife just say that. 'If you don't want to say anything why don't you both stop constantly posting and begging for clickbait. Just raise your 100 children in private.' In a since-deleted reply, Alec furiously wrote back: 'You should shut the f*** up and mind your own business.' In response to yet another user who questioned why Alec and Hilaria were facing so much criticism, he wrote that 'America is a country fueled by hate' and insisted that anyone who questions his wife's Spanish heritage scandal is 'not very smart'. Hilaria, meanwhile, has kept her comments turned off while posting countless photos of her family. 'We are so in love with our daughter, Lucia. Just like your brothers and sisters, you are a dream come true,' the Boston-born yoga guru wrote on Instagram. Hilaria also shared several images of Lucia settling into Baldwin family life, sharing one photo of Alec cradling the baby girl in his arm while helping daughter Carmen with her math homework. 'Teaching the baby math homework and funny faces... welcome to being a Baldwin,' she captioned the snap. She later joked that the couple's 'bed is getting rather crowded' and posted another photo of baby Lucia sleeping soundly on the mattress alongside her brother Edu, while another of her siblings is seen snoozing on the floor. 'Watching these three,' Hilaria wrote alongside the picture, before adding three hearts. Family life: On Tuesday evening, Hilaria shared a photo of herself pumping breast milk while Alec did the dishes, before posting another snap of Lucia and Eduardo sleeping together Family: Lucia, which means 'light' in Spanish, has five older siblings, all of whom have Spanish-inspired names: Eduardo, Romeo, Leonardo, Rafael, and Carmen Hilaria has only made a return to regularly posting on social media in recent weeks. The influencer, whose given name is Hillary Hayward-Thomas, had come under fire for faking her Spanish heritage, including lying about where she was born and putting on a made-up accent for years. Returning to Instagram, she has kept the comments turned off on her posts, but finally said 'sorry' for the saga on February 5, six weeks after a Twitter thread about her faux European background went viral. Hilaria stopped short of confessing she had misled people about her Spanish roots, and instead doubled down on her previous claims that she was raised 'with two cultures, American and Spanish' and that she feels 'a true sense of belonging to both.' 'I've spent the last month listening, reflecting, and asking myself how I can learn and grow,' she wrote. 'My parents raised my brother and me with two cultures, American and Spanish, and I feel a true sense of belonging to both. The way I've spoken about myself and my deep connection to two cultures could have been better explained I should have been more clear and I'm sorry. Quiet: In the past, Hilaria (pictured while pregnant with Edu) has been open about sharing her motherhood journey on Instagram, posting images from throughout all her pregnancies Candid: Hilaria even documented her two miscarriages on social media, revealing in April 2019 that she 'was most likely' losing her unborn child while sharing an image of herself in lingerie Heartbreak: In November that same year, Hilaria suffered her second loss, and once again shared the devastating news on Instagram 'I'm proud of the way I was raised, and we're raising our children to share the same love and respect for both. 'Being vulnerable and pushing ourselves to learn and grow is what we've built our community on, and I hope to get back to the supportive and kind environment we've built together,' she said. At the end of December, it emerged that Hilaria who in the past claimed to have grown up in Majorca and spoke with a Spanish accent actually spent her childhood in Beacon Hill, Boston, and went by Hillary. It started with a single tweet on December 21 which read: 'You have to admire Hilaria Baldwin's commitment to her decade long grift where she impersonates a Spanish person'. The woman then continued to post videos and proof of how Hilaria's accent has changed over the years. Several former classmates came forward to confirm that Hilaria was, in fact, raised in Weston, Massachusetts, by American parents without a hint of a foreign accent. In the wake of the scandal, Hilaria took a break from social media and retreated to the Baldwins' home in East Hampton, where she was staying with her children, while Alec was renting a nearby property so that he could quarantine away from his family and commute back and forth to the city for work. Nothing to see here! Since apologizing for her Spanish heritage scandal on February 5, Hilaria has shared regular family updates on Instagram - but didn't share any hints about a new arrival Since apologizing for the scandal on social media, Hilaria has been sharing much more regular updates, frequently posting candid images and videos of life at home with Alec and the kids but she has made no hints that she and Alec were planning to welcome a sixth child into their brood. Hilaria first revealed that she had lost her unborn baby in April 2019, when she took to social media to document her miscarriage in a series of very candid photos and videos. The first of which showed her posing in her underwear with a caption which read: 'I want to share with you that I am most likely experiencing a miscarriage.' Hilaria went on to document subsequent doctors' appointments, and even shared selfies from her D&C procedure. In November of that same year, she revealed that she'd had a second miscarriage, four months into her pregnancy, once again sharing the news on Instagram alongside an image of herself and daughter Carmen. 'We are very sad to share that today we learned that our baby passed away at 4 months,' she wrote. 'We also want you to know that even though we are not ok right now, we will be. We are so lucky with our 4 healthy babies - and we will never lose sight of this. 'I'm really devastated right now... I was not expecting this when I went to my scan today. I don't know what else to say.' The couple then announced that they were expecting their fifth child in April 2020, and by November, Hilaria implied that they wouldn't be having any more children. 'It very much feels like we're done,' she told People one month after giving birth to Edu, when asked if she was hoping to have more children. However, the wellness expert admitted that she would never say never, joking that she had thought she was 'done' in the past only for the couple to decide that they wanted to expand their family further. 'Everybody's asking me this question,' she continued. 'I don't know. I've said in the past that I was done when I wasn't done. 'I think, right now, I'm so tired. And I feel, just with COVID, it's just insanity. Right now, during times of COVID, it very much feels like we're done.' She added that her children have all grown accustomed to 'new siblings coming in' and revealed that they were already asking her 'when the next one is going to come'. Burma Myanmars Rescue Workers, Medical Volunteers Targeted by Security Forces A police officer points his gun at a medical worker in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy YANGONRescue workers and social welfare organizations delivering humanitarian services to wounded anti-coup protesters in Myanmar have been attacked and arrested by the military regime. Four volunteers of Mon Myat Sate Htar charity group who assisted protesters and residents shot by security forces in North Okkalapa in Yangon were arrested on Wednesday, the groups chairman U Hla Kyaing told The Irrawaddy. Video footage of the arrest shows the police kicking the heads of the crew members and beating them with the butts of their rifles. The ambulance the members were using was also destroyed by police. U Hla Kyaing said the group heard the detained members had been taken to Insein prison, but was still confirming their whereabouts. It is a really depressing situation. They were arrested on their way to assist more wounded patients; they were trying to send them to clinics to receive timely treatment, he continued. North Okkalapa saw the highest death toll on Wednesday. So far, at least 15 deaths have been confirmed by The Irrawaddy. Locals reported the deaths could be higherup to 32and around 80 were seriously injured, many of them shot while attempting to carry and save the gunshot victims. Two volunteers from the We Love Yangon-North Okkalapa Branch were also briefly detained on Wednesday while they were helping wounded persons. A member of the group said the detained members were beaten and one of them was shot in the thigh at close range and forced to kneel for more than an hour before their release. The ambulance they had with them at that time was also shot at. Later the pair were released along with two other seriously wounded protesters. At 12 a.m. Thursday, the office of the Free Funeral Service Society (FFSS) in North Dagon Township, Yangon, was also raided. Volunteers and staff present at the office were beaten and the organizations computers and electronic devices were confiscated. The well-known social welfare organization has been assisting wounded anti-coup protesters and providing funerals for those killed in the crackdowns. It also helped people who were wounded when police shot into the crowds in North Okkalapa Township on Wednesday. Following the militarys killings of protesters, the FFSS recently announced it wouldnt provide family members of police or military personnel with funerals and health care. Three Red Cross volunteers (RCVs) from Pakkoku Red Cross Branch were also arrested in Pakkoku Township of Magwe Region on Feb. 27, according to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. Two RCVs from Chan Mya Thasi Red Cross Branch in Mandalay were also attacked and injured while they were on duty providing first-aid treatment to those injured during the protest, and two ambulances were damaged during the attack, on Feb. 28. The Myanmar Red Cross Society issued a statement on Monday calling for the release of detained RCVs and an end to violent acts against volunteers and ambulances who are delivering humanitarian services amid the current situation in line with the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). You may also like these stories: Myanmars NLD Rejects Militarys Call for Proportional Representation Election System Another Bloody Day in Myanmar: At Least 28 Protesters Slain by Military 115 Information Ministry Staff Refuse to Work for Myanmar Junta LUDLOW Overdose deaths were on the rise nationwide before the pandemic hit up 38% in the 12 months leading up to May 2020 and the stress caused by COVID-19 has only made the situation worse. Locally, the Hampden County Sheriffs Medication Assisted Treatment program has helped more than 1,500 men and women battling substance abuse. The program pairs counseling and behavioral therapy along with access to all three FDA-approved addiction medications for treating substance use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. The MAT program helps people coming into our custody maintain these critical prescriptions without a fear of having to unnecessarily go through withdrawal, said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi. The program is made possible through a partnership with CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, the largest non-profit, outpatient provider for opioid treatment in Rhode Island. It also helps current inmates and substance use disorder clients maintain abstinence from illicit drugs and ensures they return to the community with the best chances of avoiding an overdose and transitioning into long-term recovery, Cocchi said. According to the Foundations Recovery Network which treats people with dual diagnosis of substance use and mental illness, nationally 80% of incarcerated individuals report battling with some level of substance use disorder. Compared to the rest of the adult population, the opioid-related overdose death rate upon release from custody is 120 times higher. For nearly two years the MAT program has provided access to treatment to 1,586 men and women who came into the custody of the sheriffs office. We are proud to be working with the Hampden County Sheriffs Department on this important initiative that helps move the needle forward in treating all those struggling with addiction as patients, just like those facing diabetes or cancer, and offer them the most comprehensive, evidence-based therapeutic approaches available, said Linda Hurley, president and CEO of CODAC. People coming into the sheriffs department custody with a prescription from the program are allowed to continue their treatment, according to medical staff with the program. Also, anyone in custody who reports a form of substance use disorder where the three medications are deemed helpful is assessed for eligibility for the program. Beyond the medication, the program also offers individual and group therapy. Additionally, sentenced inmates not presently on medication, but with a previous history of substance use disorder, may be eligible to start the program prior to release in an effort to decrease the chances of a fatal overdose or help the transition into long-term recovery. Offering this program and these medications is the humane and right thing to do if we truly want to help people battling addiction-related issues, Cocchi said. Related content: Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-03 23:27:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- At the critical moment when the world is joining forces to stop the spread of COVID-19, top epidemiologists of China and the United States exchanged views on Tuesday -- an encouraging sign for bilateral cooperation as well as the global battle against the still raging pandemic. In an online talk organized by the University of Edinburgh, leading Chinese respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan and top U.S. infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci have called for more efforts to enhance global solidarity and cooperation to beat the deadly virus. Their remarks are a reflection of the growing global public consensus that the human race should join hands and work together to beat the pandemic, and that this is the only way out of the calamity. As the two medical heavyweights have noted, if the virus is stamped out in one country but allowed to spread uninhibited in other parts of the world, it will mutate at a fast pace through cross-border transmissions and rekindle the outbreak sooner or later. To score an ultimate victory against the virus, it is of great significance and necessity for the world community to take a science-based approach. Both Zhong and Fauci gave an upbeat assessment of the role vaccines can play in the battle, and voiced their belief that things will be better a year later, as many countries are witnessing declines in new cases while rolling out vaccine programs. While promoting the vaccine drive, governments should gradually map out economic recovery strategies in accordance with the requirement of pandemic control and prevention, instead of taking premature and hasty resumption measures that will lead to a rebound of infections. Meanwhile, scientists around the world need to enhance collaboration on the research and development of more effective medicines and vaccines. As the world's two largest economies, cooperation between China and the United States takes on global importance. Scientists and medical workers of the two countries have been working together since the beginning of the pandemic. However, their cooperation was disrupted by Washington's politically-motivated acts. The good news is that the United States is now taking a more rational attitude and adopting more scientific measures, which are welcomed by the international community. In February, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, agreed in a phone conversation that the two sides will maintain close communication on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest. Strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against the virus meets the expectations of their peoples and the international society. The candid communication between the two leading anti-COVID-19 experts has set a good example for further China-U.S. cooperation in this field. Enditem American Mortgage Network We have expanded rapidly across the United States and part of that success is due to our position in the VA market, said Joseph S. Restivo, President and Co-Founder of AmNet. This business is fundamental to AmNets growth. Mortgage banker American Mortgage Network (AmNet), a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP), is celebrating its second anniversary, achieving phenomenal growth of 900% year over year, thanks primarily to the dedication of its employee owners. Low mortgage rates and the rising demand for homes have also helped the company to achieve its goals. Unlike a number of other ESOPs, AmNet was created in a unique way. During 2019, Joseph S. Restivo and David W. Wallace, founders of the ESOP, supplied the initial ESOP equity and then pledged their ownership shares to the ESOP. All the equity in the company is distributed through an employee stock ownership plan. The key principle behind the ESOP is to build retirement income for employee owners and keep a loyal workforce that is insulated from the ups and downs of the mortgage industry. We have expanded rapidly across the United States and part of that success is due to our position in the VA market, said Joseph S. Restivo, President and Co-Founder of AmNet. This business is fundamental to AmNets growth. Weve created partnerships that encourage home ownership among veterans. Many of our employees are former members of the military and understand what is needed in that mortgage lending marketplace. The volume of mortgages backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has nearly doubled from 2019 to 2020. It was the first time the VA has issued more than one million mortgage loans in a year. VA loans require flexible down payment options and have less stringent credit score requirements. AmNets growth has exceeded 900% year1over-year, noted Dave Wallace, co-founder and EVP. We began the operation with five employees in 2019, and we are now a team of over 140, licensed in 29 states. We are a low-cost producer with low overhead. And, our Web-based technology allows us to operate from anywhere so there is minimal brick-and-mortar investment. About ESOP American Mortgage Network American Mortgage Network (AmNet) is an employee-owned company (ESOP) whose core business is originating primary residential mortgages. AmNet offers a full suite of purchase and refinancing products. It is a recognized leader in the VA market. AmNet targets all qualified borrowers for product offerings and is committed to fair lending practices. The company is now licensed in 29 states. Visit us to learn more at https://amnetmtg.com/ Around 15 migrants including many without shoes have been intercepted crossing the Channel in inflatable boats today. The first group of about seven men were brought into Dover Marina, Kent, on the back of a Border Force vessel shortly before 9am. Temperatures plummeted overnight to 4C as the men battled to cross the Channel on a small boat while using tyre inner tubes as makeshift life-belts. One man was seen carrying his white trainers in his hands as he was helped onto the mooring and escorted up the gangway for processing this morning. He was followed by another barefooted migrant without shoes in bitter 6C temperatures. Another only had socks on. The first group of about seven men were brought into Dover Marina, Kent, on the back of a Border Force vessel shortly before 9am. Pictured, a man walked onto the gangway in bare feet One man was given a pair of crutches to help him walk as he hobbled off the boat. He appeared to have an ankle splint on his left leg They were followed by another group of around seven men on the back of a black Border Force boat. Immigration officers could be seen handing out single-use white flip flops so they had something on their feet while walking up the harbour. One man was given a pair of crutches to help him walk as he hobbled off the boat. He appeared to have an ankle splint on his left leg. Some of the migrants, who were all wearing red life jackets and disposable facemasks, carried their possessions in rucksacks and clear plastic bags. Their green rigid hulled inflatable boat was towed in behind them. The Home Office is yet to confirm how many migrants made the dangerous journey today and how many boats were intercepted but this year's figure reached 600 after 66 arrived on Tuesday. Migrants were seen on a Border Force vessel as they were brought into Dover this morning One large green rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) was pictured moored in the harbour filled with red life jackets and foil blankets It comes after 20 migrants arrived on Wednesday in two separate incidents. French authorities also stopped two attempted crossings involving just three people. Women and young children with no shoes on were among 66 migrants to cross the Channel on Tuesday. A man on board one of four small boats intercepted had to be stretchered onto UK shores as he was suffering from exhaustion. He was carefully lifted onto the mooring of Dover Marina from the back of a Border Force vessel. The male migrant did not appear to be moving and had an oxygen tank between his legs. Some of the migrants, who were all wearing red life jackets and disposable facemasks, carried their possessions in rucksacks and clear plastic bags A man on board one of four small boats intercepted had to be stretchered onto UK shores as he was suffering from exhaustion. Pictured, the men were escorted along the gangway Medics were among staff who helped carry him up the gangway at around 10am. But he was checked over and later declared medically fit, according to a Home Office spokesman. One large green rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) was pictured moored in the harbour filled with red life jackets and foil blankets. Photographs showed a young boy who appeared to be around eight years old walking up the gangway alongside a woman wearing a brown coat. They were followed by an officer carrying a small child wrapped up warm in a padded star patterned coat with no shoes on. Wednesday's crossings took the total to make the treacherous 21-mile trip so far this year to 617. Temperatures plummeted overnight to 4C as the men battled to cross the Channel on a small boat while using tyre inner tubes as makeshift life-belts They were followed by another group of around seven men on the back of a black Border Force boat. Pictured, the men A man is escorted up the gangway after travelling across the English Channel overnight Last month 308 migrants were intercepted in 18 incidents surpassing January's figures of 223 in 15 incidents. It compares to just 87 migrants in at least six boats in January 2020 while in February 2020 there were 192 in 12 boats. In 2020 a record 8,410 arrived last year - dwarfing 2019's total of 1,850. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making these dangerous crossings. We are continuing to pursue the criminals behind these illegal crossings. 'Police patrols on French beaches and enhanced intelligence sharing between our security and law enforcement agencies has helped to prevent crossings. 'The Government is also returning illegal migrants who have no right to stay in the UK to safe countries. In January, new rules were introduced which make asylum claims inadmissible where people have travelled through safe countries to get to the UK through illegal routes.' New Delhi: With a focus on jointly dealing with COVID-19 pandemic, Joint Innovation Partnership and Sustainable Technologies, India and Sweden will hold a virtual summit on Friday (March 5). The summit will be a Prime ministerial level one, with Indian PM Narendra Modi and Swedish PM Stefan Lofven taking part in the meet. This is the second Nordic country with which India is holding a virtual summit. Last year Indian PM held a virtual summit with Denmark's leadership. Indias Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, "During the Summit, the two leaders will hold comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of the bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues including further strengthening of cooperation in the post COVID era." Other key focus areas will be Healthcare, Biotech, Smart Cities, Smart Grids, Circular Economy and Artificial intelligence. India will also be inviting Swedish companies to take part in India's "make in India" program and setting up R&D hubs. The virtual summit will be the first interaction between the two leaders since 2018, when Indian PM visited the Swedish capital Stockholm in April of 2018 for the first India Nordic summit. Swedish Prime Minister Lofven had visited India in February 2016 for the special Make in India week. Swedish king Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia had visited India in December 2019. The Indian statement pointed out, "India and Sweden have warm and friendly relations based on shared values of democracy, freedom, pluralism and rules-based international order. Both countries have very close cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, innovation, science & technology as well as research and development." Around 250 Swedish companies are actively operating in India in various sectors such as health & life sciences, auto industry, clean technology, defence, heavy machinery & equipment. Around 75 Indian companies are also active in Sweden. Live TV Three men have been arrested by Gardai investigating organised crime, drugs and firearms trafficking across the Midlands area. The trio are being held at Portlaoise, Tullamore and Birr Garda Stations following a number of searches in the Portarlington area of Co Laois, yesterday. Read More The raids were led by the Laois Detective Unit and Drugs Unit supported by the Armed Support Unit, Air Support Unit, Garda Dog Unit, uniformed members from the Laois/Offaly Division, Customs and Revenue and the Laois Dog Warden. The men are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Gardai added that investigations are ongoing. SACRAMENTO The Legislature overwhelmingly passed a plan Thursday to push shuttered schools to reopen in the coming weeks by offering them financial incentives, even as lawmakers complained it would not do enough to get California students back into the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic. The measure, a deal with Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday after months of negotiations, would provide a total $2 billion to school districts that resume at least some in-person instruction by March 31. But it does not mandate reopening, an approach supporters said was necessary for communities still afraid to send their children back. You can see everyones divided on the issue, but this is as good as it gets in this moment, said state Sen. Susan Rubio, D-Baldwin Park (Los Angeles County), reflecting the frustration with which many lawmakers voted for the bill the most significant step the state has taken to reopen schools after a year of distance learning. The Senate approved the bill, AB86, 36-0 and it passed the Assembly 72-4, with reluctant Republicans largely joining Democrats. Newsom has indicated he will sign the measure Friday. To receive the money, schools in counties with fewer than 25 new daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents would have to bring back students in transitional kindergarten through second grade, along with foster youth, English language learners and other vulnerable students in all grades. If they have not reopened by April 1, schools would lose a portion of their share of the $2 billion every day they remain closed. But as case rates rapidly drop below 7 per 100,000 residents in many places, counties such as San Francisco are entering the states red tier, the second-most-restrictive for reopening. Schools in those counties would need to reopen for all elementary grades and at least one additional grade in middle or high school, as well as for students with special needs, to receive the state money. Students would have the option to return or continue with remote instruction. The bill also includes $4.6 billion to help districts make up for lost learning. Earlier Thursday, the Newsom administration unveiled a new vaccine system that would make it easier for counties to move into the red tier. Some lawmakers protested that it was unfair for the governor to change the criteria for their communities just before the Legislature voted on the school reopening plan. Its a little dishonest, whats happening, said Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego. Others criticized the bill for not being more forceful, particularly because many districts are still negotiating with their employee unions on timelines and safety requirements. I believe with or without this bill, school districts that want to reopen will and school districts that dont want to reopen wont, Senate Republican leader Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County) said before voting for the plan. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Mamata Banerjee 'real Bengal tigress': Shiv Sena India oi-Madhuri Adnal Kolkata, Mar 04: After Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party (SP), the Shiv Sena on Thursday extended its support to the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, and said it would not contest assembly elections in Bengal. Hailing Banerjee as the "real Bengal tigress", the party, which had earlier said that it would join the electoral battle in the state, vowed to "stand in solidarity" with the TMC camp. Senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, in a tweet, made the announcement and said that the decision was taken following discussions with party president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Raut took to Twitter and said "at the moment, it appears to be a Didi vs All fight". "A lot of people are curious to know whether Shiv Sena is contesting West Bengal polls or not? So here''s the update after discussions with party president Uddhav ji Thackeray." "All ''M''s - Money, Muscle and Media- are being used against ''M''amata Didi. Hence, Shiv Sena has decided not to contest West Bengal polls & stand in solidarity with her. "We wish Mamata Didi a ''roaring'' success, ''cos we believe she is the real Bengal Tigress," he added. Shiv Sena''s West Bengal unit president Ashok Sarkar also said that the party has decided to support Trinamool Congress in the upcoming assembly polls. TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O Brien retweeted the tweet by Raut. "We welcome Shiv Sena''s decision. We are thankful to Shiv Sena for not putting up candidates in the assembly polls in West Bengal," TMC MP Sougata Roy said. The BJP, however, declined to attach much importance to the development. "What is the stake of Shiv Sena, RJD or SP in Bengal? They dont have any presence in Bengal. It hardly matters whom they support or not. It is laughable," BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu said. Earlier this week RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Banerjee at Nabanna and extended his support to the Trinamool Congress. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav too has extended his party support to TMC. A significant takeaway of the Shiv Sena, SP and RJD pledging support to Mamata is that they are shunning Congress and siding with the Trinamool Congress in the battle for Bengal. Congress, which has enterted into alliance with the Left Front and Indian Secular Front of Muslim cleric Abbas Siddiqui for the Bengal polls, promises to defeat the TMC as well as the saffron party in battle royale in the eastern state. The three parties though do not have any electoral presence in Bengal, they could mobilise some hindi speaking voters in some pockets in favour of the Trinamool Congress. Shiv Sena is with the Congress in the Maharashtra government, but it has prefered TMC intead of the grand old party in Bengal. Lalu Prasad headed RJD though had one MLA in 2006 to 2011 during the Left Front rule in Bengal is also a marginal player in the state. RJD is also an ally of the Congress in the opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar, but has opted for Mamata in Bengal instead of that party. The RJD promises to rally some hindi speaking electors of Bengal in support of Mamata particularly in the areas on border with the Bihar, where it''s the single largest party. BJP in Kerala on Thursday said it has requested the party's national leadership to declare "Metroman" E Sreedharan, who recently joined the party, as the NDA's chief ministerial candidate in Kerala in the coming assembly elections. If the NDA, "under the leadership of "Metroman", gets an opportunity to rule the state, "we are confident we will be able to implement development works under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a ten-fold force in Kerala", state unit president K Surendran said. Addressing a party meeting here, he highlighted the achievements of Sreedharan, including the completion of the reconstruction of Palarivattom flyover here in five months, much ahead of the stipulated time. "He completed the project in five months without any corruption. That is why we requested Sreedharan and our party leadership that he should be projected as the (NDA's) Chief Minister candidate", he said at the meeting organised as part of the "Vijay Yatra" led by him. This is for the first time, the party indicated that Sreedhran will be the NDA's chief ministerial candidate. Earlier, Sreedharan had said his main aim was to help the party come to power in Kerala and that he will be open to chief ministership. The 88-year old technocrat had also said the focus will be on developing infrastructure in a big way and bring the state out of the debt trap if the BJP wins the assembly polls to be held on April 6. Also Read: India urges OPEC+ to boost output to meet promise of price stability: Dharmendra Pradha [March 04, 2021] CHSI Technologies Excited to Announce Rebrand to Insurium CHSI Technologies, the market-leading SaaS (News - Alert) InsurTech platform for policy and claims life cycle management, billing, real-time decision support and analytics, announced its exciting rebrand to Insurium. Insurium's market-leading cloud-based platform provides a 360-degree view of the insurance process life cycle, all in one place. The company's solutions include Insurium Policy Administration, Insurium Claims Management, Insurium Agent Portal and Insurium Insured Portal. Their products are flexible, so clients select the features that fit today and will scale with their business as it grows. The company has been undergoing a comprehensive effort to align its brand identity with its passion for what they do and how they help their clients. The company's new name Insurium is the combination of Insurance + Premium, their industry focus and what they help their clients generate. While the company's name and look changed, its commitment to its clients' success and building the best technology solutions with best-in-class support will never change. Insurium remains client focused as they continue to build core insurance software that aligns with their clients' business goals for today and tomorrow. The Insurium team will continue to operate out of its Denver, CO and Henderson, NV offices and will remain focused on blending insurance expertise with best-in-class SaaS solutions. Insurium enables commercial insurance carriers, Self-Insured Groups, captives, public entity pools, and risk and claims managers to: Drive Premium and Retention Digitally Enhance Business Issue and Bill Policies Faster Streamline and Automate Processes Stay Secure and Compliant Provide Data, Reporting, and Analytics "I am so excited and proudof our rebrand to Insurium," stated Chris Stites, CEO of Insurium. He further emphasized, "This is a monumental accomplishment for our business, and it has been a full team effort to align our brand identity with what we do every day for our clients. Whether it's helping them generate new or renewal premium, reduce combined ratios, or deliver greater services, the Insurium team remains passionate about creating something extraordinary, and we thank our team and our clients for their partnership and support along our journey!" 2020 delivered record growth numbers including a 450% increase in sales bookings year-over-year. Insurium is well-positioned to deliver on its forecasted triple-digit growth in 2021 with its rebranded go-to-market engine and upcoming product releases. About Insurium Insurium, backed by Bow River Capital, is a market-leading SaaS InsurTech platform for policy and claims life cycle management, billing, real-time decision support and analytics. The company enables commercial insurance companies to compete and win by delivering the best technology solutions, tailored for their business. Insurium's market-leading cloud-based platform provides its clients with a 360-degree view of the insurance process life cycle, all in one place. Supporting commercial insurance carriers, Self-Insured Groups, captives, public entity pools, and risk and claims managers, a partial client list includes Diamond Insurance Group, Trean Corporation, Brentwood Services Administrators, Inc., Manufacturing Technology Mutual Insurance Company (MTMIC), Housing Authorities Risk Retention Pools (HARRP), UBIC Workers Compensation Insurance and Gallagher. Learn more at www.insurium.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005834/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Eugene, Oregon, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coconut Bliss, a leading brand of plant-based frozen desserts, is unveiling a fresh and vibrant new look for its entire portfolio of plant-based ice cream products this March. By taking a personable approach to the redesign, Coconut Bliss strives to connect with consumers on a deeper level through an increased emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, and positivity. The brand is committed to changing how consumers have historically perceived plant-based offerings, by making plant-based products that taste great for consumers across the board. The Coconut Bliss brand identity was built around the idea of spreading bliss through a range of products that cater to all types of consumers. From vegan to dairy-lovers alike, Coconut Bliss serves as a delicious answer for ice cream lovers everywhere. There is no bliss quite like ice cream, and the brand is weaving that joyful human sentiment throughout their new initiatives. The rebrand introduces consumers to Coconut Blisss totally blissed-out family of characters which were inspired by the companys diverse fans. The characters, created in collaboration with Olimpia Zagnoli, are now featured across Coconut Blisss range of products. Coconut Bliss wasnt made with one type of consumer in mind, says Kim Gibson Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Coconut Bliss. Our purpose was to create the most delicious and sustainable ice cream out there. This rebrand is the culmination of our brand pillars and better tells the story of who we are as a company, who we have always been, and paves an intentional path to the future. In tandem with the rebrand, Coconut Bliss is rolling out two new ice cream offerings, perfect for consumers looking for fun and healthier options to satisfy their sweet tooths. Legendary Cookie Dough is an epic new pint offering. With vanilla as its base, the ice cream is jam-packed with cookie dough, fudgy ribbons and chocolate confetti. Cups of Joy, Coconut Blisss first ever single serve ice cream indulgences, are perfect for consumers looking for a convenient and delicious plant-based treat. The cups are available in two flavors, Dark Chocolate, a dark and sultry option, and Madagascan Vanilla Bean, a creamy and smooth pocket-sized delight. They will retail for $6.99 and $8.99 respectively. This rebrand and new product launch falls roughly eight months after mission-driven holding company, HumanCo, acquired a majority stake in Coconut Bliss. HumanCo aims to bring back trust and quality in consumer products by investing in and incubating mission-driven companies that help consumers live healthier lives. Coconut Bliss is in the midst of an acceleration in growth, as it continues to cement its standing as a nationally, and soon to be globally recognized brand, says Jason H. Karp, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, HumanCo. This rebrand, inspired by the companys roots in sustainability, clean ingredients, and high taste standards, spotlights the brands key differentiators in the space. As we continue to increase product innovation and expand distribution, we want our new consumers, along with our loyalists, to immediately understand what the brand stands for, and why it stands out amongst the pack. For more information on Coconut Bliss and their range of products, please visit coconutbliss.com. About Bliss Unlimited Bliss Unlimited, LLC (DBA Coconut Bliss) is a leading brand of plant-based frozen desserts. Coconut Bliss produces the most delicious, highest quality plant-based frozen desserts made from real, simple ingredients. The company's products are USDA certified organic and Non-GMO Project verified. The company values ecological and social sustainability and is committed to using organic and ethically produced ingredients of the highest quality. Privately owned and based in Eugene, Oregon, Coconut Bliss has been operating since February 2005. For more information visit coconutbliss.com. *Coconut Bliss was awarded the Women's Choice Award for America's Most Recommended Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Women's Choice Award is a consumer advocacy group, whose mission is to give a collective voice to female consumers in the marketplace. In a national survey, Coconut Bliss was chosen nine out of 10 times as the brand consumers would recommend to friends and family for Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert. Coconut Bliss is honored to be recognized by their customers as a trusted brand. Attachments By Yi Whan-woo A series of online lectures last week highlighted the shared Buddhist cultural heritage between India and Korea, looking at Buddhist scriptures, literature, philosophy and meditation practices. Titled "Buddhist Legacy and India," the lectures were co-organized by the Embassy of India in Korea and the Indian Cultural Centre, in cooperation with the College of Buddhist Studies and Culture at Dongguk University, from Feb. 22 to 26. Among the participants were Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan and professors from the university. "The origin and spread of Buddhism has been a landmark achievement in the history of Greater India and it has left an indelible mark of the cultural history of India over the world," the Indian Cultural Centre said in a statement. It added that the online lecture series was held to keep in contact with India cultural enthusiasts in Korea amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In her opening address, Ambassador Ranganathan focused 'on various aspects of Buddhism and the deep-rooted connections between the two countries. Ven. Beopjin talked about developing various means of preserving the teachings of Buddha and how Buddhist scriptures and literature were spread to Korea. Professor Kim Kyung-rae spoke about Abhidhamma, the first philosophical tradition in the history of Indian Buddhism. Professor Moon Hyun-gong gave a lecture on Buddhist meditation and encouraged participants to "live the present moment" faithfully. Ven. Chungduk talked about the sacred narratives that played a critical role in the growth, evolution and spread of Buddhism and its localization in different countries. He also underlined the importance of interpreting Buddhist scripture from a more diverse perspective. Professor Hwang Soon-il explained how maritime trade was essential in spreading Buddhism from India to East Asia and Southeast Asia. The Indian Cultural Centre opened online classes, March 1, on Bollywood movies, Hindi songs, Indian folk dance and Kathak, one of major classical dances found primarily in northern India. There is a registration fee of 10,000 won. Visit indembassyseoul.gov.in/icc/register.php for more information. The Department of Health has said 520,320 vaccines had been delivered to Ireland by the end of February. The latest vaccine data to Monday, March 1, shows 446,474 vaccines have been administered. The figures show over 303,000 people nationwide have received their first dose of the vaccine and almost 143,000 have received their second. 5,780 Covid-19 vaccines were administered on Monday. 82% of the vaccines administered have been the Pfizer BioNTech shot while 15% are the AstraZeneca injection. The Department said in a statement this afternoon that it expects the 500,000th dose will have been administered within the next week. "The Covid-19 Vaccination Programme strategy is to distribute all vaccines that we receive as quickly as is operationally possible, subject to ensuring the availability of the second dose," it said. "Our programme is only limited by supply, and the rollout plans must be flexible to accommodate unforeseen events." A breakdown of the vaccines delivered to Ireland shows we have received 393,120 of the Pfizer vaccine, 40,800 of the Moderna and 86,400 of the AstraZeneca. The vaccine deliveries for the month of March are still being finalised with manufacturers. Advance Purchase Agreements show Ireland receiving over one million doses per month in the second quarter of the year. This is projected to be made up of 54% Pfizer, 10% Moderna, 21% AstraZeneca and 15% Janssen. The Janssen order is subject to EMA authorisation. Stephen Donnelly has said he has concerns about the capacity of AstraZeneca to meet delivery targets. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said he has concerns about the capacity of AstraZeneca to meet delivery targets. However, Mr Donnelly said despite that the pace of the roll-out is increasing. "Cohort 4 - those with underlying conditions putting them at very high risk - will begin to be vaccinated next week which is really, really good and welcome news. "It is a complex group and there is complex work in planning and engagement going on. The HSE is currently working through the details for how these patients will be contacted and where they will be vaccinated." Earlier, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar blamed an undelivered consignment of 25,000 AstraZeneca vaccines for the failure to administer the targetted 100,000 vaccines to the public last week. The HSE said a relatively small number of GP practices are experiencing issues with their vaccine supplies. It comes after a doctor claimed around 200 surgeries still have not received any doses for the over 85s. The HSE maintains it is on target to administer the first dose of a Covid injection to this age cohort by the end of this week. Monaghan based GP, Illona Duffy, says there are numerous issues. "I'm aware of two other practices in Monaghan Town alone who have still received no vaccine so haven't been able to vaccinate their over-85 population and still aren't sure when they are going to get them. "I think we are aware of about 200 practices that haven't received vaccines and it's really not good enough." Dr Duffy said that staff are starting to receive angry calls and comments from worried patients and their families. On Tuesday, I had the son of a patient come and give out to us and tell us it was our ineptitude that we hadn't vaccinated all our patients at this stage because the HSE were quite clear that everybody over 80 would now be vaccinated this week. Dr Duffy said the message the HSE are putting out is not clear and is not fair. GP Advisor to the HSE, Dr Ray Walley, said today that the health service will make up for last week's missed target of 100,000 doses. Dr Walley said there will be another large clinic being provided to GPs in DCU this weekend which will be a significant contribution to increasing the number of vaccines being delivered. "I think we are on target. This time a year ago we wouldn't have been thinking that we would be administering vaccines but somewhere early next week we will have the greater number of 85-year-olds dealt with through general practice." Meanwhile, the number of patients going to GPs with symptoms of Covid-19 has fallen to its lowest level since mid-November. They are now seeing an average of one Covid patient a day - compared to nine in early January. Dr Shane McKeogh, one of the founders of GP Buddy, who tracks calls to surgeries around the country said numbers are at the lowest in nearly four months. "You can see the case numbers starting to come down as well so we are beginning to drive it out of the community which is where the battle has to be fought on this." Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has fallen to 461, according to the latest data from the HSE. This is down 28 from yesterday as 47 patients have been discharged in the past 24 hours. It is a significant drop on this day last week when there were just under 600 Covid patients in hospitals around the country. Overnight, there were 107 Covid patients in intensive care with six new admissions and nine discharges. Tips, tools and resources for Black business owners looking to make a strong recovery in 2021 2020 was a challenging year for all. While small businesses nationwide faced unique obstacles brought on by the coronavirus, Black small business owners in particular have been disproportionally impacted by the pandemic, with one study showing that half may not survive. Despite these challenges, our new research from Bank of America based on a survey of 300 Black business owners across the country found they remained resilient and flexible as they navigated through an evolving and uncertain business landscape. In response to the impacts from the pandemic, 48% of Black entrepreneurs retooled their operations double that of the national average. Many Black business owners also found creative ways to reinvent themselves by developing new products or services, and even more donated resources to support relief efforts in their local communities. While it may be challenging to predict what exactly our path to economic recovery will look like, Black small businesses will play a significant role. To support this vision, Black entrepreneurs can take three steps to reignite growth and plan for financial success this year. Reevaluate your business plan given todays environment. Due to changing landscapes and environments, its critical to evolve and adjust your business plan by mapping out key areas of need and growth and identifying any potential risk areas that you may have uncovered during the pandemic. Ask yourself, how did your business track last year against the projections you made heading into 2020? Are there successes from the second half of 2020 you can build on? What solutions worked best for your business as you managed the impact of the coronavirus? As were still in a time of uncertainty, err on the side of caution and ensure your plan allows room for evolution and adjustment as needed. ADVERTISEMENT Explore your financing options. Our team at Bank of America is taking steps to directly engage with minority business owners to ensure they have access to the tools and resources they need to secure funding. Our small business bankers will continue to support business owners as they navigate the Paycheck Protection Program process as well as to discuss traditional loan product options to fit individual needs such as purchasing inventory, refinancing debt or financing account receivables. When exploring financing options, a few questions to consider include: What goals have you identified in your business plan that require additional financing? Are you looking to boost your headcount? Did you have expansion plans that you held off on? Are any structural or technological enhancements needed in the coming year? Once you identify your goals for 2021 and beyond, sit down with your small business banker to determine the right financing solution for you. Bankers can also help connect business owners who may not qualify for traditional bank financing to our network of CDFI partners across the country, that are working to increase access to capital for business owners who have historically faced barriers. Bank of America is the largest investor in CDFIs in the U.S., with more than $1.6 billion in loans and investments to over 250 CDFIs. We also recently committed $200 million to direct equity investments in Black- and Hispanic-Latino-owned businesses, to help supply growth capital as well as to invest substantially in programs to create future entrepreneurs. Go digital. Businesses across the country have had to adjust aspects of their operations due to the public health crisis, including enhancing sanitation practices, changing primary revenue streams and shifting sales from brick-and-mortar to online. As we continue to adhere to social distancing requirements, consider banking digitally to limit in-person interactions, and free up time to remain focused on running your business. Connect with your banker on what digital options are available to you. For example, at Bank of America we offer a full suite of small business digital capabilities, including Cash Flow Monitor, a no-cost dashboard that provides an easy way to manage, track and project your business cash flow. The pandemic created unprecedented obstacles for Black small business owners, challenging them to find new and innovative ways to meet the needs of their businesses, employees, customers and communities. Following the steps outlined above can help address whatever opportunities and challenges 2021 may bring. The news that is especially encouraging for the small business community in Los Angeles is that our research found four-in-five Black entrepreneurs say that once were on the other side of the pandemic, they believe small business will return to being the backbone of the U.S. economy. We look forward to partnering with you and your business to make that a reality! Old Dominion University's Norfolk, Virginia Campus Old Dominion University (ODU) is proud to announce they have partnered with GEICO's Virginia Beach office to help associates advance their education, either on campus in Norfolk or online through ODUOnline. Through ODU and GEICO's Team Education Benefits, ODU offers classes approved for career advancement at GEICO, plus select degree programs that are covered by GEICO's employee education benefits. "Our GEICO office in Virginia Beach is excited to partner with Old Dominion University to remove barriers for our employees to continue to pursue their education," said Beth Roberts, GEICO Director of Human Resources for Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. "We would love to afford every one of our employees the opportunity to achieve a bachelors degree and with Old Dominions help we can do that together." With ODU, GEICO employees can start or complete a bachelor's degree or transfer a business degree from Tidewater Community College for credit at ODU. GEICO associates can also prepare for advancement within their careers by taking approved business courses for management associates and aspiring managers. "We have found continued success in hiring graduates from Old Dominion," Roberts continued. "We think it is a natural relationship that would benefit all involved. The University agrees. "Workforce development has always been a major priority for ODU," said Andy Casiello, Associate Vice President for Distance Learning. "We are so proud to provide our experience in distance learning to help GEICO employees meet their goals." To learn more about the partnership between ODUOnline and GEICO, please visit online.odu.edu/partners/geico. About Old Dominion University Old Dominion University, located in the coastal city of Norfolk, is Virginia's entrepreneurial-minded doctoral research university and has been delivering distance learning programs for 30 years. We offer more than 100 programs through ODUOnline in a variety of formats, allowing students to complete degree programs across the world. ODU serves more than 24,000 students annually by providing the same rigorous academics online and on-campus. Learn more about ODUOnline's programs by visiting online.odu.edu. The Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council (BUAPC), while in the process of finding a new community co-ordinator, welcomed two new citizen-at-large appointments earlier in the year. Advertisement Advertise With Us The Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council (BUAPC), while in the process of finding a new community co-ordinator, welcomed two new citizen-at-large appointments earlier in the year. Deborah Huntinghawk and Darlene Paquette joined the council though Huntinghawk rejoins after serving as the representative for the Brandon Friendship Centre. Deborah Huntinghawk, seen here smudging her drum for a ceremony last spring, and Darlene Paquette (not pictured) were appointed to the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council as citizens-at-large. (File) "I know both ladies and have worked with them on other committees, and they are a real asset to BUAPC," said Leah LaPlante, the councils chair and representative for the Manitoba Metis Federation. The council is arms-length from city council and is primarily dedicated to issues of concern to Indigenous people in Brandon. The city can seek its advice and, conversely, the council can "advise city council of its own accord." Its mandate is broad, with a goal of ensuring Indigenous people have a place in Brandon, supported by policy and programming. The council is made up of two members from city council, four citizen-at-large members and one representative each from the Brandon Friendship Centre, the Manitoba Metis Federation, the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, Prairie Mountain Health, Brandon University, Assiniboine Community College, the Brandon School Division Board and the Brandon School Division Administration. Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser) currently serves a dual role on the council representing both the city and Assiniboine Community College. "Deb did and does such a wonderful job and really brings a motherly lens to those conversations and to our considerations. Shes very thoughtful. Its great to have her back," he said. "And Darlene, Ive known Darlene for years. Shes such a strong community advocate. Really not afraid to challenge people, and invite questions and good dialogue. Shell definitely hold the councils feet to the fire. Im really looking forward to Darlene being on the council, actually." Desjarlais said there are normally quite a few applications for the citizen-at-large positions, more than other committees. "We really had to make tough decisions last time. Its never fun for me to tell somebody who wants to volunteer their time, Im sorry," he said. For Huntinghawk, the council is a group of like-minded, community-minded people. "We all have respect for each other, and we all have respect for what happens to our Indigenous people that live in this community. We all want good things, like good health care, good education, just a positive experience to be here in Brandon," said Huntinghawk, adding affordable housing and reconciliation to the list. She also appreciates that each representative brings issues forward from their own organizations to be discussed in a solution-oriented way. The Metis and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation flags flying at city hall is one visible way to let urban Indigenous people know they belong in the city alongside other Brandonites. That was a council effort. Huntinghawk listed more projects the council has accomplished. For Paquette, a lifelong volunteer, her appointment to the council is humbling, she said. After a years break from boards and committees, she decided it was time to re-engage. She was elected to the Brandon Friendship Centre board in June last year. "Then I thought, I always wanted to serve on a city committee, and I thought that BUAPC would be a good fit. I know that they were doing great things pre-COVID. And, yes, I wanted to be a part of that," she said. "They have built a solid bridge between the Indigenous community and the City of Brandon and this community at large. There was a lot of work put into that, and I commend all of the board members past and current, that are appointed, and the city councillors that sit on there. Theyve done so much work in building good relationships with the city and the community." Paquette also noted the teepee project, which has seen teepee frames erected all over the city, and the Good Road Gala, which honours Indigenous people who live the seven sacred teachings love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. The council would normally meet once a month, and invite guests to speak from time to time, to discuss such things as justice, economic development, Indigenous relations and urban reserves. "You name it we put a lot of things on the agenda, and then do our best to collaborate and promote the advancement in economics, education and wellness for our urban Indigenous population," said Desjarlais. The councils work has mostly come to a standstill due to the pandemic. They are also on the search to fill the community co-ordinator position left vacant by Jason Gobeil, who moved on to pursue other interests last fall. 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. New York Times columnist David Brooks is on the payroll of a project funded by Facebook and has written articles peddling its cause, a report said Thursday. Brooks, who also appears weekly on PBS NewsHour, takes an additional salary from his work with the Aspen Institute's Weave project which started in May 2018, according to Buzzfeed. That same year Facebook gave $250,000 to the Washington DC think tank for Weave. Brooks later told Times readers the project was focused on' building community and weaving the social fabric' of the US in one of his columns. Brooks did not tell readers he was being paid for his role at Weave or how it was funded, in part, via the social media giant. The paper has so far refused to comment on whether it knew Brooks was taking a salary for his role or if they knew the project's connection to Facebook. But NYT spokeswoman Eileen Murphy confirmed: 'Were in the process of reviewing Davids relationship with the Weave Project and the Aspen Institute, and what disclosures, if any, should be added to Davids columns going forward.' DailyMail.com has reached out for comment. As well as promoting Weave, Brooks has also not disclose his ties to Facebook when writing about the social network for the paper, Buzzfeed reports. He also has written for the tech giant's website, archived records show. Defending Facebook on their blog, Brooks said: 'My takeaway from all this research is that its not social media thats the problem, its the ideas and behavior of the people who use it.' New York Times columnist David Brooks is on the payroll of a project funded by Facebook and has multiple articles peddling its cause, according to a Buzzfeed report Thursday Brooks did not tell readers he was being paid for his role at Weave or how the project was funded, in part, via the social media giant Brooks' bio on the Times does not disclose his work with Weave or its links to Facebook. It does reference his work with PBS, NPR and NBC and his teaching at Yale University. It's also reported Weave's biggest donor came from Jeff Bezos' father Miguel for more than $300,000. Brooks continued to promote Weave in his columns, writing about one of the group's events and calling those who attended 'some of the most compelling people Ive ever met'. In September 2019 he wrote sponsored content for a conference called Upswell, which had been organized by Independent Sector, another Weave supporter. He later spoke at Upswell alongside Facebook's Deepti Doshi. Brooks' bio on the Times does not disclose his work with Weave or its links to Facebook. It does reference his work with PBS, NPR and NBC and his teaching at Yale University In September 2019 he wrote sponsored content for a conference called Upswell, which had been organized by Independent Sector, another Weave supporter. He later spoke at Upswell alongside Facebook's Deepti Doshi Brooks is named as the chair of Weave on its website; Brooks has continued to promote Weave in his columns, writing about one of the group's events and calling those who attended 'some of the most compelling people Ive ever met' Wolfe said that her news website will be a place where she will 'tell stories' that 'possibly chill you to the bone' The news comes on the back a turbulent few months for The New York Times. In February veteran reporter Donald McNeil Jr announced he was resigning and apologized for his 'extraordinarily bad judgement' over his use of the N-word. A piece written by NYT conservative columnist Bret Stephens that was critical of executive editor Dean Baquet and managing editor Joseph Kahn's response to the controversy was later revealed to have been spiked. Weeks earlier the paper fired editor Lauren Wolfe after she tweeted that she had 'chills' watching President Joe Biden land at Joint Base Andrews the day before the inauguration. According to Wolfe, the tweet was 'the only reason they fired me', she said as she responded to the paper for claiming otherwise. A statement from the Times had alleged that her dismissal was not on the basis of the tweet alone, but did not comment any further on the reasons for letting her go. The in July, opinion editor Bari Weiss announced she was leaving the paper in a scathing resignation letter that slams the Times for fostering an 'illiberal environment' and allowing her to be bullied by coworkers for 'wrongthink'. Lauren Wolfe lost her gig with the paper, where she had started working last May, after tweeting: 'Biden landing at Joint Base Andrews now. I have chills' Last month the paper said it needs a culture change to become a better place to work, particularly for people of color 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'. And in December the Times also admitted that it was duped by a fake terrorist in the creation of its hit podcast Caliphate. In a four-part post on Medium on Monday, Donald McNeil Jr. (above) described for the first time, in his own words, the context behind his use of the racial slur in 2019 The Times acknowledged that it had been misled in the production of the series by Canadian-Pakistani man Shehroze Chaudhry, 25, who had fabricated his story of working as an ISIS executioner. Yet it was in further hot water after a group of 20 influential public radio stations condemned the Times for a 'lack of transparency' after personal ties between the star host of 'The Daily' Michael Barbaro and its discredited series 'Caliphate' emerged. New York Times' opinion editor, James Bennet, resigned after a controversial op-ed from Senator Tom Cotton in June. 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. Last month the paper said it needs a culture change to become a better place to work, particularly for people of color. NYT is ridiculed for 'totally shameless' job ad for an opinion editor with a 'spine of steel' after a series of resignations over Republican Senator Tom Cotton's 'send in the troops' op-ed The New York Times has been criticized on Twitter over a job advert seeking an opinion editor with a 'spine of steel', months after three editors were forced out of the newspaper for promoting unpopular debate. Posted on Wednesday, the job advert for a Deputy Opinion Editor said the ideal candidate would be someone with a 'sense of humor and a spine of steel, a confident point of view and an open mind, an appetite for risk and exacting standards for excellence in writing and visual presentation.' The posting comes months after the liberal publication saw three editors leave the company - op-ed staff editor Bari Weiss, page editor James Bennet and editorial assistant Adam Rubenstein. Newsweek deputy opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon was among those to point out the irony of the job posting, calling it 'totally shameless' and noting that the three people who left their posts at the newspaper were guilty of 'doing this exact thing.' 'In 6 months, @nytimes lost 3 opinion editors w/ spines of steel, open minds, an appetite for risk, and exacting standards - @bariweiss, @RubensteinAdam, and @JBennet - because their colleagues couldn't handle a single one of these attributes and their bosses were amoral cowards,' she wrote on Twitter Wednesday. The New York Times has been criticised on Twitter of a job advert seeking an opinion editor with a 'spine of steel', months after three editors were forced out of the newspaper for promoting unpopular debate. Pictured: The New York Times building in Manhattan Newsweek deputy opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon was among those to point out the irony of the job posting, calling it 'totally shameless' and noting that the three people who left their posts at the newspaper were guilty of 'doing this exact thing' The Times' former editorial page editor, James Bennet, resigned on June 7, 2020 after more than 1,000 staffers signed a letter in protest of his publication on an opinion piece written by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, and published on June 3. Cotton had advocated to 'send in the troops' to quell Black Lives Matter protests seen across America in the summer, saying 'rioters have plunged many American cities into anarchy.' Following the article's publication, Times staffers were said to be in 'open revolt', with several of the paper's writers taking to twitter to criticise their employer. Bennet initially defended the column, saying the opinion page's mission is to show readers readers the 'counter-arguments, particularly those made by people in a position to set policy.' He added: 'We understand that many readers find Senator Cotton's argument painful, even dangerous. We believe that is one reason it requires public scrutiny and debate.' However, he later backtracked his stance, apologizing for the column before resigning days later. In the weeks that followed, Bari Weiss categorized the internal controversy as an on-going 'civil war' between what she called young 'social justice warriors' and what she identified older staffers as - 'free speech advocates.' This categorization was disputed by a number of other journalists and opinion writers at the newspaper, with some calling her out for 'willful misrepresentation', and for not listening to her black colleagues over the issue. Weiss, in turn, accused the paper in July of 'unlawful discrimination, hostile work environment, and constructive discharge,' and spoke on journalist Megyn Kelly's podcast, saying that the Times is 'a place where people are fired for running' articles written by conservatives.' Left: Former Times page editor James Bennet, who resigned on June 7, 2020 after the publication of the infamous 'Send in the Troop's opinion piece written by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton. On July 14, Bari Weiss (right) also resigned, citing bullying On July 14, Weiss published a resignation letter on her website, in which she slammed The Times for giving in to criticism on Twitter, and for not supporting her when she claims she was bullied by her colleagues. In her letter Weiss said, 'Stories are chosen and told in a way to satisfy the narrowest of audiences, rather than to allow a curious public to read about the world and then draw their own conclusions.' 'Twitter is not on the masthead of The New York Times, but Twitter has become its ultimate editor,' she added. Weiss was praised by a number of conservative commentators and politicians, including U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Kelly Loeffler, Donald Trump Jr., and political commentator Ben Shapiro. Later in 2020, on December 11, it was reported by The Daily Beast that a young editorial assistant Adam Rubenstein had also resigned, after it came to light that he was the one who edited Cotton's article. Ungar-Sargon highlighted The Time's commitment - detailed in the job advert - to 'promote the most important and provocative debate across a range of subjects.' Ungar-Sargon highlighted The Time's commitment - detailed in the job advert - to 'promote the most important and provocative debate across a range of subjects', saying that the editors had been pushed out of the publication for 'this exact thing; Posted on Wednesday, the job advert (pictured) said the ideal candidate would someone with a 'sense of humor and a spine of steel, a confident point of view and an open mind, an appetite for risk and exacting standards for excellence in writing and visual presentation' 'The NYT literally fired James Bennet for doing this exact thing. It outed Adam Rubenstein and tossed him to the wolves for doing this exact thing. It allowed Bari Weiss to be bullied out of the newsroom for doing this exact thing. Just totally shameless,' she wrote on Wednesday. At the time of the article's publication, Bennet and Rubenstein both faced criticism from staffers for putting the newspaper's black staff in 'danger'. The job listing comes one week after Times executive sent a note to its staff detailing an eight-month investigation into the diversity and inclusion at the publication, and vowed to make 'fundamental changes' to the paper's workplace culture. The probe came after New York Magazine published a scathing article in November that detailed the Time's culture, saying it was an 'open secret' that the paper is 'published by and for coastal liberals.' Pictured: People took to Twitter to point out the irony of the Times' job advert New York Magazine's piece pointed out that several of The Times' staffers supported Weiss' claim that the paper had developed a liberal bias. Cotton's 'Send in the Troops' op-ed remains on the New York Times website, with a long editor's note added on June 5 - two days before Bennet's resignation. After publication, this essay met strong criticism from many readers (and many Times colleagues), prompting editors to review the piece and the editing process. Based on that review, we have concluded that the essay fell short of our standards and should not have been published,' the editor's note says. 'The basic arguments advanced by Senator Cotton however objectionable people may find them represent a newsworthy part of the current debate. 'But given the life-and-death importance of the topic, the senator's influential position and the gravity of the steps he advocates, the essay should have undergone the highest level of scrutiny.' The New York Times has also published articles penned by other controversial figures, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A judge in Passaic County has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a Prospect Park woman who was seriously injured when the car she was driving collided with a police car more than five years ago. The 28-year-old woman was driving east on a one-way street on Aug. 21, 2015 and stopped for a red light at North 9th Street and Haledon Avenue in Paterson when she claims a Haledon Police Department cruiser crashed into her. The officer had not activated his siren, according to the lawsuit, which was filed against borough officials and an auto insurance company in Superior Court of Passaic County. The officer had not been dispatched to a 911 call but was instead headed to help a police officer trying to break up a fight in another jurisdiction, according to court documents. In a Feb. 22 ruling, Judge Frank Covello found that the officer had been responding to an emergency, which afforded him a measure of good faith immunity under New Jersey law. The judge also found that there were three cars in the intersection at the time of the crash and all had moved over to make way for police car. Additionally, (the driver) testified that she observed red-and-blue lights before coming to a complete stop, the judge wrote in his ruling. New Jersey law precludes recovery of damages against public entities, except in the most severe cases disfigurement, dismemberment and permanent loss of bodily function. The woman has the right to appeal the decision. Her attorney, Edwin Flores of Hawthorne, was not immediately available to comment on Thursday. 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. The Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate has taken legal action against online applications that sell pharmaceutical products to the public. The syndicate recently filed a complaint with the prosecutor-general accusing Vezeeta, which launched its e-pharmacy service in February, of violating Egyptian laws that govern the advertising of healthcare services and products, as well as breaking Law 47 of 1969 concerning the pharmacists syndicate establishment and Law 3 of 2005 relating to protecting competition. The syndicate also said that Law 127 of 1955 bans selling medicines outside traditional pharmacies in order to protect patients lives. In 2020, the Pharmacists Syndicate filed nine reports with the prosecutor-general against a number of applications and online platforms for not conforming to its resolution banning the selling or purchasing of medicines from online sources. A number of traditional pharmacies in the Egyptian market have also launched mobile apps that deliver medicines through online services where patients upload their prescriptions. Vezeeta said in a statement on Thursday that the legal actions taken by the Pharmacists Syndicate obstruct patients ability to receive medicines in a fast and easy way, which is one of the Egyptian states targets concerning using technology in the healthcare sector. Vezeeta, which launched its e-pharmacy in February, is an Egyptian healthcare platform that serves the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The company said in its statement, which was sent to Ahram Online, that Vezeeta and its associated activities in the market have been established through a fund financed by number of government bodies in Egypt, in addition to international investment corporations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US, Sweden, as well as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank member. It added that its e-pharmacy localises digital technology in the healthcare sector in Egypt and spurs investments in such a promising sector, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis. It also said that it provides the e-pharmacy service through authorised pharmacies working in the domestic market, and that it is committed to the legal procedures set by the Egyptian health ministry, the drug affairs department and the Consumer Protection Agency. Vezeeta also clarified that it provides pharmacies a management service through its Vezeeta e-Commerce company, which is registered with the General Authority for Free Zones and Investment (GAFI) in Cairo and Giza governorates. Short link: Buckingham Palace will launch an investigations into allegations of bullying made against Meghan, Duchess of Sussex by former members of staff, a spokesperson has said. Staff were reported in The Times to have claimed Meghan had driven out two personal assistants during her time as a working royal, with staff alleged to have been humiliated on a number of occasions. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace. The publication alleged the Duchess actions were viewed by sources as an attempt to paint herself as a victim so as to convince Prince Harry to leave the UK with her and escape the unbearable experience - something her lawyers have denied. However sources told the paper that despite complaints, the institution of the monarchy protected Meghan constantly, adding All the men in grey suits who she hates have a lot to answer for, because they did absolutely nothing to protect people. It is understood the palace hopes to launch the probe soon, with any changes in policy or procedure triggered likely to be shared later in the Sovereign Grant report, which is published annually and documents royal accounts for the year. The disclosure comes ahead of a scheduled tell-all interview between the Sussexes and Oprah Winfrey which is expected to dig into the couples experience of royal life and the decisions behind their move to America. Additional reporting by agencies Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. NEW DELHI (dpa-AFX) - Indian IT company Wipro Ltd. (WIT) announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement to acquire London-headquartered Capco for $1.45 billion. Capco is a global management and technology consultancy providing digital, consulting and technology services to financial institutions in the Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific. Capco's clients include many marquee names in the global financial services industry. In addition, Capco services clients in the energy and commodities trading sector. This acquisition will make Wipro one of the largest end-to-end global consulting, technology and transformation service providers to the banking and financial services industry. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the quarter ending June 30, 2021. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below This art enthusiast and yoga lover has a passion for adventure and an urge to explore every corner of the planet, on a constant journey for self-discovery and understanding. In 2014, Natali launched Gulf Art Advisory, a leading art consultancy firm that is promoting emerging artists and connecting them with galleries and collectors. The beautiful Ukrainian, who is a practising international lawyer in Dubai, is the epitome of the UAE's entrepreneur culture. Moving to the UAE seven years ago for her MBA in International Hospitality Business, she later set up her company in 2014 and has since become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country. She also runs other businesses, including BUDZY Mats , a fashionable and eco-friendly yoga mat, and Balloonsiaga, a company based on luxury balloons/flowers decor for events. It all began when Natali visited Dubai in 2010, for a trip meant to be a short vacation in between getting her masters in International Law in Ukraine. But within an hour, she had a change of mind. Today, she owns 3 businesses and still counting. In giving back, Natali is supporting women entrepreneurs, aiming to empower them and develop their businesses. This initiative is targeted at women from vulnerable backgrounds with promising business ideas, by providing mentorship in the field of entrepreneurship and business development. Natali who is a force to be reckoned with, is fierce, intelligent, inspiring and a risk taker who wandered into unfamiliar territory, only to turn it into one of the most successful small scale enterprises in the country. About BUDZY Made from the highest quality of rubber, BUDZY mats are free from PVC materials, which contain dangerous chemical additives including phthalates, lead, cadmium, which can be toxic to one's health. They are also bigger than standard mat and don't slip. Website: www.budzyshop.com Contact: Email: [email protected] Tel: +971 56 265 8388 IG: @natali.budzei Pleasures Magazine Web: www.dtcoms.com www.pleasuresmagazine.com.ng Tel: +44-748-0070-132 SOURCE Pleasures Magazine [March 04, 2021] Munich Re New Ventures Enters Into an Agreement to Acquire Leading Canadian Third Party Administrator, GroupHEALTH Munich Re, through its subsidiary, Munich Re New Ventures, Inc, (MRNV) today announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Group Health Group Holdings, Inc. (GroupHEALTH), one of the largest third party group insurance administrators in Canada. GroupHEALTH delivers ground-breaking plan designs and administration solutions to Canadian businesses. Following the closing of the transaction, MRNV will own 100% of GroupHEALTH. MRNV previously held a 40% interest in the company. The transaction is subject to receipt of regulatory approval under the Competition Act (Canada). The acquisition holds special promise for Munich Re group life clients who are looking for transformational growth enablers. "At the core of this acquisition is GroupHEALTH's agile approach to addressing insurer growth and profitability," says Marc Costantini, President & CEO, Corporate Development, Strategy & Digital Solutions, Munich Re North America Life and Health. "GroupHEALTH's state-of-the-art sales and administration capabilities provide insurers efficient access to new markets, with an advanced customer interface." Four years ago, Munich Re established MRNV to identify competencies that would address the industry's legacy system inefficiencies. Since then, MRNV has become an incubator of leading edge technology, distribution and product offerings for Munich Re's clients and partners. With the establishment of MRNV, Munich Re identified two significant paths: 1) through the development of a comprehensive direct to consumer platform, ultimately named Parachute Digital Solutions brought to market in 2017, and 2) a strategic investment in the group insurance distribution and administration network, specifically, in a third party administrator that could offer modern, flexible and scalable technology that could bring continuous innovation and value to clients. "Munich Re's planned acqusition of GroupHEALTH is in line with our innovation strategy," says Richard Letarte, President & CEO, Munich Re New Ventures. "Our strategy is to build a structure that allows us to easily and quickly bring new ideas and products to market that will help our clients improve market reach, customer experiences and operations." GroupHEALTH will continue to be led by Matt Houghton, GroupHEALTH's CEO and his executive team. There are no changes expected to GroupHEALTH's operating model, personnel, service model or standards. "MRNV has been a great partner in assisting insurers to deliver innovative products and services to meet our clients evolving needs to date," said Matt Houghton, CEO GroupHEALTH Family of Companies. "We could not be more excited about this next chapter working together to further enhance the value proposition for all stakeholders." "We are very pleased to continue to partner with Matt and his exceptional team. GroupHEALTH has an impressive, relentless commitment to innovation, coupled with continued, annualized profitable growth," says Letarte. About Group Health As leaders in employee benefits plans and group insurance, the GroupHEALTH Family of Companies has more than 700 employees in offices in Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Edmonton, Etobicoke, Woodbridge and Barrie. With annual premiums in excess of $650 million and $5 billion in pension assets under management, GroupHEALTH insures more than 5,000 client organizations across Canada, in both the public and private sectors, supporting more than 450,000 Canadians and their families. GroupHEALTH Benefit Solutions (www.Grouphealth.ca) has acquired or holds substantial controlling interest in several exceptional Canadian companies including Disability Management Institute, GroupSource LP, and Manion Wilkins & Associates Ltd. About Munich Re Munich Re is one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. The group consists of the reinsurance and ERGO business segments, as well as the asset management company MEAG. Munich Re is globally active and operates in all lines of the insurance business. Since it was founded in 1880, Munich Re has been known for its unrivalled risk-related expertise and its sound financial position. It offers customers financial protection when faced with exceptional levels of damage - from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through to the 2019 Pacific typhoon season. Munich Re possesses outstanding innovative strength, which enables it to also provide coverage for extraordinary risks such as rocket launches, renewable energies, or cyberattacks. The company is playing a key role in driving forward the digital transformation of the insurance industry, and in doing so has further expanded its ability to assess risks and the range of services that it offers. Its tailor-made solutions and close proximity to its customers make Munich Re one of the world's most sought-after risk partners for businesses, institutions, and private individuals. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005896/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Huntington, WV (25701) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the National Economic Strategy until 2030, according to a statement posted on the government's website. "During the meeting, the government approved the National Economic Strategy until 2030 with revisions," the statement said. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the National Economic Strategy 2030 was an ambitious vision of Ukraine into the future and a road map that will change the country. "The National Economic Strategy 2030 is a comprehensive document that should bring Ukraine to the club of developed and successful countries. The strategy was developed with the involvement of experts, scientists, officials, and MPs. This will be a significant contribution to the development of a successful, prosperous European Ukraine," he said. More than 500 participants joined the creation of the National Economic Strategy 2030: representatives of over 20 think tanks, over 30 business associations, 40 executive bodies, experts, civil society, and MPs. The document outlines strategic steps for the development of industry, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, transport, energy, information and communication technologies, creative industries, and the service sector. The strategy also takes into account important cross-cutting areas - digitalization, renewable energy, the development of entrepreneurship, and balanced regional development. The principles on which the National Economic Strategy is based include European and Euro-Atlantic integration, inviolability of private property, rule of law, intolerance of corruption, free and fair competition, and equal access for business. Shmyhal thanked all those who joined the development of the National Economic Strategy 2030. He also expressed hope that all branches of government would be actively involved in achieving a common goal for the country. op Folding to the many calls for the ouster of its power grid manager, Texas has fired the official following the deadly blackouts in February, which left millions of people without heat and electricity amid the subfreezing temperatures for several days. The CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Bill Magness, is only the second senior official to leave in the aftermath of U.S. history's worst blackout. He was fired just a couple of days after the state's top utility regulator resigned on Monday. On Wednesday night, during ERCOT's board meeting, Magness received his two-month termination notice. In its statement, ERCOT said that during the two-month transition period, Magness would continue his duties as the President and CEO of ERCOT. He will also continue to work with state regulators and leaders on potential reforms to the council, NPR reported. Magness was the recipient of the public's outrage following the blackouts that started in mid-February amid Winter Storm Uri. The Winter Storm caused Texas's temperature to drop to single digits resulting in the sudden rise in demand for electricity in homes. The power grid manager's ouster resulted from the people's demands after grid operators cut off the electricity for more than 4 million customers when the system buckled. Magness stated that unplugging the customers was necessary to prevent a more catastrophic blackout that would leave the state in blackout for months. However, millions of people whose powers were cut off did not flip back on for days, and the prolonged lack of electricity escalated to tragic proportions of crisis. There were several deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning that resulted from people trying to keep warm, while others froze to their deaths. The blackouts and the winter storm have caused at least 40 deaths in Texas, based on the current data. However, it was noted that the full death toll might not be available for months. Last week, before the ouster of its power grid manager, Texas lawmakers began the probe on Magness's handling of the storm and the lack of power at the Texas capitol. In his testimony, Magness stated that he kept the grid that serves most of the 30 million residents with power. Read also: Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Texas' Largest Power Cooperative Files for Bankruptcy Magness stated that his actions kept the state from going into a blackout that would have still been happening to this day if it was not prevented. He also defended that despite it not working for people's lives, it worked to preserve the system's integrity, Houston Public Media reported. Moreover, during the investigation, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called out ERCOT and stated that it misled the state regarding the grid's readiness and that it placed the blame on grid operators singularly. The commission's chairwoman DeAnn Walker also resigned after convening with the lawmakers in two lengthy sessions. He also said that there are also others who should take responsibility for the outages, CNBC reported. Aside from its power grid manager's ouster, the blackouts' aftermath has also caused at least six board members of ERCOT to step down. Related article: Four Energy Board Members to Step Down Following Texas Blackouts Amid Deadly Winter Storm @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nord Stream 2 most likely not to be completed due to sanctions Naftogaz CEO Kobolyev noted that the companies participating in the project are massively withdrawing and halting any funding. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter The DUP has welcomed the Government's decision to unilaterally extend Irish Sea border grace periods until the autumn, but Sinn Fein has branded it an "unnecessary solo run". Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney described the move as "deeply unhelpful", but Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken accused him of "showing gravity-defying levels of arrogance". The EU claimed the UK was breaking post-Brexit obligations and was set to breach international law for a second time. The row followed an announcement by Secretary of State Brandon Lewis that the grace period for supermarket agri-food movements from Britain to Northern Ireland would continue until October. Certification requirements will be introduced in phases alongside the rollout of a digital assistance scheme, he added. Local businesses have been pressing for an extension to avoid a cliff-edge plunge into extra bureaucracy linked to the protocol. The first of the grace periods was due to expire at the end of March, when supermarkets would have had to produce export health certificates for all shipments of animal products. DUP Westminster leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: "Whilst supermarkets and those bringing in goods via our ports from Great Britain will be relieved to see extensions to the grace periods, we will be continuing to press the Government for a permanent solution. "Grace periods do not provide the long-term certainty that businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland require. The protocol has been demonstrated to be unworkable. The Government clearly recognises the economic problems, but it must also acknowledge the political rejection of the protocol." Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said: "At last week's meeting of the Joint Committee, Michael Gove and Maros Sefcovic re-affirmed support for the Irish protocol and the need to work together to deal with issues that have arisen. "It is incredible that one week later that the British government has gone on a solo run and taken unilateral action. This was completely unnecessary, totally undermines the work of the Joint Committee and puts it on an immediate collision course with the EU." Mr Coveney said: "A unilateral announcement is deeply unhelpful to building the relationship of trust and partnership that is central to the implementation of the protocol." European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic expressed serious concern over the Government's action, which he said was "a violation of the relevant substantive provisions of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and the good faith obligation under the withdrawal agreement". Mr Sefcovic added: "This is the second time that the UK Government is set to breach international law." But the Ulster Unionists were scathing of both Dublin and Brussels. Mr Aiken said: "The fact that the EU and Irish government have reacted in such a dramatic, over-the-top manner to what are minimal changes to help protect businesses in Northern Ireland tells you all you need to know about their real intentions. "Simon Coveney and his EU counterparts are showing gravity-defying levels of arrogance given their past actions. "If we moved at the snail's pace which the EU is moving at, businesses would be pulling their shutters down." But Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry MP said: "While this announcement from the UK Government may be superficially attractive in the short-term, it may bring long-term consequences. The legal basis under the Withdrawal Agreement for such unilateral steps is at best unclear. One set of unilateral moves may invite other such steps." On Wednesday night, Cabinet member Lord David Frost said the UK's intervention should allow time for constructive discussions with counterparts in Brussels. A Government spokesperson said: "Lord Frost explained that the measures announced today, following official-level notification to the Commission earlier this week, were temporary technical steps, which largely continued measures already in place, to provide more time for businesses such as supermarkets and parcel operators to adapt to and implement the new requirements in the Protocol." Taiwan will stage six rounds of missile tests this month along with other military drills to step up its defence capabilities, as the Peoples Liberation Army conducts a month-long exercise in the South China Sea. From Wednesday, the government-funded National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology plans to test-fire missiles off the eastern and southern coasts, with five more rounds planned between March 10 and March 19, according to a notice made public by the Taiwan Fisheries Agency. It said they would test the power of missiles launched from the Jiupeng military base in the islands southernmost county of Pingtung and the eastern county of Taitung. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. The notice also said there was no ceiling on the height of the missile tests on March 10-11 and March 18-19, meaning they will stretch 300km into the Pacific, encompassing the waters off the counties of Hualien and Taitung, including Orchid Island. There was no mention of which missiles would be tested, but the semi-official Central News Agency quoted an unnamed retired institute official as saying they would likely be Hsiung Feng-2E (Brave Wind-2E) cruise missiles and the extended-range version of the Thunderbolt-2000 tactical missiles. The Hsiung Feng-2E has a firing range of 600km, capable of reaching China, while the extended version of the Thunderbolt-2000 is said to have a firing range of 200-300km, meaning it could reach the mainland coast. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese air force will conduct at least five rounds of live-fire drills between Wednesday and March 25 at waters near Chialutang in southwestern Taiwan. The drills will be near the islands southwest air defence identification zone (ADIZ) that PLA warplanes have reportedly frequently flown into and been seen off by the Taiwanese air force. Taiwans navy will also stage two exercises on March 8 and 11 near Chialutang to improve combat readiness, according to another notice published by the fisheries agency. Story continues The Taiwanese coastguard will also hold a live-fire drill at the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on March 23, after it staged a live-fire exercise on Monday at the Pratas Islands controlled by Taiwan and claimed by Beijing amid rising tensions in the region, according to the agency. Taiwans drills come as the PLA conducts a month-long exercise, which started on Monday, in a zone with a radius of 5km (3.1 miles) west of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province. Analysts said although Taiwans missile tests and military drills would have been scheduled well ahead of time, publicising the schedule also served as a warning to Beijing over its growing military intimidation against the self-ruled island. In the face of continuous threats from China, the flurry of missile tests and military drills by the Taiwanese forces are meant to tell Beijing that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself, said Su Tzu-yun, a senior analyst at the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, a government-funded think tank. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory that must be brought under mainland control, by force if necessary. It has suspended official exchanges with the island, staged a series of war games and poached seven of Taiwans allies since Tsai Ing-wen, from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle. More than 1,000 PLA warplanes have entered Taiwans southwest ADIZ since last year as part of the pressure campaign, fuelling tensions in the region, with military experts warning of the risk of unintended incidents that could spark a cross-strait conflict. Su said Taiwan was aware of the risks and had been prudent in its military moves. These tests and drills are homeland security measures aimed at safeguarding Taiwan while improving the armed forces skills and the technological levels of Taiwans home-grown weapons, Su said. Chieh Chung, a senior national security researcher at the National Policy Foundation, an opposition Kuomintang party think tank, said Taiwan had developed its own weapons mainly because of the rapid rise in the mainlands military power. In developing our own weapons, we seek to maintain a military balance between the two sides, or at least not to fall sharply behind, he said. More from South China Morning Post: This article South China Sea: Taiwan fires up missile tests to coincide with Beijings month of military drills first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2021. ABIDJAN, March 1 (Reuters) - People began to queue early as the Ivory Coast prepared to become the first country to launch a COVID-19 inoculation drive on Monday with doses from the COVAX vaccine sharing facility. Ivory Coast received 504,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine on Friday, and plans to roll it out to medical workers, security forces members and teachers before vaccinating people over 50, those with chronic diseases and travellers. Over a hundred people were lining up early on Monday at a sports complex in the Treichville neighbourhood of Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan to receive their first shot. COVAX, which is led by the GAVI vaccines alliance along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, is meant to ensure fairer distribution. It aims to deliver nearly 2 billion doses to over 90 low- and middle-income countries, covering up to 20% of their populations. The initiative hopes to level a playing field that has seen wealthier nations vaccinate millions while comparatively few have received shots in poorer parts of the world. Only a handful of African countries have begun inoculating their citizens with vaccines purchased bilaterally or received as donations. Africa has reported relatively few COVID-19 deaths compared to other continents, but the death toll is rising fast as a second wave of infections overwhelms hospitals. Ivory Coast's neighbour Ghana, which last week became the first country to receive a delivery of vaccines from COVAX, plans to officially begin its vaccination campaign on Tuesday. On Monday, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and his wife received the vaccine at a military hospital in an effort to boost public confidence ahead of the campaign. "It is important that I set the example that this vaccine is safe by being the first to have it," Akufo-Addo said. (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly and Ange Aboa in Abidjan Additional reporting by Christian Akorlie in Accra Writing by Aaron Ross Editing by Bate Felix and Giles Elgood) For nearly a year, nursing homes and assisted living centers have been mostly closed to visitors. Now, it's time for them to open back up and relieve residents of crushing isolation, according to a growing chorus of long-term care experts, caregivers, consumer groups and physicians. They're calling for federal health authorities to relax visitation restrictions in long-term care institutions, replacing guidance that's been in place since September. And they want both federal and state authorities to grant special status to "essential caregivers" family members or friends who provide critically important hands-on care so they have the opportunity to tend to relatives in need. Richard Fornili, 84, who lives in a nursing home in St. Marys, Georgia, supports a change in policies. He hasn't seen any family members since last summer, when a granddaughter, her husband and her two children stood outside his window and called him on the phone. "The depression and sense of aloneness affecting my fellow residents, it's terrible," he said. "Having our relatives come back in to see us, it's an absolute necessity for our well-being." "At this point, residents are becoming more likely to die of isolation and neglect than covid," said Jocelyn Bogdan, program and policy specialist at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, citing new data linking covid-19 vaccination to sharp declines in covid-related deaths. Her organization has launched a petition drive calling for nursing homes to safely reopen and for essential caregivers to have unrestricted access to loved ones. Since late December, when vaccinations began, covid cases in nursing home residents have plunged 83%, while deaths have dropped by 66%, according to an analysis by KFF. As of Monday, 4.6 million residents and staff members in nursing homes and other congregate facilities had received at least one shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, including more than 2 million who had received a second dose. Vaccines have "changed everything" and nursing homes are now among "the safest places you can be in your community in terms of covid," said Ruth Katz, senior vice president of public policy at LeadingAge, an association representing more than 5,000 nonprofit nursing homes, assisted living centers and senior housing providers. Last week, LeadingAge called for federal authorities to expand visitation in a letter to top officials at the White House, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In an email, the American Health Care Association, which represents more than 14,000 long-term care providers, also urged CMS and the CDC to review its visitation guidance. AARP, the nation's most powerful seniors' lobby, chimed in with a letter noting "a critical need" for new recommendations. Medical directors at long-term care facilities are also weighing in while sounding a cautious note in new guidance about resuming communal activities and visitation in long-term care facilities. With new covid variants circulating and significant numbers of staffers and potential visitors still unvaccinated, "we're recommending a measured, step-wise approach," said Dr. Swati Gaur, chair of the infection advisory committee for AMDA the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Facilities that reopen to family members should do so "carefully," she said, scheduling visits, screening those visitors for symptoms and ideally requiring a negative covid test before entry; limiting the number of visitors in a facility at any time; sending them to designated visitor sites, not residents' rooms; and requiring the use of masks and gloves, among other precautions. No one wants to see covid outbreaks reappear in long-term care facilities, Gaur said the site of nearly 173,000 covid-related deaths, about 35% of the nation's total. CMS instructed nursing homes to lock down almost a year ago, on March 13, as the coronavirus pandemic accelerated and the CDC said no one except relatives making end-of-life visits should be let in. In September, new recommendations allowed outdoor visits, so long as safety precautions such as physical distancing were in place, and indoor visits, so long as a facility was covid-free for 14 days and the positivity rate for covid cases in the surrounding community was under 10%. Federal recommendations apply to nursing homes. States regulate assisted living and other congregate care facilities but tend to follow the CDC's lead. In practice, long-term care facilities vary considerably in how they implement recommended policies. Also, federal authorities recommended that relatives be able to make "compassionate care" visits when a resident is emotionally distressed, grieving the loss of friends or family members, losing weight or adjusting poorly to the recent loss of family support. But many nursing homes continue to deny these visits, and enforcement needs to be strengthened, AARP observed in its letter. Melody Taylor Stark said her request for a compassionate care visit with her husband, Bill Stark, was denied in October, when his congestive heart failure worsened. Bill, 84, a resident at Huntington Drive Health and Rehabilitation in Arcadia, California, for five years, was subsequently hospitalized with pneumonia. Stark said she was permitted only one 15-minute visit with him, on Nov. 17, after he returned to Huntington the last time she saw Bill before his death on Nov. 22. The administrator at Huntington Drive did not respond to a request for comment. The Essential Caregivers Coalition, of which Stark is a member, is asking that every long-term care resident be able to designate one or two essential caregivers who can come in and out of facilities regularly to provide hands-on care to loved ones, as they did before the pandemic. As the anniversary of lockdowns approaches, the coalition has organized email blasts and letter-writing campaigns to federal and state authorities, a traveling lawn sign campaign in more than a dozen states and gatherings at several state capitols. The campaign's slogan: Isolation Kills, Too. Mikko Cook, 49, of Ventura, California, is one of the group's co-founders. Her father, Ron Von Ronne, 77, has late-stage Alzheimer's disease and lives in a 200-bed nursing home in Albany, New York. Before the pandemic, Cook's brother visited almost every day. "The home was severely understaffed and when my family members would go in to take care of him, my father's sheets would be soiled. He wouldn't have showered. The bathroom was never clean. But they would take care of that," Cook said. After the lockdown, Von Ronne went more than three months without seeing or talking to family members. Over the past year, he nearly stopped communicating, was assaulted by a fellow resident and lost almost all his belongings, which were either misplaced or stolen, Cook said. Von Ronne has since had two outdoor visits with relatives, and three short visits in family members' homes at Christmas and in January and February. Mary Daniel, 58, founded another activist group, Caregivers for Compromise, after getting a part-time job in July at her husband's assisted living center in Jacksonville, Florida the only way she could see him. Steve Daniel, 67, has early-onset Alzheimer's, and she had visited every evening before the pandemic. After stories about her went viral, Daniel created Facebook groups in every state for caregivers who wanted more access to their loved ones. Now, Caregivers for Compromise chapters in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia are active in the Isolation Kills, Too campaign. "We're getting impatient: Our loved ones' quality of life is deteriorating every single day. My husband has been vaccinated and he wants to go outside and feel the sunlight on his face. It's time to open back up and let him live whatever time he has left with freedom," Daniel said. "You cannot protect people like him forever, from everything." J.C. Thompson started at Amazons Bessemer fulfillment center back in early April of last year, and is blunt when asked if he plans on voting to join a union. What are we going to gain from the union vote that we dont already have? Thompson said. I have 401k, I have PTO, I have UPT (unpaid time off), the benefits are second to none. If I could talk to the president, if I could talk to Congressmen, if I could talk to legislators, I would ask, is this really about the employees, or is this about big money? Thompson was one of four Amazon employees the company made available in a virtual media press call Wednesday. The four were loud and proudly anti-union during the hourlong event, saying, like Thompson, that they see little benefit in joining a union and will be glad when the focus of the nation shifts away from their workplace. The job I have would not be possible with a union coming in, Dawn Hoag, another employee, said. I love what I do. Votes are due to be counted March 30 in a mail-in vote among more than 5,000 employees at Amazons Bessemer fulfillment center, BHM1. Workers are being asked to vote on whether they want representation by the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union. (RWDSU). The union vote drew the attention of President Joe Biden this week, with the vote also garnering support from professional athletes, entertainers and politicians who see it as an opportunity to open organizing into the burgeoning world of e-commerce. But the four workers who took part said they feel their workplace is being unfairly portrayed in media reports, and that they are skeptical a union can do anything to improve the workplace. An Amazon spokeswoman said the four employees requested to speak to the media, and that no pro-union employees had asked to take part. Here is full coverage of the Alabama Amazon unionization effort Three of the four said they had previously been union members. Hoag and Thompson said, if the center goes for the union, they want to transfer out. All said their experience at the center, which opened last March during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, has been largely positive. And all are clear - work in Bessemer is demanding and can be challenging. But they say the rewards are also real. In less than five minutes, I can train anybody off the street to do any job in this building, Thompson said. That alone tells you how proactive Amazon is and how they try to train their employees in the workplace. Carla Johnson started in May 2020. After working at the center for two months, Johnson said she had a seizure on the job and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. What followed was surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which led to a three-month leave. Now in the tail end of treatment, Johnson said her manager knows when its chemo week. She doesnt feel like shes been treated like a robot, and says that management has been willing to make any accommodations to my health and Im still able to do my job. Concern about my health and how Im feeling has been, I feel like, a top priority for my managers and the people in the area I work with, Johnson said. And being here has actually helped me in more ways than a paycheck. I work with people who sincerely care about my health and wellbeing, and that has helped me a lot in dealing with what has been the hardest thing Ive ever dealt with in my life. Hoag, who previously spoke to AL.com last month, said she has contact with many employees daily, and the workplace is friendly and warm. The people I interact with want to know my name, theyre asking how Im doing, they ask about my kids. I imagine working around robots would be cold. Were so far away from that, she said. Ora McClendon, who was previously a senior shop steward at another workplace, said many employees who talk about joining a union do not realize how basic interaction with management would change. If the union came in, we would have to go through the union, and they would decide what got brought to the table, she said. Now were getting raises on a regular basis. If we went with a union, we would have to go to the collective bargaining board. Thompson, who said he worked a unionized job with UPS for 10 years as part of the Teamsters, said he feels employees who support the union just want a raise and have unrealistic expectations about how much money they could be making. I dont want to have to go through a union steward or look at a bid list or for things to go by seniority, he said. Im here for the benefits. I was paying an astronomical amount - $800 a month - for family coverage. This has been a blessing to my family. I dont want my voice taken away. I dont want a middle man. I can go to anybody and talk to them about anything. Thats my experience. Union organizers have accused Amazon of recalibrating traffic lights to prevent them from approaching workers leaving the center, and of compulsory training sessions where employees receive anti-union messages, as well as text messages throughout the day. The workers who spoke today say theyve had their own uncomfortable experiences with organizers. Johnson said she noticed a Vote Yes sign in her neighborhood, though no one on her street works at Amazon. She said a union representative hung up on her during a phone call when she said she was voting no based on her previous union experience. Hoag said a union organizer leaned into her car at the traffic light to press information on her. Thompson said Bidens address also illustrates the importance of the Amazon vote. Unions see it as an entryway into Alabama, he said, with auto plants being the next battleground. Its amazing how all eyes on are BHM1, he said. Its like, if we can get Amazon, we can get everybody else. Johnson said younger employees, who dont have experience working with unions, have high expectations. I dont need somebody to come in from outside, I feel like its more about the potential money they can collect for dues, more so than what they can actually do for us, she said. Still, Thompson said morale at the center is good and the attention brought by the vote has been overwhelming but refreshing. The four said they dont doubt there are disgruntled employees who think a union will improve their workplace. Where can you work in a warehouse job and work four days and be off three, or work three days and be off four? Thompson said. If somebody told them theyre going to get more money, who wouldnt sign a card? KY Senate Backs Bill Requiring Schools to Open By The Associated Press, West Kentucky Star Staff FRANKFORT - The Kentucky Senate has voted to require schools to reopen in-person instruction by late March.Senators passed the bill Wednesday. The bill is potentially one step from going to the governor.The measure would require in-person classes resume by March 29.It returns to the House, which will consider Senate changes. If the House accepts the changes, it could send the legislation to Gov. Andy Beshear.Under the bill, districts would need to offer, at least, a hybrid schedule where students attend in-person classes at least two days a week and classes are held at least four days a week. Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef. It has been little more than a month since the Biden administration took office. It's a little early to draw any conclusions about President Joe Biden's foreign policy, although so far it has a "back to the future" character that seems to want to begin where the Obama administration's foreign policy ended. The White House has rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and announced its willingness to reactivate the Iran Nuclear Agreement, as well as nuclear arms control agreements with Russia. It has loudly and repeatedly proclaimed that "America is back," and seems anxious to revitalize its relationship with historical allies. It's as if four years of the Trump administration's foreign policy were an aberration, a minor footnote in the diplomatic history of the U.S. The Biden administration is, in a 21st-century version of the Glorious Revolution, restoring normalcy. Taking the end point of Obama foreign policy as a new starting point is a questionable beginning. I don't recall that Obama's foreign policy was particularly successful. It produced chaos in Libya, a frozen conflict in Ukraine, failed to curb Iranian expansionism and saw China's militarization of the South China Sea. Then, there is the matter of the Islamic State, which the Obama White House initially dismissed as the junior varsity squad, and which it proved largely incapable of handling. That's not to say that the Trump administration's foreign policy was a stunning success. It wasn't. To its credit, the Trump White House did oversee the Abraham Accords, which normalized Israel's relations with some of its neighbors, even if the quid pro quo that greased the agreements may spur new issues in the future. It destroyed the Islamic State caliphate, even though the organization continues. It succeeded in getting some NATO members to increase their defense spending. It also tried to hold China's government accountable for its trade and cyber spying policies, although little has come from that so far. Elsewhere around the world, the Trump White House had little to show for its foreign policy. Ukraine remained a frozen conflict. Political stability in Libya and the Sahel region continued to deteriorate, while Venezuela sank deeper into chaos. Below are four issues that will likely dominate Biden's foreign policy in the immediate future. Some, like Afghanistan, are long-standing problems, while others -- like the growing links between Hezbollah, Venezuela, the Mexican Drug Cartels and China -- are likely to take on a new urgency. 1. Afghanistan The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly approaching an inflection point, one that may spur a complete U.S. withdrawal or yet another doubling down with more troops. The U.S. signed an agreement with the Taliban in February 2020 to withdraw its troops in return for a pledge to keep foreign terrorists from establishing bases there and to enter talks with the Afghan government to bring an end to hostilities and craft a power-sharing agreement. So far, little progress has been made in those negotiations. Initially, the Taliban reduced their attacks on Afghan forces. But since the new year, attacks by suicide bombers and Taliban offensives on government-held towns have sharply increased. The February 2020 agreements called for a complete U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan in May 2021. The agreement was conditional on continued progress in the Afghan Government-Taliban peace talks, although what constituted "progress" was never specifically defined. There is a sense of deja vu here: Saigon before the fall. Without continued support for the U.S. and its NATO allies, the Taliban will eventually take control of Afghanistan's major cities. That may happen anyway, but it will take longer if the U.S. and NATO presence continues. No administration wants to be tagged as the one that "lost Kabul," even though the stakes in Afghanistan have grown largely irrelevant to U.S. foreign policy. The initial rationale of invading Afghanistan was to root out al-Qaida bases there. Al-Qaida still has a presence in Afghanistan, as does the Islamic State and a host of Taliban splinter groups and other jihadist organizations. On the other hand, in 2001, Afghanistan was critical to al-Qaida. Since then, it has morphed into a global franchise and has the ability to stage attacks and train insurgents in a number of countries around the globe. Al-Qaida is still a threat to the U.S., but what happens in Afghanistan has only a minor impact on its present capabilities. Without an American withdrawal, it's almost certain that the Taliban will continue to step up their attacks in Afghanistan. The question the Biden administration will face is whether to withdraw, keep U.S. forces there at their present level or increase them. The most likely outcome is to marginally increase U.S. forces but otherwise defer a decision on the timing of a withdrawal. It's always easier to kick the can down the road and make it another administration's problem. 2. The South China Sea China's militarization of the South China Sea began in 2014, when it embarked on its island building strategy. Since then, there have been several significant developments. First, military bases on these islands have gradually shifted from a defensive to an offensive stance. In short, Beijing has expanded its ability to use those island bases to engage a potential enemy -- i.e., the U.S. Navy -- at a distance. Secondly, it has taken over control of Hong Kong's civil administration, silenced pro-Democracy activists and made it clear that anyone who opposes Beijing's policy there will be arrested. It has also stepped up its violations of Taiwanese airspace. Since Sept. 1, 2020, the People's Liberation Army Air Force has crossed over into Taiwanese airspace more than 40 times. Prior to 2020, that had happened only four times since July 1999. In the meantime, Beijing has tightened up its control over its own population and, in particular, over the Uighur population in its westernmost province of Xinjiang. The Trump administration adopted a confrontational foreign policy toward China: raising tariffs on Chinese goods entering the U.S.; imposing sanctions on Chinese officials, which it blamed for the crackdowns in Hong Kong and Xinjiang; limiting access for key Chinese companies such as Huawei to American technology; and increasing the availability of advanced American armaments to Taiwan. While those actions have increased tensions between Beijing and Washington, they have not altered Chinese behavior. Beijing is engaged in a steady and relentless campaign to alter the reality on the ground. America's European allies have been lukewarm to the Biden's administration's call for a common and unified front against China's bullying of its neighbors and its pursuit of unfair trade policies. Instead, the European Union has gone ahead with negotiations for an EU-China Trade and Investment Agreement. The Biden administration has publicly declared that it intends to get tough with China, but so far has done little new. Significantly, it has not repudiated the State Department's findings that Chinese policy against the Uighurs in Xinjiang constitutes genocide or moved to roll back the Trump-imposed tariffs. It has continued Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea and recently moved two Carrier Task Groups, the Nimitz and the Theodore Roosevelt, into the region. Realistically, it's not clear what the Biden administration could do beyond following the Trump administration's lead in encouraging disengagement from the Chinese economy, repatriating China-centered supply chains, and limiting access to U.S. markets and technology. Taiwan is the red line that would prompt a more substantial response by the Biden administration. A majority of Americans consider China the principal foreign adversary to the U.S. This view cuts across party lines. Action that would be perceived as being "soft on China" would be politically unpopular and seized upon by Republicans to criticize the Biden administration. While it has continued to talk tough on China, the Biden administration, however, rolled back restrictions that the Trump administration had placed on the operations of China's Confucius Institutes in the U.S., as well as on disclosures that U.S. colleges were required to make on funding obtained from Chinese sources. If the Biden Justice Department drops charges against Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, currently under house arrest in Vancouver, Canada, for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, it will be an additional signal that, while the Biden administration may talk tough on China, it will do little to actively oppose Chinese activities. 3. Venezuela In and of itself, Venezuela does not pose a significant threat to the U.S. The activities of the Maduro regime are potentially destabilizing to some of its neighbors, as is Venezuelan support for leftist regimes throughout Central and South America. From a practical standpoint, there is little that Venezuela can do. Financially, it's broke. Its oil production is rapidly dwindling, and what it does produce is mostly pledged to Chinese and Russian creditors. Domestically, it's unraveling, with widespread shortages of essential consumer goods. In the meantime, opposition to the Maduro regime is fragmented and disorganized. What is an emerging threat to U.S. national security, however, is that Venezuela has become the host for an unlikely marriage of convenience that puts Hezbollah, the Venezuelan military, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the Mexican drug cartels and Chinese interests on the same side, even though they have different agendas. Through Venezuela, Hezbollah has become a significant arms supplier to the Mexican drug cartels. In turn, Hezbollah has become a major narcotics customer of the cartels, importing cocaine through West Africa for distribution into Europe. Along with Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Cuba's intelligence service, Hezbollah has organized pro-Maduro militias that have been used by the government to attack Venezuelan pro-democracy protesters and will likely be a model that spreads to other authoritarian regimes in Latin America. According to Fox journalist Lara Logan, a significant amount of narcotics that the Mexican drug cartels smuggle into the U.S. are laced with Chinese fentanyl. Chinese firms, according to Logan, in turn are laundering money for the cartels. Hezbollah has established cells throughout Latin America, giving its Iranian master the ability to attack U.S. interests there through its proxy. In turn, South America has become a base for a range of illicit activities that fund Hezbollah's global criminal empire -- from arms trafficking to narcotics to counterfeit, high-end branded merchandise. At the center of this sits the Maduro government, which provides a staging ground and whose take from these various activities has been critical to supporting itself and to ensuring the support of the upper echelon of Venezuela's military. These activities impact the U.S. in several ways. First, they raise questions about the long-term stability of Mexico's government, given its inability to control the drug cartels. Mexico risks becoming two countries, one in which the government holds sway and another in the control of the drug cartels. Second, support for leftist, anti-American regimes throughout the Americas is also encouraged by this activity. Third, the more telling concern is that this growing collaboration between anti-American terrorist organizations and drug traffickers could facilitate acts of terrorism on American soil. That makes security on the southern border of critical importance to the U.S. It's impossible to deal with this issue, however, since it invariably gets caught up with the broader question of illegal immigration to the U.S. from Central America. The Mexican drug cartels are motivated primarily by financial considerations. While they have cooperated with Hezbollah or the Revolutionary Guard, they have stayed away from their political agendas. China's involvement is subtler. The organizations supplying the drug cartels and laundering their money are private companies. Such activities, however, don't occur without the tacit consent of Beijing. Creating problems for the U.S. on its southern border is to China's advantage and gives it one more chip with which to bargain with America. This is hardly the first time that a foreign adversary has sought to constrain the U.S. by fomenting trouble in Mexico. 4. Iran The Biden administration was quick to announce its support for restoring the agreement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, otherwise known as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Tehran's immediate response was to demand $75 billion in compensation for "damage to the Iranian economy" from the Trump administration's sanctions. The Biden White House has on several occasions suggested that an Iranian nuclear bomb is imminent, underscoring the necessity for a quick agreement. That suggestion proved to have little traction, in large part because it was widely dismissed as untrue. A return to the Obama-era agreement is likely a nonstarter. First, Tehran never completely honored the first agreement; there is no assurance that it would be more compliant on a second version. Secondly, it's unlikely that a new agreement would have sufficient support to be ratified as a treaty by the Senate. Any agreement would take the form of an executive order and, like the previous agreement, would only be as good as the willingness of the next president to uphold it. There is little political support among American voters for accommodating Iran or granting it new concessions in return for agreeing to a second agreement limiting development of an Iranian nuclear capability. Recent disclosures that John Kerry maintained contacts with the Iranian government and may have acted to undermine Trump's foreign policy toward Tehran may also complicate reaching a new agreement, especially if the Republicans take control of either the House or the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections. The reality is that an Iranian nuclear capability is probably inevitable, although it is still several years away. The challenge for the Biden and future administrations will be to manage the consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran. There are scores of other issues, of course -- from North Korea to Ukraine to the growing belt of political instability in sub-Saharan Africa, from West Africa to the Red Sea. Moreover, both climate policy and immigration policy will also shape the Biden foreign policy. These four issues, however, are likely to be the issues that will dominate U.S. foreign policy in the next 24 months. -- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 21:50:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARARE, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe has authorized the use of COVAXIN, India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, the Indian Embassy in Harare announced Thursday. "Zimbabwe has authorized use of COVAXIN, India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the first country in Africa to do so. Trying to get it to Zimbabwe at an early date," the embassy said on Twitter. While comment could not be immediately obtained from the Zimbabwean health ministry, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed last month that Zimbabwe will receive a donation of 75,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from India. "We are grateful to our Indian friends for committing to donate 75,000 COVID vaccines and the opportunity to buy more moving forward," Mnangagwa said. Zimbabwe began rolling out its COVID-19 vaccination program last month using the 200,000 Sinopharm vaccines donated by China. The vaccination started with frontline workers, as the country targets to inoculate at least 10 million of its 16 million citizens to achieve herd immunity. Zimbabwe has also purchased 600,000 Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses, which are expected to arrive in the country this month. The southern African country is also in advanced negotiations to acquire the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia. In addition, more vaccines are being sourced from the World Health Organization-backed COVAX scheme. Enditem London, March 4 : The UK's anti-trust regulator on Thursday said it has opened a probe into Apple App Store policies over complaints from several developers that the tech giant's terms and conditions are unfair and could break competition law. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in a statement that all apps available through the App Store have to be approved by Apple, with this approval hinging on developers agreeing to certain terms. "The complaints from developers focus on the terms that mean they can only distribute their apps to iPhones and iPads via the App Store. These complaints also highlight that certain developers who offer 'in-app' features, add-ons or upgrades are required to use Apple's payment system, rather than an alternative system," the UK watchdog said. Apple charges a commission of up to 30 per cent to developers on the value of these transactions or any time a consumer buys their app. The CMA's investigation will consider whether Apple has a dominant position in connection with the distribution of apps on Apple devices in the UK and, if so, whether Apple imposes unfair or anti-competitive terms on developers using the App Store, ultimately resulting in users having less choice or paying higher prices for apps and add-ons. This is only the beginning of the investigation and no decision has yet been made on whether Apple is breaking the law, the CMA said. The UK probe comes at a time when the US lawmakers are also questioning Apple as part of a major antitrust probe into big tech. "Complaints that Apple is using its market position to set terms which are unfair or may restrict competition and choice -- potentially causing customers to lose out when buying and using apps -- warrant careful scrutiny," said Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive of the CMA. The European Commission (EC) currently has four open antitrust probes into Apple. These include three open investigations into App Store. An Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place for customers to download the apps they love and a great business opportunity for developers everywhere. The spokesperson said that the company "looks forward to working with the UK Competition and Markets Authority to explain how our guidelines for privacy, security and content have made the App Store a trusted marketplace for both consumers and developers". COLUMBIA COVID-19 vaccine shortages reported in some parts of South Carolina has seniors questioning why the state will soon add millions of younger residents to the eligibility list. "If there are so many vaccines available, where are they?" asked Christina Riddle of Johns Island, whose 84-year-old mother is on a waiting list after her first-dose appointment with the Medical University of South Carolina, made in January, was canceled last week. Shortages have been reported in Columbia and the Upstate as well as in Charleston for the first group eligible for vaccines primarily people 65 and older, health care workers and medical first responders. Some hospitals have said they are reducing first-dose appointments or not taking them at all. "Why is it that when youre already having too many individuals chasing after too few doses, why are we expanding the pool of individuals?" said state Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican who has received complaints from constituents in his senior-heavy district. State public health officials' explanation for opening up eligibility to an estimated 2.7 million more people starting March 8 included waning interest in vaccine appointments in some areas of South Carolina coupled with more doses on the way. A mass vaccine event planned at Darlington Raceway on March 5 generated little interest for the 5,000 available doses despite heavy local advertising. Soon after allowing people newly eligible for doses to make appointments, the event was fully booked, according to organizer Florence-based McLeod Health. Meanwhile, the state is receiving its first allocation of 41,400 doses of the newly authorized, one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Adding those to small, steady increases in the state's weekly Moderna and Pfizer shipments mean providers around the state next week will collectively get 64 percent more for initial shots than they did a week ago, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. "Reports here and there from around the state, not everywhere, indicate vaccine appointments have not been filling," said Nick Davidson, the state's deputy public health director. "So this was the time to do this." Gov. Henry McMaster's March 2 announcement, adding to the 1.3 million already eligible for shots, means the vast majority of adults in South Carolina will soon be able to make an appointment. The newly include people ages 55 to 64, those 16 and older with certain underlying health conditions and disabilities, and anyone who must work in person who can't socially distance on the job. The state leaders are leaving it up to South Carolinians to assess whether they qualify or not. "We're asking South Carolinians to just be honest, to consult with their employer or health care provider about whether they meet the current vaccine eligibility if they're not sure and realize how important it is not to jump the line," said Dr. Linda Bell, the state's chief epidemiologist. "It's jumping the line that takes the vaccine doses away that could truly be life-saving for someone who may be of higher risk." Vaccine providers were asked not to allow sign ups ahead of March 8 partly to give a few more days for the 65-and-older residents to reserve their spot in line. The one exception was the Darlington Raceway mass vaccination event. "We thought it was important so there weren't doses that went unused and wasted and so an awful lot of effort in putting together a very large event didn't go to waste," Davidson said. But major hospitals, which have provided the bulk of vaccines, report shortages. MUSC, the state's second-largest vaccine provider, is not making any new first-dose appointments and has no idea when it will do so again. The hospital system has postponed 50,000 first-dose appointments in recent weeks, with supply nowhere close to what it can handle. "Our bottleneck remains adequate vaccine supply," said MUSC spokeswoman Heather Woolwine, adding people with canceled appointments will get priority as shipments catch up and will be contacted for a new appointment. At another Lowcountry provider, Roper St. Francis, 6,200 people are on a waitlist, even after the nonprofit hospital chain managed to squeeze thousands more doses from its vials than marked. The backlog could be wiped out in four or five days with a bigger supply, said Dr. Robert Oliverio, one of its chief physicians. Prisma Health, the state's largest hospital system with location from the Upstate to the Midlands, is making "very limited" first-dose appointments, spokeswoman Tammie Epps said. "We have not been given information about vaccines expected next week," she said referring to the time when more South Carolinians are eligible. "We have the capacity to administer many more doses per day across our system we just need the vaccine supply." Spartanburg Regional Medical Center also reported that allocations have not kept up with the demand from patients in the initial eligibility phase. Though some hospitals say they do not have doses, the total volume of vaccine deliveries to South Carolina has been increasing, according to state health officials. Hundreds more providers have come online to deliver them, spreading access to the state's rural areas, though their allocations may be small. More than 120 additional independent pharmacies are offering vaccines this week alone, Davidson said. New slots should open up March 8 in the major pharmacy chains statewide, which don't make appointments until their doses are in hand, said Rebecca Leach, executive director of the S.C Retail Association. McMaster's expansion announcement came the same day that President Joe Biden said there should be enough doses for every American adult by May. McMaster's spokesman, Brian Symmes, said the decision came down to the governor's worst-case scenario of "having shots looking for people rather than people looking for vaccine," resulting in vials sitting on shelves across the state. House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, who's normally a McMaster critic, said he thought the governor's move was "fitting," considering large chunks of the population either need convincing to get a shot or just plain won't. "Moving it up the way the governor did is the best way to get through the population who wants it as fast and as quick as possible so we can start doing public announcements about why people ought to get it and start getting those people in who can be convinced," the Columbia Democrat said. "I cant tell you youll be able to get it today, but you can at least get in line so we should be able to vaccine everybody who wants it, my guess would be by the end of this month." Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed from Charleston and Nick Masuda from Myrtle Beach and Conor Hughes from Greenville. N.K. Singh has worn many hats in his career. After retiring as a civil servant, he had his brush with politics - first as a Rajya Sabha member for the Janta Dal, and then as a member of the BJP since 2014. He has also been the chairman of the 15th Finance Commission. While he shuttled between roles, he managed to balance a very demanding professional career with the pursuit of some of his passions - classical music being one of them. His love for classical music dates back to his childhood days in Patna, a city which used to host iconic public performances of classical musicians. His earliest encounter with classical music was listening to the sarod recital of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, accompanied on the tabla by Kishan Maharaj of the Benares Gharana. There were others like Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee on the sitar, Pannalal Ghosh on the bansuri, and some classical vocalists. His love for classical music only grew with time. "In my initial years of field assignments, I often encouraged municipal officers in Buxar and Danapur to hold annual classical music programmes through voluntary contributions from people," he says. At times, musicians would stay as his personal guest. He hosted Ustad Bismillah Khan in Buxar because the latter was close by in Varanasi. In Patna, when he was the sub-divisional officer, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi stayed with him. He also became friends with Kishori Amonkar and Pandit Jasraj. Combining one's passion with profession offers a more balanced view of human nature. "A well-rounded personality makes for a happier life than a zealous pursuit of one's professional career," says Singh. HK sees six new local infections, only one unlinked HK sees six new local infections, only one unlinked Hong Kong saw only six new local coronavirus infections on Thursday, with just one from an unknown source, but health authorities said it was too early to conclude that the pandemic situation in the territory is easing. The one case which can't be traced back to others involves a 69-year-old security guard who works at Hung Fuk House in Sham Shui Po and lives at Tin Ching Estate in Tin Shui Wai. Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said testing orders will be issued for people in the buildings the man works and lives in, and colleagues who shared facilities with him will be sent to quarantine. "We will quarantine those who shared meals or close contact with him, and also those who shared the same security station or room, so maybe one or two [people]. Because this is a residential building security guard. If they are sharing the same room in different shifts, we will quarantine the other security guards as well," she said. Other new infections also include a second employee at jewellery shop Cartier at K11 Musea, a Tsim Sha Tsui mall at the centre of a recent outbreak. Chuang said authorities can't conclude at this stage that the two infections at the Cartier store are linked to a cluster at the mall's Mr Ming's Chinese Dining restaurant, which involves 50 patients so far. She said even though the jewellery shop workers did not have direct contact with the restaurant, it's possible that they may have met some infected persons in the mall's hallways or public toilets. Thursday also saw three imported Covid-19 cases, from the Philippines, Indonesia and Pakistan, and several people preliminarily tested positive. Chuang said even though there is only one new unlinked case, there are four with unknown sources among the preliminary cases, showing that the outbreak situation is still fluctuating. "There may be day-day fluctuations, so we cannot conclude from one or two days' figures. We have to see a longer trend," she said. The high-ranking official indicated that between today and Friday the team in charge of the logistics will carry out the respective coordination for the distribution of vaccines. "This figure will gradually increase," she added. "We have acquired larger refrigeration equipment because larger batches will arrive; there are no problems with the cold chain," she stated. Vaccination of health personnel Regarding complaints about the administration of doses to clerical staff in this area, she affirmed that they are workers who must provide direct attention to other citizens. The Cabinet chief pointed out that between 35% and 40% of health personnel have been working remotely since the pandemic began in Peru in March 2020, adding that the administration of vaccines will allow them to resume their duties. In addition, the Prime Minister stressed that there is permanent support from the private sector in this vaccination process. Bermudez also reminded citizens that the distribution of vaccines is carried out on planes of private companies, along with those of the Armed Forces. In this sense, she recalled that the arrival cost of the first vaccine batch was fully paid for by the business sector. Titular de la PCM: Todas las autoridades del pais tenemos un solo compromiso, hacer que los servicios lleguen de manera eficiente a la poblacion y aqui estamos para garantizar que se efectue. pic.twitter.com/OBcXUFSbPL Suweida has witnessed a return of tension after a shooting involving a shepherd and his flock, according to North Press. Following the shooting of a wells guard in the town of al-Qrayya in Suweida by shepherds from Busra al-Harir, north of Daraa, tensions re-erupted between the two governorates. The shepherds fired at the guard of the well after he prevented them from putting their sheep to graze in the town. The guard Janah al-Safadi was wounded and taken to the hospital after the ambulance car was involved in a traffic accident, injuring the medical staff and escorts. A tense situation had arisen in the area, and the residents of al-Qrayya gathered at the guesthouse of Sultan Basha al-Atrash to discuss the impacts of this attack, Rayan al-Jabal, a pseudonym for a politician from Suweida, said. Groups of the Men of Dignity and some armed groups arrived to express their solidarity with al-Qrayya and denounce what happened, Jabal added. This escalation, followed the incident of February 28, when armed men, who were riding a bike, kidnapped the two young men, Nashat Harb and Jihad Elwan, from the village of Ara, and took them to Daraa, according to him. The trader Watheq al-Shofi, known by the residents of Daraa and Suweida, was kidnapped with Ramah Shalghin, who was released after the kidnappers realized he had been a military member, Jabal noted. He pointed out that the families of the abductees accused the Bedouin clans led by Jamal al-Bala of the abduction. On March 1, a meeting was held in the city of Bosra with the participation of a delegation from Suweida including the Emir of Ara Luay al-Atrash the Security Relations Coordinator for the Russian forces in the southern region Imad al-Aqabani, and Sheikh Abu Thaer Awad al-Miqdad from Bosra. The meeting concluded reaching an agreement to ban shepherds from entering al-Qrayya and intensify the guardianship by the Fifth Corps near the borders between the two regions, according to Jabal. Jabal concluded that the Lebanese Hezbollah has been the most affected by the reconciliation reached in 2020 between Daraa and Suweida, trying its best to impede it. In 2020, a tension between Suweida and Daraa escalated when the Russian-backed Eighth Brigade, headed by Ahmad al-Awda, seized parts of al-Qrayya. 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. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Gazprom branch office CEO released from detention as part of embezzlement case TASS, Maxim Shemetov 16:04 04/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 4 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has placed under house arrest the director of the Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Stavropol branch Guzer Khashukayev, who is a defendant in the case of embezzling natural gas worth more than 30 billion rubles ($405 million at the current exchange rate), the press service of the court informs RAPSI. The court decided to replace detention of Khasukayev to house arrest for a period until April 24, 2021; the man was released from custody immediately in the courtroom. Khashukaev is accused of organization of a criminal community and large-scale fraud. He was detained in the framework of the criminal case against ex-senator Rauf Arashukov. Among other defendants in the case are director of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Astrakhan and Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Astrakhan, Ruslan Arashukov (ex-senator's cousin), executive director of JSC Essentukigorgaz Alan Kyatov and General Director of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Stavropol Igor Travinov. All of the defendants stand charged of organization of a criminal community and fraud on an especially large scale. According to Russias Investigative Committee, Raul Arashukov, in abuse of his office, appointed persons under his control to important posts in the gas distribution organizations of the North Caucasus Federal District. Investigators believe four appointees were involved in the embezzlement of natural gas from PJSC Gazprom. The total amount of respective damages is estimated to make 31 billion rubles ($405 million). Besides, in early April, the investigating authorities brought new charges against Raul Arashukov, amoung them abuse of office and presenting a knowingly false denunciation. Rauf Arashukov was arrested and detained in late January 2019. The upper house of parliament stripped him of immunity and gave consent to his prosecution upon an application by the Prosecutor General. He stands charged with murder, participation in a gang and witness tampering. According to investigators, ex-Federation Council member was involved in the murder of a Karachay-Cherkessia public youth movements deputy chairman Aslan Zhukov and the republican presidents advisor Fral Shebzukhov in 2010. Moreover, investigators believe that the former senator is implicated to the natural gas embezzlement from Gazprom company, where his father is among the defendants. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, or at least that's what they say. Wait, why do they say that? Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can also get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) 1. Coronavirus Experts say we're beginning to see the light at the end of the long pandemic tunnel, but that could be thwarted if state leaders keep pushing to reopen too soon. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott rescinded a state mask mandate and will let businesses operate at 100% capacity starting in a week. Mississippi, Ohio and Louisiana are among other states set to lift safety precautions soon, too. President Biden reminded state leaders and residents to stay vigilant. Biden also bolstered the vaccine push under the Defense Production Act, announcing there would be enough doses for all US adults by the end of May. In Europe, the EU's coordinated vaccine strategy is splintering as participating countries look outside the bloc to China, Israel and Russia for vaccine help amid a rollout plagued with supply issues and contract squabbles. 2. Stimulus Republicans are gearing up for a messy fight as the stimulus bill faces a vote in the Senate. Their plan is to divide Democratic ranks over the more specific and controversial provisions in the bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says two such provisions, related to rail and bridge projects, will be stripped from the bill. Then, there's the looming $15 minimum wage addition, which the Senate parliamentarian said shouldn't be included. Some progressive senators are mulling withholding a vote on the bill unless it is in. Biden urged Democratic senators against accepting so-called poison pill provisions that would gut the basic tenets of the bill and keep it from being effective. Whatever happens, the next few days in the Senate will be long and laborious as Dems try to get it all done by that March 14 unemployment benefit deadline. 3. White House The White House has pulled Neera Tanden's nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget after Tanden requested her name be withdrawn from consideration. This ends weeks of uncertainty and controversy surrounding her nomination. The former Hillary Clinton campaign aide and president of the Center for American Progress faced scrutiny during the confirmation process for past critical comments of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Her confirmation was already unlikely after key senators, including Democrat Joe Manchin, said they'd oppose it. Two other positions that have been confirmed: Cecilia Rouse, dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, will chair the Council of Economic Advisers. And Gina Raimondo, the first woman governor of Rhode Island, will serve as Biden's secretary of commerce. 4. Russia The Biden administration has unleashed sanctions on Russian officials and entities in response to the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Among others, the sanctions target the head of Russia's security services, the FSB. The State Department also sanctioned the FSB as an entity, which according to department spokesperson "speaks to where we believe culpability lies." The US intelligence community has determined "with high confidence" that the FSB poisoned Navalny in August with the nerve agent Novichok. Navalny has now been detained in Russia since mid-January. The US' punitive actions were coordinated with the European Union, which also unveiled sanctions, and represent the first significant move against Moscow since Biden became President. 5. Afghanistan Three women media workers were shot dead in Afghanistan yesterday. They're the latest victims in a wave of killings spreading fear among professionals in urban centers. Shootings and small bombs attached to vehicles have targeted journalists, civil society workers and mid-level government employees in Afghanistan in recent months as the government and Taliban negotiators try to broker a peace deal and the US withdraws some troops. The Afghan government and some foreign powers have blamed the attacks on the Taliban, which denies involvement. The US embassy condemned the latest slayings, saying the attacks are meant to intimidate and stifle freedom of speech. BREAKFAST BROWSE Qantas launches 'Mystery Flights' to increase interest in travel Maybe it's just us, but we like to know exactly where we're going when we get on a plane. 'Wonder Woman' star Gal Gadot is pregnant with her third child A new superhero is on the way! Instagram accidentally hid likes for some users If someone posts something on Instagram and it doesn't get likes, was it ever really posted at all? Amazon quietly changed its app icon after some unfavorable comparisons Yeah ... one typically wants to avoid comparisons to Hitler. Target saw more sales growth in 2020 than the last 11 years combined Is it because we all roam the wide, fluorescent aisles and pretend, just for a little bit, that everything is normal again? TODAY'S NUMBER 10,000 That's how many minors and vulnerable people may have been abused by French Catholic clergy since 1950, according to an independent investigation set up by the church in France. In 2019, Pope Francis issued global rules for reporting sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, mandating for the first time that all dioceses set up systems for reporting abuse and cover-ups. TODAY'S QUOTE "I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been accused by three women of unwanted advances. Cuomo drew criticism for his apology, in which he said he has "teased people" and "never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable." TODAY'S WEATHER Check your local forecast here>>> AND FINALLY Inside a royal doll house If the tiny bound books don't enchant you, the tiny gardens will. (Click here to view.) There has been a recent avalanche of bills introduced by Republican state lawmakers across the US designed to make it harder to vote, triggered by a pretext that election fraud played a role in the national humiliation of Donald Trump. So it is no surprise that a Trump supporter endorses two restrictive voting laws for our state, and the fact that this acolyte could be our next governor cannot be dismissed casually. Jack Ciattarelli, the clubhouse favorite for the GOP nomination, is too genteel to be a Trump sock puppet, but he insists that a great many people have lost faith in the voting system, and we have to restore that faith. He omits the part about how Trump and his legions are the sources of that lagging faith including Ciattarelli himself, the featured speaker at a Stop The Steal rally in December. So with accidental irony, the former Somerset Assemblyman proposes reforms on his campaign website that actually Stop the Turnout, just like the red states do it: He supports a photo ID requirement at the polls, including a state ID for those who dont drive, plus an ID-certification requirement for mail-in voters; and he wants to purge voters from the election rolls if they havent voted in four consecutive years, and mandate that they contact a county clerk if they want to restore their most cherished civil right. Voter ID first: Ciattarelli wont say what kind of fraud he thinks a photo ID would prevent, but there have been exactly 31 credible allegations of voter impersonation in the United States in the last 20 years out of 1 billion votes cast, according to the Washington Post. Most fraud cases, few as they are, are mistakes by the poll worker. Also, the ACLU found that voter ID laws are enforced in 34 states with Republican Legislatures for a reason: It is inherently discriminatory. Nearly 25 percent of Blacks of voting age dont have a government-issued ID, compared with just 8 percent of white voters. Does that work? The Government Accountability Office says that photo ID laws reduce turnout by as much as 3 percent. So unless your aim is to depress turnout, voter IDs serves no purpose. Ciattarelli says he supports ID because we live in a very transient society, and I dont think its unreasonable to produce some form of ID, even if its a utility bill or some form of mail. Then, presumably, hell order utility bills to include photos. He added that he did not want to see anyone disenfranchised. Pause here for cognitive dissonance. It is a reminder that we must never take free and fair elections for granted, and that much is riding on getting two bills through Congress this term. https://t.co/MGLlFMc612 Adam Smith (@asmith83) February 18, 2021 As for managing electoral rolls, the state clearly must keep records current by cancelling registrations of people who died, moved on, or are in prison. But some states engage in flagrantly unconstitutional practices to gain political advantage: Georgias Secretary of State, also its Republican nominee for governor, famously purged more than 500,000 voters in a single day five months before the 2018 election, which he won by 54,000 votes. So now Ciattarelli wants our state to remove a civil right for someone who stays home for four cycles? I just think its a worthy discussion, he explained. Im not saying eliminate from the rolls, Im just saying if were going to have all vote-by-mail elections, send ballots only to people who have voted, and a letter to everyone else saying, If you want a ballot, request one. That would be an added verification process. His website doesnt say that. Either way, Ciattarellis party of freedom is entering a dicey area: This use-it-or-lose-it government order is like mandating citizens to drive once a month or relinquish their licenses. Moreover, it is established under the Constitution that voters have a right to choose not to vote, without penalty for staying home. Ciattarellis proposals are a part of a larger effort among New Jersey Republicans, who have introduced or re-filed eight bills related to voting rights since the election, according to the Brennan Center. One proposal suspends the Motor Voter Law, which would depress turnout. Another requires mail-in voters to reapply for ballots every year, which would depress turnout. Another mandates photo ID, which would depress turnout. Spot the trend, win valuable prizes. And Jack Ciattarelli, sent down by the Party of Trump, is their champion. Do we need photo ID that will repress turnout? Where is the evidence of fraud? Why march in Trump's direction?https://t.co/XpbRUsXf4U tom moran (@tomamoran) February 14, 2021 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. 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. Massachusetts State Police on Thursday said it launched its body-worn camera system as personnel assigned to Troop F began training with the technology this week. Troop F, which is located in East Boston near Logan International Airport, will be the first MSP section to wear the cameras after training, according to a press release issued by state police. Officials selected Troop F as the site of the training because it operates out of a single barracks location, they said. Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Col. Christopher S. Mason said the body-worn camera program represents the next step in the effort to keep officers safe while also holding them accountable for their actions. The camera system will provide valuable digital evidence in our mission to hold perpetrators accountable and will record interactions between officers and the public thus ensuring that officers maintain the level of professionalism we demand, protecting officers and the public alike from any inaccurate descriptions of an interaction, and assisting us in assessing the credibility of any complaints made against officers, Mason said, in a statement. State police contracted with Motorola to provide the surveillance system, called the Watchguard V300 camera. The company will be training officers directly, officials said. In the coming months, state police are rolling out the cameras to other divisions, including geographic Troops, the Special Operations Troop, and members of other divisions, such as Academy staff. Related Content: The Biden administration opened talks with Houthi rebel leaders late last month in a bid to end Yemens civil war, Reuters reported Wednesday. Timothy Lenderking, the lead US envoy on the Yemen crisis, met with Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul-Salam in Omans capital, Muscat, on Feb. 26. The meeting was the first time US officials under the new administration met with the Zaydi Shiite rebels, who have slowly consolidated control over a majority of Yemens population centers since the outbreak of civil war in 2015. Lenderking toured the Gulf region last month with stops in Riyadh, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. The Biden administration has pushed for a swift end to Yemens conflict, which the United Nations has dubbed the worlds worst humanitarian catastrophe. US officials have both publicly and privately urged the Houthis to halt their offensive on the central city of Marib, a petroleum-rich enclave that has been largely spared of fighting throughout the conflict. The Houthis have negotiated with Riyad for more than a year toward ending the conflict, but have continued to launch drone and missile attacks into neighboring Saudi Arabia. With US and other Western support, Riyadh has led a multinational coalition to fight the Houthis and prop up the Yemeni government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The Shiite rebels have ties to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has exported advanced Iranian missile technology in recent years to conflict zones in the Middle East to gain an edge over Tehrans rivals. The UAE has been a major player in the Gulf coalition, but began pulling troops from Yemen in 2019. Riyadh has also sought a way out of the conflict, but obstacles to consolidating a unified Yemeni government have until recently hindered progress. The Biden administration revoked a late Trump-era terror designation for the Houthis last month in a bid to jump-start peace talks, but so far there is no sign that Lenderkings initial meeting had much success. Details of the talks have not been publicly released. A State Department spokesperson told Reuters the administration will not be commenting all [of Lenderkings] engagements. On Tuesday. the US Treasury announced new sanctions on two Houthi military leaders in response to renewed cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia. The continued attacks and renewed rocket strikes by suspected IRGC-linked groups in Iraq have led the Biden administration to increasingly emphasize Tehrans responsibility for its proxy forces. Last week, the head of all US military forces in the Middle East, Gen. Kenneth Frank McKenzie, said responsibility for the next steps toward peace lie with the Houthis, but they are prompted by their Iranian sponsors. Iran has no interest in this bloody war coming to an end, McKenzie said. Meanwhile, Riyadhs ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jabar, has communicated with the Houthis about the possibility of a buffer zone on the Yemeni side of the two countries border, Reuters reported. The Houthis are reportedly requesting Riyadh lift blockades on the port of Hodeida and Sanaa airport. If agreed, broader peace talks that include Yemeni government could commence under UN auspices. HOLLAND, MI -- A Holland restaurant owner is vowing to stay open even after a judge issued a bench warrant for her arrest for repeatedly ignoring a coronavirus-related suspension to her food license. Im not afraid. Im fighting for freedom in America, Marlena Pavlos-Hackney said in a brief phone conversation following a Thursday, March 4, hearing that led to the warrant. We have to stand up and protect our constitutional rights, she said. Pavlos-Hackney, owner of Marlenas Bistro and Pizzeria, also posted a message about the hearing on the restaurants Facebook page and said she was fined $7,500. She has refused to shut down food service despite a decision by state officials in late January to suspend her food license. At that time, restaurants could not operate dine-in service because of a mid-November coronavirus-related order from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Related: Holland restaurant ignored ban on dine-in service, judge says in upholding suspended license Marlenas Bistro continued to operate after the mid-November ban on dine-in service. Just hours after Thursdays Ingham County hearing, Allegan County health leaders issued an advisory because a person tested positive for COVID-19 a couple of days after eating at Marlenas Bistro on Feb. 27. Health officials advised that anyone who visited the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day is potentially considered exposed to COVID-19 due to the lack of mitigation strategies (mask-use and social distancing) practiced at this restaurant. They advised such visitors to monitor themselves for any COVID-19 symptoms. Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes on Feb. 25 issued a temporary restraining order against Marlenas Bistro and, on Thursday, ruled it would become a preliminary injunction. In her Facebook post, Pavlos-Hackney claims the judge is not following the Constitution and engaged in acts of treason for her ruling. She has refused to recognize the states authority regarding coronavirus restrictions. We are still here and we will exercise my RIGHT please continue to support me and we will see you all again tomorrow! GOD BLESS AMERICA, she wrote in the post. More from MLive Michigan reports 1,526 new coronavirus cases, 37 deaths Thursday, March 4 When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines? Hudsonville Ice Cream offering 25K free pints in its largest single-day giveaway ever Wishing 'roaring' success to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhhav Thackeray-led party has decided not to contest the Assembly polls, MP Sanjay Raut announced on Thursday. The decision was taken after a discussion with Thackeray. Raut, who on January 17 had said will contest the Assembly Elections but on Thursday he said the party will stand in solidarity with West Bengal Chief Minister "A lot of people are curious to know whether Shiv Sena is contesting West Bengal Polls or not? So here's the update after discussions with Party President Uddhav ji Thackeray. Looking at the present scenario, it appears like a 'Didi Vs All' fight. All 'M's - Money, Muscle and Media are being used against 'Mamata Didi. Hence, Shivsena has decided not to contest West Bengal polls and stand in solidarity with her. We wish Mamata Didi a 'roaring' success, 'cos we believe She is the real Bengal Tigress !!," Raut posted a picture containing the text on Twitter. West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and the BJP in the fray. Elections for the 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal will begin on March 27. The state is set to witness eight-phase Assembly polls this year. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) The Philippines may risk losing millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses from the global COVAX facility if it fails to follow prioritization requirements, including the strict allocation of the scarce vaccines to medical frontliners and vulnerable sectors, a World Health Organization official warned Thursday. WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said the country needs to show that it can properly roll out the vaccines that it will receive through the COVAX facility. He repeatedly said that the second requirement is that vaccines should be given to healthcare workers who are caring for COVID-19 patients then to elderlies and those with co-morbidities. The WHO official urged the Duterte administration which has a track record of skipping the vaccine priority list and using smuggled doses to ensure that requirements that have been agreed to and signed by Philippine officials will be followed. We urge the DOH and all partners engaged in the rollout of the vaccines to follow these prioritizations, so we don't impact and jeopardize future deliveries of vaccines through the COVAX facility to the Philippines, he said in a media briefing. President Rodrigo Dutertes close-in security team has received smuggled COVID-19 vaccines made by Chinese firm Sinopharm as early as late 2020, despite the absence of regulatory approval, officials have admitted. His former special appointee, Mon Tulfo, also revealed that he and thousands of other government officials, soldiers, and police personnel have been inoculated with Sinopharm. READ MORE: Duterte praises PSG after illegal COVID-19 vaccination Duterte has also allowed vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., testing czar Vince Dizon, and MMDA Chief Benhur Abalos to be vaccinated with Sinovac in the ongoing rollout, but several other government officials took the shot, including Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, MMDA Chief of Staff Michael Salalima, and Pasay Vice Mayor Boyet del Rosario effectively skipping the line which was supposed to cater to healthcare workers. RELATED: Gov't advisers reject priority vaccination of 'influencers,' government officials, celebrities Abeyasinghe issued a stern reminder, We earnestly urge everybody concerned to bear this in mind. We know everybody feels at risk, but it's a matter of relative risk. If we want to ensure that we continue to access the vaccines from the COVAX facility, we need to demonstrate that we can follow the prioritization. Over 487,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, hailed by Abeyasinghe as "one of the largest consignments" in the initial batch of shipment to developing nations, is arriving on Thursday night. The Philippines is also set to receive 4.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines until May and 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines possibly more through the COVAX initiative co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and WHO. But this may be in peril if the government fails to stick to the requirements. Abeyasinghe said they will not "police" the national immunization program, but they will review reports of violations. Although he did not explicitly say that the Philippines' access to COVAX will be cut off, he warned that the facility may consider allocating the vaccines earmarked for the country to other nations that will put importance on saving more lives by prioritizing the protection of healthcare workers. "Given the large need for vaccines across the world, if there are multiple reports of violation of the prioritization, COVAX may have to decide how to address that challenge. My word of caution is let's not go there," he said. The Navy cruiser that sailed back to Virginia when the crew spotted a leak in one of the ship's fuel oil tanks just a week after deploying is being repaired so it can head back to sea. The guided-missile cruiser Vella Gulf returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Friday. It's now undergoing technical assessments to repair the leak, which is believed to have been caused by tank corrosion, Lt. Marycate Walsh, a spokeswoman for U.S. Second Fleet, said Wednesday. "Repair timeline is under refinement and upon completion; the ship will resume its mission," she said. Read Next: Guard General Blames Pentagon Restrictions for Delayed Military Response to Capitol Riot The fuel oil leak was first reported by the crew when the cruiser was in heavy seas. A Navy official with knowledge of the problem said now that the problem has been assessed, sea-state was not believed to have caused the problem. "While operating in elevated seas, Vella Gulf was still within established safe limits," the official said. "The ship did deviate on its return home to navigate around more severe weather and avoid worse sea conditions." The Vella Gulf is assigned to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which on Feb. 19 set out on its second deployment in a year. Walsh said the Vella Gulf is still considered to be in a deployed status. That means safety measures will be in place to ensure no members of the crew are exposed to COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, while their ship is repaired. The cruiser didn't need assistance getting back to Virginia. The rest of the carrier strike group continued its mission when the Vella Gulf turned back. There was no impact to the other ships, Walsh said last week. A second guided-missile cruiser, the Monterey, remained with the carrier strike group. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: After Springing Fuel Leak in Heavy Seas, Navy Cruiser Heads Back to Norfolk Port HOLYOKE A 24-year-old Chicopee woman accused of threatening a clerk with a knife and robbing a store at the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside was arrested Wednesday after an investigation. Christen Lesnewski was arrested on two warrants charging her with armed robbery while masked. She has been arraigned in Holyoke District Court, Capt. Matthew Moriarty said. She is accused of brandishing a knife and demanding cash from a clerk at the Sunglass Hut. The robbery took place at about 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, he said. A suspect in the robbery was caught on camera and at the mall and police released her photo asking for help to identify her as part of their investigation. The arrest was made in Springfield with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Unit and the and U.S. Marshals Task Force, he said. Related content: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Germany will soon authorise the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 65, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, the same day Belgium authorised its rollout to seniors. The countriesboth criticised for the slow pace of their inoculation driveshad previously said there was insufficient data about the effect of the vaccine on older age groups. But both Merkel and the Belgian health minister said recent studies had now provided that data, leading to their respective policy changes. "The (German) vaccine commission, whose recommendations we are happy to follow, will authorise AstraZeneca for older age groups," Merkel told reporters after talks with regional leaders about the next steps in fighting the pandemic. The German government had been criticised in recent weeks for muddled communications about the jab, leading to a public perception that the AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective than those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Some of the Germans first in line for a COVID-19 jab have spurned the AstraZeneca offer, leaving the country with hundreds of thousands of unopened doses. Greenlighting the jab for the oldest age groups is expected to help Germany work through the backlog and pick up the pace of its sluggish rollout. Merkel said the government had agreed to space out the first and second jabs of the AstraZeneca shot by a maximum of 12 weeks, to quickly give more people initial protection against the virus. German politicians have also in recent days urged the government to relax its vaccination priority list to open up the AstraZeneca jab to more people. Belgium, also criticised for the speed of its rollout, said Wednesday it would now administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to those over the age of 55, "starting immediately". Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said recent studies in Britain and Israel had shown the shot did give that age group protection against COVID-19. Belgium, a country of 11.5 million, has reserved 7.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab, the largest order it has made of any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. With the inoculation of over-65s due to begin next week, there had been warnings that relying only on the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines would derail the process. France, which had also limited the AstraZeneca jab to younger age groups, said earlier this week that it too would allow the vaccine to be given to over-65s. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Over the border in New York, a cancer patient, a hotel worker, a 65-year-old and someone with obesity are all eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine distribution rollout has been different across the country and even within a few miles, depending on which side of the Connecticut-New York border you may be standing on. New York has prioritized essential workers and people with underlying health conditions or who are 65 and over for the vaccine. Thats more than 7 million people, the state says. In Connecticut, the list is simpler. About 610,000 people became eligible on Monday when school employees and volunteers, child care providers and residents 55 and older qualified for the vaccine in Connecticut. Health care workers, medical first responders, and residents and staff at long-term care facilities and congregate settings were already eligible. The large number of people eligible in New York has created a backlog, somewhat similar to what those in Connecticut experienced Monday when they tried signing up for the vaccine. Still, Gov. Ned Lamont has stated that Connecticuts process will be faster and simpler once the supply, which he expects to arrive soon, is in place. Citing higher death rates among older residents, he argued this system is the quickest way to protect those who are most at risk. Age prioritizes public health and age is simpler, and that means equity, he said during his Monday afternoon news conference. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends states prioritize essential workers and people with underlying health conditions. Each state has adopted its own process, but no one has a sense yet of the most effective way to distribute the vaccine, said Dr. John Murphy, president and CEO of Danbury-based Nuvance Health, a network with seven hospitals in Connecticut and New York. Were conducting 50 experiments right now, he said. It would be important, actually, to step back and maybe the feds can do this and say, Listen there are three really effective ways to do this and here they are. Or maybe theres one way. Maybe next time around, there is a playbook that well all follow together, Murphy said. In Connecticut, it is easier to verify that patients are eligible, he said. Its very easy to produce ID that says this is my date of birth, he said. You dont need a whole lot of extra training to figure out how old somebody is, as opposed to saying OK, so you do have serious pulmonary disease. That is a more nuanced determination. The disadvantage is that a younger Connecticut resident with health problems is at the back of the line, he said. There are not right answers here, Murphy said. Connecticuts goal has been to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible, he said. Their point of view is: By May everybody is going to be eligible and we will have done the greatest good for the most people, Murphy said. Lamont estimated more than 1 million people in Connecticut have received their first dose as of Monday. Connecticut is within the top five states in the nation in terms of percentage of residents to get their first dose, with the New York Times reporting 20 percent of residents have at least one shot. New York falls toward the end of the list, with 14 percent of residents getting at least the first dose. That state says it has gotten about 250,000 vaccines a week week for more than 7 million people who are eligible. Appointment challenges Among the Connecticut residents in the 55-to-64 age group to sign up on Monday was Ridgefield resident Michael Lordi. He works remotely for an energy company in New York, so he had initially tried to sign up in that state but learned he was not eligible. But he got an appointment in Connecticut for his first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Thursday at CVS and will get the second dose on April 1. His wife, however, was unsuccessful. So, shes not happy with me right now, said Lordi, 58. We both tried at the same time, but it was full. Right now, there is no possibility at this point in time to register in any of the options right now. He has a blood disorder that could put him at higher risk for serious illness from the virus, he said. Lordi moved to Ridgefield from New York City over the summer. He, his wife and 22-year-old daughter had been living in a 29th floor apartment and moved due to COVID-19. The backyard, being able to go outside, was key, said Lordi, adding he had lived in Ridgefield before. Lordi said there should be better collaboration allowing Connecticut residents who work in New York or vice versa to be vaccinated in the other state. That kind of cooperation across the border is important, said George Latimer, county executive of Westchester County. He said Connecticut opening vaccinations to those 55-to-64 is a good sign for those residents. Clearly, for those people who are in that area, 55 to [64], what Connecticut has done has been very supportive, he said during a media briefing on Monday afternoon. Supply challenges Both states have faced supply shortages and have seen residents struggle to get appointments. On Monday, tens of thousands of newly eligible Connecticut residents booked slots, but some could not find available appointments or needed to make one for the end of April. Ten of the 19 state sites listed on New Yorks website do not have appointments available as of Tuesday afternoon. Were dealing in a world of scarce product and high demand and were trying to manage it as best as we can, Latimer said. The Westchester County Department of Health, which serves 25 communities, has vaccinated almost 89,000 people between three clinics, he said. In Danbury, the health department had distributed 5,450 first and second doses as of Monday afternoon. But vaccine supply is getting better, the mayor said. Every week, the dosage amounts are improving, said Danbury Mayor Joe Cavo, adding the number of doses varies each week. Danburys clinic is filled for the next two weeks, but the city plans to add appointments in the future and is scheduling a clinic for 1,000 educators this weekend. A greater allotment of vaccines will help get shots in the arms of more residents, Lamont said. More vaccines helps, the governor said. More vaccines means more appointments. More appointments means more people are satisfied. Right now, we have a supply-and-demand disconnect. In New York, most state sites are open to all who are eligible, but some are limited to people in certain ZIP codes, said Ken Jenkins, deputy county executive in Westchester County. Connecticut has identified 50 ZIP codes and asked providers to ensure at least 25 percent of new vaccines go to vulnerable communities. New York has also set up pop-up clinics with targeted groups at churches, health centers and community organizations, Jenkins said. They are temporary, he said at a Monday news conference. There isnt a place to sign up for them. Those folks get reached out to directly. Pharmacies are for New York residents 65 and older to be vaccinated, Jenkins said. They have been getting between 100 and 200 doses a week, he said. Thats a challenge because there are many, many people that want to have the vaccine, that are eligible for the vaccine, he said. But theres just not the supply to go around. 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. Electron microscopy image of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Credit: Dr Jason Roberts Melbourne researchers who conducted a pilot to study the performance and feasibility of utilizing antigen tests have identified several practical challenges in implementation for countries with a low COVID-19 prevalence. Antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 disease) viral protein directly from clinical samples, whereas the 'gold standard' PCR tests detect the viral RNA, making them significantly more sensitive. Given their ability to rapidly provide a result, accessibility and relatively low cost, antigen tests have been touted as a means of increasing population-level surveillance testing and enabling testing at or near the point-of-care. The study, published in The Lancet Regional HealthWestern Pacific today, recruited participants presenting for COVID-19 testing at three Melbourne metropolitan hospitalsThe Royal Melbourne Hospital, Austin Health and Monash Healthduring a period of low COVID-19 prevalence, 28 September to 14 November, 2020. The Abbott PanBioTM COVID-19 antigen point-of-care testone of two antigen tests approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use and approved for supply by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administrationwas performed alongside the gold standard PCR test. Additional laboratory studies were also performed. The specificity of the Abbott PanBioTM COVID-19 antigen test was 99.96%, whereas sensitivity amongst participants with PCR-confirmed infection was dependent upon the duration of symptoms reported. Co-lead author on the study, Professor Deborah Williamson, Director of The Royal Melbourne Hospital's Department of Microbiology and Deputy Director of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory at the Doherty Institute, said they found the antigen tests performed best in the first few days after symptom onset, which was consistent with the intended use of the test, and noted these tests had shown utility in settings with a high-prevalence of COVID-19, such as the United Kingdom and United States. "However, we found many challenges around implementation of these tests, ranging from how to conduct the tests in a safe environment, choosing the population to testsymptomatic or asymptomaticgiven the occurrence of false positives and negatives, to the additional waste that's created by using the device," Professor Williamson explained. "Given the high specificity, antigen-based tests may be most useful in rapidly triaging public health and hospital resources while expediting confirmatory PCR testing. "But considering the limitations in test sensitivity and the potential for rapid transmission in susceptible populations, particularly in hospital settings, careful consideration is required for implementation of antigen testing in a low prevalence setting. "As such, we have developed a framework, which we hope will assist with the appropriate planning to overcome the logistical, governance, regulatory and implementation challenges we identified for scaled-up antigen testing." First author on the paper, Dr. Stephen Muhi, an infectious diseases physician at The Royal Melbourne Hospital said: "The study was a great opportunity to evaluate the test across three major metropolitan hospitals during a period of minimal COVID-19 community transmission, identifying important implications for clinical care." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Stephen Muhi et al. Multi-site assessment of rapid, point-of-care antigen testing for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a low-prevalence setting: A validation and implementation study, The Lancet Regional HealthWestern Pacific (2021). Stephen Muhi et al. Multi-site assessment of rapid, point-of-care antigen testing for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a low-prevalence setting: A validation and implementation study,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100115 LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Orosur Mining Inc. (TSX:OMI)(AIM:OMI) , is pleased to announce that the Company will hold an investor and analyst conference call on 18th March 2021, at 16:30 (UK Local time). The Company's Chief Executive, Brad George, and Chairman Louis Castro, will host the call followed by a question and answer session. To participate in this conference call, please dial in to the following: 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 the space of one month, the families of 326 people were left in shock and heartbreak after losing their loved ones to the Covid-19 virus. May 2021 was the deadliest month of the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago and the month with the highest number of Covid-19 cases. OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - Oxford police now have a suspect in connection to a 2013 sexual assault. According to the Oxford Police Department, the incident happened on Oct. 20, 2013, by an unknown individual. A break in the case occurred in late-2020 when investigators learned of a possible DNA match. This ultimately led investigators to Indiana where they worked with the Indiana Department of Corrections to acquire a new DNA sample. The testing positively matched Jerry Owens, 44, of Evansville, Indiana, according to Oxford police. Police arrested Owens for rape on Feb. 24. He is being held in the Lafayette County jail. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. A New Zealanders 9 Starter Steps to Save America From Socialism Commentary Though Im a New Zealander, I know America and its people well. Ive traveled to every state in the Lower 48 and have addressed more than 500 audiences across this amazing nation. My message has always been the same: The United States is heading toward a brutally tyrannical socialist revolutionand if America goes down, every free country follows. Well, now its here, people, unfolding before our very eyes. So, what can be done? Can the Republic be saved? Honestly, I dont know. However, I can suggest some steps that would at least give this country a fighting chance. 1. Face Reality Millions of Americans are still in complete denial. Many think the military is secretly in controlthat its only a matter of time until justice is done and President Donald Trump is restored. Theres a secret planjust have faith. The truth is that Trump was outmaneuvered by an alliance of communists, globalists, and even traitors in his own party. The deep state is now almost fully in control. Trump isnt coming back into office any time before 2024if we still have meaningful elections by then. To make sure they can never be voted out of office, the Democrats plan to enfranchise 22 million illegal immigrants, abolish the Electoral College, gain at least four more far-left senators through Puerto Rico and D.C. statehood, and flood the country with tens of millions more refugees and illegal immigrants. They also plan to nationally introduce voting reforms, i.e., mass mail-in balloting, abolition of ID requirements, etc., that will guarantee eternal Democratic Party control. If the Democrats can abolish the Senate filibuster and place at least four more leftist justices on the Supreme Court, therell be virtually no way to stop any of this if we rely on traditional political methods. Were undergoing a Marxist-Leninist revolution driven by Chinaright now, in real time. The military cant save us, nor can Trump. On the contrary, its up to patriots to protect Trump and the Armed Services from unrelenting Democrat/communist attacks. When enough Americans face the unpleasant truth, then, and only then, can we talk about hope. 2. Stop All Violent Rhetoric Violence will not save America. The harsh reality is that President Barack Obama had eight years to replace patriotic generals with left-leaning political appointees. He did a great job. If violence breaks out (God forbid), the military will stand with the government, not the insurgents. Does anyone think Russia and China and Cuba and North Korea and Iran would stand idly by while their Democratic friends are being defeated by a patriotic uprising? They would undoubtedly use the opportunity to finish off their main enemy once and for all. Beware of anyone inciting violence online, at a public gathering, or in a private meeting. Distance yourself fast. They will be at best hopelessly naive, at worst government provocateurs. The left is praying for right-wing violence. It will give them an excuse for a massive crackdown on patriotic Americans. This country will be saved peacefully or not at all. If significant violence breaks out, its over. Having said that, the Second Amendment must be preserved at all costs. An armed populace is at least some check on tyranny, even if useless in the face of biological warfare or nuclear attack. Americans should keep their guns and work every day to ensure they never have to use them against their own people. 3. Restore Election Integrity in All Red States If voter trust isnt restored within months, the Republican Party is doomed. Democrats will continue to vote. Large numbers of Republican voters will stay home. They wont trust the elections and will refuse to participate. Weve already seen this play out in the Georgia Senate elections. Thirty states are currently led by Republican legislatures. Some are already holding inquiries into fixing deficient electoral procedures. Most will be whitewashes unless the public gets heavily involved. If the resulting recommendations dont include the elimination of electronic voting machines and heavy penalties for organized voter fraud, its likely to be a window-dressing exercise. Be alert. Patriots must work to restore voting integrity first in the red states, then the red counties of the blue statesthen after 2022, the whole nation. Get involved in this process. Its a top priority. 4. Close the Republican Primaries Immediately This should be a no-brainer, but no one is talking about it. Only five U.S. states have truly closed Republican primaries. This means that in most states Democrats and independents (even communists) can vote in Republican primariesand they do. All over the country, the GOPs enemies vote in Republican primaries to pick the weakest, most wimpy candidate they can. Thats why the Republican base is super patriotic but most of their elected representatives in most states vote like progressive Democrats. Close the primaries, Republican patriots. It will transform your party. 5. Organize a Compact of Free States MAGA folk need to build a nation within a nation. This doesnt mean secessionRussia and China would be quick to exploit such division. Whats needed is a reaffirmation of 10th Amendment rights as already outlined in the U.S. Constitution. The already out-of-control federal government is about to go on a rampage against every form of independence left in the country. Every red state with the courage to do so must immediately begin working toward a formal compact to collectively oppose all forms of federal overreach. Such a formal alliance should start with Florida and Texas, then grow by inviting Oklahoma, the Plains states, most of the Southern states, New Hampshire, the free Midwestern states, and the Republican-led Northern and Western states. Such an alliance, stretching from the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the Great Lakes and the Canadian border and even Alaska, would bisect the entire country. Adding the red counties of the blue states such as Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and California, would create a voting and economic bloc that Washington would find exceedingly difficult to challenge. When the Biden administration recently suggested that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis close all restaurants in his state to slow the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, the governor politely refusedciting the ineffectiveness and horrendous economic consequences of mass lockdowns. Biden then reportedly hinted at an unconstitutional ban on air and road travel to and from Florida. This threat might work against Florida alone. It wouldnt work against Florida plus Texas and Oklahoma and 10 to 25 other states. The United States is technically a federation of free and independent states. Its time to fully realize that ideal. Southern states will soon be reeling under a massive new wave of illegal immigration. The federal government will do nothing to prevent it. Texas, Florida, Arizona, and the free counties of New Mexico and California need to be preparing to defend their borders now. This isnt an immigration issue that is the constitutional preserve of the federal governmentthis is a state public welfare issue. Of course, the Biden-Harris administration plans to pack the Supreme Court with more left-wing justices to make virtually anything they want constitutional. But this shouldnt even need to go to the courts. State governments already have the power under the 10th Amendment to nullify federal overreach; they simply have to band together to put Washington back into its constitutionally tiny box. The Republic will be saved through the courageous application of the First Amendment (free speech) and the 10th Amendment (state sovereignty). 6. Republic Review Every free state should immediately embark on the adoption of the Republic Review process. Theres a small but growing movement in some Western and Northern states to review their engagement with the federal government to eliminate or nullify all unconstitutional relationships. Under the Constitution, the states are technically superior to the federal government. Theyre sovereign under the equal footing doctrine and have the legal power to refuse to engage in unconstitutional programs. For instance, most states only get about 10 percent of their education budget from the fedsbut are almost completely subservient to Department of Education dictates. Why not forgo the measly 10 percent in exchange for a return to local control over all public education? America is losing its youths in public schools. Every patriotic parent knows that. This would give parents more control over their childrens education and restore citizens control over their own government. Is this worth 10 percent of your states education budget? If the free states are willing to stand against federal overreach, they must also be prepared to forgo unconstitutional federal money. A thorough Republic Review audit would soon return power to the state legislatureswhere it belongs. 7. Form a Multi-State America First Popular Alliance The left has Our Revolution, a nationwide alliance of 600 groups operating both inside and outside of the Democratic Party. Operated by Democratic Socialists of America and the Communist Party USA, Our Revolution works in the Democratic primaries to elect far-left candidates such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) into office. Our Revolution isnt subject to Democratic Party discipline, but it does get to choose Democratic candidates. We need an America First umbrella group to operate both outside and inside the Republican Partyeven possibly within the Democratic Party in some areas. This organization should be all about pushing the MAGA/America First agenda at every level of government, in every state of the union. Such a movement could harness the energy of 70 million to 80 million Trump voters without being under Republican Party control. America First could unite the Tea Party and MAGA movements, grassroots Republicans, patriotic Democrats, and independents to mobilize tens of millions of voters to transform the GOP into the truly populist, patriotic MAGA party it should always have been. Take that, Mitch McConnell! Trump is already vetting candidates to stand against Republican House members and senators who betrayed their own base after the 2020 election. America Firsters should register Republicans by the millions to primary out dozens of Republican sell-outs in 2022. The America First/MAGA movement could own every level of the GOP by 2024. The GOP needs the MAGA movement way more than the MAGA movement needs the Republican brand. Meanwhile, there are almost 70 far-left Democratic members of Congress in red states. Just restoring voter integrity alone could defeat several of them in 2022. Running MAGA candidates backed by Trump in every one of those races could flip many more. It would be more than feasible to take back the House in 2022 to make Biden a lame duck president. 8. Boycott/Buycott Bigtime Patriots should be abandoning Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. for more honest platforms. They should also enthusiastically support efforts by DeSantis to heavily fine Big Tech operators who cancel patriots. If 25 or 30 free states did the same, Big Tech would soon be little tech. Patriots need to organize nationwide boycotts of unpatriotic companies and buycotts for loyal American companies like My Pillow and Goya Foods. Already, local groups are drawing up lists of unfriendly local companies and friendly alternatives so patriots can stop supporting their opponents and spend more with their fellow MAGA supporters. It would also be smart to sequentially target vulnerable unpatriotic companies. Imagine if 80 million MAGA patriots resolved to begin a nationwide boycott of one such company, starting now. The boycott would go on indefinitely until the target company was broke, or it apologized for canceling patriots. If applicable, every MAGA family could simultaneously commit to buying at least one of the canceled persons products this year. On April 1, another disloyal company could be targeted, then another on May 1, another on June 1, etc. After two or three companies had collapsed or apologized, we would soon see large companies start to back away from the Cancel Culture. Patriots have spending power in this country, people. We need to starve our enemies and feed our friends. Again, patriots need to build a nation within a nation. It should be also a given that every U.S. patriot boycotts all communist Chinese goods wherever possible. Check those labels! Buying Chinese communist products in 2021 is like buying Nazi products in 1939. Its immoral and its suicidal. The Chinese Communist Party just crippled the U.S. economy with the CCP virus. Then, pro-China communists instigated mass Black Lives Matter rioting. Then, the same people worked to influence the 2020 election. Its about time Americans stop funding their No. 1 enemythe CCP. 9. Remove Malign Foreign Influence at State Level DeSantis has announced legislation to massively curtail communist Chinese activity in Florida. The legislation also targets several other enemy states, including Russia, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuelaall of which interfere in this countrys internal affairs. In December 2020, Trumps Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe revealed that the Chinese Communist Party was conducting a massive influence campaign focused on dozens of members of Congress and their aides, including through attempted blackmail and bribery. Currently, thousands of foreign companies from hostile regimes are buying up land, food production facilities, technical companies, educational facilities, and infrastructure. Tens of thousands of foreign agents are co-opting unpatriotic businessmen, unethical politicians, and sympathetic journalists in the interests of China and other malevolent states. Under the Biden-Harris administration, nothing will be done to stop these activities at a federal levelbut much can still be done by the free states. If every free state cracked down on foreign bribery, corruption, espionage, and subversion, this country would be transformed. If hundreds of corrupt academics, journalists, businessmen, and politicians (from both parties) were exposed and punished, this country would soon be well on the way to moral, economic, and political recovery. What Do You Think? These steps alone wont save Americabut I believe they would be a huge step in the right direction. I will be following up with further suggestions and plans. But for now, Id love to see your comments, suggestions, and criticisms in the comments section. Thank you for reading. From a grateful Kiwi, God bless America. Trevor Loudon is an author, filmmaker, and public speaker from New Zealand. For more than 30 years, he has researched radical left, Marxist, and terrorist movements and their covert influence on mainstream politics. He is best known for his book Enemies Within: Communists, Socialists and Progressives in the U.S. Congress and his similarly themed documentary film Enemies Within. His recently published book is White House Reds: Communists, Socialists & Security Risks Running for U.S. President, 2020. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A section of border fence is pictured by the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley near Hidalgo, Texas, on Oct. 7, 2019. (Loren Elliott/Reuters) 1,600 Immigrants Arrested Over 3 Days in Single Texas Border Sector: Official More than 1,600 illegal immigrants were arrested in three days in a single Texas border sector, according to the chief Border Patrol agent for the area. Over 1,600 arrests in three days for Del Rio Sector agents! wrote Austin Skero, the head of Border Patrol for Texass Del Rio Sector, on Twitter. These arrests include more than 25 smuggling cases, two criminal aliens, and were comprised of mostly single adults. Skero later added that Del Rio agents detained a convicted rapist who had previously been deported. Our agents arrested two more sex offenders over the weekend, one of whom was convicted of third-degree rape in Kentucky, he said in a news release on Tuesday. This is why it is critically important that Border Patrol Agents are out there, on the border, identifying everyone who crosses our borders illegally. Roman Gonzalez-Flores, 49, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested after he illegally entered the United States from Mexico. Officials later determined that he was convicted of the crime in 2004, was sentenced to two years in prison, and was most recently deported in 2021, according to the agency. Gonzalez-Flores now faces felony charges for illegal re-entry after removal as a convicted sex offender and could face 20 years in prison. The agency said that 56 illegal immigrants with prior sexual assault convictions were encountered by agents since Oct. 1 of last year. On Wednesday, in a separate incident in California, Border Patrol agents and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that 13 people who died in a crash with a semi-truck may have been illegally smuggled across the border. We pray for the accident victims and their families during this difficult time, said El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino in a news conference on Wednesday. Agents, he said, believe the deceased individuals were part of a larger group of about 44 migrants who were smuggled through a hole in the fence near Calexico, a California city that lies along the border and is next to the Mexican city of Mexicali. Bovino added that an initial investigation into the origins of the vehicles indicate a potential nexus to the aforementioned breach in the border wall, while adding that human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life. Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy; tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with, he said in the news conference. YPSILANTI, MI -- Annual application fees from Ypsilanti recreational marijuana facilities will soon be used to assist those being released from prisons and jails for marijuana-related offenses find housing. The legislation was introduced by Council Member Annie Somerville and unanimously approved by Ypsilanti City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, March 2. This legislation allows for money from annual recreational marijuana facility applications to go towards the Re-entry Fund -- part of a pilot being created by the Housing Sub-Committee, under the Washtenaw County Community Stakeholders Re-entry Committee. The Washtenaw Housing Alliance will be administering the reentry mitigation fund. This fund is being used, in-part, to assist those being released from incarceration in finding housing, according to the legislation. Its fitting, according to officials, because many people being released have been negatively affected by past marijuana prohibition laws in the past. As many of you recall, part of what I really wanted when we opted into recreational cannabis was to create a system to put money back into efforts that would undo some of the harm caused by the war on drugs relevant to cannabis prohibition, said Somerville. And I think housing is obviously a huge issue in Washtenaw County, but its particularly difficult for folks returning from jail or prison. The city received 11 applications from recreational marijuana facilities in 2020 at $5,000 apiece, giving them a total of $55,000. From that total, $44,000 will go towards the general fund and $11,000 will be used to promote social equity through community education and outreach on topics such as adult-use marijuana, and criminal justice issues related to the previous marijuana prohibition, said officials. From that $11,000, $5,000 will go to the Washtenaw Housing Alliance for the purpose of assisting in the funding of the Re-Entry Mitigation Fund, specific to those being released as a result of marijuana charges. Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced on Jan. 12 that his office will not charge people for use, possession or small-scale distribution of marijuana and entheogenic plants, including magic mushrooms and other naturally occurring psychedelics. Washtenaw prosecutor wont charge people for marijuana, shrooms, other psychedelics The costs of cannabis criminalization have been borne disproportionately by Black people and indigenous people of color, Savit said. Equally important is that we allow those with old convictions to get their lives back on track. A criminal conviction can impact a persons ability to get a job, obtain housing, or continue their education, said Savit. Council Member Anthony Morgan believes that since the legalization of recreational marijuana, the city has only seen pennies compared to the millions that marijuana facilities have made. Im hopeful, even though Im cynical of the entire industry, but I hope that we can somehow utilize some of this money to make good on some of what we want to happen in Ypsilanti, said Morgan. ... I hope that we get to see how all of this marijuana makes something happen positive for the community. Ypsilanti has not yet received any revenue sharing from the state from marijuana recreational facilities, but they should start to by the end of this year, said Somerville. Once that begins, marijuana funds collected under the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act will distribute 15% to municipalities in which a marijuana retail store or a marijuana microbusiness is located, allocated in proportion to the number of marijuana retail stores and marijuana microbusinesses within the municipality. Read more: A glimpse inside Michigans evolving marijuana shop experience Michigans marijuana industry surpasses Oregon in cannabis jobs, report says Michigan marijuana stock market could offer residents chance to buy their hood back Using a highly sensitive X-ray microtomography scanner, a team of researchers has scanned four unopened letters from the Brienne Collection, a 17th-century postal trunk full of undelivered mail. The letter is one of the most important communication technologies in human history. Before the proliferation of mass-produced envelopes in the 1830s, most letters were sent via letterlocking, the process of folding and securing writing substrates to become their own envelopes. Letterlocking was an everyday activity for centuries, across cultures, borders, and social classes, and plays an integral role in the history of secrecy systems as the missing link between physical communications security techniques from the ancient world and modern digital cryptography. The Brienne Collection, a European postmasters trunk preserving 300-year-old undelivered post, provides a rare opportunity to study sealed letters. It contains 3,148 cataloged items, including 2,571 opened letters, fragments, and other documents, and 577 letterpackets that have never been opened. Until now, an analysis of such sealed letters has been limited by the standard archival practice of cutting open sealed letters on request, compromising the physical integrity of the unopened letterpacket. Professor Graham Davis from Queen Mary University of London and colleagues propose an alternate approach grounded in computational analysis, where letters remain intact in their locked state, yet the researchers can still read their contents. We designed our X-ray scanner to have unprecedented sensitivity for mapping the mineral content of teeth, which is invaluable in dental research, Professor Davis said. But this high sensitivity has also made it possible to resolve certain types of ink in paper and parchment. Its incredible to think that a scanner designed to look at teeth has taken us this far. Weve been able to use our scanners to X-ray history, said Dr. David Mills, also from Queen Mary University of London. The scanning technology is similar to medical CT scanners, but using much more intense X-rays which allow us to see the minute traces of metal in the ink used to write these letters. The scientists revealed the contents of a letter dated July 31, 1697. It contains a request from Jacques Sennacques to his cousin Pierre Le Pers, a French merchant in The Hague, for a certified copy of a death notice of one Daniel Le Pers. Following the X-ray microtomography scanning of the letter packets, the authors then applied computational algorithms to the scan images to identify and separate the different layers of the folded letter and virtually unfold it. This algorithm takes us right into the heart of a locked letter, they said. Sometimes the past resists scrutiny. We could simply have cut these letters open, but instead we took the time to study them for their hidden, secret, and inaccessible qualities. Weve learned that letters can be a lot more revealing when they are left unopened. Using virtual unfolding to read an intimate story that has never seen the light of day and never even reached its recipient is truly extraordinary. The research is described in a paper in the journal Nature Communications. _____ J. Dambrogio et al. 2021. Unlocking history through automated virtual unfolding of sealed documents imaged by X-ray microtomography. Nat Commun 12, 1184; doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21326-w THE JUDICIAL REVIEW Alex Salmond claimed that the Scottish government wasted taxpayers' money pursuing a legal claim that was doomed from the start. He won the judicial review in 2019 after the government's investigation was ruled unlawful and 'tainted by apparent bias'. Bombshell documents published on Tuesday night revealed that the government's lawyers had reservations about the case months before it was conceded. Miss Sturgeon rejected suggestions it continued the claim against the advice of senior lawyers. 'The charge that has been made against me is that I wilfully allowed a judicial review to proceed against the legal advice, therefore I broke the ministerial code,' she said. 'With respect, as you now know, I was acting in accordance with the views of the law officers, not against.' Alex Salmond claims Nicola Sturgeon misled parliament by telling MSPs that she first learnt of allegations against him on April 2, 2018 THE MEETINGS Mr Salmond claims Miss Sturgeon misled parliament by telling MSPs that she first learnt of allegations against him on April 2, 2018. Mr Salmond's former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, says he first discussed the issue with the First Minister at her office in parliament on March 29, 2018. Miss Sturgeon later conceded that she had 'forgotten' about this meeting. She said yesterday: 'The purpose of the conversation seemed to be to persuade me to meet with Alex as soon as possible, which I did agree to do. 'Geoff did indicate a harassment-type issue had arisen, but my recollection is he did so in general terms.' She told the committee she wished her memory of the meeting on March 29 was 'more vivid'. She maintained that she found out the details of the allegations at the later meeting, which were 'significant and indeed shocking'. Mr Salmond told the committee on Friday that Miss Sturgeon agreed to intervene following complaints against him DID SHE INTERVENE? Mr Salmond told the committee on Friday that Miss Sturgeon agreed to intervene following complaints against him. Mr Hamilton, who was present at the April 2, 2018 meeting, corroborated his account, saying: 'We discussed mediation. My clear recollection is that her words were "If it comes to it, I will intervene".' But Miss Sturgeon said it would have been an 'egregious' breach of her position. She said: 'I did not intend to intervene, and I did not intervene.' COMPLAINANT NAME LEAKED Mr Salmond said the identity of one of the women who made complaints against him was disclosed to his former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, by a member of Miss Sturgeon's team. He lodged a formal complaint about the official yesterday. Kevin Pringle, the SNP's former chief spin doctor, and Duncan Hamilton, a former MSP, have corroborated Mr Aberdein's claims. But Miss Sturgeon said: 'I am not accepting that that happened.' It's World Book Day today, a day to celebrate books and shared reading, whatever the circumstances. Over the past year, many of us first fell in love with stories like hit TV series The Queens Gambit, Bridgerton, Lupin and Firefly Lane through the books that these popular series are based on. In fact, led by Bridgerton, half of the Top 10 titles on The New York Times Best Sellers list in February were books tied to Netflix series, and theyre not alone in having a literary revival. As it became the streaming giant's biggest series, the popularity of Julia Quinns Bridgerton novels ballooned - at one point five books from the series were on the New York Times Best Sellers list, with The Duke and I holding steady at #1 for four weeks. Kristin Hannahs Firefly Lane first appeared on the Top 10 list a month ahead of the shows release as interest in the series grew. The book hit #1 just three days after its premiere, and 13 years after its first publication. Three weeks after the limited series premiered, Walter Tevis The Queens Gambit appeared on the list for the first time since it was published 37 years ago; and went on to stay in the Top 10 for 11 weeks. After Lupin premiered, Maurice Leblancs original book (written in 1907) began trending in several countries such as Italy, Spain, the US, the UK and Korea, with sales reaching the equivalent of one years worth in just 15 days. Ten days post-premiere, the book ranked in the Top 5 bestsellers on Amazon and Fnac. So, what other books could be back as a bestseller? Here are some of the noteworthy adaptations coming to the Netflix catalogue: Jennifer Mathieus Moxie Premiered March 3 Amy Krouse Rosenthals YES DAY - premiering March 12 Leigh Bardugos Shadow and Bone - premiering April 23 Things Heard & Seen based on Elizabeth Brundages All Things Cease to Appear - premiering April 30 A.J. Finns The Woman in the Window - coming soon Maurice Leblancs Lupin - Part 2 is on its way this summer R.L. Stines Fear Street Trilogy - coming to scare this summer Jojo Moyes The Last Letter From Your Lover - coming soon Beth Reekles The Kissing Booth 3 - coming soon Caroline Kepnes YOU - Season 3 is coming soon Robyn Carrs Virgin River - Season 3 is coming soon Sherryl Woods Sweet Magnolias - Season 2 is coming soon Concrete Cowboy, based on Gregory Neris Ghetto Cowboy - coming soon J.A. Whites Nightbooks - coming soon Stephanie Lands Maid - coming soon Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Women in Africa are less likely to die from COVID-19 than men, but more likely to succumb to maternal complications due to limited access to reproductive services since the pandemic started, the UN said Thursday citing reports. A study of 28 African countries including Guinea, Mauritius and Uganda showed that on average women accounted for a slightly smaller proportion of coronavirus infections and deaths compared to men. Overall around 41 percent of reported COVID-19 cases were women, although the figures ranged widely from 31 percent in Niger to more than 57 percent in South Africa. "In most countries, women are somewhat less likely to die from COVID-19 than men," World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti told an online news conference. But the pandemic had exposed gaps in health services, with women suffering the brunt of disrupted access to care. "There was a rise in maternal deaths in 10 countries," Moeti said, making reference to another study that collated data between February and July 2020. The highest jumps were recorded in the Comoros, Mali, Senegal and South Africa. Access to sexual and reproductive care was already poor on the continent before coronavirus hit. But access was made worse by restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19, pushing more women to seek risky informal abortions, Moeti explained. Overstretched hospitals were often unable to see patients seeking non-coronavirus related services, she added. More data is still needed to determine the full extent of the effect. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP [March 04, 2021] LG Energy Solution Responds To USITC Evidence in SK Innovation Trade Secret Theft The US International Trade Commission on Thursday published the agency's findings following its two-year investigation into SK Innovation's unfair trade practices, concluding that it misappropriated 22 of LG Energy Solution's trade secrets worth billions of dollars spanning the entire electric vehicle battery business. This public release follows the USITC's orders last month blocking the importation, domestic production, and sale of SK batteries with certain exceptions to prevent job losses or any interruption or delay in the domestic supply chain. The exceptions were unprecedented and allow SK Innovation to continue to exploit the trade secrets it stole for a period of several more years. "LG Energy Solution's multi-billion dollar investment in its lithium-ion battery business was a down payment on a carbon-free future and an investment we believed was safe from intellectual property thieves," stated Denise Gray, President of LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc. Tech Center. "SK Innovation stole a technology that required tens of thousands of hours of careful and costly engineering. The release of the ITC's decision puts to rest any questions of whether SK Innovation did anything wrong-they did, repeatedly, and now they must be held accountable." The 96-page final determination provides indisputable evidence of SK Innovation's deliberate, repeated illegal actions and extraordinary bad faith efforts to hinder the Commission's investigation. The Commission wrote that "SK has a history of collecting documents about LG and SK's competition with LG, and then destroying those documents. Fo one example, among many, as recently as 2018 ... an SK battery supervisor, ordered his team to hide or destroy 'the documents you took from 'L' company' and 'please don't save this email as well!!'... What is most remarkable about SK's spoliation ... is the combination of the scope of spoliation with its frequency. It was not enough for SK to destroy or hide its records once, because SK then, unchastened, collected more LG propriety information, only to destroy or hide those records as well." The Commission wrote that it considered "SK's destruction of evidence in this case to be extraordinary" and that "[t]he destruction was ordered at a high level and was carried out by department heads throughout SK." The Commission found that "[a]s the evidence indicates, SK misappropriated LG's business trade secrets, including LG's competition pricing information. It is therefore consistent with the record that SK's proposal would be the lowest cost." It added that "the record supports the Commission's finding that it would take ten years for SK to develop products without the 22 trade secrets. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the duration of any orders issued should cover a period of 10 years from their effective date." Finding a violation of Section 337 of the US Tariff Act, the Commission imposed a 10-year-long exclusion order preventing SK Innovation's importation of batteries, battery cells, battery modules, battery packs, and components. The USITC, however, provided a carve-out to allow SK to import identified technology for use in the manufacturing of batteries for Ford (News - Alert) and VW at its Georgia facility for four and two years, respectively. The carve-outs protect Ford and VW by providing a window to transition to a new supplier or for SK to develop its own technology or reach a settlement. "LG Energy Solution is a 20-year partner to America's automotive sector and is working diligently to scale to meet the needs of the country's electric vehicle ecosystem," Denise Gray, President of LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc. Tech Center said. "The protection of trade secrets, as the ITC has provided, will allow those critical investments to continue apace." In 2019, LGES entered into joint venture with General Motors (News - Alert) to build a $2.3 billion manufacturing facility in Ohio to mass-produce battery cells. It also operates an additional battery plant in Michigan and will presently announce further US operations. For more information, please visit www.LGESvSKI.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304006035/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Following on my observation that the Biden administrations official welcome mat for illegal aliens cannot be squared with basic public health admonitions, the New York Post reports: More than 100 illegal immigrants who tested positive for the coronavirus after their arrival in Texas since late January have been released by the Border Patrol into the Lone Star State and are free to travel to other parts of the US, according to reports. Felipe Romero, a spokesman for the border city of Brownsville, told Fox News that they are telling the migrants who tested positive to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to quarantine and maintain social distance, but that Brownsville doesnt have the authority to stop them from traveling to the rest of the country. He said the 108 positives account for 6.3 percent of the total migrants who received rapid tests at the citys main bus terminal, a program that began on Jan. 25. Some of the migrants described to Noticias Telemundo Investiga how they were tested at the border and then allowed to hit the streets despite a positive result for the coronavirus. Miriam Izaguirre, a migrant from Honduras, said she crossed the Rio Grande on Monday with her young son and surrendered to authorities but was released within a few hours by the Border Patrol. Right now we were tested for COVID and they separated us because we were positive, Izaguirre told news site. We are waiting right now. They expect to board a bus to Houston. Other migrants who tested positive said they plan to travel to North Carolina, Maryland and New Jersey. Photo caption: Felipe Romero said migrants who tested for COVID-19 are being told to quarantine and remain socially distanced. Eva Orellana, a migrant from Honduras, said she and her 3-year-old daughter were going to ride the bus to North Carolina. On the way we were wearing a mask all the time, gel, washing our hands, Orellana said. Really, I dont feel anything. The immigrants said they didnt receive any documentation that they had tested positive. They were simply informed that they had. Others said after the test they were directed to another waiting area than the others, but their movements were not restricted. A Border Patrol spokesperson told the newspaper that migrants receive an initial inspection for symptoms but that only people with suspected cases are sent to local health authorities for proper testing, diagnosis and treatment. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. ChildVoice, a 501(c)(3) non-profit rehabilitation and development organization dedicated to restoring the voices of children silenced by war, today announced a new cryptocurrency fundraising project to fund a borehole (water well, solar pump, and storage tank) in Nigerias Malkohi IDP camp for the benefit of hundreds of the organizations war-affected students living in the Malkohi IDP camp outside the city of Yola, Nigeria. This round of funding is in partnership with BitGive, a digital philanthropy nonprofit based in California, and will be serviced through BitGives signature GiveTrack online platform. The project (https://www.givetrack.org/project-details/109/Fresh-Water-for-Children-Displaced-by-Boko-Haram-in-Nigeria) seeks to obtain cryptocurrency donations equivalent to $5,600 US. We are excited about taking our first step into the realm of cryptocurrency fundraising for this project, says Kristin Benoit, Director of Programs for ChildVoice. To date, the ChildVoice Empowerment Program for youth in the Malkohi camps has been limited without our own building and water source. We are a growing organization with many needs, and ChildVoice is thrilled at the potential of new funding streams created through digital philanthropy. As ChildVoice expands with its new Youth Empowerment Center, this borehole will be very important in supporting the life-giving projects of ChildVoice Nigeria, says David Jomusu, Case Manager and Head of Logistics for ChildVoices Nigeria office. The borehole will be installed in conjunction with the organizations planned Youth Empowerment Center in the IDP camp, where up to 200 young victims of Boko Haram and other violent groups will receive rehabilitative counseling and skills training in such areas as agriculture and culinary arts. These are programs for which a reliable water supply plays a critical role -- one that cannot be filled by the camps single hand-pump well, which serves the entire camp community of over 2,000 people. This new round of funding will be used to pay for: Drilling and installation of the borehole Installation of a solar pump Installation of a storage tank Added Peter Rexer, VP of Engineering, Were thrilled to be working with Childvoice on their first digital philanthropy campaign and look forward to offering them the ability to raise cryptocurrency funds transparently. About Childvoice Since 2006, ChildVoice (https://childvoice.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been serving the rehabilitative and skills training needs of war-affected Ugandan youth at its Lukome Center in Lukodi, Uganda. Since then, ChildVoice has established Youth Empowerment Centers to serve young South Sudanese refugees in the Imvepi Refugee Settlement, and in 2018 began establishing a presence in IDP camps of northeastern Nigeria. ChildVoice is dedicated to helping war-affected adolescent girls and boys build developmental, educational, and vocational assets that will empower them to lead productive, economically advantaged, and independent lives, while contributing towards a sustainable and better future for their children, families, and communities. About BitGive BitGive was founded in 2013 by leading industry figure Connie Gallippi. Based in California, BitGive is the first Bitcoin 501(c)(3) nonprofit recognized by the U.S. government. The organization aims to bridge the gap between the Bitcoin and Blockchain industry and its practical applications for humanitarian and nonprofit work. The first of its kind, BitGive is revolutionizing global philanthropy through technology with its flagship project, GiveTrack. Businesses frozen in time with festive storefronts still on display in spring are looking forward to reopening and giving shoppers a much-needed post-lockdown mood lift. Retailers in some of Londons major shopping areas, including Oxford Street and Regent Street, bear the markings of Christmas past, with festive decor and messaging remaining on view as pedestrians passed by in March. A shop in Londons South Molton Street displaying Christmas decorations in March 2021 after having to close suddenly on December 20 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) With the introduction of a new Tier 4 level of restrictions on December 20, all non-essential shops in London had to shut. The sudden closure, just days before Christmas, was reinforced by a third lockdown, which was announced in England on January 4. According to Boris Johnsons road map out of lockdown, non-essential shops in England will be able to reopen from April 12 at the earliest. Christmas decorations still adorn a restaurant in Horseshoe Yard in London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) A spokeswoman for the New West End Company, which represents businesses on Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street and Mayfair, said retailers are looking forward to the year ahead and a festive shopping season where their decorations and displays wont go to waste. She said: The West Ends frozen window displays are a symptom of the stop-start lockdowns, and sunk costs that will take a long time to recover from. Window displays in shops were frozen on December 20 when the Government announced a new lockdown (Stefan Rousseau/PA) With six weeks to go and new support measures announced this week by the Chancellor, central London businesses can start to plan ahead with more confidence as they look toward the irreversible reopening of stores, reviving their displays and giving their customers a much-needed post-lockdown mood lift. We hope that in a matter of months retailers can once again look forward to a profitable Christmas where their decorations and displays wont go to waste. Italian companies discuss producing bulk active ingredient of covid-19 vaccines. 'Producing anti-covid vaccines in Italy from the autumn' was the topic of a meeting between industry minister Giancarlo Giorgetti and representatives of Italy's pharmaceutical industry today. Many companies in Italy would be ready to make bulk drug substance - the active ingredient and other components of the vaccines - "because they already have, or will soon have, the necessary bioreactors and fermentation equipment," according to a statement from the industry ministry. Giorgetti also confirmed the government's desire to establish a centre in Italy for the research of drugs and vaccines, financed with public and private funds, Reuters reports. Production of the bulk vaccines could potentially take off within four to six months, after regulators' authorisation, the ministry statement said. The head of Italian medicines agency AIFA and Italy's new covid-19 emergency commissioner Francesco Paolo Figliuolo also attended the meeting, reports Italian news agency ANSA. Photo TgCom24 Ahead of Chinas annual political gala, Beijings top official in Hong Kong, Xia Baolong, told the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies last week that the Chinese government would perfect the citys electoral system. Only in Hong Kong would some people show off their rebellion against their motherland, he said. Important positions, under any circumstances, cannot be taken up by anti-China forces that disrupt Hong Kong. The two sessions will meet hours after 47 pro-democracy leaders faced a Hong Kong court on charges of subversion for hosting an unofficial primary vote last year. After four days of hearings running into the early hours of the morning, 15 were granted bail late on Thursday night, leaving dozens of pro-democracy leaders either behind bars or in exile. Global rethink of China The deterioration in the political and judicial environment for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong has sparked international condemnation and economic sanctions from the US. Hong Kong was handed over from Britain to China under a treaty that guaranteed a high degree of autonomy in 1997. Australia, along with the United States, has been a global driver of this paradigm shift. It weathered trade strikes from the worlds second largest economy on more than $10 billion worth of exports this year after calling for an inquiry into the coronavirus, criticising Chinas human rights record and rejecting Chinese investment on national security grounds. A woman holds a British flag as supporters queue up outside a court to try to get in for a hearing in Hong Kong on Monday. Credit:AP The Europeans, the Japanese and other leaders are rethinking their relationship with China and Beijing knows it, said Bates Gill, a professor at Macquarie University and Asia Society Australia Scholar-in-Residence. Willy Lam, a political scientist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said international pressure could become counter-productive, by satisfying the nationalistic aspirations of the party and sections of the population. [Chinese President] Xi Jinping is a nationalist, he said. If he is facing pressure from the US, Australia and Canada it will prompt him to be more aggressive and assertive in trying to crackdown. Zhang said new dialogue between US President Joe Biden and Xi was an opportunity to enhance cooperation after a lengthy phone call between the two leaders on February 11. The comments follow years of trade, foreign policy and national security tension with the Trump administration. Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit:Getty Images China and the US may have disagreements on certain issues but conflict and confrontation serve no ones interests, he said. Zhang downplayed the significance of Chinas rising military spending. In China we are committed to the path of peaceful development, he said. The efforts to strengthen our national defence does not threaten any country. Xi has spent months on the phone attempting to draw support among developing countries across Asia and Europe with the promise of economic investment, but his core focus is at home, where he rallied young officials at the National Academy of Governance on Monday to brave hardships and move forward. It is a message to the people of China that they need to brace themselves and go shoulder to the wheel in order to ride through what they rightly understand to be a turbulent situation for China in the next couple of years, said Gill. Xi versus history Xi, who now holds unchallenged authority at the top of the Chinese Communist Party, is attempting to lock in multi-generational support for his leadership. He has bound Xi Jinping Thought to the constitution and is in the process of crushing the history of former leaders Hu Jintao, Jiang Zemin, and Deng Xiaoping into one pre-Xi era, while elevating his own-leadership to that of Mao Zedongs, according to Carl Minzner, a professor of Chinese law and politics at Fordham Law School. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video And as that happens, youll see doors open within the Party apparatus that will permit a stronger and stronger focus on Xi personally - and facilitate efforts to fan a cult of personality around him, he noted on Twitter on Wednesday. Last Friday, Xi claimed China had eliminated extreme poverty. Now he will look to establish his legacy by shifting the countrys economy towards consumer driven spending by pushing his economic policy of dual-circulation - a partial rebranding of the Made in China 2025 policy - that will see China turn increasingly inwards for production and consumption. For China there is a lot of motivation here. It is not only a way to decouple but also to build resilience to turbulence in the international market place, said Gill. It is also part of a shift from capital intensive growth to consumer growth. Which has been on the cards for a decade now. Zhang on Friday said that dual-circulation did not mean a closed internal cycle. Tech at centre It aims to tap domestic demand and leverage internal circulation to attract global resources, he said. Under this new paradigm China will continue to open up and foster a business environment based on market principles. The success of that program will depend on the five-year economic agenda and a broader 15-year platform outlined throughout the week-long two sessions meetings in Beijing. Loading At its centre is a chapter on technology, which will see more than RMB2.4 trillion ($500 billion) spent on research and development next year alone to innovate Chinas economy away from the middle-income trap that has come to define the economic growth rates of more developed economies. They need better productivity per worker and the only way they are going to get that is through innovation, said Gill. The focus will be on new green technologies to push China towards its net-zero emissions target by 2060 and on semiconductor self-sufficiency to guard against US trade threats to its booming IT industry. There will likely also be an emphasis on the development of the next generation of telecommunication technologies (6G), said Qu Hongbin, chief China economist for HSBC. Policy measures such as incentives to increase R&D spending through tax credits, direct funding support or favourable credit conditions for start-ups will likely help support increased investment in science and technology. But the work report, which effectively functions as Chinas federal budget, is not likely to set an annual economic growth target for the second year in a row, as the coronavirus recovery hampers forecasts. Sustaining the growth recovery will be a top policy goal, but Beijing may avoid setting a numeric GDP growth target, said Qu. Instead, the party is expected to set a 5 per cent average annual target for the next five years when Premier Li Keqiang hands down the report on Friday afternoon. FCW Insider: March 4 The government's leading cybersecurity agency is ordering all federal civilian agencies to provide a status report on its usage of Microsoft Exchange products by noon on Friday. The Biden administration is bringing back the Presidential Rank Awards for 2021 after a one-year hiatus. Strategic human capital management has fallen by the wayside, and that is taking a toll on government operations. The House Speaker her and top lieutenants are pressing for the nomination of Shalanda Young to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Quick Hits *** AT&T is selling its defense IT and professional services business to government systems integrator Tyto Athene. Washington Technology takes a look at what AT&T is keeping and what Tyto Athene is getting in the deal. *** The General Services Administration released a request for information to industry for its planned replacement for the $50 billion OASIS professional services buying vehicle. The new contact vehicle is called BIC MAC for best-in-class multi-agency contract. 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Demography was destiny and the future was blue. Texas was the Moby Dick in this telling, the great whale that finally would be landed by the Dems some fine Election Day. And yet here we are more than a quarter-century and counting since a Democrat last won statewide office in Texas. But Democrats have a real shot at a durable majority, defying even the gerrymandering and small-state inequities built into the system. And not only because of Stacey Abramss winning strategy in Georgia. Its no more complicated than this: The current Democratic agenda is hugely popular, crossing racial and regional lines. If you do things that help peoples lives, and do them well, the public will stay with you. Joe Biden has been president for only a month. But if his $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and the jobs, infrastructure and climate initiatives to follow work out as well as they are polling, his party could govern for many years to come. Biden is listening to whispers from the grave of Franklin Roosevelt laying out a society-changing plan of action at a low ebb in the nations history. Facing the largest social and economic crisis since the Great Depression, Biden is hoping to significantly reduce child poverty, expand health care and fortify working-class families. Were in a position to think big and move big, said Biden this month. He was talking about COVID-19 relief specifically, but its important that he maintain that mantra and not let his master plan get nibbled to death. Some 40 years after Ronald Reagan convinced Americans that government was the problem, Biden could spin the counterargument by wielding something simple, but entirely missing while Donald Trump was in charge: competence. Biden set a low goal of 100 million COVID vaccine shots in his first 100 days; his administration is delivering at a pace that far exceeds that. If most Americans are inoculated by August, hell be boosted by majority approval. One stumbling block is opening the schools, an issue Republicans see as their best chance to trip up their new Democratic leaders early momentum. Another threat comes from right-wing medias talent for making odious mountains out of Democratic molehills or outright making things up. Case in point: the fictional death panels that were used to erode support for the Affordable Care Act, in which government bureaucrats were rumored to choose one life or treatment over another. But the public is with Biden now. The COVID-19 relief package with its direct payments to families and aid for businesses, the unemployed and local governments is backed by nearly 70% of Americans, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. In a nation that cant agree on a simple set of facts, this is staggering. Two-thirds of Americans supported raising the federal minimum wage before the pandemic, By August, that figure had risen to 72%. That level of support has only gone up since COVID set in, as people realize that essential workers have been living on poverty-level wages. In Florida, a state run by Republicans, the $15 minimum hourly wage won more than 60% of the vote last November. Let Republicans in Congress continue to defend a federal wage floor of $7.25. They cant. Bidens plan to provide tax credits in the form of payments of up to $300 per month to poor families could lift 10 million children above or closer to the poverty line. People who have long argued that the best way to help the poor is simply to give them money are going to have their moment. Big majorities also support rejoining the Paris climate agreement, offering a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally and expanding Obamacare with a public option. One month in, Bidens presidency gets the approval of well over 50% of Americans, something Trump never had in the aggregate of polls in his four years. What could doom Democrats is fellow Democrats. Seattle was a laudable pioneer in raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. But now its city council is never far from a bad idea. A recent proposal would make it the first city in the nation to appear to incentivize misdemeanor crime. Assaults, trespass, stalking all could be excused if their offense is linked to poverty or a behavioral health disorder. Then theres the San Francisco school board, which cant put children back at their desks but plans to wipe out a third of the citys school names, including one named for Abraham Lincoln, because of character flaws of the honorees. In the great scheme of things, these kinds of distractions are just that. They sound like parodies of liberals gone mad. But with that kind of material, Fox News and friends are expert at making people believe the lefty fringe is the main Democratic agenda. So while Biden explicitly said he would not seek to defund the police, Republican demagoguery on the issue was effective enough that the slogan was wielded against other Democrats down the ticket. For the moment, Biden has kept his troops united and disciplined. Tepid incremental steps are out. So long as it remains carpe diem time at the White House, the president is poised to make a lasting blue mark. TIMOTHY EGAN is a columnist for The New York Times. Playlands Castaway Cove will reopen at the end of March, less than two months after a fire burned through its arcade and offices. The Ocean City boardwalk staple will reopen on March 27 with about 16-20 rides, Castaway Cove vice president Brian S. Hartley told NJ Advance Media. Five rides will remain closed due to fire damage in the electrical room: Merry-Go-Round, Whirlwind, Bumper Cars, Double Shot, and Buccaneer, he said. The fire broke out at the amusement park on Jan. 30, sparing the outdoor portion of the park and most of the rides. No one was injured in the blaze. The company has said it plans on rebuilding the damaged buildings while the outdoor portion is open. Officials have said the fire was accidental in nature, caused by an undetermined electrical source. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. HOLYOKE State education officials remain mum Thursday on School Receiver Alberto Vazquez Matos ongoing leave of absence or employment status. Vazquez Matos took leave following a Feb. 8 School Committee meeting, where he stated he had COVID-19. He did not say if he still had the virus or recovered. At the time, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would not comment on why Vazquez Matos was on leave, a continuing trend. An email seeking a direct comment from Vazquez Matos went unanswered. Vazquez Matos tenure as receiver of the Holyoke Public Schools began July 1. He previously served in the Hartford, Connecticut Public Schools. The pandemic limited his contact with city officials and the community-at-large. He had scheduled a series of virtual public forums before his leave. Anthony Soto, the school districts chief financial and operations officer, assumed the interim superintendent role. I realize there has not been much information on this matter. The state is handling any inquiries on this, and to date, there has been nothing new to share, Soto stated. Mayor Alex B. Morse, recently named Provincetowns incoming town manager, stated, Dr. Matos Vazquez is an employee of the state, not the city, and all of us on the School Committee are eagerly awaiting an update from the Department of Early and Secondary Education. Morse added, At this time, we have not been provided any new information. What I do know is that our teachers and staff are moving our district forward without interruption in the meantime. School Committee Chair Mildred Lefebvre stated, At this time, there is still no update in regard to Dr. Vazquez-Matos leave of absence. I continue to check in weekly on Fridays with the Associate Commissioner, Russell Johnston, regarding updates. She added, To this date, Mr. Johnston does not have any update for the School Committee and continues to inform us that Anthony Soto will continue as interim receiver. State Rep. Patricia A. Duffy, D-Holyoke, said she spoke to Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeffery C. Riley about Vazquez Matoss status and that it was a confidential, personnel matter, which she respected. In the meantime, Anthony Soto is doing a great job, and I have conveyed my support for a consistent, local leader here in the school district, Duffy stated. Likewise, the office of state Sen. John C. Velis, D-Westfield, said, This is an ongoing confidential matter with the Holyoke Public School system and the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Therefore, Senator Velis will not be able to provide any update. The senator has full faith in Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto and has been working with him over the past few weeks. City officials have called for Holyoke to regain control of its public schools, which appears remote with the latest receiver hire. School Committee Member Devin Sheehan, who launched a mayoral campaign in January, said, I have not received any type of communication regarding the status of receiver Vazquez Matos since the districtwide communication went out a few weeks ago. The Holyoke School Committees meets March 15. The selling point for a Buddhist community in Barcelona to attract customers interested in spending time isolated between the silent walls of their monastery may have been different were it not for the coronavirus pandemic. Tired of so many Meet, Zoom and Teams meetings? If you need to disconnect, breathe pure air and find your internal balance once more, give yourself the gift of an Inner Peace Retreat and recharge your batteries! the message read. Psychologists are paying more and more attention to the effects that this change in habits is having on millions of employees, a change that has been driven by the coronavirus health crisis. A study published by the Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University has dubbed the phenomenon Zoom fatigue, and warns that the mosaic of faces with whom we are closely interacting while rooted to a chair, along with the difficulty of detecting body language, with our face exposed to the scrutiny of others and our own self-evaluation on the screen, is creating additional stress. According to the investigation, constant self-evaluation can be stressful, especially among women The author of the study, Jeremy Bailenson, compares it with the discomfort of being in an elevator, where the unwritten rules of distancing from strangers are broken and the natural reaction is to avert your gaze in order to minimize visual contact and compensate for that excessive closeness. Through Zoom, the opposite is happening, he explains. In a normal meeting, independently of who is speaking, each person is looking directly at the eyes of the others, he adds. In addition, this virtual elevator is also a massive mirror where we see ourselves reflected. For Bailenson, it resembles an assistant that follows us for the eight hours of the working day carrying a mirror in which we can see our own face while we work. Solving this is simple. Its enough to change the configuration so that we cant see ourselves, but the preset option is to see the result of how our own camera looks at us. Why is this negative? According to the investigation, because constant self-evaluation can be stressful, especially among women. He cites a study that found that female users paid a lot more attention to looking at themselves during a live video. No field study has yet examined what happens when this exposure lasts for hours at a time, day after day. Zoom users see reflections of themselves with an unprecedented frequency and duration (apart from those who work in dance studios full of mirrors), the researcher explains. The effort needed to communicate is also higher if compared with that needed for a phone call. The report from the US university cites experiments that show that people speak at a volume that is 15% higher during a video call, and that the lack of physical proximity results in exaggerated non-verbal language, such as head movements, more insistent nodding and a fixed stare at the camera. Whats more, it is more complicated to interpret the looks and signals from others than it is in person, which leads to an extra effort to decipher them. Its too many Zoom meetings. I hate that Eric Yuan, founder and CEO of Zoom Another irritation with home working that we are not always conscious of is the static nature of video calls, compared to phone calls or face-to-face conversations. In these situations, you cannot walk and talk, which makes the interaction less natural. David Michael Hough, international health education director at the information analysis company Elsevier, calculates that he has between six and nine Zoom meetings a day from his home in Madrid. I think that the concept of fatigue exists, but if you are aware of it you have the opportunity to find a balance, he explains. After a lot of calls in a row, I need to get away from my computer. That said, he sees more advantages than inconveniences. You can get a global team together much more easily, documents are shared, carbon emissions are reduced, there is more transparency thanks to being able to enter the homes of others, and there is increased empathy if there are interruptions by family members, visitors or your dog, he argues. Stanford University believes its research to be the first of its kind to analyze Zoom fatigue from a psychological perspective. The article was published in Technology, Mind and Behavior, the magazine from the American Psychological Association and while it is based on academic research, the author points out that readers should consider it as a collection of arguments that can help both Zoom and its users to improve their interaction, and not as unquestionable scientific discoveries. Measures such as using an external keyboard to increase the space with the screen, reduce the size of the Zoom window on the monitor, turn off the camera from time to time when the user is not interacting, and moving around the room are among the tips to reduce this fatigue. The sensation of boredom from the daily use of a tool that, until a few months ago, was practically unknown for many has even affected its creator. According to Bloomberg, Eric Yuan, the founder and CEO of Zoom, complained about his tight schedule of videoconferences last April. Its too many Zoom meetings, he said, via Zoom. I hate that. English version by Simon Hunter. The sale of major defence equipment to India which now stands at $20 billion shows America's commitment to India's security and sovereignty, the Biden administration said on Wednesday. "As of this year, the United States has authorized over $20 billion in defence sales to India. It's these offers of advanced US defence platforms that demonstrate our commitment to India's security and sovereignty," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference. "It demonstrates our commitment to that global, comprehensive, strategic partnership," he said. The spokesperson was asked if the new Biden administration is reviewing its defence deals with India as it is doing with some other countries. "I don't have anything for you on pending sales or the review process for them. As I understand it, there is nothing currently in train that India has accepted. But if there is any change in the status of pending transfers, I'm happy to let you know," he said. In a recent interview to PTI, India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said bilateral military and security ties are stronger than ever before. India's designation as a 'Major Defence Partner' and accordance of 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, Sandhu said. 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, he said. Also read: India, US army officials discuss defence cooperation in Executive Steering Group meet Mumbai's iconic Karachi Bakery in Bandra caved in to the political pressure months after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) threat. The shop landed in controversy last year owing to its name - 'Karachi', a city in Pakistan. The bakery was founded by a Sindhi who migrated to India during the Partition in 1947. It was in November 2020, that MNS vice president, Haji Saif Shaikh, had created a furore outside the premises urging the Sindhi shop owner to change the name, which they felt was "anti-national" and "unpatriotic". BCCL However, the bakery's manager said that they have not closed the shop due to the political threat but because of the drop in business and higher rent. Despite the clarification, Shaikh took the credit for the closure of the bakery. On Wednesday, he posted a victorious tweet reading, "After massive protest on Karachi Bakery for its name #Karachi led by the Vice President of MNS, karachi bakery finally closes its only shop in Mumbai." After massive protest on Karachi Bakery for its name #Karachi led by Vice President of MNS - @mnshajisaif karachi bakery finally closes its only shop in Mumbai.@RajThackeray Saheb@mnsadhikrut @karachi_bakery pic.twitter.com/67KQ0p30mI Haji Saif Shaikh (@mnshajisaif) March 1, 2021 The brand manager however said that the owners will take a call to rent some other place or let the brand lapse in Mumbai. Bombay Bakery in Pakistan going strong for over a century While Karachi Bakery met with ill-fate, Bombay Bakery in Sindh's Hyderabad in Pakistan, established in 1911, is running for over 100 years now. The Bombay Bakery was founded by Kumar Thadani and is still family-owned. Thadani, who was a well-known philanthropist, socialised selectively and remained unmarried until his death in 2010. Flickr It is said that Thadanis father was inspired by the culture of the Indian city, hence the name Bombay Bakery. Interestingly, there are a handful Bombay bakeries and shops in Karachi too, which are running unhindered. Rising extremism over shop names Protest over Karachi Bakery isn't a singular incident in India. In 2019, Bengalurus iconic Karachi Bakery came under fire, given the name of the shop. Mad had gathered outside the Indiranagar outlet of the bakery demanding to pull down its signboard. According to employees, ever since the fateful Pulwama attack, several outlets have been receiving threats to change its name or shut shop. The bakery was established by a Sindhi man named Khanchand Ramnani who migrated to Hyderabad post-Partition. Switching from iOS to Android can be quite a tedious task, but Apple wants to make it a little easier, at least for your photo library. The company has offered a service that lets you automatically transfer photos, videos, and albums from your iCloud Photo Library to Google Photos. The feature is currently only available to people in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and we expect it to expand to other regions soon. The process is fairly simple, and it doesn't involve too many steps. Before you send out a request to transfer photos and videos, here are a couple of things that you need to make sure of - 1. You need to be using iCloud Photos to store your media. 2. Your Apple ID uses two-factor authentication. 3. You have a Google account to use Google Photos. 4. Your Google account has enough storage available to complete the transfer. Once the aforementioned points are taken care of, you can follow the steps below and send a request to transfer your iCloud Photos content - 1. Sign in with your Apple ID at privacy.apple.com. 2. Select the option to transfer a copy of your data. 3. Follow the prompts to complete your request. 4. You will then be asked to sign in to your Google account to start the transfer. You will receive an email notification as soon as the transfer has begun. You will be able to check the status of your request at privacy.apple.com/account. Apple will also notify you via email once the transfer is complete. It is worth making a note that the feature won't remove anything from your iCloud Photo Library, and it's just making a new copy. In case you no longer want them stored in iCloud, you will have to delete them manually. Well, that was a very simple process that lets you easily transfer your iCloud Photo Library to Google Photos. We hope this process makes it that much easier to get started with Google Photos. This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIH As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, scientists are still working to understand how the new strain of coronavirus evolved, and how it became so much more dangerous than other coronaviruses, which humans have been living alongside for millennia. Virologists and epidemiologists worldwide have speculated for months that a protein called ORF8 likely holds the answer, and a recent study by Berkeley Lab scientists has helped confirm this hypothesis. In a paper published in mBio, lead author Russell Neches and his colleagues show that ORF8 evolved from another coronavirus protein called ORF7a, and that both proteins have folds similar to that of a human antibody. This finding helps to explain how the virus avoids immune detection and is able to escalate into a severe infection in some hosts. "By exploring the structural and functional characteristics of ORF8, and using supercomputers to look at the genomes of over 200,000 viruses, we discovered a striking and highly unusual evolutionary strategy," said co-author Nikos Kyrpides, a computational biologist at the DOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI). "Amazingly, it seems that within the SARS clade, the gene encoding ORF7a is used as a 'template' gene, remaining stable, with a duplicate copy of this gene evolving to a point almost beyond recognition." SARS-CoV-2 arose and exploded into a pandemic when a SARS strain's duplicate ORF7a gene happened to mutate leading to a new protein (which we now call ORF8) that gave it the ability to interfere with immune cells. According to the team, a similar event occurred in the SARS-CoV strain that caused the SARS epidemic in the early 2000s. In that instance, a copy of the ORF7a gene split into two, resulting in ORF8a and ORF8b proteins. Christos Ouzounis, senior author of the study and a JGI affiliate scientist, noted that the connection between ORF8 and ORF7a was initially quite difficult to make, due to how little was known about this set of genes and their encoded proteins compared with the existing knowledge about surface proteins (such as the infamous spike protein), and because ORF8 and ORF7a currently seem wildly different. ORF7a is highly stable, mutation resistant protein that interacts with very few mammalian host proteins, whereas ORF8 is encoded by the most mutation prone gene in the viral genome, and is now known to be involved in dozens of interactions in the human body. "Our findingsand their confirmation by parallel sequence and structure studiesreveal ORF8 to be an evolutionary hotspot in the SARS lineage. The lack of knowledge about the role of these genes has diverted attention to the more well-understood genes, but we now know more about this gene and hopefully it will receive more attention from the community," said Kyrpides. This work was supported by the ExaBiome Project, a Berkeley Lab-led collaboration which develops supercomputing tools for microbiome analysis. JGI is an Office of Science user facility. Explore further The odd structure of ORF8: Mapping the coronavirus protein linked to disease severity More information: Russell Y. Neches et al, Atypical Divergence of SARS-CoV-2 Orf8 from Orf7a within the Coronavirus Lineage Suggests Potential Stealthy Viral Strategies in Immune Evasion, mBio (2021). Journal information: mBio Russell Y. Neches et al, Atypical Divergence of SARS-CoV-2 Orf8 from Orf7a within the Coronavirus Lineage Suggests Potential Stealthy Viral Strategies in Immune Evasion,(2021). DOI: 10.1128/mBio.03014-20 The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The U.S. will sanction 7 senior Russian officials over the poisoning and jailing of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, the Biden administration confirmed on Tuesday. Why it matters: The sanctions represent the first penalties the U.S. has imposed on Kremlin-linked officials since President Biden took office and pledged to confront Russian aggression. Details: Administration officials told reporters on a briefing call that U.S. intelligence has assessed "with high confidence" that Federal Security Service (FSB) officers poisoned Navalny using the nerve agent Novichok. The 7 Russian officials sanctioned by the Treasury Department include FSB director Aleksandr Bortnikov, domestic policy chief Andrei Yarin, first deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenko, deputy defense minister Aleksey Krivoruchko, deputy defense minister Pavel Popov, federal prisons director Alexander Kalashnikov, and prosecutor general Igor Krasnov. The U.S. will also add 14 entities linked to the production of chemical and biological weapons in Russia to a Commerce Department blacklist. The sanctions were coordinated with the European Union, which announced separately on Tuesday that it had sanctioned four Russian law enforcement officials for their roles in the "arbitrary arrest, prosecution and sentencing" of Navalny as well as the ensuing crackdown on protestors. What they're saying: "The United States is not trying to reset our relations with Russia, nor are we attempting to escalate," one administration official told reporters. The official added that this was the first in a series of actions responding to Russia's adversarial actions, noting that a response to the massive SolarWinds hack of U.S. government agencies would be coming "sooner rather than later." But the official added that the administration plans to work with Russia on issues like nuclear arms control, even as other aspects of the relationship are "adversarial." Background: Navalny, an anti-corruption activist often described as "the man Vladimir Putin fears most," was poisoned last August with Novichok, a calling card of the Russian security services. He has accused Putin of ordering the attempted assassination, a charge that the Russian strongman denies. Navalny spent months recovering in Germany before flying back to Russia three days before Biden's inauguration, where he was immediately arrested for allegedly violating parole. The detention sparked widespread protests across Russia. Navalny was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison last month and transferred last week to a notorious prison camp known for imposing "extreme psychological pressure" on inmates. Between the lines: Navalny's allies have called on the U.S. and EU to sanction a list of 35 Russian oligarchs and officials believed to be responsible or complicit in human rights abuses or corruption, arguing that their close ties to Putin and vast international wealth would render the sanctions more effective. SC: 30-40% pendency due to cheque bounce cases 'intractable problem' The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the huge pendency of cheque dishonour cases has become an intractable problem, which accounts for 30-40 per cent cases in the trial courts and a very high percentage in the high courts. A bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Bobde along with Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat suggested that the government should establish additional courts for the better administration of laws: the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (NI Act) under Article 247 of the Constitution. Article 247 says Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, Parliament may by law provide for the establishment of any additional courts for the better administration of laws made Parliament or of any existing laws with respect to a matter enumerated in the Union List. The bench noted that prima facie this Article confers a power coupled with duty on the government to establish additional courts, for better administration of laws made by Parliament. "There is no doubt or dispute about the fact that matters under the N.I. Act have posed what by now has become an intractable problem/accounting for close to 30 to 40 per cent of the pendency in the trial courts and a very high percentage in the High Courts also", said the bench. Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, representing the Centre, submitted that the Ministry of Finance has suggested that instead of setting up of additional courts, certain measures specified in para 6(a) of the Office Memorandum dated March 2, 2021 produced in the court, be implemented. "It is not necessary to reproduce and analyse the impact of the measures suggested by the Union of India. Suffice it to say that having gone through the measures and heard learned counsel on the said measures, we find that the measures are, to say the least, inadequate for the purpose", noted the bench. Banerjee also suggested the matter requires wide ranging discussion of various stakeholders and officers and the secretaries of various ministries who will be able to suggest a solution to the problems of pendency of the cases under NI Act. "This suggestion is completely acceptable to us. We might add that it would be necessary to have a former Judge who has had wide ranging experience as a trial judge, on the Committee", said the top court. The matter has scheduled for further on Thursday. The top court has taken suo motu cognizance to work out a mechanism for expeditious and just adjudication of cases connected with dishonoured cheques. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Judges Association (IJA) and the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism (2Civility) is launching a new program week aimed at advancing greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the states legal system. Building Confidence in our Legal System is a virtual three-part series that will bring together legal and community stakeholders across Illinois to address racial and other disparities in the legal system. The first session was Thursday. Institutional and systemic racism undermines the values of our nation and democracy, said Judge Diane Shelley, president of the Illinois Judges Association. Our goal is to build trust and confidence in the role of judges and lawyers in preserving those rights and furthering the cause of justice and fairness. Martin Sinclair, chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, said the program offers an amazing opportunity for people of diverse perspectives to consider together ways to improve our legal system in service to the people of Illinois. The virtual educational program includes three sessions: Criminal Processes, led by Justice Milton S. Wharton of the Fifth District Appellate Court; Civil Procedures, headed by former Judge Patricia Brown Holmes with the law firm of Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila; and Leadership of Stakeholders, run by Justice Lisa Holder White of the Fourth District Appellate Court. Each session is comprised of working groups of judges, attorneys and other court, legal and community stakeholders. The groups will convene for a 90-minute session that includes panelists and discussions to identify challenges and explore opportunities and solutions that will be shared with the larger group. Each session constitutes 1.5 hours of ethics/professional responsibility judicial education or Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits. The program marks a starting point for discussions that will continue among the participants and stakeholders. The goal of the sessions is to facilitate conversation that will lead to reforms that the Illinois courts, bar associations and community groups can implement. The Illinois Judges Association represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges. For more details visit www.ija.org. Details still pending on third agreement between Emmet and Bay Bluffs Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has slammed AstraZeneca for not being good at delivering the goods, saying lower vaccine administration on weekends and Mondays is down to lack of supply. After the Irish Independent revealed today that the HSE is administering on average 7,000 fewer vaccines on these days, Mr Varadkar said this was due to AstraZeneca not delivering as many doses as expected. He said it is not due to staff being off work on these days, but if the supply isnt there there isnt a huge point of calling them in on Sunday to give vaccines that they dont have. The Tanaiste said delivering more than 100,000 vaccines a week was not a promise but a target which last week was missed. Read More "A consignment of 25,000 vaccines from AstraZeneca didnt arrive and we were only informed of that on short notice, he told Virgin Medias Ireland AM today. It was a target and not a promise, and we always say when it comes to vaccines our targets are based on two things that are not under our control. "Firstly, this is that the vaccines are being approved by the European Medicines Agency, which is not under our control, and secondly the vaccines actually arriving from abroad where they are made. "Things that are under our control is that when they get into the country they are in people's arms in a week, and thats happening. Unfortunately, there will be occasions where delivery doesn't arrive and there will be weeks where we are behind target and weeks where we are going to catch up. Despite this, Tanaiste Varadkar said he is hoping we can do better than the Taoiseachs hope of having 82pc of people in the country with their first vaccine by March and everyone with their two doses by the end of September. "I am hoping we can do better, we have a bit of redundancy in there- it doesn't include CureVac so if that comes online that's an extra 600,000 vaccines, and also were assuming everyone wants the vaccine, they wont, there will be 10 or 15pc who don't so I hope we can do better. But, on the other hand, things can also go wrong and we may find for example that there's a problem with supply and AstraZeneca, in particular, hasnt been very good at delivering the goods. Read More Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise (ANSA) - BRUSSELS, MAR 4 - Italy on Friday told the European Commission it was blocking the export of over 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and the EC accepted the proposal, sources said Thursday. The shots were due to go to Australia. Italy's proposal was made in line with the new European mechanism on export controls. (ANSA). U.S. President Joe Biden has extended by one year the effect of several sanctions imposed earlier against Russia in light of the situation in Ukraine, the White House said in an official notice published in the Federal Register. Biden extended the restrictions against Russia adopted by the previous administration of Donald Trump on September 20, 2018 and the administration of the 44th US President Barack Obama on March 6, March 16, March 20 and December 19, 2014 to address the developments in Crimea. According to the current White House occupant, he reached the conclusion that these sanctions should "continue in effect beyond March 6, 2021." "The actions and policies addressed in these Executive Orders continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," Biden added. "I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13660." Caroline Rice (46) from Fermanagh is a self-employed childcare provider. As a single mother she receives Universal Credit but says she feels "squashed" by a system that barely makes working affordable. She has called on Rishi Sunak to make a 20 uplift to Universal Credit permanent and said that without it she will be unable to pay all her household bills by September. "It's good to see that it has been extended but it doesn't go far enough," she said. "Six months down the line we'll be facing another autumn and winter with the potential to be around 90 worse off a month. "That's quite a lot of money to lose from a month's income. I'm in a rural area where you can't get gas, so losing that would be less than the minimum spend that you need to order oil." Expand Close Caroline Rice / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caroline Rice She added: "I am working but there's no luxuries. I don't drink or smoke so I'm not wasting money as some people might assume. "There's an awful stigma around Universal Credit that I never did see with working tax credits. "Universal Credit will push me to earn more money, but to do that I would have to put my costs up and parents are already paying everything they can afford. "In September I'm potentially not going to be able to pay a bill every month which will drive me into debt." Allan Preston Stamp duty: 'Extension's a good thing as it's money we can put into property' Solicitor Lauren Fullerton (37) works for MKB Law and is currently selling her family home in Whitehead to move to the BT9 area of Belfast. "From our perspective the thing we've noticed is that there don't seem to be many properties coming on the market in the area and price bracket we're looking at," she said. Expand Close Lauren Fullerton / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lauren Fullerton "That's even though there has been a large trend in relation to people trying to buy family houses." Welcoming the extension of the stamp duty holiday, she said: "I suppose that is a good thing because that's money you can actually put into developing the property. "That benefits the local economy as well because you can employ local people to carry out the any work on the property. "You maybe wouldn't have had that opportunity otherwise because you would have to use that money to pay the stamp duty tax." She estimated that if she agrees a sale in time her family could manage to save an estimated 15-20,000. Through her work, Lauren said it was clear that demand in the housing market had not been affected by the pandemic. "Our conveyancing department at the minute is very busy, we have noticed there is a real appetite for people wanting to move house and it is business as usual," she said. Allan Preston Furloughed worker: 'People may be falling through the cracks' Bar worker Matt Gill (28) from Belfast welcomed the extension of the furlough scheme but said many in the industry are falling through the cracks. "In my own workplace I do feel looked after even if that's not been the case in other places. I'm quite lucky in that my boss has followed the guidelines to the letter," he said. "I have heard some horror stories about people falling through the cracks with furlough, those who maybe started on casual hours and don't qualify." Expand Close Matt Gill / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Matt Gill He said it has been a nervous wait for each decision on the furlough scheme in recent months. "When it was first announced, having 80% of your pay covered seemed really good at the time. Now it's a year later of 80% which for most people in the industry was minimum wage. "We maybe have a little less travel costs but that's about it. In the hospitality industry as well we rely on tips to top up our pay which you also miss out on furlough." Although the vaccine rollout brings hope of reopening the hospitality, Matt said there remained uncertainty on whether he could expect full time hours straight away. "That's the main problem, especially if our bosses are having to contribute to furlough. A lot may choose to lay people off instead of taking on that extra cost". Allan Preston Bar owner: 'We'll be last to open so won't benefit from VAT rate' Hospitality bosses have cautiously welcomed Government support but warned there is still a long road to recovery for the sector. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in his Budget announcement the recent VAT cut to 5% for parts of the sector will be extended for six months before being tapered. John Bittles, who owns Bittles Bar in Belfast city centre, said while the extension of furlough is welcome, he would like to see that 5% VAT rate stretched out beyond September. An interim rate of 12.5% applies for another six months after that. Expand Close John Bittles / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Bittles "I think a lot of people will be disappointed as they would have been hoping that the VAT rate would be extended to a full year, especially when they are trying to get their businesses back up and running again in the coming months," he said. "Wet pubs like ours will be among the last places to reopen in the summer time so we won't see any real benefit. Yes I may get a month or so out of it but that represents nothing really. It seems unfair especially as when we do get trading again, there will still be restrictions in place and we won't be returning to the same level of turnover." John estimates he has lost around 500,000, having been closed for most of the past year due to lockdown. "There are a lot of businesses starting off this year in a lot of debt so they will be under pressure and playing catch up in terms of paying off those debts." Lauren Harte Donald Trump is said to be considering a 2024 run for the White House without Mike Pence as his running mate - instead mulling the idea of having a black person or a woman on his ticket. The ex-president is telling allies he is strongly considering a comeback attempt and is being advised to pick a more diverse vice presidential candidate if he does, according to a report. Possible names currently being floated include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who defended Trump's legacy in the wake of the Capitol riot, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate. Pence is already an unlikely running mate after tensions reached a head between the two men in the days following the MAGA mob riot where Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol chanting 'Hang Mike Pence' after the then-president falsely claimed his vice president could stop the certification of the electoral college votes. Trump teased the possibility of another bid at the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend, where he continued to push his false claims he won the last election by saying he would 'beat' the Democrats for a 'third time'. Donald Trump is said to be considering a 2024 run for the White House without Mike Pence as his running mate - instead mulling the idea of having a black person or a woman on his ticket. Trump at CPAC on Sunday where he teased the possibility of another bid Three insiders told by Bloomberg Pence will likely not be on Trump's ticket if he does run again in 2024. Instead, Trump is looking at the people who stood by him in the final days of his presidency as he was impeached for a second time by the House for inciting the Capitol riot, they said. Two advisers have put forward Noem as a possible contender, the sources said. This comes just days before Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle will host a fundraiser for the South Dakota governor's reelection campaign at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. The former president's sprawling Palm Beach estate will play host to several Republican donors and Noem ahead of her 2022 reelection battle, while Trump is also said to be planning to make an appearance. Noem has herself been touted as a 2024 presidential hopeful. She has also been a strong Trump ally, supporting his futile attempt to overturn the election result and then refusing to say he was responsible for the Capitol riot that left five dead. In November, Noem pushed without evidence the former president's claims that the election was 'rigged' when many other Republicans fell silent. Even after the Capitol riot she continued to back Trump saying he was 'overwhelmingly' good for South Dakota and brushing off whether he incited the riot saying: 'What happened on January 6 was horrible and should never happen again in this country. The ex-president is telling allies he is strongly considering a comeback attempt and is being advised to pick a more diverse vice presidential candidate if he does, according to a report. Pence in the Senate on January 6 not long before the MAGA mob stormed the building 'What I want to do is look forward and make sure that we continue to have fair and transparent elections that people can trust.' Meanwhile, Trump also publicly endorsed the party's only black senator for reelection Tuesday, sparking speculation his name could also be in the ring. 'It is my great honor to give Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina my complete and total endorsement,' Trump said in a statement. 'He is both an outstanding senator and person who works tirelessly for the people of his great state, and the USA. 'Strong on the military, law enforcement, loves our vets, protects our Second Amendment and our borders. Tim will continue to do an OUTSTANDING job for our country!' Scott, a first-term senator who is expected to easily win reelection in South Carolina, also repeatedly defended Trump during his time in office and also worked closely with him on a police reform bill that was blocked by Democrats. However the senator did urge Trump in September to clarify his comments when he told extremist group the Proud Boys to 'stand back and stand by.' Possible names currently being floated include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (left), who defended Trump's legacy in the wake of the Capitol riot, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate (right) Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle (pictured at CPAC) will host a fundraiser for the South Dakota governor's reelection campaign at Mar-a-Lago on Friday 'I think he misspoke. I think he should correct it. If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak,' Scott said at the time. Alyssa Farah, a former communications director for Trump, said on Bloomberg Radio's 'Sound On' program Wednesday a female running mate or someone who could appeal to the voters he lost in 2020 would be a good choice if he is planning a 2024 run. If Trump does decide to run in 2024 it is likely he won't formally announce his running mate until summer 2023, Bloomberg reported. Trump adviser Jason Miller dismissed the Bloomberg report Wednesday tweeting that the article is 'fake news' and that 'no such conversations are happening'. It comes just days after Trump suggested another run as he gave his first speech since leaving office at the right-wing political event CPAC on Sunday. Trump told the crowd his wife Melania would be 'the future first lady' and that he would 'beat' the Democrats for a 'third time' - pushing his false claims that he beat Joe Biden. 'Actually as you know, [the Democrats] just lost the White House, but it's one of those things,' he said. 'But who knows, who knows, I may even decide to beat them for a third time.' Trump adviser Jason Miller dismissed the Bloomberg report Wednesday tweeting that the article is 'fake news' and that 'no such conversations are happening' Pence is already an unlikely running mate after tensions reached a head between the two men in the days following the MAGA mob riot. Pictured the two men on November 2 before their relationship soured Trump falsely claimed his vice president could stop the certification of the electoral college votes in the rally (above) moments before the rioters stormed the Capitol He added: 'And I want you to know that I'm going to continue to fight right by your side, we will do what we've done right from the beginning, which is win.' Meanwhile, Pence has retained a low profile in the days since leaving office and turned down an invitation to speak at CPAC. He said he is opening a transition office and will move back to Indiana in the summer. Prior to talks of a new running mate, Pence and Trump appeared an unlikely tickets for a 2024 after tensions reached a head between the then-president and his second in command in the wake of the Capitol riot. Trump stoked fury among his supporters by falsely telling them Pence had the power to stop the certification of Biden's victory. On January 6, just hours before the MAGA mob stormed the Capitol, Trump tweeted that it was down to Pence to 'come through for us' and overturn the election result. 'States want to correct their votes, which they now know were based on irregularities and fraud, plus corrupt process never received legislative approval,' he tweeted. 'All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!' 'If Vice President @Mike_Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency,' he added. Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol chanting 'Hang Mike Pence' and hunting for Pence A noose is seen on makeshift gallows as supporters of Trump stormed the US Capitol Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress during the riot that left five dead 'Many States want to decertify the mistake they made in certifying incorrect & even fraudulent numbers in a process NOT approved by their State Legislatures (which it must be). Mike can send it back!' He continued to falsely claim that Pence simply lacked the 'courage' to overturn the election as he whipped up the crowds at his 'Stop the Steal' rally into a frenzy and urged them 'to fight' just moments before they headed for the Capitol. 'Mike Pence, I hope you get to stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country, and if you're not, I'm going to be very disappointed in you,' Trump said at the rally. Pence in fact did not have the power to do this - something he made clear in both public statements and conversations with Trump at the time. When the MAGA mob stormed the Capitol, rioters hunted for Pence chanting 'where's Mike Pence' and 'hang Mike Pence.' Pence, his wife Karen Pence, daughter Charlotte and brother Rep. Greg Pence were forced to take cover in a secret location. It later emerged that Trump did not check in on his second-in-command during the siege nor did he condemn the threats made against him by his supporters. The two men did not speak for days afterward and, while Trump shunned Biden's inauguration, Pence abided by tradition and attended the event. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 17:47:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAGOS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- All released Nigerian students kidnapped from their boarding school on Friday in the northwestern state of Zamfara are all in good health, an official said on Wednesday. The governor of Zamfara state said on Tuesday that 279 girls of Government Girls Secondary School at Jangebe town of the state were released by kidnappers. While giving an update on the health status of the schoolgirls, Yahaya Kanoma, the health commissioner, told reporters in Gusau, the state capital on Wednesday that the government set up a medical team to thoroughly check the students' health conditions after receiving the victims. He said the schoolgirls underwent different types of pressure while in captivity, noting that they trekked long distances as the environment in which they were kept was traumatizing and the foods they ate were not good for human consumption. "They have now undergone thorough medical check-ups. Fortunately for us, the students were not harmed and there was no record of sexual abuse or assault on any of the schoolgirls," the official said. "We want to assure the general public that our children are in good health," the commissioner added. The attack on the school, and the mass abduction of the girls, was the latest in recent school related-kidnappings in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, over the past months. In December last year, some 344 schoolboys were abducted from an all-boys secondary school in Kankara town of the northwestern state of Katsina. They regained their freedom about one week later. On Feb. 17, some gunmen also abducted 27 students and 15 others at a government secondary school in the town of Kagara located in north-central Niger state. They regained their freedom about 10 days later. Enditem After the world shuttered last March, I turned to my kitchen. I made cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins. I fried doughnuts and braided Finnish coffee bread. For many, bread-baking was our collective, cloistered privilege. We had time to watch something rise. But those days, dusted in flour, now seem remote. Hundreds of thousands have since died. Businesses have closed, never to reopen. Many children have never returned to school. Many churches, including my own, have never re-opened for corporate worship. Our pandemic year, while experienced differently, has whittled all of us down and apprenticed us in losses of many forms. It begs the question: How can we rouse the will to practice Lentits deprivations, its renunciationsafter a long Lenten year? On the surface, these 40 days of self-denial might seem like the very last thing we need. And yet I would argue the opposite. Our pandemic lives have brought us face to face with the same temptation that plagued the monks centuries agothe sin of acedia. Its the inability to rouse yourself to give a damn as Kathleen Norris writes in Acedia & Me. In that context, the structure of Lent offers us not a millstone but a lifeline. It provides a way out of the dark waters of acedia. During the fourth century, Evagrius of Pontus identified the first formal list of eight deadly vices that were common to the desert hermetic. Among that list of recognizable sinsgluttony, lust, greed, prideEvagrius also included sadness and sloth, which centuries later came to be understood together as acedia. Rebecca DeYoung explains in Glittering Vices that acedia is not laziness as we might traditionally conceive of it. It comes in twin forms. Its the restless spirit that calls the monk away from his cell and the work of prayer and study. Its also the indolent spirit, which produces spiritual and vocational listlessness. Acedia can be an act of motion, or it can be an act of inertia, but in DeYoungs formulation, it is always resistance to the demands of love. In other words, its sloth is less a failure of work and more a failure of love. In one form, the monk will want to flee his cell. Hell invent good reasons for evading his work. Surely there is a widow to visit, a deathbed to attend! In another form, acedia produces languoran unwillingness to engage the work God has given the monk to do. Acedias only cure, writes Evagrius, is to stay put and keep at it. In Norriss words, endurance cures listlessness. Acedia provides a helpful lens for seeing our pandemic year. The enforced restrictions on movement have mortified the kind of acedia we might previously have indulged. It used to be that when life got boring (and we got bored with ourselves), we planned vacations, went out to dinner, and busied ourselves with errands and childrens activities, even church eventsanything to keep us from the dangerous quiet where God might speak. We fled the cell and its call to caretake the turbulence within. But while the pandemic has curtailed our ability to flee the scene, so to speak, it has magnified the very conditions of acedias other forminertia and sloth. There are simply so many things we can no longer be bothered to do. After months of carrying life in its most tedious and banal forms, we feel exhausted. I know people who are giving up on church, giving up on marriages, or giving up on faith because it all feels like a lot of work and very little fun. I have this intense craving for something new, a friend recently said to me. So whats the cure for acedia? During this past year, most of us have involuntarily renounced cherished forms of life together and likely experienced little sense of spiritual progress. Must we keep at this self-denying work? The answer is yes. As Benedict of Nursia writes, the Christian life is a continuous Lent. It is our daily business to hate the urgings of self-will. Article continues below As I think of my own struggle with acedia in this pandemic year, it seems there is yet more sin to mortify, even the sin of feeling entitled to something more than banality. I have even more reasons to turn to God for these 40 days and recommit myself to confession and repentance. Perhaps most importantly, Lent reminds me not simply to turn inward but to turn toward Christ. This Christ-ward gaze is the thrust of the book of Hebrews, addressed to Christians suffering not from a pandemic but from the trials of persecution, imprisonment, the loss of property, and much more. Look to Christ, the writer of Hebrews pleads, who ran his own race with endurance (Heb. 12:12). Look to Christ, your brother and faithful high priest, who readies himself to help (2:1417). Look to Christ, Son of God, who learned obedience through what he suffered (5:8, ESV). Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised (Heb. 10:3536, ESV). If endurance is the cure for acedia, we must ask Christ to give it to us. Why? Because most of us are good at evading the work that grace makes possible, whether or not were confined at home. Wherever we find ourselves, we want life at its most cosmic and extraordinarynot the dishes, not the homework, not the next small group Zoom meeting. We are frequently tempted to think, Maybe it isnt worth the work , writes J. L. Aijian. Acedia hurls thoughts like these at its victims in a strategic effort to get them to stop pursuing their spiritual vocations. By contrast, Lent and its habits ask us simply to stay putand keep keeping on with the everyday tedium of love. Jen Pollock Michel is the author of Teach Us to Want, Keeping Place, Surprised by Paradox, and most recentlyA Habit Called Faith. She lives with her husband and their five children in Toronto. [ This article is also available in espanol. ] Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of GIG Insurance - Egypt (S.A.E)Global Credit Research - 04 Mar 2021DIFC - Dubai, March 04, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of GIG Insurance - Egypt (S.A.E) and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 25 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.The Ba2 insurance financial strength rating (IFSR) for GIG Egypt reflects Moody's view that the company would receive support from its parent Gulf Insurance Group K.S.C.P. (GIG, IFSR A3) in case of need. Given the strong brand association with the Group as well as the sharing of technical expertise, reflecting the Group's continued commitment to the region, Moody's incorporates three notches of support into GIG Egypt's IFSR.GIG Egypt's stand-alone credit profile reflects its top three position in the Egyptian P&C insurance market and a growing brand, good product diversification of non-life products and very good operating profitability. In terms of profitability GIG Egypt's performance has been very strong with the 5-year return on capital of 29.8% underpinned by a very strong 5-year combined ratio of 79.5% in FYE 2019; moreover, profitability has been very consistent with a very high Sharpe ratio of ROC of over 860% (which reflects the very strong consistency of returns on a 5-year average basis). These strengths, GIG Egypt's stand-alone credit profile, and its published Ba2 IFSR, remain constrained by the meaningful direct exposure to Egypt's sovereign risk in terms of investment portfolio and the operating risks inherent in the increasingly competitive Egyptian insurance market.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 Property and Casualty Insurers Methodology published in November 2019. 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. Mohammed Ali Riyazuddin Londe Vice President - Senior Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Middle East Limited Regulated by the DFSA Gate Precinct 3, Level 3 P.O. Box 506845 DIFC - Dubai UAE JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Antonello Aquino Associate Managing Director Financial Institutions Group JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Middle East Limited Regulated by the DFSA Gate Precinct 3, Level 3 P.O. 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[March 04, 2021] Foreside Surpasses $160 Billion Mark for ETFs Distributed Foreside Financial Group, LLC (Foreside), a provider of distribution and compliance solutions to the asset and wealth management industry, today announced that it has surpassed $160 billion in ETF assets distributed on its platform1. Foreside has been working with ETF clients since 2005, supporting multiple fund and firm launches through a comprehensive compliance and distribution platform. Foreside is currently the largest third-party distributor of ETFs in the U.S., supporting over 100 issuers and over 550 funds. Foreside's clients include some of the top ETF managers such as WisdomTree, Direxion and ARK Invest. "ETFs have seen tremendous growth over the last decade-plus, and what we're seeing now in the semi/non-transparent active space is yet another innovation that has taken hold quickly and appears to have some staying power," said David Whitaker, President, Foreside. "We're proud to have built a reputation over the last 13 years of being a firm's 'first call' when looking into launching a new ETF regardless of structure. This milestone is just a small testament to the mutual trust we share with our clients as well as our unwavering commitment to their success." As part of Foreside's expanding ETF practice, Foreside has also worked with clients on large-scale consulting engagements toassist large, traditional asset managers with their initial foray into the space. Foreside's professionals advise these firms regarding the regulatory, financial, operational, and distribution requirements for the build and launch of ETFs. Foreside is also the conduit to the capital markets community working with authorized participants on a daily basis on behalf of clients. Foreside remains at the forefront of industry trends and recently worked alongside Guinness Atkinson to convert two of their mutual funds into ETFs. Foreside was the first third-party distributor for semi-transparent ETFs, partnering with American Century in the launch of their two semi-transparent ETFs in April 2020. Foreside is fully enabled to support all semi-transparent ETF structures within the various semi-transparent models, including Precidian, Fidelity, Blue Tractor and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). About Foreside Financial Group Foreside delivers comprehensive advice and best-in-class technology solutions to clients in the global asset and wealth management industries. Foreside distributes more than $1 trillion* of product through their 17 limited purpose broker-dealers. For 15 years, Foreside's suite of services and platform-based model have helped automate and simplify compliance and marketing for clients. Foreside works with pooled investment products, investment advisors, broker-dealers, global asset managers and other financial institutions. By harnessing state-of-the-art technology, Foreside helps firms address and shape today's regulatory environment, drive operational efficiency and growth, and focus on value-adding work. Foreside is headquartered in Portland, Maine, with numerous regional offices, including New York and Boston. For more information on Foreside's suite of services, please visit www.foreside.com. *as of 1/1/2021 1 Morningstar data View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005121/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] DUBLIN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced publication of results from its pivotal Phase 3 CONFIRM study to assess the efficacy and safety of its investigational agent terlipressin in adults with hepatorenal syndrome type 1 (HRS-1). HRS-1 is an acute and life-threatening syndrome involving acute kidney failure in patients with cirrhosis,1 and has a median survival time of approximately two weeks and greater than 80 percent mortality within three months if left untreated.2,3 The study was posted online ahead of print publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Terlipressin is an investigational product and its safety and effectiveness have not yet been established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Health Canada. As previously announced, the Phase 3 CONFIRM study met its primary endpoint of Verified HRS Reversal, which is defined as renal function improvement, avoidance of dialysis and short-term survival. The main objective of the CONFIRM study was to assess the efficacy and safety of terlipressin, together with albumin, versus placebo in adults in the U.S. and Canada with cirrhosis and HRS-1. The trial met three of the four pre-specified secondary endpoints of the study including HRS reversal, HRS reversal without renal replacement therapy (RRT) by Day 30 and HRS reversal in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) subgroup. The fourth pre-specified secondary endpoint of Verified HRS Reversal without HRS recurrence by Day 30 was 50 percent greater in the terlipressin group but did not reach statistical significance.4 Initial results were announced during a late-breaking abstract presentation on November 11, 2019 at The Liver Meeting, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). In another pre-specified endpoint, avoidance of RRT, terlipressin treated subjects (n=199) showed a significantly lower incidence during the treatment period and a lower incidence at all follow-up assessments through Day 90 versus patients with placebo (n=101).4 This is clinically significant because RRT can increase complications in HRS-1 due to the underlying cirrhosis (i.e. coagulopathy, low blood pressure). "The durability of HRS reversal with terlipressin in CONFIRM persisted to Day 30 without the need for RRT. This is a clinically significant observation, as RRT poses many challenges for patients with advanced cirrhosis," said lead author Florence Wong, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FRCPC, Hepatologist at Toronto General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. "Results from CONFIRM provide critical information on a potential treatment option for HRS-1 and these data indicate that, if approved, terlipressin has the potential to reverse the course of HRS-1 in the appropriate patients and help the healthcare community better manage this critically ill and underserved patient population." The incidence of adverse events (AEs) of any severity were similar in both groups (88.0 percent of the terlipressin group and 88.9 percent of the placebo group). The most commonly reported AEs in the overall study population were abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, hepatic encephalopathy and dyspnea. Serious AEs (SAEs) were reported in 65.0 percent (n=130) of the terlipressin group and 60.6 percent (n=60) of the placebo group. The most commonly reported SAEs included hepatobiliary disorders, respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal disorders.4 At present, there are no drug therapies approved for the treatment of HRS-1 in the U.S. or Canada.5 HRS-1 is estimated to affect between 30,000 and 40,000 patients in the U.S. annually.6,7 In November 2020, Mallinckrodt announced it participated in an end of review meeting with the FDA to discuss the Complete Response Letter issued on September 11, 2020 for the Company's New Drug Application (NDA) for terlipressin. Based on recent discussions with the FDA, Mallinckrodt continues to explore a potential regulatory path forward regarding the NDA. Terlipressin is approved in many countries outside the U.S. and Canada, where it has been a standard of care for decades in the treatment of patients with HRS-1.8,9 Terlipressin, together with albumin, is currently the standard of care for HRS-1 in countries where it is approved and available.10 "The CONFIRM results provide meaningful insight into the management of HRS-1 in clinical practice, and we are pleased to be able to share these important data broadly with the healthcare community," said Steven Romano, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Mallinckrodt. "On behalf of Mallinckrodt, I would also like to once again thank all of the patients, caregivers and medical professionals whose contributions made this study possible." About the Pivotal Phase 3 CONFIRM Study (multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in the U.S. and Canada)4: The trial was designed to confirm efficacy and safety of terlipressin for the treatment of HRS-1. In the 35-month study period, 300 patients from the U.S. (89.0 percent) and Canada (11.0 percent) participated in the largest-ever prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial in HRS-1. (11.0 percent) participated in the largest-ever prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial in HRS-1. Patients in the study were critically ill, as indicated by assessments of their liver and kidney function at the start of the trial. Patients in the trial had a mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of 33, a mean serum creatinine (SCr) level of 3.5 mg/dL and 61.0 percent were categorized as Child-Pugh Class C. Eligibility criteria included adults with liver cirrhosis and ascites with rapidly worsening renal function and no response to diuretic withdrawal or volume expansion with albumin. Subjects were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive terlipressin plus albumin (n=199) or placebo plus albumin (n=101). The primary endpoint of Verified HRS Reversal evaluated renal function improvement, avoidance of dialysis and short-term survival. Find out more information about the CONFIRM trial here on the ClinicalTrials.gov website. About Terlipressin Terlipressin is a potent vasopressin analogue selective for V1 receptors being investigated for the treatment of HRS-1 in the U.S. and Canada. It is an investigational product in these countries as the safety and efficacy have not been established with, nor has approval been granted by, regulatory authorities in either country. Terlipressin is approved for use outside the U.S. and Canada. ABOUT MALLINCKRODT Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com. Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release includes forward-looking statements with regard to terlipressin, including with regard to interactions with regulators as well as its potential impact on patients. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law. CONTACT Media Inquiries Caren Begun Green Room Communications 201-396-8551 [email protected] Investor Relations Daniel J. Speciale Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations Officer 314-654-3638 [email protected] Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners. 2021 Mallinckrodt. US-2000496 02/21 References 1 National Organization for Rare Disorders. Hepatorenal Syndrome. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hepatorenal-syndrome/. Accessed January 12, 2021. 2 Colle I and Laterre PF. Hepatorenal syndrome: the clinical impact of vasoactive therapy. Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. (2018) 12:2, 173-188, DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2018.1417034. 3 Gines P, Sola E, Angeli P, et al. Hepatorenal syndrome. Nature Reviews. (2018) 4:23. 4 Wong F, Pappas C, Curry M, et al. Terlipressin plus albumin for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome type 1. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2020. 5 Boyer TD, Medicis JJ, Pappas SC, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to confirm the reversal of hepatorenal syndrome type 1 with terlipressin: the REVERSE trial design. Open Access Journal of Clinical Trials 2012:4. https://www.dovepress.com/a-randomized-placebo-controlled-double-blind-study-to-confirm-the-reve-peer-reviewed-article-OAJCT. 6 C Pant, B S Jani, M Desai, A Deshpande, Prashant Pandya, Ryan Taylor, R Gilroy, M Olyaee. Hepatorenal syndrome in hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 20022012. Journal of Investigative Medicine. 2016;64:3338. 7 United States Census Bureau: Quick Facts. Available at: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045218. Accessed January 12, 2021. 8 De Franchis R. Evolving Consensus in Portal Hypertension Report of the Baveno IV Consensus Workshop on methodology of diagnosis and therapy in portal hypertension. J Hepatol. 2005;43:167-176. 9 Ioannou GN, Doust J, Rockey DC. Terlipressin for acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003;1. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002147. 10 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). Clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 2018;69(2):406-460. SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc Related Links http://www.mallinckrodt.com The world is shocked as more than 38 people were killed by security forces across various cities in Myanmar in what the United Nations described as the "bloodiest day" since a coup took place there last February 1, 2021. BBC reported that at least 38 people were killed from across Myanmar due to mass protests that called for an end to military rule in the country. The military overthrew and seized elected government leaders that included Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during the coup last month. The coup took place due to allegations that the November general elections was done fraudulently such that the National League for Democracy of Suu Kyi won -- though no proof was presented by the military. A video of 75-year-old Suu Kyi was shown last week by the military when she appeared in court through video call. Witnesses, as per BBC, said the security forces in several cities opened fire out of nowhere with live bullets on large crowds without any warning. In Yangon, two boys, aged 14 and 17, as well as a 19-year old woman were among those killed. Besides the city of Yangon, central Myanmar's Monywa saw six people shot dead and 30 wounded simultaneously with the city of Myingyan's 10 injured from "rubber bullets and live rounds" after tear gas was fired. These exclude those who died in Mandalay. "I think around 10am or 10.30, police and soldiers came to that area and then they started to shoot at civilians. They didn't give any warning to the civilians. They just came out and they started to shoot. They used rubber bullets but they also used live bullets to kill civilians in a violent way," a student protester told BBC on those killed near her house. BBC said that the military has not commented on the reported deaths but have, instead, shown that it will stand firm despite international pressure for being condemned on the violence. UN Envoy To Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told BBC that "shocking footage" were coming out on the mass murders and violence, which included a police beating a medical crew volunteer that was unarmed and a protester being shot on the street. She said there are "many wounded" and that at least 50 people have already been killed. Schraner Burgener has already pushed the United Nations to undertake "very strong measures" on Myanmar's military chief who was, as per BBC, willing to "walk with only few friends" in lieu of the punitive actions that can be taken against him. Seconding Schraner Burgener's call on the bloody deaths in Myanmar, BBC highlighted that the United Kingdom have asked the United Nations Security Council to meet on Friday to address the matter while the United States is also considering sanctions against Myanmar's military. "We call on all countries to speak with one voice to condemn the brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people," the United States Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. BBC added that Price urged China to use its influence on the military being Myanmar's close ally. The United Nations Security Council, in response, has expressed its concern over Myanmar's situation but BBC said it stopped short of condemning the coup to avoid conflict with China and Russia who view it as an internal matter. Channel News Asia reported that Myanmar's Southeast Asian neighbors have already called for an end to the the military's violence and a start to peaceful negotiations on the matter during a special meeting on the matter by its foreign ministers last Tuesday via video conference. Brunei, which stands as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 2021 Head, have pushed for a joint statement be made after the meeting but it did not materialize since no agreement on the declaration was made. Together with Brunei, the governments of Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore have called for a stop of the violence and the release of the coup prisoners. As of now, at least 54 people have been killed since the Feb. 1 coup, Channel News Asia reported. Christians are urged to pray for believers in Myanmar, for the chaos to stop, and for people to find peace in Jesus Christ. LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Although COVID has seemingly put a hold on everyday life, kids are still being diagnosed with cancer, regardless of the current city and state COVID numbers. As the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick's Foundation is working to find better treatment options and cures for kids with cancer and prevent life-saving research from slowing down because of the effects that COVID has had on the country. "Due to the pandemic's effect on St. Baldrick's fundraising efforts, donations to St. Baldrick's dropped 35% last year, causing a shortfall of almost $13 million in our grants for childhood cancer research in 2020. Since St. Baldrick's is the largest maker of these grants aside from the U.S. government, that's a big hit," shares Kathleen Ruddy, St. Baldrick's CEO. "Childhood cancer did not pause during the pandemic and neither will we. Children are still being diagnosed every day." The reality of childhood cancer, whether the country is in a pandemic or not, is that: Every 2 minutes, somewhere in the world, a child is diagnosed with cancer. About 1 in 285 kids in the U.S. will have cancer before they turn 20. 1 in 5 kids with cancer in the U.S. will not survive. By the age of 50, more than 99% of survivors have had a chronic health problem, and 96% have experienced a severe or life-threatening condition caused by the toxicity of the treatment that initially saved their life. St. Baldrick's believes that one child lost to cancer is one too many and that children deserve a lifetime. Since the first St. Baldrick's head-shaving event in March 2000, St. Baldrick's has played a part in every significant advancement in childhood cancer research over the last two decades, including: The FDA's groundbreaking approval of Kymriah the first gene therapy approved in the U.S. saving the lives of more than 80% of relapsed childhood leukemia patients who had no other hope. The FDA's approval of the first drug developed, Vitrakvi, or larotrectinib, to target a key genetic driver of cancer, rather than a specific type of tumor. An increase from 30% to almost 50% in the survival of high-risk neuroblastoma, with the FDA's approval of Unituxin, a new immunotherapy. Improving survival from 20% to 70% by using Gleevec to treat children newly diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL). chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL). An increase in the survival of a form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia from 80% to 90%, by using an old drug (Methotrexate) in a new way. An increase in survival from 82% to 94% for children with high-risk non-Hodgkin lymphoma, using Rituximab, a drug previously approved for adult cancers. These advancements, and so much more, have been made possible because of St. Baldrick's volunteers, shavees, donors, advocates, and thousands of supporters. To see how St. Baldrick's shavees raise money for childhood cancer research, tune into one of St. Baldrick's Foundation Virtual Head-Shaving Events presented by St. Baldrick's National Partner Schick Xtreme on St. Baldrick's YouTube and Facebook pages. The events start at 10 a.m. (PST)/1 p.m. (EST). If you'd like to register to participate in one of the following events click here: Sunday, March 14 Sunday, March 28 Sunday, April 11 You can also shave solo or find a local virtual or in-person event near you. If shaving your head isn't for you, you can get involved by starting your own fundraiser. St. Baldrick's offers five fundraising styles that can fit your lifestyle best. For example, if you enjoy streaming on platforms like Tiltify, you and your audience can collectively raise money for childhood cancer research. With your support, St. Baldrick's will be able to help give kids a lifetime by funding life-saving childhood cancer research. If you'd like to learn more visit StBaldricks.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. About St. Baldrick's Foundation Every 2 minutes a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer. In the U.S., 1 in 5 will not survive. The St. Baldrick's Foundation, the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants, is on a mission to give kids a lifetime by supporting the most promising research to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. When you give to St. Baldrick's, you don't just give to one institution you support virtually every institution with the expertise to treat kids with cancer across the U.S. St. Baldrick's ensures that children fighting cancer now -- and those diagnosed in the future -- will have access to the most cutting-edge treatment, by supporting every stage of research, from new ideas in the lab to the development of new therapies, to life-saving clinical trials. Join us at StBaldricks.org and help #GiveKidsaLifetime. SOURCE St. Baldrick's Foundation Related Links www.stbaldricks.org INDUSTRY INSIGHT How ready-to-use apps expedite citizen services The phrase, the new normal will be forever associated with reshaping of society at the start of this decade. Alongside social distancing and global pandemic, it is now burned into our collective consciousness, defining how COVID-19 has redefined how Americans work, socialize and interact with both private- and public-sector entities. For local governments on the front lines of responding to the pandemic and protecting their citizens, the new normal applies to nearly every aspect of operations, from remote work and virtual meetings to how they manage the myriad of citizen requests for forms, services and information. Traditional paper-based processes for responding to such requests has become impossible in todays world that depends on decentralized staff and contactless interactions, so local government leaders have been forced to shift their infrastructure and service model priorities and to do so quickly, cost-effectively and with reduced staff. To adapt to the realities of the new normal of citizen service delivery, local governments are turning to ready-to-implement forms and applications and the booming low-code software movement. Shifting priorities In the summer of 2020, CivicPlus surveyed local government leaders on the next normal in civic service. Respondents consistently signaled that local government work and public service delivery had been permanently changed in response to the pandemic. For example, when asked about the top issues their local government was, is and will be focusing on, about 15% said community and crisis communications was a priority six months earlier. That percentage understandably boomed to over 40% who believed it to be a current priority, and just under 30% predicted it to remain so in a year. When asked about new technology priorities, 58% cited payment and revenue capture technology, 56% cited online forms and 44% cited citizen request management. Seventy-six percent of respondents also said their communities would adopt more software to streamline public services moving forward. Respondents identified these technology categories as most relevant to short and long-term needs: Work from home capabilities (48%) Online revenue and payment capture (46%) Community engagement (45%) Public service workflows (36%) Community and crisis communications (32%) Approximately 80% of respondents said they believe that the shift from paper to digital processes will be permanent, with 80% also believing that software that promises savings (e.g., staff time) has become more attractive since March 2020. The flexibility and extendibility of low-code software In the wake of the COVID-19, low-code software systems are helping local governments rapidly digitize citizen services that for decades have been handled via in-person, in-office, paper-based processes. Such workflows are no longer feasible for administrations whose staff members are now remote. With low-code development, local governments are maintaining business continuity and future-proofing their citizen service model. Low-code software not only enables agencies to create and deploy ready-to-use mobile apps and forms for everything from vaccine registrations, contact tracing and pet registrations to marriage license requests, but it also offers a crucial transformative opportunity. Low-code software helps local governments transform the relationship between citizens and municipalities by expanding local governments footprint and extending citizens ability to benefit from more streamlined, cost-effective and responsive service access. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated the shift from phone calls and paper forms to digital applications, the last two decades of shrinking government budgets and staffs have foreshadowed the need for public-sector digital transformation. The role of digital applications and online forms in the new normal Local governments have proved their resilience during the pandemic. In every state, municipalities of every size are embracing online applications and low-code capabilities to streamline established processes and provide more personalized and accessible support for citizens of every generation and technical ability. Theres no going back to prepandemic days, so local governments should embrace change and the possibilities it brings. When asked about the future of digital government, a dedicated software architect engineer for a Utah city told us: The pandemic is forcing local governments to make choices about where they need to go in a variety of aspects of their business models. Theyre realizing that they have to provide citizens with the modern conveniences that people expect. We need to digitally catch up, and COVID-19 is forcing governments to do it rapidly. Citizens must be able to obtain and pay for services online to meet their needs; city government also must continue to earn essential revenue. So, ensuring that online services are effective and widely available is a win-win. COVID-19 is changing how we work and interact with businesses, brands and each other every day. From exchanging handshakes for elbow bumps and doctors office visits for telemedicine sessions, these changes are ushering in opportunities. They provide safety, convenience and security, and for local governments that have been racing to keep up with the private sector, they are leveling the playing field and finally accelerating local governments digital revolution. Centre issues directives on digital guidelines Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Wednesday wrote to Chief Secretaries of all States and administrators of all Union Territories (UTs) clarifying that the powers under Part III of IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules. 2021 are administered by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. According to the release, the letter has also said that these powers have not been delegated to the state governments, district magistrates, or police commissioners. Read: Centre Issues Directive On Digital Guidelines; Says New Rules Not Delegated To States Akhilesh to campaign for Mamata The Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday announced that his party will support Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections 2021. On January 17, Yadav had said that BJP wants to win by spreading hatred hence he will support West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to defeat BJP. "We will support Mamata Banerjee in the West Bengal Assembly elections to defeat BJP who wants to win by spreading hatred. In 2017 as well, they won in Uttar Pradesh by propagating hatred," Akhilesh Yadav had said. Read: After Tejashwi, Akhilesh Says, 'will Campaign For Mamata Banerjee' Ahead Of Assembly Polls US welcomes normalcy steps in J&K The United States welcomed the steps taken by New Delhi on Wednesday to return the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to full economic and political normalcy consistent with the democratic values of India. While speaking to media in the daily news conference, State Department Spokesperson of US Ned Price said, " The US, at the same time, continues to follow developments in Jammu and Kashmir closely. The US policy with regard to Kashmir has not changed." Read: US Welcomes Steps Taken To Restore Full Normalcy In UT Jammu And Kashmir WTO Head visits Indian mission in Geneva The newly appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala visited the Indian mission in Geneva, Switzerland on March 3. Her visit marked the first bilateral interaction she had following her appointment as the head of the global body. We were the first country she decided to meet bilaterally and preferred the meeting at our place, said the mission in a statement. Apart from meeting the Indian Ambassador Brajendra Navnit, Dr Okonjo-Iweala also held discussions with ambassadors of Colombia, South Africa and Canada. Read: WTO Head Visits Indian Mission In Geneva, Marks Her First Bilateral Interaction SpaceX's Starship rocket explodes SpaceX's latest Starship prototype went out in a blaze of glory. The bullet-shaped Starship SN10 spacecraft touched down successfully after a high-altitude test flight on March 3 (local time). While the vehicle exploded merely eight minutes after landing, the test marks a major milestone for the company which has failed twice in getting its super heavyweight launch vehicle back on land safely. land safely. The futuristic stainless-steel Starship SN10, which is its prototype for future mars landing, was launched from SpaceX's South Texas site at 6:15 p.m. EST. Read: SpaceX's Starship Rocket Makes Seemingly Successful Touchdown, Explodes Minutes Later Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Shark scientists at Georgia Aquarium, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, and Dalhousie University are challenging the status quo in shark and ray mating research in a new study that looks at biological drivers of multiple paternity in these animals. The results were published March 4 in the journal Molecular Ecology. Many species of sharks and rays exhibit multiple paternity, where females give birth to a litter of pups that have different fathers. While widely documented in scientific literature, the drivers of this phenomenon are not well understood. However, previous research has cited male aggression as the reason, claiming that the females are unable to avoid or submit to their advances during mating. This has led to the "convenience polyandry" theory, the assumption that there is a greater cost for females when refusing male mating attempts, as being the most widely credited explanation. "If convenience polyandry is the only reason we talk about, it takes the agency away from females," said Kady Lyons, research scientist at Georgia Aquarium and lead author of the study. "If she's investing all this energy into making big babies, why doesn't she get a say in who will be the sire of her offspring?" While multiple paternity has been documented in many elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), this is the first study to evaluate it starting from the female point-of-view. The researchers note that most studies on shark and ray reproduction were conducted by male scientists, and their biases could manifest in their research. "No matter how objective we try to be as scientists, we're still human and our experiences are brought to the table," said Dovi Kacev, assistant teaching professor at Scripps Oceanography and a co-author of the study. The researchers developed models based on shark and ray biology and physiology to test whether multiple paternity could be in the best interest of females or males, or a combination of both. They looked for patterns that they would expect to see if this phenomenon was pushed or pulled by one sex or the other, such as sperm competition or female selection for sperm genetic diversity, and compared it to data from past studies and their own research on these animals. By asking, "Would this benefit a male or a female?" they found no conclusive evidence that multiple paternity is primarily a male-driven advantage. In most instances, the benefits for females and males were the same, challenging previous ideas that male behavior and biology drives multiple paternity. "Male or female drivers may sometimes produce the same multiple-paternity end result, but more often than not it is the male factors that get the lion's share of the credit," Lyons said. "This seemed odd to me considering how complex and energetically taxing female reproduction is." The researchers stress that uncovering which sex (or both) may be responsible for the observed patterns is difficult as elasmobranchs have been evolving over many millions of years, and observing shark and ray mating is a rare occurrence. The scientists, however, found clues in what science does know about elasmobranch mating and reproduction. Elasmobranch mating can be quite violent. In many cases, males bite the females to secure a hold, inflicting injury and leaving scars. This can even be seen in some of the more docile species like manta rays. Females have, however, developed advantages such as thicker skin in bite-prone areas in order to better recover from the mating injuries. In many species, the females are also often much larger than males. While it does take energy for females to recover from wounds or avoid frisky males by swimming away, this only represents the beginning of their energetic investment into reproduction. The researchers point out that female elasmobranchs devote a lot of resources to the production of developed young, such as through ovulation of fat-rich eggs and providing nutrition to embryos in species that have internal gestation, which is the norm for most sharks and rays. "One thing that is underappreciated, even by experts, is how diverse sharks and rays are," said Christopher Mull, postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University and a co-author of the study. "When it comes to reproduction, sharks and rays use every mode that has been described in vertebrates, from laying eggs to giving live birth with a placenta, similar to humans." This diversity of sharks and rays makes them an interesting animal group to study multiple paternity, and for examining sex roles in the animal kingdom, said the researchers. The typical number of offspring can vary widely between species, from a single pup up to several hundred. The smallest of sharks can fit in the palm of a human hand, while the largest can grow to the size of a school bus. Despite these differences in biology and physiology, the phenomenon of multiple paternity appears to be a common trait across sharks and rays. This evolutionary advantage, and the idea that it could be driven by the biology of the females, has been of keen interest to Lyons throughout her research. In a previous study, she found that round stingrays, native to the California coast, can exhibit different patterns of paternity. These rays have two uteri, and Lyons showed that in some females, one uterus held offspring with the same father while the other held offspring of a different father. In other individuals, offspring paternity was mixed between the two uteri. This was hypothesized as females ovulating in different patterns, which may give them some control over which males were able to fertilize their eggs. Female elasmobranchs have other physiological abilities that suggest they might be behind multiple paternity. Some species have serial ovulation, in which one egg at a time is produced and fertilized. It has been shown that some can store sperm, thereby preventing the sperm from one male from fertilizing an egg, or using this ability to save sperm from another male that could be used in the future. Essentially, females have the anatomical tools that may allow them to control which sperm fertilize their eggs. From past data, the researchers found many examples of pregnant female sharks with "failed ova" (those that were in the process of being resorbed) alongside normally developing embryos. If reproduction was driven by males, the scientists asked, why would the female miss the opportunity to pass on her genes as well? These examples bolster their idea that the reasons for multiple paternity cannot be attributed to only one sex. "Female elasmobranchs have these incredible physiology mechanisms that give them a reproductive advantage, but these are largely ignored in the literature," Lyons said. "I think a key takeaway from our work is challenging the dog(fish)ma that female sharks and rays are passive players in the mating process," said Mull. "But demonstrating these mechanisms at work can be really challenging, so we focused on developing a series of testable hypotheses that other researchers can apply to their own work." The researchers note that while this study is on sharks and rays, it has implications for the larger animal kingdom, and for diversity in science. "Diversifying perspectives at the table will enrich scientific studies," said Kacev. "We're not saying the male perspective is wrong, or that male sharks aren't at all responsible for multiple paternity, but it takes two to tango." "Perspective is completely shaped by background," said Lyons. "If you don't have a diverse background, your perspective will be limited." ### This study was funded by the Shark Conservation Fund and Georgia Aquarium. ADVERTISEMENT Veteran broadcaster and Nollywood actor Sadiq Daba is dead. He died on Wednesday evening at a Lagos hospital. His last movie appearance was in Kunle Afolayans movie , Citation which was released in October 2020. The ace broadcaster went public with his illness in November 2017. The ace broadcaster revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. This was coming barely months after he was hospitalised for months due to leukemia. Mr Daba in a chat with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday expressed displeasure with the news of his illness making the rounds. He said that despite his ailment, he is not begging for financial assistance as speculated on social media. One of Nigerias most loved television stars, the actor has had a long career in broadcasting with the Nigerian Television Authority. He also appeared in early soap operas such as Cockcrow At Dawn and Behind The Clouds. He co-hosted the popular AM Express with late Yinka Craig (who died of a similar illness in 2008) and had an award winning role in Kunle Afolayans October 1 in recent times. The galaxy can be a complicated place. Din Djarin, the title character of the Disney+ show The Mandalorian, learns this quickly. Played by Pedro Pascal, the stoic gunslinger has led Star Wars fans into unexplored corners of the much-loved franchise and become the worlds favorite foster dad. As Din travels to various planets tracking down the mysterious alien child Grogu (better known as Baby Yoda) and eventually seeking a good home for him, he meets people whose beliefs severely challenge his own. Dins soul-searching becomes the heart of the show, and his willingness to question his worldview makes a good example for us as well. Trained as a bounty hunter by a secretive religious community of Mandalorians on a backwater planet, Din thinks he knows everything about his culture and his personal convictions. His people even have a mantra to remind them to hold fast to their beliefs: This is the Way. But what, exactly, is the Way? Is it protecting the Mandalorians covert on the planet Nevarro at all costs? Is it keeping his face hidden from even his own people? Is it caring for foundlings, orphans who are rescued and reared to preserve Mandalorian culture? What if fulfilling one of these tenets jeopardizes another? Worse, what if some of them arent essential for a Mandalorian to follow? Suddenly, Din feels pretty relatable. As Christians, we may be confident in our convictions until a leader we admire is exposed as not the role model we knew them to be. Or until we meet people who challenge our private stereotypes. Or until a community we belong to starts expressing values we dont hold. We find ourselves feeling pulled in two directions, torn between beliefs that no longer agree or reconsidering our loyalties. The name for this tumultuous feeling is cognitive dissonance. Psychologist Leon Festinger coined it in 1957 after observing firsthand a group of people have their greatest anticipation fail to materializehe infiltrated a doomsday cult. Its leader said she had received messages from a higher being that a giant flood would destroy North America, and she convinced some people to come to her house to be picked up by a spaceship. When the foretold day passed, the most ardent believers didnt admit they were wrong. Instead, they believed that their devotion had prevented the disaster. Their conviction became stronger than ever. Festinger replicated these types of responses in research, and he identified the ways we go about trying to reduce the dissonance. We can discard one of the conflicting beliefs, add new beliefs that tip the scale one way or the other, or tell ourselves that a certain belief is more or less important than its opposing cognition. We may even know were siding with a deception but do it anyway. For example, former pastor Joshua Pease told CT that he sees cognitive dissonance at work when churchgoers learn about abuse that takes place in a church setting. Church members cant reconcile their identitymy church is a good place with good peoplewith reality, he said. Far too often this leads to minimization (What happened wasnt THAT big a deal), victim blaming (Well, if you had done _____, maybe it wouldn't have happened), and denial (I know that person; they would never do that). Younger Christians especially may simply leave the church if no one confronts an issue of abuse seriously. Dins instinct in situations loaded with cognitive dissonance is to cling to his original beliefs. But he later learns nuanced ways to reduce his internal conflict. Sometimes his mental wrestling helps him cling to a cognition he already holds: When he suspects the Empire wants to harm Grogu, he reneges on his bounty hunting contract with them and rescues Grogu instead, risking his life, the secrecy of his covert, and his status in the bounty hunters guild. Article continues below Other times, Din warms up to the idea that hes wrong. His parents were killed by battle droids when he was a boy, and now he wants nothing to do with droids, even bumbling repair models. But a reprogrammed bounty hunter droid rescues Grogu from stormtroopers and then sacrifices itself to save Din and his allies. On the next visit to the repair shop, he lets the droids work on his ship. And then he faces the big one: Mandalorians must never remove their helmets. If one did, You cant ever put it back on again, Din explains. His days as a Mandalorian would be over. At least, so he thinks. In an early episode of season 2, he and Grogu are saved by freedom fighter Bo-Katan Kryze and her Mandalorian entourage. They promptly take off their helmets. Din doesnt react well, initially. He demands to know how they stole their armor and insists, You are not Mandalorian. Bo-Katanwho is actually heiress to the Mandalorian thronerealizes that Din belongs to an extremist sect of Mandalorians, the Children of the Watch. How does a person proceed after a revelation like that? As Christians, we affirm that each of us is flawed and sinful, knowing whats good for us while resisting change (Rom. 7:1525) and eager to point out others flaws before examining our own (Matt. 7:3). But admitting were wrong hurts, and research has shown that refusing to admit it can actually feel pretty good. One way is to surround ourselves with friends with different perspectives. The droid that saved Grogu was reprogrammed by Dins friend Kuiil, who insisted that it accompany Din and Grogu to a showdown with the Empire. Din relents because he trusts Kuiil, not because hes changed his mind about droids. This approach has been valuable in my own life. Ive had professors I trust suggest new approaches to doctrine and politics that I wouldve rejected from a stranger. I can see humanity in controversial issues by spending time with people impacted by those issues. As iron sharpens iron, so these people have refined my beliefs (Prov. 27:17). Another important habit is to examine our priorities and be conscious of which cognitions are essential, and which are not. Din Djarin may not have realized at first that he was doing this, but every risk he takes for Grogu points to it. In the penultimate episode of season 2, Din is trying to locate the Imperial ship Grogu is on to stage a rescue. Hes undercover on an Imperial basehaving traded his armor for trooper gear and helmet, already a small concession to his ruleand his computer terminals security system wants a facial scan. People are watching. This is his only chance. He takes off the helmet. Its uncomfortable to watch, and even worse when an officer comes over to check on him. Dins so nervous he cant even think to talk himself out of the situation. But he got the coordinates he needed. After he rescues Grogu and is about to entrust the child to a Jedi for training, he takes it off again to say goodbye. This time, hes under no pressure. Tears form as Grogu gets to touch his face and look into his eyes. The dissonance isnt completely gone for Din. He still has to figure out what his Mandalorian creed will be in light of Bo-Katans revelation. But when he took his helmet off, he let one belief outweigh others: Be the family to the foundling in your care. When our worldview is shaken by painful realities, we can find the way in the midst of cognitive dissonance by setting our priorities straight. Christs death and resurrection are of first importance (15:3); love is the most excellent way (1 Cor. 12:31); the Word of God is more trustworthy than human leaders (1 Thess. 2:13). These may not resolve the dissonancethey may make it worsebut prioritizing them will not lead us astray. Article continues below Were called to the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1). Sometimes that wont be comfortable. Jesus told his fellow Jews that they misinterpreted their own Lawsix times in one sermon (Matt. 5). Where they rationalized, he refocused them on love. When we encounter a similarly jarring revision of what we think we know, its okay to dwell in that cognitive dissonance. We can take a cue from Din Djarin and pursue truth, following Christ, who is our Way. Alexandra Mellen is copy editor at Christianity Today. The heart will still function normally when it is using the SAP (Figure C). The SA node in a human (Figure A, red) and a goat (Figure B, yellow). Before and after ablation of the heart. Credit: University of Manchester Researchers at the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust have discovered a backup natural pacemaker, which is able to generate a pulse and control the heart rate. The British Heart Foundation-funded study "completely changes our understanding" of the heart's anatomy and has important implications on the work of cardiologists and heart surgeons. As part of the study, published in Frontiers in Physiology, University scientists carried out research involving 15 goats. Subsequent data analysis found that a 'subsidiary atrial pacemaker' (SAP) takes over from the nearby sinoatrial, or SA Node, the primary way the heart generates electrical signals that make it beat, when it fails. Lead author Dr. Halina Dobrzynski, from The University of Manchester, said: "This study completely reshapes our understanding of the how the heart works and is tremendously exciting. It builds on our work on the human heart over many years and we hope will make an important contribution to future treatments." Co-author, Dr. Gwilym Morris, a clinical researcher at The University of Manchester and a Consultant Cardiologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, (MFT), worked on the data analysis strand of the project. He said: "Not only will this knowledge improve our understanding of the anatomy of the heartwhich is crucial for cliniciansit will give patients the full facts so they can make a more informed choice about ablation." The SA node in human, goat and other mammalian species is a group of cells located in the wall of the right atrium of the heart which have the ability to spontaneously produce the electrical impulses to make our hearts beat. The team are confident the discoveries are highly relevant to the human heart, as the organ in goats has similar anatomy and physiology, producing a similar heart rate. When the SA node doesn't work as it should, the heart rate can slow down causing breathlessness and blackouts. However, when the malfunctioning SA node is removed by cardiologists in a procedure known as ablation, the new structure discovered by the team carrying out the research in goats took over as the dominant pacemaker, which also drives electrical activity of the heart. And even though electrocardiograms (ECGs) which provide an electrical map of the hearthave slightly different shapes for each natural pacemaker, the heart still functioned normally when using the SAP. The study also explains why ablation of the SA nodesometimes performed by cardiologists to treat a fast heartbeat called inappropriate sinus tachycardiais often unsuccessful. The research shows that the SA node is difficult to completely destroy using ablation and even if a few cells of the SA node are left, they find, it will continue to function as the heart's pacemaker. Dr. Morris added: "I'm excited that we also intend as a team to produce a 3-D reconstruction of the whole heart, which will depict the new structure. And that will be a helpful tool for helping patients to understand the pros and cons of having an ablated SA node." Dr. Zoltan Borbas, a clinical scientist who conducted the study while at The University of Manchester said: "It was fascinating to see how the structure of the sinus node and SAP area in the goat gradually emerged. Getting closer, step by step, to understand the complexity of it was thrilling." Co-author Dr. Luca Soattin, from the University of Manchester, said: "Before this study, it was thought the sinoatrial node was the primary activation site in the heart. When that failed, the atrioventricular node nearer to the ventricle was thought to kick in. "But now we know of another site, the subsidiary atrial pacemaker," which kicks in after the SA node fails. We believe this is a remarkable discovery." Dr. Dobrzynski added: "I'm also hugely grateful to the NHS anesthetists, surgeons and cardiologists who worked with us on this ground-breaking project." Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: "The heart is a wonderfully complex organ that contains many different types of specialist cells serving distinct functions. These include the cells in the heart's own 'pacemaker," which generates the electrical signal triggering each heartbeat. "This detailed study improves our understanding of how the heartbeat continues to be generated when the normal pacemaker is damaged. The findings will inform future work to better understand and treat human diseases associated with abnormal pacemaker activity." Explore further Scientists discover why the heart slows down at night More information: Luca Soattin et al. Structural and Functional Properties of Subsidiary Atrial Pacemakers in a Goat Model of Sinus Node Disease, Frontiers in Physiology (2021). Luca Soattin et al. Structural and Functional Properties of Subsidiary Atrial Pacemakers in a Goat Model of Sinus Node Disease,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.592229 The partner of Lyra McKee has hit out at a conservative political commentator after he blamed the wrong dissident republican group for the journalist's murder. John McGuirk, editor of right-wing news and opinion website Gript, appeared on RTE's Prime Time where he made the false claim about an Irish republican socialist group during a discussion on anti-lockdown protests in Dublin last week. He later apologised on social media, where he said "I got my Republican groups mixed up badly in a slip of the tongue". "It was of course Saoradh, not Eirigi, who were connected to the murder of Lyra McKee. "I want to apologise publicly to Eirigi for the error, and thank RTE for correcting it," he said on Twitter. Sara Canning criticised those she said had used the journalist's death to score points against public figures, sometimes without establishing the facts beforehand. She posted: "It's bad enough seeing tons of generally right-wing people using Lyra's name as a stick to beat everyone from Nicola Sturgeon to Nancy Pelosi, and now John McGuirk using Lyra's murder, on national TV, & without having the facts straight?! Enraging." She said it was "unsurprising" from the commentator, and accused him of being "uninformed and uninterested" in the facts surrounding the murder of her partner. "Perhaps people should stop invoking tragedy endured by other people in order to point-score, particularly when you can't even keep your republican groups straight," she said. Eirigi said it would seek full public retractions from RTE and Mr McGuirk after the claim was made. It added that the organisation had condemned the murder of Ms McKee when it happened in April 2019. "[RTE has] also potentially put the safety and lives of our members and supporters at risk, most particularly in the Six Counties," it said. [March 04, 2021] The Associated Press auctions its first NFT commemorating AP's historic use of the blockchain for distributing 2020 election data GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Associated Press (AP) has collaborated with Everipedia and renowned digital artist Marko Stanojevic to create an innovative one-of-a-kind NFT artwork commemorating the first US election recorded on the blockchain. The Associated Press calls the 2020 Presidential Election on Blockchain - A View from Outer Space was created and published on Ethereum by AP using their Ethereum address 0x436Ee8cB3a351893b77F8B57c9772DAEc3a96445 which is listed on their website . AP used this address to declare the winner of the United States 2020 Presidential Election on Ethereum using Everipedia's OraQle software. This marked the first time a US election was called on the blockchain. The historic moment was covered by a wide range of publications including Forbes and Nasdaq News . AP has counted the vote in U.S. elections since 1848, including national, state and local races along with key ballot measures. They have also won 54 Pulitzer Prizes, including 32 for photography. AP's photographers and journalists have captured some of the most important events in history from Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima to Apollo 11 to Tiananmen Square . "AP has a long history of capturing important moments throughout history. Digital historical artifacts like this innovative NFT artwork represent the next step in the evolution of marking historical events digitally," said Dwayne Desaulniers, AP's Director of Data Licensing. The artwork depicts a visual of the electoral college map viewed from space. The map uses election data AP published on-chain using Everipedia's OraQle software in the 2020 US Presidential Election. This first-of-its-kind digital artifact will be a 1/1 edition and will be the first time a major organization cryptographically signs off on such a historical event. AP's unique Ethereum address acts as a cryptographic signature offering authenticity of The Associated Press calls the 2020 Presidential Election on Blockchain - A View from Outer Space and has verified the historic election data displayed in the piece and the metadata in the NFT. Within the NFT's metadata AP has included the exact date and time that AP called the election, the electoral college votes won by Republicans and Democrats, the names of both candidates, and the number of votes received by each candidate. This digital artifact will be of great historical and cultural significance for future generations to come as it comes at a time where we are witnessing the digital transformation of media and the emergence of cryptographically verified data. "This digital artwork represents a glimpse of how organizations like The Associated Press are going to be marking important historical events in the future. The fact that this is the first ever 1/1 makes it really significant," said Everipedia Co-Founder and CEO Theodor Forselius. The Associated Press calls the 2020 Presidential Election on Blockchain - A View from Outer Space will be auctioned off on OpenSea, the world's largest NFT marketplace. The auction will start on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 and run for seven days with all bids denominated in Ethereum. The artwork was designed by Marko Stanojevic, an internationally renowned digital artist who has created music videos, live visuals and art for top artists like Avicii, Alan Walker, Alesso, Axwell & Ingrosso as well as global brands like Pepsi and McDonalds. The Associated Press calls the 2020 Presidential Election on Blockchain - A View from Outer Space is AP's first NFT artwork. AP and Everipedia have collaborated on calling several high-profile events on-chain including the 2021 Senate Runoff Elections and the Super Bowl in addition to the Presidential Election. We also have many future Everipedia OraQle collaborations lined up. The Associated Press calls the 2020 Presidential Election on Blockchain - A View from Outer Space piece is the first in a series of one-off NFTs created for historic events by The Associated Press. About Everipedia Originally started in 2014 as a more modern and inclusive alternative to Wikipedia, Everipedia has become the world's first encyclopedia to use blockchain technology to enable content creators to become stakeholders in the knowledge base themselves and earn rewards for their contributions. Everipedia has since then leveraged blockchain technology to expand further into decentralized finance products. Find out more at everipedia.org and follow Everipedia on Facebook and Twitter . Media Contact: Leslie Mayer FortyThree, Inc. 831.401.3175 everipedia@43pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-associated-press-auctions-its-first-nft-commemorating-aps-historic-use-of-the-blockchain-for-distributing-2020-election-data-301240934.html SOURCE Everipedia Wrexham woman sets sights on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of local hospice This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 4th, 2021 A Wrexham woman has her sights firmly set on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to help raise vital money for Nightingale House Hospice. Myfina Goddard, 27, has signed up to raise more than 4,000 for the hospice, which will help local people and their families living with life-limiting illness. With the trip currently due to take place in September this year she has wasted no time in starting fundraising, with her colleagues and employer Wales & West Utilities getting firmly behind her goal. Since signing up to the challenge in October, Myfina has held a raffle amongst colleagues based at Wales & West Utilities Wrexham depot. S he was thrilled by the response, raising over 300, and even more so when her employer decided to match fund her efforts with a further 300. Ive always loved walking and as a family we have always supported the wonderful efforts of Nightingale House, Myfina. When I read about the organised trip, I decided to combine the two and signed up to the challenge. I am really excited at the prospect of completing the climb of the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. To say Im pleased is an understatement the raffle was a great start to my fundraising, and Im thrilled that Wales & West Utilities and my colleagues have got behind my challenge. Im under no illusion as to how hard the climb will be but knowing that I will have so many people back home willing me on, will give me the positivity I need. Sarah Hopkins, Wales & West Utilities People & Engagement Director, added: We are committed to supporting the charitable and fundraising efforts of our colleagues and the challenge that Myfina has signed up to will be gruelling, but so rewarding and beneficial for those who rely on the services of Nightingale House now more than ever. We are delighted to help kickstart her fundraising and wish Myfina all the luck with her training. Nightingale House Hospice provides services for individuals and their families living within North East Wales and the border areas who are living with a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. Bethan Scott, Challenge Events Co-ordinator for Nightingale House Hospice, said: Thank you Myfina for supporting us by taking on our Kilimanjaro challenge and to Wales & West Utilities for their generous match funding donations. This support is vital to the overall success of our fundraising, so a big thank you from everyone at Nightingale House Hospice. We wish Myfina and all our trekkers the very best of luck. To donate to Myfinas challenge please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/myfina-goddard The Arunachal Pradesh government will soon take up construction of the proposed two-lane East- West Industrial Corridor Highway project with the Centre, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Thursday. The chief minister said this in reply to a question raised by Congress MLA Wanglin Lowangdong in the assembly. The proposed highway, which will serve as an industrial corridor of the state, will be constructed along the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh from Bhairabkunda in West Kameng district, at the tri-junction of Bhutan, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, to Ruksin in East Siang district. "This project is very important to us for the larger interest of Arunachal Pradesh as it envisages the transformation of a vast area of the state to boost industrial and economic development in the state. Since our state is so vast, we have to travel from east to west via Assam. When the corridor is built, we will not have to go via roads in Assam," he said. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during his visit to Itanagar in 2015 had agreed "in principle" to fund the project as a state highway, provided the Arunachal Pradesh government completed pre-construction activities such as land acquisition, forest clearance and techno-economic feasibility study along with detailed project report (DPR), the chief minister said. "The Union ministry will not provide any fund for land compensation, forest clearance and utility shifting and therefore the state governments responsibility is to complete the pre-construction activities with encumbrance free Right of Way (RoW) for sanction of the project," Khandu said. The highway, which would pass through nine districts of the state, will have a total length of 966.78 km, including 274.20 km of the existing national highway standard road from Pasighat in East Siang district to Manmao in Changlang district. The balance length of 692.58 km is proposed to be constructed in two phases. The phase-1 of 545.45 km starts from Pasighat and culminates at Bhairabkund and phase-2 of 147.13 km starts from Kanubari in Longding district and culminates at Tirap Gate in Manmao district, he said. "The entire length of phase-I is in DPR stage and work of survey and investigation of phase-2 is in progress," the chief minister said. The road stretch under phase-I has been divided into four sub packages package-1 of 308.45 km from Pasighat to Naharlagun, package-2 (A) of 101.70 km from Naharlagun to Seijosa in Pakke Kessang district, package-2 (B) of 39.84 km from Seijosa to Bhalukpong and package-2 (C) of 95.46 km from Bhalukpong to Bhairabkund. "The DPRs of package 1 and 2 (A) are under the scrutiny of the state government and pending due to non- submission of encumbrance free land availability certificates from respective deputy commissioners (DCs)," Khandu said. The proposed alignment of the road under package-2(B) from Seijosa to Bhalukpong passes through Pakke Tiger Reserve evoking opposition from various quarters. "The DPR of package 2 (C) from Bhalukpong to Bhairabkund has been submitted to the Union ministry in December last year. The proposal is awaiting approval by the ministry," he said. Responding to a supplementary from BJP MLA Biyuram Wahge who suggested construction of an elevated highway through the Pakke Tiger Reserve, Khandu said that the department is examining the proposal and the final call would be taken by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) A man from Nam Dinh Province has taken advantage of the strengths of his homeland for economic development, creating jobs for many local workers. Pham Van Phong (in blue T-shirt) checking his products in the workshop. VNA/VNS Nguyen Lanh Pham Van Phong decided to return to his hometown of Thinh Long Township in Hai Hau District to start up his own business in 2012 after many years working in Hanoi in unstable and poorly paid jobs. Hai Hau District has an established fishing and aquaculture sector and Phongs family has a business for jellyfish processing for export to China. Phongs family business is one of few establishments that processes jellyfish in Nam Dinh Province and indeed the entire northern region. Seeing start-up opportunities as well as great development potential, with the support of his family, Phong built a 6,000sq.m workshop for processing instant jellyfish and established Quy Thinh Limited Company. As head of the enterprise, he thought about how production and business activities could be most effective to both increase revenue and create jobs. To maintain production year-round, from February to April, the company has to purchase fresh jellyfish and preserve them in tanks of salty water. To produce quality instant jellyfish products, all stages from selecting raw materials to processing and storing must comply with regulations on food safety, labels and traceability. In 2013, his products started to be sold and received good feedback from customers. From 2013 to 2015, his company sold 300-350 tonnes of instant jellyfish and gained a turnover of VND10 billion (US$434,000) per year. However, his business faced various difficulties. Realising the high economic gains from producing instant jellyfish, many firms inside and outside the province started to enter the market and saturated it. Refusing to step back when the family's revenues and employee's incomes decreased, in 2017, thanks to the support of the Youth Union of Nam Dinh Province, Phong borrowed nearly VND100 million (US$4,300) from the national fund for job creation to invest in making squid and fish cakes. Initially, because of a lack of experience, our products were the same as thousands of those available on the market. We did not create anything different, said Phong. Moreover, Nam Dinh people were not used to processed and frozen products, so consumption was so modest, Phong said. Therefore, along with researching, perfecting the production process and improving product quality, I started marketing our products to other provinces and cities in the northern mountainous region, he said. His relentless efforts paid off. The fish and squid cake products of Quy Company won favour among food suppliers and distributors in many northern provinces. Last year was a great milestone for his company as demand for his frozen seafood products outstripped supply. On average, the company sold more than 18 tonnes of products every month and earned nearly VND14 billion (US$606,000) last year. Currently, the company employs nearly 40 local workers, with an average salary of VND5.3 million (US$230) per month per person. Talking about starting up a business, Phong said: In the integration period, along with technical and technological conditions, the State policies are also an important premise to help young people access opportunities to get rich in their homeland. With outstanding achievements in production, business, socio-economic development, last year, Phong was one of 56 rural youth to win the Luong Dinh Cua Award which is a noble honour of the Party Central Committee Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union awarded annually to rural youths with excellent achievements in production, business, scientific and technical transfer, professional development environmental protection, new rural development, and positive contribution to Youth Union activities. He also got the merit of the Prime Minister. Phong is a typical youth union member. He is not only active in the union activities but also pioneered the economic development movement and job creation for local workers, said Vu Viet Duong, vice secretary of Hai Hau Districts Youth Union. He is an inspirational role model for young generations to learn from and follow, Duong said. VNS Private economy - pillar of the countrys development Government should take measures to protect private enterprises in key economic sectors to enhance their international competitiveness. Campus News West urges love warriors to lead battle against hatred James Butch Rosser (bottom), clinical professor of surgery, introduces featured speaker Cornel West at the beginning of the inaugural videoconference lecture on social justice sponsored by the Department of Surgery. By DIRK HOFFMAN The love warriors at the University at Buffalo Department of Surgery are taking action in a big way to address the inequities our dear brothers and sisters must endure in regards to their health. Love warriors must step forward and fight systemic racism in society, Harvard University professor, bestselling author and political activist Cornel West recently told a UB audience. West was speaking via Zoom at Beyond the Knife, the first public event of the Department of Surgerys anti-racism and health care equity initiative. In his opening remarks at the event on Feb. 18, West said it was fairly clear that we are living in a moment of increasing spiritual decay and escalating moral decrepitude. What we need more than anything else is the best the Black Freedom Movement has to offer, and that has always been an attempt to look chronic, systemic hatred in the face and still muster the courage to love, to love truth, to love beauty, to love greatness, he said. West used the term love warrior to describe the type of people he said are needed to step forward. Love warriors are those who have decided to cut radically against the grain and attempt to engage in forms of care and concern for others. They have a hypersensitivity to the suffering of others, he said. They are willing to give oneself, to emptying oneself, to give whatever gifts one has cultivated to make the world a better place. The love warriors at the University at Buffalo Department of Surgery are taking action in a big way to address the inequities our dear brothers and sisters must endure in regards to their health, West said. Their efforts to connect doctors with the communities they serve is a powerful step forward in the fight for equality, fairness and healing that is so long overdue. Following his talk, West took questions from a panel featuring students, surgical residents and faculty from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, as well as community leaders. The panel consisted of Timothy M. Adams, clinical assistant professor of surgery; Karole Collier, a fourth-year medical student; Rita Hubbard-Robinson, chief executive officer of NeuWater & Associates LLC and lead member of the African American Health Equity Task Force; Henry Louis Taylor Jr., professor of urban and regional planning and director of the Center for Urban Studies in UBs School of Architecture and Planning; and Frances I. Uwechue, a PGY-1 trainee in the general surgery residency program. The army husband of a high profile news anchor has been charged with allegedly raping a drunk woman more than two years ago. Mark Cameron, who has been married to Nine News reporter Davina Smith since 2010, was charged with rape in November last year. The 43-year-old allegedly assaulted the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, in the early hours of December 2, 2018, in Sutherland, south Sydney. Police allege the incident happened just suburbs away from Cameron's home in Cronulla, which he shares with Ms Smith, who is pregnant with their second child, and their four-year-old daughter Rose. Mark Cameron has been married to Nine News reporter Davina Smith since 2010 (pictured together) Pictured: Davina Smith, Mark Cameron and their daughter Rose, when she was an infant 'This is a serious complaint involving sexual assault on an intoxicated victim,' police alleged in court documents, according to the Daily Telegraph. 'The prosecution case in this matter is extremely strong, in that the accused has made admissions to the offence which were captured under the authorised warrant.' Cameron faced Sutherland Local Court on Thursday in an attempt to alter his bail conditions so he does not have to report to police weekly. The court heard the reporting conditions interfered with family responsibilities while Ms Smith was at work. The father-of-one's solicitor argued that he has not made contact with the alleged victim in two years, despite being granted bail in November 2020. 'There is no evidence to suggest fear for the safety of the victim that cannot be mitigated by appropriate bail conditions,' police said in court documents. Cameron (pictured with his daughter) faced Sutherland Local Court on Thursday in an attempt to alter his bail conditions Davina Smith and Mark Cameron (pictured) have been separated over the past year due to coronavirus NSW Police prosecutor Sergeant McGee opposed the bail application and Magistrate Joy Boulos refused it, stating it was an 'extremely serious charge'. Cameron's position within the Australian Army was mentioned in court, but the publication reported that Ms Smith referred to his deployment in Afghanistan in social media posts. Last year, Ms Smith wrote in a social media post how she and her daughter were separated from Cameron, who was based in Queensland with the army, due to coronavirus border closures. 'We're no strangers to distance and separation but this is unlike any deployment or work trip we've faced,' Ms Smith wrote. 'Normal life as a military family is tough, life as an MWDU member with dependent unaccompanied is tougher.' Cameron will appear in court again on April 1. Two of the countrys most powerful Catholic leaders said Tuesday that the use of fetal stem cells in the manufacturing process of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine raises moral concerns, a position that is at odds with the Vatican and Californias Catholic conference, which support all vaccines. If one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Modernas vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnsons, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said in a joint statement. While the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines were all tested using human stem cells a common practice in the creation of new drugs and vaccines Rhoades and Naumann object to the Johnson & Johnson vaccines use of the cells in its manufacturing process. The bishops position rekindled a longstanding debate over the medical use of human fetal tissue and threatened to hamper vaccination efforts for the nations 51 million Catholics. The Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco, Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone, planned to issue a rebuke Wednesday afternoon and believes all three vaccines are morally acceptable, his spokesperson Jan Potts told The Chronicle. The archbishop agrees with the Vatican and the California Catholic Conference that all available vaccines are morally and ethically acceptable by the Catholic Church, Potts said. We encourage vaccination. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine became the first single-dose vaccine to be approved for use in the U.S. when it received Food and Drug Administration emergency authorization Saturday. There is no fetal tissue in the vaccine, Johnson & Johnson spokesperson Jake Sargent told The Chronicle in a statement. We are able to manufacture hundreds of millions of doses using our engineered cell-line system and look forward to delivering those doses around the world and help meet the critical need. The California Catholic Conference has promoted inoculation among its parishioners since the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines received FDA approval last year. All the dioceses in California together with Catholic health care ministries and Catholic Charities support the eradication of disease that disrupts human life, the organization, which oversees 1,073 parishes statewide, said in a statement in December. Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Oil traded above $61 a barrel in New York, with investors focusing on a critical OPEC+ meeting that may see supply curbs eased. West Texas Intermediate added 0.5%, while Brent also climbed fractionally. Saudi Arabia and Russia, the most influential members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, held talks on Wednesday to seek common ground on production as Riyadh urged caution and Moscow sought to increase supply, a delegate said. The group meets Thursday to agree on output levels for April. Oil started the day strongly amid gathering tensions in the Middle East after Yemens Houthi rebels claimed attacks on Saudi targets. The rebels, who are backed by Iran, said they bombed an airbase in Saudi Arabias southwest with a drone and hit a Saudi Aramco crude facility in Jeddah. Aramco and Saudi officials didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. But the crux of the markets focus Thursday will be on OPEC+. Crude has rebounded this year after the group and its allies slashed output to drive a rebalancing of the market following last years virus-induced slump. The aggressive supply management has helped to drain inventories, while worldwide demand is recovering with the roll-out of vaccines. Thats spurred expectations that OPEC+ will now loosen the taps. The challenge is perfecting the timing of output hikes, said Giovanni Staunovo, a commodity analyst at UBS Group AG. Demand will increase in the coming months, but it could happen in April, or it could happen later on. Veteran OPEC-watchers expect some extra barrels from the group, and theres little chance output will be held at current levels, but delegates said several options are still on the table. There are two elements to the debate: first, will the cartel proceed with a 500,000-barrel-a-day collective output hike in April? Second, how will Saudi Arabia phase out the extra supply reduction of 1 million barrels a day its been making voluntarily? Heading into the meeting, traders will be mindful that Saudi Arabia has developed a liking for bullish surprises. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman triggered a surge in prices at the January session by springing a unilateral production cut on an unsuspecting market. Citigroup Inc. has advised its clients not to make bets on this OPEC meeting as there are too many wildcards, according to Ed Morse, global head of commodities research. The backdrop to the gathering is a slew of indicators that energy consumption is on the mend in key economies, alongside pockets of lockdown-related weakness. Among recent positive figures, data showed U.S. commutes are slowly returning to normal, while Indias fuel demand could rise to a record. At the same time, Europes roads remain quieter than normal. Let me take you back to a younger, less jaded, far less saggy version of me. The year was 2013, and I was working on a year-long project for a childrens charity in the North-East, something I took great pride in. About a month in, I discovered I was expecting my first child and informed my employer. The following day, they sacked me by voicemail. No reason was given. My manager, a woman, simply said my contract was being pulled and I needed to hand everything over immediately. The shock was unfathomable. Then the terror kicked in; I had my share of the rent and bills to pay and not working meant I wouldnt even qualify for the measly statutory maternity pay of 151 a week. I found a lawyer and sent them a letter at a cost of 250 demanding compensation, which they duly binned. Joeli Brearley discovered she was pregnant a month into job at children's charity but the following day she was sacked by voicemail The only option remaining was to start legal proceedings for a tribunal, which would cost 9,000 money I didnt have. The following day, at a routine hospital appointment, I discovered my cervix had almost vanished and my tiny, four-month-old baby was hanging on by a thread. After surgery, they urged me to take things easy to save my son, saying: Whatever you do, dont get stressed. Forced to choose between the health of my unborn child and accessing the justice I deserved, I dropped the case. Luckily, Theodore, now seven, was born perfectly healthy two days after his due date, but my rage at being paralysed by an unfair system grew. Hearing the stories of other mothers who had experienced discrimination, I launched my website Pregnant Then Screwed in 2015. There was the woman whose employer forced her to do a shot of vodka every morning to prove she wasnt pregnant, the pregnant woman asked by her boss if she had considered an abortion. And I heard from one mum on maternity leave who received an email sent to her by mistake which said: Sack her, she wont cause a fuss, shell be too exhausted from caring for a newborn. Perhaps worst of all, I spoke to one woman who was bullied so viciously by her colleagues that she went into labour prematurely; when she was in the neonatal clinic with her baby, who could have died, her boss called and made her redundant. Not only are 54,000 women a year pushed out of their job for daring to have a baby, but 77 per cent of working mothers experience discrimination in the workplace (file photo) I wrote my new book to highlight this shocking treatment and the price women pay throughout their career the second they decide to have a child. Not only are 54,000 women a year pushed out of their job for daring to have a baby, but 77 per cent of working mothers experience discrimination in the workplace. Only 1 per cent of women who face this type of discrimination even raise a tribunal claim since, just like me, they find accessing any form of justice almost impossible. For those who kick up a fuss and threaten legal action, the majority are forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement in return for a small payout. They are gagged from ever speaking publicly about the discrimination they faced. This crisis could have been averted if Conservative MP Maria Millers recommendations had been adopted by the Government. She campaigned for a mothers legal right to have her job protected for six months after her maternity leave but has been largely ignored. At Pregnant Then Screwed, we have given legal advice to nearly 32,000 working mums who have faced discrimination since the pandemic began. The motherhood penalty is a term used by sociologists to describe the disadvantages mothers face in the workplace. Weve all heard of the gender pay gap, but the pay gap between mothers and childless women is more than that between men and women without children. Research by the International Labour Office found that in the UK, the pay gap between mothers with two children and non- mothers is 25 per cent across their lifetime. As for the gender pay gap, by the time a womans first child is 12 years old, her hourly pay rate is 33 per cent behind a mans, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. We have the second most expensive childcare system in the world resulting in one in three mums paying to go to work. Understandably, many feel forced to walk away from their career. The system is rigged to drive women back to the kitchen sink. Speaking of which, women do so much more housework and childcare than men that many take on part-time work paid on average 5 less an hour to cope. And then we wonder why a married womans pension pot is, on average, 186,000 lower than a mans. Joeli (pictured with her children Theo, six, and Jack, threee) wrote a book to highlight the shocking treatment and the price women pay throughout their career the second they decide to have a child But its not as if dads are just shirking their responsibilities. Shared parental leave is so badly cobbled together, only 2 per cent of dads use it; and even when dads ask for flexible working, it is much more likely their employer will refuse. One dad I spoke to was told by his boss: So youre going to be playing mum for three months? Shall I buy you a dress? None of this makes sense morally or economically. The cost of living largely requires two salaries for the average family household. In 201516, 43 per cent of children living with one working parent and one non-working parent were in relative income poverty, compared with 11 per cent of children in two-earner households. Women deserve to have children and a career, just as men do. Men deserve to spend more time with their children. Isnt it time we created a society where both parents are enabled to share in the challenges and rewards of raising children and developing a career? The pandemic gives us the chance to reset, to reflect on what is important. Lets seize this chance to truly level up the playing field of parenthood. The actual scope of the discrimination may be unknown. So many injustices have been hidden that few in the field trust the U.S.D.A.s version of the story. We do know, according to the most recent agriculture census, that Black farmers receive about $59 million in government payments; white farmers receive about $9 billion. Per capita, thats $1,208 for Black farmers and $2,707 for white farmers. As early as the 1940s, U.S.D.A. economists documented deplorable economic conditions facing African-Americans in the rural South, but Southern congressmen (including the namesake of a U.S.D.A. building, Jamie Whitten) blocked efforts to help Black farmers. By 1965, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that the U.S.D.A. discriminated against Black farmers. In 1999 and 2010, the government announced settlement agreements for billions of dollars in cash and debt relief and tax payments to Black farmers. Yet the payments fell far short, the department continued to discriminate, and the erosion in the number of Black farms and the near impossibility for Black, Indigenous people and other people of color to get into farming endured. This historical pattern explains the collective moan when Tom Vilsack a disappointment to Black (and many other) farmers and their supporters during his tenure as secretary of agriculture in the Obama administration was nominated for the cabinet post again. But he seems to be responding positively to the shifting political climate and the general tone of the Biden administration, as the imperative for redressing insults and injuries to Black farmers is driving developments quickly. It started in the run-up to the election, when an informal working group of leaders of the Black farming community helped presidential candidates develop policy. After the election, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey introduced the wide-ranging Justice for Black Farmers Act. The bill, which was reintroduced in February, would have paid off the U.S.D.A. debt of some Black farmers, and extends to Black farmers more of the benefits of the Homestead and Land-Grant College Acts of 1862. Those acts distributed land and funded public colleges focusing on agriculture, but by default they were programs for whites only, who were understood to be the farmers of the time. TORONTO, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Orvana Minerals Corp. (TSX: ORV) (the "Company" or "Orvana"). The Company is providing an update on its subsidiary's OroValle Minerals S.L. ("OroValle"), ongoing judicial process (the "Process") which started in 2015. This Process has been continuously disclosed and updated in the company's quarterly financial statements since June 30th 2015 The Process relates to selenium discharge levels in the Cauxa River. This river, flows past OroValle's operations as well as other properties owned by third parties. Selenium is a naturally occurring element that is found in rocks, land and water in the area, and is not used in OroValle's operations whatsoever. The results of scientific studies conducted by OroValle have confirmed that past and current levels of selenium in waterways in the vicinity do not cause environmental damage. The latest historical summary of this matter may be found in the quarter-ended December 31, 2020, financial statements. OroValle's position in this Process is that the petitioned sanctions are unreasonable and without merit. OroValle has filed its preliminary statement of defence requesting for the dismissal of the Prosecutor's allegations on the basis that, among other things, there is an absence of a committed offence. Orovalle has submitted proven and conclusive evidence that demonstrate that its activities have not resulted in any environmental damage. Considering the strength of the legal defence and evidence in favor of OroValle's position, OroValle is confident that this Process will result in the dismissal of this matter. Due to procedural matters, on March 1st, 2021, the trial has been rescheduled to an undetermined date in the future. The request of the Prosecutor and the State's Attorney acting in this Process includes a fine of up to 20m and the eventual withholding of OroValle's operations until it is demonstrated that the alleged polluting activity has ceased. The petition also includes a 5m indemnity for civil liability. The company will provide further updates as the process advances. 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). For further information please contact: 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 pending outcome of the pending trial to be held in connection with the alleged selenium discharge at El Valle, 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 The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. FAQ: What you need to know about Abbott's new mask order Sign up for our breaking newsletter or download the Express-News app to receive alerts. School and child care workers now are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Texas, a state that had not included them in its priority lists for the shots but was ordered to do so by the Biden administration. Citing the federal directive, the Texas Department of State Health Services said Wednesday that it had notified all COVID-19 vaccine providers that the change was effective immediately. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention required retail pharmacies to set aside all unbooked vaccination slots for the exclusive use of teachers, school staff and child care workers through March 31. Pharmacy providers that get direct allocations from the federal government CVS, Walgreens, H-E-B, Walmart, Sams Club and Costco under the national retail pharmacy program were encouraged to use mobile and pop-up locations to reach this new population, the CDC said. Leaders of unions representing teachers and school staff in Bexar County praised the action, saying it gave them a sense of optimism about their ability to do their jobs safely. Several school districts also applauded the change. Were encouraged, but we cant let our guard down, said Alejandra Lopez, president of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, the staff union at San Antonio Independent School District. Just because weve been given access doesnt mean that everybody will be getting vaccinated tomorrow. State health officials said they received a letter Tuesday night from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ordering them to expand eligibility to people who work in preschool, primary and secondary schools, as well as Head Start programs including teachers, staff and bus drivers and those who work for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers. In the letter, Acting HHS Secretary Norris Cochran said his agency has determined that teachers, school staff and child care workers hold jobs that are critical to the continued functioning of society and are at potential occupational risk of exposure to the virus. On ExpressNews.com: 21 national pharmacy partners agree to administer COVID-19 vaccines to priority groups Teachers unions have been vocal advocates for including educators in vaccine priority groups since late last year. It feels hopeful and it feels like educators are finally getting the acknowledgment that they have asked for this entire time, said Melina Espiritu-Azocar, lead organizer for the Northside Independent School Districts chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. If its such a priority across the nation to open schools, then educators must be prioritized, Espiritu-Azocar said. We are hopeful that this means that our educators will get quicker access to the vaccines. SAISD released a statement backing the decision wholeheartedly, and adding, We have advocated for school employees to be prioritized since vaccinations became available they are essential to supporting our students and in opening the economy. Before this federal directive, more than 1 million residents were already eligible for the vaccine in Bexar County as members of the states 1A or 1B priority categories front-line health care workers, persons 65 or older and those 16 or older with chronic health conditions. The new directive does not change anything for the other groups prioritized for vaccination in Texas, and the state health agency encouraged providers to continue efforts to vaccinate older adults, since the burden of COVID-19 falls most severely on them. About 14,000 school workers who were eligible under the 1A and 1B categories have been vaccinated through Bexar Countys public health system, University Health. University Health spokeswoman Elizabeth Allen said the system is coordinating with public and private schools to begin registering all of their employees for a COVID-19 vaccine. It will develop a plan to reach child care workers not affiliated with a school district, but until then they can sign up when appointments open at its mass vaccination site, the Wonderland of the Americas mall. Yolanda Jones, a sixth-grade teacher at Kirby Middle School in Judson ISD, received a first dose of the vaccine on Tuesday. While she was happy to know colleagues will now have access, she said its not lost on her that Texas had ordered schools reopened but didnt put school workers on its initial vaccine list when the shots became available. In my world and in my familys world Ive been essential from day one, Jones said. The fact is that Texas just recognized that I am essential. (Texas) waited a whole year to even consider us, but made us come back to danger, where we didnt have protection. For weeks, people have been struggling to get an appointment amid a supply shortage, but that could change soon. This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared a third COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. Developed by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, the single-shot vaccine will also be manufactured by a competitor, Merck, under an agreement brokered by the White House. President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the country would have enough vaccine supply for every adult American by May moving up his timeline by two months. But until vaccines are more widely available, teachers unions are going to continue advocating for safer working conditions and greater community access to vaccines, said Lopez, the SAISD union head. Trying to get a vaccine through Judson ISD felt like a matter of luck to Vanessa Garza, an intervention teacher at Copperfield Elementary School. Ive described it like playing the lottery, Garza said. The district would send us an email saying they had so many vaccines, then you had to email back real quick to try to get an appointment. laura.garcia@express-news.net Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise New FDS Amplicare Brand Reflects Collective Strength for Pharmacies FT. WORTH, Texas, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FDS, a pharmacy software solutions company, and Amplicare, its sister company since their merger in Sept. 2020, announced a new brand; FDS Amplicare. The new brand embodies the collective strength the organization offers pharmacies and patients through its suite of software solutions. Together, FDS Amplicare has more than 30 years of experience in delivering pharmacy software solutions ranging from claims reconciliation and medical billing, to business intelligence, patient communications, and Medicare plan selection. By combining proven technologies and pharmacy clinical and financial expertise, these solutions help pharmacies (and their patients) save time and money while delivering quality patient care. "The FDS Amplicare team's passion and expertise are unmatched. Our combined portfolio of solutions enables our partner pharmacies to evolve and deliver clinically focused services as a New Era pharmacy," said Adam McMullin, FDS Amplicare CEO. "Pharmacists are the cornerstone of community health, and we are dedicated to delivering tools and solutions that ensure their continued success and improve the health of the communities they serve." "The FDS and Amplicare merger was the perfect blend of complementary solutions specifically designed to help independent pharmacies," added Tracie Heyrman, Vice President, Preferred Partners, for American Associated Pharmacies. "The new organization joined two forward-thinking companies that truly have the pharmacy's best interests at heart." As leaders in pharmacy software solutions, FDS Amplicare is dedicated to improving patient care and fostering stronger ties between pharmacies and their communities. By joining FDS' and Amplicare's unique suites of products, the merger created a complementary and powerful new solution set enabling pharmacists and pharmacies to fully evolve to clinically focused New Era pharmacies that are well-positioned to deliver comprehensive pharmacy and medical services. Story continues To learn more about FDS Amplicare, visit www.FDSrx.com or www.Amplicare.com. About FDS Amplicare: FDS Amplicare strengthens the health of pharmacies and their patients. Through the delivery of innovative software products and services, we enable the evolution of the clinically focused New Era Pharmacy, empowering our clients to provide comprehensive pharmacy and clinical care services for their communities. Contact: Kim Warth (303) 918-9205 kwarth@acmarketingpr.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fds-and-amplicare-announce-new-name-following-2020-merger-301240125.html SOURCE FDS Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 4 March 2021: The Report Biopharmaceutical Third Party Logistics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Supply Chain (Cold Chain, Non-cold Chain), By Service Type (Transportation, Warehousing And Storage), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028 The global biopharmaceutical third party logistics market size is expected to reach USD 145.2 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2021 to 2028. Rising demand for temperature-controlled logistic services to transport biologics in various regions and growing distribution networks of biopharmaceutical companies to improve their sales are factors driving the market growth. The rising adoption of automated storage and retrieval systems in emerging countries is an ongoing trend in pharmaceutical logistics companies that has gained significant traction. The biopharmaceutical third party logistic players played a vital role in the fight against COVID-19 by minimizing supply disruptions and prioritizing critical care drugs. The future also seems good for the biopharmaceutical 3PL market with rising demand for domestic logistics coupled with favorable government initiatives and policies. Furthermore, the trend of shifting from small molecule drugs to biopharmaceuticals, mainly vaccines & biologics, is projected to drive the market. Since these small molecule drugs are temperature-sensitive products, demand for temperature-controlled transportation and storage increases and thus is responsible for market growth. Additionally, environmental concerns and cost have caused a slight shift in the means of transport used for commercial products, moving from airway to seaway shipping, and in roadways from trucks to intermodal (both rail and truck). Intermodal transport is majorly used by these pharmaceutical companies to reduce the carbon footprint. The ongoing trend shows that pharmaceutical manufacturers have shifted towards sea freight to reduce the cost and risk factors. Although for cold chain products, the companies still prefer air freight. However, some of the large pharmaceutical companies are planning to transport 70% of their products via ocean freight including cold chain products. Access Research Report of Biopharmaceutical Third Party Logistics Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/biopharmaceutical-third-party-logistics-3pl-market Biopharmaceutical 3PL Market Report Highlights In 2020, non-cold chain logistics held the largest market share of 80.8% in terms of revenue owing to the sales of a large number of drugs that do not require any temperature control The cold chain logistics segment is expected to register the faster CAGR of 8.6% over the forecast period owing to the demand for biologics, such as cellular therapies, vaccines, and test kits Warehousing and storage held the largest market of 43.6% share among the types of services in 2020 Asia Pacific is expected to emerge with the fastest CAGR of 7.2% over the forecast period owing to the adoption of medicines from the aging population and a shift of drug sales from brand manufacturers to generic List of key players in the Biopharmaceutical 3PL Market DHL International GmbH SF Express United Parcel Service of America, Inc. AmerisourceBergen Corporation DB Schenker KUEHNE + NAGEL Kerry Logistics Network Limited Agility Access Press Release of Biopharmaceutical Third Party Logistics Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-biopharmaceutical-third-party-logistics-3pl-market What are NFTs and how are Kings Of Leon, Grimes, 3LAU making millions selling them? What are NFTs and why are musicians embracing them? Grimes sold $5.8 million of them in the first 20 minutes as part of a digital art auction. 3lau (aka Justin Blau) grossed $11.6 million in NFT sales and his management company is planning other offerings. Kings of Leons new album will be released Friday as NFTs and purchasers can unlock special perks like limited-edition vinyl and front row seats to future concerts. There will be three types of tokens, in addition to the music being available on Spotify, Apple Music, and the like. Portugal. The Man and Shawn Mendes have been getting playing with NFTs. What is an NFT? NFT stands for Non-fungible cryptocurrency token. Non-fungible means that its unique and cant be replaced. Bitcoin is fungible you can trade one for another bitcoin, and youll have exactly the same thing. Conversely, a one-of-a-kind piece of art or music or even a seat at a concert is non-fungible. Because NFTs operate on a blockchain, anyone can access the details of an NFT transaction and their value goes up and down like stocks. Why are artists and fans embracing NFTs? Fans of these artists are betting that the value of their NFT purchase will go up and that in turn allows artists to charge a premium for the initial purchase as well as for now get a nice PR bump. The Kings of Leon of Leon NFT sale begins via the Yellowheart platform at Noon on Friday, March 5th and will last for two weeks Sale details via cNet: the album as three types of tokens, with one being a special album package, the other providing live show perks like front-row seats, and another for exclusive audiovisual art. The token will cost $50, and will include a digital download, limited-edition vinyl and enhanced media like a moving album cover. YellowHeart is also creating 18 golden tickets, according to the report, six of which the band will auction while the rest will be vaulted. Each one of those is a unique NFT with the most incredible Kings of Leon art youve ever seen, YellowHeart CEO Josh Katz told Rolling Stone. Owners of the tokens will have access to four front-row seats during any Kings of Leon tour for life. Theyll also get a VIP experience with a personal driver, concierge at the show and the chance to spend time with the band before the show, as well as lounge access. When the shows over, their car will be packed with four bags containing all items from the merchandise booth. Share on: EV We're talking about Huawei, the Chinese tech behemoth thats been struggling lately due to United States' sanctions, which forbid the company from using products created by American firms.According to a recent finding , Huawei has been granted patents for a series of-related technologies, including an electric drive system. One patent also mentions an electric vehicle. For the time being, its not yet clear if Huawei plans to launch its very own car or just step into the automotive industry by supplying the necessary software and some EV components for other companies.Needless to say, Huaweis expansion in the car business isnt necessarily surprising, especially because more and more tech giants are currently exploring such a long-term plan.Apple is the biggest name to do this, as the Cupertino-based tech giant is already working on an autonomous electric vehicle that could see the daylight by 2024 or 2025 . Apple has reached out to a series of traditional carmakers to manufacture its vehicle, including Hyundai, Nissan, and others, but an agreement is yet to be reached.In the meantime, Xiaomi too is exploring this ambitious expansion, and its believed the company could work together with a Chinese firm on building its very own EV that would at one point compete against the Apple Car.At this point, none of these tech giants planning to step into the car industry have confirmed their projects, so a certain amount of skepticism is certainly recommended for the time being. More information, however, is likely to emerge, especially as most of them reach out to traditional carmakers for manufacturing partnerships. ZURICH, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alumnus Lionel Conod launches Million Dollar Billboard, a vigorous disruptive advertisement platform that provides unlimited marketing potential to businesses all around the world by supercharging a proven success concept. "Especially in a world of ferocious competition where billions are spent on social media ads, this is the most cost-effective and straightforward way to pole-position your brand right at the palm of your prospects' hands to stand out from your competitors with ease." For the ultimate 2021 marketing experience, growth-focused brands, startups, influencers and many more with an international service offering can now reach millions of their prospects worldwide and create a powerful sales funnel to dominate the market at almost no cost. "The only thing that is limited on the Million Dollar Billboard is its advertisement space, which is assigned to expansion-focused brands on a first come first serve basis." Growth-oriented businesses can easily join the billboard by investing 1 Dollar per pixel only and maximize their presence with attention-boosting magnetizers such as animations and videos. In order to get featured, a business simply needs to select a spot, submit an ad with a minimum of 100 pixels and transfer the investment amount via PayPal. "Either way, you win." Even without mobile optimization and video content, a similar success concept attracted 600'000 daily unique visitors. Also, the number of internet users has more than quadrupled since then. If the platform should, at a very conservative estimate, generate only 1% of this attention, the return on marketing investment would still outperform contemporary social media marketing solutions, especially taking into account that the brands are intended to be featured for at least 9 years. In more favorable scenarios, the businesses on the billboard get millions of unique visitors which makes it an unbeatable sales prospecting and brand awareness-raising tool. Previous to the launch, 21 companies enthusiastically expressed their intention to join the Million Dollar Billboard experience already. To learn more, visit www.million-dollar-billboard.com or follow us on Twitter @MillionDollarBD. Interested publishers can find more details in the full press release kit. Press contact: Lionel Conod Email: [email protected] Phone: +41 (0) 78 969 88 06 Related Files Logo_MDB_16x9.png Logo_MDB_9x16.png Related Images logo-million-dollar-billboard.png Logo Million Dollar Billboard Related Video https://vimeo.com/518914986 SOURCE Million Dollar Billboard Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The woman who accused Attorney-General Christian Porter of sexual assault - which he vehemently denies - met police at least five times before telling investigators she didn't want to go ahead with her complaint for health reasons. NSW Police have issued a detailed statement describing how a strike force investigated the woman's claims the senior Morrison Government official raped her on a debating trip in Sydney in January 1988. It comes as the Adelaide woman's family throw their support behind 'any inquiry which would potentially shed light on the circumstances' surrounding their daughter's suicide death. The grieving family's comments were issued by their lawyers on Thursday after Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared to rule out an independent inquiry into his senior minister. NSW Police provided a timeline of how the accuser, a highly educated academic, 49, worked with detectives - first attending Kings Cross Police Station on February 27, 2020, along with a support person. At the meeting, the accuser told officers she had a number of health problems and that she 'dissociates'. Disassociation is described by Australian health authorities as 'a mental process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, memories or sense of identity'. The accuser said she 'wanted to ensure when supplying her statement that was as coherent and as grounded as possible,' the police statement said. Christian Porter outed himself as the Cabinet Minister accused at a press conference on Thursday, where he categorically denied raping the woman when he was 17 and she was 16 The woman first attended Kings Cross Police Station in Sydney's east (above) in February last year and met with officers In the statement, police said officers were assured she had help from professionals, her family and partner and their 'primary concern' was 'victim care and welfare'. Detectives contacted the woman on at least five occasions over the following three months, the statement said. 'During the contact had with her, her ongoing welfare was discussed along with a plan for how and when her statement would be taken,' police said. 'On 23 June 2020 the woman sent detectives an email indicating she no longer felt able to proceed with reporting the matter, citing medical and personal reasons. 'The woman very clearly articulated in that email that she did not want to proceed with the complaint. 'She also thanked investigators in this email. She was very grateful for the time and support the Investigators provided to her.' The next day, June 24, a strike force detective replied to the email. That was the day the woman took her own life at home in Adelaide. South Australian police informed their NSW counterparts that the woman had died on June 25. Reports have claimed she was in quarantine at the time of her death, having recently returned from Melbourne. A source confirmed she had travelled from Melbourne and that was possible. Police said it was only later they 'came into possession of a personal document purportedly made by the woman sometime prior.' In an unsworn statement circulated among media and political circles, the woman claimed the incident occurred in 1988 after a night of drinking and dancing in Kings Cross. The woman attended a national debating competition in Sydney with Christian Porter (above) A visibly shattered Mr Porter last night sensationally outed himself as the Morrison Government minister who had been accused. He did so in order to categorically deny the accusation and insist he will not stand down from his position. 'It just didn't happen,' he repeatedly said. The 50-year-old former public prosecutor confirmed he attended a debating competition at Sydney University with his accuser when he was 17 and she was 16. However, he denied ever sleeping with the woman. NSW Police closed their investigation into the matter due to insufficient evidence. In South Australia, police are still separately investigating the woman's death for the state Coroner. Several of the woman's friends have called for an independent investigation into the claims. But Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on Thursday that the police are the only appropriate body to investigate such serious claims - ruling out such an inquiry. 'There is no other alternative for a Prime Minister than the rule of law. There's not another process,' he said. Critics have argued many organisations, including companies and sporting codes, launch independent investigations that do not breach the rule of law. The new police statement comes amid controversy over officers earlier this week declaring their investigation 'closed' due to there being 'insufficient evidence to proceed.' A former lawyer for the woman declined to comment. For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. The EU has blocked a shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines from leaving Italy for Australia using controversial export laws for the first time. Authorities in Italy refused to grant a licence for 250,000 doses manufactured in the country to be exported, meaning the shipment could not leave Thursday as planned. Officials in Rome had informed the EU of its intention to act last week and Brussels did not object to the move. European leaders hastily passed new laws in January which require vaccine-makers to get permission from member states if they are planning to ship jabs manufactured in their countries overseas. The 250,000 doses will reportedly now be distributed within the EU, whose member states are lagging behind other developed nations, including the United Kingdom. The move came amid an almighty row between Brussels and AstraZeneca after the company said an initial delivery of vaccines to the EU would fall short - hampering the continent's already-slow roll-out. European leaders were quick to accuse the British-Swedish company of shipping doses made on the continent to the UK, saying it amounted to unfair treatment. Australia began its vaccine campaign last week and had intended to use jabs shipped from abroad in the early part of the roll-out, before switching to domestically-produced ones. Italy has blocked a shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccines bound for Australia from leaving the country using EU export laws - the first time they have been used. The laws were introduced in January in a desperate effort to speed up Europe's vaccine drive The news emerged just a day after Europe's new vaccine Tsar, Thierry Breton, bragged that not a single vaccine dose had left the continent since the rules were introduced The export block came on the same day that Germany approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for over-65s to speed up the pace of its vaccination programme. It marks a major U-turn for Germany after ministers cast skepticism on the jab by briefing journalists that it barely works in older people. The move also came a day after Thierry Breton, who has been put in charge of speeding up the EU's jab programme, bragged that not a single vaccine dose had left Europe since export controls were brought in. Speaking in The Hague on Wednesday, Breton said he would ensure that AstraZeneca 'delivers what is promised' in the coming months. Australia's slow jabs roll-out Australia has only just begun to roll-out Covid-19 jabs, with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved for use from Friday. The country received a delivery of 142,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on February 15, but the AstraZeneca jab is to be the predominant vaccine for Australians. Just 0.2 per 100 people have received a vaccine dose, compared to 31.82 in Britain, 24.33 in the U.S. and 8.71 in Europe. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jab arrived in Sydney on Sunday and were to be administered to front-line medics in the south of the country from Friday. Another 3.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab are to be shipped in from overseas. Mr Morrison said that a further 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab will be made domestically in Melbourne to avoid relying on other countries and supply problems. The doses will be manufactured in monthly batches. The 53.8 million doses are enough to provide two doses to every person in the country, which has a population of around 25 million. Advertisement Breton was in Italy on Thursday, when he boasted that Europe has 'plenty of vaccines available' and will be able to offer one to every adult before the end of summer. Breton claimed that EU countries have received 43 million doses so far, but have not yet used about 30 per cent of them. According to the commissioner, by the end of the year the EU will be able to manufacture 2-3 billion vaccine doses per year, beating the production capacity of the US, China and Russia. The commissioner called for EU unity, after several members of the bloc, including Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark and Austria, broke ranks to source vaccines from Israel, China or Russia. 'No single country can have an autonomous vaccination strategy ... we all depend on one another,' Breton said. German regulators submitted their revised verdict on AstraZeneca's vaccine on Thursday - a move which Angela Merkel's health minister Jens Spahn had pleaded for the day prior. It came amid calls to use the Sputnik V to speed up a vaccine drive hampered by EU supply chaos and public doubts over the AstraZeneca shot, with one state premier saying the country should do 'everything possible' to quicken the pace. Reiner Haseloff, the leader of Saxony-Anhalt, said he would 'take Sputnik V any time', having had a Soviet-made polio shot as a child in East Germany - adding that he was open to making vaccines compulsory like they were in the Communist-ruled state. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) today began a rolling review of Sputnik V but Hungary and Slovakia have already jumped ahead to buy their own shots while the Czech Republic is mulling a similar move. It tees up a potential propaganda coup for Vladimir Putin, who was widely scorned for approving the vaccine last August before clinical trials were complete but may have the last laugh after testing showed it to be 91.6 per cent effective. The EMA began its review today based on clinical studies and lab tests which 'indicate that Sputnik V triggers the production of antibodies and immune cells' that can protect against Covid-19. Covid cases rising in Europe after six-week decline, warns WHO The number of Covid-19 cases are rising in Europe after a six-week decline, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. New infections increased by nine per cent amid a 'resurgence' in central and Eastern Europe, said Hans Kluge. The agency's Europe regional director told a press briefing today: 'Last week, new cases of Covid-19 in Europe rose nine percent to just above one million. 'This brought a promising six-week decline in new cases to an end, with more than half of our region seeing increasing numbers of new infections. 'We are seeing a resurgence in central and Eastern Europe. New cases are also on the rise in several western European countries where rates were already high.' Mr Kluge added: 'We need to get back to the basics. We need to enlarge.' Advertisement Slovakia has already ordered two million doses of Sputnik V and received its first shipment of 200,000 shots on a military plane from Moscow. The neighbouring Czech Republic could also press Sputnik V into service even without approval from the EMA, its prime minister has said. And Hungary, which has broken away even further by bringing in the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, has also received its first deliveries of Sputnik V. Russia gloated today that it expected several EU countries to approve Sputnik V this month, saying it could provide 50million shots starting from June if required. Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, said the jab could act as a bridge between Russia and Europe and should not get bogged down in politics - just as Western countries clash with Moscow over the jailing of Alexei Navalny. The RDIF sovereign wealth fund which helped finance the development of Sputnik V, said on Thursday that 42 countries have registered the vaccine so far. The Kremlin says that Merkel herself has discussed the possibility of 'joint vaccine production' with Putin. Merkel has come under fire at home for letting Brussels and her former cabinet colleague Ursula von der Leyen take charge of the vaccine programme. The EU chaos has been made worse by public reluctance to take the AstraZeneca shot after several countries including Germany cast doubt on its efficacy by refusing to recommend it for over-65s. Merkel's health minister Jens Spahn yesterday urged regulators to act on the real-world findings from the UK which prove that the jab is highly effective in older people. 'We now have very good data from England and Scotland showing that AstraZeneca works very, very well in over-65s,' Spahn told ARD television on Wednesday. A separate University of Bristol study published on Wednesday found one shot of the AstraZeneca jab reducing severe cases of Covid-19 by 80.4 per cent. Angela Merkel, pictured, said last month that she was not eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine because she is 66 years old - a position which could be about to change Vladimir Putin, pictured, has touted the success of the Sputnik V vaccine which was shown by trial results to be 91.6 per cent effective The findings, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, also showed a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech product cutting severe illness by 71.4 per cent. Spahn has also called for Germany to delay second doses as far as regulators will allow - six weeks for the Pfizer jab and 12 weeks for AstraZeneca - in another move to emulate Britain's success in handing out millions of first doses. Israel, Denmark, Austria agree deal for vaccine development Leaders from Israel, Austria and Denmark announced Thursday an alliance for the development and production of future generation coronavirus vaccines, at a press conference in Jerusalem. The three countries will launch 'a research and development fund' and begin 'joint efforts for common production of future vaccines', Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, alongside his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. 'We don't know how long... (current coronavirus) vaccines will hold up,' Netanyahu added. 'Is it half a year, is it a year, is it two years, is it more, is it less? We don't know. Therefore we have to protect our people against the reemergence of this pandemic, or mutations.' He did not specify the fund amount or the production capacity goal. Frederiksen said the three countries 'all have promising research that could pave the way for (a) next generation platform', adding they 'would like also to explore possible cooperation on clinical trials'. Denmark and Austria are European Union members, and the Israeli partnership has elicited criticism from fellow EU state France, which said the European system remained the best way to guarantee 'solidarity' within the bloc. Kurz had announced the alliance on Monday, saying the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was 'too slow in approving vaccines', leaving the bloc vulnerable to supply bottlenecks at pharmaceutical companies. Advertisement Concerns about the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine have also hampered its rollout in Italy, with some refusing to have the jab as they believe the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines offer more protection. Teachers and police officers under 50 have been bumped up the priority list, providing they accept the AstraZeneca vaccine. Police representatives have demanded they be given jabs by Pfizer or Moderna. Dr Paolo Mezzana told ITV that the doctors in Italy are also asking to be given different vaccine but this is because the AstraZeneca jab takes longer for immunisation to come into effect. Mezzana said people had misinterpreted their stance and some now believe they should not have an AstraZeneca jab if doctors are refusing one. It came as a survey by Kekst CNC found 77 per cent of Britons saying their country has handled the vaccine roll-out well - compared to 23 per cent in Germany, 19 per cent in Sweden and 18 per cent in France. According to the poll, only 17 per cent in Germany and 24 per cent in France say the EU has done a good job of trying to immunise its 447million population. The findings are unsurprising given the much faster pace of the roll-out in Britain, where more than 30 per cent of the entire population has had at least one dose. The poll of 1,000 adults in each nation also found that Britons were the most likely to take the jab, with 89 per cent saying they would get one or had already done so. That compared to 76 per cent in Sweden, 73 per cent in Germany and only 59 per cent in France where vaccine scepticism has long been a concern. More than half of those surveyed in the three EU nations said vaccination progress was too slow in their country, a view shared by only 14 per cent of Britons. The UK is moving at one of the fastest rates in the world after approving both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines before any other country. By contrast, the EU did not get started at all until late December and did not approve the Oxford jab until the end of January after feuding with AstraZeneca over supplies. Macron poured fuel on the fire by claiming the vaccine was 'quasi-ineffective' in older people following sensational but widely-debunked claims about its efficacy. German health minister Jens Spahn, pictured, has called for regulators to let over-65s take the AstraZeneca jab after real-world data from England and Scotland proved that it works In Britain, 77 per cent of people praise their country's efforts in the vaccine roll-out (in green), but the figures are much lower in Germany (23 per cent), Sweden (19 per cent) and France (18 per cent) which are all lagging far behind the UK The poll also found Britons (far left) the most likely to take a vaccine, with 89 per cent saying they would take a jab or have already done so. The figure is only 59 per cent in France According to the poll, 23 per cent of Germans said their country had done a good job with vaccines while 46 per cent said it had done badly. Merkel has been left pleading with people to take the AstraZeneca jab with many Germans preferring the Pfizer/BioNTech product co-developed in Germany. The chancellor says she cannot set an example by taking the AstraZeneca jab herself because she is 66 years old and not currently eligible. France's vaccine efforts were praised by 18 per cent and criticised by 39 per cent, after scientists said the roll-out was too slow to prevent a third wave of severe cases. The slow progress has left France teetering on the bring of a third national lockdown which Macron has tried to prevent with a nationwide 6pm curfew. And in Sweden, 51 per cent said their country had handled the roll-out badly, compared to 19 per cent who said it had done well. The findings are a blow to the Nordic country which has long cited the 'high level of trust in government agencies' as justification for its no-lockdown policies. The survey shows a slump in approval ratings for Swedish PM Stefan Lofven, who is now 17 points underwater in the public's assessment of his virus response. Macron is at minus 15 per cent, while Merkel is still up by 23 per cent but her ratings have dropped significantly since Germany's relative success in the first wave. By contrast, Boris Johnson has enjoyed something of a revival after long being criticised for his handling of the crisis, although his rating is still minus 13 per cent. The PM last week laid out detailed plans for lifting the lockdown which could see all limits on gatherings scrapped by June 21 in England. All adults are expected to be given a first dose of the vaccine by July 31, while the EU has a more modest aim of vaccinating 70 per cent of adults by September. The South African government has warned of illegitimate COVID-19 vaccines being sold online and on the dark web. The public is warned that no approved vaccines are currently available for sale online, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said in a tweet. The government assured South Africans it would not allow any vaccines to be resold on the black market. South Africans will not have to pay for vaccinations against COVID-19 and the government would not allow anyone to sell it on the black market. Any vaccine being advertised on websites or the dark web, is not legitimate, not tested and may be dangerous, it added. Anyone who buys these drugs is putting themselves at risk and giving their money to organised criminals. The government reminded South Africans that it has put in place an Electronic Vaccine Data System that aims to ensure that those who are vaccinated are contactable and alerted to optimise adherence to the vaccination regimen. The public is warned that no approved vaccines are currently available for sale online. South Africans will not have to pay for vaccinations against Covid-19 and @GovernmentZA would not allow anyone to sell it on the black market. #VaccineRolloutSA #vaccination #COVID19 GCIS Media Liaison (@GCISMedia) March 4, 2021 Fake COVID-19 vaccine bust Yesterday, South African police seized 400 doses of a fake COVID-19 vaccine at a warehouse in Germiston, along with a large number of fake masks. Three Chinese nationals and a Zambian national were arrested as part of the bust. Since COVID-19 reached the shores of South Africa, the government has adopted an integrated multi-disciplinary law enforcement approach, said South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo. This, together with our association with counterparts from all INTERPOL member countries, is proving to be very effective as we have seen in the arrests for foreign nationals attempting to peddle fake vaccines to unsuspecting people within South Africa. The advent of fake COVID-19 vaccines being sold on the black market is also a significant problem in China. In China, police successfully identified a network selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines, raided the manufacturing premises, resulting in the arrest of some 80 suspects, and seized more than 3,000 fake vaccines on the scene, INTERPOL said in a statement INTERPOL said it was also receiving additional reports of fake vaccine distribution and scam attempts targeting health bodies, such as nursing homes. The cast from the first season of The Real World are back together again in a new trailer for Paramount+'s The Real World Homecoming: New York. ADVERTISEMENT Cast members Becky Blasband, Andre Comeau, Heather B. Gardner, Julie Gentry, Norman Korpi, Eric Niles and Kevin Powell return to their New York loft where the hit reality series began in 1992 in the clip released on Wednesday. The group sits down for a couple of drinks and begin to catch-up. The trailer also showcases footage from the original season and how a new round of drama results in a cast member leaving. "I know they signed up to put all of us together but they wasn't ready for this [expletive]," Gardner says. The Real World Homecoming: New York is coming to Paramount+ when it launches on March 4. The new streaming service from ViacomCBS is taking over CBS All Access. "Almost 30 years later, the original 'seven strangers' that paved the way for modern reality TV are moving back into the New York loft where it all began. Viewers will be reunited with the cast from the very first season of The Real World in a brand new multi-episode docu-series to find out, once again, what happens when they stop being polite...and start getting real," reads the synopsis. DENVER, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PEAK) announced today that Tom Herzog, its Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at the Citi 2021 Global Property CEO Conference. The presentation is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, March 8, 2021. You can access the webcast by visiting our website at https://ir.healthpeak.com/webcasts. A replay of the webcast will be available on our website through March 8, 2022. ABOUT HEALTHPEAK PROPERTIES Healthpeak Properties, Inc. is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) and S&P 500 company. Healthpeak owns and develops high-quality real estate in the three private-pay healthcare asset classes of Life Science, Medical Office and CCRCs. At Healthpeak, we pair our deep understanding of the healthcare real estate market with a strong vision for long-term growth. For more information regarding Healthpeak, visit www.healthpeak.com. CONTACT Andrew Johns Vice President Corporate Finance and Investor Relations 720-428-5400 SOURCE Healthpeak Properties, Inc. Related Links http://www.healthpeak.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE Policing reforms are making for strange bedfellows in New Mexico as the co-founders of Ben & Jerrys ice cream and the conservative-backed nonprofit group Americans for Prosperity lobby for a bill to eliminate police immunity from lawsuits on civil rights violations. Ice cream entrepreneurs and civic activists Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield joined an online news conference Tuesday to promote the proposed policing reforms that would allow civil right lawsuits against local officials in state courts. Cohen said he hopes the bill will be approved and serve as a model for police accountability movements in other states. He called police brutality a white problem. People who we authorize for the use of force in our name need to be more accountable, not less, Cohen said. The proposed Civil Rights Act from Democratic state legislators is confronting near-unified opposition from a long list of sheriffs and law enforcement associations. The bill builds on the recommendations of the state Civil Rights Commission, chartered by the Legislature and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in June as protests over police brutality and racial injustice swept the nation and Albuquerque. The state House has endorsed the proposal, and the state Senate has until March 20 to send a bill to the governor. Recent amendments to the bill would cap damages at $2 million and allow lawsuits against agencies only. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace is warning that civil rights claims in state court would shrink available local spending on law enforcement and unfairly brand individual officers as a liability. He said officers and deputies feel they are under attack from a variety of legislative proposals. The general consensus across law enforcement, across the state? Its an all-out attack on law enforcement, said Mace, chairman of the New Mexico Sheriffs Association. On Monday, Americans for Prosperity announced a petition and advertising campaign in support of overhauling police immunity provisions. The group is connected to the primary political organization supported by billionaire Charles Koch, whose organizations have spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Republican candidates and conservative policies. The Coast Guard says it has called off its search for a missing helicopter in waters off Alaska piloted by a health chief accused of sexual misconduct. Andy Teuber, 52, was reported overdue by his family after he failed to arrive in Kodiak, Alaska, after taking off two hours earlier in Anchorage. After an extensive search with our available assets resulting in inconclusive findings, its with a heavy heart that we have to suspend this search pending any new information, said Commander Matthew Hobbie, the Coast Guard search and rescue coordinator. I offer my deepest condolences to those affected by this incident. Mr Teuber resigned last week as the chairman and president of the states largest tribal health care organisation. His former assistant at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Savanah Evans, had accused him of unrelenting abuse and coerced sex, which he had strongly denied. Authorities say that searchers discovered a yellow helicopter float among debris in water that matches the equipment on the Robinson R66 Turbine Marine Helicopter Mr Teuber was piloting. Mr Teubers family provided officials with his last known GPS location in the northern Gulf of Alaska between the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island. The Coast Guard launched a C-130 fixed-wing airplane and MH-60 helicopter and discovered the debris southeast of Ushagat Island. The float recovered from the water is normally deployed in case of emergencies over water. Ms Evans released a statement on Wednesday through her lawyer, Jana Weltzin. This is a difficult time for my client. It is also a difficult time for Mr Teubers family, said Ms Weltzin. Ms Evans offers her condolences and prayers for everyone impacted by this tragedy, especially to Mr Teubers children. She does stand ready to participate in the ANTHC internal investigation to ensure the cycle of abusive and enabling behaviour truly ends. Mr Teuber, who is originally from Kodiak and lives in the Anchorage area, also listed his home on Tuesday, his real estate agent Joe Bell confirmed. He had led the consortium for over a decade and was paid more than $1 million per year. The Associated Press contributed to this report Loncor president Peter Cowley told investors that the company continues to be impressed with the drill results from Adumbi Loncor is hoping to outline additional mineral resources at Adumbi to its current inferred mineral resource of 2.5 million ounces of gold ( ) ( ) (FSE:LO51) has revealed encouraging results from its current drilling program at the Adumbi deposit on the Imbo project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company said that it had intersected 43.1 metres grading 1.7 grams per ton (g/t) gold; 0.8 metres grading 21.8 g/t gold and 15 metres grading 3.6 g/t gold, including 3.1 metres grading 13.3 g/t gold. Loncor president Peter Cowley told investors that the company continues to be impressed with the drill results from Adumbi. All four completed infill holes within the open pit shell have intersected significant gold mineralization with an improvement in grade and thickness compared to the previous block model, and further studies will now be undertaken to quantify this increase in terms of mineral resources within the open pit shell, Cowley said in a statement. Toronto-based Loncor is hoping to outline additional mineral resources at Adumbi to its current inferred mineral resource of 2.5 million ounces of gold. Its 84.7%-owned Imbo project contains the Adumbi, Kitenge and Manzako deposits, with inferred mineral resources of 30.7 million tonnes grading 2.5 g/t gold. Loncor said that it is now focusing on drilling the downdip and down plunge extensions below the open pit shell where the gold mineralization remains open. The firm is awaiting assay results from the deepest core hole of the drilling campaign, it added. Another two holes are currently being drilled on the property. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal If Bernalillo County meets certain COVID-19 spread thresholds, all K-12 Albuquerque Public Schools students who want to return would be able to go to school two days a week for a hybrid of in-person and online learning. The Board of Education unanimously voted on Wednesday to allow students to return in this hybrid model if the county gets to the medium-risk green level. The state Public Education Department allows schools to bring back up to 50% of students at one time in the hybrid model as long as they meet safety requirements. The New Mexico Department of Health considers a county as green when they reach a COVID-19 test positivity rate of 5% or less and fewer than eight new cases a day per 100,000 people. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Bernalillo County is currently in the yellow, meaning it has reached one of those standards. Interim Superintendent Scott Elder said the district would need to get to green before May 1; otherwise, it would be too close to the end of the year. After county designations are announced, teachers would have a week to prepare on site. Students would start going back to school the following week. Monday and Tuesday would be for students with last names that start with A through L. Students with last names that start with M through Z would go to school Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays, all students would learn remotely. Even when we are in hybrid, I remind everyone that remote, digital instruction remains the primary mode of instruction for students both in the building and at home. Well have part of the student body at home, so the remote instruction does still occur, Elder said. Families will have the option to keep students learning exclusively online if they choose. Should the county get to green, parents may have to arrange a ride to school initially. Elder said busing students remains an issue, among other challenges. We recognize that hybrid brings its own unique set of difficulties just like virtual did, he said. I would definitely say that, again, we are not going to be talking about a great deal of time here in these classroom settings. We are getting close to the end of the year, and I dont know when well make it to green, Elder said. APS board members had indicated previously that in-person learning could expand if coronavirus cases in the county continued to improve. Elder said using the green criteria to signal opening in the hybrid model has been on the table since the first semester. Under that hybrid model, staffers would work from school unless they have an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Elder. Substitute teachers and potentially educational assistants could fill in for teachers allowed to work remotely. Last month, the school board decided students would continue to learn virtually, while allowing in-person small groups for some K-12 students. That decision led to an announcement Wednesday that athletes will be allowed to return to their sports. Starting Monday, athletes at the districts 13 high schools will be in pods for 14 days. Teams could return to full practices by March 22 if they meet state health protocols and varsity events in APS are expected to begin in March. About 100 schools plans have been approved for their in-person small groups as of Wednesday afternoon, Elder told the board. Until that recent move, APS stuck with online learning this school year with limited exceptions for students with disabilities. The school district has been under heightened pressure by some students, especially athletes, and parents to open classrooms after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham allowed in-person learning options to expand starting in early February. That update included middle and high schools, which largely hadnt been allowed to open since the pandemic hit. Looking to next school year, Elder was optimistic. I do anticipate us being in school in the fall, he said. James Yodice contributed to this report. The sun rises behind the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, Nov. 12, 2019. Three in five businesses in the China-Australia education sector say Chinese appetites for Australian education are deteriorating, a recent survey shows. EPA The Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen said on Thursday it had destroyed a ballistic missile fired towards Jazan in the south of the kingdom by Houthi forces, in a statement carried by Saudi state media outlets. Yemens Houthi forces earlier on Thursday said they fired a missile at a Saudi Aramco facility in Saudi Arabias Red Sea city of Jeddah. Short link: Sixty nuns and 25 priests have died in Tanzania in the last two months after showing symptoms of coronavirus, the Catholic Church in the East African nation says. The church, which has been outspoken about coronavirus before in one of the few countries in the world not to publish its virus data, warned Tanzanians to take Covid-19 precautions more seriously. President John Magufuli has previously played down the virus - and last month the health minister said that Tanzania had no plans to vaccinate. But Father Charles Kitima, secretary of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) - an official assembly of Catholic bishops, said the Covid-19 threat was alive in Tanzania. It is upon every one of us to make sure that we take all the required precautions and protect ourselves and others, especially the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, he told a press conference in Dar es Salaam. Fr Kitima said the church could not say whether the deaths of the clergy had been caused by coronavirus as they had not been tested, though they had all shown signs of Covid-19, including respiratory challenges. People are not tested. Thats a big challenge. The church has about 500 health centres across the country but we are not allowed to test and we dont have the equipment to do so, he said. Fr Kitima said the church had noted a recent change in tone from the government as far as Covid precautions were concerned, but said that a number of people were still not observing the restrictions as no punitive measures were being taken against them. This is the second time this year that the church has spoken out about the threat of the pandemic in the country, saying in January it had noticed a spike in deaths in its parishes. Tanzania has not issued any statistics on Covid-19 since May last year. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pleaded for the country to do so and review its position on the vaccines currently being rolled out through the Covax distribution scheme. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Following the notification of The Haryana State Employment Of Local Candidates Act, 2020 which reserves seventy-five percent jobs for locals, private sector especially the IT/ ITES and startups based out of Gurugram are now in a fix. Though the act was in the offing for some time, the industry is now bound by law to employ 75 percent of people domiciled in the state for jobs that pay up to Rs 50,000, and register such jobs in a portal in the next three months. Failing to do so, will now also attract penal provisions in the law. However, rules for implementation are yet to be put out by the state government. Industry body Nasscom has said that while the move to reserve jobs for locals in Haryana is aimed at creating employment, it will impact the business-friendly image of the state and be detrimental to Gurugrams's growth trajectory as an IT-BPM hub. " Nasscom has already raised the industry concern with the state government and highlighted the such a move will not achieve the intended objective. The growth of the IT-BPM industry is closely intertwined with the availability of talent on demand and such restriction will be limiting for the industry," said its statement. A BPM industry veteran who did not wish to be named and whose firm has a significant presence in the area said, "The last thing the industry wanted when things are looking up and we are looking at recovery is this sort of regressive measure. We will have to wait to see what the rules are going to be like." Echoing the views of the IT industry, even the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry said that this could spell disaster for the industrial development and investment in the state. "To force them in such a regressive straight - jacket will force them to look beyond Haryana and this will ultimately hurt the interests of the state," said Uday Shankar, President, FICCI. Anupam Varma, Partner, J Sagar Associates says only the Designated Officer can exempt the employer if local candidates of the desired skill, qualification, or proficiency are not available. "The vesting of authority in a State Government to decide the qualification, skill, etc. of employees of a private employer will be inimical to the Ease of Doing Business initiatives of the Central Government," he said. "The legality of the Act is prima facie suspect and may not be able to withstand judicial scrutiny on touchstone of Article 19(1)(g) and 16(2) of the Constitution of India. The Act impinges upon the sacrosanct fundamental right of freedom to practice any occupation or business," said Varma. Also read: Haryana Guv signs bill reserving 75% private jobs for state's aspirants 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. Downing Street blamed the coronavirus pandemic for a lack of progress on reforming social care today - more than 18 months after Boris Johnson said he already had a 'clear plan' ready to solve the problem. The Prime Minister and Chancellor Roshi Sunak were facing criticism today after help for the care sector was missing from the Budget yesterday. Mr Sunak suggested a plan was still being worked on and No10 today admitted that little had happened in the past year on a promised reform to prevent pensioners being forced to sell their homes to afford care. Mr Sunak told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Government wanted to find 'a cross-party solution to sustainable social care funding', but added: 'Obviously right now our focus is the pandemic.' Successive governments have failed to address the situation which can both leave families facing ruinously expensive care costs while the system as a whole struggles for funding. But when he took office in July 2019, Mr Johnson stood on the steps of No10 and suggested planning was at an advanced stage already. Addressing the nation he said: 'My job is to protect you or your parents or grandparents from the fear of having to sell your home to pay for the costs of care. 'And so I am announcing now on the steps of Downing Street that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared. To give every older person the dignity and security they deserve. 'That is the work that begins immediately behind that black door.' Today Sir Andrew Dilnot, who led a review into the future of funding social care, said the lack of action on it was 'a stain on our nation'. The Prime Minister and Chancellor Roshi Sunak (pictured today in Middlesbrough) were facing criticism after help for the care sector was missing from the Budget yesterday Sir Andrew Dilnot, who led a review into the future of funding social care, said the lack of action on it was 'a stain on our nation' Rishi Sunak accused of 'hidden NHS spending cut' in Budget Rishi Sunak was under pressure today to explain a 30billion cut in cash for the NHS hidden in his Budget. Documents released alongside his fiscal showcase yesterday revealed there is a planned cut of 30 billion in day-to-day spending at the Department for Health and Social Care from April of this year, falling from 199.2 billion to 169.1 billion. NHS England will see funding fall from 147.7 billion to 139.1 billion from next year, unless ministers commit to more funding for the health service. It came as the head of the independent spending watchdog revealed that the Budget offered no cash past the end of the 2021-22 financial year to deal with the legacy of the pandemic. Richard Hughes, chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said the Government had provided 'no explicit additional resources' for things like catching up on all the operations that have been delayed, as well as an ongoing vaccination programme. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer lashed out at the cut in funding on a visit to a hospital in the Midlands today. 'I think a lot of people will be pretty astonished to know that the day-to-day funding for the NHS is being cut in yesterday's Budget, hidden in that Budget was that cut,' he said while touring the Royal Derby Hospital, which he said was 'still struggling with Covid cases'. 'What's coming next is the backlog of cases - 4.5 million people on waiting lists, understandably not been dealt with in the last year, so the NHS is going to have a really hard year and I think most people will be pretty astonished that the funding is being cut. Advertisement Sir Andrew said the broad outline of any plan would involve topping up the funding for council-delivered means-tested social care while creating 'some form of social insurance' for the population to 'pool the risk' should they need care later in life. He predicted it would need between 7-10 billion extra per year to be put into social care. Sir Andrew told BBC Radio 4's World At One: 'We know how to do this, we just need to get on and do it. 'The Prime Minister not only said he would do it when he came to office but he said again in his conference speech in the autumn of last year that he would. The time is now absolutely ripe, so what I think we have to hope for is that in the Spending Review discussions over the summer, we get this done. It is a stain on our nation that we haven't.' The cost of residential care has risen dramatically and now stands at more than 33,000 a year. Anyone with more than 23,250 in funds, including their house value, is denied state help, leaving thousands having to sell their homes to pay soaring care bills. Mr Johnson's press secretary Allegra Stratton blamed the pandemic and said it would be looked at again once the worst has passed. Ms Strattton told reporters today that Matt Hancock has written to MPs in March 2020 asking for cross-party views on a plan to reform the system. 'What has happened in the interim is the pandemic has clearly been difficult for care homes, care workers, and people in care homes up and down the country. That has been dominating all of our waking moments inside Government,' she said. 'As and when things calm down that process that the HS kicked off when he wrote to MPs he will have a chance to look at it again.' Mr Johnson said the Government has already invested 'huge quantities' into health and social care throughout the coronavirus pandemic when asked what the sector's workers had to do to get a pay rise or investment. The Prime Minister, speaking to reporters on a visit to Teesport, Middlesbrough, said: 'We have invested already in the health and social care sector in huge quantities throughout the pandemic. 'And I think the whole country is massively grateful to healthcare workers and social care workers for what they have done. 'About 52 billion went into the NHS just to help cope with the pandemic, 1.5 billion into social care, and 35 billion to support local councils in all sorts of ways.' Wednesday's Budget documents revealed that there is a planned cut of 30 billion in day-to-day spending from April of this year. Pressed on why there was no pay rise for health and social care workers in the Budget, Mr Johnson said: 'A lot of these are obviously in the private sector, the care home workers. 'What we've done is had record increases in the living wage, and again the living wage will be going up, which will be supported by the Government, again in April. Our debt to those workers is massive.' Shadow social care minister Liz Kendall said: 'There was nothing in the Budget on social care, despite everything that has happened during this pandemic and the Prime Minister's promise on the steps of Downing St to fix the crisis in social care more than 18 months ago. 'Today the Chancellor claimed this gaping hole is because the Government is trying to build cross party consensus about the way forward. Yet this has not been discussed or even raised with Labour's front bench team, despite our repeatedly asking the Care Minister about this issue. 'Our society and economy need a care system that is fit for the future. Ministers must bring forward plans for reform as a matter of the utmost urgency and deliver on their promises to the British people.' Britain's decision to make unilateral changes to Northern Irish Brexit arrangements is "not the appropriate behaviour of a respectable country" and will erode trust with the European Union, senior Irish ministers said on Thursday. The EU promised legal action on Wednesday after the British government unilaterally extended a grace period for checks on food imports to Northern Ireland, a move Brussels said violated terms of Britain's divorce deal. "For the second time in the course of a few months, the British government has threatened to breach international law," Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Virgin Media television, referring to a similar unilateral move last year that London eventually dropped. "This is not the appropriate behaviour of a respectable country, quite frankly." The fate of Northern Ireland was the most bitterly contested issue during Britain's Brexit negotiations, with London ultimately agreeing to leave the British-ruled region aligned with the EU's single market for goods, requiring checks on some items arriving there from elsewhere in the United Kingdom. That has already caused difficulty for businesses which say they have had trouble bringing in supplies, and more checks were meant to come into force when a grace period ends on March 31. Many business groups welcomed the move on Wednesday. Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney warned that the European Union is not for the first time likely to see Britain as a negotiating partner it "simply can't trust". He said it also undermined Irish attempts to convince Brussels of the need to make some changes to the Northern Irish protocol and took aim at Britain's new minister overseeing EU ties, David Frost. "Before Lord Frost had even spoken in detail to (EU Commission Vice President) Maros Sefcovic in his new role, this was announced. To say that is disrespectful, would be an understatement," Coveney told national broadcaster RTE. "Vice President Sefcovic has shown a real willingness to try to solve the problems of the protocol and to make a case in the European Commission, European Parliament and Council and was making progress on that. For him to be undermined in this way by the British government is deeply unhelpful." Accra, March 4 : The government of Ghana has rolled out a program to commence the mass vaccination of people living in some 43 epicenter-districts in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central regions against the Covid-19 pandemic. Among eligible persons for the vaccination program includes healthcare workers, frontline security personnel, persons with underlying medical conditions, persons 60 years and above, and frontline members of the executive, legislature, and judiciary, Xinhua news agency reported. The Greater Accra regional health directorate ahead of the exercise on Tuesday had set up a total of 325 vaccination sites within the 25 epicenter-districts for eligible persons for phase one of the exercise to visit for their immunization. The Greater Accra Regional Director for Health Services Charity Sarpong told Xinhua in an interview her outfit had put in place a number of measures to contain any problem that may occur during the vaccination exercise. "Currently for Greater Accra region, 25 of our districts have been declared as epicenters and are all taking part in the first phase and then across the region we have set up about 325 vaccination sites where people can visit; that is eligible people for the first phase can visit and will be vaccinated," Sarpong said. "We also have put in place all the necessary plans to support any adverse effects that may occur but then as health providers, we have also put in place all the necessary provisions to ensure that we take care of them," she added. The regional health director assured the public the vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective and urged all to embrace them to defeat the pandemic. A retired public servant Alex Sarbah who was vaccinated on the first day of the exercise at the Adabraka polyclinic told Xinhua he has long been waiting for such an opportunity. "I was ready for it, there is nothing to fear. We have all along been waiting for this opportunity and now that it has come, and I decided to take advantage of it. I didn't want to wait a day and before you realize the vaccines are finished so I decided to take it on the first day to make sure I get vaccinated." he said. An information health officer with the Greater Accra regional health directorate Bright Obeng Amoako explained he did not entertain any fear once the vaccine had been approved by the relevant state authorities. "There is nothing bad that went through my mind because it's a vaccine and we need to take. This is something that is approved by the Ghana Health Service and the Food and Drugs Authority. I felt normal to take this vaccine." Ghana became the first country to take delivery of some 600,000 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility last week. The country's Food and Drugs Authority has so far declared the AstraZeneca and Sputnik vaccines as safe-for-use in the fight against the virus. A Romanian national who admitted to stealing $66,510 using counterfeit debit cards was sentenced Tuesday in Scranton to 40 months in federal prison, the U.S. attorney's office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said. Costel Aparaschivei, 38, obtained phony debit cards with stolen account numbers and PINs in New York and took them to South Abington Twp. in October 2018 to withdraw money at a credit union, prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in September. His sentence comes two months after his co-conspirator, Daniel Gologan, 31, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison. Both will be deported to Romania after they finish serving their terms. New Delhi: Observing that the Indian military faces greater challenges than any other military in the world, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Thursday said there is a need to study transformational concepts and to be prepared for threats for military primary arising from China and Pakistan. In his keynote address during a national webinar on "Transformation: Imperatives for Indian Armed Forces" organised by the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, Rawat said that India is facing complex security and a challenging environment. "Some important steps that we need to take, include-- defining the national security strategy, higher defence strategic guidance, structural reforms in higher defence and operational organisations," he said. Also Read | Why Das should heed Buffett on bond yields CDS said that the 20th century has seen profound changes in the character and nature of warfare due to information inclusivity and technological development. "New tools and tactics can be employed to connect rapidly to an audience like never before. Information is indeed more democratized today. India needs to take adapt its defence strategies accordingly," he said. "Military power as an instrument of state policy needs to transform at various levels including ground strategic i.e. political-military, strategic operation and tactical level. Main dimensions of transformation are doctrine, post structure, technology, sustenance and readiness," he added. Rawat asserted that the Indian military faces greater challenges than any other military in the world and hence need to study transformational concepts adopted in other countries carefully to cater to the spectrum of warfare. "Since independence, the Indian military has grown from a small force with limited warfare capabilities into a large and modern fighting machine. The organisational structure for conventional wars or limited conflicts under nuclear overrank already exists, but they need to be re-modelled, re-equipped and re-oriented to conduct joint battles in digitized battlespace to have necessary flexibility for other types of operations," he said. "We must prepare for threats for military primary arising from China and Pakistan. In the future, China will continue to assert itself seeking to establish dominance in states surrounding India and the Indian Ocean region," he added. Rawat suggested that India needs to work on maritime requirements including ensuring the protection of maritime interest, safeguarding assets, supporting Indian war efforts in conjunction with other forces. "We must effectively also leverage the opportunity provided by our Island territories which enables us to extend our reach, orchestrate our defence strategy and also provide depth to the mainland," he said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Artist's concept of Artemis astronauts performing research on the lunar surface. Credit: NASA NASA's Artemis program will establish a sustainable presence at the Moon as we prepare to venture on to Mars. To empower the success of these missions, terrestrial engineers must furnish astronauts with the tools they need to make new discoveries on their journeys. To ensure that these instruments will work in the vacuum of space or on the rocky plains of a distant celestial body, NASA must test them in analog environments that mimic these settings. Examples of these environments include thermal vacuum chamberswhere engineers can subject tools to extreme temperatures and pressuresor the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, an enormous swimming pool at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houstonwhere astronauts can practice for spacewalks on the International Space Station. These testing environments aren't always custom-built to match their counterparts in space. Engineers and scientists also take their instruments into the field, finding places on Earth analogous to areas of scientific interest on the lunar surface or the Red Planet. There, they discover what tools and methods will work best for Artemis astronauts. At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, field geologist and planetary scientist Kelsey Young serves as a science liaison to the exploration systems group within the Exploration ans Space Communication (ESC) projects division's Commercialization, Innovation, and Synergies (CIS) office. CIS shares Goddard's broad experience in areas like communications, miniaturization, and software development with other NASA centers, the government at large, and the private sector. "Our weekly meetings are an important touchpoint between the engineering and science teams working in space exploration at Goddard," said Young. "The Goddard community is working togetheralong with other NASA centers and our academic and industry counterpartsto prepare to accomplish high priority science objectives during the Artemis era of lunar exploration." Science instruments tested in analog environments include spectrometers that allow astronauts to identify the composition of lunar rocks and soil, or regolith. Magnetometers and gravimeters measure magnetic fields and local gravity. Laser ranging systems can help produce high-resolution maps of the topography. Ground-penetrating radar can probe for interesting underground features. These instruments can sometimes be heavy or cumbersome, or not designed for space or field applications. NASA takes testing in analog environments as an opportunity to miniaturize and optimize them, to develop best practices for using them in scientific exploration, and to develop procedures for using these tools and the systems that support them. "Many of the instruments we test are commercially available," said Young. "We determine the operational use for each tool and determine how astronauts could utilize their science data in real time." There are several efforts across NASA focusing on different analog environments worldwide. Young works in a many of these environments, some of which are described below. The Solar System Exploration Division's Goddard Instrument Field Team (GIFT), which Young co-leads, is a sustained investment in both planetary geology and astrobiology. GIFT tests new instruments in a variety of locations that mimic planetary surfaces across the solar system, particularly volcanic environments like those on the Big Island of Hawaii. Lava tubes are one area of particular interest, as they could potentially serve as habitats or radiation shelters on the Moon or Mars. NASA's Remote, In Situ, and Synchrotron Studies for Science and Exploration (formerly RIS4E, now RISE2) also focuses on volcanic environments. RISE2, funded by the Solar System Exploration Research Institute (SSERVI), is led by Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York. They provide students with opportunities to get involved in analog testing as interns. Science, engineering, and even journalism students have made profound contributions to the effort as investigators and documentarians. Young also works on the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) team, led by NASA's Johnson Space Center. NEEMO sends groups of engineers, scientists, and astronauts on extended stays to Aquarius Reef Base, an undersea research station operated by Florida International University. For up to three weeks at a time, these aquanauts live and work underwater, simulating space exploration missions and testing equipment and operational concepts 62 feet below the surface of the water near a coral reef. While NASA designs and conducts analog environment research to advance space exploration, the research has impacts far beyond space exploration. "The measurements we take in these extreme environments not only helps us understand other planetary bodies, but can also help us learn about the Earth," said Young. "Our investments in analog environments turn out to have benefits for a wide variety of applications including technology development and terrestrial science." Analog environment testing lays a strong foundation for the Artemis program. As NASA ventures to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the tools tested in these environments will inform the instruments developed by NASA engineers for Artemis astronauts tools that will make profound discoveries about the universe and push the boundaries of exploration. Connections between scientists like Young and engineers in CIS' exploration systems group empower NASA to get the most out of analog testing opportunities. The synergies they find in their work allow NASA to discover more and explore further. When NASA scientists and engineers share their knowledge and expertise, there's no limit to what they can accomplish. "We're so glad to have Kelsey and others working on these kinds of instruments," said CIS Exploration Integration Manager Mark Lupisella. "Providing Artemis astronauts with the instruments they'll need to perform advanced science on the lunar surface and eventually Mars will not only help us advance specific key areas of science, but will also help us find solutions to the exploration challenges of tomorrow." PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Family members of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem received more than $600,000 in funds from a state grant program pushed by the governor that directed federal coronavirus relief funds to small businesses. A ranch belonging to Noem's family, Racota Valley Ranch Partnership, received one payment of $500,000, and a business operated by her brothers, Rock and Robb Arnold, received payments of just over $100,000, according to records on the grant program. The Legislature approved the grant plan in October, but the family businesses benefitted from adjustments the Republican governor made. The plan initially capped grants at $100,000, but later in the month, with plentiful federal funds at their disposal, Noems administration adjusted the grant cap to $500,000. The governor also later opened up a second round of grant applications to businesses hurt by the pandemic from September to November. A total of 126 businesses across the state less than 4% of grant applicants received grants of $500,000. Some received even more because they applied in both rounds of applications. There is no indication that Noem played a part in the allocation of funds. Noem who is becoming a rising force in the GOP as the party tries to identify 2024 presidential candidates once maintained part-ownership of the ranch, but her office said she no longer does. The Governor has no financial interest in Racota Valley and hasnt for years, said her spokesman Ian Fury, but he acknowledged the ranch had paid rent for 22 acres of farmland Noem owns. Fury said Noem had rented out the land for $2,200 annually but ended the lease agreement on Jan. 1. Robb Arnold declined to comment on the grants or share the financial statements cited on the applications. The Bureau of Finance and Management did not immediately respond to a request for more information on their applications. Fury said grant eligibility was set by the Legislature and was administered by Guidehouse, an independent consultant based in Virginia. Story continues The business grant program was a cornerstone of Noem's plan to spend $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus money. It made grants of up to $500,000 available for businesses that could show a 15% drop in cash flow from the previous year. So far, it has paid out $288 million to businesses that showed they were hurt by the pandemic. As the program was formed, Noem also asked the state Supreme Court to weigh in on whether lawmakers could benefit, either directly or indirectly, from the program as lawmakers inquired whether they could apply for the grants. Noem's lawyers acknowledged that the windfall of funds was unprecedented and that there was a potential conflict of interest in administering the funds. The Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers were ineligible for the funds, citing a 2001 ruling that found the state constitution kept legislators from financially benefitting, directly or indirectly, from legislation they passed. This wouldnt apply to the governor, though. Some business owners also expressed frustration at the pace of the application process last year as an initial deadline passed with fewer than 20% of applicants receiving any money. A list of grant recipients from the Bureau of Finance and Management did not disclose when the businesses tied to Noem's family filed their applications. Racota Valley Ranch Partnership received the grant on Feb. 19, while the business operated by Noem's brothers, Arnold Bros. Water Management Inc., received payments on Jan. 6 and Jan. 20. Aizawl, March 5 : Some Myanmar police personnel and civilians have crossed over into India and are seeking refuge in Mizoram, officials and villagers along the borders said on Thursday. The police and border guarding forces are neither denying nor accepting the fact that police personnel and civilians from military coup-hit Myanmar have entered into Mizoram. Serchhip district Deputy Commissioner Kumar Abhishek told the media that he cannot confirm "at the moment whether or not they are policemen or civilians". "Three people crossed over on Wednesday and some more came on Thursday. They have been put up at a community hall in Lungkawlh village after the mandatory Covid-19 tests. The entire matter is under investigation and has been communicated to the higher authority," the Deputy Commissioner said, refusing to disclose the number of intruders. He said the district administrations have provided food and shelter to the people. Champhai district Deputy Commissioner Maria C.T. Zuali said that some people crossed over into her district on Thursday afternoon. Mizoram Home Department officials were not available on phone to confirm the development. "You better talk to the home department officials in Aizawl. We are not in a position to disclose the facts on the sensitive matter," several district officials told IANS over phone, indicating that some people did enter the Indian side from across the border. Villagers of the border areas of Champhai and Serchhip districts in eastern Mizoram told the media that at least 20 people comprising unarmed police personnel and civilians from Myanmar crossed over to the mountainous state since March 3. According to the villagers, all the intruders belong to the Chin ethnic group, to which the Mizo community of Mizoram belongs. An influential Mizoram student body -- Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) -- expressing solidarity with Mynamar's Mizo communities had organised sit-in demonstrations last month in Aizawl, protesting the recent military coup in Myanmar and the human rights violations in the neighbouring country. The MZP also expressed solidarity with Mynamar's Mizo communities, which too have faced the brunt of the coup. Senior MZP leader Ricky Lalbiakmawia told IANS that they would seek the intervention of the United Nations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the military coup in Myanmar and urge them to provide help to the Mizo community in the neighbouring country. Four northeastern states - Mizoram (510 km), Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km) and Nagaland (215 km) -- share 1,643 km unfenced borders with Myanmar. A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar and state power was transferred to Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Democrats pompous characterization of the mini-riot at the Capitol on January 6 as an insurrection is a transparent political ploy. The idea of appointing a 9/11-style commission to investigate a riot in which no one was killed or seriously injured by the rioters is self-refuting. How about a 9/11-style commission to investigate the murders of Trump supporters in Portland and Denver during the campaign? Or the people who died in the Minneapolis riots? That would make more sense. Actually, if you want to talk about insurrection, the violence and violent rhetoric that the Democratic Party marshaled after Donald Trumps election in 2016 more nearly fits the definition. I recently looked at a couple of posts that I did in November 2016 that make the point. This one was titled Violence on the Left: In America, political violence is pretty much exclusively a phenomenon of the Left. The election of Donald Trump has precipitated a wave of violence, which the New York Times acknowledges rather grudgingly: Thousands of people across the country marched, shut down highways, burned effigies and shouted angry slogans on Wednesday night to protest the election of Donald J. Trump as president. The demonstrations, fueled by social media, continued into the early hours of Thursday. The crowds swelled as the night went on but remained mostly peaceful. I love how liberal reporters use mostly peaceful as a euphemism for violent. And of course, these are merely protests and demonstrations, all in the American tradition of free speech. British readers of the Daily Mail got a far more accurate picture of what went on: Violence has broken out at anti-Trump rallies across America overnight as tens of thousands marched against the President-elect before angry mobs attacked police, started fires and shut down highways. The streets of downtown Oakland in California were choked with smoke Thursday as police launched tear gas and protesters lit fires, in what became by some distance the most violent of the many protests against the election of Donald Trump. More than 6,000 protesters were seen on the streets of Oakland with an initially peaceful march down a cop-lined street turning nasty after some protesters threw bottles at officers and torched a police car. An office block was also attacked, daubed with f*** Trump and kill Trump graffiti and then set alight. The photographs tell the story: The Daily Mail describes Trump as inflammatory. This is what I call inflammatory: Im so old, I can remember when people were being told they needed to accept the results of the election. This one came just three days later, titled Democrats: Vicious, Violent, Anti-Democratic. Across the country, Democrats disappointed at losing the presidential election are rioting, burning American flags, throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers, hurling bricks through windows, setting fires in urban streets, and attacking random passers-by. We wrote about the riots and posted photos here. Much more could be added in the three days that have gone by since that post. The photos could be multiplied endlessly. This rioter had a particularly ugly message, one that you might think would offend feminists: Im just kidding about the feminists. Everyone knows feminism has nothing to do with women. It is all about extreme leftism. Lest you think Rape Melania is a uniquely evil manifestation of liberalism by one individual, check out the trending hashtags on Twitter. Many thousands of Democrats joined in the #Rape Melania movement. But that isnt the worst, not by a long shot. Across America, vicious assaults have been carried out against Donald Trump voters. This one, in Chicago, was probably the worst. The Trump voter was beaten and kicked to within an inch of his life. When he crawled to his car to seek safety, one of the Democrats who had been assaulting him took the wheel and drove off, at speeds up to 65 miles an hour, while the Republican victim of the assault hung on for dear life. At last word, he is expected to live. I suppose there is an irony in the fact that YouTube deletes a video of Democrats beating the daylights out of a Republican. It violates their ever-shifting but always leftist standards. With this outrageous conduct by Democrats taking place, one might think that leaders of the Democratic Party would be scurrying to disavow their supporters violence. But that isnt happening. Are you aware of a single prominent Democrat who has repudiated the Democratic Party riots going on across the country? I am not. Or who has tried to distance his party from vicious, felonious assaults like the one in the video above? I am not aware of any Democrat who has condemned the life-threatening beating of a random Trump voter in Chicago. As best I can tell, leading Democrats think this sort of Brownshirt behavior is just fine. U.S. Senator Cory Booker, often mentioned as a Democrat Presidential or Vice-Presidential nominee, hailed the vicious rioters, saying: God bless the protesters. That is todays Democratic Party: the vicious, the violent, the anti-democratic, the bullies. The fascists. Which looks more like an insurrection? What a handful of Trump supporters, Antifa activists and random nuts with fur hats and horns did on January 6, or what thousands of Democratic Party activists did across the country after Donald Trump was elected in 2016? I would add that I dont remember a single Democrat Party politician denouncing the violence of 2016. Not one. Refinery 29 UK In a country with as tight a grip on the Tudor monarchys narrative as Britain, its not surprising that after dozens of depictions of the 16th century royal family, we still cant stop talking about them. And Anne Boleyn is no exception. The latest telling of the story of Henry VIIIs second wife comes from Channel 5 and features Queen & Slims Jodie Turner-Smith in the starring role. More than just a victim of the numerous horrors Henry VIII inflicted on his wives, at its heart Boleyns story is utterly human. Her one-time status as the most powerful woman in England notwithstanding, the Channel 5 miniseries taps into the psychological and physical turmoil she would have had to endure and often attempted to outsmart. The series was conceived after discussions between historian Dan Jones, Sony Pictures, Channel 5 and Fable, the production company responsible for the BAFTA award-winning Rocks. Written by newcomer Eve Hedderwick Turner, whose idea it was to condense the timeline of Anne Boleyn to the last five months of the ill-fated queens life, the show takes us from the height of Boleyns power to her bloody and sudden demise. Its not just the colourblind casting that provides what feels like a genuinely fresh take on the last months of the short-lived queen of Englands life. Turner-Smiths stunning performance depicts a smart, vociferous, charming and stubborn force of a monarch. She portrays a woman who fights for whats right as well as her own selfish needs. A woman who loves hard and sees an obstacle course of politics, misogyny, duty and hypocrisy laid out in front of her and makes several impressive attempts to circumvent the worst of the barriers she comes up against. Harry and Meghan decided to be disruptors. And, you know, you can have change peacefully, or you can have change because somebody flips over the whole table.Jodie Turner-Smith One of which, of course, is her harrowing attempt to bounce back from the emotional and physical agony of enduring a stillbirth while carrying the expectations of the monarchy on her shoulders. Having lost what had been positioned as the hopeful male heir to the throne a demand of Henrys after Boleyn had given birth to Elizabeth I one particularly upsetting scene is a reminder of the unrealistic, often fatal demands that were put on women at the time. Just hours after losing her child we see Boleyn struggle to keep up queenly appearances in a heavy, tightly laced dress, leaving a trail of blood behind her. When asked how she prepared for the scene, in which director Lynsey Miller pulls us into an almost uncomfortably tight shot of the stars face as she bellows in agony, Turner-Smith tells R29: It definitely was something that I felt really close to. I have had experience of miscarriage in my life before and I had just recently five months before given birth, so I felt like I could really empathise with that situation and really, you know, try to embody that and have an understanding of what would it be like if I went through everything Ive gone through and at the end of it was tragedy. Turner-Smith is speaking to me over Zoom, looking appropriately regal in a glistening silver statement necklace and with her afro hair pulled into a dynamic up-do. Theres a softness about her, though her posture gives off a quiet strength. Compared to the cutting delivery of Boleyn, she speaks with a warmth that feels comforting. Its a warmth that I feel more keenly whenever shes talking about her family. Though we dont delve into her relationship, shes more than happy to talk about the experience of filming with her daughter Janie, born to her and husband Joshua Jackson in 2020, a life event Turner-Smith feels has changed her forever. It was so funny because my room was essentially her room. Like, she took over my whole space. Literally, it was her world, she laughs. It would be like, okay, you cant come in right now because youre going to disturb her. Lets go do what we have to do over here in this corner. The mostly female production team behind Anne Boleyn added a level of compassion and nuance which Turner-Smith believes Boleyns story needed. They really understood that as a working mother theres so much that [working mothers] are often not given access to. And that was really, really refreshing. That level of foresight extended to costume, too. Dressed in bright, billowing gowns with tight corsets, the costume design by the award-winning Lynsey Moore (who also worked on I May Destroy You) is functional as well as beautiful. As soon as I went in and started in fitting, [Lynsey] was just like, What we want to do is make it as easy as possible for you to nurse, to get in and out of your costume. And I thought that was just so wonderful. When news broke that Turner-Smith was to play Boleyn, the backlash against identity-conscious casting was disappointingly predictable. Like Dev Patel in David Copperfield or the cast of Bridgerton, the Channel 5 shows embrace of colourblind casting was met with claims of attempts to erase history in a clunky bid to boost diversity. Others believed the casting which extends to the likes of Boleyns brother George, played by Gangs of Londons Paapa Essiedu, and two of her ladies-in-waiting wouldnt add anything to the story. Its a premature assumption that the show proves wrong. We are Black women living in the world. Theres always going to be something that says, You dont belong here.Jodie Turner-Smith I loved the idea that the filmmakers wanted to tell the story in a more unconventional way, says Turner-Smith, who understands that a lot of criticism came from the fact that people are very attached to the way that history has been told. She adds that appeasing those opposed to change isnt always the best way forward. In fact, this depiction, in which a Black woman who is visibly set apart from everyone else, adds something new to the isolation that Boleyn would have had to deal with in real life. Anybody who has studied [Anne Boleyn or] really knows anything about her knows that she was considered an outsider, says Turner-Smith, who saw comparisons between her depiction of Boleyn and Meghan Markles experience with the Windsors. There are obviously many parallels, its like, what happens when you bring a person like that into an institution that is very determined to not be inclusive of a certain kind of person? Harry and Meghan decided to be disruptors. And, you know, you can have change peacefully, or you can have change because somebody flips over the whole table. We are Black women living in the world, Turner-Smith adds, addressing me directly. You know, theres always going to be something that says, You dont belong here, or something thats a skeleton of imperialism and colonialism, [reminding] us of the oppression that has brought us to where we are right now. Even so, Turner-Smith believes shes established a sense of belonging which stems directly from keeping her loved ones close. I think theres an internal grounding that I feel like Ive received from living my life and working on my self-esteem and being seen and loved and held by my family. I always say to my husband, Home is wherever we are together.' With an upcoming role alongside Colin Farrell in dystopian drama After Yang, Turner-Smith is open to wherever her career takes her. I cant say that I have, like an ultimate role in my mind, yet. Its one of those things where Im just really beginning. And so, I want to do everything. I kind of dipped my toe into directing last year, I directed a short film (Jackie, for Dazed and Guccis Absolute Beginners series) and absolutely fell in love with that. Shes nothing if not ambitious. I want to do everything! I certainly want to be producing and directing, and writing and just really seeing what I can create. There are so many facets of storytelling and I want to see what there is in exploring all of them. I, for one, cant wait to see what comes next. Anne Boleyn airs on Channel 5 from 1st June across three consecutive nights. It will be available for catch-up on My5. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Bukky Bakray On Being An Unapologetic Black GirlYou Have 10 New Netflix Treats To Stream This WeekEverything Coming To UK Netflix In June MASON CITY, Iowa - We've all likely been frustrated by trying to stream a show and your internet connection is less than stellar. For Mason City residents, a faster option is set to arrive as soon as this year. During Tuesday night's meeting, city council approved an agreement with Indiana-based MetroNet, who is constructing a fiber optic network that will serve about 85% of homes and businesses within city limits. Not only would this include internet, but also TV and phone service. With more people working from home as of late, market leader Albert Brand says that customers are looking for faster and more reliable internet service. "People are realizing the need for bandwith, and the need for fiber connectivity. The existing lines that are in the ground that have been there for 30 years aren't sufficing everybody at home, using the internet all at the same time. We look for cities where there's a need, where we can help the community connect to fiber, get that better connection, in order to improve the work life, the home life, the school life, of people in each community." In an age where there's more people using more bandwith, he says the benefit with fiber optic is that it's a line directly to your home, which increases reliability and speed, while also reducing buffering and long loading times. "It's like you're on a highway and there's no one else in your lane. There's no traffic, you have that dedicated lane to yourself and go as fast as you want." The project is currently in the design phase, and Brand expects to begin construction about late summer/early fall of this year. MetroNet has also expanded into other markets in both Iowa and Minnesota, including Rochester, Mankato, the Quad Cities and Ames. BRUSSELS, MAR 4 - Italy on Friday told the European Commission it was blocking the export of over 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Australia, the first EU member to make such a move, and the EC accepted the proposal, sources said Thursday. The shots were due to go to Australia. Italy's proposal was made in line with the new European mechanism on export controls. Rome made the move in light of the current dearth of COVID vaccines, delays to AstraZeneca deliveries in Europe, the high number of shots involved compared to what has so far been supplied to Italy and the EU, and the fact that Australia is not a vulnerable country. The Commission has fiercely criticised the Anglo-Swedish company this year for supplying just a fraction of the vaccine doses it had promised to deliver to the bloc. The doses came from a plant in Italy operated by AstraZeneca to produce some of its vaccine, one of three authorised for use in the EU alongside the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna versions, AFP reported. Under the commission's "transparency and authorisation mechanism" EU member states vet planned exports out of the bloc of authorised Covid-19 vaccines. The scheme started on January 30 and is to run until at least the end of March. AstraZeneca, which is fully supplying the UK in its world-leading rollout, is currently on just 40% of its pledged 100 million doses to the EU. (ANSA). LONDON, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QS Quacquarelli Symonds international higher education think-tank have today released the eleventh edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject: an extensive independent comparative analysis on the performance of 13,883 individual university programs, taken by students at 1440 universities in 85 locations across the world, across 51 academic disciplines. They are part of the annual QS World University Rankings portfolio, which was consulted over 147 million times in 2020, and covered 98,000 times by media and institutions. Global Highlights Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are the strongest-performing institutions across the exercise, ranking number-one in twelve subjects. and are the strongest-performing institutions across the exercise, ranking number-one in twelve subjects. The United Kingdom's higher education sector remains resilient. 13 of the 51 subject tables are topped by a British university, with the University of Oxford leading five of those 13. higher education sector remains resilient. 13 of the 51 subject tables are topped by a British university, with the leading five of those 13. Chinese higher education continues to reach new heights, with the sector attaining a record number of programs now achieving a top-50 rank. No university has a larger number of top-50 departments than Canada's University of Toronto (46). (46). Switzerland's ETH Zurich is continental Europe's top university, achieving number-one spots for Geology , Geophysics , and Earth & Marine Sciences . Based on its share of top-10 ranks, Switzerland is the world's third-best higher education sector. ETH Zurich is continental top university, achieving number-one spots for , , and . Based on its share of top-10 ranks, is the world's third-best higher education sector. Australia now possesses its lowest number of programs ranking among the top 10 in the world in the last three years. Its total of 13 top-10 departments is fewer than in 2020 (17), and 2019 (18). Two-thirds of Australian National University's programs have fallen year-on-year. now possesses its lowest number of programs ranking among the top 10 in the world in the last three years. Its total of 13 top-10 departments is fewer than in 2020 (17), and 2019 (18). Two-thirds of programs have fallen year-on-year. Backed by strong endowments, two Singaporean universities hold number-one positions: Nanyang Technological University is #1 for Materials Science, while the National University of Singapore Asia's best-performing university is #1 for Petroleum Engineering . is #1 for while the best-performing university is #1 for . Conversely, Japanese higher education is in relative decline after decades of underfunding for research and PhD students. India's Institutes of Eminence program is struggling to yield results, with no increase in top-100 representation for India's public Institutes of Eminence. Institutes of Eminence program is struggling to yield results, with no increase in top-100 representation for public Institutes of Eminence. Russian higher education continues to move from strength to strength, with a record number of departments achieving top-20 places. Driven by world-class performances in Dentistry , Petroleum Engineering , and Mining Engineering, Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) has retained its status as Latin America's best-performing university in this exercise. , , and Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) has retained its status as best-performing university in this exercise. The University of Cape Town remains Africa's most competitive institution, with 24 of its programs placing among the top-200. Jack Moran, QS Spokesperson, said: "Observing performance trends across nearly 14,000 university departments enables us to draw some conclusions about the commonalities between nations that are improving and nations that are not. Three factors stand out. First, an international outlook both in terms of faculty body and research relationships correlates strongly with improved performance. Second, rising universities have received strong targeted investment from governments over a decade or more particularly in China, Russia, and Singapore. Third, improving relationships with industry is correlated with better employment, research, and innovation outcomes." Methodology: https://www.TopUniversities.com/subject-rankings/methodology. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1099097/QS_Quacquarelli_Symonds_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.qs.com/ SOURCE QS Quacquarelli Symonds It started as a joke. Cassandra Madison, 32, and Julia Tinetti, 31, began telling people they were sisters not long after they met in 2013 while working at The Russian Lady restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut, but a recent DNA test confirmed that they are actually biological sisters. The two women had a lot in common -- they were both adopted from the Dominican Republic as babies, they looked enough alike that customers and coworkers mixed them up all the time and they each had Dominican flag tattoos. The tattoos got them talking and they became fast friends. 'We hit it off right away. There was no trying to force a friendship or anything,' Madison told CNN. 'Our personalities are very similar, so it was very easy for us to just start hanging out.' They really leaned in to the sisterhood gag and would sometimes wear matching clothes to work. 'We had an event that we went to that we dressed alike -- our socks matched, our sneakers matched, our sunglasses matched our shorts were black -- she made us tank tops that said that she was the big sister and I was the little sister,' Tinetti said. 'We kind of just went with it like as a joke. It was not serious at all.' At one point, they looked through their adoption paperwork to see if they might really be sisters, but the forms said they had different mothers who lived hours away from each other. 'So we said, 'OK, never mind, forget it, then we're not,' and we just moved on with our lives,' Madison said. 'But we still played into us being sisters even though we knew that we weren't. Well, we thought we weren't.' Madison moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 2015 and the pair mostly only kept in touch over Facebook. Madison had grown up knowing that her biological parents had given her up for adoption because they couldn't afford to care for her. She always wanted to meet them and, in 2018, her adoptive mom gave her a DNA test kit for Christmas. Seven siblings in the Dominican Republic Madison, thought she'd just learn more about where her ancestors came from, but it also turned up a cousin, who also lived in Connecticut and knew her dad. Her biological mom died in 2015, but Madison has been to the Dominican Republic to meet her dad and family members. They welcomed her at the airport wearing shirts with her picture on them. There were seven other children in the family. Madison and Tinetti reconnected last year and realized that something seemed off about their paperwork. Tinetti's best friend, Molly, was adopted from the Dominican Republic on the same day and their moms stayed in touch over the years. Molly's adoption papers said that she and Madison had the same mothers, but her DNA results showed that they were distant cousins. Madison talked to her father about it and he told her that they had given another daughter up for adoption. 'And I'm like, 'Why would you not tell me this?' And he's just like 'I'm sorry. It was just a very difficult time in our lives and your mom and I, we don't like to talk about it,'' Madison said. Madison drove from Virginia to Connecticut to get Tinetti to take a DNA test. Tinetti agreed to take the test even though she had never had any interest in learning about her biological family. 'I had a great family growing up, I got a good education, I didn't feel like I was missing anything in my life,' Tinetti said. 'I was happy with the life that I had. I didn't feel the need to do it.' 'This is it' Tinetti got the test results back in late January. 'I was like, 'This is it,' and I waited for probably like 10 minutes before I even opened it, because I was trying to prepare myself for what was going to be there,' Tinetti said. Both women said they'd tried not to get their hopes up, but they knew they would have been devastated if they had not turned out to be biological sisters. Madison said she talks to her dad and siblings every day and that she and Tinetti have picked up right where they left off. Tinetti said she's had video chats with her biological father and her siblings and hopes to go to the Dominican Republic to meet them in person. She said it was 'quite shocking' to see them because they look so much alike. 'It was like seeing myself in these people,' she said. 'It's like, 'OK, well, now I know where I come from,' you know what I mean? It has always been a mystery for me.' This week the Leitrim Observer is acknowledging Leitrim women who have made an impact on life in our county whether that be through volunteer work, promoting the county, through music and inspiring us during Covid. It is a way of thanking and acknowledging them for all they do to enhance life for the better for their county men and women. Here they outline their early life, their influences and why promoting women is so important... I was born in 1943 in Buckinghamshire England of Irish parents. When I was seven my parents, Father Tommy Mc Carthy from Skibbereen Co Cork and Mother Nell Bohan from Lisdromafarna, Kilnagross decided to go Home. We came to live in Drumsna in March 1950 and I have been here ever since. My parents bravely started up a business making rubber dolls, toys, balloons, beach balls etc. My mother was a strong minded woman and worked equally along side my father, she was adamant that they would employ local girls who would probably otherwise be taking the boat to England . There were about seventeen girls working there in my young days, mostly farmerss daughters from the locality who were delighted with their wages, there were also some men employed. In the early 1960s my parents went into business with Jack Dolan and Colin Wadsworth and became directors of Shannon Industries, firstly in the old hospital on Summerhill and then in St, Patricks Park Carrick-on-Shannon. My mother at that stage took a back seat and enjoyed life in Drumsna. My parents were very far seeing and always told me that I could do or be anything that I chose. I love my village and have been involved with every aspect of life here. In my young days women were more or less second class citizens, certain jobs had to be given up when a woman got married as her place was obviously in the home. A married woman always took her husbands surname as did their children. We had the vote of course by then but that was no thanks to all of the men who tried to suppress it. My parents were very far seeing and always told me that I could do or be anything that I chose. I got my driving licence when I was seventeen and I overheard one of our neighbours berating my father for letting 'the daughter' go driving. It would seemingly have been all right if I was a boy! I got married to Micheal Guckian From Lisnagea in 1965 and we built our home in Drumsna in Co Leitrim (where else?). I was a founder member of the ICA and volunteered with the newly established Tidy Towns committee in the 70s. At one stage I went for Chair of the Association and people were astonished at the idea of my audacity as I had four children and I should be at home minding them ! I did take the chair and I hasten to add that my children were well minded! My husband was a local County Councillor at the time there would have been no wonder if it was he who went for Chairperson even though they were his children also ! As well as minding the children I was at home to anyone who came with a local problem as my husband Micheal held down a full time job at the time. We had no computers and nothing was online then and everything had to be written done and recorded, medical cards amongst other things had to be applied for and most of that data fell to me. Some men were very wary of telling the little woman anything and would wait anyway until they saw Micheal! We had forty seven years of happy married life before Micheal passed away in 2011. I love the idea of the betterment of an area and we in Drumsna took part in many competitions, Fleadhs, Pride of Place in which we won the all Island in 2007 while I was Chairperson, founding the Anthony Trollope Society, making films, Mock Weddings, helping the Leitrim Tourist board, holding field days and much more. Women who have paved the way for us to take any possible position I have great admiration for the many women who have paved the way for us to take any possible position. The obvious women of course who have played a major part in our history, Maud Gonne, Countess Markievicz, and Nurse Elizabeth Farrell who was airbrushed out of history as she delivered the message of surrender in 1916 to Brigadier General William Lowe, he wouldnt accept it because she was a woman and she had to bring back Patrick Pearce. The picture of the surrender shows her foot ! Also Elice Pilkington of the ICA who got the farmers wives out of drudgery. In later years Mary Robinson and Mary Mc Aleese became the first and second women to hold the highest position in the land. All four of my adult children have married and after a spell away from home have returned to live in the area, two of them live in Drumsna and the other two within a two mile radios. I also have seven grandchildren aged from twenty four down to nine. The last thing on my bucket list was to write a book This past year has been hard as I have been more or less in lockdown since last March . I have to say it has badly affected my social life so I decided to do the last thing on my bucket list and write a book. This was entitled And the sky didnt fall. It sold out as did the reprint. My second novel The Fuchsia Hedge is in the shops at the moment and is doing well. I have started my third as yet unnamed novel and hope that by the time it is published that I will be vaccinated against Covid-19 and be able to launch it properly. I must say my writing has kept me sane and thank you to all who are reading the books. I would also like to think that I am a strong minded woman who doesnt take life too seriously and that I am enjoying myself along the way. Another 1,026 Massachusetts businesses will receive COVID-19 relief grants from the state, Gov. Charlie Bakers office said Thursday. The latest round of recipients got a combined $39.7 million through grants administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, according to a news release. About 280 grants are going to restaurants, bars, caterers or food trucks. Another 207 are going to businesses offering personal services. At least a fraction of the grants are going to businesses owned by women or minorities: 406 of the recipients are women-owned businesses and 295 are minority-owned businesses, according to the governors office. Our administration is pleased to award this latest round of direct financial support to 1,026 additional businesses hardest hit by the pandemic, the Republican governor said in a statement. Altogether, more than $602 million has gone out to 13,346 businesses across Massachusetts. The relief comes as the state prepares to move into Phase 4 of its reopening plan. The state will start Step 1, Phase 4 on March 22 as long as the number new of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continues to decline. The HSE is administering on average 7,000 fewer vaccines per day on weekends and Mondays compared to the other days of the week, according to its own data for last month. Figures show far fewer vaccines are being administered on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays when compared to the rest of the week. HSE sources are privately attributing the sharp drop-off for three days of the week to GP clinics not operating at weekends along with many hospital staff not being at work, in addition to the well-publicised supply constraints. The target of administering more than 100,000 doses last week was missed. The issue has been blamed on the deferral of a delivery of 25,000 doses from AstraZeneca, which the company has pledged to make up by the end of the month. Read More The HSE is also holding back thousands of doses in case of further supply disruption, including a buffer stock of all next weeks scheduled doses of the most frequently used Pfizer vaccine; and 50pc or approximately 20,000 Moderna doses due to contractual arrangements with the supplier. An Irish Independent analysis of daily vaccinations for February shows an average of 4,285 doses per day were administered on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, compared to an average of 11,633 doses per day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays a difference in the average daily doses administered of 7,348. As recently as Monday of last week just over 4,400 vaccine doses were administered. By comparison between 13,000 and 18,000 daily doses were administered between Tuesday and Friday. However, as was the case with every other weekend in February, the daily vaccination rates dropped significantly last weekend. Last Saturday, 8,352 jabs were administered with only 2,462 on Sunday. On Sunday before last, February 21, fewer than 2,000 doses were given. Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall said the dip in vaccinations taking place at weekends needed to be explained. It seems there is an issue about staff at the weekends and Id like to see them providing details of the number of staff and GPs [available to vaccinate] at the weekends, she said. Analysis of the HSE vaccination dashboard data for February 3 to 28 shows a consistent trend: the programme slows at the weekend with thousands fewer doses administered on Saturdays and Sundays. The programme is slow to pick up on Mondays before it ramps up as the week progresses. The HSE said last night: The data from the dashboard clearly shows that all available vaccine is being issued within days of being delivered into the country. So to increase the numbers of vaccinations taking place on, say, a Saturday or Sunday would require a decrease in the numbers taking place on other days. We are expecting vaccine supply to increase over the coming months and we will use as many locations, hours of the day and days of the week required to ensure we administer vaccines as fast as we receive them. Overall, the figures show a significant ramping up in the last two weeks of February with 78,695 doses administered between February 15 and 21 and 81,843 between February 22 and 28. This compares to just under 27,000 between February 8 and 14. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he expects roughly 100,000 vaccines will be administered per week this month, rising to between 200,000 and 300,000 next month. Fine Gael TDs and Senators criticised the programme at their parliamentary party meeting last night. Former minister John Paul Phelan said it was not a great start that the HSE had missed its target last week. Senator Regina Doherty said there were two GPs in her town who had not received vaccines and over-85s were getting anxious. Meanwhile, former Fianna Fail minister Dara Calleary told his parliamentary party it is hard to have confidence in the HSE to deliver the vaccination programme given the progress to date. Read More Gardai have arrested a fourth man as part of an investigation into a gun attack outside a west Dublin supermarket almost two years ago. Noel Seanie Boylan (46) was shot a number of times outside the Lidl store on the Blakestown Road, Dublin 15. He was struck in the arm and chest but managed to survive, and gardai believe the attempted murder was linked to a criminal feud in the area. This morning investigating detectives arrested a man in his 40s on the northside of the city in relation to the shooting on June 1, 2019. The suspect was arrested in the Swords area and is currently being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Blanchardstown garda station. Expand Close Stock image of Noel Boylan from 2006 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stock image of Noel Boylan from 2006 He can be quizzed for up to three days before he must either be charged or released from custody pending a file to the DPP. Gardai said it is the fourth arrest made as part of their investigation into the gun attack. Last December three people aged in their 30s, including a woman and two men, were arrested before being released without charge. CCTV footage of the shooting captured a gunman approach Noel Boylan outside of the shop and shooting at him before he fled inside. Just three months before the gun attack his son Lee (26) was shot and seriously injured during a gun attack on the Blakestown Road. Last month Limerick man Alan Graham Alan Graham (49) pleaded guilty to helping to facilitate the attempted murder of Lee Boylan. The court heard he was targeted because an organised criminal gang "perceived" he had been involved in the murder of a man in December 2018. This was in relation to the murder of Eric Fowler, shot dead outside his Blakestown home three days before Christmas that year. Detectives suspect the attempted murders of the father and son were in retaliation for the Fowler killing. Posted Wednesday, March 3, 2021 10:44 am The Nisqually Indian Tribe is in preliminary talks with two Thurston County cities on where to build a new historical museum, and the City of Yelm is one of them. Both Yelm and the city of Lacey have been approached with concurrent talks still underway on the project, said Tribal Council Member and Nisqually culture specialist Hanford McCloud. The Tribe is currently looking to build an official museum space to better tell the story of its people while also possibly displaying some items of historic significance. The Yelm prairie also ties into that, since native people have for thousands of years called the place home. Im pretty happy were working toward a museum that tells the history of Yelm and also the Nisqually people, and sharing that rich history we have, McCloud told the NVN. The need for a Nisqually museum is really important. Both McCloud and officials with the city of Yelm underscored that these discussions are still preliminary, with no location locked down yet. But that hasnt stopped a stakeholders group from forming in Yelm. The group made up of members from the city, local school districts, city arts commission and the Yelm Historical Society held an informal meeting on Feb. 5, Yelm Public Works Director Cody Colt said. The ad hoc group went over what they believed would make a suitable museum while also specifying needs. Colt said this opportunity presents a special opportunity for the Tribe and city to tell their stories together in a collaborative fashion. Every piece of history needs to be recognized I think thats extremely important said Colt, a former Yelm Middle School history teacher. You dont have a real good historical museum in the area. Theres a real need for that. The Nisqually Tribe doesnt currently have an official museum, McCloud said, though they operate their own library and cultural center. Yelm currently has a museum, though its staffed by volunteers and has been scarcely open, even prior to the coronavirus pandemic. The museum is overseen by the Yelm Prairie Historical Society. The city of Lacey operates a museum with specialized exhibits. Its currently looking to expand into a new, larger space near St. Martins University a project that has been in the works over the last 10 years. The schematic design for a new museum in Lacey was completed last year, according to the city, and could be a real draw for the Tribe. Yelm is currently in the conceptual design and cost estimate phase of building a new business incubator-education center on the corner of Washington and Third Street, and theres been some talk that the Tribes museum could be built in conjunction or alongside that project if its chosen for the location. Last October, the Yelm City Council approved a nearly $135,000 conceptual design agreement and cost estimate for the proposed joint-use building, which is expected to rise two to three stories tall in the citys downtown core. One possible idea being floated, Colt said, is that the group would add on the museum to the property or structure if its the right fit. The idea is that it could either be in conjunction with the economic development center, with the incubator center a part of that, or it could be a separate thing, Colt said. And thats kind of what were looking at right now. Colt said the Yelm stakeholders group is also looking at funding prospects, what grants the tribe or city could apply for and the possibility of eventually bringing in state or federal lawmakers into the mix. McCloud said the Tribes new museum would also look to highlight the fishing rights work and environmentalism that has taken root over the last 40 to 50 years in the Nisqually Valley, especially the work on the estuary and prairie with the Tribes state and federal partners. PARIS, FRANCE, Mar 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Engineering has been an important profession, helping to tackle major issues such as poverty reduction, climate resilience, public health and sustainable development. "The foremost problem facing the world today is sustaining human development and preserving the planet. Whenever there is a problem, there is a need for engineering solutions," says Gong Ke, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO).On 4th March 2021, the annual World Engineering Day (WED) will convene under the auspices of UNESCO. As the UNESCO Director-General, Ms. Audrey Azoulay explains, WED will "celebrate the achievements of engineers and their contributions to sustainability and a better quality of life for all." This year, WED welcomes the high patronage of Emmanuel Macron, President of France and coincides with the launch of the second UNESCO engineering report, "Engineering for Sustainable Development" with UNESCO's partners, the WFEO, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Tsinghua University, and the International Centre of Engineering Education (ICEE), among many others. Representatives from over 10 different countries, genders and age groups from youths to adults, will speak at WED 2021. In addition, many more diverse engineering communities will join in over 50 WED events held concurrently in every continent around the world.The WFEO is represented by over 100 national engineering institutions and 30 million engineers globally, leading the WED initiative to increase worldwide recognition of the important role of engineering in accelerating the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Engineering education and capacity building are keys to enabling the SDGs. Politicians can foster them; institutional investors can fund them; but only engineers can build them."World Engineering Day is an opportunity to recognize the important work that engineers need to do, in addressing climate change and developing technologies for a carbon free economy. It is engineering innovations that will achieve this goal. Engineers will ensure that cities are cleaner, more sustainable, smarter and livable. And importantly, engineers will ensure that everyone has safe clean accessible water, sanitation systems and affordable and reliable energy", says Marlene Kanga, Past National President of Engineers Australia and the Immediate Past President of WFEO.Calling for more global action from multiple stakeholder groups, "We hope that this new UNESCO engineering report will help stakeholders from government, industry and academia articulate the value of engineering, inspire ideas to improve and innovate engineering, and help achieve the full potential of engineering to benefit the sustainable development of humankind and planet Earth," says Zhou Ji, Honorary Chairman of the Governing Board of the CAE and Co-chair of the Advisory Board of ICEE.The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought technological advances in artificial intelligence, big data, Internet of Things and blockchain, transforming the ways people live and interact with their physical, biological and digital space. "These transformations can be seen in every field of engineering, profoundly affecting industrial systems, production and governance," says Audrey Azoulay.Engineering innovations are developing rapidly and these global efforts are critical for solving current challenges and building a better future for humankind. In the past year, engineers have been in the spotlight for their creative solutions to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Marlene Kanga notes that in the year following the coronavirus pandemic, the theme of the WED celebrations in 2021, Engineering for a healthy planet, "acknowledges the work of engineers and engineering in the search for a new vaccine, using artificial intelligence and data analysis in the process. Advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing has been used in the manufacture of personal protective equipment. Refrigeration technologies and transportation and logistics innovations are being used to transport vaccines to every corner of the earth. This is truly a year where the world could not exist without engineering.""The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the call for urgent action, while affirming the relevance of engineering to sustainable development," observes Gong Ke. He also encouraged more affirmative action in the engineering community, saying that "engineering should play a more proactive role in the fight against COVID-19 and in the pursuit of a truly transformative recovery to build back better."Audrey Azoulay raised a pressing concern on the strain that the pandemic has placed on engineering education. "To train our best engineers to tackle these global challenges, we need young people to study mathematics and science from an early age; however, the global pandemic has led to the closure of educational institutions for 1.5 billion learners worldwide - more than 90% of the world's school population - with dire consequences for their education."Thus, it is imperative for engineers to innovate on engineering education, curricula, new teaching methods and education delivery. "Training engineers for the implementation of the SDGs requires not only new competencies, including creative learning and thinking, complex problem-solving, interdisciplinary and international cooperation, and a code of ethics, it also demands a change in engineering education itself," says Jose Vieira, President-Elect of WFEO.Marlene Kanga also emphasized the importance of encouraging all young people, boys and girls, to consider engineering as a career and to encourage them in this choice. She says, "if you want to change the world, become an engineer.""At present, however, resources for engineering science and technology and engineering education are not equitably distributed. Developing countries and regions, in particular, are lacking in qualified engineers and engineering resources. We therefore urge the global engineering community to work to establish a more equitable, inclusive, developmental and mutually beneficial world for all, by working closely with government, industry and academia; by empowering engineering capacity-building in disadvantaged regions; and by tackling global challenges through joint efforts," says Zhou Ji, calling attention to the gaps in resources distribution and making sure that no one is left behind.One important global resource is water. "Water, as a prerequisite for life, assumes a special focus in terms of sustainable development. The close relationship between human health and the well-being of communities with access to clean water is a determining factor for the economic and social development of society," says Jose Vieira. Significant progress in water and environmental engineering have led to greener technologies and more sustainable development of our planet."Engineering itself needs a transformation to be more innovative, inclusive, cooperative and responsible," says Gong Ke, "The engineering report to be released is a new report published 10 years after the first landmark engineering report of UNESCO, aiming to increase the public awareness of the crucial role of engineers and engineering in achieving every one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals; to call for global collaboration among governments, industries and civil society; to promote engineering innovations, and to transform the engineering profession with a stronger capacity to respond to the pressing challenges faced by humankind and the planet; and to shape a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable world for all people with no one left behind, encouraging more collaboration and sharing of engineering resources at a global level."Ultimately, WED aims to promote engineering awareness, diversity, collaboration, education and resources sharing, with a common global goal to achieve the SDGs by 2030.Christine Tan, PhD CEng FIET is a Royal Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology UK, and Professor of Science and Technology Education at Fujian Normal University China. She is an active science writer and STEM outreach volunteer.Media contactWorld Federation of Engineering OrganizationsMaison de l'Unesco, 1 rue Miollis, 75015 Paris, FranceContact Person: Wang GuanyiTele: +33 1 45 68 48 47Website: http://www.wfeo.org/Source: World Engineering DayCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. MONROE, MI A suspected drunk driver crashed into a home in Monroe causing significant damage and rupturing a natural gas line, police said. Police were called to a home in the 600 block of Clark Street in Monroe at 7:58 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, for a report of a van that had hit a residence, according to the Monroe Police Department. Arriving officers found an unoccupied white Ford Econoline van had crashed into the northwest corner of the home which was unoccupied, police said. The crash caused significant damage to the home, including rupturing its main gas line, leading officers to call Michigan Gas Utilities to the scene to shut the gas off, police said. The driver of the van was later found at the scene uninjured, police said, adding alcohol may be a factor in the crash. The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monroe Police Department at 734-243-7500, Ext. 7561. More from The Ann Arbor News: Militias memes take center stage in Whitmer kidnap plot court case Boogaloo Boys not as light hearted as their flowery Hawaiian shirts, FBI agent testifies University of Michigan official mishandled Title IX case at another Big 10 university, lawsuit alleges 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. Details still pending on third agreement between Emmet and Bay Bluffs A Senate committee on Thursday approved Deb Haaland to be the next secretary of the interior, with the support of Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a key Republican from an oil-producing state, virtually ensuring her confirmation by the Senate later this month. Ms. Haaland will be leading an agency that oversees the nations over 500 million acres of public land, and will make history as the first Native American to head a cabinet department. Ms. Murkowski joined another center-right Republican, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, in backing Ms. Haaland, a Democratic congresswoman from New Mexico who has expressed her intention to crack down on the use of fossil fuels throughout her career. Ms. Murkowski said she weighed the importance of the oil and gas industry to her states economy and Ms. Haalands historic nomination for Alaskas Natives, who make up 18 percent of the states population. Looi Kam Yong Announces Dymm Sultan Ibrahim of Johor as Advisor to Mining Project in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi, Johor Darul Takzim. Johor Bahru, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Pursuant to the survey conducted in 2018 on the Land in consideration for Bauxite Ore Mining, Looi Kam Yong through his Company, The One Minerals Mining Sdn Bhd, received several Land Concessions for the same Land in 2020 from FELDA Johor. His Majesty DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj (left) with Looi Kam Yong (right) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7813/76106_yong_orig.jpeg In June 2020, Looi Kam Yong had a meeting with His Majesty DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, the Sultan of Johor, to discuss the prospective mining exercise. Several topics such as heavy machine logistics, employment, traffic flow, mining land availability, and Material Exportation were discussed. The result of the discussion between both parties led to DYMM Tuanku giving the green light to Looi Kam Yong's proposal of The One Minerals Mining Sdn Bhd to lease from the Johor Royal Family, 2 jetties at Sungai Sebina and Sungai Santi for the Mining Project together with a Mining License, Mineral Ore License, Proprietary Mining Lease, Export Approval Permit, Jetty License amongst other required approvals to assist in the mining exercise. Further, DYMM Tuanku was exclusively appointed as a Special Advisor of the envisaged Mining Project that has been undertaken by Looi Kam Yong's Company, The One Minerals Mining Sdn Bhd, and will oversee the progress of the mining exercise. It is expected that this Mining Exercise will see a spike in available jobs in Johor during the Pandemic, and with the proceeds of the mined bauxite and apportioned reinvestment through the Company's philanthropic arm, will revive the Johor economy. This is in Line with Looi Kam Yong's effort to support His Majesty's Goals to restore normalcy to the State of Johor by providing much-needed jobs to the Johorean people who are currently affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The proposed Project slated to start in Q3 2021 will further soften the impact the Pandemic had on the GDP of Johor which is expected to shrink between 3.5 % - 5.5% this year, a figure that is looking at being reversed, to bring Johor back in the black for the Financial Year of 2021. This is due to a 3 tier industry revitalization that will take place as a result of the aforementioned logistical needs of the Mining Exercise. For more information contact Looi Kam Yong at LooiYong@protonmail.com. Related Images image1.jpeg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76106 The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below A French court on Thursday acquitted former prime minister Edouard Balladur on corruption charges after he was accused of using kickbacks from an arms deal but handed a suspended jail term to his former defence minister. The verdict by the Law Court of the Republic (CJR), which sits to try serving and former ministers for alleged violations committed in office, came just days after ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted for corruption. Balladur, 91, had been accused of funnelling illicit commissions from arms deals to his unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1995. His former defence minister Francois Leotard, 78, was however convicted of complicity in the misuse of assets and handed a suspended two-year prison term and a fine of 100,000 euros ($120,000). Neither was present in court for the verdict. Balladur and Leotard, both right-wingers, were charged in 2017 with "complicity in the misuse of corporate assets" over the sale of submarines to Pakistan and frigates to Saudi Arabia between 1993 and 1995. The verdicts came hot on the heels of a corruption conviction for former president Sarkozy on Monday which stunned France and has led to a debate about the extent of political corruption. That judgement meant that both of the last heads of states from France's right-wing party now called The Republicans (LR) -- Jacques Chirac and Sarkozy -- have criminal convictions. Sarkozy has vowed to appeal and clear his name. Swiss cash The allegations against Balladur and Leotard came to light during an investigation into a 2002 bombing in Karachi, Pakistan, that targeted a bus transporting French engineers. Fifteen people were killed in the attack, including 11 engineers working on the submarine contract, with the Al-Qaeda terror network initially suspected of carrying out the assault. But the focus shifted and French investigators began to consider whether the bombing had been carried out as revenge for a halt in commission payments for the arms deals. Story continues Balladur lost his 1995 presidential bid to rival Chirac who allegedly cut off the payments negotiated by the previous government. Leotard was accused of having created an "opaque network" of intermediaries who took commissions on contracts signed with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and then paid back some of the money with illicit cash transfers. Prosecutors alleged that the commissions totalled 550 million francs, or 117 million euros in today's money, some of which was funnelled back to Balladur's campaign. At the centre of the case was a deposit of 10.25 million francs in cash made into Balladur's campaign account three days after his electoral defeat in 1995. Balladur claimed the money came from donations from supporters and merchandise sales, but prosecutors linked the money to cash withdrawals in Switzerland made by a Lebanese-French intermediary who took commissions on the arms deals. Ziad Takieddine, long active in French right-wing circles, fled to Lebanon last June after a Paris court sentenced him and another middleman, Abdul Rahman El-Assir, to five years in prison over their role in the "Karachi" kickbacks. Three others were also convicted but have announced appeals. "I have a completely free conscience," Balladur told the court during his interrogation. Takieddine has also made -- and retracted -- claims that he delivered suitcases stuffed with cash from Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to Sarkozy's chief of staff to help with the ex-president's 2007 presidential campaign. Those claims are the subject of a separate investigation into Sarkozy. Combative Sarkozy On Monday, the 66-year-old ex-president was found to have formed a "corruption pact" with his lawyer Thierry Herzog to convince a judge to obtain and share information about yet another inquiry into his campaign financing. Sarkozy, who has been dogged with investigations since leaving office in 2007, denies the charges and has vowed to clear his name with an appeal. In two interviews Wednesday, he lambasted the verdict and said he was mulling filing a complaint with Europe's top rights court. "I never betrayed the trust of the French people," France's president from 2007 to 2012 told TF1 channel in a primetime interview on Wednesday evening. (AFP) (Natural News) Several dozen teachers in Italy called in sick from work after Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines from AstraZeneca left them violently ill. Students enrolled at two middle schools near Treviso in northern Italy actually had to be sent home an hour earlier than normal because their teachers were too sick to continue educating them. At the Duca degli Abruzzi high school, 15 of the schools 130 teachers were absent, complaining of malaise, fever and pain deep in their bones. At San Domenico Savio, a local primary school, two of the three teachers called in sick with similar complaints about vaccine side effects that left them incapacitated. Many other schools in the area are reportedly suffering from a similar lack of healthy teachers, prompting them to close until they can find proper replacements. Local Italian media reported that some 3,000 teachers were vaccinated on Saturday, followed by another 2,500 who were scheduled to receive the jabs before the end of the weekend. By Monday, a wave of sickness from the shots was already in full swing. All the teachers inoculated against the coronavirus were under 55 years of age and all received the AstraZeneca vaccine, reports explain. Italys vaccination campaign offers free coronavirus vaccines to all teachers The teachers who took the stab and got sick thought they were taking advantage of a benefit, as Italy is offering free Chinese virus vaccines to all teachers throughout the country between the ages of 18 and 55. Meanwhile in Germany, the Duchess Elisabeth Hospital in Braunschweig suspended its vaccination program with the AstraZeneca vaccine for the WuFlu after 37 of its 88 vaccinated employees wound up bedridden after getting stabbed. Nearly half of the hospitals staff, in other words, is now unable to work thanks to the vaccines, which are completely unnecessary and highly dangerous, we now know. At least one region of Sweden likewise suspended its AstraZeneca Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination scheme back in mid-February after more people than expected developed a fever and other debilitating side effects following injection. Two locations in Lower Saxony followed suit after their clinic employees suffered similar fates. The goal from back in May was to vaccinate half of Great Britain with AstraZenecas Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine before the end of the year. That campaign ran into problems after human test subjects started developing rare neurological conditions after getting stabbed. AstraZeneca then started to accidentally administer half-doses of its jab, which supposedly produced better outcomes probably because recipients were receiving far less poison inside their bodies. Compared to the Pfizer and BioNTech China virus jabs being administered in the United States, AstraZenecas jab has not been shown to be at all effective. Truth be told, neither has the Pfizer and BioNTech jab, as all of these vaccines are injuring and killing people while providing no protection against Chinese germs. They should have vaccinated all politicians first, wrote one commenter at Breitbart News, trumpeting a sentiment that many of us feel concerning who should have received these experimental gene therapy injections first. That way if theres a problem with the vaccine, we havent lost anything. Another wrote that these vaccines, which do not even meet the legal or scientific definition of vaccines, are an intelligence test to see who is dumb enough to actually take them. An intelligence test with consequences, this person further wrote. Many others seem to hold a similar view that only the lowest IQ people out there would be willing to take any vaccine for which the manufacturer holds no liability. To keep up with the latest news about the injuries and deaths caused by Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines, visit ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com As per the latest satellite images, North Korea might be trying to extract plutonium to make more nuclear weapons at its main atomic complex. This comes a few days after Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal. The 38 North website says that the images indicate that a coal-fired steam plant at Norths Yongbyon nuclear complex is in operation after about a two-year hiatus. Extracting plutonium This suggests 'preparations for spent fuel reprocessing could be underway to extract plutonium needed for North Koreas nuclear weapon' said the website. It further added that 'this could also mean simply the facility is being prepped to handle radioactive waste'. Earlier, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that some facilities in North Korea still continue to operate. Speaking to IAEAs board of governors, Grossi said, "The DPRKs nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern. The continuation of the DPRKs nuclear program is a clear violation of relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable". Read: US Expresses Concern Over IAEA Report About North Korea Reprocessing Nuclear Fuel (This Tuesday, March 2, 2021 satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a steam plant, left, and North Koreas main atomic complex, right, in Yongbyon, North Korea. Smoke was observed emanating from the plants smokestack at various times from late February and early March. Image Credits: AP) (North Korea may be trying to extract plutonium to make more nuclear weapons at the complex, recent satellite photos indicated, weeks after leader Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal. Image Credits: AP) After the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Monday expressed "serious concern" about North Korea's nuclear programme, the United States said it is closely monitoring the development of the Korean peninsula. Rear Admiral Michael Studeman, head of intelligence for the US Indo-Pacific Command, dubbed Pyongyang's nuclear activity as "deeply concerning" and said the current administration is reviewing its North Korea policy. Studeman, during an online event on Tuesday, warned of renewed tensions with North Korea if IAEA's conclusion that Pyongyang is reprocessing nuclear fuel is true. Read: South Korea's Moon Jae-in Says Olympics Could Be Chance To Restart US-North Korea Talks Earlier, Biden's predecessor Donald Trump failed to reach a consensus with North Korea on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Media reports suggest that Pyongyang never stalled its nuclear programme even after two meetings with Donald Trump in 2019. The new Secretary of State Antony Blinken had informed the Senate in January that Biden's administration will conduct the review of North Korea policy to look for ways to increase pressure on Pyongyang. Read: Moon: South Korea, Japan Must Look To Future To Improve Ties Also Read: US Court Awards $2.3 Billion To USS Pueblo Crew Held Hostage By North Korea In 1968 Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this year that construction would begin in 2022. Katko said while in the Oval Office, he again invited Buttigieg to visit Syracuse to tour I-81. He sent a letter in February inviting Buttigieg to visit central New York. "I told him he's a rockstar in Syracuse. Everyone wants to meet him," Katko said with a laugh. "He was very receptive to coming up. I talked to him about how we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something transformative with that highway. We need to do it. I would love to have him come up and hear from all sides. He said he would love to." But the main focus of the meeting was the pursuit of a large infrastructure package. Katko agrees with Biden that it must be "substantial." But he told the president that while he's prepared to make a deal and willing to compromise, Biden must urge Democratic leaders in Congress to allow House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members to work in a bipartisan manner. Biden, he said, is willing to do that. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Everybody hates him, says one ally. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Governor Andrew Cuomo sounded defeated, senior officials who had spoken with him said. It seemed to be getting to him that the usual strategic plays were suddenly no longer working. Like an old man who just didnt have the fight in him anymore, said one. The normally efficient governors office had been spinning out of control ever since a bombshell New York Times story broke the prior evening detailing how Cuomo had made a series of inappropriate comments to Charlotte Bennett, a young female aide, including asking her if she had ever had sex with older men and if she was monogamous in relationships. They are panicking, one former adviser said. The governors office released a statement saying it would have no further comment on the issue, then released three more statements throughout the day, the last of which was a cringe-inducing one in which the governor said he spends all his time at work, that he considers his colleagues in the executive chamber friends, and: At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I do, on occasion, tease people in what I think is a good natured way. He continued: To be clear I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Cuomo announced that Barbara Jones, a former federal judge with whom he has close ties, would lead an investigation into the allegations against him. It was rejected out of hand. State Attorney General Letitia James leads such investigations, something Cuomo should know, since he led them against both Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson when he was attorney general, which contributed to both of them being run out of office. He then said that Court of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore would team up with James to pick an investigator, something James, after consulting with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to make sure they would back her up, rejected again. It was not lost on the three that here was the governor trying to find an older white woman to oversee the work of the first female Black attorney general. Although it was erratic behavior from the governors office, it was also quintessentially Cuomo: trying to keep all inquiries in-house, trying to control the outcome, and trying to see if the other branches of state government would give ground, as they so often do. As of this writing, there are now three allegations of sexual harassment lodged against Cuomo: by Bennett; by Lindsey Boylan, another aide who alleged that Cuomo forcibly tried to kiss her and made inappropriate comments to her; and by a woman named Anna Ruch, who says Cuomo made inappropriate advances to her at a wedding. It is important to say as of this writing, because the current number of sexual-harassment claims against the governor is almost certain to rise, to say nothing of allegations of bullying, coercion, and workplace aggression that have also come out over the past several weeks. This moment was supposed to be a triumphant one for the governor. The state is emerging from a year of COVID lockdown; vaccinations are happening; businesses are reopening. Instead, Cuomo has been holed up in Albany, waiting for more allegations to come out, as whispers grow that he will not be the governor of New York by the end of next week, if not sooner. The biggest problem for the governor at the moment is that he is facing an open revolt in the State Senate and the Assembly. Even in the moderate suburban swing districts where Cuomo is supposed to have electoral strength, lawmakers fear that he will be a liability if he were to run for a fourth term in 2022. They are also anxious to reclaim some of the prerogatives of governing that Cuomos domineering style has taken away from them. And after years of abuse from Cuomo and his aides, many lawmakers are ready to exact revenge none more so than New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, who has been on a national TV tour tearing into the governor over the sexual-harassment allegations and the way he has treated his rivals in government. The problem he has right now, said one Cuomo ally, is that everybody hates him. Plus Cuomos leaving would loosen up a sclerotic state political apparatus. It wasnt lost on many lawmakers that one of the first Democratic members of Congress to call for Cuomos resignation was Kathleen Rice, a moderate Long Islander who was once Cuomos pick to be attorney general. Everybody has their eye on the next job, said one Democratic lawmaker. This is essentially a one-party state. The only way you can move up is if somebody quits. So Cuomo quits, Tish runs for governor, Rice runs for attorney general, a job she has always wanted, and then some state senator gets to run for Congress and some Assembly member gets to run for the State Senate. Thats behind a lot of the push to get Cuomo out. Promising to not run for reelection may not be enough, though. Some Democratic lawmakers fear that he would say this will be his last term in order to stave off the attorney generals investigation and any actions from the Legislature, but would then reverse course once the bad news blew over and, with a $30 million war chest behind him, enter an inevitably bloody battle for a fourth term. These lawmakers want Cuomo to resign immediately and, if he fails to do so, are having conversations among themselves to see if there is support to begin impeachment proceedings against him. Many are wondering how the governor can continue in office if the next several months are like the past several days, with Cuomo not making public appearances or dealing with the critical issues facing the state. This is a very fast-moving story, and we are trying to respond as events dictate, said Mike Gianaris, the Senates second-highest-ranking Democrat. We are now having an investigation that the attorney general is undertaking, but we have to ask ourselves if this is the type of behavior that we want from someone who is holding the highest office in the state. Among supporters of the governor, there is a divide between younger advisers who recognize the gravity of the allegations and older longtime friends and advisers who see this as a mostly chaste sex scandal, one that involves stray comments but (as of yet) no proven actual sex acts. This is a lonely guy who doesnt have people to talk to, said one. He can be inappropriate, but is this really something to resign over? Although Cuomo can come off like a figure from another era he once thanked Hillary Clinton for formally nominating him for governor at the state partys convention by giving her flowers onstage thats belied by the fact that he tried to emerge as a governmental ally of the Me Too movement. In 2019, he signed legislation to combat sexual harassment in the workplace to much fanfare, requiring businesses to implement a sexual-harassment-prevention policy, extending the statute of limitations on filing harassment claims, and giving victims new protections against harassment. There is a belief among some Cuomo supporters that if nothing more comes out, and Jamess report reveals inappropriate behavior but no criminal wrongdoing, and Cuomos favorability remains high, then he can hold on and run again, facing what would surely be a bloody primary battle and general election. As plans go, it aint a great one, but it is all they have left. Asm. Sydney Kamlager-Dove Pushing Law to End Slavery in Californias Prisons For 24 years now, Samual Brown who was convicted for attempted murder in Sacramento has been serving time in California state prisons. Right now, he is at a correctional facility in Lancaster, a Los Angeles County town northeast of L.A. While in prison, Brown says he has evolved. In addition to earning an associate degree, Brown will be awarded his B.A. from CSU Los Angeles in the Spring, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Before moving to the Lancaster facility that currently houses him, Brown says he was serving his sentence at a maximum-security prison in New Folsom near Sacramento. That prison was notorious for its high homicide and suicide rates, Brown says. Responding to the death, violence and despair all around him there, Brown says he drafted the proposal for a successful intervention effort called the 10 P program. Since authorities implemented his plan, there have been less deaths at New Folsom. At the core of the program is effectuating emotional literacy, Brown told California Black Media on a phone call from California State Prison Los Angeles County. We encourage the inmates to adopt pro-social behaviors and reclaim their narratives. We teach them how to address intergenerational trauma and adverse childhood experiences that influence their behavior. We prepare them to face the parole board. ADVERTISEMENT But as an inmate, Brown says he is also forced to work. He has no say-so regarding his safety, or about how much he is paid, or the kinds of work he performs. Recently, the state prison has assigned him to COVID-19 sanitation duties, paying him 55 cents per hour. Its unfortunate but this is true: the 13th amendment did not end slavery in the United States, said Brown. As long as there is forced labor and state constitutions that have conditions for involuntary servitude, there is still slavery. Brown says too many racist ideologies and practices from the old slaveholding South survive today. They didnt end, he argues, they transitioned. Its wrong to have private prison corporations that can influence policy not because of what is right or wrong but because they directly benefit from it, says Brown. In prison, if you refuse to work, you get the modern-day equivalent of a whip on your back. You could get a 115, a disciplinary write-up that could prevent you from getting parole. Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) agrees with Brown. The lawmaker is pushing legislation that would strike out the words involuntary servitude from the California Constitution. In January, Kamlager-Dove introduced ACA 3: The California Abolition Act. Kamlager-Dove who represents the 54th Assembly District which covers sections of Los Angeles County, including Ladera Heights and Baldwin Hills says she wants to build off the momentum of similar laws recently passed in Colorado, Nebraska and Utah. ADVERTISEMENT As it currently reads, the Constitution of California prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude except to punish crime, she said. The California Abolition Act would remove such conditional language, abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude without exception. Browns wife Jamilia Land, who lives in Sacramento, is a member of the Abolish Slavery National Network (ASNN), an organization committed to ending all forms of slavery in the United States. She is also the co-founder of A.S.A.P, an organization that advocates for the mental health and well-being of children impacted by police or community violence. With Lands input, Brown drafted the original language that appears in Kamlager-Doves bill. Along with other Sacramento community activists, the couple has worked closely with the Assemblymembers office and others in the state legislature to lobby for the bill. We are very excited. My husband and I are strong supporters of ACA 3. Our organization and ASNN now have 30 states on board, Land says. Senator Jeff Merkely of Oregon is working on this legislation on a federal level, and we are building a coalition here in California while working with a national steering committee. Kamlager-Dove, who calls involuntary servitude modern-day slavery, has written to her legislative colleagues asking them to support the bill by becoming co-authors. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment in 1865, codifying what is commonly considered the outlawing of slavery and involuntary servitude nationwide, Kamlager-Dove wrote in the letter. California was the second state behind Oregon to ratify the amendment. However, conditional language remains in both the federal constitution and that of our states. In California, there are an estimated 115,000 people incarcerated, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Based on the demographics of the state prisons and county jails, Blacks are 10 times more likely to be imprisoned than whites. Black men alone account for 28.5 % of the prison population although they make up under 6 % of all adult Californians. Kamlager-Dove said neither the California Constitution nor the state courts require physical labor as a condition of imprisonment. But she points out that most incarcerated prisoners end up working in jobs that can pay them as little as 8 cents an hour. Sometimes in California, prisoners are given an option to volunteer to work. For example, CalFire hires inmates who are serving time in minimum security prisons through its Conservation (Fire) Camps program and pays them $2 a day when they are on duty and $1 a day when they are not. The program saves the state between $90 million and $100 million annually, according to Bill Sessa, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Brown says many of the businesses that have profited from the prison industrial complex are the same ones now investing in rehabilitative programs. The prison industrial complex is not one corporation or one group of people. We have to attack the beast and deconstruct it from many angles, said Brown. On March 5, Land says ACA 3 co-sponsors are organizing a rally in Sacramento at a location to be decided. We have to educate the public, says Land. Instead of tearing down statues, we need to be tearing down statutes. Egypt's Ahmed Aboul Gheit was reappointed for a second term Wednesday as secretary general of the 22-member Arab League, a diplomatic source said Cairo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Mar, 2021 ) :Egypt's Ahmed Aboul Gheit was reappointed for a second term Wednesday as secretary general of the 22-member Arab League, a diplomatic source said. The 78-year old, who served as Egyptian foreign minister between 2004 and 2011, was first elected to lead the Cairo-based pan-regional body in 2016. "Arab foreign ministers unanimously decided to approve Egypt's request to reappoint Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit for a new five-year term," the source said. Since its founding in 1945, the Cairo-based league has chosen an Egyptian diplomat as its chief, apart from 1979 to 1990, when a Tunisian was appointed and the headquarters moved to Tunis, after Egypt signed a peace deal with neighbouring Israel. Security forces in Myanmar dramatically escalated their crackdown on demonstrations against last months coup, killing at least 34 protesters in several cities on Wednesday, according to accounts on social media and local news reports. This is the highest daily death toll since the February 1 takeover, exceeding the 18 that the UN Human Rights Office said were killed on Sunday, and could galvanise the international community, which has responded fitfully thus far to the violence. Videos from Wednesday also showed security forces firing catapults at demonstrators, chasing them down and in one instance beating an ambulance crew. The toll could be higher, with the Democratic Voice of Burma, an independent television and online news service, tallying 38 deaths. Expand Close Anti-coup school teachers in Mandalay (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anti-coup school teachers in Mandalay (AP) Demonstrators have regularly flooded the streets of cities across the country since the military seized power and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Their numbers have remained high even as security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds, and arrested protesters en masse. The intensifying standoff is familiar in the country with a long history of peaceful resistance to military rule, and brutal crackdowns. The coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in the Southeast Asian nation after five decades of military rule. Wednesdays death toll was compiled by an unnamed data analyst, who also collected information where he could on the victims names, ages, hometowns, and where and how they were killed. Expand Close Policemen armed with guns, catapults and shields advance towards anti-coup protesters in Mandalay (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Policemen armed with guns, catapults and shields advance towards anti-coup protesters in Mandalay (AP) The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm most of the reported deaths, but several square with online postings. The data analyst, who is in Yangon, the countrys biggest city, said he collected the information to honour those who were killed for their heroic resistance. According to his list, the highest number of deaths were in Yangon, where the total was 18. In the central city of Monywa, where huge crowds have turned out, eight deaths were reported. Two deaths each were reported in Salin, a town in Magwe region, and in Mandalay, the countrys second-biggest city. Mawlamyine, in the countrys southeast, and Myingyan and Kalay, both in central Myanmar, each recorded a single death. As part of the crackdown, security forces have also arrested hundreds of people at protests, including journalists. Expand Close Anti-coup protesters stand behind makeshift barricades made with bricks in Mandalay (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anti-coup protesters stand behind makeshift barricades made with bricks in Mandalay (AP) On Saturday, at least eight journalists, including Thein Zaw of The Associated Press, were detained. A video shows he had moved out of the way as police charged down a street at protesters, but was then seized by officers, who handcuffed him and held him briefly in a chokehold before marching him away. He has been charged with violating a public safety law that could see him imprisoned for up to three years. The escalation of the crackdown has led to increased diplomatic efforts to resolve Myanmars political crisis, but there appear to be few viable options. It is not yet clear if Wednesdays soaring death toll could change the dynamic. The UN Security Council is expected to hold a closed meeting on the situation on Friday, council diplomats said. They added that the United Kingdom had requested the meeting. Still, any kind of co-ordinated action at the United Nations will be difficult as two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, would almost certainly veto it. Some countries have imposed or are considering imposing their own sanctions. New Delhi, March 5 : A civil defence volunteer shot himself with a country-made pistol to implicate his neighbours with whom he had a fight few days ago in south Delhi's Neb Sarai, the police said on Thursday. He has been admitted to the hospital and would be arrested once discharged. The police got suspicious when on March 3, Sujeet Kumar made a PCR call and reported he had been shot by bike borne men but the eye witnesses at the so called spot didn't notice any firing incident or sound. No blood could be discovered or found at the spot. His wife Anshu was also an accomplice in the act and played a role misleading the police. She locked the house and left without informing anyone, did not join enquiry and was not receiving phone calls from the police. A CCTV footage of the area collected showing the only a motorcycle entering the area at the time of incident was not identified by the victim. On examination, the boys residing in the neighbourhood with whom Sujeet claimed to have a fight some days ago disclosed that the victim Sujeet was carrying a pistol in the morning and had shown the same to them. He then took it inside his house and after a few minutes, Sujeet and his wife Anshu came out of the room with Sujeet having been injured with bullet injury. They offered him help but he denied the same and instead made a call to the police. They also saw his wife Anshu taking the pistol with her hidden in a piece of cloth and leaving the house locked. "So search was made for Anshu, the victim's wife. She was finally traced at a distant relative's home nearby in the same colony. As she was interrogated at length, she disclosed that her husband had accidentally fired upon himself from the pistol that he had acquired from some friend. The weapon has been recovered," said Atul Thakur, DCP South. Anshu has been arrested and Sujeet would be arrested after he is discharged from the hospital where he is undergoing treatment for the bullet injury on his knee. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below During todays parliamentary session, deputies of the National Assembly of Armenia approved a number of amendments to existing laws in the second and final reading, yet failed to approve the package of bills on making amendments to the Law on Higher Education and Science and 22 related laws. The decision was made at the request of Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan, who substantiated his request with the desire to hold additional discussions. Thus, the bills will be returned to the sector-specific committee for further consideration in the first reading. Scholars, academicians, teachers and experts in Armenia have criticized the new reforms in the education system, particularly in the system of higher education. Based on the bills, Armenia intends to renounce tertiary higher education, giving preference to the Western system (one-degree). For instance, a particular candidate of science will be able to have the rank of doctor along with a doctor of sciences, and many scholars of the country consider this simply unacceptable. Moreover, the opponents of the bill are also concerned about the fate of the National Academy of Sciences since, according to the reforms, the government will fund institutes, not the National Academy of Sciences directly, and this will actually jeopardize the meaning of the existence of the National Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Council. In addition, citizens are also concerned about the election of university rectors because the authorities are actually interfering in the process. The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. Gunness is credited with the murders of at least 14 people, with speculation the body count could more than double that figure, all part of the sinister secrets she kept hidden at her farm outside LaPorte during the span of 1884 to 1908. Her specialty was using correspondence, with promises of courtship, to wealthy men from afar to lure them to her farm. Her preferred way to assure their demise was by using poison in the food and drink she served. Strong growth and increasing European sales fast-track eCommerce and digital transformation firm's expansion MONTREAL and CORK, Ireland, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Absolunet, a professional services firm that has helped some of North America's most iconic brands with their digital transformations, eCommerce and digital revenue growth, announced this week that it is opening a European office in Cork, Ireland. The move comes as Absolunet continues to experience significant growth internationally, with multinational clients today representing more than 30% of the firm's client base, all of which are brand manufacturers or distributors (B2B). "As our clients and client list continue to grow and scale through digital, so too does the demand for us to scale along with them, including into Europe and the U.K.," says Charles Desjardins, Absolunet CEO. "In this context, Cork and Ireland seem like a perfect fit for Absolunet's culture as well as our plans to expand our European footprint." Absolunet has steadily increased its client portfolio to become a leading digital transformation and eCommerce consulting firm. With over 25 in-house practices, Absolunet provides consulting and implementation across 3 main areas of expertise; Strategy & Consulting , , Systems & Infrastructure and and Digital Operations & People "Our agile approach to 'fast-forwarding digital maturity' has paid off for clients, and our expansion into Europe has been the object of an ongoing discussion with our partners, who have been a key element of our growth. Our mastery of multiple languages, PIM, change management and proven track record has led to sustained growth over the past few years," adds Desjardins. "We are a year ahead of our own growth plan, in part due to the massive acceleration of digital adoption brought on by the global pandemic." Absolunet's European activities will be led by Chandan Raj, Senior Program Director. Previously, Raj led Global Digital IT Delivery at Johnson Controls and managed Cork University Business School's digital transformation. "Absolunet's methodology and approach can help large organizations accelerate digital initiatives and become more agile in the process," says Raj, who started his career as a Software Engineering Analyst at Accenture. "This approach has helped our clients accelerate hundreds of millions in revenue and bridge the digital gap to what their users, units and customers expect from them." Absolunet's Keystone Partners : Optimizely (formerly Episerver) - Platinum Partner, B2B Commerce - Platinum Partner, B2B Commerce Adobe - Gold Magento Commerce Partner - Gold Magento Commerce Partner inRiver - Platinum Partner and North-American Partner of the Year (5 consecutive years) - Platinum Partner and North-American Partner of the Year (5 consecutive years) Salesforce - B2B Commerce Cloud Complete list of Absolunet's technology partners About Absolunet Absolunet is a professional services firm specializing in commerce and digital transformations. We help some of North America's iconic brands and distributors fast-forward their digital transformation, bridge the eCommerce gap and put customers at the heart of their experience, profitably. Contact: Bernard Dahl, +1-514-982-6560 x2331, bdahl@absolunet.com There's good news and bad news on Covid-19 this week. On the one hand, several million doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine authorized by the FDA for emergency use are already going into the arms of people around the nation. And the Biden administration has brokered a deal with rival manufacturer Merck to produce even more doses of the J&J vaccine, which can be transported and administered more easily than the Covid vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. But at the same time, the Covid-19 caseload is starting to rise again, and public health experts worry that boost could be accelerated by the spread of more transmissible virus variants that might not be covered by the available vaccines. Nevertheless, Republican governors in several states, including Texas, are rolling back some public health precautions, including mask mandates, over the objections of federal health officials. This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KHN, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet. Among the takeaways from this week's podcast: The Food and Drug Administration's authorization last week of a Covid vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson could be a game changer for public health outreach efforts in some areas. In addition to being easier to store and transport, the J&J vaccine needs only one shot, instead of the two doses required by the two older varieties. Some consumers have been put off by the efficacy numbers for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because they are not as high as the ones made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. But those numbers may be deceiving. The J&J version was tested later, when more Covid variants were being transmitted, which could have affected the efficacy in the trials. Still, the J&J shot prevented 100% of hospitalizations and deaths, which are the major markers researchers are looking for. President Joe Biden promised this week that by the end of May there would be enough vaccine for every adult in the United States. But he didn't say each of those adults would be vaccinated. Public health officials will still likely be dealing with some hesitancy in certain groups of people by then. A major publicity campaign about the benefits of getting vaccinated is planned by the government once supply is sufficient. Federal efforts against the coronavirus could be hampered by decisions in some states to begin reopening without maintaining safety protocols such as mandatory masking and limits on indoor capacities. One way to persuade states to keep such public health precautions in place might be to financially reward those that meet the recommendations from federal health officials. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Biden's nominee to be the secretary of Health and Human Services, received a tied, party-line vote in the Finance Committee this week. But that doesn't necessarily mean he won't get some Republican support when the nomination goes to the Senate floor for confirmation. The Senate is poised to try to push out the president's Covid relief plan with an arduous process that would allow passage with only 51 votes. Already Democrats have been forced to give up provisions that would raise the minimum wage and have scaled back the stimulus checks to higher-income workers. So far, no Democrats have deserted the bill, but it is still a work in progress. As the Covid pandemic took hold in the country, one issue that has gotten short shrift is mental health. There was a 20% increase in overdose deaths in 2020 and many health experts are worried that children have suffered mental health repercussions from being home so long. The issue is likely to generate new concerns and strategies as the immediate threat from Covid diminishes. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Jordan Rau, who wrote the latest KHN-NPR "Bill of the Month" feature about an international college student whose mental health crisis was not helped by an unexpected hospital bill. If you have an outrageous medical bill you'd like to share with us, you can do that here. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read too: Julie Rovner: Reveal/KHN's "Into the Covid ICU," by Jenny Gold Joanne Kenen: Politico's "A Complicating Factor in Combating Covid Hot Spots: Heat," by Victoria Colliver and Nolan D. McCaskill Mary Ellen McIntire: Stat's "The Trump Administration Quietly Spent Billions in Hospital Funds on Operation Warp Speed," by Rachel Cohrs Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Atlantic's "5 Pandemic Mistakes We Keep Repeating," by Zeynep Tufekci The Biden Administration has said that by restoring US credibility and reasserting forward-looking global leadership, it will ensure that America, not a more assertive and authoritarian China, sets the international agenda, working alongside countries like India to shape new norms and agreements globally that advance its interests and reflect its values. The comments were made in the Biden administration's Interim National Security Strategic Guidance released on Wednesday. It lays out a vision for how the United States can seize what we view as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to renew America's advantages at home and abroad, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference. The Guidance, she said, is designed to communicate the administration's strategic approach and central priorities for national security policy. It describes the changed strategic landscape the US faces today and affirms our enduring core national interests, including protecting the security of the American people, expanding economic prosperity and opportunity, and realising and defending the democratic values at the heart of the American way of life, Psaki said. In its interim National Security Guidance, the White House said that this agenda will strengthen its enduring advantages, and allow it to prevail in strategic competition with China or any other nation. The most effective way for America to out-compete a more assertive and authoritarian China over the long-term is to invest in our people, our economy, and our democracy, it said. By restoring US credibility and reasserting forward-looking global leadership, we will ensure that America, not China, sets the international agenda, working alongside others to shape new global norms and agreements that advance our interests and reflect our values. "By bolstering and defending our unparalleled network of allies and partners, and making smart defense investments, we will also deter Chinese aggression and counter threats to our collective security, prosperity, and democratic way of life, the Guidance said. Reiterating that the US will reinvigorate and modernise its alliances and partnerships around the world, the Guidance said that beyond its core alliances, the US will also double down on building partnerships throughout the world, because its strength is multiplied when it combines efforts to address common challenges, share costs, and widen the circle of cooperation. As we do, we will recognise that our vital national interests compel the deepest connection to the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere. And we will be mindful of both our values and our interests as we engage partner nations. "We will deepen our partnership with India and work alongside New Zealand, as well as Singapore, Vietnam, and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, to advance shared objectives. Recognising the ties of shared history and sacrifice, we will reinforce our partnership with Pacific Island states, the Guidance said. At its root, the White House said that ensuring national security requires them to defend and nurture the underlying sources of American strength, including its people, economy, national defence, and democracy at home; promote a favourable distribution of power to deter and prevent adversaries from directly threatening the US and its allies, inhibiting access to the global commons, or dominating key regions; and lead and sustain a stable and open international system, underwritten by strong democratic alliances, partnerships, multilateral institutions, and rules. It said that the US will position itself, diplomatically and militarily, to defend its allies. We will support China's neighbours and commercial partners in defending their rights to make independent political choices free of coercion or undue foreign influence. We will promote locally-led development to combat the manipulation of local priorities, said the Guidance. We will support Taiwan, a leading democracy and a critical economic and security partner, in line with longstanding American commitments. We will ensure that US companies do not sacrifice American values in doing business in China. And we will stand up for democracy, human rights, and human dignity, including in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. On all these issues, we will work to forge a common approach with like minded countries, it said. The relations between the US and China are at an all-time low. The two countries are currently engaged in a bitter confrontation over various issues, including trade, the origins of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the communist giant's aggressive military moves in the disputed South China Sea and human rights violations. At the same time, the White House recognises that strategic competition does not, and should not, preclude working with China when it is in its national interest to do so. Indeed, renewing Americas advantages ensures that we will engage China from a position of confidence and strength. We will conduct practical, results-oriented diplomacy with Beijing and work to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation, it said. We will welcome the Chinese governments cooperation on issues such as climate change, global health security, arms control, and nonproliferation where our national fates are intertwined. As we do, we will rally our allies and partners to join us, pooling our negotiating leverage and showing our collective power and resolve, the Guidance said. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Columbia-Greene Media has recently teamed up with the US Postal Service to provide same-day delivery of your local newspaper with your mail. Our expanded daily delivery of your local news reaches into the following areas: TORONTO, ON and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / GlobeX Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF) (CSE:SWIS) (FRA:GDT) ("GlobeX" or the "Company"), the leader in Swiss hosted secure communications and secure data management, is pleased announce that its CEO, Alain Ghiai, joined Steve Darling from Proactive with news the company has announced that they are preparing to take their Sekur platform for secure emails and chats, on a global launch. Ghiai joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company is launching a multi-currency platform for its secure communications solution platform Sekur in anticipation of a global mass-market launch in April 2021. Ghiai telling Proactive the due to needs in certain markets, GlobeX will launch plan offerings in USD, CAD, AUD, NZD, CHF, EUR and GBP. The company also is planning a launch in Japan sometime in late 2021. The Interview article and video can be viewed by click this link: GlobeX Data CEO Interview GlobeX's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner. Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved. About GlobeX Data Ltd. GlobeX Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure data management and secure communications. The Company distributes a suite of secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery, document management, encrypted e-mails, and secure communication tools. GlobeX Data Ltd. sells its products through its approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. GlobeX Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide. On behalf of Management GLOBEX DATA LTD. Alain Ghiai President and Chief Executive Officer +1.416.644.8690 corporate@globexdatagroup.com For more information please contact GlobeX Data at corporate@globexdatagroup.com or visit us at https://globexdatagroup.com. For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com. For more information on SekurSafe visit us at: https://www.sekursafe.com. Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. GlobeX cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond GlobeX's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GlobeX's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, GlobeX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. SOURCE: GlobeX Data Ltd View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633439/Globex-Data-CEO-Interviewed-on-Proactive-to-Announce-Its-Multi-Currency-Platform-for-Its-Global-Launch-of-SekurCom-Communication-Platform FULLERTON, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FaceTory, a Korean beauty inspired skincare brand, announces its expansion to 150 Whole Foods Market stores across the United States. Starting this month, FaceTory's Soothe Me Tea Tree 2-Step Sheet Mask, Be Bright Be You Gold Foil Sheet Mask, and Let's Talk Detox Charcoal Sheet Masks will be available at the national grocer. FaceTory Soothe Me Tea Tree Sheet Mask FaceTory Be Bright Be You Sheet Mask "As a skincare company, we understand how difficult it can be for customers to find clean, plant-based sheet masks. Many brands focus on novelty rather than quality, but our mission is to provide sheet masks and skincare that customers can trust," said Michele Datu, E-Commerce Specialist at FaceTory. "We're extremely honored and excited that our products will be sold in Whole Foods Market stores! It's one of the most popular places for customers to access leading products in the clean beauty category with plant-based and organic options." FaceTory focuses on developing clean, affordable, and effective skincare. All three masks available in Whole Foods Market have an upgraded formulation, as noted on the packaging. The masks are free of artificial fragrance and harsh chemicals, such as sulfates and parabens. In addition, more beneficial key ingredients for each mask were added. Soothe Me Tea Tree, for example, has more blemish-fighting and calming ingredients. "We are so excited to launch facial skincare masks from FaceTory in select stores as we've seen a growing trend in our customers seeking beyond clean versions of their favorite face masks," said Amy Jargo, Global Beauty Buyer at Whole Foods Market. "FaceTory masks meet our high standards and are such a fun skincare treat for an easy self-care moment!" Whole Foods Market's standards go beyond typical "clean beauty" claims and ban more than 100 ingredients, including parabens, phthalates, microbeads, and triclosan, from all beauty and body care products the retailer sells. Soothe Me Tea Tree 2-Step Sheet Mask, Let's Talk Detox Charcoal Sheet Mask, and Be Bright Be You Gold Foil Sheet Mask are available in select Whole Foods Market locations beginning this month. About FaceTory: FaceTory was founded in the U.S in 2016. Powered by skincare lovers, the Korean- American skincare company, understands that not all skin is the same and every face has a different story. FaceTory centers itself on creating gentle, clean, and affordable products that work. Standing by the philosophy that skincare should be approachable, affordable, and functional, they create products that they can confidently recommend to loved ones, especially the FaceTory Fam! https://www.facetory.com/ For more information, please contact: Alice Hong Marketing Associate FaceTory [email protected] 310-961-3835 SOURCE FaceTory Related Links https://www.facetory.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 13:15:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia registered 1,161 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 161,974 as of Wednesday evening, the country's Ministry of Health said. The ministry said five new deaths from the coronavirus were reported across the country during the same period, bringing the national death toll to 2,391. The East African country reported 364 more recoveries, taking the national count of COVID-19 recoveries to 136,443. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, has so far reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the East Africa region. According to the ministry, Ethiopia currently has some 23,138 active COVID-19 cases, of which 398 are said to be under severe health conditions. According to the latest figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia's COVID-19 cases accounted for about 4 percent of the African continent's total confirmed cases. The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement COVID-19 precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. The East African nation has so far conducted 2,152,739 COVID-19 medical tests, the ministry said. Enditem Statement on International Womens Day - 8 March 2021. Theme: Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world. This years International Womens Day is like no other. As countries and communities start to slowly recover from a devastating pandemic, we have the chance to finally end the exclusion and marginalization of women and girls. But to do that, we need immediate action. Women must have the opportunity to play a full role in shaping the pivotal decisions being made right now as countries respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic choices that will affect the wellbeing of people and the planet for generations to come. To do this, we must break down the deep-seated historic, cultural, and socio-economic barriers that prevent women from taking their seat at the decision-making table to make sure that resources and power are more equitably distributed. For instance, across the world, women remain concentrated in the lowest paid jobs, many in extremely vulnerable forms of employment. Women are nearly twice as likely than men to lose their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. Indeed, the pandemic will dramatically increase the poverty rate for women and widen the gap between men and women who live in poverty. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is working with countries across the globe to address these inequalities. Our eye-opening new policy brief explores how a Temporary Basic Income for women in developing countries could provide part of the solution. UNDP argues that a worthwhile monthly investment of 0.07 per cent of developing countries GDP could help 613 million working-aged women living in poverty to absorb the shock of the pandemic. It would also contribute to the economic security and independence that is necessary for women to engage more deeply in the decisions that could change their future. Despite the barriers, women, especially young women, are at the forefront of diverse and inclusive movements for social change -- online and in the streets. That includes their leading role in taking a stand against climate change, fighting for a green economy and pushing for womens rights. And we know that more inclusive leadership and representation leads to stronger democracies, better governance, and more peaceful societies. Look, for instance, to research by UN Women, which demonstrates that involving women in peace processes is likely to make peace agreements last much longer. However, we arent moving fast enough. At the current rate of progress, gender equality among Heads of Government, for example, will take another 130 years. To disrupt the status quo, UNDP is working to amplify womens voices and promote their participation and leadership in public institutions, parliaments, the judiciary, and the private sector. With our support, some 180 different measures -- from electoral quotas to gender-smart business policies -- were put in place by countries across the globe in 2019. And the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker by UNDP and UN Women is helping Governments to identify and address gaps in their response to the pandemic from ways to address gender-based violence to how to redistribute unpaid care work. To build forward better from the COVID-19 crisis, and to get the Global Goals firmly back on track, we cannot simply return to the world we had before. We must do things differently. That means shattering the barriers that hold women and girls back. This years International Womens Day is a rallying cry for Generation Equality. It is time to finally fully harness the power of womens leadership to realise a more equal, more inclusive and more sustainable future. - Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The glamorous wives of twin husbands accused of running a $15million building fraud scheme have turned to selling their designer outfits online. Charbel and Elie Douna, 33, were arrested on February 17 in police raids across the Illawarra region, south of Sydney. The directors of Albion Park's LuxLiving have been accused of falsifying documents to get a $14.7million loan to build properties on a 92-home estate. Their wives Sara and Emily Douna have amassed a combined following of over 110,000 Instagram users by flaunting their extravagant lifestyles. They regularly post photos of lavish European holidays, weekend stays at The Langham, first class plane tickets, upscale dining and designer clothes. Their wives Sara and Emily Douna have amassed a combined following of over 110,000 Instagram users by flaunting their extravagant lifestyles. Pictured: Emily and her husband Elie Sara, who shares four young children with Charbel, is trying to offload 16 designer items, including Valentino flats and a Dolce and Gabana outfit Elie's wife-of-four-years Emily listed a pair of Valentino stud heels for $300, a Camilla dress for $399, and $450 Sophia Webster sandals But now the pair have resorted to offloading their designer duds on online marketplace Depop. Elie's wife-of-four-years Emily listed a pair of Valentino stud heels for $300, a Camilla dress for $399, and $450 Sophia Webster sandals. The mother-of-three is also selling heavily discounted accessories, including $25 Carolina Lemke sunglasses that retail for $150, and a $300 Gucci headband with an RRP of $500. Sara, who shares four young children with Charbel, is trying to offload 16 designer items, including Valentino flats and a Dolce & Gabbana outfit. Neither women have been charged or accused of any involvement in their husbands' alleged crimes. Detective Chief Inspector Glen Broadhead said the allegedly illegitimate contacts were 'put in names of people who have not purchased land or had no intention to purchase land'. They regularly post photos of lavish European holidays, weekend stays at The Langham, first class plane tickets, upscale dining and designer clothes 'We believe the specific reason for those [allegedly] false contracts was to support the loan application to ensure the business appeared to have sufficient funds to move forward with the loan application,' he told the Daily Telegraph. Police also allege their real estate friend Ben Feltham, from Right Choice Real Estate in Albion Park, published the false sale contracts. The 35-year-old turned himself into police at Lake Illawarra Police Station last month. During searches of the brothers' homes in Calderwood and Wongawilli, detectives seized financial documents, poker machines, electronic devices and firearms for forensic examination. Charbel (left) and Elie (right) Douna, 33, were charged over an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud scheme Detectives seized financial documents, poker machines (right), electronic devices and firearms (left) for forensic examination One of the guns was seized after Sara posted it to Instagram in 2019. In the video, Charbel can be seen firing the gun into a large balloon as part of a gender announcement for his then-pregnant wife. When hit with a bullet, the balloon exploded in pink dust. 'It's just reckless,' Inspector Broadhead said. The twins were each charged with 19 counts of publishing false and misleading information to obtain advantage, dishonestly obtaining a financial advance by deception and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity.. Pictured: Elie and Emily Douna. The mother-of-three posts photos on Instagram showing lavish holidays, first class tickets, designer clothes and luxury homes Feltham was charged with nine counts of publishing false or misleading information to obtain advantage and participating in a criminal group to contribute criminal activity. Police allege he used his position as a real estate agent to publish false contracts of sale Inquiries are continuing and further charges are expected to be laid. All three men were granted conditional bail to appear in Port Kembla Local Court on April 14. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Rotunda Rumblings Nuclear option: The Ohio Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to remove nuclear subsidies contained in House Bill 6, the bailout bill thats the subject of a federal corruption probe. As Andrew Tobias writes, senators said they no longer think the bills $1 billion in subsidies are necessary, and said repealing them will help turn the page on an embarrassing chapter for the legislature. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. Green light: As expected, the House Finance Committee voted on Wednesday to refer Gov. Mike DeWines transportation budget to the House for a floor vote. Per Tobias, the committees last-minute changes included increasing a hike in state highway patrol funding from $35 million to $50 million. But major DeWine-backed language a $12 hike on vehicle fees and tougher penalties for distracted drivers stayed out of the bill. Test anxiety: An Ohio House committee advanced a bill that extends deadlines on standardized tests this spring, and instructs the Ohio Department of Education to seek federal permission to exempt schools and districts from sanctions and penalties as a result of the state report card grades. Laura Hancock reports that lawmakers originally wanted to pass a bill exempting assessments this spring, but couldnt because the Biden administration expects tests. Bernie bro: Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno has a Trump insider in his corner as he considers running for U.S. Senate in 2022. Per Tobias, Ric Grenell, a former top official in the Trump White House, has told people he supports Moreno, who has yet to officially announce a bid. Grenell had dinner with Trump last weekend, around the same time advisers to Trump talked him out of issuing an early endorsement in the race. Doesnt add up: The Federal Election Commission has asked U.S. Rep. Jim Jordans campaign committee to explain large accounting discrepancies between reports it filed several years ago and corrected reports it filed earlier this year. As Sabrina Eaton reports, many of the discrepancies exceeded $100,000, and one exceeded $900,000. The campaign says no money was ever missing and blames the inconsistencies on troubles adjusting to skyrocketing donations as Jordans national profile grew. New boss, same as the old boss: Former Ohio Republican Party executive director Rob Secaur is taking a top job with his former boss. Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timkens U.S. Senate campaign announced Secaur as its new campaign manager on Wednesday. Also joining the Timken campaign is Kirstin Hopkins, a Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee alum who will oversee Timkens national fundraising. Private matters: The contract between the federal government and CoreCivic, which owns the Northeast Ohio Correction al Center in Youngstown, expired Sunday but the private prison company continues to house 800 inmates due to a three-month extension. John Caniglia writes the U.S. Marshals Service is looking for space for the federal inmates. COVID by ZIP: Rich Exner has updated his searchable database that you can use to find the number of new coronavirus cases over the last 14 days, 30 days and all-time for each ZIP code in Ohio. COVID cash: The cash value of the latest stimulus bill pending congressional approval is $8,800 for a typical family of four with two young children. This includes $5,600 in stimulus payments ($1,400 per family member) and a $1,600 increase in child care tax credits for each child under the age of 6 ($1,000 for children age 6 to 17), Exner explains. His weekly personal finance column, Thats Rich! digs deep into what is in the latest relief package, covering direct payments, tax credits, unemployment and more. Caseload: The Ohio Department of Health reported 2,022 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths. Thats not necessarily because no one died of COVID-19. The state is now relying on the federal government to count deaths, which takes some time, Hancock reports. Name check: A Tuesday column from the Washington Posts Jennifer Rubin that argues Sen. Rob Portman and other Republicans should support providing $350 billion to local and state governments references a letter the Ohio Mayors Alliance sent in February to Ohios congressional delegation. The only Republican plan on the table has nothing for state and local funding. If Portman and others want some bipartisanship, they might try putting real money on the table, Rubin writes. No AX MRDRR: The Dayton Daily News Laura Bischoff got the list of last years rejected vanity Ohio license plate submissions. Among those rejected: AX MRDRR. I H8T PPL and POOHPN. Womens march: Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley are among the expected speakers at Clevelands International Womens Day rally and march on March 8. Alexis Oatman has details. Musical chairs: Sen. Cecil Thomas stepped down from his position as assistant minority leader for Senate Democrats on Wednesday to focus on his run for Cincinnati mayor. Senators voted for Sen. Nicki Antonio to replace him, and Sen. Tina Maharath replaced Antonio as minority whip, and Sen. Hearcel Craig replaced Maharath as assistant minority whip. Lobbying Lineup Five groups that lobbied on last legislative sessions House Bill 460, which would list judicial candidates party affiliation on November ballots. The bill didnt pass, but its back as House Bill 149, sponsored by two Republicans at a time when Democrats have been increasingly more successful at winning Ohio Supreme Court races. The lobbying disclosure deadline for this years bills isnt until May. State lobbying forms dont require lobbyists to disclose which side of a bill theyre on. 1. Association of Ohio Life Insurance Companies 2. Ohio State Bar Association 3. Ohio Bankers League 4. Ohio Manufacturers Association 5. Secure Elections Project On The Move Sarah LaTourette has been hired by the Ohio Childrens Alliance to hold a newly created position, chief advocacy officer, according to a release. LaTourette, a Republican ex-state lawmaker from Geauga County, most recently served as executive director of Ohio Family and Children First within Gov. Mike DeWines administration. Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers Association, has been appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to the Industrial Commission Nominating Council through Oct. 20, 2021. Greg Simpson, Clermont County Republican Party chair, has been reappointed by DeWine to the State Racing Commission for a four-year term ending in March 2025. Stephen White, in-house counsel at the Center for Science and Industry in Columbus and a former aide to U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, has been named by DeWine to the State Speech and Hearing Professionals Board though March 2022. Bryan Williams, chair of the Summit County Republican Party, has been appointed by DeWine to the University of Akron Board of Trustees through July 2029. Straight from the Source Huh, its a pretty nice town I gotta say. OK. Ill give you Cincinnati. I cant think of any others, I gotta be honest. No, youre absolutely right, that is a nice city. -Fox News host Tucker Carlson conceding that Cincinnati is one decent city run by Democrats in an on-air debate with David Tafuri, a Democrat, attorney and former U.S. State Department official who is from the Queen City. The Monday night discussion was about President Joe Bidens Middle East policy, but shifted to Democratic U.S. cities. 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. Photo taken on May 22, 2020 shows flags on the Tian'anmen Square and atop the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature and political advisory body will start annual sessions this week, returning to their traditional March schedule after last year's events were postponed to May due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As the year 2021 marks the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the world will watch how China, with the elimination of absolute poverty just declared, charts its course toward fully building a modern socialist country. The fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open on Friday, a day after the opening of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). In addition to hearing the annual work reports of the government, top legislature, top court and top procuratorate, lawmakers will also review a blueprint for China's development in the next five to 15 years -- the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the long-range objectives through the year 2035. The following are some of the issues expected to be high on the agenda of the two sessions. People work at a workshop of Harbin Dongan Automotive Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 25, 2021. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the only major economy in the world to register positive growth in 2020, with its GDP expanding 2.3 percent to hit 101.6 trillion yuan (about 15.7 trillion U.S. dollars) in the year. On Friday when the government work report is delivered to the NPC for deliberation, this year's development goals will be closely watched. Last year, no specific GDP growth figure was set in the government work report due to the uncertainty brought by COVID-19 and the world economic and trade environment. Zhang Liqun, a research fellow with the Development Research Center of the State Council, said China's economy is resilient, has potential and will maintain sustained growth in 2021. But he said the primary goal of economic development is not to seek a nice-looking GDP figure but to raise the quality of the growth and ensure people's well-being. Major development targets listed in the 14th Five-Year Plan, including economic growth, newly created jobs in urban areas, major projects, as well as pollution control will also draw attention. Aerial photo taken on Feb. 19, 2021 shows containers at the automatic dock of the Qingdao port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Zhang Jingang/Xinhua) DUAL CIRCULATION China's "dual circulation" development paradigm, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay, is expected to be another hot topic during the two sessions. The 14th Five-Year Plan will further clarify how China will implement the dual circulation strategy and achieve high-quality development. Unleashing domestic demand is crucial to driving China's growth, but this new development paradigm does not mean China will backpedal on its opening-up, officials and experts have said. Dual circulation is seen as a strategic and win-win choice for China to reshape its international cooperation and new competitive edge, said Justin Yifu Lin, former World Bank chief economist and honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University. SCI-TECH INNOVATION Chinese authorities have said the country will uphold the central role of innovation in its modernization drive and implement an innovation-driven strategy for the next five to 15 years. It will strategically underpin its national development with self-reliance in science and technology. "We still face challenges including a complex international environment, and there is still a supply gap in the overall innovation capacity," said Xue Lan, a professor from Tsinghua University. Xue said the country's high-quality development must rely on sci-tech innovation. National legislators and political advisors, many of whom are scientists and Big Tech executives, are expected to discuss the ways to build China's sci-tech strength and create an enabling environment for innovation. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows a photovoltaic power station at a green industrial development park in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Hainan, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) GREEN DEVELOPMENT A complete economic and societal shift to cleaner energy and fewer polluting emissions conforms to the people's expectations for high-quality development. Last year, China announced that it would strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To that end, carbon emission control has been included in China's top policy priorities for 2021. In January, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu said the country has begun formulating an action plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and will accelerate the transformation toward green and low-carbon development across China's society over the next 10 years. Wu Gang, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and chairman of Xinjiang Goldwind Sci &Tech Co., Ltd., said he had submitted proposals on achieving carbon neutrality and would discuss with fellow political advisors about building a clean and diversified energy supply system. LEGISLATION As the highest organ of state power, the NPC exercises various functions and powers including enacting and amending basic laws. In 2019, the NPC session adopted the Foreign Investment Law. Last year, the milestone Civil Code was adopted. The upcoming session will see lawmakers deliberate draft amendments to the organic law and procedural rules of the NPC, which deal with the operations of the country's top legislature. According to sources from the top legislature, the draft amendments assimilate effective practices in legislative processes, such as making NPC sessions more open and efficient. In Marineland, the sprawling aquatic park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, lives a walrus named Smooshi. Concerns for the sea mammals well-being form the core of the documentary The Walrus and the Whistleblower, which follows the former trainer Phil Demerss fight to free Smooshi from her captivity. Demers believes that, while he was working at Marineland, Smooshi imprinted on him, or deemed him her guardian. The director Nathalie Bibeau pairs Demerss account with home video footage of the pair playing during off-hours at the park. At the time, a local news story about their bond spread nationally, even appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. But in 2012, after witnessing the animals suffer chemical burns, Demers quit his job and vowed to expose the parks abuse. 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. Care costs for Alzheimers disease and dementia in New York totaled more than $5.4 billion in 2020, the most spent by any state in the nation, according to a new report released today by the Alzheimers Association. The 2021 Alzheimers Disease Facts and Figures report shows New York is the only state in the nation to spend more than $5 billion on dementia care $5.453 billion last year. Its the fifth consecutive year New York has led the nation in Medicaid spending on dementia care. Costs are projected to increase 15.6 percent by 2025 to more than $6.3 billion. The crushing impact of Alzheimers disease to our economic and health care systems runs only second to the effect it has on the individual with the disease and their family members, said Catherine James, chief executive officer of the Alzheimers Association, Central New York Chapter. The new Facts and Figures report shows that Alzheimers disease and other dementias continue to be a significant burden for too many New Yorkers. The 2021 Facts and Figures report provides an in-depth look at the latest national statistics on Alzheimers prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs of care and impact on caregivers. New disease-related statistics for New York revealed the following: The number of New Yorkers aged 65 and older living with Alzheimers disease will grow 12.2% by 2025. Currently, 410,000 New Yorkers live with Alzheimers; in four years, 460,000 are estimated to have the disease. Currently, more than six million Americans live with Alzheimers disease. More than a half-million New Yorkers are unpaid caregivers for someone living with Alzheimers or other dementias. In 2020, 586,000 people in New York were dementia caregivers, contributing 774 million hours of unpaid care. An economic model used by the Alzheimers Association places the value of this care at $14.6 billion. Alzheimers disease was reported as a cause of death for 3,753 people in New York in 2019, the most recent year of data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Black Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease than white Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association.Alzheimer's Association Perspectives and experiences of Alzheimers care vary by race More than one-third of Black Americans (36%) and nearly one-fifth of Hispanic Americans (18%) and Asian Americans (19%), believes discrimination would be a barrier to receiving Alzheimers care. In addition, half or more of non-White caregivers say they have experienced discrimination when navigating health care settings for their care recipient. Despite ongoing efforts to address health and health care disparities in Alzheimers and dementia care, survey results show there is still a lot of work to be done, said Carl V. Hill, Ph.D., MPH. chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Alzheimers Association. Clearly, discrimination, lack of diversity among health care professionals and mistrust in medical research create significant barriers to care and demand the countrys full attention. New data from the Alzheimer's Association reveals that communities of color report discrimination from healthcare providers.Alzheimer's Association For the first time, the accompanying special report, Race, Ethnicity and Alzheimers in America, examines perspectives and experiences of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native and White Americans in regard to Alzheimers and dementia care. Findings in the report reveal that non-White racial/ethnic populations expect and experience more barriers when accessing dementia care, have less trust in medical research and are less confident that they have access to health professionals who understand their ethnic and racial background and experiences. Among the findings: Two-thirds of Black Americans (66%) believe it is harder for them to get excellent care for Alzheimers disease or other dementias. Likewise, 2 in 5 Native Americans (40%) and Hispanic Americans (39%) believe their own race or ethnicity makes it harder to get care, as do one-third of Asian Americans (34%). Nearly two-thirds of Black Americans (62%) believe that medical research is biased against people of color a view shared by substantial numbers of Asian Americans (45%), Native Americans (40%) and Hispanic Americans (36%) as well. Only half of Black Americans (53%) trust a future cure for Alzheimers will be shared equally regardless of race, color or ethnicity. Fewer than half of Black (48%) and Native Americans (47%) feel confident they have access to providers who understand their ethnic or racial background and experiences, and only about 3 in 5 Asian Americans (63%) and Hispanics (59%) likewise feel confident. Social distancing to prevent coronavirus spread resulted in many family visits being done from opposite sides of windows for safety.Alzheimer's Association More people with dementia dying during pandemic The report also examines the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people living with Alzheimers. According to the report, there were at least 42,000 more deaths from Alzheimers and other dementias in 2020 compared with averages over the previous five years a 16% increase. In New York, there were 2,210 more deaths from Alzheimers and dementia in 2020 than compared to averages over the past five years a 18.8% increase. The report highlights preliminary and anecdotal data indicating the COVID-19 pandemic is also having adverse effects on many family caregivers. It notes that pandemic-related caregiving challenges, including the shutdown of adult day care centers and the inability of families to visit or communicate with relatives in long-term care settings have caused emotional distress and other negative outcomes among caregivers. More study is needed to understand the exact reasons why deaths attributable to Alzheimers and dementia during the pandemic have increased so dramatically, James said. In addition, many caregivers have been unable to visit loved ones in these settings, resulting in social isolation for the care recipient and causing enormous stress for these families. The Alzheimers Association provides around-the-clock information, support and referrals to individuals and families impacted by Alzheimers and all other dementia at its 24/7 Helpline 800.272.3900 and website. The Central New York Chapter continues to provide free care planning meetings, support groups and education programs in remote settings due to the pandemic. Education remains the best solution to the challenges dementia puts forth, James said. Until we have a treatment, prevention or cure available, learning about these diseases and how to live successfully with them is the best way to fight back. The Xinjiang-related motion recently passed by Canada's House of Commons, which seriously distorts facts and attacks China's Xinjiang policies, is a gross interference in China's internal affairs and malicious provocation against the 1.4 billion Chinese people. It fully exposed the hypocrisy and vicious intention of certain Canadian politicians to undermine Xinjiang's development and stability, and interfere in China's internal affairs. The essence of Xinjiang-related issues is about combating violent terrorism, radicalization and secession. China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has sincerely implemented the UN's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, learned from similar practices in other countries, and conducted de-radicalization practices in accordance with the law. What it has done completely conforms to the principles and spirits in the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and is important and effective for preventing terrorism and combating radicalization. The fact that there has been no violent terrorist case for more than four years in a row in Xinjiang is the best proof. The so-called "genocide" claimed by Canada's House of Commons is complete nonsense. China's constitution and law on regional ethnic autonomy have made clear regulations on the protection of the development and interests of ethnic groups. According to these laws, all people in Xinjiang, including women from all ethnic groups, enjoy human rights protected by the constitution and laws. From 2010 to 2018, the Uygur population in Xinjiang rose from 10.17 million to 12.72 million, an increase 25 percent. The growth rate is higher than that of the whole population in Xinjiang, which is 14 percent, and that of all ethnic minority groups, which is 22 percent. The growth rate of the Han population stood at 2 percent during the same period. Xinjiang now enjoys social stability, with the people living and working in peace and contentment. All ethnic groups in the region are united in harmony, and the basic human rights of people from all ethnic groups, including the rights to life, health and development, are well protected. This is an undeniable fact. Some Canadian politicians have never been to Xinjiang, or even China, but are engaged in political manipulation on Xinjiang-related issues under the pretext of human rights, trying to destroy Xinjiang's social stability by fabricating lies. What they have done has exactly undermined human rights. Posed as a human rights preacher, Canada indeed has a very poor record of human rights protection. In 1870s, the Canadian government put assimilation of aboriginal people on its official agenda, and implemented a policy of cultural extinction against aborigines through the establishment of boarding schools. School-age aboriginal children were forcibly taken away from their families, forced to convert to Christianity, and banned from using indigenous languages. Many children involved were sexually assaulted and beaten. From establishing the first boarding school in 1870, to shutting the last one in 1996, this policy lasted for over a century. According to incomplete figures, over 150,000 aboriginal children were forced to go to these schools, 50,000 of whom were beaten to death. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission reached a conclusion in 2015 that the country's former policy of forcibly putting aboriginal children into boarding schools can best be described as "cultural genocide." Besides, a report released in 2019 concluded that Canadian governments at all levels held serious prejudices and had structural problems in dealing with cases related to indigenous women, which is even amounted to a "Canadian genocide." Obviously, what Canada needs is introspection. Xinjiang-related affairs are China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. China is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Being addicted to ideological confrontation and fabricating stories about China, some Canadian politicians would only end up in vain. What awaits them is condemnation. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- An engineer for the Mississippi Department of Transportation says the Fort Bayou bridge, built in 1986, is worn out and the repairs currently underway are essential. MDOT announced Thursday the bridge will close to all traffic on March 14 at 10 p.m. and remain closed for 45 days for further repairs. The drawbridge was built in 1986, so its been in service 30-plus years, said Jason Winders, MDOT engineer for Jackson County. The components inside that bridge are worn out. Its time to rebuild them, repair them, put them back into good working order so we can get another 30 years of service out of this bridge. Work on the $20 million project began in January. In recent weeks, traffic has been reduced to one lane each way, with those working lanes alternating from one side of the bridge to the other as crews replace the grid deck on the drawbridge. What the public has seen lately is weve brought the traffic down from four lanes to two lanes, which has been really inconvenient for the public, Winders said, but the old grid deck thats actually on the drawbridge spans had some fatigue cracking this stuff is just old. Its worn out and its time for it to be replaced. Weve been replacing the middle grid deck, so weve been moving traffic from side to side. Earlier this week, The City of Ocean Springs posted an update on the bridge to its Facebook. Unsurprisingly, it was largely met with criticism, with most commenters lamenting the inconvenience the closure will present them. Others suggested the closure should have been done during the summer time so as not to affect school traffic, although no school buses cross the bridge as part of daily school routes, as all children north of the bridge are students in St. Martin schools. Regardless, there was one overriding factor in the timing of the closure -- hurricane season. This bridge is one of three routes in and out of Ocean Springs, Winders said. We dont want to close this roadway down during hurricane season. Its an evacuation route, an emergency route. During the closure, marine vessel heights greater than 26 feet will be unable to traverse the channel. All other marine traffic should also expect possible intermittent channel closures. What the public has seen lately is weve brought the traffic down from four lanes to two lanes, Winders said, which has been really inconvenient for the public, but the old grid deck thats actually on the drawbridge spans had some fatigue cracking. This stuff is just old. Its worn out and its time for it to be replaced. Once complete, the project will result in replacing the steel deck on the drawbridge, upgrades to the bridges motor, generator, gears and axels, as well as a repainting of the bridge. Safety remains MDOTs top priority, and thats why this bridge repair project is so important, said Tom King, Southern Transportation District Commissioner. By working to upgrade the bridge, MDOT is working to keep the traveling public safe now and for years down the road. So we remind the public to be patient and use caution during this closure. The traveling public has been using this bridge for the last 35 years, King added. This project to rehabilitate the drawbridge is necessary for the bridge to last another 35 years. The Fort Bayou drawbridge is not just a heavily traveled roadway, its also used as an evacuation route during hurricane season, and MDOT wants to ensure everyone crossing that bridge is safe now and for years to come. Winders noted MDOT has been closing the bridge to traffic overnight in recent weeks. Theres a tremendous amount of work going on with the project that most of the public is not aware of, he said. Weve done a lot of this work during the night when weve closed the bridge down. Weve lifted in machinery to temporarily operate the bridge so we can rebuild all the electronics and old motors -- that stuff is 30-plus years old. Its time for a makeover. During the 45-day closure, the bridge will be lifted, with crews removing the 4000-pound bearings off the axle and pulling them out of the bridge so they can be sent to Florida for repair. Detour signs will of course be in place to alert motorists to the closure. Winders noted that, even after the 45-day shut down, work on the bridge will not be complete. After the 45 days, the bridge will by no means be complete, he said. Theres still a tremendous amount of repair work that will have to be done. Well reopen the bridge, but it will still be in the two-lane configuration. The project is expected to be fully complete by late 2021. Sorry! This content is not available in your region A judge who questioned the competence of the top doctor at the Oregon Department of Corrections now faces a state effort to remove her from a series of prison cases over alleged bias. It is unclear what prompted the Oregon Department of Justice to file motions this week seeking to disqualify Senior Marion County Circuit Judge Claudia Burton. But the move follows a scathing rebuke by Rep. Janelle Bynum, who said the judge owes an apology to Corrections Chief Medical Officer Warren Roberts for calling him unreliable and questioning his credibility in a ruling earlier this year. Bynum, who like Roberts is Black, said the judges findings offer a clear example of how society applies a different set of professional standards to Black people. If she would say such things about someone who has worked diligently to become a neurosurgeon, then I can only imagine how people in handcuffs are treated in the courtroom, Bynum said. Roberts agreed that Burton owes him an apology. What she was saying was off the wall egregious, just not consistent with reality, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. It felt like this was an attempt to delegitimize me and as a Black man in Oregon, I know what that feels like. Burton declined to comment. Judicial ethics rules dont allow judges to comment on pending cases, court officials said. The judge was unaware of Roberts race when she presided over a January trial that involved the medical chief, said a state official briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak about pending cases. The trial transcript shows Roberts testified by phone. The conflict emerges as the Legislature is set to take up reforms intended to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system. As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Bynum is a key voice in discussions about those reforms. The controversy began five weeks ago after Burton found the prison system had provided substandard medical care to Richard Weaver, a 46-year-old inmate at the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem. Weaver suffers from asthma, pulmonary disease and chronic pain, according to court filings. Weaver also had an untreated dislocated wrist and contracted COVID-19 in prison, according to court records. Weaver filed a habeas corpus case, a challenge under the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Inmates commonly seek legal relief, including release from prison, for what they see as problems with their conviction or their treatment in prison. Weaver is serving a 25-year sentence for attempted aggravated murder and first-degree robbery out of Marion County for a robbing a tool shop owner and attacking him with a claw hammer in 2010. Burton ruled that the Department of Corrections had treated Weavers medical problems with deliberate indifference and directed the agency to take a number of steps, including having him seen by specialists and following through with their recommendations. Burton based her determination in part on problems she saw with Roberts credibility at trial. A board-certified neurosurgeon, Roberts has been with the Department of Corrections since June 2019. He started as a staff doctor and quickly rose through the ranks. Roberts oversees a staff of 600 and has directed the departments response to the pandemic, which has swept through the states prison system. As of Wednesday, the state reported 3,542 cases and 42 deaths among 12,586 inmates. Roberts, 49, of West Linn, receives an annual salary of $278,076. At Weavers trial, Roberts testified not as the inmates physician but as a representative of the Department of Corrections. Weavers lawyer, Tara Herivel, raised issues with Roberts professional expertise. He has caused pain in every state he has practiced in, she said, according to a transcript of her closing argument. ROBERTS FACES CORRECTIVE ACTION State records show Roberts is the subject of a corrective action agreement with the Oregon Medical Board. The board website says he entered into the non-disciplinary agreement in 2020. Roberts must complete a one-year mentorship program with a board-certified doctor among other requirements. The examiners investigated allegations that Roberts had provided substandard care to five patients in 2011 and 2013, according to medical board records provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive in response to a public records request. The cases predate his tenure with the Department of Corrections. The records show Roberts was alleged to have: performed surgery on a 41-year-old woman when it was not medically indicated; performed an inadequate surgical procedure on a 65-year-old mans spine; performed surgery on a 60-year-old woman when it was not indicated and demonstrated substandard surgical skill; raised questions with his chart notes and surgery on a 55-year-old man; and failed to address post-operative complications in a 28-year-old patient, which contributed to patient harm. The board records note that Roberts, who previously practiced in Colorado, was the subject of a malpractice lawsuit in that state. That claim resulted in discipline in the form of a letter of admonition from the Colorado Medical Board for his medical treatment of a 71-year-old patient, board records show. The board records note that the case ended in a legal settlement. Three years ago, a Multnomah County jury awarded a married couple more than $4.5 million after the husband alleged he suffered lifelong injuries from a spinal surgery performed by Roberts that altered the couples sex life and left the man unable to urinate without difficulty. In an interview Wednesday, Roberts said the lawsuit was ultimately settled with the couple receiving a total of $1 million. He said under the settlement agreement, he was found not liable for the mans injuries. In response to questions about his care in that case, Roberts provided the news organization with letters from two neurosurgeons who reviewed the case and concluded that Roberts met the standard of care. Under the 2020 agreement Roberts reached with the medical board, the board closed its investigation into his care in the five cases and made no finding in regard to any violation of the Medical Practice Act. I have never had my license revoked or suspended since becoming a neurosurgeon in 2011, he said. In 2017, Roberts prevailed in a lawsuit against Legacy Health and Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. He claimed that his privileges at the hospital were revoked as part of a sham process, driven in part by racism and the desire of other doctors to remove him as competition. The jury awarded him $1.5 million in damages. Roberts testified during the trial in Weavers habeas case this year and told the court that under the terms of his agreement with the medical board, he worked with a mentoring physician for the first six months but then the doctor retired. He testified that he then arranged for another mentor but the medical board wanted a doctor with an internal medicine background. He told the court he had a difficult time finding someone and that he had notified the board that he was without a mentor. Nicole Krishnaswami, executive director of the medical board, said Thursday that she could not say whether Roberts is in compliance with his agreement. If a licensee is not compliant, this would result in an investigation, which is confidential under state law, she said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. In other words, I cannot comment on whether or not a licensee is compliant with an order. Robert Oshel, retired associate director for research and disputes at the National Practitioner Data Bank, said the number of allegations involving substandard care by Roberts is unusual, though he said surgeons and neurosurgeons tend to have more malpractice claims than other specialties. Surgeons typically do work that is riskier, he said. The federal data bank is a nonpublic clearinghouse for information on medical malpractice payments, disciplinary actions taken against practitioners by licensing boards, health care entities and other types of actions. State licensing boards are required to report all disciplinary actions affecting their licensees to the agency. Oshel, who is based in Maryland, said what also sets apart Roberts situation is the medical boards decision to act at all, even if in a non-disciplinary way. Any kind of action by a medical board tends to be very unusual, he said. It takes a lot to get them to do anything, whether they call it disciplinary or not. In 2019, the latest full year of data available, the Oregon medical board had a list of 16,000 licensees and reported to the data bank only 13 actions, said Oshel. The actions restricted, suspended or revoked physicians licenses or accepted a physicians voluntary surrender or limitation on a license, he said. AT WORST HE WAS INTENTIONALLY DISHONEST The judge noted several issues with Roberts testimony. Burton wrote that Roberts had a six-month gap where he worked without a mentor whose role was to review records for Roberts patients and hold weekly meetings with Roberts regarding patient care. She wrote that the lapse appears to be in violation of the medical board agreement. She also wrote that Roberts testified that he is able to perform neurosurgery, though his agreement with the state requires that he submit a reentry plan and work for at least one year with a board- certified neurosurgeon who has been approved by the boards medical director. Burton also wrote that although Roberts testified that his certification was in good standing, he is out of compliance with the annual continuing certification requirements to maintain that certification. In short, Burton wrote, Dr. Roberts technical competence as a physician is at least questionable. Dr. Roberts testimony regarding his professional difficulties was evasive. At best, he had a poor understanding of his obligations under the corrective action agreement and the requirements to maintain his board certification. At worst, he was intentionally dishonest with regard to these matters. She wrote that she agreed with the plaintiff in the case, Weaver, that Dr. Roberts is an unreliable witness who lacks credibility. Roberts in an interview said the judges conclusions about his requirements under the medical board agreement were inaccurate and that he is in compliance. JUDGE WAS WAY OUT OF LINE, DISREPECTFUL Burtons decision prompted Bynum, D-Happy Valley, to complain to Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters. In an email two days after the ruling, Bynum told Walters that she was utterly disgusted by the treatment of Dr. Roberts. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Happy Valley, shown here at the Oregon Capitol, said a Marion County judge who questioned the credentials of a top doctor at the Department of Corrections owes the physician an apology. Beth Nakamura/Staff Bynum had gotten to know Roberts through his work at the Department of Corrections and he had become one of the few people I trust to take care of Oregons prison population, Bynum said in the email. Judge Burtons characterization of his professional credentials was way out of line, disrespectful, and unnecessary, she wrote. I do wonder how brazen people will become when attempting to erase the credentials of African American professionals. Walters replied that she couldnt discuss Burtons decision because the case is pending, but I do want you to know that I care very much about the obligation that all Oregon judges have to administer justice impartially. In an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive, Bynum said Black professionals tend to be very, very isolated in the workplace. It makes you easy prey for people to come after you, she said. You have no defense, you have no social capital, no political capital that helps other people get ahead and that makes you very vulnerable. That is why I said something. I felt it was unfair and uncalled for. After Burtons ruling, Marie Garcia, the Department of Corrections legislative and government relations manager, sent an email to lawmakers saying the agency stood by Roberts, calling him an exceptional physician who cares deeply about the well-being and healthcare needs of the adults in custody. Garcia said the department would work with Roberts to ensure he is in compliance with the medical boards corrective action agreement. Deputy state court administrator Phillip Lemman said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive Thursday that state court officials are genuinely concerned that Dr. Roberts feels he was treated differently because of his race. Lemman said the Weaver proceeding was conducted remotely and at no point was his race or ethnicity brought into evidence or apparent to the court. Judges make decisions based upon the record before them, said Lemman in a statement. They base their rulings on the evidence presented through questions asked and the answers given. It is up to attorneys to offer all evidence and arguments they want the court to consider. The trial transcript shows approximately 50 pages of questions posed by the petitioners attorney and Dr. Roberts responses. It shows two pages of follow-up questions and responses by both the states attorney and the judge. STATE WANTS JUDGE OFF CASES Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Justice this week filed a motion seeking a new habeas trial in the Weaver case, though the agency said it would not challenge Burtons determination of substandard care by prison medical staff. The state also wants Burton off cases that involve claims of inadequate care by inmates who contracted COVID-19 in prison. Most of the claims involve prisoners who allege they have received poor medical care. In a court filing, lawyers for the state made the request to remove Burton based on a belief that it cannot have a fair and impartial trial or hearing before the judge. It also appears the Department of Justice is moving to ensure Burton doesnt hear any medical-related habeas claims going forward. An email obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive shows Assistant Oregon Attorney General Yufeng Luo told a Malheur County Circuit Court clerk and other lawyers on Monday that the state will move to disqualify Senior Judge Burton in all of these matters. Luos email does not cite a reason and she did not respond to an email from the news organization seeking an explanation. Burton was first appointed to the bench in 2003 by Gov. Ted Kulongoski and retired at the end of 2020, though she continued to work full time until March 1. Going forward, she will maintain a part-time schedule as is common with newly retired judges, state court officials said. Burton has not been the subject of any complaints that resulted in censure or other public discipline, according to the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability. Herivel, Weavers lawyer and among the states most experienced habeas corpus attorneys, said the states effort to disqualify Burton is extraordinary. Herivel leads a team of 30 lawyers who represent habeas cases involving inadequate care for inmates with COVID-19. In my experience, and I have had hundreds of cases involving the Department of Justice I have never seen it, she said. I have never heard of it. The Department of Justices latest court filings show the state wants to challenge Burtons conclusions about Roberts credibility. The judges findings, the filing said, have a negative impact on Dr. Roberts and the operations of health services within the Oregon Department of Corrections. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie Long-term care facilities have been disproportionately burdened by COVID-19, accounting for about 60% of COVID-19 deaths nationwide, 70% if retirement homes are included. Not only are residents of these facilities particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 given their advanced age, reduced immune system capacity, and multiple underlying health conditions, but staff also face an increased risk of infection. Investigators from the the University of Ottawa and Bruyere Research Institute have been awarded $3.5 million in funding for their cross-provincial study. Over the course of one year, we will study the immune response of workers and residents in long-term care homes across Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia." Amy Hsu, PhD, Investigator, Bruyere Research Institute and Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine The team will recruit over 3,500 residents and 2,500 workers from long-term care facilities in all three provinces and ask them for blood samples over several months. Their goal is to gain insight into how various immunity factors, such as antibodies, react to COVID-19 and/or vaccines. "We will compare the immune response in individuals who previously had COVID-19, those who got vaccinated, and those who have not been infected," explains co-principal investigator Marc-Andre Langlois, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and the Canada Research Chair in Molecular Virology and Intrinsic Immunity. "By linking the information that we find from analyzing their blood to healthcare data, we will be able to follow individuals over time to look at their long-term outcomes following an infection and the duration of protection they get from a complete series of a COVID-19 vaccine. We will track the occurrence of adverse events and serious illness over time. More specifically, we will be closely analyzing the subgroup of antibodies, called virus neutralizing antibodies, that protect against new infections," says Langlois, who helped initiate Stop the Spread Ottawa, an initiative aimed at accelerating vaccine development against the novel coronavirus that has transformed our way of life. "We will use an app called CANImmunize, which is a pan-Canadian digital immunization tracking application developed by study co-applicant, Dr. Kumanan Wilson (Professor, Faculty of Medicine). We've modified it a little for long-term care facilities to allow each participant to have a record of which vaccine they received, when, and how long it was between their first and second dose," explains Dr. Hsu. "We currently don't have a tracking system for vaccines in long-term care in Canada. This platform will allow us to better track vaccinations in long-term care facilities in the future." The Government of Canada, through its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), is providing a total of $8.5 million to support two studies investigating various aspects of immunity and people's response to vaccines within long-term care facilities. The second study from St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto will include people in 72 long term care homes in the Greater Toronto Area and the Ottawa-Champlain region. "These studies investigate the factors that have contributed to COVID-19's disproportionate impact on those living and working in long-term care facilities across the country," states Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam. "Their results will support strategies to better protect residents and staff in these facilities." 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. JourneyGuide, Inc., an innovative retirement income planning software provider announced that it recently provided 15 licenses of JourneyGuide Planning Software to Huntington University for use in the Business program. The software is a cutting-edge, nationally recognized, comprehensive retirement planning tool for use in financial planning. We are excited to give Huntington University students a glimpse into the world of financial advisory services using our best-in-class retirement planning software, said Gary Moorman, Head of Business Development and Sales at JourneyGuide. We also appreciate the opportunity to positively impact someones future career choices. We are pleased to provide such a powerful retirement income planning tool to Huntington Universitys personal financial planning curriculum, said Michael Smith, President and Co-Founder of JourneyGuide. Equipping students with the tools to facilitate the new retirement income paradigm is critical to the long-term success of retirement income planning and puts Huntington University students in a better position to succeed in their financial planning career. We are grateful for the opportunity to utilize JourneyGuide Planning Software in the Huntington University business program. Using this software allows us to teach retirement planning concepts in a contemporary way and help prepare our students for careers in the financial services industry. Recently, we integrated JourneyGuide into our Personal Finance course, and students found it beneficial, said Brock Zehr, DBA, associate professor of business and economics and MBA program director. One student stated, I learned that there are many different variables that contribute to a successful retirement plan. There are many ways that people can accomplish specific goals. No ones goals will be the same, and no ones plan will look the same. It is particularly exciting for HU to connect with JourneyGuide as we share a commitment to the development of talent and opportunities in our NE Indiana region, commented Ann McPherren, EdD, chairperson and professor of business and economics. To learn more about JourneyGuide visit https://www.journeyguideplanning.com. To learn more about Huntington University visit https://www.huntington.edu. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York City will use a new teacher evaluation system for this school year only, to reflect the challenges schools face during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a recent report. Chalkbeat reported that the city reached a deal with union leaders on the new plan, which will reduce the minimum number of teacher observations that administrators conduct, as well as tweak the way student assessment data is used. Under these changes, administrators wont need to conduct as many evaluations by the end of the school year in June. It also means more teachers could be judged based on assessments of students they dont directly teach, Chalkbeat reported. The new evaluation system was made to comply with the state requirement to assess teachers and principals, according to the media outlet. Last June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order to pause a state law mandating school and district leaders to formally assess teachers and principals each year. Cuomo hasnt issued a similar executive order for the 2020-2021 school year, according to Chalkbeat. The media outlet reported that evaluations offer an opportunity for administrators to provide feedback with the goal of improving teaching. Evaluations also play a role when granting teachers tenure, Chalkbeat reported, and can also be used as grounds to fire teachers. But typical performance measures for teacher evaluations, such as student assessments and in-person classroom observations, have been disrupted due to the pandemic. Students in blended learning returned to their public school buildings in September and families were able to move their children to remote learning at any time. Then teachers and students faced another disruption when all public school buildings closed in mid-November due to increasing coronavirus numbers. Since then, elementary school students, and students with disabilities in District 75 returned to school buildings in December under stricter safety measures. Middle schools reopened at the end of February. Under the new evaluation system, most teachers will be observed by an administrator at least once this school year, the media outlet reported. Teachers who received lower ratings in their most recent evaluation will have a minimum of two observations. Previously, teachers received between two and five observations, depending on previous ratings or when they received tenure, according to Chalkbeat. Teachers who received informal observations earlier this school year and received an effective or highly effective rating dont need to be observed again this year, according to guidance from the teachers union, Chalkbeat reported. In place of traditional observations, teachers can also submit video lessons of 20 minutes or less, according to Chalkbeat. Teachers also wont be penalized if students cameras or microphones are off during remote lessons. As for student assessments, teachers will be assessed either on school-wide measures or a newly created citywide measure, Chalkbeat reported. That means more educators could be evaluated based on the performance of students in other classrooms or other schools. The city Department of Education (DOE) told Chalkbeat it hasnt determined yet what those citywide measures will be. School Zone: A new newsletter with the updates you need as our schools try to get back to normal. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter: FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. VICTORY TOWNSHIP The West Shore Community College Performing Arts Living Room Series will feature a musical evening with the Fry Street String Quartet at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, March 4. This remarkable quartet, hailed as "a triumph of ensemble playing" by The New York Times, is a multi-faceted ensemble taking chamber music in new directions. Touring music of the masters as well as exciting original works from visionary composers of our time, the Fry Street Quartet has perfected a "blend of technical precision and scorching spontaneity" (The Strad). The FSQ's repertoire reaches many corners of the musical spectrum, including works of Britten, Schubert, Beethoven and Bartok, as well as programs of American women composers Laura Kaminsky, Amy Beach, Joan Tower and Libby Larsen. For this concert, the quartet will perform works by Haydn, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Bartok, and Brahms. Since securing the grand prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the quartet has reached audiences from Carnegie Hall to London, and Sarajevo to Jerusalem, exploring the medium of the string quartet and its life-affirming potential with "profound understanding...depth of expression, and stunning technical astuteness" (Deseret Morning News). With a discography that includes a wide range of works from Haydn and Beethoven to Stravinsky, Janacek and Rorem, the quartet is known for being "equally at home in the classic repertoire of Mozart and Beethoven or contemporary music." (Palm Beach Daily News). The quartet's significant touring history includes performances at major venues, festivals, and for distinguished series such as Carnegie Hall and the Schneider Series at the New School in New York, the Jewel Box series in Chicago, Chamber Music Columbus, the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the DiBartolo Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame, the Theosophical Society in London, and the Mozart Gemeinde in Klagenfurt, Austria. The FSQ holds the Russell Family Foundation Endowed String Quartet Residency at the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. In 2019, the members of the FSQ were named music directors of the NOVA Chamber Music Series in Salt Lake City, Utahs longest-running chamber music series. All of the performances in the Living Room Series are free of charge and more information and links to the performances can be found on the colleges web site: westshore.edu/performingarts. The performance will also be archived and available for viewing following the livestream event. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Jordan Giaconia is the public policy manager for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer. Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli is being sued by health insurers for more than $100 million after hiking the price of HIV medication Daraprim by 4,100 percent. The suit, filed in New York district court Thursday, accuses the convicted pharmaceutical executive and his companies, Vyera Pharmaceuticals and Phoenixus AG, of 'schem[ing] to monopolize the U.S. market'. Shkreli is currently serving an unrelated seven-year prison sentence for a 2017 conviction for lying to investors about the performance of two hedge funds he ran, withdrawing more money from those funds than he was entitled to get, and defrauding investors in a drug company, Retrophin, by hiding his ownership of some of its stock. He had first gained notoriety by buying the rights to Daraprim, a drug used to treat an infection that occurs in some AIDS, malaria and cancer patients and raising the price from $13.50 to $750 per pill. Now, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota say he stopped a generic version of the life saving treatment from reaching the market for years as part of anti-competitive practices. It marks the first time a private company has taken action against Shkreli over the price hike; he is being sued by the U.S. government over the matter, Insider reports. Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli is being sued by health insurers for a nine figure sum after hiking the price of HIV medication Daraprim by 4,100 percent Shkreli had first gained notoriety by buying the rights to Daraprim, a drug used to treat an infection that occurs in some AIDS, malaria and cancer patients and raising the price from $13.50 to $750 per pill The suit alleges: 'Publicly, defendants claimed they welcomed generic competition, calling it a 'great thing'. 'But in private, defendants blocked competitors from performing generic testing through contractual restrictions that forbade distributors and other purchasers from selling Daraprim to generic companies.' Dr. Craig Samitt, the chief executive at Blue Cross of Minnesota, said: 'Drug companies need to be held accountable for their role in making sure health care costs are sustainable for all.' The suit adds: 'While incarcerated, defendant Shkreli has continued to direct Defendants' operations, communicating with Vyera executives and Phoenixus's board of directors...via a contraband cellphone and e-mail and telephone services managed by the Bureau of Prisons. 'This lawsuit challenges Defendants scheme to monopolize the U.S. market for Darapriman essential, life-saving drug used in the treatment of toxoplasmosisthrough an array of anticompetitive conduct that successfully thwarted generic competition for years and continues to cause supracompetitive prices to this day.' Now, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota say he stopped a generic version of the life saving treatment from reaching the market for years as part of anti-competitive practices Shkreli was ordered to forfeit $7.3 million as part of his unrelated prison sentence and is due to be released from prison in September 2023. He is also known for attacking critics on social media and offering a bounty to anyone who could give him one of Hillary Clinton's hairs. Shkreli hit headlines again at the end of last year after a former Bloomberg journalist quit her job and left her husband to be. Christie Smythe claims she fell in love with Shkreli while covering his white collar crimes for work. The 38-year-old shared details of their romance in Elle in December after being cut off by Shkreli who, in a statement, said he 'wishes her well'. In January she revealed the pair had reconciled. Shkreli hit headlines again at the end of last year after a former Bloomberg journalist quit her job and left her husband to be. Christie Smythe claims she fell in love with Shkreli while covering his white collar crimes for work Despite his reputation and crimes, Smythe said she fell hopelessly in love over the next few years after she started covering Shrkreli for work in early 2015, when she broke the news of his arrest for securities fraud. Smythe quit her job at Bloomberg and began to visit him in prison and defending him on Twitter, until their relationship 'finally turned romantic' after he was sentenced in 2018. Since then, she says she has frozen her eggs to be able to have a family with Shkreli, 37, when he gets out of prison. They've never slept together and have only been able to hug or kiss briefly in prison. Smythe also hasn't been able to see him for more than a year but she says she is 'happier than ever' and willing to wait for him - even though he isn't speaking to her. 'I fell down the rabbit hole. I'm happy here. I feel like I have purpose,' she said. A federal judge last month rejected Shkreli's second request to be let out of prison early. U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto showed skepticism about his claim that mental health issues have weakened his immune system and made him more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus. In a 12-page ruling Matsumoto sais that Shkreli again failed to demonstrate extraordinary and compelling factors that would require a sentence modification. Matsumoto, the same judge that ruled against Shkreli in May, said the 37-year-old presented no evidence to support his claims and that a mental health practitioner who evaluated him found him to be stable. U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto rejected his claim that his deteriorating mental health justified compassionate release Matsumoto also rejected the argument that Shkreli should be let out because coronavirus-related lockdowns were impeding his ability to communicate with the lawyers representing him in a civil lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission. Matsumoto noted that Shkreli recently had a two-hour Zoom session with his lawyers, as well as several phone calls up to an hour in length. Shkreli's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, declined to comment. The low-security prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, where Shkreli is locked up has seen an increase in coronavirus cases among inmates and staff, with 26 inmates and 14 staff members currently testing positive. Prosecutors said that, as of January 6, there were no positive cases in Shkreli's housing unit. In her ruling, Matsumoto wrote that Shkreli is a 'relatively young and healthy man' and won't be at high risk of severe complications if he were to contract the disease. In his original request for compassionate release, Shkreli asked to be let out of prison for three months to put his background 'as a successful two-time biopharma entrepreneur' to work researching a coronavirus treatment 'under strict supervision.' Matsumoto rejected that, relaying concerns of probation officials that Shkreli's claim that he could develop a cure for coronavirus that 'so far eluded the best medical and scientific minds in the world working around the clock' is 'delusional self-aggrandizing behavior.' Kathmandu, March 4 Nepals Ambassador to Pakistan Tapas Adhikari has highlighted the need for operating direct flights between Nepal and Pakistan. Addressing a function organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Islamabad on Wednesday, the ambassador said Pakistan International Airlines should conduct a study about the possibility of direct flights. He was of the view that the two countries had a large possibility of promoting trade relations, and direct flights would be of great help. It will also help the countries end unemployment and improve the quality of life of the peoples, he said, adding both of the countries boast tall mountains that make the possibility of tourism cooperation wide open. Industrialists and traders of Pakistan should visit Nepal. I will also make efforts to bring Nepali businesspersons here. Three police officers, including one who posted a monkey picture message in WhatsApp under a meme of a black British actor, will not be prosecuted for malicious communications. The trio had been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by their own Cambridgeshire Constabulary over the exchange which featured the gif of Kayode Ewumi. An animated picture of him in character as Roll Safe in the comedy #HoodDocumentary tapping the side of his head is a widely-shared meme used to illustrate the act of thinking about something. But one officer in the private Peterborough Police team WhatsApp chat wrote the word monkey below it, together with a picture of a baby primate hanging from a tree, before another added lol. The May 2020 messages came through to all members, including one ethnic minority officer whose three children saw them and he made an official complaint. Gif of Kayode Ewumi playing character Roll Safe is a well-known meme and was put in group Cambridgeshire Constabulary referred its own officers to the CPS to consider any charges It sparked a professional standards department investigation which saw the police officers either suspended or placed on restricted duties and a file sent to the CPS to consider. Today the suspension was lifted after a senior prosecutor and hate crime specialist said no further action should be taken. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: In early May 2020 a complaint was made about an allegedly racist exchange on WhatsApp between officers in Peterborough. Following this complaint, a referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who directed an investigation should be conducted by our professional standards department. The exchange was featured on the private WhatsApp phone application in a police group chat Two officers were placed on restricted duties and a third suspended while a thorough investigation took place. A file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service seeking authorisation to charge the officers with malicious communications. This file was reviewed by a senior prosecutor and a hate crime specialist who, with the entire history of the group conversation available, concluded that no further action should be taken. In light of this decision, gross misconduct proceedings were reduced to misconduct and the suspension was lifted. Attiq Malik of Liberty Law Solicitors, who is representing the officer who said he believed the exchanges were racist and made a complaint, described the result as disappointing. He told the Guardian: Even if the CPS has taken the decision not to prosecute it doesnt automatically follow that gross misconduct proceedings against police officers should be changed to misconduct proceedings. LEHI, Utah, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading anti-money laundering (AML) specialist SmartSearch U.S. has launched the most robust corporate customer verification solution on the market, in response to increased regulations passed by Congress at the start of the year. In light of the newly-approved Defense Act, regulated businesses in the U.S. now need a more reliable corporate compliance program in place which ensures they know exactly who they are dealing with. RegTech experts SmartSearch U.S. say its digital business fraud checks with data referencing and triangulation will give businesses the confidence that they are compliant with the new raft of AML regulation, as well as protecting against potential fraud. By simply entering the name of the institution and a zip code, the online platform will provide a virtually instant report which will; Confirm the existence of the business, provide lists of executives and owners, validate the corporate structure and automatically send OFAC and global sanction updates on the company and its executives. The solution will also help businesses comply with the latest AML guidance which requires regulated businesses to identify their ultimate beneficial owner. Chad Rawlings, national sales director at SmartSearch U.S. based in Utah, said: "Verifying corporate customers is vital to any customer onboarding program but takes a lot of time and money, usually because of the lack of information available. "Under the latest updates to AML regulations as outlined in the Defense Act, businesses need to conduct more corporate customer checks than ever. "At SmartSearch U.S. we are responding to that need by launching our new Instant Business Report solution. It is part of our innovative and totally digital corporate compliance program, which is accessed via desktop or online, remotely at home. "With the introduction of some significant changes to AML regulation at the start of this year, it's time for businesses to ensure they have a reliable and easy Know Your Business (KYB) system in place. "This is a proven solution, now available in the U.S., which is currently supporting thousands of businesses in the UK and uses cutting-edge technology to protect your business." SmartSearch U.S. has expanded the number of countries where it can carry out a business check to almost 200, giving a truly global reach to its search capability. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of fake businesses being created by organized crime gangs, in order to commit fraud. And with just an Employee Identification Number (EIN), and a physical US mailing address required to create a business, SmartSearch U.S. says it is wide-open for exploitation by fraudsters. The SmartSearch U.S. business verification feature will cross-check the details given with multiple data sources to ensure the most accurate pass rate. SmartSearch U.S. is the only AML platform that is able to verify individuals and corporate clients wherever they are based with full Sanction and PEP screening and ongoing monitoring. No other provider offers this level of depth and breadth of functionality making SmartSearch U.S. unique in the marketplace. About SmartSearch U.S. SmartSearch U.S. is a leading global provider of anti-money-laundering software. Its anti-money-laundering verification platform conducts individual and business searches, for international markets with automatic worldwide sanction and PEP screening. It is the only organisation with the ability to verify individuals and companies internationally all in a single platform via a browser or API, with full Sanction, PEP and adverse media screening, and then ongoing monitoring. Headquartered in Lehi, Utah, SmartSearch's very latest technology delivers an unrivalled user experience to over 5,000 client firms and 45,000 users, enabling them to comply with the latest AML regulations and fulfil their AML, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance obligations. With no requirement for clients to provide identity documents, SmartSearch's automated verification approach is significantly more convenient for both users and their end customers, with individual AML checks taking two seconds from start to finish, while business checks take less than three minutes. For more information, please visit www.smartsearch.com Media Contact Jennifer Fugel 845-657-4202 [email protected] SOURCE SmartSearch Related Links https://www.smartsearch.com Exploration activities have recommenced at the project with a new drill target identified adjacent to the existing geological resource. The company is preparing a plan to drill test the anomalies and this will need approval. Elementos Limited ( ) ( ) (FRA:9EM) has identified a new drill target at its 100%-owned Cleveland Tin Project as surging tin prices make it attractive to resume exploration activities. The new exploration target is adjacent to the existing geological resource at the project in northwest Tasmania. Reconnaissance rock chip sampling from the target have assayed up to 0.7% tin, 0.57% copper and 13.4% zinc. High tin prices As the tin price jumped to 10year highs above US$28,000/tonne in February, the company moved quickly to assess the potential for additional tin resources at Cleveland. This comes as Elementos also continues with a major drilling campaign at its flagship Oropesa Tin Project in Spain. Resource may extend to north Elementos chairman Andy Greig said: There was a set of historic anomalies to the immediate northeast of the old Cleveland Mine and our existing geological resource which we have been eager to investigate for potential tin mineralisation. The prospective region contains the geological mine sequence and has a strike extent of approximately 500 metres, which is only marginally less than the strike extent of the historical Cleveland ore body. This means that we are targeting an area where the existing Cleveland resource may extend to the north. Reconnaissance geological confirmation mapping Greig said initial reconnaissance geological confirmation mapping and rock chip sampling carried out last month had confirmed the prospectivity of the untested anomalies which were first identified by a SelfPotential (SP) geophysical survey in 1954. He said: Four of the five-rock chip samples that were collected contained visible sulphide mineralisation with the most significant assay being 0.7% tin, 0.57% copper and 13.4% zinc from sample 130403. Drill program being prepared The chairman said the nature of the mineralisation observed during the reconnaissance fieldwork program was similar to that observed during the 2017 Cleveland diamond drilling program which targeted shallow resources above the existing resource, between the known resource and surface. The vein style mineralisation that was observed in 2017 occurs in close proximity vertically and laterally to the semimassive sulphide ore at Cleveland, he said. "A program to drill test the SP anomalies is now being prepared for approval by Mineral Resources Tasmania. State police have identified the two men who used a raspa truck to transport 14 immigrants who had crossed the border illegally. An arrest affidavit filed by the Texas Department of Public Safety identified the suspects as Juan Carlos Rodriguez, 50, and Victor Cirilo Lozano, 31. Each was charged with 14 counts of smuggling of persons with likelihood of serious bodily injury or death and 14 counts of engaging in organized criminal activity. Rodriguez and Lozano remained behind bars as of Wednesday evening. The case unfolded on Feb. 24, when a U.S. Border Patrol intel agent notified a DPS trooper that he had observed several immigrants load up into a raspa truck. The trooper observed the vehicle and pulled over the vehicle near the intersection of Katiana Drive and Ejido Avenue. As I approached the vehicle, I observed suspected undocumented immigrants in plain view laying on top of one another in the floor of the van, the trooper wrote in the affidavit. DPS said the immigrants were being transported in a way that could lead to possible serious injury with the immigrants on top of each other and no seatbelts. The trooper also noticed that the vehicle had no air circulation. Authorities identified the driver as Juan Carlos Rodriguez and the passenger as Victor Cirilo Lozano. Rodriguez allegedly admitted to transporting the immigrants for $2,800. Rodriguez also admitted to splitting the profit with his passenger whom assisted in the smuggling attempt, states the affidavit. Hungary's government launched an online questionnaire Thursday asking citizens to give their opinions on lifting pandemic restrictions as weeks of declining COVID-19 cases have started to rise again. The government calls the set of seven questions a national consultation, an informal, non-scientific poll that officials say is meant to gauge public sentiment. The questions cover the possible lifting of restrictions that have been in place since Nov. 11, including an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and the mandatory closure of hotels and restaurants which have been in place since Nov. 11. The consultation also asks whether sporting facilities like gyms and swimming pools should be among the first establishments opened once restrictions are lifted, and whether restrictions should be eased gradually or halted simultaneously at the end of the pandemic. Some say that if the pandemic situation allows, one of the first steps should be reopening restaurants and hotels while maintaining strict safety guidelines. Do you agree? one question reads. Hungary, which weathered the first months of the coronavirus pandemic with few recorded cases and deaths, struggled through the fall and now winter to keep the numbers down. As of Thursday, 14,035 people had died of coronavirus-related causes in the country of less than 10 million, giving Hungary the 12th worst death rate per 100,000 inhabitants in the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. A steady decline in daily cases and deaths that began in late December began reversing course early this month, even as the country began receiving shipments of Russian and Chinese vaccines . Hungary is so far the only Europe Union member to depart from the EU's vaccine procurement program by securing doses made in China and Russia. The government conducted a previous national consultation last summer on the lifting of restrictions and economic recovery, which it used rhetorically as a popular mandate to keep the country open even as pandemic indicators worsened dramatically in September and October. In an interview in September, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the results of the summer consultation showed that Hungarians did not want strict pandemic measures imposed. This is what they told us in the questionnaires: that they dont want the country to come to a standstill. They want it to continue functioning," he said. Orban's government has used other consultations in recent years to demonstrate support for its policies on immigration and EU relations. The new questionnaire also asks citizens whether they believe an immunity certificate, a document the government says will be issued to those who have been vaccinated against the virus or have already recovered from infection, should afford people exemption from certain restrictions. The possibility of keeping Hungary's borders closed to foreign citizens unless they have an immunity certificate is also raised. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Top 16 Cybersecurity Threats In 2021 - Zyston eBook Cybersecurity has increasingly become more of a challenge for businesses of all sizes since the onset of the COVID-19 health pandemic. Zyston, a managed cybersecurity service (MSSP & MDR/XDR) provider, announces the release of its eBook which will provide readers with a clear list of all potential cyber threats they should be aware of when doing business in todays malicious cyber-attack climate. Titled, Top 16 Cybersecurity Threats in 2021, Zystons eBook will educate businesses on how to adapt their managed security systems to reduce the risk of a damaging cyberattack. Along with a copy of the eBook, Zyston is offering its introductory CyberCAST security assessmentthe Zyston CyberCAST Snapshotcomplimentary to readers. With the ability to establish a benchmark of a security programs maturity in just 15-minutes, organizations will be well on their way to a more secure system for 2021. Cybersecurity has increasingly become more of a challenge for businesses of all sizes as attacks by cybercriminals become more prevalent, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 health pandemic, said Craig Stamm, CEO of Zyston. As businesses rely on remote work, cloud-based solutions and mobile devices, new cybersecurity threats continue to emerge, and businesses need to be aware of every potential risk. That is what led our team at Zyston to use our expertise to develop this new eBook that entails all of the cyber threats that businesses must be prepared for in 2021. Sophisticated cybersecurity breaches become more paramount each year. In 2020, the FBI reported a 400% increase in the number of daily cybersecurity attack complaints since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The key cyber threats businesses must be cognizant of in 2021 include remote employee endpoints, ransomware attacks, cloud-based threats, deep fakes, and more, all of which are detailed in Zystons eBook. Available complimentary with Zystons new eBook is its CyberCast Snapshot, a simplified version of their CyberCAST solution which combines a technical penetration test with an industry-leading cybersecurity assessment. The tool provides a quantitative security risk score, industry comparative benchmarks, and both a strategic and tactical roadmap to improve that score. The penetration test component focuses on evaluating findings based on business risk and categorizing vulnerabilities based on systemic or process-related issues. CyberCAST also presents all security findings in laymans terms that are easy to comprehend and communicate to ones executive leadership team. With other security assessment tools, findings can be extremely technical or lack the appropriate business context. Zyston is a managed security service provider dedicated to providing businesses with a comprehensive range of end-to-end MDR/XDR services required to build and operate a mature and cost-effective information security program. Zyston combines consulting, staffing, and managed security services to provide the best cyber program management on the market today. Zyston was named as an industry leader by Forrester in the mid-size cybersecurity services space and was also named a top 250 MSSP by MSSP Alert. For more information, visit https://www.zyston.com and download Zyston's eBook, Top 16 Cybersecurity Threats in 2021. Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise After ceding unprecedented authority to Gov. Ned Lamont during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, the General Assembly is reasserting itself just as Washington is poised to send more than $4 billion in new aid to Connecticut. With a bill emphasizing its authority to appropriate discretionary federal COVID-19 relief, the budget-writing Appropriations Committee signaled the governor that legislators will play a significant role in deciding how this money is spent. This is about the legislature placing a marker in their role as a co-equal branch of government, said Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee. We hear directly from the people, and we want to make sure their voices are heard. The $4.2 billion that Connecticut could receive under the latest federal stimulus plan and more specifically $2.7 billion in funds that come with few strings attached would be a game-changer for the next two-year state budget. Lamont said he had little discretion over how the initial pandemic relief was spent, but he did not challenge the authority of lawmakers to set spending priorities in the state budget, including discretionary federal aid. If I have a lot of discretion over that, my feeling is the Appropriations Committee should be involved in that, Lamont said. I say that with some trepidation, because its going to be a grab bag. But lets see how much discretion we have, and then absolutely get the legislative leadership and the key committees involved in that. But right now, we have no idea. Like previous rounds of federal pandemic relief enacted last year, the package passed by the House and awaiting action in the Senate includes unemployment relief and funds to cover coronavirus-related expenses. But unlike past federal efforts, this one includes billions that Connecticut can use to support the state budget, and another $1.5 billion earmarked for school districts, municipalities and regional government entities. Coupled with Connecticuts $3 billion rainy day fund, that would enable state officials to wipe out any deficit, avert major tax hikes and make additional investments to help the state recover from the coronavirus. Operating under emergency powers granted by the legislature, Lamont has managed state finances with less-than-usual lawmaker oversight since the coronavirus was detected in Connecticut a year ago. That has created tension with lawmakers at either end of the political spectrum: conservative Republicans chafe at ceding power to the governor, and progressive Democrats grumble that Lamont has been too parsimonious, especially with aid to non-profits facing increased demands for services The existence of the bill, and leaders intent to pass it, carries considerable significance, while the specifics may be redundant: The governor does not challenge the legislatures power of the purse. With federal relief potentially coming before Lamonts emergency powers expire on April 20, the governors fellow Democrats in the legislatures majority felt it necessary to clarify matters. My caucus wants to make sure, said House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford. It would not be the first time the legislature clarified existing law. One of the General Assemblys primary responsibilities is to appropriate funding including any federal funding where discretion is provided, said Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, who called the relief package pending on Capitol Hill an issue of major concern to Democratic senators. The legislators concerns stem, in part, from Lamonts handling of state finances since the pandemic began. The Appropriations Committee has clashed with Lamonts budget director, Melissa McCaw, over how previous rounds of federal relief funds have been spent. McCaws office posts monthly summaries online of funding assigned for various COVID-19-related priorities, involving health care, education, workforce development and municipal aid. The budget director also told lawmakers last month that her office was compiling a more detailed report for the committee. Weve gotten generalities, we havent gotten specifics, said Rep. Toni E. Walker, D-New Haven, the appropriations panels other co-chair. Walker, Osten and others on the committee have pressed Lamont to utilize more federal and, if necessary, state resources to expand Medicaid eligibility and bolster resources for social services. The pandemic has pushed people more into areas of desperation, Walker said. Weve seen kids stealing cars just so they have an area to sleep. Connecticuts two U.S. senators, Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Murphy, both anticipate another wave of federal pandemic relief is likely coming very soon. Im very hopeful, even optimistic, about a rescue plan, very much like the House package, will pass in the Senate, Blumenthal said. The goal is to have a bill on President Joe Bidens desk in 10 days, before enhanced federal unemployment benefits expire on March 14. Murphy added he expects the U.S. Senate to pass a relief plan without delay. Lamont pledged earlier this year when his emergency authority was extended that he would work collaboratively with the General Assembly to decide how to use any new federal relief. Ritter said that the legislation wasnt raised for a public hearing next week simply to trigger that conversation and that he expects the full legislature will adopt the measure, likely with bipartisan support. The top Republicans in the state legislature agreed. It took the Democrats a little bit longer, but Im pleased theyre finally joining Republicans in the cry to assert ourselves as a co-equal branch of government, and I think this bill will have broad support, said House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora of North Branford. The House GOP leader had objected in early January when Lamonts emergency powers were kept in place through April 20, instead calling for an extension only through March 1. He also wants a detailed legislative analysis of all the governors executive orders since the pandemic began. The General Assembly is a separate but equal branch of government and therefore must have a voice in whats going on, said Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford. The Appointments Committee of Parliament has recommended the approval of thirteen (13) nominees of the President for Ministerial appointments. This is contained in the First Report of the Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial Appointments. The nominees include; Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah for National Security, Hon Dominic Nitiwul for Defence, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchey for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum for Education, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh for Energy, and Hon Dan Botwe for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development. The rest are; Hon Ambrose Dery for Interior, Hon Ignatius Baffour Awuah for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon Sarah Adwoa Sarfo for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto for Food and Agriculture, Hon Mavis Hawa Koomson for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah for Information Ministry. With regard to the nomination of Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah - Information, Hon Mavis Hawa Koomson - Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto- Food and Agriculture, the Appointments Committee recommended the approval of their nomination by a majority decision, meaning that Minority members of the Committee did not support the approval of their nomination. The entire house (plenary) is yet to consider the Committee's report as at the time of filing this report. Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace Fm 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 Welcome Guest! You Are Here: SAN ANTONIO, March 4, 2021 -- People who have had major sinus surgery should consult their ENT doctor before undergoing COVID-19 swab testing, new research indicates. Likewise, those performing swab testing should ask whether the patient has had extensive sinus or skull base surgery, said Philip G. Chen, MD, study senior author from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio). "If so, other modes of testing such as at the back of the throat should be performed," said Dr. Chen, associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in the university's Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery published the study March 4. Online information about COVID nasopharyngeal swabs lacks information warning those with prior extensive sinus or skull base surgery, Dr. Chen said. "Not one site of the 200 we searched online had information cautioning against blind nasopharyngeal swab testing in those with a history of sinus or skull base surgery," he said. Asked how often swabbing is done incorrectly, Dr. Chen said, "We really don't know that. But in a review of videos online by Higgins, et al., the authors found that about half of the videos on how to perform COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swabs were incorrect." Issues include incorrect angling of the swab and inappropriate depth of insertion. If the swab angle is too high, a puncture may occur. The sinuses can protect the skull base to a degree, Dr. Chen said. Injury from incorrect nasopharyngeal swab technique, while rare, may include cerebrospinal fluid leakage or severe bleeding. Polymerase chain reaction via nasopharyngeal swabs is a test frequently used to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dr. Chen is a board-certified, fellowship-trained rhinologist -- the only fellowship-trained physician of this rare specialization in San Antonio. Rhinologists are ear, nose and throat (ENT) subspecialists who have unique interest and expertise in medical and surgical treatment of nasal and sinus disorders. ### Study coauthors are from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Duke University. Assessment of Available Online Information About Nasopharyngeal Swab Testing in Patient Instructions for Sinus and Pituitary Surgery Taylor Fish, BS; Khalil Issa, MD; Corinna G. Levine, MD, MPH; David W. Jang, MD; Philip G. Chen, MD First published: March 4, 2021, JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery https:/ / doi:10. 1001/ jamaoto. 2020. 5663 The Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is named for Texas philanthropists Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long. The school is the largest educator of physicians in South Texas, many of whom remain in San Antonio and the region to practice medicine. The school teaches more than 900 students and trains 800 residents each year. As a beacon of multicultural sensitivity, the school annually exceeds the national medical school average of Hispanic students enrolled. The school's clinical practice is the largest multidisciplinary medical group in South Texas with 850 physicians in more than 100 specialties. The school has a highly productive research enterprise where world leaders in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cancer, aging, heart disease, kidney disease and many other fields are translating molecular discoveries into new therapies. The Long School of Medicine is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center known for prolific clinical trials and drug development programs, as well as a world-renowned center for aging and related diseases. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also referred to as UT Health San Antonio, is one of the country's leading health sciences universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated more than 37,000 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields, and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways "We make lives better," visit http://www. uthscsa. edu . Stay connected with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. To see how we are battling COVID-19, read inspiring stories on Impact. Consultant urologist Paul Miller, 62, (pictured) is accused of being 'financially motivated' when he referred eight patients to undergo high intensity focused ultrasound (Hifu) which uses high frequency sound waves to burn away cancer cells A prostate cancer patient did not know his doctor had a financial link to a new private treatment that he 'strongly recommended' to him, a tribunal heard. Consultant urologist Paul Miller, 62, is accused of being 'financially motivated' when he referred eight patients to undergo high intensity focused ultrasound (Hifu) which uses high frequency sound waves to burn away cancer cells. Mr Miller worked at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill treated patients suffering from bladder and prostate cancer. The General Medical Council (GMC) argues a conflict of interest arose when Mr Miller set up his own company and bought a Hifu machine for 500,000. He subsequently rented it to privately-run Gatwick Park Hospital in Horley, Surrey, where he also worked and would refer patients for treatment. At the time Hifu was an 'experimental' treatment not recommended by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and could only be used as part of a clinical trial. Hifu was deemed inappropriate for eight patients he recommended it to, with it allegedly delaying some receiving treatment that would actually work. Ten cancer patients died after they were treated by Mr Miller between 2006 and 2014. A 2019 inquest found that that seven patients died from natural causes but said that Renfried Avery, 80, Leslie Owers, 75, and Graham Stoten, 57, all died of natural causes contributed to by neglect. Ten cancer patients died after they were treated by the consultant urologist between 2006 and 2014. Pictured: Renfried Avery was one of three patients who died of natural causes contributed to by neglect, a coroner ruled in 2019 One patient who survived following treatment by Mr Miller told a Medical Practitioners Tribunal he was unaware of the link when he visited Mr Miller in March 2006 after a biopsy confirmed cancer was in his prostate. The witness, referred to as Patient K, said he subsequently became aware of the financial connection between Mr Miller and Hifu - which emerged in the mid-2000s - but could not say when. He said: 'He told me that it was not something that was widely available, certainly as far as the NHS was concerned, and it was a procedure that was being used in France successfully.' An MRI scan revealed the cancer had not spread and he was happy to go ahead with the Hifu single procedure because of its 'relative lack of side-effects', he told the hearing in Manchester. He said: 'I was very guided by Mr Miller's recommendation as to the use of Hifu and I was aware radiotherapy was a treatment that took place over a period of time. I don't believe we had a detailed discussion as such in that regard but I knew about the other options.' Bladder cancer patient Graham Stoten, who died aged 57, (pictured with his two sons) died of natural causes contributed to by neglect, a coroner ruled Asked by Catherine Cundy, for the GMC, if he came away from the March 2006 consultation with the idea that Hifu was his recommended treatment, Patient K replied: 'It was strongly recommended and I did come away with that view.' The GMC alleges the treatment of Patient K contributed to a delay in him receiving definitive therapy. Mr Miller is also alleged to have failed to provide adequate care to five other patients. The doctor denies misconduct on various dates between 2004 and 2018. In October 2019, senior coroner Penelope Schofield criticised Mr Miller and Sussex and Surrey NHS Trust at inquests into the deaths of 10 of his cancer patients who died of natural causes, but she found three had been contributed to by neglect, and 'missed opportunities' were noted in three others. Ms Schofield condemned Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) for failing ensure patients received proper care at the time. She said the clinical treatment of patients was 'suboptimal' and there were 'missed opportunities' to cure or extend the lives of patients. The inquest in Crawley, West Sussex was told the three-man team of consultants did not work well as a team and it often felt like they were involved in a 'guerrilla warfare.' Miss Schofield said senior management failed to respond to serious concerns about Mr Miller's treatment of patients. A 2019 inquest found that that seven patients died from natural causes but said that Renfried Avery, 80, (pictured) Leslie Owers, 75, and Graham Stoten, 57, all died of natural causes contributed to by neglect 'Senior managers were aware of the risk of safety of patients yet they took no action,' she added. Miss Schofield said there was 'no real appetite' to follow through the allegations of Mr Miller and he was able to carry on working 'unhindered' because of the Trust's lack of procedure to deal with staff complaints. She said decision-making at senior levels seemed more geared to protecting the Trust reputation. The inquest heard senior colleagues and nurses became extremely concerned about a major conflict of interest. They felt patients whose conditions would not benefit from HIFU were being referred to the private hospital for treatment on the 500,000 machine. Whistleblowers raised the alarm and reported the consultant to senior management at SASH but were dismayed and frustrated when nothing was done. Professor Adhay Rane, a consultant urologist and colleague, told the inquest in Crawley, West Sussex, he approached the hospital clinical director, Raj Siva, at least four times to voice concerns over Mr Miller's treatment of patients. The ten patients who died were aged between 57 and 86 including Frederick Le Vallois, 71, Keith Reynolds, 68, Alan Burgess,72, Leslie Owers, 75, Ian Spurgeon, 85, Lilian Cole, 82, Jose Cressy, 76, Graham Stoten, 57, Renfried Avery, 80, and Martin Turner, 86. Bosses took five years to act on concerns of staff but eventually Mr Miller was suspended and an investigation was launched. On conclusion of the review in 2014 the Trust sacked the consultant from his 130,000-a year job. The Trust then wrote a letter to more than 1,200 patients treated by the consultant asking if they had concerns about their care. The Royal College of Surgeons launched its own investigation and found that 27 cancer patients treated by Mr Miller had suffered 'serious harm' at the hands of the consultant. The inquest at Crawley Corner's Court in West Sussex was told the three-man team of consultants did not work well as a team and it often felt like they were involved in a 'guerrilla warfare' Dr Miller is now subject to interim conditions imposed by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. These place restrictions on him treating cancer patients while a General Medical Council investigation takes place. In a statement released after the inquest Mr Avery's only child Mark, 44, said: 'It has been seven years since my dad passed away and I finally feel as if we have got some answers. It's just a shame my mum, who died almost two years ago, isn't here to see it. 'She was by my dad's side through every step of his illness and was taken in by Miller as well. He was the expert and they trusted him implicitly - they put dad's life in his hands. 'It is devastating to think that with different treatment we could have had months or even years left with him and that's something I will never be able to forgive Miller for. 'Personally I have also found it very upsetting to hear the trust's attempts to wriggle out of all responsibility when there were clearly failings on their part. Rather than admit their mistakes, they seemed more concerned with protecting their own reputation. 'My dad was one of the first people to raise concerns about Miller and my parents were always determined to get to the truth and make sure the same didn't happen to anyone else.' He added the real issue for his mother Doreen Avery was that Mr Miller 'seemed to show no remorse for his actions' after moving to America to continue practising. 'Hopefully now he will finally be held accountable for his actions,' he added. Clinical negligence lawyer acting for Mark Avery, Victoria Beel, said Mr Miller 'gambled with the precious time' of his patients and 'has shown no remorse for his actions'. Mr Miller was sacked by East Surrey Hospital in Redhill in 2014 from his 130,000-a-year job Ms Beel added: 'Dr Miller abused his position of trust and showed total contempt for his patients, making decisions that would seriously affect their lives without their knowledge or consent. 'He gambled with the precious time they had left and even now has shown no remorse for his actions, all of which continues to raise serious questions about his fitness to practice. 'While the General Medical Council will now investigate this, it is imperative that the trust also learns from its own failures to stop Dr Miller earlier and ensures there are robust and rigorous systems in place to prevent this from ever happening again.' Dr Ed Cetti, medical director at SASH, said: 'We extend our sympathies and sincere apologies to the family and friends of all those involved. We are sorry that historic poor practice led to some patients not receiving the standard of care they were entitled to expect. 'In the years since this period, we have worked hard to create the environment, systems and processes that ensure staff are supported to raise concerns, and that lessons are learnt and improvements made as a result. The culture of our organisation has been transformed, with the independent regulator rating us outstanding earlier this year.' Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. India (AM/NS India) and the signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday for setting up a 12 million tonne integrated steel plant. Chief Minister in a tweet said that the had signed an MoU with AM/NS India for a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) integrated steel plant in Kendrapara district, with an investment of Rs 50,000 crore, giving a major boost to Invest in Odisha. The MoU was signed by Hemant Sharma, principal secretary (industries) and Dilip Oommen, chief executive officer (CEO), AM/NS India, in the presence of Patnaik and Executive Chairman L N Mittal. Mittal, who is on a visit to India, had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before the Odisha visit, along with son and CEO Aditya Mittal. L N Mittal will also be meeting Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as well. Commenting on the MoU, Mittal said that he was happy to partner with the in setting up the integrated steel complex in Kendrapara. AM/NS Indias investments in Odisha include the 6 mtpa pelletization plant in Paradeep, which will be expanded to 12 mtpa and the beneficiation complex in Keonjhar and slurry pipeline, that are already operational. The MoU for the Odisha plant comes shortly after AM/NS India completed a year of operations. In December 2019, ArcelorMittal and jointly acquired Essar Steel in a Rs 42,000-crore deal under the insolvency law. That had paved the way for ArcelorMittals major entry into India, after years of trying to set up greenfield projects. In 2006, ArcelorMittal had signed an MoU for a 12 million tonne plant in Odisha. However, it did not materialise and the company pulled out in 2013 after a long wait. In 2005, Arcelor had also signed an MoU in Jharkhand for a 12 million tonne, but that didnt take off either. Neither did a six-million tonne plant in Karnataka, for which the steel major had signed an MoU in 2010. Now, a fresh attempt at greenfield project is being made by AM/NS India. She became a household name after a starring role on the massively successful sitcom Modern Family. And Sofia Vergara kicked up her feet for a little rest and relaxation her her coziest collection as she modeled a sweats set from her Sofia Jeans line on Instagram Wednesday afternoon. The 48-year-old actress looked cozy as she lounged in her own designs after confirming her return to the judges panel of America's Got Talent. Model behavior: Sofia Vergara kicked up her feet for a little rest and relaxation her her coziest collection as she modeled a sweats set from her Sofia Jeans line on Instagram Wednesday Sofia looked every inch the supermodel as she sprawled out across a mid century modern chair wearing a creamy set. She sported an off-the-shoulder sweater to match a pair of slacks which featured a delicate drawstring waistband. 'Spring is here... and Im still in sweats,' she captioned the photo. 'What would I do without my #SofiaJeans loungewear collection, now available @walmartfashion.' Bless: It's not the first time Sofia's partnered with the retailer as she released her size-inclusive and affordable brand nearly two years ago Her jean campaigns are female driven and she's proud of 'building awareness with @kiva.org around investment opportunities that support women in business' Makeup maven: Sofia was feeling the love on Wednesday as she raved about Tower 28's latest tinted beauty balms created by Amy Liu It's not the first time Sofia's partnered with the retailer as she released her size-inclusive and affordable brand nearly two years ago. Her jean campaigns are female driven and she's proud of 'building awareness with @kiva.org around investment opportunities that support women in business' Sofia was feeling the love on Wednesday as she raved about Tower 28's latest tinted beauty balms created by Amy Liu. Welcome back: NBC announced on Tuesday that Sofia will rejoin Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel for Season 16 of AGT later this year NBC announced on Tuesday that Sofia will rejoin Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel for Season 16 of AGT later this year. The network also revealed that Terry Crews is set to return as the show's host, with the Last Chance Audition happening on Saturday, March 6. America's Got Talent was the top series of the summer among the Big 4 networks, leading the way in total viewers and 18-49 demo wins an every Tuesday night, with the exception of Tuesday nights where sporting events aired. Michel Parmigiani is a relentless perfectionist. His early days in horology were not at the most opportune time: in 1976, quartz was wreaking havoc in the world of mechanical watchmaking. I felt like an outcast, starting out on the wrong path against all prevailing wisdom, he recalls. But he had spotted something others had failed to see: the beauty of old-fashioned watchmaking and its great masters. After some 15 years working in restoration, Michel Parmigiani was entrusted with maintenance of the Sandoz collection a priceless treasure trove. As a result, he met Pierre Landolt, president of the Sandoz Family Foundation; and in 1996, Landolt provided him with the resources to start a business in his own name. At the turn of the millennium, Parmigiani Fleurier embarked on a series of acquisitions in order to become an integrated Manufacture. In 2000, the firm bought out Bruno Affolter, later known as Les Artisans Boitiers. That same year, Elwin and Atokalpa joined the group, bringing with them skills in machining, gears, micro-components, and regulating organs. In 2003, Vaucher Manufacture was founded, and in 2005, dial manufacturers Quadrance & Habillage joined the group. In 2006 they all became the Sandoz Family Foundations Watchmaking Hub, with Parmigiani Fleurier as a client. Michel Parmigiani Parmigiani Fleurier Parmigiani made a very personal contribution to the new millennium. The Kalpa, Pershing, and Toric all introduced compelling new formats. La Tonda reinvented 1950s classicism. The brand drew inspiration from traditional fine watchmaking whilst creating its own identity, featuring delta hands and dials with guilloche, hobnail and meteorite finishings. Parmigianis art resides in subtleties, discernible only to the experienced eye of seasoned collectors. Occasionally, Parmigiani allows himself a little extravagance. The telescopic hands on his Ovale Pantographe extend to match the curves of the case as they rotate a complication that had not been used for two hundred years. Rather than being round and flat, the movements in his Bugatti are cylindrical and vertical. By 2020, when Michel Parmigiani turned 70, the hard worker had ploughed a deep furrow one in which plenty of young shoots have sprouted. *On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021. Order now Making the case for repealing AEDPA ... and a reminder that "Joe Biden was one of the most vocal critics of the AEDPAs habeas provisions" | Main | "The Color of Collateral Damage: The Mutilating Impact of Collateral Consequences on the Black Community and the Myth of Informed Consent" March 4, 2021 Lots of SCOTUS talk and debate over the "categorial approach" and ACCA proof burdens in immigration decision The Supreme Court this morning handed down a 5-3 ruling in Pereida v, Wilkenson, No. 19-438 (S. Ct. Mar. 4, 2021) (available here), in which the majority holds that, under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), a person subject to removal seeking discretionary relief must prove a prior conviction is not a "disqualifying criminal offense." Federal sentencing fans may already sense where this is going because so much of federal sentencing law, particularly the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), is concerned a lot about whether a prior conviction qualifies a defendant for certain sentencing enhancements. In his opinion for the majority, Justice Gorsuch talks a good deal about these matters, and here are a few passages that caught my eye: We have described the modified categorical approach as requiring courts to review . . . record materials to determine which of the offenses in a divisible statute the defendant was convicted of committing. Mathis, 579 U. S., at ___ (slip op., at 16). We have acknowledged that this process calls on courts to consider extra-statutory materials to discover the defendants crime of conviction. Descamps v. United States, 570 U.S. 254, 263 (2013). We have observed that these materials will not in every case speak plainly, and that any lingering ambiguity about them can mean the government will fail to carry its burden of proof in a criminal case. Mathis, 579 U.S., at ___ (slip op., at 18) (citing Shepard v. United States, 544 U.S. 13, 21 (2005)). And we have remarked that the fact of a prior conviction supplies an unusual and arguable exception to the Sixth Amendment rule in criminal cases that any fact that increases the penalty for a crime must be proved to a jury rather than a judge. Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 489, 490 (2000). Really, this Court has never doubted that the who, what, when, and where of a conviction and the very existence of a conviction in the first place pose questions of fact. Nor have we questioned that, like any other fact, the party who bears the burden of proving these facts bears the risks associated with failing to do so.... In the criminal context, this Court has said that judges seeking to ascertain the defendants crime of conviction should refer only to a limited set of judicial records. Shepard, 544 U.S., at 2023. In part, the Court has circumscribed the proof a judge may consult out of concern for the defendants Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury. If a judge, rather than a jury, may take evidence and make findings of fact, the thinking goes, the proceeding should be as confined as possible. Id., at 2526; see also Apprendi, 530 U. S., at 487490 (citing Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998)). But Sixth Amendment concerns are not present in the immigration context Justice Breyer's dissent in this case also speaks on the "categorial approach" and ACCA jurisprudence at some length. I will leave it to others to let me know if there are particularly important passages in the dissent (or in the majority) that sentencing fans ought to consider at greater length. March 4, 2021 at 12:25 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Welcome Guest! You Are Here: The National Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Mame Yaa Aboagye has berated supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who politicized the arrival of the coronavirus vaccines in the country. She described them as "naysayers" who wish nothing good for their country. Her comments come after former President John Dramani Mahama took his vaccine jab. Mr. Mahama took part in the vaccination exercise with his wife, Mrs. Lordina Mahama at the Police Hospital on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Prior to this development, a section of the Ghanaian populace, notably NDC sympathizers, politicized the coronavirus vaccines. While some expressed reservations about its efficacy, others said the vaccine had been created to wipe out Africa, among other baseless conspiracy theories. Mame Yaa Aboagye commended Mr. Mahama for setting a good example for the doubting NDC supporters. "Thank you Mr. Mahama for your acceptance to take the vaccine...This decision will go a long way to save many in this country. I believe your supporters who played politics with the vaccine will swallow their pride and emulate your good example." Mame Yaa received the first shots of the vaccine and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the opportunity. She further advised the populace to continue observing the COVID-19 protocols even after taking the vaccine. 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 WASHINGTON Democrats who represent communities along the border are ratcheting up the pressure on President Joe Biden to take action as a wave of migrants has started crossing into Texas. We are weeks, maybe even days, away from a crisis on the southern border. Inaction is simply not an option, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said Thursday. Our country is currently unprepared to handle a surge in migrants in the middle of the pandemic. The Laredo Democrat released figures showing Border Patrol in the Rio Grande Valley had arrested 10,000 migrants in the last week 2,500 in the last two days alone. Experts said those figures offer only a limited snapshot, but fit with broader data trends that suggest the border could be on the verge of another migration surge especially of unaccompanied minors on par with those in 2019 and 2014. We are approaching the numbers that have characterized past peaks or surges, said Jessica Bolter, an analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. Whether or not its a crisis is determined by how the government manages it. NEANDERTHAL THINKING: President Biden decries Gov. Abbotts decision to drop COVID restrictions The Biden administration has said its focus is establishing an orderly and humane immigration system. The administration ended Trump-era policies requiring migrants to remain in Mexico while their cases are processed and is preparing to convert its immigrant family detention centers in South Texas into rapid-processing hubs to screen migrant parents and children with a goal of releasing them into the United States within 72 hours. Republicans have slammed the shift in immigration policy and sought to cast the situation at the border as the first major crisis of Bidens term. All of the signals the Biden administration is sending is that border security and enforcement of our immigration laws come second to their desire to see as many people who show up at the border make their way into the United States and then get lost in the backlog of asylum cases, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said. At least one Democrat in a border district is now sounding similar warnings. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen told CNN that if the administration follows through with its plan to quickly release migrants seeking asylum, it will send a message to Central Americans that tens of thousands of people can show up to the border. That would be catastrophic for our party, for our country, for my region, for my district, in the middle of a pandemic. Cuellar, however, noted that even as hes warning the administration of rising apprehensions, those figures started growing during the final months of the Trump administration. The Biden administration, too, has said it inherited the situation, which officials have said is a challenge and not yet a crisis. What we are seeing now at the border is the immediate result of the dismantlement of the system and the time that it takes to rebuild it virtually from scratch, said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. This is a challenge that the border communities, the non-governmental organizations, the people who care for individuals seeking humanitarian relief all understand it is an imperative, Mayorkas said. Everyone understands what occurred before us, what we need to do now. And we are getting it done. The bulk of the apprehensions in recent months have been single adults, though apprehensions of unaccompanied children are also on the rise and could be on the cusp of a surge, experts said. Border Patrol apprehended 5,700 unaccompanied child migrants in January, the most recent data available, and anecdotal evidence suggests that number rose considerably in February, said Bolter of the Migration Policy Institute. The 2014 and 2019 surges saw between 7,000 and 9,000 apprehensions a month with peaks above 10,000, she said. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox But the number of families crossing the border appear to be far from the past surges, especially in 2019, which included several months when Border Patrol apprehended between 50,000 and 60,000 family members. The peak that year was 84,000. In January, there were just 7,300 apprehensions of family members, Bolter said. And Bolter said it appears that the Biden administration is trying to manage this actively. Cuellar, meanwhile, has called for Biden to continue using a Trump administration public health order to quickly expel migrants during the pandemic, a practice that immigration activists have urged the president to scrap. COVID-19 concerns Cuellar voiced concern that some of those entering the country may be bringing the coronavirus with them echoing comments that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott made on Wednesday as he sought to deflect criticism from the White House over his decision to rescind the states COVID restrictions. Migrants are illegally crossing, potentially exposing border communities to the coronavirus and putting us at risk, Cuellar said. I urge the Biden administration to listen and work with the communities on the southern border who are dealing with the surge of migrants. While Cuellar said Border Patrol has not been testing for coronavirus, some border cities and shelters have been testing migrants once they are released. The city of Brownsville, for instance, had tested 1,267 migrants as of March 3 and 169 tested positive, a city spokesman said. CNN reported Thursday that the Department of Homeland Security is planning to use Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to bolster community efforts to test, isolate and quarantine migrants released from Border Patrol custody. But the grant money needs to be approved by the state before it can be distributed to border communities. Gov. Abbott has so far declined the FEMA aid. Border security is strictly a federal responsibility. The federal government alone has the responsibility to test, screen and quarantine illegal immigrants crossing our border who may have COVID, Abbott said in a statement. Instead of doing their job, the Biden administration suggested it did not have the sufficient resources and, remarkably, asked Texas to assist them in aiding their illegal immigration program. Texas refused. Instead, Abbott blames the White House. The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities. The Biden Admin. must IMMEDIATELY end this callous act that exposes Texans & Americans to COVID, Abbott tweeted on Wednesday, apparently ignoring the distinction between those who enter the country illegally and those seeking asylum. Cuellar, meanwhile, said he has been stressing to the White House that federal officials need to engage more with local leaders on the border to get a better understanding of the situation and not only to the immigration activists where a lot of them live thousands of miles away. I sincerely feel theyre not listening to the border communities, he said. Jessica Cisneros, an immigration attorney who lost to Cuellar by 4 percentage points in the Democratic primary last year, accused him of trying to generate a fake crisis on the border for attention. Of course the numbers are higher than previous months because our country was committing human rights violations by not following our own laws and treaties, Cisneros tweeted. This is a slap in the face to on-the-ground organizations which have been raising the issue of proper and safe processing for asylum seekers during the pandemic AT LEAST six months in advance. ben.wermund@chron.com Northcentral University, a nonprofit, online institution focused on graduate education, has been regionally accredited since 2003. In 2020, NCU participated in WSCUC's reaffirmation of accreditation institutional review process, including completion of a rigorous self-examination and peer evaluation procedure ensuring the institution substantially meets or exceeds the educational standards, academic expectations and best practices set by WSCUC. Through this process, NCU engaged in careful self-reflection in the context of the contemporary higher education landscape with a primary goal of continuous improvement, in a collaborative, transparent and inclusive environment. The process of self-reflection was rigorous. In 2017, NCU established a plan for candid institutional self-assessment, institution-wide inclusion and participation, and a comprehensive communication and training strategy. In October 2020, NCU welcomed the WSCUC peer-review team, who spoke with more than 100 individuals representing NCU's students, alumni, faculty and staff members. The collective commitment to accreditation by the WSCUC peer-review team, and NCU students, alumni, faculty and staff, resulted in a robust, engaging and positive reaffirmation of accreditation visit and process. "What you hope for in an accreditation visit is that the accreditor gets an accurate picture of the institution or program," said President David Harpool. "With the WSCUC visit, Dr. John LaNear, Assistant Dean Jessica Hensley, the Cabinet, faculty, staff, alumni and students did an outstanding job of communicating who NCU is, how we operate and what motivates us. Congratulations to John and Jessica for leading this great result." Upon reaffirmation, WSCUC shared the following commendations about NCU: NCU promotes and practices a participatory, transparent and collaborative institutional culture that focuses on student success. NCU creates best practices in the areas of doctoral dissertation quality, asynchronous online learning, academic leadership accountability, financial forecasting and enrollment management that could serve as models with the system and nationally. NCU sustains an inclusive and educational work environment and seeks new means of supporting diverse students and underserved populations. NCU maintains a strong assessment process and well-developed institutional learning outcomes that differentiate learning expectations by degree level. Additionally, WSCUC expressed appreciation for "the extensive work that Northcentral University undertook in preparing for and supporting this accreditation review. WSCUC is committed to an accreditation process that adds value to institutions while contributing to public accountability, and we thank you for your continued support of this process." As a part of the continuous accreditation cycle, NCU will plan to participate in a reaffirmation of accreditation review in 2028. To review the full report, visit: https://www.wscuc.org/institutions/northcentral-university About Northcentral University Founded in 1996, Northcentral University is a regionally accredited, nonprofit, online and graduate-focused university serving professionals globally. Over 11,000 adult students are enrolled in bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at NCU, including business, education, health sciences, law, marriage and family therapy, psychology and technology. Northcentral University is a nonprofit affiliate of the private, nonprofit National University System. It is regionally accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). For more information, visit ncu.edu or call 866.776.0331. SOURCE Northcentral University Related Links http://www.ncu.edu Stating that the former Chief Minister underwent COVID-19 test after developing fever last night, it said, his reports have come negative. On the advice of the Doctor, Siddaramaiah has undergone complete check at the hospital and the results of his second COVID test too has come negative, it further said, adding he will remain in the hospital Lourdes Visitor Policy Changes Today By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - Mercy Health - Lourdes Hospital has changed its visitor policy beginning today.The hospital says visitation hours in non-COVID 19 units will be 6 a.m.-7 p.m.Patients can only have one visitor at a time.Visitors must wear mask at all times while inside the hospital walls and perform hand hygiene frequently.They must also agree to symptom screening and agree not to visit if the screening finds symptoms of illness.Food purchased by visitors must be eaten in the patient's room. The only time a mask is not required is when a visitor is eating or drinking.Visitors wishing to see a patient who already has a visitor must wait in their vehicle. Waiting is not permitted in the plaza area.COVID-19 and Behavioral Health units are not accepting visitors at this time.Critical Care Units may have special restrictions in place. Please call before visiting.The hospital recommends that anyone at high risk for severe illness, such as older adults or those with serious underlying conditions not visit at this time. Syracuse, N.Y. -- The reopening of the Remington Arms factory in Ilion has been put off, but its unclear for how long. The union that represents workers at the plant in Herkimer County said about 50 employees were scheduled to report to work on Monday, March 1, as part of a plan by Remingtons new owner to restart gun manufacturing. However, the workers were called over the weekend and told not to come in, said Phil Smith, director of communications and governmental affairs for the United Mine Workers of America. Some employees did not get the word and were turned away at the door on Monday, he said. Smith said the union has not been told the reason for the delay or when the workers will be called back. A security guard who answered the phone at the plant Wednesday said no one from management was at the facility and available to comment. Roundhill Group LLC bought the factory in a Bankruptcy Court sale in September and obtained its federal firearms license in January, giving it the right to manufacture firearms at the huge plant. Richmond Italia, Roundhills principal owner, targeted March 1 for restarting production, according to media reports. Italia planned to hire back 200 employees initially, with the goal of eventually bringing back 800 to 1,000 employees, according to the reports. The United Mine Workers have had what Smith called sporadic talks with Roundhill to settle a number of issues. They include the unions demand that the new owner recognize the union as the collective bargaining agent for workers at the plant and adhere to its contract with the previous owner on issues such as rehiring bases on seniority. We believe and we think it spells it out in the purchase agreement that the company made that we are the recognized collective bargaining agent for these employees, and when people go back to work, there needs to be a contract in place, Smith said. Remington, which was founded in Ilion in 1816, filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy Code on July 27, 2020, the second time it had done so in two years. Roundhill bought all of Remingtons firearms business, except for its Marlin line, for $13 million in a bankruptcy sale. The companys former owner closed the factory in Ilion and furloughed its more than 700 employees, including about 600 union members, right before the sale. Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 DUBLIN, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Oscilloscope Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The oscilloscope market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.85% over the forecast period to reach a market size of US$2,129.979 million in 2026 from US$1,603.339 million in 2020. Oscilloscope refers to the current measuring device. Oscilloscopes are indispensable to electronics engineer and industry for research and development, manufacturing and monitoring. Overall, the oscilloscopes are beneficial for the medical industry to monitor the patient's condition by tracking heartbeat. Sound engineers monitor vibrations in engines and computer design for knowing the processor condition and checking its speed and frequency. The automobiles continue to add more electronic features to enhance the driving experience by undertaking experiments and research and developments and monitoring its feasibility by the oscilloscope. The demand for the oscilloscope is primarily dependent upon electronics by the companies with an eye for details on product design, safety, density. Research and Development teams in electronics firm specializing in automotive, healthcare, and electronic opening up potential market within the industry. The scopes being of different categories have different applications, for instance, digital oscilloscope has users in consumer electronics, manufacturing, and precision engineering. The digital oscilloscope technology is a competitor to that of the analogue in the same segment as it possesses the ability to provide graphical visualizations of the electric current efficiently. The Oscilloscope market is segmented based on type as Digital Storage, Digital Phosphor, Mixed Signal, Digital Sampling, By Capacity as High, Medium, Low based upon the current-voltage, By Applications as Consumer Electronics, Automobiles, Industrial, Aviation, Healthcare and Medical, Others. Under the COVID-19 pandemic, though the overall electronics market segment has been in decline and the research and development in the electronic products been on halt as the raw materials, workforce, liquidity for funding research projects been low. However, the demand for healthcare electronics such as sphygmomanometer, blood-sugar monitor, thermometer, and oxygen pulse monitor has been in momentum in which oscilloscope is used for monitoring and operability purposes. For instance, in August 2020, Digi Key Electronics has rolled a low-cost blood oxygen measuring device for monitoring the health of patients under the home quarantine facility. For critical patients, ventilators have been vital machine. In May 2020, NVIDIA has developed low-cost ventilators and have kept its design in the public forums as open-source to be used by the companies for meeting the crunch of the ventilator machines. With such developments, the market for oscilloscopes also increases. Growth of Electronics in the Healthcare Industry The growth of the oscilloscopes market is dependent on the medical industry as the health care workers require oscilloscopes to transform patients heartbeat to electronic waves format for the easy representation and diagnosing the patient's health. The transformation in the medical, fitness and healthcare space, along with other wearable health monitoring technology has been revolutionizing the industry. The current healthcare trend has been dynamic and challenging. The devices which once used to be available in the hospitals are now available at home for quick monitoring. With these trends the healthcare electronic industry participants been involved in innovating the devices. Growth of Electronics in the Automobile Industry As the automobile industry gets modernized, the demand for the advanced tools and equipment for checking the performance increases. Since the oscilloscopes are being used extensively for performance check the demand for the same increases. There are many advancements in the automotive oscillometer industry. For instance, in August 2020, Yokogawa launched advanced mixed-signal oscilloscope. The company has focused upon power-semiconductor technology, mechatronics, power electronics and automotive for ascertaining its utility and applications. In September 2020, OWON leading oscilloscope manufacturer in China has launched its digital oscilloscope used for automobile maintenance and after-sale services. There are oscilloscopes products in the market such as Siglent's handheld device, Sain Smart digital oscilloscopes, All-Sun 3 in one, Autel Maxim's Diagnostic tool and many others primarily focused on checking the performance of the automobile. Companies such as Pico Technology has manufactured all vehicle, all-terrain oscilloscopic technology-driven kits for diagnosing power and drive systems of electric vehicles. In November 2020, The Pico launched Oscilloscope 4425A kit which enables the retail and industrial users to perform diagnostics on different types of electric vehicle components such as DC power system or AC motor/generator drive system, charging behaviour and current distribution of 12V/HV batteries, communications between the charging system and the vehicle, three-phase current measurements to check the balance of windings under load, 12V and 48V systems. Such technology advancements in the field of automobile oscilloscope make it an indispensable part of the automobile engineering industry. Regional Analysis The emerging economies such as India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are the vital contributors to the oscilloscope machinery market as the growth is attributed to the electronic industry with a large production of oscilloscopes at competitive prices across the Asia-Pacific region. The developed nations act as the major importer of oscilloscopes as it offers favourable prices for the quality machines. The big automobile, healthcare and electronic giants conglomerate outsource and procures the oscilloscopes by making a direct investment in the production facility in the Asia-Pacific region. North American nations such as the United States, Canada have demand for the Oscilloscope attributed to the heavy investments in the research and developments. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 4.1. Market Drivers 4.2. Market Restraints 4.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis 4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis 5. Oscilloscope Market Analysis, By Type 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Digital Storage 5.3. Digital Phosphor 5.4. Mixed Signal 5.5. Digital Sampling 6. Oscilloscope Market Analysis, By Applications 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Consumer Electronics 6.3. Automobiles 6.4. Industrial 6.5. Aviation 6.6. Healthcare and Medical 6.7. Others 7. Oscilloscope Market Analysis, By Geography 7.1. Introduction 7.2. North America 7.3. South America 7.4. Europe 7.5. Middle East and Africa 7.6. Asia Pacific 8. Competitive Environment and Analysis 8.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis 8.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness 8.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations 8.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix 9. Company Profiles 9.1. Agilent Technologies Inc 9.2. Tektronix Inc. 9.3. Fluke Corp 9.4. BK Precision 9.5. Digimess Instruments 9.6. Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & CoKG 9.7. Texas Instruments Incorporated 9.8. GW Instek 9.9. Hantek 9.10. Keysight Technologies For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2lyivl Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Finance Minister on Thursday took the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. "Got my first dose of the vaccination against COVID-19 this morning," Sitharaman tweeted. She also thanked sister Ramya PC for her "care and professionalism". "Fortunate to be in India, where development and dissemination has been prompt and affordable," she added. The government on Wednesday had announced that everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities will be able to get COVID-19 vaccine from March 1, for free at government facilities and for a charge at many private hospitals. Citizens can register and book an appointment for vaccination using the Co-WIN 2.0 portal or through the Aarogya Setu app. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad have also got vaccinated against COVID so far. It seems that a report by ChromeUnboxed.com seems to hint that upcoming Chromebooks could be powered by the MediaTek MT8195, which makes it the first Chromebook to come equipped with a MediaTek Processor. While not much is known in regards to the Malaysia release date, our source did mention that the processors could be codenamed Cherry and its expected to be unveiled somewhere within a few months. With all that being said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that MediaTek and Google have yet to provide an official statement on the leak. Not only that, but theres also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs regarding the Chromebooks for now. Would you be interested in getting a Chromebook thats equipped with a MediaTek MT8195 processor? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com. Scientists from Cotton University, Guwahati, Harvard University, University of Texas Health Science Centre Houston and Aichi Medical University, Japan have collaborated with the IIT Guwahati professor in this development A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati), led by Prof Manas Kamal Bhuyan, Professor, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, along with scientists from renowned research institutes around the world, have designed an automated artificial intelligence-based system to detect colorectal cancer using colonoscopy images. Results of their work have recently been published in Nature group - Scientific Reports. The paper has been co-authored by Dr Kangkana Bora of Cotton University, Guwahati, Dr Kunio Kasugai of Aichi Medical University, Japan. Prof Zhongming Zhao from the University of Texas, Health Science Centre, Houston, US, and Dr Saurav Mallik of Harvard University, US have also contributed to the study. We have developed an innovative automated system that can help the physician rapidly and accurately detect colorectal cancer from colonoscopy images, says Prof Bhuyan. Scientists from Cotton University, Guwahati, Harvard University, University of Texas Health Science Centre Houston and Aichi Medical University, Japan have collaborated with the IIT Guwahati professor in this development. Assisted by his then-post doctorate student, Dr Kangkana Bora, who is now an assistant professor at the Cotton University, Prof Bhuyan analysed real colonoscopy images generated by Dr Kunio Kasugai of Aichi Medical University, to develop the AI based cancer detection system. Our extensive experiments show that the proposed method outperforms the existing feature-based (conventional) approaches for colonic polyp detection, the authors write in their paper. To evaluate the robustness of their system, they compared their work with four classical deep learning models and found theirs to be better than others. Our AI algorithm can be easily integrated with current methods of diagnosis, which is a significant USP for this work, says Dr Bora. They plan to commercialise the technology in the future as the market need is enormous. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. A sign in the port town of Larne, Co Antrim about the Irish Sea border. (Liam McBurney/PA) Northern Irelands chief constable Simon Byrne has said he does not believe loyalists are likely to return to violence. There has been mounting anger within the unionist and loyalist communities in the region over the post Brexit arrangements governing Irish Sea trade. They regard a range of new checks on some food products from Great Britain under the Northern Ireland Protocol as an Irish Sea border. Expand Close Graffiti reading No Irish Sea border near Belfast City centre (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Graffiti reading No Irish Sea border near Belfast City centre (Brian Lawless/PA) The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson telling him the main loyalist paramilitary groups were withdrawing support for the Good Friday/Belfast agreement. The paramilitaries said they were temporarily withdrawing their backing of the Belfast/Good Friday accord amid mounting concerns about the arrangements governing Irish Sea trade post-Brexit. But Mr Byrne told a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board that police have initially assessed the letter as a political move. We dont see the prospect of a return to protest or violence. Simon Byrne We dont see the prospect of a return to protest or violence. We are prudently looking at an assessment of what that means in terms of a policing response or indeed any need to change our posture over the weeks ahead, he said. Pressed by media, Mr Byrne said as a political move, the letter is best dealt with by politicians. This is a political space and for politicians to determine who they need to speak to. Were here to police consequences and well keep an eye on any change in mood, he said. But as we sit here this afternoon, we dont see any immediate change in emotion or potential for disorder or violence coming from within the Loyalist community and my appeal is for calm and to let the political processes take place. Mr Byrne said there have been 200 incidents since the start of January related to opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. He described them as criminal damage, graffiti or the erection of posters and banners that signal a lack of support for the protocol. We are keeping an eye on that, he said. In the latest escalation of tension, graffiti appeared in a loyalist area of Belfast referencing Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove. The message painted on a wall in Sandy Row included Mr Goves name and an address above the words We dont forget, we dont forgive. The PSNI has confirmed it is investigating the incident. Nine great apes at the San Diego Zoo have become the first non-humans to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Four orangutans and five bonobos at the California zoo were given doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed specifically for animals last month. One of those orangutans, whose name is Karen, was the first in the world to undergo open-heart surgery back in 1994. The vaccines, which are not designed for humans, were handed out after eight gorillas at the zoo tested positive for COVID-19 back in January after becoming infected by a zoo keeper. Staff at the zoo were able to administer the shots after distracting the apes with treats. Nadine Lamberski, chief conservation and wildlife health officer at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, told National Geographic that the apes suffered no adverse reactions and were doing well. Four orangutans, including one named Karen (above), and five bonobos at the San Diego Zoo in California were given doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine made for animals last month THE COVID VACCINE FOR ANIMALS Zoetis, a New Jersey-based veterinary pharmaceutical company, started developing a COVID-19 vaccine for animals last year. The company was initially founded as a subsidiary of Pfizer - the maker of one of two vaccines currently being given to humans. Its vaccine, similar to a human vaccine, delivers a shot of a modified form of the COVID-19 spike protein. The initial development work and studies for the vaccine was completed on dogs and cats. Zoetis said the preliminary studies shows the vaccine was safe and had a reasonable expectation of efficacy. Advertisement The vaccine, which was developed by New Jersey-based veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis, has only been tested on dogs and cats. Lamberski, however, said it was worth the risk given the zoo's 14 gorillas, eight bonobos and four orangutans all spend a considerable amount of time indoors together where the virus can spread more easily. She said blood samples from one of the orangutans and bonobos is now being tested to see if the animals have developed antibodies, which would mean the vaccine worked. The zoo has three doses left, which will go to the bonobos and one gorilla who didn't contract COVID-19 when the outbreak occurred two months ago. 'This isn't the norm. In my career, I haven't had access to an experimental vaccine this early in the process and haven't had such an overwhelming desire to want to use one,' Lamberski said. 'It's not like we randomly grab a vaccine and give it to a novel species. A lot of thought and research goes into it - what's the risk of doing it and what's the risk of not doing it. Our motto is, above all, to do no harm.' Lamberski said it was common to give vaccines that have been tested on one species to another because they are designed for a specific pathogen. The vaccines were handed out after eight gorillas at the zoo tested positive for COVID-19 back in January after becoming infected by a zoo keeper 'We commonly use vaccines designed with dogs and cats for lions and tigers,' she said, adding that the apes at the zoo are given human vaccines for the flu and measles. Other zoos across the US have already requested the vaccines from Zoetis for their animals. The park's executive director, Lisa Peterson revealed in January that eight gorillas that live together at the park tested positive after several started coughing The gorillas at the San Diego Zoo will not be vaccinated for now given they have been exposed. The troop of gorillas tested positive for COVID-19 in early January after a zoo keeper became infected. Some gorillas showed symptoms including mild coughing, congestion and intermittent lethargy. One of the gorillas, a 49-year-old silverback named Winston, received antibody therapy as part of his treatment because he had pneumonia, likely caused by the virus, as well as heart disease. He has now recovered. Officials had tested the troop of gorillas after two apes began coughing on January 6. Positive test results were confirmed by the Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratories in three gorillas. The park north of San Diego has been closed to the public as part of Californias lockdown efforts to curb cases and the parks wildlife care team wore masks at all times around the gorillas. Wildlife experts have expressed concern about gorillas becoming infected with COVID given they're an endangered species that share 98.4 percent of their DNA with humans and are inherently social animals. California, a state ravaged by COVID-19, has so far fully vaccinated 7.6 percent of its 40 million population. Vigil for nurse Estrella at St Johns Cathedral Vigil for nurse Estrella at St Johns Cathedral An all-night prayer vigil and Mass is taking place at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich tonight for city nurse, mother and Cathedral steward Estrella Catalan, who died on February 5 at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital where she worked, after a month-long battle against Covid-19. Keith Morris reports. Estrellas funeral requiem Mass will take place on Friday (March 5) at noon and is for family and close friends only with a 30-person limit in place. Bishop Alan Hopes will celebrate the Mass and the homily will be given by Cathedral Dean, Canon David Paul. Afterwards the funeral procession will visit the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, where colleagues will pay a final tribute, before a committal at Earlham Crematorium. Family and friends will stage a prayer vigil overnight and will be joined via live stream by family, including Estrellas mother, from the Philippines, where the family is originally from. Daniel Justin, director of music at St Johns, told the EDP: "During the last week of Estrella's life, one of our priests was going to the hospital to sit with her family and pray right until the end. A lot of the nursing community was praying with the priests who were not allowed into the Covid ward. "Estrella was one of the cathedral stewards who was always offering help to others and welcoming people to the services. She used to welcome people with a smile and was a really important part of the cathedral community who will be missed very much." You can follow Estrellas funeral online from noon to 1pm on Friday here. Read our previous story about Estrella. Pictured above is the Vigil for Estrella Catalan at St John's Cathedral. Click here or see below for a picture gallery of the vigil. Pictures by Keith Morris. Keith Morris, 04/03/2021 Bangladesh Navy Ship Prottoy in Mumbai. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 4 (ANI): The Bangladesh Navy Ship (BNS) Prottoy, which is currently visiting Mumbai for 3 days, is on a return passage to its home country after participating in a naval exhibition at Abu Dhabi, UAE. Commanding Officer (CO) of BNS Prottoy Captain Ahamed Amin Abdullah, accompanied by Assistant Defence Advisor in the High Commission of Bangladesh in New Delhi, called on Vice Admiral RB Pandit, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Western Naval Command, in Mumbai. "BNS Prottoy on the return passage to Bangladesh from Abu Dhabi, UAE is currently visiting Mumbai 02-04 March 2021. The CO also laid a wreath at the 'Gaurav Stambh' - a monument to commemorate VictoryatSea, at Naval Dockyard Mumbai," Indian Navy said. The professional and sporting interactions between personnel of the two navies were cancelled due to Covid-19 precautions, the release said. "The year 2021 is being celebrated as 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' being the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Indo- Pak war. 2021 is also the 50th Year of Independence of Bangladesh. To commemorate this historic year, a number of events with joint participation of Armed forces personnel of both countries are planned," the Indian Navy added. India and Bangladesh have come a long way towards nurturing a strategic and defence relationship that is gradually maturing into one of mutual trust and confidence. (ANI) Cole Tkachuk from Livingstone School accepted to unique program Herald contributor photo Cole Tkachuk has received a once in a lifetime opportunity. Tkachuk applied to the United Worlds College, a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures helping create peace and a sustainable future. Tkachuk will now spend two years at one of the 18 colleges of UWC. David Selles Pass Herald Reporter Livingstone School student Cole Tkachuk has received an amazing opportunity. After applying to the United Worlds College, a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures helping create peace and a sustainable future, Tkachuk learned that he was accepted. "It's building almost a second family for people to help future global relations," said Tkachuk. The interest first came after having some family friends go through the program. "I've had a couple of friends go through the program and it's always been something I've known about and something that's been interesting to me. I never really thought I would go through with it until about a year or two ago when I did a little more research on it and found it really interesting. From there I decided to look into it more and ask a few more people about it that knew more and went from there." It wasn't a straightforward application process for Tkachuk. continued below ... "The first phase of the applications is filling out a form. It happens through the website and you're asked a bunch of different questions about yourself regarding why you want to do it, what does it mean to you and other questions about yourself personally." Tkachuk says the amount of applicants isn't disclosed but he says it's somewhere in the thousands. The next step is a review process. "A national committee reviews all the applications and selects about 25 people to have an interview. It takes about two or three months for them to go through all the applications and select the people for the interview. From there it's about an hour long interview process with two separate panels. They ask a lot of stuff about you and some of it is similar to the questions on the form. Once the interview is done it's a waiting game to see if you get in." The next steps for Tkachuk are figuring out where he will be going. UWC has 18 schools and colleges on four different continents. "I filled out a preference list of where I would like to go and essentially where I would not be able to accept an offer from. I'm still waiting to see where I end up going. In the end, they make the decision. I don't choose where I go. They try and select what the best fit for a person would be." continued below ... Tkachuk said there was one place that topped his list of potential destinations. "There's about 14 schools that I was allowed to choose from. My first choice was the UWC school in Germany. That would be my first choice but I'm not guaranteed to go there. Most kids end up going to the UWC school in Victoria, BC based on geographics." This opportunity is a great one for Tkachuk. "This is a gateway for me from high school learning and essentially streamlines directly to post secondary. It opens up a lot of doors for any kind of field I would want to study in the future as well as building more relations internationally with other people." For Tkachuk, it's a huge honour to have been selected. "It means everything to me. I was honoured to be selected and honestly kind of surprised. I wasn't too sure if I would get in or not. This changed the entire course of where I'm going in life because before I was just planning on graduating high school and then going into some sort of post secondary but that's totally been flipped around now because I'm taking a two-year study somewhere completely out of the province at the very least. I don't know honestly what will happen after that." For Tkachuk's parents, it's also a proud moment. "We're proud of him. Every parent knows a lot of work goes into this. It's nice to see some exceptional results. It's a doorway and you hope that he takes full advantage of it because it's a pretty unique opportunity. It's entirely paid for and it's just little old him from little old here in the middle of nowhere. That's quite a distinguished thing. It's pretty neat," said dad Rob. Tkachuk says he encourages anyone thinking about this program to take the leap and apply. "If anybody else is ever thinking about applying there's no reason not to. These kinds of opportunities are out there and the best thing I can say is just put yourself out there and take these opportunities because you never know what can happen." HOME PAGE A total of 57 nominations were filed in the municipality, of which two were rejected. Of the remaining 49 nominations, 12 withdrew their papers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Twitter @AndhraPradeshCM Kadapa: The YSR Congress flag was hoisted in the Chief Minister's hometown, the Pulivendula Municipality, on Wednesday. Jagan maintained his formidable grip on his hometown as his partymen were elected without contest in all the 33 wards of Pulivendula. A total of 57 nominations were filed in the municipality, of which two were rejected. Of the remaining 49 nominations, 12 withdrew their papers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Eventually, only 37 nominations remained. Of these, YSRC candidates filed two nominations each in four wards. Pulivendula was the only municipality in the district that saw unanimous elections. In Rayachoti and Yerraguntla municipalities, YSR Congress candidates won most of the wards. In these two municipalities, the ruling party is in a position to elect the Chairman. YSRC could see its candidates unanimously elected in 23 of the 50 divisions in Kadapa municipal corporation by Wednesday evening. Election will be held for the remaining 27 divisions. In Rayachoti municipality, YSRC candidates were set for unanimous election in 31 of the 33 wards, while elections will be held in two. In Yerraguntla municipality, out of 20 wards, 12 unanimously elected ruling party candidates and only 8 were in contest mode. While there are 41 wards in Proddatur, ruling party candidates were unanimously elected in nine. Elections were to be held for the remaining 32 wards. Ten of the 35 wards in Badvel municipality were set for unanimous election of ruling party candidates. Elections were set for the remaining 15 places. While there are 20 wards in Jammalamadugu municipality, YSR Congress candidates were to be elected unanimously in two wards while there will be contest in 18 wards. BJP candidates are contesting 16 wards. Elections were to be held for all the wards in one municipality in the district, Mydukuru. There are a total of 24 wards there. Ninety medical practitioners and science leaders have written to the Governor of NSW calling for convicted baby killer Kathleen Folbiggs immediate pardon and release from jail, saying the death of her children was not her fault. The 14-page petition argues that Folbigg should be granted a pardon based on the significant scientific evidence of natural causes of death for her children. Convicted baby killer Kathleen Folbigg in 2019. Credit:Nine Folbigg was jailed for at least 25 years in 2003 after she was found guilty of killing her four babies Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura in the decade from 1989. The children died aged between 19 days and 19 months. An inquiry that began in 2018 heard that the genomes of the Folbigg children were sequenced and it was found that the two female children had a novel mutation in the CALM2 gene, the petition notes. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 How are bee population numbers doing these days? Whether youve noticed it or not, there are far fewer bees around nowadays. One-quarter of the worlds 20,000 bee species are in precipitous decline or have already gone extinct since 1990. A range of causes are to blame, including indiscriminate overuse of pesticides, loss of plants, and habitat destruction from human encroachment. But the latest and greatest threat is now climate change, which is warping the bees environments (blooming seasons, plant diversity, etc.) at a faster rate than they are able to adapt. Today in the U.S., only eight bee species are afforded protection under the Endangered Species Act. Seven are found only in Hawaii, while the other, the rusty patched bumble bee, occupies the tallgrass prairie of the upper Midwest, most of which has been lost to farmland, strip malls and housing developments. Rusty patched bee populations have fallen off by 87% as a result. In February, conservation groups petitioned the Biden administration to grant the American bumblebee endangered species protection as well. Once the most common type of bee from coast to coast, this iconic bee has declined by some 89% in just the last two decades alone. Conservationists are worried about the implications for bee-pollinated plants and the animals (like us) that depend on them. While the bees decline worldwide is unquestionably due to human activity, the silver lining is that human activity can also help bring them back. A new map of global bee distribution and density created by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Georgia aims to help conservationists track the health of various bee populations across the U.S. and around the globe. As for what readers can do to help bees, plant some native plants that attract them to your backyard. Regardless, if you happen to see bees nearby, snap some photos of them with your phone and upload them to iNaturalist so researchers can use your sighting to help track population dynamics. For more ideas on how you can help bees rebound locally, check out the website of the Bee Conservancy, a U.S.-based non-profit that is coordinating efforts to save bee populations around the world. The good news is that bee populations in the U.S. and globally have seen a slight increase during the course of the COVID pandemic, due to reduced human activity. But the problem is hardly solved especially as we all get back to business as usual. They may be small, but if we do not care for bees, we lose natural pollinators for the vast majority of cultivated crops and wild plants. If we cant save bees now, fresh fruits and vegetables could be scarce worldwide, which could in turn lead to massive social upheaval, even wars. It seems well worth our time, money and effort at this point to protect bees now, if not for their own sake, then for ours. EarthTalk is written by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit group EarthTalk. Send questions to question@earthtalk.org. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Against the backdrop of various high-level meetings between Egypt and Sudan, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi is expected to visit the Sudanese capital Khartoum between Thursday and Saturday, according to informed government sources.The expected presidential visit comes shortly after Egypt extended an invitation to Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Homdok to visit Cairo. It also comes after President Al-Sisi received Mariam Sadek Al-Mahdi, Sudans newly appointed minister of foreign affairs, in Cairo. Most significantly, it comes hours after top military personnel from both Egypt and Sudan signed a new agreement on military cooperation in Khartoum.On Tuesday, the military chiefs-of-staff of Egypt and Sudan, Mohamed Farid and Mohamed Othman, respectively, said that the military cooperation agreement was set to allow for closer cooperation on all issues of relevance to national security in every possible way and on every front.We are faced with common regional threats, and we have to work together to face these threats on all fronts, Farid said.Also on Tuesday, this time in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Al-Mahdi were echoing their equal determination for joint coordination to take place in the negotiations with Ethiopia over the construction, filling, and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a mega-dam built on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia without the agreement of the two downstream countries of Egypt and Sudan.The two ministers called for international mediation to facilitate a legally binding agreement with Ethiopia ahead of the second filling of the dam that Addis Ababa is planning to execute this summer without the agreement of either Cairo or Khartoum, just as it did last summer during the first filling of the dam.Khartoum has requested the Democratic Republic of Congo, the current chair of the African Union (AU), to engage the UN, the EU, and the US to help push for a deal on the dam in the coming weeks or months. In Cairo, Egypts top diplomat gave his full support to the proposal on Tuesday.We are seeing a moment in which Egypt and Sudan have the equal political will to consolidate cooperation to serve their common interests, said another Egyptian diplomat. We dont necessarily agree on everything, but we do agree that we need one another to help face up to some serious threats, he added.According to this diplomat and to a Sudanese diplomat, both speaking on condition of anonymity, the GERD is a pressing concern for both countries, though it is not the only one. They said that the security of the Horn of Africa and the situation in the Sahel and Sahara, with its impact on the overall situation in North and East Africa, were also matters of concern for both countries.Sudan stands at a strategically sensitive point between the Sahel and the Sahara and the Red Sea coast. This area faces serious security threats, including trafficking by militant groups, arms, and drugs, the Egyptian diplomat said. He added that the new military pact that Egypt and Sudan signed in Khartoum on Tuesday would help both countries coordinate their security strategy on these very troubling fronts.We have been seeing an increase in militant activities all along the shores of the Red Sea, especially around Somalia and Eritrea, and we have been monitoring the infiltration of militants that are being pushed through into the Sahel and Sahara zone to end up first in Chad and then in Libya, the Egyptian diplomat said.He added that Egypt was discussing military cooperation deals with several other countries in both the Horn of Africa and the Sahel and Sahara, stating that we have good reasons to want to act promptly there. We cannot just let things go.According to the Sudanese diplomat, Khartoum is equally keen to avoid possible militant infiltration. The country has recently seen its name removed from the US list of countries supporting terrorism, and it is hoping for stability and security in order to be able to better position itself as an attractive destination for investment and to help a frail economy get back on its feet.In this respect, we welcome cooperation with Egypt to serve the interests of our two countries, he said.What is mostly at stake today, however, according to both diplomats, is security in the Red Sea. With the fluid situation in Yemen that is verging on the status of becoming a failed or non-viable state and the growing foreign military presence in and around the ports of the Red Sea, both Egypt and Sudan need to make sure that they are alert to possible security breaches.Both Egypt and Sudan are members of the recently launched Red Sea Forum along with six other countries from Africa and Asia. However, as the Egyptian and Sudanese diplomats said, what Egypt and Sudan share is perhaps much more than either shares with the other members of the forum.Late last year, Egypt and Sudan carried out their first joint military drills called Nile Eagles-1. These were conducted in Sudan. According to Egyptian and Sudanese diplomatic sources, future naval drills could be coming up this year.The prospects of military cooperation, crucial as it is for both countries, and the question of the equally crucial GERD negotiations are not the only matters of common interest for Cairo and Khartoum. Economic cooperation in gas and oil, mining, agriculture, and trade are also of interest to both Egypt and Sudan.Cairo and Khartoum have been slowly but surely discussing major schemes for economic cooperation that would cover agriculture and industry. The launch of these could be announced during the visit by Hamdok to Cairo in the coming days or weeks.Much will depend on the talks that President Al-Sisi will be holding in Khartoum. This visit is a very firm show of the commitment on the side of Egypt at the highest level to reach out to Sudan. It shows that for Egypt Sudan matters whoever is ruling in Khartoum, the Egyptian diplomat said.According to Amany Al-Tawil, a senior Sudan expert at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, the current movement in Egyptian-Sudanese relations will produce a new framework for bilateral relations between the two Nile Basin countries.I think we are about to see qualitative progress in cooperation between the two countries. We are seeing the beginning of an unprecedented process of strategic bonding, Al-Tawil said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: As the farmers continue to protest against the Centre's 3 contentious farm laws, the British Parliament's Petitions Committee on March 8 at around 4:30 pm (UK time) will consider a Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons complex on the issue of farmers' protest and press freedom in India after an online petition attracted over 106,000 signatures. UK Parliament to debate on ongoing farmers stir Despite the fact that the list of signatories for the e-petition also reflects a signature of Boris Johnson, West London Conservative Party member of Parliament Downing Street on Wednesday categorically denied that the UK Prime Minister had signed the petition. READ | Cong Blames Bihar Govt For Poor Condition Of Cultivators; Says Will Launch Farmers Stir In Days To Come Speaking about Press freedom, a UK government spokesperson said that media freedom is vital for the protection of human rights and journalists all around the world must be free to do their job and hold authorities to account without fear of arrest or violence. Stating that a free press plays a crucial role in our democracies, the spokesperson said that the government is putting their full weight behind this including through membership of the Media Freedom Coalition. All of this comes after the petition entitled "Urge the Indian Government to ensure the safety of protestors and press freedom" on the official UK Parliament petition websites crossed the 100,000 signature mark required by the UK government to make an official statement. Any petition that crosses 100,000 signatures must be considered for a debate. Later, the House of Commons said the government's response to the petition is expected later this month and the debate is under consideration. READ | UK Slashes Aid To War-hit Yemen But Continues Weapons Export Even As US Ends Sales Of Arms A House of Commons spokesperson said, "Petitions that receive 100,000 signatures will be considered for a debate in Parliament. Debates in Westminster Hall where petitions debates take place are currently suspended, but Committee will make an announcement on scheduling this debate as soon as possible." Some of the signatories of the petition reflect names of cross-party parliamentarians including Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party MPs Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Preet Kaur Gill, who have been particularly vocal over the issue on social media and most recently raised concerns over the blockage of "water, electricity and internet" to protesting crowds. READ | 'It Is Discrimination': UK's Holiday Parks Chain Bans Entry Of People With Irish Surnames Meanwhile, the Indian Journalists' Association (IJA) in the UK joined other international media organisations to express concern over the arrest of journalists covering the farmers' protests and urged the Indian government to ensure the safety of journalists in the country. "The freedom of the press is an important pillar of any democracy and authorities must ensure that journalists are able to do their jobs reporting accurately and without bias however challenging the circumstances, it said in a statement. 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. READ | Toolkit Narrative: Misinformation Peddled, Amplified To Attack Govt Via Farmers Protest? (With PTI inputs) The HACC Foundation, a nonprofit educational trust established in 1985 to raise private and corporate revenues in support of HACC, Central Pennsylvanias Community College, has announced a partnership with The Giant Company and funding for key projects that support the colleges mission of learning for all; learning for life. Giants $50,000 gift, according to a press release, will support the following projects: The Giant Company Inclusion and Diversity Fund for Excellence will support innovative HACC initiatives related to inclusion and diversity. The Giant Company Inclusion and Diversity Scholarship Fund will help students from diverse backgrounds to pay for their HACC tuition, books and/or fees. The Giant Company is committed to doing all that we can to create more inclusive and diverse communities, Aaysha Noor, head of diversity, equity and inclusion for Giant said in the release. We are especially honored to partner with HACC, a leader in hometown market, as we collaborate to empower youth and local communities and provide resources needed for a successful path for future growth. John Ski Sygielski, president and CEO of HACC, Central Pennsylvanias Community College, said in the release that we are working to ensure the next generation of central Pennsylvanians including future Giant employees is prepared to thrive in a world where inclusion, diversity and belonging are valued. With this generous investment, HACC is more motivated and inspired than ever before to do the hard work that is necessary to make our community accessible and equitable for all. Please note The Sun Chronicle is providing this story and all of our local coronavirus coverage for free so that all readers have access to this important information about the pandemic. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus coverage page for more stories. If you'd like to support our mission, please subscribe. WASHINGTON - A couple years back, when Mark Viviano worked as a Wall Street analyst studying the inner workings of the oil and gas industry, his colleagues would ask if investing in the sector was just a suckers bet. The Paris climate accords has been signed. Nations were gradually shifting away from fossil fuels. In the long run, oil and coal companies revenues and profits would inevitably shrink. Viviano, however, isnt so sure. A long-haired managing director at the private equity firm Kimmeridge Energy, he is taking large stakes in oil and gas companies and using that leverage to force them to adapt to the coming low-carbon world. And Viviano is not the only one. With oil prices low and stock prices cheap, a handful of well-funded investment firms also are buying up so-called activist positions in oil and gas firms aiming to shift them away from expensive exploration projects and adjust their businesses to the realities of an uncertain oil market. Its a relatively one-sided debate. The issue you run up against at oil companies is complacency, Viviano said. A lot of investors are saying Im going to abandon the oil sector. But weve been vocal the answer is engagement and getting these boards to understand the world is changing. Climate change has moved up on the agenda in the corporate boardrooms of oil companies, but the industry continues to debate how fast it must respond to policies and public attitudes that will reduce demand for its core products. At this weeks CERAWeek by IHS Markit energy conference, industry leaders clashed over the outlook for fossil fuels, with the CEOs of European oil majors such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell arguing that transition of clean energy is quickening while their counterparts at Hess of New York and Repsol arguing that petroleum demand will continue to grow with the worlds population far into the future. Activist investors such as Viviano are embracing the sooner, rather than later view. The hedge fund giant D.E. Shaw & Co. has built up a sizeable position in Exxon Mobil and is reportedly pressuring the oil giant to cut spending, amid investor criticism it is not taking the long-term impacts of climate regulation seriously enough. On HoustonChronicle.com: Big oils future is getting smaller Also pressuring Exxon is a new investment firm, Engine No. 1, which has the backing of the California State Teachers Retirement System, the countrys largest retirement fund with more than $250 billion in assets. Exxon Mobil shareholders deserve a board that works proactively to create long-term value, not defensively in the face of deteriorating returns, Engine No. 1 said in a statement last month. The Texas oil giant declined a request for an interview. On Wednesday, Exxon outlined a five-year plan to increase its earnings and grow its dividend while working to lower emissions in support of the Paris climate goals. Boardrooms shudder The moves by the activist investors like Viviano, Shaw and Engine No. 1 are not only sending shudders through the boardrooms of energy companies, but also oil fields in Texas and around the globe, where efforts to cut investment in drilling projects would be keenly felt. While used to criticism on climate change, oil companies have not expected big hedge funds and private equity firms to join in and launch shareholder campaigns to oust directors and change business practices, said Andrew Logan, senior director of oil and gas at Ceres, a non-profit that advises investors in sustainable investing. A proxy fight is a $10-to-$15 million bill. You have to mail the ballots out to every investor and hire proxy firms and PR. Its like running a political campaign, he said. It raises the stakes for the industry as a whole. You see companies moving faster even without a campaign against them because they know its in the quiver of investors. Investors want to see oil companies decrease the number of expensive exploration projects and clean up their operations. The thinking goes that the world wont need as much oil in the future, and what it does need will have to have small greenhouse gas footprint. So-called sustainability investors have pushed that view for years, even as American oil companies downplayed such an outlook, trumpeting projections that petroleum demand will continue to climb for decades. With the coronavirus pandemic depressing oil demand and prices, the oil industrys finances fell into disarray. Last year, the credit ratings firm Moodys downgraded 68 oil and gas companies worldwide, more than twice as many as the year before. At the same time, oil companies are losing the support of large financial institutions such as JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America, which have announced plans to shift their investment portfolios away from fossil fuels towards reaching carbon neutrality by mid-century. On HoustonChronicle.com: The era of electric cars is coming faster than anyone thought In the end society is lining up with this objective, Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England and now vice chairman of a New York investment firm, said during a recent event hosted by Bloomberg Live. Youre left with three options. Have a plan for net zero or wind down your business over the next 10-15 years. Or you think youre separate from society and dont think the rules apply to you. And those that resist could end up in the sights of activist investors. Proxy fight Viviano has built a $200 million stake in Ovintiv, the successor company to the more than 100-year old Canadian firm Encana, which has large drilling operations in West Texas. Earlier this year, Viviano said he was done negotiating with management. Kimmeridge Energy launched a proxy battle, asking shareholders to support it plan to replace three of Ovintivs board members with its own and cap spending at no more than 70 percent of the cash the company takes in. If you want to be a public company youre going to need to convince investors you have a viable business in a low carbon future, Viviano said. Like virtually all oil companies, Ovintiv has watched its stock price decline steadily over the past decade, amid concerns around oversupply, a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and the coronavirus pandemic. But the companys approach to climate change has invited extra criticism. The investment giant BlackRock warned Ovintivs board last year it needed to set emissions reduction targets in line with recommendations made by the Financial Stability Board, an international body established by the worlds wealthiest counties to monitor the global financial system. If it didnt, Black Rock said, executives needed to provide, an evidence-based justification for why that is in long-term shareholders interests. On HoustonChronicle.com: Biden poised to decarbonize U.S. economy Ovintiv has so far resisted setting emissions targets, Viviano said. The company did not respond to a request for comment, but said in a statement last month that it was working hard to drive down emissions and maintain the scale of our business. Opportunity knocks That objective is out of line with what more investors want to see. In their calculation, the oil sector is shrinking, and companies needs to produce oil and gas as cleanly and efficiently as possible if they are to survive And if they can do that, there is money to be made, particularly as Wall Street sours on oil and gas companies and energy stocks trade at bargain prices, Viviano said. Under almost under scenario oil demand should be resilient over the next decade, he said. This is a generational opportunity because (investor) sentiment is as bad as Ive ever seen it. james.osborne@chron.com Twitter.com/@osborneja "It's awesome anytime we can give back to people in need especially here in Arizona. All of the proceeds will go to deserving causes across the country." WorldPix, a photography charity organization, will deliver a workshop on March 4-7, 2021, with instructors Joshua Snow and Dr. Paul Lynch. The workshop will take place in the Superstition mountains in Arizona and will benefit several causes in Arizona and within the United States. Joshua Snow is an internationally recognized photographer who recently earned the prestigious runner-up for the critically acclaimed International Landscape Photographer of the year competition. Mr. Snow is excited to teach others and generate revenue for these great causes. Dr. Paul Lynch, founder of WorldPix will be hosting the event. Paul is a Pain Management Physician, founder of Arizona Pain and a very skilled, self-taught photographer. Dr. Lynch has traveled the world and taken thousands of high quality photographs along the way. Paul believes the beauty of a country is it's greatest natural resource to benefit communities in need. Dr. Paul Lynch was excited about this new workshop. "It's awesome anytime we can give back to people in need especially here in Arizona. All of the proceeds will go to deserving causes in Arizona and across the country." Lynch said. As always with WorldPix, all proceeds generated from this workshop will go to charitable causes near where the photographs were taken. For this weekends workshop, we will support three Arizona based charities including: AZ Medical Clinic, Sunshine Acres Childrens Home, and Chandler I AM as well as several other causes across the United States. To donate, purchase a print or learn more about WorldPix, go to WorldPix.org. For media inquiries contact Paul Lynch. (TNS) Even if Gov. Kay Ivey drops a state health mandate requiring that masks be worn in public places in Alabama, major national retail chains are likely to keep their mask mandates in place and federal orders will apply to airports, public transportation and federal buildings.In other words, keep a face mask handy if you plan to go out in public.Iveys office released a statement Wednesday that the governor prefers personal responsibility to government mandates.That may indicate she plans to follow the lead of Texas and Mississippi, where Republican governors have dropped state mask mandates. Ivey is expected to announce today whether to extend the order, which expires Friday. Without a state mask mandate, small businesses would have greater freedom to allow customers to go mask-free. But national retail chains operate in many states where masks are still required and are likely to keep their national policies until there is further consensus among federal and state agencies.Federal buildings will remain under mask orders.Among the major retail chains that have mask mandates are Walmart, Sams Club, Amazon, Whole Foods, Kroger, Costco, Walgreens, Home Depot, CVS, Target, Lowes, Apple Store, McDonalds, Best Buy, Publix, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Aldi, Dollar General, Macys Dollar Tree, Verizon, Kohls, Starbucks, Ross, AT&T, Rite Aid, Nordstrom, Gap, PetSmart and Bed, Bath and Beyond.President Joe Biden signed an executive order requiring mask-wearing in airports, on commercial aircraft and other forms of public transportation. Federal agencies and airports require a mask to be worn over the nose and mouth at all times. Failure to comply may result in penalties under federal law, including removal and denial of re-entry.On Jan. 29, the Centers for Disease Control issued an order requiring masks to be worn by travelers and operators on public transportation including airplanes, subways, buses and ride-shares.Conveyance operators must also require all persons on board to wear masks when boarding, disembarking and for the duration of travel, the CDC said. Operators of transportation hubs must require all persons to wear a mask when entering or on the premise of a transportation hub.The federal mask policies of all U.S. airports will remain in effect at Alabama airports as part of the executive order signed by Biden in January. Travelers at airports are required to wear a mask at TSA airport screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation systems. Passengers without a mask may be denied entry, boarding, or continued transport. Failure to comply with the mask requirement may result in civil penalties.Most organizations are taking a wait-and-see approach. While its likely the Governor will lift the mask mandate, the University is going to wait for the official word before we make an announcement, said Lance Crawford, a spokesman for the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Im sure university leadership will confer with our health folks before deciding.At the University of Alabama in Birmingham, masks are required for the foreseeable future. The university will make an announcement if that changes, said Alicia Rohan, spokeswoman for UAB.Masks are required on campus indoors and outside, she said. Pharm 2 Farm has also struck a deal that will see its antiviral face-covering product sold on Amazon ( ) said its Pharm 2 Farm (P2F) subsidiary has placed an initial order with the Volz Group for 1mln masks made from its -virion antiviral material. It added that discussions are underway to extend this into a production outsourcing arrangement to increase the supply. In the same announcement, investors were told P2F has inked a distribution agreement with Francis McIntyre, an online garment retailer, to make P2F's masks available in UK and Europe via Amazon. Francis McIntyre has requested an initial 100,000 units, though its exclusivity on Amazon relies on it ordering 1mln masks a month. In a wide-ranging update, RMS said P2F is in discussions with Lemu Group, the manufacturer of the mask-making machine, regarding mechanical issues. It has agreed to appoint Egremont Capital as an independent advisor for the next three months to help with the development of P2F's production capabilities. Egremont will receive a monthly fee and may be issued with up to 500,000 shares on achieving certain production milestones. RMS chairman Antony Legge said: "Whilst a number of issues remain with the machine at BioCity, the purchase order with Volz coupled with the intentions by both parties to enter into a more formal outsourced manufacturing agreement, means P2F can commence sales with confidence as we anticipate a continuing market need for P2F's proprietary -virion material, notwithstanding the progress of various national COVID-19 vaccination programmes." .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland on Thursday moved a step closer to taking a spot in the presidents inner circle. Haaland was favorably recommended to be the next secretary of the Interior by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and her historic nomination will now be voted on by the entire Senate. The committee voted 11-9 in support of Haaland, a Democrat who is set to become the first Native American Cabinet secretary. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined all the committees Democrats during the vote on Thursday morning. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ I have decided to support this nomination today, to support the first Native American who will hold this position, with the expectation that Rep. Haaland will be true to her word, Murkowski said. Not just on issues related to Native peoples but also responsible resource development. Murkowski was the second Republican this week to come out in support of Haaland. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine also publicly said she would vote to confirm Haaland. That support puts Haaland on the brink of shattering another glass ceiling. She and Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, in 2018 became the first Native American women elected to Congress. My life experiences give me hope for the future. If an Indigenous woman from humble beginnings can be confirmed as Secretary of the Interior, our country and its promise still holds true for everyone, Haaland, who is a member of the Laguna Pueblo, tweeted after the vote. Haaland has been a staunch defender of the environment, both in Congress and before she was elected. She was co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, and she attended protests against the Keystone XL Pipeline. Fossil fuel industry advocates and several Republicans have opposed her nomination. Last month, Haaland was introduced to the Senate committee by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who spoke about Haalands willingness to reach across the aisle on certain issues. During her confirmation hearing, Haaland touted her bipartisan work, and she said oil and gas would be part of the countrys energy portfolio for years to come. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond who studies nominations, said that Haalands ability to appeal to conservatives and moderate Democrats has put her on the cusp of confirmation. The fact that shell listen and she tries to work across the aisle, I think thats all very positive and allows Murkowski and (other lawmakers) to vote for her, Tobias said. Haaland was very good about saying, Look, I might have said things and taken positions, but Im going to be secretary for the whole country. Some remain unconvinced. I, along with other Western senators, have consistently opposed nominees who hold such radical views, said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, who called Haalands views extreme and voted against her nomination. Rep. Haalands positions are squarely at odds with the mission of the Department of the Interior and outside of the mainstream. Committee Chairman, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, said he, too, had concerns about Haalands prior statements concerning the fossil fuel industry, but that she addressed those concerns during her hearing. President Biden is also trying to assemble a Cabinet that reflects the rich diversity of our nation. One that looks like America, Manchin said. Two hundred and thirty years after Washington called his first Cabinet meeting, it is long past time to give a Native American woman a seat at the table. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., during Thursdays meeting expressed disappointment in his Republican colleagues who described Haalands views as extreme and radical. Heinrich pointed out that Haaland is his representative in the House, and that she keeps an open mind on issues. I voted for two interior nominees whose views may have been considered quite radical by many of my constituents. I never used those terms. Because we have to get a lot of work done on this committee, he said. She has always shown an ability to work with people with very different views. If confirmed, Haaland will have to resign from her position in the House representing most of Albuquerque and surrounding areas. That would trigger a special election, which the New Mexico secretary of state would have to call between 77 and 91 days of the seat being vacated. About a dozen people, Republicans and Democrats and an independent, have declared their intent to seek Haalands seat. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below NY university suspends conservative student who criticized transgender ideology Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A student at State University of New York Geneseo claims he was suspended from the education program for his conservative Instagram posts regarding gender and leftist ideologies. The Daily Wire obtained a copy of emails outlining why the university recently suspended student Owen Stevens. According to the conservative outlet, the school claimed that his posts called into question his ability to protect students' mental well-being in a classroom setting. Stevens will remain suspended from in-school field experience and courses until he completes a remediation plan that involves removing his Instagram videos, attending training and toning down his social media interaction. Stevens told The Daily Wire he refused to take part in the re-education training. The Christian Post reached out to SUNY Geneseo for comment about Stevens suspension. A response was not received before press time. CP also contacted Stevens but was told that legal counsel advised him not to speak with the media. The universitys response came as a result of Stevens Nov. 22 Instagram post discussing the biology of two genders and other posts expressing his conservative ideology on topics like leftism and Christopher Columbus. In the video, Stevens said: I am going to double down on this point right now and I want to make myself very clear, so hear what Im saying. A man is a man. A woman is a woman. A man is not a woman, and a woman is not a man, the student stated, pushing back against transgender ideology. A man cannot become a woman and a woman cannot become a man. If I am a man and I think Im a woman, Im still a man. If Im a woman who thinks I am a man, Im still a woman. Regardless of what you feel on the inside is irrelevant to your biological status. It doesnt change the biology. The biology is very clear and its binary and easy. You fall into either man or woman. Stevens met with the university and shared on social media that he was dismissed from school due to the nature of his Instagram posts. On Jan. 21, Stevens posted the universitys statement directed toward him: Mr. Stevens actions do not show the necessary commitment to or reasonably expected potential for meeting professional and ethical standards. Specifically, his Instagram posts do not show respect for the inherent dignity and worth of individuals whose identity or culture falls outside of his own narrow view of acceptable norms. In the caption to the screenshot post of the email, Stevens wrote, Here is my own school messaging me about dismissing me from school due to Instagram posts. This is only the beginning. Leftism destroys, Stevens argued. This is proof. Absolutely crazy. According to The Daily Wire, the dean of education emailed Stevens and said future teachers are required to support all aspects of gender identity and homosexuality, The dean allegedly said Stevens stance on gender conflicts with New Yorks Dignity for All Students Act. Stevens posted a separate email from the university presidents office addressed to the Geneseo campus community. Yesterday, I was made aware of a students Instagram posts pertaining to transgender people. I imagine that reading these sentiments from a member of the Geneseo community raises apprehension for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students and their allies, the president allegedly wrote. I want to take this opportunity to publicly restate my deep and personal commitment to promoting social justice. Stevens shared a screenshot of this email on his Instagram with this response, saying he will not be silenced by an ideologically driven anti truth administration. They are trying to discredit basic dissent from conservatives. Absolutely unreal, he contends. Stevens told The Daily Wire he had received threats due to the nature of his videos. Ive received threats and horrible incidents of students who all feel like they are making the world a better place by becoming the woke thought police, Stevens was quoted as saying. Overall, I want justice and the right thing to be done. Stevens, the host of the Just Owen podcast, adheres to conservative values and covers culture and politics through a Christian lens. Stevens Instagram account espouses his Christian and conservative views through videos and posts on topics such as abortion, race and gender. The death has occurred of Brett Audsley, Mountcollins, and formerly of Melbourne, Australia on Saturday, February 27 2021. Brett is very sadly missed by his loving wife Joaney, son Brendan, daughter Ciara, mother Helen, sisters Christine and Debra, brother Rod, mother-in-law Mary, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, friends and work colleagues. A private family funeral will take place for immediate family due to Government advice and HSE guidelines regarding public gatherings. For those who would like to pay their respects by means of standing in a guard of honour, the funeral cortege will depart Harnetts Funeral Home, Abbeyfeale on Friday at 11.30 a.m. and travel via Killarney Road and Fealeview on route to The Church of The Assumption, Mountcollins to arrive for Requiem Mass at 12.30 p.m. which be live streamed on Templeglantine, Tournafulla & Mouncollins Parishes Facebook page. Requiem Mass will also be broadcast on channel 105.1 FM in the Mountcollins Village area. Private cremation afterwards at Shannon Crematorium. -------- The death has occurred of James P. Gleeson of Roundwood, Cappamore, Limerick. On March 3 2021 suddenly at the University Hospital Limerick. Deeply regretted by his loving wife Mary (nee Collins), sons Kieran, Shane, Noel and Micheal, daughter Mairead (McMorrow, Kilkenny), son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, cousins, relatives and friends. Departing from his home on Saturday 6th March via Mackeys Cross, and the hurling field to arrive at St. Michaels Church, Cappamore for Requiem Mass at 2 p.m.Burial afterwards in Rockvale Cemetery, Newport, travelling via Mancels Cross and Portnard. Please adhere to government guidelines regarding social distance and number of people. -------- The death has occurred of Jim Kennedy of Rylands, Ballingarry, Limerick, and formerly Ballinakill, Co Galway. Jim passed away on March 2nd 2021. Deeply regretted by his loving wife Maureen (nee O'Callaghan), sons John, Edward and Paul, sisters Nancy and Josie, daughter-in-law Marian, Vera, grandchildren, relatives, kind neighbours and many friends. Arriving on Saturday March 6th at the Church of The Immaculate Conception, Ballingarry for 12 noon Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in St.Mary's new cemetery. Mass can be viewed here For those wishing to pay their respects the funeral cortege will leave his residence at 11.30am approx en route to church. In compliance with HSE guidelines, Jims Funeral Mass will be restricted to family only. -------- The death has occurred of Margaret (Peg) O'Connell (nee Doody) of New Street, Abbeyfeale, Limerick who passed away peacefully in the tender care of the doctors, nurses and staff at St. Johns Hospital Limerick on Wednesday, March 3rd 2021. Peg, wife of the late John (Jackie) is very sadly missed by her sons Diarmuid, Mattie and Sean, daughter Catriona, daughters-in-law Leisha and Joan, grandchildren, great-grandson, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. A private Family Funeral will take place for immediate family due to Government advice and HSE guidelines regarding public gatherings. Funeral cortege will depart Harnetts Funeral Home, Abbeyfeale on Saturday at 10 a.m. and travel via New Street to Church of the Assumption, Abbeyfeale to arrive for Requiem Mass at 11.00 a.m. Requiem Mass will then be live streamed on the following: www.churchservices.tv/abbeyfealeparish Funeral afterwards to St. Marys Cemetery, Abbeyfeale. -------- The death has occurred of Michael O'Connor of St. Mary`s Tc., Cappamore. On March 3rd 2021, peacefully at University Hospital, Limerick. Sadly missed by his loving partner Sandra, son Eoin, daughter Roisin, relatives and a wide circle of friends. Funeral cortege will leave Lynch-Kellys Funeral Home, Cappamore, Saturday morning at 11am for Requiem Mass in St. Michaels Church, Cappamore at 11.30am with burial afterwards in Doon Cemetery. Please adhere to Government Guidelines re Covid-19. Mass will be restricted to 10 family members. Suweida employees have been forced to attend an event promoting Assads presidential election candidacy, writes Etihad Press. The Baath Party branch asked government departments in the city of Suweida to send employees to attend an event entitled Assad is our Choice. The heads of the departments in Suweida enforced compulsory attendance among all employees to the event which was held on Wednesday morning at the Palace of Culture. The employees confirmed that the heads of departments warned them against not attending the event. The Baath Party branch sent a circular to government departments, requesting that employees be sent to attend the event. Pro-regime media outlets and journalists had published a public invitation for the event, organized by the members of the Association of Political Science Graduates. The Baath Party and other government agencies recently began promoting the so-called national wedding, in reference to the upcoming presidential elections, despite the woes the country is suffering from at all levels. 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. Acquisition OMB orders agencies to stop enforcing Trump's diversity training purge The Office of Management and Budget is instructing agency heads to remove traces of former President Donald Trump's ban of certain types of diversity and inclusion training among federal employees, contractors and grant recipients. President Joe Biden rescinded the executive order, which targeted certain materials containing "divisive concepts" like critical race theory, the day he took office. An OMB memo sent out to agency heads on Tuesday directs them to "ensure a complete reversal" by attempting to eliminate contract and grant agreement language added to execute Trump's order. The memo also overturns two previous OMB memos that implemented Trump's order and gave agencies a March 22 deadline for compliance. Agencies should stop including any language implementing the Trump order in new contracts and to roll back any wholesale changes, known as "class deviations" in government contracting, issued to implement Trump's the executive order. Agencies are directed to "take all reasonable steps" to tell contractors that the old language is not being enforced. Under the Trump executive order, contractors threatened with suspension and debarment for non-compliance. The new memo makes it clear those threats are off the table. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), a Labor Department office that had responsibilities with enforcing the order, is also stopping any enforcement, the memo says. Federal grant recipients are also no longer required to certify their compliance with the order, the memo says. It instructs agencies not to enforce any terms in grants requiring compliance with the executive order. As for federal employees themselves, the OMB memo says that the Office of Personnel Management will roll back its guidance to human resources specialists in the government about the order and stop reviewing diversity training. The personnel agency had essentially halted diversity training across federal agencies last fall in order to review training materials for the banned concepts. The Biden administration is also pulling back other Trump-era rules and regulations for contractors. The OFCCP is looking to reverse a rule that was finalized on Dec. 9 and gives religious organizations that contract with the federal government exemptions from anti-discrimination policies. Although officials made that intention clear to judges hearing lawsuits challenging the rule change, the office hasn't yet submitted a proposed notice of rescission to the OMB or the Federal Register, a Labor press representative confirmed. Reversing the rule via notice-and-comment rulemaking could take months. Australia will be almost completely cashless within three years, with the Covid-19 pandemic speeding up the decline of coins and notes. Just 2.1 per cent of point-of-sale transactions in Australia will be cash in 2024, down from 8.3 per cent in 2020, predicts fintech company FIS. 'Australian consumers are ushering in a new dawn of commerce as they embrace modern ways to pay, consume and engage with businesses,' FIS' Phil Pomford told Nine News. Just 2.1 per cent of point-of-sale transactions in Australia will be cash in 2024, down from 8.3 per cent in 2020 FIS says Australia will be the fourth most cash averse economy in the world after Sweden, Denmark and Hong Kong 'As Australia heads towards a predominantly cashless payments market, we must focus on financial inclusion. Important parts of the economy continue to rely on cash, such as charity donations and restaurant tip jars. 'Further, fintechs and regulators need to collaborate to build new frameworks that allow for this rapid shift and use technology to boost financial inclusion for underserved communities.' Globally, cash made up 20.5 per cent of transactions in 2020. FIS says Australia will be the fourth most cash averse economy in the world after Sweden, Denmark and Hong Kong. The decline was hastened by the pandemic, with cash transactions falling 4.4 per cent globally between 2019 and 2020. 'Covid-19 is accelerating the pace of cash's decline faster than even the most bullish projections,' the sixth annual Global Payments Report states. 'The pandemic accelerated the decline of cash by over three years, exceeding in 2020 our previous projection for 2023.' The Australian Tax Office may celebrate the prediction, after it revealed on Monday that businesses doing cash deals are costing the community up to $50 billion in unpaid taxes. Meanwhile, Australians' online shopping is expected to grow from $47 billion in 2020 to almost $70 billion in 2024. The decline was hastened by the pandemic, with cash transactions falling 4.4 per cent globally between 2019 and 2020 Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe said in December that he doubted Australia would become a cashless society. Electronic systems are not infallible and cash has an important role to play as an emergency payment method, he told a conference. But he did admit cash could become rare. The FIS report also predicts that Australia's embrace of Buy Now Pay Later products will continue, with the market share projected to double from 9.5 per cent in 2020 to almost 20 per cent in 2024. [March 04, 2021] Fauna Bio Awarded Grant from National Institute of Health to Find New Treatments for Human Diseases by Studying the Genes of Animals BERKELEY, Calif., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fauna Bio today announced it has received a grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to investigate new ways to treat human diseases by studying the genetic makeup of other animals. The R41 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) leverages comparative genomics to identify new targets in the drug discovery process. Fauna Bio's proprietary platform has already identified four novel genes key to heart protection-- and recovery from cardiac events including heart attacks and strokes-- using only data from hibernators. This grant also supports a partnership between Fauna Bio and the Monarch Initiative , an integrative data and analytic platform identifying shared traits across species with the goal of identifying better animal models of human diseases. This funding will aid the integration of disease traits from emerging models, such as hibernators, with existing model species databases. Current drug discovery efforts -- for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's to obesity and heart disease -- based on human data struggle to find new, unique, and potentially more successful targets. NHGRI supported efforts to successfully sequence the entire human genome in 2003, but this has still left many unanswered questions and many diseases with no good therapies. "One of the biggest yet simplest questions we continue to be asked as a company is, 'What does the DNA of animals have to do with humans?' But given that we share 90 percent of our genes with other mammals, it is important to look outside our own species o find new answers for the betterment of human health," said Ashley Zehnder, DVM, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Fauna Bio. "This grant from the NIH means that they see a direct link between the genes of humans and animals, and its value for developing meaningful therapeutics for a variety of complex diseases currently with no viable treatment options." Fauna Bio was founded by Drs. Zehnder, Linda Goodman and Katharine Grabek , who all met while working in the Bustamante Lab at Stanford University. Prior to starting Fauna Bio, Goodman's work focused on comparative genomics, while Grabek's research focused on the functional genomics of the 13-lined ground squirrel with its implications for human health. Continuing with this model, the team has sequenced a whole genome, RNA, protein, and metabolomics as well as epigenetic sequencing from its internal biobank. They are also integrating publicly available data across a broad range of species to prioritize therapeutic targets. To date, Fauna Bio has identified two compounds that may be effective in reducing damage after a heart attack. Dr. Melissa Haendel and Dr. Monica Munoz-Torres from the Monarch Initiative are also key participants in this award. "Studying the new data from 13-lined ground squirrels and looking at computable anatomy and phenotypes in addition to genomics will fill a crucial gap in translation from basic research to medicine," said Dr. Haendel. "This collaboration with FaunaBio leverages the Monarch's generalizable model for integrating data in favor of revealing these mechanisms and aiding discovery, and we hope researchers will be able to use this knowledge to develop new therapies for patients, which is ultimately what we're all striving to achieve." Dr. Goodman was listed as co-author of a study published on November 11, 2020 issue of Nature as part of an international team of researchers with an effort called the Zoonomia Project. The study, which was led by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Uppsala University, analyzed and compared the whole genomes of more than 80 percent of all mammalian families, spanning almost 110 million years of evolution. The dataset, aimed at advancing human health research, includes genomes from more than 120 species that were not previously sequenced and captures mammalian diversity at an unprecedented scale. Fauna Bio is now focused on using the data not only to better understand which mutations contribute to human disease but also to pinpoint genes involved in animal disease resistance. Each February, the U.S. commemorates, "American Heart Month." Fauna Bio has detailed some of their new findings on how we might learn more about human survival from heart attacks and stroke by looking to hibernating animals. To read this, and for more information on Fauna Bio, please visit www.faunabio.com About Fauna Bio Fauna Bio is unlocking the secrets of animal genomics to improve human health. With the world's largest biobank of animals with specialized adaptations, cutting-edge computational and genomics tools, and an expert multidisciplinary team, Fauna Bio is changing the paradigm of drug discovery and identifying novel drug targets across a broad range of clinical applications, from cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer's. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fauna-bio-awarded-grant-from-national-institute-of-health-to-find-new-treatments-for-human-diseases-by-studying-the-genes-of-animals-301240322.html SOURCE Fauna Bio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The head of a Christian human rights organization believes that US Department's revocation of Yemen's Houthi rebels from its designation as a terrorist group could lead to an intensified persecution against Christians in the country. Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, released an official statement dated Feb. 12, revoking the designation of Ansarallah or the Houthi group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), recognizing Yemen's "humanitarian situation." The action also intends "to ensure that relevant U.S. policies do not impede assistance" to the citizens who are suffering from "the world's most humanitarian crisis." But David Curry, President and CEO of Open Doors USA, thinks that the move is a "mistake" and would only "embolden" the group, The Christian Post (CP) reported. "I would say that removing the terrorist designation from the Houthis is a mistake. It is going to embolden them. It is meant to be a signal to Iran that we [have] shifted our allegiance from the previous administration to balance over to Saudi Arabia down to favoring Iran and their Islamic regime," Curry told CP. "What we are seeing now is what would amount to an escalation. It sets a legitimacy to the Houthis that they have the right to do this. We gravely disagree with that," he continued. He then spoke about the rebel group's "political agenda against Christians." "You have the crumbling infrastructure of a five-year Civil War. You have religious extremists. You have the danger of this Houthi political agenda against Christians. They are detaining [Christians]. They're torturing pastors and leaders in the country, so it's a complicating factor." Reports of the group's harassment and detention of Christians have been revealed by some newspapers, including, the imprisonment and torture of a priest, Mushir Khalidi, as well as Houthi's continued crackdown on Christians. Further, Curry said that Christians in Yemen are trapped in Houthi's plan "to gain control." "They are using discrimination against Christians to try to gain control, to enforce terror in some of these communities... The Church and Christian minorities [are] being caught in the crosshairs of this. You have several thousand Christians there. But you have so many factors of oppression, discrimination, and violence against them that just makes it very, very difficult," he added. He also believes that the revocation is part of Biden administration's agreements with Iran, hoping to have "friendlier" relations with the country. Claire Evans of the International Christian Concern believes that the decision could have another reason, which is to freely send humanitarian aid to Yemen, also stated by Blinken in his statement. But she agrees with Curry that revoking the rebel group's designation as an FTO "emboldens" Iran and the Houthis. "It is emboldening to Iran. It is emboldening to the Houthis to have this terrorist designation removed. To have terrorists emboldened, things tend to get more violent more aggressive, so we do have to be more concerned about that," Evans said. Open Doors' World Watch List ranks Yemen as the seventh country in the world most challenging for Christians. Being a believer of Christianity constitutes death penalty in the country. Converts from Muslim backgrounds are the most persecuted. In addition, Christians face persecution from both the Yemeni government and rebel groups. The "The Tea and Coffee Industry in South Africa 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report focuses on the tea and coffee industry in South Africa. It includes comprehensive information on the state of the tea and coffee sectors and the factors that influence them, including the effects of coronavirus which have been severe for coffee shops. South Africa is a net importer of tea and coffee and its tea production is in decline. The herbal tea sector, which includes rooibos, green tea and fruit/herbal tea, is growing due to growing interest in health and wellness. The increasing global demand for rooibos has seen exports increase from 6,000 tons in 2016 to 7,693 tons in 2019. Coffee consumption continues to increase, and the growing coffee culture has seen many entrepreneurs enter the sector. But the coronavirus pandemic has caused devastation for coffee shops and restaurants that are battling to survive as the country remains in lockdown. Herbal Teas Grow: Production of black tea, the tea that is used in most major tea brands, has almost stopped in South Africa as most tea estates have ceased production, including the Ntingwe Tea Estate which has not harvested any tea nor generated income for the past three years despite government investment. Growing consumer interest in health and wellness continues to boost the demand for specialty teas, including fruit/herbal tea and green tea. Despite their higher than average prices, herbal and green tea recorded strong retail volume growth in 2019. Rooibos has retained its popularity and is exported to more than 60 countries, while Honeybush is exported to 25 countries. There are profiles of 43 companies including major players such as Unilever, Nestle and National Brands. Among tea companies are Joekels Tea Packers, which packs private label teas for major retailers as well as its own brand, and speciality tea producers Agulhas Honeybush and Zooka Health. Coffee companies profiled include Bean There and Vida e Caffe. Story continues Key Topics Covered: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 2.1. Industry Value Chain 2.2. Geographic Position 3. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY 4. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 4.1. Local 4.1.1. Corporate Actions 4.1.2. Regulations 4.1.3. Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic Development 4.2. Continental 4.3. International 5. INFLUENCING FACTORS 5.1. Government Intervention 5.2. Economic Environment 5.3. Input Costs 5.4. Coronavirus 5.5. Land Reform Policy 5.6. Consumer Health Concerns 5.7. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 5.8. Labour 5.9. Environmental Concerns 6. COMPETITION 6.1. Barriers to Entry 7. SWOT ANALYSIS 8. OUTLOOK 9. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 10. REFERENCES 10.1. Publications 10.2. Websites APPENDIX Summary of Notable players COMPANY PROFILES Agulhas Honeybush Tea Cc Assagay Coffee Cc Barnes Tea And Coffee Merchants Cc Bean There Coffee Company (Pty) Ltd Beaver Creek (Pty) Ltd Brewkombucha (Pty) Ltd Bubble Tea Company (Pty) Ltd (The) Cape Natural Tea Products (Pty) Ltd Carmien Tea (Pty) Ltd Caturra Coffee Company (Pty) Ltd (The) Chicory Sa (Pty) Ltd Clipper Coffee And Tea Cc Colombo Brew Co (Pty) Ltd Famous Brands Coffee Company (Pty) Ltd Global Coffee Exports Ltd Happy Culture Kombucha (Pty) Ltd Honey Bush Processing (Pty) Ltd Honeybush Natural Products (Pty) Ltd Hotel Lima Whiskey Cc Incobrands (Pty) Ltd J Wollbrandt Joekels Tea Packers (Pty) Ltd L C Packaging (S A) (Pty) Ltd Mastertons Coffee And Tea Specialists (Pty) Ltd Melmont Honeybush Tea Cc Mk Hendrikz National Brands Ltd Nestle (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd New Look Packers Cc Ntingwe Farming (Pty) Ltd Peacock Tea And Coffee (Pty) Ltd Rooibos Ltd Royal Tea Packers Cc Rt Cain Sabie Valley Coffee Cc Sanpeace (Pty) Ltd Strictly Coffee Cc Tea And Coffee Distributors (Eastern Province) (Pty) Ltd Theonista (Pty) Ltd Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd Union Hand Roasted (Pty) Ltd Vida E Caffe Holdings (Pty) Ltd Zooka Health Company (Pty) Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4wu0lk View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005760/en/ Contacts ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Ashley Cain has admitted to fans that there are 'very few options' to help his baby daughter Azaylia after her leukaemia returned. The Ex On The Beach star, 30, shared an Instagram post on Wednesday, saying he and partner Safiyya Vorajee's next course of action was to reduce her cyclosporine medication in the hope it will prompt Azaylia's stem cells to fight her cancer. Posting a photo of his six-month-old looking up at the camera, Ashley wrote: 'Having my daughter back at home has been amazing. She is happy, she is growing and she is learning new things every day! Pushing forward: EOTB's Ashley Cain admitted on Wednesday that there are 'very few options' to help daughter Azaylia after her leukaemia returned but detailed their next plan of action 'This being said, there is still a huge cloud over us because consultants discovered that Azaylias leukemia has returned post transplant, which leaves us with very little options going forward. 'However, our next step is to reduce her cyclosporine medication which is there to regulate her new stem cells, to wake them up and give them a boost in the hope they will fight off the remaining leukemia cells,? which the chemotherapy cant. 'We are hoping that we encounter a strong case of GVL (Graft vs Leukemia) and minimal amounts of GVHD (Graft vs Host Disease) in this process (sic).' Plan: Ashley said he and his partner Safiyya Vorajee's next course of action was to reduce her cyclosporine medication in the hope it will prompt Azaylia's stem cells to fight her cancer Honest: Posting a photo of his six-month-old looking up at the camera, Ashley added: 'We are hoping that we encounter a strong case of GVL (Graft vs Leukemia)' Going on to gush about his daughter's positivity in the face of her illness, he went on: 'I am SO proud of how much strength and courage she has shown throughout this journey! '& the fact she can always find a smile no matter what shes going through, is nothing less than unbelievable! 'We go again Likkle Lion. Please keep Azaylia in your prayers. LETS GO CHAMP ' Moving: Going on to gush about his daughter's positivity in the face of her illness, he went on: 'I am SO proud of how much strength and courage she has shown throughout this journey!' Last week, Ashley said he was feeling 'slightly rattled and super nervous' after revealing his baby daughter Azaylia's leukaemia has returned. The reality star shared an emotional update with fans on Instagram, saying he needs to 'some time to sit and reflect'. Earlier in the day, the doting dad had taken his little girl to hospital for an appointment and revealed there is a 'new plan of action' amid her cancer battle. Strong: Last week, Ashley said he was feeling 'slightly rattled and super nervous' after revealing his baby daughter Azaylia's leukaemia has returned Giving a late night update, Ashley said: 'Ive let the girls go to bed and I'm staying up, cant lie it's been the first time properly since it started Ive felt super super nervous. 'Feel like it's hitting me a bit and I havent been rattled on his whole journey and I feel slightly rattled at the moment. 'Think I need some time to sit and reflect, pull myself together and reset for tomorrow, crack back on. Heads gone a bit today, cant lie. Ashley had earlier shared sweet clips of him playing with his daughter after their trip to the hospital for an appointment. Doting dad: The reality star shared an emotional update with fans on Instagram last week, saying he needs to 'some time to sit and reflect' In one video the reality star looked every inch the doting dad as his adorable little girl lay sleeping on his chest with her hand resting on his tattooed arm. It had been a busy day for the family, with the star earlier reassuring fans he'd update them on Azaylia's situation 'when we get our heads around it,' before telling his tiny daughter: 'You've got this.' Ashley documented their trip to hospital for an appointment, with Azaylia looking sweet in her car seat, while he told her: 'Hello princess, off to hospital, aren't we? 'Big day today. Let's go champ. You look amazing by the way. You look absolutely beautiful.' Adorable: Ashley shared a sweet clip of his little girl sleeping on his chest and resting her hand on his arm After their appointment, the father-of-one asked his little girl: 'Shall we go back home now baby? Shall we have a play? Do you wanna have a kiss? Have a cuddle? Yeh.' Ashley then revealed: 'So, we've got a new plan of action now for Azaylia. It's gonna take a bit of time to get our heads around it... 'But, I'll update you guys as soon as we've had a chill-out, got our heads around it and we're ready to go for it.' Then, in a heartwarming moment, the reality star turned to his daughter and said: 'Let's go champ. Let's go champ. Likkle lion. Likkle lion. You've got this.' Ashley was left in tears last week when he marked the moment his daughter Azaylia left hospital to go home for the first time in five months. The reality star described it as a 'miracle blindsided by heartbreak' after doctors delivered the news her leukaemia had returned- just 10 minutes before the family were due to leave the children's ward. Azaylia is battling a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia and had recently undergone a stem cell transplant. Taking to Instagram, Ashley shared the moment of Azaylia 'ringing the bell' so he and his partner Vorajee could finally take her home, with Azaylia continuing her treatment as an outpatient. You've got this! Earlier in the day they had visited hospital and he told fans he'd update them on the situation 'when we get our heads around it,' before telling his daughter: 'You've got this' Doting: Ashley documented their journey to hospital, with Azaylia looking adorable in her car seat, while he told her: 'Hello princess, off to hospital, aren't we? He penned: 'Today was supposed to be a day of unquestionable happiness. However, it turned out like most days on this journey; A miracle blindsided by heartbreak! 'We got told a few days ago that's Azaylia would be ringing the bell today and coming home with us, as a family to resume treatment 2 days per week as an outpatient. 'However, 10 minutes before the moment we have been praying for over the last 5 months... 'We got urgently informed that Azaylia's leukaemia had returned. We crumbled and cancelled the celebration as we felt broken and numb to the core before seeing her beautiful face telling us, the show must go on and us then realising how far our little girl has come and how much she deserves this moment. Emotional: Ashley was left in tears last week when he marked the moment his daughter Azaylia left hospital to go home for the first time in five months 'She has battled against the odds, she has overcome every obstacle in her path and she has done it all with remarkable spirit and the biggest smile on her face! 'For now we are enjoying precious moments at home until we return to hospital on Friday! Thank you for your support and please keep our beautiful daughter in your prayers!' The moving video showed the corridor lined with nurses and doctors applauding the family as they prepared to go home. Through tears Ashley said: 'I want to say thank you for all the care you've given us. For looking after her but also just the care for us has been amazing. Sad: The star said it was a 'miracle blindsided by heartbreak' after doctors delivered the news her leukaemia had returned- just before the family were due to leave the children's ward Devastating: 'We got urgently informed that Azaylia's leukaemia had returned. We crumbled and cancelled the celebration as we felt broken and numb to the core', Ashley wrote 'We got some news today that Azaylia's leukaemia has come back but that just means that we stay positive and we get back to ring that second bell and get out of here.' The couple had faced an agonising two week wait to find out whether the stem cell transplant managed to clear out the leukaemia from her bone marrow. Ashley said he was devastated to learn Azaylia was at a higher risk of complications going into the transplant after her cancer returned, following two rounds of chemotherapy. When Azaylia was diagnosed with leukaemia she had a soaring white cell count of 200, and also had tumours on her lungs, kidneys, and stomach. Poignant: Taking to Instagram, Ashley shared the moment of Azaylia 'ringing the bell' so he and his partner Safiyya could finally take her home Keeping positive: Ashley's partner Safiyya Vorajee also commented on Ashley's post saying that their 'special little girl' will 'beat this' What are the symptoms of leukaemia in children? Fatigue and pale skin - this is because leukaemia can cause anaemia which makes a child feel weak, tired and light-headed. Infections and fever - children with leukaemia lack normal white blood cells which would normally help fight infection. Rash - children may have small, dark spots that look like common rashes if the leukemia cells spread to the skin Easy bruising or bleeding - this includes frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums and bleeding a lot from small cuts. Bone or joint pain - this is caused by a build up of leukaemia cells near the surface of the bone or inside the joint. Swelling of the abdomen - leukaemia cells may collect in the liver and spleen causing them to enlarge. Loss of appetite and weight loss - if the spleen and liver swell, they can press against the stomach causing loss of appetite. Swollen lymph nodes - some leukaemias spread to the lymph nodes causing them to swell. Source: American Cancer Society Advertisement Ashley revealed that a normal person's white cell count is five, while adults who are suffering from the blood cancer tend to have a white cell count of 40, so it was alarming that Azalyia's was so high. The star explained that being told the news left him a 'broken man', and he claimed it was an 'absolute miracle' that she has been able to fight the cancer. Through publicising Azaylia's battle, Ashley has helped the NHS get 80,000 people to sign up to become stem cell donors in just 48 hours after he appealed for help. Saying that he was 'forever grateful' to the members of the public who had ordered test kits to be added to the stem cell register, Ashley claimed the charities usually get 30-40,000 people registering in a single year. Ashley, who made his appeal to find a donor on social media, said he thought it was 'beautiful' how people could come together for a good cause in spite of negativity that is often prevalent online. Parliament voted Tuesday in favour of amending a controversial law on regulating the registration and documentation of real estate property in public notarisation offices. The vote came one day after President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi stepped in to order the delay of the implementation of the law to 30 June 2023. Al-Sisi held an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and Minister of Justice Omar Marwan on Monday, at the end of which he asked the government to coordinate with parliament on postponing the implementation of the law to a minimum period of two years. Al-Sisi also proposed that the law be amended to relieve citizens seeking to register their properties from a 2.5 per cent disposal tax. Citizens can only pay a reduced flat fee depending on the propertys size and type of ownership, Al-Sisi said. Al-Sisis directives were put up for discussion in a meeting held by parliaments Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Tuesday morning. The committee voted in favour of delaying the implementation of Real Estate Registration Law 186/2020 to 30 June 2023. They also approved amending Article 42 of Income Tax Law 91/2005 to abolish the 2.5 per cent disposal tax. Citizens will no longer be obliged to pay the tax as a precondition to be able to get access to electricity, water and natural gas services. Al-Sisi said the government and parliament should make use of the two-year grace period to hold a national dialogue on the law which has caused much controversy in recent weeks. The Real Estate Registration Law, passed by parliament in August 2020, was to come into effect on Saturday 6 March. The parliamentary majority Mostaqbal Watan Party said in a statement that in response to complaints from MPs and an angry public opinion, the party in coordination with Madboulis government decided that the amendments be postponed to 30 June 2023. The partys statement explained that its decision to introduce an amendment to the real estate registration law also comes in line with the directives of President Al-Sisi which aim to relieve citizens of financial burdens and modernise the legislative process in a way that serves development objectives. The Madbouli government also said in a statement that as its main objective is to achieve the interests of citizens, it has agreed with the majority parliamentary party that the controversial amendments to the new Real Estate Registration Law be postponed to 30 June 2023. MP Suleiman Wahdan, the parliamentary spokesperson of the opposition Wafd Party, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the amendments to the Rea Estate Registration Law took citizens by surprise and caused a public opinion storm throughout the past week. Citizens were shocked that a new law imposing heavy financial burdens and requiring several bureaucratic steps would go into effect in a few days and as a result there was a storm on social media, Wahdan said, indicating that the law requires that citizens pay documentation fees ranging from LE500 to LE2,000, a 2.5 per cent property disposal tax, as well as a one per cent to the Bar Association, not to mention other expenses that will make it a heavy financial burden at a time the coronavirus has negatively affected the daily lives of most Egyptians. Much worse, said Wahdan, is that the law also made it impossible for citizens to have access to electricity, water, and natural gas services unless they first pay the required property tax and finish long complicated procedures. The law stipulates that citizens should finish the required measures within one year and if they fail they will be compelled to follow the same steps anew, said Wahdan. Mostaqbal Watan said in a statement this week that it has followed with utmost concern broad-scale reaction and debate on social media over the new law regulating the documentation and registration of real estate property in public notarisation offices. It added that as a result of the above and in line with our principles, which are based on meeting the needs of ordinary Egyptian citizens, the party announces that it intends to consult with the government in a way that will help citizens register their real estate rights in a much more simplified way and guarantee the states right in regulating the performance of public notary offices. A number of political parties in parliament also announced that they support President Al-Sisis initiative, saying in a statement that there is a pressing need to hold a community dialogue on a new real estate registration law during the two-year grace period. Ashraf Rashad, the parliamentary spokesperson of Mostaqbal Watan, said MPs wholeheartedly welcomed President Al-Sisis initiative. He also explained that until the amended law comes into effect on 30 June 2023, there will be some sort of public dialogue on its articles. MPs, representatives from the government and real estate experts will debate the law in a public dialogue to see how it should be finally formulated in a way that can serve the interests of both the government and citizens, Rashad said. Wahdan told the Weekly that it was very bad that the government imposes heavy fees on citizens while they are feeling the pinch of the coronavirus crisis in their daily lives. It is also very bad that you pass a law that will affect the majority of citizens without first conducting a public dialogue on it, Wahdan said, adding that this was not the first time the government ignores public opinion. It followed the same scenario when it suddenly forced citizens last year to pay exorbitant fees in return for settling construction offences or as part of what came to be known as the Reconciliation Law, Wahdan said, stressing that laws that are drafted without taking the peoples needs and interests in mind will be naturally met with a popular storm and resistance. He also argued that the law, which was about to come into effect on Saturday, was sure to lead to freezing the property market, making it almost impossible for citizens to sell or buy any real estate units. Madbouli said on Sunday that the postponement will also provide an opportunity to cooperate with parliament in putting forward new ideas to make things easier for citizens and motivate them to register in the future. He indicated that about 95 per cent of Egypts real estate wealth is unregistered, and that the government hopes that all citizens register their real estate units, with the objective of securing their properties. Minister of Justice Marwan also argued that registering real estate properties in notarisation offices helps in securing the citizens ownership rights, and also leads to abolishing the bad phenomenon of illegal construction and slum areas. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Pine Labs announced key organizational changes to further strengthen its growth opportunities, presence and its commitment to the region. Pine Labs subsidiary, Qwikcilver has made significant progress in evangelising and pioneering the Prepaid Stored Value and Gift Card category in the Southeast Asian region over the last two years. The Qwikcilver Stored Value technology platform is now the most preferred Gift Card suite adopted by the leading organisations and networks in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Some of the flagship enterprises, networks and brands that have deployed the Qwikcilver Stored Value technology suite include Lazada, CapitaLand, Frasers Group, PT. Mitra Adiperkasa (MAP Group), Indonesia amongst others. The Qwikcilver Stored Value product suite has been truly appreciated for its robustness and flexibility in streamlining the customer engagement initiatives of the brands & retailers of the rapidly evolving digital savvy consumers of the region. In addition, Pine Labs has now expanded its Buy Now Pay Later technology offering into the Southeast Asian region with its strategic partnership with Mastercard. This will enable the rollout of the Buy Now Pay Later offering in the focus markets in the region. In this regard, Pine Labs has appointed Dheeraj Chowdhry as Chief Business Officer, Qwikcilver to head the Stored Value and Buy Now Pay Later business in the Southeast Asia region. Dheeraj brings more than two decades of experience in Consumer and Commercial banking industry across India, Singapore, and Hong Kong having worked in organisations like Standard Chartered, ABN AMRO, Royal Bank of Scotland, ANZ Bank and American Express in leadership roles across domains and functions. In his last role as CEO of a digital lending SME platform he led the digital strategy development, execution, and enablement to remain agile and nimble and deliver a digital customer journey. Commenting on the expansion plans, B. Amrish Rau, CEO, Pine Labs, said, The South east region is an extremely strategic part of our expansion plans. We are delighted with the response since we pioneered the Stored Value & Gift Card category in Southeast Asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesian markets with our strategic partnerships over the last two years. With Dheeraj onboard, we are bullish of faster growth with the Banking segment too. Dheeraj Chowdhry, Chief Business Officer, Qwikcilver, said, I am very excited to be a part of the Pine Labs journey at a time when the company is increasing its focus & expanding into new segments in the Southeast Asian market. We intend to amplify the digital stored value segment by using the capabilities of Qwikcilver solutions. BERGEN, Norway, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BerGenBio ASA (OSE:BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for severe unmet medical need, is pleased to announce it has closed recruitment into the company sponsored randomised Phase II clinical trial (BGBC020), assessing the efficacy and safety of bemcentinib for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in South Africa and India. A total of 114 out of the target 120 hospitalised COVID-19 patients have been recruited across five sites in South Africa and seven sites in India. 56 patients received bemcentinib (as monotherapy or in combination with standard of care medication) and 58 patients in a control group (receiving standard of care treatment only). The trial protocol permits co-administration with other medicines recommended for treatment of COVID-19, including remdesivir and dexamethasone. The integrity and statistical power of the data remains intact and top line clinical results are expected to read out around the end of Q1 2021. The primary endpoint of the trial is time to clinical improvement of at least two points (from randomisation) on the WHO nine-point ordinal scale, or live discharge from the hospital, whichever comes first. Key secondary endpoints include viral load, clinical markers of disease progression and survival rate. Richard Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio, commented: "The incidence of COVID-19 has fallen significantly in South Africa, so we have taken the decision to close the study for recruitment in a timely fashion, this allows us to analyse the data without loss of quality and maintain our momentum in the development of bemcentinib as a potential treatment for COVID-19. We aim to share initial data as soon as possible around the end of this quarter and remain hopeful that bemcentinib can play a role in treating COVID-19 patients and complement the global vaccination programmes." About AXL AXL kinase is a cell membrane receptor and an essential mediator of the biological mechanisms underlying life-threatening diseases. In COVID-19, AXL has two synergistic mechanisms of action, it acts a co-receptor to ACE2, to which the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus attaches and enters the host cell, and AXL expression is upregulated that leads to suppression of the Type 1 Interferon immune response by host cells and in their environment. Research data confirms bemcentinib inhibits SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry and suppresses anti-viral Type I interferon response. In cancer, increase in AXL expression has been linked to key mechanisms of drug resistance and immune escape by tumour cells, leading to aggressive metastatic cancers. AXL suppresses the body's immune response to tumours and drives treatment failure across many cancers. High AXL expression defines a very poor prognosis subgroup in most cancers. AXL inhibitors, such as bemcentinib, therefore, have potential high value as monotherapy and as the cornerstone of cancer combination therapy, addressing significant unmet medical needs and multiple high-value market opportunities. Research has also shown that AXL mediates other aggressive diseases including fibrosis. About Bemcentinib Bemcentinib (formerly known as BGB324), is a potential first-in-class, potent and highly selective AXL inhibitor, currently in a broad phase II clinical development programme. It is administered as an oral capsule and taken once per day. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating bemcentinib in COVID-19, and multiple solid and haematological tumours, in combination with current and emerging therapies (including immunotherapies, targeted therapies and chemotherapy), and as a single agent. Bemcentinib targets and binds to the intracellular catalytic kinase domain of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and inhibits its activity. About BerGenBio ASA BerGenBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative drugs targeting AXL as a potential cornerstone of therapy for aggressive diseases, including immune-evasive, therapy resistant cancers. The company's proprietary lead candidate, bemcentinib, is a potentially first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor in a broad phase II clinical development programme focused on combination and single agent therapy in cancer, leukaemia and COVID-19. A first-in-class functional blocking anti-AXL antibody, tilvestamab, is undergoing phase I clinical testing. In parallel, BerGenBio is developing a companion diagnostic test to identify patient populations most likely to benefit from AXL inhibition: this is expected to facilitate more efficient registration trials supporting a precision medicine-based commercialisation strategy. BerGenBio is based in Bergen, Norway with a subsidiary in Oxford, UK. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: BGBIO). For more information, visit?www.bergenbio.com Contacts Richard Godfrey CEO, BerGenBio ASA ir@bergenbio.com Rune Skeie, CFO, BerGenBio ASA rune.skeie@bergenbio.com +47 917 86 513 International Media Relations Mary-Jane Elliott Chris Welsh Lucy Featherstone Carina Jurs Consilium Strategic Communications bergenbio@consilium-comms.com - +44 20 3709 5700 Media Relations in Norway Jan Petter Stiff Crux Advisers stiff@crux.no +47 995 13 891 Forward looking statements This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/bergenbio-asa/r/bergenbio-closes-recruitment-into-trial-assessing-bemcentinib-in-covid-19-patients,c3299896 The following files are available for download: Relieving yourself in public is illegal in every state. I assume that few readers are surprised to hear this; I also assume that many readers wonder why I feel the need to bring up this distasteful subject. But bear with me: Theres a moral here, and its one that has disturbing implications for our nations future. Although we take these restrictions for granted, they can sometimes be inconvenient, as anyone out and about after having had too many cups of coffee can attest. But the inconvenience is trivial, and the case for such rules is compelling, both in terms of protecting public health and as a way to avoid causing public offense. And as far as I know there arent angry political activists, let alone armed protesters, demanding the right to do their business wherever they want. Which brings me to my actual subject: face mask requirements in a pandemic. Wearing a mask in public, like holding it in for a few minutes, is slightly inconvenient, but hardly a major burden. And the case for imposing that mild burden in a pandemic is overwhelming. The coronavirus variants that cause Covid-19 are spread largely by airborne droplets, and wearing masks drastically reduces the variants spread. So not wearing a mask is an act of reckless endangerment, not so much of yourself although masks appear to provide some protection to the wearer as of other people. Covering our faces while the pandemic lasts would appear to be simple good citizenship, not to mention an act of basic human decency. A 17-year-old boy has been detained on suspicion of axing his parents and sister to death 'because he didn't want to go to school'. The Russian went on the run after disfiguring his father's face and dressing the corpse of the welder, 40, in the youngster's own clothes, say police. This initially confused detectives who issued an identikit wanted appeal for father Alexey Gorbunov believing him to be the killer, and the teenage boy to be dead. Forensic experts later established the badly mutilated body in the house in Oktyabrsky, Perm region was the welder's. The Gorbunov family, from left to right: Vadim, Alexey, Yulia, Gulya. The 17-year-old suspect Vadim was detained 225 miles from his home, according to authorities The Gorbunov family home in Oktyabrsky, Russia where the alleged crime is reported to have been committed The body's of Gulya Gorbunova (right), the boy's mother, and Yulia, 12, his sister were found in the house. Police claim that Vadim confessed to the killings The face was 'strongly disfigured', said the Russian Investigative Committee. His son, Vadim Gorbunov, was detained 225 miles from the crime scene in Ekaterinburg after getting a carpooling lift, according to law enforcement. The body's of Gulya Gorbunova, the boy's mother, and Yulia, 12, his sister were found in the house. Police say Vadim confessed to the killings, and claimed he had not wanted to go to school. His mother had insisted, leading to a serious argument. The final-year student was an academic high-flyer but he had not been happy with the quality of maths teaching and recently swapped classes, say reports. First the boy killed his mother with the axe, said sources before waiting for his father to come home. His sister was his final victim. Neighbours said the family was 'friendly' and Vadim had always cared for his sister. A criminal case for murder has been opened, reported the committee. A video shows the teenage suspect matter-of-factly telling a police interrogator how he wiped out his family, one by one. Vadim Gorbunov (pictured) was detained on suspicion of axing his parents and sister to death 'because he didn't want to go to school'. A criminal case has been opened Alexey Gorbunov, 40, with his daughter Yulia, left, 12. Vadim Gorbunov, 17, has been arrested on suspicion of axing the pair and his mother to death He told investigators he had killed his parents before his sister, Yulia. 'At around 5pm, I committed an attack on my own mother,' he said. 'Later, around 5:30 or 6pm, I committed the second murder 'Also because I was traumatised. 'Later, between 6 and 7pm, the murder of my sister, aged 12, was committed.' But Vadim's piano teacher Lyubov Yermukhametova told ProCHAD media: 'I don't see how Vadim could commit such a cruel crime. 'He would not even have enough physical strength. He is a very unhealthy boy, thin. 'The fingers of the hands are long and thin, like a real musician.' He must have had an 'awakening hatred and aggression', she said. Transforming traditional pathogen detection through its patented platform Targeting vast and underserved multi-billion-dollar markets Automated MiQLab system can test for 27 pathogens including coronavirus with results in an hour What LexaGene does: LexaGene Holdings Inc ( ) ( ) is a molecular diagnostics company that develops molecular diagnostic systems for pathogen detection and genetic testing for other molecular markers for on-site rapid testing in veterinary diagnostics, food safety as well as for use in open-access markets such as clinical research, agricultural testing, and biodefense. The Beverly, Massachusetts-based company says end-users simply need to collect a sample, load it onto the instrument with a sample preparation cartridge, enter sample ID, and press go. The MiQLab system delivers excellent sensitivity, specificity, and breadth of detection, can test for 27 pathogens and return results in about one hour versus 1-3 days at a lab. The unique open-access feature is designed for custom testing so that end-users can load their own real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assays onto the instrument to target any genetic target of interest. The systems predecessor was LX2 Genetic Analyzer. Moreover, the technology is suited for rapid pathogen detection and can be used across a variety of markets, including the detection of the 2019-novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its variants. The company has claimed that unskilled workers can be trained in as little as one hour to operate the MiQLab, and that there is no complex work involved like pipetting of fluids. And the test can be performed anywhere - from stadiums to airports and from cruise ships to schools. CEO Jack Regan developed LexaGenes patented microfluidic system. He was also a lead scientist in developing another instrument designed for bio-warfare surveillance used by the US Department of Homeland Security, and a device for detecting respiratory pathogens from nasal swab samples. How is it doing: LexaGene launched into 2021 by initiating a program that uses the rapid configurability of its MiQLab system to investigate novel variants of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen that causes the COVID-19 disease. On February 10, the company said it has successfully configured a MiQLab system to detect mutant sequences unique to the UK (B.1.1.7) and South African (B.1.351) variants of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus pathogen that causes the COVID-19 disease. The UK variant, known to be more contagious and possibly deadlier, was first detected in the US at the end of December and has now been identified in 33 states. Likewise, both the South African and Brazilian variants were first detected in the US at the end of January, and several cases have now been reported in the US - suggesting more widespread infections. LexaGene said the UK, SA, and Brazilian variants have now acquired mutations that may likely reduce the efficacy of approved vaccines and therapeutics. The company noted that SARS-CoV-2 mutates quickly and new variants were recently identified in the UK (B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351). Both new strains appear to be about 70% more contagious, making containment that much more challenging. It maintains that it is critical that medical authorities have the capability to not only detect whether a patient is COVID-19 positive, but also whether he or she is infected with a new variant. LexaGene is pursuing an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19 testing using assays that are predicted to detect 99.9% of the strains circulating today based on published sequences -- including the UK, South Africa, and Brazilian variants. LexaGene said that, at this time, it has no plans to incorporate the variant-specific tests into the initial FDA studies for EUA for COVID-19 testing. As is standard practice, until the FDA grants LexaGenes instrument EUA for COVID-19 testing, all work using LexaGene instruments is classified as Research Use Only and cannot be used for human clinical diagnostics. To date, there is no FDA-approved device that is designed for point-of-care (POC) usage and is open-access. LexaGene has said it has no plans to incorporate these new tests into a series of studies - required by the FDA for an emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 tests - that began late January. Under that separate FDA track, the tests will look at the companys COVID-19 assay in a POC environment using its automated MiQLab system. The majority of tests authorized by the FDA for COVID-19 testing are reagent-only chemistry tests that can only be used by trained professionals in the 17,432 high complexity reference US labs. However, results can take days. To speed up time-to-result, the FDA has prioritized submissions for POC testing solutions like MiQLab where results can be generated on-site. But since the system is automated, more rigorous FDA studies are mandated. LexaGene anticipates submitting its MiQLab system to the FDA for POC-use status. The company notes that there are 193,4744 US locations certified to run POC tests, making for a much larger market opportunity than the high-complexity laboratories alone. On the financing front, on March 2, LexaGene revealed it has received approximately C$3.6 million (US$2.9 million) in warrant exercises since the start of 2021. And in the boardroom in February, the company announced that its president Daryl Rebeck would resign from the board and his position, effective February 15. The company also announced that Stephen Mastrocola had joined its board of directors. LexaGene noted that Mastrocola brings almost 40 years of accounting and auditing experience working with public and private companies. He recently retired from Ernst & Young LLP (EY) after 19 years, where he was a senior assurance partner and led EYs New England Assurance Practice for several years. Inflection points: Expects FDA EUA to test for novel coronavirus variants circulating today based on published sequences Anticipates submitting FDA EUA application for POC-use status for its MiQLab system Build sales funnel by expanding to veterinarian, food, and open-access markets What the boss says: As the world grapples with the coronavirus outbreak, LexaGenes MiQLab system could emerge as a major instrument in facilitating quick diagnoses, the company's CEO Jack Regan recently said. We founded LexaGene to fill a critical technology gap in our defenses against new pathogens. LexaGenes MiQLab is designed to be a point-of-care system that is open-access in nature," he added. "Once a pathogen emerges or mutates, the MiQLab system is designed to quickly onboard new tests to detect a desired target, which would speed up timelines for point-of-care testing. Detecting these variants quickly inside hospitals, clinics, and other testing locations maximizes the chances of successfully containing these new threats." Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com WASHINGTON, DC Iowas Congressional delegation is asking the IRS to increase staffing at the Iowa Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) office. The letter says the office, based in Des Moines, does not have enough staff to assist Iowans with questions and concerns regarding their federal taxes. The full text of the letter is below: Ms. Collins, With the 2020 tax filing season beginning, our offices are prepared to help our constituents with various questions and concerns they have with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Due to the disruptions and complicated situations faced by Iowans during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all of our offices are anticipating a significant increase in constituent requests for assistance with resolving tax issues. Our constituents are already dealing with new unfamiliar situations like unemployment and the Recovery Rebate Credit with reduced ability to get in person help, through programs like Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). In addition, recent reporting from ProPublica has revealed backlogs at the IRS which are likely to lead to additional problems this tax season. Congressional offices often help constituents resolve these concerns with assistance from local Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), alleviating the workload on the IRS and assisting our constituents more efficiently. However, the ability of our offices to resolve these concerns quickly and effectively depends on an efficient Iowa TAS office, which is under-resourced at a critical time. Recent departures from the Iowa TAS office have left the office with one person dealing with intake and only one caseworker, with a caseload limited to thirty active cases at one time, to help resolve cases from Iowans. We are also not aware of any expedited efforts to hire additional staff before April 15, 2021. We are concerned that without additional staff, our constituents will be unable to get help before the tax filing deadline. This is of added concern given the need for constituents who may have had issues with their Economic Impact Payments to be able to claim their Recovery Rebate Credit. The lack of experienced staff and institutional knowledge in the office not only reduces the TAS offices capacity to help Iowans who reach out directly but also reduces the capacity of our offices to help resolve these matters for our constituents. The increased likelihood of delayed service and issue resolution only worsens the stress, uncertainty, and financial burden that many Iowans have felt over the past year and will continue to feel in 2021. We are asking for immediate proactive measures to be taken to mitigate the disruption in casework, such as the temporary transfer of experienced TAS caseworkers to the Des Moines office or the ability for Iowa Congressional offices or their constituents to work with other TAS offices. Sincerely, Sen. Chuck Grassley Sen. Joni Ernst Rep. Randy Feenstra Rep. Cindy Axne Rep. Ashley Hinson Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks California is planning to allocate 40 percent of its coronavirus vaccine supply to residents living in the state's most vulnerable communities. State officials announced on Wednesday that about eight million Californians are living in the 400 lowest-income ZIP codes. The list of ZIP codes has not yet been released, but it is based on the Healthy Places Index, an online tool that looks at 25 characteristics to create a single score rating the health of each area. Many of the neighborhoods are in Los Angeles County, cities around Fresno and Visalia, and the Central Valley. These same ZIP codes have also been some of the hardest hit by COVID-19 in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The new policy will not affect anyone who is currently eligible to be vaccinated including healthcare workers, senior citizens, teachers, first responders, and food and agriculture workers. On Wednesday, state officials revealed that 40% of California's coronavirus vaccine supply is being allocated to the 400 lowest-income ZIP codes. Blue indicates a lower-income ZIP code while green indicates a higher-income ZIP code Many of the neighborhoods are in Los Angeles County, cities around Fresno and Visalia, and the Central Valley that have been hardest hit by COVID-19. Dark blue indicates most cumulative cases of COVID-19 and light blue indicates the least. On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom explained that many of the areas are not just vulnerable due to being low-income but also education level, housing status and lack of access to public transportation. The state will be working with local groups and non-profit organization to expand vaccine access in the marginalized communities. 'We still have issues in black and brown communities which are completely legitimate and understandable based upon the past, and we're trying to overcome them in the present,' Newsom said. 'We have 337 community based organizations that the state has contracted with directly to do in language trusted messenger work on the ground to address those barriers in real time.' With more high-risk people immunized quickly, Newsom says he hopes this will open help California reopen more quickly. Currently in California, counties can move from the most restrictive tier - purple - to the next tier - red - if they seven or fewer daily cases per 100,000 people. Newsom's government is planning on revising that metric to 10 new cases per day or fewer. More counties have been moving from the purple to the red tier as their rates of cases, hospitalization and deaths drop. Local reports indicate that the state's seven-day rolling average for test positivity at 2.2 percent is record low. Once the state gives out two million vaccine doses in those neighborhoods, it will make it easier for the counties to reach more reopening tiers. Officials say approximately 1.6 million vaccine doses already have been administered to residents in the 400 ZIP codes, meaning the two million benchmark should be reached within one or two weeks. After four million doses are dished out in these neighborhoods, the state government will revise metrics so the ZIP codes can move into the less restrictive orange and yellow tiers. State data has revealed Latinos make up 39% of California's population, but account for only 17% of vaccine recipients. Black Californians make up 6% of the state's population but have gotten just 2.9% of vaccines Los Angeles County has administered more doses than any other in California (dark blue), but residents and health care providers say most doses have gone to wealthier, white residents Although race and/or ethnicity are not one of the primary factors driving the new program, most of the 400 ZIP codes are primarily made up of minorities. State health department data recently revealed that Black and Hispanic people have received just 20 percent of doses administered despite making up 45 percent of California's population. Specifically, Latinos make up 39 percent of the population of California, but account for just 17 percent of people who have received one or more vaccine doses. African-Americans make up six percent of the population and have been given just 2.9 percent of all vaccines. Latinos have also been hard-hit by COVID-19, accounting for more than half of all cases in California, and 46 percent of all deaths. Black Californians account for four percent of the state's cases and six percent of deaths. After four million vaccinations, the state will revise metrics so the ZIP codes can move into even less restrictive reopening tiers. Pictured: Joana Luna, a medical assistant (left) administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Jacqueline Gonzalez at East Los Angeles Civic Center in Los Angeles, California, March 3 This pattern is also playing out across the country. According to CDC data, black people account for 13 percent of the population and Latinos for 18 percent, but just 6.8 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, have received at leat one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. As of Thursday, 15.9 percent of Americans have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. and 8.1 percent are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is launching a new initiative to help get vaccine doses to 'seniors who live in areas of high social vulnerability,' Andy Slavitt, White House Senior Advisor for COVID Response said on Wednesday. The program will involve officials cold calling over-65s and informing them how to get an immunization, helping them book an appointment and schedule transportation, and calling them back to remind them to get their second dose, if they receive either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine. 'The goal is to get two million of our most vulnerable senior citizens vaccinated as soon as possible,' Slavitt said during a press briefing. The mysterious boyfriend of Salisbury attack victim Yulia Skripal disappeared after the murder plot and has not been seen for three years, a source claims. Allegations that Stepan Vikeev had been involved with the Russian secret services arose after he vanished after his girlfriend Miss Skripal and her double agent father Sergei Skripal, 68, were poisoned with a Russian nerve agent on March 4 2018. The father and daughter were found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire, three years ago today after Russian agents smeared deadly novichok on the door-handle of Mr Skripals home. Miss Skripal, 35, and her boyfriend Mr Vikeev, 32, had reportedly planned to get married and start a family together before the poisoning - despite their parents' disapproval, a source claimed. Allegations that Stepan Vikeev had been involved with the Russian secret services arose after he vanished after his girlfriend Miss Skripal and her agent father Sergei Skripal were poisoned However a friend told the Mirror: 'No one has seen him. He has vanished off the face of the earth. There are two schools of thought the first was that he was a 'honeytrap' involved with the Russian authorities right from the very start. Therefore he is now being protected by the FSB in a safe house where no one will find him. 'Or has his mother, who is very wealthy, whisked him away?' The source added that Mr Vikeev's mother had not been supporting of his relationship with Miss Skripal and had been 'hostile' to her because of her 'traitor spy father. Moscow security sources previously claimed Mr Vikeev, 32, works for a secretive company called the Institute of Modern Security Problems. The clandestine organisation was run by his mother Tatiana who was said to be an 'integral part' of the FSB, which replaced the KGB at the end of the Soviet Union. Yulia Skripal. Russia's media have also been unable to locate any trace of Mr Vikeev Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned in Salisbury along with her father, Russian spy Sergei Skripal Previously sources had said Mr Skripal had not been fond of his daughter's boyfriend Mr Vikeev. A source close to the family said: Sergei had reservations about Stepan but she told her father she wanted to be with Stepan. Miss Skripal was said to be very upset when she attempted to call Mr Vikeev but he did not answer his phone after she made a remarkable recovery in hospital. Russia's media have also been unable to locate any trace of Mr Vikeev. Yulia Skripal, left, and her father Sergei, both survived an attempted assassination which has been blamed on Russian security services who used a nerve agent Novichock Both Miss Skripal and her father survived the poisoning though Mr Skripal, who was jailed in Russia in 2006 for selling secrets to MI6, required a tracheotomy and now breathes through a tube. The attack later claimed the life of mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess, who is thought to have come into contact with the nerve agent after picking up a perfume bottle in a public park. Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who have spent two years in an MI6 safe house after surviving a novichok poisoning attack want to start a new life Down Under, according to security insiders. Sources previously told The Mail on Sunday that the father and daughter are desperate to leave the UK for either Australia or New Zealand after effectively living under house arrest since the attack. A suspect is in custody for a shooting Wednesday night in Decatur. Decatur police responded to the shooting on West Moulton Street around 8:30 p.m. A man shot in the leg was taken to Decatur Morgan Hospital. Police said no further information is available at this time. Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the House of Representatives on February 18, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Australia Rolls Out 10-Year Critical Mineral Plan, as Beijing Looms Over Global Supply The Morrison government has launched a new national roadmap to boost local processing of critical minerals and resources amid looming concerns over Beijings stranglehold on global supply chains. The initiative will also address long-running concerns that Australia is not capitalising on its natural advantage in resources, and has for years, simply exported minerals overseas only to repurchase the final product from overseas at higher margins. Prime Minister Scott Morrison launched the 10-year Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing Roadmap on Thursday while visiting the coal-rich Hunter Valley region north of Sydney. The initiative opens the door for businesses to apply for grants from the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative to scale up production and commercialise products for global supply chains. Yesterdays national accounts showed the comeback of the Australian economy is well underway, and manufacturing businesses and jobs will be central to our national economic recovery plan, the prime minister told reporters. Apprentice shipbuilders walk at Osborne Naval Shipyard during a visit by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Adelaide, Australia, on Sept. 26, 2020. (Kelly Barnes/Getty Images) Todays funding will help unlock investment from industry to help build manufacturing capability and competitiveness in Australias resources sector while taking advantage of a significant global growth sector. Resource-rich regions such as the Hunter Valley, Western Australia, and central Queensland will be aiming to transform basic minerals into products such as batteries, solar cells, and mining equipment. Australia has a very long history of being a resource-rich nation where we have done extraordinarily well at digging that product up out of the ground. The part that has been missed is the value-add, Industry Minister Karen Andrews told reporters. We ship it overseas, its processed overseas, and we pay an extraordinary amount of money to purchase that material back in a different form here in Australia. As a government, we want to change that. We want to do more of that value-add here in Australia, she added. Rare earth and critical minerals are integral to manufacturing high-tech products, including fibre-optic cables, smartphones, magnets, and military equipment. Australia has some of the worlds largest deposits of these minerals, including rutile (a source of titanium), zircon (for zirconium) and tantalum. It also ranked in the top five nations for antimony, cobalt, lithium, manganese ore, niobium, tungsten, and vanadium. An F-35 jet arrives at its new operational base at Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah on Sept. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Defence Minister Linda Reynolds previously noted that each F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet requires 417 kg of rare earth and critical minerals. However, globally, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is estimated to have control over 63 percent of the worlds supply chains. Often minerals mined outside of China end up being sent to China for processing due to lower costs and available facilities. There are concerns that a geopolitical dispute could push the CCP to use supply chains as leverage against rival nations. This has spurred democratic nations to create their own supply chains independent of the CCP. Recently, the Tasmanian state government loaned $10 million to a tungsten mining operation on King Island. Simultaneously, the federal treasurer last year blocked two Chinese-backed companies from investing in Australian rare earth mining firms. Bulldozer scoop soil containing various rare-earth to be loaded on to a ship at a port in Lianyungang, east Chinas Jiangsu Province on Sept. 5, 2010, for export to Japan. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) The United States has also been looking to secure rare earth and critical mineral supply chains. Former U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in October over the United States reliance on China for rare earth minerals. Trump signed an executive order for the Department of the Interior to investigate implementing the Defense Production Act, which would fund mineral processing onshore or outside of China. Currently, President Joe Biden has announced a 100-day review of supply chain risks and has included critical and rare earth minerals as part of his executive order. 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. [March 04, 2021] Fluke Corp. Celebrates World Engineering Day Fluke Corp. joins the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in celebrating World Engineering Day 2021 (WED2021) on March 4th. Themed "Engineering for A Healthy Planet - Celebrating the UNESCO Engineering Report," WED2021 highlights engineers and engineering's achievements to improve modern life and support sustainable development. Founded by electrical engineer John Fluke, Fluke employs more than 600 engineers worldwide, who along with their predecessors' engineering achievements, enable the company to maintain its world leader status in test tools and software. "Since its founding in 1948, Fluke has been a company where engineering and innovation are the lifeblood of everything we do," said Fluke President Marc Tremblay. "We celebrate World Engineering Day because we know the vital role engineers play every day in solving problems, delivering vital resources to people, and creating a healthier planet." Fluke will honor engineers on March 4th with a series of online events, including: A series of videos featuring a diverse group of Fluke engineers, discussing their impetus for entering the field, their passion for engineering, and the people who have inspired them. A day-long takeover of Fluke's Instagram page by Fluke engineers - answering questions and giving a behind the curtain look at engineering at Fluke. Posts on the Fluke blog. Additional content on Fluke's LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you want to change the world for the better, become an engineer WED2021 will focus on celebrating the launch of the 2nd UNESCO Engineering Report "Engineering for Sustainable Development: Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals." The new report highlights the crucial role of engineering in delivering the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and shows how an inclusive and gender equitable engineering profession can bring about new perspectives and thus respond to the shortage of engineers. "Engineers are needed more than ever to meet the requirements for the sustainable development of humanity," said Fluke Vice President of Engineering David Swan. "At Fluke, we value the fresh points of view that diversity and inclusion bring to creating engineering solutions. We embrace World Engineering Day's challenge to women and people of color that 'if you want to change the world for the better, become an engineer.'" For more information on Fluke's World Engineering Day activities, visit https://www.fluke.com/en-us/learn/blog/electrical/world-engineering-day. Fluke Corporation For information on Fluke tools and applications, or to find the location of a distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box (News - Alert) 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at www.fluke.com. About Fluke Founded in 1948, Fluke Corporation is the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools and software for measuring and condition monitoring. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, maintenance managers, and metrologists who install, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial, electrical, and electronic equipment and calibration processes. FLUKE is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. For more information, visit the Fluke website. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005215/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Strictly UN Optics: Quebecs Magpie River Granted Personhood Status A remote river in eastern Quebec has been granted personhood status, making it the first time in Canada that an entity of nature purportedly has the same legal rights as a human being. Bestowing legal personhood on the Magpie River, which spills into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is being lauded by the groups involved, but one expert describes the move as strictly UN optics. Bill Gallagher, a lawyer and strategist whos authored two books on the intersection of resource interests and indigenous rights in Canada, says granting personhood status to a river has more to do with aligning with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) than with empowering indigenous people economically. What its an indication of is First Nations are joining the eco-activist movement more than aligning with industry to try and commercialize their native empowerment. Theres no commercial clout coming from making a river a person, said Gallagher, who has worked for both government and industry and tracks indigenous legal victories upholding treaty rights in Canada, which number 310 to date. Its the eco-activists who need the First Nations, not the First Nations who need the eco-activists, and if you wanted to block hydro then that would be an obvious strategy. The Magpie River was granted legal personhood status via the adoption of two resolutions by the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit and the Minganie Regional County Municipality (RCM), giving it nine rights as well as potential legal guardians that would ensure those rights are respected. The resolutions were drafted by the Montreal-based International Observatory on the Rights of Nature (IORN) in collaboration with the Muteshekau-shipu Alliance, an organization founded by four groups in Quebec including the Innu Council, the Minganie RCM, the Association Eaux-Vives Minganie, and the Quebec chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. The Magpie River is called Muteshekau-shipu in the Innu language. The recognition of the rights of Nature is a growing global movement, and Canada is joining it today with this first case, IORN president Yenny Vega Cardenas said in a Feb. 23 joint press statement with the Muteshekau-shipu Alliance. The Magpie River represented a perfect test case, thanks to the consensus for its protection from the actors involved and its international reputation. The goal is to protect the nearly 300-kilometre riverhome to the Magpie Generating Station, a 40.6 MW hydroelectric power generating station inaugurated in 2008 from further development. The rivers protection has received regional consensus, but the plan to declare the river a protected area has been thwarted for years by state-owned Hydro-Quebec, due to the waterways hydroelectric potential, the statement says. The river is recognized worldwide for its rapids and for whitewater expeditions, most notably by the prestigious National Geographic magazine, which ranked it among the top 10 rivers in the world for whitewater rafting. Ecuador was the first country to endow its natural world with legal rights, enshrining them in its constitution in 2008, and Bolivia followed suit in 2010 via legislation. Such efforts have become a global trend. The most analogous example to the Magpie occurred in New Zealand in 2017, when the government concluded long-running treaty negotiations with the local Maori tribe of Whanganui by granting legal personhood to the Whanganui River. The approach of granting legal personality to a river is unique, Chris Finlayson, then-minister for New Zealands treaty negotiations, told The Guardian at the time. It responds to the view of the [tribe] which has long recognized Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui) through its traditions, customs, and practice. While the Whanganuis personhood status has been acknowledged by the New Zealand government, the Magpies has not received similar recognition from the Canadian government. Queens University professor Bruce Pardy, a constitutional and environmental law expert, says personifying a natural entity could be used to launch anti-development legal challenges. Since rivers and mountains are not alive and have no consciousness or interests, giving them legal personhood is just a way to give power to environmentalists. For example, if we make a mountain a legal person, then people who oppose putting a ski resort on the mountain can argue that the development would be against the interests of the mountain, said Pardy. Which is a complete fiction, of course, since the mountain doesnt care one way or the other. Granting rights to nature has nothing to do with nature itself and everything to do with power struggles between people. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2017 that the Ktunaxa First Nations belief that their grizzly bear spirit occupied B.C.s Jumbo Valley could not prevent a ski resort there. The Charter protects the freedom to worship, but does not protect the spiritual focal point of worship, reads the decision. In November 2019, British Columbia became the first Canadian province to pass legislation to implement the UNDRIP, with Premier John Horgan pledging to align provincial laws with UNDRIP principles. Horgan promised to do the hard work, together with indigenous peoples, to build a true government-to-government relationship based on reconciliation, respect, and the shared goal of a better future for everyone in B.C. Gallagher says the UN declaration was not designed to support natives who have constitutionally protected rights, Charter-protected rights, and a legal winning streak of over 300 wins. The UN declaration is designed to protect native people in Paraguay and Bolivia and Mexico, who have no safety net, he said. (Natural News) The medical profession has really bought into COVID because of the simple fact that they got paid bonuses if the person had COVID. They were claiming that COVID was impacting minorities more, but failed to mention that if you did not have insurance and said you had COVID, the government paid 100% of all the medical expenses. They bribed medical professionals to turn COVID into a national crisis, and even with all of the hype the death toll is only 0.028%. (Article by Martin Armstrong republished from ArmstrongEconomics.com) Now families are starting to demand investigations because their loved one was listed as dying of COVID when they were not. I have received emails from numerous people where their mother was in their 90s and dying of old age, went to the hospital for their final days, and suddenly died of COVID. In Britain, many medical experts are now insisting that too many fatalities were being blamed on the virus. One funeral director has spoken out calling this a national scandal, according to the Daily Mail. In Britain, there are no reported flu cases, and in Canada reports of the flu are just a fraction of what they were. The fraud that has been so pervasive has destroyed the world economy, set in motion food shortages, and has been exploited to end our basic human rights. They have wiped out the hospitality industry, ended the arts, and left many students so depressed and unable to learn remotely. There is a rising trend in suicides which are up by 60%. Meanwhile, we are witnessing a sharp drop in new COVID-19 cases, which is taking place in the US, Canada, as well as India. This is implying that much of the COVID issue has been manufactured by the press and corrupt individuals in the medical field. Then we have the epitome of corruption in Dr. Anthony Fauci who will say anything to keep the COVID crisis going. He now says that because he is vaccinated, he can at last hug his daughter because she too is vaccinated. He has been unable to hug his daughter in a year, he claims. Now if you get the Gates vaccine, you will not have to socially distance from others who are vaccinated. This guy belongs in prison. He has lied so much and is in Schwabs promotional videos touting the need for the Great Reset economically when he has no qualification on the subject. We have lost so much because of this fraud and they have deeply terrorized people into wearing masks and being afraid to even socialize. The damage to society has been irreparable. People are starting to fight back Read more at: ArmstrongEconomics.com and Deception.news. Veritas Forum cancels discussion on critical race theory after uproar over speaker Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Veritas Forum, a nonprofit group that explores truth and life through various disciplines, including religion and science, apologized Monday and canceled a discussion on critical race theory after critics pointed out that one of their featured speakers was not a leading expert on race and Christianity. Willie James Jennings, an associate professor of systematic theology and Africana studies at Yale Divinity School, and Neil Shenvi, a blogger with a Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry, were set to discuss whether a secular worldview like critical race theory can address racism or if Christianity provides a unique response. While Shenvi has discussed critical race theory on several panels and written a number of articles on the issue, he has no academic training in the subject matter. The event, which was set to take place virtually on March 4, describes both speakers as leading experts on the topic of race and Christianity. How does racism manifest itself today? Can a secular worldview provide a grounds for addressing such evils, or does Christianity yield a unique response? Is Critical Theory an epistemically justified and useful tool in the fight against modern injustices? the promotion for the forum asked. Leading experts on the topic of race and Christianity Dr. Willie Jennings and Dr. Neil Shenvi will engage in a thought-provoking virtual dialogue at this years Veritas Forum. The forum, which was sponsored by the University of Washington chapter of Ratio Christi, an apologetics evangelism organization that "builds thoughtful Christians and shares compelling reasons for following Christ at universities," quickly came under fire from critics, including several academics, for describing Shenvi as a leading expert on the subject matter. That's just flat-out dishonest. @veritasforum, please take that language down. In what world? Samuel Perry, associate professor in the department of sociology at the University of Oklahoma, whose research areas include religion, culture, families and race, asked in a tweet Monday evening. Even if we were to practice the philosophical exercise of hypothesizing what alternate realities could exist; in what possible world would Neil be an expert on Race & Christianity @veritasforum? Whatever possible world in which that reality exists, it isnt in this one, theologian Kyle J. Howard argued in another tweet. Several hours later on Monday night, Veritas Forum announced the cancellation of the event, along with a mea culpa in a statement on Twitter. We have canceled the Veritas Forum on race and reconciliation that was scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 4, the group said. At Veritas, we value rigor and respect around lifes most important questions, inviting those with opposing worldviews to the table, and expertise as well as honesty and truth. We also value critique, learning, and admitting our mistakes, they explained. We failed to live up to our values. We did not pair one scholar with relevant subject-matter expertise with another of equal expertise, and we did not describe their credentials accurately. We also recognize that there are deeper racial dynamics at play, and we lament any pain that we caused. We apologize. Shenvi told The Christian Post in an interview Tuesday that while he agrees it was a mistake for the forum to promote him as a leading expert on race, he believes the discussion could have continued. Im disappointed. I was looking forward to it, I prepared a bunch, but these things happen. Theres not much I can do, he said. The Veritas Forum did list me as a leading expert on race, which I certainly am not, prof[essor] Jennings certainly is, he added, while making it clear that there is nothing wrong with a debate between an expert and a non-expert. As long as both parties agree to the debate, he said he did not see it as a problem. If they agree to do it, its fine. Theres nothing wrong with doing it. The Veritas Forum had other experts of various kinds dialogue with non-experts, he said. If I ended up having bad arguments, I think that would have been exposed in the dialogue. The aim of these dialogues is to get to truth, to hear both sides. Both before and after the event was canceled, people talked to me and expressed disappointment because they wanted to hear that dialogue, he added. Jennings did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CP on Tuesday, but The Veritas Forum received mixed reactions for canceling the discussion between the race scholar and Shenvi. Well done. Have the debates, but dont disrespect a world-class black scholar by pairing him with a Blogger who has already demonstrated ineptitude in understanding both sociology & theology, and in late their credentials. Thanks @veritasforum, wrote Howard on Twitter. Eric Reed, pastor of the Journey Church in Tennessee, called the cancellation weak. This is weak. Theres a reason why Veritas Forum invited Neil to participate in the event, but progressive Twitter got angry. If hes so unqualified, let him get up there and get humiliated by his lack of knowledge ... if thats really the issue. Were becoming such pansies, Reed wrote on Twitter. Critical race theory, as explained by Purdue University, "is a theoretical and interpretive mode that examines the appearance of race and racism across dominant cultural modes of expression." Through this framework, scholars seek to "understand how victims of systemic racism are affected by cultural perceptions of race and how they are able to represent themselves to counter prejudice." The subject matter has been controversial, especially in evangelical circles in recent years. In summer 2019, the Southern Baptist Convention passed Resolution 9, On Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, with much dissent. It notes in part that while critical race theory and intersectionality alone are insufficient to diagnose and redress the root causes of the social ills that they identify, which result from sinthese analytical tools can aid in evaluating a variety of human experiences. In recent months in the wake of racial protests, Southern Baptists like Texas Pastor Dwight McKissic Sr. have argued there is a growing movement to rescind it. Christopher Lee Bolt, a pastor-teacher at Elkton Baptist Church in Tennessee and head of theology at Legacy Bible College, said Tuesday that the arguments against Shenvi speaking at the Veritas Forum is evidence of why he believes SBC Resolution 9 should not have been adopted. The arguments against Neil Shenvi speaking at something like the Veritas Forum because he is said to lack the proper expertise in the area of Critical Race Theory is the main reason I now believe Resolution 9 should have never come to the floor at the Southern Baptist Convention, he said. Shenvi told CP on Tuesday that he had been planning to use respected professor of sociology at Baylor University, George Yanceys model of mutual accountability for the discussion. He then quoted the closing line of the opening statement he had planned to deliver at the forum. We need to talk to each other rather than yell at each other. We need to call each other brother and sister rather than call each other racist and Marxist. So lets reject unbiblical approaches to fighting racism and embrace a better one, he said. Advertisement Houses ripped up from their foundations, boats washed miles inland, streets buried in rubble and smoke rising from electrical fires - these were the other-worldly scenes beamed around the world almost 10 years ago after Japan was hit by one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. It was 2.46pm local time on March 11, 2011, when the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake struck off Japan's east coast, triggering a tsunami up to 56ft high that washed inland and destroyed everything in its path. By the latest count, 15,899 people lost their lives with another 2,572 people missing and presumed dead. More than 6,000 were injured, with whole towns wiped from the map. At the Fukushima Daatchi nuclear power plant, the water caused a meltdown that irradiated large parts of the surrounding prefecture, many of which are still uninhabitable. But, as these remarkable images show, other parts of the country have been almost completely rebuilt over the last decade and are now unrecognisable from the scenes of devastation that shocked the world that day. Slide me The city of Kesennuma, located in Miyagi prefecture, is seen (left) on March 16, 2011, five days after the earthquake and tsunami struck, and the same view again (right) is seen on on January 27, 2021, almost 10 years on Slide me A street in the town of Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, is blocked by a house and other debris washed inland by the tsunami on March 14, 2011 (left), and the same street is seen (right) on January 27, 2021 Slide me A passenger ferry left stranded atop a tourist house in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, is pictured (left) on April 16, 2011, more than a month after the tsunami deposited it there, while the same building is seen (right) on January 27 Slide me Part of the destroyed city of of Ofunato, in Iwate prefecture, is pictured (left) on March 14, 2011, just days after the quake struck, and again (right) on January 27, almost ten years after the disaster Slide me An area of Minamisanriku, in Miyagi prefecture, is seen (left) on March 18, 2011, a week after the devastating earthquake, and again (right) on January 26 after being cleared of debris Slide me Locals look at the devastation caused by the tsunami in Minamisoma, Fukushima prefecture (left), on March 12, 2011, just hours after the disaster, and the same scene is pictured (right) on January 25, 2021 Slide me A survivor is pictured (left) walking past rubble and collapsed buildings in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture on March 18, 2011, while the same street is pictured right on January 27, 2021 Slide me Residents walk along a street littered with cars crushed by the tsunami in the town of Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (left), while the same street is pictured (right) on January 27, 2021 Slide me A boat is left tangled in power lines in the coastal city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, on March 15, 2011 (left), while the same street is pictured (right) on January 26, 2021 Slide me Destroyed buildings are seen next to a tree dubbed the 'miracle pine' in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, March 29, 2011, while the same scene is pictured (right) on January 27, 2021, with reconstruction not yet complete Slide me Locals gather next to a tourist building in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, with a passenger ferry deposited on top of it on April 16, 2011, while the same scene is pictured (right) in January this year with reconstruction work still ongoing Slide me Cars and trees litter the streets in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011, after the tsunami, while the same scene is almost unrecognisable in January this year after rebuilding work finished Slide me A fishing ship washed inland by the tsunami sits amid buckled metal and other debris on April 7, 2011, in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, while the same area is pictured (right) on January 27, 2021 Slide me A picture taken by a Miyako City official on March 11, 2011 and received from Jiji Press shows the tsunami breaching an embankment and flowing into the city of Miyako, Iwate prefecture (left), and (right) the same area on January 28, 2021 Slide me Residents of Tagajo, in Miyagi prefecture, walk between destroyed cars littered across a highway on March 13, 2011; and (right), the same area is seen nearly 10 years later on January 25, 2021 Slide me People walk past damaged cars on a street in a tsunami hit area of Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture on March 13, 2011 (left); and the same area is seen (right) nearly 10 years later on January 26, 2021 Slide me A fishing boat beached on top of seawall defences is seen on March 11, 2011, the day of the tsunami (left); and the same seawall is seen (right) on January 27, 2021 Slide me A sailing boat lies across a road in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, on March 15, 2011 (left); and (right) the same area is seen on January 26, 2021 - almost ten years later Slide me Debris covers a large tsunami-hit area of Natori, Miyagi prefecture on March 13, 2011 (left); and the same area (right) is seen nearly 10 years later on January 26, 2021 Slide me A 33ft pine tree dubbed the 'Miracle Pine after surviving the tsunami is seen in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture on March 29, 2011 (left) amid destroyed buildings, while the same tree is seen (right) on January 27, 2021, as reconstruction work continues Slide me Vehicles drive past debris piled up in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture on March 29, 2011 (left); and the same area (right) is seen nearly 10 years later on January 27, 2021 Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 11:29:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A little boy walks on a suspension bridge rebuilt from a cableway in Yulong Township, Weining County of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) "The experience that China has taught us is that by accumulating resources and (creating) opportunities, a country can make a start to reduce poverty," said Matteo Marchisio, a China-based country director and representative for the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). ROME, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's success in reducing poverty within its borders in recent decades can stand out as an example for other countries that seek to alleviate poverty, analysts have said. China's fast-growing economy has lifted nearly 100 million rural residents above poverty line over the last eight years, reaching the United Nations (UN) poverty eradication target for 2030 nearly ten years ahead of schedule, according to a recent report released by New China Research, the think tank of Xinhua News Agency. The achievement has won praise from around the world. Qu Dongyu, director-general of the Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), offered his "warmest congratulations to the government and people of China" for reaching the UN anti-poverty goal. Qu, also a former Chinese vice minister, said he looks forward to seeing China and FAO work together to realize "our dream of a hunger-free world." Villager Guo Jianjun shows harvested oranges at an orchard in Tunqiu Village of Pingshan Town in Luzhai County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, more than 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty. The achievement greatly impressed Matteo Marchisio, a China-based country director and representative for the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). "That is twice the population of Europe," he said. "The majority of the world's overall progress in eradicating poverty over the last 40 years has taken place in China." According to Renzo Cavalieri, a professor of East Asian law at Ca'Foscari University in Venice, China's success in battling poverty offers hope for other countries aiming to defeat poverty. He noted that China's strategies were tailored very specifically to different situations in different regions of the country and at various phases. "Each country has to figure out its own strategies fitted to that country's situation," he stressed. A villager processes garments at a poverty-alleviation workshop in Huawu Village, Xinren Miao Township, Qianxi County, Bijie City of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Marchisio said that every country's battle against poverty is affected by "hundreds of complex factors," yet there were two common challenges facing all nations with high levels of poverty, namely a lack of resources and a lack of opportunities. Resources include natural resources, arable land, clean water, and capital, while opportunities refer to access to education, infrastructure, healthcare and markets, he added. "The experience that China has taught us is that by accumulating resources and (creating) opportunities, a country can make a start to reduce poverty," he said. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi: Keen on increasing connectivity in the Bay of Bengal region, Indian and Bangladeshi foreign ministers discussed Japan as the third country for partnership on connectivity in the region. India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar was on a one-day Dhaka visit on Thursday (March 4), during which he held talks with Bangladeshi foreign minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen with one of the key focus areas being on connectivity. During the joint statements, EAM Jaishankar said, "If we can get connectivity right between India and Bangladesh, I can tell u the entire logistics, the whole geo-economics of the region will change, the Bay of Bengal will look very different." He explained, "both of us believed that this is possible, a lot of our conversation was on this specific subject, we actually feel we should even involve third countries. We talked about Japan as a possibility because both of us have very good relations with Japan and Japan is involved in connectivity projects in the Bay of Bengal. I would pick connectivity as a big goal." Japan has been involved in a number of connectivity projects in India's north east. Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) stands at over Rs 1600 crore in India's northeast with projects, many of them connectivity in seven states of the region. The projects include Guwahati sewerage projects and Sikkim major district roads projects. In Bangladesh, Japan is involved in projects like Dhaka mass rapid transit development project, kanchpur, Meghna, Gumti second bridge Construction, Chittagong city outer ring road project and Jamuna railway bridge construction project. EAM's visit comes ahead of Indian PM Narendra Modi's visit to the country on 26th and 27th of March as the country celebrates its 50th Independence anniversary. During EAM's visit, the Teesta water issue was also discussed, with EAM in response to a question saying, "We did discuss it. And we have a meeting of our water resources secretaries soon. They will be discussing it further. I think you all know the position of Indian Government. That position has no change. Prime Minister Modi will be in Dhaka for the Mujib Borsho celebrations as well as the Golden Jubilee of Bangladeshs independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, India reached out to Bangladesh and just recently sent covid vaccines to the country. Bangladesh FM A.K. Abdul Momen said, "We thankfully acknowledge the collaborative initiative of the two countries in implementing the vaccination program against the ongoing pandemic. As you all are aware, Bangladesh has purchased the COVID vaccine from Serum Institute of India and the Government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is implementing the nationwide vaccination program free of cost." A Green River attorney was disbarred by the Wyoming Supreme Court for her conduct in representing clients and the status of their cases. Last week, the court issued a press release regarding Danielle Matheys disbarment, saying she admitted to lying to clients about the status of their cases, fabricating court documents and mishandling trust account funds belonging to a client, as well as failing to respond to inquiries by the Wyoming State Bars Office of Bar Counsel regarding her conduct. Her actions violated several Rules of Professional Conduct attorneys follow. Along with being dis... Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" of Kuwait Insurance Company S.A.K.P. (KIC) (Kuwait). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect KICs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. KICs balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Further support to the balance sheet strength assessment stems from KICs consistent internal capital generation and prudent reserving. Offsetting factors include KICs high dependence on reinsurance, although the associated counterparty risk is partially mitigated by the use of a reinsurance panel of strong credit quality. In addition, KICs capital position is exposed to potential volatility through the companys high-risk investment strategy, with Gulf Cooperation Council equities accounting for a significant proportion of total assets. KICs strong level of operating performance, demonstrated by a five-year average (2015-2019) return-on-equity ratio of 8.4%, is driven by the companys solid technical results. Non-life underwriting profitability has been strong, with combined ratios below 85% in each of the past five years, and life operations have been a positive contributor to earnings, albeit moderate. Investment performance provides a significant and largely positive contribution to earnings with a five-year (2015-2019) net investment return (excluding gains and losses) of 3.8%. However, investment returns remain subject to volatility from regional equity market performance. KIC holds a well-established position within its domestic insurance market, from which it sources all premium. The company has good product diversification, offering a comprehensive range of non-life, life and takaful products, and maintains a strong presence in corporate business lines, including general accident and property. In 2019, KIC generated gross written premiums of KD 37.6 million (USD 124.1 million), compared with KD 36.3 million in 2018. The business profile assessment remains constrained by the companys geographic concentration and modest scale by international standards. Story continues This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005911/en/ Contacts Emily Thompson Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0291 emily.thompson@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Michael Dunckley, CFA Associate Director +44 20 7397 0276 michael.dunckley@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com Indian American professor Tara Sethia (above) has been named the inaugural Shri Shantinath Endowed Chair in Ahimsa Studies at Cal Poly Pomona. Donor Bipin Shah said, These centers will encourage people to think of nonviolent ways of resolving conflict in every aspect of their lives and create a more peace-loving society in the long-term. (photo provided) The gene DYRK1A is responsible for the alterations in brain and bone development in people with Down syndrome. The EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), a compound in green tea, inhibits DYRK1A activity.Prior studies have shown that EGCG could also improve cognition in young adults with Down syndrome.For the study, the research team examined green tea supplements' effect on facial development in Down syndrome. The first part of the study involved EGCG supplements being tested in mice at different dosages. The second part was an observational study on children with and without Down syndrome.The mice study treatment started before birth (while the pups were still developing in the womb) with either a low or a high dose of green tea extracts being added to their drinking water.Professor Greetje Vande Velde, co-lead author, explained that the low dose treatment positively affected mice models of Down syndrome - 60% showed a facial shape similar to the control group. Whereas the highest dose resulted in very mixed results, with some cases having disrupted normal facial development, causing additional dysmorphology.The observational study involved 287 children (0-18 years) from Spain and North America. Among children with Down syndrome, 13 received EGCG supplementation, and 63 did not. Participants from the treated group were all self-medicated and didn't follow a prescribed protocol.Neus Martinez-Abadias, co-lead author, explained that all participants were photographed from various angles to create a 3D model of their faces. To compare the faces of the participants, 21 facial landmarks and the distances between them were used.Findings showed that 57% of the linear distances were substantially different when the faces of children with Down syndrome who never received the treatment were compared to those of children without Down syndrome in children aged 0-3 years. However, those who did receive EGCG treatment had a much smaller difference of only 25%. No difference was found in the adolescent group.In conclusion, after green tea supplementation, the facial dysmorphology decreases, and the children with or without Down syndrome look more alike.However, the supplements only affect facial development when administered in the early stages of life when the face and skull are rapidly growing.The authors caution that the findings are only preliminary and based on an observational study. Future research is necessary to evaluate the effects, appropriate dose, and therapeutic potential of these supplements. The possible effects of these supplements on other organs and systems also need to be studied.Source: Medindia Extra virgin olive oil is extracted from cold-pressed, high-quality olives and is one of the most popular foods in Europe. However, inferior counterfeits are coming onto the market in increasing number. A research team led by Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger at the University of Bayreuth has now developed a highly effective rapid test against this food fraud. Within one hour, the quality and authenticity of olive oils on the market can be clearly determined and counterfeits detected. Information on origin can also be checked for plausibility. Increasingly, counterfeits of high-quality food are harming both customers and producers. The organisations responsible for the certification of foodstuffs are therefore emphatically calling for tougher legal measures. Until recently, however, comprehensive tests of the quality and authenticity of olive oils could only be carried out using different test procedures applied one after the other. They were therefore time-consuming and expensive. A new method for a rapid test from Bayreuth now overcomes these obstacles with the help of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR spectroscopy). Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger from the Northern Bavarian NMR Centre at the University of Bayreuth (NBNC) developed the test in cooperation with the University of Athens, the analytical laboratory ALNuMed GmbH, and partners from the olive oil industry. "Over several years, we collected and systematically analysed more than 1,000 different samples of extra virgin olive oil. The NMR measurement provided us with an individual profile for each sample that includes all properties relevant to quality and authenticity," says Schwarzinger, who heads the Working Group for Quality and Authenticity of Food and Materials at NBNC. The new rapid test is based on the special ability of NMR spectroscopy to detect ingredients that occur in very different amounts with high resolution and reproducibility. Practically, this means highly concentrated main ingredients, such as the fatty acids in olive oil, but also very low concentrated substances can be detected. These include in particular the polyphenols, which act as antioxidants in the human body and have a positive effect on health. The quick test therefore indicates whether the oil examined is entitled, in principle, to bear a health claim according to the corresponding EU regulation. At the same time as the analysis of ingredients, taste impressions are also tested, which are important for consumer acceptance. In addition, a comparison with existing olive oil profiles can be used to check how credible the declaration of origin of the respective producer or trader is. NMR spectroscopy can be used to check whether the examined olive oil sample comes from Greece, Italy, or Spain, for example.Counterfeits of the popular extra virgin olive oil have been a problem for many years. Cheap alternative vegetable oils are dyed green and sold as olive oil, rancid oil is mixed with good oil, or old oils are glossed over with special technologies and come back into circulation as extra virgin olive oil. These frauds damage the good reputation of this high-quality product, and could trigger a downward spiral that ultimately hits olive oil farmers via a drop in prices. And this, in turn, leads to the leaving fallow of large olive groves in the Mediterranean region with corresponding, negative ecological effects." Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger, Northern Bavarian NMR Centre, University of Bayreuth (NBNC) NMR spectroscopy, because it enables a rapid and simultaneous analysis of many parameters, is the tool of choice for detecting these forms of food fraud. Schwarzinger recently presented the basics of the new olive oil rapid test at BioFach in Nuremberg, the leading trade fair for the food industry. "This year, due to the pandemic, the trade fair was held online. Nevertheless, our new test option met with broad interest. The olive oil experts were very impressed by how quickly and thoroughly the quality and authenticity of olive oils can be determined. It is already clear that this can significantly improve the transparency of olive oil supply chains and markets. We hope that our development will now be quickly implemented in contracting laboratories and brought to market," says the Bayreuth NMR expert. In the past Schwarzinger and his group have made significant contributions to a method, also based on NMR spectroscopy, for checking the quality and authenticity of honey. Meanwhile, the University of Bayreuth is one of the world's leading research institutions for the authenticity of honey. London, March 4 : A new study will be launched in Britain to research the efficacy of coronavirus vaccines in people with low immunity due to health conditions, including cancer, local media reported. In the Octave study, up to 5,000 of these patients, from around Britain, will be vaccinated as part of the country's mass rollout, the BBC reported on Wednesday. "We urgently need to understand if patient populations with chronic conditions such as cancer, inflammatory arthritis and kidney and liver disease are likely to be well-protected by current Covid-19 vaccines," said lead researcher Iain McInnes, from the University of Glasgow, in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported. "The Octave study will give us invaluable new data to help us answer questions of this kind from our patients and their families," it said. Trials and real-life data show the current vaccines work well for most adults, including the elderly, but evidence remains little on efficacy in immunocompromised patients. More than 20.4 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures. 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. On February 22, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" exiting the lockdown. Schools in England will reopen from March 8 as the first part of the four-step plan, which Johnson said was designed to be "cautious but irreversible". Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Aflac, a leading provider of supplemental insurance products in the U.S., will serve as title sponsor for the eighth annual SEC MBA Case Competition hosted virtually April 15-17 by Auburn Universitys Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. Harbert College was scheduled to host the event in April 2020, but COVID-19 forced its postponement. Having a popular brand like Aflac as title sponsor for the SEC MBA Case Competition has been such a tremendous win for the Harbert College, Auburn University and the Southeastern Conference, said Jim Parrish, executive director of full-time and online graduate programs at the Harbert College, who also organizes the colleges SEC MBA Case Competition activities. Aflac, with a renowned reputation as a community leader and an international leader in the insurance industry in both the United States and Japan, has been an excellent partner. Their insights and experiences have been such a huge help in moving and developing what will be a first-rate experience for the students involved. I cannot thank them enough for the opportunity to see how their company operates and the issues they face. The connection of industry and education is always paramount. This is going to be an incredible experience for our students and those from our peer MBA programs within the SEC because our corporate partner is so readily involved and wants to be engaged at such a high level. Aflac will provide teams of four studentsrepresenting all 14 Southeastern Conference universitieswith a business-pertinent issue on the morning of April 16. Teams must quickly analyze the situation and offer respective strategies and solutions before industry professionals judge the outcomes via Zoom on the morning of April 17. Four teams will compete for a prize pool of $20,000 in the April 17 afternoon final round. The events that occurred over the past year revealed the tremendous need to continuously develop bright, young professionals who can quickly adapt and contribute to finding solutions for expected and unforeseen challenges, said Aflac Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Max Broden. Aflac is proud to sponsor this exciting academic contest, as it will showcase the best and the brightest of the 14 schools representing the Southeastern Conference. We are excited to see how these top students strategize their approach to these complex scenarios. Students will make 20-minute presentations before the corporate judges, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session. The students' identities and their college affiliations will not be revealed to judges to ensure impartiality. Parrish believes Harbert College is an SEC trailblazer for hosting the event in virtual circumstances. Obviously, we had hoped to host the event in-person last April at our newly completed Horton-Hardgrave Hall, but we also take great pride in being the first SEC school to host this great event virtually in 2021, Parrish added. The way that our resources came together to make this a huge success says a lot about how much people care about the Harbert College. We hope the 2022 SEC MBA Case Competition will return to an in-person format, but if for some reason it must be remote, we believe we will have set the foundation for how you can host a virtual event. If needed, Im hoping we can be a model, a roadmap, for future events to follow. Demonstrations against Myanmars military junta took place across the country again Thursday in the wake of what the United Nations described as the bloodiest day since the February 1 coup. Reuters says security forces opened fire and hit protesters with tear gas to break up demonstrations in the main city of Yangon and the central town of Monywa. Protests also took place in Mandalay, where mourners also gathered for the funeral of Kyal Sin, a 19-year-old student who was shot dead Wednesday during demonstrations in that city. Attendees held up pictures of Kyal Sin wearing a t-shirt with the phrase Everything will be OK written on the front. Kyal Sin was one of at least 38 people the United Nations says were killed across Myanmar during Wednesdays protests, with witnesses saying security forces used live ammunition as well as rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Several people were reportedly injured, among them reporter Htet Aung Khant with VOAs Burmese Service, who was hit by rubber bullets under his arm as he covered the protests. Today, it was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the first of February, Christine Schraner Burgener, the U.N. special envoy for Myanmar, told reporters in a video call from Switzerland. Schraner Burgener said she was very disturbed by videos circulating of police shooting a protester at close range and another of police beating an unarmed medical crew who did not resist arrest. From the video clips, I asked some weapons experts to verify to me, its not clear, but it seems that the police used weapons like 9-millimeter submachine guns live ammunition, she said. Myanmar has been mired in chaos and violence for one month, since the militarys overthrow of the civilian government and the detentions of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other high-ranking officials of her National League for Democracy (NLD) Party. Schraner Burgener said she is in daily contact with Suu Kyi and the committee that represents NLD legislators, known as the CRPH. The envoy last spoke with Deputy Military Chief Soe Win on February 15 but said she sent him a long letter on Sunday. She has not received a direct response but said the military sends her some information every day. New elections The military has claimed widespread fraud in last Novembers election, which the NLD won in a landslide. Myanmars electoral commission has denied the claims. Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing declared a one-year state of emergency and said new elections will be held to bring about a "true and disciplined democracy. But he has not said when the vote would be held. Schraner Burgener said Soe Win told her those elections would happen in one year. He said that it is due to the constitution, she said. We talked also to constitutional experts, and they said it doesnt have to be one year. But clearly, I think that was the real plan of the army. Schraner Burgener expressed concern that the military would conduct sham investigations of the NLD that would lead to their being banned and then the army would illegitimately win the election and stay in power. But she said while this strategy may have worked in the past, it will not work now. But today, we have young people who lived in freedom for 10 years. They have social media, and they are well-organized and very determined. They dont want to go back in a dictatorship and in isolation, she said. So, I think the army is surprised, and maybe we have to help them come out of this situation. However, Schraner Burgener also said the junta is unconcerned about any response from the international community. When she warned the regime it would face huge, strong measures in the form of sanctions, the answer was, We are used to sanctions and we survived those sanctions in the past, referring to the militarys previous five-decade rule. The envoy also said the regime told her, We have to learn to walk with only a few friends, when she warned it would face isolation. Escalation fears Schraner Burgener said the situation could escalate. She pointed to the declaration by 10 of the 21 armed ethnic groups in Myanmar that they would fight back if the army attacks civilians in their regions. If both sides use violence, then we have a situation of a real war in Myanmar, which is in nobodys interest, the U.N. envoy said. She will brief the U.N. Security Council Friday in a closed-door meeting. She last briefed them February 2 at the first and only discussion on the situation. She told reporters she is still pressing the military to allow her to visit Myanmar, where she has an office and has spent a great deal of time during the three years she has held her mandate. Myanmars UN ambassador In a separate development, Tin Maung Naing, who was appointed Sunday as Myanmars charge daffaires at the United Nations by the military regime, has reportedly resigned, according to a post on his Facebook page. A United Nations spokesperson said they are aware of the reports but had received no official communication. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun was fired by the junta after denouncing the coup at a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday. He said he is still the ambassador because he was appointed by the democratically elected president. The matter has now gone to the nine-member U.N. credentials committee for review. The Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate fell this morning as markets calmed following on from the announcement of the UK Spring Budget. At the time of writing the pair are currently trading at around AU$1.7892. Australian Dollar (AUD) Exchange Rates Limited by Rising Yield Bonds The Australian Dollar (AUD) has found itself higher against the Pound (GBP) this morning as positive retail sales from Australia support the currency. Retail sales in Australia rose by 0.5 percent month-over-month in January 2021, after a 4.1 % drop in December. However, limiting the Australian Dollar this morning is a souring market sentiment, as rising US treasury yields once again undermine the Aussie. The Australian Dollars correlation with risk sentiment has therefore prevented any sort of major gains for the currency. Pound (GBP) Down as UK Government Spending at Post-War Levels The Pound (GBP) found itself down against the Australian Dollar (AUD) today as Chancellor Rishi Sunaks spend now pay later UK budget dampens Sterling sentiment. Although the budget was relatively well-received, the Chancellors decision to raise corporation tax to 25% in 2023 caused investors to remain cautious, though it is thought 30% of businesses will not be affected by the rise. However, analysts at ING were more optimistic surrounding the budget, James Smith, Developed Markets Economist said: For all the recent talk about fiscal consolidation, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunaks overwhelming priority was always about navigating the economy successfully through what is likely to be a delicate recovery phase. And on the face of it, his budget should go some way to achieving that. Sterling continues to temper any losses on the success of the UK vaccine rollout, with over 20 million people in the UK having received their first dose of the vaccine, and infections steadily falling. GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: UK Lockdown Easing in Focus The UK Governments roadmap out lockdown is due to start taking place on Monday with schools able to return to business as usual. Pound investors will be keeping an eye on whether the first step out of the UKs lockdown and phased reopening on the economy is a success. For Australian Dollar traders all eyes will be on the global market mood in the coming days, with a risk-off mood and rising yields adding pressure to the Aussie. Though if risk sentiment increases, the Australian Dollar could see itself heading higher against the Pound. Chester Zoo celebrating the birth of a rare baby okapi This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 4th, 2021 Conservationists are celebrating the birth of a rare baby okapi at Chester Zoo. The female calf, born to mum Ktusha (7) and dad Stomp (17), arrived safely following a 14-month-long pregnancy. The zoos CCTV cameras captured the calfs first wobbly steps as she was gently encouraged to her feet by mum, shortly after birth. Now, the shy new arrival has stepped outside for the first time after spending the first few weeks of life snuggled up in a cosy nest. Zookeepers have named the adorable youngster Nia Nia in homage to a small village that is in the centre of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a place where the zoos field partners are based, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the only country in the world where okapis are found in the wild. The okapis zebra-like stripes on its back legs allow offspring to easily follow their mothers into the dense forests in the DRC, keeping them well hidden from predators. Its elusive nature, paired with its impressive sense of hearing and unique camouflage, led to the species being nicknamed the African unicorn as the animal went undiscovered until as recently as 1901. Sarah Roffe, Team Manager of the okapis at the zoo, said: The birth of an okapi calf is cause for great celebration they are incredibly rare and incredibly special. Mum KTusha is so far doing a wonderful job of caring for her new born. Watching her gently encourage her new baby to its feet in those precious moments shortly after her birth was a real privilege to see. Okapis are incredibly secretive animals and, for a little while following her birth, Nia Nia had not wanted to venture too far and had instead remained snuggled up in her cosy nest area, with mum returning to her every few hours to allow her to feed. But now shes gaining in confidence every single day; shes bouncing with energy and eager explore. Shes a joy to watch shes all ears and long, spindly legs. The okapi is the only known living relative of the giraffe and is the national symbol of the DRC, with the species protected under Congolese law. However, despite their protected status, the species has suffered a 50% decline in the past two decades a result of hunting for its meat and skin, habitat loss and civil unrest in the country. The species is therefore now listed as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List of Threated Species. Nick Davis, Deputy Curator of Mammals at the zoo, added: These gentle creatures have been heavily targeted by poachers in recent years, mainly as a result of the illegal bushmeat trade, which is growing across nearly all of its natural range making conservation efforts to protect these animals really difficult. With only 76 okapis in zoos across Europe, and with sightings in the wild becoming even less common than before, every birth is therefore vital to the endangered species breeding programme. The safety-net population in progressive zoos is protecting future conservation options for the okapi, so not only is Nia Nias arrival an important moment for us, its an important moment for the species. Chester Zoos experts, along with its partners at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, have conducted surveys for okapis in Semuliki National Park, Uganda, which borders the DRC and contributed to a 10 year IUCN conservation action plan for the species. The zoo is also a long term supporter of the Okapi Conservation Project that is based at the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Ituri Forest DRC. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below HEERLEN, Netherlands, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, announces that Mr. Rob Routs will retire as Chairman and member of the DSM Supervisory Board at the close of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 6 May 2021. The Supervisory Board has appointed Mr. Thomas Leysen to succeed him as Chairman. Furthermore it announces that the Supervisory Board will nominate Mrs. Corien M. Wortmann-Kool to join as a new Supervisory Board member. Mr. Rob Routs has been a member of the DSM Supervisory Board since April 2010 and Chairman since May 2011. He was reappointed for a final term by the 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to facilitate a smooth transfer and continuity to the new Co-CEO leadership structure. When Mr. Rob Routs took over, DSM had successfully transformed from a chemical company into a Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company. Under his guidance DSM continued the restructuring of its portfolio and its evolution into the purpose-led, performance-driven Nutrition, Health & Sustainable Living company it is today. Mr. Thomas Leysen (1960, Belgian national) has joined the Supervisory Board in 2020 and will succeed Mr. Rob Routs after the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Rob Routs, outgoing Chairman of the DSM Supervisory Board, commented: "I am incredibly grateful to have served ten years as Chairman and eleven years as member of the Supervisory Board of this incredible company. Geraldine and Dimitri have taken up their new joint role seamlessly and I am proud that DSM is now well-positioned to capitalize on its long-term strategy, to use its science-based capabilities to create a positive impact and to deliver value for all stakeholders. I am pleased and feel very comfortable to hand-over to Thomas Leysen, whose experience will support DSM's leadership on the company's on-going journey to create brighter lives for all." Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze, Co-CEOs of DSM, commented: "We would like to express our deep gratitude to Rob Routs for his guidance, challenge and collaboration, which have been invaluable to us throughout his tenure. We would especially like to thank him for staying an extra year to support the transition as we became Co-CEOs. At the same time we are pleased to continue working with Thomas Leysen in his new role as Chairman." The nomination of Mrs. Corien M. Wortmann-Kool will strengthen the Supervisory Board's profile in the areas of finance, accounting, auditing and risk. Her nomination will also help maintain the Supervisory Board's strong profile in the areas of sustainability, governance, compliance and public affairs. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in finance and economics at executive level, as well as the national and international societal and political context companies operate in. Mrs. Corien M. Wortmann-Kool (1959, Dutch national) is the Chair of the Board of ABP Pension Fund (The Netherlands) since 2015, Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of Aegon N.V. and Chair of the Supervisory Board of Save the Children NL. She is also Advisory Board Member of the Impact Economy Foundation and Member of the Capital Markets Advisory Board of the Dutch Financial Markets Authority. In 2019 she was Co-Chair of the European High Level Expert Group Next CMU. More information on the proposed appointment of Corien M. Wortmann-Kool will be included in the Notes to the Agenda that will be published for the Annual General Meeting of Koninklijke DSM N.V. to be held on Wednesday 6 May 2021. DSM Bright Science. Brighter Living. Royal DSM is a global, purpose-led, science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. DSM's purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM addresses with its products and solutions some of the world's biggest challenges while simultaneously creating economic, environmental and societal value for all its stakeholders customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large. DSM delivers innovative solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, personal care and aroma, medical devices, green products and applications, and new mobility and connectivity. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about 10 billion with approximately 23,000 employees. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com. Or find us on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DSMcompany Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DSM LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/3108 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dsmcompany For more information: DSM Media Relations Lieke de Jong tel. +31 (0) 45 5782420 e-mail media.contacts@dsm.com DSM Investor Relations Dave Huizing tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864 e-mail investor.relations@dsm.com Forward-looking statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/329419/dsm_logo.jpg Related Links https://www.dsm.com SOURCE Royal DSM [March 04, 2021] Xerox to Expand Board, Nominate Nichelle Maynard-Elliott and Margarita Palau-Hernandez for Election at 2021 Annual Meeting Xerox Holdings Corporation (NYSE: XRX), a global workplace technology company, announced the addition of Nichelle Maynard-Elliott and Margarita Palau-Hernandez to the slate of nominees to be elected to its board of directors at its annual shareholders meeting on May 20, 2021. The additions will bring the total number of directors to nine. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005151/en/ Nichelle Maynard-Elliott (Photo: Business Wire) "Xerox strives to mirror the markets we serve and that extends to our business leaders and board of directors," said Xerox Vice Chairman and CEO John Visentin. "Nichelle's experience evaluating and negotiating complex transactions as a principal and Margarita's experience starting, scaling and investing in new businesses will support Xerox's growth strategy. We look forward to benefitting from the knowledge and insights they'll bring to our company." Maynard-Elliott spent more than 25 years as a corporate dealmaker, sourcing, structuring and executing acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, most recently for Praxair, Inc., one of the world's largest industrial gas companies, where she helped lead the company to its $90 billion merger with Linde PLC in 2019. She also serves on the board of directors of Element Solutions, a global diversified specialty chemicals company. "Xerox is a global brand best known for inventions that change how people work," said Maynard-Elliott. "Having gotten to know the Xerox team over the last year, I am excited to join the board and contribute to its mission of creating value for all Xerox stakeholders" Margarita Palau-Hernandez is a pioneer in several fields including Spanish media, business and real estate, having founded and managed multiple domestic and international companies. From 2018 to 2019, Palau-Hernandez served as U.S. Representative to the United Nations General Assembly, with the personal rank of Ambassador. She also serves on the board of directors of each of Herbalife Nutrition, a global nutrition company, Conduent Incorporated, a global technology-led business processing services company, and Occidental Petroleum, a global oil and gas exploration and production company. "Xerox and its leaders are taking bold steps to redefine this important company and how it serves global customers," said Palau-Hernandez. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to utilize my experience to help accelerate Xerox's transformation." Xerox also announced that, pursuant to its Nomination and Standstill Agreement with Carl C. Icahn and certain of his affiliates, James L. Nelson, chief executive officer of Global Net Lease, Inc., and Steven D. Miller, portfolio manager of Icahn Capital LP, will replace Jonathan Christodoro and Nicholas Graziano, respectively, on the slate of nominees to be elected to its board of directors at its annual shareholders meeting on May 20, 2021. About Xerox Xerox Holdings Corporation makes every day work better. We are a workplace technology company building and integrating software and hardware for enterprises large and small. As customers seek to manage information across digital and physical platforms, Xerox delivers a seamless, secure and sustainable experience. Whether inventing the copier, Ethernet, the laser printer or more, Xerox has long defined the modern work experience. Learn how that innovation continues at xerox.com. Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit https://www.news.xerox.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://www.linkedin.com/company/xerox, http://twitter.com/xerox, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp, https://www.instagram.com/xerox/, http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp. Xerox is a trademark of Xerox in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005151/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Oil prices rose for a second straight session on Thursday, as the possibility that OPEC+ producers might decide against increasing output at a key meeting later in the day lent support, alongside a drop in U.S. fuel inventories. Brent crude futures added 52 cents, or 0.8%, to $64.59 a barrel, as of 0709 GMT, after climbing more than 2% on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 43 cents, or 0.7% to $61.71 a barrel. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, together called OPEC+, are considering rolling over production cuts into April instead of raising output, as a recovery in oil demand remains fragile due to the coronavirus crisis, three OPEC+ sources told Reuters. The market had been expecting OPEC+ to ease production cuts by around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from April and for OPEC leader Saudi Arabia to end its voluntary production cut of an additional 1 million bpd. "The Reuters report has introduced a binary outcome to today's meeting," said Jeffrey Halley, OANDA's senior market analyst for Asia Pacific. Citi analysts said the sustained recovery in crude oil prices is beginning to expose differences across OPEC+ countries, but it expects the group to find a compromise for a nominal production increase of 500,000 bpd. The bank also expects Saudi Arabia to hold on its voluntary extra cut of 994,000 bpd, keeping its production quota at 8.256 million bpd. Further supporting prices, Yemen's Houthi forces said on Thursday they had fired a missile at a Saudi Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea city of Jeddah. There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities. "I believe that accounts for most of the price increases in Asia this morning," Halley said. In the United States, despite a record surge of more than 21 million barrels in crude oil stockpiles last week, gasoline stocks fell by the most in 30 years as refining plunged to an all-time low due to the Texas freeze that knocked out power for millions. The United States turned into a net petroleum importer last week at 2.2 million bpd, Citi analysts said. (Reporting by Naveen Thukral and Florence Tan; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Christopher Cushing) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered DAAR Communications Plc to pay a former newscaster at its television station, African Independent Television (AIT), Peter Kumba, his retirement benefits. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge, Oyejoju Oyewumi, also, on Wednesday, ordered the company to pay Mr Kumba all his unpaid salaries, allowances and pension contributions. Reporting the courts judgment on Thursday, NAN recalls that Mr Kumba had, on March 10, 2020, sued his former employer, DAAR Communications Plc, for compulsorily retiring him on February 12, 2018, and failing to pay him all his benefits and accrued salaries. Delivering judgment, Ms Oyewumi declared that the claimant was an employee of the defendants company as opposed to the contention of the defendant. The court, in addition, held that the statutory declaration of age tendered by the claimant to prove his age was admissible and therefore relevant as against the defendants contention that it was forged. Compulsory retirement breached companys procedure manual It added that the defendants act of retiring the claimant before his attainment of 65 years of age or 40 years of service, whichever was earlier, was inconsistent with the defendants internal control policies and procedures manual. The claimant is entitled to his full retirement benefits, outstanding salaries, unpaid allowances, pension contributions and therefore ordered that the claimant should be paid same by the defendant, the judge held. She also ordered DAAR Communications to pay the claimant one year full salary in general damages, as the defendant failed to pay him his terminal benefits since his compulsory retirement. She also ordered the defendant to compute the claimants benefits, unpaid allowances, pension contributions, and pay him within 30 days from the date of the judgment. Kumbas suit, DAARs defence The claimant had through his counsel, Oladimeji Adebayo, sought, among others, a declaration that his compulsory retirement was inconsistent with the provisions of the defendants Internal Control Policies and Procedures Manual, as signed and dated Nov. 2, 2011. Mr Kumba sought a declaration that he was entitled to his full retirement benefits, outstanding salaries, unpaid allowances, payment in lieu of annual leave and pension contributions. In his statement of facts, the claimant said he was employed in 2004 as an editor, and was compulsorily retired on February 12, 2018, when he had not attained the mandatory retirement age and had not spent the maximum 40 years in service, as stipulated by the defendants Internal Control Policies and Procedures Manual. Mr Kumba, however, added that he was not only prematurely retired, his former employer also failed to pay him all he was entitled to, and had duly earned. He therefore resorted to filing the suit to challenge his compulsory retirement by instituting the suit. But DAAR Communications, in its statement of defence, argued through its counsel, Okechukwu Opara, that the claimants declaration of age as tendered was forged as his retirement was not forced nor compulsory. It contended that Mr Kumba attained the mandatory age as of the time he retired. The defendant also submitted that the claimant had records of negligence and dereliction of duty which necessitated queries being issued him, but chose to give him soft landing to enable the claimant secure another employment without the baggage of dismissal. It also alleged that the claimant was retired when he abandoned his editorial and production duties and became unproductive and a burden. ADVERTISEMENT (NAN) V S T Tillers Tractors gained 1.76% to Rs 1,943.60 after the company entered into a share purchase agreement (SPA) for an investment of $1,500,000 (about Rs 11,07,15,000) in series A preferred stock of Zimeno Inc. Zimeno Inc is an unlisted company incorporated in the United States of America (USA). Zimeno Inc is in the development of electric autonomous tractor. V S T Tillers does not hold any stake in the company. After the allotment of series A preferred stock, its shareholding in Zimeno will be about 2% on fully diluted basis. V S T Tillers Tractors is engaged in the manufacturing of power tillers and tractors. The company's net profit soared 788.50% to Rs 30.83 crore on a 64.5% rise in net sales to Rs 202.87 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ryan Reynolds just commemorated the end of production on The Adam Project. The 44-year-old actor gave his 37 million followers a bit of insight into the film's shooting process, as well as a tease of what the upcoming feature will look like via his Instagram on Wednesday. The Deadpool star also wrote a lengthy message in the post's caption to express his enthusiasm about how the project turned out and commented on the impressive talent involved in the movie's production. That's a wrap! Ryan Reynolds celebrated the end of production on The Adam Project by posting an assortment of photos to his Instagram account on Wednesday. Reynolds also commented on the number of actors who had been involved in Marvel-related productions, writing that he acted alongside 'Gamora, Elektra, The Hulk...and the kid wholl eventually play Deadpool.' The actor remarked that he thoroughly enjoyed working on the upcoming feature and expected it to impress audiences. 'If #TheAdamProject is a fraction as beautiful and funny and wild as it was to shoot, then I guess we really pulled something off,' he wrote. The 6 Underground star also expressed that he wanted to give 'a lingering, uncomfortably indulgent hug to my beautiful hometown of Vancouver,' where the forthcoming feature was shot. Looking to the future: In the post's caption, Reynolds wrote that he was happy to have worked with 'the kid who'll eventually play Deadpool.' Fond memories: The Green Lantern star also commented that he was enthusiastic about how the film would turn out, and wrote that the movie's crew 'really pulled something off' In the message, he also referred to the film's director, Shawn Levy, as 'my spiritual, cinematic soulmate'. The actor and the 52-year-old director both serve as producers on the feature. Reynolds finally thanked the film crew for finishing work on the movie early and wrote that he was impressed that they 'brought the ship to port four days ahead of schedule.' Development on The Adam Project began in 2012 when a spec script written by TS Nowlin was brought to the attention of Paramount Pictures. Taking a while: Development on The Adam Project began in 2012 when its spec script was brought to the attention of Paramount Pictures. There and gone: At one point, Tom Cruise was supposed to star in the feature, but dropped out before filming began Big ups: In his message, Reynolds referred to The Adam Project's director, Shawn Levy, as his 'spiritual, cinematic soulmate' At the time, the project was titled Our Name Is Adam, although this was later changed to its current name. At one point, Tom Cruise was attached to the project and intended to lead the cast, although he later dropped out. The project entered into a difficult development process after the 58-year-old actor left the project, and the script underwent multiple rewrites; in July of 2020, the project was revived by Netflix. In November of last year, it was announced that Zoe Saldana, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner had been added to the movie's cast. Worth the wait: After the script underwent multiple rewrites and was given its current name, Netflix acquired the film in July of last year Serious talent: In November of 2020, it was announced that Zoe Saldana, Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo had all been added to the feature's cast Also set to appear in The Adam Project are Catherine Keener, Alex Mallari Jr and Walker Scobell. The film will follow a man who travels back in time to meet his younger self and confront their deceased father. Last month, screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, who wrote the draft of the screenplay used in the film, spoke to Collider and remarked that the science fiction elements of the film would be downplayed in favor of highlighting human interactions. 'To me, the time was just a device. The movie is not a hardcore sci-fi time travel movie. Its a movie about people,' he said. Specifically, the writer noted that The Adam Project is 'more about the characters and the story of this boy whos lost his father and is trying to come to terms with what that means.' Stylistic choice: In an interview with Collider, screenwriter Jonathan Tropper remarked that the story would not place an emphasis on 'hardcore sci-fi time travel' WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, has joined the growing list of progressives pushing to end the filibuster, a legislative rule that requires Democrats to have 10 Senate Republicans vote with them to pass most legislation. In an interview with the Times Union, Tonko announced his support for eliminating the filibuster and said he would personally speak with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., to encourage him to hold a vote to overturn the rule. "It's important for us to really move forward and improve this process so that the people's wishes and the people's needs are granted," said Tonko. "Otherwise what we have today is a legislative graveyard ... this modern filibuster essentially gives minority leaders veto power in Congress, exactly what [James] Madison and [Alexander] Hamilton were writing about. The founders did not want this concept to take hold." The Senate filibuster rule means a party needs 60 votes to end debate on most topics and move to a final vote on legislation. In a closely divided chamber, it necessitates bipartisan cooperation to get most things done. Democratic sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona both said earlier this year they oppose overturning the filibuster and without their support, any hope of overturning the rule is most likely dead in the 50-50 split Senate. Republican senators are unlikely to vote now for a rule change that would remove their ability to block Democratic legislation they oppose. Democrats are now steaming ahead with passage of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package using a complex budget process called reconciliation that requires only a simple majority for passage in the Senate, skirting around the filibuster. But lawmakers are limited in how they can use reconciliation and most policy changes cannot be achieved through the process. After the Senate passes the relief bill later this week, the Senate could enter a dry spell where few Democratic bills are able to clear the chamber. Schumer has promised he will not let Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dictate what the chamber can do but how Schumer practically will accomplish that is unclear. "I believe, and I believe my caucus believes, that we need big, bold action, and we're going to figure out the best way to get big, bold action on a whole lot of fronts. We're not going to be the legislative graveyard," Schumer said Tuesday. "Very simply, McConnell refused to put bills on the floor. I'm putting bills on the floor. People are going to be forced to vote on them, yes or no, on a whole lot of very important and serious issues." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is fervently working on passing a wave of Democratic priority bills to change voting laws, expand discrimination protections and address climate change. But it's unclear that any of those bills will be able to clear the Senate unless something changes. "Climate change and environmental protections have been stopped because filibuster activity wouldn't even allow us to go forward on renewable fuel standards and carbon pricing," Tonko said. "Now, we have voting rights and good government reform in the name of H.R. 1. We have that legislation to help fund election security upgrades, to simplify and expand easy legal voting and confront the outsize influence of big money in politics and it's going to be tough, I believe to get the work done." Reversing her position from 2017, when Republicans controlled Congress and the White House, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said in January she also thought Democrats should eliminate the filibuster, if Republicans block Democratic priorities. "I'm of the view that we should eliminate the filibuster despite all the risks," Gillibrand said. "There are great risks, and so maybe in this sharing agreement we can have a period of time to see if they're willing to negotiate in good faith and willing to not hold common-sense things up and not have lots of party line votes. If that's possible, then maybe we can govern with the filibuster, but if they start jamming us on basic things like COVID relief, then that may change Sen. Schumer's view." Richard Arenberg, a professor at Brown University and longtime former Senate staffer, said a 50-50 Senate could be a fruitful time to reform use of the filibuster in some ways because neither party knows who will be in the majority in two years. But he argued the rule, in general, is more important now, in a polarized era, than ever. "The filibuster is fundamental to the protection of the minoritys right to debate and offer amendments," he said. "It fosters negotiation, moderation and compromise." The Assembly on Thursday passed four key bills, including ones that make amendments in clauses and facilitate a business-friendly environment for investors. The bills passed by the assembly are the Civil Courts Bill, the Goods and Service Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Arunachal Pradesh Ease of Doing Business Bill and the Arunachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who had introduced the Arunachal Pradesh Goods and Service Tax (Amendment) Bill, told the assembly that amendments in various clauses have been made keeping in view the present situation. Mein, who also holds the finance, planning and investment portfolios, said the objectives of the Arunachal Pradesh Ease of Doing Business Billl are to bring about regulatory reforms, create an investment-friendly ecosystem, and make it easier to obtain permits online. "My government's efforts to build an investor-friendly environment has brought good results in ease-of-doing-business ranking. Our state has jumped five spots since 2017-18," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 01:06:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has warned the COVID-19 pandemic could further exacerbate Africa's extreme poverty as a total of 514 million Africans are projected to fall below the extreme poverty line in 2021, unless the impact of pandemic is contained. "COVID-19 will push an additional 5 to 29 million below the extreme poverty line. If the impact of the pandemic is not limited by 2021, an additional 59 million people could suffer the same fate, which would bring the total number of extremely poor Africans to 514 million people," the UNECA warned in a statement issued late Tuesday. African growth trajectories and the impact of COVID-19 are currently shedding doubts on countries' ability to reach this objective, unless the region achieves faster growth than before the pandemic in the upcoming years, the UNECA warned. According to the UNECA, before the pandemic, income disparities were on the rise across Africa. While extreme poverty had almost vanished in North Africa, more than 50 percent of the population in Central Africa lived below the extreme poverty line. The UNECA data showed that about nine out of ten extremely poor people in the world currently live in Africa. It, however, stressed that Africa continues to experience disparities in universal access to energy, electricity and even clean fuels and technologies for cooking. According to the UNECA, the impact of climate change is another major challenge for African economies in addition to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. Despite African countries have made progress towards the emission reduction target and have managed to increase the proportion of key biodiversity areas by 4.5 percent between 2010 and 2020, the continent has remained vulnerable to climate change with limited response capability. Africa has lost an average of 3.9 million hectares of forest per year between 2010 and 2020 due to population growth, poverty and agricultural expansion. The World Bank had previously warned that the COVID-19 situation could push up to 40 million people into extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, erasing at least five years of progress in fighting poverty. It further warned that the pandemic could set back progress in building human capital, as school closures will affect nearly 253 million students, potentially causing losses in learning. Enditem Good morning, its Thursday, March 4, 2021. One year ago today, after receiving a morning briefing from the top health officials in the Trump administration, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an $8.3 billion bill to combat the new coronavirus sweeping the world. The morning briefing had done the trick: The vote was nearly unanimous. But as Americans would soon find out, the virus was already here. That same day, March 4, 2020, California reported its first COVID death, although we now know that the first deaths in the state -- the first in the U.S. -- had occurred a month earlier in Santa Clara County. The first cluster was in Washington state, which reported six new deaths on March 4. News of first infections or new spikes came from all over: Malaysia, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, New York City -- and a cruise ship off the coast of San Francisco. The most ominous news of the day wasnt about how this deadly pathogen could travel the high seas. It came from Los Angeles, where one of the newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients was a medical screener at LAX. In a moment, Ill have more on this year-old snapshot in history. First, Id direct you to our front page, which aggregates, as it does each day, an array of columns and stories spanning the political spectrum. Todays curation includes Bethany Mandel on on Dr. Seuss (Washington Examiner); Harry Litman on voting rights (Los Angeles Times); and Kaitlyn Tiffany on Twitters goofy pilot program that crowd-sources fact-checking (The Atlantic). We also offer a complement of original material from RCPs reporters and contributors, including the following: * * * Idea Man Rubio Envisions a Common Good GOP. In launching a series of occasional profiles of 2024 presidential hopefuls, Phil Wegmann explores the Florida senators call for common-sense wisdom and working-class values. Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now. RealClearMarkets editor John Tamny reviews the new book by Evan Osnos. So This Conservative Comic Goes on Social Media and At RealClearInvestigations, Christian Toto reports that comedians whose material bucks leftist orthodoxy are increasingly subject to online censorship. To Defend Conservative Media, GOP Must Defend the Constitution. Former Sen. Rick Santorum warns his fellow party members not to echo their Democratic counterparts in pushing to curb free speech. More Money, Without Reform, for Obamacare. At RealClearHealth, Chris Pope cites research indicating that increased subsidies proposed for ACA enrollees would inflate insurance premiums rather than reduce costs. GMs Electric Car Projections Are a No-Go. At RealClearPolicy, Pat Michaels explains why the automakers aspirational goals are unlikely to become concrete commitments. Energy Poverty and Bidens Agenda. Katie Tahuahua tries to square the new presidents stance on fossil fuels with the needs of the worlds poor. Cornel West Again Blames His Problems on Israel. At RealClearEducation, Steve Lubet considers the Harvard professors explanation for the university denying him tenure. * * * By March 4, 2020, it was clear how a local virus morphs rapidly into a global pandemic in the 21st century: not via troop ships, as in 1918, but via passenger airlines. This one originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in the late autumn of 2019 and by late winter of 2020 it was in every corner of the world. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one year ago today that of the 158 confirmed U.S. cases, 49 came from repatriated citizens, presumably from China. But those numbers were the tip of a deadly iceberg that the CDC was as slow to detect as the crew of the Titanic. And when Congress passed its first coronavirus relief bill it was unaware that a cascading series of blunders at the CDC would render local health officials helpless in doing anything like contract tracing because the United States didnt even have a valid test for detecting the virus. Idiotic myths circulated on YouTube, the strangest being that if you convert to Islam youll be protected. But the early advice from Americas top medical experts was pretty sketchy, too. At the White House, Vice President Mike Pence said there was no need for Americans to buy masks. As Pence spoke, he was flanked by the top health experts in government, including CDC Director Robert Redfield, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Deborah Birx, and Anthony Fauci, the National Institutes of Healths top virologist. Four days later, Fauci said something similar to CBSs 60 Minutes. Theres no reason to be walking around with a mask, he said. When youre in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet, but its not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And, often, there are unintended consequences -- people keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face. These comments were later used against Fauci, but if you parse his sentences carefully, its clear that both he and Pence werent exactly saying that masks arent effective. In the first place, they seem to have worried that Americans would hoard masks, making them hard to procure for health care workers and others on the front lines. Fauci was also clearly worried that Americans would put themselves at risk by not wearing masks properly. By April 3, the CDC had updated this guidance, but was it a fatal mistake to not trust Americans more from the beginning? Well, theres evidence for that pro and con, as one can see in Texas this very week. A year ago, almost all of us were in the fog of war. Hardly anyone anticipated the level of human carnage and economic disruption that lay ahead. But if you listened carefully, a hint came from the other Washington -- Washington state -- where local health officials provided a glimpse, albeit a hazy one, of what lay ahead. Businesses in the Seattle area were urged by public health officials to stagger work schedules to reduce crowding on mass transit. At a press conference, the King County Public Health Department director went further, urging those holding conferences or any kinds of community events to postpone them. If you can feasibly avoid large groups of people together, she said, consider postponing those meetings. Carl M. Cannon Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics @CarlCannon (Twitter) ccannon@realclearpolitics.com Bangladesh: Minister for end to fishing with poison in Sunderbans March 04,2021 | Source: The New Age Bangladesh The environment, forest and climate change minister, Md Shahab Uddin, at a discussion on Wednesday asked the department of forest to stop fishing using poison by unscrupulous fishermen in Sundarbans. The department of forest organised the event marking World Wildlife Day at its auditorium where he, as chief guest, also asked the department to save wild elephants as its population continued to decline every year. Deputy minister of the ministry Habibun Nahar said that fishing using poison continued in Sundarbans over the years which endangered wild animals specially aquatic animals in the worlds largest mangrove forest. As special guest, she said that poisonous fishing continued not by the fishermen but a vested group of people in the area. She observed that the forest department was not much aware of protecting forests as much as it interested to conserve wildlife. Without forest we cannot protect wild animals. Forests are decreasing gradually for necessary and unnecessary activities, she said. Secretary of the ministry Ziaul Hasan said that forest resources were trafficked unabatedly from all the forest. Without foresters-traffickers nexus forest wealth cannot be looted, he disclosed. Chief conservator of forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury said that the number of tiger population in the Sundarbans increased to 114 in 2019 from 106 in 2016. He said that common peoples participation in the protection of forests and wildlife was essential. Prokriti O Jibon Foundation chairman Muqeed Majumder Babu said that different types of virus spread in the society as human grabbed the animal lands in the forest. Conservator of forests Mihir Kumar Doe said that Bangladesh is a hotspot for wildlife for its geological and environmental position, but 31 species of wild animals were missing in last 100 years here. He blamed pollution, killing, habitat destruction and trafficking for the decrease of animals and species. Jahangirnagar University zoology department professor Monirul H Khan said that large wild animals could not live in small forest and many of them disappeared from the country. He said that even the reserved forests of the country were misused for the lack of implementation of laws. Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Centre director Md Jahidul Kabir said that at least 11 wild elephants were killed in 2019 and 21 were killed in 2020. If the trend continues wild elephant from Bangladesh will disappear within 16 years, he said. International Union of Conservation in Nature representative in Bangladesh Raquibul Amin said that 25 per cent species of the country are under threat. He demanded nature-based solution and restoration of forest landscape for the protection of animals. He said that 268 elephants were detected in Bangladesh forests. Additional secretary of the ministry Mahmud Hasan also spoke, among others. 2021 Media New Age Limited New York: The generals who seized power in Myanmar nation have indicated they dont fear renewed sanctions and were very surprised that their plans to restore military rule without much opposition wasnt working. Christine Schraner Burgener, the UN special envoy for Myanmar, told reporters that after the February 1 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyis elected government she warned the army other nations and the UN Security Council might take huge strong measures. People view the body of Kyal Sin, also known by her Chinese name Deng Jia Xi, a 20-year-old university student shot in the head during a protest in Mandalay on Wednesday. Credit:AP And the answer was, We are used to sanctions and we survived those sanctions in the past, Burgener said. When she also warned the army that Myanmar would become isolated, the answer was, We have to learn to walk with only a few friends. NC Senate passes bill to give churches that house schools right to bear arms Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The North Carolina Senate passed the Religious Assembly Security and Protection Act of 2021 on Monday, which would allow churches that also house schools to bear arms. Senate Bill 43 passed with a 31-18 vote and has been sent to the House of Representatives for further consideration. The one-page bill would allow an exemption for churches or religious assemblies connected to schools to allow armed security teams during services. Churches on the same property as schools are not allowed under state law to have concealed carry or armed security teams, while other churches can already exercise that right. Last year, North Carolinas Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a broader bill containing the provision the Second Amendment Preservation Act. The bill passed both chambers with bipartisan majorities, according to the National Rifle Associations Institute for Legislative Action. Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of conservative Christian lobbying organization Christian League Action of North Carolina, called on Christians to advocate for this bill. Its unfortunate that Christians need to take up weapons to defend themselves at church, but its become a necessity at this particular time, Creech told The Christian Post in an interview. The North Carolina Council of Churches, which has taken a stand against firearms in the past, wrote an opposition letter to S.B. 43. Signed by over 100 pastors and religious leaders across North Carolina, the letter addressed to the legislative leaders said allowing concealed weapons would endanger children in schools and set a dangerous precedent. Clearly, a safe place to worship and learn creates an environment conducive to this well-being. The presence of guns in our schools and sanctuaries does not, the faith leaders wrote in the letter Monday. While the sponsors of S.B. 43, the Protect Religious Meeting Places Act, may be well-intentioned, the facts do not support the claim that arming parishioners makes them safe. The bill, however, does not allow religious meeting places to use an armed security team or concealed carry as long as students are on campus. All this legislation does, which is quite reasonable, is carves out a place for them to be able to protect themselves with concealed carry or their own security team as long as the school is not in session and there are no extra-curricular activities going on, Creech explained. Creech said it gives churches on the same property as schools the same right as other churches in the state. Creech explained this bill would carve out a reasonable exemption for churches that are vulnerable from being able to protect themselves, which I would suggest is their God-given right. When Cain killed Abel with the rock, God didnt command the rock to be banned, Creech said. Human nature really hasnt changed since Cain killed Abel. What has changed is a woeful disregard for human life. With the rise in church shootings and hostility toward churches in the past decade, Creech said ensuring churches have the right to bear arms is an essential right. Since 2007, weve had a church shooting nearly every other year with as many as 70 parishioners being killed and as many as 38 being wounded, Creech said. So, were living in a time where theres hostility toward the Christian religion. Theres hostility toward Church. These churches in North Carolina that double as a school are quite vulnerable because they dont have the same right as other churches in our state to have concealed carry or have their own security team. Having the right to bear arms in all churches is an act of love since it allows Christians to protect their families and church family, Creech asserted. I think Scripture puts the responsibility on us because of our love for other people. That we ought to attempt to save the lives of others when a moment of great tribulation comes. , Creech said. If the bill is passed, it will be enacted on Dec. 1, 2021. More funding is being made to support the future of City of Derry Airport. The Northern Ireland Executive and the British government's Department of Transport have agreed to continue to provide around 4m in funding for the crucial Derry to London service run by Loganair over the next two years. The news has been welcomed by Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton. It is welcome news that the Executive has today agreed to proposals from the Economy Minister Diane Dodds to fund the City of Derry Airport to London PSO (Public Service Obligation) route from April 2021 to March 2023," he said. "The 2million funding will be 50% of a wider package being supported by the UK Government Department for Transport. "This is positive news in what is a very difficult time for our airport and travel industry. "Airports and good infrastructure are key factors in attracting business and providing better connectivity. Improving and investing in these areas is great news for the North West. Economy Minister Diane Dodds said the new funding would help deliver 'vital connectivity and a regionally balanced economy'. Most people have known for years that technology giants like Facebook and Google make a ton of money by knowing exactly what people do online and selling that knowledge to advertisers. The advertisers, in turn, get better and better at serving people ads targeted directly to them. But theres been a reckoning in the past few years as people and governments around the world have learned just how much these companies know and what they can do with it. Despite that, yesterdays news that Google will not build identifiers to track individuals across the internet came as a surprise. The company also affirmed that it wont use any new identifiers made by third parties. Googles entire business model has relied on having extensive information on what people do with its services as well as details on the sites people visit with Chrome. That said, Google has been moving in this direction for a few years now. The company announced in January 2020 that it planned to make third-party cookies obsolete over the course of two years, and now Google has confirmed it wont just substitute in a new tracker or identifier that can follow people across the internet. That doesnt mean personalized ad tracking is going away, but it will be more anonymized. For example, Googles new privacy sandbox technologies will allow companies to target ads without collecting data at the individual, personalized level. Instead, advertisers will be able to target groups of users with similar browsing behavior and interests. Google will start testing this technology in Q2 of this year. Advances in aggregation, anonymization, on-device processing and other privacy-preserving technologies offer a clear path to replacing individual identifiers, Googles David Temkin wrote in a blog post announcing the changes yesterday. As usual, there are a few caveats, the first being that first-party data, or information you collect on visitors to your own sites, is still fair game for targeting. And thats something that gives Google an advantage in the advertising space, as the company has tons of data on people who visit its sites or use its products, especially if theyre signed in with a Google account. And, according to The Wall Street Journal, this change applies to websites only, not mobile apps. The market research firm eMarketer says that 68 percent of all digital ad spending in the US in 2020 was for mobile ads but that figure doesnt differentiate between spending in mobile apps versus ads on mobile web sites. Googles surprisingly strong stance in the online tracking debate aligns it more with Apple and Firefox and pits it squarely against Facebook. As part of iOS 14, Apple announced it would include anti-tracking protection in the form of something called App Tracking Transparency. This will require app developers to ask users if they want to be tracked for ad targeting purposes when they open an app. Altruistically, Facebook says that turning off tracking in its app will be harmful to small businesses who want to serve ads to potential customers. Of course, it also has the potential to be a huge harm to Facebooks ad business in a larger sense, thus hurting Facebooks bottom line. Google hasnt come out directly against Apples solution, but it does take issue with how browsers like Firefox and Safari let users block third-party cookies entirely. Some browsers have reacted to [privacy] concerns by blocking third-party cookies, but we believe this has unintended consequences that can negatively impact both users and the web ecosystem, Google wrote in its Chromium blog when it announced its plans to phase out third-party cookies. By undermining the business model of many ad-supported websites, blunt approaches to cookies encourage the use of opaque techniques such as fingerprinting (an invasive workaround to replace cookies), which can actually reduce user privacy and control. Its been over a year since that announcement, but it seems Google believes that its privacy sandbox approach works well enough for the company to make this weeks statement. Google recognizes that, in the short term, this change may put its own advertising business at a disadvantage. We realize this means other providers may offer a level of user identity for ad tracking across the web that we will not like PII [personally identifiable information] graphs based on peoples email addresses, wrote Temkin. We dont believe these solutions will meet rising consumer expectations for privacy, nor will they stand up to rapidly evolving regulatory restrictions, and therefore arent a sustainable long term investment. Based on this, it seems Google is setting itself up for a future where consumers and government regulators expect companies to be more transparent and careful with data they collect. Its also an admission that the internet has grown to a point where the privacy trade-offs of third-party cookies and similar tracking technology arent worth the potential business gains, especially if Google can develop with its Privacy Sandbox that can keep user behavior more private while still offering advertisers options for targeting groups based on their behavior. Going forward, a big question is whether Googles move puts any additional pressure on Facebook to change its ways, such as dropping its attack on Apples new privacy features. Given the massive scope of Googles advertising business, it would be hard for these changes not to reverberate throughout the industry. But Facebook is an advertising juggernaut in its own right and if its stance on Apples threat to its business is any indication, it wont be forced into a more privacy-friendly world without a fight. Theres also the spectre of continued antitrust interest UK regulators are already investigating whether Googles sandbox tools will give it a competitive edge. Google is also facing antitrust lawsuits from the US Department of Justice as well as two separate, multi-state suits. While these suits dont necessarily have to do with user privacy, Google could be trying to show itself as a good corporate citizen with a progressive view on protecting its customers data. But the UK investigation already shows that the company will have to tread carefully with this new initiative. Ultimately, Im most interested to see if Google can live up to its high-minded views on privacy that it now publicly states. If this decision hurts the bottom line in the short term, we could see a collision between business interests and Googles recent privacy commitments. CHICAGO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Women's History Month, Bunker Labs has published a curated list of women-owned businesses in its current Veterans in Residence cohort and invites the community to support and shop the list . According to data from the Small Business Association, women veterans start businesses at a rate that is nearly double their representation in the veteran population. Roughly 8.5 percent of veterans in the United States are women , and women own 15.2 percent of all veteran-owned businesses. The number of women veteran-owned companies has risen significantly in recent years, according to the SBA. In 2012, there were 384,574 veteran women-owned businesses, nearly triple the number from 2007. As a percentage, the share of veteran-owned businesses owned by women over the same period nearly quadrupled, growing from 4.0 percent to 15.2 percent. At the same time, women veterans continue to face systemic inequity, especially when it comes to funding. According to an SBA report , in fiscal year 2015, the SBA made 3,354 loans to veteran-owned small businesses. Of those loans, just seven percent went to women-owned businesses. In terms of total dollars lent, the SBA gave $1.38 billion in loans to veteran-owned businesses in FY 2015, and $87.31 million (6.3 percent) went to women veteran-owned businesses. The 2020 Bunker Labs Entrepreneur Insights Study, which surveyed the Bunker Labs community of military veterans, spouses, and family members, found a similar trend. According to the study, women who own businesses were three times less likely to be approved for PPP funding than their male counterparts. This Women's History Month, Bunker Labs invites the community to recognize and support women entrepreneurs and small business owners in the military community including: Suhl Life, an herbal self-care and beauty product company founded by U.S. Army Veteran Ariana Ferguson, an herbal self-care and beauty product company founded by U.S. Army Veteran Ariana Ferguson, The Broom List , a matchmaking firm dedicated to pairing successful marriage-minded Black professionals, founded by Minnesota National Guard veteran Tennesha Wood , a matchmaking firm dedicated to pairing successful marriage-minded Black professionals, founded by Minnesota National Guard veteran Mutt's Sauce, a sauce and spice company founded by U.S. Air Force veteran Charlynda Scales Browse and shop the full list of women entrepreneurs and small business owners with retail products and consumer services in Bunker Labs' current Veterans in Residence cohort at: https://bunkerlabs.org/womens-history-month/ About Bunker Labs: Bunker Labs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a national network of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs dedicated to helping the military-connected community start their own business. Bunker Labs is committed to seeing that every entrepreneur and small business owner in the military-connected community has the network, tools, and resources they need to start their own business. SOURCE Bunker Labs NORWAY, Iowa, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1976, Frontier Co-op has been showing the world that doing good, works. Now with more than 40,000 member/owners, the company remains dedicated to sourcing the highest quality spices, herbs and botanical products through their Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands all while creating life-changing opportunities for growers, employees, and their families, and maintaining its commitment to being environmentally conscious. Released today, Frontier Co-op's biennial Corporate Social Responsibility Report, detailing their commitment to helping farmers worldwide, has resulted in a deep understanding of organic spice sourcing and production and its impacts on the environment. The report outlines the many accomplishments that the Co-op has achieved over the last two years. The Well Earth program was one of the industry's first in-house impact sourcing programs that Frontier Co-op launched in 2007. The Co-op is on track to meet its goal of sourcing at least 80% of their products from Well Earth partners by end of their fiscal year 2022. In addition, 89% of the company's packaging is recyclable, and more than a third made with recycled content, and its transition to solar energy has generated approximately 500MWh of energy per year, providing an environmental benefit equivalent to avoiding the burning of 5,429 tons of coal or avoiding consuming 1,136,586 gallons of gas. Frontier Co-op and its brands, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia, give over $1 million in grants, sponsorships, and donations annually. The Co-op's two giving programs focus on supporting human services, a focus area hard-hit by increased need and decreased resources in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aura Cacia's Positive Change Project strives to help women and girls make transformational changes in their lives, which is especially pertinent today, as domestic violence has increased across the country in the last year. Meanwhile, the Simply Organic Giving Fund is committed to addressing systemic food insecurity and food justice by providing access to healthy, organic food options. Frontier Co-op's business for good approach brought Bedard to the company over 30 years ago, and it is the main driver in what keeps him looking ahead to the next 45 years. "Frontier Co-op's biennial report comprehensively and transparently details our history, our products, and our operations," CEO Tony Bedard said. "This illustrates how we approach our sourcing partnerships with farmers around the world, what we're doing to push the envelope on product packaging, an accounting of the energy we use, and the work we do to divert our waste from landfills. It highlights our relationships with, and our responsibility to, our employees, our customers, and our communities both here at home in Iowa, as well as across the country and around the world." Frontier Co-op's business for good approach brought Bedard to the company over 30 years ago, and it's what keeps him motivated today. In the future, the company plans to build upon the milestones it has already achieved. Forthcoming goals include: Source 80% of botanicals from Well Earth Partners by the end of the fiscal year 2022 Maintain recycled content of packaging at 36% Maintain recyclability of packaging at 88% Divert more than 90% of waste from landfills from each of their four Iowa -based facilities -based facilities 100% of Scope I and II emissions produced through renewable means or offset through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) Increase female and minority management The full sustainability report can be found here https://www.frontiercoop.com/community/about/sustainability-0. About Frontier Co-op Now more than 40,000-member owners strong, we're dedicated to sourcing the highest quality spices, herbs and botanical products through our Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands all while creating life-changing opportunities for our growers, employees and their families. We're driven by a simple purpose: to do good by our people and planet. And to create a stronger company built on a commitment to quality and sustainability. Frontier Co-op was one of the first suppliers to actively advocate organic products and organic agriculture and we're thrilled with the strong and steady growth of organics in the natural products, and now mainstream, marketplace. We carried our first organic products in 1978 and became a certified organic processor as soon as that program was available. SOURCE Frontier Co-op A Birmingham man has been sentenced to federal prison after he pleaded guilty to carjacking a woman outside the Riverchase Galleria in 2018 and robbing a Jefferson County convenience store two days later where the store clerk was beaten. Albert Ward III, 35, pleaded guilty in September to use of a firearm during the carjacking and robbery. U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon sentence Ward to 20 years in prison, according to a joint announcement Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. Ward had multiple prior felony convictions in state court, including convictions for first-degree robbery, first-degree assault that happened during a 2012 burglary. The carjacking happened Dec. 6, 2018. It all began that Thursday morning when a woman contacted Birmingham police to report her car had been stolen while she was inside a convenience store on Fourth Avenue in Birmingham. The victims phone was inside the vehicle and she was able to track its movements via a phone tracking app. Albert Ward III in 2018 (Hoover Police) Minutes after the victim in the original theft fired shots at him, the suspect robbed a woman of her SUV in the malls parking deck. The woman contacted a family member who brought her another vehicle which enabled her to locate her car as it was entering Hoover. While calling 911, the victim pulled up beside her stolen vehicle while it was stopped in traffic in the 1500 block of Montgomery Highway. She confronted the suspect and fired two shots into the vehicle as he was pulling away. The suspect fled the area, and the victim went to Hoover City Hall to report the incident. Just 13 minutes later - at 10:27 a.m. - police responded to the Riverchase Galleria on a report of a robbery that happened in the North Parking deck. A female shopper told police she was getting out of her vehicle when a black male with a handgun approached her. The suspect demanded the keys to her SUV, and she complied. The suspect fled the area in the second victims vehicle. Detectives learned that the Pathfinder was spotted in the Atlanta area hours after it was stolen. The original stolen vehicle from Birmingham was recovered in the J.C. Penney parking lot. Then, on Saturday, Dec. 8, Ward robbed a convenience store in northeast Jefferson County, beating the 73-year-old store clerk with a screwdriver and taking the cash register before fleeing. Blount County Sheriffs deputies apprehended Ward approximately an hour later when they responded to a call of a suspicious motorist who had run out of gas. Those deputies arrived to find Ward driving off after generous citizens put gas in his vehicle. Having just received a be-on-the-lookout bulletin that matched the driver and vehicle pulling away from them, the deputies quickly pulled Ward over and took him into custody. The cash register was found in weeds near where Wards vehicle ran out of gas. We were able to prosecute these cases because of great investigative work by all the law enforcement agencies involved, Escalona said. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office quickly responded to the robbery scene, reviewed the security video and issued the alert to other agencies. The Blount County Sheriffs Office recognized the vehicle and suspect as matching the robbery alert. The Hoover Police Department worked its case to develop an accurate description of the suspect. We are pleased to take another dangerous individual off the street, Sharp said. The Jacksonville Public Library will host a Zoom program on notable women of Illinois based on historian Tom Emerys compilation on the subject. Emery, a frequent contributor to the Journal-Courier, will explore the lives of some of the influential women throughout Illinois history, including figures from politics, social movements and literature. A group demonstrators, bottom centre, block an entrance to the port of Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Indigenous youth calling themselves the Braided Warriors have blocked the intersection to protest a 90-day jail sentence handed to an anti-pipeline protester. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward A student in the School of Business at Southern Adventist University received the second highest score in Tennessee on the Microsoft Excel Specialist Fall 2020 certification exam. Jacob Bradshaw, a junior finance major and resident of Ooltewah, scored 914/1000 on the test, and Certiport, a national testing center, notified the university of his standing in the state.Were so proud of Jacob for this high achievement, said Stephanie Sheehan, PhD, dean of the School of Business. His success affirms our efforts to provide credentialing opportunities to our students, further developing competencies that will be of value to both them and their future employers.Completed by Mr.Bradshaw in November 2020, this test serves as the final exam for the Business Computer Applications class offered by the university to both business majors and those in other academic programs.Since Excel is used extensively by corporations, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs, this training and certification gives our students an advantage in the job market, said Mike McClung, instructor of the class and associate director for Information Technology at Southern.When I interned at Kettering Health Network in Ohio, the first thing my boss told me was that understanding the ins and outs of Excel was necessary if I wanted to get ahead. I took that advice to heart and worked hard in this class, Mr. Bradshaw said. The School of Business faculty recognize the importance of Excel, and they make sure that we learn as much about it as possible. I was honestly very surprised that I placed so highly in the state, but I guess I still left myself some room for improvement. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Very hot. High 106F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 74F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Gladys Berejikilian asked why she didn't come clean about Daryl Maguire earlier NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been peppered with questions about her relationship with former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire at a budget estimates hearing. Gladys Berejiklian has faced a barrage of questions about her five-year covert relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire at a fiery budget estimates hearing. At times the NSW premier looked uncomfortable and flushed as she was grilled about her ex-lover, who she was in a relationship with until last year. The NSW Premier faced a barrage of questions about her relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire at a budget estimates meeting on Thursday An Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into the former Wagga Wagga Liberal MP is ongoing, and the premier appeared as a witness during hearings last year. The premier is not accused of any wrongdoing, but on Thursday was repeatedly asked about the timing of her relationship with Mr Maguire and why she didn't declare it earlier. Labor's Adam Searle accused Ms Berejiklian of failing to declare a conflict of interest when she met with her then lover when she was the NSW treasurer. The 2016 meeting was to discuss the funding of a highway 140km from Mr Maguire's electorate, but within metres of his new investment property at Ivanhoe. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Mr Maguire paid $8,000 for the property a few hundred metres from the Cobb Highway in far western NSW. Mr Searle accused the premier of making decisions to fund the project that would 'benefit' her 'boyfriend'. Ms Berejiklian said the suggestion was 'a disgusting proposition', laughable, wrong, 'and frankly offensive'. She said the decision to fund the highway was one for the roads minister, and the government - with Labor's support - had determined the highway was a priority project several years before. Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) was asked if her close personal relationship with Daryl Maguire (left) started as early as 2013 But Mr Searle said Ms Berejiklian should have declared her relationship with her colleague before awarding more than $40,000 in grants to his electorate. 'How can you make a decision to allocate taxpayers dollars without disclosing that relationship?' he asked. 'It lacks probity and it lacks integrity? Doesn't it?' The premier hit back. 'What you are suggesting is offensive ... I've never ever been accused of wrongdoing,' she said. Adam Searle (pictured) asked Ms Berejiklian why she hadn't disclosed her covert relationship with Daryl Maguire earlier Labor MP Adam Searle posted this statement to Facebook after the budget estimate meeting Ms Berejiklian insisted she had always acted in the public interest and had not done anything wrong, and that all funding arrangements had to go through her department. Mr Searle also asked when her relationship with Mr Maguire had begun. 'Both you and Mr Maguire said you were in a close personal relationship from at least 2015 until at least August 2020 ... Mr Maguire says that relationship could have started as early as 2013 that's correct isn't it? ' The premier responded saying: 'Those matters have been canvassed.' But Mr Searle pressed the point. 'Please be responsive and direct ... Which is it? Is it 2013?' Mr Searle accused the premier of making decisions to fund a project that would 'benefit' her 'boyfriend' Ms Berejiklian dismissed the question saying she had responded to the question during last year's ICAC hearings. She was also asked why she took annual leave on the day Mr Maguire was scheduled to appear at ICAC on July 13, 2018. Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MLC Robert Borsak also weighed in on the issue of timing. 'Surely premier, Mr Maguire, your secret lover, would have given you a special briefing before he appeared before ICAC?' 'Absolutely not,' Ms Berejiklian replied. The hearing continues. Kate Garraway reassured an ICU doctor he shouldn't feel guilty for keeping Covid patients away from their families on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday. The host, 53, spoke to Dr Jim Down about the pandemic and how families can't visit their loved ones in hospital because of the risk of spreading coronavirus. Kate spoke about her own experience of the restrictions as her husband Derek, 53, remains in intensive care nearly a year after he was admitted to hospital with Covid. Thoughtful: Kate Garraway reassured an ICU doctor he shouldn't feel guilty for keeping Covid patients away from their families on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday Talking about Dr Jim's book, Kate said: 'You do talk about feeling guilt for separated relatives and having to sort of try to explain to them why they couldn't be there, and why you often couldn't get back to them. 'Just as somebody who's on the other side of those phone calls you shouldn't feel guilty because we do understand what you're up against.' Expressing his sympathy, Dr Jim told Kate: 'My heart goes out to you, and all the relatives of people have been in ICU. Heartbreaking: The host, 53, spoke to Dr Jim Down about the pandemic and how families can't visit their loved ones in hospital because of the risk of spreading coronavirus Critically-ill: Kate spoke about her own experience as her husband Derek, 53, remains in intensive care nearly a year after he was admitted to hospital with Covid (pictured 2019) 'We understand': Talking about Dr Jim's book, Kate said: 'You do talk about feeling guilt for separated relatives and having to sort of try to explain to them why they couldn't be there' 'Were not used to not having relatives at the bedside, and I think that added dimension to it for you, and all the relatives that it is just horrible. So my heart really goes out to you.' Kate went on to thank him and hospitals across the country for everything they are doing in the fight against coronavirus. Last week, the Smooth presenter shared her heartache about not being able to visit her husband due to coronavirus restrictions. Sweet: Expressing his sympathy, Dr Jim told Kate: 'My heart goes out to you, and all the relatives of people have been in ICU' Amazing work: Kate went on to thank him and hospitals across the country for everything they are doing in the fight against coronavirus She said to her co-host Ben Shephard: 'Well, I haven't been able to see him, Ben. I haven't seen him since Christmas, which of course means he's back into a situation where he's looking at strangers in masks... 'And I think that's the situation for everybody, they've got somebody in the hospital at the moment, it's not unique. It's tough... 'It's also the same for people in care homes. And when you're someone like him who is dealing with a consciousness problem and trying to emerge, I can't help but fear it's not helpful.' While Derek no longer has coronavirus, the disease has left him suffering from multiple health conditions including diabetes and holes in his heart and lungs. During one of her darkest moments Kate was told her husband may 'never come out of a coma' amid his ongoing battle. Pained: Last week, the Smooth presenter shared her heartache with co-host Ben Shephard about not being able to visit her husband due to coronavirus restrictions Derek has regained minimal consciousness from his medically induced coma and while he has not been speaking, he heartbreakingly mouthed the word 'pain' in October last year. In September, Derek, passed the grim milestone of becoming the longest patient battling coronavirus in hospital in the UK, with doctors telling Kate that Derek's infection was the 'highest they had seen in a patient who had lived'. Reflecting on her last hospital visit with their two children Darcey, 14 and William, 11 in December, Kate admitted the family reunion was 'heightened with emotion' because they saw how Derek had been ravaged by the virus. 'It was very heightened with emotion, because he's very changed,' she told viewers. Family: Reflecting on her last hospital visit with their two children Darcey, 14 and William, 11 in December, Kate said the reunion was 'heightened with emotion but still fantastic' 'So all the routines that we'd normally do, it was one of those moments that it was so wonderful but also it amplified how sad everything was. 'And how different it is. But it was still fantastic, and we're very grateful to have had that opportunity.' Kate admitted she has been through the 'darkest times' as she marked nearly a year since Derek contracted coronavirus but was grateful for all the support she has had. Speaking to Hello! Magazine, Kate said: 'In the darkest of times you can find goodness and love just when you need it most and helping each other is the only way we will get through this grimmest of times.' She added: 'I've learnt about the kindness of strangers. It has been the toughest of times for me and my family, as it has for so many others and the good wishes and sympathy from viewers and listeners has really helped. 'To know so many people are thinking of me and sending love has given me hope and strength and I'm very grateful.' GODFREY Early Bird Registration for high school seniors is now underway at Lewis and Clark Community College in a virtual format. For our district seniors, graduation is just around the corner, and Lewis and Clark wants to help make the transition to college as smooth as possible, said Assistant Director of Admissions, Records and Recruitment Ryan Hodge. Seniors taking advantage of this opportunity will be able to choose their courses and create their ideal class schedules for Summer 2021 and/or Fall 2021, in some cases before or just as open registration for fall begins March 15. Attendees will complete their online orientation with academic and financial aid advisors, and receive training on Blackboard, the colleges online learning management system. Students must register individually, but will attend Early Bird Registration by high school: Edwardsville High School March 2, 4 Jerseyville High School March 9, 11 Roxana High School March 16, 18 Alton High School March 23, 25 North Greene/Carrollton High School March 30, April 1 Civic Memorial High School April 6, 8 Brussels, Bunker Hill, Calhoun, Carlinville, Greenfield, Gillespie, Marquette, Metro East Lutheran, Staunton High Schools April 13, 15 East Alton-Wood River High School April 20, 22 Southwestern High School April 27, 29 All Schools (Make Up Days) May 4, 6 If a student is interested but cannot attend one of their schools dates, they can call or text the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222 or email enroll@lc.edu to make other arrangements. Upon registration, a Zoom meeting link will be emailed to the email address provided. New students also have the opportunity to register for on-campus tours taking place every Friday. Tours are open to registered participants only, as the college continues to observe COVID-19 precautions. Masks are required while on campus, and participants must fill out a self-certification form, located at www.lc.edu, before coming to campus. To register for an Early Bird Registration event and/or to schedule an on-campus tour, visit www.lc.edu/earlybird. iStock / Getty Images En espanol | "In a perfect world, we would all begin saving [for retirement] from the time we receive our first paycheck, says Nicole Gopoian Wirick, a certified financial planner (CFP) in Birmingham, Michigan. But we know life isn't perfect, and sometimes a late start is unavoidable. And very common. A 2018 Federal Reserve report revealed that 25 percent of nonretired adults have no retirement savings or pension at all and that only 45 percent of nonretired adults over the age of 60 believe their retirement savings plan is on track. If you're 50 or older and anxious about retirement, you can still build your stash with the right moves. It's never too late to develop a comprehensive financial plan that is aligned with your objectives, Wirick says. Consider this methodical approach recommended by financial planners across the country. You may want to consult a planner in your area for advice that's specific to your situation. 1. Refine your budget, set up automatic savings First, to free up cash, review your budget and eliminate any excesses. Food, for example, is one area where many people overspend, says Nadine Marie Burns, a CFP in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Making a meal plan could save over $100 per month on discarded or unused items. Next, calculate a realistic savings goal and how much you can save automatically on a regular basis, Wirick says. If that's overwhelming, focus on making small changes over time. And plan on living a really long life, possibly into your 90s, and do your retirement income calculations accordingly, says George Gagliardi, a CFP in Lexington, Massachusetts. You can't control how long you live, but the average 50-year-old male can expect to live for another 30 years, to 80, and the average 50-year-old female can expect to live another 33 years, to 83, according to the Social Security Administration. 2. Pay down debt Got credit card debt? Pay it down as quickly as you can to free up more cash to save. Malcolm Ethridge, a CFP in Rockville, Maryland, also recommends creating a plan to pay off your mortgage by the time you retire. Eliminating housing expenses reduces the amount of income you will need to replace on an annual basis, he says. Also avoid future debt, says Natalie Pine, a CFP in College Station, Texas. For example, if you have car debt, put the payments into an account for a new car even once it is paid off, so that eventually you can pay for a car in cash and overall pay less. 3. Stay invested If you have a nonretirement portfolio or if you're self-employed and administer your own retirement fund, be sure to set up automatic investments so you can take advantage of dollar-cost averaging. With regular investments, you'll buy more shares when stock prices are cheaper and fewer when they are expensive. More important, you won't have to remember to write a check each month. You also need a mix of different types of investments with at least 60 percent in stocks that is aggressive enough to help you to reach your goal over time, says Sandra Adams, a CFP in Southfield, Michigan. But don't take so much risk that you're tempted to cash out when the market drops. Jumping in and out of the market can cause huge setbacks in your plan, and if you are already starting late, you can't afford those setbacks, she says. The commander of the District of Columbia National Guard testified Wednesday that unusual restrictions by Pentagon leaders delayed him from deploying additional Guard members to halt the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by hours. Maj. Gen. William Walker told members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs that he could have begun sending Guard members to support D.C. law enforcement, under siege by a rioting crowd, hours earlier but was hampered by a strict Pentagon approval process, indecisive leadership and sluggish communication. "At 1:49 p.m., I received a frantic call from then-chief of United States Capitol Police Steven Sund where he informed me that the security perimeter of the United States Capitol had been breached by hostile rioters," Walker said. "Chief Sund, his voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency at the Capitol, and he requested the immediate assistance of as many available National Guardsmen as I could muster." Read Next: Air Force Approves Shorts for All Maintainers, Offers More Options for PT Socks Walker immediately alerted U.S. Army senior leadership. "The approval for Chief Sund's request would eventually come from the Acting Secretary of Defense [Christopher Miller] and be relayed to me by Army senior leaders at 5:08 p.m.," he added. Walker had been authorized to provide 320 Guard members to support police at 30 traffic control points and six metro stations. Miller and then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy had also authorized Walker to have a 40-member quick-reaction force, or QRF, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, but McCarthy imposed guidelines that delayed its deployment, Walker said. In a Jan. 5 memo, McCarthy told Walker that only he could authorize the release of the QRF but not without the general first submitting a concept of operations plan, Walker said. "I withhold authority to approve employment of the District of Columbia National Guard quick reaction force and will do so only as a last resort in response to a requirement from an appropriate civil authority," Walker said, reading directly from McCarthy's memo. "I will require a concept of operations prior to authorizing employment of a quick reaction force." Walker said he found the requirement to be "unusual, as was the requirement to seek approval to move Guardsmen supporting the Metropolitan Police Department ... from one traffic control to another." McCarthy met with Miller at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 6 to discuss options for the D.C. Guard's deployment, Robert Salesses, the senior official performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security, told lawmakers. "After this meeting, the acting secretary of defense determined that all available forces of the D.C. National Guard were required to reinforce the D.C. Metropolitan Police and the U.S. Capitol Police and ordered the full mobilization of the D.C. National Guard at 3:04 pm," Salesses said. But that was only an order for Guard members to report to the D.C. Armory, not to the Capitol, he added. At about the same time, Walker ordered the QRF to move from Andrews to the armory. "At 3 p.m., I directed that the QRF that was based at Andrews to leave the base and get to the armory at all deliberate speed," Walker said, adding that a police escort got them to the armory about 20 minutes later. Walker said he ordered the 155 Guard members at the armory to draw civil disturbance gear such as helmets and body armor, despite a previous directive from Miller that he would have to authorize that equipment. McCarthy "to his credit did tell me that I could have force protection equipment with the Guardsmen, so we did have helmets, shin guards, vests," Walker said. "In anticipation of a green light, a go, we had Guardsmen on buses," he said. "We brought them inside the armory, so nobody would see them putting on the equipment, and then we just waited to get the approval." Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., chairman of the committee, asked Walker, "What would have been the impact of sending those 155 right at 2 p.m.?" Walker answered, "I believe that number could have made a difference. We could have helped extend the perimeter and helped push back the crowd." Part of the delay seemed to come from the reluctance of Army senior leaders to have uniformed Guard members quelling a riot after public confusion over the Guard's presence in D.C. last summer when demonstrators protested the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died while in the custody of Minneapolis Police. This became apparent during a phone call between D.C. officials, Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt and other Army generals, Walker said. Flynn, who serves as the deputy chief of staff for Army operations, plans and training, and Piatt, who is the director of Army staff, "did not think it would look good, that it would be a good optic. They further stated that it could incite the crowd," Walker said. "During the phone call with the District of Columbia leaders ... they both said it wouldn't be in their best military advice to advise the secretary of the Army to have uniformed Guard members at the Capitol during the election confirmation," he added. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Salesses to "explain why they would say such a thing. ... Do you have any idea why this delay occurred?" Salesses said he talked with all the Army leaders who were on that call, adding that "[Maj. Gen.] Piatt told me yesterday that he did not use the word 'optics.'" "Piatt is not a decision maker," Salesses said. "The only decision makers on the 6th of January were the secretary of defense and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy." Walker stuck to his statement. "There were people in the room with me on that call that heard what they heard," he said. Military.com reached out to the Army for comment on Walker's allegation but did not receive a response by publication time. Salesses conceded to senators that criticism the military faced over its response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests influenced the response to the Jan. 6 attack. More than 5,000 Guard members from 11 states flooded into Washington last June after protests erupted across the country. An image of Guard members wearing body armor and lined up on steps of the Lincoln Memorial went viral. Criticism mounted when military helicopters flew dangerously low over protesters -- a tactic used in war zones -- resulting in some being hit by debris. Salesses said Miller, who'd taken over as acting defense secretary after the November election when Mark Esper was ousted from the job, was mindful of the criticism over having so many troops in Washington last summer. "[Miller] wanted to make the decisions at his level," Salesses said. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., wanted to know why Walker wasn't notified of Miller's 4:32 p.m. decision to support D.C. law enforcement until 5:08 p.m. "How is that possible?" Blunt asked. "The decision in the moment that we were in and the person that had to be told wasn't told for more than a half an hour after the decision was made?" Salesses told Blunt that the delay "is an issue" that hampered the response. "There were decisions that were being made, there were communications that needed to take place and there were actions that had to be taken -- all of that was happening at simultaneous times by different individuals, and I think that part of the challenge is that some of the delayed communications probably [created] some other challenges that we had that day," Salesses said. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: DC, Capitol Police 'Stunned' at Slow National Guard Response During Jan. 6 Riot 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. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Five years into the citys deer vasectomy program, the city says there has been a sizable decrease in the total deer population on Staten Island, which could lead to a major drop in numbers if the program is maintained. While the data collected during that time -- and recently released in a report titled Managing Deer Impacts on Staten Island -- shows a reduction in the number of deer and vehicle collisions, Lyme disease cases, and the number of ticks, some of the data is inconclusive and without important context, Borough President James Oddo and Deputy Borough President Ed Burke said. Are the numbers declining according to how many deer can be found or are they truly representative of how many deer are out there? Oddo asked, adding his office sent the report to researchers at Cornell University to further analyze the data. According to the citys report, the total deer population went from an estimated 2,053 in project year one (from 2016 to 2017) to an estimated 1,555 in project year 4 (from 2019 to 2020), but there have long been questions about the accuracy of the deer counts. Despite those questions, and the ballooning cost, Mayor Bill de Blasio has never been deterred from pursuing the controversial program, which was the first of its kind in a major U.S. city. Using vasectomy to address the boroughs growing deer population -- which was causing a variety of concerns, including an increase in residents with Lyme disease, vehicle collisions around the Island and environmental damage -- was initially slated to cost $3.3 million, but doubled to $6.6 million last year. The cost of the program came under scrutiny when it was revealed that just 7.6% of the then-$4.1 million spent was used towards deer sterilization efforts. As an alternative, Oddo previously suggested a controlled cull to curb the population. The idea was supported by state and federal officials, but the city expressed concern over jurisdiction and opted to move forward with the vasectomy program. To me the vasectomy program was the path of least resistance, Oddo said. Proponents will argue it was the only way to do something sooner rather than later because we knew a cull would eventually involve litigation. The money that was spent gave the city the plausible deniability to say we did something. Still, Oddo and Burke maintain a cull, or even a combined cull and vasectomy program, would have yielded the most immediate results, not only preventing the deer from procreating but preventing further ecological devastation caused by deer over-population on the borough. I think the jury is still very much out, he said. Long before the pandemic our mantra at Borough Hall has been follow the science and at first blush the data looks impressive on the overall number of deer, the number of ticks, the number of accidents, on a number of steps theyve taken to protect trees, but its kind of shallow. I think before I pass judgement and give a voice to my gut, I want someone who is an expert in the subject to look at the data and come to a conclusion. MORE THAN 90% OF ESTIMATED DEER POPULATION STERILIZED According to the citys recent report, which was released by the Department of Parks and Recreation Wildlife Unit, a total of 1,719 male deer -- 93% of the boroughs estimated male deer population -- were sterilized by the end of project year four in 2020. City contractor White Buffalo counted about 2,053 deer on Staten Island in its first population estimate. This shows that the sterilization study is already making an impact on the population. With maintenance, the program has the potential to lead to major continued reductions in size of the Staten Island deer population, the report says. (Screenshot Department of Parks and Recreation Wildlife Unit) There were 58 vehicle collisions involving deer in project year four, down from 111 when the project began. Additionally, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) began working with a private contractor to remove deer carcasses, a metric the report said decreased dramatically at 43%. (Screenshot Department of Parks and Recreation Wildlife Unit) Lyme disease cases dropped from 123 in 2016 and 2017 to 53 by 2019. The city currently surveys 24 sites on Staten Island for black-legged ticks, which are known carriers of Lyme disease. (Screenshot Department of Parks and Recreation Wildlife Unit) Additionally, the NYPD and city Department of Transportation have installed temporary and permanent variable message signs in areas throughout the borough where deer collisions are most frequent and where deer are most spotted. As part of the program the city installed 7,262 tree guards, 6,265 linear feet of deer exclosure fencing and over 100,000 plants that deer are less likely to eat, as well as sprayed over 100 acres of deer repellent and capped trees. WHAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT? Missing from the report is data on the devastation the deer are having on the environment, Oddo and Burke said, as well as needed context for what is available. If you look at the website and you see 7,000 tree guards you think hey, thats impressive. You see 6,200 linear feet of deer enclosure and thats impressive until you look at how much is needed to actually protect the Greenbelt and Staten Islands parks and the numbers are exponential. It is an overwhelming job to protect Staten Islands parkland by erecting fences and tree guards, Oddo said. The issue with sterilizing the deer is it only prevents them from procreating but doesnt prevent them from spreading ticks, Lyme disease, and does nothing to stop the environmental damage. Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Charleston, which currently has two exclosures, is the perfect example of an ecosystem that is being altered by the presence of deer. According to Cliff Hagen, president of the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, the park was once covered with various native berry bushes, shrubs and flowers, but now it only houses about three different types of foreign plants due to deer browsing. As [the deer] eat these low growing shrubs, these invasive species then start to take over, [such as] stilt grass and garlic mustard, said Hagen, changing the chemicals in the soil and ultimately preventing native plant life from growing back. We have to evolve animal lovers into ecosystem lovers. Were not helping animals if they have no ecosystem to live in where everything is imbalanced. If the deer are destroying the growth in the forest so the pollinators cant exist, and all of the birds that rely on the vegetation to exist then we really arent helping nature, Burke said. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. 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. Russia continues to pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security. U.S. President Joe Biden has extended the sanctions imposed in 2014 on the Russian Federation over its aggression against Ukraine. The corresponding document appeared in the U.S. Federal Register. Read alsoBiden on 7th anniversary: U.S. will never recognize Russia's purported annexation of Crimea The explanatory note says Russia's actions and policies "continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," it said. Therefore, Biden decided that the sanctions regime, introduced on March 6, 2014, should be extended after March 6, 2021 for another year. U.S. sanctions against Russia On March 6, 2014, President Obama signed Executive Order 13660 that authorizes sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, or for stealing the assets of the Ukrainian people. These sanctions put in place restrictions on the travel of certain individuals and officials and showed our continued efforts to impose a cost on Russia and those responsible for the situation in Crimea. Subsequently, Obama, as well as the next U.S. President, Donald Trump, extended and expanded sanctions over the occupation of Crimea and the events in Donbas. On February 26, 2021, when Ukraine marked the Day of Resistance to Russia's Occupation of Crimea, U.S. President Joe Biden said that the U.S. authorities would never recognize Russia's purported annexation of the Crimean peninsula and will stand with Ukraine against Russia's aggressive acts. Reporting by UNIAN At least seven university students died and four were injured on Tuesday when they fell from a fourth floor after a railing broke during a student assembly at the Public University of El Alto, a neighboring city of La Paz, authorities reported. Three students died instantly and the other four died minutes after being admitted to nearby hospitals. Police Commander General Jhonny Aguilera said during a press conference that the deceased are four men and three women between the ages of 21 and 23. In total, 11 students dropped about 16.7 meters, Aguilera said. The remaining four students were admitted into nearby hospitals, three of them in intensive care. Hundreds of students were holding the assembly and crammed in a narrow corridor when the metal railing broke and several of the students fell. Video images showed how students were able to pull back to safety one young woman. The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce sent a message on social media regretting "the tragedy that occurred at the Public University of El Alto (UPEA), where several people died and were injured. Our deepest condolences to the Alteno people and to the bereaved families. We look forward to the early clarification of the facts." Parents are demanding an investigation because the university isn't having any in-person classes due to safety measures to prevent new infections of COVID-19, but the students were summoned to an assembly. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Five years ago, law enforcement asked Genetec, a company closely associated with Homeland Security, to help them develop a public surveillance program which can monitor anyone at the touch of a button. As Wired.com warned Genetecs Citigraf allows police departments to use a combination of surveillance devices to monitor the public 24/7. To get a clear picture of an emergency in progress, officers often had to bushwhack through dozens of byzantine databases and feeds from far-flung sensors, including gunshot detectors, license plate readers, and public and private security cameras. At the click of the INVESTIGATE button, Citigraf gives law enforcement the ability to go through a citys historical police records and live sensor feeds, looking for patterns and connections of person. Wired explains that Citigraf allows police to access a persons address, photographs, license plate number and much more. Once a police officer clicks on INVESTIGATE a long list of possible leads appeared onscreen, including a lineup of individuals previously arrested in the neighborhood for violent crimes, the home addresses of parolees living nearby, a catalog of similar recent 911 calls, photographs and license plate numbers of vehicles that had been detected speeding away from the scene, and video feeds from any cameras that might have picked up evidence of the crime itself, including those mounted on passing buses and trains. This is an incredible admission and one that I have been warning people about for years. All those DHS surveillance cameras being installed on public transit are actually connected to a much larger police surveillance network. (To see how police departments use Genetec to surveil 911 calls click here.) Genetec admits police departments love Citigraf because it gives them access to a wide range of surveillance devices. Public safety is enhanced when city departments work together with the same information. This is why cities of all sizes have started building Strategic Decision Support Centers (SDSCs) using Citigraf. The decision support system consolidates data from a multitude of sensors and provides a dynamic, unified view to all dispatchers and responders so they can take insight-driven decisions during a mission. Is law enforcement on a mission to surveil everyone? Genetecs SDSCs will turn every police officer into a public surveillance operative. SDSC is a crime-fighting nerve center that facilitates decision making through increased intelligence and better understanding. Built using dedicated hardware and software solutions, they are housed in local police departments of big and small cities. Can police use SDCSs to monitor everyone, even school kids? Sadly, the answer is yes. The Putnam City School District in Oklahoma uses SDCS to monitor and surveil every school kid 24/7. Putnam City Schools Police Department works hard to keep everyone safe. Officers monitor schools 24/7 and spend a lot of time conducting investigations and compiling digital evidence for cases. For officers, sharing evidence with the district attorneys office, principals or police is easier and faster. Without leaving their desk, they email recipients a secure link to the case file and video. The whole process is now simple and worry-free. A search of Genetec and school districts revealed that at least five districts including Oklahoma use SDCS to monitor school kids 24/7. (New York, New Jersey, Nebraska and Missouri) Wireds article demonstrates how police departments can use Genetecs surveillance products to create detailed profiles of anyone, even school kids. Giovanni Gaccione told me about one counterterrorism unit, which he wouldnt name, that had used the system to build a detailed profile of a middle-aged unemployed individual with signs of radicalization, using various databases, CCTV, phone records, banking transactions, and other surveillance methods. St. Louis Police Lieutenant Brent Feig admitted in a Q&A with Genetec that Citigraf and SDCS are tied to Homeland Securitys Real-Time Crime Centers. Were partnering with local businesses to implement solutions which will connect back to our real-time crime center, Feig said. It is hard to imagine how law enforcement can justify surveilling school kids 24/7 or innocent people who police claim are showing signs of radicalization. Based on the evidence, it seems like Homeland Securitys desire to use law enforcement to create a vast interconnected web of public surveillance devices is well on its way to completion. Proceeds fully fund next phase of clinic rollouts, boosts processing capacity at Kai Medical and accelerates COVID-19 test revenues across North America VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / EMPOWER CLINICS INC. (CBDT:CSE)(8EC:Frankfurt)(EPWCF:OTCQB) ("Empower" or the "Company") an integrated healthcare company - serving patients through medical centers, telemedicine platforms and a high complexity medical diagnostics laboratory processing thousands of COVID-19 specimens - is pleased to announce the following updates demonstrating the strength of the Company's financial resources and balance sheet. RECEIPT OF MORE THAN $10,500,000 FROM THE EXERCISE OF WARRANTS ALLOWS EMPOWER TO EXECUTE NATIONAL ROLLOUT STRATEGY Empower is pleased to announce the receipt of in excess of $10,500,000 from the exercise of warrants up to March 1, 2021. The Company has received an additional $5,000,000 since the announcement on December 14, 2020 when the Company announced the receipt of approximately $5,500,000. The company is in a strong financial position for continued rapid growth in its business divisions in 2021. This is a direct result of the success of the Company's execution of it's business plan as well as the expectations of continued strong revenue growth from its KAI Medical Laboratory, anticipated revenue from its national Canadian clinics rollouts and COVID-19 test kit sales over the next 12 months. "We are in our best financial position ever and fully funded for this year's ambitious growth plan. We have paid off debt and are achieving our metrics of success across our divisions." says Steven McAuley, Chairman and CEO of Empower. "Despite any short-term stock market activity, our fundamentals remain strong and our long-term path to becoming a major North American health and wellness company is fully intact, accelerating and funded." BALANCE SHEET FURTHER STRENGTHENED THROUGH RETIREMENT OF DEBT The Company has paid in full outstanding long-term debt satisfying obligations to key supporters of the company. "We are fortunate to have support from early investors, who understood our goals, had vision, knowing what it takes to develop a great company. To be able to repay our obligations to them is an honour. Our next great phase begins." said Steven McAuley, Chairman and CEO of Empower This press release is available on the Empower Clinics Verified Forum on AGORACOM for shareholder discussion, questions and engagement with management https://agoracom.com/ir/EmpowerClinics ABOUT EMPOWER: Empower is an integrated healthcare company that provides body and mind wellness for patients through its clinics, with digital and telemedicine care, and world-class medical diagnostics laboratories. Supported by an experienced leadership team, Empower is aggressively growing its clinical and digital presence across the US and Canada. Our Health & Wellness and Diagnostics & Technology business units are positioned to positively impact the integrated health of our patients, while simultaneously providing long term value for our shareholders. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Steven McAuley Chief Executive Officer CONTACTS: Investors: Steven McAuley, CEO s.mcauley@empowerclinics.com 604-789-2146 Investors: Tamara Mason Business Development & Communications t.mason@empowerclinics.com 416-671-5617 DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements can frequently be identified by words such as "plans", "continues", "expects", "projects", "intends", "believes", "anticipates", "estimates", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders as a result of the acquisition of Kai Medical Laboratory; the transaction terms; the expected number of clinics and patients following the closing; the future potential success of Kai Medical Laboratory, Sun Valley's franchise model; the anticipated date of closing of the acquisition and the occurrence thereof; and that the Company will be positioned to be a market-leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2020 and beyond. Such statements are only projections, are based on assumptions known to management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Kai Medical Laboratory acquisition may not be completed on the terms expected or at all; that the Company's products may not work as expected; that the Company may not be able to expand COVID-19 testing; that legislative changes may have an adverse affect on the Company's business and product development; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate financing to pursue its business plan; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; failure to obtain any necessary approvals in connection with the proposed transaction; and other factors beyond the Company's control. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable laws. SOURCE: Empower Clinics Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633444/Empower-Clinics-Receives-More-Than-10500000-From-Exercise-of-Warrants UP eases covid restrictions: Shops allowed to open on weekdays in districts with less than 600 active cases UP Gram Panchayat Elections 2021: Government releases list of reservations for other districts India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Mar 04: Ahead of the three-tier Uttar Pradesh Gram Panchayat Elections 2021 in April, the election authorities have released the reservation list for some of the seats. With this, the candidates now know from where they can contest the State Gram Panchayat Elections 2021. The election authorities released the reservation list for Varanasi, Kannoj, Rampur, Sambhal, Kasganj, Amethi, Moradabad, Meerut, Ballia, Fatehpur, Hardoi, Ghaziabad, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, Bhadohi, Banda, Pratapgarh, Firozabad, and Agra. Coronavirus cases: India reports 17,407 new COVID-19 cases, records below 100 deaths in last 24 hours The government also ordered that the seats which were reserved for the scheduled caste (SCs), scheduled tribe (STs) and other backward classes (OBCs) categories earlier will not be reserved for the same categories this year. "Out of total gram panchayat seats, 330 will be reserved for STs, 12,045 for SCs and 15,712 for OBCs. This reservation is on the basis of the percentage of their population," Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said. It can be noted that the Yogi Adityanath government had nullified the 2015 reservation order of the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government. The order by the Yogi government has now left the prevailing rotational seat reservation in rural local bodies null and void. TN elections 2021: Will Kamal Haasan's entry play trick between Congress-DMK seat-sharing? At present, Uttar Pradesh has 58,194 gram sabhas, in which there are 7,31,813 wards, 75,855 wards in kshetra panchayats, 30,051 wards in 75 Zila panchayats and 826 Vikas khands. Of the 75 Zilla Panchayat Chairmans' posts, 16 have been reserved for SC candidates (including 6 for women) and 20 OBC candidates (including 7 for women), while from the remaining 39 seats for Zila panchayat chiefs, 13 have been reserved for women, leaving 27 unreserved seats. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News Among the 826 posts of kshetra panchayat chiefs, five have been reserved for ST candidates, 171 for SC candidates and 223 for OBC candidates. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. - Crosslake Fibre becomes approved Network Vendor for TMX Group exchanges, including Toronto Stock Exchange - Establishes new network Point-of-Presence in TMX Group's primary data centre - Extension of Crosslake's Velocity low latency fibre route to TMX from the New Jersey Liquidity Triangle TORONTO, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crosslake Fibre, an international network service provider and developer of unique submarine and terrestrial fibre networks, announces today that it has established a network point of presence ('PoP') in TMX Group's primary data centre. The new Velocity 'on ramp' allows Crosslake Fibre to connect TMX Group exchanges, including Toronto Stock Exchange, Canada's premier equities market, into its global financial network and provide clients with key latency and diversity attributes. Crosslake Fibre recently built the fastest and most diverse long-haul route providing connectivity services that interconnect two of the most vital financial markets in the world, Toronto & New York. The new optimised and geographically diverse network delivers sub-9ms round trip delay (RTD) performance between TMX in Toronto and New York City. It also provides unique, diverse routes to other key financial centres including Chicago, London, Paris, and Sao Paulo. Request a Network Map "We are thrilled to be able to provide our customers with connectivity into TMX Group, owner of Canada's premier exchanges," states Mike Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of Crosslake Fibre. "Our Point-of-Presence at TMX Group's co-location facility will reduce latency and enhance the inter-connectivity between two of the financial markets in North America, Toronto and New York." "We're pleased to welcome Crosslake Fibre as a new network vendor," said Sarah Ryerson, President of TMX Datalinx, TMX Group's information services division. "The addition of Crosslake Fibre's network infrastructure at our primary data centre enhances the connectivity options for our co-location clients who provide major financial centres around the world with low latency access to data from our exchanges." The Crosslake Fibre network provides backbone Internet infrastructure that benefits not only financial markets, but also wholesale carriers, cloud service providers and enterprise ecosystems that run high performance-based platforms. Performance is critical whether it be a financial institution trading between TMX Group's exchanges and the New Jersey Liquidity Triangle, or consumers accessing high-bandwidth applications like on-demand video and online gaming. About Crosslake Fibre Crosslake Fibre is a Network Service Provider and developer of fibre-optic networks in North America and Western Europe. Our innovative approach to fibre-optic development is focused on providing wholesale, enterprise, and financial customers with physically diverse, low-latency connectivity over next-generation networks. Visit us at www.crosslakefibre.ca or follow us on Twitter @CrosslakeFibre or LinkedIn or Request a KMZ. Contact: Crosslake Fibre Fergus Innes [email protected] +1 289 715 2514 Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA) 1 866-695-3629 ext. 13 [email protected] SOURCE Crosslake Fibre Related Links https://crosslakefibre.ca/ Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. A reenaction of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. (Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images) 75-Year-Old Retired Teacher in China Sentenced to Jail Again for His Faith A 75-year-old retired Shanghai teacher, Fa Zhengping, was sentenced to jail for 14 months on Feb. 24, for persisting his belief in Falun Gong. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice that involves meditative exercises and moral teachings. The practice grew from a handful of people in 1992 to an estimated 70 million in 1997, and with its emphasis on following the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, it helped Chinese people connect with traditional Chinese culture and values. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took Falun Gong as a threat because of its rapidly growing popularity, and launched a brutal persecution against the practice on July 20, 1999. Prior to this latest sentencing, Fa had been detained three times for a total of seven years since 2001, while also being tortured. On Feb. 16, 2020, he was once again dragged into a police van and taken away. Six or seven police officers wearing masks and protective clothing broke into his home in Pudong New District, after Fa had been reported distributing Falun Gong informational materials about Falun Gong and the persecution that are otherwise unavailable in China, according to a Feb. 28 report by Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that reports on the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Fa was fined for 2,000 yuan ($310) and detained for more than a year at the Shanghai Pudong New District Detention Center, the report said. Extremely Tragic Injuries After being repeatedly tortured, insulted, forced to endure prolonged starvation, force-feeding, and sleep deprivation in the past two decades, Fa suffered extremely tragic injuries both physically and mentally, he told Minghui prior to his latest arrest. In the summer when it was hot, I [was forced to wear] a thick sweater and a down jacket, bound with restraint straps, with my wrists being tightly tied with a thin rope, for over 20 days continuously. I suffered it twice, he recalled. Fa was once tied onto the iron fence with seven ropes. [The skin on] both of my thighs and all my lower body, including my toes, were in a black and purple granite pattern. I cannot lift my forearms up. The constant stabbing pain of being shocked by four high-voltage electric batons at a time made him numb and unable to move. I almost lost my hearing. My vision, memory, and thinking ability drastically reduced, Fa said. He repeatedly fell unconscious and fell over. When asked to give a blood sample, he noted that his blood appeared dark. It looks like tomato juice laced with soy sauce. In Prison for Over Eight Years The retired teacher from Shanghai Yangjing Middle School started practicing Falun Gong in late 1995. Since the CCP launched a systematic campaign to try to eliminate Falun Gong in July 1999, millions of people have been detained in prisons, labor camps, black jails, brainwashing centers, mental institutions, and other detention facilities. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. While the CCP has tried to eliminate Falun Gong, they try to break a persons will and have him renounce his spiritual practice and return to the path of communism. When Fa was initially arrested in May 2001, he refused to denounce his faith and was put into a forced labor camp for two years. On April 6, 2005, he was taken away again and detained in Shanghai No.3 Forced Labor Camp for another two years. On Dec. 16, 2008, he was arrested for a third time and given a three-year sentence in prison in Shanghais Tilanqiao Prison. Still, Fa did not stop practicing Falun Gong and continued to tell other Chinese people about the regimes persecution as he had done before. Falun Dafa is good, he told the police who intruded into his home in February 2020, before being taken away and held for the past year. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Patricia Bailey, 71, allegedly harassed cosmetic expert Dr Phillippe Hamada-Pisal A millionairess accused of terrorising the celebrity dermatologist who treated her eyebrows in a campaign of harassment allegedly asked him: 'Did you sleep well without me?'. Property developer Patricia Bailey, 71, allegedly harassed cosmetic expert Dr Phillippe Hamada-Pisal between October 2019 and February last year. Dr Hamada-Pisal today claimed Bailey followed him home and turned up at his Harley Street clinic unannounced following her CryoLED therapy. The doctor, who founded PHP Aesthetics, told Westminster Magistrates' Court he met Bailey after she got in touch to request more information about the treatment in 2019. He said: 'She wanted to have more information about this treatment. When Ms Bailey calls you it's a monologue. 'The treatment was an eye cream penetrating the skin to reduce the eyebrows. It is a beauty treatment, not a medical treatment.' Dr Hamada-Pisal said Bailey insisted the treatment, which 'could have been done by a beautician', was carried out by himself, and the appointment was booked for August. He told the court the initial consultation 'went great', and she agreed to book three sessions of the treatment at three or four-week intervals at his advice. 'The first treatment in early August went really well. She was really pleased and she saw results straight away and booked a second treatment for the end of August,' Dr Hamada-Pisal said. 'The second treatment went really well, she was happy.' However, her third treatment was later postponed on the day because Dr Hamada-Pisel was running late and Bailey needed to catch a train to Liverpool, the court heard. In the following days, Bailey complained of discomfort to her eyes and a 'drooping lower face,' and wanted to find out if it was a result of the two previous treatments. Dr Hamada-Pisal (pictured), a French skincare guru, founded PHP Aesthetics where stars have been treated Dr Hamada-Pisal today told Westminster Magistrates' Court Bailey had followed him home and turned up at his Harley Street clinic unannounced following her CryoLED therapy Dr Hamada-Pisal told her this was unlikely, but cancelled the third appointment. He then offered her a free alternative on the basis that she modelled for students who had travelled from Jordan to watch him work. 'She had no finance to pay for it so I mentioned to her if she wanted to be part of the model scheme,' he said. 'On Tuesday, October 15 she had free treatment worth 800. She was very happy and gave me a flyer about the mystic things that she's doing.' Dr Hamada-Pisal said in the following days he received several messages from Bailey. 'She said that she was over the moon, that she never met someone like me, that I was great, ' he said. 'Then on November 3 she sent me a message saying: "Did you sleep well without me?"' Bailey denied sending this text. Another message sent on the same day allegedly read: 'Darling Philippe I don't remember anyone being as kind of me, you are so special and unique.' Dr Hamada-Pisal said: 'I thought now that was too much and I had to put my foot down and say this situation is going too far and I think she's got the wrong understanding. 'It was a flirt, she was flirting and she definitely thought I could have an affair. 'I responded that due to the nature of the messages I will not be able to see her as a patient anymore, then it turned 360 degrees following my response. 'She suddenly had a lot of issues about the treatment.' Bailey sent several voice messages between November 4 and 9 after the doctor explained he could no longer treat her, the court heard. The doctor, who founded PHP Aesthetics, told the court he met Bailey following a phone call in 2019 when she got in touch to request more information about the treatment 'She said I destroyed her face, I destroyed her life, she can't see herself in the mirror, that I am responsible and she wants me to sort out this error,' Dr Hamada-Pisal said. 'Following this long message I responded saying if she had any issue she was welcome to send me pictures so I could assess it. 'This wasn't acknowledged and she never responded to this request. She carried on with her monologue insulting me verbally saying I destroyed her face. 'She never responded to my request to book another appointment. She sent a lot of voice messages mocking my French accent. 'I said if she's concerned please book an appointment with a colleague of mine because I don't want to see her on my own.' On November 25, Bailey allegedly turned up outside the clinic without an appointment while the doctor was in Paris. The court heard she then went to his apartment on February 5 last year. Dr Hamada-Pisal said: 'I felt very uncomfortable, it was very frightening because for me as a medic there is something wrong with this behaviour. 'Someone following you home is not right.' Giving evidence today, Bailey claimed she left the messages for Dr Hamada-Pisal because his Harley Street receptionist warned her the treatment could make her go blind. She said: 'On October 17, two days after the surgery, he called me. He didn't say "Hello how are you," he said: "Patricia I expect your face is so badly bruised." 'I said Philippe, I'm so glad you called because my face is so blown up so raw and lopsided. 'It was horrific everyone that knew me in Liverpool couldn't believe how horrific the effects of his treatment which were supposed to be safe.' Bailey said she asked for an appointment that day, but he suggested the following week instead. Then, on October 22, Bailey said she called him 'in pieces'. She told the court: 'He cried, I cried and I'm not a crier, we cried together. He said can I call you this evening, I said please yes let's discuss this. 'He never called. I'm beside myself. What's was this man playing at?' Later, following several calls and text messages, Bailey claims she attended the clinic on November 1 at around 5pm to find it closed. She then spoke to a receptionist who allegedly told her 'someone else who had the same treatment almost went blind and had to have emergency surgery on their eyes.' 'After that shattering horrific news I couldn't take it on board, I couldn't cope,' Bailey said. Bailey said before she learned of the alleged flaw in the treatment, she and the doctor had got on well. 'I thought I had the perfect connection with this gentlemen who was all enthralled by what I was saying,' she said. 'He said he was a French catholic and very pro-women at the first appointment, and that's what I told my priest.' Bailey's defence lawyer Daniel Cavaglieri said today: 'I invite you to draw a distinction between before and after the 3 November. That was the only time that he told Ms Bailey he was unhappy about any of her behaviour or contact. 'He accepts he is flirting with her. Flirting and the comments he made are not within the boundaries of a doctor patient relationship. 'Prior to the 3 November it went both ways. Her comments, calling him darling all the rest of it have to be viewed in the way he was behaving towards her. It wasn't strictly professional. 'Afterwards she doesn't refer to him as darling. That stops. The rest of the messages are about complaints. None of it was inappropriate. They are all legal complaints.' Bailey, from Liverpool, denies harassement. The trial continues. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Co said on Thursday it is considering building a second battery factory in the United States with South Korean joint-venture partner LG Chem Ltd. The largest U.S. automaker confirmed it is "exploring the feasibility of constructing a second, state of the art battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States" with LG's battery unit LG Energy Solution, via its Ultium Cells LLC joint venture. GM said it hopes to have a decision by June. Its shares were up 0.8% at $53.07 at midday. GM and LG Chem are in advanced talks with Tennessee officials to build the plant, which is expected to be located near GM's Spring Hill assembly plant, two people briefed on the matter said. It would be similar in scope to its $2.3 billion joint-venture battery plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which is under construction, the sources said. GM said in October it would invest $2 billion in Spring Hill to build electric vehicles, including the Cadillac Lyriq. The Detroit automaker said last year it was investing $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles over the next five years, up from $20 billion planned before COVID-19. One source said GM expects to need additional battery plants - beyond the one set for Tennessee - to meet aggressive EV targets through the end of the decade. GM unveiled a bold aspiration in January to halt sales of all light-duty gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2035. Thursday's announcement came a day after the disclosure that the U.S. Transportation Department will analyze the impact of an electric vehicle battery trade ruling against SK Innovation Co Ltd on President Joe Biden's green transportation goals in an ongoing trade fight with LG Chem. LG Chem's battery unit, LG Energy Solution, said in a statement it was in talks to make further investments with GM, but could not disclose the specifics. "LG Energy Solution is also planning additional capacity expansion for other global OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) located in the U.S.," it said. GM and LG Chem's vehicle battery-cell joint-venture plant in Ohio will be one of the world's largest battery facilities. The plant, being built near GM's closed assembly plant in Lordstown, will accelerate the automaker's plan to introduce 30 new electric vehicles (EVs) globally by 2025. GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra has said the company wants to exceed its prior target of annual sales of 1 million EVs in the United States and China by 2025. Most battery manufacturing is currently concentrated in Asia and Europe, while Tesla Inc largely controls most U.S. battery production. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington, Rachit Vats in Bengaluru and Heekyong Yang in Seoul; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-05 00:30:50|Editor: Liu Video Player Close The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC. Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the session. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body opened its annual session Thursday afternoon in Beijing. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held at the Great Hall of the People. At the meeting, the agenda for the session was reviewed and approved. Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the session. Noting that the year 2020 marks an extraordinary year in the history of the People's Republic of China, Wang said the CPPCC National Committee and its standing committee, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, have fulfilled the duties centering on the coordination of epidemic control and economic and social development, making active contributions to the accomplishment of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) tasks. Wang summarized the work of the CPPCC National Committee last year, saying that national committee members had faithfully performed their duties, and consolidated unity and cooperation. The year 2021 marks the centenary of the CPC and the beginning of a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country, Wang said. For the CPPCC's work in 2021, Wang called for efforts to focus on the centenary of the CPC to strengthen the theoretical and political guidance, concentrate on serving the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) to improve the effectiveness of consultation, further pool the wisdom and strength, and improve work performance. The CPPCC, as a special consultative body, is an integral part of China's governance system. The CPPCC is an important mechanism and special governance platform for the CPC to lead the Chinese people in developing socialist democracy and ensure the good governance of China, Wang said. He called for strengthening the development of the special consultative body and further transforming the advantages of the CPPCC system into efficient state governance. Attendees were also briefed on the handling of proposals submitted by political advisors. A total of 5,974 proposals have been submitted since the previous annual session of the top political advisory body. Of the 5,044 proposals filed, 99.64 percent have been handled, said Gu Shengzu, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, when delivering a report on the proposals. Enditem In this advertising feature, Checklist has compiled 10 companies who can help you get the most out of your business and advise you when you need a helping hand... This is paid content. Readers are advised to do their own research and take professional advice if suitable before acting on any information. Take your business global while maintaining privacy The London Office Since the pandemic began, many companies have shifted to a working from home model for the foreseeable future, waving goodbye to their former premises. 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Judge Orders New Election After 78 Percent of Mail-In Ballots Found Invalid, Notary Arrested A Mississippi judge ordered a new runoff election for a local election in Aberdeen after more than three-quarters of absentee ballots cast in the June Democratic runoff election were found to be invalid, while a notary involved in the election was arrested. Judge Jeff Weill, in a 64-page order, said that there is evidence of fraud and criminal activity in how absentee ballots were handled, how they were counted, and actions from individuals at polling places during the runoff election held in Aberdeen, Mississippi. As a result, a new runoff election for the Ward 1 alderman seat is necessary, reported WCBI. The judge ruled that 66 of 84 absentee ballots that were cast in the election, or around 78 percent, should have never been counted, according to WCBI. Nicholas Holliday was declared the winner of the alderman seat by 37 votes, while challenger Robert Devaull contested the results in court. The court is of the opinion there is probable cause that several individuals involved in the disturbances during election day at the polling precinct willfully and corruptly violated one or more of the above criminal statutes, according to the judge. The court will leave to the appropriate authorities to determine whether the actions of Maurice Howard, Henry Randle and S. Nicholas Holliday amounted to prosecutable crimes, the court filings also said, referring to Police Chief Henry Randle and former Mayor Maurice Howard, who Weill said were involved in intimidation and harassment at the polling police on Election Day, according to evidence. Notary Dallas Jones in a booking photo. (Monroe County Sheriffs Department) Meanwhile, Weill ordered a separate bench warrant and set bond for $500 for Dallas Jones, who notarized the absentee ballots in question, reported the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. She was later released on bond, reports said. According to court documents, Jones said she admitted that she violated her notary duties and allegedly said she assisted an individual or individuals that flaunted the states voter fraud law. Jones testified in a hearing that she was called to the home of then Alderwoman Lady Garth to correct the womans fathers absentee ballot paperwork. Jones said she notarized about 30 something ballots, WCBI reported, adding that the judge found that 83 regular ballots were counted without being initialed by election workers. The court filings said that another notary, Lu Stephens, made testimony that was determined not to be believable, according to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. The judge noted that other irregularities were noted, including ballot box integrity and not certifying the election in a timely manner. When you have an absentee ballot, theres an envelope, you vote, fold the ballot, put it in an envelope, lick the flap, sign across the flap, then notary signs your election certificate, she testified that she didnt sign in front of anybody, didnt see anybody sign it, she just notarized it, just stamped them, said Lydia Quarles, an attorney for Robert Devaull, told WCBI. An attorney for Holliday told WCBI that they will explore all the legal remedies afforded to Mr. Holliday under the law including but not limited to a request for the Court to reconsider its findings; a judgment notwithstanding the verdict or new trial; or the appellate process. San Francisco resident Brad Tardy was preparing for an interview with KPIX-TV news reporter Don Ford on Wednesday for a story on crime in his Twin Peaks neighborhood when they were robbed at gunpoint. As they were standing at Twin Peaks Boulevard and Burnett Avenue in the middle of the afternoon, a white luxury car with four men pulled up next to them and three men hopped out, one of them holding a gun, KPIX reported. "He points it right at Don," Tardy said. "He says, 'Im taking this camera.' We all stood there, frozen for a little bit. One of the other guys grabbed the camera. He starts heading back to the car, while the guy with the gun is still pointing it at all of us. The third guy gets into the back seat first, the other guy gets into the back seat and then tries to put the camera and the tripod in the back seat. Its so big he cant get the door closed. Hes still pointing the gun at me." Tardy added, "Isnt that ironic? Of all the things, literally, were doing a report on a crime in neighborhood and we get held up at gunpoint." Ford recounted the incident in a KPIX report. My whole thought at the moment was be calm," he said. "Lets not get this guy excited. Hes got the gun. I dont. So you take you the camera. Its yours, buddy. The robbery happened at about 12:35 p.m., police said. The police department said the camera was later recovered. No arrests have been made and the investigation remains active, police said. The incident occurred after the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors voted Tuesday to compromise on proposed changes to the traffic flow on Twin Peaks Boulevard, settling on a partially car-free option. The Burnett Avenue gate will remain closed to traffic except for emergency vehicles, bicycles, walkers and skaters, while the Portola Drive access will reopen for all-day use by motor vehicles. Car travelers will be able to again use the Christmas Tree Road parking lot and viewing area. The eastern side of the figure-eight road will remain car-free, which it was even before the pandemic. The roads have been mostly closed to traffic since March 2020, including to tour buses, which frequently utilized the area for its scenic views. READ MORE: Twin Peaks won't go entirely car-free, SFMTA opts for compromise instead Tardy lives near the gate and he is part of a group of neighbors in favor of opening the gate as crime has increased in the neighborhood since its closure. He explained that tourists are parking below the gate, leaving laptops and bags in their cars, and criminals are seizing on the opportunity and breaking into the cars in smash-and-grabs. "These rings of car break-ins have been going on for months," he said. "They break into cars in front of us all day long and steal the stuff." Tardy spoke at the meeting where he said 55 others spoke. "Seventy percent of them said they wanted to see the Burnett gate open," he said. "I told them during my 90 seconds of speaking: We live in fear every time we walk out our door. And today, I get held up at gunpoint right outside my house. This is all because they closed the road and forced the parking lot to be in front of my house. District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman called the robbery "ridiculous and unacceptable" on Twitter. "We need to adequately resource public safety agencies, adopt better strategies to stop repeat offenders and make clear that San Francisco is not a place that you can commit crimes and put people's lives at risk with impunity," Mandelman wrote. Bay City News and SFGATE reporter Tessa McLean contributed to this story. Syria: Red Cross, 10 years of a population's agony '13 million people need humanitarian aid' (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, 04 MAR - Ten years after the start of the war in Syria, more than half of the Syrian population needs humanitarian assistance, described by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) as "the agony" of a entire population. This picture emerged on Thursday from data presented during an online press conference with SARC President Khaled Hboutbati, Red Cross President Peter Maurer, and IFRC President Francesco Rocca. The popular anti-government protests that broke out in Syria in the spring 10 years ago were put down in a bloody repression and then turned into armed violence on a national scale, gradually involving regional and international parties. It is estimated that about a half-million people have been killed in the conflict still underway, and that about half of the 20 million Syrians who in 2011 made up the total population have been forced to leave their homes as refugees abroad or internally displaced people. Amidst this situation, Hboubati recalled "the agony" in which millions of Syrians live, afflicted by an unprecedented economic crisis aggravated by international sanctions and repercussions caused by the pandemic. But Covid-19 is perhaps one of the last concerns for many Syrians. According to SARC, ICRC and IFRC, 13 million people in Syria need humanitarian aid and eight of these don't manage to satisfy their basic needs tied to food, medical care and basic education. Hboubati, in Damascus, said that is why for many Syrians it is a "luxury" to procure face masks and disinfectants. On this point, Rocca recalled that anti-Covid prevention measures, such as social distancing, are nearly impossible to adopt in many Syrian environments. He also highlighted how the economic crisis has increased the number of Syrians exposed to food insecurity. "Today there are more needy Syrians than five years ago," said the president of IFRC. On this Hboubati said that "food prices have increased by 236% in recent years" and that this has pushed 11 million Syrians to the brink, who before the economic crisis were not considered at risk for food. He said today, a half-million children in Syria suffer from chronic malnutrition. The president of SARC added that in Syria, each day is becoming "a question of survival or death". (ANSAmed). The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below [March 04, 2021] First Responder and Airbeam Wireless Technologies Enter into Definitive Amalgamation Agreement /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ VANCOUVER, BC, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - First Responder Technologies Inc. ("First Responder" or the "Company") (CSE: WPN | OTCQB: WPNNF | FWB: 3WK), a leading developer of public safety and security technologies, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement dated March 2, 2021 (the "Amalgamation Agreement") with Airbeam Wireless Technologies Inc. ("Airbeam") in respect of a proposed reverse take-over transaction (the "Proposed Transaction"). The Proposed Transaction will constitute a "fundamental change" for the Company pursuant to the rules and policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Proposed Transaction is an arm's length transaction. Upon successful completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is anticipated that the resulting entity (the "Resulting Issuer") will focus primarily on the business of Airbeam under the name "Airbeam Technologies Inc." or such other name determined by the parties. About Airbeam Airbeam is a private company existing under the laws of British Columbia and is based in Richmond, British Columbia. There are currently 69,498,917 common shares in the capital of Airbeam (the "Airbeam Shares") (including 4,500,000 restricted shares) and 669,999 common share purchase warrants outstanding ("Airbeam Warrants"). Airbeam is a developer of 5G-enabled Smart City technologies, which sells a proprietary 60 GHz millimeter wave chipset, hardware and software, which cost in excess of $110 million USD to develop by a leading semiconductor company from which it was acquired. As of the date hereof, Airbeam has not prepared financial statements. Airbeam is in the process of preparing audited financial statements and will provide a summary of significant financial information in due course. Proposed Transaction Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, the parties plan to complete a three-cornered amalgamation whereby a newly incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary of First Responder ("First Responder Subco") will amalgamate with Airbeam, and First Responder will acquire all of the outstanding Airbeam Shares. The shareholders of Airbeam will receive common shares of First Responder (the "First Responder Shares") in exchange for their Airbeam Shares, resulting in a reverse takeover of First Responder by the Airbeam shareholders. The amalgamated corporation resulting from the amalgamation of First Responder Subco and Airbeam will be wholly-owned by the Resulting Issuer. Subject to adjustment as described in the Amalgamation Agreement, it is intended that First Responder Shares will be issued to holders of Airbeam Shares on the basis of 9.78 First Responder Shares for every one (1) Airbeam Share (the "Exchange Ratio"), resulting in the issuance of 679,699,408 First Responder Shares to the shareholders of Airbeam. Upon closing of the Proposed Transaction, the Airbeam Warrants will cease to represent a right to acquire Airbeam Shares and will provide the holder the right to acquire First Responder Shares, all in accordance with the adjustment provisions provided in the certificates representing the Airbeam Warrants, subject to the Exchange Ratio. In lieu of the foregoing Exchange Ratio, the parties may effect the same capitalization through a consolidation of the existing First Responder Shares. The Amalgamation Agreement also contemplates other material conditions precedent to the closing of the Proposed Transaction (the "Closing"), including the completion of the Bridge Financing (as defined below), the completion of the Concurrent Financing (as defined below), compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and receipt of all necessary regulatory, corporate, third-party and shareholder approvals being obtained, including the approval of the Exchange (or such other exchange on which application to list the First Responder Shares may be made). There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed, or at all. There is no assurance that the Resulting Issuer will be able to satisfy the listing requirements of the Exchange (or such other exchange on which application to list the First Responder Shares may be made). The Closing will involve, among others, the following steps: completion of the Bridge Financing; completion of the Concurrent Financing; receipt of all shareholder and regulatory approvals relating to the Proposed Transaction and the Concurrent Financing, including, without limitation, the approval of the Exchange (or such other exchange on which application to list the First Responder Shares may be made); and each of the parties shall have executed, delivered and performed their respective covenants as outlined in the Amalgamation Agreement, and all representations and warranties of each party contained in the Amalgamation Agreement shall be true and correct at the time of Closing. The First Responder Shares to be issued pursuant to the Proposed Transaction will be issued pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities legislation. Certain of the First Responder Shares issuable pursuant to the Proposed Transaction may be subject to the escrow requirements of the Exchange and to hold periods as required by applicable securities laws. The Company and Airbeam, as applicable, may pay finder's fees in connection with the Bridge Financing, the Concurrent Financing and the Proposed Transaction up to the maximum permitted under the policies of the Exchange. Bridge Financing In connection with the Proposed Transaction, First Responder plans to complete on a private placement basis a financing of 10% unsecured convertible debentures ("First Responder Convertible Debentures") to be priced in the context of the market for gross proceeds not to exceed $1,000,000 (the "Bridge Financing"). Subject to and concurrent with the closing of the Proposed Transaction, the First Responder Cnvertible Debentures will be deemed to be exercised, without payment of any additional consideration and without any further action by the holder thereof, for units (the "First Responder Bridge Units") at a conversion price per First Responder Bridge Unit equal to a 20% discount to the First Responder securities or Airbeam securities, as applicable, to be issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing. Each First Responder Bridge Unit to be issued upon deemed exercise of the First Responder Convertible Debentures will consist of one (1) First Responder Share and one-half of one share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "First Responder Warrant"). Each First Responder Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one First Responder Share at an exercise price equal to a 25% premium to the First Responder securities or Airbeam securities, as applicable, to be issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing, for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance. A portion of the foregoing financing may be completed directly by Airbeam for such amount of gross proceeds as the parties, acting reasonably, may agree, and which shall be on substantially the same terms as the Bridge Financing, in which case the gross proceeds raised by First Responder pursuant to the Bridge Financing shall be reduced in the same amount. Concurrent Financing In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Airbeam and First Responder will seek to arrange for the completion of a private placement of Airbeam securities or First Responder securities, as may be agreed upon by the parties, to be priced in the context of the market but in no event less than the offering price of the Bridge Financing, for minimum gross proceeds of $25,000,000 as further described in the Amalgamation Agreement (the "Concurrent Financing"). The Concurrent Financing will be structured as a common share offering, a subscription receipt offering, a special warrant offering, a convertible debenture offering or such other security offering as determined by the parties based on discussions with investors. Upon closing of the Proposed Transaction, all securities of Airbeam issued in connection with the Concurrent Financing, if applicable, will automatically be exchanged for securities of First Responder in accordance with the Exchange Ratio. The Resulting Issuer Summary of Proposed Directors It is currently anticipated that certain of the current officers and directors of the Company will resign from their respective positions with the Company. Following the Closing, the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer will consist of seven (7) directors, four (4) of which will be nominees of Airbeam and three (3) of which will be nominees of the Company. Dr. Karim Arabi, current Chairman of Airbeam, is expected to become the Chairman of the Resulting Issuer. Mr. Wayne Lloyd, current President of Airbeam, and Erin Campbell, current director of First Responder, and Yan Zhang are also expected to become directors of the Resulting Issuer. Robert Delamar is expected to be Chief Executive Officer and a director the Resulting Issuer. Michael Malana is expected to be Chief Financial Officer, but not a director of the Resulting Issuer. Naresh Singhal is expected to be Chief Technology Officer, but not a director of the Resulting Issuer. Brief descriptions for certain of the expected directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer are provided in the Company's news release dated November 30, 2020, copies of which are available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The following is a brief description of the remaining expected directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer who have been identified as of the date hereof: Yan Zhang Director Dr. Zhang co-founded several high technology firms in networking, IOT, fintech, blockchain, and e-commerce. In addition to AirBeam, Dr. Zhang built DappWorks, a leader in IOT blockchain and trusted computing; and Consensus Core Technologies Inc., a private company focusing on building digital infrastructure. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Dr. Zhang took multiple senior roles in engineering, marketing, sales, and operations in the Canadian branches of Fortune 500 companies like Philips and Schneider, as well as Canada and Silicon Valley venture firms like Soraa and Cooledge. Dr. Zhang obtained his Ph.D. degree from Simon Fraser University and B.S. from Tsinghua University, majoring in Semiconductor and Optoelectronics. He has published more than 10 papers in top journals and conferences and has 50 patents authorized or pending in IOT, blockchain, telecommunications, and smart cities. Michael Malana Chief Financial Officer Michael Malana is the Chief Financial Officer and a Director of First Responder. He holds the position of chief financial officer for WPD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., chief financial officer and secretary for GrowMax Resources Corp., and chief financial officer and secretary for Nortec Minerals Corp. Mr. Malana is also on the board of Micron Waste Technologies, Inc. Mr. Malana previously occupied the position of chief financial officer and secretary of Karam Minerals, Inc., chief financial officer for Patriot One Technologies, Inc., controller for China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd., chief financial officer and secretary of Orca Touchscreen Technologies Ltd., chief financial officer of Sunward Resources Ltd. and chief financial officer and secretary of Apivio Systems, Inc. Mr. Malana has over 15 years of experience in the administration, accounting and corporate reporting for public companies having served as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary with several publicly listed companies. Mr. Malana is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from Concordia University. Further details concerning the management and directors of the Resulting Issuer will be provided in the disclosure document to be prepared and filed in respect of the Proposed Transaction. Trading in First Responder Shares Trading in the Company's shares has been halted in compliance with the policies of the Exchange. Trading in the Company's shares will remain halted pending the review of the Proposed Transaction by the Exchange and satisfaction of the conditions of the Exchange for resumption of trading. It is likely that trading in the shares of the Company will not resume prior to Closing. Disclosure and Caution Further details about the Proposed Transaction, financial information regarding Airbeam, the Bridge Financing, the Concurrent Financing and the Resulting Issuer will be provided in the disclosure document to be prepared and filed in respect of the Proposed Transaction. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the disclosure document, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. All information provided in this press release relating to Airbeam has been provided by management of Airbeam and has not been independently verified by management of the Company. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities of the Company have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Robert F. Delamar" Robert F. Delamar, CEO First Responder Technologies Inc. 915 - 700 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC. V6C 1G8 info@firstrespondertech.com +1-604-227-9821 About First Responder Technologies Inc. First Responder Technologies Inc. is a technology development company that commercializes academic and internally developed intellectual property for use in the public safety market. The Company is developing a WiFi-based technology, based in part, on academic research licensed from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey that can be used to detect concealed weapons. The Company's threat detection technology line of business was created to capture a significant portion of the global weapons detection systems market, and in particular, the global perimeter security detection market. In the Company's view, WiFibased threat detection technology may be utilized by a wide range of facilities, including schools, places of worship, shopping centres and theatres, to not only make their premises secure, but also reduce their cost of security, from the interior of a facility to the perimeter. For more information visit: www.firstrespondertech.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information, including statements relating to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the proposed business of the Resulting Issuer, the completion of the Bridge Financing, the completion of the Concurrent Financing, the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer, shareholder, director and regulatory approvals, and future press releases and disclosure. Forwardlooking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forwardlooking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forwardlooking information. The actual results of the Company, Airbeam or the Resulting Issuer could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company and Airbeam operate, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company or Airbeam's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company and Airbeam. Each of the Company and Airbeam believe that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forwardlooking information contained in this news release represents the Company and Airbeam's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. Each of the Company and Airbeam disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE First Responder Technologies Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Interior Minister Lucian Bode said on Thursday that an investigation will be conducted in the events that took place at Precinct 16, according to AGERPRES. "The act took place in September 2020; all the legal procedures followed, a case was opened in rem, and yesterday's decision to detain eight of the nine suspects, given the accusations brought against them, is from my point the right one. It is unacceptable for you to behave in such a way that you wear a police uniform. Of course an investigation will follow; we will see exactly what the evidence is, but if one percent of what was publicly said is real, these individuals do not honour the police uniform," Bode said at the Henri Coanda Airport, at an event organised by the Border Police. He gave assurances that the Romanian Police will modernise, will coldly analyse what happened at Onesti, at Precinct 16 in Bucharest and other instances and will modernise its legislation. "And I will never say slippages like the one at Precinct 16 equal a fundamental institution of the Romanian state, such as the Romanian Police," the minister added. On Wednesday, eight officers of Precinct 16 Bucharest were detained by prosecutors with the Bucharest Tribunal for unlawful deprivation of liberty and torture, being accused of having battered two young people in the Eroii Revolutiei area last September. According to a statement by the Bucharest Prosecutor's Office, another police officer is being investigated under judicial control for complicity in torture. In September 2020, two young people complained that they had been beaten by the police in the Eroii Revolutiei area, after telling the officers that they were not wearing a protective mask and were issuing unreasonable fines. One of the young men complained that the policemen handcuffed him and hit him with a police baton, fists and feet, after which they put him in a police van and took him to a nearby field at Jilava, where he was allegedly tortured. PETAH TIKVA (dpa-AFX) - The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation against Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) to assess whether it has illegally delayed the market entry and uptake of medicines that compete with its blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone. The Commission will investigate whether Teva has abused a dominant market position in breach of EU antitrust rules. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic illness affecting the daily lives of more than half a million Europeans requiring life-long treatment. Copaxone, Teva's best selling drug, is widely used for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and contains the active pharmaceutical ingredient glatiramer acetate. The commission said it is paramount to preserve healthy competition in the market for available drugs that aim at slowing down multiple sclerosis and improving patients' quality of life as humanity has not yet found a treatment for this disease, which remains incurable. If proven, Teva's behaviour may amount to an abuse of dominant position and infringe Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 54 of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. 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. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tractable, the AI company accelerating recovery from accidents and natural disasters, announces today that former Microsoft CFO and Ignition Partners Managing Partner, John Connors, has joined its Board of Directors. Connors brings over 30 years of experience as a builder, leader and advisor of high-growth companies in North America. At Microsoft, he led several worldwide divisions, including finance, information technology, worldwide operations and the enterprise sales group. More recently, at Ignition Partners he invests in and serves as a board member of high-growth tech companies, including Splunk and Icertis, and is a 15-year member of the Nike Inc. board. His experience in building enterprise businesses in the US will help Tractable grow and scale as it brings its AI solutions to an even wider international audience. Already, 20 of the world's largest companies - including LKQ Corp., Tokio Marine, MS&AD, Covea, PZU and Ageas - use Tractable's AI to accelerate accident recovery, and the company plans to significantly increase its impact in North America in 2021 by announcing new US customers, along with new applications of its technology within the collision industry. As a member of the board, Connors will advise Tractable's leadership on product development and delivery, market expansion, and growth planning. Mr Connors said: "Tractable has become the global leader in accelerating visual assessments with AI, growing exceptionally quickly as companies achieve the efficiencies that its solutions create. I'm looking forward to helping the founders build a global tech champion that's applying cutting-edge technology to established problems, and restoring many more people's livelihoods more quickly in the process." In 2020, Tractable more than doubled its revenue and customer base, despite the impact of Covid on global markets, and grown in size from 90 employees to over 170. After completing its $25m Series C funding round in February 2020, bringing the total raised to $55m, the company now has offices in London, New York and Tokyo, as well as staff in France, Germany, Spain and Thailand. The addition of Connors comes as Tractable is exploring further traction with North American insurers and repairers. While Tractable's AI is already widely applied by insurers to auto claims, and has already processed over $1bn of claims across the world, the company will also use its technology to create new efficiencies within the repair industry - for example, by using AI to accelerate how quickly car parts can be recycled and reused - and outside of it, such as in helping recovery from property damage. Alex Dalyac, Tractable co-founder and chief executive, said: "We are honored to welcome John Connors, the former CFO of Microsoft, to the Tractable Board. We are already feeling his drive to build a software company of consequential scale. And I suppose that to all the Terminator fans out there, this is the alternate reality where John Connor(s) is proactively bringing AI to the real world!" About Tractable: Tractable develops artificial intelligence for accident and disaster recovery. Its AI solutions have been deployed by leading insurers across Europe, North America and Asia to accelerate accident recovery for hundreds of thousands of households. Tractable is backed by $55m in venture capital and has offices in London, New York City and Tokyo. About Ignition Partners: Ignition Partners is a top-tier venture capital firm focused on early-stage enterprise software startups with offices in Bellevue, WA and Los Altos, CA. In making investments and helping entrepreneurs build world-class companies, Ignition leverages decades of operating experience and enterprise relationships that have a global reach. Ignition has a track record of backing category-defining companies such as Splunk, DocuSign, Cloudera, Heroku, Parse, Xamarin and Xensource. More recently, our investments in Archipelago, Aviatrix, Botkeeper, Icertis, Jupiter Intelligence, Symend, and Tractable reflect our deep conviction around ML-enabled vertical industry transformation. SOURCE Tractable Related Links https://tractable.ai The Perspective Atlanta, Georgia March 4, 2021 Senator-Elect Brownie J. Samukai of Lofa County In Liberias democratic form of governance, the Constitution is the supreme and fundamental law of the country and its provisions are binding, have force, and effect on all authorities and persons throughout the Republic. Whats concerning is the institution, Justice Ministry, assigned the obligation to ensure truth, justice, and integrity is found in violation with an impunity-a case in point is the pickle of The Liberian Senate, Justice Ministry, and Samukais Senatorial win. The recent midterm Senatorial election under the presidency of George Weah, held on the 8th of December, 2020, has revealed some fundamental issues of governance involving actors within the three branches of government over Lofa County Senator-elect Brownie J Samukai: the Justice Minister and Solicitor Generals communications to the National Elections Commissioners, and the Liberian Senates exercise of oversight into the matter. In discussions concerning governance issues, the questions stand are; firstly, whether the Ministry of Justice or appointees have any color of authority to mandate the child of the constitution, the National Elections Commission, NEC not to certificate the winner of the Lofa county senatorial election or stop any of its constitutional functions? Secondly, stemming from the action of the Ministry of Justice before the Liberian Senate, did he commit perjury, a felony of the third degree by any inconsistent statement or lying under oath on whether he knew or directed the Solicitor General of Liberia to write the National Elections Commission, NEC. The third issue is the Legislature, specifically the Senate, whether the Liberian Senates vote requesting Justice Minister and the Solicitor General to withdraw their communication to the National Elections Commission was a punishment for perjury?? The Solicitor General and Ministers Letter to NEC The concern of whether the Ministry of Justice or any of its appointees have any color of authority to interfere and stop the National Elections Commission from performing any of its constitutional functions? We say, February 18, 2021, and the March 1, 2021 communications from the Solicitor General, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Musa Dean to the National Elections Commission directing that body not to proceed with the certification of Lofa County Senator-elect Brownie J. Samukai was improper and had no constitutional foundation, except an ego of attempting to interfere by interpreting and giving effect to the opinion of the Supreme Court on the workings of the NEC, an authority neither the president of Liberia nor any of his appointees has. Both communications from the Ministry of Justice citing section 50.12 of Liberia penal Law, we regret to say, that the statutory provision neither grants any right to the Ministry of Justice, rather acknowledged that the Court is the only body authorized to determine disqualification of a public official who commits a felony by misusing public money entrusted to him. In the Solicitor Generals Letter, informing the Commission that the elected Senator for Lofa and others were convicted for the crime of theft of property and misuse of public funds in the amount of US1, $1447,658.35 (United State, One million one hundred forty-seven thousand Six Hundred fifty-eight dollars and thirty-five cent) is a factual decision from the Supreme Court opinion, to which the Court directed the Senator-elect Samukai and others to restitute within Six Months or go to jail for two-years. And on this issue, its clear that the Court did not anticipate any remedial action, like a prohibition intended to stop the Certification process of the Senator-elect Samukai. The letters from the Ministry of Justice under the signature of the Solicitor General suggesting that the ministry at any time can direct the National Elections Commissions to stop some of its cardinal constitutional responsibilities of holding elections, announcing results and certificating winners must not be continence in Liberias democracy, as it has no right whatsoever to stop any function of the National Elections Commission, a child of the Constitution which can only be reprimanded by the power of the Supreme Court, not a statutory creature, like the Ministry of Justice or any of its fins. This false notion, clearly not having bases in the constitution neither the statute must be condemned by all that desire good governance. If the stroke of the ministrys pen is used to intimidate the body responsible to set the constitutional pace in Liberia by holding elections, the Ministrys security and guns could be used to force the chairperson of the commission to announce a different result during the 2023 general elections. On Brownie J. Samukais wrongs action, this piece is categorical, and in no support of the manner and form the Senator-elect Brownie J. Samukai misused funds entrusted to him and the Unity Party-led government. Hence, restitution, as mandated by the Honorable Supreme Court is agreed. And further says that call for the constitutional process on certification to be respected in no way a suggestion that the Senator-elect, cannot be punished for act unrepresentative of a Senator. Under a country of Laws, Brownie Samukai can be suspended, expelled, or removed by two-thirds votes of Senate members, if they deemed that Samukais action to misuse entrusted public funds is a cause of a crime not representative of a Senator. Did The Minister of Justice Direct the Solicitor General to write NEC? Certainly not! The Minister of Justice did not give any directive to the Solicitor General to communicate with the National Elections Commission to stop the Certification of Lofa County senator-elect Brownie Samukai. The letter that was written by the Solicitor General is self-explanatory which says, from the office of the Solicitor General and its closing paragraph states, it is my considered opinionyou will therefore proceed not to certificate him. Had the Minister directed the writing of the said communication, Cephus would have written phrases like, by the directive, The considered opinion of the Minister, or ministry. Hence, the communication speaks for itself that it was not directed by the Minister and it is very likely that the Minister's cover-up for the solicitor general, he may very likely never said the truth under oath, perjury as the senators believed. For the record and a reminder of this Solicitor General, and all other Solicitor Generals to come: it is written in the Executive Statue that The President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate appoints the Solicitor General, who works at the direction and control of the Minister of Justice, a Solicitor General is not a superior or official spoke person for the Ministry of Justice. The Minister of Justice is responsible for all administrative outgoing communications from that Ministry to other agencies of government, except certain authority, the Minister may so desire to delegate. We note, the Solicitor General main function is to prepare and argue before the Supreme Court all cases to which the Government of Liberia or any officer thereof, as such officer is a party; provided that the Minister of Justice may himself conduct any case if in his opinion the interest of the Government requires him to do so, and to have immediate supervision of the conduct of all litigation. Section 22.4, title 12, executive Law of Liberia REMEDIAL ACTION AND EFFECT OF SUPREME COURT OPINION Ordering the Commission to stop the certification of an elected Senator is to prohibit the performance of the constitutional duty assigned to the commission. And the law on remedial or extraordinary writ says, The power to issue any remedial action is limited to a Justice presiding in Chambers. Except as provided on a writ of habeas corpus and as may be otherwise provided by statutes, otherwise, the power to issue remedial or extraordinary writs in exercise or aid of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and to otherwise issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and other remedial or extraordinary writs and processes, reside exclusively in the Justice presiding in Chambers. Section 2.9, title 17, Judiciary law of Liberia, 1972 Consequently, since the Supreme Court has final jurisdiction of all appeals from courts of record and from rulings of Justices of the Supreme Court presiding in Chambers on applications for remedial and extraordinary writs, including refusal to issue such writs, and shall be the court of final resort in all such cases, and since this matter involving the senator-elect Samukai came from the court below, one would wonder, whence cometh the authority of the solicitor general and the Minister of Justice to have issued a prohibition in the form of the National Elections Commission to stop the certification of an elected Senator. When in fact the decision of the Supreme Court is final? It is important to say, No authority whatsoever has the Ministry of Justice to act after the Supreme Court has decided. The Justice Ministry is not a court and has no authority above the Supreme Court. Hence, it was totally in error and theres a wonder why the Supreme Court has not checkmate the officials of the Ministry on such an important constitutional matter. SENATORS DECIDING PERJURY COMMITTED BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE Still on the Solicitor Generals letter to the Elections Commissions, and looking at LIBERIA DEMOCRACY: THE PICKLE OF THE LIBERIAN SENATE, JUSTICE MINISTRY, AND SAMUKAIS SENATORIAL WIN, the saga caught the attention of Senators, legal minds and Members of the public, to which the Senate rightly used its oversight power and cited the writer, Solicitor General, Cllr. Cephus to appear and be accompanied by his boss, Justice Minister, Cllr. Musa Dean. Prior to Minister Deans accompanying the Solicitor General, his earlier appearance before that august body, the Senate, saw him denying that he ever give a directive or had any knowledge of the letter to the Commission. He added that he only saw the letter on social media. Contrary to his earlier statement even captured by the media, the minister contradicted himself when he accompanied the Solicitor General a few days later to the senate when he told senators that he agreed to have knowledge of the communication written by the Solicitor General. His second statement contradicting his earlier statement anger most of the Senators, who said, he lied under oath. Hence, the Senate decided the issue of perjury, by casting a vote requesting the Solicitor General and the Minister of Justice to withdraw the letter to the National Elections Commissions is not a punishment for perjury. The law on perjury section 12.30 of the New penal law of Liberia, states, A person has committed perjury, a third-degree felony, if, in official proceeding (a proceeding heard or which may be heard before any legislative, judicial, administrative or other governmental agency or official authorized), he makes a false statement under oath or equivalent affirmation, or swears or affirms the truth of a false statement previously made, when the statement is material and he does not believe it to be true. The punishment for perjury in law includes a fine, probation, or imprisonment for a period decided by a hearing. The least punishment for the Minister expected would have been a fine and not a withdrawal of the letter. Conclusively, Liberia as a country of Laws and not man, and thinking about LIBERIA DEMOCRACY: THE PICKLE OF THE LIBERIAN SENATE, JUSTICE MINISTRY AND SAMUKAIS SENATORIAL WIN, its fair to settle that the philosophy of good governance does not accept a Minister of Justice, Solicitor General of Liberia or President to interfere, restrict or obstruct the workings of a National Elections Commission expected to be independent and impartial for free and fair elections. For the Liberian Senates hearing on the false notion of the Solicitor General and the Minister of Justice, it was appropriate and timely for a check and balance, except their decisions on perjury which did not conform to punishment as prescribed by law. Therefore, all Liberians must be aware that the constitution of Liberia says power is inherent in the people. All free governments are instituted by their authority and for their benefit and they have the right to alter and reform the same when their safety and happiness so require. In order to ensure a truly democratic government for Liberia that responds to the wishes of the people, the people have the right at such period, as was on December 8th, 2020, to have elected Mr. Brownie J. Samukai as Senator for Lofa and others for their respective counties. So, for the future of Liberias democracy to be respected by world leaders, everyone to include Members of the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary must be respecters of the rule of law and ensure good governance for Liberias growth. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below KYODO NEWS - Mar 4, 2021 - 14:29 | 3/11 Fukushima, All, Japan Membership in fisheries cooperatives in the three northeastern Japan prefectures hardest hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami tumbled 24.4 percent after the disaster, sharper than the national average, a Kyodo News tally based on data from their unions showed Thursday. The sharp decrease came as members abandoned the industry after losing their homes or fishing boats in the massive tsunami or evacuating their hometowns due to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis, officials of the cooperatives said. The total number of fisheries cooperative members in the three prefectures -- Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima -- fell to 19,910 at the end of 2019 from 26,325 at the end of 2010, around two months before the disaster, according to prefecture-wide bodies. In contrast, the number of fisheries cooperative members nationwide stood at 285,813 in the fiscal year ended March 2019, down 18.7 percent from fiscal 2010, according to the fisheries ministry. In Miyagi alone, the number of regular members of fisheries cooperatives -- those who work at sea -- halved, highlighting the severity of the situation facing the key industry supporting the coastal regions' economy. The cooperatives also have associate members, including family members of fishermen and those engaged in seafood processing. The Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations attributed the decline in its membership to a natural reduction amid the country's graying population and said that the average age of its members has risen around 10 years over the decade. The prefectural body in Miyagi saw its numbers decline as members quit their jobs after their houses were moved to higher ground as part of reconstruction efforts following the disaster. Meanwhile, in Fukushima, where the 2011 quake and tsunami triggered a disaster at a nuclear plant, space for keeping treated radioactive water from the crippled plant is expected to run out by the fall of 2022 at the earliest. The water has been treated with an advanced liquid processing system to remove most contaminants and the government is considering whether to release it into the sea. As it awaits the decision, the Fukushima federation is bracing for a negative impact on seafood sales caused by harmful rumors about contamination, in a replay of what happened in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) A lawyer of one of the 37 petitions assailing the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was stabbed by two unidentified men, Wednesday night in Iloilo City. Atty. Angelo Karlo Guillen was stabbed in the head and shoulder by two mask-wearing culprits, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) confirmed. The human rights lawyer serves as NUPL's assistant vice president in the Visayas. "NUPL calls on authorities to promptly and properly investigate the attempt on the life of Atty. Guillen," the organization said in a statement. Guillen is a lawyer in the petition spearheaded by NUPL which questions the legality of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Many sectoral groups have assailed this law for its broad provisions that may violate constitutional rights. Guillen also represented activists who were arrested during police raids in Bacolod City in October 2019 and Tumandok tribe members who were jailed December last year. The human rights lawyer was also detained following a Labor Day protest last year, after responding to what he claimed was the illegal arrest of 42 activists who were protesting the killing of Bayan Muna Iloilo coordinator Jory Porquia. "This is way too much, too many, too brazen, too evil. Hold tight, AK (Guillen). Show these cowards what a fighter you are," said NUPL President Edre Olalia. NUPL said it has recorded at least 54 work-related killings of lawyers and judges since June 2016. Palace condemns attack on human rights lawyer in Ilo-ilo City "We condemn that attack in the same manner that we condemn any attack that seeks to violate the right to life," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during a virtual briefing on Thursday. "We consider na mas karumal-dumal ang pag-atake sa isang abogado dahil inaatake din nila ang rule of law," he added. [Translation: We consider it more heinous to attack a lawyer because they also attack the rule of law.] Roque said the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation should hunt down the suspects. "Parusahan ang mga taong nasa likod nito," Roque said. [Translation: Punish the people behind it.] By Yi Whan-woo Denmark and Korea, which are both witnessing rapid population aging, are also seeing a rise in the number of chronic illness patients. This trend is posing challenges to ensuring sustainable medical treatment due to the limited number of doctors and other health professionals. Participants of an online seminar hosted by the Embassy of Denmark in Korea, Feb. 26, discussed such challenges and the treatment needs of individual patients. Under the theme "Patient-centered approach in the primary healthcare sector," the seminar invited representatives from Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare; Healthcare Denmark, a non-profit organization for Danish healthcare and life science expertise and innovation; Seoul National University Hospital; the Korea Spinal Cord Injury Association; the Danish Association of General Practitioners; and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The participants shared thoughts on the importance of personalized patient support, innovative and integrated healthcare technologies, public-private partnerships and the perspectives of Danish and Korean patients. "Low birthrates, aging populations and more chronic diseases are challenges faced by Korea and Denmark alike," Danish Ambassador Einar Jensen said, adding the two sides accordingly nurture many dedicated nurses, doctors and other healthcare personnel to develop and adopt new treatments. "However, we remain limited in our resources, which is a great hurdle to our healthcare sectors. This webinar will shed light on how our countries are taking an innovative approach and adopting new integrated care solutions, and how we can learn from each other," he added. Through its embassy here, Denmark has been bolstering bilateral cooperation in the health sector, such as hosting online seminars on diabetes and anti-drug resistant infections in 2020. Ambassador of Belarus V.Rybak meets the Deputy Minister of Trade of Turkey On March 4th, 2021, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Turkey Vitor Rybak, met with Deputy Minister of Trade of Turkey Gonca Ylmaz Batur. During the meeting the sides confirmed the high level of political ties between Belarus and Turkey, and emphasized the importance of building up the Belarusian-Turkish trade and economic cooperation. The interlocutors exchanged views on approaches to develop interaction in the field of trade and investments between the two countries in the context of implementing the agreements reached at the level of the two countries' leaders. A special attention was paid to the preparation of bilateral events planned to be held in 2021 including the 11th meeting of the Belarusian-Turkish Joint Intergovernmental Economic Commission, the 2nd meeting of the joint working group on trade, the 2nd investment forum. The sides shared information on the conducted actions regarding the approval of the technical conditions developed for the organization of information exchange between the customs authorities of Belarus and Turkey and noted the importance of the early launch of the mutual trade promotion system. print version Like many parents I spent several years reading Dr Seuss books to my kids to the point where I can still recite pages of Green Eggs and Ham by heart. Now, the Dr Seuss company has decided it will no longer publish a small number of their books because they contain outdated racial stereotypes. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street is one of six Dr Seuss books that will no longer be published. Credit:AP The books including And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Zoo will stop being published. So, contrary to what some commentators have suggested, nobody is banning childrens books. But that hasnt stopped a predictable response from some quarters that this is the latest example of a censorious cancel culture. CLEVELAND, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- US demand for household furniture is forecast to advance 2.5% yearly in nominal terms through 2025, according to Household Furniture: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. Suppliers will benefit from continued gains in new housing completions and residential improvement expenditures. Increases in disposable personal income will support consumer purchases of premium furniture to outfit their living spaces. However, sales of used furniture through electronic marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, Chairish, and Craigslist will impede further gains as some consumers continue to take advantage of the cost savings associated with purchasing used items. US household furniture shipments are forecast to see annual increases of 1.5% through 2025, rising on the strength of growth in the housing market. Demand for high-end and custom furniture, bolstered by gains in disposable personal income, will also benefit many US household furniture producers, as these products typically lack the economy of scale associated with mass production and overseas transport that drives many imports. Nevertheless, competition from lower-priced imports will continue to challenge the US industry. These and other key insights are featured in Household Furniture: United States. This report forecasts to 2021 and 2025 US household furniture demand and shipments in nominal US dollars at the manufacturer level. Total demand is segmented by type in terms of: upholstered wood metal plastic and other types of furniture, such as wicker and rattan To illustrate historical trends, total demand, total shipments, the various segments, and trade are provided in annual series from 2010 to 2020. Sales of mattresses and box springs are excluded from the scope of this report, as are outdoor furniture articles made of ceramic, concrete, or stone. Sales of used furniture are excluded. Sales of furniture for home offices are also not included; they are included in Office Furniture: United States. Re-exports of household furniture are excluded from demand and trade figures. This report includes the results of a proprietary national online consumer survey of US adults (age 18+). This Freedonia Focus Reports National Survey has a sample size of approximately 2,000, screened for response quality, and representative of the US population on the demographic measures of age, gender, geographic region, race/ethnicity, household income, and the presence/absence of children in the household. More information about the report is available at: https://www.freedoniafocusreports.com/Household-Furniture-United-States-FF20010/?progid=91541 About Freedonia Focus Reports Each month, The Freedonia Group a division of MarketResearch.com publishes over 20 new or updated Freedonia Focus Reports, providing fresh, unbiased analysis on a wide variety of markets and industries. Published in 20-30 pages, Focus Report coverage ranges from raw materials to finished manufactured goods and related services such as freight and construction. Additional Consumer Goods reports can be purchased at Freedonia Focus Reports or MarketResearch.com. Analysis is intended to guide the busy reader through pertinent topics in rapid succession, including: total historical market size and industry output segmentation by products and markets identification of market drivers, constraints, and key indicators segment-by-segment outlook in five-year forecasts a survey of the supply base suggested resources for further study Press Contact: Corinne Gangloff +1 440.842.2400 [email protected] SOURCE The Freedonia Group Canadian church fined $83K for holding in-person worship service with over 10 people Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A church in Canada has been fined $83,000 for holding an in-person worship service attended by more than 10 people and has continued to resist the restrictions imposed by the Reopening Ontario Act that places strict limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings. Trinity Bible Chapel of Waterloo, Ontario, was fined by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for holding the service, according to a blog post published last week by Pastor Jacob Reaume. At issue was the churchs refusal to stop holding services in January, even after being ordered by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to halt gatherings of more than 10 people in adherence to a COVID-19 ordinance limiting in-person gatherings. According to Reaume, the fine was broken down to him and another pastor each owing $5,000, a third pastor owing $4,000, church elders each owing $3,000, the church itself owing $15,000, and $45,000 in legal fees. On January 24, we worshipped Christ extravagantly at the price of $83,000. He is worth that and so much more, wrote Reaume. Our fine is nothing near what Mary spent on Jesus for her one quick extravagant act of worship. And we cannot compare it to the price of blood He paid so that we would worship Him. In advance of the decision, a member of the church set up a Go Fund Me page for donations to help pay for any legal expenses. As of Wednesday afternoon, the page had raised more than $44,700. Any money raised above and beyond the amount needed to cover these expenses will go to Trinity Bible Chapel, explained the page. Thank you for your generosity, and may God bless you as you run the race and remain faithful to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ! Last year, all six elders of Trinity Bible were charged with violating provincial restrictions on in-person gatherings, tied to the churchs decision to hold a worship service on Dec. 27. They were accused of violating Section 10.1 of the Reopening Ontario Act, which limits the number of people allowed to attend in-person services 10 people, either indoors or outdoors. In a document titled COVID-19 Guidance for Places of Worship, the Toronto city government outlined what houses of worship must do to comply with the Act. Toronto Public Health strongly encourages virtual services at this time to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to ensure that everyone can participate safely, stated the document, in part. If gatherings are necessary, keep services short, and plan for very small groups of people. Indoor group singing, dancing and use of wind instruments has been linked to numerous outbreaks in multiple countries. Consider avoiding risks, with alternative options. The standards permit drive-in worship services, as long as participants remain inside of their vehicles, have only one household per automobile, and are parked at least 6 feet apart. Trinity Bible is one of several churches filing litigation against restrictions on in-person worship gatherings, both in Ontario and other provinces of Canada. (Alliance News) - Nicola Sturgeon has insisted she "would never have wanted to 'get' Alex Salmond" and denied claims she broke the ministerial code by lying to parliament. Giving evidence to a Holyrood committee into the government's unlawful investigation of the former first minister, Sturgeon condemned the "absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond". Sturgeon's predecessor alleges there was a "malicious and concerted" plot against him. But speaking under oath during almost seven hours of questioning, Sturgeon argued there was "not a shred of evidence" to support Salmond's claims and she had "no motive, intention, (or) desire" to conspire against him. During her long-awaited appearance before the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, Sturgeon said the details of complaints against Salmond were "shocking" and his behaviour "was not always appropriate" despite him being acquitted of all criminal charges in court. She said Salmond's account to her of his "deeply inappropriate behaviour" is a "moment in my life that I will never forget", as she maintained she did not intervene in the Scottish Government's investigation into her predecessor as First Minister. Sturgeon apologised to the women who complained about Salmond, saying they had been let down because of a "very serious mistake" in the government's investigation. "Two women were failed and taxpayers' money was lost, I deeply regret that," she said. The investigation was triggered after the women made allegations about Salmond, who successfully challenged the lawfulness of the process. The Scottish government conceded the judicial review in January 2019 a a week before it was due to be heard in court. Lord Pentland concluded the investigation was unlawful and "tainted by apparent bias", resulting in a GBP512,250 legal fee payout. Sturgeon said it was "absolutely right" the Scottish Government investigated the complaints, saying an "individual's profile, status or connections should not result in complaints of this nature being ignored or swept under the carpet". She also insisted the government had not prolonged its defence of the investigation, despite legal advice revealing counsel had expressed significant concerns as early as October. Sturgeon said: "The charge that has been made against me is that I wilfully allowed a judicial review to proceed against the legal advice, therefore I broke the ministerial code. "With respect, as you now know, I was acting in accordance with the views of the law officers, not against. "We thought we had a stateable case, counsel was not arguing at that stage a that changed later a we thought we had credible arguments to make, and we were also taking account of that wider interest in getting a determination on the many grounds of challenge that Alex Salmond had made to both the procedure and its application." The Scottish conservatives said they have lodged votes of no confidence in Sturgeon and Deputy First Minister John Swinney, though there is no timescale for these to be debated. Labour's Jackie Ballie questioned Sturgeon over "missing" documents from the Scottish Government's legal advice that was eventually released to the committee at the "11th hour", with convener Linda Fabiani saying the committee shared Baillie's "frustration" on this. Sturgeon stressed she had always acted "properly and appropriately" and there was "no intention" by the Scottish government to withhold information from the committee. Addressing Salmond's committee evidence last Friday, Sturgeon said: "That he was acquitted by a jury of criminal conduct is beyond question. But I know, just from what he told me, that his behaviour was not always appropriate. "And yet across six hours of testimony, there was not a single word of regret, reflection or a simple acknowledgment of that. I can only hope in private the reality might be different." Asked whether she thought she owed the Scottish people an apology for having previously told them to trust Salmond, an emotional Sturgeon said: "I trusted him and I am not going to apologise for the behaviour of somebody else. "I do not think it's reasonable to ask me to apologise for the behaviour of Alex Salmond. "I think the only person who should apologise for behaviour on his part a which he was asked to do on Friday and failed to do a is Alex Salmond." She originally told parliament she first became aware of the Scottish Government investigation into Salmond on April 2 2018, before later admitting to a March 29 meeting with Salmond's former chief of staff Geoff Aberdein when "a harassment-type issue had arisen". She told the committee she wishes her memory of the earlier meeting was "more vivid", but "it was the detail of the complaints under the procedure that I was given on April 2 that was significant and indeed shocking". With questions over why the meeting with Salmond was not recorded as official government business, Sturgeon maintained she had believed it to be a party matter beforehand and then did not want it to become public and risk "breaching the confidentiality of the process". She added she had no intention of intervening in the investigation process and did not intervene, saying to do so would have been an abuse of her role. The First Minister was also questioned about a claim that a senior member of her team leaking a complainer's name to Aberdein, who passed it to Salmond. Sturgeon said: "I am not accepting that that happened, therefore I am clearly not accepting that was authorised." She said her assumption was Salmond had already apologised to one of the women and may have worked out another's identity "through his own investigations". Challenged about details of the investigation being leaked to the Daily Record newspaper in 2018 a the first public confirmation of allegations against Salmond a Sturgeon said it "didn't come from me, or anyone acting on my instruction or request". During the committee meeting, Salmond lodged a formal complaint with the head of Scotland's civil service "on the conduct of the official who is alleged to have breached civil service rules, by disclosing the name of a complainant in the Scottish government process". source: PA Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Actress Yvonne Nelson has indicated that Ghanaians are silent but are internally angry about Ghanas health sector which is stinking and that politicians are only concerned with staying in power. The actress who was on a tweet rant this morning indicated that Ghanaian politicians who are at the helm of affairs do not even trust the health system in the country hence moving out of the country when they are ill. Our Health Sector isnt their PRIORITY! Staying in power is! They run and leave the country when they get sick, don't ask why! They don't believe in the SYSTEM themselves. They don't TRUST doctors in their country. To her, gradually the people are getting angry and with time will strike if nothing better is done about the system. @NAkufoAddo DO BETTER! The anger is building up, she said. Adding that Our leaders have taken us (GHANAIANS) for GRANTED for too long!!!! @NAkufoAddo WE DEMAND A BETTER HEALTH SECTOR!!!. See her tweet below: The Strongest woman has spoken and its the Gospel fact https://t.co/ghzTdaNey8 @JooJo_93 (@HappyBoy_20) March 1, 2021 Source: twitter/mynews 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 DRAPER, Utah, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TruHearing, the market leader in hearing benefits, is proud to announce its Echo platform and supporting infrastructure, as well as its headquarters in Draper, Utah and colocation facility in Bluffdale, Utah, have achieved the HITRUST CSF Certification from HITRUST, an organization that champions programs that safeguard sensitive information and manage information risk for global organizations across all industries and throughout the third-party supply chain. "TruHearing is constantly adapting internal processes to meet best practices and strengthen information protection. Achieving the high bar set by HITRUST truly reinforces our longstanding devotion to innovation, data security and risk management," said Tommy Macdonald, president, CEO, TruHearing. "As a healthcare organization, we understand the importance of dependability and have always prioritized effective data and information management. We work closely with health plans, brokers, consultants, labor and employer groups, so ensuring both safety and privacy is absolutely essential for our success and the success of our partners." In undergoing this rigorous authorization process, the company has reaffirmed its compliance to procedures that enhance security and threat management, and reinforced its position as a trusted partner. TruHearing now joins other top-tier organizations who have earned certification by meeting the HITRUST expectation. An assessment process facilitated through HITRUST and validated by a third-party Authorized External Assessor confirmed that TruHearing has met federal regulations, state standards and industry-defined frameworks for risk mitigation. Official certification lends credibility to operations, offering assurance that TruHearing is fully equipped to manage information threats and privacy compliance. To learn more about the assessment, visit hitrustalliance.net. About TruHearing TruHearing is the leader in hearing healthcare benefits serving more than 130 million people nationwide. With a highly qualified network of hearing care providers combined with the most extensive and technologically advanced hearing aid selection, white-glove service, and pre- and post-care support, TruHearing delivers the best value and service to payors and people with hearing health challenges. Headquartered in Draper, Utah, TruHearing has been improving lives by making hearing healthcare more affordable for more than 17 years and has been recognized as a "Top Workplace" in the state for the fifth consecutive year. For more information, visit: https://www.truhearing.com/. CONTACT: Cassidy Zimmerman Gatesman 717-319-8926 [email protected] SOURCE TruHearing 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. [March 04, 2021] Universal Engineering Sciences Acquires SUMMIT Engineering, Laboratory & Testing, P.C. in North And South Carolina ORLANDO, Fla., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Engineering Sciences (UES), a nationwide leader in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, building code compliance, threshold inspections and environmental consulting, has acquired SUMMIT Engineering, Laboratory & Testing, P.C. (SUMMIT), a leading multi-disciplinary engineering firm based in the Carolinas. With 150 employees in five offices, including Charlotte and Raleigh, NC, and Columbia, Greenville and Charleston, SC, this acquisition will further strengthen UES' coast to coast presence and bolster UES' existing office in Charlotte. As part of the acquisition and integration with UES, SUMMIT's executive management team, senior engineering and technical staff will remain and continue to be key to the company's successful client focused mission and future growth. "Our core operational philosophy is centered on responsiveness, thorough communication and consistently providing cost-effective solutions for our clients and their projects," said SUMMIT President Douglas Curley, PE. "The UES family of companies is an excellent fit for the way we conduct business, prioritizing trusted relationships and bringing deep geotechnical expertise to create innovative solutions." SUMMIT is the eighth investment made by Palm Beach Capital and UES Chief Strategy Officer Gary Elzweig, PE. UES recently made two West Coast acquisitions, Wallace-Kuhl & Associates and Construction Testing & Engineering, expanding its geographic footprint and reinforcing the company's ongoing commitment to continued growth and development. UES serves clients throughout the Southeast and West, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, North and South Carolina, California, Nevada and Utah, operating from 42 offices with more than 2,000 highly skilled professionals. SUMMIT is a well-respected multi-disciplinary consulting firm, offering full-service environmental, geotechnical, subsurface drilling, special inspections, materials testing, forensic and structural engineering. SUMMIT has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, encompassing a wide variety of buildings, infrastructure improvements and other facilities including thousands of successful projects in the residential, commercial, transportation, multi-family, healthcare, retail, hospitality, industrial and government sectors. UES is considered a pioneer of the industry and stands at the forefront of emerging technology, best practices, and influential legislature. Projects include both public and private clients, ranging from transportation and healthcare to commercial and education. UES engineers, geologists, certified inspectors, and scientists offer an unwavering commitment to excellence, approaching each project as an opportunity to cultivate enduring relationships with clients. About Universal Engineering Sciences Universal Engineering Sciences, headquartered in Orlando, is a rapidly growing engineering firm with nearly six decades of experience in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, building code compliance, threshold inspections and environmental consulting. With more than 2,000 professionals across 42 national branches, UES consults on projects of all sizes to help deliver needed infrastructure and build safe and successful communities. Recent mergers with GFA International, Inc., NOVA Geotechnical & Inspection Services, Contour Engineering, Wallace-Kuhl & Associates and Construction Testing & Engineering have made UES one of the largest, most resource-rich organizations of its kind. UES recently launched a sophisticated new website, combining the entire family of companies under one unified digital presence at universalengineering.com . The website offers more robust content and a more sophisticated look and feel as the company continues to grow and evolve. For more information, please visit universalengineering.com or follow UES on Social Media . About SUMMIT Engineering, Laboratory & Testing, P.C. For more than 17 years, SUMMIT Engineering, Laboratory and Testing, P.C. has offered a wide-range of professional consulting capabilities to serve clients in the Carolinas and beyond. Throughout our history, we have upheld an outstanding reputation for service, solutions and responsiveness to our clientele. SUMMIT has leveraged that reputation to promote sustained and manageable growth with new clientele, expanded capabilities and strong diversification across multiple market sectors. Visit https://summit-companies.com/ for more information. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-engineering-sciences-acquires-summit-engineering-laboratory--testing-pc-in-north-and-south-carolina-301240848.html SOURCE Universal Engineering Sciences [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1 Armenia Constitutional Court launches case proceedings based on President's application Armenia acting emergency situations minister says he's concerned about situation in army Armenia acting education, science, culture and sport minister receives ICRC Delegation Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted Armenia deputy police chief: No real cases of vote-buying reported to date Armenia human rights activists: Nearly 10 protesters detained during protest in front of government building Audit Chamber director: About half of Armenia state agencies, institutions were not audited in 2020 Robert Kocharyan: Acting PM is an unsuccessful, political Lilliput Armenia 2nd President: Authorities shamelessly deceived people throughout the 44-day war Acting emergency situations minister: Armenia's Seismic Protection Service is the best in the region Dollar gains value in Armenia Macron: France will work towards restoration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Richard Ferrand: France stands with Armenia Armenia 2nd President: Incumbent authorities failed to fulfill their promises Armenia Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program is launched Yerevan court rules to conditionally release man who attempted to assassinate ex-presidential candidate People came to power in Armenia who consistently destroyed army combat-readiness, says ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Turkey persistently crosses boundaries of permissibility Finance ministry: Armenia 2020 economic growth forecasts are revised downwards Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: It is disgrace when law enforcement agencies are subject to PM himself US sells oil seized from Iran Robert Kocharyan: Government does not pay enough attention to security issues Armenia 1st President spokesperson: Ter-Petrosyan has nothing to speak with the nation-destroying plague Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains Armenia ex-president Kocharyan gives interview to Russia newspaper Armenia acting deputy PM on unblocking of roads with Azerbaijan: There will be no troops standing there Nikkei: Toyota and Honda stop car production in Malaysia Armenia official on deploying international observers at Azerbaijan border: You will hear reaction on this matter soon USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia Armenia official: Work of trilateral working group on roads unblocking has stopped after recent incidents Russias Putin to Armenias Pashinyan: Relations between our countries are developing very successfully Armenia health minister: Improper storage of fallen soldiers bodies, remains was my omission 108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President to children: I believe that you will make our country much better Armenia CEC publicizes complete lists of political forces registered to run in snap parliamentary elections World oil prices going up Queen Elizabeth turns down PM's offer to name new royal yacht after Prince Philip Armenia parliament discusses 2020 state budget report Newspaper: Armenia acting FM resigns after 3rd attempt Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office Israel, UAE sign tax treaty Newspaper: Even vagrants are persuaded, taken to Armenia acting PM Pashinyans rally in Vanadzor Swedish defense minister demands explanation from Denmark over spy scandal Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor" Armenia Central Electoral Commission determines numbers of political parties for elections Armenia 2nd President visits Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri (PHOTOS) Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We're running in elections to win Azerbaijan MFA comments on calls for release of Armenian POWs with infinite hypocrisy EC: Vaccinated citizens should be exempted from tests, quarantine when traveling within EU Armenia Ombudsman discusses rights of 6 captured Armenian servicemen with ICRC Delegation head EU ready to use all the tools at its disposal to change Turkey's behavior Yerevan court obliges to abolish violation of rights of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council ex-chairman Greek and Turkish leaders to meet in June on sidelines of NATO summit Armenia Central Electoral Commission to set up 2,008 polling stations for snap parliamentary elections Iranian companies to participate in reconstructing territories under Azerbaijan's control Opposition Armenia bloc's representative on acting PM's invitation to debate with 1st and 2nd Presidents Armenia acting FM dismissed upon presidential decree Body of brother of Armenian criminal authority "Don Pipo" found under bridge Armenia Prosecutor General holds consultation Digest on Armenian local news, EU is ready to help Armenia, Azerbaijan with border issues, 31.05.21 Relatives of missing Armenian servicemen open Heratsi Street in Yerevan Armenia acting PM to pay working visits to Paris and Brussels Armenia bloc representative on FM's resignation and National Security Service Armenia Investigative Committee: Fatal road accident, criminal case opened Armenia deputy FM submits resignation Chinese authorities allow families to have 3 children Dollar devalues in Armenia Stepanakert: Azerbaijan creates bridgeheads for pressure on Karabakh, expansion towards Armenia Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to disconnect SWIFT Armenia MFA spokesperson resigns Republican Party of Armenia Vice-President: Our ratings are growing, but we have greater pretensions Armenia acting PM's spokesperson responds to ex-FM Armenia parliament majority leader: Refusing to debate with acting PM is manifestation of low self-confidence Armenia State Revenue Committee, US Department of Justice sign Memorandum of Cooperation Vardevanyan: Attempts made to create false grounds for obstructing Armenia bloc election offices legal activities Lavrov says Russia is ready to resume dialogue with NATO Armenia opposition MP on FM's resignation India records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in 50 days Bright Armenia faction in parliament: No response to acting PM's proposal to deploy observers along Azerbaijan border Ruling bloc MP: Acting premiers proposal does not limit Armenia in terms of cooperation with CSTO Acting PM is proud of Armenian servicemens heroism, says parliament majority leader Parliament majority leader: No border delimitation unless Azerbaijan army units leave Armenia territory Outgoing Armenia acting FM opens brackets: My decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason Harutyunyan, Shoygu discuss tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iranian MFA says US has not imported oil from country since Clinton era Court hearing on appeal against decision to drop March 2008 Yerevan tragedy case is rescheduled Missing soldiers relatives block Yerevan street Parliament majority leader: Armenia acting FM did not object, at Security Council meeting, to new document Armenia Police: 2,581,093 people on voters list Bright Armenia faction of parliament: No corridor through the country should be provided to Azerbaijan Analyst: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan gave self-confessed testimony Armenia national security finds about 1 kg of opium, detains Iran citizen driver and 2 others 182 hearing aids and 2 buses by benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan for students of Special Educational Complex 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Updated voters list is posted on Armenia central election commission website Armenia authorities provide considerable amount of subsidies ahead of snap parliamentary elections World oil prices on the rise New Delhi, March 4 : As the vaccination drive progresses in the country, the challenge for the people shifts from getting an OTP to getting an appointment slot. Only 20 per cent of those who tried to get vaccination appointment were able to do so; while OTP generation is no longer a big challenge, getting an appointment is, according to a survey by LocalCircles. A total of 58 per cent of those who tried to get an appointment for vaccination via CO-WIN have not been able to do so, as per the survey. However, as people tried to register themselves for vaccination via the CO-WIN site or the Aarogya Setu app, many had difficulty getting an OTP or finding an appointment. LocalCircles conducted a survey on March 1, which received over 14,000 responses. It found that only 8 per cent of those who tried to get Covid-19 vaccine appointment using the CO-WIN site or the Aarogya Setu app were able to do so. Now with four days of citizens interfacing with the CO-WIN system and the Aarogya Setu app, LocalCircles has conducted another survey in an attempt to understand if issues with the CO-WIN site or Aarogya Setu app still persist. The survey received over 8,900 responses from citizens located in 204 districts. Only 20 per cent of those who tried to get vaccination appointment were able to do so, as per the survey. On the first question in the poll that tried to understand how Covid-19 vaccination worked this week for citizens or their family members while registering with the CO-WIN site or Aarogya Setu app, only 9 per cent said that they "were able to register and get an appointment easily", 11 per cent "were able to register after many attempts and get an appointment", 42 per cent "were able to register easily but couldn't get an appointment", and 16 per cent "were able to register only after many attempts but couldn't get an appointment". Breaking down the poll, 15 per cent "weren't able to register due to OTP or other issues", while 7 per cent "walked into a hospital without registration and even got vaccinated". Findings of the poll indicated that only 20 per cent of those who tried to get the vaccination appointment were able to do so. It also indicated that OTP is no longer a big challenge, but getting an appointment is now the top challenge. It can be mentioned here that many citizens were frustrated over delays in the registration process due to glitches. The CO-WIN portal was lagging at several sites, with some hospitals unable to start registration for hours. The survey, which alternatively tried to look into how citizens and their family members' registration process worked this week, found that 20 per cent "could get appointment", 58 per cent "could not get an appointment", and 15 per cent "could not get the OPT or faced other issues". On the other hand, 7 per cent "gave up on CO-WIN and did walk-in". The survey results indicate that finding appointments for registration for senior citizens and those above 45 years with comorbidities in the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive using the CO-WIN or Aarogya Setu app continues to be a frustrating experience for many. The survey said that the challenge for the government is ensuring smooth functioning of the CO-WIN site and the Aarogya Setu app as well as ensuring that hospitals are uploading their details of vaccinations completed and slots available. Many citizens reported to LocalCircles that after the CO-WIN site did not work, they gave up and walked into the hospitals and got vaccinated easily. For them, the CO-WIN site basically did not even come in the picture. In addition to CO-WIN, the other challenge would be to ensure that there is no black marketing and over charging, the survey found. Hospital management and doctor discretion is also something that must be minimised so that only the qualifying individuals get the vaccine. It was reported on LocalCircles that during the healthcare workers' vaccination during Phase 1, many of the doctors got their families vaccinated, who weren't necessarily working in the healthcare sector. With so many private and government hospitals now involved, if traceability and accountability go missing, some of the qualifying senior citizens or those with comorbidities could be pushed down in the queue by friends and family of the healthcare professionals and the VIPs. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at sanjeev.s@ians.in) All Texans will pay more for electricity following the Texas Blackout, so the critical question is whether we will get a more reliable grid for our hard-earned money. The Texas Blackout destroyed billions of dollars in capital and led some companies into bankruptcy. Damage from frozen pipes, water breaks, medical emergencies and other accidents triggered by the lack of electricity could eventually raise the total losses to $45 billion, according to some estimates. The electric companies and utilities which suffered losses will eventually recover that money from you and me through higher electricity rates and prices for goods and services. Texas political leaders, meanwhile, are offering sacrificial bureaucrats to slake the blood lust of 4 million home and business owners who went without power on the four coldest nights in decades. But if were honest, these folks were just following orders when the grid fell apart. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Texans must understand blackout before overhauling electric grid Lawmakers and the governor should pass meaningful legislation to prevent another total grid and market failure like we saw last month. But I attended the hearings in March 2011 following a similar blackout and watched corporate lobbyists slay the enthusiasm for reliability safeguards. The financial fallout from the 2021 blackout is only beginning to become apparent. Retail electric providers that managed to keep the lights on when prices skyrocketed from $30 a megawatt-hour to $9,000 a megawatt-hour came up $1.6 billion short when the Electric Reliability Council of Texas sent them bills. Texass oldest and largest electric cooperative, Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, declared bankruptcy on Monday, reporting $4.5 billion in debt. Brazos Power supplies electricity to 1.5 million customers from Waco to Cleburne and Lubbock to Corinth and is paying a high price for not blacking out customers. In total, ERCOT sent out bills totaling $20 billion for the electricity that remained online during the blackout. But since most electricity providers never imagined prices would remain $9,000 a megawatt-hour for four consecutive days, none were financially prepared. Moodys, the corporate rating service, warned investors that every company doing business with ERCOT is at risk. Public power utilities will have to draw down cash reserves, take out new loans and open lines of credit to cover significant natural gas and ERCOT market purchases. Some will seek to recover costs over a multiyear period through the issuance of long-term debt, Moodys added. Some utilities will spread cost recovery over multiple years instead of immediately passing higher rates on to customers. ERCOTs rules anticipated that some retail providers might fail to pay their accounts. They have a protocol that allows the nonprofit to raise the bills of other customers to cover those losses. Dentons city-owned utility filed a lawsuit refusing to help ERCOT make up for the bankruptcy of others. While the City is ready and willing to pay its own debts, ERCOT now expects it to pay the debts of other market participants, the suit says. Cities are not and cannot be responsible for covering the debts of third parties who were undercapitalized and undercollateralized. If the suit fails, then ERCOT will expect people like me who went four days without electricity to pay the bills of those who did have power but whose utility or retail electric provider went bankrupt and failed to pay ERCOT. While this feels like an insult added to injury, all of us are going to pay for those who had light and heat through higher rates in the years to come. Well pay more whether or not the Texas Legislature takes steps to make the grid more reliable. Right now, politicians are excited about mandating weatherization and subsidizing backup generators, but they have yet to vote on any legislation and industry representatives are not interested in new regulations. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Don't blame Texas energy players for blackout, blame the electricity grid's irresponsible game In February 2011, the last time a polar vortex triggered blackouts due to poorly prepared powerplants and pipelines, I was the state political editor for the Associated Press. I attended the hearings where many of the same players who testified last week reported the same problems with the same system a decade ago. Back then, as now, the governor, lieutenant governor and lawmakers were shocked, shocked there was gambling going on in ERCOT. They could not believe powerplants were unprepared, that blackouts shut down the compressors on pipelines that provided natural gas to the other powerplants, creating a cascade of failure. By the time the Legislature was wrapping up in May 2011, public anger had subsided, and industry lobbyists had spun their magic: no new regulations. A decade later, here we are again, with no significant legislative changes from 2011. There is still nothing to keep a blackout or political inaction from happening again. Well see what happens when session wraps up in May, but dont count on any real progress. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and politics. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com Mindspace Business Parks REIT on Thursday said the company plan to raise up to Rs 450 crore through the issue of debt securities. In a regulatory filing, the company informed that the decision will be taken at a meeting on March 9. "a meeting of the executivecommittee of the manager shall be held on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, to consider and approve raising of funds by Mindspace REIT through the issue of a debt security(ies) aggregating up to Rs 450 cores by way of the private placement," the filing said. The fund could be raised in one or more tranches. Mindspace REIT, promoted by and Blackstone, got listed on stock exchanges last year after launching a public issue of Rs 4,500 crore. It owns office portfolios located in four key office markets of India, namely Mumbai Region, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai. Mindspace REIT has a total leasable area of 29.5 million square feet. The portfolio consists of five integrated business parks and five quality independent office assets. It has a diversified and high-quality tenant base, with 165+ tenants as of December 31, 2020. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P. Prince Philip has undergone a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition, Buckingham Palace said. Philip was treated at St Bartholomews Hospital on Wednesday. The Palace said the duke, 99, would remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days. Philip, the nations longest-serving consort, has spent 16 nights in hospital his longest ever stay. He was moved by ambulance to St Bartholomews Hospital in the City of London on Monday for testing for a pre-existing heart condition and treatment for an infection. Expand Close The duke is being treated in St Bartholomews Hospital in the City of London (Yui Mok/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The duke is being treated in St Bartholomews Hospital in the City of London (Yui Mok/PA) Read More Buckingham Palace said in a statement: The Duke of Edinburgh yesterday underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomews Hospital. His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days. Philip was was initially admitted to the private King Edward VIIs Hospital on February 16 as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell, before being moved to St Bartholomews on Monday. Four days later, he was visited by his eldest son the Prince of Wales, who made a 200-mile round trip and stayed for around 30 minutes. The duke has spent most of lockdown residing at Windsor Castle with the Queen for their safety, alongside a reduced household of staff dubbed HMS Bubble. Former President Donald Trump and his ex-lawyer Rudy Giuliani have been served in a civil rights lawsuit that alleges the former president conspired with Giuliani and members of far-right extremist groups to prevent Congress from certifying the election. The Daily Beast reported Wednesday that attorneys for Rep. Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and the NAACP delivered the lawsuit to the former president at Mar-a-Lago. Giuliani's lawyer, Joseph D. Sibley, accepted the papers on behalf of the former mayor of New York. Former President Donald Trump (left) and Rudy Giuliani (right) have been served in a lawsuit that accuses them of inciting the insurrection to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election Rep. Bennie Thompson sued Trump, alleging he incited the insurrection. The lawsuit in Washington's federal court alleges the former president conspired with Giuliani and members of far-right extremist groups to prevent Congress from certifying the election The lawsuit is the first of what could be many trying to hold Trump legally responsible for the January 6 insurrection, where five people were killed in the immediate aftermath including a Capitol Police officer Thompson sued Trump in his personal capacity on February 16, three days after the Senate acquitted him on impeachment charges. The federal lawsuit accuses Trump of inciting the deadly insurrection at the Capitol and conspiring with his lawyer, Giuliani, and extremsit groups to try and prevent Congress from certifying the results of the presidential election he lost to now President Joe Biden. Thompson's lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by a member of Congress. It seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages. The case also names as defendants Giuliani and groups including the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, extremist organizations that had members charged by the Justice Department with taking part in the siege. Lawyers for Trump have denied that he incited the riot. The Beast reported that it's unclear who Trump hired to defend him in this suit. The papers were signed by a 'Ricky.' Alan Dershowitz, who was part of Trump's legal team during his first Senate impeachment trial, told the Beast that 'nobody [on the Trump team] has reached out to me yet' as far as working on the suit. He added he personally believes Trump's rhetoric wasn't responsible for the insurrection. Dershowitz said it was 'protected by the First Amendment.' 'I would hope that the ACLU would take on a case like this,' the lawyer added. Sibley confirmed to the Daily Beast that he was representing Giuliani. WHAT DOES THE KU KLUX KLAN ACT SAY? 'If two or more persons in any State or Territory conspire to prevent, by force, intimidation, or threat, any person from accepting or holding any office, trust, or place of confidence under the United States, or from discharging any duties thereof; or to induce by like means any officer of the United States to leave any State, district, or place, where his duties as an officer are required to be performed, or to injure him in his person or property on account of his lawful discharge of the duties of his office, or while engaged in the lawful discharge thereof, or to injure his property so as to molest, interrupt, hinder, or impede him in the discharge of his official duties.' Advertisement 'I am representing Mayor Giuliani in the Thompson lawsuit, and I will also be representing him in the Smartmatic and Dominion cases,' the Harvard Law School graduate said. The suit, filed in federal court in Washington under a Reconstruction-era law known as the Ku Klux Klan Act. The act was passed in response to KKK violence and prohibits violence or intimidation meant to prevent Congress or other federal officials from carrying out their constitutional duties. That acquittal is likely to open the door to fresh legal scrutiny over Trump's actions before and during the siege. Even some Republicans who voted to acquit Trump on Saturday acknowledged that the more proper venue to deal with Trump was in the courts, especially now that he has left the White House and lost certain legal protections that shielded him as president. The suit traces the drawn-out effort by Trump and Giuliani to cast doubt on the election results even though courts across the country, and state election officials, repeatedly rejected their baseless allegations of fraud. Despite evidence to the contrary, the suit says, the men portrayed the election as stolen while Trump 'endorsed rather than discouraged' threats of violence from his angry supporters in the weeks leading up to the assault on the Capitol. 'The carefully orchestrated series of events that unfolded at the Save America rally and the storming of the Capitol was no accident or coincidence,' the suit says. 'It was the intended and foreseeable culmination of a carefully coordinated campaign to interfere with the legal process required to confirm the tally of votes cast in the Electoral College.' Presidents are historically afforded broad immunity from lawsuits for actions they take in their role as commander-in-chief. But the lawsuit was brought against Trump in his personal, not official, capacity and alleges that none of the behavior at issue had to do with his responsibilities as president. 'Inciting a riot, or attempting to interfere with the congressional efforts to ratify the results of the election that are commended by the Constitution, could not conceivably be within the scope of ordinary responsibilities of the president,' Joseph Sellers, a Washington lawyer who along with the NAACP filed the lawsuit on Thompson's behalf, said in an interview. 'In this respect, because of his conduct, he is just like any other private citizen,' Sellers said. Though the impeachment case focused squarely on accusations of incitement, the lawsuit more broadly accuses Trump of conspiring to disrupt the constitutional activities of Congress - namely, the certification of election results establishing Biden as the rightful winner - through a monthslong effort to discredit the outcome and to lean on individual states and his own vice president to overturn the contest. The case against Trump was brought under a provision of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. 'Fortunately, this hasn't been used very much,' Sellers said. 'But what we see here is so unprecedented that it's really reminiscent of what gave rise to the enactment of this legislation right after the Civil War.' The suit cites incendiary comments that Trump and Giuliani made in the weeks leading up to the riot and on the day of it that lawyers say were designed to mobilize supporters to work to overturn the election results and to prevent Congress' certification process. That process was temporarily interrupted when Trump loyalists broke into the Capitol. Trump told supporters at a rally preceding the riot to 'fight like hell,' but lawyers for the former president adamantly denied during the impeachment trial that he had incited the riot. They pointed to a remark during his speech in which he told the crowd to behave 'peacefully' that day. Defense lawyers are likely to revisit those assertions in the lawsuit. They may also argue, as was done during the impeachment case, that Trump's speech was protected by the First Amendment. Trump is headed into a storm of legal trouble just weeks after leaving office. Beyond the Thompson lawsuit, Reuters reported earlier this month that criminal and civil investigations into Trump's businesses are accelerating in New York. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who voted alongside a majority of Republicans for Trump's acquittal, pointed out in a floor speech after Saturday's vote that the ex-president could still be in legal jeopardy. 'President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office,' McConnell said in Senate floor remarks. 'He didn't get away with anything, yet,' he continued. 'We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation and former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden was supportive of Americans using the judiciary, but wouldn't weigh in on the lawsuit more than saying that. 'He certainly supports the rights of individuals, members of Congress and otherwise, to take steps through the judicial process, but I don't think we have a further comment on that than that,' Psaki said last month. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. President Bidens new Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is ready to let loose $40 billion in Department of Energy loans, the former Michigan governor said on Wednesday at CERAWeek. Granholm has selected Jigar Shah, founder of SunEdison, to spearhead the loan program as Director of the Loan Program Office. The DoEs loan program has been in place for years, and is responsible, according to IHS Markit, for backing the first five US utility-scale solar projects in the United States. More uncharitably, the DoEs loan program is also recognized for dispersing $528 million to Solyndrathe solar panel manufacturer that went bankrupt two years after receiving DoE funds. The program, originally created in 2005 under U.S. President Bush, added a renewable energy component four years later, under President Obama. The largest loan, issued in pieces starting in 2014 to 2019, went to VOGTLE in the amount of $12 billion for the construction of Vogtle Units 3&4something the DoE coined the nations next generation of advanced nuclear reactors. The reactors will likely miss its promised November 2021 in-service dates. The second-largest loan in the program, issued in 2009, went to Ford Motor Company in the amount of $5.9 billion for the purpose of revamping facilities to improve fuel efficiency. The two loans account for more than half of the nearly $30 billion in outstanding loans issued by the DoE. The loan program is part of President Bidens aggressive push toward cleaner energy, with Granholm a perfectly green second chair. The $40 billion in funds have been available and waiting for disbursement for years, but with the new Administration, expectations are that we will see more clean energy funds doled out. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: While Google had seeded the growth and fruits of the digital ad ecosystem through reliance on targeting, the company is now getting immense pressure coming from regulators revolving around data privacy and antitrust. With that said, Google is expected to stop enabling cross-site targeting and tracking of user data spread across all of its different web-based ad products. This includes ads on YouTube and other Google AdX exchanges. A recent blogpost was uploaded by Google announcing the end of targeted ads. Google Ads 2021 Changes: Third-Party Cookies Gone? Based on the announcement by Google, the important thing to note is that the tech company will be using what they call as "privacy-preserving APIs," which stops individual tracking of user data. While Google will still be doing its obligation to advertisers and publishers, user data will instead be presented collectively together with information of other users with the same interest. "Our latest tests of FLoC show one way to effectively take third-party cookies out of the advertising equation and instead hide individuals within large crowds of people with common interests. Chrome intends to make FLoC-based cohorts available for public testing through origin trials with its next release this month, and we expect to begin testing FLoC-based cohorts with advertisers in Google Ads in Q2," David Temkin, Google's Director of Product Management, Ads Privacy and Trust, wrote in the announcement. In connection with effectively removing third-party cookies, Temko emphasized that other technologies used to track individual people as they browse the web is also part of the focus of their initiative. Put simply, this means that users will no longer be individually tracked. With the improvements in search algorithm, Google will still be able to provide its advertisers and publishers with relevant information while protecting the privacy of its users. Other Google Changes Due to the post being a little beefy, it could be hard for some to understand exactly how it is ending and to what terms it is stopping its collection of information. An article by Digidaily, fortunately, simplifies the lengthy announcement. With that said, here are the major points coming with the change aside from the removal of the third-party cookies Targeting changes by Google will start when the platform officially stops recognizing other third-party cookies within the Chrome browser. User-level profiles will no longer be built within the ad system nor is the data going to be used to enable targeting other non-Google sites. This means Google won't support other cookie replacement identifiers like LiveRamp, Trade Desk's Unified ID, or others. Non-Google DSP's can connect with publishers and also allow the publishers to use their data to target along with the Privacy Sandbox measuring methods. Google's ad targeting changes are directly focused on open web. Mobile app ads bought and sold through Google's ad tech won't be affected by this. Advertisers buying through Google can still target ads on other non-Google sites through aggregated data. This can be done using its FLoC method which enables targeting audiences and not individuals. Advertisers can still target within their databases of consumers through other first-party data on Google properties like the Google search results page as well as YouTube. Publishers using Google's ad tech will continue to be able to sell ads targeted coming from first-party data owned by the publisher. When advertisers opt to purchase ads from Google's ad exchange, they will need to use their first-party data or their FLoC cohorts in order to target ads. Google retains targeting across its very own properties like when users search for dog food, they are then given ads related to dog food. Read Also: How To Make The Most Out Of Your Google Ads With the change in Google Ad policies, one segment that could have a lot of adjustment to do is the SEO segment. SEO specialists would have a whole lot of new information and structures to learn how to buy better ads and utilize the company's resources in order to be able to hit specific markets that they are targeting. The reason for this change, as noted by the blog, is the growing demand for people to not only be able to know more about their privacy but also be able to control it. Google is ultimately removing third-party cookies to ensure a safer data gathering and Google ads. Related Article: Google Receives Another Complaint: Genius Media Group Files Lawsuit Over Ad Exchange Practices Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has slammed AstraZeneca for not being good at delivering the goods, saying lower vaccine administration on weekends and Mondays is down to lack of supply. After the Irish Independent revealed today that the HSE is administering on average 7,000 fewer vaccines on these days, Mr Varadkar said this was due to AstraZeneca not delivering as many doses as expected. He said it is not due to staff being off work on these days, but if the supply isnt there there isnt a huge point of calling them in on Sunday to give vaccines that they dont have. Read More Appearing on Virgin Medias Ireland AM today, the Tanaiste said delivering more than 100,000 vaccines a week was not a promise but a target- which last week was missed. "A consignment of 25,000 vaccines from AstraZeneca didnt arrive and we were only informed of that on short notice, he said. It was a target and not a promise, and we always say when it comes to vaccines our targets are based on two things that are not under our control. Firstly, this is that the vaccines are being approved by the European Medicines Agency, which is not under our control, and secondly the vaccines actually arriving from abroad where they are made. "Things that are under our control is that when they get into the country they are in people's arms in a week, and thats happening. Unfortunately, there will be occasions where delivery doesn't arrive and there will be weeks where we are behind target and weeks where we are going to catch up. Despite this, Tanaiste Varadkar said he is hoping we can do better than the Taoiseachs hope of having 82pc of people in the country with their first vaccine by March and everyone with their two doses by the end of September. "I am hoping we can do better, we have a bit of redundancy in there- it doesn't include CureVac so if that comes online that's an extra 600,000 vaccines, and also were assuming everyone wants the vaccine, they wont, there will be 10 or 15pc who don't so I hope we can do better. But, on the other hand, things can also go wrong and we may find for example that there's a problem with supply and AstraZeneca, in particular, hasnt been very good at delivering the goods. Caroline Phegan, a GP consultant and director of the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network, received the jab at Murray Bridge Hospital, east of Adelaide. The doctor is immunocompromised and said she would be especially vulnerable to coronavirus. Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng rolled up his sleeve to receive the Pfizer vaccine at The Alfred hospital on Friday morning. Professor Allen Cheng receives the Pfizer jab at The Alfred hospital on Friday morning. It comes amid concerns Australias vaccine rollout will be hampered by Italys decision to block a shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine bound for Australia. The decision is the first time the European Commission has used its powers over whether vaccines manufactured on the continent by Pfizer and AstraZeneca can be exported. Loading But Professor Cheng, who is also the co-chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, said Australia has more vaccines than it can handle at the moment. We have more vaccine than our capacity to deliver it at the moment, he told radio station 3AW. We still have a supply chain and it will make its way into peoples arms. Meanwhile, Victorian business leaders are calling for an end to border closures ahead of Fridays national cabinet meeting. Victorian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Paul Guerra said state leaders needed to acknowledge the impact the uncertainty around borders is having. It is not just consumers from Victoria, but it is having people visit Victoria from other states, knowing that when they come down here, they are not going to get locked out, or theyre not going to be hurried back to their own state, he told Channel Nines Today Show on Friday morning. Premier Daniel Andrews is also facing pressure to allow international flights to land in Victoria and reopen the states hotel quarantine system. International flights have not landed in Melbourne since February 13 after hotel quarantine workers contracted the highly contagious British variant of the virus from returned travellers at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport and mingled in the community, triggering a five-day statewide circuit-breaker lockdown. Victoria was supposed to be accepting 1310 arrivals a week, while NSW is taking up to 430 a day. Im not in a position to confirm when flights will begin arriving again in Melbourne, Mr Andrews said on Thursday. And the reason for that is weve asked our medical experts to look at what the impacts of variants of concern are on the risk profile in our hotels. When that work is completed, and they can satisfy me that we can have a system where we have the lowest possible risk, then flights will start again. I know thats inconvenient for people, but the inconvenience involved in that is, I think, pales in significance when you think about wildly infectious, very easily transmitted virus, a changing virus, a changing challenge, and the prospect of further lockdowns. Chief Police Commissioner Shane Patton told radio station 3AW only a small number of police were working in quarantine hotels on Friday and most officers had returned to their specialist areas or back to the stations. He said the majority of police counters would soon reopen after nearly two dozen were closed throughout last year as resources were deployed to border checkpoints and other COVID-related enforcement activities. They werent police station closures, they were counter suspensions, and they were in proximity so there was always a police station that someone could get to, he said. So we will be returning those I think at the start of this week right across the state, and we have 331, or something like that, police stations. We had 22 counter suspensions or thereabouts. Residents across Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam woke up to rancid, coffee-colored tap water on Wednesday morning. The issue seemed to primarily affect those in Tan Lap, Vinh Hai, and Van Thang Wards, as well as Vinh Ngoc and Ngoc Hiep Communes, many of whom complained about the tainted water from provider Khanh Hoa Water Supply Company. Nguyen Anh Dung, a resident of Loc Tho Ward, told reporters that taps in his house began discharging contaminated water around 5:00 am on Wednesday. Cao Thi Ngoc Giau, a resident Vinh Hai Ward, also complained of a similar issue. We werent able to cook or do personal hygiene this whole morning since the water turned black and smelly, Giau said. Speaking on behalf of Khanh Hoa Water Supply Company, director Nguyen Van Dam cited a break in a water main on Nha Trangs 23/10 Street as the cause of the issue. Technicians were mobilized to fix the issue at around 2:00 am that morning. Yellow tap water in Tap Lap Ward of Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam around 8:00 am on March 3, 2021. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre The pipe in this area is rusty and required a local water outage before the maintenance could be completed," Dam said. "When we turned the water back on, it flushed the residue through the pipes, causing water to turn yellow and black. Since the pipe is a water main, the flush impacted many areas of the city, Dam added. According to Dam, the water supply firm chose not to inform households since the incident transpired after midnight. The firm has now completed the repair and normal running water has returned to area households. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! NEW BERN, N.C., March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth year in a row, CarolinaEast Medical Center has been named one of the top best hospitals in the state by Business North Carolina magazine in their annual "Best Hospitals" issue released in March. The 2021 ranking lands CarolinaEast tied for sixth. "To remain among the top ten hospitals out of over 130 in our state is a true honor for us," said Ray Leggett, CarolinaEast President and CEO. "It is not, however, a surprise. The skill of our physicians and staff, the innovative technology and procedures offered here, combined with the culture of compassion and heart that we have built is truly something special. We are extremely proud of the reputation for quality we have built and to Business NC for recognizing that for the 6th consecutive year." In addition to the number six ranking, Business NC also named CarolinaEast as a "Patient Picks" organization for the percentage of surveyed patients responding they would recommend the New Bern hospital to others. The magazine features Blue Cross Blue Shield's "Proven Winners" which recognizes CarolinaEast's Blue Distinction Center status in cardiac and maternity care. U.S. News and World Report's Top-Performing Tar Heel Hospitals names CarolinaEast as high performing in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, colon cancer surgery, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, hip replacement and knee replacement. Business NC introduced the "Best Hospitals" rankings in 2012 and includes the state's adult acute care hospitals with at least 50 beds. The qualifying organizations are ranked based on performance in 25 metrics, which include outcomes in the areas such as patient satisfaction, infection rates, readmission rates and other publicly reported information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The editors also consider criteria from Blue Cross Blue Shield, U.S. News and World Report and safety ratings from The Leapfrog Group, which CarolinaEast Medical Center has received a Safety Grade 'A' for five consecutive times. Taking so much data into consideration makes the rankings particularly tight and smaller hospitals tend to come up short. At 350 beds, CarolinaEast is the smallest of the hospitals in the 10 highest-ranking on the list and the only hospital east of the Triangle. The past year marked several milestones for CarolinaEast, as January 2020 saw the opening of the 80,000 square feet SECU Comprehensive Cancer Center at CarolinaEast Medical Center in a unique partnership with UNC Health. In addition, a new Diagnostic Center adjacent to the cancer center opened in March to facilitate convenient and efficient imaging services related to cancer prevention, treatment, and diagnosis. 2020 also introduced an unprecedented set of challenges in the form of a worldwide infectious disease pandemic. Frontline healthcare workers have risen to the challenge to continue to care for patients in their time of need, and the need has been plentiful. During fiscal year 2020, the 2,500 plus employees, nearly 250 physicians and over 400 volunteers cared for 13,778 inpatients, 117,112 outpatients, 54,548 emergency patients and saw 240,418 patients in the CarolinaEast physician offices located across four counties. "In a year that most would rather forget, we do not take for granted the privilege we have to make a difference in someone's life, every single day," said Leggett. "I could not be more proud of the CarolinaEast team for continuously answering the call and maintaining the level of excellence they have 24/7/365 - no matter what." The full list of hospital rankings is available on the Business NC website: https://businessnc.com/2021-north-carolinas-best-hospitals/ About CarolinaEast Medical Center CarolinaEast Health System has been serving the growing needs of the coastal North Carolina community since 1963. In addition to the system's flagship, 350 bed CarolinaEast Medical Center, CarolinaEast includes a rehabilitation hospital, free- standing surgery center, the SECU Comprehensive Cancer Center, and numerous CarolinaEast Physician practices providing primary and specialty care for all phases of life from offices in four counties. Contact: Brandy Popp, Manager, Public Relations CarolinaEast Health System 2000 Neuse Blvd., P.O. Box 12157 New Bern, NC 28561 252-633-8154 [email protected] SOURCE CarolinaEast Health System Related Links www.carolinaeasthealth.com Lawmakers and political advisers in China held online discussions at a forum on stepping up child protection against sexual assault through institutional efforts Tuesday, bringing public attention to the issue prior to the upcoming annual sessions of Chinas top legislature and political advisory body. Fang Yan, a deputy to the National People's Congress and vice director of the Shaanxi Lawyers Association, shares her proposals regarding child protection on March 2, 2021. [Photo courtesy of Girls Protection] Fang Yan, a deputy to China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), made several proposals to the child protection-themed forum on addressing sexual assault against minors. They included expanding civil liability to mental distress of juvenile victims and promulgating provisions on post-assault remedies, such as assisting victims and their families with school transfers and locating housing. Fang, also the vice director of the Shaanxi Lawyers Association, additionally proposed trainings on mandatory reporting of sexual assault against minors for people at key positions, including public security personnel, kindergarten and school teachers, and residential committee staff. She said the country should also set up more well-funded child protection organizations. Last May, China began to pilot a mandatory reporting system for sexual assault and suspected sexual assault against minors, and later formally turned it into provisions in a major overhaul of the country's child protection law. The provisions stipulate that schools and kindergartens shall not conceal such illegal and criminal acts, and shall promptly report to the public security and education authorities and cooperate with relevant departments. Liu Hongyu, a member of China's top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also made proposals regarding post-assault handling that a database of offenders should be established, and people convicted of sexual assault should be restricted from working in certain child-related fields after serving time in jail. She also brought proposals from the perspective of prevention that juveniles be taught with necessary lessons in school to increase their awareness of and ability to guard against sexual assault and harassment. "It should not be just a few physiological health lectures, but a compulsory course with exams," Liu said, adding that parents should also do their part at home to both mentor their kids and learn how to protect them. According to a survey report released by the Girls Protection foundation and the Beijing All in One Foundation at the forum, among the 243 juvenile sexual assault cases where the victims' ages were identified in media reports last year, 83.95% involved victims aged 7 to 15, which is the age group of China's compulsory primary and middle school education. In addition, among 15,328 online questionnaires conducted in China in 2020, 67.55% said they did not know or knew only a little about how to deal with juvenile sexual assault. However, 97.45% said that it was very necessary (69.33%) or necessary (28.12%) to educate children about sex and sexual assault prevention, and 95.5% said that it was very necessary (53.40%) or necessary (42.10%) to incorporate such education into school curriculum. A torrent of racist language was posted in the Hoboken City Council Zoom meeting chat window, visible to council members and city staff Wednesday, officials said. The Hoboken Police Department is investigating it as a bias incident and seeking to identify a suspect, Chief Ken Ferrante said Thursday morning. Two of the panelists are African American and it is believed those posts were aimed at one of them or both of them, Ferrante said. The comments from an unknown individual included the repeated use of the N-word, said Councilwoman Vanessa Falco, who is Black. She immediately contacted the police chief, she said, and City Council Vice President Jen Giattino then disabled the chat feature, Ferrante said. Going forward, lets please try to figure out through technology what we need to do so that I and other council people do not have to experience the derogatory, the disrespectful or any other comments that the public have access to bring to us, Falco said during the meeting. This has been a disturbing evening, but Im trying my best. The Zoom meeting began at 7 p.m. and the incident occurred at 8:21 p.m., according to police. There were 22 panelists able to view the comments, including the entire City Council, officials said. Public viewers of the meeting most likely could not see comments, Ferrante said. There are certain words that should never be said, ever, in any context whatsoever, which were sadly used at last nights virtual City Council meeting, Mayor Ravi Bhalla and the City Council said in a joint statement Thursday. Hoboken will never stand for hate of any kind, and we forcefully denounce the individuals responsible for this behavior. We are confident that Police Chief Ken Ferrante will conduct a thorough investigation, and if it is proven that laws were broken, we will hold those accountable to the fullest extent of the law. XPO Logistics will close one of its Palmer Township warehouses, a decision that affects more than 1,000 workers. Company spokeswoman Tara Mullins said about 600 full-time workers could be relocated to two other XPO Logistics warehouses nearby or to a new facility opening soon. She said 400 contingent workers are employed by a third party, so their fates are uncertain. Our customer made a business decision to change supply chain partners. Were working to transfer our colleagues to other XPO locations in the area, including a new facility were opening soon. We expect to be offering new positions to all affected employees, she said in a statement. She wouldnt name the customer that changed its supplier. The warehouse at 1611 Van Buren Road is closing, according to a WARN notice posted on the state labor department website. The notice says 1,072 workers are affected. The warehouse will close between April 26 and May 10, the notice says. Mullins said XPO has additional warehouses at 3000 AM Drive in Milford Township and 1520 Van Buren Road in Palmer Township. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. More: Michaels arts and crafts chain to be sold to private firm for $5 billion Dauphin, Cumberland counties prepare to accept COVID relief grant applications from restaurants The North Caucasus Mountain Range in what is today the Kabardino-Balkaria region. Bronze Age societies inhabited these landscapes. Credit: Katharina Fuchs, Institut fur Klinische Molekularbiologie Rare diseases are a special field in medical-pharmaceutical research and treatment today. "Rare" means that no more than five in 10,000 people suffer from a particular disease. Patients affected by a rare disorder are often severely restricted, both physically and in their social life, and require a high level of social and medical care. But what do we know about rare diseases in the past, so-called ancient rare diseases, and above all how can we define and diagnose them in skeletal human remains? This question was investigated by Dr. Katharina Fuchs who works as physical anthropologist at the the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology at Kiel University. Using the disease history of a male individual from the North Caucasus Bronze Age (ca. 2200 to 1650 BC), she came to the conclusion that the criteria for rare diseases used today cannot simply be transferred to the past. The recently published study in the International Journal of Paleopathology shows that not only the diagnosis of rare diseases and the calculation of incidences and prevalence, i.e. frequency, are challenging for the researchers. Individual impairment and the degree of social integration and support are also difficult to reconstruct. There are many conclusions that the anthropologist K. Fuchs can draw from the skeleton of the man from the Caucasus that she examined as part of the study: Since his youth, he suffered from a rare hip disorder, the Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, and he had a limping gait due to this inwards twisted leg. Moreover, as an adult he survived severe fractures of his skull and thigh. Apart from this, the wear patterns of his teeth show that he used them as tools during working processes, as was customary. Also, from the objects that he was buried with can be inferred that he did not hold a particularly high social position. The excavated grave of the male skeleton from the North Caucasus foothills. A healed fracture of the right thigh bone is visible. Credit: B. Atabiev, Institut fur die Archaologie des Kaukasus, Naltschik "Taken together, the results show that this man was important to society. The fractures he endured required a high level of care. He probably survived his injuries because his fellow human beings took care of him. This gives us an idea of how people in the North Caucasus treated each other 4,000 years ago and how they treated someone who was physically limited for most of his life," Fuchs explains. Such considerations go beyond the topic of ancient rare diseases, but illustrate the social dimension of their investigation. Another result of the study is that the criterion of "rarity" in relation to ancient rare diseases cannot be defined by rigid thresholds. The fact that a disease is rare today does not necessarily mean that it was rare in the past. Depending on the causes for the emergence of a disease, the aetiology, the occurrence, disappearance and, most interestingly, the change from a rare to a common disease pattern are subject to social and human ecological dynamics. This is a finding of modern medicine, which identifies lifestyle and external influences as important components. Right and left femoral bones of the male individual from the North Caucasus. The bones exhibit pathological changes examined in the study. Credit: Katharina Fuchs, Institut fur Klinische Molekularbiologie Research into rare diseases of the past is therefore also relevant for our understanding of today's diseases. One of the co-authors of the study, Dr. Julia Gresky from the German Archaeological Institute, stresses: "Since its foundation in 2019, the research of the "Ancient Rare Diseases' workgroup also has the task to reach people who are affected today. We hope to contribute to public awareness by pointing out that humankind has always been confronted with rare diseasesbut also that being affected does not have to mean social isolation." Explore further New taxonomy of non-skeletal rare disorders with impact on bone More information: Katharina Fuchs et al. Towards a definition of ancient rare diseases (ARD): Presenting a complex case of probable Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease from the North Caucasian Bronze Age (2200-1650 cal BCE), International Journal of Paleopathology (2020). Katharina Fuchs et al. Towards a definition of ancient rare diseases (ARD): Presenting a complex case of probable Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease from the North Caucasian Bronze Age (2200-1650 cal BCE),(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.11.004 A pair of women who became close friends while working at the same restaurant discovered nine years later that they are biological sisters. ADVERTISEMENT Cassandra Madison and Julia Tinetti said they met in 2013 when they were both working at the Russian Lady restaurant in New Haven. The women said they quickly became friends and bonded over both having Dominican Republic tattoos and being adopted. Madison and Tinetti said they suspected they might be related, but information from Tinetti's adoption paperwork -- which they only later discovered was erroneous -- made a biological connection between the two seem impossible. Madison said she reconnected with her biological family two years ago, and only recently learned from her father that the family had another daughter who was put up for adoption. A DNA test in February proved Madison and Tinetti were sisters. The women said they now know they have seven other siblings who were raised by their birth parents. The European Court of Justice, on March 2, ruled that Polands new regulations regarding the appointment of Supreme Court judges could violate European law. In his ruling, ECJ Judge Marko Ilesic said the new Polish regulations are capable of giving legitimate doubts in the minds of subjects of the law as to the neutrality of judges appointed by the president of Poland and whether they are influenced by politics. The ruling came in response to a complaint filed by Polish judges who said that their right to challenge their rejection has been sabotaged. What are the new regulations? The latest legislation by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki strengthens his administration control over the apex judicial body. The new rule bars any candidate, who has been rejected for the position of a judge in the top court, from appealing against it. The EU has been critical of the countrys conservative government which has made many undemocratic changes since it came into power in 2015. What does the ICJ ruling imply? The ruling obliges Poland's right-wing government to discontinue the regulations and observe the principles of judicial independence and the right to judicial protection. It also means Poland's Supreme Administrative Court can now review appeals by the five judges, who are not government loyalists. Read: EU Court: Poland's New Judicial Rules Are Against EU Law Read: Historian With Far-right Past Resigns In Poland In another development, a Polish historian resigned from the government's historical institute after controversy erupted over his past ties with a far-right organization and photos emerged of him making a fascist salute. Tomasz Greniuch was recently appointed to head the Wroclaw office of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), a state organization whose role is to document Nazi and communist crimes carried out on Polish soil. Read: Wroclaw Zoo In Poland Welcomes Endangered Marsupial Baby Outrage had been mounting over the appointment in Poland, a country that suffered enormously under Nazi German rule in World War II. However, the fact that Greniuch had even been appointed to the post was seen by some as evidence of right-wing extremism becoming mainstream under Poland's conservative ruling Law and Justice party. Read: Poland To Redraw Media Tax Proposal Following Protests (With inputs from Associated Press) LINCOLN CITY, Ore. A Republican state lawmaker has drafted a bill that would reimburse Oregonians for the state taxes levied on federal stimulus payments. Senator Dick Anderson of Lincoln City says that Senate Bill 842 will return the taxes that many Oregonians are paying on the Economic Impact Payments. There is no reason to be nickel and diming Oregonians by taking part of their stimulus check. Senator Anderson said. The State of Oregon is doing better than expected with tax revenues. Oregon state economists released a revenue forecast last week that showed the state is relatively well positioned with tax revenue in spite of the economic squeeze brought on by the pandemic. The Office of Economic Analysis even said that tax revenue may be high enough to trigger Oregon's "kicker" rebate next year. Stimulus payments have not been taxed by the federal government, but a quirk of Oregon's tax code means that some 870,000 Oregonians will be paying state taxes on those checks. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that those taxes amount to roughly $112 million in tax revenue for the Oregon government. Senator Anderson's office previously considered having people amend their tax filings, or get a credit on 2021 taxes. But SB 842 would result in a more direct solution requiring the Oregon Department of Revenue to send checks for tax on stimulus checks back to affected Oregonians, similar to the way that the kicker rebate works. We realized that making working people jump through hoops to get their money wasnt the right approach, Senator Anderson continued. To ensure that the most Oregonians get their money back, we opted to go for a system that proactively sends checks to those affected. Anderson's office said that SB 842 received its first reading on the Senate floor Wednesday, and will head to the Senate President's desk for committee referral. Coronavirus cases: Karnataka faces oxygen shortfall even as active cases still on higher side Scientists in UK urge caution over lifting lockdown amid COVID third wave fears Less than three lakh active COVID-19 cases in Karnataka Govt explains why COVID impact may increase in children if virus changes behaviour CISCE cancels ISC class 12th board exams due to Covid-19; Assessment criteria to be out soon Pakistans COVID-19 death toll breaches 13,000 International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Islamabad, Mar 04: Pakistan's COVID-19 death toll crossed 13,000 on Wednesday after 75 fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry. The number of coronavirus cases in the country surged to 583,916, while the nationwide tally of fatalities jumped to 13,013. At least 1,388 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the ministry of National Health Services said. Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Islamabad. COVID-19 recovered people showing faster antibody response to Covishield vaccine Sindh has reported 258,679 coronavirus cases followed by 173,395 in Punjab, 72,801 in KP, 44,690 in Islamabad, 19,076 in Balochistan, 10,319 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 4,956 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). A total of 5,441 people have lost their lives due to the virus in Punjab, 4,372 in Sindh, 2,091 in KP, 501 in Islamabad, 306 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, 200 in Balochistan, and 102 in GB. The ministry said that 554,225 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country, while 1,561 people are in critical condition. Taj Mahal bomb threat call was a hoax | Caller identified | Oneindia News Pakistan has so far conducted 9,055,069 coronavirus tests, including 32,945 in the last 24 hours. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 9:20 [IST] President Joe Biden has withdrawn the nomination of Neera Tanden to serve as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget after senators on both sides of the aisle indicated they would not vote to confirm her. In a statement Tuesday, Biden announced Tanden's request to withdraw her nomination and indicated that he still wanted the longtime political operative to play an active role in his administration. "I have accepted Neera Tanden's request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Biden stated. I have the utmost respect for her and her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve a role in my Administration. She will bring valuable perspective and insight to our work." The White House also shared a copy of the letter Tanden sent to Biden announcing her decision to withdraw her nomination. Source:The Christian Post Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat PM Modi holds BJP election committee meeting to finalise candidates for Assam, Bengal India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 04: Ahead of five Assembly elections in four states and a union territory over the next few weeks, the BJP's central election committee (CEC) met on Thursday to finalise party candidates for the initial phases of assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam. Party chief JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are among those present for the meeting. While the third and last phase of polling in Assam will be held on April 6, West Bengal is scheduled to undergo elections in eight phases ending on April 29. BJP minister makes U-turn, says 'Metro-man' E Sreedharan's name not confirmed for Kerala CM The BJP CEC may meet again on Friday, sources indicated, according to PTI. Before the CEC meeting, top BJP leaders like Shah and Nadda have held long deliberations with Assam party leaders, including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, and those from Bengal, including state party chief Dilip Ghosh. Armed with little more than a smartphone and a dream, inexperienced cryptocurrency investors in Vietnam are hoping to hit it big with Pi a cryptocurrency that can be mined from a phone. As the crypto-craze in Vietnam continues being fueled by skyrocketing bitcoin prices and overnight millionaires, investors in the country are looking for low-barrier avenues to make their own fortunes on digital currency. Enter Pi, a relatively new digital token that can be mined through the Pi Network app, advertised as breakthrough tech [that] allows you to mine [Pi] on your phone without draining your battery. Unlike conventional cryptocurrency mining, which involves the use of significant computer power to verify the legitimacy of transactions in order to earn tokens as a reward, obtaining Pi only requires 'miners' to log into the application and tap a button every few hours. With such a low barrier to entry, Pi mining has pulled in scores of Vietnamese crypto-newbies in recent weeks. "Weve missed the boat on bitcoin, so many of us have switched to mining Pi," said Duc Danh, a Facebook user in Ho Chi Minh City. "Theres nothing to lose. "After a few years, if the project succeeds, each Pi could be worth dozens of U.S. dollars." Also in on the Pi hype is Vinh from Phu Nhuan District, a Pi miner who has recruited 70 other 'miners' and aggregated over 1,000 Pi coins for doing so as part of a Pi Network program akin to a multi-level marketing scheme. Pi mining costs nothing but bits of phone storage," Vinh argued. "What if the price shoots up to a few hundred U.S. dollars in the future? "No one expected bitcoin to soar to $50,000. New members on the Pi Network receive one free Pi coin and start with a mining speed of 0.1 Pi per hour. This velocity will increase with more accepted referrals, thus incentivizing users to gather as many new recruits under their umbrella as possible. On Facebook, Pi Network groups have amassed hundreds of thousands of members curious about crypto mining, Pis identity verification system, and security. K., a newbie in one of these groups, shared great optimism for the cryptocurrency. I learnt about Pi the other day on Facebook, and have had high hopes for it ever since, he said. Despite not being listed on big-name cryptocurrency exchanges, Pis trading value is already receiving real-world recognition, with one coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City accepting the token as payment. There are also reports of an e-commerce platform that accepts Pi as payment at a rate of VND100,000 ($4.5) for one Pi token, though the website was taken down on February 28. No free lunch Vietnamese users should take careful consideration before joining the Pi Network, said Dang Minh Tuan, a blockchain expert at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology in Hanoi, during a conversation with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The most obvious thing, according to Tuan, is the risk of giving away personal data to the app developers. With a community estimated at over 15 million users worldwide, Pi is currently a gold mine of personal data that can be abused for targeted ads on Google, Facebook, and TikTok. On top of that, Pis core team has not yet registered itself as a legal entity, which renders the contracts and ownership accords between users and Pi unprotected by law. Pi has also not yet released its source code to the public, making the aggregate supply and demand of Pi tokens unidentifiable. This indicates a huge risk for users involved because the developers have the power to inflate the currency as they please. Sharing the skeptics view, financial expert Lam Minh Chanh sounded the alarm about scams in the likes of Onecoin, Skyway, or MyAladdinz. According to Chanh, Pi is not completely free as users have to invest a great amount of time and phone resources. They also face data security risks in return for the hopes of high investment returns that are fanned by vague speculation. "Miners are unlikely to get rich. There is no free lunch," he said. According to Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy director of the State Bank branch in Ho Chi Minh City, bitcoin and other similar types of cryptocurrency are not methods of payment compliant with law in Vietnam. Issuing, supplying, and using bitcoin as well as other similar types of cryptocurrency as forms of payment are also prohibited. Accordingly, users and suppliers of cryptocurrency in the country will be declared culpable and subject to penalties. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! King Salman Energy Park (Spark), the regions only fully integrated energy hub, today (March 4) signed tenancy agreements with Saudi Arabia's Industrialisation and Energy Services Company (Taqa), thus making it an anchor tenant, along with Amco, a leading manufacturer in the oil and gas sector. As an anchor tenant, Taqa will expand its local operations with the Taqa Industrial Park at the mega emergy park, strategically located close to their primary clients. Taqa aims to establish a brand-new facility that will include oilfield services, a specialty facility for engineering and manufacturing, and a wireline and perforation center of excellence. These facilities will be built in two phases starting in the second quarter of 2021, with the design and developmental planning stages having already commenced. The integrated center of operations at Spark allows Taqa more efficient and effective utilization of resources and increased profitability through cost savings; Spark offers ready to lease land with fully integrated infrastructure and utilities to reduce development timelines and enable the ease of doing business in the kingdom. Welcoming the deals, President and CEO Saif Al Qahtani, said:Spark sits at the heart of the energy market, offering a world-class ecosystem that facilitates the growth of our tenants businesses and brings sustained value to our wider communities." "Spark is set to be a fully integrated city, bringing together major national and international companies and fuelling economic growth and job creation, he noted. Former Royal Marine Anthony Muckell, who attempted suicide twice, has urged veterans suffering a mental health crisis to make use of a new service launched by the NHS (NHS England/PA) A former Royal Marine who attempted suicide twice has urged veterans suffering a mental health crisis to make use of a new service launched by the NHS. Doctors, nurses and other NHS staff will work with military charities to provide therapy, rehab services, and in extreme cases inpatient care, to former soldiers, sailors and RAF personnel each year as part of the new Op Courage service. NHS England said those needing urgent help will receive a same-day referral. @NHSEngland announces Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. The new name for dedicated #NHS veterans mental health services that provide care & support for Service leavers, reservists, veterans & their families #OpCourage https://t.co/UpWEniVwRm pic.twitter.com/RNWGSeUifG A Collins (@A_C_Coll) March 4, 2021 The treatment has already been trialled in some areas and will be rolled out across the country by next month. Former Royal Marine Anthony Muckell, who lives in London, has been able to get his life back on track following an intervention from the high-intensity service. The 51-year-old, who served in the Gulf on board RFA Argus, said: At my lowest point I attempted suicide twice, spent time in a psychiatric hospital and then prison; this led to me losing my job and homelessness. I was unable to explain what was wrong with me which meant that I didnt get the help I needed, which meant giving up on life. Any veterans, or families of veterans, that need help should make the NHS Veterans Service their first point of call. The people that work there really do understand our needs and the help we need. If you know a veteran in need then please help them make contact with their local NHS Veterans Service. Expand Close Former Royal Marine Anthony Muckell, who attempted suicide twice, has urged veterans suffering a mental health crisis to make use of a new service launched by the NHS (NHS England/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former Royal Marine Anthony Muckell, who attempted suicide twice, has urged veterans suffering a mental health crisis to make use of a new service launched by the NHS (NHS England/PA) Speaking at the annual Kings Centre for Military Health Research Veterans mental health conference at Kings College London, NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens was expected to say: Anyone can be affected by mental ill-health but armed forces veterans may have seen and experienced things that few others thankfully will. That can create a special set of challenges which working with military charities helps to overcome, and that it what is at the heart of Op Courage ensuring that the NHS is a National Hero Service. NHS England said that, over the last two years, the health service has expanded mental health services as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. Armed forces veterans suffering a mental health crisis will receive specialist care as part of a new service launched today. NHS staff will work with military charities to provide care to hundreds of former soldiers, sailors and RAF personnel each year. https://t.co/Drt8YE9NBv pic.twitter.com/oUByvM0J0u NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) March 4, 2021 It said more than 13,000 former troops have benefited from specialist care for lower level problems such as anxiety and depression, while almost 2,000 more have received help for more complex problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new service, which is expected to treat around 500 people a year, will focus on those in crisis, at risk of self-harm or suicide, or suffering other problems such as homelessness and addiction. It is being rolled out after trials involving almost 200 former servicemen and women. Op Courage is part of a nine-point NHS plan to support the armed forces. Other commitments laid out in the plan include ensuring access to quality secondary care, reducing healthcare inequalities, helping with the transition to civilian life and increased support for veterans families, children and carers. The code has been copied to your clipboard. width px height px New Delhi: A 12-year-old girl returning home after attending Independence Day program in her school, was allegedly raped at a Children Park in Chandigarh on Tuesday morning. According to police, the girl was assaulted and raped at knife point in Children Traffic Park in Sector 23 of the city. Police said the victim is a student of class VIII in a government school. Police have learnt during course of investigation that the victim was overpowered and raped by a middle-age man while she was returning home from school around 9:30 am in the morning. Also Read | Noida: Woman alleges gangrape by four men The miscreant after raping the minor attacked her with knife and fled the crime site, added police. Police had learnt about the incident after the victim along with parents lodged a complaint at the Sector 17 police station. The victims parents said, We saw our daughter bleeding. On asking she narrated her ordeal. Also Read | Delhi: Man attempts rape, throws girl from 4th floor of under construction building in Begumpur On learning the incident SSP Eish Singhal and other senior police officials reached the incident site to investigate the matter. We have lodged an FIR and raids are being made to nab the miscreant, said the SSP. Another police official told the media that the girl was sent to civil hospital for medical examination. The doctors have confirmed she was sexually assaulted, added the officer. Police have apprehended at least five people in connection to rape of the incident. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Newser) A 15-year-old boy shot at an Arkansas junior high school earlier this week died Wednesday, officials said. Lt. David DeFoor, Pine Bluff police spokesman, confirmed the death Wednesday night, citing the Pulaski County Coroner's Office in Little Rock, the AP reports. A deputy at the coroner's office referred inquiries back to Pine Bluff police. The boy, identified by his family and the Watson Chapel School District as Daylon Burnett, died after two days under intensive care at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. story continues below Earlier Wednesday, a judge set a $1 million bond for the 15-year-old boy accused of shooting his classmate at Watson Chapel Junior High School in Pine Bluff, about 40 miles southeast of Little Rock. The suspect, whose name police were withholding because he is a juvenile, remained in Jefferson County's juvenile detention center charged with first-degree battery. A homicide charge has yet to be filed. He was scheduled at the Wednesday morning bond hearing for an April 12 court date. Authorities have said they believe the shooting, which took place just hours after in-person learning resumed, was targeted, not random, but they don't yet know a motive. (Read more Arkansas stories.) The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission awarded a $4,250 grant to the Lackawanna Historical Society. The commission recently approved 31 Historical & Archival Records Care grants, amounting to nearly $200,000, according to the commission. The grants aim to help preserve Pennsylvania's significant historical records and make them accessible, the commission said. Applications were subject to a competitive review by a subcommittee of the Pennsylvania State Historical Records Advisory Board, according to the commission. Papua New Guinea reported at least 260 new Covid-19 cases in the seven days ending on Feb. 28, its largest weekly rise, raising concerns the pandemic is worsening in the Pacific Islands region's most populous nation. With fears growing the virus may spread eastwards to other Pacific nations, the outbreak could have geopolitical implications. An Australian Broadcasting Corp. report on Feb. 5 said China was assisting Papua New Guinea with a supply of vaccines, citing Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. The government in Port Moresby denied the claim, it said. Meanwhile, Western nations including the U.S. and nearby Australia are ramping up efforts to get alternative immunizations quickly on the ground in the Pacific. According to a World Health Organization report dated March 1 seen by Bloomberg, "there are currently surges in several provinces across PNG, with major outbreaks in the National Capital District," which includes the capital Port Morseby and provinces bordering Indonesia. Infected patients include a large number of health-care workers, prisoners and people on mine sites, the report said. A separate report from Papua New Guinea health authorities seen by Bloomberg shows the number of virus cases nearly doubled every week in February. "The virus seems to be ripping through the country and it all seems to have got too hard, too quickly for Papua New Guinea's government to control," said Jonathan Pryke, who heads research on the Pacific region for the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank. An emailed request and a call for comment to the Papua New Guinea government wasn't immediately answered. Government data shows the virus has spread to Bougainville, taking it from the west of the country to the east. "That is such a porous border, with a lot of communities that live on either side of it," Pryke said. "There's a big concern that this is going to keep moving east" toward the Solomon Islands and other areas of the Pacific, he said. The surge could prompt the government to consider getting China to supply it's vaccine to the country. Over the past decade, China's growing influence in the 14-nation Pacific Islands -- whose cumulative population of just 13 million is sprawled over thousands of islands and atolls in a region stretching across 15% of the world's surface -- has triggered alarm bells in the U.S. and Australia. Diplomats and intelligence officials fear Beijing's ultimate goal may be to establish a naval base that would upend their military strategies. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand are leading efforts to implement logistics to help build a vaccine program in the region. Financial Times reported Wednesday that the U.S. is working with Japan, India and Australia to develop a plan to distribute Covid-19 vaccines to countries in Asia as part of a broader strategy to counter China's influence. Australia, which is in the midst of worsening ties with Beijing that have spilled over into trade reprisals from its largest trading partner, has committed more than A$200 million ($156 million) to the Gavi alliance that will help immunize high-risk populations in developing countries, including most of the Pacific. It's also donating another A$500 million over three years to Pacific nations to bolster the logistics and supply chains it implement the program. However, there are questions about its ability to help get the vaccine delivered quickly, especially as it only began its own domestic roll out last month. According to Pryke at Lowy, Papua New Guinea might lose its patience as the virus spreads and turn to China for its vaccine, prompting other Pacific nations to follow its lead. "If Australia is not the one to be seen leading the way in assisting the roll out in vaccinations in a pandemic that's been going for almost a year, that's a bad look," he said. Dr. M. Katherine Banks is a distinguished professor, member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She was hired as vice chancellor and dean in 2011. | Image: Texas A&M Engineering The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents today named Dr. M. Katherine Banks as the sole finalist for the position of president of Texas A&M University. This is a tremendous honor, Banks said. The core values of Texas A&M, its rich traditions, unique culture and commitment to the greater good is the very foundation of this great university and resonates deeply with me. I hope to build upon that framework in our pursuit of preeminence, without losing what makes Texas A&M so special. Texas A&M is one of a kind and theres nowhere else Id rather be. Banks is currently vice chancellor of engineering and national laboratories and dean of the Texas A&M College of Engineering. In those roles, she spurred unprecedented growth in the College of Engineering while also being a pivotal leader in some of the A&M Systems greater accomplishments, including recruiting the Army Futures Command to the RELLIS Campus and winning a federal contract to help manage Los Alamos National Laboratory. On Wednesday, Chancellor John Sharp recommended Banks as sole finalist and the Board approved. Under state law, regents name a finalist for at least 21 days before making the appointment at a subsequent meeting. The Board was excited to know the search yielded tremendous interest and many qualified candidates, said Elaine Mendoza, chairman of the Board of Regents. This speaks to the stellar reputation, credibility and positive momentum of Texas A&M University. The Board is confident that Dr. Banks will lead the university to even greater heights while celebrating the traditions and spirit that make Texas A&M unique. Three Essex County men admitted conspiring to defraud banks out of $250,000 using credit cards and blank checks stolen from U.S. Postal Service facilities in New Jersey, federal officials said Thursday. Alexander Varice, 22, and Dashawn Duncan, 27, both of South Orange, along with Nasheed Jackson, 24, of Newark, each pleaded guilty via videoconference to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, New Jersey Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced. In the scheme lasting from August 2018 through January, the men used the stolen credit cards and blank checks to make fraudulent purchases and pilfer money from two banks, according to court documents. The credit cards were shipped by a bank from Virginia to New Jersey, and stolen from a third-party sorting facility used by the Postal Service in Pine Brook as well as a post office in Warren, court filings show. After activating the intercepted cards, the scammers made purchases at retail stores and withdrew cash from ATMs. Prosecutors said the scam also involved personal and cashiers checks stolen from various New Jersey post offices. The conspirators altered the payee, dates and amounts to fraudulently withdraw money from a bank. The men face a possible maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine for the bank fraud conspiracy offense, according to authorities. Sentencing is set for later this summer. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Mumbai, March 4 : India's key equity indices snapped a three-day winning streak on Thursday as global concerns over rising bond yields resurfaced. Accordingly, the two equity indices opened lower but tried to recover only to cede more ground. Globally, Asia-Pacific equities fell after negative sentiment on Wall Street and concerns about rising bond yields trickled over into the region. Similarly, European stocks fell after three straight sessions of gains as a jump in US bond yields knocked the risk appetite globally. Among sectors, media was the only gainer while metals, banks, IT and auto index fell the most. Consequently, the S&P BSE Sensex fell 598.57 points, or 1.16 per cent, to 50,846.08 points from the previous close of 51,444.65. The NSE Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange closed at 15,080.75, lower by 164.85 points, or 1.08 per cent, from its previous close. "Nifty seems to have turned down after the sharp rise seen on March 3. A fall to below 14,959 will confirm this. On up moves, 15,176-15,202 band will provide resistance," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research at HDFC Securities. According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services: "Domestic markets along with its global peers mirrored the wounded trend of the US market. The surge in US bond yields added selling pressure in technology stocks, and forced Wall Street to close lower. Blue-chips were much affected by the weak global cues, but mid and smallcaps with their increased investor confidence retained their positive momentum." S. Ranganathan, Head of Research at LKP Securities, said: "Markets opened on a weak note on muted global cues and drifted lower during the afternoon even as we saw heightened investor interest in PSU stocks on hopes of privatisation and asset monetisation. In the broader market, sugar stocks registered smart gains for the second day in a row." On the bright spring morning of Friday, March 4, 1921 a detachment of soldiers from the First Battalion of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, accompanied by a mixed force of RIC Auxiliaries, left Carrick-on-Shannon en-route to Gowel. The regiment had only recently arrived in Leitrim, and were confronted with an escalation of IRA violence in the county, primarily as a result of the arrival of Commandant Sean Connolly, an IRA GHQ organiser from neighbouring Longford. Connolly was tasked by Michael Collins with reorganising IRA structures in Leitrim with the aim of increasing military action against crown forces. Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regimental reports noted the district is considerably more disturbed than that which we have vacated in Donegal, and though our hopes are high we have not yet been able to get the gunmen of the district under hand. The purpose of the journey to Gowel that morning was to capture some of these gunmen. News had reached the RIC at Carrick-on-Shannon that IRA volunteers would be attending first Friday mass at Gowel church where the local curate Father Edward OReilly was a well-known republican supporter. Little did Crown forces know this tip-off to the local RIC was a ploy by the IRA to lure them into an ambush. On their arrival at Gowel, the Crown forces immediately surrounded the church, and as the congregation made their way out from mass they were met by a force of 40 soldiers and police. The men were lined up for searching on one side while a female searcher attended to the women. Female searchers were a relatively new phenomenon in the War of Independence, and were primarily employed to thwart the activities of members of Cumann na mBan and other women who often transported arms, ammunition and dispatches for the IRA. The church interior at Gowel was also thoroughly searched, and when nothing was found, no arrests were made and the police and soldiers remounted their Crossley tenders and set out for the return journey to Carrick-on-Shannon. Just over one mile into that journey, the three-vehicle convoy was ambushed at Sheemore by members of a section of the flying column of the South Leitrim Brigade of the IRA led by Commandant Sean Mitchell. At the command from Mitchell, the IRA opened fire on the convoy, and soldiers and police immediately jumped from their lorries, and took cover behind a wall. The eight-man ambush party had chosen their position well, and engaged Crown forces from an elevated vantage point behind a low wall at the edge of a wooded area. After several minutes of intense gunfire, a number of soldiers and RIC Auxiliaries were wounded. In an attempt to out-flank the ambushers, the partys commanding officer and World War One veteran Lieutenant Eric Chilver Wilson (25) was shot and fatally wounded. On seeing Wilson collapse, the female searcher attached to the raiding party, Dublin nurse Alice Gray (55), immediately went to his aid and proceeded to bandage the officers wounds. Gray also re-distributed the rifles of the wounded RIC men to their comrades who were armed only with revolvers. Fearing the arrival of reinforcements, and with a low supply of ammunition, Mitchell withdrew his column to safety. With the departure of the ambushers, the police and military regrouped and forced a young local boy to guide them by back roads into Carrick-on-Shannon. When Mitchells column arrived at a safe house, a member of the flying column realised he had left his handkerchief at the ambush site. Fearing police tracker dogs would pick up a scent, a local young woman, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Early (18), a member of Cumann na mBan was dispatched to retrieve the handkerchief. Despite intense Crown force activity in the area, Miss Early cycled to Sheemore and retrieved the lost handkerchief. Police and soldiers continued to swarm the area in search for the ambushers. Local homes were raided and burned including Gowel Temperance Hall. At Kiltoghert, crown forces destroyed machinery at the creamery before burning the building. While their forces in Leitrim conducted widespread reprisals, authorities in Dublin Castle were anxious to highlight the actions of Nurse Gray at Sheemore. Corresponding with the War Office, Commander of British Forces in Ireland Neville Macready ordered his colleagues to make a story of this but do not use name or description. Call this heroine a loyal Irish lady of 55. Macready also recommended that Gray be awarded the Order of the British Empire Medal, which was presented to her on January 30, 1922, in a private ceremony by the Lord Lieutenant at the Vice Regal Lodge. It was at Grays request that the ceremony was private, as she informed authorities she was hoping to proceed to Canada as quickly and quietly as possible. Like many Irish women of the Irish Revolution, the actions of Lizzie Early did not receive immediate recognition. After spending a short period of time in the USA, Lizzie returned to Leitrim where she married John Joe Beirne and raised a family of six children on a small farm at Effernagh, a short distance from the ambush site at Sheemore. Over 50 years later, Lizzie was finally awarded a medal on June 26, 1974, for her service with Cumann na mBan. Lizzie spent her final years in the care of her daughter Pauline Creighton at Croghan, Co Roscommon, where she passed away in 1996. The fate of Alice Gray is unknown. Dr Patrick McGarty is Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at Munster Technological University (Kerry Campus) and author of Leitrim, The Irish Revolution 1912-23 published by Four Courts Press. 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. Carrollton, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2021) - Allied Energy Corp. (OTC Pink: AGYP) has signed an agreement with a premier partner in the Texas oil industry to pursue an immediate relationship concerning the majority ownership of two producing oil wells in northern Texas. This agreement signifies the final step before a definitive contract is signed by Allied Energy Corp. to secure an 100% Working interest 80% Net Revenue interest ownership stake in the two wells and 890.7 leased acres, with the leasehold owners. According to CEO George Monteith, "This month, we plan to sign a contract to acquire majority ownership in two producing oil wells in northern Texas and are committed to securing this majority ownership through entirely non-dilutive means. We are excited about the immediate revenue opportunities from current production levels at these two wells and are also confident in our plans to improve production through our expertise and use of technology." The two producing wells are located in a prolific Texas oil and gas province approximately 2.5 hours north of Dallas. The area has a long history of oil and gas operations due to world class hydrocarbon sourcing from the Barnett shale and multiple stacked reservoirs in the Canyon Group, Strawn Group, Caddo Formation, Palo Pinto Formation, Marble Falls Group, and Mississippi Limestone. Palo Pinto: Depth of 3100', oil production of 30 barrels per day, estimated ultimate recovery 113,000 barrels. Mississippi: Depth of 5500', oil production of 50 barrels per day, estimated ultimate recovery 109,000 barrels. Caddo: Depth of 5000', oil production of 40 barrels per day, estimated ultimate recovery 91,000 barrels. CEO George Monteith explained, "Our plans are aligning well to support significant new revenues in March. These two wells are in an area with a rich and proven history of production. Our research shows these particular reservoirs can be accessed through both vertical and horizontal drilling and should respond well to our modern re-completion techniques. As well, the partner also holds fifteen other wells in the nearby area for us to consider for future development." The full technical data of these two wells will be uploaded as a supplemental OTC Market filing once both parties sign the definitive agreement. About AGYP: Allied Energy Corp. is an energy development and production company focused on acquiring proven oil & gas reserves in some of the most prolific hydrocarbon bearing regions of the United States. The Company specializes in reworking and/or re-completing 'existing' oil & gas wells some of the thousands of mature oil and gas producing fields across the United States. The Company applies its knowledge, experience, and effective well-remediation technologies to achieve higher production volumes, longer well life, and more efficient recovery of the proven and available oil and gas reserves in the fields/projects in which it has acquired an ownership interest. By acquiring interests in a growing number of selected projects in various regions, Allied Energy Corp. plans to develop a diverse portfolio in order to empower growth while mitigating risk. Safe Harbor Statement This Press Release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "potential" and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise in the event of any change, addition or alteration to the information catered in this Press Release including such forward-looking statements. Contact: Allied Energy Corporation Phone: 858-876-0633 Email: info@alliedengycorp.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlliedEnergyCo1 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76023 Kanye West may not seem to be letting go of one thing that would connect him to his soon-to-be ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. The Grammy-winning rapper was seen by The Sun beaming as he headed into his Calabasas office. Kanye West hopped out of his black car as he arrived at his space, rocking baggy blue pants and a gray sweatshirt. One thing that was noticed was that he's still wearing his wedding ring. He took a call as he held with his right hand while shutting the car door with his left hand, where the ring finger was on full display with the wedding band. He also appeared to be in good spirits as he was all smiles for the camera. #EXCLUSIVE: @kanyewest spotted still wearing wedding ring two weeks after @KimKardashian filed for divorce https://t.co/wGj6y6u9pm The US Sun (@TheSunUS) March 3, 2021 The "Jesus Walks" rapper has been in Los Angeles for the last few weeks after spending most of 2020 in his Wyoming ranch. In late Feb, Kanye West was spotted for the first time in Los Angeles since his "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star estranged wife filed for divorce. The Yeezy creator toured his Christian Academy in Los Angeles with their youngest son Psalm and the artist's security team. At that time, West was also seen wearing his wedding ring. Kanye West in Malibu yesterday, wearing his wedding ring pic.twitter.com/AwRgbwFUfs Ogechi (@OgeKimKanye) February 18, 2021 Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian was also seen recently out and about in Los Angeles, but she doesn't have her engagement ring or wedding band. READ ALSO: Kim Kardashian Demands Kanye West to Follow One Important Rule During Visits With Kids The 40-year-old mom-of-four was having the time of her life during a girl's night out in Beverly Hills. Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Divorce On Feb. 19, the KKW Beauty filed for divorce from Kanye West after six years of marriage. Kim Kardashian spotted without a wedding ring on, after filing for divorce from her husband Kanye West... pic.twitter.com/QJGycfTWeb Info@ICBlog.com (@ICBlog_com) February 25, 2021 In court documents obtained by The Sun, the reason for their divorce is due to "irreconcilable differences." Thankfully, West has reportedly been very cooperative with the entire divorce proceedings. However, there is no final date of their separation date yet from the court. The papers also revealed that Kim Kardashian filed joint and physical custody of their four kids and requested that she and her ex's ability to award spousal support should be terminated. An insider told TMZ that the "All of the Lights" rapper is "fine" with the custody arrangement as he and the SKIMS mogul are committed to co-parenting together. Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Divorce Prenup Additionally, a prenup was arranged to handle Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's combined net worth of $2 billion. Neither of them is said to be contesting the agreement. However, several news outlets reported that Kim would be keeping the 15,000-square-foot California mansion they purchased in 2014. The former power couple purchased the home for $20 million and shelled out another $20 million for renovations. READ ALSO: Kanye West Wanted to Sell Gifts For Kim Kardashian Days Before Filing for Divorce See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles The trial of a Des Moines Register reporter who was arrested covering racial justice protests last summer is slated to begin next week in what experts said is a rare criminal prosecution of a journalist on assignment in the USA. Andrea Sahouri faces charges of failure to disperse and interference with official acts and is set to stand trial starting Monday. At least 126 journalists were arrested or detained in 2020, but only 13 still face charges, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. The group's managing editor, Kirstin McCudden, said it's "surprising and unknown" why Sahouri's charges remain. Media and journalism groups called for the charges to be dropped, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and students and staff from the Columbia University School of Journalism, where Sahouri earned a master's degree. The human rights organization Amnesty International has also taken up the cause. "That this trial is happening at all is a violation of free press rights and a miscarriage of justice," the Des Moines Register's Editorial Board wrote in an editorial. Carol Hunter, the newspaper's executive editor, told USA TODAY that the Register is helping Sahouri fight the charges because they "see it as a fundamental principle ... that a reporter has a right to be at a protest scene to be able to observe what is going on and to report." Opinion: Trying a Des Moines Register reporter arrested while covering a protest violates free press rights Sahouri was arrested while on assignment at a mall in Des Moines to cover protests in the days after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died as a white police officer knelt on his neck. Floyd's death provoked unrest across the country, and Des Moines experienced days of protest demanding racial justice and changes to policing. Police and prosecutors have provided few details about the incident May 31. Sahouri said she repeatedly told officers she was a journalist working in her official capacity to report on the protest. Story continues The Des Moines Register, which is owned by Gannett, the same parent company as USA TODAY, reported that another reporter at the newspaper who was with Sahouri and not arrested corroborated her account of the events. If convicted, Sahouri could face up to 30 days in jail and over $600 in fines for each offense. Sahouri declined to comment to USA TODAY so close to trial. Nicholas Klinefeldt, her attorney, told USA TODAY he could not comment until the trial was over. Polk County Attorney John Sarcone declined to comment as well, citing the pending trial and ethical considerations. In a statement Aug. 20 to the Des Moines Register, Sarcone said, "We strongly disagree with how this matter has been characterized and will do our talking in the courtroom, which is the proper place to deal with this case." An arrest report of the incident did not name Sahouri in describing the alleged crimes. The report said the protest had "evolved" and people were "engaging in assaultive conduct, the intimidation of people and destruction of property." "During these activities, defendant was in hearing distance of the officer giving commands to disperse and failed to leave the area," the report said. In a video filmed from a police vehicle immediately after her arrest, Sahouri said she told officers she was a reporter and was leaving the area. I was saying, I'm press, I'm press, I'm press, Sahouri said in the video. More on Sahouri's case: Judge declines to dismiss charges against Register reporter but orders state to produce bodycam footage Sahouri said that she was with her then-boyfriend, who was there for safety reasons while covering the protests, when the arrest occurred and that they were fleeing the area. He was hit by a projectile, and Sahouri was pepper-sprayed before they were arrested, she said. He pleaded not guilty to similar charges. "I'm just doing my job as a journalist. I'm just out here reporting as I see," Sahouri said in the video. In a supplemental report, written a week after the arrest and obtained by the Des Moines Register, an officer wrote Sahouri did not identify herself as a reporter until she was in police custody. The report described officers spraying chemical irritants in the crowd. In court, Klinefeldt argued that his client and those near her shouldn't have been pepper-sprayed because they were fleeing the area. He raised issues around discrepancies between Sahouri's and her then-boyfriend's arrest reports, which are nearly identical but list two different arrest locations despite them being together at the time. Hunter, the Register's executive editor, said she was surprised and disappointed the charges hadn't been dropped. She questioned the claim that Sahouri disobeyed orders, given that she was leaving the area. Freedom of the press includes freedom to gather news, including being present at a protest scene, Hunter said. "Andrea was there as a working journalist, and her job was to be the eyes and ears to the public at a historic moment, witnessing and observing what was unfolding," Hunter said. David Ardia, a law professor and co-director at the University of North Carolina's Center for Media Law and Policy, said going to trial in a case like this is "exceedingly rare." The First Amendment does not give journalists a "free pass" to do what the public is not permitted to do at a protest, Ardia said, but police departments and prosecutors, through policies or informal understandings, do not often arrest or prosecute journalists for covering the events. Ardia said the case sends "a chilling message" to journalists that their rights won't be recognized. It's clearly sending a signal, whether it's intentional or not, to other reporters: Don't cover protests in Des Moines, he said. Sahouri is one of four journalists who have hearings this month in connection with arrests in 2020 in their capacity as journalists, according to McCudden, with the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. In most cases, reporters had charges against them dropped. In Des Moines, the day after Sahouri's arrest, a freelance journalist was arrested, and those charges were dismissed at the request of prosecutors. More on 2020 protests: Journalists blinded, injured, arrested covering George Floyd protests nationwide The number of reporters arrested last year at least 126 was more than the total number of arrests that the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented in all years combined since its inception in 2017, McCudden said. In 2019, nine journalists were arrested or detained, according to the tracker. McCudden said it is "extraordinary" that the case is going to trial, given how few cases get this far. During 2020, especially in the height of the protests, the arrests and detainment of journalists appeared to become an ordinary occurrence, she said. McCudden described the reasons for the uptick in journalist arrests in 2020 like "onion layers." The majority of the arrests came during the Floyd protests. The period was "a very tense time," coming on the heels of anti-lockdown protests against coronavirus restrictions and in the middle of an election year involving a president, Donald Trump, who routinely criticized journalists, McCudden said. Sahouri came to the Register in August 2019 as an intern covering breaking news, Hunter said. In April 2020, she started working full-time as a public safety reporter, routinely covering police calls, traffic accidents and weather. Hunter described Sahouri as "a very empathetic interviewer," who often spoke with the families of victims of accidents or crimes and was "able to make them comfortable enough to share their stories." In February, she was named one of three winners of the Jay P. Wagner Prize for Young Journalists, an award given by the Iowa Newspaper Foundation. In a letter nominating Sahouri for the award, Hunter wrote, "Andrea is undeterred. She continues to seek out Iowans stories and hold law enforcement and other officials accountable for their actions." Contributing: Tyler J. Davis, Des Moines Register Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Andrea Sahouri: Iowa reporter still faces George Floyd protest charges U of A biologist leads new study on "functional eradication" to curtail numbers of invasive species based on achievable targets for preventing ecological damage. Managing invasive species--not eliminating them altogether--is a better use of time and conservation resources in many cases, according to a study led by a University of Alberta biologist. Every year, hundreds of introduced species cause billions of dollars in damage to ecosystems, agriculture and infrastructure in North America alone. The research, led by Stephanie Green, makes a case for working smarter, not harder, to temper the impact of destructive and widespread invasive species using a strategy called functional eradication. "Rather than trying to completely eliminate invasive species that have spread over large areas, which is very challenging, functional eradication aims to limit their abundances below levels that damage the ecosystem in priority locations. Resources that might otherwise be wasted on attempting complete eradication can be spread to other areas, protecting more places from impacts," explained Green, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Global Change Ecology and Conservation. Green partnered with Edwin Grosholz, an ecologist in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of California, Davis, to survey 232 natural resource managers and invasive species specialists in Canada and the United States. "More than 90 per cent of these folks said the most destructive invaders in their regions were spread beyond a scale at which they could eradicate them, and instead local teams were engaged in a long-term battle to suppress or contain the species," explained Green. However, only two per cent said they had identified targets for when they had done enough to manage a species. "This points to a major gap between the needs of the people who must make decisions about invasive species, and the information scientists and monitoring programs are collecting," said Grosholz. Managing the impact Managing widespread invasive species is a long-term endeavour, but not one without hope, Green explained. "Involving local communities in the functional eradication process is essential for maintaining the capacity needed to continually suppress these invaders." An example of functional eradication at work is invasive lionfish. The beautiful Indo-Pacific fish, which are popular in aquariums, have spread throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, where they prey on many native species. They are now caught and consumed as food, and used in local art. The financial incentives for catching lionfish are also serving to reduce their population below levels that affect native species in the area. Similar strategies can be applied to the European green crab, an invasive species found along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts in Canada and the United States, as well as Prussian carp, which is spreading throughout central Canada, including in Alberta's Bow River. "Our study shows that ecologically damaging and widespread invasive species are prime candidates for functional eradication. To effectively keep populations down in priority areas, targets need to be based on how many of the invasive species it takes to cause major changes in the ecosystem," said Green. ### This research was funded by the David H. Smith Conservation Research Program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the National Science Foundation. Collaborators include the United States Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force. The study, "Functional eradication as a framework for invasive species control," was published on the cover of the March issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 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. HARRISBURG At Front and Chestnut streets downtown, a strange-looking dark-green streetlight with a big cylinder on top has gone up. Dave Manns spotted it Wednesday and had no idea what it was. At first, I thought it might have something to do with the sewer system, he said, having noticed crews in the area, where that kind of work is often done. Other residents thought it might be a gunshot detector. It turns out, the pole and cylinder make a 5G cell tower. And its among the first dozen or so to spring up in Harrisburg. Eventually, there will be about 100 of them, according to the city engineer, and thats just for one carrier: Verizon. If other companies transition to new technology to improve data speed, there could be many more in the future. Its an unusual piece of equipment, Manns said. Having previously worked in telecommunications, he was amazed at how compact it is and how it blends in with the background, not becoming an eyesore. I think its a good thing. Where he lives in downtown Harrisburg, he does not have 5G service yet, but he said hes happy to see it coming to the city. For full coverage, it will require a network of them in all parts of the city. City Engineer Wayne Martin said AT&T erected about 20 new cell towers a few years ago, but they were 4G technology and smaller, so less noticeable. The new 5G towers from Verizon come in several different styles (Dark green or gray with cobra-style lights or lights that look like teardrops.) All are dual-purpose, also acting as streetlights, providing additional illumination. In addition to getting free replacement or new streetlights, the city also receives lease payments from the cell phone companies annually as well as installation fees. Verizon is putting 5G towers in the city. One has been placed at Chestnut and Front Streets. March 3, 2021 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com 5G is the new wave in cellular technology and is much faster than the 4G LTE service, allowing for high-speed streaming video and services that may be needed in the years go come. Verizon officials said they cannot discuss 5G network build plans outside of what has already been announced and couldnt talk about further development in the city. I can tell you we have committed to significant investment in expanding our coverage this year across the country, Verizon spokesman Chris Serico said. That said, Verizon uses a balanced approach to engineering the best possible network given each local communitys needs. We work over a significant period of time with each city and follow all applicable laws, including local requirements, to develop the small cell pole designs you see today. While it was not immediately known exactly how many towers will be erected, Verizons coverage map, which updates in real time, shows that 5G Nationwide is available in Harrisburg and much of the surrounding area. The 5G Ultra Wideband service is available in parts of major cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. In Philly, the 5G towers are being affixed to traffic signals, Martin said, but thats not allowed in Harrisburg, since PennDOT has restrictions on traffic signals for third-class cities. Serico explained that 5G Nationwide uses a low-band spectrum technology that lets 5G service run simultaneously with 4G LTE on multiple spectrum bands. Verizons 5G Ultra Wideband network uses the high-band, ultra-wide millimeter-wave spectrum to deliver the best 5G available today, he said. AT&Ts coverage map is similar. In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission unveiled new rules for the timeline and budget of 5G installation. According to the New York Times, the new rules were supported by telecom companies to streamline the process, but opposed by city officials who wanted more local control and to enforce local regulations. According to reports, the FCC set a clock of 60 to 90 days for officials to approve or reject installation requests, and they limit how much city officials can charge to deploy the small towers. Many local officials have expressed concerns about the loss of revenue and of being forced to give up a measure of control under this plan, the Wall Street Journal reported. Telecommunication companies, on the other hand, have called local rules burdensome while national security officials have cited concerns that the U.S. could be falling behind in the race to develop 5G, reports indicate. Nearby, Swatara Township manager Jim Fosselman said hes not aware of the township being approached yet for 5G coverage. The possibility has been discussed by township officials, but no actions have been taken. He said 5G just requires a pole, and not a giant tower, and there are plenty already around on the township streets, so at this point, he doesnt see a cause for concern. The pole at Chestnut and Front streets in Harrisburg blends in with other poles and the park and river in the background. The city engineer said Verizon honors their requests to have certain poles painted green for this exact reason. Rebecca Stimeling works for the Dauphin County Office of Mental Health, Autism and Developmental Programs across the street from the new pole and said its hardly noticeable. But what she has noticed is faster cell service in recent days. Her phone this week showed it was using 5G service, and she said web pages opened faster and videos connected much quicker. Verizon officials say small towers like the one at Chestnut and Front streets are an important part of ensuring reliable connectivity for subscribers especially now when many people are working or learning from home. These small antennas strengthen our network in the areas where we deploy them resulting in faster speeds, greater capacity and more reliable connections, Serico said. READ: Harrisburg baby died after mom smoked pot, took pill and rolled on him: prosecutors The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies decided on Thursday to keep a tight rein on production, sticking with its current quotas for April with some exceptions, The New York Times reports. The news from the group known as OPEC Plus caused a jump in oil futures. Brent crude was up by almost 5 percent, to $67.24 a barrel. The outcome represents a win for Saudi Arabia, which had counseled against raising production because recovery from the pandemic is still uncertain. The right course of action is to keep our powder dry, said Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi oil minister at the beginning of the groups meeting on Thursday. Let us be certain that the glimmer we see ahead is not the headlight of an oncoming express train. WILLIAMSPORT A former employee benefits administrator for AccuWeather Inc. has admitted she defrauded the State College weather forecasting firm out of thousands of dollars. Aira Nelson, 37, of West Chapel, Florida, on Thursday pleaded guilty in U.S. Middle District Court to a wire fraud charge. The government claims her schemes netted $98,914 while assistant public defender Gerald Lord said he believes the amount is approximately $68,000. The plea agreement requires her to make full restitution, the exact amount of which will be determined before she is sentenced. Nelson admitted she used over a three-year period beginning in September 2015 her access to AccuWeathers benefits, payroll and human resources information systems to establish fictitious Flexible Spending Accounts for herself, her husband and seven others. It appears her husband was unaware what she had done and was told the money was a bonus from AccuWeather, Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel said. Employees through payroll deductions contribute to the accounts that are used for reimbursement of qualified health care and dependent care costs. Nelson never enrolled in the benefit program and did not have any money deducted from her paycheck, Rocktashel said. The indictment charges between September 2015 and July 2018 she received $88,992 in false claims reimbursements and $9,922 by defrauding the Highmark AccuWeather health and dental insurance program. The latter, she admitted, was done by enrolling herself and her family and then canceling payroll deductions for the program, the government charges. ALSO READ: Body found in Susquehanna near Sunbury identified as missing Williamsport teen During 2016, 2017 and 2018 she submitted approximately $13,000 in claims for herself and her family but contributed only $120 in payroll deductions, the charges state. It caused the benefit program to incur $9,922 in expenses to cover the claims compared with the $23 had there been proper payroll deductions, Rocktashel said. Nelson contends she did not get the full $88,992 because she was unable to cash checks for fictitious individuals. She claimed she used the money to dig the family out of a financial hole, make car payments and pay bills, Rocktashel said. Nelson remains free on $20,000 unsecured bail with her travel limited to the Tampa Bay area of Florida where she lives and also central Pennsylvania. BROTHERHOOD CRUSADE PROVIDING HELP TO THOSE IN NEED IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH The Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade has been providing much needed resources and assistance to the African American community and all people of need and support for over 50 years. Their mission of self-help and determination has never been more apparent and needed than through their work over the past year in helping the community navigate through this COVID-19 pandemic. On Saturday, February 27, the Brotherhood Crusade, under the direction of Charisse Bremond-Weaver, the organizations president and CEO, once again stepped up to help people-in-need, providing gift cards, boxes of groceries, PPE supplies, as well as brand new shoes and clothing to over 1,700 families seeking assistance to help them navigate through these challenging times. The Brotherhood Crusade and its team could not pull off such an extraordinary event alone, but the benevolent-based organization has a wide reach of resources, and when Bremond-Weaver makes the call for assistance, organizations and supporters respond. Brotherhood, along with local unions SEIU-UHW, SEIU-2015, SEIU-721 and Education Workers United, brought together hundreds of community volunteers in order to safely provide these resources in Brotherhoods Grab & Go drive-thru event. Various vehicles lined up before 5 a.m. on Crenshaw Blvd. in front of the Sentinel offices and around the entire block, in order to take advantage of this much-needed act of altruism. Groups such as the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank provided many of the groceries for the community event, along with other organizations, churches and businesses, including Agape International Spiritual Center, Blackline, Ford Motor Company, Blue Shield of California, Door Dash, Golden Road, and El Pollo Loco, were on-hand to help in this much-needed community resource program. Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. chairman of the Brotherhood Crusade board of directors and executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel said, Challenges and challenging times are nothing new to the courageous people of our community. The work of the Brotherhood Crusade continues to empower our people through troubling times by providing the necessary resources to last through this pandemic now and sustain themselves beyond today. That has been our mission in the past, that is our mission now, and that will be our mission into the future, Bakewell charged. ADVERTISEMENT My heart breaks when I see so many families hurting and desperately in need. This is what inspires me to continue to push forward and support and lead our community through these difficult times. I cant say enough about how appreciative our Brotherhood Crusade family, and I personally am, for all of the selfless organizations, companies, and people who have supported this effort, as well as for the support we have received throughout the last 50 years, in order to provide services and resources to our community. Black History Month is an acknowledgement of the years of dedication and determination of so many Black people who came before us to provide for a better way and equal opportunity for us all. I could not think of a better way to pay tribute to the richness of our Black history than in helping families with the most basic of lifes necessities food, clothing, and personal protective equipment. I only wish we could have done more. But, the truth is we will, said Charisse Bremond-Weaver, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade. As vehicles lined up and wrapped around Crenshaw Blvd., community members pulled up to the various distribution stations, and popped their trunks while volunteers, including Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, who came out in support of the event, enthusiastically placed shoes, groceries, bags of new clothing, and packages of PPE equipment, while bidding well-wishes to the deserving families as they drove in appreciation. Also, volunteering was Heather Hutt, a current candidate for the upcoming 54th District assembly seat election. Hutt says she and her family have supported the Brotherhood Crusades magnanimous efforts throughout her life. Throughout the event, the volunteers danced to the sounds of DJ Dion Halton and took great pride in knowing that their work and efforts made life better for other families. All of the recipients were appreciative of the gifts, patient in waiting for their turn in receiving donations, and very thankful to everyone involved at the Brotherhood Crusade event for bringing these services, and volunteering their time to the people in this community. One SEIU Volunteer stated, I love this event; I was able to walk here from my house and be able to provide for my neighbors, my friends, my family, and my community. That is what this day of giving is all about. Click to View Gallery Aviva has exited Italy with two deals that will let the insurance giant focus on its key markets as part of an international withdrawal. The firm, which has been on a selling spree for months, said that it had netted a combined 873 million euros (754 million) from the sale of two arms. CNP Assurances will buy Avivas Italian life insurance business, while Allianz snaps up the general insurance business. It is less than four months since the firm sold its 80% in Aviva Vita, an Italian life insurance joint venture. Together the three sales have netted the company 1.3 billion euros (1.1 billion). It follows further sales in Turkey, France, Singapore and Vietnam, all in the last six months. The business said it is also looking at its options in Poland and other international joint ventures. 2020 was a year of significant change for Aviva. We have taken major steps forward in simplifying the business, most recently with the sale of Aviva France and todays announcement of the sale of the rest of our Italian operations, said chief executive Amanda Blanc. Our strategic focus is now on the UK, Ireland and Canada where we have leading positions. The announcement came alongside Avivas results for the year, showing a 23 million drop in operating profit to around 3.2 billion. It declared a total dividend of 21p for 2020, up from 15.5p a year earlier. Ms Blanc said that the performance in 2020 demonstrated the growth potential in its core markets. It saw record sales in several areas. In the UK, the companys savings and retirement business saw a 1 billion jump in net flows to a record 8.5 billion. The firm said that the economic outlook is still uncertain, but noted that the progress on global vaccinations was positive. It said: Aviva has responded incredibly well to the challenge in 2020 presented by Covid-19 and Brexit. Our core markets have proven to be resilient and our customer service has been very strong. Bloomberg CityLab perhaps the worlds preeminent annual gathering of local government experts and officials wrapped up Wednesday online, with one of the most consistent topics of discussion being the importance of equitable recovery from the pandemic.Indeed, nearly every online panel at CityLab touched in some way on the importance of recovering from COVID-19 in a way that included all members of the community, be it in terms of vaccine distribution, economic bounceback or bridging the digital divide. The latter point was especially prevalent as many panelists discussed a tale of two pandemics: one wherein office workers were largely able to weather the virus by working from home while less wealthy members of the community suffered job loss or faced inherently dangerous in-person work conditions.The keynote speaker for the event was Vice President Kamala Harris, making one of her most prominent public addresses since ascending to the job in January. Harris also addressed the importance of equity within the present moment, noting that within the nations ongoing pandemic, cities had been especially hard hit due to having so many people living so close together. She also stressed that inequity is part of our current crisis.Survival is not the end game, Harris said. We want our cities and our counties to thrive, not just survive. The crises we face have made clear the inequities and injustices that persist. The opportunity in front of us is to shape a better future.The entire event as well as the overall state of local government was inherently quite different than the last time CityLab took place during an in-person event held in Washington, D.C., at the end of 2019. Equity was a topic of discussion then as well, but with the pandemic on no ones radar as of yet, discussion was more varied and wide-spanning, with emphasis split among everything from the housing crisis to environmental responsibilities to cybersecurity. And these topics were frequently discussed this year as well, just always within the ever-present context of pandemic recovery.As it pertained to cybersecurity, for example, one of the panels featured Chris Krebs, the first director of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a position from which Krebs was dismissed in part for his role in combating disinformation about the presidential election results being promoted and propagated by former President Donald Trump and his allies.Krebs pointed to three primary cybersecurity threats for cities: ransomware that disrupts services, growing distrust in government and a worsening digital divide. That last point, obviously, gets back once again to equity.And while no one downplayed the challenges local government continues to face for the foreseeable future among them some residents leaving for less populous communities, reopening schools and dealing with pandemic-resultant budget shortfalls a tone of optimism was often struck.Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, speaking on a panel entitled How Cities Can Build More Inclusive Economies , talked about the importance of lessons learned during the crisis.One of the big headlines coming out of the pandemic is that the things that we thought were impossible before are actually possible, Lightfoot said. Really, [theyre] absolutely necessary ... one thing that the pandemic has definitely laid bare is a lot of underlying economic fault lines around race, class, gender.Lightfoot said that in Chicago they have learned that to ignore those fault lines is to do so at the citys own peril.The impossible-to-possible transition is certainly one that has taken hold as it pertains to digital equity and broadband accessibility during the pandemic. For years, advocates and officials in that space have stressed the importance of action to ensure that communities have equitable access to the Internet, technology and the skills they need to use both in meaningful ways. When the pandemic pushed residents into their homes, they began to rely on tech for work, school and health care. As a result, unprecedented actions took place to bridge digital divide gaps, be it through governmental funding or public-private partnerships that involved sweeping acts of philanthropy.In addition to the programming at CityLab, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a series of new support and investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies to help mayors and city leaders pursue big ideas and get big things done. This included a $150 million commitment for a new center at Harvard University that aims entirely to strengthen mayors and their teams, a mission Bloomberg said makes it the first of its kind in the U.S. Within that center there will be a new fellowship program to guide Harvard graduates to go to work in cities across the country.Finally, Bloomberg announced a $25 million partnership with New York University to fund a two-year leadership program to train a talented and diverse group of students for careers in student government.Check back to Government Technology tomorrow for more information about each of those gifts within the weekly What's New In Civic Tech feature. Gun Store Firearms Recovered, No Charges Expected By West Kentucky Star Staff MCCRACKEN COUNTY - The McCracken County Sheriff's Office said two firearms were recovered Wednesday afternoon after they had gone missing following a mishap with a delivery truck.Authorities said a delivery driver stopped at Paducah Shooter's Supply to pick up two firearms for shipment.The driver inadvertently placed the packages on the rear bumper of the truck and drove off. As the driver left the parking lot onto Cairo Road, the boxes fell off the bumper.A short time later, a white Ford truck pulled into the parking lot, and the driver picked up the packages and drove away.Authorities requested the public's help with identifying the driver. The firearms were located later Wednesday afternoon, and no criminal charges are expected.Previous story:Authorities are asking for the public's help with an investigation into two stolen firearms from Paducah Shooter's Supply.Wednesday afternoon, a delivery driver stopped at Paducah Shooter's Supply to pick up two firearms for shipment.The driver inadvertently placed the packages on the rear bumper of the truck and drove off. As the driver left the parking lot onto Cairo Road, the boxes fell off the bumper onto the roadway.A short time later, a white Ford truck pulled into the parking lot, and the driver, a white man, picked up the packages and drove away.The ATF is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the driver's identification.Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to contact the McCracken County Sheriff's Office at 270-444-4719 or the ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS or ATFTips@atf.gov. Spain's state meteorological agency (Aemet) has activated a yellow alert for the Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce areas warning that up to 15 mm of rain could be recorded in one hour on Friday, 5 March. The warning is in effect from 3am though to 6pm. The most intense downpours are expected in the westernmost part of the region, according to Aemet which predicts an instability in the weather that could last until Monday or Tuesday. At the moment, Aemet forecasts a 75 - 100 per cent probability of having to open umbrellas in Malaga city while it is 100 per cent in towns such as Mijas, Marbella, Estepona and Ronda. On the coast the heavy rain will be accompanied by strong gusts of wind and rough seas. The areas covered by the yellow weather alert. / AEMET As Jose Luis Escudero explains in his SUR blog 'Storms and Lightning', there is, however, "a lot of uncertainty" when the rainfall will leaving the Malaga province. The vast majority of forecasts agree that the rain will arrive on Friday but they disagree when it will depart." Temperatures are forecast to remain similar to those of recent days, although with a slight rise to the minimum from 10 degrees this Wednesday (3 March), to 12 expected from Thursday. Here's a quick peek at pandemic protocol and cowtown etiquette amid the ongoing plague. Read more . . . Some people who want the vaccine are showing up to get a dose without an appointment.Health officials advise against it. If you're wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the Kansas City Metro, health departments are asking you to first fill out a vaccine information form, and then set up an appointment.They say to do all of this before showing up at a vaccination site."We're doing appointments only," said Andrew Warlen, Cass County health director. Hong Kong: Helper visa service set The Immigration Department announced that it will introduce the new Smart Renewal service tomorrow to provide greater convenience for people applying for foreign domestic helper employment visas. Currently, those who submit a visa application are required to pay the visa fee and collect the helper's visa in person or through an authorised representative at the department's office upon approval of their applications. The department said the new service will enable people who submit online applications for visas for further employment of foreign domestic helpers to pay the fee through various means after their applications have been approved and collect the visas by post. After submitting the application through the department's dedicated webpage or its mobile application, helpers who continue to work for the same employer may pay the visa fee with the General Demand Note enclosed with the application result notification. Payment can be made by various means, such as the Faster Payment System, Internet banking, the Payment by Phone Service, automatic teller machines, or in person at a post office or convenience store. Upon the department's acknowledgement of receipt of the visa fee, the visa or extension of stay label will be mailed to the correspondence address provided by the employer and it should be properly affixed to the helper's passport as instructed. Throughout the application process, the applicant or employer need not attend any of the department's offices to pay the visa fee or collect the visa label. The application procedures as well as the arrangements for fee payment and collection of visa labels for other applications, such as entry visas, change of employer or visas for further employment of helpers submitted by other means, will remain unchanged. Call 2824 6111, fax to 2877 7711 or send an email to [email protected] for enquiries. This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Desmond Ziggy Mombeyarara, pictured at an earlier hearing last year, is on trial accused of obstructing police officers and drink driving A father pulled over for speeding was Tasered by police in front of his young child on a petrol station forecourt after allegedly 'refusing to comply', a trial has heard. Desmond Ziggy Mombeyarara, 35, was clocked doing 72mph in a 30mph zone in his BMW on May 6 last year. Police motioned for him to pull into a BP petrol station in Stretford, Trafford, Manchester Magistrates' Court heard. As the two officers took his details, they noticed his son in the front passenger seat with no seatbelt on, the court heard. Suspicious Mr Mombeyarara may have been drunk, PC Anthony Hannan attempted to conduct a breath test but the suspect failed to provide a specimen three times, the trial was told. The court heard PC Hannan asked him to put his hands behind his back so he could handcuff him, before Mr Mombeyarara resisted. District Judge Margaret McCormack, who is overseeing the trial, heard a 'scuffle' ensued and PC Hannan withdrew his Taser, before Mr Mombeyarara pulled his son from the car and held him as he wept. The other officer, PC Stephen Bielizna, told Mr Mombeyarara he could hold his 'kiddie', but that he was 'going nowhere' as he was under arrest, the judge heard. Mr Mombeyarara began to 'push back' against PC Bielizna, before eventually letting go of his child, the court heard, and shortly after this he was Tasered. Mr Mombeyarara, from Trafford, has pleaded not guilty to two offences of obstructing a police officer, driving while over the alcohol limit, and breaching Covid-19 lockdown rules. He has admitted speeding; and driving without insurance. Prosecuting, Nick Smart earlier told the court that at around 10.50pm, officers spotted the blue BMW being driven 'at speed' along Chester Road. He described the officers instructing the defendant to pull over and allowing him to stop on a nearby petrol station forecourt. Mr Smart said: 'The defendant's car came to a stop on the forecourt. PC Bielizna approached him and told him what he had seen. 'He said he could smell intoxicants on the breath of the defendant and when he asked him why didn't he stop, he recalled the defendant saying "I didn't see you". 'The second officer, PC Hannan, spent a period of time questioning the defendant and asking him for a roadside breath test. 'The defendant agreed, but did say 'I'm asthmatic' and it was at that point matters took a turn for the worse.' Police told the judge at Manchester Magistrates' Court defendant failed to provide a specimen of breath for testing, prompting his arrest and that the defendant 'refused to comply' Mr Mombeyarara, the court heard, made 'no real attempt to comply', before a Taser was drawn. Giving evidence, PC Hannan said: 'I told him to put his hands behind his back because of my concern regarding his behaviour. 'His immediate response was "no, I can't, I've got a kid". 'I got hold of one of his hands and he took hold of my hand and squeezed and I remember saying 'do not, do not, do not take hold of me like that'. 'He then began thrashing his arms out. He was puffing his chest out, he had clenched fists. He also had his teeth together.' As Mr Mombeyarara moved to hold his crying son, PC Bielizna stood behind him, body cam footage played in court showed. The court heard that Mr Mombeyarara stopped at the BP in Stretford after being asked to pull over by police officers who had clocked him doing 72mph in a 30mph zone in May last year PC Bielizna said: 'He was pushing backwards, there was [a] tussle and he released the child, who slid to the floor and he came to my side and I kept hold of his arms. 'I said "stop messing about, you're under arrest".' PC Hannan added: 'I knew I had to take the option before he could have the opportunity to get his child back in his arms again. 'I fired it once and it was re-energised more than once. 'I had the option to withdraw, but I had a duty to the public. I needed to arrest him, he needed to be taken to the police station and have a breath test.' Mr Mombeyarara provided a sample of breath in custody the following morning. The lowest reading was 36 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres. The legal limit is 35 micrograms. The defendant told the court he had been to a friend's house earlier that night to pick up a hard drive. 'I think I had two Heinekens... two bottles,' he told the judge, adding: 'I didn't feel the effects of it. 'I wanted to shield my son from the exposure to the police. I wasn't stalling or delaying. 'I lied [to the police] about the drink, I was just being silly. I just don't trust the police. I could hear my son screaming.' The trial continues. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hinted at a 2024 White House run saying he is 'always up for a fight' and 'cares deeply about America'. Pompeo, 57, would not rule out the possibility he will join the presidential race if Donald Trump doesn't run in 2024 in an interview on Fox News' Hannity Wednesday night. 'Say there is a scenario that Donald Trump makes a decision that he is not going to run in 2024, would you consider getting in that race?' Hannity asked him. 'I am always up for a good fight,' Pompeo responded. 'I care deeply about America. You know I have been part of the conservative movement for an awfully long time now. I aim to keep at it.' When Hannity responded that he didn't 'know how to interpret that' and would 'take that as a strong maybe', Pompeo laughed, adding: 'That's perfect.' Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hinted at a 2024 White House run saying he is 'always up for a fight and 'cares deeply about America' Pompeo, who spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday, is widely thought to be considering a play for the White House in 2024. In the days since Trump has left the White House, Pompeo has worked to keep his name in the Republican party and in the headlines making several media appearances, joining fundraising efforts and showing signs he is rekindling his old campaign committee. He has been vocal of his criticism of the new Biden administration while promoting and defending the work of the Trump administration. 'We took good care of America. I watch what this administration is doing. It appears to look like a blame America first pattern that has begun to take place,' he told Hannity. Pompeo said hostile world leaders will be watching Joe Biden 'closely' and said the president's 'weakness' could pose a 'risk' to American troops. 'World leaders and my counterparts all across the world are watching very closely. The senior leadership across the world watch every statement, every move. 'They see what the patterns are like, the kinds of behaviors they exhibit when times are tough and when the pressure is really on,' he said. 'When the United States exhibits weakness it creates real risk for our soldiers, sailors airmen, marines all across the world. 'Weakness begets war and strength determines whether an adversary is going to be deterred and whether allies really want to toss in with us when the times get difficult.' Pompeo, 57, would not rule out the possibility he will join the next presidential race if Donald Trump doesn't run in 2024 in an interview on Fox News' Hannity Wednesday night Pompeo added that the 'greatest threat' to the US is the Chinese communist party. 'They present the most sustained threat to our fundamental way of life in the United States of America. I hope the administration take the threat seriously,' he said. 'The American people deserve it and I know they will demand it.' Pompeo's criticism of China and his history taking a tough stance with the nation under Trump could be a popular move among conservative Republicans that the former diplomat may be seeking to capitalize on. Around three million fundraising texts sent this month by the National Republican Congressional Committee had Pompeo's name to them and also brought up the topic of China. 'It's Mike Pompeo. The Democrats won't stand up to China. Will you, Friend? 5X match give to restore a USA First agenda,' the texts read, according to Axios. The texts are part of the campaign for the House Republicans to retake the lower chamber. The move by the former US diplomat to become the name behind these fundraising efforts is adding to speculation of a White House run. Meanwhile, he also incorporated an entity called Kansas CNQ LLC in Virginia last month, with the CNQ an acronym for 'Courage Never Quits'. It is not clear what the entity is but the phrase is a reference to the coat of arms of the former US Army officer's class at West Point. A recent filing with the Federal Election Commission also suggests Pompeo is reviving his old campaign committee 'Pompeo for Kansas' from his time as a House Republican. The filing, seen by Salon, shows the 2020 year-end report for the committee was amended on February 9 - almost four years after the campaign went dormant when he left Congress in 2017. Trump and Pompeo in 2018. In the days since Trump has left the White House, Pompeo has made several media appearances, fundraising efforts and signs he is rekindling his old campaign committee Experts on FEC compliance and election law told Salon the timing suggests he is reviving his campaign. 'The first thing you do when you revive a dormant campaign committee is to review all the bank statements for the period when the committee was dormant and reconcile them with the FEC reports,' a top campaign finance attorney said. 'The Pompeo campaign did that and found out that the figures didn't match the campaign committee had more money in the bank than it had reported to the FEC.' Meanwhile, his fiery speech at CPAC on Saturday further cemented rumors he plans to run in 2024 as he hit out at Joe Biden's foreign policy while defending Trump's and taunted dead Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. 'What's good news today for me is when you're a diplomat... you have to stay in your lane. I don't have that. I'm not a diplomat. I'm going to let it rip,' he said. He told the crowd that, as secretary of state, he had 'sent messages repeatedly to bad guys around the world that if you touch an American, you'll pay dearly'. The former top US diplomat then boasted about Soleimani's killing in a US air strike in January 2020, which was carried out under Trump's orders in a move that threatened to spark war between the US and Iran. 'So how many of you remember Qasem Soleimani? Allah rest his soul,' Pompeo mocked. 'He didn't cause trouble for Americans ever again.' Pompeo's fiery speech at CPAC on Saturday further cemented rumors he plans to run in 2024 as he hit out at Joe Biden's foreign policy while defending Trump's and taunted dead Iranian General Qasem Soleimani Pompeo went on to boast how his work had made him unpopular with Iran and China. 'The Chinese have sanctioned me [and] the Iranians don't think so much of me either,' he said. 'But I'm proud of our fight... we have upended the status quo.' Pompeo also defended the Trump administration's aggressive stance toward those who would hurt Americans. 'I sent messages repeatedly to bad guys around the world that if you touch an American, you'll pay dearly,' he told the crowd. 'America First secures our freedom and the entire world benefits when America is fearless, bold and strong.' Several other rumored 2024 hopefuls also took to the stage at CPAC in Orlando, Florida, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Trump also teased the possibility of another bid at the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend, where he continued to push his false claims he won the last election by saying he would 'beat' the Democrats for a 'third time'. Trump told the crowd his wife Melania would be 'the future first lady' and that he would 'beat' the Democrats for a 'third time' - pushing his false claims that he beat Joe Biden. Donald Trump at CPAC on Sunday where he teased the possibility of another bid 'Actually as you know, [the Democrats] just lost the White House, but it's one of those things,' he said. 'But who knows, who knows, I may even decide to beat them for a third time.' He added: 'And I want you to know that I'm going to continue to fight right by your side, we will do what we've done right from the beginning, which is win.' Trump was the top pick in a 2024 presidential straw poll among attendees with 55 percent of the vote. The poll also asked respondents to rank their picks if Trump doesn't run. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gained 43 percent of the vote, Noem 11 percent, Donald Trump Jr. 8 percent and Pompeo and Cruz tied on 7 percent. Before working under the Trump administration, Pompeo was congressman of Kansas's fourth congressional district from 2011 until 2017. In January 2017 he was appointed by Trump as CIA director before being nominated and confirmed as secretary of state in 2018. He quickly carved out a reputation as one of the most loyal members of Trump's administration. Stray dogs are kept in cages in Hanoi, 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh. Beating and torturing certain animals could be punishable by fines of up to VND3 million ($130) starting April 20, according to a new decree on animal husbandry violations. Specifically, beating or torturing domesticated animals, including four-legged mammals like dogs and cats and two-legged avian species like chickens and ducks, could result in fines between VND1 million and VND3 million, while abattoirs could be fined between VND3 million and VND5 million should they either beat animals prior to slaughtering them or not inducing unconsciousness prior to death. The fines would be doubled for organizations committing similar violations, at up to VND6 million. The new decree also increased fines for introducing foreign substances into animals prior to slaughtering to up to VND50 million from the current VND30 million at maximum. A representative for the department of livestock production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the concept of humane treatment towards animals is still new to the population, so fines would not be too severe, only aiming to raise awareness towards the issue. Animal torture in the decree is defined as using force to beat, bind and confine them, or leaving them to starve and not caring for them. The CPM leader said though Vijayawada is a political, cultural and commercial centre, it has remained neglected, lacking even a bypass road. DC Photo VIJAYAWADA: Claiming that Vijayawada witnessed development under Communist rule, the CPM challenged ruling YSRC and opposition Telugu Desam to contest polls in the citys corporation without offering money or other temptations. Addressing a meet-the-press programme here on Wednesday in the run up to polls Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), CPM state executive committee member Ch. Babu Rao warned citizens that YSR Congress government all set to increase property tax, water cess and garbage tax from April 1 after elections. It has already issued GOs 186, 187 and 188 in this regard. Babu Rao pointed out that BJP has already burdened people with taxes all over the country and has no right to seek votes in these elections. The CPM leader asked people to elect all CPM candidates contesting from 22 divisions without alliance with any political party. He asserted that the credit for developing Vijayawada without any tax burden on people went to left parties, which had ruled VMC for 10 years. He maintained that despite Vijayawada corporation being under the rule of Telugu Desam and Congress parties, Left parties had so far thwarted their efforts to increase house tax, garbage tax and water tax. The CPM leader said though Vijayawada is a political, cultural and commercial centre, it has remained neglected, lacking even a bypass road. The storm water drain project for the city has not been completed Metrorail has been watered down. He urged people to vote wisely and ensure a win for Communist candidates for development of the city. Meanwhile, campaigning for his party candidate in 19th Division of Kadapa city, CPI state secretary Ramakrishna criticised BJP and its ally Jana Sena for not opening their mouth with regard central governments move to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which had been achieved after many sacrifices. He accused ruling YSRC of using police to terrorise people and win elections. (CNN) US President Joe Biden's coronavirus response team learned two things his first week in office: Johnson & Johnson's one-shot coronavirus vaccine was highly effective -- but the company was millions of doses behind its production schedule. Preliminary conversations that began under the Trump administration about a vaccine manufacturing partnership between the pharmaceutical giant and its competitor, Merck, whose own vaccine attempt had failed, were "incremental" and going nowhere fast, according to two senior administration officials. And Johnson & Johnson seemed reluctant to commit to a large-scale deal with Merck, the officials said. "They just were not all in," one of the officials told CNN. That changed when Jeff Zients, the White House's coronavirus czar, called Johnson & Johnson's CEO Alex Gorsky on a Sunday in early February and urged the company to meet the moment, stressing that the US is in a "national emergency" and that it was time to go "big and bold." "You can't be incremental and small in your thinking. We have to overwhelm this problem," one senior administration official said, recounting the conversation, which lasted an hour more than the scheduled 15 minutes. Zients reminded Gorsky -- a West Point graduate and US military veteran -- of Johnson & Johnson's major contributions during World War II, including manufacturing the first-ever duct tape and other military supplies. Just as Americans remembered Johnson & Johnson's contributions then, its efforts to accelerate the vaccination of Americans would be their new legacy, Zients said, according to two senior officials. "That was really a turning point," one of the officials said, noting that Gorsky "embraced" the approach and discussions about a large-scale partnership with Merck quickly turned more serious. Hanging over that conversation and others between Biden administration officials and executives from both companies was Biden's authority under the Defense Production Act to compel the companies to partner if they were unwilling. A senior administration official said that authority was never explicitly threatened in conversations with both companies, but added that it was implicitly a motivating factor. "The DPA is always there, implicitly as a tool, which brings people to the table and puts people on their toes," the official said. The administration would have been willing to invoke the DPA's coercive authorities had the two companies not reached an agreement, but did not need to, the official said. Instead, Biden is exercising other authorities under the DPA to invest $105 million to help Merck retrofit its manufacturing facilities to produce the vaccine at scale and to expedite the supply of key vaccine production materials to Johnson & Johnson. Biden announced the partnership on Tuesday, which he said will speed the production of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine and ensure the US has "enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May," two months earlier than previously anticipated. He compared the partnership to "the type of collaboration between companies we saw in World War II." A Johnson & Johnson spokesman declined to comment for this story, referring CNN to comments Gorsky, the company's CEO, made Wednesday at a Washington Post event. Gorsky said the company felt compelled to "be doing everything we can to accelerate" vaccine production and "make a real difference with this virus." "In discussions with the government and trying to say, 'Hey what else could we be doing? How else could we accelerate?" Gorsky said. "And that's when in conversations that we were able to sit down together and bring this partnership to fruition." A Merck spokesman did not respond to CNN's requests for comment, but the company's executive vice president for manufacturing Sanat Chattopadhyay said in a statement Tuesday that the company looks "forward to combining our expertise with Johnson & Johnson to help increase supply and expand access to" the coronavirus vaccine. Discussions about a manufacturing partnership between Johnson & Johnson and Merck began during the Trump administration, which had secured the initial purchase of 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. While Trump administration officials did not secure the partnership, those Trump-era discussions helped open the door to a deal between the two pharmaceutical competitors. "It simply wasn't coming fast enough," Biden said Tuesday of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. "So my team has been hard at work to accelerate that effort." A senior Biden administration official insisted that the conversations between the two companies with Trump administration officials were "small ball," looking to make incremental increases in Johnson & Johnson's production rather than maximizing production capabilities and ensuring Johnson & Johnson facilities would be producing vaccines on a 24/7 schedule -- which will now be the case. "There's a difference between conversations and it moving forward and the use of the Defense Production Act, which is something this president, and not the prior president, committed to invoking," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday, referring to the assistance to both companies to speed vaccine production. Moncef Slaoui, the Trump administration's coronavirus vaccine czar, did not respond to CNN's requests for comment. While administration officials described Zients' early February conversation with Gorsky as a "turning point," it followed several other conversations between Zients and David Kessler, Biden's chief science officer charged with accelerating vaccine production and distribution, and executives at Johnson & Johnson and Merck. While Biden did not call either company's CEOs directly, a senior official said the President was updated on the negotiations on a regular basis. Those conversations were also facilitated by Zients' preexisting relationships with the CEOs of both companies, whom he knew from his time in the Obama administration working on health care and economic issues. The two senior officials also credited Johnson & Johnson and Merck for ultimately getting on board with a partnership following key conversations in early February, with one official saying they "have really been good corporate citizens in forming this partnership." "I think it's important that we acknowledge that both Merck and J&J are doing the right thing," the official said. This story was first published on CNN.com "'They just were not all in': How the White House convinced two pharmaceutical giants to collaborate on a vaccine". Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A 23-year-old man accused of attacking a mother and daughter as they walked their dogs in Haverhill was held without bail in Haverhill District Court Thursday morning, according to the Essex District Attorneys office. Jake Kavanaugh of Haverhill pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including armed assault to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, mayhem and negligent driving. Kavanaugh is accused of attacking a 54-year-old woman and her 26-year-old daughter as the two were walking their dogs on Fairview Farm Road around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The mother was taken by helicopter to a Boston hospital where she is in critical but stable condition, according to authorities. The daughter was also taken to a local hospital and has since been released. Kavanaugh was ordered by Judge Ceasar Archilla to undergo a mental health evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Every rape, every sexual assault, every act of harassment or bullying is abhorrent. It does not matter where these wrongs occur. It does not matter who is involved. There are no allowances or exceptions. Although neither equal in degree nor effect, each offence violates a fundamental principle, most closely associated with the 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant, namely that of respect for persons. The seat of Australian democracy ... no code of conduct needed. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen This principle recognises every person as possessing intrinsic dignity irrespective of age, gender, culture, sexual orientation or any other marker of difference. It establishes our basic equality and forbids us ever to use another person merely as a means to an end. Thus, the prohibition against slavery, torture, genocide and all the great evils of which people are capable. The NSW Division of the Liberal Party has recognised this in its inaugural mandatory code of conduct and ethics, which requires members to treat others with dignity, courtesy and respect. What, then, are we to make of the fact that, in response to recommendations to update the members code of conduct and appoint a compliance officer, the leaders of the houses in the NSW Parliament have explicitly rejected just such an ideal specifically jettisoning a proposal that members of Parliament be obliged to treat others with dignity, courtesy and respect? The first batch of 50,000 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Peru on Wednesday. This new batch of Pfizer vaccines adds to the million of Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccines, which are already being administered throughout Peru. Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti said Tuesday that 48 million doses from different companies have been secured and will arrive over the course of the year. The vaccines "will come little by little, as the laboratories' production capacity catches up with the demands they have," said Sagasti while receiving his second Sinopharm jab. A contract for 20 million doses has been signed with Pfizer and more than 14 million doses with AstraZeneca. There's also an agreement with the WHO-backed COVAX facility for more than 13 million doses, plus the one million doses of Sinopharm already being administered. So far, the number of people infected with the virus in Peru has reached 1,338,297, with 46,894 deaths. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) COLUMBUS, Ohio Bipartisan bills will be introduced in the Ohio Senate and House seeking to extend nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQ Ohioans, sponsors said Thursday, the 10th time lawmakers have attempted to push them through the General Assembly. The Ohio Fairness Act would extend civil rights protections for gay and transgender people in the workplace, housing, education and other parts of everyday life that are offered to Ohioans based on their age, sex, race, disability, military status, religion and other identities. Its sponsored by Sen. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat who is the only openly gay member of the legislature, along with Sen. Michael Rulli, a Republican of the Mahoning Valley. Co-sponsors of the Senate bill include all its Democrats, as well as Republican Sens. Matt Dolan of Chagrin Falls and Nathan Manning of North Ridgeville. In the House, a similar bill is being introduced by Reps. Mike Skindell, a Lakewood Democrat, and Brett Hillyer, a Tuscarawas County Republican. I am a conservative, small-government Republican who believes in nondiscrimination, and that discrimination has no place in employment, or business or our economy, Hillyer said. As a conservative, I believe in upward mobility, prosperity and growth -- things that our party was founded upon, and believe this bill fits very well. Hillyer noted that this year was the first time the bill will have GOP sponsors in both chambers, and the most Republican co-sponsors in 20 years. The legislation is being introduced shortly after Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, in his budget recommendations to the Ohio General Assembly, announced he wants to spend $50 million on an ad campaign to try to persuade people to move to the state. He described Ohio as progressive and welcoming when questioned why people would want to move here, considering some may be turned off by no statewide LGBTQ nondiscrimination law and dozens of anti-abortion bills that have been passed in the last decade. Id like to suggest that we send a strong message to our new Zoom economy and future transplants by passing the Fairness Act and sending that strong message that Ohio is open for business, Antonio said. And its a state that welcomes all families. The bill has the backing of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the ACLU of Ohio, Equality Ohio and the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Most of the country has revised its nondiscrimination laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Only 22 states, Ohio being among them, have not. Hurdles Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, who is influential over what bills advance in his chamber, told reporters Wednesday he opposes the bill. As a general notion, creating another set of parameters for lawsuits that of course inevitably fall on the back of employers, sometimes small employers, will be fairly devastating to those employers, he said, noting many companies already have internal policies banning LGBTQ discrimination. These kinds of protections need to be in place in my mind if this is a chronic societal problem, as you had in many places in the United States in the 1950s and 60s prior to the Ohio Civil Rights Act. Thats why we created many of the laws we didBut I dont think that this measures up to that same kind of problem. Antonio remained optimistic that Huffman would listen and allow the bill to have a shot of passing. One thing I know about President Huffman is he is a man who listens and has an open mind, Antonio replied. And so to me what that means is that we just need to let President Huffman know that indeed this bill is needed. Action in Washington Despite the decade-long refusal of Ohio Republicans who control the General Assembly to pass a nondiscrimination bill -- even in the face of public polling showing Ohioans generally favor the legislation -- progress for LGBTQ rights has been made in Washington in the last couple of years. Last week, the U.S. House passed the Equality Act, which updates federal civil rights laws to protect LGBTQ people at work and in housing, jury service, credit and other aspects of life. The bill faces hurdles in the U.S. Senate. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court, in an opinion written by conservative-leaning Justice Neil Gorsuch, concluded that federal civil rights law prohibits employers from discriminating against gay and transgender workers. That includes Ohio workers. However, Ohio Fairness Act backers say the state law needs to be changed because the federal law only applies to the workplace and not to housing, public accommodation and other areas that their bill covers. Furthermore, the federal law only applies to workplaces with 15 or more employees. Ohios law kicks in when an employer employs four people, said Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, Equality Ohios director of external relations. So theres actually greater protection under Ohio law. More coverage: Ohio LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill has widespread public, business support. Why hasnt it passed? U.S. Supreme Court ruling protecting LGBTQ workers from discrimination will affect 500,000 Ohioans: Equality Ohio Ohio reports 1,875 new coronavirus cases: Thursday update Gov. Mike DeWine to address Ohio Thursday evening on states progress in coronavirus fight Ohio reports 2,022 new coronavirus cases: Wednesday update Ohio House panel passes bill that will require school standardized testing, but without sanctions and penalties With Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Ohios allocation this week will be 448,390 doses Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Syracuse, N.Y. To slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued stay-at-home orders last March that barred many people from working at their place of business. Now, some of those workers could face large state income tax bills because they worked from home. Employees of companies in the Start-Up New York economic development program have been warned that because they worked from home they may have lost a promised exemption from paying any state income taxes. Empire State Development, the states economic development arm, sent an email to 309 businesses in the program Feb. 17 warning them that employees who did not work exclusively in their employers approved business locations within a Start-Up NY zone in 2020 are not eligible for the exemptions. Pursuant to the NYS Tax Law, in order to be eligible for the START-UP NY Personal Income Tax Wage Exclusion Benefit, an employee must be engaged in work performed exclusively in an approved business location, within a tax-free NYS area, during the taxable year, ESD said in the email. Due to COVID-19 precautions, it is possible that otherwise eligible employees did not satisfy this requirement for tax year 2020. The Business Incubator Association of New York said over 200 startup companies within its member organizations will potentially be affected by a hiccup in the law. By following the Start-Up NY law, we would be violating New York States emergency orders to socially distance during the Covid-19 pandemic, the association said. Marc Alessi, executive director of the association, said the organization is in talks with state legislators to try to change the rules of the program to allow workers who were unable to work in their offices because of the pandemic restrictions to receive the tax exemption. Even folks that arent part of the program think its unfair to the companies that followed the rules of the program and then followed the rules of the Covid restrictions, he said. Alessi said taxes were not withheld from the workers paychecks. So, if the rules are not changed, many could get hit with unexpected state tax bills of $4,000 to $5,000 when they file their 2020 tax returns, he said. The ESD email advises companies in the program that the W-2s they issue to employees should show that income earned by otherwise eligible employees working remotely should be included as taxable income. Cuomo launched the Start-Up NY program in 2014 to lure new and expanding companies to the state. The companies and any new employees they hire are eligible for up to 10 years of state income tax exemptions if the businesses affiliate with a state or local college and are located on the colleges campus or nearby designated sites. As of 2019, there were 2,456 workers in the program. Kristin Devoe, a spokesperson for Empire State Development, said the rule requiring workers in the program to work exclusively in their employers offices is part of tax law and can only be changed by the Legislature. She said ESD officials are hoping lawmakers will amend the law as part of the upcoming state budget process. Were aware of the unique circumstance caused by the pandemic, and the state is proposing a fix that we hope the legislature will adopt in the enacted budget, she said. Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 Killeen, TX (76540) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low around 65F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Credit: ISAS-JAXA New research from Royal Holloway, has found water and organic matter on the surface of an asteroid sample returned from the inner Solar System. This is the first time that organic materials, which could have provided chemical precursors for the origin of life on Earth, have been found on an asteroid. The single grain sample was returned to Earth from asteroid Itokawa by JAXA's first Hayabusa mission in 2010. The sample shows that water and organic matter that originate from the asteroid itself have evolved chemically through time. The research paper suggests that Itokawa has been constantly evolving over billions of years by incorporating water and organic materials from foreign extra-terrestrial material, just like the Earth. In the past, the asteroid will have gone through extreme heating, dehydration and shattering due to catastrophic impact. However, despite this, the asteroid came back together from the shattered fragments and rehydrated itself with water that was delivered via the in fall of dust or carbon-rich meteorites. This study shows that S-type asteroids, where most of Earth's meteorites come from, such as Itokawa, contain the raw ingredients of life. The analysis of this asteroid changes traditional views on the origin of life on Earth which have previously heavily focused on C-type carbon-rich asteroids. Dr. Queenie Chan from the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, said: "The Hayabusa mission was a robotic spacecraft developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to return samples from a small near-Earth asteroid named Itokawa, for detailed analysis in laboratories on Earth. "After being studied in great detail by an international team of researchers, our analysis of a single grain, nicknamed 'Amazon,' has preserved both primitive (unheated) and processed (heated) organic matter within ten microns (a thousandth of a centimeter) of distance. "The organic matter that has been heated indicates that the asteroid had been heated to over 600C in the past. The presence of unheated organic matter very close to it, means that the in fall of primitive organics arrived on the surface of Itokawa after the asteroid had cooled down." Dr. Chan, continues: "Studying Amazon has allowed us to better understand how the asteroid constantly evolved by incorporating newly-arrived exogenous water and organic compounds. "These findings are really exciting as they reveal complex details of an asteroid's history and how its evolution pathway is so similar to that of the prebiotic Earth. "The success of this mission and the analysis of the sample that returned to Earth has since paved the way for a more detailed analysis of carbonaceous material returned by missions such as JAXA's Hayabusa2 and NASA's OSIRIS-Rex missions. Both of these missions have identified exogeneous materials on the target asteroids Ryugu and Bennu, respectively. Our findings suggest that mixing of materials is a common process in our solar system." [March 04, 2021] Soonicorn Sicepat Closing the Largest Series B in Southeast Asia with Total 170 Million USD Fundraising Round JAKARTA, Indonesian, March 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese New Year marks the closing for the SiCepat Series B Financing Round totaling 170 Million USD, which makes this round the largest Series B in Southeast Asia. Participants of this round are Falcon house Partners, Kejora Capital, DEG (the German Development Finance Institution), Asia-based Insurer, MDI Ventures (by Telkom Indonesia), Indies Capital, Pavilion Capital (Temasek Holdings subsidiary), Tri Hill and Daiwa Securities. Southeast Asia digital economy especially e-commerce and social commerce industry are accelerated during the pandemic, which increase the demand of logistic services with better service quality. "This financing round is designed o further fortify SiCepat's position as the leading end-to-end logistics service provider in the Indonesian market and potentially to explore expansion to other markets in Southeast Asia. We are even more prepared to support and empower millions of SMEs and local businesses not only to survive, but to thrive during these challenging times." said The Kim Hai, Founder and CEO of the parent company Onstar Express. The profitable company aims to further invest into its logistics services and infrastructure. It currently provides Last-mile, Warehousing & Fulfillment, Commerce-Enabling Services, Online Distribution and Middle-Mile Logistics. With this unique set-up, Sicepat is considered one of the few players in the Indonesian logistics market that provides end-to-end logistics services for the new age economy serving e-commerce and social commerce. Sebastian Togelang, Managing Partner of Kejora Capital and Director of the company strongly believes that these market segments create favorable growth opportunities. He adds, "Indonesian e-commerce market stood at US$32 billion in 2020 with a projected 5-year CAGR of 21% to become US$82 billion industry by 2025. We believe that SiCepat is ideally positioned to serve customers from e-commerce giants to uprising social commerce players which contribute an estimated 25% to the total digital commerce economy." SiCepat was bootstrapped in 2014 as a last-mile delivery services company for social commerce merchants in Indonesia. Since then, it has expanded its last-mile delivery to cater some of the largest e-commerce platforms in Indonesia. Recently, the company has undergone consolidation of its key logistics assets across warehousing, fulfillment and e-Distribution to provide a comprehensive suite of logistics services to the market. The company has been profitable and able to fulfill more than 1.4 Million packages per day in 2020. After only a few years of operation in this market, it has already positioned itself as one of the leading players among the last mile delivery service providers with timely delivery and high customer satisfaction. SiCepat is expected to continue to build upon its robust infrastructure and enhanced customer experience to serve more entrepreneurs and tap into neighboring countries. SOURCE KEJORA VENTURES [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Acclaimed architect Ken Newberry stated, " as an architect doing work for over 35 years across the United States and in several other countries around the world, I will tell you that The Romanov in Houston, Texas is one of the most extraordinary houses anyone may ever see. "While the exterior was influenced and follows the aesthetic of the Richardsonian Romanesque style there are also elements throughout inspired by trips to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina and Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. "Like Hearst Castle, the interior of the home incorporates architectural elements personally selected by the client and shipped from England, France, Belgium and Italy," he said. The 22,000 SQFT home is complemented by a 3,500 SQFT guest lodge in its own private 5-acre setting. The prominent, elevated, 9-acre estate is surrounded on three sides by a moat of the 18,000-year-old Buffalo Bayou and buffered by the expansive grounds of the Houston Country Club. It is only entered via a private, secured gate in a cul-de-sac. All of it takes in the Houston skyline. "This is without question one of the most expensively built, tasteful and well-designed compounds ever built in Texas or nationally for that matter that I have seen and as a result, it follows, and I fully expect, that it will set a new benchmark in residential luxury sales well north of any Houston sale to date," said Uechtritz. "This estate is only for a discerning few, a security conscious and private, ultra-high net worth clientele. It will only be available to discuss through confidential, pre-qualified request. There will be no brokers open, nor will it open for broker previews, or to anyone for that matter, who has not first signed a confidentiality agreement and proved up complete financial ability to perform. We are releasing very few details or photographs to maintain integrity and privacy for the next owner. "We reserve the right to show it by invitation only, and only after criteria is met. I expect to show it less than a half dozen times, as the prospect pool who can afford or qualify for this is very shallow," he said. A Richardsonian Romanesque is rare and very few exist in the USA. The Romanov draws influences from a series of other renowned estates in America, such as the Wrigley, and Vanderbilt mansions, as well as construction elements from the University of Indiana's limestone buildings, and even the Pentagon. Construction includes hand cut limestone blocks a minimum of 12 inches thick. 9/ 11 - Six years in construction and finished in 2005, The Romanov is a skillfully crafted work of steel, concrete, and custom hand cut limestone from Indiana. Progress on the build was halted after the 9/11 attacks. The US Government required, and thus diverted, all the available limestone from the renowned Bybee quarries of Indiana to be redirected from the Romanov for the Pentagon rebuild. In addition to interior architecturals sourced across Europe, the estate is replete with truly custom and hand-built finishes, including a wrought iron elevator, interior railings and chandeliers. Energy efficiencies, embedded technology, and privacy features are as equally timeless as the entire estate. Builder Jeff Thomsen said, "For some of the more formal rooms, we cast our own trim of bronze buttons for controlling the lights. There are carvings in wood, stone, and metal that were the result of hundreds of hours of work." About the Icon Global Group. Founded by Dallas based complex deal maker and international real estate advisor, Australian Bernard Uechtritz; The Icon Global Group is an internationally connected, independent, full-service specialist company which designs and implements customized strategic and tactical, marketing and sales campaigns for unique, one of a kind, real property assets and business opportunities. Icon is the leading Farm & Ranch, Luxury Ranch, and Unique Residential sales firm of its kind and represents select industrial, commercial, and mixed-use real estate projects. Formerly a leading luxury real estate broker in Southern California, Uechtritz returned to his ranching roots in Texas, establishing the Icon Global Group. In 2016 Uechtritz successfully led the unprecedented global marketing and record-breaking sales campaign of America's most Iconic Cattle & Horse, Oil & Gas, Water & Farming enterprise The legendary 535,000 acre $725 Million Dollar W.T. Waggoner Estate Ranch, in Vernon, Texas. THE ICON GLOBAL GROUP DESIGNS AND IMPLEMENTS STRATEGIC MARKETING AND SALES CAMPAIGNS FOR UNIQUE, HIGH-END PROPERTIES GLOBALLY. All photo & video credits - Icon Global Group Website: https://www.icon.global/romanov Video: https://vimeo.com/511780904 The Romanov Estate - photos Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpoQAzc-awM Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1448161/The_Romanov_Estate.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/712326/ICON_GLOBAL_GROUP_Logo.jpg SOURCE Icon Global Group JACKSON, MI A second day of testimony in the case of three men accused of plotting to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prompted a question What is the difference between an idea and a plan? The preliminary examination for Joseph M. Morrison, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar resumed for its second day Thursday, March 4, before Jackson County District Judge Michael Klaeren broadcast live on YouTube and again ended with an adjournment. After a full day of analyzing the intent of militia memes and looking at a timetable of who did what and where during the seven-month FBI investigation into the group, day two of the examination moved on to the next facet of the case arguing over who was responsible for what in the group and if those actions could realistically be criminal in nature. That debate is ongoing and set to continue with more testimony Friday morning, March 5. Militias memes take center stage in Whitmer kidnap plot court case The ties that bind the men behind the plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer FBI Special Agent Henrick Impola, who was the lead investigator monitoring the groups activities, testified for two days. He said the Wolverine Watchmen militia group was training and ready to commit acts of violence against law enforcement and later, after connecting with other militia groups, hatched a plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The FBI was made aware of the Wolverine Watchmen in March of 2020 after a member of the group, a postal worker and combat veteran, contacted police after learning a member of the group was serious about committing acts of violence against law enforcement, Impola said. Testimony throughout the two days presented the group as an organization preparing for the Boogaloo, which has been identified by the FBI as a far-right, domestic terrorist movement centered on plans for a sequel to the Civil War. Defense attorneys for the three men -- Andrew Kirkpatrick, Nicholas Somberg and Kareem Johnson -- adamantly disagreed with the FBIs claim, each arguing 2020 was a year like no other and that no actual plans were ever made alluding to a plot to kidnap the governor or kill police. Their training can realistically be used in any urban combat setting. Nowhere on their training itinerary does it discuses training for storming the Capitol or kidnapping the governor, Kirkpatrick said. 2020 was a crazy year with things weve never seen before taking place all over the nation. The defense argued the group, like many Michigan residents in 2020, was angry about multiple things including COVID-19 restrictions, police brutality and the riots that erupted across the nation over the summer and the idea of attacking the government was simply brought up as an idea, not a plan. Theres a big difference between a plan and an idea, Kirkpatrick said. Impola agreed there was a difference, but stated through the FBI investigation, the group had more than an idea and was actively supporting a plan to commit acts of violence by offering training and resources to other militia group leaders, namely Adam Fox. Alleged leader in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot faces first Michigan court appearance Fox, who was referred to frequently throughout the hearing, was indicted on a federal kidnapping-conspiracy charges in connection with the plot. Both the defense and the prosecution made claims that much of the idea to kidnap the governor stemmed from the groups meeting with Fox after an armed protest in the state Capitol. Morrison, 26, and Musico, 42, cofounders of the Wolverine Watchmen militia group, are accused of providing materials and assistance to group members by conducting tactical training on Morrisons property in Munith, north of Jackson. The pair are charged with one felony count each of threat of terrorism, gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts and felony firearms. Bellar, 22, a member of the group, is charged with one felony count each of providing materials to support terrorist acts, attempt to commit felony as an associate or member of gang and felony firearms. The preliminary examination will continue Friday morning. It is expected to wrap up early next week. For more information about the alleged kidnap plot, click here. More from MLive: Newsweek names St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, Chelsea hospitals among nations best Students will showcase social justice-focused artwork throughout Ypsilanti Michigan House committee revives bills to open governor, lawmakers to public records laws Details still pending on third agreement between Emmet and Bay Bluffs WASHINGTON (AP) Capitol Police say they have uncovered intelligence of a possible plot by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, nearly two months after a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the iconic building to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Bidens victory. The threat appears to be connected to a far-right conspiracy theory, mainly promoted by supporters of QAnon, that Trump will rise again to power on March 4. That was the original presidential inauguration day until 1933, when it was moved to Jan. 20. Online chatter identified by authorities included discussions among members of the Three Percenters, an anti-government militia group, concerning possible plots against the Capitol on Thursday, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Members of the Three Percenters were among the extremists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. The announcement comes as the Capitol police and other law enforcement agencies are taking heat from Congress in contentious hearings this week on their handling of the Jan. 6 riot. Police were ill-prepared for the mass of Trump supporters in tactical gear, some armed, and it took hours for National Guard reinforcements to come. By then, rioters had broken and smashed their way into the building and roamed the halls for hours, stalling Congress certification effort temporarily and sending lawmakers into hiding. The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex, the agency said in a statement. We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4. Police did not identify the militia group in the statement. The U.S. House was abruptly wrapping its work for the week given the threat of violence. A voting rights bill was passed late Wednesday night, and a session will not be held Thursday. An advisory sent earlier this week to members of Congress by Timothy Blodgett, the acting House sergeant-at-arms, said that the Capitol Police had no indication that groups will travel to Washington D.C. to protest or commit acts of violence. But that advisory was updated in a note to lawmakers Wednesday morning. Blodgett wrote that the Capitol Police had received new and concerning information and intelligence indicating additional interest in the Capitol for the dates of March 4th 6th by a militia group. In her testimony to the House panel, acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said her investigators had collected some concerning intelligence, but declined to provide any details publicly, saying that it was law enforcement sensitive and that she would provide a private briefing for the subcommittee members. Lawmakers, congressional staffers and law enforcement officials are still on edge after the attack last month, even as the security posture around the Capitol remains at an unprecedented level. On Wednesday, federal agents were seeking to determine whether there was an increase in the number of hotel rooms being rented in Washington, as well as monitoring flights to the area, car rental reservations and any buses being chartered to bring groups into the capital, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person could not publicly discuss details of the security planning and spoke on condition of anonymity. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security also sent a joint intelligence bulletin to local law enforcement officials Tuesday warning that a group of militia extremists had discussed trying to take control of the Capitol on March 4 and encouraging thousands of people to come to D.C. to try to remove Democrats from power. There has been a noticeable decline in online activity on some social media platforms surrounding efforts on March 4, and there was already considerably less online chatter than during the lead-up to Jan. 6, a day that Trump repeatedly had promoted for a his rally and encouraged thousands to come to the nations capital. Several QAnon groups still operating on the social media messaging platform Telegram warned followers to stay away from any events on March 4, claiming it was a setup for Trump supporters. If there are groups out there planning and advertising events on or around March 4 anywhere in the country (DC included) we strongly urge everyone to avoid them entirely, one Telegram user wrote late last month in a QAnon group that has more than 65,000 followers. Theres also a very large fence in place around the U.S. Capitol that blocks off all avenues of entry including on the streets around the building, which was put in place after Jan. 6. Also, thousands of accounts that promoted the Jan. 6 event that led to a violent storming of the U.S. Capitol have since been suspended by major tech companies like Facebook and Twitter, making it far more difficult for QAnon and far-right groups to organize a repeat of the mass gathering on Thursday. Twitter banned more than 70,000 accounts after the riots, while Facebook and Instagram removed posts mentioning stop the steal, a pro-Trump rallying cry used to mobilize his supporters in January. And the conservative social media platform Parler, which many of Trumps supporters joined to promote false election fraud conspiracy theories and encourage friends to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, was booted off the internet following the siege. Capitol Police say that they have stepped up security around the Capitol complex since Januarys insurrection, adding physical security measures such as the fencing topped with razor wire around the Capitol and members of the National Guard who remain at the complex. The statement said the agency was taking the intelligence seriously but provided no other specific details on the threat. I think they are definitely prepared for any threats that may come our way in the next couple days, said Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., who was one of several lawmakers briefed privately by the police. Wexton added that she still questioned the long-term security plan for the Capitol and said Pittman, the acting chief, has not come up with proactive ways to fix the issues that they had. So far, about 300 people have been charged with federal crimes for their roles in the riot. Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died. Since his defeat, Trump has been promoting lies that the election was stolen from him through mass voter fraud, even though such claims have been rejected by judges, Republican state officials and Trumps own administration. He was impeached by the House after the Jan. 6 riot on a charge of incitement of insurrection but was acquitted by the Senate. PSD (Social Democratic Party) will join the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) in fighting "this regime that wants to impose austerity by force," leader of the Social Democrats Marcel Ciolacu stated on Thursday, while he participated in the national congress of this trade union organisation, according to AGERPRES. "PSD will stand by the BNS in fighting this regime that wants to impose austerity by force. After this budget of national humiliation was voted without the voice of the Romanians being heard, we understand that the only solution is to join the students, the employees and pensioners of this country in their protests. Like me, many of those present here experienced such moments in 1996-2000, when another austerity alliance brought the country close to bankruptcy in 2009-2010, when a regime of which many of the dignitaries of the current power belong cut pensions and salaries, in order to keep intact their part of the budget, the one that was meant for stealing," Ciolacu said at the national congress of the BNS. He added that the Social Democrats, with the support of the BNS specialists, had drafted laws such as budget salaries and pensions, and this was possible because the two sides had "a common vision of the country's development in the European Union." "If we want to fight poverty and to stop the exodus of workforce and have resources for education and health, we must pay Romanians better in their country. That is why we have started a process of convergence of salaries and wages in our government. We increased the minimum wage by 67pct and the minimum pension by 76pct and the result was a gain in welfare for employees, who felt a 25pct increase in their purchase power, and these policies meant that 2 millions of Romanians have escaped extreme poverty. (...) And now Citu came with the long scythe of austerity and reaped everything we had built together. This logical step of bringing the income of Romanians to the level of that of the French, Italians or Austrians was brutally stopped and it will take huge efforts and solidarity to resume it. (...) My message is that we need each other more than ever, because we are in the middle of a war. This is the austerity that Citu established, a war of a cynical power against all the people who live honestly from their salary," Ciolacu stated. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE The state House endorsed a broad tax package late Wednesday that would expand tax credits for low-income workers but establish higher tax brackets for top earners. The legislation would cost New Mexico about $73 million in annual revenue by making it easier to qualify for the Low Income Comprehensive Tax Rebate and the Working Families Tax Credit, in addition to making them more generous, according to state economists. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ But it would raise about $78 million by creating new, higher income tax brackets topping out at 6.5% and narrowing a capital gains tax deduction. The top tax rate of 6.5% would apply to income over $415,000 a year by an individual. Rep. Javier Martinez, an Albuquerque Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill, described the tax increases as modest but necessary to pay for the tax cuts. The net effect, he said, would be to deliver tax relief to families who need it. Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, also described the measure as a step toward more equitable taxation. It strikes a great balance between supporting working people, lower-income people and just imposing a little bit extra on those who can afford it, said Chandler, also a co-sponsor of the bill. Republican legislators, in turn, said it isnt the right time to raise taxes. State revenue is already healthy without tax hikes, opponents said, and families reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic shouldnt be hit with increased taxes, no matter their income. Our families are hurting, Rep. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, said. We really need to think twice about increasing taxes. Opponents also say the new tax brackets would hit doctors and small businesses at the same time New Mexico is trying to recruit physicians and boost the economy. Im worried were not being as data-driven as we could be, said Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho. The proposal, House Bill 291, will head next to the Senate in the final weeks of the session. Democrats hold majorities in both chambers, though they sometimes disagree on tax and spending priorities. The legislation won House approval 42-27 after a three-hour debate. Two Democrats Reps. Willie Madrid of Chaparral and Candie Sweetser of Deming crossed party lines and voted against the bill. All Republicans and one independent also opposed it. In addition to changes to income taxes, the proposal would allow the assessments used in property tax calculations to climb up to 10% a year rather than the usual 3% limit for homes that arent the owners principal residence, beginning in 2024. Confronting new footage showing the moments before a security guard kicked a patron as he lay on the ground outside a popular nightclub reveals he was attacked. CCTV captured the fight breaking out between security guards and the man outside Wellington nightclub 'Boston on Blair' during the early hours of Sunday morning. Nick Mills, owner of Boston on Blair, told the NZ Herald the initial video only told half of the story. CCTV footage reveals the moment the patron takes a swing at the security guard The new CCTV was posted to social media by a colleague of the alleged attacker. The footage showed the patron taking a swing at the security guard just outside the bar's entrance. The unidentified man was rushed to Wellington Hospital to receive treatment for his injuries Three guards then rushed to their colleague's aid as the patron continued to throw punches. The man was thrown to the ground and kicked in the head by a guard, as other patrons watched. The man was rushed to Wellington Hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. The colleague who posted the CCTV footage defended the bouncer's actions. 'I've worked many nights where we have some people who when we refuse entry don't like it and become aggressive, where we get attacked on the door, he said. 'I know of a night where people pull out knives because we refuse entry.' The colleague said patrons didn't realise security guards provided a safe environment for people to enjoy, but never received the same protection. 'Violence is not the first avenue we take, when we are working doors we do use our mouth but if you put us in a position where we have to look after ourselves bet your ass we will go down that avenue too.' Kate Te Tau, a passerby who stopped to help, received a busted bottom lip after an electric heater was pushed onto her. Ms Te Tau has alleged the heater was pushed by the same security guard. The video footage does not show who it was that pushed the heater and Daily Mail Australia makes no suggestion that the man is guilty. The good Samaritan had to get stitches for the injury and has threatened to take legal action on social media. 'Such an unprofessional, ruthless and violent attack on a young male. Myself and friends walked past to aid him helplessly getting beaten up by men whose job it is (to) look out for trouble and not cause it. 'The bouncer also pushed an outdoor heater into us resulting in stitches to my lip. See you in court... here's footage for everyone to see!' Wellington police are investigating the alleged assault but no arrests have been made. Texas SpaceX Elon Musk March 2 Texas Cameron County Eddie Trevino Jr SpaceX Boca Chica SpaceX's Boca Chica Beach SpaceX March 2 Elon Musk Cameron County The Brownsville Herald SpaceX SpaceX's Los Indios Texas (TNS) ompared to establishing a human settlement on Mars, incorporating a city insounds like a piece of cake still, there are rules.founder and CEOontweeted "Creating the city of Starbase,... From thence to Mars, and hence the Stars."Musk's goal is to establish settlements on Mars, using the Starship now under development at Boca Chica to get humans to the Red Planet.According toJudge., the tweet came a few days aftercontacted him with an idea the company was kicking around: Incorporating the unincorporated village ofnext door toStarship production complex into a city with the name "Starbase."Once a remote enclave for retirees a stone's throw from, aside from a handful of holdouts the small community is now home mostly toemployees.The county issued a brief statementthat quoted Trevino saying: "If SpaceX andwould like to pursue down this path, they must abide by all state incorporation statutes.will process any appropriate petitions in conformity with applicable law."Trevino toldlater that day that he didn't respond at first to the company's inquiry, which went along the lines of "we're thinking about doing this. What do you think?""I didn't really know what to think of it," he said. "Then I think around the same time they called our legal department. ... Our legal department andspeak regularly because of the requests for road closures for testing etc., so they're in constant communication."Musk's tweet, which came on the eve of an attempted high-altitude launch ofStarship SN10 prototype, came as a surprise, Trevino said."There's a lot that has to take place before an unincorporated area can become incorporated," he said. "We're still getting the details. I don't know if maybe they're getting ahead of themselves. I think it's premature to think that this is going to happen. A lot's got to take place before they get to that. They've got to cross all their T's and cross all their I's."Trevino said he's never dealt with an incorporation request before during his tenure as judge, since such requests are few and far between these days. Perhaps the county's most recent instance is the city of, incorporated in 1995."I'm not familiar with the process, so we're having legal review it," Trevino said. "What I do know is that it's not something that happens overnight."The process of turning an unincorporated community into an incorporated city requires a number of steps. The rules are contained in the Texas Local Government Code, not an easy read for the layman. In general, it requires a coordinated effort by residents, the approval of a majority of voters in the area, gathering signatures and a petition to the county. It likewise requires plenty of legal expertise.recognizes three types of general law municipalities (A, B or C) as well as home-rule municipalities with their own charter. The rules for incorporating each type of municipality depend in part on population and size."A lot of requirements have to be met by state law in order to prepare the petition," Trevino said. "If they meet all that, then it comes to the commissioner, to my office and commissioners court, and we would decide at that point. But again, there's a lot of details to learn about."There's a learning curve obviously. They're going to have to get their lawyers involved and they're going to tell them what they need to do, and we're going to do the same thing. So we'll make sure they've done everything they're supposed to and we'll follow the process and see where it takes us." A 64-year-old man accused of operating a 1.2m bogus legal advice practice was found hiding in bushes when fraud detectives came to arrest him, a court has heard. David Williams, who is from England but has an address at Sroughan, Lacken, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, was charged today with 14 fraud offences. It follows a "vast" investigation into allegations that he posed as a barrister and charged 1500 clients for a range of legal services. Detective Keith Gorman of the Garda National Economics Crime Bureau told Dublin District Court that Mr Williams tried to hide in bushes at his home when officers came to arrest him. He had also ignored their phone calls before they found him, Judge Treasa Kelly was told. Mr Williams was brought to the Bridewell Garda station in Dublin and made no reply when he was charged. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed trial on indictment in the circuit court. Detective Garda Gorman said Mr Williams is accused of 10 counts of deception which, on conviction, can result in a five-year prison sentence. Mr Williams is also accused of two money laundering offences as well as charges for falsely operating as an insolvency practitioner and as a qualified barrister. The offences are alleged to have occurred in 2019 and last year. He had been originally charged with four offences and appeared at Naas District Court in 2020, but those matters were dropped and replaced with 14 new charges today. Objecting to bail, Detective Garda Gorman described it as a vast case. He alleged Mr Williams represented himself as a barrister and was paid for legal services in relation to immigration, personal insolvency, divorce and personal injuries. He allegedly advertised online and had three premises to carry out his business in which he charged a total of 1.2m to 1,500 clients In excess of 400,000 had been paid to him, it was alleged. He agreed with defence counsel Garrett Casey that Mr William made no admissions and that when the earlier charges were brought he had been allowed bail. Mr Casey submitted that his client would contest the charges and given the complexity of the case he could remain in custody until beyond 2022 waiting for his trial. There was no evidence of witness intimidation and he did not have a passport, counsel submitted. Read More Mr Casey argued that stringent bail conditions could be set. The court heard Mr Williams is unemployed and legal aid was granted. He previously worked as an accountant for former pop star Kerry Katona. Judge Kelly granted bail in his own bond of 1,000 of which he must lodge 500. She ordered that he will also need another person with 4,000 available to be approved as an independent surety. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court next week. A book of evidence needs to be completed by the DPP before he can be returned for trial. Once the bail has been paid, he must reside at his home address, remain in the jurisdiction, obey a curfew, have no contact with witnesses, sign on daily at Blessington Garda station, stay in Co. Wicklow and not apply for travel documentation. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Must-see TV, meet royalty. This Sunday, all eyes will be glued to the two-hour Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special, which marks Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's first major joint interview since stepping down as senior members of the royal family last year and moving to California with son Archie. Winfrey will have plenty to talk about with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who happen to be her new neighbors from their family life in California and just-announced news that they're having another baby following a miscarriage last year, to the royal drama that's surrounded their 2020 departure. The interview comes on the heels of Meghan's legal victory in her privacy lawsuit against British newspaper Mail On Sunday following its publishing of a private letter she sent her estranged father, Thomas Markle. As it happens, that victory was crucial to Winfrey's interview which has reportedly long been in the works getting the green light to go forward, royal correspondent Omid Scobie tells Yahoo Life. "This Oprah interview wouldn't have been happening if the outcome of the summary judgment on the Mail case went in a different direction," Scobie, co-author of the Harry and Meghan biography Finding Freedom, says. "It was literally the day after getting that victory that they went back to Oprah and confirmed that it could all go ahead. "I think people often question the timing of this interview and I think had this case with the Mail not have gone on for as long as it did, we would have seen them talking about their past few years much earlier," he adds. "I think everything for Harry and Meghan over the past year has not happened at the original time that they would have originally liked. Of course, we're in the middle of a pandemic; they've spent much of the past year at home. So really what we're seeing now is a couple who are truly finally entering their new chapter." Story continues But that new chapter doesn't come with some serious baggage and a flurry of preemptive criticism from the British press the couple have railed against. As anticipation for royal revelations builds, the pregnant duchess has fielded accusations of bullying her former royal aides, which her team has called "an attack on her character." (Buckingham Palace, meanwhile, added fuel to the fire by issuing a statement expressing concern over the claims made in U.K. newspaper The Times that Meghan harassed staffers.) In a separate report, the paper charged that the former Suits star wore earrings given to her by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom the CIA has cited as approving the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. As rumors swirl and discord grows, Scobie uses his royal insider status to shed light on what to expect from Sunday's special. When is it? Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special airs Sunday, March 7 from 8 to 10 p.m. on CBS. Why Oprah? Why not? Winfrey's talk show hosting credentials make her a natural celebrity interviewer, but she also has a personal connection to the Sussexes that's bound to put the couple at ease. While it's been widely reported that Winfrey attended the couple's May 2018 wedding which she called a "cultural moment" after spending time with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, Scobie says the "relationship goes much deeper." According to Scobie, it was Meghan then dating Harry, but not yet engaged and rather than her mother who first struck up a friendship with the media mogul in 2017 after being introduced by an L.A.-based business associate. That connection "turned into a close friendship very quickly," he says, which led to Winfrey offering "a shoulder of support" to Ragland amid the media frenzy surrounding the royal wedding. In 2019, it was announced that Winfrey would be partnering with Prince Harry on an Apple TV+ documentary about mental health. While that project has been delayed given the pandemic, they remain in close contact literally. With their move to Montecito last summer, the couple became Winfrey's neighbors. "This is a friendship that builds over time," Scobie says, adding that "Oprah has really become an important figure in their lives." The significance of Meghan's dress Previews of the interview show 36-year-old Harry in a gray suit while Meghan, pregnant with the couple's second child, wears a black silk Armani dress with a lotus across the bodice. Retailing for $4,700, the dress's hefty price tag has already stirred up some scorn among the duchess's critics, though Scobie says it's unlikely she actually paid that much for the belted number. "I would dispute any stories that claim that she has spent that amount on a dress," the royal correspondent says, suggesting that a designer discount was probably extended because of Meghan's "high-profile" status. "I'm sure it came at a different cost to her because, of course, the designer benefits greatly in situations like this." Far more interesting, he says, is what the dress which the former actress paired with Birks earrings and a loose up-do symbolizes. Scobie says that Meghan "wanted something that had some meaning for the interview" and was drawn to the detail of the embroidered lotus, a flower associated with "rebirth and spiritual enlightenment." "She liked that back story of the lotus, that it was this flower of resilience that submerges into the water every night and then comes back in the morning refreshed and energized for the new day," he explains. "As we've seen with Meghan, there's always thought that goes into the outfits. I would imagine that it wasn't that it was an Armani dress. It was one that sort of ticked the box on having some meaning." Two accessories worn by the 39-year-old also appear to be loaded with meaning: her Cartier "Love" bracelet once owned by the late Princess Diana, and a necklace by jewelry designer Pippa Small, who has previously collaborated with father-in-law Prince Charles. Harry's suit, meanwhile, is a favorite he's previously worn for milestone moments including son Archie's first photo call. What will be discussed Two trailers for Sunday's interview show Harry addressing the strain of the British media scrutiny which he told James Corden last week was "destroying my mental health" on the couple as well as his mother. "I can't imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago, because it has been unbelievably tough for the two of us, but at least we had each other," he says in one clip in reference to Princess Diana. The royal has previously called out the media's culpability in his mother's 1997 death from a Paris car crash while being pursued by members of the paparazzi. In a second preview he tells Winfrey, "My biggest concern was history repeating itself." While Winfrey builds up the drama that "there's no subject that's off-limits," and has soundbites alluding to Meghan being "silenced," reaching a "breaking point" and finding her situation "unsurvivable," Scobie cautions that viewers may not necessarily be bombarded with bombshells. For example, he notes that Harry has publicly spoken out about his mental health struggles and made comparisons to Diana before. Scobie doesn't anticipate the couple calling out members of the royal family, given Harry's positive comments about his grandparents during his James Corden interview, but will likely be candid about the royal institution itself and the pressures that come with it. "I think that's where we're going to get a lot of revelations for the first time," he predicts, "because it is the first time that they can speak about that without fear of punishment." That said, Scobie speculates that "there are many things that they will not address during this interview... It is not a tawdry tell-all." It stands to reason that Meghan's miscarriage and subsequent pregnancy, her recent legal battle and the projects they're undertaking through Archewell, including deals with Netflix and Spotify, will also be up for discussion. But, as Scobie says, the interview is currently very much "under lock and key" until it airs Sunday night. Why the timing is causing controversy The March 7 airdate is raising eyebrows with royal watchers for two reasons, and both involve Harry's grandparents. Queen Elizabeth II's pre-recorded address marking Commonwealth Day will be broadcast on BBC One in the U.K. earlier that day in lieu of an in-person service. (Last year's Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, incidentally, marked Harry and Meghan's final public appearance with the royal family before formally stepping down.) A Westminster Abbey spokesperson revealed that the queen's plans were confirmed before the Winfrey interview was announced, news that some Harry and Meghan critics have taken as a slight to his family. But Scobie says the timing is more of a coincidence than a conflict. "This has people reaching for a controversy that doesn't actually exist," he says, noting that while the interview will indeed air on CBS in the U.S. that night around 1 a.m. GMT U.K. audiences won't be able to view it until Monday night, when it's broadcast on the ITV network. He acknowledges, however, that the timing in light of Prince Philip's hospitalization is more "unfortunate." The 99-year-old was taken to a London hospital to treat an infection on Feb. 16, and has since been transferred to a different hospital for observation of a preexisting heart condition. The interview with CBS, meanwhile, had been announced just two days before. "It was mere days after they confirmed this interview with Oprah that Prince Phillip needed further attention medically," Scobie says. "And that's a situation that continues to loom heavily in the background... both the queen and prince are very dear to [Harry]. It's a relationship that has continued at strength for the past year since stepping away. I'm sure it's a very difficult time. At the same time, it's a decision that they had already made; the wheels were already in motion. The interview had already been wrapped and I don't think anyone, including senior members of the royal family, would have ever thought that Phillip would have stayed in hospital for as long as he has." How viewers might react and why Harry and Meghan are sharing their story regardless Given the reports being published in the days leading up to the interview, it stands to reason that critics will be ready to pounce. A common refrain from their detractors is that the couple are being hypocritical by complaining about the invasive media attention they received as royals, but then keeping public profiles. (Even their recent pregnancy announcement drew ire from critics accusing them of seeking attention.) According to Scobie, it's not that the Sussexes want to be "virtually anonymous" they just want to live on their own terms while maintaining the "fundamental human rights to privacy." Voluntarily sharing a photo of Archie on social media, for instance, allows them to be public but also in control; being followed by members of the paparazzi does not. "Harry and Meghan, as we've seen over the years, are damned if they do and damned if they don't," Scobie says. "But there is this misconception that they want this virtually anonymous life that they only want to be out there when it comes to their charity work. But this is a couple that have obviously been very comfortable in the public eye." He adds that while Harry and Meghan may be opening themselves up to criticism by taking part in any interview, that critics are bound to target, it's important for them to take the time to set the record straight on some matters, and address them in their own words, and not via anonymous royal sources. "Everyone has spoken about them apart from them," he says. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. An RAF pilot who mistook greenhouses for the White Cliffs of Dover parachuted into Nazi-occupied territory and spent four years of the Second World War as a prisoner. Sergeant Robert Stirling was part of the Royal Air Force's 87 Squadron and lost his bearings while chasing a German bomber towards France in April 1941. The young pilot, then 23, realised he was dangerously low on fuel and attempted to return to Exeter, Devon, where he was stationed. But his compass was broken and during his attempt to navigate back to base he believed the reflection of the thousands of greenhouses was the famous chalk cliffs on the Kent coastline. Believing he was on 'safe ground,' he bailed from his Hawker Hurricane aircraft. Instead he found himself on the uninhabited Lihou Island, close to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, which at the time was under Nazi rule. He spent a night with a family on Guernsey before giving himself up to Nazi authorities, who sent him to the Stalag-B prisoner-of-war camp, near the town of Bad Orb in Hesse, southern Germany. An RAF pilot who mistook greenhouses for the White Cliffs of Dover parachuted into Nazi-occupied territory and four years of the Second World War as a prisoner. Sergeant Robert Stirling was part of the Royal Air Force's 87 Squadron and lost his bearings while chasing a German bomber towards France in April 1941 Guernsey was covered in greenhouses due to its extensive horticultural industry. Sergeant Stirling then miraculously made it uninjured from Lihou to Guernsey across a causeway and minefield before spending the night inside the home of a local family. At the end of curfew the following morning, he gave himself up to police and the Nazis and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp in Germany. Little is known about his time at the Stalag IX camp, apart the fact that he tried to escape three times, including once on a bicycle, but was always caught. His remarkable story has now been pieced together by a guide from Guernsey who was told about it by a member of the family that shielded him while on one of his tours. After landing on Lihaou, Sergeant Stirling spent the night with the Brouard family (pictured) in Guernsey before handing himself in to Nazi authorities Guide Tim Osborne said: 'We know he ended up in 87 squadron and on 11 April around 10pm off he went. 'We know he went chasing a German bomber southbound towards France. 'We don't know if he lost sight but somewhere he lost his bearing. 'He then saw a flick of light that he thought was the White Cliffs of Dover. But these were actually greenhouses in Guernsey. 'He was almost out of fuel and opted to bail out and jumped out of the airplane and was lucky to land in one piece on Lihou Island near Guernsey. 'He managed to bury his parachute and dust himself down before walking across the causeway and a minefield without knowing it. 'It was incredible actually. He then just jumped on a rocky beach and followed the coast round before knocking on the door of Tom and Myra Brouard at about 1am. Pictured: An RAF flight log mentioning Sergeant Stirling. It says: 'On the 12th April, Sgt. Stirling operating from Exeter failed to return from a patrol, and although no details are available, it seems that he must have been lost at sea' 'Tom thought it was the Germans but he said he was from the RAF and had just bailed out. 'He allowed him in and they talked all night and fed him meat and potatoes. He decided to give himself up at the end of the curfew. 'He must have gone through a neighbour's house and called the police station. 'They turned up with German soldiers who took him away to France and then Germany where he spent the rest of the war in a POW camp.' Sergeant Stirling was reported missing in action and presumed dead to his family and friends. But three weeks after the capture, an aunt of his who lived in Canada contacted his parents to let them know he was alive. Sergeant Stirling was flying in a Hurricane Hawker plane when he bailed from his aircraft over Lihou Three weeks after the capture, an aunt of Sergeant Stirling who lived in Canada contacted his parents to let them know he was alive. Remarkably, she had been listening to the radio and personally heard a German propaganda broadcast reporting he was interred in the camp. Pictured: A 1941 news report about Sergeant Stirling Sergeant Robert Stirling with Myra Brouard in 1960, 19 years after he knocked on her front door after crash landing on Lihou Remarkably, she had been listening to the radio and personally heard a German propaganda broadcast reporting he was interred in the camp. Sergeant Stirling returned to his home in Glasgow after the war and spent his career in banking. He died in 1984 leaving his wife Betty and three children. Ms Osbourne said he started researching the 'remarkable' tale after being given Tom Brouard's 'meticulous' records of the events by his daughter Pat Jenner, who came on one of his tours last autumn. He then spent several months piecing together the events after getting in touch with Sgt Stirling's family through a local Facebook page in Scotland, local archives and other records. Robert Stirling and his wife Betty are seen above in 1984, the year of his death A recent photo of the Brouard family house in Guernsey where Sergeant Stirling sought refuge after parachuting on to the island Mr Osborne said: 'I'm so pleased it came together, I've had quite a lot of feedback from it. 'People found it fascinating and a lot of people had never even heard of the story.' Mrs Jenner explained her parents rarely spoke about the occupation growing up and a lot of the detail uncovered was new to her. She said: 'I'm just overwhelmed with it really and just thankful to Tim. 'It was a story that I felt needed to be put out there, because my mum and dad didn't speak much about it and were very coy about it.' Lihou is off the western coast of Guernsey and is made up of only 36 acres. Other than having a single warden, the island is uninhabited OCEAN SPRINGS, MS / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / The Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) has approved 4 new research projects, with $100,000 in funding, to start 2021. Approved at the Center's annual winter meeting, the new projects will focus on improving data collection and scientific surveys in important finfish and shellfish fisheries. These projects include efforts to improve how menhaden are tagged and tracked; analyzing the age and length composition of the chub mackerel population; improving clam dredge performance; and improving collection methods for surf clams and quahogs. All projects were approved by the SCEMFIS Industry Advisory Board (IAB), which is comprised of the Center's industry partners in the finfish and shellfish fisheries. SCEMFIS is a member of the National Science Foundation's Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) program, a federal initiative to bring together academic researchers and industry members to fund projects improving our understanding of economically important issues. Understanding the utility of archived tag-recapture data for evaluation of movement and mortality estimation - As a changing climate forces species to shift geographical ranges, tracking population data and location has become increasingly important. The project, by Dr. Robert Leaf (University of Southern Mississippi), will directly address "high" priority needs listed in the menhaden stock assessment. ($19,874 in funding) - As a changing climate forces species to shift geographical ranges, tracking population data and location has become increasingly important. The project, by Dr. Robert Leaf (University of Southern Mississippi), will directly address "high" priority needs listed in the menhaden stock assessment. ($19,874 in funding) Characterization of the length and age composition of the Atlantic Chub Mackerel fishery in the mid-Atlantic for 2021 - In a collaboration with SeaFreeze Ltd. and Lund's Fisheries Inc., this study, lead by Dr. Robert Leaf, will characterize the age and length composition of Atlantic chub mackerel in the commercial fishery for the 2021 season. The project addresses the assessment's need to provide "adequate scientific information" for the Atlantic chub mackerel stock. ($14,035 in funding) - In a collaboration with SeaFreeze Ltd. and Lund's Fisheries Inc., this study, lead by Dr. Robert Leaf, will characterize the age and length composition of Atlantic chub mackerel in the commercial fishery for the 2021 season. The project addresses the assessment's need to provide "adequate scientific information" for the Atlantic chub mackerel stock. ($14,035 in funding) Development of Improved Clam Dredge System using Theory, CFD, and Experiment - This study, by Dr. Eric Powell (University of Southern Mississippi), will research potential improvements to the current clam dredge system, a system which has not been updated in decades. Dr. Powell plans to work with the Center for Water and the Environment at the University of Texas, Austin, in order to improve the efficiency of dredge systems, increasing catch rates, reducing fuel consumption, and reducing engine emissions. ($65,634 in funding) - This study, by Dr. Eric Powell (University of Southern Mississippi), will research potential improvements to the current clam dredge system, a system which has not been updated in decades. Dr. Powell plans to work with the Center for Water and the Environment at the University of Texas, Austin, in order to improve the efficiency of dredge systems, increasing catch rates, reducing fuel consumption, and reducing engine emissions. ($65,634 in funding) Design of a dredge for collection of juvenile Surf clams and Ocean quahogs - This study, lead by Dr. Eric Powell, will support shellfish research by improving collection methods for surf clams and ocean quahogs. The project will design a cost-effective dredge to sample juvenile ocean quahogs and surf clams for research and data collection. Improving juvenile clam sampling will provide a more accurate estimate of population size, frequency, and recruitment for surf clams and quahogs. ($7,590 in funding) The following projects were approved at the winter meeting: About SCEMFIS SCEMFIS utilizes academic and fisheries resources to address urgent scientific problems limiting sustainable fisheries. SCEMFIS develops methods, analytical and survey tools, datasets, and analytical approaches to improve sustainability of fisheries and reduce uncertainty in biomass estimates. SCEMFIS university partners, University of Southern Mississippi (lead institution), and Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, are the academic sites. Collaborating scientists who provide specific expertise in finfish, shellfish, and marine mammal research, come from a wide range of academic institutions, including Old Dominion University, Rutgers University, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, University of Maryland, and University of Rhode Island. The need for the diverse services that SCEMFIS can provide to industry continues to grow, which has prompted a steady increase in the number of fishing industry partners. These services include immediate access to science expertise for stock assessment issues, rapid response to research priorities, and representation on stock assessment working groups. Targeted research leads to improvements in data collection, survey design, analytical tools, assessment models, and other needs to reduce uncertainty in-stock status and improve reference point goals. PRESS CONTACT Stove Boat Communications (202) 844-2502 john@stoveboat.com SOURCE: Science Center for Marine Fisheries View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633607/Science-Center-for-Marine-Fisheries-Approves-100000-in-Research-Grants-for-2021 An iconic central Pennsylvania ice cream brand will be featured on an upcoming episode of Modern Marvels. Cameras will take viewers behind the scenes of Turkey Hill in Lancaster County for The History Channel show airing at 10 p.m. March 7. The show is hosted by food author and culinary entrepreneur Adam Richman who travels the country to factory lines and locally owned shops for an insiders view on how some of Americas favorite foods are made. The insider stories about these legendary entrepreneurs and technical culinary wizards who keep pushing the envelope are a fascinating part of the American story, and Im delighted to guide the audience through it all, Richman said about the show. The episode with Turkey Hill will explore how Armor Frey founded the business with a milk delivery route. Today, Turkey Hill manufacturers ice cream as well as novelties and cold drinks such as iced teas. Turkey Hill is happy to be able to share with viewers the passion and commitment that our team members put into making each one of our products in the upcoming Modern Marvels episode, said Tim Hopkins, chief executive officer at Turkey Hill. Another central Pa. business, Caputo Brothers Creamery in Spring Grove, York County, was featured on the Feb. 28 episode of Modern Marvels. IN the space of one month, the families of 326 people were left in shock and heartbreak after losing their loved ones to the Covid-19 virus. May 2021 was the deadliest month of the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago and the month with the highest number of Covid-19 cases. The top intelligence officials of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security made a troubling acknowledgement in congressional testimony Wednesday: Neither agency had garnered intelligence indicating that supporters of former President Donald Trump would storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6 in an effort to overturn the November election results. The comments by Jill Sanborn, an FBI assistant director for intelligence, and Melissa Smislova, an acting undersecretary of DHS, represented the first public acknowledgement by top intelligence officials that neither agency saw the devastating attack coming. Testifying during a Senate hearing about the attack, Sanborn said that while the FBI had intelligence indicating that Trump supporters were traveling to Washington on January 6 and could be armed, "none of us had any intelligence suggesting that individuals were going to storm and breach the Capitol. That was the intelligence that we lacked, Sanborn told members of the Senate Rules and Homeland Security committees. The testimony came amid a growing controversy over whether the FBI and other agencies missed warning signs in the lead-up to the Capitol attack and then failed to adequately warn officials responsible for securing the government complex. January 5 FBI report At the center of the brouhaha is a January 5 FBI intelligence report that cited online chatter by Washington-bound Trump supporters about how Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in. The report was quickly shared with law enforcement agencies but did not reach the top officials at the U.S. Capitol Police or Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department. While the report turned out eerily prescient, neither the FBI nor the DHS had any advance information pointing to an impending attack on the Capitol, officials said. As a result, neither agency issued a public bulletin on the eve of January 6. We may have been better off if we considered sending out some kind of terrorism bulletin, but we did not do that before January 6th, Smislova said. While lawmakers investigate the circumstances of the January 6 attack, Capitol Police said they were aware of intelligence claims of a possible militia group plot to attack the Capitol again on Thursday. That is the date when some right-wing conspiracy groups believed Trump would be sworn in as president. Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Rules Committee, said he spoke with senior FBI officials on several occasions on January 5 and January 6 and was reassured that weve got this pretty well under control. That was not the case, and we now have the Capitol of the United States desecrated, Warner said. Wray's defense FBI Director Christopher Wray, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, defended his agencys handling of the January 5 intelligence report and its warnings about the growing threat of domestic terrorism. Last year, the FBI put out a number of intelligence reports warning about the threat of domestic terrorism around the November presidential election and the January inauguration, he said. For its part, the DHS produced 15 unclassified reports in 2020 that highlighted the potential for domestic violent extremists to mobilize quickly and attack large gatherings and government buildings, Smislova said. In making threat assessments, a major challenge for the FBI and DHS is separating rhetoric that is aspirational from intentional, the officials said, promising to do better in the future. Security and intelligence analysts say the Capitol breach was the result not of an intelligence breakdown but of a collective failure involving multiple entities in law enforcement and government. Still, some lawmakers are pinning it largely on intelligence agencies. Saying the January 6 attack was caused by a massive and historic intelligence failure, Democratic Senator Gary Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, asked both Sanborn and Smislova if they agreed that the intelligence community failed to detect the plot to attack the Capitol. I wouldnt necessarily characterize it that way, sir, Sanborn said. But Ill tell you there is not an analyst that wouldnt want more intelligence. Responding to the same question, Smislova said she did not have enough information to declare the pre-January 6 intelligence a failure. I do know, however, that it was not a success, and well do everything we can to make sure that what we know is better distributed and understood by our partners she said. I dont need a law degree from Harvard to know that when there is smoke, there is fire, she said at a news conference at the Florida Capitol. The fact pattern is simply just too clear to avoid. Give campaign contribution big dollars, get special access to vaccines ahead of seniors, ahead of our teachers, ahead of our farmworkers and so many of our residents here in the state of Florida who are scared and are wanting these vaccines. Wendy Sherman arrives for a meeting on Syria at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva (Photo : REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) U.S. senators peppered President Joe Biden's nominee to be the No. 2 official at the State Department with questions about Iran on Wednesday, a sign she could face difficulty winning support from Republicans even as she warned against "nostalgia" for the Iran nuclear deal she helped broker. Wendy Sherman, who helped negotiate the international accord in 2015, promised a new approach to Iran at her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing. Advertisement The 2015 deal, aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, was fiercely opposed by Republicans and some Democrats, including Senator Bob Menendez, who is now the committee's chairman. Former Republican President Donald Trump withdrew from the pact in 2018. Sherman said she did not expect the Democratic Biden administration to duplicate the approach to Iran of former President Barack Obama, for whom Biden was vice president. Biden's approach must "be decided on the merits of where we are today, not nostalgia for what might have been," she said. The world had changed since 2016, when the deal was implemented, Sherman said. "The facts on the ground have changed, the geopolitics of the region have changed, and the way forward must similarly change," she said. Sherman said she did not know what the administration's ultimate Iran policy would be, but stressed that Biden was determined not to let Iran obtain a nuclear weapon. "Iran is a long way from compliance (with the nuclear agreement), as we well know," she said. Menendez said while he supported the Biden administration's decision to engage with Iran, any policy needed bipartisan support to succeed. Senator Jim Risch, the panel's top Republican, also called for bipartisan policy and said he opposed a return to the nuclear pact. Sherman was State Department counselor from 1997 to 2001, when she was also policy coordinator on North Korea. From 1993 to 1996 she served as assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs. Several committee Democrats said they looked forward to supporting Sherman's nomination but it was not clear how much support she would receive from Republicans. She can be confirmed without Republican support, since Democrats control the Senate. The hearing also considered one of Biden's long-time foreign policy advisers, Brian McKeon, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. McKeon, who was praised by senators from both parties, served as counsel for the committee when then-Senator Biden was its chairman. New Delhi: AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dhinakaran on Tuesday warned the party factions led by Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and O Pannerselvam to mend their ways or be prepared to be mended. "They should mend their ways and come back to the party fold or they will be mended," Dhinakaran told reporters after offering prayers at the Meenakshi temple. Without naming anyone Dhinakaran said they were "committing mistakes". To reclaim his position in the party after Palaniswami camp adopted resolution on August 10 declaring Dhinakarans appointment as the partys deputy general secretary as illegal. Dhinakaran on Monday had held an rally at Melur near here which was attended by 19 MLAs and six MPs. Dhinakaran attacked Palaniswami, who is still with the AIADMK (Amma), saying he got the chief minister's post only because of Sasikala. Dhinakaran said the AIADMK was a strong party of 1.2 crore cadres and all efforts would be made to strengthen it further. At yesterday's rally, he had accused the Palaniswami camp of trying to oust him and "usurp" the party. He had vowed to reclaim the AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol that was frozen following a split in the party. Earlier in April the two factions were negotiating on merger but things did not materialise. Panneerselvam camp has already approached the Election Commission seeking annulment of the appointment of Dhinakaran and Sasikala. Sasikala is serving a prison term in a disproportionate assets case in which late chief minister J Jayalalithaa was the main accused. With PTI inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has received credentials from the newly appointed ambassadors of Vietnam, Brazil and Italy. The head of state hopes to further intensify cooperation with these states at all levels for the benefit of citizens, his press service reports. During a conversation with Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach, the president expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Vietnamese side during the most difficult period of the first wave of COVID-19. He stressed the interest in establishing practical cooperation between Ukrainian pharmaceutical plants and Vietnamese partners in the development and production of COVID-19 vaccines. The interlocutors discussed the liberalization of bilateral trade, noting the growth of its volumes even in the crisis year of 2020. They agreed to speed up the process of preparing for the signing of a number of bilateral economic documents in order to expand the opportunities for Ukrainian and Vietnamese companies to enter the markets of both countries. The president of Ukraine and the ambassador of Vietnam outlined the measures of bilateral political dialogue for the current year and discussed cooperation between the countries within international organizations, especially in view of Vietnam's non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2020-2021. During a conversation with Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Ukraine Norton de Andrade Mello Rapesta, the current high level of political dialogue between the two states was positively assessed. Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to further developing strategic cooperation with Brazil, primarily in trade, investment, agriculture, energy and pharmacology. The president stressed the need to properly use the existing potential of both countries to implement joint projects in the field of military and technical cooperation, as well as in the aerospace industry. He praised the work of the Ukraine-Brazil Defense Industry Dialogue. The president renewed his invitation to President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro to pay an official visit to Ukraine this year. During a meeting with Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ukraine Pier Francesco Zazo, Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the achieved level of cooperation between Ukraine and Italy and the high dynamics of bilateral political dialogue. The president noted that Italy is an important partner of our country in the EU and NATO, and stressed the interest in further deepening mutually beneficial relations. The Italian ambassador noted the leadership of Volodymyr Zelensky in carrying out important reforms, including land and banking sector reforms. He stated that Italy supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Italy will not back down from the sanctions regime against Russia until Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored in accordance with its internationally recognized borders. The parties exchanged views on political dialogue measures for 2021 and further steps to intensify trade, economic and investment cooperation between Ukraine and Italy. ish Looking for funding for your performing arts project? The Ibsen Scholarship program offers funding for innovative performing arts projects worldwide. The scholarship program amounts to a total of NOK 2.000.000,- (approx. Euro 205.000 USD 248.000). The projects must act as incentives for critical discourses on society related matters and be based on one or more of Henrik Ibsen's plays. Ibsen Scholarships applications will be evaluated by an appointed jury. For further information, statutes and application form see www.ibsenawards.com Deadline for applications is April 30th 2021. The Ibsen Scholarships were initiated by the Norwegian government in 2007 and will be awarded for the 11th time in 2021. Ibsen Scholarships have been awarded 39 projects in 27 countries. See all winners here: http://ibsenawards.com/scholarship/winners/ The winners of the Ibsen Scholarships 2021 will be invited to Ibsen Awards Festival at Teater Ibsen in Skien, Norway in 2022. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005008/en/ Contacts: Hilde Guri Bohlin Manager, Ibsen Awards Mobile: +47 91 76 79 03 E-mail: hildeguri.bohlin@teateribsen.no 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. Woman in China Imprisoned for the Third Time for Her Belief The Chinese regime has sentenced a woman to two-and-a-half years in prison for practicing the spiritual discipline Falun Gongmarking the third time the woman has been imprisoned over her faith. Cumulatively, the woman had already spent more than a decade in prison since 2007, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that reports on the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Wang Suzhen, a 59-year-old from Liaoyang City of northeastern Chinas Liaoning Province, was sentenced last December to serve two-and-a-half years in Liaoning Provincial Womens Prison. By the time of sentencing, she had already been detained for one year and five months at Liaoning Detention Center, the website said. Wang was previously sentenced to five years in prison in 2007. Two years after she was released in 2014, she was again sentenced to four years imprisonment for practicing Falun Gong. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline originating in China based on Buddhist traditions. It includes meditative exercises and moral teachings grounded in the core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Due to its surging popularity in the 1990s, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initiated a crackdown to eliminate the practice in 1999. Since then, adherents have been targets of expansive persecution campaigns involving detention, forced labor, brainwashing, torture, and organ harvesting. Wang, like many other practitioners, was subject to torture while imprisoned. In January 2008, while incarcerated at the eighth prison district of Liaoning Womens Prison, a prison guard beat Wang with a wooden stick and shocked her with an electric baton, in an attempt to force her to give up her faith. A common tactic used on the Falun Gong practitioners at the prison was to deny them sleep or the use of restroom, reported Minghui.org. Wang was brutally beaten by a prisoner for going to the restroom, resulting in her front teeth being knocked loose. The teeth fell out afterward. In 2016 while serving her second sentence at Liaoning Provincial Womens Prison, Wang suffered a blood vessel rupture in her brain and was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment, according to Minghui. When her family went to visit her in hospital, Wang was still handcuffed and was guarded by four prison officers. The guards asked the family members for medical expenses and threatened to stop her medication if the family refused to pay. (Natural News) Residents and recent visitors of Tarneit, Werribee and Hoppers Crossing were urged to get tested at the slightest hint of infection after viral fragments of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) were detected at the Werribee wastewater treatment plant in Melbourne on Thursday, Feb. 25. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued an urgent coronavirus alert for the three Melbourne suburbs Monday evening. This brings the total of Melbourne suburbs under urgent coronavirus alert to 24. The department said independent testing confirmed the result on Monday afternoon, March 1. It also stated that increased movement of people could result in more detection of viral fragments in wastewater. There had been no recent cases of coronavirus in the area prior to the testing. Anyone who has any symptoms of COVID-19 is urged to get tested, especially if you live in or have visited these areas from February 23, 2021, the DHHS said in a statement. Viral fragments were found in a wastewater sample collected on February 25 with no known people in the area who have recently had COVID-19. Samples were taken from the inlet to the Werribee wastewater treatment plant. Viral fragments found in wastewater of other Melbourne neighborhoods On Feb. 25, similar viral fragments were also found in wastewater at the Lilydale treatment plant in Melbournes outer east another area with no known COVID-19 cases. Because of this, residents of Lilydale, Chirnside Park, Coldstream, Kalorama, Olinda, Montrose, Mt Dandenong, Mt. Evelyn, Yarra Glen and Yering, as well as those whove visited the area since Feb. 23, have been advised to get tested if they have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms. The health department also revealed a weak detection of viral fragments in wastewater in Melbournes outer west on Saturday, Feb. 27. The catchment covered Taylors Hill, Plumpton, Hillside, Sydenham, Delahey, Caroline Springs, Burnside Heights, Kings Park, Albanvale, Burnside and Deer Park. Residents and visitors of these suburbs from Feb. 20 to 22 were also urged to get tested if theyre showing even the slightest of symptoms. Wastewater monitoring was done at 142 locations across Victoria, including 71 wastewater treatment plants and 71 sites within Melbourne metropolitan sewerage networks. Unexpected detections of viral fragments have also occurred in other wastewater treatment plants in the state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital of. These have included detections in Altona, Anglesea, Ararat, Apollo Bay, Benalla, Daylesford and Portland. More than 14 days have elapsed since those detections with no new cases diagnosed and no new wastewater detections so having an undiagnosed infectious person or community transmission in nearby areas would be unlikely. Fragments of the virus detected in wastewater may be due to a person with COVID-19 being in the early active infectious phase or it could be because someone is continuing to shed the virus after the early infectious period, the health department said. There are 10 active coronavirus cases in Victoria. (Related: Aussie authorities trace Perth coronavirus infections to hotel security officer.) Australia and New Zealand collaborating to understand coronavirus viral fragments in wastewater Victoria has joined other Australian states and territories and New Zealand in collaborative research to understand the occurrence of coronavirus viral fragments in wastewater. The Collaboration on Sewage Surveillance of SARS-COV-2 project brings together health departments, water utilities, laboratories and researchers to share advances in the rapidly evolving field. It is coordinated by Water Research Australia. According to the state health departments website, wastewater monitoring could show the possible presence of coronavirus in a local community. It is done by analyzing samples of untreated wastewater for fragments of SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19. The wastewater testing method has been used around the world to monitor poliovirus, norovirus and adenovirus in wastewater. Victorias active wastewater surveillance program for coronavirus viral fragments is used alongside testing results and other health data in the health departments response efforts. If viral fragments are detected in areas with active or recently active cases of coronavirus, it is likely that no additional public health measures would be needed although the situation would continue to be monitored. But if viral fragments are detected in areas with no recent positive cases, wastewater testing would be increased to monitor trends and targeted testing might be implemented to help clarify the source. Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk News.com.au DHHS.vic.gov.au Two powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of New Zealand within hours of each other today, triggering two early-morning tsunami warnings. A 7.3-magnitude quake was recorded at 2.27am east of the North Island, before another 7.4-magnitude tremor was recorded near the Kermadec Islands four hours later. Residents living along a 100-mile stretch of coast were told to flee inland or seek high ground after the first quake, with local disaster officials predicting waves of more than 3ft and a continuous threat of 'unpredictable surges.' The second earthquake struck further away from the mainland and high waters were only predicted for residents living within a 40-mile range along the coast north of Auckland. The first quake was also much more dramatic for residents on the North Island, who described a 'very long, swaying shake' and houses making 'cracking sounds' in a tremor which some thought had lasted for as long as a minute, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. This diagram shows where the earthquake struck off the coast of New Zealand on Thursday New Zealand's emergency management agency told people living in a 100-mile stretch of coast to move inland or to high ground as soon as possible A tsunami forecast map by the National Emergency Management Agency following Friday morning's first earthquake A more localised tsunami forecast was issued after the second earthquake which was recorded at 6.41am 'Hope everyone is ok out there - especially on the east coast who would have felt the full force of that earthquake,' prime minister Jacinda Ardern posted on Instagram. More than 60,000 people reported feeling the quake on seismic monitor GeoNet, with a few hundred describing the shaking as 'severe' and 75 calling it 'extreme'. There was no tsunami threat to Wellington and other regions, but civil defence authorities told people to stay away from beaches across New Zealand. The 2.30am quake, which came less than an hour after a 3.7-magnitude rumble in the same area, was measured at 110 miles from the city of Gisborne. Aftershocks were still being recorded in the area. Tsunami waves were possible within 180 miles of the earthquake's epicentre, the US-operated Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said. The Hawaii-based warning centre said in a 3am update that 'tsunami waves had been observed' following the earthquake. New Zealand's disaster agency said shortly afterwards that flooding is expected in a 100-mile coastal stretch from Cape Runaway to Tolaga Bay. New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern said on Instagram that she 'hopes everyone is ok out there' after the early-morning earthquake The map shared by Ardern showing how many people had reported the quake in New Zealand, with more reports in darker-brown areas 'Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled,' the emergency management agency said. People in the affected stretch of coast should 'MOVE IMMEDIATELY to the nearest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible,' it said. 'Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges near the shore are expected... this means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities.' The evacuation advice overrides pandemic-related restrictions, it added, which were recently tightened again after a single new case of Covid-19 in the community. New Zealand recently marked the 10-year anniversary of 2011's Christchurch earthquake which killed 185 people and wrecked large parts of the city. This month also marks a decade since the Pacific earthquake that triggered the Japanese tsunami and resulting Fukushima nuclear disaster. If you're a Recology customer in San Francisco, you may soon see a sizable reimbursement check. The waste-collecting company agreed Thursday to pay back $94.5 million in overcharged fees and interest, City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced. In addition, Recology must also lower residential and commercial rates beginning April 1, which will save customers $6.1 million from April through June. The settlement comes on the heels of a probe by Herrera's office that alleges Recology inflated its fees for years. The city attorney said most households will get about $190 back. The issues date back to the tenure of disgraced former Public Works head Mohammed Nuru, who was arrested in January 2020 on a slew of corruption and bribery charges, ensnaring multiple city agencies and partners. Federal prosecutors have alleged Nuru took bribes from Recology in exchange for allowing them to keep their rates overinflated. Four months ago, ex-Recology executive Paul Giusti was also arrested for his alleged role in the scandal; prosecutors say Giusti paid more than $1 million in bribes to Nuru, whose city role included the right to approve garbage collection fee rates. With this legal action, we are making San Francisco ratepayers whole and sending a clear message that cozying up to regulators wont be tolerated, Herrera said in a statement. Mohammed Nuru may have had his challenges keeping the streets clean, but he clearly excelled at cronyism, slush funds, and indifferent oversight. While ratepayers were taking a hit to their wallets, Mr. Nuru was soliciting money for lavish parties from the company he was supposed to be regulating. Its outrageous." In October, a Mission Local investigation found that San Francisco customers' garbage fee rates spiked at the same time Recology began donating to a nonprofit controlled by Nuru. Recology has changed names over the decades, but since the 1930s the company has had a monopoly on San Francisco waste collection. "The ramifications of our work with the City Attorney on this investigation are not abstract there are real financial consequences for San Franciscans, City Controller Ben Rosenfield said in a statement. Its only right that our residents are repaid for the unjustified rates they were charged." For more information on the settlement, see the press release from the city attorney's office here. People visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 3, 2021. A giant panda-themed museum offering visitors an interactive experience opened to the public on Wednesday in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Surrounded by huge walls of touch-sensitive screens and meticulously-designed settings, the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum provides an immersive experience while demonstrating various interesting facts about the precious species as well as its history, habits and China's panda preservation efforts. The museum spanning an area of 7,179 square meters with seven exhibit sections, has been built by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) 4 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Paris, TX (75460) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Gorakhpur : , March 4 (IANS) Two police personnel have been suspended for not registering the FIR of a minor rape victim in Gorakhpur. Senior police officers swung into action after a video of the girl, relating to the incident went viral on the social media. According to reports, the incident took place on Tuesday night when the victim, who works as a dancer in an orchestra group, was returning home after a programme. She was accosted by a group of boys on a motorbike who gagged her and dragged her into a house where they raped her by turns. After the accused left the house, the girl came out and started screaming. The local residents collected on the spot and someone recorded a video as she related the sequence of incidents. The local people took her to the police station but when the police refused to lodge her FIR, one of them uploaded the video on the social media. After this, the SSP got the FIR registered against the accused under sections 346, 76 of IPC and POCSO Act. The chowki in charge and a constable have been suspended. The girl has been sent for medical examination. The police spokesman said that further investigations were underway and the accused would be arrested at the earliest. Featured stories Jim Jordans campaign faces questions over accounting discrepancies that exceed $100K (Read more) U.S. Marshals in Ohio scrambling to find room for nearly 800 inmates after Biden administration ends contract with private prison in Youngstown (Read more) Autopsy reveals CMHA officer fatally shot 19-year-old Arthur Keith in the back (Read more) Coronavirus in Ohio Ohio reports 2,022 new coronavirus cases: Wednesday update (Read more) Dementia patients, especially if Black, at higher risk for COVID-19, says CWRU study (Read more) How much coronavirus is left in your ZIP code? See details for every Ohio ZIP (Read more) Cleveland / Cuyahoga County 8 Ugly Public Square barriers mark 4th anniversary Cuyahoga County Executive Budish describes as radical County Councils effort to make sheriff independent of the executive (Read more) Cleveland Clinic recognized as worlds second-best hospital in Newsweek rankings (Read more) CMHA partners with Charter Communications to provide Spectrum Internet to residents in 19 properties (Read more) Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley among speakers at Clevelands International Womens Day rally and march (Read more) Ugly concrete barriers mark 4th anniversary in Public Square as planners continue to seek a fix (Read more) Cleveland State to hold in-person commencement at Progressive Field (Read more) Cleveland tallies 40 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus, two new deaths: Wednesday update (Read more) Michael Stanley off the air because of serious health issues (Read more) Local news East East Cleveland Councilwoman Juanita Gowdy wants the suburbs police department to change its pursuit policy as the city has had 66 police pursuits in the first 62 days of 2021. East Cleveland logged 66 police pursuits in the first 62 days of 2021 leaving at least one councilwoman eager for change (Read more) Crisis or opportunity? Ursuline College aims to help women in workplace during coronavirus pandemic (Read more) Local news West 3-year-old girl with autism drowns in Olmsted Township pond, police say (Read more) Parma City School superintendent touches on district achievements during virtual state of the schools address (Read more) Normandy High School marching band going forward with spring Florida trip (Read more) North Olmsted Senior Center schedules Easter pastry and St. Patricks Day lunch to-go fundraisers (Read more) Akron area Smithers cancels plan for new headquarters, R&D facility in downtown Akron (Read more) State Ohio Senate votes to repeal nuclear subsidies in House Bill 6 (Read more) Ohio House panel passes bill that will require school standardized testing, but without sanctions and penalties (Read more) Ohio House panel gives green light to revised state transportation budget bill (Read more) Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno has backing from Trump adviser in expected U.S. Senate bid (Read more) The suspect is being questioned at Musgrave Police Station (stock photo) A 35-year-old woman has been arrested in north Belfast on Thursday morning as part of a police crackdown on the dissident republican group, the New IRA. Detectives from the PSNIs Terrorism Investigation Unit carried out the arrest as part of Operation Arbacia. Eight men and two women have already been arrested and charged last August as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA. Police said the woman has been arrested under the Terrorism Act and conveyed to Musgrave Police Station where she will be questioned by detectives. Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray, Head of Serious Crime Branch, has appealed to the public for information to help keep people safe. He said: Despite significant progress against the New IRA, we cannot be complacent in any way about investigating their activities. Those investigations are most effective when police and communities work together. The New IRA continue to pose a danger, especially to the communities in the areas they live and conduct their activities. Not least is their willingness to put local people at risk in their reckless haste to carry out bombings and shootings. In fact they often store their guns and bombs in public areas where members of the community including children are put at risk. I would appeal that anyone with information about their activities, including the locations of these dangerous weapons, tell the police, either directly on 101, through a trusted third party or via Crimestoppers. "Kate's deep innovative technology experience and leadership roles scaling multi-billion dollar enterprise businesses is a valuable addition to our Board of Directors," said Amjad Hussain, Chairman, founder and CEO of Algo. "We've added extensive experience to our board with three new members in the past year, and we're excited by the collective expertise the board will bring to Algo as we transform businesses with our suite of supply chain analytics, collaborative planning and execution solutions and position the company for exponential growth and profitability." In her current role as SVP Strategy, Operations & Innovation with PVH Corp., Kate oversees global innovation alignment and is responsible for Digital Innovation, Digital & Omnichannel Operations, Consumer & Commercial Insights and Studio Operations as well as Strategy for the Company's Heritage Brands Business in North America. Prior to joining PVH, Kate was at Lacoste & VF Corp (Nautica) in wholesale, and began her career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs. Kate is a Board Member of the Non-Profit for the Bronx Academy of Letters, providing supplemental support to the arts, college prep and academic expansion within the school. She is a graduate of the Dyson School of Business at Cornell University, where she serves on the advisory board both at the school and university level. She was also recently appointed to the board of the Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies Department at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. In 2020, Kate graduated from the Trium Global Executive MBA program with a degree jointly issued by New York University's Stern School of Business, The London School of Economics and HEC Paris. "Algo's leadership position in the market and innovative approach to solving enterprise sales, operational planning and execution challenges makes it an exciting time to join the company," said Kate Nadolny. "I look forward to bringing my experience as an operations, digital transformation, and innovation leader to Algo's board of directors." About Algo Algo uses technology to humanize how companies transform information into opportunity, breathing new life into our understanding of supply and demand, and giving retailers, distributors and manufacturers a chance to achieve more for their organizations. Their software and deep domain expertise helps business users streamline sales & operations planning to avoid stock outs, reduce write downs and returns, and optimize omni-channel inventory spend. Algo enables smart supply chains using advanced analytics insights, simulations and a unique collaborative user experience. To learn how they're changing the game, visit www.algo.com. SOURCE Algo Commercial sex workers in Busia County have called on the Ministry of Health to include them on the priority list for the first phase of Kenyas vaccination drive. Speaking in Nambale Town Wednesday, the sex workers argued that they come into physical contact with tens of customers daily, hence are at high risk of contracting and spreading the virus. After the government is done vaccinating doctors and teachers, it should embark on vaccinating us, they said through their chairperson Caroline Kemunto. She added: We are a high-risk group for COVID-19 because we interact with people from all health backgrounds. Kemunto spoke while commemorating International Sex Workers Rights Day. The government should not look down upon us, we are also contributing to the economy in one way or another, said Kemunto. 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. ROME, MAR 4 - 5-Star Movement (M5S) founder Beppe Grillo said Thursday that the group was looking long-term with a project to relaunch itself with ex-premier Giuseppe Conte. "A month ago Giuseppe Conte said I'm here for the 5-Star Movement and I will be in the future," comedian-cum-politician Grillo said. "It is a commitment that he made publicly and which he intends to honour. "He has been asked to write a project for the future of the Movement. "We are not talking of the near future, but of the only horizon that a modern political party must consider - 2050". Although considered close to the M5S, law professor Conte did not actually belong to the M5S when he was premier. (ANSA). Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-04 00:36:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABUJA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were shot dead by unknown gunmen who attacked two checkpoints in Nigeria's southern state of Cross River on Wednesday, said police authorities. Another police officer was injured during the attacks in the Obubra local government area of the state, said Irene Ugbo, a spokesperson for the police. The gunmen suddenly opened fire upon reaching the checkpoints, said Ugbo who declined to give more details of the attacks. An investigation has been launched into the attacks by the police, said the spokesperson. Enditem RICHFIELD, Ohio, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MobilityWorks, the nation's largest retailer of wheelchair-accessible vans, is adding a new location with the acquisition of Jay Hatfield Mobility's Lee's Summit Location. The acquisition will be the first retail location for MobilityWorks in the state of Missouri. Following the acquisition, MobilityWorks will now operate 94 total locations in 32 states. "Adding the Lee's Summit location to our organization offers an exciting opportunity to strengthen and expand our service offering in the state of Kansas," said Eric Mansfield, Chief Operating Officer/President of MobilityWorks. "We look forward to the addition of the talented team members and the opportunity to serve the wheelchair community in the Kansas City area." In addition to selling new and pre-owned modified vans for wheelchair accessibility, MobilityWorks also provides rental vans and adaptive equipment such as hand controls, turning seats and scooter lifts. MobilityWorks also manufactures and sells a variety of commercial vehicles to business clients throughout the United States. About MobilityWorks MobilityWorks (aka WMK, LLC) is a Cleveland, Ohio-based Inc. 500 company that employs specially trained Certified Mobility Consultants to work closely with its clients to understand their specific transportation needs in finding the right vehicle solution. Founded in 1997 with one location, MobilityWorks has been recognized on the Inc. 500|5000 list of Inc. Magazine's fastest-growing privately held companies for the past 15 years. MobilityWorks Commercial is the largest provider of commercial wheelchair vans in the country. Driverge is the manufacturing division of WMK, LLC and is Ford Motor Company's largest mobility upfitter. Learn more about MobilityWorks at www.mobilityworks.com. Contact: Alex Bangle [email protected] (234) 312-2000 Related Links MobilityWorks Website SOURCE MobilityWorks User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Skopje, Macedonia (253 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt I didn't felt anything it's weird how some people in my city felt it but I live in house not in some building and high flat | 6 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / not felt Struga. North Macedonia / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single lateral shake : Feel in Struga North Macedonia and he is strong | 8 users found this interesting. 169.4 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Staiing in the Campingcar, it was swinging first less then more then less. The Shakals in the Area reakting direct, our Dogs not, same yesterday. | 5 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app Interesting, thanks! #animals / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Tirana Albania / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s : I felt it vibrate my sofa back and forth The water in the water cooler sloshed around pretty good Took a while to settle down | 4 users found this interesting. Skopje, Macedonia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : It was shaking longer and horizontal. I was lying in bed and hardly felt it, it was really weak shakr | 4 users found this interesting. Corfu - Aghios Markos (194.8 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : I have a vertical book stand. It was moving backwards and forwards for about 2-3 minutes as were curtains.. | 3 users found this interesting. Sarande, Albania / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 10-15 s : Sitting on couch. Was a rolling feeling?? | 5 users found this interesting. Saranda, Albania / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s : Shorter and stronger than the March 3 quake | 5 users found this interesting. Agia Paraskevi Athens / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s : Was working on the computer, felt the chair and the table moving back and forth | 5 users found this interesting. 115.9 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I was in my car and the whole car shook for atleast 1 min 90 sec | 4 users found this interesting. Manchester UK / not felt / rattling, vibrating : Glass vibrating in kitchen cupboard for around a minute? Noticed the noise and wondered what it was as have never experienced before | 3 users found this interesting. Thessaloniki Greece / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : I live in an apartment on the sixth floor (last one). The shaking was light possibly due to the height. The phenomenon lasted long. (20-30 seconds) | 3 users found this interesting. 187.4 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s : In the 5th story of our apartment in Ohrid. Lanterns and fruit baskets were shaking and lost footing. | 2 users found this interesting. Macedonia, Skopje / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Weak but long enough felt in Skopje, Macedonia | 4 users found this interesting. Skopje / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : I felt dizzy, could not stand up. | 4 users found this interesting. 259.5 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s Chandeliers swinging left and right. Scaring!!! | 3 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s 340.9 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Very week shaking from side to side (felt on the 18 floor) | 3 users found this interesting. Sarajevo / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s : Felt in Sarajevo on 7th floor of the building. | 3 users found this interesting. Vlore / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 15-20 s : Felt stronger than the one from yesterday. | 3 users found this interesting. Leptokarya / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 15-20 s : omg you could hear window glass and feel the house movement | 3 users found this interesting. Elbasan, Albania / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : The Greece earthquake we notice here in Elbadan Albania | 3 users found this interesting. Tirana, Albania / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : Swaying from side to side 5th floor | 3 users found this interesting. 106 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : A light to moderate shaking. Felt it on my sofa. Horizontal shaking. 115 km NE from epicenter. | 2 users found this interesting. Peraia (107.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Felt it indoors in Peraia, close to the seaside. | 2 users found this interesting. Sarajevo, Bosnia (531.8 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : 16th floor, weak shaking in Sarajevo Bosnia | 2 users found this interesting. Nafpaktos (155 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s !! | 2 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s macedonia, bitola / Weak shaking (MMI III) : , . 200 . . 6 7 . . | One user found this interesting. Korce,Albania earthquake 4 / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Termet ne oren 7:38 lekundi fort pallatin ne menyre horizontale duke kercitur gjithe objektet dhe lekundje majtas-djathtas per 10-12sekonda. | One user found this interesting. Thessaloniki / Weak shaking (MMI III) : It was felt aa the sofa I was sitting on shook a little (5th floor of a building) - made me jump up; It waa definitely felt stronger than the one yesterday midday | One user found this interesting. Larissa (31.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 20-30 s : I was under my balcony picking up a bottle of water when the ground began shaking, so I rushed to the road trying to figure out which building is less likely to collapse. The whole thing lasted about 30" and came the next day after an even larger earthquake of 6.3 which made it quite an unusual event as everyone expected only some good vibrations near 5 but not another 6 Richter earthquake. 69.4 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : Das Bett hat gewackelt als ob jemand daran ruttelt. Energien fliessen wellenartig. Lampen schaukeln. Alle Hunde bellen, spuren Gefahr. Skopje n. M / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : It was not little shaking the building 12 floor Skopje n. Macedonia | 2 users found this interesting. Florina prespa / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 2-5 s : I thinked about jumping out of my balkon | 2 users found this interesting. Palaio Faliro, Athens / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s : It was a small one | 2 users found this interesting. Prilep / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Morbid | 2 users found this interesting. 1127.4 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt no felt | 2 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / not felt 258 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Ehhh | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Larissa city / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating : We were watching tv then suddenly we felt a quake ,chandelier was shaking fast but no object fall down. Its quite strong quake that makes usbrun outside and the other neighbor as well. Larissa / Severe shaking (MMI VIII) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s : I was outside. I heard a strong noise and the road was shaking mainly horizontally. The sense was very intense Kato Korakiana Corfu / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : I was sitting and was aware of movement so looked up at the ceiling light which was swinging | One user found this interesting. Tirana, Albania / Light shaking (MMI IV) : It was long shaking. | One user found this interesting. Thessaloniki / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : No noise | One user found this interesting. 31.5 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 10-15 s Larissa (31.3 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s Megalo seirini grevena (69.9 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 20-30 s 37.4 km SW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Very affraid (reported through (reported through our app / Strong shaking (MMI VI) 33.4 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Violent shaking (MMI IX) / 10-15 s Aspro Kavos (175.1 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging (102.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 5-10 s Kozani (63.2 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s Thessaloniki (128.1 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) 107.2 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s 1352.5 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 1256.5 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 659.1 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) Karditsa (47.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s 82.6 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single vertical bump / 5-10 s zaandam, netherlands (1929.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short sitting at dinnertable. felt it very light (reported through (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short 1930.4 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 186.6 km S of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 1451.6 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Ioannina (108 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s 1425.2 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 121.6 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging 1042 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 32.3 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Skopje (253.3 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s 1733 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 1440.7 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 1576.3 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt 127 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) 1240.6 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 98.9 km SSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 31.8 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 5-10 s 1688.5 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 120.2 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) 48.1 km SSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) 1511.6 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 1252.4 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 50.6 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 1591.9 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 256.7 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s 64.7 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s 47.3 km SSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : 147.2 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s 116.2 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 604.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Kato korakiana corfu (194.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating 1688.5 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 86.4 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Nea erythrea (238.5 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) Goumenissa (133.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s Svoronos (63.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) 1023.1 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt 73.2 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s 117.8 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 1850.6 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Nea Ionia , Volos (41.5 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) Ohrid (186.4 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Greece (40.7 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Violent shaking (MMI IX) Bitola (153.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) 1130.1 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Gragnano (652.7 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Serres (189.6 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Thessaloniki , Greece (117.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Lefkada, Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece (159.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) 63.7 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Yikes 1363.4 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Ioa (107.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 16.8 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Severe shaking (MMI VIII) Magoulades Corfu (176.8 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) Skopje (256.4 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) 575.4 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 1923.6 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 18.7 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / 5-10 s thessaloniki (119.1 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s Panorama (118.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 15-20 s 255.5 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) 39.9 km SW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s 246 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) 1917.1 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 116.7 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Prilep, North Macedonia (180.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Sofia (337.3 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) athens (251.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s Halikounas Corfu (287.2 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 189.8 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 107.6 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Tirana (259.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging 218.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Struga (197.1 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s Werkendam (1881.4 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Servia (48.1 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 15-20 s Megalochori (189.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s 242.1 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) 136.4 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s Street Idriz Guri, City Tirana, Albania (260.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Vlore (233.2 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Castrop-Rauxel, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Deutschland (1740.7 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Patra (170.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) 106 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s 151 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Patras (169.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s 196.4 km S of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) Agios Georgios south corfu (187.5 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s 185.1 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) Bitola (154.4 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Corfu (187.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Severe shaking (MMI VIII) / 2-5 s Bihac (758.3 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s 281.7 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) skopje (251.6 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / very short 239.5 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) 432.3 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 1184.2 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 172.8 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) Skopje (254.3 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 340.3 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s 256.2 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) Sofia (340.7 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging 1221.8 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Thessaloniki (77.7 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s 2094.7 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt Prilep Macedonia (230.5 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s 218.3 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 63.3 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging 1364.1 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s Veles (218.2 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 117.1 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 245.5 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s 189.9 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) 58.1 km SSE of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s 1363.7 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating 190.9 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s 220.7 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Skopje (254.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) 145.8 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) 1396.8 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt 51.1 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) 255.5 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) Terpsithea / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / Weak shaking (MMI III) melissochori / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s Sparmos, Elasson, Greece / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s Kozani / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Patras / Light shaking (MMI IV) Trikala / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 5-10 s Elbasan Albania / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s volos / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s : Woken up by the earthquake,i'm a light sleeper.Saw some objects swinging only. Litochoro / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s Krinitsa Trikala / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 10-15 s Larissa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Trikala / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Items fell off shelves and my cat and dog both freaked out. Larissa / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s Ballsh / Light shaking (MMI IV) Volos / Moderate shaking (MMI V) athens / not felt Karditsa / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Anatoli 40003 / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s THESSALONIKI / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Larissa / Strong shaking (MMI VI) pristina / Light shaking (MMI IV) Lefkimmi corfu / Moderate shaking (MMI V) veria / Weak shaking (MMI III) Thessaloniki, city center / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s Thessaloniki / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Thessaloniki / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / 10-15 s vatero kozanis / Light shaking (MMI IV) Larisa / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s peshkopi / Weak shaking (MMI III) / very short Struga / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Alexandria, Imathia Region, Greece / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Serres / Light shaking (MMI IV) Larisa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Bitola / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Saranda / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Elbasan Albania / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Volos / Weak shaking (MMI III) kastoria, west macedonia, Greece / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Thessaloniki Greece / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s LARISSA GREECE / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s KOZANI / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Prilep / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s Prilep North Macedonia / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s Larissa / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Korca , albania / Light shaking (MMI IV) Bitola / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Volos, Greece / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating Bitola / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Arta / Light shaking (MMI IV) Farsala / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Elbasan / Weak shaking (MMI III) Messolonghi / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Corfu Greece / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Macedonia / Light shaking (MMI IV) Skioje / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Skopje / Weak shaking (MMI III) Napoli / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Bitola, Macedonia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Prilep / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Athens, Southern suburbs / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s athens / not felt Bitola / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Skopje / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s Volos / Light shaking (MMI IV) Veria / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Ohrid, Macedonia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s Litochoro / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s Lamia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s SYKOURIO / Strong shaking (MMI VI) argalasti / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s Patras / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / Moderate shaking (MMI V) sarajevo, bosnia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s Kalambaka / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Skopje DC / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Prilep / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s Thessaloniki / Light shaking (MMI IV) North macedonia ohrid / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Vlore Albania / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s Skopje / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Skopje / Very weak shaking (MMI II) Tirana / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Kosovo / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging THESSALONIKI / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) Skopje / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Tirana / Light shaking (MMI IV) Katerini Greece / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s Larissa / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Elbasan Albania / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Sarande Albania / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s bitola / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s / Light shaking (MMI IV) Thessaloniki / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 5-10 s Sofia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Struga, Macedonia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Chalastra / Light shaking (MMI IV) Sofia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short Skopje / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s Skopje / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Struga, Macedonia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Tirana / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging Ohrid / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 5-10 s Tirane, Albania / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Bilisht, Albania / Light shaking (MMI IV) Skopje / Weak shaking (MMI III) Volos / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / 15-20 s Skopje / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s Agia -Larisas / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. More than three quarters (78%) of hospitals surveyed between June and August 2020 reported that their paediatric cancer care had been affected by the pandemic More than three quarters (78%) of hospitals surveyed between June and August 2020 reported that their paediatric cancer care had been affected by the pandemic. Almost half (43%) made fewer new cancer diagnoses than expected, while around one third (34%) noted a rise in the number of patients abandoning treatment. Nearly one in ten (7%) closed their paediatric cancer units completely at some stage during the pandemic. Hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were disproportionately affected, with unavailability of chemotherapy, treatment abandonment, and disrupted radiotherapy among issues more frequently reported. The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on childhood cancer care worldwide, according to a survey of more than 300 clinicians from 200 hospitals worldwide published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. The first global assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on paediatric cancer care reveals that paediatric cancer care was affected at more than three quarters of surveyed hospitals (78%). Almost half (43%) reported diagnosing fewer new cases than expected, while around one third (34%) reported a rise in the number of patients who abandoned treatment. The survey also found that nearly one in ten (7%) closed their paediatric cancer units completely at some stage during the pandemic. Of the 15 units that closed, 13 (87%) were in LMICs, and mean closure time was 10 days. COVID-19 has placed huge pressures on hospitals and healthcare systems around the world. Previous studies have reported delays in the presentation and care of paediatric cancer patients during the pandemic at the national or regional level. The survey published today adds the views of health care workers from around the world on the care their hospitals are able to deliver. Daniel Moreira, M.D., of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA, said: "Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has had a greater impact on childhood cancer care globally than single-region studies had suggested, with centres in LMICs particularly hard hit. Hospitals in LMICs were under strain even before the pandemic, with fewer resources and less access to care for children with cancer, so our results seem to reflect the relative strength of different healthcare systems around the world." [1] Wide-ranging impacts were identified worldwide, including reductions in available clinical staff, paediatric cancer beds and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, the results suggest the effects in LMICs were more pronounced, with changes to chemotherapy due to treatment agent shortages, treatment abandonment, and disruptions to radiotherapy among issues frequently reported. The authors of the new study assessed the global impacts of COVID-19 on childhood cancer care by designing a cross-sectional survey that was distributed to hundreds of healthcare workers worldwide through international and regional networks. The survey covered the period from June 22nd to August 21st, 2020, and included a range of questions to assess hospital characteristics, the number of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and disruptions and adaptations to cancer care. The survey was completed by 311 healthcare workers at 213 institutions in 79 countries. Countries were grouped as low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, and high-income. Responses were analysed at the institutional level. Most hospitals (83%) were in LMICs and the vast majority (88%) were able to test for COVID-19. The authors found that effects of the pandemic on paediatric cancer care were largely independent of the number of COVID-19 cases in individual hospitals or at national levels. The findings suggest that paediatric cancer care globally has been affected by COVID-19, with more than three quarters of hospitals (78%) reporting some impact on their capacity to provide care. Considerable disruption to cancer diagnosis was reported, with almost half of hospitals (43%) diagnosing fewer new cases than expected. Effects on hospitals' ability to provide cancer treatment were also noted, with one in three (34%) reporting a rise in the numbers of patients whose therapy did not begin or was delayed by four weeks or longer - known as treatment abandonment. Several impacts on the management of paediatric cancer were reported, including a reduction in surgery at most hospitals (79%). More than half noted shortages in blood products, while a similar proportion modified chemotherapy because of treatment agent shortages (60% and 57%, respectively). Disruption to radiotherapy was also considerable, with almost one third (28%) reporting treatment disruption. Hospital resources were significantly affected, with one third (32%) noting decreased financial support, while two thirds (66%) reported a reduction in available clinical staff. Around one in five hospitals (19%) noted a reduction in availability of paediatric cancer beds. Nearly one in ten hospitals (7%) had to close their paediatric cancer unit completely at some point, with an average period of closure of 10 days. The vast majority of these (87%) were in LMICs, and while some impacts on paediatric cancer care did not vary based on country income level, LMICs were disproportionately affected in a number of areas. This included changes to chemotherapy due to treatment agent shortages (40%, 45%, and 40% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income countries, respectively, compared with 11% for high-income), higher rates of treatment abandonment (38%, 52%, and 33% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 8% for high-income), and more frequent disruptions to radiotherapy (78%, 68%, and 46% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 10% for high-income). Hospitals in LMICs also reported decreased access to life-saving interventions more frequently (8%, 33%, and 16% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 3% for high-income), and unexpected deaths (31%, 36%, and 13% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 8% for high-income). Hospitals in LMICs were also more likely to report decreases in their usual government funding for cancer care (15%, 52%, and 31% for low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, respectively, compared with 8% for high-income). Dylan Graetz, M.D., of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA, said: "The long-term impacts on childhood cancer outcomes are not yet clear. Our findings highlight the need for ongoing assessment of resource needs during the pandemic and the sharing of successful strategies to tackle the negative effects on paediatric cancer care." [1] Most hospitals put in place new policies and guidelines to support paediatric cancer care during the pandemic, with more than two thirds (69%) using new or adapted patient and staff safety checklists, while new processes for communication with patients and families (63%) and new guidance on essential services (56%) were also common. The authors found that many of these were well received by hospital staff and may be beneficial beyond the pandemic. Professor Laila Hessissen, of Mohammed V University, Morocco, said: "Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional barriers to childhood cancer care, we have proven we are a resilient community and can translate some of the adaptations forced by the pandemic to the future of cancer care." [1] The authors note a number of limitations. The survey results reflect only the knowledge and opinions of respondents at one stage during a fast-changing pandemic. As the survey was in English and distributed within two paediatric oncology networks, the results may not be generalizable to small, low-resource settings where staff do not speak English and are not part of these networks. The survey covered a range of topics and took around 60 minutes to complete, which may have caused survey fatigue leading to relatively high number of incomplete responses. Nonetheless, the authors believe this study captured a comprehensive description of the global effect of this pandemic on paediatric oncology care. This report is part of the COVIMPACT study, which aims to capture the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care. Furthermore, this work is linked to The Global COVID-19 Observatory and Resource Center for Childhood Cancer (covid19childhoodcancer.org), a collaboration of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP). Writing in a linked Comment, Dr Soad Fuentes-Alabi, of Ayudame a Vivir Foundation Medical Center, and National Children's Hospital Benjamin Bloom, El Salvador, says studies such as this emphasise the challenges of delivering childhood cancer care in LMICs during public health emergencies: "In low-income and middle-income countries, including in Latin America, the common issues of late diagnosis and treatment abandonment or interruptions have worsened during the pandemic." ### Peer-reviewed / Survey / People NOTES TO EDITORS This study was funded by American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the St. Jude fundraising and awareness organization. It was conducted by researchers from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, and Seattle Children's Hospital, USA, Fundacion Perez Scremini-Hospital Pereira Rossell, Uruguay, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Spain, Mohammed V University, Morocco, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, India, and University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK. [1] Quote direct from author and cannot be found in the text of the Article. A rocket attack on the sprawling Ain al-Asad air base in Iraqs western province of Anbar early Wednesday has heightened the threat of a further escalation of US military aggression in the country and the wider region. Iranian rockets targeting the the Ain al-Assad air base in January 2020. (Credit: https://en.irna.ir) The 10 rockets that fell on the base, which houses US and other NATO troops, claimed no casualties, but one US civilian contractor died of a heart attack while sheltering during the assault. Iraqi security officials said little damage was inflicted on the base, while witnesses told local media they had seen flames and a long plume of black smoke. Raising the prospect of another round of US military action, President Joe Biden told reporters, We are following that through right now... were identifying whos responsible and well make judgments. The rocket attack follows last weeks US air strikes against facilities near the Iraqi border used by Iranian-backed Iraqi Shia militias in Syria. Those strikes, the first military action ordered by the new Democratic president, were initially reported to have killed 17 people, while later reports said that just one person died. While there was widespread speculation that the rockets fired on Ain al-Asad were in retaliation for the US strike in Syria, as of Wednesday evening no group had claimed responsibility. The area surrounding the base is overwhelmingly Sunni and not under the control of the predominantly Shia Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an official arm of Iraqs military, which the US military attacked last week in Syria. The US claimed that last weeks air strikes were in retaliation for a February 15 rocket attack on a US base in Iraqi Kurdistans capital Erbil, which killed a single military contractor from the Philippines. That attack, however, was claimed by a little known group, while it was disavowed and condemned by the PMF. There are no doubt many forces with motives for attacking the US military in Iraq, where the American intervention that began in 2003 led to an estimated one million deaths. Anger against the continuing US occupationofficially numbered at 2,500 troopssoared in January of last year after President Donald Trump ordered the drone missile assassination of Gen. Qassem Suleimani, considered the second most powerful figure in Iran, after he arrived on an official state visit at Baghdads international airport. Also killed in the drone strike was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the de facto leader of the PMF militias, along with several aides to both men. Following this drone massacre there were massive protests, and the Iraqi parliament voted for a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of all US and other foreign forces from Iraq. The possibility cannot be discounted that remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS) are staging missile attacks against US bases, including with the potential motive of provoking US retaliatory attacks. In any case, the Biden administration is pursuing its own ends in resuming US military violence in the region. Last weeks US air raid represented the first American attack inside Syria since December 2019, on the eve of the January 3 Suleimani assassination. Following that assassination, Iran staged a limited retaliation, firing missiles into the same Ain al-Asad air base that was hit by rockets on Wednesday. While no US troops were killed in the 2020 missile strike, it was later reported that more than 100 soldiers suffered concussive brain injuries. The Trump administration decided not to take any military action in response to the Iranian attack. The unilateral US air strikes last week in Syria, carried out in violation of international law and with no congressional authorization, represented a dangerous escalation of US militarism, with the potential of triggering a catastrophic new war in the Middle East and beyond. The US action was aimed in large measure against Iran. The Biden administration claims it is seeking to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal struck between Iran and the major powers, which was unilaterally abrogated by Trump. Yet it has taken a hard line against Tehran, insisting that it will not rejoin the agreement until Iran reverses the increases in uranium enrichment it carried out in protest over both Washingtons ripping up of the accord and the European powers refusal to challenge the draconian sanctions imposed under the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign. This sanctions regime, which has killed many thousands of Iranians, including from the coronavirus pandemic, remains in place under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, Washington has indicated it will demand a re-negotiation of the JCPOA to include tight restrictions on Irans conventional ballistic missile program as well as a rollback of Iranian influence throughout the Middle East, thereby firmly subordinating the country to the drive for US hegemony in the region. More broadly, the attack on Syria signaled the Biden administrations pursuit of more aggressive US imperialist policy globally, escalating the interventions and provocations carried out under Trump from the Persian Gulf to Eastern Europe, the South China Sea and beyond. On Monday, the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) delivered a report to Congress calling for additional spending of roughly $27 billion between 2022 and 2027 in preparation for a great power confrontation with China. The report calls for new missiles and air defenses, radar systems, staging areas, intelligence-sharing centers, supply depots and testing ranges throughout the region, DefenseNews reported. An unclassified executive summary obtained by the military website quoted Adm. Philip Davidson, the commander of INDOPACOM, telling Congress that the proposal provides several flexible deterrent options including full [operational plan] execution if deterrence should fail. By full execution, the admiral is undoubtedly referring to nuclear war. Founder of Harlem Tech Summit, Eddie Cullen, announces impact initiative, endorsed by Ano Okera, that aims to provide 1 million meals to people across New York City NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 4, 2021 / Eddie Cullen for New York City Mayor, announced today the launch of his new impact initiative, 0404 Harlem. The goal of the initiative is to raise enough money to provide 1 million meals to people across New York City in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy on the anniversary of his assassination day on April 4th. 0404 Harlem will build off the success of the Harlem Tech Summit that took place in August of 2020. With cutting-edge community leadership from Fred Wilson, co-founder of Union Square Ventures, Marian Croak, VP of Engineering at Google, John W. Rodgers Jr., Founder of Ariel Capital, and many others. The summit engaged in conversations revolving around diversity and innovation in specific job fields such as engineering, artificial intelligence, and venture capital. "0404 Harlem has the potential to become a lasting impact initiative for Harlem" says Eddie Cullen, NYC Mayoral Candidate. "By piggybacking off the success of the Harlem Tech Summit, we are hoping to reach our goal to provide 1 million New Yorkers with meals in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.." "What's great about the Harlem community is how community members, leaders and merchants all show up in times of crisis to take care of the community." says filmmaker Ano Okera of New Kingston Media. "As a Harlem-based media creator on the ground documenting these things, it makes me proud to stand with Harlem and explore how 0404 Harlem can create lasting change for displaced members of the community." About Eddie Cullen Eddie Cullen is a professor of innovation, technology entrepreneur and democratic candidate for New York City Mayor. With more than 20 years' experience of innovation & enterprise-level research and development experience working with: fortune 500 companies, non-profits, start-ups, institutions and infrastructure organizations. From President Biden's campaign to now running for New York City office, Eddie's experience with public-private partnerships, local, regional and national policy, and campaign management equips him with the hands-on experience and forward-thinking vision needed to campaign for office of Mayor of New York City. Eddie is currently a visiting scholar at Purdue University, Founder of Impact USA Group, a proud Christian and Democratic Candidate for Mayor of New York City and delivers practical policies that inspire social change. Eddie Cullen for New York Mayor: www.eddiecullen.com | LinkedIn | Facebook | Donate CONTACTS Strategic Partnerships Contact: Matt Bird CEO CommPro Worldwide C: +1 (646) 401-4499 E: matt@commpro.com W: www.commpro.com PR & Media Contact: Nicole Liddy Project Manager CommPro Worldwide C: +1 (848) -702-4173 E: nicole.liddy@commpro.com W: www.commpro.com SOURCE: Eddie Cullen for Mayor of New York View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/633321/Eddie-Cullen-for-Mayor-of-New-York-City-Announces-0404-Harlem-Initiative-to-Celebrate-Martin-Luther-King-Jrs-Historical-Legacy-and-Provide-1-Million-Meals-to-People-Across-the-City Johnny Chiang, the chairman of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT), speaks during an interview in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 2, 2021. (Ann Wang/Reuters) Taiwan Opposition Chief in No Rush for China Meeting TAIPEIThe leader of Taiwans main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) said on Tuesday he is in no rush to travel to China to meet President Xi Jinping, and that Beijings proposals to get Taiwan to accept Communist rule had no market on the island. The KMT ruled China before retreating to Taiwan at the end of a civil war with the Communists in 1949. While ties across the Taiwan Strait have improved dramatically in the last three decades, Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as its own territory. The KMT was trounced in presidential and parliamentary elections last year, unable to shake accusations by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party that they were now Beijings lackey. Johnny Chiang, elected as leader following the partys defeat, told Reuters that he was in no hurry to follow his predecessors footsteps and visit Beijing to meet the Communist Party and its leader Xi. We can wait, for a better timing. Theres no insistence for it. Its not just a meeting for a meetings sake, but it needs to be meaningful, respectful, he said at party headquarters in central Taipei, adding the pandemic also made travel hard now. The timing needs to be right, but more importantly there needs to be the precondition of equality and dignity, and it has to be beneficial for Taiwan. Chiang said they were maintaining routine contacts with the Communist Party, but there had been no high level communication. Xi met then-President Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore in 2015 in a landmark meeting, shortly before current President Tsai Ing-wen first won power. That meeting was cast as a meeting between the heads of the Communist Party and the KMT rather than one between heads of state. But political trust has collapsed since then, with small issues turning into slanging matches between Taipei and Beijing, said Chiang. He faces an uphill struggle to win back voter support at a time when Chinese pressure on Taiwan is unrelenting and many electors view the KMTwhose name literally translates as Chinese Nationalist Partyas not properly Taiwanese. In July, he faces re-election as party leader, though he reiterated he has no interest in running for president and would rather serve as a kingmaker in choosing its candidate for elections in 2024. But being firm with communist China will be an important test of whether the KMT can get back into powerChiang described China as the major threat Taiwan faces. Chiang said that Chinas offer of using one country, two systems to entice Taiwan with a high degree of autonomy, like how Beijing is supposed to run unrest-hit Hong Kong, has no market on the island, where people like their freedoms. We are already used to this kind of lifestyle. If you want Taiwans people to change itimpossible. By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Louisiana Department of Health reported 92,303 more vaccine doses administered in its noon update Thursday. Since the rollout began in mid-December, 1,117,714 total doses have been administered. The department of health releases new vaccine data twice a week. Out of the entire population in Louisiana, an estimate 8.7% of people are fully vaccinated. An estimated 15.36% of the population has received at least one dose of a vaccine. The Louisiana Department of Health reported 530 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 13 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Thursday. The number of hospitalizations decreased by 34, and the number of patients in need of ventilators decreased by four. There are also 60,897 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard. These are another few key statewide statistics as of Thursday: 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 Total confirmed cases: 371,630 Total "probable" cases: 60,897 Total confirmed deaths: 8,986 Currently hospitalized: 554 Currently on ventilators: 74 Vaccine series initiated: 713,827 (updated twice weekly) Vaccine series completed: 404,653 Presumed recovered: 415,954 as of March 1 (updated weekly) Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here. Here are some of the parishes with the highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Thursday report: Lafayette: 66 East Baton Rouge: 57 Jefferson: 50 Calcasieu: 37 Orleans: 36 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. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below The Australian government has formally recognized the loss of 13 endemic species, including 12 mammals and the first reptile to be lost since European colonization. The dozen mammal species' addition solidifies Australia's unenviable status as the world's mammal extinction capital, bringing the cumulative number of mammals believed to have died out to 34. Related Article: Next Extinction Target: World's Freshwater Fishes Inevitable None of the 13 was unexpected. Except for one, all of the mammal extinctions are recent, with the majority occurring between the 1850s and 1950s. However, the record contains two animals that have been extinct in the last decade, both from the Indian Ocean's Christmas Island. According to The Guardian Australia, the last Christmas Island pipistrelle, a bat genus, died in 2009. In 2014, the last living Christmas Island forest skink - the first Australian reptile to go extinct - was discovered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has historically recorded all extinctions (IUCN). Australian Wildlife According to the revised list, more than 10% of the 320 ground mammals believed to have existed in Australia in 1788 are now extinct. Suzanne Milthorpe of the Wilderness Society said that "no other world, rich or poor, has something like this record" in terms of mammal extinction. With a record of nine mammal extinctions, she said Haiti was next on the IUCN list. Prof. John Woinarski, a conservation biologist at Charles Darwin University who contributed to two books documenting the fate of many of the recently listed extinct animals, called the lists "humbling and sobering." Mass Extinction He said it was a reminder that extinction was a "likely occurrence" if not anything was done to preserve it after a species was identified as endangered. "It's necessary to consider the casualties, as it serves as a warning that extinction is the end product if we don't control our endangered species," he said. Mammal Extinction Capital The desert bettong, Nullarbor dwarf bettong, Capricorn rabbit-rat, broad-cheeked jumping rodent, Liverpool Plains striped bandicoot, marl, south-eastern striped bandicoot, Nullarbor barred bandicoot, long-eared mouse, blue-grey mouse, and Percy Island flying fox are the recorded historic mammal extinctions. Woinarski stated that feral cat predation was the most likely cause of their extinction in almost all situations. However, the introduction of foxes, habitat loss, and fire may also have played a part. "Over the last 200 years, no other nation has had anywhere near as many animal species extinctions," he added. He explained that since museums had little or no records of the animals, researchers had to rely on information shared by Indigenous elders living in rural areas of the world who had seen the extinctions firsthand. According to Milthorpe, the Wilderness Society's national environment laws campaign manager, the revised list is a "devastating fact check on Australia's environmental success." She said, "It cements our status as the global leader in mammal extinctions." Christmas Island The government and the IUCN have declared about 100 endangered Australian species extinct, but Woinarski believes the true figure would be more than ten times higher until extinct invertebrates are counted. He estimated that at least 50 invertebrate species on Christmas Island have not been seen in over a century and were likely to be extinct. He called the first modern-day disappearance of an Australian reptile "obviously a truly tragic milestone." In the 1970s, the unintended arrival of a predator from Asia, the wolf snake, almost destroyed the Christmas Island Skink. ALSO READ: Study Showed How The Human Brain Grew After Large Animals Went Extinct For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News! The Telegraph Theres nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice. With temperatures set to remain high this week, what advice should you be following? We asked the experts... The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed The truth: Its natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open, says Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and Private Sleep Consultant at the Royal Brompton. However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtains drawn all day. Its all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house. If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and youll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep. Verdict: True The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down The truth: It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate. In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawas Ollie Jay, sought to find an answer once and for all. The team discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, they concluded that drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments. Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won't work, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly. Verdict: True The claim: Have a hot curry The truth: Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad and, curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counter-intuitive everyone whos had an extra hot curry will know why but it makes sense, considering many of the worlds spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates. The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling. Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. Its worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it) The claim: Stay out of the sun The truth: This week the sun is high enough in the sky, and strong enough, to deliver a really good hit of vitamin D, says dietitian Helen Bond. Its wise to be cautious in the sun, and I certainly wouldnt advise sitting in a beer garden or a park for a couple of hours in the lunchtime sun. But a 15 minute walk exposing your hands, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels topped up throughout the rest of the year. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cool beer tonight The truth: British people tend to get very excited about a sunny spell, says Bond. However, drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if youre drinking during the day and outside, youre more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer. People tend to drink more Pimms and beer in a heatwave and then get a double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat, adds Hare. So drink moderately. Verdict: False The claim: Have a cold shower before bed The truth: This is something people always tell me they do when its hot, but it doesnt work, says Hare. After a long, hot day in an office, its tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once youre in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. Its far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesnt try to warm itself up. Verdict: False The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer The truth: Weve all heard this one, but does it actually work? Yes it does, but dont put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case, says Hare. Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillow cases in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but one hundred times better. Verdict: True The claim: Sleep naked The truth: People always ask me about this, says Hare. If youre wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then youll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, Id choose cotton. But if youre choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked. Verdict: Inconclusive The claim: Don't exercise The truth: Working out can become a sweaty business though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke. That doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesnt have to be sidelined when the heat is on. Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic: Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated. Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and dont wait until youre thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium. Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided. Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. A sunburn will hamper your bodys ability to cool down. Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat Verdict: False-ish The claim: Read heat wave advice features (like this one) The truth: There are two things British people like to talk about the weather and their sleep, says Hare. During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping. So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but thats fine. Youll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think, in a few months time it will be cold again, and well back to worrying about that instead. Verdict: Inconclusive Telegraph readers share their heatwave sleep advice Here's a selection of the comments you've left on our heatwave stories. Please continue to share with us your advice in the section below this article. Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down. Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover. Linden Airey: If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can't return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin. Anonymous reader: Put large bath towel on your bed Have a cool or barely warm shower Lie down on your towel, still wet preferably naked Ideally also have fan blowing towards the bed on low Water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature Towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also What are your heatwave hacks? Tell us in the comments below Jockey Davy Russell is pictured wih trainer Gordon Elliott after riding Envoi Allen to victory at Naas back in January 2020. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile Davy Russell has poured cold water on "totally unfounded" rumours that he is poised to take up a hands-on role in Gordon Elliott's powerful training operation. Elliott is before the Referrals Committee of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) on Friday with his training licence at stake after a shocking photo emerged last weekend of the Grand National-winning trainer sitting on top of a dead horse. There was speculation that three-time Irish champion jumps jockey Russell, a close confidant of Elliott and currently sidelined with a serious neck injury, could form part of a team to oversee affairs at his Meath yard, but he has quenched such talk. "I don't know anything about it and it's totally unfounded. I haven't been approached in any way shape or form, I haven't been approached by the Turf Club or by Gordon or by any one," Russell told Independent.ie "The only job I have is that I speak to a lot of owners and I ride horses and that's my main priority." The 41-year-old will miss the Cheltenham Festival due to injury, but the Gold Cup-winning rider insists that he has no intention of hanging up his saddle any time soon while training is not on his radar whatsoever. Read More "I have to get back, I've no other choice, that's my job. I'm a jockey and I need to continue being a jockey, that's all I know. I'm not going training horses, if that was the case then itd be something that Id be concentrating on the day I got the fall, he said. "I just ran out of time for Cheltenham and that was it. I was doing everything right and everything was going well but they just said the timing was not right. The doctors were saying that if I get a fall that they can't guarantee that my neck won't break." Several areas of County Kildare have Covid-19 infections higher than the national average, according to the latest figures. The data was compiled for a two-week period up to February 22 and published by the HSE. Local electoral areas of Kildare town, Newbridge and Naas had rates higher than other areas across Ireland. There were 101 confirmed cases in Kildare with a rate per 100,0000 population of 393 while Newbridge had 130 confirmed cases and a rate per 100,000 of 366.4. In Naas, there were 119 cases and a rate per 100,000 population of 304.1. Maynooth had 68 cases or a rate per 100,000 of 228.7 and Clane has 64 cases and a rate per 100k population of 225.1. Celbridge has 44 confirmed cases and a rate per 100,000 population of 203.5 and Leixlip had 31 confirmed cases or a rate per 100,000 of 195.5. Athy had 44 confirmed cases and a rate per 100,000 of 165.8. Meanwhile up to Sunday night, there were 10 confirmed Covid-19 cases at Naas General Hospital. However, none of these patients were receiving critical care treatment. There were also three suspected cases of the virus in Naas Hospital. There was one critical care bed available at the facility and there were 26 general beds available. Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical, the Department of Health said on Sunday night that since the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Ireland last February, our lives have changed in ways we never thought possible. He added: More than 6,300 people on our island have lost their lives with COVID-19. We remember them, and their families and friends, as well as the many people who remain seriously ill or who are dealing with long-term health issues because of this disease. The response of colleagues across all parts of our health system has been remarkable. We should be extraordinarily proud, and take great heart, from the dedication and resilience which has been and continues to be shown by everyone involved in this response. Almost all sectors and communities have experienced loss and have been tested in ways unimaginable to us this time last year. This pandemic and the public health response to it has had a profound impact on lives and livelihoods. But it has also demonstrated the best of us as a people, working together and buying in as a collective to what has been necessary to protect one another. Last Spring, we met the challenge presented to us with collective enthusiasm. Ironically, while that enthusiasm has understandably waned and gone, there are more concrete reasons for hope and optimism now than at any time over the last 12 months. Dr Glynn said everybody still needs to be cautious and there will be challenges over the coming months. We still have a way to go. Our case numbers are still far too high. Dr Ronan Glynn concluded: but together, through science and solidarity, we will get through this and this pandemic will end. [March 04, 2021] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation of Washington Prime Group Inc. (WPG) on Behalf of Investors The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of Washington Prime Group Inc. ("WPG" or the "Company") (NYSE: WPG) on behalf of investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On February 16, 2021, WPG disclosed that its operating partnership, Washington Prime Group, L.P. ("WPG L.P."), had "elected to withhold an interest payment of $23.2 million due on February 15, 2021 with respect to WPGL.P.'s outstanding Senior Notes due 2024," and that "WPG L.P. has a 30-day grace period to make the interest payment before such non-payment constitutes an 'event of default.'" The Company further advised that, in an event of default, certain counterparties to the senior notes "could accelerate the outstanding indebtedness due . . . making such indebtedness due and payable, which would result in a cross-default with respect to some of WPG L.P.'s or the Company's other indebtedness." On this news, the Company's stock price fell $4.59, or 38%, to close at $7.49 per share on February 16, 2021, thereby injuring investors. Then, on March 4, 2021, Bloomberg (News - Alert) reported that WPG "is preparing a potential bankruptcy filing as time runs out to avert default after it skipped an interest payment on its debt, according to people with knowledge of the plans." On this news, the Company's stock price fell $3.77, or 60%, to close at $2.51 per share on March 4, 2021, thereby injuring investors further. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased WPG securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304006141/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Marking the first foreign visit since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Bangladesh on March 26 for two days, as confirmed by External Affairs Ministry. Currently, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar is visiting the South Asian country, who arrived in Dhaka on Thursday. Jaishankar has already met with Bangladeshi counterpart AK Abdul Momen where both discussed the bilateral relations and noted the steady progress during the pandemic. EAMs visit to Bangladesh follows the Prime Minister-level virtual summit held between both nations on December 17, 2020. Held comprehensive discussions with FM @AKAbdulMomen on our bilateral relations. Noted our steady progress, even during COVID. Shared my thoughts on the relationship & its prospects with the press. pic.twitter.com/NAbGCwldIi Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 4, 2021 Now that the vaccination in the country is in full swing, PM Modi is expected to follow and even more busy schedule full of diplomatic visits. As the novel coronavirus pandemic tightened its grip across the globe, the Prime Minister maintained diplomatic ties with various nations through the virtual summit. During his visit, PM Modi will be taking part in the South Asian country's birth centenary celebration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and holding a discussion with his counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka. It was the violent crackdown by the Pakistan Army that led Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to declare East Pakistan independent as the state of Bangladesh on 26 March 1971. Read - EC Directs Petrol Pumps To Take Down PM Modi Hoardings Within 72 Hrs After TMC Complaint Read - CII Urges Haryana To Reconsider Quota For Locals In Private Sector; Cites PM Modi's Vision UK PM in India in April, India-EU meet expected in May Following PM Modis first visit since the COVID-19 pandemic to Bangladesh later this month, UK Prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to visit New Delhi in April after his visit in January as Republic Day chief guest got cancelled due to the emergence of a new coronavirus variant and an alarming surge of cases in Britain. British High Commission spokesperson told news agency ANI that, Prime Minister hopes to be able to visit India in the first half of 2021, and ahead of the UKs G7 Summit in June. Further elevating bilateral relations, a summit in May is expected to take place between India and the European Union (EU). Reportedly Prime Minister will be visiting Portugal for the meet, marking a much-awaited end to the virtual meets and discussions amid the COVID-19 scare. Further, in June, PM Modi will be attending the G7 summit as he has been invited by the UK and the venue for the same is Cornwall. Read - Ghulam Nabi Azad Camp Decries Congress' Anti-G23 Protests; Defends Praise For PM Modi Read - World Wildlife Day 2021: PM Modi And Others Urge People To Protect India's Flora & Fauna' One year ago, my husband and I were still learning how to get out the door on Sunday morning for church with a two-year-old and a five-month-old during the coldest weeks of the Iowa winter. Now, like so many others, we enjoy slower Sunday mornings attending church over Zoom, usually sitting on the couch or floor with our restless toddlers. I sometimes enjoy the conveniences of our new Sunday morning routine, but there are pangs of sadness every week when my daughter hears music, turns to the screen, and almost immediately loses interest. I recall how engaged she was in the sounds, sights, and vibrations of congregational worship during the before times. I recall how much more engaged I was, too. Worship isnt about you is a cliche that sums up the idea that we sing as an act of worship and sacrifice for God alone. Ive seen this sentiment newly animated over the past year as worship leaders seek to help their congregations learn to worship as part of a body that they cant hear or see. Brooke Ligertwood writes in a blog post for Hillsong, Who is worship for? Spoiler alert: worship is not for people. Its for the Lord. Similarly, Justin Rizzo of International House of Prayer tells worship leaders, God alone will be present at your worship times. You will have no choice but to actually minister before an audience of one . That one alone is worthy of your worship. Worship has always been about Him. Its understandable that worship leaders would encourage us to focus on God over gathering at a time when we cannot be together. The emphasis on a personal form of worshipone on one with Godis in some ways beneficial for those who continue to attend remote services. It is certainly not a new way of thinking about music for Christians. Augustine wrote about the personal faith-building and emotional experience of singing hymns and psalms. Luther praised the power of music to deepen theological understanding. There is a rich history in the church of using music to deepen individual faith. Instructing a congregation to focus your personal devotion to your audience of one isnt wrong . Doing so at this unique moment, though, can minimize the loss many of us are feeling. Its nowwhen many churches have moved services online or cut back on in-person singingthat we can see how much worshiping together has meant for our shared faith. Worship is about us too Yes, musical worship is first a spiritual practice. Christians believe that corporate worship matters to God and that raised voices should not glorify anyone but him. However, to say that musical worship is not for people, to my musicologists sensibilities, overlooks the reality that congregational worship does benefit people, and it should. Acknowledging this may help us understand why, at times like this, worship without the congregation feels empty, dry, or forced. Many Christians understand corporate worship partly as an imperative, something we practice out of obedience to Scripture. But there are also practical, social benefits to being together as a community around music. Ive learned so much about embodied worship, said Hannah Busse, director of worship arts at Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Corporate singing activates our brains differently than just speaking something or hearing something spoken to us it has a unique function in our spiritual formation. Monique Ingalls, associate professor at Baylor Universitys Center for Music Studies, notes that corporate worship is a central part of religious gathering in most Christian traditions because participatory music-making powerfully imparts a sense of community and helps foster social bonds. Article continues below Anyone who has led worshipand many of us who have experienced it and find ourselves longing for it during COVID timesknow just what shes talking about. Socrates Perez, worship pastor at Saddleback Church, puts it this way: When were singing these songs and these truths its always an encouragement to me as a believer to hear my brother in Christ or my sister in Christ next to me declaring [those truths] at the top of their lungs. Congregational singing is immersive. Ethnomusicologist Nathan Myrick suggests that it represents a uniquely meaningful part of church gatherings because it engages three distinct realms of experience: the physical, the emotional, and the relational. Corporate worship involves physical closeness and participation, whether through singing or some other movement. It often evokes emotion, whether in response to a lyric, series of sounds, memory, or association. It forms and reinforces relationships within the congregation and between leaders and the congregants. This relational dimension extends to our understanding of corporate singing as an act of communication with God. Permission to be dissatisfied The struggling worshiper at home may feel like something is spiritually or emotionally wrong when their hearts arent stirred by Zoom singalongs. Leaders are right to point out that our worship is no less valuable to God when we cant gather as a congregation, but they can also give congregants permission to accept dissatisfaction with musical worship over a screen. We dont fault anyone for that longing we affirm that longing, said John Cassetto, global worship director at Saddleback. Next weekend is our 52nd week online theres a grief in that. Why does it matter so much that we acknowledge what weve lost? It doesnt just feel different, it is different. No one should feel pressure to re-create the emotional and spiritual experience of corporate worship through an internal focus on the audience of one. Freeing ourselves of unrealistic expectations may lead us to new worship practices and experiences that are wholly separate, even therapeutic, and unique to this difficult moment. Cassetto refers to these as new streams in the desert for worshipers and leaders, creative new ways to use music to facilitate worship. Its likely that many have discovered a new appreciation for meditative listening. Singing with the TV screen feels awkward, so I would expect that many of us have found solace and connection with God through listening, praying, and reflecting. If you feel free to enjoy that kind of musical worship without the guilt that comes with wondering if you should be singing, that could be your stream in this desert. Holy days without hymns Truthfully, I havent found many musical streams in this desert. It has been a year since I sang in a room filled with people who share my faith. Throughout that year, even though I was free to listen or sing with fellow worshipers online, I felt that I missed out on the contemplative hymns of Good Friday, the celebratory anthems of Easter, and (most difficult for me) the carols of the Advent season. It was almost as if these holy days didnt happen. If I didnt sing Silent Night holding a candle on Christmas Eve and share cookies and hot cocoa in the atrium afterward, did I really observe Christmas? Of course, the answer is yes. My family did celebrate the important markers of the liturgical calendar. I dont believe that our observances were less real or spiritual or sincere. They were more difficult. The did require more faith. They did, at times, feel more like a sacrifice of time and effort. Article continues below In the end, the losses we have experienced are our losses. Perhaps its worth reminding ourselves that this pandemic and its restrictions have not robbed God of the worship he is due. When we stop singing and making music together, we dont lose the presence of God with us or our ability to worship in spirit and in truth. We lose the presence of each other. I have never been more aware that my worship serves my community, and the worship of my community serves me. Its one way that we strengthen our faith and move toward unity. In his sermon, A Knock at Midnight, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote of corporate worship, Worship at its best is a social experience in which people from all levels of life come together to affirm their oneness and unity under God. For a year now, most of us have not been able to participate in worship at its best. We mourn that loss and look forward to hearing the voices of our neighbors around us again. Kelsey Kramer McGinnis is a musicologist, educator, and writer. She holds a PhD from the University of Iowa and researches music in Christian communities and music as propaganda. [ This article is also available in espanol. ] Credit: CC0 Public Domain As COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantines are lifted, businesses are now faced with the challenge of how to keep their employees who are returning to work motivated and engaged. A study led by a University of Illinois Chicago researcher shows that both employees and managers have an important part to play in promoting employee engagement during the pandemic. The research, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, suggests employee engagement and performance are the highest when employees are mentally prepared for their return to work and their managers are strongly committed to employees' health and safety at work. "Given the turmoil and distress during lockdowns and quarantines, employees may have trouble reconnecting with their work. We wanted to find out what factors could help employees effectively stay engaged at work upon return. This is an important topic because highly engaged employees tend to intrinsically enjoy their work and outperform others," says lead author Zhenyu Yuan, assistant professor of managerial studies in the UIC College of Business Administration. In the study, Yuan and his co-authors surveyed more than 350 employees from the original epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemicWuhan, Chinawhere many employees were returning to work after the strict city-wide lockdown was lifted. According to the research, employees first need to mentally reconnect with their work. "As employees are physically returning to work, they also need to be mentally prepared to reconnect," Yuan explained. "For example, employees are encouraged to spend some time reviewing work progress and set work priorities for upcoming tasks before coming back to work. This is similar to the warm-up before a workout. With some mental 'warm-up,' employees will find it easier to reconnect and re-engage at work." Further, managers also have a critical role to play, Yuan added. With the continuous health threat of the coronavirus, employees can get easily overwhelmed and distracted in the workplace. Therefore, managers need to take concrete measures to promote workplace health and safety so that employees feel safe at work. "Managers' commitment to safety can't be merely lip service," he said. "They should set a good example themselves by clearly communicating, enforcing, and promoting workplace health and safety protocols." Importantly, the researchers found these two factors work synergistically. "Engagement and performance were highest only when both conditions are met," Yuan said. "This reinforces the idea that managers can't simply expect their employees to be devoted to work without providing effective support for their health and safety." Given that their study was based on data collected from Wuhan, China, Yuan cautioned about the applicability of their findings across different countries and regions. "Depending on how the virus has spread and been managed in different places, other factors are also important to consider," he said. "But we think our key finding holds regardless of locations. That is, managers and employees are in this togetherthey need to work together to promote engagement, workplace productivity, and safety. This will be critical as businesses and employees try to rebound from the economic toll of the current pandemic." Explore further Majority of managers reluctant to hire applicants with mental health problems More information: Zhenyu Yuan et al, Plug back into work, safely: Job reattachment, leader safety commitment, and job engagement in the COVID-19 pandemic., Journal of Applied Psychology (2020). Journal information: Journal of Applied Psychology Zhenyu Yuan et al, Plug back into work, safely: Job reattachment, leader safety commitment, and job engagement in the COVID-19 pandemic.,(2020). DOI: 10.1037/apl0000860 First cases of UK strain of Coronavirus detected in Moldova Acting Prime Minister Chisinau, Mar 4 (Sputnik) Moldova has detected the first several cases of the UK strain of the coronavirus, Acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi said. According to earlier statements of the national Ministry of Health, Moldova has no laboratory equipment to detect the UK strain of COVID-19. The data of several patients have been sent to Germany. There are preliminary results that confirm the presence of the UK strain of the coronavirus, we are awaiting an official paper confirmation. This allows me to say that there is the UK strain of the coronavirus in Moldova, Ciocoi told the Jurnal TV broadcaster on Wednesday. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). An upbeat opposition on Wednesday asked Prime Minister "to resign in an honourable way" after the defeat of the government's candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh at the hands of the Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Senate elections, reported Dawn. Hours after the results of the elections on the Senate seats, Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asked Imran Khan, "If he (the prime minister) has honour then he should himself resign (from the office). should submit his resignation today as the demand for his resignation is no more only the opposition's demand but it has now become a demand of the government members as well." The PPP chairman said that Gilani's victory was also an expression of a no-confidence on the Monetary Fund (IMF)-dictated budget and a reaction of the people over the prevailing price hike and unemployment in the country. Bilawal spoke at a news conference at the Zardari House with Gilani and other senior party leaders. Moreover, Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that PM will seek a vote of confidence from the parliament following the results of the Senate polls, reported Geo News. Earlier, the PPP chairman had tweeted "Democracy is the best revenge Jiye Bhutto" soon after the announcement of the result, reported Dawn. Later, a number of other opposition leaders, including the supreme leader of the Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif, through their social media accounts on Twitter, also felicitated Gilani and termed his election a "glorious victory". PML-N president and opposition leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement, said that Gilani's victory was the expression of a no-confidence by lawmakers in Imran Khan's government, reported Dawn. "Those who have destroyed the people and the country's economy and the vote thieves, sugar thieves and flour thieves have been exposed," said Sharif. Shehbaz Sharif also presided over a meeting of the party's parliamentary group and senior leaders in which he bitterly criticised the government's performance, saying that he had never seen such a "worst government" in the country's history. PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz also tweeted, congratulating Gilani as well as the PDM leadership. "Well done the PML-N.... congratulations to PML-N members who upheld the narrative of Nawaz Sharif... future is yours," said Maryam in her tweet. In another post, she claimed that "the fake mandate has been snatched back by the people's representatives. Their own people, despite the pressure on them, refused to vote for [...] (Prime Minister) Imran Khan," she said, adding that the premier now had no right to occupy the Prime Minister House. Vote chor (thief), leave the chair." Meanwhile, Gilani thanked the PDM leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Akhtar Mengal and others and said that he would personally visit these leaders to offer his gratitude. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - Mississippi no longer has a state-issued mask mandate as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday. All previous executive orders lifted at that moment, too. Businesses can operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules. However, cities and businesses can still retain local restrictions if they so choose. Mississippians are still encouraged, though not ordered, to wear face coverings and practice social distancing. K-12 schools must still require masks where social distancing is not possible. Seating for K-12 extracurricular activities at outdoor venues is now set at 50% capacity and 25% maximum seating capacity inside. Seating capacity for indoor bowl and arena seating is now increased to 50%. President Joe Biden criticized Mississippi and Texas for making the decisions to lift restrictions. Read More - Biden criticizes Texas and Mississippi for lifting restrictions: 'Neanderthal thinking' Gov. Tate Reeves fired back at the president's comments. President Biden said allowing Mississippians to decide how to protect themselves is neanderthal thinking. Mississippians dont need handlers. As numbers drop, they can assess their choices and listen to experts. I guess I just think we should trust Americans, not insult them. Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 3, 2021 Related - Tupelo to require masks in city-owned buildings Related - Starkville's mask mandate to remain in effect RTHK: Biden looks to accelerate fight against cancer US President Joe Biden met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday to brainstorm ways to accelerate the fight against cancer, saying he believed the world was nearing some "real breakthroughs." Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46, said the battle against cancer was deeply personal for him - and many Americans. He told reporters before the meeting that cancer or "the C word" remained the most frightening word in the English language. "We can make significant strides fighting cancer and Alzheimer's and other diseases," he said. "I think we're on the cusp of some real breakthroughs across the board on cancer." The White House said Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had a productive, nearly hour-long discussion with the lawmakers, but gave no details on specific priorities or legislative plans. Participating in the meeting were three Democratic senators - Patty Murray, Dick Durbin and Chris van Hollen, two Republican senators - Roy Blunt and Mike Crapo, and four lawmakers from the House of Representatives. Many of the lawmakers helped passed the 21st Century Cures Act during the Obama administration, which authorised billions of dollars in funding for the National Institutes of Health for research on cancer and other diseases. During the Obama administration, Biden oversaw Cancer Moonshot, an initiative aimed at speeding development of cancer treatments. Over US$1 billion has been invested in the initiative to date, supporting over 240 research projects and 70 cancer science initiatives, according to the National Cancer Institute. Biden also founded the Biden Cancer Initiative in 2017 as a way to bring together researchers and share data, but it suspended operations after Biden announced his White House bid in 2019. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-03-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. From American women winning the right to vote to the #MeToo movement, Stacker draws on a number of historical and archival sources to explore the past 100 years of womens history in the U.S. and around the world. Communications Officer, Vienna, Austria Organization: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Country: Austria City: Vienna, Austria Office: OSCE Vienna Closing date: Wednesday, 31 March 2021 Issued by: OSCE Secretariat Vacancy number: VNSECP01610 Vacancy type: International Contracted Field of expertise: Media Affairs Grade: P3 Number of posts: 1 Duty station: Vienna Date of issue: 2 March 2021 Deadline for application: 31 March 2021 - 23: 59 Central European Time (CET/CEST) Background The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis. The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairmanship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions. The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in his activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, and co-ordinating tasks across the Secretariat. It groups horizontal services such as Executive Management, Communications and Media Relations, Legal Services, External Co-operation, Security Management, Gender Affairs, Conference and Language Services, Central Records Management, and oversees the OSCE Document Centre in Prague (DCiP). The OSG ensures effective co-ordination of policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chairmanship, and management decisions taken by the Secretary General. The OSG is led by a Director who also functions as the Head of Executive Management. The Communication and Media Relations Section (COMMS) supports and advises the Secretary General and the OSCE Chairmanship on media and public relations activities and informs the public about the work of the OSCE. COMMS also serves as the focal point for public statements and other communication material from OSCE Institutions and field operations. COMMS produces and disseminates press releases, information materials and regular publications, maintains the public website, the Organizations social media presence and promotes the OSCEs values, principles and work. Tasks and Responsibilities Within COMMS, the Media Relations Unit provides expertise and support on a wide of tasks from preparing media engagements, drafting press releases, editing news items and drafting talking points, to understanding OSCE audiences and crafting digital content to better promote the OSCE. The Unit interacts on a daily basis with stakeholders from the entire organisation. Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Media Relations Unit, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties: Drafting and developing texts, stories and messages and distributing across a broad range of channels:traditional, multimedia, social media; Creating and delivering communication plans according to priorities; ensuring communications support for events and conferences; Acting as contact for media and public enquiries; Maintaining close contact with journalists and other target audiences; developing networks to spread OSCE messages to target audiences; Working closely with OSCE programmes, departments, Institutions, Field Operations and senior officials to ensure co-ordinated, streamlined and professional communication throughout the Organization; Promoting and explaining the work of the OSCE to the wider public; Providing quantitative and qualitative evaluation of projects to ensure continued improvement in OSCE communications practice; Performing other related duties as requested, including participating in a duty roster. For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see //www.osce.org/secretariat">https: //www.osce.org/secretariat Necessary Qualifications First-level university degree in journalism, communications, political science, international affairs, or another related field; A minimum six years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications (including media relations, social media, public relations and advocacy), preferably in an international organization, non-governmental organization (NGO) or as a journalist, combined with several years of experience with writing, editing and production of communications material; Demonstrated experience using political judgement and analytical skills and established competence to convincingly present the activities and achievements of the Organization to media representatives; Experience in a deadline-driven environment; Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English, including proven editing and writing skills; Professional fluency in the English language; knowledge of another OSCE official language is desirable; Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications; Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst remaining impartial and objective. Required competencies Core values Commitment: Actively contributes to achieving organizational goals Tags gender perspective human rights journalism language services media relations press releases public relations security management staff rotation Diversity: Respects others and values their diverse perspectives and contributions Integrity: Acts in a manner consistent with the Organizations core values and organizational principles Accountability: Takes responsibility for own action and delegated work Core competencies Communication: Actively works to achieve clear and transparent communication with colleagues and with stakeholders of the Organization Collaboration: Works effectively with others on common goals and fosters a positive, trust-based working environment Planning: Works towards the achievement of goals in a structured and measured manner Analysis and decision-making: Analyses available information, draws well-founded conclusions and takes appropriate decisions Initiative-taking: Proposes and initiates new ideas, activities and projects Flexibility: Responds positively and effectively to changing circumstances Managerial competencies (for positions with managerial responsibilities) Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, builds trust and creates an enabling environment Strategic thinking: Identifies goals that advance the organizational agenda and develops plans for achieving them Managing performance: Helps to maximize team performance by providing active feedback and skill development opportunities Remuneration Package Monthly remuneration is approximately EUR 6,488 depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System. Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. How To Apply If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCEs online application link found under //jobs.osce.org/vacancies">https: //jobs.osce.org/vacancies. The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted. Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see //www.osce.org/participating-states">https: //www.osce.org/participating-states. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see //jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model">https: //jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model. The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years. Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. ICE In preparation for this eco-friendly scenario, the European Commission intends to roll out the Euro 7 regulation for passenger vehicles. Expected to roll out in 2025, the EU-7 standard has been labeled a de facto ban on fossil-fuel vehicles by a German trade association by the name of VDMA.Despite the Dieselgate scandal, Volkswagen doesnt believe the EU-7 regulation is feasible either. These scenarios would only be possible with far-reaching technical measures that are complex and costly, said the German carmaker in an emailed statement to EURACTIV . A comprehensive expansion of exhaust gas after treatment combined with the need for hybridization would make vehicles significantly more expensive.The German automaker may be right. First and foremost, the difference between an-only car and a hybrid powertrain for the same make and model is huge for many customers. Toyota serves as the perfect case in point with the Corolla Hatchback, which costs 21,730 (or $26,155) for the 1.2-liter turbo and 27,780 ($33,440) for the 1.8-liter hybrid.Reading between the lines, the Volkswagen Group is also referring to the current limitations of the charging infrastructure in Europe. Waiting for your turn at the charging station, waiting at least an hour to charge, and range anxiety are the biggest problems the European Union and automakers have to address in order to make EVs the alternative to fossil-fuel vehicles.Even the European Automobile Manufacturers Association has criticized the EU-7 standard, which requires a decrease of 60 to 90 percent of emissions. Its not a realistic objective, which is why the suits in Brussels should work closely with the automakers in deciding the future of internal combustion. New York, March 4 : While describing the US engagement with India as a "global comprehensive strategic partnership," the State Department has reiterated Washington's policy of a de-hyphenated relationship with India and Pakistan saying it is "not a zero-sum." Speaking of the US relations with the two neighbours, the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday made a distinction between the global dimension of its partnership with New Delhi and its shared regional interests with Islamabad. "When it comes to India, we have a global comprehensive strategic partnership," he said. The importance of the partnership has risen as the challenge from an increasingly hostile China has grown. With Islamabad, "we have important shared interests in the region. And we will continue to work closely with the Pakistani authorities on those shared interests," Price said. The US needs Islamabad's help to deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan if the President Joe Biden is to go ahead with the deal his predecessor Donald Trump made with the insurgent group to withdraw all US troops on May 1. As its patron and leadership refuge, Pakistan wields influence over the Taliban. On the other hand, Islamabad is also closely aligned with Beijing at a time when Washington is challenged on the global stage by an aggressive China. "United States has important relationships with India, as I said, but also with Pakistan. These relationships stand on their own in our view. They are not a zero-sum proposition when it comes to US foreign policy," he said replying to a question at his daily briefing on Washington's relations with the two neighbours. He added that the US has "productive and constructive relationships with one does not detract from the relationship we have at the other. It does not come at the expense at the relationship we have with the other." Referring to the strategic ties with India, he said, "This (fiscal) year, the United States has authorized over $20 billion in defence sales to India. It's these offers of advanced US defence platforms that demonstrate our commitment to India's security and sovereignty. It demonstrates our commitment to that global, comprehensive, strategic partnership." On Kashmir, Price said, "We welcome steps to return the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to full economic and political normalcy consistent with India's democratic values." He said that "certainly as the State Department, we continue to follow developments in Jammu and Kashmir closely" and the US policy "when it comes to it has not changed." However, there may be a nuance in his reference to Jammu and Kashmir as a "union territory." A reporter asked if for Washington Kashmir was not "controversial anymore,aA if it wanted a reversal of the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, and if it considered Kashmir India's territory or a "disputed territory.aA Price would did not engage the reporter on those questions directly and only said, "What we have done is we continue to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other areas of a" and other issues of concern. Of course, we've continued to call for a reduction of tensions along the line of control, returning to that 2003 ceasefire." In August 2019, India rescinded Article 370 of the Indian constitution which gave Kashmir special status and downgraded it to a union territory. Asked by the reporter if Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had raised the Kashmir issue with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Price said, "We issued a readout of that call, so I would refer you to the readout of that conversation." When the reporter said the readout did not mention Kashmir, Price said, "I wouldn't want to go beyond the readout." Blinken had spoken with Jaishankar twice directly -- on January 29 and February 9 -- and once along with the other two foreign ministers of the Quad, Japan's Toshimitsu Motegi and Australia's Marise Payne -- on February 18. None of the three readouts mention Kashmir. During the election campaign last year, Biden had communalised the Kashmir issue by adding it in his "Agenda for Muslim Americans." The manifesto appealing to them said, "In Kashmir, the Indian government should take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir. Restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down the Internet, weaken democracy." But once in office, Biden is having to deal with the geopolitical realities of the rising threat from China and has to have India as a strategic asset for meeting the challenge. While speaking about US efforts to bring back democracy in Myanmar, Price called India a "key partner" in the Indo-Pacific region and said Blinken had discussed the situation in that neighbour of India with Jaishankar. "India and Japan are key partners in the Indo-Pacific and key partners that we will continue to work with towards our collective goal of seeking a restoration of Burma's democratically elected civilian government," he said. (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 Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The Texas Department of State Health Services announced exciting news for teachers Wednesday. Educators and child-care workers are now eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccination starting immediately, according to a news release from the state's health department. Vaccine providers have been notified, the release added. DSHS announced the news after receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directing states to expand eligibility to include people who work in school and child care operations. RELATED: Here's how San Antonio school districts and colleges are handling mask mandate changes According to the release, the people eligible are those who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers), and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers. This action does not change the other groups prioritized for vaccination in Texas. Providers are encouraged to continue their efforts to vaccinate older adults since the burden of COVID-19 falls most severely on people age 65 and older, per DSHS. The news comes after Gov. Greg Abbott said he will lift his face mask order starting next Wednesday. The Texas Education Agency is allowing school boards to make their decisions when it comes to their face mask policy. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre An MSNBC reporter was nearly hit by a falling light fixture while live on air in California. The network shared footage of Jacob Soboroff preparing to discuss the family separation policy on Thursday near the US-Mexico border in Otay Mesa, California. He was recording the live shot with his crew when the windy blew the fixture over and nearly knocked him out. MSNBC shared footage of Jacob Soboroff (pictured) preparing to discuss the family separation policy on Thursday near the US-Mexico border in Otay Mesa, California He was recording the live shot with his crew when the windy blew the fixture over and nearly knocked him out Luckily, Soboroff caught the fixture before it could cause any serious harm Plus, he joins the roster of @NBCNews journalists who double as expert blockers in the field. CC: @kwelkernbc pic.twitter.com/wPgnDLQzF2 MSNBC Public Relations (@MSNBCPR) March 4, 2021 Luckily, Soboroff caught the fixture before it could cause any serious harm. 'Craig, happens sometimes at a breezy border location,' he told MSNBC's Craig Melvin. Soboroff, without missing a beat, started discussing his recent interview with Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. 'What I think was the most important thing you heard was that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security said, "I have not excluded anything when it comes to holding the Trump administration responsible for the potential criminality when it comes to the family separation policy",' Soboroff said of his interview with Mayorkas. 'It was a wide ranging interview. We're going to have more for you in a little bit, but that's one of the headlines just for starters.' Melvin then chimed in to praise his co-worker, saying: 'A wide ranging interview that nearly cost you your life there, it would seem. 'Jacob Soboroff, unflappable, as always, my friend.' Soboroff is seen making sure the fixture didn't hit him during the live shot Thursday morning Soboroff, without missing a beat, started discussing his recent interview with Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas Pooja Bhatt stepped in the world of films at the age of 17 with her father Mahesh Bhatt's acclaimed film Daddy. But, it was Aamir Khan starrer Dil Hain Ki Maanta Nahin which paved her way for success and recognition. Post that, the actress went on to deliver powerful performances in films like Sadak, Tamanna, Sir and Zakhm. She even dabbled with production and direction. However, unlike her contemporaries, Pooja did fewer films and was quite choosy about her projects. Talking about the same, the Chaahat actress recently told PTI, "I've done a lot less work than my contemporaries at that time. I've done possibly about 23 films in my life when others might've done 80 or 90. But I chose to kind of follow my heart and do stuff that I could live with." The actress said that she used to feel lonely and isolated in the 90s because she couldn't relate to many people. The news agency quoted Pooja as saying, "In the 1990s, I used to feel isolated and so lonely in huge parts because there were not very many people I could relate to." She said that while women have this pressure to deliver on the work front and are also expected to be great homemakers, men on the other hand, have the privilege of getting up and walking out, and someone else picks up after them. The actress said, "We are our own worst critics. If you're not going to be kind to yourself, nobody's going to be crying for us. So, I think empathy begins with yourself. Treat yourself right. Allow yourself to fail. And then the world will be a bit more accommodating." Meanwhile, Pooja is all set to make her full-fledged return to acting with Alankrita Shrivastava's Netflix show Bombay Begums co-starring Amrita Subhash, Shahana Goswami and Plabita Borthakur. The web series revolves around five ambitious women from various walks of life who navigate dreams, desires and disappointments in modern-day Mumbai. ALSO READ: Pooja Bhatt On Being Sober For Four Years: Earlier It Was Pink Champagne, Malt And Packed City Bars ALSO READ: Pooja Bhatt Laughs At Accusations Of Nepotism, Says Kangana Ranaut Was Also Launched By Bhatt Family During the 1960s former assistant District Attorney Henry V. Grady was considered the premier criminal defense lawyer in the Chattanooga area. Henry was not the typical defense counsel of his day. He lived on Lookout Mountain and was a quiet but well qualified attorney who had the ability to carefully select a weak point in the prosecutors case to help his clients get acquitted of criminal charges. He was born on August 20, 1915 and attended Webb School at Bell Buckle, Baylor School at Chattanooga, the University of Chattanooga, Vanderbilt University and graduated from Cumberland University Law School. He served in the United States Navy in World War II in the Pacific and North Atlantic. Prior to becoming a defense lawyer, Henry had been an assistant district attorney under District Attorney Fletcher R. Morgan during the years 1944-1946 and under Morgans successor, Corry Smith, for over a decade. Morgan had established a team of experienced law enforcement officers designed to arrest and prosecute violators of the gambling laws in Tennessee. The name of the squad became known as Morgans Raiders and Henry Grady was a vital member of the group and was considered its chief. Criminal Judge Tillman Grant has stated that Henry Grady and E.B. Baker were the best lawyers to practice in his court when he became criminal judge after graduating from the Chattanooga College of Law. Henry Grady also had a pastime that would eventually get him in trouble with his boss, Fletcher Morgan. Henry raced stock cars under his regular name and his employer was not enthused when he found that one of his prosecutors was engaged in a sport that often included some drivers who raced stock cars on the weekend but made, transported and sold white whiskey during the week. Some of the stock car drivers who engaged in the illegal practice of being involved with moonshine later became well known NASCAR drivers with the most famous being Junior Johnson of North Carolina. When District Attorney Morgan discovered that Henry was racing stock cars he directed his young prosecutor to discontinue his weekend hobby because of the appearance of impropriety that it produced. Henry being a creative young man agreed that he would discontinue racing under the name of Henry Grady to appease his boss. However he was not willing to retire from his racing pastime and therefore according to rumors started racing under a new name, Fletcher Morgan. He represented many high profile defendants in criminal cases including a co-defendant, Nicholas Tweed, in the jury tampering trial of Jimmy Hoffa, President of the International Teamsters Union. Tweed was acquitted Hoffa was convicted. When he died of cancer on November 25, 1963 one of the local trial judges that he practiced before, stated, I have never met a more competent and honorable man in his profession than Henry Grady. * * * 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 United States officials on Wednesday (local time) alerted lawmakers about a potential threat to the Capitol on March 4 and have heightened security as a precaution. Citing sources, according to a report by CNN, the information provided by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security warned of increased chatter among extremists, including members of the Three Percenters extremist group, discussing possible plots against the Capitol on March 4, a date that conspiracy theorists have focused on. Amid the security threat, security has also been enhanced in the area as a precaution. According to an official statement by the US Capitol Police, it had obtained intelligence of a "possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4." More than 300 people now face federal charges in connection with the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill and at least 280 people have been arrested, The Hill reported citing the Justice Department's statement last month. Those figures come over a month after a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to halt Congress's certification of the Electoral College. Moreover, several people died in the riot, including one police officer as well as one Air Force veteran and Trump supporter who was shot dead by police. Among the rioters were members of several right-wing militia groups, including the Proud Boys and the Three Percenters, The Hill reported. Earlier, Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman had told lawmakers that, "We know that members of the militia groups that were present on January 6 have stated their desires that they want to blow up the Capitol and kill as many members as possible with a direct nexus to the State of the Union." "Based on that information, we think that it is prudent that Capitol Police maintain its enhanced and robust security posture until we address those vulnerabilities," she had 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.) WASHINGTON Donald Trump is telling allies hes strongly considering another run for president in 2024 and close advisers want him to choose someone other than former Vice President Mike Pence for his ticket, according to people familiar with the discussions. Trump publicly teased at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Sunday that hes mulling another bid for president. Privately, hes discussed alternatives to Pence as he takes stock of who he believes stood with him at the end of his term and who didnt, according to two of the people. They requested anonymity because the conversations have been private. Trumps advisers have discussed identifying a Black or female running mate for his next run, and three of the people familiar with the matter said Pence likely wont be on the ticket. Two advisers have suggested Trump consider South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the people said. Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, are hosting a fundraiser for Noem on Friday at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort and home in Palm Beach, Florida. The former president is planning to make an appearance, people familiar with the matter said. And on Tuesday, Trump issued a public endorsement for South Carolina Sen. Tim Scotts reelection. Scott is the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate. Pence rejected his bosss appeals to unilaterally overturn Trumps reelection defeat when he presided over the congressional count of Electoral College votes on Jan. 6. The event turned into an insurrection by Trumps supporters, who invaded the Capitol, disrupted the count and forced the vice president and members of Congress to flee. Five people died in the melee. The two men didnt speak for days afterward. Pence hasnt said whether hed be interested in running with Trump again, according to person familiar with the situation, who believes its doubtful Pence would. Trump adviser Jason Miller said no such conversations are happening about picking someone other than Pence if he runs again, and that the former president hasnt made any decisions regarding a potential 2024 run. A Pence spokesperson didnt immediately comment. In Trumps camp, theres been no serious consideration of future vice presidential candidates yet, the people familiar with the matter said. If he runs, Trump likely wont make a formal announcement until the summer of 2023, they said. At a rally outside the White House before the deadly Jan. 6 riot, Trump said he would win the 2020 election if Pence did the right thing and rejected Electoral College votes for Joe Biden from several states where the former president had alleged, without evidence, that widespread fraud had cost him victory. After Pence refused, Trump tweeted that his vice president didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country and our Constitution. At the time, the mob was swarming the Capitol, with some insurrectionists chanting hang Mike Pence, as the Secret Service spirited the vice president to safety. While Trump didnt formally announce his candidacy at CPAC on Sunday, his first public appearance since leaving office on Jan. 20, he hinted at another bid. Trump rattled off the accomplishments of his term in the White House, repeated his false claim that he won the 2020 election and added, Who knows? I may even decide to beat them a third time. The former presidents public musing about another run may effectively freeze the 2024 Republican presidential field, as many other prominent GOP candidates are likely to wait on the former presidents decision before announcing their own campaigns. Trump is building a political structure that would serve as a campaign foundation should he decide to run again, including an existing political action committee, Save America, that accepts donations up to $5,000 per individual. A new super PAC, which would accept unlimited donations, is also planned. Pence was invited to speak at CPAC but informed organizers weeks ahead of the event that he and his family had decided to keep a low profile in the first half of the year. He has said hes opening a transition office and plans to move back to Indiana this summer. The former vice president is himself considered a top-tier potential candidate in 2024. A Harvard-Harris poll conducted Feb. 23-25 found that 42% of Republican voters preferred Trump as their 2024 nominee, compared with 18% for Pence, who placed second. Without Trump, Pence led the field with the support of 36% of Republican voters, followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at 13%. ___ Jennifer Jacobs, Mario Parker and Mark Niquette of Bloomberg News wrote this story. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC A German prison was forced to change 600 locks after an intern sparked security fears by sending pictures of the keys to his friends on WhatsApp. The trainee at Heidering prison near Berlin took photos of the keys and shared them in a WhatsApp group to brag about his new job, German media says. But he apparently failed to realise that keys can easily be reproduced by specialists, meaning replicas could have been smuggled inside. It raised fears of a mass break-out at the prison with 647 inmates, forcing the keys to be changed at an estimated cost of 43,000. The Heidering prison near Berlin where staff had to hurriedly change hundreds of locks after pictures of them were leaked by a trainee The intern is said to have shared pictures of cell and corridor keys before the leak was reported to judicial authorities on Thursday. Around 20 prison workers were tasked with changing the locks the following day and had to work through the night to head off the security risk. Officials said the old keys were quickly destroyed after they had been used one last time to open the doors so that the locks could be changed. Sebastian Brux, a Berlin justice ministry spokesman, told Bild that 'all cells and passage doors have therefore been changed'. 'The trainee was immediately banned from entering the premises and his internship was terminated,' Brux said. He added that the bill for changing 600 doors and locks could be sent to the bungling trainee. The prison did not confirm how much it cost to change the keys, but experts told German media that the bill might come to as much as 50,000 (43,000). An expat British teacher was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in jail and three strokes of the cane after he admitted molesting a three-year-old child at an education centre in Singapore. Richard Christopher Monks, 29, was employed to teach reading to young children at a language centre on the island. Monks was reportedly caught on CCTV lifting up the dress of his victim and touching her inappropriately with his left hand for 15 minutes. Richard Christopher Monks was sentenced to 18 months in jail and three strokes of the cane after being found guilty of molesting a three-year-old child at an education centre in Singapore. CCTV footage caught Monks lifting the victim's skirt several times as he touched her inappropriately. Footage taken on October 20, 2018 also shows Monks using his right hand to point a camera up the girl's skirt. The teacher, who was 27 at the time, used his own mobile phone to film the abuse. The girls parents became aware of the abuse when she expressed reluctance to attend future classes. She complained that 'teacher Richard' touched her, prompting her mother to call the police. Its reported that there were six children present and the victim was the youngest. The others were between four and five years old. After gathering his class to watch a video, Monks placed himself behind the students as he was aware that a CCTV camera was installed in a corner of the classroom, The Straits Times reports. The childrens upper bodies blocked the cameras view of his hands. Footage reportedly showed Monks positioning himself behind the victim as he played a video on his phone. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Hsiao Tien said the victim was uncomfortable as she was fidgeting and turned back to look at the teacher several times. Monks was arrested on November 1 2018 after returning from a visit to Thailand. He originally denied molesting the girl to police. His lawyer claimed Monks had apologised to the victim and her family. He said that the 29-year-old had committed the crime due to a momentary lapse of judgement because of work-related stress and anxiety. Monks has started serving his jail sentence. An offender can be jailed for up to five years if found guilty of molesting a child below 14 years old and fined or caned. ALBANY A former female aide's allegations that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had sexually harassed her last year including asking about her sex life and interest in having sex with an older man should have been referred to the Governor's Office of Employee Relations for a formal investigation, according to interviews with state officials familiar with the rules for handling sexual harassment complaints. Instead, the complaint was handled by Judith Mogul, a special counsel to the governor. Beth Garvey, the governor's chief counsel, issued a statement last week saying the matter was "treated with sensitivity and respect and in accordance with applicable law and policy." Still, according to Garvey's statement, there is no indication that an investigation was conducted. The complainant, 25-year-old Charlotte Bennett, "received the transfer she requested to a position in which she had expressed a long-standing interest, and was thoroughly debriefed on the facts which did not include a claim of physical contact or inappropriate sexual conduct," Garvey said in her statement. "She was consulted regarding the resolution, and expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the way in which it was handled." On Thursday, when asked if the matter had been referred to GOER, if a formal investigation had been conducted, or if the governor's Executive Chamber believes its personnel are not subject to the laws governing other government agencies and offices, Garvey said, "As previously stated, we will not have further comment on this until the (attorney general's) review is complete, and we cannot comment on this at this time." Garvey's initial statement that the Executive Chamber would make no further comment on the matter was issued on Sunday morning, and was followed hours later by two additional statements from her. The governor, as well, issued a statement of apology on Sunday night and repeated many of its points in a Wednesday news conference. In December 2018, under an executive order signed by Cuomo, GOER became the office responsible for handling sexual harassment investigations and is required to be notified of all complaints. That order, which followed expanded rules for sexual harassment allegations and responses in 2018, "transferred the responsibility for conducting investigations of all employment-related discrimination complaints to the Governors Office of Employee Relations ... (and) all such complaints of protected class employment-related discrimination will be investigated by GOER." According to interviews with people familiar with the state's rules for handling sexual harassment complaints, Bennett's case should not have been resolved by simply transferring her to a new job a position with the health department that moved her away from the governor. "There was never a situation in which one could indicate, if brought to the proper authorities, a path to (an alleged victim saying) 'Lets forget about this, just move me to another position,'" said a former longtime affirmative action officer for a state agency who spoke on condition of anonymity. "As you know, sexual harassment is something that is a pattern of behavior and therefore you wouldnt be addressing the issue at hand, but merely just pushing it away." Under "sweeping" sexual harassment reforms that Cuomo's office announced in 2018, "sexual harassment includes unwelcome conduct which is either of a sexual nature, or which is directed at an individual because of that individuals sex ... (including) words, signs, jokes, pranks, intimidation or physical violence which are of a sexual nature, or which are directed at an individual because of that individuals sex." That legislation also defined sexual harassment as "any unwanted verbal or physical advances, sexually explicit derogatory statements ... which cause the recipient discomfort or humiliation, or which interfere with the recipients job performance." Debra Katz, an attorney for Bennett, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. In his first public appearance in a week, Cuomo on Wednesday offered an apology to the women "if they were offended" by his conduct and interactions with them. Katz issued a statement after the governor made his remarks, noting that last year Bennett "reported his sexually harassing behavior immediately to his chief of staff and chief counsel." She added that the review by the attorney general's office, which has been tasked with investigating the allegations against Cuomo, "will demonstrate that Cuomo administration officials failed to act on Ms. Bennett's serious allegations or to ensure that corrective measures were taken, in violation of their legal requirements." The governor, when asked whether he had taken legally mandated, annual sexual harassment training, said "the short answer is yes." But his office has declined since Monday to provide details on when the governor took the training. Bennett, who left her state job, earlier this week rejected Cuomos written apology in which he excused his behavior as playful. She characterized it as "predatory behavior. She said Cuomo grilled her about her sex life and asked whether she would be open to a relationship with an older man. "I thought he's trying to sleep with me," Bennett told CBS Evening News in an interview that aired Thursday evening. "The governor's trying to sleep with me. And I'm deeply uncomfortable and I have to get out of this room as soon as possible. ... Without explicitly saying it, he implied to me that I was old enough for him and he was lonely." State Attorney General Letitia James' investigation of the allegations three women have accused Cuomo of inappropriate conduct is beginning as an increasing number of lawmakers are calling on the governor to resign immediately. On Wednesday, he said he would not do that and asked for "patience" until "the facts are known." The other allegations were brought by Lindsey Boylan, a former aide who alleges Cuomo kissed her without consent in his Manhattan office and made inappropriate remarks during a flight on state aircraft, and Anna Ruch, who did not work for Cuomo but told the New York Times that Cuomo held her face and attempted to kiss her at a wedding. Erica Vladimer, a member of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, said anything short of resignation is unacceptable. Five years ago, Vladimer alleges, she was forcibly kissed outside an Albany bar by then-state Sen. Jeffrey D. Klein, who was head of the Independent Democratic Conference. Vladimer was a policy analyst for the IDC and later went public with her allegations. Klein responded by requesting the matter be investigated by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics a probe that he is now seeking to block in state Supreme Court. "The Workings Group's position is resignation and an investigation," Vladimer said of Cuomo. "We think one cannot supplement the other. He clearly is a power abuser and does not deserve the privilege of holding power to govern the state. But the investigation is what is necessary to hold him accountable and anyone else who protected and enabled him and also abused and harassed staff either in the Executive Chamber or any other place." blyons@timesunion.com Note: An earlier version of this story misstated the attorney who had handled Charlotte Bennett's complaint in the Executive Chamber. It was done by Judith Mogul, a special counsel to the governor. Adam's skills and experience working with a diverse set of clients will expand Frazier & Deeter's ability to meet the evolving demands of our business partners. Frazier & Deeter, one of the nations Top 50 accounting and advisory firms, announced today that Adam Mark, CPA, CISSP, PMP, has joined the firm as a Principal in the Process, Risk & Governance (PRG) practice. Adam makes an excellent addition to our leadership team, noted Sabrina Serafin, National Practice Leader of Frazier & Deeters Process, Risk & Governance service line. His skills and experience working with a diverse set of clients will expand Frazier & Deeter's ability to meet the evolving demands of our business partners. Mr. Mark brings over sixteen years of accounting and advisory experience to Frazier & Deeters Process, Risk & Governance practice. He drives collaboration across three lines of defense, with a multifaceted focus on maturing an organizations hindsight and oversight functions to provide more accurate insights to drive the business forward. He also teaches organizations how to leverage technology and analytics to improve their foresight to anticipate what is around the next curve. Im excited to join a team with a strong reputation for client service, said Mr. Mark. Frazier & Deeters unique positioning in the marketplace paired with their commitment to client innovation driven by the development of new technologies and their people is the perfect fit for me. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Mark worked at Deloitte, where he was an active member in the Controls Advisory practice. He has deep experience managing pre-IPO engagements to help organizations prepare for a more sustainable and smarter approach to going public. His understanding of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board allows him to help clients avoid common pitfalls that can cause costly fire drills. 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. Visible gold occurrences are within core from RBDD005, the fifth hole in the companys 2,500-metre diamond drill program testing internal high-grade shoots and extensions to the existing JORC inferred resource. Resources Limited ( ) (FRA:M5F) has observed gold in core during ongoing diamond drilling at Redback Gold Deposit within the Spargoville tenements 24 kilometres from Kambalda, Western Australias premier gold and nickel mining district. The company observed multiple occurrences of gold over 1.65 metres from 190.8 metres within hole RBDD005 at Redback. This is the fifth hole in the companys 2,500-metre diamond drill program testing internal high-grade shoots and extensions to the existing JORC inferred resource limits at Redback. Recently reported high-grade diamond drilling results include 16.3 metres at 9.3 g/t gold from 229 metres including 5.5 metres at 6.7 g/t from 229.5 metres and 5.8 metres at 17.9 g/t from 240 metres including 1-metre at 48.4 g/t from 240 metres. High-grade potential Maximus Resources managing director Tim Wither said: The continued occurrences of visible gold from the current diamond drill program are highly encouraging and demonstrate the high-grade potential of the Redback Deposit. These multiple visible gold occurrences, in conjunction with the recently reported high-grade gold intersection of 16.3 metres at 9.3 g/t, strengthen our confidence in the existence of high-grade gold domains within the Redback Deposit. Together with the recent diamond-tail intercepts at Redback of broad mineralisation, intense biotite alteration and mineralisation adjacent to interflow sediments along the interpreted Shear zone, towards Wattle Dam, all validate our beliefs that there is a much larger mineral system in the Wattle Dam area. Diamond drill program The Redback diamond drilling program forms part of a short-term strategy aimed at building value by increasing the gold resource at Redback and expanding the companys future development options. This program is being conducted in conjunction with the maiden diamond drilling at the companys recent gold discovery at the S5 Prospect. Redback Deposit with a JORC 2012 inferred resource of 440,000 tonnes at 3.0 g/t gold for 42,900 ounces is around 600 metres SSE of the previously mined high-grade Wattle Dam Gold Mine. Mineralisation at Redback Gold mineralisation at Redback has been modelled as three subparallel and near-vertical domains, with recent reinterpretations comprising of well-developed eastern and western structures which are connected by linking shears/mineralised domains. Initial drill results demonstrate that the Redback Gold Deposit remains open along strike to the NNW and down plunge, which are being tested within this initial diamond drill program. Forward plan The company plans to complete the remaining holes of the 2,500-metre drill program by mid-March 2021 and assays results will be provided as received. A second phase diamond drill program is proposed following an assessment of the initial diamond drilling of the Redback infill/extension program. A revised mineral resource estimate is planned to be undertaken on completion of the second phase diamond drill program. Help India! During a round table discussion on the New Education Policy held at MANNU, eminent economist Prof. Amitabh Kundu, Distinguished Fellow, Research and Information System for Developing Countries said Indias rank could have been better than Bangladesh, but it went down due to lack of equality. TCN NEWS Support TwoCircles Hyderabad: In the global index, countries are ranked based on development in addition to equality. Indias rank could have been better than Bangladesh, but it went down due to lack of equality. Unless we promote the concept of equality among the people, the country will not be able to achieve a worthy position and the most important schemes such as Make in India etc. might not yield any significant results. These views were expressed by eminent economist Prof. Amitabh Kundu, Distinguished Fellow, Research and Information System for Developing Countries at a roundtable discussion Education Policy Round Table: Education Quality, NEP & Marginalized Population held yesterday at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). MANUU in collaboration with the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP) Hyderabad organized the Round Table. Prof. S M Rahmatullah, Vice-Chancellor I/c presided over and Prof. Siddiqui Mohd. Mahmood, Registrar I/c was the Chief Patron. Prof. Amir Ullah Khan, Research Director, CDPP was the moderator. Prof. Kundu who had been the chairperson of the post-Sachar Evaluation Committee said equality in income, health and education is inevitable for public equality. He gave detailed data about the income, health and education indicators of Muslims and compared it with other reserved categories. Muslims lag in availing the public health services, he pointed out. The other speaker, Prof. Abdul Shaban, School of Development Studies, TISS, Mumbai opined that educational conditions of Urdu speaking population will not improve unless they develop Urdu philosophers. Attention should be paid to the curriculum. State patronage and market viability play a crucial role in the development of any language, he pointed out. Prof. S M Rahmatullah in his presidential remarks said the Indian constitution is the best as it gives importance to equality. If we are not doing better at different levels we only are responsible, he added. Referring to the National Education Policy, he said that policy has focused on multidisciplinary education and skills. Advising teachers to be well prepared for the classroom, he said the best teacher is the one who always regards himself as a student and keeps oneself updated on the subject. Avoid doing time pass research work, he advised. Prof. Siddiqui Mohd. Mahmood called the success of the education system as the success of the country. The moderator of the programme, Prof. Amir Ullah asked various questions on educational policy. The minorities budget in Telangana should be used to offer scholarships and build infrastructure for them, he pointed out. Prof. Mohd. Moshahid, HoD, Dept. Education and Training was the Chief Coordinator. Faculties from the Department of Education & Training & other departments attended the programme. The Roundtable flagged off a series of discussions on education quality, the NEP and marginalized populations as part of a project undertaken by CDPP, USIPI, MS Academy and MCRHRDI. After the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations indicated that there is a possibility that North Korea is reprocessing nuclear fuel, the Pentagon has expressed concern regarding the Hermit state's nuclear activities. According to Aljazeera, the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's intelligence, Rear Admiral Michael Studeman, stated that North Korea's activity, highlighted this week by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), could be intended to get the attention of the administration of President Joe Biden. He also added that it could be a bargaining chip to press for sanctions relief. While Biden's administration is currently reviewing the U.S.-North Korea policy, Studeman mentioned that they have their eyes on the current movement during a virtual event on technology and security. And it deeply concerns them as to where the Hermit state wants to go. Moreover, the Director-General of the IAEA Board of Governors, Rafael Grossi, released a statement on Monday mentioning the recent activities at the nuclear facilities of North Korea in Kangson and Yongbyon. Grossi also shared that there had been recent indications of the steam plant's operation, serving as a radiochemical laboratory for the Hermit state. He added that North Korea used its radiochemical laboratory at Yongbyon to reprocess plutonium from a reactor there for nuclear bomb usage. He even called the continuous nuclear activity of North Korea a clear violation of the United Nations sanctions and deeply regrettable. Seeking the attention of Biden As they refer to Grossi's statement, Studeman said that the IAEA board of governors issued a notice that there had been evidence of Koreans who are reprocessing perhaps nuclear fuel. He added that it would put them into a different level of tension with the Hermit state if it is true. Also, this may be the beginning of something designed to influence the Biden administration as it may be the first way to get the new administration's attention. The nuclear reprocessing made by North Korea can be used by the country as a bargaining chip for sanctions relief of some sort. Read also: Japanese Woman Dies of Brain Hemorrhage Three Days After Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine Joe Biden's administration which started in January is conducting a full review of North Korea policy following the unprecedented engagement of former President Donald Trump with Supreme leader Kim Jong Un, in a display of summitry that failed in persuading Pyongyang in giving up its nuclear weapons, The Dong-A Ilbo reported. The current secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has mentioned that the approach to North Korea could involve more sanctions or unspecified diplomatic incentives. Last month, a confidential UN report said that North Korea continued to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs throughout 2020. The deputy director of the Washington-based North Korea monitoring project 38 North mentioned that satellite images it had received of Yongbyon from February 17 and March 2 showed steam coming from the laboratory of the complex, which had not been known to be in operation for around two years, Reuters reported. Related article: US Air Force Assembles First Airborne Laser Mounted on Fighter Aircrafts @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap Top prosecutor resigns after clash with ruling bloc By Do Je-hae Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's offer to resign, following his continuing conflict with the ruling bloc over the latter's efforts for prosecutorial reform, was accepted by President Moon Jae-in only an hour after it was offered Thursday, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Yoon has claimed that the moves by the government and ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) were undemocratic and aimed at reducing the power of the prosecution. "I am offering to resign today," Yoon earlier told reporters after arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul. "The spirit of the Constitution and the system of rule of law are falling apart before our eyes. And it is solely the people that will have to endure the consequences. I can no longer stand by and watch the collapse of common sense and justice that our society has fought so hard to achieve." The resignation offer came a year and eight months after he was appointed by President Moon in July 2019. Yoon has clashed with the ruling bloc, particularly with the Ministry of Justice under the tenure of former Minister Choo Mi-ae, who stepped down in January after her failed attempt to have him suspended. Yoon submitted his resignation letter to Justice Minister Park Beom-kye immediately after the announcement, and Moon, who has the authority to appoint and dismiss the top prosecutor, immediately accepted the offer. Cheong Wa Dae said it will begin the procedure for appointing a successor. The surprise offer came after he strongly objected to, among multiple issues in the prosecutorial "reform" measures, the push by the ruling bloc to establish another new investigative office under the ministry, designed to completely overrule the powers of the prosecution. Yoon criticized the move as an attempt to strip the prosecution of its powers, saying that he would give up his job 100-fold if he could stop it. Yoon's two-year term was to end in July. Ahead of the push for a new agency, the ruling bloc's prosecutorial reform measures had already expanded the police's power and narrowed the prosecution's investigative scope to six serious crimes. In addition, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials was set up to deal with corruption cases involving high-level civil servants. President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl during an appointment ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae, July 25, 2019. Yonhap Bomb horror: The scene of the Omagh bomb in 1998 Families bereaved by the Omagh bombing deserve an apology over the length of time a court is taking to rule on a call for a public inquiry, First Minister Arlene Foster has said. The case began in 2013 and hearings finished in July 2019 but relatives are still awaiting the judgment. The lord chief justice's office has blamed the situation on the assessment of "sensitive" documents. On August 15, 1998, the Real IRA detonated a car bomb on Market Street killing 29 civilians, unborn twins, and injuring 220 others. The 1998 blast was the worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict. Among those killed in the dissident republican car bomb was Michael Gallaghers mechanic son Aiden aged 21. The legal action was brought by Mr Gallagher, who has previously said the lives of the Omagh families are "on hold" while a judge decides whether to order a public inquiry. Read More Mr Gallagher took action after former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers decided in 2013 not to order a public inquiry. She argued instead that a probe by another former police ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, was the best way to address any outstanding issues. The following year, Dr Maguire said Special Branch withheld some intelligence information from detectives trying to catch those responsible for the Omagh bombing. Mr Gallagher believed his challenge to the governments decision not to hold a public inquiry must have made legal history because it was so long-running. Read More Central to Mr Gallagher's judicial review case are claims that intelligence from MI5 and the police could have been drawn together to prevent the Real IRA attack. There were national security issues around the hearing of evidence, which delayed matters, but it concluded in July 2019. In October, Mr Gallagher was told to expect movement before Christmas, but nothing happened. "From day one this has been dragged out," he told the BBC. "We are getting no younger. "We want to do other things in life but we cannot move on until we get answers." Mr Gallagher said the process could be "simplified" if the government granted an inquiry. "We support the police. We support the intelligence service. "We just want answers - why things did not happen in the way they should have happened in the lead up to the Omagh bomb." He has raised the case with political parties and met with Arlene Foster in recent days, who has described the delay as "inordinate". The DUP leader said: "I do think that he, and all of the Omagh victims, deserve an apology. "I think it is really sad that they find themselves in a situation where they have not been able to get answers." A spokeswoman for the Office of the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland said the judgment was "taking longer than initially anticipated". It said the delay was due to the "sensitive nature of the material involved in the case". It added: "The documents which the judge has to consider are stored in a secured area which can only be accessed during restricted hours and not at weekends. "The judge's access to this material has to be scheduled around his workload in the High Court. "He would like to reassure Mr Gallagher that he is reviewing this material thoroughly to ensure that he is taking into account all relevant evidence." 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. Oxidative dispersion has been widely used in the regeneration of sintered metal catalysts as well as the fabrication of single-atom catalysts. The consensus on the oxidative dispersion process includes the formation of mobile metal oxide species from large metal particles and the capture of these species on a support surface. Nevertheless, the mechanism of oxidation-induced dispersion has yet to be confirmed via in situ electron microscopic and/or spectroscopic characterizations. Recently, a research team led by Prof. FU Qiang and Prof. BAO Xinhe from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with Prof. YANG Bing from DICP and Prof. GAO Yi from the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics of CAS, reported the oxygen adsorption-induced dispersion of metallic Ag nanoclusters in a typical oxidative atmosphere. The results were published in Nature Communications on March 3. By utilizing in situ imaging methods such as environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and newly developed near-ambient pressure photoemission electron microscopy (NAP-PEEM), researchers found that micron-scale Ag nanowires could be dispersed into subnanometer clusters under an oxygen atmosphere. Ex situ experiments indicated that Ag nanowires were converted into AgOx nanoclusters. Conversely, in situ near-ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) directly demonstrated the presence of a transitional state of metallic Ag nanoclusters during dispersion at high temperatures, while the formation of the oxide occurred during the cooling process. The dynamic dispersion of Ag nanowires during CO oxidation was also demonstrated. Based on experimental and theoretical calculations, chemisorption of oxygen from the O2 atmosphere was shown to be the essential driving force for the dispersion of metallic Ag nanoclusters. This work provides a new understanding of the role of the O2 atmosphere in oxidative dispersion, which is particularly important for the prediction and control of the dynamic dispersion/redispersion of supported metal catalysts under similar reaction conditions. ### This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, and the DNL Cooperation Fund. Russia will be able to supply its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to 50 million EU residents starting from June after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves the vaccine, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Thursday, stressing that vaccine partnership should be above politics. EMA has started the rolling review of the Russian vaccine, it will be tested for compliance with the EU standards for effectiveness, safety and quality. RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the start of the procedure, noting that RDIF provided EMA with comprehensive data on the vaccine " which is now approved for use in more than 40 countries." "Sputnik V can make an important contribution to saving millions of lives in Europe and we are looking forward to a thorough review of data by CHMP [EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use]. Vaccine partnerships should be above politics and cooperation with EMA is a perfect example demonstrating that pooling efforts is the only way to end the pandemic. Following EMA approval, we would be able to provide vaccine for 50 million Europeans starting from June 2021," Dmitriev said in a press release. Dmitriev has assured earlier that large-scale vaccine deliveries to the EU will start only after all the Russians willing to be inoculated receive vaccine shots, Sputnik reported. The decision to start the rolling review is based on results of laboratory and clinical studies of the vaccine in adults, RDIF said. LANSING, MI -- Those in West Michigan affected by PFAS are encouraged to participate in a state study that seeks to learn more about the impact the environmental contaminant may have on residents health. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging affected West Michigan residents to sign up for the Michigan PFAS Exposure and Health Study, according to a press release from MDHHS. More people signing up will help ensure robust data gathering and make the study as successful as possible, the release said. Related: Michigan gets $1M to study links between PFAS and disease The state health department launched the study in November 2020 with the goal of learning more about the relationship between PFAS and health among residents who have been exposed to the chemicals in their drinking water. To make the study as successful as possible, MDHHS encourages residents to call to see if they are eligible and to enroll, said Kory Groetsch, MDHHS environmental public health director. The more people that join, the better the study can show how PFAS exposure affects health. Participants will complete a blood sample at one of two local study offices: one near Parchment and Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County and one in the Belmont and Rockford areas of Kent County. Both are sites where PFAS contamination infiltrated the local water supply for some residents. Blood samples will be tested for PFAS levels and health markers, including cholesterol. Some participants will also have their blood tested for PCBs, the release said. Anyone in these areas who is interested in joining can call 855-322-3037 to confirm their eligibility and enroll. As of Feb. 24, 620 people have enrolled in study, the release said. Study officials have implemented COVID-19 precautions for the safety of both participants and staff. Measuring the amount of PFAS in the blood of people living in these study areas is a time-sensitive task that cannot wait until the pandemic is over, Groetsch said. Participants will receive their results for free, and are offered gift cards with a value of up to $55 as a reward for their time. To allow for the most comprehensive analysis and to track PFAS levels over time, participants will be invited to return to the study offices twice more in the next five years. Also on MLive: Wolverine submits plan to clean up PFAS dump by planting 4,000 trees Dredging on deck for Kalamazoo River oxbow filled with dam sludge A grave situation awaits Michigan without dam safety fixes, report warns The FBI and Department of Homeland Security predict violent domestic extremists attacks will increase in 2021, according to a report obtained by Axios. Driving the news: The joint report says extremists have discussed plans to take control of the Capitol and "remove Democratic lawmakers" on or about March 4. The House canceled its plans for Thursday votes as word of the possible threats spread. The extremist group is unidentified in the report, but Capitol police told congressional staffers the FBI has intelligence that it's the Three Percenters militia group, according to a person present during the briefing. The FBI and Capitol Police aren't aware of any increase in hotel reservations in D.C. or flight reservations to the area, but Capitol Police are conducting intelligence briefings for officers and going to an all hands schedule (no days off) through March 6, the source said. The big picture: The report lists government and law enforcement as possible targets by extremist groups who may exploit public gatherings to engage in violence. It says the groups are motivated by election fraud and other conspiracy theories around the presidential transition. election fraud and other conspiracy theories around the presidential transition. The report cited a QAnon conspiracy theory that former President Donald Trump will be inaugurated on March 4 the date of the possible attack plans or return to power on May 20 with the help of the U.S. military. or return to power on May 20 with the help of the U.S. military. It says extremist groups have also allegedly threatened to use explosives "to kill as many members as possible" during the upcoming State of the Union. The extremists were likely emboldened by the Jan. 6 Capitol building breach, according to the report. Between the lines: Law enforcement is also warning about extremists turning to encrypted communications after mass purges from social media platforms after Jan. 6. Law enforcement's insight into threats is "increasingly constrained" by the use of secure communications by extremists, according to the report. The bottom line: Capitol Police released a statement Wednesday morning acknowledging the increased threat to members and the Capitol grounds. "We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4," the statement reads. "We have already made significant security upgrades to include establishing a physical structure and increasing manpower to ensure the protection of Congress, the public and our police officers." This story has been updated with new details on the Capitol threat and a link to the full report. Financial Report for the Half Year ended 31 December 2020 Melbourne, Mar 4, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Vintage Energy Ltd ( ASX:VEN ) reports that the highly successful flow test program for Val-1 ST1 delivered a stabilised gas flow rate of 4.3 MMscfd through a 36/64"choke at a flowing well-head pressure ("FWHP") of 942 psi over a two-day period. Transient tests were also undertaken with rates recorded between 3.7 MMscfd (through a 24/64" choke at 1,676 psi FWHP) and 7.5 MMscfd (through a 32/64" choke at 1,593 psi FWHP). The program was carried out safely and as planned.Strong rates were achieved during all flow periods and quick pressure build-ups were observed during all shut-in periods, with pressure levels quickly approaching around 3,000 psi. All flow rates were restricted through varying choke sizes to ensure proppant was not returned from the formation into the well bore, therefore avoiding any reduction in the effectiveness of the stimulation process.During the flow testing of the well, the following activities were undertaken:- Production Logging Tool run, which determined that gas was being contributed by each of the stimulated zones- Shut-ins, which observed the pressure response of the reservoir, with pressure readings reaching 2,932 psi at the end of the recording period and continuing to build- Flow testing, with transient tests undertaken under various choke sizes of 24/64", 32/64" and 40/64" over three equal periods of six hours- Gas samples taken, with the composition in line with typical Cooper Basin Patchawarra wellsA development concept for the Vali Field has been completed and estimates a field life of around 20 years, with up to nine fracture stimulated vertical wells to target production from reservoirs in the Patchawarra Formation and the Tirrawarra Sandstone.A type of well production profile has been developed based on the flow test at Vali-1 ST1, and with reference to the decline characteristics of nearby fields. The current base case development concept for the Vali Field is for initial raw gas production of approximately 5 MMscfd (gross) per well for total production of around 5 Bcf per well (on an average well outcome basis). Surface facilities at Vali will be kept to a minimum through the construction of a main manifold that will gather gas from producing wells and deliver it into existing pipelines, with a separator and metering system to also be installed.Some of the development concept work has been carried out by GPA Engineering ("GPA"). GPA has consulted with Santos, as operator of the SACB JV infrastructure, and confirmed the preferred connection point for a Vali Field pipeline is the Santos operated Beckler Field. Gas will then be transported through the existing pipeline system for processing at Moomba once infrastructure access and gas sales agreements are executed. It is envisaged that connection from Vali would be via multiple composite pipelines, the number and size of which will be defined in the detailed engineering phase of work.The capital cost associated with the pipeline connection is based on Front End Engineering Design ("FEED") work carried out by GPA. FEED for Vali-1 ST1 connection to the Beckler Field (which is connected to the Dullingari facilities and ultimately Moomba) was completed by GPA. The main objective of FEED was to complete the necessary engineering to identify long lead items and refine the cost estimate for a final investment decision, which will then initiate the procurement stage. Operating costs are expected to be low, with the facilities to be as simple and intervention free as possible.To maximise value from the Vali gas field, through increased production and resultant cash flow, further wells are planned. To this end, potential locations for further drilling in the field have been identified, with an amended FY21 budget including Vali-2 and long lead items for Vali-3 now approved by the joint venture.Completion of the Vali-1 ST1 well is necessary ahead of connecting the well into the Moomba gathering system. Production tubing was run into the Vali-1 ST1 hole with isolation packers successfully set on two occasions, however, pressure testing via the production tubing in the well bore indicated a leaking seal assembly on the completion. A black viscous substance was noted as a film on the first packer assembly after its retrieval from the borehole. The substance may be precipitating on the casing and causing the packer leaks under pressure testing. Samples have now been sent for analysis to determine chemical composition and a plan will be developed to remove the material on returning to site to finalise the completion. Although frustrating, deferral of the completion is not critical to the timeline for first production.Cultural heritage and environmental surveys were recently completed in ATP 2021 for the surface facility, flowline and possible future well locations. The process was completed in a timely manner with the Wongkumara People, Erias and GPA/FYFE and we appreciate and thank all parties for their effort to complete this work in a timely manner.First reserves for the Vali Field were certified by ERC Equipoise Pte Ltd ("ERCE"), which completed a rigorous and independent review of the Vali gas discovery and subsequent flow results. The Vali-1 ST1 well discovered stacked gas pay in the Nappamerri, Toolachee, Patchawarra and Tirrawarra Formations, however, the scope of the ERCE reserves certification was for the Patchawarra Formation reservoir only. The reserves booking is the first for Vintage and supports commercialisation of the Vali gas field with its planned connection into the Moomba gathering system.In its report, ERCE estimated gross 1P reserves for the Patchawarra Formation of 12.3 billion standard cubic feet ("Bcf"), 2P of 30.3 Bcf and 3P of 78.9 Bcf which equates to 1P of 13.4 petajoules ("PJ"), 2P of 33.2 PJ and 3P of 86.6 PJ.Vintage is hopeful that gas produced from the Vali Field will be much greater than the 2P figure estimated by ERCE, with upside to potentially come from stacked reservoirs, including the shallower Nappamerri Group and Toolachee Formation. Vintage has brought this project from farm-in, to discovery, to successful testing and now to reserves booking in just over one year, which is an outstanding achievement for a company at such an early stage since listing.To view the full half year report, please visit:About Vintage Energy Ltd Vintage Energy Ltd (ASX:VEN) has been established to acquire, explore and develop energy assets principally within, but not limited to, Australia, to take advantage of a generally favourable energy pricing outlook. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. With just weeks to go for the assembly election in Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala has shocked everyone by quitting politics. The expelled AIADMK party leader wrote a two-page letter and released it first on Jaya TV in which she announced that she will stay away from politics, but would pray for the "golden rule" of the late party supremo Jayalalithaa. The sudden announcement came as a bolt out of the blue as earlier Sasikala said that she would remain active in politics after completion of her jail term. The 69-year-old had served four years of jail term in the Rs 66.65 crore DA assets case. She had returned to the state on February 8 to a rousing reception by her supporters all the way from Bengaluru to Chennai. In fact, her grand return in Bengaluru led to expectations that she would play a big role in the run-up to the April 6 elections in which the ruling AIADMK is eyeing a record third term. But yesterday Sasikala stepped down from politics and appealed to Amma's (Jayalalithaa) followers to work hard to ensure her rule. She also appealed for unity among the "true supporters" of Jayalalithaa to keep the "common enemy" DMK away from power. "Amma's true supporters should work unitedly as siblings in the coming elections to ensure the golden rule of Puratchi Thalaivar (AIADMK founder late CM M G Ramachandran) and Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader) continues even for over another 100 years in lines with Puratchi Thalaivi's desire," she said. Sasikala was considered a powerful confidante of Jayalalithaa and said to have enjoyed a say in party affairs but in the letter, she said that she never yearned for power or authority. "Much like I was the sister who implemented Amma's thoughts, I am the same even after her death. I have never yearned for power or authority. I will be ever indebted to Puratchi Thalaivi and the people of Tamil Nadu," Sasikala added. Political observers are of the view that the AIADMK would benefit from the decision of Sasikala, whose bid to become Tamil Nadu's chief minister in February 2017 came to naught with the Supreme Court sentencing her to four-year imprisonment. While Sasikala's sudden decision might help AIADMK and avoid splitting of votes, it comes as a jolt to her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, who was ousted from AIADMK along with her in 2017. Dhinakaran in 2017, defeated both AIADMK and DMK candidates in RK Nagar by-poll--Jayalalithaa's constituency-- in December. He later formed his own party, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), in March 2018. The AMMK garnered 4 per cent of the vote share in the 2019 general election. Meanwhile, Dhinakaran said he tried to talk his aunt out of her decision but could only "delay" it by half an hour before she released her statement to the media. "She was telling there will be unity only if she stayed away and therefore, she has taken this decision," he added. However, Dhinakaran, said her decision was "demoralising". Also, "she did not want to be an object of discussion about being reinducted in the AIADMK and therefore chose to stay away," he said. Ever since her return from Bengaluru, political circles have been abuzz over her possible reinduction in the AIADMK, which under the joint leadership of O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami, had expelled her in 2017. Dhinakaran said Sasikala had picked "the present chief minister," Palaniswami to the post in 2017 before leaving for Bengaluru to serve the prison term. Also read: Bharat Biotech to begin clinical trial of COVID-19 intranasal vaccine next week Also read: Adani Ports share rises 3% after firm buys stake in Gangavaram Port for Rs 1,954 crore The mother of Brothers for Life founder Bassam Hamzy braces each time she answers the door of her Auburn home. Its here Lola Hamzy has been shot, collapsed at the news of her murdered son, and learnt about the arrests of her other two sons. Mejid Hamzy, 44, who was shot dead at Condell Park on October 2020. Mrs Hamzy this week answered the door again, this time to the Herald and Nine News, who told her police were doing a public appeal for information to help catch her sons killer. Im so happy, Im so happy, this is really good, Mrs Hamzy said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) Google commemorated Rosa Sevilla de Alvero, considered as one of the noted suffragists in Philippine history, on her birthday with a doodle. She would have been 142 on Thursday. The doodle of her casting a ballot, with the hands of other women from succeeding generations doing the same thing, is showed on the Google homepage. Sevilla de Alvero was a journalist, educator, and activist who rallied across the country in 1916 to fight for womens right to vote and be voted into office, according to a post from the Google blog. In support of her cause, she founded the Liga Nacional de Damas Filipinas (National League of Filipino Women), it added. She and other revolutionary women in the suffragist movement eventually succeeded in their crusade after several years of struggle. On September 17, 1937, Filipino women finally gained voting rights. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/a-celebration-of-herstory-filipino-women-in-legislation-and-politics Early life When Sevilla de Alvero was young, she was sent to live with her aunt who often had Filipino patriots and intellectuals as guests in her home, the blog post said. These patriots and intellectuals would often talk about battling educational colonialism the very conversations that helped shape Sevilla de Alveros beliefs. At the age of 21, she founded the Instituto de Mujeres (Womens Institute) of Manila, one of the first schools for women in the country. The institute has educated women on a range of topics including suffrage and Tagalog. It hosted the very first balagtasan (debate in verse), which started a movement for Tagalog to be declared as the national language. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 [March 04, 2021] Automotive Audio Amplifier Market- Analog Devices Inc., Cirrus Logic Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, among others to contribute to the market growth|Industry Analysis, Market Trends, Opportunities and Forecast 2024 NEW YORK, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive audio amplifier market is poised to grow by $ 319.69 mn, during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of over 2% during the forecast period. Here is an Exclusive report talking about Market scenarios, Estimates, the impact of lockdown, and Customer Behaviour. Get FREE Sample Report in Minutes! The report on the automotive audio amplifier market provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. The market is driven by growing demand for differentiated in-car experiences. The automotive audio amplifier market analysis includes application segment and geography landscape. This study identifies the developments in the field of advanced automotive sound systems as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive audio amplifier market growth during the next few years. This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. The automotive audio amplifier market covers the following areas: Automotive Audio Amplifier Market Sizing Automotive Audio Amplifier Market Forecast Automotive Audio Amplifier Market Analysis Companies Mentioned Analog Devices Inc. Cirrus Logic Inc. Infineon Technologies AG Maxim Integrated Products Inc. NXP Semiconductors NV ON Semiconductor Corp. Renesas Electronics Corp. STMicroelectronics NV Texas Instruments Inc. Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corp. Related Reports on Consumer Discretionary Include: Automotive Windshield Market by Vehicle Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024: The automotive windshield market size has the potential to grow by USD 1.17 billion during 2020-2024, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate during the forecast period. Get a FREE sample report in minutes Automotive Heatng, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Compressor Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024: The automotive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor market size will decrease by 1.18 million units during 2020-2024. However, the market's growth momentum is expected to accelerate during the forecast period. Get a FREE sample report in minutes Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook: Forecast for 2019-2024 Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Application Market segments Comparison by Application Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Application Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Analog Devices Inc. Cirrus Logic Inc. Infineon Technologies AG Maxim Integrated Products Inc. NXP Semiconductors NV ON Semiconductor Corp. Renesas Electronics Corp. STMicroelectronics NV Texas Instruments Inc. Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corp. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Report Page:https://www.technavio.com/report/automotive-audio-amplifier-market-industry-analysis View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automotive-audio-amplifier-market--analog-devices-inc-cirrus-logic-inc-infineon-technologies-ag-among-others-to-contribute-to-the-market-growthindustry-analysis-market-trends-opportunities-and-forecast-2024-301239352.html SOURCE Technavio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] STORY LINK GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Rangebound Despite Rising Oil Prices GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Steady as Canadian Economic Data Buoys Confidence in Economy Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Steady as UK Construction PMI Beats Forecasts GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Forecast: Could Rising Oil Prices Drive Up the Canadian Dollar? Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate rose held steady today, with the pairing currently fluctuating around CA$1.76.The Canadian Dollar held steady against Sterling despite rising oil prices buoying confidence in Canadas commodity-reliant economy.OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo commented:Both the global economic outlook and oil market prospects show signs of continued improvement. The headwinds of uncertainty that shocked and disrupted the market last year continue to abate.Yesterday also saw the release of the latest Canadian GDP data for December, which fell below forecasts at 0.1%.TD Securities Chief Canada Strategist Andrew Kelvin was optimistic about the outlook for Canadas economy, however, describing the GDP figure as frankly stunning:Kelvin said:If that January number is right, plus half a percentage point is extremely strong for a monthly GDP number in any circumstance. It means we will get through the second wave of COVID without seeing a negative month of GDP.However, CAD traders are remaining cautious as there remain several hurdles to the nations economy before it can make a full recovery.As a result, Canadian markets are bracing themselves for news about the US $1.9 trillion stimulus package. If this appears forthcoming, then oil prices would rise and benefit the commodity-linked CAD.The Pound held steady against CAD today following the broad welcoming of Chancellor Rishi Sunaks 2021 Budget. Again, Sunak repeated that he would do whatever it takes to help the UK economy get back on track.In UK economic news, today saw the publication of the latest UK Construction PMI for February. The figure beat forecasts and rose to 53.3.Tim Moore, the economics director at IHS Markit, commented on the data:Construction work regained its position as the fastest growing major category of UK private sector output in February. The rebound was supported by the largest rise in commercial development activity since last September as the successful vaccine rollout spurred contract awards on projects that had been delayed at an earlier stage of the pandemic.Additionally, UK markets are becoming more hopeful about the nations economy now that vaccinations have succeeded 30%.Daily cases of Covid-19 in the UK have also continued to fall, buoying optimism that the nation could make a cautious recovery in the months ahead.Canadian Dollar (CAD) investors will be looking ahead to tomorrows release of Canadas Ivey PMI data for February.Any further improvements in the outlook for Canadas economy would be CAD-positive.Tomorrow will also see the release of the latest Canadian trade data. If these point to an uptick in Canadian exports, then the Loonie would benefit.Oil prices will continue to drive the CAD/GBP exchange rate this week. Any signs of success for Joe Bidens enormous stimulus plan would drive up oil prices and boost the commodity-linked Loonie.The GBP/CAD exchange rate will remain sensitive to the UKs Covid-19 situation.However, with the outlook continually improving with lowering cases of infection and rising numbers of vaccinations, we will likely see Sterling edge higher. 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. TAGS: Canadian Dollar Forecasts Pound Canadian Dollar Forecasts Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah travelled on Thursday to the United States for "usual" medical checks, state news agency KUNA reported without giving further details. Sheikh Nawaf, 83, assumed power in the oil-producing Gulf Arab state last September after the death of his brother Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed. Sheikh Nawaf had on Tuesday approved a new cabinet at a time when the government is trying to tackle a liquidity crunch caused by low oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic. [March 03, 2021] Kinaxis CFO to Retire August 1, Ensuring Seamless Transition to Current EVP, Finance Blaine Fitzgerald to take over from Richard Monkman after year-and-a-half planned transition OTTAWA, ON, March 3, 2021 /CNW/ - Kinaxis Inc. (TSX: KXS), the authority in driving agility for fast, confident decision-making in an unpredictable world, today announced that Richard Monkman, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Corporate Services, will retire on August 1, after 15 years of service. Blaine Fitzgerald, Kinaxis' current Executive Vice-President, will succeed Mr. Monkman at that time. Previously, Mr. Fitzgerald was Vice-President of Finance at Shopify and joined Kinaxis in March 2020 as part of the planned transition into the CFO role. "It's been a true privilege to join such a strong team and company. Working so closely with Richard over the past year has been invaluable to my understanding of the business and I look forward to continuing his accomplished record of consistent, rapid revenue growth, strong cash flow, and overall success," said Mr. Fitzgerald. "I couldn't be more excited about Kinaxis' future. The current pandemic has highlighted a paradigm shift in the demand for true concurrent planning to support the global, supply chain planning community, and Kinaxis is the only company able to deliver the solution." Richard Monkman joined Kinaxis in 2005 as CFO and was key to the business's transformation into a SaaS company, well before subscription-based software delivered from the cloud became the gold-standard model for oftware companies. Mr. Monkman said, "It has been an absolute privilege to help support Kinaxis' success in becoming an innovative, high-growth and profitable, public company. While it has been a pleasure working in high tech for the last 40 years, the past 15 years with Kinaxis have been the most rewarding and challenging of my career. While Kinaxis has amazing technology, its people have made the difference. I will miss the daily excitement of working with this accomplished team. Blaine has been an outstanding contributor since we recruited him one year ago. With his proven understanding of our business, personal integrity and strong financial acumen, I have every confidence in our transition. I wish Blaine, John and the full team nothing but further success ahead." John Sicard, Chief Executive Officer of Kinaxis, noted, "I would like to say a personal thank you to Richard. He has been an invaluable partner to me and the full Kinaxis family throughout his long tenure. He has helped Kinaxis grow, been a diligent corporate steward, taken us public, and dedicated himself to making sure that the investment community understands our performance and future opportunities. Truly, the company wouldn't be in the excellent position it is in today without his very significant contributions. I am grateful to Richard for ensuring that the transition of his role will be entirely seamless, and I look forward to continuing to work side-by-side with such a talented individual as Blaine." About Kinaxis Inc. Everyday volatility and uncertainty demand quick action. Kinaxis delivers the agility to make fast, confident decisions across integrated business planning and the digital supply chain. People can plan better, live better and change the world. Trusted by innovative brands, we combine human intelligence with AI and concurrent planning to help companies plan for any future, monitor risks and opportunities and respond at the pace of change. Powered by an extensible, cloud-based platform, Kinaxis delivers industry-proven applications so everyone can know sooner, act faster and remove waste. For more Kinaxis news, visit Kinaxis.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements as to Kinaxis' growth opportunities and the potential benefits of, and demand for, Kinaxis' products and services. These statements are subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including our view of the relative position of Kinaxis' products and services compared to competitive offerings in the industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Kinaxis' actual results, performance, achievements and developments may differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such statements. Risk factors that may cause the actual results, performance, achievements or developments of Kinaxis to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such statements can be found in the public documents filed by Kinaxis with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Kinaxis assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. SOURCE Kinaxis Inc. [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] Vaccination against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rolled out in many countries, including the United States. As the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continues to rise, vaccinating many people in the population is crucial. Despite campaigns to inform residents of the benefits of vaccines, many are still reluctant to get vaccinated. Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the University of California, San Francisco, found that over one-third of the study respondents were hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. To increase vaccine acceptance, the team suggested public health interventions to target vaccine-hesitant populations, with messaging that addresses their concerns about the vaccines' efficacy and safety. COVID-19 vaccination There are more than 250 vaccines against COVID-19 in development by pharmaceutical companies across the globe. Of these, 71 are in clinical evaluation. Vaccines are now being widely administered, these include Moderna's vaccine, the Pfizer+BioNTech vaccine, the AstraZeneca + University of Oxford vaccine, and more recently the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. One of the ways to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is attaining herd immunity. For COVID-19 vaccination to effectively confer herd immunity, health experts said that at least 60 to 70 percent of the population must be vaccinated. However, vaccine hesitancy deters this. For instance, influenza vaccine hesitancy rates have increased by about 40 percent. The researchers aimed to see the most common reasons why Americans are hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Main Predictors of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Personograph plot of the classification tree analysis, which identified previous influenza vaccine coverage and political affiliation as significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The main reasons given for vaccine were concerns about side effects and safety of the vaccine (75%, n=497), the need for more information about the vaccine (53%, n=351), and doubts regarding the efficacy of the vaccine (17%, n=110). The study The study, published on the preprint server medRxiv*, aimed to determine the U.S. population rate of COVID-19 hesitancy, identify characteristics linked to hesitation, and determine the reasons for reluctance. The researchers distributed a 43-question survey on Amazon Mechanical Turk, an online labor marketplace where people receive a nominal fee for completing tasks, to 1,756 respondents between November 17 and 18, 2020. The expected primary outcome measure was the rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, which is defined as either non-acceptance or being unsure about accepting the vaccine. Secondary outcomes included patient characteristics tied to vaccine hesitancy, reasons for being hesitant, and health care sites where they would like to be vaccinated. Study findings demonstrated that a total of 663 participants were COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant, wherein 374 were decided to be non-acceptors, and 289 were unsure about accepting the vaccine. Further findings showed that vaccine hesitancy was tied to not receiving the influenza vaccine in the past five years. Also, females, Blacks, having a high school education or less, and being in the Republican party affiliation were more likely to be vaccine-hesitant. The reasons cited for vaccine hesitancy included the potential side effects, the need for more information about the vaccine, and doubts about vaccine effectiveness. For the preferred cites for vaccination, vaccine acceptors opted to go to their primary doctors, dedicated vaccination areas, and pharmacies. "Optimal health policy deliberations for COVID-19 vaccine distribution require consideration of vaccine hesitancy and reasons for refusal," the researchers explained. "To improve efficient and equitable vaccine distribution, educational messaging campaigns should seek to address non-acceptors' primary concerns of safety and side effects of the vaccine," they added. The team also recommended widening the efforts to disseminate information on the benefits of vaccination against infections. This can help control and spread the virus, and at the same time, aid in the attainment of herd immunity. As the virus continues to wreak havoc globally, boosting vaccination campaigns can help control the pandemic. To date, more than 115 million people have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 2.55 million have died. *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. Naomi Wolf attends "Pump" New York Screening at Museum of Modern Art on September 17, 2014 in New York City. (Robin Marchant/Getty Images) Lockdowns Invention of Xi Jinping Argues American Author Naomi Wolf Author and former Bill Clinton advisor Naomi Wolf, has described current CCP virus lockdown restrictions as an invention of Xi Jinping that has never existed in the history of free society. In an interview with Sky News Australia, Wolf said every basic human right was being violated, including restricting the freedom to assembly, worshipping, running business, and educating children. Theres nowhere in the constitution that says our civil liberties can be suspended if there is a bad disease or serious health emergency, she said. She also noted how societies have already lived through large outbreaks of diseases such as tuberculosis, poliovirus, HIV and cholera without obstructing human rights. Its been painful for me to watch the people of Australia being lied to over and over and tortured there psychologically, Wolf said. Last November, the outspoken Democrat wrote on Twitter expressing her regret for voting for Biden due to his supportive stance on lockdown policies. If Id known Biden was open to lockdowns as he now states, which is something historically unprecedented in any pandemic, and a terrifying practice, one that wont ever end because elites love it, I would never have voted for him. Dr Naomi Wolf (@naomirwolf) November 9, 2020 In an interview with Foxs Tucker Carlson, Wolf said this was not a partisan issue, as it affects all citizens freedom and rights regardless of political standing. It transcends everything that you and I might disagree or agree on, Wolf told Tucker. That should bring together left and right to protect our Constitution. Sanjeev Sabhlok, former economist at the Victorian state government, wrote an op-ed in The Australian illustrating how Swedens open policies prove that lockdowns do nothing to contain the virus. He mockingly calls the lockdowns the great invention of 2020 devised by the medical genius Xi Jinping and heavily criticises western democracies for adopting the measures into their own free societies. Are we going to close Australia for every bad flu in the future? Sabhlok wrote. We must reassert our faith in freedom and reason and end our embrace of the cowardly, totalitarian, zombie ways of the communist Chinese government. Totalitarian China may well do what it likes, but why have we adopted its ways? We seem to be intent on self-destructing as a civilisation. The Australian government announced on Tuesday that international borders would remain closed for another three months. At the same time, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowen suggested that hard border policies could stay in place even after COVID-19 ends to stop illegal drugs from entering the state. He soon backtracked on his comments after it was met with heavy criticism.